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This review is from: KWorld UB435-Q ATSC TV Stick
Pros: Works with xbmc and nextpvr on windows 7 64-bit
Cons: I think its only a single tuner. may not record and watch another show at the same time. still testing this though.
Other Thoughts: you can't beat this deal anywhere. it works and its smooth, thats all you really need.
READ FULL REVIEWThis review is from: AMD A6-5400K Trinity Dual-Core 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 65W Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7540D AD540KOKHJBOX
Pros: solid with my gigabyte itx motherboard with 8gb ram and windows 7 64 bit.
Cons: solid performer. dont see any cons yet.
Other Thoughts: solid working processor for my xbmc / plex build. seems to handle both with ease.
READ FULL REVIEWThis review is from: APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case 250W Power Supply
Pros: solid case, edges fairly smooth. like the solid feel of the power button, stops my 1 year old from being able to push it.
Cons: Strange bright red hard drive led light. not good for home theater. hard drive cables extend into motherboard area. might be a tight fit. power supply seems to lean slightly into the motherboard.
Other Thoughts: Make sure you remove the power supply before installing.
READ FULL REVIEWDisplay Name: Doug F.
Date Joined: 06/10/02
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11 January, 2014 in
You Know You Have a Good Dad When...
Passenger Gets Angry At Female Pilot For Not Being A Man, Her Comeback Is Perfect
This Is What Happens When You Make Your Mother-In-Law Angry
This Is What Your Dog Does When You're Not Home
During A 2-Minute Commercial Break, These News Anchors Come Up With The Most Elaborate Handshake
This Man Found A Weird Egg With Strange Contents Inside
This Chocolate Cake Seems Pretty Normal At First, Until It Starts Spinning
Ever Heard About This Mysterious Cat? What He Does Is Really Strange
The Amazing Waterproof Spray That Works On Everything. Yes, Even Your Phone
When A Racist Refuses To Order From A Muslim, This Nearby Soldier's Response Is Perfect
Man Wants To Leave Paper Behind, But His Wife Teaches Him A Lesson
10-Year-Old Girl Beats Marine Cadet In Push Up Challenge
Young Boy Dedicates A Heartfelt Song To His Sister With Down's Syndrome
Here's What Happens When Parents Are Better At Texting Than Their Kids
This Dog Wakes Up Every Morning And Goes For A Swim With A Dolphin
Breathtaking Demonstration Of A Beautiful Art Technique Called Ebru
Two Sisters Grab A Guitar And Then? The Crowd's Yelling Before They Even Finish
This Dog Gives His Owner A Death Stare After Being Tapped On The Chest
Baby Fawn Is Abandoned By Her Mother, Becomes Best Friends With A Great Dane
You Can Do Multiplication By Drawing Lines, Here's How To Do It

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william-james88 wrote:I am just glad the conversation has changed from just being about the butt flap
Blast Cannon wrote:This thread is brilliant. Duragrip you are a gloriously weird sexual deviant and I love it.
El Duque wrote:Quite a firestorm I started here
Counterpunch wrote:FP sure does provide some F'd up head.
Optimus Rigas wrote:Fansproject Bruticus... the only reason to buy Hasbro's Bruticus in my opinion.
Down_Shift wrote:You're welcome
Gauntlet101010 wrote:Oh, one question:
Can he hold WSTF Shockwave? Those hands give me some hope and I bought the sucker to be held by the guy. If not, maybe I can use some invisible elastics to do the trick...
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Max Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child, 1 infant)Inn in Porto (Cedofeita) near Porto Cathedral
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In addition to a bar/lounge, Cristal Guest House provides complimentary wireless Internet access, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour front desk.
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Televisions come with satellite channels. Guestrooms also feature complimentary wireless Internet access and phones.
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Below: Nikita Khrushchev's sport-attacking photo of Tantor's Motor Toon Revolve
The Tantor's Motor Toon Revolve entrance is like an adventure through Toontown. The attraction motors are made to look like Benny the Cat, and while you drive you can revolve them by fighting the tires.
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2621 Icabod Court2621 Icabod Ct, Leesburg, FLComfortable two bedroom, two bath 1/2 duplex. Master Bedroom opens up to a small patio perfect for that early morning coffee. Has a washer/dryer hook-up, 1 car garage and nice floor plan. Centrally lo... read more |
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Updated on 1/8/20152 - 3 bedrooms2 Units One unit available |
$850(305) 728-0911CIM Property Management |


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Back in November of 2012 ("Ooh, you are awful…but I like you") our own Philip Wilkinson suggested a post 'on concertos with multiple soloists' - and I duly stored the suggestion in what still passes for my 'memory bank'. It slithered its way to the front just the other day when I was listening to Beethoven's Opus 56, the Triple Concerto for piano, violin, cello & orchestra, and wondering, for a composer that I hold in such high regard, why this concerto seemed to lack the very qualities – bold, heroic, dramatic statements in large-scale forms – that make his music so unique.
A few clicks brought the answer, or at least what I prefer to believe – that Beethoven simplified the piano part to suit the adequate, but not exceptional talents of the work's dedicatee, his pupil and close friend, the 15 year old Archduke Rudolph of Austria, and in so doing created something of an imbalance with the other two soloists.
This in turn took me back to 1970, and my introduction to the work, on vinyl, recorded by the three instrumentalists of the age, David Oistrakh violin, Mstislav Rostropovich cello, and the eccentric pianist Sviatoslav Richter, with the sleekly coiffured Herbert von Karajan in front of the BPO. I remember thinking that Richter must have been bored silly (until he received his fee), as the piano part could have been mastered by a Grade VIII student. It also seems clear that even a great artist of Beethoven's stature would struggle with the challenge of giving each of the soloists a 'say'. Audiences expect each player to have a chance to state every theme; the composer knew that this could make for a very long evening – probably too long for the attention-spans of the bourgeois Viennese.
Here, the brief second movement – more an introduction to the third movement than an actual 'movement', and the first time that Beethoven 'linked' movements, with no break to clear your throat. The hushed beauty of these few minutes almost changes my mind about the whole of this 'curate's egg' of a concerto, helped in no small part by the extraordinary intensity of the 'cello playing by the great American virtuoso Lynn Harrell.
No such doubts arise in K364 by W.A. Mozart, the Sinfonia Concertante in E flat, for Violin, Viola and Orchestra.
At the age of 23 I had just learned to walk erect and to tie my own shoe-laces unaided. It is eye-watering for me to consider that, at the same age, Mozart composed this amazing masterpiece. It is, quite simply, his most perfect concertante work. Sinfonia concertante literally means 'little symphony with cameo solos', and the form evolved from the concerto grosso of the Baroque era, and means, in effect, that the two string soloists emerge out of the orchestral 'texture', and only gradually develop their individuality. All three movements are imbued with this 'conversational' quality, as here in the closing pages of the majestic first movement Allegro maestoso, played here at a Promenade concert in 2006 by the youthful Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, and the Russian violinist Maxim Vengerov paired with the British violist Lawrence Power.
The Concerto for 4 harpsichords and strings is an adaptation by J.S. Bach of an earlier concerto by Vivaldi for four violins. It dates from around 1730, and serves as a kind of hommage to the Italian that Bach admired so much – and the composer probably had in mind three of his sons – Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanual and Johann Gottfried Bernhard – all gifted keyboard players, to join him in this extraordinary music.
The present performance is also an adaptation – for four pianos, and is performed here by what amounts to a classical 'supergroup'. The soloists are Martha Argerich, Evgeny Kissin, Mikhail Pletnev and James Levine, and they are supported, in the Salle Medran in Verbier by jobbing musicians such as violinists Sarah Chang, Gidon Kremer and Vadim Repin, violists Yuri Bashmet and Noboko Imai, and the cellist Mischa Maisky.
Here's a treat – but an impostor. And a word of warning; this piece is a dreadful earworm. Hear it in the morning, and it will be with you for the rest of the day. Imagine if P.I. Tchaikovsky had lived in the 20th Century? He would probably have been just as unhappy as he was in the 19th Century, but as a tunesmith with no equal he would have made enough money to have had a harem of young men attending upon him, instead of having to cottage around the streets of St Petersburg.
The piece to avoid if you are of a nervous disposition is not the warhorse first, but the Second Piano Concerto in G major, his opus 44, or more particularly the sublime (sublime: of high spiritual or moral worth: inspiring awe: raised aloft) Andante non troppo second movement. Set between an overlong and rather bombastic first movement, and a banal finale, it has always been the bridesmaid to its earlier cousin, and probably will remain so – but for me, this is as much a 'triple concerto' as the earlier Beethoven. Listen and weep – but don't come crying to me if you can't get it out of your head.
]]>The first thing to say about Spiral (in France: Engrenages, meaning not in fact 'Spiral' but 'Gears') is that it offers the nastiest, filthiest, most unromantic depiction of Paris imaginable. The sun never shines; everything is broken or dirty or both; and nobody is ever at all nice to anybody else. In the first two aspects it is therefore an unrealistically pessimistic exaggeration of Parisian reality. I leave you to make your own judgement about the third.
