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Somerset football team shows it's playoff ready
It seems the WIAA playoffs bring out the best in the Somerset football team.
The Spartans played their sharpest, most mistake-free game of the season in their WIAA Division 4 playoff opener on Friday, muzzling Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 27-0.
The top-seeded Spartans will play at home again this Friday. The Spartans will host Bloomer, the fourth seed, at 7 p.m. The last game Bloomer played at Somerset produced one of the more memorable clashes on the Spartans' turf in many years. Somerset needed five overtimes to finally defeat Bloomer 20-14 in the second game of the 2011 season.
Friday's game will be the seventh time Somerset and Bloomer have played in the past four years. They also met in the playoffs last year, with Somerset winning 18-13 to advance to the state championship game.
Wrightstown, the team that defeated Somerset in last year's Division 4 state championship game, was one of the numerous upset victims in the first round of the state playoffs last weekend. Wrightstown, a third seed, was upset by Sturgeon Bay 21-7 last Friday.
Any worries about Somerset being upset were wiped out by the Somerset defense, which recorded its fourth home-field shutout of the season on Friday. The Spartans have surrendered seven points in their five home games this season.
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau came into Friday's game with an offense that has put up some impressive numbers this season. The Spartans shut down GET with some bone-rattling hitting.
"We were really physical on both sides of the ball," said Somerset coach Bruce Larson. "Our defense has played incredibly well all year."
Two of the Spartans who stood out on defense Friday were seniors Robbie Lang and Bobby LeRoy. Lang broke his wrist in the Spartans' final regular season game against Osceola. Lang got the wrist stabilized and wore a large pad around the wrist and hand, but was able to play the entire game at his cornerback position.
GET targeted LeRoy because of his smaller size. LeRoy proved again that he's a highly capable linebacker, intercepting one GET pass and knocking down three others.
"Bobby played great. He's done a great job all season," Larson said. "He plays with a lot of passion."
The Spartans limited GET to 144 yards of offense, 91 on the ground and 53 through the air. Somerset's offense was able to generate 333 yards, all on the ground.
The Spartan offensive line was able to create creases in the interior of the GET defense. Fullback Vern Breault and quarterback Tyler Ledbeter took full advantage, combining for more than 300 yards. Breault gained 200 yards on 20 carries, while Ledbeter finished with 105 yards on 13 tries.
Ledbeter scored Somerset's first touchdown, less than four minutes into the game. Ledbeter ran into congestion at the line, but the linemen kept driving and Ledbeter was able to shoot through an opening for the 40-yard run.
GET responded with its best drive of the night, utilizing leading rusher Erik Van Vleet in a number of ways. Van Vleet is a quick, talented back, but he took a merciless pounding from the Spartan defense. GET drove to the Spartan 5-yard line, but the Somerset defense came up with another goal line stand to prevent the Red Hawks from scoring.
The teams exchanged several punts before the Spartans could get another drive rolling late in the second quarter. A 72-yard run by Breault took the ball inside the GET 10. A few moments later Breault dove into the end zone, giving Somerset a 14-0 lead with 1:46 left in the half.
GET tried an onside kick to start the second half, but Somerset's Dallas Johnson recovered. Runs by Ledbeter and Breault set up Ledbeter's second score, a 19-yard dart through a hole created by the right side of the offensive line.
Breault did the bulk of the damage in Somerset's final scoring drive. The Spartans drove 81 yards, with runs of 26 and 48 yards by Breault getting the Spartans into scoring position. Ledbeter capped the drive, scoring on a seven-yard keeper around end for his third touchdown of the night.
The Spartans did not turn the ball over during the game and they were called for just two penalties. Those two areas have been the team's biggest obstacles this season. Larson said the Spartans will need to continue that trend to overcome Bloomer. The Blackhawks have won five straight games, causing Larson to say that Bloomer is nothing like the team the Spartans beat 24-13 in the opening game of the season.


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He pays his bills on time. He actually called last night to ask if he owed any more for sports. When I told the RESP money was due July 1st, he offered to send it early since he had it.
It makes me wish he put that kind of effort into our marriage. Things would have been different.
So I guess I have to remind myself on the days when I am not liking him so much, that he does have some redeaming qualities and things could be so much worse.
Just because he honors his financial commitments does not make him a nice guy
Nor should he be put on a pedestal for doing what's right and legal
WHOA! I never put him on any sort of pedestal, I think you are reading way too much into things.
I watch my friends who are single mom's struggle for every cent, and every visitation. I read stories here about ex WS' making their lives miserable when they separate or divorce.
What I am saying is that I am happy and willing to give him credit for being a man and fullfilling his requirements, and as I said before I wish he would have put the same dilligence and thought into our marriage.
It would be so easy for me to sit here and run him down for everything he has done, and give in to all my anger and bitterness. But I chose not to do that, I am choosing to focus on the positive. He is very far removed from perfect but at least he is trying for a change.
There are a lot of ways that a Ex can screw with you...money is a close first to emotionally screwing with you.
I am glad to hear that at least he can part with his money better then some of the other asshats that our SI'ers have to deal with.
In reality, he's probably doing it to make himself feel better--he can say to himself "I'm not such a jerk." Self-serving, and probably a KISA? Sounds like the X; he calls me like clockwork every month to tell me he's deposited the money he owes me in my account. He also helped me with my move. None of that negates his asshattery; I'll never forget him screaming that he'd move to Mexico before he'd pay me spousal support (after 30+ years of M and nursing him through 3 life-threatening incidents.) Bleh.
Breathe your sigh of relief, but never let your guard down.
Me: FBS (no longer betrayed nor a spouse)-62
Him: WXH-62
D-day: 2007 (two years before finding SI)
Is he on a nice guy pedestal? Hahaha... no. I am simply grateful that it means one less thing to fight over.
He's still an asshat though.
WH#2 (SorryinSac)- Killed himself (May 2015) in our home 6 days after being served divorce docs.
XWH #1 - legally married 18yrs. 12+ OW (that I know of).
I edit often for clarity/typos.
His parents have been very supportive, but they don't know he cheated. His mom was battling cancer when it happened and now his dad is quite ill. I see no reason to add this to their burden.
Okay I am rambling. My point is, I feel fortunate to be in a position where I don't hav to fight and claw for everything,, it is peaceful, and when I read the stories of some of my SI brothers and sisters, I don't take this for granted. My life could be so much worse and I feel good knowing that we can operate as parents even if we can't operate as spouses. .
and yes a lot of it is to make h self feel better!!!!
[This message edited by ninebark at 8:39 PM, June 6th (Thursday)]
I so believe this! I spent soooo long angry and hateful over what happened, one day I just woke up and said "enough of this crap". I was able to let it go and move on (ummm not that I don't have my moments, I have lots..ha ha).
now I spend all that energy that I used being angry and put it towards making myself happy.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you're interested in technical diving, but haven't yet met the prerequisites for the PADI Tec 50 Diver course or PADI Tec 45 course, you can consider enrolling in the PADI Tec 40 course.
You'll learn to
Since it's part of the course, your PADI Tec 40 course training credits toward the PADI Tec 45 and Tec 50 courses.
You use recreational scuba equipment, with some minor additions to enhance your ability to deal with tec diving conditions.
You'll use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak, which introduces you to
The pak includes a manual, dive planning checklist and dive planning slate. The optional Equipment Set-up and Key Skills video on DVD is a great tool to help you practice at home in between your tec diving adventures. You'll continue to use the Tec Deep Diver Crew-Pak through Tec 50.
You must:


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GX1 X kit Gold box deal. E-M5 Firmware update no big deal :(
There is a Gold Box deal on the Silver GX1 and 14-42mm X kit at Amazon (Click here).
And that's the only big deal we had today as the December 14ht date for the E-m5 firmware release was wrong (P.S: it was a FT2 rumor from two unknown sources). So you see why you don't see so many FT2 rumors on that website :(
UPDATE: 43rumros reader Samuel shared an email he got form Olympus saying that "we are not thinking of updating the firmware for OM-D E-M5 at present."
Back to the GX1, there is also a new Camera Cover from Gariz (Click here to check out the three different versions for sale).


