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) I honestly just don’t get the Blaine appeal… Ugh, at least they had Rachel audition for her role in Funny Girl, but Blaine gets a rich lady who just wants to make him famous. Totally believable. This happens all the time in NYC Yeah because people fresh out of highschool get leading roles on huge Broadway shows all the time. And become right-hand men to Vogue executives from one half assed interview. Or become superstars in LA after one week of selling CD’s in a parking lot. Like Rachel, Kurt, and Mercedes. Some people need to get over their frankly nonsensically vicious hatred to Blaine. Or if they’re hell bent on it, atleast own up to the fact that other character have gotten irrationally lucky things happen to practically all of them. THEY HAVEN’T EVEN SPILLED HOW BLAINE AND SHIRLEY EVEN COME TO BE AND THEY ARE ALREADY COMPLAINING. Please check yourself. I am so excited for an individual storyline for Blaine!!! I love him so much!!!!! Right ? This guy hasn’t gotten an ACTUAL individual arc in like, ever. Only episode long issues that resolve within the episode. Or Klaine. I’m looking forward to seeing this. And hopefully more Artie/Mercedes arcs too :) Why? Darren had an SL´s with his “brother” Matt Boner and did nothing for him. He is not that memorable in that episode to be honest I love Blaine so much and can’t wait to see the upcomming episdoes! Well said Tyler! The irrational Blaine/Darren hate on this site (by posters and by the site runners) is ridiculous. It’s like watching Fox News foam at the mouth over everything Obama says and does. It’s all for the page hits. Yes, I realize I’m contributing too. Rachel started to prepare herself for Fanny for years, auditioned twice, did several reads and was chosen. It’s not like she walked in and they gave it to her. Mercedes had also prepared herself and selling cd’s out of their car, street corner, internet is not unusual. Kurt had always loved fashion and was prepared for this non-paying internship. They were all very good and very prepared for their success. Luck for Rachel and Kurt was the role/job were available at the time. There is nothing nonsensical or vicious about pointing out the differences between Blaine’s amazing rich white boy luck, and the hard work of the other three. It doesn’t really matter “how” the relationship between Blaine and Shirley will begin, it’s the fact that it is happening at all. To see him struggle a little is not a bad storyline. Yeah, because Blaine has done zero preparation for being on Broadway or performing in the arts, which is apparently what this older lady likes about him. He’s spent all of high school sitting on his butt waiting for Shirley McLaine to sweep him up into her rich arms. * You’re reaching there. * If you’re going to even get a tiny bit realistic, the chances of even a hard-working recent NYC, very young transplant landing a lead Broadway role is more unlikely than an elderly lady finding a talented cute, young guy and wanting to be his platonic sugar mama. Broadway roles are scarce and the lead will, 99% of the time, go to more established actors. A young chorus actor may in fact be more talented than the lead, but they are untested and generally have to pay their dues before crawling to the front of the stage. Situations like Rachel’s are very few and very far between. sorry but there’s a BIG difference between pointing out the difference in treatment between two characters and then being a total a-hole about it Leah was already a broadways star way before high school so her character becoming one directly from high school is possible. As per kurt becoming the right hand to Vogue probability low but reality is be in the right place and the right time or know the right people and yes it would happen! only two more then it is over I here is this true does any one for a fact of this an the last one does kurt and blain finally get married so many question to ask Thrilled to see Blaine’s character not lose his own individuality with his move to New York. It will be fun to see what they do with a relationship with her. As pointed out here, he always gets things handed to him, so why not, but so have several others – nothing wrong with suspending disbelief a little. Who really breaks out into song in the subway after all. I’ll watch as much Blaine as they give me – no complaints here. There is none. He’s a mediocre, whiny, borderline sociopathic brat that gets everything handed to him. Yep, it makes me really sad for Kurt. The chemistry between Kurt and Starchild is amazing, and they have a much healthier relationship. I’m so sick of Blaine :/ so do I but I can’t see them killing him of the show it isn’t right to do that Sad forever over no dramatic Blaine exit. laughing at you. go read some starkurt fiction while I enjoy kurt and blaine’s actual scenes and actual relationship, compared to starchild’s FRIENDSHIP and few scenes before he left. Chris had a whole arc with Sarah Jessica Parker, plus Adam Lambert was brought on to play his new bff, plus the Brit who played Adam. Darren got Matt Bomer in a one off to play his brother. It’s hardly skewed in favor of Darren. Thier chemistry was that of friendship. I know this might be shocking to hear,but two gay people can be nice to each other without wanting to jump each other’s bones. Friendship – its a thing ! I feel bad for Blaine! He is way out of Kirk’s league! Sweetie, it’s Kurt, not Kirk and Blaine is lucky that Kurt was willing to take him back after not only cheating but continually acting immature and jealous. ??? These people that say he gets everything handed to him… yet I bet if Glee shows him auditioning, trying to make it out in the world, the same person will complain about how he gets too much screen time and its now the “Blee” show. I wonder when these people will stop being whiny hypocrites. …He was literally handed over valedictorian after not earning it a couple of episodes ago. Which was a tongue in cheek joke that was never brought up again. A JOKE. What would you rather ? A 10 minute montage of all of Blaine’s credentials of why he was the third runner up? Or do we all need explicit 10 minute montages on how anyone in Glee club has ever gotten anything that was wildly out of character for someone from a “loser” glee club? With Glee’s long standing tradition of pointing out the ridiculous nature of their own storylines, the whole reason they even made the joke is because they’re completely aware that of all the characters, Blaine is the one who gets handed things the most without being shown as having put in any of the work for it. There was no reason they would’ve had to go to a 3rd runner up in the first place except so they could ram that lame joke in there. While it’s still unbelievable that all these characters keep getting these major breaks so soon after high school, at least we’re shown the many ways the characters (esp. Rachel and Kurt) have suffered and worked for what they got. They didn’t just automatically come in with pretty much everyone loving them and everything they did. So you would be okay if Glee explicitly showed you all the ways Blaine works for the things he gets? Because they can do that. There would be a lot more Blaine on the show, but you won’t mind, right? As long as it’s clearly explained to you that Blaine actually does work? * Here’s the thing — Blaine got 3rd runner up for valedictorian because the character has good grades. Do you think Blaine didn’t go to class, got all Cs and still had a high GPA? That wouldn’t make sense, would it? It’s not shown, but you’re supposed to assume that he’s probably worked for his grades just as much as #1 and #2. * Glee didn’t show Blaine’s audition for NYADA, either. So… are we to assume that he didn’t have to audition; that they loved his slicked hair and just let him into the school? Nope, we’re to assume he worked hard, auditioned, and got in, just like Kurt and Rachel. Glee isn’t showing you Blaine working because Kurt and Rachel are higher-up in Glee seniority. They get more storylines; they get more scenes. But only somebody who isn’t using their brains would actually think the character of Blaine is not supposed to have worked for anything at all. And Rachel’s not? HE at least has talent. Lea Michele? Multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominee, Broadway baby Lea Michele, not talented? I guess you’d have to be deaf and blind to be a Darren Criss fan. Darren was on broadway too???? His month long stint on H2$ brought in more money than Daniel Radcliffe’s 18 months??? Darren has been on a successful national tour, more plays than i can name, and has his own EP??? Definitely not knocking Lea, love her to bits, but the two are on par, that you can’t deny. Stop being so rude, if you don’t like a character grin and bear it, don’t whine. Seriously. Darren stans really put the D in Delusion and the Em in Embarrassing. @Mary Are you new to stunt casting? He made it on to sell tickets in between the people they actually hired full-time, not based on actual talent. All hype, no delivery. Darren sold a total of 27,000 albums in three years. NO acting or singing awards. He’s not even close to the same league as Lea Michele, who also has millions of more social media followers and outsells him on downloads 3 to 1. His only real hit was with the Warblers and probably Teenage Dream. I think it would be good for him professional to have a more diverse character, he has become one dimensional. As an actor, one would think he would want to show more depth. @Mary Really you can not be seriously comparing a one mohtn stunt casting to appearing in 4 separate bway shows? Lea originated two roles on bway by the time she was 20. SA won the Tiny,Lea appeared on the Grammy winning cast recording. Ragtime was nominated for a Tony. Fiddler was nominated for a Tony. Lea has performed at the Tonys 4 times. Seriously Darren did maybe 20 -25 shows and Lea has done maybe up to 1000 shows. She has worked 8 shows a week in 4 different show for a total of 8 years of more. You really think that is comparable??? Sorry but I actually find that kind of insulting for all those real Bway vets who have put years into their stage work on Bway. Darren may have done some plays but 8 shows a week for a year or more at a time? No not even close. Darren’s bway stage work isn’t even on par with Jenna. Rachel has more talent than Blaine easily . Blaine has a thin voice and stains to do most songs especially bway tunes. As far as actors Lea acts circles around Darren. Darren is a decent performer but his singing and acting is limited. PREACH Me too. But, this is Glee now.. Cory is gone, Finn was the draw for me. I loved Finn and Rachel. So, now we have Blaine and Kurt as the meant to be couple, with Blaine as the song bird of them. I don’t listen to his tweeting, it doesn’t appeal to me, either. Well, Glee is what Glee is, we accept it or leave it. I really like Artie, Mercedes, Kurt and love Santana and Rachel. It’s the Blee show now. All the charm that Glee had left about season 2. You got that right. Its laughable that you pin Glee’s rating ALL on one guy. Just shows how off base you are. I’d say that the faddish praise went to the writers’ heads, then they’ve rested on their laurels ever since. is kurt going to be taken off the show? Blaine plot though <3 actual tears of happiness. I’m happy eyebrows does it for you. :3 thanks. I do love those eyebrows (and eyes) :) He reminds me of Groucho Marks, all he needs is a stogie in his teeth. that’s like a cigar right. He doesn’t smoke I don’t think. But that would be a hawt halloween costume. weird but hot. I love Blaine sooo much!!! I am so happy he is getting an individual storyline finally!!!!! That’s okay. I’ve never understood the appeal of this show. I know it has lots of fans, so my not watching it means nothing. I laughed so hard when I read this cuz I knew instantly the irrational hate that would pour from this site. You guys are so predictable. Blaine/Darren is a star. Get used to it. meh, finding him a mediocre actor and singer doesn’t make me hate him. It’s just a matter of opinion. Kinda sounds like you hate him when all your posts have to do with your dislike for him. Like…okay, fine – he doesn’t tickle your fancy and you find him annoying. Thats indeed your opinion. But you went to an article about Blaine development and posted all over about how you “don’t get him” and how “its all about him” and how you hope he’d leave but not really contributing any thoughtful analysis to ALL these other logical arguments up above and below on why people DO get him, and why its NOT all about him and why he shouldn’t leave. Its all You:”Its the blee show!” Someone else: “No its not… its been focused on alot of other people too” You:”Its the blee show!” Also the people that complain that Blaine is mediocre: This show was NEVER about ONLY the best singers getting story development. Singing “mediocre” doesn’t mean you should just cease to be part of some elitist Glee show of someone’s snobby imagination. Its about all diff. types of people. And alot of people like his voice as it is. I went to this article because I *adore* Shirley MacLaine. That woman is a legend, and upon reading the article was wondering what the appeal to Blaine actually was. Considering from when I actually saw him in how to succeed in business without really trying.. he was.. well.. I took a moment to actually consider if he had to have been screwing someone to get the part (Not saying he did.) I find him annoying because the show had toted him as their cash cow without the talent to back it up. A lot of people like his autotuned voice.. which.. okay? (His real one is fine.. a bit pitchy and I wouldn’t write home about it… but I’ve heard worse) Trust me you don’t want my critical analysis of the poor use of his character and the performance by the actor himself. (it would not be very nice and full of technical terms) The one thing he is here for is catering to a demographic that doesn’t work in professional theatre. I can buy Rachel making it. I can almost get behind Kurt getting into Vogue… but for a sugar mama to come around and want to make an extremely autotuned performer a star? Yeah no. I can buy Sam being an underwear model before that and Mercedes getting a record deal (cause Mercedes is *amazingly* talented and blows his voice of the water without even trying) The only way I could buy some old lady coming along to want to make Blaine a star is if he started whoring himself out for it. (lot more common than you think) This is one of those times where I think the show is going a bit too into my territory for me to be able to look at it objectively. I had the same issue with Smash. (Katherine McPhee would have *never* been given that role unless she was an American Idol and they were ~desperate~ to put butts in empty seats) but hey.. at the end of the day its all objective. I just come from a professional background that makes me side eye a lot of the shows decisions. I would like to unsubscribe to this There’s a lot of talk here about you having the credentials to critique his work, etc etc, none of which was asked for so I’m not sure why you felt it necessary to mention. I didn’t discredit your opinions once. What you failed to acknowledge, and what I was saying, was that its NOT the Blee show (not to mention you say this while also mentioning season 2 as if you mean to solely pin this on him and not the flagging and weakening writing) You also come off as snarky when someone comments on how happy they are for him and all you’ve got is “Yeah glad you like eyebrows” Don’t even try to play that off as genuine, none of us were born yesterday. And lets not forget you feeling sad that he’s not having a dramatic exit via DEATH. And we’re suppose to believe you don’t “hate” the guy. Suuure. But fine. You don’t buy him. Great, that’s really good for you – and no, I won’t need you to peddle a long winded analysis about his “technicalities” to prove it to me. I get people have different tastes. But back to what I’m saying. Blaine as a character has been a bare bones character since forever. If this were the “Blee” show as you say, this would not of been the case. Not to mention in recent episodes, due certainly to a refocusing of the core characters, everyone’s been developing themselves as individuals. You’d have to be a little willfully ignorant to not notice this. But he’s so neglected in terms of actual character development, its not even funny. People are really happy that he MIGHT (its not even a given) be headed towards someone better fleshed out. Some people also really like his voice, so for them this is genuinely something to excited about. Some people DO enjoy what little they see of his character – he’s lively,almost endlessly cheerful and peppy,optimistic, expressive, goofy, friendly. Some people like him for Klaine – sweet romantic, blah blah (I’m sure you don’t want to hear this part) Some probably just like him because he’s eye candy. Some are/were already fans of the actor himself, his thing with harry potter and other geeky interests (its encouraging them to see these qualities in a celebrities), his general silly personality, self deprecating comments, appreciation of his fans and luck. etc the list goes ON and ON. Hell, I bet many of them enjoy the whole package. What matters is many people have taken with him, for whatever reasons. Yet I’m sure you’ve seen all these reasons. And you’ll still say “Ew, just don’t get him.” and spend way too much time bashing him. Who are you to invalidate people’s reasons for liking him just because he’s not on the same level as the others you hold high on YOUR list ? Really, these people are idiots with no taste? Because they don’t hold your particular values in what makes a person shine? And you don’t think you sound close minded and superior at all? Because I almost feel like the Blaine fans are behaving better than Blaine haters. For the most part, none of these other Blaine fans are going around screaming ” I HOPE RACHEL DIES, SCREW KURT, LETS SEND SANTANA OFF THIS SHOW FOREVER, I DON’T GET WHAT PEOPLE LIKE ABOUT ARTIE” until Blaine haters come in here ready to start a flame war. MOST of the responses are just ” Yay, Blaine !” or ” Woo, Shirley !” I’m sick and tired of the biased irrationality of it all. Where was the public outcry for Brittany’s MIT stunt? Santana becoming an understudy despite no experience or any mention of having a big broadway voice? Mercedes landing a record deal even with her amazing voice? Because there’s totally not 5 million people with amazing voices out there that STILL cant make it big? Maybe it takes more than a great voice? A magnetic or charismatic personality maybe? A particular body/face type? Being in the right place at the right time? Things are getting handed to people all the damn time on this show. Suspension of belief doesn’t end just because it happened to a character you dislike. I wont even get into how we DON’T even know how this whole Blaine/Shirley thing is gonna go down except that you make all these statements knowing nothing about it besides whats written up there. At the end of the day, critical analysis is always important – I value it – but these conversations should be about voicing how something should be improved upon. Progressive. Spouting one liner hate-speak (which you did) without holding accountability to yourself to at least be a “nice” person doesn’t separate you from the run of the mill internet troll. And honestly, you’ve been one of the much more mild ones. This applies to ALOT of the Blaine haters, especially down below. @tyler i stepped away from this for a day. i realized the morning after that my response was on the rude side and I’m going to apologize for it. I believe I am holding him to credentials that I’m accustomed to in the field I work with and that is unfair to the character and the actor and that is a problem with me and no on else. It is not my vision or how I would portray the character. I realized that my critique was rude, and failed to provide the professional standard on which I should have. Not everyone enjoys things for the same things and you are entirely right in your views. There are people on both sides that I question their antics and in this moment mine were very unprofessional and I deeply regret them. (This was a wonderful step in realizing one should not comment on things when they’ve had more than one glass of wine.) So, I am in fact deeply sorry, and I really do appreciate what you wrote and it will be a part of me for whenever I decide to comment on things in the future. I do stand by my assessment that I find the actor mediocre in the material he is given, but I will change my stance on that in the idea that perhaps it is the show that doesn’t give him real meaty things to work with. An actor cannot work with scraps when it needs a real meal) I was deeply rude and I hope you forgive me. If not, that is also alright by my way of things. I will conduct my behavior in a fashion that is less problematic in the future. This entire thing was misplaced aggression on my part, and I will once again state that I am sorry, and thank you for your well thought out response. It was much needed and I hope to not place irrational hate in such a forum in the future. (In my defense I just had to deal with two days of bad auditions, but in the end that is truly no excuse. I do apologize) @Tyler tl;dr thank you for pointing out my problematic behavior. It actually made me look at why i was assessing things the way I was, and took into account on why it may be wrong and to try to look at it another way. @tyler no one gets to police how or why a person enjoys things… just because I believe that in the professional venue someone wouldn’t cut it… doesn’t mean they won’t. I may not get the appeal or “charisma” but that doesn’t mean I’m right. I policed in a not fully explained extent and I was in the wrong for it. I am sorry. @aubreycatburn I really can’t get over what types of amazing character traits someone has to have to post what you just did. I wont wax poetic about it as I’m afraid it might come off as patronizing, but you really set a standard here. I’ll leave it simply at that. I’m with you on questioning alot of the poisonous antics of BOTH sides of this whole flame war. And because of them, I understand why it’s so hard for alot of people to stay constructive with their criticism or their defenses… But the alternative is so much worse and less fulfilling. I’d be remiss to not include times where I’ve fallen into unprofessional territory myself, and would also like to try harder to hold myself to re-framing my concerns in ways that encourage healthy and even amiable discussion. I’ve got nothing negative to say about your current assessment except that as a fan of Blaine, I can agree that this isn’t going to cut it for me either and, for me, he needs deeper material and character focus. Not to be mistaken with MORE material and sloppy focus. And if this arc plays out as things have typically played out for him, I’ll honestly be crushed. Anyway – I really look forward to your future comments and critiques, however harsh they may be towards this actor or character. And if any day you ever felt up to offering that critical analysis of yours, especially to a Blaine fan open to honest discussion, I’ll gladly be all ears. (though if so we should probably take to private discussion or elsewhere and release poor Tori Hitomi up there^ from this) My heart and support goes out to you for those auditions, and I truly wish that so much better comes to you. amen sista Yippy! More Blaine the Mediocre focus. Welcome to NY BLEE Um…EVERYONE has gotten focus so far. Stop being a hater, put down your tin foil hat and try watching the same show the rest of us have been watching Haven’t you heard Travis? You’re required to hate Darren Criss and Blaine Anderson over here at Tow the Line. Well, an episode where Kurt gets physically bashed had more focus on Mercedes than the actual injured party, so… oomg Waste of a guest star, as always when it comes to Blaine. “as always” You say that like he gets alot of guest stars. Bomer and the lesbian couple were all wastes. That is completely subjective to you, stop talking like its complete fact. A lot of people also enjoyed Bomer for the ONE episode he was in, and want to see more of him. I LOVE Shirley MacLaine! They’re lucky to get her. It’ll be great to see her at work again. It looks like she’ll be dancing too! She better be in multiple episodes! Sounds like the rumors that Darren is leaving Glee might be true. Why else would they try to convince us that Blaine is some kind of superstar unless it’s to make it so he gets some sort of opportunity that involves him leaving NY. It seems like there are rumors that everybody is leaving (except Lea Michelle); first Tina, then Santana, now Blaine. I have no idea if Tina will appear again this season, but Santana will be back. As for next year, who knows? The producers have said that the cast line-up for Season 6 has not been determined, so until then I guess everybody could be on the chopping block. Tina is in 5×17 and possibly also 5×18. From what I have read season 6 will be the last season. I can’t see them bringing in a lot of new cast members for one season. I guess we will have to see what happens. I still watch the show but it just isn’t the same without Cory, I just can’t seem to get into it like before. It still saddens me that he is gone. The show had a good run but now I just feel like it’s played out. Should be interesting to see how the season ends and the how the series will end. I wonder if Mr. Shue will show up in New York for any episodes? I think the name of the season is comeback. To me that implies the comeback of Glee Club in Ohio so Matt will return and maybe some of the other adults (Sue for sure), and then there will be a mash up of the other characters and their life at that point in time. A little like this season with characters coming back for a 3 episode arc (Tina and Mercedes). With Cory gone, Rachel and Kurt will remain the focus. I really suspect that Blaine will discover that theater is not what he wants to do and we really don’t know what Kurt or Santana want to do when they grow up. I think Kurt (like Chris) will decide to be a writer – they hinted at this in the past. I sort of see a storyline of Kurt (maybe with Puck) writing a screenplay that Artie directs and Rachel stars in. I also think they will jump ahead a few years with the characters in their mid-twenties. Quinn will have a baby, Mercedes will be an R&B star, Tina will be a vet, Mike will be on DWTS, etc…… could be fun. It does kind of make sense. Oh how I hope it’s true. Keep telling yourself that. Nonsense. If they want to write out Blaine they sure as heck don’t need to book Shirley Maclaine to a multi-episode arc. They do if they want to try and spin it into a positive thing. Oh look at this amazing opportunity Blaine is getting…. he just has to leave NY (Glee) to get it. And everyone, including Kurt, wants him to succeed and send him off with well wishes and happiness. They are trying to do a pre-emptive strike agains the Blarrenstans who will flip their $**t when this happens by trying to sell the whole… But aren’t you happy for Blaine to get this opportunity? Don’t you want Blaine to be a star, even if it’s off screen rather than just going to classes and trying to become successful onscreen. It’s going to be delicious to see the meltdown. Wow… What does it feel like to hate an imaginary character so much as to spend all your hours obsessing about that character..? It must be so hard to be as bitter and delusional as to believe this…Aw, Im so sorry :( The Darren/Blaine haters are pathetic — and they all seem to congregate here! TV Line is their lair. Why on earth would he be leaving when there’s only one season left anyway? But you can’t pitch logic to these tin foil hat maroons. One can only hope. Those rumors, like most of the Glee articles on here, were crafted for page hits. Awesome! I love Blaine and it’s great he is getting focus :D I will pray for you. this comment ^ Aw, aren’t you cute. Using “God” and “prayer” to cover up the fact you’re a vicious snake. Someone is happy about something and you come here with your negativity and snark. So cute. Best response to a Blaine stan I’ve seen in a while lol. Oh yeah ! Because when someone voices out what they like (and insults no one) he/she is automatically “a stupid fan”, and deserves ridicule. Why are you so bitter and resentful ? I thought they discouraged bullying on Glee. :\ You have a blessed day. I like this. So wow. I love her on Downton Abbey. I have love Shirley MacLaine in everything she has ever been in. She is a triple threat. She can sing, dance, act at everything. Comedy, drama, you name it. She is spectacular. Why the F**k. Blaine of all people. WHy is glee so far up his A$$. He is average at a best. Its Blaine of all people because he hasn’t gotten an actual multi-episode arc in ever. Listen, we get you hate him. But that doesn’t mean you should flip a table and name call everytime someone you don’t like gets any kind of attention. This is exactly the kind of vicious behavior they try to discourage in glee. If they want to give Blaine a character arc, why not give him one in which he has to face failure and, y’know, actually EARN an achievement instead of having a rich woman buy him a way in? That way we can actually appreciate him trying. The fact of the matter is that Blaine has literally never NOT gotten something he’s wanted. In order for any character to move forward, they have to fail at some point, or fumble, and then they need to pick themselves up. That’s what makes a storyline compelling. There’s nothing exciting about a guy who gets everything once again getting everything. Annnnd I’m still holding out for this arc to at least test him – listen, I don’t want a ‘handout’ any more than you do but as a Blaine fan this is only thing that might possibly point towards learning through trial and error.(I disagree that Blaine has never fumbled and made mistakes before picking himself up. It hasn’t happened often, but it has happened.) It relieves me to hear she’s signed on for multiple episodes. Does it promise her attention will totally be focused on Blaine ? No. Does it worry me that she seems hellbent on making him a superstar ? Yes. But the multi-episode thing shes’ signed on for, is a little bit of a relief for me because I’m also aware just spinning him into a superstar could be wrapped up in one episode and there’s some reason it’s not. This thing could be something a lot of Blaine fans have been hoping for, true character development. And it could also be the total opposite. We don’t know. What doesn’t add to the conversation, is “Why the F**k. Blaine of all people. WHy is glee so far up his A$$. He is average at a best.” which is what egged the response that you replied to and honestly is what starts these idiotic flame wars. Your response, compared to blah blee, is a totally valid complaint about Blaine. As much as we may agree or disagree on certain nuances in that argument, I’m glad atleast some of us know how to frame criticism correctly. If you took a moment to read your posts, you might notice a lot of bashing of other posters. This is a double standard. Also, Demi had a multiple episode contract for 6 shows and her screen time was probably less than 30 minutes. The same could be said about Adam, if you don’t count the musical numbers with the band. I’m still mystified that they would bring in these two amazing talents and not give them more screen time. One solo for Adam and none for Demi. Crazy. I took a moment to reread my posts. I haven’t bashed a single poster personally. The only thing I’ve been critical of is the way in which these posters carry out their business. If it matters to you, I do think some particulars on both sides are being idiotically callous. Its no scot-free justification, but one would kind of expect and anticipate a die-hard fan to take things personally if their person gets attacked. Which IS what is happening. Less explainable is the mean spirited laughter and schadenfreude that occurs unprovoked, from people that make it their personal mission to insult the actor at every turn. And yeah, it was NUTS that they didn’t give Demi a solo. I’m assuming your point in bringing up her 30 minute slot was to paint a picture of how bleak it is that anything productive will come with the Shirley’s stint. It saddens me abit but I can agree its bleak. I hope it’s proven wrong. Enough Blaine, please.. YES!!! IM SO EXCITED!! Well hot dayum Everyone is getting focus, haters. Not only Blaine. You should pay more attention… :P Really when is the last time Sam sang more than a line or two, or Kurt get something that didn’t revolve around Blaine. Even Rachel is background to Blaine most of the time. She had to have a duet with him so Darren can pretend he is a bway baby. He isn’t even very good. Tonight Kurt is getting his own storyline? And oddly enough it has a lot to do with Rachel, which many of his storylines do. Get your facts straight. Better Rachel that Blaine. Chris needs a good screen partner to shine. Burt is not there. Again: better Rachel that Blaine Sam sang on a couple of songs the last episode and he is getting a big story with Mercedes. Kurt is getting his own story tonight and he has had other stories too including starting his own band. Kurt has a band, plus he had a Vogue internship, neither of which revolved around Blaine. Hahaha, more focus for Blaine! I’m going to enjoy it while I laugh at haters’ butthurt. im gonna laugh when ratings drop under 0,8 cause of Blee :) well we are part of one fandom allright. Being part of something special together. Damn, you beat me to it. Wow, a tv series must be soooo lucky to have you as their fan. yup I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. I just do not get it. Have you tried letting the hate go? Deep breaths. I love her. I hope we get some scenes with her and chris while not a huge fan of Blaine (Darren is a great human though), but very excitied to see Shirley MacLaine on glee, she is wonderful actress. Why people cant just admit that Blaine is the best male singer in Glee, thats why he gets more solos and storylines than the other guys, its exactly what happens with Rachel and i dont hear a lot of people complaining every post of Glee. Would you rather have Sam in this storyline or Kurt ? They are not better singers and dancers than Darren Criss. In all honesty i dont care that much for Blaine but i see his appeal. He’s not the best male singer on Glee as long as Matthew Morrison and Kevin McHale are around. Darren’s weak voice belongs on YouTube or in the back of a Starbucks at best. Totally, agree with you. Matthew Morrison beats him hands down. Kevin McHale is so smooth so much better. I know there is a preference, but, really, DC, is not all that. Darren Criss the best male singer? He completely butchered Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter” and especially Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now”. He overacts his “gay character” to the point of being offensive and his dancing is average at best. You’re totally right, Darren’s voice is weak and his dancing is average. THAT must be why he was a broadway star! Seriously laughing at all of you blaine/darren haters right now. Focus your energy on something productive, not on hating a talented, genuine person like Darren Criss. He was NOT a Broadway star. He was a stunt cast, 2 week fill-in. Brought in because they knew mindless tweens like you would buy tickets no matter how bad he was. Which is why no true critic came in to review him and the Broadway blogs were full of people saying how weak his voice was, his dancing wasn’t up to par and his fans had no manners. Hahaha. Seriously though, darren haters SLAY me. The guy has a great voice (apparently not as good as yours though, how’s your singing career going?), has been writing music since he was a kid, was a movie star, and has done nothing but good with the opportunities he has been given. And alongside that, he is one of the nicest people out there. The jealousy in this world amazes me. People can’t handle that someone is doing better than they are, no matter how hard they have worked for their success. Get over yourselves. Notice you couldn’t refute any of the facts concerning the truth about his stunt casting. Who the hell has the nerve to mention doing two weeks on Broadway (which was the only time permitted for him) as if its a SHAMEFUL thing ????? What ?????? Also using your clear knowledge that it was only weeks, did you ever think that was the reason why he wasn’t reviewed? Or why his dancing wasn’t up to par ? Fans will be fans, but don’t go around turning your nose up at people who were headlining in Broadway for ,oh dear, only two weeks while juggling all sorts of things for their career. You sit here and spew negativity. Meanwhile he’s there, putting his “mediocre” singing/dancing out there for the world to see and judge and being productive with his life. Does it piss you off that he’s getting somewhere with it? I don’t get it. Popularity doesn’t make you good. Look at Justin Bieber, One Direction and Miley Cyrus. How is his “gay” overacted? I know lots of people just like it. Now if you want gay overacting just look at little Kurtsey. He has played up to his “gay character” way too much since when he first appeared it’s like he thought “whoops I’m not gay enough”. Give us an example of his “overacted gayness”. According to you, there’s only a certain level of gay you can act before its too gay. I’m listening. There was a behind the scenes where Darren flat out told us that he purposefully raises his voice higher when he plays Blaine. What exactly is the purpose of that except thinking that to play a gay character, he has to have a higher voice than his normal one. Scott, I know plenty of annoying gay boys like Blaine too but I also know plenty like Kurt so trying to make your point by degrading Kurt and saying he’s overacting when Chris’s actually one of the best actors on this little show is ridiculous. At least Chris’s voice is naturally at that level so it’s not as though he’s like Darren and thinks he has to purposefully raise it just to show he’s gay. I recall an interview with Chris where he said he pitches up and adds breathiness to his voice as Kurt. Several other characters, like Rachel, Mercedes and Marley, have higher speaking voices than the actresses who play them. I’d say they speak higher to help show the audience that their characters are younger than they are. Its not unheard of to have a different voice for a role. In fact, it’s common. For a lot of actors, especially if you are playing a single role for years, it helps them consistently transition into how they’ve conceptualize their characters. To conclude that this happens because he thinks this is how gay people should sound seems like a stretch, and ignores so many other UNoffensive reasons for why an actor would ever change voice. Chris won the Emmy for Season 1 is because he played a character in distress (reporting on why he was nominated). In Season 2 he had Blaine and was happy. No awards for happy. Raising one’s voice or wearing the costume isn’t what gets an actor an award, it’s the writing of a complicated character. Glee actors are at a disadvantage because it competes in the category of TV Comedy, while it is really as much drama as it is comedy. Comedy has been almost non-existent the past two seasons. Oh another delusional Blarrenstan. He himself has admitted he has a pop voice and it’s weak. But live in your delusions. Not the best actor though, and the more material he is given, the more noticeable that is. Has he ever been given a really meaty storyline? Well that’s really the issue. He’s been given more material without any of the depth. He hasn’t been given a meaty story line and I think its time he does. I also agree he isn’t the best actor in a long shot, but its makes no sense that he’s constantly being singled out and compared to that standard. he is terrible. he doesn’t have range. I’d rather JGroff come back and show him how its done. (MM and Kevin McHale not bad either) Interestingly, Jon was criticized in the press for not being male enough to play straight, which surprised me. I knew he was gay, but thought he played straight really well. I have no idea what the standards are for either straight or gay unless it’s on the fringes like Kurt (way more feminine). WTF? Everyone is way more better than him….Kevin, Chris, Mark and even Jacob!!!! GLEE CHECK YOUR RATINGS ENOUGH WITH THE BLEE SHOW!!!!! Please stop acting like he has anything to do with Glee’s ratings, it’s pathetic. The show sharply declined all season 3, when the main focus was the seniors and Finchel especially. They couldn’t even get a 1.2 when all the ~~~~originals~~~~ came back. You sound really dumb. We had Finchell in Season one and two during great ratings and they were a focus both seasons. So to put that on them is inaccurate. They spent the entire season focusing on the seniors leaving, we were saying goodbye to them all season. It was like watching the show a slow death. However, I do remember being frustrated with all the songs the Warblers were getting and probably it is just a coincidence that the ratings started to fall once Blaine moved to McKinley and was featured – even over Kurt. It hasn’t been the Blee show – if you feel it has, its only because you’re so focused on how much you hate him, of course it overtakes everything =_= EXACTLY! These haters accuse Darren of not having enough talent to be the male lead, as if Corny Monteith (may he rest in peace) was Fred effing Astaire? Give me a break! Darren and Lea are CLEARLY the most talented male and female respectively on the show, and they both have the most star power. It makes perfect sense why they would be front and center and in fact, Lea still gets more front and center storylines than Darren. Cory got lots of accolades from legitimate reviewers for his acting. The Finn and Rachel chemistry was talked about often. The reason Darren may get so many songs is because he is considered a weak actor. Lately, I have seen more and more reviewers, not fan run sites, wondering where the Klaine chemistry has gone. Darren is not the lead male, my guess is Chris is. People forget that Darren tried out for the character of Finn and did not get it. Darren could never show the nuance of acting that Cory did. There is no comparison. Lea has more talent than Darren hands down. “Nuance of acting” from Cory??? LMAO. Give me a break. I love Darren/Blaine/Klaine but even I wouldn’t say Darren shows nuance of acting. But he can sing, he can dance, and he has charisma which Cory (god rest his soul) did NOT have. You’re talking like Cory was some major thespian and vocalist when most of his scenes consisted of him looking constipated and goat-bleeting his way through an 80’s rock ballad with minimal vocal requirements. and whatever it was that Cory did SOLD hundreds of thousands of downloads. That cannot be said of Darren or Chris. Granted Lea sang most of the songs as lead, but Cory provided the key balance of male/female to make it work. The Klaine chemistry was gone because they never had a scene alone together minus phone call scenes and sitting next to each other during a song, scenes. Which of course, you’d think people who didn’t like Klaine would be happy about but no, ” Ew, no chemistry now” is what we got. And then of course, when they shared intimate scenes together, we got ” EW so much Klaine”. Its hypocrisy. You have no idea why Darren couldn’t be Finn, and saying it like that was a FACT instead of you just making blank assumptions makes your argument invalid. For all we know its because he didn’t have the feel they were looking for. Not getting a part doesn’t always translate to “because he wasn’t a good enough actor” I doubt Cory could’ve landed the Blaine either. the Blaine role* Darren Criss is the only actor to have the distinction of having been said to have given “the worst acting on Glee” by a reputable television reviewer, so I wouldn’t brag about him. He’s mediocre through and through and there’s a reason his biggest accolade is a Teen Choice surfboard. Call me when he has the acting chops of Golden Globe winner Colfer, Tony Award nominee Morrison, or the way more skilled singer McHale. Yeah, that’s definitely not CLEARLY the case. Getting more storylines don’t equal being the most talented. Chris has gotten far more critical praise for his acting than Darren ever has. Puh-lease. Yes I would rather have Sam – personally I think he has the best voice… or Kevin. Yes Darren is versatile but god he’s had more solos than any of the other guys and it’s beyond a joke at this point. Also, Rachel/Lea is actually the lead of the show, of course she’s going to get the most and so she should! He gets more solos and storylines because his over the top fans are more vocal about their screaming admiration of him and Glee is desperate for ratings so they hope that appealing to those vocal fans could help (except that it hasn’t and rating have steadily decreased). I would definitely not call him the best male singer on Glee. He’s not terrible but he doesn’t have the range that most of the other guys do and you can hear it when he’s constantly straining his voice on a lot of the songs (Best Day of My Life actually hurt my ears to listen to him a few times). I haven’t seen these awesome dance moves of Blaine’s either, he just kind of runs around stage. There are a lot of people that actually complain about Rachel getting too many storylines too so I don’t know where your comment on that came from. Yeah I would actually prefer for the storylines to go to Kurt or Artie if I had to choose one of the males left on the show. Sam and Blaine both tend to over-act far too much for me to enjoy it when the show decides to give them a whole storyline (I still cringe at Puppet Master…). Haters are so mad and I love it. Blaine is a very popular character, get over it. That is the question why is he popular when he is so average. think whatever you want, that doesn’t change the fact that he is beloved your butthurt is delicious I just hate so much potential in the show is wasted on this a$$ hat and his entitle fans. He is “beloved” because Ryan Murphy clearly wants to bang him. clearly you want to bang ryan murphy. hey they are trying to kill of kurt they have him get beaten up and sent to the hospital that’s not cool in my book I love kurt and I want him and blain get married who aggress with me? He’s getting an multi-episode arc. I would think that should be entitled to you if you were a member of the Glee cast. I would like to know why they think he is so popular. Using Twitter as one piece of data, Lea has 4.36 million followers, Chris who passed Cory after he died is 2.39, then it’s Cory, followed by Dianna at 1.91 and then Darren at 1.7, Chord is further down the list. Naya is ahead of him. Where is the popularity gauge? There is probably no more than a couple dozen people on these message boards. He is popular with Ryan Murphy, who loves song and dance men. Yeah, that’s why Darren has won a People’s Choice Award………oh, wait. Who cares. you don’t need a people choice award to get a plot on the bleeding show. xD omg. literally only two cast members have had one and they got their own special guest stars already. Three. It is official I hate glee, oops I mean Blee. So, Glee didn’t just leave McKinley and the Glee Club behind, it left the entire cast behind in favour of the new Fox show “Blee” starring Darren Criss and written by his biggest (and only) fans Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk. I honestly don’t get why people come onto articles that are OBVIOUSLY about Blaine if they’re just going to complain about him…………. yes so maybe RIB will see not everyone bows down to the mediocrity of Darren Criss. They look pretty fabulous together You say that like the writers aren’t already receiving tweets from haters about Blaine and Darren……Seriously though, post all the hate you want, at the end of the day, Darren is staying on Glee, making more money than ANY of you haters who just sit on their butts writing mean comments. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ including you :) I KNOW RIGHT????? He is making more money than me also, but guess what? I actually support him. I don’t need to sit around hating on people who are more successful than me and get all butt hurt that others can acknowledge that. ;) eh, I am not butthurt as you keep on saying, more like sad. And concern about mental health of RIB and slightly about their eye sight also. Glee was great before it turned into Blam Blee Blam. nah, you sound butt hurt to me. You’re going out of your way just to diss Blaine and Darren and act like he’s the reason for the ratings dropping. You can be mad about the writing, because everyone can see it’s not as good as it used to be. My original post is talking about people who come on articles complaining over and over about Blaine when the article is clearly about Blaine. Why put yourself through that? You don’t like him, so what. At least he’s actually getting some kind of storyline that can be about just his character for once. Glee is no where near Blee because it’s very much still the “Rachel Berry Show”. actually I was here more cause of Shirley MacLaine. See I adore her, I was very disappointed that they are gonna waste her playing alongside Darren. I do wonder thou, if shes gonna give him some acting tips or show him that he can actually do more than just one facial expression… hmmm, maybe her playing alongside him is actually a good thing after all :) And that’s what I’m talking about right there!!! You knew this article was about Shirley being in Blaine’s storyline and you’re trying to insult Darren as an actor. Get over yourself, seriously. Darren is staying and if the ratings drop lower (like you think) then so be it. You can convince yourself that Darren is the main reason this show has lost fans and ignore the general writing all you want. At the end of the day he can sing and he can act. You don’t have to agree to this because there are still thousands who see him for who he is and are not out to hate on every move he makes. :) For someone who “adores Shirley Maclaine” you sure don’t have alot of faith in her if you think she’ll be wasted by an actor you don’t like. Just admit it, you just want another forum to voice your disgust and negativity…and to complained about how its all about the “Blee/Blam” show when its clearly not. Have you even been watching Glee lately or is this just fueled from old episodes??? I have stopped watching Blaines scenes mid season 4. Wash and repeat with his acting or lack thereof. I dont hate, I think that is an emotion that takes too much energy for me to waste. Umm I adore Shirley, I have for many many years now, and I have faith in her. I on the other hand have zero faith in Darren. in 4 years he has shown no improvement in his acting ability, so yeah thats that :) I am sure he is a swell guy, he is an ok singer but all you Darren/Blaine lovers can go blue with defending him, but the fact is, he cannot act. Also, this is only 1 “forum” I comment on, cause I actually like this site and well geezeee I am sorry for expressing my opinion. Actually I am, not sorry about that :) Also I have stated many times that writing has been horrible on the show, but that does not excuse for bad acting either. Blaine is not the only character that has bad story line and yet others cant actually make it work… I have to disagree with this. There have been so many times I couldn’t believe a performance in Glee and many MANY of them were because they were not given a good enough story arc to flesh out. Most recent example I can think of is all the reviews critiquing Mercedes and Sams performance in the last one. For the most part, the complaints were that it was too unbelievable, one was underacting, the other was over, etc. and that poor writing made the whole thing seem to unfold too quickly. It’s hard to give a good performance when the writers decide that you need to at-random act a certain way just to fulfill the “lesson” of that episode. Your argument might be that you hate ALL of Darren’s scenes. I on the other hand, think he nails them when given the ONE consistent arc Blaine’s ever been given – the Klaine one. I’ve also enjoyed and could easily believe many ones outside of that(and please ask me so I have a reason to flip through every scene he’s been and catalog the ones I enjoyed) Is he a perfect actor ? Hell no. Are ALL his performances impeccable? Also hell no. But his screw ups are no worse than ones I’ve seen from other actors given the same crap writing and sometimes even those blessed with better writing. By the way, I’m posting this because I’m assuming you MEANT to say ” Blaine is not the only character that has a bad story line and yet others CAN actually make it work” and not ” cant”(which was what was typed) If you actually meant “can’t” then it seems we’re on some common ground here. However, I doubt this. You CANT be serious about this. You think you’re doing someone a favor by being a troll ? Still waiting on hiring Lea Salonga though. I thought this was going to be about her for a hot minute. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd watch the ratings plummet even more now. LOL. They really just won’t give up with him! At least the writing is a lot better writing is better cause the last few episodes were written by RIB, its back to the writers who butchered the show I’m not sure the ratings can get much lower. Outside of shows that just completely flopped in their first season has any Fox show really gone .8 or lower? I’m excited about this! I love them both. :3 i’m so excited!!! I’m so excited for this story and for Darren to get to work with her. Can’t wait! Once again, Blaine being the special snowflake who doesn’t work for anything. The idea of him making it on his own is so unbelievable that they have to bring on a sugar momma to buy his way into ‘success’. And it was so believable that Rachel got the leading role in a Broadway play her very first time trying or where Mercedes got a record deal almost immediately after selling her cds on the street? I don’t ever see anybody complaining about them. Blaine deserves his shot at making it big just like they did. So stop with the hate and just don’t watch if you don’t like the way things are going. lol people DO complain about Rachel, Mercedes and Kurt getting big time things unrealistically (I imagine if you actually spent time in fandom outside of Blaine you’d know that), but you know the difference between them and Blaine? All three of them have actually failed before. They have had moments where they have not gotten what they wanted, Mercedes and Kurt especially (they play second fiddle to Rachel and Blaine all the time). Until Blaine fails, him repeatedly succeeding is going to be ridiculous beyond compare. …when the complaint about something is ” Yeah I cant believe these people are getting lucky at all but I cant believe it for this guy MORE” the error really is in poor writing… *sighs*…anyways, this article wasn’t about blaine actually making it as a superstar. it was alluding to him getting a shot at it. we don’t know if he fails or succeeds… but its not fair to scream bloody murder before we find anything conclusive out…. if anything, it wouldn’t make sense for him to make it as a superstar this early with a whole season to go. one thing is for sure though… alot of people need to put away the hysterics and blame-fingers right now. So excited. Can’t wait for thier performance. awesome!! i adore shirley maclaine and the fact that she’ll be interacting with my favorite character makes it even better! let’s just hope she doesn’t go the way of patty duke and meredith baxter. If those rumors are true, I bet MacLaine’s character is the one to take Blaine off the series regular cast by next season lol. OMG, I think (HOPE!) you’re onto something with this. What rumors? Please spill. “Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, and Darren Criss will most assuredly stay on until the series end. Ditto the major story arcs.” Yeah uh huh. Not that I think any of them will be gone, but LOL at you taking this as gospel from the same place that reported that the show was going to send Kurt to Russia. Except she wrote that article after directly interviewing cast/writers at the Glee 100th party. I don’t think she pulled it out of thin air. At least the fact that he’s staying came from a much more reliable source than the one that said he was leaving (lol blind gossip). She cited the information as coming from “sources,” not directly from the showrunners (which she would have if they had told her that). Well, I figured since they are going to shorten to 20 episodes this season, then a possible full 24 episodes for season 6 that the creative thinkers might “rethink” the story arcs for the future of the series of Glee. Especially, since the ratings have given the execs the need to alter their path for Glee. They need to re evaluate their ideas of who they fixate on, what story to tell and how to tell it, no PSAs. They need to remember what they had last season as story lines and the eventual decline of viewers over the season. I swear, they must realize the hate there is for the Mary Sue things they’re always doing with him, yet they continue to do it. And their ratings are so bad. They’re just making it even worse for themselves. It’d be so easy to believe these rumors, because it makes so much sense to think that this is intended to be an arc for his character where by near the end of the season, he’ll have to make a choice between staying at NYADA to be with Kurt and their friends, or attaining superstardom. One could only hope he’d choose the latter and we’d be free of him at last, but it’d be too good to be true. Its strange… you said “they” “they” “they” clearing alluding to the writers right ? So you’re aware someone is at fault that isn’t blaine or the actor that portrays him…yet your solution is all about hoping “we’ll be rid of him at last”. What the hell does that solve ? Certainly not the root of the issue. For continuity’s sake, it just doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t it make more sense to say ” I hope they get rid of the writers that write those Mary Sue things for Blaine and think its good enough…?” God I hope so. I might actually start watching again. Well it could be true but then I would probably stop watching. Color me intrigued! Very excited to see where this goes. :) we did it kids so so so happy. OMG YAY!!! i can’t waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait! LOL Blaine haters. lol Blaine lovers with no taste. We have the best taste please let the door hit you on your way out :) The same door that all the other millions viewers who are not watching Blee anymore went through. Enjoy your precious snowflake as long as the show lasts with those ratings below 1.0. Sure. use the same door. freedom and all that. Ugh while Blaine gets storylines like these the better singers (and actors) Artie and Kurt get sidelined. Well, looks like Blam fully took over Glee then. What a shame. …Artie and Kurt getting sidelined…………What………..When has that happened? Kurt AND Artie has been having re-occuring arcs since season 1. Blaine only had episode long issues. NO storylines. hAHAHA Rachel is on Broadway but people call Blaine’s storyline “unrealistic”. And mercedes got a record deal from selling disks in a parking lot i thought she was gonna play his grandma for a sec. Lea was on Broadway as a child and with no stunt casting, it’s completely realistic that Rachel (with her same talent) makes it on. Darren only made it on for a couple of weeks to fill seats in between the real performers taking the role. And Santana was going to be an understudy, and Brittany got into MIT. I have no problem in the silly plots, glee has always had silly plots. . My problem is they keep pushing Blaine and Darren is not a very good actor. He is in so mcuh of the show and the BTS and promos and everything and he just does not need to be the focus when there are more interesting characters and better actors and singers in NY. The promos are done by his girlfriend. Enough said. When did your opinion actually become a guideline for how they should run a show? You do not like Blaine or Darren, which is valid, but it does not negate the other people who do. Your opinion is not more important nor is it better than any other person’s opinion. Have you considered that the reason why hes in so many of the promos isn’t because they think he’s the best actor 4evar ? There’s so many circumstances that might explain why he’s upfront in the promos (i.e. He’s comfortable talking directly into a camera, there’s a real interest in him) so it doesn’t make sense to assume it’s simply because he’s the biggest and greatest actor/singer. At least Rachel’s actor Lea is talented. talent is subjective. I think Darren has it in heaps. and he’s a good human. Even Darren knows his voice is limited. And really come pn be honest his acting is limited too. sure but what he does with it is kinda magic. to me anyway. He’s not talented, and he’s a smarmy idiot to boot. like jean said, that’s subjective… Seriously? It happens a lot when a person is incredibly talented and fits the part she had been obsessing about most of her life. That is not a stretch. The stretch was Santana doing one song and becoming the understudy. I don’t think Blaine’s story is unrealistic, in fact I think it’s very realistic that some people (mostly cute white guys) seem to have charmed lives without having to work very hard. oh wow <3 Darren and Shirley MacLaine oh please no more Blaine BLAINE <33333 the best thing about the show. Followed closely by Kurt <33333 That sounds great! I am so excited. i love both of them, can’t wait! I love Blaine and I am excited for this! Did Chris write this. He and Darren heart Downton Abbey. Oh man, I’m excited for this! love Blaine and can’t wait to see him continue to tackle NYC. :) I’d almost feel bad for all of you bitter Blaine haters if you weren’t such jerks. Those butthurt and bitter haters above are giving me joy. I like how Kurt’s story lines involve him getting hit with a brick to the head, while Blaine’s involve him becoming a superstar. There is quite a disconnect between how the gay characters on this show are treated, and it’s disturbing. lbr they’re all gonna be superstars by the end of the show. It’s cute how those haters try to pretend they care about Kurt when they just want to bash Blaine. It’s cute how you can’t actually refute the uneven treatments of the “alpha” gay and the effiminate gay. Yeah, Kurt gets to mary with Blaine in the end. Everybody happy! blaine and rachel big superstars and Kurt in the audience every night to cheer them on! Whoohooo! Is it true kurt and blaine will get married in the ending of glee Will klaine get married Will kurt and blaine get married in the ending of glee that’s good new to hear Well next week Kurt’s character is going to soar and Blaine is going to fail. Kurt’s character has had big success with vogue.com and his band and he will have success at NYADA. And Blaine was severely beaten for being gay. Kurt is only allowed to soar next week to contrast how Blaine is failing at NYADA so Blaine can leave the school and get scooped up by Shirley’s character and become a “star.” And “severely beaten” is you adding words that were never said on the show. actually, it is canon that Blaine had the “crap beaten out of him,” at the Sadie Hawkins, which, in most cases, means a fight that ended with injuries. ^ No one pays attention to this. Its like, just because they didn’t explicitly show it, it didn’t happen It’s canon that Blaine said this happened but it’s also a fact that unless the audience sees it, what a character says can be subjective. For all we know, Blaine considers getting a punch to the stomach and then the guys running away as getting the crap beaten out of him (which while still not acceptable, isn’t the same as landing a person in the hospital). The perfect time to bring it up would’ve been to show that Blaine was worried about going to Sadie Hawkins because of his experience at the last one NOT because he was crushing on straight boy Sam. Blame the writers but the fact that Blaine himself seems to have so easily forgotten about it, I don’t see it as a big deal. Point is, I don’t see the disturbing disconnect between the two. Why is this being brought up? And whats does the “OP” suggest to alleviate his issue with this? For instance, Kurt witnessed a fight and intervened. Does he suggest that the next episode about Blaine be about Blaine also intervening a fight and getting bashed too…? Should two seperate gay characters always have correlating stories ? (Heck, Id love it if Blaine did something and came out of it stronger, but I certainly don’t need to see more brick action ) Yes, clearly the only thing that would make this less disturbing is to have both Kurt and Blaine have their characters head bashed in with a brick. You know, to keep things consistent with how gays are treated. The very best part of every Darren related Glee story is the whining haters who arrive to inform people how wrong they are about him, his talent, his appeal, etc. How’s that working for you (since season 2)? Does it seem like Fox or Columbia or the show runners or the media agree with you? Keep trying though. It’s clearly working! good job we don’t pay attention. Don’t pat yourself on the back too hard, Fox may not care but the fans of Glee obviously do. Have you noticed the ratings lately? Ask yourself if there is any correlation. We’re renewed for a sixth season. so ratings only matter so much. actually they matter even less now. Keep telling yourself that. They already got rid of the noobs after they got renewed for a 6th season, so there’s no telling what they’ll do next if the ratings keep dropping. You really correlate this to one guy ? Seriously ? Wow. Glee has like lost 10 millions viewers or something….

- The fact you're called Subject DELTA implies that, even with all the screwed up stuff you learn about your past,there were 3 more before you. - In one of Alexander's Audio Diaries, they mention that they were currently testing Subject Sigma. Its implied that Delta may be the only one with sanity and considering later events, it is implied that Alpha Series Big Daddies are still being made. Makes it something of a relief that you actually get to play Sigma, huh? - Actually, they stopped production on Alpha Series (with Delta and Sigma being the only sane ones)... well, Sofia Lamb actually had one more Alpha Series produced, which acts as the final boss of the game: Augustus Sinclair. - Amusement park animatronics are naturally creepy already. So what about damaged, vandalized, abandoned ones that spew propaganda? Hell, even Ryan himself said he was creeped out by them. - Then you see Ryan's own animatron at the very end of the park. Only, by now, it's seen much better days when it still looked at least human. - Sofia Lamb. - "This is not your daughter. Her name is Eleanor, and she is mine." There is no love in this voice. No affection. Merely possessiveness. Lamb sees Eleanor solely as something belonging to her, to mold and shape as she sees fit. And then she tells you to remove your helmet, put a pistol to your temple... - With a plasmid that you probably have used in the previous game. - And that you'll probably use in this game still. Hypnotize Level 3. - Don't think of it in terms of Big Daddy/Little Sister. Think of it as a father watching his daughter watch him commit forced suicide. -. - Early in the game the player comes across a photo reading "Rapture's best and brightest 1952". Who's on it? Tenenbaum, Cohen, Alexander, Ryan, Lamb, and Suchong. Tenebaum looking nervous and childlike, Cohen looking oddly warped, Alexander distant and unfocussed, Ryan glaring at the camera, Lamb smiling calmly, and Suchong utterly indifferent. In other words it perfectly captures everything that makes each character scary. Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words. - LAMB IS WATCHING - And now here is another take on that... - And she is. BOTH of them. And if you've been bad, well....Eleanor wants to be exactly like her daddy. - Being able to overhear the conversations that the Splicers have with each other, often the perfect balance of lucid and deranged:Male Splicer 1: "Canned beans! (laughs stupidly) We're gonna be rich!"Female Splicer: (sarcastic) "Oh yes, if you like filth and slime, it's positively divine!"Male Splicer 2: "Well la-ti-da, princess!The next time you're eating out of the garbage, you think of me!"Female Splicer: "A lady has to have some standards! (begins sobbing).Male Splicer: "We got plans for you, sweetheart"Female Splicer: "Unhand me at once!"Male Splicer: "Paid good money."Female Splicer: "I ain't no hooker!"Male Splicer: "He he he."Female Splicer: "(Screaming) HELP!" - The Baby Jane splicers are big on the above, mixed with Tearjerker when you realize she was an actress forced into prostitution, veering around to Fridge Horror (in light of the prostitution) when you've got a Little Sister with you."Why would you bring a kid?!" - Whenever her delusions about audiences and gofers weren't making you laugh, they were extremely unnerving. Granted, this is while the splicer is attacking you, but that doesn't make whatever they're reliving any better."You sick bastard!""I've got my limits!""You're hurting me!""This wasn't part of the deal!""Get away or I'll scream!""Help! He's in my room!" - The Big Sister! No matter how many times they signal their presence with that high pitched scream, it never loses its effectiveness. You'll still be madly scrambling about, trying to set up a perimeter for their imminent arrival. - It doesn't help that you can often look out the windows and see them swimming around, seemingly stalking you. - It's even worse than that. Later in the game we found out that while her sanity might've been impacted, Lamb's Utopian project wouldn't change Eleanor physically, because Little Sisters are immune to the negative effects of splicing. That means that under the armored shell of every needle-bearing assassin sent to make you pay, there's a perfectly normal-looking teenage girl who has been driven mad by the programming they were under for most of their childhood, and kept under Lamb's control by another round of programming before being put in her suit, and forced to do Lamb's bidding. And you can't save them. They're too far gone. You can only frantically riddle them with bullets with the knowledge that it's you or her. - There's Ryan Amusements, an Objectivist-themed amusement park meant to "educate" kids about the dangers of the outside world. Even Andrew Ryan himself thinks the Nightmare Fuel is overdone, noting the Uncanny Valley quality of the figurines. There are giant hands that would be sitting around, ready to represent whatever Ryan didn't like. Ryan animatronics that you can whack the head and arms off and the torsos continue to twitch around. The last one is mangled and strung up hanging from the ceiling. - It's sickening once all the farmer's limbs are taken off, and once the animatronic starts, the farmer's headless, limbless body is just...jerking around. - Perhaps most disturbing is the audio diaries. Apparently, once the populace started to revolt against Ryan, he had many parts of Rapture quartered off, one place being the park. You come across a series of audio diaries from a teacher leading a field trip when the park was closed off. You get to follow along as she and all the students slowly die of starvation. - Although, it's implied that (some of) the children did survive, as the teacher and some other adults gave them all their food. What happened to the children afterwards, though, is probably not worth speculating on... - Siren Alley. The brothel area has its multitude of dead hookers pinned to the walls and ceiling with speargun ammo. "Subject Delta, I want you to commit this moment to memory for me - this howling, brutish slog through the dark. This is who we are. Look, Delta, this is the world for which you strive. You... alone... among the dead." - The end of the level when the place starts to flood and Lamb chimes in to add another layer of creepy to things. - In a certain area of the game where you're told, specifically, EVERYONE DIED OF DROWNING, you come across a disjointed audio log from a shy little boy who has a crush on a Little Sister. It's heavily implied he was killed by her Big Daddy, or drowned when the place flooded. - It's even worse because, before Fridge Horror sets in, that's about the happiest audio diaries you come across. - Add to that that another audio diary from the boy's mother (and yet another one on the website) imply her husband and the boy's father was taken away to be made into a Big Daddy...it's possible. - You discover the fate of the father in a diary in the cells of Inner Persephone. He... escaped. - At one point, you can find a 'Present to the yellow-eyed girl', presumably from the above boy. It contains a single rose. Tear Jerker indeed. - On the plus side, it's implied that the Big Daddy was going to deliver the present to her. - Cohen's Collection. Listen carefully when you start up the gathering event in the area. You can hear Cohen laughing... - Gil Alexander's fate. - When confronted with that... thing, you have the option of either fulfilling the person it used to be's final request for euthanasia, or letting it live, after it promises to "go outside." Now imagine that ◊ swimming around in the cold, lightless depths of the Atlantic... - It's worse, from a psychological aspect, when you actually have no idea which is the 'good' option. Then you either walk out of there and live with the guilt of having let that thing continue it's reign of terror, or you kill him... and get that image burned into your mind for awhile. If you let him live, later on when you go through the eyes of a Little Sister, you'll find a statue of Delta pulling a man out of a sea-monster's mouth. - Worse is imagining that swimming around in the very brightly illuminated depths near Persephone. Whatever is at the bottom of that trench, it's been hinted to be the ultimate source of ADAM. Gil can't avoid seeking the stuff, as revealed by the plants attracting him to the front of his tank even when he knew that they could kill him. Imagine what might happen if he found his way down to the bottom of the trench and gorged himself for decades on more ADAM than he could possibly consume. - The fate of Mark Meltzer, who went to Rapture looking for his daughter Cindy who was kidnapped and turned into a Little Sister, and he wound up being turned into a Big Daddy so he could be with her. Then you wind up killing him near the end of the game, but you can still save Cindy. - Seeing Rapture through the eyes of a Little Sister. The fact that everything is beautiful and sunny, with rose petals across the ground and butterflies floating around only makes it THAT. MUCH. WORSE. - Especially when you get short flashes of how it actually looks. - The rose petals are blood stains on the floor. Also, all the walls and ceilings seem to be covered in the same stuff as a padded cell. - Really doesn't help that you get to listen to the echoes of creepy laughter every few seconds if you decide to hang around long enough to harvest ADAM and collect items. - Or that they see the Big Sister armor as Tiara (the helmet), pretty dress (the suit) and silk glove (the weapons). When I grow up I wanna be a princess! - The silent splicers. - The little sisters always see this...every second, a perfect world where no one gets hurt and nothing is scary. This is due to the conditioning they went through. When you rescue a little sister, you remove this perfect dream world, throwing them permanently into a world of sheer horror, death and destruction. When you don't, the little sister's see nothing but their daddy there, ripping out the very thing keeping them alive. Their last thing they see is the one they trust most of all murdering them, most likely staying in their perfect little dream world. - Somewhat mitigated by the fact that, after playing the first game, it seems likely that the programming persists after the Little Sisters are rescued ( the ones that you escort around still find your appearance as a Big Daddy beautiful, and apparently still want to harvest corpses, despite no longer having their ADAM slug). This, of course, brings up a lot of questions about what life would be like on the surface for the ones that you have the option of rescuing. Coupled with the fact that their programming starts to decay as they get older and that it can lead to insanity if it's not been deliberately broken, this gives a new dimension to the good endings to both games. Even after leaving Rapture, the Sisters aren't out of the woods yet. However, the ending of the first game shows the little sisters growing up. They seem to adjust to it just fine. - According to Gil Alexander's audio diaries, when the original Little Sisters grew up, their programming started to decay, and they became feral and insanely aggressive: in other words, picture the first option mentioned in the entry above... and inflict it on a teenager who has spent years happily wandering her own dreamworld, and by now has enough ADAM-induced superpowers to be extremely dangerous. After suddenly experiencing the real world after a decade of comfortable hallucinations and learning that everything there is trying to kill you, going insane is horrifyingly understandable. - When you find the Big Sister suit and reality intrudes, you can hear drilling and someone screaming. For all we know, that might be Sinclair! - Almost the entire endgame in the Persephone penitentiary facility. You find out a ton about the experiments that each Little Sister experienced, including some wonderful audio logs which reveal, in succession, how they feel pain, due to one jumping from a balcony and breaking her legs, and how they had to re-break her legs and reposition them a ton of times because of the Little Sister's healing factor, to how they tested blocking the pain receptors and had the Little Sisters chew their own tongues off out of ignorance . Gah! - The Pediatric Wards where the cribs are all surrounded by monitors with the terrifying image of Dr. Lamb staring down at them. - The Recreational Therapy paintings. Big Sisters, looming figures with bright red faceplates. ◊ Corpses floating in water. A person just ''screaming'' in anguish and terror. ◊ Rapture in the first game was bad enough, but imagine living through that for ten years and you have a feeling how much of a mental wreck the Splicers must be. - Hell, even the loading music for Inner Persephone is unsettling. Appropriately it is an old Artie Shaw song called "Nightmare." - Even if you've been a paragon of virtue, Eleanor is still terrifying. She's every bit as aggressive as any other Big Sister, and, in between slicing up legions of splicers, can be heard to shout things like "This one died alone and afraid! Stand in our way and you'll get the same!" - Just think: not only was Sofia prepared to smother her daughter, she was standing there, waiting to do it. And she waited until Delta was there and would have to watch. - The Little Sister Training Facility is pretty unsettling in its own right, once you find out how the little sisters are trained. There are two buttons on a wall in that area. One of them is labeled with a picture of a Big Daddy, and the other with a picture of a normal person. Pressing the first gives you a free bag of chips, the latter shocks you. This is the EXACT same method that is used to train lab rats. These little girls are LAB RATS, nothing more. It's as chilling as it is tragic. - Using a fully-upgraded Hypnotize on Sinclair in his Big Daddy form. He brokenly pleads for death while fighting the mind control. Listening to him beg in that horribly strained and desperate voice is horrifying. Having to hear anyone do that... - The Spider Splicers. Dear mother of God and all her wacky nephews, the frigging Spider Splicers. - Especially the one in the movie theater area of Dionysus Park. You find yourself in a totally abandoned toilet block. No splicers anywhere to be seen, full of food and health packs...and one gene tonic. By now, you're pretty certain that nothing is coming for you, so you take the tonic, and nothing happens... Until you're halfway out of there, and a Spider Splicer just DROPS on you. - Another thing: don't. watch. Marble Hornets. and then play this game. The Spider Splicers might just look like everyone's favorite tall, slender stalker... - They also look like the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth. - The lovely little "unstable teleport plasmid". - Doesn't help that the statues look like more of Cohen's work, or that, if you listen carefully, you can hear what sounds like someone taking a picture of you when you take the gene tonic. - Just hear it? If you turn around after grabbing the tonic, the camera flashes in your face before you immediately teleport back... Urgh. And the ambient sounds in that room are ever so creepy. What sounds like wind and gentle breathing... - The inner thoughts of splicers, still trying to convince themselves life is normal or that Lamb will cure them. Or the fact they might actually know what has happened to them. - In the last level there are several splicers that are so far gone they just rock side to side, trapped in the flooding ruins, waiting to die. There is also a doctor teleporting around his dead patients, convinced he can still save them. - What happens if you harvest a Little Sister instead of rescuing her: the little sister will squirm in your arms, crying and begging you not to hurt her. Then, the screen goes black...and you're holding the poor girl's slug which had been implanted in her stomach. The worst part is that the Little Sister simply doesn't know why her supposed protector betrays her. Tearjerker indeed. - And now, You can see it yourself. - Everything that terrified you and made you feel sorry for the Little Sisters gets so much worse in this game when you remember one simple fact: these Little Sisters are girls who were kidnapped from the surface. - There is also an uncomfortable element of Fridge Horror to this, as well. When you consider just how broken the Little Sisters are as a result of their "conditioning" (which really seems more like torturing and drugging them to the point of delirium), there's a serious question about how or if their parents are going to be able to care for them. Their behavior is likely to be uncontrollable and dangerous to at least themselves, if not others around them as well. The seven main Sisters from the first game are at least apparently okay, but that outcome is probably not going to be universal. There's a good chance that some of the Little Sisters will end up temporarily or even permanently institutionalized if their conditioning is hard to break. - If you harvest Little Sisters, whenever you adopt one, she'll say things like "Daddy...? You're never gonna hurt me, right?", "Daddy's home! I've been good! Promise!", "Daddy isn't angry, is he?", "I'll be extra quiet! I won't make you upset!", "Where are we going? Daddy?" - Seeing the picture ◊ and the Model ◊ of Gilbert Alexander...one for the Uncanny Valley feel of it, the other because it's a demonic fetus...Thing... - While the passive state of the Insect Swarm plasmid is less horrifying in this game (honeycombs on your glove, instead of having to watch bees crawl through your flesh), the effects have been appropriately ramped up. Now you get a swarm of angry bees with a smarter, more aggressive AI actively seeking out targets across several rooms. When they're not burrowing into corpses to lie in wait for the next hapless Splicer to come into range, that is... - "Daddy, Big Sister doesn't want you playing with me..." OHGODSHE'SONMYHEADGETHEROFFGETHEROFFGETHEROFF! - Eleanor in the Bad Ending. You just let a complete psychopath, packed full of ADAM and incredibly powerful Plasmids, loose on the world. And now that Delta is dead, the only things important to her are her "survival and joy". And by joy, she means ripping people apart. Now, think back on how easily she dealt with Splicers, who were no slouches themselves. You do the math. - Eleanor's completely psychotic grin in the ending is positively terrifying. - Eleanor there was inexperienced in combat, and basically fighting on instinct and copying what she saw Delta do. Given that she just drained Delta of ADAM, and gained his experience along with it... - If using Incinerate at any time while you have a Little Sister on your shoulders, she may cheerfully chant "Marshmallows!" Though it's slightly funny, it's also slightly disturbing, as the process that turned her into a Little Sister possibly resulted in the girl finding humor in someone burning alive. - Though remember, the Little Sisters don't see the world in the same way we do. Chances are, the people you burned don't look like people to them anymore. It's your call as to whether that's more or less morbid. - In Persephone, if you search hard enough, you can encounter some prisoners. Not splicers, but just normal people. They don't acknowledge the player in any way, and just cycle through a crying animation until they are killed. Your HUD doesn't register them, unlike everything else in the game, meaning you could try meleeing one to get a reaction, only for it to crumple up dead. They don't even drop anything. Such a minor detail, yet chilling nonetheless. - Colin Fix's early concept art for the Alpha Series ◊. If you ever wanted to know what a Big Daddy looked like under their suit, this might just change your mind. - How about the Little Sisters Orphanage in Siren Alley? When you go in, you find a few bodies about you can search, including a spider splicer pinned to the wall by a spear (and keep in mind, those are a new enemy at this point, so you're not quite used to seeing those freaks yet). On the way up, you catch a glimpse of a live spider splicer as he darts around a corner, but other than that, no real fights. But then you reach the end and get your loot and the power goes out, leaving your flashlight your only illumination. As you charge back the way you came, by that beam you keep catching glimpses of the spider splicer darting around corners one step ahead of you until eventually they trap you in the second floor hall. The following standup fight with the spiders and a brute is outright catharsis at that point! Oh, but on the way out shine your flashlight at the "dead" spider pinned to the wall: he's about to leap at you

February 7, 2007Online Forum with USTTI StaffTo kick off the 2007 training year, Curriculum Director Brian T. McCloskey and Curriculum Coordinator William Linnoila will be online to answer your questions from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST) on Wednesday, February 7, 2007. We look forward to hearing from you. Mr Mohammed Khalfan Amour from HuaZhong Univ of Science & Tech.(HUST) WUHAN-CHINAI was able to get scholarship through USAID TZ in 2005 and attend USTTI course from 25april,2005-06may,2005 at DC and QUALCOMM california the course was abt 3G WIRELESS BROADBAND and CDMA generally,by the mean time am here at china doing my master in telecoms and info.system engineering,again i apply for the BROADBAND MOBILE in this year USTTI coz my final final thesis is all abt RoF MOBILE BROADBAND COMMUNICATION so is it possible to get another SCHOLARSHIP thru ur USAID tz keeps in mind that am here in china. William Linnoila, Curriculum Coordinator Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorThis officially concludes USTTI's first web forum of 2007. We would like to thank all of you for your participation and insightful inquiries. If you have any follow-up questions, please email them to us at [email protected]. Espérance-I would like to know about the school fees. -The earea where the course will be done(State and city). -The period course. -About visa and Air ticket. -Other conditions the course and trip are recquired. William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorPlease refer to our website at for your questions regarding the course schedule, locations, fees, visa and travel. Should there be any other questions left unanswered, feel free to send us your specific question at [email protected]. Getu CherinetI am very interested to participate on the Broadcast trainings which are focused specially on Tv production but I have a difficulties with funding and I want You tell me how could I avoid this problem. Thank You William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorPlease see the response to MWILA A.C. from Zambia. One of the keys to avoiding these problems is applying early and providing a completed application. Gabriel Despitch Allieu, from Sierra Leone 1. we need you guys on the ground of sierra Leone in oder to boost our telecommunication and more over to reduce cost on your side 2. To take more people from sierra leone as we are just coming from war werein everything is just coming up as to speed our link to international level 3. To creat some of your training centre in Sierra Leone Thanks William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorPlease see the response to Michael Rujumba’s question regarding in country training. We do not usually offer it because of its expense, and it would require us to cut back on our current course offerings. In reponse to your other question we encourage people to apply from Sierra Leon. PHILLIDAS MUNUBHI, TANZANIAI UNDERSTAND USTTI TRAINING COURSES ARE COMPETITIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN ONE ASKS FOR FULL SPONSORSHIP. BUT CONSIDERING THE FINANCIAL CONTRAINTS FACED BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IT IS NOT EASY TO SECURE SELF OR EMPLOYER'S SPONSORSHIP DESPITE MEETING COURSE ADMISSION QUALIFICATIONS. WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIES OR PLANS TO PROVIDE MORE SPONSORSHIPS FOR APPLICANTS FROM DEVELOPING WHERE SUCH ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED MORE THAN IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES? Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorPlease refer to the answer given to Akinkuowo Temitope / Nigeria. Thank you. Francis Rwang Pam, Lagos - NigeriaThere are some related courses that run back to back and in different locations, example: satellite courses M7-309 and M7-310. Satellite communications primer (M7-309) terminates in Ellenwood, GA on the 28th of september 2007 while commercial satellite communication applications orientation is same 28th of september 2007 in El Segundo, CA. Asumming I am admitted for the two courses, how do I meet up with the orientation at El Segundo as this is compulsary? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorYes, orientation in DC is compulsary and it usually takes half day only so if there's a course starting the next day, students can fly in the afternoon or early evening. Dr. Jaime O. Martinez, Jr., PhilippinesMay I know please how do you select delegates in telemedicine? This is infact my third try, I started applying since I was a post graduate medical intern (2005). I found a hard time to qualify on this very interesting training for me.Hope this time you will give me chance. Thank you so much. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorAll USTTI applicants are selected in the same manner, which is detailed at. NepalHow Can I Shall Select For This Training ? Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorTo be selected to attend USTTI training, you must first complete the USTTI's application for training, which is available online at or can be found at the back of our printed catalog. Additional information on the application process can be found at. Carla Alessandrini - ArgentinaDear Director Brian McCloskey and Coordinator William Linnoila, I will like to participate in the course M7 210 (Regulatory And Privaization Issues in Telecomunications)therefore I will appriciate to know the procedure I need to follow to apply as well as if there are any financial help to afford the costs associated with training? Sincerally, Carla. Due to limited USTTI funds, there's no guarantee that we could help you financially. We suggest that you apply early so in case you are accepted in a course, we will have enough time to process a J1 visa which is a requirement for those who needs funding. MWILA A.C. ZAMBIAHOW POSSIBLE IS IT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR USTTI FUNDING FOR US IN A POOR COUNTRY LIKE MINE? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorFunding from the USTTI is very limited, we encourage you to exhaust all other options for funding before seeking funding from the USTTI. You are more likely to receive funding from the USTTI if you can provide for some portion of the cost of you own, ie. airfare. This being said, there several key factors to consider with USTTI funding, first you must apply for a course early, to give the USTIT enough time to process your application and submit a formal funding request. Second, we require a valid copy of your passport, this copy must be valid for six months after the final date of training. Lastly make sure that it is clearly stated on your application or in your response to an acceptance for course; what costs you can cover and what costs you a requesting be covered. Also, please keep in mind that USTTI funding is very limited, and relying on it to attend training may make attending a little more difficult. Jason Mwanza / ZambiaGoodmorning, I would really want to know the mode used for selection. i have applied for the ustti programs for several times but i have never been given a chance. I however feel am qualified for the courses i apply for and i do it on time. you can check your database for reference. I have been applying for three consective years. Please advise.. Again, when applying, we cannot stress enough the importance of the applicant training goals section, which is used by many of our trainers to determine who is accepted to training. It may take several years of applying before being accepted to training but if you do not apply, you cannot be accepted. Chalwe Mathews-ZambiaHow long does it take for one to know if the application was successful and whether sponsorship will be available? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorWe normally inform accepted applicants 10 weeks before the course begins. This 10 week period should give us enough time to process a J1 visa in case an applicant tells us that he/she needs funding. Ram Chandra Giri - Nepal1. May I know How Many students can take the training at the same time and same course? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorUSTTI trainings offer different number of slots, ranging from one to 20. For a 20 slot course, we try to limit accepting more than 2 students per country. Mory Konate GuineaI would like to know when M7-127 course will take place.Also, what ''TBA'' means? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorTBA means "To be arranged". The course sponsors can not give us the definite schedule ahead of time that's why we had to put TBA in the Course Catalog. We suggest that you apply in all 3 Fiber-Optic courses so we may consider your application once we get the schedule of any of the 3 Fiber Optic courses. Mr.Shohmuhammad Goibov from TajikistanIs it possible in close future to provide wireless Internet in Tajikistan? (for example TK Mobile Tajik-Chinese mobile Co. has wireless Internet but its by help of mobile phone which connected to PC by usb cable wich I configure it to subscribers except my other works and also by modem which has UIM-card slot and we need to insert UIM-card in UIM-card slot and this number ofcourse should be connected to Internet services, this modems is only for laptops difference between mobile phone Internet and modem internet consists on High speed , TK Mobile Internet speed by usb and mobile phone is 115.20 and by modem that is intended for laptops speed is 230.40)But I heard that in USA u have some other wireless Internet services that subscribers can use it without any mobile phone and without any modem, also I saw some people who returned from USA they have had pocket computer and they also told me about such wireless Internet services but I have no any exact information about this because I heard about it but never used so if you have any exact information about it Let me know about it, please! Daily I install and configure Internet for subscriber who are chinese and their windows also in chinese and instructions in chinese, I don't know chinese language but I can do it chinese subscriber who talks a little bit in English because English Language is the biggest Bridge between people thay can solve many and very important problems every seconds! Sincerely Mr.Shohmuhammad Billing Engineer TK Mobile Co. Dushanbe,TAJIKISTAN William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorI would suggest that you review our course offerings at our web site, we have several courses that relate to your question. One that comes to mind is our WiMAX course which is being offered by Intel. Please review our course offerings and find the one that is right for you, and apply. Jeffery Samai, Sierra LeoneWhat modalites has the USTTI put in place for countries emanating from war to boost up their Human Resource technologically noting that these countries are far behind technologically Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorUSTTI sponsors offer training in the laboratories and classrooms where leading edge technologies and policies are being developed. By getting trained on the technologies and policies of tomorrow, you are better able to identify which technologies and policies to adopt today. Many countries who were struggling to offer telephone access to their citizens via landlines have now "leapfrogged" and are able to offer connectivity via mobile services instead. Mr.Shohmuhammad-TAJIKISTAN,DushanbeDear Brian T. McCloskey and William Linnoila I'm very grateful for the giving me opportunity to participare in this online discussion and it's very great honour for me! I applied twice this year to USTTI because I my opinion is always go to ahead and never back and solve all of problems that faced to me daily very calmly and never panic about it, it's style of my life! Questions: What kind of people can be choosed by USTTI in order to participate in shor-terms(several weeks) forum or conference that to be held in USA cities? I mean what kind of knowledge level must have these people? What should I do in order I was choosen for this courses? because it's about more than 10 years that I'm trying to see USA by my own eyes, even I graduated University Foreign Languages Faculty (English-Russian) about 5 five years I studied in Tajikistan in order to learn English and in future maybe only this language can help me to see USA! It's my dream! my e-mail address is here:[email protected] I look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely Mr.Shohmuhammad. Learning the English language will be very beneficial to you and to us as well once you are accepted in the courses you applied for. Michael Rujumba, UgandaHi there, I find almost impossible to cut through the stiff competition of being one of the participants with your courses. I have read through some of your course curriculum and found them so much relevant to situations in Uganda. Why wouldn’t you have some affiliate colleges/Universities/Companies that would assist us at home just like you do it in the US? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorThis is a question that we here very often at the USTTI. While we would love to travel to various countries and provide in country training, however; we are very lean and mean organization. We utilize all of the funding that we receive to provide our tuition-free training, and do not have enough funding to provide in country training because it is very costly. On top of this most of our training is being provided by our corporate and government sponsors at their training facilities, giving us access to the most state of the art training available, and this would be very hard and expensive for us to duplicate in other countries. AnonymousWilliam, I will start by saying i am greatly humbled to be allowed to forward to you my most humble contribution(s). 1.USTTI through the American Embassies wherever they are, could request the foreign governments to make small contributions for their citezens who wish to go for these very important trainings. 2. Each one of us as a USTTI Alumni could forward names and addresses of the companies we work for and our regulators to you and you make formal requests to our organizations for possible funding. However small these contributions may be. The same goes for the course content. Our telecom Companies should be better placed to forward their course requirements ( What their needs are for their Staff ) to USTTI for consideration. thanks Again for the opportunity to contribute. Barry Ezra Tindyebwa. William Linnoila, Curriculum Coordinator1. We do our best to make embassies around the world aware of our training programs, and most are aware of the USTTI. This being said, we do not have a say in how these embassies spend their own funding. 2. This is a fantastic idea, however; again we can not influence how companies spend their own funding. We do however encourage companies, wherever possible and appropriate, to help support their employees who apply for training by providing airfare, subsistence, hotel, or all the costs associated with training because we strongly feel that they will see a return on this investment. engr. kama k.o. nigeriawhat are the requirements to be trained and supported.some to be trained, to enable train others in our country to march the recent techological growth in the world.. Diana Omani Mensah, GhanaThe IT department of my company wants to use the ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) processes to run our IT department. Am wondering if you could include ITIL courses in your future curriculum. thanks. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorThank you for the suggestion, we will work to incorporate ITIL training in our 2008 training curriculum. Fiona Batwala, UgandaI have viewed the courses and I am inquiring if USTTI offers courses in telemedicine. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorYes, USTTI offers telemedicine courses in October. Feel free to check our website for more details about these courses. Talgat Seitkazin, KazakhstanI have applyed your training courses last week. In what period I can receive answear, and Do I have any chanses to take part in trainings beginning in March or April. I mean if my application is sent too late. 31 january 2007 William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorFeel free to apply for courses scheduled in March and April. Normally, we encourage everyone to apply 3 months before the course begins. This 3-month period gives us enough time to process a student visa in case the applicant is approved for funding. Muyiwa .A. Ogundijo and NigeriaThe ICT industry in Nigeria has witnessed a spontaneous growth within the last six (6) years. With the evolution of various systems, solutions and technologies that were imported because they were not locally invented. Globalization encourages global standard. What is USTTI doing to encourage the industrial players apart from training; to invent and possibly produce these technologies locally without compromising the standards as to what obtains globally? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorOur trainers take an active interest in the developing world by participating in our training. I cannot however speak to their corporate practices, such as local production of future technologies. This being said you can visit our web site to see the web sites of most of our training sponsors, this may give you an idea about their corporate practices, and their decisions regarding upcoming technologies. Anonymoussir, am keenly interested in the training programme, but am not a current worker in any of the telecommunication centers, and am not a graduate of any of the related courses for the training. would it be right if i continue with my applications? thank you. Nkamam Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorWhile the USTTI typically encourages individuals to apply who are currently working in their country's communications industry. We also accept applications from professionals and entrepreneurs who are able to take the knowledge and skills they learn at the USTTI and apply them back in their home country. If you believe that USTTI training can benefit you and your country, please apply for the relevant courses and pay particular attention to the applicant training goals section, which is where the trainers will see how training you will benefit your country. shola destiny, nigeriapls sir, i have always applied for this training but have never been invited even though i have indicated to handle subsistence fee. I am an engineer working with a local telephony company deploying the CDMA 1X technology. I will really need to know why i have not been invited for the training , perhaps there things i ougth know or do that have not done Though i have read the guidline and i think i ave dully followed it to the latter. Looking forward for your quick response as am waiting to be shortlisted this 2007. thanks Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorWith the large number of applicants we receive it is hard to provide everyone with a directo response on why their application may not have been accepted,. Also keep in mind that our training slots are limited, and in some cases 10 applicants will be competing for one training slot. Please do not be discouraged though, we advise you to continue applying. Akinkuowo Temitope / NigeriaI have seen several people who attended your training retuning back home better off than they were before the training.What can USTTI do to increase the number of people attending the training and also increase funding which will enable more people to attend the trainings? Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorWith all of our courses being offered tuition-free a big expense is already eliminated. However, as you well know international airfare and living expenses do add up. As a result, each year USTTI strives to secure as much funding as possible from the U.S. Government, Corporations, private foundations/endowments and other International organizations so that we can offer funding assistance to as many individuals as possible. While we receive a tremendous amount of financial support, we are still well below the amount needed to fund all participants in USTTI training. We will continue to operate as efficiently as possible, while securing the maximum amount of funding available so that we can offer funding assistance to those individuals who desperately need it. Accordingly, we hope that our scholars are doing all that they can to secure funding from their employer, international organizations, their government, etc. so that we can increase the number of participants in USTTI training. Individuals who are able to pay for part of their expenses to attend training (airfare or living expenses) are more likely to receive funding assistance from the USTTI. Chris Lwoba - KenyaCan the institute facilitate in obtaining the US visa to accepted pplicants? I missed to attended the fibre optics course both in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters because I could not obtain the visa. Am still interested in the same course. William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorDear Chris, We are sorry to hear that you didn't get a visa for your training on Fiber Optic. Unfortunately, we don't call nor influence any US embassies on their decision on approving visas for USTTI students. We hope this won't stop you from applying to future USTTI trainings. Rajesh INDIAThis is regarding the course: M7-128 or M7 329: Adopting New Information and communication technologies : Strategies for success. dates of oreintation and training has remained as TBA..when are you likely to announce the dates and likely dates for response to the applicants. Please make this course available to participants from only managerial to people who have novelty in their ideas for adopting ICT technologies fro successful implemnation at developing countries. Many of the ICT projects working at developing and under developed countries have orginated from ordinary people who have felt the shortages. Thanks Rajesh INDIA William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorThank you for submitting your question Rajesh. The dates for these courses will be announced as soon as they are made available to us. In some cases this may be as late as right before scholars arrive for training. As you know our training is open to all those who apply and are selected to attend, this means that most of our courses usually feature scholars with a wide range of backgrounds from government to private industry, and managers to engineers. christopher mwalehow much is the amount which falls under subsistence? since the course i applied for is due in september, i was thinking i should save for this amount while the company pays for my travel. on choosing, i set ustti to pay my subsistence, thankyou in advance. William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorDear Christopher, We are glad that you applied way in advance and that your company is willing to pay for your travel. For you saving consideration, we suggest that you have $1,000 for each week of the training. This amount should cover your food, hotel and ground travel. You will be informed of the exact cost once you are accepted in a course which we normally send 10 weeks before the course begins. Good luck to your application! sseruyange david/UGANDAI'AM ALWAYS WONDERING WHETHER I WILL EVER GET A CHANCE OF BEING TRAINED BY USTTI. I HAVE APPLIED FOUR TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. I DONT HAVE THE FUNDS TO SPONSER MY STUDIES NEITHER ARE SPONSER EASILY ACCESSED. HOW CAN YOU HELP ME? Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorWe encourage you to keep applying for training, please see the answer to the second portion of Mr. James Chona’s question. Just so you know, USTTI funds are limited, and we encourage those who apply to training to provide for at least some portion of their expenses, such a air travel. On our website you can see more regarding funding, we ask that upon acceptance to training you submit a passport if you cannot secure funding so that we can submit a formal funding request. This being said pleas keep in mind that USTTI funded is limited. Satya Sharma, NepalIs there any bond for the tainees of USTTI on their own country? I have heard that US embassy will not issue any types of visas if someone got USTTI training untill two years. I am trying to study in USA for spring in 2008. What should be done to get both USTTI training and student visa. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorAll individuals attending USTTI training are expected to return home and impart the knowledge and skills they learned in training to their fellow colleagues. The goal of the USTTI is to share our knowledge and experiences with individuals from around the developing world with the hope that one day affordable, modern communications will be available to all. However, if you receive funding assistance from the USTTI and are required to travel on a J-1 visa, the U.S. Department of State will impose a mandatory two-year residency requirement. For further information on the J-1 visa, please contact the U.S. Embassy. zheko zhekovI would like to know what kind of course I will be approved in 2007 and when I will be informed abouit it. Thank you , Yours faithful Zheko. William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorDear Zheko, We suggest that 1) you send us a complete application with your training goals and professional experience and 2) you apply for the courses that are relevant to your work and 3) you send us your application at least 3 months before the course starts. Due to numerous applications we receive, our usual ratio is 10 applicants to 1 training slot so I hope following the above-mentioned suggestions will get you accepted in a course. We normally send acceptance notice 10 by email or by fax 10 weeks before the course starts. This 10-week period will give us enough time to assist the applicant get a student visa. Good luck to your application! Abigail Adofo, from GhanaMy question is, how is the USTTI helping Africa, and thereby developing countries catch up with the the 3G and other latest technologies? 2. I have observed that it is mostly african engineers that do not invent anything. Please how can the USTTI help the younger generation to develop in this area? Thank you. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorAs you know the USTTI was founded at the plenipotentiary conference in Nairobi, Kenya, and we have a strong alumni base in Africa and are constantly adding to it. We have several sequences which focus on 3G wireless and other technologies. QUALCOMM, one of our board members, is one of the leading providers of 3G technology solution in the U.S. , and we constantly updating our training, please visit our website . The best way for young engineers to get involved is to have them apply to USTTI training. I hope that this answers your question, and that you will continue your interest in the USTTI. John Hameja ZambiaWhat is the selection criteria that is used by USTTI ? This is because I applied twice last year and I was not selected and I felt that my application was adequate William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorPlease see the second part of the answer to Mr. James Chona’s question. Some of our course sponsors are very specific in their selection criteria. My best advice for you is to make sure that your application is complete and accurate and as I said earlier take some time and fill out the experience and goals section, tailoring it to the specific course sequence for which you apply. Aziz (Dushanbe, Tajikistan)Hello Brian & William. I've got one queshion. If i will not pass the requirements to attend the training will USTTI inform me ? By fax ? E-Mail or ? Thanks in advance William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorDear Aziz, USTTI normally informed those who are accepted to the course by email 10 weeks before the course starts. But feel free to email us at [email protected] to check the status of your application. Good luck to your application! Mai Kauvu - Papua New GuineaAre there any specific reasons why Organisation of American States (OAS) status is restricted to Latin American and Caribbean countries? Can other developing or least developed countries like PNG not qualify or become member of OAS in terms of securing USTTI training funds, especially where parent organisations such as the PNG Radiocommunications and Telecommunication Technical Authority (PANGTEL)are unable to do so. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorWe suggest reviewing the OAS Charter () or contacting OAS directly to get the answer to this question. James Chona, ZambiaI have 3 questions; 1. I notice each year that USTTI have what I can call a suite of courses recommended in a sequence, why is it then that these courses are not bunched into one bouquet so as to make it easy for applicants to apply for a single suite as recommended by USTTI. 2. This will be my fifth consecutive year applying for a course at USTTI. In all my attempts I have been unsuccessful and I have not gotten any feedback from USTTI why my applications(s) have been unsuccessful. I think it is helpful, though am mindful of large number of applications processed, to give applicants some response as to why they are unsuccessful. William Linnoila, Curriculum Coordinator1. This year is no different, we have just removed the course sequencing page. If you look in the course description section you will notice that some of the courses will have a cursive title typed on the top, this title indicates the name of the sequence. For example on page 19 of the catalog above course M7-115 you will see the title “Distance Learning” this refers to the sequence and includes the courses listed after, until the next title. Next year we will be returning to the original format, and including a sequence page. 2. With the large number of applicants we receive it is hard to provide everyone with a response on their application,. We appreciate your continued support. Mehari1. I obtained such a wonderful opportunity to attend the USTTI training courses M7-102, M7-103, M7-104 and I am now processing some staffs, I communicate with my Employee and they confirm me that they will sponsor my transportation fund, but I face difficulties to obtain the Accommodation fee around $2000,could you help with this regard how can USTTI will help me to obtain this fund. 2. Besides email confirmation to attend this Traning, is there any other possible affirmation can I get from USTTI, to present it to the US Embassy, which ultimately help me to obtain the Visa. I can get the response with this email [email protected] Best Regards, William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorDear Mehari, We are glad that your organization will sponsor your travel in case you are accepted. We suggest that you apply early, at least 3 months before the course starts, and if you are accepted by the course sponsor, USTTI may be able to give you partial funding. As you know we need 10 weeks to process a student visa which is a requirement for those who seek partial or full scholarship. Regarding your second question, we do provide acceptance letter to any applicant who needs it for presentation to the Embassy. We also suggest that applicants provide us with the schedule of the visa interview so we could indicate it in the letter. Unfortunately, we don't make calls nor influence embassies of their decision on approving visas. Good luck to your application this year! Moses Aluodo, KenyaIf one has made three unsuccessful applications, does one keep trying and dealing in hope that one he/she will be admitted to a course ? Thanks. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorThe USTTI encourages you to keep on applying for the courses you are interested in and are relevant to your daily tasks. There are numerous reasons why you may have not been accepted into training, the first is that there are only a limited number of spaces available for each course and USTTI typically receives 10 applications for each available training slot. Another key reason for not being admitted into training is submitting an incomplete application - the most common part of the application that is overlooked is the applicant training goals section. Please make sure you articulate how your participation in training will help you and your fellow countrywomen and men upon your return. Raul C. Cosare - PhilippinesDear Sirs, Thank you for giving me a chance to make some inquiries on the curriculum of USTTI. I applied for the course Digital Television and hope I will be qualified to be accepted this school year. I applied online last December 29, 2006 right after I received the invitations from USTTI. My question is, with the fast changing technology and the technology of HD is now here, will there be a standard of HD format that will be used? There are 11 HD formats like 1080/59.94i, 720/59.94p,1080/29.97p, 720/29.97p and others. There is ATSC, DVB and others, what do you think will be most efficient HD format of the future? Will this things be discussed curriculum? I am pretty excited about this things that is happening and hope you can help. Thank you very much in advance. Sincerely Yours, Raul C. Cosare Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorWe appreciate your continued interest in our training programs. As for question, about which HD format is the best, I do not know the answer to that because I am not a television engineer. This topic will be touched on during most of broadcast training courses, however; I would suggest applying for the Radio and Television Broadcast Technology Sequence May 8 – June 1, 2007. This sequence tackles a lot of the new technologies that are being introduced into the broadcast field, it also addresses the benefits and downfalls of these technologies. Communications Regulatory Commission of MongoliaCRC appreciates that online forum is going to be held on the proposed date and time. CRC does want to participate in the forum however it seems that we are unable to be online at the proposed time because of 13 hours time differences. Is it possible to send us the forum result or issues addressed in the forum to [email protected]? Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorWe understand that the time difference may prohibit many of you from participating live; however, that is why we open the fourm to questions early on - so you can submit any questions you may have. That being said, archives from all USTTI web forums are available on our website at Custodes Baretto, Zanzibar -TanzaniaDear Brian & William, I take this oppotunity to thank The USTTI for the contribution towards helping boosting the third world countries in the aspect of telecommuninations. Nowdays in the word of telecommunication and broadcast, IT plays a very important role. My question is why USTTI has not taken into consideration to expand courses in the IT field. Brian McCloskey, Curriculum DirectorIn developing each year's curriculum, the USTTI constantly strives to expand and amend our course offerings to touch upon the most relavent topics within our core areas of training: Spectrum Management, IT, Wireless, Broadcast, Satellite, Teleheath, Emergency Communications, Regulation and Management. In addition, we are also reaching out to new and innovative companies that compliment our existing courses and/or expand our breadth of training within communications. An example of how we have expanded our IT training in 2007 is the addition of our Internet Security sequence, which will take place September 10 - 17, 2007. Faqir Ahmad Shaikhani AfghanistanThis is second year that I applied for training, but last year I could not recieve fund for travel and other expances. I have already applied for current year courses, is there any limitation for this year funding again specially for poor countries like Afghanistan? William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorDear Faqir, USTTI funds are very limited so we always suggest participants to get partial funding from other resources. Another suggestion is for you to apply early because if you are approve for USTTI funding, we need at least 10 weeks to process your student visa. Good luck to your application this year! myrtil jean shelove, haitii would like to know if i can find a complete free study from USTTI William Linnoila, Curriculum CoordinatorAll of our courses our tuition free, however; if you are looking for a Bachelors or Masters degree the USTTI does not offer such a program. We offer short topic specific training programs in telecommunications and ICT, please visit our website for more information. Michael R. Gardner, ChairmanAs Chairman and founder of the USTTI, I want to welcome all of you to this interactive web discussion about the USTTI’s 88 course curriculum for 2007. These chats are an effective way to stay connected with our alumni, while at the same time reaching additional women and men who can benefit from the USTTI’s tuition free training. 2007 marks the USTTI’s 25th year of empowering women and men with our diverse, tuition-free communications training. Through 1,459 USTTI courses offered since 1982, the 7,284 USTTI alumni have been exposed to every element of deploying, managing and regulating modern, affordable communications systems for their countrymen in 165 nations. As in the past, USTTI’s 2007 curriculum has been designed to address the sweeping changes that have taken place in the global communications arena, featuring new and expanded training in emergency communications, telemedicine, Internet security and ICT policy. Today, we look forward to addressing your questions about the USTTI’s program, application processes, or other relevant concerns. I hope that this chat will help you to better identify the most appropriate courses for your training needs in 2007. I now open the discussion to your questions for Curriculum Director, Brian T. McCloskey, and Curriculum Coordinators William Linnoila and Janet Cerbo Concepcion. We look forward to seeing you in USTTI training this year.

1948 Palestine war From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "War of Liberation")[8][9][10] refers to the war that occurred in the former Mandatory Palestine during the period between the United Nations vote on the partition plan on November 30, 1947,[11] and the official end of the first Arab-Israeli war on July 20, 1949.[12] Historians divide the war into two phases:[13][14] - The 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine (sometimes called an "intercommunal war")[15] in which the Jewish and Arab communities of Palestine, supported by the Arab Liberation Army, clashed, while the region was still fully under British rule. - The 1948 Arab–Israeli War after 15 May 1948, marking the end of the British Mandate and the birth of Israel, in which Transjordan, Egypt, Syria and Iraq intervened and sent expeditionary forces that attacked the Israeli army. At the end of the war, the State of Israel kept the area that had been recommended by the UN General Assembly Resolution 181 but also took control of almost 60% of the area allocated to the proposed Arab state[16] including the Jaffa, Lydda and Ramle area, Galilee, some parts of the Negev, a wide strip along the Tel-Aviv–Jerusalem road and some territories in the West Bank, putting them under military rule. Transjordan took control of the remainder of the West Bank and annexed this and the Egyptian military took control of the Gaza Strip. No Arab Palestinian state was created. Demographic changes occurred in the country. Around 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled from the area that became Israel and they became Palestinian refugees.[17] Around 10,000 Jews left their homes in what became the West Bank and Gaza during the same period.[18][19][citation needed] In the three years following the war, about 700,000 Jews immigrated to Israel, where they settled mainly along the borders and in former Palestinian lands.[20] In Israel, the war is known as War of Independence or War of Liberation, because it was the origin of the State of Israel. Their traditional historiography sometimes marks the anniversary as of 15 May 1948.[21] It is known in Arabic as al-Nakba ("the Catastrophe"), because of their loss of traditional lands which they had occupied for centuries, the high number of displaced people, and their failure to create a state following their defeat in the war. Contents - 1 Background - 2 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine - 3 Course of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War - 4 Aftermath - 5 Historiography - 6 See also - 7 Further reading - 8 Quotes Background On 29 November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution "recommending to the United Kingdom, as the mandatory Power for Palestine, and to all other Members of the United Nations the adoption and implementation, with regard to the future government of Palestine, of the Plan of Partition with Economic Union", UN General Assembly Resolution 181(II).[22] This was an attempt to resolve the Arab-Jewish conflict by partitioning Palestine into Independent Arab and Jewish States and the Special International Regime for the City of Jerusalem. Each state would comprise three major sections; the Arab state would also have an enclave at Jaffa in order to have a port on the Mediterranean. With about 32% of the population, the Jews were allocated 56% of the territory. It contained 499,000 Jews and 438,000 Arabs and a majority of it was in the Negev desert.[23] The Palestinian Arabs were allocated 42% of the land, which had a population of 818,000 Palestinian Arabs and 10,000 Jews. In consideration of its religious significance, the Jerusalem area, including Bethlehem, with 100,000 Jews and an equal number of Palestinian Arabs, was to become a Corpus Separatum, to be administered by the UN.[24] The Jewish leadership accepted the partition plan as "the indispensable minimum,"[25] glad to gain international recognition but sorry that they did not receive more.[26] The representatives of the Palestinian Arabs and the Arab League firmly opposed the UN action and rejected its authority in the matter, arguing that the partition plan was unfair to the Arabs because of population balance at that time.[27] However, the Arabs rejected the partition, not because it was supposedly unfair, but because any form of partition[28][29] was rejected by the Arabs' leaders. They upheld "that the rule of Palestine should revert to its inhabitants, in accordance with the provisions of [...] the Charter of the United Nations."[30] According to Article 73b of the Charter, the UN should develop self-government of the peoples in a territory under its administration. In the immediate aftermath of the UN's approval of the partition plan, explosions of joy amongst the Jewish community were counterbalanced by the expression of discontent amongst the Arab community. Soon after, violence broke out and became more and more prevalent. Murders, reprisals, and counter-reprisals came fast upon each other, resulting in dozens of victims killed on both sides. The sanguinary impasse persisted as no force intervened to put a stop to the escalating cycles of violence. 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine This period constitutes the first phase of the war, which took place following the United Nations General Assembly vote for the Partition Plan for Palestine on 29 November 1947, until the termination of the British Mandate and Israeli proclamation of statehood on 14 May 1948.[31] During this period the Jewish and Arab communities of British Mandate clashed, while the British organized their withdrawal and intervened only on an occasional basis. In the first two months of the Civil War, around 1,000 people were killed and 2,000 people injured,[32] and by the end of March, the figure had risen to 2,000 dead and 4,000 wounded.[33] These figures correspond to an average of more than 100 deaths and 200 casualties per week in a population of 2,000,000. From January onwards, operations became increasingly militarized. A number of Arab Liberation Army regiments infiltrated into Palestine, each active in a variety of distinct sectors around the different coastal towns. They consolidated their presence in Galilee and Samaria.[34] The Army of the Holy War, under the command of Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni, came from Egypt with several hundred men. Having recruited a few thousand volunteers, al-Husayni organised the blockade of the 100,000 Jewish residents of Jerusalem.[35] To counter this, the Yishuv authorities tried to supply the city with convoys of up to 100 armoured vehicles, but the operation became more and more impractical as the number of casualties in the relief convoys surged. By March, al-Husayni's tactic had paid off. Almost all of Haganah's armoured vehicles had been destroyed, the blockade was in full operation, and hundreds of Haganah members who had tried to bring supplies into the city were killed.[36] The situation for those who dwelt in the Jewish settlements in the highly isolated Negev and North of Galilee was more critical. This situation caused the USA to withdraw their support for the Partition plan, and the Arab League began to believe that the Palestinian Arabs, reinforced by the Arab Liberation Army, could put an end to partition. The British decided on 7 February 1948 to support the annexation of the Arab part of Palestine by Transjordan.[37] While the Jewish population was ordered to hold their ground everywhere at all costs,[38] the Arab population was disrupted by the general conditions of insecurity to which the country was exposed. Up to 100,000 Arabs, from the urban upper and middle classes in Haifa, Jaffa and Jerusalem, or Jewish-dominated areas, evacuated abroad or to Arab centers to the east.[39] Ben-Gurion ordered Yigal Yadin to plan in preparation for the announced intervention of the Arab states. The result of his analysis was Plan Dalet, which was put in place from the start of April onwards. Plan Dalet and second stage The adoption of Plan Dalet marked the second stage of the war, in which Haganah took the offensive. The first operation, named Nachshon, was directed at lifting the blockade on Jerusalem.[40] In the last week of March, 136 supply trucks had tried to reach Jerusalem; only 41 had made it. The Arab attacks on communications and roads has intensified. The failure of the convoys and the loss of Jewish armoured vehicles had shaken the Yishuv leaders confidence..[41] The success of the operation was assisted by the death of al-Husayni in combat. During this time, and independently of Haganah or the framework of Plan Dalet, irregular troops from Irgun and Lehi formations massacred a substantial number of Arabs at Deir Yassin. The event that was publicly deplored and criticized by the principal Jewish authorities had a deep effect on the morale of the Arab population. At the same time, the first[citation needed] large-scale operation of the Arab Liberation Army ended in a "débâcle", as they were roundly defeated at Mishmar HaEmek.[42] Their Druze allies left them through defection.[43] Within the framework of creating Jewish territorial continuity according to Plan Dalet, the forces of Haganah, Palmach and Irgun intended to conquer mixed zones of population. Palestinian Arab society was shaken. Tiberias, Haifa, Safed, Beisan, and Jaffa were taken prior to the end of the Mandate, with Acre falling shortly after. More than 250,000 Palestinian Arabs fled from these locales.[44] The British had essentially withdrawn their troops. The situation pushed the leaders of the neighboring Arab states to intervene, but their preparation was not completed, and they could not assemble sufficient forces to turn the tide of the war. The majority of Palestinian Arab hopes[citation needed] lay with the Arab Legion of Transjordan's monarch, King Abdullah I. He did not intend to create a Palestinian Arab-run state, as he hoped to annex much of the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine. Playing a double-game, he was in contact with the Jewish authorities as with the Arab League. Preparing for Arab intervention from neighbouring states, Haganah successfully launched Operations Yiftah[45] and Ben-'Ami[46] to secure the Jewish settlements of Galilee, and Operation Kilshon. This created an Israeli-controlled front around Jerusalem. The inconclusive meeting between Golda Meir and Abdullah I, followed by the Kfar Etzion massacre on the 13 May by the Arab Legion, led to predictions that the battle for Jerusalem would be merciless. Course of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War Arab Invasion On 14 May 1948, the day before the expiration of the British Mandate, David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel.[47] Both superpower leaders, U.S. President Harry S. Truman (de facto) and the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, immediately recognized the new state, while the Arab League refused to accept the UN partition plan, proclaimed the right of self-determination for the Arabs across the whole of Palestine, and maintained that the absence of legal authority made it necessary to intervene to protect Arab lives and property.[48] Over the next few days,. First truce: 11 June – 8 July 1948 The UN declared a truce on 29 May, which began on 11 June and lasted 28 days. The ceasefire was overseen by UN mediator Folke Bernadotte and a team of UN Observers, army officers from Belgium, United States, Sweden and France.[49] Bernadotte was voted in by the General Assembly to "assure the safety of the holy places, to safeguard the well being of the population, and to promote 'a peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine'".[50] Bernadotte spoke of “peace by Christmas” but saw that the Arab world had continued to reject the existence of a Jewish state, whatever its borders.[51] An arms embargo was declared with the intention that neither side would make any gains from the truce. Neither side respected the truce; both found ways around the restrictions. Both the Israelis and the Arabs used this time to improve their positions, a direct violation of the terms of the ceasefire. "The Arabs violated the truce by reinforcing their lines with fresh units (including six companies of Sudanese regulars,[51] Saudi battalion [52] and contingents from Yemen, Morocco [53]) and by preventing supplies from reaching isolated Israeli settlements; occasionally, they opened fire along the lines".[54] The Israeli Defense Forces acquired weapons from Czechoslovakia and improved training of forces and reorganization of the army during this time. Yitzhak Rabin, an IDF commander at the time and later Israel's fifth Prime Minister, said, "[w]ithout the arms from Czechoslovakia... it is very doubtful whether we would have been able to conduct the war".[55] As well as violating the arms and personnel embargo, both sides sent fresh units to the front.[54] The Israel army increased its manpower from approximately 30,000 or 35,000 men to almost 65,000 during the truce.[citation needed] They increased their arms supply to "more than twenty-five thousand rifles, five thousand machine guns, and more than fifty million bullets".[54] As the truce began, a British officer stationed in Haifa said that the four-week-long truce "would certainly be exploited by the Jews to continue military training and reorganization while the Arabs would waste [them] feuding over the future divisions of the spoils".[54] On 7 July, the day before the expiration of the truce, Egyptian forces under General Muhammad Naguib renewed the war by attacking Negba.[56] Second phase: 8–18 July 1948 Israeli forces launched a simultaneous offensive on all three fronts: Dani, Dekel, and Kedem. The fighting was dominated by large-scale Israeli offensives and a defensive Arab posture. The fighting continued for ten days until the UN Security Council issued the Second Truce on 18 July.[54] Israeli Operation Danny resulted in exodus from Lydda and Ramle of 60,000 Palestinian residents. According to Benny Morris, in Ben-Gurion's view, Ramlah and Lydda constituted a special danger because their proximity might encourage co-operation between the Egyptian army, which had started its attack on Kibbutz Negbah, near Ramlah,[citation needed] and the Arab Legion, which had taken the Lydda police station. The author believes that Operation Dani, under which the two towns were seized, revealed that no such co-operation existed. Widespread looting took place during these operations. In total, about 100,000 Palestinians became refugees in this stage, according to Morris.[57] In Operation Dekel, Nazareth was captured on 16 July. In Operation Brosh, Israel tried and failed to drive the Syrian army out of north eastern Galilee. By the time the second truce took effect at 19:00 18 July, Israel had taken the lower Galilee from Haifa Bay to the Sea of Galilee. 18 July 1948 to 10 March 1949 At 19:00 on 18 July, the second truce of the conflict went into effect after intense diplomatic efforts by the UN. On 16 September, a new partition for Palestine was proposed, but it was rejected by both sides. During the truce, the Egyptians had regularly blocked with fire the passage of supply convoys to the beleaguered northern Negev settlements, contrary to the truce terms. On 15 October, another supply convoy was attacked by the Egyptians, and the already planned Operation Yoav was launched.[58] Its goal was to drive a wedge between the Egyptian forces along the coast and the Beersheba-Hebron-Jerusalem road and to open the road to the encircled Negev settlements. Yoav was headed by the Southern Front commander Yigal Allon. The operation was a success, shattering the Egyptian army ranks and forcing the Egyptian forces to retreat from the northern Negev, Beersheba and Ashdod. On 22 October, the third truce went into effect.[59] Before dawn on 22 October, in defiance of the UN Security Council cease-fire order, ALA units stormed the IDF hilltop position of Sheikh Abd, overlooking Kibbutz Manara. The kibbutz was now besieged. Ben-Gurion initially rejected Moshe Carmel’s demand to launch a major counteroffensive. He was chary of antagonizing the United Nations so close on the heels of its cease-fire order. During the 24–25 October, ALA troops regularly sniped at Manara and at traffic along the main road. In contacts with UN observers, Fawzi al-Qawuqji demanded that Israel evacuate neighboring Kibbutz Yiftah and thin out its forces in Manara. The IDF demanded the ALA’s withdrawal from the captured positions and, after a “no” from Fawzi al-Qawuqji, informed the United Nations that it felt free to do as it pleased.[60] On 24 October, the IDF launched Operation Hiram and captured the entire upper Galilee, originally attributed to the Arab state by the Partition Plan. They drove the ALA back to Lebanon. At the end of the month, Israel had captured the whole Galilee and had advanced 5 miles (8.0 km) into Lebanon to the Litani River. On 22 December, large IDF forces started Operation Horev. Its objective was to encircle the Egyptian Army in the Gaza Strip and force the Egyptians into ending the war. The operation was a decisive Israeli victory, and Israeli raids into the Nitzana area and the Sinai peninsula forced the Egyptian army into the Gaza Strip, where it was encircled. Israeli forces withdrew from Sinai and Gaza under international pressure and after the British threatened to intervene against Israel. The Egyptian government announced, 6 January 1949, that they were willing to enter armistice negotiations. General Yigal Alon persuaded Ben Gurion to continue as planned, but Ben Gurion told him: "Do you know the value of peace talks with Egypt? After all, that is our great dream!"[61] He was sure that Transjordan and the other Arab states would follow suit. On 7 January 1949, a truce was achieved. On 5 March, Israel launched Operation Uvda; by 10 March, the Israelis reached Umm Rashrash (where Eilat was built later) and took it without a battle. The Negev Brigade and Golani Brigade took part in the operation. They raised a hand-made flag ("The Ink Flag") and claimed Umm Rashrash for Israel. Aftermath Armistice lines In 1949, Israel signed separate armistices with Egypt on 24 February, Lebanon on 23 March, Transjordan on 3 April, and Syria on 20 July. The armistice lines saw Israel holding about 78% of mandate Palestine (as it stood after the independence of Transjordan in 1946), 22% more than the UN Partition Plan had allocated. These ceasefire lines were known afterwards as the "Green Line". The Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Casualties Israel lost 6,373 of its people, about 1% of its population in the war. About 4,000 were soldiers and the rest were civilians. The exact number of Arab losses is unknown but is estimated at between 4,000 for Egypt (2,000), Jordan and Syria (1,000 each) [6] and 15,000.[7] Demographic consequences During the 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War that followed, around 700,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled.[17] In 1951, the UN Conciliation Commission for Palestine estimated that the number of Palestinian refugees displaced from Israel was 711,000.[62].[63] The Palestinian refugee problem and the debate around the right of their return are also major issues of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Palestinians have staged annual demonstrations and protests on 15 May of each year. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, around 10,000 Jews were forced to evacuate their homes in Palestine or Israel.[64] The war indirectly created a second, major refugee problem, the Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim lands. Partly because of the war between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, hundreds thousand Jews who lived in the Arab states emigrated, were intimidated into flight, or were expelled from their native countries, most of them reaching Israel. The immediate reasons to the flight were the popular Arab hostility, including pogroms, triggered by the war in Palestine and anti Jewish governmental measures.[65] In the three years following the war, about 700,000 Jews immigrated to Israel, where they absorbed, fed and housed[66] mainly along the borders and in former Palestinian lands.[67] Beginning in 1948, and continuing until 1972, an estimated 800,000 to 1,000,000 Jews fled or were expelled.[68][69][70] From 1945 until the closure at 1952, more than 250,000 Jewish displaced persons lived in European refugee camps. About 136,000 of them immigrated to Israel.[71] More than 270,000 Jews immigrated from Eastern Europe,[72] mainly Romania and Poland (over 100,000 each). Overall 700,000 Jews settled in Israel,[73] doubling its Jewish population.[74][75] Historiography After the war, Israeli and Arab historiographies continue to differ on the interpretation of the events of 1948..[76] In 1980, with the opening of the Israeli and British archives, Israeli historians started giving new insights on the history of this time period. In particular, the roles played by Abdullah I of Jordan and the British government, the goals of the different Arab nations, the balance of force, and the events related to the Palestinian exodus have been expressed in more complexity or given new interpretations.[76] Some of the issues continue to be hotly debated among historians and commentators of the conflict today.[77] See also - List of battles and operations in the 1948 Palestine war - List of modern conflicts in the Middle East Further reading - Yoav Gelber, Palestine 1948, Sussex Academic Press, Brighton, 2006, ISBN 978-1-84519-075-0 -. - Walid Khalidi (ed.), All that remains.ISBN 978-0-88728-224-9. - Walid Khalidi, Selected Documents on the 1948 Palestine War, Journal of Palestine Studies, 27(3), 79, 1998. - Benny Morris, 1948, Yale University Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-300-12696-9 - Ilan Pappe, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Oneworld Publications, 2006, ISBN 978-1-85168-555-4 - Eugene Rogan & Avi Shlaim, The War for Palestine — Rewriting the history of 1948, Cambridge University Press, 2001. - David Tal, War in Palestine, 1948. Strategy and Diplomacy, Routledge, 2004. Quotes - ^ a b c d Benny Morris, 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War, Chapter 5. - ^ Moshe Yegar, "Pakistan and Israel," Jewish Political Studies Review 19:3–4 (Fall 2007) - ^ Anita Shapira, L'imaginaire d'Israël : histoire d'une culture politique (2005), Latroun : la mémoire de la bataille, Chap. III. 1 l'événement p. 91–96 - ^ Benny Morris (2008), p.419. - ^ Pollack, 2004; Sadeh, 1997 - ^ a b Casualties in Arab-Israeli Wars - ^ a b Chris Cook, World Political Almanac, 3rd Ed. (Facts on File: 1995) - ^ Reuven Firestone To Jews, the Jewish-Arab war of 1947–1948 is the War of Independence (milchemet ha'atzma'ut). To Arabs, and especially Palestinians, it is the nakba or calamity. I therefore refrain from assigning names to wars. . I refer to the wars between the State of Israel and its Arab and Palestinian neighbors according to their dates: 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982.' Reuven Firestone, Holy War in Judaism: The Fall and Rise of a Controversial Idea, Oxford University Press, 2012 p.10, cf.p.296 - ^ Neil Caplan, ‘Perhaps the most famous case of differences over the naming of events is the 1948 war (more accurately, the fighting from December 1947 through January 1949). For Israel it is their “War of Liberation” or “War of Independence” (in Hebrew, milhemet ha-atzama’ut) full of the joys and overtones of deliverance and redemption. For Palestinians, it is Al-Nakba, translated as “The Catastrophe” and including in its scope the destruction of their society and the expulsion and flight of some 700,000 refugees.’ The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories, John Wiley & Sons, Sep 19, 2011 p.17. - ^ Neil Caplan Although some historians would cite 14 May 1948 as the start of the war known variously as the Israeli War of Independence, an-Nakba (the (Palestinian) Catastrophe), or the first Palestine war, it would be more accurate to consider that war as beginning on 30 November 1947'. Futile Diplomacy: The United Nations, the Great Powers, and Middle East Peacemaking 1948–1954, (vol.3) Frank Cass & Co, 1997 p.17 - ^ Resolution 181 (II). Future government of Palestine A/RES/181(II)(A+B) 29 November 1947 Archived December 25, 2008 at the Wayback Machine - ^ This corresponds to the signature of the armistice agreement between Syria and Israel. Others consider the war to have ended at the last cease fire on January 8, 1949. - ^ Demise of the British empire in the Middle East: Britain's Responses to Nationalist Movements, 1943-55, by Michael Joseph Cohen, Martin Kolinsky. 1998. p. 54. - ^ Yoav Gelber, Israel's War of Independence — the equivalent to the Palestinians' Al- Nakba (Arabic for "Disaster") – consisted of two distinct, consecutive, but separate campaigns fought by different enemies, under dissimilar circumstances, each phase under different rules. The first encounter commenced early in December 1947 and lasted until the British mandate in Palestine expired. It was a civil war between Jews and Palestinians that took place under British sovereignty and in the presence of Jewish troops. The second contest began with the invasion of Palestine by the regular Arab armies on 156 May 1948.’ Palestine, 1948: war, escape and the emergence of the Palestinian Refugee Problem, Sussex Academic Press, 2nd rev ed. 2004 p.4. - ^ David Tal, War in Palestine, 1948. Strategy and Diplomacy, Routledge, 2004. - ^ Cragg, Kenneth. Palestine. The Prize and Price of Zion. Cassel, 1997. ISBN 978-0-304-70075-2. Pages 57, 116. - ^ a b —." - ^ "Jewish Refugees of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict". Mideast Web. Retrieved 2013-04-01. - ^ Axelrod, Alan (2014). Idiot's Guides: The Middle East Conflict. Penguin Group. ISBN 9781615646401. - ^ Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, chap. VI. - ^ Howard Sachar, A History of Israel. From the Rise of Zionisme to our Time, 2007, p.315. - ^ "A/RES/181(II) of 29 November 1947". domino.un.org. 1947. Retrieved 11 January 2012. - ^ Benny Morris (2008). 1948: a history of the first Arab-Israeli war. Yale University Press. p. 47. Retrieved 13 July 2013. The Jews were to get 62 percent of Palestine (most of it desert), consisting of the Negev - ^ Pappe, 2006, p. 35 - ^ El-Nawawy, 2002, p. 1-2 - ^ Morris, 'Righteous Victims ...', 2001, p. 190 - ^ Gold, 2007, p. 134 - ^ UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE A/AC.25/W/19 30 July 1949,"The Arabs rejected the United Nations Partition Plan so that any comment of theirs did not specifically concern the status of the Arab section of Palestine under partition but rather rejected the scheme in its entirety." - ^ Benny Morris (2008). 1948: a history of the first Arab-Israeli war. Yale University Press. p. 67. Retrieved 13 July 2013. p. 67, "The League’s Political Committee met in Sofar, Lebanon, on 16–19 September, and urged the Palestine Arabs to fight partition, which it called “aggression,” “without mercy"'; p. 70, '"On 24 November the head of the Egyptian delegation to the General Assembly, Muhammad Hussein Heykal, said that “the lives of 1,000,000 Jews in Moslem countries would be jeopardized by the establishment of a Jewish state." - ^ "Arab League Declaration on the Invasion of Palestine, 15 May 1948", Jewish Virtual Library. Archived 19 December 2010 at WebCite - ^ Resolution 181 (II). Future government of Palestine A/RES/181(II)(A+B) 29 November 1947 - ^ Special UN commission (16 April 1948), § II.5 - ^ Yoav Gelber (2006), p.85 - ^ Yoav Gelber (2006), pp.51-56 - ^ Dominique Lapierre et Larry Collins (1971), chap.7, pp.131-153 - ^ Benny Morris (2003), p. 163 - ^ Henry Laurens (2005), p.83 - ^ Dominique Lapierre et Larry Collins (1971), p.163 - ^ Benny Morris (2003), p.67 - ^. - ^ Dominique Lapierre et Larry Collins (1971), pp.369-381 - ^ Benny Morris (2003), pp. 242-243 - ^ Benny Morris (2003), p.242 - ^ Henry Laurens (2005), pp.85-86 - ^ Benny Morris (2003), pp.248-252 - ^ Benny Morris (2003), pp.252-254 - ^ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel: 14 May 1948 Retrieved 9 April 2012 - ^ "The Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: 1917–1988. Part II, 1947–1977", United Nations - ^ "The First Truce". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2009-02-22. - ^ Morris, Benny (2008). 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-12696-9. - ^ a b Benny Morris (2008), p.269 - ^ Benny Morris (2008), p.322 - ^ Benny Morris (2008), p.205 - ^ a b c d e Morris, Benny. 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War. - ^ Ahron Bregman; Jihan El-Tahri (1999). The Fifty Years War: Israel and the Arabs. BBC Books. - ^ Alfred A. Knopf. A History of Israel from the Rise of Zionism to Our Time. New York. 1976. p. 330. ISBN 978-0-394-48564-5. - ^ Morris, 2004, p. 448. - ^ Benny Morris (2008), p.323. - ^ Shapira, Anita. Yigal Allon; Native Son; A Biography, Translated by Evelyn Abel, University of Pennsylvania Press ISBN 978-0-8122-4028-3 p 247 - ^ Benny Morris (2008). 1948: a history of the first Arab-Israeli war. Yale University Press. p. 339. Retrieved 13 July 2013. al-Qawuqji supplied the justification for Operation Hiram, in which the IDF overran the north-central Galilee “pocket” and a strip of southern Lebanon....In truth, as with Yoav, Operation Hiram had been long in the planning...on 6 October, at the IDF General Staff meeting, Carmel had pressed for [Hiram] authorization, But the Cabinet held back. The Arabs were shortly to give him his chance. Before dawn on 22 October, in defiance of the UN Security Council cease-fire order, ALA units stormed the IDF hilltop position of Sheikh Abd, just north of, and overlooking, Kibbutz Manara, …. Manara was imperiled....Ben-Gurion initially rejected Carmel’s demand to launch a major counteroffensive. He was chary of antagonizing the United Nations so close on the heels of its cease-fire order. … The kibbutz was now besieged, and the main south-north road through the Panhandle to Metulla was also under threat. During the 24–25 October ALA troops regularly sniped at Manara and at traffic along the main road. In contacts with UN observers, al-Qawuqji demanded that Israel evacuate neighboring Kibbutz Yiftah…and thin out its forces in Manara. The IDF demanded the ALA’s withdrawal from the captured positions and, after a “no” from al-Qawuqji, informed the United Nations that it felt free to do as it pleased. Sensing what was about to happen, the Lebanese army “ordered” al-Qawuqji to withdraw from Israeli territory—but to no avail. Al-Qawuqji’s provocation at Sheikh Abd made little military sense,...On 16 October, a week before the attack on Sheikh Abd, Carmel … had pressed Ben-Gurion to be allowed “to begin in the Galilee.” Ben- Gurion had refused But on 24–25 October he gave the green light - ^ Benny Morris (2008), p.369. - ^) Archived April 5, 2009 at the Wayback Machine - ^ L. Rogan, Eugene; Shlaim, Avi. "The War for Palestine. Rewriting the History of 1948". Institute of Historical Research. Archived from the original on 2009-08-11. Retrieved 2009-08-08. - ^ "Jewish Refugees of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict". Mideast Web. Retrieved 2008-07-13. - ^ Benny Morris (1 October 2008). 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War. Yale University Press. p. 412. ISBN 978-0-300-14524-3. The war indirectly created a second, major refugee problem. Partly because of the clash of Jewish and Arab arms in Palestine, some five to six hundred thousand Jews who lived in the Arab world emigrated, were intimidated into flight, or were expelled from their native countries, most of them reaching Israel, with a minority resettling in France, Britain, and the other Western countries. The immediate propellants to flight were the popular Arab hostility, including pogroms, triggered by the war in Palestine and specific governmental measures, amounting to institutionalized discrimination against and oppression of the Jewish minority communities. - ^ David J Goldberg (28 Aug 2010). "A book review of: In Ishmael's House: A History of Jews in Muslim Lands by Martin Gilbert". The Guardian. while it is pertinent to point out that 850,000 Jewish refugees from Arab lands have been fed, housed and absorbed by Israel since 1948 while 750,000 Palestinian refugees languish in camps, dependent on United Nations handouts - ^ Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, chap. VI. - ^ Malka Hillel Shulewitz, The Forgotten Millions: The Modern Jewish Exodus from Arab Lands, Continuum 2001. - ^ Ada Aharoni "The Forced Migration of Jews from Arab Countries, Historical Society of Jews from Egypt website. Accessed April 4, 2013. - ^ Yehuda Zvi Blum (1987). For Zion's Sake. Associated University Presse. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-8453-4809-3. - ^ Displaced Persons retrieved on 29 October 2007 from the U.S. Holocaust Museum. - ^ Tom Segev, 1949. The First Israelis, Owl Books, 1986, p.96. - ^ Benny Morris, Righteous Victims, chap.VI. - ^ Population, by Religion and Population Group, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, 2006, retrieved 7 August 2007 - ^ Dvora Hacohen, Immigrants in Turmoil: Mass Immigration to Israel and its Repercussions in the 1950s and After, Syracuse University Press, 2003 - ^ a b Avi Shlaim, "The Debate about 1948", International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 27, No. 3 (Aug., 1995), pp. 287-304. - ^ Jeff Weintraub, "Benny Morris on fact, fiction, & propaganda about 1948", The Irish Times, 21 February 2008, [1] Archived 14 August 2009 at WebCite