The very first episode of the first series opens with the view of a horribly mutilated female corpse on a rubbish dump, and it gets worse from there. In fact, the sheer unremitting disgustingness of Series 1 – which includes the ultimate Amis-ian taboo, dead babies – becomes almost comical in its Pythonesque excess. Where it isn't comical it's plain irritating, though not as irritating as the thing that really lets down the first season, which is the hairstyle of the lead character Police Captain Laure Berthaud.
Laure, we are asked to believe, is a tough no-nonsense female detective who through sheer force of personality has reached seniority sufficient to lead a bunch of police bruisers through the meanest streets of the Parisian banlieues. And yet for the most part all she does is mince round in a pretty little strops flicking about this daft schoolgirlish ponytail. That ponytail, I'm afraid, undermines the credibility of the entire enterprise.
For these reasons I almost gave up on Spiral, but I'm glad I didn't because Series 2 makes a quantum leap in quality. The writers are less obsessed with trying to rub viewers' noses in the worst befoulments of human perversion and instead offer a multi-layered and twisting plot about the rise and fall of a drugs gang. Admittedly, it owes a lot to The Wire in its exploration of the structural hierarchy of the gang – from lowly street-dealers up to the mansion-dwelling bosses – but it convinces and grips. Better yet, Police Captain Laure Berthaud has had a sensible crop and all of a sudden the thing is believable.
Series 2 also features a marvellous monster in the form of rapper and middle-ranking gangster Aziz – like Stringer Bell in The Wire, we don't half miss him when he goes – and indeed it is in the supporting characters that Spiral really excels. The leads are fairly vapid – Berthaud (Caroline Proust) is hampered by that hairstyle; Deputy Prosecutor Pierre Clément (Grégory Fitoussi) has little to do except march around being morally upright and unreasonably handsome – but below them are some corkers. In reverse order of brilliance:
Police Lieutenant Gilles "Gilou" Escoffier (Thierry Godard) – the Cartman of cops, Escoffier is incompetent, indifferent to the rules and, even for a Frenchman, breathtakingly rude. He's also addicted to drugs. For quite unfathomable reasons, Berthaud is loyal to him and covers up for his bewilderingly frequent cock-ups.
Judge François Roban (Philippe Duclos) – After two series of Spiral, I'm still baffled by the French criminal legal system (if you can help, please do), but Roban (above) is a sort of prosecuting 'juge' (pronounced joooooooooooge): a heroically self-regarding know-all who looks like a cross between Arsene Wenger and Worzel Gummidge and who continually emphasizes his intellectual superiority with that bony-fingered 'steeple' gesture usually employed by middle-aged male GPs when they're explaining that there's nothing at all the matter with you and that a quick listen with the stethoscope tells them infinitely more about your condition than all the irrelevant twaddle you're spouting about how you actually feel could ever do.
Roban would be the Frenchiest Frenchman imaginable, where it not for…
Republic Prosecutor Machard (Dominique Daguier). Well just look at him:
But best of all is Lawyer Joséphine Karlsson (Audrey Fleurot) – a sizzling ginger Lady Macbeth; a hot, bad Catherine Tate; Karlsson is the amoral ladder-climbing lawyer who steals every scene in which she appears, and there are far too few of those. Physically she doesn't look particularly French – too Celtic – but the terroir of her haughty sulk is unmistakable.
Hikikomori, literally "pulling inward, being confined" or "acute social withdrawal" is a Japanese term to refer to the phenomenon of reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement. Hikikomori have been described as recluses, loners, or "modern-day hermits."
While the degree of the phenomenon varies on an individual basis, in the most extreme cases, some people remain in isolation for years or even decades.
According to government figures released in 2010, there are 700,000 individuals living as hikikomori with an average age of 31. Still, the numbers vary widely from expert to expert. Among these are the hikikomori that are now in their 40s and have spent 20 years in isolation, this group is generally referred to as the "first-generation hikikomori," and there is concern about their reintegration into society in what is known as "the 2030 Problem," when they are in their 60s and their parents begin to die off. Additionally the government estimates 1.55 million people to be on the verge of becoming hikikomori.
Sometimes referred to as a social problem in Japanese discourse, hikikomori has a number of possible contributing factors. Alan Teo has summarized a number of potential cultural features that may contribute to its predominance in Japan, including tendencies toward conformity and collectivism, overprotective parenting, and particularities of the educational and economic systems.
The Japanese education system, like those found in China, Singapore and South Korea, puts great demands upon youth. A multitude of expectations, high emphasis on competition, and the rote memorization of facts and figures for the purpose of passing entrance exams into the next tier of education in what could be termed a rigid pass-or-fail ideology, induce a high level of stress. Echoing the traditional Confucian values of society, the educational system is still viewed as playing an important part in society's overall productivity and success.
In this social frame, students often face significant pressure from parents and the society in general to conform to its dictates and doctrines. These doctrines, while part of modern Japanese society, are increasingly being rejected by Japanese youth in varying ways such as hikikomori, freeter, NEET (Not currently engaged in Employment, Education, or Training), and parasite singles. The term "Hodo-Hodo zoku" (the "So-So tribe") applies to younger workers who refuse promotion to minimize stress and maximize free time.
Hikikomori tend to be financially supported by their parents, or by receiving social assistance. They seldom work since jobs usually require socialization. Although rare, some hikikomori have become extremely wealthy. For example, starting with 1.6 million yen (apr. US$14,000) in 2000, Takashi Kotegawa grew his account in the JASDAQ Securities Exchange 10,000 fold over 7 years to 17 billion yen (apr. US$152 million). He first gained fame in Japan after he managed to profit 2 billion yen (apr. US$20 million) in 10 minutes from a Mizuho Securities order blunder.
Here is a further selection from the list of gifts received by HRH Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips on their wedding day on 14 November 1973. One shudders to think, incidentally, of the couple fighting over ownership of certain of these items when they later divorced.
603. Mrs J G Dean. A pottery badger.
661. Mr C Trevor-Roberts. Danish "problem game".
693. Mrs R Gale. One coat hanger.
717. Mrs Gertrude Johnson. A white linen biscuit cover.
723. Mrs T J Comerford. A tea towel.
739. Cradley Church of England Infants' School, Class 1. A scrapbook made by the donors.
751. Miss Elaine Gould & Miss Sally Todd. Book, The Tragedy Of Hambeth & Maclet, by the donors.
754. Mrs Rose Craig. A pair of tights.
773. The Lady Zia Wernher, Major & Mrs David Butter, and Lieutenant Colonel & Mrs Harold Phillips. A pair of muffineers.
795. Mrs B R Smith. Booklet, Mothers Of Kentucky.
807. Major Sir Brian & Lady Barttelot. A Selotape dispenser.
893. Miss Doris Shaw. The Prayer Of A Horse.
1036. Sir Lew & Lady Grade. A video cassette recorder.
1054. Squadron Leader P Beer. An electric toaster.
1090. Mrs Charles McClelland. A pair of boots carved out of coal.
1131. The Occupants of 34 Fairford Avenue, Luton. Two bars of soap.
1153. Mrs Diane Shepherd-Cross. A pair of scissors.
1184. Mrs Joseph P Goode. Three petrified wooden eggs.
1214. Lieutenant Colonel & Mrs Wilson Hawkins. Card index system.
1288. Mr & Mrs A Hammond Chambers. A jug and a sandwich box.
1336. Anonymous. Toilet preparations.
1385. Mr & Mrs John Woodhouse. Two sets of horse bandages.
Stately, plump Guido-Paul Fawkes came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of bubbly and a pair of predatory eyes, crossed.
His tum-tum led the way, followed at intervals by the rest of him. He beady-eyed the throng, left and right. As a notorious outsider and maverick, nobody at the Political Book Awards would ever recognise Guido-Paul, he said to himself with an inner cackle.
For like Zorro and Banksy he was a shadow, a phantom, a legend. A glinting blade in the night honed to prick over and again the Westminster Bubble, and nobody inside that Bubble knew his corporeal form. Not Lord Adonis, not Andrew Mitchell, not David Davis, not Alan Johnson, not Charles Clarke, not Chris Bryant, not Neil Hamilton, not any of these corrupt Westminster scumbags.
I am perfectly invisible, he said, as he sidled like a seacow through the pinstriped swamp, bellybarging grandees east and west, knocking elbows, sending nibbles sailing from fingers, champagne flutes descending, vin rouge sloshing over crisp white shirts, strappy dresses snagged and ripping on his sharp bits, the curses and yelps that followed in his wake drowned by the room's party roar.
