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It's off to Vietnam, via KK, then to Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur, KL, then to Saigon or Ho Chi Min as it is now called and then to Da Nang. A big day but a good trip. Once up in this part of the world nothing is far away but it would be lot shorter to go KK to Saigon - only a couple of hours across the water and not too long a sail!
Vietnam is stunning and Oh!! What a cruising ground!!!! It is the missing link for the South China where now the East Coast of Malaysia is available, with the East Malaysia Rally, the West Coast of Borneo, the Phillipines, but how fantastic would it be to go from North West Borneo to Hu Long Bay, a paradise above all, down around Vietnam to Cambodia then east Thailand and back to East Malaysia!! The China Sea Circle - two years of the most beautiful and fascinating cruising!!!!! Different cultures, waterways, diving and snorkelling, rivers and islands - the most different and beautiful areas imaginable!
How good to be back in Kudat, home away from home, just around the north west tip of Borneo. A small fishing village in Borneo with a shipyard, great tucker, friendly people - I love it! :-))
A trip up from Aus with Jetstar, we stopped over inside Singapore Airport at one of the internal hotels to catch our connecting flight to KK the next morning also with Jetstar. Very convenient! Two hours to KK and we have the day and night there, renew our Celcom internet account, visit the markets, and check out a few things in town including a quick trip to Sutera Marina. Dianne is suffering from Aussie Flu and not well at all. The next morning after doing a couple of chores we wanted to attend to in KK it is into a Toyota for the four hour drive to Kudat.
A great ten days in Kudat, catching up on maintenance, going into town to eat, and solving the riddle me do, riddle me don't diesel saga - a long and interesting story but too much for the blog.
Each day we do at least one bicycle ride into town for lunch or dinner, its not far, but the tucker is great. Have found the best ABC's or Ice Kuchang's (which they never call them up here) in Kudat and have a few favourite and well frequented eateries where we are well known. Catch up again with Peter the fountain of all knowledge and local taxi driver, and have the same workers Rusdi and Johnny which is really great and we get quite a bit done.
Just when we are back in the boatyard groove however it is time to go to Vietnam.
Regards The Phantom Blog Reader
08/03/2010, Kudat
It is interesting how we still get contact from people we met going through Indonesia now two years ago. Soleman the student in Alor, Cepy we met in Bima and others along the way. Txt's, facebook, email make it all possible.
Still working back home and commuting to Borneo at present. We will spend June in Vietnam and October in Japan with intermittent sailing in between. This month sees a few days in Korea and time in Sydney lecturing interspersed with visits home.
My oh my where do the days go to......it is Wednesday already and pack up day. Well now Sunday was ok with more cleanup and a couple of chores attacked. Why would they bring out a new model foot anchor switch and put a flange on it so you cannot fit into the same hole as the old ones!? I am sure they do it to make life difficult. Sunday night at the Golf Club for boaties dinner and met acquaintances from the rally Doug and Margaret on Tonic who are slipping here on Wednesday before a quick trip to Kiwi land.
Monday and assistant one started and more progress was made. He was the right size to get into the bilge and so he washed it all out again and all the aft cabin again and dried it. He then cleaned up all the accumulated dust in the cockpit and once it looked spick and span things started to feel better. Assistant two started on Tuesday by pumping out the remaining thirty five litres (of 200 to start with) from the tank and then totally cleaned out the tanks removing the peeling inner paint so I can ultimately have a go at sealing the tank from the inside as well. Rosdi did a great job of this while Johnno di general cleaning and then attacked the decks, windows etc. We fitted the anchor switch with a lot of manual cutting and filing but it is in and works and then decided to unload the anchor and chain to send away for galvanising in KK so we dropped it off into a box.
Must admit to spending a bit of time in the afternoon sitting on the foredeck under the shadecloth talking to Eric who owns the fishing boat next door. Picked up a lot of interesting and useful local information and all about the fishing boats and their "relationship" with the Phillipines only a couple of hours away.
Peddle into town most nights to enjoy dinner.
Wednesday the boys were into it and the final cleaning up of the now internally spotless tanks was completed, some polishing and cleaning and in the afternoon to while away the time some quick varnishing to seal some areas needing attention but they will need more coats on return but this will hold them in good condition in the meantime. Started to secure things before imminent departure.
Wednesday night Doug and Margaret called in and we walked into town for dinner.
As to bilge pumps and things. No I don't leave the pumps on although I do know of a boat that sank on the land when the cockpit scuppers became blocked and the water seeped in under the stormboards until the boat filled up with devastating effects. However because all our machinery and "wet things" are behind sealed bulkheads aft we don't have bilge pumps in the cabin areas so they were not there to do the job. I guess if they were at that stage the diesel would have still seeped over everything that it did before hitting the bilge and being pumped out anyway! So not sure they would have much use other than to create a big pool of diesel beside the boat rather than captured within the bilge.
Kudat is a delightful fishing town/village where westerners are still a novelty. An industrious and busy place with many comings and goings and very friendly people. Each time I come here I get more out of it.
Off tomorrow to KK and then to Singapore, Darwin and Cairns.
Saturday, up and back into the bilge with washing materials. Joy of joy and how thankful we can be for small mercies the water is on so I can get a few bucket loads for bilge cleaning.
After watching the wall of the aft cabin last night for over an hour to see where the diesel was coming from not a drop appeared. Today there are puddles again! Clean them up and pull off some more panels on the search. Feeling and looking as there is no sign of a source but towards the back and the furthest corner from where the diesel was gathering the wall feels slippery,,,,,,,diesel. On the trail now it follows back to an aft corner weld just at the level of the bottom of the tank. Pull out some more foam and interestingly find Les has marked this very spot with an arrow! And there it is a pin hole in the corner weld with a little flow of diesel coming from it right at the bottom most corner of the tank. Out with nead it, just a little to block the flow and then clean up the surface and apply a larger section which later I cover with metal epoxy. The leak has been stemmed but there is more cleaning up todo. Diesel is found seeping out of the insulation glass at the back of the genset cabinet so off with more panels and pull it all out and trash it the bottom is saturated as the diesel soaked up it. The cabin is pretty well stripped.
Mix up batches of hot water, bilge cleaner and citrus and again flush the bilge out hoping to vacuum the floating diesel off the top of the water - we'll see tomorrow.
At this stage I can see or feel no more leaks!
Onto something productive fit the new sternlight. Apart from some frozen screws requiring the impact wrench to loosen them at least this all goes well and the new one works fine. This is a second light but useful when using the dinghy at night also.
Then to the anchor switch. Make a start but enthusiasm is waning and it is getting dark. Get on the skype for a while to home and the family and then peddle into town on the folding bike to our favourite Indian restaurant for a $1.80 feed including coffee which was great after a low food day! No rain today which was good. It was hot tonight it is cooling down as there has been strong winds here today although where we are in the yard is quite sheltered.
A little progress at last and a full belly so feeling better. Tomorrow, Sunday night, is yachties social night over at the Golf Club across the road so looks like I will get fed tomorrow night as well. Monday morning I have a boy coming to work at 0730 so I'll have to be up early as well.
Water is on but not enough pressure to run the shower but at least could run the low taps to fill a small bucket for a decent wash off tonight. I probably needed it although I couldn't smell anything except diesel!
Sunday tomorrow but not a day of rest over here!
Friday, where did that go to? A quick scout around the yard, go and pay the bills and buy a heap of rags. Arrange for a pump and a drum and three boys who pump the diesel out of the boat and do a bit of a clean up, Well that was a start and then the investigation.
Diesel being diesel it seems to be coming from everywhere but it has soaked into insulation wool, foam and cork tiles so it oozes out. Great day for cleaning the water is off but it is raining but not enough to fill buckets. So there is no water for cleaning and too damp to do outside jobs, With a bit of rain water and degreaser do the first attack on the bilge, aft cabin berth which fortunately we did not have a mattress in and cleared before we left. Removing panels and cleaning up little pools of diesel. Oh what joy. But I cannot find the leak.
The day is spent cleaning washing bilges and other. Can't even have a shower to clean the diesel off me as the water is off! Have rinse down before hitting the sack early.
To the airport in the morning check in and go back to town as the flight is running about 4 hours late. Back to the Airport in the afternoon, to Darwin and get connection to Singapore. Arrive at Singapore several hours later than planned and stop at the airport for the night which was good. In the morning check in for Koto Kinabula, Jetstart Asia, also a bit late. At KK go to Celcom to get the internet Sim card, as I can't find the old one. Then to the bus bay to find a car to Kudat.
Russ got the job and together with about 5 other pax we head off in his Toyota. He has been doing the track for about ten years and a nice guy. We are away a bit after three but a Police Road block causes a traffic jam that slows us down. We stop to pick up someones gear and Russ bought me some fried bananas, later we stop and have fresh young coconut milk.
It gets dark at about 6:00pm and we arrive at the boatyard a bit after 7. Charmar is safe and sound but as I get onboard I notice a strong painty/fuelly smell. It gets stronger, later I find about 150 litres of diesel has run through the after cabin into a "dry" bilge. There goes this week's plans. Can't do much about it tonight so hit the sack.
Have a wooden fishing boat getting built to port and a gap to starboard then a yacht that was here when we left. The yard is very busy.
Well its overdue but a trip back to Kudat will take place in January to check Charmar over and start a bit of maintenance. Looking forward to it!
The Sail Indonesia Rally and the Sail East Malaysia Rally are vastly different experiences. Sail Indonesia of last year is detailed much earlier in our blogs, the track taken by the yachts this year is different. Sail Malaysia details appear more recently in our blogs. In this review I will comment on the comparisons and contrasts of these two events. Last year over 100 yachts took part in the Indonesian Rally,this year 120+ and next year even more are registered. We did about half the rally and then continued on "sailing in company", in good company too, to Singapore where we 'parked up' at Sebana Cove in Malaysia about an hour by ferry from Changi Airport in Singapore, and a great place to stopover. Many of the boats of course continued on in the Sail WEST Malaysia Rally which continues from Danga Bay through the Malacca Straits to Penang and Langkawi, a haven for passing yachts with Marinas, Workyards, beautiful islands and beaches etc. The Sail WEST Malaysia Rally has been running for a number of years. The Sail EAST Malaysia Rally started last year with ten boats, 46 registered this year and next year over 60 are expected.
With Sail Indonesia (SI) from the time we left Darwin until we arrived at Nongsa Point, the last place in Indonesia before leaving for Singapore, we never saw or stopped over at any marinas. Our stopovers were all on anchor, in open waters, bays, fiords, behind reefs, at islands, in isolation, in populated areas, but 98% of the anchorages were great. We never went to the major cities, initially clearing into Kupang, although we did go to some highly settled areas, we stopped in very remote areas, we visited remote and isolated villages and traditional lifestyle areas. In Indonesia we never had issues with any of the authorities or any of the people. The Indonesians were tremendously warm, welcoming, generous, helpful, interested and giving. Those who had the least, offered the most! an interesting reflection on humanity generally. We were welcomed everywhere, overwhelmingly in many instances. Indonesia for us was about culture, nature, the environment, wonderful people and interesting, challenging and vastly different environments. Traditional boats by the tens of thousands constantly amazed us, as these people live by and from the sea. The only downside in Indonesia was the pollution of the oceans and the lands, particularly the Oceans. It is a tragedy in the making that even if it stopped today would never be able to be cleaned up, but it gets worse, exponentially worse, every day as western companies DUMP what they can no longer sell in our communities into these areas without conscience, care or thought. Plastics, bags, wrappers, crates, foil, rubber, bottles and more bags than could ever be counted are dumped into this area daily and find their way into the oceans. But it was the simplicity of life, the family caring and bonding, the generosity that left the most lasting impressions. And then of course there are Komodo Dragons, volcanoes, rainforests and dry area, monkeys, pristine waters, beautiful bays and wonderful islands that create a montage of experiences.
