As I type this late Thursday morning, the Cardinals (66-55) are flourishing.
You should be happy to have Mike Shildt as manager of your baseball team.
1. Shildt is genuine, honest, humble, extremely smart, secure in his ability to lead, confident in his baseball knowledge, invites dissenting opinions, listens to advice from his coaches, treats everyone with respect, and paid his dues for 15 years as a successful coach and manager in the minors before getting his first shot to manage in the majors.
2. Shildt isn't Mike Matheny.
3. The Cardinals have won eight consecutive games.
4. They've won six straight series.
5. They are 11 games above .500 for the first time since the 2015 season.
6. Shildt has led St. Louis to the best record in the majors (19-9) since his first game as manager on July 15.
7. Matheny won six series during his final 72 days as manager. Shildt has won six series in his first 32 days as the manager.
8. No manager in Cardinals franchise history has a better record than Shildt's 19-9 after the first 28 games on the job.
9. The Cardinals are 12-2 in August, the best in ball.
10. The Cardinals, who trailed the first-place Cubs by 8.5 games on July 25, have cut the lead to 4.
11. The Cardinals are just one game behind the second-place Brewers in the NL Central. On July 10, four days before Matheny's sacking, the Brewers led the Cardinals by 7 games.
13. The Cardinals are 1 game out of both NL wild card spots, currently held by the Brewers and Phillies. The Cardinals had trailed by as many as 5 games.
14. The Cardinals no longer run the bases like inebriated, concussed, meth-head humanoids. The Cardinals were 11th in the majors before the All-Star break in the Fangraphs' version of the base running runs metric. Under Schildt, the Cardinals are 5th in the majors and 3rd in the NL in the same metric. And in only 29 games with Shildt in charge, the Cardinals have only 0.7 BsR runs fewer than the Matheny Cardinals had in 93 games.
15. Stolen base percentage since Shildt Day: 14 steals, 18 attempts, 77.7%. Stolen-base success rate under previous regime, 60%.
16. The players love Shildt because of his open communication style, straight but constructive talk, and positive demeanor. Before Shildt makes any changes to the lineup or pitcher deployment or playing time, he speaks to the player first, explains the decision, and wants to know what the player has to say about it. This thoughtful communication hasn't taken place within this clubhouse and manager's office for a very long time.
17. Shildt's innovative idea to have a daily team meeting — all players — is brilliant. It's fast-paced. He discusses something from the previous game that they could have done better, and explains how. He pulls out video of something the team did very well, even if it didn't receive much if any media attention, and offers praise. And then he turns it over to the players who speak freely and candidly to the manager, the coaches and each other in an open setting. Matt Carpenter calls this daily meeting "our group therapy session" and says it has brought the team closer together.
18. Playing good defense is no longer optional. It is expected. After spending most of the first half of the season outside the top 10 in park-adjusted defensive efficiency, the Cardinals have jumped to 5th in MLB in PADE since Shildt and his staff got the freedom to get to work on making this team better.
⇒ Oquendo probably needs to have more knee surgery after the season. He hasn't decided if he'll be back with the Cardinals in 2018. BenFred asked Oquendo a smart question: Would he be more likely to return if Shildt is the manager?
21a. Yadier Molina loves Shildt.
21b. The coaching staff's morale is way up; Shildt seeks guidance, respects their views, expresses gratitude for their good ideas, and makes sure they realize they are free to disagree with him. Shildt believes respectful disagreement often leads to more enlightened discussion and expanded knowledge. You gotta be especially happy for pitching coach Mike Maddux.
22. Since batting coaches Mark Budaska and George Greer were added to Shildt's staff on July 15, the Cardinals lead the National League in batting average (.278), onbase percentage (.353), OPS (.806), homers (38), wOBA (.345), and park-adjusted runs created at 18% above league average offensively.
23. Since July 15 — aka "Shildt Day" — the Cardinals lead the NL in virtually all categories for two-strike hitting: RBIs (62), batting average (.233), onbase percentage (.298), slugging percentage (.382), OPS (.681), and park-adjusted runs created. And they are second in two-strike doubles (24) and homers (21.) The Cardinals had a .176 two-strike average and .504 two-strike OPS under the previous regime. With Buddha and Greer, Cardinals hitters have swung and missed just 17.9% with two strikes; tied for best in MLB.
24. Over the same stretch of 28 games, the Cardinals have the lowest strikeout rate in the league at only 17.4%, and are tied for the best walk-strikeout ratio.
25. And they are second in the NL with an average of 5.14 runs per game, second in slugging percentage (.454), second in doubles (53) and third in two-out RBI.
26. Harrison Bader is playing center field. And the defense is out-of–this world.
27. Jose Martinez often plays right field because Bader plays center field and can cover an immense amount of ground, thus compensating for J-Mart's limited range.
28. For the first time, the Cardinals' analytics department has an ally in the manager's office who shows them respect, takes their work seriously, and expresses gratitude for their contributions.
29. For the first time in a long, long time — going back to the Tony La Russa years — this organization is synchronized. And unified. The manager and front office and the analytics people have a shared vision and common goal. The manager and the coaches work as one. The players and the manager understand each other, and trust each other, and there is no special treatment for preferred veterans. The veterans and the rookies and the young guys are treated as equals, and they're made to feel as if their voice matters. This is how you shape a collective mindset. This is a big part of why the Cardinals were successful before weak leadership caused dysfunction to set in.
30. The Cardinals are becoming the Cardinals again. Just what you would expect from a George Kissell baseball favorite son who understands the extraordinary heritage, high standards, and honor that come with this manager's job.
BONUS! STATISTICAL CLEARANCE, FREE NUMBERS!
I have pulled too many little pearls here from my Inside Edge account about the last month of STL baseball under Shildt and don't want to discard them. So for those of you who enjoy these things, here are some hitting statistics for your perusal.
The reason why I focused on batting stats?
Because I'm really impressed by the substantial differences that we've seen in this team offensively over the last month. And I've broken the numbers down into separate categories so you can get a better sense of how much has changed offensively, across-the-board.
The Cardinals are batting .243 (112-for-461) with two strikes, best in MLB; League Avg: .184.
Cardinals hitters are slugging .403 with two strikes over the last 30 days; best in MLB; League Avg: .298.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .312 (514 PAs) with two strikes over the last 30 days (27 Games) — best in MLB; League Avg: .256.
Cardinals hitters have an OPS of .715 (514 PAs) with two strikes best in MLB; League Avg: .554.
Cardinals hitters have pulled 53.6% of balls they've put into play with two strikes; highest in MLB; League Avg: 45.2%.
Cardinals hitters have a Well-Hit Avg of .134 (62/461) with two strikes; best in MLB; League Avg: .100.
Cardinals hitters have a Well-Hit Avg of .211 (36/171) on pitches 94 mph or greater; 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .164.
Cardinals hitters have an OPS of .907 (202 PAs) on pitches 94 mph or greater; 4th best in MLB; League Avg: .781.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .442 (104 PAs) against pitchers who have thrown at least 80 pitches in a game; best in MLB; League Avg: .320.
Cardinals hitters have drawn 17 walks in 104 PAs (16.3%) against pitchers who have thrown at least 80 pitches in a game; highest in MLB; League Avg: 8.5%.
Cardinals hitters have a Well-Hit Avg of .202 against starting pitchers; best in MLB; League Avg: .158.
Cardinals hitters have 96 strikeouts in 589 PAs (just 16.3%) against starting pitchers; 3rd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 20.0%.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .371 (589 PAs) against starting pitchers over the last 30 days (27 Games) — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .322.
Cardinals hitters have 12 strikeouts in 104 PAs (just 11.5%) against pitchers who have thrown at least 80 pitches in a game; lowest in MLB; League Avg: 21.6%.
Cardinals hitters have a swing rate of just 43.7% against starting pitchers; lowest in MLB; League Avg: 46.9%.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .358 (430 PAs) versus relief pitchers; 5th best in MLB; League Avg: .331.
The Cardinals are batting .282 (107-for-380) versus relief pitchers; 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .257.
Cardinals hitters have 75 strikeouts in 430 PAs (just 17.4%) versus relief pitchers; 4th lowest in MLB; League Avg: 22.3%.
Cardinals hitters have swung and missed just 21.9% (178/813) versus relief pitchers; 4th best in MLB; League Avg: 25.5%.
Cardinals hitters have swung and missed just 21.3% against right-handed relievers; 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: 25.7%.
Cardinals hitters have 64 strikeouts in 355 PAs (just 18%) against right-handed relievers; 5th lowest in MLB; League Avg: 22.0%.
Cardinals hitters have 11 strikeouts in 75 PAs (just 14.7%) against left-handed relievers; lowest in MLB; League Avg: 23.0%.
Cardinals hitters are slugging .600 against left-handed relievers; 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .420.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .400 (75 PAs) against left-handed relievers; tied for 4th best in MLB; League Avg: .338.
Cards hitters have an OPS of 1.000 (75 PAs) against LH relievers over the last 30 days; 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .758.
Cardinals hitters have a Well-Hit average of .200 (13/65) against left-handed relievers over the last 30 days; tied for 5th best in MLB; League Avg: .151.
The Cardinals are batting .337 (30-for-89) on changeups; best in MLB; League Avg: .237.
Cardinals hitters have 5 home runs on changeups; tied for 5th most in MLB.
Cardinals hitters have a line drive rate of 30.6% (22/72) on changeups; highest in MLB; League Avg: 21.4%.
They're slugging .596 on changeups; 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .391.
Cardinals hitters have 11 home runs on breaking pitches over the last 30 days; tied for 5th most in MLB.
Cardinals hitters have put 37.8% of their swings in play on breaking pitches against RHP over the last 30 days; 4th highest in MLB; League Avg: 35.1%.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .375 when the bases are empty; best in MLB; League Avg: .314.
Cardinals hitters are slugging .504 when the bases are empty over the last 30 days; best in MLB; League Avg: .415.
Cardinals hitters have an OPS of .879 (526 PAs) when the bases are empty over the last 30 days; best in MLB; League Avg: .729.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .374 (230 PAs) when leading off an inning; best in MLB; League Avg: .314.
Cardinals hitters have pulled 54.8% of balls they've put into play (86/157) when leading off an inning over the last 30 days; 2nd highest in MLB; League Avg: 46.3%.
Cardinals hitters have a swing rate of just 41.3% when leading off an inning over the last 30 days; 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 45.9%.
Cards hitters have 39 strikeouts in 316 PAs (just 12.3%) against LHP; lowest in MLB; League Avg: 20.6%.
Cardinals hitters have swung and missed just 17.8% against LHP; 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: 22.9%.
Cardinals hitters have an OPS of .942 (316 PAs) against LHP (19 Games) — best in MLB; League Avg: .738.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .414 (316 PAs) against LHP; best in MLB; League Avg: .324.
They have a Well-Hit Avg of .214 against LHP over the last 30 days; best in MLB; League Avg: .154.
Card are are slugging .528 (143 total bases in 271 ABs) against LHP; best in MLB; League Avg: .414.
Cardinals hitters have 132 strikeouts in 703 PAs (18.8%) against RHP; tied for 5th lowest in MLB; League Avg: 21.0%.
Cardinals hitters are averaging 3.98 Pitches per Plate Appearance against RHP; tied for 4th highest in MLB; League Avg: 3.86.
Cardinals hitters have a Well-Hit Avg of .157 on breaking pitches against RHP; 4th best in MLB; League Avg: .124.
Cardinals hitters have pulled 47.7% of balls they've put into play against RHP; 5th highest in MLB; League Avg: 45.2%.
Cardinals hitters have not grounded into a double play in 38 opportunities in close and late situations; tied for best in MLB; League Avg: 8.5%.
Cardinals hitters have 33 strikeouts in 167 PAs (just 19.8%) in close and late situations; 5th lowest in MLB; League Avg: 24.1%.
Cardinals hitters have drawn 19 walks in 167 PAs (11.4%) in close and late situations; 4th highest in MLB; League Avg: 8.2%.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .366 (1,019 PAs); best in MLB; League Avg: .325.
And a Well-Hit Avg of .181; 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .154.
And an OPS of .836 (1,019 PAs); best in MLB; League Avg: .753.
Cards hitters have an OPS of .866 (673 PAs) on the road over the last 30 days; 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .752.
Cardinals hitters have 171 strikeouts in 1,019 PAs (just 16.8%); 3rd lowest in MLB; League Avg: 20.9%.
They have come to the plate with runners in scoring position in 285 of their 1,019 plate appearances (28.0%); that's 3rd highest in MLB; League Avg: 24.4%.
Cardinals hitters are slugging .470 (421 total bases in 896 ABs); 5th best in MLB; League Avg: .428.
Cardinals hitters have an OBP of .355 (346 PAs) at home over the last 30 days; 5th best in MLB; League Avg: .329.