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Amazing and a truly organised trip. We feel privileged to have experienced New Zealand at it's best"
Rolf, Ines, Taina Pritz & Nicholas Hounsell-Smith - NZ 2010
Update 31 July 2014
Containers were loaded at the Tilbury Docks on Friday 18th July and have been inspected, sealed and sent aboard the container ship, Venezia, with an estimated transit time of 29-35 days. As usual with officialdom there seems to be a multitude of what appear to be superfluous pieces of paper to organise. One of the rather frustrating pieces of Indian bureaucracy is their penchant for paper; I can only assume it is a residue of colonial times. I fly to Mumbai well in advance of our start date to meet and encourage the local authorities to swiftly process the temporary importation of vehicles.
The Jingers Jaunts robust Land-Rover Defender which we used to great effect in Australia has been further updated to enable better support of our clients. It has been refitted in the load-space to allow a wider range of mechanical tools to be carried and its ability to morph into an ambulance has been improved with a much enhanced medical section. It left for Mumbai on July 16th, having already travelled to a port elsewhere in New Zealand because the docks here were heavily damaged in the earthquakes.
All hotels are booked, the details of some of our excursions are being finalised and Lally is managing the administrative aspects of all vehicle documents. I am working on details of how GPS will help everyone find a correct route through the chaotic maze of city streets; however, we shall also need to use a 'Tulip' roadbook for some sections.
I am very happy to report that the mountain road over Umba La is currently open. We surveyed nine tenths of it last year but were prevented from crossing the final ridge by landslides. It is a harsh, sometimes narrow, mountain track climbing to over 16,000ft but it's operational again for those wanting to try a serious mountain road with some BIG drops and beautiful scenery.
Our welcome dinner is scheduled for the evening of 11 September at one of the pre-eminent restaurants in Mumbai. Of course, the evening will be an Indian affair but we have asked for the spice-levels to be in tune with a western diet. From there we will push north into the deserts of Rajasthan staying in palaces and forts where service and our comfort are assured.
Update 02 January 2014
Entries continue to trickle in and whilst
in Europe I plan to visit various people who've shown interest in joining us in
A number of customers have indicated they
would like to hire a vehicle for the event; indeed, we chose this option for
the survey. There is a very limited number of Toyota 4x4s' available after
which 'locally grown' Mahindra's are the next best option. These vehicles
appear to be reliable and, of course, have a very good local service infrastructure
behind them; however they will not compete on European levels of ride and comfort.
Hire cars will be issued on a 'first come, first served' basis so it might pay
to keep this in mind if your intention is not to ship your own vehicle.
The import of vehicles into India is not
straightforward and in addition to the numerous documents required, the named
driver on those documents will need to be in the country four to five working
days prior to accepting the keys; this is one reason Day 1 of the event is
scheduled for a Friday.
Whilst surveying we made a few short video
clips and, if interested, you can look at a few of the Hotels; the second of which
is where Elizabeth Hurley married Arun Nayar, although the relationship was doomed after a short spell. Another
clip worth viewing is the Himalayan
roads in the high altitude section; otherwise, take a look at everyday life
on the Streets of India.
Even before you leave Mumbai the Indian
'experience' will be in full swing! Colaba, literally a stones throw from our
start hotel, is the unofficial headquarters of Mumbai's tourist scene; it
sprawls down the city's southernmost peninsula and is a bustling district
packed with street stalls, markets, and bars. Where else in the world would you come across persistent giant balloon sellers, who for some reason think everyone needs a psychedelic balloon the size of a full-grown man, or perhaps you've always wanted your name written on a grain of rice? Although for a break from the teeming crush of humanity you can pop into Leopold's Café or Café Mondegar, two very well known Mumbai hangouts oozing character and atmosphere, for your
daily helping of black Dal and Naan bread.
The familiar Dr. Terence Mulligan will be
part of the team once more striving to ensure the health of participants and
staff remains no more serious than the ever present threat of 'Delhi Belly'.
Furthermore, his cover will be comforting through India in general but,
especially the high altitude sections where we need to keep exertion and
alcohol intake to a minimum.
Update 01 December 2013
This update comes some weeks after our return to New Zealand from the survey in India. As we begin to go through the detail of our findings we are constantly reminded of scenarios and situations which now, viewed from our cosseted existence, seem somewhat surreal and preposterous. For instance, travelling east approaching sundown one evening I began to hear a faint squealing noise. I looked across at Lally; she was concentrating on maps and had not registered anything untoward. I continued another two or three kilometres but this faint sound was definitely persistent. I checked the T's and P's, everything was stable, I checked the mirrors more carefully to make sure nothing was hanging-off or dragging behind, but still this faint whining sound. In the setting sun I could see the hazy outline of what looked like a battered taxi following some distance behind but nothing unusual. As we slowed entering a township the battered taxi swung passed veering into our path coming to an abrupt halt. Four men casually step out and saunter towards us looking like phantoms from some Mad Max movie scene as dust billowed across the street. Upon opening the window I could see they were, in fact, police officers although their uniforms had not seen any kind of laundry for some considerable time; their transport was a patrol car but the lights and sirens merely glowed and squeaked respectively. They could utter not a word of English and my Hindi is restricted to 'Hello' and 'Thank you'. Having made gesticulated greetings and mumbled sentences in our own dialects we waved a hand and bade farewell. The only other word I was able to decipher from the meeting was, 'Rupee' which, of course, I cannot translate!
The British built a wonderful network of railways beginning in the 1850's but after 163 years the Indians do not appear to have mastered Level-crossing protocol? The scene defies description but this is how it works. The barrier falls in anticipation of the arriving train, the first vehicles arrive to dutifully await the passing locomotive. However, within minutes there maybe as many as twenty or thirty vehicles of one description or another waiting on either side. Timing has never been an accurate science in India and therefore the crossing is often closed for ten minutes or more. As more vehicles arrive some slip down the side of the waiting cars and trucks to 'queue-jump'. Eventually both sides of the level crossing are completely filled with waiting conveyances of one description or another filling both sides of the road. Alas, in due course the train passes, the barrier is raised and everyone lurches forward like greyhounds from the starting gate to meet on the tracks in the tangle of horns and bumpers where they then spend the next ten minutes untangling themselves before finally continuing with their journey.
I have also studied, practiced, and questioned the meaning of the extraordinary Indian puppet-like head wobble which is surely grafted into their DNA; it can mean 'yes', 'no', anything or nothing. It has no class or caste, it is used universally by every and any Indian to mean whatever you want it to mean. Another craze I have noticed is what appears to be an obsession with hair, whether it be Henna, dreadlocks, shaved heads, or the multitude of barbers who also give a pleasant head massage as part of the service. Indeed, I have indulged in a haircut which was an expertly executed short back and sides; I'm not sure who's out of touch, me or India? I suspect it's me!
Sitting in my sun-drenched office, I realise the more I visit the country the more I find myself magnetised by India. I have made in the region of five or six visits and with each journey I gain more respect and awe for the people, the way of life, and the values they hold dear. John Brown introduced me, somewhat reluctantly, to the country but I shall be forever grateful to him for leading me across the threshold; I truly feel India helps us put our own lives in perspective.
The new mapping programmes I hoped would address some of the issues we faced with GPS constraints have turned-out to be even more of a hindrance and appear designed only for use in the 'perfect world' which, of course, doesn't exist and to which India must be the Antithesis! Thankfully, we can create our own personalised map of the route and fool the GPS into thinking it's legitimate. We have used this system successfully in the outback regions of Australia where accurate mapping is somewhat sketchy.
The new start date has been set for 12 September 2014 and the welcome dinner will be the previous evening. Lally has begun booking hotels, we have two regions where accommodation is in short supply and therefore need to cap the number of people joining although staff can be billeted in tents through the high-altitude sections if necessary.
Route Survey Update - 22 October 2013
A trip to the Taj Mahal is pretty much compulsory for everyone whilst in Agra; I have visited numerous times yet still it defies complete description, the scale and detail of the place is beyond my full elucidation. In 1631, the great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their 14th child! Started in 1632 taking twenty thousand craftsmen & labours more than twenty years to complete seems trifling when you are actually 'on site' and moving through the halls and chambers that make up this vast epitaph to love; the 'romantic' in me still finds this devotion to a departed lover spellbinding. We also surveyed Akbars tomb. Akbar was probably the greatest Mughal Emperor of all time, and it was his son who built the Taj Mahal. This mausoleum is simplistic by comparison to the Taj Mahal and receives only a handful of visitors in contrast, although it is huge, it gives off a nice sense of an unostentatious man.
We spent some hours exiting Agra in an attempt to find a path which doesn't clog-up with 'Tuk tuks' and creeping rickshaws; and here I must explain how the system works. Entering the melee and before the gap is large enough for a fullsize vehicle a 'Tuk tuk' or suchlike will dive into the opening from any direction to fill the available space, thus making headway can be painfully slow. The method therefore is not to leave space for even a starving rat because there are plenty of those roaming the streets too! Conversely, once clear of the city a large modern dual-carriageway opened-up in front of us whisking us along at a very respectable pace. I am also jolly pleased with the route we have chosen into Jaipur; the 'Pink City' appears fresh and bustling with interesting shops and bazaars along the open streets. Crossing back into Rajasthan evokes images of kings', queens' and maharajas' and our chosen lodging is the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, the palace has conventionally colonial décor, sumptuous rooms and several restaurants to disrupt ones girth. Originally built in 1835 as residence for the queen's favourite handmaiden, it was later refurbished as the royal hunting lodge and guesthouse and here we can enjoy the splendour of royal India at its best. I could spend the evening driving in and out the gates; the boys in control perform a rather amateur over-zealous stamping and saluting ceremony each time you appear, all done with the utmost seriousness. However, a beautiful smile does hover behind their stern gaze which can be brought to the surface with very little effort. Also in Rajasthan, we see again, the local ladies wearing the most gorgeous vibrant coloured saris and riding pillion, perched elegantly side-saddle aboard the typical 100cc Honda motorcycle, many of them cradling the latest addition to the family.
Turning south we have just one nasty section of 10 or 12 kilometres before the road improves to become an easy flowing provincial highway which leads us to toward Ranthambore National Park where you will have a last chance to spot Tigers' in the wild. I'm more than happy with the accommodation Lally has selected for an overnight in the locality and combined with a short, 3 hour, driving day should give everyone the opportunity to take a safari. Having explored the services offered to tourists wishing to glimpse a Tiger we hope to reserve the best options by booking early.
The fort and old city of Chittor is the destination for our final rest day of the event. We will be staying at a nearby palace where we met the Maharaja whose family has presided over 90 local villages for the last thirteen generations; a very well educated and interesting man who showed us some of the more 'rural' roads of his domain. While exploring the district he spoke of how they settle disputes in the community, no weighty administrative jargon to muddy the waters, the Maharaja's word is final and passing through the villages it was obvious he is respected and held in very high regard.
At one of the hotels we inspected we came upon two Elephants with their 'Mahouts' offering rides into the bush. Animal welfare isn't high on the agenda out here and therefore it was refreshing to see these elegant giants so beautifully 'turned-out' and obviously content.
I shall have to eat my words, in an earlier missive I declared there wasn't an uncongested open-road in the country, but after much searching we found it! And just where we needed to leap 150 kilometres forward we found an excellent stretch of fast dual-carriageway; that isn't to say there wasn't the odd bullock cart or Tata approaching down the oncoming fast lane at a steady gait but exceptions have to be made. Neither was I surprised to find cows lying peacefully in the fast lane nonchalantly chewing the cud!
On our final run into the city of Mumbai we spotted a bus so crammed with passengers we could only make-out body parts oozing from every aperture and the vehicle crabbing heavily down the road enabling us to read the writing down the side whilst following it! We also noticed girls weeding the central reservation of a six-lane motorway with just a bent spoon; not a traffic cone, barrier or warning sign in sight! This beautifully illustrates that after two and a half months of survey we can still be surprised at what we see each day. Not a single day passes without coming across a scene that either alarms or amuses us; indeed, many scenarios could come straight from a Monty Python sketch. Assume nothing and expect the unexpected are the two overriding comments I would make to anyone visiting for the first time. I wouldn't go as far as to say India should carry a health warning but I think all its international borders should display a sign in large letters over each immigration desk reading, "WELCOME TO OUR WORLD" then perhaps in smaller letters underneath, "Warning:- It's not your World." For those who have never experienced life lived in the raw then India is a wonderful place to start. We both have been truly in awe of the outright friendliness and tenacity of the people; Lally commented she has never heard a single word of complaint from anyone we have met. They all, without exception, get on with living life and simply appear happy to have a job and their health; principles we both admire.
Route Survey Update - 15 October 2013
The journey between Shimla and Rishikesh welcomes us back to the India we left two or more weeks ago with warmer air and a more humid climate. The pace of life too appears more relaxed with an abundant growth of everything green sprouting from the once more fertile soils. I'm pleased to report, we found an outstanding new road curving and twisting through the hills and valleys south of Shimla with almost no other traffic. It was wonderful to enjoy the heavy tropical growth pressing on the road and to snatch views across the hills framed by lush vibrant growth with monkeys dancing in the foliage above us.
Nearing a bend, I caught glimpse of a large shadow falling from sight; it was obviously an antelope or deer? As I slowed and moved to the edge of the road Lally peered into the undergrowth and suddenly became very animated. A high-pitched voice began squealing, "It's a Leo_ard, it's a Leo_ard"! I have several years experience of excited Argentine vocabulary, I am also aware of Lally's love of aerobics and exercise, however I was reasonably certain she could not be so excited to see a leotard; therefore it must be the other.... a leopard, and sure enough we had spotted our first leopard just ten feet from the car.
We arrived in the vicinity of Corbett National Park close to evening and booked into the lodge where we hope to overnight our group. The rustic feel and simple rooms are welcoming rather than basic and relaxing amid the natural surroundings was very pleasant. There are safaris available for those wishing to get into the dense bush of the area although Tigers' are not easy to come across. Our original itinerary for this section includes a leg to overnight in Nainital but having found almost nothing at the road's end except narrow congested streets and what can only be described as overenthusiastic write-ups in the guidebooks we decided to modify the route. There seems little reason to travel the extra distance when we can use the time to enjoy a more interesting location.
The drive from Corbett National Park sees us moving back into regions more intensively cultivated with beautifully manicured fields where every last corner is expected to be productive. It is a long day's drive to Agra filling the entire day but we pass through many and various rural settings each being lived with a fervour that we, as Europeans, should take note of and learn to respect. These people make use of everything, they waste not, they work themselves to the bone, and you will never hear anything but laughter and see anything but smiles.
However, in the next breath I must utter.... 'Ghastly and glorious' ...all at the same time. India! Adjectives fail me! Exasperating, exhilarating, exciting, invigorating and infuriating to name but a few. Undoubtedly, you will at times become frustrated with the culture but likewise I'm sure some foreigners become frustrated with methods we consider to be correct and indeed normal in our own societies. Nevertheless, I must also stress that India really can provide outstanding service. Some may describe it as 'fawning' others as 'exemplary' but, universally the standards of service have been exceptional. The juxtaposing scenarios of one single day defy explanation; the perfect hotel in Agra with drinks by the pool and views of the Taj Mahal having just experienced another Indian traffic-jam where, it appears, common sense isn't that common!
I can remember hammering along the road between Aligarh and Agra with John Brown some years ago on a previous survey and after much to-ing & fro-ing we came away with nothing usable; for this reason I'd built-in some time to cover the various options. And yes we did thrash up & down some portions of the same road trying to smooth the path but those 95 kilometres have received vast improvement since 2007 and apart from one bottleneck entering Hathras we hope the route we have surveyed will not clog-up. As mentioned previously, and I want to drive the point home, early starts are the best alternative.
This link http://youtu.be/Skl3qiBQHrc gives a snapshot of everyday life on the streets of India.
Route Survey Update - 4 October 2013
Oh dear, where to start? Brand new sheets of corrugated iron placed on the road for passing traffic to drive over creating a flat sheet, because in fine Indian style, we all know a flat sheet will go further than a corrugated sheet! Or the filling station gantry being welded high above with sparks flying while we fill with fuel below! Further, the boys will surely be blind by thirty because of the two welding sets running one man is using a pair of cheap sun-glasses for protection and the other is just closing his eyes and hoping he gets it pretty much in the right spot; welding by 'feel'. I've spotted more than one automotive bodyshop advertising 'Denting and Painting' and from the outside I'd say they are experts at the former but perhaps with less finesse for the later. All classic stuff!
As Europeans, we are familiar with the 'Nazi' Swastika but I have only recently learnt of the beginnings of this well-known symbol. The earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley civilization and it remains widely used in Indian religions, specifically in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, primarily as a tantric symbol of auspiciousness. The word 'swastika' comes from the Sanskrit and literally translated means, 'It is good'. Unfortunately, the swastika has become strongly associated with Nazism and related concepts such as anti-Semitism, hatred, violence, and death; it is now largely stigmatized due to the changed connotations of the symbol. Indeed, it has been outlawed in Germany and other countries if used as a symbol of Nazism but its true beginnings are here in northern India where its use goes hand-in-hand with everything that is good.
The approach to the Himalayan region is gradual with the only noticeable change that of the over laden trucks creeping even more slowly over the hills and descending into the Drass Valley we came across a truck, back axle removed, sitting forlornly in an isolated spot awaiting some kind of repair. I have no doubt it will be massively over laden hauling goods again in due course; the resourcefulness of the natives along with their ingenuity is truly inspiring.
Basgo gompa lies amongst the ruins of an old palace and city; it's realistic and atmospheric although you'll need a little imagination to complete the scene because sadly it appears a little rundown and shabby these days. There are only so many temples a man can take and I'm beginning to become 'all templed out' although the temple at Alchi is undeniably distinctive with some fine old murals covering the walls; once you get passed the hawkers selling cheap trinkets to the innocent. The parking too is a very Indian affair!
Some roads of the Ladakh region are ridiculously pretty; simply stunning and certainly this section could be considered the highlight of the journey for some. We stopped at the meeting of two roads high on the Altiplano where basic 'Parachute Cafes' offer meals and coffee. The temperature was a comfortable 4 or 5 degrees Centigrade, it was sunny and peaceful, a lovely spot to imbibe the experience. On the flipside, I must also report the very poor condition of some roads, one section of 100km with badly washed-out and potholed tarmac. Another high altitude section of 85km took us more than four hours to cover but we cannot possibly tell exactly what the conditions may be like in a year's time because of the extremes of weather. On the whole, you should leave thoughts of smooth, wide-open roads behind because they don't exist out here. However, we found an outstanding road down into one of the valleys on an 'off the beaten track' segment which the RATBAGS of our group will enjoy. The RATBAGS (Rough And Tumble Boys And GirlS) are a newly formed faction whose pleasure it is to explore those places less visited.
