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I am a photographer, videographer and writer passionate about following my curiosity, experiencing the world to its fullest and then using my skills with pen or camera to weave those moments into visual artwork and written stories. My approach is less photojournalistic or documental. I use all the tools at my disposal to convey the emotion and feeling at the time of capture. Just as I use adjectives in my writing I use software, lighting or alternative methods of capture to polish my imagery.
My pictures can be found in the images section. It is a cross-section of my best work showcasing my style in various settings.
In the stories section I will publish some of my written work that may or may not have been published.
If you enjoy my work I would really appreciate if you shared, tweeted and liked my website. I am also up for hire as a photographer, videographer and/or a writer so don't hesitate to contact me!
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Here's my latest story. It's about my journey and time on Easter Island, but also about the history and the culture in broader terms. I dig deep into the mystical but also tragic past of the "Rapa Nui" and in the latter chapter I go on to describe the current situation. So if you have been curious about the origins of the mystical Moai or where have these people come from to populate this remote island, please indulge yourself.
In The Shadow of the Moai
It is a cold winters day in Santiago, the capital of Chile, as I make my way through the jammed traffic to my campus, squinting my eyes as the first rays of sunlight try to penetrate the thick layer of pollution emitted by the morning commuters. I have recently arrived to this far away Latin American country to participate in an exchange program. Excited, and just a little bit terrified, I arrive to my faculty to participate on my first class. As I try to enter I find the classroom door to be locked although the class is supposed to start in just a few minutes. I start to doubt if I have come to the right place after all. I see one other student pacing impatiently, looking as if she is waiting for the same door to open. I approach her asking for help with my, at the time, non-existent Spanish. As I am searching for the right word for some mundane expression, such as "to start" or "when" I start paying attention to her features. She looks different from the other Chileans I have met. Her skin is a little bit darker and I cannot quite decipher her ethnicity based on her features. In hindsight that was not surprising. As we later became good friends, I learned she is from Easter Island a speck of land 3500 kilometres off the Chilean coast in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, politically a part of Chile, but ethnically Polynesian. Little did I know at the time, that from that fumbling exchange of words would start a journey of friendship, an adventure that would take me inside her small but extremely rich culture, and ultimately to this island, a peak of a volcano protruding from the seabed in extreme isolation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
For its small size the island is extremely well known. Its isolation makes it a mystical location that for me felt almost like a myth, just a tiny bit more real or tangible than Atlantis or El Dorado. To get a rough idea of the dimensions and distances in question, the island itself is 25 kilometres by 12 kilometres from its widest point and lies 2000 kilometres away from its nearest inhabited neighbour (Pitcairn Islands), making it one of the most isolated inhabited areas in the world.
I was ultimately invited to travel to this magical place and even better, to stay with my friend's family so I would be able to personally experience what it means to be Rapa Nui. Little was I prepared for the experience to come. Swimming in a volcano crater, listening to native music under the stars or trying to politely eat fried fish intestines, all of which reminded me of the spirit of adventure, the notion of scratching deeper than the mere surface and about opening my heart and being sensitive to other people's culture, way of life and energy. To really feel, if just for a brief moment, a part of something that for me up until that moment, only existed in the tales of explorers of the Pacific such as Jacob Roggeveen or Thomas Cook.
Idols or Tombstones
During the flight I examined the immense body of water separating the island from the South American continent. The 5-hour flight represented the final stretch of water that even the ancient Polynesian sailors, for all their seafaring prowess, could never complete, even after slowly migrating from island to island colonizing the whole Polynesian triangle and navigating insurmountable stretches of open sea. Upon arriving to the airport I was greeted by my friend and her two beautiful sisters. I was given a warm hug and a colourful flower necklace as if I had just arrived to Hawaii, and indeed it reminded me of the fact that I was not in South-America anymore. The island's sub-tropical climate, very different from the dryness of central Chile, hit my sensory nerves immediately. This was a very welcome sensation after spending weeks in nearly 4000 meters in the harsh climate of the Peruvian and Bolivian plateau. After being shown to my host's home, getting my belly full of freshly caught local fish and my head firmly against a soft pillow, I felt I couldn't ask for more. My heart was nourished by the sincerity and warmth of my first encounter with the islanders, and my body was tingling of excitement for the experiences to come.
Today the island is well known and a major tourist destination, but there was a time when it truly existed in total isolation. The warm welcome I received made me wonder about the year 1722 and the first European to discover the island, Jacob Roggeveen. The Dutch explorer set foot on the island on Easter Sunday, thus naming it Paasch-Eyland or Easter Island. As often is the case, the European name prevailed as the more widely recognized description, but you won't see this name used very often on the island as the islanders are fiercely proud of their culture and their indigenous name Rapa Nui.
Immediately upon arriving on the island I was faced with its most predominant feature, the giant stone statues called moai. These statues have sparkled curiosity in scientists and adventurers alike for centuries. There are 887 statues on the island ranging from a few meters to up to 10 meters tall and weighing at up to 86 tons. The craftsmanship involved in carving, moving and erecting these giant structures is nothing short of astonishing, but less known is the fact that these statues also stand as a symbol of the rise and collapse of the ancient society of Rapa Nui.
After settling in it was time to get acquainted with my surroundings. The first trip to be made was to ascend to the Rano Kau- volcano. As a mountain it is not all that impressive at mere 324 meters, but the human eye is fooled by seeing only what is above the surface. The crater, however, is all the more impressive with its perfect round shape and little ponds that had formed on the marshland at the bottom. From this vantage point I could see almost the whole island, its rocky shores and rolling hills encircled by the blue ocean. In all honesty the land was too barren to be considered to be a tropical paradise, but what I was witnessing was only the current state, hiding a history of its own.
The most thorough and widely accepted theory to explain its ecological and sociological destruction is the book "Collapse" by Jared Diamond. His research has concluded that the island used to be a very different place before the estimated time of human arrival at around 700-1100 AD, and long into its initial settlement. However according to scientists, the island used to be a lush sub-tropical paradise containing various types of trees and plants since extinct. It was also one of the biggest nesting areas for a plethora of seabirds, but the populations have since declined greatly or disappeared completely. In the heart of this destruction and decline lies the moai and a peculiar story of a miniature society, with little to no contact with the outside world, slowly self-destructing due to over-population and the ensuing competition and warfare.
How the moai were constructed and even more so how they were dragged to their "ahu's" (sacred platforms on which the moai stand) has puzzled researchers for centuries. Theories range from peculiar to extra-terrestrial, but the prevalent theory is also closely linked to the eco-social decline of the island. Scientists have experimented with moving and lifting the moai and concluded that in a society the size of Rapa Nui it has been a tremendous effort increasing food consumption for an approximated 25% and requiring major over-exploitation of resources.
Moving the moai required ropes made out of tree-fibre and logs on which the moai were pulled. The construction and moving of the moai together with other forms of wood consumption such as canoes and firewood resulted in the complete deforestation of the whole island. Deforestation acted as a cataclysm for soil erosion resulting in fewer crops. The lack of seaworthy vessels that the trees were used for made fishing less efficient, which in turn accelerated the exploitation of the limited landmass at their disposal. At one point the traditional social structure with its priests, chiefs and Gods got overthrown by a military regime. Old traditions were banned and a new culture and order established on its ruins. The Rapa Nui-society kept declining at an accelerating pace, all the while the clans were still competing about whom would carve the biggest moai and expending their scarce resources in showing power and status rather than repairing the fragile ecosystem they had destroyed. Famine led to widespread cannibalism and finally the construction of the moai ceased, the last ones remaining the biggest ever built. When the resources became so depleted that the construction of the moai became impossible the warring clans and disputing families turned to toppling each other's statues instead. The whole cycle of self-destruction in this micro-society bears haunting resemblance to the modern era and to a development happening on a far greater scale, thus it has been the focus of and example for many scientists when it comes to understanding the fall of societies and the reasons behind the extinction of entire races.
When the Europeans finally arrived on the island the population had declined from a peak of an estimated 15-30 000 to a mere 3000 as calculated by Roggeveen. Although many would argue that it was the Europeans who brought the destruction to the island, the latest evidence suggests that they only brought the final blow, finishing a development that had started way before. It is not to say that the colonists and slavers are somehow exempt of responsibility, on the contrary. It was several decades after Roggeveen's initial contact with Rapa Nui, when the colonists and missionaries arrived. Slavery and diseases laid waste on the population and the fragile oral culture was destroyed by the foreign influence and internal disputes. By the late 19th century only 111 Rapa Nui were still living on the island, a peril that fortunately marked the turning point and start of a slow recovery. However by then most of the orally passed culture and history had been irrevocably lost.
As I sat with my friends in front of the 15 moai at Ahu Tongariki watching the first rays of sun slowly emerge from pacific, I could not help but to think what these huge stone monoliths represented. Were they the proud idols of a lost culture? Or tombstones representing the ever-present lust for power and status we humans so often fall victim to? The stark contrast between the tragic tale of Rapa Nui and the proud and lively culture I was witnessing required me to look away from the pages of history and snap myself into the present. As a visitor, was I experiencing a façade made for the entertainment of the adventurous tourist? Or could I actually be witnessing a re-birth of a culture that, for so long, had been dangling on the verge of extinction?
One night as I had just fallen asleep I heard a knock on my door. It was my host mother who urged me to put on my clothes, take my swimming pants and towel and hop into the car. As I came out I saw the whole family packing the pick-up with picnic baskets and blankets. I was ushered into the car, and as I was admiring the starry sky from the side-window I was given an explanation for this ad hoc excursion. The mother explained that during dinner she had sensed a bad energy on the table. A member of the family was going through a rough patch and the energy inside the house had gotten stale, thus she took initiative and organized a surprise swim trip on the beach to clean our spirit. I was stunned by the beauty of the whole situation. The psychological sensitivity of hers was astounding. I witnessed how she was inducing us with the spontaneous kind of love that takes the mind off of the mundane worries of everyday life. I saw that she was not only taking care of her family, but the spirit that is family.
I felt that through these people I was starting to grow a new kind of sensitivity myself. In my own society we tend to shun words such as energy or spirit and substitute them with words like psyche or mental capability. We take a more clinical approach, distancing ourselves from these concepts and relying on professional aid and therapy for our consolidation. I feel we are increasingly afraid to resolve issues and emotions inside our inner circle. Sometimes all it takes, however, is a swim under the stars. That night I think all of us slept like babies, revitalized by the energy and strong spirit of the family and the childlike joy of running into the gentle waves under the starry sky.
The life on the island was centred in the small town of Hanga Roa with all the services. In front of the town was the most popular surfing spot full of people of all ages enjoying the waves. All in all the life on the island had a certain repose to it, the absence of people sweating in their suits hurrying from one skyscraper to the other. It is a feeling you can easily get caught up in and sooner than later I found myself amidst the waves being shovelled towards the shore in a white foamy fray unsuccessfully trying to get up on my surfboard. I was not discouraged though and after getting a hang of the surfing I decided to try something even more foreign to me. I am most certainly a city-dweller, but nevertheless despite my lack of knowledge with domestic animals, horseback seemed an apt way discover all the hidden nooks and crannies of Rapa Nui. We explored caves, crater lakes, hidden petroglyphs and enjoyed a picnic well away from the more touristic sights. The islands compact size has its advantages making it easy to explore on foot, bike or horseback as long as you respect the properties and stay well within the limits since the locals are rightfully worried about trampling and littering. It is better to be informed and if in doubt the local agencies and service providers will instruct you of any restrictions.
As I gained a deeper insight into the more recent history of Rapa Nui I understood that I was witnessing a cultural resurrection. One key concept of the Rapa Nui tradition is called Mana, a spiritual energy flowing in the people and in the land through the ancestors buried in it. The islanders seemed very attuned to this concept and its importance to them was apparent. After the main artery of Mana on the island had been almost entirely cut by social decline and foreign influence, the population that had survived were hard at work at restoring that energy. It was not only a spiritual restoration, but a very concrete and tangible one. The ahu platforms were restored and the toppled moai rose once again, not only to impress tourists, but to honour the ancestors and to celebrate the culture. Many young Rapa Nui I met told me how important the moai and ahu's were for them and how the sacred sites needed to be respected. This whole concern was new. The ban to walk on the ahu's or touch the moai was less than two decades old. I felt however that it represented a turning point, before which the people were merely getting by, only recently released from a physical and spiritual slavery. The newer generations had regained the energy, the mana, to start restoring and preserving their precious, but fragile culture.
My friend who brought me to the island and in contact with her culture, was part of this restoration. She runs a unique project that takes the traditional tales found on the island and transcribes them into screenplays. Then the stories are filmed on the island and acted by the islanders, thus protecting and preserving the oral culture of Rapa Nui in an audio-visual format. This and many more archaeological, anthropological and artistic projects have raised awareness of the place and have ultimately turned it into a UNESCO world heritage site. However it is not to say that the work is in any way finished. The island is so tiny, so fragile, that it could easily be destroyed by the combination of insensitive tourism and over-population. Although land acquisition has been restricted only to the natives and many sites protected from trampling and deterioration, we cannot be lulled into the misconception that the balance can be maintained without constant work and attention, in an eco-system of this scale.
As with any project involving the varying interests of indigenous cultures and the mainstream population, the situation on Easter Island has not been without its problems. A treaty between the island and the government of Chile was signed in 1888 and in recent times it has come under a lot of dispute. Many Rapa Nui feel that Chile is neglecting their rights and trying to assimilate their culture into the mainstream Chilean society. In an article in the Time magazine, the high commissioner of the Rapa Nui parliament's division on human rights Erity Teave says; "Even though Chile is trying to assimilate us, I don't feel Chilean, nobody can force me to stop being who I am", echoing a sentiment shared by many, but not all. At the heart of the problem lies the islands total dependency on Chile. Due to its size Easter Island is unable to support much, if any, industry making the islanders completely dependent on resources shipped from the continent. Although some factions vow for independence or being part of Polynesia rather than Chile, whom with they share more cultural resemblance, it seems a distant and somewhat unrealistic prospect.
After weeks of surfing, horseback riding, scuba diving and just relaxing on the beach came the time for goodbyes. As I was leaving just before the academic semester started in mainland Chile, it was not only me who bid farewell, but a big portion of the islands youth, including the two older daughters in my family. The single hardest part of travelling is the moment you stand on a bus-terminal, a railway station, a harbour or an airport, surrounded by people you connected with, learned from and opened your heart to. The moment of farewells never gets easier. Fighting back tears I hopped on the plane, all the while thinking about what I thought was the most important lesson I had learned on the island; sometimes all it takes is a simple swim under the stars.