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Details to consider about St.George's Relocation Loan.
To be eligible for this loan, you must be an owner occupier or an investor buying a property, contract building or purchasing land to build. The Relocation Loan is not available for owner building, vacant land purchase or extended settlement loans.
The Relocation Loan period is at St.George's standard variable interest rate. For an end loan, you can select a St.George home loan with the right interest and features that suit you.
A Relocation Loan without an end loan will require no repayments, as interest will be capitalised throughout the Relocation Loan period. You will then repay the Relocation Loan in full once you've sold your home.
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On August 28, Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC) participated in the "Low-Carbon Development and Financing Solutions – South-South Cooperation" workshop, which was held by the United Nations Development Programme in China (UNDP China) in Beijing. Ms. Joyce Zhang, Deputy Director-General of FCSSC, joined a panel discussion themed "Innovative Financing for Sustainable Development in the South-South Cooperation Context" to share FCSSC's experience in channeling private capital towards the developing world with representatives from over 20 different Belt and Road (OBOR) countries, leading Chinese and international financial institutions, the private sector, and major academics in this field.
As part of the efforts to support China's South-South cooperation and Belt and Road Initiative, UNDP China organized a workshop themed "Low-Carbon Development and Financing Solutions through South-South Cooperation" on 28 August 2017 in Beijing, Hilton Hotel. The workshop was built on the recent momentum of the Belt and Road Forum held in May 2017 in Beijing, seeking to provide a platform for dialogue and discussion on how China's low-carbon solutions and development financing may benefit developing countries, including providing concrete examples to countries and institutions of new innovative models for development financing.
FCSSC has been working with UNDP China since 2015. As strategic cooperation partners, the two parties have successfully supported the launch of "Made in Africa Initiative" and the United Nations Social Impact Fund, as well as co-organized the annual "Silk Road Forum". Both FCSSC and UNDP China would like to further strengthen the partnership to actively contribute to the realization of SDGs.


But first, we should see what her argument is against QE. Basically, she explains in a fantastic and fundamental way, the QTM, the Quantity Theory of Money, MV=PY. Basically she says that the left side of the equation MV, meaning money supply times velocity is affected by the right side of the equation, PY, which is price level times yearly output. So, MV is affected by PY, not the other way around. And PY is nominal GDP.
"If M is fixed, then when Y is rising either V must rise (money must circulate faster, which implies people spending more frequently) or P must fall. But when P is falling, people tend to delay purchases, which slows the velocity of money. So falling P tends to be associated with falling, not rising, V. Thus, if M is fixed, Y will eventually stagnate or even fall. M should be allowed to rise as Y rises, keeping the price level stable.
So, far from dissing it, Keynes in effect used the QTM himself. And yet he is definitely critical of it. So what is he really complaining about? His objection is to ACTIVE expansion of the money supply in order to stimulate output."
So, M is not broad money, but rather is the monetary base, or base money. M is not a large amount compared to broad money, which is created by banks when loans are created.
So, increasing M which never gets to the people, according to Coppola, is not going to do much for the right side of the equation.
If what you want is to encourage people to spend, you must increase the money available to those most likely to spend it.
Simply buying the assets of the rich is not going to make much difference to economic activity. So helicopter money would be far better than QE as a monetary stimulus.
So now we propose helicopter money and "people's QE" as a way of doing deficit spending while pretending we are not. Is anyone really fooled?
1. There is plenty more base money available.
2. The base money issued directly by the central bank is not deficit spending at all, being accompanied by the issuance of a perpetual bond or no bonds at all!
The truth is, as Lonergan says at the end of this article, inflation targeting could still be accomplished if money is put directly into the hands of the people. I would say the truth is this, the average guys on the street are fed up drinking at the trough of borrowing. They don't like borrowing and banks don't like lending to them.
Expanding M does nothing if it is for excess reserves or even for lending, if people don't want to borrow. But helicopter money would be the only successful use of M unlike all other increases in M that have left main street balance sheets in tatters. Frances Coppola, and others who are not opposed to HM, need to be convinced simply that this is not deficit spending. In the meantime, many thanks to her for her clear insight in opposition to asset inflation as a means of helping the broad economy.


