text:
Home My Thoughts Exactly Hardware Remembering Tom West, the Original Geek Rock Star
Remembering Tom West, the Original Geek Rock Star
John June 6, 2011 - 9:10 pm July 24, 2011 Hardware, Memology, My Thoughts Exactly, Software, Wetware, Writing
I was saddened to learn of the passing last week of Tom West, the engineer/hacker who was the main focus of Tracy Kidder's 1981 book The Soul of a New Machine. Tom was 71. Boston.com published a nice obituary; there were also notices in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other places.
From the Boston.com article:
Thirty years ago, Tom West was thrust into a category of one, a famous computer engineer, with the publication of "The Soul of a New Machine.''
Tracy Kidder's book, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and is taught in business classes and journalism schools, chronicled Mr. West's role leading a team that built a refined version of a 32-bit minicomputer at a key juncture for the computer industry and his employer, Data General of Westborough.
The book's success turned a quirky, brilliant, private, and largely self-taught man into a somewhat reluctant guru.
I call Tom by his first name because I knew him, and that's what I called him. In fact for a short while early in my career I worked quite closely with him — at the tail end of my four year stint at Data General.
As Soul of a New Machine amply demonstrates, West was a compelling figure. Everybody agrees he was quirky and brilliant; some people have mentioned his being difficult or "prickly". I have to say that I don't remember a prickly side to the man. He could be abrupt, sure. Direct. Economical of speech. But if he had a temper or was harsh or unfair, I either never saw it or have since forgotten about it. I just remember that I really liked him.
Although I can't claim to have been great friends with the man — I don't know if he would even have remembered my name — he made a deep impression on me. When I wrote the novella Cheap Complex Devices in 2003 — about twenty years since I had worked with Tom West at Data General — a quirky, brilliant and (I think) extremely funny character named Tom Best showed up all through it. I can't take much credit for Tom Best's funny lines, however, since I stole most of them from Tom W.
Data General — Where I Learned That I, Too, Might Be One of "Them"
I joined Data General as a junior technical writer in April, 1980. I had recently completed work on a master's degree in agricultural economics at Purdue University, and I had spent three of the prior five years in rural west Africa, first in the Peace Corps and then as a grad student doing field research on peasant cooperatives. I had spent most of my time in Africa far away from electricity and telephones and even from regular mail service. I was not a high-tech guy.
But I had learned some programming in grad school and my first child was on the way and I needed a job and Data General was willing to take a chance on me, so off I went, age 27, with some trepidation, to my first "real" job. I didn't think of myself as computer nerd material. I was skeptical about capitalism in general and technophilia in particular and I doubted that I would last long in that line of work. I dreamed of getting back out into the fields again, to open air, sun and soil. I vaguely expected to spend my life on remote agricultural experiment stations around the globe, finding ways to feed the starving millions.
I joined Data General just as the "Eagle" (official name: MV8000) project described in Kidder's book was winding down. In fact my first assignment was helping prepare some of the MV8000 manuals for publication. Tom West was my boss's boss, so I saw him from time to time, although direct contact was rare. He was a big cheese and very busy, and I was a junior guy in way over my head just trying to learn my job well enough to keep it.
By the time Soul of a New Machine came out in 1981, a transformation had taken place. I was writing assembly language programming manuals and other high-geek stuff. From April 1980 through the end of 1984, I wrote about four manuals each year, mostly programming books but a few hardware "theory of operation" books as well — books that described the architecture of machines that had CPUs that took up a whole board's worth of chips, not single-chip microprocessors like we have today.
Flying Upside-Down is Not as Scary as it Sounds
When you write technical manuals for a living, you see a lot of how engineering gets done and you find places where the process breaks because your job thrusts you right into the crevasses. You find that two software groups are telling you different stories about how something is supposed to work; you find that hardware engineering and software engineering sometimes seem to not even be talking the same language, much less agreeing on architecture.
I don't remember exactly how it happened, but I wrote a couple of memos analyzing information flow & decision-making within Tom's engineering group and how they might be improved. Somehow he read them. He liked them and called me to his office, and I was detailed to work with him on an "engineering process improvement" project.
That was the fun part of working with people like Tom — I've since found that the hacker universe is full of them — he didn't care that I had never had any formal engineering training, that my most advanced academic study was in third world agricultural development. He just cared that I had interesting ideas and was willing to work hard. So over a period of weeks (or perhaps months? Don't remember) I went around talking to engineers & engineering managers, synthesizing their ideas about process improvement, and drawing up proposals, which I then presented to Tom. Some of my proposals were adopted. Then there was a re-org, Tom went off to Japan, and I left Data General for a job at computer startup that was literally making machines in a converted garage, just like they do at start-ups in Silicon Valley. I only saw Tom once after that, perhaps a decade later, when I was at a trade show in San Francisco's Moscone Center, and Tom was there doing booth duty for Data General. We chatted for five minutes, then I walked on.
(In fact, I've worked for a bunch of startups, and two of them were in garages. Funny how cliches sometimes really are true. And I later worked in Silicon Valley for a long time — some of it on software process improvement.)
Snapshot & Farewell
Here's one little vignette about Tom (a story which I gussied up with an illustration and related in purple prose in Cheap Complex Devices. There are several more like it in the book).
He was once giving an informal talk to DG's technical publications group, and somebody (me? I don't remember) asked him about Data General's product strategy for the next 18 months or so. Well, Tom goes over to a whiteboard, and he draws a crude graph with price along one axis and performance along the other. "You got your high end, that's [code name for big, powerful computer DG had under development]." He makes an X in the upper right corner. "You got your low end, that's [code name for a cheap computer under development]" and he makes an X in the lower left. Then he says "then you got all this baroque shit in the middle", and draws a squiggly line connecting them. "That's our product strategy." And that was all he said about it.
Maybe you have to have worked at a company that actually designs and manufactures computers to understand how funny that is, but I still laugh when I think of it. Tom was a hardware hacker, an engineer. In Tom's world, "product strategy" was the kind of bullshit that people in marketing talked about. A marketing person might have spent half an hour on the question. Or perhaps a whole day! For Tom 15 seconds was more than enough.
(I should make clear that my "Tom Best" is inspired by Tom West and gets a lot of funny lines from him, but Tom and "Tom" are not the same person. Cheap Complex Devices is ostensibly written by "a madman who thinks he's a computer program", and accordingly every character in the book is drawn with crayon.)
Famous computer geeks existed before Tom West, but they were famous only within the world of geeks. Soul of a New Machine changed that. Tom was the first geek who became a cult hero to the mundane world at large, "a category of one," as the Boston Globe put it. Whole careers where influenced by exposure to Tom, whether in person or by proxy, through the book. At a time long before the apotheosis of Steve Jobs, when geeks and nerds were routinely ridiculed and even bullied for being eggheads and losers, Tom, as captured by the wonderful writer Tracy Kidder, showed that the essence of fun was hacking (and vice versa), and that computer hacking was just the coolest fucking hacking of them all.
Since then the geek has emerged from loserville to win the culture wars. Even jocks brag about being geeks. These days everybody's a geek and the geek-as-hipster-god has become a cliche.
But Tom West led the way. He's to geeks what Greg Noll, the first man to ride Waimea, is to big wave surfers.
In his book The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe said that the special language & way of speaking you hear from virtually all jet pilots, commercial or military, derives from the cadences of the legendary aviator and test pilot Chuck Yeager. Yeager was such a larger than life character, such a rock star, that other pilots copied his way of speaking whether they realized it or not.
I have the sense that in the same way a lot of Tom Westisms have entered the geek culture; phrases that he made up have become part of our language. It's been a while since I've worked with him or even read the book, so maybe I'm just being sentimental. But Tom West was a larger-than-life figure to me, and he certainly changed my way of thinking about what it meant to be a geek and what it meant to have intellectual fun — not just fun with your ideas, but with your hands too, and ideas in silicon. We're all lucky that Tracy Kidder wrote his great book about the Eagle (which is not just Tom West, by the way. There is a lot more to the book than Tom). And I myself feel grateful that I got to see the Way of the Hacker up close, from a master.
We Need To Fix The News Media, Not Just Social Media Part I by Harold August 10, 2018 A substantially similar version of this appeared on the blog of my employer, Public Knowledge. Focusing blame Google and Facebook for the decline of in-depth…
My Insanely Long Field Guide To Common Carriage, Public Utility, Public Forum — And Why The Differences Matter. by Harold September 5, 2017 Once upon a time, social conservatives used to be major allies on both limiting media consolidation and on net neutrality. Why? Because they recognized that…
How DEA Got It's Revenge For Getting Called On Abusing Authority — And Why This Will Make Things Like Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Harder by Harold October 19, 2017 I love neither DEA or PhARMA, but the business about Congress passing a last year to make it "harder for DEE to stop drug companies…
We Need To Fix News Media, Not Just Social Media — Part II by Harold October 29, 2018 This is part of a continuing series of mine on platform regulation published by my employer, Public Knowledge. You can find the whole series here.…
The History of Net Neutrality In 13 Years of Tales of the Sausage Factory (with a few additions). Part I by Harold January 10, 2018 I keep being asked by people "Harold, can you please summarize the last 20 years of net neutrality for me while I stand on one…
So What The Heck *IS* A Digital Platform? by Harold July 18, 2018 This is the second blog in a series on regulating digital platforms. A (less snaky) version first appeared on the blog of my employer, Public…
cheap complex devices, Data General, hacker, hacking, Soul of a New Machine, Tom West. Bookmark.
Nag, Nag, Nag
My Insanely Long Field Guide to Lightsquared v. The GPS Guys
Insert joke about third-world farming, manure, and software technical writing here.
Do I detect a wee note of sourness about our chosen profession? That's a sin, of course. For your penance, go re-read Soul of a New Machine. It will make you happy — happy at least that a few other people on earth understand you.
Don Rideaux-Crenshaw
I'd missed this and I'm deeply saddened to learn of Tom West's passing. Soul of a New Machine inspired me to change career paths and, without formal training, become a geek. It's been a long, mostly fun, ride so far.
I little piece of Tom's soul lives in every New Machine, put there by the people who cared enough to design them cleverly and build them well.
John, lovely post, but what I love most about your reply to Gary is the admonition, "re-read Soul of a New Machine."
I like it because a colleague of mine (incidentally also a Curl alum) told me a while ago, "You're not allowed to be a technical writer without having read Soul of a New Machine." (This, after I'd confessed to my cultural illiteracy on the matter despite having had "Technical Writer" on my business cards for a couple of years already.) I'm glad to say that I've since corrected the oversight.
Did you happen to see this Wired piece on Soul, twenty years later?
John's Tweets
john sundmanFollow
Biodigital novelist, mover of heavy objects, volunteer firefighter (retired), national treasure. https://t.co/h3US6p87Th
john sundman@jsundmanus·
Day 1, #arisia: arrive @ con 7:30 PM, register, stroll around.
Day 2: Random stuff, then panelist on "Reader Expectations" 10:00 PM.
Day 3: Give my "Bio for CS" talk 10AM; moderate Pullman Panel 2:30; panelist on CRISPR panel 4PM. Phew. Beer now. #arisia2020
Retweet on Twitterjohn sundman Retweeted
Justin Falcone@modernserf·
HTML IRL
jeremy poxon@JeremyPoxon·
and ppl are still out here proclaiming capitalism a success. grow the fuck up https://twitter.com/rbreich/status/1218925564125491202
Robert Reich@RBReich
The 26 richest people on Earth now own as much as the 3.8 billion who form the poorer *half* of the planet's population.
Again, 26 people own as much as 3.8 billion people.
26 v. 3,800,000,000
Stephanie Kennedy@WordswithSteph·
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine does not recognize herself in this 1999 video. Voters do not recognize her either.
Please retweet to refresh Sen. Collins' memory. @SenatorCollins
Propane Jane™@docrocktex26·
This isn't a "50 years ago" issue, the SCOTUS is handing down Jim Crow decisions as we tweet. Segregation is still upon us and the public divestment that results from it is why we don't have nice things like a living wage, adequately funded schools or universal healthcare.


