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Category Archives: Wrestling
Black History Month rolls on and I have another black action figure review for you. Today I'm taking a look at Butch Reed.
Butch Reed made his debut in the WWF in 1986. It was shortly after that when I became familiar with him. I don't remember his debut as I was just getting into WWF wresting around that time. He was already an established presence when I started watching. He fought and defeated "The Birdman" Koko B. Ware at the legendary Wrestlemania III where Hulk Hogan slammed Andre the Giant. Apparently he went on to have memorable feuds with Tito Santana and Don "The Rock" Muraco. I remember all the fighters but the details of the match-ups are pretty blurry to me now; I would've been 8 or 9 when all this was going down. The main thing I recall about "The Natural" Butch Reed is his blonde hair. One of the reasons I don't remember much about him may be because his stint in the WWF was quite short; he left shortly after Wrestlemania IV in 1988. WWF was the only wrestling promotion I cared about so when he left the organization he may as well of fallen of the face of the Earth as far as I was concerned.
I was aware of the WCW and knew who the stars of that federation were, mostly by way of generic wrestling magazines, but I never watched it. I knew that Butch signed with them after his WWF departure but I knew next to nothing about the path his career took. It was actually pretty interesting to read his wikipedia page in preparation for this review and to learn about what came after the WWF and even more so what came before.
From '83 to '86 he fought in an organization called Mid-Soutch Wrestling where he fought under the name Hacksaw. The Nickname put him at odds with Jim Duggan, the other Hacksaw. Mr. Duggan is the only Hacksaw I was ever familiar with because he carried that nickname with him when he entered the WWF some years later whereas Butch made the change to "The Natural". I only ever knew Reed as a bad guy (or "heel" in wrestling jargon) so its neat to learn that he started out as a good guy (also known as a "face") and the tag-team partner of the Junk Yard Dog. After Reed became a heel in Mid-South he took on a new partner, Jim Neidhart, I guy I know as "the Anvil" from WWF. Reed later switched back to being a face and had feuds with baddies like Ted Dibiase and Kamala.
After WWF he fought in WCW as part of a masked tag-team known as DOOM along with Ron Simmons. He and Simmons were eventually unmasked and ended up feuding with each other. Thing have been relatively quiet for Reed since he left WCW in 1992. though he's fought for smaller regional promotions here and there. The best thing I learned from his wiki page is that he's still alive. So many wrestlers from my childhood have passed away so it's nice to check in on a guy like this who I haven't give much thought to for the past few decades and find out he's alive and well.
As kids I, along with my brother Doug, managed to collect nearly the complete collection of LJN's big rubber WWF wrestling figures. We loved those things. Unfortunately they never made a Butch Reed. However, I had a double of Koko B. Ware and so I painted the double's hair blonde and used it as Reed. I'm not sure why I had a double of the Birdman but I may have acquied it specifically to create a custom Butch Reed…I can't recall for sure.
After LJN lost the WWF license Hasbro began putting out smaller articulated WWF figures which I didn't like nearly as much as the big solid rubber ones. Meanwhile, Galoob began releasing WCW figures right around the same time. Galoob's figures were solid unarticulated pieces much like the LJN figures but they were smaller and more-or-less to scale with Hasbro's figures. I wasn't interested in the WCW characters who had never fought in the WWF, like Sting and the Steiner Brothers, but I was happy that Galoob finally provided me with a real Butch Reed figure.
Since this figure is of plain ol' WCW Butch Reed, and not WWF's "Natural" Butch Reed it doesn't have the trademark blonde hair, but hair color aside this is a great figure.
The sculpts on the WCW figures were ahead of their time. The likenesses are very good and the proportions are far superior to those found on the goofy Hasbro figures. Butch's hair is textured, he's got veins sculpted into his arms, and his Nike sneakers have loads of nice details.
The key to a great unarticulated wrestling figure is the pose and Butch has a great one. His arms are up and curved which is perfect for body slams, pile drivers, clotheslines, and a bunch of other essential moves. I also like that he has one open hand and one closed fist as that allows for more possibilities as well. Of the 3 WCW figures I have (I also have Lex Luger and Brian Pillman) Butch is my least favorite character but my favorite toy because of his great pose. 8 out of 10.
Well this is embarrassing. I told a friend that I'd review a wrestling figure in my next post so while at work the other day I pondered which one to review. I presently only have 3 wrestling figures displayed in my collection, an LJN Kamala in my bathroom, and Hasbro versions of Macho Man and Ted Dibiase in a display case on my man-cave wall. Since I see them all the time those were the first ones that came to mind. I opted to review the Ted Dibiase. I reviewed the figure from memory (which is what you'll find below). But, when it came time to post the review tonight I discovered that I already reviewed this figure back in January of 2012. I guess after 600 + reviews I was bound to eventually review the same toy twice by accident. At least I took my own pictures this time. Some of this will be repetitive but I've added some new thoughts on this figure as well. He even scored a point higher this time. Enjoy…
I don't have a ton of wrestling figures in my collection so I have to review them sparingly. But it has been a while so let's take a look at another one shall we? I loved the solid rubber WWF toys produced by LJN when I was a kid. I had hours and hours of fun with them. I had a lot less fun with the Hasbro figures that replaced them after LJN's WWF toy license expired. Personally, I found the solid rubber LJN figures to be superior to the articulated Hasbro figures of the early 90s on almost every occasion. But, when it comes to Ted "the Million Dollar Man" Dibiase, he was an exception to the rule.
The LJN Dibiase was one of my least favorite figures from that line. The biggest problem with him was the color of rubber he was molded in. As you are aware, most wrestlers are fairly scantily dressed. Usually boots, wristbands, and some tiny shorts make up the work uniform of most WWF superstars. Therefore it made sense for LJN to cast those big solid semi-nude toys in flesh colored rubber and then paint the shorts and boots afterwards. Less paint meant less cost. But, when it came to wrestlers like Million Dollar Man who wore a tear away tuxedo, or the Honky Tonk Man who wore an Elvis inspired rhinestone jumpsuit, it made fiscal sense to cast those figures in colored rubber and then paint the flesh tone on their face and hands. The LJN Dibiase was cast in black rubber. The only way to play with those toys was to bash them together in the wrestling ring. This resulted in frequent paint scuffs. When Dibiase would come down off the top rope to deliver a vicious elbow onto King Kong Bundy's bald head a black skidmark was often left behind on Bundy's forehead. Luckily these were fairly easy to remove with a rub of your fingernail. The problem with Dibiase was that when he was the recipient of an elbow, instead of taking a colorful scuff to his forehead, the flesh toned paint would rub right off of his face. It didn't take long for my Dibiase to have a black nose and forehead; and no fingernail could fix it.
Beside the black rubber issue, the LJN Dibiase figure wasn't posed very well for battle. He had a fistful of money and seemed to be leaning back in cowardice. My LJN Dibiase did not usually do to well in the ranks (My brother Doug actually kept a record book of every wrestler's wins. We even awarded those with the most wins and longest unbeaten streaks Slammy Awards each year).
Ted Dibiase was one of those heels that I loved to hate. His character was just so despicable. I remember when he first entered the WWF. They hyped up his coming by showing vignettes of him belittling people by paying them to do stuff like lick his bodyguard Virgil's toes.
When the Mattel figures came out most of them left me extremely underwhelmed. But there were two figures that I really liked; Macho Man and Million Dollar Man. It's hard to believe this Dibiase figure is even part of the same toy line that produced clunkers like my previously reviewed Jimmy Snuka and Jim Duggan. This figure has unrealistic proportions, almost like he's a dwarf, but it works within the stylized toy line. His tuxedo is black with metallic gold trim. It's a much nicer looking and more iconic color choice than the purple of the LJN version.
The head sculpt is really nice. It's not necessarily a great likeness but I still really like it. I think they maybe could have given him a more smug expression. This Dibiase looks a little too chilled out. The best thing about this head is that it isn't prone to paint loss. This Ted's face still looks like a million bucks even after all these years (see what I did there).
One of the things I liked least about the Hasbro toy line was the inclusion of spring-loaded action features. Those features are the reason why Snuka and Duggan look like freaks of nature. Million Dollar Man was blessed with one of the simplest, most effective, and least distracting features of the line. Spin his arm back and it swings forward to deliver a brutal "million dollar punch". It swings with some serious force too. I hurt my fingers playing with this guy on more than one occasion. Lastly, the figure came with a super sweet version of his diamond encrusted million dollar belt. I've seen modern more realistic figures of Dibiase produced by companies like Jakks in recent years but I still think that this is the best Ted Dibiase figure released to date. 8 out of 10.
A quick side note: I didn't go to my high school prom. I didn't buy into that nonsense. But 3 years after I graduated a dear friend of mine asked me to accompany her to her prom before she moved away. I accepted, but there was no way I was going to wear a standard rental tuxedo. Luckily my mom is a professional seamstress (check out her handy work here) so she was able to produce a custom tux based on my design. The tuxedo was extremely wide legged which was a must for me at the time as a skateboarder/raver. As a color choice I went with a deep blue, almost purple, with reflective silver trim. My vest and bow-tie were also reflective silver. It may have been subconscious but I think its fair to say that Mr. Dibiase influenced my design.
Man I loved wrestling as a kid. I almost completely lost my taste for it into my teens but I do still indulge by throwing on a classic WWF DVD from time to time. My brother Doug is still pretty into wrestling but mostly in a nostalgic way. He collects toys of the guys who wrestled when we were kids and he reads their autobiographies but he doesn't follow current going-ons in the WWE. Recently he told me about a special he watched which ranked , I believe, the top 100 pro wrestlers of all time. I was shocked when he told me that Hulk Hogan wasn't number 1. I know some of you people grew up in the age of Stone Cold and the Rock and you think they're the best and that's all well and good. Some of you may be older wrestling fans who would rank some guy from the 70s in your number 1 spot, wrestling has been around a long time. But as far as I'm concerned, as a child of the 80s, Hulk Hogan is the undisputed greatest wrestler of all time. Yes, I know he actually wasn't that great of a wrestler but I'm taking the whole Hulkamania package into account; the prayers and the vitamins and all of that. The guy was a goddamned super hero.
Anyway, the guy who topped the list was Shawn Michaels, HBK, the Heartbreak Kid. I don't agree with this choice but that's not meant as a slight to Mr. Michaels. I was a HUGE Shawn Michaels fan as a kid. That was long before he was known as HBK though. Doug and I idolized the tag-teams of the 80s: the British Bulldogs, the Hart Foundation, the Killer Bees, etc. Not only were tag team matches generally more exciting to watch, but the figures came in easily shared 2-packs. Doug and I used to emulate our favorite tag teams when wrestling our stuffed animals. When the Rockers, a team featuring a young Shawn Michaels and his partner Marty Janetty, came onto the scene Doug and I became instant super fans. We were won over by their high flying acrobatic moves and their rock n' roll attitudes.
When wrestling Scooby Doo and Stinky, our largest stuffed animals, in our epic bedroom brawls it became common practice for Doug and I to tie our housecoat belts around our arms and legs in an attempt to replicate the Rockers look. I was always Shawn and Doug was always Marty. Pretending to be the Rockers was fun and all but we both so wanted LJN to produce action figures of the Rockers. Back in those days LJN produced big solid rubber wrestling toys which were well sculpted and a blast to play with. Sadly LJN lost the WWF license before they got a chance to produce any Rockers toys.
When Hasbro took over the WWF license shortly afterwards they began releasing shorter, articulated figures made of harder plastic. Some of them were okay but in no way compatible with our beloved LJN rubber wrestlers. Some of Hasbro's toys down right sucked. Their Jimmy "Super Fly" Snuka figure received the lowest ranking I've ever given on this site (and yet for some reason it remains one of my most viewed posts??). Hasbro released the first ever Rockers figures and unfortunately they were on the sucky side of the spectrum. They shared the same action feature and construction as that god awful Snuka figure. Their legs were stuck together and their oversized torsos could be pulled down over their legs, revealing a giraffe neck, in order to launch the figures into a drop kick or something. Doug got the Marty out of the pack and I got Shawn. I hated that Shawn Michaels toy but I played with it a lot anyway since it was the only Shawn Michaels toy available at the time.
I still own that figure and I still hate it. He looks fat, has a growth on his back, and his proportions are way out of whack. You would never guess from looking at this figure that this guy would go on to make a solo career based on a heart throb persona. I almost feel like I should go out and buy a better Shawn Michaels toy for myself as dozens have been made in the years since, but I just don't care enough anymore. This clunker shall remain my one and only Shawn Michaels figure. I should give it a 1 but just because I idolized this guy so much and this was his first ever figure I'll give it a 3 out of 10.
In my last post I told you about how much I loved comic books and toys in the 80s. Another passion of mine that developed around the same time as my love of comics was my love of wrestling. I went to local matches at the Halifax Forum whenever I could and I sat mesmerized in front of the TV every Saturday morning to see all of the latest WWF action. It was like a soap opera and I couldn't bear to miss a single episode because you never knew what you might miss if you didn't tune in. While toys based on my favorite comic book characters were difficult to find at the time, that was not the case with my favorite wrestlers. Toy company LJN began producing solid rubber wrestling toys in 1984 and they continued to do so until 1989 when they lost the WWF license to Hasbro. Those 5 years of LJN figures coincided perfectly with my need for wrestling toys. Had they been released any earlier I would've been too young and by the 90s I was pretty much over wrestling all together. I bought a few of the Hasbro produced wrestling toys in the early 90s but I never really cared for them (here's why) and I had lost interest in watching the matches on TV by then. But during that second half of the 80s I saw a ton of great matches and collected a bunch of great toys. And while solid figures with no articulation wasn't ideal for super hero toys (like the Hulk I reviewed yesterday) I thought it was perfect for wrestling toys. Those big solid LJN toys could take a ton of abuse.
Brutus Beefcake joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1984. My earliest memories of him were when he was a member of the Dream Team with Greg Valentine. My brother Doug and I were always partial to tag teams and the Dream Team was a favorite of ours early on. They were champs for a while but they eventually lost the belts to another one of our all-time favorite teams, The British Bulldogs. Not long after that Brutus went solo and developed his new persona, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.
As the barber, Brutus' new schtick was putting his opponents to sleep and then cutting off their hair. I very much enjoyed him as the barber and his popularity sky rocketed during that period. His outfits got flashier and flashier during his barber years. Most of them, with their long tassels and barely-there pant legs, are straight up disturbing. But this figure came out before he had made the switch to a solo act. This is from his Dream Team days, when his outfits, while still loud, were much tamer by comparison.
This figure features Brutus in some pretty spiffy pink pants. I don't think that I could pull off this look but I actually think Brutus can, mind you a lot of leeway is given to wrestlers and hair metal bands. The spotted tights made this one of the most interesting looking figures of the LJN years. He's also wearing his "sexy" elbow high gloves. Sadly his trademark bow tie is absent.
The face is kind of weird looking. The sculptors captured his smugness but he looks more like a smug Jay Leno than a smug Brutus Beefcake. And I'm just noticing now how strange his abs look. With these unposable figures, having a good pose was critical and Brutus has a pretty good one. Having one arm up and one arm down allows for a variety of simulated wrestling moves.
This is one of my favorite wrestling toys. 8 out of 10.
A funny side note: My brother Doug had this best friend named Brad for a couple of years during High School. Brad's grandmother lived across the street from us and one day when Brad was visiting he and Doug got talking and they became pals. Doug started spending entire weekends out at Brad's place in Cole Harbor. This Brad kid was OBSESSED with wrestling. He used to tell us that his high school had a wrestling league and that he was the heavy weight champ and that he wrestled in a mask. No schools around here have wrestling teams (as far as I know) and even if they did it definitely wasn't WWF style wrestling with theme music and all that crap. And yet Brad continually told us stories of his epic matches with foreign objects and managers and all that stuff. When Doug would sleep over at his house, Brad would greet him in the morning and say that while Doug slept he had went to an early morning match and won. It was ridiculous and yet Doug let Brad think that we believed it all. Brad also told us that Brutus Beefcake was his uncle and that Brad had visited him in the States a few times and that Brutus had gotten him tickets to Wrestlemania one year. This kid was so full of shit but it was interesting to listen to. I wonder what happened to that guy…