Tovarich is a painting by Nancy Brennand which was uploaded on July 15th, 2010.
This Siberian husky wandered into my view as I captured this old deserted monastary in Russia, situated along the Moscow Canal.
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text:
Gulf coast refinery, 2011
At the California Institute of Psychics, only two of every one hundred applicants are selected, so you're guaranteed a good reading or your money back. A woman on the radio talked about severed feet washing up on the Pacific coastline. "Chopped-off feet are coming in with the tide, and nobody knows why," she said.
A low voice talked about disemboweled bodies in New Mexico. "Humans don't have the technology to suck out a person's intestines through their naval, but I'm telling you that's exactly what happened." 600,000 Americans go missing every year, and everyone on this radio station believes they were abducted by aliens. The conversation steered to the Illuminati, as it usually does after midnight, and it's a worthy fantasy: to think someone's in charge. During commercial breaks, I sang along to radio jingles for machines that control your brainwaves while you sleep. Wake up energized and get more done.
The KLF – The Lights of Baton Rouge Pass By
Chill Out | KLF Communications, 1990 | More
https://atlasminor.com/radio/The%20Lights%20of%20Baton%20Rouge%20Pass%20By.mp3
People are edgy, their dreams infected with anxiety if they can sleep at all.
She made a comment about her life that seems like a solid piece of wisdom for dealing with any kind of history: "I need to look back, but I don't need to stare."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Pierwsza dynastia
 ? Manasses I
 do 1032: Manasses II
 1032–1056: Manasses III
 1056–1118: Hugon I
 1118–1124: Gerwazy I
 1124–1151: Matylda I

Druga dynastia
 1124–1158: Eudes de Vitry
 1158–1171: Ithier
 1171–1199: Manasses IV
 1199–1227: Hugon II
 1227–1242: Hugon III
 1242–1251: Jan I
 1251–1262: Walter I
 1262–1272: Manasses V
 1272–1285: Hugon IV
 1285–1328: Joanna I

Dynastia Dampierre
 1290–1322: Ludwik I
 1322–1346: Ludwik II
 1346–1384: Ludwik III
 1384–1402: Małgorzata I

Walezjusze, linia burgundzka
 1384–1402: Filip I Śmiały
 1402–1407: Antoni I
 1407–1415: Filip II
 1415–1464: Karol I
 1464–1491: Jan II

Dynastia Albret
 1491–1500: Jan d'Albret
 1500–1549: Maria d'Albret

Dynastia kliwijska
 1506–1521: Karol II
 1549–1561: Franciszek I
 1561–1562: Franciszek II
 1562–1564: Jakub I
 1564–1565: Henrietta

Gonzagowie
 1565–1595: Ludwik IV
 1595–1637: Karol III
 1637–1659: Karol IV

Mancini-Mazarini
 1659–1661: Jules Mazarin
 1661–1699: Hortensja Mancini
 1699–1731: Paul-Jules de la Porte
 1731–1738: Paul de la Porte
 1738–1781: Louise Jeanne de Durfort

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
2007 recall of Chinese LT tires prompted greater scrutiny
Miles Moore, Senior Washington Reporter
UNION, N.J. — The August 2007 recall of defective Chinese light truck tires taught Foreign Tire Sales Inc. (FTS) — and the industry in general — a number of important lessons, particularly contractual ones.
"We now operate with every supplier, from China or elsewhere, with as comprehensive a contract as we can get them to agree to," said Lawrence N. Lavigne, vice president of operations and general counsel for the Union-based distributor, in a conversation with Tire Business.
"We discuss the potential of a recall up front now, and we feel manufacturers out on what they feel their responsibilities will be."
Unfortunately, FTS learned the hard way from Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. in the form of approximately 255,000 radial light truck tires sold in the U.S. under the Compass, Telluride, Westlake and YKS brand names. FTS, the importer of the tires, ended up being responsible for the recall.
The controversy began with an August 2006 rollover crash allegedly caused by a belt and tread separation in a tire made by Hangzhou Zhongce. Two men were killed in the crash, and a third suffered permanent brain damage.
The victims' families filed suit in Philadelphia Circuit Court against Hangzhou, FTS, General Motors Corp. (now General Motors Co.) and other defendants. FTS subsequently sued Hangzhou in New Jersey federal district court, seeking unspecified damages and an injunction against further importation of Hangzhou tires.
Because Hangzhou had no corporate offices or representatives in the U.S., FTS was deemed the "manufacturer of record."
Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lavigne/LinkedIn
Lawrence Lavigne, vice president of operations and general counsel, Foreign Tire Sales Inc.
It recalled the tires — originally estimated at 450,000 — after submitting to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) a report showing that the Hangzhou tires lacked sufficient gum strips between the belts to prevent tread separation.
FTS also estimated that the recall would cost $50 million to $80 million and told NHTSA it could only pay 10 to 15 percent of the cost.
A while later, FTS reduced the number of tires involved to 255,000, and estimated the recall cost at less than $20 million.
Mr. Lavigne, who was FTS' attorney at the time of the recall, became a company executive at that time.
The final tally of tires returned in the recall was only a small percentage of the total, according to Mr. Lavigne, with 7,254 tires from dealer stock and 1,650 from consumers.
Foreign TIre Sales
Cautionary information posted on Foreign Tire Sales' web site.
"We went way beyond the requirements NHTSA set forth," he said. "We were one of the first companies to use YouTube to alert customers to a recall."Mr. Lavigne, however, was less than pleased by NHTSA's response to FTS.
"Because we are a small company, we asked NHTSA for help," he said. "The response we got was, 'Quit shirking your responsibility.'"
Since 2007, many new tire factories have opened in China, and the new owners seem to understand their legal responsibilities well, according to Mr. Lavigne.
"I like to say that the Great Wall is cracking," he said. "There's a lot more cooperation between manufacturers and importers, and manufacturers understand much better what will happen if there's a recall.
"Chinese companies used to think that if you met NHTSA standards, that was enough," Mr. Lavigne said. "They didn't realize that was just what you had to do to get into the U.S. It didn't mean your product was high-quality or safe."
Besides attending to the fine print in the contracts, FTS also performs its own, extremely thorough testing of every tire it sells, according to Mr. Lavigne.
"We have a full-time engineer who goes to every factory for testing," he said. "The factories say we're a pain in the neck to deal with, but they've come to understand why we do it. They know they can't stick their heads in the sand."
Mr. Lavigne said FTS imports ProMeter car, light truck/SUV and medium truck tires from China, the Flagship brand, Otani truck, bus and OTR tires from Thailand, along with the Danzig and Brutus labels. He noted that "95 percent of our tires are sourced from China."
USW files antidumping, countervailing duty petition vs. Chinese tires
Goodyear to upgrade Cooper plant in China
Our View: Early look at tire industry in 2023


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Get. Pumped. Great Lakes Science Center's out-of-this-world, ridiculously spectacular, remarkably nerdy and forever legendary Yuri's Night is BACK!
Our annual fundraiser and monumental space bash; Yuri's Night: Space Party orbits back to Cleveland on Saturday, April 13, 2019. We're raising the bar this year with live music, bigger science demonstrations, and all-new scavenger hunts! And don't forget the essentials: an open bar with beer and wine, and tasty appetizers!
This is the perfect way to experience the museum after dark! Come dressed to impress in your best outer space/science fiction themed costume and compete in the costume contest. Money raised from Yuri's Night helps fund the Science Center's STEM education initiatives, day camp scholarships and other programs that encourage curiosity and provide opportunities for tomorrow's scientific leaders.
VIP 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
General Admission 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.