Is there a point? Same amount gets stolen taken either way, consumer pays the same price, producer receives the same revenue, same deadweight loss results, etc.
I looked outside and all the roads were gone and everyone was speaking Somali.
Topic: End Government Funding of Science?
Oh, I'm sorry that my belief in freedom offends your fascist sensibilities.
Never mind. Forgot who I was arguing with.
Someone who believes in science, reason, and logic rather than received wisdom and authority?
Arariel wrote: I cannot imagine any conceivable possibility in which more government is the solution.
Left to its own devices, neither does government.
Carmen Ortiz will not be appealing.


text:
Book ride now
CALCULATE RIDE
Where Did Drunk Driving Come From
by Mike Aven
Automobiles were invented way after the drunk driving started to exist. Drunk animal riders were theoretically the founders of what we try to be careful with nowadays. In the past, alcoholic beverages played an essential role in every nation. Ensuring the clear water flow is constant was a tough task. Keeping in mind the fact that without any modern methods of preservation, stored water stagnates faster than you might think. We take for granted the clear water in our faucets. However, in the order it to get to our
homes immense amount of water has to be collected first, processed for ensuring it is safe, and properly stored for future usage. The whole process of collecting, processing and distributing safe water was invented in the 20th century. Before this innovation, drinkable and clear water was in low supply even in America. Just a century ago, water was a haven for such diseases like cholera, dysentery and typhoid, killing thousands of innocent people.
People were living that way for decades.
As a man abandoned his cave to build up villages and towns, supplies of clean water had to be stored for its citizen. Sooner or later, water sources were spoiled either by wild animal or some other tribes. Eventually, people discovered a preserved water product - alcohol. It could not only be stored longer but was clear of pathogenic bacteria, since most germs causing deadly viruses could not live or survive in such environment. Respectively, alcoholic beverages became a must in people's lives back in the day. Moreover, alcohol was also highly used as a medicine to ease pain and act as a detergent for germs.
Egyptian household was busy brewing beer every day
According to some historical facts, slaves drank about 1 ½ gallons of beer daily while building the Great Pyramid in Giza. While tipsy slaves did not ride camels or other animals, we can only imagine how much gallons of beer was being produced in the past. Every Egyptian household was busy brewing beer every day. Meanwhile, people from the higher society like pharaohs and kings drank mostly wine. Not only the Tut's tomb contained vessels of wine and paintings showing the process of making or consuming this beverage.
Throughout history, alcohol is continuously mentioned. It should not be difficult to believe there were tipsy chariot drivers in early Rome and Egypt. The ruler of the Huns, Attila died somewhere near the year of 445 right on his wedding from a nosebleed because of an alcohol overdose. As it is most commonly pictured, Attila probably rode his horse while being a heavy drinker.
Hannibal's army rode on elephant backs after heavy drinks.
Most armies centuries ago were able to drink alcohol both before and after going on a battle. Think an about the quantity of those drunken horsemen. Drunken horsemen and carriage drivers were everywhere. Soon after 1800's when a vehicle called bicycle was invented, drunk people were continually falling off them.
In every culture, alcohol overindulgence was undesirable during thousands of years.
Basically, alcohol was so crucial to people's lives, that any moderations were tolerated to some degree. The actual proof fact that abusers of alcohol exist is the repeatedly similar situations throughout the history.
During the Industrial Revolution times, it is evident that a crowd of workers was not working efficiently enough sometimes. Having to work at a particular time did not stop them from their habit. Employers had to routinely warn their employees not to get carried away by alcohol, because of safety reasons. As the warning existed, the problem became even more noticeable. Numerous accidents happened just because of alcohol consumption at a working place.
The very first actual arrest caused by drunk driving happened in London in 19 century, when George Smith crashed his car into a building. After the first car was introduced in America, there was lack of regulations on this matter. At first, cars were used mostly by the wealthiest part of society. After a while, anybody with the necessary tools and materials could run a business, creating engines on wheels.
Since cars became more popular, governments started to think about new ways to tax its owners even if the necessary laws for were not indicated. As an example, the Division of Automobile Licensing and Registration of South Carolina was created in 1917. It stated rules regarding issuing licenses and how to collect fees. Still, no actual vehicle laws that had to be followed.
Without any official automobile directives, American citizens were legally driving as they want to.
Eventually, the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution became a rule. The actual name of the amendment was the Volstead act. Drinking was not allowed within the nation. Of course, crime was prospering as people were violating the new law.
However, the "Bone Dry" rules were brought into being in 1918, in Alaska, just about two years before the Volstead Act. Hand-made alcohol was a flourishing business.
Within the business area of Anchorage, speakeasies were connected to each other in an underground network, hiding from the Territorial Police. Essentially, speakeasies were hidden bars across the country. People proceed to drink and drive no matter what.
Things had changed when new regulations for automobiles were filed up in the middle of 1930s.
In 1935, Indiana started to issue driver's licenses to those wishing. A driver had to purchase the license for 50 cents, forming the Highway Patrol's salary and paying for the equipment used.
Already after four years, the state of Indiana was the first to enact a BAC law. The allowed level of alcohol in blood was set at .15 for any driver, which is twice today's .08 legal limit.
In the year of 1969, Ted Kennedy (1932-2009) drove his car off Dike Bridge, the one between Chappaquiddick Island and Martha's Vineyard. Luckily, the story had a positive ending for him, while Mary Jo Kopechne, who was his passenger at that time, died while being trapped underwater. Authorities received an alert message a few hours later. Some people believe Kennedy wanted to sober up a little before police came. This situation kept Kennedy out of the Whitehouse. He continued to develop his political career, and this topic has slowly faded away.
Drunk driving was regulated continuously, especially in the 80s. That time, the MADD came into prominence. New devices as ignition interlock started to appear in the late 80's. Already in 1984, the minimum age eligible to drink was set to 21 years.
Book Your Ride 2 Days Ahead and Get 15% Discount
Use code BOOKAHEAD at check out
Calculate your ride
Subscribe for discounts
Fill up the form and select pick up day and time
Fill up the form and
select pick up day and time
We need more info about you
What is your pick up location?
Pick me up as soon as possible
I would like choose pick up time
Choose pick up day
Choose pick up time
, press SEND ORDER and we will pick up you and your car January 19 at 00:00 AM near . Our operator will contact you shortly for confirm this information.
, press SEND ORDER and our operator will contact you shortly for confirm the earliest possible time for pick up you and your car near .
OWNDRIVER
Your personal designated driver
© 2016-2020 OWNDRIVER.COM. All rights reserved. Created by ClickWebStudio.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Roadside auto repair is a huge unorganized business in India. How do innovative business modeling, technology and design create radical impact?
Roadside auto repair shops are mostly run by small entrepreneur mechanics, located in every nook and corner of Indian roads. They tend to serve neighbourhood car & two wheeler owners for simple and quick repair jobs. With the advance of auto industry these small-scale entrepreneurs are constantly redefining themselves and finding their unique proposition. Overall there are a huge number of road size auto repair businesses facing tremendous challenge in staying relevant in today's market.
Repair Mechanic business is neighbourhood oriented. They are small scale operations where the owner usually is the chief mechanic playing multiple roles like procurement of parts from market, accounts, trainer, liaison and such.
Autoji, is a young start up with a vision to create a differentiated business by making these auto repair shops to reinvent and be relevant. Taking up the role of being their support in re education, in-time doorstep supply and marketing their services. It is a technology based, scalable model to upgrade this demanding business.
Elephant worked on a Design led process to create "Autoji" along with R Sriram of Next Practice Retail & the AMG team. The team lent a language to the value proposition, brand, communication framework and design of retail space & expressions.
The process began with a deeper understanding of the auto repair shop and eco system. The team spoke with several repair shop owners, workers, fleet repair workshop owners, existing retail to look at gaps in the needs, gaps & aspirations.
The final solution was a combination of tongue in cheek, street smart identity that lent respect to the service and was bold enough to be looked upon as a reliable service & supply partner, enlarged toll free connect, an application, a delivery van and an efficient supply space.
Trust was build through a series of icon-based communication. Many repairmen have low education or are used to local language & scripts. Using strong sense of visual icons and local script helped connect with the main customer base.
It is important that the language that is used and facilities for service connect with the key user segment.
The retail proposition was kept simple and functional with a emphasis on organized appeal, appropriateness and lower cost proposition. Autoji is a good example for how design can be an enabler for the business and is not a cost heavy investment.
Elephant is India's Best Design Practice (ET-Brand Equity 2012-2014 ranking) with a multi-disciplinary experience of 27+ years having presence in India & Singapore and has been transforming brands, organizations & businesses using Design led Innovation.
PARTHO GUHA is a Visual Communication Designer, Co-founder & Director at Elephant. An alumnus of National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, he regularly conducts workshops on design thinking & strategy. Partho is a passionate painter and divides his time between design process application, design led business strategy & roadmap and innovation.


