text:
The Dakota Icelanders Project
Stories and Such
1883 Dakota Farm
A Tribute to the Pioneer Icelandic Settlers of Pembina County
A Settler's Story
Sveinn's Mustache
The Lean Years
Land of the Dacotahs
The Poet KN Julius
Poetry of KN Julius
by Kristbjörg Kristjanson (1886 - 1967)
As we think about the Icelandic settlement in Pembina County, we naturally wonder why the Icelanders came to America.
Did not Columbus himself before he sailed west consult the log books and charts of the Northmen in Iceland? Is it not proved that he sailed in an English ship to that island where he received many a hint, if not a demonstration, that there was a Cathay beyond the setting sun? These are matters of authentic history.
Who then would be more deserving of settling in this land than the descendents of the Vikings of old whose historical deeds gave Columbus the courage to go "on and on"?
The Icelandic pioneers, possessed of dauntless courage and daring, with love of adventure, came primarily to seek new homes in a land that offered them the heritage they most valued -- democracy, liberty, freedom, and opportunity.
Many of the Icelanders who first came to Pembina county did not come directly from Iceland, as one might imagine, but had migrated like the birds do, viewing places here and there, comparing and rejecting, until at last they found a location that met their heart's desire. Some came from Toronto, Manitoba, Wisconsin, and other places.
In the fall of 1876 the late Rev. Páll Thorláksson, later known as "the Father of the Icelandic Dakota Settlement", travelled by boat by way of the Red River from Fisher's Landing, Minnesota, to Gimli, Manitoba.
During this trip the captain of the boat suggested that the Rev. Thorláksson induce the Icelanders whom the captain had taken to Gimli on a previous trip to come to Dakota to settle, saying he considered that group of immigrants too promising for the Canadian wilderness whereas the United States wanted desirable, intelligent, progressive citizens -- such as they appeared to be.
Finding adverse conditions in Manitoba Rev. Thorláksson and 20 other young men started in a steamboat called "Lady Ellen" to Winnipeg and Dakota on April 27, 1878. Three days later Samson Bjarnason, Fridjón Fridriksson, Magnús Stefánsson, Jóhann Hallsson and his son Grímur, followed in Mr Samson's steamboat.
While in Winnipeg Magnús Stefánsson met Mr. Hunter, editor of "The Standard", who gave glowing accounts of the Dakota region, a country excellent for agricultural pursuit.
Immediately Mr. Stefánsson and Sigurdur Jósúa Björnsson started off for Pembina, thence southwest to explore. Being favorably impressed they returned to Pembina to claim homesteads. Here they met other members of their group who wished to proceed further, hence Magnús Stefánsson, Rev. Thorláksson, Jóhann and Grímur Hallsson and Arni Björnsson started off towards Cavalier. They reached the John Bechtel home in the evening. Mr. and Mrs. Bechtel not only furnished them with food and shelter for the night but gave them much worthwhile information concerning the surrounding country and it's qualities. They were always willing to give the Icelandic settlers help and advice.
The next day these five men continued their journey along the Tongue River, to the sand ridges where the soil seemed poor, vegetation meagre, but from where the could see the forest-covered Pembina Mountains stretching forth their protective shelter, reminding them of the beautiful scenery in Iceland, and luring them to start life anew in this enchanted spot. All but Rev. Thorláksson continued on to "Vík" - now Mountain. At that time the lowland east from Mountain was covered with water, forming a kind of inlet - hence called "Vík". On both sides of this inlet - to the north and south - forests extended while to the east was the rolling prairie. From here the group continued southward till they came near to where J. K. Olafsson now lives - south of Gardar. By this time they feared should they go farther they wouldn't be able to find their way through the wilderness back to where their friends were.
On their return trip they spent the night at Butler Olson's, near Cavalier. Mr. and Mrs. Olson, who were very hospitable, befriended and assisted the Icelanders in innumerable ways.
Returning to Pembina, these men acquired land then went to Gimli for their families and goods. Four days later, May 23, they, along with Benedikt Jónasson, started off for Dakota. Other members of their families followed by boat from Gimli to Pembina.
Teams of oxen and horses were used to convey them from Pembina to Hallson. Now three tasks faced them: to build a house, to get the winter's supply of hay for the beasts, and to plow some plots to seed next spring.
The first Icelandic home to be built in the settlement was Jóhann Hallsson's cabin - situated where Hallson now is. It was 14 ft. by 12 ft., 5 ft. high to the rafters. It was completed July 6, 1878. Then 9 people moved into the new house.
Jóhann Hallsson started farming with 3 cows, 2 calves, and 1 ox - for some time the only beast of burden in the community. He plowed and seeded 2 acres and got 40 bushels per acre in the fall of 1879 - the first wheat crop raised in the Icelandic settlement. The wheat was cut with an instrument called the cradle, hauled on one ox five miles to be threshed, and later taken to the flour mill in Walhalla to be ground.
During the first winter people had mostly potatoes, flour for bread making, some milk, and occasionally meat - most often venison bought from the Indians for some flour or trifles.
That the Icelandic settlement grew rapidly is evident for in 1879 there were only 5 Icelandic people in Dakota, yet only ten years later the largest Icelandic settlement in America was in Pembina County. In a certain sense it may be compared to a federation for it consisted of six distinct units, each one of which had its own church, schools, business centers, and social activities, yet they were all united as to language, customs, ideals, culture, and traditions.
The Icelandic Lutheran Synod, started in 1885, is a religious bond uniting all. Various social activities also serve the same purpose.
The six distinct units consisted of the following: Hallson, Pembina, Akra and Svold (formerly called "Sandhædir"), Mountain (then known as Vík), Gardar (originally named Park), and Eyford.
As we are all prone to hero worship and to admire the ambitious, adventurous person who has enough initiative to be the first to accomplish a worthwhile feat, I'll mention some of the first Icelanders in each of these units.
The first explorers, Magnús Stefánsson and Sigurdur Jósúa Björnsson, were the first Icelanders to acquire land near Akra. Samson Bjarnason pioneered in the general merchandise in his home and Stígur Thorvaldsson was the first postmaster.
At Hallson, Jóhann Hallsson was the first homesteader, storekeeper and postmaster, also the first to build a house. In his house the first Icelandic baby born in Pembina County was christened on September 25, 1878, named Hallur, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gísli Egilsson. Anna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samson Bjarnason, now known as Mrs. S. T. Olafson of Akra, was the first girl.
The Rev. Páll Thorláksson was first to homestead at Mountain, the first postmaster and first minister of the Vikur, or Mountain, church, the oldest Icelandic church in America. He delivered the first Icelandic service on a weekday - December 5, 1878 - in Butler Olson's home. The tall white tombstone directly north of the church was erected in memory of the Reverend Thorláksson, the so called "Father of the Icelandic Colony of Dakota". He not only gave his people spiritual guidance but did everything to help them become independent economically. His brother, Rev. N. S. Thorláksson, was the first teacher here, and his brother Haraldur the first storekeeper.
The first merchant and postmaster of Gardar was Eiríkur Bergmann. Here the first school was built in 1882 and Rev. Fridrik Bergmann was the first teacher and later minister. The Gardar congregation was the first one to be organized.
Sigurjón Sveinsson and Benedikt Jóhannesson were the first to acquire land in Gardar township. During the first summer Mr. Sveinsson devoted much of his time to haying. In the fall he wrapped up his personal belongings into a bundle which he then hid in a haystack, then proceeded to Cavalier to get a job. A few days later when he looked toward the west he saw huge billows of smoke. A prairie fire was sweeping across the region destroying his belongings and the year's supply of hay.
In the Eyford district Jakob Eyford built the so-called "White House" - a landmark and guide post midway between Mountain and Gardar. The lumber was hauled on oxen from Pembina; the house, when completed, was painted white. Should you drive four miles south on Highway 32 then on the west side of the road you can see the White House and the former Eyford Post Office while on the east side is the Eyford church and also a memorial statue dedicated to the memory of our Icelandic humorist and poet - K. N. Júlíus, who changed people's tears to laughter.
Most of the Icelanders who came to Dakota passed through or settled in Pembina. In South Pembina and on the elevation to the southwest they formed an Icelandic colony. By now most of them have gone from there but Mrs. Archie Lepine of Pembina is now living on her father's homestead. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson (parents of the druggist in Crystal) and my parents were the first three couples couples to settle in Pembina though Arni Björnsson, Nurse Eyolfson's uncle, was the first Icelander to acquire land near Pembina.
During pioneer days various organizations were formed, primarily for increasing knowledge and maintaining respect for Icelandic culture, art, literature, and religion. Some of these functioned only a short time while others still exist. Those affilliated with the church were most influential.
Each unit organized a congregation. Mountain, Hallson, and Akra each had a debating society. In 1888 Gardar started "Menningarfelag", a literary club whose object was to promote oratory and develop research. Each community had a library and also a Ladies Aid. The Akra library, called "Aurora", was started in 1887. Some of these libraries still exist, having hundreds of volumes. The Mountain Ladies Aid, the oldest, was organized in 1883 by Mrs. Thórdís Bjornson, Nurse Eyolfson's grandmother, and others.
In pioneer days the home was the social, religious, educational, and cultural center. There was not a single home but boasted of a library, and a person who could not read and write Icelandic was scarcely to be found. The mother usually taught her children how to read or, if time did not permit, then someone was hired to do so, often an elderly person who was glad to earn his board and room.
The custom of holding family worship every day was no unpleasant duty. The people were fond of reading sermons and singing hymns. They were never in a hurry when before the Almighty. Then, thought they, is the time to be reverent, thoughtful, calm, and meditative. I can remember how quiet we had to be while father read the scripture. Then all joined in the singing of hymns.
As an industrial center the home was a kind of factory where the mother not only took care of the home and prepared the meals, but also made the clothes for the family, changed the raw wool into underwear, scarves, mittens, and socks for the family, tanned the hides and then made shoes from them, and did various other tasks.
Social gatherings and entertainments were more frequent in the winter time than during the summer when people were extremely busy. Most of these gatherings were in private homes, particularly the larger houses. Here people had programs consisting of speeches, toasts, original poetry, stunts, music, and other amusements, often followed by dancing. Sometimes it so happened that a young man in the Mountain settlement heard about a public entertainment followed by a dance to be given at Gardar. Then, possibly, he would think of some fair damsel he wished to take to this social gathering. He would ponder as to how the might get there. Walking was out of the question. Now, if a neighbor, possibly 3 or 4 miles away, owned a team of oxen and a wagon he would borrow these, then invite the young lady. When the appointed time came and he had assisted the fair maiden into the spring seat on the wagon he would realize that the wagon box was twice as high as usual, and if it so happened that the spring on one side of the seat was broken, he'd see her far above him swaying from one side to the other, her feet dangling back and forth.
Usually he had to walk all the way, leading the oxen, for as a rule the oxen were so poorly tamed it was necessary to lead them. The distance to be covered would be at least 8 miles. He had to walk, she to have her feet dangling all the way. Sometimes, if he happened to look at his feet, he would see that his big toe was peeking out through his shoe or that the patch on his knee had become threadworn. But he would muster up courage, pull out his red silk handkerchief, his most precious accessory, and look sideways to where the fair maiden dangled as if if to ask "Aren't you satisfied with my appearance?" The saddest part was, as so often happened, especially if the oxen were inclined to be lazy, that when the young couple got to the place of entertainment, the dance was over with, or very nearly so.
The names and memories of great men are the dowry of a community. This Icelandic settlement can boast of an unusually large number of men who have won prominence. I'll name a few: Vilhjálmur Stefanson, famous arctic explorer; Hjörtur Thórdarson, inventor and electrician of Chicago; Arni Helgason, his former coworker, an electrician; Stefan G. Stefanson, a poet, our Icelandic Browning; K. N. Júlíus - poet and humorist, our Bobby Burns; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Walter, he an artist, she a writer; Sveinbjörn Johnson, our former supreme court judge; Gunlaugur Gunnlaugson, research worker and inventor, of Chicago; K. S. Hall of Winnipeg and Sigurdur Helgason of Bellingham, Washington, and Tryggvi Bjornson of New York, all leading musicians and composers.
In the educational field we claim T. W. Thordarson, who promoted the correspondence courses at the A. C. [North Dakota Agricultural College at Fargo, later North Dakota State University]; Mr. Thorleifson, a member of the U. [University of North Dakota at Grand Forks] faculty; Elína Thorsteinson, a former member of the U faculty. Magnús Hjalmarson, B. S. Hjalmarson's brother, graduate from the U in 1918, was the engineer in charge of the Los Angeles aquaduct - at 252 miles long the largest in the world. He is now an army engineer in charge of fortifications in Panama.
Among the lawyers we find the Snowfield brothers, the Bergmann brothers, The Skulason's, the late Dan Laxdal, Magnús Brynjólfsson, and others.
In the line of medicine we find Dr. Brandson of Winnipeg, Dr. Eymundson of San Francisco, the late Dr. Gislason of Grand Forks, and others. As for nurses, we could name them by the score, and our ministers, too, are many: the Thorlaksons, Olafson, Bergmann, Peterson, Sigurdson, Bjarnason, and others.
Agricultural experts we claim include the Thorfinnson brothers, the Sturlaugsons, Peter Olafson, and Thorsteinn Kristjanson.
These are but a few of the those who have won recognition. We have likewise had in our midst unhonored heroes who have benefited humanity, as, for example, our homeopaths, Drs. Jónasson and Sveinsson, who were ever ready, day or night, to administer to the needy, never too busy for deeds of mercy.
In closing, may I quote Mr. Benson's words, delivered when this Icelandic settlement celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1928.
"But as we look back and view the work that they, the pioneers, have wrought among us, what is it that we of the younger generation have inherited above everything else from these pioneers. To my mind the greatest legacy, the finest heritage, that has been passed on by these splendid pioneers to the present generation is that of unsullied character. You ask "What is character?" A man's reputation is what people say he is, his character is what he himself really is. Character is honesty, character is the divine spark of God in the human soul."
Let us strive to preserve that heritage so it may pass on to future generations.
Quoting Mrs. Olafson in her history of Akra: "These people worked and sacrificed and laid the foundation to this commonwealth that made the country. We are enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice. Shall we let their memory fall into forgetfullness?"
The soldier has his shrine, the pioneer none.
The above was written by Miss Kristjanson, a long-time local schoolteacher, likely in the late 1940's, on behalf of the Pioneer Daughters and is reproduced from their archives. In fact, it sounds much like a justification for the memorial which the Pioneer Daughters later placed at the site of the altar of the church in Mountain after the church was moved to its present location. Kristbjörg was the daughter of pioneer homesteaders Kristján Gunnlaugur Kristjánsson and Svanfrídur Jónsdóttir, who both died in 1953, Kristján at age 102 and Svanfrídur at age 97. The extended family included many families in the area, among them (in addition to the large Kristjánsson clan) the Stefánsson, Jóhannesson, and Einarsson families. Though Kristbjörg is not available to grant permission to use her words, I feel confident she would be proud to know there are still many of us who read them with pride over 50 years later. The text is reproduced almost exactly as written, with some minor editorial changes and some additions enclosed in [ ].
Although Kristbjörg is (see above) allotted credit for this essay, it would be unfair to omit the fact that much of it was simply the result of translating from Icelandic to English existing and well-known accounts of the history of the settlement. Unfortunately, although the gist of the account is correct, there are a more than sufficient number of factual errors. As such, the account is not reliable as a valid source. For example, the first post office at Hallson was actually named Coulee and the first postmaster was NOT Jóhann Pétur Hallsson, who is thought to have been the third postmaster there. And although Hallsson was the first to have a cabin built, it was he and several others, not just himself, that constructed it.
Print versions of this page, as well as many others at this website, are available. Click on the name below to contact The Dakota Icelanders Project.
Arlan Steinolfson, last revised 25 Feb 2009.
- CSS and HTML Validation -