text:
The War of the Rharbarberian Succession - Campaign Turn 5 Moves
As a bit of a refresher, both armies were closing towards each other around Offenburgh. The Prusskians had won the first major battle to the East of the capital, but the Ruthenians had been able to quit the field of battle, albeit in a rather battered and disordered state.
The positions at the end of Campaign Turn 4
With the orders in from both players for Campaign Turn 5, it was time to look at how they could be executed on the map, the outcome of which can be seen below.
The opening moves of Campaign Turn 5. Two battles that will take place can be seen to the North East and East of Offenburgh.
The Ruthenian 3rd & 5th Cavalry have advanced and pushed back the Prusskian 2nd Cavalry, who have had to retreat to 9A/7, where the Prusskian 1st Division has arrived to support the Light Infantry Battalion that was guarding the bridge there. With their arrival, the 3rd & 5th Cavalry have wisely chosen to 'observe' the enemy from a safe distance, but are in a position to threaten one of the Prusskian Lines of Communication. The Ruthenian 4th Division has moved to the South East of Offenburgh and is in a position to advance against the Prusskian right flank or move to assist the Ruthenian right flank as required.
The Ruthenian 6th Division has pushed aggressively forward against the Prusskian 4th Cavalry, who have retreated in the face of overwhelming force. Fortunately the Prusskian 3rd Division has been sent to re-inforce them, but they have to cross the river in order to do this. Will they arrive in time or will the Ruthenians be able to defeat them in detail? Battle will be joined between these forces.
After their recent victory, the Prusskian 5th Division and 6th Cavalry have moved against the the Ruthenian 2nd Division and 1st Cavalry. The Ruthenians moving to assist the 6th Divisions advance, have no choice but to halt in favourable terrain if possible, to give battle to help protect the Ruthenian 6th Divisions advance. One of their Brigades is still feeling the after effects of the previous battle and they their cavalry is weaker than the Prusskians. This could be a tough ask but if the terrain favours them, it might equal things up a bit. Again battle will be joined.
We have reached what might be the decisive battles of the campaign. I will play both out before posting the AAR's so not as to affect either players decisions in terms of deployment, tactics etc as the two battle are so close to each other. The first one, the Ruthenian 6th Divisions aggressive advance has been worked out in terms of the terrain to be fought over, which should be interesting. I just need to set the table up, send info to both players and hopefully fight the battle today.
There will be some radio silence for a bit on this campaign as outlined above, so until next time...
Posted by Steve J. at 23:11 8 comments:
Labels: Black Powder
The War of the Rhabarberian Succession - Turn 4 Flank Attack
With the Turn 4 moves completed in the campaign, one battle had to be resolved before Turn 5 could commence. As the Ruthenian 2nd Division advanced to join the 1st Cavalry Regiment (9B/11), it detached a Brigade with support to protect its right flank. Unbeknown to the Ruthenian 2nd Division commander, he had the Prusskian 5th Division bearing down on his right flank and so would naturally 'bump into' the detached Brigade. This in short was the outline for the battle.
With the terrain dictated by the map, it was fairlt easy to set the table up ready for the game. Mostly open grassland, it was punctuated with some orchards and a farmhouse by the road junction. I added in some rhubard fields (the artificial grass pieces on the table) for campaign flavour, using the cornfields rule from the 'Glory Hallelujah!' supplement, which we had found rather fun.
With the table thus set up, I sent 'photos to both players asking for their plans of attack and deployment. Once received I would then play the game solo, following their orders as best I could as the game developed..
Prusskian Orders (Red)
Dave's classic Zulu attack, which has stood him in good stead in our games. His ojective was to defeat the enemy as quickly as possible so as to keep the initiative for the next Campaign Turn.
Ruthenian Orders (Blue)
Keith's deployment made the best of the limited terrain available to him. His orders were to inflict as many casualties on the enemy as possible, then withdraw once he had lost the first unit, with the Light Infantry covering the withdrawl.
Following the above orders, I set both sides up as closely as I could to their plans. The Prusskians would get the first Turn and start the game on the table edge.
An overview of the table. The Ruthenians have advanced up the road from the South and, as they reach the farmhouse, the spy the Prusskian hordes arriving on their flank. They deploy quickly and await the inevitable assault.
The view from the Ruthenian lines.
The view from the Prusskian lines. There are an awful lot of them...
The Prusskian commander sent his cavalry forward on the right flank, to probe the enemy positions. The Light Infantry were to support them, but failed their command roll. The rest of the Division made some small advances, but nothing spectacular.
The Ruthenians, content to hold in their current positions, opened fire with their artillery, which failed to hit anything.
The end of Turn 1.
A Frederickian oblique attack developing? the artillery has been massed into a Grand Battery, moving in support of the centre and right flank. The large square bottom right is the Light Infantry unit.
The left flank gently moves off, which is not really what the commander wanted.
The Prusskian cavalry held position awaiting the Light Infantry, which once again failed its command roll. The Left Flank also failed its command roll, but the Centre and Right Flank advanced and opened fire on the Ruthenian Right Flank, causing Disorder and 2 hits.
The Ruthenian Light Infantry that had been held in reserve, moved up to support the Right Flank. The Right Flank, Artillery and Centre opened fire, but only managed to hit one unit in the Prusskian Centre, causing 2 hits and Disorder.
Both sides exchange fire and take similar amounts of damage.
The Ruthenian view of the battle.
The Prusskian view.
The tardy Prusskian left flank.
The Prusskian Cavalry moved once to put pressure on the Ruthenian left, having tired of waiting for the Light Infantry. The Light infantry rolled a Blunder which at least led them to advance one whole move! Then the Centre also Blundered, leading to two units retreating one move! Not really what the Commander wanted. At least the Left Flank moved once and the Right Flank moved forward, unlimbered the Artillery and prepared to shoot with the infantry. The Ruthenian Centre in the farmhouse became Disordered and took one hit, whilst the Right Flank became Shaken and Disordered, but easily passed their Break Test.
The Ruthenian Left Flank moved up to be within range of the enemy, as did the Light Infantry. The Left Flank Disordered a unit on the Prusskian right, whilst in the Centre the Prusskians lost an Infantry Unit to artillery fire, as it failed its Break Test and turned tail. Elsewhere the shooting failed to hit anything.
The Prusskian Infantry Battalion breaks and heads for home.
The Ruthenian lines are slowly coming under pressure and are in danger of being flanked.
The Prusskian mass begins to close in.
The Left Flank is still too far behind the rest of the Division.
As the Prusskain Cavalry continued to advance past the Ruthenian left, the Light Infantry once gain failed its command roll! Finally the Left Flank found its mojo and moved three moves to really put pressure on the Ruthenian Right Flank. With the Centre and Right Flank in position to try and gain fire superiority over the enemy, the massed Artillery failed to hit anything, whilst the Infantry either missed or had their hits saved, bar one unit which took one hit. Not the best shooting by a long stretch.
With the Ruthenian Right Flank in danger of being turned, the Light Infantry and Right Flank withdrew slightly to offer a refused flank. Now it was the Ruthenians turn for poor shooting, with only the Left Flank causing two hits on the Prusskian Right.
The Ruthenian Refused Flank.
The Ruthenian Left Flank in danger of being turned by the Prusskian Cavalry.
The Prusskian Centre and right Flank are now finally back together again. The Light infantry still stubbornly fail to move (bottom right).
The Prusskian Left Flank finally get their act together.
As the Prusskian Cavalry cut the Ruthenian LoC, the Light Infantry yet again failed their command roll!!! Across the board the Prusskians advanced and shot at the Ruthenians. The Ruthenian Right Flank once again had to take a Break Test and again passed it with flying colours. In the centre the Ruthenian Artillery was destroyed and the Ruthenian Left Flank had to retreat one move after taking a Break Test. Pressure was beginning to tell.
With the loss of the Artillery unit and the general situation, it was time for the Ruthenian forces to start their withdrawl. The Centre and Left Flank made a Disorderly Retreat, whilst the Right Flank withdrew two moves. The Light Infantry moved off and shot at the Prusskian Cavalry, causing one hit.
The end of the Prusskian Turn.
The Artillery unit in the centre (square block) is destroyed.
The end of the Ruthenian turn.
The Ruthenian withdrawl is under a lot of pressure, but is still in with a chance.
The Prusskian 'horns' try and close on the Ruthenians.