Way back in June of last year I reviewed a trio of M.U.S.C.L.E. figurines. I can't recall exactly what I said in that review but seeing as it was my first and only MUSCLE review up to that point I imagine I filled you in on the back story of this toy line. To recap, they were tiny wrestling figures imported from Japan in the mid 80s that you could purchase in a variety of multi-packs: large rectangular boxes (which big bro Doug and I used as the wrestling rings), small blister packs, and clear plastic garbage cans for some reason. Doug and I each had a fairly sizable MUSCLE collection which was relatively easy to acquire given how small and affordable they were ( I actually have no idea how much they cost but I'm sure it wasn't much). The initial assortment of figures was only available in a solid flesh tone. Later figures were released in solid green, purple and other colors but Doug and I's collection was pretty much entirely flesh toned. The few colored figures we had actually looked like knock-offs to me.
Much like the Battle Beasts of my youth these toys were basically a clean slate Only a select few had names on the packaging and there was virtually no established back story. The fact that they were wrestlers was pretty much the only story provided by the manufacturer. Most of them didn't look like wrestlers as there seemed to be absolutely no common thread amongst the figures. There were animal people and monsters and and all kinds of really weird stuff that only the Japanese could come up with. Just look at the assortment of figures I've lumped together for this review and you'll get an idea of the variety of characters within the line.
Regrettably I don't recall all of the names that I gave to my MUSCLE figures when I was 8 years old. I played with them a ton but I've barely looked at them in the past 25 years so any clever monikers I came up with have slipped through the cracks of my mind. The only name that I truly remember from this particular lot is COMBO though I imagine the other names I just came up with for this review are pretty close to what I would've named these other guys back in the day.
Mummy is clearly some kind of bandaged up something with what I think is a long braid on the top of his head. I colored his pants with a marker years ago which I regret doing. It doesn't look so bad on him but I really f***ed up some of my other MUSCLE figures when I attempted to color them. Combo was a favorite of mine as a kid. He's clearly some sort of combination lock man. I seem to recall him being a frequent title holder in my MUSCLE wrestling league. Judo actually looks pretty close to human if you look past the absence of a nose. He's a pretty cool, straight forward figure who was a member of a pretty deadly heel tag-team of mine. Lastly there's Mr. Spray who is a living aerosol can. I guess it's no weirder than a combination lock man but at least Combo looked mean and tough; this guy looks fat and goofy. But I like him regardless, he's kind of cute. I used to make him use his aerosol spray like a foreign object whenever the ref had his back turned.
I think I graded them individually last time so I guess I should again. Mummy: 6, Combo: 8, Judo: 7, Mr. Spray: 7.
I think the last wrestling figure I reviewed was a craptacular version of Jimmy Snuka. Well today I'm going to review a much better figure of different wrestler with the same fashion sense as Mr. Snuka, Flyin' Brian Pillman. I loved my WWF wrestling figures when I was a kid. Back in the day when the WWF aired on Saturday mornings Doug and I watched it religiously. But the WWF figures that I have such a fondness for can hardly be called action figures. They were just big chunks of molded rubber with zero articulation. I imagine that some kids back then longed for more traditional action figures but I wouldn't have changed a thing about those big clunky figurines produced by LJN. I feel LJN losing the WWF license to Hasbro played a huge part in me losing interest in wrestling. The Hasbro figures were smaller, chubbier, articulated (poorly) and made of harder plastic. I collected the first wave or two of the Hasbro figures but for the most part they sucked balls and so I moved on. Hasbro is to blame for that Snuka monstrosity so you can see what I mean.
Around the same time that Hasbro launched their WWF figures another toy company, Galoob, released their own series of wrestling figures based on the WWF's only real competitor of the time World Championship Wrestling; or WCW. I was never really into the WCW and probably only watched it a couple of times. However there were so many cross over figures because wrestlers tended to change promotions quite often so I was familiar with most of the wrestlers in Galoob's 12 figure line. The line featured future Hall of Fame-ers like Sting and Ric Flair and other big names like the Steiners and Arn Anderson. I owned 3 figures from the line, all of whom wrestled in the WWF at one point or another: Butch Reed, Lex Luger and Brian Pillman. Doug had Pillman's partner Tom Zenk along with Barry Windham.
The Galoob figures were leaps and bounds better than Hasbro's offerings in my mind. They were the same size but they had superior sculpting and lacked articulation, akin to the LJN figures. I personally don't think wrestling figures need articulation so long as they're given a nice static pose. Sure it makes moves like the figure-four-leg lock impossible but it makes them durable enough to take a real beating. If I had dared to put any of my G.I. Joes or Transformers through the kind of abuse my wrestling figures endured I'd have nothing to show of my childhood but a bucket full of loose screws and broken plastic limbs.
My fondness of Pillman didn't come from his stint in the WWF wither. That occurred around the time I was graduating from high school and I had been done with wrestling for years by then. I discovered Flyin' Brian when he wrestled in Stampede Wrestling based out of Calgary. I barely remember watching Stampede Wrestling on TV as I would've been quite young but I remember really liking this guy. He was my favorite wrestler in the company. He had the same acrobatic stylings as the Rockers who were another favorite of mine and he seemed like a good guy.
I remember Pillman died a while back but I couldn't tell you the specifics about it. I read his wikipedia page before writing this to refresh my memory on the man and was kinda shocked to discover that he died at the age of 35 back in 1997. His body was discovered in his hotel room after he failed to show up for his match against Dude Love/Mick Foley. What shocked me was his age. I turn 35 10 days from now so it's kind of eerie. Hopefully I don't have any undiagnosed heart conditions like this childhood hero of mine.
This figure is a great representation of the man how I remember him. He looks young and happy and ready to fight. He's got his long curly hair which looks wet from sweat here. He's wearing his classic animal print tights and he's sculpted in a pretty good pose; perfect for diving off the top rope. R.I.P. Brian. 7 out of 10.
Jimmy Snuka is one of those great wrestlers who was just a little bit before my time. I have very little memory of ever actually seeing him wrestle. He left the WWF in 1985 which is right around the time my brother Doug and I were getting into wrestling. I remember him faintly from the Hulk Hogan animated series but most of my memories of him stem from his late 80s /early 90s return to the WWF (around the time I was losing interest). The first Snuka action figure was released by LJN in 1984 as part of their first wave of solid rubber WWF Wrestling Superstar figures. He was released alongside wrestlers who were still huge at the time like Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper. The first wrestling figure that either of us ever got was Doug's Junkyard Dog from that first wave of figures. After that we were hooked and eventually owned them all. There were a few wrestling figures that I owned from those early days whom I knew even less about than Jimmy Snuka. I eventually learned who Bruno Sammarino was though I never saw him wrestle and I still have no idea who Ted Arcidi was but his action figure saw just as much action as my favorite figures did.
When ever we played wrestling, Doug and I would dump our entire collections into piles behind our backs. We would reach behind us grabbing two random figures at a time. These two figures would then square off in the ring and this was how we set up our wrestling cards each night. This format meant every toy was used every time-no favoritism here. Jimmy Snuka was never a major contender in our wrestling federation but he did okay. His success was based more on the fact that he was a cool figure as opposed to being a a wrestler that I cared about in the real world. I really liked those giant rubber wrestling toys because they were so different from all of my other figures. Even the bad ones were pretty cool.
The same cannot be said of the wrestling toys released by Hasbro when they took over the WWF toy license in 1990. These things, for the most part, totally sucked. They were more akin to traditional action figures. They were smaller, made of harder plastic and had moving joints. I don't think any of these changes were improvements over the rubber figures produced by LJN. My Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka Hasbro figure is a great example of how bad this toy line was. His proportions are a mess. He has broad shoulders, giant arms, a melon head and little tiny legs. For an articulated figure he has almost no movement, his legs are molded together. All of the Hasbro figures had an action feature and some worked out okay. Snuka's action feature is a total cluster f**k. He has a large bump on his back which you press down on. When you do this is legs are pushed up into his torso and his neck stretches out like MOTU's Mekaneck. The idea being that when you quickly released him from this compressed position he would soar across the wrestling ring to mimic the high-flying style for which he was known, thus the nickname. It doesn't work and it looks ridiculous. These Hasbro figures probably had a lot to do with why I lost interest in wrestling actually. Why I still have this one in my collection and not my LJN version is beyond me. I'd like to compress and launch this thing into the ocean. 1 out of 10.
Today I shall be doing my second joint review. A few weeks ago I had my good pal Andrew pair up with me to review She-Ra and her horse Swiftwind. Today my big brother Doug will be helping me along in my review of the LJN wrestling figure: Junk Yard Dog. I had asked both Andrew and Doug to select a figure that we both owned. I had to own it obviously because the name of this blog is "mike's collection" and they had to own it so they could talk about their memories of the figure. Pretty basic right? Andrew was able to follow instructions but Doug came to me telling me that he had chosen Junk Yard Dog; a wrestling figure which I have never owned. I appreciated him participating in this little exercise but didn't really want to write about a toy that I didn't own myself. So I asked him if he could maybe pick another toy.
ah…I didn't realize it was supposed to be something you had too. Makes it difficult for nostalgia things since we always had different stuff.
This is true. It wasn't often we had the same toys because as I've mentioned on here plenty of times we usually split collections down the middle. I suppose I can indulge you this one time. So why this figure?
I picked JYD because of all our toys growing up GI Joe was always the number one collection but I'd say wrestlers were number 2…and he was the first one we had.
You know I never really ever considered wrestlers as our number 2 collection. We were both huge wrestling fans as kids and did have a lot of figures and we did play the hell out of them but I would go with Transformers of He-Man. Maybe that's more of a hindsight thing. I'm pretty over wrestling where as you still collect the figures to this day. I do recall you getting JYD and both of us loving the big solid rubber design. So different from anything else we were into. Do you remember when you got him?
I got him as a birthday present from one of my friends and although we knew some about wrestling we didn't know a whole lot back in the days in Ontario…we didn't get our second wrestler until after we moved here. I think it was that summer at Grampas when we moved here that really got us started on it…then having Caroline, Ken and Valerie take us to see live wrestling.
Yeah those live events really won us over. Did you even know who JYD was when you first got that toy? I didn't.
No I don't think I knew who he was when I got him. The reason I chose him for this is because his origin is specific to us….for years he was the only wrestler we had….and yet we always had these wrestling tournaments for all of our toys to participate in…from the team of Mack and Sport…to Tomax and Xamot…to JYD and Mantenna
Ha. Oh yeah, I forgot about that team up. That's awesome. Did your love of the figure translate into a fondness for the real guy?
Well he was certainly never a regular champion in our federation….and I really only remember him in real life for his WM3 fued with Harley Race. Once we actually got all our wrestling firgures…he just faded into the pack after that and was never a particular favourite in the wrestling universe. But I was excited when he was made as a Classic Superstar years later..because he does have that significance.
Yeah. I never paid much attention to him. When I think of the man, I think of the figure's face as I know it better. The chain was a pretty cool accessory too. Did you hold onto your original JYD figure or did you have to buy him over again?
I had to buy him again….I don't have the chain anymore. So few of them had accessories too that was really cool. Getting rid of the original is one of those toy regrets.
Yeah, I've got my fair share of those. So what do you like about this figure?
I feel he was one of the guys with one of the better poses…he had both arms out so it was prefect to make him lock up at the start of a match and pick guys up for a bodyslam….I don't know what they were thinking of when they approved that Rick Rude pose.
I know. I hated that Rude figure. Is JYD still alive do you know?
Nope, he died a long time ago. Sylvester Ritter I think was his real name.
Bummer. Well R.I.P. Sylvester Ritter I guess. Do you recall any of his specific matches?
The only real match I remember him from was in Wrestlemania 3.
Wrestlemania 3 was pretty influential to us.
Yeah, Billy Jack Hayes and Hercules always had that full nelson rivalry in our federation…Andre and Hogan were bitter rivals ( although Andre never did well since the figure had that afro which reminded me of Imperious Leader….WM3 really shaped our federation.
Best Wrestlemania ever.
Exactly…Adonis vs Piper, the debut of the Barber, The Bulldogs vs the Harts….I'd be lucky if I could even name the main event alone at any other wrestle mania. But on the topic of buying JYD and so many over again…another significant thing about the wrestlers was just how careful and meticulous we were in taking care of our toys. So many of the figs I have since bought are in rough shape…my Slick is pretty much just a gray slab of rubber. These toys were made for smashing together but we would use permananet marker to replace any paint chip in a boot or hair..etc etc…Despite how often they were used our guys looked great.
Now I know you still play with your wrestling toys, not physically but you play out matches in your head and records stats like a psychopath. How is the Junk Yard Dog Classic figure faring in your league these days?
He's still a middle of the pack guy these days…KOKO B ware drags him down as his tag tam partner. He needs Mantenna back again I guess…I seem to recall them doing pretty decent in the original tournaments.
A reunion would be pretty sweet. Alright well let's wrap this up, What would you rate this figure?
I'd give him a 7 out of 10…good figure…loved the LJNs…good pose….but he looked a little too nice.
Ken Patera had an impressive career as an olympic weightlifter, powerlifter, strongman and wrestler for many years before I ever heard of him. I was introduced to him in 1987 when the WWF began hyping his return to wrestling after serving an actual prison sentence. In the old days he was a bad guy or "heel" as they're known in the wrestling world. Upon his return he felt slighted by his former manager Bobby "the Brain" Heenan and so turned against him and his gang of thugs known as the Heenan family. Patera was now a good guy or a "face". I remember watching wrestling as a kid wondering who this big brute was. He quickly won me over by strangling Heenan with a belt and swinging him around the ring. I don't remember much about him after that as his hype was short lived. Injuries resulted in him leaving the WWF in 1988. For a short while before leaving he had teamed up with another rather forgettable wrestle Billy Jack Haynes. The Patera-Haynes tag team may not have made waves in real life but in the wrestling federation that took place on my bedroom floor, well that was a different story entirely.
I'm not sure why we decided this, Patera and Haynes were far from out favorite wrestlers, but for some reason Doug and I gifted them with super-human strength. It may have had to do with the sheer size of the Patera figure; it was an absolute beast. I had fatter wrestler toys and taller wrestler toys but I think Patera was the biggest. He was just so thick and heavy with enormous arms. He looked like he could kick the ass of all my other wrestling toys put together: So he did. I had Patera and Doug had Haynes. I must've gotten the Patera figure after that team-up was already established on TV because I don't ever remember a time playing with Patera as a solo act. We made the Pater-Haynes team an unstoppable force of nature. Able to lift the entire wrestling ring up if they felt like it to crush over some unsuspecting foes head. Not to say that they never lost, bad guys have a way of finding a face's weakness. A well placed foreign object always did the trick. Patera was strong but not invincible. As a kid I looked up to wrestlers and some of them are genuine heroes of mine. Ken Patera is not one of those guys. I barely remember his matches and his short stint in the WWF had little impact on me. I did however have a ton of fun playing with him so for that Mr. Patera I'm glad you never died of a drug overdose. 7 out of 10.
I'll be honest, I never really cared for Hacksaw all that much. He always played to dumb for my liking. The U.S.A! U.S.A! chant was fun for a while and who doesn't like watching a guy getting smoked in the head with a 2 x 4 but I found Hacksaw boring for the most part. I believed Hulk Hogan's patriotism but Hacksaw's just never seemed genuine to me, maybe because he played up the moron schtick so much. I liked him enough to buy his figure though, not once but twice. I had the big original LJN version which I got rid of and then I have this smaller crappier one which I held onto. I really didn't care much for this line of figures from Hasbro but they were all that was available at the time. Doug and I bought most of series 1 and 2 before losing interest.
As far as likeness's go these figures were really hit and miss. Some of them came out quite well while others just looked ridiculous. Often times it had to do with the action feature being added to the character. Duggan here is actually one of the better likeness's in the line. His big dumb yelling face captures the real thing quite well though I think a painted tongue would've helped a lot. That flesh colored tongue just creeps me out. The gut hanging over the top of his shorts is pretty accurate as well. Duggan was never one of the "abs" guys. His action feature is appropriate, if you lift his arms over his head they quickly swing down delivering a crushing blow. He could lay a real beat down on you with his 2 x4 if only it would stay in his hand. The swinging motion tends to send it flying.
That's about all I've got to say about this guy. meh. 2 out of 10.


