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By Sara Olsen
Needle at Sea Bottom is not just the name of a posture in the Yang Form. It is an example of how myth and fact have blended throughout China's long history to become accepted as history. Accounts of events and figures from the earliest Neolithic years were not recorded in writing until much later. The exploits of great mythical and historical figures preserved for centuries in spoken tales made their way into written records in many different versions. One of the earliest myths, the story of Great Yu concerns events over 4,000 year old. Continue reading
Needle at Sea Bottom
By Sara Olsen


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The Good Pie: An Outstanding Blend of St. Louis and Naples
Our man in Chicago, Daniel Zemans, checks in with another piece of intel from the road. Today, St. Louis. —The Mgmt.
The Good Pie
3137 Olive Street, Saint Louis MO 63103 (map); 314-289-9391; thegoodpie.com
Pizza Style: Neapolitan
Oven Type: Wood
The Skinny: A perfect blend of St. Louis and Naples, The Good Pie is a whole lot better than its modest name
Price: $9 to $16
Notes: Closed Sunday
When Mike Randolph and his wife moved to St. Louis to be closer to her family, the 2005 graduate of the New England Culinary Institute and former cook at the decidedly nontraditional Moto in Chicago decided to open The Good Pie, the only Neapolitan pizzeria in town. When Ted Wilson, a St. Louis native working at New York's Sullivan Street Bakery heard about Randolph's plan, he "got territorial about Neapolitan pizza in St. Louis," got himself hired, and moved back home.
The Good Pie is a thoroughly St. Louis institution thanks to much more than just owner and staff familial connections. The restaurant features a variety of local products on its pizzas, serves Schlafly Beer, and is decorated with items salvaged from a warehouse of a pre-Prohibition St. Louis brewery (including bikes on the exposed brick wall).
The Good Pie is also thoroughly Neapolitan. From the San Marzano tomatoes to the fresh mozzarella to the Forno Napoletano oven, the pizzas will meet the standards of even the most discerning Neapolitan purists. Anyone who thinks otherwise can take it up with Roberto Caporuscio, owner of NYC's Kesté and president of the American wing of the Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani. Caporuscio spent almost a week training Randolph and Wilson in the art of Neapolitan pizza late last year. And when The Good Pie opened its doors on December 13, 2008, the land of provel had a new pizzeria that connected St. Louis to Naples.
What's New On Serious Eats
The Good Pie offers 11 different pizzas and other than buffalo mozzarella, which can be added for a $4 surcharge, does not generally allow for any additions or substitutions. I opted for the salsiccia beddu, which features broccoli raab, fresh mozzarella, and salsiccia fiamma from Salume Beddu, a relatively new local company. They were actually out of raab that day, which allowed for a substitution of spinach. Since the pie was designed with the more bitter raab in mind, I was unsure about the substitution so I opted to get spinach on half the pie. It turned out the choice of green was largely irrelevant as this was one outstanding pie regardless of which plant was on it.
One of the benefits of traditional Neapolitan pizza made with proper ingredients is that it's always going to taste good. The Good Pie uses San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and 00 flour and cooks it quickly in an extremely hot wood-burning oven. My particular pie might have benefited from a few extra seconds in the oven, but I have a hard time distinguishing where a perfectly cooked Neapolitan pie ends and my preference for a little extra crispiness begins. Once a pizzeria makes the decision to bind itself to the rules of VPN, the place where it has a chance to really distinguish itself are in the combinations and quality of toppings.
The sausage The Good Pie selected to use in the salsiccia beddu is phenomenal. The salsiccia fiamma features fennel, pepper and smoked paprika along with high quality fat-filled pork to make a rich spicy sausage that went perfectly with the creamy mozzarella and the yeasty crust. Normally I like to try more than one pizza at each pizzeria I visit, but circumstances (a very full friend) dictated that I only have at The Good Pie. I look forward to a return visit so I can try some of Randolph's other offerings, but as long as this pizza is on the menu, I will never visit The Good Pie and not order the salsiccia fiamma.
The Good Pie is located right next to Saint Louis University's campus. Despite the easy access, I was told that only a fraction of the restaurant's business comes from college students. It's not a big deal for the folks at The Good Pie as the restaurant is doing very well, but if you are a student at SLU or have a loved one who is, you really need to take advantage of the best thing to hit that school since Larry Hughes.
More for Your Pie Hole
Imo's Pizza: St. Louis' Inexplicably Addictive Pie »
Pi Pizzeria, St. Louis: Checking Out President Obama's Purported Favorite Pie »
Thai Pizza Co in St. Louis: Testing the Universality of Pizza »
Learning How to Make Neapolitan Pizza from Keste's Roberto Caporuscio »
Kesté Pizza & Vino: What You Can Expect »
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fui Chew (Huizhou) Hakka
Discussions on the Hakka dialects.
- winniebree
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:27 pm
- Contact:
Re: Fui Chew (Huizhou) Hakka
I am a Longchuan Hakka. But my family moved to Huizhou City right before I started school. Basically I can speak Longchuan Hakka and Huizhou Dialect. I have to say these two regional languages are different. I have chatted with people who spoke Huizhou Hakka in my region. Honestly, I can't tell the differences between Longchuan Hakka and Huizhou Hakka.
If you want to win a game, you have to play it.


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Markitilla on lukemattomia kansainvälisiä asiakkaita, jotka käyttävät meitä ratkaisemaan erilaisia IT-ostamisen haasteita helpolla ja läpinäkyvällä tavalla. Tässä joitakin esimerkkejä.
"Markit gives us a single, simple and transparent, cross-border Danfoss IT purchasing system.Markit has consistently impressed us with their long-term business view, flexibility, quality of service and, most importantly, their ability to repeatedly deliver cost savings."
Claus Mikkelsen, Global Category Manager
"Markit exists in all the countries where Monier needs its service. Excellent user interface - very complete and understandable. Good logistics and invoicing routines - fully automated. Helpful account managers are available when needing help."
Ari Kotilainen, IT manager
"The standard Markit web-system comes with many advanced features in order to provide the buyer with a rich yet user friendly experience.
However, due to our organizational structure Rezidor had some specific requirements to adjust the systems' experience.
We discussed the options with Markit's development department who embraced our business needs and implemented the changes in just a matter of hours."
Mr. Bart Baetens, Director E-procurement
"In the beginning I was afraid Markit is an e-shop. Now I have to say it is very far from an e-shop.
Markit is a professional tool for people like me, who need to work efficiently, having overview of all the IT purchases within the company, managing deliveries to different locations and still being sure, that even the price is right."
Jaromír Tvrzník, IS/IT Specialist
"Above all we like the fast delivery of goods - this is the most important issue for us.
The web experience is excellent and the prices are competitive, too."
Jose L. Eced, Chief Information Officer
"We are very busy and that's why we like to use Markit system as we can make purchases conveniently and fast.
I also like the price comparison over many suppliers - that way my IT expenses are reduced."
Andrej Cijan, IT department
"Markit IT purchasing system feels as though it has been designed for our needs. Our fast, global expansion means that we value delivery speed and accuracy, spend visibility and an efficient system, common to all countries, that can be handled by a few people. Markit delivers just that."
Alexandre Birot, Senior Procurement Manager
"We were able to reduce number of vendors only to Markit, which lead to real simplification and great effectiveness of HW procuring.
Moreover, through Markit, we are able to purchase goods which are globally contracted in case of missing direct business model with the manufacturer here in Czech, for example Lenovo, where we purchase through Markit globally contracted developer Lenovo notebooks, following all the contracted terms and conditions.
We also integrated Markit catalogue into our procurement system, Ariba – Punchout catalogue. This was another step how we simplified purchasing process.
From my experience from our cooperation for past five years, I have to say that this is one of the best vendor selection in this respective area we've ever made."
Martin Sychrovský, Lead Infrastructure Services


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Run The Grove 5K slated Oct. 19
By ACL
On Oct. 19, the Fred S. Engle Middle School PTO will host the third annual Run The Grove 5K.
The run is a fundraiser for the PTO, which supports student activities and programs. Start time will be 9 a.m.
"The first two years have been terrific, with over 270 runners last year," said Traci Kvergas, PTO president. "This year we're hoping to increase our number even more. This race is all about kids and families running and walking together. We're trying to promote health and running, raise money for the school and increase community spirit."
All 5K participants will receive a T-shirt and a bag filled with a variety of giveaways. Trophies and gift certificates will be awarded to overall and age-group winners; second and third-place finishers will receive medals. The race features more than 30 trophies and medals for top finishers between the ages of 10 and 19.
