Brittany Spaniels are cherished sports activities canine with agile our bodies and fast minds. They're extremely athletic and have been used up to now as gun canine with wonderful outcomes. Now, they make nice household canine with loyal temperaments and wonderful, clever minds.
Brittany canine require dense vitamin that gained't pack on kilos however will nonetheless help their muscle tone and bone construction. Ensuring to feed them the proper of meals lets you take pleasure in their fantastic personalities for a few years.
Let's see what it's going to take to maintain your Brittany Spaniel pleased and wholesome for a few years by breaking down precisely what they want and easy methods to get it.
This Spaniel sort is very athletic and wishes loads of help to maintain up power ranges with out growing weight. Entire proteins encourage correct muscle tone and maintain your Spaniel's general physique mass on the proper place.
These Spaniels are shiny, so a great high quality meals additionally prevents the dulling that may occur when any animal (together with people) eat horrible high quality meals. You could get monetary savings within the short-term shopping for discount meals, however you'll find yourself on the vet's workplace greater than you'd like.
Forestall this by serving your Brittany solely the very best high quality meals that may present power all day and encourage correct progress. Well being begins with the weight loss plan, and Brittany canine could be extra vulnerable to diet-related points than another breeds.
Brittany canine are fairly wholesome canine, however there are a number of circumstances to be careful for. Food plan may help alleviate the signs from most of those circumstances, so it's essential to think about them once you're selecting meals.
Athletic canine breeds are all vulnerable to this genetic situation, so Brittany canine must be watched rigorously for the indicators. It occurs when the hip socket types appropriately, making canine with the situation extra more likely to pop the joint misplaced throughout heavy train or with extra weight. Preserving your Brittany on the excellent weight can alleviate the signs, as can correct protein to take care of muscle tone and help for these joints.
This situation can also be genetic and would require medicine to assist your Brittany keep a top quality of life. Nevertheless, a correct food plan helps help thyroid perform by retaining your Brittany on the proper weight and stopping blood sugar spikes. Gluten-Free diets could also be useful right here.
This Spaniel selection is a lithe, athletic breed, so even a small bit of additional weight might have detrimental results on its well being. It may well stress joints and bones, trigger points with genetic circumstances corresponding to thyroid points, and stop your Spaniel from collaborating in life absolutely. Controlling your Spaniel's weight, particularly within the senior years, is a crucial a part of feeding.
Full proteins must be the primary ingredient in your pet food to make sure that muscle tone is supported, and power ranges are stored regular. Combine it with high quality complicated carbohydrates to stop blood sugar spikes and your Brittany may have power all day lengthy.
Fruits and veggies present vitamin and minerals to help the immune system plus present prebiotics for higher digestion. Good fiber sources assist hold weight underneath management and in addition assist your Brittany to really feel full after consuming.
Important fatty acids help mind well being and maintain the pores and skin from being infected. Be sure the meals has loads of glucosamine and chondroitin whether or not your Brittany is a senior or to not assist alleviate the long-term results of joint getting older.
Low cost fillers similar to corn and soy may cause allergic reactions in delicate canine and trigger pointless weight achieve. They haven't any dietary worth and serve solely to convey down the price of the meals itself. They shouldn't seem anyplace within the elements listing.
Different components to keep away from are synthetic colours and flavors, which give no dietary worth and by-product meals which make it troublesome to determine what meat is definitely within the meals. Rigorously controlling your canine's food regimen retains well being at its greatest, so keep away from these elements as nicely.
Lately, a attainable hyperlink was uncovered between a weight-reduction plan excessive in potatoes, peas, and legumes and a situation referred to as Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy. It causes the partitions of the guts to enlarge and weaken. Since we aren't positive of the actual connection simply but, speak together with your vet about what to do and attempt to keep away from meals that listing these elements within the first three positions.
We see these manufacturers on a regular basis on cabinets, and though they do supply a discount, you're doubtless ruining your pet's well being in the long term. You may even see them on the cabinets, however we advocate operating distant.
Ol Roy: Walmart's pet food model is excessive on amount however not a lot else. It does function one of many lowest prices per ounce on the market, however there's additionally nothing however purple flag elements similar to soy and corn. Keep away from the temptation to economize with this one.
Alpo: We will't even keep in mind what number of occasions this model has been recalled as a consequence of high quality management points. Plus, it makes use of low cost fillers and poor sources of meat and protein to deliver down the price. Your canine might just like the style, however you gained't just like the end result.
Kibbles N Bits: This old skool meals is actually widespread, however it has corn, soy, synthetic flavors, synthetic elements, and by-product meals. Simply keep away from it regardless of how straightforward it's to seek out in all places from huge field shops to your nook fuel station market.
Puppies: Puppies will change fairly a bit over their maturation, however usually they begin out with three to 4 meals per day. Feeding parts depend upon the meals and your vet's recommendation.
Adults: Adults obtain round two cups of meals per day divided into two meals. Verify together with your vet and the advisable serving measurement of your specific meals for particular portion sizes.
Seniors: As your Brittany ages, your vet might regulate portion sizes a bit to account for durations of inactivity and weight achieve. It's crucial right here to take care of a correct weight to keep away from critical points.
Your Brittany wants loads of protein and carbs for power, however weight management is a crucial a part of this course of. To take care of athletic tone and psychological acuity, you need to search for meals excessive in protein and fatty acids whereas low in empty energy.
Intuition by Nature's Selection makes use of actual uncooked meals, freeze-dried for higher storage. It's combined in with premium kibble to offer high-quality protein. Important fatty acids help pores and skin well being whereas fruits and veggies give your Brittany important nutritional vitamins and antioxidants to advertise general well being and properly being.
Intuition By Nature's Selection mimics your Brittany's canine ancestral weight-reduction plan by means of uncooked meat bits and loads of fruits and veggies. The corporate's recipes assist your companion keep wonderful general well being and encourage even choosy Spaniels to eat frequently.
Blue Buffalo is a wonderful reasonably priced various to higher-end meals with out sacrificing vitamin. It options high-quality protein from a lean supply that additionally supplies loads of fatty acids to help mind and pores and skin well being. It's grain free and accommodates no empty fillers that may trigger allergic reactions.
Blue Buffalo started with a quest to offer the most effective vitamin to a single canine, Blue. That Airedale Terrier impressed a whole vary of meals that provide high-quality meals at extra reasonably priced costs to maintain your Brittany in prime form.
Ollie creates absolutely cooked meals utilizing human grade elements to assist pet house owners stability the vitamin of uncooked meals with the convenience of kibble. Wholesome Turkey feast makes use of entire turkey for high quality protein plus entire fruits and veggies for important nutritional vitamins and antioxidants. The meals ought to fulfill even your pickiest companion.
Ollie prides itself in making high-quality meals extra accessible to pet house owners. They use vet suggestions to create nutrient-dense recipes to be delivered to your door able to serve or to refrigerate for later. It's a superb choice when you've ever needed to serve uncooked meals however aren't ready for the effort.
Puppies change lots throughout their younger years, so feeding them shall be a altering recreation. Your veterinarian will in all probability alter the feeding schedule and parts a number of occasions in the course of the pet years, so be prepared for the change.
American Journey's pet components offers all of the constructing blocks your Brittany might want to develop wholesome and lively with out stressing joints and bone construction. Entire proteins and a posh carbohydrate mix provides your pet power and encourages muscle tone. It's grain free and accommodates no low cost fillers that may set off sensitivities or stimulate speedy progress and weight achieve.
American Journey makes use of components from trusted suppliers solely, creating recipes designed to assist your canine construct well being and wellness from the very starting. Premium proteins, entire fruits and veggies, and loads of nutritional vitamins give your Brittany pup one of the best beginnings.
Merrick's grain free moist meals might help your choosy pet eat with out triggering meals sensitivities. It makes use of entire hen for a top quality protein supply and accommodates loads of fiber and moisture to encourage correct digestion and weight. It's appropriate for each including to kibble and as a meal by itself.
Merrick makes use of entire, regionally sourced components to provide puppies the most effective begin in life. It's a smaller firm and creates every recipe in its personal check kitchens earlier than launch to offer one of the best recipes on your Brittany.
This can be a essential time in your Brittany. Sustaining correct weight within the face of declining exercise ranges is mission primary. Plus, seniors can profit from dietary supplements for joint well being and fatty acids to maintain their minds sharp.
Now Recent's recipe makes use of balanced proteins and carbohydrates to assist keep a wholesome weight. Full proteins assist help muscle tone whereas glucosamine and chondroitin can present higher cushioning for getting old joints. Fatty acids are wonderful for mind well being and retaining the pores and skin away from irritation.
Now Recent is dedicated to offering your pet with high quality kibble that may assist rework these golden years into high quality time and wellbeing. Their recipes stability proteins and carbs to stop pointless weight achieve whereas entire fruits and veggies full your Brittany's eating regimen. They're dedicated to holistic vitamin and consider that a lot of your pet's well being begins with the right meals.
Nutro's senior formulation makes use of wealthy lamb as a supply of entire protein and fats appropriate for ageing seniors. Rice offers lasting power with out packing on the kilos. It makes use of a restricted ingredient formulation to alleviate sensitivities and assist your senior Brittany digest meals with fewer issues. Plus, glucosamine and chondroitin help getting older joints whereas fatty acids promote mind well being.
Nutro offers loads of high quality kibble to assist your senior keep a top quality of life becoming in your greatest pal. The corporate was out there solely in specialty shops however has expanded within the perception that each one pet house owners deserve the prospect to offer wonderful meals for his or her canine, regardless of the life stage.
Your Brittany is a extremely athletic, extremely smart canine that loves nothing greater than to run till it's spent after which move out subsequent to a favourite member of the family for a very good, lengthy nap. Feeding your Brittany high quality meals helps helps that power and stop stressing the joints and bone construction, particularly later in life. As your Brittany ages, sustaining correct weight is precedence primary and significant to sustaining an excellent high quality of life.
Our chosen meals use solely high-quality components for higher vitamin so you possibly can cease worrying about how your Brittany is ageing and begin worrying about how one can burn off all that additional power. Put your time into one thing you each love as an alternative of fixed vet visits and luxuriate in your Brittany from puppyhood proper into the twilight years. For such a curious canine, the one factor you must by no means fear about is the food regimen.


