text:
import React from 'react';
import {State, Link} from 'react-router';

export default React.createClass({

  mixins: [State],

  render() {
    var isActive = this.isActive(this.props.to, this.props.params, this.props.query);
    var className = isActive ? 'RouteTab active' : 'RouteTab';
    var link = (
      <Link {...this.props} />
    );
    return
{link}
;
  }
});


It is fascinating to consider just how many ancient teachings tell us that we, humans, can gain extraordinary powers through different techniques.
Some of them known as siddhis in the tradition of yoga from the Sanskrit meaning "perfection include meditation, as well as static dancing, drumming, praying, fasting, psychedelics, and a lot more.
For instance, in Buddhism, the existence of advanced powers is readily acknowledged; in fact, Buddha expected his disciples to have the ability to attain such abilities, but also not to become distracted by them.
With this enlightenment, he has been believed to possess all manner of supernormal powers, which include full knowledge of every of his past lives, as well as those of some other beings, the capacity to know the thoughts of others, the ability to create doubles of himself, as well as the ability to rise into the air and simultaneously shoot fire and water from his body…Even though he passed into nirvana at the age of 81, he could have lived for an aeon or maybe until the end of the aeon if he was asked to do that.
Also, he had the power to transform matter into various forms, such as changing a rock into a sugar cube. One after another the next morning did many things like that. He told me to touch the sand, and the grains of sand turned into almonds, as well as cashews. I had also heard of this science before and knew its basic principles, but I had hardly believed such stories. I did not explore this field, but I am fully acquainted with the governing laws of science.
A lot of these tales exist within the literature and lore, but they are only stories, and it is up to the readers to determine their reliability. Of course, one that subscribes to different ancient teaching would be more inclined to believe that these are more than only folklore. With science shedding some light on the possible truths of ancient mysticism, it is not implausible to think that, at one time, such abilities were more common knowledge.
Speaking broadly, even though there are some differences, I think that Buddhist philosophy, as well as Quantum Mechanics, can shake hands on the view that they have of the world. We can see in these great examples the fruits of human thinking. No matter of the admiration that we feel for these great thinkers, we should not lose sight of the fact that they were a human being just like we are.
One fundamental conclusion of the new physics also acknowledges that the observer is the one that creates the reality. Being observers, we are also personally involved in the process of creation of our reality. Physicists are being forced to admit that the universe is actually a "mental" construction. Pioneering physicist Sir James Jeans once wrote: The stream of knowledge is heading toward a non-mechanical reality; the universe starts looking more like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind no longer appears to be an accidental intruder into the realm of matter we ought to rather hail it as the creator, as well as governor of the realm of matter. You should get over it and accept the inarguable conclusion. The universe is immaterial-mental spiritual.
Harvard and the Monks from the Himalayan Mountains.
At the time of a visit to remote monasteries in the 1980s, one Professor of Medicine at Harvard University, named Herbert Benson, together with his team of researchers, studied the monks that were living on the Himalayan Mountains that could, but g Tum-mo, which is a yoga technique, raise the temperatures of their fingers, together with that of their toes, by as much as 17 degrees. It is still not known how the monks had the ability to generate such heat.
This did not stop there – the researchers also studied some advanced meditators in Sikkim, India, where they were surprised to discover that these monks could lower their metabolism by 64%.
The research team of Harvard in 1985 made a video of monks drying cold, as well as wet sheets with body heat only. Monks that spend winter night 15,000 feet high in the Himalayas is also uncommon.
There are actually really remarkable feats, and it is not the first time science has examined humans that can do extraordinary things.


NRA-ILA | West Virginia: Protecting Your Self-Defense Rights in Your Home!
West Virginia: Protecting Your Self-Defense Rights in Your Home!
On Wednesday, January 9, State Senator Shirley Love (D-11) introduced Senate Bill 145, "Castle Doctrine" legislation. SB145 simply states that if a criminal attacks a law-abiding citizen in his or her home, automobile, or any place he or she has a legal right to be, the use of force is allowed for self-defense. NRA is working with all members of the West Virginia Legislature to get the best, clearest language possible before moving on to final passage.
Every member of the West Virginia State Senate is a co-sponsor of SB145. It is assigned to the State Senate Judiciary Committee, with no hearing date set at this time. Please continue checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for updates on this and other Second Amendment-related legislation in West Virginia.
Tennessee Right-to-Carry Reform Scheduled for Vote!


The art of Stephen Lyman never fails to whisk us away on an adventure in the great outdoors. With "High Creek Crossing," our destination is Yellowstone National Park, and in this awe-inspiring panorama, we are witness to the great American buffalo.
Once known for the millions that roamed the Plains, the bison, or American buffalo, now survives in isolated herds on private reserves and national parks like Yellowstone. During the winter, these animals must forage for food by pawing the ground and sweeping their massive heads through deep snow. In mountainous areas, they will seek the protective cover of trees in an especially strong winter storm. Here, a storm has just passed and the herd begins to move again in search of new places to feed.


text:
Q: converting an xml to an object I'm beginner in that topic in actionscript, but I have a large xml response like the following and I don't know how to convert it to a class, there are a lot of fields there, how do I structure them correctly ?
<GCPResponse userLocale="de_AT_7_1">
<Messages>
<PopUpMessages>
<Message no="1" type="game" name="DONATION" key="detailKeyIfNecessary">
 ahhhdhhdhdhd
</Message>
</PopUpMessages>
<TickerMessages>
<Message no="1" type="game" name="TTJP" key="detailKeyIfNecessary">
  fdfdfd
</Message>
<Message no="2" type="game" name="LDJP">
 fffff
</Message>
</TickerMessages>
</Messages>
<Response currency="EUR">
<BalanceCash>10000</BalanceCash>
<BalanceDonation>10000</BalanceDonation>
<DrawClosingTime>2013-04-12T23:20:50+01:00</DrawClosingTime>
<DrawOpeningTime>2013-04-10T12:00:00+01:00</DrawOpeningTime>
<Default maxDraws="4" draws="1" picks="12" jokerPicks="1"/>
<PickPrice gameName="ttt" draw="123" price="60"/>

    </Response>
</GCPResponse>

A: Use URLLoader to load an external XML file, ie:
import flash.net.URLLoader;

...

private var _loader:URLLoader = new URLLoader();
private var _xml:XML;
private var _XMLselection:XMLList;

...

_loader.load(new URLRequest("assets/commissionercontent.xml"));
_loader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, xmlLoaded);
_loader.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, xmlError);

private function xmlError(p_event:Event):void {
    trace("XML error - maybe do something graphical here?");
}

private function xmlLoaded(p_event:Event):void {
    _xml=new XML(p_event.target.data);
}

Once you have the XML as a Flash XML object, you can make selections, such as:
_XMLselection = _xml.GCPResponse.Fixtures;

Check the adobe live docs... http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/XML.html

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
package de.iani.cubequest.commands;

import de.iani.cubequest.CubeQuest;
import de.iani.cubequest.generation.QuestGenerator;
import de.iani.cubequest.util.ChatAndTextUtil;
import de.iani.cubesideutils.commands.ArgsParser;
import de.iani.cubesideutils.commands.SubCommand;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;
import org.bukkit.command.Command;
import org.bukkit.command.CommandSender;

public class SaveOrReloadGeneratorCommand extends SubCommand {

    public static final String SAVE_COMMAND_PATH = "saveGeneratorConfig";
    public static final String FULL_SAVE_COMMAND = "quest " + SAVE_COMMAND_PATH;

    public static final String RELOAD_COMMAND_PATH = "reloadGeneratorConfig";
    public static final String FULL_RELOAD_COMMAND = "quest " + SAVE_COMMAND_PATH;

    private boolean save;

    public SaveOrReloadGeneratorCommand(boolean save) {
        this.save = save;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onCommand(CommandSender sender, Command command, String alias, String commandString, ArgsParser args) {
        if (this.save) {
            QuestGenerator.getInstance().saveConfig();
            ChatAndTextUtil.sendNormalMessage(sender, "QuestGenerator-Config gespeichert.");
        } else {
            QuestGenerator.reloadConfig();
            ChatAndTextUtil.sendNormalMessage(sender, "QuestGenerator-Config neugeladen");
        }
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public String getRequiredPermission() {
        return CubeQuest.EDIT_QUEST_SPECIFICATIONS_PERMISSION;
    }

    @Override
    public List<String> onTabComplete(CommandSender sender, Command command, String alias, ArgsParser args) {
        return Collections.emptyList();
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


CBS announced today that most of its new and returning series will premiere during the week of Sept. 20, the official start of the 2010-2011 season. The exceptions are SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA, which launches a week earlier, and THE GOOD WIFE and CSI: MIAMI, which both debut a week later.
CBS will get an early start on the season with the premiere of SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA, the 21st edition of the hit reality series, which launches in its new time period on Wednesday, Sept. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).
CBS's new season rollout officially begins on Monday, Sept. 20 with the season six debut of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT), followed by the fifth season premiere of RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the eighth season premiere of television's #1 comedy, TWO AND A HALF MEN (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), the series premiere of MIKE & MOLLY (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the series debut of HAWAII FIVE-0 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
NCIS, television's #1 drama, returns for its eighth season on Tuesday, Sept. 21 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the two-hour second season premiere of NCIS: LOS ANGELES (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), last season's #1 new scripted series.
On Wednesday, Sept. 22, CRIMINAL MINDS (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) returns for its sixth season followed by the series debut of THE DEFENDERS (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
On Thursday, Sept. 23, CBS opens its new one-hour comedy block on television's biggest night with the fourth season premiere of THE BIG BANG THEORY (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) -the fastest-growing series on television and the #1 scripted program in adults 18-49 – heading into the irreverent new comedy, $#*! MY DAD SAYS (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT). CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION returns for its 11th season (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the third season premiere of THE MENTALIST (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
The Network's new Friday lineup premieres Sept. 24 with MEDIUM's second season on CBS (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by a new two-hour block of New York-based crime dramas featuring the seventh season premiere of CSI: NY in its new (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) time period and the series debut of the new police drama BLUE BLOODS (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
48 HOURS MYSTERY, Saturday's most-watched program, returns on Sept. 25 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
Premiering on Sunday, Sept. 26 is the 43rd season of 60 MINUTES, television's longest- running and highest-rated newsmagazine (7:30-8:30 PM, ET/PT, time approximate following late-running football), followed by a 90-minute premiere of the multi-Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE (8:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the Emmy Award-nominated UNDERCOVER BOSS, last season's #1 new program (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
The Emmy Award-nominated THE GOOD WIFE returns for its sophomore season on Tuesday, Sept. 28 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
On Sunday, Oct. 3, CSI: MIAMI makes its ninth season premiere in its new time period (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).


