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Please Rate this Review: Final Fantasy XIII-2
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Please Rate this Review: Final Fantasy XIII-2
Chucking Mog into the distance.
To be continued? What!?
Chocobo death metal.
The second attempt to append the '-2' to a Final Fantasy title launches in a fashion even more ridiculous than what fans may remember of Square's first stab at the idea. Instead of Final Fantasy X-2's summoner turned pop star, however, Final Fantasy XIII-2 sings to a more serious opening tune. A spectacular sequence of CGI and admirably done interactive action scenes -- tightly woven around composer Masashi Hamauzu's yearning violin and orchestra -- reacquaints players with Lightning, the heroine of their previous adventure. But she's a different Lightning, a woman now adorned with plate armor, a shield, and a cloak of feathers draping at her side -- a divine soldier of sorts. It would seem her ending was not the happy one everyone had witnessed before the credits rolled. Instead she faces a new foe, a purple haired man (to rival her pink) who expresses a grim wish for destruction, clashing swords on the outskirts of the universe.
Cinematic action sequences offer intense and potentially branching outcomes in a handful of the game's more epic encounters.
Awakened by visions of this supernatural confrontation, Serah -- Lightning's younger sister and Snow's fiancé, should players recall -- finds her quiet coastal village suddenly under siege by monsters from another time period. A new friend appears amongst the confusion, a young man by the name of Noel Kreiss. He carries a warning from an apocalyptic future that he himself is all too familiar with, and a plea for help from Lightning in trying to save it. As they speak, the timeline of the world is turning onto itself, creating paradoxes (contradictions) in various time periods. A series of time gates also appear, devices Serah and Noel must use to steer the world away from destruction.
The two characters have surprisingly approachable personalities, are well voiced, and keep the player on track with a story full of silly pseudoscience terminology. Sometimes the game feels like it's dumbing down its own plot a bit too heavily in this regard, spelling out and repeating concepts several times over (an excellent drinking game). Most of the cutscenes then, do end up being elementary back and forth conversations between Serah and Noel, lacking much action until the ending segments. It still proceeds at an interesting pace, taking a well mannered approach by allowing players to select occasional dialogue choices to pursue information that puzzles them.
An older Hope proves to be a central cameo in XIII-2, and he earns the role.
The sappy nature of Final Fantasy is all still there, of course, the best and the worst of it. Serah is quite sincere in a warm way, and Noel's cheesy, Tom Cruise like aura can easily bring out the occasional smirk. But unfortunately, eyes will surely roll to the ceiling whenever Lightning speaks, often having to chime in with a solemn monologue at the end of each scene, narrating from the beyond in some awful kind of poetry. It's an overdone pep talk of not giving up hope, leaving the past behind, and moving forward that the game won't stop repeating; even in the vocals of some poppy music tracks for certain environments.
Fielding the message much more gracefully is the universe itself, with XIII-2 rserving a respectable piece of its predecessor's beautiful presentation. The game begins in the beachside town of New Bodhum, a place that warmly conveys the efforts of mankind to recreate the lives and memories they had within Cocoon, all while adapting to hardships of the real world. The image of Cocoon held up by Vanille and Fang's crystal pillar in the night sky makes an excellent visual backdrop here, a reminder of the past, and a valuable lesson to the future. What follows is one of Square's most open-ended entries to the Final Fantasy franchise, a game lovingly built to give players unprecedented access to a world they had only scraped the surface of before.
Few areas live up to the visual bar raised by XIII, but the astonishing city of Academia stands above all the rest.
Serah and Noel will quickly leave the New Bodhum of the year 3 AF, and revisit locales of the game's predecessor, many of them fully re-imagined and changed by the flow of time. The experiences therein are both nostalgic and wholesome, a memoir and playground for those returning. Players will swing vine to vine through the Sunleth Waterscape, return to the Archelyte Steppe when it was first inhabited by nomadic hunters, and revisit areas that still carry the emotional weight from the events of XIII -- with frequent nods to its original soundtrack. And there are new areas to see as well, some dark and apocalyptic, others teeming with life and civilization. In one such optimistic timeline is the existence Academia, a sprawling futuristic city that has to be Final Fantasy XIII-2's crowning artistic achievement for its expansiveness and absurd attention to detail.
Clumsily exiting each time gate, Serah and Noel casually wipe the dirt off their knees before setting out to solve the paradox of each area -- finding what doesn't belong. But sometimes there are missing items that should belong, and thus the premise for XIII-2's grand easter egg hunt is set. Serah's magical sidekick, Mog, is the key to finding these items of interest; devices or treasure phased out of the current timeline. They are recognizable by their skirting level of transparent camouflage, lining the nooks and crannies of all environments. It's a shameless addiction, where coming across hidden treasure often by accident is always a welcome surprise, and motivation to keep the eyes squinted. Mog will light up with a pinkish glow if he senses anything nearby, and he'll also leap into Serah's arms as a nifty bow-sword when enemies suddenly appear. Random encounters are back.
Yes, back and
executed, offering a simple solution to the frustrating instant battle screens that have sometimes haunted RPGs of the past. Enemies are instead
before being engaged, surrounding Serah and Noel but giving them ample time to weigh options. A timer appears, and this prompts an opportunity to enter the battle screen with a pre-emptive strike, and also one to simply keep running until the aggressors are left behind. The first strike opportunity proves invaluable, as achieving the 5 star battle performance rating actually has meaning in XIII-2, yielding higher drop rates for both normal and rare loot to players who perform well in combat. And now that players can both see and run away from most enemies, it makes seeking and
ones not already owned a painless affair.
Monster hunting is one of the biggest new pulls to the XIII universe, and XIII-2's most rewarding aspect. Practically anything encountered in the game -- from tiny gooey flan creatures, to a menacing behemoth, to a giant cactuar creature -- is useable as a 3rd wheel to Serah and Noel's battle party. Obtaining one is as simple as defeating it and hoping it goes into inventory, but finding personal favorites and rarities is where the fun lies; each monster specializing under a certain role players of XIII will be most familiar with. A creature's primary use may also be as fodder for infusion, essentially letting one monster consume another for its abilities -- a powerful tool for those who delve more deeply. Lastly, each creature also has its own unique feral link ability, a powerful skill that can turn the tide of tight battles, reminiscent the character overdrives of Final Fantasy X.
A shallow but harmless throwback to Final Fantasy VII, captured chocbos can be raced for useful prizes
And so the combat is of the same handsome design of its predecessor's, and with monsters simply being a stand-in for a 3rd human member, it's easy to get right back on track. The combat is again structured around building the gauge bars above enemies until they Stagger, creating an exciting opportunity to deal maximum damage. With reactionary precision, players are to change their party between offensive paradigms to build the gauges, while mitigating damage from real-time attacks by switching to a more defensive approach. Keeping the offense alive and the party healthy is a potentially intense affair players of Final Fantasy XIII need not be reminded of, nor of its visual splendor. XIII-2 also manages to fix the slumping endurance encounters of the past with quicker battles and a faster introduction to the fully working system. But it also introduces new problems, carrying itself through a painfully easy plot line.
This arises from the fact that Final Fantasy XIII-2 is extremely fragile with its open approach to progression. The Crystarium does indeed return as a model to pour experience points into, and perhaps its new interpretation will initially feel more rewarding than XIII's. But It is all too abusable this time around, and while farming a powerful party panders to the enjoyment of certain RPG gamers, it shouldn't be so simple to achieve by
complete accident
Exorbitant amounts of experience points simply roll in, especially if a player -- even for a moment -- gives into the temptation of additional monster hunting and sidequests. The Crsyatirum then offers paths for characters to take at each level -- a choice to open up a tree for another role (i.e. Sentinel), to add another attack to the time gauge, or to expand accessory capacity -- but experienced RPG players will logically step back and see right through the charade. Expanding to more roles early on is flatly unintelligent given that monsters collected can fill the gaps for a missing Saboteur, Synergist, etc... Focusing on 1-2 roles before harnessing all 5 will instead lead to a powerful group early on, and why pursue the increased accessory capacity when the crucial ones don't appear until the game's final portions?
Still, taking an alternate time gate at several points of the game can -- unbeknownst to the player -- lead to a path where enemies suddenly begin scrubbing health bars clean. But the challenge spikes are much less apparent compared to the sudden prolonged lulls in difficulty for much of the game's core 25 hours. If approached with the logical mentality as described above -- especially if having found a monster who's Crystarium peaks early to powerful levels -- the game presents an inclination to sit on offensive paradigms with Ravagers and Commandos for much of its entirety. This is where XIII had an emotionally charged narrative to accompany its drier battle segments, a distraction XIII-2 pursues with unimpressive results.
The saving grace of many of the game's easier battles is their brevity, as compared to the more drawn out
affairs of Final Fantasy XIII.
Bosses in between the confrontations with the game's purple haired antagonist, Caius, pose no relevance to the characters by comparison. A giant paradoxical colossus lashes out of thin air; half of its body trapped in another dimension. The paradox of another time period somehow lies in the jaws of a dragon. These enemies are often of impressive scale, but they have no words to say, no questions to raise, and the music accompanying them is equally less than sincere. Whether met with a powerful Crystarium and steamrolled over, or met with a weaker party and challenged considerably -- players will find these central encounters quite forgettable.
Caius alone leads XIII-2 to an ending with a string of impressive scenes, demanding fights, and powerful lines of dialogue -- but somewhere along the way the game completely forgot to develop his character, or did it so dimly it was difficult to appreciate. His motivations seem tied to Yuehl, a soft spoken doll-like girl that no really ever gets to know. And while most will point to XIII-2's cliffhanger ending as reason for this ultimately disappointing campaign -- raising more questions than it answers -- it's the fact the game ends based upon such a ridiculous guise of motives that no one can possibly relate to it. There is no message this time around, nothing to walk away with.
The ending to Final Fantasy XIII contained a contradiction; it broke the rules. But it rang true to the game's overarching theme of the infinite strength of the human spirit, with characters that declared they
contradict all the rules -- a touching note to end on. Final Fantasy XIII-2 then desperately jumps through fanatical loops in trying to dismantle the respectable conclusion of another game, and to a point of near hilarity. Savvy followers may even have questions of smaller magnitude, such as why everyone is suddenly capable of using magic.
Well they just can
, says the game's datalog. Why didn't Square just make Lightning a pop singer and call it a day?
But it's naïve to say it all ends there, and unfair to claim that Final Fantasy XIII-2 isn't for the fans. It's not even half complete when the credits roll, and a plethora of content still waits untapped. It's a monster collector's favorite hunting spot, a trailblazer's backpack of spoils, and a completionist's paradise. Cameos and salutes to older games abound, challenges to truly test those thirsty for battle await, and powerful skills and items lie in hiding -- this is a gamer's game, and it's damn well appreciated.
This game was obtained via retail store and reviewed on a PS3 platform. Approximately 35 hours of play was devoted to the single-player.
Rated T for Teen, for "Drug Reference, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Theme, Simulated Gambling, and Violence."
Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
Accessible. Dialogue can be subtitled.
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Storm Signs Three to Training Camp Contracts
Douglas, Hall, McFarland Sign with Storm
April 18, 2014
SEATTLE - The Storm announced that the team has signed Taylor Hall, Valencia McFarland and Chelsea Douglas to training camp contracts. The trio joins Vanderbilt product Jasmine Lister, who signed a training camp contract with the Storm on April 16.
The 2014 Southern Conference Player of the Year, Hall finished her career at UT-Chattanooga ranked 20th all-time in career points with 1,183 and eighth in career rebounds, with 814. The 6-1 forward, a product of New Tazewell, Tenn., was also named the 2014 Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Southern Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
McFarland comes to Seattle following a standout career at Ole Miss. She capped her time in Mississippi by being named to the AP All-American Honorable Mention Team and All-SEC Second Team. McFarland, a 5-4 guard, led the team in scoring her senior season with 17.0 points per game, while handing out a total of 201 assists.
Douglas finished her career as Wake Forests fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,656 points. She averaged a career-high 18.6 points as a senior, and was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team in her final two seasons. The 5-5 guard did not miss a game in her four-year Demon Deacon career.
The Storm opens training camp on April 27 at Seattle Pacific University before hosting Los Angeles in a preseason game on May 11 at 1 p.m. The Sparks return to KeyArena for Opening Night on May 16 at 7 p.m. Season ticket packages including exclusive benefits are still available at StormBasketball.com or by calling (206) 217-WNBA (9622).
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Color blocking might have been the rage on the catwalks of Paris and New York last year, but for street fashion, this is luckily just a passing trend. Unfortunately for cycling, this utter void of expression has been an institution in apparel design for decades. That's why the Maloja SonjaM. Long-Sleeve Jersey feels like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale closet. Pairing painstakingly hand drawn artwork with an anatomically-cut jersey, it's obvious to us that the SonjaM. lives between the visceral and practical. Take a break from boring, and express yourself on the trails.
Maloja's SonjaM. Long-Sleeve Jersey is made from the tried-and-true Lycra Sanded fabric. This material uses a calculated blend of synthetic and non-synthetic fibers to provide a conforming fit that's both breathable and comfortable. A true all-rounder, this fabric not only produces a light insulation layer, but it also offers an effective transfer of moisture from the skin to the quick-drying jersey surface. Not just concerned with comfort, Maloja gave the whole jersey an odor-fighting polygiene treatment to stop smells before they start.
The jersey features a full-length, semi-autolock zipper that eliminates fussy pulls when you need to vent at the top of the climb. Maloja also included a silicone gripper along the bottom hem to prevent jersey rise when the rear pockets are loaded with your ride essentials.
The Maloja SonjaM. Long-Sleeve Jersey is available in sizes from X-Small to X-Large, and in the colors Denim, Hazelnut, Moonless, and Pine.