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GCSO: Mom whose SUV was stolen with child inside is charged
Judge sets bond
Updated: 11:53 PM EDT May 20, 2014
Edith Alvarado: Accused of leaving her child in an SUV that ended up stolen
The mother of a child left in an SUV that was stolen from a bakery parking lot has been charged, according to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.A judge set bond at $1,093 for Edith Alvarado, 33. She has been charged with cruelty to children, said deputies.According to deputies, Alvarado stopped at La Esperanza Bakery at 1152 N. Pleasantburg Drive Friday morning and went inside the store to purchase items.Alvarado left her 3-year-old son sleeping in his car seat in the vehicle, which she also left running and unsecured, said deputies.According to deputies, while Alvarado was inside the store, the car was stolen by Perry Joe Anthony with the child still inside.Anthony dropped the child off before being involved in a pursuit with law enforcement from Greenville County ending in Pickens County.The child was found unharmed, still in his car seat, on the roadside on Rivercrest Drive at Sammons Road in Taylors.According to deputies, Anthony was taken into custody after being arrested for trespassing in Pickens County.Anthony appeared in bond court Saturday morning.The Sheriff's Office said Anthony is charged with one count each of kidnapping, driving under suspension (third or subsequent offense), habitual offender, grand larceny and failure to stop for blue lights.Anthony had few words during the hearing at the Greenville County Detention Center, as the judge set bond on all charges except for kidnapping. A $5,000 bond was set for driving under suspension, habitual offender, grand larceny and failure to stop for blue lights.No victims in this case were present at the hearing.Deputies said Alvarado's actions caused her child ill treatment, unnecessary pain and suffering, and/or deprivation of necessary sustenance or shelter, leading to the charge against her."She thought she was doing the right thing letting the child sleep, left the car running, had the heat on for the child because it was cool that morning. She thought she was doing what she should, but didn't think about what could have happened," said Master Deputy Jonathan Smith.A court date will be set for Alvarado once she posts bond.A cruelty to children charge is a misdemeanor. A conviction carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $200 fine.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —
The mother of a child left in an SUV that was stolen from a bakery parking lot has been charged, according to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
A judge set bond at $1,093 for Edith Alvarado, 33. She has been charged with cruelty to children, said deputies.
Pictures: Child found safe after being taken in stolen SUV
According to deputies, Alvarado stopped at La Esperanza Bakery at 1152 N. Pleasantburg Drive Friday morning and went inside the store to purchase items.
Alvarado left her 3-year-old son sleeping in his car seat in the vehicle, which she also left running and unsecured, said deputies.
According to deputies, while Alvarado was inside the store, the car was stolen by Perry Joe Anthony with the child still inside.
Anthony dropped the child off before being involved in a pursuit with law enforcement from Greenville County ending in Pickens County.
The child was found unharmed, still in his car seat, on the roadside on Rivercrest Drive at Sammons Road in Taylors.
According to deputies, Anthony was taken into custody after being arrested for trespassing in Pickens County.
[image id='e87fd49b-2a59-45cf-b743-2cc71e3fce79' mediaId='0b714c3b-e444-40e0-96f0-c8ab83c16663' align='left' size='medium' share='false' show_copyright='true' caption='' expand='true' crop='1x1'][/image]Anthony appeared in bond court Saturday morning.
The Sheriff's Office said Anthony is charged with one count each of kidnapping, driving under suspension (third or subsequent offense), habitual offender, grand larceny and failure to stop for blue lights.
Anthony had few words during the hearing at the Greenville County Detention Center, as the judge set bond on all charges except for kidnapping. A $5,000 bond was set for driving under suspension, habitual offender, grand larceny and failure to stop for blue lights.
No victims in this case were present at the hearing.
Deputies said Alvarado's actions caused her child ill treatment, unnecessary pain and suffering, and/or deprivation of necessary sustenance or shelter, leading to the charge against her.
"She thought she was doing the right thing letting the child sleep, left the car running, had the heat on for the child because it was cool that morning. She thought she was doing what she should, but didn't think about what could have happened," said Master Deputy Jonathan Smith.
A court date will be set for Alvarado once she posts bond.
A cruelty to children charge is a misdemeanor. A conviction carries a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail or a $200 fine.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


1200 E. 79th Street, Chicago, IL to benefit the Chicago Business Community.
You are invited to ARNs Launch for the New Business Website, YouTube Channel, and Alisha4Real's New Book.
Business Owners from various industries will be there to network and talk about how to improve your business by leveraging resources to increase profits.
Administrative Resolutions Network (ARN) helps overwhelmed business owners become bigger and better versions of themselves so they can grow manageable, profitable and scalable businesses.
In simpler words? We identify business opportunities and create plans that help our clients take back control of their time and focus on what they do best. We specialize in helping you manage it all by providing clear oversight of your team and projects, making it possible for you to focus on being the CEO of your business.


The Call for Entries titled Future Food Design Awards 2018 is now open!
CALL FOR ENTRIES - Future Food Design Awards FFDA 2018 is a Food Competition organised by Food Cabinet with a goal to stimulate designers that have an important, remarkable and innovative perspective on the food system and to give promising ideas the attention they deserve and push for these ideas to be developed further.
The 2nd edition of the Food Competition titled Future Food Design Awards FFDA, an initiative of The Dutch Institute of Food&Design, Agri Meets Design and organized by Food Cabinet is now open for entries for 2018 inviting designers from all corners of the world to share their ideas and projects that challenge our conventional view of food.
The goal of this Food Competition is to stimulate designers that have an important, remarkable and innovative perspective on the food system. They want to give promising ideas the attention they deserve and push for these ideas to be developed further. Moreover, they hope to establish more of a connection between the two worlds of food and design to promote exchange and a more open attitude towards the other's perspective.
The FFDA is looking for designs that challenge our conventional view of food. Concepts can range from developing a new food culture to reshuffling the food chain. Issues such as land management, the use of fresh water reserves, the influence of agriculture on climate and the use of scarce resources are issues that are shared worldwide and are all related to food security. Other themes could be contemporary domestic table customs, migration, technology and eating habits. The Future Food Design Awards challenges designers to use their vision of the future of our food as a mirror for all human beings and their food consumption.
Concepts can range from developing a new food culture to reshuffling the food chain. Issues such as land management, the use of fresh water reserves, the influence of agriculture on climate and the use of scarce resources are issues that are shared worldwide and are all related to food security. Other themes could be contemporary domestic table customs, migration, technology and eating habits. The FFDA challenges designers to use their vision of the future of our food as a mirror for all human beings and their food consumption.
• The impact on a healthier, fairer and/or more sustainable future for food ⟶ this is open to broad interpretation and can include raising awareness, contributing to a debate, reaching a wide audience, changing agricultural practices, shaping a new food culture, etc.
• The extent to which creative design and design thinking has been applied in the project and/or the process ⟶ is the design striking, unique and distinct in the field of design, does it demonstrate a vision?
• The degree of urgency and social engagement of the project design ⟶ does the design pose an interesting question at this point in time for society in general?
The jury (t.b.a.) will select 3 nominees from among all the entries for the audience award and 1 winner to receive the jury incentive award. Nominees will be notifiedhe 11 September 2018. The jury will reveal both the winner of the jury award and the winner of the audience award at the FFDA award show during Dutch Design Week 2018 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Future Food Design Awards FFDA 2018 is open to all designers that have an important, remarkable and innovative perspective on the food system.
The jury (t.b.a.) will select 3 nominees from among all the entries for the audience award of 2,500 EUR, and 1 winner to receive the jury incentive award of 5,000 EUR. Moreover, your project will be prominently mentioned by their mediapartners Design Indaba & MOLD. The jury will reveal both the winner of the jury award and the winner of the audience award at the FFDA award show during Dutch Design Week 2018 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.


Published by the Minster FM News Team at 12:35pm 28th May 2014.
Companies looking to move into the area or expand are now able to enter their requirements via a newly lanched website and find the exact building and location they are seeking.
The enhanced website at www.businessinspiredgrowth.com/properties has been launched by Business Inspired Growth, a private-sector led organisation, with representatives from the public sector, which aims to deliver good quality, sustainable, economic improvements across the region.
Selby District Council is supporting the roll-out of the property search website as part of its Programme for Growth initiative, which aims to provide practical support to businesses looking to invest and grow.
One company which is pleased it moved into the Selby district is Caffe Society Ltd, located in Moxon Way, Sherburn in Elmet. The company, which supplies coffee machines and other catering equipment, moved into the area in 2005 from its previous base in Wetherby.
"We expanded so much that we had to build a new unit nearby which we moved into in 2012 and we have plans for further growth in the near future. Here in the Selby district is an ideal location in terms of the major road network, it's handy for our customers and ideal for staff to get to.
"We have 21,000 square feet here and employ 32 people but we are thinking we will need more space before long to look after all our customers. We are glad we moved here, the location is perfect and there is room to grow."
Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Crane, explained why the Council is backing this new online resource, "One of our key selling points for business growth in the Selby district is commercial and industrial space, which can support a wide range of sectors. Our major new developments are just part of the story, with opportunities for companies to relocate into the area or expand existing premises already there. This new website resource helps match supply and demand and we hope it will help to draw in more investment to the Selby district, which ultimately supports jobs."


