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Tube Power Amp Reviews
Jadis JA 200 monoblock power amplifier
Dick Olsher | Nov 10, 2017 | First Published: Nov 1, 1993
Ron Cox, Zen master and good friend from Zuni, New Mexico, gingerly navigated the crowded streets of Amp City—the essentially all-tube amp collection sprawled on my listening-room floor between the speakers. Ron had no trouble spotting the four chrome-and-black chassis of the JA 200s. He pointed a tentative finger: "Are those the Jedi?"
Jedi, Jahdee, Jahdiss, Jadiss—I wasn't really sure. But one thing was beyond doubt: These amps indeed befit a Jedi Knight. The oversized transformers, massive chassis, and elegant profile bespeak nobility.
The JA 200 is but one step removed from the Jadis JA 500—the summit of the Jadis line. Like the JA 500, the JA 200's power supply occupies a separate chassis, connected via an umbilical cord to the amp proper. Remove the tube cage, and the eyes feast upon a sea of GE 6550A power pentodes: ten per channel. An awesome sight, but a sobering one—think of the retubing costs. As with an exotic racing car, not only is the price tag steep, but the maintenance costs are high.
The heart of any power amp is its power supply—the reservoir of current for the output stage. Many a brilliant design has been sabotaged by an inadequate supply, or one that was slow to recover from overload. Jadis did not skimp here in terms of parts quality or reservoir rating. Solid-state bridge rectification is used exclusively, followed by an RC filter network. Filament voltages are regulated, but, as is almost always the case, plate-supply voltages are unregulated.
Using the two halves of a 12AU7A dual-triode tube, the input/phase-splitter stage comprises a Schmitt cathode-coupled circuit. This clever push-pull stage has rarely been used in audio amps, primarily because it requires two tubes and offers only moderate amplification. It was originally intended for scientific instruments (eg, oscilloscopes) for which extended low-frequency response is desirable. Coupling caps are not required, and hence frequency extension to DC with good balance is easy to achieve with this circuit. The phase splitter is DC-coupled to a driver stage that uses a 12AX7A dual-triode. Thus, the entire front-end of the JA 200 is DC-coupled.
The output stage uses five pairs of triode-connected 6550As in push-pull fashion. Each output tube is individually fused as protection against excessive bias-current draw. Other output tubes may be used. Fanfare International's Victor Goldstein, Jadis's US distributor, tells me that customers worldwide also use EL34 power pentodes and KT88 beam power tetrodes. I have also experimented successfully with Gold Aero's KT99A. Victor strongly warns, however, against the use of the Chinese KT88. Apparently, the failure mode of the Chinese tube is so rapid that the fuse offers little or no protection from circuit damage. Accordingly, use of the Chinese tube will void Jadis's warranty.
Two pairs of speaker binding posts are provided, wired in parallel to facilitate bi-wiring. The output transformer is configured at the factory for a nominal 8-ohm load. It may also, however, be configured internally for 1, 4, and 16 ohm nominal loads.
The amp is intended to be powered up in two steps. Setting the On/Off switch to On applies less than full B+ voltage to the output stage. After a five-minute wait, the user should move the Operate/Standby switch from Standby to Operate. Optimal sound quality is reached after about an hour of operation, as internal temperatures reach their ideal "cooking" level.
I discovered that the JA 200 is quite sensitive to AC-line–borne hash and RF noise. It is essential to provide, at a minimum, some form of line-noise filtering. A pair of Berkleonics CEA-25 2kVA isolation transformers (one per channel) brought about a dramatic cleansing of harmonic textures. Even though such transformers are only effective in filtering common-mode noise and do nothing for normal-mode noise, the improvement was akin to a good hosing-down of the soundstage. Layers of grit and grain were washed away. Harmonic textures sounded purer and sweeter, as if more music and less garbage were getting through.
It's no surprise, therefore, that Victor Goldstein has found AC power cords to make a difference with the JA 200s. Sonic differences among cords are due to the degree to which they provide some small measure of RF filtering. Properly, the problem ought to be tackled at the wall with the right tools. Once this is done, there is no reason to invest in exotic AC power cords. In my opinion, such money is simply flushed away. Maybe it's not snake oil, but the recent craze in power cords seems to me to be little more than a blatant attempt to capitalize on the Audiophilia nervosa epidemic. Save your pennies and buy a genuine line-conditioner. [It is fair to point out that Victor Goldstein does not recommend AC line conditioners with the JA 200.—Ed.]
Listening impressions
Having listened to scores of amps over the years, it gets easier and easier for me to form a sonic baseline that defines the performance level of the ordinary or average amplifier—and a piece of cake to pick out the extraordinary. The JA 200 fits into the latter category. In two fundamental respects, it sets a new standard by which to gauge the state of the art.
With the 1993 Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta scheduled to take place just before this issue hits the newsstands, I thought it would be appropriate to fashion an analogy based upon this colorful event.
The time is just before mass ascension. A stream of hot air is inflating a collapsed balloon. As you strain to decipher the image painted on the balloon's crumpled exterior, imagine that the image represents the soundstage. At this stage in the balloon's inflation, the image is collapsed, its true breadth and depth difficult to discern. It takes quite a bit of mental gymnastics to try to imagine its true extent. So it is with most power amps: soundstage dimensions are merely hinted at, not fully revealed. Sometimes the depth perspective isn't fully fleshed out; at others, the impression of width collapses, to near-mono proportions, to the center of the soundstage. This compression of spatial information is at the core of my aversion to most solid-state gear, and continues to fuel my infatuation with tube gear as the giver of life to the spatial illusion.
The balloon, now fully inflated, strains at its tether, the full glory of the image revealed at last. So it was with the Jadises: They consistently made the dimensions of the original recording space abundantly clear, and strengthened the impression of standing on the threshold of the original space. The JA 200s sculpted the extent of the soundstage so that the original space appeared to pop out, expanding to fill the front of my listening room.
Another remarkable attribute was the degree to which the Jadises illuminated the soundstage's inner recesses. This transparency made it easy to gaze far into the soundstage—all the way to the back of the hall. Most amps muddle or fuzz the soundstage, making it difficult to resolve spatial layering. It's like trying to glimpse an object through a field of tall grass. Not so with the Jadises. Not only were instrumental outlines sculpted with great precision, but they were illuminated as if by a searchlight. The JA 200s blazed a trail right up to each spatial outline. It became easy to pinpoint outlines within the soundstage with respect to their relative locations in the hall. The spatial perspective was so believable that I felt tempted to pack a lunch and go exploring in this newfound field of sonic dreams. The total effect served to more effectively engage my attention, to draw me further into the illusion of "live." This gestalt of being there is a crucial attribute that separates the merely good amp from the truly great one.
Retrieval of low-level detail bordered on the best that solid-state has to offer, without the latter's propensity to rub the listener's nose in it. At no time did the JA 200 sound analytical. The lower treble lacked tube glare and the harshness of odd-order harmonic distortion. Treble transients didn't sound etched, but were allowed to decay smoothly into a velvety-black background.
The notion of inherent upper-octave aggression was totally lost on the Jadis. Yet, when the music demanded attack, it was perfectly capable of portraying the proper degree of brass bite. The treble sounded fast and in control, without the deplorable tendency that so many tube amps have to soften the leading edges of musical transients. That's not to say that it sounded exactly like good solid-state. Its voicing was more liquid and a shade softer, with the sort of natural flavor one might experience in a middle-row seat at a concert hall—but not at all like the blunt and toothless presentation of, say, vintage Dynaco tube gear.
At last, here was an amp fully capable of harnessing the dynamic range dished out by the Jadis JP 80MC preamp. Even with average-sensitivity speakers, loud, complex passages were allowed to expand and bloom without congestion or stress. This is an area that many audiophiles miss out on, married as they are to minimonitors, wimpy electrostatics, or other gutless planar speakers. With a speaker that can boogie (like the MartinLogan Quest Z), the JA 200 is capable of revving your heart rate. There are but a handful of tube amps out there with the Jadis's clean power reserves.
A musical joy for me is a large chorus in full voice, and here the JA 200s really delivered. The spatial finesse exemplified by smaller tube amps was here in spades. But just as impressive was the muscle and ease with which the Jadises lofted a full orchestra and chorus to dynamic peaks. Mountain climbing was never this much fun.
All of my listening was conducted with the factory-set, 8 ohm transformer output tap settings. It's possible that bass performance might have tightened up with, at least, the ML Quest by deferring to the 4-ohm connection. In general, however, I felt that bass extension and definition were quite remarkable for a tube amp. Tube amps lack the current drive and bass damping of solid-state output stages. A transformer-coupled output stage depends on a benign impedance magnitude for optimal power coupling to the load. Often, however, the impedance magnitude below 100Hz is far from flat, and can't be described as 4, 8, 16, or whatever ohms. Peaks, and especially dips, in the impedance curve cause trouble for tube amps. It's possible for a woofer's impedance to fall below its DC resistance value because of the shunting action of a crossover network. I would never attempt to mate a tube amp with a load whose impedance falls below 3–4 ohms in the range below 500Hz (the power range of the orchestra). Those sorts of loads are best left to a Krell or a Mark Levinson. With both the Mach 1 Acoustics and the Nestorovic speakers, however, the Jadis acquitted itself very well in terms of bass extension, punch, and definition.
Many years ago, H.A. Hartley said that, while treble extension beyond 12kHz or so didn't much matter to him, the lower the bass extension of his system, the more realistic and enjoyable it sounded. I basically agree with his viewpoint. Given a choice, I would opt for flat response to 30Hz rather than treble extension to 20kHz. It's exciting, therefore, to find a tube amp that can at least compete with the transistorized big boys. It's clear that the Jadis was designed to excel in the bass. From its multitude of output tubes, colossal output and power transformers, and front-end design, the JA 200 possesses the resources to succeed in the lower octaves.
Despite my admiration for the Jadises, I wasn't totally in love: they weren't doing enough for me in the midrange.
It is vitally important that the music's inherent harmonic colors are fully fleshed out. The music's true colors demand accurate reproduction of the harmonic palette. With the JA 200s, the upper mids turned slightly gray and dull, as if a dark cloud were blocking out the sun. The sweetness and sheen of violin overtones and soprano voice were blunted, at least to the point of fuzzing over some harmonic nuances. The vitality with which these instruments sang was subdued. But it doesn't take much of a swing of the harmonic compass from sunny and sweet to overcast and gray to tick me off.
Neither was I totally enamored of the lower mids, which were on the lean side of reality. I don't mean to describe the patient as suffering from anemia. Clinically, it certainly wasn't all bones and no fat. But the reproductions of double bass, cello, piano, sax, and oboe lacked full measures of weight and the sort of lifelike lushness I've come to expect from, say, the Air Tight ATM-3 or even the Air Tight ATM-2 when both are retubed with KT99As instead of the stock Chinese KT88s. I didn't find the mids as engaging or as musically authoritative as with these less expensive amps.
There was nothing romantic about the Jadis. In fact, it sounded very businesslike through the midband—somewhat mechanical, really, which made it sound about as glamorous as a sewing machine.
Tube alternatives
I've never been a fan of the 6550A, which is really not an audio tube at all. I was thus perfectly willing to ascribe my responses to the JA 200's midrange to the 6550A's inherent character. The question now was, How would other output tubes fare in this circuit? Of course, getting hold of 20 genuine KT88s was out of the question. I should be so lucky! There remained the KT99As and the EL34s to investigate. With the kind assistance of Gold Aero's Frank Morris, I was able to obtain an adequate supply for comparison.
