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Winning in court doesn't happen by accident. It takes careful planning. If you're willing to put in the time to prepare your case, you'll increase your chances of success. In this article, you'll learn tips that will help you prepare for your day in small claims court.
Researching the Law
You likely know that you're expected to prove your case by presenting evidence to the court. But what is it that you'll need to prove? You can find out by locating the law that applies to your case. The law will set forth the factors, called "elements," that you'll have to prove with evidence.
Suppose, for instance, that you paid to go on a group excursion that the organizer canceled due to a lack of interest. The organizer failed to return your money, and you'd like it back. Your case is likely a breach of contract case. In other words, the organizer breached (broke) the contract by failing to provide a trip in exchange for a fee.
You'll need to prove the following in a breach of contract case:
- You entered into a contract with another person or business.
- The individual or business failed to live up to the terms of the contract.
- As a result, you suffered a loss.
To win, you'll need to present evidence of each of the elements (more below).
Other types of cases that you might bring in small claims include a personal injury case (someone physically harmed you), a property damage case, or a different kind of contract case (perhaps against a contractor who failed to perform work correctly). In most situations, you'll want to prove that the person you're suing failed to do something that they were supposed to do and that you lost money (were damaged) as a result.
(Pursuing a case won't make sense unless the person you're suing can pay a judgment. Find out more by reading What It Means to Be Judgment Proof: Your Creditors Can't Collect From You.)
Gathering Your Evidence
Once you know what you must prove under the law, you'll gather needed evidence. For instance, in the canceled trip scenario above, you'd need to establish the existence of a contract. A signed contract would be the best evidence, but a copy of a flyer that you responded to might work, as well. Additionally, you'd have to show that you paid for the trip, and in that regard, a receipt or canceled check should do the trick.
Here are other types of evidence that you might be able to use to meet your evidentiary burden:
- witnesses
- photographs
- letters
- medical reports and bills
- business documents
- receipts, and
- experts.
Most of the evidence types listed above are self-explanatory. However, you might not know when you'd need to present expert testimony. In some cases, proving that a certain action caused your harm can be difficult. In that case, you'll need the expertise of someone in a particular field.
For instance, suppose that you started experiencing headaches after getting a massage. Because headaches can be caused by many things, you won't be able to count on the court attributing the headaches to a bad massage based on your testimony alone (the court probably won't do so). You'll have a better chance of winning if you bring in an expert in the field, such as a doctor, who can review your medical records and render a professional opinion that links the massage to the headaches.
The same might hold true if you experience mechanical trouble after taking your car to the repair shop. The court might require an expert to testify that it's likely that the repair shop caused your car's particular problem.
Finding the Correct Person or Business to Sue
When it comes to lawsuits, you've got to get the target right. You have to sue the correct person or business. If you're suing an individual, be sure to spell the name properly. If a company caused your harm, you'll need to know the type of business entity. For instance, the business might be one of the following:
- a sole proprietor with a dba ("doing business as") name
- a partnership
- a limited liability company, or
- a corporation.
Take the time that you need to get the name right. Suing the wrong person can be a quick way to lose a small claims case.
Sending Out a Demand Letter
It's a good practice—and often required—to send a letter to the defendant (the person or business that you're suing) asking or "demanding" the payment of your losses. You'll want to provide proof of your damage (loss) and give the defendant a deadline to respond.
Drafting and Serving the Complaint
Once you've gathered all your information together (and sent out your demand letter), you'll be ready to put together the legal document that starts the lawsuit: the complaint. How you do this will depend on where you live. Some courts require you to fill out the complaint online. Others might have forms that you can complete and file with the clerk of the court.
After completing the documents, you'll need to let the defendant know about the case by serving the lawsuit. In most cases, you'll have to "personally serve" the defendant, which means that someone over the age of 18 who is not part of the suit (not you) must personally deliver the documents to the defendant. After doing so, the "process server" will complete and file a document with the court that affirms that the service took place.
You must give the defendant enough time to prepare for the trial. How far in advance of the trial you must serve the defendant will depend on the laws of your state.
Preparing for Your Trial Date
Participating in a court trial can be nerve-wracking so you'll want to plan accordingly. Here are a few suggestions:
- Put together a brief introduction explaining your case.
- Write out witness questions to make sure that your evidence comes in.
- Assemble your evidence so that it's easy to access in court.
- Make ample copies of all the documents you plan to present to the court because you'll need to give a set to everyone involved, including the defendant, the judge, and the court clerk.
- Prepare a closing argument that states why you should win.
Most local courts have websites with lots of useful information. For instance, the court might have rules that prohibit children in the courtroom or the court might provide daycare facilities. Also, it's a good idea to plan for other issues, such as commute time and parking.
If you can, observe a proceeding beforehand. You'll get a good feel for what to expect; how to handle your evidence and question witnesses; and even what you should wear (clean and neat business casual attire is a good bet).
(If you'd like to know what the defendant's preparation might entail, read Defending a Small Claims Case.)
The Day of Trial
When you arrive at the courtroom, you'll want to check the court's docket—the listing of the day's cases—to find where your matter falls (the court usually sets multiple suits at the same time). You'll wait in the audience until the bailiff or court clerk gives instructions.
Be prepared to go into the hallway to try to settle your case with the opposing party. Most courts will require you to attempt to come to a resolution before hearing the matter. If the action doesn't resolve, you'll present your case to the court.
(If you win, you'll want to learn about small claims judgments. Start by reading Collecting on Small Claims Judgments. Learn more by considering the defendant's perspective in Small Claims Court: Paying a Judgment.)
Questions for Your Attorney
- Can you help me prepare my small claims case?
- Does it appear that I'll need an expert witness?
- If I lose, can you file an appeal on my behalf?


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|Written by
|Tony Geiss
"Every Day Can't Be Christmas" is a song about how Christmas wouldn't be as special if it was every day. It was sung twice in the 1996 Sesame Street special Elmo Saves Christmas, first by Santa Claus in an attempt to convince Elmo that every day can't be Christmas, and later by Elmo (in a duet with Lightning) after he becomes convinced that Christmas should only be one day a year.
Elmo's version of the song was included in A Sesame Street Christmas Carol.

subset: commoncrawl


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Linda Falkenstein
One of the pesticide warning signs at O'Keeffe Elementary and Marquette Middle School on Madison's near-east side.
Bert Zipperer, the former Madison alderperson and school district employee, was walking his dog yesterday afternoon when he was taken aback by something he saw: Warning signs that proclaimed, "PESTICIDE APPLICATION: PLEASE KEEP OFF."
The signs were on the grounds of O'Keeffe Elementary and Marquette Middle school on Madison's near-east side. Written on the signs in red magic marker was the identity of the sprayer: "MMSD," for Madison Metropolitan School District. It warned people to keep off until 6-21, this coming Sunday.
Zipperer was surprised because he remembers that, sometime between 1989 and 1991, when he was on the Madison Common Council, school board member Mary Kay Baum ushered through a resolution that directed the school district not to use pesticides on school facilities except as a last resort.
"If the school district is now putting pesticides on playgrounds...," says Zipperer, not needing to complete his sentence. He says he met a woman at the school Friday morning who reported having chemical sensitivity.
Doug Pearson, MMSD's director of building services, seeks to draw a critical distinction: "Don't confuse pesticides with herbicides." According to Pearson, three school district employees applied herbicides, not pesticides, at upwards of a dozen schools earlier this week.
The applications were to sidewalks and fence lines, where weeds were causing problems. He said it was a once-yearly application that was approved a couple of months ago by the Madison school board, and it was done at a time when the district knew there would be fewer people around.
Pearson says the district does not use pesticides at all except for limited applications on athletic fields.
Of course, that doesn't explain why the signs at O'Keeffe/Marquette say "PESTICIDE APPLICATION." Pearson, apprised of this, reports that the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection includes herbicides in its classification of pesticides.
So the sign that's used refers to pesticides, even though the chemicals applied were herbicides.
Thursday night, as these photos were being taken, the signs caused alarm. A woman was shouting at children and adults who were playing on the field, pointing to the signs. The woman kept saying. "Can you believe they've done this?!"


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For further information, please read the joint Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Massey University press release.
See the Quinn's Post Trench Experience!
Live moment to moment, as the ANZAC troops did in the trenches at Gallipoli, only a bomb's throw away from the Turks. In this unique re-creation of Quinn's Post, encounter the noise, the explosions, the stench, the confined environment those men had to deal with during the ferocious struggle between opposing forces. At times confronting, this will be an experience like no other!
The Trench Experience may be booked as a stand-alone option, however, our combo deal is the best way to experience The Great War Exhibition and Quinn's Post Trench Experience. Our combo includes admission, a 45-minute guided tour from one of our knowledgeable guides and the 30-minute sensory experience within The Trench.
See Sir Peter Jackson's interview on TV3, or the articles and videos at Stuff, and NZ Herald or read about the making of the Trench.
To ensure you have the best experience, Trench groups are limited to six to eight people per session. Sessions run approximately every ten minutes. The Quinn's Post Trench sensory experience may not be suitable for all visitors.
The Great War Exhibition, created by Sir Peter Jackson, commemorates the role played by New Zealand in the First World War.
Master film-maker, Sir Peter Jackson, with the support of ANZ, has recreated the global story of the First World War at The Great War Exhibition. A stunning array of movie-like sets depict the war; scene by scene; year by year. From the massive 10-tonne tank and 11-tonne gun to the 5,000 tiny hand-painted figurines which re-enact the battle of Chunuk Bair, the artefacts are rare and thought provoking.
But perhaps it is the hundreds of photographs from the era, which have been painstakingly colourised, that really melt away the last 100 years.
This is truly a world-class exhibition, acclaimed by international visitors and New Zealanders alike. It shows the hardship and bravery of those who lived through this pivotal time in history – the horrors of war as well as the bravery and spirit which endured.
Housed within the beautiful Pukeahu National War Memorial Park it is a must-see.
Visit to see the global story of the First World War in vivid, poignant colour. The Great War Exhibition is open every day except Christmas Day.Find out more
See history being brought to life in The Great War Exhibition. Catering for school visits and teachers' professional development, the Education Team will shine a light on what it is to be a New Zealander.Find out more
What's on
The Great War Exhibition and Puekahu National War Memorial Park host a range of exhibits and events throughout the year. See what's coming up in the near future.Find out more
A lesson in history
"Having been to Gallipoli, ANZAC Cove etc. this brought back memories of being there. It showed the real hardships the soldiers had to put up with, both there and in Europe. Highly recommended."
Fascinating experience
"We were "blown away" by the intricately detailed exhibits which were totally lifelike. Our Guide was on top of her game and provided a whimsical commentary that added to the experience."
A wonderful history lesson
"Fabulous work by Peter Jackson, as expected, and amazing exhibits that were succinctly explained and often based on genuine artifacts. Admission is now $15 per adult but worth every cent!"


