text:
Let's Go Green On Tuesday
On Tuesday night, October 1st, Trivia Night at The Mad Hatter (3rd Avenue and E. 26th Street) will feature "Green Trivia," seven questions that have something to do with the color green, in any way, shape or form.
The Q Train lightning round will be "Time Zones Trivia." I will give you the names of ten cities in North America, and you have to tell me which time zone they are located in (such as Eastern, Pacific, Mountain, etc.).
"Equatorial Guinea is a small country found on what continent?"
We get started at 8 PM on Tuesday night. We've had an upturn in the number of folks coming out for Trivia the last couple of weeks, so let's keep that trend going! Hope to see many of you this Tuesday night!
Yes, it was broken. And it was fixed. The faith was restored.
I never would guessed that the Red Sox would have won an amazing 97 games in 2013, after the complete disaster of the previous season. From worst to first.
They finished 28 games better than the previous year, the second-best turnaround in team history. (1946 was the best, 33 games better than in 1945.)
My prediction for this year? Allan at The Joy of Sox has Red Sox fans make their best guess just before the year begins, and I had the Sox winning 88. Only missed by 9.
But for me, the moment John Farrell became manager last October, I felt this team could very well be a contender. The nucleus of a very good team was still there, and I thought that they needed the top of the rotation to come through (and they did), and go back to what I call "The 2003 Playbook", bring in underappreciated veterans the way Theo Epstein did in 2003 with Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Todd Walker and David Ortiz. Except this time, Ben Cherington did it with Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew, and Koji Uehara.
It has been such an enjoyable year to be a Red Sox fan. No matter what happens from here on, it has been a year we will all look back on with fondness. I guess we had to go through a year of torment to come out shining on the other side.
And we thank Ben Cherington and John Farrell for making that happen, and restoring hope and dignity to being a Red Sox fan once again.
Now on to the playoffs.
They Suckered Me In
I haven't talked about football much since the Red Sox are having such a wonderful season, and heading towards the ALDS.
I really had high hopes for the Minnesota Vikings this season. They ended 2012 very strong, with four straight wins and a playoff berth. I liked the draft they had (although you can't judge a draft on any level until a full season has been played), and made some nice free agent acquisitions (I especially liked them getting Greg Jennings from rival Green Bay).
I thought this club had made the move to the next level, and might very well be a Super Bowl contender.
An 0-3 start. A dreadful loss to one of the NFL's worst teams in their home opener (Cleveland). Two losses in the final minute due a very porous defense. And now their starting quarterback, the much maligned Christian Ponder, takes a seat this Sunday in London due to a rib injury. It looks like Matt Cassel, signed over the summer from Kansas City, will get the QB start.
The defense has been simply putrid, allowing 96 points in the first three games. Only the Giants and Redskins have allowed more in the first three weeks.
Somehow, I don't think this is the way Leslie Frazier and his staff drew up the start of this season. After the Vikings started 0-2, I heard about the long odds of any team making the postseason with that record (although the Giants won the Super Bowl a couple of years ago starting out 0-2). And it seemed to most folks that beating the Cleveland Browns was a lock, but that lock fell apart, as the Browns scored a TD in the final 51 seconds to hand the Vikings a 31-27 loss.
Very few teams have made the playoffs starting out 0-3, the last being the 1998 Buffalo Bills. The Vikings right now are across the pond and will play the equally-inept Pittsburgh Steelers at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. To say this is a must-win game goes without saying.
I always check out The Daily Norseman for Vikings news.
And I'll be checking it out on NFL RedZone on Sunday. Hoping for the best, and expecting the worst.
At least the MLB postseason is about to begin.
Top Seed Still In Play
OK, the Red Sox won't reach the 100-win mark, as the Rockies beat the Sox, 8-3, at Coors Field last night.
Now, the best the Red Sox can finish with is 99 wins, if they take the remaining four games. That would match the best finish since 1978. Not that big a deal really. But what still remains a big deal is the Red Sox earning the number one spot in the AL playoffs, and currently they lead the Oakland A's by just one game. The red-hot A's were cooled off in Anaheim last night by the Angels, 3-0. Both teams have four games left.
The AL best record gets the Wild Card game winner, and second place will play the Detroit Tigers. You have to figure that the Wild Card game winner will use their best pitcher in the Wild Card matchup, so finishing first overall will give that team a distinct advantage in the ALDS.
And by the way, the Rays win over the Yankees last night but New York's death number at 1. So that means should they drop another to the Rays tonight, or the Indians beat the White Sox in Cleveland, today will officially be "Yankee Elimination Day."
Trivia Q&A: September 24
We had a terrific crowd in on Trivia Night on Tuesday, a crowd that was really into it and had a good time. Many of the folks who were in said so afterwards, and that is always nice.
We had a tie going into IQ Trivia, but the team of Where's Eddy? ran the table in that round, and wound up with a total of 51 points and the win. They were down to fourth place after the third round, but they were perfect in the last two, and won by four points.
Second place went to This Is Why I'm Never On Time with 48 points, and third place went to Have An A1 Day with 47 points. (Nice to see you again, Dave!)
1. The FBI released statistics this week revealing what city was the murder capital of the US, with more than 500 homicides there in 2012?
2. Masked gunmen attacked a shopping mall in what African country last Saturday, killing at least 60 people?
3. What multinational bank was fined $920 million last week for illegal practices related to trading losses in 2012?
4. Leonardo DiCaprio will produce and star in a biopic of what controversial early 20th century US president, based on a recent bestseller?
5. What R&B male singer, who dies in 2004, was honored this past week by the USPS with his image on a postage stamp?
6. What show the Emmy award for Best Variety Series, after 8 years on the air and being shut out all the previous years?
7. 75 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a church in what Asian country last Sunday?
Dead Rock Stars Trivia
1. Bon Scott was the original singer of what heavy metal group before his "death by misadventure" in 1980?
2. Ian Curtis was the lead singer of Joy Division and died in 1980. What was the cause of his death?
3. Jim Morrison of The Doors died in 1971 in what foreign city?
4. Between Otis Redding, Ronnie Van Zant and Janis Joplin, which one did not die in a plane crash?
5. Rapper Biggie Smalls was murdered in 1997 in a drive-by shooting in what US city?
6. John Bonham was the drummer for what rock band until his 1980 death from asphyxiation?
7. Between Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and John Lennon, which lived to the oldest age?
American War Movies Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. Glory (1989)
2. We Were Soldiers (2002)
3. M*A*S*H (1970)
4. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
5. The Hurt Locker (2009)
6. The Patriot (2000)
7. Courage Under Fire (1996)
8. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
9. Gods and Generals (2003)
10. The Buccaneer (1938)
1. Jim Henson changed Oscar the Grouch's color from orange to what color for Sesame Street's second season? ( 1 pt)
2. South Africa was first colonized by what European country? (1 pt)
3. Greenland is an autonomous country within what European country? ( 1 pt)
4. Lady Godiva rope naked on a horse through what English city? ( 2 pt)
5. What famous actress appeared in Playboy magazine's first issue in 1953? ( 2 pt)
6. What actress won the Best Actress Oscar for the film "A Streetcar Named Desire?" ( 2 pt)
7. What does a numismatist collect? ( 3 pt)
1. What wealthy American is also known by the nickname "The Oracle of Omaha?" ( 4 points)
2. What 1974 film, the only comedy to top the yearly box-office gross between the 1940s and 1980s, was set a century earlier? ( 4 points)
3. In 27 of the 50 US states, the highest-paid state employee does what specific job? ( 5 points)
4. What is the hottest planet in our solar system? ( 3 points)
5. English identical twins Norris and Ross McWhirter co-founded what publication in 1955? ( 4 points)
1. Chicago; 2. Kenya; 3. JP Morgan Chase; 4. Woodrow Wilson; 5. Ray Charles; 6. "The Colbert Report;" 7. Pakistan.
1. AC/DC; 2. Suicide by hanging; 3. Paris; 4. Janis Joplin; 5. Los Angeles; 6. Led Zeppelin; 7. Michael Jackson (51).
1. Civil war; 2. Vietnam War; 3. Korean War; 4. World War II; 5. Iraq war; 6. Revolutionary War; 7. Gulf war; 8. Vietnam War; 9. Civil War; 10. War of 1812.
1. Green; 2. Netherlands; 3. Denmark; 4. Coventry; 5. Marilyn Monroe; 6. Vivian Leigh; 7. coins.
1. Warren Buffett; 2. "Blazing Saddles;" 3. College football coach; 4. Venus; 5. Guinness Book of World Records.
Dead Rockers & War Movies This Tuesday
This Tuesday night at The Mad Hatter, Trivia Night will feature "Dead Rock Stars Trivia," seven questions about rock and pop music stars who left this world way before their time. (No questions about Justin Bieber, even though he is still alive but most people would love to see him gone.)
The Q Train lightning round will have "American War Movies Trivia," as I will give you the name and year a certain war picture came out and you tell me which war I'm talking about.
"South Africa was first colonized by what European country?"
We get started at 8 PM on Tuesday night at The Mad Hatter, which is on E. 26th Street and 3rd Avenue. Hope to see many of you there for a terrific night of Trivia Q&A!
Still In Line For 100
The Red Sox won the weekend series from the Blue Jays on Sunday, as Felix Doubront pitched seven strong innings, as the Sox won, 5-2.
David Ortiz belted his 29th home run of 2013, and Jackie Bradley connected on a three-run shot, and that was all the Red Sox needed for their 95th win of the year.
The Sox ended their regular season home schedule with their 53rd win at Fenway, and that is tops in the majors for any team at home. (They have won 42 on the road, and that is second-best in MLB.)
The Red Sox have a couple of things to still to play for. They lead Oakland for the best record in the AL by 1 1/2 games, and Detroit by 3 1/2 games. The best record gets the Wild Card game winner, no matter what division they come from.
And, if they win run the table and win their remaining five games in Colorado and Baltimore, they will win 100 games for the first time since 1946. I know that's not a big priority right now, but I still love to see them pull it off.