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Consolidated Freightways Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday and canned15,500 workers throughout the country. Operations of the company's CF AirFreight and Canadian Freightways Ltd. units are continuing normally, and their employees will keep their jobs, the company said.
The 73-year-old trucking company's stock had tumbled since it requested an extension in filing its second-quarter earnings in mid August and announced it might be de-listed from the Nasdaq stock market.
During the first three months of 2002, CF lost $36.5 million on $463 million in revenue. The Vancouver, WA-based company lost $104.3 million last year and $7.6 million in 2000.
Workers calling into the company on Labor Day heard a recorded message from Chief Executive John Brincko telling them not to show up Tuesday. Employees also were told by the recording their "employment ends immediately."
In letters mailed to workers Tuesday, the company said it simply didn't have enough money to continue operations. The company's stock traded on the Nasdaq market at more than $18 in early 1999, but closed at just 71 cents Friday.
CF, the nation's third-largest less-than-truckload carrier, has 350 terminals and 30,000 trucks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The country's largest less-than-truckload carrier is Yellow Corp. of Overland Park, KS, followed by Roadway Corp of Akron, OH.


What's the meaning of the phrase 'Funny farm'?
What's the origin of the phrase 'Funny farm'?
"You might start to believe it, then I'd have to make a reservation for you at the Funny Farm."
Other variants are 'funny bin', 'funny place', 'funny house', 'funny factory' etc.


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Senna vs. Vettel
Is Vettel The New Senna?
Dave Golokhov
Why Is He Famous?
Formula 1 has a long, rich history, but German Sebastian Vettel has been re-writing the records with his remarkable accomplishments at such a young age.
As a 22-years-old, he placed second in the Driver's Championship standings, becoming the youngest ever to finish as a runner-up. Just one year later, he did even better by becoming the youngest to win it at 23. While his young career has been quite impressive, his success continued to soar with a scorching performance in the early part of 2011.
Eleven races into the 2011 season, Vettel has already all but taken the Driver's Championship after winning six races while finishing lower than second just once.
He has 16 wins in his career and needs just seven more to enter the list of top 10 all-time wins. That's an impressive feat considering he's really only been racing full-time for three years.
Why We Love Him
Vettel has an affable personality, which is welcome on the F1 scene. He's always quick with a joke in post-race press conference or even before it, when he names his cars. He's been behind the wheel of Kate's Dirty Sister (2008), Luscious Liz (2009), Randy Mandy (2010), and now Kinky Kylie (2011).
But he's not a playboy; he's very humble and appreciative of the fact that he's made it big. He's hardly arrogant, and he's friendly to the media. Overall, he's simply down to earth.
His Success
Vettel has his named etched all over the record books, as he's the youngest F1 driver to accomplish a number of feats:
-Youngest to drive at a Grand Prix meeting
-Youngest to set a fastest time at an official Grand Prix meeting
-Youngest race leader in Formula 1, at least for a lap
-Youngest pole position winner
-Youngest Grand Prix winner
-Youngest Formula Driver's Champion
But he's already started to assault the records books for other feats not related to age, such as scoring the most Top 2 finishes from the start of the season (with nine in 2011).
He's on-pace for back-to-back Driver's Championships, and he's just turned 24. The sky is truly the limit for Vettel.
Why He Could Be The Next Senna
While Senna and Vettel are very different drivers from a style perspective, Vettel does have all the makings of becoming the next potential legend to dominate the sport like Senna once did. Over a span of four years from 1988-1991, Senna was as dominant as they come on the F1 circuit, but Vettel is making his case. He's already won six times in the 2011 season, and there's eight more races to go. Senna ended his career winning just over 25% of his races entered, and Vettel is already near that mark.
Senna was a more aggressive driver than Vettel, but their blazing speeds do recall similarities. If Vettel stays on this pace, he could turn out to be the best racing driver of his generation — just as Senna was of his.
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Best Places To Live In Costa Rica For Expats
The Central Valley
The Pacific Coast
The Central Pacific Coast
The Southern Pacific Coast
The Caribbean Coast
The Province of Limon
Best places to live in Costa Rica – summary
Costa Rica is very popular with expats, especially from the USA, as an affordable retirement destination. Although not very big, the country is diverse, so which regions should you choose to settle in and why? Here is the list of the best places to live in Costa Rica.
The Central Valley is a favourite Costa Rican destination for expats. This is understandable; the region is centred around the capital of the country – San Jose – and has all the facilities at hand: an international airport, great shopping and entertainment, and hospitals and clinics.
Mountain roads allow for spectacular views: looking from the mountains towards the Central Valley in Costa Rica
Weather-wise, the region is extraordinarily mild and gentle, with average temperatures sitting about 22º C all year round.
The Costa Rican capital of San Jose, lovingly called Chepe by locals, would definitely fail dramatically in any beauty pageant. It is not a pretty city – it is full of ugly commercial structures, crumbling pavements and numerous World War II era buildings that fill the city's skyline.
Cherry blossom in San Jose, Costa Rica
Unfortunately due to the fact that the city is relatively young, San Jose cannot boast much in terms of the antique colonial architecture that is typical in other Latin American countries.
What it has in abundance though is a vibrant and dynamic life charged with energy and drive. San Jose is the cultural hub of the country, it's where theatres, museums and galleries thrive and attract people from all over the nation.
There are a lot of great places to eat out as well, and, of course, to drink coffee.
The Central Valley has some of the best soil and weather for growing coffee. That's how the tiny village of San Jose came into the spotlight in the 18th century and started to develop into the coffee capital of the region.
Since that time, coffee has been an important part of the Costa Rican economy and history. Nowadays the "grano de oro" (golden grain) industry attracts thousands of tourists with its coffee varieties and fantastic coffee tours across the country.
If you are not greatly impressed by the urban touch of San Jose (and some expats are not) but want to be close enough to its facilities, look at the city's suburbs.
The church and park of Escazu
Western suburbs of Escazu and Santa Ana are becoming more and more attractive locations for expats.
Escazu is definitely one of the trendiest and most upscale suburbs of San Jose. Its residents enjoy the calm, laid back feel of the town while being in close proximity to the capital.
Escazu has everything for luxury living: shopping, restaurants, hotels, gyms and the exclusive Costa Rica Country Club with an 18-hole championship golf course.
Several foreign embassies are located there, as are the residences of the U.S. and British ambassadors. There is also a large English-speaking expat community.
And it's not too far away from the coast – only an hour's drive to the Pacific.
Santa Ana is a smaller town than Escazu but is growing rapidly in size and popularity with expats, who value the mix of local ambience and tranquillity with modern conveniences and cultural entertainment.
A panoramic view of the Central Valley, Costa Rica
Santa Ana is green and picturesque, its streets are full of flowers and traditional workshops side by side with luxurious hotels and restaurants. Its proximity to Multiplaza – the biggest shopping centre in the country – and to the capital with its facilities makes it one of the nicest places to live.
Both Escazu and Santa Ana have some of the highest-priced properties in Costa Rica. Close to shopping centres and high-end restaurants and providing an easy commute into San Jose, they attract the wealthiest locals and expats.
Since the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia expanded and underwent a total makeover, the Pacific coast's great beaches and destinations have become even more accessible.
Costa Rican beaches on the Pacific coast are truly wonderful: Bahía de Los Piratas (Pirate Beach) with its long stretch of pink sand, never sleeping Samara Beach, Playa Rajada sunset beach, or the beaches of Nicoya peninsula – the choice is endless, and life on the coast is calm and divine, with all the modern conveniences you could need close at hand.
The Guanacaste Region is the heart and the soul of the Costa Rican Pacific Coast. The region is situated in the northwestern part and is drier and hotter than the Caribbean or southern destinations. It has been nicknamed the Gold Coast.
The region is very popular with expats from all over the world and is loaded with small peaceful towns, great beaches and friendly people.
Tamarindo is a little town in the Guanacaste region, famous for its superb surfing, sportfishing and diving.
Playa Tamarindo is excellent for surfers
Its closest beach – Playa Tamarindo – is a long sandy stretch going all the way north to the estuary of the Tamarindo River. The waves near the estuary are excellent for surfing, and currents can be strong, especially on a falling tide. During November and December the waves can get up to 12 feet high.
The beach itself is soft and golden with the sand dropping off very gradually into the ocean. If you are not a surfer, you can hire a boogie board, or just idle away your day reading in the sun.
Both Playa Tamarindo and Playa Granda – another beach just across the estuary – attract scores of nesting leatherback turtles from October to May, which is a delight for turtle lovers to watch. If you are patient enough, you can see the hatchlings emerge and hurriedly make their way to the water.
There is no direct access to Playa Granda from Tamarindo because there is no bridge across the estuary, but tens of small boats run to and fro every day and can ferry you for a small fee.
Tamarindo is an appealing little town and many expats who want coastal living head there to settle down. It is full of gorgeous beach houses, B&Bs and luxury hotels.
Shopping and dining there are great too. Tamarindo has about 80 restaurants, the choice of food is fantastic, and you can sample local flavours as well as international cuisines.
The weather there is extraordinarily good, and even during the rainy season there is sunshine most days.
This region is meant for those who want beachside living not far from the amenities and facilities of the capital.
If you live on the central Pacific coast, then San Jose is a maximum of a 2 hour drive away. Due to its convenient location, this stretch of the coast is one of the most developed in the country and offers everything one might want for the perfect seaside life.
The area also includes some of Costa Rica's best national parks.
Jaco is a coastal resort city not far from San Jose. It was one of the first towns in Costa Rica to profit from a tourist boom.
Jaco is generally known for it's surfing, beaches, and nightlife.
Since then Jaco has been through ups and downs, and today's Jaco is a very popular seaside town attracting thousands of expats, retirees, developers, surfers and party-lovers. It's not the place for quiet observation and contemplation, it is all about enjoying life to the full.
Playa Jaco is the hub and the heart of the area – the beach stretches 2.5 miles (4 km), is framed by lush tropical forests, and offers some of the best surfing in the world.
There is no shortage of entertainment on offer night or day: restaurants and shops are cosmopolitan and excellent, daytime activities are extraordinarily adventurous, and nightlife is vibrant and lacks nothing.
The Southern Pacific Coast, or the Southern Zone, is a perfect area for those who are after peace and tranquility as opposed to the non-stop party lifestyle that Jaco offers.
This whole region near the Panama border hasn't been touched yet by grand developments and urbanisation. It is calm and quiet, and much loved by those expats and retirees who adore unspoiled views and natural beauty.
Costa Ballena is one of the most strikingly beautiful Costa Rican destinations, its scenery and lushness are breathtaking, its sandy beaches are serene, its gushing rivers carry welcomingly cooling waters, and its effervescent waterfalls are mesmerising.
This region is all about nature as it is.
Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita – Punta Uvita
Costa Ballena means "coast of whales", and it is the mating area of the humpback whales from December to April. During this time you can view migrating whales and dolphins out at sea. Sea turtles often come to Ballena Marine National Park, which is located just past Uvita.
The coast is covered in pristine beaches and dotted with small cosy towns and beachside villages. The region is up and coming but still uncrowded, and it is possible to find a nice home on the jungle slope facing the ocean, and wake up every morning to the divine view and sound of the Pacific.
There is a small expat community scattered along Costa Ballena, those expats and retirees who value eco-living find the region the best place to settle down.
Despite being relatively quiet, the region has its little hubs of shopping, entertainment and fine dining. There are transport links, council services and hospitals as well as a few gourmet restaurants around there — some say the best in the country.
Little coastal towns such as Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal have something to offer in terms of amenities, but there are bigger towns a bit further inland, such as San Isidro de El General, where you can find everything necessary for a comfortable life.
The Caribbean Coast is "the other Costa Rica" – a stunning, diverse and largely underappreciated part of the country.
It is nearly 125 miles long and stretches all the way between Panama and Nicaragua.
Horse riding in Punta Uva Beach, Costa Rica
The region is far from being crowded, the beaches are picture-perfect, and the water is emerald and turquoise framed by green valleys and the impressive Talamanca Mountains in the background.
Nearly 70% of the Caribbean Coast is under protection, so it is the perfect place to get closer to nature.
Limon is a Costa Rican province that takes up the country's entire stretch of the Caribbean Coast.
It is lush and pristine, with white-sand beaches lined with coconut trees, untouched prehistoric rain forests, and unparalleled landscapes. And yet, this province of Costa Rica remains the least visited place in the country.
Because of this there is no tourist hype in the region, the prices are low, there are no big scale developments in the area, the local culture, unspoiled by globalisation, is unique and diverse at the same time, and people are open, friendly and curious.
Most of the locals are of the indigenous population, but there are more than 100,000 descendants of Africans who arrived on the coast in the 19th century. This fantastic cultural mix is reflected in the music, food and even the language, with many older locals speaking Creole English.
Some of Costa Rica's most delightful beaches, like Punta Uva, Playa Chiquita and Manzanillo, are on the Caribbean Coast, and you'll never see them overcrowded. It's not rare to experience the bliss of having the whole beach to yourself.
Because the region is protected and any development undertaken there must be low-impact, Limon is bound to stay this way – lush and steamy green, with long inviting beaches, pretty valleys and stunning landscapes.
The cost of living in the region is low. Dozens of small fishing villages along the coast provide the best and freshest seafood for local cafes, which stand side by side with modern international restaurants and sushi-bars.
Shops and supermarkets stock exported goods and food as well as local produce, and activities such as golf, tennis and gyms can be found all over the coast. And although the region is still sparsely populated, the number of its residents, including expats, is slowly growing. Limon's quiet charm and closeness to nature attract more and more people each year.
However, Limon is not all about basic living on a wild beach. The capital of the region of Puerto Limon is the local cultural hub. It is a bustling port town with extravagant open-air markets, little shops and cafes, and a few museums that can help you to get to know the region better.
Parque Vargas, City Park in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Puerto Limon is famous for its Parque Vargas, a lovely park near the city's waterfront, full of tropical trees and exotic vegetation, which is also the favourite residential quarters of the local sloth community.
Puerto Limon is about 2.5 hours drive away from San Jose. Or you can take one of the many daily flights from Limon International Airport to the capital.
There are so many wonderful locations in Costa Rica and before you choose the one to call home make sure you know it well enough.
This country is full of micro-climate pockets. One place can get a whole lot of rain, while at the same time a location just a few miles away stays dry.
The best thing you can do is to spend several months to a year renting and exploring and talking to people to find out if an area suits you.
You might find useful:
Living In Costa Rica – a detailed expat guide to moving to and living in Costa Rica;
Visit our home page for more information on Living Abroad.


