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Halle Berry
Halle Berry has fallen asleep and is dreaming. She thinks she is in a world full of bubbles and that can stop falling. This game consists in shaking Halle with the mouse. Or you can simply allow her to fall and fall. Play with her and the giant bubble from her dream.


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7041 Helsem Way #187
Dallas, TX 75230
Estimated payment ∕month**
Customize your monthly payment
Sq Ft
Beautifully designed one-story condo in the perfect location! Excellent community amenities including a pool, spa, clubhouse, gym, sauna, tennis courts, and a locker room! Stylish kitchen with stainless steel appliances, eye-catching backsplash, a breakfast bar, smooth cooktop, and a breakfast nook with French doors to the patio. It is open to the bright and spacious family room complete with built-ins and a stone fireplace. Adjacent is the formal dining room with oversized windows that flood the room with natural light! The elegant master suite features doors to the backyard patio, double vanities, a large walk-in shower, and a walk-in closet! Secluded backyard boasts lush landscaping, mature trees, and large patio; perfect for enjoying the weather!
Rene Barrera
ManagerEbby Halliday, Realtors Lakewood | Lake Highlands Office
(214)355-3125Contact Me
Additional Property Details
Homeowners Association (HOA)
Lot & Land
*Note: All room dimensions, including square footage data, are approximate and must be verified by the buyer.
The information contained herein is furnished by the owner to the best of his/her knowledge, but is subject to verification by the purchaser, and agent assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The sale offering is made subject to errors, omissions, change of price, prior sale, or withdrawal without notice. In accordance with the Law, this property is offered without respect to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. This is not intended to solicit property currently listed.
**Assumes 4.25% APR, 20% down payment, and conventional 30-year fixed rate first mortgage. Rates cited are for instructional purposes only; current rates are subject to change at any time without notice. You should not make any decisions based simply on the information provided. Additional required amounts such as taxes, insurance, home owner association dues, assessments, mortgage insurance premiums, flood insurance or other such required payments should also be considered. Contact your mortgage company for current rates and additional information.Listing Agent:Cindy O'gorman
Broker:Ebby Halliday, REALTORS
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School Districts
Results received from this calculator are designed for comparative purposes only, and accuracy is not guaranteed.
(877) 275-1762Alex.Parker@
PHMLoans.com Visit Our Website
When you decide to buy a home or refinance your mortgage, your search should start and end here. At Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC, we strive to create an extraordinary customer experience through the efforts of knowledgeable and caring mortgage professionals where relationships are valued, and the focus is on treating every client as if they were the only client. Choose a lender you can trust to find the mortgage loan that best suits your needs.
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,938 Sq Ft
5 Beds 6.2 Baths 9,213 Sq FtNew!
3 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,469 Sq Ft
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,748 Sq Ft
3 Beds 3 Baths 2,545 Sq Ft
2 Beds 2 Baths 1,416 Sq FtNew!

subset: commoncrawl


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And now, the duck has jumped over the Jumpman. The latest Oregon PE to surface is an Air Jordan 4 that features a white leather base and goes with green and yellow as the primary accent colors. The main attraction here is the lack of Jumpman on the heel, or Nike Air for that matter. For the first time we get to see the "Duckman" logo which features OU mascot Puddles going all fairy dunk on us a la a very familiar silhouette. Compared to all of the OU PE heat that comes out of the Nike headquarters, how do these stack up? Are you feeling the "Duckman" logo? Let us know in the comments.
via ArikArmstead


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>>>Team profile
LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – Former Georgia College All-American pitcher and member of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen Michael Antonini (2006-07) has found a new baseball home as a member of the starting rotation for the New Jersey Jackals of the independent Can Am League.
The Glens Mills, Pa. native was signed up in the preseason, and has made three starts thus far, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.11 ERA and 17 strikeouts in as many innings.
Antonini was an All-American for the Bobcats in 2006 and in two seasons for GC Baseball after transferring from Glouster County College, went 18-7 with a 3.42 ERA. Antonini also fanned 153 in his 192 innings over that two-year span as the Bobcat ace. He was selected in the 18th round by the Mets in the 2007 draft.
The lefty's most recent start came June 4 against the Rockland Boulders, throwing seven shutout innings with just two hits and no walks, fanning six.
He was also won the league's first Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week honor this season, May 25 after picking up the win May 23 against the Trois-Rivieres Aigles.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.


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After months of speculation, the 50 Shades of Grey movie has found its leading lady and leading man.
Dakota Johnson (Ben and Kate) and Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) will play Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey in the upcoming film based on E.L. James' steamy bestseller, Deadline reports.
Never miss an episode! Add new fall shows to your Watchlist
Johnson's character is a sheltered college graduate who undergoes a sexual awakening after meeting Christian Grey, who introduces her to relationships based on submission and dominance.
Fifty Shades of Grey is set to be released in theaters on Aug. 1, 2014. What do you think of the casting choices? Vote in our poll, and let us know who you'd choose to play Christian and Anastasia in the comments!


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(503) 640-1056
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Welcome to the office of Mary K. Parent DMD. Your Hillsboro, OR Dentist
Dedicated to Your Health
Thank you for visiting! Our office works hard to put you at ease, providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, professional environment. Our goal is to enhance your appearance, comfort and function.
We serve our dental patients helping them achieve a higher level of overall health and well-being. This work enhances their appearance, comfort and function. We know that each individual is unique, we will deliver the highest dental health care consistent with your dental needs and value for oral health care.
We'll Provide You With That Winning Smile!
Send Us An Email Today!
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Hillsboro, Forest Grove, OR, Aloha, OR, Beaverton, OR


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Humanity needs myths. Societies have crafted fantastical, otherworldly tales for millennia in order to make sense of the world they inhabit. From the reoccurring figures of Ancient Greek drama representative of natural aspects in the world to the stock characters found in medieval morality plays and 16th century Commedia Dell'arte, mankind revels in archetypes. Figures who symbolize a human trait, natural element, or abstract concept naturally connect with individuals who see these aspects in and around them daily. The world and its inhabitants make sense through myths. However, in the modern, scientific age western folklore has transmogrified from semi-religious expression and worship to pop cultural integration. For example, The Simpsons' longevity and cultural diffusion has given its viewers a sizeable cast of instantly recognizable characters each with unique traits that are easily identifiable on sight as an over-exaggeration of aspects found in real life individuals. They have become instantly recognizable as representatives of the show, their qualities (or lack thereof), and of modern western culture. They are akin the mythological figures of old. Like them or hate them, they are necessary storytelling tropes that will not fade.
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play by Anne Washburn begins with a group of survivors shortly after civilization's collapse sitting around a campfire in an attempt to remember the Cape Feare episode of The Simpsons to keep their spirits up. It follows these individuals seven years later as reenactments of The Simpsons and other aspects of American pop culture have become both highly sought after live entertainment and a desperate attempt to hold onto pre-apocalyptic culture. Finally, we are taken to 75 years further into the future in which The Simpsons productions (incorporating modern music, sitcom references, and lines from Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore) have reverted to a darkly surreal performance reminiscent of Ancient Greek mask theatre.
Performed in the Mary Moody Northern Theatre's arena stage, Mr. Burns is expertly set and blocked by director David Long who takes every opportunity to utilize the 360 degree space, Long's direction is evident in the casts' ease with one another, never skipping a beat and skillfully avoiding leaving any one side of the audience surrounding them with a poor visual field. Sarah Maines and K. Eliot Haynes (lighting and sound designers respectively) realize their designs as all designers should, subtly and without breaking the audience's suspension of disbelief. As one enters the theater they are greeted by a glowing green nuclear cooling emblazoned with a radioactive symbol which I honestly did not notice was a separate projection until it faded into a video clip. The cast is never fully cast in light or shadows in the arena setting while they traverse the floors lit in such a manner as to suggest campgrounds, rivers, and more. Haynes sound design is nothing short of masterful, creating soft ambiance in the first scene with distance breezes and the gentle crackling of a fire which took a shockingly long time for me to register were sound effects as opposed to real sounds. Together with scene designer Leilah Stewart, they have created a performing space that is simultaneously intricate and simple. No easy feat.
The ensemble cast consists of six St. Edward's University students and two guest Equity actors. As expected, the Equity actors are on point. Mark Pouhé is a natural storyteller and performer with a voice to match, and Jill Blackwood's energy and enthusiasm are perfect counterpoints to the grim situation in which the characters find themselves. Thankfully, the rest of the cast is equally proficient in offering their talents to the ensemble. Notably, Cheyenne Barton, Seth Stuart, and Ryan Mattingly flow naturally between jovial Simpsons references and the grim reality they inhabit beautifully. They show great potential through their versatility and stage presence. As a whole, the cast are completely in-sync with one another both acting as an ensemble and singing as a chorus. That's right; this production is a musical too.
The second act of Mr. Burns is the result of pop cultural folklore brought to fruition. Mythology has evolved to represent our media while conversely withdrawn to ceremonies not unlike Ancient Greek mask theatre. Much of Haynes' sound design is replaced by a keyboard and drum set (Suzanne Pagan and Austin Alexander respectively) which also perform for the musical numbers, but this does not detract from the production. Haynes' designs were missed, but the live instruments were more fitting the "traditional" and possibly spiritual experience represented in Act II.
The Simpsons' characters are no longer fond memories of pre-apocalyptic life. They are fabled figures interpreted within performances, and represented through Tara Cooper's outstanding mask designs. On the surface the masks are made in The Simpsons image, but each one contains a primal essence reminiscent of ancient figures and deities: Homer and Marge carry profound weariness in their eyes, Edna Krabappel is the future's equivalent of a chorus leader, Groundskeeper Willie and Mr. Burns look almost demonic, and Lisa looks strikingly like the sun. Cooper's work singlehandedly encapsulates what our legends will (if not already have) become, the worship of pop culture above all.
However, no play is without faults, but thankfully most of them can be attributed to Washburn's script as opposed to the machinations of the cast and crew. If it was not already self-evident, Mr. Burns demands familiarity with The Simpsons (particularly the episode Cape Feare) which most modern westerners have, but it often relies too heavily on referential humor to progress the story. It makes sense for Washburn to use a pop cultural icon as massive as The Simpsons for thematic relevance within her script, but she should have applied it with a lighter touch. However, the cast's charm assuages much of the frustration one may experience should they be unfamiliar with the references. My other major concern comes with the musical numbers found in the second act. The cast performs them well, but they often feel less a part of cultural commentary and more like songs from an ill-conceived Simpsons musical. Still, the manner in which the characters are warped into representatives of human attributes and nature makes up for the occasional musical blunder. Otherwise my concerns are rather negligible. Despite their best efforts the cast was occasionally blocked in such a way that it resulted in awkward views for the audience, and some of their performances were not as strong in the second scene of act I as they were in the first (as well as the musical act II). Yet these are minor complaints for an all-around quality production.
Fair warning, if you truly despise The Simpsons then you probably will not enjoy this production, but even those who merely dislike The Simpsons can find an enjoyable experience in this production. Mr. Burns is one of the more intriguing productions I have seen in recent memory. Love it or hate it, it is worth seeing for the spectacle it offers and the questions it raises on the value of preserving culture and humanity's propensity for mythology.
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play continues playing at the Mary Moody Northern Theatre at St. Edward's University every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm until October 4th.
★ ★ ★ ★ ✩