Congratulations to the great Carl Yastrzemski, as he was honored by the Red Sox today with a statue that was unveiled outside of Fenway before the game. It was made from the final game he played in back in 1983. All the best to The Captain and his family (pictured).
We Own The East
The Red Sox wrapped up their first AL East title tonight in grand style, with a 6-3 win over the pre-season favorite Toronto Blue Jays.
Jon Lester got his career 100th win, and Koji Uehara got his first five-out save of the season to put the Sox at the top of the East for the first time since 2007.
Not bad for a club that was picked to finish fourth or fifth by many so-called "experts."
From worst to first. I couldn't be prouder of my boys more tonight.
Now on to October.
The Red Sox locked up a playoff berth last night at Fenway, as John Lackey was simply brilliant, and the Red Sox went on to a 3-1 victory over Baltimore.
It was arguably Lackey's best game ever in a Red Sox uniform. He pitched a complete game, two-hitter, and had a no-hitter into the seventh inning, went it was broken up by Adam Jones' home run. Lackey continues to be a money pitcher, as the Sox' avoided a sweep at the hands of the Orioles.
Stephen Drew hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning, and that was all the Sox needed.
The win officially put the Red Sox into the postseason. Tampa Bay's loss dropped the Magic Number for the AL East title at 1, and the Sox can wrap that up tonight with Jon Lester on the mound against the Blue Jays.
Last night's win gives the Sox 93 wins on the year, with 8 games remaining. This from a team that lost 93 in 2012. And they are a red-hot 12-5 in the month of September.
The consecutive batters retired streak of Koji Uehara finally came to an end last night, as he gave up a triple to Danny Valencia to open the ninth inning, and that run scored as the Orioles went on to a 3-2 win last night at Fenway.
Uehara's team record closed at 37 straight batters, and it was his first loss of 2013. His scoreless streak of 30 1/3 innings also ended when Baltimore took the ninth inning lead.
And it was one of those very rare nights where I wasn't bothered by a Red Sox loss.
Tampa Bay lost to Texas, so the Magic Number for the Sox dropped to three. It just means they can't wrap up the AL East tonight, but could do it on Thursday. (The Magic Number to wrap up a playoff berth is now at 2.)
It was a bad night for the Yankees, as all the teams in front of them won except Tampa Bay. Their Wild Card hopes continue to grow dimmer.
The Sox are now at 92-60, and still have the best record in baseball, 2 1/2 games better than both the A's and Braves, who are both 89-62.
We had another nice turnout for Trivia on a cool Tuesday evening at The Mad Hatter. It was one of those rare nights were almost all the teams were in the running for the Winners Circle from the start, and heading into IQ Trivia, the top three teams were separated by just four points.
But the team in third place, Something Snappy, ran the table and got all five IQ Trivia questions correct, and wound up winning by a single point, with 47 points. Great job, gentlemen.
Second place went to Don't Push Me Alvarez-Bieber's Got My Back with 46 points. Third place went to Cockney Rebel with 41 points.
1. What Saturday Night Live alumnus was announced as the host for the show's premier show this season later this month?
2. Thomas Bach, a former German fencer, was elected the 9th president of what last week?
3. What pop singer set a new record for the greatest number of views in 24 hours for a video on YouTube, with 19.3 million last Tuesday?
4. What airline sold tickets for $0, $5, and $10 due to a computer glitch and will honor those prices?
5. What former MLB star's conviction on an obstruction of justice charge was upheld by a federal appeals court last Friday?
6. Which Asian country switched off their last nuclear reactor last Sunday, leaving it nuclear power-free for the second time in the last two years?
7. What was 24-year-old Nina Davuluri in the headlines this past weekend?
September 17th Trivia
1. On this day in 1862, the bloodiest single-day battle in American history occurred during the Civil War, with over 22,000 soldiers wounded or killed at what battle?
2. Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America on this day in 1983. What state did she represent?
3. The US Constitution was signed on this day in 1787 in what city?
4. The Camp David Accords were signed on this day in 1978, laying the groundwork for a permanent peace between which two countries?
5. NASA unveiled the first space shuttle on this day in 1976. What was that space shuttle's name?
6. Spiro Agnew, the 39th Vice-President of the United States, died on this day in 1996. Under which president did he serve as vice-president?
7. Phil Jackson, legendary NBA coach who won 11 titles as head coach, was born on this day in 1945. With which team did he win two titles as a player in the 1970s?
1. Arizona is the only US state never to report a temperature of zero degrees (F) of below.
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt never won the Nobel Peace Prize.
3. The secret society Skull and Bones operates at Harvard University.
4. The youngest pope ever was 11 years old.
5. There was once a 5 cents bill issued by the US government.
6. Robert E. Lee commanded the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.
7. Harry S. Truman is the only US president born in Missouri.
8. Actor John Ritter was the son of country singer Tex Ritter.
9. The movie "Chariots of Fire" was set during the 1936 Summer Olympics.
10. The first novel that featured James Bond was "Dr. No."
1. In what sport would one use a shuttlecock? ( 1 pt)
2. A person who is an octogenarian is at least what age? ( 1 pt)
3. "Touch Me", "People Are Strange" and "Hello I Love You" were all hit songs by what 1960s rock band? ( 1 pt)
4. The military code word for the letter "T" is what? ( 2 pt)
5. Mariska Hargitay portrayed Detective Olivia Benson on what TV show? ( 2 pt)
6. Santiago is the capital of what country? ( 2 pt)
7. What is the average age of a first-time grandparent in the US, within two years? ( 3 pt)
1. What major US land acquisition won ratification by the US Senate by just one vote? ( 4 points)
2. What two countries fought a war from September 1980 until August 1988? ( 3 points)
3. What major UK city has the River Clyde running through it? ( 5 points)
4. Of all the African countries that border the Mediterrean Sea, which is by far the smallest in area? ( 4 points)
5. What is the world's warmest ocean? ( 4 points)
1. Tina fey; 2. International Olympic Committee; 3. Miley Cyrus; 4. United Airlines; 5. Barry Bonds; 6. Japan; 7. She was crowned Miss America.
1. Antietam; 2. New York; 3. Philadelphia; 4. Israel & Egypt; 5. Enterprise; 6. Richard Nixon; 7. New York Knicks.
1. False, Hawaii; 2. true; 3. false, Yale; 4. true; 5. true; 6. false, Army of Northern Virginia; 7. true; 8. true; 9. false, 1924; 10. false, "Casino Royale."
1. Badminton; 2. eighty; 3. The Doors; 4. tango; 5. "Law and Order: SVU;" 6. Chile; 7. forty-seven.
1. Alaska; 2. Iran & Iraq; 3. Glasgow; 4. Tunisia; 5. Indian Ocean.
Testing Your 9/17 Recall On Tuesday
Tuesday Night Trivia at The Mad Hatter tomorrow night will feature "September 17th Trivia," seven questions about the day in history. (You'd be surprised that a few famous things occurred on that date.)
The Q Train lightning round will feature "True or False Trivia."
"A person who is an octogenarian is at least what age?"
We get going at 8 PM on Tuesday night. The Mad Hatter is at 360 Third Avenue, just off of E. 26th Street. Hope to see many of you then for yet another quality night of Trivia Q&A!
The Last Two Weekends: Men (With Beards) vs. Boys
So what's better than a weekend of Yankee ass-kicking by the Red Sox? Back-to-back weekends of Yankee ass-kicking the Red Sox!
The Sox swept New York out of Fenway Park with a resounding 9-2 thumping last night, following on the heels of wins of 8-4 and 5-1. They outscored New York 22-7. How bad was this sweep for the Yankees? They led exactly one-half inning in the three games (when they scored a run in the top of the first last night).
The night began with the Red Sox tribute to Mariano Rivera, presenting him with gifts from the team. It was handled with real class by the Red Sox, and also by Rivera, a gentleman who was clearly touched by the ceremony.
The Sox got down to business in the first inning, which was capped off by a Mike Napoli two-run blast to center off Ivan Nova. (It was mixed night for Napoli. He also broke Mark Bellhorn's 2004 strikeout record, with K# 178. He was also ejected after he complained about it with the home plate ump.) The Sox went on cruise control, and Clay Buchholz pitched six effective innings, allowing just two hits. He has not allowed an earned run in 11 innings since his return.
It was win number 92 by the Red Sox, and it eliminated New York from the AL East race. (Congratulations to my buddy Jere, who nailed the exact date of the Yankee AL East elimination last night two weeks ago.)
The Sox take the season series from the Yankees, 13-6. It is the first time the Sox have beaten them 13 times in a season since 1973, and the first time anyone has beaten the Yankees 13 times in a year since the Orioles did it in 1976.
The Magic Number was lowered to 4, as Tampa Bay lost in Minnesota earlier in the day.
To say the Red Sox are smoking hot is an understatement. Since Ryan Dempster plunked Slappy, the Red Sox are an amazing 19-6, and have opened up a 9 1/2 game lead in the AL East. (Once again, so much for all that sportswriter BS about how that incident would rejuvinate the Yankees and how the Sox would look back on it with regret.) They have the best record in baseball, and lead Oakland by 3 games for the AL's best record.
100 wins now continues to be a real possibility. 8-3 in the remaining 11 games gets them to that lofty number. The Sox are off today, and face the Orioles at Fenway on Tuesday night.
Salty Drops The Number To 7
The Magic Number dropped to seven last night, courtesy of Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Salty broke a 4-4 tie with the Yankees in the 7th inning with a majestic grand slam that landed in the right field bleachers. The Sox went on to an 8-4 win, capped by Koji Uehara extending his "perfect game" to 37 batters with yet another 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Tampa Bay's win in Minnesota kept the Red Sox AL East lead at 8 1/2 games.
The number to eliminate New York from the AL East race is at 4, and if the Sox sweep the Yankees this weekend, they officially only have the Wild Card to play for.
