text:
I am trying to describe one who is neither agnostic nor atheist but does not accept any religious order as his own.
Sign up
- Anybody can ask a question
- Anybody can answer
- The best answers are voted up and rise to the top
A theist is someone who believes in god (or multiple gods), in contrast to an atheist.
If you refer to someone as a theist, it will generally be understood that s/he doesn't belong to a specific religious group.
If you really want to emphasize that fact, though, you might say unaffiliated theist. Personally, I don't think the latter is necessary.
An ignostic refuses to take any stance in the argument over God's or any deity's existence.
The reasoning behind this is that the lack of a sufficiently coherent definition for the term God leaves the question regarding God's existence without meaning. Thus, the ignostic would argue that there is no basis for sensible discussion on this topic, let alone basis for belief or non-belief.
Someone who believes in God is a theist; all Christians, Muslims, Hindus (but not Buddhists, since Buddhism does not have a god), etc. are theists, as are people who don't subscribe to any major religion but still believe in God.
A subset of theism is deism: Someone who believes in a creator-God that does not get involved in our personal lives believes in deism and is a deist, and is in the company of Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Voltaire.
There is no single term that I know of to describe someone that doesn't follow the tenets of a major religion but does believe in a God that impacts our lives, which is odd because (I believe) this is a reasonably common belief in the US. An old phrase used to describe this belief, though, is "I'm spiritual but not religious.", which implies that you have faith but not in an organized religion.


text:
Reader's comments »
By adding a comment on the site, you accept our terms and conditions.
The usual suspects are sitting on their various thrones, lecturing a panicked Blue Jays Nation that it's far too early to freak out about the club's slow start, and that any angst directed towards the players and manager at this time is premature.
And they're right.
It is too early to panic.
However, what is undeniable is that after 21 games, the once feeling of good will and excitement in Toronto about this Blue Jays team, the "buzz" if you will, is quickly dissipating — and not just because the Jays have sputtered to an 8-13 start.
It's the way they're losing.
This is supposed to be a great team, even with the injuries (most notably to all-star shortstop Jose Reyes).
What has rankled Blue Jays fans more than anything is the fact that this is a veteran team NOT playing good fundamental baseball.
The Jays are tied for second in errors in the American League (with 13) and ninth in double plays (15).
Sure they've had guys playing out of position, especially in the infield with third baseman Brett Lawrie missing games with a rib injury, but their defence is still troubling.
Add that to the fact that their approach at the plate is driving even some of their most ardent supporters "batty" (pun intended).
The Jays batters seem to be swinging for the fences with every at-bat instead of trying to work a pitcher for a base hit or a walk.
Or so it seems.
The vaunted offence we keep hearing about has been just short of terrible.
The Blue Jays' overall average (.227) is second worst in the American League, just behind the Seattle Mariners (.224).
Heading into Tuesday's game, Toronto's average with RISP is .202, ranked 14th in the league, ahead of only the Chicago White Sox. The Jays are 13th out of 15 teams in the AL in On-base-percentage (.294), 12th in total hits (149) and fourth in strike-outs (158).
They're also last in sacrifice bunts.
Toronto's starting pitching has improved since the first couple go-rounds (though its still 11th overall in ERA, 4.43), especially R.A. Dickey, Tuesday's night's starter.
But on the field the Jays have been close to brutal.
That throwing error short stop Munenori Kawasaki made on Monday night, on a routine play which led to a walkoff Orioles win, sent the Twitterverse crazy with a disillusioned Jays fans wearing their typing fingers to the bone out of frustration.
The big worry now is, if the Jays' losing ways continue, how long before a player or two says something counter-productive in the clubhouse?
That would make things even worse.
Remember, this isn't a normal Blue Jays season.
This is a season where Rogers — finally — gave GM Alex Anthopoulos the freedom to spend the money needed to actually contend for an AL East title.
I don't know if it's fair to blame manager John Gibbons or even hitting coach Chad Mottola at this point.
This is a veteran team.
Guys like Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, who were both hitting .200 heading into Tuesday's game, should have an idea of what they're doing wrong and how to correct it. The same can be said for a lot of guys on this team.
There's a lot of vets in that clubhouse.
Again, it's still very early, but Jays fans are angry and are starting to panic. And that's kind of crazy.
But you have to cut the fans some slack. It has been 20 years since the Blue Jays last made the playoffs. If they were in the running for a title (almost) every year like the Yankees and Red Sox, this year's early early-season clunk job wouldn't be as big of a deal as it has become.
But mediocrity has been the order of the day for this franchise for so many years.
As a result, when Jays fans sniff a winner, which they did at the beginning of the season, they get excited, probably too excited.
And when things go wrong, they probably get too angst-ridden.
All I'm saying is, it's sad that the buzz, which was so cool when the season began, is quickly sinking into Lake Ontario.
Fortunately it is still early.
The Jays can certainly get that buzz back.
But the clock is ticking.
By adding a comment on the site, you accept our terms and conditions.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
head sketches by RyanOttleyWatch
©2008-2016 RyanOttley
More sketches I've done at various draw nights.
woooow... very nice
that one dude looks like troll face. nice sketches.
This is wonderful.
genuine and unique expressions
when i grow up i wanna be like the guy with the beard muahahaha
J'adore votre travail, impulsif et direct. Bonne continuation
Wow, it's so inpiring!
Once again you have great stuff in your gallery...keep it up!
i keep hearing the term "draw night". whats that all about?
oh awesome sketchinz by the way!
oh awesome sketchinz by the way!
It's a night me and a couple of other artists go out and draw for a few hours.
ah. are there drinks involved? lol do you like, come up with themes each time?
hey dude excellent man.. how do u do that kinda stuff can u please teach me a few pointers?.. honestly
really awesome stuff. the ugly guy in the lower left kinda steals the show though.
great sketches man, these draw nights seems to be a lot of fun to ey
ha haaa these are all great... the one on the bottom left kind looks like Jack Nicholson....
Haha, amazing stuff!
...and your faces blow me over with awesome.
Ryan, you're so talented with super exaggerated expressions. These are all so great. Ssssh, don't tell him... but that bottom left one immediately made me think of Cory.
I like.
hah, cool man. I like triple headed hair dude
Incredible! Some of these expressions are priceless!
great work!! and great expressions!
Love it. That bottom face makes me smile.
wonderful work, I adore your style it's so expressive and your lines are really nice tand confident too~
Nosense sketchs hehehe
Nice Derek Hunter sketch! Your best work yet!
HAHA! I shall take that as a compliment that you knew who it was. Means I can KINDA do caricatures.
Those are some of the best expressions I've ever seen. Great work!
i'm liking that gross beard in the top left
Nicely done im diggin it bud
Man Just stop kay!! Seriously man it's been a real treat to watch your continual pushing of the art work man!!!-T
Nice work.The mood detailing on the characters' face is impressive.
Forms, expression and size, there is everything!! Great and inspiring!


text:
Ashbury Demo at Bear
Here's some pics from the Ashbury demo at Bear. The sun was shining, the entire team showed up (despite their hectic schedules) and a good time was had by all. Some of the craziest tech tricks went down and positive vibes were in the air. Check it: Matty Ryan aka. Homewreck aka. Babyshoes pulled through...
We just got our Holiday 09′ samples in and guess who just happened to show up right in time to grab one of everything-
Crocodiles in New York Times
Click the pick to see the story The New York Times just posted on Crocodiles at SXSW!
SXSW with Crocodiles part 1
Despite a serious shake down at the Arizona border check COMUNE supporters Crocodiles made it to Austin, Texas for the SXSW music festival and have already started blowing minds. Here's a brief sample of the Crocs first day hi-jinx as well as some of the better bands we've seen so far- Crocodiles first show of...
Ashbury Demo March 28th Bear Mtn
Don't miss this event!
R.I.P Randy Rhoads
Today marks the death of Randy Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) lets all mourn together as we watch this video below…
Jimmy Fontaine
NY fashion photographer and COMUNE contrubuter Jimmy Fontaine sent over some pics from a personal project he just did. Check it out one of my favorites below. Styling by Marcus LeBlanc and Ozz Nooryani grooming by Christine Cherbonnier. See more of Jimmy's work at www.jimmyfontaine.com and www.jimmyfontainephotography.blogspot.com
Ben Rice's new ad in BLISSS
Check out everyone's favorite couch surfer Ben Rice's new ad in BLISSS magazine. Pick up a copy at your local shop.
Comune Snow am Johnnie Paxson
If you haven't seen this ground breaking video of Johnnie Paxson from last summer check it out. One day on a 85ft. Windell's step up, no big deal. Double back late bs 180? Hell yeah Johnnie, can't wait to see what he's been throwin down this year. Johnnie Paxson – Windells Jump from Jon Montana...
Arkade Magazine Cale Zima Interview
Check out the latest interview in Arkade magazine with COMUNE am Cale Zima. Interview by Lizard King. Pick up a copy at your local shop.
A Snowboard Contest
Come out to Mt. High this saturday for "A Snowboard Contest" hosted by Active Ride Shop-
Arkade Magazine Better Late Than Never
Our homies over at Arkade Magazine finally sent us over some of the latest copies of their mag. Matty Ryan cleaned up with a mellow 10pg. interview and his mug on the cover. Pick up a copy at your local shop! Matty Ryan Interview! Artist interview with Corey Smith.
Lenoce on SHAKE JUNT
Click the pic to see Lenoce's "PRO AS FUCK" video post up now on SHAKE JUNT son-
Matty Ryan's Skate Footy
Check out COMUNE pro snowboarder Matty Ryan's skateboard footy. Homewreck lives! This is what makes snowboarding easy for this kid.


text:
2013 is right around the corner, and it is that time of the year to set some resolutions
for yourself, your health, and your fitness. Come join CrossFit Scottsdale
by starting the year and your resolutions off right on New Years Day!
Also, save the date for Coach Troy's New Year Goal Seminar
on Monday, January 7th at 6pm to help put those resolutions
and goals in writing and prepare to accomplish them this year!


