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"You give me nothing during your life, but you promise to provide for me at your death. If you are not a fool, you know what I wish for!"- Marcus Valerius Martial
Don't Look a Gift Corpse in the Mouth
5 comments:
Archie Goodwin is the greatest thing to happen to the world since the invention of sliced bread. Seriously, his narrative is most of the reason I read the books. His voice is just brilliant. The humour is wonderful and the characters are captivating, and the banter between Wolfe and Archie always makes me smile. I particularly loved that moment where Archie threatens to marry Wolfe's daughter and attend father/son golf tournaments with him... :DReplyDelete
Yes! That scene is one of my favorites and played to perfection by Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton in the television adaptation. And who cares about plot when Archie's telling a story. It becomes even less than a secondary importance and turns a defect into a virtue, as even the worst plotted books are still highly readable – from the very first novel to the final one, which isn't something that every writer can boost about.ReplyDelete
There's a reason why Rex Stout is one of the few male GAD authors who maintained a steady fan base and a decent print run.
- SextonblakeJuly 29, 2011 at 12:40 AM
There is a very homely quality to the Wolfe books. So much of the pleasure in the stories comes from the descriptions of life in that brownstone; the meals, Wolfe sitting in his armchair and drinking his beers whilst reading a good book, the orchids. I expect that a lot of male GAD authors wouldn't consider this sort of domestic detail important. I can remember how upsetting it seemed when that home seemed about to be broken up in IN THE BEST FAMILIES.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 30, 2011 at 10:15 PM
My take on Stout's work very much echoes what TomCat (and his commentators) have said here, and in my own scattered reviews of books in the Wolfe saga, I usually emphasize how matters of character, dialogue, and setting must compensate for--and do compensate for--weakness of plotting. I recall reading one of the Wolfe novels when I was a teenager, back when I was in the initial throes of my love affair with puzzle plotting, and I felt profound disappointment when I reached the end of the book and thought: Is that all there is? Much older now, I warm to the way that Stout so effectively handles the storytelling basics (character, pacing, etc.), and let myself be pleasantly surprised if he throws in a neat plot twist as well. It's classic comfort reading, the literary equivalent of pizza and beer (although Wolfe, of course, would disagree with my gastronomic choice).ReplyDelete
I think Rex Stout proved that it's okay to be a one trick pony, if you've got a really good trick.ReplyDelete
As for the cozy remark, I've always thought of them as a cozy crossed with hardboiled, with Archie and the various operatives contributing to the latter quality.


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Tomato parable
I wrote some code to embed my tweets on my website. There's a statement that would have made no sense in 1990. Actually, it barely makes sense now. But I did it. I'm proud of my site. I built it myself. Occasionally I get an email saying, "What software do you use to run your site and how do I get it?" I think the answer is: receive a Commodore 64 for your tenth birthday and no good games.
But that's not why I'm writing. I'm writing because I decided to grow my own vegetables. A few people I knew were growing their own vegetables, and they kept yakking about how wonderful it was, not depending on manufactured supermarket vegetables, which are evil for some reason, so I thought what the hell.
For a while I was intimidated by the idea of growing vegetables. When I reach for a vegetable, I usually just want to eat it. I don't want to be intimately involved with its creation. I worried I would end up spending more time tending to the health of fragile, overly complicated peas than eating them.
Then I saw an ad for genetically modified seeds. These promised to take the hassle out of growing vegetables, which seemed pretty intriguing. The tomatoes would be big and red and I wouldn't have to do anything. So I got those.
This upset my hippy friends. Especially when I started having problems. My frankenfruit was supposed to be simple but after a few weeks the whole garden stopped growing. My cabbages were flaccid. My carrots were anemic. My spinach wouldn't self-seed. It wasn't supposed to self-seed. The genetics company had engineered it not to, so I'd have to buy new seeds each season. But I thought there should be a way around that.
I asked my hippy friends for help. Well! You'd think I asked for a kidney. They kept bringing up the fact that I was using GM seeds. Eventually they all got together and said, "Max… we can't help you any more. We want to. But you brought these problems on yourself. And the thing is, when you ask for help, you're actually asking us to use our skills and knowledge to prop up a corporatized product that's not just practically inferior to the free alternative you ignored, but actually bad for the world. We just can't do that."
And that was how I taught them to stop asking me for help with Windows.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hip-Hop Rumors: Nicki Minaj Blasts Rude Fans On Twitter, Tells Them To "Eat Sh*t And Die"
AllHipHop Staff
Nicki Minaj was recently forced to cancel a few shows in Dublin, the UK, and Ireland due to strained vocal cords, and a few of her International fans were upset and barraged her Twitter with complaints. Nicki was not trying to hear any of them and put them in their place quick. Check out Nicki's Twitter rant below:
I will NOT let you people make me feel horrible for a f*cking HEALTH issue! That's what got me in this mess! I shldve listened 2 the doctor!
I am so thankful to my true fans who understand WHY I couldn't play #VFestival & WHY I can't play Dublin. Absolutely gutted However, if u have anything negative to say to me, please #EatSh*tAndDie – I am human. I was in jeopardy of losing my voice entirely and needing surgery on my vocal chord. If u can't understand that, your mother's a WHORE!!!!
I will NOT let you people make me feel horrible for a f*cking HEALTH issue! That's what got me in this mess! I shldve listened 2 the doctor! Like people are hitting me telling me I shldve mimed. No! Then you woulda made a f*cking STORY out of that too! #killyaf*ckingself
My beloved United Kingdom, u know how much I f*cking love u! Ireland, I truly appreciate you. Barbz, thnku for the well wishes. All you do is rip people apart and when they're dead & gone u won't lose a wink of sleep. #goF*ckYourselves
Why must artists rant over Twitter when they are unhappy with something? Are you guys turned off by this kind of behavior?
Side note - Nicki tweeted that she had a surprise for her fans. Could it be the rumored announcement that she has landed a coveted judge position on "American Idol"?
E-mail me your rumors at email@example.com
Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!
Email Sydney Lace rumors: email@example.com


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History is repeating itself in the global consumer electronics space, with newer players threatening the dominance of older established brands - that is Japanese electronics makers.
Once the strongest in the industry, Japan's manufacturers are battling to stay profitable as competitors in neighboring South Korea and China fast encroach on their market share – a similar scenario faced by American electronics makers in the 1980s, when the likes of Sony, Sharp and Panasonic rose to prominence.
On Thursday, Sharp reported a loss of $936 million in the July-September period, compared with a profit of $376 million a year ago. While, Sony posted an operating profit of $379 million, for the same period, helped by the sale of its chemical business.
"History has repeated itself as the former market leaders in the space are punished by new entrants who have combined lower costs with tremendous attention to detail on customer needs," Ed Rogers, CEO, Rogers Investment Advisors told CNBC.
Panasonic, which warned of a $9.6 billion loss in the fiscal year ending March 2013, embodies the critical state of the industry in Japan that is reeling under fierce competition, and a strong yen , which makes their products more expensive in the global market. And, analysts see little scope for a turnaround in the ailing sector in the near-term.
"Their cost base is too high, they are being killed by competition in China and Korea, and they don't have the wherewithal to innovate. Whatever strategies they try to employ tend to fail," Ben Collette, head of Japanese equities at Louis Capital Markets, said.
He added that while their products are of high quality, they don't have the brand cache of competitors like Samsung and are trying to live off their old legacy.
Time to Get Smart
In addition to the lack of product innovation and attractive pricing, Wee Teck Loo, global head of consumer electronics research at Euromonitor, said what companies such as Sony, Sharp and Panasonic lack is a strong focus on smartphones – a major force behind the success of Samsung. In the third quarter, 50 percent of Samsung's revenue came from their high-margin smartphone sales.
"Lack of a strong smartphone strategy is negative. It's a high growth category, but they don't have a good product line-up. Smartphone sales in emerging markets are expected to see double-digit growth, they are missing out big time," Loo said.
While phone sales in their domestic market have been decent, Japanese electronics firms haven't achieved much success with their mobile phone businesses outside of their home country, he said.
Panasonic, for example, is expected to close its mobile phone operations in Europe by March 2013 - less than a year after it returned to the market - due to weak demand.
TV Demand Worrying
According to Shiro Mikoshiba, analyst at Nomura, one of the biggest risks for the country's top electronics makers is the lack of demand for their latest TV offerings.
"3D displays and internet connectivity have not stimulated replacement demand for TVs and we have not seen any compelling technological innovations since the switch to digital," Mikoshiba wrote in a report.
The market share of Japanese companies in the television space has been declining in the recent years, as competitors introduce cheaper or more attractive products.
In 2011, the worldwide market share of digital TVs for Sony, Sharp and Panasonic stood at 10.6 percent, 7 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively, falling from 14 percent, 6.3 percent and 4.3 percent in 2008. South Korea's LG, in contrast, saw its market share rise from 11.3 percent to 13.4 percent over the same time period.