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What happens when you take Stoli premium vodka, a few generous lashings of feel-good summertime vibes, and blend it together with our absolute cocktail making mastery?
A brand new cocktail range that's perfect for kickstarting a summer you can get totally lost in.
To introduce it in style, here's the recipe to our indulgently refreshing Dulce & Banana cocktail – the perfect drink to commence an absolutely glamorous summer.
Boston tin
50ml Stoli
25ml creme de banane
12.5ml Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
100ml Half & half
25ml dulce de leche caramel sauce
Squirty cream
100s & 1000s
One ice cream cone
A stripy straw
Grab your boston tin. Add all of the ingredients to the boston tin. Fill it up with cubed ice. Give it a good, hard shake. Add more cubed ice until there's enough for the garnish to sit comfortably on top of. Add the squirty cream and 100s & 1000s, followed by an upside-down ice cream cone and a stripy straw.
Believe us – this cocktail is going to absolutely make your summer.
Although, we'd recommend you pay us a visit and we'll mix it up for you with a helping of serious expertise.
Plus, you can try out the rest of the Lost Summer range for a proper head-start on summer.
Check out a bunch of our other awesome recipes below:
Cocktail Recipes: How to make a Sangria Sunset
Cocktail Recipes: How to make a Passion Fruit & Strawberry Mojito


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April 11, 2012
Vintage Singer - o buddy! :)
I kind of love the fact that the decals are worn and it definitely looks like it has had a lot of use - it was well-loved and I am happy to give it a home for retirement :)
I did send some pictures and questions to a guy that has a blog about repairing vintage Singers so who knows - maybe she can come out of retirement yet! If not tho, she will be loved by me just as much as if she was functional.
Do you have a vintage Singer from family or that you've found somewhere? I think they are so cool :)
7 comments:
- stephmabry said...
My husband's grandmother has not one but FOUR really old Singers. I'm fairly sure they all work, either because they worked hen she acquired them or because she repaired them. She says that she buys them whenever she sees one for sale in good shape and a good price! I'm the only me in the family interested in sewing so I'm pretty sure they'll end up at our house one day. Such a cool find!
- April 11, 2012 at 10:28 AM
- Diane Bohn said...
That is so sweet! And what a great deal! :) Love it! I hope you can get it to work! How awesome would that be?!
- April 11, 2012 at 9:12 PM
- Marianne, aka Ranger Anna said...
This is the machine I sewed on at home. To adjust the stitch length you turn a knob on the front and say to yourself "The longer she stands, she shorter she grows." No reverse, you just tugged the fabric to give it a little back stitch. I still have the machine, but in college I had to put a new foot control on it. The original (I found a similar one in an antique shop) was heavy metal and shape like a foot. Very cool.
Enjoy your machine!
- April 11, 2012 at 10:43 PM
- Kendra from missknittas studio said...
I only sew on vintage Singers :) They have a great straight stitch, and are so easy to maintain on your own. I hope you're able to find someone nearby who can help restore yours, or there are also lots of resources out there to do it yourself! Enjoy!
- April 12, 2012 at 8:50 AM
- Deborah said...
I have my grandmother's treadle machine that she bought new in 1923. It is now retired in my living room although my uncle had it refurbished and it works like new.
- April 13, 2012 at 12:06 PM
- Mary said...
Love your machine!
I have several vintage Singers and one has a very cool story. I was looking for a treadle. My soon to be DIL knew this. She went to her dad and asked for her grandmother's treadle to give to me. It is a 1910 Singer 9W. It is Singer's firt rotary hook bobbin. They simply rebadged the Wheeler and Wilson 9 as their own when they bought them.
This past Christmas I made my DIL part of her Christmas on her grandmother's treadle. I call her Agnes after my DIL's grandmother.
I have some posts about her and other machines on my blog. Please check us out!
- April 14, 2012 at 5:41 PM
- Dora, the Quilter said...
She came with a "tail" so she wasn't really, really old--just old.
Yes, she can be cleaned up. And, she can be treadled--and, for me,at least, the treadled machines are a lot more fun than the ones with tails. I hope you enjoy her!
- April 23, 2012 at 10:00 PM


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Is it worth buying a new Chinese crossover and who needs it?
Is it worth buying a new Chinese crossover and who needs it?
The first experience of the release of the "Chinese" on the Russian market completely spoiled the reputation of the automobile industry from under heaven. About ten years ago these machines attracted buyers with bright appearance and attractive price, but they were very disappointed with the quality afterwards.
Again, getting the loyalty of the Russian consumer will not be easy. The fact that Chinese cars a priori with shortcomings – a stereotype, already firmly entrenched in the minds of motorists. Whether it is justified or not now, we found out with the updated Chery Tiggo 5.
What can motivate you to choose a Chinese car? The main argument: this is the most capacious crossover in the price category up to a million: length – 4506 mm, width – 1841 mm, height – 1740 mm, wheelbase – 2610 mm. It is much larger than even the Renault Duster. If you look at competitors in terms of size, it will be machines like Kia Sportage, which even in the base version are more expensive than the top Tiggo. "A lot of car" for little money – this is a serious argument in favor of the "Chinese". The price starts from 972 900 rubles, and for the maximum complete set it is necessary to give 1 169 900 rubles.
First meeting:
At the first "fitting" the crossover makes a pleasant impression – it's convenient at the wheel, even the lack of steering wheel adjustment is not confusing. Problems with landing can occur only with a very high driver.
The interior is made of not the most expensive materials, but the salon is qualitatively assembled and looks dignified. In the decoration there are eco-leather and "piano" varnish. But the main thing is that no "crickets" or a corrosive chemical smell characteristic of many Chinese cars have been identified.
A new multimedia system with a large touchscreen, which integrates with the smartphone through the Cloudrive system, rushes into the eyes. It does not just translate some of the functions of the smartphone into car multimedia, but completely displays the gadget's screen on the car display. Everything is accessible, from instant messengers to the Internet.
But integration is not easy. First, only Android is suitable. Secondly, for devices to communicate, you need to find in your smartphone a hidden tab "only for developers" and enable debugging via USB. In my case, it is activated according to the scheme: settings – about the phone – the assembly number. The last one – 5 clicks in a row, and a new tab appears in the settings menu. In addition, to work, you need to connect devices via Bluetooth.
Just in case, the test car was already attached to the already connected Lenovo smartphone. To use the system was even those who have not connected their phone. Interestingly, and buyers who can not, connected gadgets get as a gift?
However, the problems are only one-time with the connection, then everything works like a clock. Responses are not the fastest, but there were no obvious suspensions. We open the usual navigator, we "hammer" the necessary point and it is possible to go.
And how is it in motion?
Under the hood – non-alternative two-liter engine Acteco, known for many Chinese cars. The engine is combined with a variator, as a result the machine types "hundred" in 15 seconds. So overtaking on the road has to be planned in advance, cruising 130-140 crossover holds without problems, but the dynamics leave much to be desired.
By the way, the engine sounds very loud and very specific for the gasoline unit – one day it was necessary to stop the tanker, rushing to splash in the diesel fuel tank. Meanwhile, in China, the Chery Tiggo 5 engine line has a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 152 horsepower, Russian buyers were deprived of this version.
Soundproofing has become significantly better with respect to the pre-style version. Everywhere, except the engine compartment. Whether it is possible to put a plus for this revision is hard to say. The roar of the engine in the absence of other extraneous sounds becomes even more intrusive. At high speeds, the engine drowns even the music, which, by the way, sounds from the speakers of Pioneer pretty well for their class.
But the suspension is not upset. She did not cause any questions in the pre-styling version, but if the characteristic used to be "normal", now it can be called good without wryly. The car has become stiffer, just enough so that without loss in comfort, improved handling. At high speeds on the road the car is still a little "floating", but this is a side effect of soft high-profile winter tires. On the shattered roads near Moscow towns the crossover feels fine. Punch the suspension, jumping on a suburban bumpy, did not work even once.
If we weigh all the pros and cons, there are more advantages, and they are more significant. So why on our roads do not have a lot of inexpensive and very badly made Chinese crossovers? An important factor that does not allow Tiggo 5 to become a full-fledged player on the market is the lack of an all-wheel drive. Although during the test, I managed to pass both the icy undercoat with the track and the snow slope. The ground clearance of 190 millimeters allows us to snap rather rashly, but it's worth stopping – you need a cable and technique more serious.
Do not feel too confident in this crossover on the streets of the capital among powerful expensive cars. The ideal element for Chery Tiggo 5 is the provincial Russian cities with broken roads, where it will look advantageous against the backdrop of dominance of the domestic car industry and comfortably carry the owner, as well as his big family. To be afraid of the Chinese origin of the machine in the modern world is definitely not worth it. For the last ten years, cars from China have changed a little more than completely.
Row, 4 cylinders,
1971 cm³
Power, l. from. / rev / min.
136 hp at
5750 rpm
Torque, Nm / rev / min.
182 N ∙ m at
4500 rpm
5 stup.
Continuously CVT
Acceleration of 0-100 km / h.
12.4 seconds
15 seconds
Maximum speed, km / h
Drive unit


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Anaarkali of Aaraah (2017)
(Released: Mar 24, 2017)
Anaarkali (Swara Bhasker) is an erotic singer from Aarah, a small town in Bihar. She and her orchestra perform at parties on songs which are replete with double meaning. Their actions and dance too high on sexual innuendos. Considered to be a local treasure, Anarkali is nearly a celebrity thanks to her popular performances.
She is successfully making her business through these performances, until one unfortunate day when she gets molested by a powerful, lecherous VC (Sanjay Mishra) of town on stage during her performance.
Disgusted by his act, Anaarkali slaps him on stage and later urges on filing an FIR against him on grounds of molestation.
Due to her profession, she is misjudged by many and is framed by police as a prostitute to contain her from bringing forth, the VC's misconduct.
What follows is her struggle against a misogynistic world that believes has no shame in objectifying women as mere objects of desire


