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Home News Ernie Eves' Big Easy
Ernie Eves' Big Easy
How slick Ernie opened the public purse and shortchanged his hometown
by Scott Anderson
parry sound -- rain is pelting down on my windshield as I weave north on a Georgian Bay-side highway that's been blasted through the Canadian Shield.This thrust through layer after layer of Precambrian rock is so labour-intensive that the four-laning of highway 69 is costing the Ontario government in the neighbourhood of $200 million. One stretch near Parry Sound alone cost over $5 million a kilometre.
Don't get me wrong. The exit off the highway into Parry Sound is a pleasure to drive -- silky smooth asphalt, precise grading and soft shoulders. The Tories and local leaders around these parts believe this grand, if overpriced, piece of engineering is their ticket to prosperity. Build it and the businesses will come.
The familiar and irritating sign at side of highway 69 reminding you that these are your tax dollars at work may have Mike Harris's name on it. But ask anybody in Parry Sound and they'll tell you this is Ernie Eves's road.
While the former Tory finance minister and deputy premier was spouting fiscal conservatism to the rest of the province, he was doling out the largesse to his hometown. Despite the Common Sense Revolution, Parry Sound is still very much a welfare state, thanks to Eves. Twenty years after he stepped into the political ring, the town is stuck in the same problematic economy it faced when the ambitious high school senior first arrived.
Opening the government purse is the least he could do for the the picturesque though depressed summer tourist town Eves once called home. After all, this is the place that fuelled his opportunism and provided the setting for the streak of fortune and finagling that launched his heady career on a razor-thin six-vote margin.
Eves heads into the Tory leadership convention this weekend ready for a cliff-hanger showdown with Jim Flaherty, hoping to walk out the premier. Will slick Ernie continue the ascension he so slyly crafted back on Main Street? Or will the former treasurer who presided over mass layoffs, squeezed social services and touted the virtues of self-reliance as children went hungry find that old Parry Sound luck starting to wane?***
Despite Eves's vows from the start of his political career to tackle unemployment in his riding, little has changed around these parts. Young people still have to go south to find work and build a life. And many of those who stay in town are stuck in low-paying seasonal jobs -- some call it serfdom to the rich cottage owners."We clean septics, we plow their lanes in the winter," says Richard Thomas, who has run as a Liberal and Green candidate against Eves in the past. "Absolutely nothing Ernie did addressed that problem."
Eves may have positioned himself as a champion of lower taxes and the free market, but Parry Sound is still dependent on big government.
Sure, the local school board was amalgamated with North Bay's, the local jail's been shut down, and there are no more Ministry of Labour or Ministry of Environment inspectors based in town. But Parry Sound's status, however debatable, as a northern Ontario community, which Eves championed, means it gets more money from practically every ministry.
And while the Tories have closed hospitals and cut arts funding in southern Ontario, in Parry Sound they provided millions for a new hospital as well as a new performing arts centre and the new Bobby Orr Hockey Hall of Fame on the waterfront.
Then there's that highway expansion. So far, the pristine roadway has had mixed results for the local economy. The construction project itself has created a mini-boom. Parry Sound had an accommodation shortage last summer at the peak of the tourist season, because the hotels were filled with highway workers.
Ted Knight, the mayor who left Parry Sound in 1974 and came back in 1997, is pinning his hopes for future generations on the highway. But even he has his reservations. "Long-term, I don't know how it's going to work out," he admits in between bites of a smoked meat sandwich in a small mom-and-pop restaurant.
Whether more asphalt will bring riches is one thing, but Knight also believes that Parry Sound won't be able to develop successfully until the numerous local municipalities are brought together under one council. The town simply doesn't have the tax base or the room to grow. If there was ever a case for amalgamation, the district of Parry Sound is it. There are more than a half-dozen local governments here, with no second tier for regional planning.
Eves forced amalgamation in Toronto to balance his books, but he waffled on the issue in his own riding. He's on record supporting local amalgamation. But he also conveniently refused to force the issue and left it in the hands of local politicians -- perfect if you want it to go nowhere fast.
"For him it was an easy way to go," says Jim Hanna, editor of the Parry Sound North Star.
Perhaps most telling are the latest census numbers that show the town's population dropped slightly from 6,326 in 1996 to 6,124 in 2001. Despite lavishing more government money and expensive projects on his hometown, in his 20 years Eves never cracked the nut when it came to the most basic of "common sense" promises -- real jobs. ***
Job prospects didn't seem to be Eves's problem back in 1965, when he was in grade 13 and his parents moved to Parry Sound from Windsor after his father got a job as the manager in a local factory. The young Eves was already getting noticed. Former Parry Sound High School teacher and Liberal candidate Ed Fisher recalls him as an outgoing jock, setting a junior record for the mile run while in Windsor. It didn't take long for Eves to set his sites on a woman richer by far than his own humble beginnings -- Victoria Macklaim, the daughter of Royce Oscar Macklaim, who owned a construction firm and Tudhope Cartage, a lucrative local trucking business.
This was the fateful leg up that would help turn a bright young man into a social and political force. It may even have facilitated an expensive sojourn at the University of Toronto.
Eves fell hard, or so it appears. The entry beside his 1965 yearbook photo, right above Vicki's photo, starts with the quote "If it be love indeed, tell me how much." The two were married the next year, and Eves went to Toronto to pursue an undergraduate degree and eventually law at Osgoode Hall.
In the summers, he worked for another Windsor transplant, William Green, a staunch Liberal who had a general law practice in Parry Sound and would serve as Eves's professional and political mentor. After Eves was called to the bar in 1972, he formed a partnership with Green.
While carefully putting down roots with the local Kinsmen and Big Brothers Association, Eves bolstered future political campaigns by tapping the in-law connection and becoming president and director of Tudhope Cartage. Suddenly, with one swoop, he had netted establishment connections -- and a war chest.
By 1981, the 34-year-old Eves was ready to wade into the power game. So would begin his calculated manoeuvring into the public sphere. When Parry Sound's long-time Tory MPP, Lorne Maeck, announced he was retiring, Eves decided to go for it. For the nomination, Eves went up against Norm Mason, a vice-principal and then the reeve of nearby Burks Falls.
Mason had a higher profile. But Eves, already wily, managed to gain an edge by having the nomination meeting held in his old high school gymnasium. Over a thousand raucous party members were bused in for the February 1981 meeting.
But what happened then was the first of two white-knuckle wins that still cause some bitterness locally. Eves, who even then campaigned on promoting local industry so young people wouldn't have to leave to find work, beat Mason on the first ballot by a mere 21 votes.
Over 20 years later, I catch up with the now retired Mason chopping wood at home in Burks Falls. He's philosophical about the divergent paths he and Ernie took after 1981 and concedes that Ernie was probably the better person. He wonders how a political career where he was away in Toronto for long periods would have altered his own life.
"It's the kind of lifestyle that wasn't good for a family," Mason says.
Despite the loss, Mason continued to support Eves. In the general election that followed in March 1981, Eves went up against a quirky environmentalist from Kearney who was running on the Liberal ticket.
Richard Thomas had been a radio show host in Toronto in the late 1950s and had done some advertising work. He was a gifted and passionate public speaker, with a soft baritone voice.
In the winter of 1981, as he was poised to campaign against Eves, he was also facing a federal charge for possessing a still. The RCMP had raided his farm on a tip five months earlier.
Thomas had been distilling pure alcohol from Jerusalem artichokes he grew on his farm. He had converted an the engine of an old Volvo and was driving it around the area with a sign in the window declaring "This car runs on straight alcohol."
Around the time Eves won the Tory nomination, Thomas, already the Liberal candidate, went to trial in a Parry Sound courtroom. According to an article in the local paper, the "special prosecutor" brought in to argue the case against Thomas was William Green.
Officials at the courthouse tell me it wasn't unheard of for the Crown's office to pay local lawyers to argue cases if they were short-staffed. Green, Eves's mentor and partner, passed away in 1997. In the end, the charge against Thomas was dropped. But he had taken on the persona of a righteous maverick, and rode the notoriety into the March election.
On election night, tensions ran high at Eves headquarters as the returns started to come in. They were running neck-in-neck with Thomas.
In the end, the final vote count showed Eves ahead by a slim 10 votes. A judicial recount would whittle that margin down to six.
Dubbed "Landslide Ernie," Eves had squeaked in.
But the Eves win has never sat well with local Liberals. To this day, rumours abound about the voting. Asked whether he was satisfied with the ballot count, Thomas says he would "rather not discuss that."
But Ed Fisher, who ran the Thomas campaign, says he was "not satisfied" with the count. Fisher notes that only votes cast were counted and that "illegal votes are not considered."
Did they have reason to believe illegal votes were cast? I ask. "We feel we did," is all Fisher will say.
Thomas would take on Eves later as a Liberal and then as a Green candidate, but he never came close to upsetting him again.
"I despise the man as a politician, as a servant of the people," says Thomas. ***
For years, Eves and his wife made a point of making appearances at as many local events as possible. But when the Harris Tories took power in 1995, that all began to change."We knew that we were going to lose him," says Tim West, president of the Muskoka-Parry Sound Tory riding association and a loyal Eves supporter for two decades. "He admitted the fact that he was going to have to be down in Toronto." The death of Eves's son Justin in the fall of 1995 also "made it awkward coming home," West adds.
But it was the messy divorce and Eves's new society-page lifestyle that caused locals to feel uneasy about their man at Queen's Park for the first time. Vicki was active in the community in her own right and had also acted as Eves's proxy at official functions when he couldn't attend.
"Vicki's a hometown girl, so it's hard to see what's been happening to her," says Tim Dunn, who owns the local A&P and is president of the Liberal riding association.
During the 1999 campaign, Eves spent more time wooing votes in Muskoka, which had been tacked onto his riding when the Tories decided to mirror federal electoral boundaries, than he did in Parry Sound.
"In 99 the people (in Muskoka) had to get to know him during the whole campaign phase," says West. "They see him lots over there, but we don't see him as much."
It had become so "awkward" by the winter of 2001 that it was clear Eves had no intention of returning home at all. The deputy premier finally resigned his government seat for a senior post at Credit Suisse First Boston.
But timing and smelling power have always been Eves's best skills. Soon after Mike Harris announced he was retiring, Eves jumped back into the game he had seemed so tired of less than a year earlier to seek the party leadership.
What lured Eves back? Was it that with Isabel Bassett on his arm he had another well-connected partner to see him through to the next level? Or perhaps Eves saw the economic downturn and the inevitable restructuring that has shaken CSFB lately and wanted to get out on his own terms.
Although Eves has kept a low profile in Parry Sound throughout the campaign, West still expects the former deputy premier to walk into the convention with over 90 per cent of the town's Tory support.
Says West, "They're putting their personal feelings aside about the relationship with the family, and they're saying we know who he is and what he wants to accomplish." scottand@nowtoronto.com
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I'm currently in holiday party shopping mode, so when I saw that French Connection was having a huge Mid Season Sale, I knew I had to share it. Right now, you can get Up to 40% Off selected items at French Connection. This sale includes over 200 items such as chic cocktail dresses (lace and sequins!), sweater dresses, moto jackets, handbags and high heels.
The sale lasts until October 20th, but popular products and sizes will run out quickly. So, shop now for your fall wardrobe.