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Speaking of ass-ets, Rafael Nadal (and I'm assuming the rest of the Spanish Armada) took part in a practice session today after their opening rubbers versus Serbia were postponed due to high winds in Benidorm.
The Mallorcan Matador even bumped into Novak Djokovic + Nenad Zimonjic on the sidelines and provided us and some local fans with another "money shot" of sorts (still not my fave kind - drats.)
(images via Nadal News)
Friday, March 6, 2009
PHOTO OP: Rafa lacing up for a big fight in Benidorm
Labels: Benidorm, Davis Cup, photo op, Rafael Nadal, tennis
7 comments:
oh those are some really good picsReplyDelete
Oh how I'd love for Rafa and Nole to make out at the net some day...ReplyDelete
And I love that shot of Rafa waving - or is he hissing like a little tiger?? MEOW. :P
OMG - he's totally hissing like a little tiger!!! so hyster.ReplyDelete
Is it just me or does Rafa look extremely gay in that one pic?ReplyDelete
Btw im not homophobic, just a strange pic lol. Pretty funny actually.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 7, 2009 at 4:50 PM
The money shot from that day you've been missing:ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 8, 2009 at 12:48 PM
anyone know where you can get hold of those davis cup hoodies?! (with or without rafa inside...)ReplyDelete
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Cyclones Fall To Kansas State
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State's defense stifled the Iowa State offense and the Wildcats rushed for 227 yards on the ground to beat the Cyclones, 41-7, Saturday afternoon. Iowa State falls to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in Big 12 play while Kansas State improves to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in league action.
Turning Point of the Game
Iowa State's opening drive started strong with first-down pickups on the first three plays from scrimmage but a false start helped to stall the drive. Kansas State took the control of the game at that point. The Wildcats would drive in for a touchdown and tack on another field goal to lead 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.
KSU would extend the lead to 17-0 at the half and 20-0 at the end of the third quarter but ISU struggled to get much going offensively in the game.
Offensive Game Ball Goes To...
DeVondrick Nealy rushed for a season-high 53 yards on a career-high 12 carries, including a 10-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was Nealy's third career touchdown and the third in as many weeks.
Defensive Game Ball Goes To...
Jeremiah George had another double-digit tackle effort for the Cyclones, finishing with 12 stops. The Big 12 leader in tackles has recorded double-figure tackles in seven games in a row. George had 2.0 tackles for a loss to give him 7.5 on the season, all of which have come in Big 12 play.
Cyclone Quick Hits
*Dondre Daley made his first career start for the Cyclones.
*Iowa State started the same offensive line for the second game in a row. This is the first time this season that ISU has done so.
*Iowa State has now had 14 freshmen or sophomores start a game this season.
*Cory Morrissey forced his first fumble of the season and the second of his career.
*Darius White recovered his first career fumble.
Next Up
Iowa State hosts TCU next Saturday on homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. with FSN televising the game.


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Worked With:
Rachel McAdams
Birth Name: Rachel McAdams
Born: 11/17/1978
Birth Place: London, Ontario, CA
Born: 11/17/1978
Birth Place: London, Ontario, CA
Rachel McAdams was born on Oct. 7, 1978 in London, Ontario and was raised in the nearby town of St. Thomas. She began figure skating at the age of four and competed in the sport all the way through high school, earning regional honors. At 10 years old, she also became involved with the Original Kids Theatre Company in London, appearing in productions of Shakespeare and other classics. She won her first acting award in 1995 when a high school play "I Live In A Little Town" was featured in the Ontario Showcase of the Sears Drama Festival. McAdams had not planned to pursue acting beyond her high school graduation in 1997, but thanks to the encouragement of a teacher, she entered the Drama progr... Continue Bio >>
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text: Each day, as long as my mind is functioning and I have access to my computer, I'm going to post my song for the day or artist for the day, if I can't single it down to one song only. I'm aware all the time how important music is to me. I'm never without it. It motivates me, soothes me, assuages my anger, my guilt, enhances my love, my emotions, gives words to my feelings. I'd sooner lose my sight than my hearing if I ever had to choose. Certain songs stick with me for an entire day. I wake up singing them. And if I don't, I put my earphones in my ear, my ipod's always set to random, and I listen to the things I love the most. Please, by all means, post your song of the day if you wish. But please just keep it to one song or one artist per day. Thanks. SONG OF THE DAY: What I'll Remember Most, by Over the Rhine.