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Vaclav Havel's genius was to understand that totalitarianism persisted only by coercing its victims into becoming complicit in a delusion. His preferred term for this was to "live within the lie," a phenomenon he explained in his landmark 1978 essay, "The Power of the Powerless," which Anne Applebaum rightly suggests has since become required reading for peaceful revolutionists everywhere. Yet all too many of the eulogies for this dissident playwright have neglected to explain how his greatest disquisition came to be written.
Havel's political philosophy was intertwined with his talents as a storyteller, invoking parables to explain his theories of life under "post-totalitarianism." For example, the greengrocer who hangs a sign in the window of his shop that reads: "Workers of the world, unite!" The greengrocer likely hasn't reflected on meaning of that slogan or compared its triumphalism to the bathetic life around him; he hangs the sign out of self-preservation, in order to keep his job and stay on the right side of the secret policeman and the commissar. Through such acts of insincerity, Havel argued, the greengrocer forfeits not only his reason but his very right to reason. He has chosen to inhabit the "world of appearances, a mere ritual, a formalized language deprived of semantic contact with reality and transformed into a system of ritual signs that replace reality with pseudo-reality." The system endures without much physical coercion by making conscripts of the ruler and the ruled alike: the greengrocer has little power but is as unfree as the prime minister who has greater power: "The real accomplice in this involvement, therefore, is not another person, but the system itself."
But what would happen if one day the greengrocer decided to quarrel with the Marxist slogan? What if he didn't hang that sign in his window but instead criticized the slogan or suggested that circumstances around him did not in fact reflect the unity of the workers of the world? What if he called a bureaucratic government exactly that instead of a "people's government," or a military occupation exactly that instead of "fraternal assistance"? The "world of appearances" would become the world of brute reality, and the greengrocer would find himself "living within the truth." He wouldn't need a platform or manifesto to do this; the simple act of refusing to repeat the lies of the regime would make him a dissident. The powerless would become empowered.
This revelation was part of the logic underpinning the Charter 77 movement, of which Havel was a coauthor and guiding force. Charter 77 came to international attention when it accused the arch-Stalinist regime of Gustav Husak of failing to live up to the Helsinki Agreement by trying and imprisoning a handful of rock musicians for performing in an "illegal" concert.
The 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the rise of Husak, Moscow's satrap of "normalization," had vitiated the promise of the Prague Spring, the ill-fated attempt to construct "socialism with a human face" led by reformist Communist leader Alexander Dubcek. The Prague Spring inspired some of the best minds of the country to engage in the question of political alternatives. As a reform communist, Milan Kundera, the future postmodern pessimist behind The Unbearable Lightness of Being, outlined his unbearably optimistic view in an essay called "Czech Destiny," arguing that "[t]he new politics survived this terrible conflict ... It retreated, yes, but it did not disintegrate, it did not collapse." "Czech Destiny" was an essay with which Havel strongly disagreed.
Another dramatist, Sir Tom Stoppard, wonderfully captured the resulting argument between these two Eastern European artists in his underrated 2006 play Rock 'n' Roll. Stoppard's protagonist is Jan, a stand-in for Kundera. Jan returns to post-1968 Prague after studying Marxism at Cambridge and pretending to believe in it as a reluctant informant tasked with monitoring the activities of a famous Red don loosely modeled on Eric Hobsbawm: "For once this country found the best in itself. We've been done over by big powerful nations for hundreds of years but this time we refused our destiny." Jan is speaking to his friend Ferdinand, a Czech native and self-styled political dissident whom Stoppard named after the eponymous alter ego in Havel's Vanek trilogy of plays (Audience, Private View, and Protest). Ferdinand is also Stoppard's surrogate for Havel: "It's not destiny, you moron," he answers to Jan's misguided hopefulness, "It's the neighbors worrying about their slaves revolting if we get away with it." Like Kundera, Jan is still living within the lie.
And yet, as Havel later wrote in "The Power of the Powerless," the very idea of Communist "reform" was itself a sign of the decrepitude of the whole post-totalitarian edifice. Havel being Havel, he couched this critique in the language of the theater:
The Prague Spring is usually understood as a clash between two groups on the level of real power: those who wanted to maintain the system as it was and those who wanted to reform it. It is frequently forgotten, however, that this encounter was merely the final act and the inevitable consequence of a long drama originally played out chiefly in the theatre of the spirit and the conscience of society. And that somewhere at the beginning of this drama, there were individuals who were willing to live within the truth, even when things were at their worst. These people had no access to real power, nor did they aspire to it.
Who were these people? Were they intellectuals like Havel and Kundera, with their samizdat essays and earnest petitions, or were they a new species of greengrocer—apolitical longhairs who took their cues from Lou Reed and Mick Jagger? What the Chartists aspired to was simply getting The Plastic People of the Universe, an underground psychedelic rock band named after a Frank Zappa lyric, out of jail. It was a small act of defiance with big implications. Havel continues:
Their trial was not a confrontation of two differing political forces or conceptions, but two differing conceptions of life. On the one hand, there was the sterile Puritanism of the post-totalitarian establishment and, on the other hand, unknown young people who wanted no more than to be able to live within the truth, to play the music they enjoyed, to sing songs that were relevant to their lives, and to live freely in dignity and partnership.
This observation grew out of Havel's own conversion experience in 1976. At first, he didn't hold the Plastics in high regard (too vulgar and silly), and the people who loved the Plastics thought that Havel and his highbrow ilk were stuffed-shirts. It was only after he listened to a recording of the Plastics that Havel understood the point of them: "There was a strange magic in the music, and a kind of inner warning. Here was something serious and genuine … Suddenly I realized that, regardless of how many vulgar words these people used or how long their hair was, truth was on their side."
Truth was on their side. Stoppard puts this realization magnificently in Rock 'n' Roll, this time, in a dialectical plot twist, making Jan the new mouthpiece for Havel. Jan is describing the Plastics' Warholian artistic director, Ivan Jirous, who has just been arrested with the band—in life, this occurred just before the first Plastics performance Havel was due to attend. Ferdinand demands to know who wields the greater moral authority—the eggheads or the burnouts? Jan answers that the burnouts do, explaining that the reason Ferdinand is free but Jirous is in jail is
because the policeman insulted him. About his hair. Jirous doesn't cut his hair. It makes the policeman angry, so he starts something and it ends with Jirous in gaol. But what is the policeman angry about? What difference does long hair make? The policeman is angry about his fear. The policeman's fear is what makes him angry. He's frightened by indifference. Jirous doesn't care. He doesn't care enough even to cut his hair. The policeman isn't frightened by dissidents! Why should he be? Police love dissidents, like the Inquisition loved heretics. Heretics give meaning to the defenders of the faith. ... But the Plastics don't care at all. They're unbribable. They're coming from somewhere else, from where the Muses come from. They're not heretics. They're pagans.
Charter 77 was Havel's enlistment of the heretic in the service of the pagan. The result was his own incarceration, international fame, and the germinal idea that led to his writing "The Power of the Powerless." And he was right. Together, the heretics and pagans changed the world.


