text:
reprinted without permission from Rolling Stone, July
9, 1992
"I can remember hiding from my friends in here one time," says Chris Cornell, stepping into a long, dark tunnel beneath an overpass that seems out of place in the wooded area he's been walking through. "I crawled up in that crevice and waited until they went by."
It's pitch black as Soundgarden's charismatic frontman walks deeper into the woods, the treetops blocking out the moonlight. But Cornell's customary stride -- huge, clomping steps, the toes of his combat boots pointed slightly outward -- makes him seem like he ought to be hacking down plants with a machete. It's clear that he's been on this path often. Soon he reaches a clearing and the bank of Lake Washington, a quiet stretch of water that filters into Lake Union and eventually -- via a lock and the Puget Sound -- into the Pacific. "You could get to Hawaii from right here if you wanted," says Cornell proudly, sitting down on a boulder and pointing to a spot in the water. "You'd have to have a big boat, but you could do it if you had a big boat."
It's early March, and the members of Soundgarden are home in Seattle for a week. Cornell's band mates are scattered around town tonight, but the singer, not up for anything energetic, has chosen to sneak away to this bird and plant sanctuary, known as Foster Island, and be interviewed in relative peace. At week's end, Soundgarden will leave for London to headline a month-long theater tour. With a U.S. jaunt looming after that, followed by a European trek with Guns N' Roses and Faith No More that will return the group to the States just in time to begin the Lollapalooza festival in July, this is probably the only time off the band will see until fall. But a show in Vancouver, British Columbia, and a pair of gigs at Seattle's Paramount Theater will eat up the end of the week, and most of the group's time until then will be spent with reporters -- many of whom will prove obsessed with a topic the members of Soundgarden are weary of discussing.
In recent months, mainstream America has "discovered" Seattle, and Soundgarden's quaint, folksy hometown has been war-torn by a cavalcade of A&R men with dollar signs in their eyes, out-of-town musicians hoping to be anointed on the city's fertile soil and journalists hot on the trail of the Next Big Thing -- most of whose hasty dispatches have compressed Seattle's rich musical history into a superficial amalgam of coffee, beer, damp basements and flannel shirts.
"It's just the way that people are perceiving the whole scene right now that gets kind of annoying," says the band's outgoing drummer, Matt Cameron. "They don't understand the history of it or the importance of it. There's this blind acceptance for any band from Seattle."
Worse, a good many of the writers documenting the scene have suffered from historical amnesia. "The only time I get real miffed," says Cameron, "is when people think of all the Seattle bands out of chronological order. We were one of the first ones to sign a major-label deal to come out of that amazingly fertile scene that peaked around '86, '87. And we were kind of the guinea pigs for what was going to happen with a lot of the other bands. And here we are -- we're still doing it. But they think that Nirvana's the first band from Seattle."
Not that Cameron and his band mates begrudge Nirvana its rocket ride to the top of the charts. They are friendly with the band, expressing only pride and good wishes over Nirvana's success.
Besides, having just begun to get a taste of mainstream acceptance and its privacy-gobbling side effects, the members of Soundgarden aren't so sure they want it. All of them -- and especially Cornell, who says he is prone to depression and admits to being something of a hermit -- seem put off by the heightened-recognition factor. They also wonder if the intensity of their music might be diluted by mass exposure.
"Sometimes I feel like it's cheapened by the process of spreadingit so thin over such a wide area," says the band's bassist, Ben Shepherd. "People want to take so much, analyzing the lyrics and trying to figure out 'Did you really mean that?' or 'You said that to me, didn't you?' That cheapens it. That makes it old. Sometimes it makes you feel like you're living in a land of cows that just don't think."
Whether they would be comfortable standing in Nirvana's shoes or not, it's understandable that the members of Soundgarden -- a band whose EPs on Sub Pop have been cited by Kurt Cobain as the reason Nirvana signed with the label to record Bleach -- might find all this Seattle hysteria, with its bungled chronology, a little hard to take. Contrary to popular belief, Soundgarden didn't just spring into existence after "Smells Like Teen Spirit" turned Seattle into a wanna-be stomping ground. They've been around a little longer than that. Eight years, three albums and two EPs longer, to be exact.
"There was a certain trippy specialness, you know?" says Kim Thayil. It's the day after Cornell's trip to Foster Island, and Soundgarden's amiable guitarist is piloting his beat-up van around Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood, outlining the band's history and occasionally pointing out his old haunts. "You'd go check out all your friends, the guys in Green River and Skin Yard and the Melvins. . . . Now it's like you're on one end of the country, and they're on the other. I really miss them. I used to be able to drive anywhere and see some friend of mine, hang out. Now every time I come home, I look around and go, 'Fuck, who the hell are these people, where'd they come from?'"
As best as anyone can tell, the seeds that would eventually become Soundgarden were sown in 1981, when Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto (who would serve as the band's bassist until 1988), living in Park Forest, Illinois, and having kicked around in local bands for a few years, graduated from Rich East, an alternative high school. Wanting to continue their educations in a similar manner, the two set out for Olympia, Washington, planning to enroll at the progressive Evergreen State College. Unable to find jobs once they got to Olympia, and admiring the crop of bands that had sprung up in Seattle, where Thayil had lived until the age of five, they moved there instead. Thayil enrolled at the University of Washington, where he eventually earned a degree in philosophy.
Probably the earliest incarnation of Soundgarden was a short-lived cover band called the Shemps, which was founded by Thayil's roommate, a guitarist named Matt Dentino. Cornell, then nineteen, had started out as a drummer, but he wanted more musical input than drummers were typically allowed. "I always figured I would just end up being such a good drummer that the best band in the world would ask me to be in it," says Cornell. "I guess I lost that attitude pretty quick." Deciding to try singing, Cornell answered Dentino's vocalist-wanted ad. When Cornell joined the Shemps, Yamamoto was playing bass; he subsequently quit and was replaced by Thayil.
"When I met Chris," says Thayil, "my first impression was that he was some guy who just got out of the navy or something. He had real short hair and was dressed real slick. He had a great voice -- even though we were doing shitty material." As Thayil tells it, Dentino was "obsessed with people who died," and the Shemps' repertoire consisted almost entirely of Doors, Hendrix, Otis Redding and Buddy Holly tunes. Their only original was a snappy Dentino composition called "Marilyn Monroe" ("We're all looking for Marilyn Monroe/She's just a girl that I could go for . . .").
Cornell and Thayil often crossed paths with Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd around this time. Cameron was drumming in a band called Feedback, which would eventually evolve into Skin Yard, and Shepherd was the guitarist for a local hardcore outfit called March of Crimes. That band's biggest claim to fame, says Shepherd, was a tape that sold a few copies in Finland. "And," he adds, "we got to meet Jello Biafra [of the Dead Kennedys] because he liked our name."
By 1984, the Shemps were history, and Cornell, looking to get away from a flaky roommate, had moved in with Yamamoto. "I was a drummer, and he was a bass player," says Cornell, "so it was sort of like the law that we had to start a band." After jamming around with a number of guitarists, the two invited Thayil into the fold. Christening themselves Soundgarden after a pipe sculpture in Seattle's Sand Point that makes unearthly howling noises in the wind, the trio began gigging, Cornell doubling on drums and vocals. The band's first show was with a New York band called Three Teens Kill Four; its second was with the Melvins and Husker Du.
After enlisting drummer Scott Sundquist to free Cornell up for frontman duties, the band gigged around for a year, and in 1986, they began recording, contributing two songs -- "Heretic" and "All Your Lies" -- to a CZ Records compilation album called Deep Six, which also featured the Melvins, the U-Men, Skin Yard (with Matt Cameron), Malfunkshun and Green River. (Green River would eventually splinter into Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone, the latter fronted by Malfunkshun singer Andy Wood.) By most accounts, it was Deep Six that sent the first brigade of major-label A&R reps to Seattle in the Eighties.
Sundquist, who had a wife and kids, bowed out of Soundgarden the same year. After some prodding, Cornell, Thayil and Yamamoto lured Cameron away from Skin Yard, and the four began recording their first Sub Pop EP, 1987's Screaming Life. The followed up in 1988 with a second EP, Fopp. Built around droning funk-metal and dub versions of the Ohio Players song, the EP foreshadowed Soundgarden's bent for offbeat covers, the most shining recent example being a bone-crunching treatment of Devo's "Girl U Want."
By this time, A&M had come a-courting, but the band members chose to stay on the indie circuit and sign with SST -- home of the postpunk bands they idolized -- to record their first full-length LP, 1988's Grammy-nominated Ultramega OK. A&M's persistence eventually won out, though, and the label signed them later that year.
Soundgarden began work on its A&M debut, Louder Than Love, in December of 1988. Just after the album's release, in the fall of 1989, Yamamoto, who wanted to return to school, left the band. Left in a lurch, with a tour already booked, Soundgarden began auditioning bass players. Ben Shepherd was among those who showed up, but though the band liked his style, he didn't know the songs. Jason Everman, who did know them, got the gig. But after the tour, Everman (who had previously worn out his welcome with Nirvana in record time) was history. "Jason just didn't work out," says Thayil.
It was right around this time that Mother Love Bone singer Andy Wood -- who had been friends with the members of Soundgarden and a onetime roommate of Cornell's -- died of an overdose.
"When Andy died," remembers Thayil, "I started thinking how there was nobody like him. And Chris was thinking this. I remember we were drinking, and Chris goes, 'I've been thinking about Ben a lot, because there's something in his spirit that Andy had.' We said, 'You know, Ben is that kind of person -- he's just one, there's just sort of one Ben.' And we thought: 'Jesus, it just makes sense to honor that kind of talent. Okay, let's get Ben.'"
Shepherd joined Soundgarden in 1990, and his band mates say that his vast knowledge of music and skill as a writer have redfined the band. It's also a safe bet that he keeps them fairly entertained. The bassist, who is tall and reed thin and carries himself with shoulders hunched and both hands jammed in his pockets, has the punk instinct written all over him, but his manner of speaking -- softly, with a hint of a drawl and a tendency toward out-of-the-blue profundities -- gives him the air of some seen-it-all storyteller type you might meet at the racetrack or running a pawnshop. "He has the soul of a true artist," says Cameron. "He just has a unique approach to everything."
The last two months of 1990 were spent recording Temple of the Dog, a stunning Andy Wood tribute album that was a collaboration between Cameron, Cornell (who wrote seven of the ten tracks), Mother Love Bone's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, and Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder of Gossard and Ament's future band, Pearl Jam. By the spring of 1991, the members of Soundgarden were back in the studio, recording the Grammy-nominated Badmotorfinger, their most recent album. It was also their first to go gold -- which is surprising if you consider the band's history of critical acclaim, but not if you consider the music itself.
"We don't make pop records," says Cameron, and he's putting it lightly. While Nirvana's songs are ridden with catchy Beatlesque hooks that make them more palatable for mainstream record buyers, Soundgarden's material is far more esoteric. The songs are less structured -- sometimes wending all over the place -- and when Cornell strays from his sleepy baritone, his upper-register vocals can be bloodcurdling. With only a few exceptions ("Get on the Snake," from Louder Than Love; "Outshined," from Badmotorfinger), the band's songs all occupy the span of the accessibility scale that ranges from "airplay, are you kidding?" to "maybe on a college station." The songs range from plodding dirges ("Beyond the Wheel," from Ultramega) to wrecking-ball blues ("Incessant Mace," from Ultramega; "Holy Water," from Badmotorfinger) to teeth-rattling hardcore ("Tears to Forget," from Screaming Life; "Circle of Power," from Ultramega). Then there are songs best just described as "Soundgarden," eccentric loners at the musical party. Most of the band's releases contain a few, but Badmotorfinger has the lion's share, among them the dreamy, mystical travelogues "Searching With My Good Eye Closed" and "Mind Riot"; "Jesus Christ Pose," a track so assaultive and strobelike that listening to it makes you feel edgy; "Face Pollution," a hardcore car chase with a mind-blowing pentatonic guitar break that ping-pongs all over the fretboard; and the majestic, grittily ceremonial "Somewhere," which sounds like "Pomp and Circumstance" colliding with "Wild Thing."
Soundgarden's hooks aren't the kind that play Souse marches in your head all day if you hear them in the morning. Rather, they sneak up on you cat-burglar style, ethereal snippets of lullaby and mood-altering chord progressions that appear from nowhere and often disappear just as quickly.
Cornell's lyrics, too, are probably an intellectual stretch for the typical MTV viewer. Although the pervading gloom and cynicism of Cornell's writing provides a certain in-your-face aspect, what really sets Soundgarden apart is the singer's flair for metaphor. Even on autobiographical material, Cornell keeps most of his cards up his sleeve: His songs are surreal word paintings, with a distinct visual quality that probably goes underappreciated by the let's-party-dude set. "The hand of God's got a ring about the size of Texas," he sings on Screaming Life's "Hand of God." Badmotorfinger's "Mind Riot" finds Cornell "tightrope walking in two-ton shoes."