Yen Depreciation Is Critical
ccording to Collette, a reversal in the fortune of these companies will ultimately depend on a reversal in yen strength.
"They have been managing strength in yen for a long time, so their production operates on razor thin margins. A consistent weakening of the yen would provide so much positive cash flow for these companies," Collette said.
However, if this doesn't occur, companies in the sector will continue to offload assets or undergo consolidation in order to survive, he added.
Sony, for example, recently completed the sale of its chemical business to state-backed Development Bank of Japan for 58 billion yen ($625 million). This sale helped offset weak demand for its TVs and other devices, allowing the company to post a profit in the July-September period.


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By Mary Wisniewski
(Reuters) - An Ohio panel on Thursday approved a petition designed to pressure the Republican-led state legislature to expand the Medicaid health program for the poor as part of President Barack Obama's health reform law.
The aim is to allow about 275,000 additional Ohio residents to be eligible for Medicaid under the new reform law, a proposal supported by Republican Governor John Kasich but not yet acted on by state lawmakers.
The Ohio Ballot Board, which considers proposed ballot initiatives, gave the go ahead for the group called "Healthy Ohioans Work" to start gathering about 116,000 signatures needed to get lawmakers to consider the issue.
If the coalition of businesses, health care providers, consumer advocates and labor unions gets the signatures, the proposal goes before the legislature. If lawmakers do not approve or take no action after four months, supporters can circulate another petition to get the issue before voters on the November 2014 ballot.
"Waiting to place this issue before the voters in November 2014 is not an ideal scenario," said Jon Allison, a spokesman for Healthy Ohioans Work.
Kasich, who opposes Obamacare, had endorsed the expansion of Medicaid last February, raising hopes that Ohio would join some 25 states and the District of Columbia moving forward with expanding Medicaid. Another 22 states are opposed to Medicaid expansion and three, including Ohio, are still debating the issue, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The expansion of Medicaid is a major plank of the health reform law which aims to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health insurance.
The ballot board's decision came a day after the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, Ohio's largest provider of Medicaid coverage, announced that it would cut jobs and slash five to six percent of its budget, partly because of an expected decline in federal reimbursements for the cost of treating poor people who lack insurance.
Obamacare will begin reducing payments to hospitals for uncompensated care for the poor next year. But hospitals in states that expand Medicaid are expected to require substantially less money, because more of their poor patients will have health coverage through the expansion.
(Reporting by Mary Wisniewski; Additional reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Greg McCune and Tim Dobbyn)


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Cobra In A Box - Factory Five Cobra Project Car
A Cobra Kit Car Needs A 427, But Who Wants The Bulk Of An FE When You Can Build A 427-Inch Windsor Small-Block?
HOT ROD's latest project car is a Factory Five Cobra that has been a long time coming. We've had the basic kit for quite some time now, but a project of this magnitude brings out our innermost procrastination tendencies, and that means it has gone much slower than we intended. With the ever-oppressing magazine deadlines getting in the way, we tapped on the shoulder of John Balow at Musclecar Restorations to help us build the car. You'll see more about that in ensuing months, but while Balow's guys were doing their thing to the Factory Five kit, we concentrated on something we know a little more about, and that's the engine.
The nice thing about a Factory Five Cobra is that you can use nearly any engine you want. We've seen everything from legit 427 FEs to twin-turbo small-block Chevys and even a few DOHC 4.6 mod motors crammed into the small engine bay. In this writer's humble opinion, a Cobra has to at least have a Ford engine, and preferably a 427. But even with the resurgence in FE popularity, a real 427 side oiler is expensive and really, really heavy. If you can get the same (or more) power in a much lighter small-block Ford and yet still be able to stick some 427 badges on the car, so much the better, right? So that's what we did, and we didn't have to look much further than Coast High Performance (CHP) in Torrance, California.
CHP's troublemaker is called the Cobra Classic, and it's all of 427 ci via a production late-model two-bolt-main 351W block bored 0.030-over and stroked with a 4.170-inch cast crank. Stroker small-block Fords are like 383 Chevys these days; if you're rebuilding an engine and need to buy a crankshaft anyway, it's basically the same money to put a stroker crank in it, so why not take the cubes? The most popular stroker kits are based off the 8.2-deck 302 block, and 347 seems to be the magic cubic-inch number, but using the taller 9.5-deck 351W block, there are several popular stroker combos, including the magical 427. The bigger you go, of course, the more complicated it gets, but even at the 427 level there's not a lot of fuss involved in assembling the package. A little grinding on the bottoms of a few cylinders and the correct selection of parts, including a camshaft with a reduced base circle, and it falls together pretty easily.
The power parts that make up the Cobra Classic small-block center around a CHP stroker kit that uses the aforementioned crank as well as 6.125-inch H-beam rods and Probe SRS forged and dished pistons. A Probe cast-iron main girdle strengthens the bottom of the production block. The heads used on the standard Cobra Classic are out-of-the-box Edelbrock Victor Jr. 's, but we went for the optional CNC-ported Airflow Research 205s with 58cc chambers, which CHP claims are worth about 30 hp. Induction is from an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake and a Race Demon 950-cfm carburetor. The cam is a relatively mild hydraulic roller from Pro Mustang with 0.050 duration at 248/256, 0.595/0.605 lift, and a 110-degree lobe separation angle. With 427 cubes, it's a perfectly driveable cam but big enough to crank out a claimed 554 hp at 5,600 rpm and 552 lb-ft of torque at 4,800.
We state "claimed" horsepower since we didn't have a chance to verify it. Due to time constraints induced by the rapidly approaching Power Tour(tm) (the car had to be done in time or the entire HOT ROD staff would be fired), we didn't have a chance to prove those numbers on our own dyno-we got them from the dyno sheet provided by CHP, with testing taking place at Dyno-Motive in Placentia, California. The engine used in that test had the same AFR heads but a Holley 830 carb. We'll be putting the car on a chassis dyno once it is finished and tuned and report back with more accurate, eye-witnessed numbers.
The parts are not the whole story, however, since the main selling feature is that this is a crate engine that comes complete from carb to pan, and with a full front accessory dress including pulleys, a water pump, and a one-wire alternator. Unpolished, the whole kit and kaboodle will set you back $9,500, plus $600 for the hydraulic-roller cam (a hydraulic flat-tappet is standard), and $400 for the AFR heads instead of the Edelbrock Victor Jrs. Add another $800 for polished heads, intake, and water pump, and the engine you're looking at here, which you'll see under the blue 'glass hood of the FFR Cobra, goes in the crate for $11,300 and is literally ready to drop in a car, plug in the wiring, hook up the fuel line, and drive down the road.
Of course, now there's the matter of building the rest of the car, not an undaunting task by itself. We'll head up north to Minnesota to cover building the Factory Five kit and fitting the engine and Tremec five-speed trans next month, and then we'll be revving the snot out of this big small-block and putting the car through its paces on the chassis dyno and at the dragstrip.
Details:* Holley 830-cfm carb with 85/95 jets and 0.032 inner/0.067 outer air bleeds* 1-inch four-hole spacer* 91-octane fuel* Timing set at 36 degrees total advance* Uncorrected altitude of 446 feet


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Bike patrols recycled in San Marcos
The bike cops are back in San Marcos.
It's been a few years since deputies in the city hopped on bicycles to patrol events, but with a half-dozen new bikes and 40 hours of recent training, the crews are back in business.
It won't be a daily patrol, but more of a use-it-when-needed tool, sheriff's officials said.
Deputies on bikes handled some of the crowd and traffic control at graduation ceremonies earlier this month at San Marcos and Mission Hills high schools.
And they plan to be out on Thursday for Fourth of July festivities at Bradley Park, said Sgt. Mark Haynesworth, one of the leaders of the San Marcos station's Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving team.
"Where ever the crimes goes, we can go," Haynesworth said this week, adding that San Marcos has about 66 miles of trails.
Some sites are more accessible by bike than by car. And wheels are a lot faster than feet.
The 10 deputies on the team have specialized training on how to police from a bike. They can ride down stairs, jump curbs and take down fleeing suspects, Haynesworth said.
He said a number of the city's mobile home communities have asked for bike patrols through their neighborhoods.
Lt. Christina Bavencoff from the San Marcos station said state grant money covered the $3,700 cost of six new bikes to supplement the older bikes pulled from storage.
Bavencoff, who once worked bike patrols herself, said she immediately backed the idea of getting the bikes back on the road.
"It's less confrontational and intimidating," she said. "It was definitely a priority for me, because I knew how good bike patrol can be."


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Title: Ayah
Author: Andrea Hirata
Editor: Imam Risdiyanto
Publisher: Penerbit Bentang, May 2015
415 pages
Back to 2005, I still remember how I was very much influenced by Andrea Hirata's masterpiece, Laskar Pelangi. This book has been inspiring lots of people. It's been translated in 34 languages and published in more than 120 countries. I even visited Belitong to find more about everything told in the book.
