text
stringlengths 201
1.04M
| meta
dict |
|---|---|
Bradley Stryker (born June 29, 1977 in Eugene, Oregon, USA) is an American actor, who is best known for his brief portrayal of Trey Atwood on the FOX series The O.C..
He has a lead role in the feature film, Tillamook Treasure (2006), in which he plays Tom, the dumb but lovable sidekick of logger Jimmy Kimbell, played by Brian Thompson.
Stryker also had a role in the popular Bruce Almighty, as well as the homoerotic thrillers The Brotherhood and Wolves of Wall Street. He also featured in the first season episode of the television crime series CSI: NY entitled Night, Mother. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
My Accord started making a low humming noise a.
DRC2009
1997 HONDA ACCORD
213,000 MILES
My Accord started making a low "humming" noise a few months ago. It has gotten louder and now has a "whump, whump' with it. Several people told me that I needed to replace a tire(which I did), and then have my tires balanced(which I did). Noise has not gone away. It is not an engine problem as the noise stops when the car does. It sounds like it is coming from the front. Any suggestions?
SPONSORED LINKS
Do you
have the same problem?
Yes
No
Friday, February 15th, 2013 AT 3:12 AM
5 Replies
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
EXPERT
68,398 POSTS
Recheck all tires and make sure none of them have uneven wear or a shifted belt. Also, tell me if the sound changes pitch when you make turns.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 15th, 2013 AT 3:15 AM
DRC2009
MEMBER
Sound does not change when making turns. But then it isn't that loud driving through town. I can really start to hear it at 40 and above. Thanks! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Okay, so I realize this is a few days late. But we didn’t celebrate Christmas until Friday in my house. Because, hey, my family doesn’t need a silly calendar to tell us when to party! And because that’s the only day that the majority of us would be in town.
And, since we were already messing with tradition, we didn’t eat Christmas ham or turkey or goose or whatever the heck it is you’re supposed to eat on Christmas. We ate bacon-wrapped pork. Because the only way to make pork better is to wrap it in more pork, amirite?
Pork wrapped in pork. It’s very meta.
I figured since I had a few extra days to prepare I might finally become one of those people who’s really good at Christmas. You know, the kind of person who puts careful thought into what each person would really like and then goes out and gets exactly that.
Whelp, that didn’t happen.
Instead this did:
Merry alcoholic Christmas, family!
After all, it’s the thought that counts, right?
Granted the only thought I was thinking during my frenzied hour-long shopping spree in the liquor store was, “I hope they share.”
But, hey, it could have been worse. I could have just given everyone “Christmas apples” like they do in China.
Proof that China really doesn’t get Christmas. At all. Like, not even a bit.
In my defense, I’ve been kind of busy, you guys.
You see, I’ve been using my time off of work to catch up on all those things I didn’t have any time to do during the semester, like, making doctor’s appointments and hanging out with friends and getting sauced with my grandma and watching every single episode of Toddlers and Tiaras EVER.
And I’ve been making presents for you.
Yep.
You!
I’m sure you’re all like, “Aww, you didn’t have to.”
But, seriously, you guys, I did have to.
You have been the awesomest this year.
You’ve left me tons of awesome comments, sent me emails and chatted with me on the Facebook and the Twitter.
You stuck with me even after I left China and returned to the States and started to entirely blog about cheese. Even though I know a lot of you currently live in countries in Asia where cheese really isn’t a thing, so it couldn’t have been easy for you.
Not to rub it in or anything
And, well, I can’t think of anything that says “Hey, thanks for being the awesomest” like a nice handmade present, can you?
Okay, don’t answer that.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the crafty gene from my mom. Seriously, you guys, my mom is crazy-crafty. For Christmas, she made all the children in our family Raggedy Anne dolls. I should mention there are, like, a billion children in our family. And each doll took her, like, a billion hours to make. Because, apparently, she had to hand sew all their hair on. Instead of just using a hot glue gun which is totally what I would have done. And that’s probably the reason why I shouldn’t be allowed to make children’s toys.
The only thing I know how to make is spinach-artichoke dip. But I had a feeling that wouldn’t wrap very well.
I made this! For you! And then ate it all! You’re welcome!
So, instead, I made you a bunch of stuff on the Internet.
First, I finished uploading all my photos from this summer for your viewing pleasure. Including photos from my last few weeks of traveling around China and my short trips to Macau and Vietnam.
Sure, uploading photos may not sound like much hard work. And, okay, it’s not exactly on par with hand sewing on doll hair. But I assure you it was ABSOLUTE TORTURE.
TORTURE, I SAY!
Seriously, there is nothing like going through a billion photos of amazing Vietnamese food and crack-filled coffee to make you realize what you’re missing in your life.
Namely, crack.
Mmm…. crack.
But I did it for you!
Yep.
You!
I even uploaded a few albums of photos from my past few months at home – including that time I went to Toronto and never even told you. Probably because this happened:
What can I say? I like to keep my romantic relationships private. At least when they involve moose.
Then, I made you this survey in which you can finally tell me what you really think of my blog and give me some advice on what you’d like to see me talk about on here. Besides, you know, cheese and booze.
And, then, as if I hadn’t done enough for you already, I booked some travel tickets for you.
Yep.
You!
Okay, so maybe the travel tickets are actually for myself. But, I assure you, I was totally thinking about you when I booked them.
You see, over the next two weeks, I’ll be traveling to DC and North Carolina to visit friends and then stopping briefly in New York City on my way back. But rather than flying to my destinations, like, you know, sane people would do, I’ll be taking trains and buses the whole way. Which means I’ll be traveling for, like, a million-billion hours.
I’m doing this partly because I’m broke and crazy. And partly because I knew it would give me lots of material for a blog post. Or, umm, twenty-five blog posts. Depending on how long I want to stretch this thing out.
Plus, I know how you all love blurry photos taken from train and bus windows.
Oooo, blurry.
So, really, it may sound like I booked those tickets for myself.
But I really booked them for you.
Yep.
You!
You’re welcome.
What’s your favorite gift that you’ve ever received this year? Besides, of course, all the ones I just gave you right now?P.S. Pretty please click on this link & fill out the survey. It’s super easy and short and you don’t have to log in or anything. I’ll love you forever and ever for doing it. I may even give you another pony.P.P.S. Have any suggestions on stuff I should see or do in DC, North Carolina or New York City? Or maybe have a suggestion for what I should do during my million-billion hours of travel time? Let me know!
Every time you share a blog post a unicorn gets its wings.
What part of NC are you visiting? You can visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Also, Boone in the other mountains is a nice city and area to hack around; but it will be very cold. I’ve lived in both the mountains and the coast of NC and love both. The beaches in NC are quiet, not very commercial.
I am typing this as my iPod is about to die and as I’m stealing Internet because my house Internet doesn’t want to work anymore and I don’t know how to fix it. I am jealous of your two week travel adventure and a little sad that one of those stops isnt Chicago. But it’s ok. I love you anyway. And not just because you promised me a pony.Priya recently posted..My Non-Burrito Date
Sounds like you’re going on a super fun adventure filled with bumpy rides in the next few weeks! I can’t say I’m not envious of you for spending the beginning of the new year backpacking (almost) across North America. Damn, girl! You are one travel princess!
Anyway, make sure you catch a Broadway show in New York. And when you do, you can pretend that you’ve bought tickets for me too. I won’t get jealous and mad, I promise. Just get me the playbill and we’re all good… I think.
I live in Raleigh, please come visit! The NC Museum of Art is the usual travel rec and it is beautiful but if you’re looking for something different try Roast Grill (this little old hole in the wall just serves hot dogs), Oakwood cemetery, RDU observation deck, Krispy Kreme on Peace St, or Eastern NC style BBQ. Depending on your dates, Drag Bingo and Roller Derby are a lot of fun!
In DC I love to eat the National Museum of the American Indian and in NYC the Highline is a must.
I totally did your survey. Although I have to say, I’m not all that keen on ponies. Any chance I can substitute the pony for, say, some vodka?
Also unless your mum’s done some jail time, I’d be willing to bet that she’s an elf, rather than Martha Stewart. Or, the Martha Stewart of the elf world.Tom @ Waegook Tom recently posted..The Double Whammy Review!
Money, only because it gets us a little closer to our travel plans. We didn’t really get gifts this year. Oh wait, we got a Peyton Manning jersey and that was pretty awesome.Carmel recently posted..Christmas Dinner & a Farewell (for now)
You are not the only person who has wrapped me up some travel and put it under the tree. Nope. My Secret Santa in the family, whom of course is Unsecret, wrapped me a box of tea samples from around the world, so ever since I have been tripping to Sri Lanka, India, and Stockholm (who would have thought). There are bits of flowers and orange skin and they smell pretty awesome.
Not as nice as your thoughtful present of course…budget jan recently posted..Tuesday in Townsville | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
A collar tag to be put on a nutria. It's designed stretch so it can be put on snugly and a nutria will neither get a limb stuck inside nor have trouble breathing. Tagging the animals will help biologists to better understand the nutria's habits and...
A trap baited with carrots and apples awaits a nutria to venture out of the water and investigate. The animals are trapped in order to tag them to better understand the habits of nutria and to prevent their spreading. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Yahoo investors are likely to get a taste of deja vu when they attend the company’s annual shareholders meeting on Friday. Shareholder revolt Take II? (CNET News.com — 31 July, 2008)+ related stories
A major Yahoo Inc. shareholder has asked for a review of how its votes were cast in last week’s re-election of the Internet company’s board, raising questions about whether the opposition to the directors may have been understated. – (Sydney Morning Herald — 14 hours ago)+ related stories
Billionaire investor T. Boone Pickens has sold all of his holdingsin Yahoo in a pique over the way the Internet company’s managementhandled sales talks with Microsoft. (The Age — 22 hours ago)+ related stories
With a new board lineup still pending, Yahoo gets together with investors to talk about where the company goes from here. (CNET News.com — 1 August, 2008)+ related stories
The request for re-examination suggests that the votes actually withheld for certain Yahoo directors, including the chief executive, Jerry Yang, may have been higher than reported. (New York Times — 13 hours ago)+ related stories
SAN JOSE — Having endured takeover attempts by Microsoft and then billionaire investor Carl Icahn, executives and board members at Internet giant Yahoo sought to assure rattled shareholders at the annual meeting here yesterday that the company has a plan for regaining its momentum after a multiy…
(Washington Post — 3 August, 2008)+ related stories
A major Yahoo investor is raising the possibility that votes for Friday’s shareholder weren’t right. Was there more disapproval of CEO Jerry Yang after all? (CNET News.com — 15 hours ago)+ related stories | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
"...determination is the key to success in politics, in the broadest sense of the word. You don't need many resources to make your voice heard when you are defending a cause you believe to be just..." Padre André Sibomana
PAGES
Friday, May 4, 2012
William Penn University Shouldn't Award Kagame an Honorary Doctorate
Update5/2/12:
Word has it that the letters and calls from the last couple of days has
gotten the school's attention, but we got 10 more days to stop this.
Keep pointing out to them what human rights groups are noting. Kagame
and the RPF are responsible for massive human rights abuses that they
have not been held accountable for; that they are attacking political
opponents; that they are clamping down on media. Point out how cynical
and hypocritical it is to award a genocidal mass-murderring dictator
with a doctorate for his so-called "contributions" to humanity.
• • •
On May 12, 2012, Rwanda's dictator, General Paul Kagame, will be delivering a commencement speech at William Penn University. According to the school,
William Penn University President Dr. Ann Fields announced today that
His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, will
present the commencement address on Saturday, May 12, 2012 to a
graduating class of 370 students and receive an Honorary Doctorate of
Humane Letters, for his contributions to the humanities or human
welfare.
These "contributions" are explained as him supposedly being "recognized
as a world leader for his role in human interest issues," and being
"known for empowering young people and women, as evident by the high
percentage of women serving on the Rwandan Parliament (56%)."
This is grotesquely cynical.
Paul Kagame is a genocidal mass-murderer who makes Joseph Kony look like
an angel. He has the blood of millions of Rwandans and Congolese on his
hands. When he and his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded Rwanda in
1990 he kicked off a bloody war that saw thousands killed, and hundreds
of thousands ethnically cleansed from their land. Between October 1990
and April 1994 he continued to violate ceasefire agreements and carry
out terrorist attacks. Finally in April of 1994 he assassinated Rwanda's
President Habyarimana and conducted a massive invasion which overthrew
the government in a one hundred day-orgy of genocidal slaughter
and mayhem. But it didn't end there. As hundreds of thousands of
Rwandans fled his terror campaign to neighboring countries he followed
after them, hunted them down, and killed them—often by the thousands,
and right in view of UN peace keepers. According to the Herald Sun:
By early 1995, the displaced persons' camp at Kibeho was the biggest in
Rwanda, sprawling for 9sq km and containing 80,000 to 100,000 people.
The 32 Australian soldiers and medical officers arrived there as part of the UN peacekeeping force on April 18, 1995.
There were daily random killings by the Rwandan soldiers, but the
slaughter exploded out of control soon after 10am on April 22. The
Australians had a grandstand view of the nightmare from the Zambian
compound.
The RPA soldiers murdered women and children right up to the UN wire.
Bodies were everywhere. For the Diggers behind the wire, the next few
hours were agonising.
For the refugees, there was nowhere to run.
As the Australians collected the wounded from among the piles of dead,
the crisis began to escalate as panic-stricken Hutus overran the Zambian
compound, driven forward by machete-and rifle wielding militia.
Hundreds were killed in the crush and the Australians were forced to
repel at bayonet point the terrified victims they were supposed to be
protecting, pushing them back into the RPA killing zone.
The RPA went wild and cut loose with another hail of fire on the panicking crowd.
It is even being reported by allAfrica.com that, "Thousands of Rwandan refugees living in Uganda remain unwilling to return home, citing a fear of persecution."
Human Rights Watch
recently released a report that stated, "The Rwandan government, whose
troops are accused of some of the most serious crimes" in the Congo
wars. They also sent a letter
to the ICTR requesting the RPF be prosecuted for their well-established
crimes. The letter states, "We strongly believe that your mandate as
Chief Prosecutor will not be fulfilled until you prosecute alleged RPF
crimes."
Paul Kagame squashes any and all dissent, and there is no better example of him not empowering women than his kangaroo trial of Victoire Ingabire, a brave mother who came out of exile to be a political opponent to Kagame only to be quickly imprisoned. Amnesty International put out a really informing video last summer on the plight of Ingabire, and the grim realities of Kagame's Rwanda.
Even Human Rights Watch
has requested that, "Rwandan authorities should immediately stop
intimidating human rights defenders and allow them to work freely."
HRW has also recently released a report
which notes Rwanda's "attacks on government opponents," their
"clampdown on independent media," their "obstructions to the work of
human rights organizations," and more. And in the last week HRW
noted that they have "documented other cases [other than Bernard
Ntaganda, an opposition leader) in which laws and charges such as
endangering state security and inciting public disobedience have been
used to prosecute and intimidate government critics."
Quite simply, Paul Kagame is the Hitler of Africa, and allowing him to
give a commencement speech to college graduates under the bogus claim
that he has made "contributions to the humanities or human welfare" is very disturbing.
Suggested Action: If you are here in the States and are close to the school please consider organizing some actions to stop this. A protest is already being planned in case the speech happens.
Otherwise please call and write to the school and request Kagame's speech to be canceled. Be polite and be clear.
Steve Noah, the school's Vice President of Advancement who is behind this, can be reached at: 641-673-1048
I am calling on William Penn University to do the right thing, and cancel General Kagame's "doctorate" and commencement speech scheduled for this month.
Per the school's website we are told that General Kagame has contributed
to "the humanities" and "human welfare," but that is simply not true,
and worse: it is very offensive, especially to his victims.
Human rights organizations have documented his crimes since 1990, but
particularly during the 1994 genocide and his invasion and occupation of
Democratic Republic of Congo—where millions have been killed, tortured
and displaced. And they have called on the ICTR to prosecute these RPF
crimes.
These same human rights groups—e.g. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International—have
also documented the brutal realities of living in Rwanda today where
political opposition is not tolerated, fraudulent elections occur, and
the media is silenced.
Considering the well-established fact that General Paul Kagame is a
genocidal, mass-murdering dictator who is oppressing his own people and
destabilizing the region, I beg the school to please cancel Kagame's
"doctorate" and speech. It would be a disgrace to the school, and would
be very offensive to truth and justice. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Pages
Saturday, December 28, 2013
New Year's Eve Party Ideas
There are so many New Year’s Eve
options one can choose from: Celebrate the New Years in Time Square in NYC,
have a New Year’s Eve dinner with some close friends, simply stay in and watch
a movie and avoid the crowds, have a New Year’s Eve date night with that
special someone, go to “the party” on New Year’s Eve, or throw a party of your
own. I have done pretty much every New Year’s activity I listed above;
sometimes it’s fun to be around a ton of people if you are in mood for it and
other times it is wonderful to have more of an intimate party if you are
looking for something more low key. Throwing your own New Year’s Eve party is a
great way to ring in the New Year with friends and family, plus this way you
can avoid the crowds and the lines…oh, the lines on New Year’s Eve! Below are a
few New Year’s Eve party ideas.
In an age of selfies,
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, what would a party be without a photo booth type
area. Besides who can resist play with some photo props and having their
picture made against a fabulous backdrop! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The futile attempt to provide cheaper care to poor people
Wherever health care reformation and transformation is discussed, sooner or later the imperative of patient engagement is sure to materialize. Patients, it seems, are no longer content to be passive spectators while care is administered to them, and instead are demanding to be active participants in their own health care decisions. Gone are the paternalistic days of doctor knows best, replaced by informed and educated patients on an equal footing with physicians when it comes to diagnosing conditions, selecting therapies and managing illness, or preventing disease altogether through judiciously chosen lifestyles and preventive measures.
And what makes this tectonic shift in attitude possible? Technology, of course, and specifically the Internet and the iPhone. Patients today have access to troves of medical information on the Internet, and social media allows for informal research on any condition you can think of, and some you cannot even imagine. The iPhone, turned medical instrument with the assistance of thousands of apps and add-on devices, is allowing everybody to carefully track and monitor their lifestyles, biometrics, medications and whatever else they wish to quantify. iPhones are already providing some diagnostic testing and it’s probably not too soon for Quest and LabCorp to start paying attention to these engaging developments.
The government is also very interested in promoting patient engagement, since engaged patients who can monitor and maintain healthy lifestyles, and if already sick can self-manage their chronic conditions, will presumably utilize less medical resources and should cost the system less than their apathetic predecessors. And for similar reasons, private insurers and employers are fully supportive of patient engagement as well, and are diligently working to provide patients with educational tools and resources for engaging in their own care within the cost optimizing care management universe. Patient engagement is also one of the pillars of Meaningful Use and as such it is creating the necessary infrastructure and associated regulations to ensure that patients have meaningful access to all medical records previously locked up in providers’ information vaults. This is extremely important because patients cannot truly engage in lifestyle improvements and self-care on a level playing field with their physicians without complete knowledge of their medical conditions as documented by a physician, and as augmented, translated and analyzed by iPhone apps and the Internet at large.
Earlier this year Chef Mario Batali, an extremely engaged and empowered individual, decided to engage himself and his family in an innovative lifestyle change experiment of his own. For a full week, seven days, Chef Batali and his family went on a SNAP diet. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a.k.a. Food Stamps, diet consists of eating whatever you can buy for $31 a week. Of course, being handy around the kitchen, gave Chef Batali a bit of an advantage, but all in all, according to the Huffington Post, his description of the experiment was “I’m (expletive deleted) starving”.
There are 46.2 million Americans living in poverty today. Poverty is currently defined as less than $23,021 per year for a family of four. There are 47 million people in the SNAP. 22% of American children live in poverty and in our Nation’s Capital, next door to Congress and the White House, 35% of children are poor. According to the USDA, 17.9 million households were food-insecure in 2011 and 6.8 million of those had very low food security, which translates to 49 million Americans who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, or if it’s coming at all, and 16 million of those Americans are children. A fairly new study from the University of Michigan and Harvard concludes that at the start of 2011, “2.8 million children were surviving on $2 or less in income per person per day in a given month”. And NCFH reports that in 2010, 1.6 million American children were without a home.
What does this have to do with patient engagement? Well, for starters when you are “(expletive deleted) starving”, it is a bit more difficult to muster the mental prowess required to engage your health care provider on a level playing field. The landmark “quasi-experimental” study on inviting patients at several elite health care institutions to view their visit notes, published earlier this month, did not measure the level of hunger amongst participating patients and/or their children. So, if you are building patient engagement paraphernalia and expect to be paid for your efforts, your target market excludes the 49 million food-insecure Americans and in all likelihood excludes most of the remaining 50% of Americans living on less than the $50,054 median income, and probably the vast majority of the more fortunate 50%, some of whom may be able to afford your products if they were chronically ill or actively preparing themselves for medical disaster, which most are not. This is probably why patient engagement is something thrust upon the health care scene from above, just like EHRs, and not a market demand sprouting from unfulfilled needs of would be buyers. And this is also why, patient engagement campaigns, just like EHR adoption efforts, are financed by the middle-men of health care (i.e. those who use our collective health care dollars to purchase medical services on our behalf), in the belief that somehow patient engagement fueled by technology will reduce the costs of medical services. These “purchasers” of health care services are the most likely target market for patient engagement tool builders, service providers and the quintessential consultants.
This is not an entirely bad idea, just like covering a gaping wound with a Band-Aid is not an entirely bad idea, and there is plenty quasi-experimental and quasi-scientific research to show mild correlation between costs and technology, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that if patients managed their own care, and if they did it well enough, we would need to pay less to medical professionals for doing the same. The new iPhone and Internet based care management products are certainly promising to dramatically improve lay patients’ abilities to take care of themselves. The mountains of patient education tools and materials written at a “culturally appropriate” 4th grade literacy level with lots of colorful pictures and big fonts are presumably targeting, amongst others, those who are on and off “(expletive deleted) starving”, and may even help avoid a trip to the ED for some asthmatic children surviving on $2 a day. But this type of palliative approach to poverty is not likely to have significant impact on costs of care, because instead of shrinking away and perishing, poverty seems to grow and expand by leaps and bounds, and since 1/5 of our future generation is infected, the growth of expenditures well into the foreseeable future is pretty much guaranteed. Why? Because poor people are disproportionately sicker than rich ones (see CDC numbers below), and no amount of colorful pamphlets and free apps is going to change that.
If you are one of the many talented and passionate people working diligently to improve health and health care in this country, you may want to quit the Band-Aid public-private industrial complex that is squandering billions of taxpayers’ dollars in a futile attempt to provide cheaper care to poor people, and perhaps consider redirecting your efforts towards solving the underlying problem of poverty, and reducing to zero the number of Americans, particularly children, who are “(expletive deleted) starving”.
The futile attempt to provide cheaper care to poor people 5 comments
Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.
http://twitter.com/PortiaChalifoux portia chalifoux
Effin’ aye! The only thing I’d add is that “cost cutting” almost always attacks front line public health first, last and always. And that’s where the biggest bang for the invested buck lies.
Homeless
Providing free contraception…
StephenModesto
…Thanks for the very well written article and demographical overview perspective. I’ll save the link to share with others.
http://www.facebook.com/merrian.bianculli Merrian Antonini Bianculli
I speak as an inner city ED nurse. When these patients come in
the first thing they do is turn on the TV. They do not put on Sesame Street for their kids, nor do they watch Dr. Oz, but they do watch one of the many “baby mama drama” shows. This is a missed opportunity to target this audience with health information. First, I would start with basic hygiene: tooth brushing, hand washing, diet and exercise.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1338422225 Tom Garvey
Excellent and well-written. I agree with about 90% of the content of this article–that the most trumpeted methods for ‘lowering costs’ can do nothing of the sort. I also agree that poverty (as well as overtime, long commutes, advertising, government subsidy of unhealthful food, etc.) increases costs, morbidity, and mortality. However, a healthcare system that did not depend on employer-based, for-profit insurance companies would still deliver cheaper, better care than ours. (Also, I second Portia Chalifoux’s comment.) | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Vedic Wisdom : The knowledge source of Nicola Tesla
We’ve seen a very interesting trend (especially within the past decade) of modern-day science catching up to an ancient understanding about the true nature of reality, its make-up, how it functions and how we can work with it to bring about change on our planet. For anybody to label the merging of ‘spirituality’ and science as pseudoscience means they have not properly investigated it. Spiritual concepts of our ancient world are directly intertwined with modern-day science, more so quantum physics, and Nikola Tesla was well aware of this.
“All perceptible matter comes from a primary substance, or tenuity beyond conception, filling all space, the akasha or luminiferous ether, which is acted upon by the life giving Prana or creative force, calling into existence, in never-ending cycles all things and phenomena.”– Nikola Tesla, Man’s Greatest Achievement, 1907 (1)(2)
As you can see, Tesla was aware of ancient concepts and the correlation it had with the science he was working on -using sanskrit worlds like “akasha,” and “prana” to describe the force and matter that exists all around us. These words come from the Upanishads (a collection of Vedic texts)
“The aakaash is not destructible, it is the primordial absolute substratum that creates cosmic matter and hence the properties of aakaash are not found in the material properties that are in a sense relative. The aakaash is the eternally existent, superfluid reality, for which creation and destruction are inapplicable.” – (Idham thadhakshare parame vyoman. Parame vyoman) – Paramahamsa Tewari, Engineer, Physicist and Inventor. (source)
Nikola Tesla had correlations with Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), who was one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the philosophies of Vedanta (one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, the term originally referred to the upanishads, a collection of philosophical texts in Hinduism) and Yoga. He was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the founder of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. He is a giant figure in the history of the hindu reform movements.
Vivekananda wrote a later to Tesla in the late 1800′s stating:
“Mr. Tesla thinks he can demonstrate mathematically that force and matter are reducible to potential energy. I am to go and see him next week to get this new mathematical demonstration. In that case the Vedantic cosmology will be placed on the surest of foundations. I am working a good deal now upon the cosmology and eschatology of the Vedanta. I clearly see their perfect union with modern science, and the elucidation of the one will be followed by that of the other.” – Swami Vivekananda (Complete Works, VOL. V, Fifth Edition, 1347, p. 77). (1)
Tesla began using the Sanskrit words after meeting with Swami, and after studying the Eastern view of the true nature of reality, about the mechanisms that drive the material world. Eventually, it led him to the basis for the wireless transmission of electrical power, what is known as the Tesla Coil Transformer. During this year he made the following comments during a speech before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. (Given before he familiarized himself with the the Vedic sincere of the easter nations of India, Tibet, and Nepal.)
“Ere many generations pass, our machinery will be driven by a power obtainable at any point in the universe. This idea is not novel…We find it in the delightful myth of Antheus, who derives power from the earth; we find it among subtle speculations of one of your splendid mathematicians….Throughout space there is energy. Is this energy static, or kinetic? If static our hopes are in vain; if kinetic – and this we know it is, for certain – then it is a mere question of time when men will succeed in attaching their machinery to the very wheel work of nature.” – Nikola Tesla (source)
The Vedas are a group of writings that consist of hymns, prayers, myths, historical accounting, science and the nature of reality. They date back at least 5000 years, and are not so different from other ancient texts that dive into the same matters from all across the globe. The language used is Sanskrit and its origins are unknown.
“Swami Vivekananda was hopeful that Tesla would be able to show that what we call matter is simply potential energy because that would reconcile the teachings of the Vedas with modern science. The Swami realized that in that case, the Vedantic cosmology (would) be placed on the surest of foundations. Tesla understood the Sanskrit terminology and philosophy and found that it was a good means to describe the physical mechanisms of the universe as seen through his eyes. It would behoove those who would attempt to understand the science behind the inventions of Nikola Tesla to study Sanskrit and Vedic philosophy.” – Toby Grotz, President, Wireless Engineering (source)
Apparently, Tesla was unable to show the identity of energy and matter, this did not come until Albert Einstein published his paper on relativity, which was known in the East for the last 5000 years.
“All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.” – Swami Vivekananda | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
A thirty-year-old cyclist meets an accident because of a dog being walked by a distracted female doctor. As the conundrum of the crash settles, the cyclist realises that the doctor was his best friend from school with whom he had fallen in love. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Go Balls Out
Go Balls Out
Confidence is almost always ranked by guys as the most attractive trait a woman can have, so ooze it. Next time you're going out with your girls, get a blowout and throw on your favorite mini. You'll totally feel like working the room.
Talk Yourself Up
Talk Yourself Up
Yeah, it sounds kinda cheesy, but it's super important to remind yourself that you kick ass. Walk down the street thinking "I am sexy, and any guy would be lucky to talk to me." Trust us, it makes a difference in how you act. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Press & Media
GOTHAMIST
Though they’ve been open since mid-December, West 3rd Common has been changing their menu and adding specials nearly every day. From $4 Guinness and Jameson shots all day on St. Patrick’s Day, to $20 all-you-can-drink brunch, to a new lunch menu, to free garlic fries and beer to anyone who uses the code word “wheaten terrier,” there is nearly no end to ways you can save money at this gastropub!
THE VILLAGE VOICE
That’s more or less the message of a Crain’s profile of Dan Warren, the restaurateur who opened the East Village’s Common Ground in 2005 and the West Village’s West 3rd Common last December. Warren explains to Crain’s that if “you run a restaurant in a low- to middle-price range in New York City, you’re almost immune to the recession.”
A GUY WALKS INTO 365 BARS
NYC FOOD GUYS
Board games, couches and a free drink with garlic (or regular) fries just for mentioning the term “wheaten terrier.” What more can you ask for? This special, celebrating West 3rd Common’s recent opening (and owner Dan’s dog), runs until March 31st.
89TH AND BROKE
Earlier this week, Laura (thoughts in italics) and I were lucky enough to visit West 3rd Common (full disclosure: we were invited to dine there. We are ethical bloggers!). West 3rd Common is owned by the same person who runs Common Ground, which our guest writer, Jenni, reviewed last week, and it just opened this past December.
TRAVELPOD
Before we left New York City, we wanted to get a chance to spend some time with our friends and family, and there isn’t a better place to do so than in a NYC Bar with a last minute happy hour kick-off. It was really great to see everyone and catch up before we headed out. A special shout out goes to the Davina Team that completed a successful baton pass during their 10pm hand-off of their Saturday Night relay. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Friday, September 24, 2010
Who will lead Labour's Star Trek convention? Spock or Sulu
Watching the five Labour leadership candidates enter the final straight this week, I couldn’t help remembering David Cameron’s wicked quip about a Star Trek convention. There is indeed a hint of the Starship Enterprise with David Miliband as Mr Spock - austere, rational, borderline autistic, and Ed Balls as Captain Kirk - bumptious, over-promoted, lacking emotional intelligence. Diane Abbott is of course Uhura, interjecting every now and then from left field and being largely ignored. I see Ed Miliband as navigator Lieutenant Sulu, who knows the way ahead but sometimes has difficulty explaining it.. Andy Burnham, like Ensign Pavel, is the one whose name no one can remember.
The Labour hopefuls shouldn’t be too bothered - the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, always regarded it as a political allegory. Nevertheless, the sense that the entire leadership cadre of New Labour are not on the planet is something of a handicap in an election race before a very down to earth media. But what is it about the Labour leadership candidates that makes them seem just a little other-wordly? I think it stems from the fact that all five are essentially policy wonks, career politicians who've risen to prominence in a party that has lost touch with any kind of mass popular movement.
This is a contest between professional politicians from identical backgrounds. The leadership contenders were all groomed at Oxbridge, after which they ascended the Labour career ladder: researcher/journalist, special adviser, safe seat, minister. Diane Abbott is the only one who has held no ministerial office but has her media career as consolation. With their fridge-magnet policy-speak, their regulation suits and haircuts, the Labour boys are increasingly difficult to tell apart. Perhaps Labour should just elect them as a job lot, and let them take turns as leader. Well, it would help prevent burnout.
If they all seem a little staring-eyed it is because the candidates are forever calculating their next move, constantly overhearing themselves, as they try to gauge how their words will go down with the media and elements of Labour’s electoral college. They have all become expert at positioning themselves on the Blair/Brown axis pursuing an instrumental, courtier style of politics. You could see it last week as David Miliband paid extravagant praise to Ed Balls’s economic policies - signalling to the latter that he has the job of shadow chancellor if he goes a bit tougher on brother Ed. Balls was left wondering whether or not this endorsement by Tony Blair’s “Wayne Rooney” was the kiss of death.
They are all young, and in terms of life outside the Westminster village, inexperienced. Of course, Labour has always attracted careerists. But in the days of Denis Healey, a beach master at Anzio in World War 2, and James Callaghan, a former naval seaman, you had a sense of real politicians connected to genuine political movements speaking authentic politics. They had that mysterious quality that used to be called “bottom”. Even with the generation of Tony Benn, Roy Hattersley, young Gordon Brown there was a sense that politics actually meant something and wasn’t just about looking and sounding right and not giving offence.
It was Tony Blair who turned the Labour Party into a vehicle for projecting a presidential leadership campaign rather than a participatory democracy. Conference doesn’t matter any more because votes don’t matter. The plethora of affiliated organisations from the trades unions to the co-op have very little influence - though the big trades unions remain important paymasters. Labour Party membership stood at barely 150,000 before the 2010 election, an historic low. Indeed, Labour’s ‘base’ now is really the six million public sector workers in the UK,who look to Labour to protect their jobs and pensions - but they are more of a client group than a political party with a belief-system and a programme for changing society.
Yes, the media is partly to blame and, yes, the Labour leadership contest has thrown up a few interesting policies. Andy Burnham’s call for a land values tax is long overdue and would help stabilise the economy as well as bring sanity to the housing market. Ed Miliband has called for a national minimum “living” wage of £7.60 and a high pay commission. Ed Balls is looking for a long overdue return to mass house building. Even Diane Abbott can legitimately claim that her candidacy prevented Labour slipping into a neo-Powellitte approach to immigration, blaming migrants for unemployment. Nevertheless, there is very little fundamentally that differentiates them - except their relationship to the Great Brown Blair Fault Line.
Personally, I find it hard to choose. Ed Miliband is the most original and gifted candidate in his attempt to reinvent socialism in the guise of “capitalism for the people”. But he is very young, and very inexperienced only having been an MP for five years. His brother, David, is the heir to Blair, which is a massive handicap, but at least I could see him at Prime Minister’s Question Time. Ed Balls - well, the name says it all, unfortunately, and like his mentor Gordon Brown, he is too awkward to make a good prime minister. Andy Burnham is an also ran and Diane Abbott is comic relief. No one who calls themselves socialist could send their child to a private school and retain a shred of credibility.
Who’ll win? Well, it may come down to how close they were to Tony Blair. The former leader’s astonishing intervention , publishing his memoirs on the very day the ballot papers were posted, has made this almost a single issue campaign. Blair’s bid to desecrate the political grave of Gordon Brown has lacerated Labour - forcing it to confront the truth that it remains deeply divided. Ed Miliband is likely to gain most among Labour members, since his USP is that is that, unlike his brother, was too young to have been contaminated by working under Blair. But David Miliband commands majority support among the wider British electorate, according to the polls, and I suspect this will count in a party desperate to return to offiiece.
However, the bookies favourite in the dying days seems to be with Ed Milliband who has won the hearts of the party membership with his promise of a clean break from Blairism.Both Eds will serve under David, and the entire crew will get consolation prizes on the front bench after 25th September. Then with brothers at the helm, the Labour Party will boldly go where no party has gone before - into an electoral black hole.
About Me
Iain Macwhirter is the award-winning political columnist for the Herald and Sunday Herald. He has been a political broadcaster for over 20 years, in Westminster and Holyrood, and is former Rector of Edinburgh University. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The questions I’ve heard people asking about suffering are:
* Is God responsible for suffering?
* Does he cause, allow, and actually make suffering happen with His Own hands?
* Where does Satan fit into all of this?
* Who has the power; God or Satan?
* What is the purpose in suffering?
