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Meet the 2018 Minnesota High School All-Hockey Hair Team [VIDEO]
With the rise of the powerhouses from the affluent suburbs, some claim Minnesota's reputation as the nation's foremost manufacturer of exquisite hockey hair has been diminished.
Don't believe it.
From supermodel headshakes, to caterpiller mustaches, to fresh new takes on Bed Head, the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament remains the world's premier fashion show on ice.


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Standard Room
Our Standard Room offers tranquility and comfort at the lowest rate. This oversize room features two double beds and a sitting area. The room opens to a wood deck, balcony with outdoor chairs. Throughout the rest of the entire property you can enjoy the most spectacular ocean views in Manuel Antonio.
Amenities & Highlights
- Daily Breakfast
- Air Conditioning
- Free Secured Parking
- Free Beach Shuttle Service
- Free WiFi Internet
- Pool & Beach Towels
- Concierge Service
- Laundry Service w/ Add'l Fee
- Room Service
- Money Exchange
- Tours Desk
- Wakeup Call Service
- Bellboy Service
- Luggage Storage Service
- 24-Hour Security
- Electronic Safe
- Cable TV, Flat Screen
- IDD & NDD Phone Facility
- Hair Dryer
- Hot Water Shower
- 110 Voltage Outlets
- Bath Kit
- Iron w/ Board
A Tropical Paradise!
This oversized room features two double beds and a sitting area. The room opens to a wood deck, balcony with outdoor chairs. Spend more time enjoying the pure bliss and less time running around. Slow down. Unwind. Relax. Take a nap. Have a drink. Talk. Listen to music. Take pictures. Make your friends jealous, and then bring them back with you next time 😉
"We spent five nights here with our 11 and 13 yr olds during spring break. Nothing but good to say. Our balcony view was unbelievable. The staff was extremely attentive from helping us set up excursions, to the wait staff in the restaurant to the people who cleaned our rooms. The rooms and hotel were quiet. The pool area had a great few. It wasn't large yet big enough for our kids to play. The morning breakfasts were a great way to start the day. I would absolutely stay here again. "
Linnea from Minneapolis, MN
"Excellente! The views! 🙌 A group of girl friends stayed here for a long weekend. We were very excited for the hotel based on the reviews and pictures … but when we arrived it managed to exceed our already high expectations!! The staff is super friendly and fun and the hotel grounds were beautiful and clean. The views, especially at sunset, were amazing!! They offer a few free shuttles per day to Manuel Antonio beach and the hotel also helped plan our zip lining tour … which I also recommend. I don't have one bad thing to say about this hotel. Look no further…"
Stephanie L.