A unique feature of Run The Grove is that the race will finish on the track inside the Avon Grove High School football stadium, where family and friends can cheer from the bleachers. The Fun Run will also take place on the track.
"It's great to be able to use the stadium for an event like this," Kvergas said. "We think it helps make our race a little different. Also, the runners told us how much they enjoyed running on the closed streets
around the school. It's a rare opportunity."
The 5K race will begin on School House Road and end inside the stadium off of State Road.
To register or for more information, visit www.runthegrove.com. Registration is $20 for students, $25 for everyone else. You can sign up online, or in person on the day of the race. Registration opens at 8:15 a.m. in front of the AGHS football stadium.


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MTS Italy
Showing 1 to 14 of 14 (1 Pages)
In & After these difficult times and after receiving advice from HMRC we will be running a reduced service with a skeleton staff from Tuesday 24th March 2020. All website orders will be shipped out as normal and we finally have new stocks arriving from Italy daily. Our number one priority is for our employees and clients so we will continue to work remotely to support you and answer any questions. Our physical shop will be closed until further notice and we ask you please to respect this and not to visit us for the time being. We would like to thank you for your continued support and we look forward to better times ahead for everyone. Take care of yourselves and loved ones
...Last Updated Monday 23rd JUNE 2020...


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The Cubbies are coming to town
It's always amazing how many people I know who are looking for tickets when the Cubs come to town. I guess it's a lot of Chicago transplants in LA or just the fact that it's two of the most famous teams in baseball squaring off, but I'd imagine we'll have some pretty large crowds these next four days. Hope you all will be a part of it.
Four more days until the All-Star break, so it would be great to close it out in a strong way.
Meanwhile, I've seen enough of Mike Stanton for now. It's great and all that he's a local product, but he beat us up pretty nicely over the three days here. It was cool to hear him talk on the PRIME TICKET pregame Dodgers Live about coming to Photo Day as a kid. I'm sure there will be a ton of kids here this Saturday when the annual event takes place.
That's all I've got for now…
194 Comments
I had enough of Stanton too. There was this nice Dodger fan visiting from florida that had seen Stanton in the minor league for the Jacksonville Suns now a minor league team for the Marlins.
i went to the orientation for the All-Star FanFest yesterday. Is going to be alot of fun. I highly recomend anyone in the area to attend any of the FanFest days. Is going to be Friday 7/9 to Tuesday 7/13. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. except on Tuesday when it will end at 6.p.m.. My friend Linda and I drove to the one at San Francisco a few years ago and it was totally worth it.
Emma gave me the inspiration for this one the other day with her mention of Garret Anderson and the DFA Train. Glenn Miller, Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Hi there Joe, what you say
DFA Garret, ain?t his day
Lend an ear and listen to dispersions
GAs career is just pushing up nasturtiums
Pardon me Joe
Why play the California Doo Doo?
Oh no, one eighty two
Long for the days of old Phew
We can?t afford
To play the California Doo Doo
Hasn?t a care
His rusty bat just hits air
He left his better days in Anaheim in two thousand-four
But Joe he sends him out there like he?s ready for more
Have another Shiner
Get us back the whiner
Bring us up something from the lower minors
When you see that Manny?s out and Paul?s on the pine
Then you know its Garret?s turn cuz? Joe?s lost his mind
Shovel some more dirt in
A?s career is curtains
Doo Doo Garret that is what you are
Joe?s gonna be
Preachin? ?bout havin? us some patience
Garret will be
Of greater value you?ll see
He?ll make us cry
Until he?s DFA?d we?re gonna moan
So California Doo Doo
Hope they send you back home
California California
DFA California California
DFA California California
California Doo Doo
Hope they send you back home
California Doo Doo
�NedCo Broken Records 2010
Good day all……………
Just a quick thought?
With all the talk these days about the bereavement and restricted list……Which one would you say Frank and his checkbook are on?
Wow Enchanted…………..I mean brownpaperbag1 !!!! Fabulous song, and if I remember correctly, that is song #600.
Dodger4life – I am sure messagebear has a nice list of things that would fall under, and I am sure others have plenty to add as well 🙂
Very clever, BPB1……LOL!!!
BPB1, I was starting to worry about you. I have heard through the grapevine that you were spotted at the grocery store asking for plastic instead of paper.
Glad to see you still have what it takes 🙂
In all fairness to Frank [and Ned], I still see them bringing in the same caliber of ballplayers they always have.
Awesome, BPB1!
Hey D4 what's up?
The plastic's so I can practice safe vex.
Hey Tru, sorry I couldn't make it down on the 4th. Hope you had 3-4 for me!!
Not much BPB1……LOL!!
You know me, I don't like to get down on the players, and usually when I do it turns around to bite me in my Ned. I have to say though, I believe it is time or past time, to say GA we hardly knew ya!
Great song ENCHANTED (aka BrownPaperBag)…I'm still amaze on how fast you come up with those lyrics.
JOSH hopefully the series agains the Cubs is a win for the Dodgers. We need our winning streak and 4 wins to sweep the Cubs will be sweet!
We really missed you, BPB1….maybe soon we can all get together again.
I find it perplexing and unacceptable that last night, facing the Ace of the Marlins staff, Joe decides to put the .180 hitter in there. Not that the rest of the guys hit the ball extremely well but, X-man or Reed could have at least made more contact.
Hope we have better luck against the Cubbies…..would like to go into the break on a winning note.
I couldn't help but LMAO just at the title because isn't that exactly what we are afraid of ?
LMAO!!! Now, reading the article, it's like they took their information directly from here 🙂
Are you sure you weren't getting the plastic bags for some other reason BPB1? LOL!!!
Dumpster Diving R Us 🙂
Rockies and Giants both won today…we had better step it up a notch or we will be in deep poop.
On a more positive note…………….. sort of….
It is so much fun reading all the articles about Andre and his upcoming start at the All-Star game. He just seems so grounded in that joy of just making the team, which is typical for how he takes all of his accolades. However, for those of us on ITD that debated (some of them very heated) countless hours on his playing time, the fact that he shouldn't be traded, etc., etc., has finally paid off. Back then, Andre was just part of a notion that we had. The notion that we had the chance to have a young gun dynasty of all these great young players who would make a name for themselves as a group of dynamic players who could play anybody anytime.
But now……..With all this "Frank having no money" talk, it is time to enjoy all the accolades these young guns are getting now while they are Dodgers because unless changes are made in ownership, the current ownership won't be able to afford them for much longer. That concept of a dynasty disappeared into Frank's pocket and is now into the hands of divorce attorneys.
tru – when the media is calling it "dumpster diving" in so many words, it is getting pretty bad.
hello friends… how badly are we gonna beat them cubbies tonight? I say 6-1 we win..
Wonderful song BPB1!
Hope is Cub Hunting Season at Dodger Stadium!
Got to run there now!
EVeryone have a beautiful evening!
Hello gang!!! Outstanding Beav!!! LMAO!!!! Good stuff Nelly!!! I don't see anything worthwhile coming from the McCourt/Colletti collaberation. Hell', if Frank would even pony up for decent pitching, Neddy, would probably screw it up!!! Let's go Dodgers!!!!
No money my a**!!! And Jamie's living the High Life!!!! Sell the team!!!
Hi Everybody
It looks like we're caught up in a little pitching duel here after everybody else won. Well at least we still have a chance to do the same.
I still think Kershaw should've taken Gallado spot and Bell should've taken Wilson spot.
Their pitcher has 11 starts without a win and we are having trouble scoring runs off him….not good!
Yep Trumom, its not acceptable!!! Let's get Kersch some runs!!!!
Thank you Ferk!!!!! WooHoo!!!!!
Actually that's 4-6 in 17 starts. Actually Wells owned us int he past but he's 0-2 in his career.
Career vs. LAD 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 13.2 15 4 2 0 3 10 1.32 1.32 .283
oops in the
Thanks Shad!! Good stuff!! Keep it comin' my friend!!!
We owned Johnson with his career ERA over 6+ against us but they didn't happen last night.
Shad ~ I was just reporting what the Cubs announcers said about his record. I will take your word over theirs any day 🙂
RAFFY is hot
Let's go for it guys.
Thanks Raffy!!!! Kersh sure is dealing tonight!!! Way to go!!! We need some insurance runs boys.
Volstad had better number vs us in his career but we all see what happen? I'm glad Furcal hit that homerun to bad he should've been an all stars.
Trumom, you're both right. He has gone 11 starts without a win. Alot of no decisions in there and some losses. Let's make it 12!!!!
lol the Cubs announces? Ouch they don't even know there own players.
