text:
America's Exception Deception
In a democracy, politicians seldom counsel the public to be modest. They flatter and praise the voters, telling them that they are just and wise, hardworking and principled, possessed of boundless vision and common sense. And here in America at least, they also generalize those virtues from the people to the nation itself. America, Americans are endlessly reassured, is unique and special among the world's countries. It isn't just that we're the most important country, which is undeniable, since we have the biggest economy, the biggest (and most frequently deployed) military, and the most influential popular culture. Those things could change someday. Instead, what voters are told over and over again is that we're "exceptional." We're not just stronger or richer; we're better. Indeed, we're stronger and richer because we're better. And we may well be exceptional in how often we're told that we're exceptional. My knowledge of the electoral politics of other nations may be limited, but I don't recall hearing about presidential candidates in Portugal or Peru who feel the need to convince voters that their country is superior to all others and they are the world's best people.
So some people were taken aback last week when Vladimir Putin, in his op-ed in The New York Times last week, took exception to Barack Obama's talk of exceptionalism. "I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States' policy is 'what makes America different. It's what makes us exceptional,'" Putin wrote. "It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation." He probably didn't realize that every American president says that sort of thing; it's our national program to build self-esteem. That's how politicians put a gold star sticker on our papers, pat us the head and tell us that we're smart and kind and good-looking, and if the other countries don't like us then that's their problem, not ours.
It was a bit amusing to see Barack Obama being chastised by Putin for his comments on American exceptionalism, since it put conservatives in the uncomfortable position of defending the president for the very thing they spent so much time criticizing him for in the past. It seems like a distant memory now, but Republicans spent most of their 2012 presidential primary competing to see who was most appalled by Obama's allegedly insufficient belief in America's uniqueness. There was barely a Republican contender's stump speech that didn't feature thunderous insistence that, unlike that anti-American socialist in the White House, they knew deep in their red, white, and blue bones that this great land stands alone. Mitt Romney titled his book No Apology: The Case for American Greatness; Newt Gingrich offered A Nation Like No Other: Why American Exceptionalism Matters. "America is different," wrote Tim Pawlenty in his book. "And what makes us different makes us great. Barack Obama doesn't see it that way." Or as Sarah Palin put it in her inspiring tome America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag, Obama "seems to see nothing admirable in the American experience."
The fact that back here on planet Earth, Obama has always peppered his speeches with assurances of America's exceptionalism didn't much matter to them (though it seemed to Putin). Nevertheless, even the most gung-ho hyperpatriot might occasionally feel a tiny tickle of doubt over the fact that his country takes it as its privilege, alone among nations, to invade or bomb whoever it pleases on a regular basis. The assumption that we have every right to do so is neatly justified, however, if we are not just the strongest but also the most virtuous. Our bristling arsenal of weaponry is not the product of a series of happy accidents of geography and history but the consequence of the Lord's grace, unambiguous and eternal. You might recall that in 2003 when Howard Dean remarked offhandedly that "We won't always have the strongest military," the reaction from Democrats and Republicans alike was one of horror, as though he had said that God would eventually forsake us. Perhaps that fear is why it has become all but mandatory for American politicians to end every speech with "God bless America," as though they're reminding the Almighty that America is due more than its share of heavenly consideration.
It's true that having the world's biggest military imposes on us obligations other nations don't have. The citizens of Mongolia don't need to wonder whether they should intervene to stop the carnage of a civil war thousands of miles from their borders. But the truth is that we only undertake humanitarian interventions like the one we're contemplating in Syria when our moral outrage lines up with our economic or geopolitical interests. President Obama may say that simply because we are America, we have to do something about the slaughter in Syria. But we never even considered intervening in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where years of civil war have left millions dead (Obama himself raised the question of the Congo in an interview earlier this year, but didn't answer it).
That's rather unpleasant to think about, if you believe our motives are always pure. But like Stuart Smalley, the desperately insecure self-help addict created by Senator Al Franken in his previous career, we need to keep telling ourselves that we're good enough, we're smart enough, and doggone it, people like us.
In case you haven't heard, education researchers began realizing a few years ago that all that self-esteem building parents and schools have been doing over the last couple of decades doesn't work. It turns out that if you just tell kids they're smart and wonderful, they have trouble when they encounter difficult problems. Cultivating traits like persistence is much more important.
Maybe there's a lesson there for the country. There are certainly things only the United States can do, but perhaps there are some international problems we can't solve. Perhaps we're not the hero of every story. America stands apart from other countries in many ways; some of them are justifiable sources of pride, others not so much. Putin is a repellent character, combining a dictator's inclinations with his own special brand of shirtless buffoonery. But none of us should be surprised when people in other countries get a little tired of American politicians constantly proclaiming our superiority.
Mon, 2013-09-16 15:31
This is truly incredible...a person who doesn't even know what is meant by "American exceptionalism" berating it. One would think that a person with a national forum would try to at least know the general outlines of the subject he is writing about. Oh well...as they say, ignorance can be fixed but stupidity is permanent.
Mon, 2013-09-16 16:40
when you come across someone like paul waldman, you have to pretty much discount every unfortunate synapse that crosses his neural pathways, as they were. it's worse than knowing nothing. it's combined with the hubris and arrogance to think that you do, and that you ought to be "read" on the subject. hysterical, sad, dangerous.....
Mon, 2013-09-16 18:08
Waldman simply appears to be using the more popular definition of the term "American Exceptionalism" (AE), namely that Americans are greater/better than others. There are various definitions. I assume you must be referring to the less known, historical definition of AE. That definition has pretty much fallen off the map.
So, given the now popular definition (ie. the one used mainly by right-leaning politicians), where is Waldman wrong?
Tue, 2013-09-17 06:00
Yes. In addition to not knowing what exceptional means as it is understood for this discussion, Paul fails to recognize what that means in our every day life. In post Soviet-Putin Russia, an article that criticizes the government (such as Sen. Jim Demints letter to Putin) regularly gets people imprisoned and worse.
Mon, 2013-09-16 16:07
The concept of American exceptionalism originated with Alexis de Tocqueville in his sentinel two-volume thesis "Democracy in America." In 1831, the French government sent him to study American prisons. For nine months, the young man (he was 25) traveled extensively studying American economics, sociology and political institutions.
He did not use the word "exceptionalism." The American Communist Party brought the word to the lexicon in the 1920s.
Tocqueville thought America was "exceptional" because it had not evolved as European nations had. Born from revolution, America, in Tocqueville's estimation, was the world's first "new nation." Its nature grew from a unique ideology of liberty, individualism and equality.
European communists in the early 20th century believed the collapse of western capitalism and revolt of the working class were imminent. American communists, however, thought an exceptionalism principle applied to the United States. Its industrial might, abundance of natural resources and absence of class distinction would hold collapse and revolt at bay for an extended period. (We might ask, How much of this is true today?)
In our time, "exceptionalism" has come a long way from meaning different or fortunate. We clearly mean better. Would-be officeholders cannot enter political competition without explicitly acknowledging American superiority. Concepts and utterances such as "American decline" or "end of empire" are taboos in the political dialogue.
Perhaps President Putin does us a favor.
Flag waving may have its place, but when we substitute it for problem-solving, are we patriots or fools?
We worry our kids are among the worst educated in the developed world; but when common sense is the measure of things, does it matter? If we embrace or reject science as it compliments or diminishes our personal beliefs and preferences, is the Age of Enlightenment still in our rearview?
Many, if not most philosophers would say the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (particularly the Bill of Rights) are crowning jewels from the Age of Enlightenment. If exceptionalism requires we ignore the wisdom of Enlightenment – that reason is supreme and everything is open to criticism – do we really think patriotism based in exceptionalism and dogmatically driven "common sense" provides sufficient guidance for decision-making in an era of constant change, competition and danger?