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May 24, 2016
ORLANDO, Florida -- November 17, 2012
History is being made at this year's Florida Classic -- but not the kind of history that fans will want to remember.
For the first time in the game's 32 years, Florida A&M University's Marching 100 band won't participate in the halftime show.
Saturday's game is also the first Florida Classic since FAMU drum major Robert Champion died after he was beaten during a hazing incident. Champion died in Orlando after playing in the band's halftime show during the 2011 Classic game.
Kickoff between FAMU and Bethune-Cookman University is at 2 p.m. Usually, both schools' bands put on an entertaining halftime show of music and dance, but this year, only BCU will play.
The FAMU band was suspended following the hazing incident.
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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When more backpackers join the ranks of your next trip, upgrade your Jetboil stove with the 3.0 Liter Fluxring Cooking Pot to ensure you can boil the water and cook all the food they'll need. Like all Jetboil pots, this one includes a Fluxring bottom for increased fuel efficiency and an integrated handle for easy use. Lightweight aluminum construction keeps the Fluxring Cooking Pot at a low 19oz even with the included neoprene insulation wrap.
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What do you think about this product?
Have questions about this product?
Jetboil 3.0 Liter Helios Fluxring
Jetboil 3.0 Liter -ALL in ONE
The setup is pretty cool.You get a plate to eat,a pan for your eggs and a pot for your soups and curries
the design is impact so doesn't take much space. Easy cleaning and cooking saves time to do more hiking
Will this work with a Jetboil Flash, SOL,...
Will this work with a Jetboil Flash, SOL, Zip when using the pot stabilizer or is it only compatible with the Helios system?
It is not compatible with PCS/GCS burners.
It works will all of the Jetboil systems if you install the pot stabilizer. Cook for the whole group!
Will this pot work with the Brunton Bantam...
Will this pot work with the Brunton Bantam stove?
You would almost certainly melt the pot's insulation and brazing on the flux ring. There are a couple 1000 BTUs of heat output difference between the Helios and the Bantam cranked up. Also, not recommended by JetBoil. Have a look at the MSR 2.5L pots for something better suited.
Will this work well with a PocketRocket?
Will this work well with a PocketRocket?
No, you'll melt the neoprene and the brazing that connects the fluxring. It's also a really big pot that will make the set-up with a piggybacked canister top heavy and unstable.
will a MSR Dragonfly and a fuel bottle of...
will a MSR Dragonfly and a fuel bottle of any size fit inside this pot?
I don't think both. Maybe the small fuel bottle, but the big one won't fit at all and the middle one probably won't fit with a stove in there.


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Dale J. Tracey
Dale J. Tracey, 79, of Sioux City, formerly of Le Mars passed away Thursday, September 27, 2012 at his home.
Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery in Le Mars with Pastor Jan Christensen of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are with the Carlsen Funeral Home of Le Mars, Iowa. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.
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Royal Nite lineup vs. Twins
The Royals open a seven-game homestand at 7:10 tonight vs. Minnesota. Monday is Hy-Vee Royal Nite! Seats in the Hy-Vee Level (excluding Hy-Vee Reserved Box) are just $5.
Here's the lineup: (Dyson – CF), (Aviles – 2B), (Butler – DH), (Ka'aihue – 1B), (Fields – 3B), (Gordon – LF), (Betancourt – SS), (May – C), (Miller – RF), (Davies – P)


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One of the more popular stops on the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series calendar is round 10 at the Mid-America Speedway (www.midamspeedway.com) in Indianapolis. Held the night before the Indy Mile round of the AMA Pro Racing Dirt Track Championship, it draws a large contingent of pro racers as well as some unique vintage racebikes. We caught up with Jim Terchila, the promoter of the vintage race, to talk about the event.
American Motorcyclist: What makes this venue special?
Jim Terchila: It's a limestone track. It's probably the smoothest short track you'll find. It seems to be a favorite of a lot of racers. It's a quarter-mile long and pretty safe, about 80-feet wide in the corners and 50-feet wide down the straights.
It's at the Marion County Fairgrounds with seating for about 3,500 people. The pits are off turns three and four.
One thing that we pride ourselves on is that our events always start on time and run quickly. We have a 7 o'clock start time, and the first race will go off right after the national anthem at 7. We'll run as many as 200 riders through the program in less than four hours. Our program moves fast, and racers need to watch the board. Don't think if you have 10 races in front of you that you have a lot of time. You don't want to miss your heat.
AM: Is there anything unique that racers can expect?
Terchila: The Astro Challenge is a popular attraction. Riders compete exclusively on Bultaco Astros -- a popular factory-built dirt-tracker from the 1970s.
We have some neat riders signed up. Jay Springsteen is coming. Steve Morehead is planning on being there, as well as Joe Kopp and Dave Aldana. It will be a full program. We now have 32 riders planning to come.


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This is a reprint of our interview with Abbas Kiarostami from the New York Film Festival in October 2012. "Like Somone In Love" opens in limited release on February 15th.
Perennial Iranian director/legend Abbas Kiarostami's second filmmaking-holiday (the first being the wonderful "Certified Copy") finds him in Japan, observing two days in the life of an unlikely trio: a student moonlighting as a call girl, her aged, patriarchal client, and the woman's hot-head boyfriend. "Like Someone In Love" contains many of the auteur's persistent fascinations -- long car rides, lengthy conversation, numerous off camera actions and characters, leisurely pacing -- but has the unfortunate position of coming directly after a very unique, wonderful piece of cinema. Reactions have been quite mixed since its first festival appearance early this year (our man at Cannes was not as impressed, while this writer thought it was lovely) but most can agree that it's a visually stunning film with plenty of substance to ruminate on.
In town to promote his new film at the New York Film Festival, we've compiled our interview with the director along with some notable moments at the NYFF press conference, including what he's up to next and an amusing story about his elderly lead. "Like Someone In Love" rolls into theaters next year courtesy of IFC Films.
Since your working environments have changed, have you also changed the process of gathering inspiration?
In the process of filmmaking it's the other way around, you start having ideas and they shape the environment you create even when you're in a different country, culture, and language. It's not very different from working at home. Maybe retrospectively once the films are made I can look back and wonder if working in different countries had a special impact on my evolution as a film director.
But after working in your home country for so long, how do you see your new work? Is it liberating in any way to be doing projects in new places?
I do feel a difference when the films are screened. When I watch the Iranian movies with an audience, they make me feel very anxious during the screening. I feel responsible for every single detail in the film, the people, the characters, the story, even the street I show. When I see the last two films I've made I'm much more detached because I feel like I'm a guest director or guest author, that I'm only partly responsible for it. The characters have their own lives and truths beyond my responsibility. I'm only part of it. I feel that maybe even the audience is closer to it than myself.
That's a bit melancholic.
It's a feeling that has nothing to do with cinema because cinema is universal and that's the point of going and working elsewhere, showing that it's not related to local identities, cultures and languages.