text:
the-diamond-ring-effect
The Diamond Ring Effect
by Mark Alders
Heat Rating: Sizzling
2 Ratings (3.5)
Science Fiction Alternative (M/M, Gay) Erotica Fiction
After a horrible accident a year ago, Roy is left to care for his disabled mother. A job he does without thought of reward. Unfortunately, he is also very lonely. Caring for his mother takes up all of his time. What's more, his father has retreated into his work and no longer has the time to even talk to Roy.
Then one night everything changes. Man's first contact is made and it's Roy who has been chosen. But why him? Roy would rather spend his nights dreaming about Hamish then having to accept a request of help from strange beings from another planet.
But that's just what's happened. Roy must do something for the aliens, something that will mean confronting his father at his work. What exactly does his Dad do for a living that's so important to these aliens? As far as Roy is concerned his father is a nobody, just like him.
When the night is through, Roy's life will never be the same. But something more important than that, he may get his mother back and his dream man in the process…if only he can talk to his father.
Buy eBook: $3.99
Cover Art by Angela Waters
"What a night," he mumbled to himself.
"Did you lie there all night?" John asked, shaking his son's shoulder.
"Wha--"
"I'm really beginning to worry about you, Roy." His dad's brow furrowed.
"What do you care?" Roy whimpered, now squinting at the morning light that streamed in from the patio doors, hurting his eyes.
"I…I…" John hesitated. He picked up his briefcase and added with a whisper, "I care."
"I haven't seen you for more than an hour over the last six weeks. Did you even realise that, Dad?"
John frowned. "You don't understand."
"I don't understand! I don't understand! Do you even understand what I have to do? Do you? I have no life, Dad." Roy pulled himself up off the floor. "Why do you need to be away so much, especially now? We need you, too."
"I don't have time to discuss this now. I have to go…look, um…I'll try and get home a little earlier tonight. We'll all have dinner together. All right?"
"So you say." Roy glanced over to the whiskey bottle still resting where he had left it on the kitchen table last night. Would he dare take that first drink tonight if his dad broke his promise yet again? No. He couldn't. He had to think of his mum. She needed him. "And if you don't come home early. What then? Am I to spend another night alone because I can't leave Mum?"
John turned away from his son, heading for the front door. "I'll try," he mumbled as he searched for his car keys in his jacket pocket. "Believe it or not, I do appreciate what you do. I--" John turned to look at his son one more time, then gently closed the door behind him.
"We'll see," Roy whispered to himself, feeling the pangs of depression rise up inside him. He shifted his glance to the bottle once more, his brow furrowed. "We'll see."
He realised he hadn't changed his clothes. The smell of himself overpowering, he needed to shower, freshen up before he tended to his mum. He checked his watch. He had time. It was just after six thirty in the morning. Soon it would be time to wake her up and begin his daily ritual.
Roy headed for the bathroom. Soon he was surrounded by steam, something that jolted a memory deep inside his mind. Perhaps it was the gaseous shapes swirling about before him, but he wasn't sure why being here in the bathroom had made him think of the events of last night. In particular, the fact that he had been knocked unconscious but didn't know why. Was this his mind telling him that he probably lost his balance and fell backward? Or was it an animal that had scared him? He wasn't convinced of either explanation, even though he had to admit he was in a bad mental state last night.
He disrobed and stepped into the shower cubicle. The water cascaded over his chest, covering him in warmth. His thoughts turned to Hamish. How he would love to have him here right now. He'd so like to wash him, touch every part of his body with the soap. Feel his muscles, his hard dick. He'd love to kiss his hot, wet lips, then explore that kiss to its deepest level when Hamish gasped for more attention. Roy would do anything to have him here right now, go down on him without question, even take him inside him. Oh, how he wanted Hamish inside him. He didn't want to be alone any more.
Roy was erect. He looked down at his cock. The water made his hardness look sleek and beautiful, especially seeing as his foreskin had retracted and his head was now exposed to the air and water, ready for attention. He cupped his balls, feeling himself how he would like Hamish to feel him. Spikes of ecstasy rose up to consume him like the depression he suffered last night. He moved his other hand over his length, slow at first. He wanted to savour the moment by imagining it was Hamish pleasuring him.
People Also Bought:
Taken (MM)
J. C. Owens
Beautiful Disaster (MM)
J.M. Snyder
Isaac Dragos (MM)
Joyee Flynn
Whispers in the Night (MM)
Gabrielle Evans
Bruised (MM)
Vincent Diamond
Porn Star Slave
Tristan Cole
Lewis's Dream (MM)
Lynn Hagen
Christian's Menace (MMM)
Edric (MMMM)


text:
Club KISS
Listen to KISS FM
@dat_ashh_tho
@radiosuzette
@djapprentice
Louis Tomlinson Dropped New Track 'Two Of Us'
By Jessica Goodman Mar 7, 2019
One of my favorite artists, Louis Tomlinson FINALLY dropped new music called Two Of Us.
According to the BBC, this song was written in honor of his late mother and it's such a beautiful song to celebrate her.
"It was something I needed to get off my chest. I used to lean on my mum for a lot of things - anytime I needed advice on something she would be the first call I made." It was "a tough one" playing the new song to his sisters (the ones old enough to understand, Louis says) because he "didn't want them to get caught up in the sadness"
Pretty sure Louis' mom would be so proud of him!
T-Pain to Host 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards
By Taylor Fields
About Club KISS
DJ Apprentice is in the mix with Club KISS every Saturday night from 8pm to 2am spinning the hottest hip hop, pop and edm in the valley with Ashley...Read More


Today I am launching a series of new GSA programs collectively called the "Making It Easier" initiative – and I'm pleased to tell you that this is a great example of a name that exactly fits a program.
Making It Easier, or MIE, does just what it says — makes it easier for new and innovative companies to do business with the government. And it also provides small businesses with tools and support they need to do work with the government. It even includes an IT Schedule 70 Plain Language Roadmap that does a wonderful job of explaining the Schedule 70 offer process for new vendors in clear and simple terms. Once new companies are awarded a Schedule contract, the standardized Welcome Package will put an end to new vendors receiving inconsistent and outdated guidance.
Every year, tens of billions of dollars go through GSA's Multiple Award Schedules — and we've heard time and time again from the vendor community that getting a Schedule contract is too hard and it takes too long. And then once you're there, it can be difficult to make changes to a contract. MIE has answers to both those issues: they're called the FASt Lane and IT Schedule 70 Springboard.
FASt Lane cuts the time it takes to get specific new innovative IT suppliers on Schedule 70 … from 110 to 45 days. And the time it takes for changes to be made to a current contract has been cut down to one or two business days …much quicker than before.
The IT Schedule 70 Startup Springboard gives highly qualified businesses an alternative to the current 2-year professional experience requirement. This means we can get startup companies offering emerging technologies onto Schedules and into the hands of customer agencies faster.
GSA also recently launched a Forecast Tool giving small businesses a new way to search for upcoming contracting opportunities – another piece of GSA's growing environment of innovation and progress.
Please take a look at my newest video for more about GSA's innovative Making It Easier initiatives. This is a good starting point to improve access to GSA's Schedules and will truly make it easier for our suppliers to work with us. I'm very proud and excited about these new programs and I know you will be, too.


Buy cricket bats online India.. Cricket bats at lowest & best prices online.. Largest collection of cricket bats online. more..
Cricket Bat Sixer Our Company are involved in offering a wide range of Cricket Bat Sixer more..
TENNIS CRICKET BATS Our Company have wide range of Tennare Cricket Bats with excellent qualit more..
Cricket Bats Our wide range of cricket bats are manufactured from superior quality of willow more..
Sigma Cricket Bat Our Company provide to our customer superior quality Sigma Cricket Bat Whi more..
Divine Overseas are the Manufacturers and Suppliers of Handmade Cricket Bats.. Besides the Wood Cricket Bats produced a more..
Our Company are offering cricket bat pressing machine.. thare procedure compresses the willow which will reduce the b more..
Cricket Bat An excellent quality range of Cricket Bat our clients can avail from us Thare r more..
Slazenger Cricket Bat The Slazenger Cricket Bat provide by us are made from high quality of r more..


Well we have sold our Freelander 1 TD4 HSE to a friend, his wife wanted it. We now have a Fiat 500 X Cross Plus 4 x 4, hope I'm still allowed on the Forum lol !
Pics to follow as I have forgotten how to upload from my mobile to the laptop !
Allowed? I love the Panda but I'm not sure a 500 is allowed?!
Your friend's wife, is she a hairdresser...?
Looking forward to seeing the Angry Fiat.
This week end might be good for taking it out for some non slip sliding.
What tyres does it have on?


