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meh, you just are amazing ;)
meh, gamer girl , gore lover , hmm.. wats more?
Thanks Madi. Dunno if you saw, but your PM did put a smile on my face. Dan made me feel like shit, and he keeps calling me now trying t makde me feel like shit now. Luckily i have friends that care for me that have made me feel good
Don't remember discussing :P I would have came to you for some design tips if I knew!
Yea, I think that's more so the way to actually become a programmer - to get abstract/generic knowledge. Once you have the logic, all you really need to get used to is the programming language's API / syntax
Okay I'll send you a contact request
hey, do you have skype? Mind adding me =d
Whats your mc username again so i can add you to the whitelist for the RageCraft tekkit server.
What languages do you write programs with?
Happy holidays! :)
Oh well then it's a way different story indeed just surprising when i was talking about it then all of a sadden there was some radio playing it..
Holy shit are you even joking around now that's just wow!
That's just... I don't even have words for it that's just ... what the hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol i knew you where going to say that anyway yeah, i do listen to Mumford and sons a lot but not too much because when i just listen it too much of the same songs then i get all emotional and shit again i do listen other music -
Mostly music from where i come from (Dutch music) Lol
But, you have blood on your hands
And I know it's mine
I just need more time
So get off your low and let's dance like we used to
And there's a light in the distance
Waiting for me, and I will wait for you
So get off your low and let's kiss like we used to
Mumford and sons - Unfinished business
Don't know if you like Mumford and sons but you seem to be a person who do like that sort of music so i thought why not point out what song i like..........
I know useless!
Decided to give you the last subscription.
It's a 1 year Orange Delta Sub. Please pick someone to claim the sub!
Merry Christmas Madison, thanks for all you do! :P
Lol, quite right. =P
Me too Madi. Me toooooo. I just want to be back forever and not have my life fuck me up the ass again lol.
Okay Captain Pervert. I was refering to BFF-Love. I <3 my e-wife obviously! lol
Account Inactive
ex visor
Omega Male
RZ Godfather
The Penguinator


text:
Saturday, May 20, 2017
assigned me to report on my own death,
presenting a ticklish situation, both logistically and ethically.
Cockrobin, my first journalism professor,
wrote "REPORT the story" on a blackjack and let me have it.
I saw stars indicating the edition with my byline on it, Chickpea, girl reporter.
Now, Bloodorange and I used to be a thing
until he undrowned his wife and family, up from the river, reborn.
I'm a loose end, an extra column, and the new ace of a dying profession.
Bloodorange is as crafty as he is cheap,
with two dicks that duel each other constantly, resulting in
his slightly gassy, somewhat bemused expression, commented on by all.
Concerned for my career, not to mention my mortal flesh,
I went to see Cockrobin, down under L Street where he lives in a funeral urn.
I kissed him by way of interview, and he bade me live just to spite his rival.
Like any good reporter, I wrote what I could long before deadline,
plumbing the morgue for basic bio stuff about myself, all news to me.
Then I composed several endings and demises, stored in a cloud like akashic records.
Oh how Bloodorange and I used to dance, but now
one of his brats has killed me with a ball peen hammer, emerging from a high cupboard
to bash my brains in. How'd the little darling even get up there?
(Bloodorange hates vernacular, that's why I used it.)
The next afternoon, the newspaper folded,
journalism died, and Bloodorange became a Hindu,
reincarnated, single again, and using my skull for a doorstop at his ashram
Where the ideals are advertising revenue, and survival of the fittest.
for the weekend challenge at Toads: the news.
12 comments:
Hard to know where or how to begin to pour praise down upon this cannily crafted ode to the journalist.So much to admire here. The altered reality created is so believable.Wonderful piece of writing.
- May 21, 2017 at 4:25 AM
Shayszus FB, this is a burning room of forgotten newscopy. How did truth-telling become Fallstaffian gas? Nothing to save but plenty to discant and recant. Hope you link to the forum, 'tis essential. I sell stuff to weekly newspapers, have so for 20 years now, and they are not dying as fast as the big city boys, but the back of the Titanic is getting a rough ocean view. Dizzy and stellar work here.
- May 21, 2017 at 6:44 AM
- Fireblossom said...
blueoran--sorry I forgot to complete the link. It is fixed now. :-)
- May 21, 2017 at 7:50 AM
- hyperCRYPTICal said...
Brilliantly crafted and it is so believable.
Sad how the written press, in its effort to survive, regards advertising revenue as more important than truth telling. And all but the mighty will fall...and we will rely on the internet to provide us with 'the news' in its ghastly form of breaking news updates...
Anna :o]
- May 21, 2017 at 9:19 AM
- hedgewitch said...
Chickpea, girl reporter. Indeed, how I always see you. The whole poem is akashic, and written on the bloodorange sky of everything sunset-folding like a newspaper left on a bus seat into an oblivion of apathetic cleaners who will suck it all up onto their facebook page along with the daily kittehs. Bruising writing, Shay.
- May 21, 2017 at 9:35 AM
- Sherry Blue Sky said...
Fantastic. I especially like the reincarnated Hindu, using a skull for a doorstop. Nice touch. Smiles.
- May 21, 2017 at 10:00 AM
- brudberg said...
Investigate reporter... if you go in to deep you get yourself Wallraffed... (at least here we still talk about dear Gunther)
- May 21, 2017 at 11:27 AM
- Cloudia said...
Where is all this insight into journalism's sorry state from? You must hang with newspaper types. Amusing folk, like all outsiders. Remember when journalists were marginal types not from j school? Ah well. You snatched my attention and fancy and musing once again. . . Still a wonder, Shay
- May 21, 2017 at 1:46 PM
- gillena cox said...
lol, this took me by storm. What a write
Much love...
- May 21, 2017 at 1:55 PM
- Sara McNulty said...
Chickpea, girl reporter, and blood-orange turning Hindu. Just two fantastic images among many. Wonderful!
- May 21, 2017 at 11:10 PM
- Susie Clevenger said...
It appears you didn't go silently in to that good..umm...morgued night. Your approach to everything is so unique. Always a treat to read your work!
- May 22, 2017 at 11:04 AM
- Buddah Moskowitz said...
How can you be so cynical when the press is democratized so much that every schmuck with a Twitter account and a half-assed opinion is a journalist? You're just an elitist, but I admit, with your talent, you've got a point. When will you learn that getting involved with men will be the death of you? La la la la la la la la la means I love you - mosk
- May 23, 2017 at 2:01 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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I want to (finally) share some pics from when we tie dyed a couple weeks ago. They just turned out so great!
|This was a spiral design
|I used a Tulip brand kit for this one! Dyed the top and skirt!
|This shirt is a bullseye and some stripes on the little sleeves.
At the moment, I don't know where my 6 and 4 yr old are...not good. Oh wait, at least I hear them. My 2 yr old has a fever and is napping (the only one who still humors me with a nap of some sort most days). It is storming. Which is fantastic because for the last, I don't know, 13 days it has been over 100 degrees. I think it was 106 on Saturday and Sunday. But the dishes are piled up. My coffee is cold and still in the pot. I still need to eat lunch. I need to start some laundry- all my kitchen towels are dirty. I did wash clothes this weekend and washed diapers yesterday. Dinner tonight is easy-peasy! I have got to share the "recipe" with you! It is one of my go-to dinners when we have a busy evening. Tonight we will divide up after dinner between a t-ball game and a t-ball practice.
But I AM thinking about crafts...if that counts for anything. I am getting ready to bring a color into my beige living room. I know, living on the edge here. I have decided on blue! Surprise, surprise. I just can't get into making anything because I am spending a lot of energy on keeping my kids entertained. I even offered to get out the paints today and they said "no". I don't get it! I can't win with them these days. Not like we had any *solid* routine before, but coming off of a two week vacation isn't helping either. Me or them. I still don't have a good routine with them. Well, there is always tomorrow!