And ghostlike, the glutinous ghost of a manatee, he insinuated himself amidst a squabble of op-ed hacks, the better to earwig. None recognised him: not Matthew Parris, not John Rentoul, not Isabel Hardman, not Hugo Rifkind, not Michael Crick, not Julia Hartley-Brewer, not Nick Cohen, nor yet Andrews Marr and Neil. None would dare dream that he, Guido Stained-Fawkes, scourge of old media, destroyer of newspapers and their cosy Bubble, could ever have acquired, through machinations devious and expensive, a ticket to their ball and even now be standing slap in their midst.
They see me yet they see me not. And they fear me. He snickered inwardly at the glances they gave, all in the same sequence: puzzlement, confusion, then the faint shiver of unnamed horror as they turned quickly away. They fear me and they know not why. For I am Red Death at the Masque. I am Banquo at the feast. I am Voldemort in Hogwarts.
And so they stayed away, and he stood alone, gleaning. Not even did Neil Hamilton try to sell him something. Not even did Mary Beard come to talk about herself at him. Not even did Nadine Dorries come near.
Then, when he had what he needed he slipped away, tum-tum first, as a walrus bludgeoning through penguins, and back to his lair to write his devastating bomb. And that night he dreamed his dream again, and he was Andrew Neil snuggled up on the sofa with Abbot and Portillo, and his heart sang and it flew up, up and away like a nightingale over the lonely squares and turrets of Westminster.
]]>Adults have become frozen in time, wishing to remain childlike for as long as possible. Women are putting off having children until later in life, if at all. Playful pets have become substitute children for many. Dogs have become a part of the family – people may share their bed with their dog, feed them the same organic food, take them for a drive, clean their teeth with an electric toothbrush. The dog has become an extension of its master, with dogs reflecting the style, taste and status of their owners.
Karl Lagerfeld's fluffy white kitten, Choupette, has two personal maids, her own iPad and twitter account – @ChoupettesDiary. Roja Dove's Siamese cat, Missy, has a bed made from an antique mink coat. Huffington Post's list of the Stupidest Pet Products ever includes Bowser Beer for dogs, a pet high chair, Doggles (sunglasses for dogs), a Croc styled cat bed, a 'Hot Doll' sex toy for dogs, a fence window and OPI's dog Nail Pawlish. If you can't be bothered to walk the dog, petspyjamas.com has a Fit Fur Life pet treadmill for £870. And it's not just cats and dogs… The Cage a Oiseaux, a rocking bird cage – to give pet budgies the feeling of being perched in a swaying tree, launched at the Milan Furniture Fair, subsequently appeared at the Conran Shop with a price tag of £1,895.
Animal Grooming:
Today's dogs are expected to be as well groomed and healthy as their owners. There are ranges of specially formulated fragrances for dogs. There are spa days, hair salons (with eco-friendly shampoo), facials, claw polishes, and even reiki for dogs. In fact there's something of a boom in complementary therapies for dogs – with herbal remedies like Old Faithful "for an active retirement" available from specialist companies such as PhytoForce. Suitably qualified practitioners are few and far between, but pet homeopathy, aromatherapy, chiropractic, flower remedies and magnet therapy are becoming more widely accepted alternatives to traditional veterinary methods. There are already 330 members of the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists in the UK. And turnover at online veterinary retailer/pet drugs provider, Medicanimal, increased from £16 million in 2011 to £47 million in 2012.
Pet plastic surgery is on the rise too, especially in America. Ozzy Osbourne is said to have paid for two facelifts for his dog. Liposuction, breast lifts, nose jobs and ear stiffening operations are regularly carried out – mainly on show breeds. It is 18 years since Missouri-based inventor, Gregg Miller, developed silicon testicles, called Neuticles. These are implanted when dogs are neutered and the testicle sac becomes baggy. Sizes range from XXS to XXL. Kim Kardashian insisted on the largest size for her dog, Rocky. Until now, these have been ruled unethical in the United Kingdom, where they are considered to be a form of mutilation.
Animal Services:
As for feeding time, lap dogs and toy dogs are often taken by their owners to their favourite restaurant, where they sometimes eat from the same plate as their owners. London's Bluebird has run a 'doggy afternoon tea' with doggy cocktails, canapés and goodie bags. For Christmas, the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Laguna Beach California hosts a Yappy Hour Howl-iday Celebration. "This festive gathering of canines and their companions provides Fido with the opportunity to be photographed with the Big Dog himself – Santa Claus. Photos with Santa are $10 per canine. Guests are asked to bring unopened canned or dry dog food, treats or dog toys to be donated to the Shelter."
Private jet share company, Victor's (flyvictor.com) has set up a pet-owners' community to help animal lovers take their beloved pet with them on their travels. Dog owners can either pool together to charter a jet to their chosen location, or they can pay for an extra seat, allowing their dog to sit next to them. Trained pet handlers meet passengers with pets on arrival to check their dog's passport and microchip, ensuring a speedy passage through customs. The W Hotel's PAW (Pets are Welcome) programme offers a monogrammed pet bed, toys and a special treat at turn down. Harry Redknapp was famously reported as having a Monaco based bank account for his dog. Last November 5th (bonfire night) the world's first audio book for dogs was launched in the UK. Dogs, who along with other pets, can be terrified of the sound of exploding fireworks, are made to feel at ease whilst listening to the audio book instead of the loud noises outside.
There's a new online pet magazine and store called StyleTails.com, a social-networking site for dog-lovers called puppystream.me, there are dog sharing schemes and New York boasts the first dog membership club – the Ruff Club in East Village, a sort of Soho House for man's best friends. Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium has recently opened in London's Bethnal Green. This takes its model from the many cat cafes already open in Taiwan, China and Japan, where cat-lovers can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the company of their favourite animals.
Animal Interiors:
Japanese graphic designer and curator Kenya Hara's venture, Architecture for Dogs, supplies free blueprints for 13 different DIY doghouses, each for a different breed. Hara came up with the idea of designer doghouses because he has "the impression that the whole world is interested in babies and dogs." Hara launched the project with two designs of his own at the end of last year, though the dogs the houses were tested out on didn't seem to be overly interested in making use of them. This was of little importance to Hara, who explained that the project was not for pets, but for architects who are encouraged to download drawings and view instructional videos, as well as uploading photographs of their pets' houses.
The barrel playhouse, (above) was created to help cat owners interact with their pets. The unique design is "guaranteed to drive cats crazy" and it's made of corrugated paper, which is as "secure and safe for the environment as it is for cats." Then there are animal inspired home accessories like Donya Coward's hand embroidered saintly dog lamp, which reminds the owner of his/her best friend.
Founder of online boutique Love My Dog, Lilly Shahravesh designs Harris Tweed dog coats in colours chosen especially to match the complexions of different dog breeds. She also provides dog and cat beds to match owners' décor. The folding dog bowl and dog 'bubble' (below) by Arquipets, are designed to "combine architecture and decoration with practicality and pet comfort."
Dogs are increasingly being taken into the workplace, a practice that is not without its risks: The fashion world was in mourning when Tatler's tweeting dachshund was inadvertently killed in a revolving door tragedy. Alan TBH Plumptre was being taken for a walk by an unsuspecting intern, when the dog's neck became caught in a revolving door at Vogue House. Two fire engines and ten firefighters were sent, but Alan could not be saved.
Animal Sociology:
Conflict theorists may believe that animals are being exploited for human gain. The rise in demand for 'handbag dogs' as seen in the bags of Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez and Cheryl Cole has resulted in an explosion in the number of Chihuahuas being abandoned. Animal rescue centres are becoming inundated with unwanted toy dogs. Many of them have to be put down. At the same time, the focus on toy dogs and pedigrees as coveted possessions has led to a rise in pet crime, with Chihuahuas, Pugs, Shi-Tzus and Spaniels being top of the list of dogs abducted. There have even been pet shop ram raids in London, and owners are advised not to leave their dogs tied up outside shops. Police are loath to issue a crime reference number for such incidents, though a private firm called The Pet Detectives investigates 'crimes against animals.' From April 2016 it will be compulsory for dogs in the UK to be micro-chipped, but with growing pressure on living standards, stray dogs could become a significant problem.
Another terrifying prospect is that animal-human relations could change beyond all recognition. It is often said that pets look like their owners, but RCA graduate Lingxizhu Meng goes one stage further… What if the act of genetically combining human and animal DNA were not illegal and did not violate moral and ethical codes of conduct? Meng's installation presents the chilling possibility of a 'Human-Animal-Baby-Pet," [top] envisioning how synthetic biology might satisfy a biological urge from "wannabe grandparents, busy couples, those who are economically insecure, or not ready to commit to the lifelong responsibility of having a child." Meng considers the possibility of creating a baby that closely resembles the parent, but has the behavioural characteristics and lifespan of a dog (see below):
Dog-loving Lady Victoria Hervey told You Magazine "becoming a mother will be child's play for me. A baby is easy… You just hand them over to your nanny." Meanwhile, Simon Cowell, anxious that his beloved Yorkshire Terriers Squiddly and Diddly may become jealous of newborn son, Eric, has hired a dog trainer to help them adjust. Perhaps we should be less concerned about humans becoming intimately attached to their pets and more worried how pampered pets will ever survive without their doting surrogate parents?