Now after 10 years, I started reading Andrea's latest book, Ayah, and tell you what I felt kind of deja vu here. Perhaps since the setting of the story is still in Belitong. Although the theme is different instead of talking about Ikal and his friends, this time Andrea tells about fathers with all the ups and downs in life.
According to Andrea, Ayah tells about ordinary people with extraordinary experiences. I really enjoyed the story since Andrea's signature is strongly shown here. He delivers the story in his usual way with vivid characters, jokes here and there, Belitong people and culture. All is packed within a detailed research and experiment. Thus Andrea said, it took six years to finish the book.
I enjoy the book a lot. I just can't stop laughing and feel blue at several parts. All in all if you miss Andrea's usual writing, this is the one. Highly recommended.


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syngo Fly Through
syngo Fly Through provides virtual endoluminal views of hollow structures.
General Requirements
Minimum Software Version
(one of following)
syngo CT VC28
syngo CT VA50A
Please Note: Additional technical pre-requisites may apply. Upon receiving your request, your local Siemens representative will clarify whether your system meets the requirements.


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Regular readers of this blog knows that I'm a great believe of reciting sutras because reciting sutras has the power to attract numerous blessings and offer strong protection to a person who recites it. In fact, simply having a copy of a sutra, especially if it's the Traditional Sutra Amulet format, if one is unable to recite will give you financial blessings, peace, happiness, and protection. This blog has shared some of the personal testimonies of my readers who has requested for the Traditional Sutra Amulets (TSA).
But today, in this post, allow me to share with you some of the wonderful blessings you may receive if you recite the SUTRA OF THE PAST VOWS OF EARTH STORE BODHISATTVA. These are the blessings especially mentioned in the sutra. But to understand it further, I have copy – pasted the commentary (short explanation) of Venerable Master Hsuan Hua of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. This is to make the promise of the blessing a little more clearer.
Note: Earth Store Bodhisattva is also known or called as Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and Di Zhang Pu Sa.
Here is the list of the blessings as stated in the sutra itself followed by commentary of Venerable Master Hsuan Hua:
First, they will be protected by gods and dragons. Gods, celestial dragons and celestial asuras will protect you because you know how to recite the Earth Store Sutra. Asuras in the heavens enjoy blessings but no authority. They swear to protect you. Gandharvas are music spirits before the Jade Emperor. They are also called "sniffing spirits". Whenever the Jade Emperor lights up a particular incense, Gandharvas come. There are male gandharvas and female gandharvas. Male gandharvas wear a horn similar to chimeras on their heads. Once they get a whiff of this scent, they will dance and sing, so the celestial music rings in the heavens. Recite Earth Store Sutra and gandharvas will sing praises as they dance on air. Garudas are Great Peng birds with golden wings. Kinnaras are music spirits too. Maharagas are giant pythons. All of them protect someone who recite the Earth Store Sutra or bow to Earth Store Bodhisattva.
Second, their good roots will increase daily. Sometimes cultivators are extremely bold as they set their resolve on Bodhi; consequently doing a lot of merit. Sometimes they turn around and withdraw. They retreat because they feel that they do not experience any responses despite all the merit they do for Buddhism. Good results increase daily means that they do no retreat; instead they grow by the day. They develop blessings and wisdom, do good and virtuous deeds, achieve merit and always move forward vigorously in Buddhism. Why? It is because you recite Earth Store Bodhisattva's name, recite the Fundamental Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra or pay respects to Earth Store Bodhisattva that you experience the response of growing good effects on a daily basis.
Third, they will amass supreme causes pertaining to sagehood. This means they do various jobs in Buddhism, such as printing sutras and building temples. Repairing bridges and paving roads are about amassing supreme causes pertaining to sagehood too. Making sutras, turning the great Dharma wheel and doing all these good deeds are about cultivating the path to Bodhi and amassing supreme causes pertaining to sagehood.
Fourth, they will not retreat from Bodhi. Sometimes we are vigilant and sometimes we are lax in our cultivation. Vigilant, we are quite bold with everything. Lax, we feel that we are not getting any responses from any work we do, so we retreat. Recite Earth Store Sutra, recite Earth Store Bodhisattva's name, and bow and make offerings to Earth Store Bodhisattva; we do not renounce our resolve for Bodhi. Our wish for enlightenment moves ahead and grows on a daily basis, never retreating.
Fifth, their clothing and food will be abundant. We are not short of clothes or food. People work their entire lives for those three meals a day. They work hard out of fear of dying because of starvation or cold. They are always looking for more money. When we did not have any money, we want 10,000 dollars. When we get our wish and earn 10,000, we find that lacking. We tell ourselves, if we had 100,000 dollars, we will retire. But when we make that 100,000 dollars, we remember that our kids have to go to school. We do not have enough money. We want to buy a car, so there is not enough money. We want to buy a cruise boat, so there is not enough money still. Thinking even bigger, we may want an airplane. Hundred thousand dollars does not do any good. We look for money.
When we find that one million dollars and are ready to buy that plane, the price of the airplane has gone up. We could have purchased it for $990,000 before, but now it is $9,900,000. The price has gone up by ten times. We cannot afford it once again. We can never catch up because of our greed. We were going to be satisfied and retired as millionaires, but we end up continuing with the pursuit. We are never satisfied and never content.
If you recite Earth Store Bodhisattva's name, recite Earth Store Sutra, bow and make offerings to Earth Store Bodhisattva, you will always enjoy more than enough clothing and food. When you want to buy an airplane, you will earn more than enough money for two airplanes. That is how wonderful this Dharma is. In that case, I will hurry up and recite Earth Store Bodhisattva! Recite Earth Store Bodhisattva in the hopes of buying two airplanes is greed. Large amounts of greed will not bring about results. All we can do is try our best while reciting. Do not care so much about whether there will be results. Some say, "Master, I feel I am tricked by what you say!" Then what? Do not be tricked. Consequently, we must be content and be patient with what comes.
Sixth, they will never succumb to epidemics. Recite Earth Store Bodhisattva's name and you will not contract any contagious diseases. Epidemics cannot touch you because there seems to be a border between you and the disease.
I remember when I was in Northeast China during a plague. A household of eleven had thirteen deaths in three days. How can a household of eleven have two more deaths than the number in the family? Two were bearers of gifts. Eleven was not a large enough number, two more had to be added. Out of these two, one was a worker for the family and the other was a distant relative who came to visit. They were additions to the eleven that made the total number of dead thirteen. When I was there, I took four young disciples with me. "We are going to go and rescue people!" How? I told them, "Let us recite the Great Compassion Mantra to duel the plague spirit." We went to villages plagued by this epidemic and circled the place three times, reciting the Great Compassion Mantra. When we finished reciting Great Compassion Mantra, the epidemic vanished. So reciting the Great Compassion Mantra is very effective and wonderful.
Seventh, they will escape calamities involving fire and water. Recite Earth Store's name, there will be no floods or fire, or they will not drown in water and not be burned by fire. They will naturally float to shallow spots and reach the shore when they fall into the sea; they will naturally be rescued when fire is closing in on them.
Eighth, they will never be threatened by thieves. Why are you robbed and stolen from? It is because you unreasonably took other people's money for your own. You had lied in the past so you are robbed in this life. You have to pay your due. This is the reason why you are robbed and stolen from. All this is a result of cause and effect. There is nothing strange about it. If you really understand this, then you will see the cause and effect in any state and recognize this cyclic law.
Ninth, they will be respected by all who see them. Recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva (also known as Guan Shi Yin, Kuan Shi Yin, Guan Yin, Kuan Yin) and Earth Store Bodhisattva's names and pay respect to them; people will respect you and feel close to you. They feel as if they see relatives from long ago. They feel so close to you, as if they have come home. This is like being along overseas where you know no one. When you meet some old friends, you feel awkward. You do not know whether you are happy or sad, whether to smile or cry, Or you want to laugh and cry! You cry because you see someone dear to you. You laugh because you feel secure now.
People respect you at the sight of you. No one criticizes you or mistreats you. Do not say, "You know, I am an upasaka! You must respect me!" Or, "I am a Dharma Master, bow to me when you see me!" This is not about forcing others to respect you. The saying goes, " Musk will naturally smell nice, why let the wind blow on it?" If you were really virtuous, do not act like some medicinal patches salesperson. "Oh, my medicinal patch is the best. Arthritis, rheumatism, numbness, just put on this patch and it will cure itself even if you do not put on the patch. Do not sell yourself, fearing that others will not know you. "Do you know who I am? I am the most powerful Buddhist Dharma Protector. I am a senior Dharma Protect at so and so temple. Also, I am the Board of Director of some charity organization. I am also the supporter of some place, etc., etc." One introduces oneself because one is afraid that other people will not know. Stop, that is pretense and untrue. Advertise and sell yourself, then blind individuals will not know and be swindled by you; but people with eyes will see it right away, finding you pathetic.