The line, “You give and take away…my heart will choose to say, “Lord, blessed be Your name!”” in the song comes from the book of Job (in the Old Testament, nestled between the books of Esther and Psalms). Here’s the pretext of what’s about to happen:
Job 1:6-12
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
– Notice that the LORD started this idea flowing and suggested to Satan that he consider Job as Satan prowls around the earth to create havoc and destroy the followers of God. God doesn’t suggest the disaster, however; Satan does.
9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
– Whew, did you catch that? We now know that God has put a hedge around Job. Satan desires to do Job harm. God desires to and has protected Job, and blessed the work of his hands. Now Satan comes back in to try to destroy God’s blessing and cause Job to sin and “curse [God] to [His] face”. Satan is still Satan, even when he’s talking to God! Satan says, “…stretch out YOUR hand, God…and bring destruction to Job.” This is important – don’t miss this detail! Satan is the King of Lies. He’s trying to make it look like God is stretching out His hand against Job, when in reality Satan is the one stretching out his hand, and God is the one allowing it. The Lord makes this clear when He answers Job with “…all that he has is in your hand. Only against him (his body, health) do not stretch out your hand.”
WHO has the POWER here? Is it Satan? If so, then Satan would not have to come to ASK GOD what he can do; he would just do it! Satan has to ask God to do, in effect, his “dirty work”. At this point, God allows Satan to go only so far with the destruction, within God’s own boundaries.
In an instant, Job had just lost…
* 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, all his wealth
* All of his male and female servants (“very many”), save the bringers of bad news
* All of his beloved sons and daughters
Job 1:20 “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
– The scene repeats itself. Job has not fallen to Satan’s scheme. So Satan persists and returns to the Lord. Satan’s taste for blood has not been satisfied. But note again that Satan has to request God’s permission! God has the POWER! God does not Himself do the destructive work. He allows it.
Job 2:3-9
And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job was left with…
* A nagging wife who told him to curse God and die (i.e. NOT a blessing!).
* A wasting, disfigured body that was battered by excruciatingly painful illnesses.
* “Friends” who were of little help and blamed Job for sins which He had not committed and put words in God’s mouth. (They did well when they sat by him silently for three days, but they messed it all up when they opened their mouths!)
* Nothing but an ash heap and, if he was lucky, a piece of pottery to scratch himself with.
And yet He did not curse God.
Job 13:3-15 (Job speaking to his unhelpful “Friends”):
3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to argue my case with God.
4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak falsely for God
and speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you plead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
11 Will not his majesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
and let come on me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
and put my life in my hand?
15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
yet I will argue my ways to his face.
– Now, Job was right in trusting God (v. 15). Even if God slayed him, He trusted God despite it all. It may seem to us like a naive trust. But trusting God, in some sense, is partially naive because we do not have the Mind of God and cannot know all things and understand all His ways. We were designed by Him to know what He has revealed, and we were designed to trust in His perfect character, to the glory and praise of our Creator. Therefore, even if He were to slay us, we could trust in Him.
The error in Job’s way was that he felt he had to “argue [his] ways to [God’s] face” (v. 15). Trusting God – Good. Arguing with God and thinking our way is better – Bad. And God is about to address this pride in Job’s heart (and the errors of Job’s “friends”) sternly and succinctly in about four chapters rather than the 37 chapters Job and his “Friends” had rattled off about God’s justice, ‘injustice,’ Job’s ‘sin’ or righteousness. For your own study, listen to the arguments these men make (you can listen to the audio Bible links here: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Job). Then hear the words of the Lord. He is the One and Only Final Authority on Himself!
Job 38:1-18
38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld,
and their uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.
– Wow! If that didn’t leave you shaking in your boots, you had better run for your life towards the Cross…and as you’re running, remember Psalm 139:1-12
139:1-12
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol (hell), you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
– If God’s love travels so far as to find His children in all places, shall His wrath not also find us wherever we try to hide from God? Praise God for His mercy! If you are a Child of God, you will not receive His wrath! But never take His wrath lightly. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” Proverbs 1:7. And if you are not His Child, run to Him seeking mercy now – you have no other hope but Him!
As the Lord finishes rebuking Job, we finally see Job’s response as it truly should be regarding all that the Lord has both done and allowed:
Job 42:1-6
42:1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
– Back to our questions about suffering and their answers:
* Is God responsible for suffering?
Yes. He allows it for the accomplishment of His purposes. Some of these purposes are revealed to us, and others we may understand when we go to Heaven, yet some we may never understand but we should be okay with that because we have a great big God who we trust. He has purposed all things. If God is not sovereign over suffering, then why should I trust Him to be sovereign over my salvation?! God is not only responsible for suffering, but also for mercy and compassion.
James 5:7-11 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord….8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand….As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
* Does he cause, allow, and actually make suffering happen with His Own hands?
God allows suffering, and He uses various means to cause it to happen – the Chaldeans (the army that attacked Job’s people), Satan himself, others…..
* Where does Satan fit into all of this?
He is restrained from committing all of the destruction and disaster he intends to create. God has him on a leash. He will never be able to do any bit more than the Lord allows (and he knows it).
* Who has the power; God or Satan?
Satan must ask God for the ‘freedom’ to do ANYTHING.
You may still be asking, “So, what WAS the purpose behind Job’s suffering?” To wrap it up, I find John Piper’s explanation both more sufficient and more carefully worded than my own.
“A Twofold Purpose of Suffering in Job’s Life
What we have seen so far, then, is that Job’s suffering has a twofold explanation: its purpose at the outset was to demonstrate God’s value and glory, and its ongoing purpose was to refine Job’s righteousness. His suffering is not punishment. It is not a sign of God’s anger. Job’s pain is not the pain of the executioner’s whip but the pain of the surgeon’s scalpel. The removal of the disease of pride is the most loving thing God could do, no matter what the cost.
Remember the words of the Lord: Better to suffer the excruciating pain of a gouged out eye than to let any sin remain in your heart. If this does not seem obvious to you—namely, that sanctification is worth any pain on this earth—it is probably because you don’t abhor sin and prize holiness the way God does and the way you should. Let us examine ourselves carefully at this point.”The Revelation of God in Suffering
God never did give answers to all of the questions that Job and his “friends” put forth to Him about His ways. But God did answer all their questions in one way – He showed how BIG He is and how SMALL we are. He gave us an example of what we are to do by referring back to His character as the foundation for our trust in Him. Trusting God means that we don’t HAVE TO understand all things – we don’t have to be God – we can be His humble creatures and live with the knowledge that He is all-knowing and put our security in His goodness. In so doing, we glorify Him.
Like this:
Related
While the weight of the comments being made and questions being asked on the http://www.Tangle.com video post were at first highlighting whether or not God takes away and/or is responsible for suffering…the second part of the equation is whether or not God gives. And the Bible is clear that He does give – generously! So let us remember that God “GIVES and takes away”. What He gives is so much greater (beyond comparison, as Paul says) than what He takes away. And what He takes away is taken away so that His purposes might be accomplished…and we will love Him ever more, understanding that He alone is our great reward. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
DoubleU Bingo 2+ Free Power-Ups
Nov
29
2016
DoubleU Bingo provides a variety of exciting features such as world tour, tournament, pet room and many other fascinating characteristics. Call “bingo” faster than anyone else by using diverse and distinctive items. Mobile for Android, iOS, and Amazon. Play on Facebook! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Smite Comic Issue #1 is now Available for Free on iOS and Android
The third-person moba from Hi-Rez Studios Smite is on its way to Xbox One. To build up the franchise’s name, the studio has released its first comic.
The said comic is being distributed through the Dark Horse Comics and is absolutely free to everyone with an iPhone or Android-based device.
There are some big names associated with the said comic. Firstly, it is written by John Jackson Miller who has previously worked on Star Trek, Star War, and Mass Effect comics and is inked by Eduardo Francisco who is another renowned penciller.
Nothing can be said of the upcoming updates, but seeing that this one is free, I would definitely recommend picking it up.
The narrative follows a street urchin called Nassa who discovers an ongoing feud between the old gods and the new:
In this introduction and backstory to the online game SMITE: Battleground of the Gods, follow the street urchin Nassa as she discovers the origins of the epic battle between gods both old and new. Nassa is presented with new knowledge about herself that requires her to make a fateful choice! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - Sterling rose on Thursday to its highest level in six weeks versus the euro as a week of upbeat data soothed some investors’ worries about the impact of Brexit on the UK economy.
Steady inflation readings and forecast-beating wage growth numbers boosted sterling versus its chief peers this week, with the dollar and euro losing ground on escalating tensions over North Korea and Syria, and the rise of a far-left candidate in the French presidential race.
Sterling was up 0.3 percent at 84.76 pence per euro, its highest level since February 27.
It was set for a fourth successive daily gain versus the dollar at $1.2552, up 0.1 percent on the day and its highest since March 28.
“The market is still short sterling so any positive surprise regarding the UK economy may trigger a short rebound in sterling but the long-term view is still relatively bearish on sterling against the euro,” said Piotr Matys, currency strategist at Rabobank.
Speculators took short positions against the pound - which has lost nearly a fifth of its value since Britain voted to leave the European Union - to record high levels in March, according to U.S. CFTC data.
The pound’s fall since the EU referendum has benefited exporters, but driven up domestic inflation, thus squeezing consumers’ spending power - a concern for investors who saw robust consumption as a factor propping up Britain’s economy after the vote.
Consumer prices increased in March by 2.3 percent - above the Bank of England’s target - compared with a year earlier, while earnings including bonuses rose by an annual 2.3 percent in the three months to February.
British manufacturers reported the fastest export growth in more than two years in early 2017 and the services sector also recovered to rack up its strongest sales growth since last June’s Brexit vote, a business survey showed on Thursday.
“A weak sterling over the past few months will continue to fuel inflationary pressure ... So high inflation at a time when wage growth is stagnant doesn’t bode well for UK consumers over the long-term horizon,” Matys said. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Sandro Rosell has claimed that he has always acted in an "honest and above board" way and has nothing to hide concerning his business dealings in Brazil before he took up his position as Barcelona president.
The Catalan businessman has come under fire in recent weeks following reports linking Rosell with an alleged embezzlement scheme involving the Brazilian Football Federation. The Barça president, however, has come out swinging and expressed his exasperation at the allegations.
Speaking during the official press launch of Qatar Airways as the main sponsor of Barça's first team, a visibly annoyed Rosell said that he is still mulling over the idea of calling a press conference to shed light on his dealings in Brazil.
"I don't know if I should have to justify what I did in my private life before I became FC Barcelona president. It's something I'll think about", he replied when asked about the subject by a journalist.
Nevertheless, Rosell went on to acknowledge his wish to lay to rest any question marks concerning the legitimacy of his sports event management business in the South American country, "so that no member can doubt that everything I have done has been honest, above board and transparent and it is all there in black and white". | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Blog
Blog
If You Don’t Stretch Yourself You Will Never Know Lately I have found myself stretched as I have never known before. As issues present and I become increasingly comfortable outside of my comfort zone, several issues have presented for me to deal with. As Tony Robbins says, “Comfort kills.” As I reflect on … Read Full Article… “If You Don’t Stretch Yourself You Will Never Know”
The things that really matter most in life. Having spent a couple of weeks walking the hills of Zakynthos I’ve had some time to reflect on the things in my life that really matter the most. Upon reflecting on my time as a nurse and the things that cause people the most trauma, this … Read Full Article… “The things that really matter most in life.”
Posts navigation
Get Invited to Events and Receive Discounts on Food and Drinks There...
* indicates required
Email Address *
First Name
Last Name
My curiosity into human interaction was sparked at a very young age, when I witnessed the various behaviour of the residents of the psychiatric hospital I grew up in, many of whom wandered down to my family home, looking for cigarettes. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Jim Carrey’s girlfriend commits suicide
Cathriona White, Jim Carrey's girlfriend, has committed suicide.
LOS ANGELES (QHA) -
Jim Carrey's girlfriend has been found dead in her Los Angeles apartment. She is reported to have left a suicide note making reference to their recent breakup. A day before Cathriona posted a message on Twitter reading: 'Signing off Twitter, I hope I have been a light to my nearest and dearest'.
Pills lying next to her body led the LAPD to believe 28-year-old Cathriona had taken an overdose. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
I saw the Auvi-Q featured in the NYT. It seems to be smaller and lighter than the epipen. It is about the size of an playing carding and about a 1/2 an inch thick. They haven't posted the weight on it, but it sure does LOOK lighter and less cumbersome.
Neither of the links listed a weight, so we don't know if it is lighter. The epi-pen is not all that heavy.
The form factor looks convenient, it would certainly go into a pocket better.
The current generation of epi-pens contains two doses of epi. This device doesn't say how many doses it contains. This is quite important, particularly in a wilderness setting. As a health-care provider who does not have any serious allergies I prefer to carry a vial with at least four doses of epi and a couple of syringes. I might not feel that way if I thought I would have to inject myself. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Grades too low, so St. Paul dad pulls AK-47, charges say
The St. Paul girl was allegedly threatened in her house with a gun her father had recently purchased.
By
KEVIN GILES
and
ANDREW KRAMMER
Star Tribune staff writers
January 25, 2013 — 9:12pm
Ramsey County SheriffKirill Bartashevitch, 51, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with two felony counts of terroristic threats after alleging pointing the gun at his daughter, 15, and his wife during an argument at their house on Jan. 17.
A St. Paul man who recently purchased an assault rifle out of fear of an impending gun ban threatened his teenage daughter with it because she was getting two B's in school rather than straight A's, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday.
Kirill Bartashevitch, 51, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with two felony counts of terroristic threats after alleging pointing an AK-47 at his daughter and wife during an argument over high school grades on Jan. 13.
No shots were fired, but Bartashevitch threw his wife to the floor, the complaint alleged.
Bartashevitch had recently purchased the rifle because he thought that such guns soon will be banned, the complaint said. He admitted to St. Paul police that he had pointed the gun at his wife and daughter but said it wasn't loaded and that he had checked the chamber beforehand.
"Any gun owner in America will tell you that's incredibly irresponsible," said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. "You just don't point guns at people."
Threatening someone with a gun is a crime of violence regardless of the type of weapon or whether it's loaded, Choi said. The incident took place at the family's house on Englewood Avenue. The girl's concerns came to light four days later at Central High School when a social worker received a report from a parent who was monitoring her son's electronic communications and read a message from the girl.
According to the complaint, the argument began when Bartashevitch berated his daughter for not making straight A's at school. The girl swore at her father and stated that she "hated" him. He then pointed his new AK-47 at the girl, the complaint said.
The mother said that when she tried to protect the girl, her husband pushed her to the floor.
Police searched the residence and recovered 9-millimeter ammunition and receipts documenting that Bartashevitch had sold two assault rifles to gun shops on Tuesday. One, which he sold for $150, was an AK-47. The other, sold for $375, was a newer AK-47 clone rifle.
The complaint didn't state whether one of the rifles was involved in the alleged incident.
The incident comes in the midst of a buying spree at metro-area gun shops in reaction to President Obama's proposed gun control measures in the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre.
"There's been a large uptick in all firearms, assault weapons or not," said John Monson, owner of Bill's Gun Shop, which has three metro-area locations. "Anything with high-capacity firearms, handguns, those things are all extremely hard to get and selling extremely fast. People are buying them because they want to get them before someone tells them they can't. I've got a ton of customers buying guns with no intentions of ever taking it out of the box."
Law enforcement sources said Friday that legal gun purchases -- even during the current buying surge -- don't threaten public safety, but unlocked guns do when people are under duress.
Tracking motives of gun buyers is difficult, said St. Paul police Sgt. Paul Paulos. "Is this something that's going to continue? I don't have an answer for that because everyone's an individual."
The girl has been taken to a shelter, the complaint said.
Bartashevitch, who is an employee of Minneapolis Public Schools, was in custody and made his first appearance in court Friday. Bail was set at $20,000.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 1 in Ramsey County.
Bartashevitch has a previous conviction for disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, in 2000. He received a year of probation for that offense. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Sections
Thursday, March 29, 2012
We have had several giveaways for sold out shows (Heartless Bastards, Grimes, The Kooks) and now another. Say Anything will be playing at Mr Smalls Theatre next Wednesday, April 11th. They are touring behind their recently released Tim O'heir produced (Superdrag, Sebadoh) record Anarchy, My Dear. The new songs are catchy with a raw, cathartic intensity. I have listened to the album several times. It has an almost vintage, classic/glam rock feel with anthem choruses and rampant energy. Years of constant touring has created one of the most intense shows that fans clamor to see. We are happy to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show. All you need to do is email us your name to [email protected] to enter.
From their press:
Anarchy, My Dear, produced by Tim O’Heir (Say Anything, Sebadoh, Superdrag), is in its purest sense, a form of propaganda—an intense expression of frontman Max Bemis’ love for the idea of anarchy. Says Bemis, “Anarchy, My Dear is our first attempt to write a true ‘punk’ record; thematically speaking, it’s a collection of songs about subverting society and destroying the boundaries humankind has placed upon ourselves both physically and in our minds. Coincidentally, it also happens to be the first record we’ve made in years where we had total freedom to explore our ‘edgier’ side and present a raw picture of what the band is truly about onstage.”
Filled with thought-provoking, idiosyncratic lyrics, Anarchy marks a breakthrough in Say Anything’s genre-defying evolution. Hailed by Alternative Press as one of the most anticipated albums of 2012, the music has a newfound vintage, glam-rock feel, complete with an urgent punch of anthemic choruses and ferocious energy. SPIN Magazine declared that the first single, “Burn A Miracle,” is “one of the more schizophrenic and toothsome pop-punk outbursts frontman Max Bemis (or maybe anyone for that matter) has shared to date. It’s a beast. Have a listen.”
Show begins at 8p with doors at 7p. Craigslist, ebay and begging are the ways to go for tickets.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Margot and the Nuclear So & So's will be making a stop at the Brillobox, next Saturday 4.7. The band recently self released their new LP Rot Gut, Domestic this past week. It has steadily been gaining buzz on the blogosphere, as the band kept the album close to the vest during the production. The Indianapolis based group is fronted by Richard Edwards, the mainstay of every Margot album. We are big fans of Margot having featured interviews with Richard here and here. He was generous enough to speak with us again about the new album, touring with Greg Dulli and how Peyton Manning is no longer a Colt. We are happy to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show. As usual, just email us your name to [email protected] to enter.
First, have to get this out of the way. What do you think of Peyton Manning being released by the Colts? Smart? Would you take Andrew Luck or RG3?
It's very sad for the obvious reasons, but seems like the wise move. That being said, it's the wise move because they did a bad job gradually upgrading the team, and now they're forced with the prospect of a complete tear down. I like RG3 better, but would probably take Luck.
Your past albums have been released on major label Artemis Record, V2, Epic. This time around you had a Pledge Music campaign and self released Rot Gut, Domestic. What brought about this change?
We've actually been self releasing for a couple years. Buzzard was also released on our label. The reasons for doing it are many, but the increased freedom is as good a reason as any.
How did the incentive based rewards for donating workout (including credits in linear notes, band member mixing your own song, etc)? I see on the site you had pledges almost 3x what you asked. Did people keep their pledges and send the funds?
Everything seemed to work very well. I would do it again.
You have always had dark, gloomy lyrics about alienation, frustration and anxiety. Are all these from your personal experiences? Or is this more character motivated?
The lyrics are about all sorts of things. Sometimes it's personal experiences, sometimes they are bible stories. There's a fair amount of darker humor in the songs, as well, but people do tend to focus on the other stuff.
Your last album Buzzard was more guitar driven than the baroque sound of your earlier records. Rot Gut appears to even go further with this sound, comparably to 90’s alt rock. Would you agree? Or do you feel this was a natural progression?
I can see some similarities to 90's alternative music, mixed in with a bunch of other stuff. I think it was a natural evolution. Just felt like playing electric guitars. I generally do something until I suddenly feel like not doing it. There's very little plotting or premeditation. I like making music with all sorts of sounds and instruments.
Did you have any definitive direction when you began the album with regards to sound? How did others input affect the direction?
Not really, besides feeling like it was going to be another guitar centric affair. I'd say John Congleton, who produced the record with us, always encouraged the big loud things to be unapologetically big and loud. If it wants to rock, let it rock.
I read that the your song ‘The Devil’ off the album is the bands favorite, but no one originally wanted it on the record besides yourself. Why is that? And what made them come around?
I can't really remember, but probably just because it's a bit bizarre. Not traditionally structured. When you bring a demo of a song like that in to the studio, it is sometimes hard for others to see what it's going to eventually be. As the recording of it comes together, and it starts sounding cool, people's guards generally come down.
The last time you were you were supporting Greg Dulli’s Twilight Singers. How did that tour go? Were you able to garner advice, perspective from the indie rock legend?
The tour was great. I'd say most of the advice I took from Greg was health based. Musically, we both like each others bands quite a bit. I enjoy hanging out with him. He's a good egg.
Anything you like to say to Pittsburgh?
When we play, please bring any pictures you took during the Batman shoot. I want to see them.
This is a later show with doors at 9:30 and show beginning at 10p. More information can be found here.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Cloud Nothings will be performing next Tuesday, 4.3 at the Brillobox. The band has just recently released a new LP this year entitled, Attack on Memory, which has garnered significant praise including Pitchfork's 'Best New Music'. The Cleveland quartet is known for their energetic live shows, pushing the envelope from their lo-fi sound to fierce, rock pounding sets. We are happy to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show. As usual, just email us your name to [email protected]
From their press:
It’s been a crazy year for Cloud Nothings since they burst onto the music scene last winter. At the time main man Dylan Baldi was eighteen, living at home, and making lo-fi indie rock on a crappy computer in his parent’s suburban basement outside Cleveland. Since then, Cloud Nothings has released an EP and a handful of singles, and the band has put a few North American tours under its belt. With all the internet notoriety and their recent signing with Carpark, Cloud Nothings are now able to record somewhere besides the basement. For a producer, Dylan chose Baltimore’s Chester Gwazda, known for his work with Dan Deacon and Future Islands. Recorded this past August in a warehouse studio in Baltimore’s famed Copycat Building (home to the original Wham City and many of the city’s best musicians and artists), the self-titled Cloud Nothings album shines through with a crispness and boldness that Dylan has always envisioned. The songs now sound as they do live: full of energy, precision, and catchy bits. Dylan plays all the instruments on the album, but this time without the lo-fi scuzz. The excitement and emotion are practically jumping off the grooves.
Show begins at 9:30 with doors at 9p. Tickets for the show are $8 and can be found here. Locals Pet Clinic and A Classic Education will be opening. More information on the band:
Sunday, March 25, 2012
I've never found it more difficult to place a band in a single genre as I did with Larry and His Flask. The six piece, all of them multi instrumentalists playing a variety of mandolin, banjo, percussion, and horns, brought their literal blend of folk, alternative country, and americana into Pittsburgh part of the Stewed, Screwed, and Tattooed tour in support of the cult road veterans Reverend Horton Heat.
The Altar Bar stage could barely contain them all as they pumped out set opener "Blood Drunk" to a mixed crowd of rockabilly and punk fans. With founder Jamin Marshall providing percussion and brother Jesse twisting behind him on the upright bass the band slowly rev'd the crowd into a swinging dance craze. The only slow down section of the set was during the song named for such an occasion, "Slow It Down".
Finishing the 45 minute set the band invited openers The Goddamn Gallows back on stage for an "in the crowd" party. Lead vocalist Ian Cook jumped on the bar leading the pandemonium while the long bearded, now wolf masked Dallin Bulkey stirred the crowd into a trance with the rest of the band lip syncing every lyric as sweat poured from their faces.
The road warriors thanked the crowd and departed the stage looking like they were leaving the place they were meant to always be on, the stage. No worries though, the band had an enormous selection of merchandise to remember them by. And yes, they actually do sell LAHF flasks.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Our local artist spotlight for the month of March is The Woodpile. The band just recently completed their debut LP, Life Vacation, which you can download for free from their bandcamp site. The band was kind enough to answer our normal 'spotlight' questions. You can find their album throughout the interview with links to their sites at the bottom.
How did the band come together? Were you all friends that went to school?
My old band, The Douglass Brothers, broke up. We could never really get it together, but I didn’t want to abandon the sound that I thought we should have gone for. So, in early 2008 I wrote about 20 songs and hired a band to rehearse and record what would become Life Vacation. I have known Steve Whooler, who played guitar in TDB, since we played in a couple high school bands together, and his metal style was a big part of what I envisioned for the project. Chris Belin handled the drumming. He was a go to guy on the skins when a drummer flaked (happened all the time), so I worked with him on and off over the years. A word of advice to someone starting out who wants to earn a living playing music…learn the drums. If you can show up on time and learn your parts before rehearsal you’re miles ahead of most. Anyway, Big Cat Lynch did a lot of vocals on the record. His musical talent is rather diverse and he’s a friend I have known since college so he was a clear choice. Lastly, E Graham played guitar and did background vocals. He posted a Craigslist ad that simply said something like “e-mail if you’re not a p*ssy.” I instantly knew what he meant so I hit him up. We got on real well and the timing was perfect because I had just finished the demos and was in the process of gathering the band.
<a href="http://thewoodpile.bandcamp.com/album/life-vacation">Life Vacation by The Woodpile</a>
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
I still don’t have a very good answer for this question. Maybe after more people here the album and we get some feedback it will be easier. From the first rehearsal to release was about three and half years and during that time no one heard anything, not even the guys involved. Besides the first weekend where we cut the drums and some rough guitar tracks all recording sessions were periodic one-offs with each member. So they ended up hearing the finished product about one week before it was released. It seems like new genres are popping up constantly these days, but I don’t think any of that’s necessary here, it’s just rock music.
Are you all originally from the Pittsburgh area? Families here as well?
Everyone is from the Pittsburgh area. Besides Lynch, who grew up in the south hills, we’re all originally from the eastern suburbs.
Do you all create music full time or is this more of a part time venture?
Chris Belin’s traveling drum school has been freaking parents out in their own homes since 1999 and he does freelance gigs and studio sessions, so he’s been fortunate enough to pay the bills that way. The rest of us, to a varying degree, are giving it go, but we’re certainly all still punching the clock.
Do you have day jobs?
Whooler is in charge of keeping produce fresh as a manager at a local chain supermarket. Graham worked at a piano store, but apparently it’s hard to make a living on the commissions from sales of $30,000.00 pianos since no one has the money to buy one. Lynch most recently worked for a software company, and I trade bonds at a large financial institution.
<a href="http://thewoodpile.bandcamp.com/album/life-vacation">Life Vacation by The Woodpile</a>
How do you create your music? What is the song writing process?
It varies. I like to sit with the bass or guitar and just jam. If something comes out that I like I’ll lay it down. Sometimes it builds on itself right away and other times it doesn’t, but either way I try not to force it. Many times I’ll come up with something much later and realize that it happens to work well with an older riff, and that can happen a few times and then there’s a song. A lot of lyrics pop into my head while I’m at work or some other random place. It usually results in a chorus or a couple of verse lines I like, and then that becomes the topic of the song. What are your goals for the band? What would you like to accomplish? Are you trying to get signed to a label?
That really depends. I would love to rehearse all the time and play a bunch of shows and go on tour. I’m ready to throw it all down on a moments’ notice, as I always have been. But the saying that you’re only as strong as your weakest link is so true when it comes to a band. The opportunity cost is too high for me to spend any time in a project where everyone involved doesn’t take pride in what we’re doing. I want to be the guy who cares the least. I wouldn’t lose any sleep if no one liked us, as long as we’re tight. The dudes involved in this case are all solid, so it’s feasible that we could pull it off, but it’s been so long since we started making the record that I need to sit down with everyone and see where they are in their life. I’d be open to having a label release Life Vacation on a larger scale, but it’s not something I’m actively pursuing.
What advice would you give to local acts trying to make it?
I’m definitely not the person to ask that question to, but I could tell you quite a few things not to do. How much time do you have?
Have you all toured nationally? Or do you usually stay more regionally?
Whooler and I toured regionally with TDB. I booked all of our shows and we played a bunch of cities, Cleveland, Buffalo, Ithaca, Syracuse, NYC, Philly, just to name a few. It was very ambitious, but never resulted in much because we weren’t where we should have been as a unit. We had a great time though, and have a lot of memorable stories that will be told for years to come.
Being in the Pgh area, do you find it more difficult to try and succeed?
There are disadvantages and advantages of every city or town. It comes down to how you make those things work for you or against you. I lived in Fishtown in Philly for a time and the scene there was pretty robust. There were so many bands/studios/venues operating at a professional level. Was it easier to get noticed or easier to get lost in the shuffle because of that? I don’t know.
What are some of the obstacles you face trying to create some 'success' in Pgh?
Many regional and national touring acts seem to skip Pittsburgh, so not as many people get into the routine of going out to smaller club shows on a regular basis, which I think would have a positive trickle down effect for local bands. That being said, I think there have been some small improvements in that area over the last couple of years and that it will continue to get better.
<a href="http://thewoodpile.bandcamp.com/album/life-vacation">Life Vacation by The Woodpile</a>
What are the positive benefits of being in the area?
People here are loyal and they know what they like. Those are positive qualities. Bands that have a loyal fan base, even if it’s not that big, will be better off than some buzz band from a bigger market. Additionally, I believe Pittsburgh is on the up and up in general. There was a brain drain here for years, but many people I know who moved away after college were able to find a good job here and move back. I’m one of those people.
Is there a venue you have enjoyed playing more than others in the area?
Club Café is a nice club and always very accomodating. The Rex Theater is good for a louder band like those I’ve been in because the sound system and size of the venue, but only if there are 100+ people. I really like the setup at Howlers, and it’s the perfect size for local and smaller touring acts.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Today’s
musical landscape—especially as experienced through the internet and the
blogosphere—is always churning out new sounds and phenomenal music. But, it is
safe to say that something which is in short supply are bands which seriously
rock out. It seems to me that last time indie music really had a number of
bands who rocked out was in the late 1990s.
It’s
time to rock again, next Wednesday, March 28th at Mr. Small’s. Cursive
headlines with opener Cymbals Eat Guitars. Both bands bring onstage a handful
of guitars, a healthy dose of angst, and let it rip. Cursive is a band that cut
its teeth in the rock scene of the 1990s, and has continued to make aggressive
and emotional music since. Cymbals Eat Guitars have not surprisingly been
referred to as a “90s-style” rock band, but they have also garnered comparisons
with Animal Collective and Mogwai for
their complicated, linear songs. I had a chance to talk with Matt Whipple of
Cymbals Eat Guitars in anticipation of what is sure to be a fantastic show. Don't' forget we have a pair of tickets to the show to giveaway.
This
past October, Cymbals Eat Guitars released their sophomore full length, Lenses Alien, to high critical acclaim.
Personally, I find it even better than their debut. “We're really proud of the
record we made,” Matt says. Whipple joined the band after the release of their
first album, Why There Are Mountains,
so this was the first Cymbals Eat Guitars album where he was actively involved
in the writing and recording. Unlike the first album, this one did not receive
the coveted (but in my mind overrated) label of Best New Music by Pitchfork.
Matt spoke honestly about this. “We'd be lying if we said we weren't hoping to
get Pitchfork’s Best New Music. A lot of bands try to downplay that. But it
makes no sense, because it obviously
makes a difference in terms of how your record is received, because a lot of
music on the internet is basically a Pitchfork echo chamber.” Receiving such
positive press from Pitchfork on their first album, when the band was
relatively unknown, really helped get them on the indie rock map. “While we
were understandably a little disappointed to not have the record be such a
zeitgeist as the last time around, we kind of understand that not being a new
band anymore definitely impacts how much excitement there is about the music
that you put out. People love new and now. When you're putting out your second
record there is a bit more of a battle for attention.”
The album
title is indicative of both the band’s musical approach and the lyrics written
by singer Joe D’Agostino. Lenses Alien
refers to taking perspectives on the world which are unfamiliar to us. Both
song structure and lyrics are complex; sometimes psychedelic, wandering, and
disjointed. “I think kaleidoscopic is definitely a good word for it,” Matt says.
“For this record there was a concerted effort to make it so. To arrive at that
kind of sound, the lyrics and the music together, it’s not like one comes first
and the other comes second. They dance around each other and shift and change
shape until they fit together in a way that makes sense to us.”
The
band isn’t necessarily not bothered by the label of “90s” rock, especially as
it has been applied with increasing regularity to such critical darlings as
Yuck. “I think a lot of guitar bands now that don't really sound much like the
90s get labeled as throwback, just because they're not using synths basically.
I think in some ways for us it is a very apt description, but in others it
doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I think that people are always just going to
like guitar music. Not to be a rockist, but I think there is something very
visceral and immediately satisfactory to people who like this kind of music to
hear guitars played loudly and weirdly.”
One
of my favorite pieces of guitar brilliance is the epic album opener, “Rifle
Eyesight (Proper Name).” At 8 and ½ minutes, the song is more than twice as
long as everything else on the album…but so good. I asked Matt if we were
likely to hear it at the show with Cursive. “Yeah, I think so. It’s such a
behemoth of a song, you kind of have to build the set around it.” Other
considerations come into play when designing their set, he said, especially an
opening spot. “We're kind of hemmed in by the fact that Joe plays songs in a
bunch of different tunes, and he has three different guitars that he brings on
tour. So because we don't have a guitar tech or someone to retune guitars after
every song, a lot of our set is dictated by us saying, ‘Ok, we need to minimize
dead space between songs, so let's play the three songs in standard tuning, and
then the three songs on the white guitar, and then the three songs on the black
guitar.”
The
band has release videos for two singles off the album. The first video, for “Keep
Me Waiting,” shows a complicated story of adolescents with the feel of a
Richard Kelly film with a crazy ending open for interpretation. Matt told me
that the band is interested in letting the directors do much of the
decision-making and story writing, with the band providing only minimal suggestions.
More recently they released the video for “Definite Darkness,” directed by
Jaime Harley. Like the first, they let the director take over. “I don't want to
say he is the director really…he is sort of a video collage artist. What he
does is find these really obscure found footage shots and assemble a video
using that footage to create an emotional collage experience. So we weren't
really involved in that video at all. We heard that Jaime wanted to do a video
for us, and we had seen other stuff that he had done for How to Dress Well and
Twin Shadow. As soon as we heard he wanted to do one we were like, "Yes,
absolutely, do whatever you want." He submitted a rough cut to us that was
basically the song playing 3 or 4 times in a row just over all of the footage
that he wanted to pull from. We immediately said, “Yes! Go. Do it.” And the end
result is what came out a few days ago. We're really stoked on it.”
The
band spent a good bit of last year on touring Europe. I asked Matt about his
experience there versus here. “US crowds are usually a little bit more boisterous,
a little bit more vocal, more enthusiastic. That doesn't necessarily mean that
they like the shows more. I think European crowds tend to be a little bit more
reserved and a little bit more reverent. We could play a show in Germany and
everybody is just dead silent and politely clapping the whole time, and then we
don't play an encore. Somebody would come up to us afterwards and say, ‘Why
didn’t you play an encore?!’ And we were like, ‘Um, I don’t know. Cause we
thought you hated the show.”
They
didn’t hate the show though. Nor will we when the band rocks Pittsburgh next
week. Ultimately, Matt said the louder the crowd, the easier it is to play the
show. But, he adds, “I don't think it necessarily means we'll play a better
show. But it certainly means that we'll think we're playing a better show.”
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
As previously mentioned, Jeffrey Lewis will be playing this Saturday at Club Cafe. We were able to finally catch up with him after his SXSW shows this past week. JL was kind enough to answer questions on how he has been able to create a living with his DIY ethos, his connection with Jaymay and Kimya Dawson and his dark lyrical content. As mentioned before, we would like to offer you a free pair of tickets to the show. As usual, just email us with your name at [email protected]
You have been making a living with your DIY ethos for over 10 years. What is your secret for sustaining an ‘indie’ career especially in NYC?