My first impression of the KT99A was that there was a richer, sweeter upper midrange, but also a murky character that permeated and obscured the soundstage. Fortunately, focus and transparency improved considerably after several hours of burn-in. At this point the Jadises were really cooking. Bass lines were easily resolved, though lacking the tightness they had through the 6550As. Spatial resolution of massed voices was nothing short of spectacular. The soundstage came alive, as if energized by a supernova. The harmonic tapestry through the upper mids and lower treble sounded smoother, and richer to the point of being a bit too dark or chocolate-flavored. And although the lower mids were now a bit more forward and intimate, they were still a tad deficient in authority and weight. All in all, it was a smoother, less mechanical sound than that afforded by the 6550A.
Tesla's premium EL34, designated the E34L, showed a sunnier disposition, being even sweeter and better focused than the KT99As. Ahhhh! Now I was beginning to fall in love. Dynamic shadings were even more linear and incisive. The upper registers sounded cleaner and not as thick as with the KT99As. Violin overtones and soprano upper registers now sparkled and shone joyously. The tapestry of the music sounded more luscious and more harmonically accurate. Bass lines were remarkably lucid, though lacking some of the ultimate punch and power of the 6550As. The lower mids, however, still lacked a full measure of weight.
In short, the choice of output tube is crucial to the sound of the JA 200. Both the KT99A and E34L offer a smoother, less mechanical-sounding midrange than the 6550A. The E34L proved the most harmonically convincing of the three, and was the tube that got me the most passionate about the music. (Victor mentioned a Russian EL34 sourced from New Sensor Corp., which I hope to get hold of shortly for a "Follow-Up.")
There was still one problem: None of these tubes entirely addressed the tonal-balance deficiency through the lower midrange. The sound here ought to be a bit fuller and fatter (footnote 1). Ironically, the JA 200's design is so good that it pushes the 6550A to the limit—and shows the 6550A's primary virtue to be its strong bass response. In all other respects, the 6550A was outclassed by the alternate tubes examined.
I also experimented with the front-end tubes. I found the Jadis-branded Yugo/Serbian 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes to sound best in this application. The 12AU7 was originally sourced from Richardson (National brand name), but Victor quickly sent me a Yugo replacement that I've been happily using.
During their sojourn in my listening room, the JA 200s performed very reliably. They earned my respect and even love—at least with Gold Aero's Tesla E34L tube complement. Yet these are not amps to satisfy the most demanding disciples of tonal-balance accuracy. In contrast to their spatial impression, which is reminiscent of the best of French Impressionistic painting, the JA 200s' tonal-balance expression was not entirely convincing (though it came close at times). Their somewhat meager lower mids will probably disappoint old-time tube aficionados. This was not classic tube sound, sounding more New Age than Old Age, especially with its stock output tubes. In this regard, the JA 200 strikes me as characteristically French—more poignant in tone color rather than robust, in the manner of a French-style bassoon rather than a German instrument.
With this caveat in mind, the JA 200 still qualifies as one of the most musically appealing amplifiers money can buy. It's certainly the most impressive high-power tube amp I've heard. This is no small feat, since most dinosaur-sized tube amps lack the magic of their smaller brothers.
So say "Oui!" to Jadis. Take out that second mortgage. Embrace the JA 200, and the Force will be with you.—Dick Olsher
Footnote 1: It should be noted that the intrinsic balance of DO's MartinLogan is a bit lean in the lower midrange.—John Atkinson
NEXT: Jonathan Scull Review »
Jadis
US distributor: Bluebird Music Ltd.
275 Woodward Avenue
www.bluebirdmusic.com
Jonathan Scull Review
Dick Olsher's System
Like it matters
Submitted by mrkaic on November 10, 2017 - 9:28pm
"I've never been a fan of the 6550A, which is really not an audio tube at all."
How is the audio vs. no audio tube supposed to matter? Correct me if I'm wrong, but what matters for amplifier design are the characteristics of the tube, e.g. plate current vs plate voltage etc.
Incidentally, I remember reading a rather disappointing review of a Jadis amplifier on this website. (https://www.stereophile.com/content/jadis-se300b-monoblock-amplifier-measurements) Why no measurements here?
Submitted by supamark on November 11, 2017 - 10:49am
This review is like 25 years old, and if you really want an answer to your question about why Mr. Olsher doesn't like certain tubes you can find him at The Absolute Sound, a rival magazine that prides itself on reviews based only on listening - they don't need, or want, your stinkin' measurements. They'll loooove you over there...
NB - I like measurements.
Submitted by mrkaic on November 11, 2017 - 11:08am
Thank you for the information. I will try to contact Mr. Olsher. I'm hope he will be glad to explain his views.
Re: JA 200 Measurements
Submitted by John Atkinson on November 11, 2017 - 11:02am
mrkaic wrote:
Why no measurements here?
Our image archive only goes back as far as October 1995, when we started producing Stereophile using DTP. (DeskTop Publishing). The Audio Precision test files for the JA 200 weren't in my archive for some reason, so I had to look for the original workbook. Unfortunately, when I found it, it turned out TJN had saved the files on a 5¼" floppy disk and I no longer have a drive for that format.
I didn't want to hold up posting the review to the website, so we did so before I could scan the original printouts of the graphs and formatted the image files. I have now added the measurement sidebar with all of its graphs.
Many thanks for the explanation
You make a super valid point -- some important information might get lost because we no longer have drives to read old magnetic media. I ditched my old floppy drives a few years ago and maybe it was not such a good idea.
6550 vs. EL34
Submitted by tonykaz on November 11, 2017 - 1:02am
I've only ever had one Tube Amp that I could love, it had EL34s.
I've sold the entire 1985 line of Conrad-Johnson Amps that had 6550 output tubes, these Amps were OK but not beautiful like the little EL34 based MV-45a.
Mr.JVS in Port Townsend is about to report on these Jadis Amps. , I'll bet that he can't love em enough to own em.
Tubes run great until one day when they don't, a good SS Amp runs great for decades.
Tony in Michigan
ps. 6SN7 pre-amp tubes are the way to go
Jadis Circuitry
Submitted by Charles Hansen on November 13, 2017 - 8:26am
While the Jadis preamplifiers had very "standard" circuit topologies, their power amps (at least of that era) were different than anything else I had ever seen before. Specifically, they used *positive* feedback to increase the overall gain of the circuit.
(This same techniques was used in many old radio receivers of the '20 and '30s, where it was called a "super-regenerative" design that was almost completely supplanted by the later and superior "heterodyne" design - which was called "super-heterodyne" for purely marketing reasons! One did not want to go backwards from a "super" circuit to an "ordinary" circuit, regardless of which was actually better - ain't marketers slick, even back before WW2? We have Edward Bernays to thank for much of insanity of today's modern society.)
In the Jadis audio power amplifiers, the positive feedback increased the gain for a different reason - so that they could use more *negative* feedback without adding another gain stage or reducing the overall gain. A bizarrely interesting and uniquely French way of doing things differently. These twin feedback colorations were responsible not only for the Jadis's unique sound, but also helps explains its extraordinary sensitivity to AC power line conditions (including line conditioners and power cords).
Bit of obscure audio history for you there, and a large tip of the hat to Ken Stevens of CAT for explaining it so clearly to me. Enjoy!
EDIT: Apologies for the "history lesson" error. There never was a "super regenerative" radio receiver - only a "regenerative" one. The term "super heterodyne" was coined by its inventor, Edwin Armstrong (later to invent frequency modulation, or FM). The "super" part was short for "supersonic" (he actually meant ultrasonic, as supersonic means faster than the speed of sound). "Hetero" means mixed, and "dyne" is from the Greek word for "power" (dynamo, dynamic, dynasty - even "dynamite").
Mr.Hansen,
Thanks for the explanation.
Now, can you help explain the Jadis Price Structure? if there is one.
Any typical Retail item will have a 20% of Retail Sale price as Cost to Manufacture ( Proctor & Gamble are at about 9% ).
Importing adds another layer of Costs.
These Jadis things look rather Industrial, almost like something we'd find in a Sears Silverstone Stereo Console.
What is so darn compelling about these Amps?
Jadis Pricing
I'm not sure there was much different about Jadis than any other imported audio product. As you note, shipping and an extra layer of profit for the importer adds to the cost of almost all imported products. The hadis amplifiers were expensive to build because of three major things - their massive transformers (both power and output, which were far larger than found on competing products), their meticulous point-to-point hand wiring done by French (not Chinese slave labor), and finally the polished chrome-plated steel chassis - also requiring a lot of hand labor.
For those with an eye for those details, they are as impressive (if not more so) than a 1" thick front panel. It's mostly just cultural differences that have us pay attention to certain details and notice the value therein, I believe. Victor Goldstein may have had a slightly higher distributor margin than typical, but not by much. He was based in New York and had to have a full-time technician of Chinese descent to repair and maintain them. (They had a lot of reliability issues!) I've forgotten his name, but after Mr. Goldstein stopped importing Jadis, his former technician (Da Hong? Ming Da? or something similar) used to both modify Jadis amps and also build his own amps from scratch. You will see the technician's name mentioned in the old TAS digest-sized issues when HP would review the Jadis amps.
The compelling thing was their sound. I think the JA-80 (single pair of output tubes) was more successful, and I heard some absolutely amazing sound from those amps. Hope that helps.
Breaking News !!!!! --- Stereophile arrived 20 minutes ago ----
Submitted by tonykaz on November 13, 2017 - 10:48am
Ayre takes "Digital Product of the Year"
ps. thanks for your exotic amp comments. I've sold Tube gear and kinda agree with y'all on these things being what I call twitchy and prone to blowing up. phew ( keep u'r fingers crossed )
Having said that, my 1960 era Mac Tube Mono amp never blew itself up, nor did any of the Audible Illusions I sold ( thank god ).
I've heard horror stories about big Tube Amps.
I sold Electrocompaniet and didn't at-all miss the 'variables' of having to cope with tube gear.
I was once importing Tim De Paravicini's various tube Amps and didn't have a blow-up problem but they were waaaaaaaay over rated and didn't sound all that wonderful compared to a conrad-johnson Mv-75a. The Mv-45a was a sweet-hearted little charmer that I wish I still owned one of.
That gorgeous and charismatic sound quality you refer to is a rare bird. I had a local technician that would modify any used tube pre-amp he could get his hands on, his modified stuff would blow the doors 'Off' any of our Retail Showroom Products. His secrets were; especially fine resistors, expensive/exotic Caps. and Russian Tubes. His stuff typically had a short half-life.
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Well maintained 4 bedroom, 2 & 1/2 baths. Adorable home in a great, quiet neighborhood. Sought after school district : Barksdale, Gen Ray Davis, Heritage. Full basement, partially finished, boat door, lots of storage! Master bath has dual vanity, separate shower/tub, walk-in closet in master bedroom. Awesome back yard! Level lot and very private! Deck and screened porch off of kitchen. Easy to entertain!!
New! Move in ready! This lovely home features a large family room with lots of light. The fully equipped kitchen showcases new, energy efficient kitchen appliances (including refrigerator), and stunning premium countertops. The spacious master suite features a large walk in closet, garden tub and separate walk in shower. This home is a must see!
You don't want to miss this 4bdrm 2.5bath home with a separate livingrm and familyrm/den. There is some new paint and new top of the line beautiful vinyl flooring also. You will have plenty of room to relax in the large bedrooms, the large back yard, or in the spa located in the sunroom, the choice is yours. Schedule your private showing today because it wont last long in our current market.