Tenth, they will be aided by ghosts and spirits. If you have real merit, why publicize it for yourself? Ghosts, spirits, & Dharma protectors will help and support you. They will help you and resolve your difficulties from behind the scenes. No need to publicize. The tenth advantage is that all ghosts, good and bad, and all spirits, good and bad, will all help you. Evil spirits will also help you? Is this due to the power of Earth Store Bodhisattva? It is by the power of Earth Store Bodhisattva. All evil ghosts and spirits become Dharma protectors.
If I recite Earth Store King Bodhisattva, will he tell people to come and scold me? No. Why? To tell you the truth, you are not up the level yet! You have not even finished studying, how can you pass the test? You pass when you graduate from college. Why test you if you just entered college and have not even graduated? Do not think that scolding is bad. Scoldings are tests. If you can take it, you pass. If you pass, keep going forward and cultivate. Do you cultivate any more after you pass the test? Cultivate even more once you pass. If not, what is the use of passing the test? What is the use of studying to earn a Ph.D.? It is the same idea. If you understand, you understand; if you do not understand, there is nothing I can do.
Eleventh, women who want to, can be reborn as men. The eleventh advantage is that if you are tired of being a woman, by paying respects and making offerings, praising and reciting the Fundamental Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra, or reciting and praising Earth Store Bodhisattva's name, then you as a woman will turn into a man. Perhaps it is not because you are tired of being a woman that you wish to become a man. You feel that it is inconvenient being a woman and therefore wish to become a man. You make that kind of vow because everything will be convenient then. Earth Store Bodhisattva will make your wishes come true.
Twelfth, women who want to, can be reborn as daughters of national leaders and officials. Any wish to go from a woman to a man will be met. So will the wish to go from a man to a woman. Men may recite Earth Store Bodhisattva's name, bow to an image of Earth Store Bodhisattva or recite the Fundamental Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra to become a woman who teaches living beings. Women usually have less of a temper, are more detail-oriented and speak as if they have affinities with others. This is why some Bodhisattvas make the vow to go from being men to women. They go from being men to women to propagate the Buddhadharma and teach living beings. Consequently, these women are not average women, but daughters to kings and ministers. They enjoy a lot of power to influence people so that people may develop their faith and intention to cultivate. These women have been reborn again because of their vows.
Thirteenth, they will have upright appearances. The thirteenth advantage is not only about being women, but women who are intelligent and wise, nice looking without any flaws. The nose, eyes, ears and mouth all look the way they should. Someone asks, "Are there ears that do not look like ears. Are there eyes that do not look like eyes?" Some women have triangular eyes or strange looking eyes that look about as if they are ready to steal some cows. They do not look so elegant. They are rather crude, improper and less than perfect. The nose is on top of the head, with nostrils pointed upward. What do you think that is like? Some women have one eye up close to the sky and one eye close to the floor, ears on the back of her head, and a mouth on the chin. They do not look quite like people, not quite like ghosts, and not quite like monkeys. If they were a product of evolution, how is it that they do not look like anybody else but they are the only ones who look that way? This is an improper and imperfect look. If you wish to become women, your looks ought to be perfect and proper. If your features were proper-looking, people will feel a sense of affinity with you. If your features were improper, people take a look and run away as if they saw a yaksha.
Fourteenth, they will often be born in the heavens. The fourteenth advantage surpasses those described before. They are born in the heavens often to enjoy heavenly blessings and supremely wonderful bliss.
Fifteenth, they may be emperors or national leaders. The fifteenth is that they may become candidates for emperors by reciting the Earth Store Sutra, bow to Earth Store Bodhisattva, and recite Earth Store Bodhisattva's name. This is an incredible advantage. "Dharma Master, I do not want to go to the heavens and be an emperor or be a good-looking individual. This Saha World is so miserable, I have had enough already." You really had enough? There are other opportunities for realizing Buddhahood, the last enumerated advantage is to realize Buddhahood.
Sixteenth, they will have the wisdom to know past lives. They know what they did in their past lives. Perhaps they were political officials, scholars or business people. They know what their last names, first names were, their place of birth and age of death. Now they are in a new house, different from their earlier ones. Those with the power to know past lives know what occurred in their past lives.
Seventeenth, they will obtain whatever they seek. The 17th advantage is that you get what you want. You want riches and you get them. You want people, you get people. You want food, you get food. You want to be rich and you will own an uncountable amount of gold, silver and jewels. Just avoid following in the footsteps of Disatrers.Reza Shah Pahlavi [the Iranian czar], who earned so much money, none of which was enjoyed during his lifetime. He died empty-handed. How meaningless and worthless. Do not be misers.
Eighteenth, their families will be happy. The 18th advantage is that their family, relatives and friends around them are all happy, safe and at peace. People do not fight or argue. This creates happy families.
Sometimes a lot of afflictions develop in the family, between husband and wife, father and son, brothers and sisters, or in-laws. The most intimate relationship in our lives has to be that between parent and child. When their opinions diverge, the child may think: "Look, the old man's brain is arcane; his knowledge is arcane; everything he does is arcane. He has not caught up with modern times and does not know how to deal with the contemporary world." He feels that old people do present a problem. Elders are so concerned about their children that they forgive their children no matter what wrong they do.
The children, unfortunately, are ungrateful and consider the elders in the wrong. Why do you not educate your children well? It is because parents do not know how to teach their children. Consequently children do not know how to take care of their parents. Many problems remain unresolved between parents and their children. As for couples, before marriage, both wear a façade and do not argue or fight. After marriage, both display their temper. The man will let the woman know that he is upset and the woman will let the man know that she is upset. They give each other stress. With this 18 th advantage, your families and friends will always be happy if you get to see an image of Earth Store Bodhisattva or hear the name of Earth Store Bodhisattva.
Nineteenth, they will never undergo any disasters. All disasters and accidents, adverse and inauspicious events are unexpected disasters. Suicide by hanging, drowning at the sea, airplane crashes, car accidents, suicide by taking poisons are all unexpected deaths. When all accidents disappear, all disasters disappear. There will be no more hurt or harm.
Twentieth, they will leave the bad karmic paths forever. No more offense karma. The three evil destinies are the realms of hell-beings, hungry ghosts, and animals.
Twenty-first, they will always reach their destination. The 21st advantage is one where they go everywhere unobstructed and very smoothly. Things are auspicious and beneficial for them.
Twenty-second, their dreams will be peaceful and happy. The 22nd advantage. Unlike average people's dreams some always have vicious nightmares. They experience nightmares where they are either chased by ghosts, bitten by dogs, or eaten by tigers. Sometimes they are pressed upon by ghosts and cannot move. They panic. Recite The Fundamental Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra and Earth Store Bodhisattva's name, your dreams will become happy and lucky.
Twenty-third, their deceased relatives will leave suffering behind. The 23rd advantage is that your parents, ancestors, and relatives since beginningless time, will leave suffering and attain bliss, become liberated from birth and death. Many deceased individuals fall into the hells because of their karma. However, because you see an image of Earth Store Bodhisattva or hear the name of Earth Store Bodhisattva, there are 28 advantages that make the deceased leave suffering behind and acquire bliss. The deceased of the present are our deceased parents and relatives in this life. They will leave suffering and attain bliss. The deceased of the past are all of our deceased parents and relatives throughout all of our lives will leave suffering and attain bliss.
Twenty-fourth, they will enjoy blessings earned in previous lives. You ride on the good roots and blessings from your past lives. Having done a lot of merit and planted deep roots of goodness, they enjoy such blessings of lives past. Why are we rich in this life? In past lives we made offerings to the Sangha and offered charity to the poor. In the past, we made offerings to the Triple Jewel, guarded Buddhism, and helped the poor. This is why we are rich in this lifetime. Why are we poor in this life, perhaps so impoverished that we have no clothing or food? In past lives we refused to help the poor. In lives past, we refused to aid the poor. We were very stingy and did not want to give up anything. If we were not so miserly before, but cultivated blessings and wisdom instead, then the blessings done in past lives may be enjoyed in this lifetime.
Twenty-fifth, they will be praised by sages. The 25th is that all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, sages, and arhats praise you and tell you that you are a good man or a good woman.
Twenty-sixth, they will be intelligent and have keen faculties. The 26th advantage is about being very smart and wise, having a powerful memory. The eyes are bright and they see far. The ears hear well. All six sense faculties are keen.
Twenty-seventh, they will be magnanimous and empathetic. The 27th is being full of sympathy and compassion toward everyone. Providing every individual with joy and relieving one of one's pain. Regardless of how unkind people are, they treat others kindly and refuse to seek revenge.
Twenty-eighth, they will ultimately realize Buddhahood. What is the 28th advantage? This is the most critical advantage– to irreversibly enter the Bhodi path so that they will definitely become Buddhas in the future.
