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Democrats are $3.3 million in debt. Republicans have zero
97 percent of women who strongly supported Trump in 2016 are satisfied with job performance
In April an ABC News/Washington Post poll revealed that 48 percent of Americans believe there is a "Deep State" operating within the federal government. Thirty-five percent said it was only a conspiracy theory. But more air has been let out of the false, failing and losing narratives of the left and liberal media since then.
A more recent Harvard/Harris poll confirms the count has grown to 54 percent. Specifically the poll asked if "…Deep State–the collection of intelligence agencies and holdover government workers from the Obama administration — is trying to unseat President Trump using leaks of classified information?"
Many voters don't have much faith in polls or mainstream since most indicated Hillary Clinton would be President of the United States right now. The usual suspects, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, CNN, MSNBC, CBS News and others continue the fake narratives despite their help from Obama holdovers embedded in Washington D.C. bureaucracies. But there is a better way to know what is in the hearts and minds of Americans: Follow the Money!
A look at the fund raising contributions coming into both major political parties reveals more than pollsters can tell us. In 2017 so far, the Republican National Committee has raised over $80 million as opposed to the Democratic National Committee totaling over $39 million. In May, the RNC broke a record with over $10 million flowing in a month after a post presidential election. To strengthen the case for President Donald J. Trump's impact on the GOP, the June amount increased to $13.5 million. The DNC raised $.5 million. The big hint comes from the amount of small donors versus big lobbying groups, special interests and businesses. The RNC is clobbering the Dems in small citizen (the voters) donations.
The GOP began 2017 with $25.3 million in cash on hand. Now it has $44.7 million. The DNC started the year with $10.5 in cash on hand. Now, that has decreased to $7.5 million. The latest account revealed that the RNC reported $0 in debt. The DNC reported $3.3 million in debt.
The Democrats and mainstream media repeatedly reported the Republicans would lose special election for Georgia's 6th Congressional District in June. It was a sure thing—a referendum against President Trump they told us. After all, they broke the all-time U.S. historical record by spending over $50 million to place their Democrat Ossoff against Republican Karen Handel. Handel won by almost five percentage points despite spending one-sixth of what her opponent did.
An analysis of these special elections and the November 2016 presidential race exposes more torment for the mainstream media and Washington 'Swamp':
—Of 34 senators on the ballot in the next elections, only nine are Republicans. Out of the seven considered most vulnerable, only two are Republicans.
—The ability of Democrats to attract dissident Republican voters is diminishing. Even if they could get every Republican who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 to return and vote for Democrats again, that would not be enough to turn the mid-term elections around.
—Today there are 26 Republican trifecta states with a GOP governor and control of legislature.
—There are 206 "Pivot Counties" in the United States that voted for President Obama in 2008 and 2012, and for President Trump in 2016. States of most significance include Iowa with 31 Pivot Counties, Wisconsin with 23, Michigan has 12, Ohio 9, Maine 8, Indiana 5, and Pennsylvania has 3.
—There are 2,226 solid Republican counties won by McCain, Romney, and Trump. However there are only 449 solid Democratic counties won by Obama twice and by Clinton. Clinton had a smaller share of the votes.
—In June, 97 percent of women who strongly supported President Trump in 2016 were satisfied with his job performance.
—33 states now have voter ID requirements.


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Round Eye at Will's Pub (photo by Ashley Belanger)
Besides being the Asian analogue to gringo, Round Eye (Aug. 8, Will's Pub) is also a band from Shanghai with a local tie via guitarist-vocalist Craig "Chachy" Englund of standout Orlando punk band Libyan Hit Squad. A model of good-natured extremity, their music is an arty collision of hardcore and jazz. Their unreasonable sound checking, however, was ridiculous for a punk band and inconsiderate to final touring band Daikaiju.
heY!ALLigator making everyone kneel at Will's Pub (photo by Ashley Belanger)
The last-minute addition – Atlanta's heY!ALLigator (yes, stylized just like that) – probably would've fit in more over at the Orlando Nerd Fest happening the same weekend than this bill. But it's good they arrived because they threw mad spice all over this show. In traditional hip-hop terms, they're kind of terrible. But they're neither traditional nor hip-hop. Splashed in excellently awful outfits, these two ladies dropped some dorky, outlandish and horned-up comedy rap. Like a freak show with lots of on-the-floor audience interaction, their performance was big on humor and entertainment. And it's all powered by the fun of two chicks who seriously know how to let it all hang, confident in the belief that attitude will make up for any lapse in craft. I can relate.
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Thursday, February 28, 2008
This week has been my school vacation and I've been without a car for most of it. Its given me time to clean house and start some craft projects I've been meaning to do for a while. I've also done a lot of web surfing about these projects and have been inspired by others work and works in progress, so I thought I'd post mine.
I began a braided rug made from pants. If you know me well, you know I have a stash of old pants, mostly jeans, but a there is a fair amount of khaki and cordoroy in there too. Originally this was intended for purses, brownbags specifically, but I haven't made any of those in a while and so for now, this is ripe material for my rug. Considering there are 6 tubs of material, I think I'll have plenty for this project. Our house has a room we call the dining room that stretches the width of the house. It's an odd room with the outside door we use most often and doors to 5 other rooms off of it. So we have the dining room table in part, and a settee in front of the fireplace, but we have this large area that's empty because its surrounded by doors. It needs a rug to define the space.
So here is the beginning of the braided rug. Pants count: 3.
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Member Favorites: 5
Sonshoukou (孫尚香/小蓮)Anime version
The youngest sister of the Son family and a princess of Wu. She is a spoiled brat who enjoys expensive things and tends to complain a lot. She joins Aisha's group after she runs way from home, bored of doing her royal duties, and later returns home. She also has a rivalry with Rinrin.
Visual Novel Version
She charges out of the kingdom to fight against the Hongo Faction who are falsely accused for betraying the Go faction. After being captured by Hongo Faction and clearing up the misunderstanding, she takes a liking to Kazuto and enjoys playing around with him.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Voice Actors