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The island
St Kitts is blessed with a diverse and stunning combination of rain forested mountains and great beaches. The green and unspoilt nature of the island lends itself to varied activities. To follow are just a few: Sailing, diving, trekking, golf, rainforests, hiking, bird watching, tourist visits, and cultural events. Basseterre, the capital, has a good mix of historical sights such as museums and churches as well as a thriving local community of market vendors and modern shops. For more things to do Click Here


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Rajasthan, known formerly by the name Rajputana or the land of the kings, is the largest state in the republic of India. It covers an area of 342,239 sq kilometers which is 10.4% of India. However despite of its large size it is covered by the Great Indian Desert, Thar. The Thar Desert runs parallel to the Sutlej-Indus river valley. Being located at the forefront of Indian civilization, the state of Rajasthan has seen the age of kings thus, explaining the moniker 'the land of kings'. Rajasthan houses an amazing display of arts and architecture, courtesy of it being a princely state. Each individual kingdom of Rajasthan has a distinctive style of architecture and arts making it one of the most culturally diverse places in the world. In this article we shall list out the 10 popular places to visit in Rajasthan.
The capital of the state, Jaipur is also the largest city in the princely state of Rajasthan. It was founded in 1727, by the Kachwaha Rajput Ruler Sawai Jaisingh II, who was the ruler of Amber. Also known by the nickname 'Pink City of India' which is due to the distinctive saffron or pink color of the buildings. The planning of the city was done according to the Vedic Vastu Shastra (Indian architecture).
Udaipur was founded in 1553 by the Sisodiya Rajput Ruler Maharana Udai Singh II. The Mewar Rajputs founded the city to relocate their capital from Chittor to a more secure location. Today, most of the palaces have been converted into hotels, thus attracting a huge no. of tourist crowd to this city.
The city's picturesque location at the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains, the state of Udaipur is a unique destination. Apart from its various palaces, forts, market places, and various temples are also the reason for its popularity. The cities are well planned and the people hospitable, the place is not only famous for its palaces and monuments, the city of Udaipur has a lot to offer its visitors.
The second largest City of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is also the second most populated city of Rajasthan after Jaipur. The city was founded in 1459 by the Rathore Rajput Ruler, Rao Jodha Singh of Marwar. The city was founded as Marwar's new capital after the fall of the former capital of Mandore. Jodhpur is also called the Sun City as it enjoys a bright sunny weather all year round. Strategically, it is considered to be the most important city of western Rajasthan as it lies only at a distance of 250 kilometers from the Indo-Pakistan border.
Also, because it lies in the center of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is an important tourist destination as well. Jodhpur has been listed many a times in various tourism magazines and documentaries and has topped the lonely planet's list of most extraordinary place to stay in 2014. The various hill forts, palaces and the old walled city are just a handful of attractions from the multitude that this wonderful city has to offer.
Rajasthan holiday packages– Get the best deals on Rajasthan tours & vacation packages at Loginholidays. For customized Rajasthan travel packages call us:+91 98108 03918


text:
How To Install Glass Mosaiscs
Prepare the Work Space :
1- Remove all the items on the kitchen countertop. Turn off electricity to all the outlets on the wall where you are installing the backsplash. Unscrew the electrical outlets and pull them out from the receptacle. Loosening the outlets gives you room to work as you install tile around the boxes.
2- Pull your freestanding range away from the wall where you are installing the backsplash and set it out of your way. A gas range should have enough piping so you can pull the range away from the wall. Call the gas company to disconnect it if you need to move it completely out of the way. If you have a built-in range, omit this step.
3- Cover the counters with scrap cardboard at least 1/8-inch thick to protect their surface. The depth of the cardboard also sets the depth of the expansion joint for you by serving as a spacer. Tape the cardboard in place with painter's tape.
4- Measure and cut a piece of scrap 1-inch lumber, using a circular saw, the length of the opening in the cabinets where the range sat. Match the top of the board with the top of the cardboard on either side of the opening. Secure the board to the wall with drywall screws. The board serves as a ledger to support the tile in this open space until the adhesive dries.
5- Roughen the wall's surface with 80-grit sandpaper to enable the adhesive to bond better with the wall.
Install Kitchen Backsplash:
1- Select a center focal point for the tile installation. Mark the location on the countertop, ledger or wall cabinet with a piece of painter's tape. Draw an arrow on the painter's tape to indicate where you want the center to be.
2- Dry fit the sheets of tile starting with the center piece. Align it horizontally onto the countertop. Place sheets on either side of it to see how the tiles are going to fit together. If necessary, you may put adjoining pieces closer together. Once installed, you won't notice the narrower joint. Plan the tile placement to minimize cutting tiles to fit around electrical receptacles. Cut away rows of tiles on the outside ends that extend beyond the length of the backsplash, using a utility knife. Cut away unnecessary tile leaving a 1/8-inch expansion joint against the corners. Label the facing sheet of each tile sheet so you know where to place it.
3- Continue laying out the next row of tiles. Cut away unnecessary tile as you leave a 1/8-inch expansion joint under the wall cabinets and against the corners. Mark the location of each sheet.
4- Stir the contents of a bucket of premixed thinset. Apply enough thinset to the center starting point on the wall with a 1/4-inch notched trowel using a fanning motion. Make a final horizontal pass with the trowel. Place excess thinset back in the bucket.
5- Remove the notches from the thinset with the smooth side of the trowel. Leave 1/8 inch of thinset on the wall. If you leave notches in the thinset, they may be visible behind clear glass tiles.
6- Set the first sheet of tiles in place. Press them firmly against the wall with your hand. Hold a piece of scrap wood against the tile and tap it gently with a hammer to seat the tiles into the thinset.
7- Place the second sheet of tiles above the first using the same setting technique. Add more thinset to the wall and continue setting tiles on either side of the center sheets. Align joints closely so the sheets appear to be continuous.
8- Continue to seat the tiles with the block of wood and hammer. Run the wood over adjoining sheets to ensure the tiles are all set at the same depth.
9- Wipe a damp but not dripping sponge across the paper facing on the tile sheets several times within five to 10 minutes to release the paper facing. Starting at an upper corner, pull the paper off the tiles diagonally. Tap any loosened tiles back into the thinset.
10- Cut individual tiles to fit around receptacles and other openings with tile nippers. These devises look like pliers with cutting wheels. Insert the tile piece in the nipper. Align the cutting wheel with the cutting line on the tile. Squeeze the handle to cut and break the tile.
11- Apply a thin layer of thinset to the back of any individual tiles and place them on the wall. Allow all the thinset the dry for 48 hours before proceeding.
Grout the Backsplash:
1- Wipe the entire backsplash area with a damp sponge to remove any traces of adhesive from the backing paper. Use a nylon scrub brush to clean the joints between the tiles.
2- Stir premixed urethane grout well with a paddle mixer attached to a drill. The texture of the grout should be uniform and without air bubbles. If air bubbles develop, let the grout set for a few minutes to get rid of them.
3- Dampen the wall with a clean sponge.
4- Apply grout to the wall one section at a time with an epoxy grout float. Work the grout into the joints by pushing it horizontally and vertically along the lines. Wipe the float across the tiles diagonally to wipe off excess grout without damaging the grout packed into the joints. Continue adding grout to all the joints.
5- Create uniform joint lines by wiping a dampened sponge in a circular motion over the surface of the backsplash.
6- Clean the surface with a damp, clean sponge. Allow the grout to dry following manufacturer's recommendations.
7- Wipe any haze that remains on the glass tiles with a clean soft cloth.
8- Run a bead of silicone caulking along the expansion joint all along the perimeter of the backsplash. Allow the caulking at least two hours to dry.
9- Remove the ledger board you installed earlier. Remove the cardboard from the countertop. Reattach the outlets in their receptacle boxes. You may need to use longer screws to secure them.
Specs: (Important- tone or caliber variations may occur.)
Call For Assistance 1-305-471-9552 or Email Us: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
b Children's literature consists of any fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama that children commonly enjoy, and that parents feel is appropriate. It's often written with children in mind, and has moral lessons that they can understand and appreciate. Many, but not all, are illustrated.
b Children's literature can be classified by genre or the reader's intended age. Some works, for example the Harry Potter series, are a bit harder to classify, because they're intended for children, yet adults love them too.
b Although there are many children's stories from antiquity, such as Aesop's Fables, the concept of childhood didn't really begin until the 18th century and the age of reason, where people began to study the differences between children and adults. So, this is when children's literature began to develop as a genre.
b Also, the 18th century was when printing became cheaper and people could afford more books, so writing and publishing became industries.
b Having said that, there are some examples of early children's lit, such as the 12th century Play of Daniel, written by Hilarius, an Englishman. It's based on the book of Daniel in the Bible.
b Another, still popular today is The Pilgrim's Progress, written in 1678 by John Bunyon.
b A Little Pretty Pocket Book was the first "modern" children's book, written by John Newbery in 1744. It contained a collection of rhymes, picture stories, and games, and had a space for children to record their daily behaviour. Newbery produced many more children's books, and his family continued the business for generations.
b John Newbery is considered the father of children's lit., and the Newbery Award for children's lit. was named in his honour.
b Famous 19th century children's authors include Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, and E.T.A. Hoffman, who wrote "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" in 1816.
b The golden age of children's literature started with Lewis Carroll's book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, written in 1865. It's considered the first masterpiece, written for children.
b Other famous stories from this golden age include:
The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi
Treasure Island, and Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling
The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Frank Baum
The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams
The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame
Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
b The final book considered in this golden age was Winnie-the-Pooh, written by A. A. Milne in 1926.
b But that hasn't stopped children's lit. Since then, children have read:
The Lord of the Rings, by Tolkein
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and Matilda, by Roald Dahl
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss
Les Adventures de Tintin, by Georges Remi
Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant, by Jean de Brunhoff
Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet & the Swan, by E. B. White
Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling
b Besides the Newbery Medal, children's books may also win a Caldecott Medal for outstanding illustration.
b Critics today often complain about some of these works, especially older ones, having to do with racism, sexism, stereotypes, and ideas about imperialism and colonialism. It's up to parents to decide for themselves which stories are appropriate and provide proper moral lessons for their children.