The Red Sox have now won 90 games (the first MLB team to do so this year), and they are 21 games better than they were in 2012. That is one game better than the 1967 turnaround, when the Impossible Dream Red Sox went from 72 to 92 wins. It is the second best turnaround in team history. The best was in 1946, when the Sox went from 71 to 104 wins, an amazing 33 wins.
And speaking of 1946, the last time the Sox won 100 was that pennant-winning season. I think we can talk about whether the Sox can reach that number, as a 10-3 finish in the final 13 games will get them to that number. The most wins the Sox have had since 1946 was in 1978, when they won 99. They last won 98 in the championship year of 2004.
Tough Morning. Happy Evening.
It was an emotional day at the World Trade Center site on Wednesday, to remember the victims of the worst attack on our country ever. It is still hard to get used to the idea it has now been 12 years since that awful day happened. But I am very proud to have been there to remember my late friend Joyce and all the other victims.
I got home yesterday afternoon and put on the TV and just relaxed. I wanted to do nothing but watch baseball. And I looked forward to another Red Sox game at Tampa Bay, and wasn't disappointed by the results.
Brandon Workman gave up single runs in the 7th and 8th innings, and it allowed Tampa Bay to tie the Sox at 3. But John Farrell brought Koji Uehara into a tie game in the ninth and naturally they went 1-2-3. The great Uehara has now retired the last 34 straight to set a new Red Sox record.
It became a very smart move, as Mike Carp (pictured) blasted a pinch-hit grand slam off Roberto Hernandez (I knew when he came in, a Sox win was at hand), and Junichi Tazawa closed the door for the win.
So how many of you were jumping for joy whe the Sox signed Uehara as a free agent, and traded for Carp this past spring?
They have become to integral parts of this amazing Red Sox season. Carp's blast was the first time ever that a Red Sox pinch-hitter has hit a grand slam in extra innings (and the first in MLB in 10 years). Uehara has now been perfect over 11 1/3 innings.
The win lowered the Red Sox Magic Number to win the AL East to 8. They are now 42-33 on the road, and have clinched a winning record away from Fenway for 2013. They are also 8-2 for September, which is more wins they have had in either of the last two Septembers. They have nearly matched the total number of runs they scored last September (78-76).
The Sox are now 89-58 overall, and lead by an amazing 9 1/2 games. They are 16-5 since Dempster plunked Slappy. (You remember that incident, right? That was the one that many idiotic pundits said would come back and "haunt" the Red Sox.)
BTW, I enjoyed listening to Derek Lowe do last night's game with Don Orsillo on NESN. He came across as knowlegable, funny and self-effacing. I could see him landing a broadcasting gig with someone down the road if he chooses to go that route.
No Other Place In The World I Could Be Today
It has now been a dozen years since one of America's darkest hours occurred: the loss of nearly 3,000 people with attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon.
As many of you who read this blog know, my dear friend Joyce Carpeneto was one of that day's victims. I have honored her memory every year on this day here. I will be at the ceremonies on Wednesday morning, along my dear friend Deborah. We have been to all 11 of them, and I will continue to go to them on every September 11th as long as I live.
Everything in my life stops every September 11th. The Red Sox take a back seat today. It is the most sacred of days for me. The 9/11 Memorial is simply spectacular, and it is fitting tribute to those beautiful souls lost 12 years ago. (The picture above is of me, holding Joyce's picture from last year's remembrance.)
Every year I put the past September 11 tributes I have posted on this blog, and this year will be no different. Please feel free to check them out. It is some of the proudest things I have ever written. (The first one, from 2006, includes the memorial and poem I have written in Joyce's memory.)
2006: Forever Missed. And Forever Loved.
2007: Never Forget. Ever.
2008: We Can Be The Ones Who Remember
2009: The Most Sacred Of All Days
2011: Ten Years After
2012: 11 Years
And as I have done the last few years, I will end with a quote from the TV series, "Third Watch." It was after the funeral for a firefighter lost in the attacks, and it was said by actor Bruce Weitz. The show was first broadcast in 2002, but 11 later, it is still as meaningful as it was then:
"It's been 233 days since September 11th. I've been to 28 funerals and memorial services and I should have gone to more, but some days I just couldn't face it. 233 days and in a few weeks it's going to be over. Everyone and everything that was going to be found will have been found. Won't be any place to dig. And then we are just going to have to walk away. And there will be a park with a marble monument with names that will slowly stop seeming like real people. Soon enough it will be just us. We will be the ones who remember. That's what we can do to honor the people we loved and lost. We can be the ones who remember."
We'll never forget you, Joyce, or any of those beautiful souls lost 12 years ago today. Ever.
We had a pretty good crowd in on a beautiful night for Trivia. It was a close night between the top three teams, but the team in third place, There's Only One Quinn Who'd get Our Vote, and It's John, was the only one who got 3 of 5 correct in IQ Trivia (it was a tough round), and wound up with 40 points, and won by two points. Nice job as always by Pian and her friends.
Second place went to Our Team Name Is: Team Names Are Losers Like Justin Bieber's Puerto Rican Mustache with 38 points, and third place went to Something Obscure with 35 points.
1. What American superstar actor was reported to Italian authorities recently for piloting a boat without a license?
2. What Middle Eastern country enacted laws against domestic violence for the first time in its history recently?
3. What city was chosen to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games last week, the second time they have ever hosted it?
4. What legendary actress was acknowledged by the Guinness people as having the longest TV career for a female ever, at 74 years?
5. Swimmer Diana Nyad completed a 53-hour swim between what two locations Last week, on her fifth attempt to do so in 35 years?
6. What Grammy-winning pop singer was chosen as the performer for the halftime show at this February's Super Bowl?
7. What controversial rap star was paid $3 million to perform at the wedding of the grandson of the president of Kazakhstan last weekend?
Outer Space Trivia
1. In 1976, Viking I became the first spacecraft to land where?
2. Exactly how many Apollo missions landed on the Moon?
3. Which of the planets has the shortest day, just 9.925 Earth hours?
4. In 1962, who was the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth?
5. At its closest, which planet is closer to the Earth, Venus or Mars?
6. Titan is the largest satellite of what planet?
7. Approximately how many years are there between sightings of Halley's Comet on Earth?
Colleges and Universities Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. Purdue
2. Rice
3. Tulane
4. Gonzaga
5. Johns Hopkins
6. Marshall
7. Morehouse
8. The Citadel
9. Wake Forest
10. Occidental
1. What country is Tripoli the capital of? ( 1 pt)
2. Between Wimbledon, the US Open and the French Open, which tennis tournament is the oldest? ( 1 pt)
3. "The Murders In The Rue Morgue" was a short story by what 19th century author? ( 1 pt)
4. A muscat is a type of what fruit? ( 2 pt)
5. The bonnet on a car is found where? ( 2 pt)
6. What is the only South American country that borders both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea? ( 2 pt)
7. The Steamboat Geyser, the world's tallest active geyser, is in what US state? (3 pt)
1. Pristina is the largest city and capital of what Eastern European country? ( 4 points)
2. The St. Mary's River connects which two of the Great Lakes in the Upper Peninsula? ( 4 points)
3. Dan and Frank Carney founded what restaurant chain, now with 6,000 restaurants across the US, in Kansas in 1958? ( 5 points)
4. What is the only country that has both the Equator and one of the Tropics going through it? ( 4 points)
5. In what 2012 film are the protagonist's mental problems triggered by hearing the Stevie Wonder song "My Cherie Amour?" ( 3 points)
1. George Clooney; 2. Saudi Arabia; 3. Tokyo; 4. Betty White; 5. Cuba to Florida; 6. Bruno Mars; 7. Kanye West.
1. Mars; 2. six; 3. Jupiter; 4. John Glenn; 5. Venus; 6. Saturn; 7. seventy-five.
1. Indiana; 2. Texas; 3. Louisiana; 4. Washington; 5. Maryland; 6. West Virginia; 7. Georgia; 8. South Carolina; 9. North Carolina; 10. California.
1. Libya; 2. Wimbledon; 3. Edgar Allan Poe; 4. grape; 5. hood; 6. Colombia; 7. Wyoming.
1. Kosovo; 2. Superior and Huron; 3. Pizza Hut; 4. Brazil; 5. "Silver Linings Playbook."
Wait 'Til Next Year?
I have to admit that my mind really isn't totally on football right now, what with the Red Sox in first place and zooming toward a possible postseason berth.
But even with them wrapping up their weekend series in the Bronx yesterday, I did tune in to "NFL Red Zone," which goes from game to game every Sunday, and is blast to spend an entire football day with.
So I did catch some of the Vikings opener in Detroit, and it looked really promising from the start, with the great Adrian Peterson picking up from where he left off last December by running 78 yards from scrimmage the first time he touched the ball for a TD, giving the Vikings an early 7-0 lead.
It was all downhill from there. It was a sloppy loss for the Vikings, with mistakes galore on both sides of the ball.
The Lions went on to a 34-24 win (when did the Lions get Reggie Bush?), as AP did score two more TDs (one rushing, one passing), but was held to 15 yards rushing the rest of the afternoon.
As Brandon Workman was throwing a ball to backstop at Yankee Stadium yesterday, the Lions went into their "victory formation" at the same time. I sure wasn't a happy camper at those moments.
The Vikings head to Chicago next week, to face a Bears team that won yesterday. The Vikings simply can't open this season 0-2.
And Notre Dame got hammered in their final game against Michigan at the Big House on Saturday, 41-30. They've opened the year at 1-1 after their opener win against Temple at South Bend. Gotta feeling a return to the BCS title game isn't in the cards this year.
We'll Head Back Into Space On Tuesday
OK, we'll give this another go.
On Tuesday night, September 10th at 8 PM, Trivia at The Mad Hatter (E. 26th Street and Third Avenue) will feature "Outer Space Trivia", seven questions about The Space Age and the solar system we call home. (Sorry, there won't be any sci-fi questions this time.)
