text:
Like his bloggers, Nick Denton is popular for his cynicism. Before his ad:tech panel yesterday, he told me there's nothing he's very excited about in online advertising. And during the session, he said blog advertising shouldn't be undertaken for purposes of community buzz, but for simple demographics. He said one-off deals like Nike's "Art of Speed," which Gawker did two years ago, aren't really worth the effort. And he said his approach to selling ads is more conservative than ever.
"I'm skeptical about the ability of advertising to influence word of mouth," he said. "The real reason for advertising on weblogs is to reach an audience that's younger, richer, more influential. They should be bought for the demographics rather than the word of mouth. If the marketer wants to influence word of mouth through weblogs, it's better for them to use PR."


text:
Hasan Kalair, 32, is the managing director, Aisha Group (Uganda) Limited, a company that imports used and new Japanese vehicles to Uganda.
He is also the proprietor of Mr. Tasty, one of the most successful local fast food chains in Kampala with six branches in Kampala and prospects of going continental.
The car import business was started by his uncle who, as a young man, was forced to go for 'kyeyo' in Japan to fend for his family in Pakistan, which included the young Kalair whose circumstances back in Pakistan were dire.
However, Kalair had the sense to tap into his uncle's growing business network, zeroing in on Uganda which is a bustling market for used Japanese cars. He moved here in 2005 with nothing, but the hope that his uncle would trust him enough to send him cars for sale. He told Clare Namanya and Darious Magara how he has based on that trust to build an empire of his own.
Early life
I was born in a family of four in Kotgnagat Khan, Punjab, Pakistan in 1982 to Mohammad Ashraf and Safia Sultana Kalair. I went to Government Middle School in Kotgnagat Khan for my primary up to advanced level between 1986 and 1997.
I enrolled for a diploma in civil engineering at the Government College of Technology, Rasul, and later graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 2004 from Punjab University.
Upon graduation from university, I started running the family business of agriculture. We grew rice, sugarcane, wheat and run a rice mill in Pakistan, which I managed to grow. I later worked at H.K Motors Pakistan (importing used cars from Japan) before moving to Uganda in 2005 to open Aisha Motors bond here. He said the circumstances were not bad at home, but Uganda and East Africa through research presented great opportunities for this business.
Both my parents were secondary school teachers. Their salaries, like those of most teachers in the developing world, were meagre. They, however, supplemented their income with farm produce to take care of the four of us. Otherwise, we would never have survived on their salaries alone.
My village, Kotgnagat Khan, was agrarian. It was known for growing rice, sugarcane and wheat. At home we cultivated these crops on a 25-acre piece of land and during school holidays, we worked on the farm as a family to supplement our family income. Our parents were strict and always instilled family and religious values in us and they always emphasised to us to pray to God always.
Life was not easy since we had to balance between work and school. They were all important to us since our parents did not earn enough to sustain the entire family.
Hasan in his office at Aisha Group (Uganda) Limited, Kampala
Aisha Group International
Aisha Group was actually started by my uncle, Choudry Shahid Mehmood Kalair, who left Pakistan for Japan in 1988 at the age of 21. Life in Pakistan was tough and he wanted a better life for all of us. At the time, Japan had no visa restrictions for Pakistanis.
He found it even tougher there and struggled for a while because it was not easy getting jobs and there was a problem of language barrier. He found a job at the Suzuki Car Factory where he worked for three years. He was an engineer. With time, he earned enough to enable him save a little money for himself and manage to repatriate $2,000 (sh5.2m today) to us back home in Pakistan every month.
Due to the challenges he faced with employment in Japan, he decided to start up his own business. Although Choudry had experience selling cars and dreamed of owning his own car inland depot, he did not have the required capital to set out in this business. So, he decided to start out by buying one used car from someone and selling it for a profit.
By 1992, he had saved up to $20,000 (sh52m today) as business grew and was ready to set up a car bond with 17 used vehicles in Gunma Ken district, 200km from Tokyo, Japan. He named the company Aisha Motors Japan, after his grandmother, Aisha. However, he soon discovered that used cars in that quantity did not have market in Japan, one of the leading car manufacturers in the world at the time. So, he decided to look to foreign markets.
Exporting to South America
Like most start-up businesses, it was long and hard for him and it involved high financial risks. However, two years after he started his car inland depot, Choudry managed to send his first batch of 150 cars worth $300,000 (sh790m) to Chile, South America. The business of second-hand cars was booming and so he decided to strike when the opportunity presented itself.
The cars were received by an acquired business associate, who, unfortunately, he swindled all the money made from the sale of the vehicles. This kind of dealership involves a lot of money, so when someone robs you, the losses are huge and some businesses never recover.
In that same year, Choudry sent our cousin Mubashar Kalair from Pakistan to Chile to manage the business to avoid a repeat of the previous bad experience and to pursue payment for the money that his dealer in Chile had swindled. Luckily Choudry's money was recovered after a struggle.
In 1995, Choudry established another car depot in neighbouring Peru, still in South America, starting with 50 cars. Again, Choudry feared being fleeced, so he sent his younger brother there to run things. Business started booming.
Because life had treated him so harshly in Pakistan before he moved to Japan, Choudry spent 12 years away working and building his business, but finally returned to Pakistan in 2000 and got married.
That same year, Choudry went back to Japan, this time with all the skills and capital required to sustain him. He was there for three years before moving to Dubai, where he opened another bond with 150 cars.
Hasan's staff at the Nakawa-based car inland depot. He employs over 20 people
Going into commercial agriculture
Meanwhile, back home in Pakistan, we were able to buy 500 more acres of land from the money Choudry had been sending home. We had ventured into growing rice and wheat commercially. We realised that it was profitable business as well, especially to run rice mills.
So in 2002, we started our own rice mill to process our farm produce. During the peak period (which is two months long), it could process 2,000 bags per day.
From the proceeds we got from the rice growing and processing, we expanded into petroleum retail business by opening up a gas station in Pakistan in 2008.
Entering the southern Africa market
Later in 2004, Choudry invested in 60 units and took them to Durban, South Africa. He started with few cars because he was not sure how the market would perform, considering that the country manufactures its own cars.
The uniqueness about this particular one is that not a single car is sold locally. It is government policy to avoid competition against their own product. All of them are exported to neighbouring countries; namely, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Namibia, Angola and parts of Congo.
South Africa has strict regulations which do not favour used Japanese cars. They are not allowed on their roads. We deliver all the cars to wherever they are meant to go in other neighbouring countries. We have five carriers only, but for our market, these are sufficient.
Choudry ventured into the South African market because it was strategic for our southern Africa operations. It is an economically vibrant country and as well politically stable. They have modern port handling facilities and this would make business easier since it is easier to reach other southern nations from South Africa.
Aisha Motors found its way into Mozambique in 2010 with 25 cars. Now it has over 230 units and a facility of over 300 cars. Although it is growing, it is challenged with high import costs and taxes. The economy is still developing and a not many people have the means to purchase cars.
Hasan comes to Uganda
In 2004, I decided that it was time for me to set out on my own. After doing market research, I realised that in most African countries, Uganda inclusive, second-hand Japanese cars sold like hot cakes. So in 2005, I moved to Kampala to try my luck.
But I neither had capital to import the cars nor to set myself up. I began by approaching fellow Pakistani car importers in Uganda and eventually struck a deal with Cosmos Limited, a Pakistani-owned inland car depot in Kampala, which was already registered and established.
They agreed that I could import cars through their company. I then communicated to Uncle Choudry and convinced him to send me some cars. The agreement was that I would sell them, take my cut and send him back his money. He agreed and I received them through Cosmos Limited. The first batch of 90 cars sold out in three months.
I later moved and rented space in upper Coin (near Spear Motors) in Nakawa, registered my business under Aisha Group Uganda Ltd. and then asked Choudry to send the second batch of 70 cars. These sold out in four months. This marked the beginning of Aisha Group Uganda Ltd.
Because we were renting, storage costs were high — over $5,000 (sh13m) monthly. So, I thought it economical to acquire our own piece of land. We bought a 1.5 acres plot in Naguru at $570,000 (about sh1.5b), which was six months' savings from the business. It took a lot of sacrifice to raise this money. We later developed the land to accommodate 500 cars although we have about 200 cars now.
Aisha Group Uganda has grown over the years (under the same model of business). We directly employ over 20 Ugandans and are among the leading second-hand car importers and tax payers.
We do custom orders based on the customers need. We also guide customers who purchase vehicles online and they can pay 50% and pay the balance upon arrival.
Our capacity has grown and today, we can supply vehicles to organisations as per their expectations and standard.
Based on our family history in agriculture, we thought it wise to import tractors which are on demand for commercial farming in Uganda. This expanded the company to agricultural mechanisation tools.
It takes three months, by ship, for our orders to arrive in Mombasa; 20 days at the Malaba border and two more weeks to reach our bond. The brand new or expensive vehicles are brought on a carrier while the second-hand budget cars are driven here.
We also have a branch in Mombasa, Kenya, handling the importation process at the port. It also sells cars in Kenyan.
The branch also sells unregistered cars for re-export to other countries.
Mr. Tasty has five branches in Kampala and plans are underway to spread its operations across the continent
Mr. Tasty is born
Way back in 2008, there were two restaurants called ARM Foods, which belonged to Andrew Rugasira. One was at Shoprite Clock tower and the other at Shoprite Lugogo. When I heard that he was selling them, we offered to buy them (refuses to disclose the amount) and rebranded them Mr. Tasty Fried Chicken.
We had always wanted to start a chain of restaurants, but having only knowledge about cars, we were reluctant or better still frightened to engage in that business. When an opportunity presented itself, we jumped in without even thinking it through.
Business is about seeing the opportunity and taking risk; we saw the opportunity and took the risk. It was also in line to expand our business venture besides importing cars.
We were convinced it would work because as a matter-of-fact, people have to eat!
For the first two years, we operated in losses. But since we had no experience in this field, we had no idea why the business was not breaking even. We understood cars best, then farming and nothing else. I even started feeling like we had made a wrong decision to buy the restaurant. We were patient, but at the same time looking for solutions.
We later realised that management was the problem and we had to do something fast. I did not know where to look until someone helped me source some chefs trained in international fast food restaurants. This would make us competitive. Once they were settled in, we started seeing a difference.
We also focused on unbeatable and competitive pricing. Another area we focused on to improve sales and beat the competition is customer care. Customer care is the basis of any business; we ensured that the customer's needs are met. All staff must treat the customer as the boss.
We then embarked on strict quality control processes.
In a few months, the business stabilised and we established a reputation for quality fast foods of an international standard. That alone was enough to enable us open another branch in Ntinda in 2010.
The branch in Ntinda targeted residents around the area since we realised we had a huge customer base. The branch is performing well and the customers are happy, we also rolled out home deliveries and office to our customers.
In December 2012, we opened the fourth branch at Freedom City Mall and the next year at Garden City. This was intended for us to get closer to our customers. Each of the last three branches required capital of $200,000 (sh52.5m). Early this year, with $300,000 (sh788m), we opened another restaurant in Bugolobi. This expansion was facilitated by banks.
The restaurants have hi-tech kitchen systems to international standard. This has increased our capacity and helped avoid customer queues.
What makes him tick?
I do not tell lies. I stick to my word. When I tell you that you will get your car tomorrow, by all means, you will.
Integrity and trust have been the pillars on which I have stood since childhood.
I respect my clients because they are the why the business is still growing strong.
I also like relaxing with family and friends after a long day's work. I am married with three Children.
Business philosophy
If you want to grow very fast in business, go alone, but if you want to go far please go with your family. You will achieve a bigger goal since the whole family is growing. When everyone succeeds, the family succeeds.
To grow Mr. Tasty into a global brand
Our plan is to expand our operations to the rest of the countries in the East African region. We hope to open branches in Southern Sudan, Congo and Rwanda.
But our vision spans beyond car import, we plan to venture into commercial agriculture, food processing, real estate development, of course these is a long term goal. We also strive to grow our car dealership business in Uganda by increasing capacity.
Considering that Mr. Tasty is doing well, it has given us morale to push for more. Our target is to open other branches in other parts of the country. We will then roll out into regional markets.
We want to expand into the continental market. We had already registered a branch in Kenya as back as 2013. We hope to open it before end of next year.
In January, we registered the South Africa branch, which we hope to open by 2016. We believe Mr. Tasty will grow into a global brand.
Unscrupulous employees a major setback
The major problem we have, especially as foreigners, is the issue of working permits. It is very expensive. It costs $500 (sh1.25m) and $5,000 (sh12.5m) for one and three years respectively.
Moreso, the G-class working permit (that meant for the workers I bring in from home) cannot be issued without assurance that you will hire only Ugandans. Yet, for top management, we would be comfortable working with our countrymen we can trust.
Mr. Tasty: While starting out, procuring quality foods was a big challenge because often the chicken we bought from supermarkets turned out to be rotten. We sourced for a local distributor and that issue has been sorted. We buy other fresh foods from the markets.
There is a high labour turnover. After expending resources and time training waiters and waitresses, they take up better jobs. To make it worse, they do not issue any notice. This destabilises our operations.
Dishonest workers who steal from us set us back. There was a manager who stole soda over a period of six months. By the time we realised, we had made a loss of sh50m.
Some suppliers are irregular and others cannot adhere to our strict quality standards. This brings about delays in delivery of supplies.
The financing of the business is tough, yet the high interest rates on bank loans hikes the cost of doing business.
Car dealership
Business affected by high taxes
Sales have greatly declined following the political instability in South Sudan and DR Congo. Until recently, of every 100 car sold, 70 of those were taken by these nationals.
Generally, the economy is struggling because besides individuals not buying cars, even the corporate organisations and other business entities are not. But we are waiting for a good season and when it comes, we will sell and recover the losses incurred during a damp season.
Taxes on used imported vehicles are high. Imagine; a single car pays import duty of 25%, withholding tax of 6%, import VAT of 18%, registration of sh1.2m, surcharge tax of 20% (for second-hand) and the most recent one that was read in the last national budget of 1.5%.
There are also handling costs and delays at the port in Mombasa. This increases the costs of doing business.
We also have customers who buy cars on hire purchase, but later default on the payments, yet they have used the vehicle.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
20 apartments for rent near Bucklake Woods, Tallahassee, FL
Apartments in Bucklake Woods, Tallahassee, FL
Bucklake Woods is a forested neighborhood of scattered single-family homes about three miles east of Buck Lake. The development has its own lake, reached by narrow country lanes among the trees. Downtown Tallahassee is about seven miles southwest.
The community is bounded by Buck Lake Road on the south. On the north, the boundary is Interstate 10. Western boundaries include properties on both sides of Canadian Geese Trail and Totem Trail. Properties on both sides of Nickelson Drive and Yearling Trail are within the eastern boundaries, and so are all homes along Bernardo Lomas Drive. The community's zip code is 32317.
Nearby schools include Chaires Elementary School, Swift Creek Middle School, and Lincoln High School. They are part of the Leon County School System, which offers many innovative programs to meet student needs, including a magnet school with individualized programs.
Shopping close to the neighborhood means a trip to the Vineyard Center. Governor's Square in Tallahassee is a larger center with many shopping, dining, and entertainment choices. It is a multi-level mall with a fountain and indoor trees.
Visiting St. Vincent's Island is an outdoor adventure. Tour operators take visitors from Apalachicola, a coastal city 50 miles from Tallahassee. Free public tours are offered during Wildlife Refuge Week in October and Migratory Bird Day in May. The undeveloped island is alive with birds, including bald eagles. Alligators, red wolves, and sea turtles also find refuge there. The island Sambar deer population is managed with primitive weapon hunts.