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If there is one indoor plant that is considered popular and trendy, it would definitely be the Fiddle Leaf Fig. The scientific name is Ficus Lyrata. They can grow to be really tall and are a focal point in any room.
|Marion House Book
This one is huuuge, I can only imagine this being in my house!
|Peter Dunham
|Elle Decor
I had heard IKEA was selling these Fiddle Leaf Fig trees so after checking their inventory online for a couple weeks, they finally got some in stock at my local store. I've read these are finicky plants to care for but figured for $12.99, it was worth a shot! The ones IKEA sell are smaller, more plant like, but they do grow fairly quickly. The one I bought at Ikea had two stalks like this one.
It also looks like Home Depot carries them now.
I've had mine for about 6 months and haven't killed it yet so I thought I'd try separating it to give each more room and encourage new growth.
My fiddle leaf fig plants seem to like the indirect light next to the windows and I water them once a week. I also turn them every couple days to avoid them growing towards the sunlight.
Here is my other one that is in the large window:
Another favorite house plant, and some may argue more popular than the Fiddle Leaf, is the Succulent. They are readily available at any garden center, come in many different colors and are so easy to take care of. Just put them in a sunny window, give a small amount of water every two weeks or so and they will thrive!
I also have a spider plant and a little maidenhair fern that I just picked up. I think every room needs some greenery to add some natural color, texture and to bring the room to life!
Do you have a favorite house plant??
Update: 8/5/2015:
Wooot, Look at how much these have grown!! The one in the first picture has clearly grown faster but the other has still grown a lot! Looking at these pictures.. I need some bigger pots and will have to put the white one on the floor soon!


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Chris Badger, Head of Art at Clemenger BBDO advertising recently invited me to exhibit my work in Clemenger's Sydney offices in a new space devoted entirely to showcasing interesting art to their art directors and clients. In an environment designed to showcase new and exciting artists as great campaign options, Clemenger are asking illustrators and photographers to participate on a monthly basis.
Chris said "this way we get some great work to look at and the artist gets the chance to get their work seen and sold".
I'm really excited to have my canvases up in front of such a great potential art buying audience who can not only purchase original work but also commission illustration for campaigns.


text:
My office decorations over the holiday...
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Office Party
Posted by Cindy Whitehead
5 comments:
- E said...
Your office space is so clean and colorful! This is what I aspire to. Very cool tree, too.
- January 8, 2012 at 7:19 PM
The tree is too cute!! Also love the combination of bangles too :)
- January 8, 2012 at 9:47 PM
- Beach Coast Style said...
How pretty! love the little tree! I bet your office is so neat and tidy. I can just feel it :-)
- January 9, 2012 at 8:08 PM
- sealaura said...
awww how sweet! I love when people have little candy plates at their desks, so inviting.
- January 11, 2012 at 10:13 AM
- stive martin said...
Its sweet office decoration. I really love it.
Red Card Experienced | CSCS Green Card
- April 25, 2012 at 3:51 AM
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text:
For 10 years now, the community of Heartland Presbyterian Church have had a deliberate and lovely "sister parish" relationship with the community of El Tablon, a poor canton in the mountainside near the city of Berlin in the Usulutan district of El Salvador. El Tablon has 2 parts- the upper and larger part is called El Tablon Centro; the smaller part has just recently attained the official status of a canton and is called El Tablon Cerna. (Hereafter Centro and Cerna). Therefore, by virtue of their own developing community, Heartland Presbyterian Church now has 2 sister parish relationships, which overlap and cooperate quite often as one.
This year's delegation consisted of a very fluid group. From Heartland's membership were me, my son Luke, Lisa and Matt, Scott, Trisha, and Joyce. I could write volumes about each person on this delegation, but initially the most intriguing story here is that Joyce was returning to El Salvador for her second trip. Her initial trip was 10 years ago when she and a man named Bill (see below) went to El Salvador on our very first delegation, mostly to see if we even ought to step into a sister parish relationship with a community there. More about that later...
Also on our delegation were a friend named Mike from our neighboring Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, and a friend named Meghan, from Omaha, whom we know through spending a week together each summer at Synod School. Meghan, Matt, and Luke are teenagers, while the rest of us are from 5 to 25 years older than they.
Another member of our delegation- sort of- was Kathy, who lives in Berlin, El Salvador now. Kathy is a member of Heartland Church and has recently been commissioned as a mission co-worker in El Salvador by the Presbytery of Des Moines. That means that she works as part of a "Pastoral Team" (or "Equipo Pastoral" as they call themselves) in Berlin. The Pastoral Team is a group of women and men who began their work in the city of Berlin and its surrounding Cantons as part of the work of the Parroquia de San Jose (Saint Joseph Parish), a catholic church in Berlin. Much of their work (but not all, by any means) centers around empowering sister parish relationships between congregations in the Des Moines area and cantons in the Berlin area. They are marvelous witnesses to grace and very hard workers. Kathy is the one who leads delegations from the US that come to Berlin. Her Spanish is getting better and better and she is a delightful person who demonstrates the kind of servant's heart and flexibility that this kind of relationship requires.
And, finally, our delegation doubled for a short time, because we met up with some other members of Heartland Presbyterian Church and their friends/families for a special occasion. I'll tell more about that later, but for now there was Bill and Joie, Larry, Eddie and Tara, Erica and Nikki, Regina, Alvaro, and another couple whose names I'll recall by the time I get around to telling that story.
So, for today, I will leave it at that: We traveled and the number of our group was fluid and each of us brought something special to the trip that I will share in bits and pieces over the next week or so. I may even tie it all together along the way with the story of the book of Revelation!
Until then ...


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Monday, March 15, 2010
15th March 1848
Of late I've been reading a great history book called "The Hungarians: 1000 Years of Victory in Defeat" by Paul Lendvai. (The title is very apt since the history of Hungarians in Europe does seem to have been a litany of defeats - and in fact the two biggest holidays in the Hungarian calendar - today and the commemoration of the 1956 uprising both, ultimately celebrate and romanticise defeats).
The thing that really stands out about the history of Hungary prior to 1848 is that if Hungarians feel the need to hold any historical grudges, they ought to hold those grudges at two groups
(1) Their own ridiculously self-interested and anti-progressive nobility. With a few notable exceptions this group kept Hungary (and it's attendant bits) in a ridiculously backward state for centuries; and
(2) The Austrians/Habsburgs who seemingly never missed an opportunity to screw everyone over, and especially the Hungarians.
What's inspiring about the 1848 revolution which Hungarians celebrate today is that it is liberation from these very two groups that characterises the positive side of the uprising. The removal of serfdom, the emancipation of the Jews and the wresting of control from Vienna were some of the truly forward thinking things achieved by the revolution. On the negative side the leaders of the revolution, including it's most famous member Kossuth Lajos, wrapped everything up in a Magyar nationalism which ultimately led to its downfall. This was not only a political error - nothing good ever comes of nationalism, and to use nationalism as a tool or worse as a basis, always ends up badly- but it was a massive tactical error too. Rather than liberating peasants from serfdom, the sense was that it was about liberating Hungarian peasants - Romanians and Serbs and other ethnic groups within Hungary and Transylvania were not to be liberated, and so had no stake in the success of the revolution (and indeed could not have been faulted for being highly suspicious of it and fearful of its success). Austria got them to fight along with Vienna against the revolution (and promptly, when it was successfully put down, screwed them over too. The Habsburgs were equal opportunity dickheads it seems). Later in exile, Kossuth Lajos argued for a loose Danube confederation of peoples, which would have been a much better bet from the word go, but by then it was too late.
Eventually the revolution was finally put down with the support of Russia. One of the best things about Lendvai's book ( as well as it being a very even-handed and well-written history) is some little vignettes of interest - people who rose to minor prominence and/or infamy. One of these is Alexei Gusev. Alexei Gusev was a Csarist captain who realised how important the revolution was and ended up fighting alongside the Hungarians. Except that he didn't actually exist. During the time of Soviet domination of Hungary, the USSR wanted to present themselves as long time friends of Hungary - this was a problem because Hungary's most romantic historical moment (1848) was eventually put down with Russian support. In trying to form a clear revolutionary link between Kossuth and Stalin, a compliant Hungarian historian was recruited who then researched in archives and came up with the aforementioned Captain Gusev, who had rebelled against the Csar and joined Kossuth. Here was the link between the USSR and Kossuth. They even named streets after him in Budapest and other towns. Until of course it was discovered after 1989 that he had in fact been entirely made up.
But anyway, I digress. 1848. Kossuth. Petőfi. It's difficult to overstate the importance of this moment in Hungarian history, and in the Hungarian consciousness. As I look out the window today, I can see Hungarian flags all over the place. This is about the only day of the year when you see those flags here (except outside the Hungarian consulate). There will be a laying of wreaths on the statues of Petőfi and Nicolae Balcescu (who was a Romanian revolutionary leader in 1848 also, and who ought to have been listened to more by Kossuth, as much more could have been achieved)
I'll write more about the Lendvai book as I go through it. It's really worth reading for anyone vaguely interested in regional history and in particular the Hungarians' place in it.
4 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Thanks, Andy.
Please write some more about the book, I'm interested in.
Now I'm reading some of the Neagu Djuvara's books, they all are very intersting. Perhaps I should expand my lecture to other historians in region, the Balkans are very special. Gee, and I remembered I used to hate history lessons..
- 6:24 pm
- Anonymous said...
The Habsburgs/Austrians have also fundamentally shaped the Hungarian culture & civilization. Without them Budapest would be a much different city, for instance.
- 8:05 pm
- Andy H said...
Hi Anon 1. Yes, I definitely will. I'll post more as I go through it. I find I have a lot to comment on :-)
Hi Anon 2: Yes, obviously that is true (but Budapest would be a different place without the Ottomans too, though not quite as dramatically perhaps). But that doesn't mean the relationship was one of equals. India was fundamentally shaped by Britain, but that doesn't make it a healthy relationship of equals :-)
- 4:08 pm
- Gadjo Dilo said...
Very interesting. I'm always on the lookout for non-partisan versions of these events. In puts into perspective what I, being married to a Romanian - I would never get to hear about Kossuth et al. - hear about people like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avram_Iancu.
- 3:15 pm