text:
Will Samsung Galaxy S III may undergo ban in the U.S.? A big question of course, but today little earlier it was learned Apple attorney say the iDevice giant could request for temporary ban of the Samsung hot device in the U.S. later this month when it will be launched on June 21 there.
Apple attorney Josh Krevitt cited usual ongoing patent infringements and the giant believes that the new phone of Samsung are in violation of patents. Last year Apple sued Samsung for copying key elements of iPad and iPhone in Galaxy phones and tablets.
According to this Tuesday's court filing, the iPhone and iPad maker alleged Samsung Galaxy S III violated two software related patents -U.S. Patent No. 8086604 and No. 5946647, which are "unified search" and "links for structures" respectively.
For Further Reading:
- Samsung releases teaser video of Galaxy S III; Pokes fun of Apple
- Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders crosses 9 million mark
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Launching Nov 2 – Springboard On Nov 9
- Samsung giving free tickets to London Olympic to Galaxy S III first 50 customers
- Samsung Galaxy S2 Overclocked To 1.5 GHz
- Samsung Galaxy S III to reach U.S. stores this June
- Samsung Galaxy B to have bazel-less display reports South Korean newspaper
Was this post helpful? Consider subscribing via RSS or


text:
Don't wait until 2011 to mind your weight regime. Here is another product for low carb lifestylers to help you with your weight loss and maintenance goals. Whenever you feel an urge for something crunchy and salty and you're tired of eating nuts - reach for these instead of potato chips.
Kay's Protein Chips
- Similar to a Funyon in texture
- Thicker than a potato chip
- Very crispy and crunchy
- Satisfying and flavorful
- Nice portions
- 110 calories per serving
- 10g protein, 0g fat, 0g of sugar
- All natural ingredients
- No trans fats
- Gluten free
- Taste: Lemon Herb and and Chili Nacho Cheese were excellent
- Price varies: 1.5 ounces costs .98 and 5 ounces runs about 3.75
- Taste: Crispy Parmesan was a miss


text:
A nominee for president of the Southern Baptist Convention criticized pastors who he alleged were more interested in being "cool" than focusing on God, according to an article in today's (Tuesday), June 10 Christian Post. Ronnie Floyd, pastor of an Arkansas church, said, pastors who are more interested in keeping up with the popular culture than focusing on the glory of God are making a mistake.
Floyd, who is senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, further said, "Some of us have a heart to be so real with people that we just think if we're cool enough, we'rge going to get the numbers. We're never going to be cool enough to win our towns, our rural settings, to win our cities, to win the nation, to win the world, to win nations. We're never going to be cool enough; the only thing that's going to bring that is a binding movement of the spirit of God that comes only when we are going up to be with God."
He expressed his concern that some pastors concern with projecting a cool image was largely responsible for the fact 60% of churches did not baptize anyone from ages 12 to 17. He also noted that there were 46, 125 Southern Baptist churches in the country. Floyd further expressed his concern that 80% of those churches baptized one or fewer people who are ages 18 to 29 in the past year.
Floyd said the decreasing number of baptisms was caused by pastors who were more "preoccupied with appearances rather than the Great Commission."
He further mentioned that, "Some of us would rather be known for the way we dress, or the kind of music we sing, or our style of preaching, or the way we choose to live more than being distinguished by the powerful presence of the glory of God."
The pastor of the multi-campus Cross Church further compared some pastors to Aaron, saying, "When you're not where you're supposed to be, you don't think right, you don't act right, you don't live right, and you don't lead right."
Floyd's reference to Aaron drew on the Old Testament story of Aaron and the golden calf. Aaron stayed and partied with the people of Israel while Moses went to meet with God on top of the mountain.
Floyd, H.B. Charles and David Platt delivered sermons Sunday evening to start the 2014 Pastor's Conference. The two-day convention ended Monday with messages from Tony Evans, Rick Warren and Francis Chan.
Floyd was running against two other candidates for the presidency of the convention which includes an estimated 11 million Southern Baptists which makes it the largest non-Catholic denomination.
Anyone interested in receiving free updates of future National Western Religions articles may click on the subscribe link adjacent to this article.


text:
I'm wondering if there is a list compiling all the shell plates, and indicator buttons that dillion uses on their machines, and which plates work with which calibers, and indicator buttons.
Better yet.
My indicator buttons on my .223 and 9mm are stamped #3. Does this mean it is the same shell Plate?
My .40 is stamped number 2 on the indicator buttons, but are there other calibers I can use with this shell plate. (I know I can load 10mm, says on the box but I'm wondering if there are other calibers possilbe rifle calibers I can use)


text:
Shirley Chase, in the midst of practicing for the 80-84 age range senior games, has decided to take time out for an exercise in Lincolnville.
Chase was part of a group of people who, a decade ago, made it possible for the neighborhood children to paint a huge mural on Norbert Tuseo's land across the street from the Frank Butler Historic Home at 87 Washington. After several people called Shirley to let her know that time had taken its toll on the painting, her son Pat Chase went to the property and took some photographs, returning to inform her that it did, indeed, need refurbishing.
At 9:30 a.m. on June 17, Chase and friends will gather at the site of the mural with paints and brushes and a step ladder so that children, eight years and up, can help repaint this Lincolnville landmark. Shirley's hope is that some of the original artists will return and redo their initial efforts.
I received many phone calls and correspondences about the column on the demolition at 94 Bridge St. Probably the most informative was from historian David Nolan ("Houses of St. Augustine'' Pineapple Press, 1995).
"I have many memories of 94 Bridge St. I first went there in 1994 when I drove Carrie Johnson home from the funeral of our beloved Henry Twine, civil rights leader, city commissioner, and the first black vice mayor of St. Augustine," writes Nolan.
"In 1996 the first integrated Rotary Club group from South Africa came to St. Augustine ... I took them by 94 Bridge St. While they stood in that long front yard, Carrie Johnson came out and sang to them, joined by her neighbor, Laura Mae Miller.
"That little house was not the first one on the site. An earlier Victorian building there had been the home of Capt. Bill Mickler. He was the man who laid out the streets of Lincolnville in 1878, and he stayed there until his death at the age of 91 in 1927. At that time, he was the last surviving member of the Secession Congress that had taken Florida out of the Union at the beginning of the Civil War.
"I always considered it quite an irony that a devoted Confederate was the man who laid out the streets of Lincolnville. One of his neighbors there on Bridge Street was another Confederate veteran, Tony Welters -- one of the few black Confederate veterans in St. Augustine.''
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


text:
Grand Champion - $1,500 + trophy
Reserve Champion - $1,000 + trophy
Class Champion - $500 + trophy
Class Payouts:
2nd - $250 + ribbon
3rd - $200 + ribbon
4th - $150 + ribbon
5th - $100 + ribbon
6th - $50 + ribbon
7th - ribbon
8th - ribbon
9th - ribbon
10th - ribbon
Saturday - 5pm
Weston Sizzlers will provide each team with a 750ml bottle of Weston's own Pirtle Winery Apple Wine to be featured in an entry of the team's choosing. Cash prizes for the Apple Wine Challenge are:
1st - $250
2nd - $175
3rd - $75
$175 for 20' X 20' space
$225 for 20' X 40' space
Please add additional:
$25 for 15 AMP 110V electricity
$50 for 30 AMP service
Please supply own cords.
Generators allowed.
RVs and campers welcome.
Entry in five contest categories:
Ribs, Chicken, Pork, Brisket, Sausage
Entry in the Pirtle Apple Wine Challenge:
Weston Sizzlers will provide each team a 750ml bottle of Pirtle Apple Wine to be featured in an entry of the team's choice. Cash prizes for the Apple Wine Challenge are:
1st prize $250, 2nd prize $175, 3rd prize $75.
Entry fee also includes special Weston Goodies Bag.
Weston Cafe' is offering a 10% discount for all team members, all weekend.
This State Championship BBQ Contest is held in conjunction with Weston's Second Saturday events - antique stores and other businesses open late.
Entertainment sponsored by O'Malley's Pub, Weston Brewing Company and Weston Cafe' on Saturday Night.
Friday, July 13
Teams may set up after 5:30pm
Saturday, July 14
7:00am to 2:00pm - Setup
5:00pm - Entries due for the Pirtle Apple Wine Challenge
5:00pm to 6:00pm - Judging for the Apple Wine Challenge (Legion Hall)
6:00pm - Cook's Meeting
4:00pm to Midnight - Four Stages of Live Music
11:00pm to 7:00am - Quiet Time at the Contest
Sunday, July 15
Noon - Judging Begins at the Legion Hall
12:00pm - Chicken
12:30pm - Ribs
1:00pm - Pork
1:30pm - Beef Brisket
2:00pm - Sausage
3:30pm - Awards Presentation at the Legion Hall


text:
The soundtrack to the Disney Channel's "High School Musical" Wednesday reclaimed the No. 1 spot on the U.S. album chart.
Holding onto No. 2 was James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam," while rapper E-40 chalked up his first Top 10 album in a decade with "My Ghetto Report Card" at No. 3.
Ne-Yo's "In My Own Words" was No. 4, followed by last week's No. 1, Juvenile's "Reality Check," taking a plunge to No. 5.
No. 6 was Carrie Underwood's "Some Heart," while Matisyahu's "Youth" dipped to No. 7.
The top tier was filled out by "The Legend of Johnny Cash," Fall Out Boy's "From Under the Cork Tree" and Jack Johnson and Friends' "Curious George."
Overall U.S. album sales fell 3 percent from the previous week to 10.4 million units. Sales were down 4 percent from the same week a year ago and 3 percent overall compared to 2005.
DISCUSS AND COMMENT ON THIS STORYReality TV World now offers Facebook Comments on our stories. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then 'Add' your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the 'X' in the upper right corner of the comment box.