Come and discover the neighbourhood of The Enclave and learn about the life, malls, and people in the area. Find out more about the schools and properties that are available in the area.
Browse through our superb properties For Sale in The Enclave.
Browse through our superb properties For Rent in The Enclave.
The Enclave is a beatific development of zero lot bungalows that are targeted towards the upmarket with their large built-ups and award-winning architecture. It is a desirable home for locals, as the development is situated next to Ipoh town within the posh location of Tiger Lane. Its very location itself shouts of prestige, as all the high end landed properties in Ipoh are located in this area.
The Enclave is situated just beside the Royal Perak Golf Club and is within proximity to international schools, colleges and even private healthcare centres. It is surrounded by renowned developments such as The Thompson and also the upcoming development of Upper East @ Tiger Lane.
As befitting its residents, the security in The Enclave is tight while touting a low density to provide the best of privacy and safety. And depending on which unit the buyer chooses, they will be privy to their very own rooftop garden and golf course view. There will also be inner patios, light wells and verandahs for excellent ventilation and natural lighting.
I would like to request for more information or a site viewing for the Phase 1 - Lumiere unit. Thank you.
With PropSocial, everyone can now find their dream home. Looking to buy, sell or rent a home of The Enclave? Fill in your details and we will get right back to you!


mectron are leading manufacturers of LED curing lights. The starlight pro combines its features in an exemplary manner. Cordless, ultralight and easy to handle. starlight s and starlight s sler can easily get integrated into the dental unit.
High performance for a lightweight and colored LED curing lamp: Starlight one it's what you've been waiting for.


GQ's Dan Pollard and Hannah Mahon were recently invited to speak at the CIPD's Central London Branch employment law update seminar on The six key developments for 2016 in 60 minutes.
2. where next for whistleblowing?
3. what role for HR in the disciplinary process?
5. what does data protection reform mean for HR?


text:
Mother Teresa with Children
Aquarelles Sylvie Griselle, France
Sylvie stated that she considers Mother Teresa "an exceptionally admirable woman who worked so hard to help the poor; she commands my respect and admiration. I hope my painting expresses Mother Teresa's incredible empathy towards people, particularly towards children."
Ramesh has a special affinity for this painting because Gandhi is depicted in a work of art in the background "looking on with approval." He is touched by the influence of both of these spiritual leaders who touched his native country so profoundly.
Sylvie was born in Lorraine, France in 1951. She was a primary school teacher who took an interest in art during her professional career. She took courses in watercolor from the renowned Rémy Kail beginning in 1974. She was forced to set aside her art for numerous years for personal reasons, but returned in the 1990s to create once again. Sylvie says her paintings "allow her to escape reality, like a language inviting me to communicate, exchange views and stay open-minded."
Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic Sister and missionary who founded the Missionaries of Charity. Members adhere to the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience as well as a fourth vow, to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor." Mother Teresa was the recipient of numerous honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize. On September 4, 2017, she was canonized as a Saint by the Catholic Church.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Honors United States History
Honors Syllabus
Hon Power Points
AP United States History
APUSH Syllabus
APUSH Power Points
APUSH Chapter Reviews
Helpful Hints for success
Twenty three years ago, after being honorably discharged from the United States Air Force and two years residing in Mechanicsburg borough, my wife and I moved to the Dillsburg area. The primary factor when selecting a community to raise our family was the local schools, therefore, it was the Northern School District that drew us to Dillsburg. We love the community of Dillsburg and our association with the school. We look forward to serving and reaping the benefits of our community for many years to come.
Social Studies Teacher, Northern High School (2008-present)
Youth Director, Community Christian Fellowship (2006-2010)
School Administrator, Northern School District (2004-2008)
Social Studies Teacher, Big Spring High School (1999-2004)
Social Studies Teacher, Christian School of York (1997-1999)
M.Ed. Teaching and Curriculum Penn State University
PA Principal Certification K-12 Penn State University
B.A. Secondary Education York College of PA
I enjoy sports, as a participant and spectator, and love to be with people. My wife, Cindy, works as a home health caregiver. She enjoys serving others in any capacity. Our son Ben, graduated from Northern and Virginia Tech and is currently serving on the coaches film staff with the Minnesota Vikings. Our duaghter, Maggie, is also a Northern grad and is attending Millersville University, majoring in Elementary and Special Education. Our family loves to travel, especially to any beach, anywhere, anytime!


30-INCH 5 BURNER ELECTRIC DOUBLE OVEN CONVECTION RANGEThis beautiful electric double oven range produces flawless cooking results with Even-Heat™ True Convection. The unique bow-tie design and convection fan ensure the inside of the entire oven is heated to, and stays at, the perfect temperature. The ovens are a combined 6.7 cu ft., providing an extra-large capacity and separate temperature environments. The cooktop features five heating surfaces, including a dedicated warming zone, allowing you to do more on your range.


The 2014 ROSE awards were formally awarded at the Annual Business Meeting on January 16, 2015 at the Safety Award Luncheon. R&H was honored in the Building Division. The Oregon-Columbia Chapter's Recognition of Safety Excellence (ROSE) Award recognizes chapter leaders in safety excellence and is a great tool to conduct a self-evaluation of the company's safety program. To learn more about the AGC and the Rose Award click here.


When confronting aliens to fight.
He hit the Slitheen –oh where the Dr's guile?
As it seeks out Rose to kill.
Panto slapstick undermines the thrill.
Should perhaps have been the title of No 5.
Parody parading as the panto peacock preens.
And rubber suited waddling ducks on the River Trent!
Is a nasty Doctor trait I'd rather do without.
Was cold hearted, malevolent and sick!!
Julie sang suggesting I was watching not 5, but 3.
Give 'em modern, social drama full of Eastender domestic grief.
In a frustrated sort of feline way.
Thinking I had more witty gravitas than this Mad Hatter?
Take your WHO seriously with wit, charm and moral gravity.


text:
SOR/2000-217 - Table of Contents
SOR/2000-217
Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations
Marginal note:Record of receipt from licensed dealer
50 If a pharmacist receives a targeted substance from a licensed dealer, a pharmacist in another pharmacy or a hospital, the pharmacist must keep a record of the following information:
(a) the brand name of the targeted substance received or, if the targeted substance does not have a brand name, the specified name;
(b) the quantity and strength per unit of the targeted substance received, the number of units per package and the number of packages;
(c) the name and address of the licensed dealer, pharmacist or hospital that supplied it; and
(d) the date on which it was received.