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Suspended . . .
in that no-man's land
choice presented
and indecision,
no more.
Suspended . . .
in that no-man's land
choice presented
and indecision,
no more.
She stirs under clean white sheets
As the early Athens sun
Saturates the room in soft pink,
Mocking the darkness that hovers …
teases, descends.
The sun will always rise
The sun will always set
Caught in the inevitable so and so
But she knows
The warm pink glow
Must prevail in the everyday
For she has been sitting
In shadows
For far too long
A song pulses,
reverberates within my soul
As I gaze through rising steam,
Courtesy of a mug of tea —
for reflection purposes.
Empty the device of photos . . .
On to another
A fresh start, purging of the past
Two years. Where have they gone?
Onward to the new memories,
Not forgetting the present
In the process
The song changes.
It's a new one, I've never heard.
A wise purchase.
Writing in the dim glow of the moon,
early evening's light,
Red wine for unwinding a tight mind
full of words not my own.
The twilight is mine to find my voice
The dark is where I find depth . . .
I write these lines,
though I can barely see.
Sun-kissed skin scalds
Like the sound of goodbye
Golden vacation leads back to
Reality —
What if it were sweeter
than fleeting days of sunshine?
Can you make it so?
In the beauty of this
fully satiated. Saturated
with joy
full bliss when breathing
is deep, mindful,
Light in the heavy clouds of past and future
Focused on one
sound, movement
In, out,
Sensual in its plundering
of soul
full bliss
One moment fully realized.
Coffee sips
Sweeter after a missed flight
Too early for anger.
Solace found in its bitter gold
A sigh . . .
Another sip.
Pull out the red plastic. Deep breath.
One more sip. Heals,
A smile emerges
Back on track.
Red plastic a little lighter.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jennifer Aniston Admits: I've Switched To Spray Tanning To Save My Skin!
The renowned sun bather confesses her skin is starting to show damage so here's what she's doing to save it!
Jennifer Aniston tells InStyle magazine's January issue that she became "addicted to the sun" when she moved to California and has since seen sun spots begin to appear on her skin. Find out what she's doing to combat the dark marks and signs of aging.
Jen is a gorgeous woman, but bathing in the sun has taken a toll on her skin. To combat the signs of sun damage and aging, she admits to having gone under the needle!
"People think that I do a lot of injections, but I don't," says Jen. "I'm not saying that I haven't tried it…but I see how it's a slippery slope. And all that cosmetic stuff looks ridiculous on me."
At least she's making an effort to be more careful in the sun. Jen says she's getting spray tans and wearing serious sunblock.
Are you surprised that Jen admitted to having tried injections to improve her appearance? Do you think she'll become addicted to those as well?