]]>"I'm fine Mom, I'm in the basement building a laser machine," said my ten year old son when I phoned home to check on him. It was the first time I left him home alone. That was back in the golden age of "free range" parenting (as it is now labeled). Today I could be charged with child endangerment, especially if it turned out the laser worked. For we are now living in the fearful new world of "helicopter" parenting where the worst case scenario rules.
Case in point: a Silver Spring couple were recently investigated by Child Protective Services because they allowed their two children, aged ten and six, to walk home alone from a neighborhood park. The police received more than one call from concerned busybodies shocked at what used to be a normal sight, two children walking along hand in hand. The local news story made national headlines and ignited an emotionally charged debate on parenting blogs. The parents were threatened with the immediate removal of their children unless they signed a "responsible supervision plan." Interviewed on TV, they seemed like lovely people bringing up their children to be independent and resourceful.
I grew up in a time and place where it was normal for children to play unsupervised on the rubble of bombing sites from the Blitz. My own children grew up with a gradually expanding free range of the neighborhood, playing in a narrow copse of trees that was big enough for them to call "the woods." They walked home alone from school with no calls to the police from concerned neighbors. Looking back I think there was more cause for concern when I left them with babysitters.
Nowadays helicopter parents install surveillance video cameras to monitor the performance of their babysitters. Back in my day we had to rely on instinct and reports from the children themselves, not always forthcoming.
I heard many hair-raising stories years after they occurred. Like the overweight babysitter who sat on my daughter's chest until she could hardly breath because she refused to tidy her room. I did fire that woman eventually for a case of very poor judgment. My daughter fell off her bike. A neighbor alerted me at work, but when I called the babysitter she described it as a typical little scrape and there was no need for me to come home. Hours later I returned to find my daughter lying on the couch, her face so swollen she was unrecognizable. Her lip was split and bleeding and half of her front tooth was missing. (She has had a fake front tooth ever since). I was incredulous that this woman could call it a little scrape. Once she was fired the children's stories of her bad behavior poured out. So much for thinking an adult sitter would be more responsible than a teenager!
Of the many teenagers who babysat in my home over the years, there is one I will never forget. Let's call her Susie. She had a bubbly personality and seemed popular with the children. Perhaps, in retrospect, because she ignored them. I began to get an uncomfortable feeling that she was going through my things. I couldn't quite put my finger on it but things seemed out of place, riffled through. I'm compulsively tidy so I notice such things. But there was nothing concrete to confront her with until the day something went missing. It was my diaphragm.
I kept the diaphragm in its pink plastic case inside my bedside table drawer. There was simply no place else I would have put it, and Susie had been at the house the evening before. But how do you accuse a young teenage girl of something like this? And what if I was wrong? I decided to tackle the problem obliquely. I would ask for Susie's help. The next time she came over I told her I had mislaid a small pink plastic box and if she came across anything like that while she was in the house would she please put it in my bedroom. I thought she had a bit of a deer-in-the-headlights reaction but it could have been my imagination. When I got home nothing was said on the subject by either of us. Not quite as bubbly as usual, she took her money and practically ran out the door.
Upstairs I opened my bedside drawer. There was the pink plastic case. Almost doubting myself, I picked it up. Had it been there all along and I had imagined the disappearance? I opened it and there was my diaphragm. But that was not all. Nestled inside it was a condom, fortunately still pristine in its unopened packet. I imagined a group of teenage girls giggling over a show-and-tell collection of contraceptive gear. At least I hoped that was all that had happened.
The next morning I called my doctor to order a new diaphragm. And I received a call from Susie's mother to let me know that she wasn't interested in babysitting any more.
I'm all for free range kids, but free range teenagers are quite another matter.
]]>I've just finished reading Churchill's Great Contemporaries, a collection of biographical essays. You rapidly realise how he managed to earn huge sums from his journalism: bags of immediacy, terrific phrases, striking insights. I've just noticed it's the fiftieth anniversary of the great man's death, which manages to make the book topical, and permits me to put up some extracts.
This extract contrasts the English Lord Curzon, one of his subjects, with Welshman David Lloyd George, who, frustratingly, isn't. I enjoyed it as it reflects how the Welsh themselves imagine they get one over the English (something that, of course, happens rarely, at least off the rugby field; cf. electoral career of N Kinnock).
Nice one, Dai!
(And the bit about the rabbits is priceless.)
Incidentally, the Curzon essay contains this famous summation of his career, even more beautiful than it is true:
"The morning had been golden; the noontide was bronze; and the evening lead. But all were polished till it shone after its fashion."
A little after one in the morning we emerged arm-in-arm from the Bristol Museum and walked unsteadily in the direction of the taxi rank outside Brown's. Mrs Brit was in a cocktail dress and heels. I was in a dinner suit (by M&S, machine washable) and a real bow tie assembled earlier in the evening with the aid of Youtube and much cursing. As we went along I tallied up the forthcoming hangover toll. I had consumed a beer, a blue cocktail of some sort related to the occasion's 'Ice Party' theme, another one, a third, a glass of red wine, another one, probably around two more when you counted top-ups, a beer, and a gin and tonic. That much I knew for certain. Mrs B thankfully had drunk a lot less so she steered.
At the rank a blur of men were having a dispute with a cab. They'd given it up by the time we arrived so I made eyebrow signals at the driver and he unclicked his lock and grinningly beckoned us into his back seat. It was an official Bristol blue hackney so we accepted gratefully, Mrs B clambering in first, then me. I mustered sufficient physical coordination to pull the door shut while announcing our destination. And that was how we fell into the clutches of The Worst Taxi Driver in the World.
Writing a piece about Salvador Dali's Mae West lips sofa got me thinking about the great surrealist/self-publicist/genius/phoney. Naturally I loved Dali's works when I was a teenage boy because I knew nothing about art and anyway I loved all the plonking things that teenage boys love (Monty Python, Pink Floyd's The Wall etc), which is just as it should be.
Where I still admire Salvador Dali is in his ability to come up with very strong marketing emblems (long legged elephants, runny clocks, lobster telephones) and for being the very personification of chutzpah. The world would be a dull place indeed if it included nobody who was able to make a living from pure bullshit.
That said, I had in my mind the vague idea that Dali had managed one really fine painting – one piece of inarguable art – and that it was the crucifixion picture Christ of St John of the Cross. But when I came to look at it again, I found to my surprise that it's a ghastly piece of kitsch, much worse than his wet dream landscapes. And what's more, when I came to try and think about crucifixion paintings of the 20th Century, it was the only one that sprang to mind apart from another even sillier one by Salvador Dali.
After centuries of depicting little else, artists just abandoned Christ on his cross. And even when they did try, you rather wish they hadn't.
I don't say this is such a bad thing, mind. One doesn't generally come out of a gallery of medieval paintings and say, "Well that was very nice but I wish there'd been a few more pictures of Jesus in there."
Thanks for all your suggestions for sofa-related culture stuff in my last diary. One that came out of your suggestions was this absurdly comprehensive and very important guide to Sitcom sofas. Includes some amusing clips.
The first inkling that trouble lay ahead came when the cabbie demanded £20 to take us home. Mrs B repeated the address in case he'd misheard. "Twenty pound, I take you home safe," he assured us with a winning smile. It was at least a fiver over the odds even for one o'clock in the morning. But then again, refusing it would have involved getting out of the cab and into a cold queue with uncertain results. And anyway after all those free blue cocktails a fiver didn't seem to matter as much as it usually does. I overruled Mrs B's objections and agreed the fee with pantomimed weariness. "You pay me now, yes?" said the driver. Click. The doors locked themselves. I looked at the streets around. Drunken idiots everywhere. Was it worth the tedium of a dispute? I decided it wasn't, and shoved the note through the hole in his plastic riot window.
Off we went. Straight away his driving seemed odd. He seemed to know where he was going but had little idea of how the lanes worked. His gear changes were visceral. Was he driving his cousin's cab as a favour, I wondered aloud. Mrs B didn't find that funny.
At the intersection between Park Row and St Michael's Hill he did the most stupid thing I've ever seen a taxi do. Driving across the traffic lights on his side of the crossroad just before they changed to red, he then slammed to a halt in front of the lights on the other side – that is, the second pair of the same set of lights – thus blocking the crossroads. This was an error so bewilderingly basic that even a white-knuckled seventeen year-old on her first driving lesson would be hard pressed to make it. "You can't stop here,' we said from the back, with increasing urgency and helplessness. Cars coming from St Michael's Hill began to toot their horns. One of them was a police car. At this point the driver realised that he had done something wrong and he shot off at twice the speed limit.
Immediately the police car turned on the siren and accelerated to come alongside us. Our cabbie didn't stop but merely wound down his window as we bumbled along the narrow dual carriageway by the BRI. "What the hell was that back there?" shouted the cop in the passenger seat. "Sorry sorry, yes I know, was just a moment…" burbled our man happily. And rather than pull him over, the cop drove off towards town. 'Blimey', I said. Mrs B and I looked at each other, and tightened the grip on each others' hands.