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Adnan Januzaj: Young Hopeful
The young winger is part of the golden crop of players from Belgium.
The young winger is part of the golden crop of players from Belgium.
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12/5/10 Sunday Warm-up: 26071985 takes no prisoners in $148K victory
After the past two weekends of holiday shopping there is the rush to pad the poker bankroll before closing the fiscal year. Taking a shot at a Sunday Major like tonight's $750,000 guarantee Sunday Warm-up is a great way to end the year in the black and hand out a few more presents to loved ones whatever and wherever you might be celebrating as December 31st comes near. 4,718 players started at noon central time today, putting forward their $215 buy-ins with hopes of trading that ticket for the $148,034.11 first place prize.
After four hours of play we would say good bye to 676th place micide who would have try again next week as our remaining 675 players cashed for at least $320.82. Team PokerStars was well represented at the cashier's window by Martin "AABenjaminAA" Hruby (571st place, $339.69), Grayson "spacegravy" Physioc (501st place, $349.13), and Steven Paul (215th place $566.16).
But it was Christophe "chrisdm" de Meulder who would carry the PokerStars flag the furthest. With blinds at 10K/20K ante 2K and a stack of 244,707 chips, Christophe would shove over the top of an early position raise by GoodMansHand. GoodMansHand was good not great holding Q♣K♣ but he made the call and was up against the Team PokerStars Pro's pocket sevens 7♥7♣. Only one club appeared on the 9♥ 6♥ 3♣ but they kept trickling down as the 5♣ turn and J♣ river ended de Meulder's night in 87th place ($1,226.68).
Fast forward to near the nine hour mark with five players sitting at two tables waiting to break the final table bubble and blinds at 65K/130K ante 13K. Thibavol was trying to squeeze a few chips from 26071985 (a birthday date perhaps?) by shoving for 1.35 million over the numerical one's 325K raise. Deciding to gamble a bit 26071985 called and flipped up 8♦K♦ as Thibavol's ace high A♠2♠ was only slightly in the lead. That is until two diamonds and a eight hit the T♦8♣5♦ flop leaving two outs for Thibavol. The 3♠ opened up some gutterball straight outs but the 3♥ on the river set up the final table below with Thibavol's elimination in tenth place ($5,661.60).
Seat 1: Me12640 (2612512 in chips)
Seat 2: P1ngPoNgPr0 (6271076 in chips)
Seat 3: biotop (7966050 in chips)
Seat 4: Banderivets (4633487 in chips)
Seat 5: 26071985 (8979845 in chips)
Seat 6: ForRealDD (4263591 in chips)
Seat 7: Jiigsaw (4498674 in chips)
Seat 8: mmaxx2009 (5213067 in chips)
Seat 9: Lecherous (2741698 in chips)
An average of over 30 big blinds for our final nine tonight as they start off with blinds at 80K/160K ante 16K would give them elbow room to pay with as the race for the $148,034.11 first place prize had but nine runners left. As evidence with the big stack play, no one was booted from the table after the level as all nine moved into 100K/200K ante 20K.
P1ngPoNgPr0 and 26071985 were the first two to eclipse the eight figure mark as another 15 minute level went by without incident.
For reals?!!?
The first of many eliminations for 26071985 started off with this:
As the blind bumped up to 125K/250K ante 25K the table folded around to the big stack, 26071985 in the small blind who decided to ramp up the pressure by open shoving to collect the blinds and antes. But, ForRealDD with 2.4 million woke up with A♣T♠ and made the call which dominated the chip leader's T♣Q♠. 5.5 million in the pot would certainly go a long way for ForRealDD, however the river card had other ideas as the board laid out J♣ 8♥ 5♥ 4♦ 9♦ to give 26071985 the nut straight along with the pot. ForRealDD was left with an open jaw, a bad-beat story, and ninth place money ($7,548.80).
I was due?
Many poker players have a readymade excuse when the cards fall their way after a suckout. One particular line we have heard over and over again is "I was due". Perhaps after a lengthy losing streak the player will justify their two-outer. No such chat came up after the hand, as the blinds were at 150K/300K ante 30K and Banderivets made a raise to 525K and 26071985 with over 18 million in chips three-bet to two million. Folded back to Banderivets who bolted down shove of 3.2 million, the chip leader made the call with A♣Q♦. A good hand sure, but not when up against the big slick K♦A♦ of Banderivets. The good feelings left quickly as the flop's third card exposed a queen 3♣ 5♠ Q♣ 8♦ 2♥ which held on to win the 7.1 million chip pot and Banderivets became 26071985's second victim in eighth place ($11,795.00).
Can win while ahead too
Five hands later with the blinds still at 150K/300K ante 30K, 26071985 just can't stay away from the action as mmaxx2009 shoved a short stack of 1.6 million from UTG+1 and folded around to the chip leader in the big blind holding a big ace J♦A♥ to make the call. This time the chip leader was in unfamiliar territory and was ahead of mmaxx2009's T♦A♣. As the turn showed 3♣ 9♥ 7♦ 8♥ mmaxx2009 went searching for a six to appear, but the 8♣ came down instead ending mmaxx2009's night in seventh place ($21,231.00).
Puzzle solved
Finally a hand that did not involve 26071985, as the chip leader would fold to the 655,455 chip raise of P1ngPoNgPr0. Jiigsaw however would not, and shoved for 4.4 million on the button. Covering and holding big slick K♠A♠ P1ngPoNgPr0 would make the call and race against the pocket queens of Jiigsaw. P1ngPoNgPr0 would be the one interlocking the needed piece to the 9.4 million chip pot as ace came on the flop and held thru the 5♦ 7♦ A♣ 7♣ 3♠ board to end Jiigsaw's night in sixth place ($30,667.00).
Me, myself, and I
Still in the 150K/300K ante 30K blind level, just six hands after Jiigsaw left another short stack would attempt to snag the blinds and antes with a shove. Me12640 who quietly moved into fifth place, would open shove from the small blind for 2.2 million as P1ngPoNgPr0 had plenty of chips and A♥Q♥ to justify a snap call. Me12640 was in trouble, and more so after an ace appeared in the door A♠ 9♠ 2♦. A 5♠ on the turn gave some hopes for trips or two pair, but the 3♥ river sent Me12640 to the showers in fifth place ($40,103.00).
Even a person called Lecherous thinks this is sick
Players falling left and right and maybe backwards as 26071985 was back at it trying to eliminate a fourth person from the final table. Folded to the chip leader in the small blind with the blinds still at 150K/300K ante 30K, 26071985 would shove for the blinds and antes. Lecherous in the big blind had a small pair 3♣3♥ and 3.9 million chips to make the call. 26071985 seems to spin coal into diamonds, and would try again with 9♠J♦. K♥ 8♥ 7♣ gave the chip leader a gutshot straight draw to go with overcards. Sure enough the turn brought that straight T♦ leaving Lecherous drawing dead as 26071985 collected those 8.6 million filthy chips and Lecherous took home fourth place ($53,313.40).
Horror film casting for Victim #5
We would finally get out of the 150K/300K ante 30K blind level and move up to 200K/400K ante 40K blinds but only for ten hands. On the ninth hand biotop would raise to one million from the button as 26071985 not playing nicely with others decided to shove all-in from the small blind. P1ngPoNgPr0 went back to practicing his backhand and biotop made the called with J♣A♥. A great hand three-handed but 26071985 flipped up the dominating A♠Q♠. No bueno for biotop who had to watch the 2♣ 7♠ 3♦ 5♣ 9♠ board come down in favor of the bulldozing chip leader who collected another 16.9 million chips as biotop took home $77,847.00 in third place.
Lets make this quick I have a date tonight
26071985 would take a 38.1 million to P1ngPoNgPr0's 8.9 million chip lead into heads-up play. With blinds at 200K/400K ante 40K we could have a fairly lengthy, bloody battle for that $148K. Or, there's the video below showing why people should have stayed out of 26071985's way tonight:
One hand of heads-up play and done. Yes, a queen on the river, matching 26071985's A♦Q♥ to overcome P1ngPoNgPr0's pocket sixes 6♦6♠ and take the Sunday Warm-up title and $148,034.11 with force. A fitting end to 26071985's run thru the field tonight which ended with a six-figure score and a trail of poker bodies.
$750,000 Guarantee Sunday Warm-up results (12-05-10):
1. 26071985 (Sassenberg) $148,034.11
2. P1ngPoNgPr0 (Storrs) $109,929.40
3. biotop (zürich) $77,847.00
4. Lecherous (Tomsk) $53,313.40
5. Me12640 (Muenchen) $40,103.00
6. Jiigsaw (Florø) $30,667.00
7. mmaxx2009 (Moscow) $21,231.00
8. Banderivets (Kyiv) $11,795.00
9. ForRealDD (Orlando) $7,548.80
(Tonight's Sunday Warm-Up recap by David Aydt.)


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International varieties for white wine Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon give excellent quality of the grapes on the Cemovsko polje. The latest technology of processing of grapes originated the wine for the soul, CHARDONNAY PRO ANIMA .The subtle fruity aromas of citrus and pineapple with ripe spicy notes in the finish, make a remarkable blend of freshness and elegance to this wine.
Pro Anima Chardonnay-Sauvignon 2012
The wine is a golden yellow color with greenish reflections, subtle fruity aromas of citrus and pineapple, with balanced, soft and complex taste with a long finish.
Temperature: 10-12oC
Glass: a slender, tulip-shaped glass
The ideal companion for sea and lake high quality fish, grilled turkey and chicken, as well as the specialties of veal with different sauces.
Technical Sheet (Pdf)
Pro Anima Chardonnay-Sauvignon 2012
Regularly good harvest concerning quality and yield of the grapes.Weather conditions for ripening grapes were favorable. The grapes were in good health.
Viticultural areas: Valley of Lake Skadar , Podgorica's viticultural area
Location: Ćemovsko polje, microlocalities: Nikolj Crkva, Miljes, Dinos
Size of the vineyard: 218 ha
Exposition: north-south and southeast-northwest
Soil: skeletal and shallow,with over 2.500 hours annually
Planting density: 2.60×0.70 i 2.60×0.80
Growing type: single and double Guyot
Average age of the grapevines: from 5 to 30 years
Varietals: Chardonnay 80% and Sauvignon blanc 20%
Yield: 2-2.5 kg per vine (7-8.5 t/ha)
Harvest time: middle and second half of August and first half of September
Manner of harvest: manual
Vinification : fermentation in the inox vats
Temperature of fermentation: up to 17 oC
Duration of fermentation: 10-20 days
Malolactic fermentation: NO
Aging: in the inox vats, the wine aging on the fine lees, becoming enriched with mannoproteins and polysaccharides, contributing to the fullness of taste and 20% of Chardonnay aging in wooden barrels (barrique)
The duration of aging:12 months in the inox vats and 10 months in wooden barrels ( one part of Chardonnay)
Chemical analysis: pH -3.1; total acids- 6.67 g/l; alcohol-13.8% vol.
Chardonnay Pro Anima 2012, Silver medal, MUNSUS VINI 2014, Germany
Chardonnay Pro Anima 2012, Bronze medal, IWSC 2014, Great Britain
Chardonnay Pro Anima 2012, Bronze medal, Decanter World Wine Awards, Great Britain
U pripremi…