text:
Last edited by pinzmog; 10-21-2012 at 12:57 AM. Reason: reduced price
Last edited by pinzmog; 10-21-2012 at 12:58 AM.
BTT from a fellow Power Wagon
2006 Dodge Power Wagon
1979 Yamaha DT175 Enduro
Kilo Juliet Six Delta Zulu Zulu
EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) Certified via San Bernardino County Fire
San Antonio Heights C.E.R.T Founding Member
San Bernardino National Forest OHV Volunteer
Build Thread http://americanadventurist.com/Forum...-WagonBuilding


text:
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text:
If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me
I must be travelling on now
'Cause there's too many places I gotta see
If I stay here with you, girl
Things just woudn't be the same
'Cause I am as free as a bird now, I swear I am
And this bird you cannot change, oh ohh ohhh ohhhh
And this bird you cannot change
And this bird you cannot changeee
Lord knows I can't change
Bye bye baby its been sweet love
Know this feeling I can't change
Please don't take so badly
'Cause Lord knows I'm to blame
If I stay here with you now
Things just couldn't be the same
I am as free as a bird now, how about you!
And this bird you never change, oh ohh ohhh ohhhh ...
And this bird you cannot change
And this bird you cannot change
Lord knows, I can't change
Lord help me, I can't changeeee
Lord, I can't change
Won't you bye bye, oh free bird yeah
- Lynyrd Skynyrd, Promounced Lynyrd Skynyrd (1977)
On a fine day staring at a bird in flight, I would find myself envious to feel the peace and freedom of souring the open sky. One can really appreciate the symbolism of white dove to signify the purity in the message of peace and freedom.
This song by a bunch of mean lookin' and rockin' redneck initially caught my teenage attention for its fine git-tarr. But its the intriguing idea of movin' on and seek for ones chosen life that lingers in my young soul then. I was itching for freedom with a bit of reckless abundance.
The true message is not so. Its a common cliche in the musical genres of the American South to talk of movin' on. The yearning from abject poverty, life's hardship, lost love, and pure hopelessness. And, its also the seek for a better life, dream, or the yearn to doin' somethin' with ones life.
The calamitous 2005 is ending. December 31st is as good as any time to remind ourselves to continue movin' on. May the coming year be a better one than before for yawl.
Happy New Year.
Won't you bye bye, oh free bird yeah.
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
Dec 28th, 2005, 1:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
If I leave here tomorrow
Friday, December 23, 2005
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
- John Lennon, Imagine (1971)
I dedicate this beautiful song of John Lennon to those attendees and participants of the Peace Global Forum 2005 held in Kuala Lumpur on December 15-18th, 2005.
Lets all of us join hands and make our personal contribution to ensure war is not a solution by any government to resolve human conflict. (More on the Forum on their official website or blog)
Perhaps, the repeated chorus of Lennon's entitled song, Give Peace a Chance, make for a better tagline for the message call for peace. I think Imagine encapsulate the turmoil of the world better despite the controversial words that invite literal misinterpretation.
I am no expert of International Relations but mere student of Science and practitioner in the Social Sciences of Business.
It is not an oblique preposition for conflict between beings and sovereigns explained by simple Newtonian logic. Not for reasons of the physical dimension and devastation of war, to apply such. But simplicity for the common senses.
A body remains in its present state unless there is force applied. Be it between country or community or individual beings, the equilibrium state of peace and harmony is disruptable by implied forces.
The imposition of one over another is all it takes to ignite hatred and intolerence in human's fragile mind. When one imposed their economic might or misinterpreted prejudice of their faith or political will on another, the irreversible begans.
Men revert to their primordial self with the right dosage of misconceptions of divine rewards and retribution, senseless affiliation to country, race and religion, and greed and self preservation.
All it takes is some twisted individuals to take leadership to impute a disillusioned sense of honour to the senseless act of killings, cruely and famine on another human soul.
Syukran to Allah for making Malaysia a country blessed with peace and bounty. We are proud and honoured to share this peaceful environment to talk of peace. May the world understand the wisdom in tolerance and restrain.
There is more reasons to live together in peace than to take up arms against each other. Over come this human mental fraility, ... and the world will live as one.
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
December 24th, 2005 12:15 a.m.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
- Soundtrack from The Sound of Music (1965)
Beyond the image resemblence to Captain Von Trapp, both are patriot steadfast to a cause. After 22 years as Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir left behind a legacy. He has his success and failures but let history be a judge.
It seems odd to hear questions of his past. I too had my wishlist for the Malays and Malaysia not fulfilled. And, I wished certain things were done differently. But, I am no Malay man who does not value and respect an elder. Not for a man, who has acted with the demand of the time and bold to pursue whatever needs done. Not for a man, without the benefit of hindsight.
Its depressing to see Malays he entrust, crumbled intoxicated. I have my curiosities: Why they foresake the elemental essential for time honoured need? Why they not prosper all thy breathen? Did the road to kingdom come took a detour? Or, simmering tenacity? Or, mere plurality turned singular? The answers are what lies inside them and only Allah knows ...
We see now young turks in-charge. As though experiance is no more a better teacher. Have they know-it-all? As though the young is not corrupted. Are they incorruptible? As though a country in crisis. Why we hear words of blame? Why the spins and cliche? Isn't in youth lies the advantage of time and the age buffer as security to your existence? Show us, elite education not mere pretigous name and confined to written words.
Learn from the guitar man the clarity and creativity in thinking and rationality. Not just a new broom dare to anger thy master. Not just resolve in taming a roaring crisis. Not just assiduous listening from the better.
Whatever is the past, it is the way of the time. Whatever is said, he is a true patriot. Whatever is questioned, he emerged to save and... bless my homeland forever.
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
Dec 12th, 2005, 8:50 a.m.
Another Brick in the Wall (Part 3)
[Sound of many TV's coming on, all on different channels]
"The Bulls are already out there"
Pink: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrgh!"
"This Roman Meal bakery thought you'd like to know."
I don't need no arms around me
And I don't need no drugs to calm me.
I have seen the writing on the wall.
Don't think I need anything at all.
No! Don't think I'll need anything at all.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall.
All in all you were all just bricks in the wall.
- Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979)
Only as one grow to mature, only then one realised the fictitous security blanket wrapping us. As we begin to "see", we begin to understand and we do not need "stimulants" to bribe our judgement.
God gave us a soul to feel and a brain to think. Why the need to succumb to be dependent, subdude, and subjugated to immortals? Do we not kneel to the AlMighty?
... All in all you were all just bricks in the wall.
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
Dec. 11th, 2005, 3:00 p.m.
Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
"Wrong, Do it again!"
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
"You! Yes, you behind the bikesheds, stand still laddy!"
- Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979)
Is the world made out of uniformity; same tie, same shirt and everyone adjusted to look the height? From day one, you decided our mission is dead set on a quantitative perfection. If we refuse, you fuse. Follow what we tell ye!
We grow up with the worldview to conform to the ways of the world. To speak the way you tell us to speak. To think the way around think. To see the way of old see. To listen only that allowed.
The world is ever changing. And, real life is so much different. You never taught us this will happen. Tell me "teacher", why you not tell us there is more right way than your way to speak, to think, to see, and to hear? Tell me "teacher", why are you not around to tell us what to do now? Tell me "teacher", why you tell us we are the leader of the day then, but you deny us that destiny.
Please tell 'em ... All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
Dec 11th, 2005, 3:00 p.m.
Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1)
Daddy's flown across the ocean
Leaving just a memory
Snapshot in the family album
Daddy what else did you leave for me?
Daddy, what'd'ja leave behind for me?!?
All in all it was just a brick in the wall.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall.
"You! Yes, you! Stand still laddy!"
- Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979)
A child born accustomed to rely on a "dependor" grows to believe everything will be alright. When neglected, as "dependee", the child learn to demand. As time goes by, learn to deject.
Why tell us we will provide for you? Fight for you? Be there for you? Then, neglect us. Will we not ask for what is due and now denied.
All you want is to be there for you ... All in all it was just bricks in the wall.
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
Dec 11th, 2005, 3:00 p.m.
In the flesh
Thought ya
Might like to go to the show
To feel the warm thrill of confusion
That space cadet glow
Tell me is something eluding you sunshine?
Is this not what you expected to see?
If you'd like to find out what's behind these cold eyes?
You'll just have to claw your way through the
- Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979)
In the flesh
A recent exchange brought a 'cool' finality to an age old misconception of guilt. Will always..., its nothing more than life chugging along its trodden path. Merely for a lean travel for life's journey ahead. Are we not a traveler at a transit station?
'Fessing up on recollection is bizarre. My cerebrum wasn't extracting and my metaphorical heart felt nothing. I resign to see this unique and courageous soul gets the desired peace of conscience.
Its most not likely for us to renegade on our time-evolved present, even how bleak my current situation seemed. Nor, is the likelihood of discomforting situations from chance encounters. Even if it did, what the heck?
The experience of this awkward episode, of uttering from a distance past, inspired me to let it not go to waste. Perhaps its time me blog, me thoughts. To what purpose it serve? For me? For common others? Or even not? Beats me!
I know it'll be my little piece of cyber real estate that gives me the liberty to expound myself. As the Christian Evangelical ministers on TV land love to say, "The truth shall set you free."
I think its true but not the way they intended it.
Along the way, I could reconcile my thoughts. Maybe, understand the ways of the world better. And, to know and guide myself to the righteous path. Perhaps, get me closer to Allah ... before I move along.
Or, it'll not come to anything. Who knows it will?
Unless you know, where this blog is to understand me ... You'll just have to claw your way through the Disguise.
A Voice
Kuala Lumpur
Dec 10th, 2005, 2:00 a.m.
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Kenya separatists attempt gun theftComment on this story
Mombasa, Kenya - Sixty men armed with machetes, clubs and bows and arrows tried and failed to steal guns from a police station in Mombasa, in the biggest attack planned by separatists seeking independence for Kenya's Indian Ocean coastal strip, police said on Monday.
Police intercepted the men on their way to the station. They said they belonged to the secessionist Mombasa Republic Council (MRC), an accusation rejected by its leaders, and that three separatists were later killed in a raid on a MRC hideout.
With a national election due next year, the first since a disputed 2007 vote, police say they are concerned about rising violence by the MRC, campaigning for secession in the trade hub and popular tourist destination.
Local police chief Julius Wanjohi said police believed the men involved in the failed attack were planning to steal their guns. "They may have been...planning to cause trouble ahead of the elections, but they had better not try it because we are prepared for them."
Police said four men arrested early on Monday admitted to being MRC members and led authorities to a hideout where they believed the MRC chairman was based.
"When we got there, we were attacked by arrows and stones from unknown people who were on top of the building. We shot back killing three," Wanjohi said.
A crackdown against the MRC by the Kenyan government has seen most of its leaders arraigned in court over the past few months.
The MRC denied involvement in the planned raid on the police station and distanced itself from those involved.
"We have told our members to be calm, and warned them that if they engaged in any unlawful activities, they will be on their own," Randu Nzai Ruwa, the MRC secretary, told Reuters. - Reuters
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Reuters Pictures
Two long years ago, veteran political reporter Thomas Edsall published Building Red America: The New Conservative Coalition and the Drive for Permanent Power. In the course of several hundred fluidly argued, thoroughly dispiriting pages, Edsall threw a wet blanket on the hopes of Democrats who thought their party stood a fighting chance of wresting power back from Karl Rove & Co. Republicans were more ruthless, more unified and more generously bankrolled by big business, Edsall maintained, in addition to being inordinately savvier. He was, of course, hardly alone in this view. "Republican hegemony in America is now expected to last for years, maybe decades," crooned conservative writer Fred Barnes after the 2004 election. "We are in a tremendous amount of trouble," sighed a glum Democratic chairman in the New York Times that same fall.
Although the Democrats may still find a way to lose the election in November, no serious observer would suggest today that it would be because they succumbed to an indomitable foe. Less than a full election cycle after Rove's "permanent majority" was said to be upon us, Bush's approval ratings have sunk to the lowest level of any President since presidential job-approval ratings were introduced. Republicans in Congress are streaming for the exits. Surveys show young voters identifying as Democrats over Republicans by double-digit margins, and the 81 percent of Americans who believe the country is seriously "on the wrong track" have conservatives wondering aloud whether Rove's dream has become a nightmare.
"Without change we could face a catastrophic election this fall," warned former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a May 6 article on the website of the journal Human Events. His prognosis is echoed in several new books written by conservatives that come wrapped in optimistic packaging about how the situation may be righted with the proper adjustments but that are full of gloomy pronouncements about the disaster to come if the same tired formula is pursued. "A generation of young Americans has been lost to our party," worries former Bush speechwriter David Frum in Comeback: Conservatism That Can Win Again, the content of which is far less sanguine than the title suggests. "Conservatives have conspicuously failed to earn [Americans'] trust on most domestic policy questions," write journalists Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam in Grand New Party, which argues that Bush's plutocratic policies have begun to alienate even many on the right.
The chastened tone of these books is striking in a movement that could scarcely have sounded more sure of itself a few years ago, when the myriad factions of the Republican Party–libertarians, opponents of abortion, champions of big business, neocons–appeared to be marching in lockstep to Karl Rove's tune. Now Republicans are hurling blame at Bush for betraying conservative principles as they search about for scapegoats. "Everyone is sniping at each other," a member of the House Republican Conference recently told Politico shortly after the GOP lost a special election in Louisiana's 6th District, a seat it had held since 1975. The defeat came on the heels of a similar setback in March in Illinois, in the district formerly represented by Dennis Hastert. These turnovers, and a widely anticipated special election loss on May 13 in Mississippi, cast a grim shadow over a recent meeting on Capitol Hill where Tom Cole, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, warned members there were no resources to "save" incumbents facing well-heeled Democratic challengers.