Disclaimers! WHOOO-HOOOOO 1) The Characters Xena, Gabrielle and Ephiny are still, still, still the property of Renaissance Pictures, a division of MGM/UA. Their use is by no means whatsoever a challenge to their copyrights, intellectual property or any other nefarious means to cash in. Speaking of cash, I am not receiving any sort of reimbursement, job opprotunity, money, autographs, pictures, meeting, or even a cookie and a condescending pat on the head. 2) There are some explict words uses, Gabby is alluded to have done some un-Bardly things in the past and Subtext abounds. If those sort of things make you ill of stomach, mind or temper, then leave. Shoo. Go Away. 3) This is a sequel to the story "Well Worn Path", read it so you can understand some of whats going on. 4) The lyrics used to open this story are still the property of their original owners, see above for the lowdown on Copyright infringement and everything else. 5) Opinions and criticisms (constructive) can be sent to the following address: mailto:[email protected] Bridge Of Cinders By -- Enoon Erehwon "I'm just a soul whose intentions are good. O Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood. If I seem edgy, I want you to know, that I never meant to take it out on you." The Animals / Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Part Two of the Pardoners Path Series Gabrielles head bobbed bonelessly in time with the horses lazy gait. The villagers that she had liberated from the yoke of the warlord, Alcmaeon, were more than generous with their food and wine. She had turned down the offer of a hut to sleep everything off, because the local garrison would be sending troops out to see if the words about a woman who fought with the skill of the missing and presumed dead Conqueror were true. It wasnt the first time that her world was turned upside down by a string of tragedies. In the border of her consciousness, a bitter memory whispered to her of worse times. "My Queen, you must eat. At least have this piece of fruit," Ephiny said in what sounded like the I am the Regent and I know whats good for you voice she used whenever she spoke to the mourning Queen. Gabrielle gave the platter of food a bland look, then turned back to the window that she had been staring out. "Well, if youre not going to eat, then at least read over this treaty that Amycus had drawn up to end the war." Gabrielle waved a hand over her shoulder. "Set it on the table on your way out. Ill look at it in the morning." Ephiny took a step forward, trying to keep her voice in an authoritative tone. "May I have my Queens permission to speak freely?" Gabrielle nodded, never facing her loyal subject. "Your Amazons need you now. Xena doesnt need you anymore. Forgive me if I sound harsh, but circumstances dictate this, not me." She put a hand on her shoulder. "Let go. Youve mourned her enough. Now honor her memory by leading the Amazon Nation through this trying time. Heal, my good and precious Queen -- heal and be strong." Gabrielles gazelowered from the window, where the moon looked down upon the pair. It was a full moon; the face of Artemis was bright in the evening sky. Ephinys hand trailed slowly down her shoulder until it caught itself on the crook of her elbow. Gabrielle looked down at the hand, letting her dark honey hair mask her face. "Ephiny, I want to ask a favor of you," she said in carefully measured tones. It was no large secret that Ephiny had a strong attraction for her Queen, but she was always careful to keep a respectful distance, especially when Xena was around. Ephiny withdrew her hand as if Gabrielles arm had become a snake. "Whatever the Queen wishes, it shall be done." Gabrielle turned around to face her loyal subject. Her eyes were red and puffy from days of crying. Her skin was almost sand white and drawn around her cheekbones. No more did she look innocent and angelic -- she was old before her time. Gabrielle swallowed thickly as she prepared to speak. "I want you to lie next to me as I sleep," she said as formally as she could. Ephiny blinked. "My Queen?" "I have gotten. . . used to having someone next to me in my bedroll and I find myself sleeping much easier at night when there is someone there," Gabrielle explained as carefully as she could. Although she was well within her rights to take a new Consort, to have the Regent in the role would raise eyebrows. "Umm. . . my Queen, wouldn't it be better if you had the Royal Guard? If you fear for your life, then I should--" Gabrielles face began to crease and her mouth turned up in a smile -- a break in the gloom. "I only want someone to lay next to me for the night, not stand over my body. I would sleep better if it were you, Ephiny." She bowed her head. "I live to serve the Queen in all things." Gabrielles smile brightened. "Good, I will summon you before I retire. Will two candlemarks be good enough for you?" "At your leisure, my Queen. I should go back to my hut and see that everything is ready. If you would excuse me." She left when Gabrielle nodded. Gabrielle became alert when the horse nickered. She put one hand on the hilt of her sword and gathered the reins in the other. Craning her head around, she tried to see what was around her. The woods were silent, no birds chirped, no insects clicked. She looked over her right shoulder and saw a single stone pedestal in the distance. Carved on it was a stag rearing back on its hind legs. Over it was a crescent, with the points raised skyward. It was a marker for the Amazonian border. It was the last thing that Gabrielle really wanted to see this day. It meant she was on the wrong side of a nation that wanted to see her dead as a traitor. She cursed under her breath as she wheeled around and kicked her horse to a gallop. So far, no one had challenged her being in the land. By the gods, I might get out of here with my skin intact! she grinned at the idea of flirting with discovery twice in a week. The last of her cobwebs were being chased away by the rush of panic as she scanned the trees for an ambush. The leaves and limbs hid no archers from her as the obelisk continued to surge into her view. She fought down the urge to scream a scornful phrase to her attackers. Freedom was only half a league away. Kicking her steed to speed it onward, Gabrielle chanced a look back. Something whizzed by her head, followed by several others. She looked around wildly. Where were those damned archers? she hugged herself tightly to the horse. There was a solid thunk behind her. The horse stumbled, then reared. Gabrielle spilled off the saddle, bearing the brunt of the fall on her arm. Her horse, suddenly unburdened, galloped down the trail. She saw that there was no arrow sticking out of the horses flank, which meant that they were using bird-hunting arrows -- arrows with a thick wood tip made to stun rather than pierce. Gabrielle felt one slam into the elbow of her sword arm. Yelping, she dropped her sword and raced for the cover of the trees. Behind a thick oak, she flexed her arm slowly. Nothing was broken, the archers just scored a lucky hit. Gabrielle drew herself up along the length of the tree. She was too far away to run straight to the border without exposing herself to arrow fire. Theyre not trying to kill me. They want me alive, she realized. She didnt know if that idea should give her hope or make her fall on her sword, if she had it. Gabrielle took a deep breath to nerve herself, then picked out her next tree to hide behind. She was going to have to leapfrog from cover to cover, avoiding the hail of arrows. There was a stout tree forty-five paces away from her location. A distance that she could easily cover in a straight run. Here we go. . . keep moving and keep your head down. Ready? One. . . two. . .THREE! she sprinted to the tree as arrows whirled by her head. Birdcalls peppered the forest -- some were actual birds, startled by the sudden activity, but there were some that Gabrielle recognized as signals for danger or a call to arms. The Amazons were calling for reinforcements in a big hurry. It was either get out now or stay and fight. If it came to fight. . . she wasnt going to think about that option. She scouted out for another hiding spot. Slowly and surely, she was going to make it to the border. Gabrielle would decide what to do from there; but for now, her only goal was escape. A boulder was close enough for her to make it without exposing herself to more arrows. She gathered her legs under her, getting into a runners stance. Pumping her legs furiously, she darted to the boulder, ignoring the whizzing around her head. Suddenly, she saw one streak by out of the corner of her eye and impale itself in a tree. Gabrielle scampered away from her course to dive behind a fallen log. More arrows, a healthy mix of sharp stag hunting arrows and the dull bird-hunting arrows, stuttered into wood. Gabrielle swore to herself. She was being herded deeper into the forest, away from freedom. It was a tactic that she would have applauded several years ago. Now on the other side of the battle, she realized how obnoxious it was. No weapons were around, save some fallen tree limbs that could be used as clubs. Grabbing one, she hefted it in her hands. Bursting out from behind her cover, she started for a small cluster of trees. Arrows thickened the air, some of them cutting close enough to snip await loose strings of her honey-gold hair. She dove, rolling behind a tree and clutching her club. Her breath was heavy, but controlled. A scream of the purest rage split Gabrielles ears. An Amazon, complete with the mask of the Royal Guard, came bursting out of the bushes. Gabrielle had enough time to snap to her feet before the hardened point of a spear buried itself in the space once occupied by her head. A kick to the midsection, followed by swinging elbow to the jaw put the guard on the ground. Not wasting a moment, Gabrielle spun around to find the Royal Guards vine. She figured that she could make better time in the trees, or at least she could cut down the number of archers firing on her. Something hard and wooden struck her on the forehead. The sun exploded in her vision as she staggered back a step. More hard objects struck her in the kidney, back and stomach. She tried to push her way out of the crowd, but each step was dogged with screaming soldiers. Finally, her consciousness was plunged into blackness as something yelled above the cries of the soldiers. "WE HAVE HER!" Ephiny ran out into the village square. She had heard the cries of triumph and was reluctantly grateful for the chance to escape the drudgery of paperwork -- spy reports, treaties and the other documents that seemed to multiply over night by either magic or by some cruel gods design. She vowed that when she finally died and stood before Hades to be judged on her life, she was going to find the god responsible for paper and make him suffer for as long as she could. Two of the Royal Guards parted the crowd, but it soon formed an eager wall between Ephiny and the object of the crowds attention. One of the guards tugged on the rope, bringing whatever was on the other end of the rope stumbling before her. The person collapsed to the dirt, fresh bruises and blood covering most of the womans face. Ephinys heart stopped when she heard the grunt and saw the flash of blond hair. She stepped forward, hoping that it was an illusion. Maybe it was one of the Conquerors soldiers that happened to look similar to the Queen. If that was the case, Ephiny would have her blindfolded and ridden out of the village. If it was the only other thing it could possibly be, the village would tear itself apart. Ephiny tried to cool her own emotions. She needed to show everyone that she was still the Regent, that she was still in charge. "Woman, you have been found trespassing on Amazon territory." Ephiny hoped her voice sounded as strong as she wished it was. "What is your name?" The face lifted up and verdant eyes locked with Ephinys brown ones. The eyes that Ephiny once knew so well looked back at her. Her heart shriveled in her chest as she heard the voice, cracked and raw, say the one name that she never wanted to hear again. "I am Gabrielle, Qu--." The other Amazons screamed her down, some of them hurling things at her. "SILENCE!" Ephiny roared above the crowd. Another bellow finally resulted in the mob falling into a sulking silence. Ephiny took a step forward, balling her fists to keep from backhanding Gabrielle. There were so many things she wanted to do -- scream, kick, cry, beg and kill, but she was the Regent. She had to exemplify all the Amazon virtues: courage, faith, pride. . . and mercy. "Say it again." Ephinys eyes flickered to the crowd, challenging them to speak out of turn again. "I am Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons. My Consort was Xena of Amphipolis and I demand that I be untied." Her voice, even when it was scratchy, still held the timbre of command that she had learned long ago. "You are Gabrielle, but you hold no rights to be Queen. The day you betrayed your sisters was the day that you forsaken any claims of caste." Ephinys voice started to slip and betray her emotions. "All my sisters? Or just one?" Gabrielle retorted in a low voice. The crowd stirred like tall grass in a wind storm. Ephiny held up her hand to still the crowd. "To betray one is to betray us all." "Ill keep that in mind," she muttered half to herself. "So, lets get the execution over with, I have things to do." Ephiny smiled, not one of honest mirth but one of smug superiority. "We dont execute our criminals -- were better than you in that one respect." She nodded to the guards. "Take her to the cage. We'll decide what to do with our new guest in the morning." As the guards dragged their former monarch to her feet and took her to a hanging cage, Ephiny stared down everyone else in the crowd. "No one touches her without my personal consent, so says the Regent!" "Hail the Regent," everyone chanted back. "Get the healer for her wounds," Ephiny said as she turned and walked back to her hut. She could hear the crowd reluctantly dispersing as the guards began moving Gabrielle to the cage. Artemis, please tell me that Im doing the right thing, she silently prayed. Footsteps were heard fast behind her, causing Ephiny to look over her shoulder. "Not now, Ritsa." Ritsa stepped around the Regent. "Yes now, Regent. We have the Queen in our village! How much longer before her troops come pouring in here looking for her? You have decreed death to everyone here!" Ritsa grabbed Ephinys arm. "Dont tell me that youre still in love with her?" Ephiny snapped Ritsa grasp and shoved the stocky Amazon back a step. "You ever mention a thing like that again and I will have you banished. I am only interested in justice!" Ritsa tugged on a braid of her own straight black hair, with a single leather cord braided into it. "See this? This is the only thing I have to remember Cleo by, so dont you dare tell me that her life," she pointed to Gabrielle as she was being tended to by the healer, "is more important than either Cleos memory or justice!" Tears leaked out of her hazel eyes. Ephiny kept her face impassive. "My decision is final. We dont have to worry about her armies coming through because they think shes dead. No one is looking for her and no one will miss her." "Save you," Ritsa muttered. "Do you have anything else to do with your time? If not, I have soldiers that need drilling, treaties to be read and signed, and reports to be filed." Ephiny narrowed her eyes as Ritsa looked elsewhere. "And since you have the time to criticize, you have the time to work. Go drill the students in hand-to-hand and remember where your allegiance lies." "Yes, Regent." Ritsa bowed stiffly and marched away to the practice field. Ephiny made her way back to the tent with no other obstacles. Once behind the door, she sagged against a wall. She made one deep sigh as she pulled herself up to take her seat behind the desk. Why is she here? What gods have I offended to merit this? Damn it, Gabrielle, everything was fine when you were holed up in your palace. I was here and we hated each other. We both worked eagerly for each others destruction, but neither of us thought that we would be on the victors pedestal. Now youre here. Everyone wants you dead and you're hanging in the cage unprotected. Sure, there are guards, but how many of those guards are widows or grieving mothers? "Damn it, Gabrielle. Why did you have to turn up?" she muttered to herself. Picking up a report, she tried to read it carefully. After reading the same paragraph several times with shaking hands, she let it drift out of her clutch. Ephiny stood up and walked quickly out of the door. She had to know, or she was never going to forgive herself. The cage hung by a thick braided cord, swinging gently in the breeze. When Gabrielle first ascended the throne, there was no need for a cage. The village was well mannered and the most serious offense was dereliction of duty, which would only merit a night in the punishment hut at the most. When Gabrielle began her campaign, and downward spiral as some would say, the new influx of women and girls were all angry and restless. Gabrielle's being drunk did little to set the proper example. Thus, thanks to a trade agreement with a local village, the cage was made to hold three people with a minimum of comfort. Ephiny watched as the rope was secured around a tree. She almost felt sorry for Gabrielle. Ultimately, none of this was her fault. Fate had cruelly taken away Xena and left the woman lost and alone in the world. The Amazons tried their best to console her. When it came to dealing with the grief of losing someone close, the Amazons had years of bitter experience. It was experience that Gabrielle couldnt, or wouldnt, access for her benefit. The grieving went on for months. The rest of the nation had moved on and survived but Gabrielle hadnt, letting her suffering twist and turn her sorrow into a poisonous rage. A rage that drove her to this point. "I somehow remember my hut being less airy and more. . . on the ground," Gabrielle said, gently touching the bars that surrounded her. "What are you doing here?" Ephiny asked. "If its suicide youre after, go elsewhere." "It was a mistake, Ephiny. I nodded off while on my horse and ended up across the border. We both know that I wouldnt be as stupid as to come here alone." Gabrielle looked sullenly out to the forest. Ephiny crossed her arms. "How do I know that isnt another attempt to find allies? Did you think you could fool us Amazons into backing you again? Since your old cronies believe you're dead and are dividing up the land, you think you could ride in once again with your once-loyal subjects on your heels? I will keep you in that cage until you rot." "Lets hear it for the Amazon spy network. True, a few moons ago, I was the recipient of a successful coup, but beyond that -- Ive been doing the random odd job here. Defeating a warlord here, saving a village there--" "Invading sovereign space? Sounds very familiar." Gabrielles eyes darkened. "Is there a point that I should be paying attention to?" "I think that youre too busy trying to recap--" "You shut your gods damned mouth!" She lunged forward, her words a savage snarl. "You have no right to even draw the breath to insinuate her name. She stood by your side when Amycus threatened to wipe us out." Her eyes threatened to drip with quicksilver tears. "She died for this Nation." "No, she died for you. She paid a price that anyone of us would have gleefully accepted once, long ago. And how do you reward her memory? How do you honor the woman? By being everything she hated about herself. I hope that your bitterness can keep you company, because little else will." Ephiny turned her back to the cage and started to walk away. She watched as someone dressed in the green and silver robes of an acolyte race out of the temple to Artemis. The girl paused only long enough to scan the area for someone, then made a beeline for Ephiny. "REGENT! REGENT! ITS KYNTHIA! COME TO THE TEMPLE!" The shrieks of the young priestess brought a small crowd of curious onlookers from their huts. Ephiny sprinted to meet her halfway across the courtyard. "Somethings wrong with Kynthia! Shes -- shes --" The ring of people ignored the arrival of the Regent. Ephiny elbowed her way into the center of the room. "Whats going on?" She looked to where one of the priestesses was pointing with a trembling finger. The Regent stepped carefully forward, but a brace of gentle arms held her back. Kynthia was a war orphan from Gabrielles first series of attacks on Amycus. She was as narrow as a willow switch, with hair more gold than anything that ever came out of Hephaestus forge. Her eyes, robins egg blue with flecks of green, stared at Ephiny with the bore of authority behind her. She stood straighter, flexing what little muscle she had like she was still getting used to the feel of her own body. Her face looked foreign -- the gently rounded features were hard and impassioned. This was not the Kynthia that Ephiny took from a lonely village to raise. This was an imposter in Kynthias body. "What is this?" she asked. The Kynthia-thing swivelled its head bird like for a second, then focused back on the Regent. "Regent, bring me your Queen." This voice wasnt soft, but was the voice of someone who was used to having their orders carried out with no delay. Two of the other priestesses began to step forward. "Kynthia, this is no time for games." Ephiny swallowed. Even her own words sounded hollow to her. Kynthia wasnt much of a prankster. Even if she were, she would never let her humor bleed into her calling as a priestess. "I only inhabit the body of my chosen daughter. Know that I am your Sovereign Goddess and Patron." The Kynthia-thing looked at each woman in turn. "I have heard your cries for justice and I have delivered to you a Champion. Bring me the Queen. Now." The priestesses scurried off as the rest of the crowd, Ephiny included, knelt in homage to their Goddess Artemis. There was a scuffling of feet behind the crowd, with growls and muttered commands among the shuffling. A flesh-on-flesh slap was followed by the whuffing of a blow to the stomach. Out of the corner of her eye, Ephiny saw Gabrielle doubled over on her knees, holding her abdomen and gritting her teeth. "Is this how you treat your Queen?" Kynthia-Artemis asked with a shade of anger to her voice. "My Goddess, she has betrayed the Nation and sent her sisters into slavery," the temple hierophant whispered. Kynthia-Artemis turned her head slowly. "Do you think me a fool? Did I not just say that I had heard your prayers and sent you a Champion?" "N-no, my Goddess, but. . . but her? She is--" the priestess tried to stammer her way out of the wrath of her Goddess. Kynthia-Artemis eyes glowed with rage that no human could fathom. Ephiny stood up quickly, and placed herself between the immortal and the very mortal. "My Goddess, what I believe your servant is trying to say is that the Champion seems to be unlikely. We are confused that out of all the Amazons that pay you homage, you would pick the one person who is the object of our deepest hate." Ephiny hoped that if she were going to be smote, it was going to be quick and painless. Kynthia-Artemis smiled. "When this woman was given the caste of Queen, she chose someone who was deemed unworthy for the title not only of Champion, but of Consort. She worked endlessly to prove to all that she was indeed the right choice. Eventually, all accepted her as the Amazon Champion. Some," Kynthia-Artemis gaze was piercing Ephiny deeper than any swords could, "even grew to accept her as the Queens Consort. Once more the Amazon Nation is in danger and needs someone who has been forged and tested true. That someone is your Queen." She looked down at the huddled woman beneath her. "Rise, Queen Gabrielle and look upon the face of your goddess." "I cannot. I am unworthy to be recognized by your greatness." Gabrielles voice was soft, almost regretful. Kynthia-Artemis leaned down and raised up Gabrielles chin. "You are my Chosen and the Favored of my brother. Your worthiness has never been questioned by me. Now, rise my Chosen and receive my commands." She smiled gently as Gabrielle stood up. A wave of the hand erased Gabrielles wounds like a chalk on a slate. "Amazons, leave us alone. We have matters to discuss." "No, I will not leave Kynthia alone here with her." Ephiny dared to take a step forward. The priestesses that had gathered around clucked nervously. Kynthia-Artemis focused glowing blue eyes on the Regent. Most people would have crumbled under the attention, but Ephiny did nothing more than swallow hard and held her stance. "I am her aunt and I swore to you that I would protect her against any threats, including the Queen. I will not violate that oath." "And you believe that your niece is not safe in my temple and in my very presence?" "I believe that the Conqueror can do more harm with words than she could do with an army behind her." Kynthia-Artemis nodded. "Yes, my brother does tend to dole out the gifts heavily. If you could accept the word of your own niece, would you leave the temple?" Ephinys glance shifted from the Goddess to Gabrielle and back to the Goddess. "I would if I were allowed to stand outside the door with the Royal Guard." "Agreed." Kynthias face became slack as her eyes rolled back once, then snapped back to their original look -- warm, loving and seemingly innocent to the horrors beyond the village. "Aunt Ephiny? The Goddess will protect me here and now, as she always has. Trust her." She placed a cool hand on Ephinys shoulder. Ephiny nodded slowly and turned to walk out. A wave her hand carried the other people behind her, leaving the Conqueror and the priestess alone. "Oh, Im being rude." Kynthia bowed slightly. "I am Kynthia, a novice priestess. Its a . . . pleasure to meet you, Gabrielle." Gabrielle arched her eyebrow. "You didnt call me Queen or Conqueror. Why?" "They seem to make you uncomfortable. The Goddess says that I should not deny myself the rare opportunities to learn about others when they arise. Can I ask you something?" Gabrielle nodded. She braced herself for the inevitable question, the one that she sometimes asked herself: Why did you do it? "What was traveling with the Cons--umm... Xena like?" The Conqueror relaxed with a sigh. "It was interesting to say the least. I learned a lot with her on the road." "Do you miss those times?" Gabrielles gaze diffused for a minute, reveling in the memory. "Yes. I miss her more than the traveling, especially at night. When everything would get quiet, I used to wake up in the middle of the night and listen to her breathe. I felt safe in that sound. I dont know if I ever woke her up doing that, but it was nice to hear. Its the little things that I miss -- her breathing at night, the creak of her leather, the way shed look at me when we were alone." "Is that why you drank?" It was a direct question, not an accusation. "I keep forgetting that the Amazons dont teach much in the ways of politeness, but yes, it was. At first it was just to get through the night, then it was to get through the battles. Before I realized it, it became the only way I could get through life. Its nothing that I am proud of doing; and the things that I did while I was drunk, I will be performing penance for them for the rest of my life." Gabrielles eyes became hard again. Kynthia looked away for a minute, as if hearing a voice over her shoulder. "The Goddess will speak to you, now." Kynthias body went rigid, then relaxed for a second. Her head dropped to her chest, then came up slowly. Her eyes were glowing brightly once again. "Queen Gabrielle, I choose you as Champion for the Amazons upon the completion of this task." Gabrielle listened very closely to what the Goddess had to say. Ephiny paced nervously outside. Seven of the Royal Guard stood outside, spears and swords at the ready. If there was a scream, a whimper -- so much as a sneeze, they would storm the temple and Ephiny wouldnt stand in their way. She clenched her fists in impatience. The Goddess had been alone with the Queen for half a candlemark. What is so important that I cant hear it? she wiped her mouth once as she shot a look at the priestesses. They appeared to be as befuddled as she was. The priestesses were the first to stir when Kynthia-Artemis escorted Gabrielle out the temple. They knelt quickly, followed by the rest of the villagers who had collected around the building. Ephiny looked carefully at the pair. Gabrielle seemed to walk a little straighter, while Kynthia was absolutely inscrutable. "I am your Goddess and Patron. I have heard your cries and I have delivered to you a champion, but the title is to be earned. Gabrielle, my Chosen, will be granted the caste of Champion if she is able to perform the quest that I have given her. She is to rescue her sisters from Maramis and bring them back safely." Kynthia-Artemis voice carried through the still air. No other voice dared to make itself known as the Goddess spoke. "Once this is done, she is to be welcomed back among you." Kynthia-Artemis looked directly at Ephiny. "This is my word. This is your law." "Your word, our law. Hail the Goddess." The crowd -- Gabrielle included -- chanted in a low voice. Kynthias head nodded as her legs threatened to unhinge. Gabrielle swooped in to grab the young priestess, cradling her gently to the ground. Ephiny and the Guards moved forward, hands going their swords. Gabrielle gave the mob a threatening look. "Shell be fine. Go send for water," she said, smoothing out a lock of hair from Kynthias eyes. Ephiny nodded. Two Amazons broke from the crowd, running to one of the rain barrels nearby. Gabrielle looked up at Ephiny, scanning her rigid face. "I know that look, Regent. If you wish to discuss this, we should do it in private. The last thing either of us need is a lynch mob." "One of you take Kynthia back to my hut and lay her down. The rest come with me and the Conqueror." Ephiny watched the woman pick up Kynthia as gently as she would pick up a sleeping toddler. The remaining soldiers gathered around Ephiny, giving Gabrielle a cold look. This must be Xena went through when we first came to the Amazons. All this time, I took it for granted that because I was named Princess, and then Queen, they all forgave her and accepted her as my Champion and Consort. Gabrielle walked beside Ephiny, with a wall of Amazons between the pair. They marched outside of the village and into a copse of trees with a small spring bubbling up into a pool. Gabrielle remembered the area after a minute of study. "We used to come here at night, just the two of us to swim, among other things." Gabrielle smiled at the memory. "First Xena and I, then you and I." She sat down on a rock, letting her hand trace the currents in the crystalline eddies. "Guards, give us a moment of privacy." Ephiny turned her attention to Gabrielle as the Guards melted into the treeline. She tried to get her nerves to stop shaking. From the reappearance of Gabrielle to Kynthias possession by Artemis, this was a day that would not be soon forgotten. "Well. . . ." There were so many things to say that she had no idea where to begin. Gabrielle looked up. "Well?" Ephiny drew a deep breath. "Con -- Gabrielle. . . dammit all, what happened? Why? What did we do?" She came a step closer. "What did I do?" Gabrielle shook her head. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Ephiny, dont blame yourself for what I did. There was nothing that you, or the Nation could have done. I. . . I just got. . . lost. I was hurting and I wanted everyone else to hurt because of it. I guess thats as good as an explanation that I can give." Ephiny sat down next to Gabrielle. She had longed to be this close a long time ago. Now that the chance was presenting itself, she realized that the spark kindled years ago still smouldered dimly. She was both fascinated and disgusted by that dawning fact. "Well, Im sure your explanation will ease the hearts of all the grieving widows, mothers and aunts throughout the lands. The phrase I just got lost will dry up many a tear in this village." Gabrielle jumped up, her sorrow turning to a vindictive rage. "What do you want? You want me to wave a magic wand and turn back time? If I could, I would have turned down that damned mask and left this whole group to their own damned devices! Believe me, if I had that power, I wouldnt be here." She turned away and stalked away towards the village. "If you need me, Ill be swinging myself to sleep in the cage. I have a busy day tomorrow." Ephiny sat there, looking into the water, wondering if what she had done was the right thing at all. The morning came too quickly for Gabrielle. The sleep was less than comfortable and the morning meal -- a hunk of half-hard bread, some spare roots and a cup of murky water -- could only be accused of being half-way nutritional. When she was lowered and released, Gabrielle was immediately flanked by guards on either side. She was used to the feeling of being hemmed into a wall of flesh. However the last time this happened, the guards were charged with defending her life from assassins, not grudgingly protecting her from those who would carry out their own rough justice. Out of habit, she walked in perfect pace with the guards to where the Regent stood in the middle of the square. The Royal Guard stood on either side of her on the dias. Gabrielles crowd of guards stopped, then bowed to the Regent. They dispersed to join their comrades ringing the village populace. "We have been charged by our Patron, the Goddess Artemis, to give Gabrielle a chance to redeem herself in the eyes of her former sisters." Ephiny hoped the word former would be heard by everyone present. "And as we are all servants to the Goddess, we must obey. So, Gabrielle, I will release you to perform Artemis will. Bring back the sisters that you have unlawfully imprisoned and you be welcomed back." Ephiny took two steps down to look directly into her eyes. "But if you betray our trust, then there will be no safe place for you to hide." Gabrielles gaze never wavered. "As the Goddess commands." She leaned closer to Ephiny, "As a sister, Ephiny." "Just get them back." Her voice was hard. Gabrielle spun around on her heel, catching Kynthias eye. "What do you want?" "I am to join you in your quest," she said, as if the answer were all she needed. "No, youre not. I dont have time to babysit," Gabrielle said, brushing past Kynthia. "Aunt?" Ephiny shook her head. "I agree with Gabrielle. You should stay here. A prison is no place for a priestess, especially one as young as you are." "I am a woman and by Amazon law I have--" Gabrielle stopped and spun around on her heel. "Listen. Youre not going. Thats final and I will not waste anymore time debating it. The Regent has the final say in all arbitrations, if you want to get legal about it. Good-bye, good luck and good day." Gabrielle picked up her walking pace. "Aunt Ephiny, the Amazons are going to need a healer and I am one of the best in the village. Besides, whats going to happen if the Conqueror shows up in Maramis prison yelling I am here to free the Amazons? Once they are out of the prison, theyre going to rend her limb from limb, and somehow I dont believe thats what the Goddess wanted." Kynthia looked from Ephiny to Gabrielle. "Well?" Ephiny swallowed. "You have proven your point. You may go with Gabrielle--" "WHAT? Are you out of your mind?!" Gabrielles voice jumped an octave. "PROVIDED. . . provided that she has an escort to keep her safe." Ephiny looked into the crowd. "Who will safeguard Kynthia?" Only one woman stepped out of the crowd. "I will." She was smaller than Gabrielle, but rather than being fine-boned and gangly like Kynthia, she was thick and powerful. Her hair was short, cut to fit her blocky face and was as black as a nighttime storm cloud. Hanging on her wide hip was a dagger. She looked to the Regent and bowed, then focused her steel grey eyes on Gabrielle. Gabrielle steeled herself under that gaze. It was the gaze that Xena had when she sized up an opponent. "I will guard your niece," she said quickly. "And you are?" Gabrielle studied the woman in front of her. "Enyo. I am a hunter and I have volunteered to protect Kynthia." Gabrielle looked from Enyo to Ephiny, who was walking towards the hunter with a grim look on her face. "Enyo, you realize I am asking you to protect the one thing that is dearest to me?" Enyo nodded. "Only my death will keep me from my task." "Thats how it usually works," Gabrielle muttered under her breath as she looked at Enyo. "Regent, this is madness. I am going to be infiltrating the most heavily defended prisons in m-- the Empire. I do not have the time to play babysitter for these two!" Enyo jumped in between Gabrielle and Ephiny. "Let me remind you that youve got no friends here. . . or anywhere! Youd better take what you can gods-damned well find!" Gabrielle shoved her back. "Youd better learn to hold your tongue, hunter. Soldiers are harder to kill than a rabbit." Enyo unslung her dagger and brought it up. "Ive seen battle before." Gabrielle shot a questioning look at Ephiny. Ephiny shrugged her shoulders. "They're your charges now. Make the best out of them." Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Fine. Get me some horses and we can be off." Three horses were led to her. Gabrielle hopped on one and waited for the others to mount up. Kynthia did so with great delicacy and a constant muttered apology to the horse. Enyo looked at the horse with no small amount of disdain. "Enyo, mount up," Gabrielle commanded. "Ill run," she said, crossing her arms. Gabrielle nudged her horse over to the small girl. She leaned down. "I have no time for this. Mount on that horse or I will drag you by your hair." "Enyo! It would be better if you rode with me since you have to protect me anyway. " Kynthia managed to move her horse over. Enyo hopped up, holding her arms around Kynthias slender waist. She gave Gabrielle a satisfied look before Kynthia gently turned her horse to face Gabrielle. There was a second of understanding that passed between the hunter and the warrior. Gabrielles mouth twisted sourly as she turned her horse around. "If we ride hard, we might be able to trim a day from our trip. Lets go!" Gabrielle dug her heels into the horses flank. Her mount surged forward, followed by Kynthias steed only a moment later. Ephiny watched the horses disappear into the woods. She couldnt shake the feeling that her niece was riding into disaster. "Have some of the Guard follow them until they are beyond our borders, then have our spies alerted. I want to know what is going on at all times with Kynthia." Ephiny walked down the steps towards her hut. "And I dont want to be disturbed by anything save those reports." She acknowledged the murmurs of allegiance with a nod. Goddess, please watch over Kynthia and Enyo. Help them in their time of crisis, she prayed silently. The trio only stopped once during their ride. "Let me ride the horse," Enyo snarled. "Your constant apologies to it are beginning to grind on my ears." Kynthia slid off the horse uncomfortably, only to flounder in getting back on behind the hunter. Picking up the pace, the trio managed -- as Gabrielle had predicted -- to cut a day off their trip. Maramis was only a day away through a mountain pass. As the sun lowered itself gently, Gabrielle halted their progress to rest the horses and themselves. Enyo unsheathed her dagger and bow to go gather food. Kynthia and Gabrielle stayed behind to care for the horses. Gabrielle found herself staring at Kynthia as she carefully brushed the horses back. There was something familiar about the novice priestess, something in the way her hair curled around her ear and the slope of the nose. It was almost aristocratic, as was her entire being. There was a nobility to her that shone through the humility of her station. Gabrielle frowned as the memory tugged and pulled for attention. "What about the war orphans?" Ephiny asked. "What about them?" Gabrielles tongue was beginning to thicken with wine. "We cant just leave them to their own devices, and our village is almost over run with them." Gabrielle shrugged listlessly. "Dont know. Maybe the best thing is to leave them where they are." She rubbed her head, wincing. "I have a headache. Leave me be for the night." Ephiny muttered something to herself. "What was that?" "Nothing, my Queen. The matter of the orphans has to be resolved soon." Gabrielle hissed impatiently. "Cant the Amazons take more than one, for gods sake?" Ephinys back straightened. "We have more than we can handle, my Queen." "Have you taken a niece or a nephew?" Ephiny nodded gravely. "I have taken a niece." Gabrielle poured another cup of wine and offered it to Ephiny. She shook her head. Gabrielle shrugged again and downed it with a single gulp. "So why not take another? Have a houseful of little rug rats running about." "I would, but this child deserves special attention. She was the daughter of a nobleman and needs time to get used to our way of life." "Whos daughter was she?" Ephiny fell silent. . . "Youre Amycus daughter," Gabrielle said breathlessly. "Hm?" Kynthia looked over at the woman with an expression of curiosity. "Youre the daughter of Amycus," Gabrielle repeated. "You. . . you must hate me." Kynthia smiled and stopped brushing the horse. "Thats what I thought you said. Yes, for a while when I was growing up in the village, I hated you. It was all could I think or talk about. Very few people would even associate with me because I was so fixated on revenge. I became soldier, and a very good one -- that is, if ruthlessness is a good trait -- while I was training under Solari. I was determined to find you and strike you down like you had done to my father. "Then, one day when I was out on exercises, Artemis came to me. She said that she had heard my prayers for revenge and wanted to show me something. She lead me to a clearing and pointed at you, just standing there with your back to me. Look, she said. 'Now is your chance. "And I took it. I screamed and charged at you, swinging my blade with every dram of anger I could find in my body. In one stroke, I severed your head clean from your body, another separated your torso from the rest of your body. I never stopped hacking and slashing until you were an unrecognizable lump of bloody flesh -- the way you left my father all those years ago." She held up a hand when Gabrielle tried to interrupt. "No, I need to say this. "When I was done, Artemis looked around. I dont see your father alive anywhere, maybe you should kill the Conqueror again. And another one of you appeared. I went after it, and another and another. When I was too tired to move, the clearing looked like a battlefield. Body parts were everywhere and blood was dripping from the tree leaves. I was exhausted and didnt want anything more to do with fighting. "I sat down and started to cry. Artemis knelt next to me. My child, youve learned a painful lesson. Vengeance never solves anything. Your parents are dead and there is nothing that I, you, or anyone else short of Hades can do to bring them back. Grieve for them, then move on. If you continue this quest, you will be as dead as your family, but it will be a walking death, not the life I want for one of my daughters. After that, I hung up my sword and joined the temple. Ive had no regrets." Kynthia resumed brushing the horse. "I dont hate you anymore for what you did. Im more curious than anything else." "So am I," Gabrielle muttered half to herself. She opened her mouth to say something then closed it with a click. As she reached for her blade, she raised her hand to silence Kynthia. The priestess' eyes grew wide with panic when Gabrielle handed her a dagger. She shook her head and tried to give it back. Gabrielle shoved it back scowling, pointing to the tree line. Kynthia crossed her arms, shaking her head once as she pointed to the sky. Gabrielle turned her back on the priestess, raising her sword and looking around the tree line. She knew that her soldiers would be patrolling the area. She hoped that her gambit would work. Maramis was isolated from the rest of the Empire -- meaning that they would greet their Conqueror with open, if not terrified, arms rather than with naked steel. Once inside, she would walk down to the Amazon block and let them free. Ephiny would give Gabrielle standing within the village and all would be right. Everything rested on Maramis isolation. Whoever was moving on the outer edge of the copse was beginning to circle around to out-flank Gabrielle. She turned to keep the person in her sight. Kynthia came closer, guiding the horse beside her. Gabrielle took a step forward, trying to seek out the intruder. The person stopped and Gabrielle took a deep breath to steady herself. The leaves whispered a betrayal of movement. She raced forward, grabbing something in the bushes. Gabrielle hauled her arm back and the mysterious interloper was dragged out by a knot of cloth, kicking and flailing. She held something in one of her hands, while the other held a bloody dagger. Gabrielle raised her sword high, a killing glint was in her eyes. Enyo flung the rabbit bodies into Gabrielles face. In the split second that the Conqueror raised her arm instinctively, Enyo scrambled to her feet. She held her dagger in an offensive posture. Gabrielle flicked a bit of blood and gore off her arm. "This is no fight for you, hunter." "It is when it involves my sisters, slaver." A quick, back-handed slice was followed by a furious stab. Gabrielle stepped away from the first attack. She blocked the stab with her blade, then stepped in and connected with a fist to Enyos nose. The hunter stumbled over her own heels, clutching her bloody nose. Before she could regain her footing or senses, Gabrielle drove the pommel of her sword into Enyos stomach. Enyo fell over backwards, the wind knocked painfully out of her. The Conqueror knelt down, straddling the girl. She placed the point of her blade against Enyos throat. "You ever come at me like that again and Ill--" "Drop your sword in the name of the Conqueror!" The voice was proceeded by Kynthias quickly strangled cry. Gabrielle shot to her feet, raising her sword. Two men, dressed in the brown and greens of her foresters, stood in the center of the clearing. One of them had Kynthia in his arms, one hand over her mouth and the other clutching a dagger to the throat of the young priestess. The other had a crossbow aimed squarely at Gabrielles heart. "I am the Conqueror, you idiot!" Gabrielle roared, letting her anger at being surprised fuel her voice. "Lower your weapons and explain to me why the two of you failed to intercept these Amazon bitches in my forest, unless your pockets are lined with their silver?" Gabrielle took four hasty steps forward, raising her sword arm to hack the forester down. The forester dropped to one knee. "Conqueror, we. . . we didnt know you were coming with prisoners." "I shouldnt be coming with them at all, but they were stupid enough to think that they could outfight me. Now pick that one up and carry her with us." Gabrielle thrust her sword point at Enyo. She turned a smoky gaze in Kynthias direction. "This one comes with me to my private chambers. Once she has been taught manners, she could easily find a place in my court." She grabbed Kynthia roughly. "Hopefully, you wont just lay there like the last one." Kynthia swallowed. "It wont be love. Youll never have that from me." "If I wanted love, I would have bought you," she snorted. "Tie her hands and mount her on my horse. Oh, and priestess -- two things. One, dont think that your vow of purity means a thing to me, ss don't insult me by begging on those grounds. Two, my forester will set you on my charger, so put any thoughts of escape out of your head. You so much as sweat wrong between here and Maramis; your friend and twenty other Amazons go either on the block in Athens or under the arches in Rome." Kynthias hands were being lashed together as Gabrielle pretended to walk around and admire the view. In her mind, she was trying to remember everything she could about the mountain prison. Whenever she visited it before the coup, she was drunk enough to forget that she had people in here that she once called sisters. Now, she fought to reclaim every hazy memory. I do have private chambers, I know that. . . What was the wardens name? Is that important? Dammit! I am not prepared for this! Relax! Calm down and think. Whats the plan? We go in, I make an excuse to go to the Amazon block. With Enyo unconscious, Im going to have to rely on Kynthia to make sure the prisoners dont flay me alive when theyre released. I also need to have Enyo awake when we go down to the block, just to have another sword arm. All right, those two can come with me -- getting them in will be simple The challenge comes when I open those gates and the Amazons are running running for freedom, assuming that everyone believes me and these two say that I am actually here to rescue them. I might just have the advantage in sheer numbers. . . "Forester, how many guards are at the prison?" The forester stood up from tying Enyos feet together. "Umm. . . we are somewhat understaffed, Conqueror. We could get you to safety in the rare event there was a riot, but beyond--" "Understaffed is not a number, forester. I want a number. How many guards and how many prisoners?" Gabrielle swooped towards him like a falcon speeding for a kill. "Twenty-five guards and almost one hundred prisoners, seventy-five of them are Amazons." The forester paled under his ruddy tan. "Four to one? How do you keep such a large population under control?" The forester smiled. "We have trustees to move among the general population, keeping the various groups at each others throats. The Amazons are kept in a separate area, away from the others. No one trusts the Amazons and the Amazons trust no one else. Its a tidy arrangement." "Maybe I should visit the warden. He sounds like a forward thinking man." Gabrielle mounted her horse, bracing Kynthia with her arms as she gathered the reins. She leaned forward slightly, her breath tickling Kynthias ear. "Get ready. You must be perfect from here on out." If she heard, Kynthia didnt let on. The horse surged forward under Gabrielles cry, sending Kynthia back against her captors battled-hardened body. She watched the dark greens and browns blur as the pair thundered ahead through the woods at dusk. Most people would have stayed the night in the clearing and traveled when the light was good, but Gabrielle was trailing behind the foresters through the woods at a suicidal speed. The sooner she made it to the prison, the sooner she could work her plan and the sooner she could go back to her nomadic life. "CONQUEROR! Whoa!" The foresters reined in their horses as their Conquerer shot ahead. Gabrielle stopped a few paces later, then wheeled her horse around. "Why are we stopping? We need to get to the keep before the light dies," she asked, giving them the most hateful look she could muster. "We will, Conqueror. Follow us, please." The pair turned to the left and led their horses down a trail that Gabrielle would have missed if it wasnt for the foresters riding through it. It was wide enough for the horses to travel single file, but hidden so that only those very wood-wise, like the Conquerors foresters, could pick it out. The trail was straight and carried them to a rough hewn tunnel. A small spark of wondrous fear lit in Gabrielles mind. If they did this in between visits, could this mean that they are better exposed to the outside world and news? She shook her head slightly. "How long did this tunnel take to build?" "Ten seasons after you commissioned Maramis. We dug this tunnel with the slave labor. It would have taken longer but the warden was determined to have this done quickly as a surprise to you, Conqueror. On the other side of this tunnel is Maramis itself. The travel time has been cut down from a day to a few candle marks. After all, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Come with us." The forester clicked his tongue and guided the horse down the dark shaft. Gabrielle looked after him, then turned in her saddle. "Who else knows about this?" she asked. "Just the warden and the foresters. When the tunnel was completed and deemed safe by two miners, they were executed." The other forester ushered Gabrielle into the tunnel. Lanterns, hanging ghost-like down the path, lighted the way. Gabrielle felt Kynthia shudder as they trotted inside. "What was the work force comprised of?" "No Amazons to be sure. We tried using them at first, but we had too many damned escapes, so we ended up dipping into the general populace." The wind keened through the opening, making a wrathful cry. Gabrielle clutched the reins tighter and urged her horse on faster. How many ghosts are here looking for vengeance? She felt Kynthia shudder slightly again as a damp breeze blew around her. In the distance, the tunnel mouth was a small, inviting dot. This is insane. Maramis has changed too much. Ephiny wanted me to do this because its a suicide mission. As far as I know, this tunnel is rigged to cave in at the wardens request, Gabrielle swallowed as the dot ahead of her grew. She could see the gate to Maramis almost clearly -- a series of black, fuzzy bars striping the dying light. The walls seemed to be getting narrower. Gabrielle was struck with the notion that the darkness was beginning to squeeze her in -- claiming one of its own. A face came out of the blackness of her peripheral vision, its mouth working out words that could only be a rightful condemnation of her soul "Go faster you damned horse!" she hissed. She had never been this afraid in all her life. Combat was one thing, the person in front of her trying to kill her was as mortal as she was. The frights that awaited her after her last breath was taken feared nothing. They had already moved past the reaping by Celeste and dodged the final verdict of Hades. Gabrielle didnt fear dying. It was what lay beyond that often times kept her awake in spite of the jugs that littered her palatial floor. Another breeze, this one head on, grabbed and teased Gabrielles hair. This wind was warmer and gentler. It had no final judgments in its currents, just playful chiding and the scent of leather. A scent that coaxed a tear from Gabrielles eye. Hades will never judge you guilty, a stray thought of blue eyes came to her mind. You just worry about the world above, Ill handle the world below. Gabrielles smile was brighter than the bonfires that lit up the outer yard of Maramis when she came out the other side. Built as a prison to hold the likes of the infamous Jett and Autolycus, the years were harsher to the keep than the denizens were to each other. Grey stone walls were hewn into the twin mountains, making a siege almost impossible. The towers, one at each corner and two on either side of the gate, were manned by three guards with crossbows. Warnings were seldom, if ever, called from the men in the towers. Peeking above the walls were two buildings. There were no windows in the buildings, nothing but gray stone and hopelessness. "Goddess save us," Kynthia whispered in awe. "Stick to the plan or youll be seeing more of this place than you want." Gabrielle looked around, examining the area for escape routes and aids to escape. There was only one, the front door. "Ho! How as the patrol?" a voice called out from gate tower. Gabrielle only saw the crossbows, dangling from the shoulder of the guard who called out to the foresters. "Ho! The walk was well and we have guests! The Conqueror and two new Amazons for the block!" The guards came alive. "Clear the yard and open the gates! The crown! The crown!" Gabrielle moved her horse forward as the gates, four times as tall as she was and half as wide, were pulled open by some of the guards on the ground. Gabrielle took a deep breath to fully assume the mantle of the Conqueror. This role had to be perfect. The slightest hint of betrayal and she would find herself being thrown into the Amazon block to the amusement of the warden. She looked behind her as carefully as she could. Enyo was still unconscious, her body dangling with the dignity of a sack of wheat. Stable boys ran up to the horse, holding it steady. "Brace yourself," she whispered to Kynthia, then roughly shoved her off the horse. Some of the guards laughed cruelly as the young girl picked herself up with as much dignity as her bruises would allow. Gabrielle slipped off and watched the horse being guided toward the stables that seemed too far away. She looked around the yard again, trying to gauge running speed against the reaction time. There was a booming crash behind her. Kynthia squeaked once, looking to the gate as the bolt, a bar of oak that was little more than a rough hewn tree, grated into place to lock the doors. A jowly man in a flowing dark robe came jogging out, flanked by two guards. As he neared Gabrielle, he slowed down, then knelt on one clumsy knee. "Great Conqueror, let me welcome you to Maramis. I am the warden Arvalis and we--" "Guards." She looked behind her as Enyo was dragged off of the horse and onto the ground. "Have someone wake it up. I want to show my new pet." Gabrielle pinched Kynthia hard enough to sprout a new bruise. "What is going to await her if she suddenly decides to get cold feet on this special night." She chuckled. "Well, its going to be special for one of us." "Umm, Conqueror, you must be tired from your trip and I am sure that you would want to freshen up from the road. Let me escort you to your chambers." The warden snapped his fingers impatiently. A small boy came running, holding a cup and a wine skin. He skidded to a stop and poured the wine into the cup. Gabrielle looked into the wine cup. One cup wont hurt anyone. By Tarterus, everyone is going to expect you to drink, a silky voice whispered from the back of her mind, you said it yourself, the performance must be flawless. She threw the wine into Arvalis face, then smashed the wooden cup over his head. He sputtered, flailing his arms as nervous guards wiped away the liquid. Gabrielle grabbed the warden and dragged him to her face. Her snarl and steely gaze hypnotized Arvalis, like a cobra hypnotizing its prey. "Maybe I need to reintroduce myself. I am the Conqueror, the Sovereign Lady of the realms of Greece, Rome, Chin and the Steppes. My wish is your law and my desires are the sole purpose of your pathetic existence. Right now, my wish is to have the captive on the ground awakened and readied to walk with me down to the Amazon block so that the toy." She pinched her again. "Will know what will befall her if she suddenly feels like what I am doing to her is a violation of some sort. Now, unless you want me to have you arrested for high treason and crimes against the Empire, then have you punished by stripping you naked and tossing you into the aforementioned Amazon block, youre going to do damn well what I have bid. Understand, maggot?" "I-I-I will personally give you the tour myself, Conqueror. Guards! Wake the woman up and make her ready to walk! If you will follow me, please." Arvalis turned around quickly. The guards struck Enyo in the face, then dragged her to her feet. Enyo blinked painfully, holding out her bound arms in a feeble attempt to keep her swaying sense of balance. Kynthia started to move to the hunter, but Gabrielle shoved her forward with a snarl and a threatening raised hand. Two more guards fell in behind their ruler, dragging the semi-conscious Enyo. Gabrielle rubbed her thumbs nervously as they walked towards the smaller of the two buildings. As she drew closer to the doors, she thought that she could hear screaming. As they climbed the steps up, the cries became louder. The hate was a living thing, striking at the group with brute-blind force. "Do they always scream like that?" Gabrielle asked trying to sound as if she were complaining about an off-key singer. "Hmm? What? Oh, yes. After a lunar cycle, you get used to it. I hardly hear it now." He put on a phony smile as the doors opened. What was a trickle of sound became a full-fledged wave. Gabrielle could feel Kynthia's panicked tremors under her hold as they crossed over into the cell block. The cell block was composed of five cages lined up against either wall. Each cage held roughly fifteen women. All of them were pressed in against each other, struggling for a chance to grasp at the Conqueror. Harsh epithets were screamed as the bars were rattled and food bowls were emptied at the group outside. Gabrielle tried to close off the sound by trying to remember a rhyme her mother had taught her, or a story that she had told Xena long ago, but the cacophony managed to obliterate any thought than the one desire to silence that sound. She gave Kynthias arm a signaling squeeze. The priestess subtly flexed her arm muscle once, then tried to catch Enyos eye. When Enyo squinted curiously, Kynthia let a corner of her mouth twitch. Gabrielle let herself be led to the center of the room. She met the eyes of those on the other side of the bars. She smiled vainly and let her hand settle on the hilt of her sword. She looked at Kynthia. A knowing wink came back to her. It was now or never. "Get these moon mad women to shut up. I have a message for them." Gabrielle had to yell into the ear of the warden to get him to hear. His jowl-lumped face nodded, then he motioned to the guards. The guards went to the cells, striking the bars with the flat of their blades and yelling for the woman to be silent. After what seemed to Gabrielle to be an eternity of screeching on both sides, the roar was dulled to the point where she could be heard. She took a half-step forward, keeping two of the guards in the corner of her vision. At least I would have died for something right if it happened today, she thought as she drew in a breath to speak. What came out was a whistle that drilled through whatever noise was left in the room: a long whistle that brought back memories for every Amazon in the room. It was the whistle of combat. Gabrielle snatched her sword from her sheath, driving it in a tight arc behind her. She felt the satisfying and brief resistance of bone as the wardens mouth caught the full brunt of the blow. He crumpled to the ground, holding his mouth and whining in a gargling falsetto. The guards stood frozen for a half second before they realized what was happening. Gabrielle vaulted over the huddled mass of the warden, landing gracefully and parrying a strike that would have taken her head from her shoulders had it connected. A wrist flick turned the sword away, then she straight-armed it into his neck. She twisted into a crouch, swinging her sword solely out of honed instinct. Again, she felt the razor edge catch on something soft, then pull through. When her eyes connected with the flashing path of the sword, she saw one of the guards stumble away, dropping his blade and clutching an open gash on his leg. When he looked up to see how close he was to the cage, he had only time to hiss a curse before hands clawed at him. They hauled him closer, banging his head against the steel bars or trying to rip out his throat. After a frenzied few seconds, a hand reached down and tugged at the key hanging on his hip. Gabrielle looked behind her. Enyo had the right idea. She had slammed one of the guards into the bars and was wrestling with the other one. Gabrielle began to run, impressed with the womans badger-like tenacity in tackling an opponent that was almost twice her size. Suddenly, her view was sent pin wheeling as something grabbed her by the arm and pulled her around. In her dizzying view, she saw cage doors being opened and Amazons, spurred on by blood, rushing for her. A flash of blonde hair centered her sight. Kynthia held up her hands and let out a single word that, by what could only be called divine providence, every Amazon heard and heeded. "WWWAAIITTT!!" Kynthia shifted around Gabrielles body and repeated the word, which Enyo picked up and parroted back to the other Amazons. "What do you mean, wait?! The monster that locked up your sisters is right here, and you want us to wait?! For what?! An invitation?!" One of the women in the front lunged forward, grabbing a sword and pointing it at Gabrielle. "YES! Shes here to set you free! Listen to me! Sisters never lie to each other! She has renounced her ways!" Kynthia was holding the crowd back by the force of her personality, but her hold was weakening quickly. "I am a priestess of our Patron. I would never lie, not even under a threat of death. Believe me!" "LIAR!" the Amazon cried and raised her sword to rally the others. The crowd moved forward like a rushing tide. Gabrielle grasped Kynthia by the arm and slung her behind her. She lowered herself into a fighting stance. Something else rushed by her and she saw Enyo adopt Kynthias earlier pose. "What she says is true! This woman is here by the word of the Goddess Artemis and the command of the Regent! Listen! LISTEN!" Enyo matched the volume of the nay-sayers. "If she wasnt here to rescue you, why would she kill the warden, fight the guards and let you get the keys to the door. Why would she even let the two of us get free? Why would she even be here? For Artemis sake, use you heads!" Mutters and glances were exchanged. "So what do we do now? Once we leave this building, the guards will know what is happening and shoot us down from the towers." "Better to die on your feet than live on your knees. Besides, its night outside and I can take the hunter with me to release the other prisoners. There are only twenty-five or so guards in the prison and there are one hundred prisoners. The odds are greater if more escape than just the Amazons," Gabrielle said, lowering her sword. "How do we know that youre actually going to free the other prisoners and not just leave us to die?" "Good point." Gabrielle looked into the crowd. "You." She pointed to a face in the crowd. "Come with me as a show of faith." The woman, grimy and disheveled, took the sword from the Amazon that challenged Gabrielle. "And how do you know that Im not going to kill you when we get outside those doors." "If you do, no one will leave here alive. Kill me in here and nothing much changes. A guard will get curious that the warden hasnt come back and investigate. If he is missed, the guards will assume the worst and lock the doors from the outside, leaving you to starve. If Im killed by your hand outside, the guards will see it and raise an alarm. Your choice. Whats your name?" "Amata." "Well, Amata. You, Enyo and I are going to let the other prisoners out of the other cell block, then were all going to run to freedom. Kynthia, give us a count of eighty, then everyone run for the gates." Gabrielle sheathed her sword. "Lets go." She turned around and moved slowly towards the door, waiting for the stunning pain of a blade being run through her back. After tortuous seconds passed, she looked behind her. Amata had sheathed her sword and was following. Enyo was at the rear, picking up a dagger from the body of a dead guard. The trio passed through the path that was formed soundlessly by the crowd. Gabrielle alighted the steps leading to the door. She looked out to the crowd gathering below her. Kynthia seemed to stand out from the crowd like a dove among crows. Gabrielles lips peeled back in a genuine and rare smile. Kynthia returned it with a nod of respect, her lips moving almost imperceptibly. The doors were before them. Gabrielle grabbed the handles and pulled quickly, wishing to get this all over with quickly. The guards snapped to attention as she stepped out into the cool night air. She reached back and shoved Enyo forward. "Since you think that the Amazon block is too good for you, perhaps the real criminals will accept you!" Enyo started to rush forward, but one of the guards caught her before she could connect with a swing. He raised his dagger to slit her throat. Gabrielle swiped at him with her sword, slitting his wrist. His dagger fell with a ringing clatter. She wrestled Enyo and the guard apart. "You will walk with her! Whatever else you do, do it on your own time! Now all of you move!" The group trotted quickly to the other, more imposing building. Gabrielle stood impatiently as the guards saluted and started to open the door. Once the door was opened wide, she shoved both Amazons in, yelling to the prisoners below to enjoy their new toys. She motioned for the doors to be closed again. She watched the guards shift nervously in their uniforms. She knew that she had to act quickly. The count was getting close to eighty and she had no way to tell if the Enyo and Amata were successful. Going into the room would jeopardize the entire plan. Gabrielle had to trust Enyo, in spite of every instinct telling her otherwise. . . . 77. . . 78. . .79. . .80 The roar a hairs breadth before the doors flew open in both buildings was the only warning that Gabrielle had before the flood of people shoved her aside. She joined in the periphery, hoping that everyone was too busy focusing on freedom to look too closely and discover that their jailer was running along beside them. Guards began to raise the alarm and let loose their bolts. Gabrielle heard screams peppered around her, but she knew that the soldiers werent going to kill all the escapees before they got to the gate. Another alarm was raised, this one from the prisoners as some of the guards on the ground began to join in the melee. The rush of people continued towards the gate, trampling down anyone or anything that got in their way. One person, running beside her, collapsed as if he ran out of every last bit of energy, a black and maroon shaft stuck out of his chest. Gabrielle put that out of her mind and focused on the gate. The gang crushed themselves against the gate before organizing themselves enough to pull back the bolt back. Amazons formed a ring around the work gang, keeping the soldiers at bay. Cries and bellows of encouragement and threats and promises to deities far above them thickened the night air. Gabrielle pushed and elbowed her way to the gate. She found an opening at the bolt and pushed. She heard a familiar grunting behind her. Chancing a look over her shoulder, she saw the Amazon who challenged her earlier. She gave the Amazon a wide grin. When the Amazon returned it, Gabrielle felt a little bit of the darkness that she had been riding with lighten. "PUSH! PUT YOUR GODS DAMNED, WORTHLESS BACKS INTO IT!" one of the other inmates yelled above all the others. "ONE! TWO! THREE!" Gabrielle felt the bolt slide a handspan forward. Every muscle stamped and whined for rest. Gabrielle groaned and pushed harder, determined to free the bolt or die trying. The bolt slid some more, then began to pick up speed. It tumbled to the ground with a resounding thud. As eager hands rolled it away, others pulled the door open. Those in the front clamored forward for the tunnel. "KNOCK OUT THE LANTERNS! HOLD HANDS! HOLD HANDS!" Gabrielle grabbed the hand of someone next to her. The ones ahead of her apparently heard her because the lights began to wink out ahead of her. Behind her, she heard someone -- sounded like Enyo -- yelling to hold the mouth. Gabrielle focused on the movement ahead of her, squeezing her unknown partners hand in fear of those ghosts that menaced her beforehand. Xena? Be here, please for gods sake be here. . . She no longer felt any sensation of pain, only a crushing feeling of joy in her chest as she broke out the tunnel and into the night air. Letting go of the persons hand and making sure that her face was hidden in the shadows, she whistled for the Amazons to take to the trees. Limbs shook and rattled as if a hurricane's wind came through the forest. Those that were left on the ground scattered into the woods, following the sporadic bird cries and mimicking them. Gabrielle hunkered down by a tree stump and waited for Enyo and Kynthia. She wasnt going to come back without either them or their bodies. She forced herself to breathe normally, quashing the feelings of euphoria until she heard two familiar cries. She whistled back once, then moved away from the trunk. Her whistle was repeated above her head. Gabrielle scampered up the tree, coming face to face with four pairs of glittering eyes. "Kynthia?" she whispered. "Yes, Enyo and I made it out." Kynthia carefully stepped forward. "Are you injured?" Gabrielle patted herself quickly. "No." She suppressed a mad giggle. "Im fine." "Lets go," Enyo said quickly. "The guards will be organizing and soon will be tearing this forest apart." The Amazons continued their trek through the forest for almost a day, stopping only briefly to rest and hunt for berries and edible roots. Gabrielle, Enyo and Kynthia stayed together as they neared the Amazon lands. "One thing. Why did you attack me earlier?" Gabrielle grabbed Enyos arm. She thought she saw a grin on Enyos normally stern face. "Because while you two were chattering like grackles, I heard the foresters coming and I saw the opportunity to get us in." "So. . . you--" Gabrielle started. "Dont mistake what I did for charity. It was duty. As far as I am concerned, you havent begun to pay back the Nation." Enyos voice came back as cold as it did back in the village. "Good. Im glad that there will be no mistakes in the future," Gabrielle said. She was thankful that no one could see her face, or its marring frown. For a brief second, she had entertained the notion that she was forgiven. She felt her breath beginning to hitch. Im tired, thats all. The day is finally beginning to sink in, she thought as she started to run along the tree limbs, swinging on a vine that was in reach. Behind her, Kynthia swung quietly, pausing only one to touch Gabrielle lightly on the shoulder. The older woman jerked as if bitten by a snake. When she looked behind her, all she saw were a pair of luminous blue eyes. Eyes that were hauntingly familiar. "Time is on your side. Remember your heart, sister," Kynthia whispered once, then raced ahead at the sight of the familiar tree-vines of home. Gabrielle sat for a minute, watching Kynthia and Enyo growing distant in the darkness. She looked up at the sky and the stars that shimmered distantly above her. A tear dripped off her chin, into the forest below. This is a hell of a first step, Xena. I hope you're happy and in my dreams tonight for a change, because I could certainly use the company, Gabrielle thought as she swung away from her perch, buoyed by the trace odor of leather. When she arrived at the village a weary day later, she was taken to a private hut, then given a worn, but comfortable shift to wear. The bed was broken in and thin, but Gabrielle could care less. She had a dream date and she didnt want to keep anyone waiting. Sleep came a heartbeat later as her legs began to pulse with fatigue. Morning was sudden and late coming. The Royal Guard woke up Gabrielle with little more than a knock and a command from the Regent to dress quickly for an audience. As Gabrielle worked the last strap of her leather jerkin, two Royal Guards came in and stood on either side of the door. Ephiny came in a beat later and closed the door. Gabrielle looked up, rubbing her eyes as she bowed with respect. "Regent." "Gabrielle." She returned the bow. "I didnt think you would do it, but youve returned the Amazons to us. How many were in the prison originally?" "Seventy to seventy-five. How are the casualties?" Ephiny frowned. "Twenty lost last night, some will pass on today, but for the most part." She tried to keep her voice cold and matter-of-fact. "The losses were acceptable." Gabrielle nodded. "The story of my life -- acceptable losses. How are Kynthia and Enyo?" "Artemis be praised, the two of them werent injured. Enyo is sleeping soundly and Kynthia is in the temple, offering prayers to the dead. Shes not going to be doing much else for a while." Ephiny shuffled nervously on her feet. "I have some other business to take care of, so Im just going to give you this with the reluctant thanks of the Nation. A compromise between our past and the dictates of our Goddess." She pressed a leather pouch into Gabrielle's hands. "And this." She stepped close, holding her tightly. "We have some supplies waiting for you at the southern border. There are few troops there, so it would be best for you just to lay low for a while, but dont be a stranger, agreed?" Gabrielle smiled and squeezed the back of Ephinys neck gently. "Just promise to use only the bird hunting arrows on me next time." The two of them parted, then caught each others eyes. They were ripe with further feelings, ones best shared completely alone, but that time was not now. "Farewell, Gabrielle." Ephiny smiled and walked out quickly. Gabrielle watched her walk out. "Farewell, Ephiny," she said softly. Looking down at her hands, she opened the leather pouch. In it was a necklace of beads in Artemis colors -- silver, green and brown -- and in the middle was a small silver plate. Etched into it was the upturned crescent and rearing stag. As Gabrielle rubbed the silver, she noticed two red beads on either side of the silver tab. She sniffled once, then slipped the necklace on over her head. This necklace was more payment than she felt she deserved and she was going to live up to the honor. She wore the necklace of the Amazon cousin. Not a full-blooded Amazon, but one that was as trusted and respected as any other Amazon villager. Gabrielle rolled one of the red beads between her thumb and forefinger. She whispered thanks to whomever was listening. Red was the heros color. Return to Main Page

Hello stoner community, we hope your highs are settling in nicely today. For weeks now we've explored various parts of our own culture, but now we're going to devote a post to those who live outside our cloud of smoke. But more specifically, what happens when our worlds collide, and non-stoners try to engage in weed-related activity with us. Since these people are practically a new species of virgins, they all tend to have the same exact clueless commentary.. 1. “I can’t smoke, I have to [enter activity here] several hours from now" / "I want to go to the gym later and don't want to ruin my diet!" - Just because we’re stoners doesn't mean we're idiots. Obviously there are (very few) times in life when being even a trace of high is not good, such as a court hearing for that little oopsy DUI from freshman year or a one-on-one lunch with your AA sponsor. So if such activities are on your horizon, I guess I can understand holding off on the greens. But if something like “studying” or “the dentist” is on your afternoon/evening to-do list and we are still in the fucking AM, please explain to me why you can’t take one measly little bong rip? Do you honestly think your abilities to cope with normal life will still be so severely impaired hours after smoking? Perhaps if you’re sprinkling your bowls with crystal meth. 2. “I can’t be high around my boyfriend” - Ex-fucking-cuse me? You can’t be high around your boyfriend? Unless he is next in line to be President, this is just incomprehensible. If you hold off on smoking for the sole reason that you think you will be judged by your significant other for being high, dump him immediately. Don't you want him to get to know the real high you? 3. “I hate the way it smells” - This is basically pothead blasphemy. Don’t like the smell? You must also dislike the smell of freshly washed linens and homemade cookies you fucking monster. This is one I truly cannot wrap my head around so I guess I’ll accept it as one of the many things which separates stoners from mere mortals. 4. “It hurts my throat!” - So does sucking dick, but I don’t see that stopping you. Sorry, I really just don’t take well to people’s blatant shit talk of my best friend Marijuana. What I mean to say is, don’t be a little bitch. The only time that there will ever be a painful aftermath from smoking will be following a monstrous and impressive hit, in which case that slight pain in your throat is something to celebrate, for within seconds you will be so high you’ll forget you even have a throat. 5. “I’ll fall asleep!” - Excuse me, are you a toddler? This is probably the most common go-to for non smokers and it is also one of the most frustrating. How about this: don’t fall the fuck asleep. Or take a fucking Adderall. Assuming you haven’t just chased several bars with pinot (in which case you are excused, Carrie Mathison), then I promise you are capable of physically holding open your eyelids for the remainder of this stoner session. If Mandy Bynes can do it long enough to operate a vehicle all the way down Sunset Boulevard without dying, you can make it through the next 20 minutes. 6. “I just don’t like the feeling” - This one is hard for us weed enthusiasts to even begin to contemplate. What’s not to like? The warm feeling that permeates your entire body? The immediate relaxation? The disappearance of your anxiety? The way it makes Kraft mac-and-cheese taste like Daniel and Call Me Maybe sound like Beethoven's 9th symphony? 7. “I get so awkward!!” - This is one of the few complaints that actually has some legitimacy, because even serious stoners have experienced the social incapacitation that sometimes comes with getting high. However, this is particularly annoying because what these noobs do not understand is that there is nothing wrong with being QUIET. Just because there is a moment of silence in the group doesn’t mean it’s sooo awk! That’s called a stoned silence which means the entirety of the group is probably too high to even realize no one is speaking. 8. “I feel like getting high today” - For us potheads, getting high is a way of life. To say that one wishes to get high "today" is downright insulting to marijuana culture as a whole. 9. "Can you light it for me?!" - So let’s say you do manage to coax your non-smoking friend into a blaze sesh which obviously consists of 5 shared hits leaving her high as a kite and leaving you sober and annoyed, because after breaking up the weed, packing the bowl, and lighting it for her, you practically just smoked FOR her, minus the inhalation, which is obviously the only fucking part that matters. 10. “Let’s watch something funny! I want to laugh!” - After the munchies have begun and the Snuggies procured, it’s time to pick the post blaze entertainment, which as any pothead can tell you, is a terribly daunting task. So many options! A documentary about child drug mules in Malaysia, an episode of Intervention about computer duster addiction, the fucking infomercial channel. But of course, when you ask the non-stoner what their preference is, they will have only one answer: something funny! Ugh. Now don’t get us wrong, obviously we love quality comedy as much as the next pothead. But really there are only so many times I can watch Pineapple Express (I mean I’ll obviously still laugh at “I thought the hurricane season was over”), but regardless, the non-smoker’s entertainment choice is just so amateur. Like no shit, really, you want to laugh? Wow, it must have been that one hit you took that gave you such insight. i worship the stoner betches. lets blaze somedayPosted on — Reply Whoever wrote this article is a fucking idiotPosted on — Reply Yes I might even think this is an anti weed persons attempt to make stoners dins even stupiderPosted on — Reply I agree, and I’m a avid smoker, but this d*ck licker makes us all look bad. Wow, what a fail from the MJ community.Posted on — Reply careful with the addy+weed combo if you have a weak heart. collapsing on the dirty street during a munchie run is not a bit betchy. for some reason certain strains just ruin me and send me into a feverish nausea hell and shit like that happens. others take me to stoner heaven. it’s a gamble.Posted on — Reply Cool story betch tell it again -__-Posted on — Reply You obviously are a rookie/non-stoner. That’s that shit I don’t like!Posted on — Reply Bull, marijuanna does not affect your blood pressure so it wont affect you if you have a weak heart. Cannabis helps blood flow. adderall affects the brain not the heart.Posted on — Reply Lie about something else. not trying to preach to “stoners” here fyi! i love my green too…. BUTPosted on — Reply Actually Adderall is a “central nervous system stimulant” and number one side effect tied to dry mouth is tachycardia which is increased heart rate. It’s not the best idea to do both at once.. you wouldn’t down a few xanax’s and snort cocaine right? same principle. kMILLIE is right, you stupid ignorant pothead loser. Hope you die of a heart attack.Posted on — Reply Fu*k you not his fault he’s misinformed for you to wish death on him show’s what a shitty person you arePosted on — Reply idiot, adderall is a stimulant so yes it does effect your heart. THS is a stimulant, depressant and a hallucinogen though its only classified as the later, They both effect the brain and the heart.Posted on — Reply merrybetchmas (nice nik lol) but can you please enlighten me with the strains. I cant seem to get high enough anymorePosted on — Reply um, recommending that anyone take another drug to counter act the effects of the first drug is insane. this “article”, if you can call it that, is what’s wrong with our culture. How arrogant can you be?Posted on — Reply You are right. The author is a stoner and, it follows, a fucking idiot.Posted on — Reply Culture? Ha ha.Posted on — Reply this is literally ridiculous…a true betch doesn’t give two shits if some stoner is pissed at her for not smokingPosted on — Reply Not pissed. Annoyed that we are friends with boring Debbies like yourself. Cheers xxPosted on — Reply clearly your that annoying little bItch that won’t smoke…Posted on — Reply shut up, do u hear how stupid you soundPosted on — Reply if you say anything that was listed above then ur a newb and weed doesnt want you to smoke it so leave it alone ha What the fuck is this newb/noob bullshit smoking requires no skill and you gain no xp. Stfu you failed abortionPosted on — Reply Weed smoking require skill if you good @ rolling a good blunt if in a group peoviding propper items ie bong pappers vape or pipe what weeds go best with what so yes there is skill cause i a jedi fucken weed master and yes there is an etiquette to smoking with other and if you dont know about pot head etiquette then you are clod or a newb in any event im going now as i meed my a m bong rip good day .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)Posted on — Reply Why the shit is it such a big deal to you people if someone doesn’t want to smoke? Y’all act like a bunch of teenages trying to pressure people into doing an intoxicant that they DON’T want to do. I smoke weed almost daily and I’m not going to be an ass and belittle someone who didn’t want to smoke if I offered. Everyone has their reasons. More weed for me. I’m an adult who can respect other people’s decisions instead of flying into a rage and getting so apparently personally offended someone rejected me. Grow up. Weed isn’t a fucking godly special thing only the most elite and all knowing people do. It’s a plant that gets you high. I think you all need to go hit that bong again you’re very irritable when you’re coming down.Posted on — Reply do more stoner serious there just to goodPosted on — Reply Stoner Series is the best part of this site. Up the dosage!Posted on — Reply It is one thing to spark up a doobie and laced at a party, but it is quite another to be fried all dayPosted on — Reply If only it lasted all day…Posted on — Reply “It makes me paranoid!”Posted on — Reply Hahaha gotta love you betches! Keep it comingPosted on — Reply you literally just listed all of my lame non-stoner friends… like stfu and pass the jointPosted on — Reply ahhahha amenPosted on — Reply Hilarious. Glad you’re commenting on the stoner-betch way of life. Keep it upPosted on — Reply this was PERFECT. stoner betches are the top betchesPosted on — Reply this is the betches that i love! have the stoner betch write for all these shitty new people, she’s actually good!Posted on — Reply fucking nailed it betches. fucking nailed it.Posted on — Reply i live for the “stoner series” - keep it coming betches, this one was completely on parPosted on — Reply eat good, smoke good, fuck goodPosted on — Reply Hell yea!Posted on — Reply Hahaha fuckin right highlyfePosted on — Reply hhahahhahaah #3 is too good.Posted on — Reply Seriously I HATE when everyone just wants to watch something funny and I think you may be my twin because rando Netflix documentaries and specifically the Allison intervention episode are perfect for smoking. I die.Posted on — Reply this is a terrible post. can you not understand they have their own reasons to smoke or not? honestly ‘i dont like how it feels’ is so fucking legitimate, people have different brain chemistry, people respond differently to different situations. Some people are gay, some are straight, and others have preferences between the two, the same applies for preferences to pot.Posted on — Reply this post was meant as a joke and i realize that, but that is no reason to preach intolerance. youre dehumanizing non-smokers when you say their complaints are not legitimate, youre saying that you are better than them, which is fucking garbage. Sorry “Bill,” who are you? I’m assuming you just got a GED, because even though I just wake and baked, your lack of logic is actually kind of insulting. Trust me when I say you’ll never have to worry about being ‘demonized’ by stoners/stoner betches, because you are one harsh buzzkill.Posted on — Reply Shut the fuck up you complaining non-stoner. If your not a smoker, COOL! MORE FOR ME. But don’t go googling ans searching for this shit so you can tell us “loosers” off. I smoke weed all day, everyday and its the best life ever. Anyone who tells me to back off or slow down, shut your fucking uptight face and let me live my chill life alone bitches. I’m an alone weed smoker and that’s how I like it. All my other non smoking friends waste all my good shit and tell me not to smoke any more. Fuck that. Imma get ripped and watch cheech and chong ALONE.Posted on — Reply You’re an idiot vanessa. Anybody with a normal functioning brain could understand what hes trying to state. He probably doesnt give a flying fuck what you’re going to do, i know i don’t. Hes just saying that it is extremely ignorant to classify people the way the author does, because it is. Listen little girl, you wanna go smoke your life away and get high everyday all day, go for it, i dont give 2 fucks just like everybody else. “Imma get ripped and Watch cheech and chong ALONE”͵ LoL thats the way to do it! Keyword ALONE, thats what you will be. Lazy, ignorant, uneducated, and un-ambitious.Posted on — Reply “Hes just saying that it is extremely ignorant to classify people the way the author does, because it is.” BUT…. “thats the way to do it! Keyword ALONE, thats what you will be. Lazy, ignorant, uneducated, and un-ambitious.”Posted on — Reply After being a heavy smoker and weed smoker for about 6 years (quit about 7 years ago), I can safely say that stoners piss me. Just look at this bullshit. They treat cannabis like a “way of life” and try to coax others in to thinking like them. No, I don’t want to smoke with you, or see you, or smell you, or hear you. Go be a fucking stoner somewhere else. On a more serious note, almost my entire family have smoked for almost their entire lives, so don’t even think about calling me ignorant of it. Stoners ARE annoying. Fuck stoners. Let’s put them on an island somewhere and let them get baked and starve to death.Posted on — Reply :DPosted on — Reply Stop being an ass because some people have different hobbies than you. Seriously, let them starve to death ?? Because they smoke pot ?? What’s wrong with you ?? Somebody else smoking is doing little to no harm to you &+ is their own life choice. There is no reason whatsoever to be so cruel as to wish them to die. A stoner might be annoying (&+ despite all your experience, you are obviously unaware that different people are different types of stoners &+ have different personalities than others because of that fact that THEY ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, considering you seem to be saying all stoners act the same &+ you know how they are already JUST because they are stoners), but you sir. Are mean. Personally, I would take someone that is annoying rather than someone that is mean any day. So let’s do everyone a favour &+ take your negative attitude somewhere it will be praised by others with your ‘I’m better than you because I’m straight-edge’ mindset, because you will find no such praise here. Thank you sir, &+ have a lovely evening.Posted on — Reply I wasted 25 years of my life being a stoner. Stoner advocacy and stoner logic just make me really angry. I’m so relieved I left that life behind. It was a drag. That’s all it was. I don’t want anything more to do with those fucking idiots.Posted on — Reply Hahahah this couldn’t be more perfPosted on — Reply Your abilities to cope with normal life are clearly so dismal that you need to smoke in order to function. “Do you honestly think your abilities to cope with normal life will still be so severely impaired hours after smoking?” Hilariously bad articlePosted on — Reply You were all rookies once. Make sure you make sure you’re perfect before you degrade people.Posted on — Reply I ignore this shit, because everyone’s on their own journey. People can take flights or stay grounded in reality as much as they would like. I am lifted to be myself, not apart of whatever stoner commands you all think exist. I would expect no less of other people. It’s called respect. They’re not dissing you, they’re just stating how they feel. So treat everyone as if they were sent to you from god. Forgive other people for annoying you bc they don’t know they are doing nor do they mean to. Small steps lead to great success when it comes to improving yourself. IA. I smoke weed regularly. Many of my friends do too, but some don’t and that doesn’t make me like them any less. My non-stoner friends don’t whine about my drug use, and I don’t whine about their lack of it - it’s called having respect for the people you give a fuck about and their choices. The Stoner Series on here is starting to remind me more and more of what smoking up was like in high school: snobby, immature elitism over something that’s just about having a good fucking time.Posted on — Reply LolzPosted on — Reply lolz. But preach it man, gotta let these noobs know, shit gets relaxed out here, bro. I can’t tell you how many non-smokers I’ve converted, now they re serious potheads because they listened to me, and they followed the rules, the very rules you just laid down. I mean, this stuff is just smoking etiquette….Catch up, Earthlings. * Applause* Every fucking thing you just said that you do, I have thought about saying, and have said, and do fucking do. How the fuck did you know I watched pineapple express as a pothead amateur? You naughty weed-smoking psychic, you This is stupid as fuck. I don’t like the feeling is probably the best reason not to smoke weed. I don’t either. It’s fucking horrible.Posted on — Reply Honestly, you’re probably smoking the wrong kind, too much, etc. there are tons of reasons you might not like the feeling OR because you just aren’t used to it. the first time i actually got high i freaked and said how much i hated that feeling…and even though i’ve smoked tons and tons of times now there are still those rare moments where i hate how it feels. you just have to smoke the right kind in the right place with the right people and the right amount. it’s def. understandable that some people don’t like the feeling, but these same people might have only smoked, like, 3 times and haven’t had the chance to be able to feel how GOOD it actually feels.Posted on — Reply “Ex-fucking-cuse me?”Posted on — Reply Dude I was totally watching the infomercial channel as I read this. This vacuum is the shit manPosted on — Reply This post makes a bad name for stoners.. I don’t think any less of someone if they do not want to smoke. Most of the weed smokers I know would never judge someone because of their choices.. This post is just shamefulPosted on — Reply At first this made me laugh alot. Newbies can do some lame stuff but you have to cut them some slack. They might not like the feeling because they have always been too high to enjoy it. They might say they want to see something funny because they don’t care about what they watch as long as it isn’t lame. I have converted many fellow stoners in my time but you have to remember what it was like when you first started.Posted on — Reply wow! To each his own I guess. But cracking down on people for not smoking is kinda lame. If they don’t want to, let them be.Posted on — Reply Fuck the internet. People write shit about shit.Posted on — Reply All of the above are your (soberingly) nice friend’s way of saying “I don’t want to be like you.” Sober people don’t want to smoke because they have seen how stoners act and think, and it’s not pretty. Your psycho-social pathology is pretty extreme, and the “you should smoke, I smoke, so you should smoke,” retort only shows that you understand how low you are. Also, adderall absolutely affects the heart.Posted on — Reply “it’s not pretty.” So is seeing people drink yet you are not talking about that here. Be a troll elsewhere. Too much of anything is bad. And it’s obvious most who’ve tried herb have little to no experience in it’s proper form of use. The so called “potheads” who adovocate for legalization do so because it helps them with either physical pain or mental pain from looking at comments from an ignoramus such as yourself. I pretty much started herb from being tired of being depressed all the time. Some people are beyond help when it comes to mental health so let them do herb if they need it. I’ve never heard someone say alcohol or cigarettes make them better because they don’t. They cause the opposite. SO instead of bitching over something you obviously hate on this site, waste your time drinking and smoke tobacco so you may not infect us with your stupidity. It would be for the greater of all mankind for stupid bitches like yourself to leave others alone and mind your own damn business. God knows how many more sites are out there denouncing herb versus sites that appreciate it. Everyone is pretty much like what he describes in this article at first. When I was in high school I told a lazy fuck of a person to stop doing that herb because it’s bad for him. It is bad before your brain develops, just like alcohol for a pregnant women is bad for their baby’s brain development. But honestly, why the fuck did I care whether he was smoking? The person writing the article merely described every single person out there that never smoked in their lives. You cannot possibly like smoking from trying it the first time . It does feel terrible just like an ANTIDEPRESSANT makes you tired from taking a first dose. From my experience, every anti-psychotic I’ve ever taken has led me to feeling like shit. Watch Silver Linings Playbook to see how everyone actually feels being put on crazy pills. People tell you you’re mentally sick because you are not like the rest. Having you without pills is an endangerment to society which is most of the time far from the truth. Herb helps these people feel normal yet shitheads like you will consistently downplay all its benefits that people at least perceive to exist. Are you too stupid to realize that everything is an illusion made by your brain? When you die that’s it. The illusion is over. Let people decide how they perceive the world. Let individuals figure out their own ways to feel happy while living in this shit infested world. To be fine with it. That is what herb allows you to be. To BE FINE with EVERYTHING.Posted on — Reply If the world is all just an illusion made by your brain, why expend so much energy telling us about it? After all, aren’t we all just figments of your imagination?Posted on — Reply Stoners are generally chill people, this guy must be from the violent side ..Posted on — Reply On Friday, a stoner tried to sell me some weed. I told him that I am an ex-stoner, and that I fucking hate weed, and that the best thing he could do for everyone’s sake was burn the his weed which he was trying to sell to me. This made him so angry that he threatened to come round to my house with a sawn-off shotgun. The stupid stoner twat.Posted on — Reply I thought you didn’t put “I’m cutting back until I get a job”. Weed is expensive so I thought money would be the number one excuse.Posted on — Reply This has got to be one of the gayest posts i have read ever, seriously as a non-stoner, stoners always seem to be so stuck up about their fucking habbit OK LETS GO THROUGH THE FUCKING LIST 1. I got stoner friends who are like “im going to gym this afternoon, if i smoke up this morning then i won’t be too high for the gym” (PS: THEY HAVE BEEN DAILY SMOKERS FOR YEARS) but every time they say that, guess fucking what, THEY DON’T GO TO THE GYM, who the fuck can workout when your just been a lazy fucking stoner??? oh yes.. i use that excuse as a non-stoner because i hold down a fucking job and i study and weed just gets in the way of things 2. That is an honest reasonable excuse, because i have had stoner friends where their partner doesn’t smoke weed, WILL go off at them once they catch them been high, Honestly it’s a bit controlling if i say myself but only a daily fucking stoner will have a sook when someone WON’T smoke up with them 3. I love the smell of bud, I FUCKING HATE 2ND HAND SMOKE, seriously, it may taste good when smoked but the second you breath it out, it smells like fucking shit, ESPECIALLY THROUGH A BONG, not only that stoners will not realize how fucking disgusting it actually smells, they will be too doped out to care about anything, Including BLOWING FUCKING SMOKE INTO NON SMOKERS FACES 4. now this one is fucking stupid, I have never heard any non-smoker say that, the only time i have EVER heard someone say that is the fucking daily weed tokers that have smoked WAAAAAY too much and end up fucking their throats up. 5. Well some people don’t want to be fucking doped out…. big fucking deal.. I myself would prefer to be awake and in the moment than rather be smacked off my face all day 6. Once again, some people don’t want to be doped off their faces 7. As a non-smoker, stoners are so fucking awkward to be around, you ask them questions and they are too high to even answer a basic question, not only that, they will interrupt you without realizing, Oh yes, not only that i once was a stoner, i HATED the quiet part so much, it would always start off fun but then eventually it’s just fucking boring. 8. And what’s wrong with that??? just because a non-smoker doesn’t want to get high EVERY FUCKING DAY, doesn’t mean he can’t have a bit of fun on that one special occasion like Christmas! 9. this part… what the fuck?? honestly is it that much of a bother to you to actually flick a lighter?? what are you?? STONED?? 10. Once again out of the 6 years i was smoking, NO ONE, i repeat, NO ONE has ever said that, generally the typical stoner sesh will start off by smoking, chatting, eating, then watching movies/playing games etc.. Once again, this article is shit, the poster should feel ashamed, and i’m actually feeling mad because stoners are usually chilled out people.. but this guy.. is just a full on idiot.Posted on — Reply none of you can call yourself a stoner because you are all so negative… let me just say that all these things are pretty damn true and while we think them we dont flip on the “betch” in the group that is saying them.Posted on — Reply p.s. the girl who took the time to write a whole comment listing how mad she is about this post… obviously shouldn’t be reading stoner posts. As an accomplished stoner…. i am insulted by this post. honestly this is just… too much!Posted on — Reply I must be old, I pretty much only put on “something funny.” Intervention while high? No thanks, sounds like the furthest thing from the mood I’m aiming forPosted on — Reply You sound like a rookie stoner who want others to believe you’re not. Bullshit article.Posted on — Reply I used to smoke and now I can’t. I’m jealous that I can’t have a joint every now and then to chill out but it doesn’t chill me out anymore, it makes me paranoid, anxious, dark.Posted on — Reply forreal you make out stoners to be bigots towards non-smokers. Please stop giving us all a bad name. I invite little pansy girls to smoke so they can put in their five dollars, I only spend 5 dollars, and end up smoking basically the same amount of weed (yes, they will be like “no moar plz” after like 3-5 hits of a blunt. But so what, more for me? I’m not going to get mad or annoyed? that’s childish. The only way I will get mad a someone in regards to pot is if they never have any money, and constantly want to smoke. Like if you don’t have anything to offer, don’t expect the rest of the pothead community to supply your habit. Get a job, do some yardwork, or offer your gramma to clean her house. So please stop making us sound like hate ridden droolmongers. Some people have real lives they have to attend to, and if you’ve had a long break from weed, or are just starting smoking, your tolerance isn’t going to be a high and you’re not going to be able to handle a lot of smoke. Why would you bash people for something you obviously had to go through as well…Posted on — Reply oh yea and to whoever said stoners won’t go to the gym, I’ve maintained a six pack and toned arms n legs while smoking, so it’s not impossible. It actually makes it very easy if you smoke at the right times and eat the right foods. You’ll get lean and ripped with a little exercisePosted on — Reply You’re a fucking idiot.Posted on — Reply Lol XDPosted on — Reply I like to browse the internet for threads and blogs likes this lol .. ^-^Posted on — Reply Relax everybody, take a chill pill, puff or whatever. I know its an old post buh jeez yal! Some people can’t handle the herb, some just quit. Others had valuable reasons so stop trying to,dictate each other. Jus be…Posted on — Reply Stoners are weak, they use drugs to escape to a make believe world so that they can escape the fact that they suck at real life, seriously if it were up to me stoners would be punished with lengthy prison sentences, and dealers would be hung for bringing misery and serious life priblems to millions.Posted on — Reply Get a fucking life you idiots !! Spend half the time you do pretending to be a hippy or bob fuckin marley !!! Get a job get a life and get a girlfriend you social shy bitches !! I understand smoking improves your sucking power so kodo’s for the dick suckers otherwise get your act together amd write a c.v never mind the im a bum blog above . TWAAAAAAAAATPosted on — Reply 1. taking even one bong rip can affect your performance studying or at the gym hours laterPosted on — Reply 2. if you need to be high to be real, you’re fucked! 3. bud normally smells good, smoke does not always smell good especially if you are trying to be secretive & or smelling the last hit consisting of ash or smoking low quality weed in general 4. stfu, irritated throats can occur momentarily and it is just something that happens because it is SMOKE, no need to call someone a bitch, you bitch 5. don’t tell someone to take Adderall just because they get tired when they smoke 6. sometimes it isn’t relaxation and anxiety relief right away, it can CAUSE paranoia and anxiety if you get high too fast 7. go ahead and be antisocial, due to smoking weed all the time and not in moderation 8. SOME DAYS it is fine to not get high and SOME DAYS IT IS! Also, tolerance 9. how does that lead to her taking 5 hits and you zero 10. just because weed makes things funny doesn’t mean u have to be a lazy fuck and only stay in and watch funny or interesting shit, go out and do something This is some dumb shit. Not everyone is a stoner. Get over yourself.Posted on — Reply Do a real drug, pussies.Posted on — Reply Fucking ridiculous senseless…Posted on — Reply The thing is, I’ll ask a person to blaze once… maybe twice if i like the person. If they choose to decline, I really don’t give two shits. More weed for me lmao.. like look at #9 & #10. It just ends badly anyways.Posted on — Reply Fuck stoners. Sooner or later they will show their true colors and bake themselves right out responsibility. Burn one away from work when you are home. Don’t come baked and don’t bake on my time. Bake responsibly. Yeah, “I’m not an addict”—but you can’t go 6 hours without a hit. Cry me a river.Posted on — Reply it really does smell bad, and so do youPosted on — Reply I smoke occasionally, and this article is really fucking ignorant. Weed effects me for an entire day so no, I wont smoke if I want to go to the gym later because yes pothead, believe it or not, my highs last longer than yours!Posted on — Reply Look, I don’t care if you like to smoke, so why get on my case for not smoking? I won’t enjoy it so why waste your stuff on me? Just hand me a beer, enjoy your pot, and just relax. People have different preferences, that shouldn’t be a surprise by now.Posted on — Reply Is it ironic for a non-smoker to tell a pothead to chill out? Seriously dude, I don’t know why you care so much.

Sorry it’s a bit long but I wanted to show you the whole story – all the ugly stuff & hard work in the beginning too – and not just the ‘Disney happy ending’! But yes – you will see at the end – we do touch noses! And just so you know, aside from the first two days when I was doing Down Stays, all the times I was lying down with Muesli playing around me – I was doing that all by myself! We haven’t started playing together yet although I’m trying really, really hard – but Muesli just doesn’t seem to understand my invitations! My humans say we might never really play together – like I did with Lemon – but at least we can be friends. * My human, Hsin-Yi, says making this video was “very cathartic” and that watching Muesli & me together was like finally knowing that broken hearts can be mended and there can be 2nd chances for happiness… …I hope you enjoy our story: httpv:// ps. I know I am awfully behind in visiting blog friends – please forgive me if I haven’t been round to visit you for a while! Hsin-Yi has been having another crazy week with lots of Dead Lines and Muesli sucks up any free time she has (yesterday, Hsin-Yi caught her crawling into the microwave machine!) - so she hasn’t got much time to help me do blog stuff or answer emails or visit friends. But I promise we will come round eventually and catch up on all your news! LOL, I think Honey was like” Why are you hissing at me? Hey! Why you hissing around my humans!” She tried to get between ya’ll and Muesli when she was a little aggressive toward Muesli! Hehe. I’m taking a leap that once Muesli stopped the nasty hissing Honey wasn’t getting upset right back. But I think you were right Muesli was freak out from Honey’s staring. Poor thing. I loved the part when Muesli’s ball goes under honey~ that was so cute. I love how you put Lemon in the end, fitting tribute. Plus, its always fun to see Honey play with her, especially when Honey’s ears were bigger than her head! Great, absolutely! :)!!! Honey, you are a real fantastic dog… and Muesli is definitely on her way too!!! Well, yes congratulations to your human also for her patience… Ciao Lucille Oh that video had me in tears by the end, i was doing fine until the bit with you and Lemon you looked like such good friends. Day 8 was so sweet, I loved where Muesli hit the ball from under your head. Nicole This is truly an AMAZING video!!! What a great progress they both have made so far. I also loved the part when you were just a puppy, playing with Lemon. Lemon was sure a very brave cat to play with a giant doggy like you. Hsin-Yi, that was just priceless. Thanks for sharing with us. No worries, love Carol. Yup, Muesli was definitly the right kitty for the job Its nice to see how Muesli is getting more confident around you Honey, especially coming into the second week and at the end – but boy miss can you get a stare on! :p Laura really enjoyed watching the video to, after all she is a slight behaviour nut! :p It was very interesting for her to see the few times you were a bit naughty, espesilly when your human gave you her grumpy voice – the change from then on was very obvious, she says you were much more respectful of Muesli after that and definintly really trying to please Hsin-Yi. Anyway enough of what Laura thought, she could go on for hours about it! We really want our own kitten now! Watching the video’s of you and Lemon make us think that we (especially Jasper) are still in the very immature age of accepting anything. Jasper play bow’s to cow’s and try’s really hard to play with Lucky – but she is just to old now Really great to see the video, looks like you to are going to have a great relationship Licks and lots of slobber, Lexi and Jasper the Danes P.S. Don’t your eyes get sore from all the staring? :p oh myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy i laughed i cried it became a part of me!!!! i love the butt sniff too that was fantastic. thanks so much for posting it. i want a kitty toooooooooo. love, bubba Very nice video! I just love the part where a puppy Honey playing with Lemon. Honey was so adorable!! It’s really wonderful to hear (and see) you are now getting along. You and Muesli look so cute together. But I must admit I little bit understand Muesli when I saw you from the down. You really look very big from the floor angle and Muesli is so small yet. I wish you happy days! -Lilli- They are so adorable!! Made me cry, that’s just beautiful. Love Honeys frown lines trying to work out whats going on. Wow! What a beautiful video, I really enjoyed whatching! It made me cry too at the end. We lost our cat last month and this video really makes me want to try and have another kitty. Hsin-Yi, what a patience do you have, chapeau! greetings Annemieke and a slobber from Ximbo Honey!!! You and Muesli are so funny together! You guys are gonna be such good friends! Love this video!! Peace love and kittens…Phatso and Seven Oh Honey, my human thought that was sooo cute! But I want to know if you’re going to get a bigger bed now that you have to share it with Muesli. And how come Hsin-Yi is allowed on your bed and you’re not allowed on hers? I’m so glad you have a new kitty friend! Puppy kisses Sasha Hi Honey – I can’t see the video (yet), I will have to watch it with my human when she gets home (HURRY UP MOM….) but I can’t wait to see your story. I know Hsin-Yi captured it perfectly, she always does! BYW – my human took me to the vet for my checkup last week and my vet said I am a little overweight – can you believe that??? Me? Overweight??? That is not possible!!! Well, maybe if I stopped asking/begging/getting people food so much, I would be slim and trim like you – ha ha. So if I am grumpy when I post my replies, please forgive me ??? Can’t wait to see your video. Your friend, Indy Bones Honey, you are so sweet and gentle with Muesli, I love seeing you two together. And the part at the end with Lemon made my eyes leak a little bit, too. We loved the video! We really liked being able to see you as a puppy with Lemon. You are a good dog, Honey! gussie n teka Honey, was that Hsin-Yi with the “Super -Scary Voice” saying “Very Bad Girl!!!” around the 2:08 mark on the video? I remember you telling us about it in a previous post when Hsin-Yi gave you a Huge Telling-Off because you forgot yourself and lunged at Muesli when she was making faces at you. Honey — I didn’t believe you at first because there weren’t any pictures, but I totally believe you now. (I better remember to always be on Hsin-Yi’s good side so she doesn’t use the “Super-Scary Voice” on me.) Tell Hsin-Yi that I really like — (Gulp) I meant to say, I REALLY REALLY LOVE!!! the video. A note from my human mommy — thanks Hsin-Yi again for the wonderful job you do editing the videos and helping Honey with the blog. I like how you took the time to compile a really nice video — showing both the good and bad moments and even a tribute to Lemon in it. The video was definitely worth the wait to see. that was quite an unbelievable video. Muesli is a gorgeous, sweet little kitty and Honey is to be commended for her patience–what a glorious girl. i laughed and cried–it really was beautiful. the end with Lemon is touching, i can see why you loved her so much. they were such a great team…i felt the same with Saige and Guinness. I never thought I could fill that void when she died. But when Maggi came along, she did not REPLACE Saige, but the pain of Saige went away and left us with just the joous memories of her. i never thought that would happen. Enjoy your time with them both. Awwww the ending made me laugh and cry! Soo sweet! Good luck Honey and Musli! Erin, Bubbles, Texas and Rob. Hi Honey, I loved the video so much that I watched it twice. My mom even cried. I really do hope you two become friends. Best wishes to you and your humans. I know I never comment (once) yes but I am a faithful reader of your blog and Honey I love you and so does my mom. Bye, Blue-Sea I just know you two will have a Disney happy ending Kari Hi Honey, I have learned from the video that it’s not only the hard work for your humans but it’s also a hard work for you. You have great patience, and great kindness. You’re very smart ignoring that toy when it came closer to you. That would make Muesli trust in you more and more. Thank you for sharing this video. Frisky. Honey looks kinda sad in the video but she is doing so well. We hope they will become friends so Honey can have a feline friend again. This was such a great video!!! It was great to be able to see the gradual acceptance of each other. Honey, I can see why Hsin-Yi’s scary voice works on you… I was scared for a second! I love day 8! And when Muesli swipes the ball from under your leg! So cute! And the nose touching at the end! LOVED IT! I love seeing baby Honey and baby Lemon in action! Honey your ears were so big for your body and you were so bouncy! Muesli does have big paws to fill but she’s gotten a great start! We can’t watch this yet because our computer is down at home and the one at work won’t let us view it. We should be able to see it next week, but we are glad to read you touched noses!!! Wow Honey! I am impressed with your patient skills!! I would have not been able to control myself and be so patient as long as you have! Well done!! Looks like you two are going to be very good friends! You just have to learn to play by Muesli’s rules! heehee! We loved your video! Hopefully oneday I can be as well behaved as you! Wags, kadie see, i knew muesli would have some chtzpuh! just took some time to show! she’ll get to learn to play with honey soon. i’m betting in about a month she’ll play with her! Oh my gosh Hsin-Yi, that was wonderful, I needed a good cry this morning, the video of Honey and Lemon just brought me to tears. It looks like you picked the right kitten, so cute and brave. I am looking forward to more adventures of the kids! Well Done Honey and Hsin-Yi! Muesli may not ever learn to play like a dog, but Honey, you’re a smart girl. Just get Hsin-Yi to teach you to play like a cat. You could bat that little ball around and right across the room. Bet Muesli would love that! Watching this video brought me so many emotions! In some moments I was scared Honey could hurt Muesli…in others Muesli could hurt Honey… I felt sorry for Muesli… for Honey… It made me cry, especially watching Lemon and Honey. Really moving video! Love it. Thanks for sharing. Honey, looks like it is time to ask your human for a new bed! You lost that one. You’re a very patient dog, and I think Muesli has finally realized what a sweetie you are Great video. Our human noticed that early in the video Honey seemed to be trying to protect Paul from the Muesli (when she was hissing at Honey). She got in between Paul and the cat. Drake does this sometimes when other dogs make him nervous he will push our humans out of the way. It is good to see that there seems to be a kind of peace settling in your house. We sure hope that someday soon Muesli will play with you Honey! The bit at the end brought tears to our human’s eyes….. So adorable! Honey is such a patient girl! I loved the video! I knew it was just a matter of time! You are so patient, Honey! Kisses and hugs Lorenza It’s so beautiful to see Museli starting to feel comfortable with Honey. Honey is such a lovely Dane girl. The microwave machine?! Perhaps she knows it’s where all the good stuff comes out. Wanted to see where they came from so she can go to the magical land of unlimited microwaved food. Mmmm…. I’m glad you and Muesli are starting to be friends. I’m sure it was a big sigh of relief for Hsin-Yi and Paul! xD Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be an awesome older sister. Summer Mama has been away a few days, so we’re just catching up with your last 4 posts. This one is the jewel in the crown: beautiful, sweet and poignant. We’re happy to see you and Muesli seem to have signed a non-aggression pact and are starting on the hard but rewarding path towards bonding into a family. Muesli is a brave little girl, but you, Honey, are wonderfully mature and patient, even though we could see it was really hard for you. And we know you’re making Paul and Hsin-Yi not only proud of you, but happy. Good girl, Honey! Jed & Abby awwww that was beautiful Hsin -yi, i haven’t even met honey, and yet I’m so proud of the way she conducts herself around muesli. Good girl honey To Hsin-Yi from my human Diane: – Oh mh goodness, that video made me laugh and cry so hard. It really makes me believe that anyone can heal their heart and get a second chance to be happy. The last minute or so of footage of sweet puppy Honey and Lemon is just precious – I LOLed when Lemon jumps in bed with puppy Honey. I’m sure you are happy to have all that documented in light of what happened Lemon sure was a cheeky kitty – her legacy lives on in the way Honey is behaving with Muesli. And your choice of music was just perfect too. Thanks for sharing this story with us. Hugs to you – Diane Absolutely amazing and so precious!! My granddaughter and I just spent the last 45 minutes watching this over and over and over. We are so happy to see Honey and Muesli doing so well together. And we WILL be back for more. That was FANTASTIC! Mom’s eyes were a little leaky with the Lemon video (gee, Honey, I can’t believe you were ever actually that small!) Lemon was quite the feisty cat (Lemon kicking puppy Honey out of her dog bed is PRICELESS video), and we have faith that Muesli will continue to grow into those paws. Thanks for sharing that video! *kissey face* -Fiona, Abby and Dr. Liz You know what… I cheated a bit… I had not the courage to say that this video really touched my heart… very deeply… Guess that reading that many others had the same feeling helped me admitting the truth May be it is out of Ian’s scope, but it is definitely a great video for all pet lovers. It would be worth a wider audience Thank you for sharing such an important part of your life. Ciao Nicoletta & Lucille BARK! You made mommy’s eyes leak again. You are such a good girl honey. You will have your new friend wrapped around your paw in no time. BARK! Sasha the princess Good for you! Really, I think you should be encouraged by how far their relationship has developed, and so quickly. It took almost a YEAR for our dog and cat to be in the same room together without fighting. My dog had a pink, cat-scratched nose for a long time. Luckily they are now reluctant friends. Though they never play together exactly, I have caught them sleeping on the couch, mere centimetres from each other. It’s a start! Muesli and Honey will get there very, very soon. Oh that is gorgeous Hsin-Yi. Honey is so patient and good, and Muesli is so cute. I’m glad they are learning to trust each other. And the video with Lemon brought tears to my eyes! The photos of Honey and Muesli together at the end are priceless. It’s so lovely when pets have a friend. Oh, that video is lovely. I wouldn’t usually watch such a long clip, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The clip of Lemon at the end was beautiful and the stills of Honey and Muesli were very moving. Hi Honey !! Thank you so much for your comment on youtube! I was so pleased to see you thought about me and liked my little dancing ! Good luck with Muesli, I know it is hard sometimes with cats, you have to be very very very patient… you know that! But in the end they are great friends, aren’t they ? … your relationship with Lemon was wonderful… :-)… Sure it will be great too with Muesli, she is such a cutie ! Lots of love from France Lincoln This brought tears to my eyes…little Meusli is making such brave strides and Honey is being so patient and understanding. My heart just soared watching them become more comfortable. When their noses touch, I just wanted to hug them both. I can understand how you lost part of your heart when you all lost Lemon. ..She was remarkable. I hope that Honey and Meusli have lots of happy years together, and I’m sure they’ll be cuddling up together in Honey’s bed soon enough. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It’s so nice to see Honey and Meusli becoming good friends. Mum and I also enjoyed seeing your old video of Lemon and Honey playing together. Sending you lots of woofs, Riley Glad you two are getting along! I think you guys will grow to be best friends! What a beautiful video! At the end with Lemon I actually had tears in my eyes. I’m glad Muesli is fitting in and they are getting along better. I can’t wait to see as their friendship progresses. I think you might be surprised on the playing thing. As playful as kittens are it wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t try to play with Honey as she gets more comfortable and confident. Beautiful pictures as always. You guys are so cute together! I think I see a friendship starting Rudy Hi Honey!!! Thank you so much for sharing this video! Mommy cried and laughed!! What a great tribute to Lemon. She really was a sweetheart! And at the same time she could boss you around! Muesli does have big paws to fill! Licks, Ruthie Oh heavens, my mom person is leaking tears all over the keyboard! Thank you for including Lemon in the video. I’m so glad that little Muesli is a new member of the family and when they touched noses we squealed! Nubbin wiggles, Oskar Thank you very much for sharing a lovely video!!! Hsin-Yi and Honey, we’re sorry for taking a little while to come by. Your kinds words came in right after we heard the news about the earthquake and it meant a lot to us. Yes, our mom’s family are all safe. Have a great weekend! Momo & Pinot xoxo What a wonderful diary of the evolution of what is going to be another great friendship. I have no doubt Muesli is going to fill Lemon’s paws and possibly more as she has had to learn that a full grown Great Dane is nothing to fear. Lemon started with a puppy:) I cried too:) Looking forward to the next installment! Hsin-Yi, Thank you for sharing this very cretive and touching video. I think Honey, Muesli, and Lemon can teach us humans a lot about patience, trust, and the art of living together peacefully. I predict Honey will be cleaning Muesli’s ears in no time. Honey! I glad to hear that you touched noses but Mum will have to wait to go round grandpawents to watch the video. We is only allowed so much bandwith per month here and that long video might eat it all up. BOL! Miss Honey! I had to wait to watch your movie until momma said we had time for the whole thing. I must say I was really frightened in the beginning when I heard Hsin-Yi’s scary voice. I have never heard that before! Oh what an awful sound. But then I see how patient you are and how good your Paul and Hsin-Yi are to let you take your time with the little kitty. And it looks like you are starting to be friends which is very happy making. Then those old movies of Baby Honey with her beautiful Lemon. Some loves are once in a lifetime, aren’t they? Slobbers, Mango Great video! Museli and Honey definitely look like they are on their way to becoming good friends. LOVED the video of Honey and Lemon, they were gorgeous together! Aw Honey, What a great video! I’m so happy we were able to see and experience you and Muesli getting to know eachother The video was absolutly priceless! We can see how much you want to be friends with Muesli, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that you two will have the best times together in the future! Oh my goodness! We are so very upset with Meowm for making us wait this long to see your video! Honey! What a great job you are doing (except for that little slip up, and boy does Hsin-Yi have a scary voice when she needs to). We are so very glad little Muesli is warming up to you, you have worked hard and been very patient! Muesli-well now you know that big woofie can be very nice and patient with you. She didn’t even try to get your ball! You did realy good at poofing up and makingyourself look real big inthe beginning and standingup for yourself! Just hink, when it is chilly you will have a nice, big warm body to sleep next to! Hsin-Yi, that video made us smile and laugh and cringe and cry. Lemon did train Honey well and so have you! What a beautiful video!!! I am sure that they will be best of friends in no time at all I have been reading your blog for sometime, I think you are both amazing, I had to comment on this video as it reminds me of my own journey with my dog and kitten, my dog is a neopolitan mastiff and they play just how Honey and Lemon do…. the bit that struck a cord with me is when Honey put her paw down Lemon’s face this is exactly what my dog does and I always worry that she will hurt him but he loves her so much and follows her everywhere so lovely to see… you have inspired me and I am pretty sure I will start a blog now for Ruby (dog) and Reggie (cat) and his mum Minnie who also lives with us but is not nearly as in love with Ruby lol. Thanks for a great read! Claire, Ruby and Reggie (UK) Hey we really enjoyed your video! esp the last part of sweet lil’ Lemon =] It was really weird that Chewy didn’t once hiss at us nor attempt to ”fight” wit us when she first stepped foot into our home! Mom suspects its cuz she ”knew” us all already heh. It’s really fate she’s here to stay wit us from being a stray kitten being bullied by adult kitties in the streets. Here’s her on her 1st day wit us! hehe. You just made my day!! I have been enjoying this site – Honey is a beautiful, contented dog. However, I have been unable to view your video, as EMI & Koch Entertainment have blocked it due to copyright. Is there music to this – that seems the only reason for (one of) them blocking the video? If so, would you be able to post the vid without music, for those who have found your blog late? Hello, Honey, Muesli, Hsin-Yi, and Paul: (Did I miss anyone? ) I enjoyed watching your video. Both of my dogs like cats, but my humans think a little differently. Maybe I can train them, too, one of these days. Thank you for your wonderful video! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your life with Honey and Lemon & Muesli. I cannot stop sobbing. I have a great dane who just turned 1 and my neighbor has a cat and they get along great. I am just so sorry for your loss and HONEY’S loss of Lemon. I know how much work it is to do what you did when you decided to get Muesli. I hope they continue to bond. Thanks again for sharing. Connie M Dallas, TX I stumbled upon Honey and Lemon on Youtube. I loved it!!!! God Bless all Aminal lovers. I thought you would enjoy the below…. This was read over the radio for many years (USA NY-NJ area by Cousin Brucie on 101.1fm radio. Enjoy and God Bless Honey and Lemon. Animals don’t have souls … do they? I remember bringing you home. You were so soft look can always count on you to be there for me. When I sat down to read the paper and watch TV, you would hop on my lap looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than to have me pat your head so that looked up at me as if to say you were old and tired and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me to.” There is a moral here that should not be overlooked. When your faithful pet becomes old and sick, and life is no longer fun but rather a painful burden, do your friend one last kindness. Relieve him or her of the misery. It’s the last great act of compassion you can perform. I enjoyed this video completely! The whole story is very touching, and is wonderful to see and read that broken heart can be mended and that there are second chances for happiness. Thank you for sharing this amazing story with us a for keeping Lemon in your hearts, but also opening your heart for new family members. This gives me hope! Thank you again! You have copy paste disabled

In the wake of the powerful blowback against Thomas Mulcair and his anti-west sentiments, I have to wonder why Dalton McGuinty isn’t out there supporting the Leader of the Opposition in his Dutch Disease ramblings. After all the Ontario Premier uttered similar “simplistic” musings earlier this year. Did he since have a change of heart? Obviously Tom Mulcair didn’t learn a thing from the backlash McGuinty received, but the whole thing does have me wondering if Andrew Coyne is right (if I interpret the implications of his argument correctly). Is Dalton McGuinty finally realizing that Ontarians see themselves as more in sync ideologically with the hard-working West than the entitled East? Or as Coyne says, does “oil-consuming Ontario now sees its interests aligned with the oil-producing West?” Certainly the recent student riots in Quebec must be having a negative affect on that old Ontario-Quebec alliance. The way forward is westward. Dalton started the attacks against the West and in particular AB with his Copenhagen koolaid drinking rant. The weakling Premier of AB at the time was lacking the intestinal fortitude to bite back and with the media sheeple in Dalton (and Jean’s) back pocket, Ontario voters were likely empowered to support this inept green guru. NOW he is losing the farm and maybe, just maybe Ontario voters who supported this man’s chaos are feeling like fools. Unless they plan to shut down the auto industry and ride bikes on the 401, continue to watch a deficit reach a point that their great-grandchildren will still be paying, I predict they are waking up and he knows it. AS well, his bff baby brother is a federal LIB and to let Mulcair be an idiot could be motivated by an intention to bolster that camps chances too. Regardless. had it not been for the very popular Premier Wall, this statement from Mulcair would have been a 1 day story because we elected a Dalton dud too. Does anyone have the statistics about how many lucrative jobs in Ontario and Quebec are directly related to manufacturing equipment and providing services to the oil , energy and mining industries in the West? Money talks louder than blowhard ego maniac NDP socialists. And let’s not forget to mention all those things that are manufactured in Ontario that operate from oil products. Things like Fords, Chevys, Chryslers, etc, etc… But I suppose that Mr. Comical Ali Mulclair, being the economic and technological genius he styles himself to be, would, at the same time he’s forcing the shut down of the Alberta economy would also force these manufacturers to use electric motors that run off of Quebec electricity. You see, that’s what this is really all about. It’s about knee capping the West and Canada as a whole, while also manipulating and rigging things so that the lazy free loading Quebec louts can just live high off the hog whilst doing as little as possible. Equalization payments and Churchill Falls are just two examples of this sort of corrupt scheme of theirs. This is just a continuation of what they have been doing all these years so it’s no big surprise to see this Quebec buffoon want to carry on these sort of low brow tactics. Another statistic needed is how many workers in AB commute back and forth to other provinces, and send their money home to keep them off welfare. I would love to see a mass rally in Fort Mac (the unofficial capital of NFLD) of all those workers. Que turned their back on the Queen years ago, how about those workers turning their backs on mulcair when he shows up. Sorry to go O/T so early in the thread, but I have a question about the judge’s ruling tossing out the result of the last election in Boris W’s riding. I understand that there were 79 “irregularities”, but why would anyone assume that ALL of them, or even ANY of them benefitted the Tory candidate ? Those people could just as easily have voted for Boris W., or anyone else on the ballot, and no-one can prove which way it was. It seems to me ridiculous to penalize someone (the Tory guy) for something he didn’t do, didn’t control, and possibly didn’t even know about. If, as the judge says, it was all Elections Canada’s fault, then surely the fairest course of action is to criticize them, and move along, not ask for a do-over. The worst part was when Mulcair got on his soapbox and tried to link it to the Tories and robocalls. That was extremely disingenuous and further undermines Mulcair’s credibility as a leader. The “Disease” is rampant socialism, absurd entitlement, belief in a fairy story of Environmental Armageddon. The progressive socialist types whether NDPQ-F’ers or Liberals are still dreaming of a Unicorn that will c**p rainbow fairy cakes and pay for their green fantasy. I think it is time for the people in this country that are paying for this nonsense to give one of these fools a tune-up. Mr Muclair would be a good place to start, ignorant and arrogant with an anger management problem, some “leader” Let them know what real people think of their stupidity and wasteful ways. The spoiled little “boycotters” are in wah-wah mode this morning, about time. “Every Generation Of Western Civilization is invaded by Barbarians, they are called children Hannah Arendt” This is the first invasion I am aware of Hannah, maybe “entitlement infection” would be more accurate. To which I must add My parents generation lived through the depression, fought a world war against dictators and fascists. They handed us the boomers the greatest period of prosperity for ordinary people in the history of this planet. Canada was part of the invasion of Europe we never took any more land from any of the Countries that we invaded then that was needed and necessary to bury our dead. Some 67 years later some dweeb from Belgium after wandering around Canada for a couple of weeks, starts flapping his waffle hole about what we are doing wrong? It’s time people got off the couch and took ownership of this Canada back. JMO Ontario Facts Employment •The oil sands will generate roughly 858,000 person years of employment for the province of Ontario. That is enough work to employ 34,000 Ontario residents for twenty-five years. Investment and Economy •Oil sands development will contribute up to $63 billion to Ontario’s GDP over the next 25 years. Taxes and Royalties •Oil sands production and development activities could generate up to $444 billion in taxes and royalty revenue for Canadian governments. After Alberta, Ontario will contribute the most oil sands-related revenue at $20.5 billion. Footprint •In more than 40 years, oil sands mining has disturbed about one hundredth of one per cent of the Canadian Boreal forest (704 km2). This is less than one-fourteenth the size of the Greater Toronto Area. With apologies to a true Canadian icon-Stompin’ Tom Connors. Stompin Tom Mulcair’s new theme song: Hello out there, we’re on the air, it’s ‘Question Period’ tonight. Tensions grow, the media blows, and the scrum slides down the floor. The reporters bump ’cause Barton’s plump and NDP rookies all go insane. When someone roars, “Thomas is a whore”, at the good ol’ bash the West Game. :: CHORUS :: OH! The good ol’bash the West game, is the best game you can name. And the best game you can name, is the good ol’ bash the West game. Pretty funny! The only part I personally don’t like is the Barton reference. I don’t like fat jokes myself, and I don’t think she’s even in that category. I agree, I would have put Duffy in there but he’s not longer part of the Ottawa journaloser cabal. Pingback: Murphy: How recklessly unCanadian (1) | Jack's Newswatch Who is surprised the judge made his decision when the PM would be out of the country and an appeal must be made in 8 days, starting with a long week end. It must be appealed, regardless that the media says if it is it proves the PM is afraid to face the voters. How many other close election results could be overturned if this is allowed to go undefended. Can anyone imagine this happening if the Liberals were in the winning circle? Just because the Conservative candidate won the opposition and their media hacks will use this opportunity to lay all blame on the Conservatives. It’s just another in the ongoing gotcha goolag the losers and their minions dwell in, there can be no acceptance in their world for the people’s choice unless they are the winners. As for Elections Canada, they need to be cleaned out. On “Dutch Disease” … I don’t feel qualified to comment on Dalton McGuinty but, generally speaking, the culprits are the usual suspects, the enviro-wacko crowd, who cannot tolerate another leaf being disturbed. It’s called “degrowth” by some. “Speakers Holly Dressel Alain Gras David Suzuki Andrea Levy Elizabeth May Elizabeth Peredo Beltrán François Schneider Joan Martinez-Alier Joshua Farley (TBC) Luc Ferrandez (TBC) John Fullerton John Grim Juliet Schor Mary Evelyn Tucker Peter Victor Serge Mongeau William Rees” I know, I know … some of you may say “typical” Quebecers! but they’re not ALL Quebecers. Plus, take a look at the snail logo on the right-hand side of that link: “Our conference is part of an ongoing degrowth discussion, including conferences held in Paris (2008) and Barcleona [sic] (2010), and another to be held in Venice in September 2012.” The same movement, taken to its most extreme, looks like this (h/t SDA): Re Entibicoke: IMO the decision made by the Returning Officer after the election and after the recount because it was a close election should stand. The Elections Canada RO is the final authrity on the results in every riding. Any irregularities by the Elections Canada staff on registrations should have been flagged at that time and they were not. Otherwise the authority of all 308 ROs is now questionable and all elections results will be up for debate. No matter which way the decision went it should stand. I agree. As I wrote earlier elsewhere … IMO, this judge’s decision calls into question all previous recounts of close election results. There was a recount immediately following the May 2 election, as required by law.–recount-confirms-tory-win-in-etobicoke-centre?bn=1 “Recount confirms Tory win in Etobicoke Centre Published On Mon May 23 2011 … The few heart-marked votes were among the 800 reviewed by a judge in a recount for the Etobicoke Centre riding, after Conservative candidate Ted Opitz squeaked past Wrzesnewskyj, the incumbent, by just 26 votes on election night. A recount is automatically required when the difference in votes between first- and second-place candidates is less than 1/1000th of the total votes cast in a riding. …” So, the first judge declared the election valid but the second judge says the contrary. In this case, the losing candidate decided to contest the recount whereas in other cases the losing candidate just accepted the result of the recount. I bet they must be wondering … what if … Oh tut tut now. You should know by now that Canada stopped being a democracy the instant Queen Betty signed on the bottom line bringing into effect Trudeau’s abortion aka the constitution and the charter. This is just the latest chapter in governance by judiciary. It just kind of takes away all pretenses of democracy and shows the ugly face of totalitarianism by the ‘elites’. Will anyone want to be the DRO is there is a by-election. What a sore loser Boring whathisname is. And it doesn’t help the liberals in any way. Sore losers is what they are. There are a lot of unhappy liberal candidates across Canada, considering they lose about 30 seats/election for the last several ones held. Could that mean they might hold on to 5 after the next one. Wonder how many of them lost in close calls. This decision by said judge can’t be allowed to stand. This quote from CBC News: “Later, on Power & Politics, he (Rae) told Barton that the Liberal party will be examining the ruling closely and looking to see if it might apply in other ridings where the results were close”. Clear evidence as if any was needed, that the Liberals NDP and media party do not and will not accept the results of last May. Even though the srewup came from EC and they have already confirmed the results from a recount, the Liberal candidate is able to get a judicial order to void the election. Simply repeating election fraud and CPC like a mantra, they are able to forward their agenda. We need an appeal ruling and quickly. De-Growth the planet? Hmmmmm Maybe Tommy Muclair is trying to do just that. Attack the economic engine of Canada, stall it out. How is he going to explain the loss of all that nice oil-sand lolly to the “boycott brats” Interesting that all the eco-nuts are on board for this, the day Suzuki donates all his mansions including his pristine wilderness he turbo-Beaver float planes into to pick blue berries, just imagine the carbon footprint on that bowl of berries? Yup the day I see little Davy peddling his bike around Gastown and across Canada I will take him seriously. As for “nude portraits” how about one of 787 Dundas Street the site of the “Velvet Touch” Rub and Tug ? Hmmmmmm Pingback: Why did NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair “label” Conrad Black a “British criminal”? « CRUX-OF-THE-MATTER ► Liberal cabinet minister Anne McLellan won two elections by a handful of votes, and voting irregularities far greater than the margin of win. Ditto Ujal Dosanjh, who in 2008 defeated Wai Young by 18 votes. A recount confirmed Dosanjh after only 15% of the ballot boxes were counted, with the judge ruling it wasn’t necessary to count the remaining boxes, despite protests from Ms. Young and the Conservative Party. Both cases went before a judge, with the judge ruling no -by-election was needed. Ironically, I’ve tried posting that same info several times today and the moderator won’t allow it to be posted. So shall we dare to speak the unspeakable, the politics of the Judiciary and EC might be at play? Oops, wrong thread. In regards to Mulclair’s claim of “Dutch Disease”, it seems the automitive manufacturing sector in Ontario is ramping up production, aand at a time when the dollar is at or above par. The reason? Turns out that as there is more demand for new vehicles, more manufacturing is needed. The mining sector is also doing quite well. The reason? Demand for the product. To be fair, swimming pool manufacturers are down. Turns out every house in Greece has already purchased one. And with an unemployment rate in the stratosphere, the prospect of Greece placing orders for Ontario manufactured goods isn’t looking so good. People seem to forget that when McGuinty won the leadership of the Liberal Party of Ontario he was running on a “service economy” — he did not understand that the economy of Ontario was based on manufacturing (specifically auto sector) and this was based on cheap abundant electric power — funny since he came to power we went from lowest power costs in NA to highest power costs in NA. Blowing up one clean coal generating plant in favour of dirty coal generating plants supporting exported manufacturing jobs via Team Canada Missions by Jean Chretien do not help a manufacturing economy. He was the son of an Ottawa based Politician who lived in the bubble of Ottawa and had no concept on how this province ran. His policies reflected that. He was personally responsible for the serious curtailment of manufacturing jobs in Ontario — nevermind the unholy alliance between Peterson & Rae which quadrupled the debt for Ontario Hydro in the mid-80’s with the moratorium on Nuclear Power — It was an NDP/Liberal alliance that really was the “dutch disease” for Ontario and what they did to Ontario Hydro Nuclear Division. That is the real source of the failure of the Ontario Economy. Also nobody seems to mention how Chretien has a mansion in China and the Head office for Canada Steamship Lines (formerly controlled by Paul Martin and handed over to his sons) (who received a $160 M CDN grant) is now based in China. Somehow the NDP where very silent on the Team Canada Missions during the Chretien years. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Why is not Ontario Manufacturing bidding on jobs in the Oil Sands? The only disease in Canada is the virus known as “economic envy”. Symptoms include delusion and bluster. Get that man a valium – he needs it badly. Cheers. As we struggle with allergies, try to salvage our lawns being ravaged by weeds and grubs and pay high utility bills old Dalty will maintain a code of silence for the summer. Given his actions over his time in charge of this once booming province MIA might be a good thing. I’m convinced Dalton won’t call a byelection in Kitchener-Waterloo until the weed season is over. interesting anyone remember who was Prime Minister in 1974 wait for it Justin Trudeau’s Dad Pierre–guelph-student-victoria-grant-enjoying-youtube-stardom follow up interview of Victoria Grant on Press For Truth TV Jo I think I am in filter Tim Hudak with solutions to Ontario’s problems Another failure of Dalty’s pointed out by John Robson in today’s Sun: “McGuinty’s menu hard to swallow” Again every facet of our lives has been tampered with, Daddy D wants full control of our lives. Then we have WK in the Sun going after Mulcair with: “Angry Tom messenger of his own destruction”, hey, we’ve already been onto that. It’s my observation the eyes have it and Tommy Mulcair has anger in those eyes. O/T: Nick on cfra.com. This guy is not afraid to speak up. He’s on now from 9am to 11am eastern on cfra.com where you can listen. First hour: language fairness in Ontario. “WK in the Sun going after Mulcair..” Now that’s something I can live with. This will be fun. BTW, here’s an excellent book: The Trouble With Canada … Still. by William D. Gairdner. (2010) “… Canada’s profound move to the left of the past half century.” Conrad Black. Good points paulstuff @ 9:00 I remember how those two election results were fast forwarded by Judges, there were lots of irregularities. Mr Muclair is a serial ranter and just getting started, If Western Premiers are just `messengers for Harper` what exactly is he channeling for `Jack`s Vision. Remember when folks……….Stephen Harper was an angry man. The media sure tried to sell that to us 24-7. How come Mr Angry Muclair gets a pass. Mr Muclair calls Lord Black a British Criminal. Lord Black invites him to repeat his remarks outside the house. Tommy of course ignores anyone who does not accept his rantings, typical narcissistic behavior. Whatever happened to Jacks last letter, `Love is better than anger. Whatever happened to Jacks last letter, `Love is better than anger. Indeed. BB, “How come Mr Angry Muclair gets a pass.” Simple, the messengers in the media are letting it happen. NDPQ plan for cap and trade discussed by O/T, Graphic: How Quebec’s tuition compares Jake Edmiston, Richard Johnson May 18, 2012 – 8:08 PM ET | Last Updated: May 19, 2012 12:02 AM There’s one fact that usually gets slipped into the bottom of news reports on the Quebec student protests: that the province has some of the lowest tuition rates in Canada. But how low is low? The National Post’s graphics department compares: O/T best information on Guelph Robocalls Thankyou Fh. Surprise, surprise, Boris Whatshisname is polling 10 points ahead of Ted Opitz in the riding of Etobikoke Centre. Let’s hope this is dealt with swiftly before this all gets out of hand with Liberals poised to make noise and accusations. Even if the Liberals win this one, so what? They’re still no threat to the CPC or the Harper gov’t. None whatsoever.

Playboy knew how it was done. I took a book. I brought a few sandwiches. I flipped on the radio and listened to the traffic report in Russian. That kept me awake as I waited for the mathematician. I’d first heard of Grigori Yakolevich Perelman about nine years ago as news of his achievement leaked beyond the international mathematics community into popular headlines. Word was that someone had solved an unsolvable math problem. The Poincaré conjecture concerns three-dimensional spheres, and it has broad implications for spatial relations and quantum physics, even helping to explain the shape of the universe. For nearly 100 years the conjecture had confused the sharpest minds in math, many of whom claimed to have proven it, only to have their work discarded upon scrutiny. The problem had broken spirits, wasted lives. By the time Perelman defeated the conjecture, after many years of concentrated exertion, the Poincaré had affected him so profoundly that he appeared broken too. Perelman, now 46, had a certain flair. When he completed his proof, over a number of months in 2002 and 2003, he did not publish his findings in a peer-reviewed journal, as protocol would suggest. Nor did he vet his conclusions with the mathematicians he knew in Russia, Europe and the U.S. He simply posted his solution online in three parts—the first was named “The Entropy Formula for the Ricci Flow and Its Geometric Applications”—and then e-mailed Poincaré conjecture, Perelman refused it. Unemployed these past seven years, he lives with his mother in a former communal apartment in St. Petersburg, the two subsisting on her monthly pension of $160. “I have all that I need,” Perelman has told his concerned Russian math colleagues, with whom he has severed all but the most perfunctory telephone relations. Perelman last gave an interview six years ago, shortly after a collective of Ph.D.s finished a three-year confirmation of his proof. Since then, the domestic and international press have harassed him into reclusion. Perelman has spurned all media requests, muttering tersely through his apartment door against a wave of journalists. “I don’t want to be on display like an animal in a zoo,” he told one reporter. “My activity and my persona have no interest for society.” When one journalist reached him by phone, Perelman told him, “You are disturbing me. I am picking mushrooms.” While Russian society has largely passed judgment on Perelman—misanthrope, wacko behavior, there was only silence. With slight hope, I booked my ticket to St. Petersburg. In advance of my trip I phoned Sergei Kislyakov, director of St. Petersburg’s Steklov Institute of Mathematics, where Perelman had worked as a researcher. In late 2005, two years after his Poincaré proof had made him the biggest name in his field, Perelman handed Kislyakov his resignation, stating that he had been “disappointed” in math. He was abandoning math altogether, he said. Kislyakov knew how obstinate Perelman could be. When I explained that I planned to speak with Perelman, Kislyakov interrupted me. “I discourage you from coming here,” he said. “Perelman talks to no one, but he particularly hates journalists.” “My editor has told me to go,” I explained. Kislyakov sighed. “Then I guess you must.” IT WAS SPRING. St. Petersburg was preparing for the Victory Day parade. Tanks lined the central canals. Banners crested the streets. In Kupchino, the southernmost stop on the blue Metro line, far from the palaces that give Petersburgers their proud self-possession, it looked like any other new day. The red-and-white trolleys coursed up the grassy center lanes of the avenues. People strolled in the courtyards that connected the battered housing projects. Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev had grown up in Kupchino, but this neighborhood was so neighborhood. “Isn’t there a well-known scientist around here?” I ventured casually. “He lives somewhere on this street,” said the broker. “Have you ever seen him?” “Seen him?” he said with a laugh. “Sure, I’ve seen him. Like I’ve seen Putin—on TV.” The guy showed me one dump after another. To get around, I rented a Hyundai, all that was available at the leasing agency downtown. I parked outside Perelman’s building. A dozen stories high, made of unadorned concrete panels in the dull Brezhnev style, the structure covered half the block. A handful of people gathered in front of the brown steel door to Perelman’s stairwell, smoking, passing around a morning beer. In this place it appeared there was little rush to achievement. On a previous day I had met one of Perelman’s neighbors, a teacher at a local school. She said that she and others in their building joked about pleading with Perelman to accept the $1 million prize on their behalf. I couldn’t tell which was the source of greater amusement to her, the idea that Perelman would accept the million or the idea that he would engage her in conversation. Perelman mixed with no one, she said, refusing even to ride the elevator unless he was the only one in it. And with whom would he mix? The people I saw were roughly drawn, the elderly leaning on spindly wooden canes, the teenagers darting between the kiosks, wasting the day. An androgynous bum with dirty blonde hair nosed around the garbage. An old lady in a coarse gown looked at me through the windshield, then spat. Ragged as these surroundings were, Perelman exceeded them. As a younger man, he had been handsome, with soft, dark features. But recent pictures—taken with a cell phone camera in a subway car and then transmitted across the web—projected a different image. Perelman’s clothes were dirty and rumpled, his black beard mangy. Ringing the bald crown of his head was a nest of hair that stood on end. He looked disturbed as he gazed out from under thick eyebrows, chewing a nail. How would he react when I approached him? My mark did not appear that first day, and I cautioned myself to have the patience of Perelman. He had spent seven years proving the Poincaré conjecture, seven years displaying the sort of patience that is well beyond most people. The editors of one Russian tabloid ran out of patience tracking him. When they sent a reporter to Kupchino, the reporter got nothing. A female clerk said she had once exchanged a few words with Perelman. The next morning the headline read, “The Secret Love of Grigori Perelman.” When I met Sergei Rukshin, Perelman’s closest friend, I realized that my respected counterparts in the Russian press had complicated my task. “Nice to meet you,” I said when I arrived at Rukshin’s office in a St. Petersburg high school. He replied, “We’ll see if it will be nice or not.” But like a rusty faucet, once turned, Rukshin gushed, speaking about Perelman for more than four hours. It was Rukshin, serving as the instructor of a specialized Leningrad math club, who recognized Perelman’s talent in 1976. It was Rukshin, along with other supporters in academe, who piloted Perelman through the anti-Semitic Soviet policies that nearly prevented the young Jewish genius from obtaining an education commensurate with his mind. And it is Rukshin who now grieves over the condition of this favored pupil: “He lives in a blockade.” DAY TWO OF MY STAKEOUT. A truck pulled up and parked, obstructing my view of the entrance to Perelman’s wing of the building. As I opened the door of my car, a few guys with fresh cuts on their faces straggled by carrying a 10 a.m. bottle, looking for something to do. I stayed where I was, grazing on chips, and kept my eyes on either side of the truck, where I could still see people passing by. A man in an ink-black coat appeared in front of my car. He waved his hands at me wildly, yelling, “No, no.” Then he turned away. I couldn’t figure out what that meant, except to say that the locals were beginning to notice me. The potential for violence mounted hourly. There wasn’t much I could do about that, and I thought instead about Perelman’s evolution. Rukshin told me that as a child Perelman had interacted with other students, that he had not been antisocial. Besides math, he enjoyed Ping-Pong and the opera. According to Rukshin and others who have known him since adolescence, Perelman is heterosexual, but as Rukshin noted, “If Grisha ever looked on anything with loving eyes, it was on the blackboard.” No friend can recall the name of a girlfriend. Shortly after Perelman earned his Ph.D., the Soviet Union collapsed. He left for the U.S., where he performed postdoctoral research at NYU, Berkeley and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He was out in the world, interacting with contemporaries. He was doing things. Yet he was already turning inward. When the top mathematicians in Russia were earning roughly $100 a month in salary, Perelman was exposed to a Western world of tenured professors, academic grants and funded research labs—the business side of academe. “It’s possible to sell a theorem and it’s possible to buy it,” he told Rukshin when he returned to Russia, disenchanted, in 1995. “Even if you don’t have anything to do with it.” Perelman had already begun his work on the Poincaré conjecture, a theorem expounded in 1904 by Henri Poincaré, a French polymath and the founder of topology, the mathematical study of abstract shape. Because the problem had a history of false proofs, Perelman told no one about his work lest he be discouraged. He was also wary that unsolicited input would cloud his mind. “For Grisha, it was complete self-restriction,” Nikolai Mnyov, a friend and former colleague of Perelman’s, told me. Had I such industry, my life might have carried me to a position loftier than the seat of a Hyundai on St. Petersburg’s provincial fringe, waiting for someone who would be displeased to see me, should he appear at all. The hours passed. I bit into a sandwich, bundled my windbreaker and used it as a pillow. Who was I to complain? Perelman had truly suffered, acutely. He withstood a claim—since refuted—on his Poincaré proof from a rival Chinese mathematician. He turned down the Fields Medal, believing that acceptance would be, as Rukshin explained, fundamentally dishonest. Perelman once rebuffed a TV crew from Russia’s Channel One when they barged through his apartment door, pushing aside his mother. He withstood the procrastination of the Clay Mathematics Institute, which took its sweet time—five years—to offer him the $1 million it had committed to the person who solved the Poincaré. “Grisha is tortured by the imperfection of humanity,” Rukshin said. All this was going through my mind when, suddenly, Perelman appeared. Over a field of parked cars, his wild hair bounced along as he walked away from me on the path by his door. I had to chase after him. I opened the car door. When I looked up from the handle, relocating my mark, I saw that it was not Perelman. It was simply a man with wild hair, fleeing the pleas of the androgynous bum. IT WAS DAY THREE of the stakeout, and still no sign of Perelman. I was secretly relieved, since I had no idea what to ask him. I’m not much of an interviewer. I approach my subjects as if we were in a bar, chatting over a beer. A standard swindle but enjoyable, if I’m not mistaken. People like talking about themselves. You just have to give them the chance. But how do you talk to somebody who doesn’t talk to anybody? Every question I thought to ask, I knew Perelman wouldn’t answer. I couldn’t take direction from the Russian press, which had deluged him with questions about why he wouldn’t accept the money, why he had turned down the Fields Medal, why he wouldn’t talk to them. I didn’t want to bother Perelman. I didn’t want to be like all the others who had forced him into exile. I believed there was a delicate way to approach him. I consulted those who knew him. When I met with Alexander Abramov in Moscow, he described the last phone call he had had with Perelman, three years prior. Abramov, a professor, has known Perelman since 1982, when he coached the Soviet team at the International Math Olympiad. (Perelman won a gold medal, posting a perfect score.) Exasperated by Perelman’s solitude, Abramov asked him what he should do in order to meet with him. Perelman suggested that Abramov move to St. Petersburg. “Forever?” Abramov asked. “Maybe,” said Perelman before hanging up the phone. Maybe Perelman didn’t like Abramov anymore. Maybe he didn’t like anybody anymore. “I’m afraid he is at the level of a nervous breakdown,” Rukshin said. “If this was still the Soviet Union, he would be forced into psychiatric treatment for this behavior.” In 2008 Perelman asked Rukshin to limit their phone calls. Now they speak about once a year. “It looks very much like the story of Bobby Fischer,” Abramov said. “And Bobby Fischer couldn’t be called a happy man.” IT WAS THE AFTERNOON of day three, and the androgynous bum pleaded through my car window for a few rubles. Even up close I could not tell if this was a man or a woman. I watched the bum move along a little richer. When I refocused my eyes on Perelman’s door, I heard myself gasp, “There he is!” It was Perelman all right. The beard, the hair, the expression of uncertainty as he stumbled into the sun with his mother, Lyubov, by his side. He shuffled toward the garbage bins stacked by the door, looking as if he might rummage through them. He wore a black ski jacket, a black shirt, black pants. His mother was dressed in a red overcoat and a white beret. They turned down the lane, heading toward the courtyard behind their building. I locked the car. The courtyard was the size of a city block, with trees, parking lots and playgrounds. Trailing at a considerable distance, I saw Perelman and his mother moving across a grassy field. I decided to approach him headon rather than sneak up from behind, taking all measures to avoid agitating him. Even though I knew he had known English quite well at one time in his life, I thought it best to speak Russian with him to put him at ease. I walked along one edge of the courtyard, hoping to meet him as he reached its far side. I hurried past a trash heap, around the fencing of a dead tennis court. I circled around a small school, and when I reached the far edge of the grassy field, Perelman and his mother weren’t there. I had lost them. Frantically I searched the courtyard. I located them again, along a row of parked cars. But when I made another loop in order to get in front of them, I didn’t see them. When I spotted Perelman and his mother once more, they were heading back the way they had come. I didn’t have the luxury of positioning. I would have to approach them from behind. I walked briskly. I was 20 yards from Perelman and closing. Still I didn’t know what to say. Then I was at his side, and there was no more time to think. “Grigori Yakovlevich?” I said, employing his middle name, in polite Russian form. “Is it you?” Perelman’s head rotated slowly. He appraised me from the corner of one eye. He said nothing. “Excuse me, please,” I continued. “I don’t want to bother you. But I have come from America to speak with you.” Up close, Perelman looked about fivefoot-10 and slighter than I had imagined. He was less menacing than he appeared in pictures. He did not waste thought on his appearance, though. Dandruff caked the shoulders of his coat. His clothes were streaked with stains. Perelman spoke with a high-toned, birdlike voice. And he knew what to say. “You’re a journalist?” he asked. His mother peeked at me from behind his shoulder, then pulled away. I nodded. Perelman looked at the sky, letting out a pained sigh. We took several small steps together. “From which publication?” he asked. I told him. He nodded in recognition but said, “I don’t give interviews.” “I know,” I said. “That’s okay.” Perelman and his mother stopped walking. They looked me up and down, as though what I’d said had confused them. I didn’t know how this was going to go, but at least Perelman had not run away. So I put on a big smile. “Good weather today, huh?” I said. And to my surprise, both the terrifying recluse and his nervous mother let out a laugh. They were disarmed. I was in. “HOW DID YOU KNOW we would be here?” Lyubov Perelman asked, stepping out from behind her son..” “How did you find out the address?” Perelman asked me. “I have a connection,” I said. “With the police.” His eyes went wide. “The police?” he said. “Are you Russian?” “American.” He looked at me curiously. “Are you sure you’re not Russian?” By all signs that I could interpret, Perelman was eager to speak with me, glad for human contact. “Do you mind if I walk with you for a little bit?” I asked. Perelman shrugged and we kept on. He had laughed once, I thought. Maybe he would laugh again. “I was nervous,” I told him. “Everybody says you are frightening.” Perelman squinted at the sky as if contemplating something I would never understand. A man passed in front of us, walking a cat on a leash. Lyubov Perelman said, “If you’re not getting an interview, what’s the point of this?” Perelman put his arm around her. “It’s okay, Mother,” he reassured her. “We’re just walking.” Considering all I had learned about Perelman, this display of considerate behavior amazed me. And it emboldened me. No one had gotten this close to him in years. “I understand you’re not practicing math anymore,” I said. “Can you tell me what you are working on?” “I have left mathematics,” he said. “And what I’m doing now, I won’t tell you.” I was ready with another question, but he had one of his own. “You’re really not Russian?” he asked. “You speak like someone who was born in Russia and left at eight or nine, then came back as an adult. You have this sound.” Pressing my momentum, I asked him a few easy questions, hoping to open him up. “What are your plans for the May holidays?” “Did you enjoy your time in America?” “How often do you take these walks?” Each time, Perelman shrugged, stared into the sky and said nothing. I wasn’t sure if he had heard me. I looked at his mother, and she raised her eyebrows as though she didn’t know what to say either. A smile crossed her face. We made our way toward the archway that led to his entry. I tried another serious question. “Considering your abilities and how young you still are, how might you return to science?” He wheezed. After a short silence, his mother asked if I was wearing a wire. I resolved to draw him out once more. Trying to build common ground, I touched on the similarities between writing and mathematics, emphasizing the solitude that each discipline required. I looked at him with an open, friendly face. He stared again at the sky, blank page. We reached the archway and stopped. Perelman and his mother stared at me, wondering how this would end. I looked at Perelman and asked, “How’s your Ping-Pong game?” “I haven’t played in a long time,” he said. He laid an arm across his mother’s shoulders. He was becoming agitated. We had walked and talked for 20 minutes, and what had I figured out? I had gotten a feeling for the man, but I had not solved the riddle. Would he help me do it? There was time for one final question. I put it to him in English, the single philosophical question that I hoped he would consider. Where does your life go from here?” I said. Perelman stepped closer to me. I saw that one of his upper teeth was dark brown, decayed. “What?” he said, his English skills apparently dormant. Perelman’s face was focused in concentration as I repeated the question, and I thought that he might answer. But when I finished speaking, his face went slack, as before. He understood what I wanted to find out, the path of this unusual life. He mumbled, “I don’t know.” We said our good-byes. Walking to my car, I felt as though I had failed, having gained such rare proximity to Perelman, only to have the man slip through my grasp. But then I paused, for there must have been something I had missed. Perelman was as unadorned, yet just as complex as the conjecture he had proven. He had relieved the Poincaré Conjecture of its mystery, and in so doing had replaced it, becoming the puzzle himself, granting the world knowledge, yet diminishing its enchantment not at all. We don’t have to figure out everything. The unknown has its own value. Through the windshield of the Hyundai, I watched Perelman and his mother approach their entryway, the bums and the kids and the new mothers of Kupchino going about their lives. Perelman and his mother retreated into the darkness of the vestibule. The metal door slammed closed behind them. Perelman was out, he was in. He had gotten some air.