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Posts TaggedProductivity
Being productive is all about being efficient, and restarting your computer is always a process that steals precious minutes from your life. If only there was a way to have a fine level of control over this frustrating task…
That's the concept behind Startupizer, a new app available at the Mac App Store. If you're anything like me, you have a few different extensions that all load up prior to the machine actually being usable.
Startupizer lets you tweak your startup settings so that you decide what opens when, making boot times substantially faster. As usual, there's more to it, so let's take a moment and delve into Startupizer and what it does after the break.
If you, like me, sometimes find distraction in anything and everything other than your work, paring down your digital workspace to maximize productivity can be a daunting task. Fortunately, Mac OS X comes with some built-in tools that you can use to combat your lack of willpower. These tools are cleverly disguised as Parental Controls.
Sure, OS X's built-in Parental Controls may be used to monitor and limit your child's usage of your Mac, but I've found that some crafty tinkering can turn this set of options into a powerful way of managing your distractions and keeping yourself on-task. The following set of steps is meant to be a guide on how to set up Parental Controls to increase your productivity, but feel free to amend the guide based on the distractions you need to eliminate most.
Every day, we're flooded with information. Some of it good, some of it bad, and some of it that we want to save for a rainy day.
Maybe you saw a cool tool on TV and you want to remember it later when you have some extra cash. Or possibly it's a list of articles to help you build that Mac home theatre system you've been working on.
No matter what it is, wouldn't it be nice to have a place to put everything for quick reference at a later date? For that, one option is Caboodle.
In the world of to-do lists, the golden standard comes from David Allen's book, Getting Things Done. Inside he details how to manage all of your tasks, sort them out, and accomplish them in a timely fashion. The book is so popular that it's had multiple printings, and has become the benchmark for other organisation systems.
OmniFocus is designed to take the David Allen GTD system and make it easy to use on your Mac. The software implements the methodology to its core, making it simple to input, prioritise, and review tasks (and much more!) But OmniFocus is more than just a GTD manager—it's a way to truly organize your life on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Let's be honest, there has been a flurry of activity in the task manager/list space over the last couple years. For better or worse, there seems to be an endless stream of such apps making their way to the market. Some are very complicated and almost do too much, while others are incredibly simple and cover just the basics.
Hub List is a very new piece of software that has just made an entry into this cramped space, falling very much into the latter category of a super-simple task manager. A "super early adopter beta" version has been released recently.
Beta versions—let alone "super early adopter" beta versions—can be pretty buggy, but I've been playing around with the software for a few days, so read on to get my first take!
I've read a few interesting articles this week about whether apps that help you achieve better productivity or a "distraction free" environment are really a good thing (e.g. WriteRoom). On the face of it, this type of software does help you get more done and avoid a cluttered workflow. But is it that simple?
Another argument could be that the process of trying out all these new "productivity enhancing" applications is actually just a way of putting off work that needs to be done! Wouldn't it be better if you just settled on a single app and got to work?
I'm really interested to hear your thoughts on this. How do you view this process of searching for and trying out new apps? Does it ultimately lead to the "ultimate" set of software for a productive workflow, or is it just another way of procrastinating?
As a side note; if you want to read something slightly more in-depth about this topic, try this recent article by Merlin Mann. Lengthy and detailed, but fascinating nonetheless.
This post is for all you workaholics who use a Mac for your full-time career. From to-do lists and digital clutter organizers to word processors and time trackers, we've compiled a list of all the applications you'll need to stay productive and efficient at work.
Below you'll find over 100 free and premium applications that will either fit right into your current workflow or revolutionize the way you get things done. Let's take a look!
Whether you're a designer, developer, writer – whatever you do – freelancing is becoming an evermore popular choice of working style. Because you don't necessarily have a team of people working alongside you, great software becomes incredibly important to help you get the job done.
You'll need applications to help you manage your time, brainstorm new ideas, invoice clients and track finances. The very nature of freelancing means that you encounter a wide range of different challenges and situations every day – these 25 applications are the ones I swear by to help get the job done.
Apple has done an incredible job with Mac OS X and has made great improvements since Mac OS 10.1 was first released. However, Apple still haven't managed to include essential productivity apps in Mac OS 10.6 such as a clipboard viewer, a note-taking app with keyboard shortcuts, an app to store your code snippets, etc.
For that reason, we've listed 10 very useful Mac apps for productivity that will help you greatly in your day-to-day tasks. I wouldn't suggest that you launch all 10 every time you login, but one or two may seem particularly helpful.


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England's newspaper The Telegraph eulogized Norman Granz as "the most successful impresario in the history of jazz" in its 2001 obituary. Granz created five record labels, the best known being Verve. His artists included Count Basie, Billie Holliday, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Art Tatum … well, the list goes on and on. And he stood for integration in post-war America of the 1940s and '50s both of performances and audiences. White or black, his performers received equal pay and accommodations.
But had Granz done nothing else than bring together Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, he'd still deserve a place in American Songbook history.
In 1956, when Granz teamed them in a Verve studio, both were internationally known stars. They had recorded a few numbers on Decca starting in the late '40s.
Fitzgerald was part of a stellar Hollywood Bowl show produced by Granz on Aug. 15, 1956, that comprised Fitzgerald, Peterson, Tatum, Roy Eldridge, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich. Armstrong happened to appear on the same bill.
The next day, Granz brought Fitzgerald and Armstrong together to record 11 duets. Because of Armstrong's heavy travel schedule, Granz recalled, "I think literally I might have had only a day or two days to do an album."
And what an album it is: "Ella and Louis." From the opening vocal by Armstrong on "A Foggy Day" to the closing moments of Fitzgerald and Armstrong on "Tenderly," this is close to an hour of pure joy. Granz smartly followed it in 1957 with "Ella and Louis Again," a double album this time, with a fine mix of duets and solo cuts. Both of these monumental recordings feature such Verve artists as Peterson, Rich, Louis Bellson, Ray Brown and Herb Ellis. It really doesn't get much better than this.
Those two albums are at the heart of a new release: "Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Complete Studio Master Takes." And if that's all there was, that would be plenty.
But this handsome box set comes also with another of Granz's brainstorms: high lights from the George Gershwin opera "Porgy and Bess" performed by Armstrong and Fitzgerald, the third and final time Granz put them in the studio together. As the five-star Down Beat review said at the time, "As the tracks progress, you think she is cutting Armstrong — only to turn around and believe that Armstrong is cutting her. The truth, of course, is that they are outdoing themselves."
And, at the risk of sounding like a late-night TV pitchman — But wait! There's more! — it should be noted that the collection includes a short LP of the eight duets released on Decca.
Overall, 12 sides of vinyl, with a 12-page booklet of background and reviews, in a 1"-thick box that even features some padding to keep the contents secure — a very impressive presentation, but no less than these seminal recordings deserve.


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Valentines Day Specials - $70.00 per person
First Course - THE ATTRACTION
Second Course - THE FLIRT
Main Course THE ENCOUNTER
Dessert - THE AFTERGLO
- includes 2 chocolate covered strawberries
Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and Pretium Group present: "CULTURE THAT ROCKS - BRINGING THE THUNDER TO THE OKANAGAN!"
a workshop suitable for every manager, HR team, and employee.
This unique Mamma Mia event has a great local flavour and in fact, has some great history as Melina Moore and The Italian Kitchen go way back!
The Italian Kitchen has done "opera nights" with Melina Moore in the past - many years ago and these events were a huge success as local Vernon residents lined up for great Italian food, wine, and music in one of the downtown's oldest and most historic buildings.
The Italian Kitchen location was built in 1937 and therefore this is the 80th anniversary of this historic landmark. The beautiful brick decor has been a restaurant for the entire 80 years. It started in 1937 as The National Cafe until 1950 when the Anast family from Kelowna bought the site. The Anast family then renamed it to Athens Pizza and sold two things - Steak and Pizza - take your pick. This allowed the family to buy the entire block of real estate now home to the historic Towne Cinema and The Italian Kitchen Company.
Chris Anast - building owner was recently quoted as saying: "The building may be old .. but like me - it still works" - Chris can be found strolling down the streets having coffee and checking on his tenants to this day. Anast holdings is now being managed by his nephews and is likely to stay in this well known Greek family for ever.
The Anast Family continues to run Olympia Pizza in Rutland. The restaurant stayed as a very successful Pizza and Steak place until 1994 when Brad Brousseau and his partner Andrew Johnson moved from Vancouver with the vision of The Italian Kitchen Company. Twenty-two years later Italian Kitchen now owned by The Pretium Restaurant Group of Vernon, BC is a local favourite.
And here we are 22 years later still doing the same thing. The Italian Kitchen and Melina Moore are committed to similar goals for the Arts and Culture scene in Vernon BC.
Melina Moore loves music and the arts and continues to work with passion to ensure that Vernon continues to enjoy world calls performances in our local theatres (and horse barns at Okeefe Ranch ) and restaurants - Vernon should support all these events and be proud of our local talent.
Corcelettes wine flights all July. With a percentage of proceeds benefiting Kindale Okanagan. Any glass, 1/2L or bottle, too!


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Kim Chiu and Matteo Guidicelli will be the lead stars in the newest horror film "Ghost Bride" directed by Chito S. Rono.
"Ghost Bride" other cast members include JC Santos, Victor Silayan, Jerome Ponce, Rio Locsin, Mon Confiado, Beverly Salviejo, and Alice Dixson.
Under Star Cinema, the "Ghost Bride" starts filming this February.