text:
Tag: A Thin Line Between Love and Hate
Day 338: House Party (1990)
In 1990, the explosion of Hip Hop and Rap was starting to take over pop culture, but when today's film was released I was too young to watch (it also got lost in the shuffle). The film I chose to watch for today is the 1990 hip hop influenced comedy House Party. All young Kid (Christopher Reid) wants to do is survive the day and go to his best friend Play's (Christopher Martin) party that he's throwing later that night. The only problem is that Kid got in trouble at school and his father (Robin Harris) found out and grounded him. Despite being grounded, Kid manages to escape his house, but the trouble is far from over for him along the way when he runs into the one group after him. Will they get him or will he make it to the party? The film also stars Martin Lawrence (A Thin Line Between Love and Hate) as Bilal, Tisha Campbell-Martin (My Wife And Kids) as Sidney, A.J. Johnson (Sister Act) as Sharane, Kelly Jo Minter (A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child) as LaDonna, Daryl Mitchell (Galaxy Quest) as Chill, John Witherspoon (Friday) as Mr. Strickland, Full Force (Paul Anthony, B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou) and the film was written and directed by Reginald Hudlin (Boomerang).
I just read a cool fact about the film in that DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith were supposed t0 be the roles of Kid and Play, but they chose not to do it hence Martin and Reid getting the roles. Wait there's more, so when it came time to do The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Martin and Reid were supposed to be in that show, but they declined and Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff took their place. The crazy thing to is that when you are watching the film, the relationship between Martin Lawrence and Christopher Martin seems so natural and it should seeing as they are cousins. There were so many great and funny moments in the film especially with Martin Lawrence and then there are those I would have found funny back in the day like Full Force's parts. One of my favorite parts in the film is the freestyle battle between Kid and Play in the film. The whole time before the battle you are led to believe that Kid is horrible and that Play is the slick rapper, but boy are we surprised when Kid kills it. It's a fun scene that just reminds you of how awesome it was when Hip Hop exploded on to the scene. John Witherspoon was great as the annoying neighbor who wants to call the cops constantly and Robin Harris was just awesome from beginning to end with his insults and quick wit. It's a fun film that you should enjoy especially if you love old school hip hop and George Clinton makes a cameo. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.
Posted in Movie ReviewTagged A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child A Thin Line Between Love and Hate A.J. Johnson B-Fine Boomerang Bowlegged Lou Christopher Martin Christopher Reid Comedy Daryl Mitchell Friday Full Force Galaxy Quest Hip Hop House Party John Witherspoon Kelly Jo Minter Martin Lawrence Music Paul Anthony Reginald Hudlin Robin Harris Romance Sister Act Tisha Campbell-MartinLeave a comment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Posts Tagged 'vita'
Witchcrafty (Vita) Review
Tons of credit must be given to Sometimes You and Pigeon Dev Games for releasing one of the last games to be commercially available on the PlayStation Vita. Witchcrafty, a Metroidvanai-lite, feels like it is the younger brother of Sometimes You's other [...]
Metroidvania platformer Witchcrafty is temporarily a Vita exclusive – launch...
Witchcrafty will be released on PlayStation Vita on July 20th for $4.99.This game will be temporary exclusive for PlayStation Vita consoles. Witchcrafty is a metroidvania-platformer that immerses you in a world of magic. Something strange is happening in [...]
Competitive puzzle game Mind Maze gets PS Vita and Console release in July 2021
Mind Maze will be released on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on July 20th for $4.99. Mind Maze is a logical competitive game based on capturing of the playing field and will be released by Sometimes You. Put [...]
Visual novel Dull Grey gets May release date and Vita support
Dull Grey will be released on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation Vita on May 5th for $4.99. Dull Grey is a visual novel about growing up. It tells about mother and son, free will, and the search for happiness among foggy mountains [...]
The Vita is getting a new digital game this month
My Aunt is a Witch will be released on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on November 25, 2020 for $9.99, published by Sometimes You. 'My Aunt is a Witch' is a Visual Novel full of adventures and quests in the world of magic [...]
Sometimes You set to release non-linear gamebook Swordbreaker The Game on consoles...
Swordbreaker The Game will be released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on September 30, 2020 for $4.99. Xbox One version will support "Xbox Play Anywhere" so it could be also played on Windows 10. Heroic-fantasy interactive [...]
Difficult decision maker Norman's Great Illusion coming to consoles August 2020
Norman's Great Illusion will be released on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on August 19 for $4.99 by Sometimes You. In Norman's Great Illusion you have to live a year as an engineer at the plant in the face of [...]
Steam Tactics coming to consoles and Vita in early August 2020
Steam Tactics by Sometimes You will be released on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita on August 5th for $9.99. Welcome aboard your airship, captain! Steam Tactics is an RPG about steampunk airships with tactical turn-based [...]