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CNN - Europe/Mideast/Africa
By CNN
Published November 30, 2022 6:07 AM
How Ukraine is innovating Soviet-era weapons for a 21st century battleground
By Mick Krever, Matthew Chance, Kosta Gak and Luis Graham-Yooll, CNN
In a basement in eastern Ukraine, young men sit at a long table strewn with laptops, their eyes glued to a television screen an arm's length away.
They watch black figures on a bleak winter hilltop, which appear to panic, then run across the frame. It's a live video feed from a small Ukrainian drone several miles away — a spotter for artillery teams trying to kill Russian soldiers in their trenches.
Plumes of smoke rise from the near misses of Ukrainian salvos.
All along the eastern frontlines, in basement command centers hidden behind unmarked metal doors, bookish Ukrainian soldiers direct artillery fire in a desperate attempt to hold off a Russian advance.
This is a real-life testing ground for shoestring, innovative 21st century warfare. The men use cheap, commercially available drones and consumer chat programs to identify and communicate targeting for weaponry that in many cases is multiple decades old.
Their fiercest fight is taking place for the city of Bakhmut, besieged for months by Russian forces.
The ferocity of that battle is apparent from the first moments of approaching the city, where black smoke billows from apartment blocks.
As a CNN team drove in on the heavily trafficked main road, a Russian artillery shell landed on a building just a few dozen yards away. Moments later, another shell slammed into the building again, prompting our military escort to urge the team to leave. Much of this war is fought avoiding the incessant Russian artillery threat.
The Kremlin has concentrated large numbers of forces to this assault on Bakhmut and Ukraine's troops are struggling, says Petro, the National Guard commander who runs this unit.
"It feels like one constant, non-stop assault," he says. "The only window to rest is when they run out of people and wait for reinforcements."
Like others in the Ukrainian military, Petro uses only his first name, to protect his identity.
He describes a battle into which Russia has sent wave after wave of forces, seemingly caring little if they were mowed down.
"Their tactic is sending these poor people forward who we need to eliminate," Petro explains. "They cannot take Bakhmut with a direct attack, so they went around it. We had to move from the urban areas to the fields where we are very exposed to artillery."
Petro's description echoes that of Serhiy Hayday, the Ukrainian head of the neighboring Luhansk region, who said last month that near Bakhmut, the Russians "die in bulk — the mobilized simply go forward to identify our positions."
Some Russian soldiers have described significant casualties, though the Russian Defense Ministry earlier this month claimed that losses did "not exceed 1% of the combat strength and 7% of the wounded."
Every nook of the subterranean command center is occupied — by whiteboards tallying kills, sleeping cots, boxes of drones waiting to be configured.
"The roads are muddy," Petro says. "We can't evacuate the wounded fast enough, and deliver ammunition."
Ukrainian commanders also complain about lack of communication between units, and that they lack enough lower-level officers to keep soldiers motivated and in the fight after months of grueling warfare.
Further toward the front, in a treeline bordering farmland, is the Ukrainian artillery unit on the other end of the phones with the basement.
Tuman, the commander of the battery, receives coordinates on a mobile phone in one hand, and writes them down in a notebook he holds in the other.
He shouts them out and a soldier yells them back before peering through a scope to aim the Soviet-era artillery piece they now load with Polish-made shells. With the pull of a cord, the autumn leaves are shaken from the nearly frozen ground, and an artillery shell whistles toward the horizon.
"Our general staff tries to supply as many rounds as possible," Tuman says in the relative safety of a nearby trench. "But we understand that we are low on our caliber. But you get what you get."
He claims the accuracy of Russia's artillery has deteriorated over the course of the year, as Ukrainian forces damaged their enemy's ability to conduct air reconnaissance.
"Their precision went down," he says. "But their rounds are flying over us all the time."
In another basement command center, further south in the Donetsk region, another set of soldiers stare at their own set of screens.
Their commander, Pavlo, tells us they count daily casualties in the dozens.
"Vehicles and ammunition are expandable," he says. "We try not to count them, and use as much as we need to stop the enemy from advancing. The only thing we cannot recover is human lives."
He is sanguine about that cost.
"There is no war without casualties," he says. "If we resist, and don't want to let Russians capture our territory, we need to fight. If we fight, we take casualties. These casualties are justified, and inevitable."
Article Topic Follows: CNN - Europe/Mideast/Africa
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Our newest team member: account manager, Louie Callegari
We are pleased to announce the arrival of our newest team member: PR account manager, Louie Callegari. This new hire came as a result of our continued expansion through increased demand for our services, following successful navigation of the pandemic and lockdown periods.
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Speaking on his new role, Louie said: ''I am thrilled to start this new opportunity at Seren Global Media. This is a big step in the right direction for my career, to now be working for a company I interned for during my studies is a dream come true. In this role, I hope to expand on the skills I have already obtained, allowing me to be the best account manager I can be."
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Approximately 16 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean each year * (sciencemag.org) - We're on a mission to stop this.
If you care about the future of life on Earth, there's some Big News you should know.
GLOBAL CO2 CONCENTRATIONS JUST PASSED 400 PARTS PER MILLION.
Blackfish tells the story of Tilikum, a performing killer whale that killed several people while in captivity.
Plastics are valuable materials and they should be recycled. Luckily, it's never been easier to do so. Learn how to recycle plastics, and discover our recycling events and opportunities.


Make this Christmas one to remember with these unique gifts we've selected just for you. We have an abundance of one of a kind items and personalized clothing, jewelry, collectibles and more. Be sure to check out our selection of experience gifts and unique art gifts for the home as well.
Unique Christmas gifts are an excellent way to bring excitement, laughter, and surprise to the holiday season. There is nothing like an off the wall gift idea to show your recipient that you really put some time and thought into his or her present. Shopping for unique gifts for Christmas can be a little daunting, however, especially if you spend most of your time shopping at a chain store. Since most of the items these stores offer are mass produced, one of a kind items are pretty much non-existent. While you might have better luck searching for unique Christmas gifts at those tiny shops downtown, the hassle of dealing with crowds, searching for quaint merchants, and shuffling through limited options can be exhausting.
Fortunately, you can still make Christmas extra special with unique Christmas gifts without all that hustle and bustle. Our one of a kind merchants offer a wonderful selection of unique Christmas presents that you can purchase from the comfort of your own home, and with so many ideas to choose from, why would you shop anywhere else?
Your loved ones will love discovering something extraordinary under the tree this Christmas! Check out some of our favorite ideas for one of a kind inspiration.
Last Minute Christmas Gifts: Last minute gifts don't have to be ho-hum. In fact, many of our unique Christmas gifts can be delivered instantly! Things to consider? A personalized magazine cover is a true one of a kind gift, and you can upload the photos and information you need and print it instantly right from home. You might also consider Christmas gift certificates for monthly club gifts or experience gifts for last minute unique gifts as well.
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Winding ribbons round a pole because summer is coming? Burning the effigy of a Catholic who tried to bomb Parliament? Rolling cheese down a hill? All a bit strange.
The giant vegetable competition at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show in Yorkshire is one of these bizarre, wonderful and quintessentially British traditions.
The Flower Show is probably the most important autumn gardening event in Britain, giving keen vegetable growers the opportunity to show off the monstrously large offerings from their allotments.
Vegetables are judged on their length and weight, and there are 13 classes, including pumpkin, marrow, parsnip, leek, cabbage, potato, beetroot, carrot, rhubarb, runner bean and cucumber.
The world-famous vegetable competition was held on Friday, and the entries were impressive.
Let's have a look at some massive vegetables, shall we?
This isn't even the strangest competition in the UK.
We also hold the annual World Nettle Eating Championship in Dorset, the World Conker Championship in Northamptonshire and the Gurning World Championships in Cumbria.
Congratulations to all the winners with the heaviest and longest veggies.
May your allotments always be blessed with gargantuan crops.


