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Dali: A Fresh View
By: J. Marlando
Many years ago—back in the late 1960s as a matter of fact—I sat in a Pasadena cafe by the name of Gwinn's West chatting about a visit to the museum earlier in the day. Our group was all in the mid to late twenties range with coffee house intellects that knew all there was (important) to know. My friend Mike asked me who my favorite famous painter was—famous was the operative word—and I quickly answered Salvador Dali. My friend put his finger to his lips and said, "You must never say that too loud people, people will think you have no taste."
Well that was a very long time ago but I became a young art critic shortly after that. The last time I wrote art reviews for periodicals was back in the 1990s. Today, however, I am more aware of what I do NOT know about art than what I know and so, with this in mind, I am intending to tackle Dali here—a challenge to say the lease.
Very few have attempted to delve very far into Dali beyond simply agreeing that he was a genius and I agree with that evaluation. Dali himself, however, liked to present himself as the "mad" genius but was a long distance from "madness." He was an artistic intellectual and as the old saying goes, "crazy as a fox." This would no doubt be a result of being raised as center of attention by his parents. From their prospective he could basically do no wrong. He wet the bed until he was eight "for the fun of it."
One reason for his parents' doting was that his older brother had died at age 7 from an attack of meningitis. This unexpected and tragic death occurred only three years before Salvador was born. One gets the feelings that his parents prayed for another child and when he arrived he was immediately put on a pedestal.
As I see it, there was something positive that came out of all this, however. All that love and loving attention the boy was given permitted him to love himself as well. To be highly creative takes a lot of self-love as it is so "risky" to create. Just examine Dali paintings and try to imagine the daring it took to give those statements of surrealism to a world of critics. Salvador Dali not only presented his paintings to the world but did so with a constant flow of energy and flamboyance—he knew how to draw attention to himself and did all of his life.
Dali was born in Spain in 1904, only two years after the end of the Spanish/American War. Even as a small child he liked to draw and the more he drew the more praise he received from his parents and others. The more praise the more talent was revealed. The better he believed that he could paint, the better his painting became. Then as a young man he attended the Academy of Arts in Madrid. Unfortunately he was expelled before the final exams. He had too many times announced that no one in the school was qualified to examine him. The institution was not amused.
After that he traveled to Paris where he met Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro both heavy influences on his earlier art.
That Dali had a special talent of his own, however, was also apparent. Unlike most of his more abstract shapes and forms, he did this painting of a simple basket of bread. He actually did this amazing piece of realism well after he was quite famous for his surrealism. Just look at the detail and exquisite design of both the bread and basket to gain insight into Dali's extreme gift as an artist.
With this rather short background we continue forward into the master's most complex work.
Dali Influences & Dadaism
It is difficult for painters to find a style for themselves—some, perhaps, most never truly do. (I have mentioned this before—countless artists have painted flowers but there has been only one Georgia O'Keeffe). In any case, Dali painted in a number of "styles" in search for his own—impressionism, cubism, classical—he was impressive in all. Well, he was so brilliant in light, color and form. One thing that we can be sure of is that as a young man he was influenced by Dadaism—this was the art movement of the earlier 1900s and evolved out of the tragic years of the war first in Europe and then drawing in the United States—1915-1922.
The word Dada is actually a French term meaning "hobbyhorse," a name we assume the collective, movement artists of the times drew out of a hat so to speak. For one thing the art movement was in response to the senseless and terrible destruction torture and murder of World War I and was responding to the meaningless and purposelessness of life. Incidentally, I have often referred to the Dadaists as "Existentialists with a Grin" as their philosophy actually precedes Sartre's launching of modern existentialism in 1938 with his book "Nausea."
The Dada artists were devoted to capturing the absurd in their art making their statement clear that all established values and morality had been deemed meaningless and that the only valuable reality was in one's own imagination. And the Dadaists were highly imaginative. Here's one of my favorite paintings by a major Dada painter, Max Ernst:
I believe that as the young man and artist Salvador Dali would have been attracted to the Dadaists not only for the obviousness of their talent but of their intellectualism as well. After all, Dali himself had never been one to conform to the centers of society—always on the fringes he was a rebel with sympathies for the anarchist; an eccentric by nature but…also by self-design.
It is not a very far distance between Dadaism and Surrealism. Here we see Dali's "Self Construction with Boiled Beans (Premonition of Civil War) painted around 1936.
In this masterful work, the absurdum in Dadaism is obviously reflected and yet, there is the stark boldness of Dali's that so forcefully attempts to bring the subconscious mind to the surface of the canvas. What we see in the above painting (Self Construction) is a large human body, representing warring mankind tearing at itself; it is the hideousness of war painted a good six months before the Spanish Civil War had even begun so perhaps this painting was the artist's unconscious fears and visions of the troubles brewing in his world?
What I find most interesting about this painting is that the monster-type forefront has a background of a most beautiful sky. Maybe it is the contrast that Dali wants us to see, maybe the true absurdity of man's inhumanity to himself?
This same absurdness was certainly a major condition that had inspired the Dadaists!
Dali and a Brief Explanation of Surrealism
Surrealism in art is, as indicated in the above, an attempt to bring images of the unconscious mind to the canvas. Thus, I believe that Dali and the surrealists were ever as influenced by Sigmund Freud as anything or anyone else. By the time Salvador Dali was growing up, Freud's descriptions of the mysterious mind were creeping into the memes of society—the idea that there was more to us human beings than our surface and immediate thoughts was virtually brand new in Dali's world—psychology itself was an unheard of science for the average person.
Dali, like Freud, had revealed signs of intellectual genius even as a child so when Dali began learning about Freud's theories—we cannot know exactly when this was—he immediately became intellectually inspired. For one thing, the concept that we are all driven by unconscious realities is a motivation to seek meaning and purpose from the depths of ourselves; this would certainly be of interest to Dali's self-attentive personality.
As a result of reading Freud, Dali's art would mostly be dominated by images of sex and death—the very root images for Freudian psychoanalysis. In fact, Dali painted "The Specter of Sex Appeal" which is also known as "The Specter of Libido" (The Freudian term) in 1934. There is both male and female sexuality symbolized in this painting with Dali himself represented as the small boy overwhelmed by the aspects of human sexuality itself. The phallic symbolism is most prevalent in the main subject of the painting but note the hoop in the boy's hand, clearly a feminine symbol and one that Dali uses in other works. For example, in the following painting, "Mediation on the Harp" the exaggerations of unconscious sexuality is represented deeply symbolic in the mindscape while real sexuality remains anchored in the real world. This is one of Dali's most complex paintings and far more Dali than Freud.
Incidentally, Dali met Freud at his home in England once. He had traveled there with the writer Stephan Zweig and poet Edward James . Dali did all he could to impress Freud, who was an intellectual hero, and asked Freud to read an article he had written on Paranoia. Freud had no interest in what the artist thought about paranoia and later said privately to Stefan, "I have never seen a more complete example of a Spaniard. What a fanatic!"
This rather negative response did not stop Dali from attempting to capture the depth of his own unconscious in his art, however. Well, this was the drive of surrealistic art and Dali was, after all, the master of all the Surrealists.
Dali & His Art
When most people think of Salvador Dali they think of his most famous painting, "The Persistence of Memory (soft watches).
This painting is, I believe, his most intriguing in that it absolutely captures the goal of surrealism by symbolizing on canvas an unconscious reality. In this case, life and death!
While I am sure that Dali was thinking that this painting is Freudian by design and meaning, it was (unwittingly) reaching more of the Jungian collective unconscious as we all are equally taken in by the universal symbolism of the painting itself.
Time in this painting is melting away as it does for all of us….indeed the only watch that isn't melting has not been opened yet. Note the orange pocket watch at the lower left hand of the painting. The unopened box is covered with ants. Ants symbolized death for Dali!
To make the point even more crisp: Dali gives us the strange creature in the center of the painting. It is fading away as the dark shadow slowly covers the entire painting. Note that the orange clock is already in "deaths" shadow but simply hasn't opened to the world yet.
Some believe that the shadow in the painting makes reference to Mount Pain but if it does or not, the shadow itself represents the final darkness, the slipping away of life and light.
As said earlier death and sex were often main subjects of Dali's unique art. After the start of World War II he painted "The Face of War" shown here:
The face of War features the agony of man as death snakes its way around the exterior world at the same time that death and agony consumes the interior world of our kind. But death becomes a concentration for Dali during those tragi years. In 1940 he painted this strange weaving of female bodies perhaps his attempt to capture the "seduction" of death? (Take your time to really explore this painting as it has many surprises in store for the viewer).
Salvador Dali was a long way from being aloof from female seduction, however. Note the emphasis on the young woman's behind in this country setting. Certainly this is conjured from Dali's youthful, male psyche; an archetype really as it symbolizes modern man's sexual attraction in an almost pornographic way. The painting is called, "The Girl of Ampurdan."
Not at all seeping with sexuality is my second favorite of all Dali's painting: "Figure at a Window." The very mystic and subtle beauty of this landscape of humanism is as artistically masterful as it is insightful. It was painted in 1925.