"That's the way I like to read poetry or hear lyrics," says Cornell. "Things that are really personal song after song are irritating. A lot of lyricists are that way: 'Me, me, me, Me again. More me.' I don't think that a listener can necessarily relate to that."
After eight years of recording, the members of Soundgarden are well aware that their music isn't everybody's cup of tea. Their status as late bloomers in the mainstream-acceptance sweepstakes seems more a merit badge to them than anything else.
"There's sort of an underdog mentality that helps you pull up your bootstraps when it feels like everyone's against you and you're saying, 'Fuck you,'" says Cornell. "You know, 'I'm different, I'm special, everyone hates me.' That worked for us for years. We loved to play at shows where everyone would sit there with their arms folded; we really fed off of that."
"I can't say we're motivated by anything but achievement," he continues. "And the achievement isn't based on things like Grammy nominations or chart positions. It's based on what we do musically and how we personally feel about it. Nothing could be worse for us, I think, than if we made what we thought was the worst record we'd made, and it ended up selling a lot. I think we're all too self-conscious and prone to disillusionment that that would really make our lives hard as far as wanting to make another record after that."
Cornell says the scenic, one-fan-at-a-time route is preferable for another reason: He and his band mates are more grounded for having adjusted to the limelight -- and the mounting pressures -- gradually.
"There's never been a moment when we just woke up and were successful," he says. "Even the fact that we just went gold -- it wasn't like we were popping bottles of champagne. I mean, it's good to reach that point, and it seems like a really big accomplishment for the kind of band that we are. We've never changed the way we recorded, and I feel really fortunate. But this isn't one of those situations where one day nobody knows who you are, and the next day you've sold a million records."
"We've worked very hard to get where we are," says Cameron. "And it's been a very gradual thing. Once we get past that to where it might be a mass popular thing, we might hate it. And I'm not really in any hurry to get into that situation."
"I was thinking, 'okay, is this gonna be some stupid domino thing, where people think that I'm hostile toward reporters in general, female journalists in specific?'"
Kim Thayil, relaxing in the living room of the apartment he shares with his girlfriend, a law student, is discussing Soundgarden's disappointing showing recently in the Media Darlings Derby. It is fitting that Thayil address the issue, since he is the band member that has been most sorely plagued by it. In a recent Spin article, Thayil was described as "hostile," "edgy," "suspicious" and "petulant." Worse, he unwittinly gave the impression of being a card-carrying sexist when, asked by the writer of the piece about hard rock's being a "male-dominated subculture," he replied with characteristic facetiousness, "As it should be -- fuck, there's plenty of waitress positions open." Unfortunately, the writer thought he was serious.
There was also a nightmarish Sassy article, most of which was devoted to the band members' girl-toy qualities and the rest given over to lurid details about what "weenies" they were to interview. (The most face-saving aspects: Cornell, who was heard at one point muttering, "This reminds me of Spinal Tap," and a piqued Thayil, who responded to yet another sexism-in-rock baiting with a philosophical lecture on the role that societal reward plays in dictating stereotypical male and female activities -- and capped it with "My favorite color is red.")
"We've done interviews for years, and we've had no problems," says Thayil. "Now all of a sudden, this weird sort of other world wants to know about us. When you're used to communicating with certain kinds of writers and you're used to being yourself, and then you get this whole different kind of animal that doesn't understand you when you're being yourself . . . It's like, they're trying to figure out about us, but they don't even know what Sub Pop is."
If the members of Soundgarden have occasionally come across as "weenies" in interview situations, it is probably because a few of them have wiseass tendencies that bubble to the surface when they are presented with less-than-challenging questions. (Asked by one reporter, "What was your reaction to getting the Guns N' Roses tour?" a deadpan Thayil responded, "It wasn't really different from any other reaction. It was just kind of like 'Oh.'") And, although they are courteous when it's warranted, they don't bother to hide their contempt for reporters who insult them. "We're not cartoon characters," says Cameron. "I guess the audience that likes to read about rock bands tends to go for the ones that are more cartoony. I guess that makes better press than seeing some philosophical dissertation on art from a rock musician."
The band members also harbor a distaste for the mainstream media's influence on society in general -- "The media is president," says a disgusted Shepherd; "I'd rather watch people" -- and for the effect that it has begun to have on their audience. On many night during their tours supporting Guns N' Roses and Skid Row, the fans of those bands sat woodenly through Soundgarden's set, only to erupt in frenzy when the band played its MTV hit "Outshined."
"It made me hate the song," says Shepherd, "'cause it means they've been watching too much TV."
"That's what happens in a society when music is exposed and hyped one song at a time," says Cornell. "Whatever soge they grab the ball and run with is the song they're gonna remember you for. There are a few songs that sound like Soundgarden in a nutshell. I don't think "Outshined" is one of them, but that's the one all the kids cheer for. You might play a sing that you feel is the best thing you've done in a while, and it kind of falls on deaf ears; then you play that song half-heartedly, and they love it. It can be depressing if you let it."
Though it's disheartening for the band members to see fans responding to the song in their set that is least representative of their body of work, Cornell chooses to see Soundgarden's growing audience within the mainstream as a challenge. "I don't have that elitist attitude that I want to handpick the people that listen to my music," he says. "And if something that I do artistically moves somebody that I wouldn't necessarily like or get along with, I think that that's great. Almost more so that somebody who's gonna agree with me."
What does he hope the band's newer fans are getting from Soundgarden? "Well, what I hope they're getting is that we're an alternative to what people would like them to listen to, that they can believe in," says Cornell. "And when I say believe in, I mean there's not gonna be a time when we're gonna be doing a Nike commercial or selling Coke to their parents because they bought the record."
"But what I know some fans get out of us," he continues, "is like 'Guys with long hair on television.' And I think in terms of little girls showing up wearing body stockings and hanging out to meet the band -- it's not just girls, there are young guys who feel that way too -- it doesn't matter what you're playing. Just the fact that you're on MTV, that's like this surreal transporter room into a world they can't be part of and they're trying to get to. And in that case, we're a completely interchangeable band. We could be anybody. And that's too bad."
The members of Soundgarden have little patience for glad-handing and picture taking -- something they've been called upon to take part in more often of late -- and it's a safe bet that more than a few fans who've attempted to waylay them have come away with the impression that they're grouches. "That's how we come off sometimes with overzealous fans," says Cameron. "We're not the kind of band that will try to cater to everyone in our audience."
Shepherd says that he tries to give fans the benefit of the doubt, but that there are times when he assumes a mantle of unapproachability to ward them off.
"It's something to be denying people," says the bassist. "When I was a kid, I'd stick up for the underdog; if I saw some kid sitting alone, I'd go talk to him. From that, I know people all over the place, from all different walks of life. Nowadays I'm meeting strangers all the time, and that's a totally different ballgame." With a tense laugh, he adds: "I know all the people I want to know, now. I don't know if I want to meet any more people."
Cornell thinks the band's music should speak for itself. "If someone makes a great album or writes a great book or makes great paintings," he says, "and you meet that person in a hotel lobby and that person is the biggest asshole you ever met in your life, that shouldn't make you hate the book or the record or the painting."
"I don't mind if someone who I don't like likes my band," he adds. "I think that's good. But by the same token, I sure hope that they wouldn't expect to have to like me to like my music. I can assure you that a lot of those people would not like me. And the larger the audience gets, the less chance there is of them liking me."
Soundgarden's "week off" is over, and Cornell can't hide out in the woods any more: He and his cohorts have a show to do. It's four in the afternoon, and not long ago, Soundgarden's van crossed the Canadian border, en route to a gig tonight with the Melvins at Vancouver's 1000-capacity Commodore Ballroom. Thayil is up front in the passenger seat, serving as copilot for the band's road manager. Cameron is listening to something on his Walkman. Shepherd and Cornell, sitting in the back of the van, have been amusing themselves with lighthearted debate on the preferred methods of suicide (hanging yourself is out, they decide, because it's a drag for the person who finds you) and what animals they would like to be (Shepherd thinks it might be kind of cool to be a shark). There has also been some discussion about what to record during an upcoming date with the Peel Sessions people. But for the most part, the four-hour ride has been quiet.
When the van pulls up to the rear entrance of the Commodore, the band is met by a welcoming committee of eight or ten fans who begin mewling to come in and watch the sound check. There is a moment of uneasy silence, the band members thinking of the autograph and photo session that will probably ensue if they consent. Thayil, peering out from beneath the hood of his sweatshirt like a fugutive, deftly passes the buck: "You have to ask our road manager." Cornell, loudly enough to be heard by the road manager but not by the fans, barks out "No!" in an exaggerated Billy Goats Gruff voice. As the van moves slowly past the fans, Cornell continues in a broken-record monotone: "No! . . . No! . . . No! . . ."
Once the van is parked, Shepherd and Cameron depart to do some radio IDs at a station down the block. Cornell and Thayil stick around for a chat with a Canadian journalist. (One of her first questions, directed at Thayil, is "Why do you think hard rock is so male-dominated?") After their interview is finished, the band members scatter for dinner; they return just before the doors of the hall open.
When the Melvins start their set, Shepherd is out front watching happily -- and serving as a self-deputized anti-asshole patrol. At one point, a fan on the floor throws a cup of beer at the stage, and Shepherd, scowling, darts onto the floor like a hawk. He stands behind the fan for a good ten minutes, waiting for a repeat offense. But the rest of the Melvins' set -- a pounding, grinding four-star affair, owing to leader Buzz Osbourne's wigged-out charisma and the band's heavier-than-heavy approach -- passes without further infraction.
By the time Soundgarden takes the stage, the Commodore is packed; within a few bars of the set opener, "Searching With My Good Eye Closed," the floor is a roiling sea of bodies. When Soundgarden is truly in its element -- something that seems to occur most often in halls about this size -- it is difficult to decide who to watch. Cornell spends much of his time during the band's sets rolling on the floor, climbing the lighting rigs and occasionally diving into the pit to bodysurf on the hands of the crowd. Thayil is more low-key; an antithesis to the typical guitar god, he is more substance than flash, an accomplished player who is content to let the sound speak for itself, without any of the usual posturing. Shepherd's unique approach is often just plain funny, so clearly is he in the grip of some sort of goofy possession and not in any conscious control of his actions. Though he rarely seems to miss a note, it's difficult at times to understand why: The bassist lurches around the stage in a tortured, half-crouched gait that leaves him looking like, at turns, a drunken tin soldier and some kind of giant, prehistoric B-movie spider. His bass, which hangs nearly to his knees, more often than not appears to be playing him. "Sometimes that's how it feels," he says with a shy smile, when asked about it.
Canadian fans are a bit more reserved than America's hey-everybody-look-at-me mosh-pit hams, but not much -- and the set that unfolds, which includes songs from Screaming Life to the present, as well as the band's Sherman-tank reworking of Black Sabbath's "Into the Void" -- is a sweaty, intense jaw-dropper. (Tomorrow, after the first of their homecoming gigs at Seattle's Paramount, Shepherd will be spied glumly shaking his head, bummed that the show didn't quite match the energy level of this one.)
Backstage after their set, the members of Soundgarden greet Sebastian Bach, who's dropped by after a local Skid Row gig; they hang around for about an hour before piling back into the van for the long drive home.
About an hour later, back in the U.S., they make a food-and-cigarettes stop at a 7-Eleven. While Thayil is inside, one of the store clerks, who looks to be in his late teens and appears to be rather looped, comes walking up to the van and peers through the front passenger window at Cornell.
"Oh, man, could I get you to sign this?" the kid says in an annoying nasal voice, offering up a scrap of paper. "You're fucking hot, man. You guys, Pearl Jam and fucking everybody. You're fucking hot, man."
The exhausted Cornell, signing the paper, hands it over, and the clerk staggers back into the store. It's quiet in the van.
"Chris," someone says after a few minutes.
Cornell turns around. "Yeah?"
Cornell, looking like he wants to kill, turns back to the front of the van without a word. A few minutes later, he is asleep, dreaming of a world where you can play all of your shows and record all of your records without ever leaving Foster Island, and where phrases like fucking hot have been stricken from the lexicon.