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Comfort All the Way
Just Love's jumpsuits are everything you'd wish for in one piece pajamas: cute, cuddly and incredibly comfy!
Your little one will love the feel of the ultra-soft material, which makes lounging on a chilly night or catching a
nap unbelievably plush. The kids jumpsuits are available in a variety of adorable characters, with all the cute
detailing sewn-in perfectly to give these pajamas durability to last through it all. Gift your little one with pjs that
they'll never want to take off!
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Have a child in grade school? High school maybe? Well we have jumpsuits designed just for them! With our range
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these jammies a total breeze.
Here's why you should get your kids Just Love jumpsuit:
– Super soft and skin friendly fabric for total comfort.
– Available in sizes from Youth S to Youth L
– Front single zipper allows kids of all ages to dress easily.
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Count on Just Love's kids jumpsuit to lavish your little one with comfort, impress you with quality, and double
up on the cuteness. Click 'Add to Cart' now!
- ADORABLY CUTE: The combination of cute and cozy makes these onesie pajamas an instant hit with the kids. The adorable design features a single-zip closure that runs at the center of the kids' jumpsuit pajamas and a delightful eared hood to keep kids cozy wherever they are.
- EASY TO WEAR AND REMOVE: The hassle-free single zip closure makes the animal kids jumpsuit very easy to wear and remove even without your intervention. Your little one can step into these cozy pajamas and zip themselves up without breaking a sweat
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I have been quickly reminded what spring really feels like. Highs in the 60's actually feel cold for March compared to the 80's we were having last week. Spoiled, spoiled.
I thought that yesterday's photo montage from the weekend helped to balance out my wordy post from Friday. I wanted to give a quick running update today and I am happy to say that I ran my 7 miles on Friday in 1:08:14. I actually felt pretty great the whole time, and dare I say that I could have kept going when I finished? It is amazing how runs feel so different day-to-day. Monday you would have thought I've never run 2 miles and Friday I accomplished 7. Did I mention also that the majority of the run was in the rain? It was misting for most of the time, but while listening to my iPhone, 'Let it Rain' by David Nail came on and I swear that the skies seemed to open up and it just started pouring. I listened to the words and literally started singing out loud. Although the song's lyrics relate more to relationship problems as opposed to the issues I am facing regarding my own personal stress and urge for perfection, it really helped me to hear this song right in the middle of my run. When the song was over, the sky dried up a little and went back to the light mist it was doing before. Yesterday we went to the gym and I ran 2 miles in 16:38, the fastest I have ever ran. I couldn't believe it and I was so excited to see that the long runs mixed with the short speed sessions seem to really be helping me to become a quicker runner with more endurance.
I had a lot of questions about this particular drink:
It was actually a Ginger Ale, ginger, organic cane sugar, lime juice and mint, from the North Star Cafe in Columbus. I absolutely love this restaurant, which I originally tried while going to Ohio State. The original was opened in 2004 near downtown Columbus, but now there are three locations including the one at the Easton Town Center that my mom and I visited Saturday. We had a snack while we were there instead of eating a big meal and split the Pimiento Cheese Dip:
The Baby Shower went really well Saturday. We held it at Brio at the Polaris. The theme was 'Ducky' and we made sure this was included in the invitations, on the balloons, and in the favor bags.
We played two simple games: We used ribbon and had each guest estimate how much ribbon would be needed to wrap around the baby bump. The second game was to guess the baby's weight. These guesses went into an envelope and we will mail out the prize to whoever guessed correctly after the baby is born. The prize was a $5 gift card to Starbucks and some chocolates.
The favor bag included a rubbery duck..
…and chocolate!
We wanted to keep everything simple.
I made the cupcakes, which were Chocolate Cake with a Chocolate Cream Cheese-Buttercream Frosting. (Recipe to Come!)
Everything turned out really nice and my cousin said she had a great time, which was most important. Brio did a great job and the restaurant at the Polaris is absolutely gorgeous. The party was simple yet elegant and classy.
I feel like having it at a restaurant makes it harder to be creative since you don't know what you have to work with in regards to the size of the room, provided decorations, etc. We were a little concerned that we wouldn't have enough decorations or that our simple games wouldn't be enough fun. However, I totally agree with the idea that less really is more, and I think the ducks would agree too.
Have you ever ate at Brio? Are you a fan of this restaurant chain?
If you were throwing a baby shower tomorrow, what theme would you use?
Do you agree with the saying that Less is More?