This next set of pictures comes from Tierra del Fuego and our encounter with the hermit Saladino. This meeting was a true surprise and a privilege to us. We were walking 15 kilometers from the nearest gravel road when all of the sudden this person appeared from the woods riding his old white horse. The whole story will be published later so I will not write it here. I will however describe each picture in the captions so it might be worth it to read those.
The first set of photos I publish from our trip to the end of the world. This was a s...
The first set of photos I publish from our trip to the end of the world. This was a shipwreck on the coast of the Magellan strait, abandoned in 1932. The ship named Amadeo was constructed in London 1869 and brought to the other side of the world when the pioneers were developing the still fledgling industry of the Punta Arenas (biggest Chilean city in the southern Patagonia) region.
Sharing more video- work by me and Joonas Virtanen. This video was shot in the Atacam...
Sharing more video- work by me and Joonas Virtanen. This video was shot in the Atacama desert and was featured in a major publication here in Chile called Thisischile.cl of which we were very happy about. I like Joonas's idea of a "travelogue" styled short clips in a music video style. I think that today's average internet user is like someone constantly coked up with the attention span of a 2- year old, which means that anything that lasts longer then 5 minutes will be a tough sell. Instead of complaining about the collective behavior of the internet generation, a good artist adapts. He finds a new way of telling his stories and here Joonas has come up with a very clever style of a series of few minutes long videoclips. I think the length and format of the video we make today for the internet is a very interesting topic and something I think about a lot when I plan my future projects.
If anyone has questions about how it was made or how a specific shot was made we would be happy to answer!
I wanna share a music video project by a very talented friend of mine named Joonas Vi...
I wanna share a music video project by a very talented friend of mine named Joonas Virtanen! This video was made for a South Carolina based band named Latenights and I assisted Joonas with the shooting and appear on the video as well. Needless to say it was an awesome project and I'm very happy about how it all came out. Joonas has a knack for music montage and I also enjoy the way he handled the color correction to achieve the kind of smooth and dreamy tone to the video.
The video was shot in 2 days and the plan was basically to go to Cerro San Cristobal (a big hill in the center of Santiago) have a few beers and come down the hill with longboards whilst shooting some shots for the video. We had the privilege to get to know Keaten North who is a member of the band and was doing a half a year exchange with us here in Santiago so through him we got to make this video for them . They have a laid back indie sound and I hope to hear more of them in the future!
Hope you enjoy!
It doesn't rain that much here in Santiago so when the sun went down and...
It doesn't rain that much here in Santiago so when the sun went down and I was walking the streets I got an inspiration to take out my camera and try my hand at some street photography. My goal was to take those moody rainy shots and create a gloomy atmosphere in the images. Without further ado here are the pictures.
Here comes the due account of my second trek with the Trekking.cl hiking group. As I ...
Here comes the due account of my second trek with the Trekking.cl hiking group. As I explained earlier it's a community of avid hikers and nature- lovers who are willing to take on anyone who shares their passion for the outdoors. After the first hike I was already waiting impatiently for next weekend and the journey to the valley of "Yerba Loca" or "Crazy Herb" as the direct translation would be. Obviously I was quite curious about the name, although I strongly disapprove of any psychosomatics of course. Unfortunately no one knew about the history of the name and we were unable to find any plants that to our knowledge could make you "crazy" and if we did we wouldn't share it here because spreading that kind of information on a public forum would be highly irresponsible. However since we knew that the youth in Santiago isn't very big on sports and more about smoking pot and chilling out we did come up with a devious strategy the government could abuse to provoke appreciation for mountaineering amongst the lazy MacDonald's generation. The way up to the end of the valley was about 20km long and included 2km of ascent. If you planted a few pristine samples of Cannabis sativa up there in the final pass before the glacier I am pretty sure the lazy young hipsters would become a generation of enthusiastic mountaineers, granted they could actually make their way back down after enjoying the fruits of their hardship.
After last weekends successful ascend to the hills surrounding Santiago I was feeling good about taking on Yerba Loca. Starting our journey the weather was glorious and everyone seemed pumped up about reaching the glacier "La Paloma" of which we could see a part of in the distance. We started to make our way up the valley and although it wasn't as steep to start with as last week the way was longer. During the first day we advanced quite slowly pausing every now and then to take in the views. In the end a hike like this, at least for me, isn't about "performing" but rather "enjoying the ride". As the sun started setting we decided to make camp after about 13km of walking.
As the night fell upon us people started cooking a little barbecue of whatever meat and sausages everyone happened to bring about. The escudo and pisco bottles started coming out of the backpacks and there was a general feeling of sharing and taking in the experience together. I must admit though that I was quite ready to crawl into my sleeping bag once I had my belly full and didn't partake in the heavier drinking, a decision I didn't have to regret the next morning when the alarm went off at 5:30 and the last part of ascent started.
The whole way the landscape had been slowly changing from a lush forest valley into a barren waste, coloured by the shades of cyan and rust from the iron and copper rich ore of the mountains. In a way it felt like a journey through time, a passage from a vibrant living landscape to a realm of dead stone devoid of sentiments for the mortal world below. This experience strongly reflected how I felt in the Atacama desert a few months back and it's the kind of feeling that reminds me why I live 14 000 kilometres away from home and away from all things familiar.
I had had a little accident with my food last night, meaning I didn't have any supplies for the second day. Arnold, one of my trekking companions, kindly let me dig into his remaining cookies, but nonetheless when we reached the highest point of our journey I started feeling my stomach grumble and I wasn't the only one. When there's no food the second best thing is to daydream about it so with my mates Mike and Steve we drew strength from the idea that once we reach Santiago after all this we're going to hit an awesome hamburger joint and fill ourselves up with a huge and extremely unhealthy dinner. This idea really whipped more speed into us and it felt that after no time we reached the base of the National Park. Just before the base we were treated with a show of soaring condors and hunting Chilean eagles and afterwards I became curious about the condor, one of the biggest birds on the planet, with a wingspan of up to 3,2 meters. What stroke me as even more interesting though was the fact that it's one of the oldest living birds on the planet with specimens living over 70 years in captivity and scientist speculating that it could theoretically reach 100 years, pretty similar to the lifespan of a human.
So after 40km of walking and 2km of ascent and descent we were finally in a car on our way to Santiago. All of us were hungry like stray dogs and our mouths were salivating over the prospect of some real Yankee style hamburgers and cold beers. When we got to the hamburger joint and took the first sip of a cold lager even the girlfriend of Mike, who came by to say hello, understood that this was not a time of conversation, but of quiet devotion for the miracle of tasty saturated fats refuelling our spirits and our souls.
Scooping up the last French fries I already had my mind firmly on the next adventure. My dream of Patagonia and reaching the "end of the world" is drawing closer and I feel physically and mentally perfect for facing whatever awaits me there. Photographically I'm not 100% satisfied with what I came back with from this particular trek, but that is partly due to the fact that hiking in a group you are somewhat depending on the patience of the others as well. When it comes to shooting amidst a heavy hike like this, many times it's for the photographer to go just a little bit further. When everyone else put their bags down and took a sip of water I was looking for a vantage point, a composition. When the others woke up at 6am I had my alarm set for 5:30 to be able to take a few long exposures before we took off. It's all good and well on a 2- day hike, but we'll see how it feels like on the 5th or the 6th day of a gruelling adventure in Antarctic conditions. I promise I will try though!
Meanwhile everyone here's the link for www.trekking.cl again, if you are situated here in Santiago you owe yourself to check it out. My friends in Finland could start thinking if this kind of thing would be possible there as well. Especially Rovaniemi is situated perfectly considering outdoors activities!
In the start of next year I will be travelling for almost 2,5 months and my tr...
In the start of next year I will be travelling for almost 2,5 months and my travels start with an epic adventure to Patagonia, which hopefully includes a lot of trekking and outdoors activities. With this in mind I thought it was time to do a little fitness check and see how badly all the beer and completos (chilean hot dog) had ruined my body during my 4 months here in Santiago. I live in the city centre and I have to say it does not invite you to do sports. The air is bad and I don't have any beautiful parks or anything nearby to go jogging, and all excuses aside, I am lazy so last weekend I decided to join Trekking.cl, a group of avid hikers who invite all and everyone to join their hikes for free, and to see how I can survive the ascent to the foothills near Santiago. In the end I am very happy that nobody told me beforehand that we are going to ascend well over 1000 meters in less than 5 hours, most of it in the dark.
The Trekking.cl initiative is truly great. It is just a bunch of guys who want to share their experience of the routes and places and the treks happen every weekend. Whoever can join, just bring your own equipment, food and most importantly sufficient water. The group was extremely friendly and when we finally reached our destination at the top we made a small campfire, did a little barbecue and even shared horror stories. Some people may have even had a little pisco or escudo (local beer), which tasted great after the days work. We spent the night up there in tents and came down the next morning. The idea of hiking late in the night and early in the morning was because of the pressing heat in Santiago at this time a year. For someone used to a much colder climate it would have been extremely painful for me to hike up there in the middle of the day.
I will keep this post short and let you enjoy the pictures I took, but needless to say it was a great way to pass the weekend instead of going to a bar and having a hangover on Sunday. I felt very good when finally back in Santiago and am not too worried about my fitness anymore for Patagonia. I felt that I was in a good shape and going up I tried to keep a good pace to sweat all the lazy Santiago days out of my body and actually made it first on top. I will be participating on the trek next weekend as well so more of this to come!
Here is a link to their website with info on the upcoming hikes.
Disclaimer: All the pictures from the island and of the movie production are t...
Disclaimer: All the pictures from the island and of the movie production are the intellectual property of Waitiare Icka and I am showing them as a part of my blog under her consent.
Today was a special day for my good friend Waitiare, who had her film Uho te Uka premiered at our campus. This was an extremely interesting project for many reasons the biggest, for a foreigner like me, being of course the fact that it was done in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and that it was done by the islanders themselves. Waitiare herself is a filmmaker from the island studying here in Santiago in my university and we have become friends for having mutual courses. I have obviously been enchanted by the fact that I can study with someone from a place that for me has seemed almost unreal, a place of myth and legend and I guess although most people know Easter Island, few people know much more about it than the Moai statues that resemble a certain ex-prime minister of Finland.
Obviously the films only merit wasn't the fact that it was shot in an exotic location by exotic people (by our standards), but it was actually a very entertaining 50 minutes with a lot of nice camerawork, beautiful scenery and authentic Rapa Nui atmosphere. Well what do I know about authentic Rapa Nui atmosphere, but if it wasn't I was certainly fooled. The story was simple, as these orally passed legends usually tend to be, but the story had the warm feeling of having been passed on for generations in the smoky scent of a cosy campfire. I could imagine the village elder or some sort telling this tale to the younglings for entertainment, but also for the underlying wisdom of life it contained. It makes me think about my own culture and our legends, which have been preserved mostly in writing, since Lönnroth and how she is actually doing the same as our own national scholar did in the 19th century going around the countryside collecting the myths that would later become the Finnish national epic Kalevala. Worth mentioning about the movie as well is the beauty of the actors, not the least the protagonist whom with her womanly curves seduces even a turtle from the sea, definitely a treat for any mans eyes.
I am writing this now for two reasons. First of all because it was her premiere night and I want to congratulate her tremendous effort for making her first long (51min) movie and secondly to speak about her upcoming project in which I have been fortunate enough to be slightly involved in. These movies are not just whatever tales shot in an exotic location, but they are actually the oral heritage of the indigenous islanders that she wants to preserve in an audio-visual format. The modern culture reaches its tentacles even to the most remote places on earth and Rapa Nui today is a totally modernized community. As we all know, when old traditions are replaced by cable TV and Internet there is always the possibility they will slowly fade into oblivion. She has realized this danger and with a group of young islanders has started this project to write the myths and legends of the island into screenplays and shoot them, which I think is needless to say a noble and worthy cause. The oral unwritten tradition I think is the most fragile one on the face of the globalized culture of the modern era.
Lastly I want to write a little bit about her upcoming project. The preservation project was never meant to be only one movie, one legend, but a series of videos that would eventually become an audio-visual library to the culture of Rapa Nui. As I am speaking it is the 30th of October and the plan is to shoot a new short film in February 2013. It will be a similar project and I have been told it will have ghosts, so stay tuned. My contribution so far has been to introduce Waitiare to Kickstarter, an online funding platform for creative projects that in my opinion could serve to fund, at least partly, her upcoming production. Shooting a movie is not cheap and many would be surprised of all the costs involved even in the smallest of projects and this is not the smallest of projects by any measurement. In this kind of situation more money basically equals more quality in the technical aspects of the movie, because it allows for more sophisticated equipment, better props and a longer shooting time. I will obviously inform here in my blog when our Kickstarter project has been launchedso that anyone reading my blog and willing to get involved can easily do so. We estimate that it will be about 2 more weeks until we are ready to go live with it.
Once again huge congratulations to Waitiare for completing her first movie project and looking forward to the next success!
PS: There's a lot of photos of which most I had nothing to do with. To alleviate any misunderstanding I have not been to the island (yet) and was not part of this production in any way.
Last week I was approached by my classmates to come and help shoot Zombie Walk Santia...
Last week I was approached by my classmates to come and help shoot Zombie Walk Santiago 2012. As an uninformed foreigner I had no idea whatsoever what a "Zombie Walk" was, but it definitely tickled my interest so I happily accepted. I didn't have any idea about the scope of the event so I was surprised to hear that we were expecting over 8000 zombies to march through the city to the final location where there was a stage and a concert. I was asked to shoot a timelapse sequence of the park when the zombies finally arrived to the scene. When they finally did they were about 12 000 and it truly was an unique sight. Some people had taken the dressing up part very very seriously and you could see a few excellent zombie interpretations.
I was educated that this whole Zombie Walk phenomenon is actually a worldwide underground happening that they hold especially in the big cities in the US. Usually it has a vague social agenda like for example famines or consumerism. I do however think that most people were merely wanting to dress as zombies and frighten the onlookers. Some of the costumes were extremely macabre and funny in a horrendous way and there were even zombie childeren with bloody faces and bloody dresses. My chilean friends asked me if we did Zombie Walks in Finland and I answered "Not that I know of", but after taking a quick look at Wikipedia the first Zombie Walk in Finland was held in Helsinki on 2006 and the latest was this year in Tampere with 20 000 participants. How did I not know anything about this? I don't know and I can not come up with a plausible excuse.
It was a really funny day and I took a lot of pictures since I had the backstage access and could shoot from the best possible angles. Here we go, braaaaaaaaains!!! Oh sorry that was wrong or so would a "purist" tell you; quote from Wikipedia: "Zombie behavior is a hot topic of debate. Purists who draw their definitions from the original Romero Living Dead films will claim that a zombie would never have the ability to call for 'brains' and furthermore that a zombie needs only living or freshly killed flesh for its sustenance, and not the brain in particular."
PS: My friend just told me that she had seen me on TV in a story about the event :D
I am really looking forward to sharing my written articles in a beautiful multimedia format. My first entry is almost finished, but I still need to figure out the details with my publisher.