Having come under fire, the Prusskian Cavalry wanted to move out of range but failed thier command roll. The Light Infantry finally passed a command roll, a case of too little too late! Across the board the Prusskians shot at the Ruthenians, leaving the Centre Shaken. Again the Ruthenian Right Flank took hits, six of them, saved four and then passed their Break Test. What are the chances?!
Still needing to withdraw, the Ruthenian Left Flank and Centre made Disorderly Retreats, whilst the heroic Right Flank managed to exit the table. The Ruthenian Light infantry moved towards the beleaguered Prusskian Cavalry, but only managed Disorder them.
The Ruthenians are under severe pressure.
The Ruthenian Light Infantry engage the Prusskian Cavalry as the Ruthenians continue with their Disorderly Retreats.
I rolled for the Prusskian commands to quickly see if they could hamper the withdrawl, but they couldn't so with that I called it a day as the remaining Ruthenian units could exit the table safely.
Post Game Thoughts
Well that was much closer than I thought it would be for a variety of reasons. A great game and fun to implement Dave's and Keith's orders, which made decision making easy for myself. Yet again Black Powder II gave a nice game, with plenty of challenges and was easy to play. So as always some post game thoughts in no particular order:
The failure of the Prusskian Light Infantry was one of those episodes where you almost knew they were going to continue to fail until it was all over bar the shouting. If they had moved as planned, their extra firepower and their threat to the flank might have made for a very different game.
Stars of the show undoubtedly had to be the Ruthenian Right Flank Battalion that survived three Break Tests in the game! This kept the Ruthenians at the party for far longer than would normally happen, given my usual die rolling. Again one of those episodes where you just knew they were going to pass. I think going forward they deserve some bonus in the next game to reflect their heroic action.
Both sides shooting at times was somewhat poor and could have turned the game either way if it had been more effective. In the long run the Prusskian numbers would have told, but in campaign terms losses could be crucial.
Even though the Ruthenian force managed to withdraw as planned, they were rather battered and almost hors de combat. Again this needs to be reflected somehow in terms of the campaign.
The loss of the Ruthenian Artillery unit will probably hurt them more than the Prusskian's Infantry Battalion. Only time will tell.
Playing this as part of a campaign made a difference as to how I approached the end of the game. Normally I would have called it a day as the Ruthenians started to withdraw, but with the campaign aspect, I played it right to the end to see if any units were caught or destroyed before they could exit the table. This certainly added a level of tension not normally seen as the end of a game.
I think it goes without saying but playing the campaign as a whole is great fun and certainly comes up with intriguing actions such as this one.
So now all I have to do is update the campaign map, take account of how this actions might affect either side and then await further orders for Turn 5. Until next time...
Posted by Steve J. at 06:47 10 comments:
The War of the Rhabarberian Succession - the Opening Moves.
The sudden death of the ruler of Rhabarberia had left a problem in the local geo-politics of this part of Mittel Europa. The heir, Prinz Rupert, was not yet of an age to assume the throne and frankly spent most of his time asking Mummy where his chin was. With the two main powers in the region locked in battle in the Austro-Prussian War, the Elector of Prusskia and the Grand-Duke of Ruthenia both saw an opportunity to annexe the Principality of Rhabarberia.
A certain enmity existed between the two States as the Elector hated rhubard, the main export from Rhabarberia, whilst the Grand-Duke liked nothing better to go with his custard. Wishing to protect the lucrative rhubard fields, the Ruthenian Army advanced in to Rhabarberia whilst it helped Prinz Rupert find his chin. The Prusskian Army could not stand idly by and so also advanced, under the guise of protecting Rhabarberian independence, but with the real aim of replacing the rhubard fields with some nice cabbage.
With the broad mechanics of the campaign sorted and the players briefed, it was time to kick things off. Each player gave me a broad guide to their intentions, which can be seen below.
The Army of the Elector of Prusskia (Red)
Standing general Divisional actions on meeting enemy:
If enemy forces are met, cavalry to chase off enemy light screens. Aggression to be applied to this.
Light infantry to always be in lead elements of Division to move forward and assist cavalry. Aggression to be applied to this.
1st Brigade to Deploy in order to hold current position until enemy can be driven off. Use artillery to chase off enemy.
On completion of clearing enemy continue to forward movement.
If main body is met, deploy to engage and win fire fight with all available firepower.
Be prepared to take advantage of weak flanks.
Bull horns, then main body.
The Army of the Grand-Duke of Ruthenia (Blue)
Strong centre, outflanking on the right, cavalry diversion on the left.
insert keith and daves starting orders/plans here.
Starting Positions
Each player was asked for their starting positions and first Turn orders of movement. I then simply applied them to the map and moved them to fit in with their orders according to the terrain and their standing orders. Once the moves had been completed, I then updated the players on their troops positions (which did not always correspond to their orders) as well as showing them 'photos and, where appropriate, enemy troops positions. This maintained a true fog of war in the early Turns and as they made contact, more was revealed. Good use of cavalry screens was crucial as not only did it allow the commander to 'see' the enemy, but it also blocked the enemy's view to troops behind the screen etc.
An overview of the Principality of Rharbarberia, with the capital in the middle of the board.
End of Turn 1
Both sides advance as per their orders, with the road network favouring the Ruthenians at this point.
Cavalry from both sides approaches the capital, Offenburgh, whilst the infantry is still someway back.
As the cavalry started to see enemy troops, the fog of war lifted somewhat, allowing the respective commanders to concentrate their forces as they saw fit. This Turn saw the first engagement, with cavalry meeting to the East of the capital, Offenburgh.
The Prusskian cavalry outnumbers the Ruthenian cavalry.
An AAR of the cavalry clash can be found here. The aftermath of the cavalry clash can be seen below.
Both sides manouevred for position and as they did so, the Prusskian 5th Division caught a detached Brigade from the Ruthenian 2nd Division by surpise as they advanced to the East of Offenburgh.
Both Armies surround Offenburgh, which has closed its gates to both sides.
The action is about to get interesting to the East of Offenburgh.
So this latest battle will be fought over the next day or so and the outcome may or may not have a big influence on the overall campaign.
Campaign Thoughts So Far
I thought I'd jot down some notes on how the campaign has gone so far:
Ideally it would be good to have the map permanently set up somewhere, so you don't have to keep re-positioning the counters each Turn. Sadly I don't have such a space.
When setting out the maps squares, it is important to have a good look at how the road network works in terms of movement etc. Also are the rivers fordable or not, how hilly is the terrain and what effects, if any, might this have on troop movement. I sort of did this when chossing the squares, but would pay more attention next time.
With the fog of war early on, using your cavalry to scout ahead is an absolute must. With my God like overview, it is interesting to see the orders each Turn and what might unfold when they can 'see' each other.
Make sure you have plenty of counters that cover various situations, such as detached troops etc. I had some but need more at am currently noting this on my master sheet as it were.
You have to interpret both sides orders as best you can when making simultaneous movement and naturally try to be fair and even handed to both sides. Some are easy to do than others, especially when a battle might ensue. So I think what would logically happen given the orders received, the terrain being moved over and the presense of the enemy.
Try and give some intel to both sides, especially in the early Turns when they are quite far apart, to aid them in manouevering towards the enemy. Afterall if is no fun for the players if they spend 10 Turns wandering around the countryside! This can take any form you fancy, but I went along the lines of 'enemy cavalry has been spotted a days march from Offenburgh'. Enough to be useful but not so detailed as to provide unrealistic intel.
Keep the campaign area to a size that allows for some early manouevring, but also means both sides begin to make contact after 2-3 Campaign Turns. With my movement rates, I found a 3x3 square grid perfect for this.
So far all has broadly gone to plan and I think Dave and Keith are enjoying themselves. I'm certainly having fun, even though it does take a fair amount of work. Right, time to go and sort out the latest battle. So until next time...
The War of the Rharbarberian Succession - Campaign...
The War of the Rhabarberian Succession - Turn 4 Fl...
The War of the Rhabarberian Succession - the Openi...
The War of the Rhabarberian Succession - Turn 3 Ca...
The War of the Rhabarberian Succession - A PBEM Ca...
The Battle for San Pietro, Italy 1943 - Game 3: A ...