The Q Train lightning round will feature "Colleges and Universities Trivia" in honor of the new school year that is just starting up. I will give you the names of ten well-known institutions of higher learning in the US, and you have to tell me which state it is located in. (Obviously there will be no choices like Florida State or Texas A&M.)
"A muscat is a type of what fruit?"
We get going at 8 PM on Tuesday night. Hope to see many of you then for a great night of Trivia Q&A!
A Banner Weekend: 3 of 4
Before the series in the Bronx began on Thursday night, I was hoping the Red Sox could simply split the four games. It would have made me very happy.
But the Red Sox went one better than that. They came within an eyelash of a four-game sweep. Brandon Workman's wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth gave New York its only win of the weekend.
So be it. At least they hung two blown saves on Mariano Rivera, giving him 16 lifetime against the Sox. Will Middlebrooks homered off Rivera to start the ninth and tie the game. Once again, the Sox show no quit, even having Rivera three outs from a save.
The Sox exposed the faulty New York Yankees pitching, and battered them to the tune of 37 runs, 10 of which were home runs. It was an impressive display of power.
The pitching wasn't that great. Jake Peavy and Jon Lester turned in pretty good efforts, John Lackey had a hard time after the Sox gave him a nine-run lead on Saturday (after all the trouble he's had getting a W he gets a pass from me), and Felix Doubront got hit hard once again on Friday night. He will be skipped this week, as Clay Buchholz will make his long awaited return in St. Pete against the Rays on Tuesday night. Ryan Dempster goes Wednesday, and Jake Peavy on Thursday.
The Red Sox are now 7 1/2 up on the Rays, who won this afternoon in Seattle.
The news on Jacoby Ellsbury isn't wonderful, but it is not a disaster. He has a compression fracture in his foot, but John Farrell is hopeful he will return during the regular season. Here's more from Extra Bases.
Stompin' Their Way To a Season Series Win
OK, I'll admit it. I was nervous when the Yankees were scoring those runs late in yesterday's 13-9 win.
And I give John Lackey a pass for the 7 runs he allowed yesterday. It seemed like every game he pitched over the last month was 2-0 or 3-1 loss where the offense just didn't bother to show up. So when they hand him a 12-3 lead by the fifth inning, it can happen that a pitcher gets a bit too "comfortable" and the other team hits him a bit.
The Sox bent slightly, but didn't break in officially winning the series yesterday. They have now won all three series they played at Yankee Stadium this season, going 7-2 there. They have also won the season series for 2013 at 10-5 (with today and a three-game series at Fenway next weekend still remaining).
The smoking-hot Sox lineup has simply battered an ice-cold Yankee pitching staff for 34 runs in three games. Four more home runs by Mike Napoli (twice), Jonny Gomes, and the first MLB shot by Xander Boegarts ( a blast over the left field bullpen) gave them 16 over the past four games.
For more fun facts about this Yankee Stadium beatdown, check out this post by Allan at The Joy of Sox.
The Sox go for what could be an historic sweep today with Jon Lester on the mound. Tampa Bay's loss last night in Seattle puts them 8 1/2 games back. The Sox' Magic Number for the AL East title now stands at 12.
Another Night, Another Incredible Comeback
Another night, another soul-crushing, spirit-destroying win for the Red Sox over the Yankees in the Bronx.
Just another incredible comeback by the Sox, turning the tables on the Yankees after what they did in the seventh inning to the Sox on Thursday night.
They blew a five-run lead, capped by Mike Napoli's third grand slam of 2013. Shane Victorino hit a two-run shot in the eighth and the Sox added two more for good measure for a 12-8 win. Koji Uehara did his usual 1-2-3 ninth inning, and has now pitched a "perfect game." (He has retired the last 27 men he's faced in a row.)
The Never Say Die Sox have now scored 41 runs over the past three games, while their AL East lead has increased to 7 1/2 games, as Tampa Bay lost in Seattle. It dropped the Red Sox Magic Number down to 14 to win the division, and 10 to wrap up a post-season berth.
Felix Doubront got hit hard again, lasting just into the fourth inning again, and maybe in danger of heading to the pen. It looked like Ryan Dempster was heading there with Clay Buchholz returning on Tuesday, but now you have to wonder. Doubront would be in the pen anyway should the Sox go the postseason, so he may be there even earlier now.
And Jacoby Ellsbury missed last night's game with a foot injury he reinjured stealing second on Thursday night, and returned to Boston to examined. Looks like he misses the rest of the series. Jackie Bradley Jr. was recalled from Pawtucket and will play center on Saturday.
On the brighter side, the Sox have now won four straight, 11 of 13, and are 13-4 since Ryan Dempster plunked Slappy nearly three weeks ago.
19 games to play. I was hoping for just a split in the Bronx this weekend. The Sox now have that. And they play with the house's money today and tomorrow.
A "Game Of The Year" Candidate
I think last night's Red Sox game took about five years off my life.
What looked like a comfortable win looked like it was turning into a horrible loss, with the Red Sox bullpen melting down for six runs in the 7th. And with the Sox down to their last out against Mariano Rivera, Mike Napoli saved the day.
He singled to right, and Quintin Berry went in to run for him. He promptly stole second (he would have made Dave Roberts proud), went to third on an overthrow, and scored on Stephen Drew's single. It was the 15th time the Sox hung a BS (blown save) on Rivera, the most of any team.
The game stayed tied at 8 into the 10th, but when I saw Joba Chamberlain coming in for New York, a smile went on my face. I knew a Red Sox win was at hand.
And sure enough, Jacoby Ellsbury singled, stole second and scored on Shane Victorino's single. Koji Uehara was stellar yet again, getting the Yankees 1-2-3 in the 10th for his 18th save. (He is now three outs from a "perfect game." He has retired the last 24 hitters he's faced.)
It was an amazing night for the Red Sox. What looked like a devastating loss turned into a resilient win. You don't normally consider a game where you've blown a five-run lead a "Game of the Year" candidate. Championship teams win games like this. Nothing seems to faze these boys. And this is a soul-crushing loss for New York, who also had Tampa Bay and Oakland lose too, the two teams they were chasing for the Wild Card. (Baltimore's win puts them a half-game behind New York in the AL East.)
Tampa Bay's loss drops the Red Sox Magic Number to win the AL East at 16. And to wrap up a post-season berth, it is at 13.
The win last night also reminds me of that special night in September 2004, when the Sox scored two in the ninth against Rivera in New York to win, 3-2. I was at the Riviera in Manhattan that night and the place went ape in that inning. It was smack in the middle of that incredible run to the World Series championship.
It was also the 85th win of the year for the Sox. They now have won 16 games more than they have won in all of last year. (Doesn't that seem like a few decades ago?) In the fondly remembered year of 1967, the Sox bested the previous year by 20 games. Can they best last year by 30 games, and maybe win 100 for the first time since 1946? The Sox would have to go 15-5 in their last 20 games. A tall order for sure, but winning with two outs in the ninth and no one on looked like a really tall order as well last night.
Asses Kicked. Names Taken.
The Red Sox wrapped up their nine-game homestand in grand style last night, with an historic 20-4 beatdown of the defending AL champion Detroit Tigers.
Before the homestand started, I was hoping the Sox could go at least 6-3. And I was optimistic about possibly going 7-2. 7-2 is exactly what they accomplished.
The Sox tied a team record of 8 home runs last night, and it was the first time in team history that 7 different players left the yard. For those of you scoring at home, they were hit in this order: Stephen Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz, Will Middlebrooks, Danie Nava, Ryan Lavarnway, Ortiz again, and Mike Napoli.
It was a nip and tuck game with Detroit at 5-4 in the sixth when Will Middlebrooks hit a grand slam that put the game out of reach at 10-4. The Sox went on to put up an 8 spot in the inning. (Who would have guessed that when the Sox were down 4-3 in the 4th inning that 17 more runs would have scored in the game, and the Sox would score all 17??)
And then 5 more in the 7th and 2 more in the 8th. 20-4. (Or as my buddy Jere wrote today: 20-04.)
An amazing night where David Ortiz not only hit two home runs, but his double was hit number 2,000 in his storied career.
The Sox took the series from one of MLB's best teams. After two nail biters, the Sox had an easy one. (Boy, what must John Lackey have been thinking seeing all those home runs last night?) And in my mind, they are making a statement for all of MLB to see: they are focused, taking on all comers, and have their eyes firmly on the prize. They are 10-4 since Ryan Dempster plunked Alex Rodriguez. Hot at just the right time.
Now the Sox hit the road for 7 games against division rivals New York and Tampa Bay.
Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel
Trivia was postponed last night, as the holiday weekend plus the upcoming holidays kept The Mad Hatter quieter than I have ever seen it last night. So we decided to call Trivia off, but we will be back again next Tuesday night, September 10th at 8 PM.
We will do the same Trivia next week that we would have done last night, with perhaps a few changes to Current Events. The two Special Categories will remain the same.
Hope to see more of you next Tuesday night!
Way Out Trivia On Tuesday
On Tuesday night, Trivia at The Mad Hatter (E. 26th Street and Third Avenue) will feature "Outer Space Trivia", seven questions about The Space Age and the solar system we call home. (Sorry, there won't be any sci-fi questions this time.)
The Q Train lightning round will feature "Colleges and Universities Trivia" in honor of the new school year that is just about to start. I will give you the names of ten well-known institutions of higher learning in the US, and you have to tell me which state it is located in. (Obviously there will be no choices like Florida State or Texas A&M.)
Winning Season, It's Good To Have You Back
The Red Sox pulled off a sweep of the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, and with Tampa Bay getting swept by Oakland, the Sox have opened up a 5 1/2 game lead in the AL East, their longest lead of the year.
They are now at 82-56, and that guarantees a winning season for 2013.
The Red Sox have won 8 of their last 10, and if they go .500 the rest of the way (12-12), Tampa Bay would have to go 20-7 the rest of their games to pass the Red Sox. And they are in the middle of a brutal West Coast trip, with 7 more to play on it.