East Malaysia Rally (EM), now only in its second year, introduced us to the South China Sea that has just so much to offer. An overview is set out in the blogs below. Up the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia, across the South China Sea and then up the west coast of Borneo, including Brunei. This rally offers a totally different experience as you move from marina to marina punctuated by beach and island stops. Progressively north up peninsula Malaysia the waters get clearer the Islands better, Tioman, Kapas, Redang and Perhentians with crystal clear waters, reef, fish snorkelling, diving and swimming and it seems to just get better and better as you go. There are marinas with world class facilities, Tioman, Terengganu, that become the base for further exploring, stocking up, great food outlets and interesting shopping experiences and a kaleidoscope of food variety at wonderfully cheap prices in such a relaxed and comfortable environment. The ocean is flat, very flat, the beaches and water beautiful. It is cleaner from plastic, foil and other pollutants than Indonesia but this is still the biggest challenge for these areas in the future. But again we are welcomed everywhere, they don't take your fruit, they GIVE you a local tropical fruit platter, they welcome and assist you and do not throw up barriers to entry. Yes you still have to deal with the bureaucracy, but, heh, remember we showed them what bureacracy is and we are still the masters at unnecessary officialdom and rules and regulations! Crossing the South China Sea we sail through Indonesian Islands again on our way to Borneo. Kuching is the entry to Borneo and this country, part of Malaysia but with areas that are Indonesian, and of course Brunei show signs of considerable and in places great wealth and we experience everything from the traditional Iban villages with similarity to the nature of the people in Indonesia as we traverse massive and extensive river systems with whole enormous trees and their foliage going up with the tides, down with the tide, back up with the tide.......and the next stop may be a modern marina and town with the economy "fuelled" by massive and extensive offshore oil and gas rigs that light up the ocean at night for twenty miles and more until the grand finale in Koto Kinabalu where possibly one of the nicest boutique marinas in the world is with theatre, ten pin bowling, too many pools to pick from and crystal clear water with tropical fish and coral IN the marina and beautiful islands only the shortest of hops away. Malaysia was a diversity of peoples from many backgrounds, rapidly developing areas, massive expenditure and development on marine infrastructure (but not many boats visiting............yet) and one of the most underexploited boating environments around. Thus their emphasis on promoting through rallies and other means including events such as the Monsoon Cup and Miri Brunei Race where THEY pay you to enter and offer other inducements to go and enjoy yourself in this welcoming and friendly environment.
The South China Sea gets my vote.
Both the Indonesian Rally and the East Malaysia Rally are very different but equally great experiences for any cruising yacht that will take you to new destinations and assist you to find and explore places you would otherwise miss with many great advantages from joining the rally as well as opportunities to meet some great people along the way.
Where to next? We have much, much more to see up there, and we want to go back to the top end of East Coast Peninsula Malaysia (back across the South China Sea), we want to explore the tip and the north eastern side of Borneo, we want to..................................the next job is antifouling to get us right for another couple of years of exploration in this vibrant and interesting area.
What is the "East Malaysia Rally"?
For a number of years now sailors from around the world have joined Australian and New Zealanders sailing up the east coast of Australia to join the Sail Indonesia Rally, many have then gone on to join the Sail WEST Malaysia Rally to progress from Singapore up the Malacca Straits to Langkawi and continue their world trips.
What is not known or explored by many is the joys of the South China Sea, East Malaysia and Borneo and the wonderful islands of the very benevolent South China Sea. Australians particularly do have some knowledge of the beauty of the Pacific Islands with images of white, sandy, coconut lined beaches, beautiful fringing reefs and the many splendid coloured fish. Commonly we don't have an appreciation of the similarities in the South China Sea but with a gentle sea and many protected waterways. We also tend to forget that Malaysia consists of not only "Peninsula Malaysia but also the Western side of Borneo, Sarawak and Sabah separated by the South China Sea and many islands in between.
Last year, 2008, a new rally was started being the "East Malaysia Rally" supported by the Malaysian Government to introduce this wonderful area to yachties from around the world. Twelve boats joined this rally in that inaugural year, 46 registered this year and already there are over 60 expressions of interest for next year.
So just what is the "East Malaysia Rally"? Similar to the Sail Indonesia and Sail Malaysia Rally it is a partially organised event with plenty of time for participants to also do "their own thing" with the added value of numerous organised trips, tours and functions that add so much to the pleasure of the area and are a chance to share information, anecdotes and tales tall and thin with other like minded yachties. The Rally covers over a thousand nautical miles and runs from mid May to early August traversing from the Malacca Straits, Penang, down past Singapore, up the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia then crosses the South China Sea to Borneo arriving at Kuchin to sail up the West Coast of Borneo almost from southern tip to northern tip of this large island.
To provide a summarised travel itinerary the key destinations and their advantages follow in very brief descriptions, so much more could be said:-
• Penang - gathering boats from the Langkawi and the Malacca Straits. Penang is a scenic island off the west coast of Malaysia rightfully famous for its diverse and cheap foods and steeped in the rich history of Malaysia - a tourist destination in its own right
• Danga Bay -
• Puteri Marina - a new Marina in Malaysia to the west of Singapore which put on a great function and offered free berthing not only for the Rally but until Christmas to help promote this new area.
• Sebana Cove - this is where we joined the Rally, it is a short ferry ride across from Changi Airport, Singapore into Malaysia with a somewhat dilapidated golfing resort, but a great policy to "park" your boat if you wish to return home as it is super protected up a mangrove lined river, is fairly fresh water (inhibiting marine growth) and "out of town" so not many "lookenpeepers" around, and good rates. Monkeys and giant monitor lizards can be found here and marina tenants have use of the "resort" facilities including towels at the pool etc.
• Tioman Island - back to the Singapore Straits and the journey starts up the East Coast of Malaysia in very hospitable waters with easy anchorages and some island stopover to Tioman Island, one of a group not far offshore and part of a large national marine park with magnificently clean water (coral growing in the deep blue and clear marina water) with good beaches, reef snorkelling and diving and many islands and bays to visit and explore. This is a great marina with new amenities and one could be tempted to stay on and on.
• Quandong -
• Kapas Island - is the next official stop and is reached by island hopping up the Coast in easy day sails. Kapas is a tourist destination with beautiful sandy beaches and low key resorts and once again clear, clear water. A great spot also for a bit of squid fishing and they will take you out on a squid boat and show you how it is really done. We sail in convoy the short distance to the next destination with Malaysian tourism and sailing officials on board for the experience.
• Terrengenu - the northernmost official port for us on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia. An historic town in many respects and home of the annual Monsoon Cup a match racing event sailed on the fleet of Foundation 30's acquired from Perth some years ago every December. Visit traditional boat building yard in full operation and enjoy China town and the fantastic facilities of the Marina with spa, pool, sauna, gym and towels provided for your every shower! Time out here to visit islands like Redang and Perhentians a short distance north which provide wonderful anchorages, pristine beaches, coral reefs and reef fishes, turtle breeding areas, and you can swim and snorkel with turtles, fish and sharks in the clearest of waters. Certainly an area we will go back to.
• Kuchin - is the destination almost 500 nautical miles across the South China Sea to Borneo. One can expect flat seas and calm weather, sail around oil rigs, and through Indonesian Islands to arrive at the trading port of Kuchin or "Cat City" in southern west Borneo. A visit to the Orangutan Sanctuary is a must and the size and strength of the alpha male cannot help but leave an impression. Attend the annual Rainforest Music Festival if that way inclined or just enjoy the area. We anchored in the Santabong River, at Santabong, which must be the world's best barnacle breeding ground as we went in spotlessly clean and after only a week left with a blanket of juvenile barnacles attached to everything below the waterline!
• Miri - also has a great Marina but no facilities - yet - they are coming next year. But on the way there are island stopovers and the opportunity to travel deep into the massive Borneo River systems leading up to Sibu where ships travel through the rivers and a myriad of rivers intertwine and join and there is the opportunity to visit water villages, and long houses and meet the Iban, the native inhabitants of Borneo. The rivers are navigable and fascinating with fast running and complex tidal streams. They are not only populated by logs large and small but also massive trees intact come floating down on ebbing tides and return on the flood to make life interesting. Miri once reached is a modern town and the marina, canal development put on two splendid dinners for the Rally group. Miri is also the base for International Paints in this part of the world and many parts and repairs can be sourced from here. Two twelve metre yachts sit on the hard whilst their sails spill out of a container on the Marina obviously an idea for something not happening yet!
• Brunei - and we leave Malaysia for this oil rich Sultanate where we anchor at first at the Royal Brunei Yacht Club and later at the annex to the Club much closer to the City and the Palace. Oil money talks in this country which is affluent and the benefits of their arrangements with Shell Oil are obvious. Sailing up the coast we weave in and out of oil rigs and platforms of which there is no shortage. A trip to the highlands and up the rapids in longboats punctuates this visit as well as the opportunity to see the local Probiscus monkey, and other wildlife including Sea Otters, other monkeys, crocodiles etc
• Labuan - just twenty miles up the track we return to Malaysia at the duty free island of Labuan (stock up on beer and other essential nautical supplies). A very busy port as one might expect and a new marina and amenities building already well under way opening in October this year certainly a boon for next year's Rally. Not an official stopover but a great place to stop nonetheless.
• Koto Kinabulu and Sutera Marina - the last official stop of the Rally. This is THE 5 star marina with crystal clear water harbouring corals and tropical fish IN the marina, dozens of pools to select from for a swim, amenities providing all needs for showering and fresh towels, ten pin bowling, theatre, "chartroom" or readingroom with current papers, journals, wifi internet, restaurants with 40% discount for Marina users and so the list goes on. A prosperous town with all facilities. A group of nearby islands provide for snorkelling, diving, sound anchorages and the perfect place for family or visitors to come to and enjoy. A memorable Rally final dinner is put on here by the Tourism Board with local and traditional experiential entertainment that is a real night to remember.
• From there - well some boats just stay, some go on to the Boonekin Rally around the tip of Borneo and down to Indonesia, some are on their way back to Oz and others just stopping a while and going back to Peninsula Malaysia,
Interestingly the Sail Indonesia Rally is a great cultural experience where doesn't see or even think about a marina from the time you leave Darwin (if in fact you were in a Marina inside the locks at Darwin) until Nongsa Point where you leave Indonesia for Singapore or points further afield. The East Malaysia Rally however takes one from new to good and better and superb marina's, culminating in the five star marina at Sutera, punctuated by beautiful islands, protected anchorages, pristine beaches where one can anchor a short swim from the beach and count the grains of sand on the bottom by looking over the side of the boat.
A diversity of wildlife from tropical fish, coral reefs, swimming with turtles, orang-utans, monkeys of various types, dolphins and a variety of bird life in areas unexpectedly beautiful and in a sea that is for the most part benign, flat although it can also respond with quite spectacular thunderstorms , a vessel only hundreds of metres from us was hit by lightning near Tioman Island. The Rally is quite different from Sail Indonesia, Sail (West) Malaysia and the Pacific Rallies.
Water from crystal clear blue, to muddy rushing rivers, to that of the cities of Kuchin and the inlands of Borneo within a short time frame there is contrast upon contrast of blue and brown, of clear and murky, of old and new, of poverty and affluence, of happiness and striving, of material possessions of spirituality, of religion of all types, of animism or spiritualism this area offers new experience after new experience.
Clearly the numbers will increase dramatically as the word gets out. For any yachts, or power boats, to spend much more time in this still largely undiscovered and certainly unexploited wonderful cruising ground.
Do it if you can!