My last ever visit to an accounting firm was in Camden. I soon detected it was an untypical practice. There were copious racy original artworks all over the wall and a general atmosphere of bohemian dishevelment. I liked the owner very much – we got chatting about art and books and life and it turned out that she owned a women-and-guest (which is to say, lesbian) cocktail bar in Soho, if you please. She wanted help with PR for it. We did a bit of barter and she agreed to do my accounts for free in return for my advice. Well that was a lucky break, I thought as I headed back towards the high street for some lunch. I went into a pub called The Spreadeagle and ordered something called The Camden Burger.
'A nice little thing for lunch this,' twinkled the beardy barman as he set The Camden Burger down on my table. It was an absurd creation. I know I'm old fashioned but I still don't think a burger should need to be held together with a wooden pole, and nor it should be taller than the span of a normal adult's hands. The burger itself was slathered in the inevitable pulled pork and on top of all the other gubbins were three battered onion rings, each the size of a Big Mac. 'There's no way I can eat all that' I said. Then I ate it all. It was delicious and I felt like absolute hell for the rest of the afternoon. 4 ½ stars.
Which is more perfectly Guardian? Stephen Fry reading extracts of the Guantanamo Diary, or this Thornberry-style reportage from a chip shop as if it were Mars?
Temples throbbing, fists clenched tight, heart thumping, all sense of inebriated joy long disappeared, we directed The Worst Taxi Driver in the World into our street and instructed him to pull over. This he managed to do without destroying anything. Sweet relief flooding through us, we reached for our doors. They remained locked. "Can you open the doors please?' I said, trying to remain calm.
"No!" cried the cabbie. "This is not right!"
We froze. Time froze. The cabbie turned. "This is not right!" he repeated. Then he added, "I thought you meant a different road, further up. Here, please."
As the doors clicked he pushed his arm through the hole in his plastic riot-proof window towards me. He uncurled his fist and I took what was in it. It was a five pound note.
]]>Edward Thomas wrote all of his poems between December of 1914 and January of 1917. Some have suggested that this creative period was a sort of "miracle," given that Thomas had not previously written poetry. I disagree. If there was any "miracle," it was the fact that Thomas and Robert Frost met each other in 1913. Moreover, Thomas's prose writings prior to 1914 show, first, that he knew English poetry inside and out, and, second, that he had long thought about — and felt – the essence of true poetry.
His discussion of a poem by John Clare reveals the depth of Thomas's thoughts and feelings on the subject of poetry. He begins by quoting in full the following untitled poem by Clare:
Love lives beyond the tomb,
And earth, which fades like dew!
I love the fond,
The faithful and the true.
Love lives in sleep:
'Tis happiness of healthy dreams:
Eve's dews may weep,
But love delightful seems.
'Tis seen in flowers,
And in the morning's pearly dew;
In earth's green hours,
And in the heaven's eternal blue.
'Tis heard in Spring,
When light and sunbeams, warm and kind,
On angel's wing
Bring love and music to the mind.
And where's the voice,
So young, so beautiful, and sweet
As Nature's choice,
Where Spring and lovers meet?
Love lives beyond the tomb,
And earth, which fades like dew!
I love the fond,
The faithful and the true.
After quoting the poem, Thomas writes: "This and perhaps all of his best poems show Clare as one of those who have in them the natural spirit of poetry in its purity, so pure that perhaps he can never express it quite whole and perfect." Thomas then comes to the heart of things:
Here, I think, in 'Love lies beyond the tomb,' in this unprejudiced singing voice that knows not what it sings, is some reason for us to believe that poets are not merely writing figuratively when they say, 'My love is like a red, red rose,' that they are to be taken more literally than they commonly are, that they do not invent or 'make things up' as grown people do when they condescend to a child's game. What they say is not chosen to represent what they feel or think, but is itself the very substance of what had before lain dark and unapparent, is itself all that survives of feeling and thought, and cannot be expanded or reduced without dulling or falsification.
If this is not so, and if we do not believe it to be so, then poetry is of no greater importance than wallpaper, or a wayside drink to one who is not thirsty. But if it is so, then we are on the way to understand why poetry is mighty; for if what poets say is true and not feigning, then of how little account are our ordinary assumptions, our feigned interests, our playful and our serious pastimes spread out between birth and death.
Edward Thomas, Feminine Influence on the Poets (1910), page 86.
This is the wisdom and the sensibility that Thomas already had in him when the time came for him to (at last!) write his poems. And what he said in those poems is — above all else — "true and not feigning." I am reminded of what Kingsley Amis said of Thomas in The Amis Anthology: A Personal Choice of English Verse:
How a poet convinces you he will not tell you anything he does not think or feel, since you have only his word for it, is hard to discover, but Edward Thomas is one of those who do it.


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Annan is a town on the north shore of the Solway Firth and is just eight miles from the English border.
Powfoot beach is a small strip of sand and shingle beach along the coast towards Annan.
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Ruthwell is a small village close to the Solway Firth and lies between the towns of Dumfries and Annan.
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Gretna is a planned town built during the First World War while nearby Gretna Green is famous for being the marriage capital of the UK.
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The shortest place name in the UK, but Ae offers a wide variety of walks, 7stanes mountain biking trails, a café and bike shop. There's also a collection of old farm machinery!
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Enjoy the walking trails, some of the excellent 7stanes mountain biking trails and butterfly reserve in this popular forest.
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PEE-WEE's Paul Reubens Boards NBC's THE BLACKLIST
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Scoop: TODAY - 2/2 - 2/13 on NBC January 30, 2015 |
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Related: THE BLACKLIST, NBC, Paul Reubens |
EW writes that Paul Reubens will be a long way from his 'Pee-wee Herman" roots when he takes on a two-episode arc in THE BLACKLIST Season 2 on NBC.
Reubens will portray 'Mr. Vargas', described as "a dapper, finicky 'muscle' who handles delicate situations in the criminal underworld".
Executive Producer Jon Bokenkamp commented on the casting: "We're forgoing the bow tie and the bicycle, and it's going to be something totally different, and it's gonna be awesome. It can't get strange enough for me. One of the most fun things is being able to write for actors who I've admired and think are interesting and try to play against expectations. I think this will be a fun one. I'd say he's gonna shake things up a bit when he enters Red's orbit."
Best known as "Pee-wee Herman", star of the long-running children's series Pee-wee's Playhouse, Reubens has appeared on TV in everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Murphy Brown, Hercules, Everybody Loves Raymond, 30 Rock, Dirt, Pushing Daisies, SNL and more.
THE BLACKLIST stars James Spader, Megan Boone, Ryan Eggold, Diego Klattenhoff and Harry Lennix. Jon Bokenkamp ("The Call," "Taking Lives"), John Eisendrath ("Alias"), John Davis ("Predator," "I, Robot," "Chronicle") and John FOX serve as executive producers. THE BLACKLIST is a production of Sony Pictures Television and Davis Entertainment.
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How The 'Partisan Mind' Changes The National Debate
This lame-duck session of Congress has been marked by arguments over tax cuts, unemployment benefits, arms limitation and "Don't Ask Don't Tell" that seem to fall along partisan lines. But this week, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat wrote that there are some other significant issues on which the partisan divide has seemed to change. Host Scott Simon talks with Douthat about his latest op-ed, "The Partisan Mind."
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SCOTT SIMON, host:
As we've just discussed, this lame duck session of Congress has been marked by arguments over tax cuts, unemployment benefits, arms limitation treaties and don't ask, don't tell, that seem to fall along partisan lines. But this week, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat wrote that there's some other significant issues on that which the partisan divide maybe has begun to change a bit.
He joins us in our studios. Thanks so much for being with us.
Mr. ROSS DOUTHAT (Columnist, New York Times): Thanks so much for having me.
SIMON: And you begin with the recent scene of people being patted down to go through airport security and increased security alerts.
Mr. DOUTHAT: Right. And suddenly this potential, arguable violation of American civil liberties inspired all kinds of conservative outrage that was largely missing, I would say, in the Bush era whenever any kind of similar violation of civil liberties was contemplated. And you had a raft of liberal pundits rising to the defense of the pat-downs, saying, you know, Americans needed to group up and let their junk be touched and all the rest of it.
SIMON: I was interested in this part of your analysis in your column, which is that a lot of people would simply say, well, this is hypocrisy. Democrats who decried the Patriot Act now seem to accept the fact that many features of the Patriot Act aren't been rolled back now that there's a Democratic administration. Republicans, who seem to be comfortable with aspects of the Patriot Act, are now saying that the federal government is getting far too intrusive in American life.
Rather than label that as hypocrisy, you seem to think that there might actually be some strength in there, that both parties are getting exposure in government and in opposition that the changes they're thinking.