Another painting mainly focusing on a female's buttocks and back is Venus and Amorini, also painted in 1925 but Dali most blatant Freudian painting was named "Young Virgin Auto-Sodomized by her Own Chastity."was painted in 1954 only a few years before he would turn to mindful religious art as one of his major themes. To me there is a deep seated anger and frustration declared in this rather childish display of feminine aloofness or isolation. I have read that he painted this at a time when he feared impotence. I would not know!
Interestingly enough in the same year that he painted, "Young Virgin Auto-Sodomized by her Own Chastity", he painted one of his greatest masterpieces. Corpus Hypercupis (Crucifixion).
The genius here simply cannot be missed nor can the perfection of Dali's style—here he has chosen to mix Renaissance style classical Art with modern cubism; genius in concept even before the brush was dipped in paint. (Explore the absolute elegance of the gown).
Two years after the "crucifix" painting he delivers a most amazing painting with title, "Still Life-Fast Moving" in 1956.
Still Life-Fast Moving is a fascinating study of detail: note the table cloth, the bottle, apples and everything else in this surreal reality looking out over a perfect nature or, the world outside the world of psyche. Salvador Dali's world!
It is impossible to know where Salvador Dali stopped and the Dali persona began and I believe that is the way the artist wanted it. From childhood he had always been different, however, and almost always highly creative. One of his hallmarks of personality was the constant arrogance of his outrageous ego. I disagree with most critics who believe that his self-worship was representative of the man himself. Instead, I think that this had always been Dali's act—perhaps he eventually began to believe that he was his persona-self but somewhere within Dali was far more lost than found as a human being.
He had a particular kind of genius that extended his artfulness: He understood the fundamentals of quantum physics just unfolding during his younger life, he had a grasp of Freudianism and psychology before a great many folks even knew what it was or began to grasp its strange theories. Yet he knew very little about the world that most everyone else lives in—the everyday world of people and what might be termed "ordinary life." His father once remarked something like, "he could not even buy a ticket to the theater when it came to the practical world."
There has been a great many geniuses like this. That is, people who have been highly intelligent, highly artistic or masterful in their field of endeavor but ignorant when it comes to the mundane world of everyday matters. It is difficult to imagine where Dali's life would have ended had it not been for his wife Gala. After all, Dali was incapable of handling the business of his art.
Gala and Dali met in 1929—she was married at the time—but there was a strong attraction between them and so their relationship quickly evolved from magnetism to a full-fledged romance. This meeting was around a year before Dali was destined to gain extreme notoriety as a surrealist. What he would have done with that notoriety without Gala's business talents is difficult to say but they were married in a civil ceremony in 1934. Gala would virtually spend the rest of her life handling Dali's affairs, keeping the bills up, paying for expenses and making sure that Dali did not squander his wealth or…his fame.
Dali's father had disapproved of Gala, however. This disapproval obviously hurt (or angered) Dali deeply and he responded by insulting his mother. The insult was too much for his father and he disowned Dali on the spot, telling him never to return. Dali never did as far as I know.
At first glance one might thing that Salvador Dali was too brash, too responsive to his parents who had made him the center of their world as he grew into adulthood and even thereafter. But not everything is always as crystal clear as it seems: Dali's older brother had also been named Salvador. He had died before Salvador, the future artist, was born. It is said that his parents actually told their second son that he was the reincarnation of their first. This in and of itself would create a rather surreal world for Salvador Dali as a child—for one thing to see your name on a grave stone would be extremely haunting if nothing more.
How much or little this affected Salvador Dali's mental state we shall never know but I offer that it is safe to assume that some neurosis would have arisen in any child who virtually had his "self" taken away and replaced in an odd belief that he was a dead brother returned to life.
This could have been too much for Dali as a child to handle and as a result he began losing himself in his drawings and so his imagination. (By the time he was thirteen his charcoals had been exhibited).
As an aside, I believe that any child who finds his childhood too difficult to live in that he or she exits the real world through imagination and enters a mindscape that is a favorable place to be. If that child is given lots of love, he or she delves into the artistic or the creative in one way or another. If a child is not given love and attentiveness, he or she may turn to crime or some other neurotic response to their youthful despair.
Salvador Dali was an abundance of talents that departed from painting—he sculpted, he did photography, was involved in filmmaking and made jewelry as represented below:
Dali and Gala moved to the United States to escape the war in Europe. He had been to the U.S. in 1934 on a loan, it is said, from Picasso. Now he had, in a term, become the toast of the town; a fashionable gent that high society had fallen in love with. Many celebrities including Jack Warner commissioned him for portraits—his jewlery designsd was for Coco Chanel; his antics as a kind of artistic clown persisted and people obviously loved it.
After the war he and Gala returned to Europe spending a lot of their time in Spain, France and the United States. It was, in many ways, the good life but in many ways a life somewhat lost in the glamorous insanity of it all. Nevertheless, Dali kept painting. Here's an earlier painting of Gala which we can admire but never truly understand.
We have talked a lot about Salvador Dali the artist but what of Salvador Dali the human being beneath the façade of extreme arrogances and masterful art. I believe that as with all masters in creative arts, that Dali's art did not come from Dali but through Dali—indeed, he once said that "I visually dematerialize matter then I spiritualize it in order to be able to create energy." He added, "My mysticism is not only religious, but also nuclear and hallucinogenic."
Once a person gets past the surreal of Dali paintings, a deep grasping or association with nature is revealed between the artist and his work. There is, I believe, something of the dance of life and death in his art that gives us a view of his spirit.
Dali, Salvador * The Secret Life of Salvador Dali *Dover Publications
Chip, Herschel B. (With contributions by Peter Selz and Joshua C. Taylor) * Theories of Modern Art *University of California Press.
Salvador Dali 1904-1989
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GPS is broadcast by 32 satellites at Schriever Air Force Base, and are used to control the globe's financial transactions, telephone networks and Internet in the civilian world.
(TNS) -- The Defense Department's top researchers want ground-based miniature atomic clocks to avert a global catastrophe if the orbiting timepieces that make up the Colorado Springs-based Global Positioning System stop ticking.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced a crash program to invent miniature advanced atomic clocks that reflects growing worries about the vulnerability of Air Force Space Command's GPS satellites.
"Among their myriad potential advantages, better clocks could reduce one of the more worrisome modern-day national security vulnerabilities: a deep and growing dependence on the Global Positioning System," DARPA said in a news release.
Military and civilian uses of GPS have expanded greatly since the Persian Gulf War in 1991, when the classified system was revealed to the world. The space-based timing signals broadcast by the 32 satellites operated by airmen at Schriever Air Force Base are used to control the globe's financial transactions, telephone networks and the Internet in the civilian world. For the military, GPS puts bombs on target, keeps troops from getting lost and controls the growing fleet of combat drones.
In Colorado Springs, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Wes Clark oversaw development of the program in the 1970s. The use of GPS in everyday life makes it an attractive target for those who want to attack America, he said.
"Can you imagine our society today without GPS?" Clark asked. "It would pretty much be a global catastrophe."
Over the past year, the military has shown increasing concern about the wartime vulnerability of satellites, especially GPS. In November, Space Command boss Gen. John Hyten outlined plans to deal with attacks on satellite capabilities during an interview with The Gazette.
"I never want conflict to extend into space," Hyten said. "But we have to be able to defend ourselves."
The Army last month ran training exercises at Fort Carson that simulated how attacks on satellites would impact troops on the ground. The Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center at Schriever is running a series of war games to show how attacks would impact military and intelligence-gathering spacecraft.
"Within 30 seconds of a GPS shutdown, a GPS receiver would only be able to specify that it was somewhere within an area the size of Washington, D.C.," DARPA said on its website. "An hour of GPS shutdown would expand the area of uncertainty to more than the size of Montana."
A partial defense against the loss of GPS would be small, highly accurate clocks that could keep time and allow navigation computers to keep running. The clocks envisioned by DARPA, accurate to within trillionths of a second, also would fill in for GPS signals that time telephone networks, banking systems and computer transactions.
The clocks would have to be small enough to fit on military craft and be used on the battlefield. But small and atomic clock are words not normally used together.
Schriever is home to three "rubidium fountain" clocks that are accurate within a few trillionths of a second. They are used to set the time for smaller atomic clocks on the Air Force's GPS satellites.
"Those are some of the best-performing clocks in the world, but they fill a room," said Robert Lutwak, who is leading DARPA's atomic clock program. DARPA wants a clock the size of a cellphone that runs on a small battery.
Atomic clocks work by measuring the oscillations of atoms. Those oscillations can be changed by factors including gravity and temperature. That means they don't work outside a laboratory-like environment or in the controlled world of space.
"We like to think atoms are all perfect," said Lutwak, who holds a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is credited with creating the world's best "chip-scale" atomic clock, a breakthrough that still lacks the accuracy needed for GPS failure.
DARPA says its $50 million clock program will have to overcome huge hurdles.
"Success will require record-breaking advances that counter accuracy-eroding processes in current atomic clocks, among them variations in atomic frequencies that result from temperature fluctuations and subtle frequency differences that can occur if the power shuts down and then starts up again," DARPA said.
©2016 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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subset: commoncrawl