text:
To marry or not to marry
Rishaaan as a rule was a very practical man not easily given to sentimental feelings. He had learnt from his boyhood to take everything in his stride. Some of his associates saw him as an insensitive person incapable of experiencing soft emotions which are eternally celebrated in all arts and literature the world over. Extremes of sorrow or joy were unknown to him.
He accepted whatever that happened in his life with astonishing equanimity. He remained unruffled under all the stormy waves of untoward incidents in his life. The few friends he had regarded him with awe and admiration. They recognised an ascetics stoicism and maturity in his poise and composure. It cannot be said with surety whether it was in his genes as an inherited wealth or just a unique characteristic of his personality. Christ or Buddha or Mohammed with whom he shared a resemblance of nature is a rare birth with rare qualities.
He was unafraid to face challenges life frequently threw at him. His admirable sense of acceptance of all the blows that fate dealt him endeared him to all his friends and relatives. He was a role model, an inspiration to many. He made bold decisions and wise choices refusing to be crushed by adversity which visited him in various forms.
He was the only son of very wealthy parents who were also well educated and highly cultured. He was only twelve as his twin daughters Kaira and Diya when his father suddenly succumbed to massive heart attack. His mother silently and efficiently shouldered the double responsibility of managing his fathers business empire and preparing him as its next successor. She excelled in both being a lady with grit and dignity.
After took over the business responsibility she chose a wife for him suitable in all respects to their family. When the twins were born the familys joy knew no bounds. But his marital bliss was cursed to be short-lived. Even as the couple were happily watching the little girls grow up with sparkling beauty and brilliance fate reared its ugly head on the tenth birthday of the daughters.
After the birthday party was over his wife Thara complained of severe headache. Paracetamol tablet and a good nights sleep failed to relieve her as everybody expected. When the nasty headache aggravated and became unbearable she had to see the doctor. A series of elaborate tests taken revealed the presence of a full-grown tumour in her brain.
Rishaan was stunned by the news. Even before he could fully grasp the gravity of the situation he saw with a sinking heart his beloved wife slipping into coma. The diagnosis of the disease received in its advanced stage left little hope or scope for any medical treatment.
Can we call it Gods mercy that Thara had never become aware of the knowledge that her days were numbered and that she was going to leave her dear family very soon? Living in the lap of luxury, watching the beautiful process of two lovely buds blossoming into radiant flowers of pride and glory, filling her days and nights with colourful dreams of adding more and more glitter to her golden life, expressing her creative imagination in ever so many ways, Thara was rightly delighting in the feeling of being on top of the world till that awful onslaught of a headache. Her life was a brimming cup of joy. And exactly in that state she had gone into coma except for the brief consciousness of excruciating pain caused by the headache. What a blessing it is to die without the slightest taste of any disappointment, disagreement or disillusionment!
She was also spared the anguish of seeing her dear kin suffering the pangs of sorrow at the imminent tragedy. In this hour of family crisis Rishaans mother rose to the occasion as usual and stood as a pillar of concrete support to the family. Rishaan swallowed his sorrow and remained at her bedside with utmost devotion. Thara passed away peacefully much earlier than the time the doctors had allowed her malady to take away her life.
Unlike Rishaan his daughters Kiara and Diya were shattered completely. The impact of the loss of their doting mother was devastating. No amount of fathers love or grandmas care could alleviate their grief. They were hysterical and struggled to cope with such a huge tragedy. Time seemed to take time to heal them.
Rishaans mother resorted to the only age-old solution in such a situation. She convinced her son of the necessity of his remarriage. He trusted her sagacity. She used her discernment again to choose a bride for him. Sona, their distant relative living in Goa was her choice. The elders had come to an agreement about the alliance. But it was a very delicate and difficult matter to make Kiara and Diya see the advisability of this arrangement.
About to enter the portals of teenage the precocious girls were a bundle of mood swings and temper tantrums. A herculean task it was to make them believe the vacuum left by their bereavement can be filled only by the entry of another woman. It was impossible for both of them to imagine another woman in the place of their dear mother. In the midst of their peeves and prejudices the little girls did not fail to realise the fact that their grandma ruled the roost and her decisions were final.
Kiara and Diya were identical twins. They looked alike and dressed alike. But the similarity ended there. They were both very different in their tastes, temperaments, attitudes and reactions. At times they behaved like the most affectionate sisters on earth. Very soon they would be at each others throats fighting like fierce cats. It was highly unpredictable what might spark off sibling rivalry.
Thara had been a wonderful bridge between them and she beautifully sorted out their differences. The girls were very fond of her and obeyed her implicitly. They missed her so much that they felt blinded by a pall of darkness which made them grope pathetically to find a way to come out of the emptiness filling their hearts. Desperately they looked upon the remaining parent to alleviate their pain.
After they were told about their fathers remarriage they turned more aggressive than ever. They vehemently resisted the move. The very idea was odious to them. They found it impossible to come to terms with the prospect of sharing their dear father, the sole remaining parent, with a new woman who will be vested with unlimited authority over them all-father and daughters.
Irked by the proceedings hastening towards the next horrible misfortune in their life both the girls evinced their feelings differently. Kiara became more possessive towards Rishaan and literally clung to him like a vice. Diya, on the other hand, glowered angrily at her father and kept aloof. She drew herself away from him in vengeful hatred. Rishaan being the matured man that he was easily understood the feelings of the little girls and spared no effort, missed no chance to show his unchanged, unchangeable affection for them.
By way of paving the way for their amicable acceptance of Sona into their home Rishaans mother arranged for a meeting between Sona and the girls. From his knowledge of Sona Rishaan was hopeful of her winning over the hearts of his rebellious daughters. So he boarded the plane with the girls with optimism in his heart and tried his best to spread cheer. But the clear manifestations of their rancour filled him with trepidation. He was increasingly conscious of growing ill-feeling from the way they behaved.
In the middle of the flight, Kiara woke up to go to the washroom. When she returned, she was too lazy to push her way into the middle seat. And with Rishaan readily offering to shift seats, the seating arrangement changed. With 20 minutes still remaining for the flight to land, a sleep starved Kiara took another power nap, this time holding Rishaan's right hand more firmly. Rishaan's other hand, though, nervously moved to touch Diya's. Her heart skipped a beat. Diya pulled her hand away. But a defiant Rishaan held her wrist again, this time firmly and more reassuringly. The changing behavioral dynamics between the three perhaps gave out a foreboding of what was to come in Goa.
When the flight landed at the Dabolim Airport, Rishaan felt uncanny...his excitement seemed replaced by an unknown fear that he found very difficult to decipher. Nightmarish scenes of his jealous daughters coming out with all fangs, claws, nails and teeth to injure Sona flit across his mind. Was it unwise on his part to take the grieving girls to meet a woman in whom they saw a potential enemy? He was horrified to think of the possibility of ugly scenes taking place in Sonas house.
Rishaan who was a nonpareil manager in his business world felt diffident of the success of his present mission. Was he underestimating the force of antagonism burning in their bosoms? While one wanted to be glued to him the other recoiled from him. Though paradoxical was the exhibition of their animosity it was unmistakably there deeply rooted in their hearts.
Will his positive outlook and sincere involvement conquer the negative vibes and war signals his daughters sent? It is no wonder then that a strange sense of foreboding swept over the father flanked by two live dynamites ready to go off any moment.
The signs of emotional trauma the girls showed were ominous. What fiendish drama was waiting to be played? Are we not all puppets in the hands of Fate? Is there anything anyone can predict with accuracy in this world? The supreme suspense continues to kill with thrill.
(A contest entry for TOI spinning a yarn around a given passage from another author.)