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Q: Acer Aspire 5742G - Computer does not wake up from standby Issue is in Windows 7 as well as in Debian Wheezy.
In Windows every manufacturer recommended Driver is installed and the Bios is on the latest version. Windows was installed from the W7x64 SP1-U Image from Microsoft, not from a Acer recovery Image. The drivers are from Acer's site, too and are the same ones that were in the recovery image.
OSes can launch standby just fine, laptop goes silent, lights off.
When I press any button it either:

*

*lives up shortly to power off again before the screen turns on.

*blinks the power led, runs the drives, turns them off again, 1 sec passes, the same thing again over and over, like some stuck initialization.

How can I fix that?
PS: I want a working resume from standby, not hardresetting it to get it up again, that would defy the reason for standby.

A: I had a problem with an Aspire R7 that would sometimes not wake from sleep or standby.  I found somewhere that when the laptop is not responding correctly, do a hard reset.  There is not a way to remove the battery, but there is a tiny pinhole in the back or under side. Has a battery like icon. Press is for about 5 seconds and let go. Turn on your laptop.  If everything looks normal, cool. If not, please take notes on what you see and error codes for more troubleshooting.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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History of DeRidder
Historical Gallery
Sugartown 1954
(Much of this story is from the notes of Don McFatter who gave a talk regarding the history of Sugartown)
The general consensus is that Sugartown became what could be called a permanent settlement around 1825. Many people helped to bring this about. Here is a sampling - but by no means complete - of the family names found in Sugartown's past and present: Andrews, Baggett, Bailey, Boggs, Caraway, Cole, Dickens, Gill, Jones, Holoway, Iles, Kemp, McDonald, McFatter, Moore, Officer, Sanders, Seamon, Singleton, Smith, Spears, Stracener, Watson, Welch, Weldon, Young - and the one black family in Sugartown, Cooper.
Allen Parish is two miles east on Highway 112, and Vernon Parish is two miles north on Highway 113.
Like all other pioneer communities, the people were very self-sufficient and imported very little, if anything. This condition existed for the most part until after the Civil War. Cooking was done over open fireplaces, and there was only candlelight at night. The houses were of the "dog trot" type with wooden shake roofing.
Gradually, a few enterprising people began putting in businesses at Sugartown. A tanning yard was established, along with a rope works, grist mills for grinding grain into meal, and syrup mills for making syrup. Both the grist mill and syrup mill were operated by "horsepower" in the truest sense.
The Pony Express ran out of Lake Charles and served the area for a period of time. The first post office was established in Sugartown in 1841. Prior to that, the mail had to be picked up at Belgrade, Texas, which was a boat landing on the Sabine River just south of the present town of Merryville.
It is recorded that in 1861, there were 150 families living within a ten-mile radius of Sugartown. These families didn't have many of what we refer to as conveniences, but they had a good life nevertheless. Dancing was held monthly in various homes in the community with music furnished by two black fiddlers named Uncle Rube and Joe who came over from the Ten Mile community which was located to the east of Sugartown. Campground meetings and religious gatherings were quite common back then. Many of them lasted for days and were as much a social gathering as they were religious.
Stores handling a general line of merchandise had opened during the 1860's. By 1870, they were stocking yard goods for dresses and rough jean material for men's work clothes. By the 1880's, the stores were carrying ready-made clothes.
The people of Sugartown have made many contributions through the years, but many people consider the most important contribution made by this community to be the establishment of the Male and Female Academy in 1880. This academy was felt to be the beginning of the educational system in southwest Louisiana. The first professor was WH. Baldwin out of Columbia University, New York. He was quite a recruiter and drew students from eight or nine surrounding parishes and even students from east Texas. The tuition at the academy ran from two dollars to four dollars a month.
At the turn of the 20th century, there existed in Sugartown a Masonic lodge, schools, churches, racetrack, saloons, and boarding houses, as well as several stores and doctors.
One of the notable medical doctors in Sugartown was Dr. Henry Ray Officer. He had arrived in Sugartown shortly after the turn of the century. He taught school for a couple of years and then started his medical practice. Dr. Officer did something back then that you don't find today - his office was open on Sunday. In fact, Sunday was one of the doctor's better days with two busloads of patients coming in from east Texas and remaining there most of the day while Dr. Officer checked everyone out. Each person leaving his office would be carrying one small bottle and one large bottle. It was said that these bottles made him a rich man.
The population of Sugartown began to dwindle; and businesses moved away when the railroads were laid to serve the busy sawmill towns of Bon Ami, Ludington, Fullerton, and DeRidder. Had any of these mills or rail lines been built at Sugartown, it probably would have retained its prominent role as the leader and queen city of the frontier.
Sugartown Photo Gallery
200 S Jefferson Street | DeRidder, LA 70634 | Phone: 337-462-8900 | Fax: 337-462-8908 | Contact Us
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'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum' releases 17th May 2019.
After killing a member of the international assassin's guild, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on the run with a $14 Million dollar hit on his head.
Also stars Halle Berry, Jason Mantzoukas, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Robin Lord Taylor, and more.


Before blogging existed, there was Patrick. Now that blogging exists, he's only 15 years behind the times. This site will endeavour to collate all of Patrick's writings over the last 30-odd years into one easy-to-read source. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll die a little on the inside.
Patrick secures his second Grand Salami!
Despite battling crippling back pain and jaunting through a packed calendar of gigs and dinner parties, Patrick claimed his second Grand Salami in February 2018. He completed the final instalment while listening to the Hottest 100 of 2010.
Patrick sees a lot of films. Patrick sends a lot of tweets. He generally sends one tweet per film.
Patrick's annual tradition lives on! It's the #P100, his countdown of the Top 100 Songs of 2017!
Step inside and check out Patrick's Top 17 TV Shows of 2017, including a careless Stranger Things spoiler.
30 pieces of David Foster Wallace contributions to the literary canon — most are links to essays or short stories; one is a picture of me in costumer as an Infinite Jest character — to mark nine years since The Great Man's felo de se.