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Tony Hawks Instagram Photo Raises Safety Questions - ABC News
Dumb Tony: Don't worry if I drop my daughter on her head?
Tony Hawks Instagram Photo Raises Safety Questions - ABC News
Dumb Tony: Don't worry if I drop my daughter on her head?
I am a pissed off Old Dinosaur.
The guy does 720s 18 ft in the air on a daily basis even as an "old man". Considering his relative skill level, this is just clowning around.
If this freaks you out maybe I can show you some pictures of circus kids that will really give you heart palpitations.
He summed it up perfectly- it is more likely that someone would fall walking on the street than he would on a skateboard.
I'm so f'n sick of this Internet perfectionism disguised as shock and mortification. It's a common tactic pulled by people on here and I just don't buy it.
People do this with their kids surfing, skiing (i do), etc .. don't see the big deal
Unforgivable, no way should those red leggings be paired with that particular tartan skirt.
Tony needs some just for men,i agree his hair doesn't look safe.
Fedor Emelianenko-''The One Who Doesn't Fall, Doesn't Stand up''
Hes a PRO, leave him alone!
That being said, a 40+ yr old man still riding skateboards is why he cant keep a woman.
For Tony, I'm sure this is roughly the equivalent to a normal person walking and chewing gum at the same time. No biggie.
This douche on the other hand:
And this women is doing way more damage to two children and isn't even on a skateboard. Just sayin.
I'm not seeing all these supposed bikes in all these million dollar bike lanes.
Who can forget Katherine Zeta Jones puffing away while pregnant with her daughter
Pregnant And Smoking? You're Probably Depressed... Or Famous


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jGuru Forums
Posted By:
Posted On:
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 08:08 AM
I am using Ariadna now. Before Ariadna I was using 2.5.2 and I had no problem, and never asked me to make a cvs login, but 2.5.2 was an exe and Ariadna starts using a batch file, may be this is the difference.
When trying to use the cvs Ariadna tell me that I must do a cvs login before.
I didn't find inside the IDE a way to make the login. I did it outside the IDE, from the prompt, I had no problems, but the error persist in Ariadna. I copied the .cvspass to the Ariadna HOME (the one set in the .bat) and the problem is still there.
Any clue ?.
Thanks. Eduardo.
Re: CVS login ? (Ariadna)
Posted By:
Posted On:
Wednesday, June 19, 2002 09:04 AM


text: I was toying around some looking at MB's and such rethinking my current setup. Looks to me like a Mini-ITX board will fint insinde a DIN opening (2"x7"). Anyone tried it for sure, I mean fit the whole thing in one box that fits in a DIN size? Alos is mini-ITX a standard or only available from VIA? If its a standard are there other companies that make MB's, if not does the VIA chipset product good sound like my Intel FlexATX board?


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Cold Steel Shamshir Sword 30-1/2" 1055 Carbon Steel Blade Faux horn Handle Black
Product #: 132379 Cold Steel #: 88STS UPC #: 705442006114
- Information
The Shamshir originated in Persia and spread throughout the former Ottoman Empire and beyond into India and even the Philippines. Its strongly curved blade was enduringly popular and absolutely ideal for delivering a devastating cutting stroke. And, contrary to popular belief, it was very effective at delivering rising, descending and hooking style thrusts! Typically, the curved Shamshir blade had a narrow cross section and a sharp point. It had a simple brass or steel crossbar hilt and an equally straightforward handle made from wood or animal horn that terminated in a distinctively bulbous pommel. This pommel was offset slightly to help the hand resist centrifugal force when making a hard cutting stroke. The Cold Steel version of this historic saber replicates the original as closely as possible. The only modifications were to substitute a modern high carbon steel for the blade and to use black faux buffalo horn for the handle. Even the scabbard is a close copy of the original. It's made of thick, black leather (so it won't dull the blade) and reinforced by a brass throat and chape, and comes complete with dual suspension rings.
Technical Information
Technical Information
- Blade Steel: 1055 Carbon Steel
- Handle Material: Faux Horn
- Blade Shape: Shamshir
- Blade Finish: Polished
- Blade length: 30.5"
- Blade Thickness: .18"
- Overall Length: 36.25"
- Weight: 30.1 oz
- Sheath: Leather
Delivery Information
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- Product ships from MidwayUSA, separate from any other products on your order due to its size. Products that are Shipped Alone incur separate "Per Order" and "Per Pound" shipping charges. Ships Alone: No
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Barriers block off a portion of Staddens Bridge Road in Madison Township, where a culvert bridge is closed. The bridge is expected to be back in service by Nov. 1, but the closure has some worried about emergency response.
- Filed Under
A pair of bridge closures in Madison Township have some people worried about emergency response times.
The first closure is on Staddens Bridge Road over a culvert just south of the intersection with Claylick Road. Normally, first responders would detour around that using Colling Road, but the bridge on Colling is closed, too. That means emergency personnel - and everyone else - have to take Ohio 16 West to Brownsville Road and double back.
Overall, it probably adds two or three minutes to response time, said Madison Township Fire Department Capt. Larry Thomas. There haven't been any major ...


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Magic Dirt is an Australian rock band. Formed in 1992 in Geelong, Australia, and continuing to this day, they have become one of the longest running - while far from the most commercially successful - bands to come out the Australian Music scene in the 1990s.
|years active
|Geelong, Australia
|music genre
|Rock (music)
|current members
| Adalita
Dean Turner
Raul Sanchez
Adam Robertson


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Press Room
EPA Final Tier 4 Compliant L-Series Product Line
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
First OEM Final Tier IV Working Engine In The World
Monday, April 15, 2013
Holiday Schedule
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Meeting Or Exceeding Your Expectations of Product Reliability & On-time Delivery
Bell Power Systems, located in Essex, Connecticut, is a wholesale value-added distributor of industrial and marine diesel engines for thirteen Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Originally incorporated in 1967 as Bell Detroit Diesel, the company now is the authorized distributor for John Deere and Yanmar engines.
"Bell Power Systems will continuously improve its products and services to meet or exceed customer expectations of product reliability and on-time delivery."