subset: commoncrawl


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"For my best friends birthday, I went all out in MY favorite color with my pink placemats, drinking glasses and my rhinestone glitzy bow napkin rings wrapped in not one- but two napkins. I folded both a white and a pink napkin together to get that perfect shape to fit beautifully into my bows. For her special day , I served spaggheti squash baked ziti, a big hearty salad (every girls favorite) , artichoke bottoms, bruchetta, parmesan truffle french fries and last noodles with pesto. A deliciouse meal brings a smile to everyone
Recipe by Gladys Bawabeh
P.S. Send in your party pics, table settings, recipes, for all Jewish Hostesses to share! send to email@example.com!


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Your pregnancy and baby guide
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There are no rules about when to start having sex again after you have given birth.
You'll probably feel sore as well as tired after your baby is born, so don't rush into it.
If sex hurts, it won't be pleasurable. You may want to use a personal lubricant, available from pharmacies, to begin with.
Hormonal changes after birth can make your vagina feel drier than usual.
You may be worried about changes to your body or getting pregnant again. Men may worry about hurting their partner.
It might be some time before you want to have sex. Until then, both of you can carry on being loving and close in other ways.
If you or your partner have any worries, talk about them together. You can talk with your health visitor or GP if you need some more help.
Tips for starting sex again after birth
- If penetration hurts, say so. If you pretend that everything's all right when it isn't, you may start to see sex as a nuisance or unpleasant, rather than a pleasure. You can still give each other pleasure without penetration – for example, by mutual masturbation.
- Take it gently. Perhaps explore with your own fingers first to reassure yourself that sex won't hurt. You may want to use some personal lubricant. Hormonal changes after childbirth may mean you aren't as lubricated as usual.
- Make time to relax together. You're more likely to make love when your minds are on each other rather than other things.
- Get help if you need it. If you're still experiencing pain when you have your postnatal check, talk to your GP.
Contraception after having a baby
You can get pregnant as little as 3 weeks after the birth of a baby, even if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't started again.
Unless you want to get pregnant again, it's important to use some kind of contraception every time you have sex after giving birth, including the first time.
You'll usually have a chance to discuss contraception before you leave hospital after your baby is born, and again at your postnatal check.
You can also talk to your GP or health visitor, or go to a family planning clinic, at any time.
Read more about contraception after having a baby.
Sexual health charities Brook and FPA have interactive tools that can help you decide which method of contraception is best for you:
You can also search for your local NHS contraception service.
Contraception and breastfeeding
You're unlikely to have any periods if you breastfeed exclusively (give your baby breast milk only) and your baby is under 6 months old.
Because of this, some women use breastfeeding as a form of natural contraception. This is known as the lactational amenorrhoea method, or LAM.
It's important to start using another form of contraception if:
- your baby is more than 6 months old
- you give them anything else apart from breast milk, such as a dummy, formula or solid foods
- your periods start again (even light spotting counts)
- you stop night feeding
- you start to breastfeed less often
- there are longer intervals between feeds, both during the day and at night
The effect of expressing breast milk on LAM isn't known, but it may make it less effective.
Page last reviewed: 04/10/2019
Next review due: 04/10/2022


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Michael Kors MK 8412 - Similar searches: Michael Kors MK 8412


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Jones Soda Debuts Tofurky and Gravy Flavor
Because turkey isn't the only protein on people's Thanksgiving tables, this year Jones Soda is offering the vegetarian-friendly Tofurky and Gravy Soda as part of their limited edition gift pack ($11.99). The pack comes with three bottles of the special Tofurky soda along with three bottles of more palatable flavors (black cherry, pomegranate, and vanilla bean), and a Tofurky lunch box. For each case sold, Jones Soda will donate $1 to the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). [via BevNET]
Dungeons and Dragons-Themed Jones Soda
Video: How to Make Your Own Soda
Video: Talking Soda Pop with John Nese of Galco's in Los Angeles


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I am happy to introduce my friend and fellow author Elizabeth Heiter. I had a chance to read her new book HUNTED, and suspense lovers out there are in for a treat! Please welcome Elizabeth, who is here today with a behind-the-scenes look at her new novel. –Laura Griffin
Is there such a thing as the perfect murder?
As a suspense writer, I like the idea of a (fictional!) killer who's too good. Someone who thinks he can stage the perfect murder.
Most crimes are solved by good, solid police work. There's a standard trail – motive, means, and opportunity. But what happens if that trail fails? What if the killer chooses random victims he doesn't know? What if he's skilled in forensic countermeasures?
What happens if there's no obvious trail to follow? There are no witnesses. Interviews lead nowhere. Physical evidence is nonexistent. Is it a perfect murder, a case destined to go cold?
Or maybe the police call in a criminal investigative analyst (commonly called a profiler).
A profiler is a professional, usually someone with degrees in fields like psychology and criminology, who can look at a crime scene and unravel the behavioral evidence – which basically means she can get inside the killer's head. She knows what he's thinking from the way the body was or wasn't staged, from the elements of the crime itself, from the location and victim choice.
This field fascinates me (as you can probably tell from the picture of me with some of the research books I read prior to creating my own profiler for my debut suspense, HUNTED). How do you think like a killer? And what does that do to you, case after case?
For my purposes, I was creating an FBI profiler. Before she could even enter that field, she had to become a regular Special Agent. So, while I was getting into the nitty gritty of profiling, I also needed to learn FBI protocol, SA (Special Agent) slang, and how to shoot a weapon. To do that meant more research. Books provided a base knowledge, but interviews with current and former FBI agents filled in the details. And having an SA read my debut for accuracy gave me even more insight.
Once I had the FBI basics down, I started looking at cases profilers would tackle. I dug into real, solved cases, following exactly how real profilers went from UNSUB (unknown subject) to arrest. Then, I looked at current, unsolved cases and tried my hand at writing my own profiles. A few of those cases were solved during my research time and I could compare my "profile" to the real result – happily, I found they matched pretty well, telling me there was something to this.
Mostly, I learned to look at every piece of a crime and ask myself, "Why?" Why this victim? Why this signature? Why this location? Why this manner of death? Why, why, why? Once you add up all the "Whys," that should lead you to the most important answer: "Who."
At the end of it all, I decided there's no such thing as a perfect murder, just an imperfect investigation. And behavioral analysis is definitely a key tool in catching a killer who's "too good."
To learn more about my debut suspense novel, HUNTED, about an FBI profiler who chases a serial killer with a track record of being "uncatchable," visit my website at www.elizabethheiter.com.
(An advanced copy of HUNTED – before it hits stores! – will be given to one commenter!)