Three things: one, read "Our Band Could Be Your Life" to see how some other bands did it; two, don't pay for any services until after you've already made enough for yourself to survive, in other words any money for a manager, photographer, publicist, record producer, vehicle, hotel, or any other possible expense, should only come out of the profit that you make for yourself and your bandmates, so that the musicians get paid first and foremost and only after the musicians are surviving is it possible to then start spending money on those extra things. I don't believe in investments, or spending money to make money, going into debt in hopes of making money later. You have to be making money before you can spend money. And the third rule is that the function of art is to blow minds, that's your job as an artist, if you're doing your job then you'll do fine.
Jaymay and Kimya Dawson recently played here. You are linked by the ‘Sidewalk Café’ anti-folk scene. Do you feel any connection with it? These are other artists that are making it on their own. Do you similar economic structure?
The Sidewalk Cafe has this great Monday might open mic that's been going on for decades, and it's where I got my start performing in New York City when I began writing songs. It's the perfect place to start in many ways, because anybody can just walk in off the street, no demo tape needed, no pre-arrangements, and there's usually a good crowd and a lot of inspiring and talented people to meet, and creativity is prized more than musicianship or cover songs or posturing. Everybody who plays the Sidewalk is called "Antifolk" no matter what kind of music they play. I feel a big connection with that place, and especially the group of people who were around there in the late 90s when I was starting out. Everybody's got their own economic situations, and their own goals and ambitions, but I think of it like the "million monkeys on a million typewriters" thing, like, there's so many zillions of people who have played that open mic there's inevitably going to be a handful of great people coming out of there.
A Turn in the Dream Songs is your latest album. Was there a particular theme behind this? Or?
My records usually don't have conscious themes, though in retrospect when I look back on an album a couple years later I can see the dominant thoughts and ideas and attitudes that inform the overall feeling of the record.
You have been on Rough Trade Records now for years. With your DIY ethos, did you ever consider putting out these albums yourself? Why do you stay with a label?
I put my recordings out myself on cassettes for a few years before Rough Trade asked me if they could release some of this stuff on CD, and it seems to have been a good idea to have them do that. It's not like I was shopping stuff around to different labels, or like I chose Rough Trade for some reason to be my label, it was just a lucky circumstance that I got an email from them one day in 2001 that lead to all of this. Now, ten years later, I still give them first choice when I make an album, I'll send them a copy of the recording and ask if they'd want to put it out, and most of the time they've said yes, which has been great. I can also still put stuff out myself, which I do sometimes.
Is there always a plan to create a comic book with your albums? Or is this something you do every now and then?
Do you mean for the album packaging artwork? I have been trying, for the past few albums, to give each album a unique packaging design that is different from anything else being sold. I think that in this day and age when the music itself is very easy to download, it's important that the physical item be worth buying. I've even considered releasing the album packaging without even including the disc, just with a note saying where to download the music. I'm very happy with the way the artwork and design worked out for A Turn in the Dream-Songs, but I think they printed it too dark. I've been asking Rough Trade to fix this on subsequent printings, maybe they will.
Your music is often described as comedy, but there is a darker side. Do the ‘depressed, gloomy’ lyrics personify you as a musician?
My music is mostly pretty dark, as far as I see it myself. I'm basically an atheist and a pragmatist, trying to keep myself happy and sane in a world that often seems poorly designed for such stuff. I usually try to use songs as ways to battle the darkness of life, with a tool kit that includes logic, humor, and philosophy. If people take some of it as comedy, that's at least good to the extent that it admits humor as a part of life, on equal ground with tragedy, love, death, heartbreak, food, housing, travel, history, art, youth, all of the stuff of human existence on earth. I think any artist who narrows their scope to exclude any of these aspects is missing some colors in their pallet, missing some parts of the toolkit. So yeah, humor is part of it, but everything is part of it. Was there a show or artists who made you want to dedicate your life to music/comic books?
Any great comic book creator makes me want to dedicate my life to comic books, whether it's Alan Moore, Daniel Clowes, Harvey Kurtzman, Joe Matt, Jack Kirby, and a long list of others who have inspired me to pursue making comic books my entire life, from a very young age. As for music and songs, I'd have to point to Daniel Johnston as the primary inspiration for me making and recording songs, when I discovered his stuff in the mid-90s it was a life-changing experience because he proved so clearly that songs have nothing to do with how good you sing, how good you play, how expensive your recordings are, what you look like, any of that stuff. A song can be the greatest, most moving, most enlightening thing you've ever heard even with absolutely none of that stuff going for you. The song itself is the only important thing. That's a lesson that my entire songwriting output is based on. When it comes to the more musical side of what I do, I think Yo La Tengo and Lou Reed have had the biggest influences on the dynamic that I aim for, the balance between the sonically beautiful and the sonically brutal, complete control and complete chaos, with no corner unexplored.
What future goals would you like to accomplish?
More comic books and more songs that I'm proud of.
Anything you would like to say to Pittsburgh?
I have fond memories of Pittsburgh, some old friends from New York moved there a while back.
This is the early show at Club Cafe with doors at 6p and show at 7p. Tickets are only $8 and can be found here.
Monday, March 19, 2012
If you follow the blog you know we are huge fans of Tim Kasher and any project he is involved with. He was here this past November touring behind his first solo album at the Thunderbird Cafe, which included buying everyone in the crowd a shot of Jameson. This time around his main act, Cursive, are back with him touring behind their new album I Am Gemini. This is Cursive's seventh LP, telling the story of twin brothers Cassius and Pollock, one good and one evil. An unexpected reunion at a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head. We have a pair of tickets to giveaway to the show. As usual, just email us with your name [email protected]
Tim Kasher was kind enough to talk with us briefly about the dichotomy of the new album, his ongoing screenwriting and if we would buy everyone a shot of Jameson this time around.
What made you decide to write an album about a fictional set up conjoined brothers?
It kind of evolved into that. I had loosely planned on writing about conflicting voices in one's heads, it spun out of control from there.
It’s the story of good v. evil from what I have read/heard. Is this something you see as a screenplay?
I had some daydreams of doing other things with this story, but set those ideas aside to ensure the story of the album was told completely. I didn't want it to be a companion piece to other proposed mediums, but rather a story in and of itself.
I got tripped up a few times in the production aspect of film making, enough times to leave me exhausted. I still write plenty aside from songwriting, but continue to consider it a hobby.
How did writing the structures of these songs compare to your past albums? Was this a much different process from more of ‘personal’ albums?
It wasn't incredibly different, we approached the compiling of songs in the same fashion as we have in the past, the main difference was we sequenced the songs in their correct order before writing the lyrics or recording. This way I was able to write the story linearly from track one to the end of the album. It also gave us a lot more insight whilst recording, knowing in advance which songs went into which songs.
In the cd booklet there is narrative of the album with the twin brothers. Did you write this? And what made you decide to add it?
Ted suggested I write it out as a play - or, more technically, a 'libretto' - to help listeners follow the story we had created. Yes, I wrote it, essentially just a more stylized version of the outline I had written prior to writing the lyrics.
Are you going to be playing a full catalogue on this tour? Or playing this concept album for the most part to tell the entire story?
We have been playing the full catalogue. Or, mostly full, from Domestica on.
How do you feel about writing the solo album and then creating a Cursive LP? Was it a nice break? Is this something you will continue to do?
I will continue putting out albums in this fashion. Or, I hope to, anyway. Yes, it's great to get away from one set of ideas and tackle something a bit different.
The last time you were here touring behind your solo album, you bought everyone at the show a shot of Jameson. Any chance this will happen this time around? Was that a normal thing for you?
Only done it a rare few times when I'm in a rare mood!
You have always said Pittsburgh is a great town. What has been your favorite place when visiting?
I find Pittsburgh to be a gorgeous city, underrated. I have had some friends report great things about living there. I was so proud when I heard the latest Batman film was shooting there! That DID happen, correct? As for favorite places, I am fairly traditional about loving New York City. Also appreciate the out of the way locales - went all the way to Helsinki, Finland last year. That was a unique experience.
Yes, part of the new Batman was filmed here. The show is at Mr Smalls with doors at 7p and show at 8p. Tickets are $16 and can be found here. Cymbals Eat Guitar will be opening. We have an interview with them as well so check back soon.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Jeffrey Lewis will be performing this Saturday, 3.24 at Club Cafe. The quirky musician and comic book artist brings his brand of ironic folk pop to the small club this evening with guest Kid Brother. He is touring behind his latest LP, A TURN IN THE DREAM-SONGS, out this past year on Rough Trade Records. We first caught a glimpse of JL about 4 years ago opening for someone (who obviously didn't make an impression) at Mr Smalls. He simply stole the evening, playing solo while turning his comic books onstage with each song. His melodic vocals and folk guitar plucks merge with self deprecating lyrics to create his catchy songs.We are hoping to get an interview within in the next day, but for now, we would like to offer you a free pair of tickets to the show. As usual, just email us with your name at [email protected]
From his press:
Jarvis Cocker says Jeffrey Lewis is the finest lyricist of his generation and coming from him that’s quite an accolade. We’re inclined to agree and really it’s quite undeniable when you hear him explain the history of communist China or being sexually assaulted on a train by Will Oldham through song with an ease that makes you forget he’s being limited by rhythm and rhyme. Jeff’s the product of loving beatnik parents who raised him in New York’s Lower East Side in a tenement apartment with no television (it seems they’re on to something there). Before Jeffrey could even read he was crazy about comic books, which is probably why listening to his lo-fi anti folk punk rock feels a lot like reading one.
Nearly all of his songs contain at least one killer lyric that you’ll want to tell people about when you hear it. This writer for instance has explained the storyline of ‘Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song’ to every friend and family member. Lewis’s themes may range from bad acid trips to politcal history and oral sex, but there’s an overriding preoccupation that tends towards the life affirming. Relentless positivity usually makes us puke, but how irresistible are lines like, “bad times give you something to talk about/the next time you feel you’re all worn out/remember life is a story, don’t you doubt/it only takes a day for everything to turn around”.
This is the early show at Club Cafe with doors at 6p and show at 7p. Tickets are only $8 and can be found here.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Fanfarlo was here last back in December 2009 at the Brillobox putting on an amazing show. A little over two years later, they are making their second stop in Pgh, this time at the larger venue Mr Smalls. The band just released their second LP on new major label, Atlantic Records, entitled Rooms Filled With Light. It's a departure from their previous album, with more electric guitar and synthesizer compared to the folk sound of Reservoirs. We had a great interview with drummer Amos Memon, speaking about the new sound, recent performances in Seoul and their hope to create a soundtrack to a film. Also, don't forget we have a pair of tickets to giveaway to the show.
There was a good 4 years between your two lp’s. Why such a long gap? What was the band doing between these years?
Reservoir was recorded in late 2008 and released in early 2009. We then toured for the bulk of 2009 and 2010, before taking time off to write our second album, which we recorded in 2011 and released last month. Basically we got caught in the tour-record-release black hole!
You recorded Rooms Filled With Light for Atlantic Records. How has this transition been compared to your indie roots? Did you feel more pressure to create a more ‘popular’ album?
We had a lot of fun practicing songs for Rooms Filled With Light and didn't feel any pressure to create something we weren't committed to. Even if we weren't on Canvasback/Atlantic, our approach would have been exactly the same.
There is a real departure sonically on your new album compared to the last. There is more electric guitar and synthesizers. What made you change direction? Or do you feel this was just a natural progression?
As musicians, we'd improved at playing our instruments since the last time we were in a studio. We'd matured and wanted to try new things, setting parameters for the album's sound, such as abandoning familiar instruments (glockenspiel, melodica, acoustic guitar and clarinet) and replacing them with electronics, electric guitar and getting Simon to dust off his saxophone.
What was the writing process with the new sound? Did it change for this album?
It had changed. The songs on Reservoir were written by Simon about three or four years before we'd recorded them! We were all there for the conception of the songs on Rooms Filled With Light, so this is a band effort.
Has your live show changed compared when you were touring behind your last lp? Do you bring more musicians with you on tour?
We've been a quintet for two years. It's more manageable on stage, in the practice room and in the tour van. Our live show has evolved to include lights and projections, so much so that is does feel like you're missing a member when we don't have them.
You all have quite a touring schedule plan from looking on your website. How do the audiences differ from Europe to the US? And what about places such as Iceland? Any cities/countries you really enjoy playing?
Visiting Seoul, South Korea was an exciting city to play. We'd never been there before and made sure we could stay a bit longer to see the city and even travelled to border with North Korea. It was satisfying to finally play to our fans there. Last month we played our first show in Istanbul, Turkey and I think it's become our favourite destination, ever. European audiences can be brazen and high spirited, and depending on where you play in the States, it's almost the same. Popular gig cities like Paris, London and New York, I feel, always make you work harder to win over a crowd, I think because there's so much choice and competition. The other day we were talking about a summer festival show in a small fishing village, Borgarfjordur Eystri, in the east of Iceland that we performed at. People were acting crazy there! As the sun didn't set until about midnight, it had a debauched air to it. The next morning, everyone was very civilised and all went for breakfast together. I guess it's the norm there, go mad in the evening and be normal in the day.
Listening to the new album, there appears to be a strong 80’s new wave influence. Was this something you were attempting to capture?
Hmm, not intentionally, and not so much 80's new wave either. I know some of the band listen to a lot of 70's pop, bands like E.L.O. who married orchestral strings with the three minute pop song structure. We found a lot of minimalist composers inspiring and added their arrangement skills into the Fanfarlo pot.
What are your upcoming goals? What would you like to accomplish?
We keep talking about playing a live soundtrack to a film. We have a wealth of instrumental songs and jams we keep playing in practice. They wouldn't work at a Fanfarlo gig, so we just need to find a suitable film!
What made you want to dedicate your life to music? Was there a show or album?
I didn't grow up with a drum kit and I didn't start attending shows until I was out of high school. I just enjoyed listening to and watching people play the drums on TV or the radio. I travelled a lot as a kid, so now, I feel lucky to be doing both. I blame Adam Ant for using two drummers on Top Of The Pops. That must have been the catalyst for my young imagination.
Anything you would like to say to Pittsburgh?
That you CAN beat Steel heat. :)
Tickets are $15 and can be found here. Show is scheduled at 8p with doors at 7p. More information about the band at these sites:
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Gardens & Villa will be playing at Mr Smalls next Sunday, 3.25. They will be opening for Londonites Fanfarlo that evening. They will be also making a stop at one of our favorite events, Coachella. The band is based out of Santa Barbara, CA, formed from the remains of a west coast post-punk band. The 5 members produced their self titled album back in 2010 and are preparing their new release for 2012 (we should be hearing some of the new tunes). Their sound has been described as a bit David Bowie mixed with Ariel Pink. The lo-fi dancable songs are catchy with hooks and melodic tones. We are happy to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show. As usual, just email us at [email protected]
From Santa Barbara, Gardens & Villa emerged as one of the best new bands from California last year on the strength of their self-titled debut album. PItchfork, Filter, NPR, Nylon Magazine, and CMJ were just a few of the press outlets to spread the word about this band. They also delivered two of the best bar shows I saw last year. The band just finished a new recording session with producer Richard Swift in Oregon so expect some new material at the show. You'll see more from Gardens & Villa this year with performances opening for The Shins, at SXSW, Coachella, and more.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Kimya Dawson will be making a stop in Pgh at the Warhol Museum Thursday, 3.22. A member of the anti-folk scene in NYC (along with recent shows by Jaymay, Jeffrey Lewis), the artist has been creating music for more than 20 years. Her twee-pop persona work showcases mostly her voice and acoustic guitar. In 2007 KD received her greatest attention with the cutesy high school pregnancy movie Juno. Her former band The Moldy Peaches appeared in the movie and on its soundtrack with KD's solo work as a backdrop throughout. Juno became the semi-success that KD needed to launch her career from a cult following to sudo-mainstream.
From her press:
Kimya Dawson is not preaching to the choir, rather gladly admits standing in the middle, arms around each member, singing her upcoming self-released album, Thunder Thighs due out October 18th via Burnside Distribution. As Kimya's seventh album, the assumed lo-fi sound has taken a delightful turn with the addition of pianos, backing choirs, string arrangements and several beats produced by rapper Aesop Rock. Although the personal touch of Kimya's delicate strumming and the crackling of her soft voice still sit forefront, the backbone is a more mature solid arrangement that supports her powerful poetry.
The mother of one, who’s work with The Moldy Peaches and the Grammy Award winning, platinum selling soundtrack for the film Juno, did not record alone. With her latest release, Kimya has recruited several artists to join the aforementioned choir, appearances by Aesop Rock, John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats, Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes, Daniel Bryan, Forever Young Senior Citizen Rock and Roll Choir, Olympia Free Choir, and her own five year old daughter Panda create an eccentric journey through Kimya's revealing and honest songs. The first of 16 tracks to be uncovered is “All I Could Do,” a live performance for Kimya's chickens in her backyard shot by Aesop Rock. The first track of the album acts as a musical snapshot of Kimya's life, and is the perfect introduction to her latest release.
Show begins at 8p with doors at 7p. More information on the show can be found here. More information about the artist:
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Evidently there is not much convincing to get Pgh residents to the Grimes show as it's already sold out. Before she blew up, I was asked to do an interview with her which I gladly signed up for. But just like her Montreal neighbors Arcade Fire, one day you are scheduled to play at Garfield Artworks, the next you are doing national press and larger tours. Thankfully she kept the Brillobox show. Without further ado, we have a pair of tickets to giveaway to the Grimes show on 3.20. Just send us an email with your name to [email protected] to enter.
There is a powerful harmony in Grimes. It is a project which is both musical and visual, embodying the arts of 2D, performance, dance, video and sound. Claire Boucher weaves these together to a strong rhythmic effect, "the marriage between the voice of a human and the heartbeat of a machine".
Boucher, who was born in Vancouver, Canada, came to Montreal in 2006. Her experience as a performer is deeply embedded in the DIY loft culture of Montreal, where Grimes was one of the prominent figures in the scene surrounding Lab Synthèse - a 4600 square foot re-appropriated textile factory. She developed in a scene where punk ethos and pop music collide, resulting in a distinct sense of community, religiosity and psychedelic revelry.
Visions arises as Boucher's fourth release in less than two years. Her debut album, Geidi Primes (2010), was followed by Halfaxa (2010), which was arguably one of the first witch-house or lo-fi R&B releases. On Darkbloom (2011), Grimes begins taking her first steps as a producer, bringing together the experimentation behind her early work and a cutting edge pop aesthetic.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Hoots & Hellmouth will be making a stop at Club Cafe this Thursday, 3.8. The band hails from Philly and is touring behind their new album Salt. The band plays a bit of soul, roots, rock and blues, often being compared to their fellow neighbors Dr. Dog. The new album was recorded in Philly with Jon Low who has produced Sharon Van Etten, Twin Sister and of course Dr. Dog.
Salt builds on the fresh ground broken on their previously released EP, Face First In The Dirt, continuing down a path of explosive creativity. “Why Would You Not Want To Go There?” kicks things off with a building intensity reflective of their passionate live performances, but tempered with well-placed flourishes of piano and electric guitar. H&H’s trademark soul vibe is thick on “Lay Low,” incorporating the stomp groove and call-and-response vocals familiar to established fans of the band. By the time the listener reaches the middle of the record, the dynamic and deep “Apple Like A Wrecking Ball” and “The Ache” drive home the point that these guys are not content to rest on their laurels. To round it all out, album closer “Being Borned Again” continues their tradition of massive group sing-alongs so vibrant the listener already feels the chills of the anticipated live rendition.
Lyrically, Sean Hoots has always endeavored to keep a keen eye on the craft of songwriting, and Saltshowcases the artist on top of his game. These new songs reveal a greater depth of vulnerability and personalization unheard on previous H&H offerings. This is the sound of a writer digging deep, planting seeds and harvesting a bumper crop of thought-provoking, soul-scraping tunes.
Show begins at 8p with doors at 7p. Tickets are $12 and can be found here. You can find more information about the band at these sites:
Friday, March 2, 2012
Saint Motel will be appearing at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty supporting A Place to Bury Strangers this Wednesday, 3.7. The quartet travels here from the Los Angeles area where they reside. The band play a brand of power, indie pop with infectious hooks and melodies. We are happy to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show. As usual just email us with your name to [email protected]
From their bio:
With sophisticated savvy and singularity, the Los Angeles quartet Saint Motel has built a formidable reputation for itself on the back of inventive indie pop and wildly fun live shows. Mixing blistering pep with unique flair and a knack for rousing rhythms, Saint Motel's aural catharsis is pure bliss with a twist of cynical humor.
Once pulled in by the pulsating and joyous melodies, delight can be found in the surprisingly avant-garde lyrical subject matter. Stories reveal themselves through thematic twists and turns with a narrative voice both subversive and sincere. We find our contemporary hero assessing the world through a lens of poetic contrasts -- running down the line of his modern concerns and realizing that a mangled face can be beautiful, that honest feedback can be as lethal as any weapon, and that one might be better off when he has nothing at all. With such honest motifs strung together by tongue-in-cheek notions, delivered with such charm, the band's intentions are often left open to interpretation. And so, what might be easily perceived as sexy with one listen, with another might seem mean-spirited or flatly perverse. That is the flair of Saint Motel's rapturous pop and the graceful dichotomy of its existence.
You can download a free mp3 here:
This is an early show with doors at 6p and first band on at 6:30p. Tickets are only $10 and can be found here. You can find more information about the band at these links:
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The Kooks will be appearing at Mr Smalls this Tuesday, 3.6. The English indie rock band are touring behind their recently release album Junk of the Heart. This is the third studio album from the quartet based out of East Sussex. You can find the album here on itunes. We are happy to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show. As usual just email us your name to [email protected]. Winner will be chosen at random on Monday.
Several of their upcoming shows (including this one) are already sold out. This is a not to miss.
The show is already sold out! This is a way for you to get that pair of tickets you missed out on. Show is scheduled to begin at 8p with doors at 7p. Yawn is the scheduled opener. You can find more information on The Kooks at these links: | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Tag Archives: Jack Sock
The new tennis season 2015 is just around the corner. Let’s look at the final countries tennis ranking on the men’s side in 2014. As we can see, there are two world leaders Spain and France. American tennis players moved … Continue reading →
No more American Men in the Top 20 of the World Men’s Tennis The article “After a steady decline, American men drop out of top 20” was written by Ben Rothenberg and published in The International Herald Tribune. There will … Continue reading →
We discussed the results of the French Open and perspective of American tennis players with a tennis coach. Maria Sharapova lost again to Serena Williams in the final of Roland Garros. It was predictable. A few people believed that Sharapova … Continue reading →
As you know American tennis team lost to Serbia in a Davis Cup quarterfinal today. I discussed the results of that match with a tennis coach. Djokovic twisted his ankle in the beginning of the match and took anti-inflammatory drug … Continue reading →
Some thoughts from a tennis coach about 2012 US Open and the future tennis champions. The real tournament begins next Friday. I don’t see Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova losing any earlier and as usual have to go with Serena … Continue reading → | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Category: INTERNATIONAL
Britain’s Prince Harry and US TV star Meghan Markle exchanged wedding vows in front of a star-studded congregation as tens of thousands of fans cheered in the street and millions watched around the world. Harry and the bride’s mother Doria Ragland looked visibly moved and the couple held hands in a ceremony led by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Harry’s 92-year-old grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip were in attendance as Markle arrived in St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, wearing a long white veil and a…
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump unloaded on Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at a heated cabinet meeting this week, railing against her for failing to stop illegal border crossings. Trump, who has been growing increasingly frustrated by a spike in apprehensions at the border and other legal setbacks, blamed Nielsen on Wednesday for failing to do enough to stop them, according to people familiar with the exchange. Nielsen, one person said, tried to explain the issues were complex and that the department’s powers were limited by a slew of legal restrictions.…
Chairman Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU) Mr Ali Raza Syed has condemned rising number of cold blooded murders including killings of youths and children committed by the occupation forces in Indian Held Kashmir. Giving a latest example of the cold blooded murder, he said that in a fresh episode, a youth namely Adil Ahmed was crushed to death by a vehicle of Indian forces during a protest in Srinagar on Saturday. In a statement in Brussels, Mr Ali Raza Syed called the killing as a cold blooded murder of an innocent Kashmir youth…
Chairman Kashmir Council Europe (KC-EU) Mr Ali Raza Syed has praised the journalists who are engaged in revealing the facts about problematic situation prevailing specially a large scale human right violations in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). In a statement on the World Press Freedom Day, Mr Ali Raza Syed said, we really admire the struggle of Kashmiri journalists who highlight the truth despite of risk on their life in IHK. He expressed serious concerns over lack of freedom of expression and specially freedom press and violations of rights of press…
A coordinated double suicide bombing hit central Kabul on Monday morning, killing 25 people and wounding 45 others. Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai confirmed that four policemen were killed, while an Afghan media watchdog, the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), confirmed that nine journalists were also killed. Situating the twin attacks. The AJSC said that five journalists were reportedly wounded in the attacks. Agence France-Presse(AFP) confirmed that its chief photographer Shah Marai, a journalist from 1TV and one from Tolo News were among the dead. A first bomb was detonated by an assailant on a…
At least seven students have been stabbed to death and 12 injured in a knife attack outside a school in northern China, BBC reported quoting officials. The knife-wielding man attacked the students near a secondary school in Mizhi County in Shaanxi province as they were heading home for the day, officials were quoted as saying. A suspect is said to be in police custody. Photos on social media showed several young students lying on the floor, surrounded by shocked onlookers. At least seven students have been stabbed to death and 12 injured…
ANKARA, 27 April 2018: A 17-member delegation of National Defence University (NDU) of Pakistan, headed by Brig. Muhammad Shamriaz, visited Turkey as part of its Foreign Study Tour from 20-27 April. The delegation included senior officers from Pakistan’s Armed Forces, Civil Service and officers from friendly countries who are attending National Security and War Course. During its stay in Ankara, the NDU delegation visited the Training & Doctrine Command of the Turkish Land Forces. They were briefed about the Turkish military system. Both sides exchanged views on further enhancing cooperation…
An Indian guru with millions of followers was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for raping a teenage devotee on the pretext of ridding her of evil spirits, his lawyer said. Asaram Bapu, one of India’s most charismatic and controversial “godmen”, was given the maximum sentence at a closed jailhouse hearing in Rajasthan state, where hundreds of police were on high alert for a backlash from his disciples. “Asaram has been sentenced for life until death,” Rajendra Singh, a lawyer for the defence team, told AFP outside the court in the western city…
Ride-hailing giant Careem on Monday said it faced a data breach in January this year. In a blog posted on its website, the Dubai based transportation network said, “Careem has identified a cyber incident involving unauthorised access to the system we use to store data.” “On January 14 of this year, we became aware that online criminals gained access to our computer systems which hold customer and captain account data. Customers and captains who have signed up with us since that date are not affected,” the blog post read. In all, 14…
The United States has had contacts at the highest levels with North Korea but Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un have not spoken directly, the White House said late on Tuesday. The Washington Post reported that CIA chief Mike Pompeo made a secret visit to Pyongyang over the first weekend of April and met with Kim. The meeting was part of an effort to prepare for a historic meeting in the coming weeks between Trump and Kim, the paper said, quoting two people with direct knowledge of the trip. The…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called snap elections in the country for June 24, bringing the polls forward by over a year-and-a-half to sharply accelerate the transition to a new presidential system. Erdogan’s announcement upended the political timetable in Turkey, which had been set to vote in simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections on November 3, 2019. The elections are especially significant as afterwards a new executive presidency — agreed in a 2017 referendum and denounced by critics as giving the president authoritarian powers — will come into force.…
Chairman Kashmir Council EU Mr Ali Raza Syed called upon British Government to raise issue of human rights of oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir during upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to UK. According to the reports, Narendra Modi will pay a two-day visit to the United Kingdom on 18-19 April. Beside participation in Common Wealth’s meetings, Modi will take part in bilateral talks in order to sign a dozen agreements to boost Delhi-London ties. In a statement from Brussels Chairman Kashmir Council EU expressed hope the…
President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed a US-led missile assaulton Syria’s regime as “perfectly executed,” despite the limited nature of the strikes and Russia’s condemnation, which further heightened tensions between the Cold War foes. The UN Security Council was set to meet at Moscow’s request at 1500 GMT over the operation, which was unleashed by the US, Britain and France in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Douma. The strikes were targeted to inflict maximum damage on sites linked to chemical weapons development. A top Pentagon official,…
The United States (US), France and Britain launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for an apparent chemical attack against civilians and to deter him from doing it again, President Donald Trump announced on Friday. Explosions lit up the skies over Damascus, the Syrian capital, as Trump spoke from the White House. Syrian television reported that Syria’s air defenses, which are substantial, responded to the attack. After the attack ceased and the early morning skies went dark once more, vehicles with loudspeakers roamed the streets of Damascus blaring nationalist…
NEW DELHI: Eight men accused in the gang-rape and murder case of an eight-year-old Kashmiri girl who were protected by ministers and lawyers loyal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have seized the attention of millions as rage continued to course across India on Friday at the horror of what the little girl suffered. Mr Modi, in a message, called it a shame for any civilised society after opposition groups, including a large candlelight vigil by Congress President Rahul, demanded a statement from him. They asked Mr… | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Pages
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Textile Graffiti!?
While searching for some interesting textiles I came across textile graffiti, also known as yarnbombing. Even though its a form of graffiti I think it's clever how it takes art to the people. It's not what people expect to see and the contrast between the soft yarns and the outside environment.
It'll be winter before you know it and I'm sure the trees will appriciate a nice scarf to see them through. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
BorgWarner expects higher Q1 earnings
CHICAGO -- BorgWarner Inc. on Monday said its first-quarter earnings would be higher than Wall Street estimates because of a jump in new business and demand for its fuel-efficiency technology in Europe.
The company said it expects strong demand for its fuel-efficient engine and transmission systems in Europe and computer-controlled four-wheel and all-wheel drive systems in North America to drive growth even if worldwide auto production remains softer than in the past several years.
First-quarter earnings are expected to rise to $1.65 per share from $1.18 a year earlier.
Analysts, on average, had been expecting BorgWarner to earn $1.44 per share, according to research firm Thomson First Call.
BorgWarner also reiterated its forecast for full-year earnings of $6.20 to $6.35 per share, helped by a strong first half of the year. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Chapter 51
Navero, male human cleric, 5th level
Dania, female 1/2-elf MU, 4th level
Kortul, male human fighter, 5th level
Kory, male elf bard, 4th level
Topash, male elf druid, 4th level
Serga, male half-ogre fighter, 3rd level
Lao Tsu, male human monk, 3rd level
Back at the temple (as was related to us by the DM), our old friend
Tall, Dark, and Excessively Gruesome was not happy to come back, with
his friends, and find that we had escaped. He found the High Priest
(who had fled to a nearby city and tried to disguise himself as a live
bait salesman) and made a few gentle inquiries.
(Space and time scream, and Dania's old master appears in a noisome
cloud of obscene vapors in the lobby of a dentist's office.)
Dentist: "Mabel, is that Mrs. Gimblefuster for her appointment?"
Mabel: (Cannot answer, as her eyeballs have been driven through the
back of her skull.)
High Priest: (Looks up from ancient copy of 'Better Keeps and Castles'
in surprise.)
Wizard-Thing: "Onimon. You disappoint me."
High Priest: "Oh no, your Lordship! It's not what you think! I can
explain everything!"
Wizard-Thing: (Frowns. The dentist explodes in glorious technicolor,
and the pitiful remains of his mortal form thud to the floor in a
puddle of his own innards.) "I do not want an explanation. Your
incompetence was obvious from the beginning, even to what you
call your God. Do you think abandoning your temple will endear
you in his rotting eyes?"
High Priest: "But the little blonde one hit me with a lightning bolt."
Wizard-Thing: "Why you were chosen to head even a small temple, I have
no idea. I have scanned the area around the temple, and there is
no sign of their minds. Either they have powerful magic to
teleport themselves away, or they are all comatose. Either way,
the trail is cold and I will have to explain to my associates
that there will be no party. Is there any reason I should not
wipe you clean from the face of this planet, to the great relief
of your God?"
High Priest: (Thinks.) "I... I... I can get you a deal on some fresh
earthworms?"
Wizard-Thing: (Does a slow burn Jeremy Irons would kill for.) "Worms?"
High Priest: "I also have a fine selection of Nightcrawlers, suitable
for the best free-river fishing." (Takes little red worms out of
sealed box in pocket. They wiggle.) "See? Aren't they cute?"
What followed is best left to the reader's imagination. The net
result was the loss of one High Priest, a considerable fraction of the
city's business district, and many peoples lives. Later, it was noted
that that patch of ground produced the finest fishing worms ever seen
in that part of the world, though no one knows exactly why.
Meanwhile, the party had fled to the barn. Everyone was badly
hurt and very tired, so a watch never did get set. If a mysterious
wave of psychic energy washed over the land, we did not notice. But
then, a plaid dragon wearing jeweled jockey shorts could have landed
on the barn and farted 'The Hallelujah Chorus' and we wouldn't have
noticed. It had been a tough day.
Kory: "Moan...."
Dania: "... Kory, do you have to be so damned loud?"
Navero: "Is it morning?"
Topash: "Yes... I think so."
Navero: "Which morning is it?"
Topash: "Why are you asking me?"
Kortul: (Slowly gets up, walks across the room, gets Dania's staff,
and walks back.)
Topash: (Watches Kortul tie the staff to the side of his backpack, and
nods approvingly.)
Navero: (Looks out window.) "Isn't the temple east of here?"
Kory: "Uh... yeah."
Navero: "Then it's not morning."
Dania: "Thas' good. Time to get some sleep. Shut up, everbody."
Serga: (Yawns cavernously.) "Good morning..."
Topash: (Waves three fingers.) "Good night."
Serga: "Isn't morning when you wake up?"
Topash: "Only if the sun rises in the west."
Navero: "Do you think they'll come after us soon?"
Kory: "Do I care?"
Navero: "We destroyed their temple. I think they'll be mad."
Topash: (Sigh.) "Friends, I do believe Navero has a point. And not
only will the clerics be after us, but also our dear Dania's
former teacher, and all of his friends."
Dania: (Suddenly wakes up.) "Oh, shit."
Kory: "Go outside first, please."
Dania: "Kory, shut up. We've got to get out of here."
Serga: "Where are we going?"
Dania: "Anyplace that's not near that temple."
Kory: (Whines.) "Dania, if Gruesome wanted to find us, he would have
used his magic already. Now, I was having a nice coma which
you've rudely interrupted..."
Dania: "Where's my staff?"
Topash: "I haven't the foggiest idea."
Dania: (Looks around.) "Where the fuck is my staff?!?"
Kory: "Maybe we all got lucky and you dropped it on the way here."
Navero: "Serga, could you please wake Lao up?"
Serga: "Sure." Ambles over to Lao's prostrate form and looks in his
face. "Wakey, wakey."
Lao Tsu: (Opens his eyes and looks Serga straight in the face.)
"Ahhh!" (Slams his fist into Serga's helmet.)
Serga: "Ow."
Lao Tsu: "Vely solly. A thousand paldons and a sholt shalp cly of
pain wirr be folthcoming to youl honolabre ugriness."
Serga: (Adjusts hinge on face plate.) "It's ok."
Kortul: (Puts backpack on and nestles it safely on his back.)
Topash: "Speaking of cries of pain, Navero, you and I ought to see to
some of our parties wounds."
Navero: "Yes. It will make travel much safer."
Dania: "Hey! Kortul! What the fuck is my staff doing in your pack?"
Kortul: "It's safe here."
Dania: "Give it back! It's mine!"
Kortul: "And I'm safe with it here."
Kory: (Laughs!) "Oh, why didn't I think of this before!"
Navero: "Uh..."
Topash: "Never mind, Navero. Let them sort it out."
Navero: "But that's stealing!"
Topash: "No, no, no. Kortul has not stolen Dania's staff, he's just
putting it someplace where she can't use it."
Dania: "Kortul, give me that staff. NOW."
Kortul: (Glares.) "You ordering me, bitch?"
Serga: "Maybe you should. You can't use it."