In the boatyard at Kudat, it is hot, hot and dry. There are so many jobs to do but we are sort of on schedule. Packing things up, lines, sheets and ropes to wash and stow, we have folded and stowed the Genoa off the furler and lines, packing, cleaning, polishing, stitching, repairing, covering, cleaning out engine filters and strainers, vacuuming bilges, polishing stainless and barbecue plates, stowing, it is hot, it is busy. Pulled out the CD/Radio as it stopped last night only to find that as I removed the 45th wire it was a simple hidden fuse in a power array that still lit the radio up but didn't allow it to work, sort of an anti theft device, great, put it all back together again but left the birdsnest as I had already purchased a cable track to dress up the wiring in this area so now it is out and ready to install.
Peter, the equivalent of Simon in Miri, is a taxidriver and wealth of knowledge about where to find things and what to do. He is educating his children as "you need English to make money". He is buying a fishing boat as "there isn't any money in taxis any more". We have helped him! He has helped us!
Yesterday we went to town again with Peter, arranged some fuel, had the usual lunch at our favourite Indian restaurant (11 ringits about $4) and had another wander around town. Set off around the waterfront and stopped at a small shop for coffee and a green coconut to drink, we were give a complimentary plate of fried bananas, we really need to walk home now. So we set off around the sea wall. There has been a great deal of waterfront development, a massive sea wall right around from town to the boatyard. Noted the good places to anchor which were quite protected although the front of town is very exposed. We wandered back to the boatyard a few k walk along the seawall with a bit of a clamber in front of the fish factory as the top of the wall was blocked off.
Kudat is a nice fishing village, a lot of activity, a mass of fishing boats, and quite industrious people. Boats are getting built or rebuilt, often with literally chainsaw carpentry! although they are very skilful with it. I am not sure what fine joinery would look like.
Had a discussion with the boatyard owner about our terms and arranged some caretaking and cleaning.
It is hot as we ready for a joint taxi to go to KK this afternoon.
We left the magnificient Sutera Marina on Wednesday 5th after taking a great lunch in the Clubhouse, eventually letting our lines go at about 4.30pm as we slipped past the adjacent superyacht and the beautiful clear water of the marina out to pass around the southern edge of one of the skirting islands. We motored out into the headwind and as we approached the island set the Genoa, turned north and headed for the tip of Borneo. It was a great night for a sail with good moonlight despite the hazy, smoky sky conditions, and as we headed north we enjoyed following seas and fresh breezes allowing us to sail under the Genoa alone and still clock up 7 knots plus. This is wonderfully easy and comfortable sailing with just one sail, no worries about gybing or banging mains and still a good click of speed. We had 100 nautical miles to do and did not want to arrive until after dawn so all was good.
As we approached the Tip of Borneo the wind was freshening to 22 knots plus and a couple of squalls passed us to seaward in the freshening conditions. I thought we might pass between a small rocky island on which the lighthouse sits and the mainland but the breaking water did not look attractive (and after seeing this area some days ago from the lookout at the tip) we backed off and went around the outside of the island narrowingly missing passing squalls as we did! And then around the tip and head back down the other side towards Kudat. We cruised very comfortably down the eastern coast of the tip enjoying the scenery and passing fishing boats and dories to arrive at Kudat at about 0930. We anchored and headed in to find out about lifting Charming for antifouling and storage to be told "we are full at the moment, maybe five days or a couple of weeks!" What!@!@! We gently explained we were booked to fly out on Tuesday and later in the afternoon they shifted a boat and advised we could come up tomorrow!! Phew!! Late in the afternoon we noticed a large barge full of cars and a tug manouvering it coming towards the Kudat Duckpond, which isn't all that large. The tug brought a bunch of people in and the barge was anchored. As the evening wore on the fishing boats went out with one nearly, very nearly reversing into our bow as he manouvered to leave..........We went to bed with many lights on outside!
Now Friday we awoke to hear the tug heading our way and he asked us to move so he could bring the barge load of cars in, of couse we obliged and by the time we had our anchor half up he was well on the way in. It was very early in the morning but we thought it would be good to get into the fingers for the travellift early before the wind came up so we started our preparations - fenders, ropes etc. Just as started to line up to make an approach the owner of the yard arrived tooted to us to stop and then come in which we did and it was great to glide in, secure our lines, and be safely inside the narrow fingers without marks or damage or stress!
Soon after the travellift driver arrived and we commenced to lift out! The operator was excellent. I did a quick dive to check the positioning of the slings and all was well. We lifted up and they took us to our bay which had been pushed clear of debris (all pushed to the back of it!) and set us down on concrete blocks with timber on top. Well done! Then we had the water blaster and a couple of boys to operate it who did a good job. We washed down the topsides and commenced our pack up preparations, cleaning and storing and a myriad other jobs that had to be done. We went into town this afternoon to get a few things and had a late lunch and back to the clean up. We seem to be making a bigger mess as we stow things inside and sort out some minor issues, clean pack and unpack put up shadecloth and covers, take down sails, wrap booms, knock off a few barnacles, make new power leads and connect to power etc etc etc.
However we are happy with the yard and where we are and now have just two days to finish five days work!! before we go.........
Today we were up early and went to Kudat, where there is a shipyard and travel lift we hope to use. It is about 200k drive from Kota Kinabalu, this time we end up with a fairly new but small car. It zooms along the road well and it takes about 3 hours to do the drive through the top end of Borneo. Interesting all the way and nice scenery. We find the shipyard easily and communicate with the owner with difficulty but it all looks good.
It is blowing 40 pelicans up here though with very strong winds. On the way back we see a sign to "The tip of Borneo" so head off down the track to arrive at the tip, a beautiful area and we see one of our friends on Panthalassa heading towards the Cape with 40 Knots+ wind and very rough conditions. We can hardly stand up in the wind! They look to be struggling........
We arrive back at KK at 1740 just in time to prepare for the Cocktail Reception and grand final dinner.
The grand dinner acknowledging the end of the Rally was put on by the Sabah Tourism Board and it was magnificient. Starting with cocktails on the boardwalk we then followed a band of warriors round to the massive tennis stadium that had been carpeted and decorated for the event. The tennis area has massive circus tent like covers high overhead. The setting was beautiful and the night was punctuated by some great speeches, and then singing, music and dancing from local traditional tribal area which was just spectacular and so well done. We all feel that there is just so much more of Borneo we would like to see and do. The dancers were superb and the music great with fantastic dress and presentations with a cultural context. An absolutely wonderful finale of the highest standard.
This finished at about 11:30pm and we had a quick swim to cool off after the dancing and then went on board our next door neighbour a 106 foot superyacht where we drank port, rum and told tales until the night was seen out.
01/08/2009, Koto Kinabalu
We had a good sail, what a CHANGE to actually sail!!, up from our anchorage to Sutera Marina, arriving mid afternoon we were allocated a stern in berth between two superyachts that make us look like a toy floating in the marina!
Now THIS is a world class marina!! Something for everybody maybe a dozen or so pools including an Olympic Lap Pool, spas, a movie theatre, (golf of course) ten pin bowling, many restaurants......
The water is pristine with tropical fish swimming in it and live corals growing and thriving.
Of course if you want a swim they give you a towel, if you want a shower they give you a different towel and all bathroom needs, there is a "Chart Room" for sitting, reading and using the computer, WI-FII naturally, 50 discount at the restaurants, free shuttle to town..........
We went to the markets to look at dinner and the Filipino market had all sorts of seafood fresh caught and cooked. You could buy a prawn from MR5 through to 30 for the biggest prawns you would ever have seen, to lobster, sting ray, cuttlefish, squid whole cooked fish of all sorts, sizes and shapes etc etc etc..........
Now this IS a marina of THE highest standard!!!!! Absolutely THE best I have EVER visited...........
31/07/2009, North West Borneo
We left Labuan early after our shopping day yesterday and headed out and around in overcast conditions with some rain squalls around. But we set sail hoping to do about 40 miles to the next anchorage.
We had originally hoped to go to Tiiga Island for some swimming and snorkelling but it was a very overcast day and not conducive to that, also with an ocean swell that we thought might make Tiiga uncomfortable, so we tucked well down behind an adjacent headland where a number of boats were scattered around in a huge shallow bay and settled for the night, which was quiet and pleasant and off for an early (well not really early but about 0730 to head for Sutera Marina at Koto Kinabalu. KK proved to be a large and modern city with interesting contrasts betweend the old and the new. Some of the most modern resorts and buildings but still some water villages and humble abodes.
KK is a busy place.
There are more current photos under the "Gallery" - East Malaysia Rally 2009 - 3
Up at 0730 for a look around, it is overcast and rainy with squalls and storms in the distance. Nevertheless we leave at 0830 heading for Tiiga or the nearby headland for a stopover on our way to Kota Kinabalu the final destination for the rally.
Some vessels have left before us, we notice the marina is cleared so four or five vessels must be in front and a couple leave not long after us. It was our day to do the Radio Sched but I was a minute late and another vessel had kindly stepped in and taken it on.
Flat water, rain, some heavy rain, and no wind. We are using both motors today, I am not sure why but we are as we make good time towards our interim destination at time doing near 8 knots and at other pushed back by current to the 6's. Whilst motoring is tedious at least the water is flat although we do have a westerly swell coming in. The forecast was for some strong winds further north but there is nothing here.
Plenty of timber and floating debris in the water, which is now quite clear and has lost the silt of the waters further south. Unfortunately with a grey grey day it is not all that attractive and whilst we were hoping to swim and snorkel/dive at Palau Tiiga the weather is not looking that inviting for it at present.
PS. The weather isn't worth coming home to yet.
Delayed our departure today to explore some of Labuan a duty free island and busy community just of the coast but on the track north. An interesting contrast with every sort of booze here cheap compared to no alcohol in Brunei. Stay posted as we will update the last few days with more detail as soon as we can!
Today we clear customs and immigration in Brunei to go back to Malaysia via Labuan a duty free island some 20 odd miles up the coast. We leave in 20 knots plus wind sailing at 8+ knots with Genoa alone, it is great and a straight line to Labuan with the wind behind us. We make good time although the wind drops to about 14 knots closer to Labuan which is ok because we have to dodge many parked up ships and workboats as we head into the harbour area near the township. We clear immigration back into Malaysia and customs and hit the town for dinner - Indian not far from the wharves. Looks like an interesting place - be good to have a good look around tomorrow.
We went past the Shell Service Station on the water for the Water Village boats, and up the channels and waterways. Back at Club 1 we have to clear immigration and customs to head out back to Malaysia where we will enter at Labuan Island, a duty free port just off the mainland surrounded by shipping, laid up vessels and workboats.
With twenty two knots plus of wind as we entered Brunei Channel we just put up the headsail and set a straight course for Palau Labuan. Storm cells were behind us and to the starboard, we enjoyed the winds from the sucking clouds to make good time across the bay until about 2/3rd of the way across the wind came back to about 14 knots so we slowed a bit but sailed in past the laid up ships and local traffic to enter Victoria.
Now Labuan was under English rule until 1942 when the Japanese took up occupation, it was returned to local democracy in 1945 by the 9th Brigade from Australia.
We took up anchor in the now slightly crowded bay between the Police and the water village opposite the main town area and ferry terminal. Right outside a mosque as well which meant we got the 4.00am call whether we needed it or not!
To go to town we could take the local water taxi or dinghy and we went into town for Indian dinner which was great.
A nice little harbour with very busy shipping and commercial traffic and many workboats laid up.
There is a marina under construction and some yachts went and tied up in there. It has a new administrative office nearing completion and they hope to open in September - we visited by foot and spoke to the project manager. It looks like it will be great.
Charmar was mentioned in the Brunei Times on Monday 27.07.2009 "Local youths set aboard yacht rally" as a result of the rally yachts taking local Dubai youth groups for a trip from Dubai entrance, to the second club near Dubai City. Obviously I was not one of the local "youths"!!
The story covered the experiences of the youths and the yachts sailing down into Brunei. The young people were a wealth of information for us and were very interested in what we were doing and our perceptions of their country as well.
We learned that Brunei'ans are happy and well cared for and do in many ways live in "priveleged" area with great opportunity.