NETWORKS CAME INTO EXISTENCE AS SOON as there was two of something: two cells, two animals and, obviously, two computers. While the overwhelming popularity of the Internet leads people to think of networks only in a computer context, a network exists anytime there is communication between two or more parties. The differences between various networks are matters of implementation, as the intent is the same: communication. Whether it is two people talking or two computers sharing information, a network exists. The implementations are defined by such aspects as medium and protocol. The network medium is the substance used to transmit the information; the protocol is the common system that defines how the information is transmitted. In this chapter, we discuss the types of networks, the methods for connecting networks, how network data is moved from network to network, and the protocols used on today’s popular networks. Network design, network administration, and routing algorithms are topics suitable for an entire book of their own, so out of necessity we’ll present only overviews here. With that in mind, let’s begin.Circuits vs. Packets In general, there are two basic types of network communications: circuit-switched and packet-switched. Circuit-switched networks are networks that use a dedicated link between two nodes, or points. Probably the most familiar example of a circuit-switched network is the legacy telephone system. If you wished to make a call from New York to Los Angeles, a circuit would be created between point A (New York) and point B (Los Angeles). This circuit would be dedicated—that is, there would be no other devices or nodes transmitting information on that network and the resources needed to make the call possible, such as copper wiring, modulators, and more would be used for your call and your call only. The only nodes transmitting would be the two parties on each end. One advantage of a circuit-switched network is the guaranteed capacity. Because the connection is dedicated, the two parties are guaranteed a certain amount of transmission capacity is available, even though that amount has an upper limit. A big disadvantage of circuit-switched networks, however, is cost. Dedicating resources to facilitate a single call across thousands of miles is a costly proposition, especially since the cost is incurred whether or not anything is transmitted. For example, consider making the same call to Los Angeles and getting an answering machine instead of the person you were trying to reach. On a circuit-switched network, the resources are committed to the network connection and the costs are incurred even though the only thing transmitted is a message of unavailability. A packet-switched network uses a different approach from a circuit-switched network. Commonly used to connect computers, a packet-switched network takes the information communicated on the network and breaks it into a series of packets, or pieces. These packets are then transmitted on a common network. Each packet consists of identification information as well as its share of the larger piece of information. The identification information on each packet allows a node on the network to determine whether the information is destined for it or the packet should be passed along to the next node in the chain. Once the packet arrives at its destination, the receiver uses the identification portion of the packet to reassemble the pieces and create the complete version of the original information. For example, consider copying a file from one computer in your office to another. On a packet-switched network, the file would be split into a number of packets. Each packet would have specific identification information as well as a portion of the file. The packets would be sent out onto the network, and once they arrived at their destination, they would be reassembled into the original file. Unlike circuit-switched networks, the big advantage of packet-switched networks is the ability to share resources. On a packet-switched network, many nodes can exist on the network, and all nodes can use the same network resources as all of the others, sharing in the cost. The disadvantage of packet-switched networks, however, is the inability to guarantee capacity. As more and more nodes sharing the resources try to communicate, the portion of the resources available to each node decreases. Despite their disadvantages, packet-switched networks have become the de facto standard whenever the term “network” is used. Recent developments in networking technologies have decreased the price point for capacity significantly, making a network where many nodes or machines can share the same resources cost-effective. For the purposes of discussion in this book, the word “network” will mean a packet-switched network.Internetworking A number of different technologies exist for creating networks between computers. The terms can be confusing and in many cases can mean different things depending on the context in which they’re used. The most common network technology is the concept of a local area network, or LAN. A LAN consists of a number of computers connected together on a network such that each can communicate with any of the others. A LAN typically takes the form of two or more computers joined together via a hub or switch, though in its simplest form two computers connected directly to each other can be called a LAN as well. When using a hub or switch, the ability to add computers to the network becomes trivial, requiring only the addition of another cable connecting the new node to the hub or switch. That’s the beauty of a packet-switched network, for if the network were circuit-switched, we would have to connect every node on the network to every other node, and then figure out a way for each node to determine which connection to use at any given time. LANs are great, and in many cases they can be all that’s needed to solve a particular problem. However, the advantages of a network really become apparent when you start to connect one network to another. This is called internetworking, and it forms the basis for one of the largest known networks: the Internet. Consider the following diagrams. Figure 1-1 shows a typical LAN. Figure 1-1. A single network You can see there are a number of computers, or nodes, connected to a common point. In networking parlance, this is known as a star configuration. This type of LAN can be found just about anywhere, from your home to your office, and it’s responsible for a significant portion of communication activity every day. But what happens if you want to connect one LAN to another? As shown in Figure 1-2, connecting two LANs together forms yet another network, this one consisting of two smaller networks connected together so that information can be shared not only between nodes on a particular LAN, but also between nodes on separate LANs via the larger network. Figure 1-2. Two connected networks Because the network is packet-switched, you can keep connecting networks together forever or until the total number of nodes on the network creates too much traffic and clogs the network. Past a certain point, however, more involved network technologies beyond the scope of this book are used to limit the traffic problems on interconnected networks and improve network efficiency. By using routers, network addressing schemes, and long-haul transmission technologies such as dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) and long-haul network protocols such as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), it becomes feasible to connect an unlimited number of LANs to each other and allow nodes on these LANs to communicate with nodes on remote networks as if they were on the same local network, limiting packet traffic problems and making network interconnection independent of the supporting long-distance systems and hardware. The key concept in linking networks together is that each local network takes advantage of its packet-switched nature to allow communication with any number of other networks without requiring a dedicated connection to each of those other networks.Ethernets Regardless of whether we’re talking about one network or hundreds of networks connected together, the most popular type of packet-switched network is the Ethernet. Developed 30 years ago by Xerox PARC and later standardized by Xerox, Intel, and Digital Equipment Corporation, Ethernets originally consisted of a single cable connecting the nodes on a network. As the Internet exploded, client-server computing became the norm, and more and more computers were linked together, a simpler, cheaper technology known as twisted pair gained acceptance. Using copper conductors much like traditional phone system wiring, twisted pair cabling made it even cheaper and easier to connect computers together in a LAN. A big advantage to twisted pair cabling is that, unlike early Ethernet cabling, a node can be added or removed from the network without causing transmission problems for the other nodes on the network. A more recent innovation is the concept of broadband. Typically used in connection with Internet access via cable TV systems, broadband works by multiplexing multiple network signals on one cable by assigning each network signal a unique frequency. The receivers at each node of the network are tuned to the correct frequency and receive communications on that frequency while ignoring communications on all the others. A number of alternatives to Ethernet for local area networking exist. Some of these include IBM’s Token Ring, ARCNet, and DECNet. You might encounter one of these technologies, as Linux supports all of them, but in general the most common is Ethernet.Ethernet Frames On your packet-switched Ethernet, each packet of data can be considered a frame. An Ethernet frame has a specific structure, though the length of the frame or packet is variable, with the minimum length being 64 bytes and the maximum length being 1518 bytes, although proprietary implementations can extend the upper limit to 4096 bytes or higher. A recent Ethernet specification called Jumbo Frames even allows frame sizes as high as 9000 bytes, and newer technologies such as version 6 of the Internet Protocol (discussed later) allow frames as large as 4GB. In practice, though, Ethernet frames use the traditional size in order to maintain compatibility between different architectures. Because the network is packet-based, each frame must contain a source address and destination address. In addition to the addresses, a typical frame contains a preamble, a type indicator, the data payload, and acyclic redundancy checksum (CRC). The preamble is 64 bits long and typically consists of alternating 0s and 1s to help network nodes synchronize transmissions. The type indicator is 16 bits long, and the CRC is 32 bits. The remaining bits in the packet consist of the actual packet data being sent (see Figure 1-3). Figure 1-3. An Ethernet frame The type field is used to identify the type of data being carried by the packet. Because Ethernet frames have this type indicator, they are known as self-identifying. The receiving node can use the type field to determine the data contained in the packet and take appropriate action. This allows the use of multiple protocols on the same node and the same network segment. If you wanted to create your own protocol, you could use a frame type that did not conflict with any others being used, and your network nodes could communicate freely without interrupting any of the existing communications. The CRC field is used by the receiving node to verify that the packet of data has been received intact. The sender computes the CRC value and adds it to the packet before sending the packet. On the receiving end, the receiver recalculates the CRC value for the packet and compares it to the value sent by the sender to confirm the packet was received intact.{mospagebreak title=Addressing}? For communication to occur, each node on the network must have its own address. This address must be unique, just as someone’s phone number is unique. For example, while two or more people might have 555-9999 as their phone number, only one person will have that phone number within a certain area code, and that area code will exist only once within a certain country code. This accomplishes two things: it ensures that within a certain scope each number is unique, and it allows each person with a phone to have a unique number.Ethernet Addresses Ethernets are no different. On an Ethernet, each node has its own address. This address must be unique to avoid conflicts between nodes. Because Ethernet resources are shared, every node on the network receives all of the communications on the network. It is up to each node to determine whether the communication it receives should be ignored or answered based on the destination address. It is important not to confuse an Ethernet address with a TCP/IP or Internet address, as they are not the same. Ethernet addresses are physical addresses tied directly to the hardware interfaces connected via the Ethernet cable running to each node. An Ethernet address is an integer with a size of 48 bits. Ethernet hardware manufacturers are assigned blocks of Ethernet addresses and assign a unique address to each hardware interface in sequence as they are manufactured. The Ethernet address space is managed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Assuming the hardware manufacturers don’t make a mistake, this addressing scheme ensures that every hardware device with an Ethernet interface can be addressed uniquely. Moving an Ethernet interface from one node to another or changing the Ethernet hardware interface on a node changes the Ethernet address for that node. Thus, Ethernet addresses are tied to the Ethernet device itself, not the node hosting the interface. If you purchase a network card at your local computer store, that network card has a unique Ethernet address on it that will remain the same no matter which computer has the card installed. Let’s look at an example using a computer running Linux. [user@host user]$ /sbin/ifconfig eth0 eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:E0:29:5E:FC:BE inet addr:192.168.2.1 Bcast:192.168.2.255 Mask:255.255.255.0 UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1 RX packets:35772 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0 TX packets:24414 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0 collisions:0 txqueuelen:100 RX bytes:36335701 (34.6 Mb) TX bytes:3089090 (2.9 Mb) Interrupt:5 Base address:0x6000 Using the /sbin/ifconfig command, we can get a listing of the configura tion of our eth0 interface on our Linux machine. Your network interface might have a different name than eth0, which is fine. Just use the appropriate value, or use the –a option to ifconfig to get a listing of all of the configured interfaces if you don’t know the name of yours. The key part of the output, though, is the first line. Notice the parameter labeled HWaddr . In our example, it has a value of 00:E0:29:5E:FC:BE , which is the physical Ethernet address of this node. Remember that we said an Ethernet address is 48 bits. Our example address has six hex values. Each hex value has a maximum of 8 bits, or a value range from 00 to FF. But what does this tell us? As mentioned previously, each hardware manufacturer is assigned a 24-bit value by the IEEE. This 24-bit value (3 octets) must remain consistent across all hardware devices produced by this manufacturer. The manufacturer uses the remaining 3 octets as a sequential number to create a unique, 48-bit Ethernet address. Let’s see what we can find out about our address. Open a web browser and go to this address: . In the field provided, enter the first 3 octets of our example address, in this case 00-e0-29 (substitute a hyphen [-] for the colon [:]). Click Search, and you’ll see a reply that looks like this: 00-E0-29 (hex) STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS CORP. 00E029 (base 16) STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS CORP. 6 HUGHES IRVINE CA 92718 UNITED STATES That’s pretty descriptive. It tells us that the hardware manufacturer of our network interface is Standard Microsystems, also known as SMC. Using the same form, you can also search by company name. To illustrate how important it is that these numbers be managed, try searching with a value similar to 00-e0-29, such as 00-e0-27. Using 27, you’ll find that the manufacturer is Dux, Inc. Thus, as each manufacturer is creating their products, they’ll increase the second half of the Ethernet address sequentially to ensure that each device has a unique value. In our case, the second half of our address is 5E-FC-BE, which is our hardware interface’s unique identifier. If the results of your search don’t match the vendor of your network card, keep in mind that many companies resell products produced by another or subcontract their manufacturing to someone else. The Ethernet address can also take on two other special values. In addition to being the unique address of a single physical interface, it can be a broadcast address for the network itself as well as a multicast address. The broadcast address is reserved for sending to all nodes on a network simultaneously. Multicast addresses allow a limited form of broadcasting, where a subset of network nodes agrees to respond to the multicast address. The Ethernet address is also known as the MAC address. MAC stands for Media Access Control. Because our Ethernet is a shared network, only one node can “talk” at any one time using the network. Before a node transmits information, it first “listens” to the network to see if any other node is using the network. If so, it waits a randomly chosen amount of time and then tries to communicate again. If no other node is using the network, our node sends its message and awaits a reply. If two nodes “talk” at the same time, a collision occurs. Collisions on shared networks are normal and are handled by the network itself so as not to cause problems, provided the ratio of collisions to communications does not get too high. In the case of Ethernets, a collision rate higher than 60 percent is typically cause for concern. Each MAC address must be unique, so a node about to transmit can compare addresses to check whether another node is already transmitting. Thus, the MAC address (Ethernet address) helps control the collision rate and allows nodes to determine if the network is free to use.Gateways We’ve discussed that the Internet is a network built by physically connecting other networks. To connect our networks together, we use a special device called a gateway. Any Ethernet node can conceivably act as a gateway, though many do not. Gateways have two or more physical network interfaces and do a particular job, just as their name implies: they relay packets destined for other networks, and they receive packets destined for nodes on one of their own networks. Building on our earlier diagram, here’s how it looks when you connect two networks together with a gateway (see Figure 1-4). Figure 1-4. Two connected networks with a gateway Gateways can also be called routers, since they route packets from one network to another. If you consider that all networks are equal, then the notion of transmitting packets from one to the other becomes a little easier. No longer is it necessary for our network nodes to understand how to find every other node on remote networks. Maintaining that amount of ever-changing information on every computer connected to every network would be impossible. Instead, nodes on our local network only need to know the address of the gateway. That is, local nodes only need to know which node is the “exit” or “gate” to all other networks. The gateway takes on the task of correctly routing packets with foreign destinations to either the remote network itself or another gateway. For example, consider Figure 1-5, which shows three interconnected networks. Figure 1-5. Multiple networks, multiple gateways In this diagram, we have three networks: Red, Green, and Blue. There are two gateways, Foo and Bar. If a node on the Red network wants to send a packet to a node on the Green or Blue network, it does not need to keep track of the addresses on either network. It only needs to know that its gateway to any other network besides its own is Foo. The packets destined for the remote network are sent to Foo, which then determines whether the packet is destined for the Green network or the Blue network. If Green, the packet is sent to the appropriate node on the Green network. If Blue, however, the packet is sent to Bar, because Foo only knows about the Red and Green networks. Any packet for any other network needs to be sent to the next gateway, in this case Bar. This scenario is multiplied over and over and over in today’s network environment, and it significantly decreases the amount of information that each network node and gateway has to manage. Likewise, the reverse is true. When the receiver accepts the packet and replies, the same decision process occurs. The sender determines if the packet is destined for its own network or a remote network. If remote, then the packet is sent to the network’s gateway, and from there to either the receiver or yet another gateway. Thus, a gateway is a device that transmits packets from one network to another. Gateways seem simple, but as we’ve mentioned, asking one device to keep track of the information for every network that’s connected to every other network is impossible. So how do our gateways do their job without becoming hopelessly buried by information? The gateway rule is critical: network gateways route packets based on destination networks, not destination nodes. Thus, our gateways aren’t required to know how to reach every node on all the networks that might be connected. A particular set of networks might have thousands of nodes on it, but the gateway doesn’t need to keep track of all of them. Gateways only need to know which node on their own network will move packets from their network to some other network. Eventually, the packets reach their destination network. Since all devices on a particular network check all packets to see if the packets are meant for them, the packets sent by the gateway will automatically get picked up by the destination host without the sender needing to know any specifics except the address of its own gateway. In short, a node sending data needs to decide one thing: whether the data is destined for a local network node or remote network node. If local, the data is sent between the two nodes directly. If remote, the data is sent to the gateway, which in turn makes the same decision until the data eventually gets picked up by the recipient.{mospagebreak title=Internet Addresses} So far, you’ve seen that on a particular network, every device must have a unique address, and you can connect many networks together to form a larger network using gateways. Before a node on your network “talks,” it checks to see if anyone else is “talking,” and if not, it goes ahead with its communication. Your networks are interconnected, though! What happens if the nodes on your office LAN have to wait for some node on a LAN in Antarctica to finish talking before they can talk? Nothing would ever be sent—the result would be gridlock! How do you handle the need to identify a node with a unique address on interconnected networks while at the same time isolating your own network from every other network? Unless one of your nodes has a communication for another node on another network, there should be no communication between networks and no need for one to know of the existence of the other until the need to communicate exists. You handle the need for a unique address by assigning protocol addresses to physical addresses in conjunction with your gateways. In our scenario, these protocol addresses are known as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. IP addresses are virtual. That is, there is no required correlation between a particular IP address and its physical interface. An IP address can be moved from one node to another at will, without requiring anything but a software configuration change, whereas changing a node’s physical address requires changing the network hardware. Thus, any node on an internet has both a physical Ethernet address (MAC address) and an IP address. Unlike an Ethernet address, an IP address is 32 bits long and consists of both a network identifier and a host identifier. The network identifier bits of the IP addresses for all nodes on a given network are the same. The common format for listing IP addresses is known as dotted quad notation because it divides the IP address into four parts (see Table 1-1). The network bits of an IP address are the leading octets, and the address space is divided into three classes: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A addresses use just 8 bits for the network portion, while Class B addresses use 16 bits and Class C addresses use 24 bits. Table 1-1. Internet Protocol Address Classes. You may have noticed that the table doesn’t include every possible value. This is because the octets 0 and 255 are reserved for special use. The octet 0 (all 0s) is the address of the network itself, while the octet 255 (all 1s) is called the broadcast address because it refers to all hosts on a network simultaneously. Thus, in our Class C example, the network address would be 192.168.2.0 , and the broadcast address would be 192.168.2.255 . Because every address range needs both a network address and a broadcast address, the number of usable addresses in a given range is always 2 less than the total. For example, you would expect that on a Class C network you could have 256 unique hosts, but you cannot have more than 254, since one address is needed for the network and another for the broadcast. In addition to the reserved network and broadcast addresses, a portion of each public address range has been set aside for private use. These address ranges can be used on internal networks without fear of conflicts. This helps alleviate the problem of address conflicts and shortages when public networks are connected together. The address ranges reserved for private use are shown in Table 1-2. Table 1-2. Internet Address Ranges Reserved for Private Use. Another IP address is considered special. This IP address is known as the loopback address, and it’s typically denoted as 127.0.0.1 . The loopback address is used to specify the local machine, also known as localhost. For example, if you were to open a connection to the address 127.0.0.1 , you would be opening a network connection to yourself. Thus, when using the loopback address, the sender is the receiver and vice versa. In fact, the entire 127.0.0.0 network is considered a reserved network for loopback use, though anything other than 127.0.0.1 is rarely used. Ports The final component of IP addressing is the port. Ports are virtual destination “points” and allow a node to conduct multiple network communications simultaneously. They also provide a standard way to designate the point where a node can send or receive information. Conceptually, think of ports as “doors” where information can come and go from a network node. On Linux systems, the number of ports is limited to 65,535, and many of the lower port numbers are reserved, such as port 80 for web servers, port 25 for sending mail, and port 23 for telnet servers. Ports are designated with a colon when describing an IP address and port pair. For example, the address 10.0.0.2:80 can be read as “port 80 on the address 10.0.0.2 ,” which would also mean “the web server on 10.0.0.2 ” since port 80 is typically used by and reserved for web services. Which port is used is up to the discretion of the developer, provided the ports are not already in use or reserved. A list of reserved ports and the names of the services that use them can be found on your Linux system in the /etc/services file, or at the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) site listed here: . Table 1-3 contains a list of commonly used (and reserved) ports. Table 1-3. Commonly Used Ports Without ports, a network host would be allowed to provide only one network service at a time. By allowing the use of ports, a host can conceivably provide moer than 65,000 services at any time using a given IP address, assuming each service is offered on a different port. We cover using ports in practice when writing code first in Chapter 2 and then extensively in later chapters. This version of IP addressing is known as version 4, or IPv4. Because the number of available public addresses has been diminishing with the explosive growth of the Internet, a newer addressing scheme has been developed and is slowly being implemented. The new scheme is known as version 6, or IPv6. IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long instead of the traditional 32 bits, allowing for 2^96 more network nodes than IPv4 addresses. For more on IPv6, consult Appendix A. Network Byte Order One final note on IP addressing. Because each hardware manufacturer can develop its own hardware architecture, it becomes necessary to define a standard data representation for data. For example, some platforms store integers in what is known as Little Endian format, which means the lowest memory address contains the lowest order byte of the integer (remember that addresses are 32-bit integers). Other platforms store integers in what is known as Big Endian format, where the lowest memory address holds the highest order byte of the integer. Still other platforms can store integers in any number of ways. Without standardization, it becomes impossible to copy bytes from one machine to another directly, since doing so might change the value of the number. In an internet, packets can carry numbers such as the source address, destination address, and packet length. If those numbers were to be corrupted, network communications would fail. The Internet protocols solve this byte-order problem by defining a standard way of representing integers called network byte order that must be used by all nodes on the network when describing binary fields within packets. Each host platform makes the conversion from its local byte representation to the standard network byte order before sending a packet. On receipt of a packet, the conversion is reversed. Since the data payload within a packet often contains more than just numbers, it is not converted. The standard network byte order specifies that the most significant byte of an integer is sent first (Big Endian). From a developer’s perspective, each platform defines a set of conversion functions that can be used by an application to handle the conversion transparently, so it is not necessary to understand the intricacies of integer storage on each platform. These conversion functions, as well as many other standard network programming functions, are covered in Chapter 2.{mospagebreak title=Internet Protocol} So far, we’ve discussed building a network based on Ethernet. We’ve also discussed connecting two or more networks together via a gateway, called an internet, and we’ve covered the basic issues surrounding network and host addressing that allow network nodes to communicate with each other without conflicts. Yet how are all of these dissimilar networks expected to communicate efficiently without problems? What is it that lets one network look the same as any other network? A protocol exists that enables packet exchanges between networks as if the connected networks were a single, homogenous network. This protocol is known as the Internet Protocol, or IP, and was defined by RFC 791 in September 1981. These interconnected networks are known as internets, not to be confused with the Internet. The Internet is just one example of a global internet, albeit the most popular and the most well known. However, this does not preclude the existence of other internets that use the same technologies, such as IP. Because IP is hardware independent, it requires a hardware-independent method of addressing nodes on a network, which is the IP addressing system already discussed. In addition to being hardware independent and being a packet-switching technology, IP is also connectionless. IP performs three key functions in an internet: - It defines the basic unit of data transfer. - It performs the routing function used by gateways and routers to determine which path a packet will take. - It uses a set of rules that allow unreliable packet delivery. These rules determine how hosts and gateways on connected networks should handle packets, whether a packet can be discarded, and what should happen if things go wrong. Like the physical Ethernet frame that contains data as well as header information, the basic unit of packet transfer used by IP is called the Internet datagram. This datagram also consists of both a header portion and a data portion. Table 1-4 lists the format of the IP datagram header, along with the size of each field within the header. Table 1-4. IP Datagram Header Format Figure 5-6. IP datagram encapsulation in an Ethernet frame Most of these fields look pretty similar to the description of an Ethernet frame. What is the relationship between Ethernet frames, or packets, and IP datagrams? Remember that IP is hardware independent and that Ethernet is hardware. Thus, the IP datagram format must be independent of the Ethernet frame specification. In practice, the most efficient design would be to carry one IP datagram in every Ethernet frame. This concept of carrying a datagram inside a lower-level network frame is called . When an IP datagram is encapsulated within an Ethernet frame, it means the entire IP datagram, including header, is carried within the portion of the Ethernet frame, as shown in Figure 1-6. We’ve said that an Ethernet frame has a maximum size of 1500 octets. Yet an IP datagram has a maximum total length of 16 bits. A 16-bit number can represent a data size of up to 65,535 octets and could potentially be much higher. How do we cram 65,535 octets into a network frame that maxes out at 1500? By using a technique called fragmentation. Fragmentation is necessary in network protocols because the goal should be to hide the underlying hardware used to create the network. In our case, it’s Ethernet, but in practice it could be any number of different systems, past or future. It wouldn’t make sense to require changes to higher-level protocols every time someone invented a new hardware network technology, so to be universally compatible, the designers of IP incorporated the ability to split IP datagrams into fragments, assigning one fragment per network frame in the most efficient way possible. The IP protocol does not guarantee that large datagrams will be delivered without fragmentation, nor does it limit datagrams to some smaller size. The sending node determines the appropriate datagram size and performs the fragmentation, while the receiving node performs the reassembly. The reassembly is made possible by the fragment offset field of the datagram header, which tells the receiver where this particular fragment should go. When the datagram is fragmented, each fragment carries a header that is essentially a duplicate of the original datagram header, with some minor changes. The fragment’s header differs because, if there are more fragments, the “more fragments” flag is set, and the fragment offset will change on each fragment to prevent overwriting. Thus, an IP datagram of 4000 octets might get fragmented into three Ethernet frames, two containing the maximum data size and the third containing what’s left. On the receiving end, these fragments would be reassembled into the original datagram and would be processed. If our physical network had a smaller frame size than Ethernet, we would get more fragments, and less fragments (or no fragments at all) with a larger frame size. NOTE Gateways are responsible for converting packets from one frame size to another. Every network has a maximum transfer unit, or MTU. The MTU can be any size. If your packets are sent from a network with a large MTU value to a network with a smaller value (or vice versa), the gateway between the two is responsible for reformatting the packets to comply with each network’s specifications. For example, say you had a gateway with an Ethernet interface and a Token Ring interface. The MTU on one network is 1500 octets, while the MTU on the Token Ring network might be larger or smaller. It is the gateway’s responsibility to reformat and fragment the packets again when moving from one network to another. The downside to this is that once fragmented to accommodate the smaller MTU, the packets aren’t reassembled until they reach their destination. Thus, the receiving node will receive datagrams that are fragmented according to the network with the smallest MTU used in the transfer. This can be somewhat inefficient, since after traversing a network with a small MTU, the packets might traverse a network with a much larger MTU without being reformatted to take advantage of the larger frame size. This minor inefficiency is a good trade-off, however, because the gateways don’t need to store or rebuild packet fragments, and the packets can be sent using the best path without concern for reassembly problems for the destination node.{mospagebreak title=Protocol Layering} So far we’ve discussed the underlying physical hardware of a network, and in the case of an internet, the protocol used to ensure compatibility between different networks. More than one protocol exists, however. For example, take the acronym “TCP/IP.” You already know what “IP” stands for: Internet Protocol. But what about “TCP”? What about other protocols we use on our networks, such as HTTP or FTP? How do these protocols relate to each other if they’re not all the same? It’s practically impossible to create a single protocol that can handle every issue that might be encountered on a network. Consider security, packet loss, hardware failure, network congestion, and data corruption. These issues and more need to be addressed in any networked system, but it can’t be done with just a single “super” protocol. The solution, then, is to develop a system in which complementary protocols, each handling a specific task, work together in a standardized fashion. This solution is known as protocol layering. Imagine the different protocols involved in network communications stacked on top of each other in layers. This is also known as a protocol stack or stack. Each layer in a stack takes responsibility for a particular aspect of sending and receiving information on a network, with each layer in the stack working in concert with the other layers (see Figure 1-7). Figure 1-7. Protocol layers As shown in Figure 1-7, sending information to another computer means sending the information “down” through a stack, over the network, and then “up” through the stack on the receiving node. When the receiving node wishes to send a response, the roles are reversed: it becomes a sender and the process is repeated. Each layer on each node is the same. That is, the protocol in layer 3 on the sender is the same protocol in layer 3 on the receiver. Thus, a protocol layer is designed so that layer n at the destination receives essentially the same datagram or packet sent by layer n at the source. We say “essentially” because datagrams have components like time to live fields that will be changed by each node involved in the transfer, even though the core data payload should remain identical from sender to receiver.Protocol Layer Models The dominating standard for a protocol layer is from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is known as the Open Systems Interconnection reference model, or simply the OSI model. The OSI model describes seven specific layers: Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data Link, and Physical Hardware. A description of each layer is shown in Table 1-5. Table 1-5. OSI Seven-Layer Reference Model Figure 1-8 shows the result of applying the OSI model to our earlier layer diagram. Figure 1-8. The OSI model In practice, though, the typical protocol stack found in most networked environments today is known as a TCP/IP stack and, while perfectly compatible with the OSI model, it is conceptually different. The “TCP” in TCP/IP means Transmission Control Protocol and will be discussed later in this chapter. Just by the name alone, you can see that today’s networks require multiple protocols working together to function. In a TCP/IP environment, the network transport is relatively simple, while the nodes on the network are relatively complex. TCP/IP requires all hosts to involve themselves in almost every network function, unlike some other networking protocols. TCP/IP hosts are responsible for end-to-end error checking and recovery, and also make routing decisions since they must choose the appropriate gateway when sending packets. Using our OSI diagram as a basis, a corresponding diagram describing a TCP/IP stack would look like Figure 1-9. Figure 1-9. The TCP/IP layer model This diagram shows a TCP/IP stack as having four layers versus the seven layers in an OSI model. There are fewer layers because the TCP/IP model doesn’t need to describe requirements that are needed by older networking protocols like X.25, such as the Session layer. Looking at our TCP/IP stack, we can see that Ethernet is our Network Interface, IP is our Internet layer, and TCP is our Transport layer. The Application layer, then, consists of the applications that use the network, such as a web browser, file transfer client, or other network-enabled applications. There are two boundaries in our TCP/IP stack that describe the division of information among the application, the operating system, and the network. These boundaries correspond directly to the addressing schemes already discussed. In the Application layer, the application needs to know nothing other than the IP address (and port) of the receiver. Specifics such as datagram fragmentation, checksum calculations, and delivery verification are handled in the operating system by the Transport and Internet layers. Once the packets move from the Internet layer to the Network layer, only physical addresses are used. At first it would seem like a lookup must be performed to get the physical address of the receiver when starting communications, but this would be incorrect. Remembering the gateway rule, the only physical address that needs to be known by the sender is the physical address of the destination if the destination is on the same network, or the physical address of the gateway if the destination is on a remote network.{mospagebreak title=User Datagram Protocol} At the Internet layer in our TCP/IP protocol stack, the only information available is the address of the remote node. No other information is available to the protocol, and none is needed. However, without additional information like a port number, your receiving node is limited to conducting a single network communication at any one time. Since modern operating systems allow multiple applications to run simultaneously, you must be able to address multiple applications on the receiving node simultaneously, instead of just one. If you consider that each networked application can “listen” on one or more ports, you can see that by using an IP address and a port, you can communicate with multiple applications simultaneously, up to any limits imposed by the operating system and protocol stack. In the TCP/IP protocol stack, there are two protocols that provide a mechanism that allows applications to communicate with other applications using ports. One is the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which we will discuss in the next section, and the other is the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). UDP makes no guarantee of packet delivery. UDP datagrams can be lost, can arrive out of sequence, can be copied many times, and can be sent faster than the receiving node can process them. Thus, an application that uses UDP takes full responsibility for controlling message loss, reliability, sequencing, and loss of connection. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage to developers, for while UDP is a lightweight protocol that can be used quickly, the additional application overhead needed to thoroughly manage packet transfer is often overlooked or poorly implemented. TIP When using UDP for an application, make sure to thoroughly test your applications in real environments beyond a low-latency LAN. Many developers choose UDP and test in a LAN environment, only to find their applications are unusable when used over a larger TCP/IP network with higher latencies. UDP datagrams have a simple format. Like other datagrams, UDP datagrams consist of a header and a data payload. The header is divided into four fields, each 16 bits in size. These fields specify the source port, the destination port, the length of the datagram, and a checksum. Following the header is the data area, as shown in Figure 1-10. Figure 1-10. The UDP datagram format The source port is optional. If used, it specifies the port to which replies should be sent. If unused, it should be set to zero. The length field is the total number of octets in the datagram itself, header and data. The minimum value for length is 8, which is the length of the header by itself. The checksum value is also optional, and if unused should be set to zero. Even though it’s optional, however, it should be used, since IP doesn’t compute a checksum on the data portion of its own datagram. Thus, without a UDP checksum, there’s no other way to check for header integrity on the receiving node. To compute the checksum, UDP uses a pseudo-header, which is prepended to the datagram, followed by an octet of zeros, which is appended, to get an exact multiple of 16 bits. The entire object, pseudo-header and all, is then used to compute the checksum. The pseudo-header format is shown in Figure 1-11. Figure 1-11. The UDP pseudo-header The octet used for padding is not transmitted with the UDP datagram, nor is the pseudo-header, and neither is counted when computing the length of the datagram. A number of network services use UDP and have reserved ports. A list of some of the more popular services is shown in Table 1-6. Table 1-6. Popular UDP Services Transmission Control Protocol The main difference between UDP and TCP is that, like IP, UDP provides no guarantee of delivery and does not use any method to ensure datagrams are received in a certain order or are transmitted at a certain rate. TCP, on the other hand, provides a mechanism known as reliable stream delivery. Reliable stream delivery guarantees delivery of a stream of information from one network node to another without duplication or data loss. TCP has a number of features that describe the interface between it and the application programs that use it: - Virtual circuit: Using TCP is much like making a phone call. The sender requests a connection with the receiver. Both ends negotiate the parameters of the connection and agree on various details defining the connection. Once the connection is finalized, the applications are allowed to proceed. As far as the applications are concerned, a dedicated, reliable connection exists between the sender and the receiver, but this is an illusion. The underlying transfer mechanism is IP, which provides no delivery guarantee, but the applications are removed from dealing with IP by the TCP layer. - Buffered transfer: The TCP layer, independent of the application, determines the optimal way to package the data being sent, using whatever packet sizes are appropriate. To increase efficiency and decrease network traffic, TCP typically waits, if possible, until it has a relatively large amount of data to send before sending the packet, even if the application is generating data 1 byte at a time. The receiving TCP layer delivers data to the receiving application exactly the way it was sent, so a buffer may exist at each end, independent of the application. - Stream orientation: The receiving node delivers data to the receiving application in exactly the same sequence as it was sent. - Full duplex: Connections provided by TCP over IP are full duplex, which means that data can be transmitted in both directions simultaneously via two independent packet streams. The streams can be used to transfer data or to send control information or commands back to the sender, and either stream can be terminated without harming the other. - Unstructured stream: TCP does not guarantee the structure of the data stream, even though delivery is guaranteed. For example, TCP does not honor markers that might exist in a record set sent to or from a database. It is up to the applications to determine stream content and assemble or disassemble the stream accordingly on each end of the connection. Applications do this by buffering incoming packets when necessary and assembling them in an order that the applications recognize. The method that TCP uses to guarantee reliable delivery can be described as confirmation and retransmission. The sender keeps track of every packet that is sent and waits for confirmation of successful delivery from the receiver before sending the next packet. The sender also sets an internal timer when each packet is sent and automatically resends the packet should the timer expire before getting confirmation from the receiver. TCP uses a sequence number to determine whether every packet has been received. This sequence number is sent on the confirmation message as well as the packet itself, allowing the sender to match confirmations to packets sent, in case network delays cause the transmission of unnecessary duplicates. Even with full duplex, though, having to wait for a confirmation on every packet before sending the next can be horribly slow. TCP solves this by using a mechanism called a sliding window. The easiest way to imagine a TCP sliding window is to consider a number of packets that needs to be sent. TCP considers a certain number of packets to be a window and transmits all packets in that window without waiting for confirmation on each one. Once the confirmation is received for the first packet in the window, the window “slides” to contain the next packet to be sent, and it is sent. For example, if the window size was 8, then packets 1 through 8 would be sent. When the confirmation for packet 1 was received, the window would “slide” so that it covered packets 2 through 9, and the ninth packet would be sent. A packet that has been transmitted without confirmation is called an unacknowledged packet. Thus, the total number of unacknowledged packets allowed is equal to the window size. The advantage to a sliding window protocol is that it keeps the network saturated with packets as much as possible, minimizing the time spent waiting for confirmation. The window is matched on the receiving end, so that the receiver “slides” its own window according to which confirmation messages have been sent. We noted earlier that TCP connections use what is known as a virtual circuit. Taking that abstraction further, TCP defines connections as a pair of endpoints, each endpoint consisting of an integer pair, consisting of the 32-bit integer IP address and the 16-bit integer port number. This is important, because by defining an endpoint as an integer pair, a TCP service on a given port number can be used by multiple connections at the same time. For example, even though a mail server has only one port 25 on which to receive mail, each sender making a connection offers a different integer pair because the source IP address and source port are different, allowing multiple concurrent connections on the same receiving port. The TCP datagram is also known as a segment. Segments do all of the work: establishing and closing connections, advertising window sizes, transferring data, and sending acknowledgments. Figure 1-12 shows a diagram of a TCP segment. Figure 1-12. The TCP segment format As with other datagrams, a TCP segment consists of two parts: header and data. A description of each header field is listed in Table 1-7. Table 1-7. TCP Header Fields. The acknowledgment number, on the other hand, is used by the sender to identify which acknowledgment the sender expects to receive next. Thus, the sequence number refers to the byte stream flowing in the same direction as the segment, while the acknowledgment number refers to the byte stream flowing in the opposite direction as the segment. This two-way synchronization system helps ensure that both connection endpoints are receiving the bytes they expect to receive and that no data is lost in transit. The code bits field is a special header field used to define the purpose of this particular segment. These bits instruct the endpoint how to interpret other fields in the header. Each bit can be either 0 or 1, and they’re counted from left to right. A value of 111111, then, means that all options are “on.” Table 1-8 contains a list and description of the possible values for the code bits field. Table 1-8. Possible Values for Code Bits Header Field Even though TCP is a stream-oriented protocol, situations arise when data must be transmitted out of band. Out-of-band data is sent so that the application at the other end of the connection processes it immediately instead of waiting to complete the entire stream. This is where the urgent header field comes into play. Consider a connection a user wishes to abort, such as a file transfer that occurs slower than expected. For the abort signal to be processed, the signal must be sent in a segment out of band. Otherwise, the abort signal would not be processed until the file transfer was complete. By sending the segment marked urgent, the receiver is instructed to handle the segment immediately. {mospagebreak title=The Client-Server Model} Let’s recap. We’ve discussed circuits versus packets; the concept of connecting one or many networks together via gateways; physical addresses; virtual addresses; and the IP, UDP, and TCP protocols. We’ve also used the terms “sender,” “source,” “receiver,” and “destination.” These terms can be confusing, because as you’ve seen already, a TCP connection is a connection of equals, and in a virtual circuit, the roles of sender, source, receiver, and destination are interchangeable depending on what sort of data is being sent. Regardless of which term is used, the key concept to remember is that applications are present at both endpoints of a TCP connection. Without compatible applications at both ends, the data sent doesn’t end up anywhere, nor can it be processed and utilized. Nevertheless, changing the terminology between “source” and “destination” to describe every communication between two endpoints can be pretty confusing. A better model is to designate roles for each endpoint for the duration of the communication. The model of interaction on a TCP connection, then, is known as the client-server model. In the client-server model, the term “server” describes the application that offers a service that can be utilized by any other application over the network. Servers accept connections over a network, perform their service, and respond with the result. The simplest servers are those that accept a single packet and respond with a single packet, though in many cases servers are more complex. Some features common to servers include the ability to accept more than one request at a time (multiple connections) and the ability to service requests independently of other operating system processes such as user sessions. A “client” is the application sending the request to the server and waiting for the response. Client applications typically make only one request to a particular server at any given time, though there is no restriction preventing them from making simultaneous requests, or even multiple requests to different servers. There are many different types of client-server applications. The simplest of them use UDP to communicate, while others use TCP/IP with higher-level application protocols such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). The specifics of a client-server system are fairly simple. On the server, the application is started, after which it negotiates with the operating system for permission to use a particular port number for accepting requests. Assuming that the application is allowed to start on the given port, it begins to listen for incoming requests. The specifics of how to write an application that will listen on a port are covered in Chapter 2. Once listening, the server executes an endless loop until stopped: receive request, process request, assemble response, send response, repeat. In the process, the server reverses the source and destination addresses and port numbers, so that the server knows where to send the response and the client also knows that the server has responded. The client, unlike the server, typically stops sending requests once the server has responded. At this point, the client itself may terminate, or it may simply go into a wait state until another request must be sent. Ports are handled differently on clients than on servers, however. While the server typically uses a reserved port, clients do not. This is because every client must know how to reach the server, but the server does not need to know in advance how to reach every client, since that information is contained in the packets it receives from the client, in the source address and source port fields. This allows clients to use any port they wish as their endpoint in the TCP connection with the server. For example, a web page server is usually found on port 80. Even though the client must send its requests to the server’s port 80, it can use any available port as its own endpoint, such as port number 9999, 12345, 64400, or anything in between, as long as it isn’t one of the reserved ports mentioned earlier or a port already in use by another application. Thus, the two endpoints involved in a web page request might be 192.168.2.1:80 for the server endpoint and 10.0.0.4:11908 for the client endpoint. The main requirement for a client is that it knows, through configuration or some other method, the address and port of the server, since all other information needed will be sent within the packets.{mospagebreak title=The Domain Name System} We’ve discussed how it isn’t necessary for every node on every network to store information about how to reach all of the other nodes on the network. Because of the gateway rule, a node only needs to know how to reach nodes on its own network or a gateway. With IP addresses 32 bits long, there are plenty of addresses to go around (and when we run out, there’s always IPv6, which is covered in Appendix A). We still have a problem, though. While computers can take advantage of the gateway rule, people can’t. It’s not enough to instruct our computers to make a connection—we have to specify the other end of the connection, even if we don’t have to specify exactly how our packets will get there. We still need a system people can use to point computers to the other endpoint of our connections, without requiring them to remember nearly endless lists of numbers. A system exists that lets us assign easily remembered names to their corresponding IP addresses, without having to remember the addresses themselves. This system is called the Domain Name System (DNS). You can think of DNS as a type of phone book for computers. Rather than remember the addresses of every network node you may want to reach, you instead can assign meaningful names to those nodes, and use DNS to translate the names that people like to use into the numbers that computers must use. To contact the other computer, your computer performs a DNS lookup, the result of which is the address of the other computer. Once the address is known, a connection can be made. Performing a DNS lookup is much like using a phone book. You know the name of the other computer, and you want to find the number, or address. You “look up” the name, and the phone book tells you the number that has been assigned to that name. From there, you make your call, or in our case, your connection. How often do new phone books come out? What happens if someone changes his or her phone number before the new phone book is printed? Just like people change their phone numbers, computers change their addresses all the time. Some, in the case of dial-up networks, might change their addresses every day, or even several times a day. If our name-to-number system required that we all pass a new phone book around every day, our networks would come to a standstill overnight, since managing such a database of names and numbers and keeping it current for the number of computers connected together on today’s networks is impossible. DNS was designed to be easily updateable, redundant, efficient and, above all, distributed, by using a hierarchical format and a method of delegation. Just like the gateway rule, a DNS server isn’t required to know the names and addresses of every node on our networks. Instead, it’s only necessary for a DNS server to know the names and addresses of the nodes it’s managing, and the names and addresses of the authoritative servers in the rest of the hierarchy. Thus, a particular DNS server is delegated the responsibility for a particular set of addresses and is given the names and addresses of other DNS servers that it can use if it can’t resolve the name using its own information. The hierarchical nature of DNS can be seen in the names commonly used on the Internet. You often hear the phrase dot-com and routinely use domain names when making connections. The first level of our hierarchy contains what are known as the top-level domains (TLDs). Table 1-9 contains a list of the more popular TLDs and their purpose. Table 1-9. Popular Top-Level Domains. A registrar is responsible for managing domain registrations. This means keeping them current, including accepting new registration requests as well as expiring those domains that are no longer valid. An example of a domain would be “apress.com”. Domain names are read right to left, with the leftmost name typically being the host name or name of a specific network node. Thus, a name such as would be translated as “the network node known as www within the domain apress within the TLD .com.” Another node within the same domain might have a name such as www2.apress.com . The actual names used are up to the discretion of the owner, with the following restrictions: - Names are restricted to letters and numbers, as well as a hyphen. - Names cannot begin or end with a hyphen. - Not including the TLD, names cannot exceed 63 characters. The TLDs are managed by special domain name servers known as root servers. The root servers are special servers set up in redundant fashion and spread out across the Internet. The root servers are updated twice daily by the registrars. As of this writing, there are 13 root servers. You can see a list of their names, and the organizations responsible for them, at . Even though there are 13 root servers, there are actually more than 13 physical servers. The root servers are typically set up redundantly in diverse locations to spread out the load, and in general the closest one to the node making the request is the one that answers the request. Each root server has a list of the active domains and the name servers that are responsible for those domains. Remember that DNS is hierarchical and delegated. The root servers have a list of subordinate domain name servers, each one responsible for one or many domains such as apress.com or yahoo.com or google.com . Thus, the root servers for .com have a list of the servers handling a particular domain. A request for that particular name is handled by the server responsible, not by the root servers. Further delegation is possible, because a company or other organization can have its own domain name servers. Let’s look at an example. You would like to visit the Apress website to download the source code used in this book. Putting everything we’ve discussed so far in this chapter together, that means your web browser is the client application, and the web server at Apress is the server application. You know that to make a successful connection, you need four pieces of information: source address, source port, destination address, and destination port. You know from your list of reserved ports that web servers are typically available on port 80, and you know that your client application can use any port it likes as the source port for the request, as long as the port isn’t already in use on your own computer. You also know your own address. Thus, the only thing you need to determine before making your TCP/IP connection and web page request is the address of the web server that is accepting requests for the Apress website. To get the address, you’ll perform a DNS lookup on . Note that the lookup happens transparently to the user and is performed by the client application, or the application “making the call.” The goal is to translate the name into an address that your web browser can use to make its network connection. In this case, the name lookup happens in a series of steps: - The browser queries one of the root servers for .com and asks for the IP addresses of the domain name servers (there are usually two, a primary and a backup) managing the domain named “apress”. - The root server consults its database for a name matching “apress” and, if found, replies with the list of IP addresses of the domain name servers delegated to handle those requests. - The browser queries one of the servers in that list and asks it for the IP address of the network node with the name of “www”. - The domain name server managing the domain named “apress” consults its database for the name “www” and, if found, returns the IP address associated with that name. - If the browser receives an answer from the domain name server with the IP address for , the browser makes a connection to port 80 at that IP address and requests the web page. The domain name system is transparent and public. You can make DNS queries in a number of different ways, from using the host and whois commands on your Linux system to using any of the web-based query sites. Let’s walk through the query process for apress.com that we just described, using the command line. To query the root name servers for information, you use whois : [user@host user]$ whois apress.com After the whois command executes, you’ll see output that looks like this: Domain Name: APRESS.CO M Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC. Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com Referral URL: Name Server: AUTH111.NS.UU.NET Name Server: AUTH120.NS.UU.NET Status: ACTIVE Updated Date: 19-apr-2002 Creation Date: 23-feb-1998 Expiration Date: 22-feb-2007 Registrant: Apress (APRESS-DOM) 2560 Ninth Street Suite 219 Berkeley, CA 94710 US Domain Name: APRESS.COM Administrative Contact, Technical Contact: Apress (23576335O) [email protected] 2560 Ninth Street Suite 219 Berkeley, CA 94710 US 510-549-5930 fax: 123 123 1234 Record expires on 22-Feb-2007. Record created on 23-Feb-1998. Database last updated on 18-Jan-2004 22:43:05 EST. Domain servers in listed order: AUTH111.NS.UU.NET 198.6.1.115 AUTH120.NS.UU.NET 198.6.1.154 The information is self-explanatory. You see that the registrar used to regis ter the domain name is Network Solutions, and you see that the domain was registered in 1998 and is paid up through 2007. This is the information held at the TLD level—it still doesn’t tell you the IP address of the web server, which is what you need. The information you do have, though, includes the names and IP addresses of the name servers delegated to handle further information for apress.com, namely auth111.ns.uu.net and auth120.ns.uu. net , with addresses of 198.6.1.115 and 198.6.1.154 , respectively. Either one of those name servers can help you find the address of the web server. The next step is to use the host command to make a specific request of one of the name servers. You want the IP address of the machine with the name : [user@host user]$ host auth111.ns.uu.net Using domain server: Name: auth111.ns.uu.net Address: 198.6.1.115#53 Aliases: has address 65.215.221.149 The host command takes two parameters: the name you want to translate into an IP address and the name (or address) of the server you want to use to make the translation. Using one of the name servers returned by the whois query, you ask for the IP address of the web server, and the name server responds with the IP address 65.215.221.149 . At this point, your web browser would have the four pieces of information it needs to make a successful TCP/IP connection. Incidentally, you can see the port information for DNS in the name server’s reply shown previously. Note the #53 tacked onto the end of the name server’s IP address. As shown earlier in Table 1-3, the port used by DNS is port 53. The host command can also be used without specifying the name server as a parameter. If you just use the name that you want to translate, you’ll get an abbreviated response with just the IP address, without the other information. You can use the host command to make all sorts of domain name queries by using command-line parameters such as –t for type. For example, using a type of “MX” will return the IP addresses of the machines handling mail for a given domain name. Using a type of “NS” will return an abbreviated version of the whois information, listing the name servers themselves. Let’s see which machines handle mail and name serving for linux.org : [user@host user]$ host -t mx linux.org linux.org mail is handled by 10 mail.linux.org. [user@host user]$ host -t ns linux.org linux.org name server ns.invlogic.com. linux.org name server ns0.aitcom.net. The two queries tell you that mail for addresses in the linux.org domain is handled by a machine named mail.linux.org . Likewise, the name servers for linux.org are listed. If you wanted to send mail to someone at linux.org , you would use the name server information to resolve the name mail.linux.org into an IP address and make your connection from there. A list of common DNS record types and their purpose is shown in Table 1-10. Table 1-10. Common DNS Record Types Table 1-10. Common DNS Record Types (continued) As you can see, DNS information is public information, and you can easily obtain it once you know what to look for and which commands to use. On your Linux system, use the command to get more information on and . Older systems use a utility called , which performs essentially the same functions as It’s also possible to have private DNS information, since any Linux system is capable of acting as a name server. Many companies and organizations use both private, or internal, DNS and public, or external, DNS. Internal DNS is used for those machines that aren’t available to the public. Summary In this chapter, we discussed the basic ingredients for today’s popular networking technologies. Here’s a summary of what we covered: - In general, networks are either packet-switched or circuit-switched, with the Internet being an example of a packet-switched network. - All networks need a common, physical medium to use for communications, the most popular of which is Ethernet. Ethernet uses a system of frames containing header and data portions. - Networks require the use of addressing so that one network node can find another network node. Addressing takes different forms, from MAC addresses used to identify physical network hardware interfaces to IP addresses used to identify virtual software addresses used by the TCP and IP network protocols. - The gateway rule means that a node does not need to know how to reach every other node on a network. It only needs to know how to reach the nodes on its own network, and how to reach the gateway between its own network and all other networks. - Using a system of protocol layering and encapsulation, IP and TCP “wrap” and “unwrap” each packet of header and data information as it travels up or down the protocol stack at each endpoint of the connection. - TCP/IP networks use the client-server model, in which the source of the communication is known as the client, and the server is the destination. The server is the network node providing services consumed by the client. Depending on whether the communication is a request or a response, the roles of client and server may change back and forth. - Because people find it easier to remember names instead of numbers, networks use name translation systems to translate familiar names into the actual IP addresses of the other network nodes. The most popular naming system is the Domain Name System (DNS), which is a collaborative, distributed, hierarchical system of managing namespaces where specific responsibilities for certain domains are delegated from root servers to subordinate servers.

; VIEWS: 28 PAGES: 41 CATEGORY: Rest & Sleep POSTED ON: 11/8/2012 This is a sample e-book for insomnia sufferers, but to enjoy the benefits of more essentials and quality e-books, you need to visit Are These 7 Mistakes Killing Your Sleep? How you can finally wave insomnia goodnight without resorting to sleeping pills... even if you've suffered from sleep problems for longer than you care to remember A Special Report by Yan Muckle 1 Table of content *** TAKE THE QUIZ FIRST! *** An intriguing insomnia challenge... What to do when your brain just won't slow down on its own Are you doomed to poor sleep? Are you afraid of insomnia? SPECIAL CASE STUDY Are you worrying your nights away? What athletes have that you don't Tired... tired... so tired... The bedroom: sleep or sex ONLY! Are you spending too much time in bed? What to do when you're still awake Are you living in a cave? The fastest way to peaceful sleep is... Endorsements from health professionals Customers Success Stories Frequently Asked Questions About the author 2 Give this report away! (and copyright reminders) You have full authorization to share this report with all your sleep-challenged friends. Feel free to print it, email it, or distribute it on your website, blog or email newsletter. The more people who get access to this information, the better (if you've suffered from insomnia for decades and/or if you've fell under the spell of sleeping pills, you won't need much convincing). Keep in mind, though, that this document is fully copyrighted. So you CANNOT sell it, truncate it or modify it in any way, nor can you remove attribution. Help me help more people and pass this along! Disclaimer The author is not a medical practitioner and never even played one on TV. This document is the fruit of his personal research and experiences and is shared with you for instructional purposes exclusively. These materials are not meant to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease, and are no substitute to medical advice. You should consult your physician and follow his advice. Keep in mind that the sleep-restoring techniques offered in this program are intended for use only by people who suffer from chronic benign, or organic, insomnia. In other words, conditions that do not necessitate any form of medical of psychiatric treatment. To be clear, let us state that in no case will SleepTracks.com, or Yan Muckle, or other distributors be liable for chance, accidental, special, direct or indirect damages resulting from use, misuse or defect of its products, instructions or documentation. That being said, be solemny warned that acting on the ideas laid forth in these pages might cause you to experience a gradual but unmistakable increase in your overall sense of well-being... 3 TAKE THE QUIZ FIRST! Before you start reading about the 7 mistakes most insomniacs make, take a few moments to discover to what extent you're making them yourself... Why is that important? Because if you don't know what stands between you and a good night's sleep, there's not much you can do about it... except falling prey to the glittering promises of sleeping pills manufacturers. In just 2 minutes you'll have a clearer picture of what you need to be cautious about, and what you can do to restore your natural ability to sleep. In many cases, just knowing that you've been making some of those mistakes will enable you to stop making them... so go ahead, do that now: ** CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE ONLINE QUIZ (IT'S FREE) ** 4 An intriguing insomnia challenge … Let's pretend you're SO tired of sleeping poorly that you end up at a sleep clinic. After probing you about your sleep habits, the researcher asks if you'd agree to participate in a study. "You could even win some money", he adds nonchalantly... “I don’t know… I have nothing to lose”, you say. “But what do you mean?” “We’re organizing a contest”, he says. “We want to know who among the participants can fall asleep the fastest. You’ll have one week to try… and if you win, you’ll go back home with $500.” The fastest to fall asleep? Your problem is precisely that on most nights it takes you ages to fall asleep — or if by some miracle you do fall asleep you wake up after just a couple hours — so it’s fairly unlikely that you could ever win that contest… Yet the money would sure be nice, and you start to think about how you could go about it… If the other contestants are insomniacs also, maybe you stand a chance after all… Maybe you could even find what has eluded you for years… sleep itself. So… What would you DO to make sure you fall asleep faster than the other participants? Here’s the troubling truth: whatever you’d do, you’d fail. Am I saying there’s no way to fall asleep faster? No… I’m saying that if you try to fall asleep, you’ll stay awake longer. Simple as that. You just won’t win the prize. This is what the researchers who led this (true) study discovered. They told a group of people that they would win a prize if they were the first to fall asleep. Another “control” group was told nothing and simply went to bed… What happened? Those that were told they would win a prize… took 3 times longer to doze off than the control group — Simply because they wanted so much to fall asleep! You most probably already noticed for yourself that the harder you try to fall asleep, the longer it takes you. Why? Because falling asleep is not an action, it’s not something you DO. It’s something that happens to you. And it happens only as a consequence of letting go… letting go of the 5 day, letting go of the worries, even letting go of wanting to sleep or not. And you can’t let go if you try to stay in control. If you try, you DO, you tense up, your brain stay in high gear and, consequently… you stay awake. Yet you keep doing it, isn’t it? You keep trying to subtly push yourself into dreamland, even if you somewhat already know that it doesn’t work. I know that I made that mistake for years, even while trying my best NOT to. “So what am I to do?” you may ask. “I feel this pressure of trying to fall asleep every time I’m lying on my bed and I can’t seem to escape it… Do I have to just give up and resign myself to stay awake for hours every night?” No, you don’t. We’ll see what to do on the next page. 6 What to do when your brain just won’t slow down on its own “So what am I to do?” you asked. “Do I have to just give up and resign myself to stay awake for hours every night?” No, you don’t. It’s tricky but actually pretty simple: 1. Realize that you’ve conditioned yourself to subtly but systematically try to fall asleep every time you go to bed, every time you wake up during the night. And by making this mistake (along with the 6 other mistakes)… you’ve essentially conditioned yourself to stay awake. 2. Take off of your mind the idea that “I have to fall asleep” — remember, it will take you on average 3 X longer if you dwell on this kind of thought. Your brain will fall asleep on its own, without you having to do anything, if you just allow it to slow down all by itself — — think about those times during the day when you find yourself incredibly sleepy (at the wrong time, of course: at the office, behind the wheel, while someone talks to you)… When you find it hard to concentrate, when your eyes want to shut down, when you just want to lie on the floor and forget about everything… What’s happening on those times is that your brain’s activity is slooooowing down. Your body temperature is dropping. Trying to remain awake is extremely hard — which shows you once again how little control you have over your waking and sleeping states, and proves to you that… The brain falls asleep when it’s ready to sleep, NOT when you’ve decided you wanted to sleep! “But my brain DOESN’T slow down all by itself! It just keeps on spinning!” I hear you. And it’s true that you need to gently nudge your brain out of high gear and into low gear. The trick is to gently nudge your brain into slowing down WITHOUT focusing on falling asleep… … By putting your mind instead on something boring, uninteresting, or at least not stimulating. Here are a couple suggestions: • focus on your breath — just paying attention to your inhale and exhale; 7 at the sea, at the clouds, at the sky; • listen to a brainwave entrainment session — my preferred method. I don’t have the room here to explain what brainwave entrainment is, and how it can help you safely get rid of your insomnia once and for all, but for now let me just sum up why I like it so much for this particular task: 1. it’s easy because you remain passive, there’s nothing special to do (so you don’t feel like you need to stay in control); 2. it mechanically slows down your brainwaves and gently let your mind enter a sleeping state; 3. it’s safe and health-promoting; 4. it’s simple, no training or effort is necessary; 5. it’s fast; 6. it “trains” your brain to slow down on its own in the future. 8 Are you doomed to poor sleep? The second mistake is so widespread that I’m 99% convinced you’re making it… So let me ask you: Have you had insomnia for such a long time that you now consider it as being a part of who you are — so you think of yourself as an “insomniac”, and you say things like “I’m an insomniac”, “I just can’t sleep”, “It’s just the way I am, I take ages to fall asleep”, and so on? Here. You’re making it. The second mistake that keeps you awake: You’re convinced that you’re doomed to sleeping poorly (after all, that’s what experience has taught you, no?) because it’s “who you are”, because you’re somehow flawed… I don’t blame you — it’s almost unavoidable to start thinking like this. Even after just a few nights of sleeplessness we start to wonder anxiously if we’ll ever sleep normally ever again. So no wonder you feel like a die-hard insomniac if you’ve been having problems for 2, 5, 10 or even 30 years! I know I did. I used to say: “Me? I always take a long time to fall asleep” And why is that a problem? Isn’t it just being “realistic”? No. The problem is that… If you’re convinced you’re doomed to sleeping poorly… You’ll keep sleeping poorly! I’m not exaggerating here. When sleep is concerned, the mind is king. And the belief that you’re doomed to poor sleep and sluggishness leads to helplessness, anxiety, depression and… insomnia. I’ve talked with hundreds of people since starting this site (and received thousands of emails), and again and again I’ve seen this belief rise its hugly head. Sure, you could be stricken with an uncurable chronic disease that as a side-effect dooms you to insomnia for the foreseeable future… but this is the rare exception. For 95% + of folks, here’s the truth: You were not born with insomnia, there’s no reason you should live with it You didn’t have insomnia when you were 2 years old, neither when you were 9 years old, didn’t you? It sneaked in much later in life, due to stress, an illness, and/or the cultivation of several sleep-destroyer habits. And in fact— —insomnia is not a disease… It’s simply a sign that you’ve momentarily lost balance (even if that “moment” lasts for more than 15 years). 9 It’s VERY important that you understand this, and that you start to see that it’s indeed possible for YOU to recover that balance and regain sound sleep. On the next page, we’ll talk about the nasty effects of fearing insomnia… and why you shouldn’t. Keep reading… 10 Are you afraid of insomnia? This mistake generates a LOT of anxiety among insomnia sufferers… and is probably the single biggest reason why so many people fall for sleeping pills. That mistake is simply to fear insomnia. See, we all have to a certain degree the deeply rooted fear of the bad things that might happen to us if we don’t sleep enough. But you know what? Nothing that bad will happen! What will happen is that you’ll feel tired and sleep-deprived, and that’s about it. Don’t believe me? Consider this: A 2002 study conducted on over 1.1 million men and women found the highest survival rate among those who sleep six to seven hours a night. It found that people who sleep 9 or 10 hours per night had a risk of dying similar to those who are “moderately obese”. I’m serious. Here is what the author of the study, Dr. Daniel Kripke, said to CNN: “This is a happy message for five, six, seven hours sleepers and insomniacs that there’s nothing to worry about.” Slept badly? So what? So… the next time you have a bad night, you can start to help yourself by saying “So what?” Stop entertaining the belief that everything unfortunate that will happen to you that day will be the result of your insomnia. It isn’t. Even if you don’t sleep at all… even if you don’t feel at your best… you won’t get sick. You won’t die. Yes, I know that being sleep-deprived makes us feel lousy, depressed, that the future looks bleak, our hands may tremble, our thinking gets muddled, our ability to take a decision takes a toll, etc, etc. I’ve been there too, just like you. And I know it can ultimately endanger our sanity, our work, our relationships… … But only if you do nothing for a very long time! I’m just trying to convince you here that not sleeping well tonight is not that big of a deal. I say that to help you breathe easier and calm that anxiety down a bit. Because anxiety caused by the fear of not sleeping will keep you awake more surely than ten cups of coffee — but you know that already… Here’s another story: In 1980, Robert McDonald, from California, broke a record by staying awake… 11 453 hours in a row! That’s almost 19 days. And apart from obvious drowsiness, he suffered no ill consequence from staying awake that long. He didn’t even get sick. So tonight, if you start to think “will I sleep badly again?”, then just say to yourself “So what?” This simple act will help you relax and de-dramatize the whole thing… which will be a good step in the right direction. Then put on your earphones and start listening to one of the Sleep Tracks, if you have them. Just act as if you didn’t care about the results. It will help tremendously. See what a retired M.D. from New Orleans experienced after having been hooked on Ambien for 5 years (as taken from SleepTracks’ blog): 12 Special case study: This retired M.D. from New Orleans broke his 5-year addiction to Ambien, and now sleeps peacefully…... “I still owe you a testimonial. My background as 13 sleep. Laney Chouest, retired physician, New Orleans” A few comments: —> He didn’t openly admit it, but he was probably skeptical when he gave the Program a try — I don’t blame him, that’s inevitable when you’ve been trying just about everything under the sun without results, and when long-standing sleep deprivation makes you think you’re doomed to this kind of half-life forever. —>... —> When he says that medication put him to sleep, that is NOT necessarily the case. Studies have shown that benzodiazepines distort your perception of time... So you think you went to sleep faster. —> The track Laney is referring to is the “Whole Night” track. He put it on loop on his CD player. … But maybe you don’t know what the Program does and how it helped Laney restore his sleep naturally and get rid of his pills… Maybe you don’t even know that I suffered from insomnia for a long time also, which is what led me to develop this site, so… I made a little video that explains it It’s low-tech, not really fancy (and you’ll get to hear my funny French accent), but it summarizes what the Program is and how you can sleep deeply and peacefully like Laney does today. It’s just a couple minutes long, and you won’t need to be an M.D. to understand it... Click here to watch the video… 14 Are you worrying your nights away? Even if you don’t suffer from clinical depression, you can easily worry your sleep away, and spend most of the night being all worked up over some huge problem that’ll appear not so huge the next morning. You did it. I did it. We all do it. Immobility and darkness are fertile grounds for the mind to run amok. If you have trouble falling asleep, or if you wake up during the night just to watch the merry-go-round start all over again, the “worry habit” is high on the list of suspects. Yes, anxiety and chronic worrying are mental habits. Deeply ingrained mental habits I should say. And they do destroy your sleep. But they’re just that: habits. Conditioned responses. As you were not born an insomniac, you were not born a worrier. And here’s the good news: Mental habits can be changed! You can have. Just like “trying to sleep”, trying to “not think” doesn’t work. You have to go at it in an indirect way. Right now the simple act of getting into your bed and shutting off the light is linked in your mind with “now’s the time to start thinking things through and prepare for what will probably go wrong in x and x situation.” You have to remove that mental association and replace it with the automatic habit of “slipping effortlessly into sleep as soon as I lay down in the dark”.. 15 But notice this: fear is NEVER in the present. In the present moment you’re simply lying on your bed, enjoying a well-deserved rest. sleep is IMPOSSIBLE. So there’s just ONE thing you need to do to get out of the fear-based thinking that generates all that worrying and anxiety, and shift to a mindstate more conducive to sleep… And that is: Come back to the present moment. Let your mind slow down. Easier said than done, eh? I’ve been there too. Keep reading… Since you’ve conditioned yourself to dwell on the past and on the future each and every time you’re lying on that bed, you need some “prop” to help you disconnect and come back to the present moment. What kinds of props can assist you? Just about the same ones I wrote about when dealing with the “trying to sleep” issue: • focus on your breath; at the sea, at the clouds, at the sky, and let your mind wander; • use the Insomnia Buster track in the evening: even if its purpose is not to put you to sleep, most people find it very very relaxing, and tell me it makes them relax and drop out of thinking about the past or the future (and very often they DO fall asleep); • use the Fall Asleep track when you’re ready to go to bed, and focus on the pulses. Don’t try to sleep!. Keeping your attention on something as dull as the pulses will prove increasingly difficult, especially since they will help your brain “downshift” and leave the realm of fast beta thought-inducing brainwaves to go into a progressively calmer and calmer state of mind. It works like magic. Try it, and see how soon you drift away – well, you won’t really “see yourself” drift away, you’ll just wake up the next morning wondering what happened :) 16 What athletes have that you don’t (and how this may lead you to insomnia) There is something that athletes have that you don’t — and today I want to tell you how to get plenty of it without moving from your chair. It’s a very little-known fact that has important consequences for people like you and me. Before getting into the meat of today’s lesson, let’s review some of the most common reasons you might still be stuck with a sleep problem… or plagued by a very low energy level due to poor sleep. Why You Still Have a Sleep Problem 1. Daily stress, worries and anxieties generated by modern life and bad lifestyle choices constantly undermine your sleep. 2. Sleep is more complex than it looks. Several key factors must work in unison, or the resulting sleep will be shallow or disrupted. 3. For that same reason, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Be wary of those who tell you the contrary. 4. If you’ve been having difficulty for a long time, you’re probably associating now your bedroom with “being wide awake” — even if you’re not aware of it. 5. Forcing yourself to sleep doesn’t work, even if you try and try and try (but boy is it hard to stop doing it!). 6. Alcohol doesn’t work. On the contrary, using booze as a way to “ease your way” into the night robs you of the deep sleep you desperately need — even when you’re under the impression that you “slept like a log”. 7. Having a super-duper pillow and a whizamatic bed is not enough. Would be nice if it was that simple though… (but, yes, of course it helps) 8. Most sleep and relaxation CDs don’t work. Sure, the worst that can happen is that you waste your money. But relaxing sounds and sprinkled suggestions have very little power in changing how your brain reacts when you lie down to go to sleep. 9. Sleeping pills don’t work. Sleeping pills are dangerous and don’t cure insomnia… because they don’t treat the causes of it. If you’re not convinced, view this 4-minute video. I could elaborate a lot more on each of those 10 points (and I do so in the Optimal Sleep course that is part of the SleepTracks package), but we already have a lot to cover today… Instead, let’s talk about this thing that athletes have but that most insomniacs don’t… because it’s probably one of the most important (and neglected) reasons why people end up saying “I’m an insomniac and there’s nothing I can do about it”. Two Ways to Get More of “It” and Sleep Like a Baby There is a specific kind of brain activity that is called by scientists “sensory motor rhythm”, or SMR. While athletes and physically active people’s brain generate a lot of SMR activity, the brain of insomniacs (and of 17 people who suffer from ADHD) show very little of it… See, your brain is generating electrical activity all the time, producing what we call “brainwaves” at different frequencies. Different “frequencies” are associated with different mental states. For example, when you’re into deep sleep, activity in your brain is totally different than when your crunching numbers… The brainwave range called “ SMR” appears to be involved in the control of arousal states, energy levels, and also of inhibiting movement during sleep. (I say “appears” because the brain is complex and its functioning is still partly mysterious.) And here’s what studies have shown that should interest you: • Athletes and physically active people generate a lot of SMR activity; • Most insomniacs have a very low amount of SMR activity during the day. Same thing with people who suffer from depression or ADHD. If your brain is used to generate very little SMR and you raise that level, your sleep will improve. You’ll fall asleep faster, you’ll sleep deeper and you’ll benefit more from the full restorative powers of truly sound sleep. You’ll also have more energy during the day! How to raise that level? Two ways: 1. Exercise regularly. Move that body! You don’t have to spend 2 hours in the gym. Taking a brisk 30-minute walk in the morning will do the trick. There is a paradoxical truth here: to stop feeling so tired, you need to tire your body more (but I’ll talk about that on another day). 2. Listen to the Insomnia Buster Track anytime during the day. It will naturally and easily increase SMR brain activity and condition your brain to sink into deep sleep at night. Brainwave entrainment is like educating your brain. Once it has learned to follow new pathways, you don’t have to keep telling him again and again. This track has a long-term effect on your sleep and your overall energy level. “So”, you ask, “is it that simple? Just raise the level of SMR activity in my brain and I won’t suffer from insomnia?” No, I’m not saying that. There are other factors that can negatively impact your sleep or drain you. I talk about them in the Optimal Sleep. And if you’re very tensed and anxious, you’ll probably respond better to “theta training” as provided by the Fall Asleep track than to the “Insomnia Buster”. (By the way, that’s why I included several tracks in the package. I could have offered a single track and tout it as the be-all end-all solution to insomnia — but this apparent simplicity wouldn’t have been to your benefit.) 18 Tired, tired… So tired… I bet you’re falling into that trap. I bet you’re telling yourself: “I feel so tired, I’ll take it easy today. Where is my chair?” Everybody has this kind of thought, it’s normal. You feel tired so you don’t want to spend more energy than you need to. You want to recuperate, to get some rest, to gather your energy. But the problem is the following… To have energy, you first need to SPEND some! Why is that? Partly because of the body temperature cycle (one of the 4 critical cycles that control whether you feel sleepy or awake). Your body temperature is higher during the day than it is at night. When that temperature starts to rise at dawn, people who have a healthy sleep system start to awaken. When the temperature goes down at night, they yawn and long for rest. Most insomniacs though have a body temperature cycle that is way too flat. Their temperature doesn’t rise enough during the day, resulting in sluggishness… And doesn’t fall enough when night comes, resulting in restless, fragmented sleep. Does that ring a bell? Yes? When you move your body vigorously, your body temperature is pushed higher. Your whole body-mind gets aroused… and consequently you feel more alert, more alive, more energetic. And… You also sleep better! … Not just because you spent energy and your body needs to recuperate… But also because you increased the amplitude of your body temperature cycle wave. Since exercising made it go higher, it will make it go lower when night comes. Like a pendulum: the more it sways on one side, the further it’ll go on the other side. Exercising will also stimulate the sensory-motor rhythm ( SMR) brainwave range we talked about earlier, which will help you further reduce the grip insomnia has on you. Bottom line: if you want to stop being so tired, you first need to tire yourself. So if you’re stuck in the “I’m-so-tired-I-have-to-take-it-easy” vicious circle, get out of it by starting to move your body on a regular basis NOW. Just start gently and increase progressively. 19 The Bedroom: Sleep or Sex ONLY! Months or years of sleeping badly made you associate your bedroom with being awake and with frustration. We need to change that. The more cozy and harmonious your bedroom is, the more relaxed you’ll feel. Here is the most important tip: make sure your bedroom really becomes a SLEEPING ROOM. And that means… Sleep or sex only! Yes, that means use your sleep room only for sleep or for making love. Nothing else! No reading, no tv watching, no arguing, no problem solving, no eating, no working, no phone calling…. I’m deadly serious here. Ok, before I let you go today I want to give you… 6 additional tips on how to fall asleep fast 1- Silence You might be sensitive to noises around you and outside of the bedroom. Reduce them if you can… or try the Whole Night Track. The dull sound of it will filter out unwanted noises and you’ll be more likely to just forget about them... 20. 21 Are you spending too much time in bed? One of the most prevalent sleep myth is the belief that everybody needs 8 hours of sleep to be healthy and fully rested. Problem is, this belief is FALSE. The fact that you feel tired does NOT necessarily mean you need to spend more time in bed. It’s most probably the opposite. Let me explain… Different people, different needs About 20% of the population sleep six hours or less per night. High achievers like Jay Leno, Martha Stewart sleep for only 4 to 5 hours. An ultra runner named Dean Karnazes also sleeps only 4 hours a night. This is worth noting, as Mr. Karnazes is not a couch potato but a world-famous runner. He recently ran 50 marathons… in 50 consecutive days (google him to know more)! At the other end of the spectrum, Albert Einstein slept for 10 to 12 hours, and liked to take naps on top of that. It suited him well. Now, you may ask… “And me? How much sleep do I need?” That’s a very good question, and one that can’t be answered by someone else than you. In the Optimal Sleep course that comes with the SleepTracks Program, I show several ways to pinpoint how long each of your sleep cycles last (yours are probably not the same length as mine), and how much total sleep you actually need. The short answer is: “only as long as you need to feel rested the next day”… … which brings us to another sleep myth: The Quantity Myth See, all sleep time is not created equal. Deep sleep is crucial; REM and dreaming are important; and stage 2 sleep less so. As for tossing and turning, well? You know the answer to that already. So to be able to discover how much sleep you personally need, you 22 have first to regain truly quality sleep, deeply restorative sleep. Only then can you add or reduce progressively your time spent asleep until you find how much sleep is optimal for you. Now, bear with me… You read this report because you’re NOT getting quality sleep, right? So you’re far from being able to finely tune and adjust your sleep — you’d be happy to just have more than two or three hours of sleep! Here’s where you probably make a mistake I bet I can guess what you’re doing when night’s coming and you’re worried about another sleepless night… Since you know you’ll take a long time to doze off, you go to bed earlier. Here, I just said it… that was the mistake! You go to bed while your body temperature is still way too high for you to fall asleep. So you toss and turn, you mind starts spinning, and your ?I can’t sleep? becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When morning comes you make a second mistake. Since you’re under the impression – true or false – that you spent most of the night awake… you hit the snooze button. The effect of sleeping-in? You fool your brain into thinking that the night is still going on. Your biological clock is already delayed, and now you teach your brain into delaying it even more. Conclusion: going to bed earlier and sleeping-in later are a big no-no because they’ll make the problem worse with every passing night. Don’t do it. Don’t spend that much time in bed. What to do instead? I’ll cover that on the next page – keep reading! 23 What to do when you’re still awake We just saw why it was such a mistake to spend too much time in bed… … Now let me introduce you to a (partial) solution. I didn’t invent it — more astute sleep researchers developed it and tested it in sleep labs. So… what do you do when you’re still awake at 1 am and you have to be up at 7? Try harder to fall asleep? No, we saw already what a bad idea this is. Stay in bed and hope for the best? No, no. Here’s what you do instead: you use what has been called the… “Sleep Reduction Technique” Yes, this is paradoxical. In order to eventually fall asleep more easily and stay asleep through the night, you need to further reduce the time you spend in bed. Contrary to what you may fear, doing this won’t reduce much actual sleep time. But it’ll cut down severely the time spent awake in bed and time spent in superficial, unnecessary sleep. I don’t have the space here to give you all the details on how to make that technique work for you, but here it is in a condensed form: 1- The longer you’ve been awake… There is a phenomenon called “sleep pressure”. For every additional hour you stay awake, this pressure builds up. Now is the time to use that to your advantage. If you have trouble falling asleep, the rule is simple: don’t go to bed until you feel REALLY sleepy. 2- Still awake? Get up! If you’re still awake 30 minutes after lying down, don’t stay there — get up! Don’t worry about the fact that this might ruin your day. Remember that you’re now dedicated to training yourself to sleep on command. For that to occur, your body needs to associate your bed with irresistible sleep… So don’t stay in it if you don’t sleep! Go downstairs and do some boring chores that won’t arouse you too much, like doing the dishes, doing some paperwork. You can also read a book, but avoid any page-turner or you’ll still be there when the morning 24 comes. Doing some light yoga poses or stretches is also a good idea. OR, better yet… if you have the SleepTracks Sleep Optimization Program Sit up straight in a chair in your living room, close your eyes and listen to the Insomnia Buster track or the Fall Asleep track (both included with the program), or even the Healing track that you get 7 days after your purchase… and resist falling asleep! That’s right. Resist falling asleep. Just put your awareness on the pulses and let your body relax. This “mind trick” will make it harder and harder for you to not sleep. You’ll soon feel so drowsy you’ll really long for your bed. Then — and only then! — is it a good idea to give in to the urge and go back to bed. 3- Don’t sleep-in the next morning! Even if you went to bed later than usual, don’t try to make up for it by sleeping-in the next morning! Wake up at your usual time and proceed with your day. The first few days, you’re likely to go to sleep considerably later than you’re used to, and since you’ll wake up at the same time than before, you’ll most likely to feel quite tired in the morning. But now you know that it’s no big deal, and you won’t be overly concerned about that. You can take short, 20 minute naps during the day if you want — mastering the art of taking these short, ultra restorative naps can boost your overall productivity and energy level tremendously. I strongly recommend you learn to integrate them into your life. (Again, let me point out that part 5 of the Optimal Sleep course is entirely devoted to that topic…) Give your body a few days to catch up on the fact that you’re now not spending more time in bed than what’s absolutely necessary… And very soon he’ll get it and stop wasting time when you lie on that bed. Believe me. I used to need hours before falling asleep. I would say I need about 5-10 minutes now. I’ve stopped labeling myself as “someone who has trouble falling asleep”. You can too! We now have just one last mistake to go through… Are you making this one? 25 Are you living in a cave? To sleep soundly, you need to live fully. What means “living fully” for your body? Two things: 1- Moving around — we saw already in mistake #4 that in order to sleep better and get less tired you first need to tire yourself more. and… 2- Being exposed to natural light. In the Optimal Sleep course, I talk at length about a hormone called melatonin that tells our body when to feel sleepy… and how that hormone is released in the dark and shut off by daylight. In simple terms, it means that: you need to expose your body – your eyes – to a lot of light! Doing so will shut off melatonin during the day, and allow it to be released fully at night. Which will give you… High alertness during the day and deep sleep at night. Isn’t that what you want? Yes, the Sleep Tracks provided with the Sleep Optimization Program are very effective against insomnia. But if you sit on your butt all day in a poorly lit environment, I guarantee you won’t feel as alert as you could during the day, and your sleep will not be as good as it can be when night comes. Because… We were not made to live indoors and sit on our butt all day! many others spend 10 minutes or less outside. Where are you on this scale? Are you overestimating the time you spend outdoors? Be honest here. What happens when you take the subway… then walk indoors until you reach your office… then head back home the same way at the end of the day… and spend the evening in front of the TV? See,. 26 What about your cozy living room? Probably around 20 to 50 lux. Most indoor settings are below 100 lux. When you watch TV, you get about 1 lux. Is this enough? No way. This is like living in a cave. “I feel SAD!”. Winter blues… sounds familiar? How much light do you need? And what to do? You need to expose yourself to full daylight EVERY DAY. At least 30 minutes if it’s sunny outside. More if it’s cloudy. The optimal time of day to expose yourself will vary depending on your sleep problem — whether you have trouble falling asleep, or wake up too early… See key #3 of the Optimal Sleep course for more on that. There are only 2 ways to expose yourself: 1- Get out, go outside… … And don’t bring your sunglasses with you (except if you’re in an extremely bright outdoor setting, like at the beach or in the middle of a sun drenched snow field, where you’ll need some protection). 2- Get a light box… … Artificial light has been used by people suffering from SAD, depression and insomnia for a long time. It has proven to be beneficial and extremely effective. I recommend you try it. Getting into the details of how to choose and use a light box is beyond the scope of this series, but let me offer you two warnings: • Don’t use a light box if you’re manic-depressive. Exposure to artificial light might make you manic. • And beware of blue-light boxes. Blue-light is the last generation of artificial light, and is extremely effective. I would recommend it to you… but I can’t, because some studies showed that exposure to blue-light technology could be potentially dangerous. 27 I hope you enjoyed this report. I sure hope you’ll do something to better your sleep and better your life. This is why I spent time writing this special report and you spent time reading it: to make you realize that you’re not DOOMED to sleeplessness. And to nudge you into taking simple actions that will change how you sleep… and how you live your life and enjoy it to the fullest. Now here’s what I have to offer you: The Fastest Way to Peaceful Sleep is… There are a lot of ways to get to Rome. You can go by car, by plane, by train… you can take this route or that one. Same for personal success… personal growth… great energy… and fantastic sleep. There are many approaches — and some are faster than others. That’s what you’ll love about the SleepTracks Sleep Optimization Program. It gives you an extremely effective, long-lasting, easy, and much FASTER way — through the power of sound — to transform your life by getting rid once and for all of your sleep problems. You see, all societies past and present have used rhytmic sound, voice, and music to alter one’s consciousness, balance the body’s energy centers, and heal diseases. Today’s science (along with digital delivery thanks to the Internet) brings you the possibility to harness the power of sound to re-train your brain to sound sleep… … Without you having to do anything at all! I want you to grasp that you DON’T have to struggle like you’re doing now. You don’t have to resign yourself to lousy sleep and poor energy. You don’t have to keep wasting your life away restless night after restless night. And you can start right now. It’s effective: after just 6 minutes, your brain starts to sync itself with the rhythmic pulses and the subtly modified background music. As the rhythm changes over the course of a session, so does your inner mental state. It’s life-changing and long-lasting: unlike what would happen with sleeping pills, it won’t stop working after a few weeks. On the contrary, training your brain in this effortless way will create new neural pathways in your brain. That means you won’t have to listen to the Sleep Tracks forever to keep enjoying your renewed sleep abilities. It’s simple: press the play button and close your eyes. Then let yourself be gently guided into zzz land. Forget struggling and banging your head against the wall. It’s fast: you’ll become a “no trouble falling asleep” kind of person much faster and easier than by any other 28 means. Not in some distant future, but starting right now. How long exactly will YOU need? I can’t answer, because it varies too much from person to person. Someone will notice improvements the very first night. Someone else will have to wait a few weeks before noticing real changes in his sleep patterns… But if you’ve been having insomnia for several years, your life CAN change. Here’s what Kevin Ross wrote: " Here’s the question I want to ask you: Have you had enough already of the domino effect your disrupted sleep has on your life? Are you ready to do something healthy and simple to change the situation around and move toward what you really want — sleeping soundly at night and feeling great during the day? Several days ago you stumbled upon this website and decided to take a further look. You were skeptical, you probably still are. Is this for real? Can it be so simple? Please don’t take my word for it. Try the Program for yourself, and see what the fuss is all about. There’s no risk whatsoever since you’re covered by my unconditional 8 Week “Don’t Lose Sleep Over It” money-back guarantee. You’re thrilled with your results or you get a refund, simple as that. 29 5 minutes from now you can get your hands on the full package, without waiting, no matter the time of day, no matter where you live, and receive: 1. A complete re-training of the brain to sound sleep with the Insomnia Buster Track 2. Ease of entry into the night with the Fall Asleep Track 3. Deep, restorative sleep throughout the night with the Whole Night Track 4. Empowering knowledge distilled in the “Optimal Sleep: 5 Keys to Restful Sleep And Peak Energy” multimedia course 5. And a “Fast Start Guide” to start reaping the benefits right away. What to Do Now You know the saying: if you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting the same results. I can help you, but only if you make the first step. Go there right now and... Start Your Risk-Free Trial See you on the other side! Yan Muckle P.S. Are you still sitting on the fence, thinking that the SleepTracks program can’t really help you? Here are some of the customer success stories we receive all the time: 30 Endorsements from Health Professionals “I am a chiropractor and have struggled for the past month with insomnia so bad that some nights I did not sleep at. I have burned your tapes onto a disc, yet have been unable to upload to my i-pod. [Note: Dean had to burn the tracks on CDs himself because I wasn’t offering to ship the CDs at that time.] Anyway, I have been listening to tapes as instructed and so far I am very pleased. I even gave your web-site to a patient. Sincerely,” Dr. Dean Janssen, chiropractor, Middletown, Rode Island Janssen Family Chiropractic “After spending thousands of dollars on sleep studies, your CD’s are the best thing I have found!” 31 “I was only getting four hours of sleep on a good night, and was waking up throughout each night with difficulty falling back to sleep. After spending thousands of dollars on sleep studies, CPAP machine, and behavioral treatment for insomnia, your CD’s are the best thing I have found. I have now used the insomnia buster and the whole night tracks for 5 consecutive nights. This past night was my best night ever where I slept soundly for 61/2 hours with no waking up during the night. Thank you so much.” Sharon Stein McNamara, Ed.D., Shoreview, Minnesota Licensed Psychologist Customers Success Stories “I was a bit skeptical at first and didn’t know what I was getting myself into” . 32 "I definitely feel like I am sleeping better" "I just wanted to tell you that I have definitely seen some results from using your SleepTracks system. I have only been using them for a few days and can already tell a difference. I am actually having dream sleep which I haven't had, that I know of, in ages. I definitely feel like I am sleeping better. I am so glad I came across this product. Thank you so much for making it available to me." Sherry Tilson, Tennessee "I want to shout it from the rooftops because I finally feel so good" "First I want to tell you how thrilled I am about my sleeping. I struggled with insomnia for years on and off but it really got debilitating within the last year. I tried everything that I don't need to list here because you know what the other methods entail. My Mom found your web site online. I was skeptical at first since it sounded like a mild attempt at addressing a serious problem. I have to tell you that the money-back guarantee is what really sold me on trying it. The first night that I listened to the tracks I thought "Oh yeah right, this is supposed to be relaxing??" 33 Yet I woke up feeling as if I had slept much deeper than I had in months. It took about 2 weeks but I'm now in a really great sleep pattern. I wouldn't quite call it normal but it is incredible compared to how I was (not) sleeping before. I want to shout it from the rooftops because I finally feel so good. In fact I have been passing on your information to everyone I talk to." Meagan Novara, Berkeley, IL Read MANY more success stories here 34 Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is brainwave entrainment? Here. What's in it for you? Well, years of research have shown that brainwaves can also be stimulated to actually change a person's current state. This is what brainwave entrainment is all about — more on that below. Q: How Do the Sleep Tracks Work? A: The Sleep Tracks are designed to influence the electrical activity going on in your brain in the form of brainwaves. It's meant to "entrain" them. How so? By the same process that is an example. These images show in 3D the electrical activity in somebody's brain, as measured by an electroencephalograph (it's just another way to render the same thing as the other graph I showed you). 35 Even though it has been around only since the 80's, today many doctors, professionals in the areas of psychology and neurology and institutional clinics rely on brainwave entrainment technology to train, empower and treat people for a wide variety of issues. It has proved particularly effective at combating insomnia and re-training the brain to sleep deeply and naturally. Here are a few sleep-related scientific papers you can reference: • EEG correlates of sleep: Evidence for separate forebrain substrates. Brain Research, 6, 143-163. Sterman, M.B., Howe, R.C., and MacDonald, L.R. • Treating psychophysiologic insomnia with biofeedback. Arch Gen Psychiatry. ;38(7):752-8. Hauri, P. •". Most will use an older and less effective way of stimulating the brain (have you ever heard of "binaural beats"?), but that isn't the biggest problem. As you already know, sleep disorders can have many causes and take many forms. And even if those merchants would like you to ignore it, one single brainwave entrainment session is NOT going to put an end to all kinds of insomnia. 36 I have done the research, and I know it won't. The hard truth is, there's no such thing as a panacea. This is why I included in the Program not one, not two, but three different sessions to make sure your personal sleep problem is addressed and taken care of. Q: Is this as easy as taking a pill? A: Hmmm... Nothing on earth is as easy as popping a pill -- that's why pills manufacturers make so much money. But where did taking sleeping pills led you? Was this a real solution? Of course not. Benzodiazepines and other sleep medications are very dangerous drugs, and they most probably only worsened your situation by messing up completely with your natural sleep patterns. The Sleep Optimization Program I've devised for you is a REAL solution that is both healthy and safe, and that will have long-lasting effects. If that is what you really want, then I suggest you give the Program a try. To really benefit from it, you'll have to listen to the Sleep Tracks audio sessions as advised, and implement a few of the suggestions that you'll learn about in the Optimal Sleep course and that apply to your particular situation. That includes questioning some of your assumptions around sleep, and maybe even changing some of your attitudes and habits. You won't be alone though. So the real question is: are you ready to banish insomnia from your life once and for all, so you can consistently sleep well and enjoy life? If not, then please don't waste your time (and mine). Keep looking for a magic pill that will transform you without you having to do or change anything in your life... and come back here when you're ready. I'm in no hurry... only you know the price you're currently paying by staying in this rut, and only you can decide if you've had enough of it. Q: How long will it take before I get results? A: Everyone is different, so results may vary. Many people start to see changes in the first few days. But even though your brain will be conditioned from the very first day, it might take a few weeks before you see big, marked improvements. Training your brain is like exercise: if you exercise every day you'll see differences after some time. Implementing the suggestions found in Optimal Sleep will also greatly accelerate your getting results. Q: Is it safe to order online? A: Extremely safe if you buy from reputable sources. You will either purchase through Clickbank or Paypal. Paypal doesn't need any presentation... As for Clickbank - they are a trusted online retailer specializing in digitally delivered products. They serve over 10,000 online vendors, and their system is as secure as can be. SleepTracks' security measures are also reviewed and certified DAILY by Trust-Guard and McAfee's ScanAlert, two independent leading security authorities. Q: I take sleeping pills right now. Is it safe to use your program? 37 A: Yes. While they may give you some temporary relief, sleeping pills are a poison you must absolutely remove from your life as soon as possible. These medications have important side effects, and have severely disrupted the sleep system of so many people that it's everything but funny. Using the Sleep Tracks will help you regain sound sleep and transition smoothly to a drug-free life... but I don't recommend that you stop cold turkey. Withdrawal effects can sometimes be stronger when you stop abruptly. The solution is to reduce very progressively while listening every night to the Sleep Tracks. Ask your physician to develop a progressive tapering-off plan with you. What you'll learn in the Optimal Sleep course will also help you. If you've been taking sleep meds for a long time, be aware that your body will need some time (it varies quite a lot from person to person) to rid itself of the toxic residues, and your brain will also need some time to realign itself. So you'll need to be patient with yourself and view the whole thing as a gradual process. Just remember that there IS light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not that far away., 38: If you purchase the Premium Edition, any CD player will do. If you purchase the Digital Edition,: I'm over 60. Am I too old to get results? 39 A: Not at all. In Key #2 of the Optimal Sleep course, I explain why older people have sleep problems, and what they can do about it. You CAN regain quality sleep whatever your age.. Additionally, binaural beats require the use of headphones, and isochronic tones do not. Q: What if it doesn't work for me? A: You won't find any insomnia solution that will work for 100% of people... And that is why I provide a 60 days "Don't lose sleep over it" full 100% guarantee. It goes like this (and there is no fine print):. ** Start Your Risk-Free Trial Now ** 40 About the author Yan Muckle is the founder of SleepTracks.com and the developer of the SleepTracks Sleep Optimization Program. As a writer, he has published two books and numerous feature magazine articles (all in french) on a wide range of topics, many of them health-related. He lives in Quebec City with his wife and daughter. Altough he suffered from insomnia for over 20 years, he now sleeps like a baby. The SleepTracks Sleep Optimization Program has been offered exclusively online since April of 2007. Since that time, despite an unexisting marketing budget, it has helped thousands of people from all over the world to wave insomnia goodnight, get rid (or avoid) sleep medications and get their life back. It is now ranked as the #1 sleep and insomnia solution to be sold only through the Internet, as ranked by the Clickbank online marketplace. Have questions? You can reach Yan and his team here. 41 Pages to are hidden for "Sleep Report"Please download to view full document

Patent application title: HIGH TEMPERATURE SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS Inventors: Sheldon M. Jeter (Atlanta, GA, US) Hany Abdulrahman M. Al-Ansary (Riyadh, SA) Assignees: King Saud University IPC8 Class: AF03G600FI USPC Class: 6064111 Class name: Utilizing natural heat solar with elevated structure Publication date: 2011-09-01 Patent application number: 20110209475 Abstract:. Claims: 1. A system comprising a heat engine power conversion system (heat engine) with a fluid working medium, the heat engine comprising: a first input for heated high temperature tolerant particles (heated particles) from a solar energy collection and distribution component operatively coupled to the heat engine; a second input for the working fluid medium; and a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the heated particles to the working fluid medium implementing a power cycle in the heat engine. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat engine power conversion system is an open or closed cycle gas turbine engine. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar energy collection and distribution component comprises a central receiver power tower including a point focus solar concentrator 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the high temperature tolerant particles are sand particles. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid medium is a gas. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger transfers heat to the working fluid medium by moving the heated particles over an internal tube bundle containing the working fluid medium 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises an upper pass and a lower pass U-tube design, the U-tube design to transfer heat from the heated particles to the working fluid medium in counter flow to energize a power cycle and drive a shaft of the heat engine 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a multiple pass cross flow tubular exchanger of counter flow design that moves heated particles outside tubes containing the working fluid medium moving in counter flow to energize a power cycle and drive a shaft of the heat engine. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat engine further comprises a recuperator to recover and use heat from turbine exhaust to preheat compressed working fluid medium. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat engine further comprises a return for cooled particles of the high temperature tolerant particles to the solar energy collection and distribution component for reheating and subsequent distribution to the heat engine. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat engine is operatively coupled to one or more processing units to direct at least a subset of operations associated with the solar collection and distribution component, storage and access to heated particles to/from thermal energy storage for input into the heat engine, and operations of the heat engine. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar energy collection and distribution component implements thermal energy storage (TES) by storing the heated particles prior to input into the heat engine to energize heat engine power cycles. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the TES is an insulated pit or insulated silo. 14. A method at least partially implemented by a computing device operatively coupled to a high temperature solar thermal system, the method comprising: concentrating solar radiation to heat granules ("heated particles"); communicating the heated particles to an energy conversion engine that uses a working fluid medium to energize a gas turbine power cycle; compressing the working fluid medium to generate compressed gas; transferring heat from the heated particles in proximal relationship to a tube array containing the compressed gas to create a power cycle in the energy conversion engine; responsive to the power cycle, driving a shaft in the energy conversion engine. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the concentrating and the communicating are implemented by a solar energy collection and distribution component comprising a central receiver power tower including a point focus solar concentrator 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the heated particles are sand particles. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the transferring further comprises rotating a radial component to move the heated particles through a heat exchanger and over an internal tube bundle containing the working fluid medium. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the heat exchanger comprises an upper pass and a lower pass U-tube design. 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the distributing further comprises storing the heated particles in thermal energy storage. 20. A system for power production, the system comprising: high quality energy production such as the production of electric or mechanical power comprising a solar energy collector means for heating solid particles; thermal energy storage means for receiving and storing heated solid particles; heat transfer means for transfering heat from heated solid particles received from the solar energy collector or from the thermal energy storage to a working fluid medium; and a heat engine energy conversion means responsive to the heat transfer means to implementing a power cycle in a heat engine. Description: RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/295,859, titled "High-Temperature Solar Gas Turbine System," filed on Jan. 18, 2010, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. This patent application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/881,102, filed on Sep. 13, 2010, titled "Systems and Methods of Thermal Energy Storage," and hereby incorporated in its entirely by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] Concentrator Solar Power (CSP) systems are useful for utility scale plants of many megawatts and larger. CSP uses thermal conversion, which can have relatively high efficiency. CSP collects heat, which is easy to store in thermal energy storage systems. A CSP systems may be able to utilize a hydrocarbon or other fuel for back-up power. Conventional CSP systems, however, are limited in efficiency and relatively expensive. For example, one form of CSP is the parabolic trough system. Troughs typically warm heat transfer fluids (HTFs) to moderately high temperatures (generally not much higher than 380 C) and use the resulting heat to energize a conventional extraction-type steam power cycle. Trough collector efficiency is generally around 60% at operating temperature. In this scenario, steam power plant peak conversion efficiency is typically no more than approximately 35%. This combination provides an overall peak solar to electricity efficiency of approximately 21%. This efficiency does considerably exceed that of available photovoltaic (PV) systems and is not especially high. [0003] Compounding the challenge, trough concentrator systems are relatively complex and expensive. Regarding complexity, standard trough concentrator systems generally require a separate heat storage medium such as molten salts for thermal energy storage. A further limitation of conventional CSP systems is that the corresponding steam plant typically requires water-consuming wet cooling towers for heat rejection. This is a potentially prohibitive and generally undesirable feature of conventional CSP system use, for example, in very arid regions. SUMMARY . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures, in which the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items or features. [0007] FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating an exemplary high temperature solar gas turbine system including a central receiver power tower as a source of collected solar heat, according to one embodiment. [0008] FIGS. 2 is a cross section of an exemplary sand shifter heat exchanger transferring heat from solar heated granules to air or other gas (i.e., a working fluid) to energize the power cycle of the energy conversion unit, according to one embodiment. [0009] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view of an exemplary sand shifter, according to one embodiment. [0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic of an exemplary high temperature solar gas turbine, according to one embodiment. [0011] FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of an exemplary high temperature solar gas turbine operatively coupled to a data processing system, according to one embodiment. [0012] FIG. 6 is an exemplary procedure for a high-temperature solar gas turbine, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview [0013] Systems and methods for high temperature solar thermal systems and methods are described. These systems and methods are related to the field of concentrator solar power, and more particularly related to high temperature solar thermal energy collection, conversion, and storage. The systems and methods utilize sand or equivalent high temperature tolerant particles for thermal energy collection and storage median coupled to a heat engine system with a fluid working medium. Since high temperature tolerant particles are used as a thermal collection and storage medium, thermal energy storage may be provided by storing the hot solar-heated sand in an insulated pit or silo. [0014] In one implementation, the system also includes a central receiver power tower (CRPT) or other equivalent point-focus-concentrator, as an energy collection subsystem and a gas turbine (or other similar heat engine cycle that uses a fluid working medium) as the power conversion subsystem. The gas turbine may be open or closed cycle, but in any case, it does not require wet cooling and may be relatively inexpensive compared with any steam or vapor cycle. The CRPT is operatively coupled to the energy conversion system (e.g., the gas turbine) by a suitable heat exchanger. In one exemplary implementation, the heat exchanger is a sand shifter that substantially efficiently and effectively transfers heat from the hot sand to the air (or other gas) used as the working fluid in the system's gas turbine. The sand shifter includes an Archimedes screw conveyor to transport sand over an internal tube bundle, which contains the working fluid of the power cycle such as air or helium. The working fluid adsorbs heat from the sand. [0015] Accordingly, the systems and methods include, for example, a high temperature solar thermal converter with a working fluid heated by a heat exchanger from a high temperature solar thermal energy collection and storage system, wherein sand or other particulate material is used for thermal energy collection and storage. This exemplary system provides, independent of water-cooling, substantially high efficiency and capacity for thermal energy storage. High temperature solar thermal systems and methods are now described in greater detail in view of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 6 An Exemplary System [0016] FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating an exemplary high temperature solar thermal system 100, according to one embodiment. In this example, system 100 includes tracking mirrors 110 (e.g., 110-1 and 110-2, etc.) or heliostats focus solar radiation on solar receiver 102 operatively coupled to CRPT 104, which is operatively coupled to gas turbine 106. The receiver 102 and CRPT 104 combination is an energy collection subsystem and the gas turbine is a power conversion subsystem. The gas turbine may be open or closed cycle and does not require wet cooling. In this example, the energy collection medium used by system 100 is sand or other granular material. Use of such granular particles as an energy collection and storage medium substantially obviates use of generally expensive heat transfer fluids and associated temperature limitations. Solar receiver 102 directly heats the energy collection and storage medium. In one implementation, solar receiver 102 is a volumetric receiver. In one implementation, System 100 stores the high temperature heated granules into thermal energy storage 108 (e.g., an insulated pit or silo), for example, via conduit/path 112 for storage and subsequent conversion of the stored heat to power. A heat exchanger such as a sand shifter (described below) transfers heat from the heated granules to air or other gas used as the working fluid in the gas turbine to operate the gas turbine. [0017] In one implementation, system 100 includes more than a single solar receiver 102 directly heating the energy collection and storage medium. [0018] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate exemplary aspects of a sand shifter heat exchanger transferring heat from solar heated granules to air or other gas (i.e., a working fluid) providing combustion to the system's energy conversion unit, according to one embodiment. More particularly, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary cross section view of a sand shifter heat exchanger to pick up samples of high temperature solar heated granules via longitudinal vanes for pouring over a tube bundle, according to one embodiment. As shown, the device is a rotating cylindrical drum 200 with an internal helical vane 204 and an array of longitudinal vanes (e.g., vane 202) along the inner shell of the drum. In this example, a longitudinal bane 202 includes cap end features to scoop up granular material (e.g., sand) for pouring over a tube bundle 206. In one implementation, the drum (e.g., 208 represents the outer shell of the drum) and its helical vane represent an internal Archimedes screw for a lift pump to move granular materials. The Archimedes screw vane pushes the granular material along the length of the drum as the basis for the heat exchanger. [0019] In one embodiment, the drum of the Archimedes screw has longitudinal vanes (e.g., vane 202) that scoop up heated granular material to lift and pour it over heat exchanger tubes 206. In this example, scooped sand is carried from a longitudinal vane over the tube bundle 206, the poured/deposited sand subsequently flowing in a zigzag pattern through the tube bundle, and thereby exchanging heat with the working fluid in the tubes (i.e., heat transfer from the heated granular material to the working fluid). In combination, the helical vane pushes the granular material (e.g., "sand" for purposes of discussion) along the length of the drum while the longitudinal vanes continuously pour the sand over the fixed heat transfer tubes. The tubes 206 contain the working fluid of the power cycle such as air or helium. The working fluid adsorbs heat from the solar heated sand to energize the power cycle. In this exemplary implementation, the potentially abrasive granular material is effectively transferred without substantially grinding the sand between solid surfaces, and thereby reducing appreciable wear on system components. In one implementation, the heat exchanger is substantially enclosed in insulation 210. [0020] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary longitudinal section view of a sand shifter heat exchanger to pick up samples of high temperature solar heated granules via longitudinal vanes for pouring over a tube bundle, according to one embodiment. As illustrated, FIG. 3 shows the heat exchanger 200 with insulation 210 substantially insulating the outer shell of the drum 208. Solar heated granules such as sand picked up by longitudinal vanes 202 and poured over the heat exchanger tube bundle 206. Heated sand granules poured over the heat exchanger tubes are represented by 302-1. The solar heated granules are continually pushed along the bottom of the drum (e.g. represented by sand 302-2) by the helical vane 204 for picking up, as discussed above, by the longitudinal vanes 202 and pouring over the tube bundle 206. [0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic of an exemplary high temperature solar gas turbine 106 and its associated thermodynamic cycle, according to one embodiment. Heat exchange and storage granules (represented by respective ones of horizontal lines such as 402-1 through 402-N) of FIG. 4 are heated by receiver 102 (FIG. 1) operatively coupled to CRPT 104 solar heat collector. At 404 hot sand is input into the solar gas turbine 106. At 406, air or gas (a working fluid) is input into compressor 408, wherein it is compressed. In one implementation, there is compressor output 410 to a recuperator 412 for preheating before being pushed in proximity with the lower sand shifter pass 414 to the cold end (to the right). The compressed gas, contained in numerous small diameter tubes is heated in counter flow by the hot sand in the lower sand shifter 414. In this example, cooled sand 416 is removed from the turbine 106 via linear conveyor 418. [0022] In one embodiment, the heat exchanger (e.g., heat exchanger portions 414, 415 (carrying hot sand), and 420) is designed with a U-tube design to allow thermal expansion of the tubes. The hot high-pressure gas enters the turbine 421 into the upper sand shifter pass 420 and expands producing shaft power to drive the compressor 408 and the generator 422 for electric energy production. In one implementation, the turbine exhaust 424 may then possibly pass through a recuperator 412 to preheat the compressed gas. Finally, the gas may be exhausted, in an open cycle using air, or alternatively cooled, in a closed cycle possibly using helium, to complete the cycle. With typical component performance parameters and the expected gas temperatures, the gas turbine cycle should be able to reach the reasonably high efficiencies. [0023] FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of an exemplary high temperature solar gas turbine, according to one embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, upper 502 and lower 504 portions of the sand shifter passes constitute a U-tube design allowing free thermal expansion of heated heat exchange components. At 506, air or gas is input into the compressor 508. The generator is represented by reference label 510; label 512 represents a recuperator; and label 514 represents turbine exhausting true recuperator. Label 516 represents compressed air into between heated by hot sand and sand shifter; lower pass from compressor. Label 518 represents an upper pass after a U-turn to the turbine 520. Label 522 represents a conveyor to return sand to a solar receiver for solar heating, and reference label 524 represents low-temperature sand returning to the power tower (e.g., 104 of FIG. 1). Reference label 526 represents input of hot sand from the power tower into the high temperature gas turbine 106. Reference label 528, referring to the right trending arrow, represents hot sand in counter flow to compressed air in the upper portion of the sand shifter/heat exchanger. An Exemplary Processing Unit [0024] In one embodiment, the high-temperature gas turbine 106 is operatively coupled to a data processing system 530 to facilitate the described operations of the gas turbine and system 100. The data processing system is a computing device that may be used to direct the various procedures described herein, for example, those associated with operations of system 104 high temperature solar thermal systems and methods. The computing device may be embedded and/or can function as a server, a client, a worker node, or any other computing entity. Alternatively, the systems and procedures described herein can be implemented in hardware, or a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. For example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) can be programmed to carry out one or more of the systems and procedures described herein. [0025] In one implementation, computing device 530 includes one or more processor(s) 532, one or more memory device(s) 534, one or more interface(s) 536, and one or more Input/output (I/O) device(s) 538. In one implementation, the computing device is operatively coupled to a display device (not shown). Processor(s) 802 include one or more processors or controllers that execute instructions stored in memory device(s) 534 and/or mass storage device(s) (not shown) operatively coupled to the computing device. Processor(s) 532 may also include various types of computer-readable media, such as cache memory. [0026] Memory device(s) 534 include various computer-readable media, such as volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM)) and/or nonvolatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM)) and system memory comprising computer-program modules and program data. Computer-program modules include computer program instructions executable by the processor to perform and/or direct at least a subset of the operations described herein to operate aspects of system 100. Computer program modules and data may reside at various times in different storage components of the computing device and/or in components operatively coupled thereto, and are executed by processor(s) 532. Memory device(s) 534 may also include rewritable ROM, such as Flash memory. Mass storage device(s) include various computer readable media, such as magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, optical disks, solid state memory (e.g., Flash memory), and so forth. Various drives may also be included in mass storage device(s) to enable reading from and/or writing to the various computer readable media. Mass storage device(s) include removable media and/or non-removable media. [0027] Interface(s) 536 include various interfaces that allow computing device 530 to interact with other systems, devices, or computing environments. Example interface(s) include any number of different network interfaces, such as interfaces to local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), wireless networks, and the Internet. Other interfaces include a user interface and peripheral device interfaces. I/O device(s) 538 include various devices that allow data and/or other information to be input to or retrieved from computing device 530. Example I/O device(s) 810 include cursor control devices, keyboards, keypads, microphones, voice-recognition, monitors or other display devices, speakers, printers, network interface cards, modems, lenses, and/or so on. An Exemplary Procedure [0028] FIG. 6 is an exemplary procedure 600 for a high-temperature solar gas turbine, according to one embodiment. Operations of block 602 concentrate solar radiation to heat granular particles such as sand to a high-temperature. Operations of block 604 communicate the particles to energy conversion engine such as a high-temperature gas turbine. Operations of block 606 compress working fluid (e.g., air or helium) of the energy conversion engine. Operations of block 608 transfer heat from the particles in proximity relationship to a tube array containing the compressed gas. The heat transfer causes expansion of the compressed gas and energizes a power cycle in the energy conversion engine. Operations of block 610, responsive to the power cycle, drive a shaft in the energy conversion engine to perform work. Alternate Embodiments [0029] Although high temperature solar thermal systems and methods have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological operations or actions, it is understood that the implementations defined in the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described. Accordingly, the specific features and operations of the described systems and methods are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed subject matter. Patent applications by Sheldon M. Jeter, Atlanta, GA US Patent applications by King Saud University Patent applications in class With elevated structure Patent applications in all subclasses With elevated structure User Contributions: Comment about this patent or add new information about this topic:

A few kitchen related things we find difficult: Peeling and chopping pumpkins. Cleaning our juicer (it’s not that difficult, but it’s the most boring thing on earth). Sharpening our knives. Keeping our pantry from turning into chaos (this is impossible because we never close the bags tightly enough and therefore the content of all our 947 bags of nuts, seeds and flours spill out all across the pantry drawer). Poaching eggs. Remembering to shut off the stove after using (David!). Finding good avocados in our supermarket. Buying batteries for our kitchen scale. Writing bread recipes. It is always challenging to write a good easy-to-follow-easy-to-cook recipe. But writing a fool proof bread recipe is close to impossible. At least for us. A successfully baked bread depends on so many different factors. The temperature of the ingredients. How finely ground the flour is. If it is baked on a warm day. What kind of yeast is used. How you measure the ingredients. How long and with which force the dough is kneaded. How long it yields for. And so on. It’s complicated. This recipe however, is not complicated at all. It is actually as close to fool proof as we could ever come. Probably because it doesn’t include any flour, grains, dairy or eggs. Divide the bread in half and you see an array of nuts and seeds (and a few raisins). That is what it is made of. Nothing else. And can you believe how incredibly good it tastes. Nutty (of course), wholesome, with a touch of salt and with a slight sweetness from the raisins. We have been baking this quite regularly over the last year. And we are not alone. Recipes similar to this have appeared in media and baking blogs all across world. But it has been particularly popular in Denmark. It’s called Paleo Bread and it seems like half of Denmark have been smitten by the carnivorous, high-protein Paleo diet. As far as we can tell, the man behind the hyped bread is the Danish chef Thomas Rode. He serves it on his Michelin star restaurant Kong Hans in Copenhagen. His version of the bread includes eggs. Our version is egg-free, and also altered in a few other ways. Here we have topped the bread with some homemade quick pickled fennel. It’s a wonderful condiment on a bread, as a side dish, or eaten straight from the jar. Here are some links to a few other bloggers that have discovered the wonderful world of flour-free nut breads. Nut & Seed Bread from A Tasty Love Story. The gorgeous Life changing Loaf from My New Roots. And these Savory Pecan Biscuits from Ro. Quick pickled fennel 1 fennel bulb, trimmed 2 inches fresh ginger, peeled zest from 1/2 organic lemon, sliced 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar 3 tbsp honey, prefereble unheated (raw) 12 tbsp water 1. Slice the fennel and ginger as thinly as you can and place in a glass jar. 2. Add slices of lemon zest and rosemary and combine. 3. In a separate bowl mix together vinegar, honey and water and pour into the jar. 4. Seal and place in fridge for at least an hour. Keeps for up to a week. 116 Comments Wow, that bread must be super-filling! That’s really dense, powerful stuff… would be particularly good as a post-exercise snack. This looks gorgeous!!! Looks so yummy! Will definitely be making this very soon!! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful recipes x Ser så vackert ut! har aldrig testat att baka utan mjöl, det här blir en utmaning :) I fell hard for Sarah B’s Life Changing Bread. This bread sounds similar so I know I’ll love it! Love the idea of adding chopped chocolate. After years of not caring for it, I am suddenly reveling in chocolate everything! Thanks for another great post! I have been baking Sahah Britton’s bread for weeks now, delicious stuff! I like that your recipe requires everything in the same quantities – easy to remember and no need to use scales (battery run out about 2 weeks ago), everything straight out of the packet! Great snack for the weekend! Looks great – have you tried a dehydrated version? Like several others I’ve made Sarah’s life changing loaf of bread and absolutely adored it. But I’m always keen on new recipes and can’t wait to try this! Oh, that looks/sounds super yummy! Will it work with olive oil or butter instead of the coconut oil? Yes that will work just fine. Happy baking. Oh my yum!! These are packed with so much nutty goodness!! This looks like a great recipe thanks for sharing. I’m wondering how dense it tastes/feels since it is so full of nutty and seed goodness. I made a paleo avocado bread once which is always popular when I make it. It’s amazing what you can achieve without grains or gluten! Did you know, that putting your hard avocado in a big with apples make them turn ripe very quickly? I do it all the time, as it’s impossible to find good ones here as well… also bananas work the same in ripping an avocado. FYI Looking forward to trying this! The photos are gorgeous! I make Sarah’s bread, it did change my life!! Thank you for sharing! What a beautiful post! Wow, it`s look very yummy! I will to try your recipe i really really like this one – its the fennel pickled, we love pickled vege but never thought of pickled fennel. Does it actually soften like cabbage etc? I will find out eventually, thanks for sharing, so good can’t wait. Also cant wait for…recipe book to arrive anyday now in post! at last i ordered it! so excited to be able to cook your foods from a book and not have laptop balancing on top of bowl of oranges trying not to get watered by tap. I am VERY excited, thankyou for taking time to make it into a book, it has always felt so awkward cooking from a computer. And last thing – thankyou for your juicer confessions- makes me feel a bit better about our own lazy juicing cleanups. And if you ever visit Australia come and visit us in Bellingen – Best organic avocados in the country! xx C One more thing – about the chilli sin carne, did you guys make that recipe up? Or is it general practice to put some chocolate in from chilli con carne origins??? it’s so fun to tell the children that there is chocolate in the mix! They go all silly when i tell them and think that i am playing a game with them! i am a little puzzled as to why there is chocolate in the mix – though perhaps if i had it without i would find out why – anyway, our family and the next door neighbours all think its wonderful to have chocolate in our burritos :-) (not to mention the coook gets the excess from the bar) xxxx Yes- the original chili con carne has cacao powder in it :) It does make a difference also in the chili sin carne! I can’t wait to make your Paleo bread it looks delicious! Would you have any suggestions about how to modify the recipe to be ‘nut free’ because my children can’t eat nuts. Also, I have just received your awesome cookbook this week in Sydney, Australia and I can’t stop cooking from it. My favourite morning recipe this week has been the blueberry and banana pancakes my children just love them! Congratulations you are both so talented. Thank you for yet another inspiring recipe! I discovered an extra added bonus which can’t be underestimated: The kids absolutely loved helping to make this bread – the gooey jelly of the phillium husks was the highlight of their day! I am just writing to say hi! I have discovered your blog a few weeks ago and I looove it! Your photos are beautiful and your recipes all seem so good. Plus it helps me practicing my english (I’m sorry but I may make mistakes when I write because french is my first language!). Please don’t stop sharing your talents with us xo oh! and I forgot to say that I am a reader from a small town near Montreal so hi! from Quebec, Canada xo Wow, I love this. And those photos! Gorgeous. Yum. Love Sarah’s life changing bread as well, so this must be a hit. And pickled fennel – that sure is gonna be a favorite since fennels is so close to my heart. Yet another inspiring post – tack!! I made this bread yesterday and it’s great. Real easy to prepare, tasty and topped with whatever it’s good. Thanks for your wonderful recipes and site. Hi, So glad I stumbled upon your website. I haven’t seen this bred before and looking forward to trying it. I miss bread….. Emx I made them – absolutely delicious! I added a little fresh rosemary which I love with raisins. Thanks guys x I have never seen anything like that ever in my life. Love it! I’m going to try this as the seeds must taste amazing. Great post. Awesome. I made the lifechanging loaf of bread youblink to and it was delicious. I think I will make your version pretty soon too, it looks so nice! I made and I liked it. the only thing is might turned out way too salty. next time will definety add only 1 tsp of sea salt Wow! So many colors ans so healty! It looks divine! This reminds me of a Mexican candy made of amaranth, called Alegría. Here is a picture one: Love the look of this, so glad I came across it because I’ve never even tried fennel but always wanted to. Going to try this at the weekend :) Hi, I really like to try out this recipe, but since my first language is Dutch I find trouble in translating ‘husks powder’ ;) Can you please explane what this stuff is? Greetings from Holland! Hi Stefanie, I don’t know what it is called in Dutch, but in German it’s called Flohsamenschalen. Hopefully that can help? You can also read more about it on wikipedia:-) Happy baking! Hi Stefanie, in Dutch it’s called ‘Vlozaad’, you can buy it at several organic stores in the Netherlands, good luck! Stefani, it’s the same word. Ik denk dat je bij de betere drogist dit wel kan krijgen :) Wonderful! I tried the “life-changing bread” with coconut flour and almond meal in place of the oats, and found it a challenge to slice. The slices fall apart too easily, which makes a terrible mess in the toaster. I will try your version and report back — love the idea of baking it in muffin tins. Brilliant recipe! I love an alternative bread recipe because bread baking can seem so laborious sometimes. Also, as mentioned above more than once, it looks stunning too. You sure made some good looking bread!!! I made Sarah’s “Life changing loaf” back awhile ago, which was delicious, now I must try your version soon. It will go great with your colorful “Vegetable Ceviche”, which we have been enjoying twice already with nectarines first and last night with ripe peaches from a local farm nearby. It’s just the perfect dish on a summer night. You guys are the bests!!! XO That sounds amazing Ketmala!! Thank you. xx Luise Lovely! I wish this kind of bread could be my go-to bread. I’ve made Sarah’s version a few times but I get quite severe stomach cramps if I eat more than one slice per day. Maybe it’s just me, and I will try your version too. I recommend grating an apple or a couple of carrots into the batter/dough, makes the bread more moist and tastes great. Hi Lisa, Hope this bread will work for you. Try letting the mixture soak for as long as possible, that makes it easier to digest. I too love grated veggies in the bread, try beetroot or zucchini as well. Happy baking Luise This looks so hearty and delicious! Hej! I can’t wait to make this bread! However, I seem to have developed an aversion to flax as of late, does the original version use eggs in place of these and would it work? My mom has an overabundance of from eggs and I have them on hand… Tak! Love your beautiful blog! Hej Kelly Moe. Flax is not an essential ingredient in this recipe, you can sub all kinds of seeds and/or nuts of your choice. The psyllium husks powder + water can be replaced with 5 eggs. Happy baking Luise How do you make complicated looking stuff look so easy :) This looks sooo yummy Hi Luise, Tanks a lot for this recipe, I’ve tried it yesterday, combining all the nuts and seeds I had at home and I love the rich nutty flavor of it. However, I can still feel the jelly texture of the psyllium once it’s baked and I dont really like the feeling. So here are my questions: 1- could it be because I didn’t wait long enough (a little less than 2 hours before oven)? 2- if I soak the nuts for a couple of hours before, do you think it will work to put only half of the psyllium gel and still get a good result? 3- have you tried to replace psyllium with ripe bananas or avocados? What do you think? Thanks a lot for your answer! Julie It’s looks weird, where this bread ? :D Only nuts and seeds. I wonder if you could clarify the consistency of the dough after the 1-hour rest? Mine was definitely not “pourable” as the instructions suggest — it was more of a scoop-and-pack process to fill the muffin tins. (They’re in the oven as I type, so we’ll see!) I did make a couple of substitutions that do have an impact on the moisture content of the dough (used a bit of coconut flour and almond flour in place of the sesame seeds) so I’d like to know the target consistency so I can adjust the amount of water I add next time. Thank you for your time and the recipe! Hi Camille, The mixture will be jelly-like after soaking. Flours soak a lot more water than seeds and nuts, so you probably have to add more water. Hope it will turn out good Best Luise Thank you for your reply! They turned out really really well, despite the water thing. They slice easily and were delicious for breakfast with cashew butter and honey. I did find them to be too salty for my taste, so will probably cut back to 1 1/2 tsp salt next time. And I’ll add more water to see the difference, because the consistency was definitely not jelly-like for mine. Thanks for the great recipe! Yes, yes, yes!! I want to try this Paleo Bread right now! Seems like it would make for the most perfect breakfast bread (: THANK YOU! I made and I love love love it. It is super easy and really delicious. I even bought a muffin pan today, just so I can make it again. The first time I used a pie dish and it worked well – I baked it for about 40 minutes. I just made them and they are absolutely delicious! I tasted one with honey and it’s a fantastic snack. Going to have them tomorrow for breakfast with some fresh greens and mushrooms. Thank you for the recipe! These look soooo yummy. I like the fact you keep it really simple too, that’s how I work best lol Just made the bread and it’s delicious! But my dough wasn’t “pourable” either, and the finished bread is a bit wet and feels like it’s going to fall apart (though it doesn’t). Maybe it’s because I used psyllium husks (not whole psyllium seeds) instead of psyllium husk powder? Anyway, it still tastes great! Thanks! So I gave this a try and while my first efforts looked dismal at best I loved it. I’ve made it a few times now and it’s a hit among a few of my friends. Ragazzi è un pane fantastico! Insolito, ma molto saporito. Inoltre possono essere messi “semi” diversi. In più è senza glutine, perfetto per noi. Grazie. Mi permetto di farlo conoscere tra i miei pochi lettori. Grazie, Jè It ‘a fantastic bread! Unusual, but very tasty. They can also be placed “seeds” different. Plus, it’s gluten-free, perfect for us. Thank you. Allow me to make it known among my few readers. Thank you, Jè (by google) :P Grazie Mille Jè:-) Hello! Thank you for such a beautiful recipe and photos! I have been eyeing it for what seems like ages. :) However, I finally made it yesterday, and apparently did something horribly wrong – I baked it 70min, let it cool, but found it still wet and psyllium slimy inside. So I baked it another 30min, let it cool, and this morning cut into it just to find it still wet and slimy! Any idea what I did wrong?? I did soak all the nuts before beginning the recipe, so they were slightly more moist than dry nuts…? Thanks! Hi Heather, I’ll recommend you not to soak the nuts first next time. Happy baking Luise Thank you! :) Keep up the fantastic work! These were amazing. To my batch of muffins I added tasted coconut flakes, cinnamon, and vanilla powder. *^^* Thanks for the great recipe! Toasted (auto check >.<) PS add in less salt! This looks wonderful and oh-so-timely! I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and there is a local blogger here, Michelle Tam of Nom Nom Paleo, whose site has gotten me very interested in trying a vegetarian version of the Paleo diet. Have you heard of her? She linked to a recipe of yours not too long ago, and I was excited to see that she has such nice things to say about your beautiful book! Yours in health, Maxine Hi Maxine, Thank you for comment. Yes, we met Michelle in Las Vegas a few months ago. Great people!! Best Luise This looks really yummy and hearty! What can you sub for raisins if you are not a raisin fan? Can I just leave them out? Hi, Just leave them out or sub for anything you like! Best Luise Mmmm….. Just made it…. Oh my world ;-) Wonderful, thank you guys :-) hey, very wonderful blog. i look forward to buying your book. ok, i made these great muffins and used psyllium husks i had on hand that i ground up to make 2 Tbs of powder. it took quite a bit of the husks to make the powder. too much i fear for the muffins puffed waaay up, but were hollow and filled with a snotty gelatinous goo. o no! question: may i just use 2 Tbs of the husks? thanks Hi Mary, Sorry to hear about the muffins. The powdered psyllium that you buy is a very fine powder. So try using less when using homemade. Maybe also bake a bit longer, temperature varies a lot in different countries and oven brands. Happy baking Luise These look incredible. I made then as mini muffins and cooked them for the same amount of time that you recommend for regular muffins. I also let them sit for an hour first. Unfortunately, they are still slimy in the middle. I noticed a couple of other people had this problem as well. Do you know what I did wrong? Thanks! Hi Shannon, The temperature in ovens varies a lot, so I would try to bake the muffins longer next time. Also powdered psyllium can vary in different countries, maybe use a little less? Best Luise This looks delish! I’ve tried Sarah B’s (@mynewroots) version and it was perfection. I’m thinking yours will be the same :) I can’t wait to try it (especially with DARK CHOCOLATE…mmmm) once the weather cools down here in Canada. Okay I have not been catching up on my lost summer blog reading until now, but so glad I finally did! You guys created wonders as always, so gorgeous! And hey there in the middle was a magic link (oh so proud) thank you for that one!! Enjoy the rest of the summer… Hugs from Dk I love this kind of bread and so I made some muffins last week. I used dried cranberries instead of raisins. An I used two tbsp. of not powdered physillum husks, that worked great too :) At the moment I am eating a muffin with almond butter -hmmm it’s so tasty ;) I was so excited to make these but they turned out horribly. That’s the second vegan recipe gone bad in the past five days. :( I must admit I don’t know where it went wrong because I did everything according to the recipe. They are bitter and salty. This bitterness overtook the taste of nuts and seeds. Perhaps it’s the husks though they’ve never tasted like that before and I even put them in muesli. Either way, I’m disappointed. Looks amazing! I love seedy breads! Kramar! Great recipe! Can I make a big batch of these and freeze the batter then bake it as needed? Thanks so much. Have you ever tried this with the inclusion of chia seeds? I like the idea of it but considering the crazy water adsorbing properties of chias I am thinking I would need to increase the liquid content quite a bit. Do you think I should just keep adding water to the “batter” until I get a literally pourable consistency? For anyone coming across this and considering using chia seeds – I ended up with huge air pockets alternating with gloppiness. They looked real purty before I cut into them LOL!!! I agree strongly with those advising to use half the salt. I am wondering if soaked chia or flax can be used in place of the psyllium?? I often use them as substitutions for eggs and have never used psyllium. Or is it that the psyllium is a powder that makes this recipe work? I tried making this with chia seeds and just don’t do it LOL!!!! What a gloppy mess. I think that mixing psyllium powder with water creates a powerful gluey bonding agent that makes this recipe work. Chia isn’t at all gluey. This recipe looks gorgeous! Just tried this recipe yesterday, I used cranberries instead and added some rosemary; it was truly amazing! Will this work with fresh fruits and perhaps other nut combo? Hi, this looks so wonderful and delicious. I’m wondering whether I can leave the nuts and seeds whole, as opposed to roughly chopping them in the food processor? I don’t have a food processor but wish to try my hand at this bread. Thanks in advance! Hi Emilye. Sure, you can make the bread without chopping the nuts and seeds in a food processor or you can just coarsely chop them by hand. The result will be better. Happy baking Luise I had the same problems that I’ve read others had in the comments (hollow centers with gooey insides, but I found that if I toasted the muffins in my toaster oven before eating them, the gooey texture disappeared leaving a delicious muffin :) These taste delicious! Though the top did not round like yours.. Did I do something wrong? Try to smooth them out with the back of a spoon. Best Luise I have to admit, I was skeptical that these muffins would taste plain and way to healthy, but I was more than pleasantly surprised! They are sweet without any sugar, and though my “tops” didn’t round, it did not detract from the wonderful, dense, sweet, wholesome deliciousness of these treats! Thank you for your recipes and blogs. They are a joy to read and try. Is psyllium really paleo? Isn’t psyllium a grain? Hi, psyllium is a seed with healing powers;-) Happy baking! Hi there I usually soak nuts and seeds before using, can I do it for this recipe too? Cheers Celine Yes I supose so, and then skip the chopping step. Let me know how it turned out. Best Luise Hi, This looks delicious! But what worries me, I’ve just made the Life changing Loaf and I can’t stand the smell or taste! Very strange as I can eat all the ingredients normally either raw or cooked. The smell was already coming from the loaf baking and to me was very off putting. Then it tasted the same too. I can’t describe it but I went and tasted raw sunflower seeds and chewed them and I guess it could have been that taste but somehow combined with maybe the oil or just in the mixture of the loaf that produced a horrible flavour for me! So, if I’m to make your bread is it the same in smell and taste as that loaf? I appreciate your time in trying to understand what I’m trying to say :) but it’s very weird as I love nuts and seeds but that loaf was a waste of time and money for me which saddens me as it was 100% organic not to mention I was so excited to eat it :( Hi Pia, Check if the oil or nuts you used are rancid. I do not know if the taste or smell are the same, I haven’t tried Sarah’s recipe for life changing loaf. Hope this will turn out good and yummy! Best Luise ok I will try then, thanks Luise. I was worried the bread would not stick together if I actually soak the nuts and seeds.. Will let you know how I get on. Celine Hi David, These are lovely…as everything on Green kitchen these recipes work!…I added goji berries to mine instead of raisins ..thank you for sharing your deliciousness X Hi , quick question about the paleo bread recipe , are the nuts toasted before hand or do yo use raw nuts. thanks gg Hi, the nuts are raw. Happy baking! /David Hello David & Luise & Elsa! I am an avid (and hungry) reader of your blog and currently waiting for your book to be reprinted so that I can order it… (congratulations on such a huge success by the way!) Your recipes inspire us and make us eat better. I tried countless recipes… This one seems fool proof for sure and I tried it yesterday. However, it did not quite turn out like in the pictures. It is a bit crumbly (maybe one needs to stack the mixture more in the muffin cups?) and does not slice well. Maybe I did something wrong in the measurements? I let it soak for a while, maybe 2 or 3 hours and the mixture was a bit dry when I put it in the oven… Or maybe Something wrong in the psyllium jelly / coconut oil ratio? I am puzzled, I really wanted to like this recipe and make it a classic in my home. There must be something wrong with my psyllium!! I have the Indian Sat-Isagbol psyllium… If you have any idea, do not hesitate to enlighten me! :) Just baked these in small muffin versions, and they turned out so amazing! Added raisins like you suggested, and they were perfect. Served them for my family for a saturday afternoon snack, along with some honey and a good Danish cheese. We all loved them! Will be baking again – love how dividable the recipe is as well, as the whole batch gets kind of expensive… Hi, As a strict recipe follower I want to say thank you. I made this into the muffin tin and it worked perfect the amount of times I follow a recipe to the letter and it fails. You have hit the nail on the head and they taste awesome too. Live Simply Mick Made your “paleo bread” over the weekend. (i altered the recipe with apricots instead of raisins, and only had cashews, almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds – still came out wonderfully.) So, I had a slice just toasted & plain – very good. Next day; a slice toasted with fig butter – Great. Today i had a slice toasted with sliced avocado and salsa – So Great! – thanks again from Cape Cod. Anna, what’s fig butter? It sounds amazing…x I made these today and they turned up great! I followed the recipe to the letter and used muffin tins. They looked exactly like in the picture and taste great. I only added a oinch if cardamon and that works really well too. I used salt as indicated and did not find them salty at all. I used himalayan pink dalt which is definetely less salty than “normal” salt and I suspect the recipe also uses some natural rock salt, which may explain why some found the result too salty. Next time, I want to try a ratio of 3/1 seeds instead of half seeds half nuts, as I don’t tolerate nuts too well. I guess it will work? These were ok, no sweetness at all. pretty unappetizing for a muffin Not officially paleo bread but I was desperate to try these and the local health food store was closed. I substituted the psyllium for 1/4-1/3 C of wholemeal spelt flour, 1 tsp of baking powder and substituted a little of the nuts for cracked wheat. Delicious. Hello! I just discovered your blog and fell in love instantly! I would love to try this since I love all things nutty and seedy but the psyllium husks powder it’s a little hard to find here. Is there anything else I could replace it with? wonderful recipe. i decided to bake one-half of the recipe (i doubled it) and dehydrate one-half of the recipe. i’m really not supposed to have baked or grilled or broiled anything as per my acupuncturist…..so while the baked version does have that toasted nutty wonderful taste, the dehydrated version has more of a chewy texture that is equally wonderful. and plus you get all of the enzymes intact with the dehydrated version. for part of the mix i added fennel seeds and grated apply and some coconut syrup and it was super yum! thanks for your version of this great “bread”! best wishes! pamela oops! i meant to type apple….not apply :)

23.01--William Henry Hamilton, b. 25 Dec 1786, Sumner Co., TN; d. 1872, Pope Co., AR; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.02--Jacob Brown Hamilton, b. 1788, Sumner Co., TN; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.03--Eupha Hamilton, b. 1790, Sumner Co., TN; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.04--Nancy Hamilton, b. 1792, Sumner Co., TN; d. 3 Aug 1851, Saline Co., IL; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.05--Elizabeth Hamilton, b. ca. 1794, Sumner Co., TN; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.06--Thomas Hamilton, b. 1796, Sumner Co., TN; d. bet. 1840-1850, Gallatin Co., Il; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.07--Andrew Jackson Hamilton, b. ca. 1798, Sumner Co., TN; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.08--Patsy Hamilton, b. ca. 1800, Sumner Co., TN; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. 27 Oct 1842 in Gallatin Co., IL, to John P. Clark (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); unk. ch. 23.09--Ann Hamilton, b. ca. 1802, Sumner Co., TN; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.10--Jane Hamilton, b. ca. 1806, Sumner Co., TN; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 23.11--Frederick Hamilton, b. ca. 1810, Sumner Co., TN; d. aft. 1860; bd. unk.; m. Nancy Hampton (b. ca. 1817; d. unk.; bd. unk.); unk. ch. Hamilton Genealogy Children of James and Jane Gwin Hamilton were: Ann, Jane, Elizabeth, Thomas, Polly, James Jr., Robert Jr., Alexander, John, Sally. Four sons, Thomas, James JR., Robert JR., Alexander were in the War of 1812. being in the Tennessee Militia in the years of 1814 and 1815, and all were in the battles of New Orleans. James Jr. drowned in 1857 in Carroll County, Thomas died in 1879 in Carroll County, Jane married James Latimer and moved to Texas in 1833 with Robert and their families. Hamilton's Station, north of Nashville, was a large rock house, surrounded by a high rock fence. It stood for more than a hundred years. A few years ago (1930's) the rock was used for road making in the vicinity." Notes for JAMES HAMILTON: JAMES HAMILTON'S WILL In the name of God, Amen. I James Hamilton of the County of Carroll and State of Tennessee considering the uncertainty of this immortal Life and being of Sound mind and memory Blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following (viz) First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Jane Hamilton all the money that I may be possessed of at the time of my decease by notes or otherwise also first choice of the horse beasts that I may own. Also one cow and calf to be chosen by herself also two Sheep to be chosen. In the same manner and as many hogs as She may think proper To Keep together with the household and Kitchen Furniture the bed and their furniture to be entirely at her disposal the balance of the plunder above bequeathed after supporting her at her decease to To be Sold to the best advantage and the moneys arising therefrom To be equally divided among my children and the children of Jacob and Betsy McKee, deceased giving to the last mentioned Children one Share is to be equally divided among Them. I also give and bequeath to my Son John the horse that he now has in possession which he recd. from John Madon, Esqr. in part pay of my land which be sold to said Madan, together with all the Profits arising from the Sale of Said land - To my Grandson Thos. Hamilton now living with me I give and bequeath one Sorrel Colt and my Rifle gun and ax, also give and bequeath to my wife Such of my farming tools as She may stand In need of also a Saddle and bridle my wagon and gear and all other plunder not before mentioned it is my wish that it be Sold to the best advantage and the profits of Said Sale be equally divided among my children giving to the children of my deceased Daughter Betsy McKee one Share which Share is to be equally divided among them. I hereby appoint James Latimere and Thos. Hamilton executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other will by me made, in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this 27th day of February 1826 Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us Robert Wilson Jur, Thos. Latimere Jur James Hamilton his mark State of Tennessee) Carroll County Court) September Term 1831 The last will and testament of James Hamilton deceased was this day produced in open court and proved by Robert Wilson one of the Subscribing witnesses thereto and at December Term 1831 it was proven by Thos. Latimer the other subscribing witness thereto to be the act and deed of the said James Hamilton Deceased and ordered to be recorded. Recorded 9th day of February 1832. James and his father Thomas fought in the Revolutionary War from Guilford County, North Carolina, enlisting with the Continental Army in November 1778 and serving until after the surrender of Cornwallis, 19 October 1781. They brought their families to Sumner County, then part of North Carolina, prior to 1786. In 1788 after Indians had murdered several settlers, they built a large fortified house on Drake's Creek that was known as Hamiltons Fort. They also brought with them from North Carolina Elizabeth Gwin, widow of Mordecai Gwin, mother of Jane with her youngest children. After James Hamilton died his widow, Jane Gwin Hamilton, received a revolutionary War widow's pension, W 155. James Hamilton served 3 years during the Revolutionary War, enlisting with the Continental Forces in November of 1778 and served until after the surrender of Cornwallis, October 19, 1781. DAR papers #554528 More About JAMES A. HAMILTON: Burial: McKenzie, Carroll Co., Tennessee Shiloh Pres. Church. Residence: 1789, Sumner County (Davidson County) established Hamilton's Station protecting about a dozen families. Children of JAMES HAMILTON and JANE GWIN are: 10. i. ANN4 HAMILTON, b. March 01, 1783, Guilford Co., North Carolina; d. November 27, 1848, Gibson County, Tennessee. 11. ii. JANE HAMILTON, b. October 01, 1784, Guilford Co, North Carolina; d. April 19, 1855, Clarksville, Red River County, Texas. 12. iii. ELIZABETH BETSY HAMILTON, b. December 27, 1786, Orange Co., North Carolina; d. 1819, Columbia, Maury, Tennessee. 13. iv. THOMAS HAMILTON, b. May 10, 1789, Hamilton Station, White House, Sumner Co, Tennessee; d. June 18, 1879, McKenzie, Carroll County, Tennessee. 14. v. MARY "POLLY" HAMILTON, b. June 13, 1792, Sumner Co, Tennessee; d. Bef. November 15, 1854, Humphriey County, Tennessee. vi. JAMES A. JR. HAMILTON, b. November 22, 1794, Sumner Co, Tennessee; d. Abt. 1857, Carroll Co, Tennessee; m. MARGARET PEGGY LANKFORD, 1815, Humphreys County, Tennessee; b. Abt. 1798. More About JAMES A. JR. HAMILTON: Cause of Death: Drowned Military service 1: 1812, War of 1812, Military service 2: Bet. 1814 - 1815, Tennessee Militia & was in the Battle of New Orleans More About JAMES HAMILTON and MARGARET LANKFORD: Marriage: 1815, Humphreys County, Tennessee 15. vii. ROBERT SHAW HAMILTON, b. June 05, 1796, Hamilton Station, Sumner Co, Tennessee; d. March 17, 1876, Near Clarksville, Red River Co., Texas. viii. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, b. October 20, 1798, Sumner Co, Tennessee; d. Bef. 1841; m. JANE EAST, June 12, 1823, Wilson County, Tennessee. More About ALEXANDER HAMILTON and JANE EAST: Marriage: June 12, 1823, Wilson County, Tennessee 16. ix. JOHN G. HAMILTON, b. March 01, 1803, Sumner Co., Tennessee; d. 1841, Hopkins Co., Texas. x. SARAH SALLIE HAMILTON, b. February 22, 1806, Sumner Co, Tennessee; d. January 31, 1883; m. HENRY LANKFORD, Abt. 1826, Tennessee; b. Abt. 1802. More About HENRY LANKFORD and SARAH HAMILTON: Marriage: Abt. 1826, Tennessee 5. THOMAS JR.3 HAMILTON (THOMAS2, HANSFORD1) was born December 24, 1762 in Guilford County, North Carolina, and died February 14, 1841 in Gallatin Co., Illinois. He married ELIZABETH GWIN9 Abt. 1785, daughter of MORDECAI GWIN and ELIZABETH UNKNOWN). She was born Abt. 1770 in NC, and died Bet. 1830 - 1840 in Sumner County, Tennessee. More About THOMAS JR. HAMILTON: Name 2: Thomas Hamilton. Census: 1820, Gallatian, Sumner County, Tennessee Page 181. More About ELIZABETH GWIN: Name 2: Elizabeth Betsy Gwin. Date born 2: 1751, Virginia. Died 2: 1824, Carroll Co, Tennessee. More About THOMAS HAMILTON and ELIZABETH GWIN: Marriage: Abt. 1785 Children of THOMAS HAMILTON and ELIZABETH GWIN are: 17. i. WILLIAM HENRY4 HAMILTON, b. December 25, 1786, Sumner County, Tennessee; d. 1862, Pope County, Arkansas. ii. JACOB BROWN HAMILTON, b. 1788, Sumner County, Tennessee. 18. iii. EUPHA HAMILTON, b. 1790, Sumner County, Tennessee. 19. iv. NANCY HAMILTON, b. 1792, Sumner County, Tennessee; d. August 03, 1851, Saline County, Illinois. 20. v. ELIZABETH HAMILTON, b. Abt. 1794, Sumner County, Tennessee. 21. vi. THOMAS HAMILTON, b. 1796, Sumner County, Tennessee; d. Bet. 1840 - 1850, Gallatin Co., Illinois. vii. ANDREW JACKSON HAMILTON, b. Abt. 1798, Sumner County, Tennessee. viii. PATSY HAMILTON b. Abt. 1800, Sumner County, Tennessee m. JOHN P. CLARK October 27, 1842, Gallatin County, Illinois. More About JOHN CLARK and PATSY HAMILTON: Marriage: October 27, 1842, Gallatin County, Illinois ix. ANN HAMILTON, b. Abt. 1802, Sumner County, Tennessee. 22. x. JANE HAMILTON, b. Abt. 1806, Sumner County, Tennessee. xi. FREDERICK HAMILTON, b. Abt. 1810, Sumner County, Tennessee; d. Aft. 1860, Illinois; m. NANCY HAMPTON; b. Abt. 1817. Rev. James Gwin started preaching to local slaves around Nashville in 1829. Under his leadership, they formed the "African Mission" until it had 819 members in 1833. In 1853 it became the Capers Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) church in Nashville, Tennessee. The church is still in existence. During the 1830s, James Gwin removed his family to the lower country of Mississippi settling at first in Madison County and later the Vicksburg area. Shortly after 1830, one of James' sons, Samuel Gwin, was appointed by President Andrew Jackson as the register of the land office at Mount Salus (now, Clinton, in Madison County). When appointed, he was living in Washington, D. C., where he worked in the Postmaster General's office. On October 14, 1831, he wrote the following letter to Senator George Poindexter of Mississippi in relation to his appointment as register of the Mt. Salus land office: "My recent appointment, Register of the Land Office at Mount Salus, makes it my duty to explain to you, why I sought the position, and to say something of my antecedents. I am a native of Tennessee, was a volunteer under General I have never been absent a day from my post. My beloved wife is now threatened with confirmed consumption, and I am advised that the only hope for her recovery any one will doubt my qualifications or character, but I fear my non-residence may be considered an objection. For this I must ask indulgence. I have never resided in Mississippi, but I have shed my blood on her soil, in her defense, as the records of our battles will attest. My venerable father, and six brothers, were soldiers of the Revolution. The whole Tennessee delegation in Congress, a majority of the members from Kentucky, and the late member from Mississippi, Gen. Thomas Hinds, recommend my confirmation. Many citizens of Mississippi will unite in this recommendation. I was introduced to you during the siege of New Orleans, by my friend, Gen. Carroll, but you have probably forgotten the incident. I shall enter on my duties with a determination to discharge them faithfully, and to the satisfaction of the government and the people. When I applied for the place not a single application had been received from the State of Mississippi, though there were several from other States. Within a few days past, some applications from Mississippi have been made. I have the honor to be, Respectfully, your obedient servant. SAM'L GWIN" More than likely, Samuel Gwin's appointment in Mississippi and his brother, William McKendree Gwin's appointment as U.S. Marshall in the region during 1833 (having practiced medicine in Madison County for six years), is what brought Alexander Mosby Gwin to settle in the region. Shortly after 1830, James Gwin and his sons, Samuel, William McKendree, and Alexander Mosby purchased tracts of land in Issaquena County. By 1840, it seems that James Gwin had become dissatisfied with the low country in Mississippi. On February 5, 1840, Andrew Jackson wrote the following: "I had the pleasure of meeting with my old friend Father Gwin in good health but dissatisfied with the lower country, and has a wish to return and spend his last days in Tennessee, if it meets the views of his wife, to whom he wrote by me. I enclosed the letter to Mrs. Gwin, requesting to know her determination - as yet have not heard from her. To have this good old man my neighbor in my declining life would be a great pleasure to me." Just over a year after this letter was written, James Gwin died on August 8, 1841 in Vicksburg. James and Mary Adair McAdams Gwin were the parents of the following children: 1. Thomas W. Gwin: born about 1791 in Orange County, North Carolina, died October 10, 1833 at Clinton, Madison County, Mississippi 2. Samuel Gwin: born about 1794 in Sumner County, Tennessee, died during 1838 in New Orleans, Louisiana 3. Asa B. L. Gwin: born March 25, 1797 in Sumner County, Tennessee, died April 14, 1809, buried in Fountain Head Cemetery, Sumner County, Tennessee 4. Margaret Gwin: born April 7, 1800, died July 2, 1863 in Issaquena County, Mississippi 5. William McKendree Gwin (Dr/Senator): born October 9, 1805 in Sumner County, Tennessee, died September 3, 1885 in New York City, buried in Mt. View Cemetery, Oakland, California 6. Catherine P. Gwin: born about 1807 in Sumner County, Tennessee, died May 20, 1893 in San Francisco, California 7. Elizabeth Gwin: born July 30, 1812 in Sumner County, Tennessee, died during September of 1844 in Vicksburg, Mississippi 8. Alexander Mosby Gwin: born about 1817 in Sumner County, Tennessee, died March 30, 1867 in Issaquena County, Mississippi After the death of James, his widow Mary continued to live in Vicksburg until the 1850s when she moved to Issaquena County to live with her son, Alexander Mosby. Mary died in Issaquena County on July 5, 1858. Alexander wrote an obituary about her to Rev. Drake of Port Gibson, Misssissippi, for a Methodist publication. The obituary reads: "Mary Gwin was born December 2, 1773 in Orange County, North Carolina and was married and removed to Tennessee in 1790 where they lived in Forts for two years in consequence of the hostility of the Indians. After the country became more settled they settled a place in a few miles of the Fort where they lived in constant fear of an attack from the Indians, until they were finally driven from the Country. I have often heard my mother speak of the dangers they passed through in their early life. Short after they left the Fort for their own Cabin she was in hearing of the guns of the Indians when they attacked and murdered the family of a neighbor, and could see the light of their burning Cabin. She was alone, my father being out after the Indians at the Time, and with her infant baby lay secreted in an oats patch in light of her Cabin the remainder of the night expecting momentarily to hear the Indians make an attack upon it. It was a number of years after their removal to Tennessee before they could live at their homes with security. Even at that early period Methodist Preachers were among them and had to be guarded from one appointment to another and a guard placed to prevent a surprise during preaching. Every man carried his gun to church and was ready at any moment to receive the Savage foe. My mother was a great deal alone, as my father had to serve as patrol at stated periods. Many sleepless nights she spent when thus alone. After my father entered the Itinerancy she was alone sometimes for months at a time, and the whole care and support of the family devolved upon her, for Methodist preacher as pittances were not secured to them then as it is now. She had to labor with her own hands for their support. Whatever of good there is in her children we owe mostly to the moral training of our dear Mother. A short time before her death in conversation with Mr. Mosby she said God has been good to me all my life. He has preserved my life to extreme old age with a mind unimpaired. My recollection is as good now as it was forty years ago, and blessed be God I can read my Bible with the first Spectacles I ever used. He has blessed me with an affectionate family who has waited on me tenderly in all my afflictions without tiring, and none of them have ever done anything to make me ashamed of them. In her last sickness she spoke of many scenes in the Revolutionary was she was an eye witness to, among other things, of the British troops driving the last milk cow of her Grandmother off to butcher it for the use of the army, and of the destitute condition of the family in consequence of the united ravages of the British troops and Tories. She named the birth day of each of her children and grandchildren, when each married and the date of the death of those who had died. I mention these things to show how clear her memory was even a few days before her death. She spoke with great composure of her condition, and manifested not the least anxiety about her future happiness. For weeks before her death her hourly prayer, while awake, was that the struggle was over with her, and that she was with her Savior, but would conclude each prayer with a Thy will, O God! Be done, and not mine. She made provision for her old faithful servants. She left gold pieces to each as a keepsake from her and requested that they should be kept together after her death. After sending affectionate messages to all the members of her family who were absent she said Send an affectionate farewell to Brother Marshall & family and to Brother Drake. Tell them I love them all. Let the books good Brother Fulton gave me remain on my table for family service, and put my name in each as coming from him and from me to each of your children. Preserve my good old Family Bible. My Mother was confined to her bed two months and died at half past nine o'clock Tuesday evening June the 22nd in her eighty sixth year." James and Mary's son Alexander Mosby owned Brunswick Plantation in Issaquena County. On September 13, 1843 he married Elizabeth Caroline Lowry (born 1826 in North Carolina, the daughter of William Lowry of Fairfield Dist, South Carolina) in Madison County, and shortly thereafter removed to Issaquena County. Brunswick, Alexander's Issaquena plantation, was located near Eustatia plantation, owned by the Eustis family, northeast of the present-day Chotard community. Issue of Alexander Mosby and Elizabeth Caroline Lowry Gwin was: Ida Hampton Gwin (born July 16, 1844 in Warren County and died June 27, 1851 in Issaquena County). Elizabeth Caroline, wife of Alexander, died on August 17, 1851 in Issaquena County. After the death of Elizabeth Caroline, Alexander married Sarah "Sallie" Catherine Crichlow (daughter of James Crichlow and Sarah Howell Nelson, born June 14, 1826 in Murpheesboro, Tennessee, died during February of 1916 at Brunswick Plantation, buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg). Issue of Alexander and Catherine Crichlow Gwin were: Thomas William (born December 13, 1854 in Issaquena County, died February 18, 1948 in Vicksburg, buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg); Alexander Mosby (born April 19, 1858 in Issaquena County, buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Vicksburg); Mary G. (born April 19, 1858 in Issaquena County); James (born 1859 in Issaquena County); Julia; and Katherine (born October 1, 1864 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana). Alexander Mosby Gwin suffered a fatal accident on Brunswick Plantation, and died there on April 11, 1867. Alexander Mosby Gwin's brother, William McKendree, removed from Missisippi during 1849 to California where he became California's first senator. William McKendree Gwin was a Jacksonian Democrat (nation first - states second), not a pro-slavery Democrat. The following is taken from the Congressional Biographical Guide: "GWIN, William McKendree, a Representative from Mississippi and a Senator from California; born near Gallatin, Sumner County, Tenn., October 9, 1805; .....); .... retired to California and engaged in agricultural pursuits; died in New York City September 3, 1885; interment in Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, Calif." 1850 Issaquena County Federal Census Page 296A 1-1 Alexander M. Gwin: age 33, Planter, Tennessee Elizabeth C.: age 24, South Carolina Ida H.: age 6, Mississippi Robert C. Dameron: age 30, Physician, Mississippi 1860 Issaquena County Federal Census Page 3 21-21 A.M. Gwin: age 43, Planter, Tennessee Sarah C.: age 32, Tennessee Thos. W.: age 5, Mississippi Alex M. Jr.: age 4, Mississippi Mary G.: age 3, Mississippi James: age 9/12, Mississippi Buchanan, Margaret Gwin, DuVals of Kentucky from Virginia, 1794-1935 : descendants and allied families Lynchburgh, Va.: J. P. Bell Co., 1937 Claiborne, J. F. H., Mississippi as a Province, Territory, and State: with biographical notices of eminent citizens: Power & Barksdale, Jackson, Miss., 1880 Back to the Issaquena Genealogy and History Project . . . . .

- . 1. Introduction In the past decades, one of the most prominent and fastest moving interfaces of nanotechnology was the synthesis and application of semiconductor nanomaterials (such as quantum dots (QDs)) in biological detection and bioimaging [1–10]. The QDs have preeminent photophysical and chemical properties [11]: efficient quantum yield, high brightness, and stability of the QDs against photobleaching; the luminescence properties of QDs, which can be controlled by size due to the quantum confinement; the luminescence spectra of QDs that reveal narrow emission bands and large Stokes shifts; in contrast to organic fluorophores or transition metal complexes that exhibit broad absorbance bands and require specific wavelength excitation, QDs can be excited by a common high-energy excitation wavelength, leading to the size-controlled luminescence. Biological detection of fluorescent probes was based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism [12], and QDs were used as an energy donor due to their excellent fluorescent properties. The molecular beacon sensing probe based on FRET was usually applied in DNA detection, in which the donor and acceptor were connected by a typical DNA strand with a stem-loop beacon structure. The FRET efficiency was controlled by altering the distance between the energy donor and acceptor [13]. Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa, subclass Coccidia. Toxoplasma gondii infections are known almost worldwide, and around one-third of the world’s population is seropositive for this parasite. The infections of many Asians, including Chinese, were also reported [14]. The efficient technology and early detection of Toxoplasma gondii or its shedding oocysts are necessary. Traditional method to detect the Toxoplasma gondii or diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis was time consuming and required professional knowledge. In current research, we developed a magnetic sensing probe for fast, convenient, and efficient analysis of Toxoplasma gondii DNA by using CdTe@Ni magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as an energy donor. Our data indicated that the target Toxoplasma gondii DNA could be successfully detected by the sensing probe. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Apparatus The UV-vis absorption spectra were obtained in the range of 450–700 nm on Thermo Spectronic Corp. model Helios-γ. Fluorescence spectra were measured by F-380 fluorospectrophotometer (Tianjin Gangdong Scientific and Technical Development Co. Ltd., China) under ambient temperature with excitation slit of 10 nm, emission slit width of 8 nm, and photomultiplier tube voltage of 100 V. Zeta potential of CdTe QDs and Ni NPs was analyzed using nano-Zeta potential and submicron particle size analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Inc., USA) with laser source of 7 mW@655 nm and sonication power of 80 W@36 kHz, and the measurement was performed under ambient condition. Morphology properties were analyzed on transmission electron microscopy ((TEM); Tecnai 20 G2 S-TWN, FEI Co., USA), and samples for all of these TEM experiments were prepared by dispersing the as-prepared samples in ethanol, sonicating for 2 min to ensure adequate dispersion of the nanostructures on lacey carbon covered Cu grid. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) investigation was carried out via D/Max-IIA diffractometry ( Rigaku, Japan) using Cu-K radiation (50 kV, 100 mA). 2.2. Materials Te powder was obtained from Delan Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd. (Tianjin, China), and NiCl2 and CdCl2 were obtained from Sino-reagent Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (USA). DNA sequences, derived from Toxoplasma gondii, and 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) were purchased from Shanghai Invitrogen Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). All the chemicals used are of analytical grade without further purification. Ultrapure water and N2 were used throughout experiments. The DNA sequences from Toxoplasma gondii in the experiment were indicated in Table 1. 2.3. Synthesis of CdTe Quantum Dots The CdTe was synthesized in aqueous phase according to the previous recipe described by Sarah et al. in 2011 [15] with some modifications. Briefly, CdCl2 and MPA were mixed with mole ratio of 1 : 3 and adjusted the pH value to be 9.0. The prepared precursor NaHTe solution was added and refluxed for 5 h at 10°C. By altering the refluxing time, QDs with different emission colors were prepared. 2.4. Preparation of CdTe@Ni Nanoparticles Typically, CdTe@Ni NPs were prepared via the reduction method with hydrazine hydrate, as previously reported [16]. Nickel chloride (NiCl26H2O) and sodium hydroxide were added into ethylene glycol phase at 60°C for 0.5 h. Ni nanoparticles were magnetically precipitated and washed several times with ultrapure water and acetone. The resulting Ni nanoparticles were surfacely modified with 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (pH = 3.0), followed by adding CdTe QDs (mole ratio of Ni : CdTe was 1 : 9). The reactant solution was refluxed at 45°C for 0.5 h, and MNPs were achieved. 2.5. Fabrication of Molecular Beacon (MB) Probe The MB probe was obtained by reacting with 0.5 mL the as-prepared CdTe@Ni solution, 20 µL probe DNA, 0.5 mL EDC, and 980 µL phosphate buffers ((PBS), pH = 8.2) at ambient temperature for 24 h. 2.6. Detection of Target DNA 100 µL target DNA and 2.0 mL sensing probe DNA were added into a 5 mL penicillin bottle which contained 0.5 mL of 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer. The hybridization reaction happened at 37°C for 2 h. 3. Results and Discussion 3.1. Characterizations of CdTe QDs The prepared CdTe QDs expressed excellent optical properties such as strong fluorescence intensity (FI), narrow emission peak, and broad UV absorption. Figures 1(a) and 1(b) were the fluorescence spectrum (FS) and UV-vis absorption spectrum, respectively. The emission colors varied from blue to red with the increase of emission wavelength (Figure 1(a)). Therefore, CdTe QDs refluxed for 4 h was used throughout the experiment due to its good fluorescent properties. The size of the synthesized CdTe was calculated using the polynomial fitting function [17]: where the is the absorption maxima of the QDs. And the diameter of CdTe (4 h) was 2.6 nm. The concentration of CdTe QDs solution was M, determined via Lambert-Beer's law [18]. The corresponding fluorescence quantum yields () were estimated according to [19]: where and were the absorbance of the sample and standard at the excitation wavelength, respectively. and were the areas under the fluorescence curves of the QDs and standard, respectively. and are the refractive indices of the solvent used for the sample and standard, respectively. Rhodamine 6 G in ethanol () was used as the standard [16]. Then, the calculated value of was 27.3%. CdTe QDs were further characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (shown in Figure 2). TEM data indicated that the CdTe QDs had a favorable dispersity, and the size was ca. 3.0 nm according to theoretical calculated value. 3.2. Characterizations of CdTe@Ni NPs The prepared Ni magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) (Figure 3) and TEM (Figure 4(a)). The size of Ni MNPs was determined to be 10.5 nm, based on XRD analysis and the Scherrer equation [19]. The average size of Ni MNPs analyzed by TEM was 13.0 nm, and obvious agglomeration phenomenon of Ni MNPs was observed (Figure 4(a)). However, after the Ni MNPs was further modified by 1,6-hexamethylenediamine, the modified Ni MNPs had a better dispersity than before, and the average size was about 20.0 nm (Figure 4(b)). It confirmed that 1,6- hexamethylenediamine played a crucial role in reducing agglomeration. The modified MNPs were further characterized by Zeta potential analysis. The Zeta potential value was 5.67 as shown in Figure 5, which means that particle surface was electropositive. This result indicated the successful surface modification of 1,6-hexamethylenediamine, which was good for CdTe@Ni synthesis. The prepared CdTe@Ni was characterized with TEM (Figure 6) and XRD (Figure 7). The diameter of CdTe@Ni was uniform and estimated to be ca. 35.0 nm (Figure 6). The increase of 20 nm in diameter was observed compared with the Ni (15 nm), which indicates that the CdTe was successfully capped on the Ni core. Little agglomeration was observed due to the magnetism of CdTe@Ni. Moreover, the greenish CdTe@Ni was suspended well in aqueous solution and conveniently precipitated by a common magnet (Figure 6, inner graph). XRD patterns in Figure 7 indicate that the intensity of NiO (111) and Ni (111) was obviously decreased after formation of CdTe shell on the Ni particle core, which indicates that CdTe@Ni QDs was successfully achieved. 3.3. Sensitivity and Specificity of Prepared MB Probe About 56% of CdTe@Ni FI was decreased by comparing peak 1 and peak 3 as shown in Figure 8(a), which indicated that the MB probe was successfully created when using CdTe@Ni as energy donor and BHQ2 as acceptor. However, the data in Figure 2(a) peak 3 showed low FI of the MB probe (commonly named as background noise) since the expiated energy from CdTe@Ni donor was not completely quenched by the BHQ2. It may involve the following possibilities. Firstly, the fluorescence emission spectra of CdTe@Ni donor and the UV absorption spectrum of BHQ2 were not perfectly overlapped after formation of the core-shell structure (which usually causes the size change of donor), and the fluorescence emitted by the donor was not completely absorbed, thus showing a certain degree of fluorescence. Secondly, compared with the small organic molecules BHQ2, CdTe@Ni with greater surface area had more trap states, resulting in the emission energy not totally going to be absorbed by the acceptor. The FI was thoroughly recovered after adding the complementary target DNA, which revealed that the DNA sensing system had excellent sensitivity. A mathematic modeling and practical method were proposed in our later research to reveal the possible factors that caused and decreased the noise, and the data will be reported elsewhere. Currently, the MB solution was diluted 4 times to decrease the effect of background noise for investigating the specificity. The obvious differences in the fluorescence intensity recovery (FR) were confirmed when different target DNA was applied in MB sensing probe solution. Compared with the complementary DNA (Figure 8(b), peak 5), the one-base mismatched DNA (Figure 8(b), peak 2 to peak 4) resulted in a much lower FR. This clearly demonstrates the excellent specificity of molecular beacons in detecting Toxoplasma gondii DNA. The difference in the MB hybridization between perfectly matched and single-base mismatched DNA relies on the stability of the newly formed DNA duplexes. Length of the hybridization sequence, location of mismatch bases in the sequence, and hybridization temperature have effects upon duplex stability. Therefore, high specificity with one-base mismatch DNA identification capability can be obtained by using carefully designed molecular beacon probes and optimized hybridization conditions. FI was gradually reduced with the time-elapsing, and 30% of FI disappeared after 15 days of storage. The red-shift of emission peak was observed simultaneously. However, long-term stability is expected for the further applications, and the MB probe can be stabilized at 4°C for one month under the light-shielding condition. The MB limit of detection (LOD) was investigated via calibration curve (Figure 9) and calculated to be mol/L. 4. Conclusion The CdTe@Ni nanoparticles with magnetic and fluorescent properties were synthesized and successfully used in molecular beacon (MB) probes as energy donors in Toxoplasma gondii DNA detection. 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Good economic growthMarch 20th, 2014 at 3:00 pm by David Farrar. And Labour/Greens/NZ First/Mana’s manufactured manufacturing crisis receives another death blow. Dairy farming and dairy product manufacturing both fell this quarter, after strong increases last quarter, when production rebounded from the drought earlier in 2013. So those who claim the economic growth is all about dairy, are wrong. Also Labour have been saying forestry is in such dire straits that it needs all sorts of tax breaks and incentives, plus 1,000 long-term unemployed to be working in it (surely a nomination for a Darwin Award for policy, considering the already far too high accident rate). So what has happened to forestry primary product exports in the GDP? They’re at $552 million, up from $495 million a year ago – an 11.5% increase! Also if you look at the long-term series in constant prices for forestry and logging, the GDP in 1995/96$ was $1.604b for 2013. In 2008 it was $1.199b so that’s 33.8% higher! Also the MPI series on log exports shows they were only $711 million in 2008 and today are $2.35 billion. I guess Labour will claim that we should be making more products here, rather than exporting logs, but you know what – you sell to match demand. If the demand is for logs, then you sell logs. If the demand is for wooden tables – you sell wooden tables.Tags: Forestry, GDP, manufacturing March 20th, 2014 at 3:07 pm And if the customers want logs they will buy logs. If we cannot supply them because we are making tables they will get them elsewhere. March 20th, 2014 at 3:08 pm The problem with the market illiterate Labour/Greens/Mana/NZFirst parties is that don’t get the first rule of selling. The customer is always right. They also don’t get the second rule of selling. Even if the customer is wrong the customer is always right. For the members/supporters of the above parties let me explain it in simple terms. If your customer doesn’t like your product and can buy the same product elsewhere then they will. If you don’t produce what your customer wants to buy they wont buy it from you. Of course for those who pine for the old command/control economies like the supporters/members of the above parties it comes as a bit of a shock that international customers have many many different markets to buy their goods and services from. NZ don’t have the monopoly. But of course supporters/members of the above just don’t get that. Like David Cunliffe who thinks if we make it they will buy at. Fool. March 20th, 2014 at 3:13 pm Labour/Greens try selling the pen all of the time, not finding out their customers needs. Why would you buy a pen? Bc you don’t have one. March 20th, 2014 at 3:14 pm Maybe a bit too simplistic. This would imply one should never innovate, never create new or varied products because what we do already is selling. The question is: how can we do better and add more value for NZ? March 20th, 2014 at 3:17 pm You know, you lot are playing a pretty stupid game. Why not read the above blog and post about how great certain National policies have been, and how they have contributed towards this etc etc. Instead you use it as a reason to have yet another rave about the personalities of Labour and make it all about them. New Zealanders love the underdog and you lot are in serious risk of making Cunliffe into one. If that happens, and you push the attacks too far, then the sympathy will go to him and it will reject the National team if they come across as too smug. It’s happened before – ask Helen, and it can happen again. Keep pushing it – keep attacking people and try to win the election by default – or be seen to be the ‘bigger man’ and promote your policies, and show New Zealand not what everyone else is doing wrong, but what you intend to do that is right. But keep this up – and the tide will turn, and not in your favour. March 20th, 2014 at 3:21 pm …you sell to match demand. If the demand is for logs, then you sell logs. If the demand is for wooden tables – you sell wooden tables. 100% correct. It’s Business 101. But a point totally lost on Cunliffe…. he somehow thinks he can dictate to the customer base. And yet he wants us believe he is fit for the role of PM??? [gulp] March 20th, 2014 at 3:27 pm Why is it all of Labour’s policies are all about knowing more about everything than everyone else? You’d think they might pick up on the fact they don’t seem to know more about any thing than anyone. March 20th, 2014 at 3:31 pm “The question is: how can we do better and add more value for NZ?” You are missing the point. Who is this “we”? It is not me, and I am sure it is not you, and I hope it is not politicians. Or did you mean the owners of companies that risk their money to make and sell stuff? The best that “we” can do if “we” is the Government is to have policies that make industries competitive, like low taxation, minimal regulation, and efficient infrastructure. That “we” should not be picking winners and deciding that the Government knows best what types of products private firms should be manufacturing. March 20th, 2014 at 3:36 pm Consumers don’t demand logs. The demand is for wooden tables but the government has jacked up the minimum wage to such a level that it’s not economic to do anything with the logs except send them to a country that hasn’t crippled itself like we have. March 20th, 2014 at 3:37 pm Not the Labour Party way, that’s for sure. Jamie Whyte cleared that up a few days ago: Money quote: March 20th, 2014 at 3:39 pm DPF says: These exports have surged because we are letting slip our timber processing, a big employer since 1840. Logs are going out and processing is being done in China. I’m told that even the dressed timber you buy at Bunnings and similar, is NZ wood that has gone to China as logs and is then returned processed. Someone may be able to confirm whether this is true. Regardless, with milk powder and raw logs increasingly the core of our exports, we are regressing economically away from the rational goal of becoming an increasingly diversified, highly productive, advanced economy. Re NK’s pointer to ACT’s Mr Black and White’s analysis: a high kiwi dollar often, even usually, means NZ exporters don’t even get the overseas orders. So they don’t earn less under a lower kiwi, but often earn nothing. Apart from milk powder and raw logs, and to a lesser extent things like coal and iron-ore sand, NZ exporters aren’t doing well under a high kiwi dollar. March 20th, 2014 at 3:39 pm Mr Cunliffe an Underdog, sheesh I have seen more intelligent and smarter “drovers dogs’. At least they quickly learn where their next feed comes from, how to get along and do what they are told. The current leader of HMLO hasn’t enough smarts to find shade on a hot day. March 20th, 2014 at 3:49 pm This. They want logs because they can do something worthwhile with them. Anyone is able to do that worthwhile thing. The reasons we don’t do them all in NZ has nothing to do with forestry. The simplistic idea that we should be doing something with the logs we sell would lead to horrific outcomes if given as a mandate to a Labour government. No doubt we would sell fewer logs as well as waste resources when the government coerced us to build things with them. March 20th, 2014 at 3:52 pm I don’t think anyone is talking about a Stalinist-style regime where businesses are forced to manufacture things for which there is no demand. March 20th, 2014 at 3:58 pm Are you sure that it is an ‘either/or’ choice? Why not make sales of both logs and wooden tables, if there is demand for both? Knowing ALL your customers, and what they want is Business 101 Elaycee, so that you then don’t have all your eggs in one basket. Makes sense really. March 20th, 2014 at 3:58 pm New Zealand electors feed the same old shit since maul fished us up. manufacturing, manufacturing, manufacturing. Political party after political party has attempted to “pick winners” and” tilt the table “whatever in favour of growing our manufacturing sector. New Zealand success since the GFC is based on steady as we go economic policy and rising commodity prices. Wake up Kiwis all the “manufacturing” is hollow election rhetoric resulting in policy that only results in. Wasting effort, Time and Money. After all these years of misplaced effort we are still reliant on primary industry……! March 20th, 2014 at 4:00 pm The idea of adding value to logs is not new. At least one previous government pushed for it. At the time it was the Japanese. But they wanted to make their own wooden products. I can’t recall if it was Labour or National. Nevertheless it was a good idea which didn’t work. I can’t see the Chinese buying wooden products off us unless it is something special like swamp kauri. March 20th, 2014 at 4:10 pm I love debunking you lefties. Again, this was cleared up by Jamie Whyte recently also: Money quote: I will stop quoting Jamie Whyte as soon as you stop writing rubbish. March 20th, 2014 at 4:14 pm It is by innovating small business expanding into nitch markets that our manufacturing sector has capacity ot grow. This is not helped by centralist fiddling and crony capitalist theft and misdirection of effort. March 20th, 2014 at 4:17 pm Keep quoting Jamie Whyte if that gives you a warm feeling all over. The New Zealand government already invests massively in helping industries to innovate and develop to meet export opportunities. Labour and National are not very far apart on that at all. March 20th, 2014 at 4:28 pm Judith: Go get your zimmer frame and head to the rainbow room for a conference with fat fairy and his gaggle of weirdos . . . they seem to be about your mentality. March 20th, 2014 at 4:31 pm That’s Jamie ‘unclecousin’ Whyte mikenmild. March 20th, 2014 at 4:34 pm mikenmild: “I don’t think anyone is talking about a Stalinist-style regime where businesses are forced to manufacture things for which there is no demand” Really? That’s precisely how the Greens and the people who have taken over the Labour party think. They are Stalinist to the core. I commented on KB before Cunliffe was elected that the Labour party is peopled by dimwits, bleeding-hearts and Stalinists, but that the Stalinists would dominate because they are smarter and tougher than the other two groups. Lo and behold….. March 20th, 2014 at 4:35 pm “But if Mr Peters is so sure of this, why does he not start a fish cannery himself? Why instead use the coercive powers of the government to have New Zealand capital and labour directed to this business?” Same with the wood products issue. You don’t need a stalinist regime. You just need to subsidise some activity (like table building) because you think it is a “good thing”. That is what all this comes down to. Subsidising favoured economic activities over others. But there is no reference to “subdidies” because it is a risky word. Much better to call it a “partnership”. “Labour has a plan to partner with the industry to turn logs into finished products”. I simply disagree entirely with the concept of such a “partnership”. It is simply code for using subsidies, regulation, or other powers of the state to direct labour and capital to activities that would not otherwise be profitable. March 20th, 2014 at 4:37 pm But we already subsidise some industries, don’t we? March 20th, 2014 at 4:44 pm mandk There I was using ‘Stalinist’ as hyperbole, not realising the Labour Party are actually secret Stalinists… March 20th, 2014 at 4:47 pm NK quotes Mr Jamie Black and White almost as fervently the Al Qaeda types quote the Prophet. If Jamie Black and White rationally wanted to make a difference wouldn’t he have joined a mainstream party, namely National (he wouldn’t fit Labour or the Greens)? Griffith says political party after political party has tried to pick winners, presumably thinking recently of the film industry. Yet there’s always an element of this in Government, Griffith. The PM’s visit to China at present is obviously designed to help smooth over the image of our dairy exports there, for example. I much prefer living in a relatively free-market country like NZ, but China’s economic surge proves that planning is not always without benefit to a country. China is in its twelfth State five-year plan. One of the goals that continues from earlier five-year plans is promoting socialist culture, and along with the development of local consumer demand the plan seeks to grow social welfare. China’s major banks are still controlled by the State. Unlike NZ, in China the state controls the currency’s exchange rates. As for NZ’s log exports, these have surged to China partly on Russia trying to stifle exports of unprocessed products from its vast Siberian forests. If Russia is squeezed by the West over Ukraine, perhaps it might re-open log exports to China, and this would dampen demand for logs from far away New Zealand. Railing them across the border beats shipping them from Tauranga, which is further from Beijing than Paris is. March 20th, 2014 at 4:53 pm And if it is wooden tables Cunliffe chooses we will see some things called “tables” that almost no single citizen would recognise as a table. If further processing of logs is at all possible there will be people to exploit it but a dollar to a knob of goat shit says there will be a nimby with a contrary view standing in the way. March 20th, 2014 at 5:30 pm Well it just happens that I read two pieces of nonsense on here which were encapsulated by Jamie very very recently so I repeated them. Nothing but luck really. March 20th, 2014 at 5:42 pm The Labour Planning room. The Cunliffe – We are polling 29% how can we win Matt – Buy votes. The Cunliffe – How? Matt – Promote policies and promise to spend other peoples money on things that benefit some voters and they will vote for us. The Cunliffe – Which groups of voters? Matt – Forestry workers, everyone on minimum wage, all low paid government workers and suppliers, students, pensioners, mothers and anyone who gets a power bill. The Cunliffe -Wow We’re a shoo in. March 20th, 2014 at 5:54 pm @ Mr Tom Hunter. Considering the present price of a standing NZ pine plantation. Often with the pruning done. The concept of a wood framed 10 stories building is a lot easier to grasp if you look at . March 20th, 2014 at 7:02 pm “And if it is wooden tables Cunliffe chooses we will see some things called “tables” that almost no single citizen would recognise as a table.” It is the role of the Labour caucus to set the approved type of tables, sizes, colour and type of timber. Otherwise someone might do it “wrong”. And how can the taxpayer prop-up these industries if they might get it “wrong”. Maybe ” we” can have tables designed by each of the Labour MPs. The Cunliffe Table, the Moroney Table, the Cosgrove (Mr Newstalk) Table. I cant wait. March 20th, 2014 at 7:07 pm Its such a brilliant idea, Cunliffe will be giving up politics and starting a table making factory. He’ll make a killing. Oh. Wait. Then it would be his own money on the line. Back to the trough and telling other people what to do. March 20th, 2014 at 8:08 pm mikenmild (7,922 comments) says: March 20th, 2014 at 4:44 pm Not all of them, just Napoleon, Squealer and some of the other pigs. The donkeys and horses and other animals are dimwits and bleeding-hearts that aren’t very smart or tough. Try and keep up old boy. March 20th, 2014 at 8:14 pm So only some of them are Stalinists. What a relief. March 20th, 2014 at 8:16 pm Its clear that most KB posters have never made anything in their lives but are blood sucking money shifters. Go make yourselves a manufacturing enterprise. March 20th, 2014 at 8:18 pm I made a money box in woodwork class once. March 20th, 2014 at 8:30 pm I made a paper towel holder in woodwork. It was a successful enterprise. March 20th, 2014 at 8:51 pm Why do so many fail to appreciate that its good work to make and sell widgets? Why is manufacturing in NZ treated so badly. Never mind what the spin masters at Parliament put out. A decent analysis of the stats show that we are struggling with making and selling at export. Sure we are not bad at R & D but we do have good skills at making stuff as well. Do you know that scrap metal is among the top 10 export earners for NZ. i.e. stuff we have wrecked and no longer have a use for, all stuff that was once imported. Pacific Aerospace have just shown a light to the way. We should look to emulate the likes of Germany and Switzerland and Sweden and even Japan who are without doubt some of the wealthiest countries around th globe. Instead we don’t back our selves with sound policy just pander. to the farmers and Maori, neither of which actually vote much anymore for the Nats. The only reason logs are selling is that Russia shut the door because so much was raped from their forests. Slowly the world is stopping the rain forest destruction but wood substitutes are growing. When China doesn’t want logs what are we going to do? Korea used to be big but sales to them went up and down along with the price. Before that Japan bought our timber. Same for Dairy. They are buying and learning and developing their own diary industries, and what we see here is nothing. Sure there is demand as of now but like all good booms there is a bust. We need to have other strings to our bow or we could get hit with the same no more customer that Britain and the EEC did to us all those many years ago before most of you were in your nappies. Go and look at the history of NZ,Britain and the EEC. It nearly sank NZ. Our position now is worse because many others have caught up or surpassed us in the world of international diary. We are a minnow despite all the chest thumping from the Govt. and Fonterra etc. March 20th, 2014 at 9:01 pm demand is certainly for wooden tables. If not, we wouldn’t be sending logs to china to make wooden tables. March 20th, 2014 at 9:12 pm “demand is certainly for wooden tables. If not, we wouldn’t be sending logs to china to make wooden tables.” Demand is certainly for commercial airliners. If not New Zealand Aluminium Smelters wouldn’t be sending aluminium to Airbus to make airplanes. So New Zealand should make airplanes. That way we can “add value” to our aluminium. Because if we are good at producing aluminium we must be good at building airplanes. March 20th, 2014 at 9:15 pm Scoff if you like, but I knew of a Chinese manufacturer who came to Rotorua looking for 10 container loads of dry pine timber per day. Just to make chair legs. No one could supply. Admittedly it was about 15 years ago but it does tell you the scale of what is available. Here’s a blog that represents the use of timber and what can be done. Its well written and thoughtful. March 21st, 2014 at 2:30 am I think I once heard that Japans annual use of timber for chopsticks actually exceeded NZ’s annual total timber exports – we are a very small fish in a very big bowl… March 21st, 2014 at 6:39 am NZ Manufacturers and Exporters Association chief executive John Walley said increased imports of electrical goods, computers and vehicles – Chinese car brand Great Wall has been making inroads into New Zealand – would drive growth in China’s exports to this country. “The challenge for New Zealand will be growing its value-added exports to China,” he said. “The big issue right now is we sell them raw materials [such as milk powder and logs] and they sell us value-added products.” “If we don’t have that diversification and things go pear-shaped in China it will knock us for six,” he said. “[China’s] economic model is coming under a bit of pressure – there’s been an awful lot of leverage built up within that economy within the last few years.” A Chinese “wobble scenario” would also have an indirect impact on New Zealand as a result of the negative economic effect it would have on Australia, our second-biggest trading partner, which is heavily reliant on mineral exports to China.