Kory: "Hey, you haven't been on the wrong end of that thing yet! And
please note that I have said 'yet'. I, for one, am perfectly
content with that staff remaining right where it is."
Dania: "Who cares what you think!? That is my staff. I am the only
one who can use it, and you all would be DEAD several times over
if it wasn't for me! Now give it!"
Topash: (Is healing one of Kory's electrical burns.) "Dania... how
shall I say this? The rest of us can grasp Kortul's motivations
only too well."
Kory: "The rest of us wholeheartedly approve of them only too well!"
Dania: "I saved your druidic ASS with my magic! And that staff is the
best weapon we've got! If you don't give it back, I'm leaving
you all to die, and I'm not leaving without it!"
Kory: "Dania, don't tempt us!"
Lao Tsu: "Pelhaps this dishonolabe one courd suggest an artelnative?"
Dania: (Ignores Lao.) "Either you give me my staff, or I'll..."
Navero: "Kortul, if Dania promises to be more careful, will you give
her staff back?"
Kortul: "Not good enough."
Topash: "Dania. You may have noticed that there has been a quiet
ground swell of opinion that some of the destructive aspects of
your magic could be more carefully directed. In particular, your
use of your staff."
Dania: "How the hell am I supposed to 'carefully direct' the fucking
thing when you idiots all are constantly in my way?!?"
Topash: "Dania. Would you like to take the point, then?"
Dania: (Glares at Topash.) "One of the fighters takes the point. You
know that. I can't wear heavy armor."
Serga: (To Lao) "What were you thinking of?"
Lao Tsu: "Once, a gleat mastel, wise and firred with right, found two
men alguing ovel a pot. One said, the pot is mine, and the othel
said, the pot is mine. The mastel put the pot on his head, and
praced his sandars on top, then dove to the glound and randed on
his head. The pot was smashed, and the men wele enrightened."
Serga: (Thinks. For a long time.)
Lao Tsu: (Smiles enigmatically.)
Navero: "Dania, it is true that Kory and the others have... um...
suffered greatly at your unintentional... uh... your poorly aimed
attempts to strike our enemies. Will you promise to be more
careful in the future?"
Dania: "Fine. As long as they stay out of the way, it's fine."
Kory: "So... you want us between you and them when they're shooting,
and then magically disappear when you get yourself ready?"
Topash: (Sighs...)
Serga: "Why were the men enlightened?"
Lao Tsu: "Such was the mastel's enrightenment."
Serga: "Why did he put his sandals on top of the pot?"
Lao Tsu: "To show them they wele thinking upside-down."
Serga: "Why didn't the master hurt his head?"
Lao Tsu: "You ask many questions fol one so rarge and stupid."
Serga: (Frowns.) "I was just asking."
Lao Tsu: "And why am I terring? Enrightenment is not fol asking,
haily one! Cease botheling me!"
Serga: (Brings left fist down on top of Lao's head.)
Lao Tsu: (Wobbles.) "Folgive me, honolabre one. This one did not
learize he was in the plesence of a tlue mastel. Pliest, have
you any of your hearing magic left?"
Navero: "Huh? I don't have any spells for hearing."
Lao Tsu: "Pelhaps something for a headache."
Kory: "Hey, I got a solution to this. We're all part of one party,
right?"
Everybody paying attention: "Right."
Kory: "And members of a party have to work together, right?"
Dania: "And don't take each other's weapons because they might have
made a few mistakes, right?"
Kory: "No, when they have to take each other's weapons away... they
vote on it! How many in favor of giving Dania's staff back,
raise your right hand!"
(Dania raises her hand. Navero puts his up, then down, then up, then
down.)
Dania: "Nav!"
Navero: "Well, I, uh..."
Kory: "All opposed?"
(Kory, Topash, Kortul, and Lao put up their hands. Serga blinks and
looks confused.)
Kory: "The motion is carried by a majority vote, with one abstention
and one repeated Hitler salute. Dania, shut up. Kortul, keep
that thing someplace very safe until further notice."
Kortul: "*grunt*"
Topash: (Smiles.)
Dania: "That's not fair!"
Topash: "Dania, if needs be, we will return it. But only if the field
is clear for you to use it. And besides, there is another very
important point we're all forgetting?"
Dania: "What?!"
Topash: "Does anyone have any idea where the Orb of Spheres is?"
(Silence.)
Dania: "We can't go back in there. My old master may be there."
Kory: "And I don't think the Orb of Spheres was there."
Topash: "Why not?"
Kory: "Those priests couldn't have had it. They weren't that tough."
Navero: "That is true. They abandoned their temple rather than defend
it. I'm sure their foul god was very displeased with them."
Topash: "That's true, even if they would abandon their temple, they
would not abandon such an item. So, it seems increasingly likely
that it was never there at all... Perhaps we should go back to
Lorrin's house for a long chat?"
Daniel Parsons "Never there in the first place?
[email protected] You think ol' Raz might have been
right once in his life?" | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Sony - Which smartphones get Android 6.0 marshmallow?
Should you own a smartphone by Sony and ask if this gets the newly released Android 6.0 marshmallow, then we would like to give you some information.
Currently it looks as if the following Sony Xperia models will receive an update to Android 6.0:
Xperia Z5
Xperia Z5 Compact
Xperia Z5 premium
Xperia Z4 Tablet
Xperia Z3 +
Xperia Z3
Xperia Z3 Compact
Xperia Z3 Tablet
Xperia Z2
Xperia Z2 Tablet
Xperia M5
Xperia C5Ultra
Xperia M4 Aqua
Xperia C4
Sony has promised an update on his website for these models. Whether and when this Sony smartphones receive the new Android 6.0 marshmallow remains to be seen, but will probably happen within the next 3-6 months. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Doug Saunders
Doug Saunders is European bureau chief and an award-winning columnist for The Globe and Mail in Toronto. His new book, Arrival City: The Final Migration and Our Next World, tells the hidden stories of perseverance and success in the slums on the outskirts of the world’s major cities. Before discussing the importance of these “arrival cities,” he answered a few questions in our Green Room.
Q. What is your cocktail of choice?A. Dirty gin martini, olives.
Q. What time do you start working on an average day?A. 8:30.
Q. How long do you go without checking email?A. Sometimes as long as 25 seconds.
Q. What’s your favorite technological gadget?A. The $20 Nokia.
Q. Who is your favorite literary character?A. Bertie Wooster.
Q. If you had a different profession in another life, what would it be?A. I’d run the telegraph office in a medium-sized city in the United States around 1925. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
You are here
Analysis of Water Contamination at Military Sites Finds Health Risks Due to Toxic Chemicals Worse than Thought
Federal Government Must Act to Inform and Protect Military Families, Nearby Communities
WASHINGTON (September 25, 2018)— A Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis released today highlights the significant health risks posed to military families and communities by a class of synthetic chemicals found in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware and other products.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are long-lasting compounds known to accumulate in the human body and environment, including water supplies. Exposure to these chemicals is associated with a range of detrimental health effects including kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, and decreased immunological response.
Military installations and adjacent communities are especially at risk because the sites use PFAS-containing firefighting foam in their trainings and operations. These chemicals have seeped into the ground and waterways near military sites, and in turn contaminated groundwater and the drinking water that serves the bases and nearby homes.
In light of a new scientific assessment by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), an office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, UCS found that the threats facing military families and nearby communities is worse than previously thought. The ATSDR draft report suggests that the safe level of PFAS in drinking water should be seven to 10 times lower than the current, non-enforceable federal guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This means that thousands of families living on or near current or former military installations face potential risks from levels of PFAS once deemed safe, and some might not even know it.
“The EPA is not doing nearly enough to protect families, especially military families, from PFAS contamination of their water,” said Genna Reed, the UCS analyst who reviewed the evidence of PFAS contamination. “These chemicals can have serious health consequences, but their manufacturers have downplayed the risks for decades, putting profits ahead of public health.”
“This report reaffirms what concerned Granite Staters already know – urgent federal action is needed to address PFAS contamination at military bases and communities across the country,” said Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire. “I’m glad to be participating in the first-ever Senate hearing on PFAS this week, but we have far more work to do to protect Granite Staters and Americans from contamination in their drinking water. I’ll keep working across party lines to ensure that all of our people have the quality and safe drinking water they need to thrive.”
The draft ATSDR report is the same one that political appointees within the Trump Administration attempted to suppress. In documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by UCS, one White House official called the ATSDR draft a potential “public relations nightmare.” It was only after a robust public outcry and bipartisan congressional oversight that the assessment was finally released.
“Families like mine who lived on or near military bases deserve reliable information about the risks they face,” said Charise Johnson, a research analyst at UCS. “The Trump administration owes it to them to tell the truth and help reduce the risks. It’s no wonder that a White House official referred to the report as a potential ‘public relations nightmare.’”
The UCS analysis, which mapped 131 military sites across 37 states at which PFAS levels have been detected in drinking water and groundwater, found:
Of the 32 sites with direct drinking water contamination, more than half had PFAS concentrations that were at least 10 times higher than the risk level established by the ATSDR.
More than 90 percent of the military sites, 118, had PFAS concentrations at least 10 times higher than the threshold identified by the ATSDR report.
Nearly two-thirds of the sites, 87, had PFAS concentrations at least 100 times higher than the risk level identified in the ATSDR report.
The ten sites with the highest detected PFAS levels in groundwater include bases in California, Florida, Delaware, Virginia and Texas, as well as former base sites in Louisiana, South Carolina and Illinois. These sites have PFAS levels in groundwater more than 100,000 times higher than the suggested threshold.
The number of military sites with PFAS contamination is likely even higher since the Pentagon used the EPA’s drinking water health advisory of 70 ppt as the PFAS detection level and only tested for the two most common compounds.
“We need immediate action to reduce the risk to military families from PFAS contamination,” Reed said. “The federal government must limit the future use of PFAS chemicals, set an enforceable standard for PFAS contamination in drinking water, mandate reporting of PFAS releases, and provide support to clean up contaminated sites. Servicemembers, their families and nearby communities deserve better.”
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with people across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
A Secret Weapon
Menu
A Secret Weapon
The Tried and True Approach for Whole Foods in Action by Action Detail
Inside this diet you need to consume a great offer of fruit and vegetables. Normally, one ought to focus more on consuming veggies and fruits, in place of meat. Like fruits, there are numerous veggies likewise. Whole Foods Upper Arlington locations https://usalocator.org/whole-foods-locations/ohio/upper-arlington, facebook Whole Foods.There are lots of vegetables consisting of high variety of oxalic acid, and has to be prevented by males and females with recurrent kidney stones or other comparable issues. The majority of people think that you need to consume citrus fruits to get Vitamin C however there are a couple vegetables out there which have it also.Raw foods are difficult to absorb, and thus, must be avoided for quite a while. You may observe that a few of the foods aren't as high in iron as others, however they may be used to make an interesting variety in your meals, which then would help raise your iron consumption. It can be a result of talking or laughing with food in the mouth. This food increases antioxidants within your body which increases your capacity to absorb totally free radicals which then minimize skin issues so you have healthier skin. Consequently, you want to take in a fair bit of foods which are rich in these carbs. For example, in the United States, foods qualify as natural ought to they satisfy NOP Program Standards. Eating low Glycemic food is rather useful for the general health of an individual.Don't save it for over a day, since the beverage requires to be consumed fresh, in order to work. Animal foods opportunity to be the primary supply of vitamin B-12 which is vital for the development of red cell in the body. One needs to be mindful of the foods rich in oxalic acid, as a way to avoid health problems. It is recommended to consume foods rich in vitamin C alongside iron-rich foods to raise the iron absorption within the body.
The Fundamentals of Whole Foods
To grow that, intake of full grain cereals is more inclined to produce a sense of fullness. Thus, if you're seeing your calorie intake, look at lowering the serving quantity. Make sure you lower your usage of caffeine, bad fats, salt, sugar, and so on to make the many of the wholesome benefits your skin is obtaining from the usage of these other great foods!It's possible for you to truly feel the benefits even if they're conventional grapes. The advantages of consuming it for healthier digestion can arise from the carbs that it includes, in the shape of pure sugar. Therefore, ought to you want to lead a wholesome life, and delight in special flavors of food at the exact very same time, you need to make meals from the extremely low salt foods suggested listed below. Typically, the life span of vitamin E oil isn't really more than 3 decades, however it may reduce if it's not kept appropriately. Apart from this, you must prevent an inactive way of life, extreme weight reduction treatments and mental stress.Dairy products are most likely the worst foods you'll have the ability to eat in case you have acne. Diary products are another truly terrific supply of Vitamin A so they may be truly terrific for the epidermis. It is contingent on the reason the product is recalled. Premium quality acai items have higher ORAC levels.However, the yummy active ingredients are typically rather bad for our bodies. It's a potent anti-oxidant that safeguards the human body's cells and is fantastic for worried and cardiovascular systems. Subsequently, it is essential to integrate these nutrients in your everyday diet plan. With this moment, some essential nutrients have actually been totally lost. It has actually been touted amongst the most vital nutrients which assists control thyroid levels. Adhering to a diet can be extremely a tough job. Therefore, it is necessary to keep an examine the quantity of potassium taken in. This list will permit you to learn all the foods which you could contain in your diet plan throughout the duration of your diet plan. It will help you determine the foods you have to remain away from. There is actually a really long collection of fruits you could consume which have lots of anti-oxidants and which are therefore beneficial for your skin. To find out more see them at www.eatrightamerica.com. You might also sign up with online in case you wished to utilize the internet services along with the conferences.You might adhere to this diet plan by yourself, or seek the suggestions of a diet professional. This diet is particularly advantageous for ladies and individuals afflicted by diabetes. Mediterranean diet plan is easy to follow and quite easy to abide by. You must have it in optimum quantities in your day-to-day diet plan.The diet, along with the apparent cabbage soup, includes lots of veggies and fruits in it. So, be particular to do not turn to crash diets and rather, utilize these tips for a healthful living. This diet will help to lessen weight in a safe and quick way. Calorie moving diet plan is the simplest and among the best diet plans amongst the easy diets to follow. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
A partner in a partnership or a member of an LLC that is taxed as a partnership
Suggestion: You may spare yourself some reading by jumping to the two examples I provided below.
Overview
The tax changes in 2018 include some provisions that are very favorable to businesses. One important change was to drop the tax rate for C corporations to a flat 21%. This is a significant reduction, but doesn’t apply to businesses that operate as partnerships, LLCs, S corporations or sole proprietorships.
To provide a similar benefit to these businesses, the IRS introduced Section 199A Qualified Business Income deduction. This allows individuals with income from businesses that operate as partnerships, LLCs, S corporations or sole proprietorships to take a tax deduction of 20% of their share of Qualified Business Income (QBI)… But there are rules, definitions and restrictions:
The rules and restrictions include a phase-out of the deduction, when your income exceeds certain thresholds. BUT these restrictions are reduced or eliminated if your business has W-2 payroll expenses or substantial investment in qualified assets.
S Corps are required to pay a reasonable W-2 salary to their owners, but partnerships, LLCs and sole proprietors cannot. That’s why you may want to form an S Corp.
Why is the QBI Deduction Important?
You can take a tax deduction of up to 20% of the net income generated by your business. It can be a very big deal.
What is QBI?
Qualified Business Income is the income from your trade or business.
There are no restrictions on the types of businesses income that qualify for the QBI deduction, as long as the idividual claiming the deduction has taxable income under $157,500 (or $314,000 if married filing jointly). For those with higher taxable income, you will not be able to claim the deduction if you are in a Specified Service Business, as described below.
QBI is not intended to include income from personal services, so it specifically excludes employment income, as well as income from Specified Services Businesses – in the fields of health, law, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletic, financial and brokerage services. Engineers and architects, however, are eligible for the QBI deduction. Speak to your tax professional for a more thorough and complete discussion of your eligibility.
Owners of rental properties may also qualify for the QBI deduction, but the value of the properties will help you qualify if your income is above the phase-out thresholds, so the benefit of an S Corp would probably be irrelevant. And would also bring up other complex issues.
Payroll Expenses Can Save the Day
The QBI deduction phases out to nothing if your income exceeds $207,500 (or $415,000 if married filing jointly)… UNLESS your business had W-2 payroll expenses or substantial qualified assets. Let’s focus on the payroll:
If you are above the taxable income threshold, and if your income is not from a Specified Services Business, you can still claim the QBI deduction in an amount up to 50% of the W-2 payroll of the business.
Partnerships and other businesses may have employees, and their wages would count in this calculation, but many businesses don’t pay any W-2 wages at all, so they would lose the QBI deduction. Certainly, sole proprietors and partners in partnerships can’t pay themselves salaries… BUT S Corps can.
Example 1 – Sole Proprietor
A real estate broker operating as a sole proprietor earns $275,000 from his business activities, and reports his income on Schedule C of his tax return. He is not married, so he will pay tax on the entire $275,000. His income is over the threshold, so there is no QBI deduction.
If the same real estate broker operated his business as an S Corp, he would be required to pay himself a reasonable salary – say $125,000. Ignoring a few other details, his Qualified Business Income would be $150,000 ($275,000 income, less $125,000 W-2 salary paid to him by the company). His QBI deduction would be the lesser of (a) 20% of his QBI – $30,000, and (b) 50% of the W-2 wages – $62,500.
In this case, the real estate broker gets a tax deduction of $30,000 by forming an S Corp.
Example 2 – Partnership (or LLC taxed as a partnership)
The partnership earned $400,000. Partner A owns 50%, and received guaranteed payments for his services of $125,000. His income of $325,000 ($125,000 guaranteed payment, plus $200,000 share of partnership income) is fully taxed at ordinary tax rates. He is single, so his income is too high to qualify for the QBI deduction.
If the partnership filed an election to be treated as an S Corp, his guaranteed payment of $125,000 would be paid as W-2 wages, and his QBI would be $200,000. Assuming his business partner also received the same salary, and again ignoring a few details, his QBI deduction would be the lesser of (a) 20% of his QBI – $40,000, and (b) 50% of his share of W-2 wages – $67,500.
In this case, the partner gets a tax deduction of $40,000 by electing to have the partnership taxed as an S Corp.
NOTE: Even though the deadline for S Corp election has passed, the partnership can apply for late filing relief, and there is a good possibility that the S Corp election can be made effective for 2018.
Conclusion
This is not intended to be a thorough analysis of Section 199A of the tax code. Nor is it a full discussion of the pros and cons of an S Corp. Rather, it is an attempt to find good tax planning solutions. There are a lot of variables in the choosing the most appropriate business entity, and every situation is different. I would be happy to discuss your situation, and help you arrive at the most advantageous result.
In my experience, a lot of people don’t pay enough attention to their Subchapter S Corporations until tax time, when it’s sometimes too late to correct errors or oversights.
You formed the S Corp because of the benefits you would get from it, so it would be a shame to operate it in such a sloppy way that you could miss out on some of those benefits. Please take a moment to be sure you are following these guidelines, and make any necessary changes before the end of the year.
Reasons for forming an S Corp generally include:
Reducing payroll taxes on a portion of your income
Retirement contributions in excess of the limits on IRAs and 401(k) plans
Deduction of health insurance costs
Limited liability
I will discuss these items briefly below, then move on to some other relevant thoughts.
W-2s and Payroll Taxes
Generally speaking, your S Corp does not pay tax, but rather the income “passes through” to your personal tax return. This pass-through income is taxed at your regular rates, but it is not subject to the federal and state payroll taxes you would pay if you were an employee.
It is important to note that a shareholder of an S Corp is not self-employed, but is actually an employee of the company. As such, you are required to pay yourself a reasonable salary, a term that is not clearly defined, but is intended to prevent shareholders from entirely avoiding Social Security, Medicare and other payroll taxes. One way to look at it is that you should pay yourself what it would cost to hire someone to do your job.
Your salary is treated as a deduction by the company, so you aren’t taxed twice. You pay payroll taxes on your salary, but you don’t pay payroll taxes on the remainder of the S Corp’s income after deducting your salary. That’s one of the benefits of an S Corp.
Action required: Pay yourself a salary, and issue a W-2 at the end of the year. I suggest you use a payroll service to be sure you are in full compliance with the complex rules and regulations surrounding payroll. Do this before the end of the year.
Retirement Contributions
As an S Corp owner, you have a choice of retirement plans that you can establish. One of the most popular plans is a Simplified Employee Pension, or SEP. An advantage of a SEP plan is that the company can contribute a percentage of your salary, up to a maximum contribution of $54,000. This is substantially higher than the limits for IRAs and 401(k) plans. Do be aware, though, that you also have to offer the plan to your other eligible employees, and contribute the same percentage on their behalf. This is a specialized and complex area, so you should speak with a knowledgeable professional on the subject.
It is important to note again that as an S Corp shareholder, you are not self-employed, but rather an employee of the company. The retirement plan must be created in the name of the company, not yourself, and the contributions are made by the company. Contributions are deductible from the company’s income of course.
Action required: You can establish a SEP retirement plan any time during the year, or up to the date when the company’s tax return is due (even if you file for an extension). Other types of retirement plans may have different rules, so be sure to investigate before the end of the year.
Health Insurance
As an S Corp shareholder, you can deduct health insurance costs for yourself and your family directly on your tax return. But there is a special process for doing so, and it is important that you follow it. The company must pay for your health insurance. It is acceptable to have the insurance in your own name and make the payments yourself, but you need to have the company reimburse you, and deduct the expense.
Health insurance paid by the company is considered compensation to you, and must be added to your salary on your W-2 at the end of the year. You will not pay payroll tax on this amount, but it must be included in gross earnings. You then deduct the amount directly on your personal tax return.
It seems a bit convoluted, but those are the rules.
Action required: Be sure to have the company reimburse you for medical insurance payments before the end of the year, and be sure to instruct your payroll service to include it on your W-2. If the payroll service gives you trouble, ask to speak to a supervisor… they do this for thousands of people every year.
Limited Liability
To ensure that your S Corp offers limited liability you need to be disciplined in the way you operate it. Without going into depth, you need to establish that it is a separate entity, and not just an extension of your own personal finances. That includes keeping a separate bank account and credit cards, maintaining careful accounting records and keeping up to date with your state’s filing requirements.
Action required: Check that you are following the appropriate discipline to ensure your company is a separate entity.
Estimated Tax Payments
We are required to make payments during the year of the amount of tax we estimate owing for the whole year. This is easy for the salary you pay yourself, because you are expected to withhold and pay federal and state tax from each paycheck.
The issue here is the tax you expect to pay on the company’s earnings that pass through to your personal return. Depending on your situation, these amounts can be substantial, and to add insult to injury, there are penalties for underpayment of estimated tax.
Action required: Speak with your tax professional at least once during the year, to be sure you are making appropriate estimated tax payments.
State and Local Tax Registration
Many cities have tax filing requirements, and it can be annoying and expensive if you haven’t met their requirements. Los Angeles, for example, assesses tax on income above a specified level, but also has a requirement to register for a business license and renew it every year.
If you are operating outside the state in which you registered the company, you need to check on filing requirements. California, for example, is very aggressive about finding and taxing out-of-state businesses that do business there.
Action required: Learn the filing requirements, and follow them. They will find you if you don’t.
Auto Expense and Home Office
The S Corp can own a car, and deduct any allowable business expenses, but you may find it easier to keep the car in your own name, and submit for reimbursement any business mileage, documenting the locations, distances and business purpose of each trip. You would complete form 2106 on your personal return, and deduct the reimbursement. I often find it convenient and preferable to use the IRS standard mileage rate where eligible – it’s 53.5 cents per mile in 2017.
Similarly, assuming you meet the rigorous and very specific requirements, you can deduct an expense for the business use of your home office. Again, submit expense reports for reimbursement, detailing the square footage of your office space and the total size of your home, in addition to specific allocated costs such as rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.
Action required: Submit detailed expense reports, and have the company reimburse you. Do this before the end of the year.
An S Corporation can be a very useful business format, but there are rules that need to be followed to ensure you get all the appropriate benefits. And remember that an S Corp is not necessarily the best entity for you, depending on your situation and your objectives.
Pretty much every company wants to increase its profit, and most managers devote a large portion of their time to trying to increase revenues and margins, or reduce costs. As a financial manager and consultant, I have been involved in many profit improvement initiatives. Here are some examples – they are mostly from construction, retail and land development, but the concepts can be applied to any business.
Delay of Expenditures
Time is money. Delaying expenditures until absolutely necessary reduces interest, storage and other carrying costs, reduces pressure on borrowing limits and has a positive impact on return on investment. Speeding the receipt of funds has the same impact.
Financial Review
A land developer traditionally let marketing decide when certain tracts would be made available for sale to builders. The sites they selected appeared to be random throughout the communities, and they professed no particular strategy. I proposed marketing contiguous tracts to delay the outlay on roads and other infrastructure costs. As a result, we delayed the spending of tens of millions of dollars, and there wasn’t a grumble from marketing.
Looking Around
A retailer’s distribution center was designed to service a fixed number of stores, and the time was upon us to start construction on a new, larger center. The limiting factor was the number of boxes that would fit on the conveyors that passed in front of the merchandise pickers. I observed that if we simply changed the shape of the boxes, we could serve up to 50% more stores without incurring the multi-million dollar capital expenditure.
Process Review
Homebuilders often sell their model homes to investors, and lease them back until the community is sold out. The process is rather complex, involving the buyer, various attorneys, appraisers, the construction and marketing departments, accounting and treasury, among others. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on interest and carrying costs until the transaction is completed. I led a Six Sigma team to look into speeding the inflow of cash. We flow-charted the process, identified bottlenecks and delays, and established a standard timetable to be followed on all future transactions. We reduced the cycle time by three weeks, and calculated annual savings at $400,000.
Year-end is almost upon us again. Now is the time to get your house in order – it will take a huge amount of stress off the closing process a couple of months from now.
Being truly ready for the auditors can save audit time and fees, reduce stress on your staff during the audit, and maybe make your financials available for lenders and investors a little earlier. Equally importantly, audit-readiness is a good indication that your accounting department is organized and up to date. How many other ways do you really have to determine that? Here are a few things you should consider:
Preparation of Financial Statements
Do the auditors historically require that you make embarrassing changes to the financials? What has been done to avoid that this year?
– Does your accounting department prepare the financials, including notes?
– Have you questioned any balances or accounts that seem surprising or unusual?
– Did you do anything different this year? Are you sure it is accounted for correctly? Now is the time to sort that out, not during the audit.
– Have any changes in accounting rules affected your business? Are there any changes not yet required that you could implement early?
Reconciliations
Reconciliations provide explanations for changes in Balance Sheet and P&L accounts, and your accounting department should be able to show them to you every month.
– Do you know exactly what is in every balance sheet account?
– Can you explain every change in the balance sheet?
– Have expenses been calculated consistently every month?
– Can you show how cost of goods sold affected inventory every month?
If you can say yes to all of these items, updating to year-end should be a piece of cake.
Updated Estimates
Where your monthly accruals and amortization calculations are based on volume or other estimates, have they been updated to be sure the year-end balances are correct? Again, a 2 month update at the end of the year is a lot easier than doing it for the entire year.
Variance Analysis
Has there been a thorough analysis documenting all significant P&L and Balance Sheet variances from last year? Are the explanations reasonable, and the underlying facts correct?
Documentation of Procedures
– Are the fundamental internal control procedures properly documented?
– The auditors typically make recommendations for improvements in procedures and controls if they find any deficiencies. Were last year’s recommendations fully implemented?
– Have changes in staffing or procedures resulted in changes to the control environment? Now is the time to correct them.
Not sure if you’re going to be ready for year-end? Do you know who to call?
There are executives who rely on their ability to move quickly. They are often the ones who loudly declare that if we sit around analyzing things to death, we’ll never get anything done. Sometimes, they’re also the ones who are willing to bet the farm before the analysis has been thoroughly completed.
I love working with these high-velocity types, but they often need someone like me watching their back. Someone with a strong business sense and analytical capability who doesn’t slow down the process.
Here are some examples of how things can go wrong:
Catalogue Stores
A well-known retailer operated discount department stores nation-wide. To reach a wider customer base, they also operated a successful chain of catalogue stores in communities too small to support a full-service store. A customer would place his order at a catalogue store, and the item would be delivered within a week.
Meanwhile, changes in technology and inventory management techniques had resulted in a substantial reduction of inventory carried in the full-service stores. These were large stores, so quite a lot of physical space was freed up.
A senior executive came up with the idea to put catalogue stores in the available space in the full-service stores. His analysis showed that not only would the new catalogue stores add substantial revenue and profit to the existing outlets, but they could easily be placed in the least desirable selling areas, often in store basements.
There was much fanfare as the project was launched. The executive in charge even ran afoul of his boss and colleagues when newspaper articles praised his brilliance beyond their comfort level. Then the catalogue stores were abruptly shut down as a disastrous failure. Why would a customer walk through the store, passing by the merchandise he wants to buy, only to order it in a dark basement for delivery a week later? Hmmm… didn’t think of that.
Paper Shortage
A young warehouse worker at a large office supplies distributor showed such ability and intelligence that he was rapidly promoted to be the company’s purchasing agent. This was a long time ago, in the mid-1970s, when the oil crisis resulted in chronic shortages of a surprising range of products.
One day, the purchasing agent called to place a routine order of reams of 8 ½ x 11 inch printer paper. “6 months’ delivery” he was told, and he realized he would be unable to fulfill his customer orders for much of that time.
He was a smart kid, so it didn’t take long to figure out that when the shipment did arrive, he could be looking at another 6 months for the next delivery. Of course he didn’t ask for advice. He started placing orders every couple of weeks, based on historical usage, fully expecting to be back on his regular schedule at the end of the 6 months. Yes, he was a smart kid.
The only problem is that it was a big company, and after a while, the orders accumulated into a quantity large enough to justify an entire separate mill-run by the manufacturer. There were delivery trucks at the door for days on end, and you had to walk sideways through the warehouse to get past the stacks of paper. Hmmm… didn’t think of that.
Demographics
A retailer launched a new business based largely on demographics. It was the early 1980s, and the Baby Boomers were just starting to have children of their own. It was the beginning of a huge increase in births that the industry was calling the Echo Boom. What better time to start a chain of stores specializing in children’s apparel?
After establishing a solid base in California, the plan was to follow the demographic projections that showed high percentage population growth in the southern states. The company made an aggressive move into Texas, and suffered from an economic downturn and some bad real estate decisions, resulting in the prompt closure of about half of the new stores. Still, the roll-out through the south remained the CEO’s plan.
This is the only example in this article in which I was able to play a part, so of course, I’m the hero of this story. I pointed out that the southern states were in fact projected to grow at high percentage rates, but the population density was insufficient to achieve the economies resulting from tight clustering of stores. After all, 10% of nothing is still nothing. Hmmm… didn’t think of that.
The management team listened to my presentation, and we headed instead to the northeast, where large populations were already in place. Our strategy shifted to taking business away from the department stores.
Does your CFO sit in on strategy meetings and tactical problem-solving sessions? He might just bring an important new perspective.
At certain stages of growth, many companies find themselves in the awkward situation of needing the services of an experienced CFO, but feel they can’t afford to hire one.
Yes, a good CFO with the depth of knowledge and experience you need can come at a steep price. And – no offense intended – there may not even be enough to keep a good CFO challenged and interested on a full-time basis at this stage of the company’s growth. So what are the options?
The Options
Try to hire a CFO who may or may not find the job satisfying and lucrative enough to stick around for a while.
Hire a slightly stronger accountant at a slightly higher salary, and hope that he or she can rise to the challenge of a job far beyond his or her education and experience level.
Redirect your attention away from running and growing your business to focus on the CFO role yourself.
Ignore the financial needs of the company, and hope for the best.
Divide up the CFO role and ask your other executives to take care of it in their spare time.
OR…
Hire a part-time CFO at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CFO.
What Will a CFO Do for You?
In collaboration with you and your management team, an experienced CFO will quickly assess the company’s finance, accounting and control needs, and lay them out in order of priority. Areas that he or she will be considering include:
Project the future needs of the company based on achievable growth plans – resources, facilities, and the associated costs.
Identify and quantify financing needs to achieve the business plan – both short term and long term.
Develop relationships with financing sources – debt and equity – that are important to the company’s ability to operate and grow today, as well as to support long term growth and development.
Evaluate and make recommendations regarding the strength of the existing accounting staff.
Evaluate and make recommendations on accounting and information systems.
Oversee the preparation of financial statements, ensuring that the best professionals are chosen to provide auditing, tax and other outside services.
Lead the preparation of operating budgets to keep the company on track to achieve its short term goals.
Introduce the management disciplines and internal control structure necessary for the next level of growth.
Advise on the most appropriate methods and rates of growth – including acquisitions.
Conduct due diligence on acquisitions, and satisfy due diligence requirements of investors and lenders.
Lead programs and efforts to contain and reduce costs while still fostering growth.
Strategize on potential exit strategies – sale of the business for example – and help attract investors and buyers.
What to Look For
The more experience a CFO brings to the table, the more widely that experience is likely to vary among the candidates you speak with. All the more reason to have an idea of the qualities that are most important to you and your business. Here are a few thoughts:
Do you feel comfortable talking to the CFO? We all work better with people we like and trust.
Does the CFO seem to find your business interesting? Of course you find it interesting, but you can’t just assume that others do too.
Is a CPA important? Yes, it probably is. It demonstrates a minimum intellectual standard and level of accounting knowledge, and like the top business schools, the top accounting firms tend (with clear exceptions) to attract the best talent.
Does the CFO have a wide variety of experience in which he or she had to show resourcefulness and flexibility, as well as the willingness to learn on the job? How has he or she performed in situations similar to those likely to arise in your company? References come in handy here.
Has the CFO worked with companies similar in size to yours? I can tell you that working for a Fortune 100 company is very different from the environment of an owner-operated entrepreneurial venture. If you are planning to grow rapidly, does the CFO have rapid growth experience?
How about industry experience? Unless you are in a wildly specialized business like banking or insurance, industry experience is probably not critical. CFOs and CPAs are famous for their transferrable skills, and should be expected to learn your business quickly. On the other hand, some businesses like real estate have a steep learning curve, and some prior experience can make a big difference.
Why would a CFO want a part-time position? If this is a temporary move while he or she is looking for a full-time job, it doesn’t have much long-term potential. On the other hand, there are plenty of financial executives who like the flexibility of a part-time situation, and who enjoy working with a variety of interesting clients, each with its own challenges and rewards.
As the company grows in size and complexity, would the CFO potentially be interested in turning a part-time arrangement into a full-time position?
Pretty much every company wants to increase its profit, and most managers devote a large portion of their time to trying to increase revenues and margins, or reduce costs. As a financial manager and consultant, I have been involved in many profit improvement initiatives. Here are some examples – they are mostly from construction, retail and land development, but the concepts can be applied to any business.
Allocation of Resources
Where a company chooses to invest its resources has an important effect on its profitability and ROI. This can be managed at the time of the initial investment, but ongoing investment needs to be reviewed with a critical eye.
Profit maximization – A land developer and builder was very disciplined in its due diligence on land acquisitions. Land development is a surprisingly complex process involving massive investment, and is subject to a seemingly endless list of restrictions and costly requirements from all levels of government. So choosing between land investment opportunities is a painstaking process, but often subject to emotional responses. We built a linear programming model to maximize the profitability of our land use plans based on our budgets and timing, as well as the attendant marketing and government constraints. This removed much of the emotion from the land acquisition process.
Unprofitable operations – A homebuilder was focused on entry-level housing, and suffered from tight margins and the need for economies of scale and tight discipline in that sector of the business. At the same time, its land entitlement and development business was generating high margins and even higher returns on investment. With 80% of the company’s overhead, but only a small percentage of profits coming from homebuilding, we weighed the investment required to operate a full-scale builder in a higher price category against the potential return, and decided to walk away from the business entirely. Overhead was drastically reduced, and capital was redirected to the more profitable business of land development.