There was a time when we were less occupied with our omnipotence and grandeur. We thought our republic was an experiment, a great one to be sure, but an experiment nonetheless. It would not always meet our expectations, but we would make it better next time.
We still take pride in the belief our republic is self-correcting. At one time that meant we were willing to work on problems and deficiencies. Any proposition the nation can mystically heal itself if only government would ignore problems would seem strange to the pragmatic people who founded and built this country.
We were not always a people who felt the need to brag on ourselves or to have our ideals of superiority constantly reinforced by politicians. We could accept our nation was imperfect but clung to the proposition it was on an endless journey to becoming "a more perfect union."
A constant stream of objective measures paints a portrait of fading greatness. We can ignore data or we can respond. We can push government away and expect unrestrained capitalism to create an equitable society for ourselves and our kids. Or we can push government into the fray to "promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. . . ."
If exceptionalism were just feel-good ideology promoting optimism and encouraging us to face down hard times with confidence, it would serve us well. It is not. It undermines our will to face reality and make the collective sacrifices that are greatness.
Mon, 2013-09-16 17:58
Interesting post. Just two points: Tocqueville said America is "quite exceptional" -- note the qualifier. Also, a lot of his contemporaries disputed this claim, including John Stuart Mill. If the US was born in revolution, so was Tocqueville's France.
I wouldn't dispute your claim re: CPUSA, but according to Harvard's Daniel Rodgers, the term "American Exceptionalism" only entered the US political lexicon after World War II -- by no coincidence, the start of the so-called "American Century".
Re: "Many, if not most philosophers would say the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (particularly the Bill of Rights) are crowning jewels from the Age of Enlightenment." Well, American ones, perhaps. Nations such as Canada, whose liberal democracy was based on as explicit a rejection of the United States' political structure as the US's was from Britain might disagree, as might nations such as the UK, Australia and New Zealand whose democracies owe little, if anything, to the US.
Generally, I find Americans OK. But their belief that no-one made any contribution to the liberal democratic state other than themselves is a little wearing....
Tue, 2013-09-17 16:21
Interesting, insightful comments. Thanks for the serious read.
Tocqueville's qualifier is noted. Interesting isn't it, more than 180 years later we can still bicker about the finer points of "Democracy in America."
I did not mean – he said defensively – to imply America's "crowning jewels" from the Age of Enlightenment are superior to other foundations of liberal democracy. Had I had access to your insight before posting, I probably would not have used the adjective.
Even in agreeing, we have shades of disagreement. You find American claims of specialty "wearing." I can understand how, when looking at us from a distance, one could feel that way. You might think that garnering that reaction would give us pause.
I was coming from a different perspective, however. I was looking at the concept's internal effects and finding them too often counterproductive and dangerous.
Mon, 2013-09-16 17:11
When the Declaration of Independence was signed , equality became the rational for political action for the first time . That was exceptional.
With oceans on both sides the United States is invulnerable to invasion . That is exceptional.
The U.S. is blessed with abundant natural resources and farmland . That is exceptional .
The notion that our freedoms come from god and not man , kings or government is central to our identity . That is exceptional.
The belief that we as a nation are superior to others is nonsense , we do believe however we are blessed.
Mon, 2013-09-16 17:50
"When the Declaration of Independence was signed, equality became the rational for political action for the first time"? Uh yes, shame about the slave owners who wrote and signed it and those pesky American Indians who had to be exterminated (although as we are all equal in death, maybe you have a point there).
With oceans on both sides the United States is invulnerable to invasion? Um, someone forgot to tell the Brits that when they burned down the White House in 1814. Also, am I the only one who has noticed the mass of Latin Americans illegally streaming into the US via Mexico?
Canada, Australia, New Zealand all have abundant natural resources and farmland, so does South Africa. May be they're exceptional, too.
The notions that freedom comes from god and not man, kings or government ? That's a medieval doctrine. Nothing exceptional there.
Come on, you can do much better than this, says one dog to another.
Mon, 2013-09-16 20:13
Surely you don't think that I implied by the stroke of a quill pen all inequality was to disappear in short order . This fight goes on today. Current and future laws and Supreme Court rulings all have their bases in the Declaration .
To your point about illegals coming into the country , that is quite different from Hitler and Napoleon sweeping across the European Plain to invade Russia . Mexico with it's desert and Canada to the north do not provide an opportunity for an invading army . Just ask the Japanese how an invasion would have worked out for them.
And to your last point about where our freedoms come from and as one dog to another the idea the our liberties come from government provides all that is necessary for the rise of another Mao , Hitler , Stalin or anyone else who is comfortable with the notion they are going to change the world.
Mon, 2013-09-16 17:45
The legitimate form of American exceptionalism affirms both our exceptional values and our exceptional circumstances. Some of our exceptional circumstances are much less so today: our two oceans would not protect us from ICBMs without a deterrent military capability; we are no longer the ONLY representative democracy; our "frontier" closed a hundred years ago; and we are no longer the home of ALL the world's smartest business people (quite a few, but not all). And, regrettably, the rhetoric ABOUT our exceptionalism has been misdirected into an arrogant boast about our superiority in every way to every other nation, while in the actual execution of our exceptional values (such as humanitarian values) we are falling behind.
Many of us love the "unofficial" national anthem America the Beautiful, but frequently only sing (or hear performed in public or on the media) the first stanza. One of the most inspiring lines is the following:
Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears.
Is today's America, are the people who influence our businesses, churches, statehouses and Congress REALLY trying to fulfill that line? Or are they gloating over, and planning to expand, the power that comes from making MORE human tears? Do our "alabaster" cities still gleam? All of us need to ask ourselves, are we moving America forward to the ideals we profess, or are we "looking out for number one" only? Or worse, are we looking out for someone else's idea of "number one" and giving up our families' future?
As every chemist knows, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate.
Mon, 2013-09-16 19:38
Do we as a country act in our own self-interest? Of course we do. Do our leaders make mistakes? Of course they do. Are there events in our history that are not bright and shiny? Of course there are. Is there something inherently different or better about a person born in the US? Of course not. However, when taken as a whole, there is an incredible biography that demonstrates our constitutional republic and the psyche that supports it is both unique and quite moral. The US in a uniquely diverse and populous country. With population nearing 350 million and drastically different life experiences among geographies, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds, this country is held together tightly, not by a dictatorial regime or all powerful oligarchy, but by a set of principles that allows open debate, and a freedom of the press that holds our leaders to a level of honesty not found through history or anywhere outside of a few western democracies in countries much more homogenous than ours. These same principles have allowed us as a society to continue to fix failures of our past. Is the value of our system only based upon the presence of slavery at its beginning and the fact than many of its founding fathers had slaves, or is it that the principles put forth allowed for the abolishment of slavery. While we may be dissatisfied with the speed of some of the social change or even if some of it is good or bad, our system has not only survived but along with an inherent sense of fair play present in our psyche, guided us through these changes.
These same principles impact our military involvement in foreign countries. The notion that we are an imperialist power is not even close to holding up under scrutiny. Compare our relationship with our cold war allies versus the Soviet Union's. Look at how we behaved once Japan was defeated versus real historic norms of post conquest behavior. After their utter destruction, and with our efforts to help rebuild them, they did not become a client state of the US. They became an independent country whose economy grew to the second largest in the world. Compare our invasion of Afghanistan vs. that of the Soviet Union, both in why and what was desired. Have we demanded reparations, or favorable client state contracts?