The sections we have surveyed for days 16, 17 and 18 are outstanding in the extreme, adjectives are hard to muster describing the scale and beauty of these mountains; imagine the Swiss Alps on steroids! We stopped at one particular spot and gawked in wonder at the confluence of two rivers tight between sheer ravines with our tiny road clinging to the side. We then spent several days thrashing back and forth on the infamous Hindustan - Tibet road trying to break the journey in two. Lally didn't actually call me a bastard, as such, but simply brought into question my ancestry; she is convinced there must be an Indian truck driver amongst my forebears! Anyway, we came away empty-handed not being able to find even half-decent accommodation for our clients and although we now have a long day into Shimla it's a real driver's day with some spectacular scenery. Alas, on these sections landslides are common and 'Shooting Stones' can pepper from above, for this reason we shall build an extra day into the schedule to make allowance for possible road interruptions. As we descend from the Himalayas proper the terrain becomes less abrupt, the temperatures rise slowly and we begin to see small pockets of green amid the foreboding, barren land. Descending still further, the ground becomes fertile with lush growth filling every crevice, indeed the district produces 80% of the countries apples which are harvested throughout July, August and September. Another noticeable change is the return of India's trumpeting Tatas' as well as the ceaseless crush of humanity.
Arriving at the Wildflower Hall nestled into the hills behind Shimla is in such contrast to the preceding days as to feel like some kind of dreamy fantasy. Greeted with hot-towels and welcome drinks before being ushered to our sumptuous room reminded us that tranquillity does exist and is, in fact, important to ones sanity. We were glad to spend a day attending to administrative details and to take stock before embarking on the next section of the route.
This link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBNAOAC38M0 gives a snap-shot of the scenery as we return to more reasonable altitudes.
Route Survey Update - 14 September 2013
We changed plans at the last moment before leaving Amritsar; I am acutely aware of potential problems with our proposed itinerary due to political unrest in the Kashmir region and wanted to have some kind of 'backup' route surveyed. I came to the conclusion it would be more time efficient to check roads and hotels between Amritsar and Rothang La before embarking on the long Kashmiri sections, it also meant we could survey them in the direction we might need them if unrest were to interfere with our plans. We were both astonished at the vibrant growth in the hills leading to the Himalayas. At this time of year with the rain easing and temperatures still warm we see a flourishing increase of everything green. The landscapes too are more abrupt and steep as the hills just get more and more intimidating. We had our first experience of any real altitude on this trip, as we crossed Rothang La the GPS registered 3985 metres which equates to 12,951 feet. Of course, at this level we are well above the 'tree line' with just a bare rocky landscape and isolated snow scraps amid barren tundra. Another noticeable change was that of the local population, not only does it become less crowded and chaotic but the features of those around us become more Tibetan and Nepali, we begin to see the far eastern influence in the blood of the indigenous population.
I was not entirely happy with options we'd surveyed towards Manali so for the return journey we detoured on more minor roads and what we found was two particularly scenic sections on narrow winding roads, in some cases, with precipitous drops into the fairytale valley below. We also visited the colonial hill station of Dalhousie where a crumbling mansion of a property has been welcoming guests for more than 100 years and still exudes a wonderful sense of history.
The road leaving Jammu north is famously busy and unpleasant combining a very poor road surface with a never-ending stream of over-laden trucks and true to form the first 100km was horrid taking us more than three hours to cover, making any headway was hard work; I shall certainly have some explaining to do when I arrive at the 'Pearly Gates'! However, after a check-point where we got permits to travel in Kashmir the conditions improved and once clear of the Jawahar Tunnel the scenery began to take on an altogether larger dimension.
Arriving late and exhausted at one hotel I was ushered towards a parking space immediately outside the foyer, the sign in my headlights announced 'Lessabled Parking'! It brought a smile to my tired face.
Continuing north, exiting the steep valleys the road begins to open out as we neared Srinagar with frequent small villages dotted along the route. As dusk fell we arrived in the town with an appointment to inspect a property in the evening; the palace certainly has a welcoming entrance hall with polished stone floors and pillars. We ate well in their restaurant before finding more humble accommodation. Lally has been working tirelessly checking services and inspecting competing hotels but imagine for a moment the interaction between an Argentine and an Indian all conducted in stilted English; I have been requested to act as Argentine/Indian interpreter on more than one occasion! Another of the hotels we visited was surrounded with tight security involving many Indian army soldiers and repeated searches of the car and x-ray scanning of all baggage. Surely this cannot be the norm, we asked each other? On entering the lobby, Lally hastily exclaimed, "That's Zubin Mehta"! On further enquiry we found he had given a concert in the city the evening before and was a guest at the hotel. We spent a full day in Srinagar attending to administration and garnered more detailed information of the route ahead using local knowledge.
This district has a large Muslim following, the girls are covered from top to toe, the men favour shaggy beards and prayers are broadcast over poor quality sound systems at deafening levels, for one less in tune with the faith it appears odd to be woken at 5am in such a manner! From Srinagar, we turned east towards higher mountains climbing steadily all day; Zoju La at 11,544ft (3552m) is considered the main entrance to the Ladakh region although we had to wait a couple of hours to cross while earthmoving equipment cleared a landslide. The military presence also steps-up a notch with large encampments, facilities for high altitude warfare training and army personnel everywhere.
We surveyed a marvellous section on lonely gravel roads climbing to 14,240ft (4382m) before we came across a badly washed-out culvert after 52km. I drove 150km to the opposite end to survey the rest of the road because I was fairly certain it was not abandoned. Sure enough we came upon teams of men wielding sledge-hammers to break huge rocks down into manageable chunks, they are then manhandled to an area where women and girls as young as twelve were breaking them down further into regular sized and graded gravel; this gravel is then used to repair the road surface. No rock crushing technology other than hammer and chisel. Further to that, you may be able to guess I have been inspecting various mechanical contraptions with a passing interest during this recce and the archetypal two-wheeled camel carts drew my attention. They nearly all use a large diameter, very heavy duty, split-rim aircraft type wheel and tyre from the same application; it must come from an Avro Constellation or suchlike.
We have taken interest in the earnest agriculture going on in what appear unfertile heavy clay soils; however, stopping to interact with locals and seeing firsthand the produce coming off the land we were very impressed with the harvesting and drying of a bumper rice crop.
Lally has spent many months poring over reviews, recommendations, and hotel websites to single-out the best on offer, nevertheless our overnight in Kargil at an hotel with very dubious credentials reminded me of an episode in Brazil whilst survey with John Brown when we had to spend the night in a brothel as the only accommodation available; I specifically remember the mirrors on the ceiling in that particular lodging! Whilst surveying we occasionally need to overnight unexpectedly and Lally and I found ourselves close to the only guesthouse for many miles just before dark one night. We approached the shabby-looking homestead asking for a bed and meal and came away well rested with full stomachs. The engineer in me was particularly impressed with the reflection cooker in the yard, a most delicious device using a large concave reflective dish to concentrate the sun's rays on the cooking vessel above.
I was hugely happy to find a lovely mountain road between Drass and Kargil on brand-new super smooth twisting tarmac with not another vehicle in site; a real pleasure to drive. As we travel through this stark and beautiful landscape I look up into the high clefts between summits and can see small glaciers forcing new paths into the hillside.
Leh is the capital of the Ladakh region and centre for all manner of tours and activities. Whilst Lally attended unending meetings with suppliers I had the chance to edit and update GPS mapping documents and write some words to keep you informed. Khardung La is less than 100km from Leh and we decided the planned rest day in Leh could include a trip to the stunning Nubra Valley taking in this high pass. We crossed Khardung La which at 18,380ft (5649m) was the highest motorable pass in the world until 2003 when Marmik La near Pangong Tso Lake took that accolade by a paltry 200ft; this road is absolutely outstanding, the scale of the mountains with colossal valleys dividing them is beyond description. We arrived in the tiny, quaint settlement of Diskit to enjoy the main bazaar in full swing on a weekend.
We have more roads to survey while here before we begin south and east towards the Spiti Valley but this link http://youtu.be/Ccr0znno4jQ gives a view of crossing the world's highest roads.
Route Survey Update - 2 September 2013
As fate would have it, we met Hormazd when leaving the offices of a shipping agent in the cut and thrust of Mumbai downtown; I spotted the rather nice pre-war Dodge sedan nosing out from a tiny alley into the hurly-burly. Offering my life to the Gods', I strode into the melee of cars and people to make an introduction. We were immediately ushered into the dark confines of his collection and treated like old friends. Hormazd has more than twenty vintage and post-vintage cars some of which are truly exotic including a Rolls twenty and a gorgeous 25/30. He invited us to contact numerous friends who may be able to help with logistics and officialdom; we also hope they may join us for one section of the event through Jammu & Kashmir.
Our first day on the road heading north out of Mumbai was productive although frustrating; cars, carts, carriages, and cattle all meandering to and fro across a six lane expressway with their own set of 'rules' certainly concentrates the mind and enriches the driving experience. As the monsoon ebbs the rice paddies and the countryside show an emerald green lushness which come straight from a Peter Jackson film set. Further north we checked alternative routes and came out with very little to show for hours of bone-shaking secondary roads although one shortcut proved worthwhile.
It is certainly extraordinary how much value the average Indian can get from his litre of petrol! The current record number of persons transported on one motorbike that we have observed is 6 but that only appears to be possible if at least two or three of those people are babies; whereas the Tuk-Tuk record currently stands at 17. However, if you have a 'gas guzzling' Mahindra you are expected to cope with a good deal more than twenty passengers!
We watched bullock carts loaded with sugarcane meandering down the fast lane of the wrong carriageway (ie oncoming) with children younger than ten years of age sprawled on top of the load controlling the unresponsive beast as mighty Tatas' raised a cacophony from one of India's best siren orchestras. The people of this country unquestionably mean to use their time and resources carefully and on occasion combine it with a sense of humour; one bumper sticker on a vastly over laden truck (with canvas showing through his tyres) reading, "Safety isn't expensive, it's Priceless." Another common but juxtaposing site is that of an individual walking bare-foot, dressed in rags, but animated in deep conversation on a Smartphone!
After noticing some rather 'quaint' hotel names we began to take more interest and have so far spotted 'Hotel Panik', 'Hotel Comfort', 'Hotel Delight', with others using such temptation as Honest, Relish, Lucky, and Good Choice but my favourite has to be the 'Hotel Goodluck' and from the outside I'd say you'll need it!
In the trophy room at one of the palaces we inspected I counted 9 tigers amongst several hundred creatures adorning the walls. We were told the Maharaja moved his hunting grounds to Africa after it became 'frowned upon' in India in the late 1950s' but stopped hunting altogether in 1978.
Gujarat is renowned for its work ethic, is prosperous and businesslike, indeed many of India's successful individuals are Gujarati including Ratan Tata of the truck manufacturing empire, also Mahatma Gandhi who lead the country for a number of years and who spoke against partition during independence. Gujarat is a 'dry' state, in other words prohibition; except foreign tourists can apply for an alcohol exemption. We thought we had better check exactly what this meant and how a permit might be obtained (our duty, you understand). I have to report a farcical scenario ensued involving eight signatures and a copy of your passport, all overseen by a most fearsome matriarch the like of which I haven't seen since I wore short-trousers in the fourth form!
We saw beautiful oxen in harness drawing a plough in lush green surroundings, the monsoons combination of heat and moisture certainly makes everything grow. From casual observance, the men appear to ride around on 100cc Indian built Honda motorcycles while the women work like hell in the fields and can be seen walking down the roadside carrying huge loads upon their heads. Visiting one village we found the girls milk the cow, churn the butter, make the cheese, grind the corn, and make the bread while the more senior Men sit cross-legged in conversation drinking an Opium concoction!
Rajasthan is the 'Land of Kings' with more palaces than any other province, it was wonderful to arrive at The Lake Palace in Udaipur after a long drive with difficult conditions as night fell. The greeting is soothing as you clamber abroad a small craft which guides you to the exquisite hotel in the centre of Lake Pichola; just a single night in this salubrious palace surrounded by glass smooth water seems a waste when coffered with such unsurpassed service and attention. However, Jodhpur our next destination, also has unparalleled luxurious accommodation at Umaid Bhawan Palace; one of the world's largest private residences and fortuitously part of the palace is managed as a hotel. Named after Maharaja Umaid Singh, grandfather of the present owners of the palace, this colossal establishment has 347 rooms and serves as the principal residence of the Jodhpur royal family. We could not help but be impressed with the service and style of the place and are happy to include it in our itinerary.
We passed Bishnois communities who believe all life, however inconsequential, is sacred and have practiced bio-diversity for more than 500 years. Their Guru gave the message to protect trees and wildlife when nobody could predict that harming the environment means harming yourself. We were given the opportunity to visit a tiny village, meet the elders and to see how beautiful yet simple life can be.
Turning west the landscapes become drier and more hardy with desert plants beginning to appear; a tiny, delicate yellow flower in particular seems to thrive with little moisture. I have not travelled into the western deserts of India before; you will enjoy the open spaces, the lack of people, the clear roads, and the harsh climate. The lack of traffic and good roads is undoubtedly a welcome change allowing you to relax and immerse yourself into the culture and at this time of year the temperatures are considered comfortable in the mid-forties Centigrade.
Arriving in Jaisalmer we needed to inspect hotels and excursions for a planned rest day on the event; the camel safari we both took, while interesting, left us moving with a more delicate gait after four hours strapped to the back of the loping beast and can only be recommended for the 'diehard' nomads of our group!
Continuing north moving parallel to the Indira Gandhi Canal, we stopped at one point next to a reasonable size fire smouldering heavily and with plenty of damp fuel it was likely to continue for days. Making noises and using gesticulation we ascertained they were the local kiln firing service, we were shown beautifully crafted jugs and pots.
We visited and made notes on the border closing ceremony between Pakistan and India at Wagah; to be honest the hype and excitement involved in the choreographed display needs some refining although it will make you smile for the absurdity of it all. The Golden Temple is undoubtedly the cities draw-card, the gold-plated gurdwara or dome glitters in the weak sunshine surrounded by a placid pool of sacred water. Sikhism's holiest shrine brings millions of pilgrims from all over the world and never ceases to impress even the most cynical observer; this really is a 'must see'.
Route Survey Update - 21 August 2013
Following some 30 hours of travel from New Zealand, we arrived in Mumbai jaded but glad to have escaped the confines of the man-made atmosphere that modern air travel now promotes. Our journey from the airport through the hectic busy streets to collect our rental vehicle reminded me of why I love India so much! The smells (not all nice), the sounds (all of them loud), and the sights (so typically Indian) all combined to re-vitalised our weary mood. Lally was incredulous at daily life passing by the open window of our tiny dilapidated Maruti taxi as it barged its way amongst the colossal Tatas' and Ashok Leylands' that keep this nation fed and watered.
We had two meetings within the first two hours of arrival but thankfully our hosts were keen to meet our needs; we made some valuable introductions and friends.
Getting behind the wheel again to muddle our way towards the Taj Mahal Hotel gave me feelings of 'deja vu' reminding me of working here previously with John Brown. In retrospect, I am not sure I was aware of how much I learned in those years working with one of the most particular and exacting, indeed (some would say) awkward, rally organiser's of the time; I am hugely indebted to John and Johanna for their faith in me and the many opportunities I was offered.
With an outside temperature of nearly 40 centigrade, entering the cool, welcoming and restrained interior of the hotel was, I felt, like stepping back in time to the days of the Raj. With orderly peace, and quiet voices, we were offered a cool drink before being ushered to our immaculate room where our dusty, travel-stained, bags were already waiting.
We showered and changed before an evening meal of delicious Indian fare washed down with a grateful glass of wine. After returning to our room with full stomachs, sleep was not an effort.
Our first full day coping with India and all its foibles reminded me why one needs to have a long fuse and a gentle demeanour. Even getting, what Europeans' might call, simple tasks completed seems to require multiple signatures and authorisations; this may of course be a residue of the British Raj. Lally inspected competing hotels while I organised 'phone SIM cards and a 'Dongal'; a device using telephone signal allowing connection to the internet.
Studying road behaviour I have come to conclusion that most 'regulations' are simply advisories and that certainly headlights, motorcycle helmets and any form of indication to let other know your intentions are considered accessories; however, the horn is mandatory and should be used repeatedly at every opportunity! We chuckled our way across the city ensconced in the rear of a beautifully dented Indian built Fiat taxi sharply drawing breath on numerous occasions although the whole sensational display all happens at between 4 and 17 mph!
Lally spent the following days moving around the city, inspecting an assortment of hotels, venues and restaurants in an effort to find something with an Indian flavour yet European quality. Visiting prospective venues and attractions is a time-consuming task and one needs to be conscious of the Indian predilection for agreeing to anything and everything even if your request cannot possibly be fulfilled. I began work on the vehicle, firstly, buying simple tools to enable me to fit tripmeter and satellite tracking systems. We had found a perfect stretch of road close to the hotel and decided to get up early on Sunday morning to calibrate the tripmeter before the daily mayhem developed. With this done and still very little pandemonium on the roads we took the opportunity to begin 'roadbooking' the route out of the city. This is one aspect of India that I must impress on anyone wishing to join us, you will need to get used to early starts. There is a window of 3 hours between 6am and 9am when reasonable progress can be made after which the wheels grind almost to a halt and the horror begins; although it is a good-natured 'horror' and a worthwhile experience.
Route Survey Update - 20 July 2013
Having spent many months in research, we can now officially
launch our latest event encompassing many of the highlights of the north and western
states of India. This latest escapade is provisionally planned to start and
finish in Mumbai on 9 September 2014 covering 30 days and almost 7,000
kilometres. Lally has flights and a vehicle booked to begin the Route Survey on
13 August this year. When we arrive, the monsoon will still be in full swing in
the southern section of our route but I have worked in India in the past and am
acutely aware that we must expect the unexpected and therefore need to give
ourselves a comfortable time-frame. Firstly, surveying congested city streets
can be time-consuming, secondly, research of the far western deserts of
Rajasthan will not be affected by the monsoon, and finally, the Himalayan
portion of the route (also not affected by monsoon) provides a narrow window of
opportunity for travel before snow closes the high-altitudes regions; it is for
these reasons we will need to cope with wetter weather for the first portion of
the survey.
Lally is working in conjunction with our Indian representative
and together they have formulated a schedule allowing us to cherry-pick the more
acclaimed attractions within our reach. Travelling into the Ladakh and Zanskar
Ranges also needs careful planning with issues of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)
as well as more rudimentary accommodation. We are well-informed as to what our
clientele enjoy from these journeys and intend to ensure we meet your