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In the YouTube clip below, Hillary Clinton clearly, plainly, unambiguously said that in a case of alleged rape, the default position should be to believe one side (who happens to be the accuser) "until they are disbelieved based on evidence." The competing "evidence" will almost always need to be proffered by the accused, or by someone supporting the accused's position. And she didn't say just any evidence will do--the evidence has to be sufficient so that we actually disbelieve her story. Hillary Clinton buys into the notion that a man accused is guilty until he proves his innocence. That represents a monumental sea change in the way we think about criminal offenses. As you watch the clip below, you need to understand why it is so awful.
Shifting the burden of proving consent in rape cases is an idea long pushed by extremist victims' advocates. We've been warning about it at COTWA for years. Colleges have started mandating it on their own in the past couple of years, and some states are now legally requiring colleges to shift the burden of proof. It is an articulation of the worst kind of radical feminist thought. We think it will be ruled unconstitutional when it is finally challenged.
Linda Brookover Bourque's "Defining Rape" said in 1989 that the ultimate objective of rape reform--the ultimate objective--is shifting the burden of proof from "the victim" to "the offender."
Mainstream feminist extremist Jessica Valenti advocates that America look to Swedish law as its legislative model for rape, and "activists and legal experts in Sweden want to change the law there so that the burden of proof is on the accused; the alleged rapist would have to show that he got consent, instead of the victim having to prove that she didn't give it."
Serious feminist scholars have written extensively on the subject in an effort to change the law. Criminal law professor and feminist Michele Alexandre would make the sex act a presumed crime whenever a woman cries rape. See M. Alexandre, "'Girls Gone Wild' and Rape Law: Revising the Contractual Concept of Consent & Ensuring an Unbiased Application of 'Reasonable Doubt' When the Victim is Non-Traditional," 17 American Univ. Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law 1, 41, 55-56 (2009). In "Addressing Rape Reform in Law and Practice" (2008), Professor Susan Caringella of Western Michigan University's Sociology Department, not only refused to pay lip service to insuring that the innocent aren't punished with the guilty, she goes so far as to declare that men accused of rape are "overprotect[ed]." She writes: "It is high time to give victims a fair shake, to dismantle the zealous overprotections for men accused of this crime, which have been buoyed up by the myths about false accusations, ulterior motives, and so on, commonly embraced when rape charges are levied." Prof. Caringella advocates a shift in the burden of proof by enacting affirmative consent laws. Two years ago, the Washington Supreme Court reversed some very bad law that put the burden of proving consent in rape cases on the accused.
Hillary Clinton has tapped into an idea espoused by radical feminists, and it is a very dangerous thing. The Obama administration has manifested blatant hostility to the due process rights of men accused of rape--a hostility that goes far beyond what any previous administration has manifested (if you don't know that, you haven't been paying attention to the issue since April 2011 when the "Dear Colleague" letter was promulgated)--and Clinton's attitude clearly suggests the hostility and the witch hunts will continue. At an event in Iowa on September 14, 2015, Hillary Clinton declared, "I want to send a message to every survivor of sexual assault . . . You have the right . . . to be believed and we're with you." She also posted the following comment on Twitter: "Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be . . . believed, and supported."
Every woman who claims she was raped has the right to be treated with respect and to be taken seriously. She should not be disbelieved, but it needs to be her burden (or the state's or the school's) to prove that the man she accused is guilty.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Hillary Clinton smiles and laughs when she announces men accused of rape should be deemed guilty until proven innocent
Posted by Archivist at Wednesday, June 08, 2016


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The water is high, cold, fast, and deep: in these conditions hypothermia is a real and serious risk.
Please be aware that landings and the roads leading to them may be, or may become, submerged. Whether driving or walking, any time you encounter water over a road or trail, turn around and do not enter the water.
Watch for debris. Debris may be floating or just under the surface, and swift currents may push you into debris.
Campsites may be dangerous to access due to high water. Normal access may be underwater, and swift currents may make it difficult to pull up to shore and exit or enter your vessel.
If you must go on the water, PLEASE WEAR YOUR LIFEJACKET AT ALL TIMES!
Bring extra dry clothes in a protected plastic bag or container. In these conditions,
Watch for low bridges: be prepared to portage around them.
Let someone know your float plan. Notify that person when you get on and off the river.


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Elopement Package at Bella Collina
Do you want to get married and not have all the stress that goes into the planning? Would you rather it be intimate? Would you like to do it this week?
Bella Collina Mansion is the place for you!
For bride & groom only and four witnesses.
Elopement Packages not available on Fridays, Saturday's or Sunday's.
*Couple must comply with NC law and apply for marriage license IN PERSON at any courthouse in North Carolina.
**Each additional guest - up to four more will have a $50.00 fee