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The Food Biz: Craft beer and aloo gobi
Maneet Chauhan, who has become a popular figure on the Food Network after serving as an executive chef in Chicago and New York, is opening her first restaurant, and she has chosen to launch it in Nashville.
I spoke with her Wednesday evening after she spent the day scouting restaurant locations and working on plans with her Nashville business partners — Moni Advani, London Parfitt and Austin Ratliff, three entrepreneurs who co-own Anthem and Revelry.
"Moni approached me, and first I thought, 'Nashville?' But I never shut doors, I never don't look," Chauhan said. "I'd never been to Nashville, and now I love it."
She added, "Opening my first place has to be with people I like, where it's a passion, where the people really love food."
The nightclub Anthem, and Revelry, a smaller restaurant within it, are located on 12th Avenue just north of Broadway in the Gulch, but Chauhan hasn't yet finalized the neighborhood where her restaurant will be located.
Chauhan (pictured) is from India originally, and attended culinary school there and later at the Culinary Institute of America. She's known for her omnivorous love of dishes from a variety of cultures, putting her own spin on recipes using her knowledge of Indian spices. A former Next Iron Chef competitor, she's now judge on the Food Network's Chopped.
The working title of her restaurant is Chauhan Ale & Masala House. She said it will be a microbrewery and gastropub, with Indian-inspired cuisine.
"Nashville is such a fun-loving city," Chauhan said, adding that she was impressed by Nashville's embrace of beer culture. She figures a "beautifully executed" gastropub could be a "big, big selling point" for Nashvillians.
Chauhan is having an incredibly busy spring. She just published her first cookbook, Flavors of My World: A Culinary Tour Through 25 Countries, co-written with her business manager Doug Singer and published by Favorite Recipes Press, an imprint of Nashville-based Southwestern Publishing Group. She's in the midst of a 21-city bus tour across the U.S. to promote the book. She's also being followed by a camera crew for a future reality TV series.
In Nashville this week, Chauhan made an appearance at Whole Foods in Green Hills and cooked a special dinner at Anthem. The dishes included Peruvian Ceviche with fenugreek and coriander, and her spicy vegetarian Tadka Walla Risotto. The opening date for the Nashville restaurant isn't set. Chauhan said she plans to start working on it after the book tour concludes, moving to Nashville in June with a goal of opening the restaurant by the end of the year.
• Guantanamera, a new restaurant specializing in Cuban and South American cuisine, has been quietly operating on Nolensville Pike since April 1, gearing up for a full opening in May.
Currently in limited hours in a soft opening phase, Guantanamera serves a "Cuban Meat and Three" menu Thursday through Saturday, and Latin American brunch on Sundays.
The space, which formerly held La Hacienda Marisqueria, has been spiffed up and a new bar installed. The menu features classic Cuban dishes like roast pork and fried plantains, and also South American specialties like arepas (corn cakes that can be stuffed with all manner of fillings).
Guantanamera Restaurant is located at 3744 Nolensville Pike; the phone number is 844-4114. Follow the restaurant on Facebook for updates and the grand opening schedule.
• Last week I told you about the new smoothie and juice bar The Urban Juicer on Eighth Avenue. Now Brentwood has a brand-new juice place. It's called the Juice Bar, and my Scene colleague Lesley Lassiter reports that it's the project of Vui Hunt, who formerly operated the cafe Veggieland in Atlanta. The menu focuses on juices and smoothies but also includes Hunt's signature Vietnamese spring rolls.
The Juice Bar is at 128 Pewitt Drive in Brentwood.


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- WND - http://www.wnd.com -
How much will it cost you if Bush cuts end?
Posted By -NO AUTHOR- On 08/15/2012 @ 11:14 pm In Money | No Comments
(CNBC) Americans would shell out as much as $5,700 more a year if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire at the end of 2012, according to a new analysis that highlights the perils and political consequences of the nation's fiscal cliff.
Connecticut residents would get rocked the worst, with an additional cost of $5,783 a year while New Yorkers would get hit $5,542 on average, the study from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation states.
Mississippi residents get the least impact, at $1,310 on average, but 29 of the 50 states will see taxpayers get hit at least $2,000.
Article printed from WND: http://www.wnd.com
URL to article: http://www.wnd.com/2012/08/how-much-will-it-cost-you-if-bush-cuts-end/
Click here to print.
© Copyright 1997-2013. All Rights Reserved. WND.com.


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Specifically, that peculiar dialect that's willing to do or say anything, provided no emotional honesty creeps into the proceedings. This alchemy can work, of course — The Producers and Hairspray were little more than plastic-coated jokiness that somehow evinced some sense of substance. (For that matter, the Bob Hope–Bing Crosby Road to... movies, which at least partially inspired this musical's title, fit into a similar category.) But the creators must have the vision, commitment, and talent to make that imaginary world every bit as real as the one we live in. That Cole and Krane, who have plenty of major credits of their own (Cole The Night of the Hunter, seen at NYMF in 2006; and Krane arrangements for nearly 30 Broadway shows and the films of Chicago and Nine), haven't is why The Road to Qatar! is more dreary than delightful.
The problems begin immediately, when the full five-person cast appears onstage, dressed in full-length Arab robes (the costumes, like the blank-canvas unit set and occasional puppets, are by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case). "This is a story about terrorists!", one bellows. No, corrects another: "This is a story about musical comedy!" After a tap dance (of course), they decide they're both right: "This is a story about musical comedy terrorists!" I'd love to say it gets better than that, but it doesn't.
After we meet the heroes, "two short Jews," composer Jeffrey (Keith Gerchak) and librettist-lyricist Michael (James Beaman) — no, Cole and Krane don't bother to use their real names — the story is already in full swing. The musical's producer, Mansour (Bill Nolte), sweeps them off to Dubai for their first production meeting with him, and his comely assistant and translator Nazirah (Sarah Stiles), and the Emir's Ethel Merman–loving cousin Farid (Bruce Warren). During this meeting, Farid explains that the musical's plot must involve a sultan's son who is unable to leave the palace. "But why?", asks Michael. Nazirah "translates" by screaming the dictum again at the top of her lungs. When Michael presses still further, she repeats even louder, this time pantomiming and squirming around on the floor like a petulant child just told there's no more ice cream.
Having fun yet? From the production meetings (the Arabs naturally hate the entire first draft) to the recording sessions in Bratislava to opening night of the desert-filling spectacle (which we see far too little of to follow), everything in the show is filled with this kind of frying-pan-to-the-head humor. It's all delivered as though every actor is trying to project to the third balcony of a theater five blocks away. The billed director is Phillip George, but beyond the likelihood of "Loudest! Fastest! Funniest!", there's no wit and creativity in the staging to suggest what exactly he directed anyone to do.
The problem isn't just that this drive-by-shooting style of writing and presentation prohibits legitimate comedy — though it does — but that it prevents The Road to Qatar! from attaining the warm intimacy that would best suit it. Nothing could save most of the songs — Farid's paean to musicals is as dreadful as it is predictable; "Good Things Come in Threes," "Give 'em What They Want," and the rest of the "writing" songs are instantly forgettable; "Nazirah's in London" has an undulating melody, but is an unnecessary crowning moment for someone who's barely a character — but the story of two writers who meet each other and become trusted colleagues and friends under such bizarre circumstances should inspire jokes, lines, and scenes rife with hope, fear, and wonder. None of these qualities is present, even momentarily.
What you get are a lot of gay jokes (including a leotard-wearing choreographer-director-designer) and Jew Jokes, but no recognizable feelings or scope that may paint Michael and Jeffrey's experience as the once-in-a-millennium adventure it is. The singing, against David Caldwell's charming five-man mini-orchestra, is roundly expert. But the performers can't (and don't) create compelling characters in a world this bleeding-Technicolor. It's all blatant and blaring, but lifeless, crying out for the subtlety and variety that even a one-sentence plot synopsis would apparently demand.
The evening's sole moment of respite comes with the musical-within-the-musical's title number, "Aspire" (actually written for the original show). Armed with the requirement that the song simply must contain 10 uses of that word, Michael and Jeffrey craft an inspiring song of such bouncy tunefulness, it will echo in your head for days after you hear it. (It certainly has mine.) "You gotta be big / You gotta be brave / You gotta aspire," the lyrics run. "You gotta reach up / You gotta reach out / You gotta reach higher." The song's creation marks a turning point for Michael and Jeffrey's show and relationship, as well as a reminder that lasting success only comes from pushing yourself beyond others' limited expectations. How much better The Road to Qatar! would have been had Cole and Krane bothered to follow their own advice.
The Road to Qatar!
[ © 1997 - 2015 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]


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WASHINGTON – A new phone scam has launched in Maryland — and the caller claims to be with the Office of the Attorney General.
The caller says they need personal financial information, possibly for a supposed debt, said Maryland's Attorney General Doug Gansler in a news release. Plus, the number that pops up on the caller I.D., 410-528-8662, goes to the Mediation Unit Hotline for the Maryland Attorney General's office. But it's a scam called "spoofing."
Calls placed from the attorney general's office will display an entirely different number, Gansler says.
"This scam is particularly deceitful and hits too close to home as our office would never call consumers and ask for their bank account information," Attorney General Gansler said in a news release. "It's always a good rule of thumb to be vigilant with your personal information so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands."
If anyone receives a call requesting information, and feels like something's amiss, he or she should hang up and report it.
Complaints can be made online or by calling 888-742-0023 to report a scam phone call.
WTOP's Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
Follow @KateRyanWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.
A look at the winter weather news in the D.C. area.
Browse through photos of the event and festivities in New York City.