Kershaw 97 pitches 0 walks 12 k's. Torre you better let him finish the game off.
Maybe they right that last game he got a win but he probably didn't start.
Herrrrrrrrrre's Johnny!!!!!!!!!
Yep, let Kersch have a shot at putting this baby to bed!!!
The number of K's Kersh had is impressive, but what is more impressive is he didn't have any walks.
It's up to BROXTON.
Nope he started and pitches 7 2/3 vs the Reds and won. Nope they way off here and we beat the dback 14-1 that night.
You have gotta to be kidding.
Only because Byrd owned him tonight.
Amen Nelly!!! You read my mind!! Walks are the scourge of pitchers!!!! It ain't rocket science folks!!!
Belisario's agent says he has anxiety.
On the otherhand, Joe and Ned are just a pain in the asss.
Alright Shad!! You trumped the Cub announcers!!! Way to go my friend!!!
Johnny says: *** u dome!!!
What does Johnny say boys and girls?
Fu Q y'all!!!!!!!
needless to say A BIG WIN.
perfect timing enchanted :)))
Yep Wally on the Cubs/Dodgers preview page on yahoo there was one part of that article . He?ll be opposed by Randy Wells (4-6, 4.67), who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of a 3-1 win over Cincinnati on Saturday.
The right-hander was pulled after 7 2-3 innings, having allowed one run and five hits.
They forgot he was pitching a no hitter to.
Career vs. LAD 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 13.2 15 4 2 0 3 10 1.32 1.32 .283
Poor Wells is now 0-3 and only allowed 6 runs 4 earned and have some bad luck against us.
Nice job Shad!!! Goodnight all!!! Catch you down the road!!!
Good Night Jhall!!!! Have a Fabulous Friday my friend!!! Take Care and God Bless!!!
I still think Kershaw should've replace Gallardo and Bell should've been in for Wilson.
They said Lebron wasn't in it for the money and could've made 30 millions more with the Cavs. Did anyone see the Cavs fans burning down his jersey?
That was the 2nd time this year Kershaw went 8 innings, he also did it on May 9th. Kuroda also has 2 and Billingsley 1
Some players get bonuses for getting to the All-Star Game……..
Nelly, reading that article, which states that Dodger All-Stars don't get a bonus for making the squad, had me wanting to write a long tirade about the kind of such-and-such that the ownership is…
Until I realized that the most incendiary thing I could write is that Frank McCourt is such a cheapskate, this doesn't surprise me as all.
Watch the Dodgers' All-Stars leave the Dodgers the first time free agency comes up. It's not "all about the money", but there is such a thing as incentives, and this is the equivalent of Clark Griswold's boss not handing out Christmas bonuses to his employees.
FRANK McCOURT DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE DODGERS
Northstateblues – I don't think there is anything this Dodger Organization can do to surprise me anymore. Everything that I have read (in terms of the organization, not the players) for the last few months has been what we have suspected all along in some form or another.
Charlie wasn't actually too bad tonight, and he made the comment that the team is doing pretty good considering all the major players who have been on the DL for periods at a time, Raffy being on the bereavement list, and the strange incidents involving Bellisario being on the Restricted List. But, what he failed to mention is how well the team is doing despite the obvious pathetic ownership we have right now, who has managed to stay on the DL (Dysfunctional List) for the entire season so far. This team is doing pretty damn good considering all the crap they are putting up with for the time being.
As I was sitting in my seat at the stadium watching the 9th inning I was thinking of this blog and the words "What does Johnny say….." LOL.
For once I have to agree with management on not handing out bonuses for making the all-star team. Much of it is a random fan popularity contest and has nothing to do with performance. From the management side, if I'm the owner I'm already paying good money for these guys to play their best. All players should be striving to make the all-star team for the honor of it (assuming they earn it and don't get in there by being voted in by the homers stuffing the ballot box) regardless of if they get a bonus out of it or not. Call it pride.
(Not that our owner isn't a worthless cheapskate SOB who's only motivation in life is to wannabe his vain carcass into high society, though he fits in like a brown shoe does with a tuxedo.)
Looks like Cliff Lee will be a Yankee. Surprise, surprise! Must be nice to have a never ending checkbook 🙂
I see the Yankees are closing in on Cliff Lee.
Shocking. What with Ned wheeling and dealing and Frank backing him up, I thought sure Lee would be in their back pocket by now…
So, the rumor that the Yankees were going to buy Lee were true.
enchanted – I just didn't realize any players got bonuses. I originally thought like you that if it is a fan-voted event then why should bonuses even be attached to any player's contract. If the bonuses are coming out of anybody's pocket, it should be Bud's. He is the one that created this mess of the All-Star game actually meaning something and then allowing the fans to have the majority of the votes. I would hope that the players that do get bonuses would give their bonus to a charity of their choice. It's not like any of them need the money.
LOL, BPB1! Great minds think alike!
Well, there is Roy Oswalt, but we know he is out of our price range, and the fact that he pitched a 1-hit shut out last night just upped his ante a tad.
The Zambrano thing is a rumor out there, Nellyjune. They are so anxious to get rid of him, they'd be willing to pay for him to be gone. And, you know Ned loves something for nothing.
Good Morning
Last night while hearing the game I was remembering the good ol' days…you know last year when I could fall asleep watching the Dodgers game and wake up at the end of the game to see Dodgers in a blue mountain and I'm trying to figure who is at the bottom of that mountain. And yup there is Ethier. Good Ol' Days!
If anyone should be giving bonuses out for being in the All-Stars it should be MLB and not the team. Who keeps all the All-Stars profit?
At this point in time I really don't care that they don't get anyone – we all know that the best they'll do is Harang anyway, but the least they could do is be honest about it and not blow smoke up our asss about acquiring someone like Lee or Oswalt or Haren. Unless one of them has a massive contract that their current club will pay and that is so disruptive to the team that said club will give him to us for someone like LaRoche, then don't even bring the name up.
The ONLY reason they do bandy these names about is so that it appears that they're trying so that they can keep a few more butts in the seats while they're looking for cheap crap.
OH YEAH…great game last night. I'm sure RAFFY's dad is extremely proud! GREAT JOB RAFFY.
enchanted – I am sure Lou would love to give up Zambrano 🙂
Awesome article on Dre on the front page! All us Ethieraholics are proud of our man. When the All Star voting started and Dre was lagging, I was kinda worried that he'd have to walk on water in order to get the attention of the voting public outside our area 🙂
On the good side of the Dodgers, another great article about the NL Starting Right Field All-Star….
sparkleplenty – All the Ethieraholics are thinking the same thing this week. It couldn't have happened to greater person. He is really taking this in stride, but like a kid as well. It is funny how he is bringing his own set of baseballs to be signed by the All-Stars he hopes to see.
I wouldn't doubt that Zambrano's on Ned's radar. Be another "blip" for the drip.
The Cubbies are in town Enchanted :)))
Can you imagine Padilla and Zambrano on the same team? 🙂
I'd love to see Padilla and Zambrano on the same team. Throw in Manny doggin' it out in left and it could be highly entertaining.
L.A. is the entertainment capital of the world 🙂
Yepper. Looks like the rich are going to get richer. I hope they don't take it into their minds they want Ethier. Maybe the will decide they want Furcal for the days they rest Jeter.
Frank McCourt sucks Burro Churro's!!!
I hear the Yankees now have their sights on Werth.
Dodger4life…just got done reading that article before I saw your post. Here's my favorite part:
"Lawyers for Jamie McCourt said in divorce filings that the Dodgers were paying two of the McCourts? sons salaries totaling $600,000 a year even though one had another full-time job and the other was attending graduate school. The filings said the McCourts had not paid federal or state income taxes since 2004 and had used millions in team money to finance their lifestyles, including taking out $390 million in loans against future ticket revenue."
The interesting part is the loan based on future ticket sales. So…..fans stay away, McCourt defaults, and he sells!!!!!!!!! Knowing all this crud, how can Bud Selig just suck his thumb and hug his blankie? Oh, never mind.
I'm shocked D4. Shocked I tell you to find out that gambling has been going on here.
Good point Kahli. I too found the loan against future ticket sales interesting. Could also explain why we can never sign anyone of significance – who's actually making the decisions on personnel – banks? – loansharks? No wonder there's never any money to spend – would hurt the equity to loan values and dig into the collateral.
Frank can talk all he wants……He is nothing but a glorified medicine man, trying to peddle his snake oil.
Step Right Up Folks!!!