COLUMBUS, Ohio — Police in Ohio's capital city of Columbus say a K9 officer verbally correcting his dog's behaviors was attacked by the animal and had to shoot it.
The Columbus Division of Police says Officer Brian Carter suffered "serious" bites to his arms during a training session Saturday morning. Carter was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery Saturday afternoon.
Columbus K9 Unit supervisor Sgt. Mark Cartwright says it's the first time that a Columbus officer has had to shoot a K9 partner.


As we move into April, St. Paul is anticipating many changes. Some of the changes we greet with enthusiasm, some with mixed feelings.
Thank You, Heidi! March 31 will be the last Sunday that Heidi Polzin will serve as our organist for the 8:30 Service. Heidi has been our organist since 2014. I have appreciated her talent, hard work, and enthusiasm since I have been Pastor of St. Paul. Heidi is definitely a team player and is always willing to do what she can to enhance the ministry of our congregation. Along with playing the organ, Heidi has shared her gifts as a flute player, pianist and singer. She and David, along with Aubrey and Isaac, are moving back to Minnesota in June. We are happy that they are opening a new chapter in their lives, but we will certainly miss them.
Welcome Sandy! At the same time, we are excited to welcome Sandy Davis-Quarles as our new organist. Sandy is a graduate of Ohio State University and the University of Florida. She has worked for the Air Force as an engineer for 31 years and currently works at Eglin Air Force Base. Sandy has over 25 years of experience as an organist and church musician, including at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Walton Beach and at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Upper Arlington, Ohio. Sandy and her husband, John, recently moved back to Niceville from Columbus, Ohio.
Changes in the Kitchen: As many of you know, Mike and Diane Ballard have place their home in Niceville on the market. They are building a home near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and hope to move there when it is completed this summer. They are making the move to be closer to their daughter, April, and her husband, Frank. Again, we are happy for the Ballards as they open a new chapter, but we will miss them and the many ways they contribute to our ministry at St. Paul.
This means that we need to make plans for this coming fall. We know that we will not be able to duplicate the work that Diane has done at St. Paul. Her abilities, hard work and dedication cannot be matched. Carl Spring, Deacon for Parish Life, is currently planning for how Wednesday Night meals and other events will be organized. He is hoping that a combination of pot luck dinners and dinners hosted by various groups (as takes place in Lent) will work for us. You will be hearing more as plans take shape.
VBS Changes: Our Vacation Bible School program will be changing in 2019 as well. Our enrollment has been so high for the last two years that the Board of Education decided to hold two weeks of VBS this year. The first week, May 20-23, will be a Pre-K VBS for ages 3, 4, and 5. The second week, June 17-21, will be a K-5 VBS. Our VBS director for this year is Karen Painter, who is being assisted by Jo Jones. Registration for both weeks have already begun! Go to vbsmate.com/stpaulniceville to register, or pick up a form in the office. Look in the Sunday Announcements for more information.
Bowling League: Josh Landon has been working hard to start a St. Paul bowling league. Beginning on Sunday, March 31, we will be bowling at Hurricane Lanes in Destin from 2:00 to 4:30 on Sunday afternoons. Those who would like to ride as a group should gather at St. Paul a little before 1:30. The church van will depart at 1:30 for the ride to Destin. Cost is $10 per player, plus $2 for shoe rental. Thanks, Josh.
Baptisms! The month of April, is a time of new life. We will celebrate Easter on April 21. Along with our celebration of Easter, we will also be privileged to witness the baptism of four children during the month. I (Pastor David) will also be teaching a class on Baptism following Easter. This will be a class for parents and other adults, to help them nurture their children in the faith and to understand their own baptism better. More information will come soon.
St. Paul's foreign missionary, Rev. Kristin Engstrom, was sent to the African country of Senegal to be the coordinator of the ELCA's Young Adults in Global Ministry program. Senegal was chosen for this program because the country is stable and the people are friendly. It is a small country of 75,750 sq. mi. (the size of South Dakota) and a population in 1990 of 7,400,000 (the population of New Jersey). Senegal is located on Africa's west coast, the Atlantic Ocean coast. The northern part of the country is dry, part of the Sahel, while the southern part is a wet, tropical area. The coastal areas have the most productive lands and most of the population live there. The eastern inlands receive small amounts of rain are therefore lightly populated. The native population consists of seven major African tribes. Senegal was a French colony from 1895 until it achieved independence in 1960. The French gave the country a democratic, republican style government which the people have retained. This has given them a stable, peaceful country. They are 95% Moslem. They have an amazing sense of hospitality and friendliness. They willingly accept non-Moslem outsiders like Rev. Kristin and her young missionary trainees. They not only make them welcome, they make them part of their communities. Let us pray for Rev. Kristin and for her young volunteers. We need to support Rev. Kristin with our generous gifts to Missionary Support. A picture of Rev. Kristin is posted on the Mission Bulletin Board.
The LMM monthly Bible Study and Breakfast will be Saturday, April 20, at 7:30 A. M. in the Parish Hall. We are continuing the Course on "Men." This is the second session where we will be discussing the subject "For Men Only: Issues Men face." The Bible study topic is "Fatal Attraction: 'Lust in the eye - adultery in the heart'" (Matthew 5: 21-48). This Bible Study will follow Option 2: Advanced: Teaching with Margin Questions.
The Law meant everything to the Jews. The Law helped them to know whether they were in a right relationship with God or not. The Law was their rule of life. In this section of the Gospel of Matthew Jesus explains how God's law was not being correctly understood. The true spirit of the law, how God intended His people to live, was being missed.
Jesus takes six examples of the Law: murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation, and love for enemies, and uses them to illustrate and explain exactly how we are to relate to the Old Testament law.
Using those six examples Jesus made a fundamental change in the way of thinking without altering God's standards. Jesus challenged not the law itself, but its rigid interpretations, stating repeatedly words to this effect: "You have heard this, but I tell you there is more to it!" He dealt with the attitudes and intents of the heart, not simply with external action. The Pharisees said that righteousness consisted of performing certain actions, but Jesus said it centered in the attitudes of the heart.
Jesus wanted people to understand who God is, and in order to grow in their understanding they needed the ability to see beyond the legal restrictions to the essential character of the One who had made the laws. He taught that love is the summary of the law.
Discussion will focus on the importance of understanding God's perspective on how we relate to others. What are God's principles or standards of behavior He expects us to follow? What determines how we relate to Him and to others? What is our attitude toward the interpretation of God's Law? Can we accept it as Jesus teaches it?
In Matthew 5:48, Jesus reemphasizes His focus, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." What does it mean to be perfect? Can we really be perfect? Jesus tells us to be.
All men of the congregation are invited to attend.
Are you looking for a place to get involved with our church family? Altar Guild is one area that needs attention every week but only takes two people to get the job done. Anyone and everyone are welcome to come lend a hand in preparation for worship. For more information or an orientation at your convenience contact Regina Humphrey at 850-502-7488 or email regina.humphrey@cox.net.
If you have a worn out, tattered, or faded US flag you need to properly dispose of, you can bring it to the church and Don Cleveland will deliver it to his Veterans of Foreign Wars Post for a proper and respectful disposal.
St Paul Lutheran Church has 2 AEDs for use in an emergency. One is located in the Gathering Room hanging on the east wall (near the classroom door) and the other is in the Family Life Center/School in the Lobby.
It's time again where we get to fill Easter Baskets for our friends at the Pavilion! Be sure to have your baskets back at the church by April 13th and we will take and deliver them to the Pavilion at 10:00 am on April 20th.
We raised $625.25 on Chili Night and WELCA matched those donations to benefit two special facilities that can always use extra blessings: the Twin Cities Pavilion and the CALM House. Thank you so much, St. Paul, for your generosity and thanks to our volunteers for their contributions into making Chili night another success!
Spring retreat is April 26-28 and the theme is "Gardens of the Bible". We're trying to fill the van, so if you would like to carpool, let us know!
There are new WELCA leaders! Dona Charlton and Beth Hoffman will be taking over the WELCA reins.
There will be a combined WELCA & Altar Guild meeting to help set up the altar for Easter on April 20th at 8:00 AM. Feel free to come and help! Also on April 20th, we will be delivering Easter Baskets to the Pavilion at 10:00 am.
Visit vbsmate.com/stpaulniceville to register, or pick up a form today! We're blasting off into space for a Miraculous Mission to learn how Jesus saves the world. Preschool VBS is available for kids ages 3-5 the week of May 20-23 from 9:30-11:30 am. K-5th grade VBS commences June 17-21 from 9:00-12:00. Cost is $5 per person plus a $5 T-shirt donation. Want to volunteer? Sign up on the same site. Start the countdown, because this year we're going to rocket!
Every Sunday beginning at 2pm at Hurricane Lanes in Destin, members of the congregation are welcome to come and enjoy open bowling and fellowship. Just $10 per person plus $2 shoe rental is all you need. Meet at the church parking lot at 1:30 pm to carpool. We have room to spare!
As many of you know, the Ballards are going to be moving soon. We will miss them immensely and we are happy they have this blessing from God to be closer to their family. Diane is leaving a big hat to fill, and St. Paul is looking for someone to oversee the cleanliness and order in the kitchen. The position comes with a salary, but it will not include the monumental efforts Diane makes in cooking. The duties of this position include ensuring the kitchen is orderly, food is not left out in the open, light cleaning, and the overall organization of the kitchen. If interested, please contact the front office at stpaul@stpaulniceville.com with the subject line: kitchen position.