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We Say So Long To The Ford Ranger!
Who was that masked man?
Twenty eight years is a long run, and Ford's Ranger marks that anniversary this year as it bows out of the North American truck market. Almost from Day 1 through the late '90s, it was the best-selling compact pickup in the U.S., and there is still very strong owner appreciation. Now it's time for the Ranger to give us a final wave of the Stetson, so return with us now to the thrilling days of yesteryear and we'll look back at its history and some of the things that made it a best-seller.
1983-1988: The First Generation
Ranger development began in 1976 as Ford's answer to a massive, gas-crunch-inspired influx of import minitrucks. Prototype Rangers were released for media review in late 1981, with 4x2s going on sale in March '82 as '83 models. The first 4x4 Rangers didn't arrive until late 1982.
Initially, the only available powerplant for 4x4s was the 89hp, 2.3L OHC Four, proven in a bevy of Ford cars of the era, as well as the Courier. Two-bys came with a base 2.0L OHC Four, an optional Mazda 2.2L (non-turbo) diesel, or the 2.3L Four. Four Wheeler Editor Bill Sanders tested an early 4x4 Ranger in the Dec. '82 issue and said, "All in all, the Ranger 4x4 is a versatile and rugged truck and fits a definite niche in the new midsized pickup class."
The much-anticipated 2.8L 115hp V-6 two-barrel was delayed until March of 1983. Built in Cologne, Germany, it provided the top-dog engine option for Ranger. Four Wheeler's Spencer Murray put one thru its paces for the Aug. '83 issue, and said the new V6 performance was "scintillating."
In the four-wheel drive department, first-gen Rangers used a scaled-down version of the Twin Traction Beam (TTB), semi-independent suspension that had debuted on the F-Series in 1980. It mounted a Dana 28 diff with a reverse-cut, 6.625-inch ring gear. In back was Ford's 7.5-inch Sterling with 28-spline shafts. Gearing was either 3.45:1 or 3.73:1 and a rear limited-slip was optional. The transfer case was a Borg-Warner 1350, and you had a choice of Toyo-Kogyo (Mazda) four- or five-speed manuals. When the V-6 debuted, a C-5 three-speed automatic was an option for that engine only.
The Gen-1 Ranger came in two wheelbases: 107.9 and 113.9 inches, with either 6- or 7-foot beds. Trim levels started off with a base model, the XL, XLT and finally the XLS. Options increasingly abounded as the Ranger evolved at a steady pace. For 1985, a five-speed manual (either the new Mazda M50D-R1 or a Mitsubishi FM145) became the standard transmission, and a new four-speed A4LD automatic overdrive debuted and was optional with all engines.
For 1986, a new 125-inch-wheelbase SuperCab model made a hit with Four Wheeler's Bruce W. Smith in the April issue, but it was hard to tell which he liked most, the SuperCab or the new 140 hp fuel-injected 2.9L Cologne V-6. A 2.3L Mitsubishi turbodiesel also debuted that year with a lot less fanfare and stayed through 1987. An optional, electrically shifted version of the BW-1350 transfer case appeared for 1987.
For the Western states, a new STX model debuted in 1985 and featured "big" 215/75R15 tires (versus the standard 205/75R15s). For 1986, the STX took the place of the XLS and went nationwide. In 1987, the "High Rider" STX appeared with a factory 1.5-inch lift and even bigger 235/75R15 (!) tires. The first-gen Ranger finished up in 1988 with sales that had steadily increased to 326,112 units.
1989-1992: The Second Generation
After the F-Series facelift of 1987, Ranger went under the knife and came out looking fresh for 1989, though the changes were little more than skin-deep initially. The front end was more aerodynamic, with flush headlights and an integrated bumper. The interior was heavily revised, improved and modernized. The standard four-cylinder engine picked up 14 horsepower, and a rear ABS system was offered. A 21-gallon fuel tank became optional.
Things got interesting for 1990. The STX and XLT models were the first Rangers to get the new 4.0L OHV V-6, a Cologne variant with 160 horsepower and 225 lb-ft. of torque. A new Dana 35 TTB front axle came with the 4.0L, plus a 28-spline version of the 8.8 rear axle and the new B-W 1354 transfer case. The 1992 model year was largely the same as the previous year, except the 2.9L replaced the 2.3L as the base engine for 4x4s.
1993-1997: The Third Generation
The 1993 model year brought significant upgrades. A more rounded body gave it a sleek look that was well received, if the 311,406 sales in 1993 are any indication, and winning our coveted Pickup Truck of the Year award didn't hurt.
Mechanically, the truck was similar to the last Gen-2 trucks, but a 145hp 3.0L Vulcan V-6 became the base 4x4 engine, and the 4.0L Cologne ruled as optional top-dog. The suspension was given a great deal of attention to improve ride and handling, the track widening by three inches.
By the Gen-3 outset, model options had coalesced to XL, XLT, Sport and STX, with a few regional specials tossed in. In mid-1993, the Splash Flareside was added to the 4x4 lineup, becoming available in a SuperCab the next year. Also in 1994, Mazda, a longtime Ford partner, ditched its own truck line in North America for rebadged Rangers. Called the B-Series, they were offered in largely the same configurations as Ford, though not with a Flareside bed. They came in two 4x4 versions, B3000 and B4000 (the "thousand" representing the engine size). The Mazda lineup was generally more condensed than Ford, but they offered a variation on the theme versus Ranger.
The Gen-3 trucks received only a few upgrades of note. For 1995, the interior was revised and four-wheel antilock brakes became standard. For 1996, the XL Sport model was discontinued and a passenger side airbag, with deactivation capability, was added. A 4.10:1 axle ratio was included with trucks having the 235/75R15 tire package, most notably the STX models. Some big news came in 1997 when the 5R55E five-speed automatic was added to the options list. This was the first five-speed auto offered in an American light truck.
1998-2011: The Fourth Generation
The 1998 Gen-4 Ranger was a big departure in the mechanical department. It had a similar look to the Gen-3 trucks but more wheelwell room for rubber: Up to 31x10.50s with no lift. The mechanical differences started with the SLA (short-long-arm) torsion-bar front suspension with an aluminum Dana 35 high-pinion diff and rack and pinion steering, supported by a much stouter, partially boxed chassis. The new IFS made the truck infinitely nicer on the highway. The wheelbases stretched to 111.6 inches for the regular-cab shortbeds, 117.6 for the regular-cab longbed, and 125.9 for the SuperCab. Along the way, an XLT 4x4 Off Road Group package appeared with P245/75R16 tires, skidplates, 4.10:1 cogs and the usual "Off-Roady" visuals.
The 3.0L Vulcan V6, still the standard engine for 4x4s, was given flex-fuel capability in 1999 and uprated to 150 horsepower. The Splash model went away for 1999, with only XL and XLT models available, each with a Sport Appearance Package and the XLT 4x4 Off-Road Group.
For 2001, the big news was that the 4.0L V-6 had changed from the pushrod unit to a 207hp SOHC barn-burner that had debuted in the Explorer for 1997. The five-speed automatic (5R44E) became available for the 3.0L trucks. The Edge model appeared as a low-production special that replaced the Splash in the lineup, available with optional Flareside or Styleside beds.
In 2002, the first FX4 version appeared, and that was a notable move into the "trail-ready" realm. Offered only on 4.0L SuperCabs, it had a heavy-duty suspension with Bilstein shocks, 31-spline rear axle with a Torsen limited-slip, 31x10.50 BFG A/Ts on 15-inch forged Alcoas, and a upgraded interior. In a May 2002 Four Wheeler road test, Craig Perronne called the FX4 package "pretty effective."
In 2003, Ford split the FX4 package into Off Road and Level II versions. The FX4 Level II had the '02 gear, but the Off Road package was tamed down with cast wheels and smaller P245/75R16 tires. It had 4.10:1 cogs, but the standard suspension and 28-spline rear axle with the regular Ford Trac-Lok limited-slip. The Level II was good enough to take second place in our Pickup Truck of the Year competition for 2003. The FX4 Off Road was available into 2009, but the Level II was stopped after 2007, though many Level II goodies could be ordered a la carte.
The last decade is when the term "long in the tooth" began appearing frequently in written reviews of the Ranger. Though it had been the compact truck sales leader for decades, sales were off and Toyota had taken the lead. The Ranger "Death Watch" began as far back as 2006, when several plant closures were announced, including the St. Paul, Minnesota, plant where Rangers were produced. There were several subsequent reprieves, but with the compact truck market down generally, would a major push to re-dominate the compact truck market fit in with Ford's future plans?
The Ranger lurched on with few changes, but the big auto industry crash of 2008-09 finally forced a firm choice. For 2009, the Ranger product line was "simplified." The 3.0L Vulcan was gone, and the 4.0L became the only engine for 4x4s. The Mazda B-Series, which had followed Ranger's evolutions, bowed out that year. The lineup simplified again for 2010, with only XL, XLT, and Sport models offered. Ford's Advance-Trac RSC system (Roll Stability Control) and side airbags were added for safety, but there was little else to boast about in 2010 and 2011. Ranger production will have stopped by the time you read this, with more than a few lamenting its passing.
Best Ranger Builders and Tips
Gen-1 Rangers are popular for their broad-shouldered look. All the goodies from Gen 2 and 3, plus the Explorer line thru 1995 (and later), can be swapped in. The Dana 35 TTB from vast numbers of '91-95 Explorers in wrecking yards, plus their 31-spline 8.8 rear axle with disc brakes, are popular bolt-ins. The pushrod 4.0L and later transmissions are also popular swaps, as are 5.0L (Explorer) V-8s. The main limitations with Gen 1 trucks are the wheelwells and fitting larger tires without nose-bleed lifts—but those problems are Sawzall-solvable.
The short-lived Gen-2 trucks are the least popular Rangers in the looks department, but the last years had many Gen-3 upgrades in them and are good choices for that reason. They share the same wheelwell size limitations as the Gen-1 rigs.
The Ranger four-wheeling crowd generally regards the Gen-3 Rangers as the best of the breed in many ways. They require many fewer upgrades to be effective, having 8.8 rearends and the better D35 front axle, not to mention the pushrod 4.0L, better automatic and manual transmissions and, above all, lots of wheelwell room. The TTB front axle is regarded as more lift-friendly and beefable than the IFS in the Gen-4 trucks. V-8 swaps are more complex than for Gen 1 or 2 trucks but not out of bounds for a good shadetree wrencher.
In general terms, figuring Gen 3 drivetrain components, a 33-inch tire is a good target for an easy build. Fitting 35s is very do-able, but puts the drivetrain more on the edge of strength. Solid-axle-swapped Dana 44s are commonly seen. The Gen-1 and early Gen-2 Dana 28s are pretty weak and suitable for nothing more than a 31 if you plan to work it. The 7.5 Ford rear axle ('89 and earlier) can handle 33s.
Unfortunately, not all drivetrains in the Gen-3 era were good. Some 3.0L-powered rigs feature a hybrid D35 frontend with D28 internals. It's mostly found on regular-cab trucks. You can tell them by the smooth housing (fewer ribs), and if you pull the oil filler plug and see the main cap, it's a hybrid. They can be found all the way to 1997, but not every 3.0L is so equipped.
With the exception of the IFS front, the Gen-4 trucks provide a great basis for buildups. The FX4 Level IIs are especially good choices. The IFS front is strictly limited to a 33-inch tire if you plan to wheel it, but it only takes a 3-inch lift to fit them. There isn't much in the way of stuff to beef the IFS axle, either, unless you want to fab in a Jeep TJ Dana 44 swap.
2012 and Beyond: The World Ranger
Does the Ranger ride off into the sunset and be relegated to history? Nope. The Ranger rides east into the sunrise to tame a new frontier. Ford Australia took the lead in designing a new Ranger to be sold there, as well as in Asia, Europe and other parts of the world. An extremely attractive rig, it's bigger than the current Ranger and about 90 percent the size of the F-150. This Ranger has the attributes to be a contender globally, so the name lives on at least. Production is at Ford's Thailand facility.


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PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. — Jennifer Jones and Mark Nichols booked a berth in the Page Playoff 3-4 game at the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials Saturday morning with an 8-7 extra-end victory over Chelsea Carey and Colin Hodgson.
The Carey/Hodgson duo had hammer in the extra end and needed to hit the four-foot ring with their final stone. However, Carey's throw was a little heavy and Jones/Nichols stole a single for the win.
Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant defeated Jill Officer and Reid Carruthers 8-5 in the other morning elimination game at Stride Place.
Jones/Nichols will meet Peterman/Gallant in the Page 3-4 game on Saturday afternoon with the winner to advance to the evening semifinal.
Later in the day, Kaitlyn Lawes and John Morris were scheduled to play Brad Gushue and Val Sweeting in the Page 1-2 game. The 1-2 winner will advance to Sunday's championship game while the loser will play the 3-4 winner in the semifinal.
The semifinal winner will advance to the final.
The winning team will represent Canada at the Winter Olympics next month in Pyeongchang, South Korea.