text:
And the reviews are in:
"The T2x is the Rolls Royce of regs, with top-drawer performance, exotic metalwork and lots of cool features."
- Scuba Lab
"10 stars" (Perfect score) - Diver Magazine
Atomic Aquatics T2x Regulator
Why Titanium?
Atomic Aquatics was the first to design and manufacture an all-Titanium diving regulator. This exotic metal was chosen for its absolute corrosion-resistance in ocean water, its strength, and its amazing light weight. Atomic developed and refined groundbreaking and cost efficient fabrication processes for Titanium to bring the T2x to divers who desire only the best.
The Finest Regulator Ever Designed
Divers and industry experts have verified that bold claim
The T2x is designed to be the highest performing, most corrosion resistant and best looking regulator on the market—PERIOD. The ultra-lightweight T2x is the perfect travel regulator, especially for remote diving destinations where every pound of excess baggage counts – and regulator repair is not an option.
First Stage:
First stage components precision-machined from solid bar
Titanium that is lightweight and corrosion-free
Atomic Jet Seat high-flow piston first stage
Freeze protected factory-sealed first stage also prevents contamination such as silt and sand
Nitrox ready for dedicated EAN use with mixtures up to 40%
New T2x for non-dedicated EAN use with mixtures up to 40%
First stage ports: 2 HP fixed / 5 LP on swivel cap
Second Stage:
Patented Atomic "Seat Saving" Orifice (Titanium)
Patented Atomic Automatic Flow Control (AFC)
Rapid adjustment knob for manual second stage de-tuning in special situations
All-Titanium Atomic Comfort Swivel standard on all T2x regulators
A new high-flow second stage case and magnum lever design that significantly lowers breathing effort at any depth from shallow water to beyond the limits
Dual material second stage cover enables entire front to be used for purge
Dual silicone comfort fit mouthpiece with tear-resistant bite tabs
Metal-accented front cover ring, adjustment knob, and AFC cover
Deluxe padded travel bag
2 year / 300 dive service interval
Limited Lifetime Warranty – not contingent on proof of service
Combined weight of the Atomic T2x First & Second Stage is under 2 lbs.
What is Natural Breathing?
Atomic Aquatics has achieved what no other manufacturer has in a high-performance regulator – Natural Breathing. All Atomic regulators breathe with a natural and controlled air delivery sensation at any depth or breathing rate. Inhalation on the surface will feel the same as it does during your deepest dive. This is in part due to the AFC (Automatic Flow Control) employed in our second stages. This patented innovation is a simple device that adjusts the airflow automatically to compensate for the effects of depth. Atomic Aquatics regulators are the smoothest breathing regulators available...period.
What are the diving benefits
of Titanium?
First, it is unbelievably lightweight which reduces stress during your dive and makes it a perfect travel regulator. Second, Titanium has no equal for corrosion resistance which means more safety, reliability and repeatable performance. And finally, its beautiful appearance stands apart from any other regulator.
Unparalleled light weight
means less stress
In our mission to invigorate the diving experience, the first priority is on reducing stress – travel stress, gearing-up stress, jaw-clinch stress. The best way is to use the lightest material possible. But light weight must never compromise strength or durability. Titanium is the perfect solution. When you hold a Titanium Atomic regulator in your hand, you immediately realize the difference from other regulators. That means less stress for you from packing your gear bag, to donning, to even the final minutes of a long dive.
If there ever was a regulator designed to be King of the Hill the Atomic T2X would have to be it. The T2X from Atomic Aquatics is the first all-Titanium regulator ever to be designed and produced for scuba. This incredibly corrosion resistant material is extremely strong and difficult to work with in fabrication. The engineers at Atomic solved that problem by refining groundbreaking and cost efficient processes for milling from solid blocks of Titanium. The end result is truly a piece of equipment that you will never have to worry about wearing out! It is light weight for the diver travelling to that remote location where baggage weight is an issue, strong and offers the utmost in reliability for the diver who cannot afford any last minute failures or needs for unexpected servicing just before that dive that is hundreds of miles from the nearest technician. The T2X is absolutely the cutting edge in technology and is unmatched in performance and design by any regulator in scuba. If owning the BEST is your thing, than look no further.
Internally this first stage delivers consistent air to the diver with a balanced flow-through piston that will offer the same intermediate pressure with each breath at the deepest depths or lowest tank pressures of your dive. The high pressure piston uses a seal system that is self lubricating that is designed to minimize the friction in this critical part and reduce wear and tear and in turn maintenance costs for the regulators owner. With 2 high pressure ports and 5 low pressure ports on a swivel cap gives this regulator a wide range of possibilities when it comes to the comfortable set up of your gear.
And as if all of this technology and innovation in the Atomic 1st Stages wasn't enough, their 2nd Stages are packed with one feature after the next all geared towards ease of breathing, longevity of the piece of equipment and low maintenance. The T2X second stage comes equipped with a patented swivel that allows for 30 degrees of rotation without kinking your hose. It uses an adjustable, pneumatically balanced poppet incorporated into a portion of the regulator that many manufacturers are looking for ways to cut corners and reduce costs in materials. Here, Atomic leads the way by using Titanium and Kevlar in the metal internal parts. For most manufacturers that would be enough ammunition to light up the advertising and begin singing of their praises from the local mountain tops, but not with Atomic. They pressed on with redesigning two other important pieces in the 2nd stage that turned out to be so successful they were awarded patents for their efforts! The Seat Saving Dynamic Orifice was designed to reduce wear and tear on the low pressure seat and in turn increase the high performance of the second stage for the diver by making sure the orifice only comes into contact with the low pressure seat when the regulator is pressurized. The other innovation is their Automatic Flow Control. Most every manufacturer of regulators offer some sort of a venturi switch in their second stages designed to reduce breathing resistance and help with the opening of the valve that delivers air to the diver when they inhale. At Atomic they've perfected this into a pressure sensing, self-adjusting device that regulates the delivery of the diver's air with every breath adjusting for increased pressure the deeper the diver descends. No more switches or dials to get that perfect breath of air!
All in all the amount of innovation, quality and precision technology put into the Atomic T2x makes this regulator the only choice for any diver seeking not a high performance regulator, unmatched by anything else on the market, but THE high performance regulator, unmatched by anything else on the market.