text:
Mexico City Approves Same Sex Unions
Law for Coexistence Partnerships to take effect in March 2007
Erich Adolfo Moncada Cota (komodo) Print Article
On Nov. 9, Mexico City's congress voted to approve (43-17) the "Ley de Sociedades de Convivencia" (or Law for Coexistence Partnerships) which allows civil union between same-sex couples. Following a path set by countries like France (Pacte civil de solidarite), Germany (Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) and many others, it will take effect in March 2007.
The initiative was launched five years ago, passed four times by legislative commissions, but repeatedly got stuck in plenary voting for its sensitive nature. The federal branch of government is ruled by a catholic, conservative party (PAN: National Action Party) and according to studies in 2000, almost 87 percent of the population professes Catholicism. Nevertheless, there is serious data showing an important growth in nontraditional families, especially the 20 percent of Mexicans who acknowledge having some sort of past or current homosexual relationship.
Former major of Mexico City and defeated presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, of the center-left Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD), never fully supported this law despite having a majority in the local assembly. But as a new leftwing major (Marcelo Ebrard, former security minister for Obrador) is expected to take power in December, the legislation was pushed ahead. It was fully backed by the four leftist parties in congress, with aid form the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and strong antagonism from the PAN.
The new law won't emulate the marriage institution but will recognize unregulated civil unions as different from concubines to give them legal status. From now on, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and straight couples will have the right to demand reciprocal maintenance and heritage. The downside is the impossibility for adopting children.
Opposition and favoritism for the legislation was intense from religious and gay communities.
The Mexican Archdioceses (La Jornada, Nov. 13) labeled as "sinners" the congressmen who voted for the law, and complained it was "vengeance against the Catholic Church from the more radical groups from the left, who felt it was a demand for justice." The president of the Bar of Catholic Lawyers of Mexico, Armando Martinez Gomez, sent a list of observations to the city's current major, Alejandro Encinas, demanding a veto for numerous irregularities in the legal text.
The bishop of San Cristobal de las Casas, Felipe Arizmendi, warned that the next stop is allowing adoption rights to couples, something that "can affect children deeply." A coalition of business and religious churches led by the National Parent Union (El Universal, Nov. 14) has vowed to start a campaign to promote a punishment vote against the PRD. Telling their members to evade offenses against "those people living with the homosexuality problematic," and arguing the assembly had legalized something "unnatural and abominating, trying to promote it in the whole nation."
Emilio Alvarez Icaza, chairman of the National Humans Rights Commission of Mexico City, declared (El Universal, Nov. 11) the law was not a threat to anyone in particular, and that it will be a matter of time before it shows positive consequences for different social groups.
Luz Rosales, director for the city's Women's Institute, said she was happy for the steps being taken "to acknowledge the people's right to choose how to organize their families." Orgullo Mexico, a gay-rights union, considered legislation had conquered a five-year-old demand from the lesbian-gay community (El Universal, Nov. 10). Lastly, sociologist Roberto Bermudez went far beyond, suggesting a nationwide implementation of the legal instrument, granting full adopting rights to couples (El Universal, Nov. 12).
One thing is certain: Catholics could be engaged fiercely in this culture war against minorities to create a smokescreen and divert attention from recent child abuse scandals involving several Church priests, and alleged cover ups from high-ranking bishops and archbishops. Their moral credibility is badly compromised. Does it make sense to fight over traditional values while a priest from my own town got a girl pregnant (Cambio Sonora, Nov. 15), and promised her that he would "be the best 'padre' (father) he could be" if she aborted the baby?
This could be a lost battle for conservatives: according to a poll by El Universal newspaper of 600 readers, 59.2 percent were in favor of the civil unions, 32.4 percent were against it and 8.3 percent didn't care either way.
Other articles by reporter Erich Adolfo Moncada Cota


text:
Lothar Weise (* 1931 in Ebersbach; † 1966) war ein deutscher Schriftsteller und Science-Fiction-Autor.

Leben
Weise machte nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg eine Lehre zum Weber und wurde Textilingenieur, bevor er sich ab 1962 hauptberuflich der Schriftstellerei widmete.

Zunächst veröffentlichte er drei Erzählungen und einen Roman, die er gemeinsam mit dem älteren Autor Kurt Herwarth Ball geschrieben hatte. Später publizierte er unter eigenem Namen zwei mehrfach wieder aufgelegte Romane. Alle Werke erschienen in den hierfür spezialisierten Reihen "Das neue Abenteuer" und "Spannend erzählt" des Berliner Verlags Neues Leben. Nach seinem frühen Tod erschien noch eine weitere mit Ball verfasste Erzählung "Im Eis des Kometen".

Bibliografie
 mit Kurt Herwarth Ball: Alarm auf Station Einstein. Erzählung. Illustrationen von Günter Goeltzer. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1957 (Das neue Abenteuer #119 und #120).
 mit Kurt Herwarth Ball: Signale von der Venus. Erzählung. Illustrationen von Gerhard Goßmann. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1958 (Das neue Abenteuer #134).
 mit Kurt Herwarth Ball: Brand im Mondobservatorium. Erzählung. Illustrationen von Hans-Hermann Schlicker. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1959 (Das neue Abenteuer #161).
 mit Kurt Herwarth Ball: Atomfeuer über dem Pazifik. Roman. Illustrationen von Karl Fischer. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1959 (Spannend erzählt #31). 2. Auflage 1960.
 Das Geheimnis des Transpluto. Wissenschaftlich-phantastischer Roman. Illustrationen von Eberhard Binder. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1962 (Spannend erzählt #44). Zuletzt 4. Auflage 1968.
 Unternehmen Marsgibberellin. Wissenschaftlich-phantastischer Roman. Illustrationen von Eberhard Binder. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1964 (Spannend erzählt #56). Zuletzt 4. Auflage 1970.
 mit Kurt Herwarth Ball: Im Eis des Kometen. Erzählung. Illustrationen von Hans Räde. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 1968 (Das neue Abenteuer #270).

Literatur
 Hans Joachim Alpers, Werner Fuchs, Ronald M. Hahn: Reclams Science-fiction-Führer. Reclam, Stuttgart 1982, ISBN 3-15-010312-6, S. 444 f.
 Hans Joachim Alpers, Werner Fuchs, Ronald M. Hahn, Wolfgang Jeschke: Lexikon der Science Fiction Literatur. Heyne, München 1991, ISBN 3-453-02453-2, S. 1033 f.
 Hartmut Mechtel: Lothar Weise. In: Erik Simon und Olaf R. Spittel (Hrsg.): Science-fiction in der DDR. Autoren und Werke; ein Lexikon. Verlag Das Neue Berlin, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-360-00185-0, S. 273–275, S. 332–333
 Walter Tölg (Bearb.): Bibliographie: 1946–1982. Verlag Neues Leben Berlin, 1983, S. 417–418.
 Erik Simon: Weise, Lothar. In: Lexikon der Science Fiction-Literatur seit 1900. Mit einem Blick auf Osteuropa. Herausgegeben von Christoph F. Lorenz, Peter Lang, Frankfurt/Main 2016, ISBN 978-3-63167-236-5, S. 557–558.

Weblinks

Autor
Literatur (20. Jahrhundert)
Literatur (Deutsch)
DDR-Literatur
Science-Fiction-Literatur
Roman, Epik
Kurzgeschichte
Erzählung
DDR-Bürger
Deutscher
Geboren 1931
Gestorben 1966
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Presentation An elderly woman, with a history of lung cancer presents with vague pain in the abdomen. However, she reports a single episode of severe excruciating pain in the right upper quadrant [RUQ] one week earlier.
Caption: Transverse scan of the RUQ.
Description: The gallbladder is distended and filled with sludge. An irregular serpingineous echogenic structure is seen alongside one of the walls. Also noted are multiple tiny echogenic foci alongside the opposite wall, suggestive of calculi.
Description: The distended gallbladder is seen, showing the echogenic septa alongside both walls extending into the lumen. These septa either represent the sloughed mucosal lining-a sequel to the patient's episode of acute cholecystitis one week prior or adherent sludge.
Caption: Magnified view of the gallbladder lumen.
Description: The distended gallbladder, luminal sludge and the irregular echogenic lining on the near wall are depicted much more clearly in this image.
Caption: Color Doppler image of the gallbladder.
Description: No increased vascularity is noted within the gallbladder wall.
Discussion The case shown here demonstrates one of the signs associated with perforation of the gallbladder, a life threatening complication. The other complications of an acutely inflamed gallbladder include peritonitis, abscess formation, ascending cholangitis, empyema formation and conversion to emphysematous or gangrenous cholecystitis.
Subsequent ischemia and necrosis, resulting in a perforation of the gallbladder.
A discontinuity or defect in the gallbladder wall at the site of perforation.
Serpiginous intraluminal membranes due to sloughed mucosal lining.
One or more hypoechoic or complex heterogeneous masses adjacent to the gallbladder, representing peri-cholecystic fluid collections or abscesses.
A recent report by Konno, et al emphasizes the significance of color Doppler in detecting the defect in the gallbladder wall as a flow signal passing through the perforated site.
The case illustrated here shows irregular, linear echogenic material along the gallbladder wall, which raises a suspicion for sloughed mucosa. However, adherent or linear sludge can also create this appearance and pathologic proof is lacking in this case. No fluid collections were seen in the area around the gallbladder, so the ultrasound did not specifically suggest perforation but in the presence of a sloughed lining it should be considered a possibility. A CT scan performed the following day, after the patient experienced another episode of severe right upper quadrant pain, showed the defects in the gallbladder wall due to perforation. Ultrasound and CT findings are almost comparable in the detection of perforation, although certain studies find CT to be superior.
Case References 1. Wales LR. Desquamated gallbladder mucosa: unusual sign of cholecystitis. AJR. 1982 Oct; 139: 810.
2. Forsberg L, Andersson R, et al. Ultrasonography and gallbladder perforation in acute cholecystitis. Acta Radiol. 1988 Mar-Apr; 29(2):203-5.
3. Madrazo BL, Francis I, et al. Sonographic findings in perforation of the gallbladder. AJR. 1982 Sep; 139(3):491-6.
4. Sood BP, Kalra N, et al. Role of sonography in the diagnosis of gallbladder perforation. J Clin Ultrasound. 2002 Jun; 30(5):270-4.
5. Konno K, Ishida H, et al. Gallbladder perforation: color Doppler findings. Abdom Imaging. 2002 Jan-Feb; 27(1):47-50.
6. Lameris JS, Jeekel J, et al. Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy. ROFO Fortschr Geb Rontgenstr Nuklearmed. 1985 Jan; 142(1):80-2.
7. Jurkovich GJ, Dyess DL, et al. Cholecystostomy. Expected outcome in primary and secondary biliary disorders. Am Surg. 1988 Jan; 54(1):40-4.
Follow Up One day following the ultrasound, the patient started to complain of severe pain in the RUQ and a contrast enhanced CT scan was performed, which showed at least two areas of break in the gallbladder wall and a 4 cm pericholecystic collection compatible with perforated cholecystitis. Surgery was deferred due to the associated co-morbid conditions and ultrasound guided cholecystostomy was performed. Three hundered ml of purulent bilious fluid was drained. The gallbladder was opacified with a very small amount of contrast, which however, did not show the sites of rupture. The patient`s symptoms gradually resolved.