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1953 Chevrolet Truck Wood Bed Refinishing Part 2 - Wooden You Know, TooWritten by on September 14, 2006 The Bedtime Story To End All Bedtime Stories
Glad you stuck around to see this wood-finishing project through to completion. I told you it wasn't going to happen overnight, didn't I! Perfection, or anything remotely close to it, takes time, patience, and even a little more time. If you want people to walk away from your truck stunned by the beauty of your bed wood, be prepared to put forth your best effort-you will thank yourself in the long run (and maybe even remember where you got the inspiration from!).
Last month we left off as the MinWax Ebony oil-based stain was soaking into the ash boards' grains. Staining or even painting isn't necessarily a vital part of finishing the wood; it's all personal taste combined with whatever overall look you're trying to achieve with your truck. As I mentioned, since my '53 will one day end up with a pistachio-lime green and black two-tone on the exterior, I thought adding a black stain to the light wood would make a dramatic effect-we'll soon see. Staining the wood took minimal time to accomplish. The varnishing and subsequent sanding and polishing, however, required much more time and effort. But there's no way around it, so let's dive in.
While finishing off varnish is just like cutting and rubbing a new paint job (color or wet-sanding and polishing), the steps beforehand are completely opposite. With paint, you have an opaque base of primer-sealer on top of any underlying bodywork. The smoothness of your finish on top relies heavily on how smooth the bodywork is underneath. With wood, unless you're painting it (which is commonly done), the smoothness of the finish is dependent on your ability to cut the layers of varnish down evenly-without burning through to the stain-until you achieve the desired look. In other words, you don't have Bondo or spot putty to fill any voids in the grain if you're after that glasslike finish. So that means plenty of layers of varnish, each one taking a full day to apply and fully cure before the next one can go down. Are you starting to see where the big time factor works into the project?
Fortunately, Bruce Horkey supplies customers with very detailed instructions. As a matter of fact, there isn't anything that isn't addressed-from wood preparation to handling to each and every individual varnishing step, it's there for you. Most experienced woodworkers would likely not need the reference; for the so-called amateur like myself, despite having some prior knowledge, the instruction sheets can make the difference between a job you're proud of and one you'd like to do over. I've tried to illustrate the important steps of varnishing, as well as the wet-sanding and polishing, to give you a somewhat decent visual reference to go along with the written word.
Good luck with your efforts. If you follow the appropriate steps and take your time, you'll end up with a bed that'll be envied by all.
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We wrapped up the first portion of the project as the MinWax Ebony stain was penetrating the ash boards' grains. Remember, with oil-based stains, the longer you leave it on the wood, the darker it will get (same goes for water-based, but the times differ). With mine, I let the stain soak for about 5-7 minutes before wiping it down.Now it's time to seal the wood. I used the Old Masters Spar Marine Varnish supplied by Horkey's. Never shake the varnish, as it will create air bubbles-gently stir, and make certain that whatever you stir with is absolutely clean.For the first two coats, you want to "reduce" the varnish with thinner 3-1 (75 percent varnish to 25 percent thinner). I grabbed a handful of mixing cups (with lids) from the hardware store for mixing and application. Sealed tight, the varnish can be used again, but do not put it back in the original can after reducing.Evenly coat all sides of each board, but don't overdo it. (Always start with the bottom sides; mine had already been done at this point.) The varnish can be applied with a varnish-specific brush or a sponge applicator. I found the brush worked best in the grooves.The sponge seemed to provide the best results for me on big, flat areas, leaving the least amount of bubbles, but most importantly, not leaving behind any bristles for me to carefully pick out. When applying each coat, make sure to lightly pull the sponge/brush the full length of each board to help even out the varnish. However, the varnish is self-leveling, so stroke marks will lay down as the varnish cures.The slow-drying varnish is pretty much like that old flytrap tape-anything that comes in contact is now part of it, so keep your work area clean! Air bubbles are another issue altogether, but can be dealt with as the varnish coats build up. After applying three thinned coats (the third with 10 percent thinner), apply at least two full-strength coats of varnish. The wood is not fully sealed until you have at least three coats (total) applied.Immediately after applying each coat, use light reflection to check for any dry spots, like this. Address them before the varnish begins to tack up (get sticky), or else just wait until the coat has dried. I would usually put a coat of varnish on each morning and then allow it to dry for 24 hours, even though the recommended drying time is a little less.
After sanding each board, follow with fine Scotch-Brite to remove any remaining gloss and get the edges and grooves. This will give the forthcoming coat of varnish a good bite to adhere to. Depending on the surface of the wood you start with, five coats of varnish will typically do the job. However, if you want a "glass" surface when all's said and done, you'll probably want to build up the surface more in order to cut it back down. I ended up with a total of eight coats.Once you're satisfied with the varnish's surface, it's time to get wet-sanding, that is. For this you'll need a sufficient amount of 600- and 1,000- (or 1,200) grit wet-dry paper, a sanding pad (shown), and a squeegee. The final sanding is to take down any imperfections and level out the surface, just like color-sanding paint. However, you can only cut down a certain amount, so if you have any real low spots, you might want to consider adding more varnish.See all the specks or dots within the grain after the water has been squeegeed off? Those are air bubble pits. Because I had built up the varnish, I was able to cut the surface down enough to get rid of them without burning through.This is what you want to see-a smooth surface with no low spots. After sanding with 600, follow with the even finer paper to take out any scratches or small imperfections. If you're not satisfied with the finish at this point, or have burned through the varnish, just go back and apply more coats of full-strength varnish.With the varnish all sanded down nice and flat, it's time to bring the shine back out. To do so, you'll need to have an adjustable-speed buffer, compound and finishing glazes, and the appropriate pads. Begin with the compound (Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #1 or similar), carefully cutting the surface. Be cautious to not burn through, especially on the edges, so keep the buffer on a lower speed. Also, make certain to wipe all remaining compound residue off before continuing.Follow the compound with a machine glaze (Mirror Glaze #3 or similar) to bring the varnish's true shine to life. Use a dedicated foam pad for each buffing stage, never using one for both. When the surface begins to resemble a "mirror" with no cloudiness or dull spots, you're done buffing.Both the wet-sanding and buffing can get messy, so make sure your work area is not surrounded by anything you don't want dirtied up. I worked outside the garage, but to keep the sun from drying anything out prematurely (water or compound), I used a small umbrella, which also helped keep the heat down.I think you could call this board finished. You'll notice that some of the grain is still visible through an inconsistent surface-I chose to retain that real wood look. If you want a completely perfect surface, simply put down more coats of varnish...lots more!By the time you've finished wet-sanding and buffing, the varnish should have had ample time to cure (though it won't be completely cured for about a month or so). When installing the bed for the last time, be cautious not to gouge your shiny new surface on any sharp metal edges, especially the side pieces.
Same goes for the stainless strips, too. Basically, treat this portion of the project like you would if you were reassembling a freshly painted truck-slow and easy! Nobody likes to fix mistakes this late in the game...I know I sure don't.