subset: commoncrawl


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Prepare using JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Sugar Free Fat Free Instant Pudding.
Garnish with additional banana slices just before serving.
This easy-to-make pie, made with better-for-you products, not only tastes great but can also fit into your healthful eating plan.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
This pie was absolutely fantastic! I would eat it everyday! It was also so easy to make & very healthy for a desert!
Family loves it but I use Vanilla fat free instant pudding instead than sprinkle cinnamon on top..YUM!
I couldn't find White Chocolate pudding, so I substituted with two packets of fat-free sugar-free pudding. I love bananas so I would maybe try adding one more large banana. This was an EXCELLENT and VERY EASY recipe. I will definitely be making this again!
K:1923 v0:53704


text:
80 Is the New 65: How High Should We Boost Retirement Age?
Imagine what life would be like if we tacked 15 years onto the official retirement age -- it's not a particularly far-fetched scenario. AIG CEO Robert Benmosche has warned that Europe may have to do just that, and the U.S. will soon face a similar crisis.


text:
If you are concerned about thinning hair, you are not alone. Nearly two-thirds of all men experience some degree of hair loss by the time they reach the age of 35. By age 50, 85 percent of men have experienced the problem. While there is no cure for male pattern alopecia, the condition responsible for 95 percent of all cases of hair loss in men, you can fight against it. The Jack Black Shampoos collection makes a valuable weapon to help you hang onto a thick, full head of hair.
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Simpatico Prototype is a Net-Zero Prefab Home in Emeryville, CA
Simpatico Homes is based on a prefab system whereby clients can create a semi-custom home by combining pre-designed modular units. The prototype is a 2-story, 3 bedroom home on a narrow urban infill lot in Emeryville. The prefab was built in San Jose by Eco
Read more >


text:
You may call me Moose. A little about myself:
I'm an aspiring fantasy author. My first novel (which I INTEND to have done by November of 2013) will be the pilot in a series of steam-punk fantasy novels. I'm also a beginner archer. I intend to, at one point, do standard fantasy, so I figured archery would be a decent skill to have (being able to more efficiently write archery scenes and what-not).
I've made a few maps using CC3 and GIMP, but I'm always my own toughest critic, so I've never posted any, and will probably wait until I have a map done for my first novel (which will also require me to have gotten a copyright on the novel, due to my paranoia). In the meantime, I intend to continue poking around and, now that I'm no longer just lurking, attempt to contribute to some discussions.


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The family contains 4 weights: Regular, Italic, Bold, and Bold Italic and is ideally suited for advertising and packaging, book text, festive occasions, editorial and publishing, logo, branding and creative industries, poster and billboards as well as small text.
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text:
Sweet Repute Taproom Release Details
Tickets for Sweet Repute, our next Backstage Series release, go on sale on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 11am EST! Sweet Repute is a high-gravity wheat wine aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels, and is the 8th installment in our popular Backstage Series. Like others in our Backstage Series, Sweet Repute is available in 750mL…Read More »