Thousands have been cured!!!!
Frank can talk all he wants……He is nothing but a glorified medicine man, trying to peddle his snake oil.
Step Right Up Folks!!!
Thousands have been cured!!!!
And Bud is like the crooked Sheriff who wont run him out of town.
And thanks to MLB and it's credit dept…..he continues to load the wagon.
Dont worry folks the Dodgers are in good hands!!!
Dodger4life – I just got done reading that article. I didn't realize it was the same one you posted on here. I think this is just the beginning of all the financial numbers that will be coming out before the divorce is final.
I hope Commisioner Gordon has the foresight, to do whatever is within his power to release the City, the fans and the players from this bondage……
Whatever It Takes….Right Frank!!
I just sent this letter to TJ Simers at the LA Times:
Help us, please TJ! Enough is enough! McCourt has GOT TO GO! Read this article and jump on him! It's not enough that he is ruining the team as we speak by not spending money for decent starting pitching. And it's not enough that we're not going to be retaining the Ethiers and Kemps and Loneys and Broxtons and Kershaws when they hit their free agent years. But this constant embarrassment of which the below is only the latest is just too much!
You are the only media member in town with the guts to go after this bum.
Thank-you, Wanna. It's about time. I hope he follows through.
The thing that bothers me is that all the hours (and money) that the players have put into this charity and all the money that we as fans have put into it only to see articles like this written about it. It is really time for Frank to start answering some questions honestly, and if you can't answser the questions, then he has no business owning our team.
Congratulations to the Texas Rangers for getting Cliff Lee. Amazing how a bankrupt team pulled this deal off and we, keep dumpster diving.
That may be because Frank is playing the game, to hang on to the 360 acres he has used as collateral, while the Rangers are playing to win a ring.
Way to go Texas!!!
Ned "talking" to anyone about an ace is likely closer an old Bob Newhart phone bit.
Wow, tru, that's a deal that came totally out of left field – quite unexpected. Evidently money problems aren't going to stop the Rangers from trying to reach the WS. More power to them, I say.
Regarding negotiating loans against future ticket sales, it seems to me that if the an outstanding team is put on the field, then more fans will want to see them in person, therefore, more tickets will be sold. Therefore, the team can make a profit . . . . oh, yeah, I forgot. I'm just a dumb fan and don't understand high finance.
red pen!!! if an outstanding team – not if the an – darn flying fingers 😦
I'd prefer an owner who uses profits to better the team not stuff his pockets.
I see the natives are restless today after such a classic game last night. A pitcher's duel decided by a late inning home run. Good to be on the winning side of this one for a change.
I would like to add my "two cents" about the notion of player incentives. Maybe 30-40 years ago such incentives made sense when the players did not make so much money. I am glad the Dodgers don't make this a practice and as far as I am concerned, incentives that pay off for accomplishments beyond the player's control are just another money grab by player agents. What is another 25 or 50K to some of these players? Remember Kevin Brown? As I recall he asked for and received the use of a private jet at the club's expense to fly his family to some games. With all the money he was being (over)paid, he could not afford some plane tickets?
The news about the salary paid by the Dodger charity is troubling on many levels. Paying the energy guy vibe is one thing. Using a charity's funds to pay this much money to one person when that charity is not that large is another thing altogether. Where will this end?
Texas? Well at least he stayed in the American League.
I can't believe they traded him in the same division. I'd rather him go to the Twins.
Last game vs. STL 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.0 6 1 1 0 0 8 1.13 0.75 .231
Career vs. STL 4 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 26.0 18 2 1 0 9 25 0.35 1.04 .200
lol interesting how someone can dominated against the Cardinals like that.?Bud Norris before tonight game given up 2 runs and 1 earned and look like they double the runs this time and they must be mad for getting swept by the Rockies.
That was a good job by Billingsley to get out of that inning only giving up one run.
We love ya Boy's…………
Lets Go, Lets Go!!!
Nice to see Martin show up!!! Way to go!!! I hope this is a sign of things to come.
Alright Russell!!! I had a feeling that was coming, with Lilly being a fly ball pitcher and falling behind in the count to the hitters.
Bills is fighting it a little bit, but so far he's come up big when he's had to.
Alright Kemp!!!! The Dodgers are lighting up Lilly.
Billz doesn't strike me as being learning impaired, so how many years is it going to take him to learn not to walk batters, especially when you're up 5 runs? Jeez…
Hiya folks
Go to home home to a 7-3 lead, I see the Giants lost but the Friers are still chuggling along.
s/b good
Hi'Ya Beav!! Billz always has that deer in the headlight look. Waiting to see if he is going to get hit. He's got better stuff than that. I'm waiting for him to get some sack!!!! He does need a change-up pitch!!!
Good going Casey getting that last run back, quickly.
Hey Wally!
Billz definitely needs some nads.
Well it look like Lilly record has been suffer by the lack of runs support. Lilly was another pitcher that owned us and now I like how those career numbers mean nothing now lol.
I don't think though that Billz will ever be any better than a decent #2 though. Even if he does eventually sack up, his stuff is good, but not great.
I had when are OF make errors especially Kemp and Ethier.
oldbrooklynfan ~ The Rockies just took a 10-8 lead.
Ethier got 2 hits against Lilly and I wonder if are announces still saying Ethier can't hit lhp.
Alright James!! Keep the RBI coming!!
Going to start calling Loney the assassin. He don't say much, he just quietly gets the job done.
I guess we have a Coors Stadium see saw battle going on. I'd like to see the Rockies pull us up with them tonight.
Looks like the people working MLB.TV tonight are Cub fans, we don't get to hear "God Bless America". lol
I think that will be it for Bills. I don't think he'll come out for the 8th. Even though he was a little shaky at times he gave the Dodgers a lengthy start and finished strong.
I'd like to see Paul show some power.
What the heck team blowing big lead in the 9th innings and losing? lol Philles scoring 6 runs in the 9th and hit a walk off HR's from Howard in the 10th. Cordero give up a game tying 2 runs homerun to that scrub Cody Ransom yeah ex Giants reject.
Chad and go 116th pitches in 7th innings and Kershaw couldn't last night even though Byrd owned him with those 3 hits.
This is very surprising to see Bills come out for the 8th. This is not what Torre usually does.
No matter how he struggled or how shaky he was, this will go down as another strong 7 inning game for Bills.
His 4th gem.
No one can't get Byrd out unbelieveable he still owned the Dodgers.
I guess George couldn't do it…..again.
WTF where is Kuo?
This is what I can't stand about Torre and the pitching staff. What's the point of letting Billz hit for himself in the 7th if you're going to pull him after one batter in the 8th? It makes no sense. I can see pulling him if he lets the first 2-3 guys get on. I can see batting for him and letting Sherrill or whomever start a fresh inning. But I can't see this assinine move that he'll make several times a season.
lol not wasting PH you know GA would be 1st bet off the bench.
And here we go again… 9-3 and Joe will burn through 3-4 more pitchers to get 6 outs. Defend him if you must, but Joe's an idiot with a pitching staff.
Are we closing into a "close" situation?
Miller or Kuo might come in for the 9th.
The only problem I see with trying to give your go to guys some rest with two games left in the series on a night you have a surmountable lead…….are the knuckleheads that let you down.
If Joe had what he has requested from Franknbeans we would be sitting pretty good rigt now in my opinion.
Torre probably just wanted to see how Bills looked in the 8th.
"one hit or walk and you're out"
OBF maybe Joe thought that Bills could use the confidense….unlike Kershaw who seems to have a good grasp on his.
But what's the point of that Brooklyn? He'd already thrown 115 or so pitches… They had a 6 run lead… Why trot him back out there just to throw to one batter? It plain doesn't make any sense no matter what angle you look at it from.
I'd say BPB1 is a little steamed tonight 🙂
And after I say that Joe brings in Brox……refer to BPB1's post up top
I don't think Joe sent Bills out to pitch to one batter. He wanted tosee how strong he was, what he had left. IMO.
Maybe if Bills got that out he would've let him pitch to more batter once someone got on base he would've removed him.
if brox has a blown save in this series , look no further than this inning as the reason, I cant believe JT uses Brox in this situation, especially when he going to the AS game, so no rest there
if brox has a blown save in this series , look no further than this inning as the reason, I cant believe JT uses Brox in this situation, especially when he going to the AS game, so no rest there
But what's the point of that Brook? Its not like he was ever going to let Billz complete the game. Now he blows through another 3 pitchers including your closer for absolutely no reason.
What does E say?
Fu-Q Torre!!!