According to golf etiquette, the sport of golf is played without guidance, supervision, or control by a coach, referee, or an umpire on the golf course. Beginning golfers usually are not aware of the customary practices and behavior on the course.
Basically the game relies upon each golfer to be considerate of their fellow players and to abide by the "Rules ".
There are unspoken rules of etiquette and more stringent rules of good golf etiquette. The rules are in place to make the game more enjoyable, but many of them relate to the golfers safety and to the pace of play (which helps keep the game more enjoyable).
Several other rules of etiquette relate to maintaining the overall quality of the golf course itself.
All players on the golf course should demonstrate a high degree of sportsmanship and courtesy at all times (Basically just good manners!).
Therefore it is very important that the individual golfer understands the fundamentals of golf etiquette.
Leave home with enough time to reach the golf course at least 45 minutes before your "Tee" time. This is extending consideration for your playing partners as well as the starter and other players immediately following your established "Tee" time.
Golf etiquette includes showing respect to the bag-handler and starter for starting your golf day out on a positive note. Maybe even an appropriate tip is in order!
Extending respect and consideration during your "warm-up" on the practice putting green and golf driving ranges is appropriate.
Golf etiquette includes showing respect to the Golf Marshal out on the course, and the Caddy! Tip the Caddy commensurate with his/her performance.
Walk or stand on another players putting line.
Leave your ball on another players putting line.
Leave your golf ball marker on another players putting line if it is bothersome to them.
Cast your shadow on another players putting line or setup area. (Your shadow should not be visible at all to the player when he is about to putt).
Stand within a player's peripheral vision while they are putting.
Stand behind another player to visualize the path of their ball during the process of putting.
Talk or whisper while another player is preparing to putt or during the process of putting.
Leave the putting area until all other players in the group have holed out.
Professional etiquette requires that you do not bring electronic devices to the course which will bother other players. If you must carry a cell phone for emergency purposes, use it only for emergencies and put it on "vibration" ringing mode.
In general on the golf course, act as if you are in the "library"!
Don't talk prior to or during another players turn at taking their shot. Avoid any unnecessary noise or movement that will distract or disturb other players.
At the Tee Box, do not take practice swings or tee your ball when another player is about to play.
Avoid shouting loudly anywhere on the golf course, as there are always other players nearby.
Do not stand directly behind a player who is about to play. Stay out of their peripheral vision to avoid distracting them.
Do not give advice to your opponent or fellow-competitor.
b. Ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or his golf caddie.
Play at a pace which keeps up with the group ahead. If there is an open Hole ahead, and the group behind is pushing your group, either pick up your groups pace, or invite the group behind you to play through regardless how many players are in that group. This is considered good golf etiquette.
Take only one practice swing for each shot, and then hit the ball.
Plan your shot before it's your turn. Decide in advance where you want the to land the next shot , and which club you will use to make the shot.
(See "Being ready to play" Animation Video Link at bottom of this page).
a. The player who has the lowest score on a Hole has the right to play his/her ball first on the next Hole. This is called the "honor."
b. While playing a Hole, the player whose ball is farthest from the Hole plays first.
Play Ready Golf whenever you can (non-tournament play).
Ready Golf means that the player who is ready first, plays first even if that player is not the farthest away from the hole. Have an agreement with your playing partners to play "Ready Golf" before you Tee Off.
Ready golf can really save a lot of time waiting for the "correct" player to hit.
Quickly leave the putting green when your group has finished their putting.
Do not waste a lot of time looking for a lost ball. You are by rule only allowed five minutes to find the ball. Golf etiquette rules require allowing the group behind to play through if you violate this time restriction.
a. A ball is lost if it is not found within five minutes after you first begin to search or you have put another ball into play.
b. If your ball is lost or out of bounds, you must add a penalty stroke to your score and play another ball from where you played your last shot (known as "stroke and distance").
c. If you think your ball may be lost or out of bounds, you may play a provisional ball from the place where your first ball was played.
d. You must notify fellow players that you are playing a provisional ball and play it before you leave the area to look for the first ball.
Priority on the golf course is determined by a group's pace of play.
a. Any group playing an 18-Hole round is entitled to pass a group playing nine Holes.
b. Individual or single players must acquiesce to larger groups.
If you leave a divot when teeing off, repair that divot as well as others you may find.
Upon hitting your drive, pick up your Tee afterwards. If the tee is broken, pick it up along with any others you may find and discard them along with any other trash you may have at the time.
If you inadvertently move a Tee Marker, return it to its proper placement. Even if you personally have not moved the Tee Marker, if any one of them is out of place, place them properly.
If you use the ball washer and towel to clean some balls, handle them gently so as not to damage them. If the ball washer is inoperative, and/or if the towel is torn or missing, notify the pro shop upon completion of your round.
Repair Fairway divots by retrieving and replacing the sod or turf pieces and pressing them down with your foot into the divot recess. If the sod pieces are too small and scattered, fill the divot hole with a sand/seed mixture if provided with the golf cart.
Avoid driving the golf cart on wet or soggy fairways, as this tends to put "grooves" in the turf, which in turn may affect a golf ball when landing and rolling on the fairway.
Most courses have a 90 degree cart rule during inclement weather.
If you hit your ball up to or beyond the out of bounds marker, and that happens to be a fence which belongs to the golf course or a private citizen, do not damage the fence!
If you hit your ball out of bounds and it damages private property; broken window, damaged furniture etc, notify the pro shop upon completion of your round. Saying nothing is not good golf etiquette.
Enter the sand bunker with rake in hand from the low side nearest your ball.
Avoid walking on the steep face of the sand bunker.
Place the rake outside the bunker when leaving, with the handle running parallel to the fairway. Some courses provide a receiver or hole in the ground next to the bunker to receive the rake handle.
Putting etiquette suggests upon reaching the Green repair ball marks caused by your ball impacting the putting surface. As time and opportunity presents, repair other ball marks as well.
You cannot repair pitch marks or spike marks on your putting line until after you have putted.
Avoid dropping the Flagstick on the putting surface; it should be placed on the Fringe.
The Flagstick should be carefully replaced in the Hole to avoid damaging the rim of the Hole, before all players leave the putting green.
To avoid damaging the rim of the Hole, players and caddies alike should not stand too close to the Hole and should take care during the handling of the flagstick and the removal of a ball from the Hole.
When on the putting green, golfers should not lean on their putter when removing the ball from the hole, which could impart a dent on the putting surface.
When preparing to make a practice swing or stroke, golfers should make sure that other players in the vicinity are not standing in a position to be hit by the golf club, ball or any twigs, pebbles or stones.
Maintain a safe distance from players in your own group when they are preparing to play.
Players should not play until the group in front is clearly out of range.
Players need to be aware of Green Staff workers on the course. Alert any staff who might be in view prior to making a stroke with your golf club.
It is the hitting golfer's responsibility to shout the traditional word of warning "Fore" when a ball is hit towards or near other players or Green Staff personnel. When you hear someone else shouting "Fore" cover your head and duck!
Never throw clubs in anger. In addition to being rude it could also be dangerous to other players. This is definitely not good golf etiquette.
Observe the safety precautions posted in golf carts. Drive responsible and safely.
Be very cautious if you find it necessary to venture into an adjoining fairway to retrieve a ball, or play an errant shot. Also be careful if you are near an adjacent fairway, golfers may be hitting toward you.
We hope this adventure into Golf Etiquette has been interesting and helpful.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has prepared some excellent Animated Videos on Golf Etiquette which we feel are worthwhile observing.
You can go to the primary website address of the USGA listed below and see all of these Animated Videos and much more.
When you reach the website, scroll down part way until you see "Avoiding Distraction Animation" in red lettering.
Click on that and you are on your way to understanding even more on golf etiquette.


Suzy's Small Stitches Needlepoint Book - is currently on backorder. You may still purchase now though and we'll ship as soon as more become available.
Suzy's Small Stitches by Suzy Murphy is a book full of needlepoint wisdom. Suzy has put together a needlepoint book that is a compilation of the information she has soaked up from many of the finest teachers in the needlepoint industry. She has also included hints and humor at the bottom of the pages! This book has models stitched on 14 count canvas to give you an idea of how the stitch will appear. A wonderful resource book from one of the industry's best!