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EXCLUSIVE: Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi's next with Sriram Raghavan begins in April in Pune
In December, got back to the set by starting her work on the horror comedy, Phone Bhoot, which pairs her alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khattar for the first time. While it's still work in progress for the spooky adventure, Pinkvilla has learnt that the actress has given her nod to acclaimed filmmaker, Sriram Raghavan's next directorial, which marks her maiden collaboration with Vijay Sethupathi. The yet untitled film goes on the floors in Pune from April.
"Katrina has been on the look out to explore different characters in this phase of her career, and when Sriram offered her the part, she was instantly on board the film. While Kat already is committed to doing Tiger 3 from March with , she worked on her date diaries and will be juggling between Sriram's next and the Maneesh Sharma directed action thriller for a brief period in the summer," revealed a source close to the development.
Like Andhadhun, Sriram Raghavan's next film is also said to be inspired by a short story, and it is something the filmmaker has been wanting to make for a while now. "While the Arun Khetarpal biopic with was set to be Sriram's next after Andhadhun, the film got pushed owing to the on-going pandemic. The script demanded him to shoot in a particular climate and stratosphere, and Ekkis will go on floors around September 2021 now. With ample of free time in hand, Sriram thought of making a quickie of sorts in between, and get another story close to his heart to the spectacle," the source informed and further added that the film will be produced by Sriram's own banner, Matchbox Pictures, and at this point of time, no studio is associated with the film.
"It's a high concept film, and be made on a controlled budget. Sriram has a close and rather emotional connect with Pune, and like Ek Hasina Thi, Johnny Gaddar, Badlapur and Andhadhun, even this one is based in Pune. The filmmaker is planning one marathon schedule in the city with his entire cast, including Katrina and Vijay," the source signed off.
Vijay Sethupathi's Tamil film, Master, released in cinema halls with a packed response today and the actor will soon make his Hindi film debut with Mumbaikar. He was supposed to be a part of starrer Laal Singh Chaddha as well, however, he eventually had to part ways from the film owing to some differences over shoot schedule with Aamir. Apart from Phone Bhoot, Tiger 3 and Sriram's next, Katrina will also team up with Ali Abbas Zafar by the end of year to turn Bollywood first female superhero.
Also Read|
Katrina Kaif to romance Vijay Sethupathi in Sriram Raghavan's next film
Read More: EXCLUSIVE: Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi's next with Sriram Raghavan begins in April in Pune
Previous Sonam Kapoor walks down memory lane as she shares an endearing throwback picture with sister Janhvi Kapoor
Next Viraata Parvam: Sai Pallavi holding Rana Daggubati's hand in the new poster gives glimpse of their love story


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Sports News archive
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Blog » Sports News archive » Australian Open final 2015: Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to win his 5 Title
Australian Open final 2015: Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to win his 5 Title
After three hours and 39 minutes, Novak Djokovic raised his tired arms in celebration in the Rod Laver Arena, as the four-set conqueror of Andy Murray and Australian Open champion for the fifth time. He won 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0, but, of the 24 matches and five grand slam deciders they have now played against each other over nearly nine years, few can have been as topsy-turvy as this final. Murray blew more important points than Djokovic and, at the end, he was beating himself up as much as Djokovic was from the other end, spent and disappointed that the some times brilliant tennis he had rediscovered over the past fortnight deserted him at precisely the wrong time. There could be no denying Djokovic was a worthy winner, albeit in a match that swung about wildly in quality, compelling rallies ending in 89 unforced errors and rackets banged, added to the tension and occasionally magnificent sense of theatre until a limp, one-sided ending. "Novak's got an absolutely incredible record here and thoroughly deserved to win," Murray said. "I had amazing support again and it's been probably my most consistent grand slam throughout my career, but I just wasn't able to win. My team and I put in a lot of hard work to get back in this position. I'm a little bit closer than I was a few months ago."
His coach, Amélie Mauresmo, looked close to tears as he spoke. In some ways, they were statistically close. Djokovic took nine of 16 break opportunities, Murray five of 12; Nole hit eight aces, Andy 10; Djokovic had fewer unforced errors, 40, than Murray, but only by nine. And when the total points were tallied, he had outscored the Scot by 136-118.
Djokovic, fell twice in the first set, hurting his right thumb and then hobbling on an ankle that looked ready at one point to totally collapse although Murray did not look convinced, especially when the Serb recovered so well each time. The most elastic man in sport briefly moved with all the certainty of a drunk on roller-skates, only to be sprinting like a spring lamb within a few minutes. There was also a brief invasion by a couple of demonstrators during a changeover in the second set which, in the context of a crazy night, faded from memory as quickly as it arrived. When the players got down to work on a cool, cloudy night, Djokovic looked ominously good, Murray tentative. Previously between them, only four times has the player losing the first set recovered to win the match and that player was Djokovic. Murray had never won against him after dropping the opening set. So when the world No 1 stroked his 14th winner into the ad corner for 4-1, it looked grim for Murray, although the contest was closer than that disparity suggests. Murray has 10 career wins against opponents ranked No1 at the time but Djokovic, whose game he has been analysing since they were 12 years old, looked a different player to the wretched imitation who struggled for three-and-a-half hours to beat an unimpressive Stan Wawrinka in the second semi-final on Friday night.
Murray should have won the first set, did win the second, competed hard for much of the third and was about as far behind Djokovic in the fourth as it is possible to be without leaving the stadium. He will be desperately unhappy with the result and only mildly encouraged by some of his tennis. Still, he is fit, healthy and competitive again at the highest level. The best tennis predictions would have to indicate that without the first set win, Murray will not manage to beat Djokovic anytime soon.
Andy Murray will face Djokovic in the semi-final of Indian Wells
Did Novak Djokovic fake injury in the Australian Open Final?
Andy Murray Can Win the Australian Open
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A traineeship incorporates work experience, preparing young people for their future careers by helping them to become 'work ready'.
Confused by the Apprenticeship changes in England?
In 2014 five young people embarked on their apprenticeship journey as Finance Apprentices – this is their story of success.
Customer service is at the heart of what we do – making sure your apprenticeship management needs are fully met.
Thinking about your life after school can be overwhelming, there is support available to help you choose a career pathway. Considered Apprenticeships?
New National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect this month. What does this mean if you are an Apprentice?
Are you a levy paying company? The online system you will need to use to manage your apprenticeship fund is now available.
One of our valued 'Host Companies' took their little piggy company to face the Dragons Den and came out victorious.


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This package is for server active objects which can be used across XL channels developed
by Learning Information Systems. If the sao is generally useful
and does relate to the XL project then this could be a suitable home for it.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Dolphins are fun-loving, adventurous creatures. The 40-minute Dolphin Discovery Swim at Tortola, introduces you to the dolphins and lets you spend some time with them in the water. On this interactive tour, experts will teach you about the dolphins while you swim with them and observe their behaviors.
Swim with Dolphins in Tortola!
You'll find many things to do near the sparkling Caribbean waters of the British Virgin Islands, but none could be more educational than the Dolphin Discovery Swim at Tortola. If you're seeking true adventure, work this one into your itinerary!
Bottlenose dolphins have many similarities to humans. They are highly intelligent, love to play, and they even laugh! Wild dolphins have long been friends of the human race, even stepping in to save people from sharks! This tour is kind to the dolphins. While they have learned several tricks during their years of interaction with humans, they are wild animals. Due to their social nature, dolphins embrace the company of humans.
On this tour, you'll learn from experts the many capabilities of dolphins. Your new found friends will give you a kiss on the cheek, a hug, a handshake, and do a "hand target" where they will jump up and touch their noses to your hand. You could call it the dolphin version of a high-five. They will even sing and dance by vocalizing and standing in the water.
Pictures are not included, so be sure to bring your own camera if you'd like to capture these memories on film. You'll also need a passport and cash for transport, shopping, meals, towels, and biodegradable sunscreen. Transportation to St. Thomas facilities is not included, nor are other activities on the island. Be sure to show up about 30 minutes early for a quick briefing. Your family can expect a fun-filled adventure and educational, hands-on experience. Coming this close to and touching animals of such size and majesty is truly a special experience.
Swimming with dolphins is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that your family will never forget! Let our experts take your family on the educational adventure of a lifetime. Reserve your spot today!


A couple of days ago I was getting out of the shower, and while I was changing, I noticed that I had cut the top of my toe. (Not the big toe. A lesser toe. I don't know why this detail is important.) Scott noticed it as well, or maybe I stuck my toe in his face and shouted "LOOK I AM BLEEDING PLEASE HELP" (I sometimes do this) and he said, reasonably enough, "How did you do that?"
I hesitated. Then I thought, you know what? We've been together for seventeen years. It's about time he knew this about me. "Well," I said, "I…I must have nicked it with the razor."
"Because," I said. "Because I have furry hobbit toes. And I shave them."
"You ... shave your toes?" I have never seen him look more confused.
"DON'T JUDGE ME," I did not shout. But I thought it. Maybe I said it?
"It's better that you don't know too much about this," I said. "But yes."
"But I don't understand," he said, "why would you shave them?"
"As opposed to what? Waxing? Burning?"
"No," he said, "I would think you would pluck them."
And then I backed slowly out of the room, then out the door, then down the stairs, and now I don't know where I am.
No, but seriously. Pluck them? I don't even know where to start with this. Does he think I have one or two weird aberrant hairs that sprout up on my toes? I have tiny mini-forests that would sprout on every toe if I didn't maintain them. Should I not have told you that?
Perhaps the sexiest detail in this story is that I was getting ready to go to the OB/GYN. Yes, I was shaving my toes for my doctor. No reason she should have to deal with anything less than the most hairless of feet in her stirrups!
Aaaand I've just lost my last male reader. My work here is done.
Newer PostOne more foot-themed entry! Last one!


Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hillcroft for my partners birthday! Loved the glamping pods and being able to bring our dog with us. The scenery of Pooley Bridge is gorgeous and despite the odd shower... Read more.


text:
Esta é uma cronologia dos principais fatos ocorridos no ano de 1919 na Venezuela.

Eventos

Arte

Livros
 Los extranjeros en Venezuela: su no admisión, su expulsión, de Guillermo Tell Villegas Pulido.
 Cesarismo democrático, de Laureano Vallenilla Lanz.