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Share your music, collaborate, and partake in monthly music contests.
- 7613 posts since 13 Mar, 2009, from UK
Live...Playing the Fool is a great album. Not badly recorded for a '76 recording. I like Octopus too.
- 2540 posts since 21 Dec, 2004
annode wrote:Thanks very much for the break down. Really interesting for me. My brother had a similar opinion, almost identical about Part4.
Thanks for the Gentle Giant reference. I believe polyslax made the same reference about one of the songs I posted a while ago. I remember listening to Glass House and enjoying. Do you any album recommendations?
Your welcome Genetic_Junk i`m happy it was of some value to you.
I`ve always enjoyed this style where well crafted stylized ideas are conformed into a single song going from a quiet melodic to a loud grungy rock and back again.
Gentle Giant were masters of this style, along with other artists of that era, but Gentle Giant were largely identified with it. Kerry Minnear cretaed the style. He somehow managed to write passages with a lot of movement, not really in a single key. He used styles like medieval and baroque but with an off kilter, oddness. Really big on the counterpoint. I can certainly see how hearing a few of their LPs could give you some inspiration Genetic_Junk.
- Three Friends 1972 - early in their career, just making it with college radio. Not well engineered audibly but some great tunes in this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT51ExR ... ED1C7DAD80
- Interview 1976 - a refreshing album long overdue by this time in their career.
More like their earlier work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbCfJM- ... FB15F377F5
They made other good records, but maybe too outside the direction your looking at here. If you like these two, maybe you`ll also like 'Power and The Glory' and 'Free Hand'?
Thanks for the recommendations. Listening to Three Friends now, I can hear what you mean by lots of movement and oddness. Schooldays is really cool.
- 2540 posts since 21 Dec, 2004
drumity wrote:Genetic_Junk wrote:Keeping with a sort of pop sound:
Lots of layering for the distorted guitars and drums in the thicker parts. Some vocoding mixed with vocals. A little use of the new bazille beta.
Nice tune Genetic !
I appreciate the creativity and the ability to play some instruments.
It has surely some 70s spirit, in terms of arrangement freedom and apart of
pop structure determination.
As others stated before, there are some instrumentation issues, as well as some mixing problems.
I enjoyed parts of the tune nonethelessGenetic_Junk wrote:RMS is lower than current commercial levels so you'll need to turn up your listening device to reach normal listening levels.
That´s absolutely some seal of quality
Thanks for your comments drumity.
I'm certain I could have better carved out spectrum areas for each of the elements ― highpass and lowpass the distorted guitars, for example. But sometimes I like the mushy sound when the elements are intolerant and sort trespass into each others space.
Glad you appreciate the nonmaximizer. I don't really apply any processing at all on the master, except a limiter to prevent clips.
- 5249 posts since 28 Mar, 2003, from Location: Location
...Schooldays is really cool.
"It`s difficult to work in a group when you`re omnipotent." Q
My SoundCloud
My SoundCloud
- 2540 posts since 21 Dec, 2004
seismic1 wrote:Live...Playing the Fool is a great album. Not badly recorded for a '76 recording. I like Octopus too.
Thanks seismic. I'll check them out.
- 9500 posts since 20 Jun, 2008
I enjoyed this quite a bit. Repeatedly. Thanks.
Moderators: Scoops, Moderators (Main)


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Milestones in learning
Someone explain this phenomenon to me, I pushed hard for three years, first learning the Russian alphabet, and using it to read, learning Russian grammar from 10 different books the listening, to media that made sense( living language, pimsleur, podcasts, etc) and media that didn't make sense, constantly reading, and when I had a chance to talk with a native speaker I tried, and it was miserable... fast forward, then I found myself being able to answer, albeit very sloppy, the questions in my grammar book exercise materials in Russian. so like my dancing there is a sweet spot in which to enlist, professional help, with that; I found a tutor and I found italki, in that sequence. Not I can speak better and better and the words I learn from these encounters and from my reading "stick better", "harder" and permanent; seem more easy to pronounce although these are more complicated than before. and the last thing it my brain is firing off Russian constantly in all form, words popping up, spelling of the words, talking to myself in Russian while dreaming, is this normal?
Well, I can tell you that the most difficult point of a foreign language is the ability to express your own thoughts using it. The dialogs that you imagine may have some scheme (you can do such schemes subcounciously, without actually knowing it). In a real life you never know how the talk is going to alter next moment. May be it's kind of panic. It will pass, just keep practising.
i don't feel panic, i feel an obsession, if I can label it...
You feel an obsession.. But why didn't you write it in Russian? :P
I can't spell very well in Russian, I am focusing on the other aspects, like listening, grammar and talking (baby or boy talk) my thoughts in English is lightyears ahead of my attained vocaulary in Russian and could not at this juncture, express myself completely. It will come though...
Maybe you should to try speak russian more often using the game translate the word/sentence. For example: 1) you in the kitchen and you take something from the shelf. 2) try to say in Russian "I took (thing) from the shelf = Я взяла с полки ( .... ). It is very usefull!
This is normal firing words at your level and everything else too. To move forward, you should practice, practice and more practice. As well, if you have the opportunity to, try to listen to Russian speech constantly: put it on a player or listen to the Russian news - to get used to the "melody of language". It doesn't matter that you will not understand at first. The point is not to stop at easy texts. Gradually, you will begin to imitate the tone of the speaker. So you will get rid of the accent. Also, you can watch your favorite movies with subtitles (English-Russian-English). They can be found on the Internet. I can send you the link. Be patient. It's a long labor. Удачи тебе!
yes i believe in stephen krashen, to listening, but russian is vey hard and i don't believe i am a "slow" person, it's for sure a marathon.
It took me several years after I had already attained a conversational level of Spanish to be able to develop a relaxed fluency and be able to express myself with the same precision as in English, over the course of which I looked up thousands of words, reading novels and articles at snail-speed. Even after learning so many words, I still needed months of conversation to actually be able to quickly retrieve and appropiately use those words. I think what you're finding out now is what happens to a lot of us language-freaks: through conversation, we consolidate and breathe life into all that stored knowledge that before was just lounging about like a camp of off-duty soldiers.
So for a (comparatively) weird language like Russian, learning to speak well in only three years is quite an achievement! Thanks for your post, it gave me some food for thought.
The conversation level you are refering to may have differnet meaning to differing learners.
This is my first language I attemped, I don't count Cantonese or English, since I did nothing to earn them.
I can say than now since I earn every last crumb of what I know with Russian, I am really glad I pushed through and am pushing, all the impasses.
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Clemson Cooperative Extension Service is hosting the 2012 National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) annual meeting and professional improvement conference in Charleston, SC July 15-19. One of the highlights of the Conference is 4-H Talent Revue. This will showcase 15 of the most talented 4-H acts in the Southern Region. Young people will perform in front of 1500 attendees. Acts can include: vocal, instrumental, dance, skit/comedy routine, juggling, or any other family-oriented talent. Selected participants are asked to reserve July 14-16, 2012 for rehearsals and travel. All hotel accommodations and meals will be provided for the performers and one chaperone.
Click here to go to NACAA Annual Meeting Website
2012 Talent Revue Flyer
Click here to see pictures from the weekend leading up to the Talent Revue


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Just as cancer treatment is becoming more tailored to better strike a patient's tumor with minimal side effects, so cancer prevention is on the path to a more personalized approach.
Scott Lippman, M.D., professor and head of MD Anderson's Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, led a plenary session on the topic at the annual meeting this week of the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Prevention in Philadelphia.
"We focused on various biomarkers that predict a person's cancer risk or response to a preventive intervention that are in clinical trials or are very close to clinical trial," Lippman says.
Lippman cited a model of head and neck cancer risk prediction that combines behavioral and medical history factors with genetic variations associated with susceptibility to recurrence or development of a secondary cancer. He reviewed research by Xifeng Wu, M.D., Ph.D., professor in MD Anderson's Department of Epidemiology, and colleagues that has honed the model's predictive ability by steadily adding single-point genetic variations that are linked to a patient's vulnerability to recurrence or a new cancer.
"We are moving toward having the ability to put individuals in specific risk groups that reflect their likelihood to benefit from an intervention, not only in chemoprevention but also with other interventions, such as smoking cessation options," Lippman says.
He covers these topics, including challenges to personalized prevention and other issues in a video podcast filmed at AACR. Lippman also is editor in chief of the AACR's journal Cancer Prevention Research.
Lippman also moderated a news briefing on the emerging science of chemoprevention Monday. That podcast also is available from AACR.
The Emerging Science of Chemoprevention
Moderated by Scott Lippman, M.D., editor-in-chief of Cancer Prevention Research and professor and chair in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Links to releases about work presented at the AACR briefing:


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VINELAND — A state court ruling is freeing the mayor and the City Council to hire their own attorneys to fight a bitter turf war that could result in one or more high-ranking appointed officials being fired.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the office of Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Anne McDonnell faxed a brief order to City Hall. Two separate legal matters are covered under her order.
McDonnell ruled the mayor and council may hire separate attorneys. She specifies that their hourly rates be $135 or less, and the contracts not exceed $10,000 each.
The council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve a resolution implementing the terms of the judges order. Council members didnt comment on the order.
City Solicitor Richard Tonetta, whose appointment is at risk in one pending matter, said the judges order did not come with much explanation. The court basically is saying officials can lawyer up with outside legal representation if its a matter involving their municipal duties and if municipal in-house attorneys are unavailable, he explained.
Under a state charter, the mayor and council are required to collaborate in hiring legal help and awarding any contract for services.
However, Mayor Ruben Bermudez has refused to release funds to pay for two attorneys the council wants to hire for two separate matters. In turn, the council has refused to pass a resolution the mayor submitted to hire outside counsel.
The trail to McDonnells order started in November when the mayor fired Tonetta, for reasons still unclear. The council responded by unanimously blocking the mayors move.
On Jan. 9, Bermudez filed a complaint in Cumberland County Superior Court while acting as his own attorney. He asked for a ruling that would allow him to fire Tonetta, despite opposition from the council.
The legal tangle thickened Feb. 4 when the council hired Hammonton attorney Robert Pinizzotto. His assignment is to investigate Business Administrator William E. Lutz, including allegations that he lied to Councilwoman Angela Calakos about a purported bribery attempt.
The mayor had wanted to hire his own attorney in that matter, and quickly blocked Pinizzotto by refusing to release funds. The mayors move also led the council to hold off hiring another attorney to represent it in Bermudezs suit.
Pinizzotto filed a legal challenge to the mayor on March 11.
He argued to McDonnell that the council had the right under state law to hire him and asked for a court ruling enforcing that claim.
At the councils March 18 meeting, Bermudez placed on the agenda a resolution that would have allowed the council and mayor to hire their own attorneys.
The council rejected the resolution, whose terms are similar to what the judge ordered.
McDonnells solution deals with both the Tonetta and Lutz matters. Under the order, the mayor cannot block the release of funding.
Pinizzotto was at the council meeting Tuesday night. Afterward, he joined council members, the solicitor, legal staff and Assistant City Clerk Christine Scarpa in a closed-door discussion of matters that fall under the attorney-client privilege and the discussion of investigative strategies.
Tonetta said that, in his reading of this court order, the council does not need to approve another resolution appointing Pinizzotto and that the attorney can pick up immediately his investigation of Lutz.
Lutz was at the council meeting but he specifically was excluded from the closed-door meeting.
Council Vice President Paul Spinelli said he could not comment in detail about what the council might do now. We have to talk about some of our strategies to move forward, he said.