text:
Guitar-playing Zebra Finches....Music to My Ears
On Friday, I tried to swing past the Barbican Centre for one more visit to see those remarkable zebra finches imitate Jimi Hendrix, but I was foiled.
I'm referring to the Céleste Boursier-Mougenot exhibition, where a flock of zebra finches live in an exhibition space furnished with several electric guitars and bass guitars placed flat, perpendicular with the floor, on stands and plugged into amplifiers, amongst cymbals (the bottom of brass toned Paiste hi-hats). The birds frequently land on and hop along the strings of the guitars, and indeed sometimes drag a twig across them in an attempt to build a nest on it, which makes an extraordinary random sound punctuated by the occasional perfect strum. Or, as the Barbican literature describes it, the artist 'orchestrates a magical promenade with distinct, yet overlapping auditory experiences.' Yep.
I was in two minds about this exhibition. I saw a clip at the end of an episode of The Culture Show that fascinated me and drove me towards it, yet the wildlife-loving RSPCA member in me thought it was wrong to keep birds trapped in an art gallery ogled by strangers when they should be out in the wild. I knew that the birds' welfare had been carefully vetted by 'the relevant authorities' but it still seemed wrong....until I saw it.
First, the birds aren't creatures someone caught from the wild and imprisoned in the Barbican Centre. They have been provided by a specialist who provides animals for artistic projects, we are told, as though they're from the same acting agency that provided Eddie the dog in Frasier. So presumably they were raised in captivity and are used to being in an aviary. I'm almost just repeating that to try to convince myself that it's okay, and I hope it is. Second, I had pictured the birds being contained in a low-ceilinged section of a small room, with the crowd lined up on the other side of a glass partition, peering in as though at a cramped caged animal in a Victorian zoo. Instead, the birds fly freely around an airy, sizeable space with a roof perhaps 30 feet high, with the people walking amongst them, and although they could fly away from us if they wanted to, they were so used to people walking around them that they would fly right past our faces and even land on our bags—at least they did on mine (they have discerning taste).
The description of the exhibition describes this interaction as creating a different visit for everyone as the installation was 'in a constant state of flux' and 'to be fully activated, the piece relies on the visitors' movements around the space, which elicit counter movements by the birds, resulting in a subtle choreography.' Well, I will say it was neat to be able to observe beautiful wildlife so closely, and fun when they sat for an age on my briefcase and later my handbag (and very kindly left nothing behind). I wouldn't suggest I was tap-dancing with them, but an artist wouldn't be an artist (and a marketing person wouldn't be a marketing person) if they just said 'there're a lot of birds flying around and they be cute.'
Although the well-lit room was white and a bit sterile, there were sandpits on the ground in which arid grasses had been planted so the birds had plenty of natural things to grab and use when building nests, which they seemed to be doing with tremendous commitment. Although they clearly loved landing on the guitars, sometimes several birds doing so on one at a time, they were also quite happy sitting on the fire extinguishers, 'break glass' and exit signs. I was pleased to see a series of nesting boxes placed in a long row high above our heads on one wall, almost all of which were occupied by a female practically hidden by the nesting material. Apparently, a friend linked to the Barbican has told me, this was a result of a panic when one of the birds had laid an egg, I think on a guitar, forcing the staff to clear the exhibition of customers and close it down until they got advice from the RSPB or another 'relevant authority', who said they really should provide nesting boxes, so voilà.
But before visitors get to that room, we walk through a dark corridor (also with high ceilings; nothing is claustrophobic) with video projections of white-silhouetted 'flying fingers' playing electric guitars, against a black background. And you can hear electric guitar as well, albeit not in the style of Eric Clapton or Jimmy Page, but a random droning and, as I mentioned, the occasional impressive deliberate-sounding strum. The soundtrack is, of course, provided by the birds around the corner (or around the curve, as the exhibition is in the part of the Barbican aptly called The Curve). One can also hear crickets, stressing the feeling of night-time, but I think that was a recording unless we were crushing innocent crickets as we walked through the darkness.
It's difficult to remember that this first bit is part of the exhibition. Everyone seems to see it as a corridor to rush through to get to the real things, the darkness perhaps helping your transition from the Arts Centre outside to the unusual experience you will soon meet, or perhaps discouraging the birds from flying out into the Centre and interrupting a play or a film or escaping into the City. It probably does that, but the (uh) flyer one can take (by ripping a printed page from a pad hanging on the wall that had a large sign containing a description of the installation and the artist, which I overlooked on the way in and only paused to read on the way out) explains that this first element is part of the 'multi-sensory experience.'
Let's face it; we're all racing to see the birds. And they were no let-down. I've never seen or heard of zebra finches before, and they are stunning, a bit odd but truly amazing. Rather tiny, I realised when they landed on me, and they have deeply orange beaks that give them a tropical air, with a small white patch and black stripe by their eyes, then the males are mostly pale grey, with a light brown undercarriage and black and white tail feathers. The females are mostly white, but also with the black stripe by their eye. Just observing a living creature that is so unusual and beautiful in close proximity was a delight, and they just didn't seem to mind us being there as they flew around and tried to build nests in Gibson guitars. Yes, they were guitars of quality. I wondered whether they were just toy plastic replicas so as not to waste the real thing on a bunch of wild creatures, but they were Gibson Les Paul models—about 10 of them. The artist apparently had tuned the guitars so that whenever a string was touched, it produced a clear chord. That was key; everything sounded impressive and interesting; never did we wince, even when different guitars were played by different groups of birds around the room at the same time.
Added to the random guitar sounds was a great deal of sweet chirruping, almost like quick high beeps, and the busy flutter of wings, which added to the delightful soundscape. I pressed record on my Dictaphone for a bit and came home with an amazing snippet of sounds. Most of the birds were paired off (so no solos) and quite dear. They had endless patience; I observed one fly up to a nesting box with a long, thick piece of grass that was about seven times his size, but after he landed in the box, the unbalanced long blade of grass would fall out, far below onto the floor. Without any look of scowling, rolling his eyes or cursing, the bird just flew down, picked it up again, flew all the way back up to the nesting box, again drop it back onto the floor because most of it was hanging heavily outside, and then he would fly down to retrieve it again. He did this several times until eventually another bird decided he'd rather like that ginormous blade of grass, and he swiped it the next time it was dropped before the first bird could return to the floor for it for the umpteenth time. Frankly, I was a relieved.
The environment was so soothing, I almost wished for a park bench so I could sit and write whilst enjoying the atmosphere, being surrounded by (and landed on by) happily chirruping unusual finches as though I were in a park in Australia or Indonesia, where they're native. But then, benches would mean people would stay longer, and fewer people would then be allowed in. The Centre only let a few people in at a time, which was the right thing to do so as not to freak out the birds or spoil the experience (or invoke disturbing 'choreography'!), although it meant there were always queues, particularly as people would usually spend at least 25 minutes in the company of these birds. We would smile at each other as we shared the experience, sometimes talking about how grand it was to be near such exquisite creatures, and I became a part of the exhibit when, as I said, a finch landed on my handbag and remained there for an age, which caused several people to gather around me and point (or maybe it was my Thatcher-like suit). Later, one landed on the top of my briefcase, which was slung over my shoulder, and I remember worrying a bit that I might accidentally leave with it, which partly sounded fun but then I doubt I could look after it properly, though I probably wouldn't have to after my cats greeted it. So good thing it got bored and flew away to do some guitar-picking.
The birds eat grass seed and there was plenty of seed around. The cymbals weren't being pecked as percussion but instead were filled with either water, where the birds sweetly splashed themselves in a rapid dance, or seeds that they scoffed happily. The floor (around the sand pits and arid grasses) was made of wooden planks with surprisingly no evidence of bird droppings, so the Art Centre must scrub it regularly. But no one did so while I was in there. There were only two attendants—one outside monitoring the numbers entering and leaving, and one inside covering the entire airy room.
That wouldn't have been enough to prevent me from taking a photo, as he would have been unable to see me do so when my back was to him and he was chatting to people on the other end of the curve. But I'm a terrible goody two-shoes and the big sign outside prohibiting photography, which I had plenty of time to stare at whilst queuing to come in, weighed heavily on my mind. I hate myself for not stealing a photograph, which would have cheered me no end, allowing me to relive this pleasant experience as soon as I got home and to smile when it came up on my screensaver slideshow. Plus, I go to so many things and I get so little sleep, I always worry I will forget what I've been to altogether unless I have a photo for revisiting.... But nay, I'm a wimp and took nothing. A woman near me did get told off (very politely) for taking out her camera, but she must have got a shot, and that would be worth it. I hate myself, the same way I did when I was prevented by the South Bank Photo Police from snapping Ray Davies when he came out in a union jack suit, and I was in the second row with an unimpeded view. I should have just taken it; why didn't I?
So my only complaint about the exhibition was that I couldn't take a photo or two, obviously without a flash. What harm would it have done? I wonder if the artist felt doing so would steal the soul of his exhibition or something. Immediately after I visited this exhibition, I went upstairs to the Ron Arad exhibition where the public were encouraged to take photos and post them on Flikr and link them to the Barbican website. And boy did I take photos, and I'll add those here soon, but a million pictures of chairs—no matter how unusual—just aren't as cute as a bunch of zebra finches, particularly ones playing Gibson guitars. (I did Tweet from the exhibition though, which I thought was rather fitting.)
Had I managed to return on Friday as I attempted, I might have tried to snap a quick shot of these adorablenesses, but I doubt it. Not with a big sign telling me not to be naughty. But I'll never know. I didn't manage to leave work as early as planned so got there at 7.15pm, and the gallery closes at 8pm, and there was a significant queue, which the attendant closed just as I arrived since all those people were unlikely to get in. It was a disappointment, given that the exhibition was to close on 23 May, but perhaps a second visit would have been less magical and ruined the memories for me. I doubt it though.
A small comfort is that there are videos on YouTube shot of other such installations, including one that appears to be the official Barbican clip (probably what I saw at the end of The Culture Show), although it wasn't filmed at the Barbican as what appears is a much smaller space, more like the Victorian zoo look that I had worried about encountering. If it works, I'll put the link below. Enjoy it, but if you ever get the chance to see such a thing in person (or in bird?), make sure you fly to the exhibition as quickly as you can.
(I've replaced the previous video, and if one doesn't appear below, try here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eX0vDPPnDA&NR=1 )
Labels: Barbican Centre, Celeste Boursier-Mougenot, wildlife, Zebra finches play guitar