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Same pics of the ghosts album, but developed in C41 and in an other (and better) photolab. I was astonished by the result, it seems Mars landscapeThis photo was shot on film. Taken by ladysimmons with a Lomography Diana Mini (available in our Online Shop) loaded with Redscale Negative 50-200 film in Turin, Italy. These tags describe this photo: fog; and redscale;. This photo can also be found in the album Ghosts II.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Looking to break into the music business? Join musician, college professor, and American Idol insider, Michael Wood, in this free live web seminar and learn about everything from touring, to record companies, management, agents, and getting on iTunes. Michael Wood is the President and CEO of City Lights Entertainment and recent author of You've Got A Friend in the 'Biz.
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Outside-Counsel ManagementKaren Sloan, The National Law Journal
iRobot Corp.
Most people are familiar with iRobot Corp. through its line of home-cleaning robots: The ubiquitous Roomba vacuum is the most popular robot in the world.
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Cron job sends duplicate e-mails
I am a PHP programmer but not really good with linux programming. So please be patient with me. I am busy now with a site which needs to work with the cron job. The admin panel of the server is ISPConfig 188.8.131.52. So that's why I am trying to find help here.
The cron job is working well, it executes every task with just this command:
* * * * * http://www.site.com/emails.php
I have report this with the system administrator, but he ignores me, instead he accuse me that the mistake lays on the script. I have assured him that there is nothing wrong with the script because I've tested it with simple PHP mail(). Now the project stucks with this problem. And he, of course, is very busy with other things.
So, could someone please help me here? Thank you in advanced.
Has nobody ever used ispconfig cron job for mailinglist??
Do you have root access to the server? If so, what's in the mail log when the script is called?
Do you have the same problem when you call the script in a browser?
Yes I have the root access to mail log, I see my e-mail is called two times. But I don't really understand what causes it. And I don't really know how to analyse it.
What I got is:
postfix/smtp[1883]: EFE3D2C01DA: to=<my email>, relay= 127.bla bla, delay=4, delays= and so on.
postfix/smtp[1883]: 2D7122C0164: to=<my email>, relay= 127.bla bla, delay=4, delays= and so on.
Check the message headers for both emails, the answer is there.
I have tested 2 different emails, both are duplicated, but have different header.
The first one,
amavis[26497]: (26497-03) Passed BAD-HEADER, <web@server> -> <my email>, quarantine: U/badh-Uo+mu32fsdf, Message-ID: <msg id>, mail_id: etc..
amavis[27881]: (27881-08-2) Passed CLEAN, <email@example.com> ->, Message-ID: <msg id> etc...
Btw, how can I copy the line?
Your script is using a bad/missing header to send email and amavis tagged it as quarantine . It passes CLEAN because in your spam filter policy is defined so (check your policy). After the email is tagged an email is send to the quarantine admin (with information about the bad headers).
- Google the problem with de bad headers (you will find tons of info)
- If you want, you can tunning your amavis setting.
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Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send Karl to the island paradise of Vanuatu. In this first episode we see Karl attempt two very different types of bunjee jump, spend some quality time with a tribe that worship Prince Philip, go sand boarding and wear some very exotic underwear.
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Add Sammy Hagar's Beach Bar & Grill to the long list of fine establishments pummeled by Hurricane Sandy. The Atlantic City, New Jersey hang out, located at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino, had its rooftop patio wrecked by rain and wind during the storm.
Hagar posted a pic of the damage to Twitter, adding, "Hope all Redheads and Beach Bar & Grill staff are safe and dry! Here is a look at the damage - we will rebuild!"
Profits from the Beach Bar & Grill go to the Hagar Family Foundation, which supports local children's charities. The restaurant is only open from May through Labor Day weekend.
In addition to his Atlantic City hotspot, Hagar owns nightlife venues in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Las Vegas and St. Louis.
Copyright(c) 2012 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved