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US Sen. Mark Kirk has gallbladder removed
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, who returned to Congress after suffering stroke last year, had his gallbladder removed Monday due to an unrelated medical issue.
Kirk underwent surgery around 9:30 a.m. Monday at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and was resting comfortably by early afternoon, Dr. Kim Sobinsky, who performed the procedure, told The Associated Press.
The Highland Park Republican checked into the hospital Saturday after experiencing stomach pains. After conducting tests, including an MRI, doctors determined Kirk had gallstones, hard deposits that can form in the gallbladder. According to the Mayo Clinic, gallstones are common and occur in about 10 to 15 percent of adults in the United States.
"This really had nothing to do with the stroke," Sobinsky said.
The hospital said Kirk had his gallbladder removed in a "minimally invasive" procedure that lasted about 30 minutes. Sobinsky said doctors made four incisions in the senator's abdomen, the largest about a centimeter long and the others half that length. Sobinsky said there were no complications and that Kirk could be released from the hospital as early as Tuesday.
The 54-year-old Kirk made a triumphant return to Congress last year after suffering a stroke in January 2012 that left him partially paralyzed on his left side and blind in one quadrant of his left eye. While physical challenges remain, Kirk's doctors have said the senator's stamina has increased over time. Kirk plans to run for re-election in 2016.
Kirk spokesman Lance Trover said the senator will miss votes in Washington this week before Congress breaks for holiday recess. Trover said these are the first votes Kirk has missed since his return.
Follow Kerry Lester Twitter at https://twitter.com/kerrylester


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The Defense Department has demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of public/private partnerships on cybersecurity, three experts write.
Think the so-called supercommittee failed? Columnist Alan Balutis says you should think again.
Three biases often make it difficult for leaders to reach a consensus, writes Decision Lens' Kevin Connor.
Focusing attention on activities that truly drive workforce productivity allows managers to spend more time doing the things that count, writes Adam Cole of the Corporate Executive Board.
Inventory management efforts can help agencies save money in numerous ways, writes Christopher Stacy, a senior associate at Pace Harmon.
President Obama's Nov. 9 executive order has a clear intent: To limit the number of IT devices.
Steve Kelman proposes that agencies offer extra points to bidders who suggest money-saving ways to change draft solicitations.
VanRoekel's innovation strategy might not be enough to counter the effects of the coming budget cuts. But then again, maybe it will.
When you consider the challenges CIOs face, it's a wonder they last even two years in the job, says columnist Alan Balutis.
Teams often succeed or fail because of decisions that are made before they even hold their first meeting.
Agencies can benefit by hiring military veterans, and these tips will help them make the most of veterans' skills and talents.
Agencies can reduce their printing budget dramatically by taking some fairly simple steps, writes Lexmark's Brian Henderson.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
One person's pleasure is another person's crotch pain
Apparently, his nose is pressing uncomfortably against his man nuggets (I'll pause for a moment while you laugh as hard as I did at the fact that "nose" is the technical term for the front of a bike seat. Done? Let's continue).
For those who don't know, my husband is a fitness junkie. A competitive cyclist who recently branched into triathlons, his idea of "a quick bike ride" is 90 miles up the side of a mountain.
The seat on his tri-bike looks a bit like a medieval torture device. This is the one he currently trains on:
Looks painful, no?
So when he said he wanted a more comfortable one, I was picturing the banana seat from the Schwinn I had as a kid.
When he showed me the new seat he has in mind, I choked on my wine.
"That's your idea of comfortable?" I demanded.
"It'll shift the pressure to my sit-bones in the aero position," he explained. "A lot of urologists recommend this type of saddle."
"Didn't they use something like that to torture Mel Gibson in Braveheart?"
He ignored me and went back to his online search for bike seats (or "saddles" as I've been told I should call them).
Obviously, the nomenclature of cycling isn't the only thing I fail to grasp. I honestly don't get how any of those seats can be deemed "comfortable," but I suppose it's all in the eye of the nut holder.
I've seen the way Pythagoras looks at me after I've spent twelve straight hours at my computer performing a complex ritual of blogging, tweeting, and writing several chapters of a manuscript.
"I'd kill myself if I had to do your job," he told me once.
Hey, at least I don't have a nose in my crotch, but I do see his point. What seems like torture to one person is another person's idea of fun.
Do you have people in your life who see your pursuit of writing as the equivalent of sticking bamboo up your nostrils and soaking your face in grapefruit juice? Is there anyone close to you who enjoys something you cringe just watching? Please share in the comments.
I have to go confirm with my husband's doctor that his new bike seat won't render him useless to me.
24 comments :
- Claire Dawn said...
"It's all in the eye of the nut holder." Yeah, people don't usually get me. Not just with writing. So I make it a point to hear everybody's point off view. Even if I think they're idiots. Because a lot of people think the same of me.
I wonder if you'd call Pythagarus' condition "nose nut"? Hmm...
- August 26, 2010 at 3:16 AM
- Liz Reinhardt said...
My husband has read three books in his life total (and I think he's counting "Of Mice and Men" twice...because he read it twice). He is clueless about word counts; I have to grab a book and flip the pages and say, "I just finished a book this long." When I read them to him, he falls asleep. I don't take it too personally. He's not much of a reader, and, plus that, he says my voice is soothing. Sometimes I dream that I'm married to a Bohemian type poet who knows the perfect substitute word when I've used "awesome" too many times, or an English professor who peruses book stores with me because he likes to read, and not just giggle at the naughty parts in the modern photography books.
But, if I had that, I'd have to fight for my rightful place as resident writer/reader/knower of all things in books. And I might not have a guy who can change tires, fix engines, unclog sinks, pick excellent comedy movies a little less than half the time and inspire all of my sexy heroes.
Haha! Nose nut!
- August 26, 2010 at 3:54 AM
- Patrick Alan said...
I'm pretty sure your dog or Sean Ferrell can fix that lack of nose in your crotch for 12 hours.
Oh, wait. I'm not reading or commenting on blogs this week. Or twittering.
If anyone asks, you didn't see me here.
- August 26, 2010 at 4:38 AM
- Linda G. said...
*chokes on tea* Trying to think of a comment that doesn't sink me irretrievably into the gutter.
Uh...nope. Sorry, can't come up with one. I'll just assume YOU know what I'm thinking. ;)
- August 26, 2010 at 5:22 AM
- Suzi McGowen said...
Do they still make "The Bummer"? That was a great saddle. Probably not aerodynamic enough for your husband, though.
In our house, it's cooking. If I had to cook every day, we'd eat out. Fortunately, my husband loves cooking. I love eating. We're very happy.
- August 26, 2010 at 5:33 AM
- Jessica Lemmon said...
*cough! choking on coffee*
"In the eye of the nut holder" OMG, LOL and LMAO, ROFL and whatever other acronyms you'd like to toss in there.
My mom told me that once - "How do you... you know... SIT there all day?"
Meanwhile she's either repainting (kill me), picking green beans or tomatoes (no thank you) or sanding down and restaining a dresser (are you KIDDING?!)
Definitely experienced both sides of that!
- August 26, 2010 at 5:34 AM
- Matthew MacNish said...
Is that new recommended seat supposed to look like a vulva? Maybe that's why he likes it?
My girlfriend is a waitress at a fancy steak house. I could never do that for a living. I think I hate people too much or something.
- August 26, 2010 at 5:48 AM
- Alexa O said...
When I told my family I started a blog, they all gave me blank stares and said, "Huh?"
Then, "Do we have to *read* it?
The last time I talked to my dad, he said, "I still don't understand what a blog is."
But it's OK. My sister is a buyer for children's apparel at a major department store. The clothes are cute, but when she starts talking about SKUs... ugh. Gag me with a spoon.
But lobster claw nose nut saddles? I don't think ANY of us understand that one!
- August 26, 2010 at 5:50 AM
- Danica Avet said...
OMG...that was wonderful *dies laughing*
Okay, okay...phew. Actually, just this week my sister invited me to do the mani-pedi thing with her. I love getting my nails done, but I had to turn her down. Not only do I have a candle party to go to (yes, candles), but I want to go to the coffeeshop first thing in the morning to get some writing done. She told me and I quote: "Oh, I see how it is. You're getting all artsy-fartsy hanging out at the coffeeshop and smelling candles. Now you have no time for your sister."
Heartbreaking, no? But I actually find the hours I spend hunched over my computer relaxing and freeing. Probably more so than a mani-pedi because at least no one's tickling my feet.
- August 26, 2010 at 6:08 AM
- Trisha Leigh said...
"It's all in the eye of the nut holder."
You could sell that. Seriously.
Anyone who has to do anything that involves math on a daily. One of my friends is studying to take the CPA exam. He told me each practice session is an hour and a half. I believe my exact words were, "that is truly horrifying."
- August 26, 2010 at 6:51 AM
- Kadi Easley said...
You should get a tee shirt, "It's all in the eye of the nut holder."
Still snickering about that. My problem isn't lack of interest, it's too much interest. People in my family are always asking are you writing today? When's your next book coming out? I can't wait to get your new book.
It's lovely, but a little daunting. Sometimes their good will and wishes terrify me into a standstill. Then I have to take a break and do a big project of some kind. Once that's finished, I'm refreshed and ready to write even with an overload of good wishes.
- August 26, 2010 at 7:01 AM
- KatOwens: Insect Collector said...
my husband builds barns, and while i think that's cool, I don't have the skill, strength, or desire to figure out how all the beams need to be cut to actually fit together. I peaked at legos.
he does use a tool called the boring machine, though, which makes me giggle every time.
- August 26, 2010 at 7:06 AM
I've wanted a Selle Italia saddle with the cutout in the middle for, like, ever. My current one's a Fi'z'ik ass-hatchet.
And I *have* heard a nasty rumor that excessive cycling can impair blood flow to certain...areas. But I don't go on 90 mile rides, so I don't think I have to worry about that. Win!
Um...now's the time I should make an obligatory mention of writing. Writing. There. My work here is done.
- August 26, 2010 at 8:06 AM
- TAWNA FENSKE said...
Claire Dawn, bwahahahahaha! Nose nut! I'm cracking up here.
elizabethreinhardt, your husband and mine might be related! Pythag is a super smart guy, but he's not someone who ever sits down & reads a book just for fun (with a tiny handful of exceptions, one of which he's currently reading -- IN THE SHADOW OF FREEDOM). But you're exactly right -- what fun would it be to be married to someone who's your clone?
Patrick, I'm not speaking to you. You've met my agent and I haven't. You are dead to me.
Linda G, when discussing bike seats, is there really anywhere to go that ISN'T the gutter?
Suzi, we do have bigger, cushier seats on our tandem bike, but for racing/training, it's apparently necessary to have something that looks & feels as uncomfortable as possible.
Jessica, ugh, I'm with you on abhorring all those tasks. Give me a keyboard & a monitor any day of the week!
Matthew, OMG, I told him the vulva thing as soon as I read your comment. "Huh," he said. "I never thought of that. He makes a good point." There you go.
Alexa, totally cracking up over your "lobster nose nut saddle" comment. That would be an excellent marketing campaign.
Danica, it is my dream to someday have someone sitting under my desk giving me a pedicure while I write.
Trisha, you know, that "nut holder" comment was one of those things I tossed in and thought, "I should probably take that out, it's kinda lame." Probably the best thing about this blog for me is seeing how many people respond to lines I'm not sure will get any laughs.
KD, you took the words right out of my mouth with this: "Sometimes their good will and wishes terrify me into a standstill."
KO, hey, what are the odds you & KD would comment right in a row like that? I like the sound of the boring machine. I could use a little boring in my day from time to time.
Simon, ass hatchet? Love it! I'm going to have to start writing this stuff down.
Thanks for reading, guys!
- August 26, 2010 at 10:10 AM
- Rhonda said...
Is he sure that's a bike seat because I'm fairly sure I saw something just like it at the hospital and words like "probe" and "general anesthesia" were used. I'm just sayin...but then again, I'd hook up a Lazy Boy as my bike seat if I could figure out a way to do it.
My hubs is an electronics technician but that's not just his job, it's what he DOES. He practically eats, sleeps and breathes electronics. He would rather poke his own eye out than read anything more involved than a cereal box but he made a remote car starter out of an old remote controlled car...when he was 16 years old. If it's electronic, he can build it, trouble shoot it and fix it. (which is also why, until two years ago, we had a side loading VCR that could only handle 25 channels. And our tv? belonged to his grandmother and was rescued out of a house fire...sigh)
- August 26, 2010 at 10:50 AM
- Taymalin said...
I've never understood the appeal of gardening. The few times I've done any weeding, I ended up with a sore back, bloody fingers, heat exhaustion and dirt everywhere. No thanks. I'd much rather be indoors, with my computer.
- August 26, 2010 at 12:13 PM
- lora96 said...
Why would he want what I can only call a winkie-pincer?
My husband read the entire 9/11 Commission Report and took notes. For fun. While working full time driving a bus and going to college. I fell asleep sitting straight up when I tried to read Madame Bovary for a class. I capital-L LOVE to read but not technical, informative books! Toothpick in the eye, seriously.
I have a friend who bikes 80 miles a day on weekends. In the heat. Or the cold. On purpose.
I only run when chased by a big bad dog. This sort of exertion as a hobby is mysterious to me.
As a teacher I hear a lot of I could NEVER do what you do. I hear it more when I tell someone that I write. Evidently writing has an excruciating reputation akin to the rack, the Gestapo, the oeuvre of Kate Hudson.
- August 26, 2010 at 3:11 PM
- Becky said...
I have a friend who does something mysterious and technical for geologists. My eyes glaze over pretty quickly when she talks about her work. But she's also a great writer and critique partner, and she puts up with me blathering about knitting, which has the same effect on her that geology has on me. So it all evens out.
Although a hobby and not a profession, many people are baffled by the sticks and string. Meh. I'll just keep knitting. If they get obnoxious about it, I've got a nice pointy weapon, as soon as I finish this row.
- August 26, 2010 at 8:38 PM
- Trina said...
Tell Pythag to up the miles and stay in the saddle (even if it looks like a vulva) on those grinders.
My experience has been that it doesn't affect the important function of the peeper -- but has been rumored to reduce sperm count. From what I gather (and sometimes most admire) about you is that you're not interested in the little miracles that sperm is known to cause. You may be onto something.
My fifteen-year-old little miracle just told me that my "genre is stupid and boring." Over a hundred million sperm a shot, and I got impregnated with the smart-ass one.
(not to make him seem too bad -- he thought he was being funny. Being the good mom I am, I acted totally hurt. He's currently doing the dishes on his own accord. Guilt Rules!!!)
- August 26, 2010 at 8:45 PM
You need to take the bike seat seriously; my cousin got what they called sleepy peepee from his bike seat. Pretty sure you don't want Pythagoras to get that!
- August 27, 2010 at 7:00 AM
- TAWNA FENSKE said...
Rhonda, your husband sounds like a handy guy to have around!
Taymalin, I can't stand the weed pulling aspect of gardening, and I'm not big on flowers, but I do love growing veggies. Nothing like standing in your own garden eating cherry tomatoes right off the vine!
lora96, winkie pincer?!?! I'm totally writing that on a piece of tape & sticking it to the bike seat when it arrives.
Becky, I've always wished I had the patience to learn to knit. Alas, it's not something I'll ever attempt.
Trina, sheesh, you mean we didn't need to drop all that money on the vasectomy?
Sheri, I just told Pythag about "sleepy peepee." He looked suitably mortified. He did, however, want me to assure everyone that the seat he's selected is highly recommended by urologists.
Thanks for reading, guys!
- August 27, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Choked on my salad when I saw that picture.
- August 27, 2010 at 10:30 AM
- Unknown said...
OUCH!!! The new one looks much more uncomfortable then the old one!! Instead of just one point, we now have two!! One for each side! *Shutters and spills my Root Beer*
- August 27, 2010 at 2:13 PM
- Patty Blount said...
Ok, seldom-shared patty fact: I HATE riding my bike because er - certain parts of my anatomy fall asleep.
Trust me - pins and needles THERE is not a pleasurable sensation.
So, my question for Pythag - is that urologist-recommended 'saddle' appropriate for women, or only those with noses in their nuts?
- September 2, 2010 at 8:18 PM