Mix and Chic: Construction Check List: What, Why and How!
It is time to remodel. How do you get started? Like anything else, with a to-do list, of course.
Here are some basics to consider for the next redesign project, a generic list that may need adaptation depending on how large or small your own project may be.
A remodeling project is going to upend your home or your business. What used to be convenient will soon be blocked off by tarps and dust protection. Speaking of tarps and dust, don't forget to look for a good skip hire for your project debris disposal. Make sure there is a good reason for getting into this in the first place.
If the answer is yes, proceed to question two. However, keep your project goals in mind and evaluate every step based on that. No sense calling the design a success if it does not accomplish what you set out to do.
It is instinctual for some, but for others, not so much. Do not forget to estimate the value of your home after you are done. After all, some projects take value away from a home, while most add to it.
Down the block sits a concrete home with an extravagant silo-looking tower in the front and a bunker-looking two story home behind it. And it has sat there for years, not moving forward or backward - a roof, but no windows, huge concrete blocks in place, but no move whatsoever toward completion.
Someone, evidently, ran out of gas. The funding got the project off the ground and substantial progress was made, but someone forgot to cross all the Ts and dot all the Is.
I wish I had a dime for every remodeling project that only got partway done before it was abandoned.
In the trade, costs that go above and beyond the allocated budget are called overruns. That means – phew! – you did not invent the problem of running into unsuspected problems part way through a project that added on to costs. As such, you should have a contingency plan to deal with this.
For starters, put aside (or borrow) more than you need to to get the project done. There is likely a formula out there for cost overruns – something simple like putting together a budget and then adding 20 percent just in case it is needed. Banks will certainly understand that strategy and lenders do not want an unfinished project anymore than you do.
It is quite likely you will need to schedule a project exactly a year after you first thought you should. This is to make up for the point that construction firms know the opportune time to start a major project is in the spring. Because of that, you may find out that builders are already booked one season in advance. If you dream up renovations this year, you might have another year to wait. In so many words: Get in line.
That said, if a project is largely or completely indoors, try to negotiate off-season rates. Many construction workers take a month or two off deep in the off season and workers for the most part would far rather make a paycheck than collect unemployment.
Architects frequently recommend construction firms they have worked with in the past. Construction firms frequently nominate architects. But this should not stop you from conducting a solid reference check on anyone you hire. You are spending hard earned dollars, after all.
People in small cities or rural areas with a local pool of talent have no guarantee a contractor is honest, but they have a better chance of it. After all, if a local firm can survive year after year in one community, it is likely they have dealt fairly with their customers.
In bigger cities, it gets trickier. My father had a house built once in the suburbs of a major city and visited the construction site one day to find a worker painting the iron pipes a copper color. By the time he made a phone call to an attorney, the company had relocated to another state.
Deal only with companies that can show proof of insurance and have a surety bond. Sites like Econtractorsinsurance.com make it easy for contractors to obtain the necessary insurance online.
If you need to, have an attorney check this out for you. You can also make inquiries at the surety bond company or with state regulators to ask about the history and current compliance status of a company.
While contractors need general liability insurance, the surety bond guarantees the contractor will complete the job according to the specifications spelled out in the contract. If the company cuts too many corners, fails to finish a job on time, or orders materials without paying for them, the surety bond covers this.