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Young America's Foundation is delighted to announce a number
of speakers that have been added to the lineup at our National Conservative
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Bay Buchanan, former Treasurer of the United States under President Reagan, author, and founder
and president of The American Cause;
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What's So Great about Christianity
among many others;
Dr. Robert George,
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text:
I went to Colorado last year to look into the murder, in 1929, of my grandmother's brother. I heard about it 86 years after the fact when someone working on a college writing project posted a message on the Ancestry website seeking relatives of Elmer Stephenson. The student was working on a story about her grandmother, a pioneer woman from Colorado whose stepfather was Stephenson. He had come into her life when she was a very young girl and the two had a loving relationship.
|Lena Estelle Hampson
I didn't even know much about my grandmother. I knew that she had a lovely, 19th Century name, Lena Estelle. She was a good businesswoman, working alongside her husband, Thomas Jefferson Hampson, while he and his brothers made a success of several grocery stores in Colorado in the 1890s. The first store was in Salida, Colorado. Soon, along with their Spanish immigrant businessman partner and successful silver miner, Don Valdez, they opened another store in Rifle and finally one in Grand Junction.
|Hampson Brother's store in Salida
I heard my grandmother was funny and clever. I also heard she was disciplined. After a late pregnancy, she handed over the new baby to my Mom and went back to work. Mother was twenty years older than her new sister, Barbara, and Mom spent those years living in Lena Estelle's home and raising Barbara. That established my Mom's brand of being the mother of choice after a divorce, an early death, or some kind of breakdown, mental or physical.
My grandmother died just a few months before I was born and was just 62. While I wish I would have known her, her developing dementia made her a bit of a stranger to everyone, let alone me, in utero. I heard that she had stopped being a reliable babysitter for my toddler brother. Once, in December 1941, she lowered my brother, then two, into the bushes below the window of the room where his crib was. She had noticed a whole lot of Japanese troops marching down West Second Street in Medford, Oregon and did what she could to protect her grandson.
|Trout on the menu for the President
and his hunting cabinet. I wonder if Elmer
is in the shot. Jake Borah is on the left just
under the server's arm
Borah apparently was a real comic. According to the Vail Daily Enterprise, a day or so before taking a party out on
|The President on the left of the picture.
In 1907, Elmer was among the first rangers hired into the brand new federal agency called the United States Forest Service and he thrived at the White River National Forest headquarters in Yampa. He was respected, a community leader, deemed fair by the most suspicious rural ranchers and farmers.
|Early White River Forest Ranger
|Yampa's Main Street. The Royal Hotel,
built the year Lillian and Elmer met, burned
to the ground earlier this year.
The note on the Ancestry site continued:
"Elmer was murdered in 1929 and my great grandmother was accused of his murder. She was acquitted and I don't believe they ever found out who killed him."
If you know anything about these events, or would like to know more, please contact me."
I was all ears, of course, and soon was talking to Sue, Anna Stell's granddaughter. While her great grandmother was acquitted of murder, Sue told me that some in her family were still out on the long-ago jury verdict.
Elmer seemed in good spirits that day, a Thursday, July 11, 1929 when he left Yampa and headed out to the house for lunch. Friends recalled him passing the pool hall, lingering at the door, watching silently, and then calling out:
"That was a hell of a shot!"
Lillian prepared pot roast for Elmer that day, brewing a fresh pot of coffee and taking out the biscuits when she heard the car in the driveway. After lunch, she said she went to town to have the carburetor on her car adjusted and go to the post office.
Returning to the house, Lillian saw Elmer on the floor of the kitchen experiencing violent convulsions. As the alarm spread and the neighbors and the doctor rushed in, Lillian offered several explanations. To some neighbors, she was sure that Elmer had purchased and consumed bad liquor. To others, she seemed to theorize it was a suicide. "Why did you do this?" "Why did you do this, Elmer?" Later, to the local newspaper, she attributed his death to a forest fire a couple of weeks before that seemed to sap his strength and weaken his heart.
|AP Photo of Lillian
|At Elmer's ranch in Yampa.
Clockwise from left: Barbara, Mildred, Lena
Estelle, Lida Hampson, Helen Hampson. The
two girls in the foreground are from the Higbee
family, cousins of Mildred, my Mom.
When the autopsy was performed on a Saturday morning, July 13, Elmer's organs were full of strychnine. There was no alcohol in his blood and very little food in his stomach. It was sensational news. All their troubles as a couple, her obvious and long-term relationship with Rundle, the terrible things she said about Elmer around the little town, the divorce papers that arrived the morning of his death, their clash over Elmer not springing for Walter's bail money and a string of seeming half truths posited by Lillian seemed to point to her as the murderer. And there was that $3,500 insurance policy on Elmer's life, taken out a few days before his death.
|Farrington Carpenter as a young lawyer in
Hayden, Colorado
After Elmer died, the rumors abounded across tiny Yampa, 310 people living there in 1930 at 7,800 feet. When Lillian and Rundle came into town, they usually caused a quiet and intense stir. Elmer had many friends. She sent at least two letters to Carpenter asking him to do something.
On September 15, 1929 she wrote Carpenter in her large and florid handwriting:
"O, how much longer must I remain in the shadow?"
"I have been very lonely and sad. And – often call out involuntarily for Elmer to come to my aid."
"Please do all you can, dear friend, in your line of duty, to bring this most complicated situation to an early closing."
"My sweet Lida, farewell. You're right. I am a rotter, no hope. Farewell."
Lillian eagerly sent the book to Carpenter and he sent the note to handwriting analysts in New York, Chicago and Denver. In February, 1930, the Chicago expert reported that the handwriting was not Elmer's, but was, in fact, Lillian's. That was it for Farrington Carpenter. He promptly sent deputies to Mancos where they arrested Rundle and Stephenson, charging her with murder and Rundle as an accessory.
In the Colorado State Archives, the box that was brought to my table and an associated folder proved disappointing. There were the original letters from Lillian to Carpenter, some notes and handwriting comparisons by the
handwriting expert, the autopsy report, written by hand on a Yampa Pharmacy letterhead, the alleged suicide note in the Masonic book. There was no transcript or other investigative materials. Since Lillian had been acquitted, there was no appeal and no need for a transcript.
handwriting expert, the autopsy report, written by hand on a Yampa Pharmacy letterhead, the alleged suicide note in the Masonic book. There was no transcript or other investigative materials. Since Lillian had been acquitted, there was no appeal and no need for a transcript.
What does exist are the accounts of the trial in the Steamboat Pilot, the Steamboat Springs newspaper, and also wire service stories appearing in papers across the country. The trial took over the large courtroom in the Steamboat Springs Courthouse, reduced today to the place where the Routt County Commission meets and makes policy.
Probably the most interesting and potentially most important item in the archival record is a letter written anonymously and sent to Elmer's employer, the Barker Commercial Company in Los Angeles. It was written eight months before Elmer's death.
Probably the most interesting and potentially most important item in the archival record is a letter written anonymously and sent to Elmer's employer, the Barker Commercial Company in Los Angeles. It was written eight months before Elmer's death.
"This man, Elmer E. Stephenson, stood high in the community, but for a long time this man has been drinking and this has led to affairs with married women and very young girls involved."
"This man can furnish alibis by the score," the letter continued. "He is a keen thinker and has a knowledge of technicality in Law and Life but he will fall and that soon."
"He is now visibly headed for a drunkard's ending"
The letter described an incident in a company shed where Stephenson and a girl "barely sixteen" spent several hours. He had given her silk stockings "on the condition that he let him put them on her," the letter stated. "He gave her a drink that knocked her silly…regular flapper talk."
"And unless he is removed, your place of business will be destroyed in Yampa…and he will fall and that soon."
Without the transcript, we don't know how this letter came into evidence, but the jury saw it and it gave Lillian's defense an opportunity to point to someone else who wanted Elmer dead.
Carpenter wasn't happy with the judge. He set a high standard for bringing in the strychnine. He had to show that the killer bought it. That made everyone in Routt County a potential suspect. The judge also wouldn't let the handwriting report come in because the other expert opinions weren't brought in as well. Finally, Carpenter thought Lillian was not only a good witness in her own defense but also a highly manipulative one:
"She sported a new hairdo and wore a low-cut, tight-fitting velvet dress over her fulsome figure. The male jurors could not keep their eyes off her. Whenever their attention strayed, she would lean forward and pour out a glass of ice water, sipping this for several minutes just as I was trying to make an important point – such as the difference between manslaughter and murder – to the ogling jurors."
|Trial was held on second floor, right hand side
Lillian lived 28 years after she left the courthouse with John Rundle. She married him soon after the trial. For the next nine years, they lived on the ranch outside of Yampa, but in 1939 they sold it, all 546 acres. A few weeks later, In 1940, she announced that she had acquired the lease of the Golden West Cafe in Yampa, but soon thereafter moved up the road about 20 miles north to the town of Oak Creek.
She was seriously ill in 1954, enough so to bring her son, Hop, down from Leadville where he continued to work in law enforcement, even was elected Sheriff despite his criminal conviction.
She returned to the hospital in Oak Creek several times in 1958 and died in March. Nothing Lillian did was without considerable drama. The day she died, John Rundle was admitted to the hospital for reasons not specified. Her son Hop could not attend the funeral later that week because of a serious heart condition. She is buried in Yampa's cemetery under the name Lillian C. S. Rundle. Elmer is there too, a few yards away, with an empty plot reserved for Lillian C. Stephenson next to his grave, an unfortunate oversight of the estate administrator or perhaps a conscious decision by Lillian herself. John Rundle died three years after Lillian and is buried a couple of hundred miles away in Crawford, Colorado.
Carpenter never pursued the case after the acquittal. No retrial, no investigation of other possible suspects, nor was there an effort to change the cause of death to a suicide. Subsequent prosecutors stayed away as the case grew colder than a late Colorado frost. She beat them. All of them. Fair and square.
Roosevelt: The Rocky Mountain President
A Short History of Piggly Wiggly


text:
To me, fitness and nutrition are necessary acts of self care. If I'm not feeding my body foods that make it feel good and moving it regularly, I don't feel like myself. And if I don't feel like myself, it can be really hard to show up authentically for others. And who doesn't want to feel like the best version of themselves as often as possible?! Your lifestyle is a huge indicator of how you feel and how you show up in the world. The good news is you get to choose what kind of lifestyle you want to live. It may not be easy to make changes, but little changes become habits, and habits become routine. Living healthy is living well.
Healthy living isn't all about going to Soul Cycle classes and blending up a perfectly Instagrammable daily smoothie. Healthy living is consistently checking in with your mind and your body to see how they are and what they need. Healthy living is having the confidence to live the way you want to live and create a lifestyle that feels good and supports your true self. Healthy living is feeling better than you knew possible. Healthy living is an inside job, but it's so important to surround yourself with likeminded people who will support you, cheer you on, and understand your desire to level-up your life and live big.
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text:
- Etiger Group Co., Ltd.
- China Manufacturer with main products:Sports goods; such as motorized treadmills; exercise bikes; golf bags; etc.
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Description:Model: T202 2-way flat treadmill (2 functions) Soft running plate, incline adjustable Product size (L x W x H): 140 x 63 x 130cm Belt size: 31 x 241cm Folded size (L x W x H): 47 x 63 x 146cm Large LCD with hand pulse sensor Inner packing: Size: 134 x 54 x 20cm N.W.: 31kg G.W.: 33kg Conveyance: Qty/20' FCL: 188 sets Qty/40' FCL: 380 sets
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|New product
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Christian D. Larson