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Shkodra (alb. Shkodër), the largest city in the north of Albania (87,500 inhabitants, 2008 estimate), is located on the east side of Shkodra Lake, on the southern part of the Mbishkodra plain, between the rivers Drini and Buna. The city is one of the oldest in Albania and it is also an important cultural and economic center.
View to Shkodra from Rozafa Castle
Shkodra has been inhabited continuously since its foundation in the 4th century BC. It was the chief town of Illyrian tribe of Labeats and later on during the reign of King Gent and Queen Teuta the chief centre of the Illyrian state. In the year 168 BC, the city was taken by the Romans and it became an important trade and military route for them. In 1040 AD, Shkodra was captured by the Serbs and became an important economic and administrative center. In 1396, the city came under Venetian rule, forming a coalition against Ottoman Empire. Despite resisting attacks for some years, Shkodra fell under Turkish rule in 1479. Many inhabitants fled shortly after the occupation that devastated the city. It did not gain its prosperity until about the 17th century.
During its long history the city has played important role in Albanian culture and history. In the southerly part of the city rises the Castle of Rozafa, and in the surrounding neighbourhood there are prehistoric burial grounds and both ancient and medieval fortified settlements.
Rozafa Castle
Today the city and the area around it is blessed with numerous different natural and cultural objects. The city retains its characteristic appearance with narrow streets with tall stone walls on both sides and tall gates. After World War II, Shkodra rebuilt with wider streets and new residential buildings. These were built in several new quarters.
Apart from being a historic centre, Shkodra has always been a centre of education, culture and trade. It has always developed and maintained links to the West, especially to Italy and Austria. Shkodra is also the centre of Albanian Catholicism as well as a fine example of tolerance between religions, with the city comprising all the major faiths found in Albania.
What to see
Rozafa Castle (fortress of Shkodra) - at the entrance of the town, 3km south of the city centre, located on rocky hill 133m high. It is one of the biggest and most famous castles in Albania. The Rozafa castle has a fascinating history, that relates to one of the most beautiful of Albanian Legends. Archaeological excavations have yielded finds extending from the early Bronze Age until the present day. Within its massive defensive walls stand the Church of St. Stephen, several Venetian administrative buildings, a belfry and some medieval rooms. There is also small museum and traditional restaurant. Open 08:00 - 22:00. Admission 200 lek.
St. Stephen's Church - stands in the principal court of Rozafa Castle. It was constructed in two phases at the end of the 13th and in the 14th century, and was later converted into a mosque.
Leaden Mosque - stands below Rozafa Castle in a medieval quarter, once old bazaar area. It was built in 1773 by Mehmet Pasha Bushati on the model of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and is roofed with lead.
Historical Museum - Ottoman-era building (1815) with archaeological and ethnographic collections.
National Photo Gallery "Marubi" - is located in the centre of the town and is the richest and most important photographic archive in Albania. It contains more than 500,000 negatives, of which the earliest go back to 1858.
Catholic Cathedral (Kisha e Madhe) - one of the biggest catholic cathedrals in Balkans dedicated to St. Stephen. After it's reconstruction in 1991, the cathedrait was inaugurated by Mother Theresa and two years later it was visited by Pope John Paul II. Inide of the cathedral is a copy of the Turin Shrout. Free Access.
Al-Zamil Mosque, New Mosque - two mosques in the centre of city.
Shkodra Surroundings
Mesi Bridge
Albanian Alps
Mes Bridge (Ura e Mesit) - is 6 km north of Shkodra, near the village of Mesi, builded in 1768, over the Kir river. This is the largest and best preserved Ottoman bridge in Albania, built along the ancient trade route from Shkodra to Kosovo. The bridge is 108m long, 3m wide, with 13 asymmetrical archs. The Kir river it crosses has incredibly blue, clear mountain water and the bridge is located in a picturesque landscape.
Shkodra Lake - on the border of Montenegro with Albania is in fact a former sea bay that was cut off from the Adriatic when the sea levels dropped, thousands of years ago. The lake is the largest in the Balkans at 41km long and with surface between 370-530 km2. As its depth is up to 60 metres, the bottom of the lake is well below sea level, making it a so-called cryptodepression. Shkodra Lake is one of the largest bird reserves in Europe, having some 240 bird species inhabiting its shores, including some of the last pelicans in Europe, and thus popular with birders.
Albanian Alps - embrace roughly 2240 km2 and lie in the prefectures of Shkodra and Tropoja. Thirteen peaks exceed 2500 m in height and the principal rivers are the Valbona, Shala, Cemi and Kiri. There is a great diversity of fauna and flora, particularly in the Thethi National Park. Centres of Alpine tourism are Boga, Thethi, Vermosh and Valbona.
Lezha Castle
Lezha - town 59 km south of Shkodra founded in ancient times. Lezha was the site where Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg united the Albanian princes in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. Skanderbeg is buried in the cathedral of Lezha which is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Skanderberg museum has also the outer sector - archaeological environment with objects from Lezha ancient and medieval period, found around the museum.To the east of town on top of a 186m high hill is located Lezha Castle, which bears traces of Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman architecture.
Shkodra Area in Photos
Actualized: 11/2008


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Joshua Becker over at Becoming Minimalist is trying to tell us that our lives could be different IF we had less clothes. He goes on to elude that if we had fewer clothes in our closets, we'd have more money, more time, less stress, less clutter, and an easier laundry day.
Is he pulling the leg of our fifth pair of designer jeans or is this true?
It's the American way. More must mean better, right? However, if we're really honest about the clothes in our closet, we probably actually wear about a third of the clothes in our closets.
J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly did a paring-down experiment in his closet. He moved all his clothes to a spare room and only once he actually wore an item could it be returned to his closet. By the end of the experiment, he donated 37 shirts and sweaters.
There are a lot of reasons we don't wear the clothes in our closet: wrong fit, wrong color, too fancy, too low cut, uncomfortable, looked better on the mannequin or on the catalog model. My husband actually owns two pairs of the same exact Gap jeans but refuses to wear one pair because he swears they don't fit as well. But why do we hold on to these clothes even when we know we're not going to -- and shouldn't -- ever wear them again?
It's guilt. Guilt that you paid too much, guilt that it's a gift you never liked, guilt that you're not thin enough, guilt that you just can't seem to make the garment work (and magical thinking that a certain dress is going to someday look great on us even though it never will look great on us).
Personally, I need to really resist impulse buys -- cute, cheap clothes at Target (I'm a sucker for fresh seasonal prints and trends), sale items -- even basics -- online, and especially items not sized as Petites. These items hardly ever end up working out for me because I don't try them on and they're not made to fit my body type. But do I ever learn? No. I see that J.Crew model looking dapper in regular-sized, half-priced pleated crop pants, and my brain turns to mush and I think I can pull it off.
So now you know -- it's guilt. In essence, you're holding on to clothes you will never wear to punish yourself with the pain of guilt.
Now it's time to stop it! Forgive yourself for your part in all the ill-fitting clothing in your closet and move forward.
Thankfully, Joshua provides a wonderful Practical Guide to Owning Fewer Clothes in 10 simple steps. And I would add:
11. Try every purchase on before you buy. If you buy an article of clothing straight off the rack without trying it on, you may never get around to returning it even if you hate it. And if a garment is on sale, be aware that there may be a reason -- like a poorly fitting design flaw. Never ever buy a closeout item without trying it on.
I also still really really love the closet-cleaning tips from Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project. With every change of the season, I apply these rules again. And now I'll add Joshua and J.D.'s ideas to my arsenal.
What's your closet philosophy? More is better or less is more? What is your biggest clothes shopping pitfall?
Image via Photopurtunity/Flickr


text: The Barranquilla collection is a well-known city in Colombia, where the famous Carnival is hosted. It features miraculous costumes, amazing food and entertaining music. Like the Carnival, these Barranquilla bags are brightly colored with intricate designs to show its uniqueness. There are many handbags in this collection that show the amazing designs on the strap, the strings, or even on the body of the bag. Read more to learn about all of the Wayuu Made Collections.