I added a "Resources" tab above with a page of Internet and book resources for Louisiana genealogy. It's still under construction--these are off the top of my head, and I haven't made the page all pretty yet--but I hope it will help others. Feel free to suggest other good resources for those pursuing Louisiana ancestors.
I'm sharing the recently-acquired military personnel file for my dad, a WWII U.S. Naval aviator in the Pacific, a few pages at a time. Click here to see what I've posted so far, and click on any image to enlarge it.
This week concludes Dad's initial application for Naval aviator training. A great find was letters of recommendation from his minister, principal and assistant principal in Sulphur, Louisiana.
Rev. T.J. Delaughter of First Baptist Church wrote a nice letter, saying local men "speak of [Dad] as being a good honest boy." The pastor, I've been told, would stop by occasionally to have coffee with my grandma Elia Legere Hall, whose biscuits he really enjoyed. Somehow, I doubt many Southern ministers were thin with all the good cooks around back then. They always had some little something ready to serve with coffee for unexpected visitors; that's just how it was done, certainly among my Cajun relatives.
Principal I.D. Bayne's letter. Interesting to see what the Navy underlined in considering Dad for training: "honest, reliable and sincere" and "courteous, industrious and cooperative."
Asst. Principal John S. Whatley's handwritten letter, on older letterhead. I like the old fonts. The Navy recruiter underlined "above the average" and "very cheerful and willing worker," good qualities for a potential pilot.
What treasures! Wonder if other high school grads applying to the Navy required letters of recommendation or just potential aviator cadets?
Find out more about requesting military personnel files here.
It's Official: I'm "Ancestor Approved."
Thank you bunches to Linda of "Flipside" and Dionne of "Finding Josephine" for honoring me with the blogger badge "Ancestor Approved" for doing my ancestors proud. Genealogy bloggers are a supportive bunch, and I do appreciate the encouragement.
As a recipient, I am to list 10 things I've learned about my ancestors that have surprised, humbled or enlightened me, and to pass the award along to other bloggers whom I feel are doing their ancestors proud.
• A couple of my colonial Mobile ancestors entered into a business arrangement with the ancestor of one of my good friends from high school -- a mere 280 years or so before we met!
• I dated my now-husband for 10 years before finding that we're 7th cousins once removed.
• I'm related to two U.S. vice presidents, Adlai Stevenson (VP to Cleveland) and Alben Barkley (VP to Truman), and also to the VP Adlai's grandson Adlai (the more famous one) who was Illinois governor and Ambassador to the U.N, all related through Mom's Stevenson lines.
• My "mystery grandpa," Robert Bunyan Hall, was apparently married a couple of times before he married my grandma, which may help explain why he preferred that his earlier life (including his parents' names) remain a mystery to his own family (or may not -- this is my biggest brick wall).
• I have a couple of musician ancestors (I have a music degree): My 5th-great-grandfather Jacques Leger arrived in Acadia in the late 1600s as a drummer in the French military, and my 6th-great-grandfather Claude Desbordes was choirmaster at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans in the mid-1700s.
• finding that some of my ancestors held slaves. Not a surprising find, given most of my ancestors lived in the South, but certainly sobering when one reads the actual names of human beings considered "property" on censuses or wills. I am still not sure how to reconcile this fact with nonetheless being proud of some of the same ancestors' achievements. I think it must probably require holding two opposing ideas and/or emotions in one's heart and mind at the same time, though it must be even more difficult for those who descend from both slaveowner and enslaved ancestors.
• the fact that my Acadian ancestors and their descendants in Louisiana, the Cajuns, have maintained much of their culture for more than 250 years, despite being forced from their homes by the British beginning in 1755 and "scattered to the wind" along the U.S. East Coast, in England, France, and elsewhere.
• the fact that whenever I reach out past my own shyness to meet a "new" cousin in person or by e-mail, it is invariably a good experience (whether or not we have much in common besides family), and several have become good friends as well as cousins.
I'd like to pass along the "Ancestor Approved" award to the following bloggers doing their ancestors and/or fellow researchers proud: Anne at The French Genealogy Blog, Felicia at Echoes of My Nola Past, "Hummer" at Branching Out Through the Years, Sandra at I Never Knew My Father, Ruth of Bluebonnet Country Genealogy and Tess of NOLA Graveyard Rabbit.
Surname Saturday: Burnaman, Burnham, Burnam, Boernemann?
The quick version: Does anyone know of a Georgia (or any) BURNHAM (or similarly surnamed) woman who married a HALL man who could have given birth to a son (Robert, pictured below) around 1878 in Virginia or elsewhere? My e-mail address is at the bottom of this post.
You can see by my title I haven't exactly gotten far on this line. I have all of one person, in fact, my supposed paternal great-grandmother: Georgia Burnaman, Burnam, Burnham, Boernemann? or something similar. And that's IF my "mystery grandpa" Robert Bunyan Hall gave the correct names on his application for a marriage license to wed my grandma. The handwriting looks like "Burnamen," but it's hard to tell.
Grandpa Hall, internationalstate man of mystery.
Numbers refer to ahnentafel (pedigree chart) numbering. The direct line is in bold.
4. Robert Bunyan HALL. Born on 18 Mar (1877 or 1878?) near Richmond, VA? Or possibly in Newton, Baker Co., GA? Robert died in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA, on 20 Nov 1952. Buried c. 22 Nov 1952 in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA (Roselawn Cemetery). He married a Corrie or Connie or Carrie WILLIAMS and a Jessie [last name unknown] bef. Oct. 1918.
We have not been able to prove much about Robert's life before Oct. 1918 when he met Elia.
5. Elia LÉGÈRE. Born on 18 Sep 1889 in Ossun, Lafayette, LA. Elia died in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA, on 18 Sep 1956. Buried in Sep 1956 in Sulphur, Calcasieu, LA (Roselawn Cemetery).
8. George Hall. Lived in VA? or b. c. 1843 and lived in GA (see below)?
9. Georgia BURNAMAN? BURNAM? BURNHAM? etc. Lived in VA? Or could she be part of the George and Georgia Hall couple living in GA about whom I previously posted? This Georgia Hall was born in 1850 in SC, according to census records.
And IF the Georgia married to George in GA (yes, you read that right -- coincidence? Or was my grandpa making up names on the spot when he wrote "George" & "Georgia" on his marriage license application?) -- anyway, IF Georgia IS the correct mother of my Grandpa Hall, then could she be the Georgia BURNHAM b. c. 1848 in SC to William L. and Frances W. BURNHAM in Saluda Regiment, Abbeville District, South Carolina in the 1850 census? (Siblings listed are Mary E. & Hilliard L. Burnham.) I can't find this Georgia in subsequent censuses.
Note: Grandpa Robert (#4) always claimed to have been born near Richmond, VA. The only logical George & Georgia Hall with a son Robert in the 1880 census I've found is the couple mentioned above who lived in GA. But that doesn't mean they're the correct couple. Or even that he gave the correct names (he wasn't exactly forthcoming about his past).
Thanks for ANY help with this giant brick wall. I know I will probably have to do lots more digging on Grandpa and the HALLs to find "Georgia," but it was her turn in my Surname Saturday post series, so I thought I'd ask the geneasphere about any possible leads on her line.
Questions, hints, leads, I've got the wrong couple/people? Please comment or e-mail me at hallroots ***at**** sbcglobal (dot) net. Thanks!
I'm sharing the recently-acquired military personnel file for my dad, a WWII U.S. Naval aviator in the Pacific, a few pages at a time. Click here to see part one, and click on any image to enlarge it.
These forms continue Dad's application for Naval aviator training. Apparently there was no birth certificate issued in Lafayette Parish, La., in 1921 for him (The Louisiana Secretary of State's website says that statewide records were not kept until "about 1918." Some parishes were probably slower than others to comply), so his parents signed an affidavit giving Dad's birth date and place (actually in the community of Ossun, but the post office address was Scott). This is the most handwriting I've ever seen from my "mystery grandpa," Robert Hall.
Dad was not quite 21 and had to have his parents' consent to enlist. Now this is interesting -- the notary has typed my grandpa's name Robert Lee Hall. I think this is a misunderstanding of "Robert B.," which Grandpa went by ('B' is for "Bunyan"). I may have to look for him as "Robert Lee Hall," in records now, though, if only to leave no stone unturned. But certainly there were LOTS of Robert Lee Whozit's in the South--hence, the mis-hearing--and who would make up a middle name like Bunyan--then give it to one of his sons (my uncle John)??!! Besides, he signed "Robert" on both forms. I'm probably just wishing for a new Grandpa lead here.
Another fun find in Dad's application file: his Sulphur High School transcript. He looks like a fairly solid 'B' student, with some C's. Not surprisingly, his A's are in Geometry and Biology (he studied Bio in college, briefly attended med school, and ended up in the petrochemical industry). Wonder if I can get his college records? More fun to come with his recommendation letters next.