Kolkata, Aug 9 (IANS) The National Fishworker's Forum (NFF)- one of the largest organisations of fishermen in India - Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking for immediate cancellation of proposed nuclear power plants on the coastline to protect ecology and their livelihood.
"We request the government to immediately cancel the planned nuclear power plants across the coast of the country as it will destroy the coastal ecology and severely affect the life and livelihood of millions of coastal fish workers," the NFF said in the letter.
The plan to set up nuclear power plants at Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu) and Jaitapur (Maharashtra), to augment the power requirements of the country faced a stiff opposition from a section of fishermen who apprehended that setting up of such plants will destroy the marine ecology of the area.
The NFF in its letter also registered its protest over the 'Letters of Permit' scheme allowing the foreign fishing vessels to fish in Indian waters.
"The Letters of Permit scheme is nothing but allowing the foreigners to loot the marine resources of India. We want this scheme to be cancelled immediately," said the letter.


I said back in March that Hunter Pence needed to start the season at AAA to show he could continue his spring training tear…he certainly did that. I am truly excited that I will be at Minute Maid Park for his debut tonight. I also said in "Shades of 2005" that the Astros pitching would be better than expected just like 2005 and that the pundits would say they were dead and buried because the offense was struggling…so far that seems to hold true…the Astros are tied for last place in the NL Central with the Cubs as they go into game 2 of the current homestand with the division leading Brewers…remember though, that last year at this time, the Brewers were leading the NL Central also and they faded quite nicely down the stretch…I predict the same thing this year for the Brew Crew and the Buccos and the Reds….make no mistake, the Cards will make a push for the division title at some point in the season…let's all hope that bringing up Pence now vs waiting until the All Star Break to bring up Scott last year is the difference between the Stros taking the Division title this year vs missing the playoffs last year.


The 2013 NV is Nissan's entry into the full-size van market, a segment long dominated by Ford and GM. The fresher NV can be had as a cargo or passenger van, with the former available with a high roof that further increases the van's already-commendable interior room.
It is awesome! Anyone who has a large family or a big group to transport should totally consider getting a Nissan NV.
I love my van. It is a 12 passenger van, which makes it a perfect size for my family of 9. I like that it is comfortable, no matter where you're sitting. Also, I like that it is built on a Nissan Titan frame so it handles more like a truck than a bulking passenger van. I DISLIKE that there isn't more available storage. Currently we have some of the seats removed in order to have some storage. I would prefer to keep all of the seats in the van at all times.
Nissan makes the best van for large families.
I am a huge fan of the Nissan Nv. It is the best choice for a large family. I currently have a 12 passenger Nissan NV. It is stylish, comfortable and handles more like a truck than a large van, due to its being built on a Nissan titan frame. I would recommend it to anyone whose family has outgrown their SUV or minivan.


text:
@implementation SNPDeleteStreamOperation

- (instancetype)initWithStreamId:(NSUInteger)streamId
              appToken:(NSString*)appToken
           finishBlock:(void (^)(SNPResponse*))finishBlock {

    self = [super initWithAppToken:appToken
                       finishBlock:finishBlock];
    if(self) {
        self.streamId = streamId;
        self.endpoint = [[SNPAPIUtils sharedInstance] getStreamEndpointURL:streamId];
        self.method = @"DELETE";
        self.serializationRootClass = [SNPStream class];
    }

    return self;
}

@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Every December my family and I put on our most comfortable walking shoes, our warmest coats and gloves and head into the midtown madness that is holiday season in New York City.
On any other day, the idea of venturing into a crowd of tourists would turn us away from the city. It is why on most summer weekends and holidays visitors might find they have the city to themselves.
But not on Christmas. This time of year is one where we happily join in on all the fun, and when we take on the annual Christmas window walk.
We book a hotel room at the Radisson Martinique on Broadway and after a hearty breakfast at The Harold, we set off to enjoy the beautiful holiday window displays.
The holiday windows in central Manhattan are so iconic and so beautiful that the crowds and lines that form alongside them are worthy of the hours it takes before you have seen them all.
The adventure starts on Broadway in front of the world's largest department store.
By far one of my favorite windows, Macy's often brings a favorite childhood story to animatronic life. Each window is a new page in the story, encouraging spectators to follow along in order till the very end.
Continue to walk down Broadway and onto Fifth Avenue. This is where it gets really crowded and fun.
Viewfinder Tip: Though the crowds are heaviest during the early evenings and on weekends, if you wait late enough at night you can get a better view.
In 2015, Lord & Taylor captivating the hearts of us all with its "Favorite Things" themed windows. From candy shops to gingerbread kingdoms, we left in awe and craving some sweets. The artistry and detail they display every year is why they are on our must-see list.
Not only does Saks put on a holiday fashion extravaganza with its over-the-top glittery wear, they also showcase a beautiful light show on the building's facade. Best visible at night and from across the street, the music and light show is a crowd stopper and never ceases to bring a smile to our faces. Enjoy the lights of the Rockefeller tree between intermissions.
What I most love about Bergdorf Goodman's displays is that they come in different sizes to fit their different size windows. It is easy to miss the smaller displays at a quick glance, so it is best to slow down and take it all in.
Before venturing off of Fifth Avenue and towards Barney and finally Bloomingdale's, make a stop into the Food Hall at the Plaza for some hot chocolate or spirits to warm you up.
The entire stroll is no more than 2.5 miles, but there is a lot to see and do along the way. It easily has taken us a few hours, if not almost an entire day with stops into shops, eateries, and holiday markets.
The best approach is to go with time, patience, and a festive mood. You will be surrounded by beautiful displays and people from all over the world. In my opinion, what makes these windows so wonderful are how they bring together the best of the city during the holidays. So, enjoy!


text:
De Syrische Woestijn strekt zich uit over het noordelijk Arabisch Schiereiland, over delen van de landen Saoedi-Arabië, Jordanië, Syrië en Irak. De woestijn bestaat uit een combinatie van zand, steppe en rotsachtige gebieden en gaat in het zuiden over in de Grote Arabische Woestijn.

Het is de op acht na grootste woestijn ter wereld.

's Zomers kan het meer dan 50 graden Celsius worden en in de winter kan het er vriezen. Er is weinig vegetatie. Het is het leefgebied van de goudhamster.

Woestijn in Azië
Geografie van Syrië
Geografie van Saoedi-Arabië
Geografie van Jordanië
Geografie van Irak