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Latest News
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has just announced its revised investment priorities beyond May 1st 2017. The big news for DMSC members is that improving energy productivity is one of four key priority areas. Improved energy productivity is defined by producing a higher value manufacturing return per unit of energy invested. Interestingly, this means that projects that involving the implementation of energy efficiency measures, electrification and/or fuel switching to renewable energy sources will all be considered for funding support by ARENA.
Further details of ARENA's investment plan can be found here:


text:
Below is a listing of our product categories. Please feel free to browse through them for information on the particular product(s) you are interested in. Each category will take you to that particular product line where you can learn more and ultimately make a purchase if that is your intent. If you do not find what you are looking for online, please feel free to call us at any time at 877-745-0311 or fill out our contact form.
Want something specific? We've got your back. Helluva bulk bags are customizable and come in quantities as low as one pallet.
Helluva offers a full range of packing accessories like tape,
liners, pallets and stretch film. These are located in regional
warehouses throughout the country, so we can get these to you fast.


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Launching Serge Liberman's finest
The posthumous launch of award-winning author Serge Liberman's The Storyteller - a compilation of his best short stories was a heartfelt affair held in Melbourne.
WITH no author to sign books, the posthumous launch of Dr Serge Liberman's compilation of his best short stories – in The Storyteller – at Kadimah in Elsternwick on April 15 was especially heartfelt.
The 432-page collection, suggested to Liberman by friend and colleague Alex Skovron, had the late author's enthusiastic support, but his hopes to attend the launch were dashed when he lost his struggle with motor neurone disease at 75 last year.
Yet as Kadimah president Renata Singer reflected to the audience, Liberman's spirit was most likely watching over the launch of his final collection.
Among Liberman's many achievements, he was awarded an OAM and was a multiple winner of the prestigious Alan Marshall Award, editor of the English-Yiddish Melbourne Chronicle, former literary editor of The AJN and mastermind of The Bibliography of Australasian Judaica. Together with his prolific fiction, it was a proud record for the Uzbekistan-born child migrant who arrived in Australia in 1951.
Introducing the anthology of 28 of Liberman's finest stories, La Trobe University emeritus professor Richard Freadman described him as a medical doctor whose creative works explored "colliding worlds" of the real and the metaphysical.
Among his themes were the doctor-patient relationship, the "disorientation and pain" of the Australian migrant experience, and intergenerational tensions, underpinned by a strong ethical code and flavoured with a bygone European world of "the shtetl, folklore and Chassidic tradition".
Liberman was a universalist, said Freadman, who believed that "the more a Jew cares about [Jewish and non-Jewish] others, the more Jewish he is".
His characters were "a voluble lot", such as Gotteswill, the aptly named title character of Messiah in Acland Street, who praises Federman, a café scribe, for emphasising humankind.
Working in a style that was "elaborate [but] always charged with feeling", like many fine writers, Liberman liked "to leave us uncertain", said Freadman.
Reading from The Storyteller, Skovron chose the story, Music, about a Jewish schoolboy and his music teacher.
Liberman's colleague, writer Arnold Zable, read from The House Behind Drawn Curtains, in which a physician faces conundrums transcending the physical.
Anna Mow, Liberman's wife of more than 20 years, portrayed him as "a wise, gentle, kind man with a great big heart", who sometimes appeared far off as he dreamed up new stories.
She paid tribute to Skovron and Freadman, and to Louis de Vries and Anna Blay of Hybrid Publishers, for making Liberman's final book a reality.
"Although Serge, the mensch, is gone," she said, "Serge, the writer, lives on."
The Storyteller is published by Hybrid Publishers. www.hybridpublishers.com.au
REPORT by PETER KOHN


text:
I have ported an old GFA book to HYPertext. It's attached to this post. You will need an ST-Guide or equivalent HYPertext reader.
If you also want the disk that came with the book, it's here:
PS. I know the book is old and maybe some of the example code is not so great, but hey, it's free.
Released with kind permission of Clayton Walnum, aka Taylor Ridge Books.


text:
NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Player of the Week — No. 8
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Osandai Vaughn of Webber International (Fla.) has been named the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Vaughn was chosen for his performances from January 22 – 28 and was selected out of a pool of conference award winners.
NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Player of the Week
Osandai Vaughn, Webber International (Fla.)
6-3, Sr., G, Charlotte, N.C.
• Vaughn played a key role in a 2-0 week for the Warriors that included a 91-90 double-overtime victory against then-No. 23 Warner (Fla.).
• Against the Royals, the senior guard scored 29 points, while adding a career-high 19 rebounds.
• Weekly Stats
o Averaged 24.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals in two games.
o Shot 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from 3-point range.
o Converted 10-of-13 free throws.
For more information on NAIA Division II Men's Basketball, click here.
For a complete listing of all national statistical leaders, click here.
Nominees: Pat Ling, Evergreen (Wash.); Anthony Spencer, Simpson (Calif.); Kyle Snowden, Fisher (Mass.); Jason Spicer, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.); Akil McClain, IU Kokomo; Jalen Thompson, Concordia (Mich.); Julius Jackson, Presentation (S.D.); Lance Blakely, Union (Ky.); Kyle Mangas, Indiana Wesleyan; Andrew Romero III, Johnson & Wales (Colo.); Jalen Miller, Governors State (Ill.); Julian Winton, Tabor (Kan.).
2017-18 Division II Men's Basketball Composite Award Winners
Week 1 (Nov. 28): Ryan Williams, Midland (Neb.)
Week 2 (Dec. 5): Derek Hinen, Saint Francis (Ind.)
Week 3 (Dec. 12): Nathan Wedel, Northwestern (Iowa)
Week 4 (Jan. 2): Clay Reimers, Concordia (Neb.)
Week 5 (Jan. 9): Haylen Washington, Coastal Georgia
Week 6 (Jan. 16): Michael Loomis, Northwest Christian (Ore.)
Week 7 (Jan. 23): Nic Reed, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Week 8 (Jan. 30): Osandai Vaughn, Webber International (Fla.)


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If you can dream it, Cabinet Restoration can make it a reality. Your cabinets can be resurfaced in any color to complement your style and decor. Cabinet Restoration resurfaces your cabinets with the same process generally used in cabinet shops, but in your home.
What we offer:
- Complete kitchen and bath consulting and design
- Cabinet resurfacing
- Cabinet manipulation (to add or remove cabinets or change your layout)
- Custom cabinetry
- Door replacement
- Counter Tops (granite, quartz, Silestone, solid surface, laminate)
- Backsplashes
- Cabinet hardware replacement
- Soft-close hinges and drawer slides
- Plumbing
- Flooring
- Lighting
- Appliances (ovens, built-in ovens, wine coolers, range hoods, microwave and refrigerator drawers, and more)


text:
SCS Faculty Awards
School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh PA 15213-3891
(412)268-8525 . (412)268-5576 (fax)
Recipients of The Coach Award", School of Computer Science
In tribute to this anniversary, and in recognition of the contributions made to the discipline by the professors, lecturers, students, mentors, clients and sponsors that have enabled the software engineering discipline and the related academic programs to grow and thrive, the MSE/ISR established a series of awards/recognitions under the rubric "The Coach Awards" within our college.
The term "Coach" has deep cultural roots in our environment. First and foremost, it pays tribute to a man who dedicated his life since the early 1980's to the development of an educational program in software engineering: James E. Tomayko.
Return to: SCS Faculty Awards


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Atlantic Management Resources has partnered with a rapidly expanding Pharmaceutical Company with commercial operations based in the US.
Our client company creates value by developing and commercializing new drugs that offer superior medical benefits and commercial potential.
This is an excellent opportunity a first line Sales Manager to promote Oncology franchises.
Compensation and Benefits


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Click on the images or names for links!
1. Mini Rice Cooker - I love this little guy! With just a button, it cooks my rice in 20 ~ minutes. You might have to cook it several times with brown rice. Also, don't let the name of the product limit you. It's practically a steamer so throw in your favorite vegetables and cook it!
2. Shu Uemura Lash Curler - Perfect for Asian eyes. That's all I can say.
3. Canbor Bluetooth Earbuds - Everyone needs this! Got so sick of dealing with the wires, especially while working out or sewing for school! Now I need these because with the iPhone X, I can't use my old headphones. (or I can but it's inconvenient)
4. L'oreal Lash Paradise - SO GOOD AT HOLDING CURLS! & doesn't smudge much.
5. Colourpop Highlighter (Wisp) - Gorgeous as a highlighter on cheekbones and eyes!
6. L'oreal Brow Stylist Plumper - Great for on-the-go brows! Makes them look fuller yet natural. Awesome dupe for Glossier Boy Brow
7. Wet n Wild ColorIcon (mellow wine) - Such a natural blush color! If I layer a bit too much but just dust some powder foundation over it.
8. Waterproof Liquid Liner - Honestly THE BEST liquid liner I've ever used, and I wear liner everyday. It doesn't smudge or transfer. I've worn it swimming, showering, running and more. It doesn't come off! If anything, it flakes off. Love love LOVE it. I bought mine in Taiwan but they sell it on Amazon.
9. Aquaphor - I got 4 tattoos in 2017. I KNOW. But each time, I use Aquaphor during the healing process. I love it! Now that it's cold, I use it on my lips as a balm. Nothing else.
10. Dr. Martens - I just love platform shoes. These go with practically everything. Definitely my go-to shoes since my birthday. (LOVE my roommate for buying these for me!!! So grateful).
11. Retro Glasses - 70's inspired sunglasses. Not so practical... but I love wearing these to shoots. ;)
Let me know what your favorite 2017 product was!