text:
It's time for the science honest and you must come up with a watch popping experiment. College students describe conditions where scientific data from totally different science disciplines and various cultures has been used to unravel a real-world problem. In 2013 I completed my Masters of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) specialising in the software of mathematics on economics.
In Europe, the Latin translation of Alhazen's Book of Optics instantly influenced Roger Bacon (thirteenth century) in England, who argued for extra experimental science as demonstrated by Alhazen. The science practices maintain a detailed relationship with the science content material subjects.
Science Commons helped discover the intersection of the online, authorized tools, and scholarly publishing for the advantage of scientific discovery, innovation, and collaboration. The secret is to spotlight the environmental science levels and limitations of science or scientific analysis is required to identify those topics so that learning could possibly be …


text:
An historic building which is believed to be the oldest to house a working railway ticket office has opened in Wirksworth.
Part of the Old Tannery, adjacent to Wirksworth Station, has been transformed into a new booking office for the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
Secretary of State for Transport, Derbyshire Dales MP Patrick McLoughlin, officially opened the new office on Friday.
Built around 1750, the tannery pre-dated the railway by 117 years and formed part of the complex, still present today, called Newbridge Works, named after a bridge built over the River Ecclesbourne which was subsequently absorbed by the station and yard.
Neil Ferguson-Lee, vice chairman of the heritage railway group which operates the line between Wirksworth and Duffield, said: "Used originally by an animal skin company to store the raw hides before being sent away for processing, around the turn of the 1900s, the building became more closely associated with the railway through a company called Fletcher Brothers who dealt in animal feeds.
"Feed was brought to Wirksworth Station by rail and loaded into the building via the doorway which we have recently opened-up as our main public entrance."
The new booking office is situated at mezzanine level. Volunteers have renovated the mezzanine floor, installed internal partition walls, heating, lighting and a welcoming counter area to greet customers, who enter through an upgraded accessible entrance.
The old temporary booking office will now be removed, creating an open area for events and entertainment.


text:
Indian Journal of Materials Science
Volume 2013, Article ID 307514, 7 pages
Preparation and Characterization of HPMC/PVP Blend Films Plasticized with Sorbitol
1Department of Physics, Yuvaraja's College, Mysore 570 005, India
2Department of Polymer Science, Sir M.V.P.G. Centre, Mandya 571 402, India
3Department of Studies in Physics, Manasagangotri, Mysore 570 006, India
Received 18 August 2013; Accepted 24 September 2013
Academic Editors: A. K. Bajpai and U. De
Copyright © 2013 H. Somashekarappa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The aim of this present work is to investigate the effect of plasticizers like Sorbitol on microstructural and mechanical properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blend films. The pure blend and plasticized blend films were prepared by solution casting method and investigated using wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) method. WAXS analysis confirms that the plasticizers can enter into macromolecular blend structure and destroy the crystallinity of the films. FTIR spectra show that there are a shift and decrease in the intensity of the peaks confirming the interaction of plasticizer with the blend. Mechanical properties like tensile strength and Young's Modulus decrease up to 0.6% of Sorbitol content in the films. Percentage of elongation at break increases suggesting that the plasticized films are more flexible than pure blend films. These films are suitable to be used as environmental friendly and biodegradable packaging films.
1. Introduction
Polymer blending is one of the most useful ways to have new materials with required properties and there have been great scientific and commercial progress in the area of polymer blends. This was driven by the realization that new molecules are not always required to meet the need for new materials and blending can usually be implemented more rapidly and economically than the development of new materials [1, 2]. Blends of synthetic and natural polymers represent a new class of materials and have attracted much attention especially in bioapplications. The success of synthetic polymers as biomaterial relies mainly on their wide range of mechanical properties, transformation processes that allow a variety of different shapes to be easily obtained at low production costs. Biological polymers represent good biocompatibility, but their mechanical properties are often poor; the necessity of preserving biological properties complicates their processability and their production costs are very high [3, 4].
Packaging plays an important role in marketing food and food related articles (processed food, bakery products, beverages, food grains, vegetables, and fruits). Food quality and safety are major concerns in the food industry. Packaging can be considered as an emerging trend that could have an impact on shelf-life extension and food safety. In general a packaging material has to fulfil certain requirements. Packaging makes distribution easier and protect the article from environmental conditions like sun light, dust, oxygen, moisture, microbes, mechanical stress, and so on. A packaging has to satisfy all these requirements effectively and economically. Nowadays we saw a lot of change in the process, distribution, storing, and retailing, which reflected the continuing increase in consumer demand for improved safety, quality and extended shelf-life for packaged materials. Packaged materials now available are nondegradable. These materials after their disposal cause environmental concern in terms of solid waste management, health problems to both human beings and animals. Hence research activity is focussing on to produce degradable packaging materials. Some of the researchers have already worked on degradable packaging materials using chitosan [5, 6], PVA [7, 8], starch, cellulose, and their blends [9, 10]. Here we are using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), a biopolymer, and poly vinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a synthetic polymer for blend preparation. Blend films of these two polymers have not been investigated so for, It's potential use as a packaging material. From our study we found that blend films have a very good mechanical property which makes these films well suited for packing purpose.
2. Materials and Methods
HPMC, PVP, and Sorbitol powdered samples were purchased from Loba chemie, Mumbai, India. Pure blend and plasticized blend films were prepared by using solvent casting method [11–13]. 5 g HPMC was dissolved in 100 mL of distilled water with continuous stirring. After complete dissolution, the solution was filtered using filter paper to remove undissolved particles. 2% PVP solution was prepared. Now 50 mL of 5% HPMC solution and 50 mL of 2% PVP solutions were mixed together and stirred continuously using magnetic stirrer for 20 min to ensure uniform mixing of the solutions in the blend matrix. During stirring 0.2% of Sorbitol predissolved in distilled water was added to the blend solution and stirred for 10 more minutes. The stirred solution was allowed for a while and then it is poured onto the clean levelled glass plate and allowed to dry for a week. After complete drying, the films were peeled out of the glass plate and stored in desiccators to avoid moisture. The prepared films appear to be transparent, smooth, and flexible. This indicates that the two polymers may possibly be fully miscible with Sorbitol creating a new single polymer matrix [14]. Following the same procedure, other samples of different concentrations and different wt(%) of plasticizers were prepared.
2.1. Experimental
2.1.1. X-Ray Diffraction
X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples were recorded using Rigaku MiniFlex 11 diffractometer with Ni filtered Cu kα radiation of wavelength 0.15406 nm, with graphite monochromator. Samples were scanned in the 2θ range 6°–40° with a scan speed of 5°/min and in step of 0.02° working voltage and current were 30 kV and 15 mA. The X-ray diffraction pattern recordings for various concentrations of Sorbitol in HPMC/PVP polymer blends are as shown in Figure 1.
2.1.2. FTIR Spectra
Fourier transform infrared spectrum of these films was recorded using Perkin Elmer spectrometer (Spectrum 65). The spectrum was recorded in the frequency range of 4000 cm−1 to 400 cm−1 at room temperature. FTIR spectra recordings for the HPMC/PVP/Sorbitol films are given in Figure 2.
2.1.3. Mechanical Properties
Mechanical properties like tensile strength, Young's Modulus, and elongation at break were measured using universal testing machine (UTM) according to ASTM standard.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. X-Ray Diffraction Study
The pure HPMC/PVP blends and plasticized films of different concentrations were investigated using WAXS method. From the diffraction pattern obtained it is found that a film consists of both crystalline and amorphous regions. In blend film it is observed that there is one sharp peak at around and one broad peak at around . In plasticized films sharp peak widens and the width of the broad peak also increases with concentration of the plasticizer along with area under the peaks. The position of the peaks also shifts slightly. This indicates that there is change in molecular plane density in blends. Blending of HPMC with PVP decreases the crystallinity of HPMC. Further plasticizing with Sorbitol destroys crystallinity, with further increasing amorphous region. The computed microstructural parameters using Whole Powder Pattern Fitting Technique (WPPFT) are given in Table 1. From Table 1 it is observed that lattice strain in all the samples lies between 0.1 and 0.2%. The statistical percentage of deviation of parameters arises because computation is around 0.04–0.3. With these parameters as input we have further refined the parameters against whole pattern ( to ). The detailed procedure of the Whole Powder Pattern Fitting Technique to compute these microstructural parameters was given in our earlier paper [15]. An in-house program was developed for this computation. The goodness of the fit between simulated and experimental XRD profiles for the samples along with the difference is also given in Figure 1. A casual glance at Table 1 reveals that, except for crystallinity, the other parameters such as lattice strain and stacking fault probability do not vary much during refinement. Further the low deformation fault probability value indicates that there are too many layers between two successive deformation fault layers. This is due to the fact that there are pockets of crystalline-like order in a matrix of amorphous regions. Miscibility in the polymer is the important factor which decides the nature and property of the material [16]. The accuracy of the method used here has been discussed in our earlier papers [17–20].
3.2. FTIR Analysis
Spectroscopically measured wave numbers of HPMC/PVP polymer blend films plasticized with Sorbitol are given in Table 2. In the prepared miscible blends, it is expected that intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups of HPMC and the carbonyl groups of PVP might be created. For a thorough understanding of these interactions, FTIR spectra of all prepared blends were recorded. In this, two regions are of great importance, that is, the carbonyl group situated between 1600 and 1750 cm−1 and the respective of the hydroxyl groups at 3350–3700 cm−1 (Figure 2). In the PVP spectrum the characteristic peaks are observed at 1660 cm−1 and at 1290 cm−1 attributed to the stretching of amide >C=O and >N–C groups, respectively. On the other hand the characteristic peaks of HPMC are at 3050–3750 cm−1 and are attributed to the –O–H stretching and the triple peak in the so-called finger print spectrum area of C–O– is at 960–1230 cm−1. A broad band at 3360 cm−1 denotes the superposition of stretching for two types of hydroxyl groups in HPMC. Free at 3585 cm−1 and self-association hydroxyl groups through intermolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding at 3362 cm−1 which is not easily observed due to the peak broadness. The intensity and the position of these characteristic peaks of both polymers permit us to interpret rather easily the influence of interactions between these polymer groups. From the FTIR spectra of the prepared blends it can be seen that, as the amount of HPMC increases, the hydroxyl band moves to lower wave numbers. In PVP/HPMC blend containing 50/50 w/w, the peak can be found at 3418 cm−1 while, as the amount of PVP increases, it seems that the peak moves again at higher wave number (Figure 2). Thus in PVP/HPMC blend containing more than 50/50 w/w, the peak is detected at 3362 cm−1 which is similar to that of initial HPMC. This indicates that hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl groups of PVP and the hydroxyl groups of HPMC is stronger when HPMC is used in excess rather than PVP. A similar trend is exhibited for the C–O groups recorded at the finger print area.
3.3. Mechanical Properties
Mechanical properties like tensile strength, Young's Modulus, and percentage of elongation at break of these films were measured using universal testing machine, according to ASTM standard. Tensile strength of the films was calculated by dividing the maximum load for breaking the film by cross-sectional area. Young's Modulus is the ratio of stress to strain at the linear portion of the curve or slope of the linear portion of the curve of the stress strain. Elongation at break was calculated by the ratio of the film elongation at rupture to initial gauge length and multiplied by 100. The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity decrease first and then increase with increaseing the concentration of Sorbitol in HPMC/PVP matrix. We mentioned in the XRD analysis that decrease in crystallinity leads to flexible backbone which results in the improvement in mechanical properties of the films. Table 3 shows that all mechanical properties are varying with concentration of Sorbitol. Variation of mechanical properties and crystallinity with the concentration of Sorbitol was given in Figure 3. Plasticizers are relatively low molecular weight materials which have a capacity to alter the physical properties of polymers to make them more useful as film forming agents. The function of plasticizer is to make the polymer more pliable, soft, thereby enhancing the flexibility and plasticity of the film. Physical and mechanical properties of the films change due to increased mobility of the polymeric chains. The electiveness of the plasticizer is intensely related to its chemical structure and the extent and rate of interaction with the polymeric material present in the formulation. The properties like the water uptake, erosion, solid state crystallinity, thermal behaviour, and water vapour permeability (WVP) are modified to great extent. The mechanism of action of plasticizer is defined as interposition between the individual strands of polymer due to which there is breakdown of polymer-polymer interactions. This breakdown of the polymer network increases the film elongation effect, thereby mechanical properties of the plasticized films like tensile strength, elastic modulus decrease whereas elongation increases. Sorbitol was used as plasticizer in our study since it has been described as good plasticizer [21–23], due to its ability to reduce the intermolecular hydrogen bonding and mechanical strength of the films. Sorbitol imparts flexibility to the edible/biodegradable blends films previously mixed [24, 25]. It also constitutes good nutritive substrate for promoting the degradation of the composite system. Sorbitol molecules are easily inserted between the HPMC strands resulting in decrease in mechanical property. This is due to increase in hydrogen bonds leading to reduction in intermolecular forces [26].
4. Conclusion
Edible films based on HPMC/PVP blends, plasticized with Sorbitol, were prepared by solution cast technique, and effect of plasticizer has been investigated using XRD, FTIR, and UTM. From the XRD it is observed that the crystallite size decreases with the concentration of Sorbitol. Decrease in crystallite size leads to more amorphous nature of the film and increase in flexibility. The observed shifts in the absorption bands and decrease in the intensity confirm the interaction of Sorbitol in blend matrix. A mechanical property decreases considerably due to the addition of plasticizer in the blend matrix. Sorbitol imparts flexibility by reducing the crystallinity of the film by which there is a decrease in tensile strength, stiffness, and modulus of elasticity up to 0.6% of Sorbitol and then increase in % elongation. These films with more flexibility are found in applications of flexible packaging, controlled drug delivery, tablet coating system, biomaterials, and so forth.
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Come on out this Thursday evening for a great night of music and fun in a great oceanfront, outdoor atmosphere! Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family, neighbors, and friends, and enjoy the show!
Bobby Webb & Company brings great country music and more to EmeraldFest this Thursday evening! To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/BobbyWebbmusic/ .
EmeraldFest concerts are held every Thursday evening during the summer. For the full lineup, please visit https://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/emeraldfest . Don't forget to also check out SwanFest in nearby Swansboro each Sunday night!
Performing: Bobby Webb & Company (Country)