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May 30, 2016
Firefighters from Mobile, Ala., and U.S. Coast Guard crews are responding to explosions and a fire on two fuel barges in the Mobile River.
Mobile Fire and Rescue officials tweeted Wednesday night that two natural gas barges exploded and three people were hospitalized. Information on the extent of their injuries was not immediately available.
Video shows flames engulfing a large section of the barge. The barge is on the east side of the river. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Ofc. Carlos Vega said officials were on their way to the scene.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.
The explosion comes two months after a Carnival cruise ship was towed to Mobile after becoming disabled during a February cruise by an engine room fire. The ship is still undergoing repairs there.
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Handprint Bat
The FreeKidsCrafts Team has created this charming little Bat Handprint to fly around and create some Halloween fun.
White and Medium Blue heavy weight paper
Printable Bat Pattern
Click on Printables and print the bat pattern on white paper.
Take each hand and trace around on the medium blue paper for the wings.
Cut out the bat and the hands and glue the hands to the back of the bat pattern and .....Wow ...you have your own handprint bat.
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The fish people are back at my market after their winter vacation. Actually they've been back Since the beginning of April but I've only recently gotten into the swing of things. And now all of the sudden we are eating a lot of seafood in my house. Here are some recent favorites, and the wine pairings that love them:
"I judge a chef based on their roast chicken."
"The best way to judge a sushi chef is to order one piece of tamago, or omelet sushi."
I don't know who said those things, but I understand the idea. Skilled preparation of the seemingly simplest dishes is one of the marks of a great chef. Carbonara might be the roast chicken of Italian cuisine. It is a dish comprised of no more than 5 or 6 ingredients and even the unskilled cook can make a decent version of the dish. But good ingredients and good cooking, as with roast chicken, can elevate carbonara to something spectacular.
Carbonara is simple, on paper, and apparently there is an argument about virtually every aspect of the preparation. Spaghetti? Bucatini? Egg yolks only or whole eggs? Onions or no onions? Guanciale or pancetta? Parmegiano or Pecorino? Good lord...
I've had spaghetti alla carbonara three times in the past week, and that's equal to the number of times I've had it in the past decade. So why now, with the carbonara? A good pal invited me to his out-of-town house for Memorial day weekend and he knows that I have a line on the good meats so he asked me to bring some guanciale, or cured pig's jowl. He had been working on his carbonara and wanted to make it for me during the weekend. Nice. I brought a bunch of wine for the weekend and tried to include things that would pair with carbonara.
In general, my pal makes his carbonara like this:
-Salted water, bring to a boil.
-Slice guanciale, fry in a pan to render the fat.
-Pour off some of the fat, add a good glug of white wine and cook down.
-Crack two very fresh eggs, beat.
-Add a generous amount of grated Parmegiano and chopped fresh parsley, beat some more.
-Take the cooked spaghetti out of the boiling water, allowing some of the pasta water to come along, and add it to the egg mixture, tossing all the while.
-Toss, toss, toss some more so the egg doesn't cook, but instead forms a sort of glaze on the pasta.
-Add the cooked guanciale and some salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
Not too long ago I had the opportunity to meet and taste with Bianca Miraglia, the woman who founded Uncouth Vermouth. Uncouth Vermouth is made in Brooklyn from fortified wines made from Long Island grapes, using herbs that Bianca forages mostly in Long Island. I knew almost nothing about uncouth Vermouth before meeting Bianca. I read Alice Feiring's piece last year in the Times and I remember being curious about the wines. Turns out that the wines are interesting and delicious and that Bianca is a smart, principled, and fun person too.
Bianca makes about 2,500 cases of vermouth in a year but she plans to double production soon. She makes her wines at the Red Hook Winery, and lost almost all of her stock in the Hurricane Sandy flooding. So although right now her wines are as popular as they've ever been, she cannot supply the demand for her wines. Hopefully this will soon change.
This is terribly short notice, but Bianca is pouring her vermouth later today (May 10th) at Chambers Street Wines, and you should go taste them if you can - they are compelling.
Thanks again to you all for your thoughtful recommendations. General impressions? From the very small sample I experienced, SF chefs are clearly concerned with the freshest and most seasonal of produce, and they clearly have access to high quality material. Seafood was uniformly excellent. Service was uniformly friendly and competent. Reservations were uniformly hard to come by. Wine lists were not terribly exciting, but there was almost always something good to drink. Very high quality food is available, and if it were NYC, it would be two-three times more expensive and created in a far more precious atmosphere. Overall, I had a great eating experience and look forward eagerly to the day I can go back.
I ate dinner at Bar Tartine and it was outstanding. It's a comfortable and stylish space without any pretense. We tried 8 dishes and all but one was excellent, a few were superb. The assortment of pickles was skillfully done - the apex of pickling, if you will. Red cabbage, for example, was enlivened with just the right touch of ginger. Mushrooms were toothsome and not oily at all, chioggia beets were draped in buttermilk and the result was thick but lively, and completely delicious. Terrine of beef tendon with horseradish and fresh greens was complex and delicious. Raw halibut with seaweed was excellent, so was fisherman's stew with green chili, so was spätzle - the lightest I've ever had. We drank two excellent wines with this feast. 2004 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Spätlese was in a great place for drinking, so balanced and lovely, so good with the food. And 2010 Knoll Riesling Smaragd Ried Schütt, which was young, reduced, and altogether reticent, but still after 45 minutes showed how good it's going to be. We loved our dinner at Tartine and I would recommend it to anyone without hesitation, and I cannot wait to go back myself.
It was a glorious Saturday, sunny and warm but not too hot, clear blue skies, and I was with people I work with, people who have over the years become good friends. I had never before been to the Napa Valley, or to any California wine region. We drove north from San Francisco and at times it was startling in how lovely it was. As we approached Napa we hit traffic, the first sign of the popularity of this place as a tourist destination. I saw a sign for Domaine Carneros and then another for Beaulieu Vineyards. We saw large flat vineyards with rows of skinny vines supported by posts and wires, all draped with thin hoses for irrigation purposes - it gets very hot in the Napa Valley and months can go by in the summer without rain.
We, however, were going to visit Stony Hill, the iconic Chardonnay producer, physically located in the tourist carnival that is the modern Napa Valley, but philosophically located somewhere else entirely. Sarah McCrea, the granddaughter of the founders of Stony Hill Winery, and its current Sales and Marketing Director, told us to drive through St. Helena 3 miles past the Chevron station and onto Bale Grist Mill road to find Stony Hill. We literally inched through traffic, finally reaching the town of St. Helena. It took us almost an hour on a Saturday early afternoon to drive perhaps 10 miles, allowing us plenty of time to look at the various shops of St Helena. I saw that I could buy some very cool and fancy outfits for my dog, if I wanted. I'd have to get a dog first, I suppose. I saw a restaurant that looked like what a Hollywood producer's stylized image of a rural California lunch counter should have looked like circa 1972. It looked good.
And then, finally, Bale Grist Mill Road. We began to climb and immediately we left the tourist world behind for this one lane country road.
There are dark and brooding red wines, light and joyous red wines, and everything in between, and all can be delicious and satisfying - they all have their place. Poulsard, though, exists almost outside of the spectrum of red wine. As far as I know, Poulsard is vinified only in the Jura region of France. The grapes are relatively large and therefore have a low skin to juice ratio - the opposite of what is prized in say, Burgundy Pinot Noir. And the skins are not heavily pigmented. The resulting wine tends to be light in color, almost like a rosé.
But don't be fooled by the light color as these are, when well grown and well made, powerful and structured wines with great depth of aroma and flavor. Unusual aromas and flavors, too. The fruit veers towards pomegranate, red currant, cranberry, and blood orange. That sounds precious because it's so specific - but I promise you that it is true. I often find dried roses on the nose, in addition to those same bright fruits, and sometimes a salty, chalky bass note. Perhaps I haven't had enough experience with the wines, or maybe I'm just missing something, but I find that the wines are more about fruit and particularity of structure than they are about minerals and earth. The structure can be surprising, by the way, because it is firm, while the wine appears to be so light and delicate.
I love drinking Poulsard because it is such an aromatically expressive and spare red wine. It isn't a wilting lily - it's not delicate, exactly. A good Poulsard can stand up to mushrooms, steak, and other earthy hearty fare. But there is no extract, really, nothing other than the essence of the thing. This analogy is overused, but here I think it fits - Poulsard can be Burgundian in its melding of finesse, grace, and power. I misunderstood good Beaujolais for a few years because the wines are so brightly acidic and fresh. I thought of it as a light wine. Beaujolais can be joyous and light in body, but Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Fleurie (well, maybe Fleurie), these are not light wines. They are deeply and darkly fruited, and rich next to a Poulsard. I would drink Morgon with blood sausage, but not Poulsard.
The best Poulsards I've had are thrilling, but the problem is, the best Poulsards are quite hard to find and drink. I feel comfortable saying that Pierre Overnoy/Emmanuel Houillon make the finest Poulsard, and although Louis/Dressner imports the wine to the US, we're talking about a handful of cases for the US. I was able as recently as the 2007 vintage to walk into Chambers Street and buy this wine on the shelf for under $30. Those days are gone forever. Now the wine is just not seen on shelves, in NYC anyway. Another favorite for me is the Poulsard made by Domaine Ganevat, whose wines have also become rare and dear here in NYC.
Not long ago I found myself craving Poulsard and I realized that I haven't had a bottle since the end of 2012 at this amazing dinner in Stockholm. I knew that I would buy and drink Poulsard, but which one? What should I be drinking, if I'm not drinking Overnoy or Ganevat? I decided to gather a few friends who also appreciate the glory of this very light and strange grape, to buy every Poulsard we could find, and drink them together over dinner.
Three years ago I did a small Poulsard tasting and there were 5 wines I found to include. Last week I found 11 wines and chose to include 9 of them, and this excludes Overnoy and Ganevat. This probably reflects the rising popularity of Jura wines in general, and also the diligent work of several importers, and people like Sophie Barrett of Chambers Street Wines, who believe in the wines and want to offer them to curious customers. I'm sorry to say that on our recent Poulsard evening all of the tasters were a little bit underwhelmed by the wines as a group, but we agreed that a few of them were quite good.
I've always found that Poulsard is reductive and funky when first opened, and does much better when decanted. And so we decanted our bottles and drank them slowly with a feast of Middle Eastern food. Following are my impressions, but I want to mention that some of the wines that did not impress me on this night were better on other nights, in different vintages. All of the wines cost between $20 and $30, and are currently available on (some) NYC shelves.
My favorite wines:
This past weekend I held a small tasting for some parents at my younger daughter's school. It was something that I donated (with generous support from Chambers Street Wines and Slope Cellars). The theme was Pinot Noir from various parts of the world. We tasted some very good wines, including Champagne by Brigandat, a Chandon de Briailles wine, a Belle Pente wine, and others. All of the wines cost between $30-40. There were no duds in the tasting - everything was good. One wine, however, was head and shoulders above the rest in terms of quality - the 2009 Enderle & Moll Pinot Noir Buntsandstein.
Binner's 2009 Alsace Pinot Noir was all about fruit and while it was good drinking, it was not complex enough to hold my interest, nor did it distinguish itself in terms of terroir expression. I felt it would have been a better wine had the fruit been harvested earlier. Chandon de Briaille's 2010 Savigny-Les Beaune showed finesse, and a lovely balance of ripe fruit and subtle earth tones. Sandro Mosele's 2010 Pinot Noir Massale the Kooyong in southern Australia had interesting feral animal aromas but also felt a bit roasty to me. Belle Pente's 2010 Yamhill/Carlton Pinot Noir was very tasty and nicely balanced, but did not offer much in the way of complexity, which is understandable in a wine made from very young vines.
I've been to New Orleans many times in the past several years, always for work. But even while working, one must eat, no? I love the food in New Orleans, and I really mean that - I love the exuberant commitment to local seafood and to traditional dishes. And if you've not been there, let me tell you this - the cooks in New Orleans have mastered their dishes and it's easy to find fantastic food, from complex things like gumbo or étoufée to the magnificent simplicity of a fried shrimp po'boy. There are so many ways to eat these and other things, at high end restaurants and at more modest but equally charming joints. Here some of the great things I ate on a recent trip:
Once again, I am reminded that it takes several experiences, at least, in order to understand a wine. Subtlety can get lost even when drinking a wine calmly with friends over a meal, especially if other wines are present. I had dinner with a few friends on a recent night and one of them very generously brought along a bottle of Cedric Bouchard's Blanc de Blancs called La Bolorée. Here is what I wrote about this wine in August of 2011:
La Bolorée is an unusual wine. It is an old vines Pinot Blanc grown on chalky soils in the Aube, there's nothing else like it. It was very smokey and mineral, and quite rich with honeyed flavors on the finish. I appreciated the quality of this wine but it was my first time drinking it and I must say that I didn't really understand the wine, it was simply too far away from what I know of the aromas and flavors of Champagne. I'd love to drink it again, but this is not an easy thing to do as quantities are small and the wine retails for about $175.I've since had the wine twice, and it is a curiosity, for sure. The only pure Pinot Blanc Champagne that I know of, it is quintessentially Bouchard in its clear expression of terroir and its purity of fruit. That time I drank it in August, 2011 at the Bouchard dinner, for me it got lost among the other wines. It is a wine that I imagine would show terribly at a tasting - people would be left shaking their heads at how a wine like that could cost so much money, at how capricious the Champagne hipsters are.
Thank you all so much for your suggestions on San Francisco eating and drinking!
Here is a list of the places you've recommended so far, in the order of popularity - the number of people recommending them in comments or via email (some of you still like to comment in private):
Slanted Door - 9 (10 positive and 1 negative review)
Bar Tartine - 6
Delfina - 6
Terroir - 6
La Ciccia - 6 (8 positive and 2 negative reviews)
Aziza - 5
Arlequin Wine - 4
Bi-Rite - 4
Swan Oyster Depot - 4
Benu - 3
Commonwealth - 3
La Taqueria - 3
Zuni Cafe - 3
Boulette's Larder - 2
Camino - 2
Foreign Cinema - 2
Ippuku - 2
St. Vincent - 2
State Bird Provisions - 2
Tartine Bakery - 2
Number of people telling me never again to say "San Fran" - 2
There is a whole load of places that one person recommended.
I'm not having an easy time picking here, as some of the places that only one or two people recommend sound quite interesting. As much so as the most popular place on this list, Slanted Door. I will continue to enjoy looking through menus, and thanks again for your advice.
For me, this is SO much better than Yelp...
Imagine this: maybe 150-200 years ago, somewhere in eastern Europe, a person of modest means is thinking of what to cook for the family. It's winter and there's not a lot to choose from. In the cellar there are potatoes and onions. There is a sack of flour. There are some eggs, there is a bit of butter. Perhaps it was in a setting like this one when a person had the brilliant idea of making potato pancakes?
I have no idea at all if this is true. Maybe a trained chef at an Austrian cooking school invented the dish. Maybe the potato pancake was invented 75 years ago, or 300 years ago. Isn't it interesting to imagine how a person, someone who must be a creative and brilliant chef, is able to take familiar and humble ingredients and come up with something that is so delicious that it proliferates the way a potato pancake, for example, proliferates?
I like making potato pancakes with the daughters. The other night they were the center of a meal, along with a little split pea soup and a cucumber salad. Couldn't be simpler - peel and grate 2 russet potatoes. Sprinkle with a little salt and let them sit a few minutes so that they begin to release their water. Squeeze out as much water as you can, add two beaten eggs, a tablespoon and a half or so of flour, some salt, and a tablespoon or two of finely grated onion (more or less as you please). Mix well, fry in butter, et voila.
Hello All -
I have to travel to San Fran for work in April and I haven't been there in 20 years. I know almost nothing about the city. I'm wondering if I can ask you, dear readers, to share your recommendations for good eating in San Fran. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas welcome - anything that's good to eat, from the rickety and run down place with the best tacos to the nicer place with great food and a good wine list.
I really appreciate it!
The other night a friend came over for dinner and he brought with him a bottle of white Burgundy, a wine that reminded me why it is that I love white Burgundy. Not that I needed a reminder - some of the finest wines I've ever drunk have been white Burgundies. I'm not put off by the bottles that don't live up to expectations, even though these can be costly disappointments. Wine in all categories can be disappointing, and I don't buy the cliché about Burgundy being "hit or miss." All wine is hit or miss when you get right down to it. Storage, bottle variation, and many other factors can reduce the experience of any given wine. And when white Burgundy is on, it is as thrilling as wine can be, to my taste.
The funny thing is, on paper this wine didn't have to be so good. 1994 is not considered to be a good vintage, for one. And this wine comes from Puligny, but the producer is better known for white wines from Meursault. That said, the 1994 Robert Ampeau & Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes was a very good wine. Not the greatest of white Burgundies that I've had, even recently, but very good, particularly considering the difficult vintage. And the wine made me think quite a bit.
We opened it and tasted, maybe a half hour or so before we would begin drinking it. My friend who brought the wine was not terribly impressed, and I understood why - it seemed dilute, without much concentration. But we had graduated college in 1994, and we also were probably not terribly concentrated in 1994, needing time to gain complexity and become more serious. We have since done that, and with a little air, the wine did too. It never fully lost that dilute feeling, but it did blossom aromatically and although not a wine with much sap or richness of body, it absolutely and clearly articulated itself and showed a very lovely delicacy to its aromas and flavors. That's not a cop out way of explaining away a mute wine. It is a truthful description of the wine's character.
The goût de terroir of Puligny seems somehow more sharply etched than elsewhere. The fruit is defined and powerful yet restrained, like the musculature of a martial artist. Its perfect composition is revealed by its ability to withstand magnification. As you increase resolution, from commune level Puligny to premier cru and then zoom to Batard-, Chevlalier- and Le Montrachet, you find no blemishes, no distortions in taste or balance.I hadn't read this section of the book in a while and the day after drinking this wine, went back for a look. This paragraph struck me in its description of Puligny's restrained character, something that I am learning to see in the wines, especially in relation to the brawnier wines of Meursault, Puligny's neighbor to the north. Combettes is a vineyard that borders on the Meursault appellation, and probably has more flesh than some Puligny wines (which may have something to do with why Ampeau's Combettes in 1994 is as successful as it is). And still, the character of this Combettes, to me anyway, was unmistakably Puligny.
So apparently you can pickle vegetables merely by adding salt and then waiting a little while as the water is drawn from the cells. This quick pickling method can take as little as 5 minutes if you are David Chang, or it can take longer, but my sense is that it's up to the pickler to decide how long the pickling will take.
Not long ago I ate dinner at a friend's house and he served napa cabbage quick pickled in salt, and it was delicious. I resolved to do some quick pickling of my own. And so the other day I found myself with a trio of radishes, and tried my first quick pickle. I used one each of daikon, the large and somewhat mild carrot-shaped radish, watermelon radish, which is a colorful and very mild radish, and the very pungent green meat radish. I harbored the secret hope that the bright colors and taming effect of pickling might induce my children to try the radishes.
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DURHAM � North Carolina musicians have formed a new organization to record a compilation of original protest songs to support the weekly Monday protests organized by the state chapter of the NAACP against the policies of the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Musicians Jon Lindsay of Charlotte and Caitlin Cary of Raleigh are assembling artists to record an EP-length album Sunday in Raleigh. A rehearsal that's open to the public will take place Saturday in Durham.
Lindsay says the N.C. Music Love Army will record the songs in the style of "We Are the World" with both soloists and choruses. Among those participating is Grammy-nominated artist Tift Merritt, who grew up in Raleigh.
All proceeds will go to the NAACP, Progress NC and Planned Parenthood. A live performance is being planned for the fall.
Location, ST | website.com