Our military is the most disciplined capable military in the history of the world. So much is made of things like abu graib, water boarding, collateral damage from drone strikes and the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. But the reality that these are either overblown or exceptions to a code of conduct within our armed forces that goes to such lengths not only to diminish civilian casualties but attempt to eliminate them. The active purpose of a military is to wage ware. That means to seek out enemy personnel and infrastructure and destroy them. So our instructions from the civilian command is to go kill and destroy, but do it in the most civilized humane way possible. This is not always easy when our enemy does not play by the same rules. But having seen it first-hand, our military takes this task seriously and conducts themselves in a manor unseen in the history of warfare. Don't believe me, and want to continue to focus on supposed atrocities? Please remember that our constitution puts the military under civilian control, and then imagine asking young men and women to go and kill and do so with the restraints that we have put upon them. Then go spend six months with them in a war zone. You may dislike the decisions of the civilian leadership in control of our military, but I promise you will walk away with a tremendous respect of the armed forces. For they are us. They carry the same compassion and desire for justice, and distaste of war that the rest of us do.
Finally, if you don't believe my statement about an inherent sense of fair play? Both liberals and conservatives absolutely recoil when a system is revealed to be fixed so as to favor someone who is well connected. We all love the underdog story and strive to create a level playing field. The vast majority of the world not only expects the graft and corruption, but believes it is part of the normal process. It doesn't take a lot of travel to see this. I have traveled extensively, and have seen it most places.
Again, our exceptionalism lies not in our perfection or infallibility, but in a framework that ensures we move toward a more just society and that ultimately demands our leaders are held accountable. If you challenge these notions, then don't offer as an argument an example where we have fallen short, but an example of a country either now or through history that is or was more moral and honorable in its dealings. I know this is anathema to the ideology of most of you who read this, being so invested in the evils done by our imperialist society. But take a few minutes and with some intellectual honesty weigh our society on the scales of justice against other large countries. We are, warts and all an example to aspire to.
Tue, 2013-09-17 11:21
Tue, 2013-09-17 14:34
If you forget about the demonization that both liberal and conservative philosophies so vehemently spew forth about the other side, and think about actual individuals that you know. I believe that, what you will find is, people are people. Most I know both conservative and liberal tend to be relatively compassionate, would literally give someone the shirt off of their back. They all have respect for the poor would like to do more to help the underprivileged, but most do at least a little in the way of time or donations. NONE of them like the notion of a fixed or rigged system. The bigotry displayed by both sides of the political spectrum is intense. However, bigotry usually only survives when the target is somewhat nameless and faceless. It is difficult to be bigoted against gays when they are your sister, brother or child, and your love for them and desire for them to be happy is overwhelming. Just as it is easier to paint faceless liberals as "socialist/communists that want to destroy our country or our way of life". Or easier to paint conservatives as bible toting lunatics who are unsophisticated to the point that they want to help large corporations of all things. My point is if you look past those dogmas to the individuals you know, we tend to have a lot more values in common than not. I guarantee that there is nobody in the occupy wall street crowds that want the big banks broken up more than the tea party does. and if the republican party is so tied into big business, where do all the republicans go once they leave work on wall street? Last time I checked, you couldn't find a republican precinct within 60 miles of Manhattan. The converse to that is the Democratic party is much more tied into that crowd than anybody wants to admit. The financial reform act, passed when democrats controlled all the elected branches of government, did not break up the big banks, did not reinstate the glass-steagall act. Most conservatives that I know that hate that legislation, hate it not because it came from democrats, but because it didn't fix the big underlying problems.
Mon, 2013-09-16 20:19
Why is it that Progressives hate America so much?
Repeatedly you encounter this snide derision regarding American exceptionalism. It requires an ignorance, or more likely, an extremely skewed view of history to consider it as anything but.
Our founding was exceptional and exceptionally fortuitous, in that we were independent people who had grown up almost without government altogether, or at least only that which we ourselves as citizens had brought about and committed to. When it came time to give King George the heave ho - we held the land. If the very same people had tried to take England from the King, I doubt they'd have been successful.
All of our citizens come from hardy, risk-taker stock. From the the first colonists, to the pioneers who literally walked across a continent barefoot, to the immigrants who arrived at the turn of the century - these were people willing to risk all, even their lives, not for a guarantee but merely for an opportunity to create a better life for themselves.
We have been, and continue to be exceptionally generous with our wealth, and our military. Can you imagine another nation throughout history who would conquer only to return to the people a nation better than they had found it? I defy you to name one.
And as for the present, I would ask those like this author, who seem to be so eager to see the age of America's greatness pass - what do you think is going to replace it? Do you think China, Russia, and Iran are going to act with the same benevolence if their power were to overtake ours?
This disdain that you hold for our country is not just disappointing in light of the opportunities it has afforded all of you, it is foolish in the extreme, as the loss of American power can only be harmful to America's citizens as well as the rest of the world.
Mon, 2013-09-16 23:36
Progressives hate american exceptional-ism, because their most fervent desire is to compel us to follow the path of other social democracies. If american is exceptional, then we should be more skeptical of their demands. \
America is exceptional, not for our resources, nor our people - though our successful diversity is incomparable, but because of the very non-progressive ideas that are our heritage. We are the first and still most unique nation of our form. We are the scottish enlightenment come to fruition, There are other representative governments, and other nations born in revolution, but none such as the US. The governments of other western democracies are similar but not the same, not is structure, not in core values.
Exceptionalism is dangerous - history is rife with nations that have ruined their people or the world through a misguided sense of national pride. But american exceptionalism does not seek subjugation. We are not perfect and have frequently acted egregiously, but no other powerful nation in world history has demonstrated so modest a desire to rule others.
Our national culture is rooted in concepts of mutual advantage. That we can pursue our own self interests AND improve that of our partners. The concept that both sides can come out ahead is foreign to every other culture on earth.
We absorb immigrants from all over the world. They transform us, our culture is enhanced by theirs, but our essence is unchanged. At the same time we take muslims, indians, irish, chinese, mexicans and without losing their own identity transform them into us.
We beleive ferverently and mostly correctly, that you can come here intent on destroying us, and if you stay long enough you will become us.
Tue, 2013-09-17 11:29
Mon, 2013-09-16 21:32
Next to Kim Jong Un or the leader of Communist China, Putin is probably the least qualified source to be commenting on our Republic or what a truly democratic society looks like. Considering his past as a member of the KGB and a member of the Communist Party in addition to his rampantly corrupt government and his Hitler-style power grabs and efforts to dismantle Russia's democracy from within, it should come as no surprise that he would fear a nation such as ours. He rules through corruption, nepotism and tyranny while, in America, we the people are sovereign and freely choose our leaders. Putin crushes political opposition through imprisonment and fear. In America, we have freedom of speech and accept political dissent without fear of repercussions. In comparison to Russia and Putin's government, we could not be more exceptional. And to a thug like Putin, that is something to truly fear and to consider to be truly dangerous....
Tue, 2013-09-17 01:08
Great article!
The exceptional things about America are real but could not ever have been without accidents of history and geography. They give us some security some benefits but only if we both main them and are wise in their use.
No a thing wise about getting concerned let alone involved not to speak of going to war, because of anything - no matter what - that could happen in or to Syria.
If Putin wants to say what I just said, and in an equally or more brassy or insulting way, more power to him
That anyone in America should give a damn what Putin thinks or says, that's a shame. But it would be wise to watch what if anything he does about it, and to counter it.
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May 08, 2015
Monmouth University's Urban Coast Institute Director Tony MacDonald was featured 'Jersey Matters.' on May 4.