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from the greatest voices of reason who are, or have ever
been, in our world
a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it
feels about dogs
You have a clean slate every day you wake up. You have a chance every single morning to make that change and be the person you want to be. You just have to decide to do it. Decide today's the day. Say it; This is going to be my day.
Brendon Burchard
Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible.
Hannah Arendt (1906-1975)
You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about, the more you have left when anything happens.
Ethel Barrymore
When your views on the world and your intellect are being challenged and you begin to feel uncomfortable because of a contradiction you've detected that is threatening your current model of the world...pay attention. You are about to learn something.
William H Drury, Jr. (1921-1992)
quotes for the day this November can be found on these links:
2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29
feature is from theVoiceofReason.com
'The home of world comedy truth entertainment'.
theVoiceofReason.com is a satirical, comedy and humour site. This
particular section, however, is a collection of genuine quotes from
real people.


text:
The Superstars portion of the 1994 King of the Ring bracket nears completion as Adam Bomb and the 1-2-3 Kid battle for a spot in the tournament. »»
Yokozuna has a surprise for Camp Cornette and Bret Hart battles Tatanka in the main event. »»
Lex Luger has his first big match since WrestleMania X. Can he make it count? »»
Long time rivals the Undertaker and Yokozuna team up to take on Camp Cornette. Can they co-exist? »»
The Men on a Mission-Quebecers rivalry continues in this week's King of the Ring qualifying match between Mabel and Pierre. »»
Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels get tune up matches for WrestleMania and Vince McMahon uses the Ultimate Warrior's return to take some subtle shots at WCW. »»
The qualifying round of the 1994 King of the Ring Tournament gets underway as Scott Steiner faces Irwin R. Schyster. »»
Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels square off in a special interview and it's so special that Rowdy Roddy Piper has to put in a stipulation for their WrestleMania XII encounter. »»
Diesel gets a crack at the Intercontinental championship and the WWF blows an opportunity to turn Doink heel. »»
Diesel takes wrestling weaponry to a whole new level. »»
Will Razor Ramon answer Diesel's challenge? »»
Bret Hart's forgettable third WWF title reign continues. »»
Tatanka-Kwang II is scheduled for today. Is it any better than their first encounter? »»
Bret Hart defends the WWF title against the Undertaker for the second time, but will this match be any better than their Rumble snoozefest? »»
Koko B. Ware makes a random appearance and Thurman Plugg and Jeff Jarrett lock up for the second time in two weeks. »»
There's a problem right here in Camp Cornette and it starts with BANZAI! »»
Jeff Jarrett faces Bob Holly in today's main event. »»
Vader vs. Gorilla Monsoon? It's a happening! »»
Tatanka forgot to pay his gift tax. »»
You've been warned from ordering one of the most anti-climatic Rumbles of all time! »»
Two fantastic matches and not much else. »»
Razor Ramon doesn't take kindly to Goldust's advances. »»
Bastion Booger tries to take Earthquake to the bat cave. »»
"The Ringmaster" Steve Austin makes his debut. »»
It's time for the Raw Bowl! »»
A squasherific Superstars paves the road to WrestleMania! »»
Randy Savage and Ric Flair go toe to toe in the go home show of 1995. »»
Bret Hart vs. Adam Bomb is the main event today, with the Quebecers showing up every now and then. »»
Meet Randy Savage: paper champion. »»
I know that I haven't continued my 1994 Superstars reviews for a while, but I've had some time to get caught up. When we last left, it was a few weeks after the Royal Rumble. Ludvig Borga was just sent packing after an ankle injury and the Unde »»
There's a pay-per-view around the corner, right? »»
Randy Savage defends the WCW title against Lex Luger as the WCW faces continue to doubt each other. »»
Hulk Hogan overshadows another Randy Savage title reign. »»
Sting vs. Hogan the way it was meant to be. »»
Does Sting quack like a rat? »»
Who's first in line to face the Giant for the WCW World title? Not the person you'd expect. »»
What happened last night at Halloween Havoc? Guess what, we're WCW and we're not going to tell you! »»
Ludvig Borga makes his last WWF appearance and Rick Martel and Randy Savage battle it out in the main event. »»
Hulk Hogan makes inappropriate OJ Simpson references as the Dungeon of Doom unveils their secret weapon...THE YET-AY! »»
Can Ric Flair gain Sting's trust? »»