Before I kick off all my Easter inspired blog posts, I wanted to share this cute spring inspired DIY. Since spring is right around the corner, I thought this flower bag would help get you into spring mode! Also before I loose all my non-sewing readers out there, this bag is actually really easy to make. It would make a perfect first sewing project because there is no complicated stitching you need to do. You could probably had this bad boy made in either a day (if you have the time) or over the weekend!
Step 1: Using your pen, draw the shape of a flower onto a piece of your felt. Cut that flower out and use it as the template for your second piece of felt. Then take your patterned fabric and cut a circle to fit into the middle of one of your flower pieces. When you're done cutting, you should have three pieces in total (two felt pieces in the shape of a flower and one circle in your patterned fabric).
Also, if you didn't want to draw your flower by freehand you could create your own template before starting this step.
Step 2: Take your patterned fabric circle and apply some fabric glue to its back. Then take the circle and press it into the center of one of your felt flower pieces. Let it dry. After it's dry, you can start decorating your flower piece with your embroidery thread. You can sew simple lines like I did or sew a more intricate pattern. If you're not a fan of embroidery, you could always decorate your bag in another way by sewing on buttons or sequins.
Step 3: Grab your other felt flower piece and pin the right sides of your felt together. Once your felt is pinned in place, you can begin sewing. You will want to sew (using your needle and thread) around three sides of the bag. When you have sewed around all three sides, tie off your thread and turn your bag right side out.
Step 4: Once your bag has been flipped right side out, take one end of your jewelry chain and place it inside your bag, You will want to line up the end of your chain with the inside seam of your bag. When your happy with the placement of the chain, begin sewing it into place using your embroidery thread. You will only want to sew about one and half inches of chain inside your bag. Once you're done with one side, repeat this step with the other side of your chain.
Step 5: Now take your Velcro and add it to the inside of your bag. For this project, I used Velcro that had a sticky back. However, for some extra support I added a drop of fabric glue to the back of each Velcro piece before adding them to my bag. If you didn't want to use Velcro, you could use a button closure or magnetic closure instead.
When your Velcro has been added to your bag, your ready to wear it.
Now wasn't that easy? You can change the colors, patterns and the stitches to fit your style. So you can really make this bag as detail as you want.
I will say since the bag is made out of felt, it is a pretty small and lightweight bag. Meaning, that you can't fit everything plus the kitchen sink inside of it. Personally, I feel that this bag is great for your phone, keys and a small wallet. I would most likely use this bag when I'm running small errands (like getting gas) or when I'm going somewhere like the movies.
So are you ready for spring and what do you think of this flower bag?