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Center for Entrepreneurship selected as a finalist in a national competition sponsored by the USASBE
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The grant supports UCI's work with several academic, government, private and public sector partners to implement the project.
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The Series brings highly regarded experts to campus to engage students and the community in dialogue on critical aspects of sustainability.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Messing with the Corvette is like defusing a bomb. Do it right, and they'll pin a medal on your chest. Do it wrong, and, well, it all blows up in your face. So it was with more than a little trepidation that Jeff Nowicki and his Troy, Michigan-based Specter Werkes/Sports decided to create a distinctive version of the C6-something for an exclusive group of customers whose combination of desire and means affords more than a basic exhaust-and-spoiler package.
But if there's one thing Nowicki didn't want to do, it was disrespect the C6.
"The Corvette has a very purposeful design and cues that have carried over through decades of evolution," he says. "We thought there was an opportunity to create a car with greater visual 'reach,' but didn't stray far from the intrinsic qualities that make the car a Corvette."
It is territory Nowicki has visited in the past. A decade ago he launched a C5-based GTR. About 30 were built, including one each for Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. They were almost too respectful of the Corvette's design, with fractionally widened bodywork that required a GTR be parked next to a stock C5 in order to appreciate the difference.
There's no mistaking the C6 GTR for something that slipped out of Bowling Green. The wide-body theme of the C5 GTR carries over, but with a considerably more aggressive, racing-inspired execution. Indeed, the GTR looks like it's ready for 12 hours at Sebring, or maybe even a full 24 at Daytona.
"Our clientele told us that's what they wanted," says Nowicki. "They wanted a car that stood out from the rest, but was also tasteful and recognizable as a Corvette. I think that's exactly what we achieved."
Only the roof panel and rear hatch are left untouched from the original Corvette. Everything else-the front and rear fascias, rear quarter panels, rockers, front fenders, and hood-are replaced with Specter-designed-and-manufactured panels. We previewed them in our September issue, showing the design and prototype process, which involved slathering the first production model (the car seen on these pages and commissioned by Colorado Chevy dealer Rollie Purifoy) in clay and painstakingly carving it into the final form. Molds were taken of the clay, and the panels were formed with them.
"We shaped the passenger side by hand, and that took months before we were satisfied with the final dimensions and details," says Nowicki. "Then, we scanned the car, turned it around on our surface plate, and let a computer-guided milling machine carve a mirror image. That took more than a week itself."
The flow and cohesiveness of the GTR's design is apparent from all angles. The front fascia and extractor-style hood combine to deliver the greatest visual impression, while the body sides and rear fascia convey a broad-shouldered stance. Indeed, the rear fenders are half an inch wider per side than the Z06, making the GTR an inch wider overall and 4.5 inches wider overall than a "base" Corvette.
The rear fascia is accented by carbon-fiber trim; a large, LED-lit center brake lamp (from the Cadillac CTS); revised taillamp lenses; and a Corsa stainless steel exhaust with Specter's own outlets. Oh, and did we mention the carbon-fiber headlamp bezels, mirror covers, and splitter? The list of unique parts is comprehensive, to say the least.


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yeah I have to make something unChristmas Like every year for my sugar cookies and this year is the cast of South Park. Even went as far as putting in Ike Terrance and Phillip!
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Wordless Wednesday
December 14, 2011 13 Comments
Behind the scenes at Performance Bicycle
December 14, 2011 13 Comments
Haha total guess but i think china
It's the Ampelmännchen. You'll find them in Germany.
I'm guessing Portland, OR: gray skies, overhead (tram) wires, and special attention to bike & pedestrian traffic.
Can easily be Copenhagen, Denmark. Plenty of bicycle traffic signals there!
Portland or Copenhagen
Agree with AC – Ost-Ampelmännchen.
San Francisco, CA, USA. I believe it is directing the Curb Dogs to begin doing flatland BMX tricks such as bar/seat stands. Just kidding–though any old school bmxers might appreciate the retro-reference…
Street signs are not typical US signs so I say Berlin.
i'm going to guess amsterdam, holland. loads of bikes there.
Cycled in Dresden city center in 2008 and found transport infrastructure improvements post reunification coupled with pre-uni cycling culture carry over to be very impressive. Hope to return as part of a epic self contained solo tour!
Yeah this an East German "Ampelmaennchen", sade that there are tendencies in Germany to replace those with more "modern" signals. Very cute, I realy like it.


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I will say this only once. I want to make it clear and unequivocal that stomping on anyone for any reason is wrong...PERIOD. Especially when they have been subdued. That said, here is MoveOn mole Lauren Valle's account of what led up to her head being stomped at a Rand Paul event
Well just before the tape I was identified by the Rand Paul campaign because they've seen me around town at these events. And they realized they know me because of my work and they don't support it. So they actually formed a blockade around me once they realized that I was there. And as Rand's car pulls up they step in front of me and start to block me so I stepped off the curb to try and get around them and at that point they pursued me around the car, chased me around the car, and what you see in the video is when I'm in the front of the car and that's when I'm pulled down and then my head is stomped on.
Read the entire Red State article here (via Memeorandum)
Here is a video obtained by Red State that demonstrates my frustration that there isn't a font that I can use when quoting liberals that evokes LIAR.
As you can see, Valle's story and the truth match up just shy of 0.00000000000000%. Supporters did not blockade her, and she didn't step off the curb to "get around" them. She stepped off that curb to assault Rand Paul when he was in his car.
This is why I refrained on commenting about this until now. Chaotic situations like this one always have two sides to the story, ESPECIALLY when leftists are involved. It never fails, all you have to do is wait for it.
This will become the emblematic event this campaign season that illustrates what the core of liberalism has become...Liberals/Progressives/Leftists are allergic to the truth and honesty. I'm not just talking about Valle's lying about this incident. I'm saying their entire world is a lie.
They pose as members of our side at rallies and make complete SOB's out of themselves to make us look bad. They can't win an argument fairly, so they name call and race card us to death. THEN there is stuff like this. They provoke us into BEING FORCED TO SUBDUE THEM because they refuse to act like civilized human beings, and it gets them painted as victims.
This kind of narcissism can only come from the left. They don't have to be honest because they have truth on their side. This paradox is lost on them because how can THEY be wrong. They're too in love with their own intelligence to see dumb they truly are.
I shudder to think of what liberals would get away with if we didn't have the internet.
After giving some thought to the matter and having a lot of liberal banshee howls hurled my way, I'm willing to acknowledge that there is a case to be made that saying she "assaulted" Paul is a bit strong.
That said, Valle did herself very little good slapping on a wig and wearing an oversized jacket with the hood on AND CHARGING THE CAR. She conducted herself like a powder keg of unpredictability, and is most definitely the cause of the trouble. Had she just stood there LIKE SHE LYINGLY SAID SHE DID, this post wouldn't need to exist because there would have been no incident.
That is simply not up for discussion, you can't do stuff like that. It doesn't mean you should be beat up for it either....BUT YOU CAN'T DO STUFF LIKE THAT.
Replace Rand Paul with President Obama and the liberals who have been trolling this blog and my Twitter would be singing a very different tune.
By the way you liberal trolls, unlike the person behind the camera that filmed the stomp I would not have just stood there and watched Tim Profitt do what he did. That idiot should have been tackled harder than Valle was...but don't let me saying so stop you from lying about me in cyberspace.


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Getting started guides, How-to's, and in-depth explanation of various topics in software development.
One common scenario for applications is displaying a UI that is driven by event data. In this tutorial I'll go over a very useful technique for building custom views that can be used in various layouts and updated by passing data to one container view per layout.