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They call her the "modern-day Renaissance woman," and this is exactly the case. Vashtie's most recent feature was published with Stylecaster, where she spoke about what health routines keep her creative juices flowing. We get the inside scoop on how Vashtie starts her days and what she eats on the regular — she even shares her go-to work out playlist!
For Vashtie's full fitness diary visit Stylecaster!


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This year my son decided he wanted to have a Despicable Me Birthday Party. It was such a fun Minion theme I thought I'd share it with you guys. I can't believe my baby is 9 years old!
Birthday Party Ideas
- Super Hero Birthday Party
- Tinkerbell Birthday Party
- Despicable Birthday Party
- Disney Frozen Birthday
- Farm Birthday Party
- Tangled Party Theme
- Dog Birthday Party
- Fish Birthday Party
- Pirate Birthday Party
No matter what theme you choose, here are 20 Ways to Make Birthdays Extra Special.
Minion Birthday Party
This may be a year old, but with the Minion movie coming out kids everywhere are going to want a super cool Despicable Me birthday party! Take a peak at our fun Minion games, minion cake, and minion activities.
Minion Birthday Cake
Here is my labor of love – the Minion Birthday Cake! I decorated it with my homemade buttercream frosting and marshmallow fondant.
I think this might have been one of the hardest birthday cakes I've made. The reason was that with 5 layers of cake (4 small rounds layers plus half of a Wilton Ball cake pan) it easily swayed and one of my layers wasn't exactly even so it ended up falling! It required some patience but finally I lifted out the layer and chopped off the bottom part of the problem layer and then it sat nice and still. I used these FREE cupcake wrappers to go around the cupcakes (note they are not big enough to fully wrap around, but tape held them together nicely.)
Note: If you do make this, try just 3 layers plus the 1/2 soccer ball and make sure your layers of cake are flat across the top before you stack them up!
I stuck the 9 candles in the marshmallow fondant legs. Goofy loved his birthday cake!
Minion Party Ideas
We mainly focused on games and activities from Despicable Me 2. So of course to eat we had to have Tacos! That tacos were a big hit with the kids and adults alike!
We had El Macho's Tacos complete with all the fixings like tomatoes, lettuce, and sour cream. Margo, Edith & Agne made Refried Beans – these were made from scratch completely in my slow cooker.
We couldn't resist having Gru's Guacamole (although I ran out of time to attempt the chip hat!). For a fun, fruit side dish we added Dr. Nefario's PX-41 Antidote which was really raspberry applesauce.
To drink we had Minion-Ade. I put out plastic cups with a sharpie so people could find their drink again instead of getting a new one. I made it simple this time and just used Country Time Lemonade's instant Lemonade Mix – it made 4 pitches which was just right for our group of 22 guests.
Minion Party Games
We played several fun Minion themed games with the kids at the party.
Despicable Me BAD GUY Bean Toss
This was a super easy game to set-up. I printed off images of ""bad guys" from the two Despicable Me Movies – Vector, Evil Minion, and El Macho. Then I tapped them on a Melissa & Doug bean bag toss game we already had, cut out holes in the middle and TADA! The kids loves it.
Evil Minion PX-41 Antidote Game
This game was the kids favorite. I printed out and laminated pictures of minions – 1 per kid. Then we hung them up in the backyard (and had to do extra securing as our party day turned out to be very windy!) El Macho (Daddy) came by and made all the Minions evil by painting them with watery purple paint. The kids than used their water guns to return their minion to normal.
The kids loved this so much we did it several times. Then the kids were told to wash the Minions with the remaining water so they could take their water guns home with them.
Minion Pinata
One of the reasons Goofy decided on a Minion birthday party was because we spotted this adorable Minion Piñata at Wal-Mart. It really was super cute. We filled it with a limited number of candy plus raisins, fruit snacks, stickers, minion bouncy balls, whistles, glow in the dark eggs, jumping frogs, and more. The kids were told they were to pick up one of each – that way no one got tons with some kids getting left out.
Lipstick Tazer Tag
Sorry, no picture of this game, but it was super fun and easy to do. In Despicable Me 2 Lucy had a Lipstick Tazer she uses on Gru. So we played that when the person who was it got near you you can yell out Lipstick Tazer, shake your limbs, and be frozen until a friend came and untagged you. The kids thought it was great fun and it took just the right amount of time until the parents returned.
Minoan Birthday Party Decorations
I can't believe I didn't get a picture of all the Minion Balloons we made – ugh! We made 50 yellow ballons with these FREE printable Minion goggles & eyes. They decorated the ceiling, walls,and floor around the party area. It really added to the fun!


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The City of Marrakech is now recycling paper, glass, plastics and cans.
We applaud this initiative and our Marrakech Riad hotels Riad Cinnamon, Riad Papillon and Dar Habiba are enthusiastic early adopters of the scheme.
If you are visiting Marrakech, for the ultimate Marrakchi experience stay in the old town Medina. Our Marrakech Riad hotels are sensitively breathing new life into an ancient community and offer a fantastic opportunity to experience this centuries old culture at first hand. Make your reservation today!


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Here is your checklist of images, trigger phrases, and qualifiers for listening to the prolific and somewhat elusive Denver-based artist FOANS:
-pleasantly bored
-there's a city between me and vast wilderness
-aimless heartbreak
-progressive loops
-implicit drums
-solo week nights
-moments of the midwest in the west
-cozy shadowland
-it feels so familiar and I don't know why
-he makes it seem easy
-I am afraid of soft November skies
-missing the boat completely and slowly accepting the fact that it wasn't meant to be
-November music, oh so good and oh so sad
-the same patterns follow us for the rest of our lives
On occassion, we get to know artists who craft a signature sound so recognizable that we become inspired to establish an interpretive lexicon for describing them, keywords and codes for accessing steady play of their enticing designs. When it comes to FOANS, we are dealing with a bundle of nostalgia candy and studiousness, aesthetic song titles and addicting composition. His latest release on Denmark's Speaker Footage (also a launchpad for ambient pop acts like Temple Volant and AyGeeTee) is breadthy in duration, and a near masterpiece of an album. It is ambient-ready, IDM-esque, sample friendly, steadily melodic. Further, it is a work that can easily be played on repeat, like all FOANS releases, hence the candy reference. Having said that, there still is a quality to Schema that communicates the artist having taken things up a notch.
You know the type of dub ambient that is rhythmic without (much) drumming or dub, like Loscil? That is the place where FOANS hangs out, except that he still doesn't really sound like anyone else. Tracks like "Orsa" and "Copacabana" present percussion, the latter being a most enjoyable and familiar track. With a light and spiraling clarinet sample that reminds me of the one in FSOL's "Max", the melody feels Broken Social Scene-inspired, as it is down-home soothing, polyrhythmic, and - bear with me - Toronto-like: it's all about the way the light hits those low buildings off of Bloor and the nearness of the intimidating body of fresh water. Later, tracks like "Compensation" and "Comment #1" are succinct, catchy, and pro-dance. "Steam" is agreeably of Lobster Theremin caliber with its housey snare hits and wrestling shimmering melodies, balled up by their rolling motion.
"Lean," however, is an example of percussion-less rhythm. It is thematic and sprinkley, looked after by an agile bass line. When "Sizzle" sneaks in, we have an Aix Em Klemm-cadence of contemplation on our hands. With another notable bass line present, we sense some protectiveness rather than ability, perhaps conveyed by its concentrated persistence. We may sigh and simply give in to one by one acknowledging the layers and calm evolution that they endure.
"Touchscreen" is a breathtaking trance track minus drums, and, due to its potency, it is terribly challenging to recap. Its watery foundation hooks us at once before a Carpenters-sounding vocal loop enters to lead a plethora of gorgeous pad synth formation. The leading melody is truly cinematic, something to inspire grounded optimism for the seasons to come. "Dakan" drives the same point home even more further, and valorously. Just try it, you'll see.
For me, there's something significant about the fact that FOANS is in Denver, Colorado, the bursting-at-the-seams-of-your-white-collar-shirt recreational paradise. Having spent some significant time in that area over the last year, I can testify that Denver is gorgeous, expansive, and both soft and harsh. The atmosphere of the area is complicated and congested: it takes what feels like a full day to get from one area to another (despite all the visible coutryside) and one often catches oneself stuck in a traffic jam on the epic mountain pass on the way to the ski hill, ironically. Isn't skiing an activity that occurs moreso in areas less populated, on a mountain, in the natural world? Isn't part of it all about zoning out and escaping pressures of other people? This is normal speed and paradox for the population of the Denver area, and the empirical knowledge that I simply do not resonate with any part of that lifestyle feels pacified by FOANS. Having music this compelling and atmospheric come out of a place I find vibrationally fucked up, I am able to peer indirectly into the beauty and inspiration it offers so many millions of people; I can have gratitude for the place while lying safely distant from it.
Schema is out now on Speaker Footage. Order the tape here, and be sure to pursue more FOANS here.


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"Acrothea Apartments" is a family run business located in the central square of Ormos Panagias, on the Sithonia peninsula.
It comprises of 5 apartments that each one can accommodate comfortably up to 4 persons. They all have a fully equipped kitchen, refrigerator, TV, air conditioning (A/C) and Wi-Fi. Each apartment has a private balcony that overlooks the sea and the beautiful harbor of Ormos Panagias. Private parking area is also provided to our guests.
In Ormos Panagias you will find a super-market, shops, cafes and restaurants by the sea. Also, from here day cruises around Mount Athos and it's monasteries depart daily. The nearest beach is Trani Ammouda (Livrohio) and is located about 300 meters away.


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FM asks insurers to reach rural populationFM has asked insurance companies to make insurance cover simpler and to increase penetration in rural areas.
Apnainsurance.com Research Bureau
17 Jun 2008
Finance Minister (FM) P Chidambaram has asked the insurance companies to make insurance cover simpler. He said that the companies should make efforts to reach out to the rural population. The rural India has been quite untouched by the insurance companies till date.
The FM also spoke about focusing on insurance for senior citizens who need a policy to insure their life as well as meet the monetary requirements.


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When I spotted this Pupa Cat make up kit on the Escentual Twitter account, I immediately cracked our whatsapp and sent the link like wildfire to the lucky guy who was destined to buy it me for Christmas. However, it was an excitement short lived when the order couldn't be fulfilled due to stock issues, boo. After tweeting my sadness, the magical Escentual Fairies were on it like wildfire to soothe my lack of cat make up disgruntlement. Customer Service A++++
After digging in their samples cupboard (which sounds like heaven, right?) they managed to locate the very last Pupa Cat Make Up Kit in the world, ever (okay a minor exaggeration, but still). Around 2-3 working days later, this little beauty landed on the doorstep and I felt like all my dreams had come true.
Not only is the Pupa Cat Make Up kit the cutest thing I currently own, but this palm sized set also delivers on the contents. With an array of gold toned eye shadows, hydrating glossy lip balms and even an eye primer, this little set is actually perfect for adventures away. I am obsessed with gold eyeshadow and always welcome new ones to my collection, especially when it's this cute.
After doing a bit of research, after my initial excitement about this kit, it appears that Pupa do quite the range of novelty make up sets. Amazon seems to be the best bet to browse them, but the images are a little bit rubbish and most of the sets don't actually show the contents, but really – does anyone care when there's such lols to be had at the outside?? Nah.
So, thank you Escentual for your bang on customer service and thank you Pupa Cat for, well, existing.