text:
It seems political correctness now rules Houston schools. On Thursday, the Houston School Board voted 7-0 to ban certain words as mascot names for school sports teams, claiming they are "offensive or culturally insensitive," The Blaze reported.
Four names, "Rebels," "Indians," "Warriors" and "Redskins" will no longer be allowed starting in the 2014-2015 school year.
The Blaze said four schools will be affected: The Lamar High School Redskins, the Hamilton Middle School Indians, the Westbury High School Rebels, and the Welch Middle School Warriors. Those schools are now required to submit names deemed politically-correct to the school board.
School Superintendent Terry Grier proposed the ban last month in a column he wrote for the Houston Chronicle.
Grier said in his op-ed that "the place for Redskins patches or pennants, or for Confederate symbols, is no longer on the uniforms of our teams and cheer squads. They can be displayed in cases on campuses and explained in history books."
"Traditions are important. But respect for cultural difference and sensitivities matters more," he said.
Grier targeted the four schools by name, saying they must "become a part of HISD's history."
"Our goal in HISD is not to obliterate all vestiges of traditional figures that were once widely embraced," he claimed. But that, in effect, is exactly what he's done. And it's not the first time.
The Daily Caller observed that Grier "pulled exactly the same stunt at his old job in a school district in North Carolina."
"In fact, I was superintendent of Guilford County schools in Greensboro, N.C., in 2002, when North Carolina's State Board of Education asked districts to review their continued use of Native American mascots. Over many emotional months, we worked through an inclusive process that eventually removed Native American mascots from our schools in a sensitive way and enacted a thoughtful policy that defined what was appropriate to name or depict any campus organization or team," Grier wrote.
The Daily Caller also noted that the Chronicle claimed the change puts Houston's schools in line with other school districts that have banned the mascots, but failed to name a single school district.
Grier, KUHF said, was not present when the decision was made and trustees made no comment when they voted on the ban.
Joe Koch, a 1968 graduate of Lamar High School, wasn't happy with the decision.
"I'm very disappointed. I'll be a Redskin the rest of myself. The family is," he said. "They're just flat nicknames. They're not meant to hurt these people who are taking offense of it."
Others, like teenager Marah Melendez, held a different opinion.
"Because I want to change the history and for the future. Because I don't want anyone else to be called Redskin anymore," she said.
One person recommended the district rename itself the "Political Correctness Kowtowing School District" on HISD's Facebook page.
- Political correctness gone mad: Soldiers told they can't say 'Christmas'
- A short list of words not considered offensive or racist by liberals
- Political correctness: MA school changes, then drops song 'God Bless the USA'
- Political correctness gone wild: Dinos, birthdays banned in NYC student tests
- Political Correctness is destroying America
- Education consultant says white paper may cause racism in young children
- California school boy ordered to remove U.S. flag from bike
- Seattle to city workers: 'Citizen', 'brown bag' not to be used in official docs
If you like this article, you can follow Joe on Twitter @jnewby1956, visit and like his Facebook page, or subscribe to receive email updates when a new article is published.
For hard-hitting conservative commentary, please visit Joe's blog, the Conservative Firing Line. You can also find Joe's articles at Right News Now, Liberty Unyielding and PolitiCollision.
Suggested Links
- Portland school sees racism in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Education consultant says white paper may cause racism in young children
- Group wants Pledge removed from MA town schools, recalls 'totalitarian regimes'
- GOP state Rep. creates CA - TX language guide: Delicate wetlands equals swamp
- North Carolina school orders child to remove God from poem


text:
Russian protest songs as signs of a maturing democracy
Almost every public rally in modern Russia features a live music performance. Russian protest songs have come a long way after World War II - from author songs created by Stalin's labor camps prisoners up to today's punk bands.
In a democratic society people can freely express their opinions that reflect their personal views on current events. Those expressions can be found in publications, documentaries, news reports, theater plays, etc. Protest song is a very common form of expression that originated in the 1960's.
The Woodstock Festival, the most famous rock festival of its era, featured lots of protest songs performed by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Richie Havens, Joan Baez and others. The common motif of most of them was the War in Vietnam.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son (1969, Woodstock)
If we look back at the 20th century, starting from 1945 when War World II was over, we won't find a wave of protest songs similar to that we've been witnessing in the last 5 years. It's also strange that not so many protest songs have remained from previous generations of Russian rockers, which means that we can't pick up on a trend or some kind of a protest songwriting tradition.
Let's make a brief historical review of Russian protest songs over 60-year period.
It's pretty obvious that during the Soviet era protest songs were sponsored by the totalitarian state and were aimed at foreign 'enemies', such as American imperialism and militarism, exploitation of the working class, military junta/dictatorship that suppressed rights of its citizens.
Here's one of such songs, dedicated to Victor Jara (Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez; 1932–1973), a Chilean poet, writer, theater director, political activist and member of Chilean Communist party, who was brutally murdered during a coup organized by general Augusto Pinochet.
The song was written by a Soviet composer, Igor Luchenok, who also wrote many different tunes reflecting Soviet ideology, including songs about Lenin, patriotism and war.
"Song-74": Viktor Vuyachich - Hard won, Chile
Such official 'protest songs' were hypocritical because the Soviet Union itself was a notorious dictatorship and its own people were suffering from harsh communist rules and lack of human rights. There were plenty of protesters among Soviet citizens, but their protest moods were hidden in their own kitchens, where late at night they spoke in a low voice about unfairness and political repressions in a small company of friends.
People were writing protest songs but hid their message between the lines, because it was dangerous and could even have led to a real prison sentence.
Probably, the first well-known anti-Soviet songs were "Vaninsky Port" (Vaninsky Port), written by unknown author in the Gulag labor camps, and "Tovarisch Stalin" (Comrade Stalin) by Yuz Aleshkovsky (born in 1929) – writer and poet, who was sentenced to the Gulag in the early 1950's and was forced to leave the country in 1979 after publishing his Gulag lyrics in the West. He is now living in the USA.
Mikhail Gulko - Vaninsky Port
Yuz Aleshkovsky - Comrade Stalin
In the 1960's and 1970's a new kind of songwriters and performers with acoustic guitars emerged at the Soviet underground scene. They were actors, scriptwriters, engineers, doctors and all other types of Soviet intelligentsia.
They wrote their own tunes and performed unofficially at people's homes and culture clubs. They were commonly called "Bards", which in Russian means a man singing his own songs under guitar accompaniment.
Alexander Galitch (1918-1977) was one of the beloved Soviet bards. His dark humor and politically charged protest songs led to Galitch being banned from performing in public. His theatrical plays were banned from publishing as well. On top of that, he was kicked out from the Union of Soviet Writers.
All these led to his immigration in 1974 and his mysterious death in Paris in 1977.
Alexandr Galich - Silence is golden
These are just a few examples, showing that there were protest songs in the USSR, which used suggestive approaches to express people's disagreement with the system.
Russian punks: ideology, music, lifestyle
1980's - The golden age of Soviet discotheques
Thinking in Russian but singing in English
Electronic and avant-garde music in Russia (Part 2)
Today we can acknowledge that Russian rock scene has never seen before a wave of protest songs, written and performed by a younger generation of musicians. It's a new phenomena, which shows that a new generation of protest musicians moved away from typical showbiz careers, where fame and fortune are an ultimate goal.
Not long ago - in the middle of 2000's - Moscow's rock scene was full of so called "klubnie vecherinki" (club's parties), where rock, pop and hip-hop groups entertained bored hipsters and Russian businessmen and entrepreneurs.
Clubs and bands were making good money, especially doing private parties called "korporativi", when club was rented overnight for a private "invitation-only" party by a bank, oil & gas company, construction or other company with a massive budget.
Some popular bands almost disappeared from the public eye in 2000's, doing only such 'korporativi', where their fees were numerous times higher, compared to to an ordinary club gig. But something was quietly brewing underneath all the money, boredom, glitz and glamour.
The first public rally called "Marsh Nesoglasnikh" (Dissenters' March) was arranged in Moscow on December 16th, 2006 and led to a series of similar protests in different Russian cities in the next few years. Russian musicians soon started to participate in Dissenters' Marchesб performing short sets on stage.
Mikhail Borzykin from Televizor (TV set) band participated in Dissenters' March in St. Petersburg in 2008, performing "Zakolotite podval" (Shut down the basement) - a song against alleged criminals in the Russian government and their supposed links to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Televizor's Mikhail Borzykin performs during the Dissenters' March on 03.03.2008
Another highly publicized series of rallies at the end of 2000's was linked to the long-standing conflict around Khimki forest, which has been partly chopped down to make way for a new government-funded road from the capital to St. Petersburg.
On August 22, 2010 a concert in support of Khimki Forest was planned at Pushkin Square in central Moscow. Police forces, however, didn't allow its organizers to use sound reinforcement equipment that led to a big scandal, because many musicians wanted to perform at this concert.
It has all ended up with spontaneous performances by Yury Shevchuk, Russian veteran rock star and Kremlin critic, and Barto rock band.
After their performance criminal charges were brought against Barto, because one of the lines in their song "Gotov" (Ready) was considered to be an example of extremism under Russia's Criminal Code.
Protest gig on Pushkinskaya Square
Barto - Ready
When the 2010's arrived, protest songs became an integral part of various rallies across Russia. Not every protest can be accompanied with a music performance due to technical or organizational difficulties, but such possibility always remains.
In the 1980's a new Russian rock style emerged. Musicians in their twenties recorded their own tunes, which sounded like Western rock, punk, blues, new wave and electronic music, using Russian language as a main expression tool.
Looking back at protest songs of the 1980's we can distinguish a Leningrad-based group called Televizor (TV set) and its leader Mikhail Borzikin, whose songs were very different from those of other Soviet underground bands.
The band soon faced problems with Soviet censorship, because some of their songs were not "zalitovany" (didn't get censorship clearance). Televizor performed those songs through thick and thin, which led to a 6-month ban from live shows in the Leningrad Rock Club.
Televizor - Get beyond control
It's worth mentioning that the band faced all these problems with censorship during Gorbachev's Perestroika that declared greater freedom and openness in the Soviet society. It illustrates that civil liberties and freedom of expression were allowed in the USSR only to a certain degree. Another song by Televizor, which was written in the 1980's and created a lot of controversy, was called "Your father is a fascist".
Everybody understood that it targeted Soviet bureaucrats and communist nomenclature, regardless of what they said about democratization and freedom during Perestroika. Due to protest flavor in their songs Televizor's clips have never been shown on TV or aired on radio, either in the Soviet Union or in today's Russia.
Mikhail Borzykin and Televizor - Your dead is a fascist
The largest rally in recent years happened in Moscow on December 24, 2011 in an echo of the disputed parliamentary election. By some tallies, there were more than 3,000 complaints of voting violations - from "carousel voting," in which the same people cast ballots at multiple locations, and "centralized voting," in which managers of various organizations pressure employees to vote for a specific candidate.
According to unofficial estimates, over 120 thousand people attended the rally, which included live performances from various musicians mixed up with political speeches.
Alexey Kortnev - Sasha walked down the road sucking a dried biscuit
The nature of modern Russian protest songs is very eclectic. Some of them may be inspired by a certain event. For example, a highly publicized fatal car accident involving LUKoil Vice-President Anatoly Barkov.
The February 2010 car crash on Moscow's Leninsky Prospekt killed two doctors - Vera Sidelnikova and her daughter-in-law, Olga Alexandrina. The accident sparked widespread public outrage, mostly because of alleged police cover-up. An investigation was opened only two days after the accident.
The videotape from surveillance cameras lining Leninsky Prospekt, which should record events on Gagarin Square at the time of the crash, disappeared. Renowned Russian rapper Ivan Alexeyev, aka Noise MC, posted a protest song called "Mercedes S 666" and video on the Internet condemning Barkov.
Noize MC - Mercedes S666
Prior to presidential election in March 2012 Alexey Navalny, the face of Russian opposition politics, announced a contest to create a music video about upcoming voting.
Rabfaq group became a winner of the competition with a humorous song called "Our madhouse votes for Putin". The band also performed live at various rallies.
Rabfak - Our madhouse votes for Putin
Hip-hop artist Vasya Oblomov writes smart tunes, full of criticism of the current system, using various techniques and incorporating different elements - from jail songs to a light comedy. In his songs Oblomov sometimes makes critical remarks about Putin, such as, for example, in a tune called "VVP", a Russian abbreviation which is both the Russian term for GDP and the Russian premier's initials.
The video also features two well-known Russian TV personalities - Leonid Parfyonov and Ksenia Sobchak.
Vasya Oblomov, Ksenia Sobchak, Leonid Parfenov - VVP
Russian Airborne Troops (VDV) veterans formed a music group called "VDVshniki" in order to perform protest songs. It was very unusual, because ordinary Russians took as read that the military always took side of the government, which paid their salaries. However, it's not a case of this group, which called Russian President to stop lying and destroying the country, and to leave his post in a song "Nobody but Us".
VDV (airborne) veterans against Putin - Nobody but Us
Punk rock band Louna wrote its own manifesto, calling young musicians to wake up because "Time X has come - to replace a criminal kingdom of the 1990's and moral ruins of 2000's with angry and active 2010's". Louna performed at 'March of millions' in Moscow in June 2012.
Louna - If not us - who?. Live 12.06.2012 March of millions
Over the last few years more and more anti-US and anti-Western rhetoric can be heard in various state-controlled media outlets. From numerous TV shows, reminiscent to Soviet propaganda during the Cold War, to brand new laws that bans American families from adopting Russian orphans.
Opposition activists consider all these as an attempt to distract public attention from large-scale theft of state property by officials and make Russians blame the USA for their problems.
EzhoFF Band, St. Peterburg-based group, has protested against ongoing anti-American propaganda in Russian official media with the song called "The United States of America".
EzhoFF Band - The United States of America
There are much more protest musicians in Russia today. In the Internet era they can make their voices heard even without appearances on state-controlled TV channels and radio stations. More and more protest voices can be heard in Russia today sending a clear message to the current system - "It's time to go!" and "We want changes!"