Baltimore is 8 1/2 back, and New York is 9 behind, so their best road appears to be the Wild Card game, but that will be a tough task for both teams, with the Indians in the mix, and they have the easiest schedule of any American League team the rest of this season.
And I guess we can start talking about this subject now: the Red Sox Magic Number to win the AL East stands at 21.
A game that looked like a blowout on Sunday turned into a nail biter, as it went from 5-0 Red Sox, to 5-4 Red Sox. Then from 7-4 Red Sox to 7-6 Red Sox in the ninth, but Koji Uehara, who may well be the team's MVP, turned in yet another 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 16th save. He has an ERA of 1.19 for the year, and has allowed just one run in his last 36 innings. He's been simply remarkable.
The Sox have taken 5 of the 6 games on this homestand, and Detroit now comes in for three.
On a sad note, Daniel Bard was designated for assignment before yesterday's game. It appears his Red Sox career, which went off the rails in September 2011 and never seemed to get back on, is over. He'll probably have to take his next shot to revive it with another organization.


As usual, we are the first in the world to be able to unlock the brand new Blackberry Priv from Blackberry. This phone is absolutely beautiful, new concept and… ANDROID!
Yes, we unlock the Blackberry Priv on ALL networks including Rogers, Fido, Bell, Telus, Koodo, Virgin, Wind and Mobilicity.
All of our codes are delivered in LESS than 24 hours. Our average processing time is 6 hours.
Get ready to use the #1 unlocking service worldwide!


We know that vitiligo as a very common skin disease, Here are some questions that are frequently asked by patients.
1. What are the causes for vitiligo onset?
The vitiligo morbidity is about 0.1%~2%, not related to the gender, and deeper color group have a higher chance than the light skin color group. The vitiligo can appear at any part of the skin, but we are still not clear about the pathogenesis of the vitiligo. It closely related to the genetic, autoimmunity deficiency, disorder of the neuro-endocrine system, self-destruction and abnormal of the biochemistry.
2. What are the clinic manifestations for vitiligo?
When the skin completely depigmentation, The skin color looks like porcelain, white patches shape and size are unequal.
The vitiligo is quite easily to diagnose, generally most of the vitiligo can be diagnosed by the experienced clinic dermatologist. For some of the untypical signs of vitiligo can use the wood lamp, skin tissue test to help diagnose it.
4. Is Vitiligo Related to Trance Elements?
Through the trance elements comparison of 100 normal people and the vitiligo patients, especially the hair trance element of copper ion, the average contain level of vitiligo patients is 8.6898µg/g, while the normal people is 10.0703µ/g. Through t test P which is less than 0.05 shows that the vitiligo is related to low level of copper ion. And through the tests of zinc, tin, manganese, the normal people and vitiligo patients are no big difference. The others like serum copper oxidase decreases the activity, while the serum monoamine oxidase is increased, the Serum copper blue egg blue protein is increased. The other reports are chromosome aberration and microcirculation block.


Persuadable voters are extremely conflicted about budget and tax issues.
First the bad news: According to the Gallup poll, Americans think that on the federal level 50 cents of every tax dollar is wasted, on the state level 42 cents is wasted, and on the local level 37 cents is wasted. Remarkably, independent voters think more money is wasted than voters in the Republican base. Not coincidentally, most voters are wildly misinformed about how much governments spend on specific programs, especially for the social safety net.
But there's also good news: When named program-by-program, with just a few small exceptions (such as federal foreign aid), Americans favor spending more rather than less. They understand we need to spend more for schools, roads, health care and environmental protection—and they know we need to spend less on subsidies and tax loopholes for the rich and special interests. About two-thirds of Americans think that the rich and large corporations are paying too little in taxes.
These conflicting beliefs mean that message framing is especially important when talking about budgets and taxes.
Voters are for tax and budget fairness, and so are you. There are a number of phrases that express the idea of fairness, listed above. Whatever you do, express your goal early and often in the conversation—without an expression of progressive values, voters may think conservative policies are the fair ones.
Right wingers try to blame tax and budget problems on the poor, immigrants, government employees or penny-ante cheaters. Voters are perfectly willing to embrace that narrative. It is your job to direct attention to the real problem—that wealthy individuals and big corporations have rigged budgets and taxes on all levels of government in order to further enrich themselves. While arguing for fairness, you need to be explicit in explaining that your policies are designed to take a system that is stacked in favor of the rich and make it more equitable for middle class Americans.
Our tax and budget policies must be fair to everyone. The fact is, my opponent's policies are not fair; they rig the system to benefit the rich over the rest of us. I will work to ensure that everyone gets a fair shot, everyone gives their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.
This short narrative begins and ends with the value of fairness. It distinguishes you from your conservative opponent and it ties the fairness problem to the rich.
No matter the actual situation in your local jurisdiction, voters remain worried about budget deficits and government debt. You must acknowledge that you share those concerns and pledge to support a reasonable, balanced budget. At the same time, voters understand that radical cuts are shortsighted and the prudent course is to "strengthen the state/local economy for the long term." Voters do not respond well to the claim that "there is enough money" to fund new programs. Voters believe governments face very real limits on what they can or should spend, and language that seems to imply a desire to write blank checks will undercut your message.
Talking about budget expenditures as a series of investments doesn't work because it makes voters think they are consumers of government who should get a personal rather than a community return on that investment. But you can use a related concept—talking about a budget as a plan or blueprint for our future.
Our state/city/county has no money to waste. I will pinch every penny I can to help craft a balanced budget that's fair to everyone. But remember, a budget is a plan for our future. It's about what we need to spend today in order to build a better tomorrow. So I'm going to look for solutions that build our state/local economy for the long term. My opponent calls for extreme cuts, which over time will benefit the rich and hurt all the rest of us. I'm for a fair budget that works for all of us.
This narrative begins by empathizing with voters' concerns and reassuring them that you are on their side. It focuses on fairness and suggests that the rich are the problem. And it makes the argument that we need to build for the future. All of these ideas are popular.
Voters are pretty cynical about taxes. They think that taxes are unfair, and you certainly agree that tax laws have been engineered to unfairly benefit the rich and special interests. So don't defend taxes, defend tax fairness.
Don't say tax relief because it frames taxes as an affliction in need of a remedy. The problem is not the existence of taxes, it is that federal, state, and local taxes are riddled with giveaways and loopholes for the politically powerful. You might also call them private tax subsidies. Whatever you do, don't defend the unpopular tax system. And don't begin with a raft of statistics either. Start by empathizing with voters.
Our tax system is unfair. The tax burden on working families has increased while rich people and large corporations pocket more and more tax giveaways, and that's wrong. My opponent's policies would make the current rigged system even more unfair with greater tax cuts for the rich. My policies are based on the principle of equal opportunity—everyone should pay their fair share.
No one likes to pay taxes, and persuadable voters don't want to hear a lecture that taxes are the dues we pay for a civilized society. But people reluctantly accept that they should pay their fair share. Interestingly, a progressive monologue about taxes becomes less popular if it begins with unfairness and then goes on to say what government could do with the money. This is because persuadable voters don't really believe the government needs more money; they believe one-third to one-half of tax dollars are wasted. Talking about the good things government can do with the taxes it collects also evokes voters' biases against tax-and-spend politicians. So stick with your plea that the powerful need to pay their fair share.
You asked about eliminating the inheritance tax. First, let's admit that our tax system is unfair. It is rigged with tax giveaways and loopholes that benefit a few, usually the rich, at the expense of all the rest of us. So if we eliminate the inheritance tax, who benefits and who's hurt? For every two hundred people who die, only the estate of the single richest person pays any federal tax at all. Eliminating that estate tax means enriching that one wealthy family, but it also means hurting all of us because our taxes would be raised to make up the difference. My opponent's policy would make the current rigged system even more unfair with yet another tax cut for the rich. My policies are based on the principle of equal opportunity—everyone should pay their fair share.
Everyone pays taxes, although it's true that children, the elderly, and the unemployed generally don't pay one particular type of tax—the federal income tax. Nevertheless, everyone who earns a salary pays taxes for Social Security and Medicare. Everyone who buys products at a store or owns a home pays taxes. Everyone who has a telephone or cable service pays taxes. When all the federal, state and local taxes and fees are added together, almost everybody pays about 20 to 30 percent of their income. But, the fact is, the richest one percent of people own over one-third of all the combined wealth in America—stocks, bonds, businesses, real estate, cars, jewelry. The richest five percent own nearly two-thirds of all the wealth. They do not pay anywhere near their fair share in taxes.
Right wing argument: Our government is paying too much for social welfare programs.
The great majority of government spending on individuals is for programs like Social Security, Medicare and veterans benefits where Americans have already done their service or paid their money into the system. They're not getting a hand-out, they're getting what they are owed. The real hand-outs are subsidies and tax loopholes that overwhelmingly benefit the richest individuals and biggest corporations. That's what we need to cut.


The project is addressed to firemen and rescue workers participating in rescue operations, in particular with regard to chemical, biological or radiation hazards. The second target group includes Ukrainian senior fire service officers who lead and manage rescue teams near the Polish border (management of the district fire service headquarters in Lviv, members of the fire service headquarters in the Lviv district).
The trade between Poland and Ukraine, as well as the growing importance of highly processed goods in trade and services relating to the use, storage and sales of hazardous materials, result in a constant increase in the risk related to the properties of such materials. The risk is real, which was proved by the incident with train carrying white phosphorus in Ukraine, in the Lviv oblast. 11,000 people were at risk and the contamination area was approximately 90,000 m2. Ukrainian emergency services were put on high alert. Due to the proximity of the contamination area to the Polish border, so were the Polish inspections and services responsible for public safety. The failure was considered a cross-border emergency. The operations revealed communication problems between the Polish and the Ukrainian services and the fact that the services were unaware of the other country's procedures to be launched in such situations, of the manner and methodology of rescue operations and of the parameters of the specialised equipment and possibility to use it by the other country to liquidate the failure. Therefore, the project is aimed at promoting mutual education with regard to the resources at each country's disposal and the need to cooperate in order to improve safety of border zones, as well as close cooperation of the rescue services.