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Whereas best calligraphy fonts have conventionally been reserved for use in wedding invites, modern designers are experimenting with the same in several kinds of designs. With all their stylish flourishes, glyphs, swashes, curvy extensions, flowery ends, and more, these free handwriting fonts are vital digital assets of a discerning designer's collection. Check out all kinds of free calligraphy fonts for wedding invitations, as well as multipurpose free calligraphy fonts for Microsoft Word, and enjoy better designing.
What benefits do free calligraphy fonts have in store for you? 1. With free cursive fonts to create long running texts, free handwriting fonts to evoke a sense of natural appeal to the design, and free script fonts to create a somber literary theme, there are several design variations from the world of free calligraphy fonts for download.You may also see flower fonts 2. Use free calligraphy fonts for tattoos to create revolutionary designs wherein text can take the primary focus without making the design look bland.You may also see calligraphy font 3. With fonts emulating the strokes and flourishes of a pointed steel pen, bringing in a sophisticated flourish to any design is possible using these fonts.You may also see funky fonts 4. Well spaced yet continuous calligraphic fonts make the text more readable without taking the fizz out of the beauty quotient of the same..
Calligraphy is a very creative way of writing and one that looks rather god when the whole work is completed. The intricate loops and strokes however are mastered with a lot of practice. No wonder then than calligraphic Word Fonts can be designed only if one is extremely well versed with the basics and has all the tools handy. You need a good pen, a pencil, eraser and various types of nibs to begin with.
It should be noted that the gothic calligraphy fonts unlike the Military Fonts are extremely fancy which is why when designing these for online use, you will have to make use of the fancy calligraphy font generator. However, if you are thinking of designing these using FontForge, you will first have to draw these on paper and scan these to the software. For this, start with the letter "u" as this is the easiest. You have to alternate between slant lines and straight lines to create the perfect letter "u". Once you are proficient with this letter, you can go on trying the other alphabets and then scan these and import into the FontForge software.
There are more than 400 types of calligraphy fonts available online. However, the most popular ones that offer the Best Alphabet Fonts are
Illustrator offers a wide range of calligraphy brushes that make it easier for the users to design their own calligraphy fonts. Here are a few steps that can be used to create calligraphy fonts in Illustrator.
There is no denying the fact that Arabic calligraphy is one of the most Elegant Fonts which is why a lot of people prefer to get the font for their greeting cards, wedding cards and even publicity material. However, if you are not well versed with the calligraphic design, it is really not possible to write your name or for that matter anything in this style. But now there is some good news. There are Arabic calligraphy generators available online where you can easily get your name written in Arabic calligraphy. You just need to copy this and then paste it to the relevant document.
In the digital age, the art of calligraphy seems to be diminishing. However, the calligraphic fonts such as 3D Fonts are still very much in vogue and are used for a number of reasons.
However, if you are hard pressed for time, you can make use of such fonts that are readily available online. Easy to download and use, these surely help you save a lot of time while also making your content look impressive.


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Asus Eee PC 1015PEM Review
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 0 comments
Asus Eee PC 1015PEM Review. Late August, Intel launched the presence of their first dual-core processor designed specifically for the Atom N550 netbook platform. The processor is the first dual-core Atom processors are aimed at netbook.
Along with the presence of these processors, Intel said a number of partners they directly deliver their products that utilize netbook Atom N550 into the market. One of them is Asustek with the Eee PC netbook series 1015PEM.
Design and Specifications
From the design, netboook 1015PEM Eee PC is similar to the Eee PC 1015PE who had already been present in the market. This netbook also use matte plastic casing and keyboard design chicklet.
Keyboard with these designs facilitate those who have larger fingers than average so as not to slip pressing a button next to the button he meant. Unfortunately, there are several buttons that have a small size to keep raises the risk of one push.
To move the cursor, Asus provides a touchpad measuring 7.6 x 4 inches. Wide enough for a netbook. To click, though there are no buttons left and right, because both are fused into a button, you can still click as usual. The following is a brief specification of the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM.
Processor: Intel Atom N550 1.5 GHz, 1MB cache
Chipset: Intel Express chipset NM10
Memory: 1GB DDR3
VGA: Intel GMA 3150
Display: 10.1 inch 1024x600 LED Backlight
Harddisk: 160GB, 2.5 "SATA 5400rpm
Sound / speakers: Integrated stereo speakers, HD Audio CODEC
Optical Drive: -
Battery: 6 cell Lithium Ion battery up to 13 hours
Connectivity: WiFi, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth
External Ports: VGA, RJ-45, Mic / Headphone, 3 USB 2.0, card reader
Dimensions: 262 x 178 x 23.6 to 36.4 mm
Weight: 1.27 Kg (with 6 cell battery)
Operating system: Windows 7 Starter Edition
Warranty: 1 year
Eee PC 1015PEM have the same completeness as netbooks in general. VGA port and a USB port on the left side and two on the right allows the user to connect a USB modem or an external hard drive while still recharge the battery cell phone and MP3 player, for example.
To do video conferencing, Asus provides a 0.3 megapixel camera at the top of the screen. Interestingly, there is a 'door' slide in front of the camera lens. It's quite useful to ensure that the camera will not catch the user when he is not ready.
This netbook also has a facility called Express Gate. Feature is application 'instant-on' Linux-based operating system that can be directly used in about 5 seconds after the button is pressed. If users only need to surf the internet, chatting, communicating through Skype, simply press the button on the left corner to activate this feature. Now if you want to get into the operating system Windows 7, the button is on the right hand corner.
Performance Test
Using the Express Gate feature, less than 10 seconds we can immediately surf the Internet. Unfortunately, when we try to explore, we need to connect the ethernet cable to the LAN port. Unable to use WiFi.
In terms of performance, dual core processors are used, despite their lower clock that is only 1.5 GHz and the system makes the application more responsive when running.
Through the application of RightMark CPU Clock Utility, noted that the battery on this netbook has the full capacity of 56.305mWh. If used continuously, the application estimates that the battery can last up to 5 hours 26 minutes.
The test battery life we do use the application Imtec Battery Mark. When tested, and by enabling the CPU load, carrying batteries can last for 4 hours 46 minutes.
From a brief experiment that we do, Asus Eee PC with dual core processors we can recommend to you who are looking for compact portable computer, with a somewhat decent processor in terms of speed. Battery that can last up to 5 hours or more, depending on how to use a netbook, too bad.
This netbook will be marketed in three colors namely black, white, red, and blue in the price range of $ 440.
- Dual-core processor, better performance
- Battery durable enough
- Some of the buttons are smaller, less comfortable when worn


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America Is Winning a Race That It Never Signed Up For
By Tom Randall, Bloomberg:
When it comes to reaching international deals on climate change, the U.S. hasn't had much success. No one has. That's too bad, because when it comes to cutting greenhouse-gas emissions, America ranks among the best in the world.
The chart above shows the carbon intensity of the U.S. economy since 1949. The blue line shows metric tons of carbon dioxide produced per million dollars of economic output.
Last year the U.S.'s carbon intensity dropped by 6.5 percent, by far the biggest decline since record keeping began in 1949, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Energy-related CO2 emissions tumbled to the lowest level since 1994; over the same period, real GDP climbed 56 percent, showing that greenhouse-gas cuts don't preclude economic growth.
Most recently, America's carbon-cutting success has been fueled by a boom in cheap natural gas, which is driving out carbon-intensive coal. Increasing fuel efficiency in the nation's auto fleet is also playing a role. The U.S. State Department reported in September that America is on track to reduce total emissions by 17 percent by 2020 from a 2005 benchmark, making good on a pledge made four years ago at UN climate talks in Copenhagen.
Those climate talks are set to resume Nov. 11 in Warsaw. In some ways, America's decreasing rate of greenhouse-gas pollution reduces the impetus to impose new policy restrictions aimed at accomplishing the same goal. At the same time, wouldn't it be nice if the U.S. leveraged its success to get other countries to do the same?
November 4, 2013
This article can also be viewed on Bloomberg's website here.


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The Gites in France Blog
Commissions are killing holiday lets
Give your hard earned money away
Each time you pay a commission or booking fee to a large holiday lettings website you are
- giving your own money away and
- taking money out of the pocket of the owner of the holiday rental
Who knows where the money ends up? – but for sure you don't have it and the rental owners don't have it!
Do it differently and eat out more
On the commission you pay you can dine out at least a couple of times while you are on your holiday.
Commissions slowly kill the industry because it's money the owner could have re-invested in maintaining and improving the property that is sucked out of the system.
The internet originally enabled people to find a great vacation rental and then deal with the owner direct – cutting out the middlemen who added no value.
No Commission – Ever
LOIRELIFE enables you to deal direct with owners and in doing so we will never ever charge commission to either people looking for a holiday property or those who own them.
Our owners pay a small fee to list with our site and that's it.
We wont become billionaires, but do you know what – we don't care!
Be Smart!
So next time you book a holiday let – just check out the commission you are paying and think to yourself – how many meals could I buy with that?
0 comments
Comments are closed.


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by Aug 21, 2017 | Content Marketing|
Digital marketing trends are a changing beast. Each year, new preferences come into play that marketers need to be aware of. Even individual website owners should know what works and what doesn't. In 2017, video marketing is coming into its own. It has become one of the most, if not the most, effective means of communicating with potential customers.
Video is dynamic and engaging. It allows you to say things to customers that simply aren't possible through text or picture. Using video for your marketing purposes is simple if you know how to do it correctly. Read on to learn all about how you should be using video marketing for your business.
Watch video on Youtube: Local Animation Studio Software


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May is lilac here in New England,
May is a thrush singing "Sun up!" on a tip-top ash-tree,
May is white clouds behind pine-trees
Puffed out and marching upon a blue sky.
May is a green as no other,
May is much sun through small leaves,
May is soft earth,
And apple-blossoms,
And windows open to a South wind.
May is full light wind of lilac
From Canada to Narragansett Bay. Share


text: On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 03:43:14PM -0400, Alexander Strange wrote: > vp3dsp_sse2.c uses movdqu exclusively, even for register moves. All its > memory loads are properly aligned, so this replaces them all with movdqa. patch looks ok [...] -- Michael GnuPG fingerprint: 9FF2128B147EF6730BADF133611EC787040B0FAB Democracy is the form of government in which you can choose your dictator -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 189 bytes Desc: Digital signature URL: <http://lists.mplayerhq.hu/pipermail/ffmpeg-devel/attachments/20080414/169d992d/attachment.pgp>