text:
I bought this at the Bridal Centre and it is such a beautiful dress. The color is ivory. It fits your body really well hugging all your curves and then flares out at the bottom in these beautiful ruffles that are not too-in-your-face. Everyone loved my dress.
- Alterations: I made no alterations except that I had breast cups put in and I had a bustle added. I also added a belt which works really well with the dress.
- Preservation Method: I just got married and it is in great condition. It is currently hanging in my closet. I would keep it but we live in an apartment and I really think that such a beautiful dress deserves another party!
- Terms of Sale: All Sales Final
- Original Owner: Yes
- Has Original Receipt: Yes
- Location: calgary, AB
- Will Ship to: Anywhere at Buyer Expense
- Payment Methods Accepted: Other
Please read our BUYER'S GUIDE before purchasing a dress online.


text:
May 30, 2014
DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU Mustangs women's soccer team has announced the hiring of Mat Cosgriff as assistant coach. Cosgriff boasts 12 years of experience as an assistant coach across stints with Washington State, South Carolina and Maine.
"Mat brings a great deal of experience and a wealth of knowledge with him to SMU," SMU head coach Chris Petrucelli said. "He is one of the top goalkeeper trainers in the country and a proven recruiter. His impact on our program will be felt immediately."
Cosgriff was an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach at Washington State from 2012-14. During his tenure, he helped the development of one Pac-12 Player of the Year and six Pac-12 all-conference selections. In 2013, Washington State was seventh nationally in both goals allowed and goals against average and sixth in the nation in shutouts. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both 2012 and 2013. His athletes excelled both on and off the pitch, as 21 Cougars earned Pac-12 all-academic honors and the teams averaged a 3.23 GPA.
Cosgriff was an assistant at South Carolina from 2003-11, where he worked with goalkeepers and assisted in all aspects of the program. He mentored the careers of three of the top seven goalkeepers for goals against average in Southeastern Conference history. For three-straight seasons (2009-11), South Carolina had the SEC's top defensive unit and Cosgriff's goalkeepers own the top-five goals against averages in Gamecocks' history. South Carolina participated in the NCAA Championship each of the last-five seasons Cosgriff was on staff. The Gamecocks won the 2009 SEC Tournament title and advanced to the sweet 16, and the 2011 squad won the SEC regular season crown.
Prior to South Carolina, Cosgriff was an assistant coach for the men's soccer team at Maine, his alma mater, from 2002-03. He graduated (2002) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology
A native of Lebanon, N.H., Cosgriff played for the Vermont Voltage of the Premier Development League from 2000-01 He also played at Maine for four years, starting at goalkeeper and serving as team captain.


text:
Web exclusives from the June 2016 issue
The "Web exclusive" section offers additional editorial and images related to articles available in Professional Roofing's print version and on its website. This section provides a valuable supplement to information in this issue. Web-exclusive information is updated monthly and is available only online.
Click here to view archived Web exclusives from previous issues.
Click here to view archived Web exclusives from previous issues.
Links to PIMA's performance bulletin and NRCA's Industry Issue Update
Insurance Information Institute: Hailstorms
AFL-CIO report: Latino deaths in the construction industry


text:
The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and people are out buying presents for friends and family. In many cases that includes the household pets.
Slightly less than half — 48.7 percent — of the homes in San Diego County own a pet, with 19.4 percent having a cat, 18.5 percent a dog and 10.8 percent both.
And, based on estimates for this year, about half of the pets will find something under the tree this year.
"We've already seen that pet owners reward their pets and purchase holiday gifts for them in even the toughest of economic times," said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association. "With retailers and researchers expecting the holiday shopping season to be even better than last year, we have positive expectations for the pet industry."
Dogs seem to come out the best during the holidays. The association's survey finds 53 percent of dog owners will buy a gift for their pet while only 38 percent of cat owners will get something special for their pet.
Unlike other retailers at this time of the year, the association reports, half of the pet retail leaders surveyed said they "expect to achieve higher sales without the deep discounting strategies they employed during the 2011 holiday shopping season."
Unlike traditional gift giving, in which consumers are often scaling back their spending, 78 percent of pet owners say they will match last year's spending, and 13 percent say they plan to spend more.
Overall, pet spending in 2012 is expected to reach $53 billion, with food products being the biggest expenditure. But one of the fastest-growing expenditures for pet owners is health insurance to deal with the rising cost of veterinary care. It is estimated families will spend $13.6 billion on the care of their animals.
"Too many pet owners do not have a financial safety net for the unexpected injury or illness," said Bernadine Cruz, formerly of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. "This can place the veterinarian and the pet owner in an excruciating position of limiting or choosing economic euthanasia of a beloved pet, rather than the treatment."
Most pet owners spend around $200 a year on health care for the animals, but many pets, like humans, develop cancer or other serious illnesses that come with extensive surgery and big price tags.
Bottom line, spending on pets represents about 1 percent of the overall $586 billion the National Retail Federation expects consumers to ring up this holiday season. But, for many households, it is the most important part of holiday shopping and giving.
Comments are moderated by SDDT, in accordance with the SDDT Comment Policy, and may not appear on this commentary until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting. Also, due to the volume of comments we receive, not all comments will be posted.
SDDT Comment Policy: SDDT encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give SDDT the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. SDDT Privacy Statement.
All contents herein copyright San Diego Source ® 1994-2016