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Howdy -
Getting ready for the holiday season? High Hopes Stamps is ready! They have great image for all your favorite fall and winter holidays! Now first comes Halloween.... And we end the year with Christmas... but between there is THANKSGIVING! mmmm.... You just have to love a holiday that is about stopping to give thanks for all that we have and to EAT!
This image is Apple Mouse Pie... he is smart he went for the pie first!
I colored him with my copics (colors below) and then dug and found papers from My Minds Eye Lucille collection. I sewed down the layers after inking the edges with Rangers Distress Ink. A turquoise satin ribbon around as a band with a bow. Pearl adhesive embellishments in the corner. The sentiment "Script Happy Thanksgiving" is perfect! I punched it out with an EK Success punch that I inked the edges.
Inside more of the same papers.
Copic colors used -
Just loved coloring up this little mouse and his pie! Hungry for pie now though... LOL
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
HUGs and -


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Smsalloccassion is a leading site for Latest Love SMS, Jokes SMS, Hindi SMS, Shayari SMS, Birthday SMS, and New Funny SMS in Hindi Free of Cost.
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As an advocate for eating disorder awareness and recovery, as well as women's health through the American Heart Association, I share my story – a lot. More times than I can count, I'll mention the fact that I've lost weight, or that am in recovery for an eating disorder, or both. Someone will stop me and ask, "But, if you had an eating disorder before, how did you end up losing more weight living a healthy lifestyle?"
You see, there's this common misconception that eating disorders are only present when someone is severely underweight, and that is not at all true.
An eating disorder can occur in ANY situation where an individual has a deeply-rooted, psychological and often psychiatric disorder in their relationship to food. There are many types of eating disorders, and no two cases, even of the same diagnosis, look the same.
Anorexia nervosa is typically what most people think of in regards to eating disorder, but there are many other variants of disordered eating that manifest differently – and different eating disorders can coexist to further complicate the physical signs. Bulimia, for instance, can easily co-exist with a long-term food addiction OR anorexia OR both. There is also a lesser-known disorder known as orthorexia, which is obsessive healthy eating. (I see this one crop up a lot in the performance running community.)
For most of my college career, I struggled with bulimia, paired with food addiction and periodic stretches of anorexia. While I DID purge, abuse laxatives and force myself to do unhealthy fasting, I gained weight. Unhealthy and obsessive countermeasures could never offset the amount of emotional eating I was doing.
Flash forward to my life now: I'm more than 5 years into recovery, 4 of those years without any form of purging. I lead a (generally) healthy lifestyle, with moderation between healthy eating and treats. I've run 5 half marathons (although I only completed 4 of them) and am looking to run my first full marathon in October of this year. I have a demanding job which I love, something I could never do if I weren't properly fueled and caring for myself. I'm getting married to the love of my life in April, and I feel good about how I'll look on the big day – not because I've lost weight gained during my eating disorder, but because I've learned to love my body and stabilize my relationship with it and the food that nourishes it.
I can't undo some of the damage done during my battle with bulimia and associated disorders – but I CAN raise awareness that not all eating disorders look the same. Not every person struggling is a model-thin girl. Sometimes, it's the girl who can't seem to stop eating. Sometimes it's the guy who seems oversensitive about eating in front of others. Sometimes it's the person who disappears for a while after every meal, like I did during the worst of my addiction.
To learn more about the major eating disorders and possible signs, you can view NEDA's list of recognized eating disorders and their symptoms.
If a loved one is exhibiting signs of an eating disorder, even if they don't fit what you think a stereotypical disordered eater should look like, learn more. Research. Find help. The reality is that we are often hidden in plain sight, and we could use your love and support to recover and go on to lead happy, healthy lives.
Kelly Rivard is a regular Body Boop blogger, and a 20-something digital strategist living in Kansas City with her fiancé, two dogs, a bird, a lizard, a hedgehog and several fish. You can follow her on Twitter or on her Facebook page Crazy Fit.
Want to write for Body Boop? Send us an e-mail.
Tags: #bodyboop, anorexia, anorexia recovery, bulimia, bulimia recovery, bulimics, eating disorder, eating disorder recovery, eating disorder treatment, eating disorders, ED, ED recovery, edrecovery, health, Kelly Rivard, mental health, national eating disorders association, NEDA, recovery, running, wedding