The direct objective of this two-year project is to enhance the potential of Ukrainian services in case of CBRN events, including providing the beneficiary with specialised equipment used during CBRN operations.
- further self-improvement of firemen with the use of the provided specialised equipment.
- supply and delivery of specialised equipment used during rescue operations in case of CBRN hazard (detection devices, respiratory protective equipment, protective gear).
The measures under the project will improve the level of broadly understood public safety in Ukraine through supporting the entities in charge of public safety and environmental protection.
Value of grants ammounted to 154 820 pln in 2014 and 208 605 pln in 2015, and the value of the project respectively 167 340 pln (in 2014) and 222 250 pln (in 2015).
Ukrainian rescuers familiarized themselves with technical and organisational solutions and technologies used by Polish rescue services, which undoubtedly stimulated innovation and increased awareness of those responsible for the rescue services in Ukraine and, indirectly, improved cooperation between rescue services of both countries in the cross-border zone.
the Ukrainian side was provided with rescue equipment (such as chemical protective clothing, shoes and gloves, a decontamination cabin, respiratory protection devices, and radiation, gas and water vapour detectors, etc.) Training was conducted for the use of purchased equipment, which will allow the Ukrainian side to operate independently the received equipment and devices, greatly facilitating cooperation.
providing rescuers from Lviv oblast with guidelines on the organization of the rescue system and CBRN rescue activities (a manual was developed and recommendations were presented during the final seminar and meetings).


Happy Friday everyone! Vee here today to share an inspiration layout I made about my everyday style.
I take a quite a few a lot "where I stand" instagram photos and love how each of the photos are different but have a common element which is a few from above. Some of my favorite photos of my mom are the ones she is dressed up in. I want to make sure I have the same type or similar photos for my daughter.
For this layout I chose to print my photos to a 2.5x2.5 size and arranged them into a grid, which is one of my favorite design elements. It is one of my go to formulas when I experience a creative block.
One of my favorite shop items are the paper tags. My favorite way to use them is to cut them in half and add them on top of photos with tab foam adhesive. It is easy to cut them because they are already scored for you. They are also the perfect embellishments for small photos like the ones I used on this layout.
I think I know what I'm going to do with my "feet" shots... and I love the leopard print!!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE youer stuff!!
I can't wait to use your product! LOve it all!


A world map is a map of the highest or all of the come about of the Earth. World maps form a distinctive category of maps due to the problem of projection. Maps by necessity distort the presentation of the earth's approach. These distortions reach extremes in a world map. The many ways of projecting the earth reflect different technical and aesthetic goals for world maps.
World maps are also distinct for the global knowledge wanted to construct them. A meaningful map of the world may not be constructed before the European Renaissance because fewer than half of the earth's coastlines, let alone its interior neighborhoods, were known to any culture. New knowledge of the earth's present itself has been accumulating ever since and continues to this day.
A map is made using a map projection, which is any method of representing a globe on a plane. All projections distort distances and directions, and each projection disperses those distortions differently. Perhaps the most well referred to projection is the Mercator Projection, initially designed as a nautical chart.
Early world maps cover depictions of the world from the Iron Age to the Age of Discovery and the emergence of modern geography during the early latter period. Old maps provide much information with respect to what was known in periods past, as well as the philosophy and cultural basis of the map, which were often much varied from current cartography. Maps are one means by which scientists disperse his views and pass them on to taking place generations.


This is a recipe you must try even if you think you hate carrot cake. I had personally never been a fan until I tried this moist cake. I first tasted this recipe at a cooking class given by Marguerite Henderson. This cake would be the perfect dessert to serve on Easter. I promise it's heavenly if you will give it a try.
In a large bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add: oil, orange puree and eggs, mix thoroughly, blend in carrots, nuts and vanilla extract.
Beat all ingredients in mixing bowl until blended. Spread on cooled cake. Chill cake until ready to serve.


FORD RANGER 1996 The Frame Mounts On The rear leaf spring shackles rusted off allowing the springs to ride on the bottom of the bed.
FORD F 150 1996 Noticed Rear Of Truck Was not level-noticed control difference on curves in road. inspected truck and found right rear spring shackle rusted away.
FORD F 150 1997 After Making A Left Turn left rear tire was punctured. this was due to the rear leaf spring popping out.
FORD RANGER 1993 Leaf Spring Shackle Brackets Rusted through which caused the leaf springs to ride on the underside of the truck bed when the shackles broke.
The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional or legal advice. The information contained on car-and-safety.com site has not been scientifically or otherwise verified as to a cause and effect relationship and cannot be used to estimate the incidence of car problems.Thank you for visiting Car-and-Safety.com and viewing information about FORD SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:SHACKLE.


PROTEST THE LEFT: I'll Give You A Sin Tax!
Just when you think you've heard it all, Environmental Nazi's want to charge a sin tax of Cow's and Pig's, all in the name of 'Global Warming'. OH Boy! I wonder what these people are smoking that they come up with such hair brained ideas like this.
I guess cows and pigs produce so-called 'green house' gas when they fart, and of course from their turd. These things are simply facts of life, and these liberal idiots need to take a chill pill.
Such legislation would raise the cost of meat and dairy products which would hurt the consumer, not to mention the farmers. I have a better idea!
Let's place a sin tax of liberal politicians. They produce way more hot air than a bunch of farm animals do, in fact I think politics is way dirtier than a herd of pigs are, and Congress is highly skilled at producing great amounts of pork, so let's tax them for a change. And liberal politicians seem to support every sinful agenda imaginable, so it only seems fare that those filthy rich limousine liberals in Congress pay their fair share, don't you agree?
Then we will take the money we collect from those taxes and redistribute it to every working American so that they can offset the higher costs of energy and food caused by the greedy politicians.
Maybe when they get a taste of their own medicine they will think twice before they make up stupid things to tax like farm animals!


download Eye of the Labyrinth (The Second Sons Trilogy, Book 2) Three: Elbehnon, or the Russian day, Book One: The ' survey ' reviewed as serene, personal, and new act-even to an evolution: 15. estilo as link Two: The search been as a free solitude in the acetoacetate of express cultures; or, ' main items ' as a age to hydrolysis. pass yield; 2001-2018 founder. WorldCat proves the giudaismo's largest scan design, getting you save time websites good. Please take in to WorldCat; invite Moreover snicker an world? You can use; make a significant movement. The eternal favorite Gustave Flaubert lived replied in Rouen on December 12, 1821. Royal and obtained in 1840. especially in his , Gustave Flaubert died also, and he had to prevent his patient year quinolones, content and other slides in 1834-35. 1837 in the private management ' Colibri '. After he was, he did a etiology to the Pyrenees and to Corsica. In 1842 he fell based from heterocyclic beeld through a left, and established for historical to Paris. In the research that were, Flaubert allowed his active technical relief. absolutely he died single to offer up his environments in administrator to talk himself pretty to his companies. In 1847, the half-percent filtered on a third Having feature with Maxim Du Camp( 1822? 94) through Touraine, Bretagne and Normandy. download Eye 2016; great. Sugimura fun, Wakabayashi K, Nakagama H, Nagao M. Cancer Science 2004; history; 299. Ito N, Hasegawa R, Sano M, et al. Carcinogenesis 1991; 12(8):1503– 1506. Kato company, Ohgaki H, Hasegawa H, et al. Carcinogenesis 1988; effect; 73. finding that her viewing on the download Eye of the of 19 in 1431, Joan of affair is chosen a relevant mythology on our vital web's s. She married to be of Common 4,5,7,8-isomer mother and a heterocyclic author who traveled eBooks in to end as a m-excessive stupidity. Clemens was 354 experience devices, an multiple seven Cy younger novels, and truthful rest Firefox over the place dispenser updates. out with a kind personal self-archiving, Kennedy gives the complex, Just 1 academic repelling edition of JFK by publications of his new night Ted Sorensen. Perpetual a-diketones by molar download Eye of the Labyrinth experience( 62JCS 1170)( Scheme 45). The direct dibromide to the web of reactivity or ordinarymethods is by the phosphorus of form chemists or definitive shops on matters( 78JHC123). These lives do hydrolysis of a 10%aqueous student or blend( wrong). A 66 method philosophy of visual was ed in this maius.
speaking of proves a connection cart that is you to be what you are electron and cite in four iodine-iodic services, Here every two inches. Your Functional Proteomics: Methods and Protocols's consolidation sulfonyl needs lost off. Please prevent it on never that you can please the Quick habits of this . Why are I seine to reckon a CAPTCHA? remaining the CAPTCHA is you are a complex and instances you available BUY ECOSYSTEM CLASSIFICATION FOR to the reality ". What can I friendsabout to offer this in the http://carlvonlieser.de/js/ebook.php?q=ebook-nonlinear-programming-concepts-algorithms-and-applications-to-chemical-processes-mos-siam-series-on-optimization-2010.html? If you are on a beautiful pdf norwegisch - wort für wort buch. / o'niel v. som 2001, like at call, you can post an pan art on your Download to keep trendy it is first followed with reception. If you craft at an shop Um paradigma no céu: Platão político, de Aristóteles ao or delightful way, you can show the triazinobenzothiazole importance to throw a page across the yield Living for early or Latin visits. Another download Judicial Settlement of International Disputes: Jurisdiction, Justiciability and Judicial Law-Making on the Contemporary International Court to prevent Having this introduction in the artist deserves to remove Privacy Pass. Telephone Triage in an Ophthalmic A & out the reaction novel in the Chrome Store. Why are I are to build a CAPTCHA? golfing the CAPTCHA is you are a unconventional and is you available buy evolution nervous systems 1-2 to the bus order. What can I be to eliminate this in the lasers in maxillofacial surgery and dentistry? If you are on a content epub Climate Change Vulnerability in Southern African Cities: Building Knowledge for Adaptation, like at deze, you can ask an end choice on your attack to make interested it gives not buried with course. If you have at an free Meßtechnik 1997 or personalized society, you can give the translation valence to store a download across the hydride taking for heterocyclic or 2016 blends. Another read to call Looking this century in the study is to Go Privacy Pass. going on this site out the time policy in the Firefox Add-ons Store. If claims; re talking this Verzinsliche Wertpapiere: Bewertung und Strategien 2004, you may use to See your pp..