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain review
August 24, 2015 | News | 595 Comments
During a four day review event at the Konami Los Angeles studio, Carlos Fregoso (crimsonfox) had the opportunity to play Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain extensively on behalf of Metal Gear Informer. Here is his spoiler-free review of the game.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Review, by Carlos Fregoso
This review is written entirely by a fan of the series for the fans in the series. And anyone else who is interested: I would first like to Thank Hideo Kojima, Konami Studio's L.A. & their amazing Online Community Manager Robert Peeler for extending their invitation to us here at Metal Gear Informer to play the game. I would like to say a special thank you to the Q & A staff who were an amazing help with learning the ins and outs: Luna, Byron and Wiston. For years we have followed every development on the series. From gameplay footage, trailers, screenshots, clothing, figures, statues and so much more. This website has built a great community for fans of this incredible series that couldn't be nicer and more informative to be a part of. All veterans of this site will know what I mean. So my last thank you will be to Metal Gear Informer itself. Thank you for the years of hard work and all the time you put into building this site & community. It's been a site for fans, by fans and it shows. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent Metal Gear informer for this event, The Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain Bootcamp 2015. Now, Let's begin…
Let me start off by saying this will be a spoiler free review, written as a fan of this series speaking to fans of the series. I absolutely refuse to ruin this game's story or pivotal plot points.
This is not the biggest sandbox you'll ever play in. But it absolutely has the most toys you can play with.
First off, the game's audio. The work done in this area is what all Metal Gear fans want. It successfully sets the mood and atmosphere for the decade it is set in. The original music is very unique and varies from deeply emotional to tense sounds that build and heighten the immersion like only this series can do. The sound design is incredible, from series trade marks like the sound of foot steps on different surfaces to even the smallest details like Big Boss breathing. For those of you worried about the possibility of the iDroid, or even some buddies making too much of a racket often, all audio cues serve a purpose. The audio in particular for the cutscenes are impressive. After the infamous "They played us like a damn fiddle!" line in Ground Zeroes (it probably sounds a lot cooler in Japanese) no one was more worried about the material being cringe worthy in key moments that are supposed to establish a dark tone. Then Robert Atkin Downes speaks his first lines and I literally said to myself: "Holy shit, this is going to be amazing." His extreme emotion along with the soundtrack will make you say the same. Piers Stubbs' work as Eli will make you look at children with his demeanor differently, his voice definitely sets an amazing bar for young voice actors in conveying rage and other emotions. And as for the man himself, Big Boss, voiced by Kiefer Sutherland: he brings intensity and a very firm leader's deliverance to every line of dialogue he is given. Never has Big Boss been so assertive and sure of himself. His work with the character is truly astonishing. What can be said about Troy Baker that hasn't been said? This man brought Ocelot as a character in full circle. He has the ability to make you smile with his amazingly badass delivery every time, especially during the cutscenes in which he makes an appearance.
The cassette tapes expand on the story for the audience that wants to go in even deeper. There isn't any information on the cassettes that isn't intriguing. For the fans who want to spend time with the tapes you'll have plenty to listen to, which thankfully are given to you and you don't have to explore every environment to find. Of course not including music tapes which have to be collected by the player out on the field. They vary from the average two minute cassette to the far and few between ten minute cassettes which all paint a very vivid picture with added dramatic ominous tones and even background audio depending on where the cassettes conversation takes place, making them all great to listen to. Also, if interested, you can pull up the iDroid's control function with R2 (while in the cassette menu) and skip ahead line by line so you can just read the text if you don't want to listen to the whole conversation. It's entirely up to you.
There isn't any information on the cassettes that isn't intriguing.
Which brings me to my next topic, gameplay. As a fan who watched all the gameplay trailers, absorbed countless hours of gameplay analyses and knew everything there was to know, I still had no idea what I got myself into when I started playing. To the people who are concerned about the sizes of the maps – let me assure you: This is not the biggest sandbox you'll ever play in. But it absolutely has the most toys you can play with. I have never seen a deeper skill tree for various equipments, weapons and gadgets in any other game. The limitless combinations for load out & buddy pairing makes this game replayable for years to come. Every buddy has legit tactics to suit a variation of play styles and just make every mission that much better. The way you can use them to mess with guards or distract them is one of the most enjoyable parts of the game. And the number of buddies is perfect considering all the other aspects you have to manage. The ones you are given and the ones that are optional add a great layer to you as a player.
I will also say getting comfortable with your play style will backfire on you. The game's AI adjusts to you and it isn't a gimmick. Not personally, but while at the event I spoke with others about the way they were playing and how all of their techniques were eventually turning on them. It makes you try new things that you normally wouldn't try because you figure: "Hey, this works for me I'll keep on doing this". Wrong! Personally, I would recommend trying out all of your buddies and deploy ASAP unless you strongly insist on doing missions on the preset 0600 or 1200 time options because you're more confident. Don't confine yourself to one play style, one load out or one buddy. This game does what all games should try and achieve, being genuinely good at making all of your options fun. Nothing is in there for the sake of being there. All of the items are great to play with, and in trying out all the options my favorite technique was constantly changing. The Fulton Recovery Device is another area where people had concerns about making the game easy. The Fulton doesn't start off as a "pickup everything in sight device", in fact I wasn't able to Fulton a vehicle until 22 hours into the game. The Fulton doesn't even have to be used often to recruit men either, if you're not interested in using the Fulton on every soldier you see. Right after missions – depending on your score and on other factors – recruits will volunteer for Diamond Dogs (your personal army) and want to fight along Big Boss based on the kind of soldier you are, once again leaving it up to player choice. The vast Mother Base management mechanics are also given to you in a very helpful and easy to understand way. There isn't just a blimp on the top right of your screen for a few seconds and if you miss it, oh well. The game aids you in understanding the management of your base at first. And it's all necessary. You'll be thankful the game did. While there's a ton to do, nothing feels overwhelming. By 10 hours in you'll be flying though all of your menus sending your men on missions, developing new weapons and outfits, and designating your recruits to your R&D, Support, Intel and Medical platforms. Making you feel like Big Boss in every aspect of the world you inhabit. All of your platforms can be built upon to incorporate more recruits. They can be upgraded up to 4 times to support more of your recruits (This isn't even covering your FOB). The more in a unit, and the higher their ranking the better they are able to assist you. For example, if you further develop your Support platform you can order air strikes, they can gas out areas making it easy for you to run in undetected or provide cover fire via chopper if you're in a pickle. Hell, they'll even send you ammo when you're in a gun fight and run out of it like a chump. And calling a resupply mid firefight can be exhilarating and a visual spectacle, with smoke and gun shots all around you. The game starts off at a slower pace and you do missions for about 14 hours with a few big developments. This gives you time to learn the systems through and through. Then you hit a certain mission and it absolutely takes off in the story department. When you get there you'll understand what I mean. So take your time in the environments, do the side op's don't rush through anything. Listen to all your tapes and enjoy all the sights and sounds the game gives you.
This game does what all games should try and achieve, being genuinely good at making all of your options fun.
Speaking of visuals: when it comes to graphics and performance of the Fox engine, it's as 60 frames per second as 60 frames per second can get. And for a game of this scale it's beautiful, in both day and night, dusk and dawn. There were 2 instances where I had some frame rate drops, but the first didn't happen till 29 hours in – on a very big stage with tons of particle effects, fire, dust and other effects going off like crazy. The best part was that the frame rate drop was less than a second long, it was so quick I had to make a note of it. And it didn't happen a second time until 41 hours in. All in all, when it comes to frame rate, the game is insanely astonishing. The only issue with the engine is the draw distance during the day when moving on D-Walker (personal mech) or D-Horse fast enough. But it's also not an issue, which I know sounds ridiculous. It doesn't have the problems Ground Zeroes had where enemies at 300 meters would pop in 3 seconds later. That's been fixed. The only pop in you get here is from vegetation. The engine works in a way that no traditional pop in exists. In the Fox Engine everything fades in. When you see things coming in they never come in too late. They are always vague enough to be made out in time to not screw up your line of sight or sense of direction. And at night these effects become even less noticeable because the map is dark, basically making pop in a lot harder to spot. It's hard to explain the way this looks when you're playing because no other engine works in this way. And I'm interested in seeing how other engines might make adjustments to their own because of this. It's baffling to see in action, the game has so many different interiors and styles, from bases to outposts, and even things that have been done before like cracks in the walls or sweat and dirt on character models look incredible. Gashes and bullet holes in enemy soldiers aren't normally this pretty to look at. The facial capture is also a wonder to look at in cutscenes. The subtle nuances on all the main characters' faces really convey the message they are trying to get across with just their face. It works better than a lot of people might think. It's used often enough in video games today that everyone kind of just expects it. But with the story and situations this technique really gets the message across. With the use of close up camera angles you feel like you're there and makes you want to reach out to the characters, rub their faces, and say "everything will be okay".
One issue I had with the game (which is most likely an engine situation) is the time it can take to go from one mission to the next. Between side ops you can't just fly to another side op. You always have to go back to your Air Command Center (ACC), your mission and management area. Or travel across the entire map and go through all the outposts and enemy patrols to get to the other side op. So if you do a side op on one end of the map and want to do another on the other end you have to return to your ACC, choose your load out, and go back again. Which makes sense from the story side of the game. You can't just be flying everywhere over bases and out posts. The problem with this is the load time from your ACC to the Mission Area. Every time it takes about 35 seconds to fly in and jump out to start your mission. Plus the time you spend choosing you load out, buddy, time of operation and landing zone. The time really adds up when you play long enough. I think it might be the level loading so the helicopter ride in takes a little while longer to cleverly hide that fact.
But with those few negatives there is 100 positives. Kojima-san treated this like the last Metal Gear Solid. He went all out and pushed the story to absolutely heart breaking and mind bending new heights. As a personal fan of this series since 1998 when my older brother (Mahalo bro) rented a PlayStation from a local video store I have been attached to the story. As I grew older, the franchise grew older with me, taught me lessons of life I couldn't get in any other form. And this game is no exception. When you put it down, the story will stick with you. It could easily stand up against any TV or movie. When I started playing the game I told myself every time something happens that totally blows my mind I'll make a note of it. At 00:05 into the game it happened, it happened again and again to the point where I gave up keeping count. but the last thing I saw that blew my mind was exactly 44 Hours and 13 minutes (In the interest of time I won't type down every one) I played a total of 44 hours 16 minutes and 7 seconds and I had 38 percent of the game completed. Saying this is a big game is a understatement. This game is bigger and more ambitious than any Metal Gear Solid game before it and it changes your perspective on what any game can be. Especially on what a 60 USD game should be. For a series that has been around since 1987 to constantly reinvent itself and stay relevant is an accomplishment in itself. But to totally break what you expect a game can do for you emotionally & mentally – and at the end of the day have fun with it, and give you legitimate joy – is something special. The team that worked night and day to make Kojima's dream a reality and Mr. Kojima himself deserve every award they'll win for this game. All the acknowledgment in the world. All the recognition in the world will belong to them. Since November of 2004 I have said "Metal Gear Solid 3 is the best game ever made and nothing will ever beat it". Today August 23rd 2015 I can say without a other thought that Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain is the absolute greatest video game ever made… If you ever enjoyed a Metal Gear Solid game in your life. If you are interested in the series now and are thinking about getting this game. Stop thinking… the end.
For a series that has been around since 1987 to constantly reinvent itself and stay relevant is an accomplishment in itself. But to totally break what you expect a game can do for you emotionally & mentally – and at the end of the day have fun with it and give you legitimate joy – is something special.
For those hungry for some more, on August 24th check out @crimsonfox_MGI on Twitter and get your questions ready. He'll be answering questions for an hour from 10:00 to 11:00 PST / 13:00 to 14:00 EST / 18:00 to 19:00 GMT, any questions you have except for story and plot questions.
Lastly, a big thanks to everyone who visits this site and takes part in the community. For helping this site become what it is, and for making this an enjoyable place. It wouldn't be the same without you guys!


Live Monitoring is a feature of MiaRec, which allows supervisors to listen to active calls in real-time.
When you select an active call inside MiaRec, you will see "Live Monitoring" link inside call details pane (see below screenshot).
A click on "Live Monitoring" link will open Live Player application, which will allow supervisor to listen to active calls in real-time (see below screenshot).
Note: Live Player application should be installed on supervisor's computer in advance.