Cinema

Personalidades

Nascimentos

Mortes
 29 de junho: José Gregorio Hernández (n. 1864) — médico, religioso.

Ver também
História da Venezuela

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Research the gallery you are submitting to. Make sure you're not wasting your time submitting to galleries that would not show the kind of work you make.
Inquire about whether the gallery is actually accepting submissions. Your portfolio in the garbage doesn't benefit anyone.
Respect the gallery staff, regardless of who you talk to. Being rude to the intern will not land you an appointment with the curator if the intern schedules appointments. Becoming friends with the staff is a good way to get a positive recommendation.
Attend openings or exhibitions that the gallery puts on. You are more likely to meet and talk to staff, who will then regard your submission inquiry with more care.
Contact other artists who show at the gallery. There's no guarantee they will reply, but if you politely ask questions or for advice, this might be your best insight into the workings of the gallery. Many artists have websites and are easy to reach via email.
Be pushy or think that demanding attention will get you attention. (It is more likely to get your submission in the garbage).
Be unrealistic about your career. Submit to galleries who show artists in similar stages of their careers.
Request a critique of your work. That's not the job of a gallery and you end up looking like an amateur.
Harass the staff if your submission has been declined. Instead, ask if you can keep them updated about your future work via email.
Lose hope. Persistence, hard work, and a good attitude will pay off.
In preparing my first series of paintings to submit to galleries, I find that some of them ask for "price points," I assume this must be something different than mere prices one requests for one's paintings. Can you please define this term for me? For what, exactly, are they asking? I cannot find any sort of clear answer online. Thank you!
I think means, what are you selling them for?
← Which Gallery Should I Sumbit To?


text:
Q: Tensorflow: Check failed: NDIMS == new_sizes.size() (2 vs. 1) I am completely new to tensorflow. I was working on a project and I got an error message: 2018-05-13 20:50:57.669722: F T:\src\github\tensorflow\tensorflow/core/framework/tensor.h:630] Check failed: NDIMS == new_sizes.size() (2 vs. 1)
and Pycharm says: Process finished with exit code -1073740791 (0xC0000409)
I have no idea what that means. I am running windows and python 3.6.
Here is my code:
import tensorflow as tf
import gym
import numpy as np

env = gym.make("MountainCar-v0").env

n_inputs = 2
n_hidden = 3
n_output = 3

initializer = tf.contrib.layers.variance_scaling_initializer()

learning_rate = 0.1

X = tf.placeholder(tf.float32, shape=[None,n_inputs])

hidden = tf.layers.dense(X,n_hidden,activation=tf.nn.elu,kernel_initializer=initializer)
logits = tf.layers.dense(hidden,n_output,kernel_initializer=initializer)
outputs = tf.nn.softmax(logits)

index,action = tf.nn.top_k(logits,1)
y = tf.to_float(action)
cross_entropy = tf.nn.softmax_cross_entropy_with_logits_v2(labels=y,logits=logits)
optimizer = tf.train.AdamOptimizer(learning_rate)

grads_and_vars = optimizer.compute_gradients(cross_entropy)
gradients = [grad for grad, variable in grads_and_vars]
gradient_placeholders = []
grads_and_vars_feed = []
for grad, variable in grads_and_vars:
    gradient_placeholder = tf.placeholder(tf.float32, shape=grad.get_shape())
    gradient_placeholders.append(gradient_placeholder)
    grads_and_vars_feed.append((gradient_placeholder,variable))
training_op = optimizer.apply_gradients(grads_and_vars_feed)

#Variablen und Speicher initialisieren
init = tf.global_variables_initializer()
saver = tf.train.Saver()

#Belohnung der versch. Schritte abziehen
def discount_rewards(rewards, discount_rate):
    discounted_rewards = np.empty(len(rewards))
    comulative_rewards = 0
    for step in reversed(range(len(rewards))):
        comulative_rewards = rewards[step] + comulative_rewards * discount_rate
        discounted_rewards[step] = comulative_rewards
    return discounted_rewards

def discount_and_normalize_rewards(all_rewards, discount_rate):
    all_discounted_rewards = [discount_rewards(rewards, discount_rate) for rewards in all_rewards]
    #Zusammenfügen aller rewards zu einem array
    flat_rewards = np.concatenate(all_discounted_rewards)
    reward_mean = flat_rewards.mean()
    reward_std = flat_rewards.std()
    return [(discount_rewards - reward_mean)/reward_std for discount_rewards in all_discounted_rewards]

n_iterations = 25
n_max_steps = 10000
n_games_per_update = 10
save_iteration = 10
discount_rate = 0.95

with tf.Session() as sess:
    init.run()
    for iteration in range(n_iterations):
        all_rewards = []
        my_rewards = []
        all_gradients = []

        for game in range(n_games_per_update):
            current_rewards = []
            current_gradients = []
            #env.render()
            obs = env.reset()
            for step in range(n_max_steps):
                action_val,gradient_val = sess.run([action,gradients], feed_dict={X: obs.reshape(1, n_inputs)})
                obs, reward, done, info = env.step(action_val)
                current_rewards.append(reward)
                current_gradients.append(gradient_val)
                if done:
                    break
            my_rewards.append(sum(current_rewards))
            print(iteration,": ", sum(current_rewards))
            all_rewards.append(current_rewards)
            all_gradients.append(current_gradients)
        all_rewards = discount_and_normalize_rewards(all_rewards,discount_rate)
        feed_dict = {}
        for var_index, grad_placeholder in enumerate(gradient_placeholders):
            mean_gradients = np.mean([reward * all_gradients[game_index][step][var_index] for game_index,rewards in enumerate(all_rewards) for step,reward in enumerate(rewards)],axis=0)
            feed_dict[grad_placeholder] = mean_gradients
        sess.run(training_op, feed_dict=feed_dict)
        if iteration % save_iteration == 0:
            saver.save(sess, "./my_policy_net_pg.ckpt")

    print("Average: ", sum(my_rewards) / len(my_rewards))
    print("Maximum: ", max(my_rewards))

A: These lines seem to contain multiple bugs:
index, action = tf.nn.top_k( logits, 1 )
y = tf.to_float( action )
cross_entropy = tf.nn.softmax_cross_entropy_with_logits_v2( labels = y, logits = logits )

To start with, tf.nn.top_k() returns the value first and then the index. Therefore, action will hold the index, and not index. y then becomes the index (in float), and you pass it as labels to tf.nn.softmax_cross_entropy_with_logits_v2().
Two major problems with that. First, you should pass the labels as one-hot vectors, not as index. I suspect that's why your getting the error, you're passing a 1 dimensional tensor instead of 2.
The second problem is theoretical (and unrelated to your error, but I thought to point it out): since logits are your predictions, and you take y from there, you're basically comparing your logits to itself. There will be no learning. You need to feed the actual labels and base your learning on that.
Just a comment, it's usually beneficial to post the whole error backtrace, not just the last line, because I'm only guessing now where the error is, cannot be sure.


text:
Q: function for card game "Go Fish" that checks a player's hand for the guessed card from opponent I am trying to figure out how to set up a function to check and see if their opponent has the card in their hand that they asked for.
I am trying to set the function up to return True if they function finds a pair and removes it and return False if it doesn't remove a pair.
That way, I can set up an if statement that determines what to do next based on what is returned by the function. Can anyone help me out with this?
def check_guess(player_hand, player_hand_2, guess, player_pairs):
    '''
    This checks a player's hand for the guessed card and
    if the guessed card is in the hand it removes the card from both
    player's hands
    '''
    num = 0
    card1 = guess
    size = len(player_hand)
    while num <= size:
        card2 = player_hand[num]
        if card1[:-1] == card2[:-1]:
            player_pairs.append(card1)
            player_pairs.append(card2)
            player_hand.remove(card2)
            player_hand_2.remove(card1)
            return True
        elif card1[:-1] != card2[:-1]:
            num += 1
    return False   #I added this at the end and when the guess is right it works but when the guess is wrong, I get an error message.

A: Your problem after making the "return False" addition is simply a loop indexing issue.  Your num variable is increasing from 0 to size, but a list only has indexes from 0 to size-1.  And that assumes the list is not empty.
Safer and easier to simply iterate over the list instead of using a while loop:
def check_guess(player_hand, player_hand_2, guess, player_pairs):
    '''
    This checks a player's hand for the guessed card and
    if the guessed card is in the hand it removes the card from both
    player's hands
    '''
    for card in player_hand:
        if card[:-1] == guess[:-1]:
            player_pairs.extend([card, guess])
            player_hand.remove(card)
            player_hand_2.remove(guess)
            return True
    return False

my_hand = ['4h']
other_hand = ['4s','4c']
my_pairs = list()

check_guess(other_hand, my_hand, '4h', my_pairs)

print(my_pairs)