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Eligibility Criteria for First Year Engineering Admissions
A candidate must have:
Open category : PCM 50% in board exam XII std.
If does not satisfy then Chemistry can be replaced by Biotechnology / Biology / Technical Vocational subjects (Electronics / Computer Sci. / Information Technology / General Civil Engineering / Electrical Maintenance / Mechanical Maintenance / Scooter and Motor Cycle Servicing, etc)
For Vocational Subject consider marks out of 100 for addition.
Candidate should be passed Diploma
Candidate Must have appeared MH-CET or JEE main 2018.
(even for Management Quota admissions)
Each candidate seeking admission, must register online and should verify all original documents at Facilitation Centre (FC)
For the candidates wishing admission under Management Quota
Candidates having educational qualification as specified, are eligible for Management Quota. But they must register online and should verify all original documents at any Facilitation Centre (FC).
Then, they are required to apply separately to the Management of the respective institutes for these seats.
This is brief information about F.E. admission for the year 2018-19. For more details kindly visit following website.
For More Information Click Here


text: Critical Hit is a videogame music tribute band performing original arrangements and electrifying live concerts of music from the most celebrated videogames of all time. Featuring Jason Hayes, lead composer on the original release of Blizzard's hit MMO World of Warcraft, the band's unique sound blends a variety of musical styles from rock to classical and beyond. Critical Hit's debut album, Critical Hit: Volume One, features 12 electrifying arrangements of gaming's greatest hits!


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Thursday, March 12, 2009
RAM is not enough - Memory Compression!
Memory compression has been my pet project since last 2 years. It adds a compression layer to swap path -- whatever OS swaps out will be compressed and stored in memory itself. This is huge win over swapping to slow hard-disks which are typically used for swapping. Biggest challenges are what to compress? how much to compress? how to manage compressed blocks? handling incompressible data and list goes on...
This is all basically shifting load over to processor to avoid slow disks. Now in multi-core era this seems to only gain in relevance -- de/compression can be almost free if we can use all those cores smartly :)
Project home:
8 comments:
- AnonymousNovember 3, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Hi Nitin,ReplyDelete
Nice to know you!
I have a question, why VMware do not use memory-compression technologies in virtual memory map file (.vmem file)?
I really can't comment on what VMware is thinking in this area. At least for KVM/VirtualBox I can say that the entire guest memory (Windows or Linux, doesn't matter) is compressible with compcache.
- AnonymousNovember 3, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Thanks for prompt reply.ReplyDelete
Another question, does VMware plan to support "instant on" vm in future? we know there are several companies are working for "instant on Linux". I am thinking the memory compression technologies should be part of it.
> Another question, does VMware plan to support "instant on" vm in future?ReplyDelete
I don't think so, though I'm not sure.
Ha ha ha...ReplyDelete
It seems that vmware is adopting the memory compression thing....
The idea of doing in-memory compression is so old ¬¬ ... I remember the time of QMM in old OSes like Win95/98... but... why the development of such type of thing got freeze?
I am still trying to find a memory compressor at least for Windows XP, because I need to deal with lot of data on memory... most of it are texts in an in-memory database, also there are some other things [that is only available for Windows] and I really need an in-memory compressor.... any one here knows any software that do it for Windows? Or, there is any chance of compcache be ported to Windows?
> The idea of doing in-memory compression is so oldReplyDelete
Yeah, the idea of memory compression is really ancient. Maybe we didn't have had processors fast enough to handle "real time" memory compression but now we have multi-cores common even on desktops.
> I am still trying to find a memory compressor at least for Windows XP
It is possible with compcache, though indirectly:
btw, compcache work is completely independent of VMware's work in this area.
"btw, compcache work is completely independent of VMware's work in this area."ReplyDelete
Yes, I know, I just said about vmware for reference to the first question here on this page. :-)
About compcache, what compression it uses? Well, today CPUs are too fast that I bet that using LZMA2 is fast enough and the compression of it is also the best we can get [as I know LZMA2 is the one used in 7zip, and have the best compression ratio for the compression speed]....
For example, in a Quad-Core, you can use 2 cores for compression in background works while all other SO operations keep working... I bet it is very transparent to the user, and the gain is very high because the room it opens in memory....
Compcache currently uses LZO compression only. The plan is to support "heavy weight" but better compressing algorithms in future, considering multi-cores (with 2+ GHz) are so common today.ReplyDelete


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A Beginner's Guide to Buying a Cooktop
Whether you're whipping up a feast or just sautéing veggies, a cooktop is an essential component of any kitchen. With multiple types, styles and sizes available, deciding on a new one isn't easy. Every kitchen has unique space and every person has unique cooking needs. We've highlighted some helpful information to make buying the right cooktop a little easier.
Types of Cooktops
Electric Coil Cooktops
The most common of electric models, coil cooktops work well with most cookware. The coils, which are operated by dials, sit above a metal drip pan and use electric power to heat the cookware. Because spills and splatter can easily slip through the coils, the drip pans can be removed to simplify cleaning.
shop all electric coil cooktops
Electric Radiant Cooktops
Often referred to as smoothtop cooktops, these models are stylish and sleek, offering an easy-to-clean glass or ceramic surface with an electric heat source. These options are completely flat across the top, with the burners built into the surface. Some burners even offer dual and triple element burners.
shop all electric radiant cooktops
Electric Induction Cooktops
Instead of using a direct heat source, induction cooktops use electro magnetism to heat the cookware directly with a cooking surface that's always cool to the touch.
shop all electric induction cooktops
Gas Cooktops
Gas cooktops are a traditional choice in most homes. These models let you cook meals atop a gas flame, which allows you better control of your heat source.
shop all gas cooktops
TIP: Unless you're remodeling or building a new home, consider a model that's the same as your existing style but with updated features. Before purchasing, always measure your countertop and check the energy requirements. Some homes have limited countertop space or might only accept gas heat, which will reduce your options.
What to Know
Know Your Heat
When looking at cooktops, you'll see terms related to heat and might not know what they mean. Here's a brief overview of two common measurements of heat.
TIP: Look for a cooktop with at least one high-heat/power burner so you'll be able to take on a wider variety of dishes.
Know Your Sizes
When measuring your countertop space, you'll need to keep in mind the different cooktop sizes to best fit your kitchen's needs. Designs that are 30" or 36" are typically the standard sizes in most homes, and they give you plenty of elbow room for cooking. If you're looking for a more customized size, select cooktops can go from 12" all the way up to 60".
Cooktop Features
TIP: Consider pairing your cooktop with a range hood or downdraft ventilation system to reduce the steam, grease and more from the air while you're cooking.


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That's where we come in. At Collier Maddigan Communications not only are we expert writers, we're expert planners. So, we can work with you to develop a full-blown strategic marketing plan, organise and design every element to deliver that plan, and carefully write every word for every newsletter, website, brochure and media release. All designed to help you secure new customers, and keep your existing ones on board.
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And, if you're looking for expertise in internal communications, we can help you out there too. We'll happily translate complex business messages into plain English, so you can inform and engage employees right across your organisation.
We work with clients from from all types of industries, including Awapuni Nurseries - one of New Zealand's leading seedling suppliers. We helped build, and now manage, their website, write regular electronic newsletters and media releases, advise them on social media ....and a whole lot more.
We'd like to work with you too. So, wherever you're based, why not get in touch?