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Droid to the Rescue was a children's storybook published by Scholastic in March 2000 as part of the Star Wars Junior book series.
Publisher's description[edit | edit source]
R2-D2 is a helper droid who works on Queen Amidala's Royal Starship. When the Queen is suddenly in danger, R2 must save the day!
R2-D2 must repair the Queen's ship and help his new friend Anakin fight the enemy. Can a little droid do such a big job?
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Defense Cuts Could Be Inevitable: An Exclusive Interview With Rep. Randy Forbes
"I am fully expecting to see sequestration in some form beginning in January," Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) told AOL Defense in an exclusive interview. And those automatic cuts -- or even the more targeted cuts likely in any deal to avoid a sequester -- would undermine the nation's new Pacific-focused strategy and the military's AirSea Battle concept to win future ocean wars, said Forbes, who chairs the readiness panel of the House Armed Services Committee.
"Now hope springs eternal, Sydney, so obviously I hope something will be reached," Forbes went on. "There's just no indicators [anywhere] that I've seen that would indicate that such a deal is percolating right now."
Many Democrats believe they can get a better deal in 2013 -- something Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said publicly way back in July -- and they argue that the world won't end if sequestration takes effect on Jan. 2. They may have a point, up to a point.


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The picture = prompt this time:
Title: Just a rainy afternoon
Fandom: The Faculty
Character: Zeke / Casey
Rating: R
Word Count: 1438Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own The Faculty nor the character :( - I'm just borrowing them for a while)
"C'mon. Take this off!"
Zeke tugged at Casey shirt, brown checkered, too wide and geeky as ever, but it stuck to his body because it was wet through and through from the cold rain. The boy glared at him with flickering eyes.
"Hey, stop it! I'm not in the mood for your shit!"
Zeke huffed inwardly; as if he hadn't noticed that. He looked at the bruise on his forehead, which got bigger with every minute; at least it had stopped bleeding. The tattered jeans. The crashed bike which was still lying in the trunk of the GTO. No need to ask what had happened. It was always the same.
Gabe and the other jocks from the football team had already chosen Casey as their favorite victim when he entered Herrington High for the first time. And Zeke had known that there was no chance for him to escape. He was too skinny, the clothes he wore not up to date and the camera around his neck outright cried: I am a geek!
For sure not his business. Zeke had learned early that everyone needed to stand up for oneself; you only got into trouble when you stuck your nose into other people's life. But it got more and more difficult to stick to this strategy when it came to Casey.
Since that afternoon some weeks ago when Zeke had fucked him. It wasn't planned. He didn't like complications. At school, he flirted with almost every girl, because everyone considered him to be a heartbreaker. When he wanted sex he went to Akron or Columbus; he knew clubs, where no one would ask about his age and the guys around were only looking for a fleeting adventure, just like he did. A coming out in Herrington would amount suicide.
Nevertheless, it had happened. He had always suspected that the rumors were true and Casey might be gay, but when he was standing in his garage one day and asked him for gay porn, it hit him like a bolt out of the blue. These defiant sparkles in his blue eyes, the slightly blushed cheeks, the barely noticeable trembling of his hand when he pulled the money out of his backpack to threw it on the lab table. The world had stopped turning around … and Zeke had stopped thinking clearly. He had bent forward and kissed him.
The boy had been inexperienced, yes, but so eager to learn, not shy in the slightest he had given him a blowjob that made Zeke gasped for air for minutes and when he finally prepared him for more gently, it had been Casey who had told him to stop teasing and fuck him, deep and hard.
They had spent about three hours together until the rage of desire finally was used up. Again, it was Casey who did break the uncomfortable silence between them when he asked if he could have a shower before leaving. Only fifteen minutes later he was gone.
Next day at school Casey acted as if nothing had happened between them. The relief Zeke felt at first turned into an irritated mood soon. Why couldn't he stop thinking about it to be together with him again? Though Casey obviously was not interested. Was it possible that this afternoon had meant nothing more for him than a good chance finally to loose his virginity? And why the hell did this bother him that much?
A loud sneezing finally tore Zeke out of his thoughts.
"Don't be stupid," he said and started to unbutton Casey's shirt.
"You are shaking like a leave. Put this off, or you will end in bed with pneumonia."
"Who cares," murmured Casey weakly, put his head back and closed his eyes.
Suddenly he looked so exhausted that all Zeke wanted was to pull him into his arms and keep him safe forever. The boy had always seemed so strong; he stubbornly did go his way, despite all the bullying at school, despite unheeding teachers and parents. But probably it had been only a matter of time that all the stress finally did break him. Zeke swallowed hard to shook off these thoughts.
"You do," he answered softly.
"You don't want to miss the important test in chemistry next week. Not when you still plan to go to Cal Tech next year. It's a good plan, you know, to leave everything behind and make a new start."
Carefully he pulled the shirt of Casey's shoulders, noticed him wincing when his fingers touched the deep-red swelling on his forearm and his concern turned into anger. If Gabe would be here right now, this fucker would have to pay for everything. When he reached for the zipper of Casey's jeans, the boy straightened up again and pushed him away.
"Geez", he hissed.
"I can do this alone."
Some time later, in the bathroom of one the guestrooms in the first floor. The room was only small; plain white, with some ornaments on the walls. A fluffy rug on the floor, a wooden shelf with towels, a small mirror. On the windowsill some bottles with bath soak and bowls with soap. Zeke would always prefer his own bathroom, but instead of a practical shower here was a bathtub installed.
Casey finally had dropped down onto the chair near the door, still wearing his boxer shorts, much too exhausted to protest for longer. Though the heater was turned to maximum level he was still shaking.
Zeke busied himself with filling the bathtub and tried to calm down. Freaking out with anger was not an option at the moment. Hot, steaming water; he had added some mandarin-bath-oil. The dump air was mixed with the fresh, exotic smell now. Quickly he checked the temperature of the water, hot, but tolerable, it was necessary to warm Casey up. The boy had pulled up his knees, his arms clasped around them; his face pale beside of the dark red bruise on his forehead.
Gently Zeke grabbed his arm.
"Strip your boxers off and get in there."
When Casey just looked at him, he lifted him up … oh man, he was so lightweight … and carried him to the bathtub. When Casey's maltreated body met the hot water he yelped slightly.
Zeke bit his upper lip.
"Sorry," he murmured.
With a grimace of pain, Casey shook off his hands.
"Don't treat me like a baby. Just leave me alone."
A clear statement; Zeke nodded slowly.
"Okay. I will put your clothes into the tumble dryer in the meantime. Call me, when you need something."
He had already reached the door when Casey's voice hold him back.
"I don't get it!"
"Why the hell do you care? You don't need to feel sorry for me, just because you have fucked me once!"
Zeke inwardly cringed. That wasn't fair, was it? It wasn't him who had ignored Casey deliberately. But deep inside he knew that maybe it was exactly that; he had been so self-absorbed all the time that he hadn't even thought about it step in for Casey when the others bullied and teased him.
Suddenly feeling as guilty as he had felt only rarely before he slowly shook his head.
"I don't expect you to believe me, Case," he murmured.
"But I'm sorry. I'm afraid, I'm a pretty selfish prick."
Casey kept quiet for a long while. Finally a hint of a smile sneaked on his lips; the first time today that Zeke saw him relaxing at least a bit.
"It's okay, I guess," he whispered.
"Wanna come in?"
Zeke needed a moment to realize what Casey was talking about. The last he had expected, the offer to share the bathtub with him. This was not the best idea, was it? Mindless sex was the last Casey needed in the moment.
Still hesitating he took his clothes off, all the time aware of Casey's eyes, resting on him. Somehow strange how much courage was needed to finally step closer, take place in the tub behind the boy. The water was still comfortably and pleasantly warm, Casey's body so skinny and tensed. Inwardly cringing Zeke stared at the blue-red, swollen arm and he promised himself that this would never happen again. From now on no one would dare it to hurt Casey, in which way ever.
Without a word he pulled him closer, until Casey's head was resting against his chest. Gently he put his hands on his shoulders and started to massage them. He would give him all the comfort he needed; everything else could wait for later.