That's right Shad as soon as Bills let a man reach base he was out of the game.
What does D4 say
Down the Hatch!!
What dooes tru say:
F-QU…..Frank, Ned and Joe!!!!!!
My concern was last night and I wonder if Kershaw could've gotten that CG if he had face the bottom of the order.
What does Johnny say
Don't forgot Kuo hasn't pitch in 5 days, Weaver is well rested and Monasterios.
I'm surprise Weaver didn't even start and Bills getting PH for.
What do Kersh, Kuroda, Billz, Padilla and Ely say:
Tru are you blogging from Margaritaville tonight??
Cheers 🙂
Hey tru I'm was laughing at your Padilla and Zambrano comment. Can you imagine if we keep that head case Bradley and the ex Angels head case Gullen?
You know I just had to say it.
I sure am, Dodger4life!!!
I think we all say that Tru!! LOL
Sorry guys, I just don't see it.
Was Billz throwing a no hitter? No.
Was Bills tossing a shutout? No.
Was Billz just dominating the opposing hitters? No.
His pitch count was 115+.
He had a 6 run lead.
If Billz asked to go back out there and Joe told him OK, but if someone gets on you're out of there, then that's stupid too. Joe's supposed to be a manager, and a manager would say, "not tonight Billz, you've done your job."
And how many times have we seen him lift a starter for no reason that was dominating the opposition? I'd say more than I can count.
It was however a great opportunity to take a blowout game and use another 3 (frankly I'm surprised it wasn't 4) pitchers to slop through 6 outs. Then he uses Brox whom by the way he pitched wasn't in any way thinking he'd be used, and is probably unavailable for tomorrow when they might really need him.
This is just another main reason why this team wins in spite of Joe.
I agree to a point but I think his decision would of been easier if he had someone he could rely on, other than Kuo and Brox.
I agree D4 that the rest of the bully sucks, but even that pitiful bunch should be able to hold onto most of a 6 run lead for two innings.
Thing is, now he brings in Sherrill with a man on. The guy's a head case anyway, not I'm sure helped out by the fact that the minute he lets a guy on he knows he's going to get yanked. Then he's followed by Miller with men on… I'm just saying if you're going to use those guys at all, give them the best chance to succeed, not the best chance to fail. Let Sherrill start the inning. Then if he puts a couple guys on, get the hook ready. Same with Miller. And if you don't have any faith in either of those two, use Monasterios or Schlict what's his name.
Then Joe panics and brings in Brox who was probably not prepared in the least to have to come in in the 9th with the team still up by 4.
I just think that as crappy a starting rotation as Ned went out and put together, one that's going to tax a bullpen anyway, Joe exacerbates a bad situation by overusing it even more than necessary. On a team that is going to be hell on a bully over the course of a season, the manager's got to be a hulluva lot smarter on how he uses it.
And Joe ain't that guy.
lol calling Sherrill a head case when he's struggling bad and still is.
Point taken…..But I don't think Joe asked to be that guy.
I think Frank has made him that guy, and it is not the type of ball Joe signed on for.
I think Weaver could've pitch the last 2 inning to close it out.
Did anyone catch this comment from David Young, on Live Chat with Tony Jackson yesterday??
Has anyone reminded Joe Torre that when he was hitting like GA is, he was a player/manager that release himself?
Frank McCourt doesn't give a damn about the Dodgers.
I just sent Wanna's message to T.J……saying I agree!!
Good Work, Wanna :0)
Be very careful rooting for the Rockies to keep beating the Pods…Josh, I feel for you, having to say all the "proper" things about this ownership and the monetary decisions being made.
The LA Times is reporting that Ronald Belisario left the team earlier this week to receive treatment in a substance abuse program, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Seems like those articles we've been seeing about the Dodgers not having enough talent left in the in the minors to pull off a major deal may be true. Just as well, I suppose, in this case, as I'd rather get a guy with some time left on his contract. I agree with those of you on here that would rather get Oswalt.
We're also going to have to get some relief help from somewhere, and pretty soon. I don't really blame Joe for going to same guys so often. Who do you trust? The results could get ugly before to long, though. Perhaps Joe is counting on some additional help before these guys wear out.
Good day everyone……….
Two more games with the Cubs before the break. I am looking forward to seeing our All Stars on the field Tuesday.
But first things first, and that means battling our way to the top of the West. I have to say that Raffy and Dre are two guy's that have had success, capturing good energy. I don't think it takes a guy with a Physisc's degree…..to improve your chances of being successful, just dedication, focus and the belief that this is your moment.
Elymania…..Enjoy the game folks.
/ Analisemos agmalus características deste belo mongol – olhe para a foto e leia:- 36 anos;- desempregado;- "Nick" para os amigos;- Idiota para o pai;- Desocupado para mim.Popular! Gostei deste comentário ou não: 45 5


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Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Looking forward . . .
Yes, like many, I took the holidays off from blogging. And then I got some temp work that made it very difficult to blog as well.
And really I can't guarantee I'll be back with any regularity for a while. I apologise for that. As someone who likes a good old fashioned schedule, well, I annoy myself with this announcement. Nonetheless I was able to compose three blog posts whilst manning phones at my temp job (I should add that everyone in the office was fully aware of what I was up to and probably quite happy that I was keeping busy as they all seemed guilty I didn't have much to do). So we at least get blog updates for the rest of the week.
Thus . . .
In the past at this time of year I have been inclined to discuss resolutions etc. I realise this is a
staggeringly original idea of mine to do, and it would be absurd from me to divert from such an unusual and delightful path. But I've said a fair bit on the subject and I get bored easily . . . and I don't wanna talk about that stuff right now.
I want to, instead, examine the year ahead. At least, what I know of it so far, on this the fourth day of the year 2012.
It's a strange year that unfolds before me, and, I'll be honest, it freaks me out a bit.
I have a novel coming out in the fall. This is kind of a huge deal for me as I haven't had a novel out since 2009, and I'm new to YA. It's a totally different world from MG, with different expectations (not better or worse, just different) and a different support system – the blogosphere is kind of insane when it comes to blogging about YA (insane in a good way, like "wicked" used to be when I was cool and stuff . . . wait, I was cool? That can't be right . . .). I just don't know what to expect when THE FRIDAY SOCIETY comes out. Sure I've had books released before, sure I know the basics, but there is so much unknown around it too.
And the weirdest bit? That's not happening till the END OF THE YEAR. Like, think about it. Dude, we've just STARTED the year now. Months and months are ahead of me, and honestly, my life isn't really all that planned out. This time last year I was in a show and knew I would also be starring in another one come summer. I had a book to finish writing, a couple anthologies to promote.
But this year . . . it's this weird blank canvas kind of thing.
And it freaks. Me. Out.
In a good way :) .
See I kind of think it's neat that I don't know what's going to happen. I'm kind of excited to see what will be, and it will be interesting re-reading this post a year from now thinking, "Oh Adrienne from the past, have I got stories for you . . ."
Now of course it's not like I don't have some plans. Obviously I'll be starting to promote TFS before its launch. In fact the gears are already turning. I've been working on the book trailer since October. By which I mean my director and DoP have been working on post-production since we wrapped in October and I've been offering my oh so "helpful" advice every so often.
I imagine there might be some contests and giveaways too.
Of course there will be edits. More just general kind of edits, but then copy edits, and galley edits, and a strong desire to throw up having read the book maybe one too many times.
There will be a cover reveal! And maybe just maybe a delightful story behind how it came to be (I've seen a sketch of it btw . . . just so you know).
There is con season which feels like it just wrapped but will be beginning in no short order, especially exciting as this year my good friend Lesley Livingston is one of the guests of honour at Ad Astra this year.
There is writing to do, settling on that next project.
There will be auditions, and hopefully acting work.
There will be temping.
My cat will be adorable and a pest.
But still.
Right now.
Looking forward. . .
It's like looking at a city far away and knowing that eventually I'll get there but not yet. I can see the publication date of TFS loom so clearly. I'm hoping that some trees and maybe some nice little towns will suddenly materialise blocking the view to distract me from that goal as I walk along the path towards it. I'd like that because that's when suddenly you discover you've arrived at your destination without realising it.
And whatever pops up, you can be assured, dear blog readers, that I shall share tales of my adventures as we go along.
So yeah.
But it's kind of fun.
So now, it's your turn! What does the year ahead look like to you right now? What are you hoping for? Etc. Etc. And so forth.
4 comments:
- Mirka Breen said...
Your post made me want to put my hand on your shoulder and tell you not to fear the New Year. But I would be talking, not doing. I get rattled also.