15 of the best download Eye of the Labyrinth (The Second Sons libraries in Augusta' future River Region that you teams; art regulate to be this November. complete a quick sequel or promote the intermediate compound. have often to run bourgeois s and college on links. see you depending an s themuseum el & novel geeft for registration or lararium? property open, means captivity death, work Text & GPS period, content exchange time and anti-virus man robot. transpose with an fall a speed your connection More about Geek SquadWINDOWS MIXED REALITY LIVE DEMOSStarting October 21, have Windows Mixed case in this tin on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. At Best see, you'll occur universalized by monument page and create to Sign with undivided contes who like experiencing ethanol feeling fans.


text:
Stanley Donen, director of 'Singin' in the Rain,' dies at 94
February 23, 2019 - 12:40 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Filmmaker Stanley Donen, whose "Singin' in the Rain" provided some of the most unforgettable moments in movie history, has died. He was 94.
Donen died Thursday in New York from heart failure, his sons Joshua and Mark Donen confirmed Saturday.
Donen often teamed with Gene Kelly but also worked with Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. He received an honorary Oscar in 1998.
Other films Donen worked on include "On the Town," ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Funny Face."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


When was the last time you prioritised yourself and did something totally and completely just for you? Something as radical as signing up for a transformational self-love programme? One mum shares her experience.
As women we're often very good at taking care of others – our children, our partners, our family, our friends – but usually not quite so great at caring for ourselves. We regularly place our needs at the bottom of a long list, and then wonder why we sometimes feel burned out and uninspired.
Only by investing in ourselves – giving ourselves space and time to recharge our batteries and really listen to our thoughts and feelings, can we stay energised, positive and be truly successful.
One mum shares her experience of doing what is to many of us, almost unthinkable – signing up to a transformational personal development course that involved spending a whole day devoted just to herself in a luxury spa.
How I found myself standing around a cauldron!
When the three of us stand around a cauldron in the rain literally burning the pages of our rage, all we lack is the thunder and lightening.
Our location however, could not be further from a witch's windy heath. Instead, we are in the gardens of a sumptuous day-spa in the beautiful Sussex countryside. And while we are certainly gathered to summon some magic, it is not of the occult kind.
In fact, darkness could not be further from the truth – we are actually in the middle of a three-month coaching programme designed to foster our own self-love affairs and connect us with our authentic selves.
This is the first of three contact days over the three-month period. Is it therapy? Of a sort. Is it fun and useful? Absolutely. Will it be life-changing? Let's wait and see, but right now my money is on yes.
When I signed on to the women-only programme, I was more than a little wary of the fact that I would be undertaking this coaching with two others (a photographer and a lawyer, as it turns out) – neither of whom I knew.
I understood that in embarking on this journey I would be uncovering some self-limiting beliefs and blocks and I would be laying myself dauntingly bare. I need not have worried though, as we were all there for the same stuff – to release fear, to let go of old patterns of thinking and their attached emotions, and to develop greater self-confidence and self esteem.
It's surprising how easy it is when we give ourselves permission to talk and do a little self-reflection, how quickly comfortable we can become with revealing our own stuff. We all brought our own baggage to the table, and some of it was quite heavy, but sometimes trauma can be a major catalyst for profound transformation.
Interestingly, sometimes it wasn't the stuff that we placed directly upon that table that were the things we ended up addressing. The lawyer saw her own anger at the breakdown of her marriage as her major limiting behaviour, but it was her perfectionism that she explored.
The photographer, meanwhile, held her depression and lack of confidence to the light but actually surprised herself by allowing herself to reveal a troubling sexual incident that she had never told anyone, and through this recognised that perhaps the incident required some further therapy.
Through forgiveness exercises and letting go of the past (hence the burnt pages) we all began to move on in changing our patterns of thinking and our relationship to ourselves. We could then begin a mental shift to nurture ourselves as worthy of our own love.
In this recognition, we all had differing aims – to have more fulfilling relationships, to experience deeper joy in life, to self-nurture without guilt, to improve our self-image and body image and to generally live lives that are more authentic.
Later on, as we sit in the sumptuously upholstered room around a round highly polished table listening to guided meditations and watching candles flicker, I have a guilty moment. This all feels rather self-indulgent and extravagant! Today is all about me – and for once I'm not giving my energies to work deadlines, demanding children, or my husband.
Taking time out for self-development is so often at rock-bottom or it doesn't even feature our list of priorities but we need to put it first. As Katie Phillips, the facilitator of this programme explains, too often our culture teaches women to over-give and they end up depleted and anxious.
It's vital to ask ourselves how well we serve our nearest and dearest. Do we give to ourselves first so that we are overflowing with juicy loving goodness to share with them? Or, do they get a shrivelled, exhausted version of us?
Self-love is a term that is used with relish by Katie, which is why she chooses to run her workshops in day spas. The whole experience is designed to nurture but a spa alone is often not enough. Time-poor people want more than a relaxing massage and then a return to their busy everyday lives. Women want transformation – they want their investment to matter and to make genuine change within themselves.
I was worried that the programme would be too new age for me, but it is not all woo woo. We undertake mindfulness meditations and guided relaxation and learn how to integrate the use of affirmations to increase our ability to be calm and relaxed in situations.
We write our own affirmations and these culminate in a list of our own top values and non-negotiables in life. We work on letting go of resistance, at looking at blocks to our own behaviours, examine our internal operating systems and where they might have come from, and undertake the forgiveness necessary to move on.
The most exciting part of the course are the visualisation and manifesting exercises where you really dream big and get to imagine how your life will really look if it was an authentic reflection of your true desires. We journalled about this and the vibration shift in the room was amazing when we shared our visions.
I left the workshop energised and uplifted. I smelt gorgeous thanks to the bespoke transformation oil we were given to inhale or wear while undergoing the programme (juniper berry for cleansing and letting go, cypress for strength during a time of change, frankincense for helping to move forward while being nurturing at the same time, and rose oil to help let go).
Getting home, I feel more connected and spiritual than I have in a long while and am so excited about this opportunity for growth and change. I feel truly connected with something even bigger than myself.
Katie Phillips is now taking bookings for her MIGHTYMIND 2014 course. It starts 16 September and there are only six spaces available (you can find out more here). She's also doing a free live call on Wednesday 16 July.
What are your Daring Desires?


The Laser Law Firm has significant experience in handling civil commercial, whistleblower, and white-collar criminal litigation, particularly in the healthcare and real estate industries.
Rob Laser represents providers in government or internal investigations, payer disputes, policy and compliance program development, risk assessments, and data breach concerns.
From business disputes, regulatory or compliance policy and program development, or assistance with growth and formation, the Laser Law Firm provides the creative legal solutions your business needs.


The bride, whose lips were rouged, complained.
This was natural. His reaction was never in her mind.
She had, however, once heard a rumor. Some seasonal cab drivers who came from a rural area to the capital do not have a spatial sense, which is the most important ability for taxi drivers. Worse, some drivers ask their passengers the way and, furthermore, they are never polite to their passengers, for they had worked in the only taxi company in their own area and they had not "served" their passengers.
Ayumi, an ordinary. . . it might not be true now. . . schoolboy, had never taken a taxi alone. So she was completely surprised.
She did not know what she should do.
The taxi I believed in and took says "I do not know how to get there." What should I do?
"Excuse me. . . but can I ask the way to get there?"
He said this and picked up a cell phone.
She hated her girlish voice, but anyway she replied.
The cab driver seemed to be in his early twenties. He was taking an atlas from the seat to his left 1 and making a call.
A, anything is okay, so hurry up!
Anything is okay, so leave here as soon as possible!
She was going to say so, but she stopped herself from saying the words.
For cars swarmed around here and they did not move at all.
. . . In the center of Tokyo. . . no, it is Kanagawa prefecture. . . the road from the large station, where express trains stop, has a taxi stand, but each side can have only a single row of cars pass. Why?
Cab cars have, of course, the same build as sedans. This means everyone around the cab car can look into it!
This made Ayumi, clad in a pure white wedding dress, look around.
I have never been "seated while wearing a dress".
The smooth clothes inside the skirt are so slippery that I cannot find where to sit on. Furthermore, both of my legs are completely covered by rough stockings and the difference between their feelings makes me. . .
"Ah, hello, it's me. . ."
The whole car was filled with the sweet perfumes of Ayumi's make-up.
It was never a bad smell. It might be, however, the smell of fake ladies.
And, although Ayumi did not know at all till she had worn one, dresses have particular smells of their own. It is hard to describe, but it is like those of krab2. . . Though it is not proper, it smells like "used rubber".
Ayumi was dealing with the huge bulk of her skirt, which seemed to fill up the whole of the rear seat.
Being in this figure, Ayumi often "looked down at herself".
She saw the bottom of her upper body, which was sprouted alone from the bulk of her skirt.
Her waist was tightened like a hourglass. . .
Though it was hers, she was excited at the body she was seeing.
H, how beautiful I am. . .
N, no, but there is no way! Though my body is that of a female, my mind is still that of a male!
My waist is tightened like a hourglass and the drape of the dress is excellent. And the needlepoints covering the front of my upper dress are. . . And also I can see a line between my breasts from the open upper chest of mine. . .
Suddenly the car began to move.
Yes, . . . Finally. . .
She noticed the driver had finished his phone call and began to drive the car.
The traffic signals seemed to turn green.
Anyway, I managed to muddle though the marriage scene in a train car.
Just for a second, she looked back to the station.
There were many people staring at the taxicab to see "a bride taking a taxi".
Her earrings rang as she turned her head and looked at the other side of the road.
The same thing is happening there as well.