May-June 2002, Mercury Magazine, pp. 34-39 by Robert Mentzer For a period lasting over a century, the most effective way to determine longitude was to observe the Galilean moons of Jupiter. On July 15, 1806, Captain Zebulon Pike led a party of 23 soldiers and 51 Amerindians westward out of St. Louis, Missouri. One of Captain Pike's assignments was to escort the Amerindians back to their villages. He was then to continue on and explore the southwestern part of Thomas Jefferson's new Louisiana Purchase. On this very day, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were near the Great Falls of the Missouri River (in Montana) on the last leg of their return journey, which would end in September. They had been sent to explore the rich furtrapping areas of the northern part of the purchase. Later in his expedition, Pike traveled to eastern Colorado and described a mountain that now bears his name, Pike's Peak. On August 23, 1806, Pike camped with the Osage Amerindians in their villages near the Kansas-Missouri border. On that day he wrote in his journal, "Took equal altitudes and a meridional altitude of the Sun, but owing to flying clouds, missed the immersion of Jupiter's satellites." In the middle of what Pike would later call "the great American Desert," surrounded by hostile Amerindians, hundreds of kilometers from civilization, he was looking through a telescope. Isn't this rather strange behavior for a rugged adventurer? Actually no, for Pike was doing what explorers had been doing for more than a century: He was using Jupiter's moons to determine his longitude. Longing for Longitude It's easy to find one's latitude by measuring the altitude of the North Star (Polaris). Alternatively, one can measure the peak height of the noon Sun, or of a star after dark, and then find the latitude from a set of tables. Longitude, on the other hand, is much more difficult to determine. Being at 40° north latitude means you are somewhere on a circle that runs around the world 40° north of the equator. But where on that circle are you? Polaris will appear 40° above the northern horizon on any location on that circle and the Sun's peak altitude will be the same. The only difference will be that the Sun will peak at different times at different points on the circle as Earth rotates. So time is the key to finding longitude. Tables can tell you when the Sun or certain stars will peak over Greenwich, England. It takes Earth 24 hours to complete one 360° rotation, so Earth turns 15° per hour. If you have an accurate clock set to Greenwich time, and the Sun peaks an hour later at your location than the table says it peaks in Greenwich, you are one hour (or 15°) west of Greenwich. Given an accurate clock, you can easily determine longitude. But prior to about 1770, clocks were not accurate enough to determine longitude. Travelers could only make crude estimates of their longitude. This was a real concern for sailing ships, which were constantly in danger of running aground because of poor longitude estimates. In 1707 a British fleet approaching the southern coast of England (commanded by Sir Clowdisley Shovell) ran aground on the Scilly Islands during a storm, with the loss of 2,000 lives. Those 2,000 deaths in the England of 1707 were equivalent to about 60,000 deaths in today's America. Imagine the shock if 300 commercial jets crashed in one day. Almost every person would know a victim. The public outcry in England forced the Admiralty to offer a prize of 20,000 pounds, a fortune at the time, to anyone who could solve the longitude problem. To win the Admiralty's prize, one had to determine longitude to within half a degree after a long ocean voyage. At the equator, Earth's circumference is about 40,000 kilometers (24,900 miles) and the Sun takes 24 hours to circle. So the Sun appears to move at 1,670 kilometers (1,040 miles) per hour, or 15° per hour (10 in 4 minutes). To win the prize, the clock had to be within half a degree (or 2 minutes) of the correct time. Any clock that loses one second a day for a year would be off by 365 seconds, or 6 minutes. In 1707, no clock in the world came anywhere near the required accuracy. A century earlier Galileo had to use crude water clocks for his work on falling objects. But he made two key suggestions that were of tremendous help in solving the longitude problem. The first was his observation that a pendulum could be used as a clock. By 1660 Dutch astronomer Christian Huygens had perfected the pendulum clock. But pendulum clocks that kept excellent time when hanging on a motionless wall were hopelessly inaccurate when carried over rough terrain or on a pitching ship. [This world map from 1713 is a reproduction of Giovanni Domenico Cassini's 1696 map, which was the first world map created with accurate longitude measurements from the observations of Jupiter's moons. Inscriptions are written in French and Latin. Courtesy of the Serge A. Sauer Map Library, University of Western Ontario.] A Heavenly Clock It was Galileo's second idea that led to a successful method of determining longitude. In 1609-1610 Galileo had used his new telescope to discover four moons circling Jupiter (later named lo, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto). Galileo quickly realized that the steady procession of circling moons was a heavenly clock that could be seen from anywhere on Earth whenever Jupiter was in the night sky. A good mathematician could take observations of the eclipses of the moons and predict the times of future eclipses. An observer anywhere on Earth would look at tables to see if any eclipses occurred that day or in the next few days. The observer would pick some likely eclipses based on estimates of one's longitude. The observer would look at Jupiter, identify the moons, and watch an eclipse. The observer could then set his or her clock to the listed Greenwich time for that eclipse. An extremely accurate clock was no longer needed. With the clock now set correctly to Greenwich time, in the next few days one would measure the time when the noon Sun peaked. The observer would then compare this time with the Greenwich time listed in the almanac. If the Sun peaked 5 hours later than the table said it would, the longitude would be 5 hours times 15° per hour, or 75° west of Greenwich. And that is exactly why Zebulon Pike was observing Jupiter's moons from that lonely Kansas prairie in 1806. Pike didn't use Galileo's tables because Galileo was never able to calculate the eclipses accurately enough. That honor fell to Italian-born astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who published an improved set of tables in 1668. Cassini had emigrated to France after King Louis XIV had formed the Royal Academy of Science. The king wanted to make France the world leader in science, so he was recruiting the world's best scientists. Cassini's work was perfect for another of the Academy's projects, the accurate mapping of France. This endeavor required the determination of longitude, the very thing that Cassini's work promised to do with unsurpassed accuracy. So the king made Cassini an offer he couldn't refuse. Cassini's team traveled to the major cities of France and with its telescopes observed an eclipse of one of Jupiter's moons. This enabled the team to set its clocks to the correct reference time. The next day the team members would time when the Sun peaked. If it peaked one-tenth of an hour later than the time the tables listed for Paris, they were one-tenth of 15° (1.5°) west of Paris. With the Sun moving at about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) an hour, this placed the city 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of Paris. ["I pay my astronomers well and they have diminished my kingdom." - King Louis XIV] The results were revelatory. It was only a few hundred miles from Paris to the coastal cities over roads that had been trodden by Roman engineers and countless Frenchmen. Yet these cities were actually up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) closer to Paris than the old maps had indicated. This was a huge error, which exposed the inaccuracies in the older methods. King Louis is rumored to have said, "I pay my astronomers well and they have diminished my kingdom." Having mapped France, Cassini and his team moved on to do the world. France was in an expansionist phase and her explorers were everywhere, closely followed by her Jesuit priests. Cassini began to train mathematically minded young priests. When they reached their assigned destinations, they measured the latitude and longitude and sent the results back to Paris. Meanwhile, Cassini began to lay out a huge circular map on the third floor of the Observatoire de Paris. A circle about 10 meters in diameter was drawn on the floor with the North Pole at the center. As longitude from around the world were reported, thee e crc added to this map. Cities and farflung locales such as Québec, Santiago, Lisbon, Venice, Cairo, Siam, India, Canton, and Peking were added. The first accurate map of the world slowly took shape. In 1696 Cassini published his new map, the first ever to use Jupiter's moons to determine longitude. The era of truly accurate maps had arrived. More than a century later, Zebulon Pike's observations went into improved maps of the American West. Problems at Sea But a technique that worked well on land was hopeless at sea. No one standing on the moving deck of a ship could possibly keep a telescope trained on those tiny moons of Jupiter, so the Admiralty continued to search for a suitable method of determining longitude. In 1775 Captain Cook returned from his second voyage singing the praises of an amazing chronometer built by John Harrison, which easily met the requirements for the Longitude Prize. Harrison was an English clockmaker who devoted his life to perfecting a clock that could win the prize (Dava Sobel describes his trials and tribulations in her excellent book Longitude). One of Harrison's sea trials was a trip to the Caribbean, where the chronometer's prediction of longitude was checked by observations of Jupiter's moons. After a century of being the only accurate method of determining longitude, Jupiter's moons had a serious rival. In fact, it had two rivals. Britain's Astronomer Royal, Nevil Maskelyne, had introduced a method called "lunar distances," which used the Moon's motion against the backdrop of fixed stars. In principle this was the same as using the motions of Jupiter's moons around Jupiter. But the technique was very complicated, requiring three measurements of angles in the sky as close together in time as possible along with at least 30 minutes of calculations. Its advantage was that the Moon wasn't hidden in the Sun's glare as often as Jupiter was. Eventually, the chronometer method would prevail. It was the simplest and it could he used on days when the Sun or clouds interfered with measurements of the Moon or Jupiter. Jupiter's moons and their shadows routinely cross the planet's face from our point of view. This is because we're viewing Jupiter and its moons along the Jovian system's orbital plane. Such crossings are called transits. lo transits every 1.77 days, while Europa traverses every 3.55 days. It's 7.15 days between transits for more distant Ganymede and 16.69 days between transits for Callisto, when transits happen at all. A 6-inch or larger backyard telescope working at 200 power will show transiting moons as disks against Jupiter's face. b's disk appears grayish on Jupiter's cloudtops, while Europa is very light and often difficult to recognize, especially when it lies in front of a bright hand in Jupiter's atmosphere. Ganymede and Callisto appear somewhat darker, so they are usually easy to see. The best time to spot a transiting moon is just as it enters or leaves Jupiter's disk. A moon's disk stands out more visibly against Jupiter's edge (limb), which is darkened because of the effects of our looking through a thicker cross section of the planet's atmosphere. Transits of moon shadows are even easier to spot. There's no mistaking a black dot-like impression on Jupiter's cloudtops. Before Jupiter reaches opposition, shadows creep onto the planet's disk before the satellite begins its transit. After opposition, the satellite goes first. In the case of Ganymede and Callisto, several hours can elapse between the time when a satellite first transits and when its shadow appears. Periodically, Jupiter eclipses each of the four large moons as they pass into the planet's mammoth shadow. In a telescope, a moon's brightness takes several minutes to fade to black as it enters the shadow. Reappearances are just as gradual. When Earth passes directly between Jupiter and the Sun (meaning Jupiter comes to opposition), as it did last December 31, Jupiter's shadow falls directly behind the planet. (Next year's opposition is February 2.) But the viewing geometry changes just a bit during the months leading up to and away from opposition. Our perspective allows us to peer slightly around the left or right side of Jupiter and look down this shaft of darkness. This May and June, the shadow projects from behind the planet's left, or east, side. After Jupiter passes behind the Sun on July 20 and emerges into the morning sky, we'll be looking in on the shadow emerging from the planet's right, or western, limb. Io orbits so close to Jupiter that, depending upon our viewing perspective, we see it either entering or exiting Jupiter's shadow. We never see both on the same evening. This is because Jupiter's disk almost entirely obscures our view of the planet's shadow at b's distance from Jupiter. After opposition, we always see lo disappear behind the limb of Jupiter and then reappear from the planet's shadow. Conversely, before opposition we always see lo disappear into the shadow and later reappear from behind the disk. The same largely holds true for Europa. Ganymede and Callisto, however, are far enough from Jupiter so that we see both entry into and exit out of eclipses, except at times near opposition. Eclipse lengths vary because these moons don't always pass through the middle of Jupiter's shadow: Ganymede averages 3.25 hours, while Callisto takes about 4 hours. Because of a combination of Sun angles (because of the slight tilt of Jupiter's axis to its orbit) and Callisto's distance from Jupiter, Callisto misses Jupiter's shadow entirely for 3 years at a time. Callisto entered its most recent eclipse season late last year and will regularly pass through Jupiter's shadow on each orbit until about 2004. To get the lowdown on everything happening with the moons of Jupiter, including their eclipse times, visit John Shibley Jupiter's moons still had some advantages, so this method would not die easily. Zebulon Pike's 1806 expedition couldn't afford a chronometer even if one had been available in St. Louis. In addition, the lunar distance method was so difficult that Pike went with the old but reliable method of observing Jupiter's moons. Three years earlier, Lewis and Clark's well-financed expedition had carried a chronometer purchased in Philadelphia and equipment for using the lunar distance method, which Thomas Jefferson favored. A few months into the trip the chronometer stopped. Chronometers, which worked fine when kept in a special case in the captain's cabin, could not take the pounding of a long trip on a packhorse or the rocking of a canoe on a wild river. These were delicate scientific instruments; if you gave them a licking they stopped ticking. So the situation had just reversed. Jupiter's moons worked fine on land but not on a ship. Chronometers worked fine on ships, but they couldn't hold up during extended journeys across land. Clark reset his chronometer with the lunar distance method whenever it stopped, but with only a few weeks of training in the technique, his results were disappointing. Ferdinand Hassler, the West Point mathematician who was given the observations, was reported by Jefferson in 1817 to have "given up the calculations in despair:' In 1832 Captain Benjamin Bonneville used Jupiter's moons to determine his longitude on his western expedition. John Fremont's western expeditions of 1842-44 carried multiple chronometers, all of which broke or ran erratically. Fremont eventually used Jupiter's moons to determine his longitude. But these were last gasps of a dying system. Chronometers were getting better, and this improvement, along with the ability to send time signals by telegraph, led to the demise of the Jupiter moons system. Thus a method that produced the first accurate maps, a method that was the only accurate way to determine longitude for 100 years, and which played an important role for another 70 years, fell by the wayside of scientific progress. The moons of Jupiter still endlessly circle the giant planet, and Jupiter still shines down upon us as it has through the ages. So next time you are out on a starry night and look up and see Jupiter, take a moment to think of Galileo, Cassini, the Jesuit priests, Zebulon Pike, John Fremont, and all the others who gazed across 600 million kilometers into the blackness of space in order to determine just where they stood on this green Earth. Retired physics and astronomy teacher ROBERT MENTZER ([email protected]) is treasurer of the Delaware Astronomical Society. One of his hobbies is reading about the early exploration of the West. When he came across references to Jupiter's moons in both Pike's and Fremont's journals, he had to find out more. This article is the result. -----Chronometers were delicate scientific instruments; if you gave them a licking they stopped ticking.----- Determine Your Longitude with Jupiter's Moons by Morris Jones It was MIT physicist Philip Morrison who taught me, in a television documentary, how to use Jupiter's moons as a system for synchronizing clocks. This is the first step in calculating longitude with astronomical observations. With an ephemeris for Jupiter satellite transits and occultations that is accurate for the time at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, you can synchronize your clock to the observatory's by watching the scheduled event. The difference between your local time and Greenwich local time reveals your longitude. On a clear night in late February, I decided to try this experiment. I set up my 4-inch refractor on my back deck outside my house in San Rafael, California. My favorite Jupiter ephemeris ( jevent.htm) predicted an occultation of Europa for 0510 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) the following day, or 9:10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, my local "standard" clock. This event provided a splendid opportunity to synchronize my own GMT clock. These days it's easy to set your watch to GMT. My computer stays synchronized to a variety of reference clocks available on the Internet using the network time protocol (NTP). So I already knew that my watch was correct. At about 8:40 p.m., I had my mount aligned and tracking, and Jupiter was looking big and beautiful. I wanted to test my ability to judge the precise moment when the occultation was complete, so I stopped looking at my watch. I knew it was several minutes before the ephemeris's predicted time when I first saw Europa brushing against Jupiter's limb. It was like watching a very distant sunset as Europa sank farther behind Jupiter's disk, appearing as a tiny lump on the edge. The lump shrank to a smaller dot, but it was still there. Would I be able to tell the exact moment of occultation? I looked again and couldn't see Europa. "But wait' I thought, "there's still a tiny pinpoint on the edge. Or is it just my imagination?" Finally it was clear that nothing was left. No odd pinpoints appeared even when I used averted vision. It was time. I looked at my watch. It was 9:10:30 - dead center in the designated minute. Following through with the experiment, now that I had a clock synchronized to GMT, I could calculate the sidereal time at Greenwich. Sidereal time, the right ascension coordinate crossing overhead at any particular moment, is the key to calculating longitude. Longitude is simply the difference between the sidereal time at a reference location (Greenwich) and the local sidereal time, expressed as degrees instead of hours, minutes, and seconds. But my experiment was missing a crucial piece of equipment that a 19thcentury surveyor would have had: a transit scope. A transit scope points only along the meridian. The mount would be plumbed to vertical, and aligned very carefully with the north celestial pole. I could approximate a transit scope by turning off my mount's clock drive and reorienting the mount so the telescope is constrained to rotate along a line including the zenith and the north celestial pole. Alas, most telescope mounts, mine included, won't twist into such a configuration. If I had such a device, I could watch for any charted star to cross my local meridian. At that moment, my local sidereal time would match the right ascension of that star. I would consult my recently synchronized GMT clock and convert that time to the Greenwich sidereal time, using published tables. Take the difference between local sidereal time and Greenwich sidereal time, convert it to degrees, and bingo! Longitude. MORRIS JONES () serves as newsletter editor for the San Jose Astronomical Association. He is also an avid member of the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers.

Analysis of Volatile and Semivolatile Organic Compounds in Municipal Wastewater Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography By Antoniou, Chrysoula V Koukouraki, Elisavet E; Diamadopoulos, Evan ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to develop a simple and fast analytical method for the determination of a wide range of organic compounds (volatile and semivolatile compounds) in municipal wastewater. The headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography (with mass spectroscopy) was used for determination of the organic compounds. In this study, 39 organic compounds were determined, including 3 sulfur compounds, 28 substituted benzenes, and 8 substituted phenols. The extraction parameters, such as types of SPME fiber, extraction temperature, extraction time, desorption time, salt effect, and magnetic stirring, were investigated. The method had very good repeatability, because the relative standard deviations ranged from 0.5 to 12%. The detection limit of each compound was at or below the microgram-per- liter level. This method was applied for determination of the organic compounds in raw wastewater, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and chlorinated secondary effluent samples from the Chania Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (Crete, Greece). Water Environ. Res., 79, 921 (2007). KEYWORDS: wastewater, volatile, semivolatile, organic compounds, solid-phase microextraction, gas chromatography. doi: 10.2175/106143007X175988 (ProQuest: … denotes formula omitted.) Introduction A large number of synthetic organic compounds present in wastewater may be hazardous to human health and aquatic life (Almeida and Boas, 2004). Chlorinated benzenes are used as solvents and chemical intermediates in the production of agricultural chemicals. They can be dechlorinated by photodegadation and biodegradation to form less chlorinated isomers (He et al., 2000). Also, benzene; toluene; xylene; 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene; 1,4- dichlorobenzene; and tetrachloethylene are the most common organic compounds found at wastewater treatment plants (Suschka et al., 1996). As reported in the literature, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with gas chromatography (GC) can be used for the determination of aromatic volatile organic compounds (Cho et al., 2003; Ji et al., 2006; Menendez et al., 2000). Sulfur compounds are typically responsible for the unpleasant odor in municipal wastewater treatment plants (Cheng et al., 2005; Glindemann et al., 2006). Dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide are produced by many living organisms (microorganisms, algae, plants, and animals) through various mechanisms (Bentley and Chasteen, 2004; Bouillon and Miller, 2005). The determination of sulfur compounds is performed by gas chromatography. Phenolic compounds are often found in the environment, as a result of various processes, such as the production of pesticides, petrochemical products, and dyes, and they are considered some of the most important contaminants. They are typically analyzed by liquidliquid extraction (LLE) or solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by gas chromatography (GC) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Zhou et al., 2005). Solid-phase microextraction has also been used for the determination of phenolic compounds in wastewater (Moder et al., 1997; Ozkaya, 2005; Penalver et al., 2002; Pincheiro and Esteves da Silva, 2005; Portillo et al., 2005). Solid-phase microextraction is a fast, solventless procedure not requiring complex instrumentation. In this technique, a phase- coated fused silica fiber contained within a syringe is exposed to the sample. The analytes are adsorbed on the fiber coating. After adsorption equilibrium has been reached, the fiber is withdrawn into the needle, and the needle is removed from the sample vial and introduced to the gas chromatography injector, where the analytes are thermally desorbed and analyzed (Pawliszyn, 1997). Sulfur compounds, substituted phenols, and substituted benzenes are present in municipal wastewater and can be hazardous; therefore, it would be useful to have a simple method for their simultaneous determination. In this study, a fast and simple (with minimum sample pretreatment) analytical method using HS-SPME-GC was developed for the determination of 39 organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds (dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, carbon disulfide and substituted benzenes, such as BTEX, alkyl-, and chloro- benzenes); semivolatile; and polar compounds (substituted phenols, such as alkyl- and chloro- phenols) can be analyzed with this method. The developed method was applied in raw wastewater, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and chlorinated secondary effluent samples from the municipal wastewater treatment plant of Chania, Crete, Greece. Methodology Reagents and Standards. The 200 [mu]g/mL volatile aromatic compounds mixture-503/502/524 (benzene; bromobenzene; nbutylbenzene; sec-butyl benzene; tert-butyl benzene; chlorobenzene; 2- chlorotoluene; 4-chlorotoluene; 1 ,2-dichlorobenzene; 1,3- dichlorobenzene; 1 ,4-dichlorobenzene; ethylbenzene; hexachloro1,3- butadiene; isopropyl benzene; p-isopropyltoluene; naphthalene; n- propylbenzene; styrene; tetrachloroethene; toluene; 1,2,3- trichlorobenzene; 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene; trichloroethene; 1,2,4- trimethylbenzene; 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene; o-xylene; p-xylene; and m- xylene) in methanol and the 2000 pg/mL phenols mixture # 2-8040 (2- chlorophenol; 2,6-dichlorophenol; 2,4-dimethylphenol; 2- methylphenol; 4-methylphenol; 2,4-dinitrophenol; 2,3,4,6- tetra- chlorophenol; 2,4,5-trichlorophenol; and dinoseb) were purchased from Chem Service (West Chester, Pennsylvania). Dimethyl sulfide (>99%); dimethyl disulfide (>98%); and 1,4-dibromobenzene were obtained from Fluka (Buchs, Switzerland). The 5000 [mu]g/mL carbon disulfide and the 2000 [mu]g/mL EPA 8040 surrogate standard mix (2- fluorophenol and 2,4,6-tribromophenol) were purchased from Supelco (Taufkirchen, Germany). Sodium chloride was purchased from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). The working standard solutions were prepared by diluting stocks in methanol. Instrumentation. Gas chromatographic analysis was carried out on a Shimadzu QP5050 GC-mass spectroscopy (MS) system (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan). The analytical column was DB-5MS+DG, 30 m + 10 m Duragard, 0.25-mm internal diameter, and 0.25-[mu]m film thickness (J&W Scientific Agilent, Wilmington, Delaware). Injections were performed in the splitless mode; the mass spectrometer was used in the electron impact mode (7OeV); and the carrier gas (helium) flow was 1.0 mL/min. The interface temperature was 300[degrees]C. The temperature program of the gas Chromatograph was from 35[degrees]C (1 minute) to 60[degrees]C (2 minutes) at 5[degrees]C/min, from 60 to 80[degrees]C (2 minutes) at 3[degrees]C/min, from 80 to 140[degrees]C at 5[degrees]C/min, and from 140 to 300[degrees]C (1 minutes) at 10[degrees]C/min. The injector temperature was 250[degrees]C. Total suspended solids (TSS) of the samples was measured according to Standard Methods (APHA et al., 1992). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the samples was measured using the Merck COD kit (25 to 1500 mg/L [25 to 1500 ppm] and 10 to 150 mg/L [10 to 150 ppm]). Sample Collection. All samples were collected in 60-mL amber glass vials with a screw-cap and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)- silicon septum. Each vial was completely filled with the sample. Also, 4 mg sodium thiosulfate (Na^sub 2^S^sub 2^O^sub 3^), as a dechlorination agent, was added in the vials before the introduction of the chlorinated secondary effluent samples. The samples were analyzed immediately after sampling or stored, for a maximum of 5 days, at 4[degrees]C. HS-SPME Procedure. The SPME holder and fiber assemblies used for the SPME extraction were obtained from Supelco. Before use, all fibers were conditioned according to the manufacturer’s user guide. Twenty-five mL of water sample was placed in a vial (40 mL, Supelco) sealed with a screw-cap and PTFE-silicon septa. The water sample was spiked with an appropriate amount of the standard solution and with 6.25 g sodium chloride. The pH was adjusted to 4 by adding an appropriate amount of 2 N sulfuric acid. The overall methanolic concentration during the experiments was always less than 0.1% (v/ v). The sample vials were placed in a water bath to maintain a constant temperature. The needle of the SPME device pierced the septum of the vial, and the fiber was exposed for 30 minutes to the headspace of the vial at 35[degrees]C, while the water sample was stirred with a PTFE-coated magnetic bar. Then, the fiber was withdrawn inside the needle, and the needle was removed from the sample vial. Subsequently, the needle was manually inserted to the gas chromatography injector, where the analytes were thermally desorbed and analyzed. The desorption time was 10 minutes at 250[degrees]C. The concentration of compounds during SPME development was 2 [mu]g/L volatile aromatic compounds mixture, 400 [mu]g/L phenols mixture, 2 [mu]g/L dimethyl sulfide, 0.02 [mu]g/L dimethyl disulfide, and 120 [mu]g/L carbon disulfide. Also, 400 [mu]g/L surrogate standard mix and 8 [mu]g/L 1 ,4-dibromobenzene were used as internal standards. Distilled water was used for the preparation of the water samples during the SPME method development and the qualitative analysis. The same SPME procedure was used for the analysis of the wastewater samples. Results and Discussion HS-SPME Development In this study, the following six types of fibers were tested: 85 [mu]m poly aery late (85 [mu]m PA), 100 [mu]m polydimethyl siloxane (100 [mu]m PDMS), 70 [mu]m carbowax/ divinylbenzene (70 [mu]m CW/DVB), 65 pm polydimethyl siloxane/ divinylbenzene (65 [mu]m PDMS/DVB), 85 pm carboxen/polydimethyl siloxane (85 [mu]m CAR/PDMS), and 50/30 pm divinylbenzene/ carboxen/ polydimethyl siloxane (50/30[mu]m DVB/CAR/PDMS). The extraction efficiency of the six fibers was checked for all the analytes, as shown in Figure 1. The best extraction efficiency for most of the volatile aromatic compounds mixture and the sulfur compounds was achieved using the fiber 85 pm CAR/PDMS, whereas the extraction efficiency for the phenols mixture was very low using this fiber. Also, the best extraction for the phenols mixture efficiency was obtained using the fiber 65 pm PDMS/DVB, whereas the recoveries for the volatile aromatic compounds mixture and the sulfur compounds were good using this fiber. Therefore, the fiber 65 pm PDMS/DVB was chosen for the SPME procedure. The volume of the gaseous phase in the HS-SPME should be minimized for higher recoveries, according to the SPME theory (Pawliszyn, 1997). To optimize the ratio of sample to headspace volume, a 40-mL vial was used, while the water volume ranged from 15 to 25 mL (headspace volume from 25 to 15 mL, accordingly). The best results were obtained at a 25/15 mL volume ratio of sample to headspace. The addition of salt can improve the extraction of the more polar compounds (Pawliszyn, 1997). Thus, the addition of 12.5 and 25 w/v % sodium chloride was studied. The results of these experiments showed that the optimum recoveries of the compounds were obtained with the addition of 25 w/v % sodium chloride. The pH of the water sample was set at 4, because, in acidic pH, the recoveries of the phenolic compounds increased. There was no significant effect on the recoveries of the other compounds by changing the pH. Stirring the water sample can increase extraction efficiency, because stirring can speed up the transfer of the compounds from water to headspace. The water samples were stirred at 750 and 1000 r/ min, and the best recoveries for all compounds were observed at 1000 r/min. The influence of temperature on the extraction yield of the compounds was studied varying the temperature between 20 and 70[degrees]C, using 65 pm PDMS/DVB and 30-minute extraction time. The peak areas at different extraction temperatures are shown in Figure 2. Each analyte has different diffusion rate into the fiber coating, resulting in different responses in the extraction yield. At temperatures higher than 50[degrees]C, the ability of the fiber to adsorb begins to decrease for most of the analytes. This is because extraction by SPME is an exothermic process. Thus, with increasing temperature, the distribution constant decreases (Pawliszyn, 1997). No single temperature gave the best recoveries; therefore, the decision was made to maintain the temperature for all experiments at 35[degrees]C, because this temperature was a reasonable compromise with high recoveries for all compounds. The HS-SPME is an equilibrium process of the analytes between the vapor phase and the fiber coating, so it is important to determine the time it takes for analytes to reach equilibrium. Analytes with high molecular weight or low Henry’s constant values need longer times to reach equilibrium (Pawliszyn, 1997). To evaluate the extraction efficiency for all the analytes, the extraction time ranged from 5 to 120 minutes at 35[degrees]C, using 65 [mu]m PDMS/ DVB, as shown in Figure 3. Acceptable equilibrium states were achieved for most of the volatile aromatic compounds mixture and the sulfur compounds at 30 minutes, while, for some of the phenols, equilibrium was reached after 50 minutes. Therefore, the extraction time was kept at 30 minutes. For those substances in which the extraction time had not reached equilibrium, the measurements were also valid, as long as the extraction time remained constant for all analyses (Pawliszyn, 1997). The desorption time was studied using the 65 [mu]m PDMS/DVB fiber, with constant extraction time of 30 minutes at 35[degrees]C. The desorption time ranged from 0.5 to 15 minutes at 250[degrees]C. The results showed that all compounds were completely desorbed at 10 minutes at this temperature. The gas chromatogram of HS-SPME GC-MS analysis of a standard solution of the 39 compounds is presented in Figure 4. Before the chromatographic analysis, SPME pretreatment was applied using the 65 pm PDMS/DVB SPME fiber, by addition of 25 w/v % sodium chloride and agitation. The extraction time was 30 minutes; the extraction temperature was 35[degrees]C; and the desorption time was 15 minutes at 250[degrees]C. The only analyte that could not be determined with this method was the 2,4-dinitrophenol. The method conditions for HS-SPME and GC-MS analysis that were used for the analysis are summarized in Table 1. Qualitative Analysis. The linear range of the HS-SPME was established by plotting the area of the analyte peak versus the concentration of each analyte. The correlation coefficients (r^sup 2^) for all compounds were good, because they ranged from 0.988 to 0.999. The relative standard deviation (RSD%) ranged from 0.5 to 12.1%, indicating that the method had good repeatability. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) are defined as statistical values (APHA et al., 1992; Keith et al., 1983). In particular, LOQ and LOD are given by 10s and 3s, respectively, where s is the standard deviation of seven repeat measurements of the standard solution performed at the lower point of the linear range. The LODs for the sulfur compounds ranged from 0.00006 to 0.27 [mu]g/L, for the volatile aromatic compounds mixture ranged from 0.0006 to 0.031 [mu]g/L, and for the phenols mixture ranged from 0.033 to 17 [mu]g/L. The retention times, LODs, LOQs, linear range, and correlation coefficients of the compounds are presented in Table 2. To investigate the matrix effects on extraction, the relative recovery of each analyte was calculated in raw wastewater, belt press filtrate, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and chlorinated secondary effluent samples. Three different concentration levels (low, medium, and high concentrations according to the calibration curve) of all the analytes were used for the calculation of relative recovery in each type of matrix. The samples were analyzed in triplicate at each concentration level. The relative recovery was estimated as follows: … (1) The spiked concentrations were 0.5 [mu]g/L volatile aromatic compounds mixture; 50 [mu]g/L phenols mixture; 0.1 [mu]g/L dimethyl sulfide; 0.01 [mu]g/L dimethyl disulfide; 50 [mu]g/L carbon disulfide; 400 [mu]g/L surrogate standard mix; and 8 [mu]g/L 1 ,4- dibromobenzene; and the relative recoveries of the compounds in all samples are presented in Table 3. AU the relative recoveries were compared witii those in distilled water. The relative recoveries of the analytes in the secondary effluent and in the chlorinated secondary effluent were high, as they ranged from 70 to 118%. The relative recoveries of the compounds in raw wastewater, belt press filtrate, and primary effluent samples ranged from 50 to 111%. The low relative recoveries were the result of the complex matrix of these samples. Therefore, quantitative analysis of these samples should be done using the standard addition method. The LOD for all compounds were at the microgram-per-liter level, and the method had very good repeatability, as the RSD% ranged from 0.5 to 12.1%. Analysis of Wastewater Samples. The previously described HS-SPME method was used for the determination of volatile organic compounds in raw wastewater, belt press filtrate, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and chlorinated secondary effluent samples from the Chania Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. The measurements of COD, TSS, and pH of the wastewater samples are presented in Table 4. The values of these parameters in the raw wastewater are typical of untreated domestic wastewater (Metcalf & Eddy, 1991), while the equivalent values in the treated effluent are below minimum legislation standards. Typical chromatograms of HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis of raw wastewater and secondary effluent samples are shown in Figure 5. A reduction in the concentrations of all analytes from the raw to secondary effluent samples can be observed. For the analytes with concentrations outside the calibration curve (toluene, tetrachloroethene, and p-isopropyltoluene), an appropriate dilution of the sample with distilled water took place. The dilution was 1:5 to 1:30, depending on the concentration of the analyte. The analysis of the samples (sampling date: July 5, 2005) showed the presence of volatile organic compounds (Table 5). The sulfur compounds were present in raw wastewater and primary effluent at low concentrations. Also, alkyl-substituted benzenes, naphthalene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and toluene were present in all samples. The 2-chlorophenol and 4-methylphenol were determined in the raw wastewater sample, but only 4-methylphenol was at a high concentration. The concentrations of all analytes decreased from raw wastewater to the chlorinated secondary effluent. The reduction of the concentrations of five analytes (dimethyl disulfide, toluene, tetrachoroethylene, p-isopropyl-toluene, and 4-methyl phenol) during the treatment process is presented in Figure 6. Also, the concentrations of mese five analytes, from July 5, 2005, to March 9, 2006, in the raw wastewater, are presented in Figure 7. As seen in Figure 7, 4-methyl phenol is the compound with the highest concentration variations in the raw wastewater. The concentrations of toluene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and ethylbenzene determined in the raw wastewater sample were at the same levels as those reported in the literature (Atasoy et al., 2004; Escalas et al., 2003; Tansel and Eyma, 1999). Also, the results obtained for these compounds in the primary effluent and secondary effluent samples are also comparable with those reported in the literature (Escalas et al., 2003; Tansel and Eyma, 1999). However, the concentration of dimethyl disulfide in the samples (raw wastewater 0.4 [mu]g/L and primary effluent 0.25 ng/L) was lower than these reported by Escalas et al. (2003) (raw wastewater 1.6 [mu]g/L and primary effluent 2.8 [mu]g/L). The lower concentration of dimethyl disulfide found in the present study possibly occurred because of the lower concentration of sulfur compounds in the original organic matter and because most of this highly volatile substance may have been stripped in the aerated grit chamber. The GC-MS analysis of the raw wastewater (sampling date: March 9, 2006) showed the presence of unknown peaks with high peak intensity. The characteristic fragments ions of these compounds were m/z 57, m/z 71, and m/z 85. These compounds were found to be tetradecane (C^sub 14^H^sub 30^), nonadecane (C^sub 19^H^sub 40^), pentatriacontane (C^sub 35^H^sub 72^), and docosane (C^sub 22^H^sub 46^), according to the NIST21 MS Library (Database of National Institute for Standard Technology [NIST] for the MS library provided with QP5000 GC-MS software by Shimadzu), with a 91% similarity level. The peak intensity of these compounds decreased in the primary effluent, secondary effluent, and chlorinated secondary effluent. These compounds may have been found in the raw wastewater because of the disposal of oily wastes into the sewers. In conclusion, a simple and fast analytical method was developed that could be used for monitoring volatile and semivolatile organic compounds in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Sample pretreatment was done by means of SPME, which is a solventless, fast, and low-cost technique. Each fiber was used for at least 60 analyses, without having observed any carryover problems. However, some reproducibility problems occurred after the completion of 60 analyses during the standard solution check. Total time of analysis, including the SPME procedure and GC-MS analysis, takes approximately 75 minutes. Credits This study was supported by the Greek Ministry of Education (Athens) and the European Union in the Framework of “Iraklitos- Fellowships for Research-ENVIRONMENT”. Submitted for publication May 10, 2006; revised manuscript submitted November 15, 2006; accepted for publication December 19, 2006. The deadline to submit Discussions of this paper is November 15, 2007. References Almeida, C. M. M.; Boas, L. V. (2004) Analysis of BTEX and Other Substituted Benzenes in Water Using Headspace SPME-GC-FID: Method Validation. J. Environ. Monit., 6, 80-88. American Public Health Association; American Water Works Association; Water Environment Federation (1992) Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th ed.; American Public Health Association: Washington, D.C. Atasoy, E.; Dogeroglu, T.; Kara, S. (2004) The Estimation of NMVOC Emissions from an Urban-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water Res.. 38, 3265-3274. Bentley, R.; Chasteen, T. G. (2004) Environmental VOSCs- Formation and Degradation of Dimethyl Sulfide, Methanethiol and Related Materials. Chemosphere. 55, 291-317. Bouillon, R. C; Miller, W. (2005) Photodegradation of Dimethl Sulfide (DMS) in Natural Waters: Laboratory Assessment of the Nitrate-Photolysis-Induced DMS Oxidation. Environ. Sei. Technol, 39, 9471-9477. Cheng, X.; Peterkin, E.; Burlingame, G. A. (2005) A Study on Volatile Organic Sulfide Causes of Odors at Philadelphia’s Northeast Water Polution Control Plant. Water Res., 39, 3781-3790. Cho, H. J.; Baek, K.; Lee, H. H.; Lee, S. H.; Yang, J. W. (2003) Competitive Extraction of Multi-Component Contaminants in Water by CarboxenPolydimethylsiloxane Fiber During Solid-Phase Microextraction. J. Chromatogr. A, 988, 177-184. Escalas, A.; Guadayol, J. M.; Cortina, M.; Rivera, J.; Caixach, J. (2003) Time and Space Patterns of Volatile Organic Compounds in a Sewage Treatment Plant. Water Res., 37, 3913-3920., 202-207. He, Y.; Wang, Y.; Lee, H. K. (2000) Trace Analysis of Ten Chlorinated Benzenes in Water by Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction. J. Chromatogr. A, 874, 149-154. Ji, J.; Deng, C; Shen, W.; Zhang, X. (2006) Field Analysis of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene in Water by Portable Gas Chromatography-Microflame Ionization Detector Combined with Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction. Talanta, 69, 894-899. Keith, L; Crummett. W.; Deegan, J.; Libby, R.; Taylor J.; Wentler G. (1983) Principles of Environmental Analysis. Anal. Chem.. 55, 2210-2218. Menendez, J. C. F.; Sanchez, M. L. F.; Sanchez, U.; Martinez, E. F.; Sanz-Medel, A. (2000) Static Headspace, Solid-Phase Microextraction and Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction for BTEX Determination in Aqueous Samples by Gas Chromatography. Analytica Chimica Acta, 415, 9-20. Metcalf & Eddy (1991) Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and ReuseMcGraw-Hill: New York. Moder, M.; Schrader, S.; Franck, U.; Popp, P. (1997) Determination of Phenolic Compounds in Wastewater by Solid-Phase Micro Extraction. Fresenius J. Anal. Chem., 357, 326-332. Ozkaya, B. (2005) Chlorophenols in Leachates Originating from Different Landfills and Aerobic Composting Plants. J. Hazard. Mater. B. 124, 107-112. Pawliszyn, J. (1997) Solid Phase Microextraction: Theory and Practice; Wiley-VCH: New York. Penalver, A.; Pocurull, E.; Borrull, F.; Maree, R. M. (2002) Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography to Determine Phenolic Compounds in Water Samples. J. Chromatogr. A. 953, 79-87. Pincheiro, P. B. M.; Esteves da Silva, J. C. G. (2005) Detection of 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole in Chlorinated Water at Nanogram per Liter Levels by SPME-GC-ECD. Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 382, 341-346. Portillo, M.; Prohibas, N.; Salvado, V.; Simonet, B. M. (2005) Vial Position in the Determination of Chlorophenols in Water by Solid Phase Microextraction. J. Chromatogr. A, 1103, 29-34. Suschka, J.; Mrowiec, B.; Kuszmider, G. (1996) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) at Some Sewage Treatment Plants in Poland. Water Sci. Technol., 33 (12). 273-276. Tansel, B.; Eyma, R. R. (1999) Volatile Organic Contaminant Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Plants During Secondary Treatment. Water Air Soil Pollut.. 112, 315-325. Zhou, F.; Li, X.; Zeng, Z. (2005) Determination of Phenolic Compounds in Wastewater Samples Using a Novel Fiber by Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography. Analytica Chimica Acta, 538, 63-70. Chrysoula V. Antoniou, Elisavet E. Koukouraki, Evan Diamadopoulos* Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Greece. * Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Kounoupidiana, 73100 Chania, Crete, Greece; e-mail: [email protected]. (c) 2007 Water Environment Research. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Art, Odds and Ends “Biblical” Medical Discoveries October 4, 2010 Darrell 91 Comments Click to embiggen Related PostsBlaming TechnologyDouble StandardsSoulwinning Dogma 91 thoughts on ““Biblical” Medical Discoveries” Now that’s a Biblical cure that I can support… Josh, remember wine is Greek for Welch’s Grape Juice hahaha…that is just perfect. Y’all do know why most protestant churches use grape juice, don’t you? It’s because Mr. Welch was Methodist, and Methodists were big into the temperance movement. Can you say opportunist? Until then, communion was always served with wine – even in Baptist churches. I support that cure, too! Strange but true – I’d never ever heard of Welch’s Grape Juice until I read this post. And then two cartons of the very same stuff arrived in my groceries today that I’d ordered on line. Do you think God’s trying to tell me something? LOL!!! when i was a kid, i had horrible nose bleeds almost daily at school. I would often get sent home because the school nurse couldnt get them to stop. anyways, some older lady at church told my mom to write a scripture on a card from the book of ezekiel about some dude lying in his own blood and make me read it aloud 3 times and the bleeding would stop. bible magic! not! i finally had to have the exposed vein cauterized. Maybe you just didn’t have enough faith and the exposed vein was your punishment! J/K! Bible magic! That bugs me so much! I remember a “church” teen at our youth group telling a new teen to put a Bible under your pillow at night so you wouldn’t have bad dreams! Nice. The Bible as your own personal talisman. That doesn’t work. I tried it. good grief. that’s like Biblical Voodoo! I wonder how many people know that JH Kellog invented his corn flakes as a tool in the “battle against vile affections”. It was believed that eating lots of meat would induce sexual activity, like masturbati0n. Hence him inventing the flakes as an alternative breakfast food. Of course he took it further, trying to demonstrate that abstention from sex is healthy. He never consumated his marriage. that’s far out! Kellog was a Seventh-day Adventist. Whew! That felt like a close one. I’ll forever associate the Mutsch’s w/ the song “birthday sex” though. Gosh I hate to tell you this, fellas, but he lived to be 91. What if he was right? Let’s all form a Kellog cult. I mean, we’ve all got experience with how the laws of Fundyland work … Bass – but Henry Allingham, the last British WW I Veteran who died earlier this year at the ripe old age of 113, attributed his longevity to, and I quote: He had two explanations for his longevity. The first, which proved age had not dimmed his sense of humour, was “cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women”. @BASSENCO – Yeah, he lived to be 91. Without sex. I’ll trade a few years for sex. “He never consumated his marrige.” Louis, Please tell me your joking. What kind of idiot gets married and then does not consumate? What’s the point of even getiing mariied and then never consumating(by no means am i saying that sex is the reason to get married)? Why not just stay single? No – I’m not. They lived in separate houses. I’d never heard that story, but a significant number of people who are in odd sex-free or rare-sex marriages based on religious reasons, one or both usually are denying their own orientation. Not necessarily a majority, but a significant amount of them are. But, but, but, a good-looking woman cures the gay … right? Apparently if you live in separate houses and never consumate the marriage it does? Kellogg is also the reason for the prevalence of non-Jewish male infant circumcision in this country. He advocated it for those reasons Louis mentions. Apparently stuff is less fun that way. Just sayin’. Bacon for breakfast, baby! (the corn flakes are now in the trash!) And his proposed cure for “onanism?” Just apply some acid “down there.” I remember a claim made by more than one Fundie private school Science teacher about how George Washington shouldn’t of died of bloodletting because The Bible has somewhere, an obvious statement about how blood is essential to life. Followed by skimming over his doctor’s motivation for bloodletting, and making some trite statement about how he (or his doctor) should of opened The Bible for the answer. This was presented as prologue, to show how The Bible knows about science, before we started that long chapter on Creation. (and refutation of Evolution.) Leviticus 17:11. It’s also a favorite of nutcases who refuse blood transfusions. Interesting that in the 1980’s a review of traditional remedies was conducted, and blood letting apparently did gain some credibility. Don’t remember all the particulars, but apparently it increased white blood cell count when done in a limited way (as was always intended). James Herriot (James Alfred Wight) wrote that in the days before antibiotics, when all else failed, his veterinarian senior, Siegfried Farnon (Donald Sinclair) would resort to bloodletting in inflammatory illnesses in horses, and more than once he plucked a victory out of almost certain defeat. Pretty cool to read about. It’s also useful for cases of polycythemia. In fact, giving blood every few weeks often works as treatment for polycythemia. I remember this little gem of an article. It seems to me that it was in BJU Press’ Health Book. It came somewhere in the chapter on circulation. It made perfect sense to me at the time, but lots of things make sense when you are programmed not to think about them. I always liked the sections in history books that were very critical about the Enlightenment because it emphasized man’s reasoning which is “obviously” wrong. We wouldn’t want people reasoning now, would we? The obvious advantage and absolute safety of hirudotherapy is checked up by thousands of years of experience of mankind and does not cause any doubts. One of the first substances found in salivary glands of medicinal leech is hirudin-the substance oppressing the process of blood clotting. Then such anticoagulating substances as ferment destabilaza,ingibitors of plazmine,callecrein of plasmine and others were opened. Factors of diffusion-ferments of gialuronidaza,collagenaza,the factors appressing the mediators of pain-cininaza,antisclerous factors were investigated as well. Again opened substances are studied. Thus,a medicinal leech is a small “factory†manufacturing biologically active substances. The result of action of biologically active substances on an alive organism are: -normalization and improvement of capillary circulation; -expressed antiinflammation effect; -antistressful and adaptogene effects; -immunostimulating and immunomodulating effects; -anesthesia; -anticoagulation; -antibacterial effect; -improvement of an endocellular exhange and the realization of these mechanisms has both local and general character. The existence of skin-visceral connections with the definite organs is well known. Biologically active substances act to organs during the blood-sucking work of medicinal leeches through viens. It promotes the improvement of blood circulation in the certain organ,renders trombolitic,antiinflammatory,immunostimulating action,raises nutrition of tissues, strengthens tissues immunity. It’s impossible to name all diseases which can be treated by using hirudotherapy. It’s easier to name contra-indications here : absolute-hemophilia, relative-pregnancy,anemia,hypotonia. It’s true. Leeches are currently used in some of the best hospitals in the US, not just in backwoods clinics. Are you all familiar with the big wave in fundamental weight loss? They are hormone shots that you take that help you lose weight. It all started out with a doc at FBC… His book packs a punch…what its like to go to prison AND how you can lose weight. By the way, don’t worry about the side effects of tumors or that it is illegal to dispense… A bunch of women at my former workplace all went to the same church and they were promoting the “Daniel Diet”–nothing but veggies and water. Oh it worked to help them lose weight–never mind the fact that it almost sent half of them into hypoglycemia. That sounds miserable! Dude! My mom was his office nurse for a year or two before I was born! I had a HORRIBLE experience at his hands over 30 years ago. I had just gotten married, had a miscarriage and was sent to see him. (as the only doctor who they ever sent students to) He did a D and C in his office with NO ANTESTETIC and three nurses and his wife holding me down. It was positively the WORST thing that has ever happened to me in my life. Before my husband carried me out to our car his wife lectured me about letting myself get pregnant in the first place. (I believe she had about 8 or 9 kids at the time) Over 30 years and that memory is still vivid. I had a terribly painful and UNNECESSARY procedure done in his office, never went back, paid the bill in great anger, and years later, up pops this weird bill on my credit rating FROM HIM!!!! My banker just laughed at it, and got rid of it, but I mean to say! Not only was he a fraud and a quack as far as practicing medicine, but he was a cheater as far as double-billing! That cartoon definitely demonstrates the mindset behind the way fundies approach the Scriptures. Since leaving fundyland, I’ve come to appreciate the genre and context of Scripture. I never could go back to my previous way of thinking about Scripture now that I’ve seen the light. It’s kind of funny (and rather embarrassing) to consider how I approached Scripture while in fundyland, though. My favorite came from a roommate in college. The cure for insomnia is to read or listen to the Bible. He told me the devil will put you to sleep. Any type of reading before bed puts me to sleep, so I could never really check this out. “The cure for insomnia is to read or listen to the Bible. He told me the devil will put you to sleep.” Save money! No need for sleeping pills or NyQuil, just use the devil! LOL The Nyquil /Devil rhyme—FUNNY! That’s a stretch. Those only rhyme if you are a fundy preacher trying to put people into a trance! Kevin would probably deny the Satan/Santa connection too. He talks like a liberal who reads from some modern perversion. I admit I like that one, as if the Devil really wants people to get a good night’s sleep. It’s especially effective when reading the Begats; anybody ever get all the way through those? My mother in law and grandmother are both of this persuasion. They don’t eat pork because they have translated a verse in the OT to deem so. Their standard response is if pork wasn’t bad for you why do doctors tell you not to eat it? They are also really into the natural healing stuff. Whoever you are that started using this as your moniker, I love you! Now I’m curious. What is the “hemorrhoid cure from Psalms”? Singing and praising–Psalm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. But obviously evil people (people against IFB) resort to surgery rather than “praising their pain away as is proved by Psalm 37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. Wow! You’re really good at that Fundie Bible interpretation! Can’t argue with scripture, right? There are some things that being good at is a curse–this is one of them. I find it interesting how a lot of these Bible “cures” and rules always coincide with the pastor’s/authority figure’s personal taste. Like we had a pastor once who preached that it was a sin to eat any meat cooked anything less than well-done or get a tattoo (he’d found one obscure verse also in Leviticus). But it was ok to eat shellfish and pork ribs because we’re not under the Law. Oh, that is sooo true. My ex-pastor was scared to death of Mad Cow disease back when there were a few cases of it–he insisted that a media conspiracy was keeping us from finding out that people were dropping dead from it like flies and therefore he bullied and threatened until all of us went completely off beef for several years. He also thought sushi was disgusting, and when he found out that my brothers and I liked it, he bullied us from the pulpit by name (not jokingly–he was being completely serious and ill-tempered) for eating that nasty pagan food. This usually goes hand in hand with the conspiracy theory crowd. The logic is as follows: If I as a fundamentalist am always right, that means I must know enough to be right (I have to understand medicine, science, etc.). Since I don’t have anything resembling an advanced education, then the truth about everything must be so simple that formal education is not required. This means that the truth (my opinion) is understandable to anyone. Those liberal educated people must have either not come acrose this painfully simple and obviously superior and exclusive truth that I have unearthed with minimal effort; or they know the truth, but are hiding it! Enter any number of conspiracies involving the medical industry, large drug companies, the government, the boy scouts, the X-Files, barcodes, and academic accreditation. That explains the craaazzzzyyyy fundamentalist/conspiracy theorist/housewife that tried persuade me that eating my vegetables would cure my cancer. My SIL thought that would happen, that she would get rid of her breast cancer first by juicing lots of carrots and eating lots of vegetables (recommended by her natureopathic “doctor”), then by this alternative treatment (in Germany) that put her in a sort of diabetic “coma” to attack the cancer cells. She deteriorated so rapidly that they had a hard time convincing the airlines to let her fly back home before she died. Well said, John! Classic. You described my parents to a “T”. They do not trust doctors. I went to PCC as a nursing major. I think they let me do it because then I would be their own personal doctor. They stopped asking my opinion when I kept saying, “my Gosh! go to the Dr for that!” They don’t trust the gov’t. Don’t trust doctors. Schools. My mom moved a couple houses on to their property to fill them with books because she believes there is a plot for the libraries to get rid of all the good books. Some day all the libraries will be shut down and people will have to come to her for books. Oh, no! I’m alternatively laughing and wincing about the library! I have a lot of Beverly Lewis and Jeanette Oke books; I don’t like them, but I haven’t wanted to get rid of them because someday one of my kids might want to read them and the libraries just might not continue to stock Christian books. I can totally see myself filling houses full of books lest “Fahrenheit 451″ become a reality! But I don’t want to be part of crazy land! Oh those books are way too new. She goes to all the big library sales and school auctions and gets the old books that are rejected. Proof positive that they are getting rid of all the good books. I love books too, I have a big collection of old books myself. I have them because they are hard to find but I don’t think there is a vast conspiracy going on to get rid of all the books. She sends me the ones she has multiple copies of. They get rid of them because they are out of date or falling apart. One book she gave me was written in the 50s and talking about space. It ended with, “And some day we may even go to the moon.” Gee Golly! Why would I want my kids reading that? Oh, hate christian romance novels. They are so predictable with verses peppered through it. Always ends with, not marriage, but marriage then a baby. Now we know they will have their happily ever after. I’m pretty unsatisfied with most Christian fiction out there right now – unfortunately. And I understand about authors wanting to avoid gratuitous sexuality, but when a writer spends 200 pages detailing every thought of a character as she agonizes over whether the hero loves her or not, and then says NOTHING about what the character thinks about her wedding night – it just doesn’t ring true. Try ‘The Lowlands of Scotland’ by Liz Curtis Higgs- it’s not graphic, but you definitely get a bit more of a look into the bedroom. Unlike Janette Oke’s “They went to bed and woke up the next morning.” Blaaaaaaaah. I don’t read fiction much, but when I do, I never consider “Christian” fiction. Greatest fiction book I’ve read in a decade (read a couple years ago) was Kite Runner. I can’t recommend it enough. @RobM: Totally agree on the Kite Runner!! Such a moving book. Don’t worry; they won’t be banning Christian “literature.” They’ll get rid of real books that actually make you think, like Catch 22, Animal Farm, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, 1984, and The Jungle. You know, the ones the Fundies already banned. This is one thing I did not experience in Fundamentalism. If anything, I got weird looks if I even mentioned any form of alternative/complementary medicine. I try to keep up with stuff and promptly toss out what is clearly malarkey. Homeopathy went out the window pretty quickly for me once I looked into it. I even tried some of it just to say I gave it a shot, and it had no effect (as expected). To think that there are Fundamentalists doing homeopathy makes my skin crawl. Oh yes, fundies are big into homeopathy/alternative medicine. Picking and choosing what science you want to listen to has its advantages, apparently. Granted, I’m probably quite a bit older than many of the posters, and I have been away from the insides of Fundyland for nearly 15 years; but I am still surprised. To think that there has been a shift from thinking that alternative medicine is for “hippies” to being perfectly acceptable among them blows my mind. I have noticed the hoopla among some Christians since I got out over stuff like the Hallelujah Diet and Young Living essential oil, but I had no idea they got that far into Fundamentalism. I once went to a YL party at a Lutheran church. Sorry, although I like aromatherapy, there’s no way I’ll do it like they do. No no no. My favorite memory of the “homeopathic/Biblical healing” movement (and, yes, I have quite a few to pick from) is the time that some women in our church were discussing the great success they had found using the following advice: Take a bottle of vitamins/medicine/whatever-nasty-thing-you-heard-recommended-somewhere, and hold it at arm’s length. If it feels right (and don’t ask them to define what “right” means here), then you should take it. In a nice little bout of irony, both women were definitely more unhealthy than most people at our church (eg: obese, one suffered from migraines and weakness, not to mention both were obviously not mentally sharp, etc.). It was one of the only times I really didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing at all. Sometimes trying to “edify” others just isn’t worth the mental gymnastics. Beckyboo What you are describing is a form of applied kinesiology/muscle testing. A woman in my former church was really into it. What a bunch of junk!! Yeah, my mom does that kind of stuff. I never put a lot of stock in it. Once I used it to test to see if certain people were good for me, just for kicks. C Fresh: And how did people respond to your results? Love that idea! My favorite is the group that advocates a “Back to Genesis” diet. Their theory is that in the first chapter of Genesis Adam was a vegetarian and that’s why he lived so long. My theory is that, without clothes, Adam got extra doses of Vitamin D! The Hallelujah Diet. Eziekiel – what is it?- 3:11 Bread? Both weirded me out. In Ezekial that bread was cooked over dung! Once I picked up an 1885 version of “Pilgrim’s Progress” at a library sale! But even I would draw the line at outdated science books! I was trying to answer escapee above. I guess I’m up too late! I guess I don’t understand what’s so weird about preferring alternative treatments if you can help it. I mean, I’m all for doctor visits and rx’s (I’m on Zoloft), but some disorders can be solved if you take the right amounts of something you’re deficient in a particular nutrient. Also, I never thought of it as an IFB thing. Guess it depends which camp you’re in. The problem is that a lot of these alternate treatments (e.g. homeopathy, “natural” cancer treatments) simply don’t work. People who promote this nonsense cause others to die because of their willful, criminal ignorance. There are lies and distortions on both sides of the aisle when it comes to the medical debate. You have the homeopathic group lying and distorting things about their treatments and you have the RX and MDA crowd lying about their drugs. That’s what makes it such a difficult debate. Follow. The. Money. Like my friend who died because her husband tried to cure her pancreatic cancer with massive doses of vitamins and foot baths. (Of course, he found his next wife before her body was even cold. In my Fundy experience, homeopathic and “new age” medicine are wrong, but Bible cures are good things. Oddly enough, it seems to me that there is usually no real difference between them – except that the “good” version often seems to cost more. I guess the magical elixer is more magical when it is purchased from a Man of Gid. The folks that promote alturnative medical advice seem to be taking their information third, fourth, fifth, etc., hand and it’s always based on the premise that someone in the professional field is less than honest with the public. For instance, I take Paxil and it is “common knowledge” that St. Johns Wart “does the same thing”….NO THANK-YOU! My doc is a very good doctor and between him and the makers of Paxil, my life has never been better. That said, the folks that want to sell you the “organic” or “natural” methods of healing are trying to make money too….in the end, *trust the professionals* and appeal to common sense. BUT! I do recommend the documentary *Supersize Me!*…great stuff (it falls into the category of “common sense” ) I laughed a bit when I read “Smells like mouthwash!” I then expected to see tipsy little children falootin around. Haha! Me too! I have friends who are strongly naturopathic believers. They believe that my PCOS and my dad’s cancer can be healed by eating right, taking supplements, and exercising – because it is God’s will for us all to be healthy. Any mention of the eventuality of Dad’s death or the uncertainty of my ability to bear children elicits a look of pained “if only you did things right” from my friend. I’ve actually really deeply struggled with the fact that I have PCOS to begin with – in my darkest moments, I wonder if it’s God’s way of punishing me for having sex with my husband before getting married. I know in my head that this is absolutely false, but there’s enough of a doubt to be torturous at times. I really want to know what the cure for hemmoriods is from Psalms

Appetizers 3-Way Sampler Potato Skins, Mozzarella Sticks and Buffalo Tenders. Served with dipping sauces - 10.50 Anti-Pasta Salad Diced salami, cappicola, provolone, pepperoncini, julienne roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, button mushrooms and roasted artichokes tossed with iceberg lettuce in an oil and red wine vinegar dressing - 9.95 Sautéed Mussels Tender black mussels, sautéed in olive oil with garlic herbs and white wine. Served with grilled flatbread - 11.25 Deep Fried Chicken Tenders Fresh cut chicken tenders served with sweet & sour sauce - 9.25 Mozzarella Sticks Lightly breaded and fried to perfection. Served with marinara sauce - 8.50 Buffalo Wings Crispy chicken wings tossed in a Louisiana Hot Sauce. Served with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing - 8.75 Asian Dumplings Asian spiced dumplings filled with pork then steam grilled. Served with sweet and hot ginger sauce - 8.50 Buffalo Tenders Boneless chicken tenders hand battered then tossed in Louisiana Hot Sauce. Served with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing - 9.25 Telly’s South of the Border Nachos Grande Crisp tortilla chips loaded with olives, jalapeños, diced tomatoes and chicken topped with melted cheese. Served with salsa and sour cream - 9.50 Substitute Chili - 2.50 Telly’s Loaded Cheese Fries Our famous fries topped with melted cheese, chopped bacon and sour cream. Served with ranch dressing - 9.95 Old Fashion Onion Rings Our thick cut onion rings are breaded and deep fried to a golden brown - 6.75 Traditional Potato Skins Crispy potato skins loaded with bacon and cheese. Served with sour cream - 9.95 Spinach & Artichoke Dip Spinach, artichokes and melted cheeses. Served with unlimited crispy tortilla chips - 9.75 Calamari Fresh calamari lightly breaded, fried and served with our marinara sauce - 11.25 Bruschetta Pizza Personal size pizza with basil pesto, buffalo mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. Finished with a balsamic reduction - 8.95 Roasted Artichoke & Mushroom Crostini Individual toasts topped with a mixture of slow roasted artichokes and button mushrooms and a herb cheese spread. Perfect for sharing - 6.95 Salads Crispy Chicken Salad Chopped breaded chicken tenders, tomatoes, shredded cheese, scallions and red peppers over mixed greens. Served with our own honey vinaigrette dressing - 9.95 Grilled Chicken, Apple & Cranberry Salad Slices of flame broiled marinated chicken over baby greens then finished with sliced fresh apples, cranberries, glazed walnuts and crumbled bleu cheese. Served with low fat cilantro lime vinaigrette dressing - 9.99 Grilled Chicken Salad Slices of flame broiled marinated chicken on top of a mixture of crisp lettuce with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and green peppers - 9.99 Add Feta - .50 Cobb Salad Diced chicken, chopped bacon, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, tomatoes and black olives over mixed greens. Served with your choice of dressing - 9.95 Caesar Salad Crisp romaine lettuce tossed with homemade croutons and Telly’s own caesar dressing. Topped with romano cheese - 7.99 Add Chicken - 2.50 Add Steak - 5.99 Tortilla with Warm Goat Cheese Salad Warm goat cheese encrusted with almonds and served with corn tortilla strips on top of baby greens tossed with apples, roasted red peppers and glazed walnuts with a Caribbean mango vinaigrette dressing - 11.99 Taco Salad Served in a large cooked flour tortilla with lettuce, black olives, tomatoes, pepperjack cheese and your choice of Grilled Chicken or Chili Beef. Served with salsa and sour cream - 10.99 Greek Salad Feta cheese, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers on top of a mixture of romaine and iceberg lettuce with our own house dressing - 9.99 Marinated Steak Salad Marinated steak on top of a mixture of crisp lettuce with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and green peppers - 13.99 Add Feta - .50 All soups and salads come with grilled flat bread. Dressings: Soups Telly’s Chowder of the Day Chef’s Soup of the Day French Onion Soup Texas Chili Soup & Salad - 6.99 With Chowder add 1.50 Side House Salad - 4.25 Side Caesar Salad - 4.75 Italian Specialties Add your choice of a cup of our Homemade Chef’s Soup or a Side Caesar or House Salad for 2.75 Seafood Primavera Fettuccine, baby shrimp, scallops and fresh vegetables sautéed with garlic in a rich cream sauce - 18.99 Sautéed Salmon, Roasted Red Pepper and Spinach Salmon sautéed with spinach and red peppers in a lobster butter cream sauce. Served over goat cheese ravioli - 18.99 Fettuccine Alfredo Fettuccine, garlic, parsley and parmesan cheese brought together in a rich cream sauce - 15.99 Add Chicken - 2.50 Add Shrimp - 4.50 Lobster Ravioli Raviolis stuffed with tender Maine lobster sautéed with shrimp, roasted red peppers and asparagus tips in a sherry cream sauce - 19.99 Chicken Parmesan Sautéed chicken breast coated with Italian bread crumbs then topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Served with penne pasta - 15.99 Veal Parmesan Fresh center cut veal slices hand breaded and baked in the oven with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Served with penne pasta - 17.99 Eggplant Parmesan Hand breaded eggplant slices baked in the oven with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Served with penne pasta - 13.99 Telly’s Homemade Lasagna Layered pasta with meat and cheeses. A house favorite - 14.99 Spaghetti & Meatballs An Italian classic served with marinara sauce - 10.99 Chicken Cacciatore Tender chicken sautéed in oil with fresh basil, garlic, julienne onion, green peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes tossed with penne pasta - 15.99 Baked Gnocchi Potato gnocchi tossed with marinara and ricotta cheese. Topped with mozzarella cheese - 12.50 Tortellini Carbonara Cheese tortellini tossed in a rich cream sauce flavored with romano cheese, chopped bacon and fresh green peas - 14.99 Add Shrimp - 4.50 Add Chicken - 2.50 Grilled Chicken and Wild Mushroom Ravioli Chicken with mushroom ravioli sautéed with spinach and roasted red peppers tossed in an alfredo sauce - 15.99 Veal Saltimbocca Veal sautéed with portobello mushrooms, layered prosciutto ham and provolone cheese, then finished in a marsala wine sauce. Served over fettuccine - 19.99 Chicken Piccata Chicken sautéed with portobello mushrooms, capers and onions, then finished in a lemon butter sauce. Served with fettuccine - 15.99 Seafood Diablo Shrimp, scallops and black mussels tossed in a spicy red sauce. Served with fettuccine - 18.99 Sides Jasmine Rice Fresh Broccoli Grilled Asparagus Baked Potato Mashed Potatoes Vegetable of the Day Fuji Apples French Fries Onion Rings Cole Slaw Sweet Potato Fries From the Land Add your choice of a cup of our Homemade Chef’s Soup or a Side Caesar or House Salad for 3.00 Charbroiled Beef Tips A hearty serving of marinated beef tips served with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables - 15.99 Flat Iron Steak 8 oz. flat iron steak served with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables - 15.99 Ribeye Steak 12 oz. center cut ribeye steak served with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables - 19.99 Grilled Chicken Fajitas Flame broiled fajita chicken, peppers, onion and Mexican spices. Served with flour tortillas and all the fixin’s - 15.99 Spicy Chicken & Shrimp with a Coconut Curry Cream Sauce Spicy Thai dish with curry, peanuts, Thai chile, apricots and coconut sautéed with vegetables. Served with jasmine rice - 17.99 Chicken Madeira Sautéed chicken breast topped with fresh asparagus and melted mozzarella cheese, covered with a fresh portabella mushroom Madeira sauce and served with mashed potatoes - 15.99 Bourbon Turkey Tips Marinated bourbon turkey tips. Served with mashed potatoes and cole slaw - 15.99 Chicken Tender Plate Crispy chicken tenders served with French fries, cole slaw and sweet & sour sauce - 10.99 BBQ Beef Tips A hearty serving of beef tips cooked in a hickory smoked BBQ sauce. Served with red bliss mashed potatoes and Fuji apples - 15.99 From the Sea Asian Glazed Norwegian Salmon Fresh salmon basted with our own Asian sauce. Served with jasmine rice and grilled vegetables - 17.99 Broiled Haddock Lightly breaded with our seasoned bread crumbs. Served with jasmine rice and grilled vegetables - 15.99 Fish & Chips Fresh haddock battered and deep fried to a golden brown. Served with French fries, cole slaw and tartar sauce - 15.99 Ipswich Whole Belly Clams Fresh clams served with French fries, cole slaw and a tartar sauce - Market Price Golden Fried Shrimp Served with French fries, cole slaw and a tartar sauce - 18.99 Golden Fried Scallops Served with French fries, cole slaw and a tartar sauce - 19.99 Combination Platter Fresh scallops and clams served with French fries, cole slaw and a tartar sauce - 21.99 Almond Encrusted Norwegian Salmon Norwegian Salmon crusted with almonds, black and white sesame seeds and seasoned crumbs served in a Frangelico liqueur cream sauce. Served with jasmine rice and wild mushroom ravioli - 18.99 Fisherman Platter Scallops, Shrimp, Clams and Haddock. Served with French fries, cole slaw and a tartar sauce - 23.99 Sandwiches All sandwiches served with French fries. Substitue Sweet Potato Fries or Onion Rings for 3. Fish Sandwich Fresh haddock sandwich served with lettuce, tomato and a tartar sauce - 10.99 BBQ Pork Sandwich A southern delicacy, select pork, hand pulled so its tender and juicy. Made with our chipotle BBQ sauce - 8.50 Grilled Chicken Sandwich Lettuce, tomato, mayo, bacon and American cheese - 9.25 BBQ Chicken Sandwich Tender grilled chicken smothered in BBQ sauce, then topped with lettuce, tomato, bacon and pepperjack cheese - 9.25 Chicken Pesto Sandwich Grilled chicken served with lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese and a pesto mayo sauce - 9.25 Buffalo Bleu Cheese Chicken Sandwich A fried chicken breast coated in buffalo sauce and topped with crumbled bleu cheese, lettuce and tomato on a bulkie roll - 9.50 Veggie Ciabatta Sandwich Garlic roasted roma tomatoes, a balsamic marinated grilled portabella mushroom, topped with melted provolone cheese. Served on a toasted ciabatta roll with a herbed cheese spread. Choice of soup or salad - 9.25 Hot Sicilian Chicken Sandwich A grilled pesto marinated chicken breast topped with sliced pepperoni, provolone cheese and sliced tomato served on grilled ciabatta bread drizzled with Caesar dressing - 9.95 Ciabatta Chicken Caprese Sliced chicken, fresh mozzarella and tomato topped with seasoned olive oil, fresh basil and balsamic glaze. Served on toasted ciabatta roll - 9.75 Italian Deluxe Ciabatta Toasted ciabatta with garlic infused olive oil, pesto, provolone, prosciutto, cappicola, salami, tomatoes, and red onion - 9.50 Turkey Club Triple decker sandwich topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo - 9.25 Classic Burger Our thick burger topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo - 9.99 Bacon Burger Topped with bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo - 10.50 Black & Bleu Burger Crusted with black pepper and spices. Topped with lettuce, tomato and bleu cheese crumbles- 10.75 Pepper Jack Burger Topped with jalapeños, bacon, lettuce, tomato, bleu cheese dressing and melted pepperjack cheese - 10.95 Hot Subs Veal Parmesan Breaded veal smothered with marinara sauce, then topped with melted provolone cheese. Small - 8.50 Large - 9.50 Meatball Parmesan Hearty home style meatballs smothered in marinara sauce, then topped with provolone cheese. Small - 7.75 Large - 9.25 Chicken Parmesan Breaded chicken tenderloin smothered with marinara sauce, then topped with melted provolone cheese. Small - 7.50 Large - 9.50 Eggplant Parmesan Breaded eggplant smothered with marinara sauce and topped with provolone cheese. Small - 7.50 Large - 8.50 Buffalo Chicken Sub Breaded chicken tenderloin tossed in a hot sauce and served with lettuce, tomatoes and bleu cheese dressing. Small - 7.75 Large - 9.75 Chicken Tender Sub Breaded chicken tenderloin with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo. Small - 7.50 Large - 8.75 Chicken Kabob Tender chicken sautéed with onion, green peppers and mushrooms. Topped with melted American cheese. Small - 7.50 Large - 9.50 B.L.T. Bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo. Small - 7.50 Large - 8.75 Steak & Cheese 100% USDA steak smothered with melted American cheese. Small - 7.50 Large - 9.50 Telly’s Italian Steak 100% USDA steak with sautéed onion and green peppers topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Small - 8.25 Large - 9.75 Steak Bomb 100% USDA steak with sautéed mushrooms, onion, green peppers and Genoa salami with melted American cheese. Small - 8.75 Large - 9.99 Steak Tips Marinated steak tips served with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo. Small - 8.50 Large - 9.50 Texas Steak Tips BBQ steak tips with bacon, grilled onion and pepperjack cheese. Small - 9.99 Large - 10.99 Smothered Steak Tips Marinated steak tips sautéed with grilled onion, mushrooms and green peppers then topped with American cheese. Small - 8.99 Large - 9.99 Cold Subs & Wraps Cold subs come with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onion and hot peppers on request. Chicken Caesar Wrap Chicken mixed with our own caesar salad, croutons and romano cheese - 7.99 Fresh Veggie Tomatoes, lettuce, green peppers and Swiss cheese. Small - 5.50 Large/Wraps - 6.50 Italian Italian cold cuts, Genoa salami, cappicola ham, mortadella and provolone cheese topped with seasoned oil & vinegar. Small - 7.50 Large/Wraps - 8.50 Smoked Turkey All natural smoked turkey generously sliced with provolone cheese and mayo. Small - 7.50 Large/Wraps - 8.50 Roast Beef Lean 100% USDA beef sliced thin with mayo. Small - 7.50 Large/Wraps - 8.50 Smoked Ham Made with American cheese and mayo. Small - 7.50 Large/Wraps - 8.50 Pizza & Calzones Our signature brick oven cooks pizza quickly, locking in freshness and flavor. Pizza Small (12”) - 10.75 Large (18”) - 12.75 Add topping to a small pizza - 1.50 Add topping to a large pizza - 1.95 Calzone Calzones come with marinara sauce unless otherwise specified - 10.75 Additional Toppings - 1.50 each Specialty Pizzas & Calzones Margherita Fresh Buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, romano cheese and fresh basil. Small - 12.45 Large - 16.45 Calzone - 12.99 Hawaiian Smoked ham and roasted pineapple. Small - 11.65 Large - 15.95 Calzone - 11.95 Italian Deluxe Alfredo sauce, broccoli and grilled chicken. Small - 11.65 Large - 15.95 Calzone - 11.95 Veggie Deluxe Roasted mushrooms, caramelized onion, roasted sliced green peppers, black olives and diced tomatoes. Small - 14.49 Large - 19.49 Calzone - 14.95 Justa Fad Basil pesto, roasted mushrooms, artichoke hearts and ricotta cheese. Small - 12.49 Large - 17.99 Calzone - 14.95 Telly’s Special Pepperoni, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onion, roasted sliced green peppers, Italian sausage and hamburger. Small - 14.95 Large - 19.75 Calzone - 15.45 Meat Lovers Pepperoni, smoked ham, bacon and Italian sausage. Small - 13.95 Large - 18.95 Calzone - 13.95 South of the Border Barbecue sauce, BBQ chicken, jalapeños and caramelized onion topped with pepperjack cheese. Small - 13.95 Large - 18.95 Calzone - 13.95 Mexican Pizza Grilled chicken, caramelized onion, roasted red pepper and roasted sliced green peppers topped with pepperjack cheese. Small - 13.95 Large - 18.95 Calzone - 13.95 Buffalo Chicken Breaded Buffalo chicken and diced tomatoes topped with bleu cheese and mozzarella. Small - 12.99 Large - 18.95 Calzone - 13.95 The 3 Cheese Pizza Our white pizza combining the tastes of mozzarella, ricotta, imported asiago, freshly diced tomatoes and minced garlic. Small - 14.25 Large - 18.95 Calzone - 14.45 Garden Pesto Basil pesto, artichoke hearts, diced tomatoes, fresh garlic topped with mozzarella and imported asiago cheese. Small- 14.25 Large- 18.95 Calzone- 14.75 Greek Pizza Fresh spinach, feta cheese, olives, garlic and diced tomatoes topped with mozzarella cheese. Small- 13.95 Large- 18.95 Calzone- 14.75 Mediterranean Pizza Goat cheese, shrimp, mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers, garlic and fresh basil. Small- 15.95 Large- 21.45 Calzone- 17.45 Thai Pizza Thai peanut sauce, mozzarella cheese, chicken, mangos, shredded coconut and scallions. Small- 14.45 Large- 18.95 Calzone- 14.45 Caprese Pizza Garlic oil, buffalo mozzarella and diced tomatoes. Finished with fresh basil and a balsamic vinigarette reduction. Small- 12.45 Large- 16.45 Calzone- 12.99 BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza BBQ sauce, mozzarella cheese, pulled pork, pineapple and scallions. Small-12.45 Large- 16.45 Calzone- 12.99 Toppings Sauces Pizzas come with red sauce unless otherwise specified. Pesto Basil, Red Sauce, Alfredo Sauce, BBQ Sauce Cheeses Asiago (Romano), Mozzarella, Ricotta, Feta Cheese, Extra Cheese, Pepperjack Cheese, Bleu Cheese, Goat Cheese Meats Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Hamburger, Prosciutto, Breaded Buffalo Chicken, Grilled Chicken, Bacon, BBQ Chicken, Smoked Ham, Anchovies, Salami Freshly Chopped Veggies & More Artichoke Hearts, Black Olives, Broccoli, Eggplant, Fresh Basil, Fresh Garlic, Diced Tomatoes, Jalapeño Peppers, Roasted Mushrooms, Roasted Sliced Onion, Roasted Sliced Green Peppers, Roasted Pineapple, Roasted Red Peppers, Spinach, Portobello Mushrooms, Sun Dried Tomatoes Kids For children age 10 and under. Grilled Cheese with Fries - 4.50 Hot Dog with Fries - 4.75 Pasta Spaghetti or penne pasta served with marinara or butter sauce and one meatball - 6.25 Kid’s Burger Burger served with lettuce, tomato, mayo and fries - 6.90 Chicken Fingers Two large chicken fingers served with fries and a side of sweet & sour sauce - 6.25 Kid’s Size Pizza Cheese or with pepperoni - 5.50 Kraft Macaroni & Cheese - 4.75 Kid’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Topped with chocolate sauce - 2.50 Free with purchase of any Kids Meal. Bottomless Kid’s Soda - .99 Shirley Temple - .99 Milk White or Chocolate - 1.75 Juice - 2.00 - Acoustic open mic from 6-9pm hosted by John Ayer. Sam Adams pints just $3.00

Information For: Prospective Students Faculty + Staff Current Students Alumni Parents Local Community Mobile Apply Visit Us Give Page Image Course Schedule Course Descriptions Currently selected Major Requirements Faculty and Staff Learning Goals Trinity College / Academics / Majors + Minors / Sociology / Course Descriptions Course Descriptions Course Catalog for SOCIOLOGY SOCL 101 Principles of Sociology The course will deal with questions such as these: What are the underlying causes of our major social problems? Are inequality and the exercise of power by some over others inevitable in all social life? How important in human life are cultural and social factors compared to the influence of biological inheritance, personality and economic constraints? What are the origins of, prospects for, and results of attempts at deliberate social change? To what extent can we realistically expect to achieve our democratic ideals of freedom and equality in contemporary societies? The course addresses the basic concerns, ideas and methods of sociology both as a scientific and a humanistic discipline. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 201 Research Methods in the Social Sciences An introduction to social sciences inquiry, stressing what is common as well as what is different in the techniques and procedures employed in the different disciplines. The course seeks to develop the student’s skill in designing original research and in evaluating the significance of already published research findings. Topics include: the interdependence of theory and research; ways of formulating research problems and hypotheses; the variety of research designs (introducing the ideas of statistical as well as experimental control); and an overview of the major procedures of instrument construction, measurement, data collection, sampling, and data analysis. Required laboratory sessions offer experience in each step of the research process. Prerequisite: C- or better in Sociology 210 or Mathematics 107, Mathematics 207, or permission of instructor. 1.25 units, Lecture SOCL 202 Classical and Contemporary Theory Critical examination of the major theoretical perspectives current in sociology (structure functionalism, interactionism, conflict theory, exchange theory, and ethnomethodology) and consideration of their implications for core problems: such as social order and social change that concern all sociologists. Also, emphasis upon the methods of theory construction, the relationship between theory and research, and the significance of the classic (e.g., Durkheim’s Suicide) for sociologists now. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of instructor. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 204 Social Problems in American Society Diverse sociological perspectives on the causes of social problems will be analyzed. Crime, police behavior, collective violence, poverty, welfare and other topics relating to deviance and inequality in American society are considered in light of these perspectives. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 205 Cultural Sociology and the Sociology of Culture This course introduces students to the sociology of culture (understanding the social influences of social formations) and cultural sociology (understanding cultural influences on social processes). Major themes and issues in cultural sociology are examined to answer the following questions: “What is culture and what does it do?” and “How is culture to be studied?” The course addresses these questions by exploring the seminal issues Marx, Weber, and Durkheim raised about culture. In addition, the course examines how scholars (from a variety of theoretical perspectives) approach these seminal issues. Examples of issues that spring from the work of classical sociologists include the following: “Do media messages shape our view of reality? If so, how?” and “How do class and lifestyle intertwine to reproduce inequality?” The course also deals with substantive questions that have recently arisen including “How is market activity undergirded by cultural assumptions?” and “How does social context shape the production of scientific knowledge?” Special attention is given to how theoretical ideas are translated into empirical projects. Although the course has no specific prerequisites, some passing acquaintance with Durkheim, Weber, and Marx is helpful. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 207 Family and Society The family as a basic group in human societies; its development; its relations to other institutions; historical changes in its structure; its place in modern industrial society. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 210 Statistics for the Social Sciences This course is an introduction to statistical methods, their conceptual underpinnings, and their use in analyzing social science data. Topics include basic presentation and graphing of data, descriptive statistics, probability theory, the normal distribution, one and two sample t-tests and tests of proportions, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing, chi-square tests, and an introduction to linear regression. The course will emphasize the logic and practice of statistical analysis as it applies to the social sciences. Students will also learn to carry out basic statistical analysis with the aid of computer software. This course is intended for students who want a practical introduction to statistical methods and who plan to major in a social science. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of instructor. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 214 Racism A cross-national comparison of racial and ethnic differences as sources of conflict and inequality within and between societies. We will also consider the role of race and ethnicity as a basis for group and national solidarity. Topics will include the persistence of ethnic and racial loyalties in regard to language, marital choice, and politics; a comparison of social mobility patterns among various ethnic and racial groups; ethnicity and race as reactionary or revolutionary ideologies; and the issues and facts regarding assimilation and pluralism in different societies. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 215 Reproductive Justice in America Women of color, poor women, and young women routinely lack choices in reproductive health because of inequalities built into the structure of society. We will read academic literature on the reproductive justice movement and press coverage of cases that highlight the restriction of women’s reproductive health choices. For example, we will study cases of women arrested for using drugs during pregnancy, denied access to contraception and/or abortion, having parental rights terminated because they chose to give birth at home, or imprisoned for attempting suicide while pregnant. We will also examine organizations that focus on solutions to these problems. The course will end with a field trip to the New York City office of National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW), one such organization. 0.50 units, Seminar SOCL 222 Sociology of Iran: Society, Culture and Politics This course will provide students with a sociological understanding of modern Iranian Society and culture with particular attention to post-revolutionary Iran. The class starts with a brief section on the social and cultural history of modern Iran and we will study important scholarly works on the Iranian Revolution of 1979. We will then focus on political and cultural issues in post-revolutionary Iran under the Islamic Republic. We will examine the social and cultural changes taking place in Iran over the past three decades. Some areas we will examine are: consumption and lifestyle; youth and underground culture; love and sexual experiences; public and private sphere; new and old religiosity; leisure time and secularization of time; and Iranian Cinema. 1.00 units, Seminar SOCL 227 From Hartford to World Cities: Comparative Urban Dynamics. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 229 Megacities of the Yangtze: Challenges and Opportunities This course will provide an intensive opportunity to read a selection of the vast literature on China’s cities and to carry out in-depth studies of vital topics and cases in the field. Foci of research will range from the tearing down of traditional neighborhoods to the rapid emergence of exclusive gated communities and from thriving small businesses on the streets of Chongqing or Wuhan to the grandiose mega-projects like the Three Gorges Dam or Dongtan Eco-City in Shanghai. Dean Xiangming Chen will offer both a native/personal and an intellectual and analytical perspective, and insight on these topics and cases to help place the readings and field inquiries in meaningful local contexts. Interfacing with both the history and environmental science courses of the program, this course aims to engage the students in a deep probe of the most daunting social challenges facing the rapidly transforming megacities along the Yangtze River. 0.50 units, Lecture SOCL 230 Doing Sociological Field Work The qualitative research enterprise can involve enormous complexities and conundrums unless the researcher is fully acquainted with qualitative methodology. This course will provide students with a basic understanding of various types of qualitative research procedures. Beginning with the formation of the research question, students will learn step-by-step what the qualitative research process entails. We will explore various approaches that fit into the framework of qualitative research, such as doing ethnography, using archival data, and conducting interviews. Students will also learn how to construct and interpret verbal data, such as interviews and biographies, in addition to learning how to work effectively with visual and observational data. The course will also acquaint students with the various ways in which researchers document, analyze, code, and categorize qualitative data. Enrollment limited. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 235 Sociology of Health and Illness This course explores the relation of physical and mental illness to biochemical corporations, the Environmental Protection Agency, the health insurance industry, and the medical profession. We will examine the influence of such factors as class, gender, race, and ethnicity on patterns of health and illness behavior, explore the social and cultural barriers to medical care, and situate healthcare delivery and health care reforms in their economic and political contexts. A final component of the course will consider how the above concerns affect medical ethics. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 241 Mass Media, Popular Culture, and Social Reality This course examines the integral role mass communication has in social and cultural life. Specifically, it explores how we identify and construct our social identity using media images. This is accomplished by focusing on different types of media content and their effect on individuals and culture, as well as by examining audience response to media content. Other topics covered include the social and economic organization of mass media, development of communication technologies, and sexist and racist stereotypes in the media. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of instructor. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 246 Sociology of Gender Sex and gender are used as principles of social organization in all known societies. This course surveys research in the sociological study of gender with the goal of providing students with a theoretical grounding for analyzing gender from a sociological perspective. We will explore how our lives and the world around us are shaped by gender and how gender has been constructed over time. We will further examine how sociological research on gender helps us to understand power and inequality at various levels – institutional, organizational, and interactional—by examining various topics such as gender socialization, reproduction, education, work, and violence. We will also pay attention to how gender reinforces and builds upon other areas of inequality such as social class, race, ethnicity, and age. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 250 Urban Sociology This course will trace the modern city from its roots in the industrial revolution through the current urban transformations brought about by advanced capitalism and globalization. The course will ask why cities are organized the way they are and how their organization affects social conditions and opportunities. Among the factors shaping cities, this course will explore the effects of economic change, immigration, and public policy on the social organization and built environment of cities. With respect to their social consequences, the course will examine, among other issues, economic inequality, racial stratification, community formation, poverty, and urban social movements. It will inquire into how the city is both a contributor to and a container for these social structures and processes. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 256 Women and the Underside of Globalization The costs and benefits of globalization are not evenly distributed across nations. Moreover, the international women’s movement highlights the systematic exploitation of women as a source of cheap domestic and migrant labor under globalization. Topics in this course will address the marginalization of women under development in contexts such as the sweatshop factories of Bangladesh, China, and Latin America, the “maid trade” from poorer to richer countries, global chains of care, mail-order or Internet brides from Russia, and surrogate motherhood in India. Utilizing a sociological approach, this course will explore the commodification of women and also their reproductive and productive labor, thereby revealing multiple and often interdependent economic linkages between the exploitation of women in the economic south and globalization. Class meetings will incorporate in-class exercises, documentary films, and guest speakers from CT’s affiliate of the National Domestic Worker Alliance. 0.50 units, Seminar SOCL 260 Sexual Diversity and Society Sexuality has often been considered to be a natural, biological instinct-a drive that is fueled by hormones, genes or deep psychic impulses. During the last twenty years, however, scholars (including sociologists) have challenged this view of sexuality. Instead, they argue that how we organize our sexuality-our desires, ideas, value systems, practices and identities-are profoundly shaped by social and cultural influences. Although this course focuses on the social construction of homosexuality, we will also examine the many ways that normative as well as nonnormative sexualities are socially constructed. We will also examine the many ways that the social construction of sexuality is informed by class, gender, race and ethnicity. Using materials from sociology and from the many other disciplines that are working in the areas of lesbian and gay studies and queer theory, we will explore the impact that history, economics, social structure and cultural logics have had on sexual behaviors, identities, and belief systems. Enrollment limited. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 272 Social Movements The sociological study of social movements concentrates on collective action by groups that use institutionalized and non-institutionalized action to promote or inhibit social and political change. This course, then, examines collective action as diverse as peasant rebellions against urbanization and commercialization in 18th-century France to the organized militancy of lesbians and gays in 20th-century U.S. We will read historical and sociological research that addresses the following questions: why collective action emerged, how it was organized, what its goals were and if it achieved those goals, how members were recruited and maintained, and how elites and non-elites responded to its activities. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 280 Women and Work This course is an overview of women’s experience with paid and unpaid work, both domestically and internationally. We cover theoretical and empirical literature that examines historical and contemporary patterns of work done by women and the relationship of these patterns to political and economic structures of society. Specific issues discussed in the course include gender discrimination, sexual harassment, occupational sex segregation, earning differentials between men and women, the division of labor by sex within households, and the relationship between paid and unpaid labor. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 290 Race, Class, and Gender This course is about race, class, and gender, as they structure identities, opportunities, and social outcomes. Some questions asked are: Are systemic hierarchies inevitable in human social organization? What are ways that the problems associated with race, class, and gender can be meaningfully addressed? How do one's racial, class, and gender characteristics affect one's life chances? Why? As well, this course stresses critical thought when studying these social issues. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 306 The Sociology of Globalization This course examines the historical emergence of and contemporary issues surrounding globalization. Students will be expected to become knowledgeable about global social issues, learn the sociological theories that attempt to explain the globalization process, and become familiar with the empirical data social scientists use in their analyses of global social relations. Particular emphasis will be placed on global economic, political, and social structures (e.g., Multinational Corporations and the World Trade Organization). Further, the course will explore the effects of globalization on social inequality and social problems. Students will be asked to identify a particular global issue on which they wish to do independent reading and/or field study and to share their work in oral presentations and research papers. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 310 Sociology of Education This course will apply sociological perspective to the institution of education. In the process we will explore how and why education continues to evolve as an institution, its relationship to other institutions and the various types and uses of education in our society. The symbolic importance of various types of education will be explored relative to the life chances of "students" and the power they may come to wield in a society where the flow of information is becoming increasingly significant. Who defines and what are the contemporary problems of education will conclude the course. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 312 Social Class and Mobility This course is an introduction to the theory and research on stratification and mobility in modern societies. Every society distributes resources unequally. This distribution affects not only economic outcomes such as wages, profits, and material well being, but also social and political outcomes such as protest, voting behavior, and self-esteem. This course will explore why this occurs, the types of inequalities that exist, and the consequences of inequality for the distribution of power and for democratic processes in American society. Specific topics include class, occupational, race and gender inequalities, and the social, psychological, and cultural consequences of inequality. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 316 Global Gender Inequalities This course broadly addresses women’s low status and power worldwide. Topics include issues such as son preference, gendered violence, maternal health and reproductive rights, sexual rights, work and household labor, globalization, politics, human rights, and women’s global activism. Utilizing a transnational sociological feminist perspective, students learn how gender inequality intersects with not only culture but also nationalism, racism, and economic injustice in various countries and regions of the world (Southeast Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America). At several key points, students engage in critical comparison between examples of gender oppression and exploitation observed in both the United States and other societies (i.e., gendered violence), which reveal a false binary in the discourse of progress often drawn between “us” and “them.” 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 321 Pattrns and Processes of American Cities This course will focus on the theoretical examination of the process of urbanization, urban stratification systems, urban ecology, community power, suburban-urban relationships and the effects of urban living on individuals. The applicability of such sociological knowledge for understanding urban institutions, problems, and experiences will also be examined. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 322 The Sociology of Food The way we experience food—what we eat, where it comes from, how we eat, who we eat with, why we eat what we do—is social and cultural. This course will introduce and utilize some key cultural perspectives in sociology to help us address these questions about the food/society relationship. In particular we will focus on the development of tastes, the construction of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food’, the role of food in identity, and the global food system. Our approach will be both theoretical and empirical as we investigate social meanings, practices, and structural conditions surrounding the food/society relationship. As part of the course, students will conduct their own research. Prerequisite: C- or better in Sociology 101 or permission of instructor 1.00 units, Seminar SOCL 324 Sociological Perspectives of the American Civil Rights Movement This course will examine the development of the American Civil Rights Movement from roughly the World War II period through the beginning of the Black Power era in the mid-to-late 1960's, treating that history as a case study in the problematics of deliberate social change. We will emphasize the kinds of questions most typically asked by sociologists, examine the various waves of scholarship on the movement generated by sociologists, and explore the implications of their findings produced about the movement for American popular culture and intellectual thought. We will also pay close attention to the interplay of ideology and program within the movement, the consequences of organizational structure, and the movement's political and economic consequences. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 325 Sociology of Law This course offers a sociological perspective on the law, as well as the causes and consequences of the legal system. Topics covered include a comparison of scientific and legal modes of inquiry, the uses and importance of social science findings in judicial and policy decision-making, social factors affecting jury selection and jury decisions, racial and class inequalities and the law, law as a form of social control, legal organizations and professions, and law as an instrument of social change. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 328 Sociological Perspectives on Health and Gender Gender issues influence both the way in which health is defined and the way health care delivery systems are organized and financed. The changing status of women has important consequences for public policy as well as private practice. Using a sociological perspective which incorporates historical material, the course will focus on: the social and historical context in which health is defined, race and class inequities in access to health services, gender issues in the professions, and the influence of the women’s movement in creating alternative health care systems. Students will complete a CLI component in the course, which requires that they volunteer 20 hours in an organization that deals with health. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 331 Masculinity In every society the behavior and attitudes expected of men differ from those expected of women. What is distinctive about being a male? How does this vary across cultures, over time and among different groups in the same society? How are change and variation explained? What contemporary dilemmas do men face in the United States, particularly as a result of erosion in the boundaries between the roles of breadwinner and homemaker? What consequences does growing gender equality have for fatherhood and human sexual behavior? This course draws on studies in a number of disciplines to answer these questions and to explore the new scholarship on men and society. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 336 Race, Racism, and Democracy This course is designed to explore various efforts to reconcile ideals of equality with persistent and perpetual forms of racial oppression. By examining the history and culture of the U.S. and other democratic societies, this course analyzes the central paradox that emerges when societies maintain racial inequality but articulate principles of equality, freedom, and justice for all. Hence we will examine the differences between what people say and what they actually do, and how congruencies and incongruencies between the structure of institutions and culture force one to distinguish myth from reality. This is done so that students can better understand how the structure and process of politics govern the everyday lives of oppressed racial groups in capitalist democracies. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 338 Black Women and Social Change This course examines the role of African American women in movements for social change. From the abolitionist movement to the Civil Rights movement and beyond, African American women have played significant roles in the Black freedom struggle. Yet, their contributions have largely been ignored. This course will highlight the diversity of experiences of African American women in a variety of protest and social change movements. Using a variety of theoretical perspectives available in sociology, anthropology and women's studies we will explore the combined impact of race, class, and gender oppression and how these dynamics affect women's roles as organizers and leaders. We will also evaluate the utility of these perspectives in studying other groups of marginalized women in American society. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 342 Sociology of Religion An examination of the significance of religion for social life, using major sociological theories of religion, supplemented by material from anthropology and psychology. The course focuses on how religious beliefs and practices shape the world views and behavior of humans and influence the development of social structure. The following topics are examined: the origins of religion, magic and science, rituals, religion and the economy, women and religion, and religions of Africans in diaspora. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 344 World Population A population can change in just three ways: through births, deaths and migration. But to understand population change and its consequences entails examining nearly all aspects of society. This course concerns world patterns of population change and explanations for that change, although it concentrates on the population of the United States. The connection between population and social problems is a central focus. The diverse measures of population are explained so that students can correctly interpret patterns of change and appreciate why the measures are commonly misunderstood. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 351 Society, State, and Power This course examines the sources of power and influence in Western nations. Power flows to people who command a legal, political, or institutional monopoly over valued human resources. We will examine the development of these monopolies, the organizations that perpetuate these monopolies, and the consequences that these monopolies have for our personal and political lives as well as for notions of democracy, solidarity, and freedom. In this respect, we will focus much of our attention on the institutions of state and economy in U.S. society and evaluate the different theoretical perspectives that explain how these institutions confer power on some and deny that power to others. Specific topics include power struggles around the right to representation, for control in the workplace, against racism and discrimination, and over policies to aid the poor. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of the instructor. This course is not open to first-year students. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 355 Reproduction, Birth, and Power This course examines topics related to reproductive practices, experiences, and ideologies through current, historical, and cross-cultural lenses. Through our study of specific topics such as contraception, prenatal testing, assisted reproductive technologies, and women’s pregnancy and birth experiences, we will explore the constructed and contested meanings surrounding womanhood, motherhood, sexuality, reproductive freedom, and eugenics. We will pay attention to how the construction of and struggle over these issues are indicators of the status of women in society and have profound effects on women's lives and bodies. This course has a community learning component. Prerequisite: C- or better in a prior Sociology course or permission of instructor. 1.00 units, Seminar SOCL 363 The Individual and Society An introduction to microsociology. Topics to be considered include the self and symbolic interaction, conversational analysis, rhetorical and frame analysis, and the social construction of reality. 1.00 units, Lecture SOCL 399 Independent Study Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. 1.00 units min / 2.00 units max, Independent Study SOCL 410 Senior Seminar: Guided Research This course provides a capstone to the sociology major by guiding students through the various stages of the research process. Students develop a research topic, situate that topic in the relevant substantive areas of the discipline, refocus that topic in light of past research and theoretical thinking on the topic, develop a research design best suited to the questions to be addressed, and collect and analyze data to answer those questions. In the process of this guided research, students review and assess the state of the discipline as it pertains to their particular interests, conduct literature reviews before the data collection process to focus their questions and after the data collection process to situate their specific findings in the discipline. In conjunction with the social science data specialist, students explore different methodologies to address their questions and analyze the data. This course is open only to senior Sociology majors. 1.00 units, Seminar SOCL 420 Senior Seminar: Special Topics The course provides a capstone to the sociology major by focusing on a specific subject, a new substantive area, theoretical approach, or neglected paradigm of the discipline. Students read broadly on the topic, discuss the implications of the topic for the state of sociology as a science, as a field of critical inquiry, and as a vehicle for social change, give presentations on some aspect of the topic, and conduct independent research that relates the topic to trends in the discipline. 1.00 units, Seminar SOCL 466 Teaching Assistantship Credit does not count toward the major. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. 0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study SOCL 490 Research Assistantship From time to time the opportunity exists for students to assist professors in their research. Hours and duties will be determined on the basis of project needs and student interests. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. 0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study SOCL 498 Senior Thesis Part 1 Written report on original research project. Students should consult with the faculty supervisor before registration, i.e., during the previous spring term. Required of all candidates for honors; elective for others. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for each semester of this year 2.00 units, Independent Study SOCL 499 Senior Thesis Part 2 Continuation of written report on an original research project. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for each semester of this year-long thesis. (2 course credits, considered pending in the first semester, will be awarded for completion in the second semester) 2.00 units, Independent Study 300 Summit Street, Hartford CT 06106 | Tel. 860.297.2000 A to Z Directory Employment Twitter Flickr

The No Body-Snark Diet and Full-Length Photo Challenge Pun totally intended. You see, guys, I’m fat. And I don’t mean this in a I-feel-kind-of-puffy-today way. Or a Do-these-jeans-make-my-butt-look-big way. Or even a I’m-going-to-say-I’m-fat-so-that-you-guys-tell-me-I’m-not-fat-okay? way. The truth is that I am fat. As in overweight. As in medically and scientifically so. And I always have been – at least as an adult. Just sometimes I’m fatter than others. Even when I was living in Japan and running marathons and eating tofu on a regular basis, I was still technically overweight. And then I moved to Thailand where I ate ALL THE PAD THAI and then to Malaysia where I ate ALL THE ROTI and then on to China where I ate ALL THE DUMPLINGS. And I went from running every-single-day-and-extra-on-weekends to running every-other-day-kind-of-sometimes. And then the next thing I knew I had gained forty pounds. In three years. Because I’m talented like that. When I came home last summer, everyone was like, “Wow, you look well fed. Weren’t you just in Asia? Where they eat tofu and don’t have any cheese? How come you can’t fit into your pants anymore?” I was even a little worried I had some kind of weird medical condition. Something to explain all the pounds I’d managed to pile on. Something, besides, you know, ALL THE DUMPLINGS. So I went to the doctor and had a whole bunch of tests done. It turned out that I’m totally healthy. Besides being, well, you know, fat.While I can’t say I’ve been completely honest about how much weight I’ve gained over the past few years, I have talked about my size before on my blog. But usually when I write about my body it’s in a way that’s not very nice. I make jokes about my cankley man-calves. I snark about my lack of upper body strength. I poke fun at how I can’t fit into my pants. I don’t talk about the fact that I have pretty kick ass collarbones. Seriously, you guys. Check these bad boys out. Or how my eyes can change color depending on what I’m wearing. Or depending on the color of the barn I happen to be standing next to. Or how, sure, I have man-calves, but they’re rock hard which I’m actually, really proud of. I mean, I could bench press an ox with these puppies. Is it even possible to bench press with your calves? Is that a thing? Because if it is, I should totally be the Olympic champion of calf-bench-pressing. I really should.I also very rarely share full-length photos of myself on this blog. This is partly because I travel by myself so I’m usually doing the one-arm-above-the-head-selfie thing. Which automatically makes everyone look like a Brazilian super model. Seriously. You should try it sometime. Why, yes, I AM a super model. Was it my amazing cheekbones that gave me away? Or my complete lack of body fat? Even when I do get a full-length photo of myself, I usually don’t post it because I only see the bad stuff. The double chins. The flabby upper arms. The squishy middle bits and the bursting-out-of-my-pants bottom parts. Like this photo from my 10K run on the Great Wall of China. Which I never posted because I felt like it made my body look too lumpy. Nevermind that this was the exact same body that had just spent the afternoon climbing up this: I’m going on a diet. But not the kind you think. I’m not cutting out the carbs. Nope. Because, seriously, you guys, I did that for a month once, and I wanted to KILL ALL THE PEOPLE. Instead, I’m cutting out the mean comments and thoughts about my body. I’m keeping the snacks, but I’m getting rid of all the body-snarking. I’m going to stop saying stuff like “Cankley man-calves.” And start saying stuff like, “Kick ass collarbones!” Because here’s the thing, guys, all the put-downs and insults aren’t helpful. Not even a little bit. Telling myself I have cankles doesn’t make me want to eat less cupcakes — it just makes me want to eat more. Plus, I’m starting to realize how incredibly lucky I am to be in the body that I’m in — a body that is healthy, even if it can’t fit into my pants. So it’s time to cut out the self-hate and start amping up the self-love. After all, if this was a stranger or a friend or a boyfriend or even a family member making all these mean cracks about how my thighs touch and my upper arms are slowly growing wings, I wouldn’t put up with it. I really wouldn’t. So why am I letting myself get away with this? Who do I think I am anyway?Not only am I going to cut out the body-snarking, I’m also going to start posting a lot more full-length photos of myself on my blog. Because, sure, my thighs touch, but those are GREAT WALL OF FREAKING CHINA CLIMBING THIGHS, OKAY? They are also bike-riding-around-Mackinac-Island thighs. And 5-K-that-I-kind-of-forgot-to-tell-you-about-but-there-were-drag-queens-and-it-was-awesome thighs. I know, I know. This blog is pretty much always about me. But I’m trying something different today. I’m writing this post about you, too. Yes, you. I’m writing this to say that it’s time for you to stop it, too, okay? Because chances are if you’re a girl, you’re a total snarky jerk to your body. Heck, you may even be a snarky jerk to your body if you’re a guy. I don’t mean to discriminate. I just don’t really know how boys work And, well, you need to stop it. All of it. Like, now. You need to stop being a jerk to yourself. You need to stop seeing your body as something you need to change and start seeing it as something you need to cherish. You need to stop focusing on the parts of you that wobble and start focusing on the parts of you that totally and completely kick ass. And keep on focusing on those parts – those kick ass parts of you – until they become more than just parts, they become the whole. Until you’re more than just a really awesome pair of collarbones and some bench-pressing calf muscles. Until you become the awesomest, most kick-assiest person you can be — the kind of person who doesn’t put up with any kind of snark from anybody. Not even from yourself.. This is exactly what I needed today. Two years after arriving in Bali – and moving here and making a new life for myself – I shamefully look at the photos of me when I arrived and wonder why I waited two years to get back on the athletic horse! But it’s okay – the great feeling only four days at the gym has given me is, well, PRICELESS. As is making a new life for myself in a place that feeds my soul. Thanks for keeping it real – I can’t imagine how difficult this was to write – except for the fact that my last blog post was about something I think is equally challenging: travelwithheather.com xxxxxxx Good for you for getting back on the athletic horse. I definitely find having a better attitude about my body makes me want to work out more. When I’m all like, “Ahh, I hate my thighs,” all I want to do is curl up on my couch and eat ice cream. It’s when I notice the effects the running has had on my thighs — that’s when I want to get out and run more! Right on. Utterly, doubly, triply right on. I’ve been really trying hard this year to be kinder to myself but it isn’t always easy. I don’t body snark on my blog (I just snark about everything else) but I sure do it internally. Goddamn internal monologue. I get pissed off for not being, say, the weight I was back in Turkey (between 5-10kg lighter, depending on my current status which has been pretty variable over the past few years in Shanghai), not even acknowledging that back in Turkey I was 11 years younger and still in my 20s. It’s like we’re not allowed to accept that we change as we get older. I’ve got a lot going on right now (like, a LOT) and I don’t know what’s going to happen to my shape and I’m trying to not be hard on myself. I do, however, post full length pics because I have no shame. MaryAnne recently posted..Here Be Dragons: Laser Cat Goes to Pudong to Renew Her Visa (Comic Book Edition) And why would you need shame? You’re beautiful! (And feel free to share them with me for the FB album. The more lovely lady full-length photos, the better!) sally, Sally, SALLY! You’re killing me. Best. Post. Ever. I finally came to terms with my body a number of years ago. Though, right now, my fight with it has become a fight against aging which is WHY WE NEED TO LOVE OUR BODIES NOW! Because they become our enemies later. (sigh). My hair, though, has always been my challenge. I’ve had a hate/hate relationship with it all my life and only recently learned to love it –> Rock on, Sally-with-the-awesome-collar-bone-and-über-athletic-thighs! -Lisa Lisa (@MsBoice) recently posted..Letter to my readers: Some people at TBEX taught me about writing. The good kind. I LOVE your hair. Probably because it’s just like my hair and my hair is the one thing about me that I do totally love. I think we need to get together and talk hair one of these days. LOVE it! Best diet ever. I’m guilty of doing the same thing to myself, and I worry about not only because of the effect it has on me but what it’s teaching my son. Occasionally, he’ll make a comment about his body size or something, and the kid has like 2% body fat! I gave up hiding from the camera after an experience in the Philippines that I blogged about. Now I am not ashamed to show off my bodaciousness or my plentiful chin, but even while I’m hitting submit I still catch myself thinking “Wow, that angle makes my chin look like there’s 5 of them instead of 2-3.” I need to quit that crap, too. Talon recently posted..My introduction to Saigon street food Definitely coming home and being around my young nieces and nephews has made me really take a hard-look at the way I talk about myself. I would HATE for any of them to grow up and say the same things about themselves that I say about myself. So I’ve definitely found myself watching my words around them — but I think I need to go further than that. I need to watch my words around myself too because it’s obviously not doing me any good. And I’m awaiting your full-length photo for my photo album. I know you already post them on your blog, but we need more boys to join the FB album and show the world this is not just a “girl thing.” This is an “everybody needs to start loving themselves already” thing. This is such a great piece, I think Governments around the world should hire you to go into schools and talk to teenage girls about body image. I know every woman will have stared at a photo of herself and snarked at it, I know I do it far too often. But hey, I’m up for a challenge, and the snarking stops……now. I’m off to take some selfies and clog your inbox!!! Charli l Wanderlusters recently posted..Limitless Travel | Anything Is Possible My inbox is ready! I’m awaiting your photos. Really great post. I think your totally right people should stop giving their bodies so much hate. Just be happy that your healthy Self hate doesn’t get you anywhere. PS. You do have pretty awesome collar bones. You’ll have to tell me how you get them to sparkle Brendon @ Nerd Travels recently posted..Banos Bridge Jump & Why I Won’t Be Doing It Again! Glad you could relate. And glad to hear this isn’t just a “girl issue” — although I don’t know if I should be glad about that. Wouldn’t it be better if less people in general had to deal with this? And how do I make my collarbones sparkle? Oh, you know, just the usual: unicorn wishes and fairy dust! Hahahaa I guess it all depends on what body size you are happy with. I was a size 10-12 all my adult life but then, because I got older, was moving less and eating more, I crept up to a size 16 and became so snarky about my body that I decided that feeling hungry now and again was ultimately better than feeling bloated and snarky about my size all the time. I gave myself a year to eat the amount of calories my ideal body size required and found myself back to size 12 again within four months. I now feel great and would rather go hungry every now and again than go back up to size 16 and snarky all the time. What I learnt is that there are way too many calories, way more than our bodies need, in most foods you buy nowadays. Too much salt, too much sugar and too much fat! See, the funny thing is that when I was smaller and in really good shape while living in Japan, I can remember feeling the EXACT SAME WAY as I do about myself now. All I saw were the wobbley bits. And every time someone took a full-length photo of myself I cringed (and then promptly deleted it). Now when I look at those photos (at least the few that I didn’t delete), I’m so angry at myself. Not because I’ve gained weight — but because I looked amazing but I never knew it. So that’s what I need to work on — feeling better about myself no matter what size I am. Yes, sure, I should probably focus on eating less and working out more. As is, I do tend to eat very healthfully and I work out regularly. But before I can lose the weight, I need to lose the attitude. Oh my goodness, you say such wonderful things. Who doesn’t need to hear this stuff? I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you- don’t we all carefully choose which photos of ourselves to post online, selecting only the most flattering ones? But I think you’re helping a lot of people today with your honesty/humor and the challenges. For me, it’s mostly bathing suit shots. I like waist-up pictures, but generally cringe when they’re full-body. Thanks for motivating me to re-think how I see myself. Christy@SweetandSavoring recently posted..Celebrating Pride in Hudson, NY OMIGOD. I don’t think I’ve even been IN a bathing suit, let alone taken a photo of myself in one in YEARS. YEARS. That needs to change. One of my dreams is to do a triathlon, but first I need to learn how to swim — at least something besides the doggy paddle. I’m hoping to take on that challenge this upcoming year. So watch out world — I will be DONNING a swimsuit and full-length photos WILL be taken! I recommend getting a bathing suit that you really love and works for your body first- that’s what I did last year and now I’m all ‘hey camera, over here!’ when I go swimming. Christy@SweetandSavoring recently posted..The Simple Pleasure of Eating: Food and Drink from My California Vacation Will do! I’ve been seeing some super cute retro ones on ModCloth. I think it’s time to splurge and get one! I love the thought of “Hey Camera Over Here” as opposed to the standard “shoulders and up and only if I’m wearing a hat to cover my beach hair…” Jenni @ Traveler for Good recently posted..How to Volunteer (part 3): Leave the Country I hear you, Jenni. I’ll usually tie a sarong around my waist or pull a skirt over my bathing suit, but today I had my husband take my full-length body shot! It’s scary but will post tomorrow! Christy@SweetandSavoring recently posted..Sunday Travel Retrospective: Nicaragua Nostalgia Yes! I’ve been trying this for the last few months and it’s incredible how freeing it is. That kind of constant body snark and negative talk takes such a toll and you don’t even realize it. I am so, so much happier. (I also took the step of refusing to read anything that made me feel body-snarky and started visiting more websites where being kind to yourself and living for yourself were emphasized, and that helps, too.) Sarah recently posted..On Jumping Sarah, Yes, the change of reading material is a definite must. I’ve already stopped reading Cosmo and other girlie magazines. The only magazine I read with any regularity is Oprah because OPRAH. I even found myself picking up a copy of Real Simple yesterday and than promptly putting it back when I read the headline, “Is Your House Making You Fat?” I don’t need Real Simple to shame me and my house, thankyouverymuch. Awesome motivation lady. I need to stop thinking and talking about myself that way too. Also don’t forget an important thing. I’m pretty sure all girls see themselves in the mirror with an added 50lbs. I’m telling you as a chubby girl, you my friend are not chubs and to hell with the medical people telling us what our actual weight should be. I honestly remember being in highschool many years ago and roughly 80lbs ago and I thought I was soooo fat. I look at photos of myself now from back then and I look gaunt I was so skinny. But I remember exact memories of thinking I was fat. Its so wack – our brains are messed up and if people don’t like us for how we are now then we don’t need em’ Now if only I could become a runner and enjoy it like you haha Nice seeing you at TBEX Cailin recently posted..Brindisi is my destination Oh, Cailin, YOU are not a chubby girl either. None of us are. That’s a horrible and inaccurate word and we need not apply it to ourselves anymore. THIS IS A GREAT POST! I’ve read your posts & they give me a giggle often, but this is the first time I just HAD to comment. Proud of you. For an active lifestyle (running, cycling, etc) & for experiencing local cultures foods AND for deciding you’re worth more love & respect. Looking forward to the full-length pics. Kudos! Thank you, Roxanne. And thank you so much for commenting. It wasn’t an easy post to write — for sure — but I’m glad I did. So LOVE this one!!!! I am so ashamed of my body, this body has had it’s fair share of trauma, 5 pregnancies, riddled with calcium deposits,which cause kidney stones (19 years worth) which caused one of my kidney’s to shut down, old lady signs like wrinkles and vericose veins and age…..never mind that I am a WONDERFUL mother, have led a very interesting life so far, and am intelligent, too bad the way we think isn’t right, we shouldn’t bee looking at the covers of books but what is IN the book….Thank you so much for your post!!! But I do think we SHOULD be looking at the covers of the book and LOVING them just as much as we do the insides — no matter the creases or bent edges or coffee stains. In fact, we should love them even more because of those things and we should think, “This book. This one right here. It must be a keeper. Look at all those signs of wear and tear and love!” You GO girl! I had a similar epiphany before I started traveling – and I went out and bought myself some really pretty clothes that fit me for real (not just on my best days) and flattered what I had. I tossed every single pair of someday-I’ll-fit-this pants in my closet. And DEAR GOD did I feel better. Rock on, Sally. Beautiful post. Gigi recently posted..How to Kick Fear in the Gonads, Part II Pretty clothes definitely do make a difference. I spent most of my year and a half in China feeling like an unattractive, schlump because I was so tired of the 5 outfits I had and it was technically impossible to buy any new clothes. I’ve loved buying cute new outfits since returning home — even if they’re in a size that’s much bigger than I’d like them to be. At least they fit and look cute! THANK YOU!!!!!! I recently found your blog and love, love, love it. This post was was just what I needed to read today. Keep up the great work and you should totally high-five yourself for being awesome. I would high-five you, but it would be creepy if I showed up out of nowhere. Yes, it would be creepy. But feel free to send a full-length photo of yourself high-fiving me! And glad you enjoyed the post! Go on with your kick-ass collarbones! Why are we all consumed with so much self-loathing? My confidence issues started in Middle School when the boys started calling me “mosquito bites.” I was well into my 20s before I finally felt comfortable with my body. But that doesn’t mean the snark ended. Once I finally got some curves, my eyes zeroed in on the cellulite on my hips and haven’t looked away since. Two years of eating my way around Asia haven’t helped the cellulite “problem” one iota, but I enjoyed every damned bite. Sure some of my pants don’t fit any more, but I don’t care as much as I used to. I’ve been less hard on myself since I stopped reading all the celebrity gossip sites. It seems like they only exist to pick apart women’s bodies and make us normal folk feel increasingly horrible about ourselves. Thank you for this reminder to be kind to myself, always. (And I love that the post showing up in my CommentLuv is one about food!) Heather recently posted..The Best Meals I Ate in Hong Kong YES. Despite the forty-pound weight gain, I wouldn’t give up a single dumpling. For me, traveling is so much about the food. Food is the culture and the people and the place. I could never travel and only eat salad — especially in China where salad doesn’t exist and if it does it will be boiled and deep-fried and grilled and coated in the most delicious MSG. I do think I maybe need to not go so crazy when I travel — you know only eat SOME OF THE FOOD and not ALL OF THE FOOD. And maybe do a little running while I’m at it. But, in general, I wouldn’t give up my 3-year Asian eating binge for a smaller size of pants at all. This is the best diet EVER! Because I’m completely guilty of the same self-imposed snark. When I was fattest in college, I used make the joke about myself before anyone else had the chance. It’s so destructive. It also gives others around us to either not show respect for us and/or give in to their own insecurities. It’s not healthy. Shawn sings me a little song when I do it around him. It’s the “Self deprecation” song. I have been hearing it a little less since I’ve been better about not putting myself down. He told me once (during our pre-marriage counseling) my self deprecation was the thing he liked least about me. That was an eye opener. Carmel recently posted..TO DO LIST That IS an eye-opener. I always thought my self deprecation was an appealing quality. Because, hey, look at me! I can make fun of myself! That must mean I’m not an arrogant jerk! LIKE ME! But, now when I think about it, the times I hear my friends making similar self deprecating comments about themselves, it doesn’t make me like them any more. In fact, I’m totally turned off and angry — angry because they would ever see themselves in the light they see themselves in. So why would I think people would like me more because I make fun of myself? Yep, eye-opener for SURE. THIS WHOLE POST IS LIKE AN EPISODE OF THE TYRA BANKS SHOW. I laughed. I cried. I smiled. I laughed some more. And then cried some more. Self-imagine in a constant problem for girls/ women all over and I’ve definitely been there(and go back there from time to time). My family/relatives are always commenting on my weight (whether I’ve gained or lost). Some even made insulting jokes, and I never know how to respond to that. When people tell me to exercise and to lose weight, I’ll sit in front of the TV and eat. But when I tell myself that I should go workout because I want to feel better about myself and I actually believe it, I’ll usually do it. Accepting yourself is the only thing that matters. You’re beautiful at any shape and size. PS: I totally love your thighs. PPS: was that too forward? I know we haven’t even met in person yet but I really do love your thighs. Priya recently posted..Blogging Professionally [Insert Question Mark Here] “THIS WHOLE POST IS LIKE AN EPISODE OF THE TYRA BANKS SHOW.” Best. Blog Compliment. EVER. Also, WHERE IS THE FULL-LENGTH PHOTO YOU WERE GOING TO SEND ME? You WERE going to send me one, RIGHT? Sally! I see your challenge and raise my own. I totally do need to stop the internal snark. I also need to lose some weight. I am going to do it not by brow-beating and body-bashing myself into submission, but by being happy about what I can accomplish. PS: I didn’t have any full length photos because Emily is my photographer and explaining the finer points of photo composition is lost on a 3 year old. Rose recently posted..A Challenge From My Sister I’ll take a full-length photo of your lower half as photographed by a three-year-old, then. I’ll expect that in my inbox tomorrow. You’re right, totally. But it doesn’t make it any easier to find clothes that fit, that is my issue, I want to be able to wear anything I like, not be restricted to elasticated waists.I’m not hard on myself, I don’t expect miracles at 47, after 2 kids and lots of incredible adventures. I’m very aware that this old body, with it’s gargantuanly muscled calves, has done things many people will never do. I just want some nice trousers. I’m losing weight right now, through travel, naturally and it’s making me very happy. Alyson recently posted..What We Don’t Like About Kuala Lumpur I agree that it definitely makes it harder to find nice-fitting clothes the bigger you are. And I wish designers would really do something about that. But I’m trying to look on the bright side — at least I’m spending a LOT less money on clothes. Back when I was smaller (and this was after years of being bigger), I would pretty much buy anything that fit — because, YEAH, it fit and it looked cute… kind of. And then I would get home and be like, “Why did I buy this? I’ll never wear this.” Now, when I go shopping, I find a lot less stuff that fits and looks cute… and, hence, I spend a lot less money. (Although, I still have an entire closet full of all new clothes bought in the past year. I’m not sure how this happened. Maybe I’m totally off on my theory.) Great post, great message, and great attitude! Thank you, Sally! Daisy recently posted..Pan-Roasted Lamb Rib Chops with Mint Chimichurri Thank you, Daisy! Glad you enjoyed it. This is a fantastic post, Sally. I was actually exactly the same as you a few years ago but it wasn’t until I moved abroad that I developed a whole new way of thinking and just started focusing on the positive parts of my body, like, I love that I have super duper long legs, and I love that I have a teeny tiny waist, rather than go on and on about how my ass and hips are massive, and counting how many chins I have. It feels so much better to focus on what you love about your body. And more people should embrace what they’ve been given. Love this. Ceri recently posted..NY Bucket List: #5 – Visit the Dakota Moving overseas had a weird effect on my body confidence. In many ways, I did feel a lot stronger as I was doing lots of races and I was more physically fit than a lot of the women I met. (In China, at least where I lived, women very rarely lift weights or do any kind of heavy physical exercise because they don’t want muscles to make them appear “bigger.” Or at least that’s what all my students told me!) But, for some reason, even though I felt stronger, I didn’t feel more attractive. I just felt kind of like some kind of big, strong, monster woman. We can’t be our own bullies. It just isn’t right. Cheerleader … yes. Bully? No. Women’s rights still have such a long way to go don’t you think? When we as a gender still worry about looks more than we do about our smarts. When worrying about double chins, thunder thighs and “bad hair days” over shadow the amazing chances and opportunities we have in life. It is still considered more important to be pretty than smart. Getting a good husband is valued above a good education. We still thrive on a concept of a single ideal. In the middle ages large women were the “thing”. It meant you were not starving. You had made it! Then things changed. Then like today we continue to tell women they must look a certain way. We haven’t really abandoned the corset … have we. We now create and weave our own imaginary lines, bars … prisons. Good for you Sally!! Your beautiful!! Your strong, funny, vibrant and those are amazing collar bones you MUST get more off the shoulder tops and share those babies with the world!! Good for you … get out those pom-poms and CHEER! Thank you, Sonja. Yes, pom-poms and off-the-shoulder tops are definitely in order. And your comment reminds me of the book I’m reading “How to be a Woman” by Caitlin Moran. Have you read it? I think you should read it. In fact, I think all women (and men) should read it. It’s funny and powerful and has the most reasonable argument for feminism ever — which is basically there shouldn’t be an argument. Her basic point is: Do you think women should have equal rights and be treated equally? Yes? Then, BAM, you’re a feminist. I TOTALLY get this! I wish more “real-bodied” women would post full-length photos of themselves to prove that we’re not all super-model-thin and that it’s okay to be whatever size you are and that you can be successful and STILL eat M&M’s and pizza! I typically don’t post a lot of pics of myself on my blog because, duh, I’m the one behind the camera… but I have a helper now and have also figured out how to use the delay-timer, so I will definitely be posting more pictures of myself because someday I might want to look back and see what I looked like. Just last week, I braved-up and posted a full-body pic with my blog post, and honestly, I feel pretty darn good about it! I think of all the people out there that wish they had legs that worked so they could go hiking and then I don’t worry about the squishy bits. You gotta enjoy what you’ve got while you got it. You can check out my recent full-body pic here: I love how your full-length photo is also a full-dog photo! AWESOME. And, yes, it is kind of hard to get full-length photos of yourself when traveling solo. I’m usually pretty shy about asking people to snap my picture. But I’ve found that if I find people who look like they want someone to take their picture, and I volunteer to do that, they’ll easily volunteer to take my photo. Win-win-win! Wow. I’m in. I am even going to try stopping all the negative talk in real life, not just on the blog. I can see the little double play in this. If making horrible comments about your ankles makes you eat the cupcakes, then maybe the nice things you say about your collar bones will make you eat brussel sprouts and pump iron. Unfortunately I already subject myself to a full photo a day. I mean, happily. Maybe instead I’ll stop trying to get my photographers, when I have them, to ‘shoot from the flattering angle’. Thanks. You’re a genius with amazing collarbones and magnificent powerful thighs! Charlie recently posted..Day 171: Oh For The Love Of Lists Aww, thanks, Charlie. And, yes, tell those photographers to shoot from any old angle they please. I’m sure you’re beautiful from them all! We do take full-length photos. But, they rarely go up on our blog because I want it to be all about the places, you know? It’s like, nobody’s tuning in to see my face. But, hopefully they’re tuning in for the writing. =) nicole | the wondernuts recently posted..Wednesday’s Wonder: The Fortune Cookies of Lantau You’d be surprised. I know people read blogs for different reasons, but I read blogs because I like the personal stories they convey. If I want to learn about a place, I read guidebooks or check out Wikitravel or TripAdvisor. But if I’m reading for fun, I always turn to personal stories. And, honestly, the travel blogs that I read, I do not read to find out where they’re traveling to — I read them because I want to know what the person is up to. I also read a few cooking blogs, too, and, trust me, this is NOT because I cook — it’s because I honestly like the bloggers’ voices and personalities and am curious as to what they’re doing. And, yes, I totally want to see photos of them along with all the photos of the stuff they’re cooking! Only in my 30s am I coming to accept my body more! I tell my friends to be kind to themselves all of the time but I’m often not kind to me. Ridiculous how we do that to ourselves. Even with accepting myself more I was still analyzing how I looked in wedding photos and my gosh, I weighed less and have been eating healthier than I have in years. I’m not allowed to work out for a month or two due to a new injury and I’ve been beating myself up about it as I keep looking at myself in the mirror. Thanks for the reminder I need to BE KIND to myself. We’re going to hold you accountable now <3 Heather recently posted..Zipping over Upcountry Maui with Piiholo Ranch Zipline Please do! If I even so much make a passing mention of cankles, you are all welcome to come find me and force me to hug myself. I love this. As women we are always saying things like “my butt is so big”, when was the last time you stood in front of a mirror and said “I love my hair” or “I have beautiful eyes”? We need to start cutting ourselves some slack. The funny thing is when I look in the mirror, I don’t really mind my image. At least not when I look in the mirrors in my apartment. It’s probably all the soft lighting in here. (Dressing room mirrors, that’s another story.) It’s just when I look at pictures of me and I’m like, “Aggh! Is this what I REALLY look like? Why don’t I see that when I look in the mirror? And why didn’t anyone tell me I look so horrible” But that’s about to change. I got a new camera and it takes MUCH better photos of me, so I’m excited to crack it out & start taking photos of myself that don’t make me feel so bad. Love, love, love, squishy-love this! Awesome, awesome, awesome! True! You should change the name to Brave Girl Blog! Love this! Aww, thank you, Tillie. Glad you enjoyed the post, but the blog name ain’t changing. I’m unbrave until the end! Haha, good on you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Funny, witty and so needed. It inspires me to want to share with everyone I know and start an epidemic of self love. Time to celebrate the beauty in each one of us. Having a daughter, I hope to build in her the self confidence and love for her body but realize it is something one has to emulate. This is a wonderful challenge…game on!! Oh, I so hope we can all start an epidemic of self love, too! It’s about time. Because this epidemic of self hate? It sucks and needs to be OVER. Beautiful. Love it. I have gained so much weight traveling. I’m a marathon runner too who hasn’t been running much on the road. I am so mean to myself about my body. My STRONG body that carries me up mountains and everything else. Thank you for this reminder to thank my body instead of criticize it. I need and want to get back into the best shape possible but making myself feel like crap about the size of my butt is not the way to do it. Yep, it sure is NOT the way to do it. It’s funny because for months I was not really exercising much at all — maybe a few walks here and there but I had totally given up on running and had kind of convinced myself I couldn’t run anymore. And then about a week ago, when I felt this post kind of burbling up inside of me and all of my body issues started coming to a head and I was finally starting to forgive myself, I went running for the first time in a long time. It’s amazing what we can do with our bodies if we just appreciate them for the fact that they’re our bodies. I honestly wasn’t sure if I even had any full body photos of me – they tend to get pushed into the ‘delete because I don’t like how I look in this one’ pile. I am going to work on that, because I think your diet is an awesome one. I did finally find one, from last year, of me practicing my ‘heroic adventurer’ pose. (I do that a lot.) Jess recently posted..Little Things I Love About: Chicago I LOVE IT. Do you mind if I post it in my Full-Length Photo Challenge album on Facebook? Go ahead! Jess recently posted..Little Things I Love About: Chicago This is brilliant. I’ve been on the road, literally road tripping since May 1st, trying all of Canada’s food from west to east (I’m still in Ontario though) and I haven’t been running regularly, despite all my best intentions… I just tried on my bridesmaid dress for the wedding I’m in one month from today, and “no more carbs” came out of my mouth when I looked in the mirror, even though the dress totally fits. I saw my flabby bits and bobs. Then I sat down on the couch, continued drinking my Rye & Ginger, someone opened a box of Triscuts, and I was there. My intention lasted less than 3 minutes. I need to start taking more full body shots because I’m pretty sure hardly any exist to even put on my blog, but I am completely with you 100%! And Cailin too, I would love to have my “I was so fat in highschool” body back… Kate – CanuckiwiKate recently posted..The Jerky search in Kelowna Ah, traveling! I’m always mystified by those people who are like, “I lose so much weight when I travel.” Personally, I’m pretty crap about doing any kind of exercise when I’m traveling — besides, you know, the four miles hikes I inadvertently do while getting lost. I would love to be a bit more balanced while traveling — only eat SOME OF THE FOOD and exercise SOME OF THE TIME. Instead of ALL OF THE FOOD and NO EXERCISE EVER, TOO BUSY EATING FOOOOOOD! Maybe one of these days! P.S. Your trip sounds like THE BEST TRIP EVER. And have fun at that wedding! Remember dancing like a madwoman at the reception TOTALLY counts as like 12 cardio workouts. Just finished your post TBEX article and LOVED it (of course)! Wrote a rather lengthy comment (we DO speak the same language). It was my favorite so far…….then I read this one! You’re killing me here You have such a gift for writing what we all want and need to hear and the humor you invoke just makes it such a pleasant AND fun read. You are a real treasure my dear, please NEVER stop writing! I have become fat myself in the past few years (Can I blame menopause??) and pretty much keep myself covered in those great maxi dresses that hide everything. I have a couple great pics of me (where for some reason I don’t look fat, or like me anymore) that I have been keeping as my profile pic and know I am doing a bit of false advertising. Time to fess up, stand tall and take a new photo in all my (fully clothed) glory! Teresa, In a million years, I would never describe YOU as fat. You are simply gorgeous and vivacious and I’ve never met a single person who is capable of having as much fun as you do while being completely sober. And, yes, take those photos and share them with the world. Because the world needs to see what it’s been missing! Oh my god, I love you so much. That was the awesomest post ever. Seriously. And if I could only count how many times I have said I am in love with my collar bones!!! Diana Edelman recently posted..Daily Wanderlust: the vibrant Valley of Fire Start counting, sister! I’m sure your collarbones are stunning! Gosh I love this post and just what I need! I avoid so much of those full-length photos but yes you are right! I need to stop making fun of my own body and start loving it. So more full length photos this summer yey! Awesome Sally, you rock! Aggy recently posted..Turning One: Travel Adventures, Friends and Beyond YES! So glad you’re up for the challenge! Great post Sally! Weight is such a tough issue. I’ve been overweight for as long as I can remember, and slowly over the years gaining even more. I got really sick a few months ago and lost more than 20 pounds. It was the only upside to being really ill and hospitalized for 5 days. Unfortunately the medicine they had me on from mid March until the end of May (because it takes so freakin long to wean off of it) made me gain back most of the weight I lost. I was so determined NOT to gain that weight back, and I’ve been beating myself up about it. Not fair to myself, I know. I HATE pictures of me because I always think I look fat. I don’t often make negative comments about myself on my blog or publicly but I do say stuff to myself all the time that I should really stop. Thanks for writing this post. Ali recently posted..What If You Could Visit All of Europe in One Day? Ali, Totally feel for you about the medication weight gain. I was going through depression earlier this year and started taking medication and gained 10 pounds because of it. Talk about not helping my depression. (Well, the medication has helped, but the weight gain did not.) Great post. I needed to read this. I do this all the time. I have two daughters and I am setting a poor example. I should be the person and speak to and about myself with pride. The way I want my girls to be. Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Being around my young nieces this past year has made me really watch what I say about myself and my body — and in many ways sparked this change in attitude. Guys totally do this, too. Especially gay men. I wrote a post a little while ago about feeling super image-conscious in Miami. Then I decided that it’s ok to eat fried chicken in South Carolina and not worry about it too much. My belly is the body part I get the most snarky with. Heck, it’s probably the ONLY body part I get snarky with. But I love my eye colour. And my legs. I have nice arms, and a great booty. Yet I always focus on the one negative. Loving the concept of this and, like you, I rarely, if ever, post full-length photos of myself. Because of my stomach. Which isn’t that big, but I live with it and I notice it. Yet I’m healthy. There’s nothing wrong with my body. I walk everywhere, I’m active. The snark stops today. Now I need to go and find some Hungarian food that hopefully comes with a carton of sour cream on the side. And I won’t worry about it. Tom @ Waegook Tom recently posted..Food in Choco, or Pescado, Pescado, Pescado YES. Love THAT body and EAT that sour cream. Love ya, boy! Agree with Tom guys do this too, but I think it’s even worse for GAY MEN. Seriously I think I have a great body for a man, but in the GAY WORLD my body is like below average, because all that is ever shown EVERYWHERE for EVERYTHING is men with an 8 pack, beautiful sculpted pecs and arms that can bench press the world. I too get snarky with my body and I think again I agree with Tom it’s my belly and well chest other than that I LOVE MY BODY. I love my legs because thanks to 13 years of Dance I took when I was younger they have been in shape my WHOLE life. So anyway I too finally came to terms with it a few weeks ago and I am actually TODAY going to go SHOPPING. Sally it’s seriously been YEARS since I’ve gone like actual shopping. I am going shopping because most of my clothes just doesn’t fit me anymore and is clothes I wore before I left on my 2 year trip around the world. To go shopping because your clothes no longer fits you is one of the hardest things to do, because when you finally do you are no longer in denial. I know my pants barely fit and that I have suck it ALL in to fit and I’m tired of that. Im going to go buy clothes that fits MY body… that fits who I am NOW! Anyway thank for this becuase it came at a good timing since I am also going through the same thing. I think we all do, but just never really talk about it. As for full length photos… I post photos of my whole body all the time on my blog and on FB I am just VERY picky about them too and well I always show my body when I Toe Touch. Can I still share a photo? Kidding I don’t have too. P.S. I’ve seen you in person and you LOOK AMAZING. Jaime recently posted..The evolution of Cairo’s Street Art. Oh, Jaime, you look AMAZING too. I don’t know if I’m relieved that this is also a guy thing or saddened. Personally, I think the less people that have to experience this the better. But it’s nice to know that others understand. And I can’t wait to see you in your new pants. I’m sure you’re going to ROCK them. Absolutely love this! I have always struggled with my weight and have been beating myself up over the 10 pounds I gained on my trip that I have not been able to drop since returning home. But my weight gain tends to show up in my face, so I haven’t just avoided full-length photos, I’ve been avoiding all photos because I feel like my face looks horribly fat and I have a massive double chin (I seriously envy people who have faces that stay thin now matter how much weight they gain elsewhere!). I’ve also been avoiding seeing people I knew before my trip because I am afraid they’ll take one look at me and think how much I’ve let myself go. Silly, I know, but the insecurities are there! At the same time, I just ran my fastest 10 mile race ever and am training for another half marathon in July – thanks for the reminder that those things are what I should be celebrating – that even if I’m carrying a few extra pounds, I am still in great shape and should be proud of myself rather than beating myself up. Katie recently posted..How You Can Make LinkedIn Work For You Oh, I totally understand about the avoiding people. I’ve been doing some of that myself. It’s just so awkward running into people who haven’t seen me in years and I think, “Omigod. They’re going to think I look so fat now.” I’m sure people have noticed, but nobody has said anything. Probably because they really don’t care. I should probably really not care too. And CONGRATULATIONS on your FASTEST 10 mile race. Wow. GO YOU! I love this. Thank you so much and thanks to Heather for sharing on fb so I saw it. I am going to live this starting now. Excellent! So glad you enjoyed the post! I absolutely love this post. It makes perfect sense too, why put up with something you wouldn’t like it if other people said to you? I accepted the challenge and blogged about it today on The Penniless Traveler =) LOVE it. Thank you so much for accepting the challenge! And you look totally adorable in your pic! Great post Sally!! Thank you so much for writing this Glad you enjoyed it, Liz. A standard request when my sister and I want our pictures taken is “chest and up”, so I relished this challenge. Can I say that bike shorts humble me every time…. Jenni @ Traveler for Good recently posted..No Body Snark Saturday LOVED your post. EVERY day should be No Body Snark Saturday! Humor is my way of dealing with things usually, but it stopped being humor a long time ago. I am so obsessed with how I look and how other people see me that usually I feel the need to comment on myself (Because people would then think “Oh, good, at least she knows.” That’s what my brain tells me anyway.) I need to stop snarking too, thanks for making me realize! Spreadin the word: Jasmijn recently posted..The No Body-Snark Diet (Barcelona Edition) I loved your post and your photos are AMAZING. Go you, gorgeous lady! Thank you Sally! This was a bit of a wake-up call. I realized that in 10 years of blogging, I’ve only published 1 full-body photo…and that was at a costume party. As of today, and thanks to the No Body-Snark Diet, I have now doubled that number. =) Janice recently posted..Adventures in the No Body-Snark Diet… I loved your post, Janice. You rocked it. This is an inspirational post, for sure. I’ve made only occasional jokes about my body on my blog, but people in real life hear them all the time. It’s a defense mechanism, and one that I’m sure annoys the people around me who have to listen to them. I’ve been heavy since I gained 55 pounds between the start of my freshman year in college and Christmas of my sophomore year. I’d gone to school in Chicago (where all the food wants you dead- deep dish pizza, gyros, Chicago style hot dogs- and is available until 4AM) and I’d stop playing sports, which I did almost year round in high school. I’ve never gotten below that initial weight surge- and it’s gone up incrementally since. I’m fighting two things in this battle- stress and genetics. I’m a classic stress eater. There is no logic to it other than when I am stressed, I care only about is stressing me out and not that the half pizza I just consumed isn’t probably going to help me too much. The genetics part is a real thing, too, but also something I know about, and, unlike my mother and sister, who also know about it and do a very good job of working at staying thin, I do not do such a good job of working at it. That’s the other thing- I could work harder at being better to my body. It’s silly to make snarky comments about my body when most of the reason I have the body to do it is my own fault. I do workout most of the year (well, part of the year…) (weeeeelllll, a few month-long attempts to get regular at it a year…)but I hate working out, and even though I do feel better when doing it, that rarely inspires me to say with excitement “Yay, I’m going to the gym!” What you said about being kind to your body really hit home, though. I am fat, but it doesn’t restrict me from doing things very often. I’ve run 5 5ks- in each, I was the heaviest person doing them, but the point is I was doing them, and finishing ahead of some thin people (but still behind 7 year old kids, men with one artificial leg, and a woman with a walker.) But I finished and didn’t die (even though I’m pretty sure it was close). Before my last trip to Europe, I had a lot of people express how concerned they were that I was backpacking around like a college student. There were a lot of nervous, beating-around-the-bush comments, including a couple people who came out and said “You know you’re not 25 anymore, right?” (Thankfully no one came out and said “You know your fat, right?” but I still think that’s what some meant…) The thing is, I pulled it off. And didn’t just pull it off, I walked all over the place, got up early most days after being out late the night before like Europeans do (The staying out late part, not getting up early- Europeans do NOT do that), and survived on about half the sleep I need when I did take that trip at 25. Sure I came back exhausted, but my body got me through it, and after this post, I realize how little I thank it. On that note, I’m going to continue to post full-length photos of myself on my blog and social media. I don’t do it often, but I will (and have) posted them when I like what the picture is of and am proud to have been there with my hefty body and all. I may write a post about it- I could probably just copy this lengthy comment :-)- but I usually don’t write a lot of deep, personal stuff on there (not really sure why, though, since it is my blog, and it’s unlikely I’ll offend my three readers- my mom, sister and that one guy on a mental ward somewhere) Oh, and, as we discussed, I’m not giving up my love of and passion for good craft beer. I may need to moderate it a little, but if I’m going to be a bit heavy my whole life, I’m going to continue to indulge that which I love (As I type that I realize the post listed below from my blog is about my favorite beer bar in Europe. Irony is everywhere.) Erik recently posted..Moeder Lambic, Brussels- Beers & Bars of the Europe 2013 Trip Oh let me tell you, I know all about the stress and genetics. I’m not a big stress-eater, but I definitely have my moments when I NEED CHOCOLATE RIGHT NOW OR EVERYONE’S GOING TO DIE. For me genetics is a much bigger factor. All the women in my immediate family and many in my extended family struggle with their weight (my father and brothers somehow seem exempt). And none of us are slugs. I work out pretty regularly and walk all the time. My mom is always doing home renovations and yard work and heavy lifting and my younger sister is the same. Of course, we all like to eat, but I’d say we usually eat pretty healthfully. But, yet, we all are overweight. There are definitely days I wished I ended up on the other side of the family tree — the one with a much higher metabolism! What an awesome time for me to stumble on your blog for the first time! I’m guilty of all those snarky comments about my body, even now as I’m seeing real improvement from eating well and exercising. I should be the most positive and proud of myself right now, but I find myself poking at all of my jiggly bits in the mirror. Totally joining in on the no-snark diet. Will take some photos too! Maybe even in tight-fitting workout gear. Please do! You should be proud of yourself & how far you’ve come. But I can totally relate to being impatient and only seeing the “non-progress” and not the progress. I feel like this is one of those things that everybody secretly feels but nobody talks about. I’m so, so glad you’re helping make it A Thing People Talk About (If We Want To). COMMUNICATION IS REVOLUTION (or something)! Kerry @ Planes, Trains and Plantagenets recently posted..Great, great, great idea: The No Body-Snark Diet Communication really IS a revolution. I think this really should be something we talk about — and, honestly, not just if we want to but because we HAVE to. All this body-hate is causing too much damage for us to just shut up about it. Thank you SO much for writing this! I always hate pictures of myself because I am focusing on what I don’t like about myself. I come back from my wonderful adventures without so much as a selfie most of the time. You have opened my eyes! My body is far from perfect, but it has taken me on fabulous journeys. It’s time to show it the respect it deserves! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post, and hope you’ll start taking more photos of your beautiful self! i live in the land where everyone looks good in bikinis (SE Asia). it’s hard because even at 120 lbs, with my slight, petite 5’1″ frame I feel like I look like I have some extra weight and I hate how I look in a full body photo! and I know i’m not even FAT but then some guys still mention how chubby i’m starting to look in a swim suit….. ugh! janet recently posted..$2/Day Update: Challenges & Learnings Yeah, I definitely don’t miss the Asian lack of filter when it comes to telling you that you look fat! This post rocks. On the day that my partner decides to start a 1 year (note: NOT 1 month) sugar-free lifestyle, and I guzzle a bag of crisps for lunch, this was a much needed read. Thank you! Clare Appleyard recently posted..Paris, my humblest apologies “One-year sugar-free lifestyle”? That doesn’t sound like a lifestyle. That sounds like some kind of hell. Miss Sally, enjoy reading your posts always! From photos,your shape or figure more or less remain the same compare to few years ago at the farm. So why worry!? Just keep on writing, traveling,photogarphy and teaching to enjoy your life. Thank you, Mr. Choi. Your advice is always the best! I really enjoyed your take on self empowerment towards your body. Rehabilitation Certainly starts in the mind and positive affirmations are the cherry on the top. I have always been self consciousness of my body as well. For me it’s my tummy and butt and skinny ankles and big boobs and freckles… Yeah there’s more but I will stop here as I too have recently decided to embark on a self image correction route. However mine is slightly different. I’m going to expose myself in a two piece bikini in December 2013. If you are interested in reading – Regardless, I really appreciate your candidness in this post and as you note you have inspired many people in a beautiful positive way – keep going – you are doing just fine Natasha recently posted..A Romantic Spa Oasis In Bangkok – where serenity commands a presence. Good luck with your bikini challenge. Personally, I think it shouldn’t matter what shape you’re in. If you want to be in a bikini, put on a bikini. Simple. (Of course, I know it’s NOT that simple. But still I think we shouldn’t shame ourselves into not wearing one if that’s what we want to wear.) This entry was really timely. In my blog I document the trials as well as the triumphs, and while you were posting this I was posting my most recent entry in which I discuss the pessimism that pervades my success. Reading your entry helped put my situation in perspective. That’s not to say I won’t still be challenged by my bingo wings and my melting thighs and all the other parts of me that are beginning to resemble a deflated balloon, but it did help me realize that maybe I am being too hard on myself. I have a long way to go, but you helped push me in the right direction. Deedee recently posted..Some Days the Glass is Just Half Empty I saw a link to your blog on Facebook. I’m so glad I did. You are hilarious. I love the way you write – and think. You are a kindred spirit, even though I don’t know anything about you. But as all kindred spirits know, head knowledge isn’t necessary to a spirit connection. Keep up the good work and good thoughts…and amazing life. So glad you enjoyed the post! I know this isn’t the correct place to ask this But when I try to access your “Contact page” I get “Sorry, no posts matched your criteria” same for “ebook” and pretty much all the links at the top of the page. I also can’t access the “Archives”! How do you expect me to “Stalk-you proper like?!” Thanks for your reply in advance and hopefully it can be fixed! (it’s been like this for the past two weeks) D: Thank you for letting me know about the problems with the pages. I knew there was a problem with my Archives page (I had to take it down a little while ago because the plugin I was using wasn’t working — but hopefully it will be back up soon.) I had no idea about the other pages as they all were working fine when I checked them on my home computer. They seem to be back up now. Although I suspect this will be something of a recurring problem until I’m able to figure out exactly what the problem is. Thanks Sally For your reply! The little orange links at the top (ebook, contact) are up and running again! YAY! Hopefully you get the arcives figured out soon! I did it!! Thanks so much for getting this revolution started! Why do we accept these criticisms from ourselves that we would never allow from anyone else? You rock! Lyda Ann Baker recently posted..Time to be Brave and Show it ALL! Yay! Love your post & all your gorgeous photos. YOU rock! Oh my gosh, Sally. You made me do it. I did a whole blog post with gobs of full-body photos here: -Lisa LOVE it. Especially about not waiting around for some guy to make you feel better about yourself. Thank you for this post! Especially because this line: “Telling myself I have cankles doesn’t make me want to eat less cupcakes — it just makes me want to eat more.” This just resonates so well with me. When I feel good about myself, it’s so easy for me to pass over the sweets (okay, much easier… not ‘so easy’). But when I’m feeling down about my body, it’s just so hard. I’m not even particularly over weight. I’m just much heavier than I used to be. And you’re such a bad-ass for that Great Wall 10K. I’ve been meaning to do it for years, and I just keep wimping out. So glad you enjoyed the post. And, yes, I agree that it’s much easier to eat better and be healthier when you’re feeling better about yourself. After writing this post and finally kind of accepting the weight I’m at, I’ve been so much healthier and active. Not that I haven’t still had plenty of pie — but I’ve also been balancing it out with lots of healthy stuff and exercise. I seriously felt inspired after reading this! I feel like you took the words from my own mouth and put them into sentences on here! It is nice to know your not alone in making the snarky comments to yourself. Thank you for sharing this, I took up your challenge and took a full length photo and posted it on my blog in hopes to inspire others. Thank you again. LOVE it. So happy you joined the challenge! Inspired to post on my blog as well! Thanks so much for posting this and lighting a fire for this LOVED the post, Dawn aka Lola. So well written & lovely. Tis the reason I don’t post pictures of myself. I still haven’t to this day. This week I had a wake up call cause I got sick due to over exercising. I think this is a great post. Don’t think I will do it any time soon, though. Really? It’s been surprisingly liberating for me. I’ve also been really affected by all the photos people have been sending me for the challenge. I always thought this was kind of a “big girl” problem. But I’ve been getting photos from people of all shapes, sizes and genders — including lots of photos from people who I would never think would have body hang-ups because they look so darn perfect. That’s made me realize that we’re all a little bit (or a lot bit) insecure about certain parts of ourselves and we all just need to stop it. I look like a fat Oompa Loompa. ;/ Maybe one day, though. Bravo to the women who did. Eileen黃愛玲 recently posted..short girl, big adventure. 嬌小女孩, 巨大冒險 Somehow I doubt that. Are you orange? Probably not. ” traveling is so much about the food” – you are SO right! And it is through the food that you meet people, isn’t it? How boring it would be if you didn’t meet anyone and just ate your salad in silence. Great post, and kudos to you for writing it. Including pictures. And you are so right in your last comment – a lot of people are insecure about our bodies and (maybe this is a female thing?) always want to change something or other about ourselves. You look into the mirror and immediately find something to criticize, zero in on all the bad stuff, and never once being grateful for what we’ve got. Isn’t that sad? I’m not really religious, but it seems to me we could all use a bit more gratitude for what we’ve been given rather than constantly moping about what’s not perfect… Sine recently posted..Vermeer, Hagelschlag, and Magic Mushrooms Yes, especially as I get a little bit older (ahem), and more and more of my friends and relatives and friends’ relatives have been diagnosed with illnesses — including some pretty serious ones — I’m really starting to realize how terribly lucky I am to be in a healthy body and how I should just be nice to my body since it’s been pretty nice to me. Hi there. I loved reading this post when you first wrote it. Today, my sister was on Facebook talking about how much she hates her body. I thought of this post right away, so I shared the link in the comments thread. Thanks for all of the blog posts. Your blog makes for one of the best breaks in my week! Aww, thanks! I’m so glad you shared my post with her. It sounds like she definitely needed it! I’m new to your blog and couldn’t love this post more! This is something so many of us struggle with, and you’re 100% right – we would never accept this kind of treatment from others, so why should we put up with it from ourselves?!?!?!? Gotta love ourselves, lumps and all Thanks, Janelle. So glad you enjoyed the post! What an incredible post. It is beyond refreshing to hear this and I only hope that more people take your wonderful attitude. Thank you so much for writing this. And you look gorgeous in all of your photos! Lucy recently posted..The C Word. Thank you, Lucy! It’s been a while since I wrote this post… I’m feeling a need to revisit it. May have to write an update on how the no body-snark diet is working.