text:
It is rare for a seasoned beer drinker to find a beer that can be described as "perfect." This is a word that one is hesitant to throw around too liberally lest it lose its impact. I'm certainly not here to proclaim the Mole Temptress perfect... but its predecessor might have been.
Lakewood Brewing's Temptress, their flagship sweet stout with the 9% ABV kick, has proven itself remarkably versatile as a base for a variety of flavor additions. It has been aged in bourbon barrels and at various times served with infusions of mint, vanilla, chicory, raspberries and now the traditional Mexican blend of mole spices. To me (admittedly, a big Mexican food and mole fan to begin with) this is the flavoring for which the Temptress was destined from the start.
The Mole Temptress made her first appearance last fall as a small-batch release to just a few Dallas-area locations. It was served in a firkin (a quarter-barrel container) and primed with yeast instead of CO2, which left it just a little undercarbonated compared to regular draft beers. It was filled with cocoa, spicy dark chocolate flavors, cinnamon, light on the sweetness and almost dry in the balance. The smokey dried chile flavors came through beautifully without overpowering the other spices with a very light heat arising in the back of the throat as you sipped a glass. Other than its low carbonation from the serving style, it was utterly flawless.
I am assured by the brewery that the current release of the Mole Temptress is the same recipe as before, containing four chile additions (ancho, chipotle, guajilo and pasilla) along with vanilla, cinnamon and local chocolate from Dude, Sweet Chocolate. But scaling beers to full production-sized batches can be tricky even for the best of brewers as flavor components do not always increase linearly with ingredient portions. I fear some subtle element this year has been lost along the process.
The current Mole Temptress is undoubtedly a great and unique beer but it hasn't yet reclaimed its original perfection. Sipping the most recent iteration, the spices dominated with plenty of cinnamon, cocoa and vanilla up front, so much so that it was more winter warmer than cerveza mexicana. The chile flavors are present but overwhelmed by the other spices which drown out the subtle smoke and char of the dried chiles that made this beer classic. There was barely any perceptible buildup of heat, even after a couple of pints. What was once a symphony of tastes has become a collection of elements that, although still premium, have lost a little harmony.
However, the concept remains golden and will surely be successful, just not yet again perfect. Here's hoping the Lakewood crew can continue to hone the recipe for years to come and make me adore this beer once again.
Availability: Currently released throughout Dallas and Fort Worth at better beer bars, draft only. A bottled version is expected next year.


text:
May 8, 2013
This past week, senior javelin thrower Jordin Seekins, a featured UW athlete on Twitter, retweeted a post from NBA star and former Husky Nate Robinson that said simply "Heart Over Height". Seekins could obviously relate. Short but strong, she might not be able to dunk a basketball, but she can chuck a javelin half of a football field. Seekins, a native of Washougal, Wash. down near the Oregon border, has improved every year and climbed to No. 6 on the school's top-10 list with her career-best 151-foot, 3-inch throw in her last competition. She'll be heading to her final Pac-12 Championships this weekend and then head to a third straight NCAA West Prelims for a chance at the national finals, which would likely require another career-best throw Seekins knows she has in her. She talked to GoHuskies this week in-between practice and weights about her Husky career, taking a victory lap at Hayward Field, and ignoring her Dad's advice.
GoHuskies.com: So after training on it for a while now and competing once, what is your review of the new outdoor track?
Jordin Seekins: I like it; it's nice to train on your own track for once. After last year, having to drive to West Seattle, this is so much nicer. Training with everybody at the same time makes it a lot better, too.
GH: Has it brought the team as a whole together more?
JS: I think everybody gets along really well. The long distance girls actually are ones I've bonded with more this year. Katie Flood and I have gotten to know each other more this year, and Baylee Mires and I have always had a connection because our dads both went to Eastern. The vibe on the team this year has been good, I really enjoy everybody's company.
GH: You've had your last home meet now and Pac-12s are here again. Has it hit you that you're almost done?
JS: I think after the Dual I was like, "Oh no, I have just two meets left, and hopefully a third," so yeah it feels crazy. I couldn't have asked for a better senior season. I couldn't have planned it better. Coming up to Pac-12s and West Region and planning to peak for those meets, so hopefully it all goes according to plan.
GH: You've been close to scoring at Pac-12s, so what would that mean to you this weekend?
JS: At the Dual I kind of learned my lesson about getting too worked up. I'm getting better at being able to relax and feel my body more and feel the positions. Top-three at Pac-12s has been my goal since that started to seem like it could be a reality, and that's a pretty huge goal. I just have to try and keep my head on straight when it comes down to crunch time. I'm glad to be going back to USC. I know what the weather is like at certain times of the day and what's going to happen.
This program pretty much shaped me into who I am and who I probably will be for the rest of my life so I've been really lucky to be here.
GH: It seems like the javelin is one event where throws can really fluctuate from one to the next. What makes it so tough to get just right?
JS: It's complicated because sometimes certain body parts just don't want to work. Your hips have to work at the same time as your arm, and sometimes if you're not staying closed ... javelin throwers know what I'm talking about but you've got to get the biggest pull as possible. It's like a rubber band being stretched to its extreme, and the farther you stretch it, the farther you're going to throw, that's an analogy that a lot of coaches use in the beginning of their careers. But if a certain part's not working you can't get that stretch.
GH: So how are you feeling physically heading into these next couple meets?
JS: I feel really good right now. I haven't had a chronic injury this year so that's been really good. I've been staying relatively healthy, like my shoulder tendonitis was a big problem in the past, and my back was a problem last year, but this year everything's been working out well, and that's a big reason why I've been PRing. And just having more body awareness I think has been the biggest change.
GH: You've probably heard it a thousand times, but most people probably wouldn't think you're a successful javelin thrower based on your height.
JS: Yeah, I think people are always surprised when they see me throw, or even just standing out in the field. But in high school it was the exact same thing, like I haven't changed height since I was like 15. So I put it out of my mind, and I don't realize how short I am until I see a picture and suddenly realize, "Oh gosh I'm really small," but that's never been a huge factor. I just train my butt off and try to equalize myself with the people that are bigger than me.
GH: How much is pure strength and then how much is technique?
JS: Most of it is technique. You can be the biggest girl out in the field but if you have awful technique it's not going to go anywhere. So working on my technique over the last couple years, and working on my speed and rhythm, that's what's important for me because if I'm not going to be big I had better be technical.
GH: What first led you to pick up a javelin?
JS: I was a softball player when I was little, and then once high school came around I had to choose between softball and track. And track has always been kind of a family sport; my grandfather ran track in college, and my dad and mom both ran track. They were all runners, so that's the funny story. You were required to try a field event so I just tried javelin, and so I was doing okay my freshman year, and I think I hit 114 feet, nothing big, and my dad was saying, "You need to give up javelin, you need to be running, you'd be a better sprinter" which was not the case at all! So I kept with the javelin and got steadily better and senior year I hit a big one which got me here. I joked with him, "Dad, remember that time you told me to quit javelin?" and he said, "yeah, okay..."
GH: Was Washington always on your list of schools?
JS: I've always been a Washington fan since I was born. I thought it would be cool to go here, but then in high school I wasn't so sure anymore because I was a small town kid, so going to a big city didn't really appeal to me. I was all set to go to a small private school in Oregon, but then I started getting more offers for javelin. I got some advice from one of the teachers who actually used to be a professional hammer thrower, and he told me that I needed to take these offers really seriously. (Former Assistant Coach) Reedus had contacted him and so I just said "well, why not? I'll go to Washington, that'll be fun!"
GH: Are your parents able to see you compete a lot?
JS: Oh yeah, since me and my sister are out of the house, both my parents have traveled a lot, they went to Stanford and Oregon this year. They go to indoor meets even though I don't even compete (laughs). But they love to see me compete and I'm really glad to have them support me in all this.
GH: After four years is it harder or easier to do all the practicing and weight lifting and the daily grind?
JS: I like it more every day. It used to be more of a pain but now I revolve my whole day around practice, which is kind of weird because soon it's going to come to an end. But the more my career has gone on, the more I've just fallen in love with training and the sport itself.
GH: Do you know what you're hoping to do after college?
JS: I think I'll hopefully be having a physically challenging job. I applied to be a forest firefighter. So if that works out then great, and if not I'll have to find something else, but I should find out in the next week or two if that's going to happen. I think that would be a really fun job. I was thinking of what to do with my life, and I didn't really know, but I tried the Forest Service and looked at some of their areas. The fire service is pretty general and they like young people to do it. I've also talked with my Dad about the Air Force, so either way probably something physically challenging. And I could get more schooling done at the Air Force, which I think I need, to be more specialized.
GH: What will you be getting your degree in?
JS: American Indian Studies. People always give me the funniest look when I say that, because "What are you going to do with that?" But I just thought it was a really interesting topic, and I liked studying it so I stayed with it.
GH: You and Ally (Mueller) are the only upperclassmen in the women's throws group, so as a captain how much falls on you to help out the freshmen?
JS: I try to give as much advice as possible to them, because they've never really been in these situations before. I try to be really encouraging, but also realistic with them as well. We can be a good team, but we're not there yet. They had a few struggles but I don't think it's going to last for long. In the future I think these girls will be part of a really good throws group. They're learning what it takes to contribute and just kind of figuring out what you're good at is what college is all about after all.
GH: What do you think you'll miss the most about the student-athlete life?
JS: Probably just my teammates. We've all been really close the last couple years, especially the javelin seniors: me, Ally, Joe (Zimmerman) and Jimmy (Brookman). I love those people, they're the best part of my day. So that's what I'll miss the most. But I'm going to be involved with this program for as long as I live. I will always be a supporter, and of course I'll be a donor when I get any money to donate (laughs). This program pretty much shaped me into who I am and who I probably will be for the rest of my life so I've been really lucky to be here.
GH: What have been some of your favorite memories from competition?
JS: This year, winning Pepsi was really fun. For a while I was down on myself because I scratched a huge throw. But I got over it and I was like "Yeah, that was really cool." I can say that I took a victory lap at Hayward Field, which not a lot of people can say. Many Olympians have done that so I think that's really cool. Competing at the Dual Meet, I always loved it. I always get fired up competing against the Cougs. Even though I came in second to Anna, and we've been competing against each other for like six years, since we were in high school. But I think we make each other better because we don't want to lose to each other. But I think getting that PR to get momentum into championship season was really positive.
GH: And hopefully the best is yet to come!
JS: I hope so, too.