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GAMERZ411: Pilot Episode – PSP2 (NPG), FFvsXIII, PS3 Hackers
Gamers deserve an unbiased and unrestricted point of view for their information that is willing to dig beneath the surface of what appears to be. Gamers deserve to get the real truth and nothing but the truth as we see it. That is why we created GAMERZ411.
In this Pilot Episode we invite you to help shape this new source of knowledge and entertainment.
Shout out to HipHopGamerShow, Read Here for More.
Blog ping services


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Thank you for your interest in The Farmers Market in the Holly Springs Village District. We are a North Carolina producer's only market interested in showcasing locally grown and produced foods and are proud to partner with our local business community to assist in funding the free family friendly activities offered each Saturday at the market. We will contact you shortly regarding your inquiry.
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83 Heroics brought Redan for me. Have I mentioned how much I love the Heroic Soul concept? Being able to target specific characters is such a great direction this game is taking.
83 Heroics brought Redan for me. Have I mentioned how much I love the Heroic Soul concept? Being able to target specific characters is such a great direction this game is taking.
Crusader Eddie
now you'll wreak your vengeance
in the screams of evil men
46 and no redan ...
from a world of magma to a cold rock face,
the ascent of madness and the human race
20 souls to get Redan, would like they add Phantom Eddie in the rotation, the only Eddie I am missing.
Is it possible to get the count, madam and Redan from other than heroic souls?
I was extremely lucky with Redan... I claimed about 50 souls but she was already in the first pack of 10 souls opened - crazy compared to the many souls I needed for the Count!
But what to do with all these strong characters apart from Gauntlet? We need a crazy mode 10 vs 10
March 1st 2019 Update - NEVER FORGET!
Blade-4052 // The Mofo Cult
Eddies: $-Tour-$, Wasteland / - / $-Ed Hunter-$, $-Fawk-$ / $-Lone*-$ / Eternal Champion
Allies: Prince Beelze, Madam F, Odin / Odin / $-Count-$, Ragnar, Freya, Odin / Bygul, Tarobo, Odin / Nutcracker, Prince Wrath, Odin / cLilith, cOdin
24 more Heroic, still no Redan. Looks like my account had been flagged not to have her. Oh well. Not a game changer so no big deal. nlm Navi!
👹 The Mofo Cult 👹
after more than half a year of playing i still dont have navigator and iron eddie
but i spawned 3 Rainmakers and 5 DDE
RNG gonna RNG
If one is lucky enough to acquire her, what is the best characters to pair with her?
Thanks all for talking about this. Had been ignoring heroics, checked and only had seven but thought I'd stick them in...Red eyes, Redan. :-)


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Launched in Singapore at the start of 2010, the Shiseido White Lucent range promises to brighten the complexion and reduce hyper-pigmentation.
The White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum was an instant hit locally and incredibly, sold out within January. Subsequent shipments of the serum similarly flew off the shelves. No mean feat, considering the product costs almost S$160!
Starting out as a pharmacy in 1872, Shiseido developed Eudermine, its first skincare product, in 1897. Its name a derivation of the Greek words for 'good' and 'skin' (eu: good; derma: skin), Eudermine was reformulated and re-introduced a century (!) later in 1997.
Since the creation of Eudermine, Shiseido has worked to help women achieve clear skin and is a recognised whitening expert in the beauty industry. With a history that spans almost 140 years and a strong tradition of intensive skincare research, Shiseido created White Lucent in response to the needs of contemporary women, for whom whitening continues to be a skincare concern, next to anti-aging.
A whitening line that focuses on imparting clarity and luminosity to the visage, White Lucent – as its name suggests – also aims to give skin translucence. Containing efficacious ingredients, the products are classified as quasi-drugs (products with medicinal content), a category between medicine and cosmetics.
Several of my friends use and laud White Lucent, so I was curious about it. I was able to sate my curiosity, thanks to an invitation from Shiseido Singapore to attend a White Lucent workshop. There, I learnt many facts relating to the line and reaffirmed what I know about skincare.
美 白
bi haku
Angela, one of the Shiseido skincare trainers, first introduced the Japanese term for whitening: 'bihaku', which also means '美白' (měi bái) in Chinese. Although the phrase combines the words 'beauty' and 'whiteness', it's not all about fairness. After all, darker skin tones can be clear and radiant too. As such, White Lucent's emphasis is on achieving clarity of the skin.
She went on to state that melanin is our skin's natural sunscreen, a form of protection against UV rays. However, its overproduction can lead to blemishes and uneven skin tone. As such, whitening products aim to inhibit melanin production.
Interestingly, White Lucent targets pigmentation at three stages of melanin production and it is this multi-level approach that distinguishes Shiseido White Lucent from other whitening ranges.
According to the brand, SWL:
1. Inhibits melanocyte activity to prevent future unwanted pigmentation with m-Tranexamic Acid.
2. Attacks underlying pigmentation by purging trapped melanocytes with 4MSK (potassium methoxy salicylate).
3. Lightens what is present (freckles and scars, for instance) with Multi-Target Vitamin C (Vitamin C ethyl).
Other whitening ingredients include arbutin and progressive-release Vitamin C (ascorbic acid 2-glucoside) and Yomogi extract. The last ingredient apparently 'boosts skin's metabolism, suppresses melanin build-up, and promotes skin's ability to shed hyperpigmented cells'.
The ideal way to use the basic White Lucent range is as follows:
Step 1: White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam (S$57)
- Squeeze out 1 cm of the foam. Add some water and gently lather it up.
- Once the cleanser is suitably foamy (much like whipped cream), apply it onto the face.
- Gently clean the face in circular motions with your middle and ring fingers.
The foaming action, together with the formula, will not only clean the face of impurities, it will also remove dead skin cells, leaving the face fairer. I've tried this and really like how my skin and neck look clearer and more even toned, post-wash.
Step 2: White Lucent Brightening Balancing Softener (S$79)
- Saturate a cotton pad with the softener.
- Wipe the the entire face with the cotton pad.
A softening lotion is a must-do/must-have in the Shiseido skincare regiment. The softener apparently restores the skin's pH level as the cleansing foam leaves the skin more alkaline post-wash (alkalinity makes the skin more vulnerable and exposed to stimuli). The softening lotion also helps essence and the like to better penetrate the skin.
Although it is not a toner, the lotion also helps to remove dead skin cells as the softener has exfoliating properties as well. People who've used this have mentioned how the lotion helps the cotton pad to pick up facial debris!
Step 3: White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum (S$159)
- Pump the bottle twice and pat the serum all over the face.
Two pumps is the recommended amount. This should be done both day and night. As the light fluid is easily absorbed, a minute is all you need before applying other products on the skin. The brand advises customers not to stint on the product or apply too much of it, in order for it to work.
Step 4: White Lucent Moisturiser (Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion/Cream/Gel or Brightening Protective Emulsion/Cream SPF 15 PA++)
- Dispense a suitable amount of the chosen moisturiser and massage it into the skin in an upward, circular motion.
The creams are richer and more suited for night use. Their goodness is apparently best harnessed between 10 pm to 2 am, the period of golden slumber. ;)
There are other products in the range that fit into this regime. I was particularly intrigued by the White Lucent Brightening Massage Cream, a lubricating cream that promotes facial blood circulation. Recommended to be used after the serum and removed before moisturising, the emollience of this specialised cream allows massage actions to take place on delicate facial skin. We were warned not to use a moisturiser for this purpose – some moisturisers are meant to be absorbed and not slip-sliding across the face, so this might have a detrimental effect on the skin.
Another interesting fact I learnt was that toner is applied after moisturiser in the Shiseido skincare system. According to Angela, softening lotion 'opens the door' for moisturiser penetration and toner 'shuts the door' – pores tighten; trapping the moisturiser. For oily skins, she recommended saturating cotton pads with the White Lucent Brightening Toning Lotion and applying them on the T-zone to control sebum secretion. These pads also act like mini toning masks.
Erica, the other Shiseido skincare trainer who was at the workshop, was wearing the White Lucent Brightening Powder Foundation SPF25 PA+++. The colour match was perfect and it gave her face an absolutely flawless appearance! According to the Shiseido Singapore website, it 'contains Luminizing Veil Powder to camouflage imperfections, pores, and shadows with a soft natural-looking finish'.
After the presentation and product play, everyone at the workshop was given a skin analysis. We had our skin tested with a portable machine that presented a magnified view of the skin's surface on a screen (the horror!) to find out our skin type.
From the results, we could determine how to manage our skin using the right products.
Erica had this advice to share: Select a moisturiser based on the skin condition of the cheeks, not the T-zone.
She was a real sweetheart – Cheerful the entire time, she was happy to dispense skincare facts and tips. I really enjoyed talking to her. She's beautiful in person and the perfect spokeswoman for the White Lucent range (look at her glowing visage!).
Possessing a wealth of dermatological knowledge, the trainers not only fielded questions with ease, they also did it with passion. I was quite impressed by their willingness to share their knowledge and their enthusiasm in doing so. Thank you Shiseido Singapore, for the relaxing and informative session!
Read More: Tighten Pores with the Right Tips and Products
Image sources: Shiseido USA and Shiseido Singapore


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Boot it Bare Metal Laptop Install!
Easily the most powerful option in terms of diagnosis, click to find out why .
Please visit our customer page by clicking on this line! We sold our first Scanner in 2000. We sold the Autologic for the Automotive Tech Shop in 2006. We started selling for Ross-Tech in 2006. Autoland Scientech in 2007. Drew Technologies in 2008. We paid for a full Mercedes-Benz subscription April, 2019
We started working with OEM's diagnostic software around the same time. Mercedes Benz in 2007, then BMW, VW-Audi, Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, and Porsche. After we learned the more challenging European brands, we moved on to the Asian and domestics. Call us for information about the functions on the new i Scan 3.
Registration is required to see the content you are really looking for! Our new Members Area has been created to allow private discussions and special installation instructions.
Autoland Scientech scantool users
Dell E-6420 i7, HDD is 2 T, 8GB's of DDR4 RAM 4 in stock
Dell E5510 is our most popular laptop, 1-2 terabyte Seagate Semi Solid State Hard Drive, 8Gbs of DDR3 ram, Windows 7 or 10.
Supports Win XP, 7 and 10, 15 in stock