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The Derby Shoe & Blucher Guide
In our Brogues Shoe Guide for Men, which is a part of our series on men's boots and shoes, we touched lightly upon the difference between oxfords and derby shoes and then in a subsequent article we focused our attention on the oxford shoe. After taking a short diversion to bring to you the Loafer Guide we now work our way back to the derby shoe , thus coming full circle from where we first started off.
The Difference Between Derby & Oxford
The derby, like the oxford, has one defining characteristic and it is once again in the lacing system. While the oxford has a closed lacing system, the derby has an open lacing system in form of two quarters that are sewn on to the vamp. To fully understand the difference between an open lacing system and a closed lacing system look at the following drawing:
The uppers of a derby, like the oxford, consist of the quarters and the vamp. The vamp is that part of the shoe uppers that covers the toes and instep, and the quarters are that part of the shoe uppers that wrap around the heel and meet the vamp in the middle of the foot. The eyelets for the shoelaces are usually located on the quarters.
In an open lacing system (of the derby) the quarters are sewn on top of the vamp with the shoelace eyelets facings stitched on top of the quarters. This is in contrast to the closed lacing system (of the oxford) where the vamp is stitched on top of the quarters with the eyelet facing stitched under the quarters. On closer examination of these two lacing systems one major difference stands out. In the open lacing system the lace flaps are not conjoined at the bottom. They are joined by the laces and this usually creates a slight gap between the two when the laces are tied, hence the term open lacing. In the closed lacing system, on the other hand, the lace flaps are joined at the bottom and thus when the laces are tied there is usually no visible gap between the two, thus the term closed lacing.
It is worth mentioning that between the two lacing systems, the closed lacing system is considered to be the more formal than the open lacing system. Thus one can safely say that the derby is a bit more casual than the oxford but both the oxford and the derby are considered to be formal wear.
The Difference Between Derby & Blucher
In the U.S., the term derby and blucher are often used interchangeably, and in fact they are both shoes with an open lace system. While the derby has 2 quarters that are sewn together and a vamp with a tongue, the blucher has small pieces of leather sewn onto the vamp creating the lacing system.
Characteristics of the Derby Shoe
The following are the characteristics of a derby and as one can see, they are similar to those of the oxford with the exception of the lacing system.
- Open lacing system.
- 3 pieces: 2 quarters sewn together on the heel & 1 vamp with a tongue
- Exposed ankle.
History of the Derby & Blucher
The roots of the derby shoe are not entirely clear. Some trace it back to the 12th Earl of Derby who was also the namesake for the famous horse race. Others trace its history back to the 14th Earl of Derby who was portly and supposedly had big feet, which made it difficult for him to get into boots. Therefore, his bootmaker created an open lace boot style that allowed him to put on his boots more easily. The Derby cut was first mentioned in Dunkley's account book of 1862, but it was used to describe a pair of side sprung boots, not a shoe. That changed in 1872, when the derby was described in St. Crispin's Magazine as " a new tie shoe better than the Oxonian as the seam is not near the tender part of the foot." It deserves mentioning that St. Crispin is the saint of shoemakers.
In the 19th century the standard issue footwear for the armies of Europe, for both cavalry and infantry units, was the boot. These boots were not the most comfortable or practical of footwear especially when it came to pulling them on and off. This difficulty was compounded after a hard days campaigning especially when the ground was wet and muddy. During the Napoleonic wars a Prussian army officer named Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher,Fürst von Wahlsett, took it upon himself to have the boots redesigned so his men could have a more comfortable pair of boots that also enabled them to ready themselves for battle in shorter time.
To meet both these ends he required a boot that was both comfortable for all types of foot types and which could be pulled on and off easily. He devised a half boot with two leather flaps below the ankles that could be laced together. These flaps did not meet at the bottom and had shoelace eyelets arranged in parallel. This innovation resulted in a wider opening for the foot which neatly achieved his latter goal.
This also made the boots more comfortable for people with a wider foot as the width of the boot could be adjusted by tightening or losing the laces at the bottom of the flaps as they did not meet at the bottom, and so the boots were subsequently named the Blücher. However, since most nations don't have the Umlaut in their alphabet, it is often referred to just as Blucher. Also, because most people outside of German speaking countries do not have the ü and ch sounds, the pronounciation is often butchered. Technically, the only correct way to say it would be [ˈblʏçɐ], however you will also find /ˈbluːtʃər/, /ˈblauːtʃər/or /ˈbluːkər/.
There are many ways to pronounce it and technicalAs a side note, Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher and his men played a key role in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo and thus one might say, that the boot designed by him played a role in the history of Europe and maybe the world. No item of men's footwear can boast a similar accomplishment!
Types of Derbys
The derby, comes in various types that are similar or nearly identical to the various types of oxfords.
The Plain Derby
The plain derby consists of a vamp and quarters and does not feature any other embellishments such as broguing, cap toes or heel caps. This is considered the most formal among the various types of derbys and is usually available in black, though these days they come in any color under the sun. The more casual versions come in suede leather. In Austria, a black patent leather derby is occasionally worn with black tie or even white tie ensembles.
The Cap Toe Derby
The cap toe derby may or may not feature broguing, though more often than not the broguing is usually restricted to the edge of the toe cap but sometimes you also see medallions. They usually do not feature heel caps though some do. In terms of formality, the cap toe derby is a bit less formal than a plain derby.
The Wingtip Derby/ Brogue
These have the pointed toe cap (shaped like a 'W' or a 'M' or 'U') with extensions that can either extend along both sides of the shoe or stop just short of the heel cap and are thus called wingtips. They feature broguing both on the edges and in the center and have heel caps when the wings don't extend along both sides of the shoe. Considered the most informal of the lot and available in various types of leathers, they are quite versatile. For more information on wingtips please refer to the Brogues Shoe Guide for Men.
The White Buck
The White Buck, while technically a derby because of its lacing system, is a shoe with an identity of its own and as such deserves a separate article. However as it is also a derby I have included it here. Originally made of buckskin, hence the name, they are now more commonly available in white suede and share the same features as the plain derby. White bucks are traditionally only white in color.
The Wholecut Blucher
A wholecut is a shoe whose upper is cut from a single piece of leather. For details refer to the Oxford article. Such a shoe can technically only have a closed lacing system as there are no quarters. However, this style features a wholecut shoe with additional little facings laid on so that the lacing can go over the front of the shoes.
Apron Toe / Moc Toe Derby
An apron toe derby has an additional piece of sewn leather covering the top of the vamp like an apron. This is usually around the upper perimeter of the vamp and does not extend to the end of the toe. The moc toe is very similar to the apron toe, the difference being that while the apron toe simulates an apron the moc toe has an actual moccasin construction i.e. there is no additional piece of leather covering the top of the vamp. For more information on moccasin construction see Moccasin & Driving Mocs Guide
Other Styles
Of course, you will find many other variations of derby shoe styles including spectators, Norwegians, etc. but it's impossible to list them all here.
Derby Style Advice
Technically, a derby is less formal than an oxford. In today's world the derby is more of a crossover shoe that straddles the formal and informal world pretty efficiently. So, if you are on a budget, a dark brown or reddish brown derby can be very versatile. Though for very formal affairs such as black or white tie, an oxford or pump are the most appropriate shoes to wear.
Generally, the plain derby is the most formal among the lot and can be worn with your day suits or casual combinations. In terms of color combinations please reference this guide. As a smart casual option, derbies are perfect because they work well with a blazer/sports coat with chinos/trouser combinations.
The cap toe derby is a more casual option and should traditionally only be worn with combinations or casual outfits, rather than suits. Of course, today dress codes have relaxed and a well made and polished cap toe derby can look much better than a cheap oxford. They also go well with denim, adding a touch of formality to the outfit that demands a shirt rather than a polo shirt or T-shirt.
The wingtip derby / brogue is a casual shoe and can be worn in a similar manner as the oxford equivalent. For more information please refer to our Oxford Shoe Guide.
The white buck should be worn only in warmer seasons and it goes well with seersucker, tropical or fresco fabrics, but it will be the subject of a separate article in the future. However one gets the same design in various colors. These are not bucks but plain derbies in suede and the possibilities really open up, though they remain staunchly casual. I would prefer to avoid them even for smart casual occasions. However, they are perfectly suited to casual occasions and can be dressed up and down as the occasion demands. They go extremely well with chinos, denims and corduroy trousers. Due to their casual nature one can combine them with T shirts as well. A sports coat, V neck or round neck sweater and cardigans all go extremely well with it.
The apron toe/ moc toe and the bicycle toe derby is not as casual but not quite as formal as the plain derby. I would prefer to wear them with smart casuals and would not wear them with a suit. I would treat them as an alternate to the cap toe derby. Or rather as a shoe that fits somewhere in between a cap toe derby and a suede plain derby.
How To Easily Change the Look of Your Shoes
One of the easiest ways to change the look of your shoes, is to simply change the shoelaces. It takes just a minute or two and really transforms the look, and best of all it's reversible. So if you just have one or two derby shoes in your closet, but you buy 5 colors of shoelaces, you have 50 different looks for under $40 – isn't that great? Now during the summer, some prefer more vivid colors like pink, yellow or orange. Personally, I think that can look great with seersucker and white buckskin shoes. On the other hand, colors like dark green, light grey or dark grey are more subtle, yet they still change the look of your shoe in a sophisticated way. Just take a look at these 3 before after pictures to see how it really changes the look. Right now, we offer 9 colors of high quality dress shoe laces from Fort Belvedere in our store. If you buy all 9, we send them to you for just $60, if you choose 4 different kinds we sell them for $30.
Where to Buy Derby Shoes & Bluchers
Please refer to our other guides for trustworthy sources of quality footwear. The same companies who make Oxfords or Chelsea Boots will also have Derby shoes in their lineup.
What are your favorite Derby shoes and how do you combine them?
This article is the result of a collaboration between Sven Raphael Schneider and Vikram Nanjappa.


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Yep, the Bugaboo Crabby Ole' Bag is back with another Stella Says Sketch – Challenge 104!
In addition to our REGULAR Stella Says Sketch prizes, One lucky winner will win a great prize from our sponsor for this challenge!! I am thrilled to announce that our challenge is being sponsored by
Okay, so ready to get sketchin'?
The fun part about today's sketch challenge is that we get to play with some of Shelly's Images digis!!
Scrappy featuring Seashell
Amy featuring Snowman Set
And, here is a little Stella Sketchin' Inspiration from our Super Duper-Talented Designers and some of Shelly's Images team too!!!
Shelly's Images Stephanie Landon featuring Heart Mouse
Shelly's Images Pandy featuring AKV Ninja 1
Lori Padberg featuring Birthday Monster Sign
Stephanie featuring Kidlet-Cowboy
Cheryl First featuring Sock Monkey Girl Sitting
Cely featuring Garden Cat – Pots
Min featuring Ava Flower Patch
Jenn Zeeb featuring Bugaboo Brats-Skye Bike
The rules are simple: Create a Project based on Stella's Sketch above and post a link to it on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, by 2/26/12 at 6:00 AM EST to be entered a random drawing for FOUR digi prize packs - seven (7) (using a Bugaboo image only), four (4), or two (2) using any image AND one winner will also win a $9 gift certificate to Shelly's Images Store!


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Around 1,000 day-old chicks have been abandoned in a field near Peterborough.
RSPCA inspectors said members of the public made the discovery of the newly-hatched chickens in a field in Crowland on Friday, February 17.
Many of the chicks are believed to be in good health, although some had died while others had to be put down due to their injuries, the animal welfare charity said.
A statement on the RSPCA Peterborough Facebook page read: "We see some shocking things around Peterborough, but yesterday's find took our inspectors breath away. This is a very new, ongoing investigation, and we won't be able to answer any of your questions on it at this time."
An RSPCA inspector added: "They were found at the very end of a very rutted dead end track that goes nowhere. This was no accident."
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.