If you wish to know more about the Sutra Amulet (A Special Recite – A – Sutra Article) Series you can click on the links below:
- The Many Benefits of A Sutra: How A Sutra Can Be Use As An Amulet (A Special Recite – A – Sutra Article)
- "The Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra" Is One of the Holiest and Most Powerful You Can Keep: A Special Recite – A – Sutra Article
- Getting Rid of Bad Luck and Bad Spirits With the Use of A Traditional Sutra Amulet: A Personal Testimony of A Reader (A Special Recite – A – Sutra Article)
- Recite – A – Sutra (9): A Sutra Called Avatamsaka Sutra and Powerful Amulet Called Avatamsaka Amulet that Dispels Off the Hindrances in Our Life's Luck!
- Marital Problem Fixed, Financial Problem Solved with the Unexpected Coming In of a Huge Amount of Money / Problem with Bank Loan Reversed: Two Personal Testimonies of Two Readers with Two Different Sources of Miracles! – And Why Do I Write About Miraculous Personal Testimonies?
- Money Luck or Financial Luck Blessings Received in About 15 Days Upon Receiving the Vajrapani Ruel and A Copy of the Traditional Sutra Amulet: A Reader from Dubai Shares Her Personal Miraculous Testimony!
- Financial Luck Received After Receiving the Vajrapani Ruel and Descendant Luck Activated by the Traditional Sutra Amulet: Two Different Personal Testimonies of A Reader and How She Still Saw the Simple Miracle As A Miracle.
- A Business Deal That Brings In A Huge Financial Miracle and Improves Physical Health: A Personal Miraculous Testimony of A Reader About the Traditional Sutra Amulet.
You can read all the other post about the 'Recite A Sutra' Series:
- Invite Wonderful Blessings in Your Life by Reciting A Sutra!
- Recite A Sutra (1): Create Harmony and Peace Thru The Powerful Sutra Called 'The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra'!
- Recite A Sutra (2): Get Healed or Good Health, Create An Aura of Protection, Attract Wealth, With the Power of 'The Medicine Buddha Sutra'!
- Recite A Sutra (3): For Protection & Unlimited Blessings of Auspiciousness Recite One of the Most Powerful & Highly Revered Sutra Both in Tibetan & Chinese Buddhism Called 'The Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra'!
- Recite A Sutra (4): Attract Auspiciousness and Cure Bad Feng Shui with "The Noble Stack of Auspiciousness Sutra".
- Recite A Sutra (5): In Times of Conflict Recite the Powerful Protector Sutra Called "The Golden Light Sutra"!
- Recite – A – Sutra (6): Why Do We Have to Loudly Recite Sutras?
- Recite – A – Sutra (7): Recite the Ullambana Sutra on the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month – How the Hungry Ghost Month is Not Just About Negative Energies – It is Also Time To Change One's Bad Fate to a Positive One!
- Chant – A – Mantra (7) & Recite – A – Sutra (8): Additional Protection from the Double Illness Star and Double Wu Wang in the Northeast!
- The Many Benefits of A Sutra: How A Sutra Can Be Use As An Amulet (A Special Recite – A – Sutra Article)
- "The Diamond of Perfect Wisdom Sutra" Is One of the Holiest and Most Powerful You Can Keep: A Special Recite – A – Sutra Article
- Getting Rid of Bad Luck and Bad Spirits With the Use of A Traditional Sutra Amulet: A Personal Testimony of A Reader (A Special Recite – A – Sutra Article)
- Recite – A – Sutra (9): A Sutra Called Avatamsaka Sutra and Powerful Amulet Called Avatamsaka Amulet that Dispels Off the Hindrances in Our Life's Luck!
For questions, comments, and suggestions please email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Valencia: European GP Saturday Quotes
Lewis Hamilton (1st, 1:39.498): "I'm really happy with the balance - the car feels great, particularly in the slower corners. After winning in Hungary, we came here not knowing if the others would have closed the gap: clearly, we're still competitive. We haven't seen this level of performance for a long time: last year, I was able to do only one run in easy qualifying session but, this year, we've had to use every second of the sessions to get through. I managed a couple of very good laps today, so we'll start the race from a very competitive position - but a lot will depend on strategy and how the start goes. Congratulations to Heikki, he did a fantastic job - it's been very close between us all weekend, so this is great to see. We've got the front row to ourselves - and that's something we've all wanted for a very long time."
Heikki Kovalainen (2nd, 1:39.532): "Obviously, I'm pleased that I'll be starting from the front row tomorrow, but I made a mistake at the end of my quickest lap and could have gone a little faster still. I knew qualifying would be very close, and I was sure our car would be competitive, so I decided to really go for it today. As a result, I pushed just a little too hard - but it was a calculated risk and I lost only one place - and, even better, I lost it to Lewis. So we nailed the front row anyway. The guys back in Woking have done a lot of great work this week, since the end of the summer shutdown, and I want to say thank you to all of them."
Martin Whitmarsh, Team Principal: "A truly brilliant result for the entire team - well done, everyone! As for Lewis and Heikki, well, they were both brilliant, too. They made things look relatively easy, but in fact the conditions out there today were very difficult for all the drivers: it was hot and humid, and the circuit is an extremely demanding one. Heikki was totally on it today - he really went for it and very nearly pinched pole position at the very end. Lewis did a fantastic job, too, and I'm sure both our drivers will perform very well in tomorrow's race."
Norbert Haug, Mercedes Motorsport Director: "A great result - nobody had fewer laps over the weekend so far, and nobody was faster than Lewis today. The lap time from his first outing in Q3 was strong enough that he could afford to abort his second attempt after two quicker sector times in order to save fuel for the race - a truly great job from Lewis. Heikki was only a friction - 0.034 seconds - slower and could have made the top spot as well: he was really strong from lap one on this track. Thanks to everybody in the team who worked so hard after the FOTA summer break. I have the feeling that in the week since even more work was done in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart than in three weeks of flat-out business before the summer break. Every one of us got the best reward today with this 'double pole' and only tomorrow the reward could be even better."
Kimi Raikkonen (6th, 1:40.144): "Honestly, this was one of the best qualifying sessions of the season, even if we are not as quick as those on the front row. Our final result will depend basically on how the start goes. It will be very important to make up a few places, because if we end up behind a slower car, then the race is compromised. I think we are reasonably competitive in race trim, as could be seen in Q3, while we are struggling a bit on light tanks. So far, it's been a good weekend and I am happy with the performance of the F60."
Luca Badoer (20th, 1:41.413): "Obviously, I'm a bit disappointed as it's never nice to be last in any situation, but I always knew it would be tough. As I've said before, this weekend is a sort of test for me and the team and that is how we are tackling it. However, I do feel the situation is better than yesterday as the more laps I do, the more confidence I gain and the better it gets. Tomorrow it will be important to finish the race and that will be my target. I feel good physically and I have no problems on that score. For sure, if I'd had two days testing under my belt, it would have been a different story."
Stefano Domenicali, Team Principal: "Sixth place for Kimi Raikkonen can be judged as a positive result, because it probably reflects our current potential, while Luca's last place was widely predicted: returning to racing after so much time, furthermore on a track not known to him and one that is difficult to get to grips with, is a daunting task for him. Tomorrow, our race will be divided in two: on one side we will be aiming for a positive result to defend our third place in the Constructors' classification, which should be within our ability, while with Luca we will try and finish the race, to obtain sufficient experience to tackle the forthcoming rounds in a different fashion."
Chris Dyer: "Qualifying had two sides to it for us. It was a very difficult day for Luca, who continued the process of learning about the car and the track. Lap after lap his confidence increased, but it was not enough to get him off the last place on the grid. The situation was definitely not helped by the red flag in FP3 which cost him valuable time. On the other hand, Kimi performed well, especially in Q3, where he did a great lap. Starting from sixth on the grid is a solid base from which to have a good race tomorrow."
BMW Sauber
Robert Kubica (10th, 1:40.512): "If lately you have been starting from the rear of the grid, you cannot be disappointed with tenth in qualifying. We have to be realistic. I think today overall was a good day. Unfortunately I had some traffic on my final run and I made a small mistake. This cost me a few tenths. Scoring points will be difficult tomorrow."
Nick Heidfeld (11th, 1:38.826): "It is the sixth time this year I have just missed the top ten qualifying and come 11th by fractions of tenths of a second. Of course I'm a little bit disappointed, but on the other side it means we have freedom regarding the fuel we carry and I hope for a good race. Everybody in the team is determined to put in a good performance and show what they can do for the future. Our car is generally somewhat better and I think from P11 points are possible."
Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: "We are satisfied with the qualifying result. Compared to recent races it was a step forward into the midfield, and this is what we had expected from our development package. With Robert we have got one car into the top ten and Nick in 11th is just behind. Q3 didn't go ideally for Robert, otherwise he could have finished even higher up. Congratulations to McLaren-Mercedes for having both cars on the front row. This proves how quickly things can change."
Willy Rampf, Technical Director: "Our goal was to get at least one car into the top ten. With Robert we did so. However we expected to be in a better position. Nick missed Q3 only by the blink of an eye. Overall we took a step in the right direction with the aero update. Technically we had a qualifying without any problems."