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Aup mate I have a polo mk2 breadvan there are cool little cars and how much you dropped your mate
This is my Coupe. I've spent what seems like ages tinkering in my spare time to do her up with help from brother's business. [http://www.sjmautos.co.uk/#][SJM Autos] What do you think?
I am now the proud owner of a lovingly restored Mk2 Polo Coupe which I love thanks to help from SJM Autos. Please visit www.SJMAutos.co.uk or see the Facebook page SJM Autos
Aup mate I have a polo mk2 breadvan there are cool little cars and how much you dropped your mate
I loved my wife's CL Coupe, it was a lovely little thing in black. We decided in 2000 to get her a new Beetle but being me I wanted the 1.8T which was coming later. I decided to put down a deposit and wait and in the mean time I spent three months rebuilding the little Polo to make it look perfect. I fitted a late dash, converted the carb to auto choke to suit, Mk1 GTI 9 spoke wheels, paint, 40-mm drop, vented discs, exhaust, stereo, sound deadening, welded up the battery tray, made it look stunning. Gave it her back on a Saturday afternoon and was WELL pleased with the thank you I received! She took it to work Monday morning and on Monday evening someone T boned her on a mini roundabout as he did not see it, he hit the car so violently the glass sunroof collapsed into her head and filled her scalp with broken glass and the passenger seat came over so hard it smashed her against the drivers door, total write off! I could not bear to see the car and asked my business partner and local VW breaker to deal with it for me.
If you care about the future of the planet, read this and watch the video
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
Evelyn Beatrice Hall (28 September 1868 13 April 1956)
Wow, I like! My first car was a exactly the same!
The car was in the year 1989.
2006 Polo 1.2, Petrol


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Secret, Underground Library
Group blog boingboing recently featured a story about a decidedly atypical high-school rebel. A teenager in a private school is using the unoccupied locker next to her own to run a lending library of banned books. The list includes: The Canterbury Tales, Candide, The Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Animal Farm, the Holy Qu'ran, and more. The library's popularity grew—as did her peers' interest in reading—through word of mouth and the library now contains 62 banned books. The story surfaced when the girl posted a question about the ethics of her underground library on Yahoo! Answers. She asked:
Before I started, almost no kid at school but myself took an active interest in reading! Now not only are all the kids reading the banned books, but go out of their way to read anything they can get their hands on. So I'm doing a good thing, right?
Not only is she lending out books, she's guided by a sense of appropriateness and quality.
I limit my 'library' to only the sophmores [sic], juniors and seniors just in case so you can't say I'm exposing young people to materiel [sic] they're not mature enough for … I am starting [an] appreciation of the classics and truly good novels (Not just fad novels like Twilight) in my generation.


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8419 students to benefit from Lagos N635.5m bursary, scholarship
The Lagos State Government, yesterday, said 8419 tertiary students would benefit from the N635.576million set for disbursement on December 27 for payment of bursaries and scholarships.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the commencement of the disbursement followed the approval by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and a testimony to the premium placed on education by the present administration in the state.
He said notwithstanding the economic constraints, the Ambode administration continues to prioritise education across all levels, with investment in school infrastructure and furniture, as well as human infrastructure projects.
While urging the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds for the purpose intended, Bank-Olemoh assured that the government, on its part, would continue to come up with policies and programmes to develop and transform the education sector.
"Students across the state, particularly beneficiaries of the bursaries and scholarships, are urged to steward well the resources of the state, as good citizens, and to make the most of the educational opportunities that have been given to them," Bank-Olemoh said.
Last year, over 689 bursary beneficiaries of 2011/2012 set were paid, along with 60 students from the School of the Blind and 54 others on sport scholarship, while later in the year, the governor approved the payment of N380million bursary and local scholarship to the indigenes in tertiary institutions across the country.
In 2015, the state government also paid N660million to over 8,567 indigent beneficiaries for bursary, local and foreign scholarships.
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text: Lux is a new, major collection of sacred choral compositions by John Galea, featuring a host of previously unrecorded works in glittering performance by the Chorus Urbanus and the Sofia Collegium String Ensemble. Conducted by the composer himself, this beautifully-packaged release, exploring a wide gamut of emotions – exalted, devotional, jubilant, mystical – represents a cross-section of choral sacred music composed over a period of twenty-five years, that promises to delight all audiences.(more…)


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Wednesday | September 30 | 11 AM - 5 PM MUSIC THEATRE / Konvikt - Art Centre of the Palacky University in Olomouc
In the Wednesday September 30, 2015 is held under the auspices of the Central European Art Database a thematic workshop devoted to editing of data cultural-historical and art-historical nature, their digitization, archiving and web presentation. The program consists of a series of lectures by invited experts (eg. from the National Film Archive (CZ), the Slovak National Gallery, and the East Slovak Gallery etc.) and public debate. It will be followed by presentation of the works of one of the artists represented in the CEAD - Czech sculptor and glass artist Václav Cigler (1929), prepared in cooperation with the University of Palacký in Olomouc. The lecture will be held at 7 pm in the Chapel of Corpus Christi in the Art centre of Palacký University. For more information follow www.cead.space or the museums website.


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Alan Bilton – Biography
Alan Bilton was born in York in 1969. In keeping with the two main sources of employment back then, his family either worked on the railways or in chocolate. Unlike his more practical and mechanically-minded brothers, he became neither a surveyor nor a train-spotter. Rather, he received his undergraduate degree in Literature and Film from Stirling University in 1991, and his PhD (for a study of Don DeLillo, an author with whom he has absolutely nothing in common in any way) from Manchester University in 1995. He then taught American Studies at Liverpool and Manchester, before taking up a post teaching literature, film and creative writing at Swansea University in 1996.
He is the author of two novels, The Known and Unknown Sea (2014), variously compared to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the 1902 movie, A Trip to the Moon, and Dante's Inferno, and The Sleepwalkers' Ball (Alcemi, 2009) which one critic described as "Franz Kafka meets Mary Poppins". As a writer, he is obviously a hard man to pin down. He is also the author of books on Silent Film Comedy (Silent Film Comedy and American Culture, Macmillan, 2013) Contemporary Fiction, (An Introduction to Contemporary American Fiction, Edinburgh University Press, 2002) and co-editor of America in the 1920s (Helm, 2004). His essays, reviews and fiction have appeared in the New Welsh Review, Planet, The Lonely Crowd, The Journal of American Studies, The F. Scott Fitzgerald Review and elsewhere, as well as the anthologies, Sing Sorrow Sorrow (Seren, 2010) and A Flock of Shadows (Parthian, 2013). He is married with one small child and one hairy dog.


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Timeless and breathtaking, Perugia is perhaps Italy's quintessential city. It is a cosmopolitan hub of art and culture nestled amongst the verdant rolling hillsides of Umbria, its beauty undeniable from the moment you arrive. Fly to Perugia aboard Alitalia's luxurious aircraft and discover the 'green heart of Italy' for yourself.
An ancient city of art and learning, Perugia is itself as much a work of art as the striking structures found within. Perhaps the most notable of these is the stately Palazzo dei Priori, which is home to one of Italy's greatest art collections at the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria. Some of the most masterful frescoes of the Renaissance age can be found in Perugia's Collegio del Cambrio. Despite the city's age, it is marked by a youthful vitality thanks to the influx of international students traveling to Perugia to attend the University of Perugia, and the University for Foreigners.
To sample works of art of a different sort, take a guided tour of Perugia's chocolate factory, offering behind-the-scenes looks and as many samples as you can eat. Better yet, book your tickets to Perugia for October to enjoy the world-famous Eurochocolate Festival, a city-wide celebration of sweet cocoa confections.