text:
TC TO JANE WELSH CARLYLE ; 26 July 1856; DOI: 10.1215/lt-18560726-TC-JWC-01; CL 31: 133-134
Scotsbrig Saturday 26 july / 1856—
Alas, my poor little dear, there are no clogs for you: I had buoyed myself up almost into a certainty that I should find the Article at Mackie's; but the answer was No, "sure to be noticed, Sir, if they had been left!"1 So we must bid goodb'ye to the Sedlitz Powders2 too;—and take our losses handsomely. — — I got my Purse changed; rather, I confess, from moral considerations ultimately, for I do not think the new fellow is an improvement, tho' he cost me 6d more; but I could not bear to be beaten by such a thing. This, and the futile Mackie, was all I did in Edinr. There was no refresht room at the station, or I would have tried to eat something during the half hour I had: I smoked a cigar instead, and went on towards Scotsbrig for my next repast after the substantial breakfast Fife had given me.3
The day and evening were altogether of the brightest kind of weather: I was not crowded, or annoyed with bad air or otherwise, in my vehicle; and from Elvanfoot4 I had it altogether to myself, and freedom to smoke; on the whole it was a mournful, but clear decent, and not unpleasant ride. At half past nine, Jamie and his gig received me with the old honest welcome; Isabella had excellent tea and refection ready in an incredibly short time: a new long pipe even was discovered for me;—and all went well as it could have done in a mood so sad as mine naturally was. Alas, the very place where I lay down to sleep,—the last scene I had seen in that same room—5 But there was no wisdom in yielding to such thoughts. It is on death that all life has been appointed to stand for its brief season, and none of us can escape the Law. There is a certain solemn consolation which reconciles me to almost everything, in the thought that I am myself now fairly old, and that all the confusions of life, whether of this colour or that are soon about to sink into nothing (flat nothing) and only the soul of one's work (if one did any that had a soul) can be expected to survive.
I woke a couple or more of hours in the night; but in return fell sound asleep from 7 to past 10! After which, with bathing, with excellt coffee &c, I am really in a very fair way. I do not think there is, for the essentials of human comfort, a better lodging in the world than this wd be for me or for you. Here it is for you at all times and to any length you like. Remember that always in your schemings and plannings.— Out of mere vis inertiae [force of inertia] I continue here till tomorrow, when (smuggling the trunk, or not) Jamie will take me to the Gill. I will write in about 3 days. All good be with my dear Goody, and regards to the kind cousins every one.
T. Carlyle


text:
21 posts tagged with toys and nostalgia.
Displaying 1 through 21 of 21. Subscribe:
And his consort, Tyrannosaurus Bathory
Here's Dinosaur Dracula, a pop culture retro nostalgia site from the guys who formerly brought us X-Entertainment (currently "down for repairs"), the subject of many many MeFi posts. Some pages of interest:
- TV Guide listings for Halloween 1990
- Excerpts from the 1989, 1992, 1998 and 1999 Sears Wish Books.
- Comic Book Ads.
- The Masters of the Universe Slime Pit, which had great instructions, and the sliming of Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart. There's more....
Stinkor. The He-Man Canonical villan who still stinks
Almost 30 years after original sale, some 80's toys are sought after for their less than pleasant odour. If you can get hold of one today, you'll discover that the He-Man villains Stinkor and Moss Man still cling to their particular [pungent] aroma. [more inside]
Ghost of Christmas Past? Pac Man just ate her.
Electronic Toys From Holidays Long Past (274 picture SL imgur gallery)
Vroom, Vroom: Boys and their Toys
Mattel's Hot Wheels for Real campaign documents "the existence of a testing facility 'hidden for 43 years,' where all sorts of bad-ass driving happens on huge Hot Wheels tracks." Their first real world stunt: a Guinness world record 332 ft. jump off a giant orange track at this year's Indy 500.
It's art by artists who thought of themselves not as artists . . .
You may not be familiar with the name Mel Birnkrant, but if you've played with toys in the last 45 years, you're probably familiar with his work. [more inside]
I'm Remembering
I'm Remembering has pics of things that people aged 30-40 will remember from their childhood and adolescence. Who could forget Tiger Handheld games, Hypercolor shirts, Paint With Water books, Surge soda, Scholastic Book Club, Slice cola, Madballs, Ring Pops, and, last but not least, Zack Morris's cellphone?
Little Green Men
Play, what you experience daily
Playmobil Online Archiv - Playmobils archive of every toy they've ever produced, from it's start in 1974 onwards. It's only available in German, but even non-German speakers can appreciate gems like this awesome tiger tamer or these Mexican bandits, odd anachronisms like the chimney sweep or the figures for recreating the American civil war. [more inside]
Pre-Videogame Era Toys
Before there were videogames, growing up in England in the late 1960s though the 70's we had Action Transfers. The Letraset company branched off its division of hand set rub-on transfer fonts into full blown action scenes, with Cowboys & Indians, famous historical battles, Vikings, natural disasters & more. This collector has dozens of sets, scanned in high resolution & never used.
TV Cream's Top 100 Toys
Ivan Meets GI Joe
Retro toys: I remember using the garden hose to frantically try and dissolve that pink shit. We eventually cleaned the knife, but I remember big blobs of it still on the ground with ants stuck in it. We ended up keep Stretch's head as a trophy.
People reminisce about their old toys. Mostly about topics like how they tortured GI Joe, made mrs. beasley look like a victim of domestic violence, and knew that Steve Scout was living an alternative lifestyle. Not every memory's a gem, but some are a real laugh.
People reminisce about their old toys. Mostly about topics like how they tortured GI Joe, made mrs. beasley look like a victim of domestic violence, and knew that Steve Scout was living an alternative lifestyle. Not every memory's a gem, but some are a real laugh.
Things I Wanted for Christmas in '78
Toy Ads. Nostalgic for that old Hot Wheels tune up tower you never received as child? Can't recall the name of that one eyed doll your weird aunt gave you for your birthday? Toyadz.com has all the ads that made you drool when you were nine.
Enough womd!
Let's talk about childhood toys. A wander down memory lane, past care-bears and etch-a-sketches and barrel-o-monkeys. Warning: this site resulted in the bidding up of auctions for Weebles "Tree House" action sets. I'd forgotten how marvelously upright they remained until I whipped their little egg-like bodies out of a second-story window onto concrete. What was your favorite childhood toy? Do you still have it, or do you have the sudden need to re-acquire it?
War Criminal dolls
G.I. Joe is a Real American Hero. Now you can get some new guys for him to fight against.
What did kids play with before this came along? Beautiful metal ray-guns like these. This site has a lot of history, and here are some books about these fantastic toys from a long-gone age. Want to start a collection? Be prepared to pay.
M.U.S.C.L.E. Revisited.
M.U.S.C.L.E. Revisited. I used to collect all of these pink plastic wrestling figures and now i-mockery has finished the big task of giving names and profiles to all of the original figures. 233 to be exact. Great retro memories for me on this one. Some really bizarre (ie: "Klondular the Barnacle Muncher "), yet extremely funny descriptions for some of these figures. There's also a Mr. Blocky tribute in there. I always hated him though since he made one of the prongs in my ring snap off. He was just too fat.
Skeletor and Gang:
Skeletor and Gang: What is it about the combination of stop-motion animation, He-Man action figures, and sped-up heavy metal that makes me laugh until I hurt? "Skeletor, Mantenna and Grizzlor are having a party! Oh no! Moss-Man attacks! Defend us Squeeze!"
During my day's aimless surfing I was feeling a mite wistful, and it did my heart a load of good to stumble on the internet home of Funny Face mugs. I also found the Mr. Men and Little Miss Club. Both of these bits of pop culture were objects of devotion to me as a tyke. Looking at the sweet simplicity of the products today, it amazes me how easy it was to invest plastic mugs and simple line drawings with meaning and personality. I wish there was a place for them in today's Kiddie Kulture which seems to be about filling in all the blanks before the kids get to use there imaginations.
I can't believe no one has posted this... but if I had a cool ten-grand, this set of Generation One Transformers would definitely be mine.
Nostalgic time-wasting.
Nostalgic time-wasting. Anyone else getting misty-eyed?
I found these FUTURE JOES
I found these FUTURE JOES (GI Joe 2010 series) while following a link from Rebecca Blood's site for the Navajo Code Talker GI Joes. Perhaps it's showing my age, but I really want one. Of course, I also want some of the Nisei soldiers so that I can reenact those POW camp scenarios that I used to subject my GI Joe to as a kid. I know where the bodies are buried. Hey, how come The Grim Reaper Site didn't have questions about GI Joe? Was your GI Joe a) home on leave when you were concieved b) 12" c) 12" with lifelike hair and beard and realistic scar d) 12" with Kung Fu Grip e) really an Action Man f) a little pussy 3" action figure g) $50 and from the "Collectible Collection"? h) dolls are for girls.
Page: 1


text:
Largest Hump Day Party Around!!Tonight!!
3147 State Rt 44
Rootstown, OHIO
Click For A Map
Follow us on Twitter * Like us on Facebook *
Hump Day Party!!
This Friday w/ Ken Steel
Next Saturday Night!!
Ride in Sundays from 12 - 7 pm!
Live & Local Saturday Nights
Thank You!!
Come celebrate with the Dusty
Armadillo! We have
We do it all and we do it right,
so if you're having a party or planning a party let
us help make it one unforgettable night! Log on to
Party Central to book your party today.
Welcome to the Dusty Armadillo, one of Ohio's
largest country dance clubs.
Originally built in the 1920's, our 5,000 square
foot, solid maple dance floor is perfect for line
dancing, two stepping, east & west coast swings or
just grabbing a partner for a slow dance. The
Dusty is host to many of the talented local and
regional country bands, performing on the Armadillo
stage, as well as national acts and up-and-coming
Dance lessons are offered several nights a week in
our friendly atmosphere. You can learn a
variety of dances or just hang around and enjoy the
country music.
So, grab your friends and come as you are to The
Place Country Comes To.
See you soon...
Please Join our Event Mailing List to the Right -
Thank You
2: Stop in at the club
3: On-line here
Click here for local hotels
The Dusty Armadillo Promotions team wants to
keep you informed of all the things we do.
Enter your e-mail below to receive our
newsletter and specials discounts from time
to time
The Armadillo is everywhere!
Send us your pictures -
Famous People or Places w/ the Armadillo


text:
I want to hook into the media upload function and prefix file names with a timestamp. We're uploading a lot of stuff within a month, so we can't rely on the directory structure, and we're also dealing with a bunch of teenagers, so I'm looking for a step around the user.
Anyone have a solution?