Fernando Alonso (8th, 1:40.236): "It was very hot today and a tough session. At the beginning it seemed that we could be 3rd or 4th and then after Q1 we realized that we were not going to be as competitive as we thought. Of course, I'm not happy with 8th but since we had the same position in Q2 it seems that this was the limit of the car today. I'm disappointed for all the fans here for whom I would have liked a better grid position, but I'll do my best tomorrow in the race."
Romain Grosjean (14th, 1:39.040): "I am pleased to have made it into Q2 for my first qualifying session, especially as that was the objective I set myself yesterday. I want to thank the whole team who have been working with me and Fernando for all his helpful advice. To be fighting with the best drivers in the world is an incredible feeling and I'm really looking forward to starting my first Grand Prix tomorrow. I will give my maximum to get the best result possible from the race."
Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "We were expecting more in qualifying today even with the disrupted third practice this morning because the car seemed good and we thought we would be nearer the front of the grid with Fernando. Romain has continued to have a very sensible first race and he should be proud of his grid position on this difficult circuit. I'm sure he will have a strong race tomorrow."
Timo Glock (13th, 1:38.991): "That wasn't a good result. We struggled a bit for pace this morning in the short third practice and in the end we were just a couple of tenths away from being in the top 10, which is a pity. I was having trouble in first qualifying but in the second session the car wasn't too bad until the final corners when the rear tires dropped off quite a lot. I was pushing to the maximum but the tires didn't really survive. So we have to start again from 13th as we did in Hungary and try to repeat what we did there by finding a way to get into the points. It will be a difficult task but I will do everything I can."
Jarno Trulli (18th, 1:39.807): "I was expecting qualifying to be a bit difficult but not as bad as that. This morning the car felt reasonable even if we were a little short of grip. But it was much worse in qualifying; I really had no grip and there was nothing I could do. I just kept pushing and took a few more risks than normal but it didn't work out. I don't know why we struggled so much; it is a mystery to me. For the race tomorrow I can just do my best and see what happens."
Pascal Vasselon, Senior General Manager Chassis: "We can only be unhappy about that result as it is another extremely disappointing qualifying for us. In the last races we have shown that our race pace is better and gives us a chance to move up the field, although obviously that will be tough. Now we have to take a close look at all our options to see how we can fight back as we did in Hungary. Track conditions are changing continuously so we will look at the effect of that on the tires for the race and try to make the best of it."
Toro Rosso-Ferrari
Sebastien Buemi (15th, 1:39.514): "Even though I got into Q2, I'm a bit disappointed, because in Q1 I was sixth with a good lap time and then in Q2, we did not manage the tire situation well, especially on my "out" lap and I ended up doing worse than in Q1. Now we must look at what happened, because I think I might even have had the possibility to get into Q3. We are making progress."
Jaime Alguersuari (19th, 1:39.925): "I know what I am capable of and with this being only my second F1 qualifying session, I have to be patient. I am happy that even though this track is longer than at my first race in Hungary, the gap to the drivers ahead of me is getting smaller. I am feeling more confident in the car every time I drive it. It's going to be tough tomorrow as it seems to be getting hotter and hotter. I think I can do a good job in the race, bring the car home and hopefully end up at least in the top fifteen."
Giorgio Ascanelli, Technical Director: "Not much to say: we got one car through to Q2 and both cars have run reliably over the past two days."
Red Bull-Renault
Sebastian Vettel (4th, 1:39.789): "I would like to be further forward on tomorrow's grid, but I think that's the most we could have hoped for, so I'm quite happy - especially after not doing many laps this morning. I'm quite confident about tomorrow, as we made a step forward for this morning and then another for qualifying. McLaren look strong and it's hard for the other cars to get close to them. We will see how quick they are in the race tomorrow, but starting in first and second position they have a good chance to win the race. We want to win too though, so we will see. I like this track, it's a bit more difficult for us to be at the top here - but it's a long and hot race tomorrow, so let's see."
Mark Webber (9th, 1:40.239): "We expected to have a tough qualifying session today and it turned out to be the case. We thought we would be in the top six or top eight, so it's not been the best day for us. It's one of our worst qualifying sessions for a long time, but let's see how we go from here. We'll fight like hell as normal, Red Bull knows how to do that, I hope we can get some points."
Christian Horner, Sporting Director: "After a difficult P3 for Sebastian, when he lost an engine, it was a great effort from his side of the garage to get the engine changed and produce a competitive qualifying. The McLarens are too quick, their power advantage with the KERS here is significant, but we can be happy with P4. One tenth of a second for Mark would have made a big difference to his grid position - it would have been the difference between sixth and ninth - but with a bit more fuel in hopefully he can have a good run from there tomorrow. The key for us is obviously to finish ahead of the Brawns."
Fabrice Lom, Renault: "It was a very tough Saturday, beginning with the engine failure on Sebastian's car, which is very bad for us. We changed the engine for him ahead of qualifying. We are not as quick as usual on this track and it's difficult for us. We did our best in qualifying and we know we have to focus on getting the best possible result in tomorrow's race. It will be a tough Sunday."
Nico Rosberg (7th, 1:40.185): "Qualifying was generally ok. I'm in P7 with quite a lot of fuel, possibly more than anybody else around me, so I have a strong strategy for the race. There was no point in trying to out qualify the cars with KERS because they will overtake me off the line anyway. I'd prefer to qualify behind them, have more fuel on board and then beat them in the race. This track suits our car so we could have a points scoring race tomorrow."
Kazuki Nakajima (17th, 1:39.795): "We had a failure on my car which caused the engine to cut out during Q1 so I didn't have a chance to show what we could do. It's a shame because I think we were strong enough to have been in the top ten today. We have a good race pace, so I just need to use that to my advantage and do my best tomorrow."
Rod Nelson, Chief Operations Engineer: "Today was obviously disappointing for Kazuki. We are still looking into the problem which stopped him out on the circuit, but we do know it wasn't driver error. We are reasonably pleased with where we are with Nico. He's on the clean side of the grid, which is a large advantage here. He'll have KERS cars on the dirty side next to him, but hopefully we'll stay ahead of them this time. We're happy with the strategy we've chosen."
Force India-Mercedes
Adrian Sutil (12th, 1:38.846): "We've been quick here all the weekend and everything is working very well. I'm really happy about the upgrades we've put on the car, the team is doing a great job. We've made a big step forward in the last couple of months and I'm really enjoying every session now. This morning was the best way to prepare for qualifying, but we knew it was not going to be possible to replicate this position. Conditions for qualifying were actually pretty tough with quite low grip and high temperatures but the lap times are very close - it seems to be a characteristic of this circuit. We were just a few hundredths from Q3 so we just missed out in the end. We are in a good position now though so it's a reasonable goal for us to say we want to score our first points here."
Giancarlo Fisichella (16th, 1:39.531): "I am very disappointed with this result as I felt I could have easily got through to Q2 today. Unfortunately on the last run I got caught in traffic on my first lap and then lost about six or seven tenths in the last sector on my second lap, otherwise I really feel we could have got through after the weekend we've been having so far. It's going to be a tough race."
Dominic Harlow, Chief Race Engineer: "Realistically Adrian was about where we expected to be in qualifying today and we are pleased that it's demonstrated again our continued improvement of pace. It's frustrating for Adrian to have just missed out on Q3 by the smallest of margins especially after getting P1 in FP3 on a reasonable fuel load, and equally for Giancarlo at the Q1 cut-off. There's no doubt though that the car has enough performance here to race with the top ten and there's a chance of points tomorrow."
Rubens Barrichello (3rd, 1:39.563): "A great qualifying today but it was tough out there and of course I'm a little bit disappointed not to be on pole. We started the weekend well with a thorough job on Friday to get the best out of the set-ups that the guys worked on back at the factory. They did a great job and the car is in good shape with the tires working quite well here in the heat. I went for a slightly different strategy to Jenson with just one new tire run over two laps in Q3. The second lap was perhaps a bit too much for the tires which started overheating and unfortunately I lost the car on turn eight. I'm really pleased with third place though and it's great to have the car back to a competitive pace."
Jenson Button (5th, 1:39.821): "It was a pretty good qualifying session for the team today and the car felt strong throughout. Unfortunately I made a mistake at turn four on my quick lap which compromised my position as I had just the one flying lap on my final run in Q3. It's a shame as the potential was there for more but fifth on the grid is not bad at all. The car is feeling pretty good with fuel so we will see what the race will bring tomorrow. It's not a great circuit for overtaking but I'll be giving it everything for a good result."
Ross Brawn, Team Principal: "It was a tricky session today with track temperatures escalating fast which meant we had to think on our feet and adapt our plan for Q3 during the break. This might have compromised our performance a little as Rubens' tires went off on his second lap whilst Jenson had only the one flying lap on his final run. However third and fifth places on the grid is a strong position to be starting from tomorrow and we are generally happy with the performance of the car this weekend so we can look forward to a good race. It was another good day for our engine partner Mercedes-Benz with three cars in the top three grid positions."