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Book Review: The Night Brother by Rosie Garland*12:00 pm
* Thank you to the Borough Press for the eARC of The Night Brother for review! *
Time for a quick review!
The Night Brother is a magical tale of identity, sexuality, and choosing your own family, centering around Edie, a young girl on the cusp of womanhood in the early twentieth century. As she grows, she interacts with her mysterious sibling Gnome, a mischevious and somewhat troubled young boy, who increasingly becomes more of a difficult presence in her life. Edie is allowed to live in the daytime with her gruff mother and caring grandmother, whilst Gnome lives for the nighttime, emerging to cause trouble and pretend to be a responsible young man. As Edie grows into a woman, she banishes the influence of Gnome from her life, with unpredictable circumstances. Can you ever get rid of such a crucial part of your life that easily? The Night Brother asks that very question, and more.
To me, this book is pure Angela Carter (whose The Bloody Chamber and The Passion of New Eve you must read if you haven't already) with a smattering of Margaret Atwood, dealing with themes of sexuality and your growing identity. It's very dark in places, and playfully light in others, but in general deals with rather heavy themes. We watch Edie struggle with her growth and come to terms with who she and her family are. For me there were long periods where my interest in the story ebbed hugely, to be picked up again by some revelation, twist in the plot, or introduction of a new character dynamic. This is a book you need to be patient with, as I feel it doesn't really pick up much of a pace until the halfway point, but perhaps the beauty is in its slow burn.
A special mention for the gorgeous artwork, designed by Romanian illustrator Aitch, who won a competition to design the cover to this magical read. You can find out more about it here.
The Night Brother was published by Borough Press on June 1st, and is available to buy in hardcover for £10.99.


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Château d'Aqueriaplay
Vibrant Tavel Rosé
Since the end of the 16th century, Château d'Aqueria has used exceptional quality fruit from noble terroir to craft a quintessential Tavel, widely appreciated as the finest wine of its appellation.
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Château d'Aqueria's Vineyards
Tavel's long growing season and intense, sunny summers yield fruit of extraordinary ripeness, concentration and richness in sugar.
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Meet Vincent de Bez, Winemaker
For Vincent de Bez, there is nothing more exciting than "making the connections to understand and 'feel' the year, evaluate its weaknesses and strengths" to make the best wine.
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Our Portfolio:
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Château d'Aqueria
Tavel Rosé
93 PointsWine Enthusiast 2019 vintage
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Château d'Aqueria
Lirac Rouge
92 PointsWine Advocate 2016 vintage