text:
Christgau's Consumer Guide
If this month's CG seems more cognizant of the charts than has been my recent practice, that's because there are a number of records of moderate quality on the charts these days. Very moderate, I grant you, but that's enough to make them worthy of note. Chart records do have one salient virtue, after all--they stick out enough so that human beings who don't happen to be music addicts are cognizant of them. Ah, communication.
COLONEL ABRAMS (MCA) With Eurodisco orgymaster Cerrone and Ameridisco worker-bee Sam Dees augmenting Anglodisco scenemaker Richard Burgess in the coproducer's slot, you-know-what revival is obviously on tap. Ah well, it could be lots worse, and it probably will be--I hope not with this artist, a likable fella whose Teddy Pendergrass impression has its social function. Though speaking of soul, I wonder why the only ladyfriend he makes me care about is eight years old tops. B
THE BELLAMY BROTHERS: Howard and David (Curb) The untoward success of Dwight Yoakam sent me scurrying to my shelves to compare and contrast. And from next big purist Pake McEntire to last big expurists the Judds, from Hollywood celeb Kenny Rogers to Nashville everyman Mel McDaniel, from who-he? T. Graham Brown to whoo-ee Waylon Jennings, these harmonizing eclectics were as good as I could find. Which ain't great and never has been, but will do. No matter its pretensions, all country music has the same primary reward: tuneful variations on the verities of the ordinary. The second side, which proceeds from a Marshall Crenshaw cover to the generic paradox of "I Would Lie for Your Love" to the rueful "Old Hippie" to filler, is exemplary. B PLUS
BLACK FLAG: Who's Got the 10-1/2? (SST) My War, Slip It In, the Live '84 tape, the instrumental sides, Henry's poetry readings--it was all too much, the excess production of bohemian businessmen ready to shove any old shit up the wazoos of their presold believers. So I hardly heard the 1985 studio LPs Loose Nut and In My Head, which prove their sharpest since Damaged, with Loose Nut especially showing off Greg Ginn's fangs as lyricist and riffmaster. The demented acceleration and guitar squiggles of this live date improve most of the hottest songs from the '85 albums. And while introducing the band members by cock size may protest their belated obsession with sex too much, I can't complain when the answer to the title question is Kira, who plays bass so stalwartly she deserves all the credit she can get. A MINUS
JACKSON BROWNE: Lives in the Balance (Asylum) These antiwar songs give him plenty in common with Holly Near--he even puts nueva canción musicians on the title track. While Browne goes in for higher octane folk-rock, I'll pass on the remixes if you don't mind. The difference is that Browne shouldn't be doing this--however goody-goody his fans or political his recent rep, he's a pop star who's stretching his audience and endangering his market share merely by making such a statement in 1986. And he's thought hard getting here--not only does his way with words render these lyrics somewhat deeper than Holly Near's, but his moralistic put-downs have that edge of righteous anger nobody's yet found the formula for. [Original grade: B plus] B
BELINDA CARLISLE: Belinda (I.R.S.) At least Jane Wiedlin's solo was a well-meaning failure. This one's pure El Lay, vacuous would-be CHR with chief songwriter Charlotte Caffey spelled by numerous ringers. The best you can say about the best of these songs--namely, "Band of Gold"--is that you've heard it before; the best you can say about the rest is that once in a while you think you have. C
GEORGE CLINTON: R&B Skeletons in the Closet (Capitol) Conceptually, featured vocalist Vanessa Williams and Pedro Bell's Neegrow cover are the only coups. Lyrically you'll have to settle for pidgin pygmy here, title credo there, some fast-food jokes, and the cautionary "Cool Joe." Groovewise it's Clonesville. In short, George's flattest in a decade. And you'd still settle for it in Boise. B PLUS
GEORGE CLINTON/PARLIAMENT-FUNKADELIC: Mothership Connection (Live from the Summit, Houston, Texas) (Capitol) Listening to their long-gone live double is like sitting midway back in the Garden because the fun is atmospheric: familiar epiphanies rise up out of the smoke, leaving the roof intact. This budget-priced one-sided video soundtrack offers a healthy serving of '70s raunch from about Row H of a hot '80s show--intense bottom, vocals loud and clear. Second side's a compilation, leading from "Atomic Dog" to two rereleases that'll make friends for Some of My Best Jokes. For fans, obviously. But if you're not some kind of fan by now, I've failed in my life's mission. [Original grade: A minus] B PLUS
THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS: Tuff Enuff (CBS Associated) The groove's tough enough, but like their fellow retroists the Bangles they don't write 'em as good as they pick 'em. This is the wages of retro--trying to replicate the musical spirit of a time that's passed means going against history and sacrificing the authenticity retroists live for. Can't blame Dave Edmunds for that. Or for the video, either. B MINUS
PHILIP GLASS: Songs From Liquid Days (FM) From Satyagraha to Mishima, much of Glass's recent work has invoked the mood if not the methods of nineteenth-century classical music, a realm of discourse where I'm reluctant to pass judgment, though I will mention that this hardly makes him unique among soundtrack composers. When it comes to vocal production, though, I have my proud prejudices. Without passing judgment on Satyagraha's Douglas Perry, who applies his tenor to one song here, I'll insist without fear of ignorance that he's a less than apt model for the Roches and Bernard Fowler (Linda Ronstadt can do what she wants). Even Suzanne Vega's lyrics read better than they sound. Which may just mean Glass is too spiritually enlightened to set meaningful texts to music. C PLUS
JANET JACKSON: Control (A&M) I scoffed at Janet's claims of autonomy--figured Jam & Lewis wrote her in as collaborator for a price she could afford. But she must have had some input--otherwise what would be not to like? Great beats here, their deepest ever. If her voice ever changes, she may even live up to them--and convince the world she's her own woman. Till then she's just playing, which does have its entertainment value. [Original grade: B minus] B
PATTI LABELLE: Winner in You (MCA) No previous crossover diva has purveyed such an out-and-out fabrication. Tina's weathered sexpot, Whitney's soulful yuppie--these are credible plays on credible personas. But though Patti is managed by her longtime husband and advised by her longtime son, she nevertheless keynotes her multiplatinum bid with a tribute to the loneliness of the soulful yuppie, written by yet another successfully married couple but inspired I'm sure by one-cut-stand Michael McDonald (cf. Tina meets Bryan, Aretha meets George, and I bet Whitney trades Jermaine in on Phil Collins or somebody next time). Then again, Patti doesn't start out with such surefire goods--her abrasive nasality has always kept her reputation cult. Which is why it's just as well for Patti that Richard Perry overwhelms the eight other producers: beats and tunes kick in till you could care less what organ she's singing through. B
ROBERT PALMER: Riptide (Island) If we're to take the old fashion plate at his word (yeah sure), his pop breakthrough (finally! after all those good reviews!) was inspired by an affair with a high roller--holdings in Singapore and IBM, great dancer, like that. Sounds daunting, I must say. And as usual, what makes him barely listenable is his holdings in r&b. C PLUS
PET SHOP BOYS: Please (EMI America) The music's blandness is part of the quite well-executed concept: articulating the ambivalent romanticism, immodest hopes, and not-so-quiet desperation behind the suburban facade of the people who create Smash Hits pop, and maybe consume it, too. I hum most of the catchily namby-pamby tunes and ponder most of the yearningly cynical lyrics, but the moments I really love are provided by sound effects--sirens and breaking glass so skillfully integrated into the synthesized textures that at first I didn't notice they were there. [Original grade: B plus] A MINUS
RAMONES: Animal Boy (Sire) Even if "Animal Boy" and "Ape Man Hop" were code for B-boy, which they're not, this wouldn't keep the promise of the remixed and retitled "My Head Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)," because these days code is too fucking subtle. And what we get instead is jungle bunnies, two (pretty good) songs about Joey's drinking, another (not so good) one about his misery, Dee Dee one-for-three, the defensive-sounding "She Belongs to Me," the defensive-sounding "Crummy Stuff," and an anthem I believe called "Something to Believe In." If only they could stop squandering their compassion on cartoons and believe in something. B PLUS
RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY: Paint Your Wagon (Red Rhino) Poised provocatively between revolutionary powerhouse and droning bore, the Lorries are yet another sign that music in Britain may yet again get as tough as life in Britain. The sound is New Order meets Test Dept., with singer Chris Reed having it both ways. Always a skeptic in re dirges, I wish they'd picked up the pace with a single like "Spinning Round." And will spin their next around posthaste in the vain hope that they've taken my advice. B
LOU REED: Mistrial (RCA Victor) Young modern Lou makes his electronic move, dispensing with live drums on six tracks and leaving the programming to newly annointed computer whiz Fernando Saunders. Old fart Lou works up a pretty fair head of current decrying "Video Violence" and bows to the '80s by situating evil "Outside." His most expedient album since The Bells and his worst since Rock and Roll Heart. B
JONATHAN RICHMAN AND THE MODERN LOVERS: It's Time for . . . (Upside) I think eternal youth is the secret of rock and roll myself. But if anybody really and truly believes that feeling "Just About Seventeen" is the way to achieve it, the arch nostalgia of this moderately gifted neoprimitive egomaniac should send them running for the Geritol. B MINUS
STAN RIDGWAY: The Big Heat (I.R.S.) Greil Marcus argues that the former Wall of Voodoo frontman is "playing with" the American voice Raymond Chandler once described: "flat, toneless and tiresome." Pretty clever, only I don't hear much play. That voice is no creation--it's Ridgway, who shares with Chandler the literary sins of cynicism and literariness. Like a city reporter with a drinking problem or a novelist turned night clerk, Ridgway is a wise guy who isn't as wise as he thinks he is, and while a fair number of these songs have the sleaze-infatuated atmosphere L.A. artists from West to Waits have gone for, only a couple--"Walkin' Home Alone," a song of lost love any asshole would be proud of, and "Pick It Up (And Put It in Your Pocket)," the dirt on Reagonomics--belong in the same paragraph as Raymond Chandler. B
RUN-D.M.C.: Raising Hell (Profile) Like the Rolling Stones twenty years ago, they're middle-class lads who are into music that's hard above all--they're street because they want to be. Granted, the analogy is less than exact. Where the Stones dramatized their streetness by becoming bohemians, Run-D.M.C. remain defiantly and even paradigmatically middle-class, a much tougher trick. Run-D.M.C. project less respect for women than the Stones, and less interest in them, too. They commit more lyrical gaffes. And their music is a lot further out. Without benefit of a "Rock Box" or "King of Rock," this is their most uncompromising and compelling album, all hard beats and declaiming voices. They're proud to be black all right, but I don't think it has much to do with George Washington Carver. They're proud to be black because it means they can do this. A MINUS
THE S.O.S. BAND: Sands of Time (Tabu) The all but anonymous creatures of the hottest rhythm team in the universe, they could almost pass as the new Chic, getting whole albums over on groove alone. But though there's frisson in the way Jam & Lewis put their slow drag through its paces, what got Chic over was Rodgers & Edwards saving their trickiest beats for their love child. B
Village Voice, July 1, 1986
June 3, 1986 Aug. 5, 1986