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Review Details
Hanging Art Gallery
Product Review (submitted on June 24, 2013):
I love displaying my son's art. He may only be 4, but I think his projects are masterpieces :) We bought two of these; one for our home office, and another for the door in his room. It has 6 spots for art, and a spot at the top for a personalized sign. We love putting his art up, and this is a great way to do it without putting holes in the wall!


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By LEN ACKERMAN
For The Union Democrat
Last Saturday I attended the Moccasin Creek Hatchery's Trout Fest, along with Bert Kronnick, local collector of vintage fishing tackle.
It was a great, well attended event that showed all the aspects of trout raising, fishing, fish cleaning and cooking. Youths under 15 had great fun catching trout from well stocked runways.
I was surprised to find that the hatchery also raised Golden and Cutthroat trout. When large enough the goldens go to high elevation lakes and the cutthroats go to Nevada's Pyramid Lake. Photo coverage by Union Democrat photographer Jesse Jones appeared in Monday's paper.
Last Friday,a neighbor, Nick McMahon and I got back to Beardsley Lake and managed a limit of trout, nine rainbows and a brown, all on flasher/worm combos.
The parasitic copepod is present, as it is in many lakes on the rainbows. They have no effect on the health of the fish, other than the cosmetic effect.
The rainbows in Beardsley are holdovers, since planting has not occurred due to the low water. They average 14 to 15 inches and the flesh is as pink as salmon.
Dick Anderson, of Twain Harte, and I got back in againon Tuesdayand found limits, despite the full moon "jinx."
Local guide Danny Laynetried Lake Tulloch again and came up the second four-pound rainbow in two trips, as well as releasing a few other 'bows.
Layne tried Don Pedroon Thursdaywith three Central Valley clients and they had mixed limits of rainbows, kokanee, and one king salmon. Paddletails, Uncle Larry's spinners, and orange Hootchies were the lures of choice, all tipped with Pautzkies Fire Corn.
At New Melones, shore fishing has slowed as the water temperatures come up and trollers are finding more success for trout.
Bass fishing continues good as the spawning season is getting underway. Kokanee fishing will soon be in full swing. Locals Cas Munoz and Wayne DeGenero found limits of kokesWednesdayat Melones by moving to various locations and having success with small Hootchie lures.
Munoz, John Minor, and Ken Lucas, part of the Twain Harte Connection, had a good recent trip to the Delta for striped bass.
Over three days of fishing they totaled 11 stripers up to 14 pounds. Highlight of the trip was when Minor hooked a big fish which turned out to be a king salmon. Since the season does not open untilJuly 16, it was released.
Local High School Trap teamsand the Mother Lode Nuggets have completed two California Youth Shooting Sports Association events this season and will have the next event at the Mother Lode Gun Club onApril 25. No regular trap will be held that day.