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Do we need flood insurance?
(Page 2 of 2)
I've been hearing, from reliable officials, that FEMA insurance is possibly going to be phased out in favor of private insurance, or a government loan program. Government-controlled programs concern me, mostly because they seem to be letting most of us down. All the brochures looked good, like the posh resort that turned out to be a living hell, and now elected officials have to explain to us how they are advocating on our behalf.
Lift a home to a first-floor level 2 feet higher than the flood height in your zone, according to state code. AE 8 means a new finished floor level of 10 feet above sea level. I would build higher, to avoid a wet wooden floor support structure, since most who were flooded had water higher than reflected in the flood maps. Best of luck!
KeywordsAsk the Architect, Monte Leeper
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Fast Lite Tire But use only on the track
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
I have mistakenly used this tire on the front wheel of my road bike and this resulted in two crashes going around corners on patchy wet pavement and also on damp pavement. This tire is designed for banked turns as found in velodromes. The design of the tire, and the rubber compound used, will not grip the pavement around corners at speed especially when used as a front tire. Wear, as I was lead to believe, is not the issue, with using this tire on the road, its traction around corners.


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Modules: Creation and Management (Video)
In this video you will learn how to create and manage Modules in your course.
Note: Canvas recently introduced a new page design called the New Canvas User Interface (UI). Depending on your Canvas view, your page design may vary from the images shown in this video. However, the functionality and location of the components remain the same. To learn more about the new interface, view the New Canvas User Interface (UI) Overview video.
Last updated 2015-04-14
To view subtitles for this video, click the CC button in the tool bar and select a language.
Learn from and share ideas with other Canvas users.
View the script for this video.


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Movie star Shia LaBeouf has reportedly checked in to rehab just days after he was arrested in New York City following an outburst in a Broadway theatre.
The "Transformers" star was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and harassment on Thursday after disrupting stage show "Cabaret."
According to theater goers, LaBeouf was spotted smoking in the theatre and began shouting obscenities when security staff asked him to leave the venue.
On Monday, multiple reports suggest the actor checked in to a private facility in Los Angeles for undisclosed treatment.
LaBeouf's erratic behavior has hit the headlines a number of times this year – he wore a paper bag emblazoned with the words 'I am not famous anymore' over his head at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany and staged a bizarre performance art showcase in Hollywood, where fans, critics and reporters were all invited to hurl abuse at him in a gallery.
He also made the news for brawl in a London pub.


text:
Y'all ain't never just tripped and pictured
And just looked at the whole situation
Cause once you look at it
You know
(really do)
They don't give a fuck about us
They don't give a fuck about us
They don't give a fuck about us
Thuggin' till the day I die
They don't give a fuck about us
And when I start to rise
A hero in their children's eyes
Now they give a fuck about us
Some say niggas is hard headed cause we love to trick
Equipped with game so we bang with this thuggish shit
I see you trying to hide, hoping that nobody don't notice
You must always remember you're still a member of the hopeless
See you're black like me so you snap like me
When these devils try to plot, trap our young black seeds
Look it, cops are just as crooked as the niggas they chasin'
Lookin' for role models, our father figures is basers
Some say they expect Illuminati take my body to sleep
Niggas at the party with they shotties just as rowdy as me
Before I fear computer chips, I gotta deal with brothers flippin'
I don't see no devils bleeding, only black blood drippin'
We can change, whatcha mouth say?
I'm watching niggas work their lives out without pay
Whatever it takes to switch places with the busters on top
I'm busting shots, make the world stop
They don't give a fuck about us
It's the morning after and now all the laughter is gone
Time to reflect on what you did cause they saying you wrong
I'm sure you had your reasons dawg
I don't doubt you
See the simple fact of the matter is they don't give a fuck about you
Or them five mouths you forced to feed
Not including yourself
All you want is wealth, they perceive it as greed
So as you loaded up that mack and continue to buck 'em
I was on paper
Thinking they don't give a fuck about us
I'm seeing it clearer, hating the picture in the mirror
They claim we inferior, so why the fuck these devils fear ya?
I'm watching my nation die genocide the cause
Expect a blood bath, the aftermath is y'alls
I told ya last album, we need help cause we dying
Give us a chance, help us advance cause we trying
Ignore my whole plea, watching us in disgust
And then they beg when my guns bust
They don't give a fuck about us
[Hook x2]
Now all my homies got love for me
Down to catch a slug for me
Guaranteed to bleed deeply, now that's love
Shit, nobody else could give a fuck
If I'm tore down, from the floor down
Six-feet deep in the cut
What the fuck done went wrong
How long will I be mourned?
When I'm gone, same song
Ain't gave a fuck all along
And who am I to blame 'em?
Just do or die through the rainin'
Since they don't give a fuck, I don't
Feel what I'm saying?
Now thug niggas die but multiply in doubles
Wrapped in plastic or closed casket for our troubles
Pressed in times, we busted like bubbles
With the police, this nation's peace sent here to run you
Now look at what this crooked world has come to
I grew up on the other side of perfect, a life of hurtin'
Man I still hustle, so I'm dying certain
So I spent your time in poor and working, I see no reason
So I stay ballin' season to season
Why you stuck thinking that they give a fuck?
You tell me my world is in peace, but nigga you're lying
Cause half of my niggas, long gone, buried in the dirt just for trying
Sometimes I think my block is dying
And that it's awful
To wake up to another day, shit ain't change that all fool
I wake up sweatin', dreamin', coughin'
Seein' me upside down backwards head twisted
While I'm layin' in the coffin
The shit comes around so often
So tell me something
Before I take it out on the world, and get to dumpin'
Nigga I been so through pain go through the struggle
Doin' the same thing you did at my age and that's hustlin'
On the edge of straight bustin'
Well since you don't give a fuck, I be frontin'
And I'ma drink my Hennessey like it ain't nothin'
[Outro (variation of the hook) x2]
They wanna see us die, they kick us every time we try
They don't give a fuck about us
So while I'm getting high, I'm watching as the world goes by
One of the most influential and most spiritually accomplished works of Tupac Amaru Shakur released in 2002 in Better Dayz. Featuring his crew homies, The Outlawz, Pac delivers another blow to the world's richest and most powerful, a.k.a. the 1%.