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Today isn't only Super Bowl Sunday, but it's also Dia de la Candelaria. This special holiday is a Mexican Celebration that's actually a fusion of Catholic influences and native Mexican tradition. Today we celebrate with friends and family, filling our lives (and bellies) with tamales as we devote to the Niño Dios (Baby Jesus)!
This increcible recipe, featuring coffee-infused carnitas, comes to us from Chef George Duran and IMUSA. Using the IMUSA pressure cooker (available on Target.com, $54), making irressisible carnitas has never been easier. The recipe from the author of Take This Dish and Twist It is, in our humble opinion, the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon filled with love and laughter, family and friends and, of course, plenty of tamale-filled bellies.
· 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1 tbsp. instant espresso coffee
· 1 tbsp. kosher salt
· 1 tsp. paprika
· 2 tsp. dried oregano
· 1 tsp. ground black pepper
· 1 tsp. cumin
· ½ tsp. coriander
· ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
· 4-5 lb. pork shoulder
· 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
· 4 C. Maseca Flour
· 2 sticks butter
· Dried corn husk, soaked in warm water for at least an hour
· Salt
Salsa Verde:
· 12 tomatillos, husks removed and quartered
· 6 cloves of garlic
· 1 jalapeno, seeds removed
· 2 poblano peppers, seeds removed
· 1 medium Vidalia onion
· 1 bunch cilantro
· 1 tsp. salt
· 1 tbsp lime juice
To make carnitas, mix first 9 dry ingredients in a bowl. Rub pork shoulder throughout with the dry rub and allow to rest for a couple of hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
Heat vegetable oil on medium-high heat in the IMUSA pressure cooker and brown pork shoulder on all sides. Add enough water to almost cover the shoulder (about 3 cups) and close and lock lid. Allow to come to pressure on high heat, then lower heat to the minimum needed to maintain pressure. Cook for 60 minutes.
Turn off heat and allow pressure to release naturally (about 10-15 minutes). Pull out the meat and using two forks, shred pork meat, removing excess fat. Set aside and reserve liquid in pressure cooker.
Make tamales by mixing 4 cups of Maseca flour with 2-3 cups reserved pork stock, butter and 1 tsp. salt, until you achieve the consistency peanut butter.
Assemble the tamales by using a rubber spatula to spread about ¼ to ½ cup of dough mixture onto the center of the corn husk. Add some pulled carnitas in the center and gently fold one side of the corn husk to the other end and tie a knot at the larger end with a thin strip of corn husk, or fold up bottom end to prevent masa from slipping out. Fold over the other side of the tamale to close it.
Once all of the tamales have been assembled place them right side up into the IMUSA pressure cooker on top of a metal steaming basket, filled with an inch or two of water.
Close and lock pressure cooker and cook for 20 minutes under pressure. Use the rapid release method to remove pressure.
To make the salsa verde, add all of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until you reach the desired consistency. Season to taste and serve on top of each tamale.