text:
PHOTO! Here is a picture of Cindy Mort (aka Cynthia Mort); did Cindy Mort leave Jodie Foster for Amanda Demme (Ted Demme's window) after Cydney Bernard was allegedly left by Foster for Mort? And Lindsay Lohan – does she fit into this story?
Yes, get your pencil and paper out because you need a flow chart to follow what the Enquirer is now claiming. In 2008, the same publication claimed the following:
"The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively that the Oscar winner's new love is brunette Cindy Mort, a producer and screenwriter she met on the set of her 2007 film The Brave One."
Foster reportedly had 14 year relationship with Bernard.
Now the Enquirer is back claiming the following new allegations:
"As The ENQUIRER revealed in June 2008, the Silence of the Lambs star fell for a new girlfriend – and abruptly dropped Cydney Bernard, her devoted live-in love of 14 years.
"The two-time Oscar winner had met her new romantic interest, writer-producer Cindy Mort, while filming The Brave One in 2006.
"But now in a classic case of what goes around comes around, Cindy has reignited a romance with a previous gal pal, Amanda Demme, The ENQUIRER has learned.
"Amanda is a well-known Hollywood club promoter and the widow of film director Ted Demme. She's also been romantically linked to Lindsay Lohan."
No comment by Mort or Foster to the report. You decide.


text:
Raposa wins gold at WEF
Feb. 8, 2013
WELLINGTON, Fla. (SMU) - SMU freshman Schaefer Raposa was the champion of the 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Friday.
"Coach Burton and I knew Schaefer had the skill and mental toughness to be in the winners circle tonight," head coach Haley Schoolfield said. "We are thrilled with how she represented SMU throughout the day in Wellington and we know this is just the beginning of a very bright future for Schaefer. We would also like to thank WEF and Jill Townsend for providing a great venue and horses to showcase our sport."
Raposa defeated Santana Wright (No. 9 South Dakota State) in the first round of equitation over fences 90-0, earning the high point award in the process. She then edged No. 2 Auburn's Jennifer Waxman 85-74 and Kimberly Hewson Budnik (Fresno State) 89-86 to make it to the championship round. She beat Samantha Schaefer (No. 6 Baylor) 92-87 to bring home the gold. Raposa is now 8-1 in equitation over fences this season.
Raposa and the No. 10 Mustangs will begin their spring season when they host LSU on Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. at BuckBranch Farm.


text:
Everything that starts from at least two elements towards an infinite number of elements has the opposability characteristic. The big difference consists of the fact that, in this opposability, starting from a higher level or from one equal to three elements and not to two, can define the concept of multivalent opposability in comparison to the singular opposability characteristic of the worlds which only have two cardinal elements, just like in the case of our world.
Sorin Cerin
Contributed by: norma
Are we people above animals because we strongly believe in this dream of our life that we are superior on this planet or are we simple insane people running towards death, living life as they were eternal?
If we didn't know the notion of past, we wouldn't know that of future either et despite all that we swim into the waves of the present without knowing if it really exists and how long it lasts. A second, a fraction of it, or it does not really exist the future becoming instantaneously past.
To define an opposite, it's necessary to have only one opposable element, and in the worlds where there are more than two opposable elements, the singularity of the opposable element in comparison with the other disappears, in the sense that Life wouldn't be unique anymore in its reference to Death, but she could have three more elements such as this one or resembling to it, but that would refer to Death as total opposites.
Copyright © 2016 Gaiam, Inc.


text:
Christian Book Outlet
"Your Guide to Types of Christian Books"
There are millions of readers of Christian literature; hence, these people are constantly on the lookout for new materials. After all, Christian books supplement their Bible reading. And when it comes to Christian books and Christian ebooks, there are good sources online. A good Christian book outlet can proivide you thousands of titles to choose from.
Before you grab your next bestseller, it is important to understand first the different types of Christian reading materials. After all, readers have different purposes. Some need guidance while others need information. For most, it's just pleasurable reading that can help them through the day.
Types of Christian Books
Here's a good guideline to use when choosing from the different types of Christian books online.
1. Pastoral books – Materials from this section are beneficial to pastors, lay ministers, and other church leaders. Books from this section includes leadership, stewardship, and management books with a solid foundation of Christian principles. Some books are also available as christian ebooks that can be easily downloaded upon purchase.
Workbooks for couples, christian leaders, as well as Sunday school teachers can also be found on this section.
2. Childrens books – From bedtime bible stories to coloring books, parents would surely find one that suits their children. Age appropriate book that not only teaches good values but enhances reading skills as well are contained in this section. Today, young children need more support when it comes to reading materials. The home should be stocked with books that form character. Every parent needs the right tools that can help them in value formation.
3. Christian Living – Christian books in this category range from prayer guides and devotionals to self-help books based on biblical principles. The books are available as christian ebooks, hardcover, or paperback. Books from various publishers like Zondervan, Faithwords, among others are available. Christian living books definitely enrich one's spiritual life as famous works from Wesley, Stanley, and other evangelists are showcased in these books.
4. Bibles – A must for every believer regardless of denomination. Versions like King James, NIV, NSV, NLT, and NASB are available. There are also Bibles for children as well as teens. For readers who find it hard to read small letters, large print Bibles are in stock. Surely, the elderly will appreciate such version as a gift. There are also special editions with cover leather that are perfect for special occasions.
5. Devotionals – Devotions are Key to our Christian walk
Have you ever wondered what it means in practice to fix your heart, mind, and your all on Christ? It means we respond to Him because He has apprehended our lives.. In our race in life and faith we stumble, get exhausted, fall back, and wonder if it is worth the effort. Having a regular time to get in the Word will help us build perseverance. In this way, we prepare for the practice of our trust and obedience, facing life and exercising faith in the midst of the obstacles and opportunities confronting us everyday. Devotions help us focus on Christ-who He is and what He did for us.
6. Christian ebooks – Individuals who are always on the go need not miss out reading christian books. They can simply download ebooks for instant access. Plus, ebooks are not only practical, they are also less costly. So whether you need bestsellers from Blackaby or christian living from Max Lucado, you can easily get a copy via download.
Finding Christian Books
These are just some of the books you can avail from a christian book outlet. Your walk in faith can be highly enriched by these books that nourish both heart and mind. No need to get out of your house to grab these reading materials. Just add to the cart and we'll take care of the shipping.


text:
Chicago Catholics, are you having trouble figuring out just what to do during Lent? Lent focuses on three major goals: prayer, fasting, and charity. Having written extensively about Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent during past Chicago Catholic Examiner columns, I opted to give up my "introduction to Lent" topics for Lent this year. But now Lent is upon us, and the question remains – what are we going to do about it?
Here's a humble suggestion from your Chicago Catholic Examiner: a recent article in the Catholic New World (the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago) was titled "Cold weather equals more requests for help". It noted how many Catholic agencies that serve the poor and homeless are being swamped this year, due the severe level of snow, ice, and cold winter we've experienced throughout the Chicago area. The City of Chicago's 311 help line typically receives between 3,000 and 4,000 calls a month, but received over 5,000 this January.
In short, emergency services program, food pantries, homeless shelters, clothing drives, and many other programs that assist the poor and needy are understaffed and in desperate need of help. A good example of this is a Catholic homeless shelter: the Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph Shelter, located at 2715 W. Harrison St. in Chicago. They are a non-profit organization that has been keeping their doors open 24 hours a day, so people can seek shelter from the periods of extremely cold weather in Chicago. Visitors to the shelter receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and case workers are available to meet with them during the day. Volunteers at the shelter also distribute warm clothing, including socks, hats, scarves and gloves. Often they need extra kitchen help and supervision. During February's unusually freezing cold spell (dropping to eight below zero), all 260 beds were filled, and the shelter had to pull out several emergency cots so people had a place to sleep. If there is no more room left, the Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph Shelter tries to find space for them at other nearby area shelters. The Franciscans also operate the Outreach's Marquard Center, located at 1645 W. LeMoyne St. in Chicago, which has a soup kitchen and laundry facilities for homeless people. It stays open all day as well, and outreach workers often go to sites where homeless people will congregate in order to encourage them to go to a shelter to stay safe in the winter weather.
It seems unlikely Chicago's endless winter is going away any time soon, so why not donate or volunteer to help out at a local Chicago area homeless shelter or soup kitchen? You can find out more about them at www.franoutreach.org or www.catholiccharities.net. Take to reflect and pray about what you can do to help out this Lenten season. I'm sure my faithful readers can find a place to volunteer that's right for them.