West Ham 0-3 Arsenal: in chalkboards The starting line-ups Arsenal registered a thoroughly comfortable victory over West Ham amid rumours it was Avram Grant’s last game in charge. Arsenal returned to the front six that many consider their strongest, with Andrei Arshavin on the bench. Emmanuel Eboue continued to deputise for Bacary Sagna, whilst the centre-back pairing remained the same as in the midweek defeat to Ipswich. Grant was without Scott Parker and made three further changes, starting with a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 shape. Zavon Hines came into the side on the left wing, whilst Wayne Bridge made his debut at left-back. Bridge’s debut will have to go down as one of the worst in Premier League history. He was responsible for the first goal (standing off Theo Walcott and letting him cross), the second goal (playing Arsenal onside, then letting Walcott beat him to the ball in the six yard box) and the third goal (conceding a penalty after a trip on Walcott). His mistakes were the most obvious but West Ham were poor across the pitch – letting Arsenal play around them in midfield and becoming dragged out of shape with simple movement too often. The midfield trio was further weakened when Mark Noble was injured after twenty minutes, with Luis Boa Morte coming on instead. He, Jonathan Spector and Radoslav Kovac alternated positions in the centre of midfield, seemingly taking it in turns to become the holding midfielder, but too often they were all caught out too high up the pitch and Arsenal exploited the space in behind. In a way that’s not surprising – with Grant’s time seemingly up, there were clearly issues with motivation. That factor, and Arsenal’s clear dominance means that a normal tactical write-up would struggle to go into any great depth. But, in keeping with the promised matches from this weekend, here’s four chalkboards about four key features of the game. 1. You don’t need a chalkboard to show how badly played, but he lost all four of the tackles he attempted. That doesn’t even include the penalty (which is recorded as a ‘foul’ rather than a ‘tackle’) or either of the first two goals, were Bridge was so slow to react that no tackle was attempted. 2. West Ham made little attempt to press Arsenal’s defenders at goal-kicks, and therefore Wojciech Szczesny was able to play out to the back and Arsenal were able to build attacks from their defence. Stopping Arsenal high up the pitch is one of the crucial aspects of stopping their passing game, and by failing to do so, West Ham were always likely to be passed off the pitch. 3. The Theo Walcott-Samir Nasri combination on the flanks works well. Arsenal’s attacks can become too narrow when two wide players both look to come inside, but whilst Nasri always ends up in the centre of the pitch, Walcott keeps width more on the right and helps stretch the opposition defence. 4. Arsenal are frequently accused of overplaying when they get the ball into the final third, but they have attempted more shots from outside the box than any other team in the league this season. Against West Ham, nine attempts came from long range: West Ham 0-3 Arsenal: in chalkboards Comfortable Arsenal win as West Ham completely undermined by uncertainty over Grant’s position. As usual, Arsenal impressive in attack but looked vulnerable at the back once again with mistakes giving West Ham a few chances to hit back when it was 2-0. If they want to win the title then surely Wenger needs to buy a solid centre back which could prove the difference. I get the feeling this won’t happen as Wenger feels he can get by with what he has and seems too stubborn to change. The problems seemed to come down the right hand side which was not suprising seeing as Eboue was playing instead of the suspended Sagna. Bridge had the ultimate nightmare debut and on 90k a week could prove an expensive mistake. Has he ever played at the kind of level that justifies this wage and very few full backs are worth this outlay. 90k a week, you have got to be joking! It is true unfortunately! Man City are mugs in the first place for paying that and West Ham are beyond contempt for agreeing this deal. The Hammers really need a quality business brain in the boardroom “Stopping Arsenal high up the pitch is one of the crucial aspects of stopping their passing game, and by failing to do so, West Ham were always likely to be passed off the pitch.” It really depends how you decide to play. Some teams have done very well letting Arsenal have the ball in their own half and only pressing from the half way line and even from the defensive third. this website becoming boring, i mean why there is no article about how ipswich managed to win against these arsenal? to upsetting? Stop it. This is a wonderful website and we’re lucky to have it. Thank you for teaching me about soccer ZM! Welcome to the blocked list! Straight red? Either way, can’t say I blame you and why about this extremely boring match, i mean west ham were all other the place yesterday, very very poor, and still you put this , like an supposed to be interesting tactical match – thats nonsense. Its one guy, who possible has another job. He can’t cover every game, this game was on TV and he gave us his view. if you don’t like it, you don’t have to read it do you, and you wouldn’t be able to run a website producing such insightful analysis on football games, so why don’t you STFU. also, these are 2 managers who reached the CL final… in normal circumstances (namely West Ham not having half their players injured and about to sack the manager), this would have been an interesting battle. Don’t read it if you don’t like it – or is your internet browser functioning as poorly as your shift key appears to be? Clearly ZM didn’t want to write a tactical review of this game – but he had promised to write one and he did. Wayne Bridge has to be English football’s most overrated left back ever, he should be ashamed to take money from the supporters of the various clubs he performs so lamentably for. Leave please!!! Visiting the website that you don’t like..it is totally NONSENSE!! Producing high-quality articles every week isn’t an easy task…harder than commenting foolishly!!! It’s a valid question is it not? it makes me laugh your stupidity. have a bit sense of humor? not really looks like. fucking excentricks and self obsessed bollocks, iam not saying that this guy writes here rubbish its very nice and i write it before, but the point was – the game between arsenal and west ham was absolute boredom, nothing to talk about, unless obviously if you are arsenal fan, i doubt west ham fans wanted to know something about that game either. sorry for causing upset!:) If you’re not interested in it, don’t read the piece. A couple of thousand people have read it, so there was obviously some interest in it. If you’re not interested in it – sorry – can’t cater for everyone. But cut this “do this match, don’t do this match” nonsense out, it’s utterly tedious and it’s not the first time you’ve done it He decides beforehand the games he’s going to review. He must’ve thought this game would turn out to be interesting tactically. That’s why he said : “That factor, and Arsenal’s clear dominance means that a normal tactical write-up would struggle to go into any great depth. But, in keeping with the promised matches from this weekend, here’s four chalkboards about four key features of the game.” So there. ZM’s as awesome as ever ! Few comments on Arsenal, I think there United’s biggest threat. Fabregas is clearly a world class player, but Nasri in my opinion also should be associated with this ‘world class’ tag. He scores goals, he makes goals, is quick, deceptively strong, very good on the ball, and his close ball control is similar to the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and that’s not an exaggeration. RVP is on a different level to Chamakh in my opinion, Walcott is in very good form, and what an immense attacking line up that is, Nasri-Fab-Walcott with RVP up top, and of course Wilshire and Song just behind. The problem with Arsenal was the defence, I’d still say it’s there weakest area, but Djourou is vastly improved, and I think Koscielny is adapting quite nicely now as well. I’m not an Arsenal fan, but a friend of mine had a programme from the Arsenal v City game, and I was reading Arsene Wenger’s pre-match notes and he spoke about Djourou, and how he wanted a central defender who was good in the air, but not just a typical lump of centre back, a centre back who was quick, and comfortable on the ball as well, and Djourou certainly fits into that. JD is stylish & classy…….a lot like Rio, but better looking If I could just skewer this analysis from the particular to the general as regards Arsenal’s set-up; to what extent is it a 4-3-3? PLease bear with me as this may become infuriating… I understand the temptation to describe it as a 4-2-3-1 – certainly whenever they lose the ball, Walcott, Fabregas and Nasri seem to press in tandem at the front of the midfield. But in terms of average position? Arguably a lopsided 4-2-2-2 (like Brazil in 1982 and unlike Villarreal or most Brazilian sides today) since Walcott plays as a genuine outside-forward closer to Van Persie and higher up than Nasri who, in turn, plays almost level with Fabregas. You could see this reflected in Spain’s shape in some games at the past World Cup with Iniesta nominally wide-left and level with Xavi, whilst Pedro remained higher and wider on the other flank. Alternatively, Villa played the outside-fwd role in lieu of Pedro (Torres or Llorente taking up the CF brief). The case for this being a 4-3-3 (or at least a 4-2-1-3) is that Walcott seems more integral to the forward line, whereas Cesc is definitely more connected to the midfield – almost to the point where he is interchangeable with Song and Wilshere/Denilson whenever they rotate positions. Again, this analysis is not completely satisfactory since Nasri is less a component of the forward unit than is Walcott. This would indicate Fabregas and Nasri are both very much playing between the lines, in limbo almost. Then again… Fabregas drops deeper into midfield than does Nasri It’s a 4-3-3 playing in 4 lines, that’s the way I see it. Cesc is a midfield player, just like Song and Wilshire are. Nasri is a forward. The thing is, playing only three lines leaves too much space open, especially in the centre. There’s no left and right midfield players any more, the three all play in the centre. Barcelona, (the new) Ajax. And it’s no 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-1-3 because there’s no real playmaker (Sneijder) playing up front. A 4-3-3 with the three midfield players playing more vertical. I think it was somewhat difficult to see how Arsenal had intended to line up without the ball in this match due to the level of possession they enjoyed and how easily West Ham surrendered the ball without Arsenal having to try a great deal. In the diagram ZM shows they played 2-4-3-1, this was probably a fair reflection as there was minimal requirement for either Clichy or Eboue to defend. In general though; I think that the current Arsenal formation is difficult to categorise due to a very fluid midfield. They certainly prefer 4 at the back but the remaining 6 seem to form three tranches of two. Within these pairs 2 players appear constant – the 1st holding player and the 1st forward player, the remaining 4 rotate between positions (although the 2nd forward never ends up in the 2nd holding role and vice versa). The key is clearly to press them when they have the ball and spread the play with width when you have it. Football is easier with the ball than without from a physical stamina perspective and playing 3 banks of 2 in your front 6 necessitates a lot of running without the ball to cover the width of the pitch. If you allow Arsenal to recuperate whilst in possession by allowing them an easy 60% possession without pressing them then they will be capable of covering the width of the field. If you don’t then they won’t. Anyhow- that’s only my opinion of them and I don’t support them so only tend to watch their televised games really and I think shape is much harder to judge from television than in the ground. Well done to ZM for your ability to discern what you do from the TV (despite the ‘expert’ analysis from the likes of Jim Beglin). i see the central midfield three as playing in a rotating circle rather than 2 or 3 different horizontal lines – that’s why it’s difficult to translate into numbers like 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1, which are based on a linear understanding Those are my exact thoughts on the midfield, whom I view as a genuine trio. Fabregas doesn’t play as a trequartista/enganche parked between the lines or divorced from the midfield since, as you mention, he constantly drops deep to initiate play (with Song often surging forward). Of course, there is a debate among Arsenal fans as to whether Fabregas’ game is diminished when he plays so advanced for large periods. Nowadays a team which plays a genuine 4-2-1-3 is in danger of capsizing and becoming a ‘broken team’. Mourinho’s Inter avoided this by defending quite deep and compacting all these lines together. Look at Madrid who, being more expansive than last year’s Inter, require Angel Di Maria to act as a third midfielder at times (since Oezil, CR and the striker are so disconnected from the midfield). My feeling is that the defensive shape and the attacking shape are different (nothing revolutionary there). Also, game to game the individual players make different decisions in the moment that we sometimes interpret as changes in shape, when a better way to look at it might be “stretching” of shape. Nevertheless, over a period of games trends appear. What I see is a back 4, with two holding players in front of them who take it in turns getting forward, followed by 4 players spread across two vertical lines. So, in attack it is 4-2-?-? with the front four oscillating between a diamond shape and a box shape and all four interchanging (although they each tend towards a nominal position) with fullbacks overlapping. Sometimes RVP comes quite deep, Nasri gets central, etc. In defense they usually revert to a 4-2-3-1 shape because it is more efficient for covering width of the pitch and pressing a back line while still occupying the space that midfielders try to receive the ball in. When they press the front 4 take it in turns to be the 1, moving in and out of the line of 3 depending on the horizontal position of the ball. Concerning Walcott, I agree he plays purely as a forward when Arsenal are in possession, but in defense he has shown a willingness to track opposition fullbacks all the way to the toes of his defense. So, what he is really depends on who has the ball. Nominatively Arsenal tends to line up as 4-2-3-1. However during the game the two deep central midfield players and the further forward central midfield players will alternate position quite often. On Saturday Song and Wilshere sat deeper and Fabregas further up the pitch. However because Song is more powerful running with the ball and Fabregas better at launching long ball they quite frequently switched position and Fabregas ended up deeper than Song. It was quite true when starting from the back. (By the way our goalkeeper coach needs to work on our Polish twitter boy wonder’s distribution, despite being under nearly no pressure by West Ham, his long kick were wayward and nearly never reached their destination). Fabregas had a certain number of long balls above and behind the defense for Van Persie or Walcott. Wilshere tended to alternate less unless Fabregas had launched a ball forward and in which case Fabregas stayed deep and let either Song or Wilshere running forward. The fact that Wilshere looked slightly faster than Fabregas may be the reason. Nasri tended to dezone all over the pitch, however he quite often took the space vacated by Van Persie or Walcott. Also Van Persie and Walcott switched quite often. Van Persie running around the central point and leaving the place for Walcott. Case in point for the second goal where he started slightly on the left hand side and cut back centrally to Walcott. The only surprise was that both fullbacks stayed quite high but made very few forward forays. Just wanted to take a moment and say hello to all the members. Looking forward to the site and what everyone has to say. I’ve been spending to much time on . Needed a break. When energy is wasted it not only cost you extra money but it also hurt the environment. With the fuel costs raising many people are looking into building a more energy efficient home this will decrease their energy bills. It is a great thing that new homes are now being built to be energy efficient. When you build an energy efficient home you will save money in the long run. There are mortgage companies that offer incentives for people to build an energy efficient home. 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In fact they are quite expensive in addition it’s hard to find in centre of Krakow Greetings In the League Cup semi final,1st leg, Ipswich did not press Arsenal high up the pitch but dropped off to the half way line whenever Arsenal had the ball in their own half.Ipswich defended with two strong banks of 5 and 4 and frustrated Arsenal for practically the whole match.Caretaker manager,McParland,had studied DVDs of Arsenal and pin-pointed weaknesses in their defence in the spaces behind the full backs.So Ipswich hit long diagonal passes across the pitch into these spaces and it paid off.Arsenal’s defenders,especially the full backs,really struggled and Ipswich deserved their 1-0 win.No doubt Arsenal will win the 2nd leg comfortably at the Emirates but Arsenal should acknowledge that on the night Ipswich out-thought them,especially Fabrigas who made some disparaging remarks about Ipswich after the match which were unnecessary and also untrue. Hey, Thanks for sharing this link – but unfortunately it seems to be not working? Does anybody here at footballtheory.footballunited.com have a mirror or another source? Cheers, Peter

A.N. I have been suffering from a severe writer's block for the last few months. This is a small attempt at getting over it. That said, I do like this story I have churned up. Also, standard disclaimers hold. This story is based on characters and plots written by JK Rowling. -- Early Days -- A man stepped out of the innocuous blue police box that looked like a relic straight from the Victorian age, and looked around strangely. "Hello there," he called out. On receiving no response, he shut the door behind him, and raised his hand to cover his eyes from the sunlight as he looked to the distance. "Strange," he muttered to himself. He walked out of the park and to the empty street. Kicking an empty coke can to a corner, he walked with a deep frown. Suddenly, he removed a metallic rod from his pocket and clicked a button on it. An unearthly blue glow shone from its tip, not a blue light, but a sound that was visible. He moved the rod in the air as if trying to detect something. "This is a strange signal," he muttered. "Some sort of mass hypnosis. A potent form of… compulsion… unlike any I have seen before. Strange." He kept moving the rod, increasing the frequency of the sonic discharges. Gaining speed as he walked, he kept muttering to himself. "All locked to one specific genetic signature. A compulsion towards discrimination, neglect, lack of care, almost bordering on hate. But why?" he said thoughtfully. "Now where exactly am I again?" He closed his eyes for a moment and replied to his own question, "Right, 1982, Surrey. What is so important about this location during this time period?" As he walked, the frequencies became louder and louder, until he stopped in front of a specific house. "No way!" he exclaimed in disbelief, but with a gleam of excitement hidden somewhere. "No freaking way!" He shone the strange beam from his device to the house number - Number Four, Privet Drive. "No freaking way!" he repeated. -- The Dursleys at Number Four were having a very ordinary day indeed. The house was clean, the garden shiny, Dudley was happy, the freak was in his cupboard. Nothing was wrong at all. So when the bell rang, they had no reason to be worried. But then a man came in. He appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties, and had a strange smile on his face as he flashed out his identification papers. "HRM's Secret Service, Good Dursleys," he said jovially, entering inside. "I heard you have a 'freak' problem," he muttered, ignoring their shocked expressions. He walked straight to the cupboard under the stairs, and using his sonic device, opened it. "H-How did you know?" Vernon Dursley asked with a splutter, fearfully. "Oh please," said the man, as he picked up a skinny two year old kid. "We have our ways. Well then," he said cheerfully. "I'll be taking care of this for you. If anyone asks you what happened to young Harry, just say, 'National Secret.'" He ignored the blatant shock on both faces and left the house. Walking across the street, he paused thoughtfully. "Can't really blame them. The entire neighborhood is hypnotized into making your life miserable, kid," he muttered, staring at the house for one final time. He looked at the sleeping boy and patted his head. "But I can't leave you there, can I? Stupid paradox overdrive," he said anxiously. "I can't even keep you. Who knows when it will throw me out of this fictional universe! But I have to do something…" -- The Grangers were a happy family. Their baby daughter was already showing signs of being a genius, with the ability to rationalize things beyond her three years. But then they received the biggest surprise of their lives when a strange man entered their clinic. At first, Jane Granger was about to ask him if he had an appointment, but her eyes fell on a skinny little boy, who fearfully clung to the man. Her heart went out to him. She had wanted another child after their Hermione, but a complication during her cesarean section prevented all chances of that. The little boy she saw made her maternal instincts go awry. "Hello, Dr. Granger," the man said kindly. He approached her desk and placed a bunch of books on it. Ignoring the befuddled expression on the woman's face, he said, "It's kind of hard to explain. You know, the usual culprits - magic, time, dimensions and paradoxes. But suffice it to know that those books will explain to you why you need to look after this boy." Jane Granger looked at the man in disbelief. But before she could ask a question, her eyes fell on the picture on the book. The resemblance it bore to the boy in front of her was uncanny. She blinked and read the summary. Then she read the summaries of all the other books, gasping when she saw the name of her own daughter. Hastily, she flicked through the pages of the first book. She took a deep breath and turned to the man, who merely shrugged and beckoned for her to do the same with the other books. Finally, she turned to the grinning man and said, "Is this some kind of sick joke?" The man's grin disappeared and he shook his head sadly. Ruffling the confused boy's head, he sighed. "If you think it's unusual for you, think about me. For everything I know, in my universe, Harry Potter," he smiled when the boy looked up at him, "is merely a work of fiction. A popular children's book. But now I find myself inside it. Mind you, I do have a time traveling device far beyond the capabilities of the human race. But honestly, that's not important. I do not know when I'll be thrown back to my world but I'm worried about what will happen to little Harry when I'm gone." "He can stay with us," Jane blurted out. "I don't know whether any of this is true, but this child clearly needs a proper home and a mother." Reddening, she looked at Harry and smiled. She got up from her seat, and walking around her desk, approached the boy. "Hello Harry, I am Jane Granger. I have a daughter about your age. Do you want to stay with us?" The boy looked confused and turned from the strange man to the woman. But before he could respond, he found himself in the woman's arms. Blinking in confusion, he said the first thing that came to his mind. "Mami?" Jane Granger sighed happily and nodded. "Thank you Dr. Granger," said the man as he got up to leave. "You don't even have to adopt him. I did a clever little trick I am capable of to mask his genetic identity. For all purposes that anyone in this world is capable of with science or magic, Harry will be perceived as a Granger to all, unless he wishes to reveal his identity." When the woman ignored him completely in her newfound joy with her new child, he said, "I suppose this is my exit cue." "Wait!" Jane said frantically, following after the man. "You didn't tell us your name!" The man paused at the door, and turning his head, he grinned. "Good to meet you, Jane Granger. I am the Doctor." -- "Leave my sister alone, you bullies," Harry screamed at a group of nine year olds, who scampered away when the strange Granger boy approached. Harry rushed to the bushy haired girl and grabbed her hand. "Don't cry, Mione," he pleaded. "What did they do?" "They tore my book," she whimpered. "The one where Bilbo gets the ring." "At least it wasn't one of those books," Harry said with relief. "I'll save my lunch money and buy you a new one for your birthday." Hermione giggled. She pinched her brother's cheek and said, "You're the best, Harry. I'll share my lunch with you." Harry smiled. The two of them didn't have many friends. Most people chose to stay away from the strange Granger kids. The girl was a know-it-all bookworm while the boy was a total freak and strange things happened around them both. Some of them even believed that evil spirits inhabited both children. But they were content with each other. Hermione would read all kinds of book and talk to Harry about them, while Harry would listen with content, and do all kinds of silly things. "Harry!" Hermione shouted angrily one such day. "Give me my book back, you!" She jumped up and ran after her brother, who was dangling the book out of the window. "Fine! Fine! I'll play cricket with you later, I promise! Let me finish reading that now! Gandalf is actually alive and not dead!" Harry smiled and passed the book back to his sister and jumped aside when her hand came close to striking him. "Ha!" he shouted in triumph and scampered away to the kitchen. "Hey mom," he greeted warmly but his smile faded away at the expression on her face. "What's wrong?" -- "It's all my fault," Harry wept inconsolably an hour later. "If I had stayed away then none of this would have happened. It never happened in the book. It only happened because of me. You shouldn't have adopted me…" Slap. Slap. Slap. Slap. "Stop it, Hermione!" Jane scolded her daughter as she kept hitting her brother. With a sigh, she said, "But I'm not going to punish you because I was very close to doing that myself." She turned to Harry with a stern but kind gaze and said, "I have raised my son better than that. Come here." She pulled Harry to her embrace and kissed his head. "I love you, sweetheart, and I wouldn't trade anything for that." "But… but dad's gone… and you're…" Harry sobbed but flung his arms around his mother's neck. "You can't leave us too!" "I'm not leaving you for another year, baby," Jane said with a weak smile. "But my cancer is untreatable." When Harry lurched painfully, Jane rubbed his back and said sadly, "People die, son. Nothing is more real than that. But they don't leave you. Will you ever forget me? Have you forgotten daddy?" She smiled when Harry shook his head vehemently on her shoulder. "See. He's still with you, and so will I. We will have the best time of our lives for the next year. I promise you, the next year will always remain with you." Sighing again, she added, "I don't know why things are working out differently here then in the books, but it is not your fault and I have never regretted nor shall I ever regret taking you in. You are my little baby." "And my li'l brother," said a teary-eyed Hermione from behind. "I don't want to lose you too." "Princess, I give you permission to hit your brother whenever he says something stupid like that. Hit him as hard and as long as it takes to stop being stupid." Jane turned to Harry. "Your saying things like that hurts us so much, baby. How would you feel if Hermione said she didn't want you as her brother. How would you feel if moments after hearing about my condition, she'd say something about leaving you too." Harry froze for several long seconds and tore from his mother's arms and clutched Hermione tightly. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Mione! I'm sorry! Never again… I promise! Please don't hate me! I'm sorry!" Hermione patted her brother's shoulder awkwardly as his tears streamed down in torrents. "Does that mean you'll let me read to you every night?" "Yes! Yes! I'm your li'l brother!" Hermione looked seriously and said, "Does that mean you'll always do your homework in time?" "YES! ANYTHING!" Hermione smirked evilly. "Does that mean…" "Princess," warned Jane as she tried to hide her smile. True to her word, the Grangers spent an entire year away from school, though Hermione read more books than if she were at school, and instead did all kinds of things. They went to Switzerland and Sweden for skiing, to Thailand, California and Seychelles for relaxed weeks in the sun, to Disneyland, to New York, they took photographs at the Taj Mahal, explored the coral reefs, to name but a few of the things they did. But as all good things come to an end, so did that year, and Jane Granger was hospitalized. She passed away two months before Harry's eleventh birthday. But by then, the two children had started coming to terms with it and hiding their inner loss, managed to remain somewhat cheerful in each other's presence. They had been taken in by Colonel Fubster, Dan Granger's cousin. When they had moved to their new residence, both Harry and Hermione had groaned in disbelief at the presence of Marge Dursley, Colonel Julius Fubster's constant companion. "I hope she doesn't come for dinner tonight," said Hermione. "Cousin Julius seems a completely different person with her around." "Yeah," said Harry. "And that's like… every day. But honestly… Dursleys! Again!" "Hush," said Hermione. "At least you're not living with them." -- Year 1 -- "Good morning, Miss Granger, Mr. Granger," said the stern looking woman politely. "I am Professor McGonagall from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I trust you have received your Hogwarts letters?" "Yes, Ma'am," said Hermione respectfully. "Although I'm afraid we don't have enough money to pay for our tuition right now. But from what little I recall from my childhood, my mother mentioned something about Gringotts. We might have an account there." "So if someone could take us to Diagon Alley," added Harry thoughtfully, "we might be able to access the gold left behind for us." McGonagall seemed surprised at the two children who she had assumed were muggleborn. She had been observing them all morning in her Animagus form, a usual habit to get to know potential students better, and there was no indication of them having any idea about the magical world. "I suppose I could take you to Diagon Alley now," said McGonagall finally. "Thank you, Professor," said Hermione looking at the older witch gratefully. "Yeah," Harry added thoughtfully. "Just to let you know, I wouldn't advise any cats being around this neighborhood. Marge Dursley's dogs are a menace, especially Ripper!" he quickly picked up a summer jacket, ignoring the shocked expression on the Deputy Headmistress' face. -- "Hello, Griphook," said Harry happily. He closed his eyes for a moment and said, "I am Harry Potter and I would be grateful if you could keep my identity secret. Fame and assassination attempts aren't really my cup of tea, you know." The goblin gawked at Harry in disbelief. "Yeah, you can do your magical checks," said Hermione. "He is who he says he is. He is also an idiot." "Thank you, dear sister," Harry said. "Anyway, I'd like to seize control of my vault. No need to notify Dumbledore. He isn't my guardian. He is controlling my vaults illegally. The Dursleys are my guardians and as they are muggles, they have no authority to make any decisions on my behalf. So, by default, I'm the only person who can make any decisions on my behalf." "Apart from me," added Hermione. "No, not legally you can't!" Harry protested. But then he saw Hermione's fist rising dangerously and he wisely added, "But as my sister, I will always listen to what you say." The goblin gawked in silence. "I'd also like the Potter will to be read. You know, the one which says Sirius Black wasn't their secret keeper. Then I'd like to withdraw two thousand galleons for now. In two different weightless and internally enlarged money pouches. Oh, if it's possible, I'd like to key Hermione to my vault and remove the Weasleys from using my vault." "Class, Harry," Hermione said with narrowed eyes. "I do all the reasoning and research and you get to show off." "Division of labor, sis," Harry said cheerfully. "Oh and Griphook, there will be an attempt to rob the you-know-what from the vault you-know-which on the 31st of July. Hagrid will stop by to empty the vault, to the last stone, if you get what I mean. If he doesn't, then do take precautions." The goblin gawked in silence. -- "… packed with muggles, of course…" Harry nudged Hermione. "There. They are doing it even without knowing if Harry Potter's here." Hermione held Harry's hand tightly and whispered, "True. But let's not underestimate Dumbledore's cunning. He might have put things together, or McGonagall might have. Your name, appearance, Gringotts…" "Now, what's the platform number?" said a matronly red haired woman, darting her eyes around, searching for someone. "Nine and Three Quarters," piped a little girl enthusiastically. "Mom, can't I go?" "Though, to be fair," Hermione added, "Ginny's reaction is quite natural. But I doubt they would include a ten year old in such schemes." Ignoring the redheaded family, Harry and Hermione moved through the barriers and to the magical platform. Entering the Hogwarts Express, they found an empty compartment and relaxed. Soon, they received several visitors. One such was Neville Longbottom. "Wait here, Neville," said Harry. "Mione, will you summon Neville's frog or shall I?" "Don't you even think of depriving me of this opportunity to try my magic," said Hermione gritting her teeth, as she whipped out her wand and spoke firmly. "Accio Trevor." As the toad came wheezing by, Neville looked curiously at Harry and Hermione. Finally, he whispered, "How did you know his name is Trevor?" He blinked and then asked again, "How did you know my name is Neville?" But just then, the door burst open and a blonde boy sauntered in, clearly a spoilt aristocrat. He eyed Harry and Neville carefully, and then Hermione. "I'm Draco Malfoy." "Hermione Granger," said Hermione cautiously. "My brother, Harry. That's Neville Longbottom." Malfoy raised his nose disdainfully at the Grangers and then looked at Neville curiously. "A pureblood, at least," he said, shrugging as he left. Then came a third newcomer. Harry's eyes brightened on seeing Ron Weasley enter. He was about to greet him, when the redhead blurted out, "Are you Harry Potter?" "No, we are the Granger siblings, and that's Neville," said Hermione before Harry could respond. "You are?" "None of your business," muttered Ron as he walked out. "I have work to do." Hermione squeezed Harry's shoulder as his eyes darkened. She allowed him to lean on her shoulder, as he closed his eyes. -- 'Not Slytherin… not Slytherin,' Harry thought repeatedly even before the Hat was placed on his head. 'And why would I place you in Slytherin? Salazar Slytherin would want nothing to do with you. You are clearly a Gryffindor, Mr. Granger.' 'I am?' Harry asked in surprise. 'Yes. Despite your little shenanigans and deception, the one thing that describes you most is your desire to protect your adoptive sister. Godric himself would claim you for that. GRYFFINDOR!' Harry grinned brightly as his sister approached the stool. Bowing, he handed her the hat and scampered off to the Gryffindor table. 'Hello, Mr. Hat,' Hermione thought. 'To save you some effort, I do not think I will be happy in Gryffindor this time. The desire to face a strange new world with courage that I might have had in the book is missing. I do not see myself associating with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, not that I did much of that in the book either.' 'Neither do I, Miss Granger. I can only imagine why I might have sent you to Gryffindor. You would be a delight to Lady RAVENCLAW!" Hermione removed the hat happily and walked to the Ravenclaw table. "Lisa, isn't it?" she asked to a girl who joined her a few minutes later. "So, have you read Hogwarts: A History?" -- Harry entered the Transfiguration classroom with Neville and looked at the cat on the teacher's desk. "Sorry, Professor. Peeves led us astray." McGonagall instantly transformed to her human form and smiled. "Five points, Mr. Po… Granger, for your keen observation of your surroundings." Harry's eyes narrowed and he shot a cold glare at the teacher before he took his seat. The near slip of tongue couldn't have been more obvious than it was. As the week progressed, Harry was expecting an invitation from the Headmaster, which didn't materialize. But the reason became apparent in the Potions class. Severus Snape, evidently, had little doubt as to the true identity of the dark haired boy with green eyes. He immediately started quizzing him on advanced questions. Harry managed to answer the first three correctly, but failed the rest, losing a point for Gryffindor. At the end of the class, Harry lingered behind. "I suppose you have a good reason to keep yourself in my presence, Mr. Granger," sneered Snape derisively, when he noticed Harry staying behind. Sighing, Harry lifted a book from his bag and placed it on Snape's desk. "And what is that?" Snape asked icily, but the title of the book made him freeze. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. "What could have been," said Harry calmly. "But what I intend never to happen. This hostility isn't necessary, Professor," Harry finished, as he walked out. "If you want to read what happens after the events of this book, I will require an oath of secrecy from you." As he walked away, he chuckled to himself at a well thought out and executed plan. There was no way Snape would show that particular book with its ending to Dumbledore, and yet he would desire to know what happened afterwards. Very Slytherin, and yet, very Ravenclaw. Hermione had outdone herself. -- Harry whined before his sister, "I didn't risk my life!" "This was the first time you were on a broom, Harold Granger! And that is not the point," Hermione screeched. "You promised not to do it! You promised! I can't lose you too!" "B-But…" Harry protested, but Hermione ran away in tears. That night, Quirrell ran to the dining hall and screamed, "Troll! Troll in the dungeons!" Harry froze. "It's not Halloween," he whispered. "It's not Halloween." "Good one, Granger," one of the Weasley twins nodded appreciatively. "It's not Halloween. Good one. But I think Queer-ill is being serious over here." "It's not Halloween," Harry whispered frantically, jumping out of his chair and ran towards the girl's bathroom. "Mione!" he shouted, when he heard the thrashing noises of the sinks being destroyed. "I'm coming!" and he charged on the troll, poking its eye with his wand. The troll thrashed madly, flinging Harry aside. He raised his club at Harry, when "Wingardium Leviosa!" three voices shouted at once and the troll itself shot straight to the ceiling. Then it fell with a loud crash and fainted. Harry slowly got his bearings right and gaped. He wasn't the only one who had used the charm. Hermione and Neville were standing beside him, concerned and trembling. Hermione seemed shocked and distressed beyond words. "I followed you," Neville explained. "When you ran away. Let's return before one of the teachers finds us." "Too late," Hermione groaned, seeing an irate McGonagall lead a group of Hogwarts staff members towards them. Later that night, Harry was working on his Potions essay when two hands fell on his shoulder. "Can we have a word, Granger?" one of the Weasley twins asked coldly. "Right, Fred, isn't it?" Harry said, throwing aside his book and following them to an empty classroom. "I have a bone to pick with you. You made me lose my bet against Hermione that we'd be having this conversation in the first month. I'm sure you've been using the map more often. Why did it take so long to discover my identity?" The twins gawked at him with wide eyes. "You do realize that I'm not just Harry Potter but also the son of Prongs," Harry added cheerfully, "and the godson of Padfoot." The twins gawked at him in silence. "And Scabbers is Wormtail, an Animagus by the name of Peter Pettigrew, who is supposed to be dead, but is actually the true betrayer of my parents and a Death Eater to boot. How could you not have noticed it yet? I mean every time you sneak out at night, seeing your brother sleep with a Peter Pettigrew doesn't sound alarming?" The twins gawked at him in silence. -- "Merry Christmas, Mione," Harry hugged her, pushing a wrapped package at her. Then he opened his own present happily. "Gee thanks! Just the Broomstick Servicing Kit I wanted!" he yelled happily. "Wow," Hermione said. "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." The announcement made the Headmaster freeze. Only a handful of students had stayed back for Christmas, so there was only one table for everyone. "I have wanted to read The Tale of the Three Brothers for so long," whispered Hermione joyfully. Dumbledore nearly toppled his goblet, much to the amusement of everyone else. This was the first time they had seen Dumbledore so affected. But what was most shocking was when Snape chuckled mirthfully. Nearly everyone looked at the two men with disbelieving eyes. "Excuse me, Miss and Mr. Granger," Dumbledore said calmly. "Could I see you in my office after breakfast? It won't be long, I assure you, and you will have your Christmas day as you want to spend it." Within the next half hour, Harry and Hermione were sitting before Dumbledore in his office. Harry turned to the red and green phoenix and smiled. The phoenix observed Harry with a tilted head, but didn't move. "A lot of unusual events have happened surrounding the two of you, and especially Mr. Potter," began Dumbledore calmly. "Please, sir," Harry said. "I have legal documents that name me a Granger." "Ah, muggle laws," said Dumbledore, twinkling at the two children. "Unbelievable," Hermione muttered. "Exactly how I had imagined it to be. Must have spent hours and hours practicing on the lighting." "Excuse me?" said Dumbledore. Harry chuckled. "Never mind her, Professor. My sister is very keen on books, and I'm sure she has read several about you." Then seriously, he added, "How can we help you, sir?" "First of all, Mr. Potter," said Dumbledore, picking up a wrapped package and pushing it towards Harry. "Allow me to return to you something that belonged to your father. May I ask what happened to that legendary scar on your forehead? If I knew how to remove it, I would have." Harry grinned and said, "Who says it's removed, Professor? Muggle cosmetics," he explained. "I suppose this discussion is eventually turning towards the Dursleys and my need to return to them?" "I admit I am surprised at your insight and knowledge," said Dumbledore, completely surprised. "But I'm glad you understand the necessity of that." "I refuse," said Harry quietly. "Pettigrew has been apprehended. Before soon Sirius will be released. If anyone has a legal claim over me other than the Grangers, it's him." "You don't understand, Harry, my boy," said Dumbledore. "You must return for your own protection." "Mione?" Harry turned to Hermione, who responded, "I'm sorry, Professor Dumbledore. Despite being our Headmaster, you are a stranger to us and I cannot allow just anyone to tell my younger brother where to go for the whole summer. I must insist that his legal guardian, Mr. Black, be present before any such decision is made." After a moment's silence, she added to the shocked face of the Headmaster. "Our mother always told us to stay away from strangers who offered candy and told us to cross the road with them." "The question would rise then," said Dumbledore sharply, "how your parents got hold of Mr. Potter in the first place. Last I knew, he was in Surrey with his relatives." "No, Professor," Hermione stated blandly. "The question would rise how Harry was removed from Godric's Hollow and whether it was a lawful removal." Dumbledore gaped at the stony faces of Harry and Hermione and sighed. "What can I do to make you trust me?" Harry chuckled. "Finally. For now, just keep my true identity secret and I promise I will be willing to listen to what you have to say. Mind you, I only said I will listen to what you say. Anyway, if nobody knows who I am, I will be quite safe. So if you do reveal my identity, I will know for certain you don't care about my safety." -- "The Mirror of Erised, Mione," Harry said. "What do you see?" "Us," he said quietly. "You are sitting behind a desk. You are the Minister of Magic and have a big family. And I…" he paused, and then chuckled. "I keep traveling around the world as we did last year, the image keeps changing, I'm looking for… um…" "Red haired girls?" Hermione asked teasingly. "Hey, I'm eleven here," Harry protested. "I was going to say I'm looking for the same fun we had with mom, adventures and all. What do you see?" He stepped back and allowed Hermione to step forward. "Wow," she gasped. "I see the same. Except that you seem to have a different girl in every other image!" Both laughed happily and retreated the room. But before leaving, Harry sniffed a couple of times and muttered, "Odd. The same foul stench from the Headmaster's Office is present here too." -- "You are absolutely correct, Hagrid," said Harry cheerfully. "A dragon would be an amazing addition to Hogwarts. But isn't it illegal to have one?" "Err," said the half giant. "Not if a dragon comes by on its own. The forest offers sanctuary to all beasts." "Right," Harry nodded jovially. "But what about Norbert? Wouldn't some of the horrible and beastly students from the school bother Norbert? And if Norbert accidentally hurts someone while trying to defend himself?" Hagrid's jaws dropped. "I didn't think of tha'. Yeh are right. Poor Norbert, I must send him away for 'is own protection." "There is another way," Harry said. "I've read of cases where a baby dragon, if willing, allows itself to be bonded to a wizard. They don't do that in dragon reserves because of the presence of other dragons for company. But if you want, I'll bond with Norbert. Then he can remain in the forest. I'll make sure he keeps himself at a safe distance from naughty students. Then even the Ministry won't have a problem." "Excuse me," Hermione interrupted with a huff, glaring at her brother. "Did I hear you say that you had read about dragon-wizard bonds?" "I read, you read… same result, Mione," said Harry, patting Hermione's back. "Yeh… yeh would do that for Norbert?" asked Hagrid teary-eyed. -- "Hagrid," said Hermione kindly. "You have to let go of Norberta. If you breed her, then you will be sent to prison. You must let her grow on her own. Besides, a dragon needs to learn how to hunt on her own. If you smother her now, she will never be able to look after herself." She paused and turned to Harry for support but her brother was busy playing with the dragon. He had his hands raised and jumping around with the two-foot fire breather. She looked at Neville, who was crouched as far as possible from his crazy housemate. "Besides, it's not as if she's helpless," Hermione added, coughing when Harry dodged a puff of hot smoke that came straight at her face. "Oh stop playing with the dragon, Harry! You're just as bad as Hagrid!" "Killjoy," Harry muttered, picking up the dragon, and grinning, spoke to it happily, "Who's the baby dragon?" Nearly an hour later, three students - one excited, one serious and one nervous, a hysterical gatekeeper, and a playful dragon set off towards the Forbidden Forest. "Someone's been hurting them unicorns," said Hagrid. "That's why Norberta needs to be in the forest, Hagrid," Harry muttered. He turned to the dragon and said, "Hey babe, stay away from any trouble, all right? But chase away the evil spirit that hunts the unicorns." When the dragon leapt to the air, Harry chuckled. "With fire, okay? From a distance! Don't get hurt! And don't hurt the unicorns!" The dragon seemed to comprehend every single word and did a circle around Harry, after which Harry seized it in a hug. Seeing them play, Hagrid burst out in tears of joy. "Ouch, you singed my arm," Harry complained as he dropped the dragon to the ground. -- "How was your exam?" Harry asked. "And don't tell me you learnt the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct and the uprising of Elfric the Eager, even when you knew you didn't have to?" Hermione muttered something which Harry didn't quite catch. "Can you speak a little louder, Mione?" he said. "In a frequency range that falls within the human hearing capacity, if possible." "Idiot," she hit him playfully. "I said, just in case." "Right, just in case," Harry said amusedly. "Time for Operation Stone. You sure you want to come? I'm just going to grab Queer-ill as fast as possible." The glare he received from Hermione was an adequate response. "Right, of course you will, silly me. Have you cast your message charm? Having Professor Snape arrive in time would be a good idea." -- "Professor, fancy seeing you here," Harry greeted as he entered the final chamber and straight to Quirrell. "I'm so glad to see you that I feel compelled to give you a hug." "Ew," he muttered as he saw the charred remains of Quirrell's arm as he flung him aside. Ignoring the Death Eater's screams, Harry spoke out, "Hey Riddle, ol' chap. Long time no see." "Who are you?" the spirit of Voldemort hissed. "Oh you know… mudblood muggleborn scum with an unusual penchant towards dramatics. Have you met my dragon, by the way?" he asked conversationally. "I gave her specific instructions to welcome you to the forest." "You will die for your impudence," the spirit hissed and soared towards Harry, but just then two beams of light hit it at once. "What took you so long?" Harry asked Snape, as the dour man gritted his teeth angrily at Harry. "There, life debt settled, you hellion," Snape hissed. Harry continued cheerfully. "Actually, not yet. You still have to do the explaining to Dumbledore." -- The Leaving Feast was wonderful. With Gryffindor winning the Quidditch Cup, they had amassed enough points to win the House Cup as well. Harry had promised to write to Neville, Fred and George during the holidays. But a few hours before they were to depart, Harry received an urgent message to meet the Headmaster. Sighing, Harry entered the office and found, to his delight, Sirius Black sitting there. Hermione entered a few seconds later. "Hey, Sirius. Good to see you at last," Harry said casually. "Dumbledore wants to send me to the Dursleys to be abused so that when he picks me up, I will see him as my savior. You won't let him do that, will you?" "Mr. Potter," Dumbledore exclaimed in disbelief. "Let me assure you, I have no such intentions." "Then why was there a compulsion charm to hate me in the entire neighborhood where you left me?" Harry asked quietly, trying to keep his rising anger under control. "What did you do? Flick a lighter on and off to send waves of hatred towards me?" Seeing Dumbledore's startled and guilty expression, he knew he had hit jackpot. Petulantly, he added, "Look, I know you want a closer relationship with me, Professor, but I'm frankly not interested in older men, or even men, in general." "Harry!" Hermione chided, trying hard to stifle her laughter, but the looks on both Dumbledore and Sirius' faces were too much and she burst out laughing. After a few seconds, Sirius also joined in. -- Year 2 -- "Why can't I become an Animagus?" Harry asked stubbornly. "Because," Sirius said patiently as he rubbed his forehead, "you are a fair handful as it is. I refuse to have a little puppy or kitten running around everywhere." "Excuse me," Harry said dangerously. "I am not going to be a puppy or a kitten! I am going to be something with wings." "Merlin, I hadn't thought of wings," Sirius groaned, falling heavily on his chair. He looked at Harry weakly. "That settles it! No Animagus for you, young man! And no chocolates for breakfast!" Harry grinned evilly and called out, "Kreacher, can I have a chocolate frog please?" He chuckled at his godfather's expression when a chocolate frog popped inches above his hand. Happily nibbling the chocolate, Harry walked to the older man and patted his shoulder. "Look at it this way, Sirius. Hermione still listens to you." Sirius shook his head. "To think… you could have been a sweet, innocent, obedient and disciplined little boy if you had lived with the…" he stopped, aghast at what he was about to say, and whispered hoarsely, "Merlin, I'm sorry, Harry," and he grabbed his godson in a hug. "I didn't mean that, I didn't…" "Sniff," Harry said dolefully. "My own godfather doesn't love me… sniff… he won't even let me become an Animagus… sob…" "Overkill, bozo," Hermione's voice preceded her entry, with her nose buried inside a book taken from the Black Library. -- "So, who all are aware of you being you?" Sirius asked curiously. "There's the staff of Hogwarts, or at least, McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape and Dumbledore," said Hermione thoughtfully. "Sprout might, as she was teaching during your parents' time as well, but I'm not sure if she has noticed it. Binns… never mind. Snape is the only one who's read some of those books, though." "Snivellus? Why him?" Sirius asked, horrified. "Stop it, Sirius," Harry said irritably. "He was Lily Evans' friend, and the last book was much about him too. And you have only read the first three, so please trust us." At that, Sirius frowned. "Why can't I read the others? Do I die or something?" "Yes, you do," Harry shouted. "And that's not the reason why. Those books are about MY life, and I don't want to share every single detail with everyone. Mum, dad and Mione have read them all and… stop that! If Lily and James Potter really cared for me, then they wouldn't mind me calling Jane and Dan Granger that." "Harry," Hermione said warningly and Harry closed his mouth and sat back. "You're right, Harry," Sirius said heavily. "I'm sorry, kid. I forget how much things have changed." "Fred and George have the Marauder's Map," Hermione mediated after a long and uncomfortable period of silence. "But we don't need it, as you have volunteered to help us make one each," Harry quipped in. "I have?" Sirius asked in bemusement. "Yep, this morning," said Harry. "In return for me not talking to your mom's portrait before breakfast." Reflectively, Harry added, "A pity, really. She's added a lot to my vocabulary." Sirius and Hermione both groaned. "And I think Hagrid might suspect something," continued Hermione. "And Dumbledore might have told some others." "The Weasleys?" Sirius asked curiously. "I hope not," said Harry sadly. "I don't feel for them what I could have but that doesn't mean I don't pity myself… what I could have been… for their deception." "I have heard rumors the Weasleys might not be able to afford their youngest child's education at Hogwarts," Sirius added. "Pity," Harry said distractedly. "When I was in Gringotts, I overheard Molly blessing the person who made an anonymous donation to their vault," Sirius continued, eyeing Harry suspiciously. "A substantial amount." "Oh, good for them," Harry said. "Harry," Sirius sighed finally. "Did you make the donation?" "Yes," Harry said calmly. "Not up for discussion." Sirius opened his mouth again but Hermione shook her head. He looked at Harry, who had a dark expression on his face and shrugged helplessly. "I feel so helpless as the guardian of two kids who know so much more than I and unwilling to tell me." He sighed when neither Hermione nor Harry responded for some time. "It's not a pretty future," Harry finally said. "And the Weasleys are right in the middle of it." -- "Hey, Nev," said Harry in a friendly way, as he helped the timid boy bring his trunk to the compartment he and Hermione were in. "How was summer?" "All right," he replied. "My good grade in Herbology impressed my grandma and I was allowed to set up my own greenhouse." "Cool," Harry said. Somebody knocked on the door and Harry opened it, to come face to face with Ginny Weasley. The redhead looked at Harry, Hermione and Neville for a few seconds and said in a small voice, "Can I come in?" "Sure," said Harry, grabbing her trunk. "Just sit wherever you find a space." "Thanks," she muttered and took a seat by the window. She looked outside in silence, obviously too nervous to talk to the second years. "You're a Weasley, aren't you?" Hermione asked after a couple of minutes had lapsed. Ginny turned red, no doubt having been asked that quite a few times. "Ginny Weasley," she muttered. "Yes, my parents can afford my fees." "Hello, Ginny," said Hermione after an uncomfortable pause. "That's Neville Longbottom there. And we are…" "The Amazing Granger siblings!" Harry finished with a flair. Ginny blinked and looked from Harry to Hermione. Suddenly, her face split into a smile and she asked, "Twins?" "Nearly," Harry stated. "Ten months difference. I'm older." "No, you're not!" Hermione protested with annoyance, whacking his arm. "Don't listen to Harry. He's an bozo… and a baby." "Watch it, you old crone!" said Harry as he warded of her blows. "You're sabotaging Gryffindor's Quidditch star." As she watched the byplay between Harry and Hermione, Ginny's face darkened and she looked outside the window again. After a while, she wiped her eyes and muttered, "Excuse me," before running out of the compartment. Harry and Neville looked at each other in confusion as Hermione got up and followed Ginny. They played a game of exploding snap while waiting for the girls to return. When they did, Ginny was considerably much more cheerful. Harry opened a box of chocolate frogs and offered them all around. Ginny appeared hesitant at first, but she soon grabbed one, and muttered a thanks. "Looking forward to Gryffindor, Ginny?" Harry asked after a while. The girl nodded emphatically. "Yes," she said. "I hope I make it." But her smile faltered as she spoke, "All my brothers are there, though they don't really care much about me." "Why do you say that?" Harry asked. Ginny's face reddened and she muttered, "Forget it." -- "We saved you a seat, Ginny," Harry beckoned the girl to come to where he and Neville were sitting. "We knew you would make it." The girl sat down happily between Harry and Neville. She looked gratefully at Harry as she filled her plate with food. "The Hat said I'd do good in Ravenclaw." "Oh?" Harry replied curiously. "You shouldn't have come here just because your family." "Not because of them," she muttered as she dug into her chicken. Harry looked at her thoughtfully but his attention was diverted by Neville suddenly exclaiming, "Lockhart's our new Defense Professor! That guy's a celebrity! I saw him in Diagon Alley!" "Looks a nut to me," Harry muttered, biting a drumstick. "Looks more suited for a toothpaste commercial than fighting evil creatures." Ginny giggled. "Don't be mean, Harry. I saw him too," her face reddened as she continued, "He gave me a set of his books free of charge because of my family…" Seeing that the topic was a bit sore for the girl, Harry deftly changed subjects. "Do you like flying?" The girl nodded, chewing a mouthful of potatoes. "You should try out for the house reserve team. Something tells me you'd make a good chaser." "You're the seeker, aren't you?" Ginny asked suddenly. Teasingly, she added, "Ron mentioned you during the summer… he said you were bigheaded and pompous…" "He did, did he?" Harry puffed his cheeks in anger. "I know for a fact that my head size is quite normal, so there!" Giggling, Ginny said, "But Fred and George said you're decent and they never call anyone decent. I think they adore you." Harry was horrified. "No, please, no… First Dumbledore, now the Weasley twins. I am not into boys." Neville snorted out loud at that and sent pumpkin juice flying all around, and Harry reached behind Ginny and patted Neville on the back. Ginny was laughing quite uncontrollably as well and had to support herself on Harry's shoulder. "At this rate, I might ask you to become my girlfriend, Ginny," Harry said, now patting Ginny's head as she clung on to him in hysteria, his face still horrified from earlier. "Just to keep them away from me." That of course sent her to yet another fit. "In your dreams, Granger!" The rest of the table watched at the three with amusement. -- "Have you outlined all of Lockhart's lessons in little hearts, dear sister?" Harry asked innocently while in Double Defense with Ravenclaw. Which was a mistake, of course, as he would be sporting a sore elbow for the rest of the day. "Fine! Be like that, I only wanted to ask if you're free Saturday morning to visit Hagrid and Berta." Saturday morning, however, started with Quidditch training. "Why is our little sister tagging behind you, Granger?" Fred asked with a smirk. "Is there something we should know," George asked, mirroring his twin's expression. Harry raised an eyebrow and brought an amused Ginny as a shield between him and the twins. "Yep. We're seeing each other. Sorry boys, I'm spoken for, and I don't swing in that direction anyway," and hastily sidestepped, leaving Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet regard the twins strangely. They shook their heads and left. "Brother dear, methinks we have just been pranked," said Fred as he mournfully watched the tall African girl soar to the skies. "But there is no shame in falling to the son of Prongs," finished George as he kicked off and followed after Alicia, leaving Harry and Ginny alone. "Alright, Granger," said Ginny after she managed to control herself. "Time to pay up. Where's the Nimbus?" "That hurt, Weasley," Harry said mournfully. "One would think you didn't particularly want to be seen with me." "Nimbus," she repeated with amusement, her hand outstretched for the broom that was due her. Chuckling, Harry gave her the broomstick. As she kicked off, he called out, "Not too fast, okay? And look after the broom!" -- "Babe!" Harry shouted joyfully, running forward as a five foot dragon staggered towards him. The dragon huffed and Harry yelled, "NO! Don't you dare!" But it was too late, a puff of black smoke left him choking for air. "She's missed yeh loads, 'Arry," said Hargid. "She always comes to the edge, hoping to see yeh in the summah. But I keep tellin' her yeh'll be back later." Harry smiled fondly at the dragon that, despite its much larger size, still wished to jump over her bonded wizard. "I missed you too, babe," Harry said as the dragon licked his face. "Excuse me," someone said from behind and Ginny came forward, broomstick in hand, blinking in disbelief. "You… you have a dragon," she squeaked in a shrill voice. "A real, live, fire breathing monster. And you call it babe!" "Norberta is no monster!" Harry corrected, appearing highly affronted. "Be nice to her, Ginny!" He patted the dragon's head and said soothingly, "There there… don't let that nasty little witch hurt your feelings, babe." The redhead guffawed in a shrill voice. "Care to tell her to be nice to me, Granger?" Harry looked at Ginny in confusion. "Why would she not?" Then, he said understandingly, "Ah. You want to come closer. Come on ahead, she won't bite. Come on, give her a nice pat." When Ginny froze in shock, Harry continued, "Don't be shy… Oh ok… Babe, care to give Ginny a warm welcome?" "Granger," Ginny said slowly, inching backwards as the dragon turned to her. "Granger, stop the dragon… Harry… please… stop… the dragon…" But the dragon had sent a puff of warm smoke at Ginny that sent her stumbling to the ground, before licking her face in delight. "See, Norberta's just an overgrown puppy at heart," Harry said affably as he leaned down to blow the dust off Ginny's nose. -- "Just an overgrown puppy," repeated Ginny, grinding her teeth in irritation. "Yes, that is a very good description for a dangerous and potentially lethal monster. It could have eaten me whole there and you…" she turned to Harry with clenched fists, "You were taking the dragon's side!" she said accusingly. Harry chuckled. Ruffling the outraged girl's hair, he said, "Well, I have known Norberta longer than I have known you." Huffing indignantly, Ginny saw Neville approach and said, "Fine. I'm going to talk to Neville, who I'm sure has no intentions of allowing a ghastly creature maul me to a horrible and painful death. Hey, Neville." "Hey guys," said Neville, as he joined them. "Care to join me water the Devil's Snare in the greenhouse?" Ginny froze for a long moment. Then she turned from a grinning Harry to a serious Neville and screamed, "AARGH!" and stormed away. Hermione chose that moment to enter that corridor and stared at Ginny's retreating back. "What's with her?" she asked curiously, making both boys laugh uproariously. "There's been an attack," deadpanned Hermione after Neville walked towards the greenhouse. "Mrs. Norris was found petrified." "What?" Harry shouted. "That can't be!" Looking around to see if anyone was overhearing them, he added in a whisper, "I was with Ginny all along." "I suppose that means…" "Somebody else has the diary," Harry said gravely. He shook his head and dragged his sister to an empty classroom. "We should have expected this." But Hermione didn't respond. She wasn't listening to her brother. Instead, she was fuming silently at his expression. Then she slapped him. "What?" Harry asked, rubbing his cheek. "For thinking how to distract me and run to the Chamber of Secrets to kill the bloody snake. You promised me not to do that," Hermione whispered quietly. Smirking in a superior way, she added, "Call it a pre-emptive strike. Mom allowed me to do those." "I can't believe it," Harry said, shaking his head. "Why do girls like to bully me? Even Ginny's picking up pointers from you." "She is?" Hermione asked curiously. "That's a big difference from… you know when." Nodding, she said, "Come to think of it, it's not that surprising for you two to become close. You two share much in common." Harry groaned in frustration. "Twelve, sister, and I'm not interested in her like that." -- "HARRY!" Ginny screamed as she ran to the dark haired boy in the common room. Gasping for air, she said frantically, "I overheard the teachers. Hermione and Neville have been petrified along with half a dozen other students and Sir Nicholas and Ron's been taken to the Chamber." "Mione's been what? And Ron…" Harry froze. The timeline was all awry. It was barely a week since the first attack. It shouldn't have progressed so fast. Slowly, he got up and walked out of the Common Room in a daze. He turned to Ginny, who was following him and suddenly realized what was different - Ginny had fought the presence of Tom Riddle much harder than her older brother. Shaking his head, Harry told her, "I think I might know where Ron has been taken. But you are not coming with me." In response, he received a slap. Then a punch. "He's my brother, you git! So take me or…" Harry gritted his teeth in exasperation. "Fine," he said finally. "But we're first finding Professor Snape." "Why… Snape?" Ginny panted between breaths as they ran through the castle, towards the dungeons. "Because he's the only capable wizard who'll take me seriously," Harry explained as he turned abruptly, only to find himself collide against something and fall to the ground. With his vision clouded by something dark, he muttered, "Smell of batwings and incense… Hello, Professor," he greeted, looking up to see the well-known sneer of Severus Snape. Snape, to Harry's surprise, didn't ask any questions. All he said was, "Lead me." -- "You fools," the shadowy form of Tom Riddle laughed gleefully. "You will all die here with that foolish boy." "Let Ron go, Riddle," Harry said quietly. "He is innocent." "Innocent?" Riddle laughed mirthfully. "You wouldn't say that if you saw half of what he wrote to me. Little Ronald has some really interesting ideas of what he would have done with the wealth and power I could have given him. Some of his ideas impressed Lord Voldemort himself. He would have made a good servant. He didn't even fight me until the very end, and that too in fear of his own life. Pity he must die for me to live." "Nice speech, Tom," Harry said. "Well prepared, good delivery, nice effect with the evil laugh… full marks… but you overlooked one thing, Tom," Harry said loudly. "Just one thing." "Fools!" Riddle hissed. "I have overlooked nothing. Now my basilisk will destroy you. Speak to me Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four!" As they waited, Harry said jovially, "While we're waiting, shall we have a game of chess? Or some tea? A sandwich, maybe? How about some chicken instead?" And he transfigured stones into roosters all around the chamber. As if on cue, Snape also did the same, while Ginny retrieved the diary. Then several things happened at the same time. The basilisk emerged. All the non parselmouths closed their eyes. The roosters crowed in a chorus. The basilisk writhed in pain and died. Harry threw the diary at the wriggling snake's mouth just before it shut, stabbing the diary in the process. Riddle screamed in pain and Ron started moving. "You overlooked one thing, Tom," whispered Harry dangerously, as the misty form of Tom Riddle began to fade away, "You hurt my sister!" He then turned to Snape and said, "You can take most of the credit, Professor, you did teach me that transfiguration after all," Harry told Snape. "As long as we split the gold from the basilisk parts." -- The aftermath of the Chamber of Secrets incident saw Ginny become closer to Harry as their other friends were petrified. So when Valentine's Day came, Harry wasn't too surprised to receive a slightly modified and much less complimentary version of Ginny's singing valentine. Ignoring the sniggering crowd, he turned to Ginny sullenly and saw her laughing. "Consider it payback, Granger, for your overgrown puppy," she managed to utter between fits of laughter. "Your face!" At the same time, Ginny became much more distant to her brother. The words of Riddle remained fixed in her head despite Harry's attempts to convince her that Riddle used division and hatred as his most favored weapons. "But he should have fought harder," Ginny had protested and Harry had no response to it. Ginny had fought him harder, and though he could not tell her about that, he could not argue Ron's point either. Not that he wanted to. "You should visit me, Harry," Ginny said shyly. "Both you and Hermione. You must be curious about how wizards live." Harry opened his mouth to correct her but remembered, just in time, that his relationship with Sirius Black was still a secret. He looked at Ginny, who was blushing after her offer, and started wondering how to dispel her crush. But he was glad to find her attracted to him despite being unaware of his true identity. Grinning, he said, "Would love to. Is my girl Norberta invited?" Ginny bit her lip and shook her head vigorously. -- When the students were revived, exams were cancelled as a school treat. Instead, Quidditch became a major focus. Ginny had to step in for a petrified Alicia Spinnet for half the matches that year, and due to Alicia's weakened body after waking up, also played in the finals. For the second year running, to the delight of Oliver Wood and his team, Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup. The Leaving Feast once again saw Gryffindor colors adorning the Great Hall despite Snape's renewed vigor in docking points off them. But he wasn't too unhappy. He was looking forward to salvage ingredients from the basilisk. Before leaving, however, Harry was invited to Dumbledore's office. The visit started with him and Ginny meeting her parents, who offered their gratitude to Harry. After they departed with Ginny, Dumbledore faced Harry. "I am disappointed in you, Mr. Potter," said the Headmaster without his customary twinkle. "You should have approached me straight away with your suspicions. Many of the students might have been saved from enduring a terrible ordeal." Behind him, Professor McGonagall looked at Harry disapprovingly. Obviously, she felt begrudged to have her students run to the Slytherin head for support. Beside her, Snape smirked at Harry. Harry narrowed his eyes at the Potions Master but responded to the Headmaster politely, "As you said, sir, they were only suspicions at first. I had no reason or concrete proof to believe they were true. And when the situation became dire, I went to Professor Snape. He chose not to inform you and led two students to the chamber." Harry smirked back at Snape, who visibly balked. "About that, Mr. Potter," McGonagall began frostily, "why, may I ask, did you not approach me? I would have definitely approached Professor Dumbledore first." 'That is the reason, you old and stupid hag,' Harry thought, looking straight at Professor Snape's eyes, making him cough uncontrollably. Outwardly, Harry merely shrugged indifferently. "Last year, you didn't believe us about the Stone but Professor Snape did. I simply decided to skip the unnecessary stages this year as lives were at stake." McGonagall bristled. She looked at Harry with narrowed eyes but didn't reply. After composing herself, she said, "I suppose I do owe you an apology for that. My reticence could have resulted in a grave blunder." "It could," Harry agreed. "But I don't blame you for that. If anything, I only blame you for letting him," he turned his head to Dumbledore for a moment, "leave me with the Dursleys, even after seeing how awful they were. I just hope you won't join him in trying to send me there again this summer." He looked at McGonagall pleadingly, ignoring Snape's silent but impressed clap. Two - nil, to Harry Granger. -- Year Three -- "Hey, Sirius," Harry shouted from across the table. "Have you met your old pal Lupin yet?" "Not interested," Sirius muttered as he chewed his slice of toast. "Why not?" Sirius frowned as he swallowed the food. He observed Harry eat his food casually but knew that the question was serious. "He didn't take care of you, kid. All of us promised Lily that should the situation ever arise, we would look after her baby. She was distressed at the possibility of you being raised by her sister. Remus didn't honor that promise." Harry looked at his godfather and asked flatly, "Is this about now or from the book? Because I don't think its fair to treat him based on the book. Like Snape, for instance. I never got an opportunity to hate Snape this time and I trust him much more than McGonagall." Sirius sighed. "It's both. Actually, it's more about his blind faith in Dumbledore over his trust in our friendship that bugs me. It's not the same anymore. On the other hand, I got myself an occupation." "You?" Harry asked in disbelief. "You're joking right? Why do you need to work? More importantly, who would let you work?" Sirius narrowed his eyes sulkily, but then he grinned at his godson and said, "I'm writing a couple of books. One is on Animagus Transformations and the other one is about my ordeals in Azkaban. Perhaps that will open the apathetic eyes of the people that dementors are simply not the answer to any problem." "Oh," said Harry thoughtfully. "This is the year I receive my Firebolt, isn't it? Do you think my birthday would be a better occasion than Christmas?" -- "Boo!" Harry shouted as he jumped on the unsuspecting redhead, sitting serenely by the pond. "Eek," Ginny shouted and knocked Harry to the ground, pinning him with her wrists. She froze on seeing who it was. "Granger? H-Harry?" "Um, Ginny," Harry said after a few seconds of inactivity. "You're taking advantage of me," he said complainingly, making the girl blush and get off of him. "And you're heavy." "Sorry," she squeaked and blushed even more when she saw Fred, George and her father chuckle lightly, having witnessed the whole thing. "Is Hermione here?" "No," said Harry, brushing the dirt off his pants. "She is visiting Lisa Turpin. Neville?" "No," Ginny whispered. "His grandma took him out of the country." Slipping her hand into Harry's as they walked back, she said flatly, "So it's just you and me once again." "You and I," Harry corrected before gritting his teeth in frustration. "Oh no. I'm channeling my sister. Somebody save my soul from eternal damnation!" Hearing Ginny giggle at his chagrin, he pouted. "Hello dear," Molly Weasley greeted cheerfully. "It's good to have you with us for the weekend. You'll sleep in Charlie's old room. Ginny insisted on it, saying you'd like the posters of dragons." In a softer whisper, she added, "Please don't let Ron ruin your stay. He's just having a hard time." After the woman retreated, Harry followed Ginny as she stomped to her room. Closing the door, she gave a light frustrated yell. "How can they keep making excuses for him after all the rubbish he says!" Harry took her hand and made her sit on the bed, waiting patiently for her to continue. When she fumed silently without continuing, Harry said, "Bunny slippers?" He glanced at the fluffy pink footwear his friend had. Ginny giggled. "Not my choice, I wanted something less girlish but my parents think I'm still a baby. I received it for Christmas last year." Then she blurted out, "Ron said you cheated and selected me over him for the Quidditch reserve team, that he should receive half of the gold proceeds from the basilisk salvage for all that he has suffered, that we both stole his glory and…" "He's jealous," Harry said quietly. "All his brothers excel in something or the other, and now even his younger sister has played for Gryffindor, has received a Special Services plaque, and ten thousand galleons… which I'm sure you are sharing with your family… but he doesn't see it that way. He wants to shine at something, but he is just an average kid." "Is that my fault?" Ginny asked angrily. "No, silly," replied Harry patiently, hitting her lightly on the head. "But you shouldn't let his bad mood give you one too." "Sorry," Ginny muttered, slightly ashamed. "I'm probably not the best company these days. You might want to go back home." "Bored of me already, Weasley?" Harry said teasingly. "I knew I should have visited Norberta instead!" Sighing sadly, he got up. "Never thought that my best friend would throw me out of her home." Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him down again. "Best friend?" she asked quietly and with hopeful eyes. "Well…" Harry said thoughtfully. "Let's see… there's Mione, who's my evil and annoying little sister…" "Big sister," Ginny corrected, rolling her eyes at what she knew would be Harry's long and lengthy monologue. "Big sister," Harry grudgingly admitted. "Whom I couldn't love more even if I tried, but we have little else in common except the depths of our undying sibling affection," he said dramatically as Ginny rolled her eyes again. "Then there's Neville, who's a decent guy to hang around with… and a good and dependable friend… there's Norberta, who's a real babe. But there's a slight problem about us being different species and unable to communicate properly… then there's you," Harry eyed the redhead, satisfied at the expectant gaze he was receiving from her. "Come to think of it… hmm… nah, Neville's my best…" "Prat!" Ginny whacked him with her pillow. "Idiot." With her teddy bear. "Lousy git!" With her pillow again. Laughing, Harry let her work away her frustration for a while before pulling her against him. "You… who relates to me in so many ways, Quidditch, mischief and adventure… a caring and gentle yet strong personality that is so amazing… and a looker, to boot," he added appreciatively. "That last bit killed the moment, Granger," Ginny muttered in a disgruntled way, pulling a board game from beneath her bed. -- "Peter Pettigrew escaped from Azkaban?" Harry asked curiously the morning they were to go to Diagon Alley. "How did that happen? Didn't they keep the Animagus wards up?" Arthur Weasley looked at the young boy in surprise. "It appears that there was a momentary lapse." He read the Daily Prophet and shook his head sadly. "Avery was in charge that day. Sirius Black has been drafted to hunt for his former friend." Harry's insides squirmed and he excused himself. He stayed in his room until Ginny dragged him out for their trip to Diagon Alley. "I'm getting a new wand," she chirruped all the way, making sure that Ron wasn't in hearing range. "I'm getting a new wand." "How about a broom or an owl as well?" Harry asked curiously, keeping hold of the bouncing girl's hand. "Nah," Ginny replied back. "I'm fine with just a wand." She shot a reluctant glance at the Owl Emporium before catching sight of her mother buying new robes for everyone and she brightened up. Harry bit his lips and said, "Come on then, my treat. Your birthday's coming up anyway." Catching sight of a mass on bushy brown hair, Harry shouted, "Mione! Over here!" He hugged his sister warmly, toppling an armload of books and greeted her blonde friend, Lisa Turpin. "I'm buying Ginny an owl. Care to join us? You could buy a kitten, sis. I know you want one." Hermione dragged Harry a bit further and whispered, "Can you stay with the Weasleys for the rest of the summer? Sirius is busy." Harry nodded though his expression clouded. "Why must things always happen in a similar way? Hasn't the magical world heard about the butterfly effect and chaos theory?" Hermione narrowed her eyes and said, "And what have you heard about it other than what I've told you, Harry Granger?" At her brother's sheepish grin, she relaxed. "I'm not sure about this and it's not as if we can talk about it with anyone. Are you sure you don't want to tell others about what will happen next year?" "I'm sure," Harry whispered quickly, seeing Ginny approach. -- "Remus J Lupin," Ginny said after reading the tag on the man's trunk. "Defense teacher." She sat down by the window and Harry took the seat next to her. Neville was sitting opposite them. Within minutes, Hermione entered with her friends saying, "You don't mind me bringing my friends, do you? Lisa and Luna." "Luna!" Ginny turned instantly with a wide smile. "It's been so long since we've done anything together." "You know each other?" Neville asked curiously. "We used to play together when we were little," said Ginny happily. "But then we drifted apart after…" she trailed off sadly. But Luna didn't take anything amiss. She walked to her childhood friend and squeezed between Ginny and Harry. Softly, she said, "You used to make me marry you and the boy-who-lived." Harry chuckled mirthfully and ducked to avoid the hand that came close to knocking his head off. "I see. Since Harry Potter is missing," Luna said dreamily, getting up and pushing the other two closer. "You have turned your focus towards Harry Granger now. Is there something special about the first name?" Both Ginny and Harry turned red and the rest of the occupants of the compartment burst out laughing. But just then the whole compartment turned chilly, and Harry put his arm around Ginny protectively. He whispered, "Think of the Burrow. Think of us flying together on the Firebolt and the Nimbus. Think of… you sneaking to Hogsmeade in my Invisibility Cloak." Ginny looked at Harry with a faint smile and squeezed his hand as Neville fainted and Luna shook violently. Harry watched Remus Lupin get up and chase the foul dementor away and distributed chocolate frogs all around. "Chocolate helps," he said, receiving an appreciative nod from Lupin. -- "You coming to see Berta?" Harry asked Ginny after the first few days had passed and they had settled down for the new year. "Of course," she replied. "Can't let a bloody dragon steal my man, can I?" "I'm your man now, am I?" Harry asked curiously. Ginny shrugged. "According to Luna at least." Giggling, she said, "Just kidding, Granger. Wipe that frown off your face and there's no need to get the twins to pretend to be your boyfriends to ward me off. I know you're gay." "Excuse me," Harry protested indignantly. "You'll pay for that, Weasley." He jumped on her, tickling her mercilessly. "Say uncle!" "Fine," she squealed, laughing painfully. "Fine… uncle… leggo…" "Looks like the lovebirds are at it again, brother mine," Fred Weasley's voice sailed from the other end of the Common Room. Quite a few eyes were fixed on the two of them. "Our baby sister… sniff… all grown up," said George. "Who would've thunk it!" "Shut up," Harry and Ginny muttered at the same time and they hastily got up. Harry brushed his hair with dignity, and looked reproachfully at the twins. "At least I'm not as confused as you two. Don't string Angelina and Alicia along for too long, guys. And word is, Dumbledore's still available," he said loudly and scampered out of the Common Room, with Ginny behind him. As they left, one of the twins voice could be heard saying, "A galleon says they'll be together by the end of the year." "Two galleons say between start and end of fourth year," said the other. -- Harry froze. The sight of hospital beds with two girls lying lifeless, frail and shriveled. He took a step back and gasped fearfully, "Mione! Ginny! No… not like mom…" and with trembling fingers, he croaked, "R-Rid… Riddi…" and sobbing, he faltered. "Riddikulus!" Hermione shouted from behind him and grabbed her brother's hand as he fell on his knees and whimpered. "Just a boggart, Harry!" she said emphatically. "It was just a boggart!" The rest of the class was shocked into a silent stupor at the ghastly image. Even Professor Lupin appeared stunned for a moment, resulting in Hermione's need to rush to her brother's aid. News about Granger's boggart spread like wildfire and he started avoiding Ginny. For the next few days whispers followed his every step. Finally in frustration, he stormed out of the castle only to be accosted by a furious redhead. "Stop, Granger!" she shouted as he jumped on his Firebolt. But before he could fly away, she pulled the broomstick back, sending him crashing to the ground. "Don't you dare run away!" Harry grunted as he got to his knees but didn't turn around to face Ginny. Then he felt two soft hands rubbing his back. "Did I hurt you?" Ginny asked hesitantly. "I'm sorry I pulled the broom. But you weren't letting me talk to you." When Harry didn't respond, she kept massaging his back and shoulder silently. "Does this mean we aren't best friends anymore?" she asked miserably when Harry remained stiff and unresponsive. "Of course we are," Harry said firmly, grabbing her hand. "I… I'm sorry, Ginny. I don't know why I've been acting like I have. You'll always be my best friend." He felt Ginny's arms wrap around his back and her head rest against him. -- "Sit down, Harry," said Professor Lupin calmly. "I must first of all apologize for not being fast enough to intercede your boggart in class." Harry nodded. Inside, he was furious at being kept in the castle despite having a signed permission form from Sirius. Dumbledore had clearly stated that since Sirius Black had no relation to the Grangers, there was no way he could 'in good conscience' allow Harry and Hermione to go to Hogsmeade. That hadn't stopped him, not until he got caught. "I'm not sure if you are aware but…" "You were a friend of my father's," Harry interrupted. "Moony, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail - the Marauders. The names of your friends are related to their Animagus forms, which they acquired to give you company during full moons." Lupin gawked at him in silence. "And you are here because Wormtail, that is Pettigrew, might attempt to kill me. You're going to tell me not to waste the sacrifice of my parents on stupid things like Hogsmeade trips. You might also try to reinforce Dumbledore's desire for me to return to the Dursleys," Harry said quietly. "But guess what… that's what they, my parents that is, would want me to do… they would want me to live and be happy rather than be miserable about them not being here and holed up in some tiny cell, they'd want the same thing as Jane Granger did! And you have no right to say anything to me now after all these years of absence." Lupin gawked at him in horror. "You didn't honor your friendship with James Potter and I do not want you as a parental figure in my life. You could have tried to take custody of me… you could have tried to at least be in my life somehow but Dumbledore convinced you to stay away and I'd be happy with the Dursleys and you accepted it," Harry continued. "You acted selfishly." Lupin gawked at him in grief. Harry got up. "This conversation is over. If I need parental figures and guidance, I'll go to Sirius. I assume he's still not responding to you? Good. Because just as Pettigrew betrayed the Marauders to Voldemort, you betrayed them to Dumbledore." Lupin gawked at him in tears. -- "So what do you suggest?" Ginny asked finally, licking a strand of her hair as she pondered over the decision form in front of her. "Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies and Divination?" "Magical Creatures is fun, despite the near accident with the Hippogriff earlier this year," Harry said, lifting his head from above his essay to look at her worried face. "Divination is complete bollocks. You've seen your brother and his friends make things up all the time. They get the highest marks, from what I've heard… why Muggle Studies? Do you plan to follow your father's career?" "No… not really," said Ginny, blushing profusely. "Just, you know, in case I need it later in life." Eyeing her cautiously, Harry said, "Why not. Ancient Runes is fun after the first few lessons of foundation theory. You could take those three without overburdening yourself." "Hmm," Ginny mumbled while putting tick marks against her selection. "Thanks, Harry." After a while, she suddenly turned to Harry and said, "Harry?" "Uh huh?" "If I ask you for a favor, would you do it?" "Depends," Harry said plainly, scribbling his essay furiously. "I'm not doing your History essay as well." "Will you kiss me?" Harry nearly broke his quill. He did ruin the last line of his essay. He turned to Ginny incredulously. "Kiss?" "Never mind," Ginny muttered and hid her face behind her Charms text book. "Kiss?" Harry asked, pulling the book out of her hand and grinning at her red face. "I just… you know… I saw Percy with his girlfriend… and I… well… " Ginny babbled on. Taking a deep breath, she said, "I want my first kiss to be with my best friend. But it's okay if you don't want." Chuckling, Harry leaned closer to Ginny, sensing her breathing become more and more rapid with each passing second. He brushed his lips against her chin and raised it above. With a smile, he touched her lips with his and kissed gently. Then he parted. Ginny's eyes were still closed, as if expecting more, but Harry brushed her hair aside and returned to his essay. -- The end of his third year was also a happy one. Once again, Gryffindor won the Quidditch Trophy. Despite the presence of the dementors, Harry was only as badly affected by them as were the rest of the players. So Gryffindor managed to pile up a lot of points, and Ginny was allowed to play a match as well. Without any life threatening situation that awarded Harry with hundreds of house points at the end of the year, Gryffindor did not manage to win the House Cup despite their performance at Quidditch. The Great Hall was decorated in Ravenclaw colors and Hermione smirked at Harry in a superior manner from her table. "Oh right," Harry said when Dumbledore approached him and gave Ginny a quick peck on her cheek. Ignoring her flushed face, he said, "Go on ahead, hun. I'll see what the nice old man wants. Hello, Professor, have you met my girlfriend and future wife," he looked pointedly at Ginny to play along. "I don't think she likes competition on her turf." "Your humor, Mr.…Granger," said Dumbledore, as he led Harry to his office without his customary twinkle, "leaves a lot to be desired. My purpose here is to request you, considering the dangerous situation with you-know-who about you-know-what that you should stay you-know-where." "Brilliant!" Harry shouted in amazement. "Dumbledore finally says 'you-know-who' and it isn't even for the Old Mutt! This has to go down in your chocolate frog, sir." "My patience is stretched to its limits, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said in his office where McGonagall, Snape and Lupin were present. "I cannot allow you to return to your godfather's place as Pettigrew would surely target him." "Pettigrew's a coward," Harry chuckled. "He'll do no such thing." "Be that as it may, Mr. Black will be busy searching for Pettigrew," Dumbledore's twinkle returned and he said happily. "I have sent your luggage to the Dursleys with Professor Lupin. They were a bit surprised, from what I've heard but after some persuasion have very kindly consented to take you in for the summer. And now Professor Lupin will be taking you as well." "Wait!" Harry shouted. "You can't do that! What about Mione!" "You can explain your sister about your relocation through OWL post," said Dumbledore calmly. "Remus, if you will." Harry watched in horror and Remus Lupin approached him and grabbed his hand and portkeyed away. -- Year 4 -- The lion eyed the wolf menacingly. With a dangerous growl, it leapt and pinned the wolf to the ground. "Merlin, Harry!" a ragged voice came from beneath. "The moon's gone and you're heavy!" The lion rolled away in mortification and transformed to a human. "Sorry, Remus," said Harry. A tabby cat purred at his feet and Harry picked it up. "Let's see. Would Mione-cat like an early morning bath in the river?" The cat suddenly became much heavier and Harry fell to the ground with a thump. "Ouch." "Serves you right," scolded Hermione. Then her eyes brightened. "That was the most fun I've ever had. Thanks, Remus!" Remus Lupin smiled weakly. "Don't. I should have done this long ago. And, Sirius made the potion the first time Harry asked. You've got him wrapped around your little finger, kid." "What do you mean 'him'?" Harry asked in chagrin. Smugly, he added, "I've got both of you around my finger." "As long as it isn't the same finger with which you pick your nose, Granger," another voice came from behind with a loud yawn. "You guys are so loud! How's a cougar to sleep?" Several hours later, Harry was sitting near a running stream of water with his feet submerged. Ginny was sitting beside him, sighing happily from time to time. She had been invited by Harry for a week in the mountain resort Remus had spirited him and Hermione to instead of Privet Drive, and her mother had consented after a lot of cajoling. "Why do you live with Professor Lupin and Sirius Black again?" Ginny asked curiously. "Because they knew my parents," Harry replied. "Huh," said Ginny in confusion. "Weren't you muggleborn?" "My birth parents died when I was young and mum and dad adopted me," Harry said truthfully. "But they also died… So Sirius took custody of us after he was released," which was also true. "Oh," said Ginny, fully aware that something critical had not been mentioned. Then she cheered up. "Race you to the peak!" She turned into a cougar and leapt up. "NOT FAIR!" Harry shouted as he jumped up and ran after her. "You're the mountain lion here, I'm just an ordinary lion… just an ordinary lion." -- "Why does she get to bring her friends along?" Ron asked sulkily as Harry and Ginny followed the Weasley family to the Portkey Point. Nobody responded. Except Charlie, who cuffed him lightly on his left ear. "He asked Seamus," whispered Ginny as they walked, "but Seamus is staying with the Irish fans. Nobody's told him that Sirius paid for you and Hermione." Harry nodded, slipping his hand in Ginny's nonchalantly and smirked when she stumbled suddenly, making her retaliate by digging her fingernails into his hand. "Point taken," he muttered after a moment of pain but tightened his grip. Both of them were completely unaware about the raised eyebrows and smiles being sent at them by Arthur, Bill and Charlie Weasleys. -- "Ginny, please believe me," was the first thing Harry said after Dumbledore spoke out him name, "I didn't enter my name." "Of course you didn't," Ginny said angrily, but Harry was glad that the anger was aimed at the Goblet of Fire instead of him. "I was with you all along and then we'd sneaked out to see Berta." Sighing in relief, Harry walked towards the room with the Champions and waited for the Heads to enter, ignoring the annoying questions being directed at him. The moment Karkaroff started deriding him, Snape sneered, "I have a vial of Veritaserum. Shall we have this settled?" "Severus," Dumbledore said calmly. "That will not be…" "I agree, Professor," Harry nodded vigorously. "I don't want anyone to think I'm being given preferential treatment or that Hogwarts is cheating. Professor Maxime, would you kindly verify the vial is indeed Veritaserum?" He nodded at the gigantic woman, who seemed surprised and somewhat pleased by his response. "Did you, Harry Potter, put your name in the Goblet?" "No." "Did you, Harry Potter, in any way whatsoever, cause your name to appear from the Goblet?" "No." After a pause, Snape suddenly asked, "Are you, Harry Potter, aware of who might have placed your name in?" "Yes." Amidst much surprises, Snape sneered and asked, "Elaborate." "Professor Moody is a Death Eater, Barty Crouch Jr. under Polyjuice Potion, who wants to use this as a means to spirit me away to resurrect Voldemort." "Lies!" Moody barked, whipping his wand out. "Clearly, the boy is deluded." "Ludicrous," shouted Bartemius Crouch Sr. "My son is dead." But then he looked at Moody strangely. "Junior?" And that was all the opening required for Dumbledore and Bagman. -- "Only you, Harry," yelled Ginny, "would get stuck in a life threatening Tournament and use it as a means of introducing your pet to the school!" When Harry grinned sheepishly, she said, "Alright! I admit, riding a dragon with a transfigured sword in hand to face another dragon looked quite impressive!" "You dolt!" screamed Hermione at the same time. "Two dragons! Two fire breathing dragons! And you in the middle!" "Oh come on, Mione," Harry said with a happy grin. "Berta and Nellie are good friends now. I even promised Nellie that we would come to visit her babies in Romania someday." Hermione and Ginny looked at him in exasperation and the redhead shook her head. "Granger, please get a mental check up at St. Mungo's!" Harry chuckled. "But Ginny, that was so fun! Okay, I admit, nearly getting burnt to a crisp wasn't so fun, but the rest of it was! At least, I didn't just freeze like Cedric and forfeit the task." Ginny harrumphed but didn't reply. "Will you go to the Ball with me?" Harry asked. Ginny froze and turned to Harry in disbelief. "M-Me?" When Harry nodded eagerly, her knees gave way and she whispered quietly in distress, "I'm sorry." "What?" "I-I thought you wanted to… you kept talking about Cho…" she began but Harry had stiffened. "I said yes to Michael Corner. I didn't think you wanted me… I'm sorry… I so wanted to go and you hadn't asked me… Harry, wait!" She looked forlornly as Harry stormed away. -- "Hermione, how is he?" Ginny asked sadly. "Unhappy and sulking," said Hermione with a thoughtful frown. "What happened?" "He asked me to the Ball. But for the whole week before that, he had been wondering out loud whom he should ask and he never mentioned me. I thought he was deciding between Cho Chang and Parvati Patil," Ginny said woefully. "And then he asked me but I had already told Michael Corner I'd go with him. Now he's not talking to me again and I don't know what to do." "Oh Ginny," said Hermione in frustration. "Harry needs to grow up. He loves teasing and being cheeky all the time that he overdid it with you. He probably thought you understood he wanted to go with you despite giving no clear indication. It's not your fault. Don't worry, just give him some time." "But I don't want to go to the Ball anymore," Ginny said sadly. "Not without him." But she did go to the Ball and looked sadly as Harry danced with a pretty Beauxbatons girl. When their paths crossed, Harry greeted her, "Hey Ginny. This is Rosé Delacour, Fleur's cousin. Rosé, this is Ginny, my best friend," and waltzed away. -- "Will you look at that," shouted the eager voice of Ludo Bagman. "Our youngest Champion is back with not just his own sister but also with Miss Delacour's cousin. Clearly, he stayed back to ensure the safety of all present. What moral fiber! Full marks, on my account!" Harry shot an annoyed glance at Bagman and received a kiss from both Fleur and Rosé Delacour as he emerged from the water. He saw Ginny look at him with a mixture of relief and sorrow and was about to wave. But then Michael Corner whispered something to her and she laughed. Frowning, Harry turned away. "Sirius!" Harry called out when his godfather grinned from the stands, and letting go of the girls, ran to him. "So," said Sirius teasingly. "Miss Delacour, eh?" "Shut up." "Whatever happened to Miss Weasley?" he asked quietly, shooting a glance at Ginny. "She looks miserable." "She chose Michael Corner first," Harry said nonchalantly. Shrugging, he walked towards the Forbidden Forest. "Stop being silly, Harry! Talk to Ginny," shouted Hermione as she ran behind him and dodged a puff of smoke sent by Norberta. "And stop making your dragon attack me!" "You stop slandering Berta!" Harry yelled back indignantly and patted Norberta's head affectionately, "You're my best friend, babe." He climbed on the dragon. "See ya later, sis, godpappy. Give my regards to Ginny." -- "Mr. Potter," said Dumbledore calmly. "The Ministry has sent people to remove your dragon from the grounds of Hogwarts to a safer place." "Not my dragon," muttered Harry. "Just a stray, catch her if you can." "Stop fooling around, you brat!" shouted a toad faced woman. "You are bonded to the dragon! That was clear for everyone to see!" "Oh is that so, Ms. Umbridge?" Harry rounded on her. "Then you would know that by law, any dragon that raised itself in the Forbidden Forest and bonded with a wizard is permitted to stay there!" "Laws can be changed," snapped Umbridge. "I want that dragon executed!" "Pity," said Harry. "She flew away to the north. I think someone might have told her about your intentions. Pity really," he turned to Rita Skeeter and a host of other reporters. "That the Ministry is more concerned with upturning perfectly fine laws instead of hunting for Pettigrew. I mean, a bonded dragon could have provided much security to the Castle. If something happens to me or any other student this year, then I put full blame on the Ministry and especially Umbridge." Winking, he added with a cheeky grin, "You must tell me where you bought that lovely scarf, Ms. Skeeter! That will save me a lot of bother before my sister's birthday." -- "Ow!" Harry cried in pain. "What was that for!" He ducked to avoid another blow from his sister. "You insensitive git!" Hermione screamed at him. "You foul, uncaring, big headed bozo! I am so ashamed to call you my brother! Do you know how badly you have affected that girl! Her grades are slipping, she barely pays attention anywhere, eats so little and cries herself to sleep! You… Mom would be so disappointed!" Harry paled and took a step back. "And whose fault was it in the first place, you loudmouthed and thick-skinned piece of flobberworm excretion!" she hissed at him. "You know how someone treated me in," she dropped her voice, "the book," and took a deep breath. "You are no better, Harold Granger!" She turned around and stormed away. Harry turned to Norberta who blinked at him blankly and said, "I messed up, didn't I babe? Good thing it's Valentine's Day next week. Care to give me a lift to Hogsmeade?" -- Ginny Weasley woke up for another harrowing day and sighed while rubbing her eyes. She opened her eyes and blinked. She blinked again. There were red, blue, white and yellow petals all around her bed and a bouquet of wild orchids at the foot of her bed. Breathlessly, she grabbed the flowers and plucked the card out. A water mug lies on your bedside table. "Huh?" she blinked at the strange message and turned to place the flowers in the water and gasped. There was a box of Honeyduke's Best fudge as well on the table. She smiled happily on recognizing the handwriting and hugged the flowers to her chest. After a few minutes, she placed the orchids in the water mug and opened the box of chocolates and found another card. Don't litter the floor. Her head glanced down of its own accord and she laughed when she saw a pair of dragon's claws slippers with a note inside. I heard you cry last night. Are you afraid of monsters beneath your bed? "Silly boy," she muttered dreamily as she dug her head beneath her bed and squealed as she pulled out a cuddly lion magical soft toy with soft fur and bushy hair. She giggled as the lion nibbled her hair and a card dropped out of its mouth. She picked the card and gasped. At least this lion will never act like an ass. Forgive me? "Of course I do!" she yelled and squeezed the lion and another card spilled out of its mouth. She blushed when she realized all her dorm mates were staring at her enviously. She picked up the card. There's another lion waiting in the Room of Requirements. She hastily placed the lion on top of her pillow and grabbed her clothes and ran to the shower. Within minutes, she was out and running towards the seventh floor. She stopped short of the corridor and took a few deep breaths, walking slowly and wishing for the door to appear. She walked in and gasped in disbelief. She hadn't walked inside a room, nor had she walked inside anything. Bright sunlight and clear blue skies on a ridge overlooking green meadows and valleys. On a large rock sat a lion with its head lowered in shame. Ginny ran to the lion and snaked her hands around its neck, burying her head in the thick mane. "You silly boy! Of course I forgive you! Do you forgive me?" The lion instantly changed into a boy with glistening green eyes who grabbed Ginny in a tight embrace. "Always!" He took a deep breath and lowered his head and smiled when Ginny reached for his lips. -- "So how did you manage to enter the girl's dorms?" asked Ginny as she leaned against Harry. They were sitting in the shade of the rock where Harry had hidden a picnic basket. Harry smirked and said, "My secret. Will come in handy for future umm… surprises." Seeing Ginny's disgruntled expression, he amended, "But since you consented to be my girlfriend for real, I will allow you to guess." Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Let's see. You could have asked someone else to do it?" Harry shook his head. "Don't trust any other Gryffindor girls." "You flew through the stairs?" Harry shook his head. "Tried and failed. Anti broomstick charm." "You flew inside from the window?" Harry nodded his head. "Something like that. Oh all right, I hovered outside your window on my Firebolt and floated all the things into place. Took a fair bit of time to get everything in order." Ginny gaped at him in surprise and kissed his cheek. "You needn't have worked so hard. I would have forgiven you regardless of any gifts." "I know," Harry said, rubbing his lips on the side of her head. "But after all the grief I caused I had to make up somehow. The gifts were not that important, I just wanted to make my best friend smile again." "You did," Ginny said softly. "Granger, you are incredible. I love you so…" she froze and turned red. Harry felt her stiffen in mortification and brought his head to face her. "Hey Gin." He blew air at her eyes, making her blink and look up. "Do you know why I didn't kiss you properly the first time you asked me?" When Ginny shook her head, he replied, "I wanted to take you to the clouds on Berta and kiss you there. That's what I was planning to do on…" "Christmas," she muttered apologetically. "I'm sorry. I should have had more faith -" "Hey we're over that now!" Harry complained and pecked her lips. "But Gin, I need to tell you something." "What?" Harry sighed. "I want you to believe me when I say that I haven't lied to you ever. But I haven't told you one critical thing about myself. Will you promise to keep it a secret and stay here until you know the whole story? Mind you, it's long enough to fill seven books." Ginny looked confused. "I don't understand." Then she giggled. "Oh all right, I promise. It's not as if you're going to tell me you're truly Merlin or Harry Potter." Harry remained silent. "Great Merlin!" Ginny cursed. "No, not Merlin, Harry Potter," muttered Harry and sighed. -- "I don't know what to say," said Ginny after several hours had passed. She looked at Harry's doleful face and giggled. "You silly boy, I still want to be with you. It's just that… I don't know. I should have guessed. But at least now I understand why Dumbledore's always after you." "I knew it!" Harry sighed dramatically. "It was never my looks but my fame he was after. Who would have thought even senile old men can act like fan girls." Ginny giggled again and leaned against Harry. "Idiot. Hold me, Harry. We need to return soon and I want to spend what's left of the day as close to you as possible." Harry grinned and pulled the redhead closer to himself. "You do realize what this means, Ginny dear. There's going to be one jealous dragon after your blood." Then he chuckled with satisfaction when Ginny stiffened against him. -- The final task was a day Harry was looking forward to. Even as he disappeared into the maze, not even Ginny and Hermione were aware of his plans. With his prior knowledge of what awaited him in the maze, it took him very little time to make it to the cup and be the first to touch it - several minutes before Cedric Diggory even entered the maze. "I knew it," he muttered to himself when he felt the familiar twinge of a portkey. "Someone else is a spy in Hogwarts. At least, this time I am prepared." The moment he reached hard ground, he was disarmed by Wormtail and tied to a tombstone. "Ah," said Wormtail, looking at Harry. "The time has finally come. My master will be brought back once again and I will be greatly rewarded. And you, a mere mudblood, will realize the price of defying the Dark Lord." "The Dork Lord?" Harry asked in surprise. "Is he around? I would much like to meet him. It's been years since we last met." "Silence!" a high pitched baby's voice squeaked, and Harry burst out laughing. "On the whole, an improvement since our previous meetings. At least this time you're not a turban or a diary," said Harry, giving Lord Voldemort a once-over. "But is that why you invited me to your fancy ritual, Tommy? Because I ruined your party last time? Oh you shouldn't have." "I need your blood," said Voldemort. "And then I will kill you with my bare hands for defying me." "You wouldn't stand a chance," said Harry. "In fact, it will be I who is going to defeat you." But despite his brave words, the ritual proceeded and Voldemort acquired a body for himself and the Death Eaters were summoned. "Excellent!" said Harry, clapping his hands when he was released for a duel. "Excellent! We have an audience. I invited some of my guests as well. I hope you don't mind?" At that very moment, several Aurors led by Sirius Black made their presence revealed. They had been waiting since the very beginning for Harry's signal and battle started. Harry Granger, Sirius Black and the Ministry's best fighters against Lord Voldemort and his faithful Death Eaters. But with one difference. The Aurors and Sirius Black had come prepared for a bloody battle. The only reason they had waited was to flush out the rest of the loyal Death Eaters who had escaped conviction the first time. Within ten minutes, most of the Death Eaters had been apprehended or taken out of action. Only Lord Voldemort remained fighting, seemingly without a struggle, until he was surrounded by dozens of opponents, fighting simultaneously. "I may be defeated in this battle but I cannot be killed. I am immortal. I will return." Harry and Sirius laughed when the Dark Lord's words seemed to have halted the Aurors in their tracks. At one corner, Harry emptied the contents of a bag that Sirius had brought with him - charred remains of some of the Founders' greatest treasures, and a decaying snake. "I believe these belong to you," said Harry. "Pieces of your soul, aren't they? I apologize. I destroyed the diary in my second year." Voldemort let out an inhuman shriek of pure fury. But then he smirked. "There is one final horcrux. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived and he is lost but alive. He is my final horcrux and as long as he is alive, I cannot be killed." Harry heard Sirius gasp in horror. He hadn't told that information to anyone. Instead, he took a step forward and said, "I am Harry Potter and I tell you this, Voldemort. I will defeat you and live to a ripe old age!" For a long moment, there was no activity at all. The revelation had shocked the Aurors and Voldemort alike. Sirius, meanwhile, was trying to figure out how to remove the horcrux from his godson without hurting him. "There was a prophecy," continued Harry. "You know of what I speak. Only I have the power to defeat you, Tom Riddle. Your time is up." And he laughed. "Avada Kedavra." Those were the last words Harry heard before all went black and his last thoughts were, 'How utterly predictable.' -- Harry groaned. He opened his eyes and found himself in a strange place, full of bright lights and strange noises. There was a man staring at him curiously. "How did you get in here?" the man asked in a strange Northern accent. "I don't know," said Harry truthfully. "Where am I? Last I know, I allowed Voldemort to kill me to destroy the horcrux inside me." "Ohhh!" said the man, as understanding lit up in his eyes. He looked at Harry with a strange expression. "Harry Potter, I presume?" "Yeah. How did you -" "How did I know your name? Well, the thing is where I have just come from, everybody knows your name, but they wouldn't expect to see you in person. Not even in their wildest dreams. Strange thing, fiction, isn't it? Who's to say that what you're reading in a book is not more real than your own existence? And who's to say that the reality you live in is simply a story being read by someone else?" "You're the Doctor!" said Harry suddenly. "You're the one who brought me to my parents!" "I am indeed," said the man, with a happy expression. "And the question rises: where should I take you now? Interesting, isn't it, to have a space-time traveling machine that acts like a sort of life-death wormhole to a transcendental reality for a fictional world." "Umm," said Harry. "I think you should speak to my sister instead. She would be able to translate your words for me." "What I mean is," said the Doctor with a grin, "where to now, Mr. Potter, what does your heart fancy?" Harry's eyes widened. "Can you take me back home?" The Doctor shrugged. "I can try, if that's where you want to go." Harry nodded. Then he said gasped for breath. "Mione's going to kill me, that is, if Ginny lets me live. Merlin! I am so screwed but yeah, I want to go back to them. I would love to travel around but not without them." "Hogwarts, it is, then!" yelled the Doctor in glee as he started pressing buttons on a console table in the middle of the hall. -- Harry walked into the Great Hall after waving goodbye to the Doctor and ignored the sudden silence. "He's alive!" a chorus rose and before he knew it, his vision became a blur of brown, red and black. "You no-good pile of skrewt droppings!" Whack. Whack. Whack. Whack. "It hurts, Mione." "Good!" Whack. Whack. "Ginny, please stop!" "No." Whack. Whack. "Sirius, et tu?" Whack. Whack. "That will be enough," said a calm voice and for the first time in his life, Harry was glad to hear it. He jumped away from the group that had attacked him and walked with a dignified huff to safety. "I must say, Mr. Potter, we are all at a loss. We have believed you lost for near on two days and -" "Two days!" Harry exclaimed. "No wonder." He turned to Hermione, Ginny and Sirius, whose faces showed signs of extreme grief. "That was thoroughly deserved then. In my defense, from my point of view, I have been gone for only half an hour." "How?" asked Hermione. "The Doctor," replied Harry, making Hermione's eyes widen in surprise. "So what happened after Voldemort struck the curse on me?" Sirius took a deep breath and it was obvious he was haunted by his memory. "You - You disappeared in a blinding glow and the curse backfired - Voldemort died - and - and you were gone." "Sorry," said Harry miserably. -- "Please don't be like this, Mione." Harry walked after Hermione, who had been avoiding him since his return. "Please look at me." The girl turned her face to the other side and kept walking. "Please Mione!" Harry said, his voice completely heartbroken at his sister's lack of response. For a moment, Hermione nearly paused but then she resumed walking and Harry remained behind, frozen in his place. At some point, he felt two soft hands come around him and he found himself in Ginny's embrace. He clasped his arms around her and sobbed on her shoulder. "She's hurt," said Ginny quietly, as she patted Harry's head and shoulder. "You hurt her by playing with your life so callously." "I know," said Harry dolefully. "I know. But I had no choice. I had to defeat Riddle for good." "She feels let down," continued Ginny, "that you didn't trust her enough to confide in her. As do I. How can we trust you now that we know you would throw away your life without giving a second thought about us?" Harry froze. He slowly looked at Ginny's face, which conveyed how much she cared for him and how much she had grieved for him at the same time. He looked at her silently but Ginny's grip never loosened for a moment. "Promise me you will never -" began Ginny. "I promise," said Harry urgently, "no matter what you ask, I promise it. Just don't leave me." Ginny giggled. "You silly boy," she said, resting her head against his shoulder. Harry sighed and ran his fingers against her hair. Leaning downwards, he kissed the top of her head. "I love you so much." He waited but Ginny didn't respond. "I know I have hurt you and I promise you, I will make you trust me again, even if it takes me the rest of my life. Both you and Mione." "Good. Now come here and give me a hug." Harry pried himself away from Ginny and literally jumped on Hermione, who was standing just behind him with a tearful face but a hint of a smile on her lips. "Mione!" he yelled as he held her tightly. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I will never do anything like this again." "Don't make promises you can't keep, bozo." -- Epilogue -- Harry was waiting expectantly. He had officially changed his name to Potter, after both he and Hermione decided it was more convenient to do so. A year had passed since he had left Hogwarts and rejected several offers for employment. To all of them, his response was plain - Thank you for the offer, I will most certainly consider it when I am looking for a job. For the entire year after his NEWT results were out, a healthy mix of Outstandings and Exceeding Expectations, he had taken turns helping out Professor Snape with potions research, Charlie's dragon reserve with taming wild dragons, Sirius Black with his Auror responsibilities, and the Lupin-Longbottom greenhouse and potions business. Meanwhile, Hermione had accepted an internship with the Amelia Bones, in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and was thoroughly enjoying her new role. Neville had started a business with Remus Lupin in growing rare plants and making rare potions. Severus Snape often collaborated with them in experimenting his new research ideas. None were to know that as time went by, the three of them would become extremely close friends and often joke about the incident with the Boggart in Neville's third year at Hogwarts. Sirius Black, although not formally employed, was seen as a private crime expert whom the Aurors could approach for help whenever they faced a menace they couldn't resolve. His fame, however, reached its apex when the Ministry of Magic finally decided on a program to send all dementors through the Veil and outsource the Azkaban prison guard job to a mixed team of wizards, werewolves, giants and goblins. Albus Dumbledore, upon Lord Voldemort's defeat and his own minimal role in it, began to reevaluate his own life and choices, and reached the conclusion that he was getting old. As a result, he resigned from the rest of his positions and concentrated solely on his responsibilities as Headmaster of Hogwarts. He occasionally delivered lectures on Transfiguration and rediscovered the joy of teaching that he had lost during the first war against Voldemort. His relationship with Harry Potter finally began to smoothen after he stopped meddling in the boy's life. The two, it was noted, could often be seen having a pint at the pub in Hogsmeade and talking about Dumbledore's younger days. Norberta would remain a permanent fixture in the Forbidden Forest for nearly a century. Generations of students would dare each other to creep up to the dragon when asleep and poke her, and thus try to see for themselves why the Hogwarts motto was 'Let sleeping dragons lie' but most would be chased back to the castle by the irate dragon, who, legend has it, never hurt a student in all her long life. When her bonded-wizard was questioned, Harry would explain, "Berta prefers white meat. Good for the heart." Which brings us to Ginny Weasley, the reason why Harry Potter was waiting expectantly. The redhead witch was sitting for her final exam, after which she would be done with Hogwarts. The two of them had made many plans and both were looking forward to the coming days. Their first stop was the Burrow, where both would face the wrath of the Weasley matron before hastily leaving the country for a long vacation, beginning in Egypt with Ginny's brother. The castle doors opened and a red haired witch led the charge of students escaping from the school after the tyranny of exams. Her face was lit with a joyful smile and she flung her arms around Harry. "Where to now, Miss Weasley?" Harry whispered in her ear after a long and passionate kiss. "What does your heart fancy?"

Song of the Day: Ghosts We Knew - Mumford and Sons But I will hold on as long as you like Just promise me that we'll be alright But the ghosts that we knew will flicker from you And we'll live a long life "Words simply cannot express how jealous I am of your talent, Adrian." I glanced up at Cecilia before I looked back down at the pan in front of me. Thanksgiving Day was a day I both looked forward to and dreaded. I enjoyed Thanksgiving because I was a growing boy after all and I liked having a healthy supply of food put in front of me. I dreaded Thanksgiving because my mom seemed to enjoy having me make absolutely everything for dinner, almost completely by myself. However, I had to consider myself lucky that I had Freedom around, as she was always more than willing to lend a helping hand. Ever since Mrs. Devereux passed away, my mother insisted on having the Devereux family over for Thanksgiving. I was used to preparing a dinner large enough for five and Free always helped out as much she could. Even Eddy was particularly useful as he always seemed to know exactly what kind of desserts to make. Cecilia was flitting around the kitchen as Freedom and I cooked dinner and Eddy sat at the counter and decorated the desserts. For a few minutes, Cecilia attempted to help Free as she prepared deviled eggs. Even though I kept telling her to leave her be, it took Thomas to intervene and assure that Freedom knew what she was doing. Cecilia slowly slinked away from Freedom before she began to watch me prepare the mash potatoes. It was only after I finished those and moved on to the next pan that she spoke. After she spoke up, I glanced down at the pan in front of me. "It's just sautéed green beans and mushrooms," I said with a shrug as I flipped the vegetables over the heat. "And look at that! You can flip food over in the air without a spatula. I'm a failure as a woman," she exclaimed. "That's sexist," Freedom spoke up, not bothering to look up as she put a spoonful of filling into the deviled eggs. "How do you even know what that means?" Cecilia asked her as she leaned against the counter. "Free's smart. She's in third grade but she reads at an 6th grade level," Eddy answered absentmindedly. "I'm surrounded by prodigies! Mother, up in Heaven, why didn't you grant me such intelligence?" Cecilia exclaimed. "You're so loud," I grimaced. "And you are not a normal child," she said as she pulled me toward her. "I'm worried for you." "Don't grab at me while I'm sautéing!" I yelled as I pushed her away. "You're such a baby," she laughed. "You'll be crying like a baby when I drop this pan of hot oil all over you if you grab at me like that again," I nudged her away with my foot. "Go away." "Okay, okay, Mr. Bossy. I'm sorry that I enjoy your presence over the stuffy adults in the other room," she shrugged as she sipped her glass of water. "Lord, give me strength," I shook my head. "How are you getting married?" "No idea. I have the mind of a three year old. I guess that says something about your father," she sighed as she ruffled her hair. "Gross, dude," Eddy laughed from the other side of the kitchen. I turned around to give Eddy a stern glare before shaking my head and flipping the vegetables once more. After a few moments, Cecilia heaved a heavy sigh and left the kitchen to go to the living room where my mom, Thomas, and Jack were at. I could not help but sigh with relief once she exited the room. I cared for Cecilia but I felt like I had to watch what she was doing and be very careful about my actions around her. She seemed to be preparing me for what it would be like to take care of children. "I like her," Free commented after Cecilia left. "I'm getting used to her," Eddy shrugged. "I like her, but she's such a handful," I shook my head. Eddy laughed loudly, "You're mad because she's a cock block." "Eddy!" Free and I scolded simultaneously before my cell phone began to ring. "Shit, shit, shit, shit," I muttered under my breath. "Free, can you answer it? I can't step away right now." "Which pocket?" Free asked as she hopped off her stool. "Back left," I answered. I felt Free take my cell phone out of my pocket as I stirred the vegetables around the pan with a wooden spoon. Free sat back at the counter and answered my phone before balancing the phone on her shoulder. "Adrian Dawson's phone, this is Freedom speaking," she answered. "Is this famous Nara Lee Evans?" "What?" I turned around. "Adrian, don't you dare take your eyes off that pan," Free said sternly. "No, he's just sautéing vegetables right now. I think he'd burn them if I let him be a distracted by you." "Free," I groaned. "It's a compliment, Adrian. She's a good distraction," Free explained to me before turning back to the phone. "Oh, I'm Freedom. I'm Eddy's little sister." "Yo, Lee!" Eddy shouted as he leaned towards Freedom. "Stop being so loud," Free grimaced as she leaned away. "No, I'm seven. Oh, thank you. No, Eddy and Dad and I come over here for every Thanksgiving." "Free, let me talk to her," I said as I moved the frying pan and turned off the flame. "Not going to happen. You still have to check the turkey and put the biscuits in the oven," Free reminded me. As I panicked over the forgotten biscuits and rushed to the pantry, Free turned back to the phone to say, "Are you sure? 8 o'clock? Okay, I'll tell him. It was very nice talking to you as well. Bye." "She hung up?" I asked as I dug through the pantry. "She said she had something to do and that you should call her back at 8 and it's important," Free relayed to me as she put my phone down on the counter and picked up her spoon. I thought about it carefully as I placed the biscuits on to a tray and brushed the butter on top of them. I had absolutely no idea what Lee wanted to talk to me about. It had been a week since the event in Alice's Warehouse and we both carefully avoided bringing it up amongst each other. It was possible that she wanted to speak to me about that but I also somewhat doubted it. Eddy, Free, and I spoke amongst each other for a few minutes as we put the finishing touches on the food and desserts. Around five o'clock, everything in the kitchen was finished. As Eddy and I moved the pans holding the turkey and the ham onto the dining room table, Free carried the other plates to the dining room. After all the plates and cider and wine bottles were placed, I called in the adults. Eddy, Free, and I sat on the bench on one side of the table as Cecilia pulled Jack to sit with her across from us. My mother sat at one end of the table while Thomas sat on the other end. "Wow, Adrian, this all looks so amazing," Cecilia said in awe. "I feel like a failure as a woman that I can't do this." "That's sexist," Free told her without blinking. I knew that Free was aware she had said this to Cecilia before so I had to admit that I grateful that Free did not bring that up. "How do you even know what that means?" Cecilia leaned forward. "As a woman, I feel like I should know the word as well as its definition," Free nodded. "You are a trip, little one!" Cecilia laughed out loud. "Enough talk," Jack interrupted with a grin. "Let's eat." "Wait a minute, Jack," my mom said as she slapped his hand away from the food. "We have to pray first." "You pray before dinner?" Jack asked incredulously. "Yes, Jack, we pray," my mother answered sternly as Cecilia shifted in her seat and let out a small sigh. "We didn't pray when I was here," Jack said. "That was then. Now we pray before dinner," Mom told him. "I don't pray," Jack shook his head as he leaned back in his seat. "Mr. Adrian's Papa, I don't mean any disrespect but I think you need to remember that this is Mama D's house. If she says so, we pray. If you don't like it, may I suggest that you stay quiet and be respectful while the rest of us pray?" Freedom spoke up with her innocent voice. Jack blinked in surprise as he stared at her. Eddy had to turn around as he covered his laughter with a snort as I ruffled Free's hair with a large grin on my face. Mom gave Free a gentle smile before she nudged me and held out her hand to me. We all clasped hands around the table, Jack grimacing as he held hands with both Cecilia and Mom. I could see Jack keep his head up as the rest of us bowed our heads and shut our eyes. I did not mind or care that he did not pray with us. All I wanted was that he kept Free's suggestion to heart and stayed quiet and respectful. I squeezed my mom's hand before she began to speak. "Dear Lord in Heaven, we gather today and we thank you with all of our hearts. We thank you for the houses over our heads, the food on our table, and the love you give us. We thank you for every new day we awake to and the events we experience every day. We thank you for the paths you set in front of us. We thank you for the people in our lives. We kindly ask that you take care of Antonia Devereux, as well as Cecilia's mother. We live through you, Lord, and we thank you. Amen." "Amen," we all spoke simultaneously. "That was a beautiful prayer, Jocelyn. Thank you for including my mama," Cecilia smiled. "Of course," my mom smiled before turning to Mr. Devereux. "Thomas, will you?" "Oh, man, it always feels like such a shame to cut up such a beautifully prepared bird," Mr. Devereux grinned as he stood up and picked up the knife in his hand. "My boy did good," my mom patted my hand. "It wasn't all me. Free helped a lot," I shrugged. "What about me, jerk?" Eddy turned toward me. "I'll give you credit for dessert. Don't get too ahead of yourself, idiot," I shook my head. "Boys," Mr. Devereux said sternly as he began cutting into the turkey. Eddy and I grinned at each other from over Free's head. Eddy and I began talking with Free and were silently giggling on our side of our table. Cecilia grinned widely as she watched us from across the table. "You three are like siblings, aren't you?" she asked. "Adrian's like my brother. No, he is my brother. He's been there my entire life, just like Eddy," Free grinned as she hugged me. "And I love this munchkin. How could I not?" I said before I kissed the top of her head. Cecilia gave all adoring glances before leaning back to whisper something in Jack's ear. He leaned towards her and his face dropped into a serious expression. He briefly glanced at me before turning back to her. He nodded in her direction before she leaned back with a content smile. By then, Mr. Devereux had finished carving the turkey and had cut a few slices of the ham. As I opened the bottles of cider and wine, everyone began to serve themselves and we all started to eat dinner. Dinner passed by pleasantly and though it felt like we were absolutely filled with food, everyone had room for dessert, which Eddy excitedly brought in after the dinner plates were sent awake to the kitchen. Eddy had assorted a variety of cookies and a couple of pies by himself. I don't know where he had found it but Eddy had even managed to find a small box of blue raspberry ice cream. After dessert had passed, the adults had moved on to the living room as Eddy, Free, and I began to put the food away and were cleaning up the kitchen. I had just begun to wash the dishes when Jack walked into the kitchen. I was aware of Jack's presence by my side as he leaned against the counter but I ignored him as I scrubbed at a plate with a sponge. Jack shifted nervously, rubbing his hair back and unbuttoning the top button of his shirt. I glanced at him a few times but he simply stood there with his hands in his pockets. After a few moments, he exhaled heavily through his nose before he turned towards me. "Adrian, can we talk in private for a few moments?" he asked me. I turned towards him to stare at him. I scanned his face before nodding and pulling my hands out of the water. I wiped my hands on a towel before following him out of the kitchen, towards the back yard. Jack stood outside the door. I halted my steps as I turned back to look at him. He was not looking at me but at the sight before him. His hands were still in his pockets as he scanned the sight of the garden. "It looks different," he commented. "Are you offering a word placement for what you really think or are you being literal?" "Calm down, kid, it looks great. I was being literal. It is literally different from when I was here," he stated as he walked past me to walk down the stone path that was laid down on the left. I had to resist the overwhelmingly strong urge to roll my eyes as he walked away from me. It had been years since he had last came over to the house, much less go to the back yard. We were not going to keep the garden exactly the same since he left. We did not change it immediately or drastically when he left. It made it to the way it was gradually over time. But yes, it was different since he was last here. That was the point he was making so I did not speak any of my thoughts out loud. As Jack ventured around and explored the back yard, I sat down on a beige lawn chair on the other side of the yard. I fiddled with the green friendship bracelet around my wrist, briefly glancing up at him every now and then as he inspected various vegetables and flowers growing in plots and pots. A few minutes and several sighs later, Jack made his way towards me and sat on the chair to my left. He sat there in silence for a moment before turning to look at me. I raised my eyebrows in his direction, waiting for him to speak. "Adrian, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am that I hit you," he told me. "You do realize it has been a month since it happened, right?" I reminded him. "Why didn't you apologize sooner? Why did it happen in the first place?" "I can't explain it, Adrian," he sighed as he looked over at me. "I'm just…" "Just what?" "I'm just an asshole. What do you want me to say, kid?" he exclaimed as he stood up. "I don't know how to explain my actions. I'm a fucking asshole and I hit my kid. And it's tearing me apart that I actually did that." I stared at him in silence, my eyes following him as he paced in the grass. I glanced at the house, the open back door allowing the faint sound of Eddy's and Free's laughing to spill outside. As Jack continued pacing, I rubbed my hands together in an attempt to keep them warm. I turned my gaze to the floor as I slowly kept rubbing my hands together. I blinked in surprise as I felt heavy cloth drop over my shoulders. I looked up to see Jack without his black leather jacket walking away from me. I cautiously wrapped the jacket around my shoulders as Jack put his hands on his waist. "My dad liked to beat me. Did I ever tell you that?" Jack sighed heavily. I shook my head before realizing that his back was still toward me and he could not see me. But it seemed futile to answer him anyway. Jack seemed to be in his own little world. "Kids get beat by their parents or have alcoholic parents all the time. And those kids only grow up to be two different kinds of people, I figure. One group never touches their kids that way or never touch alcohol. The other…well, they grow up to be just like their parents. I always hoped I would be the first group. But as I got older…obviously, I turned out just like my dad, didn't I?" Jack slowly turned around and made his way back to his seat. He remained silent for a few moments before glancing at me. "Can I be honest about something?" "Yeah," I nodded. "I know what you thought about Cecilia. You thought the reason I'm marrying her was because she's my reason to give up drinking," Jack said as he stared at me. I blinked at him once before nodding slowly. He gave me a grin before looking away. He let out a small chuckle before shaking his head. "It's true that I was already dating her when I gave up drinking and she supported me but she wasn't the reason why. I gave up for two reasons: my dad and you," Jack stated. I furrowed my eyebrows before glancing at him in the corner of my eye. Jack was staring up at the orange and pink sky before he looked down at me. "You're nothing like me, kid, you know that? Jocelyn always said you looked like me but when it comes to personality and habits and all that shit, we couldn't be more different," Jack remarked as he stared at me. He assessed me for a few moments before looking away again. "My dad was an alcoholic. He got drunk every night. My mom had already split so that meant I was the only one for him to beat. And as I got older, I got angrier. Before I hit 18, I was out. My relationship with him after I moved out was always shaky. The last time I ever talked to him was when your mom and I got married. I called him a fucking asshole and a drunk who needed to disappear. After your mom and I divorced, I moved to the city and worked at a law firm. I was dating Cecilia and I was still drinking and she dealt with me. Then I got a phone call at home saying that my dad was killed while driving drunk. And I realized that I had not spoken to my father in nine years. The last words to him were words of hate. I will never say anything to my dad again. And then I remembered the night your mom kicked me out. I treated her horribly and you heard me. I know you were on the staircase, Adrian. You heard all that. That's the first thing I thought about. How my son probably hated me and I hadn't talked to him in years. How I turned out to be a fucking asshole and a drunk who needed to disappear." "I never hated you," I said slowly while shaking my head, causing Jack to look over at me. "I don't hate, Jack. That's pointless. I was just angry with you." "I understand that," Jack nodded. "Well, I'm glad you're not a drunk anymore," I sighed as I shook my hair out of my eyes. "But you're still an asshole." Jack laughed loudly before clapping a hand on my hand. "That's my charm, kid. Still working on fixing that though." I nodded before slipping off the leather jacket from my shoulders and handing it back to Jack. Though he took it from me, he folded it over his arm instead of putting it back on. We sat outside in silence, staring at the garden and the sunset sky above us. "I forgive you, Jack." "Thank you, son." For some reason, I did not correct him or admonish him for calling me "son." At that moment, it did not even bother me. Jack and I sat outside for a few minutes longer before finally heading inside. Everyone inside noticed our entrance but made a point not to say anything. Jack immediately headed towards Cecilia, who gave him a proud smile before placing her hands on his shoulders and leaning up to kiss him gently. I ruffled Freedom's hair as I passed her before sitting on the couch next to Eddy. The seven of us sat around the lounge room talking carelessly. After time had passed, Free suddenly put her hand on my knee. I blinked in surprise before looking down at her. "Adrian, weren't you supposed to call Nara Lee at 8? It's 8:20," Free pointed out. I turned around quickly to look at the clock above the fireplace to see that Free was correct on the time. I swore under my breath before jumping off the couch to walk outside to the backyard. I could hear my mom grumbling something about me as Eddy laughed while I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. I shivered at the sudden chill, stuffing one of my hands in my pocket as I called Lee. It rang twice before she picked up. "I thought the little one forgot to tell you to call," she said immediately. "Sorry, I lost track of time," I apologized. "Oh, so you forgot about me. That's even worse," Lee sighed before chuckling into the phone. "I could never. So what's up?" "Happy Thanksgiving, Adrian," she said simply. "That's it?" I laughed. "No," she said slowly. "I actually wanted to ask you something." "What? Like a favor?" I questioned curiously. "Not necessarily. It's all up to you if you want to do it or not." "Well, what is it?" "I was wondering if…well, I was wondering if you wanted to come over to my place for dinner and meet my family." I choked on my saliva as soon as she finished speaking. I pounded on my chest, gasping for air, before thinking seriously about what she said. I clearly must have heard her incorrectly. We were friends, but I could not imagine her inviting me over to her house. I licked my lips as I clenched my cell phone in my hand. 'You were wondering if I what?" "Wanted to come over for dinner." "Where your dad will be? Should I be scared?" "Adrian, you've already met my dad." "Yeah, but this time it'll be official. He'll be meeting me as a guy, not just as Jocelyn's son." "There's no difference," she laughed. "There's a huge difference." "Is that a no?" "No!" I exclaimed. "I want to go." "You sure?" "Don't talk me out of it. When should I come over?" "This Sunday. At five." "Okay. Okay. I'll see you then." "See you on Sunday, Adrian." I was way in over my head this time. A/N: Thank you to GinBrat for the review and dreamless encantations for the favorite/follow. I've kind of...I don't want to say I have writer's block but I'm in a bit of a funk where I just can't...write. It really unnerves me. Anything I do manage to write, I'm not happy with. I don't want to put up anything I'm not happy with. Luckily, I do have up to chapter 35 written (albeit unedited) but I'm just spacing the time between uploads just in case I can't write another chapter and I leave you all with nothing. But I'm hoping that as soon as I start school again, I'll have my urge to write again. Until then, I wish you all every happiness.