I'm taking a page from Lucie LeBlanc Consentino and declaring this a "Tombstone-less Tuesday" post. This is the only record that I've found so far of the child "Orore," probably a phonetic spelling for "Aurore," daughter of Constant Légère and his third wife, Eudalie or Idalie Landry, and my (half-) great-aunt. Aurore doesn't even appear in that mainstay of Cajun secondary sources, Rev. Donald Hebert's Southwest Louisiana Records. I may check with St. John's in Lafayette or St. Peter's in Carencro (established c. 1874) to see if there is a record of her which didn't make it into Hebert's volumes. By my calculations, based on the info above and the birth dates of the other children, she was born between October 1870 and March 1871.
The list of children excerpted above was probably printed in a church bulletin; I remember the framed original was displayed at my dad's cousin Ashton (a.k.a. "Nacoon") Legere's house. Cousins, was it a written list, or was it done in needlework? I can't quite remember, though I did take notes from it. Not all the info was exactly correct, by the way, if you happen to have a copy (which is why I haven't reproduced the entire list here). It was apparently compiled from memory by Constant or Octavie, his fourth wife, many years after some of the children's deaths, and perhaps expanded by Ashton.


The VLOA 2017 business meeting and training will be held on Sunday 19 March 2017, at the SHAPE facility on the campus of VTech in Randolph.
The venue details & agenda will be provided as we get closer to March 2017.
The VLOA board of directors has approved the development of a chapter website, now ready to go "live".
For the past several years with Clay Westbrook's personal efforts & webmaster skills Clay created & supported an initial association website, albeit a fairly simple design.
Chapter member Jeff Dobbin is a webmaster for Norwich University.
This is still a "work in progress", which your VLOA board is looking to all members to weigh in on, for content and recruitment/development purposes.
The VPA has hired VLOA member Jim Farrell as the NVAC and MVL Boy's Vermont Lacrosse Assignor.
Jim will be using the Arbiter to assign; this is a reminder to make sure your contact information is current, and that you set up any blocks before March rolls around.


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Tag Archives: Clifton James
…tick…tick…tick (1970)
Posted on July 2, 2019 | Leave a comment
4-Word Review: New sheriff faces racism.
Citizens of a small southern town get on edge when the current sheriff (George Kennedy) gets voted out and replaced by a black man (Jim Brown). As the new sheriff Jim faces stiff resistance even from fellow members of the black community, but he forges on. When the son of a rich white man from a neighboring town runs over and kills a young white girl while he was driving drunk, Jim has him put into jail, but the young man's father demands that he be released and when Jim refuses it creates the beginning of a potential race riot that forces the white citizens of the town to make a hard choice; do they continue with their racist behavior, or join the black sheriff in defending their town from corrupt outsiders?
The film starts out on the cheesy side by showing up close an egg frying on a sidewalk. The problem is that I tried this last year in Austin, Texas when the temp was 110 (actual temp and not a heat index figure), but I couldn't get it to work even though I did it on asphalt and in direct sunlight. Some say that the egg has to be put in a frying pan and then have the pan put on the cement and maybe so, but that's not how the film shows it and what's worse is that it looks like the egg is already in a fried state even before it hits the pavement.
It's also annoying that despite having the Deep South as the setting it was actually filmed in Colusa, California where the topography looks much different. I also had to wonder why everyone is constantly glazed over in sweat even when they were in bed at night and only small, little fans to cool them. The story's time period is the present day (1970) and air conditioners were invented in 1902, so why the hell doesn't anyone in this hot southern town own and use one?
The soundtrack features loud, poorly sung songs that not only get played over the opening and closing credits, but during a lot of the film as well, which gives the entire production a very B-level movie feel. I also got tired of hearing the sound of a clock ticking in the background that permeates just about every scene during the first 30 minutes and becomes heavy-handed and annoying.
The only thing that saves it is Jim Brown who's really good here and looks better and younger without his trademark mustache. Kennedy on the other hand doesn't seem up to the challenge with many of his scenes, particularly the one were he accosts a young man who was harassing him, coming off as unintentionally funny.
It's sort-of fun seeing Frederic March playing a goofy mayor as well as Mills Watson, in his film debut, playing a racist deputy a decade before playing his most famous role as the bungling deputy Perkins in the 'Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo' TV-show. I also liked how Clifton James and Anthony James (no relation) who had both played racist southern types in other films get roles here where they're more level headed and help suppress the racist behavior of others instead of stoking it.
The film gets marginally better as it goes along and the ending is okay even a bit unique for this type of genre, but overall it's just a cheap imitation of In the Heat of Night, which was much better. The only really surprising thing about the movie is that it received a G-rating despite having the N-word spoken throughout by several of the characters.
Director: Ralph Nelson
Studio: MGM
Available: DVD-R (Warner Archive), Amazon Video
Posted in 70's Movies, Movies that take place in the South, Police Drama
Tagged Anthony James, Clifton James, Colusa California, Entertainment, Fredric March, George Kennedy, Jim Brown, Mills Watson, Movies, Review
The Deadly Tower (1975)
4-Word Review: Sniper in the tower.
This made-for-TV movie chronicles the events of August 1, 1966 when 25-year-old ex-Marine Charles Whitman (Kurt Russell) climbed to the top of the University of Texas campus tower and shot and killed 16 people while wounding a total of 32. The story intercuts between scenes showing Whitman preparing for the shooting while also looking at the private life of Officer Ramiro Martinez (Richard Yniguez) who eventually climbed up the tower to stop Whitman's slaughter.
For the most part the film is taut and methodical and well above average for a TV film although Gilbert Roland's voice over narration was unnecessary and a bit cheesy. The only time there is any music is during the scenes showing Whitman killing his mother and wife with a knife, which gets a bit too overly dramatic, but otherwise it comes off almost like a documentary making the viewer feel that they are right there as it is happening. It was filmed at the Louisiana State Capitol, which looks a bit different than the actual clock tower, but still similar enough that it works.
Russell who had just come off starring in a long line of Disney films is perfect in the role and even closely resembles the real Whitman. The fact that he has very few lines of dialogue is an asset and helps to make the character more foreboding and threatening. The rest of the all-star cast does pretty well although Forsythe's character seems added simply to promote the gun control issue. Clifton James appearance as one of the police sergeants was misguided because he had already done a comic caricature of a redneck sheriff in the James Bond film Live and Let Die, so it was hard to take him seriously here and it took me out of the movie a bit because it kept reminding me of that one as well as his goofy policeman role in Bank Shot.
The film also takes liberties with the actual events in strange ways that makes no sense. For instance in the film when Whitman comes upon the tower receptionist he simply guides her to the elevator and tells her to leave, but in real-life he knocked her to the ground and split her head open before later shooting her. Also, in the film the first victim that he hits from the tower is a male, but in the actual incident it was an 18-year-old female who was eight months pregnant. The story also erroneously credits Martinez with the one who killed Whitman when the later autopsy found that all four shots that Martinez fired at Whitman missed him and it was actually the two shots fired by Officer Houston McCoy who stepped in after Martinez had emptied his rounds that proved to be the lethal hit. In fact Officer McCoy's name gets changed here and is listed as C.J. Foss and is played by actor Paul Carr as a minor throwaway part that is barely seen at all.
Both McCoy and Martinez sued the producers for the inaccuracies. Martinez was upset because his wife was portrayed as being pregnant and Hispanic when in reality she had been German-American. The sidelight drama of some marital discord between the two was also apparently untrue and should've been left out completely as it adds nothing and bogs the thing down as a needless Hollywood-like soap opera.
Director: Jerry Jameson
Available: DVD (Warner Archive)
Posted in 70's Movies, Made-for-TV, Movies Based on Actual Events, Movies that take place in Texas, Police Drama, Thrillers/Suspense
Tagged Charles Whitman, Clifton James, Entertainment, Houston McCoy, John Forsythe, Kurt Russell, Movies, Review