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"In my interview with Paul (late-teens, university student), he described Ecstasy as a 'futuristic drug' because it provides, in an easily consumable form, effects that are often desired in social situations—energy, openness, and calmness. He felt that his generation had grown up taking pills as the quick-fix answer to physical sickness and that this pattern may now be extending to other areas of life, in this case, sociality and pleasure."
The above quote is from Anna Olsen's paper Consuming e: Ecstasy use and contemporary social life published in 2009. Based in Canberra, Australia, her paper relays personal experiences from two people who have used the drug ecstasy. In talking with the participants about their experiences and listening to their personal values, ecstasy was described as giving value to social relations. The drug often connotes "ideologies about vitality, leisure, and the importance of being social and energetic without impinging on one's other social responsibilities."
Not only has ecstasy gained more attention and use in the millennial generation, but many recreational drugs that are deemed "illicit" are becoming more common in modern societies. Marijuana is usually the first drug that comes to mind when thinking of illicit drugs that are mainly used in youth drug culture, and public policy has started to respond to this trend. In the United States, the list of states that have legalized marijuana includes Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Additional states have also begun considering legalization, or have started the decriminalization process. Similarly, Canada plans on introducing marijuana legislation in the spring of 2017 – one of the promises Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wanted to fulfill.
This article intends to outline the current state of marijuana and ecstasy in contemporary society and youth culture, as this is the generation that will be determining the path of the future. Recreational drugs in general will be considered, but the focus will be on the two substances mentioned above, ecstasy and marijuana. The current social and political state will serve as background to determine the potential future path marijuana, ecstasy, and other recreational drugs will take.
Recreational drugs in society and youth culture
Why the increased use?
There have been numerous attempts to prevent the use of recreational drugs like marijuana because, simply put, "drugs are bad." Multiple attempts have been made around the world in hopes of decreasing drug use among the youth, for example commercials on TV and online ads demonstrating the slippery slope of drugs. But clearly, it hasn't done much. As Misty Millhorn and her colleagues note in their paper North Americans' Attitudes Towards Illegal Drugs: "Although schools have provided drug education programs, such as D.A.R.E., the number of adolescents who abuse drugs has not dramatically decreased."
Researchers have begun looking at statistics from surveys and work done by other researchers in hopes of finding the answer to a specific question: why do youth and young adults continue to use drugs despite the warnings given to them at an earlier age?
Howard Parker from the University of Manchester has done incredible work in an attempt to tease out the reasons for increased drug use among the youth. He is one of the leading proponents of the "normalization thesis": that youth and young adults have slowly made drug use a "normal" part of their lives due to changes in culture and society. Cameron Duff fleshes out the idea some more, for instance, the "normalization thesis" can be viewed as "'a multi-dimensional tool, a barometer of changes in social behaviour and cultural perspectives'. The normalization thesis is, in this sense, as much concerned with cultural change – with the ways in which drug use is constructed, perceived and sometimes tolerated as an embedded social practice – as with the study of how many young people consume illicit substances, how often and in what circumstances."
Making time for leisure in a busy world
The concept of the "normalization thesis" is the foundation for which many researchers perform their studies. Instead of relying on statistics, researchers are instead looking for a qualitative view in order to grasp the "true" reasons for why drug use in younger generations has become so prevalent. It's common for individuals to assume that recreational drug users are delinquents and do not contribute to society, but Anna Olsen's work has proved otherwise: "Among individuals I interviewed, Ecstasy use was moderated, and this was closely related to moralistic norms about illicit drugs and leisure time. Participants' accounts of when and where they used Ecstasy included moral narratives about when and where it was appropriate to take the drug. They presented Ecstasy as a pleasurable or fun tool used by people in their leisure time, but that is not suitable for consumption outside of venues and times employed for entertainment and socializing." Though her work was based in Australia, it's common to similarly hear this sentiment from Canadians and Americans.
Cameron Duff conducted a survey that was also based in Australia, consisting of 379 "bar and nightclub" patrons by using an "intercept method" of choosing random and willing participants inside the bars and nightclubs in order to get a true cross-section of people rather than one particular group. The survey found that 77.2% of the participants know people who take "party drugs," the term used in the paper to refer to recreational drugs. Moreover, 56% of participants confirmed that they had used a party drug at least once in their life.
Duff also makes a note of how well-grounded individuals seem to fit the mold of this new young generation of recreational drug users. He mentions that "around 65% of this sample are employed, the vast majority in a full-time capacity, whilst a further 25% reported a mix of employment, formal education, and/or training." He emphasizes that individuals who use recreational drugs can't simply be assumed to be deviants or unproductive members of society; nor has it rendered these recreational drug users anti-social or socially isolated. Instead, "these young people are integrated into a broad range of mainstream social and economic networks, and appear to have adapted their drug use behaviours to 'fit in' with these networks." This appears to be consistent with Olsen's work with respect to the idea that it's not just "bad" people getting involved with recreational drugs, but youth and young adults that have goals and aspirations, and who go on to succeed in their personal and professional lives. Thus, the need for pleasure and leisure in this day and age can be found through the use of recreational drugs, so long as they are used responsibly and recreationally.
How the others feel
General attitudes towards recreational drugs seem to differ depending on where you go. The legalization of marijuana, in particular, seems to remain controversial in the United States while Canada has a much more liberal view on the matter. Millhorn and her colleagues note in their discussion that, "This research found that the majority of Americans believe that marijuana should remain illegal, but that there has been a slow increase in the belief that marijuana should be legalized." While the use of marijuana often tends to carry a stigma in certain American and Canadian societies, "It was not until 1977 that Americans started to support the legalization of marijuana. Their support increased slightly from 28% in 1977 to 34% in 2003," and a slightly greater increase of support in Canada, "from 23% in 1977 to 37% in 2002."
A future with legalized recreational drugs
What would our society look like with official policy lining up with pro-legalization views? There are, of course, benefits to legalizing marijuana, ecstasy, and other recreational drugs. But, there is the potential for the entire ideology to go south. Some bad news first.
The bad and the ugly
Battle preparations
Peter Frankopan, the director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research and a senior research fellow at Worcester College, Oxford, wrote an excellent essay on Aeon titled, "War, On Drugs". In it, he discusses the history of taking drugs before battle. The Vikings from the 9th to 11th centuries were particularly noted for this: "Eye-witnesses clearly thought that something had elevated these warriors to a trance-like state. They were most likely right. Almost certainly, the superhuman strength and focus was the result of ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms found in Russia, specifically of the amanita muscaria – whose distinctive red cap and white dots often features in Disney movies. […] These poisonous fly agaric mushrooms, when parboiled, produce powerful psychoactive effects, including delirium, exhilaration, and hallucination. The Vikings learned of the amanita muscaria in their travels along the Russian river systems."
However, the history of drug use before battle doesn't stop there. Pervitin or "panzer chokolade" made its way through the German front lines in World War II: "It seemed to be a wonder drug, producing feelings of heightened awareness, focusing concentration and encouraging risk-taking. A powerful stimulant, it also allowed men to function on little sleep." The British also partook in its use: "General (later Field Marshal) Bernard Montgomery issued Benzedrine to his troops in North Africa on the eve of the battle of El Alamein – part of a program that saw 72 million Benzedrine tablets being prescribed to British forces during the Second World War."
CNN reported in November 2015 of ISIS fighters also taking drugs before battle. Captagon, an amphetamine which is supposedly popular in the Middle East, became the drug of choice. Dr. Robert Kiesling, a psychiatrist, was quoted in the article saying: "You can stay awake for days at a time. You don't have to sleep. […] It gives you a sense of well-being and euphoria. And you think that you're invincible and that nothing can harm you."
Knowledge in the wrong hands
The consequences of legalized recreational drugs aren't just limited to battle. Legalizing recreational drugs would dissolve the barriers for proper and extensive research on their chemical structure and effects. Scientific knowledge and findings are published for both the scientific community and the public. Given these circumstances, it can lead to undesirable consequences. There is already a trend of new "designer drugs" coming out at a rapid pace. As noted by the WebMD article "New Black Market Designer Drugs: Why Now?" a DEA agent was quoted saying: "'What is really a different factor here is the Internet -- information, right or wrong or indifferent, gets disseminated at lightning speed and changes the playing field for us. […] It is a perfect storm of new trends. Before the Internet, these things took years to evolve. Now trends accelerate in seconds.'" Designer drugs, as defined by "Project Know" are, "specifically made to fit around existing drug laws. These drugs can either be new forms of older illicit drugs or could be completely new chemical formulas that are created to fall outside of the law." Legalizing recreational drugs, therefore, would allow for certain information to be more readily accessible, and those who would be looking to make extremely potent drugs would likely be able to do so.
The Good
At this point, it may seem like there should be a reconsideration on whether recreational drugs ought to be legalized. However, the bad side doesn't tell the whole story.
As was mentioned earlier, there are currently barriers on certain research interests due to the status of some commonly used recreational drugs. But, privately-funded groups were able to commission some small-scale research projects involving only a few participants. They were able to determine some of the potential benefits that recreational drugs like marijuana, ecstasy, and even magic mushrooms have for treating ailments ranging from pain to mental illness.
Spiritual, to treat the mental
German Lopez and Javier Zarracina gathered as many studies as possible for their article titled The fascinating, strange medical potential of psychedelic drugs, explained in 50+ studies. In it, they show multiple papers published by researchers involved in the exploration of using psychedelics for medical treatment. They also bring up personal accounts from participants explaining how much better they felt after receiving treatment. As pointed out, the research is still trying to get off its feet. Their studies have a small sample size, and there are no control groups to determine whether the effects shown are really a result of the psychedelics. Nevertheless, researchers are optimistic since participants demonstrate a positive reaction during the treatment process.
Reduction in cigarette smoking, alcoholism, end-of-life anxiety, and depression are just a few of the big problems mentioned that people saw improvement in after taking a dose of magic mushrooms or LSD. Researchers aren't sure what's causing this effect, but some believe it's due to the powerful mystical experiences that psychedelics can trigger. Lopez and Zarracina argue that the participants had "profound, meaningful experiences that can sometimes help them make new insights into their own behaviors and also to reconnect with their values and priorities in terms of what's important to them in the grander scheme of things." Albert Garcia-Romeu, another Johns Hopkins researcher, similarly said that, "When they have those kinds of experiences, it seems to be helpful for people to be able to make behavior changes down the line, like quitting smoking."
A certain strain, to treat the pain
In a paper published in 2012 titled Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke by researchers Igor Grant, J. Hampton Atkinson, Ben Gouaux, and Barth Wilsey, the effects of marijuana used for treatment of different ailments are observed from the rounding up of several studies. For example, marijuana inhaled by smoke consistently resulted in significantly reducing the feeling of chronic pain in one study. A greater proportion of individuals involved with this specific study reported at least 30% in their reduction of pain while using marijuana. The researchers emphasized this point because a "30% decrease in pain intensity is generally associated with reports of improved life quality."
In regards to synthetic THC, which is taken orally, AIDS patients also showed positive reactions to one type of substance, dronabinol: "Trials in AIDS patients with clinically significant weight loss indicated that dronabinol 5mg daily significantly outperformed placebo in terms of short-term appetite enhancement (38% vs. 8% at 6 weeks), and that these effects persisted for up to 12 months, but were not accompanied by significant differences in weight gain, perhaps because of disease-associated energy wasting."
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were also involved in certain trials. Analgesia, the inability to feel pain, is something people with MS look for in medicine to help with their condition. They, too, reacted positively: one study with a 12-month follow-up found that 30% of patients treated with a certain form of marijuana for MS-related pain could still maintain a feeling of analgesia and reported continued "improvement" on a maximum dose of 25mg of THC daily. Researchers, therefore, conclude that, "pain relief may be sustained without dose increases."
There are side effects, of course, but it seems that, through the multiple research trials, patients don't reach a point of severity that leads to hospitalization: "In general these effects are dose-related, are of mild to moderate severity, appear to decline over time, and are reported less frequently inexperienced than in naïve users. Reviews suggest the most frequent side effects are dizziness or lightheadedness (30%-60%), dry mouth (10%-25%), fatigue (5%-40%), muscle weakness (10%-25%), myalgia (25%), and palpitations (20%). Cough and throat irritation are reported in trials of smoked cannabis."
It's clear that with proper physician direction, recreational drugs open the door to better treatment and management of some ailments that are increasingly affecting society. Drugs like marijuana and magic mushrooms aren't physically addictive but can be psychologically addictive. Though, of course, one's local doctor would be prescribing doses that are within moderation. Instead of typical pharmaceutical drugs which are much more dangerous, sometimes ineffective, and can lead to severe addictions like with Xanax, oxycodone, or Prozac, the possibility of having access to the aforementioned alternative drugs have shown to have great potential and would be a boon to society. Moreover, increasing research involving drugs like marijuana, ecstasy, and psychedelics would yield more knowledge about how to use and develop better rehabilitation and wellness programs.
Perspectives on commonly used recreational drugs like marijuana and ecstasy are changing as the younger generation becomes more involved in these socio-political discussions, where eventually, the view on such subjects will become quite the opposite from that of the prevailing, older generations.
But, should the notion of legalization finally become realized, the impact would be huge: the legal implications involved with legalized recreational drugs, according to George S. Yacoubian Jr., would be global. In his paper Beyond the Theoretical Rhetoric: A Proposal to Study the Consequences of Drug Legalization, heallots a small section to explore some of the potential benefits that would come about should legalization occur. He fleshes out what a future world with legalized recreational drugs would potentially look like:
"First, in lieu of spending billions of dollars in the war against drugs, a war that they contend is an exercise in futility, drug legalization would allow state and federal governments to collect billions of dollars in taxes annually. Currently, funds are dispersed for law enforcement efforts, for interdiction efforts, and for the prosecution and incarceration of drug perpetrators, all of which potentially benefit those involved in the illegal drug trade. […] While a causal relationship between drugs and crime remains nebulous, there are several criminal justice-related consequences that could result from legalization. The most obvious is that all drug-related offenses—possession, purchase, sale, and manufacturing—would cease to be crimes for adults. This would have monumental benefits for an already burdened criminal justice system. Second, individuals who commit income-generating crimes (e.g., theft, robbery, and prostitution) to secure monies for the purchase of illegal drugs may no longer have to do so. Given the reduction in drug prices that would necessarily accompany legalization, the need for additional funds would dissipate as well. Third, the elimination of an illegal drug subculture may contribute to the reduction of illicit subcultures in general. […] Fourth, legalization would eliminate the need for illegal drug traffickers, and, with them, the violence associated with their enterprises. As Goldstein suggests, a legalization approach would almost certainly divert the violence associated with illegal drug markets."
In other words, legalizing certain recreational drugs would provide wore money for the government which can be spent on more in depth research, drug education programs and well-equipped wellness centres. It would also result in a reduced prison population where criminals with more severe crimes are being indicted. Moreover, reduced drug prices and reduced violence would likely occur because of a legal drug trade. We are a society that is becoming more progressive and liberal, and the legalization of recreational drugs aligns with the views of many people who are part of this movement.
Will the potential outcomes outlined in this paper be actually realized? A sentiment echoed by most of the researchers discussed above have one thing in common: barriers on research should be broken down, subjective experiences with drugs should be part of the debate and not excluded, and we should be doing more to depict a more holistic view of this debate. Most research is still in its early stages, but the amount of research done is increasing as society begins to take another liberal stance to recreational drugs.
As Yacoubian Jr. notes, "While proponents and opponents of legalization are clear with respect to their antithetical opinions, some common ground is shared. Both are willing to admit that no one knows how society would be affected if drugs were legalized. Proponents of both legalization and prohibition have outlined their positions carefully with arguments that are theoretically sound. The next step, however, is to put these assertions to the test and attempt to ascertain to what extent they are empirically valid."
- Want This Now222
- Maybe218
- This Is The Future145
- Pipedream197