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Ducking is a really neat compressor trick that can save you a lot of grief when mixing. The trick works with any Softube compressor, but we'll use Valley People Dyna-mite as an example. Here's how you can use ducking to improve your mixes!
You've probably heard it a million times: A radio announcer speaks on top of some music that's playing in the background. Every time the announcer says something, the music's volume gets pressed down, and every time there's a pause in the talking, the music hurls right back at you with full force. This effect is called ducking—the thought being that the music's volume ducks for the sound of the announcer talking.
While ducking can be insanely annoying if overdone, it's a trick that can be used to great effect in music mixing, especially when you use it subtly.
While ducking can be insanely annoying if overdone, it's a trick that can be used to great effect in music mixing, especially when you use it subtly. For example, there are many occasions where you might find yourself with a kick drum and a bass instrument (such as a bass guitar or a bass synth) that struggle for the same space in the frequency specter. This results in an undefined low end mess. And while your gut reaction may be to EQ the two into submission, this may instead net you an overly separated low end that doesn't gel and where the instruments won't work as a unity. In these cases, slightly ducking the bass instrument with the kick drum can be a great solution. And of course, it can be combined with EQ:ing and other tricks.
It's not only Valley People Dyna-mite that will work for sidechaining, actually any Softube compressor works just as well. But the Dyna-mite's fast and ruthless response is often just what the doctor ordered when you need things to quickly get out of each other's way and then reappear as if nothing happened.
The Dyna-mite's fast and ruthless response is often just what the doctor ordered when you need things to quickly get out of each other's way and then reappear as if nothing happened.
Get the duck out of my way!
In the situation where you want the bass to duck at every kick drum hit, you insert the Valley People Dyna-mite on the bass channel of your DAW. How you set up the sidechain function depends a bit on which digital audio workstation you work with. So if you're not sure how to do that, I recommend you to check out the manual or one of the great video tutorials there are.
With the sidechain properly set up so that the kick drum signal is fed into the sidechain of the Dyna-mite on the bass channel, set the Dyna-mite's Input Detector switch (the left one labeled DET) to its Ext setting. This means the Dyna-mite will only "hear" the dynamic changes of the kick drum (the external sound source), and not the bass. But the reaction from the Dyna-mite on the kick drum input will still affect the output volume of the bass—so when you have set things up correctly, you will have the bass ducking every time the kick drum hits.
The next thing you need to do is to set the Dyna-mite's MODE switch to Limit and the right detector (DET) switch to either Pk (peak) or Avg (average). Pk gives a snappier and more aggressive response, while Avg is a bit gentler. After this, set the Threshold knob so that you'll see the Gain Reduction meter react every time the kick drum hits. And then set the Release time so that the volume of the bass returns in a manner that is musical and nicely in time with the song.
Set the Release time so that the volume of the bass returns in a manner that is musical and nicely in time with the song.
If the kick drum is very dynamic, with big differences between soft and strong hits, it may be a good idea to use the Dyna-mite's Range knob. What it does in this case is controlling how strongly the kick drum will affect the bass guitar. If you turn it all the way up to 0, there will be no reaction from the Dyna-mite however strong the kick drum hits are, so this is more or less equivalent to bypassing the Dyna-mite entirely.
Other uses
Ducking doesn't only work for making bass and kick drum fit in together. It can also be very cool to use the lead vocal to slightly duck chord instruments like guitars and pianos. These often take up the same frequency range, and just a few decibels go a long way of keeping the vocal in focus without dwarfing the chord instruments by turning them too far down or EQ:ing them to get out of the vocal's way. If you have room mics or reverb on the chord instruments, it can also be a nice trick to duck these with the vocals. Have fun!


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Lisdoo fundraising event to aid baby May Rose
June 5, 2017
The family of a seriously ill baby will host a fundraising night this Friday 9th June in the Lisdoo, Dundalk to raise money to fund medical care that they hope will save their little girl's life.
Tiny May Rose Gibney is just 12 weeks old and since birth has battled the rare brain condition Encephalocele. Her mum Analee and extended family members are spearheading an ambitious fundraising campaign that might enable May Rose to avail of any consultancy appointments or treatment in the field of expertise associated with the rare and potential fatal condition.
Annalee (24) is originally from Newtownhamilton and now lives in the village of Moy. She says when her daughter was born on 9th March, she was given just a limited chance of survival – months at best – however, little May Rose has battled against all the odds and consistently defied doctors' opinions.
Now her family are frantically trying to raise enough money that May Rose can avail of expert care that will offer her the best hope for the future.
Analee says she is living her life "hour-by-hour, day by day".
"The doctors have been unable to do anything because of May Rose's condition. We have been going up and down to Belfast every week for scans, seeking to reverse the opinions we have already been given," she explained. "She's not strong enough for surgery at the minute; we've been told to wait a few months but I can't wait that long for you never know what tomorrow brings," she added fearfully.
Pledging to continue her efforts to raise awareness of Encephalocele, Annalee added: "I can't thank the staff in the Belfast Health and Social Trust enough for what they have done for us. They really are a God-send from above and I will always be thankful for the service they have offered. But I am adamant that more can be done, and I will continue to fight for my daughter. The funds that have been raised so far will go towards getting second opinions on neurosurgery, and third opinions, if that's what it's going to take. I can't imagine my life without my daughter, I really am blessed to be her mother."
This Friday the Lisdoo Arms in Dundalk will host 'It's Elvis', a top class entertaining show by award-winning Elvis tribute artist, Liam Murphy.
Doors open at 9pm and ticket price/admission is £8/€10.
An online Go Fund Me page has also been set up to aid the fundraising campaign and is now more than halfway towards its £10,000 goal. Donations can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/encephalocele-on-the-brain.


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[URGENT] GM Korea decides to close Gunsan plant
[THE INVESTOR] General Motors will shut down one of its four plants in Korea by the end of May due to a drop in demand, the local unit of the global company said on Feb. 13.
The plant to be closed is in Gunsan, 274 kilometers south of Seoul.
"The performance of our operations in Korea needs to be urgently addressed by GM Korea and its key stakeholders. As we are at a critical juncture of needing to make product allocation decisions, the ongoing discussions must demonstrate significant progress by the end of February, when GM will make important decisions on next steps," GM Executive Vice President Barry Engle said in a statement.
GM has five production facilities in Korea -- four car assembly plants and one transmission factory.
By Song Seung-hyun (firstname.lastname@example.com)


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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's Worn and Signed Limited Edition 'Seeing is Believing' 17/18 Liverpool FC Shirt
The Prize
Bid for an incredible limited edition 2017/2018 Liverpool FC shirt. Match-issued, match-worn and signed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
For one match a year, the Seeing is Believing logo replaces that of Main Club Sponsor Standard Chartered to raise awareness about avoidable blindness. This year's match was played at Anfield Stadium against Manchester United on 14 October 2017, two days after World Sight Day. This shirt was worn in the match and comes to you fresh from the field and unwashed.
- Match-worn red 2017/18 home LFC shirt
- Seeing is Believing logo
- Signed by the Player
- LFC crest on chest
- Player's name and number on the back
- Official Liverpool Certificate of Authenticity
The Cause
Seeing is Believing is a long-standing collaboration between Standard Chartered and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). The IAPB is an alliance of civil society organisations, corporations and professional bodies promoting eye health through advocacy, knowledge and partnerships. The award-winning initiative, Seeing is Believing, is the result of two highly committed organisations combining relevant skills, resources, and connections for the purpose of eliminating avoidable blindness. They partner with leading eye-care experts and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to develop and deliver quality eye-care projects globally. Their partners understand the local healthcare issues impacting communities and how to respond to immediate and longer-term requirements.
Additional Details
Talk To UsFor any questions, please get in touch
and we'll get back to you shortly. Send message


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Wednesday, April 27, 2016
1930's Evening Gown: Grecian Drapery in Mint Chiffon
In the late 1930's the softer silhouette retained a Grecian style for many evening style. This gown is probably a silk charmeuse. It gathers up the center front into a narrow placket and skirt fullness is released at the end of that placket. The draped sleeves have a bit of fullness to give her shoulders fashionable width.
I don't have the date or source, this picture is from an undated fashion scrapbook.
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Book no.8
Being head under in Mummy-Land for the last years, I only managed to do another book with this quick, easy and clean sketchnote-style. The intention was obviously not to explore new creative ways but more meant to document everyday life while still practicing drawing. My kids love looking at it, especially when they recognise themselves and remember what they were doing. That makes it quiet satisfying 🙂


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One thing that is important to know about Aiden is that he lives on Memory Lane. He is fueled by thoughts of his past, even though he swears up and down that he is unaffected by events prior to the present. But that is because he is a liar. He spends most, if not all of his time alone thinking on the years that have gone by, how they could have gone differently, and why they caused him to be what he is.
So today, I'll give you a little bit of memory music and, since I haven't in a while, a little scene to go with. I don't have an exact place for this moment yet, but it will find its way.
A Message for the Queen (Remembering Marietta) from the film 300.
It reminded him of her. Of course it did. Everything reminded him of her. Aiden pushed his fingers into his hair and stared out into the night. It was cold outside and there was a steady breeze up on the roof that brought a chill to his bones, but still he sat there almost unmoving.
It had been ten years to the day tonight. Had he been a better man he would have been married for ten years tonight. He would have had a son. He'd be six.
Aiden had no desire for children and it was easy to say he didn't even like them, but like every man, he had pride, and a part of upholding said pride is to bear a son. Children weren't children for long (he certainly wasn't) so for the short while that he had to deal with the screaming brat didn't seem too bad in comparison to the glory that his son would carry on in his name.
Marietta wouldn't have made a good mother. She wasn't loving or tender towards children. She didn't have any desire to destroy her perfect figure or to soil her hands with the dirty work of caring for a baby, but that was what nurses and governesses were for.
That would be it. One child. One son. Their life would have forever consisted of glittering balls, silks, feasts, flashing lights and the whirling, dizzying lifestyle of those most fortunate. He would have provided all of that for her. If there were anything that she ever felt a need for, she would have it. She was his sun, his center, his hope. She had been the only person that ever showed how much she truly cared, that she was honest and good to him, for him, that she was his forever, that she'd never leave like the others had.
But she lied.
So here he was, ten years later on the rooftop of a hidden house, still wondering why. He had it all. He did it all. Why would she leave him? It had been an entire decade and still he wanted to know. He couldn't live without knowing. Not knowing is what had driven him to become what he was. Aiden Finnegan, The Black Duke. The Black Duke wasn't a duke at all, but a man who once had the entire world at his disposal. Now he was left with nothing of his own. Now everything came with strings.
He remembered her face. He remembered the way she smiled at him and the way her bottom lip pulled down when she was worried. He remembered seeing her angry. There was something about her when she was angry that he found himself unable to resist. Marietta didn't have hurricane like fits or large sweeping rants. She was quiet and icy, malicious and cruel. If ever there were a woman who used her position to gain advantage over her enemies, it was Marietta Grace.
But even as similar to Aiden as she was, that wasn't the reason he loved her. Aiden loved Marietta because in his lowest of lows, she had been there to pick him up, to hold him and whisper her ever gentle, 'I won't leave you.': the mantra that he clung to.
Even as a child she had understood him. She knew to tread delicately around his sour being and never did she consider speaking out of line. She sat before him, stitching lace or practicing her handwriting while she listened to him. Sometimes he wouldn't say anything at all and neither would she. Simply being in the same room as her gave him peace of mind.
Marietta never challenged him. Aiden's word was absolute and she knew it. She never whined, complained of even pouted unless the soft change in facial expression was carried out with intent to seduce him. She knew her place (naked, beneath him) and never thought to test it.
As a younger man, Aiden had been cocky. He wasn't stupid. but he had been too self absorbed in his misery, and confident in his power to realize that there were bigger things going on than his fame and fortune.
Poor bastard. 😦