State officials agreed this week to support a proposal that would cut the city of Hagerstown's $9.96 million pension debt by half.
Washington County's delegation to the Maryland General Assembly is having legislation drafted that would reduce the city's debt to $4.9 million and reduce pension debts for six other local governments, Del. John P. Donoghue said Friday.
Donoghue, D-Washington, said he didn't foresee any roadblocks in getting the legislation approved. State legislators from the other affected communities will be asked to co-sponsor the proposal, which is expected to be introduced next week.
Mayor Steven T. Sager said he was "substantially relieved" to learn about the state's support to halve the city's pension debt. But, he cautioned: "We're not done yet."
Donoghue said that passage shouldn't be a problem with the support of the other affected communities as well as State Treasurer Richard N. Dixon and the Maryland State Retirement Agency.
In a letter to the retirement agency's executive director, Dixon stated that legislation passed last year created the pension debt problem. "I believe we should work as deliberately as possible to get this matter resolved immediately," the letter states.
The debt resulted from the retirement agency under-billing the city for its contribution to the state pension plan over several years.
City officials have been waiting word from state officials since a Jan. 23 meeting in Annapolis on whether the state would support the proposal to halve the city's debt.
State officials verified that the proposal would cost the state $7.7 million in a one-time bailout for the seven local governments most affected by the pension debt crisis. That amount includes paying the remaining $5.02 million of the city's debt.
The other six local governments in the state that the bill would bail out are the cities of Cumberland, Greenbelt, Hyattsville and Takoma Park, the Talbot County Board of Education and the Dorchester County Roads Board.
If the bill passes, Sager said, he and City Council members will need to discuss how to pay off the remaining $4.9 million debt.
Sager said he believes the city should issue a bond to pay off the debt rather than repay the state over 40 years at a 7.5 percent interest rate.
Through a bond, the city could receive an interest rate below 5 percent and pay off the debt in 15 to 25 years, saving a ton of money, Sager said.
City officials also could decide to pay off 10 percent to 20 percent of the debt immediately using reserve funds, which would result in significant savings, he said.
"The financial reserves are there for stability purposes, including for a rainy day,'' Sager said. "And I'd say this is raining."


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Move Over 'Little Mermaid,' 'Barbie' Movie Will Also Cast Minority Actors, Mattel CEO Says
RetailTarget
Target Will Hammer Home A Low-Price Message to Shake Its Slump
Phil Wahba
Target (TGT) thinks it has found just the thing to get sales going again: a plan to act more like the discount mass retailer it always has been.
The retailer, long beloved for its ability to be hip yet inexpensive, last month reported its first quarter of declining comparable sales since mid-2014, in a setback for CEO Brian Cornell's turnaround ambitions.
The weak sales, which contrasted with a jump at arch-rival Walmart (WMT), have raised concerns that Target has already picked many of the low-hanging fruit in its retooling efforts, and that future improvements will be much harder to produce.
Indeed, even Target isn't expecting a quick return to form. The midpoint of Target's holiday quarter forecast, the busiest time of the year, calls for a 1% decline in comparable sales. Wall Street seems to be losing faith in the company's turnaround: shares are down 19% off their 52-week high.
Target's present-day challenges reflect a number of problems, some of them self-inflicted: a grocery overhaul that failed to attract shoppers; the sale of its pharmacy business to CVS Health, which cost it a ton of shopper traffic; a very price-aggressive Walmart; slowing e-commerce growth; too big a bet on Apple products in the absence of anything new and hot; and a lot of changes in its c-suite.
But arguably Target's biggest misstep has been downplaying its low prices in relation to its cool factor.
Lured for years after the Great Recession into competing on price with Walmart (WMT) and Amazon.com (AMZN), Target ended up overemphasizing that aspect of its brand identity. So when Cornell, a former top PepsiCo (PEP) executive and Sam's Club CEO, took the reins two years ago, one major goal of his plan was to restore Target's "Tar-zhay" cachet with shoppers, a cheap-chic aura bolstered over the years by cool home goods like Michael Graves teapots and collaborations with designers like Missoni.
To course-correct, Cornell has overseen big improvements, including the department-store-like installation of mannequins to better showcase clothes and the presentation of housewares in home-like environments. Those have yielded strong results: the company says comparable sales in apparel are up 20% to 30% for collections shown on mannequins, helping Target win market share in a tough segment, while home goods last year had their best performance in a decade.
In addition, Cornell planted Target's flag in what he calls "signature" categories like babies' and kids' items, wellness products and stylish clothes and housewares.
But those categories generate only one-third of Target's annual sales. What about the rest, which come from items like detergent and dishwashing liquid? They are far less glamorous than a big Apple section, but they do bring in shoppers regularly, a necessity for a $74 billion a year mass retailer that's trying to get 30 million Americans to keep visiting its stores each week.
The retailer's slogan, repeated like a mantra at Target's national meeting this week in Minneapolis, is "Expect More. Pay Less." As it turns out, Target overcorrected in the direction of expecting more, creating a new set of problems.
"'Expect more' and 'Pay less' both have to work together," Cornell told Fortune in an interview at Target's headquarters. "We lost a bit of that balance and now we've got to get back."
So now, Target is trying to find the happy medium. Among other efforts, it is promoting low prices more prominently in its mid-week circular. And in November, it will start installing the shelves known as end-caps (see picture) at the extremities of its aisles, showcasing more inexpensive items with one price in very large characters to convey that Target offers "value."
Phil Wahba/Fortune
Target has every incentive to make that message loud and clear. Walmart's sales and traffic surges at its U.S. stores have been fueled by its unrelenting "price investments"–that is, cuts–which have hurt everyone from department stores to retailers like Dollar General and apparently caught Target off guard.
"What you're seeing right now is Walmart getting more aggressive with pricing, and that is likely taking customers on the margin away from Target," says Brian Yarbrough, a retail analyst at Edward Jones.
Price vs. hipness: Not either-or
No question, since taking the helm just over two years ago, Cornell has moved swiftly and decisively to move Target past the darkest time of its history, after a massive data breach and turmoil in the corner office.
Cornell's first major move as chief executive, in 2015, was to shutter Target's failed Canadian business, the better to focus on the U.S. Another big move? Selling off Target's pharmacy business to CVS Health later that year, judging that it could never excel in the prescription business.
And to jolt a 340,000-person organization that had become sclerotic from bureaucracy, Cornell set out bold goals when he described his plan to Wall Street in early 2015. E-commerce would grow 40% a year. Target would refashion its grocery — 20% of sales — to focus on more organic food. There would be layoffs to help meet a $2 billion-a-year cost reduction goal, and plenty of changes among top executives.
But some of Cornell's promised changes have turned out to be hard to deliver. E-commerce sales last year rose 30%, and growth has slowed tremendously, sales rose only 16% year-over-year in the most recent quarter. Target's digital sales were $2.6 billion in the last year, according to eMarketer, on par with much smaller stores like Gap and Kohl's.
Target's web site is much easier to navigate than it was and check-out is easier, but it's going to be hard to keep pace with Amazon, or with Walmart, whose online growth has picked up and which recently bought jet.com.
And customers so far are yawning at Target's improved food offering, which included adding hundreds of organic, natural and gluten-free products as well as yogurt and even craft beer. Without a compelling grocery section to give them a reason to go to stores, many people are more likely to just shop online at Amazon, whose shopper demographics are closer to Target's than are Walmart's. And while Cornell says Target won't attempt to be a full-service grocer, that strategy dilutes food's traffic-generating benefits.
Courtesy of Target
"Our number one challenge was traffic," Cornell told investors last month. And he has warned investors that fixing grocery will take time. Target is trying out better store presentation in some test stores in Los Angeles (see right), to good results.
Still, for all the creeping skepticism on Wall Street, there have been developments to buoy optimism.
In addition to the big improvements in the categories Target wants to own, it just undertook the biggest apparel launch in its history, the Cat & Jack kids' apparel line, which Cornell expects to quickly become a billion-dollar brand. (Target already has about 10 brands of that size across product categories.)
Target was able to pull that maneuver off despite not having a chief merchant for a year. (This spring, the company announced that a former Nordstrom and Nike executive was stepping in, one of seven c-suite changes since Cornell took the reins. Target's highly regarded marketing chief Jeff Jones left last week for a top job at Uber.)
Small-format stores pay off
Target's foray into urban areas in smaller stores is so far a big success. Cornell says that sales per square foot, the most important metric in retail, are two to three times larger in such stores. Target currently operates 23 such stores, which are much smaller than its typical locations, and Cornell says there could be "hundreds" of these stores over time, including one in New York's TriBeCa opening next month. (Another 27 stores are confirmed between now and 2018, at which point there should be enough of them to move the needle on Target's sales figures.)
His COO, Target veteran John Mulligan, has squeezed out a lot of the inefficiency in Target's supply chain to shrink one of Target's longest standing problems: out-of-stock items. And by the holiday season, 1,000 of its 1,800 stores will be equipped to ship online orders, something Target hopes will help it compete better with Amazon.
Nonetheless, for all that has gone right , there is a nagging suspicion on Wall Street that Target will struggle to keep pace with rivals. Walmart is in the process of a massive food reset and beautifying its grocery stores, while Amazon keep winning market share online.
Cowen & Co. analyst Oliver Chen this week downgraded Target's stock, saying,"the increasing price competition from WMT and the convenience of Amazon Prime will make the recent 'fill-in' trip weakness for TGT persist." (A fill-in trip refers to a small shopping visit to get a few items, as opposed to a big stock-up trip that typically happens on the weekend.)
As for Cornell, an energetic CEO, he's cognizant things could be going better. But he thinks the recent troubles are temporary. "I didn't feel good about the second quarter but I do view it as a bump in the road," he said.
At the same time, he added that Target can't veer too far one direction when balancing cooler items with lower prices. He adds: "We have to make sure we're winning with household essentials- we have to do both, it's not either-or."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Perplexing prevalence: Black parents report fewer concerns about autism features than white parents do.
The prevalence of autism continues to increase across the United States, regardless of socioeconomic class, according to a new study1. Overall, black and Hispanic children are less likely than their white peers to have an autism diagnosis.
The findings highlight persistent racial disparities in autism prevalence: White children are about 19 percent more likely than black children and 65 percent more likely than Hispanic children to be diagnosed with autism.
Autism prevalence in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2002. Researchers have looked to changes in the condition's diagnostic definition and greater awareness among parents as possible explanations for this rise.
They have also assumed that access to good schools and medical care would explain much of why white children and those of high socioeconomic status are more likely than black and Hispanic children and those of low socioeconomic status to be diagnosed with autism.
The new study upended many of these assumptions.
The findings suggest that socioeconomic status doesn't fully explain the differences in prevalence across race and ethnicity.
Durkin and her colleagues analyzed surveillance data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. The CDC database includes health and education records for more than 1.3 million children at age 8. Of those, the clinicians identified 13,396 children who either had an autism diagnosis or would meet the criteria for a diagnosis.
The team used census data on the proportion of adults with college degrees in a neighborhood as a proxy for socioeconomic status. They stratified the results by race and ethnicity to determine whether socioeconomic status alters their findings on prevalence.
Autism prevalence rose almost evenly among high-, middle- and low-socioeconomic groups between 2002 and 2010, the researchers found. The rates increased from 3.9 to 9.3 per 1,000 children in the low-socioeconomic group, from 6.2 to 11.6 in the middle class and from 7.9 to 13.4 in the high-socioeconomic group.
Across the classes, prevalence roughly doubled in the three racial and ethnic groups: It rose from 6.7 per 1,000 children to 13.2 among white children, from 5.9 to 11.1 among black children and from 3.9 to 8 among Hispanic children.
This suggests that autism awareness and access to services are increasing across racial and ethnic groups, but the prevalence among minority children still lags behind that of white children.
When the researchers looked more closely within each racial and ethnic group, they found that differences in prevalence across socioeconomic classes either stayed the same or became smaller.
For instance, the difference in prevalence between low- and high-income white children decreased over the study period. This suggests low-income white families are becoming more aware about autism over time, Durkin says.
Among blacks and Hispanics, however, the gap between low- and high-socioeconomic classes remained level.
Surprisingly, the rate of autism among black children in the high socioeconomic group was higher than that among white or Hispanic children between 2002 and 2010.
"It's intriguing that in higher-social-class blacks, there's no shortage of autism," Durkin says. "Black children are much more likely to be in the low-socioeconomic group than white children," she says. The finding supports the idea that lack of access to diagnostic services contributes to the overall lower prevalence of autism in black children.
There is no biological reason for autism prevalence to differ across racial and ethnic groups, says Katharine Zuckerman, associate professor of general pediatrics at Oregon Health and Science University, who was not involved in the research.
"The fact that we continue to see this in all of our prevalence studies in the U.S. suggests to me that we really just don't know what the true prevalence of this condition is, particularly among minority kids," she says.
Parents in some groups may be less concerned or aware about autism, and may not seek out a diagnosis for their child, says Craig Newschaffer, director of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute in Philadelphia. Newschaffer was not involved in the study but wrote a commentary about the work in the same issue of the journal2.
Another study published this month suggests black parents report fewer concerns about social problems, repetitive behaviors and other autism features than white parents do3. Language barriers may contribute to the lower prevalence among Hispanic children. A study from October showed that a child's race or ethnicity isn't related to the time between diagnosis and treatment4.
Parental age may also contribute to the disparities. Advanced paternal age is associated with an increase in autism risk, and fathers of white children tend to be older than those of black or Hispanic children.
There is a very obvious possible confounding factor in this study which might explain the (claimed) discrepancy in autism rates among socioeconomic classes.
The study uses college results as a proxy for socioeconomic status, but college results don't correlate exactly with socioeconomic status. They correlate much better with intelligence — the people most likely to succeed in college are those who are smartest. And several studies have found that the genetic causes of autism (whatever they are) correlate strongly with intelligence — smart people are more likely to have autistic relatives.
In other words, since the study uses a proxy for socioeconomic status, they have a false correlation. Although socioeconomic status correlates with autism, odds are that the cause is not socioeconomic status but the mental ability to succeed in college.
This would also explain why the autism rate for Blacks is ABOVE that for whites in the "high socioeconomic status" group. Since society discriminates against Blacks, they find it harder to get into and succeed in college. Those who DO succeed are more likely to have extremely high intelligence — and so have a higher probability of having autistic children.
Is this proof? No. But it shows the dangers of using a proxy of socioeconomic status instead of actual data on socioeconomic status. There is every reason to believe the study mistakes correlation with causation.
1. Proxies are PROXIES. They correlate. I do not deny correlation. Correlation is not causation. Cross-correlating is still not causation. And proxies are only proxies.
You can find more by googling "autism linked to intelligence." Note that this still isn't proof. It is a series of correlations. More data (and fewer proxies!) would be better. But studies linking the two do exist.
The authors used "educational attainment" (an ACS variable) – not "college results" – as a proxy for SES. This allowed them to stratify their results by all levels of education. Furthermore, as Hannah suggested, they were also able to replicate their results using "median household income" (another ACS variable that can be used as a proxy for SES), thus increasing the validity of their findings.
To my knowledge, there are no studies suggesting that "smart people are more likely to have autistic relatives." What we do know is that autism seems to occur more often in families of physicists, engineers, and mathematicians compared to other academic disciplines.
Finally, the authors never claimed that their findings reveal a causal relationship between autism and SES.
Science has little idea yet what the biological causes of the different subgroups of what is currently under the umbrella heading of autism are, or how genetic flaws might affect biology. Though obviously there are now many thousands of studies suggesting many different intriguing hypotheses.
In fact science does of course know that there some racial differences in metabolism, most obviously skin colour's effects on D absorption, but also in other areas. It would be wrong to follow Zuckerman's line and ignore the clues which biology might be offering here.
Different cultures obviously might be having an impact. I can't comment on US Hispanic cultures, but in England for example I see differences in holiday patterns between different ethnic groups.
It might also be worth looking in more detail specifically at the mothers of the autistic children here. If middle class black mothers have more autistic children, is that linked to their having high-powered, long hour jobs and working long hours in pregnancy, which might have further effects, for example, on getting out in the sun, or high stress rates in pregnancy? Or their bloodwork in pregnancy might produce some pointers.
But really, until the sub groups in autism are identified the whole picture is going to be extremely confusing.