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How much do you really know about your skin? While I'm sure many of you already know the importance of skin type, for some, this can prove a little puzzling. However, it's extremely important to know just what type of skin you have since this can really help when you're looking for your best skin care products. Let's talk a little about those skin types.
Determine Your Skin Type, Determine Your Skin Care
Those of you with normal skin likely have small pores and an even skin tone. Still, cleansing your face and establishing a routine is key. For many, aging is a beauty concern, so if you have normal skin (or any type, for that matter), creams and moisturizers with organic ingredients could help your skin care routine, as recent studies suggest these carry anti-aging benefits. [1]
Now, oily skin can be a little thicker and firmer than normal skin, so that makes it a little less sensitive to environmental damage. Your skin could sometimes feel a little greasy and likely has larger pores. Breakouts could be something you've dealt with before, so finding a great natural product is very important. As with a normal skin type, oily skin can also benefit from organic ingredients.
Combination skin is exactly that. You might have an oily "T-Zone" (your forehead, nose, and chin) with dry skin around the cheeks and eyes, or you could have a dry T-Zone with oily skin in the other areas.
Maybe your face isn't any of the above. Maybe you already know you have dry skin. Well, if that's the case, lotions and creams with organic ingredients could soothe issues like hyperpigmentation and inflammation, while helping bring out the true beauty of your skin. [2]If you have combination skin, these concerns could also be an issue, and let's not forget the importance of what I've mentioned about natural skin care for sensitive skin.
Natural Routines for Radiant Skin
A skin care regimen is a little more than just wash your face-and-go. You want to think about not only cleaning your skin, but also exfoliating, using a toner, and moisturizing. Doing all these things together will help you develop a personal care routine that will help your skin look great!
Cleanse Your Skin
There are many face soaps out there. Look for a natural cleanser that removes impurities, but doesn't strip your skin of its natural oils.
If you're looking to naturally exfoliate, you likely already have two ingredients for an excellent facial scrub around your home. Olive oil won't clog pores, making it a great nighttime moisturizer. And, when you combine one tablespoon with natural sea salt, the lightly abrasive salt works with the penetrating action of the oil, removing dead skin cells. Lemon juice also works great to exfoliate the skin. The ascorbic acid kills bacteria and helps shed dead skin cells. Don't exfoliate every day, try doing it once or twice a week.
Use a Toner
Apple cider vinegar can be the right solution for a natural toner since it helps clear up skin conditions and blemishes. Just mix four parts distilled water and 1 part apple cider vinegar in a bottle. Apply with a cotton pad or with a spray bottle. Before using it, test it on a small section of your face.
Coconut oil is a great natural moisturizer. Using organic virgin coconut oil will help improve your skin and promote elasticity. Another good moisturizer is cucumber. The silica in cucumber is an essential component of healthy connective tissue and an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid. [3] Combine smashed cucumber with yogurt and apply as a mask for 15 minutes.
Natural Skin Care Is Best
When choosing skin care products, always check the label for harsh or toxic chemicals. Those are toxins you don't need that can irritate your skin and even affect your overall health. To complete your skin care routine with all natural products, I recommend using Parfait Visage® moisturizing face cream and AquaSpirit® soothing face mist. These are free of toxic chemicals, irritants, and preservatives, plus they are 100% natural and organic.
Have you made the switch to an all-natural skin care routine? Tell us about it in the comments below.
References (3)
- Bowe, W. P. & Pugliese, S. Cosmetic benefits of natural ingredients. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 13 (9).
- Fowler, J.F. et al. Innovations in natural ingredients and their use in skin care. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 9 (6 Suppl.).
- Shweta Kapoor, Swarnlata Saraf. Assessment of viscoelasticity and hydration effect of herbal moisturizers using bioengineering techniques. Institute of Pharmacy, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur 492010 India.


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Delta Development Group provides multi-disciplinary consulting solutions including community planning, funding strategies, disaster preparedness, transit, and government relations.
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, our client experience extends from start-up businesses to Fortune 500 companies and includes a strong mix of public, nonprofit, and private clients. Our industry mix is equally diverse, including project engagements with private developers and businesses, hospitals, colleges and universities, local and county governments, and state and federal agencies. Over the past 30 years, we have secured more than $1.5 billion on behalf of our clients.
To date, we have completed projects in 24 states, extending from the East Coast to the West Coast. As a small business, we maintain a strong entrepreneurial spirit that is reflected in the agility of our team.
"...firm, decisive, and data-driven, and easily passed my personal test for consultants."