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This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Russian. (December 2012) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
VASKhNIL (Russian: ВАСХНИЛ) was the All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences of the Soviet Union (the acronym stands for "Lenin All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences" or "V.I. Lenin Academy of Agricultural Sciences," "Всесоюзная академия сельскохозяйственных наук имени В. И. Ленина"). Built upon the model of the Academy of Sciences of USSR, VASKhNIL included not only a body of academicians but a vast network of research institutions scattered all over the country with thousands of researchers, plant and cattle breeders.
It operated from 1929 to 1992 (dissolution of the Soviet Union). In the 1930s - 1940s, meetings of the academy members ("sessions" of VASKhNIL) provided the floor for debates between Lysenkoists and geneticists. After Trofim Lysenko had taken control over the Academy, it became for about thirty years a stronghold of Lysenkoism. The proverbial among Russian biologists "August session of VASKhNIL" (July 31 - August 7, 1948) organised under control of the Communist party (Joseph Stalin personally corrected the drafts of the Trofim Lysenko's opening address "On the Situation in Biological Science") led to a formal ban on teaching "Mendelist-Weismannist-Morganist" genetics (a pejorative label based on the names of Gregor Mendel, August Weismann, and Thomas Hunt Morgan), which was effective until the early 1960s.
VASKhNIL Presidents[edit]
- 1929 — 1935 — Nikolai Vavilov
- 1935 — 1937 — Alexander Muralov
- 1938 — 1956 — Trofim Lysenko
- 1959 — 1961 — Pavel Lobanov
- 1961 — 1962 — Trofim Lysenko, second term
- 1962 — 1965 — Mikhail Olshanskiy
- 1965 — 1978 — Pavel Lobanov, second term
- 1978 — 1983 — Petr Vavilov
- 1984 — 1992 — Alexander Nikonov
On February 4, 1992 the Academy ceased to exist. Its successor institution is the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Russian: РАСН).
External links[edit]
|This Soviet Union–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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Flaky pastry for savoury pies
Photo by Babiche Martens
|200 g
|125 g
|Butter, chilled
|½ tsp
|⅓ cup
|Water, iced
- Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Grate the butter over the flour.
- Using 2 dinner knives, quickly cut the butter into the flour. Sprinkle the water over as you go until the mixture forms large clumps.
- Gather the pastry in your hands and form into a ball. Pieces of butter should be visible. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Chef's tips
- Let fillings cool before spooning into the pastry - this can prevent the pastry base becoming soggy.
- The filling can be pretty much anything. Make way for delicious slow-cooked meats, fragrant fruits and interesting seasonal vegetables.
- Use metal pie tins not glass or porcelain - metal transfers the heat best so the pastry is crisper.
- Don't forget to egg wash the pastry (resulting in the irresistible golden colour to the crust) and scatter seeds, vanilla sugar, a grind of black pepper before baking.


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Closing dilated capillaries - Dye-VL laser
THE BEST RESULTS4-6 treatments
DURATION OF THE EFFECTSlong-lasting with home care
PRICEfrom 150 PLN
DURATION OF THE TREATMENT5-20 min
ABILITY TO WORKimmediately after the treatment
or to arrange a consultation12 341 43 01PRICE LIST
flat hemangioma
Harmony Dye-VL is the most modern device for safe and precise laser use in removing skin discoloration. Glowing treatments using Harmony laser are characterized with high efficiency – already after the first session the skin has younger look, and its structure and color align.
Obtaining such rapid and visible results is possible thanks to the laser technology, which allows the high pulse energy application with shorter time of its exhibition and thus safe for the patient. While energy laser beam penetrates into the skin, it also removes discoloration and closes dilated capillaries. At the same time, it stimulates the production of collagen, which is responsible for skin elasticity, so that we get extra lifting effect and visible rejuvenation. The continuous movement of the head provides a dynamic exposure of the skin, allowing the execution of the treatment quickly and painlessly.
For maximum effect, a series of 3-4 treatments is recommended. The treatment is especially recommended for the removal of stains, rosacea, erythema, as well as to close tiny blood vessels, improve elasticity and eliminate the symptoms of the skin photo aging.
NO SUNBATHINGyes
AVOIDING SAUNAyes
Use of creamsyes
AVOIDING THE SWIMMING POOLyes
NO FITNESSyes
pregnancy and breast feeding
viral, bacterial, fungal infections
fresh tan
tendency to the keloids formation
use of photosensitizing drugs
infectious diseases
cardiovascular system disease
depression, neurosis
or to arrange a consultation12 341 43 01


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Healthy Habits for Your Rheumatoid Arthritis
Up Next
Next Slideshow Title
Sources | Medically Reviewed on 02/23/2019 Reviewed by David Zelman, MD on February 23, 2019
1) Foodcollection RF
2) Dougal Waters / Digital Vision
3) OJO Images/Paul Bradbury / Riser
4) JGI/Tom Grill / Blend Images
5) Mauro Scarone Vezzoso / E+
6) Fuse
7) Jetta Productions/Walter Hodges / Blend Images
8) Seb Oliver / Cultura
9) Troels Graugaard / E+
10) Henglein and Steets / Cultura
Johns Hopkins: "Role of Nutrition in Rheumatoid Arthritis Management."
Arthritis Foundation: "Diets for Arthritis Inflammation."
UpToDate: "Patient Information: Rheumatoid arthritis treatment (Beyond the Basics)."
Arthritis Foundation: "Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercise."
National Institutes of Health: "Handout on Health: Rheumatoid Arthritis."
Johns Hopkins: "Symptoms/Remedies on Rheumatoid Arthritis."
American Academy of Family Physicians: "Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview."
News release, American College of Rheumatology.
Masdottir B, Rheumatology, November 2000.
Arthritis Foundation: "Study Suggests Drinking May Lessen the Severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis."
Arthritis Foundation: "Warming Techniques to Relieve Arthritis Pain."
Pradham, E. Arthritis Care & Research, October 2007.
Reviewed by David Zelman, MD on February 23, 2019
This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information.
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
WebMD Slideshows
View our slideshows to learn more about your health.
Psoriasis 14 home remedies to try.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Is it the source of your aches?
Foods for Focus Eat these to help you stay on task.
Multiple Sclerosis Warning signs to watch out for.
Attention Killers What steals your concentration?
Cancer Does THIS cause cancer?


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Last Updated on July 16, 2020
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our Disclaimer Policy.
9. Revamp Your Old Light Fixtures
Instead of replacing your old, ugly light fixtures with costly ones, considering using the actual light components and just replacing the cover! Even something as simple as Rust-oleum paint to cover up the brass will give them a nice update, but if you want to take it a step further, you can also use a drum lamp shade like the one you see here (this one makes the light more fitting for a large room), or how about a little bit of Pottery Barn inspiration like this DIY Crystal Flush-mount. So many possibilities!
10. Mini-Blinds To Roman Shades
Break out your scissors! You can easily turn your old mini-blinds into roman shades with a few snips (oh, and a bit of sewing for the actual shade), but you can easily use the hardware from mini blinds to customize your own shades! Apparently, you can also buy blinds at Walmart for less than $5, so even if you don't have blinds to spare, you can pick them up new for little cost. Go check out the step-by-step instructions for this project over at Sawdust & Embryos. Your windows will thank you!
11. Add Molding To Cabinets
Outdated cabinetry has the biggest impact on your home's decor, especially if the color and design doesn't match your style, and it can certainly be one of the biggest investments in your home, but with a few added pieces of molding and paint, you can make them look brand new on a budget! To add molding to flat doors check out this tutorial here, and if you like the breadboard, you will want to check out this inspiring transformation.


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Kukla's Korner Hockey
David Booth Released From Hospital
by Paul on 10/25/09 at 03:01 PM ET
Comments (0)
SUNRISE, FL – Florida Panthers General Manager Randy Sexton announced today that LW David Booth has been released from a downtown Philadelphia hospital this morning after suffering a concussion in the second period of last night's game between Florida and Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center. He returns to South Florida today, where his condition will be monitored by Florida team medical personnel. A further update on his status will be available later this week.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Florida Panthers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: david+booth
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Weekly EHM Schedule
Your weekly schedule for the upcoming week is due by 10 pm every Friday night. Please fill out the form and submit it.
Name of place you are going and Addresses for your activities are required. If it is a repeating event please click the box next to the day of the week. If your schedule varies you must set a new time for each day. If you are submitting the same schedule for any days of the week you can click the box next to the day, but be sure every day in which you are providing a schedule for has the day checked. For example if you work every Monday – Friday from 6 am to 4 pm at Joe's Auto body at 123 Main St., then you have to check each box which pertains to that day of the week.
In order to add a separate event for the same day you must click on "Add Item" in the red box underneath the grey schedule box ; this goes for all of your repeating events like treatment, AA, counseling, etc. If you are unsure please ask.
Do not submit your EHM Schedule more than once. Submit your EHM schedule weekly. If there are any changes that need to be made please send them via text to the number which has been provided to you.