text: Hi all. Here I wrote about my process of applying, re-applying and finally being accepted to study at the Folk Music Dept. at the Sibelius Academy. My first study year is approaching its end, and I'd like to write down some experiences. Something that's taken most of my playing and listening (and singing) time this year, has been what in Finnish is called pitkä soitto, "the long playing." It is a style that's (here) most often associated with the archaic instrument kantele, and the epic runo singing of Kalevala, then later developed to be played on any instrument(s). The long playing is described (by duo Juuri & Juuri) as "a flow that a lone old geezer would have had when playing his never-ending kantele tune in the darkening cabin: simple elements, endless variation." One of my first lessons in the long playing was with kantele player Arja Kastinen. The lesson was simple: "I set the alarm in 45 minutes. Play, don't stop." Of course, what I then did musically wasn't long playing. It's not easy to get in the zone, where, my teacher says, "a second is an eternity, and a whole life-time feels like a second." After the lesson, I had to start to practice to try and find it. I began by selecting a melody of four short phrases, and started to play them, exactly the same way, time after time, until I thought an eternity must have passed. I checked the time - 5 min. Again I did, and again, each time willing myself to go on until I felt it was too much, and then go on still, only changing what I played when I knew to. In the months, a change came in my playing. When I listen to my practice recordings from the beginning of the autumn, they sound, well, hasty, to me now. The space, the stillness, the concentration isn't in them, even though I felt then that it was. Before Christmas, there are some recordings I feel I can listen to without cringing. Arja's recipe for the lessons is simple: tone color, time, rhythmic variation, and polyphony. I worked on these, learning to get sounds from my bass that surprise me now that I listen to the tapes, because I really don't know how such sounds are made, but which in the long playing felt natural, "available", like ripe apples on a tree. My teacher told me to set aside all valuing of the music, when playing: there is no better or less good, there's just the music that you play because you have to play it. There's truth in those words. The long playing became a path for me to walk down, not consciously "choosing" what to play, but a feeling of intuitively knowing what it is I would do next. The long playing has changed the way I think about music. It has become a playing field, or a game, in which there may be some guidelines, how to operate when playing with less familiar musicians, but in the end, it's not about thinking of the rules as binding, but as releasing me to total freedom withing their limits. A song that I know well enough is no longer chords and melodies, it's an adventure. This record is from my last lesson with Arja Kastinen. We had only four of them, and at the end of the last, she said, "now I've taught you everything I can teach. The rest is up to you. Have a good rest of your life." I played a 5ths tuned bass at the time of this recording. I've gone back to 4ths after it, but I really feel the 5ths tuning made this kind of playing easier. I felt I was just riding on the resonance, with minimal effort of my own. If you listen to the recording, please don't fast forward or skip time. It won't make any sense that way (although I can't promise it will anyway). It is long, 45 minutes. It's not pretty, and it's not sophisticated; it's a fight for dear life, at sea when you know that help will be coming only when you embrace the possibility of death. And I feel that the first 20 min are what it took for me to get in the zone, beginner as I am. The links above will be easier to listen to, with less than ten minutes each. Yours, Enne