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What have Initial Coin Offerings, Digital Tokens and Virtual Currencies got to do with investments?
If you have been puzzling over terms like digital and virtual currencies, cryptocurrencies, digital tokens, or initial coin offerings and wondered what these terms mean, you may like to find out more here.
A virtual currency is sometimes referred to as a digital currency or a cryptocurrency if it's a digital currency secured by cryptography.
A virtual currency is a form of digital token that typically functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account or a store of value. For instance, a virtual currency may be used as a means to pay for goods or services.
Virtual currencies first emerged about 10 years ago and may not have a physical form, unlike coins or notes. Examples of virtual currencies are Bitcoin and Ethereum's Ether.
Virtual currencies are not issued by any government, and are not legal tender. This means that you may only use them to pay for goods or services if you are dealing with someone who is willing to accept them as a mode of payment. Typically, payments with virtual currencies are made online, although some shops are able to accept them as payments in-store.
Virtual currencies operate on a peer to peer system. Users of a virtual currency transact directly with each other, and each transaction is typically recorded in a blockchain for that virtual currency. The blockchain for a virtual currency operates as a distributed ledger or database of all transactions entered into by all users of the virtual currency.
Users of a virtual currency usually maintain anonymity with respect to their transactions entered into the blockchain. The blockchain may nevertheless be publicly available. You may buy, sell or transfer virtual currencies through an online platform, virtual currency exchange, or dedicated self-service kiosks.
Virtual currency exchanges allow users to buy or sell a virtual currency, for example, a Bitcoin for a fiat currency like USD or another virtual currency such as Ether. The exchanges may be centralised or decentralised. In a centralised exchange, the exchange provides liquidity and undertakes counterparty risk (i.e. is a party to the trade). Decentralised exchanges on the other hand may act just as bulletin or information platforms where buyers and sellers are matched or may locate each other.
There are also applications that allow you to store your virtual currencies in a digital "wallet," and you may spend your virtual currencies at physical shops where they are accepted.
As interest in virtual currencies grows, please be aware of the risks involved if you are buying a virtual currency.
Virtual currencies have seen extreme price volatility. Transparency has been limited as there might be little publicly available information that could help you gauge the fair value of the virtual currency. The surges in the prices of virtual currencies appear to be driven by speculation. If you plan to buy virtual currencies, you should carefully consider the claims being made about you are being offered – if the touted ease of making significant profits sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You should carefully assess whether buying virtual currencies is suitable for your investment objectives and risk appetite. Buyers of virtual currencies should be aware that they run the risk of losing all their capital.
The platforms or persons you deal with may not have taken enough security precautions and this could lead to theft through hacking. For example, as in the case of Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, which had 850,000 Bitcoins stolen in February 2014 (valued at more than US$450 million at the time), leading to its subsequent bankruptcy and closure. In January 2018, Coincheck, another virtual currency exchange based in Japan, also reported being hacked into and losing an estimated USD 400 million to theft.
Fraud has also occurred in relation to companies that claim to offer virtual currency payment platforms and other virtual currency related products and services. For example, in December 2015, the US Securities and Exchange Commission charged two Bitcoin mining companies with conducting a Ponzi scheme.
The anonymity of transactions involving virtual currencies means they can be an attractive means for money laundering and other illegal activities. In the event a platform or person is discovered to have used virtual currencies for purposes of money laundering or other illegal activities, it is likely that you could find your activities adversely affected if a law enforcement agency limits or even shuts down the platform's or person's operations.
You could lose your digital wallet or it could be hacked into and the contents stolen.
MAS does not regulate virtual currencies and their derivatives. Virtual currencies in Singapore are not regulated by MAS as they are not considered securities or legal tender. Members of the public who lose money from transacting in virtual currencies and related investments may not be able to rely on any protection afforded under legislation administered by MAS. Financial institutions that offer products that are not regulated or approved by the MAS are expected to disclose this, as well as the associated risks of the products in a clear and easily understood manner to investors.
If you wish to buy any investment product, you are strongly encouraged to deal only with persons regulated by MAS to offer that specific investment product, as such persons must disclose information on investment products being offered to you. They are also required to deal with you fairly. If you deal with an unregulated entity or invest in an unregulated product you give up the protection afforded under laws administered by MAS.
Virtual currency intermediaries, such as "cryptocurrency exchanges" that facilitate the buying or selling of virtual currencies, or provide a platform to allow persons to exchange virtual currencies, will be regulated by MAS for money laundering and terrorist financing risks. You can find out more here. You should continue to be cautious when dealing with virtual currencies as MAS' regulation of intermediaries will not extend to the safety and soundness of virtual currency intermediaries or the proper functioning of virtual currency transactions.
A digital token is a cryptographically-secured representation of a token-holder's rights to receive a benefit or perform specified functions. One particular type of digital token is virtual currency. Virtual currencies are typically used as a means to purchase goods or services. Examples of virtual currencies include Bitcoin and Ether.
However, the function of digital tokens has evolved beyond a virtual currency. For example, these digital tokens may represent ownership or a security interest over the token seller's assets or property, or a debt owed by the seller. Such digital tokens have been marketed as investment opportunities.
Digital tokens may be offered through an ICO or other investment schemes.
Digital tokens offered through an ICO are usually specific to the seller, and such tokens are typically sold to consumers in exchange for a widely-used virtual currency (such as Bitcoin or Ether) or cash. These sellers often set out their business proposal in a "whitepaper" which is published online. ICOs may relate to different business propositions, for example to develop a new blockchain platform. Others may offer an opportunity to invest in a property, business, and assets, or promise certain benefits or monetary returns.
Offerors of digital tokens usually claim that their tokens have the potential to appreciate in value as they will issue these in limited quantities. The price appreciation of virtual currencies like Bitcoin is often cited as an enticement to investors. (See also 'Risks relating to insufficient secondary market liquidity' below).
Digital tokens may also be sold indirectly through the sale of electronic credits which are convertible into tokens. Yet other schemes may bundle credits or tokens with conventional products or services such as educational courses or jewellery. The marketing efforts often focus on the potential returns from the token with little or no information on the bundled products or services.
Here are some risks you should be aware of. The risks highlighted below are worth considering but they are not exhaustive.
You would be exposed to heightened risk of fraud when investing in schemes that operate online or outside Singapore. As these operators do not have a presence in Singapore, it would be difficult to verify their authenticity. Should the scheme collapse, it would also be difficult to trace the scheme's operators. The recovery of invested monies may also be subject to foreign laws or regulations, which may not be the same as Singapore's.
The seller of digital tokens may not have a proven track record, making it hard for you to establish its credibility. As with all start-ups, the failure rate tends to be high.
Even if digital tokens are tradable in a secondary market, in practice, there may not be enough active buyers and sellers or the bid-ask spreads may be too wide. You may not be able to exit their token investments easily. In the worst case scenario where no secondary market develops, you may not be able to liquidate his token holdings at all. The exchanges or platforms that facilitates secondary trading of digital tokens may not be regulated by MAS.
The valuation of digital tokens are usually not transparent, and highly speculative. Where digital tokens do not hold any ownership rights to the seller's assets, the digital tokens would not be backed by any tangible asset. Such tokens would be merely speculative investments and their traded price can fluctuate greatly within a short period of time. There is a high risk that you could lose his entire investment amount. In the worst case scenario, the digital tokens could be rendered worthless.
You should be wary of investment schemes involving digital tokens that promise high returns. Usually, the higher the promised returns, the higher the risks. While these might also appear to be in the form of traditional investment profits, increasingly, they may also be in non-traditional forms such as high referral commissions i.e. promising consumers benefit for referring new participants.
The payment of such referral commissions may also be in breach of the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act. Further, such commissions would increase operating costs, which could lower the chances of achieving the returns.
Funds invested into investment schemes involving digital tokens are prone to being misused for illegal activities due to the anonymity of transactions, and the ease with which large sums of monies may be raised in a short period of time. You would be adversely affected if law enforcement agencies investigate any alleged illicit activities related to the token investment scheme.
You should seek to understand the nature of the digital tokens before dealing with digital tokens, and should exercise caution. You can also refer to the press release on MAS' regulatory position on the offer of digital tokens for more information.
You are strongly encouraged to seek financial services only from persons regulated by MAS as only professional persons are allowed to provide such services to you. They must also disclose information on investment products being recommended to you and deal fairly with you. If you deal with an unregulated entity, you will forgo the protection afforded under MAS's laws.
To find out whether an entity is regulated by MAS, you can check the Financial Institutions Directory on the MAS website. You can also look up the MAS Investor Alert List for a non-exhaustive list of entities that may have been wrongly perceived to be regulated by MAS. Consumer Alerts on the MoneySENSE website also has tips on avoiding scams.
If you suspect that an investment scheme involving digital tokens could be fraudulent, you should report such cases to the Police.
Checklist for consumers:
1. Make sure you fully understand the benefits and risks of the product or service before committing. The potential returns from digital tokens is uncertain and depends on various factors: the underlying business or assets (if any), whether the project is successfully developed, and general economic, political or market conditions. Before investing in such tokens, you should ensure that you understand the risks that the underlying project, business or assets carry. In the worst case scenario, the digital tokens you hold could end up worthless.
2. Assess whether the features of the product or service offered meets your needs. Would you have bought them anyway?
3. Before committing to an investment, consumers should ASK, CHECK and CONFIRM
a. ASK the seller as many questions as you need to fully understand the investment opportunity
b. CHECK if the information provided by the seller on itself or its scheme is true.
c. CONFIRM before investing, the seller or its representative's credentials by using resources such as
i) MAS Financial Institutions Directory
ii) MAS Register of Representatives
iii) Investor Alert List
© 2019 Monetary Authority of Singapore


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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
Glass area - 61 sq. ft. (5.67 sq. m)
Noise level - 70 dBA
Front axle - Standard 4WD differential lock; full-locking, electro-hydraulic
4WD engagement - Electro-hydraulic
Front axle suspension - Standard (Deluxe and Premium models)
Transmission control(s) - Armrest
Forward control(s) - Left-hand control
Maximum ISO engine - 255 hp (190 kW)
ISO engine HP @ 2,100 rated engine rpm - 240 hp (179 kW)
Total flow rate - 39 gal. (150 l)
Maximum pressure - 2,900 psi
Available flow rate per spool valves - 26.4 gpm (100 lpm)
Closed center load sensing (CCLS) with 4 electric fingertip remotes
Hydraulic reservoir capacity - 26.4 gal. (100 l)


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Refer them and (once they purchase a sleep package) receive a $25.00 Amazon gift card to your email.
Tell them to make sure that they add your first & last name and email address to the history form under; "How did you hear about me, or who referred you?"
*Offer is subject to change without notice.