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Toshi never expected the strange visitor who one evening stepped foot inside his master's shop - a samurai smelling of the sea, with water dripping on the ground, and algae strung from his armor. For the first time in his life, Toshi discovers that monsters do roam the earth. And this one has been specifically looking for him.
Dragged from his home and all he has ever known, Toshi has no choice but to help the creatures who've taken him. Yet at every turn there are problems. And there are some who seek to terminate his life, for they've no wish to see his new master succeed in his assigned task.
But when they do find it, Toshi discovers his master's enemies have prepared for their eventual arrival, leaving him the only one capable of recovering what has been lost. Can he do what even the undead cannot? Or will he fail and be forced to wander the world for eternity as one of them?
His prison's blank, glowing walls glared silently at him as he entered. Seasickness washed over him. A dead certainty came over him then, and although the unearthly cold of the ship mercilessly flowed into him, he didn't run for his blanket when he was released. Instead, he turned around to face the departing samurai.
"Asaka-sama, please. I beg you!" He sank to his knees, his hands palm-down against the floor and his eyes closed in supplication. "Release me. Take me home. I can be of no use to you. Please, I don't belong here!" His voice caught in his throat. "Please, Lord, I beg you!"
Toshi pressed his forehead against the floor's glowing planks, shooting cold stabbing it as was already happening with his knees and hands. He shut his eyes tighter with a prayer, his heart quickening as he heard the sound most dreaded by his people everywhere. His acrid breath hung still in his raw throat as the soft click of a katana being slightly drawn from its sheath reverberated in the silence. He waited for the end.
"I will ignore your statement this once. I expect it never to be repeated." Asaka's voice was cold.
He heard the katana click back into place.
"The only release you will find if you do is from your flesh," the samurai told him. "I will have you, one way or another. If I must kill you and then trap your spirit from rising to its next plane, then so be it. It would mean nothing to me to have you join the ship's crew permanently and find myself one who has the courage to endure what you do not."
Asaka left, slamming the door behind him.
Horror and shame poured through Toshi, although he couldn't explain the reason for the latter. Tears ran freely from his closed eyes to fall on the glowing floor as his mind's eye cruelly provided him with a picture of himself as a fleshless, moving corpse.
Play with a puzzle of the cover at the In The Service of Samurai Puzzle Page
Art Based on the Book by Patricia McCracken1) Shakute Island
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Time change!
Don't forget to set your clocks forward an hour as of Saturday, March 11th! We loose an hour, sure, but we can ride our horses later at night now =) I love summer time.
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The Role Acidity Has On Health
What's This Thing Called pH And What Does it Have To Do With Acidity? Technically speaking, pH stands for the Power of Hydrogen. Broken down to the simplest form, our bodies are composed of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. The pH measures the action of hydrogen and the balance of acidity and alkalinity in the body.
When testing the acidity of the body, say the arterial blood, you would test the pH. When testing pH, the result is a number from 0 to 14. Neutral is 7 with lower numbers representing an acidic condition and higher numbers representing an alkaline condition.
Our bodies are alkaline by design. All of the cells that make up the body are slightly alkaline and must stay that way to remain healthy and alive. The optimum range of body pH is from 7.2 to 7.6, slightly alkaline, with the normal for arterial blood as 7.4.
Why Do We Become Acidic? The pH measures the condition of critical bodily fluids. These fluids make up our internal environment that is critical to our health. Simply stated, an acid system is conducive to sickness while alkalinity is required for normal healthy cellular function.
Every living cell within our body creates acidic waste products! Nutrients from the food we eat are delivered to each cell and burn with oxygen to provide energy for us to live. The by-product of this metabolic process is waste products. Virtually all waste products are acidic and therefore must be discharged from our body, typically disposed of through the urine, perspiration and exhaling carbon dioxide.
One of the possible causes of the aging process and a host of potential chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, sarcopenia, kidney stones, osteoporosis and stroke to name a few is the accumulation of acidic wastes in the body due to years of having a condition called low-grade acidosis that has a corresponding lowered blood pH.
It is now believed by many authorities, that most adult degenerative diseases may develop because of a lowering of the function and resistance of the body due to chronic acidosis. Acidosis is thought to precede and cause disease. The well body succumbs to physical disorders when its own acid debris accumulates to the point where resistance is broken down and the body becomes susceptible to cold, fatigue, nerve exhaustion and eventually degenerative disease.
Why is it so Difficult to Stay Alkaline? Our bodies are in a constant state of metabolizing. The problem is that the process of metabolism creates acid, which is needed for energy and other biochemical processes. Normal healthy metabolism creates acid wastes such as cholesterol, uric acid and acetic acid. Even with the best diet these acid wastes are unavoidable but they must be neutralized and eliminated from the body or harsh consequences will result.
To further compound the problem, our food, water and air are loaded with acid forming substances like chlorine and an increasing assortment of chemicals. Soft drinks, especially colas (pH 2.5), are extremely acid forming and are the mainstay of our children's diets. Poor choices of foods, acidic ingredients and low mineral content all contribute to a condition of acid overload.
Maintaining a proper, slightly alkaline pH is considered the most important aspect of a healthy body and a long disease-free life. An imbalance of alkalinity creates a condition favorable to the growth of bacteria, viruses, yeast and other harmful organisms.
Accumulation of acid wastes are also closely linked with degenerative disease, lack of vitality and aging in general. Even when there is no toxic substances in our food, there are waste products that must either be eliminated or stored. Toxins change into poison and must be detoxified or they will eventually destroy the system.
Our Bodies Defense Systems – The human body has an incredible ability to maintain life, however the compensations our bodies are forced to make come with a price. As the damage accumulates over a period of years we may experience no obvious ill effects but eventually the bill comes due and we pay the price.
Having an acidic pH is like driving your car with the oil light on. The car will continue to run without any apparent problem but eventually it will simply stop. To maintain life our blood and cells must be defended against all of this acidity. Should we become too acidic, we would die.
Fortunately we have what amounts to an alkaline mineral bank in our bicarbonate reserves. To buffer the acid overload the body will make withdrawals from this bank account. While this is effective in the short term, in the long run we see our bicarbonate reserves become depleted and bones becoming more brittle with age that can result in osteoporosis.
Another way the body alkalizes the blood and raises the pH is to solidify acids in the blood and deposit them as solid wastes in the tissues of the body. This enables our blood to remain in an acceptable alkaline pH range but as these harmful byproducts accumulate, overall pH goes lower or more acidic, oxygen levels fall, and the seeds of a variety of degenerative diseases are sowed.
This process of gradually depleting minerals from the bones and building up acidic deposits in body tissues is a slow one. For many years we have no symptoms, no clue as to the storm that is building. Eventually we begin to experience aches and soreness, declining energy levels, and other subtle signs that we associate with getting older.
These are not an inevitable part of getting older. They are warning signs. Many adult chronic conditions may be directly associated with an acid pH and a low grade acidosis.
What is the Aging Process? As we age, we gradually dry up at the cellular level. As the years go by, the cells of the body (where all biochemical processes occur) become thicker. As a result the amounts of vital nutrients and oxygen brought into them declines while the amounts of toxins and metabolic waste products increases. The result is a loss of youthful cellular function and the beginnings of degenerative disease.
Can This be Avoided? Consider this: "Dr. Alexis Carrell, a famous French physiologist, conducted an experiment in which he took cells from the heart of a chicken and put them in a solution containing minerals and nutrients in the same proportion as chicken blood. Every day he changed the solution keeping the fluids constant and disposing of the waste products produced by the cells. The result, for which he won a Nobel Prize, was the chicken heart lived for over 28 years. When he stopped changing the solution the cells promptly died."
As revealing as this experiment was, the question remains, how can we accomplish this in the living system? What steps can we take to achieve similar results? To answer that question, we first must explore the cause of aging.
The Cause of Aging – Phosphoric Acid is produced in protein metabolism. Excess amounts are solidified as salts and can result in the formation of kidney stones. These acid salts also build up in the walls of our cells and cause them to stiffen. The resulting thickening creates an inability to properly hydrate the cells. It also creates a severe decline in nutrient and oxygen delivery into the cells and toxin and waste removal from the cells. In other words, a steady decline in cellular function results in what we call aging. Highly alkaline nutrients found in fruits and vegetables and potassium bicarbonate supplementation can wash these acid salts away and help return cells to a more youthful level of function.