Words Of The 60s: Far Out!
The 1960s roiled with cultural and political change, and the language was as colorful as the tie-dye. Here's a look at some words that have endured, and some that are better left in the patchouli-scented dustbin of history.
From the old French establissement, meaning "an act or process of establishing," the use of the capitalized word Establishment in conjunction with the is now commonly used to describe the entrenched ruling class.
The Establishment became the top target in the 60s of youthful revolutions around the world, especially in the United States. And, it's recently made a resurgence, especially in the 2016 presidential race, where ideas that were antiestablishment hailed supreme. Looks like the Establishment has fallen out of popularity once again . . . stick it to the man.
Flower power was an ethos that defined the late '60s and early '70s, and it referred to the hippie ideal of peace, "free love" (borne of the sexual revolution and the development of the birth control pill), and a respect for nature. A famous photo of the time depicts a young woman placing a daisy in the barrel of a police gun during an anti-Vietnam war protest. The power of the flower in action, right on.
It wasn't just the heat—it was also the fuzz, the pigs, or the man. In a time of dramatically shifting social and political mores, clashes between law enforcement and frustrated, fearful young demonstrators were nearly a daily occurrence. And, that spewed a lot of colorful and derogatory names for police officers. Unfortunately, it seems like these types of clashes have become the norm once again. Black Lives Matter . . . Blue Lives Matter . . . we think its righteous to value every life.
On a lighter dictionary note, Pig has an interesting and debatable etymology, with some reports of the word as first applied to both police and "unlikeable people" in the 1800s, and another, popular—though widely dismissed—theory involving gas mask-wearing officers often seen at demonstrations.
The jazz jive of the 1930s gave us the word cat, meaning "a very hip male person, often a jazz musician." But, it caught on big in the '60s, becoming part of everyday street lingo. "Check that cat; I saw him truckin' down Venice Beach yesterday, with a super foxy chick on his arm." Meow.
A term purloined from early American blues (Blind Boy Fuller sang, "Truckin' My Blues Away" in the 1930s), truckin' throughout the late '60s and early '70s meant "to walk, or strut, with a certain goal or focus; the opposite of wandering aimlessly."
The Grateful Dead song "Truckin'" helped popularize the word as did the underground cartoonist R. Crumb, whose "Keep on Truckin'" became iconic, much to his chagrin. We bet your yearbooks are full of this send-off.
Groovy, outta sight, a gas, cool—these words all became popularized in the 1960s as ways to refer to something that was quite amazing, impressive, spectacular. Cool has made a comeback in current language, but we think groovy just has a certain swanky sound, and we don't want it to go away!
A person who was decidedly not far out or groovy was square. In the jazz parlance of the 1940s, the word transformed to mean someone uptight and traditional, and not "with it." The beatniks of the '50s and the hippies of the '60s embraced the word with gusto, and it lived on into the counterculture of the early '70s. "Be there or be square" is now most likely something you only hear your grandparents say.
When the Fab Four—also known as the Beatles—took the world by storm, their long hairstyle (it wasn't manbun status, that's for sure) was referred to as a mop top. References to the use of the word mop to refer to hair can be found as far back as the 1700s. Now, it's used more often to refer to someone with a head of curly hair.
Both bread and dough were commonly used to refer to money in the '60s. It appears that dough was used to imply "money" as far back as the 1800s though. Sometimes money seems as necessary to life as food, so these synonyms seem pretty natural to us.
The lyrics advise sharing, not bogarting, or "keeping to yourself," a marijuana joint. We're pretty sure this use of the word is still popular today . . . puff, puff, pass . . . you get the idea.
Another word that embodied the hippie and youth culture . . . to be mellow meant "to be super relaxed and free of worry." If you weren't punching a time clock and living by the Establishment's rules, you were free to be mellow and at ease—or maybe you just bogarted the joint again.
To be righteous was to be inarguably upstanding, super cool—to be right on. And, right on was a term that could be used for anything that was good, on point, correct. This list has been pretty righteous so far, if we do say so ourselves.
Gas was mentioned earlier in the slideshow, but we thought this phrase deserved a mention all it's own. The Rolling Stones immortalized the phrase it's a gas, meaning "a fun time," in their 1968 song "Jumpin' Jack Flash." Contrary to popular belief, the expression doesn't have anything to do with nitrous oxide (laughing gas). It likely comes from the jazz term gasser, meaning "sensational."
The usage comes from 1930s African American English. It's thought to be slang for "digging," in this case meaning "to get below the surface of things for knowledge or understanding."
The expression sock it to me, meaning "give it to me," was popularized in 1968 on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in," a year after it appeared in Aretha Franklin's version of the song "Respect." It can also sometimes have a sexual tone. And, in an attempt to connect with the youth, even Nixon used it in his presidential campaign in 1972 . . . not sexually, of course.
What a bummer, bummed out, or just plain bummed or bummer are all '60s slang for "depressed or disappointed."
The terms seem to come from the phrase bum rap, meaning "treated or punished unfairly," and bum deal, or "an agreement or situation that isn't good." The word bummer comes from the German bummler, meaning "loafer," as in a lazy person. This slide kind of feels like a real bummer; let's keep truckin' on to something less square.
The expression it's snowing down south wasn't about some rare climate event. It was a euphemistic way of saying "your slip is showing." In the '60s, it was common for women to wear slips under their dresses so the light didn't show through them and to keep the fabric from clinging to their bodies. Most slips were white, and so . . . the reference to snow.
Similarly, it's snowing up north means "your bra strap is showing." Until recently, visible bra straps were an etiquette faux pas. Now, it's fairly fashionable, except in professional settings or at formal occasions, right?
When baby boomers think hip, they may now be reminded of replacement surgery or arthritis. We kid, we kid.
Playing off the last word, hippie had a rather rocky road to popularity. In the 1950s, hippie was an unauthentic hipster, or a white fan of jazz played by black musicians. They were not cool and the term was used with disdain. But in the early 60s, hippie came to mean a new generation of beatniks, a young person in the 50s belonging to the counterculture Beat Generation.
Hippies were counterculture, marijuana smoking, flower children from San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and New York's Greenwich Village. By the late 60s, the term described young people who rejected The Establishment, advocated love and nonviolence, and wore casual folksy clothing, beads, and headbands. Still sounds like the people in Haight-Ashbury to us.
Far out was an expression used by hippies in the 60s when something was "cool, great, fun, terrific, excellent, awesome, wonderful, or even strange." A tie-dye shirt could be far out and so could an avant-garde movie. Far out was also a way of saying thanks. You've made it this far into our groovy 60s slideshow . . . far out, man.
Like other 60s expressions, far out comes from jazz lingo in the 1940s and 1950s, used to express progressive or innovative music and musicians.
Threads has a lot of definitions, including "a fiber used for sewing." Today, it commonly means "a sequence of responses to an initial message board posting." And, threading is "a way to remove unwanted facial hair."
But in the 60s, threads was a jazz-and-jive term adopted by hippies to refer to their clothing. If hippies got some new threads, they likely shopped at an Army Surplus store. Other hippie threads included peasant blouses, granny dresses, and other colorful items made from natural fibers. Explains why so many vintage and eco-friendly clothing stores today have threads as part of their store name.
A chrome-dome is "a shiny bald head." It also refers to a buzzcut, in which hair is clipped extremely close to the scalp. Men got this haircut when they joined the Army. Hippies protested against the Vietnam war, so a chrome-dome was a derogatory term for servicemen.
In the 60s, hippies, including men, favored long hair. Afros, which let hair return to their natural curl and texture, also became popular. Bald hippies separated themselves from chrome-domes by wearing headbands and by growing beards or long sideburns. And, we know we've seen that look come back recently.
Take a jump back in time . . . to the 20s!
Now that you've mastered the language of the 60s, why not jump back even further in time to learn how those dapper flappers spoke about dating and drinking in the 1920s. Here's Words of the 20s: What Dapper Flappers Used To Say.


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FEC: 2012 elections have already cost more than $4 billion
Adam Gabbatt, The Guardian
More than $4bn was spent on the presidential and congressional candidates and campaigns in the first 18 months of the election cycle, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Presidential candidates have received $601.9m of that money, the data released on Wednesday, shows, while $1.21bn has been donated to congressional candidates donated to presidential candidates personally.
The Federal Election Commission compiled campaign finance reports filed between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2012 to produce the report. The time period covers the Republican primaries and the buildup to the presidential race.
In total $4.06bn was received by presidential candidates, congressional candidates, party committees and PACs over the 18-month-period. There are no direct figures directly comparing the same period available from 2008 or earlier, but Bill Allison, from the non-profit Sunlight Foundation, said ultimately more money will be spent on the 2012 campaign.
"This is 18 months and we're at $4bn, 2008 the entire election cycle ended up being at $5.2bn, so there's still a quarter of the money to go," Allison said. "We'll definitely top that number. The current projection is about $5.8bn that we'll see for 2012."
The fact that the FEC data shows money raised until 30 June 2012 accounts for the relatively small amount of expenditure in the figures. Of the $4.6bn raised in total, just $2.88bn had been spent in the same period, which candidates and organisations likely waiting until closer to 6 November to spend the money raised.
The presidential candidates raised $601.9m over the 18-month period, spending $407.9m, although included in those figures is money raised and spent by Republican primary chancers such as Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. Interestingly, over the same period in 2008 presidential candidates raised far more money – $1.05bn – which Allison said was a reflection of both sides having to choose a presidential candidate.
"In 2008 you have the primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – they both raised so much money and it ran all the way through June. Romney wrapped up the nomination in mid-April and for all practical purposes earlier than that, so you didn't have two candidates who were raising money all the way through."
Elsewhere the FEC data show the money generated by congressional candidates has risen every election cycle since 2002. Back then, $610.1m was donated candidates running for congress and senate. That increased to $789.8m in 2004, and by 2010 $1.18bn was raised. In 2012, that amount was $1.21bn.
Some $1.29bn was received by Pacs – including corporate groups, labor groups, trade unions and Super Pacs, which can receive unlimited donations. A Sunlight Foundation study released this week showed Super Pacs had received $385.7m in donations as of Sunday 23 September.
"We're almost in this wild wild west period of campaign finance," Allison said.
"You have candidates raising money at $50,000 a pop for joint fundraising committees and party committees, you have Super Pacs taking in million-dollar contributions, you have Barack Obama doing some 200 fundraisers already – it's become this mad dash for cash."
"It's as if it's all the politicians care about. But the sad thing is that after the election is over all the people who gave that money are going to be coming round asking for favours."
© Guardian News and Media 2012
Alex Henderson, AlterNet
When Donald Trump's presidency officially ended on Inauguration Day, one of the people who left with him was former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple, in an Inauguration Day column, looks back on McEnany's final weeks in Trump's administration, calling her departure a "cowardly exit."
Wemple notes that the last time McEnany "appeared before the assembled press in the White House Briefing Room was on Jan. 7, the day after a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol Building."