More profit with lower investment – A retailer was famous for the department stores it had operated for many years. Over time, though, these stores had lost ground to competitors, and capital investment had been cut back in proportion to declining profits. The company also operated a number of successful specialty store formats. A time of reckoning came, and the company realized it could make management changes and invest heavily in its department stores, possibly reaching the level of success, for example, of Target Stores. After an intense review, though, they recognized that specialty stores had a higher potential return, a relatively lower investment, lower risk and correspondingly low barriers to entry in niche specialty markets. Relying on its depth of experience, the company closed its famous department stores, and reallocated its funds and energies toward rapid growth in specialty retailing. It became one of the top-performing companies on the New York Stock Exchange.
Drawing on strengths – Another homebuilder operated in a single market, selling low margin homes during a downturn in the housing market. Recognizing its strength in efficient, low cost construction, it started looking for new opportunities. We focused on selling houses at full margin for rental by investment partnerships, expanding regionally into new markets through joint ventures, construction for hire of military housing and multifamily construction.
Does your CFO lead your management team in constant evaluation of your resource allocation process? | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Trip reports aren’t guides: Sounds like a cool place I went to and explored? Be sure to do your research and be prepared as appropriate. My reports are overviews and are not meant to be used as comprehensive trail guides. I rarely give the Bread Crumbs.
From the vault…
From the vault…
Disclosure: This website may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products to which I link. These sites include Amazon, eBay, REI, Backcountry.com, ULA Gear, Sierra Designs, and Sierra Trading Post. There is no additional fee for purchasing items through these links. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Press release writing: We write and distribute your SEO press release in a newsworthy format and distribute online media outles. Turnaround time is within 48 hours: Buy this plan, or see more benefits on this plan.
Press release distribution to industry specific: Send your press release to your target industry via email. Contact us for you specific industry list. The news release is also published on online news sites of television and radio stations, newspapers guaranteed. Buy this plan.
$299/Industry
$00
Metro City/State PR Distribution
Press release distribution to city or state: We distribute your press release via email to outlets in your target metro city or state. Contact us for specific regional list. Your SEO press release is also published on online news sites of television and radio stations, newspapers guaranteed. Buy this plan. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
A paper submitted to the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society by Philip Lubin of the UC Santa Barbara Physics Department last April, is suddenly drawing a great deal of attention, in part because it resulted in a NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) award. The title of the paper, A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight, and of the award, DEEP IN Directed Energy for Interstellar Propulsion, probably didn’t hurt either.
The proposal is an update of the long standing idea of using directed energy in the form of lasers to accelerate a mass to extremely high velocities, including in some circumstances to a substantial fraction of the speed of light.
It all depends on the power of the laser array and the size of the mass, but the point of the proposal is that the needed technologies have sufficiently advanced in recent years so as to bring the concept from purely notional to one that could be deployed on a small scale without requiring any significant technological breakthroughs. Most importantly, it is supremely scalable, allowing for a modest beginning to eventually lead to truly mind-boggling results, such as a 100 kg spacecraft on a three day journey to Mars, or a “wafer-sized” spacecraft accelerated to 30 percent of the speed of light in approximately 10 minutes.
In the case of the payloads sent to Mars or elsewhere in the solar system for that matter, it is just as important to have a means of slowing down, a requirement which likely demands a similar apparatus on the receiving end. For the first steps of automated interstellar exploration however, flyby missions are contemplated in which the same laser/reflector combination is used to transmit and receive data being sent back at the speed of light, albeit at very low transmission rates. Scale the system however, and with an increase in the size of the payload to 100kg and look what you get:
“At the nearest star (Proxima Centauri) at a distance of about 4 ly the data rate at Earth from the spacecraft is about 70 Mbps. Live streaming HD video looks feasible all the way to our nearby interstellar neighbors.”
.
From the paper:
There has been a game change in directed energy technology whose consequences are profound for many applications including photon driven propulsion.
This allows for a completely modular and scalable technology without “dead ends”. We propose a system that will allow us to take the step to interstellar exploration using directed energy propulsion combined with miniature probes including some where we would put an entire spacecraft on a wafer to achieve relativistic flight and allow us to reach nearby stars in a human lifetime. Combined with recent work on wafer scale photonics, we can now envision combining these technologies to allow for a realistic approach of sending probes far outside our solar system and to nearby stars. As a part of our effort we propose a roadmap to allow for staged development that will allow us not only to dream but to do.”
Finally, there are the “other benefits”:
“As we outline in our papers the same basic system can be used for many purposes including both stand-on and stand-off planetary defense from virtually all threats with rapid response (emphasis added), orbital debris mitigation, orbital boosting from LEO to GEO for example, future ground to LEO laser assisted launchers, standoff composition analysis of distant object through molecular line absorption, active illumination of asteroids and other solar system bodies, beamed power to distant spacecraft among others.”
The roadmap envisions five stages of ground testing before demonstrating the concept in space for the first time. And guess which object currently in orbit boasts a solar array (100 kw) sufficiently sized to support such a test?
Innerspace.net
Today we are standing at the edge of the greatest adventure in the history of our species, humanity's permanent expansion into space and the birth of a second of human civilization, on Mars. Innerspace.net is focused on delivering news of the new frontier and highlighting the companies, people, organizations and products which are making it happen. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Here you will find fresh porn videos, movies for every taste. You can download their by clicking on the link site file-sharing service Nitroflare, Uploaded, Gigapeta, Keep2Share.cc and many other.
Melody is helping Malena stretch out. She starts by massaging Malena sexy, toned body before they stretch. Her sensual touch gets Malena wet and horny. When they start stretching Malena cant take her eyes off of Melodys gorgeous ass. No longer able to restrain herself she attacks that ass with both hands ass as Melody stretches. This gets Melody hot and soon we see the girls kissing and four beautiful, mouth watering tits. Melody takes charge and eats Malenas ass first. This is followed by the girls going back and forth, licking, sucking, slurping, and finger popping. Once both girls are satisfied the two kiss and embrace each others relaxed bodies.Format : MPEG-4File size : 2.31 GiBDuration : 32mn 28sOverall bit rate : 10.2 MbpsVideo : 1920x1080
We also recommend:
[WeLiveTogether.com] Bree Daniels, Malena Morgan - A womans touch (2013) [HD 1080p] Bree and Malena were taking a trip down memory lane and they got all riled up remembering all the good times they had together. Once the bedroom door opened up, the dresses came down, the stockings were ripped off and the tongue lashings began. Malena took out a humming vibrator and gave Bree the works. Any time these two are together they have a memorable time. If you put them alone together in one room they will be letting the fireworks fly in less than 5 minutes.
Alyssa Reece, Malena Morgan - That Good Good (WeLiveTogether/RealityKings/2013/SD) Alyssa and Malena fall to the ground after a strenuous workout. Alyssa starts to admire Malenas heaving breasts and glistening sweat covered body. Alyssa playfully caresses Malenas stomach and pats her between the legs as she reaches over. Malena takes this as her cue, grabs Alyssa, and buries her tongue into her mouth as she gets a handful of Alyssas tight, sexy, ass. The girls start licking and sucking each other ecstatically as the sweat continues to flow. Malena begs for her ass to be eaten and Alyssa gives her what she wants. This favor is soon reciprocated as the ass and pussy licking continues. Alyssa has to beg Malena to stop at one point as the pleasure becomes too intense with each orgasm. Malena is so overcome at one point that she loses her balance as her legs extend and she falls from her knees to her stomach. They eventually collapse on top of each other, their muscles tired, after two very stimulating workouts.
Information
Users of Guests are not allowed to comment this publication. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Heading into her last season at Pocono Mountain West, Benitez was closing in 1,000 points for her career, but more importantly she was chasing something that had proved to be quite elusive — a Mountain Valley Conference championship.
In her sophomore and junior seasons at West, Benitez had helped the Panthers reach the MVC championship game only to come up short both times in overtime to Pleasant Valley.
"One of my goals was to get my 1,000th point, but I really wanted to lead my team to a championship," said Benitez, a two-time All-MVC and Pocono Record All-Area first-team guard. "It was hard (losing the previous two years), but it made us just push that much harder this season."
Whatever the Panthers did, it worked.
After going through the regular season unbeaten in conference play, Pocono West beat Stroudsburg by 40 in the MVC semifinals and Pleasant Valley by 26 in the championship game to win its third MVC title since 2006. Benitez also hit 1,000 points at the perfect time, giving the Panthers a lead they never relinquished against Bangor in the semifinals of the District 11 Class AAAA playoffs that put them in the district final for the first time in school history and PIAA playoffs for a second time.
"She came in determined to leave as a champion and another goal was to get 1,000 points," PM West coach Stacy Perryman said. "It was something that she was able to do within the goals of the team as well. They were two things she set out to do and she achieved them."
Benitez is the Pocono Record girls basketball Player of the Year.
The high point of her senior season was four years in the making for Benitez.
She saw time as a reserve on the varsity team as a freshman before breaking into the starting lineup as a sophomore. A fantastic athlete at the beginning, Benitez, who finished her career with 1,025 points, eventually turned into just as a good of a basketball player as time went on.
"Her mindset totally changed over time," Perryman said. "At first she was an individually goal-oriented person, but that has to change when you become part of a team and you set goals together. She became such a team player that the individual accolades were going to come for her and they did."
A big reason for that is Benitez's love for the game.
She always wears a smile on her face, something that helped her get through the tough times the Panthers faced after losing back-to-back MVC title games in overtime. Her passion for the game and non-stop energy was also something that rubbed off on Benitez's teammates when fatigue set in during practice or things weren't going West's way in a game.
"I've always been passionate about basketball," said Benitez, who has drawn interest from a number of PSAC schools. "You'll never see me down and I'm a very happy person and fun to be around. I'm always smiling no matter what is happening."
Benitez usually saved her best play for the biggest moments.
Against PV in the MVC final, the Panthers led by just four at the half after falling behind 7-0 in the opening minutes. It was all West in the second half, though, with Benitez scoring 13 of her game-high 15 points after halftime to lead her team to that elusive MVC crown.
A week later in the district playoffs, the Panthers found themselves in a tight battle with Northampton in the quarterfinals. The Konkrete Kids went to the foul line with a chance to take the lead early in the third quarter, but after two misses Benitez grabbed the rebound, went the length of the floor and scored on an uncontested layup. That basket was the beginning of the 10-0 run that helped the Panthers put the game away and set up the showdown with Bangor.
Both teams struggled from the floor in that semifinal contest, but they battled to a 37-37 tie with under a minute to play. That's when Benitez drove hard down the lane for an uncontested layup to give her points 1,000 and 1,001 for her career and the Panthers a lead they never gave up.
"She sets the tone at practice every day for us," Perryman said. "She has that mindset of once she's ready to go she's going to go and she'll take anybody who wants go along for the ride. She is such a complete player and with all that she gives I don't think there's an ounce of energy left once that game is over.
"I don't know where it comes from, but she is such a determined player and once she gets the ball in her hands we know it's going to turn out for the best." | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
A question we often get is: Can I have a free sticker? The answer is ABSOLUTELY! Who doesn’t love free stickers? One of the best things of going to events was visiting all the booths and getting free stickers. > | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The Blog
Arc Achiever: Dan Maletz Achieved his dream of an independent, fulfilling life Dan Maletz’s desire was to always be independent and the 32 year-old has been working toward that goal since he was a young man. Dan, who entered The Arc of Howard County’s residential program in 2013, first lived at […] Continue Reading >
Volunteer
The Arc’s active volunteer program, involves hundreds of community members – who donate their time and talent to help achieve full community life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Employ
Donate
There are many ways for you to support The Arc of Howard County. Your support of The Arc’s work puts you at the center of helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a full life. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Pin U-Lwin (Colonial British name was MayMyo) is another Colonial British hill station that, like Kalaw hosts a military college. It also was freezing. We stayed one night and it couldn't have been much more than 5 degrees C. We stayed at a government hotel, the Thiri Myaing a former Colonial British manor house - it was expensive ($30), badly run - no hot water in the morning. The staff forgot to start the fire under the water heater.
The town had a lovely public garden (left over from the Colonial British) and two terrific markets. And like everywhere else, trucks in and out of town are never empty.
The Botanical Gardens
Pin U-Lwin Markets - most of these photos are from the regional village market, rather than the main city market. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Parker Gwen recently announced the launch of its new online shopping experience, offering carefully selected home furnishings, home accessories and consumer electronics. Parker Gwen will feature furniture, consumer electronics, home décor, kitchen products, bedding and bath products, and small appliances. Customers will find only premium home décor on Parker Gwen to furnish a bedroom, living room or dining room. New products will be continually added to the site to reflect the changing trends and technology. Free shipping is provided with all orders.
“We’re going to change online retailing by making each of our customers feel personally engaged as an integral part of the Parker Gwen community,” said Parker Gwen CEO Matthew Phillips. “Our mission is to service you and to make you happy. Ours is a place of inspiration, discovery and happiness. We will evolve by actively making changes based on our customers’ feedback, institute testing to ensure products meet our high standards, and promptly remove products which do not. Our customers’ ideal living space perfectly blends a design that reflects their personality with the ever-evolving home technology of our generation’s greatest innovators,” concluded Phillips.
As Phillips continued, “Parker Gwen seeks to be synonymous with superior customer service, high-quality home furniture, and home technology products. We value and listen to our customers, which in turn allows us to create not just a superior online shopping experience, but a real community that strives to be a destination for inspiration in creating an ultimate home experience.” | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
changeset 10804:79a5833d1266
find changesets by author, revision,
files, or words in the commit message
[IA64] change default to use xencons, disable dom0 serial driver
This enables xencons by default. Serial console users should no longer
need to specify creative values for xenconsole= and console= on the
boot command line. By default, xencons will use ttyS0, so make sure
dom0 has a getty running on that device. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
(VIDEO+PHOTO) Chavez to be embalmed ‘like Lenin’ and put on public display
A woman reacting as she pays last tribute to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, at the Military Academy chapel on March 7, 2013 in Caracas. (AFP Photo / Efrain Gonzalez)
Chavez’ political heir has revealed that the Venezuelan leader is to be embalmed and preserved just like Lenin, and laid out in the ‘Mountain Barracks’ where he devised a failed coup. The venue will be turned into a Museum of the Revolution.
“We have decided to prepare the body of our Comandante President, to embalm it so that it remains open for all time for the people. Just like Ho Chi Minh. Just like Lenin. Just like Mao Zedong,” said Nicolas Maduro, the provisional president, on state TV. He is Chavez’s designated successor.
Chavez is to be kept in a glass casket in the museum so that he can be seen for “eternity” and his people “will always have him.”
Maduro also said that the former President will lie in state for seven more days, at a military museum, so that people can continue to pay their respects to the leader. The farewell to Chavez was extended as mourners flocked to bid farewells at the military academy since Wednesday, where his glass-topped casket is currently on display.
Venezuelan soldiers push the protective fences as supporters wait in line to pay last respects to the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. (AFP Photo / Leo Ramirez)
Inside the casket, the former leader was wearing olive green military dress, a black tie and his signature red beret. He had a red sash across his torso, with the word ‘militia’ on it – the name of the 120,000-strong force which he created.
The government estimated the turnout figure to be around the 2 million mark in a country with a population of 29 million. Many kept a nighttime vigil.
Chavez’s body was transported seven hour procession on Wednesday from the hospital where he died to its current resting place. The official funeral took place on Friday, but the announcement that he is to be embalmed has surprised many, only hours before it was planned to occur. Maduro said that the demand to see the deceased leader was far too great to ignore.
Guards keep supporters behind a fence as they wait to pay respects to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. (AFP Photo / Ronaldo Schemidt)
A reported 55 heads of state or government are due to attend, which will include Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The service is still expected to go ahead in Caracas, the capital, to mark the transfer of Chavez’s body, prior to the embalming.
The ‘Mountain Barracks’ are where Chavez arranged a failed coup against then-President Carlos Andres Perez on February 4, 1994. The slum was an area of concentrated Chavez support, and his arrest as a result of the planned coup turned him into a hero, resulting in election victory in 1998.
Maduro implied that his move there may not be permanent. There is widespread support for Chavez to be taken to the national pantheon to lie alongside Simon Bolivar, the Latin American independence hero, in whose honor Chavez constructed the mausoleum.
Сhavez often called himself a Bolivarian patriot, and ‘Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200’ was the name of the grouping which first attempted the coup. His socialist rule lasted for 14 years, and he played a pivotal role in re-nationalizing the oil industry.
After a two-year battle with cancer, he died from a heart attack at the age of 58.
Cuban president Raul Castro during the funeral of President Hugo Chavez, in Caracas, on March 7, 2013. (AFP Photo / Presidencia)
“Chavez was a brave and very thorough man who was able to showcase strong character to go through with his plans. He genuinely wanted to rid the country’s poor citizens of their plight and improve their lives. Chavez became the symbol of independence throughout Latin America while he was still alive. He’s joined the legendary ranks of Simon Bolivar, Fidel Castro, and Che Guevara,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fellow Latin American presidents also lauded the late president.
“This liberation process, not only of the Venezuelan people, but also of all the Latin American peoples must continue,” said Bolivian President Evo Morales.
“Chavez allowed us to restore faith in Latin America regions, so that a profound transformation in the region can be carried out,” said President Rafael Correa of Ecuador.
Maduro will be sworn in as acting president on Friday, and will later call elections. The national electoral council will set the date for elections, which must take place within 30 days of the president’s death, according to the constitution.
He will go head to head with opposition leader Henrique Capriles Radonski. However, Capriles lost to Chavez in October’s presidential polls. A further recent opinion poll has suggested that Chavez’s anointed successor, Maduro, is likely to with the election. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Change the world, simply by lifting a finger
Dollar Dollar Bill Y’all
Doing away with the dollar bill?
Democratic Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona are co-sponsors of a bill to take all dollar bills out of circulation and replace them with dollar coins. They claim that it will save the government over 200 million dollars a year as they won’t have to keep replacing worn out bills.. and the both happen to be from states that mint coins for the government.
But, upon a closer look, there appears to be more going on here than just replacing worn out paper.
It appears that a LOT of this profit the government will be making is coming from something called seigniorage
If you are like me, you hate coins, as they jingle around in your pocket and they are heavier than bills… basically annoying, so you do what a lot of people do, put their coins in a jar at home, effectively removing the coins from circulation. When you take money out of circulation, the government needs to print more to make up the loss. And this difference is a big part of the profit the government will be making by moving to dollar coins. By making things inconvenient for us, they are able to make a profit.
What do you guys think, shall we kill the dollar bill and replace it with a dollar coin, or just stick with the bill. Let me know in the comments below. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
DO YOU WANT TO BE MY FRİEND? lyrics
DO YOU WANT TO BE MY FRİEND?
You shouldn't have done this to me
You shouldn't have stabbed me from the back like that
your going should have been honest like your coming
and your ending is very arrogant
come and see that you played this game in a bad way
your mask fell down earlier from your face
so it means that you weren't a giant that I made bigger inside me
you were nothing
and now you see
you're gone
and you're over
You shouldn't have done this to me
you shouldn't have destroyed me like this with a khanjar
your footsteps shouldn't have been an address of a treachery
how could you dirty our very pure(clean) love?
or did I know you wrong?
or were your seas always dirty like this?
now here is in my hands
An accomplice cinema ticket
a corner of pastry shop
A theater box office
you shouldn't have gone very cheaply
you shouldn't have spent this love in the smokes of cigarette
you shouldn't have made me appetizer for the executioner of love
Now if I found an empty grave
because of it loved you so much
I would bury my heart there
you shouldn't have done this to me
you shouldn't have offended me by my poems
you shouldn't have rained the red of blood on my nights
you shouldn't have broken the wings of my memories
you shouldn't have made me crazy
now your name sounds like betrayal for me
and your taste is like the most killer poison of a snake
I don't know
now which heart do you stick
your cruel handjar
don't forget that now you are like my forbidden books
after this
it's forbidden to get close for me
It's forbidden to touch
and
It's forbidden to hug you | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
EIB WEB PAGE DISGRONIFIER
Quick Hits Page
February 10, 2014
Media Gears Up for First Gay NFL PlayerRUSH: We've got the first gay player -- well, not "yet" player. The first gay, admitted gay prospect, from my home state, actually, University of Missouri, Mizzou. Michael Sam is his name and the sports media, the Drive-Bys are all atwitter over this. They just can barely contain themselves.
Aging America Heading for DisasterRUSH: Kyle Smith had a column in the New York Post yesterday that is bouncing off of a new book called The Demographic Cliff, and the point of this book is that there's nothing we can do. The demographics of our society, the demographics of our population are such that it's going to be impossible to have economic growth for the next generation or two, at least. We just don't have the bodies. We just haven't had enough population. The birth rate, replacement level just hasn't been there.
Immigration won't even fix it because they're not the kind of people that are gonna grow the economy. They're not high skilled workers. We're stuck. There is nothing we can do. We are trapped demographically. That's the theory. And so the Democrats may be onto this and say, "Okay, well, let's turn this into a positive for us. Let's make it look like we made it happen and it's a good thing and it's liberating." And politically it's just another thing that the Republicans are gonna have to come up with a way campaigning against.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: "Aging America Heading for Disaster." This is Kyle Smith, New York Post yesterday. He wrote a piece based on a new book called The Demographic Cliff, by Harry S. Dent Jr. "To really understand what’s going on with the American economy, don’t look at the headlines. Don’t look at the unemployment rate or the trade balance or the deficit. Don’t even look at what’s happening today at all: Look at what happened 46 years ago. And what happened then? Fewer Americas were being born.
"Following the Baby Boom, which peaked in 1961, came the Baby Bust, a long slow decline in the birthrate. Those babies grew up and began spending in accordance with highly predictable patterns." And this is kind of fascinating. According to the book, The Demographic Cliff, which, by the way, I downloaded it after reading Kyle Smith's piece. I bought the book, the e-book, and it's amazing. It presents some complicated data very simply.
"People tend, for instance, to buy houses at about the same age -- age 31 or so. Around age 53 is when people tend to buy their luxury cars -- after the kids have finished college, before old age sets in. Demographics can even tell us when your household spending on potato chips is likely to peak -- when the head of it is about 42." What, are you smirking in there over this? This is demographic research.
"Ultimately the size of the US economy is simply the total of what we’re all spending. Overall household spending hits a high when we’re about 46. So the peak of the Baby Boom (1961) plus 46 suggests that a high point in the US economy should be about 2007, with a long, slow decline to follow for years to come," according to Harry S. Dent Jr. and his book. It's all bodies. It's all productivity. It's all based on population. GDP is related to population, population growth, and following the Baby Boom generation we were not producing at birthrate replacement levels, much less growth.
Now, Harry Dent is a business consultant, stock market prognosticator and author who says that now is the time to sell stocks, talks about Japan, and basically says we're heading into a deflationary spiral and that immigration, more bodies, is not going to save us. He says even adjusted for immigration, the overall US population is aging. And the problem with aging people is they spend less. They've got the most money, but they spend the least. Their houses are paid for, for the most part, cars are paid for, the educations are paid for by the time they've reached 55 or 60. All the spending they engaged in when they were young and going into debt to build and acquire those things, that spending is over, and that's when the economy slows -- this is this guy's theory. And he claims, just an interesting thing to point out, that aging America is heading for disaster. It's gonna be a long time, and that immigration, an influx of new bodies, is not enough to compensate for the low birthrate.
I think all of this, obviously, is arguable, and I don't accept the premise that demographics alone determine the state of the economy. There are plenty of policies that could be implemented today that would jump-start this economy like a Saturn V rocket if we would just do it. Because, even with all this, there are still 92 million Americans not working. I don't care how old they are. That's not good. We don't have any kind of economic policy or series of policies that's designed to put people back to work, and that's also by design, sadly.
NBC Honors Soviet Union as "Pivotal Experiment"
RUSH: I've had people ask me if I'm watching the Olympics. I'm not, and I'm glad that I'm not. I didn't watch the opening ceremonies. I don't know. The Olympics ceased to be a sports matter of any interest to me a long, long time ago. But I've had my decision validated. I happened to read some of what was said in a recorded bit that they did during the opening ceremony, and it was a narration provided by Peter Dinklage, who's a dwarf actor in Game of Thrones.
Here's what he said. This is an excerpt. This is not the whole thing. I'm just gonna read it to you. It's a tribute to Russia, of course, which is the obligatory thing. Here you are, going to Winter Olympics. You're in Sochi. So you gotta do a tribute to Putin (which they did) and a tribute to Russia (which they did). It's obligatory, but still. "The towering presence, the empire that ascended to affirm a colossal footprint." That's how it starts, praising the Soviet Union.
"The revolution that birthed one of modern history's pivotal experiments." I am so glad I wasn't watching when that was broadcast. To refer to the Soviet Union as "one of modern history's pivotal experiments"? The millions of people slaughtered by the various regimes in the Soviet Union would shock people who don't know. "But if politics has long shaped our sense of who they are, it's passion that endures. As a more reliable right to their collective heart.
"What they build in aspirations, lifted by imagination. What they craft, through the wonder of every last detail. How magical the fusion of sound and movement can be. How much a glass of distilled perfection and an overflowing table can matter. Discover the Russian people through these indelible signatures. Discover what we share with them through the games that open here tonight."
Now, between that and the cheerleading for Putin, I'm just glad that I am not watching. There's nothing pivotal. I mean, pivotal experiment? Modern history? These people are still living with the lost dream of what could have been with the Soviet communist state. So no, I'm not watching. Aside from all that, ski jumping is about it for me. If I happen to be channel surfing and that was on, I'd stop. That fascinates me. But without Tonya Harding, you know, going down on Nancy Kerrigan's knees, there nothing for me.
Black Activists Drive Trader Joe's Out of Oregon NeighborhoodRUSH: Now, get this. Michelle Obama's constantly talking to us about "food deserts," right? She's constantly complaining that big-time supermarkets will not put healthy, fresh food in the 'hood. So, a chain tried to, and they were promptly kicked out. There are two stories on this, just to show you the different perspective. The first is from a little blog called Ben Swann Truth in Media. This is the first time I've run across it.
"Portland, Oregon, February 7, 2014 -- According to local media outlet, The Oregonian (Highlighted by the Associated Press), African American activists and politicians forced the Trader Joe's grocery chain to drop their plans for a new store in a predominately black community because the store would 'increase the desirability of the neighborhood,' for 'non-oppressed populations.' 'We run neighborhood stores, and our approach is simple,' said the grocery chain.
"'If a neighborhood does not want a Trader Joe's, we understand, and we won't open the store in question.' The Portland Development Commission offered a substantial discount to the grocery chain for a two acre parcel of land that appraised for $2.9 million. The land, which sat undeveloped for years, was offered to the chain for $500,000 in an attempt to bring high-paying jobs and prosperity," and healthy food and all that "to the neighborhood.
"The construction project, which was to include a two large anchor buildings and 10 retail shops, was promised to an African-American owned construction company. The Portland African-American Leadership Forum, along with the Mayor Charlie Hales, sent letters to Portland Development Commission citing that they were 'contributing to the destructive impact of gentrification and displacement of the African-American community.'
"They also said that they would remain opposed to all development of the land that doesn't solely benefit African-Americans." Now, the headline of the story: "Black Activists and Politicians Force Trader Joe's Grocery Out: Claim It Would Attract Too Many Whites." Now, when I saw that, I said, "Okay, I gotta be very careful here, because the Internet is filled with incendiary stuff that could be a trick." So I said, "I need to dig further into this." So I found an AP story about this.
It turns out that this blog pretty much has it right. We got Michelle Obama constantly complaining about "food deserts," and here we had a grocery chain that was gonna try to put a grocery store with healthy food in a black neighborhood, and the black neighborhood said, "Nope, because you might improve the neighborhood too much." The leaders of the black neighborhood and black politicians said, "No, no, no, no! Nope, nope. You're not gonna come in here.
"You're gonna 'increase the desirability of the neighborhood [for] non-oppressed populations.' We're not gonna have that!" Meaning: "We're not gonna let you come in here and change the makeup of our neighborhood no matter what. Okay, so the AP has a version of the story with a very, very misleading headline: "Trader Joe's Drops Black Neighborhood Store Plan -- Critics said the development would displace residents and perpetuate income inequality in one of the most rapidly gentrifying ZIP codes in the nation."
Meaning what?
Why do we even have to worry about "income inequality" now when the whole push is for not working, period? I mean, they can't have it both ways. Obama's out there saying, "Hey, middle America! Give America a raise!" Why? Why? We want to "liberate" people from having to work, period. Why give 'em a raise? Now we don't want to "perpetuate income inequality" by bringing in what? A grocery store that's high class by comparison? "We're not gonna have that. Can't have it. That raises the property values, other people want to move in, and then that would make the neighborhood really unlike what it is now. We can't have that."
So the grocery store comes in, property values go up, brings in a new wave of people who can afford the new property values and that changes what used to be there and would improve the neighborhood, and we can't do that. It might improve the schools. We can't do that. Apparently, because that would all happen, we can't have this grocery store. That's what the black leadership, that's what the blog said, it's what the AP story apparently confirms. (interruption) Well, I wouldn't go that far. That's what they're really saying, keep a ghetto a ghetto? Well, if that's what they're saying, then they can't complain anymore about not having healthy food in there, which is a bogus claim that Michelle Obama makes anyway. It's not even factually correct in the first place. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Deprecated: Assigning the return value of new by reference is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-settings.php on line 229
Deprecated: Assigning the return value of new by reference is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-settings.php on line 231
Deprecated: Assigning the return value of new by reference is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-settings.php on line 232
Deprecated: Assigning the return value of new by reference is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-settings.php on line 249
Deprecated: Assigning the return value of new by reference is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-includes/cache.php on line 36
Deprecated: Assigning the return value of new by reference is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-includes/query.php on line 21
Deprecated: Assigning the return value of new by reference is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-includes/theme.php on line 508
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-settings.php:229) in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-content/plugins/polls/polls.php on line 1088Zen and the Art of Speedskating » The Wrath of Grapes
Buy me a Coffee
Recent Posts
Deprecated: Function ereg() is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-content/plugins/wp-banners/wp-banners.php on line 132
Deprecated: Function ereg() is deprecated in /home/andrewlo/public_html/blog/wp-content/plugins/wp-banners/wp-banners.php on line 152
really, it’s the Napa Valley Inline marathon, but Tim made a comment that I just keep laughing with every time I see it. This is quite the first person narrative, but in a marathon, it’s hard to watch others.. I am posting from a sandwich shop in Winnemaca, Nevada
A solid mass of humanity dissipating nervousness through catching up with old friends & affirming the full-spectrum plethora of reasons the skate tribe gathers at events like this. I cross paths with the “pocket rocket” Grant Foster for the first time in years, old friends from the skate tribe are enduring.
The air is quite cold, the sun casting slanting light onto the floor of the Napa valley.
Skaters warming up for the race do loops in the few patches of sun.
I have not done an inline race of this caliber & size for five years. I feel really good, but it’s a good untested against anyone other than a handful of salt lake training partners.
The godfather of skating (at least in California), David Miles, calls us to the start.
The massive pack swarms off the line, some crazy competitive like me, others just out to enjoy a sunny skate with friends on an outstanding course.
This races travels along a constantly rolling road, with occasional true hills tossed in. It’s a straight out skate for 6.55 miles, then a 180 turn back to the start-finish. The half marathon finishes there, the full marathon turns around & does it again.
Immediately Mike hits the front along with 2 other skaters in full Bont team-getup. They get the party started in warp-speed style.
Quickly the pack thins to 20 who can skate the consistent 24+ mph speeds. I’m relaxed in about 5th place, & I can feel the jostling & swarming behind me.
In the second set of rolling hills, Andy Zak takes the lead and starts pulling hard in the power-packed ice centric style that shows his 10 years of 5k-10k world cup stud/long track ice national team (ice to inline!!) experience, one by one skaters are falling away.
Now there are 15…..
I actually have a moment of guilt, listening ot the sounds of painful, ragged breathing behind me, as I feel completely relaxed & fantastic, not hurting at all, & rolling fantastically well.
I briefly see my buddy Uel, as the pack surges along one side of the road, he is in new boots and his shins are locking up. He is a phenomenal skater, knows many of the California crowd, but today Uel does not look happy.
I take my turn pulling the pack hard through one of the few flats in the course. The sun is now truly shining into the valley, and we round a corner to a view of walls of fog curling away from low-lying areas. Does Napa valley fog taste of grapes?
Another “pocket rocket” Rob Motta Jr, in the blue team SAFE colors, takes several hard pulls through another set of rolling hills. The pack is down to 8, a skater in an Ohio jersey steps in front of me, then Knut Skarpass in his wrist-to-ankle glittery suit & an aero-fishtail helmet. I pass them both on a hill. I’m breathing steady-hard now, but still feeling fantastic.
We hit the turnaround, 6.55 miles in, someone hollers that we do it in 17-something, given the hills, that’s freaky fast. After the turnaround, and now going back up the course, I see scatted packs & individuals & flashes of faces from the Salt Lake city crowd.. Uel has been dropped, having suffered complete shin-lock, Eric Lineback is leading a big group with his game face on. Brittany Heise & Uel Jr. are both looking strong on their way to winning their categories in the half-marathon.
After the turnaround, Mike puts some pressure on. Opens up a gap on our group with Andy Zack in tow. I holler “watch for the Bont block, lets organize the chase.”
Ohio-jersey takes a pull, but the gap does not close, then Grant Foster stomps up a hill & bridges up to Mike and Andy. Crap, that’s the move!
Now it’s 5 chasing 3 in front. They have a 50 meter gap.
But there is a moment, when the 3 in front are on a flat, and I see them stand up & look at each other for briefly & slow the effort. I go to the front, accelerate as hard as I can and close the gap in a minute or two of hard work.
3 more are dropped by these attacks. Now there are 5 of us left in front, The speed feels great but this hurts now. I focus on technique & efficiency, consciously trying to relax the gnawing pain in my lower back. Gotta love marathons.
The 5 of us settle in and work effectively together. No one skips any turns pulling, and I happen to lead the group through the halfway turnaround to the cheers of volunteers at what will become the finish line 13 miles from now.
The five of us are working smoothly & strongly, the speed is still quite high. We are all working hard, but Mike looks awfully relaxed, & I can sense him patiently gathering energy.
Somehow, the head of a race always “feels” different after the defining selection has been made, it’s a focused & nervous energy. Concentration & power, & you can feel the energy coming from the scattered spectators “oooh, here comes the leaders”. Often it’s a lot quieter in the front than in chase packs, more focus, less chatter.
Is this what a tour de France breakaway feels like? Probably not even close, but it’s the closest I will ever know. A wordless ethic of shared suffering & effort. We are all driving hard with no break in the skating position. If I can make it to the final kilometer in this quintet, I’ve surely got the strongest sprint.
But the finish is still a long, long way away, and Grant & Mike know my fast-twitch nature.
I take a long pull up a hill & notice a van in front of us with its back open, cheering people with video cameras taping. Cops manning intersections smile & wave. The bear has now climbed onto my back with teeth & claws out; I’m breathing hard & can start to feel the first cracks in power, push & technique.
We are eating up the miles at a steady clip. I don’t know if we are being chased by any large groups, I’ve never looked back, everything is focused on driving up the road.
The asphalt is mostly excellent, but there are a few cracks & rough patches, lighter skaters like Grant, Andy & Rob get bounced around in stuff Mike and I just are bulling through.
We hit the turnaround for the final time, 19.65 miles into the marathon, 6.55 to go. Mike decides NOW!!!. With Grant following he goes to the front on a false flat and starts ripping.
His wheels make a huge whooshing sound as his long legs crank out his maximum sustained power. He’s not a sprinter, this is his gift, this is what he works so hard to be able to do.
Faster, faster, faster,
I don’t know how long this goes on, my memory is like crinkled video-tape broken from race-inflicted brain damage. The world narrows to Grant’s flashing ankles in front of me as tunnel vision sets in (Mike told me later, he kept glancing back between his legs and thinking “Crap, they’re still there!”).
Andy Zak catches up to me. We both have fundamentally ice-brewed, low tempo, power & glide ice technique, one-arm swing up the hills & hip fall into each stroke. But he is still skating well and I’m in a world of hurt.