In this tutorial I'll show you how to make an Android widget that lets you silence a phone with a single tap. When run on Lollipop, it'll also place phones into priority mode and silence the ringer, allowing users to get notifications without a vibration
There are some nasty PDFs out there, but there are several tools you can use to get what you need from them. Python enables you to get inside and scrape, split, merge, delete, and crop just about whatever you find, and I'll show you how.
The second installment in my series on rate limiting with Redis covers two different but related methods using standard Redis commands and Lua scripting. Each approach expands the number of use cases for rate limiting, and cleans up some of the rougher edges of previous rate limiters.
Android Lollipop is brimming with new features, and one of them is lock screen notifications. In this tutorial I'll go over using the new `MediaStyle` for notifications and interacting with a `MediaSession` for controlling media playback states.
In this tutorial I'll walk you through using message broker software RabbitMQ with PHP. It acts as a middleman between a producer and a consumer. We'll build an app that sends emails on a delay as an example.
Create better spheres in Unity by subdividing the faces of an octahedron.
In this tutorial, I'll help you set up your Go environment and teach you how to handle test-drive development with the language.
With millions of Chromecasts sold and the Android TV ready to burst into living rooms, knowing how to build an app that supports casting should be in every Android developer's toolkit. This tutorial covers making an Android sender app for casting videos to TVs.


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polythenegirl wrote:I enjoyed this one, though I think Going Postal intrigued me more. I'm going to start re-reading it this evening so I canm give some kind of input into this discussion. Might not be the most intelligent but i'll give it a go Still new here and really want to get involved.
Go ahead and get stuck in! I only rarely manage an intelligent(ish) input on these discussions and no-ones ripped my head off.......yet.
Generally I enjoyed the book but don't think it by any stretch one of the best. However, it does have a few good stand out points such as how much the value of currency is illusory and merely based on a concept of what is valuable. For example, before its usefulness in the field of electronics, gold was (and still is) deemed so valuable that the economies of entire countries and empires was based on it. However, it had no practical purposes other than to look good. I believe that he tries to explain this with the introduction of 'paper money', the disappearance of the gold in the basement having zero effect on the dollar, and the effect that the Golem Standard would have on employment and the knock on effect on the economy as a whole. Maybe lecturers could use this book as part of the Business Studies curriculum.
*Sits back and waits to have his head torn off*
Failing that, the scene with Mr. Fusspot and the clockwork 'toys' had me in hysterics!


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If you recall from our November '08 issue ("A Monster is Born"), Steve Brulé of Westech Performance built a superb naturally aspirated 12:1 496ci big-block. We made good use of its internals too with a solid rotating assembly starting with a Lunati 4.125-inch stroker crank and 6.385-inch I-beam rods. The bores were then plugged with 48cc domed Wiseco pistons and topped with a heavy breathing pair of cylinder heads from AFR to create 12 points of compression. The AFR 325 as-cast lungs we installed flowed 385 cfm on the intake and 285 cfm on the exhaust at 0.700 inch of lift. At the center, we chose a high-lift Comp piece to deliver 274/280 intake/exhaust degrees of duration at 0.050 inch of lift and pulled out a matching set of solid roller Comp lifters. When all was said and done, we planted the mule on Westech's 902 SuperFlow dyno for testing. The bored and stroked combination churned out 780 hp and 658 lb-ft worth of stump-pulling force without even breaking a sweat.
Fast forward to the present and Brulé was itching for even more power to wring out of the Monster. When the phone rang he presented an idea we couldn't pass up-nitrous, and a whole lot of it, through Zex's Dominator flange nitrous perimeter plate system. What better way than to add more go without shelling out loads of cash. While some builders stay away from it, others like Brulé let it rain down in full force, literally. For the money, you can't deny the simple fact that a blast of nitrous through the intake plenum is the best instant power adder, hands down. When used safely, the amount of horsepower you get per dollar can't be matched by anything else out there. Plus, it's easily adaptable to most engine combinations. The added power from nitrous is obvious, but why is it so potent? To put it simply, nitrous oxide is laden with oxygen. When nitrous is fed down the intake, it's also mixed with extra fuel. By the time it reaches the combustion chamber and ignites with fuel from the carburetor, the extra oxygen from the nitrous is then released, creating massive cylinder pressure.
To prove Brulé wasn't all talk, we were back at Westech's facility to strap the 496ci back down and shoot it full of juice. To back up our previous findings we laid down a base run to 6,600 rpm in which case we were spot on at 779 hp. When Brulé pulled out the Zex perimeter plate, he wasn't messing around and loaded it up with the 250hp pills. How much was the nitrous worth on the dyno? Let's just say the visual chart doesn't do it justice; the beast leaped towards us and produced quadruple digit power figures-yes, it's that easy!
Quick Notes
What We Did
Westech's 496 big-block receives a Zex nitrous perimeter plate with a 250 shot
Bottom Line
We gain an extra 311 hp with a simple bolt-on and prove it on the dyno
Cost (Approx)
Zex Jets Precision-machined jets are used for adjusting both nitrous and fuel flow. They feature a special internal taper to minimize turbulence resulting in very consistent flow and power. Zex offers jets at $3.50 each.


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A judge in Florida rules the entirety of ObamaCare to be unconstitutional, but allows an exception on the clause for pre-existing conditions like Helen Thomas.
Anthony Weiner explains that part of the reason he is "still pissed" about the public option being removed from ObamaCare has to do with his name being "Weiner."
Obama administration releases white paper covering the handling of the governmental crisis in Egypt titled "Present."Add a comment
Bill Maher has a hard enough time telling jokes, he should really stay out of economics....
New Rule: With the Super Bowl only a week away, Americans must realize what makes NFL football so great: socialism. That's right, for all the F-15 flyovers and flag waving, football is our most successful sport because the NFL takes money from the rich teams and gives it to the poor teams...
Because football is built on an economic model of fairness and opportunity, and baseball is built on a model where the rich almost always win and the poor usually have no chance. The World Series is likeReal Housewives of Beverly Hills. You have to be a rich bitch just to play. The Super Bowl is like Tila Tequila. Anyone can get in....
(T)hey literally share the wealth, through salary caps and revenue sharing - TV is their biggest source of revenue, and they put all of it in a big commie pot and split it 32 ways. Because they don't want anyone to fall too far behind. That's why the team that wins the Super Bowl picks last in the next draft. Or what the Republicans would call "punishing success."
Read the "article" in its entire context at The Huffington Post
Read the rest of it if you REALLY want. I truncated most of it, and as a result I left out the intended jokes and focused soley on the real ones.
Depressing success in the name of "competition" also depresses quality of the product, or at least prevents motivation for improvement, which fuels real competition and a better quality of life. Even Maher admits this to be true of NFL teams, so why is the NFL's overall success different?
Well, separate companies selling widgets don't fall under one organizational umbrella like football teams under the NFL...or the mainstream media under the secret cabal of progressive overlords. Which is an elite group consisting of George Soros and his goblin finger puppets.
Widget companies are all individually competing for market share, so they're not in the same situation as the NFL. Football teams' economic competition is and remains localized (versus other forms of entertainment) since the teams aren't really competing for demand in markets other than their own.
The NFL recognizes that if they can maintain fan interest in all of its teams that would translate into more profit for the organization as a whole, which works because football, unlike the comedy of Bill Maher, is entertainment. So it benefits from generating the drama and mystery (and therefore fans' dollars) from season to season by forcing a level playing field.
In essence what they are doing is, in fact, capitalist...because they are taking the steps they need to take to maximize profit in order to gain, and win, in the market of entertainment. In other words, this is a business model, not a governmental one like socialism is.