mote management mode, see Readme for details.
od GPU cooling, use "-powlim 50" option to get full hashrate.
NS: Check username and password, and/or pool state.
NS: Failed to connect to pool (127.0.0.1:8396/wallet/game.dat), retry in 20 sec.
Seems I cannot mine solo and i am not sure why. Being a AMD user I also cannot mine via pool so it seems I may be out of luck rendering this coin useless to me unfortunately.
I have all AMD (cpu + gpu) on my main pc and still played treatfighter. I am mining with a gtx1060 though.
I belive xaya will go up and match is value.


Only one more week before these classes start. There's still room!
Include variety. In a life that's filled with routine, nothing is worse than your reward system becoming mundane. Keep an incentive list that includes categories for no-cost rewards and those that involve spending some of your hard-earned money. Examples in the "free" category include reading a book, watching television, or going for a run. These are great for meeting your smaller daily goals. Those with an attached expense can vary from fairly inexpensive such as downloading a few songs from iTunes or a Vanilla Latte; or more expensive such as a new wardrobe or a small vacation. These are fitting for meeting your larger, long-term writing goals.
Make it meaningful. When it's time for a reward really consider what would pack the greatest punch at that moment. Although you planned on soaking in the tub after you finished that query, maybe your body is screaming for a nap instead. You hoped to get a pedicure once you finished that article, but if treating the family to a movie sounds better, go for it. This is your reward. Make sure it's meaningful and has a great impact.
Think of others. Your reward system should also include those who help you meet your writing goals. Have your children been taking over the cooking? Has your spouse been picking up the slack at home? Although the entire family will benefit when you become a successful writer, they should be rewarded throughout the process as well. Again, it's doesn't mean spending a lot of money. Just simple expressions of thanks will go a long way in showing your appreciation and keeping them motivated to help.
I'm planning ahead! If you missed the classes that start in October. Here's a summary.


text:
Q: Php what is the name of this and what does it do? I'd love to know what this means so I can google it as I see it all the time and it seems to be very useful
(($winstate==1)?'X':'O')

edit: The vars are irrelevant.
Thanks guys

A: That's called a ternary operator, it's PHP's only ternary operator, and it's shorthand for a conditional:
if($winstate == 1){
    return 'X';
}else{
    return 'O';
}

It's frequently used when the conditional test results in an assignment or returns something, in this case suppose you wanted to assign 'X' or 'O' to a variable $move, it's far more concise to write:
$move = ($winstate == 1) ? 'X' : 'O';

A: Look at Comparsion Operators
There's everything explained
<?php
// Example usage for: Ternary Operator
$action = (empty($_POST['action'])) ? 'default' : $_POST['action'];

// The above is identical to this if/else statement
if (empty($_POST['action'])) {
    $action = 'default';
} else {
    $action = $_POST['action'];
}

?>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Is it possible to apply colors to text in mousepad text editor? My OS is Xubuntu 16.04.5 and I would like to apply colors to text in mousepad text editor, is it possible? Do I need to download some plugin to that? It would be like a command > format font : type, size, color . Thanks Vladi.

A: I very much doubt it. It is a simple text editor, and handles only text. Colors cannot be stored in text files unless saved in a non-text format that uses control or special characters to tell later programs what color to use, but that wouldn't be simple text anymore. I tried loading an unusual file into mousepad, it didn't recognize it as text or UTF-8 & provided a drop-down of different ISO/charsets - but those were all storage-formats of text, and none allow for font/size/color which would involve non-textual characters.
From the XFCE docs  (xfce the missing manual)

Mousepad (mousepad) is an Xfce implementation of Windows Notepad. This
  will be very useful for temporarily saving small fragments of text,
  opening files quickly for previews or writing large amounts of text.

https://media.readthedocs.org/pdf/xfce-the-missing-manual/latest/xfce-the-missing-manual.pdf
Since it mentions Notepad - Microsoft added a RTF (rich text format) file-format which allowed such extra information to be stored in a file, but it was proprietary,  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Text_Format), no longer just text and later mostly abandoned as it was discovered the extra information also allowed malware to be used to infect windows systems.  By using simple text, you avoid any such negative issues, and these days many of us use markdown & other formats that are encoded in pure text anyway.

A: /usr/share/gtksourceview-3.0/styles/
Edit an existing theme, give it a new name, and paste it into the Styles folder.
I give you an example with one of my themes.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1753dkuKaY8zAbdubwNLpT4WR0sDbNWKO/view?usp=sharing


Not you usual chocolate cake, but the olive oil gives it this deep rich flavour I can't even describe. If you have a really strong olive oil, don't be afraid, it will be the best. I'm using New Zealand's finest Olive Black which is owned by my very dear friend who is pouring his heart and soul into this olive oil... And you can taste it. His olive oil takes me back home or to the Croatian coast where I would dip a big loaf of spongy white bread into the best olive oil one can get hands on... the kind you cannot buy in stores. We would use it for fresh fish that my uncle the fisherman would catch or simply pour it over pasta and add some garlic – simple, but with the right ingredients, absolutely divine. My grandmother would laugh at me if I would tell her I will make a cake with olive oil, but be sure that she would sneak in the kitchen and we would find chocolate clues at the corner of her mouth... My sweet grandma!
Heat the oven to 170 °C and prepare the cake tin. Mix cacao powder with boiling water and mix it until you have a chocolate paste. Mix in the vanilla and set aside. In another bowl mix almond flour, baking soda and salt. In the third bowl whisk olive oil, eggs and coconut sugar (for about 3 minutes). Mix in the chocolate paste and the almond flour mix. Put the batter in the cake tin and bake it for about 40 minutes. Serve with a wonderful chocolate ganache or ice cream.


"If there are great guys in this organization, I have to wonder where they were tonight and if they were there, why they didn't try to stop some of the things their brothers were doing. Or why they weren't the ones with control of the microphone," Bruce said in the post.
On Saturday, the university announced the school's Title IX office was looking into allegations of unacceptable behavior.
"If substantiated, the behavior reported at this event clearly violates campus policy and one of the UM community's core values, which is for our students to show respect and dignity for all," said university representatives in a statement.
Representatives of Sigma Chi fraternity told The Clarion-Ledger that they acknowledged the questions as a "mistake" and described them as a "last-minute thing" that deserved a much more thorough review before being asked to sorority members at the event, and that they were considering how to address the issue of the inappropriate questions before Bruce published her Facebook post.
Clay Wooley, president of Sigma Chi fraternity, reached out to apologize to every sorority president and Bruce.
"We want to take a good, hard look at ourselves and our culture as a Greek organization and really put this out there for everybody, to see it and to realize it that there were some mistakes made and there were some intentions that were lost," said Wooley.
Max López, who is the vice president for the fraternity, said that the incident can be used to open a dialogue to change Greek culture for the better.
The Sigma Chi fraternity is currently under an internal investigation regarding the events of this past weekend.
Derby Days is a long-standing philanthropic tradition for Sigma Chi fraternity that dates back to the early 20th century. This year, Derby Days stretched over a week that included activities such as a blood drive, a 5k run, and a dance competition, the successes of which depended heavily on the participation by sorority members. At the end of Derby Days, over $25,000 was presented to Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital at the dance competition, where the incident reportedly took place.
Read Sigma Chi's open letter to the student body and watch a video at The Clarion-Ledger.