Blog | Sheralven Enterprises Ltd.
Issue No. 74 May 16, 2018 - HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG FOR A FIRST PERFUME?
Issue No. 39 December 28, 2016 - DOES PERFUME ACTUALLY EVER EXPIRE?
Issue No. 30 August 24, 2016 - IS THIS THE FUTURE OF HOW WE BUY FRAGRANCE?
Issue No. 25 June 15, 2016 - Does Your Quirky Personality Actually Predispose You to a Fragrance?
Issue No. 22 May 4, 2016 - WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FRAGRANCE, AND HOW DO YOU WEARIT?
Issue No. 18 March 10, 2016 - WHAT FRAGRANCE IS BEST IN WINTER?
Issue No. 6 September 16, 2015 - HOW LONG DOES FRAGRANCE LAST?


Dwayne Johnson's upcoming Big Trouble in Little China revival will be a "continuation" rather than a remake of the John Carpenter classic.
Greg Pak and Daniel Bayliss are combining the two John Carpenter franchises for a comic book crossover from BOOM! Studios.
Wang meets Miao Yin's husband in "Big Trouble in Little China," the final issue of "Adventure Time with Fionaa & Cake" & many more.
Jack crashes a sorcerers' convention in "Big Trouble in Little China," Snake & Johnny duke it out in "Escape from New York," and many more.
The revered filmmaker tells CBR News about his creative renaissance in the comic book sphere, creating new worlds and revisiting familiar ones.
Jack heads to a sorcery convention in "Big Trouble in Little China," it's finals week in "Giant Days," plus "Adventure Time" & more from BOOM!.
"The Fiction" comes to a thrilling conclusion, April repairs a friendship between mermaids in "Lumberjanes," plus many more from BOOM! Studios.