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The Baguineda Football for Hope Centre empowers young women with football training, health education, and safe spaces.
News: Centre opened!
The centre was officially opened on September 2010. Thank you to everyone involved in the project especially Mr Youssouf Berthe the local architect who was of great help on site. We are really pleased that the centre is up and running.
"Right now, it is the prettiest Football for Hope centre – congratulations to the architects and to the contractor" AMPJF, July 2010
Host Organization:
- Association Mallienne pour la Jeune Fille et de la Femme (AMPJF)
- Football based programs since 2000, Network member since 2007
To provide education for women and young girls, to create a positive environment for the well being and the development of the women and young girls, to help women and young girls to be fully active in their community.
About the Centre Host:
AMPJF, which stands for the Malian Association for the Promotion of Youths and Women creates platforms for socio-cultural discussions bridging both generations and cultures through sport and art. Furthermore, a health programme and a rural economic development programme are offered.
Within AMPJF, football is used to create a platform for intercultural and intergenerational discussion and to create strong and self confident women with social awareness. The project is specifically targeted towards women. Through football, AMPJF tries to improvethe social status of women in Malian society. The founder of the organisation, Souadou Diabaté Koné, was named an Ashoka Fellow in 2002 in recognition of her efforts in promoting the role of women in Malian society. Ashoka is the global association of the world's leading social entrepreneurs.
Design: Michael Heublein and Quarc Design
The Football for Hope site is located in a rural context in the Baguineda area. The center is located on a main road extending from Bamako to Banquieda and hopes to be a catalyst for development.
AMPJF promotes and supports the role of girls and women in the community. Curved forms are used for the design to focus on the softness and gentleness portrayed in feminine life. These curved forms sweep through or around every building and space, holding each element together. This is inspired by the role of the mother as the cement of the family.
The primary building is based around the concept of a mother and child with a lifeline in between. The 'brain' (direction) of the project is the office and administrative spaces for education, sport and health. The 'belly' (learning, growth) of the project is the set of classrooms on the east side of the building. The lifeline links the entrance of the center through the meeting spaces and to the Football for Hope pitch.
Within the office block, there are private offices for both the director and the health worker. The private health office provides a space for private or small group consultations.
The curves also create a variety of spaces within the center, to be used for its many different activities. They create enclosed spaces such as the offices, classrooms and computer rooms, which may need to be locked and/or conditioned. Semi-enclosed spaces, such as the multi-purpose space, are created for larger classes and lectures. Open spaces, such as the cultural space, allow for even larger events, such as dances and festivals, to occur on the site.
The center will be primarily constructed of local building materials. The curved walls will be of stone from Baguineda and Bamako. The straight walls, the benches in the waiting/ break-out area, and the seating in the outdoor gathering space will be made of earth-block. The earth block recalls the traditional adobe and mud brick building techniques of Mali, and will be made on site. The waiting/ break-out area will be enclosed by walls made of brightly colored and locally produced textiles.
The main roof will act as a canopy for the entrance into the center, and the waiting/ break-out area within this space. Given the Malian climate, this area is not required to be enclosed – the canopy will protect against the sun and rain and the openess will promote passive ventilation.
The two Greenfields shipping containers (used to ship the artificial turf soccer pitch to the site) are modified to provide services to the center. One is placed horizontally, and is adapted to include storage for field equipment and a dedicated kitchen area, which can be used for storage or cooking. The space opens to the exterior as the whole end of the container can open up, allowing it to safely house a wood or coal burning oven made of clay. The container placed vertically contains a toilet room for the office area below and a water resevoir above.
As natural shade is so important in the sunny and hot climate of Mali, the building was placed to save the maximum number of trees possible. The present design only requires the removal of one tree.
The center design allows it to fit in perfectly with the AMPJF "Village Plan", which contains other future elements, including a health center, full-size football pitch, and workshops for local textile and shea butter production. This village plan was presented at the FFH Center ground-breaking ceremony of September 24, 2009.
Sustainable Features:
- Local Materials/ Economy: All stone and aggregate used for construction came from within 20 kilometers of the site, saving on transport costs and fuel needed for delivering heavy materials. All concrete blocks were fabricated on-site. Local textiles were also used in the waiting area for the center, promoting local artisans.
- Low cost devices: Low energy light bulbs were installed to save on energy, such that a smaller photovoltaic system and less batteries could be used. Water saving shower heads were installed to save on clean water.
- Landscape: The gravel pathways allow drainage of rainwater into the ground and uptake of stormwater naturally. New native trees were planted around the center by local girl's soccer teams. Only one existing tree on the site was cut down, leaving the maximum number of mature trees on site to provide natural shading to the center and its activities.
- Photovoltaic panels: This center is not connected to the local grid – all electricity needed to run the center is provided by the PV panels on its roof. This allows the center host to extend programs and generate income without energy costs.
- Ventilation: A high degree of natural ventilation is allowed inside each building, such that electrical air-conditioning is only needed in the computer room (the intense heat and dry dust of the region would seriously lower the lifespans of the computers for the community center). The center was designed as a group of smaller buildings (as opposed to one, larger structure) to promote air circulation around and through each separate space. This allows passive ventilation to cool down the center more effectively.
- Natural daylight: A high degree of natural daylight ensures a low use of electrical light.
- Recycling: The shipping containers used to transport the artificial grass soccer pitch to the center were re-used as part of the building complex. The two containers became the office bathroom and the outdoor kitchen/ storage area. During construction the Contractor was committed to separate waste on site and re-cycle where possible.
- Orientation: The building is positioned to get optimal daylight at all times, while blocking the harsh sun during the hot season.
- Security of building: All glazed openings are protected through additional burglar bars. A caretaker lives on site.
- Social integration: Engagement with community during design and construction process strengthened the sense of ownership and responsibility.
- Labour: Almost all of the labour involved into the construction process was found locally, in cooperation with the local community.
- Land: The parcel of land used by the center was donated by the community.