How Health Conditions Are Linked to Acidity
Osteoporosis – One highly alkaline mineral responsible for neutralizing acids in the body is calcium. If we allow our pH to decline into an acidic condition the body is forced to withdraw calcium from the bones and teeth in order to maintain life.
In spite of the tremendous push over the last 20 years for calcium supplementation, the incidence of osteoporosis has increased dramatically. The drain placed on bone mineral content by excess acidity is simply too great. The prevalence of low or acid pH places incredible strain on our bones and teeth. In areas like where the Hunza people live, they are blessed with abundant highly-alkaline drinking water and eat alkaline fruits and vegetables problems like osteoporosis do not exist.
Cardiovascular Disease – Cholesterol is an acidic byproduct of fat metabolism. As the body becomes more acidic, it defends itself by solidifying cholesterol in the blood and depositing it in the cells of our blood vessels. Over a period of years plaque builds until circulation is impaired resulting in surgery, medication or heart attacks and strokes.
When pH is raised to an alkaline condition the body is better able to neutralize these wastes and flush them out of the system. Not only does it help accumulation of plaque to stop but deposits may be dissolved, neutralized and washed away as well.
Arthritis – Another byproduct of normal healthy metabolism is uric acid. Like cholesterol the body deals with excesses by solidifying it into a salt that tends to build up in the joints. The result is gout and arthritis. This accumulated acid can damage cartilage and irritate joints. Blood can not carry out wastes as effectively in the joints, which is why the acids tend to accumulate there. Consuming highly alkaline foods and :: Potassium bicarbonate :: supplements can do a good job of cleaning out the uric acid over time, remembering that it took years for the damage to accumulate.
Immune Function – The immune system is a sophisticated clean-up service. It is composed of your body's army of white blood cells or natural killer (NK) cells. Each NK cell is manufactured by your body as needed to kill off a specific invader. For example, there is a specific cell to kill cancer, another one for the cold germ, and still another for a virus. Sometimes, the pathogens multiply faster than the body can manufacture the matching NK cell hence advanced health challenges.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could help the immune system by preventing these pathogens from taking hold in the first place? Bacteria, viruses, molds, yeast and fungus that attack our bodies thrive in an acidic environment. In a slightly alkaline environment they are weakened significantly and do not multiply efficiently.
In the preferred slightly alkaline pH range, the immune system can clear the potentially harmful microbes out more easily, often before we have any symptoms. They are weakened and do not multiply as prolifically. Ultimately health wins out.
Vitality – An acidic condition also corresponds to low oxygen levels. There is a direct correlation between pH and available oxygen. An alkaline environment provides literally thousands of times the oxygen needed for all bodily functions. Oxygen is essential to energy production. In very simple terms, natural energy production in the body boils down to oxygen burning hydrogen.
Another aspect of energy and vitality versus fatigue is proper enzyme activity. Acids literally turn off enzymes, which are tiny proteins that control chemical reactions. Without enzymes there is no life. Maintaining an alkaline pH in the range of 7.2 to 7.6 is critical to slowing down degeneration and maintaining a more youthful vitality.
The Solution – There are a number of medical research studies that suggest that the cause of aging and chronic conditions is a low-grade acidosis and that supplementing with potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) may prevent and or correct them.
Research in this field has been advanced by two world renowned scientists, Anthony Sebastian, MD and Lynda Frassetto, MD along with a team of their collogues from the
University of California, San Francisco, Department of Medicine and General Clinical Research Center.
A summary of one of their scientific studies was published in the prestigious Journal of Gerontology in 1996, entitled "Age and Systemic Acid-Base Equilibrium: Analysis of Published Data" Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 51, Issue 1 B91-B99. The abstract is as follows:
Abstract of the Research Study – To investigate whether systemic acid-base equilibrium changes with aging in normal adult humans, we reviewed published articles reporting the acid-base composition of arterial, arterialized venous, or capillary blood in age-identified healthy subjects. We extracted or calculated blood hydrogen ion concentration ([H+]), plasma bicarbonate concentration ([HCO3(-)]), blood PCO2, and age, and computed a total of 61 age-group means, distributed among eight 10-year intervals from age 20 to 100 years. Using linear regression analysis, we found that with increasing age, there is a significant increase in the steady-state blood [H+] (p less than .001), and reduction in steady-state plasma [HCO3(-)] (p less than .001), indicative of a progressively worsening low-level metabolic acidosis. Blood PCO2 decreased with age (p less than.05), in keeping with the expected respiratory adaptation to metabolic acidosis. Such age-related increasing metabolic acidosis may reflect in part the normal decline of renal function with increasing age. The role of age-related metabolic acidosis in the pathogenesis of the degenerative diseases of aging warrants consideration.
Explanation of the Research Study – Drs. Sebastian and Frassetto's research took samples of arterial blood from hundreds of people age 20 to 100 years to measure the pH level of acid wastes and their level of bicarbonate reserves.
The study showed that as one gets older there's an increase in the accumulation of acid wastes and a corresponding decrease of alkaline bicarbonate [HCO3] reserves in the blood. Bicarbonates are the alkaline buffer reserves the body uses to neutralize acids.
Figure 2 graph B, of their study showed that the alkaline bicarbonate reserves of the group remained fairly constant until the age of 45 and then it dropped off very sharply in a steep linear decline with an overall dramatic loss by the age of 90.
By the way, 45 years of age is when most people start to show symptoms of the chronic diseases of aging like hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity and many others that gradually worsen as people get older.
Drs. Sebastian and Frassetto's attribute the increase in acidic waste and reduction of the bicarbonate reserves in the blood as we age to generations of consuming the modern American diet that is high sodium intake and low in potassium. This type of relationship is reverse of what is healthy and contributes to an excess of sodium and a deficiency of potassium.
The reduction of bicarbonates in the blood makes it difficult for the body to handle the continuous outpour of acid and nearly impossible for it to eliminate acid wastes. This is why it's felt that systemic acidosis caused from insufficient levels of bicarbonates in the blood may be responsible for many of the acid-induced degenerative diseases.
Layman's Interpretation of the Research Study – In layman's terms, this study shows that as we age we have more acid radicals [H+] and less blood bicarbonates [HCO3], the alkaline minerals stored in the body whose job it is to neutralize excess acids, which can lead to age-related metabolic acidosis and resultant chronic disease.
From reading this study one could deduce if the accumulation of acids due to metabolic acidosis cause the degenerative diseases of aging, then if a person could reduce the accumulation of acids in the body and decrease metabolic acidosis, maybe they could prevent the degenerative diseases commonly thought of as inevitable.
The Bottom Line – The decline of bicarbonates in the blood with a corresponding increase of acids and a lowering of the arterial pH may promote aging and chronic conditions. Some may say that the reduction of bicarbonates is an unavoidable result of aging. However others suggest that the reduction of bicarbonates is the primary cause of physiological aging and by adding bicarbonates we may delay the aging process and prevent age related adult degenerative conditions.
The :: AKAI Ionizer Plus :: is the most advanced combination water ionizer and water filter you can buy.
1Frassetto L, Morris RC Jr., Sebastian A. Diet acid load and bone health. In Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis, 2nd edition, Burckhardt P, Dawson-Hughes B Eds. Academic Press San Diego, CA 2004.
2Frassetto L, Morris RC Jr., Sebastian A. Stone age diets for the 21st century: The effects of diet-induced, potassium-replete, chloride-sufficient, low-grade metabolic alkalosis. In Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis, 2nd edition, Burckhardt P, Dawson-Hughes B Eds. Academic Press San Diego, CA 2004.
3Frassetto LA, Morris RC, Jr, Sebastian A. A practical approach to acid production and renal acid excretion in humans. Semin Nephrol (accepted 2004).
4L. FRASSETTO, R. CURTIS MORRIS, JR., AND A. SEBASTIAN, Potassium Bicarbonate Reduces Urinary Nitrogen Excretion in Postmenopausal Women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Vol. 82, No. 1, The Endocrine Society, 1997
5ANTHONY SEBASTIAN, M.D., STEVEN T. HARRIS, M.D., JOAN H. OTTAWAY, M.A., KAREN M. TODD, M.S., R.D., AND R. CURTIS MORRIS, JR., M.D. Improved Mineral Balance and Skeletal Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women Treated with Potassium Bicarbonate, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 330; No. 25, June 23, 1994
6Frassetto L,, Sebastian A., Age and Systemic Acid-Base Equilibrium: Analysis of Published Data, Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 51, Issue 1 B91-B99.