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I am heartsick over what is happening in Kenya. The vast numbers of people queuing to vote was quite inspiring. There was obviously a huge desire for change, and a huge desire for participatory democracy. I had hoped the returns would be counted with some semblance of honesty.
Abba Mahmood wrote about Nigeria that Yar'Adua presidency is:
. . . signaling the retirement of a whole generation of the leadership . . . both civilian and military, who owe their starting point in the 1960s. They have been over-recycled. They are tired but they don't want to retire. How they take their loss of influence will have profound effect on the nation's polity.
Many other countries are facing similar leadership challenges, and inevitable change. The peaceful turnover of power is one of the most difficult things for any country to accomplish. It looks like President Kibaki has failed this critical test of his leadership, with devastating effect on the country.
In a odd piece of news the AP reports, reproduced at GhanaWeb, two US sailors from the USS Fort McHenry, also called the African Partnership Station, have been found dead in a hotel room in Tema. I find it impossible to guess what happened. There is crime in Ghana, but mostly it is a safe place to be. So what was going on?
Update Jan. 3: WASHINGTON (CNN) —
Two U.S. sailors who were found dead in a Ghana hotel room may have died of alcohol poisoning, a Navy official told CNN on Wednesday.
There were no signs of foul play in the incident, said the Navy official, who asked not to be identified due to the ongoing investigation.
An unidentified naval official told The Associated Press that the two were among a trio of sailors who checked in at La Palm Beach Hotel in the capital of Accra on December 31 "and on the next day, the third sailor found the two dead in their rooms and duly reported this to the hotel authorities."
The official told AP there was no evidence of a robbery or an attack on the sailors.
. . .
Although preliminary indications point to the possibility the sailors drank a lethal amount of alcohol, the official said the Navy is awaiting toxicology test results before determining cause of death.
And, because I would like to begin the year on a positive note, I included the handsome picture above of the woman harvesting mangos. An article at GhanaWeb titled Mango day celebrations encourages Ghanaians to create a mango holiday, and to grow and invest in mangos.


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The Colombian government and the country's main rebel group signed a new peace deal on Thursday, hoping to salvage the accords and skip the ballot box after voters rejected the agreement in a referendum the month before.
If the ceremony had a sense of familiarity, it was because it had all been done before this year. In late September, the rebels — Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC — and the government pledged a new start at a signing ceremony before world leaders in the port town of Cartagena after a half-century of war.
But on Oct. 2, only days after the signing, Colombians took to the polls for a referendum on the peace deal and knocked it down by a slim margin. In another twist, President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize later that week, with the judges urging him to not let the agreement slip out of reach.
Hence, the need for a do-over.
"On signing this agreement, as president of all Colombians, I want to invite all, with an open mind and open heart, to give peace a chance," Mr. Santos said at the ceremony, held in a theater in Bogotá, the capital.
Rodrigo Londoño, the top commander of the rebels, also spoke at the signing and asked Colombians to forgive the group for crimes during the conflict. He urged the government to enact the peace agreement swiftly.
This time, however, Mr. Santos will not be calling on voters to weigh in.
Instead of facing another referendum, the accords will now head to the country's Congress, where Mr. Santos's governing coalition holds a majority, making approval far more likely.
Mr. Santos's rivals accused him of rushing through the new agreement without letting them revise it.
Álvaro Uribe, the former president who led the campaign against the deal, said the modified accords did not do enough to punish the rebels, particularly for drug trafficking crimes.
"I would say these are serious subjects — why didn't they want to modify them?" he said this week.
Since the rebuke by voters, Mr. Santos's government has shuttled between the conservative political leaders who campaigned against the deal and the Marxist rebels who have spent years negotiating with the government from Havana and were waiting to start new lives as civilians.
The revised agreement, Mr. Santos has argued, addresses both of their concerns.
The new deal sets clearer protections for countryside landowners, as the government establishes a greater presence in rural areas and gives judges more latitude in cases involving rebel drug trafficking, changes that conservatives had pushed for. It also bans the rebels from running in certain newly created congressional districts in postconflict zones.
But the accords stopped short of the demands of some "no" voters, many of whom wanted the government to bar those involved in war crimes from any political participation. And the new deal did not open the door to tough prison sentences for rebels, which the government said would be a nonstarter for the rebels.
Cynthia J. Arnson, who directs the Latin America program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a Washington-based think tank, said the new agreement made significant nods to those who voted against its previous iteration.
Now, she said, the government faces the daunting task of rebuilding postconflict Colombia.
"As difficult and winding as the path has been to the final accord, it's always the case that implementation of an agreement is 10 times harder than the actual negotiation," she said of ending the 52-year war that left an estimated 200,000 people dead.
Before the referendum, months of polling had predicted a wide margin of victory for the agreement, creating such a sense of confidence that the government held its first public signing before the vote took place.
But, lulled by the polls, the government failed to drive Colombians to the ballot box, resulting in anemic turnout in places that favored the deal. Mr. Santos had staked his legacy on achieving peace, but his approval ratings were so low at the time that his endorsement may have actually hurt the deal's chances.
On top of that came Hurricane Matthew, which drenched the northern coastal areas supportive of the deal, leading many to stay home.
But for many other Colombians, the deal failed on substance. The agreement had always been a tug of war between peace and justice, and in the end, the demand for justice won.
Many Colombians were enraged that the government struck a deal in which most rank-and-file FARC fighters would be able to walk free, while those who committed war crimes would face reduced sentences.
The new agreement was announced in Havana this month, with negotiators contending that it addressed a range of topics, including how courts might address drug trafficking offenses, that had troubled voters.
Source: NYT > Worldcomments powered by HyperComments


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HomeChalets & Suites
Chalets & Suites
The warmth and scent of natural wood
Barefoot wooden floors of untreated spruce or larch from Alpe di Siusi. Panoramic windows with views of the Dolomite peaks. Light and scent and warmth, all thanks to nature. Old mountain chalet cosiness with the luxury of a modern suite. With a focus on the essentials but furnished to the highest standard, the chalets and suites at the ADLER Lodge ALPE combine a sense of freedom with the feeling of being at home.


text:
Tooling by that run-down
Shoeshine stand
In their souped-up clunkers,
Our honkies must have thought
The town's sole token Nigger
Ned couldn't tell shit from Shineola;
And that they surely had it over
Him to boot.
I guess that explains why
He was never caught hauling
Smart-ass white punks like us a hundred
Miles to his whores in the city and back
Come late every Saturday night
In that beautiful, sharp, shining, slick
Mother-fucking classic of a black
Eldorado Cadillac.
POSTSCRIPT: I was seriously considering posting this poem before President Obama's inauguration ceremony but decided against it for fear of having my blog flagged for using vulgar, offensive language. However, after reading Ron Silliman's blog which had a link to a Guardian
article about a high school "teacher" in my former home state of Washington, I had second thoughts about not posting it. Hope nobody's offended.


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Although he went to bed with me every night, he didn't know I needed a Percocet to get out of bed in the morning.
"I thought of hurting myself. I thought about hurting my son."
We don't need to commercialize birth.
Sex has always been painful for me, but oral sex is so much more than a consolation prize.


text:
Your Profile Code (also known as Invite Code) is a 6-character code of letters & numbers used to identity your account. Once you create an account, verified or not, you will be issued a Profile Code.
To locate your code:
- Click on your Profile avatar > Your Code (underneath profile avatar/picture)
Android / iOS Apps:
- Menu > Profile avatar > Your Code


text:
JONATHAN Greening has been one of Albion's standard-bearers this season, according to manager Tony Mowbray, who has conceded the midfielder would be sorely missed in the next two fixtures.
The playmaker picked up his 10th booking of the season at Hull on Saturday.
It means Greening will serve a two-match ban, forcing him out of Saturday's home fixture against Southampton and next Tuesday's trip to Colchester.
Mowbray has been impressed by the former Middlesbrough man's performances.
This season Greening has resumed a central midfield role, which was more familiar to him at the Riverside, having played out wide for Albion under previous managers Bryan Robson and Gary Megson.
The current boss believes Greening has been a vital player in the team's engine room this season.
"I think he's been one of our most consistent players," said Mowbray. "I knew him as a wide midfield player at Manchester United and Middlesbrough.
"But he has shown very good quality on the ball to play and pass and be brave enough to get on the ball. They are the ingredients I want from midfield players.
"He has done consistently well for us. It is not a natural part of his game to be competitive as such.
"He is more of a player on the ball rather than without it, but he has shown a tenacity to compete which is probably why he has picked up a lot of bookings.
"I have been delighted with his performance level over the part I have been here."
Mowbray took solace from Greening's absence by admitting his suspension was better served now than during the 'business end' of the season.
"It was coming," he added. "He wasn't not going to pick up another booking in the last 15 games."