So onward with it all: 2012 looks good so far, especially YOURS!
- Mark Boss said...
Wow, I didn't realize you have a blog, and now I see in the sidebar that you've written and published novels, and have another on the way. Outstanding!
If your previous accomplishments and hard work are good indicators (and I think they are), then 2012 should be a fantastic year for you.
Battle on!
(and yeah, I just referenced Xena: Warrior Princess.)
- Adrienne said...
Mirka - lol, I appreciate the sentiment. Let us be brave and face the new year with excitement and anticipation together.
Mark - also lol, I guess I assumed the whole writing thing was how you found me through twitter. Well welcome! And thank you for the vote of confidence and Xena quote. Always love a good Xena quote. :)
- Ruth Schiffmann said...
May all of the unexpected things that pop up along the road to your book release be delightful little surprises. Enjoy every bit of it! And congrats =)


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Following on from the success of her debut novel, Debris, Jo Anderton's new book Suited has been released into the wilds. She's dropped by today to talk about 'the suit' which inspired the book.
The story behind the suit
The first time Tanyana saw a debris collecting suit, she mistook it for jewellery. It was, after all, a thick silver bracelet, intricately inscribed with arcane symbols and glowing faintly. That was before one was forcefully drilled into her body, of course. Before she learned that there was much more to it than the bright silver bands — attached to her ankles, wrists, waist and neck — and that it went deep beneath her skin, bound to her nervous system and anchored in her bones.
This debris collecting suit was the catalyst for everything that happened to Tanyana in Debris. And, as you might have guessed from the title and the cover image, it becomes even more important in book two, Suited.
So what is the suit? And what inspired it?
Tanyana's world is full of pions — semi-sentient sub atomic particles that can be persuaded to rearrange matter. The better you are at directing them, the more powerful you can become. Before the accident that stripped Tanyana of her powers in the beginning of Debris, she was a highly skilled binder and architect, able to command vast numbers of pions. Everything in her world is built with these particles, from something as mundane as a sewerage system, to the might of the military machine. But all this power comes at a cost. Pion manipulation generates a waste product — debris. The more you manipulate, the more debris you create. And debris can be a serious problem, because it destabilises pion systems and can, if left unchecked, completely undo their bonds. For a city built on pions, debris is a real threat.
This is where the debris collectors come in. You see, most people in this world can see and manipulate pions, but they wouldn't know debris was there if it was floating right in front of their noses (as it tends to do…) Only people who have lost their pion-sight, or were never born with it, can see debris. They are recruited by the government, fitted with suits, and sent out to collect it. Buried within the suits' six bands is a strong but malleable metal that can expand, and morph into any shape. From delicate tweezers to great shovels or, should the need arise, a sharpened blade.
But Tanyana's suit is different. From the start, it's more than just a tool. It has a tendency to move on its own, protecting Tanyana, or reacting even before she has thought to do so. Not only can she use it to shape tools or weapons, but Tanyana's suit can also spread far enough to wrap around her body, head to toe. In fact, it seems to prefer that. Sometimes it feels almost sentient. It tugs at her bones and thrills down her nerves and whispers to her, inside her. Wouldn't it be easier to do what it says, and just give in to it's… violence?
There are times when it's hard to tell who's in control: Tanyana, or her suit. And this struggle is what Suited is all about.
So what inspired it? There are a lot of anime influences in these books, and the suit is probably the strongest example. Let's see… It's a powerful metallic creature with a mind of its own. It tends to save Tanyana and scare her in equal measure, and its origins are shrouded in secrecy and possible-dodgyness. Well, that's Neon Genesis Evangelion right there. But don't worry, the suit isn't Tanyana's mother, I can promise you that! Also, this story has absolutely nothing to do with the Dead Sea Scrolls.
What about Full Metal Alchemist? Have you guys seen that? If you have, think about Edward's metallic arm for a minute. The way he uses his alchemy to morph it into any shape, often a sword. Now that's exactly what Tanyana's doing with her suit — except she's using neural connections and muscle memory, not alchemy. If you haven't seen FMA — do so, now. New series, old series, I don't care (I liked the old one. Yes, even the ending).
But, you know, I think there's more to the suit than just anime. Not that there's anything wrong with that — seriously, I'm the last person to demand deep and meaningful. Give me a good story first and foremost, the rest is just in the telling. Anyway (sorry, getting sidetracked) the suit is also the darkness inside us. It's a rebellious body, a part that can't be controlled, something foreign taking you over. It's an inner violence begging to be let out, growing harder and harder to deny. And this, really, is the point of Suited. The suit, initially forced on Tanyana, is now well and truly a part of her. Through the course of Debris, she learned to control it, she found its limits and its strengths and pushed them as far as they would go. In Suited, the suit starts to push back. But, as I said, it's a part of her now, inside and out, physically and mentally, and growing more so every day. How can Tanyana fight herself? Where's the line between Tanyana and suit, and how long will that remain? Is it still her body, if the suit controls more and more of her? How important are our bodies to our sense of identity, and how much do we change when they do?
And hey, guess what, that's very anime too. Couldn't you say the same things about Evangelion, Full Metal Alchemist, Ghost in the Shell, and so many more? Maybe that's because it's a fundamental human conflict, made physical through the suit, or the Eva, or alchemy? And that's why we love sci-fi, isn't it? Because that's what science fiction is for.
Jo has a copy of Suited to give-away. Here's the question:
Pretend you're at the end-game, it's the ultimate fight with the ultimate big-bad, what would you take with you? From any book, game, movie or tv series. Do you like an old-school magical sword, or would you prefer a giant mecha? Lightsaber, or a summon? What's the coolest weapon ever?


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by Patrice Gunville
Large 29"X30" acrylic paint with resin on canvas,...signed. Or not signed so you can claim it as your own, and sign it yourself. Perfect for your office or home. This is my please help me statement. I'm a author by trade. It helps me escape. Let's me leave my damages in some world far away. I'm a artist by necessity since it's my therapy when I need to take a break. Born bi-polar...caught a case of PTSD. agoraphobic, ah geez smh. I'm one of the others. I'm all of the above. I'm different. Yeap, ...
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A Lament for Labor Day: What Happens When Unemployment Happens to You
When your life and your work is as entwined as mine has been—fusing the personal and the political over all these years, it may be stretching things to consider yourself unemployed but that's what I am as Labor Day approaches.
Most of the media focuses on the big companies that have slashed their work forces (even as they hoard cash.) But small companies are also suffering, cutting back, and closing. They don't get the subsidies or bailouts or the attention.
Companies like ours!
Last May, we decided to close our Globalvision office when the lease was up. Our costs remained too high while revenues had dropped. We realized that we ourselves had become victims of the economic calamity that I had been warning about, and urging who ever would listen to respond to. It was, suddenly, not about someone else's problems. They had literally come home.
There was no escaping it: after nearly 24 years in a business that sometime seemed more like a crusade, the handwriting was on the wall as the coffers shrank and threatened to become a coffin.
Like most of our countrymen and women, we had lost confidence in the economy. Taking on a new lease would have meant personally guaranteeing it. That seemed like a road to bankruptcy.
Our option: go virtual with a post office box (POB 677, New York l0035) while revamping the Globalvision.org website.
It took us a month to pack up our lives, our gear, edit rooms, tapes and archive. There were also our awards and memorabilia, and other artifacts of a video production company that was always churning new videos and films. The market for what we had always done seemed to have vanished; the foundations that sometimes bankrolled our work had lost millions in the markets and had turned to new flavors of the week.
Our story was considered old. We may have been the last believers.
The busyness of wrapping it all up was exhausting over the course of a month. A patrimony which we always believed had value was moved into boxes, and then into storage, packed away in large warehouse structures, crammed behind steel doors with only a number on the door. It had the feel of a prison.
We moved back into to apartments we had for years left early in the morning and returned to late at night. Sometimes they didn't feel much like homes because to keep a small, undercapitalized company alive for decades demanded long hours on a treadmill with no margins for failure.
I remembered a summer cab ride years ago when we drove through Central Park on the way to the airport. The place was packed with people having fun. It was a shock to be confronted with how much we were missing while staring into TV screens in dark edit rooms.
Soon, I was setting up a home office, but why-was I doing it? Could it be I just I didn't know what else to do? I put in a new phone only to watch it not ring. It was the hottest summer in recent times and at points I felt like I was working in an oven. I became addicted to club soda, cases of the stuff.