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Someone shared this video in Facebook and I just had to share it here too. Apparently it's Liberty Mutual's full commercial in 2011. I think it is well made, the point coming across. Sometimes we don't know if little acts of kindness make a difference but they do. So never stop being kind to anyone. One way or another, it will come back to you.
"If you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own."


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New artists on Road to Hangout Fest
Apr. 7 – 7Horse & Peek
Apr. 14 – The Villains
Apr. 21 – Empty Pockets, Brandon & Leah
Apr. 28 – ALO, Scars on 45
May 5 – Rebecca Pidgeon, Milow
May 12 – 7Horse, Black Box Revelation
92ZEW presents Road to Hangout Fest Free Concert Series
Every Saturday Night at the Hangout, with national recording artists. Brandon & Leah, Empty Pockets, Milow, & Rebecca Pidgeon added on to the previously announced list that includes Scars on 45, ALO, Black Box Revelation, Villains and 7Horse.
For a fun way to count down the days to Hangout Festival, 92ZEW put together a series of free shows from new artists on the rise that we think you'll dig.
Added to the Arpil 21 lineup are California's Brandon & Leah, who serve up slices of life with pineapples and hibiscus flowers. Chillin' by the beachside campfire comes to mind when listening. Mind you, these are no strangers to the SoCal music industry, Brandon Jenner is son of Olympiad Bruce and Leah Felder's dad played in the Eagles. And yes, surfing, singing, bonfires, that's their bag. They recently signed with ATO Records.
Brandon & Leah join Chicago band Empty Pockets this Saturday night.  Empty Pockets deliver "handcrafted indie rock and roll music with genuine hooks, honest lyrics and carefully crafted songwriting." The band, together since 2006, has already released one catchy album that caught the ears of Nickelodeon music supervisors. They liked it so much, they've used the entire album in different shows: ICarley, Zoey 101, Drake & Josh.  We've heard stories they sometimes will come out in 60's dress playing Buddy Holly songs!  But that's no wonder when their focus is "driving rockabilly grooves thick with rhythm and blues and thoughtful melodies and harmonies in classic pop song structures."
Rebecca Pidgeon is now scheduled to play the free concert series May 5, Her name may sound familiar, especially if you watch a lot of movies. It's that Rebecca Pidgeon. But don't let the acting thing scare you. Music could definitely be Rebecca's calling. From upbeat, textured songs with a little edge (a little more perturbed than say KT Tunstall), to the simple girl with a guitar, but not the surfer girl kind of sound. Her voice is a little more intense,
Joining Rebecca is someone you may not have heard, yet. But, you should be aware of Belgian artist Milow, He's had several European number one hits, platinum records, Â played several prestigious festivals and the real deal… over 50 Million views of his new video. Â (yep, the world is indeed changing. there was a time when we based our play decisions on how many records sold, listener reaction and other stations playing it).
"an old-school soul with a new-fashioned sensibility, a troubadour fascinated by technology,"
America's official introduction to Milow comes in July with the release of his EP "born in the Eighties." Our train is a little early to the station, but you better get on board before he explodes to arena act. He already counts Jack Johnson, Brett Dennen and even Kanye West as fans.
[jwplayer config="cassette640″ playlistid="18038″]
7horseALOblack box revelationbrandon and leahempty pocketsHangout FestHangout Music Festivalhangout radioLIVE MUSICmilowNew Musicrebecca pidgeonScars on 45


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This tuturiffic Pit Bull beauty was rescued from a shelter in San Jose, CA
and is now a foster with the pawmazing folks at Sharing a Life.
We have all our fingers and paws crossed for Betty Boop.
She will soon be available for adoption
through the supaw Pit Bull and Chihuahua rescue, Our Pack, inc.
Please help spread the word about Betty Boop.
Thanks everypawdy.
For more info on Sharing a life, check out their:
Facebook Page
For more info on Our Pack, Inc., check out their:
Facebook Page


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By Benjamin Friedman, Special to CNN
Editor's note: Benjamin H. Friedman is a research fellow in defense and homeland security studies at the Cato Institute in Washington DC. The views expressed are his own.
Sequestration is the new Y2K. It's coming at the start of next year, hardly anyone understands it, and important people say to freak out about it.
The Budget Control Act passed a year ago creates two kinds of sequestration. The one that everyone is talking about would occur in January as a result of the Joint Committee's failure to find $1.2 trillion in savings last fall. It will take about $110 billion from federal coffers, half of that from defense spending in equal amounts from every "program, project, and activity." The bill also requires sequestration to prevent breaches of the spending caps that it erected from fiscal years 2013 through 2021 for defense and non-defense spending. If current law stays in place (doubtful) the two mechanisms would save what the Joint Committee was supposed to over the next nine years. The January 2013 sequester would cut around 10 percent of the Pentagon's budget, and the caps would then allow it to grow by about inflation for the remaining years.
Complaints about sequester come in two varieties. First, hawks complain about its depth – the size of the cuts – and the effect on security and jobs. U.S. Senator John McCain, for example, claims that sequestration will result in an "inability to defend the nation," without bothering to say which of our minor enemies will suddenly outgun us. Both parties' warn of sequestration's "devastating" effect on employment.
Second, Pentagon officials in particular also complain about sequestration's breadth – the fact that it applies across the board equally, preventing prioritization and planning to mitigate its consequences. That's what Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, never at a loss for violent metaphors, calls the "goofy meat axe approach." At a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, both the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, Jeffrey Zients, and Ashton Carter, the deputy secretary of defense, emphasized this point, arguing that sequestration's automatic breadth prevents them from planning for it.
On depth, I have repeatedly argued that the Pentagon budget should be cut by more than what sequestration would. I won't repeat all those arguments here, except to note that sequestration would leave the 2021 Pentagon with purchasing power about equal to what it had in 2006, leaving out the wars. That would leave more in real terms than what we spent on the military at the height of the Cold War.
It's reasonable to complain that the relative swiftness of the sequestration cuts would make them more disruptive than most past drawdowns of similar size. But sequestration applies to budget authority, which is the new funds agencies get each year and spend over several as contracts run their course. Budget outlays are what they actually spend annually. This means that the $55 billion cut from fiscal year's 2013 spending would take several years to occur, and outlays would fall in 2013 by only about half of that total. Moreover, as Carter pointed out in his testimony, the cuts won't apply to obligated balances, so existing contracts would be completed. Also, swift reductions have the advantage of being more likely to occur.
As for arguments about sequestration's massive economic effect, my colleagues and I have discussed the exaggeration of these claims, and Cato will soon release a report on the subject. Suffice it for now to say that a reallocation of about 0.3 percent of GDP is likely to have a minor but positive long-term impact on jobs and growth. True, that positive impact requires what economists call structural adjustment, which in plain English means it takes a while, and in the meantime some people lose jobs. That makes the change worthwhile but politically tough, a problem that isn't unique to defense spending. The main problem of democratic government is intense minority interests rule over diffuse majorities. There's no real solution to this problem, but institutional mechanisms, like the budget caps in BCA, at least bring more interest groups into competition.
The breadth complaint is more valid. Sequestration really does apply across the board in a way meant to be unappetizing enough to force compromise. But the administration has several tools that allow it to prioritize even if sequestration occurs. Frank Oliveri's article in CQ Weekly (behind a paywall) discusses them comprehensively.
Here's my take:
First, the law allows the president to exempt military personnel costs. He has said he will do so. Of course, other accounts then get hit more.
Second, while sequestration would include the war account – Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) – Congress and the administration can add funds to OCO to make up for sequestration's cuts. OCO funds don't count toward the BCA's budget caps. And their inclusion limits sequestration's impact on non-war accounts.
Third, the Pentagon has authority to transfer or reprogram funds, some with the permission of the chairmen and ranking members of four defense committees. The Pentagon has used those powers to shift $12 billion to $15 billion annually of late. That's potentially half of the outlays that sequestration would take in 2013.
And as Congressman Roscoe Bartlett pointed out in last week's hearing (in a question Zients dodged), the 1985 Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act, which the BCA amends, seems to allow the president to transfer funds at will beneath the BCA's defense cap – provided Congress signs off in an expedited joint resolution. That means that that the president, with Congress's permission, can convert the 2013 sequester into a cap, eliminating the breadth problem. The alarm about sequestration means that Congress would probably support the president on that vote.
Fourth, as Carter said in his testimony, operational funds are allocated to the Pentagon in a broad way that allows it, even if sequestration occurs, to move those funds considerably "based on management judgments." And even in other areas, the OMB may have the ability to define "program, project, and activity" broadly enough to allow substantial movement of funds within the category.
These options, and probably others, allow the administration to partly blunt sequestration's goofy meat axe. That belies their insistence that they can't plan for it. That's doubly true because minor Congressional action, short of turning sequestration off (something a declaration of war accomplishes, by the way), could allow even greater power to prioritize. Congress might elect, for example, to amend the BCA to define "program, project, and activity" broadly or to convert the 2013 sequester into a cap that the Pentagon can meet as it sees fits. That last option in particular makes sense to me.
The very first thing we need to do is to cut the ridiculously high rate of our military spending as that is the chief reason that our dificit is so high. We already have a military that is at least five times bigger than this nation needs, Enough already!
Careful, you know what your allah says about dreams, about bad dreams:
Apparantly, your allah says that bad dreams are from Shaitan. Prophet Muhammad told you what to do upon seeing a bad dream. "So when one of you sees a dream which he does not like, he should spit on his left side three times, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan thrice, and change the side which he was lying (Sahih Muslim) and in another narration in Muslim, Prophet Muhammad told us if we spit three times and seek refuge from Allah then it (the dream) will not harm them." (Sahih Muslim).
I am a useless piece of camel dung. I post anti American, anti GB, anti semite, anti India, anti modern anything because I am a good moooooslem. I steal people's monikers because I am so ashamed of myself and post the most stupid comment. When people get angry with me, I claim insanity. I am the same guy.