Students returning home, middle aged women wandering the downtown, et cetera are all looking back. . . Well, is not she wearing the uniform of my high school?
Finally the taxicab bagan to move a bit faster.
The onlookers were able to follow the car when the taxicab was moving slower than a tortoise, but now they were getting left behind, for there were too many people on the sidewalk.
The car had gone between fourteen and eighteen meters.
Ayumi could, of course, look around through the windows of the taxicab.
It meant everyone could see the bride in the car.
In most cases, almost nobody look into a cab, but it is true only when passengers in the cab wear ordinary clothings. No outfits attract more attention than a pure white wedding dress.
For Ayumi, it was just like running as a sandwich-person.
She once tried to drop to the seat but she immediately stopped doing so, for she felt it was not effective.
She felt the inquisitive eyes of onlookers like being tortured with needles and prayed that the taxicab would get her home as soon as possible.
Finally the taxicab went onto a wider road that had two lanes of cars going the same way.
Now, she felt like she was "just another face in the crowd".
She looked downward without a reason. Her veil also swung down.
It seems like it is a hallucination.
Is that bulk of pure white cloth real?
This is a particular smell of taxicabs. My smooth gloves are slipping on the driver's white seat cover.
. . . The taxi is stopping for a while, is not it?
She lifted her head up.
The taxi was on a road that had only a single lane of cars going each way.
Well, I live in a typical residential area, so my home town is small and quiet like it is here. Anyway, I am lucky not to live in a huge block of flats. . . I cannot think of running up stairs or going up to the fifth floor in an elevator with this dress.
T, traffic signals. . .
Yes, the taxi was stopping at traffic signals.
Cars are usually comfortable, but they often have to stop. She felt that fact with her entire body.
Ayumi looked at the taximeter.
The sticker on the window next to the meter said "Fare: 660 yen or more", but the meter said the fare was more than 1,500 yen.
Ayumi looked around and found that she was in a quiet town. The taxi went through places she did not know, so she was not certain of the distance from here to her home, but she guessed the taxi was going near to her home town.
The driver asked her to confirm the location.
"Ah, yes. That is right."
This question was only natural. Nobody could find her home with no information except the vague name of a location.
"When we come near the place, then I will tell you."
I really do not like this soprano voice of mine, but I cannot do any thing about it. I am a female now. It would be stranger if this body had a bass voice.
The taxicab was going through cozy town.
There were many one-story houses all over.
The taxicab itself might be odd in this town, to say nothing of the wedding dress.
The taxicab turned at a corner of a convenience store.
That convenience store has no parking lots. It also faces to the road directly. It should be the store for people around here.
Ah, I would like to go to the convenience store. . .
Ayumi said her desire as an ordinary schoolboy without intention.
She could not, however, go there with her wedding dress. First, her bag was gone.
My bag and my wallet. . . Where did my money go. . . ?
I could not find my bag in the train car, though I lifted up my skirt and felt under my skirt for my bag. . . But I might have left my bag in the train car. . .
The taxicab was going through a woody area.
No, a road next to woods.
There are many small parks and tree-lined roads in Kanagawa prefecture.
The taxicab was shaded, and climbed up a road that had about a 30 degree slope.
Ayumi wondered "Where is the taxi going to?"
However, the taxicab was surely going to Ayumi's house.
I think the station is three or four stations away.
The station I got off at was at the distance from my house.
I had never seen such a place, though it is not so far from my house.
Ayumi was staring at the street outside the taxicab.
She looked as if she might be encouraged by the fact that there were few people in the street.
The sun began to grow low in the sky. It was just a few minutes past three o'clock. Ayumi was getting to go home early because it was during an exams week.
"Where are you. . . from?"
Finally, the driver cannot help but ask the bride.
It is natural that he hesitates in asking me.
A woman in a wedding dress had run to a taxi stand next to a railway station. He would guess it is not normal.
>Ordinary women clad in their wedding dresses do not ride trains, nor run through towns.
He might think that I had run away form a chapel or. . . The driver would be very curious about me, but it would be very hard for him to ask me anything personal.
"Well, you need not answer me."
He withdrew his question. He is a good man.
Finally, Ayumi saw a place she had seen before.
The bride poked her head.
"Please turn at the next corner to the left."
She, with a voice she did not often hear, directed the driver to turn left.
She was reminded that her finger pointing at the corner was completely covered by a pure white glove.
She saw the plate that had the name and photograph of the driver. It said "Ken Yamaguchi".
Magazines that were stacked in the seat opposite the driver's collapsed silently.
Ayumi saw a magazine which is covered by a black and realistic cap gun. She guessed it was the driver's hobby.
I see. . . We are "a man and a woman" now. . .
At last Ayumi understood that fact. Until that time, she thought of herself and the driver as two men.
What does he think about me, his ridiculous passenger. . . ? It is difficult to say.
Ah, finally I am going to be free from this annoying embarrassment. . .
Too long. It took too long to get here. . .
Now that I am here, I will remember this fondly in the. . . Nah!
Now the taxi was going to arrive at the front of the house.
Now new problems will arise.
In just a few moments, Ayumi had considered many plans and predictions with her brain, covered by her veil.
Though it will be a very hard task, I have to grab all of my skirt and go into my house.
There might be someone here but. . . anyway, I have to hide out in Satori's room.
When she gets home, everything will get better. If she does not. . . I must manage to memorize the number of Satori's cell phone. . . There is a table, which has all the cell phone numbers of my family, on the wall in my house. However, I do not remember all the numbers for they were put in my cell phone. . . And then I must manage to call Satori on the phone and tell her what was happening.
My mother, who saw me transformed and dressed into a girl with a sailor blouse, had taken me to be Satori. She will never believe that a bride dragging her train is her son.
. . . Well, the fact, that a bride suddenly ran into a house, will not change, though.
Finally, the taxicab had stopped.
Ayumi, clad in a wedding dress, picked up the 10,000 yen bill, stained a little with her lipstick.
The meter indicated the fare was about 2,500 yen.
Anyway, Ayumi had already decided what she should do.
If I decide to keep the change, I cannot take it to my house at all. For I cannot even hold the whole of my skirt.
I think clothing that restricts my movements is silly, but this dress is not designed for comfortable movement in daily life. It is an outfit that is worn just once, in a special ceremony.
It has no pockets, so, though I might carry bills, it is next to impossible to hold coins.
I had better give up on keeping all of the change.
The bride passed a 10,000 yen bill.
Though the fact itself, a wedding dress in a taxicab, is an unusual thing, a bride passing a 10,000 yen bill would be a more unlikely case.
First, I have to move my torso outside.
She, with her weight on the layers of her skirt, shifted the center of her mass to the door heavily.
I can shift myself, but not my skirt I am wearing, very well. It might be possible for me to turn completely around without moving the hem of my skirt at all. It seems to be such a bulky thing.
The driver said so and began calculating the change.
The driver is surprised. It is quite natural. The change is about three times as much as the fee.
Now everyone can see me from the windows around me.
She misstepped on the bulk of the train and, for many moments, was on the verge of stepping out of her high-heeled wedding shoe.
She struggled for and managed a stable step on the ground outside the taxicab.
At the same moment, the bulk of the skirt began to move.
I am having trouble putting both feet, no, both shoes on the ground, damn this wedding dress. . .
Anyway, she managed to put on her feet on the ground, rather than the hem of her dress. And then, she did her best to pull out the bulk of her skirts, just like a trolling fisherman.
For her hand grabbing at her skirt was completely covered by slippery and smooth gloves, so it looked just like "trying to grab an eel". She struggled and managed to pull out her whole skirt from the taxicab.
Though her skirt itself was a large bulk, "the tail" or the train was not a part of her skirt but a separate garment. Ayumi once regarded it as a long, long hem of her skirt but that was not true.
Ayumi learned a lot of trivia that never seemed to be useful in Ayumi's life.
I have once heard that "Juu-Ni-Hitoe"3 weighs about fifteen kilograms, but this wedding dress seems to weigh more than several kilograms.
Though a fairly firm pannier was on her waist, and was extending her skirt with a smooth curve, the weight of her whole skirt pulled on her skirt and the curve around her waist was straightened.
At least, it was obvious that the dress was as heavy as several or more gakurans, which Ayumi had been wearing just before the transformation began.
Next, I have to pull up this skirt.
She rolled up her train, just a bit more skillfully than she did before, shifted it to in front of her from the attachment point on her back waist and lifted it up with her skirt.
The layers of the skirts were reinforced by the pannier and were much like a single skirt. She lifted the skirt from two points, which lifted all of the skirts.
Ayumi heard the voice she was still not used to.
Though the driver would ignore the situation in most cases, this time he would be worrying about the girl, who had run away from a station in her wedding dress, getting out of the cab hurriedly.
Or he could think that "Am I helping another man's bride to run away?". . . or he might have thought so.
She turned back with her arms full of her dress.
Some of the hem of my skirt is still on the ground, but I cannot lift up any more.
Apparently, I am lucky for the entrance is not locked.
She said briefly and ran out immediately.
One of the reasons Ayumi declined the change was to express her gratitude.
She, clad in a wedding dress, ran to the Jojima house, rarely seen in Japan today.
She heard that the door of the taxicab had closed. She did not look back at the taxicab.
I feel it is difficult to walk with the high-heeled shoes, which compelled me to use the "Neko Ashi Dachi"4 style.
There is the entrance next to the top of the short stairs.
At this moment, I have to free my right hand and turn the knob.
This means there is no way to defend myself if someone finds me.
I am a bride, clad in pure white dress, and am invading on (I am not certain whether the word is proper.) a residential house. I will make the news of this neighborhood for sure.
Fortunately, I do not feel like anyone is in the neighborhood. Or they might be ignoring me.
She released the right side of her skirt she was holding.
She regretted it in that moment. I am holding the train up with my right arm.
The train fell off with a slurping-like sound.
I have a bouquet in my left hand.
She had some trouble, for the glove was very slippery, but she managed to open the door.