Let's hope for a change that doesn't involve this set of crooks.
Update: Doug B. transformed this post into a video with outstanding musical accompaniment! Well done, Doug!
Linked by: Ace o' Spades, American Thinker, Don Surber, The incomparable Anchoress!, Fausta, Grouchy Old Cripple, Kevin Dayhoff, Delaware Curmudgeon, Lookin' for Learnin', Say Anything, M.K. Freeberg, MoveLeft.org, Topical Topics, A Newt One and Holy Coast. Thanks!
How much damage can an assclown do in one minute?
I like what Al Franken's done with his website!
Line o' the day: Incoming!
Palin Smears: Orchestrated by Obama's Campaign?
The Patriot Micro Chip Breakthrough!
Line o' the day: Jonny Quest!
Larwyn's Linkfest: Sarah Palin is a stewardess!
"I hope you guys are up for a fight!"
Slideshow: What is a nanosecond?


text:
Proof Through the Night - De File
Proof Through the Night
Watching the men's 4 x 100 freestyle final with Skylar tonight was a tremendous experience. I know the fact that we were all recovering from her meltdown a little earlier in the evening -- the worst yet -- played a role in focusing our collective attention on the screen. But the result was worth it, since she understood for the first time how thrilling it can be to root your team on. Later, before bed, she came out to say goodnight right as the medal ceremony was about to take place. Although it was late, I thought it would be nice for her to see the presentation of the medals -- she has always loved medals and ribbons -- and, for good measure, the playing of the national anthem.
For years, I have been very conflicted about what to do at public ceremonies. Should I sit or stand? If I stand, should I do so in a way that projects disengagement or interest? When I was her age, though, I loved to hear it played. I even sung it as a goodbye gesture to our house in Pennsylvania right before we moved. It was hard for me to learn, during my year in Germany and my time at Berkeley, that being moved by "The Star-Spangled Banner" was something to feel sheepish about and, if possible snuff out.
Maybe it's the way this election year has played out. Or the fact that the United States seems so lost in the world right now. Or just the pervasive sense in these parts that we're entering a depression. But, whatever the reason, I've been finding myself flooded with unexpected patriotism lately. It makes me blush to admit. I know that I'm tuning into these Olympics more than I did for any of them since 1984 because of the intense media build-up to them that started several years ago. And I'm a little ashamed of that, too.
It doesn't matter, though, when I can bond with my daughter the way we did tonight. After absorbing her rage earlier, telling her it was alright to be angry, that I wouldn't hold her lashing out against her, we needed a way to make things better. Talking about the historic importance of African-American swimmer Cullen Jones's place in the 4 X 100 team, helping her understand why Michael Phelps's quest to win eight gold medals is such a big deal, explaining that the astonishing last fifty meters of the relay swum by Jason Leszak represented a special sort of redemption after his disappointments in Sydney and Athens, watching the slow-motion replay of French swimmer Alain Bernard possibly costing his team the gold by turning his head to see Leszak at the end. It all took only a few moments, but felt like a palimpsest of a pattern in our relationship, one that makes me feel very good. We know how to come back together after being torn apart. It was her idea to sing along to the national anthem. I joined in without hesitation. It was perfect.
Tomorrow I'll tell her that my earliest memories of a historic event date back to the Munich Olympics of 1972. I had a thing for Mark Spitz, grasping his achievement in my four-year-old way even though I was not quite able to follow his races on our 19" black-and-white television. I'll probably refrain from describing what it was like to watch Jim McKay for hours, sensing that something grave was underway without having the cognitive ability to comprehend the details. But there will be a time for sharing that as well. Maybe I will manage to connect it to what we shared together tonight.
Tags: daughter, history, politics, sports
Mode: moved beyond measure
Muse: "Oh, say, can you see. . ."
Thread started by tommix
From: tommix Date: August 11th, 2008 03:33 pm (UTC) (LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)
Man, that was a great race. Lina and I were both jumping up and down during the end. And Lina seemed very proud, which is unusual because she's never been pro-USA, as you know. She does get her citizenship later this month, so that should be factored in.
I've always loved the Star Spangled Banner; it's a very stirring song and the ending is quite a crescendo. I think the knee-jerk reaction against the song is silly and doesn't understand what the song is about. And the Marvin Gaye version rocks.
I've been watching a lot of the Olympics, even though I hadn't planned on it, either.
From: cbertsch Date: August 11th, 2008 04:56 pm (UTC) (LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)
I was jumping up and down too! I had watched the preliminary heat earlier, with Cullen Jones, and seen the feature on him, so that made it more interesting too. I love the fact that Leszak drafted off the Frenchman, like in a stock car race. As one of the French guys said afterwards, "Experience over talent." God, I really can't deal with the French.
That's a good commercial with the Marvin Gaye. Hell, I'm even rooting for Lebron James! It feels good to be an underdog, even if we got there the worst possible way.
Did you see the Bob Costas interview with the President? I loved it. I've always been certain that Bush is more aware than he seems to be. He's not good at his job. He is terrible at subtlety. But he isn't an idiot. He is responsible, in other words.
The first time I watched the interview, I thought my thesis was confirmed. The second time, Bush seemed much more hapless. Either way, though, it was great to see him getting asked serious questions over an extended period with no teleprompter or "fake" reports to use as escape hatches.
Thread started by Bill
From: quuf Date: August 11th, 2008 04:43 pm (UTC) (LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)
Have you heard Rebekah Del Rio's rendition?
Oh, yes. I love that part of Southland Tales. I saw her perform the "Crying" cover live in L.A., before a screening of this Mexican noir/melodrama La Otra. It was amazing.
Comment by elizabeg
From: elizabeg Date: August 12th, 2008 10:33 pm (UTC) (LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)
It really was an astounding finish. Loved reading the reflections here--


Potential buyers can bid on construction and farm equipment, heavy trucks and trailers, and more during two-day, two-ring auction event.
Jeff Martin Auctioneers will host a two-day, two-ring auction event Friday, August 10th and Saturday, August 11th. The auction runs both days from 10AM CDT, online at jeffmartinauctioneers.com and at Jeff Martin Auctioneers' location at 2236 Hwy 49, Brooklyn, Mississippi.
Auction items available for bid on Day 1, Friday, August 10th include: Construction Equipment, Heavy Trucks, Heavy Trailers, Attachments and Related Items. Auction items available for bid on Day 2, Saturday, August 11th include: Farm Equipment, Farm Attachments, Vehicles and Related Items.
For more information, visit jeffmartinauctioneers.com/auctions.


Perfect, quiet location. Stayed August 2018.
Quarry Trails is an exceptionally bright and spacious modern terraced house, with all the facilities you need for a relaxing and comfortable self-catering holiday in Dorset.
The exceptionally spacious modern house offers a large sitting dining room with room for all the family to relax together.
The kitchen is well equipped with all your need to cater for all your dinners, and if when you fancy a night off there are many nearby places where you can sample delicious local food.
Boasting beautiful sea views from the master bedroom and only a short walk from the rugged coastal path and quarry's walks of Portland, Dorset, it has a lot to offer from its location.
Just a short 5-minute walk from the front door you will find a lovely cafe offering local food and drinks, the Portland Museum a bus stop if you'd like to visit further afield.
A more energetic walk of about 30 minutes will see you at Portland Bill Lighthouse, famous for being the most southern spot in Dorset and its dramatic cliffs and sea.
There are several great places to eat here including afternoon tea and local seafood catch lunches and dinner.
Portland stone is famous and most notably for being the stone that St Paul's Cathedral is constructed from.
The Quarries are no longer active in the traditional sense but there are many walks and Tout Quarry offers the added surprise of sculptures and etchings are you wander around the rugged scenes.
Portland is also renowned for its rare and varied wild life and birds as well as multiple water sports, so there is much to be found on the doorstep, but if you would like to explore more of the Jurassic Coastline, Weymouth is a short 10 -15 minute drive away with its Georgian seafront, award winning beach, and high street shops.
This property would suit a family or a small group of friends who want to explore Portland.
Bedrooms: 1 x King-size double, en-suite, shower, basin and WC. 1 x twin single 1 x single bed. Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC. Kitchen, Cloakroom with basin and WC, Sitting dining room.
Allocated parking space outside the property.
Note: Rear garden artificial grass. Note: Guests need to provide their own cot linen. There is no highchair.


Vredestein is a Netherland based company which is a subsidiary of Apollo Tyres Ltd. It is completely managed by the Apollo Tyres Ltd., and specialized in providing the tyres that are compatible for many vehicles. It mainly concentrates on the innovation to design a durable quality tyres. The company started operations as Nederlandse Guttapercha Maatchappij in Delft but later the name was changed to NV Rubberfabriek Veredestein.
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For replacement of the tyre or for any other queries please call the below number.
To know about the dealers and distributor or about the latest products etc, kindly visit the company official website. If you are interested provide the feedback to the company kindly make use of the below mentioned website.


Hey everyone! Here today to share my latest project for Graphic 45 using my FAVE An Eerie Tale!
I really love this little typewriter! I'm always scouring for things to alter, some are easy , this one was a bit harder. There were a lot of uneven surfaces i had to sand to be able to cover with paper. That usually the first question I ask when I see something that I want to alter, "Can I cover it with paper?" And as long as I can, its alterable to me Lol. No matter what it is. Anyways I did lots of fussy cutting and just had a blast making this one! I really hope you all like it, make sure to check out the Graphic 45 blog for Jane's amazing work as well today! Hugs!


I'm concerned about ordering supplements during the summer time because of the hot weather. Shipping trucks can get really hot. I'm concerned that such hot temperatures will kill the effectiveness of the products, especially the Friendly Flora and the Omega-3. Do I have a valid concern?
I would think that Andrew Lessman would package the products that he sells so that they will not be affected by the tempertures. Or if there are times when shipping the products would affect them…he would not ship the product during certain periods.This is what makes sense to me.
So the real question is…would a sensible man ship products during hot weather when it does not make sense? It will surely hurt his business for poor quality products to be delivered to us.
It will cost you a bit more; but you can always use express ordering.
It won't sit on the ups/fed-ex/or post office trucks for as long.
This concerns me too….my mailbox is located out on the street, with the sun beating down on it, and my vitamins were sitting in there all day. uuggghh….


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Thanksgiving and Christmas come to 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons'
As a holiday season gift, Animal Crossing lovers are also receiving transfers and backups. No coal this time.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is going to be a cheery little place come holiday season. According to Nintendo, the insanely famous game which became COVID-19's go-to title is now getting updates themed according to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The "Turkey Day" update is set for Nov. 26. followed by "Toy Day" on Dec. 24.
You'll be able to meet new characters and do some holiday activities like buy gifts and invite your loved ones over for a delicious feast. The Animal Crossing landscape is expected to be covered in snow, decorated with adorable Christmas trees, and feature visits from the jolly-looking reindeer named Jingle, a rather stoic-looking turkey named Franklin (he needs your help with cooking and will reward you for your efforts). There will also be theme-appropriate hairstyles and accessories, new islands to visit, and of course, gingerbread — because the holidays are incomplete without a bit of gingerbread.
"It's a great time of year to welcome visitors over and show off your island while enjoying each other's company," Nintendo says in its game update. "The winter update also brings new Reactions and hairstyles to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, an upgrade option for expanded in-game home item storage, and save data transfer capabilities." The last little bit about data transfers and backups is the delightful cherry on top of everything. From a spooky Halloween update to music and fashion shows, Nintendo really knows how to keep people hooked.
Now, about that little gift — Nothing truly devastates an Animal Crossing gamer more than losing their island and everything they worked so hard to create on it. It genuinely is a terrible experience given that these islands, homes, and general community experiences require a good deal of detail and attention. No one wants to lose it down the drain.
In order to fix that problem, Nintendo has announced that it will allow data transfers and backups for Animal Crossing users this holiday season. "The whole island transfer feature will enable you to move your user save data, along with the island itself and all the residents, to another system," the company announced. "This service will be facilitated by the free Island Transfer Tool app in Nintendo eShop."
All you need for the feature to work is the latest edition of Animal Crossing and the Save Data Transfer option on your system. You need to access your old and new Switch to make it work. This is possible even without your original system as long as you have island backup enabled. So don't forget to save this merry season's adventures.


A city divided by war, reunited and divided again, this time by anarchism. A city in constant flux. The Mega-Cons say anarchy is dead, but any runner worth his soy-burger knows better.
The first independent sourcebook by german Shadowrun publisher Pegasus Spiele sheds a light onto the former capital city of Berlin. The hardcover book, as well as the city, is divided into two parts. On the one hand is the pacified part, now ruled by the big cons that try to hide the truth about the still anarchistic parts of the city. On the other hand are the remnants of anarchy. Some groups still wage war agains the cons, others just want to live their alternative way of life. Others again just want to hide in the shadows.
The limited edition of the book features a flip cover so you can read the book from both sides with each side featuring one of the two political parts of Berlin.