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Flybe Embraer E-175
Europe's largest independent regional carrier Flybe has posted an £8 million ($13.4 million) net profit for its full 2013-14 financial year, reversing a £42.2 million prior-year net loss. Flybe CEO Saad Hammad said the improved results marked "the rebirth of Flybe," following an intense drive to slash costs, increase revenues and rationalize the airline's fleet and network. He added that Flybe's new management team has delivered the £47 million ...
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'Game of Thrones' Season 4 trailer #4
Take a look at all the drama set to unfold in season 4 of 'Game of Thrones'. Courtesy HBO.
THIS scene from Game of Thrones outraged millions of viewers when it aired on Monday night.
It showed one of the program's most popular characters, Jaime Lannister, forcing himself on his sister, Cersei, alongside the corpse of their dead son.
It was disturbing to say the least. Many fans of the show reacted angrily, noting that the scene played out very differently in the books.
The backlash drew a measured response from author George R.R. Martin.
"In the novels, Jaime is not present at Joffrey's death, and indeed, Cersei has been fearful that he is dead himself," Martin wrote in a comment on his blog.
"And then suddenly Jaime is there before her. Maimed and changed, but Jaime nonetheless. Though the time and place is wildly inappropriate and Cersei is fearful of discovery, she is as hungry for him as he is for her.
"The setting is the same, but neither character is in the same place as in the books, which may be why Dan and David (the show's creators) played the Sept out differently," he said.
That all sounds very reasonable. But it was still a rape scene, and it didn't help that the episode's director, Alex Graves, called the sex "consensual".
"Well, it becomes consensual by the end, because anything for them ultimately results in a turn-on, especially a power struggle," Graves told HitFix, going on to call it one of the "favourite scenes" he'd ever filmed.
Laura Hudson, writing for Wired, summed up the reaction to Graves' comment pretty well.
"I've seen lots of disturbing things on Game of Thrones. I've seen people burned alive. I've seen men castrated. I've seen prostitutes forced to torture each other. I've seen pregnant women stabbed in the stomach. But none of that holds a candle to how disturbing the above comment is to me," Hudson wrote.
Now, finally, there's some relief for the beleaguered show, because one diligent Game of Thrones fan has rewritten the scene to make it completely tolerable.
In the mock script, Cersei stops the rape, and then has an extremely polite and enlightened conversation with her brother about their deeper emotions.
"I love and trust you, and you were making me feel powerless and violated," Cersei says.
"Thank you for having the trust in me to verbalise your lived experience," Jaime responds.
It carries on in a similar sort of fashion, with Jaime talking about "the fraught nature" of their relationship and Cersei asserting her right to decide where her boundaries are.
You can read the full, revised script below.
We definitely prefer this version of the scene.


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Dear Star Families,
When it comes to the planning of our annual Stella Maris Gala, I've been feeling like the White Rabbit of Alice and Wonderland — like I should be running around with a pocket watch announcing to all and sundry that "I'm Late! I'm Late!" But, fortunately, I've just learned there is still time for each of us to fully participate in one of our most anticipated evening events!
The Gala is only a few weeks away and we still need all community members to donate auction items and buy tickets to attend. Not only do we honor two of our most beloved members of the Star community but the Gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year, all funds benefit the entire school. We greatly depend on the generosity of our families for the success of this event.
I've already offered up my 8th grader to act as wait-staff and put "Principal For A Day" and two batches of "Mrs. Poon's Homemade Lumpia" (ready for fryer or freezer) on the auction block.
So, how can you contribute to making our Gala's evening at the Mad Hatter's Table a night to remember? Well, I've cut and pasted the next section to help you see how easy it is to get involved.
This is a gentle reminder to all, that every family is required to either donate or solicit an item to be included in the Gala's auction. Currently, family participation is extremely low. The Gala is less than 4 weeks away and Gala organizers ask that you please bring your donations to the school office ASAP.
The Gala's Online ONLY Auction will go live this week. For your item to be featured in the auction, be sure to get your items in within the next two weeks.
Monday, 10/23/17, is the cutoff date for recognition in the event program.
Please complete the donation form and submit it to the office or e-mail it to [email protected]. Physical items and certificates may be turned into the school office with the completed form.
Please be reminded that all families are required to either solicit or donate an item to the annual Gala, which helps us raise funds for our beloved school.
Additionally, if you haven't purchased your Gala tickets yet, it's not too late! The RSVP form is also attached. Thank you for supporting Star!


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Have you ever had one of those days/weeks where you feel overwhelmed? Not because things are awful or something bad happened but because you just feel that way.
I know that feeling too. It's tough to pinpoint what your body/mind is telling us.
Are we stressing over a job or the lack there of? Are we worried about our parents/children or loved ones? Are we financially strapped? Are we too focused on our own careers? Are we stressing over things we can't control? Is life getting in the way of our joy? Are we letting the little flaws of life get to us?
These are my questions I have been asking myself lately. The simple response is: "YES". I know I am not alone in this and I know everyone has had there day of feeling overwhelmed.
I have come to the conclusion that it's ok to feel overwhelmed (on occasion) but it's not ok to focus on it. The feeling of being overwhelmed is just our body and minds letting us know that we need to slow down and enjoy the moment or day.
You know the saying: Don't sweat the small stuff. It's true. It's the little things that can either drive us crazy or we can enjoy the little things that life gives us.
We have a choice: Either dwell in the things that overwhelm us or find the joy.
I am choosing to find the joy and not let the feelings overwhelm me.
I am going to start a new practice. This is my plan, because I always have a plan or need a plan.
First: When I wake up I am going to list 3 things I am thankful/grateful for.
Second: In the afternoon I am going to list 3 things that make me happy.
Third: Before I go to bed I am going to list 3 things that brought a smile to my face that day.
I will use these as reminders that all is not lost and there is joy in my day. If I can find joy, even from the smallest thing, then I had a good day. This should help my stress level and hopefully I will not have that overwhelming feeling again. Or at least not so much.
There is a Bible verse that I remember as a kid. There is even a song about it. My cousin reminded me of this verse/song and I think it resonates for this post.
Psalms 118:24 – This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
It's a simple verse but has a huge impact. We need these reminders that what we are going through is temporary and things will always look different in the morning.
As one of my Aunts told her children: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning".
Tomorrow is a new day with new choices. Let's all rejoice and be glad for a new day.


text:
Jay Asher's best-selling novel Thirteen Reasons Why celebrated its tenth anniversary this year with the release of the highly-anticipated Netflix show of the same name, and is all anyone seems to be talking about. Its popularity has brought issues such as suicide and mental health to the fore. In times like these when more people are beginning to open up, but the numbers of people listening and able to offer help are dwindling, it is more important than ever to step into other people's shoes, listen to what they have to say, and look out for the signs of someone in trouble.
The premise of the story, for those who have managed to shut their ears, is that high school student Hannah Baker hadstaken her own life at the start of a new school year without reason. Except she has thirteen of them, each recorded on a side of seven tapes, each naming and shaming people in the local community who she feels contributed to her isolation and eventual death. Passed secretly from person to person, the tapes circulate between those who are featured on them in a chronological order of events, but have yet to reach everyone – which is where the story really begins. Clay Jensen, stereotypical awkward high school junior and genuine good guy, finds the mysterious box of tapes on his doorstep after the first day back at school following what happened to Hannah, shocked to hear that the voice coming from the speakers of a boombox is that of a dead girl, confused and disgusted in himself that Hannah had marked him as a 'reason why'. As Clay and the audience make their way through each side of a tape, each story, each 'reason', we begin to make sense of how different events led Hannah down the devastating path that she took, and question what could have been done to prevent it from happening.
Critics have flocked to the internet in their thousands to condemn a narcissistic character who emotionally tortures her peers from beyond the grave; an out-of-touch author with no grasp of mental illness and suicide; a director who should be ashamed of himself for depicting such sensitive events so graphically. Although there is no defending Hannah's teenage inattentiveness and self-centredness in the novel, TV-Hannah is clearly tired, fed up of a world that has knocked her down time after time, desperate to work out how things went so wrong and explain it to those who did her harm. Her death is not a revenge suicide but a needless death stimulated by the carelessness of others. Hannah wanted to care, and wanted others to care too, so she records her reasons why so that people can understand it wasn't 'just for attention'.
It is also important to remember that those suffering from mental illnesses have different experiences, and so there is no one correct representation of mental illness. That said, Jay Asher doesn't touch much on the issue of mental health because the main focus of the narrative is Hannah being the victim of bullying, sexual harassment, and in more than one instance, assault. While mental illnesses like anxiety and depression can stem from such instances, there are many reasons that someone may feel the need to take their own life and it is paramount for audiences that there are other causes that can be difficult to spot. Try to figure out which major character is battling with suicidal thoughts before the final episode, it's too easy to brush them to the side.
The brutally honest representation of sexual assault and suicide on-screen breaks the taboo of brushing over – or worse, romanticising – such disturbing cases that take place every day. They are supposed to be uncomfortable to watch so that audiences can shift their stances on controversial topics like consent. Men have confessed that they felt physically sick watching one character rape another on-screen. Friends have admitted to one another that they broke down during the final episode, because once upon a time they were in Hannah's position but are lucky and grateful to still be alive. The events depicted in the show must be acknowledged for what they are before they can be tackled head-on, instead of being brushed under the carpet as words without agency, without victims, and more often than not, without a guilty party.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from bullying, mental illness or suicidal thoughts, please visit www.samaritans.org, or call the team on 116 123 for help.
Georgia Ryan
(Image: Screen Rant)


text:
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text:
I was developing a new website that uses Facebook Login as the membership system. I came across this situation where I needed to create a "fake" domain by editing the etc/hosts file. Somehow, after editing the etc/hosts file (following an online guide), I cannot seems to browse http://localhost in my browser anymore. However, I can still browse my local apache server using http://127.0.0.1
This is not XAMPP / apache issue
This is not browser-specific issue
In fact, this is a simple problem with simple solution. However, this problem occurs when I am getting frustrated with the Facebook integration problem (after 12 hours of debugging). Therefore, I missed some simple but important steps to solve this problem. Here I list them down below:
For Mac OS users, open up your Terminal. For windows users, open up your command prompt.
PING 127.0.0.1 (127.0.0.1): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=0.118 ms 64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.171 ms 64 bytes from 127.0.0.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.167 ms
Modern browsers cache a lot of stuff, including DNS cache. They may have cached the erroneous DNS setting in etc/hosts, so you might want to clear your browsers cache and try loading localhost again. Clearing cache alone would already be sufficient, you can skip clearing cookies, saved session, etc.
If it still doesn't work, try #3 below.
I ran this command in terminal (Mac) to flush my cache before I get into this mess: "dscacheutil -flushcache"
For some reason, after I flushed the cache, the DNS setting is not being rebuilt – I cannot ping localhost but I can ping 127.0.0.1
After restarting my laptop (to rebuild the DNS settings & cache) and clearing all browser cache once again, I finally get my localhost displayed again.
Now I hope this helps some of you.
or Subscribe to specific category only :
I found this article exciting. The reason is that I try to understand developers work, which is getting more and more difficult. Well, I would not start a website where members login through facebook as there is the possibility that facebook stops it automatically and your members can't enter anymore. Also I have lost my interest in facebook.
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