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From The Cube Electric Bikes Range
CUBE ACCESS HYBRID EXC 500 27.5 2019 Mountain Bike
Product Description
FRAME Aluminium Superlite, Gravity Casting, Agile Ride Geometry, Tapered Headtube, Boost 148, Internal Cable Routing, Full Integrated Battery
SIZE Size Split: 27.5: 16", 18" // 29: 17", 19"
FORK SR Suntour XCM34 Coil, Tapered, 15x110mm, 100mm
HEADSET FSA Orbit 1.5B ZS, Top Zero-Stack 1 1/8" (OD 44mm), Bottom Zero-Stack 1 1/2" (OD 56mm)
STEM CUBE Performance Stem Pro, 31.8mm
HANDLEBAR CUBE Rise Trail Bar, 700mm
GRIPS Natural Fit GRIP All Terrain
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Deore RD-M6000-DGS, ShadowPlus, 10-Speed
SHIFTERS Shimano Deore SL-M6000, Rapidfire-Plus
BRAKE SYSTEM Shimano BR-MT400, Hydr. Disc Brake (180/180)
CRANKSET FSA CK-745, 15T, 175mm
COLOUR iridium´n´apricot
CASSETTE Shimano Deore CS-HG500, 11-42T
FRONT HUB Shimano HB-MT400-B, 15QR, Boost, Centerlock
REAR HUB Shimano FH-MT400-B, 12mm, Boost, Centerlock
RIMS CUBE EX30, 32H, Disc, Tubeless Ready
TYRES Schwalbe Nobby Nic, PerfL, 2.60
SADDLE Natural Fit Active WS
SEAT POST CUBE Performance Post, 30.9mm
SEATCLAMP CUBE Varioclose, 34.9mm
BATTERY Bosch PowerTube 500
DRIVE UNIT Bosch Drive Unit Performance CX (75Nm) Cruise (250Watt)
DISPLAY Bosch Purion
CHARGER Bosch 2A
WEIGHT 23,7 kg
At CUBE we never stop exploring, questioning and seeking out new adventures. If that sounds like you, the Access Hybrid EXC should be right up your street. Built around the sleek, powerful Bosch PowerTube battery and CX drive unit, it's a beautiful manifestation of our need to get out and ride - a Bosch e-bike for the adventurous in spirit. Clever features like an easy dropper post upgrade option, in-frame charging and battery cover to protect from trail debris mean you're ready for anything. Shimano's reliable 10 speed gears work seamlessly with the Bosch system to give you the power to take on any trail or hill, there's a comfortable suspension fork and strong hydraulic disc brakes enable you to stop reliably in all weathers. And the best part? Our clever Size Split system means that every woman can find her perfect size. What are you waiting for?
Appearances can be deceptive - and the Access Hybrid EXC's sleek, elegant lines are certainly going to deceive some people. The Bosch drive unit and battery are cunningly hidden inside the masterpiece of engineering that is the one piece, gravity cast down tube. But it's not just about looks, because it's also an immensely strong backbone onto which our engineers have crafted the rest of the frame's features. From the steering-enhancing tapered head tube to the efficiency-boosting Boost rear axle, it's all designed to work with our Agile Ride Geometry to deliver a lively, stable and confidence-inspiring experience on the trail. Internally routed cables reduce maintenance worries and keep your gear shifts clean and accurate, and we've even found room for a bottle cage mount for longer excursions into the hills. It's ready. Are you?
Additional Information
|Frame Size
16″, 18″


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2020 Addison Street / Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 644-2020 / email@example.com
The Box Office window is open 12:30pm-7pm and during all performances.
2020 Addison Street / Berkeley, CA 94704
The Box Office window is open 12:30pm-7pm and during all performances.
Classical at the Freight: Kay Stern & Joan NaganoPurchase tickets online
March 25 8:00 pm
Classical at the Freight brings the Bay Area's best classical musicians to the Freight for an hour of top-flight chamber music in an informal, friendly atmosphere. San Francisco Chamber Orchestra music director Benjamin Simon is your host; his goal is to un-stuffify and de-mystify classical music for the general music lover, sharing the joys and rewards of this timeless art with new audiences young and old.
Join us for Classical at the Freight and enjoy stimulating music, beautifully and expressively played.
Visit the SF Chamber Orchestra's website
Listen to sample tracks from upcoming artists.


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| Disclaimer:
Information provided on this site is for educational use only and is not intended as medical advice.
If you have any serious health concerns you should always check with your health care practitioner before
self-administering remedies. These products are not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any medical condition.


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Forest biomass use for energy production is a disastrous practice that needs to be curtailed - it has not only gotten out of hand as an industrial activity and global trade but is also blinding citizens to how the carbon cycle works, notably how emissions intensive forest biomass is across its production chain, and how much it contributes to depleting forest sols, important for the management of greenhouse gas emissions.
The new EU Directive on Renewable Energy threatens to double energy from forest products, even beyond the EU's capacity to produce pellets and chips. The WCRE calls for excluding forest biomass from the list of Renewables: its CO2 emissions are even 80% higher than those of coal - it is not climateneutral.
The following scientifc call is in keeping with what we are pushing: rapidly expanding solar, wind and sustainable water power to a full 100% world-wide, while restoring our forests', wetlands', sea grass' and agriculture's ability to reduce greeenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Professor Peter Droege, General Chairman, WCRE


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|At Chris and Cass's Christmas Party during the White Elephant gift exchange-
Me: "I got booze!"
Everyone: "YAAAAYYY!!"
|My beloved husband Phil and I in his hometown in Missouri over Christmas
|A low-key New Years Eve at my in-laws
While in Missouri visiting my in-laws I was able to get A LOT of stuff done without my computer- lots of inking and painting on vellum. So glad I packed some stuff to work on!
|A portrait of one of my favorite couples- Paul and Chelsea!
|A Playing Card Queen with burlesque fans!
She is currently for sale HERE.
Some progress shots:
|the sketch!
|Inks on vellum!
I like inking on vellum a lot- it's not for everyone but it's def worth a try.
|Painting with paint pens!
I ink directly on the vellum. A lot of my digital stuff I'll clean up in illustrator/photoshop. I was away from my computer though so I just went gung-ho on this piece. I flip back and forth but always do the inks on top (tracing my pencils) and the colors and whites on the back. I also use prismacolor grey markers for shading, either on top when shading colors or on the back if just using markers on the straight vellum. As I am perfecting my methods I hope to take part in more gallery shows where I can showcase my work to even more potential fans.


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Stream Sex On The Balcony, the newest drop from Jae Millz which features Masspike Miles. The cut was released on Friday, February 10th, 2012. Things are looking better for Jae Millz with each new release, which Sex On The Balcony has proven yet again. It's worthy addition to the impressive body of work Jae Millz has been developing over the years. We're looking forward to hearing what's next.
Hear more of Jae Millz on Long Kiss Goodnight. If you dig this, visit Jae Millz's profile for the latest info, news, songs, and mixtapes.
Did you enjoy the features on this song? Are y'all feeling this one?


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We're always interested in hearing from high calibre applicants for our available posts, which are listed below.
Freelance Editors and Proofreaders
We have an immediate requirement for experienced editors and proofreaders to join our freelance team. Please email jobs @ writemysite.co.uk with your CV, your rate per 1,000 words of proofing/ copyediting, and an overview of your availability over the next few weeks.
Freelance Copywriters
We are always on the lookout for talented freelancer copywriters to support our in-house team. If you have a strong portfolio and a good understanding of how to write for online media, we'd love to hear from you.
We are especially interested in hearing from:
- Technical and IT copywriters
- Digital and social media copywriters
- Financial copywriters
- Business copywriters
- Educational copywriters
Please email your CV, examples of work and cover letter to jobs @ writemysite.co.uk.
Don't forget to tell us which sectors you're qualified to write about – it's very important for us to be able to match our clients to the best copywriters within their industry.


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bodig is an Istanbul based arts initiative founded in 2007, focusing mainly on the issues of the body in contemporary arts and digital culture. Its artistic understanding has a multidisciplinary scope, bringing a variety of fields together, like dance, performance, visual arts, design, architecture, new media, engineering and medicine, in order to bring forth a reflection and artistic creation around the issues of the body in its contemporary and technological context.
Aylin Kalem
Friday, 15 February 2008
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"My Favorite Things" Song for Seniors
AARP's (American Association of Retired Persons) memorable, modified version of My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music, especially for the 50+ age group - retirees, seniors and older adults:
"Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the pipes leak, when the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.
When the joints ache, when the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
and then I don't feel so bad."
Oh, the joys of aging!


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You don't have to be a kid to love Disneyland—Ciara and Janet Jackson are proof of that.
The two singers spent the day enjoying the California theme park with their kids. Ciara brought her son Future Zahir Wilburn and Jackson brought her nine-month-old son Eissa Al Mana. They also invited a few friends to join, including one of Jackson's former backup dancers.
The "Body Party" singer posted a picture of her wearing a Mickey Mouse-eared hat with the "Miss You Much" singer by her side. They were also photographed strolling through the theme park.


text: Arriving today to finish off the 2014/15 RLC series cars is the 2014 sELECTIONs series Custom AMC AMX. The two ordered came in a strong box but and were packed well. Unfortunately one came busted out of the package. One of them was going was going to be opened to photographed so no big deal. The Custom AMC AMX is a sweet recreation of the original 1969 casting and in the 5th color release of this model. Simple graphics matching the original RLC Club car from 2010. Enjoy the pictures.


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Dietary Advice
Liane will provide dietary advice based on your diet and medical history. It is important to take time to review this in detail as symptoms can overlap between conditions e.g. coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity and irritable bowel syndrome. In some cases, she may ask your GP or Consultant to carry out blood tests to confirm food allergies or check for coeliac disease or nutritional deficiencies. There are no reliable tests for food intolerances however, so the diagnosis is often made by exclusion followed by reintroduction to tolerance.
Click on the links below for more detailed information:


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5 ways to turn your store into a neighborhood hub
Mark Branle knows his industry. He and his wife had corporate jobs when they chose to refocus their careers on something they truly loved — biking. From here, Lititz Bikeworks was born in 2012, with a second location following closely in 2014 and a third in 2017.
Their bike shops do more than sell bikes; their business services the tourist industry by providing bike rentals and guided bike tours, and they also offer parts and repairs. Their underlying goal was simple: bring the local bike community together. "We really wanted to be a bike shop for the community. All of our locations are in Pennsylvania and we went into each location with the same mentality; we're a community-first bike shop."
Mark's sentiments echo those of many business owners today and set apart independents from their larger, faceless counterparts. So how can retailers connect with their neighbours?
1. Host events
Cook Culture creates new experiences at their retail locations by hosting cooking classes which turn into a whole event for their customers. "Customers can having birthday parties there, they can learn to cook something new, they can have anniversary dinners." Making your business a celebration destination is a creative and lucrative way to ensure repeat business or word of mouth.
2. One-on-one teaching sessions
Mark spoke of how his passion for biking is what drives he and his wife to focus on community involvement in the store, and pushes them to share their knowledge with their customers. "For us, being part of the community means helping people in the community gain knowledge about the sport of biking and helping people grow into the sport. That's the retail aspect that I like the most, the 1 on 1 time that we get with our community."
3. Create an interactive atmosphere
Golden Era bar focuses their efforts on building relationships between their patrons and becoming the place to be for socialising with friends and strangers alike. By cutting out typical distractions such as wifi, they create a space fit for new positive experiences and memorable nights. "The amazing thing to us is that people will speak to each other even if they don't speak to each other. Our environment encourages communication between people."
4. Showcasing new products
Clouds of fashion based in Ghent is a perfect example of a community being centred around a new product, who have developed a massive following on social media (100k+ followers on instagram), with owner Laurentine Van Landeghem starting off by selling clothes on Facebook, before finally opening an online store. Fast-forward two years, and the ann0ual CLouds of Fashion show, which showcases independent designers and brands who have worked closely with the brand over the past year. Moral of the show? Get your customers to showcase your brand!
5. Start a club that meets regularly
Shoppers who find retailers that understand them are more likely to return over, simply because they make a connection that makes them feel a greater sense of attachment. Which is why clubs or meeting groups are another excellent way to bring retailers back into your store. Building stronger relationships are what will drive customer loyalty, and your business.