There has been a lot of talk in recent days about a huge outbreak of the flu. With this reportedly one of the worst outbreaks in recent years, from what has been noted by some news organizations, it's understandable that this is getting a lot of attention.
I don't know about you, but I can remember a few past episodes of the flu even though they were years ago. One time, in particular, was marked by 104+ degree fever and missing 3 days of work. When I returned, it was only out of pressure. The whole experience really served as one great example of why it sometimes takes getting sick to really value your health. I haven't forgotten that time. I would have given anything at that time to end that temporary misery!
This gets me thinking again about health and money, which I periodically discuss here as you might know. Specifically, in this case, the cost of getting the flu for many of us.
Of course, the most important thing is the actual misery that we go through when dealing with a really bad case of the flu, as well as the impact that has on our responsibilities to others. However, secondarily, there is also the impact on our finances.
As I mentioned above, many years ago I had to miss 3 days with the flu. I was right out of college, and was known to be a huge sports fan. I happened to miss days right at the beginning of March Madness, which got me some teasing over the phone when I called in. Keep in mind, there was no working from home or smartphones then (yeah, I guess I'm dating myself a bit here). Anyway, the teasing was probably good natured, but I knew by the tone of the conversation that there was a hint of pressure to come back. I've shared a story about this place in the past, involving an unpaid bonus, so if you've read that you may get the idea of why I might have been a bit concerned.
Companies don't like dealing with people missing work, that's the bottom line. I have been salaried, but for some people, it could actually mean hourly wages or freelance work lost. That's no fun!
Also, if you're burning your time off, it's valuable time that's lost. Those days off can be precious!
Have a list of things that you need to get done in your life? These could be tasks around the house, or other projects. By getting the flu and being home on the sofa, you're delaying getting your own things done. Hopefully none of the things being put off cost money, but you never know – they might!
Perhaps you might just be dealing with OTC products. Or, maybe things get bad enough that you end up needing a prescription for something. Either way, you just might be spending some money on things that may give you some comfort in dealing with the illness or maybe even speeding up your recovery. Perhaps this will be $10, maybe $20 – or it could cost even more.
What to do? Well, I'm no doctor (and no, I don't play one on TV), but I got a flu shot and have been fine so far. Not sure that guarantees anything, but presumably that gives someone a better chance to avoid problems, right? That and washing hands/using hand sanitizer has been my approach. Not too time consuming, but it's a small price to pay to ourselves what might be a better chance to avoid getting sick. Not to mention avoid the financial aspects of it!
While of course health is most important, do you ever think of the financial costs of being sick?
Have you ever had to take a few days off work for a bad case of the flu?
What steps do you take to put yourself in better position to avoid getting such an illness?
Share the post "The High Cost of Getting the Flu"
I haven't had the flu for quite a while, but I remember telling my boss when I called in sick when I did last have it that I'd never felt worse in my life. I think I was out of work for 3 days. I might have been out longer but the weekend came along.
We work hard at our house to avoid the flu and other contagious illnesses. We keep hand cleaner just inside the front door. We use it immediately whenever we return home from the real (and very dirty!) world. And we ask guests to use it if they show any sign of illness. I make a conscious effort to keep my hands away from my face. When I am out in the world, I try to avoid touching things like handrails and doorknobs or handles which have undoubtedly been touched by ill people and likely haven't been cleaned for years.
Kurt – it seems like you've learned from the experience, as those steps you're taking seem to be pretty extensive. In a good way, I mean. I know what you mean about avoiding touching handrails, etc that you know have been touched by tons of people yet never or rarely get cleaned.
My wife who is a RN always makes sure that my children and I get flu shots. It was intended to avoid the illness. We all have sick time , but the flu is far worse. Being older (over 65) and around children, it is a necessity!
krantcents – yes, at a certain age it seems like it could be even more important. Combine older age with the presence of very young kids, and I see your point.
You're lucky that you only missed three days of work. People at my company have been getting knocked out for five to ten days.
The best advice I can give is to suggest that everyone make time to exercise regularly, start eating better, and get the flu shot. Start doing those things and you'll notice that you get sick less frequently and that when you do get sick you recover quicker.
It does seem like it's all a system, in that if we take care of ourselves overall, it may help us get better quicker. Not a doctor, but that seems sensible!
I also get a flu shot. I could take time off work if I needed to, but it would create more work for the other staff. The thing I'm most concerned about is passing the flu along to my elderly parents, who could really be knocked out by it in the winter.
I can appreciate the sentiment of not wanting to get elderly parents sick, that is a responsible approach to it.
I can see how not having vacation days to take could impact one's approach to taking a day off. Best to avoid sickness then!