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EC: CP2xxx and CP3xxx Multi-Touch Panel Series
Hardware - HMI, operator interface, thin-client: Industrial Control Panels and Panel PCs with multi-touch display technology. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice finalist.
To continue applying the best interactive display technologies for industrial use, Beckhoff Automation has introduced the new CP2xxx and CP3xxx Control Panel and Panel PC series. These highly functional panels feature a modern operating concept with multi-touch technology as well as a contemporary, elegant device design.
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Beckhoff Automation
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Annual Salary Survey
Before the calendar turned, 2016 already had the makings of a pivotal year for manufacturing, and for the world.
There were the big events for the year, including the United States as Partner Country at Hannover Messe in April and the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September. There's also the matter of the U.S. presidential elections in November, which promise to shape policy in manufacturing for years to come.
But the year started with global economic turmoil, as a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing triggered a worldwide stock hiccup that sent values plummeting. The continued plunge in world oil prices has resulted in a slowdown in exploration and, by extension, the manufacture of exploration equipment.
Read more: 2015 Salary Survey


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Coming June 9, 2016, Here & Now listeners and visitors will experience our stories and journalism online in a whole new way.
Americans are reading far more right-leaning or "red" books than left-leaning "blue" books, according to a survey by Amazon.
The New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list also reflects the trend: books by Edward Klein and Dinesh D'Sousa that are highly critical of President Obama are near the top of this week's list.
It's a phenomenon that both blogger Ezra Klein and Here and Now literary critic Steve Almond have noticed over the past few years. Almond is a self-proclaimed liberal. But several years back he became fascinated by the frequent appearance of books written by conservative authors like Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter on the non-fiction bestseller lists and on his relatives' bookshelves.
So he set out reading and found that many of the "red" books had compelling narratives.
"These are books that, putting aside whether thy are factual or not, are deeply emotionally and psychologically involving," he told Here & Now's Robin Young.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Much of the national attention on Monday has been about how the New York Giants imploded in Sunday's 38-0 loss rather than how well the Carolina Panthers performed.
The Giants couldn't run block.
The Giants couldn't pass block.
The Giants collapsed.
Former Giants linebacker Carl Banks told WFAN Sports Radio the team he once played for showed no toughness or pride.
"They don't like each other, they're not willing to fight for each other," Banks said. "When you have a premier quarterback in this league and you don't have enough self-respect -- not for him, but for yourself to protect him and do your job -- I think it speaks volumes."
Fox analyst and former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick said during the broadcast that "the body language, the mentality, the emotion of the game is just not there for the Giants."
Not much was said about the Carolina toughness and pride, body language and emotion.
In reality, what happened on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium fell somewhere between the Panthers played exceptionally well and the Giants didn't.
But to discount the total dominance Carolina (1-2) displayed would be a mistake.
Let's not forget this team in Week 1 was within a fourth-quarter fumble at the Seattle 8-yard line from beating the undefeated Seahawks, considered the best team in football at the moment.
That the Panthers appeared in disarray with coach Ron Rivera under fire after a last-second loss at Buffalo and the secondary riddled with injuries shouldn't cloud the picture.
The Panthers deserve some credit here, too.
"It's not fair," Rivera said. "You'd like to point at some of the things that happened in the game and say, 'Wow, we've been doing it since we started in the preseason.'
"You'd like to say, 'Hey, we deserve a little bit more attention.' But that's all right. Believe me, I've got no problem flying under the radar. To me, the more important thing is how our players feel about themselves. If [lack of respect] is going to fuel the fire a little more, great, let's do it."
Rivera is right. The Panthers, particularly their defense, played well during the preseason when they went first team versus first team. They created pressure and forced turnovers.
The front seven was stout in a 12-7 regular-season loss to Seattle.
It was exceptional against the Giants, collecting seven sacks -- three by defensive end Greg Hardy in the first half.
That the offense matched the intensity of the defense came as somewhat of a surprise based on the first two weeks, and a poor performance by the Giants might have had something to do with it.
But remember, the Giants trailed the high-powered Denver Broncos only 17-16 until late in the third quarter, so this team hasn't been a complete pushover.
It was only 7-0 in the second quarter on Sunday when Panthers quarterback Cam Newton threw a horrible interception that almost was returned for a touchdown.
It wasn't, and Newton returned to lead Carolina to a field goal and four touchdowns on his next five possessions. That shouldn't be overlooked because the Giants couldn't stop him.
"That's showing growth," Rivera said. "I was so excited when he went back out there and did what he did."
Rivera had a lot to be excited about, particularly the way his team prepared and avoided coming out flat after an 0-2 start the way everyone insists the Giants did.
Will it be the turning point? Or will it be like last season, when Carolina lost five straight after improving to 1-1?
In all likelihood, the result will be somewhere in between.
"It can be the catalyst, most certainly," Rivera said. "You look for something that can be a hallmark game, the game that everybody points to as the one that really got things rolling.
"But it would be ineffective if we don't do what we need to do next week."
The Panthers are off this week, then return for an Oct. 6 game at Arizona. That's Rivera's focus, not what's being said nationally. That's the only approach he can take.
"To me, the most important thing is how we feel about ourselves and how we do things from here on out," he said. "I do think again, this could be a catalyst. This has to be something we build on. We also have to be realistic. We have not arrived where we need to be by any stretch of the imagination."