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On tour in the United States for the first time in 10 years, the Dixie Chicks came out on The Hollywood Bowl stage, instruments blazing. The trio, comprising sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer, alongside lead singer Natalie Maines, were playing the last stop of their 70-show world tour. "Even when you're old ladies, you can do 70 shows," joked Ms. Maines, receiving massive applause.
As a long-time Dixie Chicks fan, I was slightly nervous, wondering how the 13 time GRAMMY-winning powerhouse would perform after such a long time away from the mainstream music market. Well, being the fan I claim to be, I should have already known the answer: with enviable ease. Playing their instruments as if extensions of their own bodies, the women were all smiles as their familiar — and still perfectly blended — harmonies reverberated around the venue.
"We are the Dixie Chicks, and we are going to attempt to entertain you," announced Maines. And entertain they did. Despite the 2003 George W. Bush debacle that got them banned from a lot of country radio, the Chicks did not shy away from making politically motivated statements throughout the night. Maines amusingly remarked, "When I first joined the band 20 years ago, Martie told me that you could say anything if you say it with a smile. It was about 10 years later when we found out that was bullshit."
During "Ready to Run," the video screen in the background showed goofy animated images of 2016's Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, ranging from arm-flailing Chris Christie and Ted Cruz to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders duking it out with boxing gloves.
Another political comment met with wild applause from the audience came during the song "Goodbye Earl," a well-loved comedic narrative about two best friends who partner up to kill an abusive husband. The projection screen behind the band played a photo montage of historic criminals, and among them was a photograph of Donald Trump with a scribbled on mustache, goatee, and devil horns appearing for a split second.
The crowd, warmed up by the brilliant Elle King, was on their feet for the majority of the concert and belted along to hits such as "Cowboy Take Me Away," "Wide Open Spaces," and "Not Ready to Make Nice." Added into the set were six covers, including Beyoncé's "Daddy's Girl" and Ben Harper's "Better Way," the latter of which served as the final encore number.
I was especially impressed by the set design. For the first half of the concert, the women were dressed in black and white, standing on a black stage, toting crisp white instruments — Maines with a white guitar, Maguire with a white fiddle, and Strayer playing a white banjo. It was simple and sleek, keeping the focus on the long-loved music.
The women used a video interlude to run off stage for a quick change — their first ever tour with a costume change, according to Maines — and to allow for a simultaneous set change. "Before we were in black and white, and now we're in white and black!" smiled Maines, in a not-so-different get-up than the one she previously wore.
The new layout resulted in most of the stage being blocked off by a white screen, except for the lip. The intimate design, in an otherwise large arena, provided a more back-porch, country feel. It was equipped with wooden blocks to sit on, a host of instruments (including a lap steel guitar and tin barrel drums), and a chuckle-inducing cardboard cut out of Flat Ronnie.
The freshly outfitted Chicks sat single file for a tear-jerking rendition of "Travelin' Soldier" before being re-joined by the rest of the band.
The show, while musically phenomenal, wasn't without its quirks. A construction costume-wearing Elle King accompanied the trio on "Landslide" while semi-interpretively dancing. Though it did slightly detract from the fan-favorite song, at one point Ms. King forgot some words and hilariously ad libbed two lines, drawing laughs from the audience.
In addition to King's costume, a creepy pair of black and white clowns appeared on stage during a cover of Bob Dylan's "Mississippi" and hung around while a black and white cake was carted on stage in honor of Ms. Maines' and Ms. Maguire's birthdays this week. Maines thankfully had an explanation for the oddities: "The bonus you get for being the last show on the tour is a bunch of nonsense that means nothing to you. But it means something to us. And tonight's about us."
And indeed it was. If there is anything more enjoyable than attending a great concert, it is attending a great concert on a tour's last night. The trio and their accompanying musicians were having so much fun, carefree and enjoying every moment of the music they were so skillfully playing.
As Natalie Maines put it, "Hopefully it won't be another 10 years until we see you again."
Full Set list from the Dixie Chicks concert at the Hollywood Bowl:
1) The Long Way Around
2) Lubbock or Leave It
3) Truth No. 2
4) Easy Silence
5) Some Days You Gotta Dance
6) Long Time Gone
7) Video Games (Lana Del Rey cover, with guest appearance by Charlotte Lawrence)
8) Top of the World
9) Goodbye Earl
10) Video Interlude: Ace of Spades (Motörhead cover)
11) Travelin' Soldier
12) Don't Let Me Die in Florida (Patty Griffin cover)
13) Daddy Lessons (Beyoncé cover)
14) White Trash Wedding
15) Instrumental Bluegrass Medley
16) Ready to Run
17) Mississippi (Bob Dylan cover)
18) Landslide (originally sung by Fleetwood Mac)
19) Cowboy Take Me Away
20) Wide Open Spaces
21) Sin Wagon
1) Not Ready to Make Nice
2) Better Way (Ben Harper cover)
For more info:


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Ah yes, this is indeed a glorious era for learning and networking. There are conferences and webinars coming out our ears, wifi spots a-plenty, 3G data services galore and if you're lucky, sponsored drinks at the bar.
So, what say you to some mingling? If you'd like to get out and partake in a solid (or virtual) handshake or two, our weekly events list is designed to help. Every Tuesday we plug as many relevant events as we can find into the big list and publish it, just for you.
Are we missing something? Don't hesitate to add your event to our events calendar (view all events). And if you've got feedback on the coming events — good or bad — do share it in the comments below.
July Events
July 20-22 (Seattle): Web Design World
The design conference for the here and now. These days, everyone's having to do more with less. We get that. That's why Web Design World Seattle is all about teaching you what you need today.
July 27-August 1 (Sydney): Usability Week
Usability Week 2009 takes you beyond the typical conference experience, offering a three-day usability camp, a three-day intensive session on interaction design, and several specialized, day-long tutorials on core usability topics.
July 27 (Pheonix): Joomla Beginner Training
Learn all about Joomla 1.5 and begin managing your website like a pro. You'll learn how to build a Joomla website, from content organization, optimization, working with extensions and basic web marketing.
August Events
August 6 (London): Umbraco Meetup
A day of Umbraco fun, networking, socialising - we've got swag to give away including umbraco.tv subscriptions!
August 11-14 (San Jose): Search Engine Strategies
Each year, marketers, corporate decision makers, webmasters and search engine marketers (SEMs), including pay per click (PPC) advertisers and search engine optimization (SEO) professionals gather here to attend SES San Jose. Approximately 6,000 search and digital enthusiasts are expected in 2009. Your customers, colleagues and competition will be in attendance — will you?
August 12-13 (San Francisco): Open Source World
LinuxWorld Conference & Expo® is expanding to become OpenSource World™ and is co-locating with Next Generation Data Center™ and CloudWorld™ to offer an end-to-end view of enterprise technology within the data center.
August 12-13 (San Francisco): Cloud World
CloudWorld will bring together the users of Web-centric software, infrastructure and services designed to drive acceptance and deployment of cloud computing in the data center.
August 17 (Reno): Joomla Beginner Training
Learn all about Joomla 1.5 and begin managing your website like a pro. You'll learn how to build a Joomla website, from content organization, optimization, working with extensions and basic web marketing.
August 24 (New Orleans): Joomla Beginner Training
Learn all about Joomla 1.5 and begin managing your website like a pro. You'll learn how to build a Joomla website, from content organization, optimization, working with extensions and basic web marketing.
September Events
September 1 (Paris): DrupalCon
Building on the success of previous DrupalCons we have included all the core features you'd expect, high quality sessions and keynotes from Drupal leaders. Plus, for the first time, we are introducing a Business day and a Drupal Job fair to further increase your networking opportunies.
September 10-11 (Switzerland): Magnolia CMS Conference
This technical conference brings together Magnolia users, developers and administrators in one place. Through expert instruction, hands-on tutorials and case studies, attendees will gain the knowledge they need to rapidly build simple open source content management solutions with Magnolia CMS
September 15-16 (Toronto): IDEA Conference
IDEA2009 brings together the world's foremost thinkers and practitioners: sharing the big ideas that inspire, along with practical solutions for the ways people's lives and systems are converging to affect society.
September 26-27 (Sheffield): CMS Made Simple Geek Moot
The developers of CMS Made Simple have finalized plans for the yearly developer conference. However, there is one major change… we're inviting you to join us.
On 26-27 September, CMSMS will host the first public Geek Moot event at The Showroom in Sheffield, UK. There will be plenty of presentations by the devs and others, events, networking and just general geeking out. There are plans for evening events in the works and they will be announced soon.
September 28-29 (Atlanta): Hannon Hill Cascade Server User Conference
Last year's Cascade Server User's Conference was a huge success, and we're already working on making this year's even better. We'll be offering more user-driven sessions, more hands-on functionality-related demos, more basic-user intro sessions, and more case studies. You'll have the opportunity to learn more about Cascade, interact directly with the Hannon Hill team, and learn from and share your experiences with other users
September 30 - October 1 (Washington, DC): Rethinking Corporate Communications
In its second year, RETHINKING CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS is an interactive and intimate conference for corporate, government and non-profit communicators. Learn from the most perceptive thought leaders the skills and best practices essential for business success this year
Want your event in this list? Submit it here.