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At twenty years old I was newly married and, having spent a day off from my bank teller job to have satellite cable installed, very bored. Youth and boredom...the oldest recipe for disaster known to mankind.
My twenty-four-year-old husband had left instructions for the satellite installer to set up the dish and receivers but to leave the running of the coax cable between them to him. There would be holes to drill through our pristine flooring and sheet rock, and the hubs preferred to be the one making such permanent alterations. "What did some cable guy care about ruining our brand new home?" he'd asked. Never mind that it sat on an underpinned chassy. (We'd bought it new from the mobile home dealership Hubs worked for. Another lesson was to be learned here, but that's a story for another day.)
So, there I sat: twenty years-old in my first adult home surrounded by cow pastures in the middle of the bustling
There was no way I was willing to wait another four hours for the return of my husband from work. However, neither was I too keen to wield any of his power tools or go making holes willy-nilly through vinyl siding and wall board. Some good sense did prevail that day. What I did consider myself entirely capable of was throwing the coax cable, lasso style, over the 16ft width of the mobile home so that I could fish it in through the window closest to the living room television.
Hubs had said to wait for him. He'd said he knew exactly what he was doing and that within 45 minutes of his return from work that day I would be watching Seinfeld or Dawson's Creek or whatever was showing on any of two hundred other channels. He'd said to wait...but wait I did not.
[What I guess I thought I looked like.]
{Photo Credit: American Broadcasting Company}
The metal end of the coax cable had ricocheted off the siding and rebounded to hit me directly on my brow bone. Warm blood coursed down my face as I regathered the cable and tried again. The second time I made it, the cable clearing the roof in a perfect arc before I ran indoors to see what I'd done to myself in the names of Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson.
[What it looked like in my memory. I'm a tad dramatic, what can I say?]
{Photo Credit: best-horror-movies.com}
My left eyebrow was sliced in a way that made if flay open every time I wailed into the mirror or made any sort of facial expression whatsoever. To one side of the half-circle incision there was even a tiny puncture wound from the narrow wire that would shortly be inserted into the receiver box.
As a twenty-year-old, I maimed myself for satellite cable.
A couple of weeks ago my second husband checked our mail to find a marriage certificate for our oldest child. Junior turned twenty in September and is stationed with the Army in Colorado. His high school girlfriend paid him a visit out there a few weeks ago and they eloped.
They didn't tell anyone, didn't ask any of their parents if we thought it was a good idea. They just did it. And while we were all very surprised, I, at least, have wrestled with whether or not I believe this will be a decision either of them look back on years from now and wish they'd let someone a little older and wiser advise them about.
She's a great girl. Pretty and smart. Responsible and driven. She's a year or so older than our son and has already earned an Associates Degree. He's loved her since he was sixteen. She will make him happy. She already makes him happy.
I can't say exactly what I might have told him, if my son had asked me what I thought about an elopement. But I can guarantee it would have been something like, "Don't. Wait. I know what I'm talking about, and if you'll just wait a little while things will work out so much better."
Now that the deed has been done I can see that my probable reaction is precisely why he didn't consult me or anyone else for that matter. His father and I were both married at twenty, though not to each other, and while in the past I might have hoped this fact alone would have served as some warning to my young son, I now accept that not only can he not use my and his father's "failures" when contemplating his own decisions, but that our missteps will not necessarily be his missteps. He's learned from the experiences that have shaped his parents by proxy. He and his wife (my God, it's still so weird to think those words much less see them in print) are not their parents. They are leagues ahead of where we were and starting their life together with surer footing than we were capable of for years.
Still, waiting wouldn't have been the hardest part. It never is. In marriage or in life. The hardest parts will come later. I hope my son and new daughter-in-law will let us be there for those times, that they'll trust us to spare them what pain we're able to.
My marriage at the age of twenty didn't last. I no longer own the mobile home my first husband was so careful with. I've been through at least three more cable providers. But I still have the scar I foolishly earned one day that I just couldn't wait. Deep down I guess I don't really regret any of it. I don't think my son will either.


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The Italian Industry Ministry is in talks to sell De Tomaso, a small scale automaker and one-time owner of Maserati. BMW's interest is reportedly on the rise, with De Tomaso a potential rival to the Volkswagen Group's Lamborghini and Porsche. The most recent De Tomaso concept, the crossover Deauville which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, would be dead on current trend.
[via Autoblog]


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The leading Wagnerian bass-baritone of his generation, his finest acheivements on disc range from Bach cantatas to Strauss and Wagner operas and Schubert Lieder.
A tribute by bass Robert lloyd
Hans Hotter was a remarkable singer, endowed with a uniquely resonant, free throated voice which is always instantly identifiable. As a young singer I had two recordings of Winterreise, one of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and the other of Hans Hotter. After the creamy, intense intellectualism of Fischer-Dieskau, which seemed out of reach, Hotter's reading had a directness, a tender sadness which profoundly moved me and greatly shaped the way I wanted to sing. He coached me at one time on the role of Gurnemanz, and I came to understand the hugeness of his voice and the extraordinary skill with which he could refine it. The emotional impact of it was similar to the image of a very big man nursing a newborn baby. At the other extreme few will forget how he could shake the rafters with Wotan's Farewell. He was a giant among singers. We are unlikely to see his kind again.
Schubert Winterreise
Hans Hotter bass-bar Gerald Moore pf
(Warner Classics)
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.


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Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 101 (DOWNLOAD)
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 100 (DOWNLOAD)
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 97 (Digging in Stockholm) (DOWNLOAD)
Another set of episodes from the past couple months, including two (Episodes 97 and 98) full of gems I dug up in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2019, we've also reached our 100th episode – many many thanks to everyone who has listened, tweeted or posted about the podcast since it started! I really appreciate it. Special shout to Pipomixes for all his support.
Starting February 13th, the podcast will be on a regular schedule, with a new episode every other Wednesday, with maybe a surprise here or there in-between. Remember to subscribe and rate on iTunes or Soundcloud if you haven't already!
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 96 (Les McCann tribute)
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 95 ("Look of Love" covers)
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 93 (Guest set from DO77 aka Verbal Math)
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 85 (CTI Records Dedication)
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 81 (Guest set from Sideman Records – DFlush and LateBloomer)
I realize it's been a minute since the last blog update, but good things continue on Soundcloud, Instagram and elsewhere! Remember to subscribe on iTunes as well.
DOWNLOAD: June Favorites Mixtape
Wow – it's been around eight months since this site has seen an update! Apologies – hopefully everyone is following things via social media on Instagram, Soundcloud, iTunes etc. Many thanks to all who've been keeping up with things and downloading the latest episodes!
Finally had time to put together a little DJ-mix for the first time this year. I had originally hoped to get this out around my 40th birthday in March, but as with many plans, that didn't quite come together. So this is like a post-birthday-early-summer-favorites mix. On my 30th birthday, I put together a long, all-vinyl mixtape of many of my all-time favorite hip-hop records. This time around, I wanted to highlight a number of songs that have stayed in rotation for years – some for over a decade – but weren't all vinyl, or all hip-hop. Just some personal favorites that have meaning to me. I also got to experiment a little with my new Pioneer DJ mixer, throwing in a few minor effects on transitions, which was fun.
Pullin the Stacks podcast also continues, with episode #87 available shortly! Subscribe on iTunes or catch up with the latest episodes via Soundcloud.
Fingers-crossed I'll have at least one more summertime mix in the coming months, but we'll see how it goes…for now, hope you enjoy these selections.
DOWNLOAD: Pullin from the Stacks Episode 75 ft. Jazz Set from DJ Center
A brand new episode featuring longtime friend and record digging colleague DJ Center (http://pushthefader.com). Center stopped by my place last Sunday with a couple bags of jazz originals, and put together a great set for the podcast. We also spent a few minutes chopping it up and reminiscing on old mixtapes and digging adventures.
Thanks so much to everyone who's been listening and sharing the podcast! Remember it's free to subscribe on iTunes, Soundcloud, GooglePlay or most other podcasting websites and feeds, just search for DJ Ian Head.
DOWNLOAD: summer***2017***mix from DJ Ian Head
A short 30 minutes of funk goodness as we cruise into the final month of summer – various treats from Yasiin Bey to Solange to Moodymann.
In addition, the latest episodes of Pullin from the Stacks podcast are now available on not only iTunes, but also Stitcher, GooglePlay and many other outlets as well as on Soundcloud (as long as we have Soundcloud…).
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 66
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 67
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 68
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 65 – DOWNLOAD
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 64 – DOWNLOAD
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 63 – DOWNLOAD
Pullin from the Stacks – Episode 62 – DOWNLOAD
In case you've missed the latest episodes, Pullin from the Stacks continues on iTunes and Soundcloud. For Soundcloud users, I've created a separate account where the latest episodes will be published (though I will also repost them to my DJ Ian Head account as well).
I'm in PDX for the month of June doing some digging and working on some music, so there's probably gonna be a break from the podcast until I return – but lots of funky goodness once I do!
Hope everyone is good.
DOWNLOAD: Breaks & Snacks Vol. 2 (mixtape)
I started working on this tape over a year ago. People seemed to dig the first one (thank you egotripland!), and it was fun to make, so I figured I'd cut up a few more random breaks and funky records for a sequel. After laying down the music, it still seemed missing something, and so I started going back and adding vocal samples and audio clips, from both vinyl and digital sources. There is an old clip of De La Soul being interviewed on NPR where Dave and Maceo talk about the ways djs and producers buy and dig for records, and it inspired me to search further for related – and unrelated – soundbites. In the end, this tape is kind of an adventure through the world of record-buying, classic movies, 90s Grammy award ceremonies, and b-side rap accapellas, all over a backdrop of breakbeats direct from my personal crates. Like the first mix, the bulk of the mixing was done using Serato but everything besides the interview clips is from original wax.