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2016/17 Pre-Season
Championship Previews In Their Own Words: Part 4
We're getting towards the rear end of the Championship but do fans of these teams expect basement action or top flight dreams?
By The Tilehurst End Guest Writer Aug 4, 2016, 10:30am BST
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Welcome to part four of our team-by-team Championship previews! You can find parts one through three right here.
Much like their team did to their fans last season, Norwich have let us down in the pre-season preview stakes. Not to fear, we'll do our best to fill in the gaps.
How was last season for Norwich?
Any season that ends in relegation has to be considered a failure, as Norwich slid back into the second tier after just one season back in the big time. Only losing twice in their first seven games suggested they'd be able to mix it with the best but a run of only three wins from their last 18 games saw the Canaries relegated from the Premier League.
So what have they done this summer?
Surprisingly little really. Norwich seem to the bridesmaids of this transfer window, as they've been close to a host of targets including Aaron Tshibola and Ross McCormack only to fail to get the job done. Sergi Canos is the only major name to arrive at Carrow Road so far, a player you might well remember him from scoring an utter stunner while on loan to Brentford from Liverpool against us last year. On the plus side they've kept most of their squad together, with Nathan Redmond's £10m move to Southampton the only noticeable departure.
Who are the men to watch out for?
Canos should only get better while if they keep hold of them, Wes Hoolahan and Robbie Brady are both very capable performers at this level. A good defence is their best asset as players like Steven Whittaker, Russel Martin and England goalkeeper John Ruddy are all very solid on their day. Don't bet against Cameron Jerome also turning it on at second tier level, the 29-year-old bagged 21 in Norwich's promotion campaign of 2014/15.
So where should we expect them to finish?
Norwich have been the most quiet of the relegated trio but they were competitive in the Premier League for large periods of last season and have kept that squad largely intact. I'd expect as top six tilt as a minimum and if the window closes without too much drama a top two place is certainly possible.
Forest fan Sean Hockett from www.bandyandshinty.com - @G_T_Spectacles
How would you sum up last season for Forest?
Well, at times it wasn't pretty, but is was effective. The falling attendances and downright apathy towards Dougie Freedman's "football style" tells its own story. And there was no surprise when our twitchy Chairman pressed the "big red eject button" on his tenure. It was all so predictable, and generally disappointing. Freedman was hamstrung by FFP, cut his cloth to suit and got the team to grind out some good results - away wins at Middlesbrough and Leeds, and a good draw at Burnley among them. I was disappointed when he got the boot and a flirtation with relegation proved - once again - that a managerial change when your team is doing OK is never really the best option.
What's been your main transfer business over the summer?
A few ins and no outs at the moment. That "Greek connection" with the club has (no doubt) been behind the signing of former Everton striker Apostolos Vellios. Saw him in the Notts County pre-season friendly - immobile, ponderous, the kind of thing we saw in a Forest striker last season. To add to that, there's Finland's Thomas Lam from PEC Zwolle (probably the Lars Veldwijk connection), Damien Perquis - a 32 year-old centre half released by Toronto FC, Stephen Henderson who made 22 appearances in goal for Charlton last season and the season-long loan signing of Benfica B team player Hildeberto Pereira.
How do fans feel about new boss Philippe Montanier?
Initial reactions have been positive. We've gone for a more Continental setup this time (that Greek connection again?). There's a Director of Football in the shape of Pedro Pereira (formerly of Braga and Fiorentina) and Montanier as Head Coach. While we're expecting good things, I'm also hoping the Notts County friendly wasn't an indication of his football ethos. That performance could be described as "Freedman-esque" and that won't go down well with the fans. We wait to see.
What are the expectation levels heading into the new season?
To avoid relegation would be tremendous. Anything else is just frosting. Realistically, I'm expecting mid-table. If you meet a Forest fan who expects us to make the play-offs, you're going to need to check if he or she have taken their medication.
Name one player we should keep an eye out for
The obvious answer is Britt's back! After over a season out injured, will he come back as the goalscoring machine we all hope he is/was? A not so obvious answer could be our loan signing from Benfica. He's only 20 and looks like he's got a lot of pace. I can't see him ousting Eric Lichaj from the right back berth, so will he be used as a right-sided winger? And will he be very exciting or Ryan Mendes in disguise? Sorry, that's two names.
Plus one younger player who might make a name for himself down the line.
Once again, the obvious answer would be Oliver Burke. He's got pace to burn, the physique of Michail Antonio and broke into the senior Scotland squad last season at the tender age of 18. But he needs to kick on now and show he's not just about beating the man. Personally, I'd like to see Jorge Grant get an extended run in the first team. At 21 he's had nowhere near the number of first team opportunities as Ben Osborn, who's the same age. He had a great game in the FA Cup against Watford last season - looked totally unfazed about playing against Premier League opposition and was comfortable on the ball. Oops, two names again, sorry.
Finally, where do you reckon you'll finish?
I'll go with 9th. There you go, I've managed to give you a short answer.
Steve Cowell, Preston fan
How would I sum up last season?
How would I sum up last season? In a word: quality. We struggled a bit early doors but once the lads discovered they had nothing to fear we kicked on. Finishing 11th was just reward for all the hardwork everybody at the club put in to last season
What's been your main summer business so far?
We've been quietly going about our business during the summer adding experience and quality to the squad. Anders Lindeguard and Chris Maxwell, two good keepers, will keep each other on their toes along with promising young keeper Matt Hudson. Ben Pringle added to the midfield quartet will give us a different option in that area of the field. Big Simon Makienok from Charlton will give us another option up front. Tommy Spurr an experienced defender from Blackburn Rovers will give us strength in that department. We've also made permanent signings of lads who were on loan last season in Calum Robinson and Eion Doyle. Plus we have young Liam Grimshaw and Jermine Beckford coming back from long term injuries they will also feel like two new signings.
How do the fans feel about Simon Grayson?
The first thing he did when he came in was to pull everybody together as one setting an example that many other clubs could do well to fellow. In the final league game against Leeds last season both sets of fans were shouting his name at the same time. Leeds have never been in a higher position than they were when they parted with his company and we were singing his name cause he had taken us to 11th in his first season in the championship.
What do fans expect from this season?
Our expectation levels are the same as last season! our aim to make sure we maintain our championship status once that is achieve we will take it from there.
Name one player who we should keep an eye out for?
Difficult one that, we have loads of lads who have grown in confidence after spending a full season in the championship. Our strength is our team ethic but like I say any one of them at any one time could step out the shadows and give the opposite something to think about so beware.
One younger player who could burst on to the scene?
There are a few young lads aiming to make an impression this season; Ben Davies, Clive Smith, Adam Robinson, but the young Irish lad Alan Brown who as a bit more first team experience than the other lads, could be the one to make an early impression on the championship.
Where will you finish?
If we hit the ground running then anything is possible with this team but making sure we survive is our main aim. But any PNE fan would like a stab at the play offs. Could this be a dream season for us?
Simon Skinner from QPRNet - @simonskinner76
How would you sum up last season for QPR?
Last season was billed as one of consolidation with the uninspiring Chris Ramsey at the helm. Then when we couldn't shift our big earners the chairman made promotion the aim. Before the season I thought we'd end up mid table and we were slap bang in the middle come May.
There weren't many tears shed when Ramsey left and although JFH hasn't won everyone over yet, I was happy enough with his appointment and with the steps that have been made back end of last season and this pre season.
Business has been impressive. The days of opening the cheque book and outbidding all-comers have gone and rightly so. Jordan Cousins has come in from Charlton and will bring desperately needed athleticism to midfield. Ariel Borysiuk, a Polish international, has also arrived to shore up central midfield. Joel Lynch has come in from Huddersfield and we have managed to scoop up Jake Bidwell from Brentford so the back four has also been improved.
We could still do with a striker and wide man but I think we might have to dip into the loan market to plug those gaps.
We've also managed to shift high earners Matt Phillips and Leroy Fer for good fees. If anyone wants a clapped out Brazilian that's incapable of completing 90 minutes more than three times a season we can flog them Sandro!
How do fans feel about Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink?
I would say feelings are mixed. He didn't make us any easier to watch when he arrived but he certainly made us harder to beat. For me that's the foundation for anything.
As I mentioned earlier I am happy with how things have gone this far. With a solid if unspectacular pre season under his belt he will have been able to further mould the team into the one he wants
I am looking for an improvement on our 12th place from last season. Anything more than that is stretching it too far for me. Let's keep consolidating, let's get this team playing how the manager really wants and then let's see where we can take it from there.
I am excited about Jordan Cousins. He has come in from Charlton and within ten minutes of his friendly debut at Northampton you could see exactly why we signed him. Box to box, pacy, physical. Three things we lacked in midfield last season. I think he will be a huge player for us this year.
A young winger called Olamide Shidipo. He's as raw as an onion at the moment but he seems to have taken the managers eye in pre season and looks like he'll be around the squad. He has electrifying pace and a decent delivery. He has much to learn but given the opportunity he could break into the team.
I reckon we'll end up around 10th. Maybe a brief flirt with the play offs at some stage, depending on how things pan out, but ultimately mid table with a slight improvement on last season.
Thanks once more to today's guest writers and we'll round up our Championship odyssey tomorrow.
Championship Previews In Their Own Words
Championship Preview In Their Own Words: Part 3