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Tag Archives: Teyonah Parris
Chi-Raq: Do Sex-Strikes Really Work?
Posted by aelarsen in Chi-Raq, Literature, Movies
20th Century Africa, 20th Century America, Aristophanes, Charles Taylor, Chi-Raq, Chicago, Leymah Gbowee, Liberia, Liberian Civil War, Lysistrata, Nobel Peace Prize, Peloponnesian War, Spike Lee, Teyonah Parris
The plot of Chi-Raq (2015, dir. Spike Lee) involves the women of Chicago going on a sex-strike in an effort to get the gangs of their district to stop engaging in senseless gun violence. The strike spreads to the strippers, prostitutes, and gay men on the down low, and eventually to women across the country and the world (the wives of the mayor of Chicago and the US president both take the oath). And ultimately, the plan works. The two rival gangs lay down their weapons and everyone, including the large corporations who have been ignoring the south side of Chicago economically, sign a pledge to deal with the roots of the problem as well as its manifestations.
Chi-Raq is based on Aristophanes' Lysistrata, first performed in Athens in 411 BC in the middle of the Peloponnesian War between the Athenians and the Spartans. In this case, the story was pure fantasy. Greek women did not go on a sex-strike, and the war only came to an end in 404 BC, following the disastrous defeat of the Athenian navy at Aegospotami, which ensured that the Athenians would be starved into surrendering. But has the strategy been used successfully somewhere else?
Lee himself seems certain the answer is yes. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Lee suggested that such a tactic might be an effective response to sexually harassment and date rape on college campuses. See for yourself. The comment comes at about the 3:55 mark.
This implies that rapists are worried about what their victims think and want, which seems unlikely in most cases, and it suggests that there is a direct connection between women's actions and rape, which there isn't. But let's assume that Lee was simply speaking carelessly during the pressure of a nationally-televised interview, and that he was intending to be empowering to women. But he says something else during the interview that is factually problematic.
Shortly before the comment about date rape (about the 3:10 mark), Lee mentions Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and claims that she used a sex-strike to bring an end to the Second Liberian Civil War. He's quite specific about this, and in fact, during the movie, Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris) googles Leymah Gbowee and learns that Gbowee used a sex-strike to end the war in her country.
Leymah Gbowee
The Second Liberian Civil War erupted in 1999 against president Charles Taylor and ran for four years, being brought to an end in 2003 by the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement (ACPA). In 2002, activist Gbowee helped found the Women in Peacemaking Network (WIPNET), and Gbowee used this group to organize Christian and Muslim Liberian women to publicly protest for peace, defying orders by President Taylor to stop.
WIPNET used a number of tactics. They staged pray-ins at churches and mosques. They occupied a soccer field that President Taylor's motorcade regularly drove past. They wore white t-shirts to make themselves more visible. And they initiated a sex-strike. According to Gbowee, the strike lasted on and off for a couple of months. As she said in a book about the protest, "It had little or no practical effect, but it was extremely valuable in getting us media attention." Some of those involved were beaten for refusing to have sex (which again underlines the fact that it's not a tactic likely to solve a problem like rape.)
During the peace talks, WIPNET staged a sit-in of several hundred women literally right outside the meeting room (which had a glass wall, making the sit-in visible to the negotiators), essentially holding the negotiators hostage, and refusing to let them get food or go to the bathroom. When the negotiators tried to leave the room, Gbowee and her supporters threatened to rip their own clothes off, taking advantage of a powerful African cultural taboo against female nudity; the action essentially threatened a curse on the soldiers who tried to physically move the women. After a few weeks of this, Taylor agreed to resign. Two years after the war came to an end, WIPNET helped orchestrate the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected female African head of state.
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor
Gbowee's efforts were considered so instrumental to achieving the ACPA that she, along with Sirleaf and a third woman, received the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for their work.
So by Gbowee's own account, the sex-strike did not have any direct effect on the effort to stop the war. If that was its purpose, it failed. But the fact that it was an off-and-on affair suggests that it wasn't actually intended to stop the war so much as to garner publicity and raise awareness, which it did a good job of. So while in Lysistrata and Chi-Raq, the sex-strike ends the violence directly, in Gbowee's approach it was a way to strengthen the movement.
Other Recent Sex-Strikes
Liberia is not the only place sex-strikes have been attempted. Twice in the space of two years from 2011 to 2013, the women of Barbacaos, Colombia, led a Crossed Legs movement as a protest against the lack of a paved road leading to their community. They argued that the lack of adequate roads presented a serious health hazard and an economic obstacle for women who needed to get inland from the small port town. The catalyst for this as a woman's issue was the death of a 23-year-old pregnant woman whose ambulance got stuck on the way to a hospital. Unlike in Lysistrata and Chi-Raq, however, the men of the town quickly came to support the Crossed Legs movement, presumably because they saw the road as something they wanted as much as the women did. The Crossed Legs movement raised enough publicity (something previous protests had failed to accomplish) that the government vowed to pave at least half the 57-kilometer road. But by 2013, the women decided that the last 30 kilometers also needed paving and resumed the strike. (I haven't been able to find anything about how effective the 2013 strike was.)
The road into Barbacaos, Colombia
Poor roads were not the only reason that Colombian women have tried sex-strikes. In 1997, a male military official called for a sex-strike to try to get the various guerrillas and drug lords to work for peace. That effort failed. So too did a 2006 attempt by the wives and girlfriends of gang members in Pereira in an effort to get them to surrender their guns. That strike was called off 10 days later. It was claimed as a success, despite no evidence that it actually reduced homicides.
However, in 2011, a sex-strike in the Filipino town of Dado succeeded in ending separatist violence on Mindinao after just a few weeks. In this case, it was not simply a sex-strike though. The women of Dado maintain a sewing collective that was unable to deliver its products because of violence on the roads outside of Dado. So in addition to withholding sex, the women also withheld their income from their husbands. In Kenya and Togo, week-long sex-strikes were held in 2009 and 2011 as a form of protest, but the brief duration seems unlikely to have done more than demonstrate that women cared strongly about specific local issues.
From this survey of recent sex-strikes, a few things seem clear. First, sex-strikes are useful for attracting attention to a problem. The outlandishness of the gesture garners media attention, which shines a spotlight on a major issue. So when they are used as a tool to focus attention on an issue, they stand some chance of bringing results. Second, sex-strikes don't seem very effective when used on their own to directly address violence, for the simple reason that a man who is willing to be violent will presumably consider using force against his wife or girlfriend, or else will simply seek out a prostitute or another willing woman. Third, they are more likely to succeed when they are combined with other incentives. The modest success of the 2011 sex-strike in Barbacaos was actively supported by the men of the town because they wanted the road too, and the Dado sex-strike was used to reinforce the fact that the violence was hurting Dado economically.
So Lee is wrong when he claims that Gbowee's sex-strike ended the war in Liberia, and he's probably wrong when he suggests that the tactic might be effective against date rape, unless he meant that it might be useful in raising awareness about what date rape is and why it's wrong.
But Chi-Raq is clearly a fantasy. I don't think Lee is suggesting that a sex-strike would actually work to end violence (although one Chicago woman has decided to organize an actual sex-strike in response to the film). Too many scenes in the film are obviously unrealistic, such as the scene where Lysistrata seduces a National Guard armory general by getting him to strip down to his underwear and then dry hump a cannon while blindfolded and handcuffed, or the scenes where women across the world jump onto the sex-strike bandwagon. Instead, I think that what Lee is doing is what Gbowee actually did with her sex-strike, using it to generate media attention for a deadly serious problem. Lee's a smart guy (as he reminds Colbert in that interview, he's a tenured professor in film studies at Columbia), and it's clear that he sees his film not as a literal solution to the problem but as a wake-up call to the nation. Let's hope that his cinematic sex-strike has the same sort of success that WIPNET's did.
CHI-RAQ [DVD + Digital] is available on Amazon.
Lysistrata is a classic, and definitely worth reading. The Penguin edition of Lysistrata and Other Plays (Penguin Classics) would be a good place to start.
If you want to know more about the remarkable Leymah Gbowee, she tells her story in her book Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War . There is also a documentary about her, Pray the Devil Back to Hell .
Chi-Raq: Ancient Athens in Modern Chicago
Posted by aelarsen in Chi-Raq, History, Literature, Movies
20th Century America, Ancient Greece, Chi-Raq, Chicago, Comedies, Jennifer Hudson, John Cusack, Lysistrata, Movies I Love, Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Teyonah Parris
Chi-Raq (2015, dir. Spike Lee) is a modernization of the classic Athenian comedy Lysistrata, first performed in 411 BC during the Peloponnesian War. When I heard about Lee's film, I was intrigued, since it's not every day a movie based on an ancient play gets produced, and I wasn't disappointed.
Spoiler Alert: If you haven't seen the film, you may wish to do so before reading this post, since it discusses major plot points, including the end of the film.
Lysistrata was first performed during a war between the Athenians and the Spartans. The war began in 430 BC, and had continued ever since. By 411, the tide of the war had begun to turn against the Athenians. 4 years previously, they had opened a new front in the war with a disastrous invasion of Sicily; they had lost much of their navy and large numbers of citizen sailors had been captured. The failure of that invasion probably marked the point at which the Athenians should have decided to cut their loses and sue for peace, but the Athenians stubbornly refused to do so.
So in 411, Aristophanes, who was part of the anti-war faction at Athens, staged Lysistrata as a critique of the war. In the play, Lysistrata proposes to bring the war to an end by persuading both the Athenian and Spartan women to go on a sex strike. They vow not to have sex until the men arrange a peace. To advance their cause, Lysistrata's followers occupy the Acropolis and seize the state treasury, which will hinder the war cause, since the city will not be able to pay its war expenses without it. During a conversation with one of the city's magistrates, Lysistrata accuses the Athenians (who are literally sitting in the audience watching) of having made disastrous decisions in the war. Eventually a desperately tumescent Spartan herald arrives with news that the Spartans want to negotiate, and the equally desperate magistrate agrees to sit down and discuss terms with him. Lysistrata shows up with a young woman named Reconciliation and uses their lust for her as an incentive to keep the negotiations moving. The peace is celebrated with a feast. Throughout the play, choruses of Old Men and Old Women clash in bawdy ways, dramatizing the struggle between masculine lust and feminine chastity.
The play is often today read as an anti-war play, which is probably reading more into it than Aristophanes intended. The play does not condemn war in general, only this war in particular. By 411, the Athenians were clearly tired of war, but could not seem to find a way to extricate themselves from the conflict without damaging their pride. The play wittily suggests that male military aggression and male sexual desire are somehow combined.
Lysistrata is not an easy play to stage nowadays. In this period, Athenian comedy was extremely topical, and many of the play's references no long make sense to audiences who don't know who, for example, Hippias or Cleisthenes were. Many of the jokes are directed at men who were probably sitting in the audience, satirizing them for their personal foibles and reputation. The play also contains a lot of jokes so deeply connected to the exact situation that modern audiences won't get them any more; during the negotiations, the herald and the magistrate treat Reconciliation's body as a map of Greece, discussing which parts of it they want to claim, but without understanding the actual geography of the war, the double-entendres lose much of their punch.
Another challenge to staging Athenian comedy is that it is extremely bawdy, far more so than all but the most raunchy of modern comedies. This mixture of political satire and sex jokes is off-putting to most modern audiences. Imagine a Saturday Night Live political sketch crossed with American Pie and you start to get the effect. Athenian comedy is so frankly sexual that one scholar commented, "if you don't find a dirty joke in a line of text, you're probably not looking hard enough." The women of Lysistrata want the war to end because it's interfering with their ability to get laid and purchase dildoes. The Spartan herald's erection is given almost an entire page's worth of attention, as people try to guess what he's got hidden under his cloak. This is not some genteel Victorian farce; this is comedy all about penises and vaginas.
Lee has transposed the action of the play to the south side of Chicago, often nicknamed Chi-raq by its inhabitants because there is enough violence for a war zone. The two warring factions are rival gangs, the Spartans, led by the rapper Demetrius 'Chi-Raq' Dupree (Nick Cannon), and the Trojans, led by Cyclops (Wesley Snipes). One day, Chi-Raq's woman, Lysistrata (Teyonah Parris) stumbles across the scene of a gang shooting in which an 11-year old girl has become an innocent victim. She sees the girl's mother Irene (Jennifer Hudson) grieve for her daughter and demand that something be done.
Lysistrata (center) persuading the woman to take the oath
Lysistrata gathers a bunch of her friends and arranges a meeting with some of the women who date the Trojans, including Indigo (Michelle Mitchenor), Cyclop's woman. She persuades them to swear an oath. "I will deny all rights of access or entrance from every husband, lover, or male acquaintance who comes to my direction in erection. If he should force me to lay on that conjugal couch, I will refuse his stroke and not give up that nappy pouch. No peace, no pussy!"
From there, the movement grows as even the strippers, prostitutes, and guys on the down low take the oath. Then the women seize control of a National Guard armory, and the movement goes global, much to the frustration of Mayor McCloud (D.B. Sweeney), whose wife takes the oath. From there, the story plays out to its conclusion.
Hudson's Irene
But as the story progresses, Lee inserts scenes of Father Corridan (John Cusack) performing the funeral for the murdered girl and leading an anti-gun march. Although skeptical of Lysistrata's tactics, he plays an important role in getting Chi-Raq to come to the negotiating table. He and Irene circulate posters offering a reward for information about who shot the girl. Finally, at the end, when it looks like the negotiations between the Spartans and the Trojans will collapse because of Chi-Raq's resistance, he tearfully acknowledges that he is the girl's killer. Accepting the magnitude of his crime, he is led away, calling on all the gang members to admit their guilt in the situation and work to end the violence.
On paper this all sounds heavy-handed and tendentious. But Lee manages to make the material work through a combination of three contrasting elements. The film is every bit as vulgar as the source material. Jokes about dick and pussy and blue balls abound. The Old Men of the film just want to get laid again and are determined to restore their masculine pride, while the Old Women aren't entirely happy to give up sex but see the greater goal behind the strike.
But the coarseness of the humor is off-set by the fact that most of the dialogue is in rhyming verse. Although some of the verse feels a bit clunky, and can be hard to follow, at its best, it becomes Shakespearean, elevating the vulgarity to the level of high art. Chi-Raq's speech at the end plays as a morality tale, in which the actor is exhorting the audience to learn from his mistakes. Here's an example, in which Lysistrata confronts the Old Men:
And then there is the profound passion of the film. The film opens with a prologue text informing us that more Americans have been killed in Chicago in the past 15 years than in both the Iraq and Afghan wars combined. "This is an emergency!" a voice declares at both the start and finish of the film. Cusack delivers the funeral sermon with an urgency that grows to fury at "this self-inflicted genocide," and it's clear that he is voicing Lee's own feelings about the situation. Both Lysistrata and her friend Dr. Helen (Angela Bassett) deliver powerful speeches about how they are fighting to save the lives of their community.
Cusack's Father Corridan, preaching the funeral sermon
Jennifer Hudson's performance is particularly powerful. Her own personal tragedy, in which her brother-in-law murdered her mother, brother, and nephew in their West Chicago home, hangs over the film, a profound reminder that this is not simply an exercise in entertainment. When Hudson as Irene leads an anti-gun march, she is surrounded by dozens of extras all carrying photos of the actual relatives they lost to gun violence. And the film is not afraid to point fingers. At different moments, it accuses the NRA, the prison-industrial complex, Indiana's gun shows, the Republican party, the media, the banks, and the adolescent gang-bangers of all playing a role in the slaughter. The mayor is a thinly-veiled satire of Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, who reportedly opposed the film because it was bad for tourism.
Lee has quite masterfully managed to transpose Lysistrata for a modern audience, capturing the marriage of bawdy humor and serious intent and even much of the original's structure. Both play and film are in verse, both make use of song and dance, and both have choruses that act to set the stage and keep the action moving; Lee's chorus is Samuel L. Jackson.
Jackson as Dolmedes, the film's Greek chorus
Given the challenges of reproducing Classical Athenian comedy for modern audiences, Lee has pulled off an impressive feat. While Chi-Raq is not a perfect film (the verse is not always easy to follow, and a few scenes fall flat, including one where Lysistrata seduces the general of the armory), it's a worthy effort, both in terms of cinema and in terms of the cause it serves, and you should definitely give it a viewing.
If you want to know more about the remarkable Leymah Gbowee, she tells her story in her book Mighty Be Our Powers.