The same things simply aren't true with companies that sell widgets. It's hard to understand why Maher can't see this since it's as clear as the nose on his face.
There is another good response to all of this at News Real Blog.Add a comment
If it's tough to read you can click the image to see a larger version.Add a comment
There was a time when it was pretty effortless to find articles from liberals on why conservatives simply don't have the DNA to be funny. In fact, before starting The Looking Spoon I tried to look at other conservative humor blogs to see what they were doing. All I had to do was Google "conservative humor" and among the top results would be articles propagating this myth.
Flashforward about 2 years later, I decided to Google "conservative humor" now and found these articles to be nowhere in sight unless you change your search to conservatives can't be funny. For me I know it was the arrogance of their perceived superiority following the 2008 election that motivated me and others to spring into action.
Perhaps we just needed our backs to the wall to speak up and take back "conservative humor" for search engine results everywhere, but it's stuff like Time magazines latest cover that make it too dang easy.
Their arrogance was their undoing politically, and it's also like gasoline on a conservative funny-bone fueled fire.
From GeronL at Free Republic
This last one from iOwnTheWorld proves there's always two sides to every story...
To any liberals viewing this in bemusement and scratching their heads with the same caution Biden uses to check his hair plugs...THESE - ARE - FUNNY! You make it SO EASY too.
If anyone knows who the artist behind any of the other pieces that are not attributed (all of which were shared with me at Free Republic) step right up and claim the credit you deserve.Add a comment
The efficacy of Tracy Morgan's celebrity has been thrown into question after sexually suggestive comments the comedian directed Sarah Palin, when asked for comment Palin responded "I don't even know who this Tracy lady is.".
Violent protests in Egypt has Napolitano ordering DHS to look into how the Egyptian people were infiltrated by the Tea Party.
Time magazine's feature about the similarities between Obama and Reagan has put geologists in California on alert for "the big one" in case it causes 40th president to turn over more than his grave.
Dennis Kucinich demands as part of a settlement with a DC cafeteria over dental damage from an olive pit that before release for consumption all olives are required to undergo liberal sensitivity training.Add a comment
There's the good...
the bad...
and the ugly...
They would've had something different to Photoshop...
Time magazine has finally taken the Obama presidency into The Twilight Zone
At a glance, it's hard to imagine a President who had less in common with Reagan than the Ivy League lawyer from Hawaii who seeks larger federal investments, a bigger social safety net and new regulations for Wall Street and Big Oil. But under the surface, there is no mistaking Obama's increasing reliance on his predecessor's career as a helpful template for his own. …
Obama's affection for Reagan's political style carries with it a clear self-interest. White House aides gaze fondly at the arc of the Reagan presidency in part because they pray Obama's will mirror it. Both men entered office in wave elections in which the political center made a historic shift. Both faced deep economic downturns with spiking unemployment in their first term. Both relied heavily on the power of oratory. "Our hope," admits Gibbs, "is the story ends the same way."
Get the entire article here
It's a long article, so here are some of the reasons why, according to Time, Obama's presidential destiny may be divined from Reagan's:
All of these similarites are well and good, but I feel like they barely scratch the surface of why Obama looks to Reagan's history as a template for his own impending success. For instance:
When you look at this laundry list you can't help but wonder what took us all so long to figure out that Obama is so much more than a liberal Ronald Reagan. The two are presidential soul mates and we just never knew it.
It makes me think of that scene in "Back to the Future" where George McFly approaches Marty's mom Lorraine in the diner and says "I'm George McFly, I'm your density."
In that analogy George is Obama, Lorraine is of course Reagan (a girl, yes unless YOU are willing to rewrite the 50's into some gay utopia).
Hey! You know what has absolutely no relevance to all of this? The fact that both men have diametrically opposing views of the role of government!
Talk about freakin' fluff! Time magazine brilliantly hit the nail on the head when they decided to focus on the superficial similarities and ignore red herrings like the fact their philosophical and moral cores go together like oil and the Gulf of Mexico.
Similar historical circumstances produce similar results regardless of whether the decisions made to navigate out of them are rooted in individual liberty or a more central authority.
The difference couldn't be more stark...or less important, right?
I'm telling you, if this conclusion were more scientific than they already are you could prove global warming with it.Add a comment
Yep, changing "headlines" to "news" since I'm not really writing headlines anymore....effective....now!
While in agreement now that the filibuster wont be going through any changes, Senators Reid and McConnell continue to argue over whether it should've been called reform or deform.
Republicans criticize Palin's abbreviation of Obama's State of the Union slogan "winning the future" to "WTF," saying she's not being helpful by limiting it to just his speech.
Facing charges of plagiarism in his State of the Union address Obama insists he did no such thing in the eyes of supporters, whom even conservatives agree must've been born yesterday.
Conservatives hail Obama's choice of Jay Carney as the new press secretary, citing his experience as Biden's Communications Director ensures the perfect level of intellect to replace Robert Gibbs.Add a comment
This is the banner for Dennis Kucinich's website (click on it if you can't read the bottom).
America's most COURAGEOUS congresman! Wow. I wish there was a pageant so he could wear the sash he probably made for himself. Look at how he looks "forward" from right to the left like we live in an Asian culture. Then again being "progressive" requires backward thinking, so I guess he has that right.
If his wife were in congress is it safe to say she would be America's most courageous congresswoman? She would, after all, have to admit to being Mrs. Kucinich.
So what does a profile in courage look like for America's most courageous congressman?
The Ohio Democrat filed a legal complaint Wednesday in D.C. Superior Court, spelling out the case in chilling detail: The wrap was "unwholesome and unfit for human consumption, in that it was represented to contain pitted olives, yet unknown to plaintiff contained an unpitted olive."...
The complaint also says that Kucinich "sustained serious and permanent dental and oral injuries requiring multiple surgery and oral procedures" and says Kucinich has sustained other damages, "including significant pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment."
Kucinich is seeking $150,000 in damages, plus interest and costs, from Restaurant Associates, which manages the cafeteria, and three other businesses that stock and help run the operation.
More at ABC News
How about that? The man who once wanted to be president (and may run again if the mothership doesn't come to collect him) got fragged by an olive pit!
If only he won the presidency....and Reagan were still alive. They could trade stories about their war wounds. The people who voted for Dennis would be SO proud.
What is he suing for? Does he want restaurants to run food through the TSA naked scanners before serving it to him?
Democrats wonder why people know they're weak on national security. Its because they wet themselves over a seed in a sandwich so much that it causes "suffering and loss of enjoyment." It's a wonder that al Qaeda doesn't openly endorse the party...or at least employ reverse psychology and tell us to vote Republican.
Being that liberals are characteristically miserable people as it is (before liberals get mad, stamp their feet and access their dictionary to spell check "racist" and "bigot" --->they should know that it's based on their say so <---), I don't know what enjoyment is lost for the most liberal of congressmen other an injured mouth would prevent hearing himself talk.
Or maybe living in constant hope that people will stop saying he's related to Gollum. Could you imagine if the birthers got all lathered up about a president who may have been born in Middle Earth?
Good luck to you Dennis, don't forget to wear your big boy diapers when you go to court.Add a comment


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Ronda Rousey, Winner of Miesha Tate-Cat Zingano to Coach Coed
i hope they get felice herring on there. i want to see if any one hooks up with her. haha sorry to get all jersey shore, but i can't lie.. i think the most interesting thing about this co-ed thing is the mixture of the sexes.. throw in the alcohol plus fighting and you know some crazy shit is going down.


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Timothy Peters is the only driver with multiple truck victories at this track, having won the July race the past two years.