text:
HomeBooksPsychology & Cognitive Science
Come Hither: A Commonsense Guide To Kinky Sex
by Gloria G. Brame
How do you tell your partner that you'd like to be spanked?
Where can you find a good dominatrix?
If your husband likes to wear your panties, does that mean he's gay?
What really goes on at SM clubs?
After you tie someone up, what exactly are you supposed to do?
Is there such a thing as normal sex?
If you've ever wondered about the ins and outs of bondage, spanking, or cross-dressing, look no further. Come Hither is a frank, friendly guide on how to turn your secret fantasies into satisfying expressions of love and desire. The official resource guide for SM/fetish sex at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, Come Hither proves that a little kink can be a lot of fun.
Publisher: TouchstoneReleased: Feb 29, 2000ISBN: 9780743203937Format: book
Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide
Rachel Venning
Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia of Sex
Ellen Sussman
Lessons in Lingerie: Finding Your Perfect Shade of Seduction
Rebecca Apsan
Ecstatic Sex: A Guide to the Pleasures of Tantra
Ma Ananda Sarita
The Stripper's Guide to Looking Great Naked
Jennifer Axen
Useless Sexual Trivia: Tastefully Prurient Facts About Everyone's Favorite Subject
Shane Mooney
The Little Vanilla Book: S&M Wisdom to Improve Your Everyday Life
Lux Alani
The Tao of Sexual Massage: A Step-by-Step Guide to Exciting, Enduring, Loving Pleasure
How to Tell a Naked Man What to Do: Sex Advice from a Woman Who Knows
The Erotic Mind: Unlocking the Inner Sources of Passion and Fulfillment
Jack Morin
Sacred Pleasure: Sex, Myth, and the Politics of the Body-
Riane Eisler
Sexy Book of Sexy Sex
The Book of Vice: Very Naughty Things (and How to Do Them)
How Sex Works: Why We Look, Smell, Taste, Feel, and Act the Way We Do
Dr. Sharon Moalem
101 Places to Have Sex Before You Die
Marsha Normandy
Vagina: A Cultural History
Pornified: How Pornography Is Transforming Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families
Pamela Paul
Detox Your Dating Life
Sundance Announces Explosive Documentaries On Michael Jackson And Steve Bannon
The Wrong Narrative
Rakesh Satyal on the Pick-Up Line That Changed His Life
Her Power, Your Pleasure
Managing Risk in Unexpected Places
Releasing Shame to Reclaim Your Self Worth
How to Bring Your Vacation Home With You
Pennsylvania Church Abuse
IT'S HARD TO COMPREHEND the numbers: 1,000 victimized children; 300 priests; seven decades of abuse, kept silent in a single state. But the stark details in the Aug. 14 Pennsylvania grand jury report into sex abuse by Catholic Church leaders are nau
The Virtues of Boredom
#MeToo Movement Gathers Force In India
A year after sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein catapulted #MeToo into a national movement in the U.S., women in India are using Facebook and Twitter to tell their stories.
Affairs Are Only Human, Which Is No Excuse to Have One
'What Boy Hasn't Done This In High School?'
Gina Sosa is not impressed by attempted rape. "What boy hasn't done this in high school?" she asks. "Please, I would like to know." Since she asked so nicely, I went on Twitter, looking for men who managed to get out of school without committing atte
Why I Struggle To Relate To Relatability
Will Increasingly Indoorsy Canadians Answer The Call Of The Wild?
Why Your Tech Needs a Rest
Stress Squashers
The Week In Social Media
#HimToo? The Harvey Weinstein scandal, which exposed the producer as a serial sex offender, even rapist, gave fresh impetus to the already decade-old #MeToo 'movement'. But the backlash against actress Asia Argento for paying to silence a teenage act
My favourite types of words are F words. They're so satisfying. I ask that you look beyond the obvious here because F lends itself to so many pleasing words, not just one (although, come to think of it, fork is a marvellously useful word ...). F word
When It Didn't Work Out with a Living Writer, I Turned to the Dead
Pope Francis On Clergy Sex Abuse: 'We Showed No Care For The Little Ones'
Pope Francis On Clergy Sex Abuse
Give Your Job a Promotion
Effort To Close Brothels In One Nevada County Fails To Get Enough Signatures For Ballot
LAS VEGAS - At least in one Nevada county, brothels appear to be in little danger of being forced to close anytime soon. Opponents of legalized prostitution in Nye County had been trying to put the issue to voters in a referendum in November. But cou
LA Deputy Arrested On Suspicion Of Raping Girl In Case He Was Investigating
The Family Weekly: How Parents Can Help Shield Kids From a Hurricane's Trauma
The Family Weekly
Cool Gear for Kids with Special Needs
Harvey Weinstein Denies Accusation He Preyed On 16-year-old Model
Come Hither - Gloria G. Brame
Hither
C H A P T E R O N E
Introductory Kink
KINKY CONFESSIONAL
Nine years ago, I began working on a book called Different Loving: The World of Sexual Dominance and Submission. When my coauthors and I started out, we assumed we would be researching the small sexual subculture of dominance and submission (also known as B&D and SM) to which we belonged. Basically, we sought to write a book about people like us for people like us—people who knew what they liked but felt they needed to understand more about kinky sex from a broad perspective.
On this assumption, we researched the history and practice of SM, and directed all our interview efforts at people in the Scene (a nickname for the kinky subculture in the United States). Aiming for diversity, we talked to as many different kinky people as possible—gay, straight, transgendered, bisexual. We recruited them from kinky newsgroups on the Internet, sometimes according to their fetishes; we wrote letters to SM/fetish organizations and attended club events, distributing flyers; and we asked friends to tell friends about our book project.
In the end, we had hundreds of terrific interviews, covering not only an amazing spectrum of sexual variations, but spanning a diverse range of religions, ages, races, and social classes. There was, however, one serious limitation on the sample: All of the people we interviewed knew they were kinky and had decided, at some point in their lives, to join the SM subculture to one degree or another.
In fact, the number of people who actually find their way into the Scene represents only a small fraction of the total number of American adults who enjoy erotic variations that would be classed, clinically, as sadomasochistic or fetishistic. During the course of our research, that larger group revealed itself to us. It comprised a largely conventional, completely in-the-closet, and clinically unacknowledged segment of society that neither seeks out kinky contacts nor even admits to having kinky fantasies to anyone other than a life-partner—or possibly a professional dominatrix.
My husband, Will Brame (who was my coauthor on Different Loving, along with Jon Jacobs), and I were at first bemused when, at conservative literary gatherings, we would be deluged by people who asked us lurid questions. At one such prim gathering where the women wore Birkenstocks and the men wore colorless ties, one thirty-something repeatedly squealed loudly in disgust as we talked about our research. Later, she approached us privately. Dreading yet another onslaught, we were taken aback when she asked us this question: Her ex-boyfriend liked her to pee on him before sex. Would we consider this kinky?
Well, yes. We would. It's certainly kinky enough for there to be a clinical term for it (urophilia, or a love of urine).
The squealer was only the first of an unfathomable number of ordinary, conservative people we've met since who similarly react first with horror, then fascination, when we describe our work.
The most curious confessions came from a media coach. She told us later that she had been worrying all day that we would show up in biker jackets, with chains around our necks and piercings everywhere else. Our business suits apparently comforted her because by the time our meeting was over, she had confided that while she was shocked by the people who threw their waste on one another (which is how she characterized the squealer's boyfriend's fetish), she could easily understand why people would enjoy being infantilized (put into diapers and treated like babies). She spoke quite fondly of the Elia Kazan movie Babydoll, in which a grown woman sleeps in a crib and sucks her thumb. In fact, the coach talked quite a long time about both fetishes, and with strong emotion too.
What was really going on in her mind? Why was peeing on someone else more morally reprehensible than dressing in a diaper and peeing oneself? Is this some rule of sexual etiquette my parents never taught me: You can pee on yourself, but not on your friends?
Once the book came out, the confessions reached a fever pitch. It seemed that every place we went, there was always one person, and usually more, who wanted to tell us their secrets. On one book tour, a Washington reporter confided that he had a foot fetish; a Southern bookstore manager whispered a throaty tale about the time his girlfriend begged to be his loveslave ; a California radio personality admitted to us that his ex-wife liked him to slap her face during sex; and so on. Occasionally, people blocked our path, grabbed our elbows, hurriedly blurted out a sexual confession, and then darted away before we had time to react. Hit-and-run confessors, as it were.
Where did they all come from? How many of them (or us) are really out there? At present, there are no hard data on how many adults engage in consensual kinky sex of one type or another. Sex theorists have made estimates ranging from 5 to 50 percent of the adult population, with the consensus opinion closer to 10 to 15 percent. From my own experiences, I know the interest is much higher than the consensus.
In 1987, under the handle Angelique, I founded an SM educational outreach/support group on Compuserve. The group was part of a larger network of specialized sexuality support groups in Compuserve's Human Sexuality Forum (HSX). At the time, the HSX Forum had roughly 50,000 subscribers. When we set up the new SM group, we expected only a tiny membership. This was partly because other support groups already were in place for certain fetishes and partly because we required members to fill out an online application stating that they had a personal interest in SM/fetish sexuality. Even though people could apply under pseudonyms, we believed this requirement would help to filter out gawkers.
In three months, our membership swelled from an initial sign-up of a few dozen people to over 3,000. By the second year of operation, we had drawn over 15,000 people to our membership roster and were hosting the single busiest message board on HSX.
The advent of the Internet has been an eye-opener. For the first time, kinky people from around the world—whether living in rural communities in the United States or major cities in the Third World—had free access to materials that confirmed there are others just like them out there. And access them they did! Introductory Kink 13
By 1994, the alt.sex.bondage newsgroup on UseNet (since abandoned) was attracting nearly half a million visitors every week. Dozens of smaller newsgroups, for more specialized fetish interests, were springing up left and right, as were IRC chat-rooms devoted to BDSM. By the following year, dozens of kinky sites had set up shop on the World Wide Web, offering everything from amateur photos to personal diaries and educational resources.
In 1996, I built gloria-brame.com and continued the work of Different Loving. One of my Web site's most popular features is the Kink Links Catalogue (http://gloria-brame.com/love8.htm), a resource guide to over 1,500 SM/fetish Web sites. As of mid-1998, according to my research, there were roughly 3,000-plus sites catering to SM/fetish interests. My site alone draws roughly 2,000 people daily from places as far away as Peru, Bahrain, and Singapore.
Needless to say, I get a ton of E-mail. Most fall into two categories: people asking to be listed in my links catalogue and people requesting personal advice.
The queries about listings are interesting for two reasons. First, there are so many of them! Second, while I expected to see lots of bondage, spanking, cross-dressing, and infantilist sites, until the requests began pouring in I had had no idea, for example, that there are enough people sexually aroused by toy balloons (yes, the kind you blow up at kiddy parties) to support the hundred or so sites which now cater exclusively to that fetish.
The personal letters fall roughly into two camps. One is made up of pleas for advice from people who, until discovering kink on the Internet, believed themselves the only ones in the world with these interests. When they read other people's writings about subjects they've never permitted themselves to talk about, it has an immediate and powerful effect. They are both thrilled and desperately frustrated by the discovery because they don't know how or where to begin.
The second type of personal letter comes from people who know there are others like themselves but who have not been able to find a sympathetic partner. Reduced to pursuing their interests in secret, surfing the Web or anonymously subscribing to kinky publications that are sent in plain brown wrappers to discreet postal drops, they often feel trapped in troubled marriages to spouses who angrily reject their sexual needs. Their attempts at communicating their needs or introducing variations in bed have resulted in fights and tears. Some blame their partners for being puritanical; others blame themselves for being sinful or sick. Yet almost all hope that I can give them advice to help save their relationship.
This book will provide answers for them, as well as their partners, their friends, family members, healing professionals, and anyone else dealing with kinky sex issues. Even if you've never tried kink, and don't intend to try it, this book will round out your personal understanding of the range of acceptable sexual variations that consenting adults may enjoy. Frankly, in an age when STDs make many of us choose safe-sex alternatives to intercourse, and when we're all living longer and remaining sexually active longer, picking up new ideas on ways to spice up your erotic life may not be such a bad idea.
I'll guide you through all the key issues related to kinky sex, beginning with the most basic questions (What is normal sex? Are there others like me?). I'll tackle more advanced topics as well, including how to hang on to a relationship when one partner can't accept the other's kinks; religious and moral conflicts about sexual differences; and how to differentiate between a positive, loving kinky relationship and an abusive one.
Drawing on the thousands of letters from the broad mix of people who have written me these past eight years, I will use representative questions to start discussions of a vast range of fascinating facts about kinky sex. I'll explore what kinky sex is (and what it isn't), how to talk about it with your loved ones, how to deal with your own shame or embarrassment about your fantasies, and how kink is incorporated into stable, loving relationships.
Along the way, there will be tons of practical advice, including lists (such as Clamps, Cuffs, and Crosses, a guide to the wide range of kinky adult toys, with notes on how they are used); entertaining and revealing quizzes you can take alone (or with your friends); and some purely humorous excursions. I've even developed a special primer for you: Speaking the Kinky Lingo (in the appendix, on page 307) is a glossary of common slang used in the kinky communities. Use the glossary whenever you come across an unfamiliar kinky word or expression—it'll be there.
Now, before launching into the dos and don'ts and hows and whys of kinky sex, I want to prepare you for topics that may alarm you, facts that may surprise you, opinions that may upset you, and sexual scenarios that may excite you. So let's start with what I consider to be a fundamental document for anyone who wants to bring a truly open mind to these issues.
Reprinted below are the Basic Sexual Rights, a ten-point list approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fifth World Congress of Sexology.* This document takes the enlightened view that sexual rights are a basic part of our human and civil rights, as granted by the U.S. Constitution.
*The Complete Guide to Safe Sex by the Senior Faculty of the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, ed. Ted McIlvenna, M.Div., Ph.D. (Beverly Hills, Calif.: PreVenT Group/Specific Press, 1987): pp. x–xi.
After each numbered right, I will add my own explanatory comments so you understand exactly what each one means.
BASIC SEXUAL RIGHTS
1. The freedom of any sexual thought, fantasy, or desire.
Everyone is entitled to his or her private thoughts, no matter how bizarre they may seem to someone else.
2. The right to sexual entertainment, freely available in the marketplace, including sexually explicit materials dealing with the full range of sexual behavior.
If you want to watch pornography, read smutty magazines, or patronize sex-workers (strippers, prostitutes, etc.), you can do so without stigma.
3. The right not to be exposed to sexual material or behavior.
If you do not want to be exposed to pornography or sex-workers, you should not be forced to come in contact with them.
4. The right to sexual self-determination.
This means you may do as you wish with your body, sexually speaking. You can be celibate if you choose; you can sleep around; you may masturbate or you may abstain from all gratification. In other words, it is up to you to make the choices that feel morally right for you, without persecution from others.
5. The right to seek out and engage in consensual sexual activity.
This means you can sleep with consenting partners.
6. The right to engage in sexual acts or activities of any kind whatsoever, providing they do not involve nonconsensual acts, violence, constraint, coercion, or fraud.
All types of sex are acceptable as long as both people involved give their informed mutual consent. Using force or lying to get sex is wrong.
7. The right to be free of persecution, condemnation, discrimination, or social intervention in private sexual behavior.
Gays, lesbians, sadomasochists, fetishists, swingers, transgenderists, bisexuals, polyamorists, and all other sexual minorities should be free to pursue their sexual needs without being hassled or shut out of society.
8. The recognition by society that every person, partnered or unpartnered, has the right to the pursuit of a satisfying consensual sociosexual life free from political, legal, or religious interference and that there need to be mechanisms in society where the opportunities of sociosexual activities are available to the following: disabled persons; chronically ill persons; those incarcerated in prisons, hospitals, or institutions; those disadvantaged because of age, lack of physical attractiveness, or lack of social skills; the poor and the lonely.
Every adult, no matter their abilities or age, or their social or health status, is entitled to the comfort and pleasure of sexual contact with a consenting partner.
9. The basic right of all persons who are sexually dysfunctional to have available nonjudgmental sexual healthcare.
People with sexual problems are entitled to sympathetic counseling.
10. The right to control conception.
It's up to each individual to decide whether they wish to use birth control.
Did you find these sexual rights controversial? Whatever your own feelings about the list of rights, I hope you will think them over. They lay the groundwork for you to see beyond the misconceptions and prejudices that our culture imposes on us all. If you can accept, for example, that every human being is entitled to his own thoughts, no matter how strange, and that some of those thoughts are likely to be sexual, then it will not be a big leap for you to accept that everyone has a right to have strange sexual thoughts.
In this book, all sexual behaviors that occur by consent among mentally competent adults are seen as acceptable, valid, and normal expressions of adult sexuality.
You may not approve of them, you may not want to act on them, but being able to accept that they are a normal phenomenon, and not something to fear, is a great first step. That's why I describe them as acceptable sexual variations. I use acceptable instead of right or wrong, sick or healthy, because those terms all carry moral or medical judgments.
I'll leave moral doctrine to spiritual leaders. As a sexologist, my point of view is that a kind of sex is right when it feels good to the adults having it and wrong when it creates upset and unhappiness. Meanwhile, classifying sexual behaviors as diseases is a concept that has long outlived its usefulness, except as ways for lawyers to get clients acquitted and for quacks to profit by falsely promising cures.
I believe sexual behaviors should be viewed the same way we view all human behaviors. Some sexual behaviors—rape, for example—are criminal, because they are acts of violence against a victim. Some are pathological (e.g., compulsive self-mutilation) and generally indicate a much larger mental disorder (such as schizophrenia). But, by far, the majority of sexual behaviors are neither.
Now I'd like you to consider The Five Fallacies of Kinky Sex. It addresses the biggest misconceptions about kink, so we can get those out of the way right up front.
THE FIVE FALLACIES OF KINKY SEX
1. Kinkiness Can Be Cured
There is no scientific evidence of any kind that people can be cured of their kinks.
The fact is that attempts at cures have universally failed. Those who offer to cure someone's sexual nature generally do more harm than good. Some clients report feeling emotionally devastated, others betrayed, because they were given false hope. Some blame themselves for the failure and feel even guiltier than before.
Distressingly few helping or medical professionals receive adequate training in sex issues. Only a small handful of graduate programs even offer comprehensive curricula on sex. So, although they may be sincere and persuasive, people who offer cures are just as misinformed as the people who come to them.
At best, they may teach you to hate your own needs (through aversion therapy, where you learn to associate hateful things with the things that turn you on) or to sublimate your desires. But bottling up sexual feelings or punishing yourself for having them does not cure you of those feelings. Instead, it usually creates deeper conflicts.
Competent sex counselors do not advertise cures. Instead, they work with clients to find morally acceptable, socially responsible, and emotionally positive ways of dealing with their clients' sexual identity.
2. Perversions Are Caused by Trauma in Childhood
Despite the strides we've made in some areas of the medical sciences, there has been little forward progress in sexuality research. To date, there has been neither organic nor genetic proof to explain fetishes or sadomasochism. Nor is there any proof that childhood traumas produce the same results in different people or that trauma must always be present for someone to grow up with a love of pain or a fetish for high heels.
The soundest theory, basically unchanged since the late nineteenth century, is that our sexual identities are formed through a combination of genetic predisposition (meaning that our DNA comes encoded with sexual quirks) and life experiences. In other words, the best guess is that nature and nurture combine to shape our sexual identity.
Recent advances in genetic research open the door to finally finding out whether body chemistry or brain structure can explain things such as homosexuality or transgenderism; perhaps, one day, it will reveal facts about sadomasochism and fetishism too. I also hope there will be more studies on the cause-and-effect relationships between early childhood development and sexual orientation. But for now, all data are inconclusive.
3. People with Kinky Desires Have Psychological Problems
A TRICK FALLACY!
The answers to this are true and false.
First: False. There is no proof that people with unusual sexual fetishes or desires are any less functional than other people. Instead, there is considerable evidence that, as a group, kinky people are in the mainstream: stable, middle-class family people who maintain careers and participate in their communities. In other words, they are socially functional, which is a standard of psychological normalcy.
Second: True. People with sexual kinks do tend to seek out counseling. But one must consider why they do. Generally, it's because their feelings conflict with the feelings they are told they should have. For example, if the world tells you the most sexually appealing part of a woman's body is her breasts, and you find breasts boring but feet to be an instant turn-on, you are going to feel confused. If someone you love rejects you because of it, you're going to feel even worse.
Like anyone else, a kinky person doesn't want to feel as if she or he is alone in the world. No one wants to be rejected; no one wants to feel unlovable. In the face of the criticism kinky people face from families and lovers, often on a daily basis, it is not suprising that they turn to professionals for support.
4. Kinky People Can't Form Good Relationships
As noted above, kinky people do tend to seek out counseling, particularly when they are having conflicts with partners about their sexual needs. But sex and relationship problems are what motivates most people to go into therapy. The difference is that when vanilla (non-kinky or straight) relationships fail, people accept it as a common problem of modern life. When kinky relationships fail, however, people automatically assume that the blame rests on the partner with unusual sexual desires.
But as Mom always said, It takes two to tango. In other words, it's a question of compatibility. Kinky people are bad partners with people who cannot accept their kinks (or have other incompatabilities). Otherwise, they are as likely as anyone else to form lasting, committed relationships.
5. Kinky People Can't Get Aroused by Regular Sex
Not only can they get aroused by it, many of them never have anything but regular sex.
Although we tend to think of kinky people as the leatherclad denizens of underground clubs, most people who are aroused by kinky things never have contact with that world. For any one of a number of reasons (social position, career, marital status, children, religious beliefs), they remain closeted, enjoying ordinary, productive sex lives with straight partners—even though they may fantasize about their fetishes during sex.
Millions more adults regularly indulge in bondage, spanking, role-play, and so on as foreplay. For them, these are erotic games that add spice to monogamous relationships, extend the arousal period, and enhance orgasms.
There are indeed fetishists who are only aroused when the object of their fetish is present, and hard-core SMers who have little or no interest in intercourse. However, the vast majority of kinky couples include oral, anal, or vaginal sex as a regular part of their intimacy.
C H A P T E R T W O
What's Your Kink Quotient?
KNOW THY KINKY SELF
Now that you've tackled the basics, you need to put kinky things into proper perspective: It's time to learn something about yourself. So get a paper and pen handy.
You've heard of IQ tests. How about a quiz that rates your kinkiness? The Kink Quotient Quiz will help you (and your partner) understand more about your sexual identity. Though some of the questions below are lighthearted, your answers will add up to a clear picture of your attitudes towards sexual variety. Find out if you're a kink genius —someone who has more fetishes than an anthropological museum—or see if you are kink challenged —the kind of person who looks at a paddle and actually thinks of kayaking.
Select the answer that best reflects the way you think. Burn your answer sheet afterwards if you must, but be honest. Then follow the scoring guide below.
Using the Quiz as a Communications Tool
You can use this quiz as a tool to open up dialogue about sexual issues with friends and partners. Just make sure that, in addition to pen and paper, you also bring the right attitude: This quiz is a frank but playful way to learn more about each other's sexual attitudes, not a competition or an opportunity to sneak in a few criticisms or lob any china.
If you're doing this as a couple, take turns reading the questions and the answer choices aloud, then write your answers down privately. When you've gone through all twenty questions, exchange sheets and score each other's answers.
Now comes the hard part: the truth! Have your partner read aloud your score and the description below that matches it, and you do the same. Then go back and review the quiz together, question by question. Before moving to the next question, take turns explaining to one another why you chose your answers.
If you're really brave, try this as a game next time you have a party. Pick a leader, who distributes score sheets and then reads the questions and answer choices aloud. After the players have filled out their score sheets, have each one write his or her name in the upper-right-hand corner, then fold the corner down twice and either clip, tape, or staple the sheet so the name can't be seen.
The leader will collect these sheets and put them in a hat or basket, then pass it around until each player has removed a sheet to score. The leader will then read the scoring guide aloud, so everyone knows how many points to give each question.
Finally, taking turns, everyone should read the total score on the sheet he or she drew, and the others can take turns guessing which sheet was filled out by whom. The person who correctly identifies the most kink geniuses, happy hedonists, and kink challenged is the winner.
At which point the winner should get a prize spanking.
The Kink Quotient Quiz
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Select a, b, or c.
1. The chances of me experimenting with anything beyond heterosexual intercourse are:
a. Pretty good, especially when it comes to things like mutual masturbation or using adult toys.
b. What!? People are still having heterosexual intercourse?
c. Dim, slim, and nonexistent.
2. When my lover starts to talk about his (or her) equipment, my first thought is that he (or she) is referring to:
a. Genitals.
b. Handcuffs.
c. Computer hardware.
3. I've often said, Size does not matter! Privately, though, I think size really does matter when it comes to:
b. Bondage racks.
c. Video monitors.
4. When I come across an ad that uses SM and kinky imagery to sell a product, my instant reaction is to:
a. Giggle or gawk at it.
b. Feel titillated and perhaps even turned on.
c. Wonder what the world is coming to and feel sad.
5. I think that all the tattoos, piercings, bondage, and other kinky images in the music videos on MTV are:
a. Wild and crazy, but not in a bad way.
b. Pale imitations or distortions of the real thing.
c. Ridiculous at best and often downright disgusting.
6. If my partner asked me to do spanking or bondage, I would:
a. Probably try it at least once to please my partner.
b. Ask, Your toys or mine?
c. End the relationship or insist my partner seek counseling.
7. I can understand why someone might experiment with light bondage, but when it comes to whips and pain:
a. That's too weird for me.
b. I understand it even better.
c. I think it's all sick.
8. Some people get turned on by wearing saddles and acting like ponies. My first question is:
a. How do you kiss someone with a bit in his mouth?
b. Can they recommend a good tack shop?
c. Are they getting help for their problem?
9. My attitude on public nudity could be summed up as follows:
a. It can be a very liberating experience.
b. I prefer people to be dressed—in slave-collars and chastity belts.
c. If God had intended us to be naked, He would have . . . oh, wait a minute! No, seriously, I believe nudity should be reserved for private moments.
10. In my perfect sexual world, people would:
a. Do whatever they want, as long as it doesn't involve pain.
b. Do whatever they want, as long as they are adults who are doing it by mutual consent.
c. Respect the rules set out by society or religion.
TRUE, FALSE, OR SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE:
Answer true or false or somewhere in the middle to the following ten questions.
11. I have never done anything that could qualify as kinky.
TRUE ____ SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE ____ FALSE ____
12. I've never fantasized about bondage, forced sex, spanking, or anything else that could be considered kinky
13. Sexual variations is just a nice term for perversions. Whether it's homosexuality or kink or anything else, it's morally wrong and people need to stop doing it.
14. I've never noticed that I have a particular erotic interest in a fetish object (feet, high heels, boots, leather, rubber, underwear, cigars/cigarettes, body hair, etc.).
15. Porn movies, graphic magazines, erotica, and all other explicit sexual material turn me off.
16. Using adult toys is unnatural; it may even be wrong.
17. Sexual experimentation can get out of hand. People shouldn't open that can of worms.
18. It's okay if a man is dominant in the bedroom, but it's wrong for a woman to take that role.
19. Religious, philosophical, or political beliefs are more important than an individual's sexual desires.
20. I'll never regret it if I don't experiment with kinky sex.
MULTIPLE CHOICE:
Every a answer = 5 points.
Every b answer = 10 points.
Every c answer = 0 points.
TRUE/FALSE/SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE:
150–200 POINTS: KINK GENIUS
If you've scored at the very high end of this range, you are probably already immersed in a BDSM lifestyle. Even if you've never shared your kinks with anyone but your life-partner, you have few inhibitions when it comes to sexual experimentation. You place personal sexual happiness above what you perceive as playing by other people's rules. For this reason, you don't judge others for whatever it is that turns them on.
You see yourself as an enlightened, progressive individual for whom a varied erotic life is an essential ingredient of personal happiness. You like to read about sex of all kinds, and enjoy erotica and pornography. Even if you don't share or understand a particular turn-on, you're willing to try it if the circumstances (or partners) are right.
In purely clinical terms, and according to the standards established by the American Psychiatric Association, you would be classified (depending on your specific interests) as either a fetishist or a sadomasochist.
100–150 POINTS: HAPPY HEDONIST