I try to share the work, but he is stronger, I cling into his draft for a mile, maybe 2, hoping to recover, I try to take a pull, do my share, but have nothing (Andy said later that just by listening to my breathing rate, he could tell I was a mess).
Small rises I popped effortlessly over earlier seem like vertical walls I’m dragging myself over with my fingernails. After repeated fingernail drags, I have no fingernails left, a nice full-body terminal burn sets in.
And even on the flat I can’t hold onto Andy’s draft. He motors away in pursuit.
Far up ahead I see Mike on his own, climbing a hill with unstoppable tempo, Grant foster is sitting up, he’s looking back at the Zak train catching him.
I’m in 4th on the road, Rob Motta in his team S.A.F.E. blue must be chasing me back there somewhere, plus I know that in marathons like this, there are usually big packs eating up the miles through sheer weight of numbers.
From never looking back during the first 22 miles, now I’m glancing over my shoulder every minute.
The final 4 miles are some of the hardest I have ever skated. I try recovering then increasing the speed, sitting low, sitting high, high tempo, low tempo, nothing works. I know every trick in the book, but sometimes the book is no help..
By now I am passing some of the slower rec skaters finishing the half-marathon. On a downhill, I zip past a zaftig woman in bright clothing, uncertain on her rec skates. I yell “You go girl!” and she answers with the biggest yodel-howl of joy I have heard in a long time.
Fun, this is fun!
Miraculously I struggle through the final miles with no one catching me. Racing is sometimes a game of small percentages, and whatever I had that let me cling onto Andy for that brief mile pulled me clear of Rob & whatever groups were chasing.
Sweat has poured from my helmet into my sunglasses, the world is a soupy blur, the morning chill has turned into an insistent heat.
*********
An hour later, at a wine tasting across the road from the finish line, another skater asks me “Hey, what hurts worse? Ice or inline?”
Although there is nothing quite like the pure lactic brutality of a long track 1500m when you really go for it, all skating, when you are determined enough to crack through the limits of what you can do, asks you hard questions about yourself.
When you find that answer that has no words, just that internal knowledge of perseverance, it’s satisfying. All skating is as hard as you & the racecourse make it.
(and yes, wine tastes better after 26+ miles)
*********
At the awards ceremony, I did not expect to be on the podium, as I finished in 4th place, but Mike had registered himself in the master’s category, so even though he was the overall winner. He was not on the Pro-elite podium. It just seemed wrong that he was not up there with Andy, Grant, & Myself
So as piles of people gathered around with cameras to take pictures of the top-3 pro-elite, the three of us called out to him in unison, saying “hey, come on Mike, get up here!”.
Stuff like this is one of the reasons I love this sport.
***************
California note:
Every state in the USA has its own character, and part of California’s is the folks who live & skate there.
There is a fellow who is famous for skating inline events backwards! I saw him, or at least his wiggling butt, out on the course, and I got to meet a guy who skated the whole race on his one wheel skates!
They actually work, he keeps two feet on the ground, and snakes his way along. I asked him how well they work, he said “slow, and check out my website, one wheel skate”
20 Responses to “The Wrath of Grapes”
Nice Job man. I know you could’ve won it. In the wise words of one of my favorite marathon skaters (K.C. Boutiette), screw leading, when you do not have a teammate in the pack you make everyone else work for you. He won a lot of ice marathons that way.
Congrats on the excellent finish! I’m a 3000 meter skater who has competed in inline races as long as I’ve competed in ice races, and marathons STILL kill me…for a 500-meter-fas-twitch-guy to do what you did is incredible!
Marcia,
The upper age catergories are:
IMMORTAL A 60-64
IMMORTAL B 65-69
PRICELESS 70 & UP
Full age group details are at http://www.cora.org/NAPAinlinemarathon2007.html , about halfway down. We usually have at least a couple of guys out here at 70+ (Rudy, John, et al.). CORA has a season series with age group medals.
Congratulations, Andrew! Knowing how well you’ve done these past two years on ice, it’s obvious you belong up there in the front. It’s great you made a name for yourself and for all of us who embrace the essentials of crossing-over between inline and ice.
as for Fred’s comment about Andy Zak being “the wrath of grape”, that is ONE STRONG GRAPE!!!
I had a great time chatting with him afterwards, nice guy… in the podium shots, he & I are in the white t-shirts.
As for Eric’s comment about how I should have won it..
hmmmmm….
Mike was the strongest that day, no question. If the race was a half marathon, or less hilly.. maybe… but when Mike put the hammer down, he was amazing..
but should I have simply sat in the draft of the breakaway & never taken a pull? saving myself for that mike-moment I could feel was coming?
I’ve won quite a few bike races that way.. and it always felt a tad cheap to never touch the wind till the last few hundred meters.
In my last head to head meeting with Mike, at masters nationals, that is what I did in the 3k, I waited for the last 400m, he needed to drop me before then, but lucky for me, there are no hills on a long track!
I am a born sprinter, however I was proud to be able to take pulls & be part of a strong group like that.. I’ve trained very hard to be able to do it, and I had a lot of fun.
So Eric, you are right, but I am happy with how I raced.
if any of the other guys who were in the breakaway read this, I’d be interested in hearing how you might have reacted/felt if I had been just coasting along & playing “sprinter games”.
also, that group was experienced enough, they could have made it very difficult for a “free-loader”, it’s not hard to do in a small group..
vicarious exhilaration…thank you.
I’m a newbie to inline. Your piece here is great like watching the TDF. You describe baptism by fire and I get to read about it. thank you.
Have you written about the A2A in the first person or read an article on it that keeps you engaged? r.s.v.p.
That is a fantastic race story - I felt like I was there. And great job racing!! As someone who can easily get sprinter-gamed away at the finish, the only complaint I ever have about it is when spectators who don’t know me tell me I was stupid. If you’re just a sprinter (as opposed to, ya know, one of those people who sits there in a bike race and literally does nothing but get in the way at the wrong point not even close enough to the finish) your strategy is just as legitimate as mine…which, of course, I won’t reveal But that doesn’t mean those guys feel the same way….
Andrew, you did a great job out there. I had a great time working with you, Andy, Grant, and Mike. I also love your “Wrath of Grapes”, very well written. Now, as for your question of “doing your fair share of pulling”….. You are correct, I for one would have made it real difficult for you. Grant and Mike were the only two with team support. In a race where the lead pack is this small, it is important that there is some form of co-operation.
Great writing! [Obviously, too, great skating, but I don’t know squat about that ]
Strategy - very interesting to contrast pure, raw competition with the sort of cooperative competition you describe; clearly you guys have your own definition of what really is, and isn’t, the sport, way beyond the written rules.
Andrew, aside from the unavoidable physical limitations of the sprinter, you’d make a great sled dog - you’re a true team animal, even in an individual sport.
That sounds like fun and I know exactly how it feels to die halfway through a race and wander what the hell is wrong with yourself that you can’t power through it, but it happens. Then the next race makes you feel like a light jog around the block.
My SSboots are for ST so I would have to (and plan to) have Bruce make me a pair of LT ones, don’t know the colour as of yet, but they’ll be just as cool as my iridescent purple/green. If you want to see some fotos of them. www.myspace.com/eisblitz
and yeh, they also hurt like no other after 2 sessions of ice per day, some people get 1 or 2 hot spots, I get 5. But the control and feel is like no other!
Andrew, Great report. We skated together about 4 years ago at that Superior Shores Race. It was you, me, and Stephen Tremblay sprinting for 3rd place. Good to see you back at the inline races. I have the good fortune (maybe not so good) to race against Mike a lot. He’s made an incredible leap this year. He’s put the hurt on a lot of us. I hope we see we see you more at the races..
Sorry about the double post. Anyway, I wanted to comment on the sprinters strategy. I’m more of a sprinter myself. In a small group with two guys from the same team, they’re in control of the race. You doing what you did just helped them out. Had you sat you would have forced them to attack. If they chose not to that would be their bad leaving you in until the sprint. If they attack you have no choice but to try to cover or be content to race for second. Either way would have been difficult for you. I think that each skater has to skate to his specialty. Does Mike feel bad that he has a bigger motor and can pull away from the pack when everyone else is worn out? NO. So why should you feel you need to help his cause? Make him earn it.
I do clearly remember that sprint finish with you & Stephane, I could tell on the run in to the finish, that you were a quite the sprinter too, just by how you moved….
Stephane skated world masters on the ice last year, will we ever see you throwing down on the ice? I do hope to cross paths with you later this season, I am thinking about St. Paul marathon now.. I don’t know… $$$ is tight…
When it comes to the ethics of working or not working, I think the feel definitely is different when it’s a small group, vs. a true pack, I think that with 10+ people, it’s more ethically “ok” to hang in the back…
Eric started out these comments talking about K.C. Boutiette & the Dutch ice marathons, those are HUGE packs, 100+ skaters.. Different game entirely…
Also, when you are hurting crazy bad, it’s always ok to grovel in the draft…the thing is, I felt GREAT!!!
Ethically, with 5 guys on the break it was “ok” to pull and surely I have done the same.
Competitively, Bont had 2 guys out of 5 in the pack… the other 3 should’ve let them do all the work and only should’ve taken turns to cover their attacks while not “working” with them. This would have increased the chance of getting to the line in a small pack and by then… I would be willing to put some of my salary on Dr. Love | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Howard the Duck made a huge return this summer during his amazing Guardians of the Galaxy cameo. Apparently his current success on the big screen has inspired a return to his original source material, because Marvel is giving Howard a new comic series.
Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Howard the Duck will return to comics this spring. The series will be penned by Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals) and illustrated by Joe Quinones. According to Zdarsky, Howard's got a gig as a pissed-off private investigator who is none too happy about being stuck on Earth.
"He's an everyman who happens to be a duck! He's angry, exasperated, and he's had it up to here with the world around him, but he's trapped here! Infinitely relatable!
I love the contrast of Howard against both the normal world of us hairless apes and the weird worlds of Man-Things and Dr. Stranges and Spider-Mans. Cause he doesn't fit into either, really.
I'm just going to continue exploring those contrasts, but my ultimate goal is to make it funny. Marvel has taken chances on funny books and injecting humor into superhero titles, so I want to make sure this is worth some chuckles here and there. God, I'm picturing the reviews now: 'Some chuckles here and there.' Shoot for the stars, Chip!"
Advertisement
Joe Quinones added that we should all be expecting some "fun sci-fi stuff coming up," because Howard isn't just a duck; he's also an alien.
To read the rest of the interview and check out some additional Howard art, head over to EW. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
An Analysis of FAWM (2017)
Thirteen years ago, I started a project called FAWM (February Album Writing Month) with a few friends. It was a way to motivate ourselves to make more music. The goal is to write 14 songs in the 28 days of February, much in the same way NaNoWriMo challenges you to write a whole novel in a month. Maybe it’s crappy, maybe it’s not. Don’t overthink it, just do it!
Inspiration is for amateurs – the rest of us just show up and get to work. ~ Chuck Close
If you’re curious, here is a playlist of my favorite FAWM demo recordings from the past (if you’re familiar with my band delicious pastries, you may recognize nascent versions of a few tracks we reworked for later albums):
FAWM Growth Over Time
Last week marked the end of FAWM 2017, and while I was too busy to take on the challenge myself this year, I kept the website running for others. (Big props to fawmers Eric and Jen Distad in particular, as well as Nancy Rost and Helen Robertson for helping out, as always.) It was a record year for sure: 11,239 new songs that didn’t exist in January! In the early days of the project, I was pretty sure FAWM would keep growing quadratically from year to year, but things leveled off pretty quickly after 2010:
My theory as to why we leveled off has to do with “FAWM Escape Velocity.” If there are 28×24×60 = 40,320 minutes in February, and the average song is 3.5 minutes long, then after 11,520 songs we will have created more music than is actually possible to listen to in the month of February… and that’s assuming you listen non-stop! This seems to be a metaphysical barrier we just can’t penetrate. (Credit goes to fawmer Tim Wille for coining the term.)
So, Who Keeps FAWM Going?
Here is a cartogram/choropleth map showing where “fawmers” came from, and how much they’ve donated to help keep the project alive (as of this writing). The size of each country represents the its active “population” in 2017, and the redness scale indicates how much (in US dollars) people in that country donated per capita. (Note: Song output and most other activities were extremely correlated with “population,” so I plotted donations as an interesting orthogonal variable).
The population/size seem to correlate roughly with Internet access crossed with English speakers (although there are substantial Finnish and German speaking FAWM sub-communities). Donation rates don’t seem to track with the Big Mac Index, so who knows what socioeconomic factors are at play there. In general, the more anglophone the country is, the more they seem to give… although Spanish fawmers were the most generous this year, so who knows? Overall, fawmers give $4 per capita (about 20% are donors), which is enough to pay the server bills and occasionally order Tshirts, stickers, guitar picks, and other cool FAWM swag from time to time.
The Social Network
The hairball graph below visualizes the FAWM social network. Each node represents a fawmer, and each edge indicates a fawmer who left feedback on the song(s) of another. The edge thickness denotes how many comments were given, and the size of each node reflects that fawmer’s PageRank (a measure of how “central” or “influential” s/he is in the network).
The graph itself is fairly dense: there is only one connected component. Each fawmer gaves 48.8 comments on average, and is only 2.7 links away from any other person in the network, on average. (In fact, the longest path from one fawmer to another is only 7!)
At first glance, there don’t appear to be too many cliques in the network. But to test that hypothesis, I ran a community detection algorithm which did discover seven subgroups of fawmers, based on how their commenting behaviors cluster them together. These subgroups are color-coded in the figure above. While these groups do appear to capture something about the network (e.g., the green subgroup has more high-PageRank power users, and all but the red and yellow subgroups seem to cluster pretty tightly together), I’ve had trouble characterizing them or trying to understand what may have caused them to form. Geographical location, number of songs written, number of previous FAWMs, amount donated, etc. — none of these variables seem significantly associated with any particular subgroup (the best model I could come up with is a logistic regression that only does 4% better than random guessing at classifying fawmers into these subgroups). So either the detection algorithm is bunk (not likely), or the forces at play can’t be explained using the variables I have immediately on hand in the database. I only threw a couple of hours at it, though, and maybe something like musical genre (e.g., song tags) can explain it. At any rate, it makes a pretty graphic!
Mapping Collaborations
The last thing I want to talk about is collaboration, which is a huge part of FAWM culture these days. “Collabs” started in 2008, which was a leap year with one extra day. We jokingly decided to make the challenge “14½ songs in 29 days,” with the extra ½ song being a collaboration. Roughly 8% of all FAWM songs have been collabs ever since. I’ve done some previous research into how these form and what makes them successful.
FAWM hit a new record in 2017: 943 collabs! Since most fawmers provide an (optional) location field, I used the Google Maps API to pinpoint them on a map and plot all the collab-connections on a map like airline flight routes:
Lots of trans-Atlantic co-writing this year — which isn’t surprising, since most fawmers are in North America and Europe — but plenty that stretch out into Africa and Oceania, too. There’s even someone way out in the Kerguelen Islands who got in some sweet collab action. (Credit goes to fawmer Scott Lake for suggesting this visualization.)
Conclusion
It’s been rewarding to help create something like FAWM which brings people together to make music, and I’m happy to see it still going strong thirteen years later. Next year — FAWM’s fourtheenth year — is gonna be a blowout!
I’ve started to look at the cliques formation, and too wonder what can be determined. I know I tried, deliberately a few things, anecdotally, and saw specific results. However, what “I” think does not necessarily indicate what folks “do”, generally.
“Overall, fawmers give $4 per capita (about 20% donate anything at all), which is enough to pay the server bills and occasionally order Tshirts, stickers, guitar picks, and other cool FAWM swag from time to time.”
1) did you mean 20% do NOT donate anything? or 80% do not donate? or something else?
2) according to FAWM.org there were 2,219 FAWMers this year so if each averaged $4 that would be $8,876. are you really paying almost $9,000 for hosting??
I am really curious because I have several customers who use hosting that is quite inexpensive (< $500/yr) and they have comparable numbers of regular users (2-3k). anything you could share about server load, traffic, etc. would be quite interesting to me! I am assuming FAWM traffic is much more intensive and visitors spend A LOT more time on the site than is typical.
80% do not donate anything. This year, we did raise about $8k… but hosting is not the only expense, there is also swag and shipping on that swag, the purchases of which are rolled into the “donation” figures. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
This is not every day for you encounter circumstances that require to shell out instant cash. Good, in fact, it is also not every day that you have enough take advantage your wallets or in the bank. The thing would you do in this type of situation? Plenty of people can give thought to getting credits awaiting pay day comes by.
Plenty of people take out a loan as a way to funds chief fees. For anybody who is cannot obtain from those around you, you can do for payday loans web-based. There are plenty of companies on the web presenting such loans. Mentioned above credits are only transitory credits that give you money before wage day to surge you over. This is actually a short time and energy to the next pay check day therefore you have the desire to make sure that you have a requirement for the loan terms before you record an application.
You can do for a payday loan without the use of fax equipment. Credits that need fax needed are frequently mentioned as secured credit through which your own information along with important literature need to be delivered with the lender. This can be difficult for achievement as well as one additional investment. Once you choose not likely to the trouble, faxless pay day loans will certainly suit you.
Considering that the payday loan lender is going to be at a hazard in lending you money, they ought to go into of this information like name, location, contact number, cultural security range and one individual check. These are definitely things that the lender will ask from anyone to trade for your finance.
The elements of your faxless payday loan attract unlimited consumers worldwide. By taking selling point of the money, you will save loads of ready time period. Occupied human beings will certainly bgs credit because they get the loan sum in just a couple of time after verification. In the event you apply after you get up, you need to get the finance by night.
For the reason that faxless pay day loans have become convenient, most people are into your habit of acquiring advances until pay day comes. This is not effective and never desirable because you possibly use up cash around the interest charges. Keep in your mind that this kind of loans were actually principally devised to assemble direct or demanding interest in cash. If there is not any rush, consequently there is no need to apply for the loan, most especially if you have got enough profit your bank accounts or bank to fund your day after day expenditures.
You could enjoy faxless cash advance loans during acute needs. You will find other alternatives that you could scrutinize. Instead of wasting dollars on your curiosity on account of recurrent borrowing, consider saving revenue into one’s financial institution. Figure out how to store to make sure that where the need comes up, you ve kept enough currency before pay day. Perhaps an order can be manufactured with your boss to deduct a certain quantity from your paycheck and still have it saved upward wherever.
In other words, it’s not impossible to acquire income where a disaster predicament pops up but utilize a faxless cash advance loans provided that it truly is necessary.
payday loan online In summary, it’s not hopeless to obtain currency if a crisis circumstances appears but employ each of these faxless pay day loans if only it is truly necessary payday loan online.
Authorization
Articles Finder
Recent Articles
If you are thinking about hiring Alan Fraser Tiling Service to do your tiling job, I STRONGLY urge you to think again! Alan Fraser Tiling Service (ABN 14 626 577 979) is a rip off merchant and a con man. He will request 50% of your money up front and once you give him the …
In the present day society looking desirable, young and additionally healthy has become a lot more important. For the elderly together with the young generation one needs to keep up their young as well as attractive appearance, which can be not an effortless feat. Whatever the current beauty styles in the media, it is always …
Beauty makeup tips in summer In Summer, the light from the sun is stronger than ever and so any imperfections on our faces may be highlighted more than in winter or in darker light.However, it is essential in summer that you actually lighten your make up rather than increase it. If you cake on the …
6 Tips For Wearing Colour In Summer As the temperature increases and the sun begins to shine, it is time to put the Parka and Duffel coats back in the cupboard and fill your wardrobe with your summer wear for the light nights and hot holidays. Menswear summer fashion usually an injection of colour into …
Some Information About Mens Dress Shirts Everyone likes to look young, but after you reach a certain age then, you need to start dressing your age at least at times. Men dress shirts always have the tendency of transforming a punk into a gentleman. This is why men start wearing these at work and at … | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Callout For A Compendium
I’m currently working on another element of my FMP, “Ms. Roden’s Compendium of the Fantastical and the Mythological” which will be a pastiche encyclopedia of the bizarre. I’m looking for favourite stories, monsters and myths, and am also inviting submissions for entries – if you have an imagined critter, created fantasy world or fraudulently magical object that you’d like to be included then email me:
The Name of what is being included
A ‘witness statement’ describing the creature. This can be as detailed as you like
A picture would also be useful, but not essential. This will be reproduced in black and white
If you want to submit more than one thing then that would be absolutely fine and dandy by me – I’m using this as an opportunity to resolve and explore a bunch of half-formed ideas and narratives by giving them as much space as they need, so any level of detail is fine.
The entries will also be published on the website: http://rodenscompendium.wordpress.com, and there’s a couple of sample entries on there at the moment. The eventual book will be published via createspace and will be available on amazon and kindle and will contain an index listing for you with your web address and/or email. You will obviously be credited 100% for all of your work and involvement.
Email [email protected] to submit entries or if you have any questions. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Services
Our core tools to help you achieve your goals.
If so wished, we can practice as individual practitioners of the specialist fields below, we prefer to cherry pick the most relevant, evidence based, approaches and techniques for your personal requirements. Knowledge of all fields means you get more in each session, more continuity and a more circumspect practitioner guiding you back to health. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Additional Info
Baby Shower Favor - Sweet and Chic Baby Favor Bags (set of 24)
Just as sweet as can be, the Sweet and Chic Baby, Baby Shower Favor Bags add a sophisticated look to your baby shower celebration! Choose with an option to personalize, too. Pair with any of our other sweet baby shower favors for a look that will get noticed and be loved by all of your guests.
Features and details:
Finely designed candy bag made of white paper textured with raised dots, a clear-display window and white-satin bow at the top. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Fairfield Power Washing & Sealing Fairfield County's Premiere Power Washing and Sealing Company
Our services
contact us today!
Fairfield Wash and Seal offers many services beyond power washing and deck sealing. At my Greenwich house, they installed wallpaper and painted my bathroom, a bedroom, and office, all the work they did looks great!
Amanda R.Darien, Connecticut
I’ve used other power washing companies Jim’s team is far and away not only my favorite power washing company to work with – but also the most talented and professional! Thanks for the great job Jim!
Frank M.Newtown, Connecticut
I tried Jim’s Wash and Seal company this spring for my pre-summer cleanup up. They did power washing on my house. I have to say, the work they did was fast and high-quality. I’ve been recommending them to everyone I know.
Gene D.Darien, Connecticut
This company is the most reliable power washing company I’ve ever hired. Every year I have always looked for a new team disappointed by the last! After working with Fairfield Wash and Seal I know I have found my team! The search is over. Thanks, Jim!
Jim C.Darien, Connecticut
ABOUT US
Fairfield Wash and Seal Inc. is locally-owned and operated. We’re proud to be a family-run business and we care about the community we serve. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional home improvement services and customer service.
Power washing can turn back the hands of time—you have to see it to believe it. Even after a decade and a half in the industry, we’re still constantly surprised at how great a newly cleaned house, patio or driveway can look. Patios, siding, sidewalks, driveways, decks, roofing—you name it.
You will be impressed with how incredible your home and landscape will look when they’re freshly power-washed and sealed.
Our power washers are detail-orientated and take great care in completing each of our power-washing projects to the highest standard possible.
Benefits of pressure washing (power-washing) include:
remove stains from home, drive, and walkways
clean and brighten fences, play equipment, yard furniture etc.
make your homes exterior cleaner and more sanitary for children
remove plants growing where they shouldn’t
prepare an area for a painting or staining project
Because we are local, we know what to look for when working on Fairfield County homes and how to build the best defense against algae and mildew growth on your roof, siding and sidewalks.
Your home may need more than a power-washing. Our services also include interior and exterior painting, window cleaning and wallpaper hanging. All of our services are designed to increase your enjoyment of your home without a huge price tag.
power washing
Power washing, also called pressure washing, is a fast and easy way to clean your home’s exterior.
sealing
At Fairfield Wash and Seal, we know that deck staining is a fast way to make an old deck look new.
painting
We may specialize in power washing your home, but we are also experts at interior and exterior painting.
Testimonials
This company is the most reliable power washing company I’ve ever hired. Every year I have always looked for a new team disappointed by the last! After working with Fairfield Wash and Seal I know I have found my team! The search is over. Thanks, Jim!
Jim C.Darien, Connecticut
Fairfield Wash and Seal offers many services beyond power washing and deck sealing. At my Greenwich house, they installed wallpaper and painted my bathroom, a bedroom, and office, all the work they did looks great!
Amanda R.Darien, Connecticut
I tried Jim’s Wash and Seal company this spring for my pre-summer cleanup up. They did power washing on my house. I have to say, the work they did was fast and high-quality. I’ve been recommending them to everyone I know.
Gene D.Darien, Connecticut
I’ve used other power washing companies Jim’s team is far and away not only my favorite power washing company to work with – but also the most talented and professional! Thanks for the great job Jim!
Our mission is to provide Fairfield County homeowners the finest power-washing, painting and sealing service found anywhere. We are a locally owned, ecologically mindful company. Our client's complete satisfaction is our highest priority. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
3 Answers
3
If you have a shortcut on your desktop or on any other folder (if you don't have, create one), right click the shortcut, go to properties, and on the destination, add a space in the end and -w -r1280x768x32, so it should be something like this:
I have a problem ! I did all that and it showed me this : ";.../SImCity4.exe"-CostumeResolution:enabled specified in the target box is not valid. Make sure the path and file name are correct" and its correct ! I have 1600x900x32 ... Can anyone help me please?
–
user52139Jul 18 '13 at 22:07
Window mode is buggy. Can't use the mouse to scroll in simworld.
–
pratnalaAug 20 '13 at 10:09
If you have SimCity 4 in your Steam library, you can edit the Launch Options by right clicking on the game in your library, clicking Properties, then clicking on Set Launch Options.
To set a custom resolution in SimCity 4, you need to edit the target of your SimCity 4 shortcut. To do this, right click the shortcut and select Properties. In the properties window, you will want to be adding the below to the end of the Target field.
The first part is required to enable custom resolutions, the second is required to set the resolution and colour depth;
-CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32
Changing the "1920x1080x32" part to the specifics of your screen (e.g. WIDTHxHEIGHTx32BITor16BIT) | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Fine Only No jail or license suspension for 103 MPH in Greensville, Virginia
Just a few weeks ago, Samantha Upton of Weiland Upton, PLC, Attorneys at Law, represented a client from Florida who was charged with driving 103 mph in his 727 hp Supercharged Ford Mustang on the way back from a business trip. He was facing an active jail sentence, a 6 month license suspension, and a $2,500.00 fine.
As a small business owner, avoiding a jail sentence and a license suspension were critical. Ms. Upton worked with her client to develop a mitigation strategy tailored to best highlight her client and to have the most meaningful impact in Greensville County General District Court. Without the client appearing, Ms. Upton was able to convince the Court to take an active jail sentence and the prospect of a license suspension off of the table for this client. The client ultimately had to appear for the final case resolution where the Judge imposed his only sentence — a reduced fine of $1,250.00.
Related Information:
Lower Fine No Jail for 100 MPH in 40 MPH Zone Our law firm recently represented a client charged with Reckless Driving by Speed, 100 mph in a 40 mph zone, in a central Virginia court. The client, who was from another country and in the United States on a student visa, was clocked going 100 mph while crossing a bridge that connects two semi-residential neighborhoods. The client admitted guilt, followed…
Virginia DUI License Suspension A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) in Virginia comes with numerous negative consequences to the person convicted. One of those consequences is the revocation of the person’s privilege to drive in Virginia. All persons convicted of DUI in Virginia will have their driving privileges revoked. Virginia judges have no discretion as to the imposition…
Virginia DUI and Reckless Driving: License Suspension Drivers Risk a Suspended License for DWI or Reckless Driving in VA Virginia judges are authorized to suspend a person’s driving privileges within the state for convictions of reckless driving by speed, reckless driving resulting from an accident, and driving under the influence. Any license suspension imposed for reckless driving is left to the discretion of the court and may… | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Lopez was signed by the Portuguese boss from Sevilla in January following Iker Casillas' hand injury, but remained in the starting XI despite Casilllas' return to fitness, which caused reports of unrest in the Madrid camp.
Nevertheless, Lopez believes Mourinho will be missed once he departs, crediting the 50-year-old with reinvigorating his career, and will stay and fight for his place at the Santiago Bernabeu even after the Portuguese has left.
“He will be a great loss to Madrid,” Lopez told reporters.
“Mourinho is a great coach and he has done big things for my career.
"It’s in my plans to continue.
"I think that competition between goalkeepers is positive and I’ve always tried to do things as well as possible.
"I’ve already said that every minute at Real Madrid is golden and that’s what I want to do – take advantage of every opportunity I have to play.”
With the Portuguese boss heading for Chelsea this summer, it is likely that Iker Casillas will regain the No.1 spot.
But Lopez, who made numerous stops in Real Madrid's 3-3 draw with Real Sociedad on Sunday, says he is just trying to give his all everytime he is wearing the Madrid shirt.
“I tried to make the most of the chance as I do every time," Lopez continued. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Symbolic markers adorn local cemeteries
January 13, 2013
MARIETTA - Forget the idea of the dead speaking from their graves in a scary movie scene.
Grave markers are a gentler and more beautiful way to make the deceased's voice heard from the past to the present.
Strolling through one of the many centuries' old cemeteries in Washington County and studying the grave markers from yesteryear-engraved with flowers, an open book, an urn covered with drapery, a trio of chains or some other item- markers' engravings speak of symbols that were an important part of the deceased's life.
Article Photos
Photo by Sharon BoppLocal historian Scott Britton studies a grave site at Marietta’s Mound Cemetery. The grandly sized grave marker features a praying woman and an urn atop a pile of rocks. Praying hands on a grave marker often symbolize a prayer for eternal life, and an urn represents immortality.
Photo by Sharon BoppA grave marker looks like an open book.
Photo by Sharon BoppThe grave markers of Masons are often depicted with the organization’s symbol of a square and compass with the letter ‘G’ at its center.
"A lot of the symbols are hands, whether they're pointing up to heaven or clasped, praying hands," said local historian Scott Britton. "That seems to be a pretty common theme in a lot of the old tombstones."
Interested in military research, Britton also sees a great deal of "military symbolism whether it's swords or flags actually sculpted into tombstones themselves, even cannons," he said.
In Mound Cemetery in Marietta, Britton pointed to the grave site of a soldier whose tombstone showcased the Grand Army Republic (GAR) symbol of an eagle, atop crossed swords, the U.S. flag and a five-pointed star.
Rainbow Cemetery in Lowell reveals another military symbol: a very large acorn decorating the grave marker for Corp. Gustavus Adolphus Wood, who served in the Civil War in Col. Melvin Clarke's 36th Ohio division.
Everett Yarnell, 71, of Lowell, a local genealogist, was surprised when he came upon the acorn tombstone.
"It's the first time I've seen one like that," he said.
Yarnell said his own grave marker has already been purchased, and will feature a cross, the most traditional symbol of Christianity, on two sides.
Other religious symbols depicted on tombstones include roosters, flying birds and bugles, to symbolize the resurrection; angels; a hand with a finger pointing upward to mark the pathway to heaven; a chalice or cup, to represent the sacraments; or a harp that symbolizes praise to God.
Visitors to Mound Cemetery may be familiar with the sight of a large grave marker for Martha Brainerd Spencer Wilson, featuring a kneeling woman in prayer and an urn atop a pile of rocks.
"She sits on a small, man made mound," Britton said. "It's a pretty well-known grave marker. People who've been up to Mound Cemetery won't recognize her name but they'll probably recognize her tombstone."
Grave markers can also boast the insignia of fraternal associations like the International Order of the Odd Fellows.
"Many people aren't familiar with the Odd Fellows," said Britton.
Symbolized by three chains linked together, Odd Fellows are so called because of their dedication to giving the poor decent burials. The association can be confirmed by the observation of the letters IOOF or FLT (meaning Friendship, Love, Truth) either inside or near the chain.
Tombstones throughout Washington County often feature the square and compass symbols of Masons and Freemasons.
"There were a lot of Masonic organizations here," Britton said.
Occupations were ofttimes represented with symbols on grave markers, too.
According to gravesecrets.net, anchors were used for mariners, compasses for shipwrights, a stalk of corn for farmers, and the crown, hammer and anvil for blacksmiths.
Many of today's grave markers, now called monuments, continue to feature symbols like praying hands, double rings for marriage and the Mason and Eastern Star icons, said Rhett Matheney, co-owner of Matheney Funeral Homes in McConnelsville.
However, nowadays it's the shape of the monuments themselves that often take center stage.
With computer technology and precision water cutting, monuments can be formed into teardrops, an arrowhead, angels, lighthouses and ocean waves, Matheney said. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Naughty Machinima Notices
I just want to mention that there has been a server update, which allows for a LOT more free space for uploads, where the drives were getting filled up again recently. This is an entirely new server with, like I said, more hard drive space for many more future uploads of your video creations. I am still having the server optimized, so there may be occasional issues.
Furthermore, I have plans to update the site's aging software so that any reliance on flash will be removed in favor of a full HTML5 solution. This also means that there will be actual HD resolutions available in the video player. The release date on this is when it's finished.
When that is taken care of, I will have more notices on the future plans of Naughty Machinima and how we can all work together keep it a great community as well as future improvements.
One more note:
As far as a membership option without ads, which likely most of you have seen while logged in, this isn't going to be a possibility in its current form. I tried. The gist of it is that credit card companies are very fickle about content, and even though it's all virtual here, there's no explaining that or accepting payments without removing a lot of content on Naughty Machinima. While some things are never allowed here, the vast majority is legal and again, virtual, so I see no problem with it. Either way I can't provide premium memberships through a regular payment processor.
Expect the text about premium options that you see when you're logged in to go away in the near future.
I have some other possible avenues to take on this, but this website will still remain free to view videos as long as it is online.
Recently there was an upgrade to a new server. This was completed mid March. This entire website along with several other sites were transferred over to newer, faster equipment, with updated software and operating system. There is twice as much hard drive space available now, as the drives were getting full from all the uploads. The videos load much more quickly now as well. This new server is almost three times the cost however, and I can only hope that it is sustainable.
The Streaming Mod that allows one to skip ahead in videos before they are finished loading, is not installed. With the videos loading so quickly (and hopefully for most of you as well), I don't know that it's completely necessary. If enough users request it, I will reconsider, although it's not free. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
2 definitions
by
Boo-radley
One who is still young in age but exhibits extreme geriatric behavior. A person labeled "old balls" will often become exhausted after 9:00PM and kill the fratmosphere. S/he can be seen taking naps at all hours of the day adding to their crankiness.
"J.G. did not want to go out to the bars again tonight, he is being old balls".
One who constantly starts trouble. Often instigating other people via heckles and insults. Heckles and insults are often in reference to the other persons unfortunate financial situation or extremely blue collar job. Made famous by a one J.G.
"He just told the limo driver that he is 21 and going to be a doctor while he is 45 and driving a limo for a living... such a Greenstigator". | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
ROI in older worker health is quantifiable
ROI in older worker health is quantifiable
A leading expert in labour market studies has determined that workplaces who don’t invest in the health and wellbeing of older workers are effectively shooting themselves in the foot.
In addition to the ROI for individual workplaces, as a result of improved older worker healthcare, the country would also enjoy boosts to the employment rate and real GDP would be higher. That’s the finding of research conducted by Dr George Verikios of the Centre of Policy Studies at Monash University – and better managed healthcare of older workers is the starting point.
“Days off and withdrawing from the labour force increase production costs for businesses and make it harder to find workers. If there was better health management for older workers these impacts would be reduced,” Dr Verikios said. “We found health improvements for 10% of the unhealthiest older workers (those aged 49-60) could have strong effects on the country’s economy.”
Dr Verikios said the labour market was the main area of the economy to be affected by the indirect costs of disease as demonstrated by reduced labour productivity and workforce participation.
“By looking at chronic disease and the associated rate of health decline of workers, we found reducing poor health in older workers would have a much greater effect on the Australian economy than similar reductions for younger workers,” Dr Verikios said.