text:
Photos collected over the past few weeks on the beauty found while driving through the wildlife refuge here in Ga. and SC.
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text:
Deputies ID man arrested in stabbing
Updated On: Feb 04 2013 11:09:14 AM EST
Deputies said the person responsible for stabbing a Seminole County woman is her ex-husband.
A woman was stabbed in her Sabal Drive home with a butcher knife over the weekend.
On Sunday night, deputies took Thomas Price, 58, into custody. When he saw the deputy he laid down on the ground and said, "I killed her."
The victim was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries.
The victim told investigators she and Price had been divorced for ten years but he moved in last August because he needed a place to stay. She had recently become concerned with his drinking and wanted him to move out.
Price was booked into the Seminole County jail overnight.
Copyright 2013 by WESH.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Susan Rotroff
Revolving Door (0)
Who's coming and who's going. Tell us about your job move! Receive the Revolving Door Newsletter with expert analysis by email twice a week.No Revolving Door results were found.
Sightings (1)
Spotted around the media universe
2013 Guggenheim Fellows Revealed - Posted April 11, 2013
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has released its list of 2013 Fellows, and the list includes a number of literary winners. Kiran Desai, Adam Johnson, Rachel Kushner, Ben Marcus, David Means, Terese Svoboda and ... [GalleyCat]


text:
Updated: April 1, 2013 2:38PM
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A 19-year-old McLean County man has been sentenced to life in prison for the sexual assault of three young children.
Brett Wilson of Clinton was sentenced on Friday, two months after a jury convicted him of predatory criminal sexual assault.
Illinois law requires a mandatory life sentence for that charge if it involves more than one victim.
The incidents were reported to authorities in January 2012, and Wilson denied the accusations.
His attorney argued at trial that adults close to the children had manipulated them into claiming they were assaulted by Wilson.
Assistant State's Attorney Adam Ghrist says it's "sad" that a 19-year-old received a life sentence but says Wilson's victims will be affected by the abuse for the rest of their lives.


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We will never have all the facts to make a perfect judgement, but with the aid of basic experience we must leap bravely into the future.Russell R McIntyre
Judge your enemy based upon capabilities, not intent, you have to look at the enemy and really almost make a worst case call every time.Norman Schwarzkopf
Only a kind person is able to judge another justly and to make allowances for his weaknesses. A kind eye, while recognizing defects, sees beyond them.Lawrence G. Lovasik
An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.Edward de Bono
One should judge a man mainly from his depravities. Virtues can be faked. Depravities are real.Klaus Kinski
Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not information alone but also judgment, the manner in which information is collected and usedDr. Carl Sagan
We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The world at large does not judge us by who we are and what we know; it judges us by what we have.Joyce Brothers
Poison cures in certain contingencies, and in those cases poison is not an evil thing.Jean Louis Guez de Balzac
It is not right that any one should be advocate and judge in the same case.Bartholomew of San Concordio
Do not wait for the Last Judgment. It takes place every day.Albert Camus
I can usually judge a fellow by what he laughs at.Wilson Mizner
I can usually judge a fellow by what he laughs at.Wilson Mizner
Men judge us by the success of our efforts. God looks at the efforts themselves.Charlotte Bronte
We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their acts.Harold Nicolson
Ordinarily men exercise their memory much more than their judgment.Napolon Bonaparte
Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, profoundeness of knowledge, fairness of judgement and dearness of mind; because whoever tries his best to under- stand a problem will have to study it, whoever has the practice of studying the subject he is to deal with, will develop a clear mind and will always come to correct decisions, whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience and forbearance and whoever has done this has done justice to the cause of religion and has led a life of good repute and fame.Ali bin Abu-Talib
I could never divide myself from any man upon the difference of an opinion, or be angry with his judgement for not agreeing with me in that, from which perhaps within a few days I should dissent myself.Sir Thomas Browne
The supreme and only Judge of the universe stands before the tribunal of an earthly judge.John Calvin
His mind resembled the vast ampitheatre, the Colisum at Rome. In the centre stood his judgement, which like a mighty gladiator, combated those apprehensions that, like the wild beasts of the Arena, were all around in cells, ready to be let out upon him. After a conflict, he drives them back into their dens; but not killing them, they were still assailing him.James Boswell
Value judgments are destructive to our proper business, which is curiosity and awareness.John Milton Cage Jr.
Each of us is full of too many wheels, screws and valves to permit us to judge one another on a first impression or by two or three external signs.Anton Pavlovich Chekhov


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The great outdoors isn't so great if you're a bear and it's hunting season, so it's lucky for Boog (Martin Lawrence) that he's been fully domesticated by kindly animal trainer Beth (Debra Messing). Boog's got it good and knows it: He performs for local kiddies during the day and lives in Beth's garage, which comes complete with TV, indoor plumbing and a cushy bed — teddy bear included. But his world is flipped upside-down after he listens to the desperate pleas of Elliot (Ashton Kutcher), a mule deer w...
What parents need to know before their kids see Open Season.
Open Season -- Interview: Martin Lawrence 'On Boog'
Open Season -- Clip: Fire!
Open Season -- Boog, a domesticated 900lb. Grizzly bear finds himself stranded in the woods 3 days before Open Season. Forced to rely on Elliot, a fast-talking mule deer, the two form an unlikely friendship and must quickly rally other forest animals if they are to form
Open Season -- Clip: I've been living a lie
Open Season -- PC CD-Rom, GB Advance, GameCube, Xbox, Xbox 360
Open Season -- Clip: McSquizzy's tree
Open Season -- Interview: Gary Sinise 'On Shaw'
Open Season -- In Sony Pictures Animation's first feature film, the animated action adventure comedy Open Season, the odd are about to get even. Boog (Martin Lawrence), a domesticated grizzly bear with no survival skills, has his perfect world turned upside down when he meets Elliot (Ashton Kutcher) a scrawny, fast-talking mule deer. When Elliot convinces Boog to leave his cushy home in a park ranger's garage...
Open Season -- Clip: Some kind of chick fight
more Open Season videos
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text:
Pizza is good. I could eat it every day if given the opportunity. It's like the absolute perfect food.
There are only three days of Jazz band left for me. I'm really happy about that. I know that's kinda wrong I guess, but I am. I'm just kinda sick of it. I'm sick of getting home late and not getting all my work done. I know this is mean, but it's like I go there everyday after school for an hour and a half and all I get is half of a song to sing. No offense to anyone else, and if you don't like this you can go jump off a cliff, but I think I'm the best of the three vocalists. And Melody, who, in my personal opinion, is the worst, gets the most singing. Like that makes sense. And I'm not going on the New York Trip, so there's really no use in going next semester. And I don't feel accepted by the people. Not all of them anyways. Some people really make me feel bad when, to my knowledge, I didn't do anything to them. And if they have fun making people feel like crap, then that is just wonderful for them, but I do not need that. If they don't want me there, I'm not going to be there. Oh well, not a big deal.
Matt Link got a car. It is tight. I sat in it today before Jazz band. Not for long. For like maybe 5 minutes tops, not even 5 minutes. I just wanted to see his car. We didn't do anything. We really didn't. Oh yeah we did. We listened to Griswald (spelling). Anyways, his car is nice and I'll never have one that nice. -lol-
This is going to sound really weird, but since school started, I haven't seen Matthew that much. Its like every time I see him it's like I'm only saying "well I'll see you later" or "call me tonight". It makes me sad. I'm not really allowed to go out though. Sigh...he has lessons in Huntington today. I don't know who with, but he's going out for All State. I hope he makes it. He deserves it. He was upset about something today in Jazz Band but he would tell me what. But I knew something was wrong because he just acted funny. It kinda makes me feel bad when he doesn't tell me stuff. I mean, even if I can't help him, I still wish he would tell me. It would make me feel better because now I feel like I did something wrong and he doesn't want me to get upset that he thinks something. I wouldn't though, I'm not like that.
I should be doing my science report, but I kinda don't see the point. I only have a 107.5 percent average in there. I'll probably do it here in a little bit. After I eat my pizza that I made.
So many people claim to love...but there is so much unnecessary suffering in this world...maybe love is just a facade...maybe we just try to convince ourselves that Love is an actual thing and not just a dream or a goal.
Just some foolish goal of a child...
|© 2002-2008. Blurty Journal. All rights reserved.