text:
Unemployment benefits extended
I think that is more than worth pointing out. If you are on them, it is vital survival money. Vital. Been there, done that.
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All the way down at the bottom of the story as per usual:
Workers who will pay more into the payroll tax: The deal does not extend the payroll tax holiday, which means the federal government will take 6.2 percent from paychecks, as opposed to the 4.2 percent rate in 2012.
Fuck workers! We're going to use our magic robots!
[breaks into chorus of "John Henry," pounds head on desk]
NOTE Oh yeah, the article is divided into "winners" and "losers." I bet you you can't figure out where the workers are!
UPDATE Adding, because the Democrats only care about "the middle class" -- Warren 2016, yeah!!!! -- and by definition the middle class works with their minds, aren't mere beasts of burden, etc. etc. I love the locution "White House Fact Sheet." It's so Orwellian!
I think that is more than worth pointing out. If you are on them, it is vital survival money. Vital. Been there, done that.
It's like being dunked, but never actually drowned.
I thought the "payroll tax cut" was a social security tax cut, which seems to be win-win for anti-tax people as it's a popular little bullet point for future "negotiations" that also happens to undermine the safety net.
It went to the unemployed as well as the employed, yet was also implemented for workers by reducing withholding. And it primarily benefitted low and moderate income people, whereas the more you make, the more you benefit with the payroll tax cut. So of course MWP was abandoned in favor of undermining Social Security.
MWP was briefly floated right before the election, but I don't recall hearing about it since.
The credit was "worth 6.2 percent of payroll up to a maximum benefit of $400 for individuals, or $800 for couples." The chart at the link is for a theoretical one double that. For the unemployed who could take advantage of it (see below), MWP was better. For everyone else it's not so clear cut.
The payroll tax cut immediately showed up in people's paychecks; tax credits must be applied for when filing (or was there some other way for people to file), not everyone knows all the items they can take advantage of, and even then they might not want to for other reasons (e.g. those who don't itemize can't claim charitable deductions).
MWP was also a temporary program - it was part of the stimulus. It's not like the payroll tax cut replaced some other program, except to the extent that it was designed to plug a hole that was set to re-open.
Overall it doesn't seem the payroll tax cut was a clearly inferior alternative.
A couple years ago you had literally nothing good to say about the payroll tax holiday, but now that it's lapsed you sing its praises.
Was there some difference then that made it bad policy? Or has your thinking on it changed for some reason? This kind of rapid and unexplained evolution makes you susceptible to the charge of being a perpetually disgruntled liberal who takes the position that if Obama wants it, it's bad - in all circumstances. Obama wants a payroll tax cut? Terrible idea. Obama lets it lapse? Terrible idea. That's not trenchant critique, it's reflexive contrarianism.
From bad policy to worse; from Making Work Pay, to payroll tax cut, to nothing:
"When they took away the chicken and substituted catfood, you complained about the catfood. Now that they're taking away the catfood as well, you're bitching about that. Stupid perpetually disgruntled liberal!"
Yes, I saw your earlier comment. Did you weigh in to that effect at the time (not a rhetorical question - I'd really like to know)?
Lambert mentioned it in the update here, but I think it's important for connections like that to be made.
As a piece of a general downward trend of increasingly poor substitutions it makes sense. It should be framed that way though.
If I can summarize my own evolution over a year or so, I began by thinking the politics were terrible -- people believed that they had paid for their own retirement, so the payroll tax holiday endangered Social Secuity. I gradually became convinced that in fact taxes do not "fund" spending, a la MMT, and therefore necessarily we did not pay for our own retirements, even if FDR said that we did (long before we went off the gold standard under Nixon and entered the realm of pure fiat money).
Further, I was convinced by the MMT argument that taxes can be used to regulate the economy: Raise to cool the economy down, lower to heat it up. The payroll tax holiday was a way to implement this policy. So, it makes no sense to make policy based on untruths, and there was a good argument for the policy the MMTers are proposing. (Not perhaps the ideal form of stimulus, but better than nothing.) It seems to have worked, and if the economy nosedives as aggregate demand takes a hit, we will have seen Congress successfully regulate us into a weak recovery, and then successfully regulate us into another recession.
So I changed my mind. What do you do, sir?
That's what I suspected - MMT is the missing piece. It is for me too, incidentally, though I haven't studied it as closely as you. I think it's important to give one's readers some context when switching positions on an issue, especially in as short a period as two years.
I'd be careful about MMT-based advocacy in DC though. Something like the payroll tax holiday might conform to MMT but not be received that way. You might think "vanguard of new economic theory" and the Village might think "great excuse to cut Social Security because It's Not Funded."
I agree with danps here. Overall, while it is a theoretical (and actual) truth) that tax increases, especially to people who spend every cent they earn immediately, hurt the "recovery", if they are dedicated (politically and legally) to paying Social Security, then the clear signal from cutting them (or leaving them cut) is that cutting Social Security is "fair game". Believe it or don't, there are still many Democrats who do not want to cut Social Security. Ending this particular tax cut was very likely important to them as an argument against Social Security cuts.
We all know that "correct in theory" is often bromide. Wouldn't tax reform that is dramatically progressive be superior, both in theory and practice, than the PTH and its anti-Social Security baggage?
1. It's not true. At the Federal level, with a fiat currency like our own, taxes do not fund spending. I'm not a big fan of telling truths for political expediency because I don't think the left can afford to do it any more. We've been under successful assault for 30 years (up to and including Obama, so how's that strategy been working out?
2. The tax holiday did what its MMT proponents said it would do: Regulate the economy up in down times. Now taking it away will, I venture to predct, also do what MMT proponents say it will do: Regulate the economy down in down times. We've got at least one half of a policy not only "correct in theory" but correct in fact (regulating the economy by raising and lowering taxes) so why abandon it?
3. The bigger game here is the one the banksters are playing: To make the lie that government is like a household come true. This is the 'living within our means" argument, where that is defined not by the strength of the real economy, but by what we are allowed to borrow from the banksters. Well, if the banksters are running fiscal policy, who's the sovereign? I think it makes for sense to focus on the creating money for public purpose and winning that game than it does to cater to tired politicians, tired bromides, and above all untrue descriptions of how the economy works. Because if the banksters win that game, there's a lot worse to come than cuts to Social Security.
Despite the theoretical implications of MMT, until the laws are rewritten, the Social Security Trust Fund actually is funded directly by FICA taxes, with debt instruments sold to make up the shortfall, and lo and behold, people are already saying benefits should be reduced ("adjusted") because SSTF adds to the debt. Further, nobody is saying those taxes fund anything BUT Social Security, in other words, they don't fund the war machine. All of these things are actually FACT, which is what you claim you are in favor of promoting. Now for me, I would much prefer a cut in the general income tax, which funds the war machine, than a tax cut towards monies dedicated to funding Social Security. It is actually more upsetting to me on MMT grounds that there wasn't a commensurate tax cut to lower income and working middle class income tax to (more than) offset the payroll tax. Your mileage may vary. Now I also think that is something that Obama, if he had asked for it, could have gotten, so yeah, he's a douchebag.
But in addition, I'm disturbed that you dismiss Unemployment Compensation as "dunking". Have you ever been on unemployment compensation? Ever depended on it being extended because your benefits ran out? Do you not understand how vital it is to people and that it is a fucking VERY GOOD THING those were extended? That they were probably awake nights worrying about it? The fact they are needed at all is of course, bad, but again, reality. That you seem to be shitting on that development (which BTW adheres directly to the best hopes of MMT) lends creedence to charges of being a reflexive scold as danps warned.
FICA is dramatically regressive
Is it regressive on input or output? Social Security is (in theory) not like a sales tax which pays into a general fund. You are basically making an argument about SS tax inputs/payments, disregarding SS outputs/payments, right?
"A week is a long time in Washington." I think, frankly, "in as short a time as two years" is one of the more absurd statements I've heard recently ("What do you do, Sir?") And the original discussion this thread recapitulates was a permathread that was hashed out quite thoroughly.
And yet no one's ever thought a great excuse to cut the pentagon budget is that it's unfunded.
Because taxes don't fund spending.
What I asked is, why not start now doing exactly what you said, meaning decrying military spending as an unfunded expense, which is what I took your terse initial post to mean. Unless you like military spending, or equate military spending on an equal basis with Social Security benefits.
This isn't fucking facebook or twitter, we actually handle precise dialogue here, so please feel free to expand on your thoughts.
I don't have a link off-hand, but my recollection is that, at the time, I wasn't a huge fan of MWP (it was an inadequate stimulus, for one thing; and stimulus through tax cuts isn't my preferred method, for another.) However, when Obama proposed substituting a "payroll tax holiday" for MWP I thought that was much worse -- the criticism being that it would eat away at SocSec funding, such "temporary tax cuts" generally becoming permanent.
I admit I didn't anticipate the tax cut lapsing and being replaced with nothing without howls of outrage by Republicans concerning "the biggest tax hike ever!" Maybe they're all still recovering from New Year's. Certainly it will be a nasty surprise for most of us who live paycheck to paycheck, and we could do worse than fighting for another round of stimulus and perhaps settling for reinstating MWP.
... because taxes don't fund spending.
Why not start now? Because taxes don't fund spending
But, FICA is ostensibly a SS tax. Frame it anyway you want but there's better avenues of stimulus that'd demonstrate MMT principles (although I'm confused since it just makes sense from a Keynesian POV so the PTH doesn't seem terribly novel).


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Worked With:
David Duchovny
Birth Name: David Duchovny
Born: 08/07/1960
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Born: 08/07/1960
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Born David William Duchovny in New York City, NY on Aug. 7, 1960, he was raised with his brother and sister by his father, Amram, a writer, and mother Meg, a school administrator. After his parents' divorce, Duchovny remained in New York with his mother and siblings, and later won a scholarship to the exclusive Collegiate School in Manhattan, where he excelled at both studies and sports. He graduated in 1978 as class valedictorian, choosing Princeton University for his undergraduate studies. An English Literature major, he graduated summa cum laude from Princeton and after a five-month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, went on to Yale on a teaching fellowship. At Yale, he worked as a ... Continue Bio >>
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As an addendum to my previous comment; I now have a copy of this lens and I tried measuring the depth of field scale against results from the online depth of field calculator at dofmaster.com.
Results suggest the scale on the lens is very conservative - it's difficult to be conclusive because there are relatively few points on the focussing scale, but as an example, dofmaster's results for f5.6 appear to come close to the scale marks for f11 on the lens. I tried the 12mm, which appears to show a similar bias.
This is assuming that the dofmaster results are accurate; if so, I wonder if Olympus have followed Fuji down the path of pixel-level sharpness for depth of field calculations? (see the dpreview's Fuji X-Pro 1 review, bottom of page 10, for an explanation of what this means and why it's not a good idea).
Meantime, I've made myself a revised DoF scale out of a strip of sticky label, and I'll see what results I get with it.


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A rediscovered an interview on YouTube in which Dustin Hoffman tears up over his role dressing as a female in comedy "Tootsie" has gone viral this week. Hoffman is far from the only man to wear drag for a part – check out some of our favorite movies with guys dressed as girls.
1. The Nutty Professor (Eddie Murphy)
Eddie Murphy plays many characters in The Nutty Professor series, most notably Professor Klump's mother and grandmother.
2. Madea series (Tyler Perry)
Tyler Perry has made a career out of playing a woman playing Madea in a series of hilarious movies.
3. Hairspray (John Travolta)
Hairspray went on to become the 4th highest grossing musical film in U.S. history in 2007 with John Travolta playing mother Edna Turnblad. Travolta won a Golden Globe for the performance.
4. Mrs. Doubtfire (Robin Williams)
A divorced, struggling dad finds a way to be near his kids by posing as an elderly women hired by his ex-wife to babysit their children. Robin Williams was perfect for this role.
5. Norbit (Eddie Murphy)
Eddie Murphy takes on another female role opposite himself in Norbit.
6. Tootsie (Dustin Hoffman)
Dustin Hoffman plays a struggling male actor who decides to pose as a woman to attract more jobs.
7. Jack And Jill (Adam Sandler)
Adam Sandler plays a man and his twin sister in this comedy.
8. White Chicks (Marlon and Shawn Wayans)
The Wayans brothers not only take disguises as women, but women of a different race in this comedy.
9. Big Momma's House (Martin Lawrence)
An FBI agent disguises himself as an old lady to protect a federal witness and her family.
10. Some Like It Hot (Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis)
Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis team up with Marilyn Monroe in this 1959 film.


text: I have a distribution list that goes out to about 150 recipients that are external to our domain. Sending to this list from internal users works fine. I would like to keep these external recipients from being able to reply to messages sent to this distribution list. Is there a way to disallow replies completely? I see in the admin console where it appears I can direct replies to a specific email address. I suppose this would suffice, but I it would be nice to completely stop it. Any ideas? We are running Zimbra 8.0 on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. Thanks.