Yet with improved health programs and interventions in place, the health of older workers would decline more slowly and their workforce participation would also decline more slowly as they aged.
“Workforce participation by younger workers is less affected by their health compared with older workers, so there are smaller benefits from improving the health of younger workers,” Dr Verikios said.
The research also found that companies that face overseas competition such as agriculture and manufacturing would benefit from the increase in labour. According to the findings, this increased benefit would mean improvement in Australia’s trade balance from higher exports relative to imports.
Rideau Recognition Solutions Inc. has acquired Pressed Metal Products, a Vancouver-based company with more than 85 years of leadership in manufacturing high-quality emblematic insignia, jewelry, awards and medals for a wide variety of clients | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Exits: Voter Anger Fueling Trump Phenomenon
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesMIKE FLYNN24 Feb 2016
Donald Trump is celebrating his third consecutive win in the Republican contest after a landslide victory in Nevada.
The massive victory was a fait accompli once entrance polls revealed that 59 percent of the Republican electorate was “angry” with the federal government. The angriest Republican electorate to date also delivered Trump’s most resounding victory.
Trump won every demographic in Nevada. He had won, of course, every demographic his New Hampshire landslide win, but that race was against a more crowded field. Nevada was a three-way contest which included, for the first time, a sizeable number of minority voters. About 10 percent of the Republican electorate was Hispanic in Nevada. Trump won those voters.
Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are again locked in a tight battle for second place. The final difference between second and third is likely to be a rounding error of a few hundred votes. While the final positions are important to the campaigns and their backers, in the overall scheme of the nomination it is almost meaningless. Each will leave Nevada with the same number of delegates and each will have lost to Trump by around 20 points.
Like South Carolina and New Hampshire, Nevada really is almost a case of two different elections running simultaneously. In the world of traditional political campaigning, Cruz and Rubio are locked in a tight battle. Each has their own set of strengths, issues and blocks of voters. However that mix plays out in a particular state pushes one of them higher or lower than the other.
Rubio wins voters who are concerned about “electability.” Cruz wins voters who want a candidate who “shares my values.” The debate between these two qualities has defined Republican nomination contests from pretty much the beginning of the party.
And then there is Trump, riding a wave of voter anger and frustration that both Cruz and Rubio seemed ill-equipped to navigate. Trump won almost half, 49 percent of voters who said they were “angry” with the federal government. Combined, Cruz and Rubio won just 45 percent support from these voters.
Because almost 6-in-10 Republicans in Nevada are angry, Trump’s massive win isn’t surprising. He also won those voters who are simply “dissatisfied” with government, beating runner-up Rubio by 11 points among these voters.
This anger and frustration is reshaping what Republican voters are looking for in a candidate. Electablity and “sharing my values” have long been among the top qualities voters measure candidates against. This year, however, 43 percent of Republicans said their top quality in a candidate was someone who would “tell it like it is” or would “bring change.”
For these voters, Trump is running unopposed for the nomination. Almost 9-out-of-10 voters who want a candidate to “tell it like it is” backed Trump. Among those voters who want a candidate who can deliver change, 60 percent backed Trump.
Another way of stating this without the use of numbers is that Trump’s candidacy itself as shaped what voters are looking for in a candidate. His campaign is defining the kind of candidate many Republicans want this year.
Whether or not Trump is the ultimate nominee, the voter clearly want someone who isn’t associated with the current political Matrix. More than 60 percent of Republicans want a nominee from outside the “establishment.” Yes, that word is important. Of these voters, 71 percent back Trump.
Just one third of Republican caucus-goers in Nevada want a candidate “experienced in politics.” Keep in mind, “experienced in politics” is about the softest way you could describe someone who has spent their career in politics. It almost sounds desirable, even.
Keep in mind, too, that the respondents of the entrance poll are the most active and engaged Republican party voters. The people answering these questions aren’t random, man-on-the-street interviews with people marginally attached to politics. These are the people most committed to politics.
Rubio, of course, wins the votes of these people. The challenge for Rubio, however, is that there simply aren’t many of these voters anymore.
Nevada was the first test of the post-Bush candidacy for Marco Rubio. With Jeb out of the race and John Kasich not competing in the state, the caucus provided Rubio an opportunity to show how a candidate who consolidated the “establishment” or “mainstream” Republican vote behind him could do against Trump and Cruz.
Rubio had his own particular strengths in Nevada, beyond just a consolidated field. He spent years growing up in Nevada and had campaigned repeatedly in the state throughout the long campaign. He spent more money in the state than either Cruz or Trump. He also had the backing of Nevada Sen. Dean Heller and, no doubt, some sizeable portion of the Republican party establishment in the state.
With all those advantages, Rubio might have edged out Cruz while losing to Trump by 20 points. Which leads to the most important lesson from the Nevada caucus.
Marco Rubio may be able to consolidate anti-Trump and anti-Cruz voters behind him. The challenge, though, is there just aren’t many of those voters anymore. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Jason Torchinsky
Right before 2012 skidded to a halt last week, Russia's space agency's main contractor, RSC Energia, announced that they had completed designs for a new spacecraft to replace the venerable Soyuz, and they'd start test flights in 2017. For space geeks like me, this gave me the warm, welcome feeling of something comfortingly familiar. Familiar, and with a pretty good chance of never gonna happen.
See, announcing the replacement the world's most reliable and successful spacecraft has been something of a hobby for the Russians (and previously Soviets) since the 1970s or so. And, so far, nothing's ever come close to stopping the funny green insect-like Soyuz, which has been flinging duos and trios of cosmonauts to orbit and back since 1967.
Here are all of the major design proposals that never were.
Advertisement
The problem RSC Energia has is oddly similar to the problems Volkswagen had in the early 1970s. They make a product (Beetle for VW, Soyuz for RSC Energia) that's become an icon, and, while it's been updated to generally keep with the times, it's based on a many decades-old design. And competition is starting to get pretty intense. For VW, that meant good, cheap small cars from Japan (Honda, Datsun, Toyota), and for the Soyuz that means America's new Orion orbital-and-beyond system, as well as the Dragon capsule from SpaceX (and possibly other private companies) and China's Shenzhou Soyuz-derived spacecraft.
Volkswagen had many failed attempts to replace the Beetle, including the Type III, Type IV, the Brasilia, and some very interesting prototypes. All failed at their goal of replacing the Beetle, until VW bought NSU, which gave VW (and then Audi) their water-cooled FWD models that eventually became the Golf, which saved VW's schnitzel. RSC Energia needs their Golf.
A Brazilian can be a resident of that South American country, a nut, or maybe a painful bikini wax. …
Read more Read more
So far, the Soyuz is plenty safe. It's still by far the cheapest (that's why the US Shuttle was never really a competitor) and most reliable way to get humans in space. Yes, it's very cramped, can't carry much cargo, and is still (currently) limited to low earth orbit, but for now it still just works too well.
Let's look at the spacecraft that tried to take the throne from King Soyuz:
This one only partially counts since it was more of a competing initial design project when Soyuz was still being developed. It would have had a re-entry capsule with essentially the same 'headlight' shape as the Soyuz, but was 50% bigger. Eventually, the Sever development was merged into Soyuz, but some fundamental Sever concepts (the sophisticated 'make it bigger' method) do show up again.
If anything should have replaced the Soyuz, it was this. The TKS system offered some real advantages over the general Soyuz configuration, mostly in terms of usable, habitable space. The thing was pretty huge. It had a very Apollo-like conical re-entry module docked to a large, almost space-station like cylindrical orbital module that contained the docking ports and orbital maneuvering engines.
An interesting design detail was that the Merkur return capsule (the conical, reentry bit of the TKS) had the hatch to the orbital module cut into the heat shield at the rear. This sounds scary, but the Soviets tested and launched these things extensively (unmanned) and the heat shield hatch was never an issue.
Though never actually used as a Soyuz replacement, the TKS modules, usually minus their return capsules, did find a lot of use as the basis for most of the add-on modules to the Mir and even the ISS. In fact, the first part of the current ISS and still in use today (though mostly as a closet/private space-masturbation zone) is Zarya, a TKS-derived module.
Remember I said that the basic Sever concept of a bigger Soyuz would come back? Well, here it is. Zarya was exactly that— take the basic, proven headlight shape of the Soyuz reentry capsule, scale it up like crazy, and cram all systems in there. The result was a SuperSoyuz that could hold up to twelve Cosmonauts on two decks or a spacecrapload of cargo.
Landing would have been accomplished with a large ring of solid braking rockets, and while that would have been awesome to watch, there were "acoustic environment" issues (I'm picturing 24 bleeding ears in tests) and no good backup in case any of the landing engines failed.
I think this one is my favorite. This proposed replacement got to a pretty advanced stage of development, with all kinds of exciting mockups built and drawings made. And it's clear why — of all the Soyuz replacements, this is the only one that really feels like something totally new. Though, that is a bit deceptive, in that it's also the only one to incorporate a significant part of the old Soyuz hardware as well.
Essentially, Kliper is a small space plane, sort of like a scaled-down Space Shuttle. It uses the now-familiar black-and-white reentry tiles like Buran and the US shuttle, and has a sort of lifting-body shape NASA has been experimenting with since the 1960s. It also looks a lot like the mini-shuttle used in the Simpsons episode where Homer was an Astronaut. I never knew why they didn't just have him in a regular US Shuttle, but what the hell.
Kliper would hold six Cosmonauts and much more cargo, and be mostly reusable as well. One of my favorite parts of the design was that they used a slightly modified Soyuz Orbital Module, ringed with thrusters, at the rear. This is the spherical, top part of the Soyuz and has extra room, the toilet, docking equipment, and can act as an airlock. By incorporating this element Kliper would have been able to dock with any spacecraft the Soyuz can dock with, and gain an airlock, all with an already proven component. Clever!
Sadly, Kliper was decided to be too ambitious and expensive, even with ESA's help, which led to our next pretender to the throne:
So the Russians came to the Europeans for money and partnership for Kliper in 2005, and the Europeans balked at how expensive all this Buck Rogers crap is. So, with economy in mind, the Russians and Europeans came up with a super-cheap but much more capable Soyuz, one that would allow for not just Earth-orbital but lunar missions as well. They did this by slapping a Fregat orbital tug to the back of the Soyuz to give it the extra fuel and oopmh needed to get to the moon. New heat shield designs would be needed as well to withstand reentry from lunar distances/velocities.
I think this would have worked, but it is maybe just a little too cheap. And it'd still be cramped, just now for longer and farther away.
These tedious-looking acronyms stand for Crew Space Transportation System (a nice long way of saying "spaceship") and Prospective Piloted Transport System. Awful, awful names. These could be divided into two separate replacement attempts, but they're really part of the same project, so we'll keep them together.
The initial CSTS design was a joint Russian-European one, and comes closer to a modernized Soyuz than anything. It keeps the Soyuz three-module layout: orbital module (think space camper), reentry module (the part that returns to Earth), and service module (power, engines, etc.) but with modernized components, largely based on ESA's ATV cargo ships used to resupply the ISS.
This basic three-module design is actually one of the reasons for the Soyuz' longevity. It allows for maximization of usable space and flexibility while keeping mass/weight low. See, for any module that you want to return to Earth, you have to build it to withstand reentry, an atmosphere, and all that adds weight. And then you have to be able to safely land all that weight with parachutes or whatever. By moving anything that doesn't need to come home to a disposable orbital camper module, you save weight and fuel while keeping the amenities. That's why Soyuz had almost double the habitable volume of Apollo with much less weight.
Of course, this is such a good idea that the Russians and Europeans abandoned it in the current revision, and nobody else (US, private companies) is using it at all. Oh, except the Chinese, who've expanded on it with their Shenzous.
So, the latest version of the proposed Soyuz replacement, the one everyone was talking about in late December, is a two-module system, much like Orion or the old Apollo CSM. It's a conical orbital/reentry module capable of holding 6 crew, and can swap service modules to allow it to conduct orbital, lunar, or beyond-lunar (Mars, maybe?) missions.
The return module would likely be reusable, and while the fundamental design seems solid, I wouldn't hold my breath for this one, either. It's too close to SpaceX Dragon or the US Orion. They'd be giving up the two biggest draws of the Soyuz — reliable and cheap — and not getting enough back.
Hardigree warned me against harping on this, but I gotta come back to the VW analogy. Reliable and cheap kept the Beetle in production way longer than anyone believed it could. The Soyuz is the same way. And the only way out of the trap of eventual obsolescence is with a radical change. For VW that was the FWD and water-cooled Golf/Rabbit.
The Russians need to find their Golf, and it needs to be something radical. Inflatable modules? Ion drives? I'm not sure. Perhaps this almost-Orion could do it, if they can manage to keep the costs low enough. Either way, I'll be sorry to see the Soyuz finally go, which at this rate I'm predicting will be around when teleportation just makes physical travel silly. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Menu
Lisa Miorin, Ph.D.
Research InterestsThe prompt and tightly controlled induction of type I interferon (IFN) is a central event of the immune defense against viral infection. Recently, we have shown that several members of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) protein family positively regulate the host cell immune response. However, the mechanism of action of most of these factors and the physiological relevance of their activity in vivo still remain poorly investigated. My work in the García-Sastre laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms through which novel TRIM proteins modulate innate immune signaling pathways and viral restriction using in vitro biochemical approaches as well as developing relevant small animal models for in vivo studies. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Citizenship and Immigration Canada Announces Change to Definition of Dependent Children
As previously reported, on May 10, 2013, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) announced a proposed regulatory amendment to the definition of “dependent child.” Once enacted, it would reduce the upper age limit for dependent children from “under 22” to “under 19” and would remove the exception for children 19 or older who are financially dependent on their parents and are enrolled in full-time studies. However, it would not eliminate the exception for children who, regardless of age, have depended on their parents for financial support because of a mental or physical condition.
At the time of the initial announcement, CIC had proposed an effective date of January 1, 2014. However, CIC did not actually announce the effective date of the proposed change until June 23, 2014. According to this recent announcement, the new definition of dependent child became effective as of August 1, 2014.
Permanent residence applications that were already pending prior to August 1, 2014, will still be subject to the prior definition of dependent child. However, most permanent residence applications filed on or after August 1, 2014, will be subject to the new definition.
The regulatory amendments contain transitional measures that allow certain applicants under multi-step permanent resident immigration programs, who: (1) were already in the immigration process on August 1, 2014; but (2) who had not yet submitted their application for permanent residence; to have their applications completed based on the previous definition of dependent child. These transitional measures will apply to certain groups, including the following:
Provincial Nominee Program applicants;
Applicants who have applied under one of Quebec’s economic programs;
Live-in caregivers;
Refugees abroad and refugee claimants;
Quebec humanitarian cases;
Parents or grandparents whose sponsorship applications were received before November 5, 2011; and
Privately sponsored refugees whose sponsorship applications were received before October 18, 2012.
In addition, to ensure that children who meet the definition of dependent child at the first stage of a multi-step permanent resident immigration program remain eligible during immigration processing; the child’s age will be “locked in” at the first formal step of the immigration process. For example, the age of a child whose parent applies to the Provincial Nominee Program will be “locked in” on the date that the application for nomination is made to the province.
The views expressed in this document are solely the views of the author and not Martindale-Hubbell. This document is intended for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for consultation with a licensed legal professional in a particular case or circumstance. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Speeches
Training
UK-MWL (Nelson) organised Shahadat Conference
On the 9th of December, Minhaj Women League (Nelson chapter) organised a Shohada-e-Karbala
conference which begun with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Ghulam Fatima.
After this the youth recited a Hamd followed manqabats and naats. During the
spiritual gathering, Nasreen Akhtar spoke on the matter of the Grand Public Reception
taking place in Pakistan on 23rd December as part of MQI’s public awareness drive.
Then Syeda Fozia talked on the subject of Shauhada-e-Qarbala in Urdu, while Sister
Safyah spoke on the subject in English which was followed by ‘salat-o-salaam and
dua’. Food was served on the occasion. The audience consisted of approximately 250
women. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
PHOTO: Tiger Streats
At a secret warehouse with no name, some odd things are going on. Tables are dressed in crisp white tablecloths and white linen napkins like those you would find at a fancy pants fine dining restaurant. But diners are sitting on plastic chairs and eating off plastic plates with disposable cutlery - the kind you have seen often enough at hawker stalls.
The worlds of fine dining and street food clash at Tiger Streats, branded as the world's first "street food meets fine dining" culinary collaboration where two chefs who live worlds apart come together to stir up appetites.
The Tiger Streats event found the perfect venue in a former warehouse converted into a production studio complete with Chinatown-style streetscape.Photo: Tiger Streats
The global pop-up restaurant concept by Tiger was first launched in Sydney, followed by Auckland, New York City and now Kuala Lumpur. The idea is to bring people from different social classes, generations and cultures together to share an ice-cold beer in a polarising world.
To do this, Tiger has found no better ambassador than Chan Hon Meng of Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodles in Singapore, the world's first hawker stall to win a Michelin star. It is also the world's cheapest one Michelin-star meal, mind you.
In each city, Hawker Chan, as he is fondly known, teams up with an award-winning local chef to create the ultimate culinary mash-up, to be enjoyed washed down with copious amounts of cold Asian beer.
In Sydney, Chan was paired with Guillaume Galliot, chef of two Michelin-starred The Tasting Room in Macau. They came up with a unique popcorn and pumpkin creation in a dramatic clash of hot and cold, combining each of their styles.
In KL, Chan is paired with chef Jeff Ramsey of progressive modernist restaurant Babe in Damansara, known for its Japas, aka Japanese tapas. Japanese-American Ramsey was the executive chef of Tapas Molecular Bar at the six-star Mandarin Oriental Tokyo when it earned a Michelin star.
Chan and Ramsey couldn't be further apart despite playing on a level field - both have one Michelin star status. Not sharing a common language they communicated via interpreters.
On the night, Ramsey is responsible for the two starters, Chan the main course, and they collaborated on the dessert.
"I didn't think it was possible," says Ramsey. "It's not easy, like two painters coming together to make one work of art. At first I was not happy, then I relaxed and opened up my mind a bit. I still didn't know how it was going to happen, then Chan volunteered a few key words like 'red bean soup' and 'osmanthus jelly'.
"I thought, 'why not?'. I could do an orange perfume or curry leaf ice-cream. Being an American I know what jello is and when he said jelly we connected - we were Skyping about a month before this event. Five minutes later, I knew what to do as jelly is typical of his style of cuisine and I now have a reference point."
"I know Western chefs like to use fruits and flowers in desserts so I know what can go with these," says Chan. "I trust Ramsey; I know he will come up with something that represents both of our styles and methods of cooking."
"We have the same understanding, and it went quite quickly after that. Plus, as chefs, we both want to make people happy through food," says Ramsey.
The first appetiser is Ramsey's Down The Rabbit Hole, a colourful liquid in a test tube - except that we are not aware it is the first appetiser as it is already set on the table among pens and other trinkets when we are seated. So it goes undiscovered - you can say it slips down the rabbit hole and disappears.
Then the Laksa Injections are delivered, promising Malaysia's most famous laksas: asam, curry and Sarawak. Each comes with a plastic dropper filled with laksa broth; you pop the little skewer of prawn and herbs and squeeze the broth into the mouth at the same time to get a laksa pop.
Ramsey calls it "street food in fancy dress, smeared with lipstick". I say, "it's good fun, but give me something to eat" - they are more amuse bouche than appetiser.
I get my wish when a sharing plate of Chan's soy sauce chicken arrives. We are thrilled to have the famous dish served to us without having to join the notorious two-hour queue for it at its home in Singapore's Chinatown food court.
Earlier, at the action station, as Chan was busy chopping away, we were tantalised by the puff of soy sauce fragrance around the chef - other notes were of star anise, Chinese five-spice and caramel.
The appeal of Liao Fan chicken is apparent: the bird is evenly coated in a glossy, chocolatey glaze. The meat yields easily to the bite to reveal perfectly-cooked, cottony white flesh. The chicken skin is thin and has no fat on the underside, so we are looking at lean protein.
People from different social classes, generations and cultures come together over Hawker Chan's now world-famous Hong Kong soya sauce chicken rice.Photo: Tiger Streats
The meat itself, like most battery-farmed chickens, has not much taste; you may as well be eating firm tofu. It is this blandness that provides the perfect canvas to show off the sauce, a very aromatic concoction with an intense salty-sweet balance.
The beauty of soy sauce chicken is that despite being a braised dish, it looks and tastes like roasted meat with its highly umami, caramelised and smoky flavours. The rice that comes with it is just clumpy boiled white rice but we are grateful to have something to soak up the dark, tasty sauce poured on the chicken.
No amount of prising can induce Chan to reveal the secret recipe but he says that he uses a mix of light and dark soy sauces and insists that the brands do not matter, only the final taste; when he was cooking in America, he used what was available.
Michelin-starred soya sauce chicken at Hawker Chan
The collaborative dessert has a beautiful name, Two Makes a Blossom, a compilation of osmanthus jelly, rosewater and honey mousse, pickled roselle, and chrysanthemum petals with a taste that reminds me of a forgotten dessert we used to get from street vendors known as ogiou jelly.
The Two Makes A Blossom dessert collaboration by Chan and Ramsey.Photo: Tiger Streats
After the featured chefs' courses are served at the table, there is more food at the various action stations set up around the venue. The curated selection features modern Malaysian street food - or street food with a twist.
But the queues are long and snaking - hey, it's really like waiting in line for some famous street food! The inadequate cooling system also helps to replicate the street scenario. So we decide not to jostle with the 600-strong crowd of revellers and call it an early night.
A truly Malaysia rojak-style yee sang to stir up a rousing appetite for street food and cold beer.Photo: Tiger Streats | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
TroundUp
This is not a t-shirt, per se. But, it’s pretty funny and accurate (well…as accurate as humorous stereotypes can be), so I wanted to share. It’s about 10 months old, so I guess I’m behind the times. I just saw it on the TShirt Reddit though. I’ve posted a portion below–you can check out the full T-Shirt Culture Index right here. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Athletics/Sports
Bike Lanes Could Bridge Cycling Gender Gap
By Melinda Tuhus
WeNews correspondent
Monday, March 19, 2012
U.S. women take only one-quarter of the country's bike trips and one reason for that, surveyed women say, is aversion to riding alongside motorists. Road danger is considered a big brake on women's enthusiasm for cycling.
(WOMENSENEWS)— More bike lanes would help.
That's one of the messages that female cyclists are amplifying ahead of the March 20 annual summit of the League of American Bicyclists in Washington, D.C., one of cycling's leading advocacy organizations.
"Because the national bike summit is such a gathering point for folks interested in bike advocacy, we thought this would be a perfect venue to elevate the discussion," says Carolyn Szczepanski, communications coordinator at the Alliance for Biking and Walking, based in Washington, D.C. "We'll be talking about next steps and best practices and how we move forward in creating an advocacy movement, infrastructure and policies that encourage more women to bike."
A six-member panel will discuss the issue, and organizers will be tweeting the event live and recording it for posting on the Women Cycling Project website.
"Ultimately," Szczepanski says, "we hope that this will be the launching pad to develop that site into a more comprehensive, dynamic resource for women."
Fear of having a bike stolen was in the middle at 33 percent. Fear of an attack by a stranger was near the bottom, at 13 percent.
When the women were asked what factors would cause them to increase their cycling, the top two answers were "more bike lanes" and "completely separated off-road cycling paths."
In many European countries, these amenities -- some would say necessities -- are much more common, and so are female cyclists. In the United States women take just under a quarter of bike trips, according to 2009 data from the National Household Travel Survey, a program of the Federal Highway Administration, while in Europe women are more equal, reaching parity with men in Denmark and the Netherlands.
Kit Keller, executive director of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, based in Cedarburg,Wisc., says if U.S. cyclists had more navigable routes women would benefit disproportionately.
"We provide a range of options to get to the same destination by car," says Keller. "You can take an expressway if you feel comfortable driving in fast traffic, but if you have a lot of stops to make along the way you might take an arterial, or if it's a Sunday drive you might just go out on a country road. We really need to be doing that as well for cycling. This approach would encourage more women to cycle because it's probably not rocket science that women tend to be more risk-averse than most men."
Early Supporters
Since the bicycle was invented and adopted in the latter half of the 19th century, women's rights leaders have been cheering it on.
In 1896 women's suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony, said, "I think [the bicycle] has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives a woman a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. The moment she takes her seat she knows she can't get into harm unless she gets off her bicycle, and away she goes, the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood."
But many aspects of the cycling world remain male dominions.
Just ask Tania Castillo, a 19-year-old who works as a mechanic at the West Town Bikes, a shop in inner-city Chicago. "You have to put up with a lot of sexism," she says, referring to customers who come into the shop and ask her to call someone to help fix their bikes. "'I tell them, 'I work here. Can I help you?'"
Castillo says she doesn't blame these customers, who are just not used to seeing a female mechanic. She adds that her male co-workers are very supportive and readily share their knowledge with her.
Castillo was recently in New York for the "Recycle a Bicycle Youth Bike Summit," which drew hundreds of youth and adult participants from around the country to share ideas for getting more young people riding safely and leading others in their communities to do the same.
Among the presenters were half a dozen members of the Girls' Bike Club in Chicago, which teaches girls basic bike repair and runs group rides.
Chicago is known as one of the best cycling cities in America, with many bike lanes striped on main streets, plus separated bike lanes in a few places, including along Lake Michigan.
Athletics/Sports
As a woman who is active almost every day I find this article intriguing. I think that it is often overlooked how much confidence young girls and women can gain from participating in sports and activities such as bicycling. Susan B. Anthony’s quote says it perfectly; “it gives a woman a feeling of freedom and self-reliance”. However, as the article mentions it is intimidating when men dominate the scene and are perceived as having more experience. It is no secret that men’s sports are “more competitive”, “more physical”, and “more interesting” than women’s, but the biggest problem comes when women start to believe those statements are true.
Especially with the effort to create healthy and active lives for America’s youth, women can capitalize on their natural role to fix the problem. Michelle Obama is an example of a woman who generated a role for herself and facilitated a movement where she could make a profound impact. Her goal is to make progress reversing the trend of childhood obesity. Tania Castillo mentioned in the article, also is an example of a woman who wants to make change and goes after it head on. She is the minority in the cycling world, but she continues to promote girls and women having an effective and fun way of participating alongside men. The Girls Bike club gives girls the chance to gain knowledge about their bikes, this way they do not have to ask anybody especially men to do it for them. Knowledge produces confidence and as more knowledge is gained girls will be less conscious of the things they cannot do and instead they can focus on the effort they put in enhancing their own strengths.
Changing the smaller discussion from a “male dominated” bike shop to an equal and safe space to express yourself physically will also assist in changing the perception of “male dominated” anything. Women have made tremendous strides in the past fifty years alone, but the work is not over. Working from the bottom up (such as a bike shop or bike club) can encourage women to participate in activities that they enjoy. Hopefully then, women can translate that confidence into participating in larger roles of change for women. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Nice! Great colors! This will be our 5th year of attending in some fashion, but the first as downtown residents, so we hope to spend time each day/evening enjoying the food, music, people, etc. The weekend looks to be perfect weather-wise, and we're looking forward to the "Me and My Monkey" performance Sunday at 2:00 (per their website, 2:30 per the Main Street schedule). It's a Beatles cover band - we saw them in Keller (and I think at previous Main Streets), and they are very good!
"People only ask you how you're doing, 'cause it's easier than letting on how little they could care" - Jackson Browne
I've grown up going to the Festival, and look forward to it this year. Especially since Schmidt's from Ohio (go buckeyes!) will be there. Love Schmidt's. Get yourself a Bahama Mama or a creampuff, and you won't regret it!
Walked to Main Street from my office in Mallick tower at lunch. Great weather and the walk was quicker than expected down 5th St. I've never attended this early in the week and was pleasantly surprised that all the booths were open and stocked. Bigger crowd than I expected but still plenty of room to move, unlike Saturday and Sunday crowds. And yes, I did have a Bahama Mama at Schmidt's, just like during the Stock Show.
I also enjoyed your photos Russ. Interesting to see some views with such a wide angle. I do not have anything that wide but would like something. (I go down to 17mm) It always surprises me what a difference between like 17mm and 14mm does. I like your shot of Razzoos on 3rd and Main best.
Your shots on the digital thread is just as good as this one or better. (anything goes there.) The problem with this thread is that in a few days nobody will see these pictures again, but the Digital Daily is scrolled through history. This thread will shrivel up after tonight, really. Not that it won't be around for years but people will not really look at it. At least until I become an astronaut or President of the United States.
I miss the Festival today, though we do kind of like the quiet in our condo tonight. (We usually have our balcony door wide open.)
After all the bands and crowds we feel like we are living out at the farm tonight. (I hope a coyotte doesn't get my kitty cat on my balcony tonight) Funny. I bought one of those cheesy sound machines from Hammacher Schllemmer. One of the avialable sounds is nuture at night stuff, like crickets. Sure does put me out in the woods as a little boy sleeping in my $18.99 Sears pup tent.
I always enjoy volunteering for this festival. You meet visitors and artists both of local origin and from around the country and the globe. I particularly enjoyed chatting with a couple from Australia, they with that distinguished British-style accent. And across from the Information Booth was a colored-glass sculpture artist from Argentina.
As was the case last year, Sunday was practically rained out. But I suspect there were more in attendance on Friday and Saturday this year than ever before. Anyone have the numbers? | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Read More My trip to Ecuador, meeting Alexandra and her family for the first time was incredible. We had been corresponding for the last couple of months and during that time developed a very close and loving relationship.
Lovestruck helps put you in touch with people who are near you – be it where you work or live – to save you precious minutes or hours travelling to and from a date. The experts say: Perfect if you are looking for love in the city and want to approach dating with an informal first meet in your lunch break or after work.
Today January 3 is also set to be the UK’s busiest ever day for online dating, according to Match.com, with dating app users scrolling through an average of 43 profiles and message 22 people on their first day back in the office. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
India is the origin of yoga and we provide best yoga teacher training in India. We provide the exact and clear knowledge of yoga with our like 500 hour yoga training in the peaceful and beautiful region in India. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
SimCityEDU Helps Kids Learn While They Build with SimCity
In collaboration with developer GlassLab, EA has announced an interesting extension to the SimCity world. SimCityEDU is an online development portal for the education community to accompany the upcoming new version of SimCity. The goal is for SimCityEDU to be a resource for classroom teachers interested in using digital platforms to help students learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects.
The portal will allow teachers to create and share digital SimCity learning plans to encourage students to think critically. For students, this will be an excellent opportunity to get classroom credit for playing SimCity. Anytime you can play video games that are fun in school while also being educational is a big win for teachers and students
SimCity EDU will launch this March – around the same time as the new game. Educators interested in accessing the portal can sign up here.
EA thinks that SimCityEDU and SimCity will help inspire the next generation of leaders allowing them to hone skills for urban planning, environmental management, and socio-economic development. All kids will know is that they’re getting classroom credit for playing a video game. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
In this full-color guide, journalist Michael Sommers leads travelers to the best that Brazil has to offer, from surfing, hang gliding, and enjoying the sizzling nightlife in Rio to venturing into the Amazon to witness the Meeting of the Waters, where the Rio Negro and Rio Solimões join to form the world’s mightiest river: the […]
Brazil boasts close to 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) of beautiful Atlantic beaches. Whatever your mood or budget, there is a beach to suit everyone. Get pointers towards the best urban beaches, best island paradises, best party beaches, and more.
While Ubatuba itself has some passable beaches, they pale in comparison to the more unspoiled sheltered coves and sandy expanses you’ll find north and south of town. The majority of these are easily accessible by car and municipal buses as well as by boat.
Ilhabela, Brazil’s largest off-coast island, has no shortage of stunning beaches. Michael Sommers tells you where to go if you’re looking to surf, relax, get out into the wild, or just have a wild time.
Having grown up in Canada where temperatures of 0⁰ C (33⁰ degrees) were considered mild, “winter” in Salvador – and in much of the rest of tropical Brazil – has always struck author Michael Sommers as a somewhat surreal, and hilarious, concept.
São Paulo is justly famed for the eclecticism of its nightlife offerings, but in general the focus isn’t on what’s being performed in the bathrooms. A fun exception to the rule, however, has been the latest publicity campaign launched by Billboard Music Brasil.
When Paulistanos say they are “going to São Sebastião,” they’re not actually referring to the busy seaside town, but to the 100km expanse of beaches and resort towns around it. Read on to find the right stretch of beach for your style of travel. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
$19.95
Kyjen Drop Slo-Bowls are the healthy, natural and fun solution for dogs that wolf down their meals too quickly. Nature-inspired designs force dogs to chase their food through the maze, encouraging slower, safer, more engaging feeding.
Veterinarians agree that slower feeding is safer for dogs, preventing the unpleasant and unhealthy consequences of gobbling food too quickly. By encouraging dogs to "hunt" their food before they eat it, the Slo-Bowl slows down the feeding process while rewarding the natural hunting instinct and keeping pets mentally engaged.
We recommend
What our customers say...
My three dogs love these! They were a little confused at first, but then figured out that the food is just as tasty as it would be from a bowl :) Helps slow their eating and they have no trouble at all with them. ... | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Science Project Forum
Welcome to the Mad Scientist's Forum! Join thousands of other students who've received help from the Mad Scientist and our science Mentors!Register first, then post your questions below. Registration takes only 1 minute! Meet the Mad Scientist
Hey Everyone!! Well, first of all...Mad, ure awesome!! I think it is so cool, thoughtful and patient from you to be doing this for us...it's simply amazing to have at least one person who takes there... | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Description
Best Of The United Artists Years: 1971-1975 compiles some of the best recordings from space-rock pioneers Hawkwind’s earliest and, arguably, most compelling material. The record also features some rare and alternate versions of songs from the band’s studio albums of that era, like Silver Machine (Live at Roundhouse 1971). This limited edition pressing on swirl color vinyl was exclusively available for Record Store Day 2017. The album was pressed at Pallas Group in Germany on audiophile-grade vinyl. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
US Studies
Coursework
Our US Studies program equips you with a critical understanding of, and an international perspective on, American politics, foreign policy, economics, law, media, culture and society. Courses at master's degree, graduate diploma and graduate certificate level include studies in US politics, the key issues in American culture, American film and US foreign and national security policy. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
New York Will Host Grammy Awards In 2018
The Recording Academy announced next year’s Grammys will be held in New York instead of Los Angeles, where it has been held at the Staples Center for the past 14 years.
“While we’re best known for Music’s Biggest Night, we serve the music community year-round, and a large part of the music community year-round, and a large part of that community is alive and thriving in New York City and on the East Coast,” Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement.
“As a native New Yorker and lifelong supporter of the city’s vibrant arts scene, I couldn’t be more excited to return in 2018 and celebrate 60 years of honoring the best of the best in recorded sound in the world-class venue that is Madison Square Garden.”
Madison Square Garden last played host to the Grammy Awards in 2003, when the Recording Academy celebrated its 45th anniversary. The awards show, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018, is expected to return to Los Angeles in 2019. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Related
This post is in partnership with Worldcrunch, a new globalnews site that translates stories of note in foreign languages into English. The article
below was originally published in Le Nouvel Observateur.
Asian millionaires' thirst for the best Bordeaux wines has sent prices skyrocketing, and the most prestigious Châteaux have been turning astronomical profits as a result.
At a May 17 auction in Hong Kong, new Chinese millionaires were fighting over the few wines that Château Latour which was rated as First Growth under the 1885 Bordeaux Classification brought out of its wine cellars. It took Christie's seven and a half hours to sell the 392 lots. Château Latour, which belongs to François Pinault, had planned to stimulate wine collectors' thirsts by putting 19th century wines up for auction, including one bottle dating back to 1863 which sold for 48,730 euros.
(See "A Bordeaux Bubble.")
Was it record high? No. In October 2010, Château Lafite Rothschild, which is located in the great wine-producing village of Pauillac and achieved First Growth status like Château Latour, organized its first auction in Hong Kong since 1980. The highlight of the auction: buyers fighting over a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild 1869, which was sold for more than 160,000 euros.