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There are always two sides of a coin. The same rule applies to economic issues. The dollar is both an affected and an affecting factor to the economy of the United States. Its rise and fall impacts the U.S. in many ways. Its growth and decline is in turn caused by the U.S. economic status.
On the statement, "the dollar is both an affected and an affecting factor to the United States economy," can be further explained by the fact that when the economy in general is at stable grounds, the dollar's status follows the same direction. When economic issues become a problem, the dollar is also in trouble.
How the dollar performs on currency exchange rates affect different sectors. Prices of some commodities, interest rates, and other trade related values respond in a negative manner when the dollar ends poorly at the end of a day's trade. These variables in turn dictate the overall status of the economy too.
Reactions to the Dollar Collapse Scenario
These are everyday challenges which any currency faces. To say that the dollar will collapse is a differeCredit: Image: dream designs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net | http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1449nt story. This article's question reveals different types of responses from the Internet world. Some depict a common citizen in panic. They are provoked even further by scaremongers predicting even the actual date of when the dollar is supposedly going to collapse. On the other side of the coin, there are individuals who are positive that the economy will rise up again and no dollar collapse scenario is to be feared. Instead of cultivating national fear, these suggest recommendations and alternatives instead to have the problem resolve.
Inflation and Investments
Finding investments which are able to hedge inflation is one of such recommendations. Inflation is described by an upward trend of prices and interest rates when the dollar depreciates in value. Although there is practically no form of investment which is not affected by inflation at all, there are those which have minimal movement at the U.S.A. exchange rates even during inflation.
Investments against Inflation
Some of these investments include specific stocks and bonds, real estate properties particularly commercial structures and lands, commodities of agricultural or industrial background, and precious metals like gold and silver.
Gold Investments
Among precious metals, investing in gold has never been more popular in recent years. This is attributed to a few reasons. Gold had been used as a fiat currency as early as 3,000 years ago and had been the most stable among all other government imposed currency. The consistent demand for gold is also another factor. It is in constant demand due to various industries wherewith it is used. It is applied in monetary currency particularly for coinage, in jewelry and other aesthetic items, in arts and architectural structures, in medicine particularly dentistry, in computers and electrical appliances for conductivity purposes, and even in space related projects.
This demand is in contrast to the other side of the coin in which supply is scarce. If in case gold is available, it may not be easily accessible. Other forms of gold investment include funds, stocks, and bonds. Gold funds capitalize in companies which mine and convert gold in industry standard forms. The same can be said of gold stocks and bonds. The only major difference is the time frame involved. Stocks can be traded and the profit collected faster as compared to bonds which are often profitable only after they reach a maturity date agreed upon by all parties involved.
Physical gold may also be invested upon. Here include gold bullion in bars or coins. Bars or ingots are valued based on purity and not on weight. Weight is used for the ratio alone when measuring the real value of gold. The percentage of purity is measured in relation to the item's weight. Coins on the other hand are valued based on a few factors. These include rarity, gold percentage, and the coins overall condition.
Any of these investments coupled with practical means are better alternatives to speculating when the dollar collapses, if it does. Preparing for the future and wisely spending time and energy for improving one's personal economic and financial status in turn helps the dollar and the national economy improve.


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We discussed previously everything that didn't make it into Java 7 and then reviewed the useful Fork/Join Framework that did make it in.
Today's post will take us through each of the Project Coin features – a collection of small language enhancements that aren't groundbreaking, but are nonetheless useful for any developer able to use JDK 7.
I've come up with a bank account class that showcases the basics of Project Coin features.
Read the rest of the article at the following URL:


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The United Nations Children's Fund said that as many as 10,000 Chinese women a year are trafficked to Southeast Asia and other countries. The victims of are often psychologically scarred, even if they return home.
This Dai minority woman from southern Yunnan calls herself May to hide her identity. She is one of thousands of Chinese women who have been trafficked to Southeast Asia. Yet she is so afraid of becoming an outcast in her community, that she conceals the name of her village in the lush mountains near China's border with Burma.
May says she was 16 years old when two men from her tribe approached her in 1996, and offered her $120 a month to work at a restaurant in Thailand. That was many times more than she could make planting tea and vegetables at home, she decided to go with them.
A few days into their journey across the border to Burma, May and the two other girls in the group realized they had been tricked. She said armed guards were watching their every move and they could not escape.
Over the next six weeks, she said they were forced to hike through jungles by night, and then slept on the ground by day. She rode in cars and a boat through Thailand, and ended up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital. There, she said, she was sold to pimps at a brothel housing some 200 Chinese women.
May breaks into a nervous giggle, and she starts to pick at her orange batik sarong.
She said she felt sick the first time the Malaysian pimp inspected her and other new arrivals from China, to see if they were virgins. She refused to give into him, she said, so the pimp got angry. He confined her and another Chinese girl to a house outside Kuala Lumpur.
She said she was forced to have sex with a Malaysian man who stayed in her room for seven days. A guard watched over her the whole time, she said, and never let her go outside.
May said she cried at first and tried to resist, but the man beat her. That whole week, she never said a single word to him. She was too afraid.
She spent almost two years as prostitute, without pay. Then Malaysian police found her, and she was returned to China.
Edwin Judd, head of the UNICEF office in China, said that victims of trafficking are often scarred for life. "Just the fact of having been taken away and whether it was forcibly abducted, whether it was a duping, whether it was some kind of combination - there is a loss of self-esteem. And there may even be a tendency for some to feel, 'Oh, I should have been able to prevent that,'" he said.
The Chinese government has begun allowing aid agencies like UNICEF to teach poor communities about slave trade.
The Yunnan Consulting Center offers psychological counseling and helps reunite victims with their families. The Chinese Women's Federation runs workshops for teachers, police and doctors to coordinate the fight against trafficking gangs.
Mr. Judd said more education is needed to fight the poverty and ignorance that feed the trade. "Here's a great opportunity to really try to work on this message if you will, on the education of the value of girls in terms of their intrinsic value, their human rights equal with boys, and to bring respect to both," Mr. Judd said.
Still, most social service organizations in Yunnan are short-staffed and poorly funded, so many trafficking victims must fend for themselves. And those who make it back home often have debilitating psychological problems that prevent them from re-integrating into society.
May considers herself luckier than many other women, who remain trapped in bondage in Malaysia, Thailand or elsewhere. She was able to escape and return home. She is now married with a one-year-old son. But she never talks to her husband about her time in Malaysia, she says, because she is too ashamed.


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Fused Glass Artwork in Pewaukee & Hartford, WI
Bring Your Unique Art to Life by Fusing Glass Pieces
Fused glass art projects are available right here at Creative License®! Have you ever wanted to create beautiful, one of a kind jewelry for a loved one? Maybe you're interested in bringing color and life to your home décor by making your own glass plates, picture frames, hanging wall art, or jewelry? Whatever your heart desires in the way of glass artwork, Creative License® studios in Pewaukee & Hartford, WI, can help!
We believe an artist is inside everyone, just waiting to get out. At Creative License®, you can create stunning pieces of art with fused glass! The process is easy and kids as young as ten can try creating beautiful glass art. Fused glass is a faster, easier alternative to making stained or blown glass art. Fused glass is easy for beginners or artists who want to challenge themselves. Walk right into one of our studios and give it a try today!
What Can I Create With Fused Glass?
Your imagination is the only limit to your fused glass art. Feel free to test your limits with your own designs. You can make a wide variety of projects by fusing glass, including:
|Dishes (plates, bowls, and cups)
|Glass letters
|Votive holders
|Serving trays
|And more!
Our Creative Consultants can help with instructions, and some projects have pre-cut glass to help you get started. Have an idea you don't see listed? Just ask! Chances are we can get you started on the right path. Check out our fused glass gallery for some extra inspiration.
How It Works: Steps to Making Fused Glass Art
- First things first, you need an idea of what you'd like to create with glass. It can be predetermined and sketched out at home, or you can get inspiration from our fused glass samples throughout our studio. Fused art creations range from small pieces of jewelry to large serving bowls.
- Next, you choose your glass. We have a multitude of options, ranging in color, shape, and size – from broken glass shards to full sheets you can cut and shape yourself. All of these options make it easy to completely customize your fused glass.
- Now it's time to start creating. Glass pieces can be layered on top of each other, creating beautiful designs and dimensions. Our Creative Consultants will gladly assist you in this process so you get the results you want.
- When you finish placing the glass for your design, we "fuse" your glass masterpiece in our kilns. The glass pieces melt together and become one single piece of glass. If you want, we can fire your design a second time to create a unique shape (which is called "slump" firing), or your piece can remain flat. We have a variety of slump molds to help you create dishes, candle holders, and sconces.
- Finally, you take your work of art home!
Host an Art Party at our Wisconsin Studios
Our Hartford and Pewaukee studios are a popular spot for artists of all ages to come and create. If you want to host a fun and unique event, reserve our studio for your closest friends and family! We welcome birthday parties, date night events, and corporate teambuilding groups. During fused glass painting parties, we have special options to inspire you:
- Option #1 Dazzle Me: Each guest will create 2 fused glass jewelry pendants and a pair of earrings.
- Option #2 Light Me Up: Each guest will create a night light. Includes plug-in light kit and light bulb.
- Option #3 All About Me: Each guest will design their name initial or a fun shape using beautiful glass colors, squiggles and dots.
- Option #4 Funky Plaque: Use your imagination and create your own design on a 4" X 8" rectangle plaque.
Don't see an option that matches what you want? Contact our Creative Consultants to learn about more ways to create with fused glass! Or schedule a private event hosted at our studio.
Check out some fused glass art as created by Brian Kramp of Fox 6 Real Milwaukee:
Fused Glass for Holiday Gifts and Décor
Fused glass projects make for popular birthday and Christmas gifts. A handmade holiday art project from Creative License® is better than anything you'll find in a catalog or Black Friday sales ad. Instead of spending hundreds or thousands on a mass-produced piece of jewelry, make your own necklace or bracelet for the woman you love. Design a nightlight for your kids to help them sleep at night. Create a set of dishes for your close friends. Each of these handmade gifts come straight from the heart and are easy on your holiday budget.
Creative Consultants are available to help you craft the perfect gift. We can also make art for you if you have a specific idea in mind. Contact our studio today to learn more about how we can help you create the perfect gift. We've designed presents for housewarmings, weddings, baptisms, and more.
Want something a little more traditional? Try painting Christmas ornaments with family, friends, and coworkers with a Christmas art party from Creative License®!
Fused Glass for Private Parties and Events
Share this unique art form with your friends, family, and coworkers with a private party at our Pewaukee and Hartford studios. Only you and your invited guests are allowed to attend these after hour events, perfect for everything from birthday parties, bachelorette parties or bridal showers, and just an evening out with friends. We host corporate events as well, giving you a great location to get to know your coworkers better or promote company bonding.
These projects are easy, even for beginners. Our Creative Consultants will be on hand throughout the event to help everyone in your group create the perfect piece of art. Fused glass pieces are dishwasher safe and can be used to serve food, making them more than just decorations.
- Glass parties are required to spend a minimum of $300+tax
- Glass is fused in the kiln & ready for pick up in about a week
If you are hosting a private event, you may bring alcoholic beverages for your group to enjoy. However, Wisconsin liquor laws state we cannot sell alcohol nor can it be served during public business hours. Read our FAQ or contact our Creative Consultants for more details.
View our art event calendar to see if any fused glass lessons are happening soon.
Fused Glass FAQ: What You Need to Know
Q: Is working with glass hard to do?
A: No, with just a few minutes of instruction, you will be on your way! If you need design assistance or a refresher, just ask our Creative Consultants!
Q: Can kids try fused glass projects?
A: Some fused glass projects are safer and more ideal for children (nightlights, for example). 10 and up is our preferred age, but, with proper adult supervision, we will make exceptions. If your child is too young to try creating fused glass, we have ceramic and canvas painting which is appropriate for all ages.
Q: Is my fused glass dishware food safe?
A: Yes, you can use your fused glass plates and bowls for food. Impress your friends and family at your next gathering by serving them something delicious on your hand-crafted fused glass! You might create an entire set of themed holiday plates or let your children design their snack bowls.
Q: Is the glass dishwasher safe?
A: Yes! Plates and dishes created from fused glass at Creative License® can be washed in a dishwasher. Since the glass is colored instead of painted, you don't have to worry about washing away the color. Just remember, these pieces are still glass and use caution when placing your dishes to avoid chipping.
Q: Can I bring in glass I found at the beach or from an old window?
A: No, each type of glass has a specific coefficient of expansion and melting point. Our fused glass has been tested to ensure fusing compatibility. Foreign glass may not be compatible and could ruin your project when it cools.
Q: How is fused glass different from stained glass or blown glass?
A: Stained glass art is created by holding colored pieces of glass together with some sort of frame. Occasionally, stained glass refers to clear glass which has been painted over to create a pattern or design. Fused glass does not need to be painted to achieve its colors and does not require a frame for pieces to stay in place.
Blown glass is made by taking molten glass and literally blowing air in with a tube to create shapes as the glass cools. This process can take years to master. Our fused glass creations are only heated by our Creative Consultants and the shapes are achieved using molds and "slumping".
Q: How much does it cost to create fused glass art?
A: Every fused glass project is unique. The price will depend on factors like how big your piece is and what glass you use. Larger pieces uses for plates and serving trays will cost more than a small jewelry pendant. Ask our Creative Consultants for specifics.