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Tax avoidance is probably the most misunderstood and misused word in the field of tax. We rarely use the word: we prefer terms like 'tax cheating' or 'tax dodging' or 'escaping tax' instead.
Here's why.
Is tax avoidance legitimate?
In a word, no: for two reasons. First, what often gets called avoidance isn't 'legal', as this page explains. Second, what is legal isn't necessarily legitimate. (Apartheid was legal, in its day.)
Tax avoidance or tax evasion?
The big confusion about 'tax avoidance' arises because it hinges on the question of whether the tax arrangement is legal or not. The traditional definitions say that tax avoidance is legal, in contrast to 'tax evasion' which is illegal (usually by fraudulently under-declaring or not declaring a tax liability).
This comes with a twist: as one definition of tax avoidance presented in the British House of Lords: "Tax avoidance …. is a course of action designed to conflict with or defeat the evident intention of Parliament." In other words, tax avoidance complies with law, but it goes against the spirit of what our legislators intended.
That's the traditional story.
The main problem with this story is that a lot of what gets called 'tax avoidance' is actually something else, which often lies in a grey or uncertain area between avoidance and evasion. In fact, much of what gets called 'avoidance' turns out to be rather more like evasion: it involves pocketing tax money that legally should be paid. It's just that they don't get noticed or successfully challenged or caught out.
This happens all the time. Multinational companies, egged on by tax advisory firms which can reap huge profits from selling dodgy tax schemes, routinely push the boundaries of our tax laws, with varying degrees of aggression. In 2013 the UK's Public Accounts Committee, a government watchdog, heard testimony from a senior official at a Big Four accountancy firm that they would sell tax schemes to clients even if they thought there was only a 25 percent chance they would survive a court challenge.
"I am aware of instances where a single planning idea has generated fees of £100m"
– Jolyon Maugham, tax barrister
Yet media organisations and many others still use the term 'tax avoidance' to describe dodgy schemes: and that's often because their libel lawyers tell them this term is less likely to get them sued. Journalists mistakenly write 'avoidance' if they cannot show that the company has broken the tax laws. But this is wrong: they should only write 'avoidance' when they can show that the company hasn't broken the tax laws, but has still got around the rules. While their caution is quite understandable, this makes their reports no less inaccurate.
Sidestep thorny questions of legality: focus on the economic and the political
In light of all this uncertainty, we prefer terms like 'tax cheating,' 'tax dodging', 'tax abuse', or 'escaping tax'. These terms skip neatly over the question of whether a given structure is legal or not, and focus instead on the essential issues, notably the economic and political aspects of what's going on. (Apple's CEO Tim Cook highlighted this in August 2016 when he said a demand from the European Commission to pay a €13bn back tax bill was "total political crap".) Some of these terms are morally loaded: and in light of the politics and economics of what is going on, that is often appropriate.
Foreign language confusions
Adding to the confusion, foreign-language terms in this area don't generally mean what you might think. For example, the French term évasion fiscale is best translated as tax avoidance. (The closest French translation for tax evasion is fraude fiscale.) Beware.
Schemes that get given the 'tax avoidance' label typically involve economic transfers away from one interest group, typically ordinary taxpayers who can't hire expensive accountants to set up such schemes, to another interest group, typically wealthy individuals or large multinational corporations. This tends to increase inequality and damage democracy.
Risk mining
Let's take an example. BigCorp uses transfer pricing tricks to shift as much of its profit as possible away from Tanzania, say, into a zero-tax haven. BigCorp hasn't operated in good faith within the law.
Usually, BigCorp will get away with it (this is particularly true with poorer countries, whose tax authorities don't have the expertise to find the scheme or to challenge the multinational's highly paid legal teams.) BigCorp escapes paying a Tanzanian tax bill that was legally due.
See this for what it is: a hidden (and illegal) transfer of wealth from Tanzania to BigCorp.
Often, Big Corp won't be sure at the outset whether or not their scheme will be challenged in court, or if it would withstand such a challenge. They are taking a chance with the scheme. This is what David Quentin calls "risk mining" – a useful lens through which to understand the phenomenon better. (Click the flow chart here to enlarge it, to get a clearer sense).
Now imagine that a Tanzanian news organisation exposes BigCorp's shenanigans. Even though the tax is due according to the law, it may still go unpaid. This may be because BigCorp's tax directors took the Tanzanian taxman out for an expensive dinner, or the head taxman turns out to be terrified of annoying corporations, or hopes to get a better-paying job with BigCorp, or is an anti-tax zealot — or simply doesn't have enough information or expertise to know they are being taken for a ride and to take action to stop it. For whatever reason, the authorities still won't challenge the arrangement.
BigCorp will say: "We haven't broken any laws." Journalists may write "this was tax avoidance, and perfectly legal and legitimate." Their readers sigh, and move on with their lives. And Tanzanian schools, roads and hospitals don't get built.
Was this 'tax avoidance?' It isn't clear. Best to avoid theterm.
In summary, it's generally better to stay away from 'avoidance' unless you are absolutely sure that no tax laws have been broken. And when writing about the issues, always consider the economic and political aspects.
Where to draw the line?
If you want to get technical and you're keen to draw a line somewhere, it's more useful to sidestep the maddening grey area between avoidance and evasion and focus instead on the difference between abusive tax arrangements and 'legitimate tax planning' (i.e. eliminating tax cock-ups where you pay more than you really should).
This can be combined with the Risk Mining framework into a picture:
Do corporate directors have a duty to their shareholders to avoid tax?
The answer is a straightforward no. Absolutely not.
In fact, the Tax Justice Network obtained a formal legal opinion to this effect in the United Kingdom, from the Queen's own solicitors, Farrer & Co. (see also here). In the United States, the all-important Delaware courts have also ruled that "there is no general fiduciary duty to minimise taxes." (In most other countries, this will also be true, though we haven't conducted an exhaustive survey.)
Company directors generally have duties to promote the success of their companies. But in doing so, they are required to consider a wider set of stakeholders than merely shareholders: they need to balance the interests of their shareholders against the interests of wider society. That gives them wide leeway to decide how far to push the envelope as regards tax avoidance.
In general, payment of tax needs to be part of companies' corporate responsibility offerings. See much more on this on our permanent Corporate Responsibility webpage.
Is an ISA tax avoidance?
No, it isn't. An ISA is an Individual Savings Account, where the British tax system allows people to save up to a certain amount of money each year (in 2016 it was around £15,000), and be exempt from tax on the savings income. This zero percent tax rate is analogous to the zero percent tax rate that any progressive tax system levies on the first portion of a citizen's income: it is just the tax rate.
The ISA is a specific mechanism created by parliament to align the tax regime on savings income with the principles of a progressive tax system. It is not tax avoidance.
Further reading:
Risk mining: what tax avoidance is, and exactly why it's anti-social – TJN/David Quentin (full paper here.)
Weak transmissions mechanisms – and the boys who won't say no – Jolyon Maugham, 2014


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8 Comments on "ITLR- LJBF"
yeah. I wish I had done this with the LJBFs I had gotten. What you're saying is the way to deal with this is to expose the hamsterwheeling directly.
"I have enough friends. I want a romantic attachment; you want a "friend" you can use for free meals. No thanks."
"No you don't want to be my friend; you're just looking for an easy way out of this that doesn't make you look like a bitch. OK, that's cool. I still think you're a bit of a bitch, though."
"Cut the crap. We're not going to be friends. This is just you deciding you're not comfortable with fucking me right now."
There's one girl I'm currently LJBFed with. Her name's Meghan. She's a mix of Sicilian/Irish/Polish.
In other words, she's normally more masculine natured than feminine. At first I acted like a wuss and just dealt with it. Fast forward to now, I respond to her maculine nature by upping my manhood by verbal use of authority. She's toned herself down.
Texting goes as follows:
Her (407pm): Hey sorry I was at Tyler house n was passed out (idk who he is, never met him)
Me (518pm): I figured
Her (521pm): What u doing tonight
Me (700pm): bullshitting
Her (821pm): ??????
Her (851pm): well wanna come over
Me (936pm): maybe
Her (936pm): you working
Me (941pm): busy now – get to the punchline
Her (943pm): watch a movie
Me (950pm): what movie
Her (951pm): have to see whats on demand
Me (1025pm): maybe
Her (1045pm): you can choose, are you coming or not?
Me (1112pm): in a bit
Her (1113pm): whens that in 2 hrs lol
Me (1140pm): omw
Her (1140pm): ok!
I'll get back to this later…