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Brazil wants to tighten restrictions on foreign ownership of farmlands in its nation, the Agrarian Development Ministry told local media yesterday. According to Stan Lehman of the Associated Press, ministry spokeswoman Denise Mantovani confirmed published remarks by Minister Guilherme Cassel, who said the government does not want foreigners to buy agricultural land in Brazil. Included in the published reports is a potential threat to non-Brazilians already owning farmland in Brazil.
"We do not need foreigners to produce food in Brazil," Cassel told the business newspaper Valor Economico. "This is the policy of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Because of food security, Brazilian lands must remain in Brazilian hands," he said.
Mantovani said 10 million acres (4 million hectares) of land had been registered by foreigners as of 2008 and that between 2002 and 2008, foreigners invested $2.43 billion to purchase land. According to Valor Economico, the decision to put a lid on foreign ownership of land is due to rising world demand for food, water and natural resources.
According to the AP report, Mantovani said that current law says large rural properties can only be purchased by Brazilian citizens or residents.
"But foreigners often bypass that rule by setting up companies in Brazil, which are controlled abroad, to purchase land. This is a foreign company and this is what we want to control. I am not a xenophobe but our land is finite. The population grows and demands food," the minister said.
Mantovani said that representatives from several ministries were preparing a constitutional amendment to further restrict foreign ownership of land.
She said the amendment being drawn up "could include the revoking of land titles already purchased by foreigners." She did not provide details.
If interested in seeing a copy of my LandOwner newsletter, just drop me an email at [email protected] or call 800-772-0023.


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46 Armenian MPs (42 from the Republican Party of Armenia, 3 from the ARF, and one from Prosperous Armenia) have signed a petition to release former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan from pre-trial detention.
The latest to sign the petition is Prosperous Armenia MP Ishkhan Zakaryan, a former president of the Court of Appeals.
On July 28, Kocharyan was charged with "usurping state power" during the March1-2, 2008 public protests in Yerevan that claimed the lives of ten individuals. A court then decreed that he be detained for two months, arguing that the former president could influence the court if issued bail.
Photo (from left): Ishkhan Zakaryan, Robert Kocharyan


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Des Astres d'Or is a Platform and online Gallery for the promotion of Visual Art from Artists who are mainly active in other Disciplines like Avant-garde Music and Poetry. The focus of the Gallery lies especially on the Work of Artists who can be regarded to a certain Degree as Outsider Artists.
Besides the Online Gallery, the Platform focusses on the Publication of Music and Poetry on Vinyl Records, combined with original Art from the Artist involved.
Des Astres d'Or believes Art should stay far away from Contemporary Society. That it should live as a Hermit far from People. Or live as a Clochard under the Bridge, as an Outcast of Modern Society. Art should stay far from Modern Society's Reasonings. Maybe then it has a little Chance to preserve it's own pure Nature.
Des Astres d'Or is issuing Artist Records in very limited Editions only. With original Artwork by the Artist and Hand Cut Vinyl Records. The Vinyl Records are cut on real vinyl with the same quality as a normal pressed record.
Des Astres d'Or likes Music to be presented in a very personal Way, far from any Commercialism, but with a strong Emphasis on Music's original Connection with Art…
Editions range from 1 to 25 Originals.
Des Astres d'Or is a new Concept for the combined Publication of Music, Poetry and original Art. Financial revenues are shared on a 50/50 basis between Artist and Platform.
I've always wondered why there are so little original works sold in music. Editions of 1 or in a small series. The focus has always been on commercial releases in commercial numbers. Compare that to the visual arts where the artist sells his original work, and work in small series.
For bigger circulation there is the possibility of posters, books, etc.
That being said, the artworld is by far not in a healthy state… Highly commercialized and caught in it's own 'art for the sake of art' concepts and sickened and corrupted by modern society, I've lost connection with it a long time ago… However, there will always be artists who work in the perifery of this misery… The contradiction of the fact that experimental musicians, poets, filmers, performance artists (etc) have never really been accepted in the artworld is the cause that in these places still very interesting artists can be found, who's work is sometimes very personal. Because of their ongoing exclusion, their work had a bigger chance to stay pure… Basically, a lot of these people are in some way outsiders of the artworld. (Then again, aren't we all… Thank god…)
Des Astres d'Or issues music in very limited editions, with each vinyl record paired to original artwork by the artist. I personally love the combination of art and music and strongly feel this is the perfect form of issuing music.
Whichever way one looks at it, when releasing music in a physical form, one is automatically bound to a visual and tactile experience.
This experience mixes with the music contained in this form (CD, etc.). So why neglect the form as if it is not really that important. It will influence the perception of the music nonetheless and therefore it deserves attention of the musician/artist.
I am an advocate of total art. There are many great examples in architecture which I love… Film is perhaps the most perfect form in terms of total art. The artist record is possibly even a greater example of total art, since several different sensory experiences come combined in one artform. Sound, vision, touch, smell and the 'memory of the material' all come together in the artist record. In this, the 'memory of the material' is one of the greatest ways a musician communicates with his audience. When the artist utilizes material to compile a work of art, it's mental energy directly transferred to material. The audience can sense this energy consciously or subconsciously by means of sight, touch, smell and other sensory experiences. I strongly feel, all objects are alive and take in energy, memories, from events which happen to them.
The tactile experience is another important element of artist records. For now it goes too far to discuss this in detail here, but I will come back to the subject of artist records and it's connection to total art in another text.
There is a great difference between music issued in a standardized industrial and commercial form (hence the MP3, CD, LP in commercial volumes) and music issued in a personal form with original art of the musician.
Des Astres d'Or offers artists the possibility to present their music in the most personal way possible.
I always find it strange that only so little musicians care about the physical form wherein their music is presented to the world. Or worse even, those who don't care seem to lack the sensitivity to even being aware of their blunted perceptibility or lack of awareness.
Music is one part of the universe of the musician. It can be interesting to see how other parts of this universe may look, for instance the visual part. Some musicians may choose to make their own visual art, others choose to form a collaboration with a visual artist, when they feel it represents a part of their music.
Half of the actual edition goes directly to the artist. So you can directly support the artist by buying the specific record personally from the artist. Or, alternately, you buy it from Des Astres d'Or, by which you support the platform. The platform can only exist by the financial support of the interested music & art lover. When you really like these kind of publications, in which music is being released in the most personal way possible- with handmade artwork of the musician- and you buy the released titles, then you actively participate in keeping this platform alive and you help to create a place where on a regular basis new interesting works of musicians in experimental and new music are being published. We (artists and label) néed your support. Because clearly, this ultra small corner of the musicworld will never become a financial goldmine, ever. For that, it has too little commercial potential. At the same time, most artists who are active in this discipline, are not supported by any donations or art-fundings. Only a few are able to get a full income directly from their work. Often artists are forced to do other work besides their music. This is a far from ideal situation which is ultimately detrimental to the artistic flow and quality of the works. So, by buying, the audience is directly helping the artists and label to continue creating and publishing new works… In a sense, this is a very beautiful and personal way to create, publish and ultimately, enjoy the music.
There's a strength in obscurity
For those who find meaning in the words above, Des Astres d'Or will hopefully become a beautiful place to connect with music in it's most personal physical form.
Raymond Dijkstra, 15 October 2017.
(Des Astres d'Or is a new Concept for the Publication of Music. Financial revenues are shared on a 50/50 basis between Artist and Platform.)
"Our sight is being corrupted on an unimaginable scale. Daily it is drowned and blunted by a flood of the most banal consumerist culture which, aided by television, commercial film and advertising, degrades our visual sensibilities. To force the eyes to 'stop', to rest on an object and to enable its comprehension by our visual perceptions, is becoming more difficult with our increasingly superficial powers of observation.
Sight and hearing have been 'spoiled' by an audio-visual-heavy society. I think that just the 'primitivistic' touch could bring some fresh authenticity to creation."
Jan Švankmajer
Distortion as a Self Reflection
(A Rant for Failure…)
I like to stand up for Degeneration…
Recording of Music should not merely be a dry Registration of an Event. It's Qualities (like Color or Imperfections) should reflect the Music and it should give the right Atmosphere for the Mind to thrive in.
I always find that Distortion is a genuine Part of my Music… I've never been a Supporter of clean Music. Even the cleanest Music often benefits from a slight Amount of Distortion, wether it being Hiss or just because of primitive Equipment. Minimal Music with Distortion always sounds better than the Same recorded super clean. An old Recording of an Opera has a certain Charm over it which is never possible to attain with perfect recording Techniques.
In the second Half of the 80's there was an interesting Shift in Music. Lot's of psychedelic Bands suddenly started to do Albums which were recorded in the Studio with perfect Sound. Away with the Distortion and Imperfections went the Filth and Psychedelia in the Music. You can even feel how the clean Sound affects the Musicians who's playing became more controlled. Those Bands which sounded incredibly weird, degenerated and dirty sounded like a caged impotent Beast on their Studio Albums.
For me, Distortions in all it's minute Forms, wether it being Feedback, overloaded Sounds, Overmodulation, Hiss, bad Microphones, Deterioration of Tape, cracking Volume Faders, Disbalances of any Kind, failing Equipment, false Instruments etc, etc. are like the Flaws in the Psyche, translated to Sound. Like the overloaded high pitched Feedback you hear in your inner Ear when your Brain is overstimulated by Mind altering Substances… The Swirling in your Head, of Sounds going in endless spiraling Circles, or Sounds spiraling into Oblivion, it is never a clean organized Sound. The Brain subconsciously is aware of all the Dirt Particles and other Imperfections in both Sound, Image, Touch and any other sensory Experiences. Sound and Image are distorted. Smell and Touch are as well. Everything is out of Position to a certain Degree. And Nothing is clean.
My Music should be a Reflection of my Innerworld. Since it's not clean… my Music is not clean…
It's not merely a pathetic Excuse for my bad Recording Techniques… Although perhaps partly… More important is that I'm Way to occupied with where the Sounds are leading me. Where I lead the Sound and becoming in a State wherein it's no longer clear if I started the Sound or if I'm being lead by it. Creativity, Confusion, Chaos… In this State I'm seldomly capable of giving the right Amount of Attention to my Recordings which would otherwise lead to more perfect Recordings. So yes, the Recordings are bad and full with technical Failures, but it's simply a Reflection of the State of my Psyche at that specific Point in Time… I'm not interested per sé in Professionality. It has it's Benefits to being able to make perfect Recordings, when you chóose to. For a technically optimal Result it's even necessary to have a maximum Amount of Control and professional Knowledge. However, at certain Moments, especially when it comes to the actual Creating of Music, I like to let go of all Control and just start playing… The bad Recordings and imperfect Recording Surroundings (the Studio, recording Space etc.) therefor become not only a Reflection of my State while playing, it also interacts with me whíle playing… The Hiss, Feedback and Distortion, it subconsciously inspires me, stimulates me.
A sudden Burst of overmodulated Sound in my Plate Reverb can throw me in a mental Deep. Feedback may take me with it in a Spiraling Course. The constant Hiss already lays down a nice Carpet of Disfunction…
A Misstep, a Fall, a Mistake, a faulty Judgement, a Projection of the Self, a Cup which slides out of your Hands and scatters on the Floor, a Crack in the Wall of your Livingroom, waking up screaming from a bad Dream, a Misunderstanding, a faded Color, being attacked by vicious Dogs on the Street while daydreaming, a Kink in your Head, Discomfort, a Man talking on an imaginary Televisionscreen on your Bedroom Wall, your House burning, a Car Crash. These give Life it's true Meaning…
Failures in Sound are for me a Reflection of Failures in the Mind. People always tend to strive for Perfection and Cleanliness… That's why Plastic was invented. Like Plastic, clean Sound is… dead……… It may be a nice masturbatory Project for some Audio Engineers, but, it has never directly lead to a great Performance of any Musician. The Dirt in Sound is for me like the Yellowing of the Colors in 15th Century Paintings of Dutch Masters. And German Expressionist Painting would never have the same Impact when there would not have been a certain Degree of Disfunction. Even the Ruins of Persepolis look better than they would have ever been in their full original Glory…
Raymond Dijkstra, 12 May 2018