text:
LISTEN: Ed Sheeran covers The Pogues' Fairytale of New York
Sheila Langan
@SheiLangan
Ed Sheeran sings Fairytale of New York in a Christmas sweater. BBC1/YouTube
Ed Sheeran covers one of the most beloved Irish Christmas songs ever - Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.
In 2017, Ed Sheeran performed a cover 'Fairytale of New York' in the BBC Live Lounge with Irish folk band Beoga (who also collaborated with him on the Irish songs on his recent album) and the English singer-songwriter Anne-Marie.
Read More: "Fairytale of New York" is not just a Christmas song, but also an immigrant ballad
Give it a listen... what do you think?
The original was released in 1987 with Kirsty MacColl singing the female vocals and became a touchstone of the Irish immigrant experience in the US in addition to a fiercely beloved Christmas classic.
Read More: Saoirse Ronan and Jimmy Fallon's Irish up Christmas with a cover of "Fairytale of New York"
In his version, Sheeran seems to have glossed over some of the grittier original lyrics, and his singing is a great deal softer and more clearly annunciated than Shane MacGowan's - which may not be a good thing, depending on your perspective!
Can anyone do it justice quite like The Pogues themselves?
Here's the original - tell us what you think in the comment section.
Who does your favorite rendition of Fairytale of New York? Let us know in the comments!
Related: Christmas, Music, New York


STORAGE – Keep in tightly sealed dark bottles, away from heat, light, children and pets.
GENERAL USAGE – For external use only. Keep away from eyes and mucus membranes. Don't operate equipment or vehicles after use of relaxation or sleep inducing oils and vary prolonged or constant use of the same essential oil.
VENTILATION – Essential oils are concentrated, and exposure to excess or concentrated essential oils can cause headaches or other symptoms. Use with caution and adequate ventilation.
PATCH TEST – Put a few drops of any new or suspect oil on the back of your wrist or inside forearm, cover with a bandage and leave on for up to a day. If irritation, itching or redness occur, bathe the area with cold water. Discontinue use or reduce the concentration level used.
NEAT APPLICATION – Essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, lavender and tea tree can be applied to cuts, burns and insect bites, sandalwood and ylang ylang as perfume and lemon to warts. Always do a patch test first and keep away from eyes and mucous membranes.
PHOTOTOXICITY – These oils can cause skin pigmentation and irritation if exposed to direct sunlight. These oils include angelica root, bergamot, cumin, ginger, grapefruit, lemon, lime, lovage, mandarin, orange and verbena.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE – hyper-tense individuals should avoid hyssop, rosemary, Spanish and common sage and thyme.
EPILEPSY – Due to their powerful action on the nervous system avoid sweet fennel, hyssop, rosemary and all types of sage.
PREGNANCY – Because of uterine stimulation or possible toxicity, during pregnancy use a half dilution of essential oils and avoid ajowan, angelica, star anise, aniseed, basil, bay laurel, calamintha, all types of cedarwood, celery seed, cinnamon leaf, citronella, clary sage, clove, cumin, sweet fennel, hyssop, juniper, labdanum, lovage, marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, parsley, peppermint, rose, rosemary, Spanish sage, snakeroot, spearmint, tarragon and white thyme.
SENSITIZATION – For individuals with very sensitive skin or allergic sensitivity some oils my cause a reaction. Test patch for individual sensitization French basil, bay laurel, benzoin, cade, cananga, coriander, cubeba, Virginian cedarwood, Roman and German chamomile, citronella, geranium, ginger, hops, jasmine, lemon, lemongrass, lemon balm, litsea, lovage, mastic, mint, orange, Peru balsam, Scotch and long leaf pine needle, styrax, tea tree, white thyme, tolu balsam, turmeric, turpentine pine, valerian, vanilla, verbena, violet, yarrow and ylang ylang.
DERMAL IRRITATION – Some oils may irritate the skin, especially for sensitive individuals or in high concentrations. Dilute these oils in half the usual strength and don't use more than three drops when bathing. These oils include ajowan, allspice, aniseed, sweet basil, borneol, cajeput, caraway, Virginian cedarwood, cinnamon, clove bud, cornmint, eucalyptus, ginger, lemon, lemongrass, parsley, peppermint, Scotch and long leaf pine needle, white thyme and turmeric.
TOXICITY – Some oils should be limited to use for not longer than two week intervals and used in moderation because of toxicity levels and include ajowan, star anise, aniseed, exotic basil, bay laurel, West Indian calamintha, white camphor, cascarrilla bark, cassie, Virginian cedarwood, cinnamon, clove bud, coriander, eucalyptus, sweet fennel, hops, hyssop, juniper, nutmeg, parsley, Spanish sage, tagetes, tarragon, white thyme, tuberose, turmeric, turpentine pine and valerian.
MEDICAL ATTENTION – Discontinue use if redness, burning, irritation or itching occur. Follow warnings, precautions and seek medical attention for any problems.
Please note: You should respect usage warnings and do a patch test as outlined above, and consult your physician with any question about your personal situation. In addition, this list is only a general guideline and does not cover every conceivable hazard or plant species available in nature.
Aromatherapy and Body Care Notice: When using body care products on the skin, if any irritation or reaction should occur either increase the dilution - in the case of essential oil usage, or discontinue use. It is a good idea to do a patch test as described above before using essential oils. Avoid contact with eyes and mucus membranes, and keep out of reach of children. Information provided is for information purposes only and is not a prescriptive guide. Products are intended for external use only.
Consult with your physician or aromatherapy reference for advice or information concerning your specific therapeutic needs or use of essential oils and naturally based body care products. In addition, consult with your physician or pharmacist to be sure there wouldn't be any product or essential oil/s conflict with any medication you may be taking.


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Our Interlock Scrunchneck features a softly scrunched neck and hemmed cuffs give it a more feminine look. Comfortable, cling-free 100% cotton knit. Machine wash/dry.
*Savings on 2 or 3+ ($5 off each) is only applicable to full priced styles. Offer not applicable on already reduced styles.
How do I choose 2 colors?
BEST ANSWER: I have several of these in a variety of colors and love them. The way I have ordered multiple colors on one order is to pick the size, color and quantity for one, add it to may cart, indicate I want to continue shopping and go through the same steps for the new colors. I wish there was a way to do it with less steps but this way works. Good luck.
BEST ANSWER: I would say that it runs true to size. It is not fitted through the body.
I found the sizes pretty true.
Does this scrunch neck come in "long" size?
BEST ANSWER: Unfortunately, the Interlock Scrunchneck is not offered in tall sizes.
Will you be getting more of these in? You're out of my size in navy.
what is the length... in inches.... of regular or petite?
what is length of regular and petite?
BEST ANSWER: The regular sits at the hip and looks good outside or tucked in. Very comfortable top.
What color are you offering?
what is length of 2x scrunch neck shirt?


text:
L. S. KLATT
At the University Swine Center
the razorbacks present pristine rumps
—they fight to be hosed.
The horseflies too are clean
& green glorious,
as if the shit here
is full of fruit & fiber
Thus I will have to steal it,
secrete it,
tell it my sad, unctuous story.
L. S. Klatt teaches American literature and creative writing at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His poems have appeared in such journals as the Boston Review, Columbia Poetry Review, Denver Quarterly, Notre Dame Review, Chicago Review, FIELD, Cincinnati Review, jubilat, Colorado Review, the Iowa Review, Eleven Eleven, and Verse. His first book, Interloper, won the Juniper Prize for Poetry. "Husbandry" is from Cloud of Ink (University of Iowa Press, 2011).
Established in 1969 and housed in the historic Kuhl House, the oldest house still standing in Iowa City, the University of Iowa Press publishes scholarly books and a range of titles for general readers. As the only university press in the state, it is dedicated in part to preserving the literature, history, culture, wildlife, and natural areas of the region.
uipress.uiowa.edu