   "Speaking for the 'entire White House,' she plowed through a prepared statement deploring the actions of the rioters," Wemple recalls. "Then she closed her briefing book and bolted. In all, it took one minute and 50 seconds."

Wemple continues, "Even though the briefing was sparsely attended on account of coronavirus restrictions, the correspondents let out a roar as McEnany left the room. All of them had a question for her, and they yelled those questions at the same time. No answers came back."

The Post media critic goes on to say that Jan. 7 was a rare example of McEnany not being able to rationalize Trump's actions in some way.

"Over nine months as press secretary, McEnany showed great resourcefulness in minimizing and deflecting Trump's various outrages — a mission facilitated by her well-organized notebooks," Wemple explains. "Yet the Jan. 6 events presented her with a fresh outrage for which even she couldn't fashion a talking point or slap together a binder tab."

Wemple points out that McEnany's final weeks in Trump's administration were dramatically different from the end of Josh Earnest's final weeks as White House Press Secretary under President Barack Obama.

"Contrast McEnany's finale with that of Josh Earnest, who held the press secretary job at the end of the Obama administration," Wemple notes. "In his final appearance, Earnest reflected on his work at the White House, credited everyone who'd worked around him, listened as President Barack Obama offered a tribute — and took a whole bunch of questions from reporters. The whole thing lasted an hour. It was a graceful ending."Wemple continues, "No such parting scenario was conceivable for McEnany. Her primary contributions consisted of amplifying Trump's lies and divisive rhetoric; repeating nonsensical talking points; reading specious closing statements at briefings; and, whenever cornered, attacking the media in absurd assertions of whataboutism."

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss didn't hold back talking about the way that the Trump administration trashed the White House.
While cameras showed the south side of the White House, Beschloss pointed to the West Wing and the blank space where first lady Jackie Kennedy's Rose Garden once stood.

As he explained it, Trump wanted a shot of him and Melania Trump walking through the colonnade to the Rose Garden during the Republican National Convention. That proved to be impossible because Kennedy's crab apple trees blocked the view from the cameras. So, they "yanked" them out and all of the vegetation and put in a path. Later, the White House claimed that there was an "irrigation" issue.

"And it was beautiful and doesn't look like downtown Washington, D.C. that was all taken away," he said. "This whole place was transformed. essentially for a camera shot. They claimed it was, you know, to improve irrigation for some other reason. The result is here's something that's not the most important thing the Bidens have to do but I sure do hope they will at the earliest convenient opportunity transform the rose garden into the way it's supposed to look and has since 1962. With all that history."

He and Nicolle Wallace talked about the garden as a place where presidents and their staff could step outside for a breath of fresh air during long and tedious days.

MSNBC host Brian Williams noted that during the pandemic, former first lady Melania Trump supervised the construction of the pavilion for the tennis courts.

"Brian, you're provoking me," Beschloss half-joked. "Since you have done so, I am happy to respond. In March of 2020, we all remember, tragically, it was the first month that the pandemic really accelerated. Everyone observed it in their own way. This is how the Trumps and the first lady, Mrs. Trump, observed it. And that was by overseeing the building of what they call a tennis pavilion. There's a very nice tennis court that Barack Obama used to play basketball on and there are some people who suspect that the Trumps were very eager in their eagerness to erase almost any trace of the Obamas, to convert this as quickly as possible so that it did not look the way it did when the Obamas were there."

He explained that there were photos of Mrs. Trump in a hard hat like she was working "heavy construction of a skyscraper."

"This is a 1,200 square foot tennis pavilion, so-called. it looks quite like a mausoleum to some people," said Beschloss. "There are some people who have some association with the White House, not members of the Trump staff, who have joked, do they get privileges underneath a tennis pavilion at some point because it looks much more like a cemetery than it does a thing that should be next to a tennis building. And there are even some who have noticed that the tennis pavilion looks exactly like a structure right next to the house in Bel Air in Los Angeles that was used for Beverly Hillbillies."

This "pavilion" next to the house in Bel-Air used for filming of "The Beverly Hillbillies" TV show looks quite like… https://t.co/or5wP9YWXM
 — Michael Beschloss (@Michael Beschloss)1610315981.0

There are many possibilities for the way that the White House can restore the garden but Dr. Jill Biden hasn't indicated if she intends to. One way to continue with the unity theme of the Biden Administration would be to ask all states and territories to contribute a rose bush or their own state flower that could help to re-establish the garden in the "People's House."

See the discussion below:

  The destruction of the Rose Garden  www.youtube.com

Donald Trump's refusal to concede he lost the 2020 presidential election and failure to work with the incoming Biden administration could have resulted in a nuclear crisis, according to a national security reporter.
"Officials at the Energy Department and National Nuclear Security Administration were briefly leaderless today bc outgoing Secretary didn't put anyone in charge even temporarily—frustrated officials there said that could've hindered response to a national emergency," Politico's Natasha Bertrand reported Wednesday.

The National Nuclear Security Administration is the part of the Department of Energy that is "responsible for ensuring the integrity and safety of the nation's nuclear weapons, advancing nuclear nonproliferation and promoting international nuclear safety."

"Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science," the agency's website explains. "NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear explosive testing; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad."

Officials at the Energy Department and National Nuclear Security Administration were briefly leaderless today bc ou… https://t.co/jiSJdRo3ZL
 — Natasha Bertrand (@Natasha Bertrand)1611174452.0


Winter Offer (Dec-Mar): Coffee/tea & bacon roll, 18 holes, chef's special and drink - £27.50 (subject to availability).
Designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Steel, the magnificent 18-hole course at Overstone Park is one of the most popular stop-offs for visiting groups and societies in Northamptonshire.
The course, which winds its way around the hotel and leisure complex, offers a fair but challenging test with a number of attractive feature holes. Some holes tempt you with tough iron shots while, on others, drives need to be threaded between trees.
The greens, meanwhile, have been lavished with praise down the years, with many suggesting that they are the best in the county. The on-site hotel and leisure complex help to highlight why Overstone Park is so popular among societies.
It features 31 en-suite rooms, a full bar and restaurant that overlooks the course as well as a well-appointed leisure club with a gym, pool, sauna, spa and steam room.
With buggy and trolley hire, as well as a well-stocked golf shop also available, there really is nothing more you could wish for in order to enjoy an excellent day, or weekend, away with your society.