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Too Faced is a brand that's pretty highly regarded in the beauty community, especially among those who have chosen the cruelty-free lifestyle. So when I spotted this limited edition set at Kit Cosmetics, I knew I had to buy it.
The set of 3 miniature versions of Too Faced's best-selling products include the Better Than Sex Mascara, Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer, and the Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner. Can you guess which one's my favourite?


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Patrice O'Neal, a stand-up comedian who boisterously took on controversial topics like race, AIDS and his own struggle with diabetes, died on Tuesday. He was 41 and lived in New Jersey.
He died in a hospital in the New York City area from complications of a stroke he suffered on Oct. 19, his agent, Matt Frost, said.
"See, I've got to lose weight now to stay alive, and that's not enough motivation for me," Mr. O'Neal said in one of his television specials on Comedy Central.
At 6-foot-4 and about 300 pounds, Mr. O'Neal commanded the stage with not only his bulk but also his penchant for flashy clothing and chains, and his confrontational style. He was loud and unpredictable, frequently veering away from prepared material with a curse-laden segue.
Mr. O'Neal's reputation for brash honesty led many to call him a comic's comic. He could alienate audiences and celebrities alike, both of whom he mocked relentlessly.Continue reading the main story
He was quick to dismiss his detractors. "Liars don't like me," he told Punchline magazine, which covers the comedy world. "They don't want to be given anything straight."
He did not spare himself: his size and his diabetes were often incorporated into his act.
Mr. O'Neal had a career most comedians would envy. He had stand-up specials on HBO as well as Comedy Central and appeared on television comedies like Mitchell Hurwitz's lauded "Arrested Development," NBC's version of "The Office" and Dave Chappelle's hit Comedy Central sketch series, "Chappelle's Show." He also performed regularly on the "Opie & Anthony" satellite radio show.
Mr. O'Neal appeared in a handful of movies, including the Spike Lee drama "The 25th Hour" (2002), released a stand-up album and DVD, "Elephant in the Room" (2011), and was co-host of the short-lived Comedy Central show "Shorties Watchin' Shorties," which featured the voices of comedians like Dane Cook, Denis Leary and Greg Giraldo riffing as animated babies.
His last widely viewed performance was at the Comedy Central roast of the actor Charlie Sheen in September. "I respect Charlie Sheen, I do," Mr. O'Neal said, then added, "Not his body of work."
During his set he likened Mike Tyson to Muhammad Ali, not because they were boxers but because both became acceptable to white people. And he advised Steve-O, a recovering drug addict and a star of MTV's "Jackass," to relapse.
Patrice Lumumba Malcolm O'Neal (he was named after the Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, and his last name has often been spelled Oneal) was born on Dec. 7, 1969, in Boston. He began performing at open mikes there, and by the late 1990s he was working clubs in Los Angeles and New York.
He landed a guest appearance on the MTV comedy "Apt. 2F" in 1997 and worked briefly as a writer for World Wrestling Entertainment before he had his first stand-up special on Comedy Central and was seen on the short-lived sketch series "The Colin Quinn Show."
Mr. O'Neal is survived by his wife, Vondecarlo; a stepdaughter, Aymilyon; a sister, Zinder; and his mother, Georgia.
An obituary on Wednesday about the comedian Patrice O'Neal misstated the given name of the creator of the television series "Arrested Development," on which Mr. O'Neal appeared. He is Mitchell Hurwitz, not Michael.