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May 25, 2016
By Greg Gullberg
April 08, 2013
Valdosta, GA - There's a new plan to give parents a detailed look at how their child's school is performing, and it will rely on more than just test scores.
The Georgia Department of Education will release grades for schools and districts on a scale from zero to 100, much like the students. The new system is called the "College and Career Ready Performance Index".
The grade will be based on factors such as graduation rate, performance on standardized tests and student attendance. The old system just measured schools by whether they were making "adequate yearly progress" or "needed improvement".
State officials expect to release the scores for the current school year in the fall.
The new system is a central part of the state's waiver from the federal program "no child left behind".
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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How does it work?
The process that the PSI- CRS supports is illustrated as follows:
a. After a patient is discharged, Health Information Management (HIM) coding experts review medical records and assign ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes, present on admission (PoA) codes that indicate whether the diagnosis was present on admission (PoA = Y) or acquired during hospitalization (PoA = N) and other information that is necessary to submit a hospital bill. Soon after the coding is complete, the data are screened for important adverse events.
b. When an inpatient case is flagged as having an adverse event, it is referred for clinical review. You, as a primary reviewer are alerted to the presence of a case that requires investigation via e-mail. (Note: sometimes cases can be referred to you by Risk Management or other PSI- CRS users)
Using the link to the PSI- CRS in the e-mail, you can
1) Log in using your Level 2 password,
2) View the case that was referred (a "view only" version of the case will be displayed on the screen)
(Note: you can generate a pdf file of the case from the "view only" version. Just click the "Show PDF" button at the bottom left corner of the screen.)
3) Click on the Worklist from the navigation menu to access your list of referred cases and select a case for investigation.
4) Enter your case findings and then record your review decision.
c. If you determine there is a discrepancy with either the ICD-9-CM diagnosis and PoA coding, indicate this finding by selecting the corresponding radio button option, enter any comments and submit the results. If you identify and record a coding discrepancy, the case is sent to HIM for review and correction.
d. If there is no coding discrepancy, you must determine whether the complication of care was not preventable or potentially preventable and submit the results. The case is then referred to Risk Management for appropriate analysis and follow-up.
e. If the HIM coding expert disagrees with your assessment that there was a coding discrepancy, the case is sent to an arbitrator for resolution.


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|5 graduate from Guys and Dolls
|Written by Holyoke Enterprise
Guys and Dolls Square Dance Club graduated five new enthusiastic dancers on Sunday, March 8 at the Haxtun Community Center. The new graduates are Paul and Kathy Wernsman, Chuck and Joan Dvorak and Makenzie Long, all from Haxtun. Patricia Klinzman, who would have graduated, was unable to attend.
As part of the graduation ceremony, presidents Winston and Mary Ann Ham gave the welcome, introduced the new graduates and led them on the imaginary journey to the four corners of the square. They were then presented with their diplomas by teacher Miller Kelly of Sterling. The presidents gave them their badgets and graduation packets.
Graduates then presented Miller and his wife Leona with an appreciation gift for traveling to Haxtun every week for five months to give them lessons. The experienced dancers, who are called angels, were also recognized for being there each week to aid the graduates in the learning process.
An evening of fun, food, fellowship and dancing was enjoyed by 70 dancers and guests. They also enjoyed two vocal solos by Rachelle Davis and sang "Happy Birthday" to new graduate Joan Dvorak, who was celebrating her birthday that day. Cake, cupcakes and homemade ice cream concluded the evening.


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one of my friends tell me that your zimbra webmail is really good ,so i donwload it and installed ,when i access the URL,it's really good ,so i have me a dicision is i wanna use zimbra replace my company's mail system.
my company's mail system is made of postfix+dovecot+openwebmail.not bad,but the webmail it is just so so .
Now here is a big problem,my compand almost 1000 pepole,that means got almost 1000 user account in the linux system password file(/etc/passwd,/etc/shodow).
so i need someone who can help how to resolve this question.i really appreatiate. of coure you can email me email@example.com
thank you
mark:if it is possbile i wanna buy the technical support ,


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South Bend, IN (Sports Network) - Jerian Grant scored 13 points to help No. 25
Notre Dame to a 62-41 win over Cincinnati on Sunday.
Tom Knight had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jack Cooley added 11 points
and eight boards for the Fighting Irish (22-6, 10-5 Big East), who have won
their past two games. Eric Atkins had 11 points and six assists in the win.
JaQuon Parker had 12 points and was the only player in double-digits for the
Bearcats (19-9, 7-8), who have dropped their past three games.
The Sports Network


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Chatham Square Side Table
- Eco-Friendly
- Overview
Stylish and simple, our FSC-certified mahogany and eucalyptus side table features a classic slatted top, softly curving lines and a warm honey finish. It's easy to reposition for entertaining – or to group in multiples to create a table of any size. Click to read an article on recommended care.
- 20.5" sq x 18.5" h
- Crafted of sustainably harvested mahogany and eucalyptus certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). To learn more about our environmental commitment click here.
- Exposed hardware has an Antique Brass finish.
- View our Furniture Brochure.
- Some assembly required.
- Dimensions & Care
- Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to responsible management of the world's forests.
- Kiln-dried hardwood and mortise-and-tenon joinery provide superb strength and durability.
- Adjustable levelers add stability on uneven ground.
- Overall: 20.5" sq x 18.5" h
- Top: 20.5" sq x 1" thick
- Apron: 2.5" h
- Legs: 2" sq x 17" h
- Clearance Under Table: 16.5"
- Distance Between Legs: 14.5"
- Weight: 13 lb
- Shipping & Return Info
This is a general shipping item.
Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, made to order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items which are identified by a price which ends in .99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
You may return merchandise through the mail for a refund or replacement. For detailed procedures for returning items through the mail, please contact Customer Service at 1.888.779.5176, 7 days a week, 5:00am - 9:00pm (PT).
Also in this Collection
Chatham Custom-Fit Outdoor Furniture Covers
Custom Side Table Furniture Cover
Please Select: Square Side Table
- Free Shipping


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About this font family
Now check this, Underware's blockbuster type, Bello.
Bello Pro is a brush typeface for headline point sizes - it's big & beautiful. Bello has lots of ligatures and start and ending swashes. They are automatic in Bello Script Pro, which is a cross-platform OpenType font with many OpenType features.
Bello has Underware's world-dominating Latin Plus character set, supporting a total of 219 languages (Latin 1 + 2 and beyond). More…
available in all of the styles in this family:
only available in some of the styles in this family:
- Basic text strings
- Random text strings
- News feeds
- Pangrams
Bello Script Pro
Bello Caps Pro
Bello Words Pro
Available formats
available in all of the styles:


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Buy tickets for music, comedy, theatre, film, festivals and much more - with the best service in UK ticketing
View our privacy policy here.
We do not post out tickets. See faqs for more info.
We don't set concessionary policies ourselves - they're at the event organiser or venue's discretion, and therefore vary from event to event.
If the event page you're looking at doesn't specify who is eligible for the concessionary tickets we'd advise trying to find this out directly from the venue or event organiser - unfortunately, it's unlikely we have any more information than is displayed on the event listing. Alternatively, you can Contact Us and we'll try and reach the venue or event organiser on your behalf.
If you buy a concessionary ticket please make sure that the person using that ticket is eligible for the concession; if you can't prove this you will be asked to pay the difference on the door or refused entry, in which case we can't refund you.


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ACHICA > Otis Jaxon > Otis Jaxon Geo Stud Earrings
Click image to zoom -- or click here to enlarge
Otis Jaxon Geo Stud Earrings
This product is not available
|Sale closed
|Product Information
Product Dimensions approx.: 26mm long
Never wear silver jewellery when swimming or bathing.
For pierced ears only
NB: This product is non refundable for hygiene reasons.
Product Code ST-GEO-SQ
|Delivery & Returns
We hope you will be thrilled with your purchases but in the unlikely event that you want to return something, you can find full return instructions on the back of your delivery note or click here


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Make it a BLUMZ Day!!
Blumz by JRDesigns is an award winning full service floral and wedding/event planning company with over 60 years of combined experience. The owners of Blumz are dedicated to the fine art of floristry.As internationally respected educators and presenters, the owners of Blumz continue to raise the bar in the floral industry . Their mission is to bring their customers high quality floral products, award-winning designs and unsurpassed service at competitive prices.
Blumz is a well respected wedding and event florist.Their professional wedding and event staff can assist you with everything including florals, specialty linens, rentals, invitations, tuxedos and more.
Blumz… by JRDesigns' has two retail locations featuring fresh florals, creative gift options and home accents as well as permanent arrangements and plants.Additionally, we have a shopper-friendly internet website that is open 24/7 and an appointment only location in Ann Arbor to further assist in meeting our clients needs.
We also have Tux on Nine, our very own tuxedo store located inside our Ferndale and Detroit locations. Tux on Nine provides full service tuxedo and tuxedo accessory rentals for weddings, formal events, dances and proms.
Gallery Photos from Jess & Nate Studios
Ferndale Hours:
Monday Through Friday 9 am- 7 pm
Saturday 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday 10 am - 3 pm
Detroit Hours:
Monday Through Friday 8 am- 6 pm
Saturday- 10 am - 3 pm
Sunday- ClosedMore about us


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A Wilmington man faces several gun-related charges after police say he fired a shotgun and handgun from his home in the direction of Interstate 95.
New Castle County police arrested Brian Szymanski, 46, at his home in the 1300 block of Tulane Road Thursday night. They had received a report of a man firing a gun near the interstate, which was about 100 yards away.
Officers entered the home and found two children, several firearms, ammunition and several shotgun shells and shell casings. One of the guns had been reported stolen earlier this year.
Szymanski is charged with reckless endangering in the first degree, discharging rifles or other explosives and receiving a stolen firearm. He was released on $8,250 bail.
Location, ST | website.com