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Question: "I'm trying to increase my credit score ASAP. I was told that if I get added as an authorized user to a credit card that has good history and... read more →
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I do not change my relationship status on Facebook. This nugget of information is tucked away under my private settings.
Facebook does not validate my relationships.
I respect the option, especially for those in long-term relationships, but I have found it an unnecessary announcement for my own profile.
Currently, Facebook offers 11 different relationship status choices, ranging from "single" to "it's complicated."
But a new feature has been added for those who, like me, do not freely display their relationship: an "ask" button.
A person's Facebook friends can request his or her relationship status by clicking on the ask button on his or her Facebook timeline.
After the button is clicked, a box appears that gives the option of sending a message along with the request to explain why the person is asking about the relationship status.
Once the request is bravely sent, the recipient can respond by checking a bubble from one of the 11 Facebook relationship status options.
Even worse, they can also decide to share that information privately or publicly.
The only positive of this feature is that it will save time when creeping on the person's profile.
Facebook had already included an ask button for information such as phone numbers and email addresses, but this new ask button might be a new, clever way to get a crush's phone number.
Facebook might be using this as a new way to spice up its site or compete with popular dating websites and mobile apps such as Tinder.
I cannot imagine anyone using this seriously.
This is a feature I would use as a joke, to tease my independent friends who "don't need a man to validate them," or my perpetually single guy friends.
This newest form of Facebook flirtation is only a slight upgrade from the "poke" feature, but is just as tacky and awkward.


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After reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road and manfully resisting the urge to kill myself, I felt a parody was in order.
First there was The Road, then there was...
They Strode
The rain rapped down endlessly on the stinking plastic tarp, neither getting stronger nor stopping. The man lay in the cold endless dawn wishing he was dead, but then cursed himself for thinking such cheerful thoughts and instead lay imagining himself cutting his eyelids off with the serrated rainrusted lid of a tin can. Eventually he turned to the boy, wrapped up in his filthy blanket, bedraggled blond hair coated in the tiny carcasses of dead lice. The man watched as one last straggler hauled itself to the edge of a tuft of hair, hesitated and then threw itself off. It twitched once on the icy tarmac and then lay still. Merciful God. Even the lice are giving up.
Wake up.
Im really tired papa.
Were starving.
They ate the last of the dog food out of a dented can, waiting for the rain to stop. It didn't. Eventually the man put the boy in the empty cart and draped the tarp over him and set off down the road. The front right wheel of the cart dangling uselessly and causing it to oversteer to the right. The man stopped and thought. Then he asked the boy to get out the cart and walk, before strapping the cart to his back and continuing down the road.
The solemn sun circled above the ashen rainclouds, wandering around the earth like a chemotherapy patient around a cancer ward in a blackout. They walked through sodden drifts of ash, mixed in with unidentifiable bones and trash, while the boy played with a broken yoyo by throwing it up in the air and catching it again.
Are we there yet?
The place where we're going.
The coast?
The coast.
Why are we going there.
Because I want you to see the ocean and it was getting too cold at home.
But its cold now.
It was colder at home.
But it wasnt cold in the good place.
No it wasnt.
So why did we leave. There was plenty of food there, and beds, coffee, lighters. Now I am starving.
Me too. Because we would have been found.
Why didn't we just move the stuff out of the shelter and into one room of the house? We could have covered the shelter again, nobody would have seen us. We could have searched the town. Maybe there was a hospital or a pharmacy where we could have found some medicine for you.
Since when do you communicate in multiple sentences?
Don't be angry papa.
I'm not angry.
We could have stayed there and eaten all the food and rested until you were better and then left when we had just enough stuff left to put in the cart.
I'm getting angry.
What's by the ocean anyway?
I don't know.
Well at least we have a plan.
Who said that. You? Or me?
I don't know – this kind of dialogue can get complicated. I think I'm the boy and you're the man, so I guess you said it. You're the man. Why don't we have names?
Because theres no God, if there was he'd hate us and the world is cruel cruel cruel.
They nighted beneath a burnt tree. The boy scouted around and found two desiccated twinkies lying in a pile of trash. They saved one and toasted the remaining one over the fire on a burnt piece of branch until the cream foamed out of the twinkie and the sponge cake turned dark brown. The man fed it to the boy with a broken fork.
Its really good papa.
Here have a tinned peach to wash it down.
Where did you get that?
I dont know we always seem to have some tinned peaches left.
In the morning they tramped back onto the road. The rain had turned to sleet, mixed with ash and bits of old snow. They passed a crashed Boeing 747, its innards hanging into the road. A broken wing pointed hopelessly at the sky. A mess of oxygen masks, pillaged luggage and burnt tortured bodies twined around its aluminum skeleton.
Wait here.
I'm really scared papa.
I said wait here.
No I am really scared papa.
Wait here or I am selling you as a catamite to the next band of cannibals we see on the road.
You sure?
I fucking said Okay.
The man dug around the inside of the plane working his way methodically from the tail down to the cockpit. He found a Gameboy in the knapsack of a tiny backpack with a burnt teddy bear hanging off it on a rusted keychain. In a luggage compartment he found a felt fedora. He put it on his head and moved forward. In the cockpit he found the pilots still sitting there. Flight caps perched on the caramel brown of their skulls. In the lap of one a thesaurus, swollen by damp, the print still barely legible.
The man put the thesaurus in his pocket and rifled through the cockpit. He found three cans of peaches a Zippo lighter and a samurai sword. The man climbed down out of the plane to show the boy what he'd found. The boy was gone and an icy hand clutched at the mans heart.
He found the boy standing on the top of the rise overlooking the plane. His back to the man, staring down at the field beyond. The boy was jumping up and down in fear. His eyes wide. Clapping his hands and pointing.
Whats wrong?
Really scared?
How did you know?
What's wrong?
The boy pointed again. The man turned his head and looked. He didn't think he'd ever be okay again. On the savage ashed plain beneath the rise, hidden from the road, a field of stakes. On the top of each a head, covered in matted golden fur, leatherlike tongue lolling out over rotted teeth. Each head never to bark in joyous welcome again.
Golden Retrievers.
Golden Retriever puppies.
The boy started crying.
I'm sorry.
I want a puppy.
The puppies are dead. Im so sorry.
Why papa why?
Because this is just going to keep on getting unimaginably worse until the writer gets a Pulitzer prize just to make him stop.
So the man picked up the boy and turned away from the field of dead puppies.
Look what I found. A thesaurus.
Can we eat it papa?
No. Look.
The man crouched down in the sodden ash and flipped the thesaurus open, ruffling through the pages.
What are you doing papa? Im really hungry.
The man pointed at a page of the thesaurus.
You're very hungry. Veritably hungry. Absolutely, bloody, clearly, decisively, determinedly, distinctly, downright, emphatically, flat out, for a fact, in spades, no holds barred, no ifs ands or buts, no mistake, no strings attached, positively, straight out, strongly, terribly, terrifically, unequivocally, unmistakably, fucking hungry.
In the laudanum evening the two located the trolley. The man labouriously strapped it to his back and they moved into the firescarred woods looking for shelter from the wet, cold, sepulcher dark.
The End.
Lots of words for people who read good.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
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"To act on the belief that we possess the knowledge and the power which enable us to shape the processes of society entirely to our liking, knowledge which in fact we do not possess, is likely to make us do much harm. The recognition of the insuperable limits to his knowledge ought indeed to teach the student of society a lesson in humility, which should guard him against becoming an accomplice in men's fatal striving to control society—a striving which makes him not only a tyrant over his fellows, but which may well make him the destroyer of a civilization which no brain has designed but which has grown from the free efforts of millions of individuals." Friedrich Hayek