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Thanksgiving is just around the corner.? Is it possible that Sarah Palin, the former half term Governor of Alaska and insurance policy for the health the of Senator John McCain, had he been elected President in 2008, said:
Thanksgiving is for real Americans, not Indians.
Possible, but don't believe this one that appeared in the Free Wood Post, which bills itself as "news that is not always reliable."
Is this faux news fact really stranger then truth?? Maybe, but remember back in 2008 when Sista Sarah gave an on camera interview, while in the background a live bird was being slaughtered in the turkey chipper? ?And, according to the ex half term Governor of Alaska's office, it was with Palin's knowledge and consent, that the gory turkey slaughter went on behind her during the interview. Watch and enjoy?
The line between truth and lie, fact and jest, often gets blurred in the fast paced virtual reality world we live in today, where anyone with a keyboard and the right applications can generate just about any image that they want.
It would be great if many fans of the GOP/Teabully Party would ask themselves if some of the faux news that they are offered by sources such as the Fox News Channel and the WorldNetDaily.com is offered in jest, or as made up propaganda to promote the talking points and candidates from one particular party while demonizing those from another. We know that those purveyors of phony facts are not in the humor business as they are deadly serious about the hate and the vitriol that they dispense.? One wonders if the folks behind those sources know the truth about the lack of truth behind the ?stories? they promote.
But the truth of the matter is that when it comes to anyone who is fervently anti-undocumented immigrant, or who is not a true Native American, ?those people? are being quite hypocritical. The founders of the United States of America did so by force through the taking of land that did not belong to them.? Let's ask ?those people? to show us the legal documents for the purchase or transfer of that land to them.? Let's ask ?those people?, to show us their papers.? We know that they can't, and that we whitewash the history of the United States glorifying the founding fathers to the point that this reality disappears.
The founding fathers and many of our ancestors risked their lives to come to America in their quest to find ?better lives for themselves and for their families. But they made many mistakes along the way, in particular in their dealings with the First Americans. Today, we have millions of present day undocumented immigrants here in America who have done the same. And isn't it true that those without sin should cast the first stone?
The GOP/Teabully House had previously said in regards to the sweeping immigration reform bill passed by the Senate, that:
?We have no intention of ever going to conference on the Senate bill.?
It has been said that if the GOP/Teabully Congress prevents the comprehensive immigration reform legislation from moving forward and getting to the desk of the President for signature, that it will result in the death of the Republican Party. ?Perhaps, with that in mind, Speaker Boehner said yesterday at his weekly news conference, that the issue of immigration reform was not dead and that:
?I'm hopeful we can make progress on this very important issue?
But the Speaker has not said when, if ever, the House would be taking up the issue.? Keep in mind that last week, the House Majority Leader, Republican Eric Cantor of Virginia's 7th District, gave the GOP/Teabully members of the House a blank piece of paper entitled
?Agenda 2014.?
So what we have here is yet another example of the moving lips of Speaker Boehner saying something that he has previously committed not to do.? Like the circus that is the right wing media, when it comes to immigration reform, nothing that they say on the subject can be taken as accurate or true.
So what we have here is yet another example of the moving lips of Speaker Boehner saying something that he has previously committed not to do.? Like the circus that is the right wing media, when it comes to immigration reform, nothing that they say on the subject can be taken as accurate or true.
Much like the native Americans, the First Nation, the undocumented immigrants who have been pushed into the shadows all over this great land, are a noose around the necks of the GOP/Teabully Party.? And most Americans with a heart and real knowledge of American history, will gladly sit back on this one and allow this self imposed turkey slaughter to proceed.


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Gateshead Thunder enter the lion's den tomorrow when they face unbeaten Northern Ford Premiership leaders Huddersfield Giants at the McAlpine Stadium, writes JEFF BOWRON.
The full-time Yorkshire outfit have won their last 17 games, while Thunder have lost 18 in a row, and the Giants have opened up an eight-point gap at the top ahead of Rochdale Hornets.
Gateshead have just one point from 15 games and equalled their worst ever defeat in their last outing when they lost at home to Workington Town 72-4.
It will be no surprise if that record is surpassed tomorrow but Thunder coach Paul Fletcher, while acknowledging the gulf in class, is looking to produce the shock of the rugby league season so far.
"There's always the chance that Huddersfield could stumble," said Fletcher, "and I'd like to believe we could be the team to bring about their fall.
"They're obviously a very strong side and the fact they're also the only fully professional side in the NFP makes them even more formidable."
Captain Stephen Rutherford returns despite hand and leg injuries, along with forward Sam Tunnell, but Rob Keegan's comeback has been put on hold.
New signing Jermaine Coleman replaces youngster Neil Thorman at stand-off, and the Giants are without Thorman's elder brother Chris who has been suspended by the Yorkshire club for disciplinary reasons.
Former Wakefield half-back or hooker Tony March however is available after injury and Huddersfield's Australian coach Tony Smith is keen for his side to continue their free-scoring ways after racking up 130 points in their last two games. "We mustn't let our standards slip," he said.


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London Chair
Rachel Zaltzman
Honorary Presidents
Rachael Burford and Tim Visser
Wooden Spoon London is one of the children's charity of rugby's newest regions. We have assembled a vibrant team of individuals who are passionate about making a difference and have an exciting plan in place.
If you want to assist us in meeting and exceeding our goals – while having a bit of fun along the way – contact David on 07976 287301.
Please follow us:
Twitter: @LondonSpoon
Facebook: @LondonSpoon
Instagram: @spoonlondon
Wooden Spoon London has funded a wide range of projects from wheelchair rugby to outdoor play areas and sensory rooms.


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Adopting Biphasic Sleep is a Lot Healthier Than You Think
Biphasic sleep pattern refers to a sleeping pattern in which a person sleeps twice a day. This pattern is considered quite beneficial as it improves concentration and increases alertness. A person with biphasic sleep has one major sleep episode and a short afternoon nap, which proves more helpful than a prolonged nap of 8-10 hours in the night.
Ashwini Kulkarni Sule
Last Updated: Mar 19, 2018
Most of us sleep in a monophasic cycle, meaning, we only sleep once, for 6 to 8 hours at a stretch. However, animals follow a different sleeping pattern, which includes taking naps at regular intervals. This pattern is called polyphasic sleep pattern. The name itself suggests that the sleep requirement is fulfilled through many naps of short duration. Human babies also follow a similar sleep pattern, as they take many naps during a 24-hour span. However, as babies grow old, they lose their naps and become biphasic sleepers. Biphasic sleepers are those who sleep twice during a 24-hour span. Although, most westerners do not follow this sleeping pattern, this is much widely accepted sleeping pattern in many other countries.
Biphasic Sleep Cycle
☁ A siesta or a short nap in the early afternoon is a widely adopted form of biphasic sleep. However, this sleep cycle can be divided into two naps, each of varying or equal intervals, as per the person's convenience. Besides, sleepers do not necessarily need to take naps during the afternoon or at midday.
☁ If you are a monophasic sleeper with a total sleep time of 6 hours, then you can split it into two naps of 4 hours and 2 hours, respectively, when you decide to go for the biphasic sleep pattern. You can also split it into two intervals of 3 hours each.
Scheduling Your Sleep Pattern
☁ The concept of biphasic or polyphasic sleep came into existence after an extensive research on sleeping patterns was done. The research clearly indicated that mental health is improved to a great extent if you give rest to your brain after regular intervals.
☁ The longer you make your brain function, the more sluggish it becomes. This is the reason why monophasic sleepers feel tired and drained out by the end of the day. However, when you follow a biphasic sleep schedule you can nap in between to refresh your mind. You can set your own schedule as per your work time and other conveniences.
☁ People who work in a day shift of 9 to 5, can split their sleep between two naps, one a core sleep, which is to be taken post midnight and the other nap to be taken later in the evening. Thus a typical sleeping schedule for such people could be a core sleep from 2 am to 6.30 am and a nap post dinner, from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. Alternatively, you can also split it into equal intervals of 3 hours each, or more as per your individual sleep requirements.
There are numerous advantages of biphasic sleep pattern over monophasic sleep.
☁ It keeps you fresh and alert throughout the day, as your mind gets time to refresh itself. When you sleep, your mind deletes all short term memory storage, thereby making place for new information. Thus, your alertness, learning capacity increases manifold after a short 'power nap'. This invariably increases your productivity.
☁ Biphasic sleep allows you to sleep deeply with fewer REM sleep cycles. Besides, the total sleep requirement also reduces considerably, without any effect on your mental consciousness. Thus, if you require a minimum sleep of 8 hours in a monophasic schedule, you can do with a total of 6.5 or 7 hours of sleep when you follow a biphasic sleep schedule.
☁ Biphasic sleep pattern also allows you to be flexible in your sleeping schedule. Thus, you can take a nap early or delay it by hour or so. Missing it entirely is not recommended as it will leave you groggy.
One can try a biphasic sleep pattern for a month, and continue with it if they experience its benefits. If not, you can always go back to the monophasic sleep pattern as and when required.


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Business leaders have been increasingly vocal in their displeasure with Congress over the ongoing federal shutdown. But so far, there's one crucial thing they haven't done: clamp off the campaign contributions that are the lifeblood of American politics.
Members of Congress love to wax patriotic about carrying out the will of the American people, blah blah blah. But money is the thing that really gets their attention. And the business lobby is where the money is. Business groups contribute more than 70% of the donations that fund political campaigns, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. With campaigns costlier than ever, that gives the business lobby considerable leverage in terms of getting their way with politicians.
Related: Dear Congress: We Want Our Money Back
So if business groups really became determined to end the government shutdown and the standoff over extending the federal debt ceiling, declaring a moratorium on campaign contributions ought to do the trick.
"All it would take are a few of the biggest hitters to pull back," says Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which monitors campaign donations. "It would be extraordinarily hard to replace that lost money with other money."
Related: 'Calamitous Consequences' Ahead If We Go Over Debt Cliff: Keating
Big business is typically associated with the Republican Party, but business groups give to many candidates. During the 2012 election cycle, about 40% of the donations from business groups went to Democrats, who control the Senate and the White House and therefore oversee many matters business cares about. The rising influence of the Tea Party, and its penchant for disruptive tactics such as shutting down the government, has further weakened ties between business leaders and establishment Republicans (including House Speaker John Boehner) who seem unable to corral their rambunctious party mates.
Business groups often have differing agendas, since the oil industry faces different challenges than pharmaceutical firms, food companies or technology start-ups. But virtually all businesses tend to benefit from predictable government, reliable infrastructure and other factors that have been disrupted by the shutdown. So it's a unique moment when businesses in general have one huge thing in common: A need to get back to business as usual.
If business groups decided to withhold campaign contributions until Washington resolved its budget issues, they could target Republicans or focus on House Republicans specifically, since the House is holding up a budget resolution. Most analysts think "clean" legislation to reopen the government and extend its borrowing limit--with no strings attached--would pass both the House and the Senate, if a vote was held. But Boehner and other House Republican leaders won't bring such a measure up for a vote, fearing it might shatter the party's unity, since some Republicans could join Democrats to pass such a bill against Tea Party opposition.
A moratorium on campaign contributions might not sway Tea Partiers, who tend run against the establishment and don't usually rely on business donations anyway. But it could persuade other Republicans to break with their Tea Party allies and vote to reopen the government.
A more pragmatic approach, however, might be for business groups to suspend all contributions to Democrats and Republicans alike, taking a "work-it-out, nonpartisan approach," as Krumholz says. For influential lobbying groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable and the National Association of Manufacturers, that would reduce the odds of making new enemies while showing seriousness about the need to deal with the budget impasse.
There's already evidence that the shutdown and the threat of a default on U.S. debt, no matter how small, is hurting business. The shutdown has deflated consumer confidence, foreshadowing a cutback in spending that could cut into revenue at many companies. Financial markets are increasingly volatile, and stocks have been registering wild swings triggered by any sign of breakthrough or stalemate in Washington. On corporate earnings calls, CEOs and CFOs repeatedly express their reluctance to spend and invest amid so much political uncertainty.
If the fiscal follies in Washington do ultimately cause a new recession or other lasting damage, big businesses will survive better than most. Many big companies have stockpiled cash and streamlined operations to deal as effectively as possible with economic shocks. But robust profits depend on a healthy economy, not just on the ability to survive turmoil. The politicians don't seem to have gotten the message yet.
Rick Newman's latest book is Rebounders: How Winners Pivot From Setback To Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.