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Blogging NYT: The Family Meal is What Counts, TV On or Off
TV Dinners. We'd always assumed eating in front of the tv wasn't good for us (not that we let this stop us), but a new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota says that eating together as a family is what matters - whether the tv is on or not.
Eating in front of the television usually connotes junk food and mindless eating and this is especially a concern with children. Growing up, our family ate only a few meals a year in the tv room and we made an event of it - going to the grocery store together to pick out tv dinners (which we never otherwise ate) and choosing a show to watch together. According to researchers, our parents were onto something.
Recent studies reveal insights into the "power of the family meal". Children who eat with their parents simply eat healthier food. Girls in the study who ate by themselves ate less fruits and vegetables and more snacks and sodas. They also ate up to 14% more at the family table than alone which is important news for parents concerned about eating disorders. Similarly, boys ate more vegetables and more calcium-rich foods with their parents than alone.
Possible reasons for this discrepancy may be that parents put better food on the table when the family is gathered together or that parents role model better eating habits for their children. Surprisingly, the researchers found only small difference in families who ate with a tv on and those who did not. While the preference is for family talk over tv, they pointed out that television can draw sullen teens to the table.
The researchers emphasize that parents shouldn't feel overwhelmed with guilt if they can't get the family together for every meal, but that every bit helps and that family meals can be a powerful tool for healthy kids and functional families.
See the full New York Times article here.
(Image by Nola Lopez for the Times.)


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|"Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
|Re: [TenTec] Ten-Tec commitment to customers...
|"Frank Holladay" <email@example.com>
|Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <firstname.lastname@example.com>
|Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:08:10 -0600
Grank, Several of these individuals are contesters with a very strong competitive urge. With this thread, they are simply competing for "Bitcher of the Year " award. 73, Frank, K4VMO PS: I like my Scout much better than my IC-746 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Grant Youngman" <firstname.lastname@example.com> To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <firstname.lastname@example.com> Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 3:49 PM Subject: Re: [TenTec] Ten-Tec commitment to customers... >> Orion II firmware update was made in May 07. Not quite what >> I expected from >> the promise to keep my radio upgraded. > > I'm sitting here trying to figure out what you guys want. 1KW tranmitter > firmware? dc to light receive firmware? CW decoders? A driver for your > new > 52" plasma display? Teleportation technology? Fully automatic contest > participation? Menu selectable cabinet colors? > > Seriously, there are still some things all of us would like to see > "improved", depending or whether your point of view is that something is > broken, or "it doesn't work the way I want it to and I paid for it to work > THE WAY I WANT IT TO", or I couldn't break the pileup because I couldn't > hear the guy (and you think you would have heard him on something else?), > or > something. > > If you believe spending a few more kilobucks on some other radio will take > you to Nirvana, then you haven't owned many radios. > > And if you have a grumble about actual support, then you also haven't > owned > many radios from other vendors. > > Grant/NQ5T > > _______________________________________________ > TenTec mailing list > firstname.lastname@example.com > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec > _______________________________________________ TenTec mailing list email@example.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
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Program Name: JDatePicker
Published By: Stand By Soft
License Type: Shareware
Date Released: July 04, 2007
JDatePicker Desciption:
JDatePicker is a suite of date components for Swing, highly appreciated by Java developers for its richness of features, configurability and well crafted API. It contains an editable date picker, a date/time field, a multiple month calendar and a month component.
* Lots of features to handle any date/time entry situation
* Careful and well-crafted API to speed up the development of your application
* Microsoft-like calendar to keep the same feeling for users when moving to Java applications
* Mouse and keyboard support to enter date time information intuitively
* Detailed tutorial and examples to get the most out of API
* Source code access to ensure the life of your application
* Works with J2SE 1.3 or higher on Windows, Mac, Linux and all Java enabled platforms
* Royalty free distribution
Time and patience were spent to put even the smallest details in place. The components handle any date/time entry situation, have a Swing-like API and Sun-like documentation.
License: Shareware | Price: $119.00 | Size: 1.6 MB | Downloads (1354)
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A pre-Islamic moon-god of the southern Arabia. He is also a weather-god and the tutelary deity of the kingdom of Qataban, whose inhabitants called themselves 'children of Amm'. His attributes are lightning bolts and the lunar disc.


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Men of Cam4: HotBlack20cm, StarStruck84, Body_Play75
HotBlack20cm is 26 and comes to us from Portugal. First thing I want to say is stop teasing me and get naked. He is rubbing his hard cock through his briefs. He takes that shirt off and shows off his sexy chest. Those fat nipples look delicious. He puts some oil on his chest to make his muscles look more defined. Finally he is naked. He oils up that cock and strokes it slowly, getting close to the cam so you can see the veins in it. – Jay
Say hello to StarStruck84, he's 28 and from the USA. He's wearing briefs that have the ass cut out. Can you say easy access? Both of his nipples are pierced plus he wears a leather harness. The harness has straps that lead down to his cock to form a cock ring. He turns around and uses his dildo to slide up in his ass. He starts riding it, taking it all up in him. – Jay
This 40 year old from France has got a nice ass: Body_Play75. His ass is very tight and muscular you just want to get on your knees and spread it open and eat it out. He is in a thong with garters and hose on. His ass is red where he has been slapping it. On cam you see his big dildo. At goal he is going to fuck himself with it. He makes goal and starts sliding that fat dildo in him. He fucks himself fast and deep. Once he gets that hole open he starts playing with fruit. He uses oranges and bananas to make himself cum. – Jay


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My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Multiple Options Inc, Saint Louis, MO, USA
Multiple Options is an organization designed to aid inmates who are re-entering society due to parole or probation. We offer shelter, meals, aid in finding employment, vocational training and support all in a structured, well monitored environment. The organization was founded by a man who worked for many years in corrections. Armed with a vision to reduce recidivism, a working knowledge of the field and considerable resources in the area of employment the stage was set.
Multiple Options will aid former inmates with a place to stay, beyond what is currently available to parolees including meals and job and life skills training as they begin the process to get on their feet. Multiple Options will aid clients to find gainful employment, provide necessary training and education in order to facilitate job searches. Multiple Options will provide a transition toward self-reliance and good decision making, aid with alcohol and drug addiction and also provide shelter for homeless and/or abused women so that, out of desperation to survive and provide for their children they will not have to resort to crime.
Multiple Options relies on an understanding that helping ex-offenders is not "preferential treatment" but rather a move to a safer and more productive society. Recidivism is a fact; given he proper attention, ex-offenders can re-enter society and become productive instead of the alternative: returning to (possible violent) crime. A Florida study conducted in 2001 shows that inmates were most likely to "re-offend" within the first six months after release.
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VAP97012603-26JAN1997-VANCOUVER-CANADA: Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner recount funny stories and antecdotes to thousands of delighted fans attending a Star Trek Convention at Vancouver's Trade and Convention Center, Jan.26th. UPI/ H. Ruckemann
United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.
With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.


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EDMONTON - The Taylor Hall at centre experiment is over.
At least for now.
With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returning to the lineup Monday against the New Jersey Devils and Hall struggling in the middle, head coach Dallas Eakins decided to make the change.
"It's not a huge deal, it's not as though I was made to be a centre or I was drafted as a centre or anything like that, I'm fine with it," Hall said following practice Sunday. "If Dallas wants me to play centre in the future, I'll do that, but I'm comfortable on the wing now and I'm excited."
Hall will be reunited with his partners in crime in Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle on the Oilers top line against the Devils. Last year, they were the team's most productive unit.
"It's great playing with them, there is not a lot that has to be said about it, we've spent a lot of time together since Nuge got in the league," Hall said. "Ebs and I started together, we've played a lot, and having Nu


text: Issue 225: Ability to send synthetic mouse events to windows http://code.google.com/p/xmonad/issues/detail?id=225 Comment #1 by fnordo.baggins: I hope that also could be used to implement a "focus-click-passthrough" for the click-to-focus model. -- You received this message because you are listed in the owner or CC fields of this issue, or because you starred this issue. You may adjust your issue notification preferences at: http://code.google.com/hosting/settings