text:
Disability Life
2022 Year End Review: Which Movies and TV Shows Aged Like Milk?
Which recent movies and TV shows have aged like milk (and which have only gotten better)?
Dec 26, 2022 • 17 min read
Images courtesy of AMC Networks, Marvel/Disney+, Netflix, and 20th Century Studios
Warning for spoilers for the respective movies and shows named. Read at your own risk.
While fully aware that the year end roundup is a great way to phone in an article during the time when one would rather be stuffing one's face with Chinese Food and arguing over which is the superior Sesame Street Christmas special (it's Christmas Eve on Sesame Street and I will FIGHT YOU), on the other hand a friend of mine did ask me if WandaVision improved when knowing about Wanda's arc in Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. And honestly it does for that and other reasons besides, which I always meant to get into but could never figure out a good segue to do it.
Likewise there were movies and shows that either aged better or poorly with time and I feel like it's valid to talk about that too.
I could stick to just a year but since this is the first time we're doing it - and also the entire point is to include WandaVision - I'm doing all the pop culture things I've covered on the site since its inception. For each one I've either linked to the review (in the case of movies) or the first article in the series (in the case of WandaVision which was even before we were doing regular analysis on this site! Were we ever so young? Gosh.)
I'm making the obvious exception for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse because obviously that only gets better with time and we all know it.
So! That being said, let's talk about the last couple of years in the TV and movies that we talked about here on ol' TBQ Talks (or I talked and y'all listened and that was quite spiffy of you, thanks!). Which ones of these aged like fine wine, aged like milk, or pretty much stayed the same?
Let's begin with the best. And note everything under each category is in reverse chronological order, it's not a ranking in any way.
Movies and Shows That Got Better With Age
AMC's Interview With the Vampire
I realize it's still early days but honestly everything I've seen with AMC's Interview With the Vampire, except for the annoyingly long name, proves it's one of the quality shows of the year. I don't want to pull up the "I can excuse racism…" meme because no, I in no way excuse the racist aspects of the show. But one of the things we do on this site is respect all levels of production (shameless plug alert!). So when I call out the racism that goes to the producer and to the writing that put it into the show. It doesn't go to cast, crew, props, set design, and of course costumes. Everything there was firing on all cylinders, and the more I look into what was going on in there the more it's clear a lot of high quality work was done.
So yes, gets better with age even though there is a very sternly written "See me after class" on the top of this particular report because no, seriously, get better on the racial stuff. A good start would be getting more people of color in the director's chair and writers room. Just saying.
Poor Moon Knight. The fans of the comic character are basically edgelords who fall over themselves to condemn the show because it's not like the comics omg! And in the meanwhile none of them can even name a particular comic run they'd like it to be because guess what? Moon Knight in the comics is all over the damn place! It's not like Martha Wayne and her freaking pearls. There's no way to do the Moon Knight story for the MCU because there isn't a Moon Knight story in the 616!
(I refuse to say the MCU is 616, refuse.)
Meanwhile people are sleeping on one of the best shows in the MCU Disney+ slate and I stand by that. I keep rewatching, looking at pictures of the costumes up close, learning about how it was made, and the thing I keep saying over and over is "Did nobody tell them they were a Disney+ show? Because this is a lot of work for a Disney+ show."
The directing, the costumes, the props, the layers upon layers in the story - seriously I've yet to do a rewatch or look at a screencap and not find some new level of detail that has me muttering "Oh you assholes" at how much work was put in. Everything from the choices of books on Steven's shelves, the locations listed on the postcards by the fishtank (which clue you in as to who was actually sending those postcards if you pay attention to other times locations are mentioned), the hieroglyphics on the costumes that basically only Oscar Isaac would see during filming but they're still there - GAH. All that and more. Seriously. You were a Disney+ show. How did you get away with this?
(My legit guess is that since Moon Knight isn't as popular a character they managed to fly under the radar and put in a good show without too many studio notes getting in their way.)
Sure I still wish Oscar Isaac had been a teensy bit better at differentiating Steven and Marc in his physicality but on the other hand, counterpoint: a giant talking hippo is canon. It's a fair exchange.
So yeah, stand by my review, stand by my belief that it's one of the best MCU Disney+ shows, would not cry at all if we get a second season in my Christmas stocking.
The one for whom this article was created. When I wrote the review of the finale there were a few things that I hated. First up was Monica's line about how they wouldn't know what Wanda gave up and that line continues to belong right in the shitter. No question, no change in opinion there.
But the other two things were how rushed the finale was and also the issue that the show didn't seem to have a point of view on if Wanda was the hero or the villain. As I wrote, far as I could see Agatha was the hero since she's the one who ultimately got Wanda to set Westview free.
With time we had two things that helped out my feelings about the show. The first was finding out, both in interviews after the show aired and from some helpful industry birdies whispering in my ear, that the finale got screwed hardcore by Covid. It was meant to be two episodes and instead it was one, and it was meant to have more time to work on it and wooo boy did that not happen.
Which means that as far as quality is concerned we had people who were very qualified - and we can see that from how amazing the costumes, sets, and much of the writing and directing was - who were put into an impossible to win situation. And I always, always, always give a fair shake when bad situations happen to good people. So as far as I'm concerned the slate is wiped clean on the rushed nature of the finale, all is forgiven.
Not Monica's line, but the rushed parts that made the finale so bad.
As for Wanda, the answer is yes: Multiverse of Madness shows that we weren't supposed to come out of this thinking Wanda was one of the good guys. Now Multiverse of Madness had its own issues up to and including that the director didn't bother to watch the show to understand Wanda's motivations. But that'd be for a review on Multiverse of Madness. We're just focusing on WandaVision here. That Wanda's next step was to evolve into the big bad of a film means that her crimes in Westview are being treated as crimes. That's all I wanted.
So yes, WandaVision got better with age, goes up there as one of the best MCU Disney+ shows.
Insert your own Bruno joke here but this movie was one of the best of the year last year and it gets better with every watch. I know it's disheartening whenever Disney wins another Oscar but damn did this movie deserve it. Much like with Moon Knight, the level of detail put into the animation, the costumes, the characters, the music, the songs, the story - GAH. So good. Only gets better with multiple rewatches so you can pick up how much work was put in. Love it.
Movies and Shows That Stayed the Same
I feel like Hawkeye should take the first position here, in spite of my reverse chronological order, because its the standard of solid quality for the MCU Disney+ shows. Ms Marvel certainly stepped up to that plate. It was a show with a lot of heart and love for the character, which is exactly what you need for a show starring Kamala Khan. Sure some set pieces weren't as good as they could be (the chase sequence) but they aimed high and get credit for trying. It was a solid effort and remains solid.
As I said, the standard bearer of a good MCU Disney+ show. Not a great one, but you need a touchstone for good as well. It wasn't trying to be groundbreaking, it wasn't trying to do anything complicated, and honestly that's okay. I'm not damning with faint praise here or anything! There's something to be said for taking in everything you have in terms of time and resources and figuring out how to do a consistent B effort rather than overshoot, maybe hit an A+, but tumble and get F the rest of the time, you know? It's not a show I'd personally feel called upon to rewatch but I don't regret the time I spent with it at all.
Speaking of up and down effort. Though some episodes of What If…? did better than others, I think on the whole we can say the show was what it intended to be, which is to say a cute idea for a cartoon series that is otherwise meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Which is okay! It's what I thought the show was going to be going into it! And I suspect people who are bitter about the show and Phase Four of the MCU are in part bitter because they had unreasonable expectations of what Phase Four was supposed to be. When the trailers for Multiverse of Madness came out there were people losing their minds because omg Captain Carter! Strange Supreme! And I sat there sipping my soda and going nope. Not the same ones. I can tell you that for free right now.
And sure enough: not the same Captain Carter! Not actually any form of Strange Supreme! Because you can't make movies that way. You can't hinge what you're hoping to make millions in dollars in profit on whether or not people have watched forty minutes worth of cartoons on a streaming service that's not even available in all countries! Even all the people who could watch the show still didn't care enough to do it!
So yeah. Fun little idea but that's all it is. Which is fine! I'll still watch season two. I'm torn on if I'll analyze it but the quality of season one remains the same as far as I'm concerned.
I suspect Falcon and the Winter Soldier would've been the B effort standard bearer instead of Hawkeye if not for covid. It might've even been up in WandaVision and Moon Knight territory.
I know I'm one of the few people who consider this one of the good MCU Disney+ shows, but I still stand by it. Again, the key is that I don't hold bad events against good people. Falcon and the Winter Soldier was screwed hard by covid shutdown. They basically had to throw a solid chunk of their plans for the show right into the trash, and the majority of those plans involved scenes with the Flag Smashers. So yeah, they ended up with an enemy who lacked motivation and depth and had to do their best with it.
But it was a good show. They clearly had people working on it who cared about things above and beyond the normal (compare the costumes and color story on Hawkeye, which were okay and non-existent respectively, with Falcon and the Winter Soldier which went above and beyond with both). It's a shame we won't get to see the version of the show they wanted to make, but I keep a fond spot in my heart for the show we got. Sue me.
Tick, Tick… Boom!
Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut was and remains a solid effort. Though there were some moments you could tell were first-timer nerves (it's okay to keep the camera still! I promise!) it continues to be a perfect matchup of director and story.
I continue not to be a fan of Jonathan Larson in real or fictional form, but damn if Andrew Garfield didn't knock it out of the park. I rewatch the songs, not the movie, and feel pretty good about that decision.
A successful introduction of new characters and some much needed Asian representation in the MCU. I continue to like how they realized the core story should be about family with the required fight and CGI sequences built around that. It doesn't redefine excellence the way that Black Panther did, but it's a solid effort and much better than many of the movies starring white male protagonists, let's be real now. Still think Awkwafina's character stayed long past her welcome but it's still a fun superhero intro movie all the same.
Considering the strangeness of putting a flashback movie into Phase Four in the first place, Black Widow was better than it had any right to be. If I was putting these in terms of quality and not reverse chronology this movie would definitely be higher on the list. There were a lot of details put in that most movies would skim past ( for example, I continue to love how Yelena's white outfit didn't fit her because it wasn't hers). It was also much needed female representation with female characters actually having agency.
For me, much like all the movies in this section, there wasn't anything that came with time that made me feel better about the movie than when I started, but the flip side is that Black Widow came out of the gate very good. So it being in this section is more about the solid quality from start to finish than anything else. No shame in this game at all.
I continue to be surprised that this movie didn't do better than it did. The fact that it didn't do great at the box office wasn't a surprise. There was still a pandemic going on. Its success should never have hinged on getting butts in seats.
That being said it's a good little movie! They improved on the stage show, in my not so humble opinion, and made a great musical film. Certainly a much better Latine rep film than other movies we're going to mention, believe you me.
I wouldn't say it had the same level of quality where you're noticing amazing details every time you rewatch, but for me it does have a certain "Aw, really? That's a shame." feeling about it that Moon Knight does. People made advance judgements and let this one slip past them. Their loss.
Movies and Shows that Aged Like Milk
Quick: name your favorite line from She-Hulk!
Yeah, you can't, can you?
Putting aside the giant what the actual FUCK that yes, I still have over how the supposedly sex positive show made its protagonist the victim of multiple sex crimes, we are still left with the problem that the show that was also supposed to be a sitcom wasn't actually funny.
C'mon, name something! We all liked Madisynn but can you recall a line of hers other than that she called Wong "Wongers"? How about Jen? Anything she ever said that was funny - heck even memorable - other than that she banged Matt Murdock and confirming Captain America fucks?
Forget dialogue then, how about physical comedy? Boy we all sure remember the moment in the Daredevil hallway scene when Jen as Shulkie came in and… there was a thing, right? There had to be something funny that happened with Jen and smashing or something, right?
I hate so much that I hate this show because of course the same edgelord assholes who hate Moon Knight for not being all dark and gore and blood and murder came out of the gate as hating this because it was a female protagonist. I don't want to share anything in common with these people! But oh sweet god was this show bad and only gets worse with time.
Because with time you realize things like oh yeah, nothing was particularly funny in the comedy show. And yeah, again, victim of sex crimes but sure the thing Jen's going to worry about most when effectively talking to god is to ask when the X-Men are coming. Why the fuck not?
And then the longer you linger on it the more you realize how problematic the attempts at feminism in this show were, how problematic even the non-sex crime parts of Jen's sex life were, the utter waste of Jameela Jamil and Renée Elise Goldsberry, and on and on and on.
I mean honestly the best thing to do about She-Hulk is to stop thinking about it. If you have any fond memories at all they're only going to tarnish the more you give them air. Let's dump this one in with the giant statue in the middle of the ocean and pretend we never saw it.
C'mon, you already know this one. The browns don't even match. This show is the anti-Moon Knight and anti-Encanto in that the more you look at it the more you discover was completely and utterly awful. The disrespect shown to the audience (and, I'm guessing, the crew who wasn't given what they need to do their best work) is badly sewn seams all the way down.
But beyond that the thing that is so absurd about Loki that I almost swing right back around to admiring is that the thing people like about the show doesn't exist! That has only been proven with time!
Because come on, what was people's big excitement about with Loki? Multiverse! Kang! MCU BLOWN WIDE OPEN!!!
Except… we've had three movies so far involving the multiverse and none of them mention Loki.
Not the show, not the TVA, not even a passing "Huh where's all these multiverses coming from?"
And if you're scratching your head and going wait, three? Yeah, three. Because Far From Home introduced the concept before Loki aired and nobody in the movie or the audience batted an eye. Because Loki isn't needed to explain why multiverses exist! The MCU is a comic series! Nobody in this genre needs a reason for the multiverse to exist anymore than we need one for why there are flying people who shoot beams from their hands! We're already on board! Move on!
There is fuck all Loki the show did for the MCU and even less that it did for the character. Oh, Loki had a sad life and does things that are good and bad morally speaking? Cool, we sure as heck didn't establish that in all the movies he's been in so far or anything.
Bisexual and gender rep? Okay small point of credit there except other than blink and you'll miss it on a form and a single line it's not actually there. The concept of a female Loki shouldn't be considered weird by the other Lokis and we never see any of the Lokis show same sex attraction.
And as for Kang, I mean maybe the next Ant-Man movie will prove me wrong and suddenly needing to have seen Loki season one will be key buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut I'm not holding my breath here. Three movies, people. Three and we haven't needed it yet. Highly doubt fourth time will be the charm.
Now maybe the new production team for Loki season two (which includes people from Moon Knight - not the best people from Moon Knight, but Moon Knight all the same) will up the quality and thus retroactively make season one better. Westworld season four managed to do it for Westworld season three so stranger things have happened. But right here and now? Big fat nope. It can sit in the shame corner with She-Hulk.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA nobody besides me remembers this show even existed. End of discussion.
I've already set records on this site for how long I went on about how bad this movie was. So all I'm going to add for the many reasons why it continues to get worse with time is imagine you could have had Rachel Zelger singing Somewhere and you actively chose not to. Enough said.
Mitchells vs the Machines
Mitchells vs the Machines is probably the standard bearer here in the bad way in that I actually started out sort of liking the movie. But the longer I had to sit with it the more I realized it wasn't a good film. The father/daughter relationship in particular is awful. The blame for the rift between them is placed far too much on the daughter's shoulders with no acknowledgement that the father is the adult and the parent. It's on him to keep reaching out to his kid, not her to assuage his sadness that she's getting older.
If the movie had in any way acknowledged that he's actually kind of an asshole - case in point making it a much bigger deal that he broke her computer and never replaced it - I might've been okay with it. I mean Encanto is entirely about adults having difficulty raising children without emotional problems on all generational levels. But no. We're supposed to feel sorry for the dad and glad when he gets his "win" that deep down she's still his little girl.
Meh. Started out liking it, with time kinda hated it. It's a shame.
It's never a good sign when what's supposed to be a big tentpole movie is, in and of itself, the "We Don't Talk About Bruno" of the MCU. Except part of the joke of "Bruno" is that they do talk about him. Eternals was the Avatar of the MCU: never made a blip culturally and even in the MCU the best gasp of life it had after the theaters was a blink and you'll miss it Easter egg on She-Hulk. God help anything where She-Hulk is your post airing highlight.
The only kind thing we can say about Eternals is that it's just there. At least it wasn't offensive, it was boring. Unfortunate.
This is a little bit cheating since I covered these for paid members, but I do want to acknowledge the ups and downs of other things that got attention the past couple of years. So, to be fair to both the shows and to the people paying for the extras, I'm just going to quickly touch on them and that's it.
Better With Age:
Turning Red: especially in comparison to Mitchells vs the Machines
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey: music, story, and costumes continue to hold up
The Harder They Fall: Costumes and acting remain top tier
Marvel's MODOK: especially in comparison to other attempts at animation and humor in the MCU
Kevin Can F Himself: Season two helped ease narrative worries that arose in season one
Arcane: Insanely good show with repeated viewings rewarding you with all the extra details
Hip-Hop Nutcracker: I hate the reason why but as far as I know it's the last thing Stephen "tWitch" Boss ever performed. Rest in peace, man.
Stayed The Same:
Wendell and Wild: I have some issues with it but those are counterbalanced by how it handled some things better than other shows (Claudia on IWTV vs Kat on Wendell and Wild, for example) so arguably better with age but just weak enough on some things I'm leaving it in this section
Westworld: Another one with up and down quality but season four improved season three and honestly it's good to know we don't have to worry about season five. So my review of it stands as is.
Kids in the Hall: A resurrection of an old property that didn't make me cringe! Still glad they did it and that I watched it
The Sandman: Solid quality though with iffy handling of some things, so again I stand by my review
The Legend of Vox Machina: I stand by my review and now I'm stepping away before fans find out I talked about it and try to kill me for blinking in its direction.
With Love: Sadly one of the weakest entries but at least it didn't get worse with time so I'm okay with leaving it here.
Aged Like Milk:
Wonder Woman 84: A hot mess which gets worse the more you think about it.
The Suicide Squad: The instant the spectacle is done you realize how badly put together it was. Assuming you didn't figure that out while you were watching.
And that's it! It's nice to be able to revisit things and give them a fair shake one way or another. Thanks to all of you for joining for the Pop Culture ride so far. Let's see what 2023 brings us!
Enjoy the site? Help keep it running and get more content with a Ghost or Ko-Fi membership!
Episode Analysis The Last of Us: Please Hold to My Hand
The fourth episode of HBO's The Last of Us demonstrates how well the show continues to tell a story that is not about an apocalypse.
Paid-members only
Behind the Scenes: January 2023
Pet Pics January 2023 Part 2
TBQ Talks © 2023
Disclaiimer
Donate (Ko-Fi)
Monthly Memberships