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Famed Guitarist Alfredo Muro in a Free Outdoor Concert
By Fredric Dannen
One morning in 1971, the guitarist Alfredo Muro awoke to find himself famous throughout his native Peru. He was thirteen years old. Muro and his half sister, Connie Bieberach, a 20-year-old singer, had signed up to perform as a duo on Trampoline to Fame, a wildly popular talent show on Peruvian television. But they did so in secret, under the assumed name of Hermanos López, because their mother sternly disapproved of her children pursuing careers in music. Much to their own amazement, Alfredo and Connie took first prize, and promptly found themselves performing live for 1500 spectators at the largest theater in Lima. The secret was out.
Guitarist Alfredo Muro
Presented by Music Under the Trees
Sat, Apr 9, 1pm
Bellas Artes
A year or so after his sensational debut, Muro had a private experience that was perhaps an even more significant event in his musical life. At a party, someone slipped him a cassette of the Brazilian guitarist and composer Baden Powell. "I said 'Wow,'" Muro recalls, "His music was so complex, so harmonically different. I just fell in love with it." Following his teenage years, Muro went on to study with some of the world's greatest guitarists and is today a sought-after soloist who gives concert tours around the world, from the Americas to the Far East. Brazilian music remains one of his specialties.
Muro will be performing works by Baden Powell, J.S. Bach, Astor Piazzolla, and some of his own compositions, at a free concert in the courtyard of the Bellas Artes. The outdoor concert will be held at 1pm, Saturday, April 9, in the sixth installment of the Music Under the Trees series. For the second half of the program, he will be joined by bassist Rubén Olvera, and percussionist Víctor Monterrubio.
Muro is a soft-spoken man who becomes animated when the subject turns to music, but he is invariably modest about his own accomplishments. Despite his early fame and success, to please his family he went to law school, attained a doctorate, and graduated first in his class. He worked in the legal department of a banking institution for several years, before returning to music full time. Muro has the rare combination of surpassing virtuosity and superb musicianship, and his performance is impossible to resist. Just last month, he completed the most recent of his many concert tours in Brazil, where, despite his Peruvian heritage, his performance of Brazilian music is always greeted with acclaim.
Indeed, one of the few stories Muro tells with a hint of pride concerns his late idol Baden Powell, whom Muro never got to meet in person. Muro had just finished a performance in Rio de Janeiro, when, he recalls, "an old man came to the dressing room. He introduced himself as Baden Powell's first graphic designer, the man who did Baden's album covers. He said, 'Your playing reminds me so much of Baden', and he began to cry. I was very moved."
Music Under The Trees is a co-production of the San Miguel International Music Festival and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes.


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BS in Economics
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics is designed for those who wish to enter government, legal, business, or teaching professions. Intellectually challenging, the economics degree offers sound training in economic theory and institutions, while fostering the ability to analyze the problems of business and society through modern quantitative methods.
Note: Students pursuing the economics degree program may have to cross-register and take upper-level courses in the College of Arts & Sciences at day tuition rates.
Distribution Requirements
(total 48 credits)
- MET EN 104 English Composition
- MET EN 201 Intermediate Composition
- 4 credits in a Metropolitan College math course numbered MET MA 113 or higher
Computer Science
- MET CS 101 Computers and Their Applications
- 4 credits in a 100- or 200-level MET EN literature course or MET HU 221
Natural Science
- 8 credits in the natural sciences (N)
- 4 credits
- 4 credits
Additional Courses
- 4 credits in the humanities (H)
- 4 credits in the social sciences (S)
- 4 credits in the humanities (H) or natural sciences (N)
Major and Related Courses
(total 52 credits)
A total of 13 courses (52 credits), completed with a grade of C or higher, is required. Courses must be selected with the advice and approval of the department coordinator.
Required Courses
Choose 10 economics courses (40 credits), including the six courses below:
- MET EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis
- MET EC 102 Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis
- MET EC 201 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis
- MET EC 202 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis
- MET EC 203 Empirical Economics 1
- MET EC 204 Empirical Economics 2
The remaining four economics courses must be above MET EC 320. This requirement may have to be met by taking a course(s) in the College of Arts & Sciences at day tuition rates.
Related Courses
Three courses (12 credits) selected from offerings in the related fields of accounting, anthropology, finance, geography, history, mathematics, political science, or sociology.
(total 28 credits)
Usually seven courses (28 credits), but possibly more depending on transfer credits, chosen with the advice of an academic counselor.


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Tales of the Andrew Briddon Loco collection
Elsewhere - www.andrewbriddonlocos.co.uk - you can see the "official" face of the locomotive collection my son has built up. Here on "Weekend Rails" you can read a blow-by-blow account of our work in restoring and improving them.
Of Bev to the rescue
11th November 2012
There was frost in the grass as we made an early start across to the M1and then east to Scunthorpe. Andrew, still trying to get his body-clock straight after a few night shifts, was dozing in the passenger seat as I passed a plain flat-bed lorry. I was casually wondering what it was carrying in the red stillage on the back - some sort of engine? - a pump? Hang on, that's our powershift! I roused Andrew, who rang the driver. Yes, it was him. I pressed on, anxious to get in, unlocked and be as ready as possible before he arrived. At Tata's Gate D I drove up the barrier and waited. The ANPR did not recognise me and the light stayed red. Three guards were on duty and one came over.
Of casing tops and e-bay flops
30th December 2012
It may have been Christmas Eve but that didn't stifle Andrew's desire to get on with some loco work and we headed in to Rowsley. After some tasks for me, we moved over to "Tom", Andrew intending to cut off the remaining bolt holding the exhaust manifold and me to investigate where the feeds to my lights had gone. Andrew was out of luck though - having taken a lot of bits out of the van a few days previous, one thing that had not returned was the 110V transformer and there was no sign of one in the workshops. Slightly disgruntled he went to the VBA to do a bit of sorting while I was left alone in the cab.
Of casings and converters
14th October 2012
First thing on Monday morning we were back at Rowsley, and after a quick bit of a shunt the casings were coming off the Sentinel and by eleven o'clock the power unit was out and the converter was being swung into the back of the van.
Of clutches and suches
28th October 2012
An astute reader, referring to my expectation to have "Tom" back running by the end of this weekend, questioned whether that was a wise plan given that this weekend is the last of the month. For any new readers we find things "happen" on that weekend and all too often to our detriment. Aforesaid astute reader was probably right.
Of excess and dearth of smoke
9th December 2012
It has been a peculiar sort of a week. Back at the beginning, Andrew received news that the IMechE had awarded him his Incorporated Engineer status - that's roughly half way between his degree and becoming a full blown Chartered Engineer. He can now put IEng behind his name. I've had a man in to widen all the doors at the Briddon Country Pile.
Of hoses and ANPRs
2nd December 2012
Lummy, hardly into December and immediately the temperature plummets. It's back to two sweaters to keep my ageing, decrepit frame warm, and the woolly hat to stop the few remaining brain cells from going hypothermic.
Of house moves
21st October 2012
I am writing this instalment from my (old) desk in the (new) office at the Briddon Country Pile. Yes, Openreach's engineer rang me at 08.15 on Friday ("I can't find your house") and by 08.50 the line was connected. Plusnet had promised that the broadband would be on in a few hours, and sure enough it was before the end of the day. Thus the move was on, and Steph and I are now relocated. Andrew, meanwhile, had nominated Saturday to go collect a van full of bits and Sunday has seen him successfully playing trains - er conducting essential trials at a SW Trains depot, located, surprisingly, somewhere south and west(ish).
Of not a lot
25th November 2012
This will be a short blog tonight, reflecting the fact that other events have intervened.
On the one hand, Andrew has a considerable amount of annual leave still outstanding, so, in his plans, we will be able to speed up work on the locos between now and Christmas. As part of this, he had last Tuesday free and we ended up at Rowsley after lunch with grand ideas of getting on "Tom" and sorting out its pneumatics with fresh pipework.
Of rain and pumps
23rd December 2012
Sometimes what we are planning is affected by the weather forecast. It is not just a case of "if it snows, stay at home" but if it is expected to rain, we try to aim our efforts at a location where we can enjoy some cover.. With rain like we have been having of late (just you watch, there'll be a hosepipe ban next summer) that has become even more important.
Of revisiting an old byway
7th October 2012
Back when I was about 20, I was invited to an Open Day at a private railway not far from Southampton, then under the general auspices of the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society. They had started building a small circuit on land belonging to their Chairman, Barry Curl, in 1967 and I was there the day the finished ballasting the far side of the line and were able to do the full circuit for the first time, with ex Dinorwic 0-4-0ST "Cloister" as well as a selection of Simplexes and one of two O&K RL3 0-4-0DMs.
Of start-ups
4th November 2012
It has been a relatively uneventful week here at the Briddon Country Pile. Unlike the continual cacophony of fireworks being let off by the local underprivileged and underfunded youth of Sheffield, the nights have remained quiet and civilised. I did however have the amusement of being rung up by a customer who tried to congratulate me, or maybe Andrew, on our "lottery win", which a third party (who had better remain nameless) had told him about. Neither Andrew nor I play the lottery.
Of teeth and Technology
16th December 2012
Andrew had the day off on Tuesday and planned a day at Rowsley, but before he did I hit the road to our favourite pump man to deliver "Pluto's" pump for investigation before returning to Briddon Country Pile. But Andrew had to go it alone - on Monday I managed to break a tooth ["A Mars a day helps you work, rest and wotwozat?"] so I was back off to the Dentist's with half of said tooth in a placcy bag. Sadly the tooth fairy doesn't pay out on half measures.
Of the return of Jack
18th November 2012
I threw in the last two lines of last week's blog just as a way of rounding it off, but I should have known better. First thing Monday morning Andrew learned that, owing to administrative screw-up, there was in fact no vehicle heading to Hollycombe to collect "Jack" despite several prior assurances. To cut a long story short, a vehicle finally rolled in on Wednesday afternoon and despite awkward access, darkness and other such impediments, "Jack" was loaded and on its way before the end of the day.