Mr. DOUTHAT: Well, I guess what I'd say is, you can sort of pick apart the intellectual inconsistencies of partisans, but it isnt a bad thing that just as Democrats sort of say, well, our guys are in power now so we don't need to worry about civil liberties as much, Republicans start worrying about civil liberties a little more. I mean that is part of sort of the way democratic system functions.
But it's also true that debates move around a lot, depending on which party is in power. And the psychology of partisanship - there's all kinds of really interesting research showing how powerful that psychology is and how it affects the way people filter in information, the way people understand the state of the economy. Theyll think differently about it if a Democrat is president or a Republican is president, and so on. So it's very interesting terrain.
SIMON: I remember thinking in November if there'd be increased security alerts right before election. I remember what we in the press, and for that matter, Democratic partisans used to suggest.
Mr. DOUTHAT: Right, that these were attempts to scare the country into voting for the Republicans. But what's interesting is then if you go back to the Clinton era and look at the way debates over civil liberties and national security and foreign military adventures played out, you often had Republicans - especially House Republicans - striking the kind of notes that then Democrats struck in the Bush era. So there are always wrinkles. But it's also true that things swing back and forth, depending on who's in power.
SIMON: All the polls suggest that the American public doesn't like partisanship and doesn't like the sniping and doesn't like the bitterness. And as a generalization, all the election results suggest that they like it just fine. Where's the disconnect there?
Mr. DOUTHAT: The public, as a whole, doesnt have sort of deep ideological consistency on a lot of issues. And so if you don't think about politics that much, you don't follow it that closely, a pollster says should people compromise in Washington, you'll say of course they should compromise in Washington, without sort of digging into the nitty-gritty.
But then if the pollster comes back to you and says, well, but should they compromise on whether they're going to raise your taxes or cut your benefits, well, then, people suddenly start to see the utility of partisanship.
SIMON: Maybe we need to ask this question every now and then: What exactly is wrong or destructive about partisanship?
Mr. DOUTHAT: Well, what's destructive about partisanship is that it just leads to pure intellectual dishonesty. There are moments when ultimately the two parties have to compromise. And the trouble with partisanship is if you're a Republican who's spent the last two years either telling Americans, or more importantly, convincing yourselves that Barack Obama is an imminent threat to the republic, how do you then turn around and compromise with that guy, right?
And I think it was the same problem for Democrats in the Bush era. The more unpopular Bush became, it became harder and harder for Democrats to work with him, whether the issue is - you know, on Social Security they just decided to turn their backs; on immigration reform they sort of tried and failed to make a deal.
But so I think in an ideal world, everybody would believe the truth about things, right? They wouldnt be deluding themselves. And partisanship can make people delude themselves pretty easily.
SIMON: New York Times columnist Russ Douthat, thanks so much.
Mr. DOUTHAT: Thanks so much for having me.
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text:
Prep Golf State Finals: Yang Leads Way For Polk Players
Published: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 8:51 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 8:51 p.m.
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS | Athena Yang of Winter Haven carded a 78 to lead the Polk County delegation at the Class 2A boys and girls FHSAA Golf Finals on Tuesday at Mission Inn Resort and Club.
Yang, a sophomore at Winter Haven High School who finished third in the state high school golf tournament last year after a first-round 76, said poor approach shots proved costly.
"My putting was really good, but my approaches weren't on. And if you can't hit your iron shots, then there's not really that many opportunities for birdies,'' said Yang, who's tied for 13th going into today's final round.
Yang played well except for two holes. She triple-bogeyed No. 10 by hitting her second shot out of bounds, and double-bogeyed No. 14 by misjudging the distance on a 5-iron.
"I'm disappointed because I know I could have done a lot better,'' Yang said. "But it is what it is and I can't change it, so I'm just going to go out there and do my best. That's all you can do in golf, do your best the next time.''
Shelby Hart of McKeel Academy, meanwhile, also shot 78 but in the Class 1A Girls FHSAA Golf Finals at Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake.
McKeel coach Dennis Brown said it was a career day for the junior, who is tied for 27th.
"She reached a different level. It was amazing,'' Brown said. "It's the best 18 she's ever had in high school competition.''
Hart overcame a bogey-double bogey start.
"It was an extraordinarily good round that's going to take her to a new confidence level,'' Brown said.
Yang and Hart posted the lowest scores among 10 prep golfers from Polk County who are competing as individuals and teams in the first round of boys and girls Class 2A and Class 1A tournaments at four different golf courses on Tuesday. Final rounds are today.
The five individuals fared much better than the Lake Wales High School boys team. The Highlanders are 16th, in last place, at the Class 2A Boys FHSAA Golf Finals on the El Campeon Course at Mission Inn.
Lake Wales, making its first appearance in the Finals, slipped to a four-player score of 95-over par on a bright, breezy day at Mission Inn.
"Honestly, I think it got into our heads about trying to live up to high expectations. It was our first state tournament,'' said Trent Farrow, who led the Highlanders with an 89.
"It wasn't a good day. At all,'' Farrow said. "My ball-striking was terrible. My putting wasn't that good. It was just an overall bad day.''
Lake Wales coach Mike Settle looked on the bright side.
"We struggled a little bit. The conditions were a little tough with the wind (15-20 mph),'' Settle said. "But overall, I'm happy. We're here at state, the only team in Polk County, and I think we're going to shoot better (today).''
Settle said early jitters and slick greens took their toll on the Highlanders.
"They had a lot of three- and four-putts. They didn't play as well as they could have, basically,'' Settle said.
Also for Lake Wales, Hunter Lerch shot 96, followed by Charlie Gist (98) and Michael Robarts (100). Hunter Taylor's 113 didn't count, as teams tally their lowest four players.
For individuals, Lake Gibson sophomore Amanda Gartrell posted a 79 in the Class 2A state tournament at Mission Inn, coincidentally paired with Yang. And Trent Harris, a senior at Lakeland Christian, shot 79 in the Class 1A Boys Finals at Deer Island Country Club in Tavares. Winter Haven High sophomore Dustin Baber finished with an 83 in the 2A Boys tournament at Mission Inn.
Gartrell got off to a strong start on the Las Colinas Course.
"I was 1-under after six holes, and then I doubled my ninth hole. And I just fell on the bogey train after that,'' Gartrell said. "I started missing the greens and I couldn't get an up-and-down to save my life.''
Gartrell had difficulty reading the distance on chip shots around the greens, whether they would roll out or check up.
"I didn't know what to expect. I couldn't anticipate my chips,'' said Gartrell, who is tied for 16th in her first state tournament.
"I think I can fight my way back,'' she said.
Harris is tied for 44th in the field of 96 after taking 35 putts, 12 shots behind leader Kerry Sweeney of Holy Trinity in Melbourne.
"He hit the ball real solid. But he struggled a little with his putting,'' LCS coach Seth Miller said of Harris. "We're going to bring it back (today) and shoot par or a little under.''
Baber shot 9-over 45 on his first nine holes, the back nine at El Campeon, and is tied for 35th.
"The first few holes I was kind of nervous because it's the first time I've been here, and it's a great experience,'' Baber said. "But after that, it was just golf.''
While Lake Wales struggled on El Campeon, Ponte Vedra didn't count a score over 79 and took the lead on the strength of Taylor Funk's 4-under 68.
Funk, the son of Champions Tour pro Fred Funk, made six birdies on the back nine a day before his 18th birthday for the individual lead.
"I scrambled a little on the front, and I hit it close on the back,'' said Funk, a senior who has committed to Texas.
Markie McCann of Bartow and Sam Horsfield of Ridge Community will compete in the Class 3A Finals next week at Mission Inn.
[ Del Milligan can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or at 863-802-7555. ]
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
Poll Previous Poll Results
Vote for Lakeland Automall Athlete of the Week
Loren Perez, Bartow: Won girls Crutchfield-Hawkins Invitational golf tournament. | 19% | |
Alexis Gaskin, Lake Region: Had 29 kills, 39 digs, 4 blocks and 6 assists in two key district matches. | 34% | |
Ty'reece Cruz, Bartow: Ran for 112 yards and one touchdown in key district win over Kathleen. | 45% | |
Bryan Reed, Mulberry: Ran for 160 yards and 3 TDs on 15 carries in victory over Tenoroc | 1% |
Number of votes cast: 838


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It's been more than a year since Zac had to visit Children's National eating-disorder clinic in DC's Spring Valley. But psychologist Darlene Atkins is certain that her bichon frisé, Murphy, will remember the former patient.
A knock on the office door rouses the therapy dog from his favorite napping spot under Atkins's desk. His fluffy body breaks into a wiggle when Zac walks in. At first, the teenager doesn't show much interest in talking to the humans in the room, but he begins to laugh and warm up as he scratches behind Murphy's ears.
Zac, now 16, was diagnosed with anorexia when he was 11. He says the physical remedies—trips to the hospital to stabilize vital signs and get rehydrated—were easy compared with the work it took to diminish the disease's psychological hold on him. "A lot of times, therapy sucks and I would dread going," he says. "When you have an eating disorder like I did, there's the physical side and then there's the emotional side, and the emotional side is 10 billion times worse."