Apple Wants To Share Your Location With Others/ Re: (Score:2) Re: (Score:2) That's the opt-out page for targeted iAds. What does it have to do with this story? Re: (Score:2) The location data collection is part of the iAds framework. You can also just turn off location services, or control what apps can use it. Whether this will affect what the core OS does is another matter. Re: (Score:2) The TOS definitely talks about these features totally separately: the Opt-out service is described like this "If you do not want to receive ads with this level of relevance on your mobile device, you can opt out...". It doesn't say you won't be tracked... Re: (Score:2) And one of their licensees just happens to be the FBI. private bits (Score:2) IU was just thinking that you could even quantitate the degree of information being handed over and it's likelihood it identifies you. Some measure like the entropy or the mutual information of the data set correlation might quantify the uniquness. That is how many bits in uncertainty would there be on a user ID. Companies could even Publish this in their privacy statements. e.g. apple might say they rank a 11 privacy bits, meaning that the average user is idenitifed to only one pool of 2048 individual Re: (Score:2) How about a histogram of when you and your SO are NOT at home. A little burglary anyone? Thank you, Apple (Score:2) One more reason to keep my money in my pocket. Otherwise when another carrier besides the hated AT&T gets iPhones, I'd have been tempted to buy one. Not now. Apple makes some cool shit, but until they start respecting their customers I'll never be one. WTF? (Score:3, Informative) Call me naive, but I trust Apple. I've been using Mobile Me since late 2004. I just migrated away from the Palm phone after three years; I now have an iPhone as my primary phone. My calendar, my contacts, etc. are in the Apple cloud. And guess what? They've never done ANYTHING to erode my trust in them. In the age of telecom companies trying to cap mobile data plans, and place arbitrary restrictions on IP-delivered media content, Apple is busy trying to roll out fiber and generally make the Internet better. I believe that not only do they live by their "think different" mantra, but that they realize the days of the free Internet may be numbered. They're doing their best to save the Internet as we know it. Granted, they have something to gain. But other companies' failure to evolve leaves the door wide open for a company which we should trust far more than AT&T, Time Warner, etc. to preserve the landscape that slashdotters are so eager to protect. The tag is correct, it's a witch hunt. Apple admitted their mistake, we move on. deja vu [slashdot.org] ! Spooky! Re: (Score:2) Re: (Score:2): (Score:2) Yeah... I think I'm going to go ahead and blame apple anyway. Hmmm, another copy/paste troll. (Score:2) As the warning says when I accidentally double post, "try to be more original". At least they tell you.. (Score:2, Interesting) What the update means is that they've relaxed the application vetting so apps that use the geolocation API aren't scrutinised as much as they used to be. Apple are telling users that apps can, and will, collect and store your location data, and that they're not going to stop them even if there's no reason for the app to be doing it. The app will still ask you if you want to share your location as it always has done. Who tells you that might be happening if you have an Android phone? Or if you install a brows: (Score:2, Interesting)). Sounds like a class action lawsuit waiting to happen.: (Score:2) If "At least they tell you..." is correct, you CAN opt out at any time by not allowing an app to access your location. You can refuse the first time. You can go to the new settings area and turn it off on a per-app basis, and it will show you which apps have requested your location in the last 24 hours. Perhaps Apple intends to go beyond this, but if not, you have absolute control and can tell exactly what apps are asking and how often. Not bad. Re:At least they tell you.. (Score:5, Insightful) Re: (Score:2) Re: (Score:2) Re: (Score:2) People are sort-of forced to use the phone, since they probably have an expensive monthly contract, and the summary says you can't add more apps/music until you agree to the new agreement -- that's a main feature of the phone. Though, if I owned an iPhone I'd consider taking it back to the store if I was required to accept this new agreement. Fortunately, this country has reasonable laws that could probably help here -- though IANAL. (Those laws being the ones that prevent a company having a one-sided "agree: (Score:2) The problem here is you are using a phrase ("Nobody is forcing people to use this phone") that is commonly employed by apple fanatics to assert that the only people who have a right to complain about apple are those people that have bought the right to do so (by buying an apple product, why the hell would I do that if I don't like them?) and that people should simply not purchase their products instead of complaining. The reasoning is of course flawed, nobody expects M$-flamers on slashdot to purchase and Re: (Score:2) [...] if you don't want to have these things don't use it. Nobody is forcing people to use this phone [...] Who cares if it's retroactive? It's a service and service and privacy agreements get updated *all the time*. You pay for that service. [...] Reading comprehension fail. Let me try again: People who already own an iPhone are forced to accept terms that were not part of the original deal in order to continue to receive software updates - which, as far as I can tell, is a prerequisite for receiving support when issues arise - or to purchase new apps. Altering a contract unilaterally after the parties involved agreed on it is subject to legal restrictions. Apple can try, but I would not be surprised to read about them getting handed their balls in c Re:At least they tell you.. (Score:4, Interesting): (Score:2) No, your pseudoargument is bullshit because it states something reasonable ("you don't have to buy it") while arguing something which is not ("so quit whining"). No opt-out??? Try (Score:2) Don't buy the phone if this bothers you. That's the opt-out. You can either go here: [apple.com] on your iPhone, iPod or iPad and op out. The support page [apple.com] is typically vague and talked about disabling cookies "and other technologies in mobile advertising services" which can cover just about anything. Mind you the opt-out page showed an error (HAHA!) when I tried it with my iPhone 3GS so I'll stick with the old-fashioned solution which is to turn off location services completely. IMHO location services soak up battery life and they aren't so useful that I ha Re: (Score:2) You can either go here: [apple.com] on your iPhone, iPod or iPad and op out. Thats for opting out of iAds. You've already agreed to the Terms to allow them to see/store/share your location. Disabling iAds, or even disabling the location option in your iPhone doesn't nullify that part of the contract, and probably doesn't stop them getting your location either. If the police can easily do it, I bet the manufacturers can - and you've agreed to let them. ... the c Don't believe me? Its right there on the page: "Opting out applies only to Apple advertising services and does not affect Re: (Score:2) AFAIK shutting down the location services means shutting down or disabling the GPS hardware so you are either suggesting that the GPS hardware can't be disabled or that Apple is remotely activating the GPS system in iPhones whose owners have shut it off in order to track the owner. The iPhone has both GPS and AGPS. You'd only completely disable location tracking by turning off the cell reception too. That would make it pointless as a phone! As I mentioned, this is the same method police use to pin-point mobile phone locations. Accuracy varies. If you leave location services on and disable access by app you may not be able to stop Apple from tracking you which I pointed out. You are quoting me completely out of context. I didn't quote you out of context, I quoted the whole of the first paragraph of your comment. Perhaps you should've structured your comment differently if it's unclear. Don't believe me? Its right there on the page: "Opting out applies only to Apple advertising services and does not affect ... the collection and dissemination of location data." Which one? It does not say that on the support page I linked to so you must be talking about the opt-out page???. I never got far enough to successfully opt out, the page shows an error message claiming I don't have iOS 4 installed which is funny because I installed it yesterday (hence the big fat: HAHA!). Good to see Apple's upgrading systems are successful then. Is a shame you didn Re: (Score:3, Informative) "Opting out applies only to Apple advertising services and does not affect" the collection and dissemination of location data. But the system opts in everything else (Score:2) "Opting out applies only to Apple advertising services and does not affect" the collection and dissemination of location data. The collection and dissemination outside of advertising (iAds) would mean that the application would have to use location services - which prompts you if it's OK to share your location, and can be disabled at any time for any app. So it's still opt in, because you have to agree to provide location when you run the app. Re: (Score:3, Informative) Wrong. You have to agree to the new terms if you want to update you iGadget. Re: (Score:2) Righto, however technically the troll is correct as well. The downside to not opting in is that you are now stuck with a phone and possibly outdated apps and OS that you can't update until you pay/agree to their NSA "time and space tracking" ransom. Re:At least they tell you.. (Score:5, Informative) "Who tells you that might be happening if you have an Android phone? Or if you install a browser that enables the geolocation services of HTML 5 on your PC (eg [html5demos.com] )? No one. They don't have to." Wrong. Each time you install an Android app, before accepting installation you've given a run down of what permissions the app requires, this includes things like internet access, or making phone calls, but also includes things like judging your rough location using cell masts etc., or judging your fine grained location using GPS. Regarding Google services doing geolocation, that's an option you'll get first time you turn your phone on and can easily change in the menus later if you choose if it has the Google apps pre-installed. I'm not sure why you think they can't stop it on Android, because Android has a marketplace too and all but the most technical users who know the risks anyway use this path for installing apps. As for IP based geolocation on a PC, frankly I could care less. Even if I'm not using a VPN or something the best they can do is judge my location to be in an area large enough to contain a population of 20 million people. Apart from telling my country that's largely useless information, and that's all it's really used for as it's all that it can be used for, certainly it's not really enough to track you as an individual over and above what your IP already allows. Re: (Score:2) The HTML5 site gave my location as Bank Station (City of London), which is 15km away. (I'm in London though). Another site gave my location as Crawley, West Sussex, England (~50km from where I am). This one [my-i-p.com] comes very close: it says I'm about 5km away from where I really am. I assume various companies have gathered databases of IP locations, but some are better than others. I'm guessing my ISP (or their ISP, or whatever) is based in Crawley, and that a company with a nearby IP is based in the City, and another Re: (Score:3, Interesting) The link in question works using a browser feature that uploads information about you such as your IP, access points near you, and that sort of thing. This is why Google was farming access point data when they did street view. So in the case of even these most intrusive things, the GP I was responding to is wrong regarding warnings, because your browser warns you. My comments were really targetted towards general IP geolocation that doesn't depend on browser uploads. Personally I'd just keep browser based geo Re: (Score:2) Re: (Score:2) Your browser implements the geolocation api. It could be doing various things to do that: e.g. it might send your router (AP) MAC address to a google server that sends back a location that google has harvested with their street view cars... Re: (Score:2) Perhaps this method could be automated for a more accurate geolocation service? Re:At least they tell you.. (Score:5, Informative) Who tells you that might be happening if you have an Android phone? The Android Operating system tells you on installation. Or if you install a browser that enables the geolocation services of HTML 5 on your PC? Well, that browser is also an application - and android tells you on installation that it can access (amongst others), the following permission: "Your Location: coarse (network based) location, fine (GPS) location." No one. They don't have to. They can't really, because there isn't a "gatekeeper" controlling it all. Don't believe everything the iPhone fanboys tell you. The above statement is totally incorrect. Re: (Score:2). Re: (Score:2, Informative) Re: (Score:2). Re: (Score:2) Also, if you have a rooted phone, you can install DroidWall, so by default unless you go in and allow Android to let an app communicate via 3G or Wi-Fi, it won't be able to communicate out. This is good for those apps that ask for full network rights without any need for them. Not an Apple issue (Score:5, Informative) Re:Not an Apple issue (Score:5, Insightful) Yes but if a cell phone carrier tried to do this, they would lose plenty of consumers to the competing carriers. Re:Not an Apple issue (Score:5, Insightful) Re: (Score:2) Cellular providers MAY be doing this. Apple IS doing this. I wonder which one I am going to express more concern about... Re: (Score:2) Unless all the competing carriers were also doing it. Re: (Score:2) Sorry, what is new about this? European GSM operators routinely sell customer locations to third parties. Real-Time traffic jam warnings used by car navigation software makes extensive use of this. The mobile phone data is also much more accurate than Apple's application layer reporting -- as the mobile phone is always broadcasting its location. And no, it still doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy about apple. Who would trust Apple with (Score:4, Funny) this degree of Latitude? Re: (Score:2) That's funny - we should coordinate these type o' graphic comments do the moral thing, iPhone developers (Score:2) Do the right thing: for every app you write, upload user location data every 15 minutes for three months. After that quarter, publish the movements of your users to a site with an innocuous name like, say,. Even if you didn't upload other identifying data, it would be very easy to filter on individuals by listing a few places you know they visit. Indeed, I'm sure any intelligence service worth its secret budget tracks people who may be carrying u Re: (Score:2) Someone is paying for the data, show what Apple is selling. Adamo Bove, head of security at Telecom Italia did show what could be done with the tracking in the case of the CIA rendition team in Italy (2006). Re: (Score:2) "This app wants to use your location. Allow?" * taps "Don't allow" Problem solved. Re: (Score:2) If I ask to borrow your lawnmower, I probably mean that I want to use it right now rather than every 15 minutes for the next three months. Which does Apple allow? Re: (Score:2) You *probably* mean that, but what assurance do I have that you'll give it back? To be fair, both requests are vague, and now Apple's has a further clause that it did not have before that you have to dig in the small print to find. You can just say "no" though. The next iOS EULA (Score:5, Funny) I've heard it will introduce Ius primae noctis [wikipedia.org] The worrying part will be reading how Apple fanbois will be very proud of having Jobs "test ride" their brides. Re: (Score:2, Funny) I think they would be jealous of their brides. Redownload (Score:3, Interesting) Can you still re-download apps you purchased under an old agreement without signing the new agreement? Finally a tool for locating 'cheap' iPads (Score:2, Funny) Considering the other attractive, valuable goods their owners may also have the value of this data to criminals will be quite high. Of course it is safe (you can trust Apple) and their servers are secure (nobody ever hacked a Mac) and their partners can be trusted (AT&T are a good company). Re: (Score:2) Actually, on a serious note, this is what I'm concerned about. By itself, Apple doesn't care one whit about what I am doing. However, there are companies and people who would love to have real time location data: 1: A DA is looking to run a query of anyone who is in a park after dark. She gets the iLocation data, finds a number of people's phones were in the area, then arrests them all for criminal trespass up to two years (statute of limitations) after the fact. This evidence easily persuades a jury to Anybody care to comment on... (Score:4, Interesting) Secondly, as this is Hobson's Choice [wikipedia.org] (Accept or lose access to the App Store) will it fall foul of unfair terms in consumer contract legislation? Re: (Score:2) Firstly, will this bring about any (if present) early termination clause in contracts as a "significant change in terms?" Would it be even possible to break the contract with AT&T, if you no longer agree with the new terms of Apple? I only have the iPod, although from what I understand it would make this fancy smart phone practically pointless with out all the apps.. Re: (Score:2) Only if the PS3 also does. I'm guessing since it benefits a corporation and not the citizens, it's going to be fine. There is a simple fix (Score:3, Informative) Now you can choose which apps are able to access your location information, or disable this feature altogether. Was that really so hard? Re] Re: (Score:2) That makes it so much better. Steve has Altered the Deal... (Score:5, Funny) ... pray he does not alter it further. One pod (Score:2) Hail to Lord Steve who did remarquable Jobs : "One Apple to rule them all, One Apple to find them, One Apple to bring them all and in the darkness bind (blind ?) them." Or as Hamlett might have said, something is rotten in the board of Apple. Somebody tell me again ... (Score:2) It's like going to the shop to buy an ice-cream and coming back to find some squatter living in your house. So disable location services for applications... (Score:2) If an application requests access to your current location it gets added to the "Location Services" control panel and your answer is remembered. Here you can also change access permissions for all apps that previously requested access to your location. If you allowed some app access to your location, but change your mind, you can disable access again. Before applica Privacy violations? (Score:3, Funny) There's an app for that Jobs the hypocrite? (Score:2) Hypocrite: [merriam-webster.com] a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. Apple wants to share your location with the world, yet Steve Jobs doesn't even put license plates [osxdaily.com] on his car for undisclosed (privacy?) reasons. This is why I use Google (Score:2) And according to Ars Technica... (Score:3, Informative) Re: (Score:2, Informative) "Until they agree, they cannot download anything through the store." Lrn2read.: (Score:2) Re: (Score:2) You think too much (solly, I'm still in SE Asia). t Re: (Score:2) the nearest weahterspoons rather then a decent pub, meanwhile Apple are protected because they are just a bunch of unidentifiable numbers. Until one of those partners happens to be Facebook, Google, Twitter, Myspace, Microsoft, etc. Once they can link up one or two "randomized" location histories with times and IPs that certain users log in from, BAM! those users are tied to a "randomized" primary key. Re: (Score:2) The quotes were meant to indicate sarcasm. I know it's pretty hard to do over the intertubes. Of course this is what will happen and what I was eluding to (you did put it a but better though). Tying a user to a randomly selected primary key s Re: (Score:3, Insightful) Re: (Score:2) Re: (Score:2) No, they will say something in "corporate speak" that translates to "We are very sorry, but we didn't think anyone would actually notice this." Re: (Score:2) There, fixed that for you. I think Apple has well and truly planned for any potential backlash. They'll backpedal and say "look we care about your privacy" and two months later Apple will be selling your data to the highest bidder. Re: (Score:2) And, interestingly enough, that post was made before yours. Perhaps you'd like to read slashdot more thoroughly - while there may be the haters and fanbois and Steve-is-the-Dark-Side jokes, there's also informative and interesting posts to be found. Re: (Score:2) You already know what you need to do, and it's the antithesis of being here: RTFA Re: (Score:2, Insightful) One of these, you see, is normal human social behavior. The other is more than a little creepy, and something mo Re: (Score:2) After all, if you aren't doing anything wrong, why would you care if someone is watching you? It just proves that Apple owners are the most honest, clean (no porn!), decent people in the world. Re: (Score:2) I'm not baiting you here but why do you care about an anonymous account of your location? I'd love to know how you think any phone can be anonymous. I guess if you managed to get it on PAYG, without giving any contact details away to your mobile phone company, without giving any details to iTunes, and without storing any numbers or addresses on your phone at all... Then I guess you might be anonymous. Oh, unless you sign into a website which shares info with Apple, of course. It's not always about being anonymous. Sometimes it's just not trusting a company with every single detail about what you

The Need for the RXTX Library Java’s “write once, run many” theory of operation works because the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which must be made for each platform, abstracts away the underlying hardware. As a programmer you can draw circles, label buttons, and even play multimedia without specific knowledge of the host operating system. A computer’s serial ports can be abstracted away in the same way, but the standard JVM does not provide a mechanism for this. Sun decided (reasonably, though regrettably, I think) that the serial port would not be a required component for a JVM, and so there are no built-in classes for working with serial ports. Sun experimented, for a period of time, with a Java Communications API that would be a sort of plugin for working with things like serial ports (and parallel ports!), but the project and its javax.comm package died. Thanks to the team at RXTX.org, we now have a gnu.io package modeled after Sun’s javax.comm package that is maintained and works. Thanks! Why Doesn’t It Work for You? If you’re reading this, it might be because you can’t get it to work on your Mac. Probably you have an Intel Mac and are using Java 6 or later which requires a 64-bit Intel processor. Perhaps you’ve seen error messages that say thinks like UnsatisfiedLinkError and so forth. Software talking to the serial port must communicate with the host operating system, and so the underlying native library must be compiled per-platform. Presumably your librxtxSerial.jnilib file is not compiled for your platform. Here’s how to find out. Open the Terminal, navigate to the folder with a librxtxSerial.jnilib file, and use the file command. You’ll probably see this: $ cd /Users/rob/SunSPOT/sdk/lib $ file librxtxSerial.jnilib librxtxSerial.jnilib: Mach-O universal binary with 2 architectures librxtxSerial.jnilib (for architecture i386): Mach-O bundle i386 librxtxSerial.jnilib (for architecture ppc7400): Mach-O bundle ppc If you’re running Java 5 (which comes in 32- and 64-bit flavors on the Mac) you’re OK, but if you’re running Java 6, which is 64-bit Intel only, it won’t work. A Library with the Right Architectures No problem; all you have to do is re-compile RXTX from sources for your platform, right? I wish. I can’t even remember all the contortions I went through before I finally got it compiled. You’re welcome to follow the various instructions online for compiling it yourself, but it gave me a lot of grief, so I’m placing a copy on this site (if you trust me not to insert nefarious code). I finally had to patch SerialImpl.c and SerialImpl.h (manually) based on the patch instructions here and blog posting here. At the end of the day, we have a librxtxSerial.jnilib file that has 32- and 64-bit PPC and Intel architectures. Find all instances of librxtxSerial.jnilib on your Mac and replace them with the one you downloaded from here (or compiled yourself). Try the command locate librxtxSerial.jnilib in the Terminal to find extra copies hidden in various Java applications. THanks man, save me trying out the hours of compiling you went through! I’m wondering, will the .jar from RXTX be the one I need for the jnilib? It looks like it’s working so far. Ta Yes, the standard .jar file from rxtx should be fine. Happy coding to all. -Rob Thanks for the post. It’s a really useful info!! A quick question, do I need to compile 64-bit .dll if I want to use rxtx with JDK6 in Windows environment? Good question. I suppose if you have 64-bit Windows with a 64-bit Java then you’d need a 64-bit RXTX library. I’m sorry I don’t have one compiled for you. -Rob Robert, I had been banging my head against the wall for a couple of days until now. Thanks you so much for working better than Tylenol. thanks for sharing. btw, java comm. is not dead, but they discontinued support for windows and never supported mac. Hi Can you please also post RXTXcomm.jar file? Thanks Rather than post stale files, and in keeping with good practices, here’s the link to the download page, if you’re having trouble finding it: -Rob Hello, just to be sure… which of the 3/4 versions available in the qbang download page is the one you used for this compile? Thanks a lot I don’t remember, but surely I chose the line that reads, “rxtx 2.1-7r2 (stable) rxtx-2.1-7-bins-r2.zip rxtx-2.1-7r2.zip.” -Rob Hi again Robert and thanks for your help… I can only put to work rxtx-2.2pre2 with the built in file (3 architectures including Mach-O 64-bit bundle x86_64). I anyway get a full JVM crash when I am finished and do SerialPort.close(). With rxtx 2.1-7r2 and your jndi file I get a gnu.io.PortInUseException: Unknown Application at gnu.io.CommPortIdentifier.open(CommPortIdentifier.java:354) Thanks for any directions Ignacio, I’m sorry that I can’t think of anything really useful to try, but if you have other versions of java on your Mac, you might try running your code with them just to see if the crash is unique to one version or another. -Rob Thank you a lot for your help!! I can finally do my application work on Max OS 10.6 . Your librxtxSerial.jnilib fix my problem. Have a good day! @Ignacio: The problem is with the lock file. See how to fix it Worked splendidly for me on Snow Leopard, after I created the /var/lock file directory (didn’t work without that change). The RXTX installation page talks about how to create the lock file directory using the fixperm.sh script. That page correctly tells you that you need to modify the path in the script to /var/lock, but the script uses niutil, which apparently isn’t part of Snow Leopard anymore. The instructions Christoph pointed to are better. Thank you so much, its always nice to find someone else with the same problem who has managed a solution. Thanks for making this jnilib available. Works great on my Mac. Now if I could just find a solution for the kernel panics caused by the Silabs CP210x Mac virtual com port driver. Anyone else running into that? Thanks Robert for your work. Now also Mac OS 64bit users can use you vna/J. Have a nice day ahead Dietmar, DL2SBA THANK YOU for your hard work. I really appreciate the time you saved me in recompiling the rxtx jnilib and making it available to the world. Am on OS X 10.6, was able to get my serial app launched using your jnilib and then fixed the “gnu.io.PortInUseException: Unknown Application” issue with instructions posted in comments above: –Michael Thank you SO much!! My application finally works with your librxtxSerial.jnilib. however, still there is a problem. My device is connected to a MACBook thorugh a usb-serial adaptor. The application can only run once correctly, if I colse the appliction, start again, it will not able to access the serial port. I have to unplug and plug again the usb-serial port adaptor. Do you think anything wrong? @WHY That happened to me before, and I’m trying to remember how I resolved it. I think what it came down to was that the JVM wasn’t releasing the virtual machine, but I don’t remember how that was happening even after I had closed the Java app. I don’t remember what I did to fix it, or if it just stopped on its own. Thank you very much for this. I was trying to find out why it was not working on my macbook until I realised I was running 64-bit. Mr. Harder: Thanks a bunch for the modified librxtx.Serial.jnilib file. It solved a problem we were having with MorseKOB on the Mac, a program that some of us old (and new) telegraph operators use to communicate in authentic landline Morse code (url below). Problem was that using the Options to change either the Mode or Port resulted in the browser crashing. Thanks again! Hi, I’m an user of rxtx library, I’m trying to compile the rxtx library for mac osx as you say in your web, but I can’t get the same result as you. I can’t compile for ppc64. If I put only -arch i386, -arch ppc, -arch x86_64 it doesn’t not compile for ppc64, If I try to compile with -arch ppc64 the compilation makes error… Furthermore, my compilation doesn’t work with x86_64 with java6. Your file works fine, but I want this file without lock files, this is why I want to compile a new file… I hope you can help me… Regards, I’ve been meaning to try to recreate my compilation instructions. Maybe I can get around to that. I don’t remember for sure, but I think I had to compile PPC separately and merge it with the other architectures. I don’t remember if I had to do it on a PPC machine or not, but I’m pretty sure it was pre-Snow Leopard, and I hope I still have the ability to cross compile to PPC. Really I don’t need the ppc compilation, I only need x86_64, but my compilation doesn’t work in x86_64 (making changes you say) Thanks I got an gnu.io.PortInUseException on OS X 10.6.7 (x86_64) Macbook Air and had to run: sudo mkdir /var/lock sudo chmod a+wrx /var/lock in the terminal to get it working… Thanks for the effort! Many thanks! This works with Stefan’s fix on OSX Lion 64-bit Intel. Thanks for that. I got a message that the file was not on my Lion system. Indeed there was a symbolic link and a directory with that name in /Library/Java/Extensions. But no real contents. I removed the link and the directory, placed librxtxSerial.jnilib there and my problems were gone. I have downloaded your modified librxtxSerial.jnilib on my 10.6.8 Snow Leopard machine. But I still get the following problem. CommPortIdentifier:static initialization() WARNING: RXTX Version mismatch Jar version = RXTX-2.2pre1 native lib Version = RXTX-2.1-7 Exception in thread “main” java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: no rxtxSerial in java.library.path at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadLibrary(ClassLoader.java:1758) at java.lang.Runtime.loadLibrary0(Runtime.java:823) at java.lang.System.loadLibrary(System.java:1045) at hts.HTS_UI.(HTS_UI.java:689) Experimental: JNI_OnLoad called. Please bear in mind that my Java skills are quite primitive. Thanks @Phil Try running the command “file $(which java)” (no quotes) and see what architectures you’re shown. There should be overlap with librxtxSerial.jnilib. It’s possible that Java is loading a pre-existing librxtxSerial.jnilib file w/o the right architectures. Look for other librxtxSerial.jnilib files and replace them perhaps. Thanks so much for the library file. Works great for me. I appreciate it. Hi I am using Mac OSX Lion 10.7 and receiving the following: java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: no rxtxSerial in java.library.path thrown while loading gnu.io.RXTXCommDriver Exception in thread “main” java.lang.UnsatisfiedLinkError: no rxtxSerial in java.library.path I’ve tried so many solutions such as changing location of the rxtxSerial from extension to the actual src file of my java project as well as using Java 5.. Any Suggestions? I haven’t tried it since going to Lion, nor do I have a way to test it out right now. Sorry. -Rob Works great on Lion. Thanks a lot! If you get Portinuse exception, then please do following As a nice anonymous user comments, these are the steps to go: Open ‘Terminal’ from Applications->Utilities Enter the commands: sudo mkdir /var/lock (hit enter end type your password) sudo chmod 777 /var/lock (hit enter again) @Rose G, the instructions from Suhas fixed that problem for me. Thank you so much! Thanks it worked for me Very impressive Work, thank you so much. Thank you very much, you saved a lot of time for me! Thanks a lot for your great work! It helped me a lot. I tested everything the last maybe even more then 7 days. This knowhow i would like to share, just in case somebody else has the same problems. The Version from Robert Harder is 2.1-7. With this Version you have to build a var/lock directory with the right permissions. The problem is that from Mac OS 10.5 this directory isn’t installed. The problem is also that the error message is portinuse-exception. Even the port is not in use. Just the directory is missing. You can loose a lot of time to find the solution this way. RXTXcomm.jar Version 2.2 doesn’t need this var/lock-directory. I tested really almost all possibilities from Cloudhopper to jlog and so far. There are always some disadvantages. Cloudhopper for example doesn’t support Mac. If you do it like I write her, you can save a lot of time. It works for all OS. Go to. Download rxtx-2.2pre2-bins.zip. Take RXTXcomm.jar and put it to Java/lib/ext on Windows or Java/Extensions on Mac. For Windows and Linux take the 32 or 64 Bit version of rxtxserial.dll or librxtxserial.so. For Mac OS 10.5 and lower take librxtxserial.jnilib. In Windows put rxtxserial.dll to Java/bin/. On Mac put it to Library/Java/Extensions. There is no librxtxserial,jnilib for 64-bit Mac. OS 10.6 and higher are always 64-bit. The right file you find here: Download librxtxSerial64.jnilib. RXTXcomm.jar won’t find librxtxSerial64. You have to rename it to librxtxSerial.jnilib. Put it to Library/Java/Extensions. Like this everything works without creating a var/lock-directory and troubleshooting around the wrong Error Message portinuse-Exception. Anyway it’s better to have Version 2.2 instead of 2.1-7 if there are not any other issues. I didn’t find any so far. 2 hints at the end. On Mac with Version 2.1-7 and 2.2 the program crashed at serialPort.Close;. It took me a hell of time until i found out that there must be a serialPort.removeEventListener(); before serialPort.Close; even I didn’t open AddEventListener. This must be a bug. Just put serialPort.removeEventListener(); and everything works fine. The second hint: I use usb to serial adapter to open a cashdrawer. The first time when i was writing out the Esc-String it was working. But then nothing was writing out any more. But the program finished successfully. Without any error. Very strange. I found out when i write out twice or more times outputStream.write(messageString.getBytes()); then everything worked fine. It was doing the first write and also the second. But when i wrote just one time outputStream.write(messageString.getBytes()); it was just working the first time. Then i could klick a 100 times it didnt’t work any more. I do it now like this: outputStream.write(messageString.getBytes()); var justwriteanything = “rrrr”; outputStream.write( justwriteanything.getBytes()); this way it works always. Strange but true. Thank You! I’ve been losing my mind over this all day. Trying to open a serial connection via bluetooth between my Arduino and Processing. This fixed it. Thank you so much for posting this! On my other development machine, I forced the compiler into 32-bit mode and on my second machine, I’m using your file. CheerS! just a heads-up that this works on mountain lion 10.8.2 as well. thanks sir, this is super duper extra appreciated. I can’t seem to get it to install correctly in OSX 10.7.5 machine. I put both files: RXTXcomm.jar and librxtxSerial.jnilib (originally downloaded as librxtxSerial64.jnilib) in /Library/Java/Extensions I am using Eclipse Indigo r2, and have added RXTXcomm.jar into the build path of my project. I am getting error messages on the “import gnu.io.xxxxx” lines. Any suggestions? I just saw the error message in Eclipse telling me that the file Archive for required library: /Library/….. /RXTXcomm.jar in project xxx “cannot be read or is not a valid zip file”. I have an extension installed that allows me to look into the contents of the .jar’s and the contents look fine. In fact all my projects had the error and I had to remove the entire JRE system library from each project and add it back in again. I assume this is some kind of Eclipse issue and not Java per se. Problem solved. I had a Processing plugin installed on Eclipse and it had a 32 bit version of the librxtxSerial.jnilib. I should have read this post more carefully, especially this quote: “Find all instances of librxtxSerial.jnilib on your Mac and replace them with the one you downloaded from here ” and not jumped around to the latest comments. Lesson learned.. Thanks so much – worked a treat. Been trying to find a solution to this for ages. Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to stop hackers? Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many thanks, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anyone else having the same RSS problems? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!! Holy schmoly. Thanks for the lib. I’m working on a silly hobby project and did not want to spend any more time trying to get this stupid thing to build – including finding jdk headers, etc. wowza. You will have access to a helpful message board, learn the latest information on legal issues, and attend an annual convention if you’d like. The most cost effective option to move your possessions is nearly always by sea especially if you’ve got several years worth of belongings. ‘ You must check in the internet to find out a company which will serve you when you will be planning to move somewhere abroad. The last day the Uchidas spent in their Berkeley home before they were shipped to Tanforan is one such example. They offer a broad range of parallel services that are designed to further take the pressure off during a move. Hi, its good paragraph concerning media print, we all know media is a fantastic source of facts. I like the post and i am surprised. the way of ex-planing is very good manner. vert shock

? Ironically, while this is true for most ethical theorists, it cannot be true for utilitarian-consequentialists. Consequentialists face a theoretical burden that other theorists don’t. For the consequentialist, the right is only a function of the good a theory produces. If utilitarianism fosters or enables a psychopathic disposition, then utilitarianism cannot be a viable consequentialist theory for that reason alone. A moral theory that on balance brings about bad consequences cannot be a consequentialist moral theory. On the other hand, if psychopathy fosters utilitarianism, then while utilitarianism might (as it happens) be morally valid, it will have to be kept out of the hands of natural utilitarians. As such, it’s unmotivated. So much the worse for Benthamites and the consequentialists. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Damn Nelson you’re good at this – you really should be blogging more. In their hedonic calculations, the fat-man-pushers also don’t seem to take into account just how unhappy the other 90% get about their trolley stopping antics. I know, I know! I’d like to blog more, but I’ve just gotten into my third year of the doctorate, meaning that it’s publish or perish time. That means, whenever I write for anything besides publication or presentation, I’m kicking my future in the groin. And there are other (non-selfish) reasons. Your posts on ethics are incredibly interesting and I can say a lot about them, but I think they deserve more than just the stuff I can say off the top of my head. Also, I don’t want to just rehash the same old points that I’ve already said in other threads. Neither of these things are going to be anywhere near good enough to take the depth of the threat to utilitarianism seriously. That said, I’m still thinking about the questions to some extent. e.g., right now I have three papers on my desk by Jonathan Riley (from Utilitas). “J.S. Mill’s Doctrine of Freedom of Expression”, and parts 1 and 2 of “Millian Qualitative Superiorities and Utilitarianism”. Judging by the excellent and fascinating essay he did on utilitarianism without consequentialism (or, as I call it, token-consequentialism), I get the feeling that Riley has got all the answers. But we’ll see. Ugh — sorry, that was Jacobsen who wrote Utilitarianism without Consequentialism. You can see where my head is at, clearly! If the vast majority of people consider that pushing the fat man is wrong, then it makes sense that those who would push the fat me (including myself) possess characteristics that the majority of people consider as immoral. However, whether Machiavellianism and considering that life is meaningless are “immoral” is precisely the question that we should be considering. I for one see no meaning in life and at times in politics Machiavelli is an excellent guide to action. In fact, I’d rather live in a country governed by a Machiavellian than by an idealist filled with illusions or by a fanatic or by a leader who wants to change or democratize the world. Ah well, yes Benjamin you should focus on your doctorate and on publishing. It’s not selfish to do so – the end you strive for opens up opportunities to do a lot of unselfish good. As for the story above, which if I should have tried tacking some arguments onto, one might still wonder if those with “higher scores on measures of Psychopathy, Machiavellianism and life meaninglessness” might still make life better for the other 90%. – perhaps these are the people we need in charge: people not so choked up with empathy that they have the nerve required to sacrifice the few for the many? People willing to divert the path of nuclear bombs so they don’t land on the city but on a smaller town? … Ah, hello Amos. Your comments have just arrived right there. Yes, yes… I think you are onto very good points. I think there’s scope for some good arguments here (I just don’t provide them myself). What’s wrong with being a utilitarian oneself (in that one judges right/wrong in terms of good/bad consequences) but wanting everyone else to be non-utilitarians, because that delivers the best outcomes? It would a bit like encouraging people to believe that there are speed cameras all over the place, even though you know there aren’t, because that encourages other drivers to slow down. I have a somewhat similar position myself as an atheist who thinks it would be better if more people believed in God. Their lives tend to go better with the false belief. Am I missing Benjamin’s point? Interesting Jeremy, It is possible to hold that commitment to the truth of utilitarianism or hedonic consequentialism is not itself conducive to happiness but that the theory is still true. And you could also hold that belief by ‘the masses’ in some other non-consequentialist moral theory is a good thing *on consequentialist grounds* yes. The consequentialist doesn’t care a straw why people do what they do, what is important is whether what they choose to do actually promotes happiness (that does not have to be their aim). If belief in some other moral theory is more likely to cause the populace to act in such a way that they promote the general happiness than belief in the truth of consequentialism then one might prefer them to hold false beliefs. The connection [between] possession of the truth and happiness is not direct and obvious, and happiness cannot be pursued directly (hence the paradox of hedonism). Whether you are missing Benjamin’s point or not is a question for Benjamin. But perhaps Pascal would suggest you get yourself down to the nearest non-consequentialist Church and try to get yourself persuaded of the truth of another theory? Amos, I only just caught your comments on the way out earlier. It seems to me you are on to something, fat man pushers are judged to have ‘psychopathic’ attributes by criteria set by the non-utilitarian majority and it is only by assuming that utilitarianism is false that you come to the conclusion that those who subscribe to it are immoral or psychologically unhealthy. The belief that ‘life is meaningless’ seems common to many, such as myself, who do not buy into religious doctrine. I have some sympathy for the idea that we need a consequentialist in charge. Do we really want a president saying ‘No, we must let the missile land on Los Angeles, it is wrong to divert it onto that small town in the Nevada desert”? Even those opposed to consequentialism generally might agree the powers-that-be must be willing to get dirty hands*. * Jeremy, that’s a valid point. The problem with that possibility is that we have to say that the worth of consequences is only for you to determine. Many people, including myself, would regard that as a violation of the publicity condition of morals, meaning that morals should be understandable for all. That leaves me thinking that it can’t be a fundamental norm in ethics (though it might be a meta-ethic of sorts). Putting that aside, there are still deeper questions. One has to ask, where does your authority as a judge of consequences come from?. And if your authority comes from something other than consequential abilities, then it’s not clear that it’s a consequentialist doctrine. I am sympathetic to the first option. But it requires a rich account of what counts as a consequence, and how to weigh consequences against each other. One problem, just to give an example, is that the fact that we are linguistic animals produces the unusual fact that our intentional states themselves have consequences. It’s a very interesting question whether or not the personalities of those who hold this or that moral theory are relevant. I’ve been slapped down in the past for saying personalities are relevant, but I’m sticking with my guns! (For now – be aware I have “strong opinions, weakly held”!) When trying to decide between rival scientific theories, ideally we test them – and that involves appealing to the observational consequences of each theory. When deciding between rival moral theories, on the other hand, the best we can do is appeal to something analogous to their “observational consequences” – our “pre-theoretical moral stomachs”, maybe, or the way things strike us on a visceral level rather than from the internal perspective of one or other theory. As well as “testing” rival moral theories against “observations”, we might look for some “internal” problem – e.g. something that a utilitarian would find troubling according to his own utilitarianism, or a Kantian would find troubling as a Kantian. I accept Jim’s and Benjamin’s point that a utilitarian should be troubled by the observation that utilitarians are a bunch of *****s, but I accept the point for different reasons from their reasons. I think everyone on all sides should be put off any moral theory if its proponents seem to behave in ways that strike us on the visceral level as immoral. That’s the “moral theory” equivalent of testing – we’re looking at how rival theories fit with our pre-theoretical “observations”. From the “internal” perspective of utilitarianism, I don’t see any problem with a utilitarian just being un-proselytising and hoping no one else gets converted. (Although I’m guessing I’m missing something here.) Rival theories such as utilitarianism and Kantianism have internal troubles galore, but I’m not convinced the above is one of them. (Very interesting points by all concerned, however.) By the way, as a (non-hedonistic) utilitarian I use the word ‘narcissism’ a lot. This is to create “internal” problems for (and irritate) Kantians. When utilitarians try to act morally, they try to act for the best, by guessing what the consequences will be. But when Kantians try to act morally, they try to act from the best motives, in effect by guessing how blemished their souls would be. And it is troubling – from within a Kantian perspective, note – to reflect on the fact that one’s moral deliberations are focussed on oneself. Sorry Benjamin, comments crossed in post, will read with interest and reply tomorrow — JB Jeremy: I’m agree with your observation that some moral theories can be seen as narcissistic. However, that means that narcissism becomes a deadly sin. Can you justify why narcissism is a deadly or meta-sin? I guess that one could show that narcissism is bad from a consequentialist point of view, but I don’t think that where you’re coming from. JB: “I think everyone on all sides should be put off any moral theory if its proponents seem to behave in ways that strike us on the visceral level as immoral.” The problem I have with this argument is that “visceral” reactions are not necessarily reliable guides as to whether actions are moral or not. For instance, in Western countries it is considered (by most) to be okay to eat chickens but the idea of dogs on the menu is a “visceral” no-no. Clearly, many “visceral” reactions are both learned and irrational. The trolly-type problems involve a logical, detached solution and an intuitive, emotional answer. Those who are able to bypass the typical intuition and emotion will get the logic “correct.” Other characteristics may be *correlated* with this ability. — There are two issues with the 1 vs. 5 scenarios that I find complicate things. First, (even if they cannot articulate this as the reason). Perhaps even accepting the hypothetical is, in a sense, giving up on finding another solution. Second, these scenarios create a dilemma for a more sophisticated utilitarian: it may seem appropriate to sacrifice 1 for 5 in some one-off unique case, but following simple, bright line rules has its own benefits. Seeing each moral question as a new, unique situation leaves room for self-interest to affect one’s analysis. Keith, The idea of eating dogs does not, I think, strike us as *immoral* on the visceral level. But yes there may be learned ‘local’ moral gut reactions that are ‘irrational’ in that they are merely matters of historical accident. And indeed there do seem to be near-universal moral ‘gut’ reactions that might not be learned but are hard to defend rationally – consensual adult incest springs to mind. Still some things do seem to be bedrock moral ‘facts’ that no argument can touch e.g. ‘torturing children for kicks is wrong’. We simply don’t look for a justification for that, its non-negotiable and any moral theory that claims that such acts are right or permissible we know is faulty. But for Jeremy’s claims about judging theories by the behaviour of their proponents not to simply dissolve into a claim about judging a theory on what it demands or permits, prima facie, it seems the agents have to be acting in a way that is contrary to their own theory. If a theory appears impossible to live up to that might suggest to some it is not a good theory. But then this has little to do with ‘visceral’ moral disgust, except in so far as we might be disgusted the hypocrisy of some. Unless, of course, such acts are forbidden by our theory too. If the proponents of a given moral theory seem to have broken ‘commandments’ common to us all more than the proponents of other theories have, then it may, I suppose be taken to show, that the theory fails to motivate people. Or that accepting the theory as a whole – and moral precepts may only be a part of it – is bad for one’s moral character. There is another circumstance that springs to mind. If one found the proponents of a given ‘philosophy’ – lets call it theory O – to be unfailingly unpleasant and ill-adjusted individuals one might, I think, not unreasonably be inclined to think there’s something wrong with the theory before wading through the texts of its proponents. I think personality is relevant as a consequence of holism. To some extent it also applies to scientific theories. For example, take Newton’s laws. Because Newton’s laws have to be applied in concert with a big raft of other assumptions (such as that space and time are “absolute” rather than “relative”), when we judge how good Newton’s laws are we have to look at how well they work in situ, in the activities of Newtonians. So we have to ask such questions as: “How well do Newtonians deal with balls rolling down inclined planes?” “Can they predict planetary motion?” “How about projectiles?” Etc. Most of us would answer: “They’re great at that stuff! Much better than, say, the impulse theorists who preceded them!” Analogously, to some extent proponents of a moral theory embody the theory plus the raft of other assumptions required to put the theory into practice. There are no doubt bad utilitarians and bad Kantians, just as there are bad Newtonians. But there is a loose connection all the same. Keith wrote: ‘The problem I have with this argument is that “visceral” reactions are not necessarily reliable guides as to whether actions are moral or not.’ Yes, but to my mind that reflects the fact that “is” and “ought” are very different. To put the point starkly, “there are no moral facts”. Moral claims look like factual claims sometimes because we expect/demand reasons for them (unlike mere expressions of taste such as “chocolate ice cream is nice”). But really all they express is how we would like people to behave. So all we can appeal to at the most basic level is our “visceral” likes or dislikes in people’s behaviour. Students who first encounter formal moral theories tend to gravitate towards one or the other guided by little more than feelings on a gut level. For example, people who feel our treatment of animals is unacceptable tend towards utilitarianism, while people who feel lying is unacceptable tend towards Kantianism. I agree with Jim’s point that much of the “yuck” factor in eating dogs may be more distaste about food than distaste about behaviour, but I guess some people also have the feeling that dogs are more discerning, playful, intelligent, social, anticipatory, etc. than chickens, and so the suffering of dogs raised for the table must be worse than that of chickens. So there might be a moral component to their “yuck” reaction. Saying you wouldn’t push the guy on to the tracks isn’t really a problem for utilitarians. It seems evident that the greatest good is served by upholding the principle that people are not to be treated as means to the ends of others. After all, that’s essentially anarchy. It’s one thing to say that the government should perhaps sacrifice one person’s interests, in whole or in part, for the greater good, but no society wishes to encourage individuals to go around “sacrificing” others based on their own personal moral calculus. Essentially, it is more important to uphold the prohibition against murder than to allow someone to commit murder to save a few lives, because the protection that law gives to society outweighs the costs in the specific instance. Jeremy, Yes, I suppose there could be a moral component, on the part of some, to the aversion to killing dogs for food not present when they think of chickens. For most us in the UK and US we have no problems eating pork either – I’m putting aside the special objections of Jews and Muslims – and pigs, seem to have all the attributes one might ascribe of dogs and then some. This suggests to me there’s no rational reason to think that killing a dog to eat is immoral but doing so with a pig is not (though few nowadays could actually bring themselves to kill a pig for all the pork chops they’ll happily eat). What is in accord with our (moral) sentiments and what is rational are quite different things of course. I think the ‘moral’ problem (for those who do eat meat) is, as you point to talking of being raised at the table, generated by the fact dogs are creatures many of us will have felt strong affection for and who will have been incorporated into many families and obviously this is not true of pigs for most. So a Westerner who ate dogs for dinner might be viewed with ‘moral’ unease – because he is not displaying the sentimentality of his peers – he appears callous. One can imagine ‘moral’ unease being caused by a someone who keeps pet rabbits and plays with them in the normal way but upon their natural death is happy to skin them and serve them to her pet dogs. It might be eminently sensible – perfectly rational – but some, I think, would feel the behaviour somehow spoke badly of that person’s moral character – their lack of sentimentality would, I think, disturb some greatly. People (edit) view the unsentimental with great suspicion, and there’s nothing more at the root of morailty than sentiment. Richard Its not at all evident, on utilitarian assumptions, that “the greatest good is served by upholding the principle that people are not to be treated as means to the ends of others”. It might be that such a rule proved to have hedonic value but this seems a contingent matter. And we could, of course, have laws that permitted killing somebody to save many and hence no anarchy. But even if we didn’t have laws that permitted it you’d shoot the innocent driver to divert the path of the runaway train so it didn’t plough into the elementary school full of thousands of children wouldn’t you – even if it did then go on to kill a handful of workers in a tunnel? Or at least you wouldn’t condemn it surely? If we concede that we are just quibbling on the price. “we could, of course, have laws that permitted killing somebody to save many and hence no anarchy. ” No, you couldn’t. Not really, at any rate. Because then the person who blows up an abortion clinic is justified in his actions (because by his definition of people, he meets your criteria.) The terrorist who flies planes into skyscrapers in order to try to pressure a government into closing down military bases is also justified. Heck, maybe I think politician X’s policies would lead to an increase in poverty, hence more deaths by starvation, violent crime, etc., so why not just assassinate him. And so it would in fact be anarchy. Even a utilitarian can see that giving the state a monopoly on force serves the greater good more than opening the door to that. “But even if we didn’t have laws that permitted it you’d shoot the innocent driver to divert the path of the runaway train so it didn’t plough into the elementary school full of thousands of children wouldn’t you” And you have to make the lifeboat scenario increasingly ridiculous to try to justify it. The answer, of course, is no. I wouldn’t have a gun, for one — I don’t own one. For another, if he’s innocent he’ll probably turn aside if I were to, you know, ask him to. At the very least reasoning with him would probably be the first step, not homicide. And if, in the final analysis, I did shoot him because for some odd reason that was the only way to save the children, I’d expect to go jail for it, and something would be horribly wrong with a society where I didn’t. Richard, Prima facie the law can prohibit political assassinations and terrorist attacks, whilst making provisions that allow people in emergency situations to take the life of one innocent party if it will save 5, 500, 5000 or whatever. Thought experiments are meant to be ridiculous, they act as intuition pumps. You’re trained a s a simper and you know that shooting the driver will cause him not to take the turn he’s due to take or some such. You can fill in the details yourself but yes for some odd reason shooting the train driver will cause the train not to crash into the school but instead to kill a handful of workers. Whether its legal or not, whether it can be legal or not, is it the right thing to do? If you’re man enough to do it and go to jail on that account I applaud you. If you stick to your principles and say no, I won’t kill anybody to save those thousands of children well, you’re true to your principles. Thought experiments in which you have to choose to kill one to save five (say) often carry an insidious bit of “extraneous noise”, namely, how confident you can be that a course of action will have the intended outcome. When we act rationally, we don’t just take account of the desirability of the intended outcome. We also figure in the confidence we have that a course of action will achieve the outcome. For example, suppose I need a new car. How do I get the money? I can save diligently over a few years, or I can buy a lottery ticket. The intended outcome of the former (i.e. ending up with a few thousand) is much less desirable than the intended outcome of the latter (i.e. winning the lottery). But I choose the former because I can be much more confident of achieving the goal that way. If someone put a gun to your head and told you to press button A (which will certainly kill five people) or button B (which will certainly kill one person), you would not hesitate to press button B. We do hesitate, however, when confronted with complicated and unlikely-sounding causal chains (such as derailing “trolleys”, whatever they may be) mostly because we naturally figure in the confidence we can have that the intended outcome will be achieved. Try as we might to “suspend” our natural urge to take account of this extra factor, it is hard not to because it goes against nature not to. Hesitancy about the thought of chucking someone off a bridge to save a larger number of people might not be the urge to observe a non-utilitarian concept of justice so much as a difficulty imagining that such an act is likely to actually save them. Hi Jeremy (& Matt Manson if you’ve subscribed) Matt raised some aspects of this earlier,”. As you say, “hesitancy about the thought of chucking someone off a bridge to save a larger number of people might not be the urge to observe a non-utilitarian concept of justice so much as a difficulty imagining that such an act is likely to actually save them”. This might suggest that there are more people out there who would sacrifice the fat man for the five if only the outcome was ‘really’ certain. But, I’m still inclined to think that its more that 5 lives just isn’t enough. I can understand the resistance to taking seriously complicated and unlikely-sounding causal chains involving trolleys. And perhaps for everyday purposes a working morality doesn’t need to cover such unlikely events. But I think, given the certainty or high probability of the outcome, most of us have a price at which we’d sell the fat man’s life. These would be extraordinary circumstances perhaps but I think, in principle, very few could hold out for good, and I think they’d have to be of a religious ‘better the heavens fall’ mindset. And I think we need people with the will to make such decisions in the seats of power – men who will not hesitate about whether it is right to divert the nuclear missile from Los Angeles to some small town in the Nevada desert. Ask “would you kill a fat man to save 5 million people?” and almost anybody who takes the thought experiment seriously must surely say ‘yes’ but they think the man who does it for 5 is immoral. I’m reminded of the story of the woman who says ‘of, course I’d sleep with you for a million dollars’, but asked if she’d do it for $50, she is affronted and says: “What do you think I am, a hooker?” Once you take the thought experiments seriously, I think we’re just haggling over the price. I think nearly every man has one. But all that said… “If someone put a gun to your head and told you to press button A (which will certainly kill five people) or button B (which will certainly kill one person), you would not hesitate to press button B.” Isn’t this exactly the type of fact that the likes of the Nazis depended on? You gas all the old men because otherwise they’d shoot you all? Hi Jim, “Isn’t this exactly the type of fact that the likes of the Nazis depended on?” Of course – it’s a monstrous scenario. But don’t let the wickedness of the person holding the gun to your head distract you from the salient features of the choice. Your epistemic confidence in achieving each outcome is the same, so that the two options only differ in the desirability of the outcomes. (Avoiding five deaths is more desirable than avoiding one death.) With trolley cases, we have to pretend to ourselves that the options only differ in respect of the desirability of the outcomes. That’s difficult, because in real life they would also differ greatly in respect of our epistemic confidence in achieving them. (Throwing one guy off a bridge is very likely to result in his death, whereas a long unlikely chain of causes and effects is quite unlikely to result in saving five people). An effort of the imagination is required to imagine the external scenario of the trolley and the bridge, etc. An extra, separate effort is required to imagine a further internal scenario in which we would have the same epistemic confidence in each outcome. I’m not convinced anyone can make that extra effort. Hi Benjamin, “The problem with that possibility is that we have to say that the worth of consequences is only for you to determine.” Whenever we act, we judge “for ourselves” the desirability of our intended goal. That doesn’t mean that the “objective” value of the goal is determined by our wills, just that we are the judges. To see this, consider a simple-minded, self-interested businessman who just wants to make as much money as possible. That is, he just wants to rake in dollars, and as many as he can. How much dollars are worth in the market is an “objective” matter (of exchange rates, or whatever). In judging whether this or that business deal will actually make large numbers of dollars, he has to make a judgement about how effective each course of action will be. That’s essentially what all agents do when they act. Analogously, when acting morally, a preference utilitarian tries to satisfy preferences as much as possible, to the best of his own judgement. He has chosen to satisfy preferences because he is a preference utilitarian. There are “objective” facts about other agents’ preferences – about how strong these preferences are, and how successfully the utilitarian’s actions will actually satisfy them, and so on – just as there are “objective” facts about how much money a business deal will actually make. But so what? Every agent has to judge as best he can given the limited information available to him, and every agent is fallible. “Many people, including myself, would regard that as a violation of the publicity condition of morals, meaning that morals should be understandable for all.” I don’t recognize the “publicity condition of morals”. I’m not sure utilitarians have to worry about it. I can see how “laws of the land” have to be understandable to most of those who abide by them, but this is morality, not the law. For most utilitarians, morality has nothing to do with rules. “One has to ask, where does your authority as a judge of consequences come from?” Who needs “authority” to be a judge of consequences? Just as a self-interested businessman judges as best he can, without any external “authority”, so does a non-self-interested utilitarian. .” A businessman doesn’t need to have supernatural powers of judging the markets to be a good businessman – he doesn’t even need to be a better businessman than anyone else. Similarly, a utilitarian doesn’t need omniscient powers to read other agents’ interests. Often, he just guesses. “And if your authority comes from something other than consequential abilities, then it’s not clear that it’s a consequentialist doctrine.” Hmm… sorry, I don’t understand your supposition that some sort of “authority” is needed. Perhaps this is a “hangover” assumption of non-consequentialist thinking? Hi Jeremy, JH: “Isn’t this exactly the type of fact that the likes of the Nazis depended on?” JB: Of course – it’s a monstrous scenario. But don’t let the wickedness of the person holding the gun to your head distract you from the salient features of the choice. No, its not the wickedness of the person holding the gun that distracts me… but I am distracted by unfocused concerns.. You arrive at the camps and you and everybody that got off that particular rain will be shot if a big enough group of you don’t co-operate and help gas and bury the old and the young from your train. Either all of you off that train will die or only the ones that can’t work (or refuse to co-operate) will. The latter is, prima facie, consequentially a better outcome in your account (others, not absurdly, think its better you all die than the survivors become party to the murder of children). But then the whole ‘final solution’ project only works because the Nazis know there will be enough consequentialists (and egoists) on each train. The guards can’t shoot and dispose of the bodies of all the people off every train. Would the better informed consequentialist refuse to co-operate? Given that he also knows he will just end up getting shot and enough people will co-operate anyway? As you indicate, if only enough people believed consequentialism was false the consequences would be better. Better they wrongly believe that, in principle, its better five men die than those five men become child murderers. Shouldn’t you be deceitfully arguing against utilitarianism anyway? Isn’t it immoral to defend your beliefs? Im just musing… ps what is your utility function anyway? Hi Jim! “ps what is your utility function anyway?” I accept Peter Singer’s “minimal moral position”: Trivially, we all act in ways that satisfy our own preferences. As soon as we start to think morally, we are obliged to treat the preferences of other agents as we already treat our own. Singer’s “argument” here (if it is one) is that the universalizable nature of morality commits us at least to the “minimal” moral position of preference utilitarianism. I’m just unusual in being unprepared to go any further that that. Hi Jeremy, Ah yes, I’d missed your reply to Benjamin, you make your position clearer there. I got distracted thinking about Nazis… you end up with them at some point if you hang around the intuition-pumps. I can concede your point that many people may have trouble imagining the certainty of the outcome that tends to come packaged with trolley talk, though I don’t think its beyond the abilities of everybody to make that effort. Should people need 100% certainties in these moral dilemmas anyway? It depends how you cash in your consequentialism I suppose, but is it actual consequences we should judge? Is it not rather objectively probable (and reasonably foreseeable consequences) we should be concerned with anyway (even if we don’t care a fig about the motive)? IF its right to push the fat man when its absolutely certain he will stop the trolley, surely its right to do it even if there is some chance it won’t work (as there always is outside thought experiments), and its remains the right thing to have done even if by some unlikely chain of events the plan fails? … Preference utilitarianism, yes that fits, is it unusual you go minimal? It seems unusual if you have a moral theory – any non-religious moral theory – that you are really committed to across the board. I suspect outside philosophy forums, seminars and publications almost nobody is really a utilitarian (minimal or otherwise) or a Kantian through thick and thin, the bullets they may bite in discussions aren’t real ones, and neither are the lives they take or save in thought experiments. It’s not just a case of moralists not having the nerve to do what they know is right, it’s a case of them coming to the conclusion that their theory doesn’t really cover the real world and all its complexities if they come into contact with it. Jim: I agree with you that no one or almost no one applies a theory, Kantian or utilitarian or otherwise, in their daily life. Wouldn’t it be more profitable to begin to talk about how we make decisions in the real world? By “we”, I mean the participants in this forum, since I don’t expect much from established moralists. I suspect that it’s as difficult or more difficult to get most people to speak honestly about their day to day morality (I’m not talking about once a year donations to worthy causes or signing petitions in internet, but about how we treat others and our motives for doing so at work, at home, in the street, in the supermarket, etc. ) than about their sex lives, but we can try. How about posting on the subject? The point isn’t to produce confessions or mea culpas, but analysis about who we are in ethical terms instead of who we would like to think that we are. Thanks. Amos, “Wouldn’t it be more profitable to begin to talk about how we make decisions in the real world?” Hmm, maybe so… First off, I’d want to say I’m very much open to any ideas you may have for future blogs. If you’ve ideas you like to see put out there for discussion I’m happy to talk to you about them. I did wonder if I should canvass people about the ideas they would like to discuss – I suppose I can at least canvass opinion on the idea of canvassing them here I know it’s the discussions that I have got the most out of though my time spent on here and I’d like to facilitate that, though maybe it has to be organic, and maybe its also the case that I’m better commenting on the blogs of others than blogging, maybe I’ll find my feet, maybe not.. As for what you suggest, it does sound interesting…try and get most people to speak honestly about their day to day morality, analysis of who we really are in ethical terms… Any more thoughts about how we could best do that Amos – and everybody else your opinions on how – and if – this is best done? Hi Jim You raise a couple of interesting questions: “Should people need 100% certainties in these moral dilemmas anyway?” No, I would say epistemic symmetry is enough to illustrate that most people choose the less bad option. With button A and button B, you cannot be certain that the buttons are working properly, or that the person holding the gun to your head isn’t deceiving you. But as long as there is nothing to choose between the buttons epistemically, the only thing that can guide your choice is the respective desirability of outcomes. “It depends how you cash in your consequentialism I suppose, but is it actual consequences we should judge?” Yes. I’m what you might call an actualist. I say morally, we should always act for the best – i.e. for the best actual consequences. A lot of people will have real difficulties with that, because it entails leaving praise or blame out of moral consideration altogether. According to my form of actualism, an agent does the (morally) right thing even if he intends to do the wrong thing but sheer good luck thwarts his intentions. (As of course it won’t do very often.) He doesn’t deserve praise when things go right, any more than the person who meant well but caused a disaster deserves blame. But those are not moral issues. By keeping culpability and morality separate, our moral deliberation can always be focused on bringing about the best actual consequences. Of course, in non-moral contexts we still want to talk about praise and blame – we judge character by what agents intend to do, the legal system has to judge legal responsibility, and so on. But these are matters of personal aesthetics and the law, not morality. Moral deliberation remains a (philosophically) simple matter of trying to act for the best, not trying to avoid blame. This decoupling of morality and blame requires a big conceptual jump for most people, perhaps even a “paradigm shift”. I would liken it to the move from Newtonian to Relativistic physics. From one side of the divide, the claims of the other side might seem obviously false or absurd, but this is mostly because the “meanings” of some of the terms involved have changed, as always happens across theory change. From my perspective on the other side of the divide, morality just isn’t a matter of blame. (The analogy of the simple-minded businessman might help here. He’s not trying to look like someone making the right decisions, but trying to make actual money.) Hi Jeremy, I was still pondering on ‘fat-man-pushers generally rather than pressing you on your particular position….. (2) if B is acting to bring about the outcome of saving the many workers (maybe his motives are selfish – he’d lose money if the five die and he dislikes the fat man – it matters not a jot), and he has grounds for having great certainty that pushing the fat man will work, and only it will work, he commits a morally wrong act if, by some very unlikely chain of events, the plan fails. In that case its not just that motives don’t matter, and that there can be moral luck, its that to call act X ‘moral’ just reduces to saying that X just so happened to have a ‘happy’ outcome (hedonically or, indeed, in terms of preference satisfaction). And if that is all C is concerned about, why bring does he bother with the word ‘moral’ at all? It doesn’t seem to do any work (you say “in non-moral contexts we still want to talk about praise and blame – we judge character by what agents intend to do” – it does indeed seem much more plausible to say that praise/blame attribution is ‘moral’ judging than anything C does, even if we think character is not what should be the primary ‘thing’ of moral judgement). ‘I say morally, we should always act for the best – i.e. for the best actual consequences.’ We ‘should always act for the best’ must surely mean that morally we should try to bring about the best outcomes (hedonically or preference-wise). But acting with the aim of bringing about the best outcome (hedonically or preference-wise) doesn’t make an act moral it only (presumably) increases the odds that it might turn out to be so. So you have a moral obligation to try and bring about the outcome of saving 5 workers over the one (and/or the fat man). But your act is morally wrong if it fails to achieve that outcome. You did what you were morally obliged to do but the act you committed was morally wrong? Jim, My ethical baggage is a complicated mess of rules, principles, virtues and limits, which often have no connection with each other and at times contradict one another. What’s more, I’m not sure why they need to form a coherent whole and why they cannot contradict one another. It’s not hypocrisy because first of all, I believe in A when I act on A and I believe in not exactly A when I act on not exactly A and because second of all, I don’t preach either A or not exactly A or make a public show of either. In fact, one of my few consistent principles is “don’t preach”. It’s not opportunism either because I am capable of acting on A when according to normal standards of self-interest (money, social status, obtaining a sex partner), it would be “wiser” for me to not act on A. Why do I sometimes act on A and sometimes on not exactly A? It seems right to me. However, I’m not using “right” in the normal moral sense. Actually, I give “right” a semi-aesthetic sense as in “that ending of the novel seems right to me”. Is there a method in my madness? Well, there is a definite set of principles, rules, virtues, limits, etc., on which I act. If I took the time, I could describe or list them. For example, “don’t preach”. What seems less clear is whether there is a some metaprinciple or metarule which dictates what is right in any given situation. Now, my ethical mentality may be idiosyncratic, but I have noticed that other people are very inconsistent in their ethical behavior and I suspect that rather than being deliberately hypocritical or machiavellian, they simply have a sometimes contradictory and inconsistent internal set of principles and rules, etc. as I do. Amos, Yes it sounds like your moral life is conducted in the real world, without the nonsense of dogma. When it comes to our messy moral and political world, we should be very wary indeed of people who say there is a simple answer. I am not inclined to think there is some first principle from which we can identify what is the right act in all cases even in principle. Any thoughts on moral particularism ? Hi Jim You wrote: .” Exactly – although of course no one would praise him for it. Symmetrically, suppose another trolley is coasting along out of control, and the driver accidentally kills everyone on board by derailing it while doing his best to stop it by pulling on the brake. He “shouldn’t have done that”, because the outcome was very bad, but of course he deserves no blame for it, any more than the laughing fat-man-pusher deserves praise for what he did. I’m quite serious when I say this requires a “paradigm shift”. You have to completely re-think the way the word ‘ought’ is used, just as physicists had to re-think the way the word ‘mass’ was used. They had to deal with “rest mass” and “relativistic mass”, the former being an unimportant “shadow” cast by the central concept of the older theory. Analogously, there are two senses of ‘ought’ now – one of mere personal aesthetics and the other of moral deliberation – and again the former is just an unimportant “shadow” cast by the central concept of the older theory. “if that is all C is concerned about, why bring does he bother with the word ‘moral’ at all?” He uses the word ‘moral’ for the same reason as relativistic physicists continue to use the word ‘mass’, although it does not apply to exactly the same thing as it did in the older theory. In the most important moral context – that of deliberation, of trying to work out what one “morally ought” to do – utilitarianism says you ought to act for the best, with no regard whatsoever for one’s supposed “obligations”. Concepts such as obligation, praise, blame, etc. properly belong to the realm of personal aesthetics (for want of a better word – whatever we call it, it is morally irrelevant from the “actualist” utilitarian perspective.) “So you have a moral obligation to try and bring about the outcome of saving 5 workers” We morally ought to save the 5 workers. If nothing more than that is meant by saying we “have a moral obligation” to save them, OK, but the temptation is to read much more than that into the word ‘obligation’. We are inclined to read so much more into it, in fact, that I’d prefer to say there’s simply no such thing as moral obligation. So I’d prefer to say: “yes, we morally ought to save the 5 workers, but no, have no moral obligation to do so, because obligation is a matter of social aesthetics rather than morality.” If I may mix analogies, rather than saying “so the burning building is filling with phlogiston…” we should say “yes, it’s burning, but no, it’s not filling with phlogiston”. Concepts such as “obligation” are indeed important in many social contexts – complying with the law, doing one’s professional duty, making oneself popular, etc. We need to retain the language of culpability, in those contexts. But it just muddies the water when we are trying to decide what we ought to do morally. “acting with the aim of bringing about the best outcome (hedonically or preference-wise) doesn’t make an act moral it only (presumably) increases the odds that it might turn out to be so.” Yes, that’s right I think. “So you have a moral obligation to try and bring about the outcome of saving 5 workers over the one (and/or the fat man). But your act is morally wrong if it fails to achieve that outcome.” I don’t like the word ‘obligation’ here. I prefer to say: “I ought to try and save five by killing one. If I fail to achieve that, I didn’t do what I should have done.” “You did what you were morally obliged to do but the act you committed was morally wrong?” I think this illustrates the sort of trick the word ‘obligation’ plays on us. Here, it equivocates between judging my motives, and judging the actual consequences of my action. Jim: I confess that I’ve never heard of moral particularism. I invented my system or lack of system myself. However, I’ll read the link you sent with interest. Thanks. Hi Jeremy, Few would praise either: A on account of the *outcome* (& motive) he aimed for and B – even if he had succeeded – on account of the *motives* behind his outcome. I’m not surprised you discount the moral value of motives. (Its important to get clear on the distinction between intended outcome and motive). Its (2) I find the surprising result – the acts of B are wrong because he failed to achieve the outcome intended in your account (I appreciate you think its is supposed to strike me as odd but I see no reason why I should stop thinking its odd). Praising and blaming, in response to motives or intended outcomes, misguided or otherwise, is moral blaming and praising – that just is a factual description of what people are doing when they praise and blame people for their motives or intended outcomes. What rethinking is to be done about how we use the word ‘ought’ morally? There is the matter of fact about how it is in fact used and that seems about it. Going ‘hurrah that was lucky’ or ‘damn that’s a pity’ in response to the consequences of actions with no resort to the question of the intended outcome (or the motive) just doesn’t seem like moral judgment at all. So much so that I don’t rather think the word ‘moral’ is simply being misused. It seems you want to employ ‘moral’ to mean, on the basis of the actual outcome ‘it’s lucky he did that’ and ‘immoral’ to mean “it’s a pity that didn’t work”. There seems some rationale behind the physicist’s use of the word ‘mass’, I still see no rationale behind using the word ‘moral’ here, some acts have favourable outcomes, some don’t, the roulette wheel spins, where the ball lands may be a favourable or unfavourable outcome but its not a moral or immoral outcome. “utilitarianism says you ought to act for the best, with no regard whatsoever for one’s supposed ‘obligations’” … hmm, well then your utilitarianism *seems* to say you have an *obligation* to act for the best… “yes, we morally ought to save the 5 workers, but no, have no moral obligation to do so, because obligation is a matter of social aesthetics rather than morality.” You don’t like talk of ‘moral obligations’ okay but what work does ‘morally ought’ do if it doesn’t suggest ‘moral obligations’? You want ‘ought’ to apply retrospectively and contingently, it seems, D did what he ought to have done, if the actual outcome so happens to maximise preference satisfaction or happiness. But what then does it mean to say you ‘ought’ to maximize preference satisfaction? All your ‘ought’ seems to mean is ‘hurrah – your acts happened to maximize happiness or preference satisfaction’. JH: “So you have a moral obligation to try and bring about the outcome of saving 5 workers over the one (and/or the fat man). But your act is morally wrong if it fails to achieve that outcome.” JB: “I think this illustrates the sort of trick the word ‘obligation’ plays on us. Here, it equivocates between judging my motives, and judging the actual consequences of my action.” No, its not judging motives. I am judging intended outcome. Your motive for trying to save the 5 and killing the fat man can be very unpleasant or it might be very noble. What I’m suggesting is that it is more plausible to say that it is the outcome aimed at – saving the five for whatever motive – that is important morally not the actual outcome that comes with the roll of the dice. There’s a lot of interesting things being said, I’m rushed a but now, and I don’t know that I’ll have time to get to the bottom of it here. But interesting nonetheless… Hi Jim, “No, its not judging motives. I am judging intended outcome.” It is judging a mental state. Whatever we choose to call it, it occurs in the head of the agent before he acts, rather than in the world outside his head after he acts. The sort of moral deliberation I am arguing for involves trying to anticipate how the world outside my head will be arranged after I act. It does not involve asking myself if my mental state before I act is praiseworthy or blameworthy. “Praising and blaming, in response to motives or intended outcomes, misguided or otherwise, is moral blaming and praising” That strikes me as nothing more than an assertion of traditional, non-consequentialism. “just is a factual description of what people are doing when they praise and blame people for their motives or intended outcomes”. Non-consequentialists use the word ‘moral’ for this activity, but consequentialists like myself might use the word ‘narcissism’. We use different words because we hold different theories, not because one of us has failed to grasp the supposed fact (a linguistic fact?) that other people call this activity “moral”. Analogously, Lavoisier and Priestley used different words for the same thing. Lavoisier didn’t use the word ‘oxygen’ because he had failed to grasp a linguistic fact about how Priestley used the word ‘dephlogisticated air’, but because he thought that linguistic fact reflected a deeper error. Hi Jeremy, JH: “No, its not judging motives. I am judging intended outcome.” JB: “It is judging a mental state. Whatever we choose to call it,” Let’s call it what it is Jeremy – its not a motive. The arguments for judging intended or expected outcomes as opposed to actual outcomes are presumably something you have come across. Bob gives the stranded stranger $5 to go get the bus home. Maybe he does this with the motive of impressing his mistress, maybe his motive is that he just wants this black person to leave his nice white town. But the expected and intended outcome is that the stranger will get home safely. The bus crashes and the stranger dies, if Bob had acted differently it would (as it turns out) have been better. On your account the act was also morally wrong although Bob is blameless. You leave yourself no room to start talking about foreseeable, intended or likely consequences. You just call the act ‘morally wrong’ and this seems to mean nothing more than ‘that was unlucky’. You can bite that bullet but don’t expect to actually persuade anybody. JH: “Praising and blaming, in response to motives or intended outcomes, misguided or otherwise, is moral blaming and praising” JB: That strikes me as nothing more than an assertion of traditional, non-consequentialism.. JH: “just is a factual description of what people are doing when they praise and blame people for their motives or intended outcomes”. JB: “Non-consequentialists use the word ‘moral’ for this activity, but consequentialists like myself might use the word ‘narcissism’. No, most people accept that what those people are doing is giving *moral* praise and blame (as in making ‘ethical evaluations’ not as in being morally correct) whether they agree with them or not. The imbecile who judges you immoral for being an atheist or a homosexual or whatever on account of his silly religious beliefs is judging you morally (as in ‘ethically’ not ‘correctly’). There is no need to, and no advantage from deciding to, change the meaning of words, we can just argue over what should be judged moral or immoral: should it be motives, actual consequences or character etc. Throwing phrases like ‘narcissism’ around sounds quite unhelpful if you want useful debate, I suspect there are very few who think otherwise. It sounds a bit Ayn Rand to me. I don’t know whether you have failed to grasp the linguistic fact about the words ‘moral’ and the word ‘ought’ when used in a moral context or whether you think there is some advantage in deciding to use those words that in a way that only makes sense if you accept the truth of your theory. In neither case does it help you. Hi Jim Hope you’re enjoying the discussion/disagreement as much as I am! JH: “No, its not judging motives. I am judging intended outcome.” JB: “It is judging a mental state. Whatever we choose to call it,” JH: “Let’s call it what it is Jeremy – its not a motive.” JB: So, IS it a mental state? JH: “You leave yourself no room to start talking about foreseeable, intended or likely consequences.” I have unlimited “room” for talking about those things! But as a consequentialist, I believe talk of those things belongs to psychology, epistemology, politics, etc – not ethics. If you say they have to belong to ethics, you’re simply ruling a rival theory out without trying to understand it properly. That would be like a someone saying special relativity must be wrong because “we already know mass is an intrinsic property of matter”. JH: “You just call the act ‘morally wrong’ and this seems to mean nothing more than ‘that was unlucky’.” In that case you may not be reading carefully enough. Luck obviously has something to do with it, just as luck is a factor in almost all human pursuits, such as making money, science, art, etc. But it is very far from having everything to do with any of the above. Why expect morality to be any different? – I submit: because you want there to be such as thing as a blameless act. But that’s just non-consequentialism again. You’ve got to make the effort to think like the other side to criticise it properly. JH: “You can bite that bullet but don’t expect to actually persuade anybody.” Well, I don’t expect to persuade people whose theoretical parochialism is too severe for them to genuinely consider the alternative theory. Rival moral theories are especially bad for this, because moral indignation so effectively “suspends disbelief”. But I expect philosophers to have the intellectual discipline and intelligence to be able to look at things a different way occasionally. JH: .” Of course they are attaching what they think is moral praise and blame, because they are non-consequentialists! That’s what you’d expect! But in any case, I think it is quite unlike “clapping and booing”. It is a vital matter of personal and social interaction, and a serious matter for law courts. It just should not play any part in moral deliberation… It is a hangover of traditional religious thinking in which the point of morality was to “keep your soul free of blemishes”. Hi Jeremy, ‘Hope you’re enjoying the discussion/disagreement as much as I am!’ I imagine so. I don’t have time these days to engage in things indefinitely, sometimes I have to cut things short and get on with other things, but I wouldn’t engage beyond the minimal courtesies if it wasn’t fun. The clock is ticking though… “JB: So, IS it a mental state?” – Yes that is the right question to ask. By using ‘intended’ I have sort of painted myself into that unintended corner. But we can reject actual consequence consequentialism without resorting to saying its mental states that matter. One could say it is what is objectively probable that counts without moving very far from your position. And we can move further away – and stay in the realm of what is loosely called consequentialism – without saying that what matters is anything inside the actual agent’s head as such, we can judge the reasonably foreseeable consequences of an act. There are a number of reasons why people are tempted to move along those lines. JH: “You just call the act ‘morally wrong’ and this seems to mean nothing more than ‘that was unlucky’.” JB: Luck obviously has something to do with it, just as luck is a factor in almost all human pursuits…” Ok, for you, being moral is more like poker than games of pure chance, except you can win without trying to or indeed even if you are trying not to win that game. What counts is if you hit upon what happens to satisfy the most preferences (these being the mental states you value) . “Well, I don’t expect to persuade people whose theoretical parochialism is too severe for them to genuinely consider the alternative theory…” I, along with most people – philosophers and non-philosophers – think actual consequence consequentialism is deeply implausible and riddled with problems. That’s all I mean to point out. And most of us with some education in philosophy have looked at actual consequence consequentialism in introductory or historical settings, its just that, along with ethical egoism there doesn’t usually seem much call to revisit it again afterward… “Of course [non-consequentialsts] are attaching what they think is moral praise and blame, because they are non-consequentialists! “ Sorry, but I honestly can’t take seriously the notion that all these people only *think* they attributing moral praise and blame and that you have a vague error theory relating to religion which shows they aren’t doing what they think they are doing, and what nearly everybody agrees they are doing. I’m only open to the idea that they are attaching moral value to the wrong things. tick tock tick tock (: can you be explicit on Bob and the bus fare.. was his act morally wrong? (there are moves you can make you know to avoid that bullet) Jim: The article on moral particularism is very thought-provoking, so thought-provoking that I will need some time to sort out my thoughts about it. In any case, I do not think that I am a moral particularist in the sense that the article outlines that position, although my position and that of the author coincide in some respects. (For one thing, the author seems to believe in Morality–with a capital letter– more than I do.) Thanks once again. Not at all Amos. I will have to try and devote time to reading it too. It was something I’d had cause to look up at one point and it came to mind. I’m think I’m glad you haven’t found an ‘ism’ for your morality really. I don’t want morality with a capital M either – it rather makes you expect a copyright symbol. Would you consider writing something yourself? Hi Jim, “One could say it is what is objectively probable that counts without moving very far from your position.” But I have no reason at all to do that, since my form of consequentialism leaves nothing out. If you think it leaves something out, say what. Furthermore, I have a very good independent reason not to: as far as I am concerned, “objectively probable” is an oxymoron. In my opinion, epistemic probability is just another way of talking about “how much something ought to be believed”, which differs from one agent to the next, depending on their other beliefs, which brings us right back to mental states. (Statistical “probability” — i.e. relative frequency — is another matter, of course). Hi Jim, “The bus crashes and the stranger dies, if Bob had acted differently it would (as it turns out) have been better. On your account the act was also morally wrong although Bob is blameless.” Yes, but remember mine is the “minimal” moral position. Saying the act was immoral means nothing more than “he ought not to have done it”. The narrator of a movie might say “Bob thought he knew it all, but that dark night he made a mistake — he boarded the ill-fated bus”. There are clearly some contexts in which we might say a “mistake” was made, from a God’s-eye point of view perhaps. This will seem much more natural once you make the (admittedly very big and effort-demanding) conceptual leap to seeing that morality has nothing to do with blame. Blame is for punishment, etc. — the realm of law, personal ostracism, etc. rather than morality. Hi Jeremy, Okay, so Bob gives the $5 to the stranded stranger, and that is an immoral act because it is a necessary chain in the causal story that leads to the death of the stranded stranger (though the consequence was neither intended or foreseeable).. Except there never is any knowledge whether an act is moral or immoral or not – are there even any matters of fact to know? – because there are all sorts of consequences to every act stretching out across the years… and there’s all the counterfactuals too… and you don’t take up the option of restricting what does and doesn’t count.. So we have, and never have, any moral knowledge. But given that ‘moral’ only mean ‘happened to maximize preference satisfaction’ and ‘immoral’ only means ‘happened not to maximize preference satisfaction’ it doesn’t much matter to anybody. We all continue praising and blaming people for their characters and motives, just as long as we change our linguistic practices and don’t use the word ‘moral’ here as these are matters of aesthetics and law and they have nothing to do with morality. And you have a principle that is no guide to action, you remain in permanent in ignorance what is ‘moral’ and and nothing much hangs on it. I can live with that actually… Hi Jim, Many of the objections you raise to consequentialism apply just as well to the simple-minded self-interested businessman trying to “rake in dollars”. When they are so applied, they reveal themselves to be toothless. For example, the businessman doesn’t need to be certain, or omniscient, or infallible, or blameless, or immune to error, or always motivated by greed, anything of that sort to just make money. Luck does have something to do with it, but judgement, ability to anticipate, business nous, etc. have more to do with it. Some self-interested businessmen are very talented at what they do, although we don’t find it admirable. A good consequentialist is very different from the self-interested businessman in the sort of consequences he is trying to promote, of course, but no special cause-and-effect or epistemological problems arise for him that do not arise equally for the businessman. We might re-read your own formulation of the problems substituting the word ‘profitable’ for ‘moral’ and ‘unprofitable’ for ‘immoral’. “Bob gives the $5 to the stranded stranger, and that is an immoral act because it is a necessary chain in the causal story that leads to the death of the stranded stranger (though the consequence was neither intended or foreseeable).” Yes. If that sounds odd to you, you’re probably bringing the wrong expectations to the discussion. Those expectations belong to a rival moral theory – one that focusses on culpability rather than consequences. But you must leave Newtonian expectations at the door when you enter the temple of Relativity! You seem to keep forgetting that this is the “minimal” moral theory, and it assumes that blame has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with morality. Blame is for retribution, not moral deliberation. One of the strengths of my consequentialism is that the only legitimate forms of punishment are self-protection, example to others, and atonement. Retribution is immoral, and we should not allow it. Many would find that a more humane alternative to the non-consequentialist urge to give wrong-doers what they “deserve”. .” Yes, but you’ve got to remember that all of the above acts would normally result in good consequences. Each of the agents involved had good reasons to do what he did, given the information available to them, and are not just blameless but entirely praiseworthy for trying to to the right thing. I have to stress once again that culpability is not part of moral deliberation! That is a very different moral theory from the one you are used to, so no wonder it sounds odd at first. “Except there never is any knowledge whether an act is moral or immoral or not – are there even any matters of fact to know?” Of course there is, and of course there are. A simple-minded self-interested businessman can recognize a “good deal” when he sees one and successfully act in profitable ways, there are facts of the matter about “profitable” and “unprofitable” behaviour. (“Profitable” acts have the consequence of making a profit, and morally right acts have the consequence of satisfying preferences in general.) Perhaps we differ in that you are using a “Cartesian” concept of knowledge according to which all knowledge must be certain, but that’s a different story. (I would urge a sort of reliabilism instead.) Jeremy, No, no.. these aren’t objections – this is what commends your theory: the resulting moral scepticism and lack of practical import are in its favour. We can now get over talking about ‘morality’ all together. I applaud it and commend it to the house. Dancy, the philosopher who wrote the article on Moral Particularism, is trying to think some things through on his own. He is not reviewing the literature or trying to win an argument or pushing a system. All of the above make it a valuable article. What is missing from the article are examples. Any article on moral particularism would be better, in my opinion, if it builds on examples, since moral particularism starts from the concrete, not from the abtract. It also may be that Dancy attempts to systematize what is not systematic, moral particularism. Now, my “particularism” may have a certain unity or regularity, but that unity would tend to be psychological, I (and most people) being a creature of habit. Some people are more unified than others: that is, some people have more predictable or more fixed habits. That would be true for ethical habits too. (I was unfair to Dancy when I said that he speaks of Morality with a capital “m”. I’m not sure what I meant, but I meant something, which it will take me a while to understand.) Peter Singer (who defended a very similar position to mine) called his book _Practical Ethics_ because he felt it gave more rather than less practical guidance in ethical decision-making. In guiding what one ought to do, it is far more comprehensive than any of the alternatives. It’s just that the deliberation involves history, science, politics, psychology, etc. rather than just turgid academic philosophy. (Oy vey — that gives academic philosophers less to write about!) The idea that morality is “not about blame” is actually quite a traditional idea: JS Mill remarked on the affinities between utilitarianism and “original Christian” thinking. Amos, There’s another article here from a forthcoming companion to ethics here. Not that I’ve had to read it, I shall try to look into this somewhere and we’ll try to arrange a conversation around some of the ideas you find interesting in time. ah yes.. Amos, Bernard Williams… you might find stuff of interest in him.. very suspicious of philosophical theory.. especially ethical theories Jim: I can’t open your link to the paper. I’m a big fan of Bernard Williams. I’ve read his Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy, Shame and Necessity, and Truth and Truthfulness. He’s my favorite contemporary (or almost contemporary) academic philosopher. I’ll have to reread Ethics and the Limits. The paper should arrive by email. Jeremy, I could have rounded off our conversation rather better, sorry but I did rather lose patience and interest. Some of your thoughts are quite worthy of discussion though I have to admit I do think you are more wrong-headed than wrong on the fundamentals (and I presume you think the same of me :). I shall be ‘offline’ for a bit after tommorow but perhaps some of this can be fruitfully revisited at a later date. regards James Amos, Do give further thought to the ideas that you’d be interested to see brought up for discussion, I’ll be away – and probably offlien – for a couple of weeks from tommorow evening but I look forward to talking about your ideas later. Jim: Enjoy your vacation from internet. As to topics, you mentioned Bernard Williams. He brings up lots of questions about official Morality, and exploring them might be worthwhile. Williams is quite a subversive fellow, in a low-key way. Hi James, I really look forward to that. I think utilitarianism tends not to get a fair hearing, because people with different moral opinions regard each other as “immoral”, or at least insincere. You can see that happening all over the place, from climate science (where one side is “trying to raise taxes” and the other is “in the pay of Big Oil”) to Northern Ireland (where one side is “just a gangsters’ racket” and the other is “trying to hold on to their wealth”). In reality, almost everyone is sincerely committed to their own cause, on moral grounds. They’re just different moral grounds from their opponents’ moral grounds.

March 26, 2015, 06:26:54 > (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook Pages: 1 2 » Print Author Topic: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook (Read 45416 times) 0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic. Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « on: January 19, 2009, 05:15:58 PM » The Master of Shrouds Handbook I don't know where this image is from, but that's clearly a Master of Shrouds who took a level of bard for +2 to her Will save. Introduction: The Master of Shrouds (MoS) is a divine caster prestige class from Libris Mortis for neutral and evil clerics. The prestige class trades a caster level at 1st level for the ability to summon incorporeal undead such as shadows and wraiths. The primary prerequisite for the class can be met by 3rd level through multi-classing into a second class with a good Will save. If the prestige class is entered this way, yourr undead summons will be powerful minions for your level. Since your caster level will be 2 levels behind an average caster of your level, you will have to decide whether summoning powerful incorporeal undead (and the benefits of your single multi-class level) is worth that sacrifice. In addition, the undead you summon are powerful at 5th level, but by 15th level and higher they are much less effective - so this is a prestige class that is best suited for mid-level games. Contents: 1. Introduction, Table of Contents, Other Links 2. Prestige class prerequisites and early entry 3. Rebuilding and retraining 4. Anatomy of the prestige class 5. Races 6. Base divine casting classes 7. Dip classes 8. Following up 9. Feats & Skill Tricks 10. Summons 11. Spells 12. Equipment 13. Party Role 14. Tactics 15. Final Thoughts 16. Sample Builds Important abbreviations and slang used: MoS: Master of Shrouds ACF: Alternative Class Feature UA: Unearthed Arcana LA: Level Adjustment DMM: Divine Metamagic Dip: taking a single level in another class Links: The online preview of the Master of Shrouds: Credit must go to PhaedrusXY, who wrote the original Master of Shrouds handbook Handbook: Another MoS build in the competition: The necromancy handbook by K: Last edit: May 13, 2010 - Edited to add an image and clean up the guide a little. April 23, 2010 - Edited all sections for brevity and clarity. December 16, 2010 - Edited sections for clarity « Last Edit: December 16, 2010, 07:19:07 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #1 on: January 19, 2009, 05:16:58 PM » 2. Early Entry The prerequisites: Base Save Bonus: Will +5. This is the big one we're going to concentrate on. WoTC wants you to take this class at 6th level. But by taking 2 levels in our primary divine caster class, and then dipping once in another class with a base +2 Will save, we're going to take the class at 4th level, when the summons from it are actually good . Alignment: Any non-good. You probably should be neutral to have the widest access to spells. Skills: Concentration 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks, Spellcraft 5 ranks. If you've got a base of 2 skills/level, you'll need a 10 int to enter early. Feats: Augment Summoning, Spell Focus (conjuration). There are a few sneaky ways to get Augment Summoning: one is to use a variant of Conjurer from Unearthed Arcana for your 1-level dip, trading Scribe Scroll for Augment Summoning. The other way I know is to take the Dragon Below domain from the EBCS, which grants Augment Summoning as a bonus feat - and the domain has a fairly solid list of spells as well. Spells: Able to cast protection from good as a divine spell. Note that using Arcane Disciple on a dread necromancer gives you protection from good as an arcane spell, and will not fulfill this requirement. Taking Gatekeeper Initiate (EBCS) will give druids protection from good as a divine spell, however. Special: Able to rebuke undead. « Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 03:35:39 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #2 on: January 19, 2009, 05:18:57 PM » 3. Rebuilding and retraining Retraining Retraining is an option from the PHB II. Each level you can trade 1 class feature, language, 4 ranks of skills, or 1 feat, possibly spending time and/or money to do so. Here's an example of how it can benefit you: Elf Cleric 1. Feats: Point Blank Shot (Elf Domain), Precise Shot, Weapon Focus (Longbow) (War Domain). Cleric 2. Cleric 2/Sorcerer 1. Trade Precise Shot for Spell Focus (Conjuration). Make Augment Summoning your 3rd level feat. Cleric 2/Sorcerer 1/Master of Shrouds 1. Trade the War domain for the Charm domain. Cleric 2/Sorcerer 1/Master of Shrouds 2. Trade the Elf domain for the Planning domain. In short, retraining makes the early levels of any class less painful - and since the early levels of MoS can be painful, that's a good thing. Rebuilding: Character rebuilding is an option given in the PHB II that allows you to trade levels of one class or prestige class for another. Prestige classes can qualify for themselves with non-class abilities as long as you have one level in them already and keep at least 1 level of the base class. So if a prestige class depends on a base save bonus, attack bonus, or ability to cast X level of spells, you can rebuild out of a base class - but not if you lose Rebuke Undead or another class feature. You can trade up to 1/5th your level rounded up, meaning that if you do it at 6th, you can trade in a pair of "dead" levels (the 2nd level of your base class and the dip class) in for another 2 levels in MoS, making your summons very good for your level. Since it takes a difficult mini-quest to rebuild character levels, you will probably want to wait until 6th and then trade in both levels. Or start the character at 6th level and make it part of the backstory if allowed. Now at 6th level, you've got the ability to summon wraiths with an automatic +2/+2 to hit and damage. Wraiths are CR 5. And you can summon between 3-7 of them in a single encounter. Even if it's legal by the books most sane DM's won't allow rebuilding. But it's worth bringing up in higher levels where your incorporeal summons are less effective. « Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 03:35:25 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #3 on: January 19, 2009, 05:19:28 PM » 4. Anatomy of the Class Stats: Strength: A dump stat unless you want heavy armor or a composite longbow Dexterity: A tertiary stat, especially with Zen archery. MoS also get Hide as a class skill, which is based off of dexterity. Constitution: Secondary stat - a 14 is recommended. Intelligence: Cloistered clerics and archivists or players with dips in int-based classes will want some points here. Wisdom: You will generally want a 16 or higher here whenever possible. Shugenja don't need this. Charisma: This enhances your undead summons/day, duration, and turn attempts. You will want a 16 or higher here whenever possible. Sample 32-point buy for a Human Cleric/Dread Necromancer-based MoS: Str: 08 Dex: 12 Con: 14 Int: 10 Wis: 16 Cha: 16 HP: A d8, standard issue. Saves: Strong Will. Skills: You have the standard cleric skills and also Hide. Diplomacy is worth mentioning, since your charisma will often be decently high. Class Abilities: Caster levels: you lose a caster level at 1st. Note that MoS only advances a divine spell-casting class, though an arcane variant would probably pass most DM's approval. Extra Rebuking (Ex): Useful for powering divine feats. Rebuke Undead (Su): Few PrCs advance rebuking, so think of it as something for free. It stacks with previous rebuking instead of doubling your pool. Summon Undead (Sp): This is where your true power comes from. The higher your charisma goes, the more summons you get and the longer they last. Improved Summoning (Ex): Keep in mind that this ability doesn't apply to Summon Monster or Summon Nature's Ally. This is an enhancement bonus, so it won't stack with some other spells. « Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 03:35:08 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #4 on: January 19, 2009, 05:20:01 PM » 5. Races Human: With 2 feats required and 3 skills requiring 5 ranks by 3rd level, you're going to be strapped for feats and skills - this is often the ideal choice for a MoS. Strongheart halfling (FRCS): probably the best choice available in most games - gain the bonus feat of a human and the goodness of a halfling. Illumian (RoD): The Illumian's sigils are most effective when combining class abilities. Make sure that the combination of symbols you choose is stronger than the feat you're giving up by not being a human. Kobold: Venerable Dragonwrought Jungle Kobolds have adjustments of -4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +3 Wis, +3 Cha, and +1 Intelligence. Of particular interest to kobolds with sorcerer dips is the following web enhancement to grant an additional "free" sorcerer level in return for a crummy feat: Necropolitan (LM): Dumping Con reduces MAD, but I'm often wary of being rebuked or turned, and losing experience in order to become undead is counter to our purpose of gaining shadows as quickly as possible. But if you can start the game as a necropolitan without losing a level, go for it! Lesser Aasimar (FRCS): good resistances and +2 Wis/Cha. « Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 03:34:47 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #5 on: January 19, 2009, 05:20:34 PM » 6. Base Divine Classes WoTC expects you to enter with a cleric. With that said, it is generally the best-suited for the prestige class, and most of the attention of this guide will focus on cleric casting, feats, etc. Core: Cleric: Since MoS stacks for Rebuke Undead, you can build your own army of undead eventually without even trying. 2 domains, full spell progression and heavy armor proficiency is just icing on the cake. In core games, your feats will be limited - try to avoid item creation feats (you want to minimize experience costs) and metamagic feats (your spell-casting is already lower than normal). You'll need a 1-level dip in any +2 Will save class. Druid: First, you'd need to check if your DM allows you to be an undead-loving druid. Druid summoners can be very strong at low levels, but with the caster level loss you won't be particularly good at it. Another problem is that charisma is a dump stat for most druids, but necessary for the MoS. You'll need a 1-level dip in cleric or in dread necromancer with the Gatekeeper Initiate feat. Non-Core: Archivist (Heroes of Horror): You have a better spell selection than any other divine caster (if your DM is nice with scrolls!), and can do some cool things with knowledge checks. The major downside is that you are dependent on lots of different ability scores. You'll need a 1-level dip in cleric, dread necromancer, or cloistered cleric - cloistered cleric is the best choice by far. Cloistered Cleric (UA): This variant from UA keeps the best abilities of clerics and trades their martial abilities for bardic lore and 6 skill points/level. If Complete Champion is allowed, trading the Knowledge domain for the domain feat gives a small boost to attacks and damage at all levels. Cloistered Cleric also gives you a wider list of spells known. If you want a sneaky MoS, a loremaster MoS, or a diplomancer MoS, take this variant. If you want a melee-based MoS, take the standard cleric (or cloistered cleric and dip into a class that gives good armor). For any other kind of MoS, the two are roughly equal. You'll need a 1-level dip in any +2 Will save class. Divine Bard (UA): You can't be good or lawful, and neutral divine bards can't cast spells with alignment descriptors, which means you will be Chaotic Evil, just like my last 2 bards. You're only getting 1/day Bardic Music and only the 1st level music abilities. Divine Prankster from Races of Stone would be a good follow-up to MoS for gnomes. You'll need a 1-level dip in cleric, dread necromancer, or cloistered cleric. Favored Soul (CD): Pass. There's no good reason to take this over a cleric, since your Wis and Cha are equally important in both cases. You'd need a 1-level dip in cleric, dread necromancer, or cloistered cleric. Spirit Shaman (CD): A class based on controlling and fighting spirits, its flavor is perfect for the MoS - and it gives you a way to gain druid spell-casting without the restrictions of actually being a druid. Not optimal, but different, and very flavorful. You'll need a 1-level dip in cleric or cloistered cleric. Shugenja (CD): The Shugenja is completely Wisdom-independent, so in a game where you rolled terribly or with a very low point buy this might be viable. It still has mediocre spell progression like the sorcerer and a terribly limited spell list though. You'll need a 1-level dip in cleric or cloistered cleric. « Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 03:34:34 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #6 on: January 19, 2009, 05:23:05 PM » 7. Dip classes Since you have to dip in order to enter at 4th level, the class you choose can potentially have a big effect on your character (or simply filler to get you some needed saves or HP), and it's part of why I love this prestige class so much. Quick summary of classes: Best HD: Knight (d12), Hexblade (d10), Dragon Shaman (d10) Best saves: Monk, Favored Soul (all good) Most skills: Bard, Spellthief, Aristocrat, Archivist, Swordsage, Beguiler, Human Paragon, Savant (6/level or all class skills) Trapfinding: Savant, Spellthief, Artificer, Beguiler Best attack bonus: Knight, Duskblade, Hexblade (+1) Grants 1st level spell-casting: Druid, Cleric, Wizard, Warmage, Favored Soul, Healer, Sorcerer, Dread Necromancer, Beguiler, Shugenja, Archivist, Adept, Wu Jen, Death Master, Sha'ir, Urban Druid Core: Bard: With only 1 bardic music/day and 0-level spells, this class has nice saves, 6 ranks/level in a good skill list, charisma synergy, and the ability to use arcane items going for it. The same goes for the divine/savage variants in UA, though the savage variant will help your fortitude save, while the divine variant will let you use your crummy bard spells in heavy armor. Sadly, Inspire Courage won't help your undead because it is mind-affecting. Cleric: if you're not a primary cleric, you'll need this, dread necromancer, or cloistered cleric for the Rebuke Undead prerequisite. Druid: A decent core dip if your DM doesn't mind the whole "I love undead and nature" part. You should trade your Wild Shape for the ACF on page 58 of UA for fast movement, favored enemy, track, and a monk's Wisdom to AC if possible. Monk: You gain 4 skills/level, +2 Fort/Reflex/Will, and some bonus feats you'll probably never use. Sorcerer: If you're really tight on stats, you might need to take sorcerer just because you can't spare the points in Intelligence for wizard. Also goes well with kobolds. Wizard: a great choice. Gives a lot more versatility with arcane items and low-level spells, as well as a bonus feat and a familiar. In core-only, a conjurer or necromancer is probably your strongest choice for a dip. Outside of core, a conjurer with the Unearthed Arcana ACFs will let you get Augment Summoning in place of Scribe Scroll, and also make your summon monster spells a standard action - some great bargains for 1 level! The conjurer ACF from the PHB II is also very good for characters with a high intelligence, though you'd have to choose between it and the summoning one (I'd go for the teleporting one personally). The necromancer variants from UA are also worth mentioning: one gives you a skeletal minion of questionable value in return for your familiar (it's based on your necromancer level), and another gives 2HD and permanent enhancements to the strength and dexterity of undead you create in return for your bonus spell as a specialist - a great trade if you plan on creating a lot of undead. Non-Core: Please note that I have very little experience with psionic classes - feedback on those classes as dips is especially appreciated. Classes that give +2 Will but are not covered in detail because they are generally mediocre as a dip for the MoS: Gnome Paragon Favored Soul Truenamer Shadowcaster Shugenja Spellthief Healer Hexblade Warmage Sha'ir Jester Adept, Expert, Aristocrat Archivist (HoH): Int-based casting, Scribe Scroll, and 6 skills/level with a flexible spell list. Artificer (EBCS): 4/level skills, +2 Will, trap-finding, scribe scroll, some minor benefits, Int-based infusions. The personal weapon augmentation can certainly be useful though, as can the ability to scribe low-level scrolls from other classes' lists, and UMD is always a good skill to have. Beguiler (PHB II): a solid choice. 6/level skills from a great list, a limited int-based spell list, trap-finding, and armored mage. Binder: Another solid choice. There are 5 vestiges you can bind with a single level, or 9 with practiced binder. Bind Savnok for free full plate at 1st level, or Naberius for a diplomancy build. Church Inquisitor (CD): Originally suggested by Surreal or carnivore, this is a prestige class you can enter as a cleric at 4th, gain +2 Will, and then enter MoS at 5th. Is delaying access to the MoS by 1 level worth saving a level of spell progression? Well, that depends. Alignment restrictions are also tight here - you must be part of a LG church or religious order, and you must be LN. I wouldn't go this route with most characters, but it is an option. Cloistered Cleric (UA): A dip for the non-cleric base casters such as spirit shamans, this is a fine choice - 6 skills/level, 3 domains, and a Bardic Lore ability all in one. Two thumbs up. Death Master (Dragon Compendium) : An alternative to the Dread Necromancer - this grants Rebuke Undead and either stacks with cleric for it or doubles your pool, both are nice. Death Master has a better spell list than Dread Necro for you, but int-based casting is a disappointment and your minion will be pitifully weak. Dragonfire Adept (DM): 4 skills/level, good Fort and Will saves, plus a crummy breath weapon, a crummy bonus feat, and an invocation. Entangling Exhalation is a feat from Races of the Dragon that will let you use your breath to entangle foes with no saving throw allowed, giving you something useful to do between summoning incorporeal undead. Your bonus feat also allows you to take Draconic Heritage, which can add some skills to your list for all classes. One interesting choice would be to take the Darkness invocation, allowing your wraiths and spectres to fight outside at all times. Drow of the Underdark also has the feat Instinctive Darkness to make Darkness an immediate action to cast. Suggested invocations: Darkness or Beguiling Influence. Draconic Knowledge is solid for characters with Knowledge Devotion. Dragon Shaman (PHB II): a mediocre choice. A d10 HD but cleric attack progression? You get some small, constant auras - Vigor, Senses, and Toughness are the default choices. Dread Necromancer (HoH): one of the best dip classes. The only dip that stacks with cleric for Rebuke Undead (and if your DM rules that they are separate pools, then its even better for DMM users!). Charnel Touch allows you to heal undead allies for unlimited amounts between battles, and gives a decent touch attack at very low levels, especially if it stacks with inflict spells. Solid spells from a small cha-based spell list. Duskblade (PHB II): Strong Fort and Will, +1 BAB, d8 HD, all martial weapons, armor, and most shields, armored mage, and spells from a limited list with Int-based casting. Human Paragon (UA): You can go Human Paragon 1/Cleric 1/Human Paragon +1 and net Adaptive Learning in a skill of your choice, as well as a bonus feat. Makes it very easy to enter a skill-based PrC after MoS as well, and gives you more room for feats at low levels. Incarnate (MoI): The incarnate is a good dip if there are some soulmelds you really want - and there are at least a few worthwhile ones to pick from for any character. Knight (PHB II): Interesting choice - gives +1 BAB, a d12 (!) HD, and a Charisma-based challenge, but you need to be lawful and follow a code that prevents you from gaining a bonus from flanking with your summons. If you want to be the party tank, this could be worthwhile, especially if you take the Goad feat from Complete Adventurer. Marshal (MH): A good dip. MoS has Diplomacy as a class skill, so you can go Cleric/Marshal/MoS for a respectable diplomancer build. Or you can just give your allies a bonus on flanking damage and use hordes of shadows and summoned skeletons to make good times for everybody. If you're willing to sacrifice another caster level, having a major aura will make you an even better buffer. Savant (Dragon Compendium): Goes quite well with cloistered cleric - has a lore ability that stacks, trapfinding, 6 skills/level (you choose them), d8 HD, and gives martial weapons and shields back to the cloistered cleric. Spirit Shaman (CD): strong Fort and Will, 4 skill ranks, and getsspells from the druid spell list without druidic restrictions. Also, the flavor fits the MoS perfectly. Swordsage (ToB): A decent choice for a melee-focused MoS - gives +2 to Reflex and Will, 6 skill ranks/level, and opens up ToB fun. Suggested maneuvers/stances: Distracting Ember will help you and your summons, Sapphire Nightmare Blade works off of a skill you'll be maxing normally, Leading the Attack helps your summons against the foe you hit, Island of Blades stance lets you flank with adjacent summons. The Shadow Hand school fits the MoS flavor very well. If you're willing to sacrifice another caster level, gaining wisdom to AC in light armor can be great for cloistered cleric entries. Warlock (CA): A great choice for the same reasons as the Dragonfire Adept. Suggested invocations: Darkness, Entropic Warding and Beguiling Influence are all excellent. The flavor fits well too. Wu Jen (CA): It's pretty hard to argue with an initiative reroll and a metamagic feat of your choice. Limited spell list and int-based casting. « Last Edit: January 10, 2011, 08:55:59 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #7 on: January 19, 2009, 05:25:25 PM » 8. Following Up: Prestige Classes After the MoS, you should still have 7 levels left. Contemplative (Complete Divine): Good as a 1-level dip for a bonus domain, or for all 7 levels for 2 bonus domains. The other abilities are nice but not terrific. Ruathar (Races of the Wild): A 3-level prestige class that has very simple entry requirements. It's got a good skills list and 4 skills/level and is full casting, so it's mostly nice to help qualify for other prestige classes. Paragnostic Apostle: (Complete Champion) Easy requirements (especially for a cloistered cleric), full casting, and full turn undead advancement, as well as Lore advancement for those with Cloistered Cleric or Bard levels. Each level has a minor benefit based on your knowledge skills: Call of Worlds is nice, it gives your summoned creatures fast healing. See Through the Veil is also very good - increase your effective turning level by 2 and the save DCs of your spells against undead by 1. The others are generally minor boosts that you won't notice much, but Paragnostic Apostle at least advances everything you want. Eldritch Theurge (Complete Mage): For the warlock/clerics, you take another 1-level divine CL hit to get very solid advancement for your warlock side and some cool abilities. Divine Prankster (Races of Stone): Good for gnome bard/clerics or divine bards. 9. Feats & Skill Tricks You will be strapped for feats for the early levels, and will probably want to get DMM spells for the mid-levels, and take feats to qualify for a PrC in the later levels. General feats: Dynamic Priest (DL: Age of Mortals) : Requires Cleric level 1, makes your spells/day trigger off of Charisma, though the DC is still set by Wisdom. Darkstalker (Lords of Madness) : You're undetectable by almost anything besides Mindsight and Lifesight. Excellent for a sneaky character. Able Learner (RoD): a staple of many multi-class builds. Zen Archery (CW): helps reduce MAD by letting you drop your dexterity a few points while maintaining a decent attack bonus. However, your BAB will be quite low for most of the game. Same with Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot. Practiced Spellcaster (C. Arc.): gain back the 2 CL you lost, or increase your dip's CL by 4. Or both. Beckon the Frozen (Frostburn): This gives summoned undead an extra 1d6 cold damage per hit. Check with your DM if it affects your incorporeal undead summons first though, as they are summoned through a spell-like ability. Snowcasting (Frostburn): Makes your spells cold-subtyped if you use a handful of snow, and add 1 to the spell's level if it's already cold-subtyped. Also lets you take Icy Calling, giving summoned creatures an enhancement bonus of +4 to Strength and Dexterity, and possibly maximized hit points. Corpse-crafting (LM): this is the first in a line of feats that improves the power of undead you create. The first feat in the chain is the best, and keep in mind that Deadly Chill only applies to corporal undead[/spoiler] Divine Metamagic and Devotion feats: Two things to keep in mind: first, the errata for Complete Champion has clarified that you no longer permanently sacrifice turn undead attempts to power devotion feats. Second, keep in mind that Extra Turning grants bonus turn attempts to each pool of turn attempts you have, such as turning granted by the elemental domains. Extra Turning: getting more turn attempts for DMM or whatever is almost always a safe bet for a feat when you've run out of ideas. Knowledge Devotion (CC): good for archivists and cloistered clerics, gives attack and damage benefits depending on knowledge checks. DMM: Quicken Spell: A good choice, since you can always use your standard actions to summon shadows. DMM: Persistent Spell: Good, though best for high-level games. DMM: Chain Spell: Excellent for sharing buff spells among your summons and allies. Air Devotion: Very solid benefits against ranged attackers. Animal Devotion: Iif you don't want to use divine metamagic, this is a versatile devotion feat with solid effects, and one of the easiest ways to gain flying. Law Devotion: Another solid feat, especially for Church Inquisitors (who are basically restricted to Lawful Neutral). Water Devotion: Gives you another summon that is useful mostly as a scout and at low to medium levels as a flanker and meat-shield. It works off of your turn attempts/day at a 1:1 ratio, which can quickly result in a lot of water elementals. If your DM house-rules that summoning-enhancing feats such as Augment Summoning effect your elementals (since by RAW they do not), then consider the Augment Elementals feat from Magic of Eberron, which gives them +2 enhancement bonus to attack & damage, and grants temporary hit points equal to 2x their hit dice, which makes them better mini-tanks. I believe that Water Devotion is best as an early feat to be retrained later on for divine metamagic or something similar. Dip Class-Specific feats: Draconic Heritage (Sorcerer/DFA: Races of the Dragon): Good as a method to gain a class skill and several minor benefits. Initiate of Milil (Bard: Champions of Valor): stacks cleric and bard for the power of bardic music. Entangling Exhalation (Dragonfire Adept: Races of the Dragon): gives constant crowd control options with your breath weapon at little cost. Entangle is a great debuff to help your party and summons hit opponents for low-mid levels. Tomb-tainted Soul (Dread Necromancer: Libris Mortis): allows Charnel Touch and other negative energy to heal yourself. After all, touching yourself is a standard action. Gatekeeper Initiate (Druid: EBCS): gives some benefits against aberrations, and protection from evil as a divine spell on the druid list (as well as some other nice spells, like imprisonment), which allows a druid-based MoS to take dread necromancer in place of cleric for the turn undead requirement. Repel Aberration (Druid: EBCS): gives druids the ability to turn aberrations and requires the Gatekeeper Initiate feat, plus it benefits from the Extra Turning you get from MoS. Instinctive Darkness (Dragonfire Adept or Warlock: DoTU): makes the Darkness invocation an immediate cast spell. Blend into Shadows (Dragonfire Adept or Warlock: DoTU): gives Hide in Plain Sight within 10 feet of magical darkness. Guardian Spirit (Wu Jen: Complete Arcane): gives 2/day initiative rerolls and a 1/day save reroll Craven (Spellthief: Champions of Ruin): At higher levels, this changes your lousy 1d6 sneak attack into 1d6+X, where X is your total character level. Skill Focus (Diplomacy): Take at 1st level if you plan on dipping Marshal and want a different feat at the level you take Marshal, as the class description states that if you already have Skill Focus (Diplomacy) you may choose another feat instead. Elder Evils vile feats: for the low price of swearing your soul to a Cthulhuesque horror, you can get free feats! Here's some metagame thinking: if you can use Libris Mortis and/or Heroes of Horror, your DM is probably either lenient with books or a horror fan. And in either case, that means there's a good chance Elder Evils will get the go-ahead. In particular, Insane Defiance, Dark Speech, Dark Whispers, and Filthy Outburst all require high will saves, which you will get quite early. Evil's Blessing benefits from a high Charisma, so it's a good 1st-level pick. Skill Tricks: Master of Stories: goes well with Cloistered Cleric and Archivists. Shrouded Dance: requires perform and hide, so for the bard, monk or human paragon dips this can get you concealment as a move action and goes well with the shadow motiff, especially since hide is a class skill for you. You can also get Perform as a class skill on a sorcerer or Dragonfire Adept through Draconic Heritage: Battle Dragon. « Last Edit: December 16, 2010, 07:44:39 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #8 on: January 19, 2009, 05:30:14 PM » 10. Domains and Spells Knowledge: gained as a bonus domain through Cloistered Cleric and can be traded for Knowledge Devotion in Complete Champion. Dragon Below (EBCS): grants Augment Summoning as a bonus feat and has a good spell list. Charm Domain: boosting your charisma by 4 points seems like one of the best options to me. Family: protect creatures equal to your charisma with a +4 dodge bonus to armor. Meh. Halfling: gain your charisma to rogue-type skills for a good duration. Could be interesting on a stealthy character. Mysticism: Great power, and great spell list too Summoner: if using retraining as an option, this is a good low-level domain choice. Good spell list too. Trade: A free action detect thoughts for several minutes? Nice! Also gets you Eagle's Splendor. Undeath: When in doubt, go DMM and grab the Undeath domain. Planning: a staple of DMM builds, this grants Extend Spell and a great spell list. Baator (must be lawful evil, only gain 1 domain): the ability to see perfectly in all darkness meshes well with a warlock or dragonfire adept dip. It's bound to annoy your party members if they can't do the same though. Solid spell list. Afflux from Libris Mortis seems like one of the best deities to pick for the MoS if you can't pick your own domains - he grants the Deathbound, Evil, Knowledge, and Undeath domains. Spells: You probably want to be on the look out for long duration buffs and swift-action spells to mesh with your standard-action summons. Otherwise, buffs that you can cast on the whole party and your summons are always appreciated, as are all of the usual divine spellcaster goodies. Core cleric spells: Hide from Undead: Useful if you have to release undead or lose control of spawn. Sanctuary: I'm not a big fan of this spell, but summoning monsters doesn't count as attacking for the purposes of this spell Darkness: Cast it to allow your wraiths and spectres to exist outside. Desecrate: Always, always cast it on an altar before creating undead. Also very useful if you're facing other clerics. Eagle's Splendor: Good on you for temporary additions to summons and duration, good on your wraiths or specres to raise their DCs. Animate Dead: Likely to be a staple spell for you. Deeper Darkness: Cast it on your stronghold or areas you frequent to allow your wraiths and spectres to exist outside. Dispel Magic: Necessary to dispel spells that screw you over, such as Magic Weapon, Protection from Evil, Magic Circle Against Evil, Ghost Touch Weapon, Disrupting Weapon, and Death Ward Death Ward: You might want to want to prepare this so you can counterspell it. It protects against all of your summons' damage, including your shadows. Wall of Stone: Your incorporeal summons can pass through it without problems. Unhallow: Good for your base of operations. Antilife Shell: An extremely potent protection against many threats, especially in conjunction with wind wall. Create Undead: Another staple of the necromantic cleric. Mummies are the real prize here. Summon Monster VII: A Babau can cast Invisibility and Darkness at will, allowing your entire party to be stealthy while your minions wreak havoc. Dispel Magic at will and sneak attack for flanking with summons as well. Create Greater Undead: Wow, you don't care, you could make Shadows 10 levels ago. Frostburn adds a lot of solid spells for you, including: Ice Slick (Cleric 1): Basically a version of Grease that creates a 20-ft surface of ice. This allows you to use some of your other cold-based spells, and also screws opponents without affecting your flying incorporeal undead. Algid Enhancement (Cleric 6): buffs cold-subtype creatures, including those you summon with Beckon the Frozen. Blood Snow (Cleric/Druid 2): great aoe spell that deals Con damage and nauseates opponents (both non-effects for your summons) at a long range with a big radius. Only problem is that you need to cast it on a snowy field. Defile Snow and Ice (Cleric 3): grants undead +4 turn resistance, and cold-typed creatures SR 15 against fire effects. Needs an area of snow or ice. Other books: Ghost Touch Weapon (Cleric 4, Libris Mortis): makes a weapon ghost touch, so your summons can wield weapons you give them. Incorporeal Enhancement (Sorc/Wiz 3, L. Mortis): gives AC, HP, and turn resistance, though the attack bonus won't stack with your 5th level ability - with a duration of 24 hours! Great for archivists, especially if you have some undead permanently under your control. Magic Fang (PHB): depending on how you and your DM interpret it, this could either give a shadow 1d6+1 strength damage, or 1d6 strength damage +1 negative energy. If it's the first option, then it might be worth casting on your shadows. 11. Summoning Summon Undead Class Ability (Sp): First off, all of your summons are undead, flying, and incorporeal. That means that your opponents need a +1 weapon to even hit them, and if the weapon isn't ghost touch then it has a 50% chance of having no effect. Incorporeal and flying also means your minions are highly mobile, especially the more powerful ones with spring attack. Being undead is generally a good thing as well, with its laundry list of immunities. Shadow: Theoretically you can summon one, use it to kill a commoner or a bag full of rats, and then rebuke that spawn and start your own army to take over the world. Realistically, you won't get to do that, but you can use them to flank, to quickly kill low-strength opponents, and turn weaker guards against the big boss. They can also scout well. Very few monsters straight out of the MM can deal with shadows, though most DMs are smart enough to equip opponents so you don't get free victories just for having incorporeal summons. Shadows can work just fine in sunlight, unlike many other incorporeal undead. Most of your higher level summons require a saving throw before the opponent takes any con/level drain, while the shadow automatically deals that damage when it hits. So any time you're worried that a foe is going to have a massively high fort save (giants, dragons, etc), it's a good idea to summon shadows. Check with your DM if bonuses to damage such as Magic Fang or a marshal's aura adds additional strength damage. Skills: Hide +8*, Listen +7, Search +4, Spot +7 Wraith or 2 Shadows: Wraiths automatically panic all animals within 30 feet, no save. Constitution drain is good at all levels, though the save DC is low. Their skills make them excellent scouts, and surprisingly good at some social skills like intimidate. But natural sunlight screws them over royally. In contrast, 2 shadows means you can easily set up flanking, compensate for being outnumbered, etc. Skills: Diplomacy +6, Hide +11, Intimidate +10, Listen +12, Search +10, Sense Motive +8, Spot +12, Survival +2 (+4 following tracks) Spectre, 2 wraiths, or 4 shadows: A spectre is a small bump up from a wraith with more HD and 2 levels of energy drain. I'd use these against spell-casters and a pair of wraiths against almost anything else - but against a foe with high fortitude saves, 4 shadows are a good way to set up flanking, AOO's, and strength drain. Like wraiths, a spectre is powerless in sunlight. Skills: Hide +13, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (religion) +12, Listen +14, Search +12, Spot +14, Survival +2 (+4 following tracks) Greater Shadow, 2 spectres, 4 wraiths, or 4 shadows: a greater shadow picks up mobility and spring attack, allowing them to float through the floor, hit a foe, and escape again. Summoning 4 wraiths or 4 shadows each round will overwhelm an opponent much more quickly, but greater shadows have their niche, especially if you have a few rounds to prepare. Skills: Hide +14*, Listen +9, Search +6, Spot +9 Dread Wraith, 2 greater shadows, 4 spectres, 4 wraiths, or 4 shadows: at 16HD, the dread wraith might actually survive most turn undead effects and can take a hit or two from high level opponents. With +16 to hit, it should succeed on nearly every attack, and a DC 25 fortitude save is rough at level 13 for any monster with a weak fort save. The dread wraith also has a unique form of blindsight and a great touch AC, as well as the same spring attack shuffle as a greater shadow, and the best skills of any of your summons - perfect as a scout. However, like a wraith it is powerless in sunlight. If you're fighting in sunlight then 2 greater shadows are the best bet. Skills: Diplomacy +9, Hide +24, Intimidate +26, Knowledge (religion) +22, Listen +25, Search +22, Sense Motive +23, Spot +25, Survival +4 (+6 following tracks) Summon Undead spell line: I like these spells, but they aren't very good for a MoS, who will be behind the curve on most of them. Still, at 5th level the owlbear from Summon Undead II is still a decent meatshield, and there might be some other gems I've missed. The MoS 5th level "Improved Summons" affects this spell line as well. Summon Monster While you will be a rank behind on summoning these, often the creatures on this list have good spell-like abilities, especially at higher levels. See the handbook link at the top for more information. 12. Equipment Cloak of Charisma +X Nightsticks: it's almost always worth getting at least 1 if you use divine metamagic. Rod, Metamagic: especially extend, lesser is a great bargain, but all of these rods have their uses. Bag of Holding, Handy Haversack, Portal Hole, etc. Use it to carry around snow, dead bodies, ghost touch weapons for your summons, whatever. « Last Edit: May 05, 2011, 04:04:42 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #9 on: January 19, 2009, 05:34:10 PM » 13. Party Role Battlefield Control/Disabler: this is probably where you will shine in most cases. With lots of summons blocking the area up, you can usually provide flanking and force enemies to concentrate on your shadows if they want to get anywhere. Depending on your dip, you might also have entangling, darkness, maneuvers, etc. as options as well. Damage: Level drain, constitution drain, and strength damage can drop unprepared foes pretty quickly. You might not be a traditional damage dealer, but you'll be reducing your opponents' hit points through lost levels and constitution at a respectable rate. This works especially well in conjunction with an offensive primary caster such as a necromancer buddy, who can hit your Con-drained and level-drained opponents with a high-DC save-or-die spell. Healer/Buffer: Your summons will reduce the need for party healing by absorbing a few hits, but keep a wand of lesser vigor or CLW handy. Since your spell-casting will lag behind a bit, your spells might also be best used to buff your summons and party members. This works well in conjunction with a party of undead or dread necromancers, so that spells which heal your monsters will work on the party as well. Necromancer: You're an excellent necromancer without even spending feats. Dipping into necromancer for the ACF to improve the undead you create will make this even better. You should be able to rebuke and control the spawn created by your summons, bolstering your incorporeal army with permanent followers. Scout: your summons make superb scouts, and with hide as a class skill, you can be a decent scout as well with the right dip class. This works best if you can convince your DM to let your incorporeal summons be the same character each time, so you can re-summon and question them. Remind your DM of the Shades from WCIII if he's played it. Social front: You are a charisma-based character with diplomacy as a class skill, and a single level of marshal or dragonfire adept can make you a strong social front. Tank: your summons can tank for the party in a pinch, but with your slow spell progression, your summon undead spells will be pretty weak for the levels, and incorporeal creatures usually have low hit points. As a cleric, you're no slouch in the tanking department with the right buffs. Trapfinder: If you're a beguiler, artificer, savant, or spell-thief dip, or if you have the kobold domain, you can also be a trap-finder. With the MoS's low skill points and class skill set, I'm not saying you should - but you can if you want to be some kind of crazy triple threat character. 14. Tactics Get a way to cast darkness & deeper darkness reliably, since that will let you summon wraiths and spectres outside during the day. A dragonfire adept or a warlock dip can both net this ability. Your incorporeal summons can occupy the same square as you or an ally, granting concealment to the ally and cover to the shadows. Your shadows should always have a place to hide with you - in your shadow. Invisibility and the Hide skill are both quite thematic and good for a MoS, as you can remain hidden while your summons gleefully tear opponents apart. Illusions are a solid choice for spells, since an opponent facing a pair of specres is quite unlikely to disbelieve the silent image of more shadows backing them up. Since incorporeal undead make no noise, have no smell, and are pretty unfamiliar to most people, lower-level illusion spells can mimic them quite well. Remember that you're basically a cleric in terms of HP, BAB, saves, and spells. That means you still rock at almost everything - don't limit yourself too much in feats. Remember to animate the dead, to use diplomacy, fight with divine power, to scry on enemies - anything you can do as a straight cleric you can do about as well as a MoS. Here's some tactics by PhaedrusXY for a solo caster gauntlet: 15. Final Thoughts One thing that occurred to me while making this guide is that there must be plenty of other prestige classes and feats that you can get early by multi-classing - and it might be a good idea to pair up on some of them. For example, Vile Speech needs a base Will of +5 and Filthy Outburst needs a Will of +7, so with the vile feats from Elder Evils you could have a build that works something like this: Human Cleric 1/Human Paragon 2/Master of Shrouds 3 Feats: 1st human: Spell Focus: Conjuration 1st character: Augment Summoning 1st vile: Chosen of Evil 3rd character: Dark Speech 3rd bonus human paragon: Dark Whispers 5th vile: Filthy Outburst 6th character: Insane Defiance Books required: Libris Mortis, Elder Evils « Last Edit: January 10, 2011, 08:55:27 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #10 on: January 19, 2009, 05:49:01 PM » 16. Sample Build Stubs The builds I've made are only stubs, designed to help players think of possible starting points for their characters, and adapt them according to book list and personal taste. Different and more detailed/optimized builds are greatly welcome. Core-only MoS Halfling Cleric 2/Necromancer 1/MoS 10/Cleric 7 Feats: 1st char: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 3rd char: Augment Summoning Domains: War Luck Books used: online preview of MoS or Libris Mortis, Core Dread Necromancer MoS Human Cloistered Cleric 2/Dread Necromancer 1/MoS 10/Paragnostic Apostle 5/Contemplative 2 Feats: 1: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1: Tomb-tainted soul 1B: Extend Spell (Planning Domain) 1B: Extra Turning (Undeath Domain) 3: Augment Summoning 4B: Extra Turning 6: Persistent Spell 9: Divine Metamagic: Persistent Spell 12: Quicken Spell 15: Extra Turning 18: Divine Metamagic: Quicken Spell 19B: Improved Initiative Domains: Undeath Planning Time (Contemplative) Gets: Either full turn undead advancement or 2 pools of turn undead, unlimited healing from Dread Necro, access to dread necro wands and staves, typical benefits from lots of divine metamagic and whatnot. Books used: Libris Mortis, Core, Heroes of Horror, Complete Divine, Complete Champion, Spell Compendium Sample DMM MoS Human Human Paragon 1/Cloistered Cleric 1/Human Paragon +1/MoS 1 Feats: 1st human: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st char: Augment Summoning 3rd bonus human paragon: Quicken Spell 3rd char: DMM: Quicken Spell Domains: Open, but Undeath and Planning are always great, and Knowledge is a bonus domain. With a 16 Charisma, has 10 turn attempts: enough for 2 quickened spells/day. Cloistered Cleric is good because you can better take advantage of the skills from Human Paragon. Books used: Unearthed Arcana, Complete Divine Diplomancer MoS Human Cleric 2/Marshal 1/Master of Shades 1 Feats: 1st human: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st char: Negotiator 2nd bonus marshal: Skill Focus (Diplomacy) 3rd char: Augment Summoning Domains: Mind Charm Total: (Assumes Cha 18): +7 ranks +2 Negotiator +3 Skill Focus +4 Charisma +4 Motivate Charisma +4 Charm domain (+2 from 4 Charisma, +2 more from Motivate Charisma) +2 domain = +26 at 4th level (+25 at 3rd), and in another level you'll rock out with shadows anyways, providing you with a viable alternative to your diplomacy checks. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it will certainly beat most non-combat encounters for most of the game. Books used: Miniatures Handbook, Libris Mortis, Spell Compendium Tome of Battle MoS This character fights behind his summoned shadows and undead, using his martial abilities to augment their attacks. He focuses on flanking with summons and maneuvers to overcome a poor BAB. Human Swordsage 2/Cloistered Cleric 1/MoS 1 Feats: 1st human: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st char: Augment Summoning 1st bonus swordsage: Weapon Focus (spiked chain) 2nd bonus cleric: Knowledge Devotion 2nd bonus cleric: Fire Devotion 3rd char: Weapon Finesse (Spiked Chain) Domains: War (Kossuth). Kossuth grants Spiked Chain as a War domain choice, saving a feat. Books used: Tome of Battle, Libris Mortis, Unearthed Arcana, FRCS, Complete Champion. Cloistered Cleric meshes well with the swordsage's wisdom to light armor and 6 skills/level. I rolled straight 8's and an 18... This character is SAD (Single-attribute dependent), using his charisma for spell-casting, summoning, and to gain bonuses on stealth-related skills. Cleric grants much-needed armor and shield proficiencies as well. Strongheart Halfling Shugenja 1/Cleric 2/MoS 1 Feats: 1st character: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st bonus: Augment Summoning 3rd char: Any DMM or Devotion feat Domains: Charm Halfling Books needed: Spell Compendium, Libris Mortis, Complete Divine, FRCS Sample character: this is the character build for a character I'm playing for a game set in the Warcraft III setting, where the players are cultists of the Lich King. He fills the social face and healing roles, and also has some weak trap-finding and stealth skills. At low levels, he summons water elementals and casts beguiler spells in a fight, while at higher levels his water elementals are generally replaced by incorporeal undead. At 6th level, for example, he can summon around 14 medium water elementals and 10 shadows each day with a good charisma score and the Charm domain. Human Beguiler 1/Cloistered Cleric 2/MoS 3. Feats: 1st character: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st human: Augment Summoning 2nd cleric: Water Devotion 2nd cleric: Knowledge Devotion 3rd char: Beckon the Frozen 4th MoS: Extra Turning 6th char: Cold-casting Domains: Charm Books needed: Spell Compendium, Libris Mortis, Frostburn, Complete Champion, Unearthed Arcana Another sample character: this is an alternative build I designed for the above character, which sacrifices versatility in party role for stronger low-mid level combat: Human Cleric 2/Conjurer 1/MoS 3. Feats: 1st character: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st human: Augment Elementals 1st cleric: Water Devotion 2nd bonus: Augment Summoning 3rd char: Beckon the Frozen 4th MoS: Extra Turning Domains: Charm ACFs: trade familiar for an earth or air elemental (Complete Mage), trade Scribe Scroll for Augment Summoning (UA), possibly take Focused Specialist. Books needed: Spell Compendium, Libris Mortis, Frostburn, Complete Champion, Unearthed Arcana, Complete Mage With flaws: Stealthy MoS This character creates darkness as an immediate action, then at low levels breathes fire at his enemies, entangling them while he dances around in the darkness and hides. At the mid-levels he has hide in plain sight and is nearly undetectable along with his shadows. Strongheart Halfling Dragonfire Adept 1/Cloistered Cleric 2/MoS 3 Feats: 1st halfling: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st char: Instinctive Darkness 1st flaw: Blend into Shadows 1st flaw: Entangling Exhalation 3rd char: Augment Summoning 6th char: Darkstalker Domains: Baator or Charm and Halfling (or a Devotion feat to spend turn attempts) Note: retrain skills at later levels to move some previous skills to max Hide from MoS. Books needed: Drow of the Underdark, Dragon Magic, Races of the Dragon, Lords of Madness, Spell Compendium, Libris Mortis, Unearthed Arcana, FRCS Draconic MoS This character benefits from the venerable stats of a dragonwrought kobold. Archivist MoS characters normally suffer from MAD, but the +3 to all mental statistics for dragonwrought kobolds turns that into an advantage. Dragonwrought Kobold Cloistered Cleric 1/Archivist 2/MoS 1 Feats: 1st char: Spell Focus (Conjuration) 1st bonus domain ACF: Knowledge Devotion 1st bonus domain: Extend Spell 1st bonus domain: Augment Summoning 1st flaw: Persistent Spell 1st flaw: Dragonwrought Kobold 3rd char: DMM: Persistent Spell Domains: Planning Dragon Below Books needed: Races of the Dragon, Spell Compendium, Libris Mortis, Unearthed Arcana, Complete Champion, Eberron Campaign Setting 17. End of guide All right, I think that's everything I've got. Input is greatly appreciated, especially from players who have taken the MoS past 6th level. « Last Edit: March 16, 2010, 03:06:54 PM by Akalsaris » Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook PhaedrusXY Organ Grinder Posts: 8022 Advanced Spambot Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #11 on: January 19, 2009, 06:44:54 PM » Nice! I didn't look through all of it yet, but it looks like you were very thorough. If I have time, I'll read through it more carefully and try to offer any constructive criticism I can think of. I'm glad someone picked this up. I just didn't have time to actually finish a real handbook on ChristopherGroves Barbary Macaque at the Rock of Gibraltar Posts: 218 Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #12 on: January 19, 2009, 07:30:20 PM » Mention of the Dynamic Priest feat would be goodness ... Logged Surreal Hong Kong Posts: 1430 Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #13. Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #14 on: January 20, 2009, 03:10:40 AM » Thanks Phaedrus Chris, if you provide the details of the feat I'll add it. It's the one from that Dragonlance splat book that makes Cha a main casting stat for some classes, right? Surreal, I'll add a note on Ur-priest. It skipped my mind because it delays the MoS summoning abilities, but would probably be solid at levels 9+, albeit not as ridiculous as some other ur-priest builds. Maybe a cloistered cleric 1/warlock 2/MoS 2/ur-priest 2/eldritch disciple 10/XYZ would be good, especially if the MoS level could count towards ur-priest. Over a cleric 1/warlock 4 entry it gains extra turning, summoning shadows, and possibly a spell level, but loses a least incantation and 1d6 EB. Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook PhaedrusXY Organ Grinder Posts: 8022 Advanced Spambot Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #15 on: January 20, 2009, 06:36:59 PM » Quote from: Surreal. Make the XYZ Dread Necro, and it will be alot less painful. Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #16 on: May 19, 2010, 12:28:32 AM » Handbook has been updated with an image and all sections edited for clarity and brevity Also, new build: Silverblood Human Cloistered Cleric 1/Marshal 2/Master of Shrouds 2 32 PB: Str 8/Dex 12/Con 14/Int 10/Wis 12/Cha 19 (Raised cha at 4th) Domains: Charm, Dragon Below Feats: H: Spell Focus (Conj) 1: Dynamic Priest (Switches cha and wis for most casting) 1B: Knowledge Devotion [Cloistered cleric] 1B: Augment Summoning [Dragon below domain] 3: Draconic Aura (Damage) Items at 5th: Cloak of Charisma +2, Helm of Tactics What's it do: Your shadows deal straight strength damage, which you passively buff through your auras: R1: Free: Have minor aura (flanking), major aura (damage), draconic aura (power) all running Free: Use your 1 minute Charm domain ability, raising your Cha by 2. Swift: activate Helm of Tactics Standard: Summon a shadow Move: Flank the target with your shadow. Whenever a shadow hits, it will deal 1d6 Str+2 Str (major aura) +1 str (draconic aura) +7 str (minor flanking aura) +1 (helm) for a total of 1d6+11 Str damage. At 20th this could easily go up to 1d8+4+4+14 for 1d8+22 Str damage per hit from both of the greater shadows, or 1d6+22 from each of the 4 normal shadows summoned per use of the ability. Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook cru Donkey Kong Posts: 613 Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #17 on: May 20, 2010, 01:58:14 PM » nitpick: duskblade has d8 hitpoints, not d10. Logged Akalsaris Hong Kong Posts: 1143 Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #18 on: May 20, 2010, 09:41:08 PM » Fixed. Logged My Handbooks: The Poison Handbook (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook The Healer's Handbook Daedalus Ring-Tailed Lemur Posts: 25 Re: (New) Master of Shrouds Handbook « Reply #19 on: May 28, 2010, 05:35:44 AM » I'd like to make a note of the Dragon Shaman: the "Power" ability also increases ability score damage of all your summons. The DS dip also grants you fast healing 1 when under 50% including your allies (which is super in actual play to reduce downtime & stabilize the dying) Also; since you need the Spellfocus (Conjuration) to enter the prestige class, maybe Cloudy Conjuration is of some use? Nimble Bones (LB, needs Corpsecrafter) gives your UD +2 Init & +10ft movespeed, could be useful for the Dreadwraith's spring attack routine?

The effect of carvedilol on enhanced ADP-ribosylation and red blood cell membrane damage caused by free radicals Abstract. - Free radicals - Ischemia - Microcirculation - Reperfusion - Signal transduction - Time for primary review 23 days. 1 Introduction Reperfusion of ischemic myocardium results in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as H2O2, superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals formed in the Fenton and Haber–Weiss reaction [1]. ROS and peroxynitrite (formed from superoxide and NO) initiate lipid peroxidation [2], oxidation of proteins [3] and DNA damage [4–6], and these ROS are believed to be responsible, at least in part, for myocardial damage associated with infarction and reperfusion [7]. If ROS and peroxynitrite concentrations are permanently high, these, in turn, may cause a significant amount of single-strand DNA breaks which activate the nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a chromatin bound enzyme involved in the repair of DNA breaks [8,9]. Although, the PARP has a role in genome stability and defense against genomic mutation [10–12], mice having an inactivated PARP gene are still viable and fertile [11] indicating that the presence of PARP activity in different cells is not vital. On the other hand there is evidence showing that the activation of the nuclear PARP accelerates NAD+ catabolism, and the depletion of NAD+ compromises the mitochondrial energy metabolism [13] which can be one of the major causes of cell death in postischemic cardiomyocytes. The assumption that PARP activation is a major cause of ischemia–reperfusion-induced cell death is based on the observation that PARP inhibitors and the disruption of the PARP gene partially prevents ROS and NO toxicity [14–16]. The known PARP inhibitors display several other pharmacological activities [17–19], that makes most of them unacceptable for clinical practice. If free radical production is extensive enough to overwhelm endogenous anti-radical defenses (e.g. glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin E) tissue injury can occur. The activation of these unfavorable reactions could be protected by antioxidants that reduce the intracellular level of ROS and peroxynitrite. Additionally, many other tissues and cells can be damaged by oxygen free radicals, especially red blood cells (RBC), which are very susceptible to oxidative damage [20]. Oxidative stress changes RBC mechanical properties, decreases deformability and increases aggregability and thus increases apparent blood viscosity. In the microcirculation the ability of RBCs to deform when passing through narrow capillaries is absolutely essential for tissue perfusion and viability [21]. Antioxidant therapy can protect these detrimental rheological changes [22]. Carvedilol is a multiple-action neurohormonal antagonist combining non-selective beta-blockade and vasodilatation through alpha-blockade. Apart from the beta-blocking and vasodilating activities, carvedilol has also antioxidant properties, which may inhibit both the direct cytotoxic actions of ROS as well as oxygen radical-induced activation of transcription factors and genes [23–26]. These may primarily account for the marked cardioprotective effects observed in animal models. In this work we studied the effect of ischemia–reperfusion on mono- and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of cardiac proteins, the ROS production, lipid peroxidation, DNA breaks, NAD+ catabolism and membrane integrity in a Langendorff heart perfusion system. We also investigated the effect of superoxide radicals generated within the RBCs by phenazine methosulphate (PMS) [27–30] on the viscosity of RBC suspension, measured by capillary viscosimetry. The questions of how carvedilol regulates ROS-mediated signaling in a heart perfusion model and decreases RBC membrane damage in a rheological model were addressed. 2 Methods 2.1 Chemicals NAD+, dihydrorhodamine123 (DHR), IgG peroxidase and PMS were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. Carvedilol was obtained from Boehringer Mannheim (Mannheim, Germany) and malondialdehyde-bis-(diethylacetal) from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). Anti(ADP-ribose) antibody was a kind gift from Alexander Buerkle (Heidelberg, Germany) and Masanao Miwa (Tsukuba, Japan). An LMW Electrophoresis Kit was purchased from Pharmacia. All other reagents were of the highest purity commercially available. 2.2 Animals The hearts of adult male Wistar rats weighing 300–350 g were used for the Langendorff heart perfusion experiments. The investigation conforms with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH Publication No. 85-23, revised 1996), and approved by the Animal Research Review Committee of the University of Pecs Medical School. 2.3 Heart perfusion Rats were anesthetized with ketamine (200 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and heparinized with sodium heparin (100 IU/rat i.p.). Hearts were perfused via the aorta according to the Langendorff method [31] at a constant pressure of 70 mmHg, at 37°C. and in the treated group 1 μM carvedilol was added. The perfusate was bubbled with 95% O2/5% CO2 through a glass oxygenator and adjusted to pH 7.40. After a stabilization period of 15 min, hearts were either perfused under normoxic conditions for 15 or 30 min, or were subjected to a global ischemia of 1 h by closing the aortic influx and reperfused for 15 or 30 min. During ischemia hearts were submerged into perfusion buffer at 37°C. At the end of perfusion hearts were freeze clamped. 2.4 Assay of NAD+ The concentration of NAD+ in the neutralized perchloric acid extract of the cardiac muscle was measured by using alcohol dehydrogenase reaction [32]. The freshly prepared reaction buffer contained 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.40, 1 mM EDTA, 4 mM l-cysteine chloride, and 2% ethanol. Each cuvette contained 300 μl of the tissue extract, 650 μl of the reaction buffer and 4 units of enzyme. The reaction was initiated by the addition of enzyme, and the exact tissue NAD+ concentrations were determined from a calibration curve. 2.5 Detection of ROS and peroxynitrite Hydrogen peroxide in the presence of peroxidase, iron or cytochrome C, and hydroxyl radical as well as peroxynitrite oxidizes the nonfluorescent DHR to form fluorescent rhodamine123 [33]. In normoxic hearts after 15 min washout, DHR (1 μM) was added to the perfusate and perfusion was continued for an additional 15 min. In the case of hearts subjected to 60 min ischemia and 15 min reperfusion, DHR (1 μM) was added to the perfusate just before reperfusion. In all cases, hearts were perfused with DHR for 15 min, and freeze clamped at the end of perfusion. For the extraction of rhodamine123, 90 mg of heart pieces were homogenized in 2 ml 20 mM Tris buffer pH 7.40, and an equal amount of ice-cold 70% ethanol containing 0.1 M HCl was then added. The precipitated proteins were removed by centrifugation at 3000×g for 15 min. The precipitate was extracted once again, and the unified supernatants’ aliquots were neutralized with NaHCO3 and centrifuged at 6000×g. The rhodamine123 content in the clear supernatant was determined using a Perkin Elmer fluorescence spectroscope at an excitation wavelength of 500 nm and an emission wavelength of 536 nm. DHR can be oxidized to rhodamine123 not only by ROS but also by peroxynitrite, which can be formed, from superoxide and NO [33]. To determine the contribution of peroxynitrite to rhodamine123 formation, we perfused hearts with N(ω)-methyl-l-arginine, a well-known NO-synthase inhibitor [34], that caused only very small, statistically non-significant decrease in the rhodamine123 production indicating that NO-related compounds like peroxynitrite have only a very small contribution to the oxidation of DHR to rhodamine123. Since DHR is cell permeable and the oxidized rhodamine123 is preferentially retained by the mitochondria, the above system seems to be appropriate to detect ROS in situ in a perfused heart. 2.6 Lipid peroxidation Lipid peroxidation was estimated from the direct determination of free malondialdehyde (MDA) by high performance liquid chromatography in the neutralized acid extract of the heart tissue and in the perfusate after acetonitrile addition as described by Lazzarino [35], using a Tosoh, Tsk-6011 HPLC system and a C-18, reverse-phase, 25 cm×4.6 mm column. The absorption was measured at 266 nm. 2.7 Assessment of cell membrane integrity The release of lactate dehydrogenase EC 1.1.1.27 (LDH), creatine kinase EC 2.7.3.2 (CK) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase EC 2.6.1.1 (GOT) enzymes were measured in the perfusate of Langendorff perfused hearts under normoxic and ischemic conditions. Enzyme activities were measured by standard methods as described by Lazzarino [36] for LDH, and by Sherry [31] for GOT and CK. 2.8 ADP-ribosylation assay Fifty mg cardiac muscle were homogenized with Ultra-Turrax in 500 μl 50 mM Tris pH 7.80 and 500 μl 2× Laemmli sample buffer were added, homogenized with Potter and cleared by centrifugation for 5 min at 10,000 rev./min. In some experiments the extraction buffer contained 8 M urea, 20 mM Tris, 4 mM EDTA. Samples were subjected to SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a 10% gel and blotted to nitrocellulose membrane for Western blot analysis. ADP-ribosylated proteins were detected by anti(ADP-ribose) monoclonal antibody and anti-mouse IgG peroxidase complex and visualized by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) method. 2.9 In vitro PARP inhibition on isolated enzyme PARP was isolated from rat liver based on the method described before [37]. The PARP activity was determined in 130 μl reaction mixture that contained 100 mM Tris–HCl buffer, pH 8.0, 10 mM MgCl2, 10% glycerol, 1.5 mM DTT, 100 μM [32P], or [3H]NAD+, 10 μg activated DNA, 10 μg histones. The incubation time was 10 min, and the reaction was stopped by the addition of trichloroacetic acid (8%). After addition of 0.5 mg albumin, precipitation was allowed for at least 20 min on ice, and the protein was precipitated with centrifugation (10 min, 10,000×g). The precipitate was washed three times with 8% trichloroacetic acid, and the protein-bound radioactivity was determined with a Beckman scintillation counter. 2.10 Preparation of blood samples for rheological study and measurement of RBC suspension viscosity Venous blood samples were obtained from healthy volunteers and anticoagulated with heparin. RBCs were separated from blood by centrifugation at 1500×g for 10 min and washed twice with phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4; osmolality 310 mOsm; contains 10 mmol/l glucose). After the last centrifugation the supernatant was removed, and the hematocrit was measured (it was about 90%). The washed RBCs were resuspended in PBS at a hematocrit of 20%, divided and incubated (1) control; (2) in the presence of 10 μmol/l carvedilol; (3) 1 mmol/l PMS; (4) 1 mmol/l PMS+1 μmol/l carvedilol; (5) 1 mmol/l PMS+10 μmol/l carvedilol. All suspensions (8 ml) were incubated at 37°C for 2 h in a water bath. At 0 and 120 min of the incubation period blood samples were collected for extracellular Na+ and K+ measurements. At the end of the incubation the samples were centrifugated and RBCs resuspended in PBS and the hematocrit was adjusted to 60%. The viscosity of RBC suspensions was measured on a capillary viscosimeter (Hevimet 40, Hungary — the data are given at 90 l/s shear rate). All measurements were performed within 20 min after the preparation. 3 Results 3.1 ROS determination in perfused heart The oxidation of DHR to rhodamine123 was detectable in normoxic perfused hearts, and the oxidation of DHR to rhodamine123 by ROS was significantly increased as a consequence of ischemia–reperfusion (Table 1). Perfusion of hearts with carvedilol significantly decreased the ischemia–reperfusion-induced rhodamine123 formation (Table 1) showing that carvedilol is an excellent antioxidant, directly decreasing the steady-state level of ROS in postischemic hearts. 3.2 Activation of PARP by ischemia–reperfusion ADP-ribosylation of the high molecular weight nuclear PARP was detectable by Western blot analysis if the extraction buffer contained 8 M urea (Fig. 1). The formation of ischemia–reperfusion-induced ROS caused DNA damage, including single-strand DNA breaks, which activated the self ADP-ribosylation of PARP (Mw∼116 kDa). The presence of carvedilol in the perfusate significantly decreased ROS level and the single-strand DNA breaks in the reperfused hearts, and decreased the self ADP-ribosylation of the nuclear PARP (Fig. 1). Effect of carvedilol on free radical formation during ischemia and reperfusion cycle in the Langendorff perfused rat heart system ROS and peroxynitrite formation was followed by the oxidation of DHR to rhodamine123. Hearts were freeze clamped after 1 h ischemia and handled as detailed in Section 2. Values are shown as mean±S.E.M. for five heart preparations. ↵a Values are different from the other respective normoxic values and ischemia–reperfusion+carvedilol values at the significance P<0.01. Ischemia–reperfusion-induced self poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Proteins were separated with SDS polyacrylamide (10%) gel electrophoresis, and the level of ADP-ribosylation was determined by Western blotting using antibodies developed against ADP-ribose. Extraction of heart proteins was performed in the presence of 8 M urea, see Section 2. Lane 1, control heart (10 μg protein). Lane 2, postischemic heart (1 h ischemia and 30 min reperfusion) (10 μg protein). Lane 3, postischemic heart (1 h ischemia and 30 min reperfusion) in the presence of 1 μM carvedilol (10 μg protein). 3.3 Ischemia–reperfusion-induced NAD+ catabolism in perfused rat hearts The activation of PARP can cause a significant loss of the intracellular NAD+, therefore, we determined the NAD+ content of heart tissues in normoxic hearts, in ischemic hearts and in the hearts subjected to ischemia–reperfusion (Table 2). It was found that 1 h ischemia caused only a slight decrease in the NAD++NADH content (Table 2), but a significant decrease was seen in the NAD+/NADH ratio (data not shown). One hour ischemia followed by 5, 30 and 60 min reperfusion induced a significant loss of the intracellular NAD+ (Table 2). The perfusion of hearts with carvedilol provided a partial protection against the ischemia–reperfusion-induced NAD+ loss (Table 2). Effect of carvedilol on the ischemia–reperfusion-induced NAD+ loss in Langendorff perfused rat hearts at different reperfusion times Experimental conditions and NAD+ determination were performed as described under Section 2. Values are shown as mean±S.E.M. for five heart preparations. ↵a Values are different from values without carvedilol at significance P<0.05. ↵b Because a significant fraction of NAD+ was reduced to NADH, under ischemic condition we determined the sum of NAD+ and NADH. 3.4 Lipid peroxidation in postischemic hearts Under our experimental conditions free malondialdehyde was not detectable by the HPLC method in the heart tissue neither in normoxic (tissue contains sufficient antioxidants) nor in ischemic hearts (no oxygen available). However, a significant quantity of free malondialdehyde was detected in the reperfusion phase during the first couple of minutes. Perfusion of the hearts with carvedilol markedly decreased the amount of free malondialdehyde in the perfusate of postischemic hearts (Table 3). 3.5 Release of cytoplasmic enzymes The release of CK, LDH and GOT were determined in normoxic hearts, postischemic hearts and postischemic hearts in the presence of 1 μM carvedilol (Table 3). The releases of these enzymes were very low in normoxic perfusion, but ischemia–reperfusion caused a significant release of CK, LDH and GOT into the perfusate (Table 3). When the hearts were perfused with carvedilol a significantly reduced release of CK, LDH and GOT was seen in the perfusate of postischemic rat hearts (Table 3). 3.6 Direct inhibition of nuclear PARP In our heart perfusion system under in situ conditions carvedilol significantly decreased the self ADP-ribosylation of PARP (Fig. 1), that could be either a direct or an indirect effect. It is possible that carvedilol may directly inhibit the PARP. The effect of carvedilol on the self ADP-ribosylation of PARP was determined on isolated enzyme, and the result is shown in Table 4. The effect of carvedilol on lipid peroxidation and intracellular enzyme release during ischemia and reperfusion cycle in the Langendorff perfused rat heart system Lipid peroxidation was estimated by the MDA production measured in the effluent during the first 5 min by HPLC system. Membrane integrity was followed by the determination of intracellular enzyme release into the perfusate after 15 min reperfusion. The details of experimental protocols are in Section 2. Values are shown as mean±S.E.M. for five heart preparations. ↵a Values are different from respective normoxic values and ischemia–reperfusion+carvedilol values at significance P<0.001. ↵b Values are different from the respective ischemia–reperfusion+carvedilol values at significance P<0.01. 3.7 Effect of PMS and carvedilol on RBC membrane and RBC suspension viscosity During the incubation period the RBC suspension was stable as the similar K+ concentration and viscosity of untreated samples at 0 and 120 min indicated. Carvedilol itself had no significant effect on the K+ efflux and viscosity value. Incubation of the RBC suspension at a hematocrit of 20% with PMS significantly increased K+ concentration in the supernatant. Carvedilol in a 1 and 10 μM concentration dose dependently protected the effect of PMS as the decreased efflux of K+ indicated. The viscosity of the 60% hematocrit RBC suspension was considerably increased by the effect of PMS, which was partially protected by different concentrations of carvedilol (Table 5). Effect of carvedilol on the K+ concentration of the supernatant and the viscosity of 60% HTC RBC suspension The viscosity of RBC suspensions were measured on a capillary viscosimeter (Hevimet 40, Hungary, the data are given at a 90 l/s shear rate) as detailed in Section 2. Values are shown as mean±S.E.M. for 10 blood samples. ↵a Values are different from the respective control values at the significance P<0.01. ↵b Values are different from the respective PMS-treated values at the significance P<0.05. 4 Discussion Oxygen free radicals and their metabolites play an important role in ischemia–reperfusion injury [7]. Additionally, this oxidative attack damages RBCs, resulting in important functional alterations in both membrane and cytoplasmic structures [20]. It is important to understand how ROS affect cellular metabolism and signaling through mono- and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation reactions [8,9,13]. In a Langendorff heart perfusion model, ischemia–reperfusion-induced ROS and peroxynitrite formation was determined by the oxidation of the nonfluorescent DHR to fluorescent rhodamine123. Ischemia–reperfusion increased the formation of these ROS (Table 1). The permanently high level of predominantly mitochondrially formed ROS can also affect other cell structures (like the nucleus and the ER), and can cause damage to DNA in several forms including single-strand DNA breaks. In our previous work we found a significant increase in the amount of single-strand DNA breaks as a consequence of increased ROS level and a parallel activation of the nuclear PARP [38]. Although there are data about the physiological function of PARP, it became evident that ROS and ischemia–reperfusion-induced cell damage can be diminished by inhibition of PARP [14,39] or the disruption of PARP gene [4,11]. The dramatic protection of cells from oxidative damage was shown in cultured cells, perfused organs and on living animals making clear that inhibition, or the complete abolishment of PARP-catalyzed reaction remarkably increases the survival of oxidatively damaged cells [14,40]. Activation of PARP plays a critical role in neurotoxicity, myocardial infarction, cytokine and oxidant damage to pancreatic islet cells and hepatocytes, and peroxynitrite toxicity to pulmonary epithelium, macrophages and smooth muscle cells [9,14–16,41]. The activation of the nuclear PARP (Fig. 1) can affect the whole cellular metabolism by decreasing the intracellular NAD+ pool (Table 2). The ischemia–reperfusion-induced decrease in the NAD+ pool (Table 2) is probably mainly the consequence of the activation of PARP, because the other NAD+ catabolizing enzymes (such as the NAD+-glycohydrolase) are not activated under the conditions of ischemia–reperfusion [42]. The lack of activation of the nuclear PARP in rat heart subjected to ischemia–reperfusion in the presence of carvedilol is probably the consequence of the decrease in the steady-state concentration of ROS (hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite) (Table 1) and presumably the decreased amount of single-strand DNA breaks. The decreased ROS level and low activity of PARP in the presence of carvedilol (1 μM) can also explain the reduced amount of damage to cardiomyocytes (Table 3) and the better recovery of the postischemic heart [8]. Under our experimental conditions ischemia–reperfusion induced a large increase in malondialdehyde production in perfused hearts which was diminished considerably by carvedilol treatment (Table 3) that protected intracellular lipids from peroxidation. Parallel with lipid peroxidation ischemia–reperfusion increased the release of cytoplasmic enzymes in perfused hearts (Table 3) which was also markedly decreased by carvedilol treatment, showing that carvedilol through its antioxidant effect protected membrane integrity of cardiomyocytes from ischemia–reperfusion-induced damage [43,44]. The in vitro kinetic study on isolated PARP showed that carvedilol inhibits the PARP-catalyzed reaction. Besides the well-known antioxidant effect of carvedilol, the direct interaction with PARP can explain the observed decrease in ADP-ribosylation and partial protection against ischemia-reoxygenation-induced cardiac injury. There are data in the literature about the beneficial effect of carvedilol on hemorheological parameters [45]. Oxygen free radicals and their derivates are known to damage RBCs. This causes functional alteration and changes in the microrheological properties of RBCs (i.e. increased rigidity). These changes in deformability are related to membrane protein alterations [46], like spectrin-hemoglobin cross linking. Protein cross-linking in RBC membranes caused by oxygen free radicals has also been reported [20] and increased lipid peroxidation is the other possible mechanism [47]. These unfavorable changes in hemorheological parameters (increased rigidity, aggregation, and blood viscosity) can cause alterations in the microcirculation and may play a role in the no-reflow phenomenon after reperfusion. In our in vitro RBC-rheological model the RBC suspension viscosity was determined only by the changes of deformability, since hematocrit level is standard, no plasma and therefore no aggregation is present [48]. Carvedilol itself had no effect on the K+ efflux and RBC deformability, as RBCs were collected from healthy volunteers, and no membrane damage was detected during the 120-min incubation period. Oxidative damage generated by incubation with 1 mM PMS causes RBC membrane damage as the significant increase of K+ concentration of the supernatant indicated. This membrane damage and structural alterations of RBCs caused a significant rise in the rigidity which considerably increases the RBC suspension viscosity. Both effects can be partially protected by different concentrations of carvedilol. Besides the known effects of carvedilol [49], this new data suggests carvedilol’s PARP inhibitory and positive rheological effects, and can give a further explanation to its advantageous role in clinical practice. All this data requires further in vitro and in vivo examinations. Acknowledgements We wish to thank Bertalan Horvath and Laszlo Giran for their excellent technical help. This work was supported by grants from the Hungarian Science Foundation OTKA T020622, T26624, T025432, T034320 and from the Hungarian Ministry of Health and Welfare ETT 382/96, 06030/96, T35/2000 and from the Hungarian Ministry of Education FKFP 1393/1997.