Calling all Fishermen & Fisherwomen! Another great Carolina Beach, NC fishing event, organized by the Southeast King Mackerel Club, is just around the corner. Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd, anglers will be baiting up and casting out from local fishing piers on Pleasure Island, in the hopes of winning a variety of prizes. The Southeast King Mackerel Club holds charitable fishing events throughout the year. For registration information, call 910.538.0115.


text:
» Double Bond
Last Updated on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 | Double Bond
Mycophenolic acid (Figure 3.36) is produced by fermentation cultures of the fungus Pénicillium brevicompactum. It has been known for many years to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antitumour properties. It has recently been introduced into medicine as an immunosuppressant drug, to reduce the incidence of rejection of transplanted organs, particularly kidney and heart transplants. It is formulated as the N-morpholinoethyl ester mycophenolate mofetil (Figure 3.37), which is metabolized after ingestion to mycophenolic
acid, and is usually administered in combination with cyclosporin (see page 429). The drug is a specific inhibitor of mammalian inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase and has an antiproliferative activity on cells due to inhibition of guanosine nucleotide biosynthesis. This enzyme catalyses the NAD+-dependent oxidation of inosine monophosphate (IMP) to xanthosine monophosphate (XMP), a key transformation in the synthesis of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) (see also caffeine biosynthesis, page 394). Rapidly growing cells have increased levels of the enzyme, so this forms an attractive target for anticancer, antiviral, and immunosuppressive therapy.
aldol reaction, aromatization
SEnz aldol reaction, aromatization
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HO2C
citrinin dehydration leads to quinone formation
citrinin
reduction i OH H
OH COH formati°n o OH 0
of-chain carboxyl. The chain length of the far-nesyl alkyl group is then shortened by oxidation of a double bond giving demethylmycophenolic acid, which is then O-methylated, again involving SAM, to produce mycophenolic acid. Note that the O-methylation step only occurs after the C-alkylations, so that the full activating benefit of two meta positioned phenols can be utilized for the C-alkylation.
Three C-methyl substituents are inserted into the acetate-derived skeleton of citrinin (Figure 3.38), an antimicrobial metabolite from Pénicillium citrinum and several Aspergillus species, which also displays potentially dangerous carcinogenic and nephrotoxic (kidney-damaging) activity. <ne of these introduced methyls has undergone oxidation to a carboxyl, adding to the difficulties in immediately recognizing the biosynthetic origins of this compound which contains a quinonemethide system rather than the simpler aromatic ring. The methyls are probably introduced into the polyketide prior to release of the first aromatic intermediate, which could well be an aldehyde rather than the corresponding acid if a reductase component also forms part of the synthase complex. The hemiacetal can be produced after reduction of the side-chain carbonyl, and then in the later stages, oxidation of one methyl to a carboxyl will follow. The quinonemethide system in citrinin is simply the result of a dehydration reaction on the hemiacetal (Figure 3.38).
Khellin* and visnagin (Figure 3.39) are furochromones found in the fruits of Ammi visnaga (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae), and the active principles of a crude plant drug which has a long history of use as an antiasthmatic agent. Figure 3.39 presents the sequence of steps utilized in the biosynthesis of these compounds, fully consistent with the biosynthetic rationale developed above. The two carbons C-2' and C-3' forming part of the furan
Claisen reaction, aromatization heterocyclic ring formation via Michael-type nucleophilic attack (+)
of OH on to enol tautomer followed by loss of leaving group H
SEnz O*
OH O
oxidative cleavage of side-chain: see furocoumarins Figure 4.35
OMe O visnagin cyclization of hydroxyl on to dimethylallyl group: see furocoumarins Figures 4.33 and 4.34
OMe O khellin
C-alkylation with DMAPP
OMe O visnagin
DMAPP
5,7-dihydroxy-2-methylchromone
Ayurveda the Science of Life
High Blood Pressure Exercises
Tennis Elbow Secrets Revealed
Khellin and Cromoglicate - Double Bond
Irregular Monoterpenes - Double Bond
Aldol and Claisen Reactions
Primary And Secondary Metabolism
Natural Products Biosynthesis


Back in November I was invited to do a guest blog for the Wildlife Trusts as part of their #EveryChildWild campaign. It was the perfect opportunity to combine my enthusiasms for the outdoors, writing and behaviour change! You can read my full guest blog here.
Launch of my new book!


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Former MLB Catcher Jim Sundberg Speaks to Parents and Gives Advice at Livingston Economic Club Luncheon
October 10, 2014 By Sue Doughty Leave a Comment
HOWELL, MI. — Former MLB catcher Jim Sundberg was the keynote speaker on Oct. 9 for the Livingston Economic Club luncheon. The event took place Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Johnson Center at Cleary University in Genoa Township. Sundberg talked about helping parents determine what's best for their kids during the talk which was sponsored by Cleary University. Source: Livingston Daily
Photo shows former MLB catcher Jim Sundberg speaking at a 2012 Christian event.
"When I played, guys didn't start throwing at maximum effort until they were 15," he said. "Ferguson Jenkins, Kenny Rogers, there were no major number of games played before the age of 14.
"Now we have kids 8, 9 and 10 playing 80 games a year, and someone has to pitch," he added. "Our orthopedic guy (with the Rangers) has done six elbow transplant surgeries this year on 14-year-olds. There were something like 50 of those surgeries this year in the major and minor leagues. Kids are getting hurt before age 14, before the growth plates (in their arms) are developed. Once they start throwing maximum-effort pitches, the internal clock on the arm is ticking, and we don't know who can last longer than the other."
Watch Jim Sundberg's 2010 Texas HOF Induction speech
Sundberg is a former MLB catcher known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. He played for a number of MLB teams, mostly for the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, with whom he won a World Championship. He is a devout Christian who openly speaks about his faith in God
Christian Speakers 360 is a booking agent for Christian athletes and celebrities. If you would like to book Jim Sundberg for an appearance, contact Jim Sundberg's booking agent for speaker fees at 1.800.966.1380.
Filed Under: Baseball News, Christian Athletes, Christian Speakers, Sports Speakers Tagged With: Jim Sundberg Agent, Jim Sundberg Speaker


Yes indeed. It appears that the SWEET MEMORY set has gotten a re-press in Japan with a new title, BEST SONGS. If you look at that booklet you can just barely make out the titles of "all at once" and "these days", the same two first titles of SWEET MEMORY. Also, the Japanese translation at CDJapan mentions 91 songs, the exact number of tracks in SWEET MEMORY.
This is a good bargain for those who had been seeking the SWEET MEMORY set, coming in at just under $100. Many of us spent more than $200 for the SWEET MEMORY set in the good old days.
Easier to make covers for the fictional 7 and 8 here though - just pick another color!
does this set include the remix of ANOTHER SONG?
I guess they didn't have the rights to reissue the original artwork. Also don't forget Sweet Memory also has the clean open of Nowadays Clancy not found any where else.
Wow! Thanks! I just ordered it and can't wait to hear the alternate mixes and better clarity!
I would say yes, there's no reason why it wouldn't. I'd say it's the same exact mastering just a new title and packaging.
This is one of my favorite compilation sets for the inclusion of so many tracks that rarely get added to a set. For instance B'wana She No Home one of my favorites and it sounds a bit brighter than the Remastered classics version.
Oh sure. Make me buy the white vinyl, the vinyl box set and now this.... then Richard will come up with something great for the anniversary. Folks I'm not made of money.
I'm not made of money either which is why I make choices. I already have the vinyl from years past. I am no longer a vinyl customer, unless I get my hands on some rare quad or audiophile vinyl. There is a romance and magic to it, I will admit, even slightly more as Reel to Reel and 8-Tracks, LaserDisk and VHS HiFi, (never really liked cassettes), but I'd rather hear fidelity. I enjoy the Remastered Cassics and hold them close to my heart. But, I also like some of the remixes for they make the song come alive and it feels like a new song to my fluttering insides. This CD package is a great deal and probably won't come around again, so I purchased it immediately after I learned of its existence. As a devoted fan, I would like it all, but financially, I have to make choices. Someday, this medium will also be in the past, but hopefully will be digitally preserved. I feel that I can count on 10 more years of life, and if I live into my 70's, the digital format will carry me into heaven. I may never get to hear two of the songs I long for release, but we have this package, and it is a good one. This one, when titled Sweet Memory, and the Karaoke CD were two products that I kicked myself for not buying when first available. Last year, I bought the Original Master Karaoke and this year, because of the new repackaging, I get another opportunity to purchase this Best Songs, (Sweet Memory) one. I can't wait to hear it all.
One other purchase I hold next to my heart is the Singles Collection from the PBS special. I would recommend it to anyone who does not yet have it. This package certainly brings back memories that bring a tear to my eyes. It is a great companion to all the remixes.
In general, I like the remixes that keep all the vocals intact and those that don't have an overpowering drum or bass line dominating the track. The last remix of Top of the World, Superstar, and Sing immediately come to mind as good examples. But, I like the originals, too. They balance well as companions together. However, as there are always exceptions, it made Sing come alive. I consider these as a thank you from Richard to the fans, for the distinction is not felt on radio or online radio, or YouTube, but the magic and clarity is heard and felt on purchased copies heard through your media system.
(One last note, the Close to You album is a work of art, in my opinion, perfectly balanced with perfect orchestration and instrumentation presenting the instruments and voice with great precision and care. I especially like all the overdubbed vocals and drum tracks. I know that through the years most of the songs have been remixed but this is one where listening to the original sends me back in time to specific locations. I appreciate the remix of Maybe It's You, for I hear background vocals that I could not distinguish in the past, but just as a companion to the original. So, I guess, I'm trying to say, they all have their place.) Close To You, A Song For You, Now & Then, Horizon and Passage are all turning point albums to me, but don't get me wrong, I like them all.
This above, you click on the first post, but I'll put it here greetings.
If you look at that booklet you can just barely make out the titles of "all at once" and "these days", the same two first titles of SWEET MEMORY.
Are those song titles?? I've never heard of those.
No. Those are the titles of the discs. When SWEET MEMORY was sequenced, Richard chose songs that loosely fit a theme or feeling.
You can read Richard's descriptions on the Resource under each of the SWEET MEMORY titles.
Well I did it. I purchased it for about $101 USD. Gave this set 2 thoughts and just went for it. I'm still on the fence about all the new vinyl releases---but this one I am pretty excited about.
Love that artwork. Looks like a Citroen 2CV on the Those Days cover.
The colors they used on this updated set are pretty cool looking, thanks for the link to the higher scans.
Man, when CD Japan says 4-6 days processing time, they really mean it. I'm getting impatient!