The 1876 Democratic National Convention assembled in St. Louis just nine days after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention in Cincinnati.
This was the first political convention held west of the Mississippi River. St. Louis was notified in February 1876 that it had been selected. Among the events was a fireworks display from the top of the Old Courthouse.
The convention was called to order by Democratic National Committee chairman Augustus Schell. Henry Watterson served as the temporary convention chairman and General John A. McClernand served as permanent convention president.
The 12th Democratic National Convention assembled in St. Louis in June 1876. Five thousand people jammed the auditorium in St. Louis, hoping for the Democrats' first presidential victory in 20 years. The platform called for immediate and sweeping reforms following the scandal-plagued Grant administration. Tilden won more than 400 votes on the first ballot and the nomination by a landslide on the second.
Tilden defeated Thomas A. Hendricks, Winfield Scott Hancock, William Allen, Thomas F. Bayard, and Joel Parker for the presidential nomination. Although Tilden was strongly opposed by "Honest John" Kelly, the leader of New York's Tammany Hall, he was still able to obtain the nomination. It is claimed that Tilden's nomination was received by the voting Democrats with more enthusiasm than any leader since Andrew Jackson.
Source: Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held in St. Louis, Mo., June 27th, 28th and 29th, 1876. (September 3, 2012).
Thomas Hendricks was the only individual nominated for vice-president, and received the nomination almost unanimously on the first ballot. The delegation from Ohio had thought of offering the name of one of her distinguished sons, Henry B. Payne. However, the feeling of unanimity was so great that the Ohio delegation declined to present his name and seconded the nomination of Hendricks. But when the roll call vote took place, Ohio cast 8 blank ballots.
The Democratic platform pledged to replace the corruption of the Grant administration with honest, efficient government and to end "the rapacity of carpetbag tyrannies" in the South; called for treaty protection for naturalized U.S. citizens visiting their homeland, restrictions on Oriental immigration, and tariff reform; and opposed land grants to railroads.


Who will win the game? Thats simply the answer that sports bettors are trying to find with regards to sports betting. Such question occurs for that undeniable fact that most sports books conveniently place numbers on the game to be able to equalize betting on both sides, thus making your job of choosing the winning team more difficult. Well, that is what you call as "sports betting handicapping".
To make every thing clear for you personally, the term "sports betting handicapping" actually means practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other edge provided to different contestants to make odds of winning fair. Also, the term may be used on the different approaches by which the advantage is analyzed and calculated, as well as towards the methods through which the bettors can predict the outcome of the sporting event they may be betting on.
So thats said. Now, winning at sports betting together with your handicapping skills is not that easy. It doesnt imply that although youre a handicapper, the betting outcome is on your side. The truth of the matter is, most casual and professional bettors dont make a profit using their sports betting handicapping hobby. So if you're just content with betting for entertainment purposes only, then this article will serve little purpose. However, if you need to be a successful handicapper or sports bettor and generate profit from your wins, then here are some of the secrets that may help you in this special quest.
To be successful in your sports betting handicapping job, the first thing that you should note is not to bet into bad numbers. So whenever possible, try to shop for the available sports betting handicapping lines at the sports books you might be registered with. Carefully examine and analyze the lines, and figure out which direction the line is likely to move. Several sports books are actually available online and offline, so better do that task and search for the best numbers before you place your bets.
Most of the professional sports betting handicappers make the majority of their sports bets as straight bets and not as parlays. Well, the reason for this lies on the notion that straight bets on sports betting would be the bread and butter, so its no surprise that professionals are typically content with the return on investment from a 3-2 day, or perhaps a 12-8 week. They have recognized that although the parlays provide quick score, a season which is largely composed of steady 2-1 type days is going to be even more profitable than the big hits that the parlays offer. This is true even during a good overall season. So when considering sports betting handicapping, make more straight bets and do fewer parlays.
One of the common mistakes that most amateur sports betting handicappers make, and probably the priciest, is the fact that betting their streaks without thinking for whatever possibilities may occur. They just press their losses, thus raising the stakes to get back to even off a losing streak. Well, if you wish to be successful in your sports betting handicapping, you should remember that there will be times when you lose more than you win. That can happen to everybody, which means you are not an exemption. Therefore, instead of raising the stakes if you're ever losing, it is advisable to lower it. Consider your bankroll while waiting for circumstances to turn around. To put it simply, dont chase your losses.


text:
Family/boomer calendar
Events for families and boomers for May 4-11
Family/boomer calendar Events for families and boomers for May 4-11 Check out this story on poughkeepsiejournal.com: http://pojonews.co/1q2up0f
POU Published 12:00 a.m. ET May 4, 2014 | Updated 12:10 a.m. ET May 4, 2014
webkey Families(Photo: Chris Cusumano)
SUNY New Paltz College concerts — Max & Nadia Shepard Recital Hall, New Paltz. 3 p.m. May 4, Collegium Musicum ensemble for early music. 8 p.m. May 6, Concert Choir and College-Community Chorale. For tickets, call 845-257-2700.
Saugerties Pro Musica Concert — Saugerties United Methodist Church, Saugerties. 3 p.m. May 4, Prometheus Brass plays a mix of classical, traditional and pop music. For tickets, call 845-679-5733. www.saugertiespromusica.org
New Paltz Musicales Concert series — Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, 90 Route 32 South, New Paltz. 3 p.m. May 4, Mountain Laurel Chamber Group and the Mountain Laurel Recorder Ensemble. 10, donation. Reception follows. 845-255-0051.
Benefit concert — Changepoint Church, 26- Mill St., Poughkeepsie. 4 p.m. May 4, "Love Notes" concert presented by Mid-Hudson Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ). Performances by Changepoint Church Worship Band, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Bell Choir, Spirit of Unity, Bethel Missionary Bapist Church Gospel Choir and Mime Group, Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church Choir, Pure Joy and two sets of praise dances. $10. www.mid-hudsonloveinc.org
The Rhinebeck Choral Club spring concerts — 3 p.m. May 4, The Rhinebeck Choral Club, under the direction of Cassie Leonard, will present its spring concerts. The guest artist will be Evergreen Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, under the direction of Carole Argulewicz. $10, adults; $8, students. For Information call 845-849-5865 or visit http://www.rhinebeckchoralclub.org/Welcome.html
Swing dance — Arlington Reformed Church, 22 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie. May 4. Free dance to the music of Crazy Feet. Beginner lesson at 6 p.m. with dance at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by Hudson Valley Community Dances. 845-454-2571.
Bard College concert — Bard College, Sosnoff Theater, Annandale. 8 p.m. May 7. Bard College Symphonic Chorus. 845-758-7900.
College concert — Ulster County Community College, Stone Ridge. 7:30 p.m. May 7. Community Band and Jazz Ensemble. Free. 845-687-5262.
Poughkeepsie High School class of 1968 reunion — Coppola's Ristorante, Route 9, Hyde Park. The Poughkeepsie High School class of 1968 will have a reunion July 19. Buffet dinner is $24 per person. There will be a cash bar. Reservations deadline is June 30. Contact pokhighclassof68@gmail.com for more information or call 941-721-7271.
Roosevelt High School classes of 1963/1964 reunion — The Franklin D. Roosevelt classes of 1963/1964 will celebrate 50th reunions Sept. 19-20. An informal gathering will be held 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Alloy's Restaurant, Poughkeepsie. The formal party will be held 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Dutchess Golf Club, Poughkeepsie. Reservations deadline is Sept. 13. Class of 1963 members contact Craig Goldstein, 845-883-9470 or email 845-883-9470 dockman1@optonline.net Class of 1964 members contact Lorie Sadowski Buckley, 845-797-0729 or email lorie@jbuckleycpa.com
Hudson Valley Fair — Dutchess Stadium, 1500 Route 9D, Fishkill. 1- 11 p.m. May 4. Family-friendly fair includes free live entertainment and shows, carnival midway, food, games, petting zoo, camel and pony rides and more. Tickets are $7 per person; $5 optional wristband for unlimited rides, special discounts on website; www.hudsonvalleyfair.com
League of Extraordinary Readers series — Oblong Books & Music, 6420 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck. 4 p.m. May 4, The League of Extraordinary Readers is a monthly author event series for kids ages 8-12. This month's program features Jennifer Donnelly, author of "Deep Blue." 845-876-0500.
Open Days Program Garden Tour — Cedar Heights Orchard, 7 Crosby Lane, Rhinebeck. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 4, Explore three private gardens in Red Hook, Rhinebeck, and Wappingers Falls, open to the public for self-guided tours to benefit the Garden Conservancy. No reservations required; rain or shine. Begin at Cedar Heights Orchard or see website for additional locations. Highlights include a dramatic waterfall, spring bulbs, acres of apple orchards, multiple ponds, and an extensive rock garden of alpine plants. $5 per garden; children 12 and under free. 888-842-2442.
Rummage sale — Vassar Temple, 140 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. May 4, Rummage Sales with a bag sale from 2-5 p.m. Items will include spring/summer clothing, household items, toys, books, jewelry. Only seasonal items in good condition. (No textbooks, computers, or TVs.) 845-454-2570.
Meeting for volunteers — Merritt Bookstore, 57 Front Street, Millbrook. 3:30 p.m. May 7, Meeting for volunteers to help organize the Millbrook Literary Festival. More volunteers welcome. The festival is scheduled for June 20-21. 845-677-5857.
Historian lecture — Taylor Hall, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie. 6 p.m. May 8, Historian and Vassar alumna Elizabeth Eisenstein will discuss the cultural impact of the printing press. Her presentation will be based on material from her most recent book, "Divine Art, Infernal Machine: The Reception of Printing in the West from First Impressions to the Sense of an Ending." She is professor emerita at the University of Michigan. Lecture is free. 845-437-5370.
Author discussion — Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff. 6:30 p.m. May 9, Rosary O'Neill will give a talk on her latest book, "New Orleans Carnival Krewes: The History, Spirit, and Secrets of Mardi Gras." She will speak on research for this book, her journey and writing process. Followed by audience Q & A and a book signing. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds from book sales at this event will benefit the library. 845-876-2903.
Gluten-Free Living — LaGrange Association Library, 488 Freedom Plains Road (Route 55), Poughkeepsie. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. May 9, For those looking to embrace a gluten-free lifestyle, learn what it means to eat gluten-free and discover some great food alternatives and tasty recipes. Presented by Gluten-Free Educator Donna Filomino. 845-452-3141.
Read or Share this story: http://pojonews.co/1q2up0f
Giving back: Volunteer stories from Dutchess County


Connecting with family would have never been better without the help of our 'search expert', who provide you a perfectly researched family record. Your family record is safe in our hands.
Your Genealogy Search is made on April 24, 2019 @ 14:12:42 UTC. Searchmypast is private and secure.