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Womens Football News Archive - 26th June 2003
After two seasons in the top flight of women's football, Brighton & Hove Albion were relegated back into the Southern Division of the Premier League after having finished in sixth the previous campaign. In the coming season, the Seagulls will be members of what looks to be a very tough division and also face four eagerly anticipated local derby matches against their South Coast rivals, Southampton Saints and Portsmouth.
Brighton midfielder Siobhan Melia, speaking to Women's Soccer Scene, has reflected on the past year for her side and revealed she is looking forward to those derby games.
So how difficult has the past season been ?
"It was a very tough season for us last year for a number of different reasons. The league was certainly stronger, with Fulham and Birmingham gaining promotion, but this was also compounded by the fact that most teams were able to pay their players. We were not in a financial position to do that, which prevented us from attracting new players to strenghthen our squad. This was particularly a problem, as we lost 4 or 5 key players in the first couple of months of the season, and were never able to replace them.
"Although the league was strong, we fell short by not getting three points in the games that we dominated. We lost to some teams as a result of our own errors, and were never able to recover. As the season progressed and the pressure mounted, winning games became increasingly difficult."
Behind runaway Champions Bristol Rovers, the battle for second place in the Southern Division was incredibly tight and was only decided on goals scored. With Southampton and Brighton coming down, and with two strong teams promoted into the division in the shape of Portsmouth and Watford, the division looks like being particularly tough this time around. Siobhan is not being drawn on whether her team can go back up at the first attempt.
"Promotion??...that word is banned! We are not even thinking about promotion at the moment! For the past 3 or 4 years we have either been battling to get out of the Southern division, or battling to stay in the Premier Division. Next year is about enjoying football again - that is the clear message from our manager!"
So will you all be looking forward to your four South Coast derby matches next season ?
"Yes, the reduction in travelling will be nice. It sometimes felt like another job when we were travelling all weekend just for a 90 minute match, it will be great to have some more local fixtures again."
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As someone who is eyeballing marriage within about two years, I can definitely say that I've got a lot of planning to do, boxes to check off, and lifestyle changes to implement. I'm not super young, but I'm definitely still early on enough in life to know that things need to be done before marriage.
One of those things happens to be life insurance.
It's a weird concept to me, at least at the moment. To pay money every month so that when I die, even more money comes back as a safety net to someone I delegate. It's just . . . bizarre.
But I know when I marry (and even have children), the notion makes full sense in order to protect my spouse and spawn. Because in all honesty, I'm sure a significant part of their lives will be impacted financially without a policy in place.
For example, imagine if you die and your kids still depend on your income to get by? Imagine how much a devastation it would be to not have money for food and housing on top of losing their mother or father? It's a pretty sad thing to imagine them losing you as it is, but to lose you and not have the means to live comfortably at a young age? That's pretty brutal.
So don't wait around or put it off for too long. Random disasters strike ordinary people like you every single day. Just because you think you're healthy or you think you live in a good neighborhood doesn't mean something can't happen out of the blue that could render your family unable to make payments on a funeral, on monthly bills, and on groceries.
Picking out a policy that fits you and your family takes some time to research, sure. But it's well worth the time and money invested to have a plan in place when your time ultimately comes to an end. We don't mean to be tasteless about it, but you cannot control how and when you die, but you can control taking on a life insurance policy to give your family more comfort everyday knowing that all will be fine no matter what.
Insurance can seem like an unnecessary thing that you pay for by the month only to not have anything happen to you, but it's just one of those things that you'll wish you had when you need it most. The problem you'll be okay with is "Well, I don't need this and yet I have it."


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Runtime: 1hr, 52 min
Google Play, Amazon Instant
"The Big Short" wasn't the only film about the housing collapse to come out in 2015, but "99 Homes" took a wildly different approach to the economic turmoil affecting America in the early 2000's. "The Big Short" is about what happened leading up to the financial crisis of 2007-08, but "99 Homes" is what happened, and continued to happen to people who lost their jobs, businesses and homes, in the wake of it.
It opens on the image of a dead man who had clearly shot himself. The camera pans around in an unbroken shot to Rick Carver (Michael Shannon) observing the scene before exiting the house to take a call. But we quickly realize he's annoyed at the death and the cops bothering him to talk to the dead man's family rather than saddened by anything he's seen. And as if to cement this early impression of him, Carver uses some colorful language to dismiss the police officer's requests to help calm to family down because it might waste his precious time.
Rick Carver is the tough guy sent to evict people from their homes, and clearly that's the reason for the ugly scene we've just witnessed. He owns the homes, and people who can't pay back their loans cost him money. He views his work and these situations as a detached businessman. Homes are potential money makers, and it doesn't matter to him that they are places where families grow up and store their memories. As if we had any doubt about his opinion on the matter, Carver repeatedly warns Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield), a bright young construction worker who is down on his luck, not to get emotional about his real estate.
Nevertheless that's where we meet Nash, in the humble home he grew up in and where he lives with his single mother and his young son. But work is hard to come by for a construction worker in this economy, especially when many of the construction companies in the area have already gone out of business. After defaulting on his bank loans Carver and the police show up to evict Nash and his family. It's easily the film's most affecting scene. It plays on one of our greatest fears while tapping into our innate sympathy for other people. It also causes anger and disgust for the broken system that has hampered the American dream. Nash and his family are forced to pack up their belongings under police surveillance, while movers pull their furniture from their home and leave it in their front yard.
They move to a low rent motel where many other families who have been evicted were forced to move. But before Nash can wallow in his self pity brought on by these hard times, a chance encounter with Carver affords him an opportunity to work for the man that evicted him. It isn't pretty work, but it starts as construction and that's what he knows. It might also help him earn enough to get his family out of the motel. For Carver, Nash is clear headed, hard working young man full of desperation. An easy mark to wield and coerce, and someone willing to work even when others refuse. His first day's work involves cleaning a house that's been vengefully covered in excrement. Soon after that Carver brings Nash to his own home to do some construction work. The visual difference between the expensive house Carver owns and the smaller houses he evicts people from is staggering.
Carver involves Nash in his schemes to rip-off banks, that starts out feeling like vengeance for the way they've treated the people of their community, even if this shady activity quickly starts to feel wrong. He drives Nash around showing him the houses he owns and tries to teach him to see the potential to make money while peddling his cynical worldview. It's convincing enough to Nash's ears at first, especially when he's being handed checks for more money than he's ever had before. But once Nash has to start being the one to kick people out of their homes, his sense of humanity slowly returns.
Carver even challenges Nash's very definition the word home. Nash may be dead set on rebuying his family home, but Carver's convincing when he reminds Nash that he's made enough and will continue making enough money to buy as many houses as he wants. "They're just boxes," he tells him. "Don't get emotional about real estate," he reminds him one more time, even as he helps Nash rebuy his old family home.
Ramin Bahrani is well aware of the morality of what these people deal in. The marked difference between Carver and Nash is their work. Carver's is to own homes, while Nash's is to build the homes. One indicates a position of power and money, the other is a working man's position. To an extent Bahrani is able to get away with the general acceptance that the rich man with his lofty position and fancy houses is a heartless man stealing people's homes, while the good hearted working man still maintains the humanity with which to do right by others.
Yet Bahrani makes an earnest effort to find some form of humanity in Carver. Michael Shannon gives an excellent performance as a man who had been in Nash's shoes once before, but found a way to feed on this bad economy. "America doesn't bail out losers. America bails out winners." He proclaims his doctrine to Nash as if ample reason for taking advantage of things in a time of crisis.
Nash, on the other hand can see himself slowly becoming Carver, but has his family to keep him grounded. He tries to keep this new secret life with Carver a secret so his family and the ones at the motel don't know what he's turned into, but secrets that involve earning large amounts of money rarely stay secret long. Andrew Garfield turns in a strong performance as the desperate man who turns to a shady business to regain his life. The film follows him through emotional highs and lows that seem to keep him on the verge of wild outbursts.
"99 Homes" is a solid mixture of genres. It's an emotionally trying drama that often feels like a thriller. It's the poor man getting into criminal activity and losing his humanity as his wallet inflates. It also has elements of a rebellion against the broken system that threatens the American dream. As his humanity wins out, his ability to continue working within the broken system gives out. But at times it's without much conviction that Bahrani goes about these events. Many key plot points are made possible by happenstance rather than choice, which tends to result in lack of conviction with which Nash goes about making his important decisions.
Bahrani does, however, know how to effectively dial up the emotions during tense eviction scenes with repeated shots of crying children, hysterical wives and stammering old folks. It's obvious tactics, but effective nonetheless. However not all of these moments work. One in particular has the young boy of a man being evicted walk up to give Nash an approving glance after Nash makes an important admission. The moment feels very contrived, and betrays our intelligence. It's as if Bahrani didn't believe we'd reach the conclusion that admitting his guilt was the right thing to do without that shot.
Nevertheless, "99 Homes" is a an emotionally affecting film that didn't get the advertising of some of the bigger films from last year. Nor did it seem to gain enough momentum from critics to factor into awards talk. But if you're still catching up with the bigger movies of 2015, this would make a nice double feature with "The Big Short." Even if "The Big Short" is the better film, this cast here is very good, and many will find it easier to relate to.