Do you remember the first time you heard about parametric modeling? It was more than likely that you heard about PTC’s Pro/ENGINEER at the same time. On October 28, 2010, PTC, the company that first innovated parametric and direct modeling, launched another breakthrough: Creo, a new family of design software. Over 10,000 people from around the world heard about Creo that day. PTC showed how this new technology could solve problems that have long plagued companies using CAD software. Specifically, difficulties with usability, interoperability, technology lock-in, and assembly management. By removing these frustrations, Creo unlocks potential within any organization by unleashing creativity, facilitating teamwork, increasing efficiency, and ultimately bringing more value. This site is devoted to helping you further discover Creo. It’s all here: Product-related information, discussions about today’s industry pains, opinions from press and industry influencers, and interviews with the people behind-the-scenes. You’ll find daily updates, too. So come back regularly or, better yet, subscribe to this site. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave us a comment, and let’s start the discussion—tell us what you think and help us as we redefine the mechanical CAD market. 61 Comments This configuration manager seams to be the first real step into obtaining the software that Iron Man used to create the iron man exoskeleton. Thanks for you comment Bart. Creo’s AnyBOM Assembly allows a top-down visual system navigation approach to select product options and configurations – we’ll all be building our next exoskeleton with it. haha nice one Bart. I love this program. If all high schools around the country created an engineering elective course, and taught high-school age students how to use this software, imagine the effect it would have on our future engineering society. I learned how to use this entire software as a sophomore in my high school’s engineering course, and found it awe-inspiring from the very start. This program allows imagination to come to an element of reality, and THAT is stimulating for young minds at a level in which I cannot describe HI! Nice to see this breakthrough!! you show what i think “3D for Everyone” Question. What about us with the need of cad and plm “BOM” (vpdm) in other documentation system. exp. SAP or Smarteam? Hi Joachim, thanks for our note. With Creo’s AnyRole Apps, there’s the right tool, for the right job, at the right time. Combine that with AnyMode Modeling, and users can move across the modes of 2D, 3D direct, and 3D parametric – and you the idea of involving everyone in product development. With sharing BOM and CAD data to other systems, that’s possible, however, I’m convinced many users of that data will find Creo a much easier approach to use. where is the like button? An exciting moment for us all PTC lovers! Love it! 20 years in the making, finally its time for change. Well done Geoff and the rest of the team at PTC Thanks for your positive comments Joe – and as you point out, it’s a team effort – and everyone at PTC’s excited about Creo! Pretty bold statements, I’ve been around CAD systems since the early 80’s. Pro/e was truly breakthrough when it came out. I hope this will live up to the hype and not be just marketing strategy. Hi Bob – thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. My background’s very similar to yours, I remember the days of using 2D CAD on a mainframe! Pro/ENGINEER was introduced about the time I graduated as a mechanical engineer, and I remember the excitement when I first saw it. It’s the same excitement now, over 20 years later, every time I see Creo! Well done PTC team. Nice presentation, eerily similar to an Apple Keynote. In that vein, will CREO run natively on Macs? Hi Robert- thanks for your comments, for me it’s been the best launch event I’ve ever attended at PTC. I wanted to just re-post the answer Mike Campbell at PTC already posted regading Macs: “Platform support details are still being refined, but Mac OS support is being considered.” I admit that it was well done, but still a far cry from an Apple keynote. In an Apple keynote, the CEO uses the software ;-). Now THAT would have driven the message home on how easy it is to use. Thomas – that’s a great challenge! BTW, I’m a mechanical engineer and not afraid to get my hands dirty, so I’ll look for an opportunity to give you all a Creo demo at a similar future event. Stay tuned! Of course, Brian Shepherd, Mike Campbell, and Rob Gremley are ME’s too, so I’ll probably have to wrestle the keyboard away from them if I want to drive. Excellent, Jim! And then you top it all off with “wait, there is one more thing”, and pull out an 11″ MacBook Air, open the lid, and run Creo on it! Natively, of course. 3DModelSpace.com is glad to see the launch of Creo!!! Nice, looks like PTC is finally understanding why SolidWorks is so popular Hi Nicholas, thanks for commenting. We’re excited about Creo, and its breakthrough technologies like AnyRole Apps and AnyMode Modeling. It means more people in product design will be able to use the right tool, at the right time, and chose the best design mode for them, be it: 2D, 3D direct, or 3D parametrics. Well Done! The Creo vision with the marriage of Parametric and Direct modeling along with Role Based Apps and an Assembly configuration tool should spark a change in the 3D CAD market not seen since 1987. Remember, to always listen to your customers and ensure the quality of new software version releases of Creo are agressively tested prior to any release. Thanks, for an other breakthrough in 3D CAD market. Hi I’m new to Pro-E & Creo. I have always used AutoCAD for 3D (it’s very laborious) and I think it’s time to step up to producing real 3D in the way I have seen others create 3D models using Pro-E etc. Is there a demo I could download to try? I have an AMD 1.8 ghz dual core laptop. Would this specification be OK? Looking forward to trying Creo Sinclair Hi Sinclair,. I’d recommend you reach out to your local PTC contact to arrange an initial discussion, you can find you nearest PTC or PTC partner contact by visiting: Thanks for your positive comments. Fancy website; excellent hype about the product; it’s just a shame that there is no option (nor a link, a web page, web site, or other connections) to buy it … Hi Robert: Creo is shipping next summer and in the mean time, you can view our currently available suite of CAD products (Creo Elements) here: What does it mean open? open source code? Are you thinking on linux ? I will definite like to run it at ubuntu! Please clarify to me thanks From me and my customers… Creo Nice work PTC Hi Leif – thanks for your comment and also your Creo song, I haven’t been able to stop humming it! – why not send us a video of your and your customers singing it – and don’t forget your harmonica solo! Oh Great Product by PTC I like this.I thing this is very usfull for industry and it will be completed all requiremnet of designers. Thanks and update related by CREo plz send me. Thanks for your support. If you want to receive an update everytime we add new content to creo.ptc.com, you can subscribe to receive updates, here’s the link: Excellent work PTC! A modern and refreshing approach—finally a vision that speaks to the power of creativity. Hi, Could any one let me know the difference b/n cero & pro e? Significance of the cero? Hi Meraj,. I have used Pro/E to design product for six years.I’m looking forward to creo software release. Thank you for PTC Creo Teams. When I heard the name was introduced in Wildfire. I am happy to hear the Wildfire. Now the new name Creo. I am so happy to hear again. I am expecting PTC Creo will going to changes the Mechanical World in 3D CAD/CAM/CAE Industry. Once Thank you for PTC Creo Team. I don’t understand where all this excitement comes from. Basically PTC has renamed their Wildfire 5 in Creo. Since there was no real innovation coming from PTC’s side since Wildfire 1, I would be very surprised if the Creo release in summer 2011 would bring anything really new. Hi Henric, Creo is PTC’s new product family of design software that is expected to be available in the summer of 2011 – we showed some early product demonstrations at the event on October 28th. There’s lots of excitement because Creo will be a scalable suite of right-sized, interoperable, integrated design applications (apps for short) that spans the entire spectrum of product development, not just the 3D CAD experts most vendors are targetting . By addressing the big unsolved problems in design software, Creo enables companies to unlock potential within their organizations by unleashing creativity, facilitating teamwork, increasing efficiency and ultimately realizing value. We have also renamed our existing Pro/ENGINEER®, CoCreate® and ProductView® products at this time under the Creo Elements sub-brand in order to unite the exciting future vision of CAD and the elements from which it was derived under one product family. How will some of the add on packages be handled within this marketing stratergy? . We use ISDX, Mechanica and Advanced Rendering. These were purchased some years ago and maintained under our support package with latest releases. We would not wish to have to purchase these again due to some form of re-bundling? Geoff, does Creo support any touch enabled gestures? Is there work being done by PTC on touch enablement? If yes, please ask your representative to contact me. Hai Creo… Its so pleasure to hear that the entire CAD industry has been getting in to a new era in mechanical design. And I am waiting for the Mid 0f 2011 to experience the new Creo and its products…… Awaiting to experience tthe new Creo………. If handling data of foreign systems works fine, The Creo suite will be a very big advantage for companies that have to work much with foreign data. The experience of importing data from other systems is that we are confronted very much with ‘gaps’ that are difficult to close. Having a result that is feature based, will be probably something that nobody can make reality. Another part of the Creo suite, the ‘Creo elements View’ is based on ‘Productview’ which is in my opinion not a success with respect to User interface, compact data format and graphics performance which is not so good as Pro/E itself. I do not understand why PTC does not launch a ‘Pro/ENGINEER viewer’ that could be very useful to find ‘lost references’ in an older version of a part that is in resolve mode. And last but probably not least, what about ‘Pro/ENGINEER only’ users ? I hope they will not be negatively affected by the fact that the ‘Creo suite’ will contain for example aspects of CoCreate, making the suite more complex instead of easier to use. I do not believe in a scenario where a new user starts with Creo Direct because it is easier to use, and later switches over to Creo/Pro because it is more powerful. What current Pro/ENGINEER users needs is not again another module as Creo/Direct but simply an easier to use Creo/Pro. I am convinced that it is possible realize this, by more taking into account the thousands of enhancement requests that has been posted by the thousands of PTC customers. Hi Marc, thanks for your comments. With Creo, the breakthrough technology of AnyRole Apps delivers the right tool, for the right person at the right time, so in your example, if the user needs the full power of 3D parametric modeling, there will be an app for that. We’re planning to offer apps for direct modeling, parametric modeling, conceptual engineering, visualization, 3D technical illustration, 2D design, simulation, and much more. I will believe in Creo being a “breakthrough” when I see it. It’s a long time between now and mid-summer 2011. Given the weak present UI on Wildfire which was claimed to be a “breathrough”, I’d have to see it before I believe it. The main competitor, Solidworks, has a pretty darn good UI and Creo will have to go some to beat that. Our firm uses both ProE and SW, depending on client preference. Anyone here needing to learn SW did so without the need for formal training. That never happens with ProE. I am hoping that Creo ends up with a UI intuitive enough that an individual can become competent (even in the advanced capabilities) without the need for a formal training. That will be the litmus test for ease-of-use. Hi Mitch, thanks for your comments – we are convinced that the Creo AnyRole App approach introduces to breakthroughs regarding usability; 1. AnyRole Apps will have a common user interface. Even though each app will serve its own particular role, you won’t have to relearn each app. For example, once you know how to rotate a model in one app, you know how to rotate the model in all the design apps. 2..AnyRole Apps will have a common data model. With a common data model, you can move, share, and work with your product data from any application. That eliminates the source of many interoperability problems and maintains design intent, no matter who’s been working on the model. In the coming days we’ll publish product videos on this site – so that you can explore some of the approaches we believe will significantly improve usability. In order for Creo to be accepted by small machining job shops it’s going to need lots of CAM packages that run inside of it like SolidWorks has… Delcam For SolidWorks, Mastercam For SolidWorks, CAMWorks, HSMWorks, my favorite SolidCAM, and many, many more. What is the PTC plan to attract independent CAM developers to port their CAM applications to Creo? Jon Banquer San Diego, CA Hi John, thanks for your comment. PTC is actively looking for partners to help extend the Creo suite of apps, and at our event on October 28th, we highlighted three partner applications integrated with Creo. PTC has a Partner Advantage program which has close to 350 companies worldwide that include software application vendors, hardware providers, and so on. There are many in the manufacturing space including NC solution providers like Austin NC, VK Engineering, etc. Companies such as Delcam, CNC (Mastercam), and EdgeCAM are built on GRANITE, our interoperability Kernel. We are very open to considering additional CAM partners joining our program and integrating their solutions with Creo. First I don’t see nothing really revolutionary here, like introduction of parametric modeling 30 year ago as you comparing. As far as design improvements are made, I see that you are targeting younger generation and more easy-to-learn users. That’s all cool, but not more than that. Only one thing worries me, why did you kill such a strong brand like Pro/E and created Creo!?! This is such a big mistake that you’ll end in history of marketing as perfect example how to cannibalize itself. Pred Design Development Manager IEM I am not a PTC employee but I will tell you this. If your company does not evolve, it will wither and die. This is Business 101. I applaud PTC, which is unusual for me, for at least making an effort at reinventing itself. There is an important, business philosophy proven time and time again that says if you can foresee a way to canabiize your business, you’d better do it. If you don’t, somebody else will. As MCAD applications have matured, for most of us, any of the Tier1 tools will be “good enough” to do the job from a features and functions standpoint. Whether they admit it openly or not, I would bet there are product management people in PTC who realize this (i.e. those who do not under-estimate the competition). The next barrier where all the products are not yet “good enough” has to do with raw optimized design speed, efficiency and ease-of-use. You could pick a lot worse in terms of areas for improvement, particularly in PTC’s case, than the stated direction for Creo. PTC, A big push forward. This is a giant leap in the way CAD (should we call this CAD now or should we call it Product Realization) world is and setting the direction for the next decade. Would love to see the interoperability features and interfacing techniques with other complementing apps. Way to go and Good luck!!! Vishy Fantastik,creo makes very simple with direct modelling. Where is the revolution? If someone revolutionizes the market, then it shows something new to the market. In the movie, I see the revolution for ProE users and not for the market. Check out, what Siemens has done in 2008 with synchronous technology. This was revolution.Creo is just a copy of that. At least it looks like. Copy/paste features and steering wheel for moving faces looks almost exactly the same as Siemens Solid Edge in 2008. Drafting shows mirror on section. Why is this so revolutionary?. Showing direct modeling and claiming, that no one has it. Siemens NX has it since version 1 (2002). Where is the revolution? Hi Danilo, thanks for your comments. Before I get into the technology breakthroughs, I want to highlight one important part of our Creo vision – that isn’t typical across our industry. We are developing a suite of apps that address a broad set of roles and needs across a company when it comes to interacting with the design model – it’s an exciting vision and strategy. Take a company with 5,000 people, there may be 100 or so product designers, who are normally 3D CAD experts, but hundreds of other people could and should be involved in product development, if only they had the right apps for their needs. Take my favourite example of a marketer. They want to included rendered images into a new product brochure – today that marketer may well be asking an engineer to generate those images, simply because today’s 3D CAD tool is difficult for a marketer to use for this particular need. I think there are many examples like that across a company. I don’t think anyone else in our industry is taking this approach, many continue to add more features and capabilities to their product, assuming that users will be 3D CAD experts. With Creo, we introduce four breakthrough technologies, including AnyRole Apps, AnyMode Modeling, AnyData Adoption, and AnyBOM Assembly. Sure some vendors have added some capabilities, but not all four technologies. I would also describe many as ‘clunky’ – for example, often a user can’t transparently roundtrip a model between the parametric and direct modes, with the potential danger that there are two models of the same design. For more information about the breakthrough technologies, including demonstrations, visit: Thanks again for your comments. Hi Geoff, First I have to thank you for your really quick response. And for your (more) detail explanation of new stuff in Creo. I have watched some movies for all the technologies, that you have pointed out: AnyRole Apps, AnyMode Modeling, AnyData Adoption, and AnyBOM Assembly. I remember ProEi2 and ProE2001. I worked with those two versions of ProE. And what I only heard about Wildfire and what I have seen now in Creo, this is really big step forward for ProE users. Again, I could spent some time talking about who did what and when and revolutions, etc. But I will not do that, because such debate doesn’t contribute to anything. Anyway, since I am an engineer more then a marketer, I have some questions about Creo Direct modeling. In a movie (See AnyMode Modeling In Action: “Art to Part” Seamlessly ), I’ve seen a modification of one part. First, it is shown in an assembly environment. But, when you go and modify this part, you are opening it separatly. Why is that? Is it not possible to go directly from the assembly into this part and work with direct modeling? And I was really excited with the handling of the pattern. But again, one question came to my mind. You are doing this change on a model, that actually has some history. So, does this kind of handling the patterns works also on step or iges files? I hope, that I am not bothering you to much with my (maybe silly) questions. Regards. Hi Danilo, thanks for your comments and questions. With the product demonstrations you describe, we’ve often recorded them to highligh a technology, removing as much visual complexity as possible, to make the point as clear as possible – indeed with today’s Creo Elements/Direct we can already drive major changes across multiple parts in the context of the assembly. With Creo Elements/Direct it’s also possible to create a ‘feature’ by selecting the geometry from imported STEP or IGES files, and then use those as basis of a pattern. I hope this answers your questions. Best Regards, Geoff Will Creo be available on Linux some time soon? Im stuck using a very old PROE Wildfire 3, because its the only good CAD supporting Linux at the moment :( How much is the new Creo Elements/Direct PE different from WF 3? Think of all the schools, they wouldn’t have to buy Windows licenses, just run their Creo on Ubuntus – you would be making the world a safer place :) Hi Allan, thanks for your questions. The R&D team tells me “No plans for Linux right now, but we remain open to the idea”. With the direct modeling approach in Creo Elements/Direct Personal Edition, I know many users of parametric approaches first need to get familiar with the paradigm – many users with knowledge of parameters, constraints, history trees, etc will find the direct modeling paradigm different. I’d recommend you download the Personal Edition and try some of the tutorials – you’ll quickly get the hang of this modeling approach. Best Regards, Geoff I would love for Creo to come back to Linux. I would install any version that PTC supports. With the state that Linux is in today, it is a fabulous operating system. Much more stable than some of the others. There are alot of us out here using Linux now, and many of the users would be smart to switch. Think of it this way – PTC would have 100% of the Linux CAD market if it was available. Nothing else comes close. With AutoCad releasing for MAC soon, who knows where the market is going. Thanks for this article. I have book marked this website because I really hope you post more articles soon, I will definataly share this. 2 Trackbacks […] 28th. Creo announced. It was one of PTC’s largest events in history, with thousands taking part both physically and […] […] 28th. Creo announced. It was one of PTC’s largest events in history, with thousands participating both physically and […]

Jumat, 08 Januari 2010 The Case for an Energy Tax Posted on Monday, December 14, 2009, 12:00AM I do a fair amount of public radio. It's usually a staid, polite conversation among the guests, even when there are sharp disagreements.But a few weeks ago, I nearly leaped across the table and went after one of my fellow guests. Fortunately I resisted the urge (barely) and the segment ended without a brawl. (The brawl would have been awkward since there are no commercial breaks, and it's not obvious what the host would have done.)Why did I contemplate this escalation? The program host was discussing the cap and trade legislation currently being considered by Congress, and my fellow panelist asserted emphatically that Congress should not do anything that would raise the cost of carbon emissions because "it would be bad for the economy."Those are not normally considered to be fighting words. The statement was relatively banal and, without much scrutiny, could easily pass as common sense. What made me so angry? The guest's opinion -- the notion that anything with short-term adverse economic effects must be bad public policy -- is the epitome of everything wrong with our current political discourse. It suggests that Congress should avoid doing anything with short-term costs, even when the long-term benefits are potentially huge. That's dangerously wrong. To explain why, let me make some comparisons to other aspects of life:Medicine: "I'm not going to let my daughter have chemotherapy to treat her leukemia. That will make her feel nauseous, and she'll lose her hair."Education: "We're not going to save for college. Then we won't be able to go out to dinner as often."Business: "We can't build a new plant to expand production. That would lower our profits this quarter."Health: "I'm not going to exercise. It makes me tired and sweaty."Military: "I'm not going to storm that beach. People will shoot at me."The Current Financial Crisis: "Why should I borrow less? Then I won't be able to afford this big house."As in the rest of life, everything worth doing in public policy -- all of the investments that have enabled us to build a great nation and all of the things we must do in the future -- involves some sacrifice in the present. This is now the case with carbon emissions.All reasonable evidence suggests that climate change poses serious, long-term harm. Any solution must involve raising the cost of carbon emissions, either through a carbon tax, or through cap and trade legislation (which does the same thing in a more roundabout, less transparent way). The economics are quite simple: If you want to discourage some activity, make it more expensive. We know that people use less energy when prices go up. Did you see what happened when gas went to $4 a gallon last year?Enough Sloppy ThinkingIf you're not persuaded by the fusillade of evidence on climate change, a carbon tax is still a good idea because it's a "better" tax than the alternatives, which discourage productive activities like working, saving, or investing. Taxing carbon discourages traffic congestion, it ameliorates more traditional air pollution, and it helps to wean us from nasty foreign oil producers. Even the notion that a carbon tax would be bad for the economy in the short run is debatable. I have argued repeatedly (including as part of a Congressional campaign) that any tax on carbon-based fuels or CO2 emissions should be at least partially offset by cuts in the income tax or the payroll tax. Or we could simply use the carbon tax revenues to give a lump-sum rebate to all American households. In that case, households whose carbon emissions were lower than average would come out ahead; their rebate would be larger than what they would pay as the result of the new carbon tax. Households with a larger-than-average carbon footprint -- meaning that they are imposing disproportionate harm on the rest of us -- would end up worse off; their carbon tax bill would be larger than their rebate. This does not strike me as one of the great social injustices of the 21st century.The cuts in the income or payroll tax (or the rebate to households) would help to offset the economic impact of higher energy costs. And with advance notice, households and businesses could minimize the impact of a carbon tax by investing in conservation and non-carbon-based energy sources. That's the kind of tax avoidance we like.Given the current deep recession, we could even introduce the income or payroll tax cuts now and then phase in the carbon tax in a year or two, after the economy has recovered. We would get a stimulus in the present while guaranteeing higher government revenues in the future (to begin paying down our staggering national debt). The phase-in would also give firms and families time to prepare for the rising cost of non-renewable, carbon-based fuels.There is a lot to discuss about a more sensible energy policy beyond "it would be bad for the economy." As someone who has spent a lifetime in public policy, I have a lot of tolerance for disagreement. That's what informed, thoughtful people do, and we're better for it.But I have virtually no tolerance for what I would describe as sloppy thinking. Kamis, 07 Januari 2010 Smart Year-End Tax Moves This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit Time to Review Your Taxes — Before It's Too Late. "Too often, I can't do anything for people who come to me in February," says Douglas Stives, an accountant with Curchin Group in Red Bank, N.J. Here are areas especially relevant now. (For more details, go to.) First-Time Home-Buyer Tax Credit Congress has just extended and altered this benefit, making it more generous for many. The new rules took effect on Nov. 6. The provision is a true dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $8,000 for 10% of the cost of a home. The credit is also refundable, meaning that even if a buyer doesn't owe $8,000 of tax, she can claim the full benefit and receive a refund check. The new law has more generous phase-outs. The credit now begins to disappear for single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes of $125,000 and married couples with incomes of $225,000. It is available for purchases through July 1, 2010 if the buyer has a contract in place before May 1, 2010. Unlike the prior law, however, this credit is capped: those buying homes for more than $800,000 get no credit at all, as of Nov. 6. The new law also authorizes a similar $6,500 credit for buyers who already own a home. It too is a refundable credit for 10% of the purchase price of a house costing no more than $800,000.To qualify the buyer has to have owned and lived in the same home for five of the eight years preceding the new home purchase, and the new home must become the buyer's principal residence. There are interesting twists. Two or more unmarried people buying a house together may be able to allocate the credit as they wish, say to the lowest earner. Taxpayers who buy this year may also claim the credit on either a 2008 or 2009 return, and those who buy in 2010 can claim the credit either in 2009 or 2010. Some people claim the credit in one year rather than another to avoid phase-outs. Unemployment Benefits Alas, these are subject to income tax. But this year there is an exemption of $2,400 per individual. Still, many unemployed taxpayers receiving benefits may need to estimate and pay quarterly taxes or risk penalties when they can least afford them. IRS spokesman Eric Smith points out that all recipients can choose to have 10% of benefits withheld by the payer. "That should protect many," he says. American Opportunity Credit In the roster of fiendishly complex and highly limited education incentives, this one is more useful than most. It is a tax credit for as much as $2,500, generated by spending on tuition and other education expenses (books, possibly a computer) up to $4,000. Currently this credit is available for 2009 and 2010 to single taxpayers with less than $80,000 of modified adjusted gross income and married couples earning less than $160,000. Amounts paid in 2009 for the spring of 2010 are eligible for a 2009 credit. New Car Purchases Taxpayers who buy new car before Jan. 1, 2010, may deduct sales and excise taxes and other fees on as much as $49,500 of the purchase price. This provision has generous phase-outs: It disappears between $250,000 and $260,000 of modified adjust gross income for married couples and $125,000 and $135,000 for singles. Retirement Savings Have you just started a job? Remember that you can still put in an entire year's 401(k) contribution, which is $16,500 ($22,000 if you're over 50). "Some workers who begin a job in the last quarter arrange to have an entire paycheck or two go into the plan," says Melissa Labant, an attorney with the American Institute of CPAs. Charitable Gifts Unless Congress acts, this will also be the last year for taxpayers over 70 1/2 to make a charitable contribution directly from an IRA. This provision is useful: without it, the donation would have to be withdrawn from the IRA, claimed as income and then deducted as a donation. That, in turn, can trigger deduction limits or jack up Medicare premiums in the future. Investments Take losses! Even after the run-up following the lows of last March, many investors still have long-term capital losses on investments held longer than one year. Taxpayers may deduct up to $3,000 of these losses per year against ordinary income, with the excess carried forward for use in future years. The assets must be held in cash accounts, as opposed to IRAs and other tax-sheltered retirement plans. Capital losses also may be matched dollar-for-dollar against long-term capital gains—so if you have $20,000 of long-term losses on some investments and $15,000 of gains on others, after the $3,000 deduction, you'd only have a net loss of $2,000 to carry forward. What's more, if you are bullish on an investment with gains and you sell it to soak up losses, you may buy the winner back right away. The tax code's "wash sale" rules only apply to losers, which can't be purchased for 30 days either before or after a sale. Note: The IRS also prohibits selling a loser from a regular account and then repurchasing it within an IRA inside of 30 days. The current top capital-gains tax rate of 15% is the lowest in decades, and it is almost certain to rise at some point as the government scrambles to pay down the deficit. "If you have a buyer and a decent price, think about selling," suggests Mr. Stives of the Curchin Group. Medical Expenses This has long been one of the least useful deductions in the tax code, unless a taxpayer is seriously ill or in a nursing home, because the taxpayer must spend more than 7.5% of adjusted gross income to claim any deduction. But rising insurance costs and diminishing coverage plus this year's economic tumult may qualify more people for this deduction. In general, taxpayers may deduct all un-reimbursed medical expenses recognized by the IRS. This category includes after-tax dollars spent on insurance premiums, Medicare Part B and D premiums, and co-payments for drugs and treatments. It also extends to costs that insurance almost never covers—such as weight-loss plans (if prescribed for a medical condition), lead abatement, bandages, wigs after chemotherapy, acupuncture, and medical travel (19 cents per mile for the first six months of 2009, 27 cents for the rest of the year). But it typically does not cover expenses for over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin or antihistamines, which some Flexible Spending Plans reimburse. Selasa, 15 September 2009 The History of Income Tax was no federal income tax for nearly 100 years. Ah, the good ole days! fit = kb. 1 serangan tiba-tiba. 2 pas. -ks. 1 pantas, patut, layak. 2 sehat. 3 dapat, siap. 4 baik. -kk. to see f. memutuskan. -kkt. (fit atau fitted) 1 cocok dengan. 2 mencocokkan / menyusun kembali. 3 menjadikan. fitings kb., j. benda-benda, perabot. revolt = kb. pemberontakan. -kki. 1 memberontak (against terhadap). 2 berrevolusi. 3 bangkit (against menentang). -revolting ks. memuakkan, menjijikkan. inevitable = ks. tak dapat dielakkan/dihindarkan. -inevitably kk. yang tak terelakkan, pasti jadi. led = lead = kb. timah. l. pencil potlot. lead-colored ks. lebam(-hitam), kelam(-lebam). Inf.: lead-pipe cinch a) kepastian, hal yang sudah pasti. b) gampang mudah. enact = kkt. 1 membuat, menjadikan. to e. a law menjadikan undang-undang, mengundangkan. 2 memainkan, memerankan. to e. a role (in a play, film) memainkan peranan. If there was no income tax during this period, you are probably wondering how the government functioned. It did so by collecting use and sales taxes. Taxes were charged on liquor, tobacco and imports to mention just a few. Many people in our modern society would like to return to just such a system. liquor = kb. minuman keras. 2 cairan (of pickles). mention = kb. sebutan. honorable m. sebutan terhormat. -kkt. 1 menyebutkan. 2 mengatakan. not to m. belum lagi. Contrary to popular notions, the first income tax was not put into law in the early 1900’s. In fact, the first President to institute an income tax was Abraham Lincoln. In 1861, President Lincoln and Congress passed an income tax law to assist with funding the Civil War with the south. When the war came to an end, the tax was phased out. Imagine a tax being phased out now? That should bring a tear of laughter to your eye. contrary = kb. kebalikan. -ks. 1 suka membantah/berlawanan/menentang. 2 bertentangan. 3 berlawanan. notion = kb. 1 dugaan. 2 ide, gagasan. 3 pikiran. 4 pikiran, maksud. -nations j. barang kelontong. institute = kb. institut, lembaga. -kkt. mengadakan (law, investigation). a newly instituted post sebuah jabatan yang baru diadakan.. tear = kb. air mata. -kki. berlinang. tear-stained ks. dibasahi. The income tax as we know it was first instituted in 1913. Congress passed a law establishing a graduated tax rate of one to seven percent on all income taxes. I can say honestly and truthfully that I would kill to pay one percent in taxes these days. Heck, I am willing to take on the burden of paying seven percent! heck =kb. to give s.o. h. mengomeli seseorang. -kseru persetan, buset. burden = kb. 1 beban. 2 pokok. -kkt. menyusahkan. In establishing the income tax system, the Constitution was amended to add a 16th Amendment. This Amendment gave the federal government the right to collect taxes. The politicians primarily responsible for this were President Roosevelt and President Taft. I mention two Presidents because the bitter debate over the subject took some time to work out. bitter = ks. 1 pahit. 2 tidak enak. 3 sengit. 4 dingin. -bitters j. sesuatu yang memberikan rasa pada minuman keras, minuman pahit. -bitterly kk. 1 dengan sengit. 2 sekali. If you’re looking to blame a particular political party, Presidents Roosevelt and Taft were both Republicans. Of course, the Democrats haven’t exactly made much of an effort to repeal the tax, so both parties deserve a whack upside the head in my opinion. Nonetheless, this is how we came to be burdened by the income tax in the United States. blame = kb. kesalahan. -kkt. menyalahkan. -blamed ks. Inf.: jahanam, terkutuk. repeal = kb. pencabutan (of a law). -kkt. mencabut (a law). deserve = kkt. 1 berhak mendapat. 2 pantas, patut menerima.-deserved ks. well-d. honor penghargaan yang selayaknya (diperoleh).-deservedly kk. sdh sepatutnya.-deserving ks.1 yg pantas di tolong.2 yg berjasa. WHACK = kb. pukulan keras. Sl.: to have/ take a w. at mencoba. -kkt. memukul. -whacking Inf.: ks. amat besar. UPSIDE = kk. u. down terbalik. to turn a room u. down membolak-balik seluruh isi kamar. to turn a pillow u. down membalikkan bantal. Kamis, 10 September 2009 New Tax Breaks for Medical Expenses Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, January 25, 2006. rein = kb. tali kekang, kendali. -kkt. to r. in mengekang (a horse). soar = kki. 1 membumbung tinggi. 2 memuncak. 3 melonjak, membubung. -soaring kb. Av.: peluncuran. s. mountain gunung yang menjulang tinggi. s. prices harga-harga yang membubung tinggi.. favor = kb. 1 kemurahan/kebaikan hati. 2 hadiah, tanda-mata. 3 surat. 4 tolong. -kkt. 1 menyokong. 2 berlaku berhati-hati. 3 menyerupai. 4 memperlakukan lebih baik daripada yang lain-lain. 5 menyukai/lebih suka 6 berbaik/bermurah hati. -favored ks. kesayangan. slight = kb. 1 (neglect) pelalaian. 2 (snub) sikap yang meremehkan. -ks. 1 langsing, ramping, lampai (person). 2 sedikit. 3 enteng, kecil (wound). 4 tipis (of chances). -slighting ks. yang menghina (remarks). -slightingly kk. enteng/rendah. bare = ks. gundul. 2 kosong. 3 nyata, terang. 4 yang paling sederhana. 5 tak bersepatu. 6 telanjang. -kkt. 1 membuka. 2 memperlihatkan. bone = kb. 1 tulang. 2 duri, -kkt. menulangi (a fish, chiken). -kki. Sl.: mempelajari bone-dry ks. kering sekali. b. meal tepung tulang. In addition, Bush intends to propose changes to allow people to keep their insurance, without extra cost, if they change jobs or decide to start a business, building on a decade-old law that was designed to make health coverage more "portable." intend = kkt. 1 bermaksud untuk. 2 memaksudkan, memperuntukkan. -intended kb. bakal suami atau istri. ks. 1 bakal. 2 yang diharapkan.. tackle = kb. 1 katrol, takal. 2 alat. -kkt. 1 memegang, menangkap (s.o.). 2 mengerjakan, melakukan. 3 Sport : menggasak, mentackle. address = kb., 1 alamat. 2 amanat, pidato 3 berbicara, menegur. 4 memanggil, menyapa, menyebut.. aide = kb. ajudan, pembantu. austere = ks. keras, tegang, cermat. My favorite professor was an a. man Profesor kesayangan saya adalah seorang yang keras. Part of the initiative recycles proposals that the White House could not push through Congress, including tighter limits on medical malpractice lawsuits and changes that would allow small businesses to band together to buy insurance in ways that bypass state insurance rules. But the new components would propel the nation's health care system in a direction that many Republicans and business groups embrace: lightening the burden of insurance cost on employers to some degree, while creating financial incentives for individual patients to restrict how much care and medicine they use. tight = kb. tights j. celana (panjang) ketat. -ks. 1 sempit (of clothing, chair). 2 kikir. 3 mabuk. 4 sukar, sulit (of money). 5 ketat (of string, knot, shoe, dress). -kk. rapat. 2 kuat-kuat. propel = kkt. (propelled) 1 mendorong. to p. a raft down stream mendorong rakit ke hilir. 2 menggerakkan. to p. by steam menggerakkan dengan uap. embrace = kb. pelukan, rangkulan. -kkt. 1 memeluk (a child). 2 mencakup. -kki. berpelukan. Mother and daughter embraced Ibu dan anak berpelukan. burden = kb. 1 beban. 2 pokok. -kkt. menyusahkan. restrict = kkt. 1 membatasi. 2 melarang (s.o. from leaving). -restricted ks. 1 terbatas. r. material bahan yang terbatas. 2 terlarang (of an area). Even before most people on Capitol Hill learn of the proposals, several senior congressional aides and health policy experts predicted yesterday that Bush may have a difficult time winning support. They said that fiscal conservatives may balk at the expense, and that many Democrats will argue the changes are inadequate for poor people, who are most likely to be uninsured. White House officials would not confirm the decision to allow tax breaks on consumer health spending, and it remains unclear how large a deduction the president envisions. balk = kki. 1 menolak keras. He balked when he was asked to do that job Ia menolak keras ketika diminta mengerjakan pekerjaan itu. 2 mogok.The horse balked at crossing the stream Kuda itu mogok waktu menyebrangi sungai itu. argue = kkt. 1 memperdebatkan, menentang, membantah. 2 mendesak, menganjurkan (dengan kuat).3 membuktikan, memperlihatkan. --kki membantah. to a. against menentang, membantah. to a. for mengusulkan, mendesak. envision = kkt. memimpikan. to e. o's son a general memimpikan puteranya sebagai jenderal. In an interview yesterday, however, Allan B. Hubbard, director of the White House's National Economic Council, said the current system is flawed because it gives employers tax deductions for the health insurance they buy for workers, but no similar tax preferences for people who buy coverage because their company does not provide it. flaw = kb. 1 cacat, kerusakan (in garments, china, etc.) 2 kekurangan. coverage = kb. ulasan, cara pemberitaan, pencakupan. news c. ulasan pemberitaan/pers. insurence c. jumlah jaminan asuransi. "That's not fair. It's really almost backwards," Hubbard said. He said that inconsistency concerns Bush, adding: "Normally, when he's got concerns, he tries to find solutions." Hubbard said Americans are not as careful consumers of health care as they are in shopping for other services, because insurance masks from them much of the cost. He said the price and quality of health care would improve if consumers were given greater financial incentives and had to decide for themselves how much care they really need. backward = ks. 1 terbelakang. 2 miskin. -kk. 1 kebelakang. 2 terbalik. concern = kb. 1 perhatian, keprihatinan. 2 firma, perusahaan. 3 soal, urusan. -kkt. menyangkut, mengenai, penting bagi. -concerned ks. kuatir, gelisah, prihatin, risau. -concerning kd. mengenai. mask = kb. 1 topeng. death m. topeng mati/ mayat. 2 kedok. 3 Sport : masker, penutup atau pelindung muka. -kkt. menembunyikan, menutupi (o's feelings, o's intentions). -masked ks. bertopeng. m. ball pesta topeng, balmaski.. tie = kb. 1 dasi. 2 pertalian, tali. 3 RR.: balok landasan/rel, ganjal rel. 4 seri. -kkt. (tying) 1 mengikat (o's shoelaces). 2 mengikatkan (s.t. to or around s.t.). 3 bermain seri melawan. 4 menghubungkan, mempertalikan. 5 mengikat (an artery).. riple = kb. 1 riak. 2 reaksi, suara. -kki. berdesir.." PLEDGE = kb. janji, cagar, ikrar. -kkt. menjanjikan (a donation). 2 berjanji. halve = kkt. membagi dua. I'll h. this candy bar with you Saya akan membagi dua batang gula-gula ini dengan kau. SCHOLAR = kb. 1 sarjana. Greek s. sarjana bahasa Yunani. 2 pelajar. He's good s. Dia seorang pelajar yang baik. PARTICULAR = kb. particulars j. fakta-fakta, keterangan-keterangan. -ks. 1 teliti. 2 khusus. -particularly kk. terutama sekali, (ter)istimewa. An administration official, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss the budget in advance, said Bush is focused on both the deficit and medical costs. "He feels . . . there may need to be some additional investment to deal with the cost" of health care, the official said. "The overall gain, not only to the federal budget but the family budget, is worth that." WORTH = kb. harga. -ks. 1 bernilai, cukup baik, bermanfaat. 2 berharga. 3 seimbang. Allan Hubbard said Bush also thinks the government has not done enough to help people keep insurance when they change jobs. Under a law passed in 1996, an insurer may not penalize people who change jobs -- by charging them more because of preexisting medical problems -- as long as they began a new job within about two months. Hubbard said the protection should be extended to include people who take longer before they begin a new job or who go to work for themselves. Hubbard also said "it would not surprise me" if Bush proposes to expand health savings accounts, although Hubbard would not describe the changes the White House would like. Sumber: Rabu, 09 September 2009 Identity Theft, The IRS and You When you think of identity theft, what comes to mind? For most of us, it is a visual of some scumbag opening credit cards and buying flat screen televisions using our names. At the rate retailers are going out of business, this may not be a problem for long, but I digress. digress = kki. menyimpang, melantur. to d. from the subject menyimpang dari pokok pembicaraan. The new trend in identity theft is not to run up debt. Instead, thieves are selling stolen identities to illegal immigrants or individuals who really would like to leave there old identity behind. In either case, these people assume your identity using addresses you are unfamiliar with. They don’t steal money or credit from you, but they are going to work sooner or later. When they do, they may not file taxes on their earnings. Now think this through. The IRS receives filings from employers telling it how much individuals made. If you report a figure on your tax return that is less than what the IRS receives from employers, red lights start flashing and auditors come sliding down the emergency audit pole like firemen. Okay, bad example. Regardless, the IRS is going to want to know why you are not declaring all your income and it is really going to want to know why you didn’t pay the full tax due on that income.. How Long Until I Receive My Tax Refund?. dread = kb. rasa takut, ketakutan. -kkt. takut (kepada). Before we get into your tax refund, it is vital that you understand something very important. A big tax refund is not really a good thing. Why? Well, it means you over paid your taxes throughout the year. This effectively acted as a free loan to the federal government. Instead of waiting a year to get your money, try cutting down your tax payments during the year to the point where you will pay in what you actually owe instead of a lot more. How Long? Okay, let’s get to the heart of the matter. How long does it take to get your tax refund? The answer is all in how you filed your tax return. We’ll start by assuming you filed on time and don’t have any penalties or what have you awaiting at the IRS. If you filed your tax return electronically, it usually takes two to four weeks to get your tax refund. An electronic filing is processed quickly. You can also speed up the process by forgoing a tax refund check and instead asking the IRS to simply wire the money into your bank account. Many people are nervous about the tax refund wiring option. Why? Well, do you really want the IRS to know about your bank account? At least, that is the thinking on the issue. The truth is, of course, the IRS already knows about your bank account. If it wants to find yours for some reason, it will just run your social security number through the banks to find the accounts. Giving the IRS the number to process a wire of your refund is not the equivalent of giving the IRS the keys to the castle. Okay, what if you mailed in your tax return? The majority of people still do it his way. Unfortunately, it slows down the refund process. The IRS has millions of paper returns coming in all at the same time. It has to organize them all and then scan everything into a computer. As you can imagine, that takes a while. Once everything is process, the agency will then cut your check. It can take anywhere from one to three months with the mid point being the most likely delivery date. No Refund Arrived What if you don’t get a refund? It usually doesn’t mean you are getting audited. The IRS treats the two subjects differently. It could mean you owed the IRS money in the past, and said amount has been deducted from your refund. If so, you’ll usually receive a letter telling you as much. If you don’t receive anything from the IRS, that means there is a big problem. It usually boils down to one of two things. First, the IRS may not have received your return and thus isn’t processing a refund. Second, you’ve moved and failed to notify the IRS. Tax letters are generally not forwarded by the post office. In either case, you need to contact the agency to find out what is going on. How long does it take to receive a tax refund? Anywhere between two weeks and three months unless there is a problem. Sumber: Selasa, 08 September 2009 How To Save On Taxes grumpy = galak miserable = ks. 1 tidak senang. 2 yang menyedihkan. 3 miskin, sengsara. -miserably kk. sangat buruk, tidak keruan. How To Save On figure out how to save on taxes next year. This admirable goal, much like a New Years Resolution, fades into antiquity after about a month. You should not let this happen! stick = kb. 1 (walking) tongkat. 2 batang. 3 potongan. 4 (golf, hockey) getokan. 5 Av.: kemudi. -kkt. (stuck) 1 menikam. 2 menusuk. 3 memasukkan. 4 melekatkan. 5 menempelkan. menyuntingkan. 7 menjulurkan. 8 Inf.: menipu. 9 memancangkan. 10 mencocokkan. pin = kb. 1 peniti. 2 lencana. -kkt. (pinned) 1 menyematkan (a dress). 2meletakkan, menggantungkan. 3 menjepit. heck = kb. to give s.o. h. mengomeli seseorang. -kseru persetan, buset. amuse = kkt. 1 membuat orang tertawa, menggelikan hati. 2 memikat, menawan, menarik perhatian. 3 geli. --amused ks. girang, terhibur, senang hati. --amusing ks. lucu. inevitable = ks. tak dapat dielakkan/dihindarkan. -inevitably kk. yang tak terelakkan, pasti jadi. twear = kkt. menjewer (an ear). admirable = ks. mengagumkan, terpuji, dpt dikagumi. fade = kkt. memudarkan. -kki. 1 meluntur, menjadi pudar. 2 menghilang. 3 layu. to f. away 1 menjadi kabur, berangsur hilang. 2 mati, wafat. 3 menghilang, berangsur pergi. -fading kb. 1 kehilangan warna. 2 TV, Tel.: kehilangan kekuatan suara atau gambar. There is no better time than now to proactively plan how to save on taxes for next year. Having just completed your taxes, you inherently know where you got hurt. Even if you do not, you inevitably felt like you paid more than your fair share. To avoid this, you need to do some tax planning. inherent = ks. yang melekat, yang menjadi sifatnya. his i. honesty kejujurannya yang menjadi sifatnya itu. -inherently kk. sudah menjadi sifat. He's inherently lazy Malas sudah menjadi sifatnya/pembawaannya.. groan = kb. rintihan, erangan, resah. -kki. 1 merintih, mengerang. 2 berkeluh keberatan. -groaning kb. suara mengerang/merintih, erang, rintihan. to figure how to save on taxes next year. pain = kb. perasaan sakit, kesakitan. -kkt. 1 menyakitkan. 2 menyedihkan (of news). Minggu, 06 September 2009 Withholding 1 Income Taxes Withheld on Wages The amount of income tax withheld for your wage bracket depends on your marital status and the number of allowances you claim. You file a withholding certificate, Form W-4, with your employer, indicating your status and allowances. Without a Form W-4, your employer must withhold taxes as if you are a single person with no exemptions. Back to top 2 Form W-2 By February 2, 2009 (January 31, 2009, is on a Saturday), your employer must give you duplicate copies of your 2008 Form W-2, which is a record of your pay and the withheld income and Social Security taxes. If you leave your job during the year, you may ask your employer for a Form W-2 by making a written request within 30 days of leaving the job. Back to top 3 Withholdings Should Cover Estimated Tax You may find that you are withholding too much tax or too little. You can adjust your withholding at any time by filing a W-4 with your employer. In fixing the rate of withholding on your wages, pay attention to the tests for determining whether sufficient income taxes have been withheld from your pay. A penalty will apply if your wage withholdings plus estimated tax payments (including prior year overpayments credited to current estimated tax) do not equal the lesser of 90% of your current tax liability or the required percentage of the prior year's tax. Taxes are withheld from payments made to you for services that you perform as an employee. By filing Form W-4, you claim allowances for yourself, your spouse, and dependents. The number of allowances claimed will either decrease or increase the amount of withholding. On Form W-4, you also may claim withholding allowances for itemized deductions and credits such as the child tax credit, child and dependent care credit, education tax credits, adoption credit, retirement savings credit, prior-year AMT credit, credit for the elderly and disabled, the foreign tax credit, credit for home mortgage interest, the general business credit, and earned income credit (if you have not filed for an advance payment of the credit on Form W-5). If you need to increase your withholding, such as to cover investment or self-employment income, you can choose not to claim all of the allowances allowed on Form W-4. You can also direct your employer on Form W-4 to withhold an additional flat amount from each paycheck. Back to top 4. Working couples filing jointly should figure withholding allowances on their combined wage income, deductions, adjustments, and credits, but can divide the total number of allowances between them in any way they wish. On separate returns, the allowances must be figured separately. If you work for two or more employers at the same time, you figure your withholding allowances based on the total income, and then split the allowances between the two jobs in any way you wish. Do not claim the same allowances with more than one employer at the same time. File a new Form W-4 each year for withholding allowances based on your anticipated deductions and credits. Furthermore, you may have to file a new form to increase your withholding if withholding allowances you had been claiming are no longer allowed. Back to top 5 Part-Year Employees May Avoid Overwithholding Starting a new job in the middle of a year presents a withholding problem. The amount of tax withheld from your paycheck is figured by taking your weekly pay and multiplying this by a 52-week pay period. To alleviate this problem, you may ask your employer to calculate withholdings on what is known as the "part year" method if your work days during the year are expected to be 245 or fewer. As an alternative, you may elect to claim extra exemptions on Form W-4, which has the same effect of reducing the amount withheld each week from your paycheck. Back to top 6 When to Change Withholdings Adjust withholding if there will be a significant change in the tax you owe for 2009. Credits such as the child tax credit, Hope scholarship credit, and lifetime learning credit may reduce your 2009 tax. By decreasing your withholding now, you can get the benefit of the lower taxes throughout the year. On the other hand, a withholding increase may be advisable if previously claimed deductions or credits will not be available to you, or if you expect an increase in nonwage income such as capital gains. Check the instructions to Forms W-4 and 1040-ES for 2009 to help you adjust your withholdings. Back to top Summary The amount of income tax withheld for your wage bracket depends on your marital status and the number of allowances you claim. You may increase or decrease withholdings on your wages by submitting a new Form W-4 to your employer. Withholdings may be reduced by claiming allowances based on tax deductions and credits. Make sure that tax withholdings meet or help you meet the estimated tax rules that require withholdings plus estimated tax payments to equal 90% of your current-year liability or the required percentage of the prior year's liability If you are a part-year employee, you may ask your employer to calculate withholdings on what is known as the "part year" method. States With No Income Tax If you are considering relocating to a new state, taxes should be something you consider. Specifically, there are a number of states with no income tax. States With No Income Tax As you well know, paying taxes is a grind. Paying federal taxes is the biggest burden, but state income tax can quickly add up as well. There are, however, some states with no income tax. Depending on your earnings, this can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars a year when tax time rolls around. There are seven glorious states with no income tax. In no particular order, they are: - Alaska - Florida - Nevada - South Dakota - Texas - Washington - Wyoming There are two other states that technically collect income tax, but do not for all practical purposes. They are Tennessee and New Hampshire. These two do not collect a tax on your earnings, but they do collect tax if you receive dividends. Under tax law, dividends are technically considered to be income, thus neither Tennessee nor New Hampshire are technically If you are considering moving to another state, taxes are something you should definitely take into consideration. While a factor, they should probably not be the overriding one in your decision. Taxing Rich Wouldn't Close the Gap, but Would Shrink It Thursday, September 3, 2009 He also continues to promise to limit tax increases to incomes above $250,000 a year for couples and $200,000 for individuals — "the rich." Talking about tax increases usually dissolves into shouting matches. The right says tax increases will choke off growth and massacre small business. The left says tax increases are vital to finance much-needed investments and that the rich can pay more thi with the $9 trillion tab. Shrinking the deficit will require slowing the growth of spending, particularly on health care. But neither politicians nor their constituents show any willingness to cut spending enough to avoid tax increases. So the issue is whose taxes, and the arithmetic suggests it won't only be those who make more than $250,000 a year. The best-off Americans do pay a big chunk of taxes. The Tax Policy Center estimates that the top-earning 1% of households will earn 16% of all the income this year and pay 23% of all federal taxes. But that doesn't mean the government couldn't raise more from thi, even if some stay-at-home spouses of well-off Americans might be less inclined to work and others maneuvered to shield income from the IRS. Congressional estimators — taking account of the propensity of people to dodge taxes when rates rise — say that for every percentage-point increase in the marginal tax rate levied on those with taxable incomes above $372,950, the government would raise $73.5 billion over 10 years. (Before the bailouts, that used to sound like a lot of money. It still is.) There is and will be a heated argument over how much the economy would suffer if those tax rates went up. But tax rates on those Americans were about three percentage points higher during the Clinton years. "The 1990s suggests we could raise more money from high-income people...and still have a strong economy," says Joel Slirod, a University of Michigan tax economist. But the first half of the 2000s suggested the economy also can grow when their taxes are cut. And the latest recession, unlike some others, didn't coincide with any change in tax rates. Which is another way of saying that tax rates matter — to taxpayers and to the government's revenue. But they are far from the only factor in the pace of economic growth. Write to David Wessel at [email protected]

January 1 - New Year's Day (as if you needed an excuse to party.) January 2 - Maui International Surf Championships begin. January 3 - Super Soakers appear on the market, 1991. January 4 - The blender is invented, 1910. January 5 - Tony Ferko sets a world record by juggling 7 ping pong balls with his mouth, 1987. January 6 - The dorm room refrigerator is invented, 1956. January 7 - The first ant farm is sold in America, 1958. January 8 - Elvis Presley's birthday. January 9 - Richard Nixon's birthday, 1913. January 10 - In 1984, Wendy's spokesperson Clara Peller first asks, "Where's the beef?" January 11 - Annual Snow Shovel Riding Contest, Ambridge, PA. January 12 - The first Super Bowl occurs, 1967. January 13 - Benedict Arnold's birthday, January 14 - The Simpsons premiers, 1990. January 15 - Chuck Berry's birthday, 1926. January 16 - National Nothing Day, a day where you can celebrate not having to celebrate anything. January 17 - The final episode of Bonanza airs, 1973. January 18 - The original Morris The Cat dies, 1975. January 19 - The front-hook bra is invented, 1951. January 20 - George Burns' birthday, 1896. January 21 - The microwave oven is invented, 1967. January 22 - The first nude beach opens in the U,S.,1952. January 23 - Tupperware is invented, 1942. January 24 - John Belushi's birthday, 1949. January 25 - Grand Rapids, MI becomes the first city to add fluoride to its water supply, 1945. January 26 - Eddie Van Halen's birthday, 1957. January 27 - Laverne and Shirley premiers, 1976. January 28 - We Are The World raises hundreds of millions of dollars for starving Africans, 1985. January 29 - Sweden becomes the first nation to curb the use of aerosol cans, 1978. January 30 - The first fist fight in the U.S. House of Representatives occurs, 1798. January 31 - The twist-off bottle top is invented, 1956. February 1 - Fred Flintstone's birthday, 2 million B.C. February 2 - Ground Hog Day. February 3 - Thomas Crapper invents the first flush toilet,1837. February 4 - Dan Quayle's birthday, 1947. February 5 - New York becomes the first city to adopt 3-color traffic lights, 1952, February 6 - Ronald Reagan's birthday, 1911. February 7 - National Hangover Awareness Day. February 8 - James Dean's birthday, 1931. February 9 - The G.I. Joe doll is introduced, 1964,( Ken doll was invented, 1974) " F- G.I.Joe " February 10 - The styrofoam cooler is invented, 1957. February 11 - The "La-Z-Boy" chair is invented, 1948. February 12 - Abraham Lincoln's birthday,1809. February 13 - VJ Martha Quinn of MTV appears on the TV show The Bradys as Bobby Brady's fiancee,1990. February 14 - Valentine's Day. (Go find someone to party with.) February 15 - Valentine's candy goes on sale. February 16 - Zsa Zsa Gabor's birthday (or National "Slap A Cop" day.) February 17 - Michael Jordan's birthday, 1963. February 18 - Vanna White's birthday,1957. February 19 - The very first prize is inserted into a Cracker Jack box, 1913. February 20 - Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day, when citizens are asked to go outside at noon local time and yell "Hoodie-Hoo" to chase winter away. February 21 - Alka Seltzer is introduced, 1931. February 22 - Julius Irving's birthday, 1950, February 23 - The Tootsie Roll is introduced,1896. February 24 - Wayne's World opens in American theatres,1992. February 25 - Milli Vanilli wins a Grammy for "Best New Artist." (Oops.)1990. February 26 - The first cartoon is shown in a movie theatre,1909. February 27 - Elizabeth Taylor's birthday,1932. February 28 - The last episode of M*A*S*H airs, with over 121 million viewers,1983. February 29 - Leap Day. March 1 - Roger Daltrey's birthday, 1944. March 2 - In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points in one basketball game. March 3 - Harvard freshman, Lothrop Withington, Jr,, becomes the country's first goldfish swallower, 1959. March 4 - Toothbrush bristles are changed from badger hair to nylon, 1938. March 5 - The first breeding of a Great Dane and a Dachshund is performed, creating a "Great Dachshund", 1972. March 6 - Ed McMahon's birthday, 1923.(I don't know how that is!) March 7 - The Fourth Of July, Warsaw, Poland.(I wonder what part of "Fourth Of July" they didn't understand?) March 8 - National Girl Scout Week begins. March 9 - The Department of Agriculture declares ketchup a vegetable, 1981. March 10 - The first confirmed octuplets are bornin Mexico, 1967. March 11 - Lawrence Welk's birthday, 1903. March 12 - The "Hell's Angels" are created, 1948, March 13 - U2's Adam Clayton's birthday, 1960. March 14 - The baseball cap is invented, 1860. March 15 - The first baseball cap is worn backwards, 1860. March 16 - Jerry Lewis' birthday, 1925. March 17 - St. Patrick's Day. March 18 - Leona Helmsley is sentenced to 4 years in prison for tax evasion, 1992. March 19 - Chewing gum is invented,1871. March 20 - The first official sighting of Elvis occurs, Butte, Montana, 1980. March 21 - The first day of spring. March 22 - New Kids On The Block and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles doll - sales exceed $1,8 billion, 1990.(Do you beleave that these caught on!) March 23 - The Dixie Cup is invented, 1912. March 24 - The first pine tree air freshener is introduced, 1971. March 25 - Elton John's birthday, 1947. March 26 - Martin Short's birthday, 1950. March 27 - Liz Taylor's wedding anniversary. March 28 - Liz Taylor's wedding anniversary. March 29 - Liz Taylor's wedding anniversary. March 30 - Eric Clapton's birthday, 1945, March 31 - An easy listening radio station in Annandale, VA, is blown up, 1978. April 1 - April Fool's Day. April 2 - Velcro is introduced, 1978. April 3 - Eddie Murphy's birthday, 1961. April 4 - Tater Day (a day that celebrates the potato), Benton, Kentucky. April 5 - The first issue of TV Guide goes on the market,1953. April 6 - Bob Marley's birthday, 1945. April 7 - The final episode of Star Trek airs, 1969, April 8 - Hank Aaron hits his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth's record, 1974. April 9 - Dennis Quaid's birthday, 1954. April 10 - World Crits Festival, St. Ceorge, South Carolina, 1992. April 11 - The Equal Opportunity Commission regulates that sexual harassment of women is illegal in the work place, 1980. April 12 - David Letterman's birthday, 1947. April 13 - World Cow Chip Throwing Championship, Beaver, Oklahoma. April 14 - Dungeons and Dragons is invented, 1974. April 15 - The bottle opener is invented, 1738. April 16 - The first test-tube baby is born, 1986. April 17 - The Ford Mustang makes its debut, 1964. April 18 - The first "Walk/Don't Walk" signs are installed in a city, 1955. April 19 - Reading Is Fun week begins. April 20 - National Lingerie week begins. April 21 - Iggy Pop's birthday, 1947. April 22 - Jack Nicholson's birthday, 1937. April 23 - Summer begins in Ireland. April 24 - Rattlesnake Derby (a snake racing contest), begins in Mangum, Oklahoma. April 25 - Elvis Presley hits number one with Heartbreak Hotel, 1956. April 26 - The largest bank robbery in the U.S.-$3.3 million-occurs in Tucson, Arizona, 1981. April 27 - Wide World Of Sports premiers on TV, 1961. April 28 - Jay Leno's birthday, 1950. April 29 - Michelle Pfeiffer's birthday, 1962. April 30 - National Honesty Day. May 1 - May Day. May 2 - Engelbert Humperdinck's birthday, 1936. May 3 - James Brown's birthday, 1934. May 4 - The final episode of Laverne and Shirley airs, 1983. May 5 - 1,904 pound "Big Boy," the world's largest pig, is born, 1939. May 6 - Babe Ruth hits his first major league home run,1915. May 7 - Hard Rock Cafe's World Cup of Windsurfing Championships, Maui. May 8 - Jim Morrison's birthday, 1943. May 9 - The FDA approves the first public sale of contraceptive pills, 1960. May 10 - U2's Bono's birthday (b.Paul Hewson), 1960. May 11 - The chair is invented, 2181 B.C. May 12 - George Carlin's birthday,1937. May 13 - The U.S. Postal Service introduces postcards,1873. May 14 - David Byrne's birthday,1952. May 15 - DuPont announces "Nylon Day" where nylons replace silk stockings, 1940. May 16 - Janet Jackson's birthday, 1966. May 17 - The rubberband is invented,1845. May 18 - National Visit Your Relatives Day. May 19 - The first department store opens,1848. May 20 - Cher's birthday,1946. May 21 - Mr. T's birthday, 1952. May 22 - The lucky rabbit's foot is first used, 600 B.C. May 23 - The first Cliff Notes appear in schools,1953. May 24 - Mary Had A Little Lamb is written,1830. May 25 - The movie Star Wars is released,1977. May 26 - John Wayne's birthday,1907. May 27 - The first black light is sold in a novelty shop, 1961. May 28 - The first Batman comic book is introduced, 1939. May 29 - The first people reach the top of Mt. Everest, the world's highest mountain, 1953. May 30 - The compact disc is introduced, 1981. May 31 - Clint Eastwood's birthday, 1930. June 1 - The first Superman comic book is published, 1938. June 2 - Jerry Mathers'(Beaver Cleaver) birthday, 1948. June 3 - The world's first tattoo is performed, 208 B.C. June 4 - The world record for Hackey-Sacking is set: 48,825 consecutive times, 1988. June 5 - The first drive-in theatre opens, 1933. June 6 - Dana Carvey's birthday,1955. June 7 - (the artist formaly known as) Prince's birthday,1958. June 8 - The first stolen car is reported,1896. June 9 - The NFL and the AFL merge,1966. June 10 - The first drive-thru restaurant opens in America, 1952. June 11 - The first teenager drives backward through a drive-thru restaurant, 1952. June 12 - Jim Nabors' birthday. June 13 - The Ford Foundation launches a study to raise the cultural level of TV shows, 1951. June 14 - Mr. Ed premiers, 1951. June 15 - Jim Belushi's birthday, 1954. June 16 - The first baseball game is played,1846. June 17 - The Broadway musical "Oh! Calcutta!" opens, using the naked human body for the first time as a stage costume, 1969. June 18 - Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space, 1983. June 19 - Batman Returns opens in U.S, theatres,1992. June 20 - Noxema is named, because it "knocks eczema" out, 1914. June 21 - CBS introduces the first long-playing record, 1948. June 22 - The day disco officially died, 1979. June 23 - The day disco should have died, 1974. June 24 - A new world record is set for spitting a watermelon seed 68 feet,9 1/8 inches, 1989. June 25 - The tennis shoe is invented,1947. June 26 - The first movie theatre in the U.S. opens, with 10 cent movies, 1896. June 27 - The first sighting of flying saucers is reported in the U.S., 1947. June 28 - The first dog show is held, Newcastle, England, 1859. June 29 - The first remote control is sold with a TV, 1964. June 30 - Mike Tyson's (#316394) birthday, 1966.(also my mom's) July 1 - Dan Aykroyd's birthday, 1952. July 2 - A new record is set for throwing a Frisbee 623.6 feet, 1988. July 3 - The last episode of Bewitched airs, 1972. July 4 - The Fourth Of July. July 5 - The bikini makes its debut at a fashion show in Paris, 1945. July 6 - Elvis Presley, 19, makes his first record, 1954. July 7 - Rodger Woodward, 7, falls out of a boat and becomes the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls, 1960. July 8 - Annual Chesapeake Turtle Derby (turtle races), Baltimore, Maryland,1992. July 9 - Tom Hanks' birthday, 1956. July 10 - Fred Gwynne's (Herman Munster) birthday, 1926. July 11 - Nolan Ryan is the first major league pitcher to strike out 4,000 batters, 1985. July 12 - For the first time, a woman is ordered to pay alimony to her husband, 1981. July 13 - Live Aid raises money for Africa's starving people, 1985. July 14 - Lightning strikes New York City power lines and leaves the city in the dark for 25 hours, 1977. July 15 - Law is passed requiring health warnings on cigarette packages, 1965. July 16 - The safety pin is invented,1849. July 17 - Soviet and American astronauts meet in space to shake hands, 1975. July 18 - A world record is set for catching a grape in your mouth: 319 ft,8in., 1980. July 19 - The first personal ad looking for a spouse is printed,1695. July 20 - Madonna poses nude in Playboy, (What else is new?) 1992. July 21 - Robin Williams' birthday, 1952.(also mine different year) July 22 - The first Sony Walkman goes on sale, 1979. July 23 - Mel Gibson decides to become an actor, 1960. July 24 - Instant coffee is invented, 1938. July 25 - The lowest temperature ever recorded is noted, -129 deg,in Antarctica, 1983. July 26 - The Hula Hoop becomes popular, 1958. July 27 - The 1ast episode of Taxi airs, 1983. July 28 - The Hustle hits #1 on disco charts, 1975. July 29 - Don Juan opens, with the most kisses (127) in a single movie, 1926. July 30 - The last reported sighting of Jimmy Hoffa is recorded, 1975. July 31 - America's last Playboy Club closes, in Lansing, Michigan, 1988. August 1 - The song Chopsticks is written, 1877. August 2 - The elevator is invented,1743. August 3 - Jay North's (Dennis The Menace) birthday, 1952. August 4 - Federal income tax is first collected, 1862. August 5 - American Bandstand premiers, 1957. August 6 - Santa Monica Skate Board Championships begin. August 7 - Borden is sued for a Cracker Jack box containing no prize, 1982. August 8 - The All-American Polka Festival occurs in Vernon, New Jersey, 1992. August 9 - The first Guinness Book of World Records is released, 1955. August 10 - Minimum wage jumps from 75 cents to a dollar an hour, 1955. August 11 - Hulk Hogan's birthday, 1953. August 12 - The first issue of Sports Illustrated is published,1954. August 13 - A world record is set for throwing a cow chip 266 feet,1981. August 14 - Magic Johnson's birthday, 1959. August 15 - Woodstock festival begins, 1969. August 16 - Madonna's birthday (Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone), 1959. August 17 - Woodstock festival ends, 1969. August 18 - People who passed out at Woodstock realize the festival ended yesterday, 1969. August 19 - Bill Clinton's birthday, 1946. August 20 - Robert Plant's birthday, 1948. August 21 - The first house made entirely of recycled products is finished, Richmond, Virginia, 1973. August 22 - Nolan Ryan is the first major league pitcher to strike out 5,000 batters, 1989. August 23 - Supermodel Paulina marries Ric Ocasek. (Go figure.) 1989. August 24 - Music videos are now on MTV, 1981. August 25 - Elvis Costello's birthday, 1954. August 26 - The first roller coaster is built in America, 1929. August 27 - The first American vomits after riding a roller coaster,1929. August 28 - Cher gets her third tattoo. (Location unknown.) 1990. August 29 - Michael Jackson's birthday, 1958. August 30 - The last episode of The Brady Bunch airs, 1974. August 31 - The Beatles make their last concert appearance, 1966. September 1 - National Chicken Month begins. September 2 - The bowling shirt is invented, 1921. September 3 - The first bowling league is formed in America, 1921. September 4 - Dick York's (the first Darrin Stevens) birthday, 1928. September 5 - Hijacking planes becomes illegal, 1961. September 6 - The last episode of The Alfred Hitchcock show airs, 1965. September 7 - The last episode of the Beverly Hillbillies airs, 1971. September 8 - The first Miss America Pageant takes place, 1921. September 9 - Elvis sings on The Ed Sullivan Show, but is only shown from the waist up, 1956. September 10 - The last episode of Mr. Ed airs, 1965. September 11 - Mork and Mindy premiers, 1978. September 12 - The last episode of Leave It To Beaver airs, 1963. September 13 - M*A*S*H premiers, 1972. September 14 - Pope John IV abolishes the 1500-year-old custom of the circular haircut for monks, 1972. September 15 - In 1968, Presidential candidate Richard Nixon goes on Laugh-In and says, "Sockit to me!" September 16 - The first baboon heart is transplanted into a human, 1984. September 17 - Gilligan's Island premiers, 1964. September 18 - Adam West's (television's Batman) birthday, 1928. September 19 - National Singles Week begins, September 20 - The Addams Family premiers, 1964. September 21 - Bill Murray's birthday, 1950. September 22 - The ice cream cone is invented, 1903. September 23 - Ray Charles' birthday, 1930. September 24 - A world record is set for the longest kiss:17 days, 10 1/2 hrs., 1984. September 25 - Heather Locklear's birthday, 1961. September 26 - The Brady Bunch premiers, 1969. September 27 - The answering machine is invented, 1950. September 28 - The Beverly Hillbillies premiers, 1962. September 29 - The Munsters premiers, 1964. September 30 - The Flintstones premiers, 1960. October 1 - NASA discloses that each astronaut's suit costs $3.4million. October 2 - The first cartoon strip appears in a newspaper, 1896. October 3 - A 327 gallon Pina Colada becomes the world's largest cocktail, 1988. October 4 - Leave It To Beaver premiers, 1957. October 5 - Ashley-Whippet Dog Frisbee Championships, Washington, D.C. October 6 - Reverend Jim Bakker is found guilty, 1989. October 7 - The first perfect World Series game is pitched by Don Larsen of the NY Yankees, 1956. October 8 - Chevy Chase's birthday,1948. October 9 - Clarence Birdseye, inventor of the frozen dinner, dies, 1956. October 10 - David Lee Roth's birthday,1955. October 11 - Saturday Night Live premiers, 1975. October 12 - Columbus Day. October 13 - Sammy Hagar's birthday, 1949. October 14 - Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier for the first time, 1947. October 15 - The first televised weather report airs, 1953. October 16 - The first correct televised weather report airs, 1953. October 17 - George Wendt's (Norm from Cheers) birthday, 1948. October 18 - The FDA declares marijuana to be as dangerous as alcohol, 1967. October 19 - End-Of-Hurricane-Season Celebration, Virgin Islands. October 20 - The world's largest popsicle is assembled: 5,7501bs., 1975. October 21 - The annual 48-hour Marx Brothers Film Festival, Tampa, FL. October 22 - The first used-car dealership opens, London,1897. October 23 - Johnny Carson's birthday, 1925. October 24 - Int'l Red Bean & Rice Festival, Jackson, Mississippi, 1992. October 25 - The Twilight Zone premiers, 1959. October 26 - Minimum wage is raised from 40 cents to 74 cents an hour, 1949. October 27 - Boxer shorts are introduced, 1901. October 28 - The first ticker tape parade is thrown; it honors The Statue of Liberty,1886. October 29 - The first American ballpoint pen goes on sale, NYC, 1945. October 30 - World's Ugliest Pick-Up Truck Parade occurs in Chadron, Nebraska, 1992. October 31 - Halloween. November 1 - The first issue of Playboy is published in Chicago by Hugh Hefner, 1953. November 2 - The first radio program airs, Pittsburgh,1920. November 3 - Roseanne Barr Arnold's birthday, 1952. November 4 - "Laika," becomes the first dog launched into space, 1957. November 5 - A world record is set for 106 hours of belly dancing, 1984. November 6 - Saxophone Day. November 7 - Sadie Hawkins Day. November 8 - The tube top is invented, 1975. November 9 - The Berlin Wall is opened, and hundreds of thousands of East Germans run into West Germany, 1989. November 10 - Sesame Street makes its TV debut, 1969. November 11 - Demi Moore's birthday, 1962. November 12 - The first known Happy Hour is held, Ireland,1745. November 13 - Press-on fingernails are introduced, 1952. November 14 - The juke box is invented, 1883. November 15 - The annual Three Stooges Festival, Harrisburg, PA. November 16 - The touch-tone phone is introduced, 1963. November 17 - Danny Devito's birthday, 1944. November 18 - Mickey Mouse's birthday, 1928. November 19 - The pop tart is invented, 1965. November 20 - Bo Derek's birthday, 1956. November 21 - Emilio Onra, the first human cannonball, is launched, 1871. November 22 - Rodney Dangerfield's birthday, 1921. November 23 - Vincent Paxton sets a new world record by playing his guitar for 300 continuous hours, 1986. November 24 - The "Who Shot J.R." episode of Dallas airs to an audience of 83 million, 1980. November 25 - Christina Applegate's (Kelly Bundy) birthday, 1972. November 26 - Tina Turner's birthday. November 27 - The first 3-D movie, Bwana Devil, premiers, 1952. It's Thanksgiving November 28 - Enrico Fermi, inventor of the atom bomb, dies, 1954. November 29 - The first Army-Navy football game is played,1890. November 30 - Dick Clark's birthday, 1929. December 1 - The Pope declares that Catholics are allowed to eat meat on Fridays, except during Lent, 1966. December 2 - Barney Clark receives the first artificial heart, 1982. December 3 - The world's largest bar opens,1829. December 4 - Deely Bobbers become one of the holiday's hottest selling items, 1982. December 5 - Blue jeans are invented, 1880. December 6 - In 1983, a world record is set for continuous whistling: 45 hours, 20 minutes. December 7 - The first instant replay airs during a TV sports event, 1963. December 8 - Kim Basinger's birthday, 1953. December 9 - A total lunar eclipse occurs, 1992. (Go moon somebody.) December 10 - The Mighty Mouse show premiers, 1955. December 11 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles becomes one of the top money-making movies of 1990. December 12 - Bob Barker's birthday, 1923. December 13 - The clip-on tie is invented, 1928. December 14 - The South Pole is discovered, 1911. December 15 - Christine Jorgenson becomes the first person in history to have a sex-change operation, 1952. December 16 - The first color TV program goes on the air,1953. December 17 - The Wright Brothers make their first flight,1903. December 18 - Steven Spielberg's birthday, 1947. December 19 - The "I've-fallen-and-I-can't-get-up" commercial first airs, 1985. December 20 - Louisiana Purchase Day, 1803. December 21 - Phil Donahue's birthday, 1935. December 22 - "Colo" becomes the first gorilla born in captivity, 1956. December 23 - Congress passes a tax simplification guide which is 1,379 pages in length, 1985. December 24 - Christmas Eve. December 25 - Christmas. December 26 - National "Return-All-Of-Your-Ugly-Christmas-Gifts" day. December 27 - The last pair of bell-bottoms is sold, Wichita, Kansas, 1981. December 28 - Snowboarding Championships, White Bluff Mountain, Colorado. December 29 - The bowling ball is invented, 1862. December 30 - The leisure suit officially goes out of style, 1976. December 31 - New Year's Eve. props to Log in or registerto write something here or to contact authors. Need help? [email protected]

President | Vice President | First Lady | Mrs. Cheney | News & Policies History & Tours | Kids | Your Government | Appointments | Jobs | Contact | Graphic version Email Updates | Español | Accessibility | Search | Privacy Policy | Help For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary October 23, 2002 Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 12:40 P.M. EDT MR. FLEISCHER: Good afternoon. The President began his day early this morning with a phone call to Turkish President Sezer. The Presidents discussed a range of issues pertaining to the United States-Turkey strategic partnership, which stretches from the Balkans to the Caucuses, and the Middle East to Afghanistan. They discussed cooperation on Iraq. They agreed on the need for Iraq to comply fully with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. And they discussed other issues of mutual concern, including Cyprus, support for Turkey's progress toward EU ascension, and Turkey's strong record on economic reform. Following his phone call to the Turkish President, the President had his intelligence briefing, an FBI briefing, and then he convened a meeting of the National Security Council. The President, earlier this morning, signed into law the Department of Defense appropriation bill, as well as the Military Construction appropriation bills. And the President is now having lunch with the Vice President. He will participate in a roundtable on children's online safety, and make remarks on children's online safety later this afternoon. And that's my report on the President's day. I'm happy to take your questions. Q Did the Turkish President express any concerns about the use of its airbase for a potential attack on Iraq? MR. FLEISCHER: John, you would have to leave it up to the Turkish officials to characterize any remarks that the Turkish President made. Q. Q. Q --. Q. Q. Q hand. Q And on that issue, when it goes to the full Security Council, the United States will need the votes of others outside of the Permanent Five. Mexico is one of those countries. Does the President expect Mexico to vote in favor of this? Has he talked to President Fox about this? MR. FLEISCHER: I don't think it would be my role to describe how a sovereign nation will vote. Of course, the President hopes Mexico will support the American position. We'll find out. Q Ari, if there's not an agreement among the P-5 on the language of a U.N. resolution, might the United States take it to the Elected 10 as a form of putting a leaver on some of the intransigent members of the P-5? MR. FLEISCHER: As I indicated there, there is movement and that's a very good possibility. That could clearly be one of the ways the movement is expressed. I think if that were to be the case you would hear from people in New York. And it's something you should keep your eye on. Q Are we hearing from some of our allies on the E-10 that, let's get going on this, bring it to us, and we'll put the arm on France? MR. FLEISCHER: I think people understand that after 11 years of Saddam Hussein defying the United Nations, the United Nations has to face up to its mission. And one way or another the United Nations is going to have to make a decision. They've been engaged in a very thoughtful and deliberative debate, and the debate is coming to a close. And the members of the Security Council feel the debate coming to a close, and I think they want to do their part to constructively engage on what type of closing this will be. The events are coming together. Q Would the French not see this as ganging up and dig their heels in even further? MR. FLEISCHER: Again, it's not my place to characterize what other nations would think or not think. I have no reason to believe that would be accurate. Everybody understands that at a certain point, and the point is arriving, the United Nations Security Council has to make a decision. Q Ari, if I can change the topic. We're heading into the two-week stretch prior to election day, and the President has a pretty grueling schedule. Can you talk a little bit about why he's chosen to go to these various states? And do you share the same optimism that was expressed by some of his political advisors about Republican gains in certain newspapers? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the history, of course, of midterm elections in the first year of a President is that there are massive setbacks for the party in power. That's a historical trend that has seldom been violated. It's a historical trend that is almost always honored. I think there have been only three occasions in modern times where an incumbent President's party has actually gained seats in the first midterm election. So history suggests that the incumbent party would have major losses. These decisions will get made by the voters. We'll see ultimately what the voters do. The President does look forward to traveling on behalf of people who are running for office who would help the President get through his agenda of, for example, getting prescription drugs to senior citizens, providing fiscal restraint, improving education. We'll see ultimately what the outcome is. But the President will be traveling to a variety of districts where he may be able to make a difference. Q Does he plan to go to Florida to help his brother? MR. FLEISCHER: We'll keep you updated on the schedule as events develop. He certainly has been there many times before, and we'll keep you informed on all the scheduling events between now and the election. Q The President has always prided himself in having a lot of patience. And you have told us from this podium that we're still within the time frame for a resolution at the U.N. But were the President's patience wearing a little thin yesterday when he said he doesn't want the U.N. to be like the League of Nations, or when he doesn't want it to be just a debating body? MR. FLEISCHER: When the President says he doesn't want the U.N. to be like the League of Nations, it's not a sign of patience or impatience. It's a fact. And the United Nations has an important decision before it, and it's the decision that the President laid out on September 12th. And I think that this is why the United Nations Security Council has approached this issue with the care and the deliberation that it has. The fact of the matter is, until the President went to New York and made the speech on September 12th, the United Nations was slumbering in terms of whether it would hold Iraq accountable for the resolutions that it previously passed. And that wasn't acceptable. And now the world is facing up to what is, or is not, acceptable, and we'll see. Q On an unrelated subject, is the White House going to do something, is it involved in doing something about the hacking that took place yesterday on the Internet in which nine of the 13 world global services were affected? MR. FLEISCHER: The cyber division of the FBI and the National Infrastructure Protection Center were aware of the attacks as they were being made because of the vigilance with which the federal government maintains the protections for the Internet and in which we work with the private sector on it. The attack Monday was unique in that it targeted the main servers of DNS's, but the method of the attack was nothing new. There was some degradation of service; however, nothing failed, and providers were able to mitigate the attacks very quickly. The Cyber Security Office in both the FBI and the Department of Commerce have been working with private companies that work the Internet for a number of years now, and this has helped to raise the awareness in the private sector about steps that need to be taken to protect the Internet and to assist them with their protective measures. There's an investigation underway to determine who was responsible for the attacks. Q Ari, does the President think this was an act of cyber terrorism? MR. FLEISCHER: I'll get there. Q If I can follow up on something you spoke about this morning. You gave us a pretty comprehensive list of how many different federal agencies are involved in the sniper investigation. I was wondering if you could go beyond that and give us an idea of whether we're talking about people who are in command positions, how many people we're talking about in field positions. Can you give us just a little more detail on what some of these folks are doing, specifically? Not specifically, but in general, beyond just the raw numbers? MR. FLEISCHER: At the President's direction, the federal government is providing the manpower to catch the killer, and the resources to counsel and comfort the community. And there is a joint operation center that has been set up in Montgomery County that is staffed by representatives of multiple federal agencies, along with representatives of the local government, particularly any local government where a shooting took place. And that leads to the best interaction among federal officials and local government officials, so they work shoulder-to-shoulder and side-by-side, so information can be shared, leads can be pursued, and resources can be brought to bear. That's what's happening on a 24-hour day, seven-day-a-week joint operation center. Q A related follow-up. Almost predictably, some of the pundits and so-called experts on television are already questioning whether the President might want to reconsider this comprehensive fundraising tour that he has ahead of him simply because these attacks are happening in the backyard. Has there been any talk of that, and do you think that that criticism is fair in general? MR. FLEISCHER: First of all, I haven't heard any such criticism. Maybe I pay less attention to the cable pundits. But at all times, what makes America free and strong is our democratic system. And at all times, everybody in both parties should participate in our democratic system; that's what sets America apart and that's what keeps us strong. Q Is that fair or unfair? MR. FLEISCHER: I think I've addressed it. Q Ari, in connection with the President's forthcoming trip to Mexico, since we have pressured Israel to give part of the land it conquered in several defensive wars to the Palestinians, does it follow that we will now seriously consider returning the claimed -- homeland in the Southwest back to Mexico? Or does the President now agree with President Fox that we should have open borders? MR. FLEISCHER: I'm really not sure I follow the thread that connects those various arguments. Q Well, I mean, if you give back all those states, that would be no problem. But in lieu of that -- President Fox believes in open borders. How does the President stand on these? MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I think there's no connection between the points of your question. But I would point out to you that, of course, with Israel, all the decisions that Israel made were made as a sovereign government, that Israel makes as a result of the decisions that Israel feels are in its best interest to pursue peace. Q Michael Wellback (ph), the French novelist, who called Islam the most stupid religion, was acquitted in a Paris court of Muslim charges of inciting to hatred, at the same time that Oriana Falacci, the author of Rage and The Pride, which strongly criticizes Muslims, spoke in Washington last night despite death threats reported, page 1, of The Washington Times. And my question is, does the President condemn Wellback and Falacci? MR. FLEISCHER: Les, I'll take a look at exactly what they said. Connie. Q Thank you. On the sniper situation, does the administration have a policy about negotiating with terrorists, which is apparently what is going on here? And also are you considering a more visible presence such as mobilizing or asking the states to mobilize the National Guard? MR. FLEISCHER: The law enforcement community is the proper place to ask any questions about what steps they are going to take. These decisions are not made by the White House. This is the law enforcement judgment about how to proceed. And the federal government has been providing many, many resources. National Guard issues, of course, are state issues in terms of that. Q What about the issue of negotiating with terrorists? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, again, nobody is -- it's not clear who is responsible for this, if there is a connection or not a connection to terrorists. And as you're aware, some types of lines of communication have been opened. And law enforcement is pursuing it in their judgment because it's the proper and wise thing to do. Q Ari, on the sniper case, I know we discussed this a bit this morning, but can you explain to us why you don't see a need for the FBI to completely take over this investigation as some has suggested? MR. FLEISCHER: Because of the collaboration that currently exists between the local enforcement authorities and the federal government, because the cooperation has been strong. People are working together well and shoulder-to-shoulder on this. And the federal government has dedicated a tremendous number of resources to help the local government. It's a joint operation. It's a joint command. And that, in the judgment of the law enforcement experts, is the best way to proceed. These are judgments that are made by law enforcement experts. Q I understand that -- you don't see that a unified command would be an improvement over judgment by committee, if you will, as how things are going now? MR. FLEISCHER: I think no matter what, you're going to have a committee working together. You're going to have the myriad of agencies working to lend their expertise to it. For example, the federal government, through the FBI and the ATF, is doing all the significant lab work on this matter. The FBI has been coordinating all the evidence and all the forensics. But you want the local government, in whose jurisdiction the shootings took place, to also have an important role in this investigation. And that's what is being done. Q But have there been discussions at the White House about the FBI taking over? I mean, have you discussed this in the last couple of days as things have looked so grim? MR. FLEISCHER: No, it's just as I indicated -- it's a joint operation, a joint command. Q Have you discussed that issue of possibly, there's a need for this now? MR. FLEISCHER: I can only tell you what it is; it's a joint operation, a joint command that is -- Q You're not answering my question. Have you -- has there been discussions at the White House about the FBI -- MR. FLEISCHER: Elizabeth, there are none that I've been involved in, so I couldn't tell you if there's anything beyond that. And this is the status of it. Q In the denial of service attacks, does the President view them as acts of cyber-terrorism? And can you tell us what the United States is doing to prevent future attacks from being successful? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, number one, as a result of the focus that has been made in both the private sector and in the federal government in recent years, there is an increase in security for the Internet. There is a recognition that the Internet is a vital part of our economy and the world's economy and has become part of the critical infrastructure that we, as a government, work with the private sector to keep protecting. And so many new protections have been put in place. In terms of who may have done this attack -- that's why I mentioned to you that there is an investigation underway -- we don't know. We'll take a look to see if there are any signs of who it may or may not be. I'm not aware there's anything that would lead anybody to that direction. History has shown that many of these attacks actually come from the hacker community. But we're -- that's why an investigation is underway. Did you have one yet, Ken? Q No. Just to go a little further on Elizabeth's question, has a federal takeover or an FBI takeover been raised and rejected for the reasons that you outlined? MR. FLEISCHER: I can only report to you the way it is. And as I said to Elizabeth, there's no conversations that I'm aware of that go beyond that. Q You're not aware of anyone even raising the possibility of an FBI takeover? MR. FLEISCHER: I can only tell you the federal government is deeply involved and involved in a way that the federal government has the lead on many of these issues already. And that's why I cited you the specifics about the lab work that is being done, the forensic work that's being done. But there's also a desire to work collaboratively and closely with the local community. Q But to your knowledge, no one in the White House or the federal government has proposed going beyond -- MR. FLEISCHER: Yes, there's nothing that anybody has brought to my attention on that. Q Ari, there is a French military cadet, a young cadet, who was a trained marksman, and he's trained on the French version of the M-16, which fires a .223 caliber bullet. He took leave to go to the Chicago area back in August. He's turned up missing and the French government says it has notified authorities, including the United States, that he is now deserted. He's of Yugoslav heritage. And has the President been made aware of this, and is there any evidence at all that this man could be the sniper? MR. FLEISCHER: On anything that may or may not involve any particular theories or any particular leads, that's going to be a matter that the law enforcement community would have to address, not the White House; and that's something I think you'd need to bring to anybody's attention there. They will make their judgments about what type of information they think would be helpful to make public and to provide, as they are also working to make sure that they can catch this killer. Q Has the President been briefed on this French -- MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not -- I'm never at liberty to discuss with you any of the specifics of the President's briefings, either on intelligence or the FBI matters, no matter what their jurisdiction is. MR. FLEISCHER: Are you saying that there's still a chance whoever is behind these attacks is linked to international terrorism? And I ask, because it seems like with this communication, we should have some light shed on that. Q The answer remains what you've heard publicly. It was said on the Sunday shows, and we've been saying for quite a considerable period of time, we do not know. We have seen no evidence that would lead us to think that was the case. But the only way to know is to catch the killer, and we have not been able to catch the killer. And once he is caught, obviously we'll be able to know. We don't know, but there is no evidence that would point in that direction. Q Ari, the full text of the U.N. resolution, as proposed by the U.S., was introduced yesterday morning to the P-5. Has the U.S. accepted any changes in that text since then? MR. FLEISCHER: There are going to be continuing conversations, and they are really working now on the every word, every sentence, every paragraph level. The diplomats are earning their keep. They are doing what they should be doing for a living. Nobody has ruled out that there could be any changes. But the core of the resolution must be as I described it earlier in order for the U.N. to keep the peace, and that is that there must be material breach, there must be consequences, and there must be a tough inspection regime. Q Consequences -- a mention of serious consequences, or consequences must be part of the language of resolution? MR. FLEISCHER: That's been made very plain. Q So you're saying the U.S. is willing to accept changes, but not to change those items you just mentioned? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, let me turn it around. Can you imagine after a decade of Saddam Hussein defying the United Nations and after having successfully thrown out the inspectors for four years, the United Nations message to Saddam Hussein is, you can continue to do it because there won't be consequences? That's rather hard to imagine now that the United Nations Security Council is hard at work at bringing this to a successful resolution. Q Thank you. Ari, Pravda is reporting that Russia is considering carrying out a coup against Saddam Hussein to guarantee Russia first choice of lucrative oil contracts, after Saddam Hussein is deposed. Is the President aware of this? And will he work with Putin to aid any coup attempt? MR. FLEISCHER: That's the first I've heard of the reports. I really can't evaluate it. Q Has any local government jurisdiction asked the federal government to take any steps at all that might reassure citizens that the act of voting won't be potentially dangerous? MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not aware of any. I have not heard anything to that. Q Going back to APEC and President Putin, could you just say -- the White House or administration officials have placed great store by the relationship between the President and Mr. Putin. What is significance, coming as it does amid these negotiations at the U.N., of the bilateral meeting with Mr. Putin on Saturday? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, as a part of an increasingly stronger and stronger relationship between the United States and Russia, the agenda for the meeting with President Putin will be full. There is a lot to discuss. And that's going to include trade matters. After all, APEC remains a trade summit. It will also include discussions about the situation on the Korean peninsula. I think Russian, itself, is very troubled by the recent developments. It will include, likely, a discussion about events in New York concerning the United Nations Security Council. And there very well could be other issues that come up, too, as they talk. The President and President Putin have a very good relationship and I know the President is looking forward to spending time with President Putin. Q Ari, in the past year some evangelical leaders such as Franklin Graham and Jerry Falwell have made very disparaging comments about Islam, calling it a religion of violence, Mohammed is a terrorist. How come the President hasn't specifically repudiated these statements? MR. FLEISCHER: The President has repudiated such statements every chance he can. And I think that's evidenced by the events that the President holds. When he holds the Iftar dinner here at the White House, when he commemorates important Muslim occasions, when he invites all the Muslim ambassadors to the White House, when he visits the Afghani embassy and he makes clear his position, the President has made perfectly plain that Islam is a religion of peace and that's what he believes. Q So actions not words? MR. FLEISCHER: You know, sometimes people make outlandish statements hoping that they can, like flypaper, draw other people down to their level and attract them into their issues the way they see them. And the President would rather elevate a nation and educate and work with a nation to make certain that we all understand that everybody in this country is here because of America's 200-year history of openness and tolerance. And that's why our country was founded. And that's what the President does. He sets his sights up high and doesn't drop them down low. Q So you're saying Franklin and Falwell did that? They tried to lower the -- MR. FLEISCHER: I'm sorry -- go ahead. Q But Franklin Graham spoke at his inauguration. MR. FLEISCHER: Go ahead. Q Two questions. First, on the U.N. resolution, when he spoke to the General Assembly on September 12th, he said a resolution would be achieved in days and weeks, not months. And by that calculation, I guess we have until November 12th before we have to use months, plural. Is the President confident that a resolution satisfactory to the U.S. can be achieved by then? And does he, in fact, even intend to allow the debate to go that long? Secondly, unrelated topic, on the sniper, putting aside the question of whether there should be a change in command-control structure, given the overwhelming number of tips -- local officials say they're overwhelmed by the amount of phone tips they're getting -- is the federal government considering boosting any assistance from federal officials to help handle phone calls, other tips that are coming in? Is there anything additional the federal government is planning on doing? Again, not speaking to the issue of command or control. MR. FLEISCHER: Okay, let me walk you through what actions the federal government has taken. And much of it involves on the investigative side. But it also involves helping to pursue the leads and -- and doing a lot of the day-to-day work. As I mentioned, there is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week joint operation center that's been set up in Montgomery County. And the following federal agencies are involved, as I said, to try to catch the killer or provide comfort and counseling to the community. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has provided to the Sniper Task Force 454 agents; 59 inspectors, nine canine handlers, and 101 support staffers to do lab and computer and intelligence analyst work. The Customs Department has provided two A-Star helicopters, which are light-lift helicopters. And to support them, Customs has provided a 20-person flight team, as well as they have made a Blackhawk helicopter available. The United States Secret Service has provided 50 special agents to the Sniper Task Force. The FBI has 600 personnel working on this matter. They are focused on profiling, on working on the leads, the Marshals -- the Federal Marshals are involved, as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency are involved. I said earlier that all significant laboratory work is being conducted at both the FBI and the ATF bureaus. And the FBI is coordinating all evidence and forensic work. On the counseling side, which is also very important, the President, when he hears these reports, not only wants to know about what steps is the federal government taking to catch who is responsible, but he and Mrs. Bush, their hearts go out to the families and the communities who have to alter their way of life for children who can't go outside for their recess. These are things that the President and Mrs. Bush, as parents, have tremendous empathy with the community. The Department of Education received a request from the state of Maryland school superintendent late yesterday afternoon for financial assistance in helping the schools obtain radio equipment for the school buses here: $250,000 has been identified to meet that request. In addition, the Department of Education on the federal level has offered $250,000 to the Virginia superintendent for instruction and $100,000 to the D.C. schools superintendent. And that money would be left to these local jurisdictions to decide the best way it could be spent to meet their local needs. This could include security measures. It could include protective services, counseling, and other security issues. The Department of Interior Park Police is cooperating and working with local enforcement. And the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, has been working to provide assistance in crisis response, training activities and risk communications to facilitate and coordinate a regional response to these attacks. Also money has been made available through Department of Health and Human Service to the local communities to address counseling issues to enhance hotline services, to provide public education. So the federal government is -- launched an all-out effort on both the counseling side and the catch side to try to bring this to a conclusion. Q You didn't mention DOD and the surveillance -- MR. FLEISCHER: I'm sorry. Thank you. And DOD, as I mentioned last week, has provided the air platforms to try to catch the killer. Q So we're talking -- it's been about well over a thousand federal government personnel who are helping out here -- MR. FLEISCHER: That's correct. Q There's been no contemplation of doing any more? And also I had a question about -- MR. FLEISCHER: No, these are -- these decisions are reviewed every day by the appropriate agencies. And they make their judgments knowing that the President has urged every agency to devote all resources necessary to catch the killer. Q After September 11th the President called up the National Guard to patrol airports, saying that it was -- for the feeling of the traveling public to be safer. With the severity of the warning that children are not safe, has the time come for the President -- or has anyone recommended to the President that he consider some kind of National Guard deployment for school areas around here? MR. FLEISCHER: Ann, I will report each of the actions and the steps that have been taken. And in the event -- and as I mentioned, these things are reviewed on a daily basis. In the event any additional actions are taken, I will always do my best to report it. Q Can you say whether that has been under consideration or whether the President would think this is a feeling of security on a par with the traveling public after September 11th? MR. FLEISCHER: I think as has been pointed out, there are now more than 1,000 federal personnel that have been made available. And we'll continue to monitor it on a regular basis to determine every step possible that can be taken to help catch him. Q Ari, just one extra, because you're going to be gone a long time. MR. FLEISCHER: Actually, Les, I'll see you next week. Tim. Q Mitch Daniels indicated today that he was -- the administration is willing to go higher than the SEC's current $568 million. Do you know how much higher? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, as I indicated last week, we want to work with Congress on this matter. And the President places great priority on helping crack down on corporate corruption. The budget that the President did propose for the SEC is the largest increase in the recent history of the SEC. We want to work with the Congress and see exactly what the even higher level may or may not be. I think it's impossible to specify. Q Is it the administration's policy that you would be willing to go more than $568 million if that's what's needed? MR. FLEISCHER: We're going to continue to work with Congress to determine what the appropriate level is, and do it in a fiscally responsible way. Q On appropriations, you got two bills signed today; 10 more. And Senator Lott said recently that the time may have come for the House and Senate to split the difference on the remaining bills. And I just wondered what the White House reaction to that was. MR. FLEISCHER: Well, two down, 11 to go. And we'll see. I think that nobody knows, given the fact that Congress has now decided that these decisions won't get made until a lame-duck session of the Congress takes place. Nobody knows what the ultimate outcome will be. There are many different factors that influence how productive lame-duck sessions are. And we'll have to wait and see what happens when they come back. The President's position will remain unchanged, and that is, that it's important for Congress to fund the priorities the President has established, such as the increases for education, the increases for domestic homeland security, for bioterrorism, and the other items in the President's budget. He's gratified that they passed a defense appropriations bill. And then Congress has to adhere to the spending ceilings that have been set in the level of the House budget resolution. Q Were you happy with defense spending? MR. FLEISCHER: The President, as he indicated in his remarks in the Rose Garden, was happy with defense spending. He appreciates members of Congress from both parties doing their share to keep the country safe. Q Ari, can I come back to the U.N. resolution one more time? The French have proposed to substantially soften much of the language in the U.S. version of the resolution, taking out the words, "material breach," removing references to previous U.N. resolution violations. What's the White House's position on that type of softening of the language? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, we'll see. We'll see ultimately where this goes. They're talking, and that's important. Q You have said in the past, when dealing with Congress, why would we agree to a resolution that's weaker than something that's already out there. Are you thinking along those lines with this? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, we're going to wait and see. We'll see ultimately what the positions are of the various parties as they sit in earnest across a table from each other and talk. THE PRESS: Thank you. MR. FLEISCHER: Thank you. END 2:06 P.M. EDT

Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The Wedding Date, the Debra Messing/Dermot Mulroney romantic comedy in which a depressed single woman hires a gorgeous male escort to pretend to be her boyfriend at her sister's wedding, is getting reviews that range from poor all the way up to lukewarm. What did you expect? These are the same critics who think Sideways is deep, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is funny, and who gave lavish praise to embarrassing confessions of Hollywood's inadequacies like American Beauty and Closer. These are the same critics who worship a pretentious director like Martin Scorcese, who can't tell a story on film without constantly showing off what an intellectual, artistic director he is, even if -- no, especially if -- it interferes with the audience's ability to immerse themselves in the story. So how could they possibly like a fairly low-budget sex-role-reversed Pretty Woman with a television star in the lead? It's easy to diss a good movie. Just compare it to movies that aren't trying to do the same thing and call it a failure. The Wedding Date isn't a laff riot -- but it's not trying to be. It's not a realistic depiction of the interactions between prostitutes and their clients -- but it's not trying to be. It's a story about a woman who is awakened to the amount of control she really has over her own happiness, set in the midst of the soap-opera chaos of the wedding of her utterly selfish sister. And it's a pretty darn good movie. Yes, the director (Clare Kilner) sometimes focuses too lovingly on Messing's unusually large nose, and yes, the writer (Dana Fox) sometimes misses golden opportunities to develop snapshots into real scenes. But my wife and I enjoyed every minute of the movie -- especially because the perpetually underrated Dermot Mulroney is perfect in his role, and the supporting cast is wonderful. Especially Holland Taylor, who has been marvelous in everything I've ever seen her in, from Two-and-a-Half Men and The Practice all the way back to Romancing the Stone. For a low-budget British comedy, The Wedding Date is amazingly good. It's funny enough, it's wise enough, and it's romantic enough to satisfy anybody but those critics who can't possibly like any movie that doesn't give them opportunities to seem smarter than everybody else. Racing Stripes is a live-action talking-animal movie like Babe, only sillier and dumber. Which isn't always a bad thing, and in this case, I think it works. A baby zebra is left behind by a traveling circus, and raised by a Kentucky man (Bruce Greenwood) who used to be a race-horse trainer. He stopped training racers when his wife was killed in a fall from a horse, but his daughter (Hayden Panettiere) still has riding -- and racing -- in her blood. It's your standard phony-conflict tug-at-your-heartstrings plot, but the actors are engaging enough, and the film keeps you distracted enough, that you don't much mind the cliches. You don't even mind -- much, anyway -- the utter implausibility of any zebra ever racing against any horse bigger than a Shetland pony. I don't care how much "heart" you've got: If you go one-on-one with Shaq, you better be tall. What makes the movie entertaining all the way through is the clever use of the supporting cast of animated and semi-animated animals. Especially funny are the horseflies, voiced by David Spade and Snoop Dogg, the New Jersey mobster pelican voiced by Joe Pantoliano, and Dustin Hoffman and Whoopi Goldberg voicing the wise leaders of the barnyard. There are moments of gross-out comedy dealing with the flies that are, in a word, unforgettable. But they were also funny. Will the outcome of the race surprise you? No. Will kids love it? Yes. Will adults be entertained from beginning to end? As long as you give the movie a chance, yes. What more are you asking for? When it comes to kids' movies, the standard is so mind-numbingly low that Racing Stripes is a breath of fresh air. Remember that you could be watching the screechy, loathsome comedy of Spongebob Squarepants and be grateful. Million Dollar Baby is being touted as Clint Eastwood's best performance ever, and it probably is -- though the film editor didn't have to select the take where snot bubbled out of his nose when he was crying. It's also a fine performance by Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, with director Clint Eastwood doing a wonderful job of evoking a time and milieu as he draws memorable performances from every single actor in the film. It's never boring and at times it's beautiful. It even made me care about and appreciate the finer points of boxing. Given the script they had and the original boxing stories it was based on, it's hard to imagine them making a better movie than this one. So by all means, see it. Since it's probably going to win the Oscar for everybody who touched it, you should know what all the hooplah is about. And I guarantee you that you'll admire it and even, at times, be moved. But please don't lose track of how shallow and stupid and pretentiously bad the script and story are. The core story is nothing but cliche. Wise old trainer refuses to work with the aspiring "kid" because she's a girl and because she's already, at 31, too old. But the kid persists and shows "heart" and so the old coot trains her and she wins a lot until she gets a title shot. How many times have we seen this before? Come to think of it, it's the same core plotline as Racing Stripes, isn't it? Only instead of a zebra, it's Hilary Swank. What makes this standard storyline "artistic" is that the old coot has cute little conversations with a priest as he struggles to find forgiveness, from God and from his daughter, to whom he writes every week, only to get his letters back, unopened. And, of course, the girl boxer goes into the title match and gets ... Wait. Maybe you haven't been watching the controversy about this film and you don't already know the ending. So if you want to be surprised (not that it's all that surprising -- by no means is it a twist that revises your understanding of what happened before) stop reading this review right now. All right, you were warned. The girl gets hit with a cheap shot and breaks her neck by landing on the edge of a fallen stool (which the old coot makes no effort to pull out of her way). Since we already know she's a fighter who never gives up, naturally all she wants as she lies in bed as a quadriplegic is to die. Wait a minute ... what movie are we watching? Oh, no, it's not the hero-overcomes-all-obstacles movie. It's the tragic-death movie, with an overlay of bone-chillingly stupid moral reasoning about euthanasia. There's nothing this fictional boxer faced that Christopher Reeve, for instance, didn't face. Only what made Reeve a hero was that he didn't give up. Here the Swank character -- "Maggie" -- has the devoted attention of Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) and Eddie Dupris (Morgan Freeman). Sure, she has a loathsome family, but she always had them even without the spinal injury. Why are we expected to believe that this tough fighter wants only to die? Of course she feels despair and disappointment. But it is only selfish do-gooders who believe that a physically limited life is not worth living. Was Reeve's post-injury life worth living? For that matter, was my son Charlie's life worth living, given that he had as little control over his body as Maggie and he couldn't even talk? My answer is yes, those lives were worth living. The movie's answer is no. The movie's answer is that the crippled, the sick, and the old all secretly -- or openly -- want to die, and "good" people are "selfish" to keep them alive. You want to know who's selfish? The character Maggie is selfish, demanding that to satisfy her momentary depression, a man who loves her should become a murderer. Yeah, that's love. Here's the truth of the equation. Murdering her was the selfish thing to do. The generous thing was what Frankie Dunn was already doing: Visiting her constantly and encouraging her to make the best of her life. Her despair was what we generally call "wallowing in self-pity," and decent people try to help draw a victim like Maggie out of that mood and bring her hope. Not murder her so they don't have to sacrifice so much time visiting and encouraging her. There are plenty of other ways the movie is false. For one thing, Maggie's bedsores, leading to amputatable gangrene, suggest that she was getting criminally bad care in the "first rate" facility she was kept in. For another, it was stupid and cruel of Frankie to disconnect her breathing tube first. Why make her undergo the panic of suffocation before injecting her with adrenaline? Third, why didn't any of the flatlining monitors set off an alarm? The nurse might have gone for coffee, but whoever she told that she was going for coffee was still there. But the movie is so intense and earnest about its phony moral dilemmas and its glorification of the murder of the helpless and despondent that you almost don't notice how evil the message of the movie is. Don't take my word for it, though. Read Steve Drake's review of Million Dollar Baby: "Dangerous Times" at the Ragged Edge website (), a review of the movie from the point of view of someone who actually suffers from the kind of disability that makes do-gooders want to murder you for so they can feel good about themselves. Then read his essay "From 'Mercy Killing' to 'Domestic Violence,'" to get an idea of the real danger that old, sick, and disabled people face in our murder-is-noble society. Quite apart from the moral issues involved, I most point out as a writing teacher that suicide or "assisted" suicide is what bad or inexperienced writers resort to when they don't have an ending. I tell my writing students that everybody has to write at least one noble-suicide story -- so write it now, to get it out of your system; then throw it away, because it's junk. It's junk because everything that makes a character interesting enough to write about in the first place is denied by the decision to die. The suicide denies everything that went before, unless it's all a case study of depression, in which case it's the story of the pathology, not the person. The sad thing is that the movie already set up the honest ending. Frankie had already trained Maggie to obey him without question. He could have said, Live. Try. Even if you can't see the point of it right now, trust me. But this is a movie that is so cheap in its storytelling that it never lets us know what it was Frankie did that made his daughter so mad at him. What an arty thing to do -- withholding that little piece of information. Arty, but stupid. It asks us to view Eastwood as the victim of his daughter's unforgiving attitude. But if we knew what he had done, we might very well agree with the daughter. For instance, what if Eastwood used to beat her up? Or molested her? Why should she ever open a letter from him? In such a case, his continuing to write to her, week after week, even though she had made it clear that she did not want to hear from him, would make him obsessive and evil. In fiction, we only know what the storyteller tells us. To withhold such a key piece of information is cynical and manipulative. Talk about pandering! But that's what Million Dollar Baby seems to be from beginning to end -- a cynical effort to manipulate the audience into thinking black is white and evil is good. Or maybe not. Maybe the suicide/euthanasia was already in the short stories they adapted for the film. So the screenwriter -- and Eastwood, as director -- no doubt felt that to change that ending would be a Hollywood-false thing to do. They should have thought again. Just because the original story-writer was mostly concerned with boxing, and chose a lazy ending, doesn't mean that it's "pandering" to go for an ending that showed Maggie living on with the same courage and determination that had already been established for her. That ending was already prepared for. We could have ended at that diner, with Hilary Swank in a wheelchair, controlled by blowing through a tube. She would go from table to table, taking orders and then barking them to fry cook Clint Eastwood. It would have been bittersweet enough -- after all, she used to waitress back when she had the use of her body. And they'd still be together, father and surrogate daughter. It would have been a film about love and loyalty. And it would have been honest about the value of all lives. There are genuine sad endings in life. Film can certainly deal with them. I'm not asking for fake happy endings. But a phony, bad-writer ending like this one has far less integrity than the tough, live-to-the-end-of-life ending that nobody associated with this film had the guts to go for. What's really sad about this movie is that a good storyteller like Eastwood used his talents to try to persuade us, against all reason and all evidence, that there's something noble about killing helpless people. Why not see a movie about the nobility of letting children run out into traffic ... because they really really want to? Or a movie that ends with letting a drunk get behind the wheel of a car ... because he shouldn't suffer from limitations in his life? Or a movie in which parents help their child acquire more cocaine, because it's so very important to him that he get high again? Sometimes we do things to keep people alive against their will. That's what civilization is about. It's what love is about. But it's certainly not what Million Dollar Baby is about. Margaret Maron's new North Carolina mystery novel, High Country Fall, takes us into the Great Smokies during the fall leaf season. Deborah Knott is staying at a relative's "cabin" while she fills in for another judge. She gets involved -- more because of her family and social connections than her judicial responsibilities -- in a murder case in which the victim is a doctor who has become the "protector" of the "charm" of the rustic mountain town -- which means that the people who've actually lived in the mountains all their lives had better take down their signs in order to "preserve" a faux charm that says more about the dreams of tourists than the facts of life in the Appalachian Mountains. The novel is written with Maron's dependable charm and dead-on ear and eye for the local culture. With her Deborah Knott mysteries she has created an excellent guide to contemporary North Carolina. I'm just waiting for her to come to Greensboro and write a novel about a free weekly paper that keeps committing the unforgivable crime of journalism in a city that prefers to let sleeping dogs lie (and lie and lie and lie). My only quibble with this -- and most other mysteries these days -- is: Does everybody really have that many people who want them dead? For me, the worst of the reality shows -- yes, even worse than Fear Factor -- is The Apprentice. Of course, Donald Trump himself is reason enough not to watch. But he isn't on screen that much. Instead, the show spends its time watching a group of young hotshots compete with each other to meet some impossible business challenge. I say "impossible" because in the real world, you almost never have so little time to plan and carry out a serious endeavor. And if you do, it invariably means that your boss has blown it and you're being forced to make up for his incompetence and save his job. Which brings us to the reason why The Apprentice is completely unwatchable for me: It's too real. With Fear Factor or The Amazing Race or that wife-swapping show, the main lesson of the experience is: There is no limit to how much people will humiliate themselves for money and face-time on TV. (It's not really fame.) But with The Apprentice, the lesson is: These are the ambitious posers who will be fast-tracked ahead of you by your boss, will waste your time by being unbelievably stupid in meetings, and will try to get ahead by stealing the credit for all your work. In other words, you already know all these people. Their only area of expertise is faking it. They have only two possible careers: Con man or bureaucratic climber. Trump himself is the former, on a grand scale. By submitting themselves to this contest, the would-be apprentices prove themselves to be the latter. Why watch The Apprentice when you can read What Makes Sammy Run? More about Million Dollar Baby by Scott Brick I know almost nothing about boxing, so I didn't comment on the sports aspects of the film, though I was bothered by a few things. Who knew that my friend Scott Brick, actor, audiobook performer, and writer extraordinaire, was also a boxing fan? -- OSC Scott Brick writes: Speaking as a huge sports fan, I actually find sports films problematic. There's a fine line they walk between being true to the sport (like Rocky with boxing, or For Love of the Game with baseball) and becoming a parody (like Rocky II through V or Major League). But depending on your mood at the time, either one is fine. I actually enjoy watching Major League during the baseball season more than I do For Love of the Game. But what I hated so much about Million Dollar Baby was that their understanding of the sport was virtually nil. A serious film was making a mockery of the sport -- wrong choice. I wondered if Eastwood had ever seen a match in his life. All of the fights were a caricature of what really happens in the ring. Walloping haymakers are very seldom thrown, and land even less often. Knockouts are rare, not the norm. And believe me, in women's boxing -- and I've seen dozens of matches -- I've only once seen a woman knocked down, let alone knocked out. Yet Hilary Swank begins her career with twelve straight knockouts? Please. And the dirty fighting that ultimately takes her down? I've only seen that happen once, and the fight immediately ended, right away, no messing around. The person who threw the late shot was disqualified, he lost his title, and the fight was over right then and there. None of this business about a referee issuing a warming, saying he'll take a point off ... puh-leez! It's a dangerous sport, and the participants are protected. So right away I was taken out of the film, caring little for what happens to the characters. And it only got worse when she fell on a stool that was sitting on its side. Trust me, stools aren't left in the corner during rounds, and when they're placed there between rounds, they're placed upright. I mean, every time. Always. No explanation for why this one was placed thusly, except that it needed to be so to break her neck, to take us into the last chapter of the film. And I hate that kind of practice. I find it reeks of "Don't worry, they'll never notice." Eastwood's a better director than that, so I felt cheated. Those were my initial objections, of course -- nit-picking to a certain degree -- but hey, if you have a movie intrinsically about a sport, then you should play by that sport's rules. But the longer I thought about the film, the more it bothered me thematically. I shook my head, amazed that this movie got made in a post Christopher Reeve world. The more I think about this movie the less I like it.

Figures Abstract Purpose. Materials and Methods. Results. Conclusion EZ-MAP provides a robust approach for delineation of regional abnormal anisotropy in individual mTBI patients. Citation: Kim N, Branch CA, Kim M, Lipton ML (2013) Whole Brain Approaches for Identification of Microstructural Abnormalities in Individual Patients: Comparison of Techniques Applied to Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. PLoS ONE 8(3): e59382. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382 Editor: Pedro Antonio Valdes-Sosa, Cuban Neuroscience Center, Cuba Received: December 20, 2012; Accepted: February 14, 2013; Published: March 26, 2013 Copyright: © 2013 Kim et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This work was supported by The Dana Foundation, David Mahoney Neuroimaging Program and by National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01 NS082432). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Introduction. Materials and Methods Ethics Statement. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.t001 Data Acquisition). DTI Preprocessing. Adjustment for Demographic Covariate Effects]. EZ-MAP. Each histogram of bootstrap SD estimates, , of Z-scores from all white matter voxels is based on a reference control group with size 10 (top), 20 (middle), and 40 (bottom), and produced by the procedure described in Text S1. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g001 Using 21 control subjects as the reference group, EZ-scores were derived for each normal control test subject (“Normal Subjects”, n = 21; different subjects than those comprising the reference group). The actual uncoverage rate, defined as the proportion of voxels lying outside of ± z1-λ/2 in each “Normal Subject”, was determined at three percentiles, corresponding to three theoretical uncoverage rates, (λ), 0.1, 0.05, 0.01. Box plots show the range of actual uncoverage rates across the 21 “Normal Subjects” for each of the three theoretical percentiles, each corresponding to the chosen λ. In each plot, closeness to λ, marked in blue, indicates better correspondence of the subject measurement to the expected distribution. Outliers in each box plot, marked with red+signs, are defined as values that are more than 1.5 times the interquartile range away from the top or bottom of the box. Observed uncoverage rates produced using EZ-score, as compared to the standard Z-score approach, indicate that EZ-score better represents the standard normal distribution and, therefore, provides a more accurate threshold for determination of abnormality with respect to a relatively small reference group of control subjects. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g002 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.t002. One vs. Many t-test The “one vs. many” t-test [4], [8] utilizes the t-distribution with n-1 (n = size of the reference group) DF. Individual voxels are classified as abnormal based on the t-score defined by (3)). (4)with the standard Gaussian density φ,. Voxelwise bootstrap estimated SDs are classified into 3 groups: under-dispersion, over-dispersion and close to the theoretical SD value. Voxels are classified as over- or under- dispersion if the estimated across-subject variation by the bootstrap procedure (Text S1) is substantially greater than the SD of the theoretical t distribution or substantially less than the SD of the theoretical t distribution , respectively, while voxels are classified as “close to the theoretical SD” of the t distribution if they are within ψL and ψU, where ψL and ψU are determined by the SD of the t-distribution with the DF from the theoretical t distribution −/+10, respectively. Each class was colored coded: red (over-dispersion), blue (under-dispersion), and green (close to the theoretical SD) and superimposed on sagittal T1-weighted images. Slice locations are, -20, -46 mm (MNI) from left to right. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g003 Results. White matter regions demonstrating significant multiple regression effects with three covariates (age, gender, years of education) (F (0.05, 3, 17) = 3.2 and cluster size over 100 voxels). Example images are at Z = −26, −18, −6 and 10 mm (Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) coordinates). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g004). Three axial images in three patients (A, B, C) showing multiple areas of abnormally high (blue) and low (red) FA in the acute post-injury period (A- 3days, B- 6days, C-9days). Each patient shows multiple locations of abnormality, with variable lesion location across individuals. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g005. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.t003. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.t004. ROC curves from four analytic methods, (1) EZ-MAP, (2) “one vs. many” t-test, and (3) standard Z-score approach and (4) the FWER test with pseudo t-distribution, were compared for one global metric (number of whole brain white matter voxels meeting criteria for abnormality). The thresholds applied were α1 = 0.05 (2-tailed) and α2 = 0.05 (corrected for multiple comparisons) for the EZ approach, “one vs. many” t-test, and standard Z-score approach while α1 = 0.05 (1-tailed) with no spatial extent threshold was employed for the FWER test. The ROC curve for each of the three analytical methods is shown (blue dotted line = EZ-approach, red dotted line = “one vs. many” t-test, black dotted line = standard Z-score, grey dotted line = FWER test). The EZ-MAP, “one vs. many” t-test, and standard Z-score approaches showed significant power; the yellow square indicates the optimal sensitivity and specificity of the ROC curve for EZ-MAP (sensitivity- 71%, specificity 71%); red and black squares indicate this point for the “one vs. many” t-test and standard Z-score, respectively (sensitivity 65%, specificity 76% for both methods). The FWER test was not significant and therefore optimal sensitivity and specificity are not noted. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g006 Two example axial slices (z = −14 and −0 mm in MNI coordinates, from top to bottom) for detected abnormalities in two different mTBI patients are presented. Analysis methods are arranged as, from left, standard Z-score, EZ-MAP, “one vs. many” t-test and FWER-control. Abnormal regions are colored blue (abnormally high) and red (abnormally low). While similar locations are classified as abnormal by the various methods, fewer of the abnormal regions survive among analysis methods from left to right. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g007 Regions classified as abnormal are shown, based on two reference groups (top n = 20; bottom n = 40) with 3 axial slices for each of 3 different mTBI patrients (A, B, C). In each row, the standard Z-score result is shown at left, EZ-MAP in the middle and “one vs. many” t-test on the right. Abnormal regions are colored blue (abnormally high) and red (abnormally low). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.g008 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.t005 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.t006 Discussion]). Supporting Information Figure S1.. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.s001 (TIF) Figure S2.). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.s002 (TIF) Figure S3.). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.s003 (TIF) Text S1. Bootstrap procedure for estimation of the SD for use in Enhanced Z-scores. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059382.s004 (DOC) Acknowledgments The authors thank Tova M. Gardin, B.A. and Miriam B. Hulkower, B.A. for assistance in data processing and Jeremy L. Smith, Ph.D. for programming implementation. Author Contributions Conceived and designed the experiments: NK CAB MLL. Performed the experiments: NK MLL. Analyzed the data: NK MLL. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: NK CAB MK MLL. Wrote the paper: NK CAB MK MLL. References - 1. 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Testimony on the National Governors’ Association Proposal on Medicaid – Report Hearing before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Commerce on the National Governors Association Proposal on Medicaid Testimony of Diane Rowland, Sc.D., Executive Director, Kaiser Commission on the Future of Medicaid and Senior Vice President, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation March 6, 1996 Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, for this opportunity to provide some perspective on the recent proposal of the National Governors Association for Medicaid reform and its implications for health and long-term care coverage of the low-income population. I am Diane Rowland, Executive Director of the Kaiser Commission on the Future of Medicaid and Senior Vice President of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. The Kaiser Commission on the Future of Medicaid is a 14-member, bi-partisan national commission established by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in 1991 to serve as a Medicaid policy institute and forum for analyzing, debating, and evaluating future directions for health care for poor and vulnerable populations. I am pleased to be here today to share the work of the Kaiser Commission and discuss Medicaid's role in financing care for 36 million low-income Americans and the implications of the National Governors Association (NGA) proposal to restructure Medicaid. Medicaid Today Since its enactment in 1965 as companion legislation to Medicare, Medicaid has operated as a federal and state partnership to meet the health needs of our nation's most vulnerable populations. Medicaid has evolved from a program providing financing to states for health coverage of their welfare population to a program that now finances health and long-term care services for one in eight Americans and accounts for 13 percent of national health care spending. Its funding is the major source of financial assistance to the states, accounting for 40 percent of all federal grants-in-aid to the states. Over the last 30 years, Medicaid has helped to close the gaps in care between the poor and non-poor and eased financial burdens and provided a safety net for the most needy Americans. It has been a major force in shaping health and long-term care services for low-income families and aged and disabled Americans. In 1995, Medicaid financed care for 36 million low-income Americans, covering one-quarter of American children and paying for over one-third of the nation's births and one-half of all nursing home care. Medicaid plays multiple roles for the populations it serves. For nearly 18 million children and more than 8 million adults in low-income families, Medicaid provides fundamental health insurance protection. For 4 million low-income elderly people and 6 million low-income people with disabilities, Medicaid provides both health insurance and long-term care coverage. In its long-term care role, Medicaid pays for home- and community-based services and is the dominant source of public financing for nursing home care. In its insurance role, Medicaid is a supplementary insurance program for low-income aged and disabled Medicare beneficiaries, paying Medicare's premiums and cost-sharing requirements and covering additional services, most notably prescription drugs. For low-income disabled adults who do not have Medicare coverage, Medicaid also serves as a basic health insurance program. Although children accounted for over half of the 33.5 million Medicaid beneficiaries covered by the program in 1994, they accounted for only 16 percent of program spending (Figure 1). From the perspective of how Medicaid dollars are spent, Medicaid is predominately a program serving the low-income aged and disabled population. The elderly and disabled constitute 27 percent of beneficiaries, but account for 59 percent of spending because of their intensive use of acute care services and the costliness of long-term care in institutional settings. The per capita cost of an elderly beneficiary is eight times that for a child on Medicaid (Figure 2). As a safety net for health and long-term care, Medicaid pays the bulk of the cost of care for the nation's poorest and most disabled individuals. It assists individuals with the most catastrophic of illnesses-children with chronic conditions that can leave them disabled for a lifetime, adults with mental illness and retardation that require extensive care in the community or in an institutional setting, and the frail elderly and the disabled who also need long-term care. Medicaid's average cost for a pregnant women or child without complex medical needs is often substantially lower than a comparable private health insurance premium, whereas the average cost for a severely retarded individual on Medicaid, a population that is generally not covered by most private insurance, can exceed $50,000 per year. Because Medicaid provides coverage to those with critical health problems and costly medical needs, including segments of the population generally not covered by most private insurance, it has become a major budgetary commitment for both the federal and state governments. Total federal and state spending for Medicaid in 1995 was estimated at $156.3 billion and projected grow to $302.8 billion by 2002, with the federal government providing roughly 56 percent of total expenditures. Federal expenditures for Medicaid now account for 6 percent of the federal budget while state spending for Medicaid (exclusive of federal Medicaid payments to the states) accounts for 13 percent of state budgets. Although rates of growth for Medicaid have historically been more moderate than increases in private health care spending, Medicaid costs accelerated rapidly from 1988 through 1992. From 1990 to 1992, annual rates of increase exceeded 25 percent. The rapid growth rates during this period were attributable to a combination of factors, including a national recession, growth in the number of people eligible for Medicaid, inflation in health care spending, and states' use of statutory loopholes to leverage additional federal dollars. Spurred by federal requirements to increase coverage of pregnant women and children, state efforts to cover more low-income uninsured, and court-required expansions in coverage of the disabled, Medicaid enrollment increased from 22 million in 1988 to 33.5 million in 1994. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, although low-income children accounted for the largest share of the growth in Medicaid enrollment, they played a relatively minor role in the growth in Medicaid spending during the 1990s. The major factor contributing to the spike in program spending in the early 1990s was that some states used provider taxes and donations and disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments as alternative financing strategies to increase the base payments that had to be matched by the federal government. As shown in Figure 5, the growth in DSH payments had the most pronounced effect on the growth in Medicaid spending between 1991 and 1992. In that period, over half of the annual increase in Medicaid spending was attributable to increased DSH payments, concentrated in about 15 states. By 1994, DSH payments accounted for 12 percent of total Medicaid spending. Legislation enacted in 1991 and implemented in 1993 to restrict state use of tax and donation financing strategies and curb the growth in DSH payments has clearly had a constraining effect on Medicaid spending. With the new rules in effect, the program's expenditure growth rate has returned to historical rates, leveling off at 9.2 percent per year from 1992 to 1994. Future projections by the Congressional Budget Office assume an annual growth rate of about 9.9 percent over the next seven years. Future increases are expected to be driven primarily by inflation and enrollment growth due to increases in the number of people in poverty and the expansion of coverage under current law to children under age 18 with incomes below the poverty level. The structure and financing of Medicaid has become a major issue in the federal budget debate. In searching for a new approach for the program's future, the federal/state partnership has been challenged by the rising cost of maintaining Medicaid coverage and the need to meet the demands of the 40 million uninsured Americans. The policy dilemma at both the federal and state levels is how to restrain the rising cost of Medicaid without compromising the vital role of the program in ensuring access to essential health services for the needy. In the first session of the 104th Congress, legislation was passed that would have replaced the Medicaid program and its entitlement to low-income people with a block grant to the states providing broad discretion over program structure in return for a cap on federal spending. Under the Balanced Budget Act of 1995, federal spending on the program would have been reduced by $163 billion over the next seven years. President Clinton vetoed that legislation in December 1995 and offered his own approach to Medicaid reform as part of his balanced budget plan. The President's plan would retain the Medicaid entitlement, reduce federal spending by $55 billion over the next seven years, and provide more flexibility to the states to increase managed care enrollment and set provider payment rates. The National Governors Association (Nga) Medicaid Proposal The proposal to restructure Medicaid adopted by the nation's Governors at the National Governors Association meeting on February 6, 1996 represents their effort to find common ground in the stalemate between the President and the Congress over how to restrain Medicaid spending, provide more flexibility to states, and protect coverage for the most vulnerable low-income Americans. The proposal attempts to balance concerns over maintaining health coverage for low-income Americans with the desire for greater control over program structure and dollars. The extent to which the plan achieves this balance and what would be gained or lost in the restructuring are critical to understanding the potential impact of the proposal. My testimony today will focus on the issues and questions raised by the NGA resolution. However, the effects of this plan cannot be easily assessed with only the NGA's six-page resolution that outlines their proposal for restructuring the program. When the details of the proposal become available, the Kaiser Commission on the Future of Medicaid intends to analyze its impact and effects on a state-by-state basis and would be pleased to submit our analysis for the record at that time. The Impact of the NGA Proposal on Medicaid Coverage of the Low-Income Population Under current law, Medicaid provides an entitlement to health insurance coverage for low-income families and aged and disabled individuals. This means that individuals who meet the income, assets, and categorical requirements for Medicaid coverage are eligible to receive a defined set of benefits and can enforce their right to eligibility and benefits in federal or state court. The entitlement thus has three components: defined criteria for eligibility, established benefits, and a legal right to enforcement. Today, to be eligible to receive federal Medicaid matching payments, the federal statute requires states participating in Medicaid to cover and provide basic benefits to certain low-income groups, most notably recipients of cash assistance under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, low-income pregnant women and young children, and elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries with incomes below 120 percent of the federal poverty level. In addition to these basic coverage and benefit requirements, states have the option to cover other low-income groups who are not receiving cash assistance and to provide more comprehensive benefits, such as prescription drugs and dental care, and still receive federal matching payments. Approximately two-thirds of current program beneficiaries are covered due to federal requirements, with the remaining one-third covered at state option. As a result, the scope of coverage of the poverty population varies significantly across states. The NGA proposal appears to redefine the nature of the entitlement and to provide states with more discretion over the populations to be covered and the benefits to be provided. It would protect the coverage of certain populations currently entitled to Medicaid, but would leave other groups with an entitlement under current federal law to be covered at the option of the state. Under the NGA proposal, protected groups include low-income children under age 13 and pregnant women, the elderly who receive SSI cash assistance, and welfare recipients (as determined by the states). The disabled are listed as a protected group but, instead of using the national SSI disability standards, determining the definition of “disability” is left to each state. Although states would be permitted to use Medicaid funds for coverage of individuals with income up to 275 percent of the poverty level, no assurances are made for many individuals with required coverage under current law. Most notably, the NGA proposal would repeal the bi-partisan Congressional agreement signed into law by President Bush to phase in Medicaid coverage to 3 million poor children ages 13 to 18 by 2002 and to have Medicaid pay the Medicare premiums for 2 million elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries with incomes between 100 and 120 percent of the federal poverty level. Under the proposal, continued coverage for the 6 million disabled beneficiaries and 1.5 million nursing home residents would depend on how states define disability and how they cover long-term care benefits. The 4 million Medicare beneficiaries with incomes below the poverty level who rely on Medicaid to pay their Medicare premiums ($42.50), Part A deductibles ($736.00), and cost-sharing are assured coverage only for cost-sharing. Payment of Medicare premiums and the deductible is unclear. Even those with assured eligibility have uncertain coverage under the NGA proposal because there are no minimum standards for the benefits to be offered to those with “guaranteed” coverage. States would be required to offer a set of services, but would have “complete flexibility” to determine the amount, duration, and scope of services provided. They would no longer be required to provide benefits at levels sufficient to meet medical necessity. This latitude in determining the scope of benefits would allow states to set absolute limits on the number of hospital days or the number of physician visits covered, resulting in wide variation across states in what is actually covered for the “guaranteed” Medicaid population. There are no specifications for benefits to individuals covered at state option under the proposal. In addition, the proposal would apparently eliminate the current requirement that benefits be offered “statewide” and be “comparable” across eligibility groups. This means that states could offer benefits packages that differ by county or geographic region. States could also offer various levels of benefits to individuals with different medical conditions. Finally, by redefining the “T” in Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services, fewer services would be guaranteed for children. Under the NGA proposal, individuals would lose their private right of action in federal courts to enforce eligibility and benefits. They would be permitted to bring suit in state court only after going through a state-determined appeals process and state remedies. Providers would be prohibited from initiating suits on behalf of patients. This means that beneficiaries would no longer have a right to seek a remedy for the deprivation of medical care in federal courts if they felt a state was violating federal Medicaid law. Moreover, it means that the due process rights of individuals would be defined in the states and thus could differ across the country. Taken together, the uncertainty surrounding the eligibility guarantee, broadened flexibility in determining services, and the restriction of the private right of action to the state courts raise many questions that need to be addressed before the impact of this proposal can be assessed: - What kind of coverage would ultimately be guaranteed to individuals and how would this guarantee be enforced? Who would lose guaranteed eligibility? What benefits would be provided to non-guaranteed groups? - How much latitude would states have in determining the definition of the disabled? Could states exclude specific groups, such as persons with AIDS, or limit their access to vital drugs and services? - Would states only be obligated to pay for cost-sharing under Medicare and not Medicare premiums or deductibles for Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs) with income below the poverty level? What happens to coverage of Medicare beneficiaries with incomes between 100 and 120 percent of the poverty level? - Would states have to meet minimum standards for scope of benefits related to medical necessity? How widely could benefits and coverage vary within states? These are issues that need to be resolved in order to understand the impact of the NGA proposal on coverage of the low-income population. Previous work done by the Kaiser Commission has documented thewide variations across states in their current coverage of the low-income population and role of federal minimum coverage standards in providing a national floor for coverage of low-income children and pregnant women and aged and disabled individuals. Moreover, research shows that expansions in Medicaid coverage of the low-income population over the last decade have mitigated the growth in America's uninsured population by offsetting the decline in employer-based insurance (Figure 6). Maintaining insurance coverage for the low-income population is a daunting task for both the states and the federal government. In 1993, in 38 states and the District of Columbia, more than one-quarter of the non-elderly population was either on Medicaid or uninsured and, in 9 states and the District of Columbia, over one-third of the non-elderly population was uninsured or on Medicaid (Figure 7). The potential impact of the NGA proposal on state-level differences in the availability of health insurance coverage has both state and national implications and warrants careful consideration. Impact of the NGA Proposal on State Flexibility To contain costs, states are seeking greater flexibility over how they structure the delivery of services and pay providers. Today, most states are aggressively trying to move many of their low-income beneficiaries, especially children and adults in low-income families, from fee-for-service care into managed care plans (Figure 8). This year, 30 percent of Medicaid enrollees nationwide will receive care from Medicaid managed care plans. Many states are planning to expand managed care enrollment to disabled beneficiaries, although there is only limited experience in managed care for this population. However, many states have wanted to move more swiftly, rely more heavily on Medicaid-specific plans, and require more mandatory enrollment than the federal statute permits. Many have sought waivers of federal law in order to implement their managed care plans, but the process has often been both cumbersome and constraining for states. The NGA proposal would address these concerns by allowing states to pursue managed care without the need for federal approval and without imposing requirements on the types of plans that can be used for mandatory enrollment of Medicaid beneficiaries. The NGA proposal would also increase states' ability to set payment rates and conditions of participation for health plans and providers. The Boren Amendment, which currently mandates that state payment rates for hospitals and nursing facilities be “reasonable and adequate” to meet the costs incurred by “efficiently and economically operated” facilities, would be repealed. Providers would no longer have a right to sue over the adequacy of payment. Also, when a state pays for cost-sharing for care received by Medicare beneficiaries who also qualify for Medicaid, the proposal would allow states to use the generally lower Medicaid payment rate instead of the Medicare payment rate as payment in full. The proposal does not address the standards for many providers (for example, for intermediate-care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR) or home health agencies). Federal nursing home standards enacted in 1987 to replace variable state standards with uniform national requirements to protect the health and safety of nursing home residents would remain in effect, but responsibility for enforcement would be moved from the federal to state governments. Allowing states greater flexibility over the organization of services, the setting and enforcement of quality standards for health plans and other providers, and the payment rates for provider raises a number of questions to be considered in assessing the NGA proposal: - Will states continue to provide insurance coverage to Medicaid beneficiaries or will they be permitted to limit coverage to a provider network, such as state hospitals and clinics? - How will increased reliance on managed care and changes in provider payment affect the safety-net providers that have traditionally served this population? Will beneficiaries have a choice of plan? - Will plans or providers be willing to participate in the program with further declines in payment rates? What will lower payment rates mean for beneficiary access? - Will states shift Medicaid dollars from current services to support state-run services, such as inpatient mental health facilities? - What standards will be used for plan or provider participation and how will quality be enforced? - Without federal standards and enforcement, will quality of care in nursing homes and ICF/MRs decline? Previous research has shown that access to care for low-income populations can be impaired if payment rates are inadequate to guarantee provider participation and if quality standards are weak or poorly enforced. In many states, physicians are already unwilling to see Medicaid patients because payment rates are so much lower than private rates. The move to managed care is an attempt to secure a provider network, but the success of managed care depends in large part on the future adequacy of the capitation rates and the ability to maintain access to care. As states move to implement managed care and cost-containment programs, attention must be given to safeguarding the quality of care and access to care for poor and vulnerable populations that do not have the financial resources to go “outside the Medicaid system” to obtain care. Impact of the NGA Proposal on Federal and State Roles Under current law, Medicaid is a federal/state partnership in which federal funds flow to match state expenditures as enrollment and service costs rise. The federal share of costs is determined by a formula based on state per capita income and the amount of federal funds to any state is determined both by the matching formula and the level of state expenditures. Federal costs increase as state expenditures grow. In times of recession when Medicaid enrollment increases, federal funds expand to meet the federal share of growth in state expenditures. The NGA proposal seeks to define and limit federal and state financial responsibilities for coverage of the poor, but provides increased federal funds to states to accommodate growth in beneficiaries. The proposal would limit federal spending by establishing a limited or maximum allocation of federal funds. Although the details are unspecified, the proposal would establish a base allocation to states, and would allow growth (through a growth factor and an “insurance umbrella”) in that allocation to reflect increases in the population served by the program. In addition, special federal funds would be provided to certain states to provide care to native Americans and to illegal aliens. Finally, the proposal would increase the minimum federal requirement from the current 50 percent to 60 percent of total spending under the program. Current restrictions on provider taxes and donations as sources of state matching funds would be eliminated. The NGA proposal leaves considerable uncertainty as to the sufficiency of federal or state funding to maintain current levels of coverage. If either federal or state funding fails to reflect changes or growth in the covered populations or increases in the overall cost of health care, either people will go without care or providers will be left to shoulder the burden. At the federal level, the NGA proposal leaves uncertain what growth rates will apply to federal funds and the circumstances under which the “umbrella funds” will be made available. Both are critical to assuring that states have adequate federal dollars available to serve their populations, as economic and demographic circumstances change. At the state level, the proposal creates uncertainty about state obligations to provide adequate matching funds for Medicaid. New opportunities to use provider taxes and donations, as well as decreases in state matching rates, create the potential for a substantial reduction in state funds for care for the poor. The proposed restructuring of the federal and state partnership also raises the issue of state accountability for the use of federal funds. Under current law, the federal government finances over half of the Medicaid program's costs. Under the NGA proposal, the federal share would increase from 56 percent of program costs to more than 60 percent. Further consideration of the NGA proposal therefore requires answers to several critical questions: - Will sufficient federal dollars be available to reflect changing economic and demographic circumstances in the states? - Will states sustain financial support for Medicaid in response to lower matching requirements and the reopening of provider taxes and donations as a way to augment state spending? - Will the federal and state governments shift burdens to safety-net providers? How will uncompensated care be handled? - How will states be held accountable for the use of federal dollars? What safeguards will there be on inappropriate use of federal taxpayer dollars? What oversight and sanctions will the federal government have? The structure and adequacy of the financing are fundamental to understanding how this proposal would affect coverage of the low-income population and program costs. Recent experience with Medicaid clearly shows that the “financing rules” can result in wide funding disparities across states, as evidenced by the rapid growth in DSH spending and the concentration of this money in 15 states. Given the fiscal constraints at the state level and the downsizing of state governments now underway, the capacity of the states to accept and manage the broadened responsibility under this proposal warrants careful consideration. The Challenges Facing Medicaid There are no simple solutions to reducing the cost of providing care to the 36 million Americans who now rely on Medicaid or the millions more who fall just beyond its reach. There are only hard choices. The Medicaid program is currently set up as an entitlement for low-income, elderly, and disabled Americans, just as health insurance for workers and Medicare for older people entitle them to benefits. Medicaid is also an entitlement to states for federal matching funds for individuals and services that fall within federal guidelines. Simply put, individuals are currently guaranteed coverage if they meet the eligibility requirements and states are guaranteed fiscal assistance for themselves and their low-income residents. In addition, the matching funds provided by the federal government through Medicaid enable states to respond to changes in the economy that affect the number of poor and uninsured in each state, to accommodate population growth, and to undertake health and long-term care reform at the state level. Programmatic changes such as the ones before us today will inevitably affect the poor, the old, the disabled, and the children protected by Medicaid, simply by altering the conditions upon which states and beneficiaries have come to rely. While the states have argued that with greater flexibility they can run their programs to do more while spending fewer dollars, the details underneath the sweeping term “flexibility” are likely to entail limits on eligibility and benefits, cuts in provider payment, and the imposition of cost-sharing and premiums for the poor. The Kaiser Commission's report, “Cutting Medicaid Spending in Response to Budget Caps,” examines the choices available to the states to reduce spending without cutting eligibility and shows how difficult it will be to implement these options. Even the most aggressive implementation of managed care with the enrollment of some of the disabled population is unlikely to provide overall savings in Medicaid spending of more than 5 percent because of the limited experience with coverage of the elderly and disabled and the high cost of their care, especially long-term care services. There is no magic or painless solution-no magic wand of flexibility that can provide medical care and long-term care to one in eight Americans at a dramatically lower cost. Broadened use of managed care will require time to implement and even then will not accomplish big overall savings for Medicaid unless extended to the elderly and disabled populations, both groups with limited managed care experience. Changes in the delivery system can be made to accomplish savings but, in order to be effective and preserve access to needed services, these changes will require time to implement and the development of an adequate infrastructure to deliver care. Since its enactment in 1965, Medicaid has improved access to health care for the poor, pioneered innovations in health delivery and community-based long-term care services, and stood alone as a primary source of public assistance with nursing home care. Despite gaps in coverage and rising costs, together, the federal government and state governments have much to be proud of in Medicaid's accomplishments. Restraining the rising cost of care for the vulnerable populations served by Medicaid without compromising the vital safety net role of the program is a daunting task. A dramatic devolution of the federal government's responsibility for Medicaid to the states will not solve the problem of maintaining Medicaid's safety net responsibilities; it will merely shift the hard choices and responsibilities to the state governments that are already struggling with their own fiscal problems. Thank you. National Governors Association Proposal on Medicaid: Report Chart Pack

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Gender and Society 16: pp. 155-174 - Title - Antiracist Education in Theory and Practice: A Critical Assessment - Journal - The American Sociologist Volume 38, Issue 2 , pp 159-177 - Cover Date - 2007-06-01 - DOI - 10.1007/s12108-007-9006-x - Print ISSN - 0003-1232 - Online ISSN - 1936-4784 - Publisher - Springer US - Additional Links - - Authors - Jack Niemonen (1) - Author Affiliations - 1. Department of Anthropology & Sociology, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark St., Vermillion, SD, 57069-2390, USA

. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. "All I can say is wow." That sums it up nicely. Up until now I thought it the rules were some kind of fan project. What excites me even more, tho, is the prospect of an advancing story-line. Over the last few years, i've read tons ob BL-books and to be honest - they really felt stagnant and repetetive lately... So an advance in the storyline would be HUGE for the whole 40k-background! Lucius I don't really believe this. No way GW wants to get rid of the standard 40k rulebooks. They sell! FAQ's and Eratta's don't. BTW the game will become so much more extensive with a lot of FAQ's various rulebooks/ruleupdates and eratta's. I think the new 6th edition rules are legit, but they will appear in a book this year. Don't forget that first and foremost, GW is a miniature making company. Selling rulebooks is the needed bad thing, but most of their income is comingfrom plastic dudesmen. Rulebooks can be downloaded (not saying that's legal or people should do it) but plastic guys can't. Concentrating on making figures for EVERY entry in a codex would increase quality, increase number of players (because people will not get disapointed like Nid players currently are), a would make ot possible to avoid legal frauds like what Chapterhouse did to the Tervigon. Focusing on the core thing your company makes it's living from is just the way it should be. Makind an expandable core ruleset is just the dream that we all want to come true I think. Having books printed out makes it harder to fix errors. Having downloadable pdf rulebooks makes ot possible to release a "patched" version easily. Just add a version to the rulebook pdf, and that's it. We shall see, because the leaked ruleset seems really awesome aside from a few little annoyances. I'm really looking forward to this summer! I think of it like this Mike, if GW is looking at a plan like this, they could keep 6th edition around for a long long time. That could literally mean, a complete set of codices before another addition, which I do not think they have ever done. They would be able to sell a lot of rulebooks still, just for the current addition. Afterall GW's marketing plan should concentrate on bringing new players to the game, and getting older players to buy new armies. They could also release an updated errated rulebook. True, but it will get very messy with all kinds of documents, codexes, updates etc. Not particularly streamlining 40k what they wanted, remember 'one book to rule them all'-rumor. I do get excited for the new rules (seems like GW is finally listening!), i don't want to carry a sh*tload of paper with me everytime I want to play though. Furthermore, what if some of my friends aren't into the internet that much. I have to keep them posted that they have the latest edition of the rules and their codex (!). That's insane. Really like you blog though :) Nice rumour section; very up to date, unlike the the codexes... I think this has been in the works so long, and is so well-defined, that there will be no need for erratas or FAQs for some time. The problem of making old armies unviable has been one to plague 40k the past few years. I know a number of people who have left the hobby because their rules have become obsolete, and therefore, their armies. GW taking the long view and making rules to last is at least a new strategy to make the hobby better, instead of making the same old mistakes. Also, just as an example, take a look at Privateer Press. Their business model is rather brilliant as it allows them to put out a constant stream of models for every faction. This does mean a ton of play testing and having to manage a lot of balance issues and documents. On the other hand it means a constant stream of new products to offer. Getting away from rule books and possibly going back to the old Codex Approved units allows for more product variation. That means more money over the course of a fiscal year and it looks way better to investors. That is a lot better than only having 4-5 major releases and maybe 3-6 minor ones. a friend of mine knows a guy wich is friends with a guy who is best friends with a nother guy who works for GW. And he says GW is planing something big!!!! Sounds like plastik Warlord-Titan to me :) Early Aprils fools? Seriously, this sounds really good. Too good to be true? Guess we'll find out in four years time. To answer the question: "Would you like to see these things come true?" YES!!! Wow... It all makes sense, though, from a marketing point of view. If the rules team only neEd to work on the codices, they can make sure all armies are almost equally powerful, and concentrate on models. If a new edition means players spending around £50, then they will now have spare money to spend on the exciting new sets, which (without realising) they will be drawn into, and probably generate a fairly steady income for Games Workshop. What companies try to avoid is having bursts of money spending, and instead have a consistent amount of money pouring in. Also, I want to see the story move on, and see Chaos finally assault Terra once again (or go pre-heresy and re-enact the original)! I have to say I read the leaked rulebook and thought it was certainly plausible if an early draft so this isn't much of a shock. They're basically saying they want to do what other systems do and just release updates rather than whole new editions. "...It is criminal that GW has not made a game supplement for the most exciting part of the game background (Horus Heresy) and who wouldn’t want to use Primarchs and the Emperor and Horus in games? That would be awesome..." They should really discover the Horus Heresy game by Fantasy Flight that I picked up a while ago and I'm thoroughly enjoying - I plan to review it on my blog soon. The FFG Horus Heresy board game is actually a redo of the Games Workshop 'Wargame Series' boardgame of the same name from the 90's. I know, I still have it! I also have the WD supplement add-on board and rules for teleporting the Emperor onto Horus' flagship for the final battle. There were two other games in the series: 1. The Battle for Armageddon - refighting the 2nd War for Armageddon between Ghazghkull and Yarrick's planetary defense forces and the Marine cavalry racing to the rescue. 2. The Death of Iyanden - detailing the defense of Iyanden Craftworld against the invading Tyranids waves. They were really great boardgames in the spirit of old-school Avalon Hill or GDW Europa WWII wargames (although nowhere near as many chits involved.) The figures with the new FFG version are a welcome change over the little cardboard counters of the original version. They're really great board wargames if you feel like hunting them down. Wow, I totally forgot about those games. I had the white dwarf death of iyanden game and played it tons. Man white dwarf used to be a great magazine (though its gotten a lot better in the last year). I don't know about moving the time line forward, but exploring 30k would be awesome. I want these rules to be as real as much as the next person, and I personally believe they are, but I have to ask, why does this suddenly mean they're legitimate? It's a very bold statement to say that they've now been "declared real", when all we have is another shadowy source, and the word of an internet personality. Now I respect the guys over at Frontline Gaming - they're one of my favorite sites for 40k in general, and I in no way mean to tarnish their good word, since they've never given us any reason to doubt them - but this is not proof, this is hear-say, and it leaves the matter no more decided than it was a week ago when these rules first hit the web. Legitimate meaning not fake, made up, someones idea of a joke or a lie. These rules may be altered, binned or given the thumbs-up. But at least these are real at time of being leaked. That's what I believe 'legitimate' means here. I understand that - but we still have no proof to that effect. I'm sorry, but "A source of ours who knows people who knows people, etc..." does not qualify as evidence. I mean we have Blood of Kittens saying the same thing but from the other angle; his sources at, close to, or otherwise connected with GW say that the rules are decidedly not theirs, and he's not the only one making claims of knowing someone over there who's saying that. Beyond that, last week already established that these sites aren't beyond trolling us - reported on this very site was 3++'s Abusepuppy pranking the entire community with his "source". Look, I think these rules are legit for a variety of reasons - but none of them include a fan-run site, no matter how professional or stand-up it may be, declaring them as such. I don't expect anyone to give up their sources either, which is why this style of argument, this kind of "proof" will never be accepted by me, and shouldn't by the community at large. If it makes you feel better about the whole thing - that's great, but it doesn't make it cement, and Frontline Gaming themselves even say that at the end of their rumor post. These rules are not legit - not yet. True. It is from the whole troll experience that I'm still unsure about the rumour. If you look at my first reaction I, not for the first time, asked 'early Aprils fool?' Life has taught me one lesson: "Nothing is real until it is proven." I'd love to see Tyranids and Necrons in February, but won't be certain about it until I see the leaked pictures here, advance orders on the GW website, or have a WD in my hands. Let's not forget the 'Tau on the back on January WD'. Same here: when I have the rulebook in my hands, turning the pages and reading the rules, that will be when the rumours will be proven legit or le fake. What makes me 'feel better'? Patiently waiting for the truth to reveal itself. Doesn't stop me enjoying the 'what if' though. You misunderstand. Natfka isn't declaring the rules legit, he's reporting that Reecius is. This is a rumor from a source. The rumor declares the leak to be legit. As always with rumors (as I say above in the post), please take with salt. @ Timber: You're right, he is, and that wasn't lost on me either. My issue comes with the tone of his first and only paragraph - it reads as a total endorsement of what comes next. This kind of side-taking always feels like it's aimed at influencing the opinion of an audience, just like the title of the article did. But to be honest, there's nothing wrong with that, having an agenda and an opinion is what makes an author unique - it's why I read here in the first place. But if I disagree, well, I feel that's what the comment's box is for. @ Naftka: I always appreciate an author who will take time to respond to a critic. I enjoy your blog thoroughly, and I hope you don't find anything I say disheartening. This whole 6th Ed thing has been a train-wreck of information, and I always feel the need to throw down some text when I feel I've got something to add to the conversation - even if that's just me disagreeing with whatever facts have been presented. But above all, thanks for the quality blog - I appreciate it. Its all well and good to say "this is the new ruleset and its good for years so re-joyce in that, however some of the rules I have seen are utterly horrible so I can honestly say, I hope the leaked rules get a lot of tweaking before they come out as in that state I would quit for sure. I almost wonder if this is a case of the game designers leaking something they wish they could do, hoping the buzz online gets so big the bean counters take note. I've heard that over the past ten years there has been a gradual shift in power at GW. I've heard that one, by one as the old guard Andy and Rick for sure, left that what clout the design team had was largely eroded and now most big decisions are corporate they based 100% on marketing and sales. Ya ya I know "GW is a business they have to make money" don't whack me with the fanboy cliche just yet. At any point I've heard that shift has really upset the apple cart so to speak in terms of how they do things. More and more each year they tighten the screws and shift how things are done. I along with many people sort of entered the GW hobby during the "golden age" of the 90s-early 2000s when the guys who created the game (Rick Priestley) and built it into what it is were still with the company so alot of deference was paid to them. Now that they are gone ... that is gone ... and GW is alot more like WoTC these days than not. So I do wonder if maybe some of the design team has gone a bit rogue here ... hoping to have some ammo in their bandoleer to use against the bean counters and lawyers when they try to sell the idea. I think the new rule-set from what I've seen is horrible for the hardcore bell of lost souls math hammer indie-GT tournament guys. Looks like it has potential for good friendly gaming though. I'm thinking its a fake just because it appears less tournament friendly. I have to visit them salt mines in Poland before I can get behind these rumours but thanks for sharing it here Natfka! I damned near spat mountain dew across my keyboard reading that!!! Sounds like they are taking a page from privateer press's book. If that's the case, I'll definitely be getting back into 40k! Well, good thing the leak is true, only thing to make it perfect would be geting a cheap rulebook (portable dimension, no hardcover) to spare some money for another monolith (which would be somewhat better with the new edition). I hope they manage to balance the rules fairly and to spell them clearly. Mathematically speaking the Necron codex is a fine piece of art, linguistically I've read better (even if I think in 6th perspective). Anyway I really like the look of the new edition, let's hope it won't disappoint us. Why dont they make the rules available on the internet and they can change them as they see fit much like computer games, why not sell keys to the rulebook and they can update it as they see fit, it would make a lot of sense to do so i would like to play some games in the 30k millenium, it would be sth new and fresh even if we talk about 10,000 years back. Legit? Not according to warseer Is anyone worried that if these roumers become true then assult is BEFORE shooting. that might make all games ever NOT FUN. just a thought though, im not saying it will, im just worried that it might. Assault before shooting wont ruin the fun of the game. It's going to change how you play that is all. My personal opinion is that we will see a lot of changes "IF" this PDF is real since it still leaves out a bunch of things. Like Turbo Boosting is now Flat Out but there's no mention in the rules stating this. What I am a little surprised is no one has compared the PDF to the 6th Edition Rumors flying around. according to GW the ruleset is NOT legit and they are choosing to ignore all the rumour mongering.That is 100% what is going on and so all the above cannot be true. FACT do you really expect GW to say yes its legit? Seriously? It could be an old revision hence all the grammar errors and missing sections and abruptly finishing/starting paragraphs. Only way to know for sure is when the rulebook is released and in hand. I see reasons for both sides of the coin. So I will sit on it on the 50-50 fence. moving to a system that wouldn't require new editions would require serious playtesting and errat's on a consistent basis, something GW has been unable or unwilling to do. Call me a skeptic but unless they made some actual changes to the way they make the game (with GW's culture of complacency I doubt it) then they're still going to run into the same problems they've always had. Also having the title "Leaked 6th Edition Rules Declared Legit" when its actually just another "my friend who's friend works at GW" post is just a tad misleading This is a rumor and news site. When a rumor declares the leak legit, its not misleading, as that is what the rumor is saying. Wait until the morning when I post up a counter rumor to this one. Saying that "we know where this leak came from" Grain of salt? Hell yes. To fake a supposedly leaked document at least takes some work so I'll be inclined to believe a document is real. Someone who knows someone who knows someone who might be in the know is just worthless. I'd rather believe someone's trying to setup GW with those rumours, as people will have so high expectations that they might be disappointed when the real thing is released. shoot, does anyone have a link to the 6th ed rules pdf that apparently is legit now? also, my thoughts on assault before shooting: it would weaken assaults. There would be no "Soften up a unit before charging in" it would be "Do you want to shoot at the unit or assault it?" good or bad? I think bad. You would just shoot at them one turn early. Blam, just like Downy. I've read through it (hell I even printed it off.....lol) and I have to say that I like what I've read. Somebody has put a lot of effort into it (read Hours and hours and hours), if it ain't a GW staffer they bloody well should be!! How GW have responded is typically GW (They are probably so mad they've nailed somebody to a wall as an object lesson..) So the 'Game Cycle' has changed....so what?. It looks like it could be a great deal of fun and tactically and strategically more chalenging to play. Hell, to be honest I don't care if GW publish it or not, it's still a nice rule set which I can play now anyway....lol. So who ever wrote it 'Thank you' hope to see more of your work. As much as this seems legit let's face it. An ENTIRE rulebook leaked with no viable source? Also gw release the apocalypse rulebook which is a $50 US expansion. Now explain why would gw put the $50 apocalypse rulebook into a possibly $50 book that contains the regular rules? Wouldn't they lose money by that? The layout of the (alleged) 6th edition rulebook is so bad(half the special rules in one part of the book and half the rules in another part just like 5th edition) that it has to be Games Workshop. If you don't want to follow that logic(how could you not/sarcasm) Games Workshop is not going to declare the new edition as real until it is sitting on a shelf with a price tag (and knowing them a high one), because otherwise people would stop buying 5th edition rulebooks. In addition to the poster above apocalypse never really took off anyway so they have more to gain by selling a new 6th edition rulebook than hoping for people to suddenly embrace apocalypse which you have to be an imperial guard player to win. Anyway one interesting thing is when 6th edition rolls around Robin Cruddance is going to go from tyranid players most hated enemy to their best friend and object of eternal gratitude real quick. Also Pyrovore now awesome.