Security professionals and armed security guards are hired to do one job above all else: protect others and their property from danger and harm. Yet, who can these security professionals turn to for protection, especially while they are on duty? Sadly, there are not many options that security professionals and armed security guards can rely on to have their backs and protect them – unless they have Security Guard Insurance from XINSURANCE, of course.
Going back all the way to the days of the Roman Empire, security professionals have been essential to keeping the peace and protecting important people from physical harm. Today, many security professionals and armed guards – including Secret Service officers, bodyguards, and bouncers – courageously put their own well being and personal reputation on the line in order to provide others with the safety they need. They are more often than not the first line of defense protecting presidents, ambassadors, or even your favorite celebrities and athletes. Even bouncers at bars or clubs play a critical role in making sure people are able to have a good time without being bothered by individuals who might be up to no good. These people are heroes almost on par with police officers and soldiers, yet rarely do they get the respect they more than deserve. In fact, many security professionals and armed security guards are prone to lawsuits in our world of sue-happy people, often being accused of negligence or using excessive force while simply trying to do their jobs and keep the peace. In many of these lawsuits, there are very few people willing to stand behind these security professionals and provide them with any kind of safety net.
If you have never heard of Security Guard Insurance before, it is most likely because not many insurance agencies make it readily available to those in the security industry. This is pretty unfortunate because these professionals risk their own lives day in and day out to provide outstanding protection to others. The point of someone having insurance is so they can have protection from whatever life might throw at them, yet people in such a high-risk role have little to no options or places to turn when they need help. Perhaps some agencies just consider it too much of a hassle to provide coverage to these heroes, or maybe they do not think the risks they take while on the job are worth insuring. As many people who work in security have come to realize, an umbrella insurance policy that most agencies offer falls well short of meeting their actual insurance needs. Whatever the case may be, it is good to know that the insurance experts at XINSURANCE will provide customized coverage to security professionals and armed security guards, as well as a host of other unique coverage options.
XINSURANCE was started to help fill in the exposed cracks that many other agencies fail to notice in today's litigious society. We provide users with the chance to find more specific kinds of coverage than just the standard home, auto, and umbrella insurance policies offered by everyone else. We go the extra step to provide coverage for specific vehicles, like ATV, motocross, boat, or commercial trucking. We offer coverage for a wide variety of lifestyles or career choices, such as roofing contractors, fitness instructors, and even those who professionally perform as Santa Claus. Bet you never realized your local Santa Claus had someone to provide them with liability coverage, huh? Of course, we also offer a Security Guard Insurance policy plan that is tough to beat.
Perhaps the best reason to sign up with XINSURANCE, besides the opportunity to easily live the life you want or partake in the activities you love, is our highly unique "All-in-One" approach to insurance. This approach will allow you the chance to get broader coverage with up to $10 million limits or higher through the help of reinsurance partners. We offer such customizable coverage because we want to perfectly tailor plans to provide coverage in the places that a person's homeowner or business insurance policy may not cover. Our goal as a business is to give you and your assets the 360-degree protection you rightfully deserve.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit our website to find the exact kind of Security Guard Insurance policy you never thought you could find before. Seriously, you will be shocked at how many things XINSURANCE offers coverage for. If it is easier, you can also reach any of our well-trained underwriters at (877) 585-2853 or by emailing info@xinsurance.com. All of our underwriters are experts at walking you through the various options we provide and are happy to answer any and all questions you may have. Do yourself a favor and lean on XINSURANCE to help minimize the risk in your life while maximizing the peace of mind.


Russell Hobbs Black Glass 18 Bottle Integrated Wine Cooler RHBI18WC1. (H)87.0 x (W)29.5 x (D)57.0. Aperture Dimensions: (H)87.5 x (W)30.0 x (D)59.0.
Package Dimensions: (H)91.0 x (W)32.5 x (D)63.0. Please contact the product care helpline on 0345 209 7461. You must have a valid mobile number on your account! You will be able to choose a day that suits you, and also add extra services such as installation and removal for an additional charge.
This will take you straight to your order and allow you to choose a suitable date. Please be aware that the advisor that takes your call may not specialise in the area you are asking about e.
We hope you have a pleasant experience shopping with us. The item "Russell Hobbs Black Glass 18 Bottle Integrated Wine Cooler RHBI18WC1" is in sale since Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
This item is in the category "Home, Furniture & DIY\Appliances\Fridges & Freezers\Wine Cabinets/Fridges". The seller is "electricalshop15" and is located in Hindley Green, Lancashire.


But some words, to me, are more important than others, particularly in regards to faith. In this realm, the stakes can be high, and also very much prone to mis-use and misunderstanding. I thought I'd spend some time here with some particular words that have may have drifted over the years. Now, these are good words: they are rich and full of meaning, but they have, in a variety of cases, been stolen, manipulated, abused and mis-communicated to the point where we are afraid of them, or just avoid them altogether.
The first word I'd like to look at is the word gospel. Now, this is a basic word, a "Faith 101" word. We think we know what it means, but it strikes me that maybe there are some nuances we might have missed over the years.
"Gospel" appears 95 times in the English New Testament. It's sprinkled through the four gospels (though, strangely, not in John's) and in the book of Acts. But it's Saint Paul who really goes to town with it: it pervades every single one of his letters; he constantly mentions the word.
In Greek "gospel" is the Greek euangelion, and that word had a particular use in the first century. Some people may be familiar with the definition "glad tidings", but what most people don't realize is that "gospel" was particularly used by the Roman empire to announce military and civic victories.
In other words, the first century already had a gospel, and it was decidedly Caesar's.
The word gospel was about who protected the world. Who provided ultimate peace and security for people who lived in the Roman kingdom.
What this does, however is bring another dimension to our use of the word as well: a dimension of victory and celebration, of faith and peace.
"Gospel" isn't only about grace versus the Law, it's about a victory. It's about who wins.
So, when Paul (and Mark as well) writes the word gospel he's doing at least two other things (besides talking about grace). First, he's drawing a contrast: the emphasis is on whose gospel. It's not Caesar's gospel, it's Jesus' gospel. Second (and relatedly), he's saying Jesus is the one who provides peace and security. Don't find security in the state, in the empire. Jesus is the one (the King) who provides for you.
The message of euangelion is that Jesus has won a victory, that he is King, and that he cares for his subjects. It's not only about "believe and go to heaven" (though that is a nice benefit), it's about a long-lasting existence in the Kingdom of Jesus.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged good news, gospel, words. Bookmark the permalink.
WOW!! Thank for sharing. I enjoy reading this blog….
Eric, I've followed your blogs for a while now. Thank you for this one about who gets the victory. I've been so concerned about the obvious fall of our nation that I have forgotten to whose kingdom I really belong. Paul lived in such a world. His world, relative to ours in America is similar. I'm still working out what I will do moving forward.


Ndamukong Suh could soon be in trouble again with the NFL. The league said that it would be reviewing the defensive lineman's controversial kick to Matt Schaub's groin after this weekend's games.
Ray Anderson, the NFL's vice-president of Football operations, said that the league reviews all controversial plays at the end of the week. Anderson said that Suh's kick drew the NFL's attention and will be reviewed.
The incident occurred in the first half of the Detroit Lion's game against the Houston Texans. Suh fell in front of QB Matt Schaub and kicked him in the groin. The NFL may rule that the kick was inadvertent but it wouldn't be surprising to see Suh fined or suspended for purposefully kicking Schaub.
The Washington Post reports that Suh was suspended for two games after last year's Thanksgiving game when he stomped on Green Bay Packers' Evan Dietrich-Smith.
Anderson added that Suh's past behavior could influence the NFL's decision.
What do you think? Did Ndamakong Suh purposefully kick Matt Schaub in the groin?


In what's likely to be remembered as one of the best Dallas shows of '09, Los Angeles' Health and Ohio's Times New Viking will share a bill in town before heading off to Austin for Fun Fun Fun Fest. And, for each of these acts, 2009 has already been a good year. For Times New Viking, 2009 has seen the band release its second post-Stiltbreeze Records album on Matador. Health, meanwhile, released Get Color as a follow-up to the band's brilliant 2007 self-titled debut. And since both bands' records have garnered enough positive reviews that they seem destined to pop up on many a best-albums-of-the-year list, it's fitting that the show would also feature a local act of the same caliber.
To help open the show, show promoter Parade of Flesh has booked Denton's Teenage Cool Kids, which has just returned to the region after a three-month international tour in support of Foreign Lands—the band's best work to date and a clear front-runner for best local release of 2009.
All three acts are known for their unforgettable, kinetic live shows, so the bill's already an explosive powder keg of a night even without adding Kiwi-pop/punk act Axemen.
Great night of live music at the Lounge on Elm Street in Dallas. Parade of Flesh presented Health, Times New Viking, The Axemen, and Teenage Cool Kids. Times New Viking was kind enough to do a post show photo session.


Well hello, Bette Midler, it's so nice to have you back where you belong.
The 71-year-old actress took a spill Thursday night during a Broadway performance of "Hello Dolly."
Fans were alarmed when Midler tumbled while onstage.
"An hour into @HelloDollyBway & a tech snafu has just led 2 the amazing @BetteMidler toppling off a moving platform," music critic Todd Simmons tweeted. "A literal show stopper."
Midler reportedly fell just before intermission, but returned to the stage later to resume her performance.
"She is amazing," one person tweeted. "Back on stage like a champ to thunderous applause!"
After her fall, the star tweeted to let everyone know she was well.
"You may hear I was in a little accident on stage tonight; two set pieces collided, I had to make a run for it, and I fell," she wrote. "But I'm fine."
Midler took home the Tony award for best leading actress in a musical for her role in "Hello Dolly" in June. In her acceptance speech, she called it "one of the greatest professional experiences of my entire life."