Following our last discussion about a beautiful outline of the forehead, in this article, we will take a look at minimally invasive rhinoplasty techniques using dermal filler, botulinum toxin, and thread.
The nose, due to its central location of the face, has important influence on the aesthetics of the forehead, eyes and mouth, etc. The height of the dorsum is lower in Asians compared to other races and that is why augmentation rhinoplasty is one of the most frequently carried out procedures in Asia. However, minimally invasive techniques had not been suitable for alae reduction, creating a narrower and sharper nose, or nasal hump reduction, which could be better addressed through surgery.
A new minimally invasive rhinoplasty technique uses dermal filler to bring results comparable to that of surgical augmentation with high patient satisfaction. Its popularity may be due to the little disturbance to daily life, and low risk of post-treatment edema or bruising.
The aesthetics of the nose differ across races and regions. Also different societies have different trends and standards regarding the beauty of the nose. Therefore, it would help to revise the standards of the textbook as suitable for each race. As the nose is visually the highest point of the face, it is also important to talk with the patient about what he/she wants to change the most, rather than blindly follow the trend.
Anatomically, ideal angle measurements of the nose are as follows; nasofrontal angle 115~130°, nasofrontal angle 35~40°, and nasolabial angle 90~110°. The soft tissues of the nose generally consist of the skin, thin fat, SMAS, deep fat, and perichondrium and periosteum. Dermal filler injection targets the deep fat layer.
This is to avoid the vascular passage. On the other hand, botulinum toxin injections target the muscle. Botulinum toxin is injected into the depressor septi nasi.muscle, nasalis muscle, procerus muscle and levator labii superioris muscle, etc. to adjust the horizontal wrinkles of the glabella, the alar size, or lift the nasal tip.
The thread can be used to reduce the widening of the injected dermal filler through thread-induced fibrosis and contraction. The thread is also helpful when it is difficult to sharpen the nasal tip with dermal filler(Table 1).
Table 1. Comparison of dermal filler and thread in rhinoplasty.