text:
November 22nd, 2013 By Kevin Perry
Las Vegas, NV- Sunday, live from Macau, China, Filipino star Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) faces a typical foe in Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios (31-1-1, 23 KOs) on HBO PPV. The two will fight Sunday morning to accommodate the American PPV audience, and the fight will air live here Saturday evening at 9pm EST. Rios, who currently resides in Oxnard, Ca is the perfect foil if he follows the script. He marches forward relentlessly, has average footwork, and is limited defensively. Unless Pacman is a shot fighter after his 6th round knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez (55-7-1, 40 KOs) last year, he should gobble up the Mexican American like a power pellet.
While Rios is a good fighter, his limitations were exposed in his last fight against limited boxer- brawler Mike Alvarado (34-2, 23 KOs) in a 12rd unanimous decision loss, and a controversial split decision victory over Richard Abril (18-3-1, 8 KOs) last year . While no one is comparing Manny's style to the defensive and technically sound Abril, the Filipino's advantages in hand and footspeed are apparent, and the oddsmakers have Manny a clear favorite over the somewhat one-dimensional Rios.
Rios however is a good puncher, who throws in volume and has a wide array of punches including a stiff jab, left hooks and body shots. It should provide some good entertainment for the PPV audience regardless of the outcome. Manny would be best to not stand right in front of Rios to give him the opportunities he's predictably looking for. While Manny is coming off of a knockout loss, Brandon has been in two brutal battles in a row against Alvarado in which he appeared hurt a number of times. The wear and tear of Rios should be considered a factor here as well even though at 27 he is several years younger than the 34 year old Filipino congressman.
In a solid bout that has come under the radar, IBF super middleweight (168lb) champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KOs)
faces countryman George Groves (19-0, 15 KOs) in a 12 round title bout, live from Manchester, England on Saturday. Groves is mostly an unknown fighter on this side of the pond, however he's beaten some decent fighters in his short career, most notably 2008 Olympic Gold medalist James De Gale (17-1, 11 KOs)(MD 12) in a showdown of UK prospects. Groves has stopped his last three opponents, and completely dominated an old Glen Johnson (52-18-2, 38 KOs) in a unanimous decision win in 2012.
Groves is a quality all around fighter. The question mark is his chin. Groves was down against a domestic level fighter in
Kenny Anderson before stopping him in the sixth round in 2010. One thing is for certain. His chin will be tested. He's probably a better boxer than Froch, however Froch edges him by far in level of experience and quality of opposition. Many can argue that Groves was lucky to squeak by De Gale in a bout that was really a toss-up depending on what style you preferred. This is where you got to go with Froch's experience, even though at 36 years of age you have to wonder how many times Froch will have to go to the well to get a victory. Groves has an 11 year age advantage at 25, and way less milage on his chassis.
-Kevin Perry
Mr. Perry plans on doing a weekly or monthly mailbag column. Questions of comments can be send to email@example.com.
"MANNY PACQUIAO: RISKS LIFE WITH BRANDON RIOS!" -Pedro
Would love to hear your prediction Pedro. If Manny wins this fight against a younger, brawler, that can take some hard hits, especially after everyone is saying this is really risky fight since pac was knocked out cold, pacman will be on top again.
If pac is KO, it's over and it's retirement. You can't deny the heart of this man and Pac's fights are counting down…
Don't think either Pacquaio or Rios can get a one-punch KO, which counterintuitively may make it a dangerous fight for both. One-punch KO's don't seem to damage a fighter as much. Lennox Lewis and Roberto Duran's chins held up fine after being KTFO. Even RJJ's chin was able to take shots against Glencoffe Johnson following the loss of Tarver.
Longer a fight goes, the more dangerous. Most ring injuries/deaths occur from cumulative punishment and the victims often succumb in the late rounds against a light-hitting opponent. That was part of the rationale for reducing the championship distance from 15 to 12 rounds. An active fighter like James Toney has never been KTFO, but his speech is more slurred than RJJ. Ali was also never KTFO, but now has Parkinsons.


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- The hotel's exclusive private restaurant where you'll taste only the freshest local ingredients
- Slipping into your private Jacuzzi on the terrace of your spacious Suite
- Strolling down to the pretty nearby beach for a splash and a sunbathe
- This holiday is ATOL protected (ATOL 3634)
5* Lanzarote holiday
Hotel Villa VIK, Canary Islands
Suite with private Jacuzzi in a five-star Lanzarote hotel - includes half-board, flights and private transfers
Hotel Villa Vik is a boutique five-star hotel in the relaxed residential area of Playa del Cable. Just 200 metres from the sea, you can stroll down to the sandy beach whenever you fancy. You're also just two kilometres from the buzz of Arrecife, the island's lively capital.
The perfect balance between hotel and private villa, this adults-only retreat has an intimate and welcoming atmosphere. Your suite, with its private Jacuzzi and large terrace, gives you plenty of your own space, and when you want to venture out you'll find a charming restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and a sleek, modern design throughout.
Our offer includes a seven-night stay in a gorgeous Suite with a private Jacuzzi, on a half-board basis. Return flights are also included, as well as private return airport transfers.
We like
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- To find out more about this hotel, please visit their website
- To compare our rates with those available online, please see the supplier's own website
- To read guest reviews, please go to TripAdvisor.co.uk
Can't commit to booking right now?Hold a date for only £25 while you decide.
- Pay £25 to hold a date until the end of the sale.
- If you choose to buy it, the money will go towards your purchase, if not, the cash will be credited to your Secret Escapes account.
Important: Please note, this is not a deposit, complete or guaranteed booking; holding the date simply prevents other members from swooping in and booking your preferred date while you're still having a think about it. Secret Escapes will not be liable for expenses incurred should that date not be available to book and a hold is cancelled.
For more details, please see our FAQ page and our terms and conditions