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"Peace On Earth" For The IndyCar World
As we inch closer to Christmas Day, one of the regular readers of this site, Mike Clossin, suggested it might be appropriate to consider some of the good things going on in the IndyCar world. I thought this was an excellent idea since there seems to be so much venom spewing right now with about every article you read regarding the Izod IndyCar Series. I'm guilty of some of it myself.
As we all spout off about things like Danica going to NASCAR, the radical concept that may be the next Indy car or the shortened schedule in May – it might be an appropriate time to drop the swords for a short time to see what good things are going on in the IICS. I broached the subject over Thanksgiving when I wrote about what the IRL has to be thankful for, but there are a few other aspects of this segment we need to discuss.
First of all, the new "Road to Indy" plan that was just unveiled by the league is a huge step forward. Before, the path to the Indy 500 for young aspiring drivers was muddled. Now that the league has added the Star Mazda Series as well as the U.S. F2000 to the Firestone Indy Lights Series as a three-step ladder program for advancement to the Izod IndyCar Series, things are at least a lot clearer. It's not any easier but at least the path has been cleared up. In the past, there was no distinct path for young drivers. This won't convince any young star to choose Indy over NASCAR, but for those that want to follow the open-wheel route; they have at least created a map in how to reach the top.
Speaking of NASCAR…don't look now, but I think that they may actually be feeling the sting of this economic environment more than the IICS. The teams of the Izod IndyCar Series were more or less forced to cut back a couple of years ago. They have been down to a lean & mean state for a while now. They're primed and ready to move forward. NASCAR is faced with higher overhead combined with dwindling crowds and TV ratings. While it's tempting to chuckle just a bit – it doesn't do anyone in motorsports any good for one of the major series to be hurting.
And while we're on the subject of one series gloating over the other, that brings us to the Christmas theme that I wanted to explore.
I really enjoy reading Curt Cavin's articles at The Indianapolis Star. But for some reason, I always feel compelled to read the comment section after his articles on IndyStar.com. Unlike the comment section of most of the IndyCar blog sites that are either well thought out points, humorous or both – the comment section on The Star web site seemed to written by the angriest of IndyCar fans.
Whether the article was about Danica's new paint job or the Chevy Camaro that will again pace the field at Indy in 2010 – somehow the comment section will quickly devolve into a battle of wits between the lowest common denominators on the planet; with both sides playing the same tired CART Vs. IRL card. The outcomes of these encounters are always predictable and never pretty.
There have been two full racing seasons to come and go since unification between ChampCar and IndyCar took place. To be arguing about who won and who screwed whom, is pointless. In 1996, I was in CART's corner all the way. I gave up my Indy tickets and stayed away from 1996 until I returned in 2003. Nothing gave me more pleasure than watching Juan Montoya dominate in Indy 2000 and then to watch the CART sweep of the first six positions of the 2001 Indianapolis 500. Healthy discussions and debates are good for sports. It's when things sink to the level of when two anonymous internet strangers are hiding behind screen names, arguing about who sucks the most – that things get to a destructive stage.
The biggest reason for my joy was that I was hoping it would hasten the end of the ridiculous split in open-wheel racing. I followed most of the top teams from CART when they migrated over to the IRL in the first part of this decade. I didn't care about the philosophy of one series over the other. I cared about the Indy 500 and followed the series I thought had the most staying power – and by 2004, that was the IRL
Both sides had their faults in the late nineties. They both made mistakes and both acted like a group of second-graders at times. Quite honestly, I didn't care which side won so long as the Indianapolis 500 was preserved and the split finished early. Well, neither happened.
The split drug on for twelve years and the Indianapolis 500 lost a great deal of its luster, as a direct result of this split. What can I do about it? Well, if I'm a loyal reader of The Star — I can put up a daily post to slam Tony George for ruining the 500 via the split. That will certainly get others to weigh in real quickly about the varying viewpoints of the open-wheel split. Suddenly, we don't even remember that Curt Cavin wrote an article about tires, as the comment section takes on a life of its own.
Quite honestly, I don't know why the Champ car side is so slow to embrace the unified series. With high-dollar teams, engine leases, foreign drivers, the majority of tracks on road courses and international races; the IRL of today more closely resembles CART of the nineties than it does the IRL of the nineties.
The truth of the matter is, there is nothing I or anyone else can do about the past. We can either continue to point fingers and worry about which side won, or we can try to do what we can to support the Izod IndyCar Series. When compared to NASCAR, it is an awfully good product. My concern for the sport is for the next five years. My personal opinion is that the long-term prospects look good for the sport. If the league can survive the next five years, the groundwork that is being laid in marketing and driver/team development will pay dividends down the road.
In the meantime, I implore both sides to embrace the Christmas spirit. We need stop being so angry about something we can't change. The only thing that can change is the future. If you want to see open-wheel racing thrive in the next decade, hop aboard the bandwagon. There's plenty of room. If you want off, we'll stop and let you off so you can quietly go do something else. But don't stay on board simply to cause trouble. All that will do is create havoc and make our admittedly small fan base implode.
So in this Christmas season, let there be Peace on Earth in our IndyCar world. Like any family, we all have our differences. But also like any family, we'll crumble if we focus too much on the transgressions of the past instead of moving forward.
George Phillips
19 Responses to ""Peace On Earth" For The IndyCar World"
Here, here, George. Merry Christmas!
Here, here. Great post.
Colts & Patriots fans hate each other's teams, they don't hate the NFL. In the 'old days', Pacers & Knicks fans hated each other's teams, they didn't hate the NBA. The governing body is the one and only remaining AOW governing body. That's it, that's all we got. I certainly wish that those angry fans (on both sides) would put all of that emotion and energy into creating rivalries on the track and between teams. I would be fine w/ people rooting for ex-ChampCar teams against original IRL teams, rather than the fall of the series. That, I actually believe, would be productive.
Cheers to that, George.
I'd like to expound upon it (and you touched on it briefly) and include the NASCAR folks into the fold. I feel as though some IRL fans, bloggers and blog commenters would like nothing better than to see NASCAR fail. True, there are certain NASCAR races that are beyond boring, but there are others that are an absolute hoot to watch and are fantastic displays of car control. I understand that outlets such as ESPN trying their darndest to completely ignore the IRL and put NASCAR on a pedestal can get annoying, and I understand that jokers like Ed Hinton like to make wild claims about how easy it is to drive an open-wheeler even though he wouldn't even be able to fit in the cockpit. But if you brush aside the media aspect, there is nothing but respect from both sides for the other series and you know that, were the money right from the IRL's end of things, (which it might be in the near future once NASCAR has adjusted its finances) these NASCAR drivers would gladly point an IndyCar into Turn 1 at 230. On the flip-side, some of these IRL guys and gals would gladly like to race the pack through the tri-oval in February if given the opportunity.
Let's have the fans show the same mutual respect that the drivers show and have peace on Earth not just in open-wheel, but in the entire racing world.
Well said, sir. I've been a fan of open wheel racing and Nascar for over 10 years (basically, from early elementary school on) and within the last two years, have grown bored with Nascar. Honestly, I hate that. I liked arguing with my dad about which race to watch on TV when I was younger because I knew both were good races. Now, I hardly watch Nascar races, but I'll make much effort to watch the IICS races online. Go figure. Both types of cars have their challenges and true fans will acknowledge that both cars have their merits, even if they are biased towards one series or another.
Branching off from the comments about the open-wheel fans, I feel the fans don't let The Split end. Because it lasted so long, it will most likely come up when discussing open-wheel racing because it dictated a lot of the events of the last 14 years. In the tribute video the IndyCar series did for Paul Newman, it makes a mention of him writing a letter with Roger Penske to the fans in which they were encouraged to put the split behind them. Those guys were examples of what a true fan of open-wheel racing does. We're all in this together and we'll never gain popularity until we (the fans) cease to be divided. Simple as that.
Merry Christmas, everyone, and stay out of the marbles in 2010.
My sentiments exactly. I too started on the other side of the split but eventually saw the writing on the wall and just wanted to see the sport survive and get its legs back. Sometimes these cc guys who refuse to let go and move on remind me of the boyfriends who murder their ex'es after a break up. "If I can't have you then no one will".
One thing I differ with you a bit on. I think we are y2 into the 5 year danger zone. Once the "class of 2010" (as I referred to them acouple posts ago on my page) becomes established in their third year racing the young talent already in the league, both driving new chassis with multiple engine mfgrs the IICS will finally catch TG's proverbial "tailwind".