In last year's race, Peters overtook Ty Dillon for the lead following a restart with 27 laps to go. He capitalized on pit strategy late in the race when he changed just two tires during his last stop. Peters held off Erik Jones in the closing laps, beating him to the finish line by only 0.225 seconds.
Peters started on the pole and led a total of 87 laps to win here two years ago.
"I love going to Iowa," said Peters, who drives the No. 17 Toyota for Red Horse Racing. "We were able to win the July race there last year, and our goal is to go back and do that again. It's a fun track to visit. The trophy sure is cool, and the fans are great."
Two weeks ago, Peters finished fourth at Kentucky and moved to within 11 points of leader Johnny Sauter.
"Finishing fourth at Kentucky was great for our team, and every weekend we are learning a little more," he said. "We gained some ground in points, and we're heading to Iowa with some great momentum."
Matt Crafton, the defending series champion and July 2011 race winner at Iowa, is currently eight points behind Sauter, his ThorSport Racing teammate.
Thirty-eight teams are on the preliminary entry list for the American Ethanol 200.
Series: NASCAR Camping World. Date: Friday, July 11. Race: American Ethanol 200. Site: Iowa Speedway. Track: 0.875-mile oval. Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET. Laps: 200. Miles: 175. 2013 Winner: Timothy Peters. Television: FOX Sports 1. Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.


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Also, I have heard that some of you are having problems with my HQ and HD videos. Please let me know if this one is any better. I tried something new.
Have a great day!!!
Love your video, but they pause so
much that it take almost 30 minutes to watch a 10 min clip.
Love seeing the new cart that came with your pink E
I'm having no problems with the video here! Thanks for such great ideas! Sounds like you don't want us to go out and buy the pink one just so you can have the ONLY one...I see! LOL!
I love those punches, I think I need them! I don't have any problems with your videos.
One comment about the corner punch that you were using. I know you said that it was hard to find the corner of the punch with the paper. The punch has little pull out tabs on the sides that will help you glide the paper into it. You have them folded out on the big punch but not the little. Just a little advice for you. No problems with the video. Love your stuff.
fab video .love your new pink expression ( good for your for keeping the original C.E. i would of too :))
no problem with the videos
thanks for all your hard work
I NEED these punches! Too Cute! No video issues here either. Thanks for all your hard work making these awesome videos :D
This cartridge looks like a lot of fun! That punch is so cute, I must check out their website!
Your video is always educational to me! THanks you for showing us how to use MS punches.
I didn't have any problems with your video.
Hey Robyn...the video said error acccured to try again later...but then I hit the HD button and it came on and was perfect. Your pink expression is so very nice. I also like the loopy loops punches. I might have to get those. Thanks as always for the vid. Cindy
Don't ya just love that loop punch! I didn't have a problem with your video, worked great for me. Another great video Robyn.
Kim (wetziesgirl)
Great scrapbook page Robyn!
Oh, now you have enabeled me into more punches. LOL Great video Robyn! I love that page. Thanks!
Great page idea! No problem with the video here. How do you do it? Painting the loftroom and a video! You go girl!
Can't wait for the tour.
no problems viewing the video. great LO! love love love the colors.
I love your page. The black and pick go great together. You layout is wonderful. I will have to try this one soon. Thanks once again for taking the time to share your wonderful talent with all of us. God Bless, Chris
Robyn,I like how you show from beginning to end your projects (the cutting of the cards, envelopes, etc., along with putting it all together). I was on another website (won't name) and all they did was show putting the card together and the finishing touches. Thanks so much for your videos, they really help me. I just figured out end caps.
Cathy J.
The video loaded well and was really clear.
Love the MS punches---have to get those.
Your layout was perfecton!!!
Pat B.
The video loaded well and was really clear.
Love the MS punches---have to get those.
Your layout was perfecton!!!
Pat B.
ohhhh how cool! I haven't gotten to watch the video (my net is sooo slow) but the pics show that neato border, love it!
Great Video! Love your pink E!! I am still waiting on my M's to get the loopy punches. They are so Awesome!!!!
Great video; Loved the page :-)
I like your page! I LOVE that punch too! LOL, I JUST learned how to use mine without turning it upside down. So funny!
Awesome page!!
As always, a great video. This one worked perfectly. there has been some trouble, and not just with yours. Takes forever to watch a 10 minute video. This one ... perfect!
Funny you mentioned your wedding bands..I was looking for them since you have said that you can wear them now!! Good for you! I have started weight watchers as well so I'm glad to have heard you did so well!!! Great video!!!
Thanks for the video Robyn. I am not having any problem here.
I sincerely home this cartridge is made available to the masses....I can't see buying another E just to get this cartridge but I MUST have this cartridge. This is a BEAUTIFUL page Robyn tfs.
Great Scrapbook Page Robyn!
Love the Colors!!
I love your page Robyn. I sure hope this cartridge becomes available to all of us who already have a cricut. This video worked perfectly. Thanks
Another awesome video. Thanks so much for all you do! My video is really slow at work, but when I see them at home, they are okay. We have the same internet company at home and work so go figure?? I am so excited to see the new Pink Loft! Please, show us tomorrow!! Sheri email@example.com
Jill gave you some good info - I saw those little "ears" on either side of the corner punch on a Youtube video of Martha Stewart punches - the edge punch also folds up on each end for easier storage! BTW, your video was excellent! And I love the pink Cricut, but not enough to go buy another one!! LOL!!
I love your videos too but they are pausing almost every 5 seconds so I never get thru one. Not sure what to do but I want to see your videos! I'm so sad.....
No problem with the video - your lines in side of the page get in the way for about a minute then I can read the blog once it fully loads.
Love, love , love your video. Thank you again for sharing.
Thanks for the great videos! :)
Love the page and the loop punch!
I just love it.. and i love your PINK cricut...
super duper cute layout! love the colors and that border punch is great! hugs!
Hi Robyn! Love the video... Great Project! I also ordered the Loopy Loop Punch & Edge...I should get mine in a couple of days and I want to thank you for showing me how to use it! So when Mine comes in I won't seem so Dorky when using it! LOL THANKS!
Love the layout and MS punches. I have never had a problem watching you videos, they are the best. I just told someone new about your site because she just bought a cricut. She couldn't wait to get home to watch.
Hi Robyn,
I bought that punch last week and loved it. I can see the video great. The picture on your new HD camera is alot cleared than your other. Just luv all your videos.
Love those punches. They are going on the shopping list. =) No problem watching the video.
Have a great day!
The video is great. I think the pausing problem the other person referred to has to do with the speed of their internet connections.
Robyn I am so sorry to be the only Negative Nellie but unfortunately I'm still having trouble with the videos - I had a hard time trying to see the one you made the other day of your new pink cricut as well :( -- I have a brand new computer and I'm running Vista 64-bit so maybe there's something I need to change in my settings. Otherwise thanks so much for all you do and keep those videos coming, I'll keep watching even if they do have a hard time loading!!
Had no problem with the video of you opening your circuit. This one however is freezing big time! Can't catch what you are saying cuz it cuts out so much.
I didn't have any problem with this video but I had told my husband that I had been having trouble since you started doing the new videos. I didn't know if it was my computer/internet speed or on your end.
No problem with the video here. Awesome page layout!!
Gloria (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Beautiful layout. I'm going to check out that punch, I love it!
Love the scrapbook page...I bought my Cricut just a few months ago,[wish I waited] because I love the new pink Cricut!!! Hope they sell that cartdrige soon...
Love your work :)
Great video! Pretty Pink Cricut!
I never have any problem with your videos.
I love this page and I think I need to check out that site to maybe get some for myself.