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Wolverine® Men's 6" Moc Toe Wedge Heel Steel Toe EH Boots, Brown
Item # WX2-146271
- Google+
This item is shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
- Details & Specs
Men's Wolverine® 6" Moc Toe Wedge Heel Boots are stable, comfortable hard workers.
A classic that never goes out of style. Wolverine's 6" Moc Toe Wedge Heel Boots have stood the test of time and remain a favorite for work. They're made with full-grain leather uppers and unlined to keep your feet cool. Choose soft toes or steel toes. Save big now!Look at this:
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- ANSI 75 steel toe and electrical hazard rated. Each approx. 6" h., 28 ozs.
Save now on this great looking style! State Width and Size, as available in the Shopping Cart. Order ONLINE Today!
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Press releases rarely make me drool. But the recent announcement from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) on their new Global Guidelines for Treating Type 2 Diabetes did. Why? Because this was trumpeted as more than a scientific manifesto of the best practices for treating diabetes; it was put forward as a working solution to an imperfect world.
The IDF claimed to have created related, but separate, guidelines for various parts of the world – guidelines adjusted for the resources available.
Wow. Finally. Someone influential was acknowledging that the world is not black and white, but a million shades of gray. I was excited to see what the global experts had come up with to help the most needy get care. I expected innovative, out-of-the-box thinking. Maybe even some tricks I could steal for my own resource-scarce service area in New Mexico. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fully 80% of the 346 million people in the world who have diabetes live in low and middle-income countries. And these people are less healthy and die earlier than those of us in wealthier nations.
Did the IDF figure out a way to address this glaring global health disparity?
I got more exited still as I scanned the lengthy guidelines' table of contents and saw that "psychological care" and "older people" and "education" and "lifestyle management" where all subjects that got their own chapters. Finally someone was assembling all the pieces. Mind and body and circumstance.
Sadly, when I dug into the meat of the document I was disappointed, to say the least. But before I proceed to blast the IDF, let me quickly review what the 123-page document (PDF here) is all about.
Poor, Richer, and Super-Rich
Thirteen guidelines exist, covering the full range of diabetes topics – from eye screening to kidney damage, nerve damage to glucose control levels. It's a good list.
Each chapter first provides a brief bullet-point-like summary of the recommendations. This is followed by an explanation of the rationale behind the recommendation, and a discussion of the evidence base. Each section wraps up with considerations, implementation, evaluation, and references.
Rather innovatively, on the surface at least, the document defines three levels of care:
Recommended care. This is the core care needed to treat diabetes. The IDF says they choose approaches that are cost-effective in "nations with a well-developed service base and with healthcare funding systems consuming a significant part of their national wealth." In other words, in developed countries. And following the trend in the USA, their recommendations are "evidence-based," meaning they stand behind only treatments and modalities that have been well-studied and validated by science.
Limited care. These are the shortcuts for the poorest countries. How do you care for PWDs when your country has little to go on? In the IDF's verbiage, you use "care that seeks to achieve the major objectives of diabetes management, but is provided in healthcare settings with very limited resources – drugs, personnel, technologies and procedures."
Comprehensive care. This third level of care is ironically pictured at the bottom of the pyramid, rather than the top, while it is actually "the icing on the care cake." It's the best of the best for those who can afford it. It even includes yet-to-be-fully-proven approaches in "healthcare settings with considerable resources."
As an example of how these three levels of care overlap, but differ, let's start at the beginning: The Guidelines for screening for diabetes. (Note: the document recommends against universal screening.) Recommended Care states that high-risk folks should be screened using any of the WHO criteria, which are old-fashioned fasting glucose test results or random glucose fingersticks, oral glucose tolerance tests, or A1C tests. It goes on to say "People with screen-detected diabetes should be offered treatment and care." Ya think?
So, what should we do in a Limited Care environment? First, detection programs should be "opportunistic and limited to high-risk individuals in very limited settings." Screening should be done using send-out labs, rather than point-of-care testing. The lack of faith in the ability of field personnel in Third World countries to accomplish anything of note is a theme we see repeated again and again in the document. In this sense, I found the Guideline to be Imperial, Paternal, and frankly, quite insulting. It reflects the totem-pole hierarchical attitude typical of Western Medicine.
And what should we do in a wealthier Comprehensive Care environment? Well, of course, we should also run islet antibody tests, C-peptide tests, and genotyping to ferret out the proper classification of diabetes.
This gives you some idea of how the three levels pan out: Recommended actions generally make sense, the Comprehensive suggestions are nice if you can afford them… but the Limited Care recommendations fall absolutely flat.
Creative Thinking, Anyone?
While the concept of a Limited Care component for diabetes guidelines is a fantastic idea in principle, I found the limp-dick approach of the IDF to be pathetic. Take education for example. No CDEs in the central Amazon Basin region of Mosquitovilla? I expected the IDF to advocate for ways of getting peer educators into the field, use radio or cell technology to leverage limited manpower, drop leaflets from airplanes, or use tribal drums to send diabetes education "tweets" if need be. Or maybe something really innovative that I would never have thought of in a million years. What do we get instead? "…education may be provided by a smaller team (physician and educator) or in very limited situations by an appropriately skilled individual."
OK. All-righty then. We'll get right on that. If we had any idea what the IDF considers "appropriately skilled"…
In care delivery, we find that Recommended Care advises a "multidisciplinary care team with specific diabetes expertise maintained by continuing professional education." And even better, it suggests: "Consider how people with diabetes, acting as expert patients, and knowing their limitations [Huh? Oh, right, we PWDs don't know squat about living with diabetes, after all], together with local/regional/national associations, might be involved in supporting the care delivery of their local health-care team."
That sounds like peer-educators to me. And I think that's a super idea. In the education consideration section the IDF even admits that, "Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of innovative approaches that include using peers, community workers, and technology to support diabetes self-management education. Great! Now we're getting somewhere! Let's do it in the Third World, it would be an awesome force multiplier.
But no. Wait. The All-Knowing IDF doesn't appear to trust the intelligence, drive, and ingenuity of Third World PWDs. The Limited care protocol, knowing a multidisciplinary care team won't be on the savanna any time soon, says "use an appropriately trained healthcare professional to deliver diabetes care." They do offer the helpful suggestion that "Redeployment of underused resources (such as leprosy clinics)" may "offer opportunities for improved care in some countries." No shit. I couldn't have made that up if I tried.
And on it goes. A lot of official language. So little creative thinking…
Writing Off the Third World?
No registered dietitians on the remote island of Udun-wana-live-here? Make sure the docs are trained to double up.
No test strips in sub-Saharan Africa, where we know diabetes is currently diagnosed by having patients pee on an ant hill? The IDF suggests only giving meters and what few test strips that might be available to people who use insulin and insists that blood glucose strips should only be used in emergency situations.
In fact, the guidelines totally diss urine glucose strips. I agree, they're sub-standard, but in a resource-poor area, where every penny counts, wouldn't it be better to use them rather than having only the insulin users test their blood sugar, like the guideline suggests? To my way of thinking, it would be better to have the type 2s on orals use the strips for some sort of glucose control feedback than none at all. But what do I know? I'm not the IDF.
It almost feels like the IDF is writing off the Third World, which means it's writing off 80% of the people with diabetes on the planet. Just in time for World Diabetes Day. For instance, the guideline notes that kidney dialysis or transplantation is "severely limited in a global context," and that "it has been estimated that once a dipstick test is positive, time to kidney failure is about 9 years, but that this time interval can be doubled though appropriate treatment of blood pressure."
And what are the Guideline's thoughts on how to treat blood pressure in a Limited Care environment? While they admit that lifestyle change is "generally insufficient" and that even at full dosage, any single medication is "not particularly effective" at controlling blood pressure, the front-line advice for blood pressure control in the Third World is "initiate a trial of lifestyle modification… with appropriate education."
Recommended foot care takes up seven bullet points with a total of 25 sub-points spread over two full pages. But even in remote Up-river Congo-wongo the guideline insists that checking feet requires a doctor. In northern New Mexico, where I work, we use Promotoras (community health educators) extensively to do foot screenings. We often joke that our state is a Third World Country. I had hoped I could learn from the IDF. Maybe the IDF should be learning from us instead.
Sadly, the guideline is a Western Medicine standard of care document, heavily credential-laden and full of medical bluster, which to me shows that the IDF is clueless about how to help the 277 million PWDs in the Third World. As noted, there's almost no creative thinking. No consideration of using Mid-levels, Para professionals, or trained laypeople. There's nothing new in the "new guidelines."
Maybe the people who wrote it should have been sitting on a piece of canvas in the jungle, not in some air-conditioned wood-paneled boardroom in glass high rise.
Wait a sec. Just who did write this Guideline, anyway?
The Authors
The Guideline was crafted by a "broadly based group" uncluding health professionals from "diverse disciplines," representatives of non-governmental organizations, and also some PWDs (!). The introduction to the Guidelines tells us the group was global in scope, including folks from "countries in very different states of economic development."
The members came from the UK, USA, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, Cameroon, Denmark, India, Italy, Switzerland, Tanzania, and The Netherlands.
UK and USA members dominate the list.
But according to a WHO-funded study published in The Lancet, Oceania had the largest rise in diabetes prevalence, closely followed by Asia, Latin American, the Caribbean, North Africa, and the Middle East. All parts of the globe rather poorly represented (if at all) on the committee that developed the Guidelines.
You can see for yourself what parts of the world have the lowest and highest fasting glucose rates globally here. Cambodia seems to be doing something right, while the Marshall Islands seem to have a problem. If I were working on the Guidelines, I would have invited someone from each place to the table. And an analysis of the growing global diabetes epidemic published in the journal Diabetes Care predicts the greatest relative increases in diabetes will be in the Middle Eastern Crescent. Again, missing from the table.
The IDF intends to review and revise these Guidelines again in five years. I hope they do better next time. Because if the IDF can't figure this out, who can?


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It's Friday! And while the people in the US are relaxing at home for Thanksgiving, our lives go on as they always have. But we do have Sinterklaas in December. Not that it changes anything.
Anyway, make sure to check all the pictures I put up, or for those who know me, to send more pictures to put up. That's all for now.
Sign the guestbook, tagboard.
Next page (older posts).


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The recently released Impact of TennCare: A Survey of Recipients report for 2014 shows that 7.2 percent of Tennessees 6.5 million residents are uninsured, a 25 percent decrease from last year. The report also shows that 2.4 percent of children in the state are without insurance, a 35 percent decrease from last year.
|Current Economic Indicators
|Tennessee Unemployment Rate (SA)
0.1 pt in Sept 2014 [rate: 7.3% (p)]
|Tennessee Nonfarm Payroll Employment (SA)
0.3% in Sept 2014 [level: 2,816,700(p)]
|Tennessee Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims
8.5% in Sept 2014 (15,742 Initial Claims)
|U.S. Unemployment Rate (SA)
0.1 pts in Oct 2014 [rate 5.8% (p)]
|U.S. Nonfarm Payroll Employment
0.2% in Oct 2014 [level: 139,680 thous (p)]
|U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims
2.4% in Oct 2014 (1,037,921 Initial Claims)
|U.S. Total Private Average Hourly Earnings
$0.03 (p) in Oct 2014
|U.S. Consumer Confidence® Index
5.5 pts in Oct 2014 (Index 94.5, 1985=100)
|U.S. Leading Index
0.8% Sept 2014 (Index 104.4, 2004=100)
|U.S. Consumer Price Index
0.1% in Sept 2014 (Index 237.6 SA)
|p preliminary / SA seasonally adjusted / pts points
month-to-month change:
increase decrease no change
October 21, 2014
Bill Fox, CBER Director: "Cities Grappling With Challenges Of How to Tax, Regulate Short-Term Rentals" (Joyce E. Cutler, Bloomberg BNA)
October 18, 2014
Bill Fox, CBER Director: "Jobless Rates Down in Tennessee, Georgia But Remain Above U.S. Rate" (Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free Press)
September 25, 2014
Matt Murray, CBER Associate Director: "UT Report Projects Moderate to Strong Growth for State Economy" (Roger Harris, Knoxville News-Sentinel)
July 18, 2014
Matt Murray, CBER Associate Director: "Unemployment Rises in June in Tennessee and Georgia" (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
May 23, 2014
Bill Fox, CBER Director: "Big Jump in New Businesses Fuels Tennessee Economy" (Brandon Gee, Nashville Business Journal)
January 31, 2014
Matt Murray, CBER Associate Director: "UT Report Says State Unemployment Will Fall in 14" (Bloomberg Businessweek)
October 1, 2013
Bill Fox, CBER Director: "UT Expert: Real Danger for Economy Lies Ahead" (Megan Boehnke, Knoxville News Sentinel)
October 1, 2013
Bill Fox, CBER Director: "Ask The Experts: Are Sales Tax Holidays A Good Idea?" (Mark Huffman, Card Hub)
May 8, 2013
Bill Fox, CBER Director: "Local Retailers See Gains from Internet Sales Tax" (Businessweek.com)
May 6, 2013
Bill Fox, CBER Director: "Who Would Win or Lose on Online Sales Tax" (Jayne O'Donnell and Hadley Malcolm, USA Today)
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 | 865-974-1000
The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System