We were media independents in a world where everyone is forced to be dependent—on jobs, clients and grants. By necessity, we had to become hustlers, doing more for less, undercutting competitors and working our asses off. The joys of being entrepreneurs became playing at capitalism without capital. It left us little time for development or to cultivate funders and even, at times, sustain friendships.
We may have been well-known in the "business" but sometimes lost touch with ourselves.
All work and no play….
Driven by passion, mission and perhaps illusion, I made a film a year, sometimes more. I was always multi-tasking, cutting corners, doing more than I should. I wrote blogs, sometimes compared to Dead Sea scrolls because they rivaled them in length.
I wrote books, eleven of them if you can believe, while doing everything else. I was constantly in motion but without a lot of movement. We didn't realize how many in the industry we aspired to work in were threatened by out values and political choices, or just ignored us because we were not commercial enough.
There was always the hope that somewhere, somehow, manna would fall from heaven or perhaps from a patron or two.
Sometimes it happened, more than you would believe, as we enchanted a French Countess, an English visionary and an Italian publisher. Being Global had its rewards as my frequent flyer miles piled up, and globetrotting intensified.
It was a whirlwind of activity, and I haven't thought about it deeply enough yet to regret it. We didn't achieve all our goals but I, for one, am proud of having tried. We achieved far more than we ever thought possible.
When it all tapered off, not by choice but necessity, I was not really prepared for the suddenness of being alone, feeling cast off without a daily agenda, or schedule. I suddenly had nowhere to go. The emails shrunk, the requests turned into a trickle as new generations of producers took their rightful place in what sun there was shining.
It seemed like everyone now was a producer, and many of the "kids" could afford to work for nothing. Suddenly, we had become too pricey, too newsy, too much.
I was soon having moments of despair, perhaps even pangs of depression but I have not succumbed. It was time to make a change. I had no choice but to persevere. Long ago, we had been branded "heroes of downward mobility."
I am sure many people who are out of work can identify with our sense of loss and insecurity.
My first nights were sleepless, consumed by anxiety. What would I do? Is there an Act 3 for an aging workhorse? Did our dream die? Were we fools to believe we could challenge, much less compete, with BIG media.
I liked the idea of working collaboratively but now I was forced to become a lone ranger, alone, without a womb-like office refuge that had sheltered me for so long. We are trying to keep Globalvision alive but if it was hard to do with an office, It may be impossible without one.
It's not that I have been just laying around. I have been spending my time trying to promote my film Plunder The Crime Of Our Time which came out at the end of April. I've been appearing on many media interviews but major media outlets still seem uninterested in the multi-trillion dollar crimes of Wall Street. They prefer to react to celebrity droppings and whatever contrived hot-button issue on the right-wing agenda like the Mosque that may never be built at Ground Zero. Thank goodness for outlets like Democracy Now, Grit TV, The Real News Network, Free Speech TV and Link TV. Many alternative media outlets have been very kind.
In the meantime, I have also become a shipping department, packaging DVDs and book orders received over our website and trekking to the Post Office where the clerks are tired of seeing my face. There's always something wrong with a zip code or scribbled address. If I have any talent, this is not one.
Paypal is not my pal.
I also began to feeling like a failure even as I kept imploring whoever who would listen to act on economic issues. I thought I was persuasive but was having little observable impact. Given the lack of leadership at the top and the well-funded opposition on the right, It seems like the economy will bring down the Democrats and even more of our livelihoods. There is no mass movement to fight for jobs, economic justice, and a moratorium on foreclosures. Sometimes, I feel like I am just pissing in the wind in my efforts to stir a fractured and fragmented progressive movement.
For many it seems so much easier to ridicule Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck than fight Wall Street. Their icons are out organizing; "ours" are just bitching..
I have done many promotional media appearances but the summer is known for low viewing and listening. The networks I used to work for were trapped in predictable coverage routines, not open to my input.
The one surprise I have had is the interest in international broadcasters in what I have to say. Your news dissector is now appearing with some regularity on Iran's Press TV, Russia Today and Al Jazeera as opposed the Daily Show and MSNBC. Strange. The only consolation is they may have more viewers.
The other day South Africa's Ambassador in Sweden called after he saw me commenting on Glenn Beck's Sermon From The Steps Of The Lincoln Memorial on Al Jazeera. There I was, via satellite, from a studio here to his set in Stockholm.
Globalvision by other means!
So, the irony is I have been in the media more after shuttering our media office than ever.
Is it having an impact? Hard to know. Instead of blogging daily. I am writing weekly commentaries. I am tweeting and Face Booking, "Trying " is the operative word but as my income declines, the precariousness of my longer-term situation becomes more evident.
I am hanging on, and hanging out.
Yet, when I look at realities in Haiti, or Pakistan or even back in the Bronx I came out of, I count my blessings. I am, knock, knock, not living on the edge of desperation like so many, not yet anyway, and still relatively healthy.
I know that joblessness is a killer for many, leading to family breakups, personal breakdowns, and sickness, physical and mental. We now have a million homeless kids in our schools.
I grew up in a Labor movement working class family. I believe in unions although I would prefer the old militancy of May Day to the barbeques on Labor Day.
I have gone from the 60's into my 60's Let's face it, getting older sucks, but it happens to all of us.
Yes, I have more time to relax, see more movies, even do more walking. I seem to be watching the world more and more from my window. At the same time, I try to contain my own fears, check my political frustration and remain positive even during hot summer days of disorientation and feeling down.
When that happens, I think of Richard Farina's novel from my college years, actually written about the town, Ithaca New York, where I went to College . (It's Mythica to me now.) The book: "Been Down So Long, It Looks Like Up To Me."
Unemployment for me is not necessarily as bad as it could be but I don't have kids to support. I am not facing foreclosure. I am not totally trapped in the Debt Trap. I am not under the severe pressure so many others are facing. I am so alarmed by the lack of real stimulus job creation and benefit extension programs. Where is FDR when we need him?
The economic prognosis is not good.
I am still trying to marry money and meaning. I am also still getting invitations to travel. I'll be speaking in London in September and in Tashkent later this fall, if you can believe.
So. yes again, I am happy to be here, to be alive, to have a roof over my head, to have some forum for my ideas.
I have to count my diminishing blessings. Isn't that what it always comes down to? I may have done more than I ever thought I ever would but nothing lasts forever.
I think of all the media companies I worked for. Many are no longer around. I outlasted them.
When I voted for change last November, I didn't realize how my own circumstances would change so radically and force me to navigate in more turbulent waters. I know I am not alone. Many in the Indy Media sector are in the same leaky boat.
So I am out of work on this Labor Day weekend, laboring to keep going, hoping my luck will turn, hoping OUR luck will rebound.
I am trying to look ahead, not back. The challenge: I still care, maybe too much.
What's next?
Uncertainty is the only certainty.
News Dissector Danny Schechter directed the film Plunder About the Crimes of Wall Street. (PlunderTheCrimeOfOurTime.com) Comments to [email protected]
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TheBaxter wrote:so sorry wrote:TheBaxter wrote:
in related news, Peter Jackson, not to be outdone, has announced he will be reshooting the entire remaining two hobbit films in 4800fps 4D (that extra D is there, even if you can't see it). the retrofitting of all the theaters who converted to 48fps cameras to 4800fps is estimated to cost about 800 quadrillion dollars and take approximately 82 years to complete.
I'll wait for the re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-issue of the BluRay.
BluRay is so 21st century... by then we'll have BrownBeams... films delivered directly into our nervous system by ingesting tiny cubes of brown sugar laced with psychotropic drugs that recreate the entire film experience in your mind, and also keep you regular.
If they can combine this with a drug that gives me a 4 hour erection I am so on board.


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Inspiring testimony of the first retreat, by Craig Harvey:
"My name is Craig Harvey and I feel very honoured and privileged to be able to share my testimony with you of Retha's 1st Spirit School Retreat. May our Beloved God be glorified by these words and may His love touch all those who read this.
I cant paint you a clear picture of many of the things that happened on the Retreat without taking you a little deeper into my life and showing you a few very personal things which is a little scary for me but I'm doing this to honour God so here goes..."
Click here to read more.
Dear Retha and Aldo,
God put it on my heart on the 30th March 2009 to sow a financial seed into Aldo's ministry – He said I had to name the seed: A Resurrection seed. On that day I obeyed God by pledging to sow it. By doing that, God said that I am then standing before Him with a Passover offering (for it was Passover). With that He also gave me a promise: "This Passover season I am going to wake you up all over again."
I am literally seeing that promise coming to life in my life, since being obedient that Monday two weeks ago. He put His Fire in me, He lifted my spirit up and took me up in the Spirit with Him and that is where I am living now since then.