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Finnish Music Teacher's Sweet Bronx Memories
There's a Finnish jazz singer in Sweden for whom the Bronx will always be a high note.
In 1998, Johanna Grussner, a native of the Aland Islands of Finland and a graduate student in jazz performance at the Manhattan School of Music, began working as a music teacher at Public School 86 in the Bronx. There she won accolades for turning 80 fifth and sixth graders, many of them with behavior problems, into a chorus so good that it made it to the semifinals of a national gospel contest.
In May 2001, Ms. Grussner and the chorus were in the news when she led 24 students on a weeklong trip to her Alands homeland. The children, from a poor to working-class black and Hispanic area in Kingsbridge Heights, socialized with the children of Finnish farmers, artisans and ship workers, and performed with a local choir.
After returning to New York, Ms. Grussner announced that she would not be back at P.S. 86 in September 2001. She wanted to pursue a career in jazz, she said, and because her muscular dystrophy could put her in a wheelchair someday, she wanted to be closer to her family. She would, she said, deeply miss her young singers.
From Stockholm, where she now lives a two-hour ferry ride from her family, Ms. Grussner, 30, said recently that her current medley of musical work included performing as a jazz singer with two guitarists and a percussionist.Continue reading the main story
''It's getting there,'' she said of the group, which appeared last month at a major jazz club in Stockholm. She also teaches jazz courses at a conservatory and directs an amateur choir -- this time of singers 60 and older.
She stays in touch with many of her Bronx singers by mail, she said, and has seen many during several visits back to New York. ''I miss their enthusiasm and willingness to learn and their sound and their hugs and kisses,'' she said. As a result, she added, ''I want eventually to make a living on my performances, but to have a children's choir on the side.''
As for the P.S. 86 chorus, it ended with her departure, said Margie Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the city's Department of Education. ''A lot of times teachers bring a specialty,'' she said, and ''being able to conduct a chorus'' was the one that Ms. Grussner brought.
Out of the Zone And Into the Courts
One thing -- the only thing -- the opposing parties agree on: It is one of the longest-running court battles against New York City in memory.
In the 1980's, Peter Sudarsky, until then a small-scale developer, planned a 17-story apartment building on a site he had assembled on the East Side. But while he met delays in seeking a building permit, the city rezoned the area to make eight stories the maximum for new construction.
Mr. Sudarsky said he lost $14 million in development and other costs when his plan was aborted. In three lawsuits since 1989, he has argued that the city's behavior amounted to taking property from him, and he has demanded ''just compensation'' for his losses. The courts have dismissed all three suits.
Still undaunted, he is now asking a federal appeals court to reverse itself and rescind the latest dismissal. Saying he is acting as his own lawyer because he can no longer afford one, Mr. Sudarsky, 73, contended last week that the courts had relied on misrepresentations by the city and said he had never had a ''trial on the merits.'' A city lawyer, Sharyn Rootenberg, said his case had no merits.Continue reading the main story


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On June 3, 2016, a motion for authority to obtain debtor-in-possession financing was filed in the bankruptcy case of ESCO Marine, Inc. and its affiliates.
The filing was assigned docket number 548 and is described on the court's official docket as follows:
Motion for Approval of Commercial Insurance Premium Finance and Security Agreement to Meet Its Worker's Compensation Requirements . Objections/Request for Hearing Due in 21 days. Filed by Debtor ESCO Marine, Inc. Hearing scheduled for 6/10/2016 at 09:00 AM. (Attachments: # (1) Proposed Order) (Ayers, Roderick)
ESCO Marine, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection, or had an involuntary bankruptcy petition filed against it, on March 7, 2015. The bankruptcy case is pending before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas . The case number for the lead bankruptcy case is 15-20107. The bankruptcy case is currently assigned to United States Bankruptcy Judge Richard Schmidt. The law firm of Langley Banack Inc. is acting as lead bankruptcy counsel to ESCO Marine, Inc. in the bankruptcy case.


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There's more than a whiff of market panic in the air. Still, the underlying concerns about a slowing global economy are real.
The seemingly never-ending sovereign debt problems of Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland are eroding investor confidence. The emergency meetings and temporary patches put together by shell-shocked European Union leaders are starting to backfire. The favored tactic of "kicking the problem down the road" is working. The chatter is all about "Lehman 2."
The bitter, needless debt-limit crisis in Washington alienated investors. The federal government's fiscal flexibility is stymied by political gridlock and state and local government's are cutting back. Yet the economy managed to eke out a mere 0.8% annual rate of growth in the first half of the year. Manufacturing is slow (previously a bright spot) and consumers are once again battening down the hatches, saving more and consuming less.
The gap between a growth recession and an outright recession is remarkably thin. I would expect the Federal Reserve, which took a quiet back seat during the debt-limit fight, will start taking action to shore up the economy.
With interest rates so low and heading lower (hard to believe) the Fed will probably turn to unorthodox monetary techniques.
How should people go about protecting themselves? I wouldn't join in the panic. It's a simple point but it bears repeating.
Fact is, many people saving for their retirement in a 401(k) and 403(b) have gotten far more conservative with their investments over the past 5 turbulent years. In this sense your portfolio may be fairly well structured already.
The time-honored tactic of diversification - mentioned in the Talmud and praised by Shakespeare - remains one of the more powerful ways to protect your finances from the downside. I would emphasize that you'll pick a certain amount of additional safety if you're diversified into high quality investments, everything from FDIC insured savings accounts to blue chip dividend paying stocks. The good news is that America's major multinational corporations have never been so flush with cash, and the quarterly earnings reports have been good. I expect the opportunity to snap up good companies at a discount will lure investors back into the market.
Longer term, if your still find yourself nervous even after the financial scares of recent years, I would opportunistically hike the amount of cash in your portfolio. Sure, you'll get a zero to less-than-zero return, but your money will be safe. In other words, sell down to the sleeping point. Not tomorrow. All you'll do is lock in losses. But over a long period of time.
I've always liked this story about J.P. Morgan, the great 19th century financier. The tale goes that a man was in a panic after putting all his money into the stock market. He wanted to be rich, but if the stock market crashed he was financially ruined. He couldn't sleep. One day, seeing the imposing figure of Morgan on a street, he summoned up his courage, and asked, "Mr. Morgan, I've investing all my money in the stock market and I can't sleep. I'm a wreck. What should I do?" Morgan replied, "Sell down to the sleeping point."
Again, my feeling is that after the housing bust, the credit crunch, the Great Contraction, the anemic recovery, Europe's sovereign debt issues, and the risk of default on U.S government debt that most investors are pretty well positioned to weather the financial storm.


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Detail Information
- Stochastic modeling of light scattering with fluorescence using a Monte Carlo-based multiscale approachMilos Sormaz
Institute of Fluid Dynamics, , Sonneggstrasse 3, , Switzerland
J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 26:1403-13. 2009..It is also shown that optical dot gain is accurately predicted for the whole ink coverage range...
- Stochastic modeling of polarized light scattering using a Monte Carlo based stencil methodMilos Sormaz
Institute of Fluid Dynamics, , Sonneggstrasse 3, , Switzerland
J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 27:1100-10. 2010..The agreement is excellent, and it could be demonstrated that a significant speedup of the simulations is achieved due to the stencil approach compared with the classical Monte Carlo...
- Influence of linear birefringence in the computation of scattering phase functionsMilos Sormaz
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Institute of Fluid Dynamics, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
J Biomed Opt 15:055010. 2010..For large particles, comparisons of the resulting backscattering Mueller matrices show significant differences even for small Δn values...
- Contrast improvement by selecting ballistic-photons using polarization gatingMilos Sormaz
Institute of Fluid Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ETH, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Opt Express 18:23746-55. 2010..A possible experimental setup is discussed in the conclusions...


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December 1, 2003
My Brothers,
In the last three Education sessions, I've introduced the idea of Masonic Frameworks as a way of understanding what we do, and why. One is the Framework of Philosophy, which is the approach to our personal development in Masonry. One is the Framework of Piety, which is giving justice to the GAOTU and to each other. And one is the Framework of Fellowship which teaches us that to meet our needs we must learn to meet others' needs - to receive, we must give.
Now, our Worshipful Master made a point of asking me to talk for ten minutes tonight, but I think we've pretty much covered it. I mean, after looking out for ourselves, the Divine, and each other, what more is there to learn, or say?
Well, there is one small question left, "Why - are - we - here?" Why, my Brothers, are we here and not at home or out doing something else? Why are we unlike the other 200 lodge Brothers who are not here tonight? Have they finished their personal development? Have they learned all there is to know about their Masonic relationship with the GAOTU? Have they fulfilled their need for Fellowship? Are they tired of driving down to the Lodge or did they just sort of run out of energy?
What is it about us tonight, here in this building we call the Lodge, that makes us different from those who are not? Could it be a matter of energy? Is it that we, who are here, have the energy to search for answers? And, if so, where do we get this energy, and how do we hang on to it? So many questions…
First, let's clarify the meaning of the word, "Lodge". We frequently address it as though it were a physical thing, a thing of rooms and walls and chairs. It is not a physical thing. Lodge is not a building. Lodge is not a scheduled period of time on a calendar. Lodge is not the agenda of a Stated Meeting or even Degree work. Lodge is, by definition, a certain number of Brothers, duly assembled with the holy writings, square, and compasses. We ARE the Lodge. Lodge is you.
Beyond the Frameworks of Philosophy, Piety, and Fellowship, there is a fourth Framework, one right under our noses (so to speak) but not obvious in the ritual, lectures, or literature. We'll call it the Framework of Energy.
Our work in this Lodge, tonight, is energized by the combination of our individuality, our personalities and philosophies, our enthusiasm, our strengths and weaknesses, our wants and needs, … our hopes. It is the Divine life spark in each of us that powers this Lodge, and by coming together, makes this energy unique in all of history. And throughout Masonry, each Lodge has a different current, as different as the Brothers who charge it up. The genius of Masonry is in this Framework of Energy, and how it shifts and flows with each new combination of Brothers. It is why each Lodge of Brothers is different, and why Masonry is universally the same. What we do with this energy is the key to our Masonic life and work.
My Brothers, this Lodge, tonight, is opportunity. Its energy is right here, Right NOW!, and gone tomorrow. Powered by the Divine spark in each of us, this energy is of us, and by us, and for us. We are bound together within it to give to it what we can, and, we are blessed together within it to take from it what we need. It is by this Framework that our Masonic work gets done. Without it, we become the missing Brothers, tired, stalled out along the way, and literally out of energy. But we, by being here tonight, have created our Framework of Energy, our Lodge, and have given ourselves opportunity that is one of the secret mysteries of Masonry. The Divine spark in each of us, brought together in Lodge, merged and blended and energized, is the source that charges and recharges our Masonic batteries.
And it keeps going, and going, and going….
Br. Stephen C. Harrington