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The Fray
IMPACT: The Fray
"We've always been walking that fine line and dancing between John Mayer and Fall Out Boy," Slade said.
Imagine Dragons & The Fray to Play Amnesty International Show
"As artists, freedom of speech is really important to all of us so I think that's a cause we can all get behind," said Imagine Dragons' Daniel Platzman.
'Glee' Returns With Music From Gaga, Adele, J.Lo
Tonight's premiere, airing on its new night and time, allows fans to catch up with all their favorite characters after a summer of big changes.
Kelly Clarkson Is Taking Requests – 5 Songs She Should Cover
On Kelly Clarkson's summer tour with The Fray, the singer's taking requests. CBS Local has a couple of ideas.
The Fray Talk Kelly Clarkson And New Music
The Fray might be Kelly Clarkson's biggest fans. "We really respect her and her work and what she's done with the cards dealt to her," frontman Isaac Slade said.
Alice's Sweet Sixteen Party Weekend
We're doubling the presents with tickets to see Kelly Clarkson and the Fray this July at Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord and passes ionto Alice's pop-up Lounge presented by popchips featuring Ed Sheeran May 3rd at Infusion Lounge in San Francisco.
Kelly Clarkson And The Fray Have Summer Plans Together
Didn't get a chance to see Kelly Clarkson's recent Stronger Tour? Or maybe you missed The Fray when they last came to your town. Well, now you can see them both on the same stage when they hit the road together this summer.
PODCAST: Fray Interview
Marcus D talks with Isaac from [lastfm]the Fray[/lastfm] about the [lastfm]U2[/lastfm] tour and their local Bay Area dates.
The Fray For $2.99!
Stop by Amazon.com to download the entire album [lastfm]The Fray[/lastfm] for just $2.99.
Free Comedy CD – For the Troops!
FOR THE TROOPS III – Stand up for TROOPS! CD for the men and women in the Armed Forces in the US and abroad and their families. WWW.CDFORTHETROOPS.COM FOR THE TROOPS III is the 3rd […]


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- 2014 Citizen Corps Conference
Registration for the 2014 Citizen Corps Conference is OPEN
This conference is designed for the Citizen Corps coordinators and front-line volunteers. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend general session classes and break-out workshops to further enhance knowledge and skills. The draft agenda is attached. Please watch www.michigan.gov/citizencorps for updates.
When: December 3-4, 2014
Where: Great Wolf Lodge, 3575 North US31, Traverse City, MI 49684
Please read carefully as some processes have changed.
Required: All registrations must be approved by your regional Citizen Corps coordinator who will provide you with a registration code that will need to be used during the registration process.
Conference Fee: $125 (includes lunch & dinner on Dec. 3 and breakfast and lunch on Dec. 4, plus all conference materials). If you have been designated by your Regional Coordinator as a free attendee, you will not be required to pay a conference fee. Cancellation of attendance by November 10, 2014, is permitted. After November 10, no refunds will be issued, substitutions are welcomed. To register a substitute, please email the new attendee's name and information for whom they are substituting to email@example.com
Lodging: All lodging arrangements must be made by attendee by calling the hotel at 231-941-3600 and referencing group code "1311Citizens." A credit card will be required to secure the room; your credit card will not be charged at the time of reservation. If you are approved by your region to occupy one of the 20 free spaces, Citizen Corps will cover your room charge ($75 single occupancy), resort fee ($9.99) and tax for the night of Wednesday, December 3 for that one person. Any additional charges including additional nights and/or additional person charges and incidentals are the responsibility of the volunteer and will be charged to the credit card on file. Lodging cost breakdown is as follows:
- Single occupancy room - $75/night (includes one water park pass)
- Two - four occupants - $100/night (includes up to four water park passes)
- $30 per person/per night for additional guests beyond four (which includes water park pass)
- Resort Fee - $9.99/night
*There is no discount for unused water park passes.
*Cancellations made within 72 hours of the arrival date will be charged the first nights room charge plus tax.
*All no shows will be charged the first nights room charge plus tax.
Reimbursement: Some regions may be able to reimburse you the cost of lodging and conference fee. Please check with your regional coordinator when obtaining approval to attend.
To Register: All registrations must be done on MITRAIN. Directions for registering are attached.
We look forward to another successful year and hope to see you there!


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Group Study Rooms for 4, 6 or 8 People
There are three small study rooms available on the second floor of Stephens Central. Reservations are recommended. For details see - Reference Services.
Joel & Suzanne Sugg Community Room
Where great events happen!
For a large gathering, or friendly dinner.
The Community Room is a 3,000 square foot space on the third floor of Stephens Central and holds up to 542 people standing; 250 in auditorium seating; 150 for meal service; or 130 seated at tables to view a presentation.
Those providing a public gathering of a civic, cultural, charitable, social or educational character and those that fulfill the library's recreational and intellectual role may use the room without fee.
The space is available for a fee for private events and by for-profit organizations.
Click here to submit the application for room use, or you may download an application and fax it to 325-659-4027 or email to email@example.com.


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PN made a mess - Joseph Muscat
"The Nationalist Government has made a mess of its energy policy, first opting for gas, then heavy fuel oil" – Labour Leader Joseph Muscat.
In a two-hour speech, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat made a wide-ranging speech covering all the aspects of the administration, focusing particularly on finance, the economy, and energy. "We are recognising the aspirations of youths, middle-class, families and students. We need economic competence to govern the country," he pledged.
Muscat explained how the Opposition had told the Nationalist Government that his financial estimates were wrong, "but he did not budge. "What we told him was right, as the EC has announced that it was putting Malta under an enhanced surveillance programme," he insisted.
The inflation rates in the Eurozone were much lower than those in Malta, leading to an increased cost of living. With certain exceptions, the jobs being created by the Nationalist Government were not up to expectation.
"The Government boasts that it has created 20,000 jobs. Four employees went to my office to explain their plight. They are employed on a three-month contact; hence according the Gonzi calculation 16 new jobs have been created," he warned., The unemployment rates have gone up for the sixth month running, and this has taken place because the Government has lost touch with the economic situation.
Gonzi follows "electoral deadlines, rather than national deadlines".
Despite the reduction of the tax band, the Government has been collecting more taxes than ever before to make good for them., "The electoral pledge to reduce tax bands has to be implemented immediately and fully, not like the half-baked measure announced in the 2013 over the span of three years," he insisted.
Whoever makes a single computation for people between 15,000 and 19,000 would now have to pay taxes.
When Gonzi was asked about whether people with a minimum wage will pay tax, he denied it.
But he was caught out by the Opposition and had to admit it. The tax on the minimum wage, on itself, is a good enough reason to vote against it," he insisted.
The Government has known for some time that the Budget would not have passed, and should not have led to this precipice. "We will vote against the Budget as we do not trust Gonzi. However out of a sense of National Unity, we will keep the framework of the current budget.
"He hope that the Government has negotiated the 2013 Budget with the EU as is expected of it," he warned., "If the Government will play the partisan trick of suspending the COLA and other social payments while at the same time getting all its revenue from the day of the Budget, a new Labour Government will give these payments retroactively from 1 January 2013," Muscat pledged.
Muscat reiterated the accusation he made that in the Government would raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 after the next general election. The only point on which we differ on this Budget is the taxation of minimum wage earners. A new Labour Government will remove this anomaly.
At first the Government was claiming that it would produce a surplus, "however the fiscal situation has not improved. "The Government has now claimed that wanted to reduce the social deficit, however more than 40,000 people are now on the benchmark of poverty," he warned.
The Nationalist Government has made a mess of its energy policy, first opting for gas, then heavy fuel oil," he insisted. "We will implement a coherent and sustainable energy policy that includes both fossil as well as alternative energy methods to reach the reduction of 20% of traditional energy source to renewable ones by 2020.
"We have pledged to reduce the electricity tariffs, and from day one, a New Labour Government will work steadfastly to implement this pledge," he insisted., "The PM is curious to know our plans, but I do not trust him and will not reveal our plans before the electoral campaign," Muscat said sarcastically. "When his 'best buddy' – Nationalist Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil, who has confirmed that he will draft the electoral programme for the forthcoming General Elections as he did for the last General Elections on 8 March 2008 -- was asked to reveal how a new PN government will implement its own pledge to reduce power tariffs, he only said that he would announce it in the right time," he insisted.


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4 Ways to Make Mashed Potatoes More Amazing
Make an old favorite even more irresistible with a few savory stir-ins.
Try our recipe for classic mashed potatoes!
Fold 1 c. shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese and 2 Tbsp. snipped chives into 4 c. mashed potatoes until well mixed. Serves 4 to 6.