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Weakened by two absentees – Pacific's nine-men battled valiantly against Isis and carried the game to the brink of the final over in a low scoring contest. With useful runs from returning veterans Jonathan Campbell and David Murray – and a miserly spell of bowling from Welshman Jim Davies – Pacific were just unable to make up for their missing members as Isis scraped home with 7 balls to spare.
Pacific 137 All Out (David Murray 34, Jonathan Campbell 30)
Isis 138-6 (Wiblin 45, Jim Davies 11-7-24-2, Mike Alexander 10-0-37-2)
With traffic delaying three people and with two men never destined to arrive at all – returning skipper David Murray had little choice but to bat first despite a damp wicket at Queen's College Oxford. Experienced openers Adrian Duthie and Jonathan Campbell gave Pacific a careful start against some accurate bowling - before Duthie fell for 10 caught and bowled.
Rob Bastin revelled in his promotion up the order and again steady progress was made – until Campbell was bowled for a well-made 30. This prompted a collapse – as Bastin (17) was caught behind aiming an ambitious blow to leg and Jim Davies edged behind for a disappointing 2.
Aussie Peter Czabotar hit back with some trademark blows and skipper Murray showed Pacific what they have been missing this year with some classy shots – but when Murray fell for 34 and Czabotar 15 there was little left to offer from Pacific's depleted line-up.
John Hill went for 5, Allan Roberts for 7 and finally Mike Alexander – in the company of 12-yearold Isis supported Dale Jacobs – went for 8. All out for 137 – which even allowing for the lack of pace in the pitch and outfield was distinctly disappointing.
However veteran seamer Alexander continued his prolific season with an early breakthrough – thanks to a brilliant one-handed slip catch from Allan Roberts. However seasoned all-rounder Jonathan Campbell failed to impress from the other end and was replaced by his less experienced counterpart Jim Davies.
After a couple of overs where the batsmen took liberties swiping across the line – Davies' slower off-cutters and away swingers started to pay dividends as he claimed two consecutive wicket maidens – thanks to an lbw decision and a surprisingly agile diving catch off his own bowling. He continued to probe in six consecutive maiden overs without getting another wicket – but with Alexander also economical the run rate required was beginning to creep up.
Skipper Murray called on the experienced spinner Allan Roberts to get a breakthrough – and he did not disappoint – soon snaring a victim in his wily web. However at this point Wiblin came to the crease to play the match winning innings for Isis – taking on Roberts and clubbing some vital boundaries.
Rob Bastin gave the keepers pads to Peter Czabotar as he replaced Roberts – and he too soon had a wicket thanks to a great delivery that beat the batsman all ends up. With Alexander coming back to snare Wiblin for 45 it was too little to late for Pacific as Isis blasted the winning runs.
"We needed one more batsman to perform – as the wicket was easing all through the day." said skipper Murray later. "The bowlers made a game of it and we fielded well – special credit to Dale for his efforts in the filed – but we never got over being two men short. It cost us the game!" he concluded.
MOM - Rob Bastin - runs, good keeping and a wicket with the ball!
Packing the Kit - Shayne Rees and Leon Yates - for letting the team down and not turning up!
XI: Pete Czabotar, Adrian Duthie, John Hill, Allan Roberts, Mike Alexander, Jonathan Campbell, Rob Bastin, David Murray*, Jim Davies, Dale Jacobs.
Other matches: Marriage Victim, Sat 23 Jul 2011, Queens College, Cancelled Top Order Cashes In as Withdrawals Overcome, Sat 24 Jul 2010, Queens College, Won 131 runs Sleeping With The Pitch, Sat 25 Jul 2009, Queens College, Won 134 runs Isis Too Hot For Pacific, Sat 26 Jul 2008, Queens College, Lost by 8 wickets 7 up so Apsley edge it (for 24 hours), Sat 08 Sep 2007, The Warneford Hospital, Cancelled Last Ball Woe, Sat 28 Jul 2007, Queens College, Lost 5 Wickets Daylight Robbery at Queens, Sat 29 Jul 2006, Queens College, Won 125 Runs Pacific Flood Isis, Sat 30 Jul 2005, Queens College, Won 9 wickets Haill brings Isis to their knees, but they crawl to safety, Sat 31 Jul 2004, Queens College, Drawn Holliday bowls a maiden over, Sat 03 Aug 2002, Queens College, Drawn Not so sunny Oxford, Sat 04 Aug 2001, Queens College, Abandoned Sat 05 Aug 2000, Queens College, Drawn


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Let's have a thread about Spring Breakers, then
I saw this last night. Here are some thoughts:
- So many boobs
- James Franco's number plate said "BALLR" :')
- Absolutely excellent use of music and cinematography
- Really quite crappy script
- Completely unbelievable storyline: Oh, our friend's been shot, and another left a day or so ago, but yeah we're still gonna stay down here with the sleaziest white gangster ever
But I really really fucking enjoyed it.
going to see it tonight
thought you should know
- ma0sm this'd this
i enjoyed it
the bit where franco's sucking off a gun is the best. MADE ME FEEL WELL WEIRD
Oh yeah!
He really goes for it, right?
yeah but
`so many boobs`plasticniki this'd this
I've seen some good reviews for it.
Little White Lies, NY Times.
I've only seen good reviews for it!
Times, Guardian, Sight & Sound were all fans.
3 stars from the Guardian wasn't it?
And the Guardian's review aggregator thing seemed to have a mix of 2 or 3 stars. It's had a lot of hype from the Guardian though, so they're a fan in that sense.
Peter Bradshaw gave it 3 stars
but it's a very positive review. I don't know if the critics even do their own star ratings or if a sub-editor does it.
Hmmm, maybe I read it differently
He call's the director's 'least irritating' film, which is a backhanded compliment if ever there was one.
That was one of your less incomprehensible posts
on those grounds I'm going to this it.zxcvbnm- this'd this
jokes on me
didn't even this you up properly.
joke's on you
you're theoTheoGB this'd this
- Royter-Hatfood and Gorkys_Forever this'd this
This is how seeing posters of those disney girls in bikinis makes me feel.Thisisnotapipe this'd this
ahhh cracked me up
OMG those are all just too funny
this one cracked me up too and I really don't know why
Love that skub comic
the unofficial mascot comic for practically every forum ever
aw i forgot all of these
They're all so good.
If i started posting more I wouldn't be able to stop.
This is his masterpiece:
Maybe my favourite comic strip ever:
i want to see this in the cinema so much and i won't be able to
harmony korine is fucking great. it's strange to really enjoy his films and yet still disagree with a lot of his own film criticism. like i'm aware he doesn't like Fellini because it's not realistic but he likes Michael Mann because it is but then there's such a thin line between surrealism and hyper-realism. basically i know i'll really like this but it'll have left cinemas by the time i can see it and i'm upset.
it was like Michael Mann directing Girls Gone Wild
in the best possible wayalcxxk this'd this
I really loved it
I liked how it was all woozy and Sofia Coppola-like, totally at odds with the fact that it was showing scenes like an X-rated David Guetta video.
None of the girls apart from Faith really had a character, couldn't tell them apart for most of it, and it was a bit weird how Faith and the pink-haired one just dropped out and never came back to the story. But that didn't put me off enjoying it.
Plus, I couldn't see why those girls would be into Alien AT ALL.
When they turned the guns on him, I thought they were going to kill him and were just pretending to have liked him. But it seems they really did? May just be Harmony Korine's wishful thinking...
Alien's speech about all the stuff he owned
Both of the Britney Spears bit
Faith's phonecall with her grandma
The church leader at the beginning
I thought Harmony Korine was a woman until last year. Never seen any of the others of his films (although I've read bits about them) - are they similar to this?
without having seen this...
korine's films are usually realistic in the sense that what he films in real to a very small percentage of people - his best film is probably Gummo which has no plot and just features a lot of scenes of very poor Americans semi-acting (there are actors mixed in with non-actors to blur the lines a lot)
i expect that this film is most like Mr. Lonely which is a sort of romance based around celebrity impersonators that most people hated but i thought was really lovely and i suppose what i'm saying is to watch both of those films and see what you think.malick this'd this
I agree.
Some people have told me that they think "kids" is unrealistic and stupid, others the total opposite. For me the most unrealistic thing was the HIV stuff, but only because I don't really have a proper clue about that stuff, or the background of the plot.
the thing is that for a lot of people that is totally realistic
almost of his own personal favourite films (Badlands, Pixote, Out of the Blue) are a fantasy for the middle classes but horrible, brutal reality for the working classes. he grew up in Nashville and so all of the criticism of his work as racist and exploitative doesn't really ring true to me as what he grew up with is pretty much that as reality.
he deliberately messes with perceptions and openly lies in interviews etc. but really the general tone of his films is very real if only to a few peopleDaddyorChips and malick this'd this
ok, cool!
I shall investigate those. I'm pretty sure some of the extras in this would have been real teenagers on Spring Break actually, those bits seemed authentic.
i mean i can only speak from experience of his previous films but that's almost certainly the case going off his other work.
Glad someone else liked Mr Lonely!
It tails off in the last third but didn't stop me from enjoying it a lot. See it Sophie!mug_mug_mug this'd this
Totally thought they were gonna kill him too.
Britney bit was great. Loved all the guns and nunchucks on the wall. Baseball caps. SHORTS IN EVERY COLOUR.
SCARFACE ON REPEAT!nice_squirrel this'd this
- plasticniki this'd this
To recap from the 'films wot I have seen thread'
I enjoyed it, particularly the first half which is more like a video installation than a movie. I also liked the fact that Franco was enjoying himself so much that he'd occasionally just get the giggles. Liked the Pussy Riot balaclavas and also that most of the audience in Luton got really bored with it and started playing with their phones.
yeah, he was actually laughing during the
*look at all my shit!* bit! Liked that a lot.
- DaddyorChips and 8stepstoperfection this'd this
I watched it was a massive hangover
which was not a good move. Still not sure what I made of it as a whole, it looked incredible and Franco was amazing but the script was so poor that it became frustrating. The Britney bits were exceptional and I thought Selena Gomez was great too. I couldn't understand for the life of me however a) what they all saw in Alien b) why they wouldn't have just gone home!!nice_squirrel this'd this
although I always think
*oh just go home* about On the Road too. They should grow up.
in fairness, two of them do go home
and the other two are clearly sociopaths like him
The cinema in Brighton I watched this in on opening night
all the staff and a lot of the audience were dressed as spring breakers. They were serving spring break style drinks in the bar and afterwards there was a party in the small club downstairs where they played Gucci Mane, P Diddy and Nicki Minaj songs whilst beachballs were flying around.
Gucci Mane was the other gangsta dude, wasn't he?
Could barely make out what he was saying actually. He mumbles.
What is a spring break, Easter holidays?
Easter holidays when American teenagers go and party in Florida
bit like Magaluf/Newquay etc after A-Levels.
all this thread
and no mention of JEFF JARRETT?
I haven't seen it yet BUT
it was the secret film at the glasgow film festival to much hilarious disgust
Sounds like this year's Suckerpunch
Crass, exploitative, incoherent, yet people seem to guiltily enjoy it. Without the WWII samurai robots of course.
gucci mane was the most convincing character in the film
saw this yesterday
pretty good. franco's character was ridiculous and OTT but absolutely brilliant.
selena gomez impressed me too.
also, jeff jarrett :'D
I would usually like this luridly sexy, escapist kind of movie...
.. but not sure if I can take a two-hour long version of the video for Blur - Girls and Boys.
- roastthemonaspit this'd this
- shrewbie this'd this
- DaddyorChips this'd this
James Franco aside, thought it was quite tedious
The cinematography and soundtrack didn't make up for the fact that it had, at most, 15 minutes of storyline. Also, the way the dialogue kept repeating throughout the film got really annoying. Shame, I was really looking forward to it but the best I can say is that it's not as terrible as Julien Donkey-boy.
heh. i enjoyed that.
prolly won't bother with this though.
GOT CK BE, DKNY *sprays aftershave* SMELL ALL NICE AND SHIT
look at my shit
funniest scene in anything so far this year
great film
Saw this yesterday
initially I thought it seemed fairly crass and insubstantial but by the end of the film I actually thought it was quite good.
The whole coming of age storyline has been done repeatedly but not in this particular setting and it was interesting to see a lifestyle that's often glamorized being shown to be empty, largely materialistic and if taken too far potentially life threatening.
Franco's character did make me chuckle though.
didnt think the cinematography was all that special
same fake looking orange and teal boring colour palette thats in 100 other recent films
nah there's frequent use of loads of other colours
pinks and greens and stuff, it looks a lot different to cgi teal/orange stuff
Jeff Gerstmen from Giant Bomb seems to love it
so I probably will as well