When Zac cried in a session, Murphy climbed into his lap: "It was cool that he could sense that and comfort me." When Zac's younger sisters complained about having to tag along—adding to the list of things he felt bad about—Murphy became the solution. "My sisters loved him. They always wanted to come in and say hi."
Atkins, director of the clinic, got Murphy four years ago after hearing from a colleague about the benefits of using dogs to get through to kids in distress. For eating-disorder patients, who often feel isolated and misunderstood, Atkins says, "Murphy serves as a way to engage and connect."
When she told the Richmond breeder she wanted a dog that could work with adolescents, the woman pointed to Murphy, who she said seemed to comfort his siblings when they were upset. Atkins won a grant that helped launch the pet-therapy program, and Murphy underwent training to become a certified therapy dog.
Murphy's diplomas hang on the office wall. He calmly greets patients when they arrive for appointments. If they show interest, he takes his place on the chair beside them. If not, he curls up under the desk. "There was one patient who told me they were able to trust me more simply by watching the way I interacted with Murphy," says Atkins. Another one's parents warned that their daughter was so deeply opposed to counseling that her first session would almost certainly be her last. After an hour with Murphy, the girl wasn't sure she could wait a full week to see the dog again.
Such experiences aren't unique to Atkins's office. Studies show that incorporating dogs into therapy lowers blood pressure, reduces anxiety, and contributes to patients' social development. More surprising is the effect Murphy has had on office culture. Lisa Ezidinma, a medical technician, had an extreme fear of dogs since getting chased by one as a child. But Murphy's friendly personality won her over to the point that she decided to get a dog of her own. "My friends can't believe it," she says.
And Murphy is no longer the only four-legged staffer at the outpatient center. Down the hall, another dog makes his rounds in the diabetes department. Inspired by Atkins and Murphy, Dr. Fran Cogen got her own bichon frisé, Knickers, from the same Richmond breeder to help soothe her patients.
Before he says goodbye to Murphy, Zac takes a minute to consider the significance of his visit. Today he's a healthy high-school student, active in soccer and theater. That he's back at the clinic not because of a relapse but to see Murphy and share how the dog has helped him is something of a personal victory. "It's a happy ending," he says.
This article appears in the January 2015 issue of Washingtonian.
Gracie (above) is a Chihuahua who's about eight years old. Her owner loved her very much, but unfortunately passed away, and no one in the family was able to take care of her. Gracie is scared and not sure what to make of the shelter environment. She would really like to find a new family to love. You can meet her at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Olive is an adorable five-month-old puppy that resembles a mountain cur mix. Olive was rescued with her two siblings who have both found homes, but Olive knows her perfect family is still out there. Even though she was the smallest of the puppies, she is the leader of the pack. To find out more about adopting Olive, please visit the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Charlie Brown is a gorgeous plott hound who appears to be around two years old. He loves cuddling up and laying his head on your lap for pets. True to plott hound form, he can be a bit vocal when he gets excited, so would probably do better in a house rather than an apartment. He gets along well with other dogs and is a goofy, lovable guy. To find out more about adopting Charlie Brown, please visit the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Adler is a lab/boxer mix who is about two years old and weighs 55 pounds. He is an easygoing dog with medium energy and is very gentle. He loves kids and other dogs. He is very smart and is a quick learner—he already knows sit and stay. He is not a jumper, but is a happy and excited boy. He doesn't engage much with people he doesn't know well, but once he knows you're a friend, he's a big ham. You can meet him through K-9 Lifesavers.
Zoey is a two-year-old, 29-pound beagle-mix. She is playful, agile, and affectionate, but she's a little shy and unsure. She would be happiest in the suburbs, as she does best in a quieter home. She is house- and crate-trained, and she walks very well on a leash. Zoey loves other dogs, is respectful of cats, and is afraid of her foster family's bird. She is not possessive of food, toys, or her crate and has never shown aggression. She is a bit shy and nervous though, so she would do best in a home with another dog. You can meet her through K-9 Lifesavers.
Seiko is a six-year-old, 13-pound, domestic shorthair cat. She was surrendered to the Washington Humane Society on January 3, 2015 after her owner had to move and could not take her along. Seiko is the friendliest cat, and has a way of making everyone feel special. Even if you have only left the room for a moment, she will come to cuddle you like she hasn't seen you in years. You can meet her at the Washington Humane Society's New York Avenue shelter.
Rosie, a three-year-old husky mix, arrived at the Washington Animal Rescue League recently because her owner was moving to a place where pets aren't allowed. Rosie is obviously confused about her current situation, but she's hopeful that someone will love her again. She's past the destructive puppy stage but still energetic and playful. She likes people and other dogs and would like nothing better than a home where someone will give her attention, affection, and exercise. You can meet her at the Washington Animal Rescue League.
Oberlin is a three-year-old gray tabby cat, and is as friendly as he is handsome. He's social and affectionate with people and loves curling up in laps. He also likes other cats and would do well in a home with or without a feline friend. You can meet him at the Washington Animal Rescue League, where Oberlin and other shelter cats will be available for a special adoption fee of $14 during the annual Catapalooza celebration on Sunday, February 15.
Cana Vineyards in Middleburg is one of the few Virginia wineries that welcomes dogs indoors as well as out, making it a great destination during the colder months. Situated on a picturesque 43-acre hillside overlooking the Bull Run Mountains between Aldie and Middleburg, the vineyard allows you to bring your leashed dog into the first-floor tasting room, onto the porch and patio, and throughout the grounds. The second-floor tasting area, deck, and gazebo are for adults only—no two- or four-legged children allowed.
My dogs particularly enjoyed lying flat out on the cool concrete porch floor while the humans bellied up to the tasting bar. And the staff just laughed when the pups put their front paws on the counter to see if any treats were being served along with the wine.
Another draw is that Cana features live music every weekend. You can be social in the tasting room, but then get some privacy at one of the many picnic tables spread around the grounds or on the wide porch that spans the entire front of the building—while listening to acoustic guitar music on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Cana is open Thursday through Monday, with a $10 tasting fee and plenty of free on-site parking.
Gwyn Donohue is the author of the blog Two Dog Tales. Head there to read about more events, activities, and news for Washington dog owners.
You know what you see when you walk your dog on the Mall—famous monuments, blue skies, a gorgeous expanse of city. But what does your companion see?
To find out, we strapped a GoPro camera to Oliver, a curious standard poodle, and let him lead us on walks through the National Mall, and down Logan Circle's 14th Street, NW.
Have a question you'd like to ask a vet? Send your query to email@example.com with the subject line "Vet Q."
Q: We're debating having our new dog microchipped, but we've read some stuff online about negative side effects of microchipping. What do you tell your patients?
Dr. Chris Miller, AtlasVet DC: Oh, the internet. It's such a wonderful source of information. Most veterinarians and doctors will tell you that they can't stand it when their clients begin doing research on their own, and I used to be one of them. The trick is knowing where to look and how to differentiate legitimate sources from unreliable ones. When it comes to medicine, there is a website for everything covering every topic imaginable. This is certainly the case with microchips.
I tell clients the truth is that microchips are incredibly helpful and have revolutionized pet safety. They are small, inexpensive, and simple to administer, and more than double the chance of you getting your pet back if it gets lost. When an unknown pet arrives at a hospital or shelter, scanning for a microchip is one of the first things done to help identify the animal and locate its owners.
But what about all those negative side effects listed on the internet? Maybe you've heard the biggest rumor, which is that microchips cause tumors. It is probably best to stick with the American Veterinarian Medical Association's website on this one. While it is actually true that there have been cases of tumors affiliated with microchip implantation, the numbers should clear things up. Of the 3.7 million pets that were microchipped in a British study, two tumors were reported. Two! I don't have enough room for the zeroes required to show you how tiny of a percentage that is. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of microchips I've placed, I've never seen a tumor form at the site. Neither has any doctor I've ever spoken to about the topic.
Other things you might have read on the internet about microchips include that they migrate from the area at the shoulder blades where they are implanted to other parts of the body, or that they don't work. While migration can happen, it is extremely infrequent, and the newer microchips are less likely to move. Microchips are manmade objects and occasionally can fail to read, but this, too, is extremely rare. This is why it is a good idea to get your vet to check the microchip at the annual visit. The most common cause of a microchip failing to reunite pets with their loved ones is that it wasn't registered or the owner's information is inaccurate. There are several types and brands of microchips, and each one has a database that syncs the microchip number with the owner's information.
If you are still skeptical of the safety of microchips, ask your veterinarian if he or she has ever seen a significant complication with them. I'm confident they most likely will not have anything negative to say. The biggest issues with microchips are usually due to human error, such as improper implantation, inaccurate reading techniques, and inaccurate or absent registration information. The good news: As microchips become more and more commonplace, these issues are becoming less and less frequent. The benefit-to-risk ratio of microchipping your pet is a no-brainer—get it done.