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|How do you wink at an orange?
2011 was year of the Rabbit, 2012 the grand Dragon.
Animals come and go, but oranges are here to stay. We whip out a pair of mandarins when we visit someone at home, we hand them out when we exchange ang pows and good tidings of fortune and health, we slurp on their juiciness as the obligatory Taiwan variety shows play out on TV.
Oranges ARE chinese new year.
So I decided to make orange-fashioned pops to usher in the brand new Year of the Dragon. Plus their naturally round shapes made them perfect pop material.
|The merry Pops family put a grin on everyone's faces
A friend in HK ordered orange pops for her family here. She sends them orange and CNY goodies every year, and she loved the idea of giving these oranges with a twist.
Granny and the whole family had a blast!
Aunt said she couldn't beat to bite into their faces, Daddy was highly amused with their expressions as he drove them home in the car.
|This one was for the kids!
This friend has been a precious part of my pops journey, supporting and encouraging unconditionally.
My new year has been blissfully blessed with wonderful people like her, I hope yours will be as auspiciously gifted.


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Long-scrolling pages are at the heart of the above the fold vs. there is no fold debate. For a while, designers and marketers thought that your most important content (calls to action, contact info, etc.) should be above the fold because barely anyone scrolled below the fold.
Of course, this has been proven absolutely false, as lots of research proves that people today will gladly scroll below the fold and still gobble up your content (provided it


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I've made a start on the Peter Philpott book - The art of Wrist Spin and very interesting it is too. Reading it I'm falling into the trap that if I follow his instructions it seems that I may be able to ressurect the leg break? Already as a really basic training tool he's suggesting that when you're walking around or sitting around with your balls in your hand that rather than spin the balls from the right hand to the left as all leg spinners seem to do spin the ball from your extended arm out in front of you and spin it back towards your chest. The other surprising suggestion is that you spin the ball under arm against a wall and observe the way it spins back away from the wall. All the other suggestions I've read so far I pretty much do e.g. anything that is remotely ball shaped spin it when you're doing nothing or something that doesn't require your hand - watching the tele standing at a bus stop - you know the score - just spin it trying to impart spin on it all the time. Use apples oranges, golf balls, tennis balls - if it goes in your hand spin it! I already do this with everything I pick up and it drives my wife round the bend!
So the weather - yeah it doesn't look good at all. No more cricket for the next few days it seems?
Later on..........
The clouds passed by and the sun came out - April showers so it's to be expected. I got Ben my 9 year old son to shoot some images of my wrist and grip with this new flipper googlie variant and I've posted the images with comments on http://www.simplycricket.net/ to see what people make of it, because someone somewhere must have tried this before and no doubts uses it? I can't believe that I've come up with something that's new and that no-one has ever done before? But then how hard is it to saw a shark in half and stick it in a tank of formaldyhyde - the hard part is realising and presenting it as art and for it to be the end product of a series of other associated ideas?
Anyway here it is -
As far as I can make out the batsman sees the back of the hand as it comes over and it's fairly vertical so for all intents and purpose it probably looks like a Wrong Un. But look at the fingers. The grip is the Flipper grip and at the point when you release the fingers are squeezed together in order to impart the spin. The spin then makes the ball move off it's expected course from Leg to Off.
I'm hoping that in situations where the batsman is really confident and can pick the googly he's going to expect the ball to turn away to off and then be completely bamboozled by the fact that this ball turns into off acutely. So once I get the hang of it it's going to look like a googly being put down the legside which will then be expected to spin off towards leg slip and go for a wide and hopefully he'll leave it to then spin back into the stumps or something like that?
Later on I did my "now becoming ususal" running and throwing practice, but because I had a thorough work out yesterday I took it fairly easy today and bowled a bit in between the fitness and throwing training/practice. The ground on this particular field is really lumpy, but the ball was being turned by the spin so it was okay. But it was of very little value as regards analysing the new variation.
After tea the sun was still out - the sky clear and the showers for the moment gone. So I drove over to FTF (Five Tree Field) taking my gear in case any of the indian or Pakistani blokes were about. Got over there and it was empty even the adjacent skatepark with it ususal group of Emo's and Potheads all drinking Vodka and Tennents Extra were not there. No-one came along and I just bowled. Again in exactly the same way as I did yesterday I started out just lobbing the ball from one end to the other not particularly trying and it was going okay. But then I thought - let's do this with some concentration and see what happens. Just like yesterday just by applying myself to the task the difference was enormous. I decided that I'd bowl down the centre pitching the ball 5 yards in front of the stumps and alternate thus - 2 leg breaks (Using the new variation) and one wrong un. It went like clockwork. All the balls I wanted to spin from Leg to off did 95% of the time and all the balls doing the opposite exactly the same. In about 50 balls I bowled 2 wides! This is an amazing difference to my bowling last year. The difference from last September is amazing and again this is only the 4th day that I've been bowling this new variation!
I noticed that the new ball was going well if I changed the angle of my walk in and I also experimented with my wrong un bowling around the wicket, doing this I was able to get the ball to turn in and hit the stumps. All in all despite the weather I managed to cram in loads of cricket practice and fitness training, so a good day in the end. What I need to happen now is to get some blokes together for a bit of a game or a practice in the way we used to as MPA 1st XI or better still a real game with Grays and Chadwell.


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- Soul Sessions and Spiritual Mentorship
- Strategic Coaching
- Sound Healing
- Weddings and Sacred Ceremonies
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"Devaa is a wonderfully passionate and clear transmitter of the mysteries of the Divine Feminine. She is compassionate and wise and has a rich variety of skills that she uses with great precision to inspire and encourage. I had the delight to teach a retreat with her a found her a truly loving and helpful collaborator. I saw many subtlety transformed by her generously and lit up by the joyful passion she communicated so tirelessly. I am honored to write on her behalf and salute her pioneering work." ~ Andrew Harvey, Author, Spiritual Teacher
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Listen: M.I.A.: "Trouble Again"
Matangi bonus track
It's been just over a month since M.I.A. released her Matangi LP. Today she's shared a cut you may not have heard, "Trouble Again", a bonus track exclusive to Spotify. Stream it above, via Spotify.
Read Carrie Battan's recent interview with M.I.A. and watch the video for "Y.A.L.A."


text: The 5-Year Plan To Become A Bestselling Novelist. Guaranteed.By James L. Rubart in How To Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadDo you have "the dream"? If you love writing fiction, you don't need to tell me "the dream" is to get published and hit the bestseller list. I know that's it; I get it. I've been there. Read The Post


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The company's current artistic director, Kathryn Duke, began studying with Hawkins in 1983, eventually becoming principle dancer under his direction and assistant choreographer under Dugloszewksi. "It was [Hawkins's] desire to give the audience the highest, most enlightening level of theatrical experience," Duke explains, "and that can only happen when you have live music—not dancing to what he called 'canned' or 'dead' music, because only live, original music shines. When there is that level of interactivity between the musicians and the dancers, it has an immediacy that will resonate with the audience." The intimate interplay between dance, music, and set are the result of relationships that have been built over time—an extra step seldom taken in today's world of glittering, in-your-face immediacy. Duke suggests that there is another, and much more subtle and gratifying, way of cutting straight to the quick: Hawkins's incorporative method centers on awareness and unification in performance. Tthe sense of time, [the] qualities of dynamics, energy, and sensation in the body while moving correctly give you an incredible consciousness," she says, "which I think comes through in the performances of the dancers."
Nine years ago, shortly after Dlugoszewski's death, Duke premiered Fountain in the Room in silence at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. The piece, which is now accompanied by Dlugoszewksi's own music (composed for the timbre piano, an instrument she invented) and choreography, will open the program this month as the company returns to the center. Cantilever, a work dedicated to architect Frederick Kiesler with set designing by sculptor Ralph Dorazio, will close the show. Versions of the dance for as many as 12 dancers exist, but the company will be performing the original 1963 four-person version, complete with the original set. Other works on the program will feature paintings by local artist Joanne Klein, bass trombone playing by virtuoso David Taylor, and footage of Erick Hawkins (projected on a screen between dances). The Erick Hawkins Dance Company will perform at the Rhinebeck Center for Performing Arts on January 31 at 8pm and February 1 at 3pm. (845) 876-3080; www.erickhawkinsdance.org.