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NZXT CAM Version 4.4.0 Released!
Released 25 Mar 2020
No new features
Reduced window size.
Added additional logging around device interactions so that hardware interactions can be debugged more easily.
Changed the "Report an Issue" page to automatically include local log files.
Fixed colors on certain pages to improve visibility in Light Mode.
Corrected an error that caused the "Select a theme pack" dialog to be truncated on the Lighting Panel.
This patch, we're happy to introduce our series of developer notes! These notes are meant to give users insight into the changes we've made in our biweekly patches, why we've made them, and what we plan to work on in the near future. Thanks for reading!
With version 4.4.0, we had 3 goals:
Update Window Size:
Last patch, 4.3.0, we completely updated the navigation of NZXT CAM to move the navigation to the left side, remove sub-navigation, and allow users to hide navigation items that they don't want. However, this resulted in an overall size increase to the application window. Upon release, a lot of users were very vocal about disliking the size, and we wanted to fix it immediately. Version 4.4.0 reduces the window height by ~16%, which should reduce some of the pain for users that worry about window size. In addition, in the nearer future, we do want to make it so that the navigation of the window can be collapsed, so that the window will also take up less horizontal space. We know desktop real estate is precious, and want to meet all the user needs here. In the long term, this will mean a fully resizable window, a mini mode, and more.
Add Additional Logging:
One of our primary drivers for us is making NZXT CAM the most reliable application in the market. Software products that control hardware are historically fraught with issues for a number of reasons, but our software team is dedicated to addressing every bug we can find. Over the last month, we've made some large strides in this area, particularly fixing a number of bugs that resulted in the CAM screen turning white. However, there's still more to do. As such, in this patch, we've added additional logging around areas where software's connection with hardware is tenuous. This includes when the PC wakes from sleep, when games start and end, and when users change their settings or profiles.
Adjust Kraken Z Functionality:
This update contains two changes to the Kraken Z's functionality. The first is to change the default brightness of the Kraken Z. The Kraken Z screen is very powerful, and at its maximum brightness it can cause certain light-colored images to become washed out. One option was to lower the maximum brightness in firmware, so that users couldn't reach these levels, but ultimately we didn't want to reduce functionality in the device so that users can continue to use this very high brightness if it matches their case aesthetic. The second change we made was allowing CAM to support two Kraken Zs. Some dedicated fans have bought a pair of Kraken Zs, so we wanted to make sure they could control both of them independently.
Outstanding issues:
Device recognition issues on some computers:
This continues to be our #1 priority. We definitely understand the frustration for users who are occasionally unable to interact with their NZXT products due to hardware conflicts, interference from other software, or other reasons. There's a significant update to this behavior coming in the next update, 4.5.0, which should lead to more consistency for everyone. The logging mentioned above should also drive additional bug fixes for any users that still have issues.
Installation/autoupdate flow:
There are some UI/UX issues with our installer and autoupdater. At the time we developed the flow, we wanted it to be fast and painless to install NZXT CAM. While I think we achieved that goal, there are a few states during the autoupdate process in particular that can be confusing to users, where the application seems to disappear for a while during the installation of the new version.
Thanks for reading this blog! Please look forward to another post with version 4.5.0, scheduled to release on 4/8.
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Use of the present tense in narrative writing is generally a technique of the avant-garde, but here in "Bring On the Rain" it's put to its use in a piece of military-oriented fiction, seeming either out of place or too much in place. Isn't it the truth, though–there's no hope for men at war and in the modern world where isn't there war? I don't think the author would dispute that his characters are war-mad. You can't call a story pessimistic when you have nothing optimistic to compare it with, so you call it "realistic". Yes, there's little hope for the Earth in this one–in fact, there isn't any. Except to say "it's only a story", but that doesn't work out too well, or wouldn't if it wasn't sf.
Commentary on "Bring on the Rain", from the Asimov's forum.
Quote | This entry was posted in fiction, short story, writing and tagged bring on the rain, climate change, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, science fiction. Bookmark the permalink.


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Q: message-driven-channel-adapter consuming slowly I have below configuration to consume messages from a queue.
<jms:message-driven-channel-adapter                                   destination="ResponseQueue"
        channel="responseChannel"
        auto-startup="false"
        max-messages-per-task="50"
        receive-timeout="10000"
        concurrent-consumers="5"
        task-executor="receivingTaskExecutor"
        max-concurrent-consumers="50"
        idle-consumer-limit="1"
        idle-task-execution-limit="1"
        recovery-interval="60000"/>
The receivingTaskExecutor is configured as org.springframework.scheduling.concurrent.ThreadPoolTaskExecutor, with core pool size 5, max 50, and queue capacity as 100.
I notice that it is consuming messages very slowly. On java visual VM, i only see 5 receivingTaskExecutor threads active. What is wrong in my configuration that is preventing it from dynamically scaling to full strength? There are thousands of messages on queue to be processed.
Thank you

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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RISE ABOVE ALL ODDS
search risen
Stranger Things: Breaking It Down, Just Like How it Broke Us.
Review by: Jazmine Alcon
Calling all conspiracy theorists, superpower geeks, suburban rebels, and alien lovers (I didn't say believers because anyone who doesn't believe in aliens is an absolute F O O L!), a new show has come to save us from responsibilities. Netflix has come to our rescue again with another epic series called Stranger Things. For those who haven't watched it yet, exit out of this post, watch the season, THEN come back so we can both totally freak out about this. And for those of you non-believers of how absolutely nuts this show is, I'll try to sum it up in the best way possible: An alien tries to survive, despite the government disturbing it, in a totally unrealistic suburban setting where about 30 people live. We meet tiny science geeks, the rich kid, the princess, and the dude who ALWAYS has a mysterious background, a mutant, mean kids, oh and don't forget the science teacher who is dedicated enough to science and his students that he will pause a date and pick up the phone at 10 PM to answer questions Google can't answer yet. This post WILL contain spoilers, so if you haven't started or finished, well what are you waiting for? Go finish! I'm going to break (almost) every aspect down and by the end convince you why Stranger Things is a must-watch and must-recommend.
For anyone who enjoys intricate details within visuals, Stranger Things wisely uses camera angles, point of view, and movement of not only people but inanimate objects as well. The Duffer Brothers utilizes zoom to add emotion and impact on the scene. ZOOM IN: Intimacy between characters can obviously be seen in their faces, but body language is also a big indicator of how characters feel about each other, whether their movements may be conscious or not. ZOOM OUT: You can see the way characters look at each other when who they're looking at doesn't notice, is anyone else a sucker for that or is it just me?
[Yeah, I have a #Jancy problem, I know.]
Often times, people get confused on what tone the directors are trying to portray, lost between bad choices in music, wrong angles, and wrong focus, but the Duffer Brothers absolutely perfect it. The tone transcends the screen and comes to life right where the viewer is. The eeriness, anxiety, fear, passion, and determination are emotions not only the characters feel and portray but, if done well enough, the viewers embody exactly how the characters feel. With Stranger Things, you are a living breathing character going through the motions within every scene.
Onto the basics, Stranger Things only has 8 episodes but is jam packed enough to give series with 9 seasons and hour long episodes a run for their money, and absolutely win. In those 9 seasons, characters gradually grow up, although sometimes they stay absolutely the same, but in only eight episodes, I have witnessed some of the most genuine character development within characters.
NANCY WHEELER
Let's talk about our favorite suburban rebel, Nancy Wheeler. Nancy will do absolutely everything to become anything but her parents. She first falls under the spell of the stereotypical popular high school boy, Steve. Going through the motions of whether he's the "right one" or not, with the help of Barbara (in the not so best way possible AKA going missing, and well, you know…), Jonathan Byers, and a monster, she realizes buying a top or a bra a boy MIGHT like, might just not be the most important thing out there. She has trouble balancing the Princess Act between having fun and saving her best friend, but the gag is, you don't have to drop being a princess to be an absolute badass when you can be both. Nancy's character explores the (virtually non existent) social construct of virginity, slut-shaming, the pressure of being who people want her to be and still finding out who she, herself, wants to be, and the realization that people are beyond stereotypes and labels.
Here we have the mascot of every coming-of-age film, book, and show, but we soon find out that beneath the costume is something more. Steve is the classic playboy, jerk, you name it, but as the show progresses, the audience comes to discover that just like every teenager out there, Steve is just someone who needs a little guidance and can't find it. He is someone who has a toxic group of friends, who he fits right in with until (cue the corny music) Nancy. With falling in love comes the classic epiphanies, and Nancy has shown him that people can be good and have empathy for people other than themselves. Steve goes from the boy who just wanted sex and broke Jonathan's expensive Pentax
camera for petty revenge, to a boy who stood up for himself and left people who didn't deserve him, went to the to the Byers' residence to solely apologize to Jonathan, and stayed to protect other people, when he had the chance to run and keep himself
safe. He even goes as far to clean up the slut shaming sign on the movie theater. Steve shows that totally crappy characters can be something other than the standard villain, that people can learn and grow from mistakes, and that's why I now have a soft spot for Steve, because he is as dynamic and fluid as the viewers watching him on their screens.
CHIEF HOPPER
Hopper, from the beginning, comes off as a cop who doesn't really care about his job. He writes off Joyce Byers as a "nutjob" undergoing the regular process of grief, trying to bargain with her own mind that her son is still alive. Hopper then begins to
uncover every clue hidden under their noses and risks his life and sanity multiple times in hopes to find Will Byers. Hopper, at first, seems like a flat character, but he wears not only the badge as chief, but also as the show's token mysterious character with an enigmatic backstory that we're all itching to find out.all itching to find out. From apathetic to filled with determination, we see one of the biggest changes in Hopper. With every flashback and change in emotion, we're all on the edge of our seats, waiting for Season Two to get some answers.
SCIENCE LOVIN':
As someone who was once a science enthusiast my enthusiasm for science has been lost over time through endless paragraphs, stacks of packets, and not enough application. But, Stranger Things has somehow sparked the fire ablaze once again. We see science theories beyond the theory and into application. To suburban science geeks with not as much access to materials, seeing science in action, AKA the sensory depravation bathtub, look so possible to create, has my jaw hanging open. I've forgotten how fun and interesting science could be and I am grateful that this awesome gang of kids and (extremely devoted) science teacher could bring the fun back to something that for many of us has become so dull. Now, let's talk about that acrobat and flea theory. HOW COOL IS THAT! I'm still wrapping my head around the whole thing and it's just not happening. Do you think in another dimension, we are capable of being the flea and not the acrobat?
FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN:
As humans, fear is something that is wired into our system. From instincts like "Fight or Flight" to "Should I really go the bathroom after watching that freakin' horror movie?", fear is an emotion that is inevitable to mankind. We have proved time after time to ostracize and hurt concepts that we do not understand. Stranger Things explores the two sides of how people react to the unknown with the characters Mike, Lucas, and Eleven. Mike takes a liking to Eleven and gives her the benefit of the doubt with her powers while Lucas automatically assumes that Eleven is a monster because he doesn't trust the extent of her powers and what she can and wants to do with it. Which character would you be?
IF WE CAN, SHOULD WE?
Ah, the age old question. Stranger Things explicitly explores the question of the abuse of power by the government. We, as a society, are now technologically advanced and are able to do certain things, but just because it's possible should we? Ethics comes into play when trials and experiments are conducted. In Eleven's case, is it right that a child was taken from her mother and emotionally and physically abused with each test done on her if it meant her abilities could do the world some good, or even save the world from future catastrophe?
FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY, AND TRUST:
Let's put the eeriness, aliens, and bad government guys aside and focus on how the themes of friendship, family, and trust have shaped the show's first season. At its core, everything in Stranger Things has been possible because the protagonists have prioritized their friends, family, and the virtue of trust. Every friendship and family in the show has been put to the test and with every test, they pass with flying colors by trusting one another.
Trust is something that is hard to give and hard to earn back, and the show portrays that perfectly. Joyce gained the trust of Hopper and Jonathan (and vice versa), therefore they were able to move forward from the "funeral" and tackle the obstacles along the way. Lucas was able to trust Eleven, right in time, to warn them of the evil that was coming. Mike and Dustin- who have incredible trust issues by the way due to theories (relatable)- were able to trust Nancy and Hopper to be telling the truth. If everything was at stake, or even if it wasn't, who would you be able to easily trust with your secrets and your life? Just some food for thought.
[*Nudge Nudge* Leave your toxic friends just like Steve did!]
THAT [CENSORED] ENDING!
Of course, Season One means a genuine happy ending is far from our reach. While the Boy Who Lives is back at home, he is not the same boy who left, but he sure is quite the actor! During the joyful season of Christmas, the setting is light and elated, but there is an underlying sense of unrest and worry within the town of Hawkins. While Jonathan just got a new Pentax, Will is throwing up some slugs. While Joyce is cooking some runny mashed potatoes for her family, Mike is feeling the emptiness of his basement. And while we just want some peace and quiet in our lives after the season finale, Hopper puts some Eggo's in a box in the woods leaving us to lose every piece of harmony and dignity left from the roller coaster these 8 episodes put us through. There are still loose endings left to tie and I can not wait to bunny ears the crap out of them! Leave us with some theories and questions, because you already know I'm going to reply faster than the speed of light.
jazmine showbusters stranger things tv show review
Greyhound Racing: Culture or Cruelty?
Poem: Inheritance of the Earth
The Cost: The History of Conversion Therapy in the United States
Risen Zine | risenzine@gmail.com | an online platform for young people