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Feta Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper Squares
- Crush or chop garlic and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Heat oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the onions until soft and lightly browned. Add garlic, stir and set skillet aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix the egg substitute, roasted red peppers, salt, pepper, basil and parsley.
- If your skillet is ovenproof, pour the egg mixture over the onions and garlic. Otherwise move onions and garlic to a baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and pour the egg mixture over it.
- Sprinkle the crumbled Feta cheese over the top and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the center is set.
- Gently use a knife to loosen the sides of the frittata from the pan or dish. Slide the frittata onto a plate or cut into squares and serve immediately.


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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WUSA9) -- Prince George's County Police arrested 20-year-old Edwin Morales in connection to a fatal shooting last weekend.
According to police, 20-year-old David Esequel Avelar, of Hillcrest Heights, was fatally shot by Morales on on Feb. 24 after attending a party at a hotel on Baltimore Avenue.
Police said a fight between in the parking lot between the group the victim was in and a second group attending another party.
During the confrontation the victim was shot by Morales and was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said.
Investigators said the murder was gang-related.
Morales has been charged with first and second degree murder, among other charges. On March 1st, He was arrested in the 3000 block of 14th Street in Northwest, D.C. and is awaiting extradition to Prince George's County.


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There has been no shortage of dire warnings about the mounting US national debt, but President Obama is now offering a different assessment: no big deal.
"We don't have an immediate crisis in terms of debt," President Obama said in an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos for "Good Morning America." "In fact, for the next 10 years, it's gonna be in a sustainable place."
It's an assessment that will throw cold water on the latest attempt to achieve a so-called grand bargain to reduce the deficit. After all, a grand bargain would require excruciatingly difficult decisions for both sides — for Republicans, it would mean raising taxes, and for Democrats, cutting future spending on cherished programs like Social Security and Medicare. If there is no crisis, why would either side do it?
So, what happens if this latest effort to reach a deficit agreement falls through? Once again, the president's answer was, essentially, no big deal.
"Ultimately, it may be that the differences are just too wide" to get a deal, President Obama said. "That won't create a crisis. It just means that we will have missed an opportunity."
Obama wants no grand bargain, he wants to campaign in 2014 and divide us some more.


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So I went out for some air and sunlight yesterday as I like to do, and ended up producing the video above. I'm amending the birthday giveaway contest to add that if you embed this video in an update on your blog, you get two more entries in the drawing. Just remember to e-mail me with a link to your post.
Here are some previous shenanigans:
What can I say? Libertarians like to have fun (Plus it's always good to know how the U.S. Dollar must feel by traveling downward at a high velocity! Did I already make that joke in the video? Oh well... this is a long parenthetical statement.).
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Extreme Liberty
3 comments:
- repeater75 said...
Excellent choice for a fun giveaway and I liked your vid too!
- September 29, 2009 at 4:21 PM
- TennZen said...
COOL! And I had a good laugh at the dollar similarity. Clever
My blog post is updated with this vid now
- September 30, 2009 at 8:31 AM
- W. E. Messamore said...
Repeater75: Thanks! I've got to say that I'm more excited about my blog's birthday than I have been about my birthdays lately!
TennZen: Thanks so much! You rock my world. Your write-up on The Humble Libertarian is very heartwarming and encouraging.
- September 30, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Princeton, NJ (Sports Network) - The semifinal games of the 2012 Legends
Classic have been set.
In the first game of the semifinal doubleheader on November 19, Indiana will
face Georgia, while UCLA will clash with Georgia in the nightcap.
The Legends Classic championship game will take place on November 20.
Eight other schools from across the nation will participate in the regionals
from November 11-15.
In the 2011 Legends Classic final, Vanderbilt topped Oregon State by a 64-62
The Sports Network


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President of Borough Council Merle Stoltzfus said the $40,000 grant applied for last month that will pay 70 percent of the cost of updating the Comprehensive Plan has been approved.
�We hope to do it in 12 months. It will be done by a committee of eight to ten people (and) someone from the Planning Commission should be on the committee,� he explained.
He added that the committee should have members who enjoy �visionary thinking�, and asked attendees to the meeting to think about people they know who would be interested in participating.
�They can be members of authorities or commissions. Having someone from the Elementary Center would be a benefit. I would like to see someone from the Whitford Corporation. Members of Council will be welcome to the committee. We will start in January.�
Stoltzfus then moved on to discuss Elverson�s need to redo its stormwater ordinance.
�From communication (we received) on November 26, the state has informed us we have to redo our stormwater management ordinance. It is an unfunded mandate. There is a classification for municipalities with different populations. There are more stringent guidelines. We are subject to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System rules. Adequate engineering has to be done to be certain that reconfiguring land into a parking lot or a building does not make the storm water situation worse than it was before.
�To the east we are at the headwaters of the French Creek which is a stream of exceptional value. We are in the Conestoga River watershed in the west side of the Borough. Each watershed had a different ordinance and rules.�
He stated that he is very frustrated with what the mandate wants Elverson�s leadership to do.
The Elverson Farmers Market will be open for a pre-Christmas shopping event on Saturday, December 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Borough Engineer Mark Stabolopscy said a contractor has been hired to clean up and stabilize the former Granahan development known as Quakerside on Park Avenue. Another developer may be interested in the location since the original developer went into bankruptcy.
There is a question if the development may fall under new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System rules since it has set idle for six years, said Stoltzfus.
Stormwater management regulations were in effect when they started the development, said Stabolopscy.
�We must be very careful that we are fully aware of any changes in permitting by the Chester County Conservation District or any other agencies since the original permit for storm water management was issued for Quakerside,� Stoltzfus said. �The development was started in 2007. There may be some new regulations that would prohibit construction on some lots.�
The Neighborhood Watch network seems to be doing their job, said Mayor Arleigh Hegarty. A man was discovered sleeping in a car and was startled when woken up. It seems at first the people there thought the occupant of the car was dead. In another incident several young people were jumping around on porches, scaring the residents.
Council Member Tim McEwen said that council need establish the proper procedure of notifying authorities in case of an emergency.
The budget for 2013 was approved.
McEwen said repairs are needed at Borough Hall, and that he will look for someone to remove snow from borough property including areas around the cluster mailboxes and the train station.
Find the Tri County Record on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TriCountyRecord, on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TriCountyRecord, and search for Berks-Mont News, our six-publication newsgroup, on Google Plus.


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I recently saw a post from Troy Holden regarding being harassed by the guards at 555 Mission in San Francisco for taking photographs. I was somewhat surprised, since I have shot there several times without incident. I decided to shoot the building on my way to work this morning. Here's what happened.
The shot you see above is the loading dock at 555 Mission. While I was framing this shot, I was approached by a security guard. He wanted to know why I was taking pictures; I told him because I like to take pictures, I take pictures every day.
He told me that because of terrorism concerns photography of the building is not allowed. I told him thanks, but since I am on a public sidewalk I will continue taking photos. At the time, I was standing across the street on a public sidewalk.
At that point, he got on his radio and announced that they had a "terroist". I had to laugh at that.
Soon two other guards came out and told me that I was not allowed to take photographs of the building. They threatened to call the police; I invited them to do so. I continued taking pictures, shooting the rear of the building, the window washers that were working at the time, and continuing to the front of the building.
As I was finishing with the shots I wanted to get, Security Supervisor Nicholas Torres came out and gave me a "Courtesy Card" explaining their photography policy. I told him that it didn't matter what their policy was, it does not change what my rights are. He acknowledged that I had the right to take photographs from the sidewalk (which contradicts what the other guard was telling me), but then said that they do not want me to take photographs of the exterior of the building (contradicting the card), and that I could not take pictures from the plaza (again contradicting the card), even though it is designated as a Privately Owned Public Open Space (POPOS). The Courtesy Card looks like this:
Perhaps it is not too surprising that the guard was contradicting what the courtesy card said, since the courtesy card contradicts itself. The first paragraph indicates that United Protection Service, apparently the company that is contracted to provide security services for this property, respects photographers rights. The second paragraph forbids photography of certain subjects. However, photographers' constitutional rights do not stop at loading docks, security personnel, building entrances, garages, security desks, or lobby areas. If these things are visible from a public location, they can be photographed. In addition, there seems to be a disconnect between the United Protection Service policy stated on the card and the guards statement that photography of the building and photography in the plaza is forbidden. According to these policies, the photograph you see above is forbidden, as are all of these photographs, even though they were taken from public property:
Troy has contacted the building management, and hopefully will have some answers from them soon. Ideally they will communicate to the security guards that photography is not a crime, so that photographers at this location will not be harassed in the future.
Photography is not a crime.
you can see all my photos from 555 Mission in my 555 Mission set on Flickr.
Update: Caliber SF has a post about this as well.