Hey Robyn Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p1p5yV2NpI it tells about the punch around the edge punches including a neat how to for punching a corner punch by the fold in a card! Something I didn't know till I watched the video.
Cute video Robyn! I love the LO!!!
Thanks for another GREAT video but yes I have been experiencing pausing in the newer videos... except this one... whatever you did on this one ... do it forever!
HI Robyn,
I loved the page and the video was great. I didn't know about the little "wings" on the punch the first time I used it either.
They make a big difference! LOL
Thanks for sharing your projects.
This page is beautiful! The cartridge for the pink cricut is so cute. :) Ad the actual Pink Cricut is amazingg!!! Wish I knew about it before I bought mine, haha. Thanks for sharing!
great video no problemo here
thanks for all you do to inspire
Robyn no problem with the video on my computer. Loved your layout. Enjoy your pink Cricut.
Hey, Robyn! No problem with the video. I love all of your videos but this one really has special meaning to me because I am a 12-year breast cancer survivor!! That's so great for PC to come up with this type of cartridge. The more breast cancer awareness we can get out there, the better! Thanks for highlighting this one on your video. Love the punches, too!
Sue S.
Robyn, no problem with your video here. Love the punches. The corner punch has "wings" that open and this will help with positioning the corners of your cardstock. Love watching your videos and your ring is beautiful!
GREAT page! I had that punch in my hand and put it back. DARNIT!
Love your ring too
Great page. I have been admiring those loopy punches!!! I really want them!!
Thanks for another great video. LOVE THE PINK CRICUT. Enjoy.
Robin, The video was great this time. It ran smoothly. Are you using your Flip Video camera? I have one and wanted to know how you have it set up over your head to film. I would like to make some,too. Proud of your weight loss too. My husband and I have lost using South Beach. Me 20 him 40. Doesn't it feel good!! Keep up the good work. I don't see how you do it with kids,mine are grown! Thanke, Joanne Mock
I must be doing something wrong. I haven't been able to see your videos since you went to the new blog design. All I get is a blank box where the video used to be. I am frustrated and sad. Help.
Robin, if you go to the Martha Stewart website there is a video on the new loop punches you may find helpful. Both of thse punches have "wings" that make them so much easier to use. Love the videos and you my dear, ROCK! Keep them coming.
Beautiful colors combination. Love the punches also. TFS!!
love your layout and the colors. I also have those MS loopy punches and love them. I see someone else told you about pulling the corners out on the smaller corner punch. I enjoy your products and videos. I have no problem watching your videos. TFS
Awesome! Great page!
Hi Robyn,
This is another great video. I love what I can see of this cartridge. The punch works perfectly with the breast cancer ribbon! How cool is that! I have to have this as an advocate for breast cancer awareness this would make the cutest brochures etc. Again, thanks for the video. I can't wait to check my email today to see if you have a new one. You are fantastic! You make me just as happy as a bird with a french fry!
Hi Robyn,
What a ditz, I did check my email today, duh! I can't wait to check my email everyday to see if you have a new one out.
OMG, I love that cartridge! Do you happen to know if we can purchase that cartridge by itself? or do you have to purchase the whole machine to get it? Also, your videos are always perfect to me! :) Thanks for always sharing your creativity with all of us! :)
Love the punches!!!!
Another great video. I love the new MS boarder punch your using. Great LO.
I loved it Robyn. I can't wait till the next video from you. thanks for your time
Robyn, This is really cool. I had to chuckle after reading Jill's post! I did the same thing with my corner punch until my dh pointed out that I was doing it wrong! :)
I haven't had any problems with your videos. Love these punches!
Great video, love the new cricut and the cartridge, hopefully it will come out for sale soon.
Great Video! Love the loopy punches. I know you will enjoy your new pink expression.
Hey Robyn! Great video. Thanks for inspiring us. I really like that cart.
Oh yeah. The corner punches have little guides that fold out so you can line up your paper.
great video
Hi Robyn! Loved the video - didn't have any problems at all. This page is beautiful - gotta have those punches (where did you get them?). Thanks!
Kim (email@example.com)
Really loved those punches...must have.
I was one having problems with my video pausing...so I talked to my putter guy and he said it is because I can't upload as fast as you are downloading or vise a versa anyhoo when it starts that pausing I just click pause on the video and let it upload for awhile than when I play I have no problem.
Hope this can help someone else.
God Bless
Your video was crystal clear..I have no problems veiwing them! Excellent quality and content. Thanks so much for sharing your new expression and cart. Love those punches too! Blessings, Mary
I love the video I am not having any probs with them. I love the your new pink cricut expression and the page you did is Fab as always!!! Keep the videos coming I love them all!!!
Love it as usual! I can't wait to see what you come up with next! Thanks for all you have taught me about the Cricut!
Kris in AK
funamom at yahoo dot com
"She" is beautiful! and fits you so well!! It's great that your original e goes to your girls - pass on your legacy.
Video was perfect! Can't wait for the "new pink loft" tour!
Thanks for all you do
Great layout example. I love the loop punch. Don't have that one yet. I want the fall leaves boarder punch first, then maybe the loop punch.
This looks great. I'm going to have to find those loopy punches.
Very kewl! Where did you get the loop punches from? great video, thanks.
I love those punches - went to Michaels but all sold out - once again thanks for posting a great video - I have no problems with your video at all!
Love the video! Such a cute LO!
I'm so happy your ring fits again. :) It's very beautiful!
Nice clear video, ran ok, but then wasn't running in HQ, normal quality is just fine.
Question, however, what make of video camera do you use, I like the zoom you have?
Warm Wishes
Just love your layout! Very inspiring!
Thanks for the video, Robyn, as informative as always; and had no problem viewing it.
I have SCAL and I don't need to go buy Martha's punch. Someone at the Craft Edge forum made an SVG of it - including the corner! Love it!
the video is great the music is annoying and distracts fromhte instructions
I don't have any music playing in this entire video. You must have had another screen open with a website or blog that was playing music. Sorry that I couldn't tell you it was mine but it was not. Maybe next time you can close out all your screens first.
This page is SO cute!! You are such a great artist and I love those punches. Thanks for always sharing your talents with us!


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John Barlas, Inc. filed as a Domestic for Profit Corporation in the State of Florida and is no longer active. This corporate entity was filed approximately nine years ago on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 as recorded in documents filed with Florida Department of State.
John Barlas served as the President John's past corporate affiliations include Jonny Primo's, Inc., Dljj Investments, LLC and nine others.
The registered agent for the company is Stavros Tingirides. Also known as a statutory or resident agent, the registered agent is responsible for receiving legal notifications regarding court summons, lawsuits, and other legal actions involving the corporate entity.
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John Barlas
President, Director, Secretary
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Leadership. Empowerment. Advocacy. Development..."Leading by Example."
The Dean of Students' Office provides leadership for the development of a student centered environment in settings outside of the classroom through establishing programs and services that empower students to make responsible choices that embrace healthy social, emotional and spiritual lifestyles.
The Dean of Students' Office will be recognized within the university community as a primary contributor to student leadership, empowerment, advocacy, development and transformed lives.
The Dean of Students' Office staff considers our student advocacy philosophy and values to be a driving force and our top priority. In our daily interactions with you and each other we seek to demonstrate these values of:
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Welcome to the Dean of Students' Office
Welcome students, family members, SHSU Faculty and staff,
First and foremost The Dean of Students' Office (DOSO) staff serves in the capacity of student advocates. We are a central point of contact for students who need to resolve issues/grievances, or need further explanation of policies or procedures. In addition we facilitate co-curricular activities that encourage students to get involved in quality on campus experiences.
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Eat 'em up Kats!!
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Dean of Students