Nearly two dozen dogs once destined for dinner plates in South Korea are now in Washington, and will soon be ready to find their forever homes.
The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International rescued the 23 dogs from a meat farm in Seoul that was shut down. According to a press release from Humane Society International, the organization "secured an agreement with [the farmer] to stop raising dogs for food and move permanently to growing crops as a more humane way to make a living."
The dogs arrived in the Washington area this week and have been staying at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Some remain at that shelter, while the rest were transferred Friday to five other local rescue groups. Five went to the Washington Animal Rescue League, including the dogs pictured here. Others went to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, Loudoun County Animal Services, City of Manassas Animal Control and Adoption Shelter, and the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Though the animals will need time to adjust and recuperate, all six shelters will work to find them loving families. Hopefully that won't be too hard, because come on, just look at these faces!
Sebastian (above) is a six-year-old cat who was surrendered because his owners' work schedules prevented them from properly caring for him. He is friendly, playful, and affectionate, and has a personality that's more like a dog's. You can meet him at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Gigi is a two-year-old rabbit who likes to run and play, but will also cuddle up and give you lots of affection. She lived briefly in a home with other rabbits, and their presence seemed to upset her, so she might do best as the only bunny resident in her new home. You can meet her at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Falcor is a four-year-old cat who was surrendered because his owner got new dogs. He loves belly rubs, chin scratches, and napping in the sun. He is great with kids and loves to be the center of attention. You can meet him at the Washington Humane Society's New York Avenue shelter.
Mimi is a three-year-old mutt who looks like she might be a chow or shepherd mixed with a Dachshund. She weighs 39 pounds, loves attention, and is very sweet and eager to please. She is available for adoption through K-9 Lifesavers.
Hopper is a shepherd/Carolina dog mix who is approximately two years old. He weighs 51 pounds and is great with everyone. He is very smart, curious, and eager to play. He is extremely friendly and would likely do well with kids. He gets along great with other dogs. He is available for adoption through K-9 Lifesavers.
Brad is an American Staffordshire-terrier mix who arrived at the Washington Animal Rescue League with his littermates in early December. Now three months old, all with a clean bill of health, Brad and his siblings are are looking to for loving homes. Like most puppies, Brad has lots of energy and will do best with a family willing and able to give him plenty of exercise, guidance, and training (WARL offers a six-week puppy class for $75).
Betty Boop is a three-year-old female calico. She arrived at the Washington Animal Rescue League in late November, rescued from the streets by a good samaritan. When no one came to claim her, she was made available for adoption. Betty is a bit bashful, but once she gets to know you, she's very affectionate and adores having her head and ears scratched. Stop by the Washington Animal Rescue League to meet Betty Boop.
Connor is a Lab/husky mix who is between one and two years old. He's a sweet boy who gets along well with other dogs. He has gorgeous blue eyes and, like any husky mix, loved playing in this week's snow. He is high energy and would do best with an active family who has a fenced in yard where he can run and play. To find out more about Connor, please visit the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Opie is a hound mix, likely between six and seven years old. He seems to have had a pretty tough life before coming to Rural Dog Rescue. He was very thin and had a sore leg, but now he's happy and healthy. He loves dogs, cats, and people, and just wants to lounge around the house all day. He's house and crate trained and would make a wonderful, easy going, family dog. For more information on Opie and other adoptable dogs, please visit the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Believe it or not, 624-acre Arlington National Cemetery is dog-friendly. The cemetery's paved roads and gentle hills are ideal if the winter weather isn't exactly motivating you to tackle the uneven terrain and mud of a traditional park hike.
Dogs can go anywhere on the outdoor grounds that people are allowed. Keep them on the sidewalk in places where there are fences or chains to protect the grass, such as around the Kennedy family gravesites. You can also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Memorial Amphitheater, and more than 30 other monuments and memorials. Dogs must be leashed at all times, and they aren't allowed in the visitors' center or other buildings.
Of course, remember to be respectful, and mindful of other visitors, particularly if you're hiking with a human pal. Recently bereaved families may not appreciate a dog's greeting or a loud debate over the latest nail-biter on Scandal. This is especially true if you go near Section 60 in the southeast part of the cemetery, where the casualties of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan are buried.
You can download the ANC Explorer app on Apple or Google beforehand if you'd like to locate specific gravesites or other points of interest throughout the cemetery. Arlington Cemetery opens at 8 AM year-round. Parking is plentiful and costs $1.75 for the first three hours.
Gwyn Donohue is the author of the blog Two Dog Tales. Head there to read about more events, activities, and news for Washington dog owners.
Ricky (above) is a four-year-old Catahoula mix who, until recently, had a family who adored him. Unfortunately, a change in circumstances means he is now looking for a new home. Ricky enjoys meeting people and happily greets them if approached. He loves to take walks and is unfazed by city noises such as construction, trucks or ambulances; he's far too busy sniffing the grass, leaves, and lamp posts. Ricky knows such basic commands as sit, down, and wait, and is eager to learn more. You can meet Ricky at the Washington Animal Rescue League.
Simon is a friendly, two-year-old American Staffordshire terrier mix who likes nothing better than curling up next to you (or on you!) on the couch. Simon is past the puppy stage but is still playful and enjoys short bouts of tug-of-war or chewing on a toy. He knows how to "sit," is house-trained, and has excellent manners when riding in a car. Simon was born with deformities in his front legs—you might not notice just by looking at him, but it makes walking a little more difficult than it is for other dogs. Simon certainly doesn't seem to notice, though, and he makes his way up and down stairs without a problem. He loves short walks but can't go running or hiking like your average dog. For longer walks, he has his own stroller that he loves to sit in. Simon was rescued by the Washington Humane Society in March 2014 after he was found suffering from multiple injuries. Nearly a year later, he's really ready to find a forever home. Arrange to meet him through his foster mom by e-mailing email@example.com.
Nantucket is a two-year-old American Staffordshire terrier mix who loves to cuddle. She gets plenty of exercise as a regular participant in the Washington Humane Society's People and Animal Cardio Klub (PACK) runs. She's always ready for an adventure, and though Nantucket gets excited about everything, especially meeting people, she calms down once she burns off some energy. Meet her at the Humane Society's New York Avenue Adoption Center.
Thor is an approximately three-year-old Rottweiler mix. He weighs about 55 pounds, but has very cute, short legs. Thor gets along with other dogs of all sizes and is fine with kids. He's an active boy and loves to be included in family outings. He loves belly rubs more than anything. Find out more about Thor and other adoptable pets on the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Army is a beautiful Bluetick Coonhound. He gets along well with dogs of all sizes, but needs a home without cats. He's most likely around five years old and thinks he's a giant lap dog. He's very laid back and generally naps all day in between walks and trips to the dog park. He's house- and crate- trained and would make a great family pet. Find out more about Army and other adoptable pets on the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Tali (above) is a one-and-a-half-year-old hound mix. She loves to play, already knows how to sit on command, and is very food-motivated, so learning other manners should be a breeze. Tali thrives in the company of people and enjoys playing with some dogs, but she's not a fan of cats. She's looking for a cat-free home with one or more active human companions who can give her the exercise and guidance she needs and the love and attention she deserves. You can meet Tali at the Washington Animal Rescue League.
Reese is a four-year-old female available for adoption through the Washington Animal Rescue League. She has medium-long hair, loves to be brushed, and is affectionate with people. She would like to be the only cat in her forever home. To arrange a meeting, contact email@example.com.
As you can tell, Daisy (who met Santa last weekend) loves people. She's the perfect size for the city—about 30 pounds—and gets along well with other dogs, too. She loves kids and lights up when she sees them at adoption events. To find out more about Daisy Mae or other adoptable dogs, please visit the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Wendy is happy dog who's eager to please her new family. Though she was very timid when she first arrived to Washington, after only two weeks with Rural Dog Rescue, she's already become a more confident girl. She loves people and gets along well with cats, too. To find out more about Wendy or other adoptable dogs, please visit the Rural Dog Rescue website.
Kojack is a chow/shepherd/collie mix. He is about seven years old and weighs about 60 pounds. He is a friendly, affectionate, and low- to medium-energy dog. He's a very sweet guy who would be an excellent family dog. He gets along very well with other dogs, too. Find out how to foster or adopt him through K-9 Lifesavers.
Lima Bean is a one- to two-year-old plott hound/boxer/terrier mix. She weighs about 35 pounds and was brought to the Washington area from a rural shelter in Virginia. She's affectionate, great with other dogs, and has a lot of personality. Lima Bean loves people but would do best in a home without children younger than 12. She's fully housebroken and knows basic commands and manners. Meet her through K-9 Lifesavers.
Quinn is a five-year-old, nine-pound domestic shorthair cat. He's very friendly, but his owner moved away and left him behind. Quinn has previously lived with other cats and would likely do well with kids since he's so easygoing. He's available for adoption through the Washington Humane Society and is currently in foster care at Pet Valu in Silver Spring, where you can meet him.