There has been a lot written about hub- vs. belt driven skateboards. I don´t want to bore you, let me just wrap up the "must-know"-stuff.
First of all: get the wording straight – both hub and belt driven skateboards rely on brushless electrical motors. Typically these motors are either directly part of the wheel ("hub"-driven) or placed underneath the skateboard deck with a belt that connects the motor to the wheels ("belt"-driven). There are some exceptions (hybrids) like "geared hub" or "direct drive" which I do not consider here for simplicity.
As you can see, the decision whether or not to go for a hub-driven skateboard comes down to the decision what type you prefer personally. Before actually buying a hub-driven electric skateboard I thus strongly recommend to check both drives yourself – in the street! I am sure every local e-skateboard shop will give you the chance to try out before buying.


The LTE Network is sometimes called the 4G LTE network. The technical term for LTE is Long-Term Evolution And this is the most popular choice for phone carriers in Canada as well as worldwide. LTE Is considered the standard for wireless data communication technology. Here is all you need to know about the LTE network.
It's important to understand a few definitions. 3G refers to the third generation of mobile communication technology. 4G, on the other hand, refers to the 4th generation. As our technology advances, so do the numbers. The next generation of technology will be 5G and so on.
Long Term Evolution or LTE provides you with faster speeds so you can watch videos, host conferences, download large files, make a presentation, edit documents and so on. It all depends in the area that you're in. In some areas, you may get 3G service while other areas will give you 4G service. LTE is a type of 4G service which is around 10 times faster than older 3G service. Some areas may only give you access to 3G service. You should be able to access 4G as well as LTE in most major cities.
LTE Can help businesses because it's very easy to set up. Other services can take weeks to set up while LTE can be set up in just a few hours. It can be easily integrated with your business such as your credit card machines, phone lines, and inventory management systems. This saves you a lot of resources and time so you're up and running quite quickly which doesn't interfere with the day-to-day activities of your business.
LTE technology is being used in many new automobiles which allow individuals to connect to the Internet through Bluetooth and other technologies. It's being used for Wi-Fi connectivity in the vehicles so that the vehicle has navigation, infotainment, and other resources at the disposal of the Driver and the other passengers.
LTE and 4G service comes with your smartphone plan. You can purchase a set amount of data that you are able to use each month. You're also able to buy more data if you happen to go over. There are many plans available for your smartphone and other phones that make use of the LTE network. when you're on this network you have a better connection overall with faster downloading speeds which are perfect for gaming, video conferencing and other intensive tasks. There are a wide number of smartphones that make use of this technology.
It's important to check with your cell phone provider to see if your smartphone is included on the network or not. service for this network may not be available in your area especially if you're in a more rural location. The major Carriers in Canada have this service available.
LTE is a 4G standard which offers you a faster speed. It tends to be around 10 times faster than the older 3G network. depending upon where you live you may or may not have this service available. It's important to talk with your cell phone provider to determine if you can get on the LTE network or not. Most areas where cell phone service is strong should have this service available such as major cities.


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by Jeremy Ohmes
Everyone in Chicago seems to know Andy Slater (BFA 2013). He's that guy with the burly, red muttonchops who has been a staple in the city's music scene for almost 20 years. Also known as Velcro Lewis, the SAIC alum has graced the stage of just about every club, gallery, rooftop, basement, and backyard in Chicago. He's fronted bands as varied as the noise metal group Behold! The Living Corpse to the Southern rock powerhouse The 100 Proof Band and his current psychedelic-soul outfit The Velcro Lewis Group. He's collaborated with local sound, video, and visual artists of all stripes; he runs Frogg Mountain recording studio in the West Loop right next to the "L"; and he is the man, the myth, and the legend behind The Dad Show on Free Radio SAIC.
He also set up shop in SAIC's Sound department for two separate, extended tenures: as a Student-at-Large from 1995–2000 and a BFA student from 2010–13, experimenting with soundscapes, honing his music production skills, and graduating this past spring with a concentration in Synthesis and Composition (finances, fatherhood, and a full-time job account for his ten-year hiatus). For his final BFA thesis project, he presented side one of The Velcro Lewis Group's newest album, Open the Sky.
The legally blind musician, sound artist, and man about town spoke to us about his relationship with sound, seeing colors, and the production of his new album.
Listen to the interview [MP3]
Sound credits:
Sinewaves, "Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit"
Andy Slater, "Agency Resonator"
The Velcro Lewis Group, "No Dream"
The Velcro Lewis Group, "Eagle Momma"


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UNITED KINGDOM: Britain's lords vote for liberty
UNITED KINGDOM: Britain's lords vote…
In a decision which hopefully will resonate with Victoria's Labor Attorney-General Rob Hulls in regard to proposed changes to his state's Equal Opportunity Act, Britain's House of Lords has blocked amendments to an Equality Bill that threatened to curtail freedom of religion.
The Gordon Brown Labour Government's proposed laws would have deprived churches in the United Kingdom of the right to "restrict jobs to believers and to refuse to hire people whose private conduct is inconsistent with their teaching".
Leaders of the Catholic and Anglican churches, not to mention leaders of other faiths, had campaigned against the amendments, which were subsequently rejected by the peers by 216 to 178, in a humiliating defeat for Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality. She can try to force the measure again through the House of Commons – and risk losing the whole bill – or leave the UK at odds with an existing European Union directive.
Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, warned: "The Government has faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of religious agitation in the Lords. The NSS will once more complain to the European Commission. It is quite likely the Government will be prosecuted in the European Court of Justice."
During the debate in the Lords, Baroness Detta O'Cathain (Conservative), who led the rebels, said: "Organisations should be free to choose their staff on whether they share those beliefs. How would a rape crisis centre operate if it was forced to employ male counsellors? This is the state trying to tell people who they can and can't employ."
The Anglican Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, added: "Where are the examples of actual abuses that have caused difficulties? Where are the court rulings that have shown that the law is defective? The truth is that there are none because the status quo has been working perfectly satisfactorily."
The Opposition Conservatives' shadow minister for Community Cohesion, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a Muslim, hailed the vote as a "victory for common sense". She said: "We delivered a blow against the Government's attempt to narrow the definition of 'employment' for the purposes of religion. The Church of England, the Catholic Church and other faiths have all campaigned in a true spirit of community cohesion to protect an important religious freedom."
Mike Judge, spokesman for the Christian Institute, said: "We are delighted that the House of Lords has voted to protect freedom of association for churches. It is a shame the Government didn't listen to churches earlier. It's almost as if they don't care about Christians."
Labour peer Lord Garfield Davies added: "My support for my Government is second only to my Christian view. My view is that the standards and morals of the Christian church makes this country a much better place and I shall always oppose any measures that seek to marginalise the Christian Church."
Church groups said the proposed amendments lacked sufficient legal clarity and could have exposed them to legal challenges if they refused to hire homosexuals or transsexuals.
Echoing Rob Hulls's recommendations for Victoria, the British Labour Government's Equality Bill amendments sought to restrict the exemption for religious organisations solely to ordained ministers of religion and other positions that wholly or mainly "exist to promote or represent the religion or to explain the doctrines of the religion".
The Church of England called for a return to the status quo, which allows it to reject candidates for senior lay or unordained posts, such as senior youth workers or pastoral assistants, if they cannot demonstrate an ability to "live a life consistent with the ethos of the religion, as well as sharing the faith".
Baroness O'Cathain said, "I know that very many Christians were praying that justice would prevail as the House of Lords voted on this important issue. Many also wrote wise, sensitive letters to peers, seeking to persuade them of our case."
The Christian Institute's Mike Judge commented, "Surely churches should be free to employ people whose conduct is consistent with church teaching. Surely that's not asking too much. It's called freedom of association, and it's a key liberty in any democratic society. The fact that the Government couldn't see this will concern many Christians."
Dr Don Horrocks, head of public affairs for the Evangelical Alliance, said the Government's amendments to change the current law "would have left churches and organisations unsure whether they could prefer practising Christians for the majority of their roles. Now, they can continue to appoint people who are committed to the ethos of the organisations they are supposed to represent. It's a victory for common sense."
Andrea Minichiello Williams, director of Christian Concern For Our Nation, also praised the vote. She said: "This is a great day for religious liberty in the United Kingdom. Let us be encouraged that, even in an increasingly secular society, the voice of the Church can still be heard."
Babette Francis, B.Sc. (Hons), is national co-ordinator of Endeavour Forum Inc.
Category: Uncategorized February 20, 2010
Author: Babette Francis
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CARD-MRI, the largest microfinance institution in the Philippines, committed to providing family planning education and information to at least four million women from 2017 to 2020. Under this campaign, CARD-MRI women-members will receive weekly family planning messaging as well as general medical services, wellness check-up, dental services, and family planning counselling to 200,000 women each year. CARD-MRI also intends to tap its own chain of pharmacies to provide medicines and family planning commodities to its clients at discounted prices, along with training its doctors and nurses on modern FP services. Finally, as a microfinance institution, CARD-MRI commits to empowering women from the poorest sectors of Philippine society to become economically productive, enabling them to contribute towards increasing family income and enhancing socio-economic development of the country.