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No minimum purchase. First time buyers only. Click here to activate.
PLEASE NOTE: Please click the Shipping Info tab for important information regarding the shipping policy for this product.
We're sorry but this item is no longer avaliable
Ease and comfort is the name of the game. Featuring a rounded bolster for added support and an open front to allow for easy access, West Paw Design's Tuckered Out bed is the perfect choice for both the older pet dogs and the new born puppies...and everyone in between.
Made with their reinforced berber material for cozy warmth and stylish strength, this bed gives snuggling a whole new meaning! Thick denier 100% recycled IntelliLoft poly fill gives added volume, allowing maximum comfort without lumping or condensing.
Including a zipper closure, the cover is easily removable for quick washes. Entire Tuckered Out bed is machine washable, making it easy maintenance. Loved by Dogs... and Cats! Made in Montana, USA.
About IntelliLoft
Created from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, IntelliLoft is safe, re-engineered fibers that diverts unnecessary waste from going to your landfill and takes eight times less energy than producing fabric from virgin fibers.
IntelliLoft stuffing comprised of 100% post-consumer recycled and reengineered fiber fill. By using IntelliLoft stuffing in their stuffed beds, West Paw Design is able to divert many tons of plastic from going to landfills!
Available in Oatmeal / Chocolate
Country of Origin: USA
Manufacturer: West Paw Design
This item will ship separately from other items:
The reviews below are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended as an endorsement of any product. The information is not intended to be a substitute for visits to your local veterinarian. Instead, these testimonials offer the reader information and opinions written by pet owners and/or veterinarians concerning animal health and products that they have used.
(based on 9 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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west paw tuckered out bed
By molly's mom
from Boston, MA
About Me Long-time Pet Owner
Comments about West Paw Design Eco-Friendly Tuckered Out Bed:
I have tried a lot of beds and this is by far my pup's favorite bed
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
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Comment on this review
(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
By barbinbayside
from Bayside, NY
this is a great dog bed,my dog is so comfortable on it...no negatives. It's still new so I don't know... how it will wash and wear
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
By Happy mama
from Madison, OH
My dog weighs about 65lbs. and loves this bed. It is enormous so I think the large bed would have been big enough. His is the extra large which is huge but he looks so comfy and sleeps great! There's plenty of room on it for company!
Dog and cats love it!
By Madylarian
from Baltimore, MD
We got this for a recently adopted older dog with arthritis and he loves it. In fact, so do our cats!
Dogs love it!
By Lisa
from Memphis TN
My dogs love this bed! I was a little nervous that they wouldn't get comfortable on it, but they've really taken a liking to it. It's a great shape and not overbearing in my house.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Loves this one, too!
By Odie's Mom
from Northern California
Okay, so our dog is spoiled and got TWO new pet beds in one day. He preferred the West Paw Organic Bumper Bed at first, and his first instinct with this bed was to bite it and drag it down the hall. But now he loves this fuzzy clam-shell style bed and sleeps on it every night, reserving the bumper bed for lazy day naps. Very nice quality - my husband even tried it out and gives it two thumbs up!
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
a good human bed and a GREAT dog bed
By Lilly
from Ohio
These are safe comfy beds. I even sleep on them. I have 2 dogs and 3 beds. I lay beds all over the house for them. I was looking for a soft bed for my older dog. The bed is better for his joints and he loves it. The young dog heads for one of the beds after a tiring day of doggie day care. The beds do not have a chemically smell like most beds and pads. I like they are made in the USA.
Stretch Out and Snooze!
By Ann
from Maine
My 65# girl loves this couch! She has long legs and she can snuggle into the "couch" back while stretching her legs out strait. And curling up in a ball, snuggled into the back with her head on the arms is pretty good too! After 5 months of use, have not had to wash it yet - it repels dirt and perks right up with a vacumming - so cannot say how it does in the wash.
Merchant response: We've tested it here at Only natural Pet Store & it washes great...easy to get the insert padding back in. It's one of our favorite beds too!
(3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
My dog LOVES this bed!
By NatsMom
from Nashville
About Me Long-Time Pet Owner
My 55 lb. Wad of Fur is really picky about her comfort......she LOVES this bed. Well made and attractive (though I wish it came in more color combinations!) she can really Snug-Up on this!
© 2016 Only Natural Pet LLC - All Rights Reserved


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The Society holds a collection of approximately 115,000 picture postcards, most of them dating from the 1890s through the 1920s. The majority of these postcards, arranged geographically by state and city, represent American scenes.
- Richard C. Fife, former cataloger; revised by Georgia B. Barnhill, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Graphic Arts Emerita, and Sharon White, former Senior Page


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Event Information
Tonia Hauser, "Rwandan Dance Warrior", Photograph, 15" X 11", 2010, GVSU Collection
Selections from The Padnos International Center's first PIC Pics: A Study Abroad Photo Contest. All GVSU students who studied abroad within the last three years were invited to submit their photographs in the following categories: 'Where is your Classroom?' 'Get Lost' 'Social Issues' 'Send me There!' 'The Great Outdoors' and 'Celebration, Tradition, & Ritual.' The winning images were selected by public vote and became part of the GVSU permanent art collection.
Art Gallery, 616-331-2563


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Click image to zoom -- or click here to enlarge
Dorit Silver Medium White Pearl Drop Snowflake Pendant
This product is not available
|Sale closed
|Product Information
Made of sterling silver.
Pendant dimensions: 18 x 18 mm.
Chain Length: 18inch/46cm
Product Code SFP2B-S-WP
|Delivery & Returns
We hope you will be thrilled with your purchases but in the unlikely event that you want to return something, you can find full return instructions on the back of your delivery note or click here


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- 698Promote
Unisex Tank Top
Autumn Woodsby Olivia Joy StClaire
American Apparel Tank Tops are made with 100% fine jersey cotton combed for softness and comfort. (Athletic Grey and Athletic Blue contain 50% polyester / 25% cotton / 25% rayon)
woods, tree, oak, forest...
so ethereal and lovely :)
♥ Thanks Carina! Hey, saw you on Front Page - yay!!
I love the atmosphere of this piece, Joy! So magical and dream-like!
Absolutely beautiful. I love the colors and the dreamy atmospheric mood.
Thanks Judith - I think we see the world with similar eyes! :) Thank you Shuttervita!
... someday I'll grow up and be like you, and I'll sit next to you in popular artists :D
(and it's incredible... not only I made it to frontpage... I'm still ... STILL on there!! :D :P so thrilled about it)
(and it's incredible... not only I made it to frontpage... I'm still ... STILL on there!! :D :P so thrilled about it)
I can see myself here. With a book. Lovely!
Outstanding, Joy!
Very nice.
Pretty, pretty; love those colors...
very very nice.
Thanks all! Carina - I have no doubt you'll be there very shortly! :)
It's gorgeous ... All of your work is!
So beautiful... I would love to be there...
:) Thank you. ♥
Hi Esther! Thank you!
A perfect shot.
That's a beaut.
love that autumnal atmosphere!
turns out well.
turns out well.
Thanks so much everyone! I so love autumn.
Very lonely. Love this photo. Looks like last leaves to fall.
I appreciate your stopping by, Wendy!
this reminds me of a movie still... very beautiful
a magic forest, in history, or maybe for the future (I hope so)
great work!
great work!
Aww! I appreciate your great comments Mark & Karien!
Wow!! I'm jealous! This is an awesome capture that is richly steeped with mood, character and personality. :)
I so appreciate your kind comments Alex & Shuttervita! xo
Lovely shot!
xo Thanks much, Ben!
Hey Joy what type of camera(s) do you use? and what kind would you suggest for someone (me) that is interested in getting one. I am thinking of getting the canon 60d...
I'm a Nikon girl! So can't help you much about Canons. I started with a Nikon D70, then a D80 & now a D7000. I think this photo was taken with the D80. Good luck!
Thanks Joy!
well hello you...... your art looks so amazing all together like this!
Beautiful sweetheART 5*****zz ;~} Valz
Well, hello to YOU, Geisha! xo Thank you!
And thanks to you Valerie!
And thanks to you Valerie!
Love the feeling...
. lovely imagery . this is gorgeous . . ♥ . .
Thanks so much Guillermo & Sharon! ♥
You are an amazing landscape photographer! ♥
Awww! You mad my day Karinelizabeth! ♥ Thank you.
This is such a great image that I'm pinning it to my Pinterest public S6 favorites board with the hope that it will drive more traffic to your wonderful art!
magnificent capture !
Thanks so much Luda!
Thanks David & AA. :D
wonderful photo!
Thanks so much lovelies! :)
This photo is wonderful !
You're so sweet! Thank you Lilybets!
stunning work
Thanks so much!
lovely !
Wonderful photo and a great landscape portfolio
thank you!
So beautiful!
Beautiful !
Thanks much Renae & Louisa!
such a dreamy image
♥ Thanks Nina & Kristijan!
Olivia, all your photographs are amazing! Keep up the good work ^^,
♥ You're so sweet! Thank you!
lovely image
The colours in your photographs are just amazing! Beautiful images!
Wonderful mood!
Thank you!
Wow, just so amazing! It's spooky, I love it. The colours and the contrast in this image is spot on. Keep it up!
I can really imagine the wonderful deep smell of the soil from decades of fallen leaves.
So beautiful! Love this dreamy image!
Love this, Olivia!
great art
Really nice!
Very nice.
Thanks for the lovely comments!
Serene, Nice shot, Olivia
I really love the mood in your image Olivia. :-)
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A Photographic journal ::
Urban Exploration of Abandoned Teufelsberg, Berlin
When you enter an environment that has the power to transport you into another realm so surreal and otherworldly that it creates a new place in time, you wander around like a character in a dream or a painting you had no hand in creating. Both as a spectator and as a participant, you feel immersed in this reality and become lost in a new world- one of beauty and decay. It serves as a reminder that you exist only temporarily in this physical state, as all material things do, and must one day break down
and return to rubble and dirt.
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