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What do we mean when we talk about "a Medium and a Machine?"
By thinking in terms of machines, a project can logically be organized in terms of inputs and outputs. Things like data, interaction and gestures, and digital media are fed into the machine, and a project's forms are generated as its output. This way of working is known as parametric design. It is a dominant theme in contemporary design and the contemporary design process. Parametric design and 3d printing are compatible innovation that were made in each other's image.


text:
Wow! Accident free for 25 years and it's gone down the drain. On Tuesday evening the weather was really bad. We were driving up the street and I hit some black ice. My anti-lock brakes wouldn't release and therefore I went into a skid and couldn't bring the van out of it. We were headed straight for a large utility pole. All I could think was oh, S----!
We hit the pole and I was immediately out of my seat belt and out of the van. It has a lot of damage to the front end, but thank goodness the air bag sensor wasn't hit, so they didn't deploy. I've heard of some pretty serious injuries from air bags.
Hubby didn't get out of the van immediately, so I went back to see if he was okay. He was short of breath and had pain in his left chest area. After the police had investigated, I took him to the hospital but there was an eight hour waiting time, so he made the decision to come home. Wednesday I took him to the doctor, who sent him for x-rays. He has a cracked fifth rib and is in a lot of pain.
I ended up with a lot of aches and pains in neck, shoulders, hands and my back was injured this time. I haven't seen a doctor yet but will the first of the week.
Seems odd that after 25 years, I have two accidents in one month. What are the odds of that ever happening?
Just glad we are walking. It could have been so much worse. There's a silver lining in every cloud if we just look for it. Grandma taught me that lesson well. The van is in the shop with $3100 dollars damage. However, vehicles can be replaced...people can't. We've been truly blessed this month. My guardian angel has been working overtime.


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Picadillo Tacos
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Picadillo Tacos
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- Combine raisins and tequila in a small saucepan. Bring to boiling; remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.
- For filling, cook sausage, beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until meat is brown. Drain off fat. Stir in undrained raisins, undrained tomatoes, green chili peppers, sugar, cinnamon, cumin, and cloves. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until most of the liquid is evaporated.
- Meanwhile, wrap tortillas in foil. Heat in a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes or until warm. Stir pecans into meat mixture.
- To serve, top warm tortillas with lettuce, if desired; top with filling. Fold or roll up. Makes 6 main-dish servings.
From the Test Kitchen
Menu Suggestion:
Make it a meal with jicama sticks, guacamole, and margaritas.
Nutrition Facts (Picadillo Tacos)
- Per serving:
- 479 kcal ,
- 19 g fat
- (5 g sat. fat ,
- 39 mg chol. ,
- 706 mg sodium ,
- 55 g carb. ,
- 2 g fiber ,
- 18 g pro.


text:
All the toys my kids have are really just variations of toys that we had as kids: Legos, Barbies, dolls, a play kitchen with play food, you get the idea.
Finally there is something out there that I never had as a kid: "Tapeffiti"--fancy tape and myriad ways to use it!
Holly got a Tapeffiti fashion designer kit from Santa. It came with 15 dress patterns and 24 little rolls of tape, along with a cutter that holds the tape and cuts it neatly. The kit also came with a dress form and 3 or 4 more dress hangers for holding the dresses after you've finished them.
Holly loves it! She and Emma have made quite a few outfits, and they also got another set of 30 Tapeffiti rolls from their great-grandma!
Holly has figured out how to "construct" her garments after she's "designed" them with the tape. The construction process involves cutting out the garment (you put the tape on one side, then cut the pattern that's shown exactly the same on the other side), then on the reverse side you match up the numbers and tape (with the Tapefetti-side out) with clear tape.
I'm afraid they are going to run out of patterns before they run out of tape or interest, so I plan on making photo-copies of the patterns they haven't yet used up!
Emma got a Tapeffiti wallet kit with tape and has made the wallets and a pencil holder out of a Crystal Lite container.
What are your kids playing with this winter? Any new favorites? Any old favorites?


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HOLLYWOOD — No one is more excited than Cal that a new college football season is at hand.
"I can't stress how happy we are to have last year in the past and to be where we are now," sophomore quarterback Jared Goff said Wednesday at Pac-12 media day. "We can see the growth — mentally, physically. It's a different team. It's not even remotely the same team as last year."
Coming off a 1-11 season, the Bears open Aug. 30 at Northwestern. Coach Sonny Dykes said fans will have no trouble seeing the difference in his squad.
"We were so bad last year, I think the improvement's going to be pretty obvious," Dykes said. "We weren't very competitive last year in a lot of games. That's going to be the biggest difference, competing in games, giving ourselves an opportunity to win.
"What happened so often last year is midway through the first quarter you'd look up and we were down by 21 points. I think it's going to be obvious to everybody — our fans, our opponents — that we're going to be a much-improved football team."
The Bears were winless against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and their defense allowed nearly 46 points per game.
Goff, who passed for a school-record 3,508 yards as a freshman, said the 2013 fiasco was an offseason motivator, but that players are no longer dwlling on the past.
"It's behind us. We're no longer thinking about last season," he said. "We're excited to move forward, make a new brand for ourselves."
Certainly Dykes, in his second season, would like to do that. He arrived at Berkeley last fall after building a repuation as a top offensive coach at Louisiana Tech, but the success didn't immediately translate to the Pac-12.
"In our profession, you are kind of what your record says you are. You from being pretty smart to being pretty dumb overnight," Dykes said. "It's a tough thing to live with. It's a hard thing for a coach to go through.
"We took a lot out of it, learned from it. But you've got to put it behind you and move on. I think our players have probably done that in some ways than our coaching staff has."