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Q: Removing everything before exact string with regex I have this string, and I'm trying to remove everything that is before P<RU, but nothing happens and I receive the same string. Basically nothing happens.
a = ("PECIMEN\n"
        "DWADWA\n"
        "P<RUSDATA<DATA<<<<\n"
        "00000000<ORUS7803118F213242803111025<<<64")
removed_text = re.sub(r'^.*?\nP<RU', '\nP<RU', a)

or
removed_text = re.sub(r'^.*?P<RU', 'P<RU', a)

A: You need the re.DOTALL flag, otherwise . doesn't match newlines, so it will only perform the replacement in the first line of the string.
removed_text = re.sub(r'^.*?P<RU', 'P<RU', a, flags = re.DOTALL)

A: This doesn't necessarily need a regex. Assuming 'P<RU' appears once - why not do:
    x = 'P<RU' + a.split('P<RU')[1]


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text:
in cold war, military art, military history, US Navy
The 'Cruiser Slaughter,' or why the Clinton administration hated steam warships
In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy commissioned two classes of what were termed at the time, Destroyer Leaders, a type of "super destroyer" larger than the late-WWII designed Gearing-class tin cans (3,500-tons, 390-feet, 36.8kts on 60,000 shp worth of GE steam turbines and 4 boilers, 3 twin 5″/38s) and an offshoot of the testbed Mitscher-class destroyers (4,855-tons, 490-feet, experimental steam plants, 2×5-inch singles).
They were beautiful, rakish ships.
An artist's concept of the guided-missile cruiser USS LEAHY (CG 16).
Almost cruiser-like you could say:
USS LEAHY underway in the Pacific, National Archives K-112673
These two new Destroyer Leaders classes, the 9-ship Leahy and 9-ship Belknap classes, were much larger (7,800-8,000 tons, 547-feet) and, though they packed 85,000shp as a benefit of their four 1200psi boilers, were slower at 32-34kts. However, they did carry giant twin-rail RIM-2 Terrier Mk 10 missile launchers in place of most of the guns carried by their predecessors.
Mk-10 guided missile launching system (GMLS) with reload system aboard USS Worden (CG 18)
These 18 DLGs, augmented by two unique nuclear-plant vessels on similar hulls (Bainbridge and Truxtun) with pressurized-water D2G reactors were completed in just under eight years, with the first laid down 3 December 1959 and the last of the 20 ships commissioned 27 May 1967– surely a remarkable shipbuilding achievement when compared to FY2018, that's for sure.
WORDEN (DLG 18) and DALE (DLG 19) at Bath Iron Works.
Painting of USS Bainbridge (DLGN 25)
Aerial photo of USS Horne (DLG-30) taken in March 1967. Photo likely was taken when she was on builders trials.
3 January 1989 – A port beam view of the nuclear-powered guided missile-cruiser USS Truxtun (CGN 35) underway steaming to her homeport of San Diego.
U.S. Navy photo #DN-SC-90-02332 by PH2 Petty.
To this were added two California-class nuclear DLGN's in the early 1970s and a planned four-ship group of Virginia-class vessels. In all, 26 DLG/DLGNs.
As these 26 mega destroyers came online, the Navy also was rapidly moving away from their remaining WWII-era light and heavy cruiser fleet.
By 1974, the Navy had just eight cruisers in commission: Long Beach (CGN9), Little Rock (CL-92/CLG-4/CG-4), Oklahoma City (CL-91/CLG-5/CG-5), Springfield (CL-66/CLG-7/CG-7), Albany (CA-123/CG-10), Chicago (CA-136/CG-11), Columbus (CA-74/CG-12), and Newport News (CA–148). However, naval analysts were quick to point out that the Soviets had a whopping 40~ "cruisers" ranging from the dated 16,000-ton all-gun Sverdlovs and similar 14,000-ton Chapayevs to the smaller 7,000-ton Krestas and 9,000-ton Kara-class missile boats.
The solution to close the "cruiser gap"? Redesignate the 26 DLG/Ns to CG/CGNs and call it a day.
The 13,600-ton guided missile cruiser USS Columbus (CG-12) underway off San Diego, California (USA), 19 February 1965. The U.S. Ordered a year before Pearl Harbor, Columbus was built as a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser and converted to a missile slinger in 1959. THIS is what the Navy had in mind when someone said "cruiser" until 1975. Navy photo NH 82722-KN.
Thus, our super destroyers magically in 1975 became cruisers, which, when compared to the Karas and Krestas that Moscow called cruisers in their own right, they certainly were. So presto-chango, abracadabra, boom– 26 "new" cruisers.
An aerial bow view of six nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers underway in formation during Exercise READEX 1-81. The ships are, from left to right: USS TEXAS (CGN 39), USS CALIFORNIA (CGN 36), USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN 37), USS VIRGINIA (CGN 38), USS ARKANSAS (CGN 41) and USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN 40), background NARA # 6418325 Photo 26 Feb 1981
Leahy-class guided missile destroyer cruiser USS England (CG-22), Pacific Ocean, 10 January 1983. Note the retrofitted Harpoon anti-ship missiles aft
USS Virginia (CGN-38) anchored at Athens, Greece, 18 June 1983.
By the 1980s, the Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruisers (based on a destroyer hull– the Spruance) were being cranked out to add more missiles and battlespace management to the fleet. By Nov. 1992, some 27 Ticos were in commission (or at least launched) which, along with our 26 frocked DLG/Ns and the old Long Beach, gave the Navy a proud total of 54 cruisers of all sorts in service, which proved to be the high water mark of the post-1945 Navy.
A starboard bow view of the guided-missile destroyer USS FOX (CG-33) underway. DN-SC-93-01175
Further, the old DLGs had been slated for the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) which shelved old sensors like the AN/SPS-40 in place of the much more capable SPS-48E & 49(V)5, upgraded tracking and engagement systems and provided the ability to sling modern Standard missiles, making them more deadly than they had ever been.
Then, the Cold War thawed.
On Christmas Day 1991, the Soviet hammer and sickle flag was lowered for the last time over the Kremlin. The Red Fleet soon became sidelined and within months the newly reformed Russian Navy began to wither.
The Peace Dividend was duly cashed in and the U.S. Navy's surface assets were on the chopping block. Just as the Knox-class fast frigates were stacked up in mothballs due to their manpower intensive steam plants (when compared to gas turbine FFG7s), the Clinton administration put a hit out on the Navy's non-carrier surface assets (psst, the nuclear cruisers) as well as the Leahy/Belknaps.
The first to go, the venerable Leahy herself, was decommissioned along with her sister Worden on 1 October 1993. By 30 July 1999 the last of the active batch of 26 ships envisioned to be DLG/Ns, USS South Carolina (CGN-37), was decommissioned although she had just had her reactor re-cored and was good for another 18 years of service!
USS South Carolina (CGN-37) cuts through the water of the Atlantic Ocean during transit to the Mediterranean Sea on 9 OCT 1997. Official U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate First Class Petty Officer Gregory Pinkley (971009-N-9975P-001).
Almost as soon as they were stricken these once fine flagships were scrapped, recycled or sunk as targets with the last vestiges erased by 2007.
On 31 May 2001, the guided-missile cruiser Reeves (CG-24) becomes a target for bombs dropped by Royal Australian Airforce F-111s, missiles from U.S. Naval warships and shells from Royal Australian Naval vessels as part of a SINKEX off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
The great cruiser slaughter took just under six years. To boot, by 2005 the first five Ticos– those armed with Mark-26s rather than VLS launchers– were mothballed. Just 22 of 54 cruisers remained.
Still, though they were retired with life left in them and miles left unsailed, they held the line during the Cold War and stood ready to weather a Red Storm that never rose.
Vale to the days of steam, twin-armed Mk.10s, and the iron cruisermen who sailed them.
Terrier Missile Shot Aft, USS Leahy, Painting, Oil on Canvas; by Walter W. Bollendonk; 1965; Framed Dimensions 29H x 40W Accession #: 88-161-DC
Tags: (CGN-38), Belknap class, CG, CGN, Destroyer Leaders, DLG, DLGN, GMLS, Leahy class, Mk 10, Mk-10 guided missile launching system, RIM-2, RIM-2 Terrier Mk 10, Terrier, Terrier missile, USS Columbus (CG-12), USS FOX (CG-33), USS Leahy, USS Reeves (CG-24), USS South Carolina, USS Virginia, USS Worden (CG 18)
2 responses to "The 'Cruiser Slaughter,' or why the Clinton administration hated steam warships"
Gary Spencer says : August 20, 2018 at 16:29
I served aboard the Leahy DLG16 from 4/70 to 10/73. She was the best ship in the fleet. It is a shame that the 16s and 26s are all gone. Would still be front line ships today and would go along way in making the Navy strong again.
Tim McCann says : March 28, 2019 at 13:20
Bottom line is the AEGIS Navy didn't want the competition. The same reason all the Spruance 963 class disappeared.
navypedia.org/ships/germa…