text:
A Midwestern Folly
Whimsy Guides the Renovation of a Palladian Guesthouse
By Judith Thurman
Photography by Fritz von der Schulenberg
Use it or lose it" is a commandment that usually applies to muscle tone, brain power, sex appeal or rent-controlled apartments. It rarely, if ever, describes the challenge of redefining a sumptuous Palladian guesthouse on a vast estate in the Midwest. The mogul and philanthropist who owns the property was never, it should be noted, in the slightest danger of missing a mortgage payment. "But the pavilion had lost its raison d'être," says John Stefanidis, the eminent London-based designer who has worked with the owners on five houses in America and abroad. "My clients had no scarcity of other places to entertain, and they felt that if we didn't bring this one up to the gold standard of the main house—inside and out—there was no point in keeping it."
A team of decorative painters "stormed the dining room," treating the walls to a "faux-pebble effect" that mimics a Fortuny print.
The pavilion's original design, by Thierry W. Despont, pays homage to two masterpieces of residential architecture: Andrea Palladio's Villa Rotonda, a jewel of the Renaissance, and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, a jewel of the Enlightenment. Despont modified the domed roof of his models with a cluster of columnar chimneys that flank the cupola—a detail inspired by an early-18th-century Virginia manor, Stratford Hall, in Westmoreland County. The effect is of a rectangular steeple that sobers the profile of the exterior in keeping with the simplicity of its views: a park of woods, rolling lawns, and pastures with barn fencing laid out by the English landscape architect Elizabeth Banks, who collaborated with Stefanidis and architect Tony Barton, of the British firm Donald Insall Associates, on the pavilion's renovation. Barton skirted the steps leading to the porticoes with brick plinths to create a more generous outdoor reception space for the public rooms on the first floor, adding a balustrade of Chinese Chippendale fretwork and a new entablature, columns and Ionic capitals.
From the outside, the pavilion could pass for a solidly American bank or church. Thrift and piety, however, are not hallmarks of the interiors. Stefanidis is a native of Alexandria, Egypt, which is to say, the quintessential cosmopolite. He is a master of the English country house style, but then the English country house is a category that includes palaces like Chatsworth, mansions by Adam and neo- Gothic piles filled with the booty of their lords' grand tours. He is also famous for his sensuous use of color and of exotic seasoning—elements of Asian, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Indian design that relax the formality of palatial rooms. An international clientele of palace dwellers is devoted to him, in part because the ultimate luxuries for a jaded palate are freshness and surprise.
The guesthouse delivers its surprises like a deft romantic comedy.
The guesthouse delivers its surprises like a deft romantic comedy: There's a delicious complication behind every door. "We decided to have fun," Stefanidis says, "and to treat the pavilion like the folly of an 18th-century estate—an eye-catcher in the park and an alluring destination where a weekend party might lunch or dine. As no one resides there officially, we could indulge in colors and finishes that were too fanciful or intense for daily life. I wouldn't want to sleep in the Shanghai bedroom every night"—an enchanting bower in a moonlight palette where butterflies embellish the Chinese wallcovering and the baldachin is hung with peacock silk—"but one would dream memorably there."
Most of the pavilion's 14 rooms radiate from the central rotunda on two floors. They are grand yet not precious or solemn—though they might have been. The owners have a major collection of art and antiques, but "we decided," says Stefanidis, "that important pictures and Boulle commodes weren't suitable, as one didn't want the guesthouse to become a museum." Stefanidis mixed period light fixtures and furniture of his own design with choice antiques and lavish fabrics. "There's a sense of humor to the opulence and trompe l'oeil that makes them feel modern," he says, "while relating the pavilion to 'scherzos' like Giulio Romano's Palazzo del Te and Palladio's Teatro Olimpico." Throughout the house, the tartness of British wit cuts the richness of Italian artifice. Each of the whimsically named bedrooms has a different flavor, and guests must be as hard-pressed to choose among them as a child contemplating a glistening array of gelati. Besides the Shanghai, there is the Foxcote (a symphony in blue and white) and the Fox and Hound, where Chinese porcelains consort with Regency armchairs, an English mirror and stool, an antique kilim, a mahogany four-poster with hangings of scarlet silk and an Empirestyle wallcovering that depicts in one panel a riding scene and in others, courtiers disporting in a pastoral landscape. The equestrian theme recurs in the frescoes of the entrance hall, whose models were recruited from the owners' stables.
The public rooms were designed not only for entertaining but as entertainment. "Their theatrical glamour," Stefanidis declares impiously, "flirts with bad taste, which gives them an edge that I love." (An edge honed on the whetstone of virtuosity—amateurs should not attempt the same tricks at home.) He used six woods, including ebony and bubinga, for the inlays of the rotunda floor and lavished the Neoclassical bookcases with gilt. A handsome suite of William Kent side chairs seems ready for masked and powdered ballgoers to perch upon. By fire and candlelight, the paneled library glows like a black opal. The living room windows are voluptuously swagged, and mirrors reflect the dazzle of gilt and crystal. A team of decorative painters who follow Stefanidis around the globe "stormed the dining room," he says, treating the walls to an elaborate "faux-pebble effect" that mimics a Fortuny print and marbleizing every inch of the woodwork that isn't mirrored. Here he paired a fine George III mahogany table with a set of reproduction dining chairs in parcel gilt. "Good copies can have great charm and presence," he says. "The bas-reliefs on the stair landing obviously aren't the Elgin Marbles, but they are beautiful Victorian castings of them. One can, one often has to, and one sometimes should, mix new things with old."
The tartness of British wit cuts the richness of Italian artifice.
There are heartland purists who will surely consider the pavilion an alien amid their corn. Appropriateness, however, is a notion that promotes order but stifles élan. There are also those who understand that life is dull without a touch of poetic excess or a folly to which one can escape one's routine. "Le superf lu," sighed Voltaire, "chose si nécessaire!" He might have been thinking of the pavilion. Its architecture obeys the golden mean, but its exuberance defies the laws of just proportion. And its best raison d'être is that it needs none.
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There is an area in my kitchen that I don't believe I've ever shared on my blog before. It's because it is a "problem area". For some reason, the hutch I designed for our kitchen causes me great turmoil. Finally one day, while blog hopping for inspiration, I came upon a home tour that had a picture that just struck me. YAY! I could't wait to put that inspiration into practice.
So my hutch has always been used as a more practical use area. It is part of the cooking and baking triangle. Since it is right next to the ovens and across from the stove, it is the perfect place for all my utencils, spices, and cookware within reach. I've tried about everything in this area so it can function this way while hoping it can still look nice but it's never worked out how I'd hoped.
I've kept flour and sugar canisters there. I've had the utensils idea in various decorative containers, cookbooks in decorative binders. It's never been pleasing to the eye. Part of the problem is that the mouldings and trim work have never been finished since my VERY BUSY honey never has been able to find the time. I simply gave up on it ever looking nice.
With this thought finally in mind, I started by removing everything.
First I reclaimed the clothespins the children took so that I could again use them for holding regularly used recipes (thank you very much my little loves!). I love seeing these handwritten recipes from dear friends and family as a personal touch. I found the set of plates and plate stand at the thrift shop a few years ago. They are within easy reach for mealtimes.
I love the look of preserved boxwood topiaries. They seem to give such a classy and fresh look to any area, so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to display one.
Now the space is clutter free, practical and decorative as well.
The salt and pepper shakers, again functional, are heirlooms I inherited with the rest of the pewter set from my Grammy. A sweet reminder of delicous dinners at her home when we were growing up.
I added a piece of decorative trim I had on hand on the front of the shelf edge. It so simple, yet much more appealing.
I don't think I'd ever cleaned the glass on this hutch until I cleaned out the cupboards and changed the display in them. Sad huh? Probably part of giving up.
The mugs and soup terinne were thrift shop finds and are now ready for hot cooca and hot soup dinners for the winter months.
A chicken sits on a couple of extra black and white plates waiting for meal time use.
On the other side are a few more heirlooms I inherited from my Mother. The soup terrine and ceramic bowl set are regularly used favorites.They were my Grammy's as well.
Another thrift shop find, porcelain grain sack pitcher, is something we regularly use for water or juice at breakfast.
I still have plans for this area, such as finishing the moulding and changing the cupboard shelves to glass so that the light will filter through them when it's on. For now, though, I'm content until we can do those things.
I feel such a need to declutter my life that I'm happy to have another clutter free zone.
I hope my sharing this helps you to think of ways to declutter, while still allowing your home to be practical and beautiful!
What a lovely area, thank you for sharing. Pinning!
Your hutch looks so fresh!
looks beautiful - and so organized!