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Should we take any notice of the new forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which George Osborne was so pleased with last week? After all, the economic models that forecasters use failed dismally in predicting the crisis and would again if there was another one.
Though a lot of work is being done to try and improve the financial and monetary sectors of economic models, there is a long way to go. The models being used now are pretty much the same as those of 3-4 years ago. And, even when they embody better understanding of the financial sector, forecasters may warn of crises but they are unlikely to have them in their central projections.
The OBR, headed by Robert Chote, with Steve Nickell and Graham Parker as fellow members of its budget responsibility committee, is aware of this. "Prospects for growth in the medium term are inherently uncertain," it says. Its job is to try to steer through that uncertainty.
Much of the criticism of its new forecast, out last week, is that it is too optimistic. Some of that criticism, it is worth noting, came from economists who have been far too pessimistic about the recovery so far. The OBR, indeed, had to revise up its forecast for this year from 1.2% to 1.8%.
Economic forecasts are as much about the past as about the future. That is not just a question of economists needing aan accurate picture of the past in order to peer into the future but the fact that precedent plays as important a role in economics as it does in the law. So the OBR, in looking at what might happen over the next few years, has examined the record of previous recoveries. So far, against expectations, this recovery has been stronger than after past recessions. But the next few years will be weaker, it says, than the recoveries of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Unusually, there will not be a single year in which growth hits 3%.
It may be that this is too pessimistic a view and that history does repeat itself and we get a 3% year, or two, as in past recoveries. It may that the OBR has underestimated the impact of the fiscal tightening and weak credit conditions and we get a more subdued recovery.
That is where the debate should be. It is not remotely implausible to predict years of economic recovery, even after a big crisis and deep recession. Those who said there would be no recovery, who have gone quiet recently, had little knowledge of economic history.
There is a lot in the OBR report, enough for several columns. Let me concentrate today on just three interesting aspects of its assessment.
The first is the rebalancing of the economy I wrote about last week, and for which encouraging evidence was provided last week by the purchasing managers' survey for manufacturing; it showed the strongest overall picture since 1994 and the best for jobs since 1992.
We had such a rebalancing in the first half of the 1990s on the back of sterling's post-ERM (European exchange rate mechanism) devaluation. The current account went from big deficit to balance in an export-led recovery. It came to an end and went into reverse in the second half of the decade, partly because the pound rose sharply, more than reversing its earlier fall.
The new forecast assumes sterling's fall since autumn 2007 will be locked in. The move from a significant overvaluation vis-a-vis the euro to the current undervaluation of perhaps 10% (sterling's fair value is around 1.30 to 1.35 euros) is an essential ingredient in what you could call a devaluation-led recovery.
The trouble is that this can only ever be an assumption. At some point in every previous recovery there has been a tendency for the pound to rise. It happened immediately after the IMF rescue in 1976 and, eventually, in the 1980s and 1990s.
The euro's problems this time add an additional dimension. What happens to the eurozone matters because of the impact on Britain's banks, export markets and the financial markets. But Europe's woes, if they resulted in a sharp weakening of the currency, would remove one of the planks of recovery.
The OBR is assuming sterling stays close to current levels for the next five years, so that between a quarter and a third of growth comes from net exports. If the pound rises then either growth is slower or, as in one of its alternative scenarios, it comes in an unbalanced economy.
Another interesting thing was the new, headline-grabbing prediction for public sector jobs. Instead of 490,000 job losses by 2014-15, we now have 330,000, with an additional 80,000 expected in 2015-16.
The logic behind the new forecast is hard to fault – the October comprehensive spending review had smaller reductions in departmental budgets and bigger cuts in welfare than in the June emergency budget – though the changes went further than expected. The new plans are for real cuts of 19% in non-ringfenced departments, not 25%, so you might have expected job losses to be reduced by a fifth, not a third.
The other surprise, at face value, is that the OBR is predicting fewer state job losses over the next few years than in the 1990s. As it notes, public sector employment fell by 550,000 between 1992 and 1998, when there was considerably less fuss about such job losses.
Part of the answer is that it has discovered that 150,000 of the job losses in the 1990s were due to classification changes, bringing the 1992-98 figure down to 400,000. Even so, limiting job losses to that period's numbers will require public sector managers to be clever.
Finally, the new forecast suggests the coalition will have a good story to tell at the next election in May 2015, if tuition fees and other tensions allow it to hold together that long.
The budget deficit will have been all but eliminated. The chancellor's March 2015 budget will look forward to public borrowing of just 1% of GDP over the following 12 months and the cyclically adjusted deficit will have returned to surplus. Public sector net debt will have peaked at under 70% of GDP and be heading lower.
Does that mean all the hard work will be done? Even if these forecasts are exactly right – and we can guarantee they will not be – the long-term challenges wlll remain. Public sector net debt by the middle of the century could be zero, or it could be 100% of GDP. The difference is determined by whether this government and its successors can address the costs, in health spending, long-term care and pensions, of Britain's ageing population.
My regular column is available on www.thesundaytimes.co.uk – this is an excerpt.
Originally published at David Smith's EconomicsUK and reproduced here with permission.


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Last weekend, I woke up early and pored over newspapers and websites looking for a place to ski with my sons. I was extremely disappointed to see rain again forecasted for Snoqualmie Pass, with more rain predicted in the next two days, all the way up to 6,000 feet. A few ski areas were open, but those that were had limited runs available, or the conditions were icy and ragged and threatened to tear up your skis. Another time of year, such a soggy forecast would be welcome news. But it was a grim outlook for the first weekend in January.
As an avid alpine and Nordic skier, I am acutely aware of the poor early-season snow conditions that have plagued the Pacific Northwest since my family moved here in 2012. As a natural scientist, I am also keenly aware of the complexities of regional weather patterns, and I have to resist the temptation to ascribe all poor ski conditions to a warming climate. At the same time, climate change is predicted to bring warmer, wetter winters to the region, and the existing conditions at Snoqualmie Pass are bearing that out. I know some might chide me and argue that a shortened ski season is hardly cause for global panic. Yet the effects of our warmer winters will eventually ripple throughout the natural resources sector, threatening forest productivity, widespread insect outbreaks, stand-replacing fires, mudslides and all sorts of critical wildlife habitat, including salmon-spawning streams.
I couldn't sleep later that night, and I found myself thinking about personal responsibility and how we can inspire collective action. Scientists have long understood and attempted to communicate the risks of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning, and the links between our behavior and climate change are very real and well-documented. Yet after decades of trying to build awareness, we have largely failed to move the voting public or our elected leaders to take determined action. During the holidays, I even read several reports that the recent downturn in gasoline prices has spurred higher sales of larger, fuel-consumptive vehicles. This type of short-term thinking reflects the gulf between what we're constantly warned about climate change, and how we actually react as citizens.
The most frustrating part for me is wondering why these warnings won't stick, so maybe we need to rethink our approach. Maybe we need to change the message. Or maybe we just need to change who is delivering the message and give prominent voice to younger generations—the future leaders who will inherit and confront the greatest impacts of climate change.
With that goal in mind, this year we are trying a new approach to addressing the climate issue. Rather than asking our scientists to tell a story of modeled predictions of a warming climate, we are hosting a video contest that challenges high school and college students in the state of Washington with a simple prompt: What does climate change mean to you? In the space of three minutes or less, they can approach the issue through virtually any artistic style. How to make this climate message resonate on a personal and actionable level, after all, is all that matters at this point.
So I'm really looking forward to seeing how students frame this issue. I'm excited to see what inspiration and ideas we can draw from them in communicating—and solving—the enormous environmental challenges ahead of us.
I'll keep eyeing the forecast and hoping for more snow, of course, but always in the much broader context of achieving a sustainable balance with a changing climate and world.
Happy trails,
Tom DeLuca
School of Environmental and Forest Sciences