text:
The study of Ý-cyclodextrin interactions with sugars using "inhibition kinetics" and the bromination of pyrimidine derivatives
Turner, Isabelle (1999) The study of Ý-cyclodextrin interactions with sugars using "inhibition kinetics" and the bromination of pyrimidine derivatives. Masters thesis, Concordia University.
MQ43636.pdf
Part I . The binding of Ý-cyclodextrin (Ý-CD) with sugars was studied using "inhibition kinetics". The rates of hydrolysis of trimethyl orthobenzoate and benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal in acidic solution were monitored using a single beam stopped-flow spectrophotometer. Both substrates exhibit saturation kinetics and 1:1 binding with Ý-CD, and the rates of hydrolysis are retarded by the cyclodextrin, in agreement with earlier studies. The retarded rates of hydrolysis in the presence of Ý-CD are modulated by the addition of guests that bind to the CD, and "inhibition constants" (K 1 ) may be determined. Several aldoses were studied. Pentoses were found to bind modestly to Ý-CD (K 1 = 100-1000 mM) and hexoses hardly bind at all (K 1 > 500 mM). The results obtained with the two probe reactions agree well with each other, and the K 1 values are compared to the disparate values in literature. Part II . The aqueous bromination of 2-aminopyrimidine (2-AP) involves two major steps, and the first step forms an addition product, an intermediate that was previously observed by NMR. The second step, which is quite slow, involves elimination of water from the intermediate to Yield the 5-bromo derivative. The focus of this investigation was on the initial fast step to try to discover how the intermediate is formed. The kinetics of the bromination of 2-aminopyrimidine and several related derivatives have been studied using a stopped-flow apparatus. The mechanisms were investigated by constructing pH-rate profiles for each compound. The pH-rate profiles for 2-aminopyrimidine and 1,2-dihydro-2-imino-1-methyl-pyrimidine (M2A) demonstrate the complexity of these reactions and the evidence that more than one mechanism is involved. This statement is especially true for the latter compound where mixed orders of reactions were found. For comparative purposes the kinetics of bromination of 2-amino-4,6-dimethyl-pydmidine (2-ADP), 2-aminopyridine (2-APy), 2-dimethylaminopyridine (2-DAPy), aniline and N,N -dimethylaniline were also studied.
Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Chemistry and Biochemistry
Turner, Isabelle
xviii, 113 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
Tee, Oswald S


The North American Pultrusion Conference, hosted by American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and in partnership with the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA), will take place April 8th through April 10th, 2019. Attendees who develop and sell composite products will be gathering in Rosemont, Illinois for the must-attend event. North American Pultrusion Conference brings industry leaders, customers, OEMs, and suppliers together for an unparalleled two-day event.
Attending this conference provides participants with keynote presentations from global industry leaders and critical information to stay on top of industry innovations and trends. Additionally, this conference offers attendees opportunities to collaborate with international partners, discuss current industry challenges, and develop their professional networks. EPTA's partnership enables attendees to understand composite products in Europe and how to successfully navigate Eurocodes, the design standards for safe buildings in Europe. Ultimately, the North American Pultrusion Conference is the event to attend for pultrusion world-wide.
Interested individuals can learn more about this year's conference here. For those interested in attending this year's conference, register here.


Venezuela is located on the North coast of South America, near Columbia, Guyana and Brazil. It has the privilege of being on the coast of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Its population exceeds 30 million people, making it the 40th largest country in the world. However, a steady stream of citizens continue to consider if it is the best place for their future.
A large proportion of Venezuelans receive money from their relatives abroad on a weekly or monthly. Many of those who send money in Venezuela are in America. There are about 180,000 people with Venezuelan ancestry directly in United States.
Venezuela's expatriate community worldwide, especially in America is highly respected. They are known for their high levels of education and commercial successes. Many Venezuelans as young adults to America to attend University. It takes an intense effort in high school, only to be accepted at an American University, as Venezuelan schools are no longer respected in South America.
As well as those who migrated to America to educational opportunities, increasing numbers have come for political reasons. While in the United States certainly have the political demons, the aversion to the current regime in Venezuela and their strict policies is a source polarizes for many.
Options for sending money to Venezuela vary, but of late, taking advantage of the ability to send money online has been appealing to the intellectual community.
In the past Venezuelans used money transfer services. With these services, sender and receiver had to report to a third party location to complete the money transfer. Recipients have become more weary of these establishments as it makes the process devoid of privacy.
Due to the business acumen and success for Venezuelans in America, most of them hold and manage U.S. banks accounts for the proper maintenance of their funds. The easiest way for them to send money to family back home would just transfer money to the bank account of their family. Unfortunately it is not so easy, like a less ideal amount of those in Venezuela do not use banks because of proximity or confidence.
Reloadable debit cards provided by some services allow a greater level of flexibility and value for money transfer at home. Once the card is sent, the sender can add money online card often as they would like. Recipients use the card to withdraw funds at most any local ATM. The advantage here goes to those who send money on a regular basis. The ease and safety provided by this method, make it an option definitely growing.


My toshikoshi soba for the end of 2010- there was a one hour wait to get these noodles- but WELL worth it!
After sunset on December 31st, families all across Japan will be sitting down to eat buckwheat noodles, which for the occassion are called TOSHIKOSHI SOBA ( literally, passing-from-one-year-to-the-next-soba).
This custom became widespread among the merchant class sometime during the Edo Period ( 1600-1868) . It was obviously a convient FAST FOOD, for the busiest time of the year, and this might be a major reason why this custom has remained so universal in Japan ( though there are some regions where other Toshikoshi dishes are eaten, and I might add that buckwheat allergies are not rare, and obviously families with sufferers would opt for something else).
However, just as with everything else that has become a staple of tradition in Japan, there is a symbolic significance in eating these noodles on New Year`s Eve. In fact there is more than one!
First, noodles are long and represent long life.
Second, buckwheat noodles break easilly, representing a clean break with the old year.
Third, buckwheat noodles are thought be usefull in cleaning out the digestive system, and thus give the body a good end of the year cleansing.
Fourth, in the Edo Period Japanese goldsmiths used buckwheat dough-balls to gather up gold dust from the floor or table ( which was then separated in water). Buckwheat therefore became a symbol for attracting gold ( wealth).
We can thus see that it is NOT only because they are convenient and delicious that eating soba on New Years Eve has become such a popular tradition!
It is also important to note that in the Edo Period, that is before the Japanese adopted the Western-Style calendar, eating toshikoshi soba actually took place as one year changed into the next. This is because according to the traditional Japanese calendar, one day ends and the begins at SUNSET. Thus, the New Year would ring in the evening- just about dinner time. In fact, the last sunset of the year also used to come quite a bit later, because according to the old calendar New Year`s was celebrated sometime in February ( as Chinese New Year still is).
You can find soba on sale at any supermarket or even convenience store for tonight. Of course, getting your noodles from a good soba restaurant is even a better idea, as they will probably be more delicious. I will pick up mine at ICHII, in Konda, Tsukuba.
(Also remember that buckwheat noodles are presented to neighbors when moving into a new house or apartment. One reason for this is that the word SOBA also means NEXT TO. Another, is the fact that noodles are long and slim- a way of saying, we are now close to each other, but lets not be THAT close!
You ate the soba cold? I first ate the toshikoshi soba topped with tempura, cooked by my mother-in-law.


(November 22, 1867–November 27, 1932). B. New Orleans, Louisiana; educ. Conc. Coll., Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Conc. Sem., St. Louis, Missouri Pastor of various congs. Military chaplain 1898 in Sp.-Am. War. Miss. to Brazil 1900–01 (see also Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, District of The, B 1).


For the technical discussion of Firewall Forward setup and installations to include tips, techniques, questions, and recommendations.
My name is Kory Klismith. I am currently working to finish my master's degree through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. To complete my degree I need to complete a research project. As part of this project, I have devised an online questionnaire using surveymonkey.com.
My project focuses on safety and reliability of piston and rotary engines used in experimental aircraft. The survey is open to anybody who currently owns/flys an experimental aircraft or has a project under construction.
If you know of anybody else who's not a regular to this forum that builds/operates experimental aircraft, requesting your assistance in forwarding this link to them. No personnally identifiable information will be collected. This is strictly for educational purposes.