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Home NEWS Makinde Promises To Complete Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road, Speaks On Supporting Atiku
Makinde Promises To Complete Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road, Speaks On Supporting Atiku
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has assured residents of Oke Ogun Zone 2 comprising Atisbo, Saki West, Saki East, Oorelope, Irepo and Olorunsogo local government areas that his administration will complete the Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road, which it conceived in due course.
He added that the administration will also go ahead to fix the Igboho-Kishi-Igbeti road with a view to linking the Irepo/Oorelope/Olorunsogo Federal Constituency to the burgeoning economy of Saki, a commercial nerve centre of the state.
The governor, who stated this at the Town Hall Meeting held at the Saki Parapo Hall, Saki, said the government embarked on the construction of the road and that it would complete it, urging residents of the axis not to allow themselves to be deceived by some politicians.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor, who carried out an inspection tour of the road, said that he would hold a meeting with the contractors of the project and that they would begin the asphaltic tarring of the road, which connects Saki West, Saki East and Oorelope local government councils.
The governor had, earlier on Monday, at the Consultative Meeting with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, held at the OYSADA Hall, Saki, informed party faithful that his administration would continue to meet their yearnings in terms of governance, project delivery and improvement of the welfare of party loyalists.
He called on the electorate in the axis to support all candidates of the PDP in the 2023 general election, stating that he is happy that reconciliation efforts in the state have been successful so far adding that everyone needs to be on the same page for the success of the party.
The governor called for vigilance and patience from party members ahead of the elections, noting that he would address all aspirations.
Governor Makinde, who refunded all aspirants who purchased forms for 2023 elections but lost out in the party primaries, also said the six councils in the axis would be given a bus each, which would be handed over to the Campaign Coordinators, who must then return them to the party after the March 11 governorship election.
Makinde, who also used the opportunity of the meeting to address the Integrity Group's grouse with the national leadership of the PDP, said they were fighting to ensure that the interests of everyone is protected.
"Regarding the presidential election; someone said I should speak out but that time has not come. One day is a long time in politics. I know what he wants me to say, he wants me to say who we will support in the presidential election.
"Let me tell you that we are still talking and politics is a game of interests. By the grace of God, I will still be the governor in the next four years, but there are many appointments at the federal level. If Oyo State's interest is not protected; you know I cannot be governor and minister at the same time, it is some of you. But I am in the best position today to project and protect the interest of all of us.
"So, we are still talking. It is not yet time and it has a reason. But I plead with you; the federal election will not hang in the air, the polling units to wards to local government to states make up the federal level. So, our work is really from the grassroots. Let us go to our polling units, wards and organise ourselves at the local government levels. At the state level, we will do everything within our power."
In his speech, the Okere of Saki, Oba Olabisi, lauded the governor over the various projects he has executed in Saki and other parts of Oke Ogun.
He maintained that the area has never had it so good under any administration, declaring that Oke Ogun will always be grateful to the governor.
Governor Makinde, while addressing the Town Hall meeting, which had traditional rulers, top chieftains of the PDP in the state and party faithful from across the six local government areas of Oke Ogun Zone 2, rallied residents of the area to re-elect him as to enjoy Omituntun 2.0, which is all about sustainable development.
According to the governor, he has kept his promises to Saki including the construction of the Saki Township Road, which was abandoned by the previous government, the resuscitation of the moribund Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP), now Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and other projects across all the six councils.
He said: "You have said a few things that are germane and I have noted them. Even at the stakeholders meeting held at Saki, they briefed me about the Saki-Ogboro-Igboho Road and I have been there this morning to see for myself the state of the road.
"From where the Kolawole Junction links the Township road, they have done that portion. Drainage costs a lot of money and consumes at least 40 per cent of the total money you would spend on any Road project. But I can tell you that any road project executed can last for at least 15 years because your governor is an Engineer.
"As for all those parts you talked about, they have completed the drainages but very soon they will lay the asphalt to stop dust. I have called the contractor in charge and we will hold a meeting on Friday in Ibadan. So, I promise you that before I come back here to celebrate my birthday on December 25th, the contractor would have returned to the site for asphalt laying.
"Let me also say this; don't allow yourselves to be deceived. This road is the brainchild of this government and there is a concept behind it.
"There is a reason why we planned to construct the road from Saki to Ogboro to Igboho and extend it to Kisi and Igbeti. It is because the biggest economy in this axis is Saki and we want those at Kisi, Igbeti, Ogboro and Igboho to benefit immensely from the economy of Saki. We started the road and will complete it.
"During my campaign for the 2015 election, I promised you that I would fix the Saki Township road if I emerge the governor, and now, I have fulfilled the promise I made to you. The Saki-Ogboro-Igboho-Kisi-Igbeti, will also be done by this government. If you support us with your votes, then the good works we are doing here will be sustained.
"Another issue you raised is that of empowerment at the level of local government areas. I have heard you and we will empower the LGs. When we came in 2015, we were inside the hole both at the state and local government levels but we have left the hole and are now on the ground where we can run.
"When OYNADEP was here, the past government renamed it as OYSADEP and when we came, we also changed it to OYSADA. They relocated it to Ibadan then. Based on our ingenuity, we thought our economy should diversify so that our zones can be productive. So, that was why we relocated OYSADA to Saki and we will employ people into the Agency."
The governor added that the administration has also, as part of its new waste management architecture, concluded an arrangement to make waste carrier tricycles available in Saki.
"We have also made arrangements for the deployment of tricycles they use in packing refuse to Saki for usage before the return of the main compactor.
The town hall meeting had in attendance traditional rulers including the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi; Alepata of Igboholand, Oba Joel Olalere Olawuwo; Alamodu of Ago-Amodu, Oba Johnson Olaoye and the Aare of Ofiki, Oba Gbenga Adigun, among others.
Also in attendance were Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; chairman and members of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Senators Hosea Agboola; Monsurat Sunmonu and Gbenga Babalola and Chief Jacob Adetoro.
Top government functionaries in attendance include the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi; Special Adviser on Strategy and Political Matters, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, commissioners and other appointees from Oke Ogun Zone 2.
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Q: ECSlidingViewController: Can't hide menu I have implemented the ECSlidingViewController framework to my project. That works. I can switch between my Viewcontrollers with the left side menu.
But now I want to set the current view / top view by clicking a UIButton:
NSString *identifier = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@", @"newView"];

UIViewController *newTopViewController = [self.storyboard instantiateViewControllerWithIdentifier:identifier];

[self.slidingViewController anchorTopViewOffScreenTo:ECLeft animations:nil onComplete:^{
    CGRect frame = self.slidingViewController.topViewController.view.frame;
    self.slidingViewController.topViewController = newTopViewController;
    self.slidingViewController.topViewController.view.frame = frame;
}];

When I click this button, the newView-ViewController is on top, but the left menu is also visible. I've tried everything like the following to hide the menu:
[self.slidingViewController anchorTopViewTo:ECRight];
...
self.slidingViewController.underRightWidthLayout = ECVariableRevealWidth;
...
[self.slidingViewController anchorTopViewTo:ECLeft];
...
[self.slidingViewController anchorTopViewOffScreenTo:ECLeft];
...
self.slidingViewController.underLeftWidthLayout = ECFullWidth;
...
[self.slidingViewController resetTopView];

How can I hide the left menu?
Sorry for my english mistakes, I'm from Germany.

A: Don't keep using self.slidingViewController during the whole process. It is evaluated each time so when you change the view controllers in the sliding controller you can break the link. So, cache the sliding controller reference and reuse it:
ECSlidingViewController *slidingViewController = self.slidingViewController;

[slidingViewController ...];
[slidingViewController ...];

A: Calling resetTopView at the end of the onComplete block should hide the menu.

A: Show/Hide SlideViewController
[viewController.slidingViewController anchorTopViewToRightAnimated:YES];
    if ([viewController.slidingViewController currentTopViewPosition] == ECSlidingViewControllerTopViewPositionAnchoredRight) {
        [viewController.slidingViewController resetTopViewAnimated:YES];
    }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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ALQOSH, Iraq (AP) — Clutching his rifle intently, the Iraqi recruit maneuvered between piles of bricks and cement obstacles. The sound of shooting pierced the air and he jumped behind a wall, lifted his rifle and imitated the staccato sound of gunfire.
American assistance "will give equality to all the ethnic groups here," said Col. Jawat Habib Abboush, the deputy commander of the group.
Col. Abboush said his group poses no threat to anybody but IS. The militia had formed to protect the community in the wake of the Islamic State's onslaught and the collapse of the Iraqi army.
"We joined to fight terrorism and Daesh, and to liberate our land, to protect our dignity and honor," said recruit Michael Rai Staef, using the Arabic acronym for IS. His hometown, Qaraqosh, is still held by the militants.
A spokesman for the anti-IS coalition couldn't confirm if the NPU was, indeed, receiving training from the U.S. military but said they were considering training another Christian group, known as Dwekh Nawsha.
The House of Representative's draft 2017 U.S. defense bill specifies that direct assistance may be provided to "local security forces, including ethnic and religious minority groups, with a national security mission." The bill still needs to be approved by the Senate and signed by the president, and its vague wording gives Washington considerable discretion over who to support and how.
The NPF have also received training from American private military trainers. But unlike the Iraqi-supported NPU, the NPF's support comes from the peshmerga, the armed forces of the northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq.
They have received arms and other equipment from them, although because the cash-strapped peshmerga are struggling to equip themselves properly, the NPF receive "only leftovers," NPF commander Safaa Khamro said.
The Kurdish regional government and the central government in Baghdad are vying for influence over Ninevah province, and are hardening the divisions between the Christian groups. The NPF describes itself as part of the Kurdish region's defense system. The NPU sees itself as an official Iraqi security force; most of the leaders are former Iraqi army officers and many of the men have Iraqi flags on their uniform.
U.S. financial support might allow them to the Christians to play a bigger role, but it's unlikely to heal the rifts between them.