Excellent post, George, and excellent comments from the readers. I totally agree. The past is over. We can learn from it, but to be truly successful, we as fans need to stop cannibalizing ourselves and come together to make the IICS the best series it can be. Sadly, I doubt this will really happen, but this is the time to think of such things.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
Well since CART morphed into the IRL… I never had a problem "coming back". Robin Miller was right… this 12 year war was Tony's power grab (pure & simple) 💡
The IRL never made all ovals & American fields work… I see why people are pi$$ed 💡 How many of OW drivers were lost to NASCAR during this OW War ❓ Lets hope things get better… especially with this rumored "radical new car" in 2012 ❗ ❗ ❗ 🙂 🙂 🙂
WOW, thank you George, I needed that!!!!! I have been a fan of the Indianapolis 500 since the late 50's. I remember listening to Sid Collins on the radio with my father. He passed away without ever having the chance to see Indy. I saw my first in 1966 and truly loved the place. As a matter of fact, I told my wife that when I died, I wanted to be cremated and sprinkled into the creek in the first turn. I HATED Tony George for what he did to the race. Now, it may or may not be all of his fault, but I blamed it all on him. That is now water under the dam. George, you are right, all we can now is to support Open Wheel as much as we can. Put your support behind all of the sponsors that we have in the series and e-mail them to tell them that we appreciate their involvement. Attend as many races as you can and bring your friends, they may be the new fans that we are looking for. God Speed to all of the drivers in 2010. May it be a FAST & SAFE YEAR. Let's go RACING.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Huh, I have never read the comments section for Curt Cavin's article, and I tend to read all of them! But then again, I'm fresh out of college and therefore have only every seen two years when there weren't TWO series, so don't understand the underlying anger of fans of racing since before that. I rooted for both Jimmy Vasser in CART and Buddy Lazier in the IRL, and while I love superspeedways above all yet enjoy road racing (heck, I record all the F1 races every year). I'm just upset that the merger didn't result in SeaBass and Tracy against Hornish and Scheckter (grumble grumble).
So, for the six people still arguing about CCWS vs IRL, I hope they get coal this Christmas. The rest of us will continue to enjoy a unified field of drivers and teams going at it on the streets of Long Beach and Toronto, on the high banks of Texas, and of course at Indy. And we'll also keep on reading great websites like Cavin's Q&A and Oilpressure!
Good stuff George – wholeheartedly agree. I picked up on CART in Europe in '96 and fell off the radar in about 2002/03 when the series started losing TV deals, but cannot fathom the anger on the Star's messageboards – it seems such a pointless waste of energy.
As far as I see it, we should embrace the present and future of this sport as well as the past, but what happened in years passed should be a guide as opposed to being a noose. My opinion is "…if people don't want to come to the party, let them stay home and watch TV instead…"
"Like any family, we all have our differences."
Well if Pressdog quit hogging the remote & drinking too much at Thanksgiving, we wouldn't HAVE those differences.
And it's a little creepy the way he stares at the womenfolk…
I hear he shouts out Danica's name in his sleep…..
Thanks for the shout out. I think it's 5 in Australia right now, now that you mention it …
Hey hey hey. I do NOT shout Danica's name in my sleep. I merely murmur it. I plead not guilty to all charges.
i used to leve indycar racing, but now it seems that it doesn't exist anymore, sad, so sad


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High Anxiety
This story appears in the January 1998 issue of Business Start-Ups magazine. Subscribe »
An employee who works alone in a warehouse comes to work "increasingly disheveled. His clothes are ill-fitting and often have tears in them. He has also become increasingly antisocial. When he has to talk to a co-worker, he is abrupt and rude. The employer's company handbook states that employees should have a neat appearance at all times. The handbook also states that employees should be courteous to each other."
Question: Can you fire this worker?
Don't rush to say "yes." The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers this example in the document it provides employers to help them address the psychiatric component of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Its answer: "The dress and co-worker courtesy rules are not job-related for the position in question. Therefore, rigid application of these rules to this employee would violate the ADA."
Robert McGarvey writes on business, psychology and management topics for several national publications. To reach him online with your questions or ideas, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Dark Clouds
All this may come as big news, but the fact is that the ADA--usually thought to encompass only physical handicaps--also covers a range of psychiatric conditions, from major depression through schizophrenia. By law, individuals suffering from these disorders are protected from discrimination in hiring or employment, with the EEOC required to put some muscle in the protection.
A key requirement of the ADA is that employers must provide disabled workers with "reasonable accommodations" if such accommodations will enable them to perform their jobs. Accommodations can range from inexpensive wall partitions to budget-busters: "An employer may be required to provide a job coach to assist in the training of an individual with a disability," says a representative of the EEOC.
Sift through the EEOC's interpretation of the ADA's psychiatric components, and worries may set in. Some legal experts share those concerns. "The EEOC guidelines regarding emotional disabilities are completely out of place in the modern work world," says Brooks Kubik, an employment lawyer with law firm Stites & Harbison in Louisville, Kentucky.
To small-business owners, the EEOC's involvement in psychiatric workplace issues may seem unnecessary at best--and invasive at worst. Ask the emotionally disabled, however, and they are adamant that they have been discriminated against in employment situations. A survey released by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) in 1997 claims that one in three individuals with severe mental illnesses were turned down for jobs on that score.
What's more, "many of the 12 million people with disabilities in this country are capable of effective work if given the opportunity," says Peter Blanck, a professor of law and medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and director of the Iowa Law & Disability Center, who is regarded as one of the nation's top ADA experts. "The biggest complaint of many employers is they cannot find good people in today's tight job market. And many disabled [individuals] will be good, productive workers."
A Silver Lining?
Grim as the ADA's implementation of rules regarding psychiatric conditions may sound, there is another side to this story. "ADA is not meant to upset small-business operations," says Blanck. "The biggest problem isn't the law; it's misinformation about it. There are many myths."
For example, "under the ADA, you don't have to hire anybody who cannot do what you need. You don't have to change job requirements in any way," says Blanck, who explains that the ADA includes no affirmative action requirements. "This is not a preferential treatment law."
Blanck notes that large companies have had to comply with the ADA for years. Businesses with 25 or more employees have had to comply since 1990, and the law was expanded in 1992 to include businesses with 15 or more employees.
What's more, says John Patrick Shannon, assistant dean at the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville and a specialist in ADA issues, even the more broadly applied ADA might not impact your business: "Businesses with fewer than 15 employees are still exempt from all provisions."
Business owners' biggest concern comes down to the bottom line: cost. But the costs are not nearly as high as employers fear, says Blanck, who has done comprehensive studies of accommodations made by big business in the past five years. While fears typically focus on budget-wrecking expenditures such as job coaches, "the typical cost of an accommodation is $100," says Blanck.
What can $100 buy? Possibly a simple partition for a worker who has difficulties concentrating or a sound-deadening headset for a worker who has problems with loud noises. And some accommodations cost nothing--for instance, ignoring a warehouse worker's sloppy dress.
"Courts look at the nature of the business, its financial strength and its size in determining what's a `reasonable' [accommodation]," says Shannon. "The small business or start-up will never be required to make a $100,000 accommodation."
Taking Action
While fears may be exaggerated, that's not to say there are no risks to a business when it comes to the ADA's psychiatric component. Probably the biggest danger is that existing employees will file claims with the EEOC, charging on-the-job mistreatment or fired workers will file saying they were terminated because of a disability. And if the EEOC rules against you, penalties and subsequent judgments awarded in court can skyrocket into six or seven figures. Even a quick defense against meritless claims will cost you: "Defending against even a bogus claim under the ADA can easily cost a business $10,000 in legal fees, just to get through the EEOC investigation," says Kubik.
More troubling, adds Kubik, is that the number of ADA claims involving psychiatric issues is on the rise. Plainly put, the smart business ought to take steps now to strengthen its position.
"The first step is to never ignore potential psychiatric issues in your workplace. You cannot say `It's not my problem,' " says Stephen L. Sheinfeld, chairman of the Labor and Employment Law Department of law firm Whitman, Breed, Abbott & Morgan LLP in New York City and founding editor in chief of the monthly newsletter Employment Law Strategist. "Under the ADA, you are under no obligation to probe for impairments. However, when it is obvious there is an issue--or an employee tells you [there's one]--you have an obligation to engage in a dialogue with the employee to look for solutions."
What if you reach an impasse? Your best defense in all ADA cases that could wind up in court is having specific, comprehensive job descriptions on file. "Put in intangibles that you nonetheless deem essential--`the ability to work well with peers,' `the ability to keep a punctual schedule,' " says Sheinfeld. "The more detailed you get, the stronger your position if you must argue that the employee cannot perform the essential functions of the job. You also want to have written, detailed work rules and a code of conduct that spells out what's required and what conduct won't be tolerated.
Take precautions, he adds, "and the impact of the ADA on your business won't be large. Don't discriminate and do take proactive measures, and you will find the impacts are very small, if you see any at all."
Contact Sources
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, http://www.eeoc.gov
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, http://www.nami.org
Stites & Harbison, (502) 587-3400, firstname.lastname@example.com
Whitman, Breed, Abbot & Morgan, (212) 351-3304


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