text:
There is something almost disturbingly organic about the Mvtikka Fireplace. It has a fluidity to its design that makes it appear as though it were an open wound in the wall that is gushing fire in place of blood. Yet the clean and contemporary (nay futuristic) quality about the Mvtikka Fireplace makes it much more inviting than that description sounds. In fact, it is downright chic and sculptural.
Designed by Nuvist, the Mvtikka Fireplace is inspired by the flames that it contains. Compatible with both classic and electric outputs, the Mvtikka Fireplace is great for many homes, but modern ones in particular. In a way, it becomes a decorative art piece in and of itself, which enhances the space in both a visual and physical way.
Futuristically Fluid Fireplaces
More Stats +/-
Sleek Sci-Fi Fireplaces
Old Appliance Fire Pits
Congreenient Contemporary Hearths
Fireplace Tables
Futuristic Sculptural Campfires


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Submitted by CdMScott on
My friend Dan from work bought me this as my Secret Santa present, and seeing as Dan had made the excellent recommendations of Weird Science and No Such Thing, among others, I went straight home and watched it. Once more, Dan proved to be right on the money, in this case knowing that I would be way into this film's mixture of a dystopian future suffused with a lot of strange an unnerving sexual deviancy.
We open with this guy Sam coming home to his wife, who has prepared his meal in this kitchen of the future. She is in the same mold as Dorothy Stratten in Galaxina. She tells him some factoid, but when he asks her a question that she doesn't know, she gets all depressed and quickly turns to seduction to gloss over her perceived defect. They start to make it on the floor while the dishwasher's suds are spilling out, and are getting all into it when she suddenly shorts out and dies: she's a robot. It's too bad that this is all known up front, because it would have been quite a shock if this happened and you had no idea it was coming.
So Sam goes to this Michael Keaton-type mechanic, where we learn that Sam's wife was a Cherry 2000, an extremely rare and out-of-print model. The mechanic says that even though they're all the same, "each of these honeys has her own special magic." He then shows Sam some other available models in this kind of showroom. First we catch a glimpse of Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet and also the robot from The Day the Earth Stood Still, before moving on to the Bambi 14, who is seen on the floor in a schoolgirl outfit [below], and it's obvious that the "14" in her name refers to the age she is supposed to be. But Sam isn't satisfied and really wants his Cherry back. They take her memory chip, which looks like a thumbnail-sized CD, and contains her complete personality, ready to be dropped into another model, should he be able to find one.
The next day Sam goes to work, which is shown as a series of ramps with constantly-moving lines of people pushing grocery carts loaded with broken electronic equipment. There's all this stuff about conservation and repairing electronics instead of throwing them out, and every wall of the building says "Save." Sam is joined by these two middle-aged "players" who harangue him to join them at drinks after work. Sam parks himself in front of a series of extension cords and says "No, I've gotta stay here and sort out this extension cord situation." His friends insist that he "has to try REAL WOMEN," but Sam only wants his cherry back. Finally he relents and agrees to join them.
They go to this nightclub of the future—and surely you know that nightclubs of the future are ALWAYS welcome—that has a door that looks uncannily like looking straight up a woman's crotch, with the two red doors opening in a way that suggests that they are walking into her labia. Inside there are couples negotiating sex with the help of lawyers, a featured one of whom is played by Laurence Fishburne. We see one couple contract for an evening with a possible morning interlude, which the woman balks at, saying the situation sounds a little "sticky." Then Sam is approached by this woman who shows him a tape of herself having sex, then expects him to show her one. This is how they negotiate. She is really pissed and asks him "then why are you here?" when he says he doesn't have one. He goes home and plays Cherry's voice while laying in bed with her dead robot body.
So Sam goes back to the mechanic and asks if there's any way to get a Cherry 2000. The guy tells him that he has to hire a tracker and go out into the desert to the "robot graveyard" and maybe he can find one there, pop her personality chip in and he'll be all set. It is best for you not to ask why there is a "robot graveyard," why they aren't recycled like everything else, why this graveyard is so heavily guarded, and what reason anyone would have to expect that this robot would work—I mean, it's been tossed out, right? We are also politely refraining from asking why they stopped making Cherrys if they're so all-round fabulous and so superior to anything manufactured then. Please keep your mind on the psychosexual issues and do not dwell on plausibilities. The producers wish to thank you in advance for your compliance.
Now, all along there has very smartly been a LOT of sexual content in the background reminding us of what this story's really about, especially the LARGE amount of vaginal shapes littering many of the sets, and weird one-liners that make you think someone MUST be fucking with you, such as this one: "There's a tracker bar called the GLORY HOLE where you'll find a JOHNSON." Is it just me? Is it just my dirty mind? Or is the screenwriter fucking with us? Whichever it is, I wouldn't say no to a Johnson right now myself.
So he drives off in his sleek tripod car to this town which is apparently a sleazoid dive where people go for lots of hot robot sex, and checks into this hotel. Please note the muscular cowboy sex robot waiting in the lobby, which is sort of nice, that the idea of this world is inclusive of women and men who want male robots. There's a few more male robots around, all sort of gay-type masculine stereotypes. One of the nice side effects of this movie is that you can never be sure who's a robot and who isn't. So Sam goes to the office of "E. Johnson," only to discover that not only is she a woman, she's Melanie Griffith! And not only is she Melanie Griffith, but she's Melanie Griffith with bright RED hair, and a general fondness for all things red. We will leave the discussion of this redness and him seeking the "cherry" until later. She is wearing a sweatshirt that says "Dignity" [is she a lesbian Catholic?]. He walks away from her because she's a woman, but she—get this—kicks a desk chair toward him, which hits the back of his legs, causing him to sit down [as well as exclaim "What the!"], after which she LASSOS him, then pulls him toward her. It's just the kind of thing you do a hundred times a day. But he disses her [after which she tries her best to look tough while swilling a slug of Jack] and goes to the Glory Hole [right across the street], where he orders "rum and a cruller." There is this whole VERY odd scene in which everyone laughs at him, which builds into a big biker brawl, and he runs out and Melanie is waiting there, and they take off to go into the dreaded Zone 7.
So they drive and they banter and they bond, and later, when Melanie stops to sleep, she hears him playing a tape of himself having sex with Cherry [sounds pretty boring]. We receive some information that this guy Lester controls Zone 7. We then have this QUITE odd action sequence which relates to them getting across this river canyon. The top of the car is stuck with one of those giant magnet things, and it hoists them way up in the air while guys on the surrounding bluffs shoot rocket launchers at them, and they shoot back with their own rocket launchers. Implausible, sure, but a rocket launcher shootout—come on, who can quibble? So then Melanie shoots the guy running the crane, and he dies. Then there's this AMAZING stunt which I think they pretty much just DID [i.e. no digital trickery] in which the magnet drops the car, but Melanie has attached a wire to it, so it jerks around while her stand-in is holding on, over the Grand Canyon. Then the dead operator's corpse just HAPPENS to shift in such a way that swings the car around and gingerly sets it down this huge concrete tunnel in the Earth. Melanie says she's done this several times before—and every time the dead operator's corpse just happens to shift in exactly the same way? Pretty remarkable. Nevertheless, Plausibility aside, it is a cool and different action scene.
So they get out of the car and slide down the tunnel—it's odd, but we like odd—and make it to this hideout where they meet six-finger Jake or some shit. They have this whole discussion about fucked up Sam is to be in love with a robot. He liked Cherry above all the others because she was "romantic," which causes Melanie to get up and shout "we are talking about a robot here, right?" This conversation is the big switch in Sam, as after this he starts falling in love with Melanie, especially during a scene where he's watching her as she sleeps to a horrible wailing guitar soundtrack.
Things go on, and things start getting very conventional. This is a prime example of the First Two-Thirds principal, as ALL the interesting content of this movie, with all the stuff about sexual fantasy vs. reality, fake but perfect women vs. real women with flaws [like that Raggedy Ann hair], the sexualization of our culture, not to mention the whole extension-cord situation, all gets dropped as we head into showdown and explosions and guns and stuff. There is a moment when Sam is making out with Melanie and laying atop her, which I think is meant to echo back to the moment Cherry died, meaning that now Melanie has fully BECOME the real Cherry 2000. This is what I think the red hair and all the other Melanie-red is about: she's the REAL Cherry.
Nevertheless, serious, drastic downturn. Still very much worth watching for the fascinating content of the first two-thirds, and the last third definitely won't kill you. David Andrews is semi-charmning as Sam, and Melanie, well, is Melanie. To me she's like nails on a chalkboard, but since this is an outlandish movie and she's an outlandish character, it works much better than if she were trying to be serious. Plus, there are really great little details, like the way [actually moving] when Cherry gets all bummed out that she doesn't know something, and immediately falls back on her sexuality, and the male hustler standing around, stuff like that. If you like cheesy sci-fi and get into a lot of highly-charged sexual content, do it. DO IT!
Yes, especially if you're into sci-fi examinations of current sexuality, although the last third does take a nosedive into the conventional.
TANK GIRL also takes place in a dystopian future and also features a LOT of fucked-up sexual content.