But selling these almost unobtainable bottles also opens the way for winesellers to hike up the prices of their recent vintages. Christie's sold bottles of Château Latour 2009 for 1870 euros a bottle, three times last year's price.
This incredible price surge reveals wine as a profitable investment, and has led to the blossoming of wine auctions in Hong Kong. The most prestigious Châteaux go to Hong Kong to court Asian millionaires, whose passion for Bordeaux First Growths from the Médoc and Saint-Emilion has led to record profits.
(See 50 American wines.)
On June 19, at the Vinexpo the international Wine Show which takes place in Bordeaux two worlds will collide: For even while the top Châteaux are booming, more modest Bordeaux wineries are sinking into recession.
These exceptional Bordeaux Growths are among big winners of the globalization of the wine market. "These Châteaux are not producing more wine, but the number of people who want to drink a glass of Château-Margaux at least once a year has increased very significantly," explains Pierre Lawton, a Bordeaux-based wine merchant for the Alias trading company.
"What is happening is unavoidable. Not a single prestigious Château sells more than 200,000 bottles of its top wine," says Hervé Berland, both owner of Mouton Rothschild and manager of Rothschild properties in the Philippines. "The wine market is increasingly globalized, we cannot fight that. If we want to sell less wine in China, they will go somewhere else to find it."
(See how manufacturers are trying to make boxed wine look chic.)
Is this Chinese-spurred speculation creating a Bordeaux bubble? The Châteaux want to believe that the wine market does not follow the traditional rules of economics: supply is very limited whereas demand is unlimited.
Hong Kong and China have become the two leading destinations for Bordeaux wines. Last year, according to the Bordeaux Wine Bureau, Hong Kong and China represent 27.5% of wine exports in the world.
The wine industry started booming in March 2008 when Hong Kong abolished wine taxes. The former British colony has become the world's number one market for the most expensive wine exports, followed by the US and UK.
That explains why auction houses have flocked to Hong Kong. "The Chinese buyers are seeking the prestige of having high-end wines," explains Charles Curtis, Head of Asia Wine Sales at Christie's. "This year, we are going to organize six auctions in Hong Kong. Last year, there was just one."
(See "Should French Colleges Give Kids Wine Classes?")
Asian buyers have made a real, almost fetishist, cult of Lafite Rothschild. It may be in part the prestige of the Rothschild family, as well as the fact that this wine has been exported to China for a long time. "The price difference between Lafite and the other wines is so huge that many people decide not to drink them and resell their bottles instead to buy others," explains Angélique de Lencquesaing, one of the founders of the iDealwine.com website. She says a bottle of 1982 Lafite Rothschild worth 3,500 euros in France sells for 5,000 euros in Hong Kong.
Speculation is spreading even among wine lovers in Europe. Says Olivier Bernard, owner of the wine merchant company Millésima: "I think that 35% of European private sales are speculative. In reality, the cases are resold in China." | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Scarborough Schools In Takeover Talks Says MP
Two schools in Scarborough could be set to be taken over by an educational trust.
The town's MP Robert Goodwill says that Graham School and George Pindar School are in talks to be taken over by the Hope Learning Trust.
Robert says one of the main concerns is the amount of 'surplus' money they have left in their accounts, which he claims is to the tune of almost £2million.
He said:
"If these schools were having difficulty delivering education, why were they not spending money on deploying more teachers or special help for particular students rather than putting it into their reserves?
So there are some long-standing issues that need to be addressed."
In November, we told you that the two schools had excluded more pupils than anywhere else in North Yorkshire in 2017-18.
Graham School had the highest figure, with 156 exclusions, whilst George Pindar excluded students 98 times. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Basis for the Expectation of a Near Term Increase in the Number of Reports of Degraded Buried Piping
Current inspection requirements for buried piping are based on the objectives of ensuring that the safety function of the piping is maintained and ensuring that the radiation exposure to plant employees and the general public remains below regulatory limits. Current inspection procedures have been fully effective in accomplishing these objectives. Despite this success, both the industry and the NRC recognize that an increase in both the sensitivity and number of inspections is desirable. To that end the NRC is developing a new Aging Management Program for buried piping which will be used in the license renewal process and the nuclear industry has developed a buried piping initiative. Each of these programs will result in more inspections which have a higher probability of detecting degraded piping than is currently the case. While these additional inspections will result in improved reliability of buried piping, in the short term the NRC anticipates that they will result in an increase in the number of reports of degraded piping.
Increased inspection can be expected to result in increased detection. Following the implementation of the industry Buried Piping Initiative and the Buried Piping Aging Management Program, unless there is specific information to the contrary, the NRC will view an increase in the number of reports of degraded buried piping as a natural consequence of additional inspections and not a cause for additional concern. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Curse of Strahd
Ismark "The Lesser" Kolyanovich
Description:
He/him/his
Son of the Burgomaster of the village of Barovia
Ismark isn’t as dour or tight lipped as the rest of the Barovians, although he is by no means cheerful.
Ismark is moderately fit and has a sword swinging at his side. He seems cautious, and doesnt seem to be getting much sleep lately.
He’s Irena Kolyana older brother, and they seem to care deeply for each other. Ismark is quite protective of her. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
True. The manual (3rd link) is for a VM and it won't match the CV carb. But there's lots of good basics there on how a carb functions, regardless of type. For the CV carb, check out the gallery and search for ucal. To me the video sounds like the carb needs a good clean and tune.
Logged
Suppose I were an idiot, and suppose I were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself. ... Mark Twain2006 AVL Electra
True. The manual (3rd link) is for a VM and it won't match the CV carb. But there's lots of good basics there on how a carb functions, regardless of type. For the CV carb, check out the gallery and search for ucal. To me the video sounds like the carb needs a good clean and tune.
That's what I've thought from the start. The bike needs a thorough, from square one, going through & tuneup.
That's why I hesitate sometimes to get into discussions with folks who have bought used bikes & maybe aren't really familiar with the basics (or just don't want to hear the truth). They say "The bike is farting or sounds funny & dies all the time. What do you suggest"
They seem to want some overarching "solution" that requires them to turn one screw or something when what needs to be done is get back to square one so you'll have a baseline. If the bike is used & you don't have a Specific History from the P.O. you've got to go through EVERYthing. Pull the plug - put a new one in. Pull the carb. Take it apart (go online & read EVERYthing). See where the needle is set, see what pilot & main are in it. Clean it, pet it, hug it, learn it. Set the valves (again. Go online & learn how to do it. It's not rocket surgery or magic), buy manuals. Study them in bed at night. Immerse yourself in the bike.
There usually ain't no one simple answer to these "it ain't runnin' right" questions. No magic bullet. You can't usually do "just one thing" with an unfamiliar bike that's not running right. And if you don't know the basics of the bike & how it works (& haven't even read any manuals or basic engine books) you're going to be at the mercy of dealers or people who are guessing the same as you are. And you're also not going to completely understand some of the answers you get on this forum. I've seen threads get so convoluted from the original question that you can't make any sense out of them any more.
Sorry to ramble on, but I just had to get that off my chest.
And I'm not directing this at that originator of this thread at all. It's just a general suggestion to new owners of new OR used REs. Part of ownership is to take responsibility to at least learn enough so you can understand the answers you get to the questions you ask & then can act on them to make the bike happy. Otherwise why ask?
Too late. The en-ess-ay already logged it into their data base and will forever know you want to change your battery.
Ha! They've alReady got enough on me to send in the black heeliocopters. They'll probably tell the DMV all the mods I've made & they'll come in the dark of night ("It was a dark & stormy night. The rain dripped....") & smash my bike. And then the IRS will audit me for voting for Goldwater.
Pulled the carburetor off today for cleaning, and to see just how it was jetted. Continuing on the odd train, it looks like the main jet is a 130 (!). Didn't get a good look at the pilot jet. Honestly, I'm not even sure it was marked.
I gave the float bowl and jets a good cleaning, then reinstalled. Battery seems to be behaving today, so I kicked her over and got her running after I messed around with the throttle idle screw (the sprung screw the throttle spring rests on). Idled fine after I pulled the enricher (choke knob) out all the way.
Tried messing around with the airscrew (little flathead screw under the brass throttle plate, right?) to get the idle to sound right-- it didn't like that and died with a bit of dusty smoke from the air filter. Huh.
Questions-- is the jetting waaay too high? Running stock BS-29 Mikuni carb with the K&N air-filter, and what looks like the classic exhaust. I live in the rural Northeast, so I'm not exactly up there with elevation. Superchuck, you mentioned in another thread that you're running a 120 main jet-- should I be jetting this thing down? Seems to have a pretty hard time starting.
Also, in regards to the air screw, how tight is tightened all the way? When I tighten it to where it feels like it was before, seems like I hit a small spring (bit of a creaking sound). Should I keep twisting until it's locked down all the way before backing it off, or is the spring the extent of how far I should screw the airscrew in?
Pulled the carburetor off today for cleaning, and to see just how it was jetted. Continuing on the odd train, it looks like the main jet is a 130 (!). Didn't get a good look at the pilot jet. Honestly, I'm not even sure it was marked.
Thanks guys,RP
That main jet is way too big. I don't know why there's a 130 in there, but it's too big.
Yes. The pilot jet is marked. You might need a magnifying glass. It should be a 15 or a 17.5 - must know what it is.
Tried messing around with the airscrew (little flathead screw under the brass throttle plate, right?) to get the idle to sound right-- it didn't like that and died with a bit of dusty smoke from the air filter. Huh.
Thanks guys,RP
I think you're talking about the fuel/air mixture screw, but I'm not sure. That carb doesn't have a throttle plate.
Also, in regards to the air screw, how tight is tightened all the way? When I tighten it to where it feels like it was before, seems like I hit a small spring (bit of a creaking sound). Should I keep twisting until it's locked down all the way before backing it off, or is the spring the extent of how far I should screw the airscrew in?
Thanks guys,RP
You don't want to be cranking that screw in like you're tightening a bolt. You don't need to "lock it down". You want to just gently bottom it out. You should be able to gently feel it bottom out. Then watch the slot & count the half turns out (CCW).
I've filed a little mark on a tiny brass handled screwdriver that matches the tip so I don't have to contort my head & neck like Rubber Man to see the slot in the screw. I just watch the handle.
Thanks for the help-- really, I think this may be what's been driving me crazy about this bike!
Reading through some of the other collected wisdom on jetting, sounds like my carb is set WAY rich. Explains why the sparkplug has come out black and oily after the little amount of time I've run it. May also be the cause of my sprag woes (oh yeah, still have to deal with that), since I'm guessing running that rich caused a lot of backfiring.
I'm not as clear on how to adjust the needle height-- would I have to open the top of the carb to get to it? Sorry, still learning >.<
Sorry, when I said I pulled the enricher out to help it idle, I meant the black choke knob. I saw a tutorial that explained that Mikuni carbs technically have "enrichers" rather than "chokes." My fault
I have a 17.5 pilot in a similar setup. My mixture screw is about 1/2 to 3/4 out. I suggest getting a good idle first. That main jet does sound too big but has nothing to really do on an idle. The idle circuit is generally pilot jet and circuit, mixture screw/needle, air and fuel float level. Assuming the circuits are clean, and there are no air leaks, that leaves the jet, screw or float level (I believe the level should be 17.1 mm).
Mikuni jet can be found on eBay, our host, jets r us and are not interchangeable generally. My carb notes are here: | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Colorado Avalanche Win One of Three in Vegas Rookie Faceoff
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 02: Martin Kaut #16 of Czech Republic during the third period of play against Finland in the IIHF World Junior Championships Quarterfinal game at the KeyBank Center on January 2, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)
Over the weekend starting on September 8th, Vegas hosted a six-team rookie tournament called the Vegas Rookie Faceoff. It allowed teams wrapping up their rookie camps to get their guys some game experience, an extra opportunity to impress their teams and also wear game jerseys with NHL logos on them. Participants included the Vegas Golden Knights, Arizona Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Colorado Avalanche.
Avalanche Go 1-2 in Vegas Rookie Faceoff
Each team played three games over the weekend, and fans attending saw a large pool of the league’s future players. The Avalanche finished with one victory over the Sharks, but two losses to the Knights and Ducks. They scored 14 goals in that span while giving up 15.
Below is a quick snapshot recap of each game the Avs played in the Vegas Rookie Faceoff.
Game 1: 7-6 Loss to Vegas Golden Knights
By the end of the first period, this game appeared to be destined for an awful blowout.
Vegas potted five goals in the first period, taking a 5-0 lead with them to the locker room. Three of those came on the power play for the Knights, who finished the night 4-for-6 with the man advantage. The Avs got it to 6-2 by the end of the second and then pulled to within one with still ten minutes to go in the third. However, the comeback fell short there, finishing with a 7-6 loss.
Starting goaltender Petr Kvaca finished with 15 saves on 21 shots; he swapped at the halfway point with Justus Annunen, who stopped seven of the eight shots he faced. Colorado outshot the Knights 35-29 overall, but their poor first period (where they were outshot 15-10) simply turned out to be too much to overcome.
Game 2: 5-2 Loss to Anaheim Ducks
After a scoreless first period, Colorado got their first lead of the tournament in the second. They went up 2-1 but found themselves trailing 3-2 before the period ended. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find a way to score again and gave up three more in the third (one being an empty netter). The Avs dropped their second game of the weekend by a 5-2 final score.
Annunen played the entire game, recording 31 saves on 36 shots. Colorado trailed in shots by a 37-29 total.
Game 3: 6-3 Victory over San Jose Sharks
Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the first period, which held up for most of the night. The Sharks drew it to a 2-2 tie, but at the halfway point in the third the Avs really took over. Colorado posted four goals in the final 12 minutes of play, holding on to win by a final score of 6-3.
Like Annunen in game two, Kvaca received the full length of the game between the pipes against San Jose. He impressed too, stopping 33 of 36 shots in route to the win. Considering the Avs only posted 28 shots of their own, Kvaca truly performed well holding his team in the game all the way to the victory.
Colorado’s Top Performers
In a weekend like the Vegas Rookie Faceoff, players are desperate to separate themselves from the pack. Colorado had a few players there who had just recently signed entry-level contracts with the club. Plenty of these guys aimed to receive a main camp invitation after the weekend, and a few did everything they could to make that a reality.
Many players found their way onto the scoresheet at least once, but a few did so continually. Rookie Brandon Saigeon recorded five goals across three games for the Avs, recording at least one goal every night. He stood out as the team’s hottest scorer. Forward Logan O’Connor, who just signed with the Avs after his senior year at Denver University (NCAA Div I) logged two goals and an assist as well. Lastly, Matthew Boucher was the only other player besides Saigeon to score in more than one game, finishing with two goals.
After a rough first game, Kvaca stole the show in the Avs victory over San Jose. Wrapping up the Vegas Rookie Faceoff with a win felt great for the bunch, and Kvaca’s stellar performance made that possible. Colorado had no shortage of offense, but they gave up a lot of goals themselves. That last game was the only time they received the goaltending and defensive play necessary to close out a win.
Avalanche Main Camp Underway, Rookies Too
Considered a lock from the beginning, Vladislav Kamenev is the only guy who attended both the Vegas Rookie Faceoff and main camp with NHL game experience already under his belt. First-round pick Martin Kaut also made the cut, as well as 2017 second rounder Conor Timmins.
After strong tournament performances, Saigeon and O’Connor are attending the main camp too. While O’Connor was expected after his contract offer this summer, Saigeon comes as a major surprise; he just recently got drafted by the team in the fifth roundat the 2018 draft. Passed over in the NHL draft twice, the 20-year-old is eligible to play in the AHL this season. The only other 2018 pick attending camp is first-round selection Kaut. In fact, only three selections from 2017 are there.
Wrapping it Up
Despite two losses in three games, the Avs can be pleased with the results of the Vegas Rookie Faceoff. The purpose was not to rack up victories but to see how players are developing. Considering the fact that 17 players from the tournament are now in the main camp, Colorado appears to be pleased with the majority of their prospects. A few of them, such as O’Connor and Kamenev, will be fighting in hopes for a roster spot out of camp and into the season. A few surprises leave the team happy too, paving the way for some healthy competition going forward.
Former goaltender for St. Olaf College (Div 3 NCAA), Western Washington University (Div 2 ACHA) and Bellingham Blazers (NPHL). Die-hard Panthers & Avs fan, cover those two teams plus various news, fantasy hockey, and goaltenders around the league. Follow me on Twitter (@robertmac1994)!
Regional goaltending coach in Washington, working with Jr. Thunderbirds organization, summer hockey programs, and state development camps within USA Hockey and their youth programs. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Best Employee Handbook Unique 59 Best Lettering & Branding Images On Pinterest is free HD wallpaper. This wallpaper was upload at April 9, 2018 upload by kodoksilat in .
Best Employee Handbook Unique 59 Best Lettering & Branding Images On Pinterest - We hope that , by posting this Best Employee Handbook Unique 59 Best Lettering & Branding Images On Pinterest , we can fulfill your needs of inspiration for designing your home. If you need more ideas toFree Graphic Design Templates - Design Examples & Downloads, you can check at our collection right below this post.
Best Of Best Employee Handbook – Through the thousands of pictures on the net concerning best employee handbook
, choices the top series having greatest image resolution simply for you, and now this pictures is usually one among graphics selections inside our ideal graphics gallery with regards to Best Of Best Employee Handbook. I’m hoping you will want it.
This photograph (Best Employee Handbook Unique 59 Best Lettering & Branding Images On Pinterest) preceding can be classed having:
posted by kodoksilat with 2018-04-09 10:41:12. To discover all photos with Best Of Best Employee Handbook images gallery you need to comply with this link.
The Most Elegant along with Attractive best employee handbook
intended for Encourage Your house Current Household|Comfy DreamHome | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Kathleen D. Bailey
I'm a freelance and staff writer with a lifetime devotion to the printed, and now the digital page. Born in 1951, I was a child in the 50s, a teen in the 60s and 70s and a young mom in the 80s. It was a turbulent, colorful time to come of age. I've enjoyed every minute of it, and written about most of it. I'll share some of that on this site, along with book reviews and snippets from my fiction writing. Join me in the wonderful world of words! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Indian PM Modi defends globalization at Davos summit
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mounted a defense of globalization at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, urging joint action on climate change and economic cooperation, in a speech some delegates took as a swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump’s America First agenda.
Modi, making the forum’s first speech by an Indian head of state in more than two decades, did not mention Trump by name but he criticized the rise of protectionism in remarks delivered three days before the U.S. President will address the summit.
“Instead of globalization, the power of protectionism is putting its head up,” Modi said, speaking in Hindi and causing an initial flurry in the audience of business and political leaders as people reached for their translation headsets.
“Their wish is not only to save themselves from globalization, but to change the natural flow of globalization.”
Modi is leading a big government and business delegation to the summit in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, aiming to showcase India as a fast-growing economic power and a potential driver of global growth.
His opening address was a moment of personal triumph for the nationalist leader once shunned by the West for failing to prevent communal rioting in his home state. The occasion also recognized India’s growth as an economic and geopolitical power.
Anindya Bakrie, chief executive of media company PT Bakrie Global Ventura, part of Indonesia’s Bakrie conglomerate, said Modi’s remarks were a welcome contrast to U.S. isolationism.
“For developing countries, when we hear the U.S. talking about isolationism it’s a bit concerning. So to have more and more leaders talk about the benefits of globalization is really good,” Bakrie said.
Arun Kumar, chairman and CEO of accounting firm KPMG in India, said: “He laid out where India stands in terms of his preference for a multi-polar and multicultural world.”
Under his America First agenda, Trump has threatened to withdraw from the North American free-trade agreement, disavowed the global climate change accord and criticized global institutions including the United Nations and NATO.
Modi’s speech echoed some of the points made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at last year’s Davos summit, but he failed to generate the same enthusiasm.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he speaks at the Opening Plenary during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
A year ago, Xi, speaking days before Trump was inaugurated, staked out China’s position as the world’s economic powerhouse, promising a greater openness to globalization.
However, Xi, who is not attending this year, is not seen to have delivered on the broad promises made at Davos over the past year, but his speech was seen as a key moment in China’s attempt to fill a void created by a more inward-looking United States.
Modi arrived in Davos on Monday for a one-day trip. His visit was marred by travel delays, as heavy snow in the ski resort town made it impossible for Modi to take a helicopter to Davos from Zurich and the roads were clogged with traffic.
In his speech, Modi laid out three big challenges facing the world: climate change, terrorism and growing protectionism.
Slideshow (5 Images)
“The result of this is that we are seeing new types of tariff and non-tariff-based barriers being imposed. Bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations appear to have come to a halt,” he said.
He said the world must come together to solve these issues and India could show it the way, referring frequently to ancient Indian thought and scriptures that call for harmony between humans and nature and refer to the world as family.
Modi said climate change was a major threat to the world, yet the world had failed to come together to tackle it. He said everyone wanted carbon emissions to be cut, but the rich world was not ready to help developing economies with new technology.
India, one of the world’s fastest growing major economies and a growing contributor to pollution, has said it is keen to honor its commitment to clean up the environment despite Trump pulling out of the Paris accord on cutting carbon emissions.
Modi also highlighted reforms and policies his administration had undertaken to make India more open. He said his government had abolished some 1,400 archaic laws.
“We are removing red tape and laying the red carpet,” Modi said.
Some business leaders said India still had a lot of work to do to attract more investment, including taming bureaucracy, tackling corruption and cleaning up pollution.
“He’s saying this is a different party in power and it’s trying different things. The question is will the country give him enough time to really change things,” said Vim Maru, group retail director at UK-based Lloyds Bank. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Beedly : Amazing Bedroom Design Ideas
Decorate Room Wall Tumblr Tags
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Ideas. Published at Thursday, August 03rd, 2017 19:56:23 PM.
Teenagers want a cool bedroom. This is where they spend their time especially if they want to be alone. Also, it serves as their safe haven where they can do things without worrying of being observed by others. As a parent, you can provide the bedroom desired by your child....
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Ideas. Published at Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 21:43:05 PM.
Model, get a piece of paper and scale a model of the bedroom so that you can see what furniture you want and where you want to keep it. You can decide what size of bed you are going to have and how much room you have for furniture. This...
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Decor. Published at Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 21:43:06 PM.
Creative storage space expands the theme while providing functionality. Check your local garage sales and thrift stores for a rustic wooden trunk to help pull your room theme together and add storage space to your room. You can customize your trunk and change out the hardware by adding rustic black...
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Sets. Published at Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 21:43:04 PM.
Moving in to a new house or redecorating your room means discarding the contents of the old bedroom sets and buying a new one. As with your previous buying experience, it will take time and effort to get the best bedroom sets and bed sets that suits your needs and...
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Furniture. Published at Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 23:03:46 PM.
Clothes Storage - dressers, chest of drawers, armoires and bed benches can all serve as places to store clothes. There are also beds nowadays that come with storage built in so there are drawers underneath the bed which can be used to store clothing or bedding or whatever you see...
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Furniture. Published at Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 22:30:26 PM.
The use of this color really gives your bedroom an edge over the other rooms. If you are planning to use another color set then just wait and check the features it offers. Apart from the sheen and elegance being provided by it, you can also see the depth it...
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Decor. Published at Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 21:43:05 PM.
Knick Knacks, Lighting and More. If you really want to create the ultimate fun bedroom atmosphere, look for details like lighting and decorative knick knacks that coordinate with your child is bedroom decorations. You can find all sorts of fun kid is bedroom accessories online. Perhaps you can find a...
By Elizabeth Ranea. Bedroom Decor. Published at Wednesday, January 31st, 2018 21:43:05 PM.
Instead of choosing bold primary colors, select soothing color shades and a restful palate of homochromatic tones. Remember color schemes like the soft hues of green, blue or lavender are considered serene. Jewel -toned rich shades plays a vital role in setting your mode and providing you comfort and coziness.These... | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
We've been investigating what the Urban Olympic project would look like as an 27 unit apartment building. Â One potentially excited twist on the building is that we have split the bulk into two volumes with a 18' wide courtyard atrium. Â The atrium and circulation are exterior, so we can apply another 2000 S.F.for an extra 3 units and still come in under the FAR limit.
We also did a first run at some energy modeling, using Archicad's EcoDesigner program, and feel that given the bulk it would be fairly straight forward to achieve the Passive House standard, but the return on investment is better if we design to the envelop to Washington State Energy Code, add solar hot water, switch the lighting to LEDs, and add an ERV. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
By submitting my information above, I acknowledge that I have reviewed and agreed to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and I agree to receive marketing messages from WBR, its affiliates and Green Day with the latest news, updates and information about Green Day. Please note that you can opt out of newsletters at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the emails you receive.
GREEN DAY TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT
Blog
BAND TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA IN SUPPORT OF GREEN DAY¡UNO!, GREEN DAY ¡DOS!, AND, GREEN DAY ¡TRÉ! ALBUM TRILOGY TO BE RELEASED FROM SEPTEMBER 2012 TO JANUARY 2013
IDIOT CLUB FAN CLUB PRESALE BEGINS SEPTEMBER 12TH AT 10AM LOCAL VENUE TIME
September 10th, 2012 — Los Angeles, CA — Reprise Records’ Green Day have announced the first leg of their ¡UNO!, ¡DOS!, ¡TRÉ! TOUR. The full-scale North American tour will kick off in intimate venues this November and December, starting on November 26th in Seattle, WA at the Paramount Theatre and wrapping up on December 10th in Tempe, AZ at the Marquee Theater. In January, the band will bring the ¡UNO!, ¡DOS!, ¡TRÉ! TOUR to arenas around the country, starting on January 7th at the Resch Arena in Green Bay, WI and wrapping up on February 8th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Through Green Day’s fan club, Idiot Club, presales go on sale on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 10AM local venue time. To become a member, make sure you purchase your preorder bundle that comes with an Idiot Club membership at http://splash.greenday.com. Fans that purchase tickets online will be entitled to one digital download of Green Day ¡Uno! – a $9.99 value – with each ticket purchased. Full list of tour dates and ticket on-sales are below.
Green Day, which is vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tré Cool, are touring in support of their upcoming trilogy of albums Green Day ¡Uno!, Green Day ¡Dos!, and Green Day ¡Tré!, which Rolling Stone described as, "…heavier and hardened from their time in the trenches but back in the garage, ready for rapture." Green Day ¡Uno! will be released by Reprise Records on September 25, 2012 followed by Green Day ¡Dos! on November 13, 2012, and Green Day ¡Tré! on January 15, 2013. The albums are the follow-up to the Grammy Award-winning 21st Century Breakdown, and were produced by the band’s long-time producer Rob Cavallo.
BAND TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA IN SUPPORT OF GREEN DAY¡UNO!, GREEN DAY ¡DOS!, AND, GREEN DAY ¡TRÉ! ALBUM TRILOGY TO BE RELEASED FROM SEPTEMBER 2012 TO JANUARY 2013
IDIOT CLUB FAN CLUB PRESALE BEGINS SEPTEMBER 12TH AT 10AM LOCAL VENUE TIME
September 10th, 2012 — Los Angeles, CA — Reprise Records’ Green Day have announced the first leg of their ¡UNO!, ¡DOS!, ¡TRÉ! TOUR. The full-scale North American tour will kick off in intimate venues this November and December, starting on November 26th in Seattle, WA at the Paramount Theatre and wrapping up on December 10th in Tempe, AZ at the Marquee Theater. In January, the band will bring the ¡UNO!, ¡DOS!, ¡TRÉ! TOUR to arenas around the country, starting on January 7th at the Resch Arena in Green Bay, WI and wrapping up on February 8th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Through Green Day’s fan club, Idiot Club, presales go on sale on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 10AM local venue time. To become a member, make sure you purchase your preorder bundle that comes with an Idiot Club membership at http://splash.greenday.com. Fans that purchase tickets online will be entitled to one digital download of Green Day ¡Uno! – a $9.99 value – with each ticket purchased. Full list of tour dates and ticket on-sales are below.
Green Day, which is vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tré Cool, are touring in support of their upcoming trilogy of albums Green Day ¡Uno!, Green Day ¡Dos!, and Green Day ¡Tré!, which Rolling Stone described as, "…heavier and hardened from their time in the trenches but back in the garage, ready for rapture." Green Day ¡Uno! will be released by Reprise Records on September 25, 2012 followed by Green Day ¡Dos! on November 13, 2012, and Green Day ¡Tré! on January 15, 2013. The albums are the follow-up to the Grammy Award-winning 21st Century Breakdown, and were produced by the band’s long-time producer Rob Cavallo. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Re: Ali Makaveli's Co-op Challenges
It took forever but co op is finally on UTV. Do you think that we can get some co op quick tips on UTV as well now. B2K has their short tutorials so I'm guessing we can possibly do it for co op as well.
Re: Ali Makaveli's Co-op Challenges
nabeel055 wrote:It took forever but co op is finally on UTV. Do you think that we can get some co op quick tips on UTV as well now. B2K has their short tutorials so I'm guessing we can possibly do it for co op as well.
If someone can do the voice overs, I can produce the video. That is my day job afterall. Lol
It took a lot of great team work and thanks to Allu's quick thinking and also for drawing the enemies towards me as well as away from me.
It is possible to get at least 4 kills per Propane Tank so that could give you a total of 20 kills, which I did try to do at first but requires GREAT skill from BOTH players.
I wonder if anyone could do this? I sure will try. Also, was wondering if it was possible to get 5 kills per tank as I had ample opportunities on our other attempts when there we're 5/6 enemies standing together in a crowd. A perfectly timed throw and shot would've KILLED THEM ALL!!
What was YOUR highest ever propane kill in Co-op? (number of kills with 1 Propane Tank)
If anyone wants to try this then feel free, the rules are in the OP, if you manage to beat our score and have proof then it will feature in the OP and also used as a video response to this attempt.
Re: Ali Makaveli's Co-op Challenges
Ha, most of the fails were done by me. I always tried to draw them towards and everytime I managed to pile at least two or three enemies, I get surprise attacked my someone from behind, or from the sides.
Re: Ali Makaveli's Co-op Challenges
Hm..., obviously i have to buy a record device at last. And a laptop as well. Mine is about 6 years old. Do you think it's strong enough for rendering and some postpruductions? I don't think so.Delgato (Elgato?) seems to be the first choice for recording, isn't it?
Re: Ali Makaveli's Co-op Challenges
pime666 wrote:Hm..., obviously i have to buy a record device at last. And a laptop as well. Mine is about 6 years old. Do you think it's strong enough for rendering and some postpruductions? I don't think so.Delgato (Elgato?) seems to be the first choice for recording, isn't it?
I'm not sure, I use Roxio, it cost me about £60 I think. If you have a good Video Camera and can place it somehwere flat facing the TV then that may work. I've seen some crisp Uncharted vids where someone has used an ordinary camera and faced it towards their TV and kept it on a flat surface. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Supreme Court Law Assistant Online Form 2018
Supreme Court Of India Law Assistant Clerk Admit Card 2018
Supreme Court Law Assistant Online Form
Information–
Supreme Court of India SCI have Invited to Online Application Form for the Recruitment Post ofLawAssistant ClerkVacancy 2018, Candidates Are Interested in Following Carrer in SCI and Completed the All Eligibility Criteria Can Read the Full Notification Before Apply Online.
Exam Center Details
Read the Full Notification Before Apply Online
Useful Important Links
Admit Card
Apply Online
Click Here
Registration | Login
Download Notification
Click Here
Official Website
Click Here
Page 1 of 11
educart
I'm Rajesh Maurya, I'm a Blogger. This portal dedicating you to find out the best ever jobs in govt and public sector.
Our main objective is to end up your job search frustration and tiredness up-to-date information about different employment and Government job vacancies both in states and center. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Oh yeah, baby!
I wish I could take pictures with my eyes only, then I would have the perfect image to remember tonight. But since I am so busy screaming and cheering at soccer to hold the camera, I will have to mentally remember this soccer game. My Caleb boy did terrific! Awesome! Fearless! That is one of the things his coach likes about him is that he is fearless! OH, I love his games. Tonight was the game we have been prepping for. We knew this team was tough! They have two kids on their team that are mammoth! Like 7th grade size! Caleb started out at goalie and made some awesome saves, but also gave up a few (but it is never just the goalie's fault, we needed to charge a little harder). He said that while he was goalie he named one of the mammoth kids Hugo. How funny is that? He said he did not want to be rude but every time this kid got the ball he kept saying in his head, "No, Hugo, do not get the ball." Or, "Get out of here, Hugo." Caleb said by second half he felt bad for calling him Hugo so he just started talking to him as the "kid with orange shoes." Second half he was in at forward and went charging. We had no substitutes so it was a hard game for all of them but they never gave up. The two mammoth kids kicked that ball hard and they had another kid that had some major fancy foot work. So, here comes that mental image I want to keep. At the very end of the game fancy foot work man had the ball and one of our players just would not go near him. Fancy foot-work man was playin' our man, he just had his foot on the ball, waiting to see what our player would do. Then BAM! out of no where comes my man Caleb and totally swiped the ball away from fancy-man and carried it up field. Caleb had this tough guy smile because he knew he was awesome and he stole that ball clean away! So AWESOME! Then two minutes later Caleb and another of his teammates took the ball hard! Caleb got it in the stomach and the other kid got a bloody nose. You could see the mark of the ball on Caleb's stomach afterward. What a great way to spend the night! Our team played their hearts out and held this team to under 8 points. This is the team that generally scores upwards of 15 or 20 in one of their games. Way to go team! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
We are in the late stages of implementing HERMES for GABA/GSH on Siemens. We are actively seeking collaborators who would like to apply this sequence, so get in touch and we can start the C2P paperwork. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
About the Mission
The Kenya High Commission was established in Ottawa in 1978 with a Mandate to promote, project and protect the image and the interests of Kenya and Kenyans in Canada. This is in addition to strengthening political, cultural and socio-economic relations between the two countries. On trade, the Mission’s objective is to identify markets for Kenyan products as well as encourage Canadians to invest in Kenya. On tourism, the Mission’s objective is to promote and portray Kenya as an attractive tourist destination.
The Mission was accredited to Havana in 2002 with the purpose of carrying out similar functions with regard to Cuba. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Ten years after the show ended its 10-year run, did we ever think we'd once again see the ladies of 'Friends' in Monica's apartment? Well, Jimmy Kimmel wanted it to happen so badly that he wrote some 'Friends' fan fiction -- and convinced Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow to act it out with him.
Stepping onto a stage that was flawlessly decorated to resemble Monica's apartment (picture frame on the purple door and all!), Kimmel explained that he'd be portraying Ross, who apparently wanted nothing more than to "make love" to Aniston's character Rachel. (And though he even provided Aniston with "the Rachel" wig, she immediately nixed the idea and tossed it off stage. Nooo!)
The fact that Kimmel had persuaded Aniston to once again revisit her most iconic part was enough of a surprise in itself -- but as soon as Courteney Cox (and later, Lisa Kudrow) walked in the door, the audience lost it, cheering so loudly that the actors actually had to pause from their scripts.
But as for the rest of the 'Friends' cast? The guys didn't make an appearance -- but that's because Kimmel wrote them out of his fan fic.
"They're dead," he explained. "Marcel the monkey bit them and gave them monkey rabies and they died." Yikes! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Stella, Landscapeforms
Landscape architecture practice Gustafson Guthrie Nichol designed the Stella table for Landscapeforms as part of the UrbanEdge collection, which seeks to encourage public activity and civic goals. Its oval shape contrasts with traditional rectangle and round outdoor tables. Made from powdercoated metal in 10 colors, Stella is 72” long, 39” deep, and 15” tall. landscapeforms.com | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Human rights activists are turning to Google Earth to identify the vast network of prison camps that dot the North Korean countryside and hold as many as 200,000 people deemed hostile to the regime.
Rights groups are pushing the United Nations high commissioner for human rights to open an international investigation into Pyongyang’s “deplorable” record on its citizens’ rights, including a system of political prisons that has operated for more than 50 years. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.