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1957 Chevrolet Truck Suspsension Upgrade - Easy Air Ride, Part 2Written by on September 30, 2011 One Step Closer to Superb Handling, Great Performance, and an Aggressive Stance
Three or four weeks ago (in the Sept 2011 issue) I began the installation of a RideTech RidePRO e3 control system and a quartet of Shockwave Select Series shocks in my slowly evolving '57 Chevy small-window project. In that first installment I covered the initial steps of the process as I would for any installation story. The existing coilovers were removed and the new Shockwaves bolted in their place, the compressor was mounted to the frame, and the solenoid block and air storage tank assembled and mounted. These chores were accomplished in a weekend with little in the way of interruptions and I'd had every intention of getting back out into the garage the following weekend for the final steps. Well, as is often the case in the real world, the best of intentions didn't pan out. What I hadn't realized was that I had back-to-back out of state events to attend over the course of the following two weeks, and to add insult to injury, I'd also promised my wife I'd tackle a couple of long overdue honey-do's during that time frame as well. So, a two-week delay turned into three and change before I finally got back out into the garage to pick up where I'd left off (sound familiar anyone?). Once I did get my butt back out there I began by looking over what I'd accomplished weeks before. This actually worked out to my advantage as the time away from the project allowed me a fresh look at what I'd done previously—and I did make a couple of small wiring routing changes because of that fact.
In this installment I'll be picking up where I left off previously installation-wise and I believe I'll return with a Part 3 in the near future where I'll get more into the specifics of the Shockwave Select Series shocks and the RidePRO e3 control system themselves and just why I believe they're the way to go when building a cool classic pickup that's meant to be driven and enjoyed. But until then follow along as I try and button up the install by tackling the wiring and plumbing the shocks.
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
As a bit of a review, this image shows the components of the Ride Tech air ride system laid out as I unpacked the shipping carton. At first glance it was a bit intimidating but the installation was nowhere near as complicated as I initially thought it might be.As I said earlier, I started out the install by swapping out the original coilovers I'd installed with the new Shockwave Select Series shocks.As you can see, the rear Shockwaves are a non-convoluted design and the fronts are convoluted. The Select Series are steel-bodied monotube shocks that incorporate two sets of independent internal valving that allows the user to choose between a "cruise mode" that offers a smooth, soft ride or a "sport mode" that's noticeably firmer for performance handling—all at the touch of a dash-mounted button! Replacing the coilovers with the new Shockwave Selects was a 20-minute chore as they bolted right in as direct replacements.As a reminder, I located the compressor on the inner left-hand framerail just forward of the C-notch.This is kind of an odd shot—it's looking up and forward at the left-hand side of the bottom of the cab. The control solenoid assembly was located at the rear of the driver's doorstep and the air storage tank on the backside of the left step area running parallel with the left framerail.Here's the brain of the RideTech system—the RidePRO e3 electronic control unit. The latest e3 ECU is faster, more robust, and offers more options to refine the tuning of the air suspension. In addition to the three ride height presets and its "ride height on start" feature, the calibration process, weight compensation, and cross load compensation are now all automatic.The new e3 ECU uses M12 twist connections and is now waterproof to allow mounting in any location on the vehicle. Solid-state compressor relays are built in to eliminate external relays and wiring. And one fact that's worth keeping in mind is the LevelPro e3 leveling system is compatible with any air suspension and is a great upgrade to your current system if you indeed have one.
Once I got to the bags containing the pre-terminated wiring I have to admit I was a bit surprised—heck, I've wired complete hot rods with less than the wiring included in the RidePRO kit. Shown here are the height sensor, air pressure, display/controller, valve block, and main power/compressor harnesses. My concerns ended up being unfounded though as the individual harnesses are easily identified via a great wiring schematic supplied by RideTech and hookup is actually very easy.As I began going through the harnesses, separating and identifying 'em I had a bit of help from Scooter my shop foreman. Scooter correctly identified these four harnesses as the wiring for the system's namesake Select Series sensors, which switch the shocks from a soft street ride to a stiffer more performance oriented setting with a single touch of the system's dash-mounted pushbutton.Following the enclosed instructions I connected the three main harnesses to the ECU and then began hunting for the ideal mounting place for my situation. As you can see I labeled the harnesses—I did this for a couple of reasons. First cuz I have an extremely poor short-term memory, and second, knowing which harness controls what helped in determining the routing of the wiring.Even though the ECU and its connections are weather/waterproof I still decided to mount the unit behind the driver's seat on the lower rear cab wall. The OEM fuel line opening in the floor pan made a perfect route out of the cab for a majority of the wiring.With the ECU located and mounted, the next thing I did was to locate and attach the display/controller harness and the display/controller unit itself. The latest RidePRO e3 represents a leap forward in onboard suspension controls, starting with a completely new control panel that is sleeker and brighter than its predecessor. The auto-dimming display is easily visible in the sun and is only 3⁄8-inch thick. One thing I really like about the controller is that the interface buttons are backlit and have a distinct click to let ya feel when a change has been made. Another cool bonus is the unit's two mini USB connections, which allow a variety of panel mounting and connection options—though I've still not decided whether I'll mount it on the dash or leave it on the seat next to me.Scary huh? This is what it looked like under the cab after threading the three main harnesses down through the opening in the cab floor. Because of space limitations I dismounted the valve block to make connecting the harnesses to the solenoids easier—the weather-tight connections are OEM-quality, making external mounting worry-free.
After wrestling with the rat's nest I'd created under the cab I re-bundled the individual harnesses and began running each toward their appropriate locations. The grey and red two-wire harness is the power/ground source for the compressor so I of course routed it rearward to the compressor and made the connection.Back inside the cab, once the ECU is mounted there's not much in the way of inside wiring. One of the three small wiring harness sections located inside the cab is the USB cable for the controller, next the harness for the dash-mounted ride-control button, and finally the three-wire (two red, one yellow) main power harness you see here. As my tag denotes, the yellow wire goes to a switched positive ignition connection and the pair of red wires to direct battery positive—piece of cake.Another trip under the truck had me dismounting one side of the air storage tank so I could rotate it down and install the pressure switch into the threaded bung on the topside of the tank. In both the foreground and background you can see the 90-degree air line fittings. One is air in from the compressor and one out to the air supply side of the solenoid block. It's important to note that thread sealer must be used on each threaded connection to ensure against slow air leaks.While I was under there I snapped a quick image of the ground connections on the left framerail. As is the case with any electrical wiring a good ground or grounds is of utmost importance for proper function.The balance of the ECU connections is straightforward. The ride height sensors attach to the unit with weather-tight threaded connections and the ECU is clearly labeled for each corner of the system.The third and final interior wiring assembly is the button and controller for the ride control. This aforementioned button is the one that controls the ride configuration allowing you to switch from a soft ride for everyday driving to a stiffer performance setting for more aggressive driving/handling.With the various harnesses routed, secured, and connected the final chore was to route, cut, and connect the air lines. RideTech includes this neat little tubing cutter that ensures perfect cuts every time, doing so without crushing the semi-rigid air line. The air lines are simple to install too—all you need to do is push the air line firmly into the air line fittings until they bottom out and then give 'em a bit of a tug to seat 'em firmly in place.
Here you can see both the electrical and air connections for the rear Shockwaves. All are routed carefully and tied together in a bundle that'll stay in place and eliminate any chafing as the truck is raised, lowered, and driven.As I ran the air lines (and the wiring as well) I made sure to use grommets and in a couple of cases some rubber fuel line (as you see here) whenever and wherever I ran line or wiring through openings in the truck body and/or frame. At this point all that's left are the final power connections. Those will have to wait until I wire the complete vehicle and decide on its battery location. When I do (and that should be shortly) I'll show those final connections and give you a better idea of the RideTech components used as well as their specifications, features, and retail pricing. Stay tuned and we'll finish up soon.


text: Last year I was able to tag along with my brother-in-law on a sheep hunt. It was our first time ever hunting sheep we scouted alot and had a pretty good game plan when the opener came. We found this ram and he decided it was good enough for him. considering nobody had shot one in the unit for 8 years our expectations of shooting a huge ram were not to high. we just wanted a mature ram. needless to say it was hard work we loved every minute of it and I can't wait till I get lucky and draw a tag. with any luck it will be this year. but I am not holding my breath. anybody else have this sheep bug? or pics to share?


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EAST ATLANTA, Ga. -- A man is in critical condition after being shot in southeast Atlanta.
The shooting happened near the CVS on the 1400 block of Moreland Avenue.
According to authorities, the man was shot several times and is in critical condition, at this time.
The man was transported to a Atlanta Medical Center in extremely critical condition.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the shooting.


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St. Johns Red Storm vs. Youngstown State Penguins 12 21, 2013
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