text:
Live updates
Train line reopens
The main railway line between Taunton and Exeter has finally reopened. The junction at Cowley Bridge had been closed by flood damage.
Flood-affected line to re-open 18 hours early
Network Rail says the Exeter to Taunton line, which had been hit by flooding at Cowley Bridge, will re-open at noon tomorrow, 18 hours earlier than anticipated. Train operators Cross Country and First Great Western have been advised that both up and down main lines will be available.


text:
France: Man faces preliminary manslaughter charge over death of Clement Meric
Post your comment
Comments on this article are now closed.
Reader comments
Four against one.
You have to admire straight men: they are just so tough.
I hope they get the maximum penalty though it still wont be enough for this cowardly crime.
In other reports it's said that Méric was part of a group that got into an altercation with the skinheads.
Apparently, he and the perpetrators were in a clothing shop in the 9th arrondissement when an altercation started. As this young man left the shop they followed him and started to physically attack him.
Make sure you know all the facts before making assumptions, Jake.
Perhaps not everyone has the time to surf the net checking out the validity of stories reported on PN. However, good to see you are doing other things on the computer Wingby and are coming to grips with that addiction of yours.
Cheer up mate. You might enjoy the rest of the day.
A youngman was hit with a knuckle-duster , in a four against one fight, and yes, the jugde considers that the kid with the bass object was just kidding, being a kid, and fortunately hit a freaking faggish kid to death, and yeah…
I feel insulted, and you name it… A gang of trouble-makers armed with whatever thay can grab and looking for a victim have no intention of hurting anyone!?
Good for this judge, hope you are happy Your Honour, they really did honour to your beleifs and sent a lovely, intelligent youngman to heaven.
Manif pour tous, right-wing politicians, and now the judiciary are sending a clear, powerful message: kill a fag, you will get away with it. We, the Judiciary, will say you had no intention whatever, they were frail, unmanly, and undeserving of life at all.
Congrats… Your Honour.
We have a distinction between manslaughter and murder for a reason. Fights break out on the streets any night of the week. Would you have everyone who hit anyone who subsequently died put away for murder? We would have very full jails.
You have to show intent to kill which in an unplanned street fight like this one is almost impossible. I don't defend at all what they have done and they should be punished. But they should be punished for what they did not for what you think they did. Ours and the French system are based on justice not vengeance. Systems based on vengeance can be found in the islamic world.
It is very tough on victims families, but isn't it more just for society to have this differentiation between unintended death and premeditated murder.
In addition I haven't been able to find any evidence that Méric was gay – or even, as far as this fight was concerned, that he was thought to be. If you can find anything, could you post a link? All I can find is that it was a row between anti- and neo-fascist groups.
Me neithet, especially in the French press. He was involved in a pro-equal marriage drmonstration. Does that automatically make him gay?
I was harangued at some length the other day for retweeting the Pink News story by Scott Roberts that Meric was a Gay Activist.
The tweeter in question was French and adamant that Meric wasn't a Gay Activist.
I eventually untweeted the story as it sounded like Pinke News had got it wrong.
Perhaps Scott and Pink News should comment…
These are preliminary charges, so the investigation could increase their level. France has had hate crime laws (which include sexual orientation) since 2003 that include an aggravated penalty for murder — 30 years becomes life imprisonment for a hate crime. Presumably even if the verdict is manslaughter, there will be an aggravated penalty for that too.
Ignore my previous post, there is no evidence that this was a hate crime, just a thuggish attack by the extreme right on an antifascist demonstrator, who may or may not have been gay. Of course, that hardly makes it any less appalling. The poor kid had only recently recovered from leukaemia as well.
It should be a murder charge, with the maximum penalty.
It's one thing to defend one's self and kill someone in the fracas, and quite another thing to arm one's self and go hunting for fights in a pack and kill someone in the fracas. I see no reason why killing someone for fun or in a drunken rage should bear any less penalty for killing them for money or in revenge or for any other reason. In other words, I believe that if you kill someone who wasn't a threat to you, you should go to jail for at least 25 years. Even if you just meant to break their jaw.
These comments are un-moderated and do not necessarily represent the views of PinkNews. If you believe that a comment is inappropriate or libellous, please contact us.
More like this
Most commented this week
- Gay actor Rupert Everett warns parents not to let kids have gender reassignment surgery 176
- UK votes to leave the European Union 165
- Man claiming to be Orlando shooter's gay ex-lover says he killed for 'revenge' 87
- In 1973, thirty people died in an attack on a US gay bar… and everyone laughed about it 73
- Spectator slammed for featuring 'dehumanising, degrading' transphobic cartoon 72
- Bar puts sign outside supporting Orlando victims, customer accuses owners of 'promoting homosexuality' 70
- Landlord orders out Church that celebrated Orlando massacre 55
- Homosexuality and Islam: What does the Qur'an actually say about gay people? 55
- Director claims Stonewall gay rights riots were a 'white event' 54
- This pastor told his congregation not to mourn Orlando victims, told Government to 'finish the job' 51


text:
London: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
Lonely Planet's new series of kids' travel guides, Not for Parents, introduces children aged 8-11 to the cities of London, New York, Paris and Rome by highlighting the most fascinating - creepy, gory, repulsive, quirky - facts about their people and places.
In the London guide, a whistlestop tour offers "everything you ever wanted to know" about the city, taking in the Underground, Banksy, the Great Fire of London and punk fashion along the way. It's a rollicking mix of photographs, illustrations, cartoons, maps and archive images, liberally sprinkled with pun-tastic speech bubbles (a head on a spike dolefully declares "people treat me like a nobody"; Drake announces to Queen Elizabeth I: "I've disocvered the potato!". She replies: "Thanks Drake, it's mashing!").
There's plenty here to keep the kids occupied - I particularly liked the "eye spy" introduction to the paintings of Hogarth - and also plenty to amuse adults. I had no idea for example, that the grave of a Roman girl was uncovered in the foundations of the Gherkin, nor that the Tube tunnels through plague pits - but then I'm not supposed to be reading this book...


text:
For nearly three decades Las Vegas has been home to the National Finals Rodeo, entertaining fans from all over the country as well as abroad. And it's not just the 10 days of intense rodeo competition – it's also the incredible entertainment outside of the arena that keeps people coming year in and year out.
2013 is no exception.
Check out this partial list of performers that can be found in and around the Las Vegas Strip during the National Finals Rodeo.
Shania Twain will be appearing at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for an extended engagement December 1-14 with ticket prices starting at $55.00.
Wynonna and The Big Noise inside the Orleans Showroom, Dec. 6-7. Tickets start at $74.95.
Dierks Bentley will play the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino on Dec. 6
The Golden Nugget presents some of country music's legendary singers starting with Dwight Yokam, who has a dozen gold albums and nine platinum or multi-platinum albums, taking the stage of the intimate 1000-seat Grand Event Center December 8 & 9.
Willie Nelson, who brings his six-decade career and 200 plus albums, performs Dec. 10-11. And then Country Music Outlaw Merle Haggard, who has 40 #1 hits to his credit, on Dec. 12-13.
Laugh until you cry with stars of the Blue Collar Comedy phenomenon starting with Bill Engvall, fresh off from his Dancing With The Stars appearance who takes the stage in the TI Theater on Dec. 6 and 13. The Mirage Las Vegas presents Ron White, the cigar smoking and scotch drinking funnyman Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14.
Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick host the American Country Awards Dec. 10 at the Mandalay Bay with performances by Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line and many more.
Click here for a complete list of the high caliber entertainment around the Las Vegas Valley during the 2013 National Finals Rodeo.
And be sure to check back every night for the latest information from every Round.


text:
The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots clash in their second preseason game on Aug. 15. The Eagles and Patriots are common preseason opponents and practice partners, and often get to meet in the regular season as well. Given that Philadelphia and New England also have a Super Bowl history as well, the Eagles have had to look up at the Patriots for quite a long time.
Of course, the Patriots haven't won a single Super Bowl since beating the Eagles in Jacksonville on February 2005. The chances of a Super Bowl rematch 10 years later appear slim, although New England has higher hopes to get there no matter who it plays. As for Philadelphia, winning a playoff game or two this year would be enough to take the next step in the Chip Kelly era, in hopes that it will eventually go as far as the Andy Reid/Donovan McNabb era -- and one step further.
The Eagles won't go that far if Nick Foles can't take the next step with them, or can't at least prove that his 27 touchdown, two interception campaign last season wasn't a fluke. The fact he threw two interception in one quarter alone against the Chicago Bears on Aug. 8 wasn't the best opening statement. Doing better against the Patriots would help Foles quiet any early concerns.
If Mark Sanchez outperforms him for the second straight game, however, it might raise a few eyebrows. Sanchez has to be particularly motivated to face his old rivals in the Patriots -- especially since his infamous "butt fumble" against them on Thanksgiving 2012 virtually ended his career with the New York Jets.
The Eagles' defense really needs to make more of a solid showing, after it failed to stop anyone from the Bears. Since Tom Brady doesn't get much preseason action, it may make things easier. Still, Brady may need to play at least a few series after sitting out last week against the Washington Redskins.
Once the Eagles and Patriots part ways, time will tell if New England sets the bar even higher for Philadelphia in another regular season, and beyond. Their preseason paths will cross first at 7:30 p.m. est at Foxboro.


text:
Carolina Journal Radio is a weekly, hourlong news and public affairs program broadcast on radio stations from the North Carolina mountains to the coast. It features interviews with John Locke Foundation experts and outside guests, including such luminaries as Kenneth Starr, P.J. O'Rourke, William Kristol, Steve Forbes, and John Stossel. Carolina Journal Radio also covers news briefings, lectures, public meetings, and other events ignored or downplayed by other media outlets.
To mark its 600th program, Carolina Journal Radio assembled a segment highlighting prominent activists, pundits, thinkers, and political leaders who've shared their insights with the program since its launch in 2003. Play audio below to hear that segment.
Access Carolina Journal Radio.