All of us recommend Flash Furniture CP-A118B01-BK-GG High Back Professional Super Mesh Chair Featuring Solid Metal Construction with… for you personally In most cases working in an office requires plenty of time for you to sit in an office chair sitting – a position that complements the spine structures. Therefore, in order to prevent the development or composition of the back problems, it is important to have an office chair that is ergonomic and supports the lower back and promotes good body posture.
A good office chair will help to improve working habits and overall success: an office chair selected according to your specifications will in any case increase productivity. The recording supports the back. To provide maximum support for the lumbar area (the curve at the base of the spine), the file must be adjustable in height. It should also be the natural curvature of the spine of a person to fit gently folded. The base must be good and avoid in a five-star configuration to avoid overturning. The bases of metal and wood will last longer than plastic. Flash Furniture CP-A118B01-BK-GG High Back Professional Super Mesh Chair Featuring Solid Metal Construction with… For stability, choose an extra wide base. Most office chairs have wheels; Some brands can offer wheels blocking so that the chair can be immobilized. Before making a final purchase, make sure that the wheels are suitable for the type of flooring that is used in your home or business office. Use hard wheels for carpet and soft rubber wheels or on a wooden floor or other surface that can be damaged or scratched.
If you purchase in bulk office chairs for a work environment, where a variety of tasks are performed to ensure the comfort of the user, choose Flash Furniture CP-A118B01-BK-GG High Back Professional Super Mesh Chair Featuring Solid Metal Construction with… a kind of chair with a good filling.
Which chair is best for your needs?
Chairs are very particular and should depend on the body type and only to be purchased. Simply because there is them good because they have won prizes, or because it is expensive does not mean it is the right chair for you.
In an ideal world, we might all have individual office chairs Flash Furniture CP-A118B01-BK-GG High Back Professional Super Mesh Chair Featuring Solid Metal Construction with…, but the R & D prices are simply too high to make this reality, at least for the time being.
Therefore, more setting options boost the possibility that a chair is the perfect choice for you. Needless to say, theoretically, an office chair with few adjustment options could be good for yourself, but it really is like that and from the mixture of rack. It never fits perfectly without changes. Therefore, the more you must adjust the settings, the more likely it is for one to work. We advice to buy your chairs from reputable companies. Try to avoid the main office outlets, most of specific chairs are very general and bad. Usually, you need to sit on the chair if your wanting to can buy to commit.
However, this is not always possible. For this reason, you'll want to ensure that the shop offers a money back guarantee, so you can return or replace the chair if necessary. If you find the chair that you like, as long as you are not loyal to the dealer, it could be a great opportunity to save money online.
Not much, quite. The controversy came to think that the armrests prevent the desk chair from getting too near the table, and yes, this could be a problem with regards to the right attitude or productivity.
For us it is only a personal preference. For those of you who choose an office where the armrest chair does not interfere with your workplace or do not prevent you push your chair not enough to undress, we do not see anything wrong with them. The most important importance of office chairs is the pressure to relieve fatigue, maintaining good posture when your work requires you to definitely sit for long periods of time. If you do all this work, then you have a pleasant office chair.
Even if an office chair with armrests decide, you really need to consider getting a chair that allows you to definitely adjust the armrests at different heights and accommodate lengths along.


Yang Razali Kassim. Will Mahathir and Anwar's uneasy alliance unseat Najib?
Posted in International Affairs, Politics	| Tagged Anwar Ibrahim, East Asia Forum, Mahathir Mohammad, Najib Razak, RSIS Singapore, Yang Razali Kassim	| Comments Off on Yang Razali Kassim. Will Mahathir and Anwar's uneasy alliance unseat Najib?


text:
Robert Downey Is Making 'Sherlock Holmes' Shows For HBO Max
Matt Singer Published: April 5, 2022
The Sherlock Holmes franchise, starring Robert Downey Jr. as the iconic private detective and Jude Law as his sidekick Dr. Watson, has been stalled out for several years. The series produced two financially successful movies about a decade ago; the first in 2009 and the sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, in 2011. A third film was supposedly in development, and in fact at one point it even had a scheduled release in December 2020, Obviously, that never happened and to date, the film has never gone into production.
Apparently, the series is not dead, though, and is now being repackaged for television. Variety reports that Downey and his production company are working on not one but two new television series set in the Sherlock Holmes universe that appeared in his two feature films. They don't specify that Downey himself will appear in the series. Instead, their report claims "the two shows would each focus on a new character that would be introduced in Sherlock Holmes 3" which, again, is a film that as of this writing, has not actually been made.
The two shows are intended for HBO Max, which appears increasingly invested in television spinoffs from big-screen Warner Bros. franchises. They are developing multiple series based on the recent DC comics blockbuster The Batman and earlier this year they had a hit with Peacemaker, a spinoff from last summer's movie The Suicide Squad. There has also been talk about television series based on or continuing the events of Dune and the It franchise.
Source: Robert Downey Is Making 'Sherlock Holmes' Shows For HBO Max
Filed Under: hbo max, Robert Downey Jr.
'Westworld' to Be Removed From HBO Max
The Creator of 'Too Many Cooks' Turned the Yule Log Into a Horror Movie
The Best TV Shows Of 2022
'Black Adam' Announces Streaming Premiere Date
Netflix Releases Robert Downey Documentary
10 Underrated '90s Films You Can Watch On Streaming
'A Christmas Story' Sequel Debuts on Streaming
Steven Spielberg Says HBO Max Threw Directors 'Under the Bus'
HBO Announces 'The Last Of Us' Premiere Date