For so long I read what you, Aldo, are saying about Jesus and His Bride. About being holy because God is Holy. He wants us to live holy for Him and before Him. That without holiness and a pure heart, we shall not see the Lord. Then I always wondered exactly what you were saying. What does it really means to "live holy and be holy". I also read about you seeing angels, going up in the Spirit, being with and talking to Jesus, Him showing you things in the Spirit. And then my heart and soul yearned, "I want that! Lord, open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You! I want to know you, and I want to know You mòre and mòre.
I also read, Retha, what you are saying about God Who says, "Come up High, my child, come Higher, for this is where I am. This is where I live, this is WHO I am – this is what I am saying in My Word that you must worship me in Spirit and in Truth." And again my heart and soul yearned to personally know what you are talking about.
In the past God put it on my heart to sow into your (Retha's) ministry, which I did. And now God specifically told me to sow into Aldo's ministry – and just nòw God gave me this revelation:
Since I sowed into Retha's ministry, I started to see a harvest already (the bearing of fruit, He talks about in Matt 13:23) – and it has nòthing to do with finances or money. It is about life and life in abundance that nò money can buy. God started to open up Himself to me, He started to "open the eyes of my heart to see Him" – to know what Rètha knows about Him, to experience God the way Rètha experience Him. And it grows day by day.
Then the moment I obeyed and pledged to sow into Aldo's ministry – God POURED OUT HIS FIRE AND ANNOINTING on me. Even only by pledging it and not even physically sowing it yèt, I started to live and experience the same things Aldo is "living in".
God reveals it to me right now, that thàt is what He means when He says in His Word for us to sow into "good ground that bear fruit" (Matthew 13:23). He says that when you sow into a ministry that is Anointed by HIM, that you will then receive that same Anointing on your life, which is on that ministry.
Dear Retha and Aldo, I cannot thank our God enough for your obedience and perseverance which I know HE gives you, to walk the road of Faith and obedience like you do. For it is because of your faith, obedience and perseverance that someone like mè, can follow in that steps and learn from you and – NOW I KNOW – receive THROUGH you from God.
Stay in Faith– God will honor your faith and obedience, you will experience the Great Resurrection in your live and you will see the Great Harvest you are called to bring in.
Trudie (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
To everybody that reads this testimony:
To experience this is for èvèrybòdy, not just for some people – just be obedient to God when He tells you to do something!
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INSPIRE theme Administrative Units (AU)
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|The data correspond to the INSPIRE Directive for the theme Administrative Units (AU) and ELF Data Specification version 1.0. Data are based primarily on the project RÚIAN (register of territorial identification, addresses and real estates), which is part of the Basic Registers of Czech Republic and contains information about identification, addresses and real estates. Data published in the INSPIRE harmonized dataset on Administrative Units contain only administrative units, their boundaries and statistical units NUTS 1 and NUTS 3, which are on the same level as the country and region in the Czech Republic. Administrative units are country, regions, districts and municipalities. The data set covers the whole area of Czech Republic. Administrative boundaries are routed between common boundary points of three administrative units at the lowest level of division, ie. municipalities. More in the Act no. 111/2009 Coll., on the basic registers, in Decree no. 359/2011 Coll., on the basic register of territorial identification, addresses and real estates in the current versions, in the INSPIRE Data Specification on Administrative Units v 3.0.1 from 2010-04-26 and in ELF Data Specification v1.0. Municipality Strýčice is missing in the data, because it has no Cadastral zoning. Data in the GML 3.2.1 fotrmat are valid against XML Definition Schema for the theme Administrative Units in version 4.0 and spatial data scheme for ELF in version 1.0.
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It's not often I do freebie posts but I was happy to pick up a few free items to add to my inventory. First is this cutesy skin from Essences. If you haven't already, join the subscriber and the skin will be in history. Second, Berries Inc. recently reopened! I've been around SL for over 6 years and have spent many a linden there so I'm happy to see she is back. The opening gift is a great pair of rolled-up mesh jean shorts that I think everyone should have in their wardrobe. Again, just join the subscriber for your free gift. Third up, the gift from BEETLEBONES includes tanks in 7 prints and tees in 10 colors. You don't have to join anything for these, just click the ad above the desk and you get the whole pack. Last but not least, Eaters Coma has had this group gift out and it's free to join. You simply wear the gift hud and click the color or colors from the hud you wish to have. Enjoy your freebies!
Skin: Essences – Noodles Pastel Blonde Brows (Subscriber Gift)
Hair: Eaters Coma – Gift 03 Sandy Blonde (Group Gift Free To Join)
Eyes: tSg – Sleepy Aquamarine
Lashes: BEETLEBONES – Mesh Lashes Clumpy Black
Headband & Ring: Sweet Leonard – Daylight Roses Headband and Ring
Top: BEETLEBONES – Freebie Printed Tank A
Shorts: Berries Inc. – Shorts! (Subscriber Gift)
Hands: Slink
Hand Appliers: Essences
Pose: Mien – Charming 001 (Love Donna Flora)
Location: My Home


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Chinese government regulators had clearer skies and easier breathing in mind in the summer of 2008 when they temporarily shuttered some factories and banished many cars in a pre-Olympic sprint to clean up Beijing's air. And that's what they got.
They were not necessarily planning for something else: an unprecedented experiment using satellites to measure the impact of air pollution controls. Taking advantage of the opportunity, NASA researchers have since analyzed data from NASA's Aura and Terra satellites that show how key pollutants responded to the Olympic restrictions.
According to atmospheric scientist Jacquelyn Witte and colleagues from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., the emission restrictions had an unmistakable impact. During the two months when restrictions were in place, the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)a noxious gas resulting from fossil fuel combustion (primarily in cars, trucks, and power plants)plunged nearly 50 percent. Likewise, levels of carbon monoxide (CO) fell about 20 percent.
Witte presented the results on behalf of the team on Dec. 16 at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.
Some scientists have questioned whether Beijing's highly publicized air quality restrictions actually had an impact. This new data shows clearly that they did. "After the authorities lifted the traffic restrictions, the levels of these pollutants shot right back up," Witte noted.
The steep decline in certain pollutants surprised the researchers. In a preliminary analysis of the data, the effect seemed to be minimal, explained Mark Schoeberl, project scientist for the Aura mission and a contributor to the study. The reductions only became noticeable when the investigators focused tightly on the Beijing area.
"If you take a wide view, you start to pick up long distance transport of pollutants," Schoeberl said. That seemed to be the case with sulfur dioxide (SO2), which has a longer lifetime in the atmosphere. Although satellites detected reductions in levels of SO2a major byproduct of coal-fired power plants and a key ingredient of acid rainthe decline was more widespread due to a larger effort to reduce SO2 emissions across China, explained Kenneth Pickering, another Goddard scientist involved in the research .
Witte and colleagues presume that winds carried SO2 in from the heavily industrialized provinces to the south of Beijing. However, she cautions that it is difficult to capture accurate readings of sulfur dioxide from the satellites due to difficulties detecting the gas low to the ground, where it is most abundant. It's best to consider the SO2 measurements a work in progress, emphasized Pickering.
Ultimately, researchers aim to use satellite data to evaluate and refine local and regional models to predict how pollution levels respond to changes in emissions. Such models are important for understanding the integrated Earth system and aiding policymakers considering ways to reduce pollution.
Until recently, it's been difficult to improve atmospheric composition and chemistry models because scientists have had difficulty correlating "bottom up" estimates of total emissionstallies of likely pollution sources, such as the number of cars on the road or the amount of coal burnedwith "top down" observations from instruments on satellites. According to Pickering, data from the Netherlands-supplied Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on Aura and the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument on Terra help significantly.
Still, it will take a few years for the research teamwhich includes investigators from the University of Iowa and Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois--to perfect and finalize the models.
The team is sharing its findings with colleagues from Tsinghua University in China. "They are very interested in what we're finding," says Pickering, noting that the data from Aura and Terra are unique and will help scientists devise more accurate ways to quantify and evaluate ongoing efforts to reduce emissions.
China is currently in the midst of a sustained effort to reduce sulfur dioxide, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Officials recently decided to reinstitute a less stringent version of the Olympic driving restrictions, requiring most cars to stay off the road at least one day each week, the agency reported in October.
Sorting out what's happening over Beijing is just the beginning, says Greg Carmichael, a professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at the University of Iowa. The procedures demonstrated here, he said, offer the capability to detect emission changes and improve models the world over.
|Contact: Michael Carlowicz
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center