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Stagnaro Bros. features a menu with over 20 different types of fresh seafood every day, as well as pasta dishes, steaks and a childrens menu. Whether you're in the mood to sit downstairs in the main dining room, or in the unique atmosphere of the Upper Deck Lounge, Stagnaro Bros. restaurant in Santa Cruz is waiting to serve you.
For your birthdays, reunions, graduations, parties or meeting-room needs, we offer two rooms overlooking the Monterey Bay, with stunning vies of Lighthouse Point and the world-famous Steamers Lane. Our rooms are available weekdays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. The Captain's Room accommodates up to 25 people at $200 / event. The Upper Deck accommodates up to 75 people at $400 / event. These rates include settings, service and custom menus upon request.
Happy Hour is always a good time to relax on the upper deck, and take advantage of the specials.
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Genuine Real Estate SEO
With our years of experience, we know what it takes to have an effective Illinois real estate SEO. We don't just build you a name online then we're done. Our SEO campaign will take your Illinois real estate business to online growth through various effective SEO strategies.


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- This event has passed.
Snooknuk Music & Rhythm Ages: 17mths-3 1/2 years
December 10, 2018 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 8:00am on Monday, repeating until December 17, 2018
Event Navigation
Join us for a fun time where you and your child help to create the music by drumming, strumming, singing, and humming! The class is an intro to music, so each week we'll have different topics, from learning high and low notes, steady beats and counting, the musical alphabet & more fun songs including originals & classics! We use drums, xylophones, shakers, parachutes, & tons more props during this exciting class. AGES: 17mths- 3 1/2yrs


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Adjustable - ability to adjust for more, less or no air
Full - total adjustability to maximize comfort and stability
In-Mold - thin hard plastic outer shell with EPS foam inner
Audio Compatible - compatible with after-market audio system
The Giro Nine is always a best-selling helmet for snow sports. First because it is an incredible value, second, because it is loaded with features. The lightweight In-Mold Construction is very lightweight without any compromise to safety. Thermostat Control allows you to regulate your temperature by opening the vents with the switch on top of the helmet to let moist, warm air out, and cooler air in. Vertical Tuning gives you the ability to adjust the forward lean of the nine for that perfect fit for your goggles, but that is not necessary if you wear Giro Goggles, because the Nine is seamlessly compatible with all Giro Goggles. The In-Form Fit System provides up to 6cm of adjustability for a safe and secure fit. If you are looking for an economic helmet that works with any ski outfit or style, find out why the Giro Nine is always a top-seller today.
out of 5


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We understand the specialized markets in which you operate and provide tailored solutions to meet your unique business needs.
Our comprehensive suite of business services combines industry expertise, market knowledge and professional insights.
MNP is a leading national accounting, tax and business consulting firm in Canada.
Suite 2000, 330 5th Ave. S.W.
Calgary, AB
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MNP careers are Different by Design. As an entrepreneurial firm, we truly believe there are no limits to where your career can go.
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Working with Canada's most recognized public, private and not-for-profit organizations, our Consulting professionals know that the right fit is what makes things happen. Our clients place a high value on our ability to get fully immersed in their organization, and as one team, effectively and efficiently address their most challenging issues. The right fit starts with partner-led engagements and goes as far as your need to reach your goals, positioning you to do what you do best — even better.
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We've invested substantial time and resources into understanding every aspect of the client groups we specialize in working with. As a result, we're able to provide customized consulting services, advice and strategies that will safeguard your business and allow you to thrive.
We provide a variety of solutions to the energy and natural resources sector, including process improvement, organizational development and regulatory support. Our extensive experience with public sector departments and agencies, energy companies and other industry stakeholders means we understand your challenges and objectives and can provide the strategies you need to enhance your business's performance.
We have a long and successful history providing a diverse range of consulting services to Canada's gaming industry. In addition to our specialist expertise in all areas of business operations, we bring an in-depth understanding of the unique characteristics of the industry and the differences between provincial jurisdictions and North American practices. Our highly qualified consulting team members have experience with Indigenous casinos and resorts, provincial lottery corporations and other gaming facilities and can provide a variety of solutions to help you succeed.
Public and private health service providers need to find ways to make service delivery more effective while meeting high stakeholder expectations. In response to the growing urgency of these needs, MNP's Health Services team—with backgrounds in strategic and operational planning and implementation, program design and evaluation, economic analysis, and complex change management initiatives — is dedicated to providing you with the industry insight and support you need to effectively master change and manage your clients' needs. We assist regional health authorities, health institutions and health-related organizations with a full range of value-added, customized solutions to help them achieve their goals.
While not-for-profit organizations may not be overly focused on financial gains, in order to be successful they must still operate like a business. With increased financial scrutiny and reporting requirements, coupled with pressure from the board and stakeholders, today's not-for-profits must find ways to do more with less. We help optimize processes and operations to find new efficiencies, allowing you to spend more time and revenue on meeting your organizational mandate.
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Trent Bester, MBA, is the Vice President of MNP's National Consulting Practice and an elected member of the firm's Board of Directors. Working out of the Saskatoon office, Trent provides strategic and financial direction to a national team of professionals, helping them deliver the best possible outcomes for clients.
MNP offers offices strategically located in urban and rural centres throughout Canada.
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Reds fighting to prevent historic comeback by Giants
Reds haven't lost three straight at home all season
With an out-of-character win, the San Francisco Giants are on the verge of an unprecedented comeback.
And everybody in Cincinnati is saying: Uh-oh.
Angel Pagan hit the first leadoff homer in Giants postseason history, and Gregor Blanco and Pablo Sandoval connected later for an 8-3 victory over the Reds on Wednesday that evened their NL division series at 2-all.
After dropping their first two at home, the resourceful Giants have moved one victory away from the NL championship series - unthinkable when they landed in town on Monday. No team has recovered from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series by winning three on the road, according to STATS LLC.
This one can do it with a victory on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.
"Thanks to the win today, there will be a tomorrow," Pagan said. "And we are ready for that."
Matt Cain, who lost the series opener and has yet to beat the Reds in three tries this season, will start Game 5 against Mat Latos, who has a little personal history against the Giants. He was with San Diego in 2010 when the Giants eliminated San Diego on their way to a World Series title.
That offseason, Latos signed three baseballs with "I Hate SF!" as part of a fundraiser for the major league players' alumni association. After Wednesday's game, his wife, Dallas, tweeted: "2010 Padres are not the 2010 Reds."
There's plenty of angst to go around town. The Reds haven't won a postseason game at home in 17 years, going 0-3. They also dropped a one-game playoff for the NL wild card to the Mets in 1999.
One thing in their favor - they haven't dropped three straight at home all season.
"I'd like to think that we still have the advantage," Reds outfielder Jay Bruce said. "We're at home. I expect Mat to come up with a big game. I'm looking forward to it."
So are the Giants, who were barely able to get a hit, let alone a win, while dropping the first two games. The pressure pulled them closer. Hunter Pence gathered them for inspirational speeches before the two games in Cincinnati.
"We feel good," NL batting champion Buster Posey said. "When you're down 0-2 you see what you're made of. We're not done."
It wasn't all about the offense. San Francisco's overlooked Cy Young winner played a starring role, too.
Tim Lincecum was relegated to the bullpen for the playoff series because of his dreary season - 15 losses, 17 wild pitches. He entered in the fourth inning, pitched out of a threat that kept the Giants up 3-2, and kept going. The right-hander struck out six while allowing just one run in 4 1-3 innings.
"I knew he would play a huge role in this," manager Bruce Bochy said. "And I know of other situations where starters have been in the 'pen and really done a great job to help their team win. We knew Timmy would play a critical role in the series like he did tonight."
The Reds were hoping to start ace Johnny Cueto, but had to drop him off the roster a few hours before Wednesday's first pitch because he was still bothered by a strained muscle in his right side. He won't be available if Cincinnati wins Game 5 and reaches the NL championship series.
The way the Giants have started hitting, that's now in doubt.
They broke out against Mike Leake, who replaced Cueto and had a rough time. Leake threw his first career complete game in San Francisco on June 29 and was 3-0 career against the Giants.
Pagan homered to start it off for the Giants. Blanco hit a two-run shot in the second. The Giants had another breakthrough in the fifth, when back-to-back doubles by Joaquin Arias and Pagan ended an 0-for-14 slump with runners in scoring position during the series.
Sandoval's two-run shot in the seventh made it 8-3, matched the Giants' season high for homers and drew loud boos from the crowd of 44,375 - the third-largest at Great American Ball Park. Fans quietly settled into their seats and used their white rally towels as lap warmers against the evening chill.
The Giants normally don't hit many homers - only 103 during the season, fewest in the majors. They're only the seventh team since 1900 to reach the playoffs after finishing last in the majors in homers.
While the offense went to work, Lincecum bailed out the bullpen.
Bochy didn't hesitate to put the guys he wanted on the mound, using four pitchers in the first four innings. Lincecum settled things down, giving up only two hits in his second relief appearance of the series.
He threw 42 strikes out of 55 pitches and even batted twice - just like a starter.
"The last two games, it's been about scratching and leaving it on the field," Lincecum said.


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Is this your organisation?
Claim it today for free.
Built in 1973, Campus West was originally designed as a theatre and cinema for the local community. It has a 326-seat auditorium, large stage, five dressing rooms and a rehearsal space known as the Sheridan Studio. In recent years it has been refurbished and has expanded its services to offer Hertfordshire's only purpose built skating rink - Rollercity - as well as modern conference facilities. A full technical specification is available.
There are six spaces for wheelchairs and a hearing loop in the main theatre. Bookings can be made in person, by phone or online.
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