55 F.3d 686 Util. L. Rep. P 14,041 NORTHEAST UTILITIES SERVICE COMPANY, Petitioner, v. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, Respondent. No. 94-1948. United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit. Heard April 3, 1995. Decided May 23, 1995. J.A. Bouknight, Jr., with whom David B. Raskin, Edward J. Twomey, Newman, Bouknight & Edgar, P.C., Washington, DC, and Frederic Lee Klein, Asst. Gen. Counsel, Northeast Utilities Service Co., Hartford, CT, were on brief for petitioner. Randolph Lee Elliott, Attorney, with whom Susan Tomasky, Gen. Counsel, and Jerome M. Feit, Sol., F.E.R.C., Washington, DC, were on brief for respondent. Before TORRUELLA, Chief Judge, BOWNES, Senior Circuit Judge, and SELYA, Circuit Judge. BOWNES, Senior Circuit Judge. The main issue in this case is whether the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) complied with our mandate in Northeast Utilities Service Co. v. FERC, 993 F.2d 937 (1st Cir.1993) (Northeast I ) and applied the "public interest" test in ordering the modification of a wholesale electric power contract. In Northeast I we upheld FERC's decision conditionally approving the merger of Northeast Utilities (NU) and the Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH). Before us also was the objection of Northeast Utilities Service Company (NUSCO) to the Commission's modification of the rate schedules filed by NUSCO. The rate schedules were part of a wholesale electric power contract (the Seabrook Power Contract) among NU, PSNH and the State of New Hampshire. Under the contract each party waived its right to file a complaint under Sec. 206(a) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) concerning the specified rates. Each party also agreed "that in any proceeding by the FERC under Section 206 the FERC shall not change the rate charged under this Agreement unless such rate is found to be contrary to the public interest." FERC was not a party to the contract. Section 206(a) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 824e provides:. Invoking its power under Sec. 206(a), the Commission examined the terms and conditions of the Seabrook Power contract. FERC found that the contract might unduly discriminate against entities not parties to it and that there was no genuine arms-length bargaining because the agreement was negotiated at a time when NU and PSNH were about to merge and assume identical interests. It ordered NUSCO to make three changes in the contract to bring it within the "just and reasonable" standard of Sec. 206(a): (1) delete the automatically adjusting rate-of-return-on-equity provision; (2) reduce the current rate-of-return-on-equity used to derive the rate for Seabrook power; and (3) submit for Commission review an initial estimate of the cost of decommissioning the Seabrook Power Plant, which is an atomic energy facility. The reduction order (2) on the current rate of return on equity was not appealed. After summarizing the Mobile-Sierra "public interest" doctrine as explicated in Papago Tribal Authority v. FERC, 723 F.2d 950, 953 (D.C.Cir.1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1241, 104 S.Ct. 3511, 82 L.Ed.2d 820 (1984), we quoted the holding of the Commission that it had authority under the public interest standard to modify a contract where: it may be unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory or preferential to the detriment of purchasers that are not parties to the contract; it is not the result of arm's length bargaining; or it reflects circumstances where the seller has exercised market power over the purchaser. Northeast I, 993 F.2d at 961. We also pointed out the interpretation given to the holding by the Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"): The Commission made clear that in the particular circumstances surrounding the Seabrook contract, it retains powerthrough the "public interest" language--to make modifications under the traditional just and reasonable and nondiscrimination standards. Id. We found that the standard enunciated by the Commission and applied by the ALJ, "conflates the 'just and reasonable' and 'public interest' standards, thereby circumventing the Mobile- Sierra doctrine." Id. We stated that the Commission was bound to follow the Mobile- Sierra doctrine as explicated by Papago, and therefore should have evaluated the SPC under the public interest standard, not the just and reasonable standard. Id. We remanded the issue "for reconsideration by FERC under the public interest standard." Id. at 962. It is FERC's position that on remand it reconsidered its previously ordered modifications of the Seabrook Power contract under the public interest standard and affirmed the orders previously issued under that standard. NUSCO contends that FERC did not comply with our mandate but instead created a wholly new version of the public interest standard which is more flexible and less stringent than the judicially adopted public interest standard. Standard of Review Not surprisingly, the parties differ on the standard of review to be followed. FERC urges that we follow the same deferential standard as we did in our prior case: On review, we give great deference to the Commission's decision. U.S. Dep't of Interior v. FERC, 952 F.2d 538, 543 (D.C.Cir.1992). FERC's findings of fact are reviewed under the "substantial evidence" standard of review. 16 U.S.C. Sec. 825l ("The finding of the Commission as to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive."). ... "Pure" legal errors require no deference to agency expertise, and are reviewed de novo. Questions involving an interpretation of the FPA involve a de novo determination by the court of Congressional intent; if that intent is ambiguous, FERC's conclusion will only be rejected if it is unreasonable. Chevron USA v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 467 U.S. 837, 842-56, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 2781-83, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984); Boston Edison Co. v. FERC, 856 F.2d 361, 363 (1st Cir.1988). Northeast I, 993 F.2d at 943-44. NUSCO, on the other hand, plumps for the "law of the case" doctrine, arguing that we issued a mandate that had to be strictly construed and followed. In this circuit the "law of the case" doctrine has not been construed as an inflexible straitjacket that invariably requires rigid compliance with the terms of the mandate. In United States v. Connell, 6 F.3d 27, 31 (1st Cir.1993), we noted: To be sure, neither the law of the case doctrine nor its kissing cousin, the so-called "mandate rule," is designed to function as a straitjacket. Rather, these are discretion-guiding principles, generally thought to be subject to exceptions in the interests of justice. So also we said in United States v. Bell, 988 F.2d 247, 251 (1st Cir.1993): After all, the so-called "mandate rule," generally requiring conformity with the commands of a superior court on remand, is simply a specific application of the law of the case doctrine and, as such, is a discretion-guiding rule subject to an occasional exception in the interests of justice. In Doe v. Anrig, 728 F.2d 30, 31 (1st Cir.1984), Justice Breyer, then circuit judge, reached back to Judge Learned Hand and Justice Holmes for an explanation of the meaning of the law of the case doctrine:"). (Other citations omitted.) Under the circumstances, we will review the actions of FERC under the usual deferential standard, but always keeping in mind the restraints imposed on FERC by the terms of our mandate and the "law of the case" doctrine. The Case Law We think it necessary to revisit the Mobile- Sierra doctrine, which represents the Supreme Court's attempt to strike a balance between private contractual rights and the regulatory power to modify contracts when necessary to protect the public interest. We start with United Gas Pipe Line Co. v. Mobile Gas Corp., 350 U.S. 332, 76 S.Ct. 373, 100 L.Ed. 373 (1956). The issue in Mobile was, "whether under the Natural Gas Act ... a regulated natural gas company furnishing gas to a distributing company under a long-term contract may, without the consent of the distributing company, change the rate specified in the contract simply by filing a new rate schedule with the Federal Power Commission." Id. at 333-34, 76 S.Ct. at 375 (statutory citation omitted). The facts can be summarized as follows. Mobile Gas Service (Mobile) was a distributor of natural gas to users (domestic and industrial) in Mobile, Alabama. Mobile obtained its gas from United Gas Co. (United). In 1946 the Ideal Cement Company (Ideal) decided to build a cement plant in the city if it could be assured gas supplied at a sufficiently low rate. Mobile agreed to supply Ideal with gas for ten years at 12 cents per MCF (thousand cubic feet). Before entering into the contract with Ideal, Mobile obtained from United a ten-year contract to supply gas to Mobile for resale to Ideal at the rate of 10.7 cents per MCF. This was a substantially lower rate than other gas furnished by United. This contract was filed with the Federal Power Commission and with its approval, became a part of United's filed schedule of rates and contracts. In June of 1953, United, without the consent of Mobile, filed new rate schedules with the Commission purporting to increase the rate on gas to be sold by Mobile to Ideal to 14.5 cents per MCF. Id. at 335-36, 76 S.Ct. at 375-77. The Court held that the Natural Gas Act did not give natural gas companies the right to change their rate contracts unilaterally. Id. at 337, 76 S.Ct. at 377. The Court noted that the Act "evinces no purpose to abrogate private rate contracts as such." Id. at 338, 76 S.Ct. at 378. It pointed out that the public interest was protected by the supervision of the individual rate contracts filed with the Commission. Id. at 339, 76 S.Ct. at 378. The Court explained its rationale as follows:. Id. at 344, 76 S.Ct. at 380-81 (emphasis added). We make two observations. First, the obvious, that the facts of Mobile are quite different from those in the case at bar. The issue here is not whether one party to a rate contract filed with FERC can effect a rate change unilaterally, but the standard to be used by FERC in examining electric power contracts filed with it. Our second observation is that nowhere in the Supreme Court opinion is the term "public interest" defined. Indeed, the Court seems to assume that the Commission decides what circumstances give rise to the public interest. We next examine the other leg of the Mobile- Sierra doctrine, FPC v. Sierra Pacific Power Co., 350 U.S. 348, 76 S.Ct. 368, 100 L.Ed. 388 (1956), which came down on the same day as Mobile and was also written by Justice Harlan. In Sierra, the Court, for the reasons given in Mobile, held that the filing of a new rate by an electric power utility (Pacific Gas & Electric Company) and the finding of the Federal Power Commission that such new rate was not unlawful, could not change Pacific Gas' contract rate for supplying electricity to Sierra Pacific Power Co. Id. at 352-53, 76 S.Ct. at 371-72. The Court addressed a second question, not present in Mobile, which directly involved the "public interest" doctrine. In its decision finding that the new rate was lawful, the Commission held that the old contract rate was unreasonable solely "because it yields less than a fair return on the net invested capital." Id. at 354-55, 76 S.Ct. at 372. The Court held: Sec. 206(a) is the protection of the public interest, as distinguished from the private interests of the utilities, is evidenced by the recital in Sec. 201 of the Act that the scheme of regulation imposed "is necessary in the public interest." When Sec. 206(a) is read in the light of this purpose, it is clear that a contract may not be said to be either "unjust" or "unreasonable" simply because it is unprofitable to the public utility. Id. at 355, 76 S.Ct. at 372 (citation omitted) (emphasis added). The holding of Sierra is clear; what justifies protective action in the public interest by the Commission when it is considering whether a contract rate is too low is where the rate might impair the financial ability of the utility to continue to supply electricity, force electricity consumers to bear an excessive burden, or be unduly discriminatory. This definition of what is necessary in the public interest was formulated in the context of a low-rate case. It was not and could not be an across-the-board definition of what constitutes the public interest in other types of cases. One of the orders at issue in the case at bar is the submission by NUSCO to FERC of the cost of decommissioning the Seabrook Power Plant. The other order had to do with changing the rate of return-on-equity formula. Neither were low-rate issues in the context of Mobile and Sierra. The next case directly implicated in our remand order is Papago Tribal Authority v. FERC, 723 F.2d 950 (D.C.Cir.1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1241, 104 S.Ct. 3511, 82 L.Ed.2d 820 (1984). This was also a low-rate case. The facts may be summarized as follows. The Commission approved an increase in electric rates paid to the Arizona Public Service Company. The Papago Tribal Utility Authority objected on the ground, inter alia, that its contract with Arizona did not permit unilaterally proposed rate changes under Sec. 205 of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 824d. Id. at 951-52. At issue was the interpretation of the contract between Arizona and Papago and the authority of the Commission to modify it. The contract provided in pertinent part: The rates hereinabove set out in this Section 3 ... are to remain in effect for the initial one (1) year of the term of this contract and thereafter unless and until changed by the Federal Power Commission or other lawful regulatory authority, with either party hereto to be free unilaterally to take appropriate action before the Federal Power Commission or other lawful regulatory authority in connection with changes which may be desired by such party. Id. at 953. Papago, like the case before us, was an appeal after a remand. In the first appeal the court held that the contract did not permit unilaterally effected rate increases under Sec. 205 of the Act. The Federal Power Commission held in its Order on Remand that after its first year, the contract permitted changes under Sec. 206 of the Act on the basis of a just and reasonable standard. The court agreed and interpreted the contract as follows: "the restriction envisioned during the first year of the contract must allow rate changes required by the public interest. The scheme to be in effect 'thereafter'--obviously intended to be less restrictive--must therefore permit changes that are just and reasonable." Papago, 723 F.2d at 954. During the course of its opinion the court quoted the "public interest" standard from Sierra, 350 U.S. at 355, 76 S.Ct. at 372-73. Papago, 723 F.2d at 953. The court then went on to say in dictum: [S]pecific acknowledgment of the possibility of future rate change is virtually meaningless unless it envisions a just-and-reasonable standard. The public interest standard is practically insurmountable; the Commission itself is unaware of any case granting relief under it. Future rate changes would be a dim prospect, hardly worthy of recognition, if the parties did not intend the just-and-reasonable standard to govern. Id. at 954 (citation omitted). Papago has unfortunately been identified with the notion that the "public interest" standard of review is "practically insurmountable," regardless of the circumstances of the case. This is the misreading that NUSCO presses upon us as the law of the case. We do not think that Papago, read in context, means that the "public interest" standard is practically insurmountable in all circumstances. It all depends on whose ox is gored and how the public interest is affected. It should be noted that neither Mobile nor Sierra stated or intimated that the "public interest" doctrine was "practically insurmountable." This was a gloss that the court in Papago put on it. In Northeast I we said that the "public interest" standard was "a more difficult standard for the Commission to meet than the statutory 'unjust and unreasonable' standard," 993 F.2d at 960. We, however, did not characterize the public interest standard as "practically insurmountable."1 Our opinion also recognized that "[t]he most attractive case for affording additional protection [under the public interest standard], despite the presence of a contract, is where the protection is intended to safeguard the interests of third parties...." Northeast I, 993 F.2d at 961. As we explained, the Mobile- Sierra doctrine allows FERC to modify the terms of a private contract when third parties are threatened by possible "undu[e] discrimination" or the imposition of an "excessive burden." Id. We invited FERC to demonstrate such a threat upon remand. See id. at 961-62 (assuming without deciding that FERC's premise facts were correct, but remanding for evaluation of the contract under the public interest standard.) Although our opinion questioned the significance of the seller's market power and the lack of arms-length bargaining, id. at 961, it left open the possibility that these factors may so affect third parties as to warrant intervention even under the public interest standard. See id. ("there would seem to be little justification for the Commission stepping in on behalf of the disfavored subsidiary absent some threat to the public interest ") (emphasis added). For all of these reasons, we reject NUSCO's argument that under the law of the case the public interest standard should be considered "practically insurmountable" in all circumstances. The Order on Remand We turn to FERC's explanation of how it applied the "public interest" doctrine on remand. We conclude that if the Commission is to comply with both the Mobile- Sierra imperative to respect private. In the "classic" Mobile- Sierra situation, for example--when a seller utility unilaterally seeks an increase from a fixed-rate contract already on file with the Commission--the public interest (as opposed to the private interest of the party seeking the rate increase) only rarely is served by making the requested change (that is, granting the requested increase), and a strict standard is appropriate. In other situations, however--when, for example, as here, the Commission is presented with an agreement for the first time and concludes that certain modifications to material rate provisions are necessary to protect the interests of non-parties--the public interest is served by making the modifications, and a more flexible standard is therefore appropriate. Based upon that understanding of the public interest standard of review under the Mobile- Sierra doctrine, we confirm our previously ordered modifications to the Seabrook Power Contract. 66 F.E.R.C. p 61,332 at 62,076 (1994) (footnotes omitted). In its order on remand, FERC has responded to our concerns by explaining how the disputed contractual terms may harm third parties to the contract. It no longer relies so heavily upon the possibility that the contract may favor one party over another. For example, the Commission found the automatic rate-of-return-on-equity adjustment provision unacceptable because third parties may ultimately bear the burden of a rate component that does not reflect actual capital market conditions. Likewise, the "blank check" given owners of the power plant to determine the decommissioning costs for themselves under New Hampshire law is impermissible because it may be cashed at the expense of non-parties to the contract. See 66 F.E.R.C. p 61,332 at 62,090-91. This new emphasis on harm to third parties suggests that FERC has done more on remand than simply substitute the words "public interest" for the forbidden phrase "just and reasonable." We end by noting the decision in Mississippi Indus. v. FERC, 808 F.2d 1525 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied 484 U.S. 985, 108 S.Ct. 500, 98 L.Ed.2d 499 (1987), a post-Papago case similar to the case at bar, which shows that even the court that authored Papago does not take an unduly restrictive view of the public interest standard. FERC had ordered that the four electric power companies comprising the Middle South Utilities System share the cost of the system's investment in nuclear energy in proportion to their relative demand for energy generated by the system as a whole. FERC reallocated responsibility for investment costs "associated with the catastrophically uneconomical Grand Gulf I nuclear plant." Id. at 1528. The court turned back a jurisdictional challenge based, inter alia, on the Mobile- Sierra doctrine. It held, that, in the instant case, this doctrine does not bar the exercise of FERC's power under section 206 of the FPA to reform a practice or contract affecting a rate charged by a public utility for wholesale service in interstate commerce. Id. at 1551. The court's discussion of the sweep of the Mobile- Sierra doctrine is instructive. Finally, even if the contracts fall within the scope of the Mobile- Sierra decisions, the Supreme Court has emphasized that the relevant agency, here FERC, may always reform a contract found to be "unlawful" or "contrary to the public interest," i.e., that "contracts remain fully subject to the paramount power of the Commission to modify them when necessary in the public interest." The Court stated in Sierra that the Commission "has undoubted power under Sec. 206(a) to prescribe a change in contract rates whenever it determines such rates to be unlawful" and indicated three circumstances under which the Commission might conclude that a rate or a contract term affecting a rate could be found contrary to the public interest and therefore subject to revision: "where it might impair the financial ability of the public utility to continue its service, cast upon consumers an excessive burden, or be unduly discriminatory." Here FERC expressly adopted the findings of ALJ Liebman who found the level of discrimination in the [contract] "profound" and agreed that its impact on customers in Louisiana and Mississippi would be "dramatic[ ]." The Commission's specific determination of unlawfulness provides the "unequivocal public necessity" for reformation of the [contract] under section 206 of the FPA. Id. at 1553 (footnotes omitted). We conclude that under the circumstances of this case FERC, on remand, gave thoughtful consideration to the public interest in reviewing its previously ordered modification of the Seabrook Power contract. We, therefore, deny NUSCO's petition for review and affirm FERC's order. We go no further. Specifically, we are not in any way suggesting the parameters of or limitations on the authority of FERC to change the contract in future rate proceedings. Contrary to NUSCO's suggestion at oral argument, Boston Edison v. FERC, 856 F.2d 361 (1st Cir.1988) is not controlling here. In Boston Edison, we relied in part on the Mobile- Sierra doctrine to enforce a claims limitation clause of a rate contract against customers who failed to timely protest an overcharge. We found nothing "unconscionable, overweening, or otherwise unreasonable" about the clause, even with respect to the parties to the contract. Id. at 372 (noting that the clause "enhances economic equilibrium by bringing certainty to the parties' dealings...."). FERC and the customers did not, and clearly could not, argue that the claims limitation clause was contrary to the public interest. See id. at 372 n. 12 ("we leave for another day the contours of any ... exception" to claims limitation clauses based upon "public necessity")

Gen Con Threatens to move if Indiana Gov signs religious freedom bill, 50 seconds ago by GreyWolfLord #6-16 The Golden Guardian, 1 minute ago by joe kirner Dreamscarred Press Announces: Path of War Expanded!, 1 minute ago by Felyndiira Riding a flying animal companion?, 1 minute ago by Gauss Can you take Free / Swift Actions when Nauseated?, 2 minutes, 5 minutes ago by chbgraphicarts Pornography: Destructive Entertainment? Or Good Times? Somewhere in Between?, 5 minutes ago by Lemmy Plot hooks, 6 minutes ago by Snow_Tiger Bull Rush + Grease???, Operation Typhoon- Spycraft2, 9 seconds ago by Johnny "Razor" Macomb The Darkest Skies Still Gleam with Silver Linings, 35 seconds), 1 minute ago by Chingo Chaplo Razor Coast Texas Style!, 2 minutes Game Master Navior Search this Thread: Walthus opens his eyes slowly. "Restoratives? You might find a few things in the garden that can help. Be careful of the snakes though." His eyes flutter closed again. "Thanks for the offer, Malan, but we can't go have unquiet time right now." She bends over the nearly dead halfling, "Walthus here is suffering from extreme blood loss. Frankly," she tells Walthus, "I'm amazed that you manage to stand at all. You're tough alright! Doing your kind credit. Let me see if I can help at all." Heal 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 As he waits for the others to finish questioning the halfling about the goblins and getting directions, Aago whistles a little tune he heard once in a Korvosan brothel, tapping his forearm with an index finger to carry the beat. "It wasn't my town that was raided by goblins. It wasn't my dogs that were stolen. It wasn't my workers and friends whose lives were put in danger. If all of you wish to put off finding the goblins, then we wait." Malan makes himself comfortable all the while giving Aago a disapproving look. Aago isn't in the room with the rest of you. He's keeping watch outside in front of the door. As far as he knows, everyone is asking Walthus the questions we came here to ask while Malan is busy ransacking the house. That would be after the ransacking. I guess I'd have to say it loudly while walking outside to stand with Aago. In that case... Aago looks curiously at Malan. "Where is everyone else? Do they know where we're supposed to go next?"?" "Snakes?" Corinna asks faintly.?" "Sorry, yes, I mean herbs," Walthus says. "I don't keep a specific supply of restoratives and medicines. I haven't really needed to previously. But some of the plants in the garden might help. I'm not really sure." "Thank you, Walthus. I will see what we can find. Get some rest my good halfling. You have suffered a great deal and if we cannot find what it is you speak of, only time will heal your wounds." He lightly pats him on the shoulder as he turns to the others. "Well, it looks as if we need to see what his garden holds. If any of you have an in-depth knowledge of herbs, it would be quite useful. I fear I do not know a great deal on the subject." Or, in game terms, I really have no idea what skill check that would be. And even if we do figure out what it is we need, can we concoct such an extract? Corinna gets up and follows Rajah to the bedroom door. "I'm sorry, but are we really going to stay here?" she asks the others in a hoarse whisper. "I know he's hurt and all, but, well ... we can't just stay here, can we? Wouldn't he be better off if we sent back to town for a healer? Someone who actually knows what they're doing? I didn't expect we'd be gone overnight in the swamp." Aago sighs heavily and turns to the door. "I'm going to go see what the hold up is," he tells Malan and enters the cottage, following the sounds of voices to the halfling's bedroom. Entering the room, he sees the others dilly dallying over the halfing's health and shakes his head. Striding up to the bed he puts a large hand on Walthus's shoulder. "We're glad to be of help, Warden, but we're here on urgent business." He glances pointedly at the others. "The goblins have attacked Sandpoint and we are seeking them on Shalelu's behalf. We need to know what you know about them and were told you could direct us to them. I know you're not feeling well but this is quite an urgent issue and we don't have time to nursemaid. Can you direct us from here?" Rajah walks back toward Walthus, brushing Aago's hand away, quite irritated at the large man. "Forgive me if I appear rude, but, this 'business' you speak of, NEVER comes before helping those who are in need of it presently. And I would kindly ask you to speak for yourself next time, thereby leaving my voice, my own." He returns Aago's look with a determined look of his own. Walthus sits up, grimacing a bit as he does so. "Of course," he says. "The goblins have been acting oddly of late. Much braver since they got their new stash of fireworks. I'm not sure where they got them from, but those fireworks have made them bold. I haven't seen much activity from them in the last few days though." He pauses for a moment to take a few heavy breaths. "Their village is to the southeast. However, you have to cover tough marshland if you go straight that way. Your best bet is to go back up the New Fish Trail to the Lost Coast Road. Then follow that southeast until you reach the Old Fish Trail. It'll take a few hours, but trying to cut across the marsh could take you twice as long, assuming you don't get lost, which is very easy to do if you don't know where you're going. "If you'd like, you're welcome to stay here tonight. Maybe in the morning, I'll be strong enough to accompany you. If you want to set out right away, there should still be enough time to make it there before nightfall, but you probably won't be able to make it back out of the swamp again before nightfall and definitely not back here or to Sandpoint. You'll have to camp in the marsh, which can be quite dangerous at night." Corinna seems to deflate at the news that this won't be a simple day trip. "Warden ... Mr. Proudstump," she asks, "do you have any idea why the goblins would raid our homes to steal dogs? Why would they take them?" Walthus's eyes widen. "Steal dogs?" he says disbelievingly. "No, goblins don't steal dogs. Goblins hate dogs. They kill dogs if they can, and if they can't, they run away from them. Are you sure it was goblins who took your dogs?" Corinna looks around at the others with wide eyes. "They said it was goblins. Didn't they? But who actually saw them? Anyone but the stableboy? It couldn't have been ... one of those things?" she questions, referring to the faceless stalker downstairs. Walthus frowns. "I suppose it could have been faceless stalkers disguised as goblins. I still have no idea what they would want with your dogs, though." "Oh," Corinna moans in confusion and distress, sitting down heavily. "I wish I'd stayed in Korvosa." Aago glances at the Rajah and smiles pleasantly. "There is one person here. There are hundreds in Sandpoint. As we do not wish to risk another unpleasantness, it is important, nay, vital, that we keep in mind our priorities." At Walthus's words, however, the large man is forced to reconsider. "It is true that we do not want to encounter the goblins at night and with a guide we will make far better time. Perhaps we'll have to hope that such a delay will work in our favor." At Corinna's words, Aago pulls furiously at his beard. "You know, milady, you might be right. If it is actually these faceless stalkers mimicking goblins it would explain a great deal. But why would they steal dogs? That remains a great mystery." "Ooo! OOO!!" Melon is clearly excited, "Didn't Shalelu mention skeletons in the swamp? Maybe the goblins saw them too and want to throw the dogs a bone. Wait, that made more sense in my head. But maybe, right?" Corinna looks at Melon with the same kind of perplexed fascination the revelation of the faceless stalker had evoked. "I don't think that makes the slightest bit of sense," she replies; then, fully out of her depth in the experiences she has already been through today, she turns to others and asks, "Does it?" Aago glances at the Rajah and smiles pleasantly. "There is one person here. There are hundreds in Sandpoint. As we do not wish to risk another unpleasantness, it is important, nay, vital, that we keep in mind our priorities." Rajah's eyes bore holes through the oaf before him, "As far as I am concerned, one person is as equally important as hundreds. DO NOT begin to tell me what MY priorities are. Maybe you have no problem sacrificing one, BUT I DO NOT! So, I shall ask you again; DO NOT tell me what my priorities are. Keep your foolish talk for yourself. I shall have no part of it." Turning to Corinna, "No. It doesn't." "Please," Corinna intercedes, "no one wants to sacrifice anyone, I'm sure. But the Sheriff and Shalelu sent us out here to, er, find the goblins. Although I'm not sure what exactly we're supposed to do once we find them. And it is a little disheartening, after all that long slog through the swamp, to find we've taken the wrong road and have go back the way we came, as fortunate it may be for Mr. Proudstump that we did so." She sighs. "I don't know why I'm out here in the first place, really. Perhaps some of us should stay to take care of Mr. Proudstump and others should go back to Sandpoint for more help?" she suggests. "As accomodating as our host is, I can't imagine that he'll be in any shape for traveling in the morning without someone skilled in healing looking after him. We could bring back a healer, and then the rest of the party" (she unconsciously excludes herself from this intrepid group) "could go on with their mission without feeling they'd left behind someone in need of help." Rajah smiles. "Thank you, Corinna. I believe that is a fine idea. It's nice to know there are others in this group, as few as that may be, have the ability to think of others than just themselves." He nods in appreciation. Aago's smile remains unchanged on his lips but the good humor is no longer in his eyes. "The Warden is no longer in any danger. The threat from the goblins or the face shifters is the immediate concern. We don't have time to go back to Sandpoint and seek for others to help; we are the help." He meshes his fingers together and flexes them, making the knuckles crack noisily. "As for going the wrong way, we didn't do that. We were sent to this place specifically to get the Warden's help. If we have to go back the way we came somewhat, that's unfortunate but with Walthus as our guide we can do it more efficiently than before." What time of day is it now? "Alright, you two, that's enough." A quick spell later, and he waggles his fingers at Aago's face, making an overly ridiculous amount of knuckle cracking sounds. If either of them try to talk before Gil is done, another quick spell super-imposes the sound of clucking hens over their voices. "This back and forth is getting us nowhere. Rajah, I doubt very much that Aago meant to imply that he had to think for you, so stop being so damned sensitive about it all. Aago, we both know that saying our priorities are Sandpoint and it's citizens is noble and honorable, but we do need to admit that part of those priorities at least are impressing Shalelu with our manly heroics, no? Now, Mr. Proudstump is badly injured, but, barring a new attack on his home, is out of mortal danger, and he's been taking care of himself quite well for many years. I don't think it really serves anybody's interests for us to divide ourselves to fetch healers. Our main question should be, leave now and have to camp within the marshes, or camp here and head back to the road with first light? I vote for the latter.". Rajah nods to the fact that Gilfroy is probably right, and coming to the conclusion that his words are wasted on the oversized fool anyway, he responds to Gil. "I do not see a problem with Corrina's plan. But, I would agree that remaining here overnight would be best." He says with a smile. Corinna Valdemar wrote:. Approximately how long is the actual travel time to Sandpoint, barring random encounters? Approximately how long is the actual travel time to Sandpoint, barring random encounters? About three hours. "If we left right now, we could be home by dark," Corinna suggests brightly. "Then we could come back with a healer first thing in the morning and be here by lunchtime." "Orrrr, if Walthus will have us, we can sleep here, and by lunchtime tomorrow we've already found the goblins and are heading home as heroes." Melon is behind Corinna and has wrapped her arms around the wizard's waist and rests her head on Corinna's shoulder, quite out of the blue. Corinna's eyes open wide as the odd young woman grabs her from behind, and she awkwardly squirms to get away while trying to look like that's not what she's doing. "Yes, but there's only one extra bedroom. That's hardly room for a houseful of guests ... strangers, really. And there's nothing for dinner, and nothing again for breakfast. And he said something about snakes." Melon doesn't mind Corinna slipping out, so the awkward wizard doesn't have much trouble freeing herself. "But roughing it will put some meat on your bones. Well... okay... lack of dinner and breakfast will not put meat on your bones; but think of the stories he can tell! He lives out here! Just imagine what that must be like. Why I bet if he were fit he could forage food for us in no time." "Yes, probably some yummy snakes," Gilfroy quips. "Okay, we need to decide. We should probably settle on two choices: leave for the goblin village now or tomorrow morning. No offense to Mr. Proudstump, but we should take going back to Sandpoint off the table. My vote is to spend the night here and leave first thing at dawn. What say the rest of you?" Corinna stares at the gnome blankly. "You want us to sit here and do nothing for the next three hours, sleep on the floor in a house surrounded by snakes, and then slog through a trackless swamp to try to find the goblins? When we could go home, get a good meal and sleep in a real bed, and then take the actual road that we've been told leads directly to the goblins' lair, no doubt the one they themselves took?" Rajah looks to Gil, then to Corinna, then back to Gil, "Sorry, my good gnome. I still don't see a problem with the Lady Valdemar's plan. It makes a great deal of sense to me." Smiling, he shrugs as he lays a hand on the gnome's shoulder and gives it a pat. "Why, there's nothing wrong with it at all, assuming you enjoy giving the goblins those extra hours to butcher the dogs in some grotesque, profane sacrifice to Zargonel." Aago listens to the comments and then turns back to the halfling. "So the goblins found a stash of fireworks somewhere, but we don't know where. You haven't seen much of them lately but you did get attacked by this face stealer thing. And to the best of our knowledge, goblins snuck into Sandpoint and stole a bunch of dogs which they never do." He shakes his head. "Nothing makes sense. I'm not sure it's even goblins we are truly after. Particularly since the goblins we fought had fireworks but no dogs. Did you see or hear anything of significance while you were hiding from the creature that stole your face?" Walthus shakes his head. "The creature didn't seem to do much once it had fought me off, but I confess I slept a good portion of the." "Why, there's nothing wrong with it at all, assuming you enjoy giving the goblins those extra hours to butcher the dogs in some grotesque, profane sacrifice to Zargonel." "They could do that while we're sitting around here this afternoon, staring at the walls," Corinna protests at the attempted emotional manipulation. "Mr. Proudstump told us the only safe way to find the goblin is by the road, unless we have a guide through the swamp, fact the first. Mr. Proudstump is going to be in no condition to guide us through the swamp by morning, fact the second. Therefore, unless we want to die, lost and muddy, in the swamp, we will be going back by the trail to the other road, fact the third. We might as well do the backtracking today as tomorrow morning, as long as we have the daylight. Then we can sleep in Sandpoint, report the existence of the faceless stalkers to the sheriff, which is really a danger the town should know about, and procure a healer to assist Mr. Proudstump's recovery, not to mention bringing back some supplies like food and clean water. Really, the only reason I can see to spend the night here is that it would make such a ripping good yarn to tell in a tavern, about the time you went on a unnecessary, foolhardy adventure!" ." Aago considers Gilfroy's response. "Perhaps that's so. But these creatures, if they can take the forms of other people, rely on deception. What we know is that goblins kill dogs, they don't capture them. We also know that there was a creature that can assume the form of someone else where there wasn't supposed to be." He pauses as he thinks it through before speaking again. "So just for the sake of argument, suppose these creatures decided to attack Sandpoint and disguised themselves as goblins. They steal a bunch of dogs and return to the swamps. Why disguise themselves as goblins when they could look like something or someone less suspicious? Unless they want us to go after the goblins. And just in case we were to come out into the swamp for a guide, they leave one of their members at the one place where a guide can be waiting to direct us to the goblins. When all along, they're trying to distract us from what's really going on?" Scratching his head, Aago shrugs. "Even if that's the case, though, I don't know where we'd go from here."." Edited the last sentence.." "I'm not at all," she replies. "I'm only taking the word of the others who have said he lost a great deal of blood to the creature. Do you think a single good night's sleep will make that all better? And I didn't know you were a more skilled guide than Mr. Proudstump here, who told us that trying to go directly though the marsh would take us twice as long as going back to the road, even if we didn't get lost along the way. Unless taking twice as long and probably getting lost is your definition of 'not wasting time.'" "Well what about the third option then? Going along the path towards the goblin place." Melon's no head for figuring out the fine details, but some big picture things are obvious enough to her. "That way we may even catch-up with the goblins today still; or otherwise don't lose unnecessary time and energy by going as far along the path as possible by the remaining daylight." Aago sighs with exasperation. "I didn't say that! I'm not saying we should go straight through the swamp. I'm saying we have to decide what's important. Do we do as the sheriff and Shalelu requested and see to the goblins as soon as possible? If so, we either stay here tonight with the hopes of the warden here escorting us tomorrow, arguably the most efficient way to be about our business, or we follow the road back to the other road and then make our way to the village tonight and risk whatever happens when we make camp." "If, however, none of you are concerned with any sense of urgency then we can go back to Sandpoint, get a nice sweet rest in a nice comfortable bed while the goblins or the face stealers do whatever they're going to do and hope we're not too late when we start over again tomorrow." He walks heavily over to the door. "I, for one, want to find out what's going on. I know I can't do it alone, however. So let's stop bickering and come to a gods-damned decision, already! Show of hands! Who wants to stay here and take the warden with us tomorrow?" He raises his hand and looks expectantly at the others. After allowing enough time for votes, he poses the next option. "Who is in favor of returning to Sandpoint?" His arm drops back.

You will recall that Socialist Unity previously published a near verbatim transcript of the session at the SWP conference in January which discussed the now notorious attempted cover up of allegations of rape by a leading male SWP leader, to whom we attributed the moniker “Comrade Delta”. The failings of the SWP’s Kangaroo court which exonerated Comrade Delta received widespread press coverage, in the Guardian, Daily Mail, and the Independent. It subsequently emerged that the young woman, W, making the allegations against Comrade Delta was only 17 when their “relationship” began. Comrade Delta himself was around 50 years old, and in a position of authority over her; representing a clear imbalance of power. The transcript showed that W was not the only woman who had made allegations against Delta. A member of staff of the SWP, referred to as X, had also made a complaint, but the SWP made procedural excuses to minimise this embarrassing fact. This was X’s contribution at the SWP conference debate: KAREN: The next speaker will be X. (Note – X was named in the conference and spoke openly, however I am not naming her in this transcript) X: Some comrades will already know that I’m the second woman who’s come forward as part of the dispute, and it’s me that’s been removed from my position in the (removed) department. I wanted to say that I’d been a district organiser for (removed) years and I hope people will respect that I wouldn’t come forward lightly. I want to start by reiterating what Candy said – that this isn’t a trial, comrades won’t get to hear both sides of the story, so you’re never going to be in a position to decide who you believe. However, comrades can take a position on whether the process you think has been adequate. I also want to add that I think it’s entirely disingenuous that leading members have denied that there is a second complaint. My evidence was effectively a second complaint, but because of the experience of the first case I’m unwilling to have it heard by the current disputes committee as a separate dispute. I don’t accept the account given that they’re not aware of the substance of my complaint – it’s the same as the account that I’d given in the first place., and while I don’t for a second question the personal integrity of the individual comrades, when it comes down to, as they said, whose version of events you’re most likely to believe, I do think it creates an unfair bias in this case. And I want to reiterate – it’s not an attack on the comrades’ integrity, or as the CC argued in their statement, about questioning the comrades’ ability to apply our politics on women’s oppresion. (inaudible). Obviously there are instances where people may come forward with malicious intent, so it’s right to investigate claims. However in our tradition we argue that women do not come forward lightly in cases like these. We should start from that belief and attempt to substantiate the woman’s complaint. U don’t believe that the DC in my case shows this to have happened. Finally – (voice breaks) in my opinion the worst part was the nature of some of the questioning. I was asked if it was fair to say I liked to have a drink. That’s all I need to say on the matter. Just very quickly, I’m running out of time, but I just wanted to address – because the question of my job has been raised by the factions, to avoid any confusion, I wanted to address this. It is true that I did initially resign. (inaudible) Charlie rightly refused to accept my resignation on the basis that I shouldn’t be punished for bringing forward a complaint.. We’ve had accusations of the state – (Karen calls time) (Applause) X did in fact put in a further formal complaint about Comrade Delta, after the January 2013 SWP conference. I understand though, that the SWP Central Committee has decided that the disputes committee will not now hear the complaint made by X against Delta until the new year, in 2014. The significance is that X was removed from her job in the SWP office after being a witness for “W” because the SWP National Secretary, Charlie Kimber, allegedly said that her continued presence would “disrupt the harmony of the office”. She was asked when complaining of sexual harassment “is it fair to say you like a drink?”. Quite contrary to how you would expect a woman complaining of sexual harassment to properly be treated, attempts have been made to isolate, silence and discredit. Rumours abound that some SWP disputes committee members have been censured by their own union branches for their roles in the dispute last year, and we could speculate that this has brought some external pressure to bear on leading SWP members. It is hard to avoid the suspicion that the SWP have decided to postpone hearing X’s case until 2014 because the Central Committee are hoping this will drive X out the party, which would mean they would never have to hear her case, and they can maintain Delta has only had one complaint made against him; thus assisting his political rehabilitation. Incidently, the American socialist James Cannon once quipped that people always have two reasons for what they do: the good reason and the real reason. According to the always well informed “Soviet Goon Boy“, the ostensible reason given by the SWP for calling such a hurried National Commitee meeting, is to to discuss the fact that a new oppositionist website has been set up. If you beleive that, then I wonder if you would be interested in a very sound business proposition to buy the Sydney Opera House from me? Nightcrawler on said: The suggestion that the emergency NC meeting has been called to discuss revolutionarysocialism.tumblr.com was not that of Soviet Goon Boy, but of Charlie Kimber in his email to NC members. Of course I am sure that discussing this site really equates to how do the party bureaucracy best stamp out dissent. It will be interesting to see what will come from this meeting. Results? Minutes? A transcript? Andy Newman on said: Nightcrawler, Of course there is no implication that SGB has misled. It is just that more information is now available Ross Bradshaw on said: That opera house… Have you got any in grey? karlshayne on said: i should imagine that those behind the new website will be told to remove it… and then they will have to knuckle under or be expelled… Pingback: SWP crisis: who is saying what « Jim Jepps Graham on said: What has happened to the Fault Lines blog ? Post’s there have stopped while the new tumblr blog has taken off. Is it not the same group of disaffected party members involved in both ? Linda on said: Graham, They all left the party, so that was that! JB on.” The same Sheila M that bullied comrade X, isolated her and called her a liar to her face in branch meetings. And of course signed the CC statement. The hacks are now trying to redeem themselves – too late. Tony Collins on said: I don’t think that Sheila has enough principles to even think about redeeming herself. If she’s doing this, it’ll be purely for some kind of trade-off – either to make herself look better in her branch or her union, or cos it’s a way to trap someone else. She’s got a long history of acting as an apologist for male abusers of women in the party; if she’s appearing to change sides, it’s just that – an appearance. Something else will be going on behind the scenes. Marxist Lenonist on said: #8&9 It seems to me the “good reason and real reason” quip applies to the postponement of X’s case as much as to the calling of this NC meeting. While the real reason is undoubtedly to try and drive her out the party in the meantime, and perhaps also hope that the whole issue will have blown over by then (as if!), the given reason seems to me likely (I have no inside knowledge, it just seems obvious) to be around the “review” of the DC and to not have her case heard by the same people who exonerated Delta once before, and were re-elected in January. I think she initially didn’t make a formal complaint as she very understandably has no confidence in the current DC. So Sheila’s move could be just as much about railroading her complaint through this body of Delta’s mates, given the “vote of confidence” it’s received, than about any kind of redemption. Whether it could return the same verdict again though, and what would happen if it did, is a high stakes game. But if they tried to throw the indispensable man under a bus, I don’t think he’d go quietly either, so it looks like more interesting times ahead… Tim Vanhoof on said: You do wonder what magic power “Delta”, a pal of anti-semites like Gilad Atzmon, has that the SWP leaders are willing to rip their organisation to shreds in order to protect him. Manzil on said: Has the SWP offered an ‘official’ explanation for why they have postponed the investigation?: If you could delete one of those posts….smart phones, poor name. Andy Newman on said: Sam64, It was worth saying twice. Somehow poetic sandy on said: Statement on the SWP crisis To add your name to this statement email [email protected]. continues Jara Handala on said: sandy, Thanx for the copy, Sandy. A number of things struck me: 1) In Star Trek fashion, this SWP statement has boldly gone where no other has gone before, putting a human name on the force known as Delta. 2) There’s an important ambiguity in this paragraph near the end of the statement: “The leadership’s first reaction was to deny that a second woman had come forward. Then they turned to delaying tactics, stringing the complaint out for over four months with a series of contradictory excuses. The disputes committee twice refused to hear the case. Under pressure they [DC or “the leadership”, i.e. the CC or CC majority?] have now offered a hearing, subject to certain conditions, and [“the leadership” or the DC?] are presenting this as an adequate resolution to the whole issue.” (my interpolations) 3) “We demand the following immediate measures . . . open up the pre-conference discussion period now”. As the Californian guru would say, we need to heal, we need to talk, we need to share our concerns. Let “the leadership” seize this chance to unleash the healing powers within the Socialist Workers Party, & show to the world, yes, we can! 4) The final sentences (no pun intended): “We refuse to fall silent and allow the leadership to continue on a course that will destroy our party. We urge the central committee to step back before it is too late.” Everyone knows it’s a case of full steam ahead. 5) All this, especially Ian Birchall’s thoughtful piece on the accursed blog last Thursday, has a certain relevance for my organisation, the International Socialist Network. Last night I applied the politics of his article by opening a thread on our Public Forum with a detailed post which covers the 3 sub-headings of ‘Socialist Unity’, politics, culture, debate, asking, ‘SWP Takes a New Turn – What Can Our ISN Learn From It, & How?': Finally, Mr Newman, & perhaps others, may be pleased to see I had to suggest to Mr Proyect that his appraisal of the ‘political analysis’ of the ISO (USA) & ISN may not be as rosy as he might like to think: Tony Collins on said: Ian Birchall has just pulled out of Marxism as a speaker. I guess the CC is getting the split it’s been hoping for. Jara Handala on said: Tony Collins, Omfg. Wonder whether others will follow, like Alan Freeman (is he still Socialist Action?)? Jara Handala on said: Tony Collins, Well, thinking about all this, in the deep way it deserves, perhaps this is all part of the plan: Ian will now, no doubt, buy a ticket. This is how the monetary deficit can start to outpace the democratic deficit. It’s win-win. But I suspect a higher power behind all this. This couldn’t just come out of the Citadel. No. I think stuart has been flown in as a trouble-shooter, a caped crusader as it were. This has stuart’s paws all over it. In all likelihood he’ll be giving a replacement talk at ‘Marxism’. Perhaps ‘Staying Loyal: No-One Said Making Omelettes Was Painless’. The Mekon was reputed to have said every defection makes us stronger. But we need to use some lateral thinking to get a sense of the size of stuart’s brain. But to return to your information. These are the mugshots of the famous: Had Mr Birchall graced that page? I would suggest the most pressure to stay at home will be applied to Paul LeBlanc (ISO) & Gilbert Achcar (if not a member, aligned with the Fourth International that includes Britain’s Socialist Resistance). Then there’s Ralph Darlington, Sean Sayers (but he likes to debate, & Kent U is out of term now), & perhaps Andy Durgan. Besides Ian B, 6 other speakers happen to have signed yesterday’s letter: Megan T, Neil D, Mike G, Dave R, Hannah D, & Postman Pat. But for stuart & the others it’s nice to see that the authentic touch will be delivered by Our Man From Dublin, ‘What Is the Real IS Tradition?’. If stuart doesn’t take over from Ian B then maybe what’s his face can perhaps rope in his pal Gilad – that’s if there’s any of the twisted natural fibre left in the Citadel’s warehouse. The “Closing Rally” is after lunch next Monday, & should be a sight to behold. It’s led by First Secretary Kimber. However, I think the programming clerk at the Citadel may be losing their job: immediately before lunch, so before Komrade Kimber arises to speak, Ms Brown, who may be a vet, speaks on ‘After the Horsemeat Scandal’. Butchery, adulteration, & scandal, indeed, & in deed. JB on said: So the new thing doing the rounds is that a certain set of renowned party siblings have been asking members to donate £10 a month to fund Delta’s Masters degree. He has also been asked to talk at three branch meetings recently. His rehabilitation is in full swing. The sooner the oppositionists depart the better. This stuff is just beyond grotesque. DW on said: A PhD in Women’s Studies? Tony Collins on said: Blimey – ULU giving the SWP a bit of a kicking here ———— ‘Marxism’ is the annual summer school event of the Socialist Workers’ Party (SWP). This year, part of the event is scheduled to take place inside the ULU building on Malet Street. The SWP booked its rooms at full commercial rate (around £17,000) through the ULU conferencing department, over which we have no direct oversight. We are now putting in place measures to ensure that democratically elected officers have powers over ULU conference bookings in future. Given the actions of the SWP in the past year, we feel that it is necessary to make our position clear that as elected officers – like many others in the student movement – see the SWP’s handling of recent rape allegations against a senior member as a despicable act of denial, nepotism and sexism. The handling of the dispute around these allegations has exposed something much deeper that needs to be challenged. During the recent dispute, the SWP leadership has responded to criticism on an issue of women’s rights by calling its critics “feminists”, as if that was something bad. Criticism of the SWP leadership has been silenced and suppressed at every turn. We recognise that not everyone in the SWP agrees with the behaviour of its leadership. However, given that the SWP is an organisation in which there is little scope for organised internal dissent, allowing the event to continue with no public intervention would be tantamount to complicity in the situation. It would be wrong for the SWP to use its muscle to shut down debate and escape accountability for its actions. We think that student activists should actively confront the SWP over these issues at Marxism 2013. There can be no business as usual in these circumstances. • ULU Officers and other student activists will be attending the event in order to challenge the conduct of the SWP on the issues outlined above. • We will be holding meetings in parallel with the summer school inside the ULU Building, which will be open to all attendees and students. The content of these meetings will be determined by the ULU Women’s Officer and feminist activists across London. _______________________________________________________ ULU is currently putting together a series of workshops running in parallel during the weekend. Our main meeting in parallel with ‘Marxism 2013’ will take place on Sunday at 1pm in room 2A. It will be a space for discussion among student and leftwing activists. All are welcome. The student movement, the left and women’s liberation. How can we fight sexism in our movement? The shameful events inside the SWP, along with other recent incidents in the left and the labour movement, pose the questions of fighting sexism and women’s oppression not only in society but in our own organisations. What do these events mean? How can we make sure that the student movement and the broader left is not only a safe space but also a credible and effective force for in the fight for women’s liberation? Speakers will include feminists from the student and labour movements. Andy Newman on said: Tony Collins, indeed – blimey! Sam64 on said: Sounds like 4 days in hell begins Friday at ULU Vanya on said: #26 Yes. I thought I knew all the hundreds of reasons not to go to Marxism, and can proudly boast that although I bought my first copy of Socialist Worker in early 1977 at the age of 14 (the headline said: Grunwicks, The Workers United Will Never Be Defeated), I have never attended. But now there’s a whole load of new reasons. Incredible. Sam64 on said: Looking back there always ‘problems’. But it was once a vibrant event, pulling 8000 plus socialists. Even this year there are a few interesting looking meetings. Sheila Coleman on Hillsborough for instance. But now, grim. Marxist Lenonist on said: DW, Lol – maybe if he thinks it’ll be a “practical” course… Marxist Lenonist on said: Tony Collins, Blimey indeed! However ULU is now effectively an AWL front (as well as having one of the nastiest “professional” bureaucracies in the whole student movement, here hilariously denounced by their nominal political bosses as SWP enablers), so will the ULU sabs will have their own agenda of course =( I wish I was there to organise a pro-Assange, anti-Delta fringe meeting, THAT would be interesting! Marxist Lenonist on said: Sam64, Yes to be fair even this year Tommy Sheridan is speaking, and he’s always a credit to whatever platform he’s on. Unless he’s pulled out too; don’t think he has, but with even a swathe of party speakers doing so in the latest ruck, it may be something for him to consider… Jara Handala on said: A few hours ago I posted my part 2 of my detailed account of the SWP & how the International Socialist Network needs to change: Tony Collins on said: Following the farce of the CC convening half of the 50-strong National Committee to rubber-stamp its decision to suspend 4 members (and writing to members saying “CC members and other leading NC members insisted that political differences need to be addressed through political argument, not through expulsions or administrative measures”, a sentence which was directly followed by one saying “Four comrades were suspended from membership pending an investigation”), the party has backed down and lifted the suspensions. And the opposition realises what an important victory this is. The opposition website has now made a few serious demands of the CC – they’re not meekly thanking the ruling faction for being nice, they’re waging a serious fight. They’re gonna have to – we’re at a stage where the most dynamic, positive, marxist thinkers and activists in the party are all on the opposition side, and the clique which runs things is entirely dependent upon lies and bullying to get their own way. Among other things, the statement from the 4 un-suspended members says David Ruaune on said: I wonder if John Molyneux will give you a talk at Marxism on “Leninism and Freedom of Speech”. Molyneux, meet dustbin of history; dustbin of history, meet Molyneux. But credit to Ian Birchall. Tony Collins on said: Wow, they’re really losing it. This is a statement put out a short while ago by the CC Vanya on said: #32 I gave the piece you linked to a quick look. I also clicked on the piece you quoted to from Rakovsky written in 1928. Now unless there’s some irony there that has gone miles over my head, I find the fact that you think an article by an obscure (to the overwhelming mass of people) revolutionary who was involved in the excercise of state power over a country with a population of 10s of millions (in opposition at various times or not) 85 years ago can have any relevance whatsoever to what you are engaged in today, to be evidence that, while you clearly have a vastly better attitude to how to treat complaints of rape from your female members than the orgainsation you are leaving, you equally clearly are no more rooted on panet earth than them. I only come into contact with the SWP in the bedroom tax campaign and to be honest that’s my only interest in them. I will shed no tears if they fall apart as a result of this shite they have created, but I don’t relish the proliferation of loads more 1917 re-enactment societies with a more ‘nuanced’ attitude to leninism. It just looks like the more things change the more they stay the same. John Grimshaw on said: Tony Collins, This is what I think you call desperate. David Ruaune on said: It is possible that the SWP will be dead by this time next week. John Grimshaw on said: David Ruaune, indeed, and then what? Pangur ban on said: David Ruaune, Is molyneux not also the imperial pro consul in the oirish SWP where he keeps the paddies in line? Unity on said: an alternative is being formed Tony Collins on said: Unity, Yo ‘Unity’ – I’m convinced you’re the person who used to post here as “Prinkipo Exile”. Is that you? It’s just that you posted as “anon” a few weeks ago and said something that struck me as Prinkipo-y Manzil on said: It blatantly isn’t, though. A quasi-revolutionary ginger group for a non-existent left party is being discussed by three incredibly small political sects. It’s a somewhat interesting development, where it constitutes a break with the established traditions of the far left. But the John Rees split shows that the SWP ‘model’ (top-down coalition-building, dependence on the special insights of particular individuals, etc) is ultimately more dependent on the networking skills, reputation and tactical savvy of the leadership than the quality of the activist membership. The ISN milieu seem to have been partially unconditioned from the SWP orthodoxy, due to the viciousness and stupidity of the SWP leadership (resulting in their echoing the SR obsession with formal democratic scruples). If, however, an ‘alternative’ SWP is what the ISN and co. seek, they are distinctly lacking those resources which made the Counterfire project viable, or which continues to keep the leaking SWP rump marginally afloat. Nor would any Left Unity-based party inherit such links, which the ISN-ACI-SR regroupment initiative could exploit. They may very well be saying some interesting things. But insofar as it comes to actually relating themselves to the workers’ movement as it exists, and moving the left forward from its present abyss, they seem no great advance on the status quo, except to the extent they are driving a nail into the SWP coffin, and thus clearing the way for subsequent efforts. Vlad on said: Manzil, These would be fair comments, Manzil, if it were really true that we in ISN were out to create ‘an alternative SWP’. In fact, our project at the moment is far less hubristic and deluded than that. Unlike Counterfire or any number of other ex-SWP groupuscules, we in no way see ourselves as the vanguard party in germ or pretenders to the hollow crown that the SWP has worn for so long. We are simply a group of mainly ex-SWP members, informed to varying extents by ‘the IS tradition’ but also prepared to take seriously ideas from other sources including feminism, green politics and the more horizontal structures of the anti-capitalist movement in order to start to forge with others forms of revolutionary socialist organisation fit for purpose in the 21st century. I’m glad that you think we ‘may very well be saying some interesting things’. It’s true that we are at present above all a talking shop rather than active players in ‘relating … to the workers’ movement as it exists’. But please give us time. We think it’s necessary to sort our ideas and organisational forms out before we start rushing in like bulls in china shops and screw up in the way that the SWP and most other far-left groups have done so spectacularly and disastrously ever since the present crisis of capitalism began. We would welcome any help that you or others who share our ultimate goals can offer in that process. Andy Newman on said: A more useful depatrure would be for you to reassess the knee jerk negative approach of the “IS tradition” with regard to actually existing socialist states in the past and present John Grimshaw on said: It seems to me that in order to do that they would have to define what is meant by socialism. facing Reality on said: Apparently Marxism 2013 is guaranteed to be a great success. Whatever happens. Andy Newman on said: That is really very good Vanya on said: #47 Quite amusing, as undoubtedly would be the faces of certain people on reading it. However, I clicked on one of the articles linked to on the same page, on Left Unity and the role that people like yourselves should play, and came accross this: “Revolutionaries should attempt to be the ones who are always arguing for the most radical actions…” Now I know about taking quotes out of context so I’m hoping I’ve not done that. But it seems to me that what anyone involved in any kind of campaign or movement should do is examine any situation and apply to it, and advocate that others do the same, the most appropriate actions to that situation, taking everything into account. If revolutionaries are going to define themselves as such even if only partly on the basis of always being those arguing for the most radical action, (a) They will inevitably be arguing for wrong tactics on many occasions and this will partly be because, (b) there is always likely to be someone else trying to prove that they are the true revolutionary by arguing for something more radical. And (c) this is in effect the marriage of sectarianism and its supposed opposite, opportunism, because it becomes about taking a position in order to show how “revolutionary” you are rather than on the basis of the objective needs of the situation. Sometimes of course the actions proposed by people who take this line will coincide with those objective needs, but I would suggest that relying on that is little better than relying on a stopped clock to be right twice a day, because at least that’s predictable. And to me it suggests that breaking with undemocratic and in some cases oppressive modes of internal functioning, as those of you breaking with the SWP are clearly doing (and very positively I might add), is not sufficient to answer the question of what type of party is needed. Ironically I suspect this is another situation where Lenin might have agreed with me, although clearly I’m not invoking his authority given what I said earlier on this thread. Vanya on said: Cue George Hallam Forever Delayed on said: “always arguing for the most radical actions…” Isn’t that the very definition of ultra-leftism? Sam64 on said: For once LOL is justified Vanya on said: Yes, I forgot to add that. As I said, I’m quoting what appears to be a document emanating from your current. And as I also said, I’m aware of the risk of quoting out of context, so I am happy to be corrected on either ground. Tony Collins on said: Well I very much think you are taking the quote out of context. The actual paragraph was this: John Grimshaw on said: In the war we had powdered eggs. Vanya on said: #55 I’m too young to have been around then. Do you remember welfare orange juice and rosehip syrup? That was still around in the late 60s. Andy Newman on said: Vanya, I was talking about Rose hip syrup only today. I occasionally crave it! The most tantalising childhood taste was the orange flavoured fizzy drink made of powdered pain killer called spring, which we had instead of calpol. It must have been addictive because I still miss it! jim mclean on said: We used to collect rosehips (itchycoos) and sell them to a local newsagent in the late 50’s. Unfortunately the market was undermined by cheap imports. jim mclean on said: Andy Newman, Gaitskell introduced prescription charges to fund the Korean war and address the growing concern of people being out their faces on prescribed drugs. What Bevan called “the ceaseless cascade of medicine which is pouring down British throats”. Forever Delayed on said: Vanya, Do you know the title or address of this document you quote? I haven’t seen it, but I would suspect the author doesn’t mean “always arguing for the most radical actions…” in an absolute sense, but more the “most radical actions” that are realistically appropriate/possible in the given circumstances. Which is still, I think, a bad definition. As you say (and as Lenin and Trotsky argued at length) the “most radical action” is not “always” the correct one. Personally, I don’t think we should refer to ourselves as revolutionaries at all unless we are revolutionary in practice as well as theory, which no organisation in Britain genuinely is or realistically has opportunity to be under the existing circumstances. We are, at most, in favour of revolution as the necessary means to replace capitalism with Socialism, but we are not engaged in revolutionary struggle here and now, or even capable of it. Forever Delayed on said: Andy Newman, And what “actually existing socialist states” would those be? Socialism (let alone Communism) has not actually been achieved in any state, past or present. That’s not to say it’s impossible; there are concrete historical reasons for it in each case. It’s also not an insult to, say, Cuba, that it hasn’t achieved Socialism under impossible conditions (IE: a small island with an economy based on exporting sugar, faced with the unrelenting hostility of the US, etc). Marxist Lenonist on said: Forever Delayed, We can argue all day about whether Cuba, Venezuela etc have “achieved socialism”; in the fullest sense of the word, of course they haven’t. Would you at least admit they have socialist governments – and that the SWP tradition towards them is one of dog in the manger ultra-leftism? Forever Delayed on said: Marxist Lenonist, “Would you at least admit they have socialist governments?” That’s an interesting question, and one that I’m finding difficult to answer with a straight yes or no. A lot of their policies and actions have been Socialist, have benefited the working class and poor, have gone far enough for capitalists/imperialists to attempt to overthrow them. However, their economies are still at least partially capitalist, and therefore the governments have to compromise with and to some extent represent capitalist interests. If, as you say, Socialism has not been achieved “in it’s fullest sense”, then how far and in what ways has it been achieved? How much influence do the working class and the capitalists respectively have over the government? Maybe the question isn’t: is this government Socialist or not Socialist; but to what extent is it Socialist and to what extent is it able to be Socialist? As I said, it’s no insult to Cuba to say it hasn’t achieved Socialism in One Country.. Marxist Lenonist on said: Forever Delayed, .” Well said =) facing Reality on said: now it appears that Marxism 2013 has been occupied by everyone who’s ever been in the SWP or perhaps the heat has got to the professor and he’s trying to lighten up the dark side. anonymously of course! Vanya on said: Forever Delayed, I’ve been trying to find the document I quoted from with embaraasing lack of success. I recall that it was about how revolutionaries should organise within broader left formations. If I come accross it again I’ll post a link, as clearly I should have done at the time. facing Reality on said: Now it appears that the Facing Reality blog has got hold of the diaries of the “Incognito comrade” at Marxism 2013. warning – may contain satire Karl Stewart on said: Has there been a high-profile resignation today from the SWP? jim mclean on said: Karl Stewart, Some jazz buff. John Smith on said: Martin Smith has left the SWP facing Reality on said: Facing Reality’s satirical blog has just “reproduced” this statement from the SWP CC regarding the resignation of a former CC member Jara Handala on said: facing Reality, Says it all, really, don’t disagree with a single word. Perhaps the best written statement penned by any SWP Central Cttee. Could make it into journalism textbooks as a lesson in keeping it sweet & short. The last word of Cde. Incognito? Steve Wallis on said:): “‘… Jara Handala on said: Seems to be authentic (10.07pm this evening): Manzil on said: Jara Handala, Making friends on the ISN website I see, Jara. Karl Stewart on said: I must say he’s chosen the right time to do it – when all our regular contributors, like everyone on the left and indeed the whole nation is on tenterhooks over the impending Royal Birth. Andy Newman on said: The best joke I have heard recently is that Kate Middleton was suprised to be going into labour, she thought she had just joined Unite. Jara Handala on said: Manzil, Our ISN lives a democratic deficit. Quite an eye-opener. Silly me for taking all that pluralism stuff to heart, the transparency of proceedings, the accountability of office-holders, the widest participation in decision-making, the need for an interested, attentive, scrutinising membership. Guess passivity is best, or expressions of conformity, perhaps the occasional boostering. Now where did I hear that before? Manzil on said: Jara Handala, Ha! You can take the people out of the SWP, but you can’t take the SWP out of the people…? Jara Handala on said: Manzil, Funny you should say that: “I have just read this thread for the first time, & I wish I had read it when it was being posted. It is striking in that it has proved remarkably prescient in important ways.” (me, 25 June) “Another thread in this Public Forum, started at the very beginning of the ISN’s life, in March, wondered whether there was a cultural hangover from the SWP within the ISN. Is it a case of ‘you can take the lad or lass out of the SWP, but you can’t take the SWP out of them’? I have no reason to doubt the good intentions of those controlling our ISN, but there is a pile of evidence that it is more centralist than it need be. Last month our Website re-published Richard Kuper’s 1978 warning about centralism, ‘Organisation & Participation’. We need to re-read that – & change our practice.” (me, 7 July) Guess my ban is a case of blaming the messenger for the message, the inconvenient truth. But as we know only too well, facts are obdurate, they don’t go away. Andy Newman on said: ??? tell me more. Graham on said: JARA, since you seem to have so much free time on your hands to clog up political blogs with shite perhaps it’s time you set up your own. I look forward to ignoring it. Andy Newman on said: I enjoy Jara’s writing enormously, I think he needs to expand his topics of interest though Jara Handala on said: Andy Newman, You’re right: I have to let go of the brush, leave the bog behind, get into the living room, & open my eyes to the wider world. Omar on said: Richard Seymour seems to be pushing a more realistic line these days since escaping from the Deathstar. No doubt he’ll be charged with selling out soon enough. Manzil on said: Jara appears to have earned the ire of other ISN members on their website, and been invited to bugger off – for taking seriously the ex-oppositionists’ calls for democracy, presumably. There appears to be a view that someone actually taking a sincere interest in the ISN might be grounds for suspicion. Including charges of being a spy for the Weekly Worker, someone calling for him to be banned, denials that he is actually a member etc. Socialism is serious business, evidently. He may offend the Grahams, but I would think Jara’s ability to actually produce highly readable contributions would be valued somewhat more on the left than those whose main effort within online discussions is to decry them as resulting from having ‘too much time’. Off with you Jara, back to the coal face. Go and break some rocks like a ruddy decent salt o’ the earth proper SO-sher-list and stop, like, thinking ‘n’ stuff. I trust everyone has visited Michael Rosen’s blog – he allows us insight into the terrifying mindset of a modern-day political thug (wherein abuse complainants are implied to have ‘fucked up’ by SWP ultras) by helpfully reproducing the criticisms of his recent open letter to the party. J on said: Have to say, from this outsider’s perspective, Jara’s contributions to the ISN website look like petty trolling rather than constructive criticism. What I am intrigued by, is the recent letter by the ‘Facebook 4′ to Charlie Kimber, among other things requesting re-admittance to the SWP… I know that they are aware that the chances of this being assented to or close to nil, but interesting that they make this statement while remaining ISN members (as I understand). While I think the ISN was a correct move, holding people exiting the SWP in organised socialist politics, I am yet to be convinced of its longevity. There are very clear tensions between different visions of what the group should be: external faction of the SWP; re-assessing but preserving the best of the IS tradition of organised revolutionary socialist politics; study circle before the next viable organisation comes to view; ‘new’ libertarian left…? As some seem to be realising, they can’t survive by ignoring this eclecticism for too long. The debates over whether to hire staff reflect this; but I think the above-mentioned letter is an interesting gloss on the situation as well. David Ruaune on said: Manzil, Yeah credit to Mike Rosen – I’ve pasted the link – to his open letter onto my Facebook, etc. Chris on said: Whatever, byotches. No one gives a shit except you PC twats. Vanya on said: #89 Yo blood. What are you on? Can I have some? Manzil on said: Innit.

From the Middle East, a Rallying Cry for Raw Milk and Food Rights Activists Barack Obama gave a remarkable speech in Israel last week. Remarkable not just because he challenged Israeli young people to push for peace with the Palestinians, but because he was cheered by the young Israelis in the audience. One of his statements especially resonated at home, possibly in a way he didn’t intend: “Let me say this as a politician -- I can promise you this, political leaders will never take risks if the people do not push them to take some risks. You must create the change that you want to see. Ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things.” Around the U.S., ordinary people are pushing their state and local politicians to take risks over the issue of raw milk and food rights. Nearly everywhere you look, it seems, there is a skirmish over raw milk and food rights. In some cases, the politicians are responding positively, and in other places they are responding negatively. But the efforts on behalf of food rights seem more widespread this year than ever before. And I’ll bet they’ll be even more widespread the year after that. I have selected a few examples of developments affecting legislative and other initiatives on behalf of raw milk. For a more complete listing of initiatives that have been under way, the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund monitors the legislative proposals. *In Texas, hearings are being held to change the state’s law to allow raw dairies to sell at farmers markets and to deliver to customers’ homes, reports Judith McGeary, of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. *In Nevada, an assembly committee heard testimony on behalf of a proposal that would officially legalize the sale of raw milk, heard testimony from Mark McAfee, owner of the country’s largest raw milk dairy in neighboring California. *In Maine, a ninth town, Brooksville, has passed a Food Sovereignty ordinance, allowing for private sale of raw milk and other farm products directly from town farmers to consumers. *In Arkansas, a House committee defeated a bill that would allowed raw milk sales from farms, by a nine-to-eight vote. *In Montana, a House committee has approved legislation that would allow raw milk sales direct from the farm. Interestingly, the bill’s supporters felt compelled to remove a provision mandating testing because state agriculture officials were objecting that testing is too costly. So to avoid this opposition, the legislators approved a labeling provision. When the bill comes up for a vote, the opponents will no doubt criticize the absence of required testing...damned if you do and damned if you don’t. *In Wisconsin, the state’s governor, Scott Walker, has indicated he would sign legislation that made raw milk available directly from dairy farms. This is a reversal from 2010, when the state’s then-governor, Jim Doyle, vetoed legislation allowing sales from the farm. Legislation is due to be introduced within the next few weeks. *In Iowa, a bill that would have allowed sales from the farm failed to make it out of committee to the full House. *There is an effort in North Dakota to reverse the state’s existing laws, which allow the sale of raw milk from farms. *The National Farmers Union, a 110-year-old representative of small family farms, approved at its national convention a resolution in favor of raw milk, “as it provides a viable market niche for dairies.” It recommended “that raw milk be bottled as the product of a single source...” And it said there should be “equal access to raw milk (and or raw dairy products) for human consumption for all consumers that choose to consume raw milk.” Joseph Heckman of Rutgers University in New Jersey sent me a headline from a newspaper in 1980, about an Iowa farmer being jailed for refusing orders to discontinue sale of raw milk. His point was that this battle has been going on for many years, and seems nearly endless. But as the forces for food freedom grow and expand, one thing is clear: there are more proponents than opponents. The problem is that the opponents often have more money, to influence key legislators. The proponents need to keep pushing and organizing and backing politicians who understand that food choice is important to the vast majority of people. There will inevitably be defeats along the way. For better or worse, maintaining access to wholesome foods is as much a political process as it is a farming process. " political leaders will never take risks if the people do not push them to take some risks. You must create the change that you want to see." This is so very true. As a poster stated, We are owned and operated by big business... Sometimes it is difficult to wrap my mind around the stupidity of others. It's not just a fight for healthy milk. They will continue until we have no say in anything....... Yes indeed majority rules and it could very well be a good thing , however what happens to a minority group such as the raw milk movement who refuses to be manipulated by a system that fails to have or refuses to abide by a constitution that acknowledges minority rights? Ken Ken, I have no problem with those who wish to feed themselves or their children toxic fast foods, it is their choice. I don't understand why both don't co-exist. I guess technically they are co-existing now, I guess I can't fathom why anyone wants to push their beliefs on me or others. Before you know it, they will be dictating what we eat, drink, how we live, what we do for a job, etc. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Gayle. Damn, need that "like" button. And to add to your list above, David, this just in from National Farmers Union: Another example of how "the forces for food freedom grow and expand". It's little steps like this that will ultimately change the course. Just like we were saying some time back, it will be the little steps that really make the difference as opposed to orchestrating a national step. Deborah, that is positive news. @Gayle Hear, hear! Thank-you for stating so clearly to Bill what I have been thinking. why we do what we do In order to head off trouble from the ‘pain bodies’ of those styling demselves, “health authorities”, I always make sure to tell inquirers : “raw milk does not cure cancer”. What usually kills people manifesting cancer, is cachexia … their bodies cannot metabolize any nutrition. So it’s especially haertening to see the post, below, on Charlotte’s website, today ------------------------- This past week as I was preparing to bring our new gal, Madeleine, in the barn for milking my phone rang. I usually have a rule - no cell phones in the barn - (the cows feel the distraction of phones during milking) but my intuition guided me otherwise. A nice gentleman spoke up that he is a tax accountant for one of our Champoeg Creamery milk customers. He continued to say his wife, Karen, is recovering from cancer and most recently, chemotherapy. She'd been on a feeding tube for 6 months and it had just been removed. His client (CC milk customers) knew he was struggling to find nourishment for his wife of 25 years who now weighed less than 100 pounds. They gifted him a jar of raw milk from their weekly visit to the farm. This man was calling because he had finally found a real food source that his wife could tolerate, would help her heal, and that he could use to keep her alive. His request to me was to be placed on our wait list which he'd heard was anywhere from 6 months - 2 years for a gallon or so of this "white gold" per week. How could anyone be so heartless and seemingly void of compassion to place him on that wait list?! This adoring man is hoping to buy time with the love of his life and is asking to be in line to wait for the product that could grant that wish for them. This job I do is so little about milking cows, on the contrary, it's about a force even greater than physical life. We here on our little farm hold human lives in our hands everyday when we make sure our milk is safe and pathogen-free. This milk is hand carried from our farm to nourish families, children, pregnant moms, adopted infants, both healthy and immune compromised people. People. Loved Ones. Mommies and Daddies. Babies. Those facing long, vibrant lives. Those at the end of this journey and preparing for the next. We keep this in mind when we struggle to pay the feed bill or wonder, "Why do I get up at 5AM to milk cows in the dark twice a day, year after year?" or faced with yet another spendy mechanical breakdown in the barn. The energy that arises within to face this incredible calling and is fueled by the very food we produce, is from another realm, invisible to our eyes; felt within, where we all meet and are on a level playing field - - characterized by our individual human souls. Until we arrive there, however, safe raw milk is easy to produce if you follow the proper strict safety protocols, but that's hard to find. Raw milk is controversial. It can give life and it can take life away. It is essential that you only drink raw milk from a farm that can show you their milk is safe. If this information is not available, do not drink the milk. You have to use your gut to decide, as well as have the proper knowledge and test documentation to back up your decision. Virgil and Karen stopped in for their first gallon of milk and left armed with kefir cultures to make it even more vibrant and powerful. Virgil hung on every word I said, eager to find a way to nourish his wife. I did not ask for this responsibility, yet I cannot step away from it. When I began my farming endeavor I just wanted to provide milk for my family and a few others. I am no longer providing just milk; we here on our farm are yet another conduit for life giving nourishment to flow from our farm to those who need it most. I am reminded again that no matter what job we think defines us - "farmer" or "lawyer" or "CPA" or "teacher" - we are so much more than that. We have the opportunity to touch others daily with our work, our humanity, our story. Our gift of compassion. Very eloquent from Charlotte. Thanks for sharing it. Thank you for putting together this list of legislative initiatives, David. It's really heartening to see so many! Came across an interesting item the other day...Organic Valley has a product called Grassmilk, non-homogenized milk. Here is their website promoting this product: I do have to wonder about their advertising about this product due to previous problems associated with this company, plus previous questions/issues about their products, but if it is everything that they say about this product, it goes to show the importance of a grass-fed diets for dairy cows. Another concern about this product is the fact that the milk comes from different farms rather than from one source. So how is a person to trust this product. Here is another example of how people need to research what really is being done to obtain a product such as this. A red flag to me, is coming from different farms. Mixing up products opens up the potential for contamination. I would be courious as to; what types of grass they are eating, etc? For some reason I have no faith nor trust in any of the big corporations. Yeah, Sylvia, that was the 'red' flag for me, too. Supposedly, this 'Grassmilk' product comes from dairy farms in Humbolt County, Calif, how does one truly know that that is so. Their website clearly states that they have many Coop dairy farms all over in many states, so how is it documented which supply of milk came from which dairy?! I wish I could remember a website that I came across last year that posted pictures of some of Organic Valley's Coop dairy farms in other states showing deplorable conditions of the farms and the cows. I do remember that it took a lot of effort to make Organic Valley to do something about the situation and to remedy them, but again, how does one truly know?! The funny part about this 'Grassmilk' is the way they emphasize that it is un-homogenized, yet they conveniently don't show that it is ultra-pasteurized and it is an expensive product!! It all boils down to the fact that this product is just the same as the other commercialized milk that costs so much less. So again, another example of 'hooking in' the unsuspecting/uninformed consumer. @ Deborah: Horizon dairy was in some trouble a while back too, and it's difficult to find the real, true story about that now, too. A clue? Horizon is owned (or was) by Dean phake phoods. There's your sign. @ Deborah: I saw this product the other day at our local food co-op: It was $8.65 for an 8 oz pkg. Yipes. And you hafta wonder about the source of their cream to make this butter (although the ad says it's made from milk). I can't even imagine trying to make butter out of milk unless MAYBE it was milk from Jerseys or Devons, with a very high cream/fat ratio. I try to avoid organic, packaged milks. D. - I saw that product as well & yes, I agree with you...a very questionable product. I get my butter from Organic Pastures, as well as, a local source, plus when I have the time, I will make my own which tastes so much more decadent & luscious!! @ Deborah: I don't have access to OP products where I live, so I buy Amish butter from the people who also sell raw milk. I can also access it from a couple of other sources, but they are a long distance away, so the only time we buy it is if my DH is traveling to see his Dad in the same area, and then he brings back a cooler full. Most of the butter is about $10-$12 for a one pound package, so we buy in bulk and freeze it. But it doesn't stay around long. It is illegal in SD to buy raw cream. Can you imagine the insanity?? We fought this like crazy but to no avail. Egregious legislation. So now I rarely make my own butter because our local producer has holsteins and there is little fat involved. I prefer Jersey milk but can no longer find it around here. Everyone who "sells" it is staying well under the radar and their customers don't talk to anyone about their purchases. Oh my gosh, D. that is horrible, why would they make it illegal to buy raw cream, that is just crazy. Boy, I truly am blessed being in California and having access to the items that I do. Makes me really appreciate the hard work that Organic Pastures and Claravale does. Their success will hopefully entice others to get into the raw milk production and supply by following the steps that OP and Claravale have done. Yum yum yum, there is nothing more delish & decadent than melted raw cream butter on top of fresh, hot popcorn!! Of course, not to mention fresh raw cream butter spread on a slice of my great-great grandmother's War Bread just fresh out of the oven!! Lol! Mark can't legally mail raw butter out of state...Boo Only his cheese and beef. Bastards. I know, Sylvia, it is a real bummer. Hopefully, Mark will be able to get this changed in the near future. By the way, have you tried his cheese? Absolutely delicious! It sells out fast at the two stores I buy it from, have to make sure you get there when the delivery arrives! Also, are you not in California right now? No I haven't tried his cheese. I am in Virginia Beach right now and the only way to get raw dairy is to belong to a cow share. I won't be here much longer and I will visit my son in Arkansas where raw cows milk is a dirty word. I bet you'll be glad to get back here then, lol. I get very frustrated when I get to a state & can't get any raw milk to consume while I am there. Luckily, for the past 5 weeks all of my site visits have been to California hospitals so I haven't been deprived of my raw milk & other goodies. If I go for a lengthy time without being able to consume raw milk, I begin to have some health issues resurface, not fun. Safe travels to you & hope you get back to California real soon. I'm beginning to wonder how much longer we'll have access to anything considered real food. Scope this: Even when you think those gomers on the hill might be on your side, they aren't. Imagine them selling out for money - even if no one reporting the news can put their finger on it (as the article states) you KNOW it's crossing palms all the time. geesh, just like giving immunity (pun intended) to vaccine makers. Yeah, another train wreck we aren't going to be able to stop with votes or telephone calls or letters or anything else. :sigh: “The playing field between farmer rights and the bio-tech companies rights has been tilted towards the companies with this decision....” Percy Schmeiser In her”. Ken Oh my gosh, Ken, this is terrible. I hope that Louise will take this further and continue to fight this. How in the heck did Monsanto get that so called license Federal Government, perhaps she should sue the Federal Government for allowing that, sue them for gross negligence. And how can the public get the Federal Government to rescind such a ridiculous, negligent license? Obviously, Monsanto paid off the government to get this!! Deborah Here are a couple of articles on the Schmeisers that I think you will find very interesting, and an inspiration to all of us (farmers and consumers) who are struggling against corporate and government oppression.... Ken Thanks for the links, Ken, I am familiar with the first link as that was the one I was following some time back. It is amazing that they were able to fight against Monsanto where previously other farmers were not able to. But, it shows how Monsanto has gotten away with what they have at the expense & detriment of others. But Dave, is there any way that maintaining access to wholesome foods could be more of a legal process then a political process? Good question Mike. Unfortunately, our legal and political systems are terribly intertwined. We have to work within our communities, like folks are doing in Maine, to create local food rules, or ordinances. You can start by contacting your town, city, county boards and ask if they have any food ordinances. If not, go to work. Another thing you can do is support to the best of your ability the farmers being prosecuted. Buy their foods when possible, show up to their hearings and trials, write letters to local newspapers, volunteer to work with that farmers support team, and if the farmer doesn't have one...start one! Talk to the farmers at farmers markets... they're next on the real food endangered species list. Some say peaceful noncompliance in mass is the answer, personally I like that one. But I'm not a farmer and so wouldn't be assuming the risk. My risk is not taking any action and losing access to real food. So for now I do everything I can to support farmers on trial, not just my farmer. We all have skills and there are many many skills needed to win this war, figure out what you can do...AND DO IT (not just you Mike...I mean everyone). And if you honestly can't find a way to help, donate money to the Farm To Consumer Legal Defense Fund, they provid legal representation for farmers all over the country free of charge...they are one of the major heros in this fight:) Keeping FTCLDF well funded is one of the best ways to fight on the legal side. RMMike: What Gayle said. Since politicians make laws, its hard to separate the two. My suggestion, in addition to what Gayle said would be to make it a point to speak out and remind your local politicians that if they do not observe the will of the people, sooner rather than later they are toast and will be voted out. Also, I think a large part of the problem is in the executive branch more so than the legislative. Selective enforcement if you will, although we never do know just who steers that process behind the scenes, but you can bet more often than not money is involved as opposed to public safety as the key decision making criteria. Exactly Ora. Such as the President appointing both the head of FDA and federal judges. Then we have the Monsantos of the world who pay dearly to presidential campaigns and in turn we see ex monsanto executives in high level FDA positions. Talk about intertwined... But your right, we can vote, and we can make our wishes known. Did you know that it only takes about 20 hand written letters on a topic to convince a state legislator to take action? Thats not that many...start writing folks! Is it possible that we may need a Johnnie Cochran or maybe a civil rights attorney? This is why I think raw milk is a legal issue and not a political one: Why I Support Raw Milk By: Senator Glenn Grothman May 20, 2010; In the final few weeks of this Legislative Session, over 100 bills landed on the Governor’s desk. The one that generated the most intense feeling(Only for fresh milk drinkers. Others saw it as some stupid political agenda.) is the bill that would have legalized the sale of raw milk(The bill wouldn't have legalized fresh milk. It would have still been illegal in stores. It's all ready legal to sell on the farm. It's the harassment we need stopped.) if you had a Grade A license(Which you would lose if the dairy processor stopped buying your milk.). Raw milk has been illegal to sell in the State of Wisconsin for the last 30 years, except for incidental sales. Nevertheless, DATCP, bowing to commonsense, largely did not enforce the law until 2009(Are you sure? I didn't see any raw milk at pick n save.). For a short period in the 1990s, I’m told, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture encouraged the sale of raw milk as a new niche market. They encouraged farmers to sell “cow shares” in which consumers would buy part of a cow so that the customer would only be getting his milk from a cow he owned to get around the prohibition(What prohibition? These are still incidental sales. The prohibition is only a rule that DATCP could change at any time). In the late 1990s, DATCP determined cow shares were illegal but continued to not enforce the ban(Are you saying that advertising was allowed, or only that incidental sales were allowed?). In some form or other, raw milk is sold in over half the states(Only eleven states are as restrictive as Wisconsin and according to the CDC's foodnet survey there's just as much raw milk sold here as in California where raw milk is sold in heath-food stores.). America should be a free country and your average person should be free to experience the benefits of raw milk just as farmers already do(The only way for that to happen would be to repeal the 1957 anti raw milk law.). By forcing these sales underground, DATCP may wind up creating a health hazard(What health hazard? Didn't you go to the public hearing?). DATCP ought to go back to the “turn a blind eye policy”(You mean allowing incidental sales.) that existed before 2009. Oh the tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! Thats it...DATCP suffers from fairy tale deficiency...among other things. ~~~ The more people who do this research and expose the truth the more energy we have working for a positive path forward. You go Mike!! I am a human visitor! Sales in soy must be declining...... I'm a human! Oh that was really weird...most of my post is missing!! Anyways, was at Mother's Market in Orange this evening & say the 'Grassmilk' that I was talking about earlier, what was interesting was that there were two containers side-by-side both titled 'Grassmilk', but one was marked as '100% Grass-fed' while the other was marked just 'Grass-fed'. They were in different colored containers. Still keeps me wondering what is truly the story here with this product. Oh yeah, so now it appears that we have to use CAPTCHA each time we post to prove that we are a human visitor & not a Spammer, thanks Spammers!!! Yeah, sorry about the CAPTCHA. The spammers making life tedious. Yeah, David, saw that really long, wacky one earlier today. Where do they all come from?! Jeesh, they are big pains. Too bad there isn't a way that sends a message right back to them and disable their PCs!! It appears that the sky has started to fall on the FDA...finally. Anyone see the "Escape Fire" medical journalism documentary on CNN last week? Talk about tearing a new ass in the FDA and big pharma as well as the deadly outcomes from chronic medical disease treatment by western doctors. It was an indictment. Praises still go out to docs for trauma, but for the autoimmune, diabetis, obese and the rest of the chronic illnesses it was a capital "F-" for failing grade. The great quote was... "doctors do not want you to die.... they do not want you to get well...they just want you to keep coming back!!!" The entire lie was exposed. See the trailer. It was amazing with this back drop and the quote from Natural doctor Andrew Weil....saying, health is a result of eating whole and unprocessed foods and personal lifstyle!!! This is the evolving American culture that we all find ourselves in....things are changing. OPDC sales set new records every week. This is a critically important time to get it right with raw milk!! I saw part of that Mark. It's a great start, wish it was on regular TV so that everyone could see it. It shows just how pathetic our health care system is. It is amazing how uninformed people are about their health which leads to their lack of knowledge of nutrition and healthy foods. If you google "healthy recipes" You get the popular web sites and they all have tons of recipes that most encourage the use of processed chemically induced phoods. Because these web sites say it is "healthy" people believe it. For example; how healthy is processed broth, with added chemicals? Dad uses canola oil to kill ants.... it's in a lot of processed phoods. Most cotton is gmo, so that means cotton seed oil is gmo, same with corn,beets and sugar,, The list is long. It's all about money and power This is truly a co-mingling of BigPhRma, BigPHood, BigMedical Industry, the DOD, the DOJ, and the fools on the Hill. I truly don't see any way we're going to stop them. I'm not trying to be the proverbial gray cloud, but you must admit - there's a lot of money and power in just those things I've named - and that's not all of them by far. It's much more about power than it is about money (I mean, really, they already HAVE the money), because that's what it's evolved into now. A society of elites who think they know what's best for the planet and the people on it. If we don't want to do what they think we should do, they'll FORCE us to do it. I agree with everyone who said that trauma care is definitely a necessity - that's a given. If we're in an accident we need care from someone else when we can't give to ourselves, right? So I'm not down on all modern medicine entirely. It's just so totally overused or misused today. The Sinsurance companies are huge (again, our fault) and they are giving the directions for "health" "care", but they believe in a pill for every ill rather than prevention of disease and illness - because of their bigPhRma ties. And there's no care involved whatsoever. There is one doctor who has been trying to get the word out about how we can (medically) take care of ourselves with basic stuff. Dr. Mark Sircus who wrote Natural Allopathic Medicine. His latest article is here:-... It's all about natural emergency and intensive care medicines. Stuff ER's use all the time and yet scoff at the natural practitioners for recommending. Just telling people to eat healthy and do a bunch of mostly unnecessary exercises isn't going to cut it for much longer. I can think of almost nowhere in the usa where there is a better chance of getting sick than in doctor's waiting rooms, hospitals and gyms/workout places/spas. Now with the new monsanto bill being shoved through congress with pretty much only Senator Tester to try to stop it, we're in even bigger trouble. They won't stop with phake phoods. Monsanto has big plans. You are absolutely right, it is a co-mingling of all you mentioned and I agree with the rest of your post too. The only solution I can think of is be your own health advocate, speak up, inform others, it is their choice to listen/act or not. It will be a very slow process for change, slower than the raw milk fight. People are too brainwashed, doped up, uninformed, etc. Change will indeed be slow. I learned very quickly as a young nurse. I cannot fix everything, I can only share the knowledge I gain and it is up to others what they do with that knowledge. At times it has been a hard pill for me to swallow, as I see the potential that even tiny changes would have made. People are expected to do drastic changes, for example: a new or old diabetic- the dietician talks to them about foods, carbs,sugars, proteins,fats and tells the patient what they can and cannot eat. The patient is thinking they are supposed to change their whole eating regime at once (kind of like dieters) this leads to failure most of the time. Change for most people must come in small steps. You can have that piece of pie, only a small sliver of the piece, not a normal piece and after eating it you must go for a walk to burn off the sugar you just ate. Patients understand that statement and are not overwhelmed and are likely to be compliant. It's a learning process for them too. All we can do right now, is make sure we have healthy food and water and our own environment is as healthful as possible and inform those who wish to listen about what we learn. Those who don't open their eyes and make their own changes, will die early and probably in ill health. Milk is ogooglebar or ungoogleable and unyahooable or oyahoobar. Remember when we tried to find out what's in milk and none of us could find much of anything on the net?.. If this does not piss you off as an American ....you do not have a pulse, a heart or a brain. This is the pent-ultimate Monsatan act....now Monsanto is protected from liability for any of its BIO TECH...IE GMO crops. WFT!!! There is both a congratulations in hand here and also a oh shit feeling in my heart. Montana just passed a 100% hands off Raw Milk bill. No standards and no liability to the producer and no testing. This is an old plane with an untrained pilot at the controls and no maintenance and bad fuel looking for a place to crash in the dark of night over the mountains. Any predictions on the outcome?? Bill Marler is about to set some interesting new legal precidents with this one. Childrens & minors rights anyone? They can not be legislated away....neither can the responsibility to produce clean raw milk, regardless of what the stupid legislature says. This one swings so far out of line....it hurts my heart. Ever heard of responsibly produced raw milk???? @ Mark: Just because there's not testing required doesn't mean MT dairy farmers won't do that. No standards? What does that mean? You think because it's MT and not CA there are no standards?? I know a lot of people from MT and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you get some nasty emails at some point. I'd rather see less regulation than more because we have to start somewhere in backing up the train. Do you think that MT dairy farmers weren't milking until this bill? If they've been producing raw milk and people have been drinking it and there have been no deaths (nationwide, as you said yourself) this bill won't matter a whit, unless guys like marler and pritzker are convincing people they're sick because of the raw milk and not because of a "bug" of some kind. Not everyone can afford $14.00 a gallon Mark. anyone who truly cares about feeding his family properly, will pay the going rate for top quality milk. That being = what the farmer needs not only to survive, but prosper. Surely you agree that the workman is worthy of his hire ? Where is it written that it's the duty of farmers, to subsidize consumers? If you're not making enough $$ to buy sustenance - then the solution to that problem lies within yourself ... not, by beating-down the producer. There is no doubt that most would buy what is best for them, if they can afford it. Where do you get "beating-down the producer"? What is sustenance to one is not to another. There are many posts on this blog that go over that ad-nauseum. But Gordon, the producer only gets $1.00 a gallon. And like I said what value is added for the $13.00 worth of useless red tape. If you have the $14.00 than spend it but don't force it on working class people with barely a roof over their head. My family drinks over a gallon a day. You're asking me to through $300,00 a month out the window. The state has no concern for the quality of milk or the health of the people that drink it. And the same is true of anyone that spreads their lies about raw milk. And don't talk to me about prosperity. It wasn't my idea to run Tom Barrett against Scott Walker. Working stiffs, that can be fooled into believing we are on a fiscal cliff when the wealthy are paying less taxes than the people working for them, will never prosper. You do know I live in Wisconsin where everyone lives within minutes of many small dairy farms. Their is no reason to ship the milk to Timbuktu and back again. The Montana House passed the Raw Milk bill 98-2. Doesn't it still have to go through the Montana Senate and then the governor before it becomes law? Lynn Montana is a great example of what really pissed off people do with over zealous regulations that limit personal rights. They go way over board. "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery" Thomas Jefferson. Montana is standing up for your rights people, and now the two big blowhards here, Mark and Bill, are on the offensive against Liberty, and Freedom, once again. If you two really hate American values, and freedom, and Liberty, so much, why don't you guys take your businesses and families to another country that espouse your Communist ideals? RAWMI of North Korea? RAWMI of China? Moscow RAWMI? Red RAWMI? Control the food and control the people, control the raw milk and lie in bed with the regulators and that is cool with you two. Then you attack Mike for making ends meet in this economic downturn. Then you attack Gayle. Hell, you two are always on the attack against freedom loving Americans. To infringe upon our God given rights that are protected by the Constitution by an overzealous government is one thing we can resist, but you two are like 'the enemies within'. We 'Patriots' can see through your RAWMI facade and understand the money you and your investors in RAWMI will make off of co-habitating with government regulators, and if you get your way with Wisconsin legislation, and bringing RAWMI to Wisconsin, Mike is right in the cost to the working family tripling the outlay for nutritious food. There are real peole in the world that do not have your deep pockets, maybe you should think of the little guy you pretend to defend. So what would happen to all the small ma and pop farmers in Wisconsin if your St. Brigid farm gets its legislation passed and brings RAWMI to that state (WI)? Patriots have a popular saying right now, 'Come and Take it'. Do you really want to attack Montana and freedom loving Americans all the time? Or are you two just overzealous about filling your pocketbooks. America, love it or leave it. And Bill if you hate Capitalism so much why do you sell your cheese and not just give it away? American Patriot, You are right not to be fooled. RAWMI regulations were written to fit into Codex Alimentarius and the Food Safety Modernization Act, as was exposed by me on this blog a few years ago. It's all a very calculated plan. Enjoy this e-mail from Bill Anderson. Note that Mr. Social Justice doesn't even pay his workers minimum wage, and that for as much as he expounds on food safety, he admits to drinking beer while making cheese. Looking for a helper with cheese making, Wednesday Posted By: certainkindo... Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:57 pm | Options Hey folks, I'm looking for someone to help me make cheese this Wednesday. I am making another batch of my flagship cheese, the St. Brigid, and I'm willing to pay you $100 for your time and labor. You'd also get the chance to learn some of the finer points of artisan cheese making! Here's the catch -- we'll be starting on the graveyard shift, and its apt to be a 15+ hour day. I will plan on picking you up and leaving Madison around 11pm Tuesday night, and we'll drive out to Cedar Grove Cheese in Plain, WI (about an hour away, in Sauk County) We will make cheese from midnight until about 3 or 5pm, depending on how things work out. There will, of course, be down time for eating meals, and I'll plan on bringing some beer we can enjoy throughout the day. Your primary job will be cleaning. Cleaning cheese moulds, cheese making equipment, and the cheese vat. You will also get to help me cut the curd, stir the curd, mould the curd, and flip the wheels of cheese, so you'll get the chance to experience artisan cheese making first hand. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in doing, please contact me ASAP. You can send me an email at the below address (NOT the the address I am sending this email from), or call me at 262-XXX-XXXX. (blackened out by Lola) I can only afford to pay one helper, so whoever contacts me first gets to be the paid helper! Anyone else is welcome to join, but I can't pay you, sorry. Thanks, Bill Anderson wicheesemaker@... Creme de la Coulee Artisan Cheese Wow, that speaks volumes, doesn't it. Forked tongue? Two faced? BSer? Thank you for this, Lola. Speaks volumes. "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery" Thomas Jefferson" I like that statement, thanks. There are people making big efforts to fight the system.! The following is Montana's bill If someone gets ill from contaminated milk, it doesn't appear to hurt the industry, just look at those who died from the pasteurized milk a few years ago. Aren't they still in business? Guess the bottom feeders didn't "own" their farm.. " he pays about $12,000 a year in inspection fees for his 270 head of dairy cows." Seems the dairy farmers haven't been too business savvy to allow it to come to $12000/yr. I'm thinking perhaps his milk NEEDS to be boiled. Perhaps he can't compete with selling healthy raw milk? And his milk is price fixed?... Passed 98-2, guess the masses have spoken.... Perhaps jealousy that there is no price fix on raw milk? "It doesn’t put us on an even playing field.” Indeed, money appears to be an issue. Too bad people feel they and other require "policing". I guess these Montana dairy farmers assume all raw milk dairy farmers don't use a closed system. Sounds like the Bitterroot dairy farmer is bitter. @ Sylvia: The MT bill involves small herd operations with 15 or less cows, 30 or less goats (lactating, that is) so this is foreign to Mark who has a large operation. Small herd operators generally take very good care of their animals and obviously that was a part of the reasoning behind the bill. Also, don't listen to Bill because he doesn't know his azz from a hole in the ground when it comes to MT. The MT farmers know just as much about dairy as any WI farmer, and they have politicians with a lot more common sense than anything I've seen out of WI in the past two to four years. But I can definitely see the billboards with marler's name in huge letters going up all over the state. Next time I go to judge shows in Billings or Laramie or Great Falls or Bozeman I'll no doubt see them. ;-) @ Sylvai: "Sounds like the Bitterroot dairy farmer is bitter." Har-har!! Good one. The green-eyed monster. I am almost tempted to move to Montana. There are thousands of gallons of raw milk being sold (illegally) and consumed in Ontario on a daily basis with no illness and absent all the rigorous testing advocated by some on this site. Ken Isn't it amazing that the human race is able to survive. And they're only testing for the irrelevant. They don't even test to make sure it's raw. Selling pasteurised as raw is a big problem in Europe. I see no reason for useless testing that adds $13.00 to every gallon of milk. How can we expect testing from people who talk as though they no nothing about raw milk, people that have never even studied the difference between raw and pasteurised milk. People that are afraid of a little competition. I applaud Montana...believe me. They won the big raw milk jack pot on this one. What I do not hear or see is a group being formed to help mentor the new inexperienced dairymen that will come out of the woodwork to feed people and try to survive in this new dodge city for raw milk. Along with this freedom comes huge responsibility. I talk to Charlotte Smith all the time about Oregon and the lousy default standards that are happening all over Oregon. She knows....she takes calls from families that complain about very short shelf life raw milk and want to know if the raw milk is good if the cows are up to their lips in manure and mud and never see a blade of green grass. Those that embrace freedom...must also embrace producer responsibility. Those two behavioral traits do not nessecarily go together. Perhaps, Montana hates raw milk?? They just gave the producers enough rope and a a tree with a tall enough branch to HANG THEMSELVES. The insurance industry is always the silent regulator. They will never agree to backing up unknown raw milk. It is demonstrated high quality or forget it. Do you all think I just got off the train this morning....?? Freedom comes with huge responsibility. I have said this so many times. Not all people choose the high road or integrity. Ask Charlotte Smith about this. She knows what I am saying. gee Mark,does every state have "a group being formed to help mentor the new inexperienced dairymen"? because you don't "hear or see" any groups being formed, it must not be in existence? Didn't the bill just pass within days? I would bet the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund would be willing to point those who ask, in a general direction for learning. I would think the up and coming farmers have enough brains to ask at whatever universities there are, I bet they even know how to read. What makes you think they won't be responsible? Haven't many already been producing raw milk? Oh I see, it isn't YOUR way, so it must be wrong. Get over yourself. We all know about the high road and integrity. you are really sounding like the govt et al. Sylvia, no, there are no groups in existence to help raw dairy producers get up to speed, save one we just started in Oregon. Ask away at the universities, too, you'll be transferred all over the place and finally dead end. FTCLDF can point you to join their organization and talk to Tim Wightman on the phone. That doesn't translate to how to milk a cow and produce pathogen free milk. Farmers try their best to be responsible but with no training available that's puts severe limits on their abilities. Charlotte, Mark implies that no one can do anything without his (rawmi) assistance. The way he words things only succeeds in further alienating people. It is amazing that others have been able to produce raw milk without any problems without rawmi assistance over the centuries. I would not join his club, because of things he has said in the past and continues to say. He is no different than the govt demigods. Not his way, then it must be the wrong way. He isn't promoting rawmi, he continues to alienate farmers and non-farmers with his words. Because of his words, it is doubtful that farmers will ask him anything. To be insulted? Demeaned? Accused of not caring? The list is long. It's too bad, as I've no doubt he has a lot of information. Your farm and his are the only listed farms on rawmi. I look at the consumer section and it really doesn't tell me anything. It doesn't inform me of anything. Apparently you have to join to get any training about dairy cows. The cost is unknown. So if I want to learn about cows and I don't wish to test in the same manner that rawmi requires, it appears It won't behoove me to utilize that 'club'. There is nothing on that web site that informs or encourages a person to seek further information from it. To use Polyface farm as an example; the web site tells you what you can learn, the cost and what you will be doing to learn. Very transparent. If I was to spend money on something, I want to know up front, I will not dig to find the information, as then I feel whatever company is not on the up and up and possibly a fly by night company. If you have a product to sell, whether tangible or not, put it out there. I've seen McAfee work with dozens of raw dairy producers. Not one was offended or alienated, insulted or demeaned. This was for days and hours on end, so lots of opportunity. These are people I know, see, communicate with regularly so would know and hear otherwise. He taught, communicated, modeled, encouraged, supported. if you don't find what you want on the site, then call - take initiative. It's not nordstrom.com it's a new business still being built. There is such a larger perspective here than you are taking. Are you a raw milk producer who wants help? He'll bend over backwards. Just here to attack? What purpose does that serve? He's done more for improving raw milk production than most people. If you have a way to also help improve raw milk availability and production, focus on that, as that's what's needed. What is there to criticize in those who want to share basic standards of production with and eager and inviting crowd, when it's proven that when milk quality improves, insurance rates decrease, and legislators back off because they see the introduction of common standards having a positive effect? All this resulting in more raw milk availability for those desperate for it? Guess he only insults those on this blog. I am not attacking anyone, just responding to his words. I'm not attacking anyone either, but I AM saying this much: if more and more states don't find their spine and figure out a way to slam the door tightly shut on the regulators (read: fda) the way MT did, there is no hope for this fight for rights. If you leave the door open far enough for them to get their little toe in, under the guise of *safety*, they'll be back with a vengence. Those of you insisting that testing is "necessary" to provide safe and wholesome raw milk are acquiescing and soon will be right back where you started, too. With no rights at all. On the back end of that, we'll be opening another door just far enough for them to start taking away more food rights all the time. And they will. Personally, I think they're going to do this anyway, whether they have a reason or not, especially now that the monsanto thing has been shoved down our throats. This article from Pete Kennedy (FTCLDF) has some older news in it as well as some more recent news:... It doesn't really appear the testing makes much difference once the fda gets on board. People here at TCP keep trying to co-mingle food rights with food safety. Let's get the food rights thing happening first and then deal with safety because without the rights, the safety won't be necessary. But as I said, the safety testing (insofar as raw cheese and milk are concerned) don't really seem to matter to the fda - to wit: [quote from article at above link]: . . ." [end quote] Tests can come back negative - and it means nothing to them. But if they suspect something might come back positive, they're on it like a bird on a June bug. Somewhere in all their yapping, something isn't making sense. But they DO have the big money and the DOJ on their side, so that sure helps them, doesn't it? As I said hell is in session. If dairy farmers want to do their own independent testing, fine. But it doesn't seem to make any difference to the way the fda operates. They have a different agenda. Mark, The kind of testing I would like to see done would be a bacterial community profile of the milk that specifically looks at diversity in the community of bacteria in raw milk. Diversity , both genetic and functional, " needs to be preserved to ensure buffering of communities against abiotic and biotic stresses." ." How we manage the cows, the diversity of microbes in their environment ,their pasture or feed and in the milk, will determine if the microbial community in the milk is stable or not. How does the method of harvesting the milk influence the diversity of microbes in the milk? Does using machines and a pipeline preserve or reduce the diversity in the milk ? Does hand milking in an open pail preserve or reduce the diversity in the milk ? These questions can be answered with current testing methods.Is RAWMI interested in this kind of testing? Miguel That was an excellent research article. “The results suggest that both genetic and functional diversity need to be preserved to ensure buffering of communities against abiotic and biotic stresses." I am afraid that many will be unable to grasp the significance of that last sentence from the paragraph you just quoted (above). They are overly preoccupied with isolation and destruction (imbalance) hence their inability to fully comprehend the importance of diversity and preservation (balance). Hopefully Montana’s reasonable approach will prevail in light of this fear driven control mentality that has bewitched the psyche of our nations. “A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” John F. Kennedy Ken What do we learn about the diversity of the microbial community in our milk from laboratory pathogen tests? The length of time the milk stays fresh tasting in the fridge tells us what the numbers of bacteria are. The flavor (fresh and incubated) tells us what the somatic cell count is. We don't need a microscope to see what the diversity of the microbial community is.The farm practices will tell us that. Does the farmer have monoculture crops ( corn ,small grains) in rotation on the farm? Then the fields are plowed every few years at least. Plowing totally disrupts the development of microbial diversity in the soil. Monoculture crops select for a monoculture of soil microbes. Do the cows have access to many different types of vegetation in the pasture? Grazing 4 or 5 different plants leads to a monoculture of gut bacteria in the cow. The number of plant types available continuously should be more than 100, including tree leaves,bushes and shrubs. Do the cows share the pasture with lots of wildlife? An abundant wildlife population is an indicator and source of diversity of soil microbes. Not pasteurizing milk might be a step in the right direction , but let's not stop there. Agriculture has lost it's way. Milk that is a product of the " isolation and destruction" that modern farming has become will not be safe to consume as long as these other problems are not addressed. If consumers understand this they will be the ones to educate the farmers about how the farm should care for the cows. Low diversity = instability = disease. High diversity = stability = health and resilience. Miguel, "How we manage the cows, the diversity of microbes in their environment ,their pasture or feed and in the milk, will determine if the microbial community in the milk is stable or not." That is spot on. Mark, over the years you and I have had our differences and have exchanged harsh words with each other. I think we have finally come to a place where we can agree. I 100% get what you are saying. If raw milk is not produced with the highest respect for the pathogens that can contaminate the milk, tragedies like the Oregon outbreak will continue to happen. Even though you have had outbreaks at your dairy and I get frustrated at your inability to acknowledge them, I do give you credit for attempting to set raw milk safety standards. Nothing good comes from an outbreak, only heartache. Salmonella and Campylobacter can do serious damage to the human body, but I think STEC is the one to be most fearful of if it winds up in the milk. It is dangerous on multiple levels. It takes a small amount (some speculate as little as 10 to 50) to make someone very ill and based on the data that has been collected on outbreaks since 2005, a high percent of children are developing HUS after drinking contaminated raw milk. I left out Listeria because I am referring to liquid milk, not cheese. Soft cheeses are vulnerable to Listeria and it is the pathogen that causes the most deaths. Freedom asks people to take responsibility for their own actions. Regulations do not guarentee responsibility, didn't keep Monsanto in check. Regulations allow non labeling of GMO's, BPA in baby bottles, millions of innocent deaths from drunk drivers. Ethics, integreity, compassion, social conscience self reliance, responsibility...these things can not be regulated into being. MT will be fine... There is a lot of first rate information available to farmers who want to learn about and sell raw milk for a living. It is in their own best interest to get it right. And there is also a lot of first rate information about how to select a respectable farmer. People also need to take personal responsibility in this equation. When you over regulate a people they get dull and complacent. This is simply not what our government needs to be spending gross amounts of tax dollars on. I'd much rather they work on keeping the fox out of the hen house and put Mondanto out of business. Education is the answer...not regulation. D Smith, The Foundation Farms incident was a very small herd of less than 10 cows.....they put 21 people into ecoli hell. Small verses large herd means very little Conditions, the plan and mind set means everything. @ Mark: That doesn't mean all small producers will have that issue, does it? After all, you're a large producer and you had problems too. Small producers are LOT less likely to have issues and that's the truth whether you want to acknowledge it or not. I'll never understand where people like you are coming from. First you want freedoms and then we finally see a glimpse of sun at the end of the *regulation* tunnel and then you decide that's not what you want either. You don't want gubment interference - but you want some sort of gubment regulated regulations?? Arg. You want to continue to rely on "testing" - - - for something, or in lawyerspeak - for anything. There are foodborne illness outbreaks all the time. Perceived safety doesn't change that. Even your RAWMI educated farms can have problems at some point. Who, then, will take the responsibility? You? The farmer? Let people have their freedoms by visiting their farmers often and deciding if those farmers are producing clean milk. I can't imagine a small farmer who doesn't follow some sort of protocol regarding cleanliness, but as you know it can happen to anyone. The other option is to home pasteurize if people question anything about even store bought raw milk, right? D Smith, Logic doesn't work with some. As they know what's best, right? They will tell you what you need to know, right? They will tell you what to eat, how to eat, how to sleep, how to clean, right? They will tell you where you must buy products, right? They will tell you what is right or wrong, right? They will even tell you haw you are supposed to breath, right? And, when things go awry it is never their fault, always anothers fault, right? Because they are the know all to end all.....right? I guess that's right, Sylvia! And there are those on this forum/blog who think we aren't into nanny-statism. Good grief. I really like that quote by John F. Kennedy which Ken included in one of his posts here recently. I thought about putting it here myself a little earlier, but then decided against it because I figured I'd catch flack from the people who are afraid of life without rules and regulations i.e., a cushion to fall back on. But it's time for people to take control on their own. There is nothing wrong with learning cleanliness and buddying up with other small farmers, but to me all that testing indicates they don't trust themselves to do things properly. Small farmers don't usually have that problem but then they are more in control of their herds and all the rest of what goes into raw milk production. Truthfully, one farmer can learn all about cleanliness, if they have no common sense about such things, from books or other farmers - without an organization. It was done that way for years before the gubment stepped in and started *force teaching* us everything we're supposed to know and telling everyone what to do. RAWMI type organizations give producers and the people purchasing their milk a false sense of security. That's what I see coming from it, but that's just me I guess. People either want freedom or they don't, you can't really straddle the fence on stuff like this. Let it start with food freedom. We may not have it for too much longer since monsanto will soon be ruling the roost (as if they haven't been in control since the mid 1970's). Then everything we eat will be safe, won't it? It will be sterilized and that means safety, right? Heh. Food safety with no nutritional value left in the food = malnutrition. Hell is in session. Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. - Mark Twain Good one too D Smith! Protection from local food and raw milk. Sounds like this idea isn't too popular. [quote from article]: ." [end quote]... Seems more and more people are beholden to the govt for assistance, for numerous reasons; lost jobs, money issues from high health care costs, etc. Many of these people have been told, or believe that the govt will assist them in their time of need. So it is a deep ingrained belief. 'The govt will take care of me'. I saw a lot of this belief system when I cared for the veterans. They truly believed that uncle sam would be there for them and take care of the ills they incurred while working for said govt. Many refused to see the truth. (History is repeating itself with the younger vets). It appears the general public has a similar mindset. People also don't appear to be encouraged to think for themselves, or to seek out answers/solutions either. They basically just don't know how, they haven't been taught. When people are at or near bottom, it is easy to sway them to do whatever you want. They will believe an out right lie, because deep down they want to believe, also they are conditioned to believe. Pavlov's dog experiments come to mind. Desperate times leads to desperate measures for survival, and people will survive anyway they can, even if it is against their own beliefs/values. I am wondering people are able to put one & one together to figure out the food they consume is what is making them ill? Higher hip fracture in Americans, will they research the cause? Probably not as that would be changing a lot of things and not RXing toxic bone meds. Mary, I feel the same about you. I respect your passion and commitment to safety. We have a battle our my hands. It seems that the fringe is collected and speaks up here at TCP. Few think that testing, plans and standands are important. Let me tell you and everyone...they are essential to reliable source of low risk raw milk. The insurance industry cancelling raw milk policies is a great example of reality. RAWMI LISTED farmers pay 10% the cost of normal risk raw milk insurance plans. Ask Charlotte Smith. Her quote went from $10,000 per year for three cows down to $750 after she became LISTED at RAWMI. Insurance policy writers know risk when they see it. They also know low risk when they see that as well. Enough said. If raw milk is going to ever to grow or be respected, farmers will need to volentarily join a standards org of their own choosing and get their act together. When your insurance policy is cancelled....do not come crying to RAWMI or RMAC or anyone else. This is reality. You can not sell raw milk in a farmers market or a store without with out an insurance policy. Join what ever group you want...RAWMI invites all. It does not matter...join something and show your test results to the world and your consumers. "Few think that testing, plans and standands are important." Really? Do name names.... Because they don't do things YOUR way it is wrong? That is what YOU are implying. "If raw milk is going to ever to grow or be respected, farmers will need to volentarily join a standards org of their own choosing and get their act together." How do you know farmers haven't collectively gotten together to whatever they feel needs to be done? Presumptuous? What makes you think their "act" isn't together? Who the hell are you to dictate what other farmers should do? Your sounding very narcissistic. Oh I forget, it is supposed to be YOUR way. You sound just like the govt..... sickening @ Sylvia: I agree. The thing no one here has mentioned recently is - - no deaths from raw milk, nationally. I've seen mention here before about no raw milk deaths but 8 deaths from pasteurized (or something similar to that anyhow). Do ya'll think for one minute that small dairy farmers in the states where raw milk is strangled by regulation haven't been producing milk and people haven't been drinking it? Really?? Evidently small farmers all across america are certainly doing something right without any assistance from some organization or from the nursemaid helicopter "gubment" regulators. That's not to say raw milk dairy farmers aren't helping each other and speaking with each other concerning the raw milk business. I'm sure if they feel the need to organize they do, or will. But they've likely been getting along just fine without it for a number of years. I don't know how CA or WI operate but in this part of the country people still help each other without charge. RAWMI stuff might even be rejected by MT dairy farmers, who knows. And bringing up insurance just opens up another regulatory door they've obviously been operating without up til now. It sounds to me as if some people aren't going to be happy until the dairy farmers all across the nation glow in the dark. Sylvia, farmers have not gotten together collectively to produce milk with even just some basic standards. This needs to happen for a continued supply of safe raw milk. Raw dairy producers start milking a cow, usually with no training, and have little or no guidance as to some basic necessities. It's a very expensive on-taking so they do what they can with what little they have. This gets them by for awhile - months, years. Then, it catches up with them and illness occurs. It doesn't have to be this way. If you follow some basic standards each and every time you will produce pathogen free raw milk every time. Every single time. You don't follow any standards and you are far more likely to get some nasties in your milk. I'm sharing this here in hopes that the few people that actually comment regularly are representative of 1,000's of lurkers who will get it. Follow some basic standards in producing raw milk and it will improve our supply. If we improve our supply there is no reason for the govt. to get involved because we will have a track record of a safe product that does not cause illness. Mark, "Few think that testing, plans and standands are important. " Any proof, or like Bill's unanswered accusation that Joel Salatin doesn't care about producing safe food (which I can easily provide multiple references to Joel emphasizing safety), is this just more BS from the two of you that alienates people, divides the movement, and shows how a completely self-absorbed and judgmental attitude that both of you continually exude towards others who happen to not tow your party line? See, because I can provide proof. The farmer I work with and I talk about food safety, production, standards each quarter. GASP! I know other clubs and farmers do the same, as do consumers I know. Honestly, you all continue to make asses of yourselves in this public forum, making unsubstantiated and slanderous claims about things you don't know. The irony of how you all treat others is astounding. Many of us would agree that raw milk farmers need education, training, testing, assistance. We just, based on your clear patterns and behaviors and postings and the like, ever so well documented here for the world to see and elsewhere, that it ain't going to be RAWMI and that you, sadly, cannot nor should be trusted. JohnM Still no answer.... Joel Salatin and Vernon Hershberger should sue the panties off of Bill Anderson for making slanderous false claims about them on this public forum. Will FTCLDF be willing to litigate? Mark and Bill do you think that all Montana dairy farmers are incompetent? Seems Montana raw daries already have a better track record than OP. Maybe we'll just keep watching this blog for more insults to our intelligence from you two and we'll join in with the other farmers you guys slap around verbally all the time in a massive slander suit. Why does RAWMI, Mark, and Bill use the same scare tactics that the fluoride industry and the vaccine industry use to 'sell' their products? Why do they always attack American's that love their freedom? Why do they always attack other farmers who do not play the game their way? Does anyone think that they'll be welcome to our Montana dariy farms to insult us in person as idiot producers? RAWMI is just a vehicle for profit my friends, caveat emptor. How many people have been hospitalized in Montana for consuming dirty milk that we do not know how to extract 'safely' from our herd's? Spoke with some friends from Wisconsin and to my surprise there is a track record of farms having been raided and investigated, by the Wisconsin DATCP authorities wherever Bill gets his raw milk from, both are within an hour of Madison. Will this St. Brigid's be the next one DATCP takes down? Time will only tell. Your reputation proceeds you boys so don't bring your Red RAWMI to "Big Sky Country" I give up with you Nay- Sayers....I will just keep poking away and helping those that want help.....we will just keep LISTING more and more farmers for free. We will see the track record created....we will see who has affordable insurance in the coming years. We will see who leads progress and makes change happen at the national level. I treat all with respect....talk is very cheap. Continue your dialogue...I have teaching and work to do. We will see who are slaves and who are free men. Some of us you attack have been dairymen our entire lives (almost 60). How long have you been dairying? You have done your share of cheap talking for a long time, maybe it's time for you to make a public apology to the dairy farmers of Montana? Then practice what you preach and treat everyone with equal respect (that includes those of us who are not of your ideology). An old friend from Tennesse alway said " Talk is cheap, it takes money to buy whiskey". I believe Mark is sincere, and his passionate efforts to implement RAWMI are understandable considering the run-ins he has had with a system that has no qualms about using fear and deceit as a tool to achieve its self-righteous and/or power driven desires. We are in a state of transition where scientists are on the cusp of realizing the true value and importance of the microbial world to our survival as a species. This transition is not going to be easy considering the fear and contempt that has been nurtured towards this unseen world over the last several hundred years. Based on Marks comments over the last several years it appears to me that he is in the midst of attempting to satisfy two beliefs that appear to be clearly at odds with each other at the moment.-... The author of the above blog makes a comment in light of as statement made by Mother Theresa, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." She states, “Take a moment and read this quote again. Think on its deeper meaning and meditate on its simple yet vast reaching truth. This is the greatest call we have as human beings. If humankind could grasp and apply this one lesson, that we all "belong" to one another, there would be no war, no poverty, no hatred, no ignorance. Let us be people that live this quote out daily. Mother Theresa was a pillar of love and compassion. Her life was filled to the brim because she poured herself out and blessed the world with her gifts. This quote speaks to the better person in all of us”. Ken Ken, There is no doubt about Mark's passion. As said, he does sound like the govt shills. There is no reason to continually insult those who don't agree with all he says. Numerous people on this blog have tried to explain his need to change how he words things if he wishes to bring people together, he has chosen not to listen and continue as he has been. His words just further alienate people. It is a shame as there is no doubt he has a lot of knowledge that would be helpful. Hopefully farmers and farmers-to-be will find the information they need. Most people don't agree 100% with others, unless you are brain-washed in a cult. Some people appear to have issues if not everyone agrees with them 100%. I won't make their issues mine. Well this is an about face!... “In the TED Talk above, ecologist Allan Savory explains how we’re currently encouraging desertification, and how to not only stop it, but reverse it, by dramatically increasing the number of grazing livestock.” “According to Savory, rising population, land turning into desert at a steady clip (known as desertification), converge to create a “perfect storm” that threatens life on earth. Most people think technology is required to solve the problem.” “Not so, he says. While we do need novel technology to replace fossil fuels, desertification cannot be reversed with technology. For that, we need to revert backward, and start mimicking nature and the way things were in the past.” Ken

Dec 30 2010 Trouble in the North Big South. 1 Mickie On Thursday, December 30 at 9:26 am So sorry to hear about yesterday Ree, but as usual it was shared with such great humor! And those pictures are magnificent! gia On Thursday, December 30 at 9:37 am indeed! i am the girl who is thinking about lunch no matter how high i am on a mustang. by the way, were you the girl who was sitting in the car, with the heat turned on, eating cheetos and taking pictures?? wait till MM hears about that! MOV On Thursday, December 30 at 4:10 pm I agree, great pics and cute story (I’m sure it will seem funny to those involved, maybe in a few days when they thaw out). Always an inspiration! * * MOV Mickie On Friday, December 31 at 11:17 am Just had to make one more comment…I come to your site many times during the week and that first picture of “Trouble in the North Big South” is there…and along with the beautiful pictures of the gorgeous children, I’ve got to say…MM is HOT! Just sayin….LOL 2 Angela On Thursday, December 30 at 9:27 am Black cattle are the answer here. They never turn back, never try and run you over, never try and jump or run through a fence. Yeah, right. Hope your crew got them back in ok. Long cold days with cold kids are no fun. jane On Thursday, December 30 at 9:58 am my dad didn’t really blame it on the breed, it was always the sex. those d*** girls!!! after a few years of handling cattle (like ree i use the term lightly) i think he could have been right! Wes On Friday, December 31 at 8:22 am Jane’s husband here, She is RIGHT!! You see after 30 years of being married I have learned to agree with her. But really she is right!! AGinTO On Sunday, January 2 at 8:33 pm LOL!!! wes, please talk to my bf for me? Great pics Ree! Thanks for sharing another great story. Goddess Jewelry 3 Laurie O. - WI On Thursday, December 30 at 9:28 am I feel for the group. Hope lunch was extra yummy. Do you think the cousins will be begging to come back real soon??? Love your posts about real life on a cattle ranch. It isn’t all fun and games……. 4 Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes On Thursday, December 30 at 9:28 am love the cow pictures…we raise beef cows also, so I always get a grin out of seeing things that are “oh-so-familiar”! love, cathy b. @ brightbakes Alan @ it's not work, it's gardening! On Thursday, December 30 at 10:25 am I love these chronicles too, not because they’re familiar but because they are so foreign (both the cows and the looks of responsibility on the kids’ faces). . Great stuff! 5 Amy B. in Portland On Thursday, December 30 at 9:28 am I do love these cow stories. Getting my giggles at your family’s expense…my New Year’s Resolution is to not do that anymore…ok, maybe just a little. Jen at Cabin Fever On Thursday, December 30 at 2:19 pm There are so many better things to make a resolution for. We all need a good laugh once and a while Lovely photos Ree! Cabin Fever in Vermont 6 Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen On Thursday, December 30 at 9:29 am I know it’s wrong and probably a bit dumb, but I really want to pet that little fluffy black and white cow. This is why it’s a good thing I’m not a rancher. Ranchers wouldn’t be out there screeching, “But he’s so CUTE!” about their cows. At least that’s what I’m guessing. Tina On Thursday, December 30 at 9:55 am Me, too! The cows are so cute and fluffy and sweet. Maybe not so much when you know they are stubborn or heavy or cold or not with the program. And maybe I should call them Herefords or cattle, and I know I should have some Dr. Pepper with me. Still, very sweet! Kirsten is Comfortably Domestic On Thursday, December 30 at 10:16 am My goodness, me too! I just want to run up and give those cattle a good scratch between the eyes. I do know enough about cattle to know that they would never let me catch them to do so, or would probably run me over if I got too close. A girl can dream though, right? Roberta Warshaw On Thursday, December 30 at 10:26 am Ha! My thoughts exactly. The little black and white one is adorable! I would never make it as a rancher either. I would want to keep them all for pets….. Kym On Thursday, December 30 at 12:43 pm Honestly, I feel the same way. In fact, I feel bad for the Herefords. Perhaps they know their destiny and aren’t too thrilled about it. 7 TMarie On Thursday, December 30 at 9:30 am Gosh Ree, you really are something. I can always count on a laugh when I check in (too many times a day). Thank you & I wish you nothing but the best wishes for a wonderful NEW year!! xo 8 Valerie On Thursday, December 30 at 9:30 am Them darn cows. They’re so flaky. We actually watched a movie your bunch would like last night called Temple Grandin. It was all about the autistic lady who developed the curved cattle chutes for feed yards and slaughter houses. Sharon Baker On Thursday, December 30 at 10:14 am Valerie, My husband and I watched it last night, too. Wasn’t it great? What a lesson that we all don’t see things the same way and that ‘our’ way just might not be the ‘best’ or ‘only’ way to look at something. Debbie On Thursday, December 30 at 12:24 pm Awesome movie! My son has Autism, actually the same as Temple (Aspergers Syndrom), and that movie was what finally gave me the insight on what goes on in his little head. AngAK On Thursday, December 30 at 12:38 pm Great movie! I have wondered if the Drummond ranch uses any of her methods. Jennscookin On Friday, December 31 at 11:32 am I have been interested in Temple Grandin long before the movie as I work with special education children and have had several Asperger’s students. I have really been wanting to see that movie. Thanks for the reviews 9 Effie Tallent On Thursday, December 30 at 9:31 am Ree, I feel your pain. Only our fields are small enough that we use a pickup truck, and my hubby and I walk behind them. It’s the calves that always throw a monkey wrench into things!!! Someday we are going to do this thing on horseback. My knees just about can’t take it anymore! 10 Beth On Thursday, December 30 at 9:31 am I am always inspired by your kids out there handling cattle and taking on their world with both hands! They are so blessed to live where they do. I bet they don’t see it that way, but they really are. MissLucy On Thursday, December 30 at 7:04 pm I can’t help but think, though, that they need hats (or at least ear muffs) that cover their ears! 11 Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday On Thursday, December 30 at 9:32 am Those Herefords are beautiful 12 Jodie () On Thursday, December 30 at 9:32 am Love the pics. The kids are so adorable. I must say, cow eyes freak me out. I never know if they are looking at me. I can see it in your pics too. Hate cow eyes! 13 An Authentic Life On Thursday, December 30 at 9:32 am I love that you are raising little “authentic” cow-girls! Yee-ha!!! 14 Andrea in WI On Thursday, December 30 at 9:33 am Poor Pinky! Get that poor girl a scarf! 15 Prophecy On Thursday, December 30 at 9:34 am I have followed your blog for some months now, and I am from the real up north, Denmark, Scandinavia. I love how you write, love reading about what its like to live on a farm with a Malboroughman, cows and kids. Reminds me of childhood, watching The Ingalls, just in modern form. You take brilliant pictures. In short – love your blog! Ps. I love that the kids are such a normal part of work. Jennscookin On Friday, December 31 at 11:36 am Hi Prophecy You said, “I love that the kids are such a normal part of the work”. I love that too. Makes me want to go drag my kids out of bed and put them to work too. They grumble when they have to do their chores like unload the dishwasher or clean their rooms. That’s why I am very anxiously awaiting Ree’s next contest to visit her ranch. I think it would be an amazing experience for them to see how hard that family works and get a new perspective on their own chores. Jenn 16 MelissaH from So. Fla. On Thursday, December 30 at 9:34 am WOW they sure look cold! The bovines and equines look beautiful in their new fluffy coats. PS…the kids are looking so grown up. Missy’s little girl is beautiful. 17 Natalie V2 On Thursday, December 30 at 9:34 am Brrrr… I can see the cold on those faces! Too bad a trail of Cheetos wouldn’t lure the Herefords down the right path. 18 AbbieD On Thursday, December 30 at 9:35 am Those damn cows!!! (Can I call them cows?! Or do I have to call them cattle?) Anyway…I’m callin ‘em cows. Those poor kids with their rosy cheeks…it gave me an ear ache looking at the pictures. Bludog On Thursday, December 30 at 10:49 am My nephews call them “beef” – not cows, not cattle, just “beef.” As in …”We’ve got to go feed the beef.” “We’ve got to move the beef.” “When are the new beef coming in?” No romance and no ambiguity as to where those critters stand on the food chain! Despite it all, I remain the fond (vegetarian) aunt 19 Mary Connealy On Thursday, December 30 at 9:35 am On OUR ranch I’d have to edit these photos to take out the four letter words. Yes, they would show up on film. Cattle escaping transcends pixel silence. But Marlboro Man would never do that, right? 20 melinda mclane On Thursday, December 30 at 9:36 am What vivid blue!! 21 AmyE On Thursday, December 30 at 9:40 am Ah, cow chasing fiascos! Those were the kind of days when I learned the most colorful words in my vocabulary. Nothing like that kind of experience to bring out the best in people! 22 Woodsie On Thursday, December 30 at 9:41 am Cowboy Josh sure can rock a bandanna! Lisa On Thursday, December 30 at 11:00 am I was thinking the same thing! Right after OH COWBOY JOSH! He’s a doll. Christine On Thursday, December 30 at 11:26 am That blue neck tie (a good English word!) sure does look stylish on Cowboy Josh! Very refined and elegant! Jane in KC On Thursday, December 30 at 11:30 am What action did you use to make that blue so vivid? StacyJ On Friday, December 31 at 9:44 am Thought the same thing… 23 Alex On Thursday, December 30 at 9:41 am Oh Aunt Ree, I’m so glad to hear that you’re teaching the children discipline by hoarding the Cheeto’s all for yourself. Next time, add to your reply, “Bring your own snack lil’ girl!” ha… Something tells me that you have plenty of snacks for all your little cowgirls and boys. All homemade of course, and individually wrapped for easier consumption. Right? Erika On Thursday, December 30 at 8:28 pm Very funny….lol 24 Susan In Colorado On Thursday, December 30 at 9:42 am This is one day I am glad I am reading from my city office about country life instead of wishing I was there.. does not look/sound like a fun day! 25 mimi linna On Thursday, December 30 at 9:43 am okay, is it just me or did anyone else notice that cutie cowboy’s scarf..the way it was tied? the way it just made the outfit? the color that pops out of the photo.. stylin’ on the ranch. 26 Judith at Dance While You Cook On Thursday, December 30 at 9:44 am Those expressions are priceless. Especially the very last one of that Hereford speaking it’s mind. I love to see the kids out there. My little ones are jealous everytime they look at the pictures. 27 Jess, Mom of 4 On Thursday, December 30 at 9:45 am I laughed out loud at your post (specifically, the bada bing comments, so funny!). Thanks for making me smile. Sorry the day required more work than planned; I guess we all have days like this in our lines of work. 28 Heather (The Menu Mama) On Thursday, December 30 at 9:46 am Brrrr, I’m cold just looking at those pictures. Looks like a lot of hard work. Twice. And it totally does look like the cows are gloating a bit. Hehe. 29 Cheryl Barker On Thursday, December 30 at 9:47 am I love how you use the term “we” loosely. Think I’ll try that myself from time to time 30 hana On Thursday, December 30 at 9:49 am Here in the City of Angels, I think all you’d need to do is photoshop George’s tongue into the Hereford’s mouth in the last picture…and you’d have it. Hope today is a better day for the cowboys. And Aunt Ree…pack more snacks in the truck ‘kay? LOL 31 It's me DeeDee On Thursday, December 30 at 9:49 am Ree, there is nothing worse than working on an empty stomach and to be cold and windy at the same time. I love the way you are teaching your kids, everything does not come on a silver platter and sometime we just gotta get the job done first. It makes the food taste so much better anyways. I love your eye for photography, you have a wonderful gift, glad you are sharing it with us. I found you when I saw you on the Food Network, so glad I did. Thanks, DeeDee from Georgia 32 Lisa in TX On Thursday, December 30 at 9:49 am Wow! That was a great life lesson on perseverance for your children. 33 Rae On Thursday, December 30 at 9:51 am I could help but notice that EVERYONE in pics had on their new Christmas goat skin gloves or was it calf skin…. Were you wearing you new gloves too? Sorry the day didn’t go exactly as planned, was Charlie helping? If not, maybe that was the whole problem!!!!!!! 34 Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) On Thursday, December 30 at 9:51 am Yep~sure shootin’, this Ozark Farm Chick know the trials and tribulations of tryin’ to gather those wild~eyed cattle. Sometimes when ya think ya got ‘em whipped into the pen they scatter like a bunch of wild bumble bees and there ya are……at square one again!!! Ya’ll have a terrifically blessed day straight from the wildly windy hills and hollers of the Missouri Ponderosa now…ya hear!!!! :o) 35 Jean On Thursday, December 30 at 9:54 am Guess I love the Herefords more than your cowboys did. Poor kids look cold and not at all happy. 36 Kath On Thursday, December 30 at 9:55 am Makes me want to knit ear warmers or hats for all those cold kids …. 37 Mrs. D. On Thursday, December 30 at 9:56 am Does no one own a hat that covers their poor little ears???? I get cold just looking at them! I grew up on a dairy farm (and still live next door to it) and at least once a season, the cows find a way out and we all have to go round them up. And there’s always one in the bunch who thinks it’s a good idea to go “that way” and the rest follow her. Two summers ago, “that way” was right across my brother’s back yard, and septic system, and resulted in more than $1,000 worth of repairs. Boom! 38 City Girl to Country Girl On Thursday, December 30 at 9:57 am I love cows so this post makes me happy…regardless of the herding situation. lol. City Girl to Country Girl 39 Amy @ Living Locurto On Thursday, December 30 at 9:57 am Oh brrrrr! I need some really hot cocoa now. 40 Amanda On Thursday, December 30 at 9:59 am Gorgeous pictures! I love the defiant look on the cows faces. 41 Joyce On Thursday, December 30 at 10:00 am They bolted because they know what’s coming! Your niece is a lovely girl. 42 Pam On Thursday, December 30 at 10:00 am Cracked me up! Laughed right out loud at work, probably will get fired. I have the same look on my face as I just realized that. 43 Vicki On Thursday, December 30 at 10:02 am Loved Herefords since I first felt the velvety softness of a newborn calf in my Grandpa’s barn some 50 years ago. Love the smell of cattle drifting across the field. I know. I’m not right in the head. 44 S. On Thursday, December 30 at 10:02 am Is is bada boom bada bing……or bada bing bada BOOM……..ha.. 45 Jody On Thursday, December 30 at 10:07 am Thanks for the laugh, I love talking herefords. 46 Sheryl W On Thursday, December 30 at 10:08 am Love how furry the cows are I feel sorry for the wee ones though, they looks so cold. 47 WhinnyL On Thursday, December 30 at 10:10 am Don’t you just cringe when the livestock win and snicker at you 48 CherShots On Thursday, December 30 at 10:14 am Although I thouroughly enjoyed this entry; I could feel the chill in the air as I scoped the pictures. 49 Leah O On Thursday, December 30 at 10:14 am It is so absolutely wonderful to see children totally involved day in and day out with what their parents do for a living. They grow up loving what their parents love, and therefore loving and honoring their parents all the more. It’s a joy to see. 50 Flea On Thursday, December 30 at 10:18 am Poor little cowpokes. The Herefords are beauties, though. 51 Jackie On Thursday, December 30 at 10:19 am I’m sure everyone involved was loving you taking pictures while cows were running amok 52 Amy On Thursday, December 30 at 10:21 am That bada bing, bada boom makes me think that’s one of our New Jersey cows making his way onto your ranch. If that’s the fact, then I hate to say it, but those cows have attitude. You can take the cow outta Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey outta the cow. 53 AE Jones On Thursday, December 30 at 10:25 am Wow – that is so frustrating! The cowboy kidlets are darling though! 54 Barbara in WV On Thursday, December 30 at 10:25 am Your pics make me feel like I could reach out and touch them…love your added humor! 55 Angela On Thursday, December 30 at 10:26 am All I can seem to focus on is the bright blue scarf the gentleman is wearing in picture #7. I love that color! 56 Raine On Thursday, December 30 at 10:27 am I love cows! MOOOOOOOOO. I hang my head out my car window and moooooo at the cows when I pass by them on a rode. Perferrably on a country road. City people wouldn’t take too kindly to me slowing down on a major highway that’s only two lanes and not a lot of passing time just for me to say hello to the lovely cattle. 57 EllieC On Thursday, December 30 at 10:29 am Gorgeous photos, as usual. Just a question… I grew up around horses, and have ridden since I was 5. Why don’t your kids wear helmets? I would never get on a horse without one. 58 Sharon On Thursday, December 30 at 10:30 am I remember the cold from my time helping out on the farm in the wintertime. Cows can be so uncooperative, especially when it is cold. I much prefer my warm living room or car! Where’s the thermos of coffee or hot chocolate?????? 59 Dianna On Thursday, December 30 at 10:34 am Those are some cold-looking little children! And some smug-looking cattle. Hope today’s a better (and warmer) day! Dianna 60 ms ellie On Thursday, December 30 at 10:37 am I like your baby girl’s pretty striped horsey-blankie-thingie, It’s Puuurty. 61 Louise On Thursday, December 30 at 10:38 am Please tell me you photo-shopped Josh’s scarf !!!! I just don’t see him wearing something that BRIGHT to work. More Josh posts would be a good New Year’s resolution, hint, hint. Angela On Thursday, December 30 at 11:40 am I agree! More posts dedicated to the awesomeness of Josh! That would be an awesome New Year’s resolution! 62 Jenn On Thursday, December 30 at 10:38 am I love seeing those little people so effortlessly riding horses at such a young age!! It makes my heart all mushy and proud… and they are not even a tinsy tiny bit connected to me… other than reading your blog for nearly a year now!! =) Hope they had the BEST lunch ever after that morning!! 63 Jillian On Thursday, December 30 at 10:42 am Love the monologue as usual. I’m sure they didn’t let those cow git the best of’em! 64 Regina On Thursday, December 30 at 10:42 am BRRRRRRRR!!!!!! I could feel the cold and the wind blowing and wondered where thier scarves were, or ear muffs, or even those face tobaggans! BUT….looks like everyone had on their new deerskin gloves ;)! Little troopers, that’s what ya’ll have! I know you are proud of them! 65 I Live in an Antbed On Thursday, December 30 at 10:45 am Do cowboys read blogs? Do they know how many people do read this? They are very brave souls to be out in the cold working cattle. So glad you are always there to document their bravery. And make fun of them, while eating Cheetos! 66 Louise T On Thursday, December 30 at 10:48 am Get those kids a toque. They look so cold. You should take up knitting for them. 67 Kayla On Thursday, December 30 at 10:48 am I remember those days all too well, luckily we had an outrageously talented alpha male border collie that did a tremendous amount of leg work and bluffed those range cattle into thinking he was the “Sheriff In Town”. His name was Yuma, think the original version of 3.10 to Yuma and he wore that name well. 68 Mountain Mama On Thursday, December 30 at 10:48 am Aw, but they are so cute…. the kids and the cows! For about a year, I lived near a cattle farm on a windy valley road. Inevitably I would encounter one or two cows that had broken through the gate, standing in the middle of the road like it was the middle of the pasture. Or running in sheer terror trying to find it’s way back in. I was always afraid they might get hit by people flying around the bends, but I never heard about anything like that, thank goodness. 69 Becky Schuett On Thursday, December 30 at 10:52 am Sorry for the tough day for everyone! Thank goodness you had CHEETOS. Did you photoshop that blue neck scarf on Cowboy Josh?? At least I think that was who that is. Sandi On Sunday, January 2 at 11:34 pm I thought the same thing about the scarf. It’s gotta be photoshop….Tell us Ree, Would Josh really wear a scarf that color and tied like that !!! Now….Really????? 70 Jeanie Eyraud On Thursday, December 30 at 10:53 am as always, i’m just incredibly impressed with these kids. they are learning the value of hard work, how to handle disappointment, realizing that things don’t always go our way. what wonderful life lessons to learn so early. i know you must be so proud of them. 71 SallyK On Thursday, December 30 at 10:54 am The first thing I noticed was NO SNOW!! Christine from LA, Sask On Sunday, January 2 at 2:51 pm Haha, me too, no snow, how great that would be. It’s cold and very wintery here. I know what you mean when you talk about wind We don’t have trees, well some but not many, or mountains, so we get A LOT of wind. Love your pcitures, and I can sooo relate to being frustrated at those darn cows. 72 chellleigh On Thursday, December 30 at 10:54 am Went to visit my family for christmas break, we played the same winter games. It was cold and did I say cold!!! and the !@#$ sheep kept getting out! I did what every good rancher would do also, I got my husband and the kids out there to do the job… yes I was there also…i took pictures too.. but mine are not so awesome as yours, ( you see I was not in a truck as you were, so I was disadvantaged and slightly in danger of being herded down by some sheep) the darn things would be out and get out again…( 3 times in the same day and the same 3 sheep) I saw a suspiciously a low fence on the south side that was by a new fence. I told people(ranching people) about this…. they told me, naw that ait it..on the third time I just went over there and pulled up some barbed wire up to the top fence line…(2 sec. flat, with 1 ouch.. it is barbed wire) and guess what…. the sheep stayed in the rest of the trip. I think the kids were disappointed..they liked doing it. We are not bad herders for city folk. My aunt and cousins may have also liked to watch us too…because when do you get to watch city folk herd sheep?that is a new category of fun for the isolated, mean, and the grumpy….for it is too cold to go to town for fun, it was like their own funniest videos that can be fun to watch!!! thanks for your posts, have a happy new year. chelle 73 Bludog On Thursday, December 30 at 10:55 am I love seeing the horses in these pictures – out doing what they are meant to do. As much as the human might be hating it, I think the horses are loving it. And it looks like everyone rides so well – the horses are just a natural extension of themselves. I think you might be raising a new breed of centaurs! 74 KittyHere On Thursday, December 30 at 10:58 am I remember that my uncle & aunt had Herefords when I was quite little. My aunt had always wanted to have Herefords, live in Kansas, and visit England. Of those 3 wishes the Herefords was the only one she got. After the ‘lead cow’ died it was impossible to get the rest of the cattle from getting out of the pasture & the Herefords were sold. I think it made a big impression on me — felt if I didn’t follow the rules I would get shipped off just like the Herefords. 75 Lene On Thursday, December 30 at 11:03 am Awesome post. And god, I love Herefords. They’re so cute. Of course, I’m sure the group rounding them up might disagree with that… 76 VickiB On Thursday, December 30 at 11:04 am Brings back so many memories of times with my dad. These are the memories I remember as he died in a car wreck when I was 11. Riding pastures, getting up before dawn to work cattle, feeding cattle, etc. These are my best memories. No matter how cold or how hot, it was worth every moment. 77 Patti On Thursday, December 30 at 11:08 am I hate to laugh at the plight of those cold children, but … my husband’s yelling from downstairs “did you call the kids yet blah blah blah ” just as I’m reading bada bing and I’m up here laughing at cows going bada bing bada boom … so funny. 78 Maureen On Thursday, December 30 at 11:09 am Awwwwwww those are some nice healthy looking Herefords. I bet hot coco was most welcome for those hard working wranglers.. 79 Nancy On Thursday, December 30 at 11:11 am Those are the prettiest horses. Love the cowboys & cowkids, too!! Your blog is pure happiness to me! 80 Laura S On Thursday, December 30 at 11:15 am Dang cows! I hate it when that happens. Laura S On Thursday, December 30 at 11:36 am Oh and nice horses, they look like they are great working partners. So calm and take good care of the kids. Do you have specific bloodlines that you are fond of for your ranch horses? 81 Sharon Joon On Thursday, December 30 at 11:19 am How is it possible Pioneer Woman is never on a horse? Never racing through the pastures or shooing the little cows along? I bet this drives the kids crazy. 82 Leah On Thursday, December 30 at 11:22 am Thank you for once again showing farming and ranching does not have days off, even during the holidays. Great photos. Love the black baldy calf! 83 Emily Smucker On Thursday, December 30 at 11:23 am Loved the “expressions of a cold child.” Poor thing. I can identify with her. Cheetos are just so much yummier when you are cold and hungry. 84 Tricia @ Saving room for dessert On Thursday, December 30 at 11:24 am Oh you have smart beef there in OK! The pictures are priceless! 85 HW On Thursday, December 30 at 11:25 am Those little ones need bandannas around their neck that they can pull up over their nose to ward off the chill. I spent time working/playing in Alaska and I HATE being cold. Keeping a bandanna around my neck helps a lot. 86 Kris the Colts fan On Thursday, December 30 at 11:27 am Your niece’s face says it all! Hope all the Herefords ended up where they were supposed to be. And Cowboy Josh…nice aqua ascot. Or whatever cowboys call them. 87 nicki On Thursday, December 30 at 11:28 am Love all the pictures but especially the first one. Poor cold kids. Can I just say I would so be sitting beside you in the heated vehicle eating cheetos and drinking a nice hot coffee…is that so wrong of me? 88 Sydney On Thursday, December 30 at 11:28 am Is it awful that I can relate in the splitting up situation…but I work with preschoolers! When those kids split up it’s like rounding a heard of cattle! 89 Harmony On Thursday, December 30 at 11:29 am Your little one looks SO darling in picture three. Sitting there so professional with the reins in his newly gloved hands and his cowboy hat perfectly perched on his little tow-head. He’s a real heartbreaker Ree. You and MM are gonna have to beat the girls off with a stick. 90 Kathleen@ForgingAhead On Thursday, December 30 at 11:30 am Those wiley cows. I recommend fuzzy warm wool hats for winter riding. 91 mrsjpvan2 On Thursday, December 30 at 11:32 am Aaaah! Livestock. Yesterday my goats escaped while I was picking olives. Lucky there are only 3 goats and no horses or cattle were involved. It was cold and windy and no fun trying to get them back into there field. I think our goats said the same thing your cows did! 92 Holly On Thursday, December 30 at 11:34 am Ugh, those cows are so freaking cute! I grew up surrounded by cattle ranches…one literally surrounded my neighborhood, and another was adjacent to my elementary. I have always thought cows were really cute. Maybe there’s something wrong with me? Ha! 93 Barb On Thursday, December 30 at 11:38 am HAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a suitable one: 94 Tiffany T On Thursday, December 30 at 11:44 am LOVE the Fifth Element!!! 95 Abi On Thursday, December 30 at 11:46 am Thanks for sharing. Did the “cold child” ever get her cheetos or lunch? And I think the pictures of the horses and the cows are great. I love wooly cows even if they are a bit uncooperative. 96 Victoria Double U On Thursday, December 30 at 11:50 am I love the first picture with MM & your son (we get to see MM’s face!)! I know it might be an every day picture for you all, but it’s such a beautiful sight for us peeps who do not live amongst the heretoford Herefords. (Ha! That pun just made me laugh!) Cheetos… Gotta go get me some:) 97 Victoria Double U On Thursday, December 30 at 11:52 am PS It’s wonderful to see all your kiddos riding now! Has the youngest gotten over his riding fears? 98 UtahZen On Thursday, December 30 at 11:53 am Oh those poor kids! But Josh looks determined Every time you say hereford I think of Man From Snowy River. I can’t help it. 99 Nikki H On Thursday, December 30 at 11:55 am Yeah, when Herefords say that, I want to put them in the corner. 100 cc On Thursday, December 30 at 12:00 pm What a delightful blue bandana/scarf the cowboy wears! Angelina On Friday, December 31 at 3:14 pm And do you think Josh wears that scarf because it so perfectly matches the ear tags in the cows? Just sayin…

Is anyone happy with their front loader washer and dryer? aprilhSeptember 8, 2013 I am in the market for a new W/D set but all I read about are the horror stories of the front loaders. It seems like that is 90% of the market these days though. I wouldn't mind getting them if I knew the issues of mildew smells, mystery holes, and short life span were resolved. So, anyone have a FL they love? You left off ridiculously long cycle times. In my opinion, HE front load washer are a PITA. Once the novelty wears off, you're left with a machine takes two or three times as long. Do they clean better? Maybe, but they don't rinse well because they don't use enough water and they don't even do a fast spin between rinses like laundromat front loaders do. Sometimes technology makes products better, but my Mom's 1975 top loader was simply better all around than anything you can buy today. Relatively new front load washer owner here but I am happy. When we needed to replace our old agitator washer we were going to get a Speed Queen top loader. I was nervous about all the comments regarding HE top and front loaders. I continued to research. Consumers Report came out and didn't even rate agitator top loaders stating they didn't clean well. I am not sure though about them anymore but that was still in the back of my mind. The salesman went through the options and basic cleaning mechanics. We went with a front loader. I thought our wash was clean but DH and I were both amazed at how cleaner things were. We do have extra rinse cycle options but haven't felt the need to use them. Depending on the load the wash cycle is longer but drying is less. When looking at it that way the total load is not much longer - maybe at the most 15-20 minutes. But with better results, that trade off is worth it for us. Reportedly they are gentler on fabrics but too soon for me to have demonstrated proof of that. I went from a big skeptic to a believer! Yes, really like my FL washer. Drying takes less time, clothes are cleaner and washer is gentler on the clothes, cycles may be a bit longer but you can set the cycle you want. I have washed king size quilted bed spreads and they come out nice and clean. I have washed throw rugs and they come out nice...No complaints at all. The only advice I have is to get a direct drive washer....it is so quiet. Had a belt driven washer and it sounded like a jet plane taking off. LG and Whirlpool make direct drive, I know for sure. I've had my GE front load washer and dryer since 2006. I've never had a problem with the washer, and love it. I would never go back! I've never had a problem with odor or mildew (I leave the door open after a cycle--my mom taught me to do that 50 years ago with top loaders!). The most frequent cycles I use are 45 minutes or 1 hr 15 minutes. The longest I use (about once every two weeks) is a sanitary hot stain wash, which I use a little bleach with.; it takes just under three hours. I love the increased capacity, and how efficient the spin cycle is. I've never had any little holes or other damage. It is simply a matter of getting use to something different. Kathy in Jax Great feedback, thank you. So for those happy with their FL, what brand do you have? So far, people seem to like Samsung and Whirlpool, or at least that's the names that have been mentioned favorably in other places. Same with you? We bought the GE RightHeight which is a direct drive machine. aprilh: "Is anyone happy with their front loader washer and dryer?" 1. Do you know of any dryers -- current or historical -- that are not front-loaders? 2. As to front-loading washers, yes, we are happy. But we have only somewhat more than three-quarters of a century use of front loader automatic washing machines in our family, so the jury is still out, I guess. No horror stories, none, nada, zero. Our front-loading washers have averaged over 25 years' hard service each -- we are on our fourth, which is only a little over two years old now, so I guess durability may be criticized. FWIW, our current washer is a Samsung WF419***. Because it is controlled by sensitive electronics, we have "modified" the Samsung by inserting a No holes here. no mildew (after 2 years of frequent use). only issue is flaky electronics--my samsung 520 is currently awaiting another repair. I'm sure I've had no less than a dozen service calls. no hot water on normal cycle, Pure Cycle often bombs out after 2 hours, steam doesn't work on all cycles that it should work on, but man oh man, the washer cleans clothes like gangbusters. :) so much better than a top loader. when it works, it works very, very well. We had the Whirlpool Duet Sport previously and we thought the washer was great (I don't pay any attention to cycle times for the washer -- I just put it in and leave and come back later) but the dryer, while it did an excellent job, was not fast as people suggest it should have been. We now have a GE full-size set and both washer and dryer are great (dryer is very fast). We're moving to an apartment that has a Frigidaire Gallery or Affinity stack --- we'll have to wait and see. If it's no good, we'll get something better, but if it works, we'll keep it. Have a Samsung FL washer bought July 2012 and I love it. The lock was not great when we bought it and no surprise it broke in a few months but the replacement door lock has been solid. Poor initial design that's hopefully been corrected in newer models. No smells, no problems with washing or rinsing. I *love* it. Big improvement from my previous washer. I like it more than my old school traditional first washer from way back when as well. That one cleaned well but things did get snagged on the agitator bar. Dryer is my kenmore from my previous washer/dryer set. It's okay. Some issues with small loads not reading right on the sensor but you just opt to use timed dry to avoid it. So long as it gets the job done we'll keep it. No use in throwing money into a new machine when the old is doing its job. I thought the same as you when I first came here about 10 years ago because I needed to buy a new washer and dryer. I took the plunge on a front loader in spite of all the horror stories. I haven't had any problems and couldn't be happier. I have the Kenmore branded version of Whirlpool Duet at home and Fridgidaire Affinity at my weekend lake place. Had to get the Affinity as it was smaller and fit in the available space. It "feels" like the Whirlpool is better constructed to me but both have been working well. I do leave the washer door ajar to dry out inside and have had no mold or mildew issues. The FL washers don't mangle my clothes, they seem cleaner (though that could be the Sears HE detergent) and I can wash things I couldn't wash in my TL like rugs, big comforters, etc. My regular cycle takes 45-50 mins which seems reasonable to me. I can choose options that take over an hour. Things do dry faster because they're already so dry when they're done spinning. Based on my experience I would highly recommend a FL. I have had my Electrolux 70 series pair for a year and a half, and I'm happy with them. I love the capacity, and they clean our clothing better than the 1992 Maytag pair that they replaced. I can do a few things on hand wash or my king sized comforter, and they come out equally clean. Overall, our clothes are cleaner and less wrinkled coming out of the dryer than they ever were with the old set. When we first got them, I did find that I needed to experiment a little to find my 'groove', I tried different detergents and different amounts of them until I found the right balance for my laundry needs. I had to dial back the spin speed for knits, otherwise they started showing signs of premature wear--just down to high or even medium. Even at medium spin, clothing is dryer than they were coming out of the top loader. I program an extra rinse most of the time, because I'm just really fussy about detergent smells, and I like to have it completely rinsed out. I have no issues with mold or bad smells at all. I run a "clean washer' cycle with bleach occasionally, when the machine signals that it's time. I leave the door open for a bit after washing, and I run a rag around the gasket occasionally to be sure that it stays clean. I'm happy with the set, and have no regrets about going to a front loader or buying the brand I did. Best of luck choosing the new set. Cj I had the same concerns two years ago...love both my Sansung front-load washer and steam dryer. I have had no mildew-funky smells either from the washer itself or clothes. This is my routine...shortest wash cycle/rinse then I simply run another rinse cycle for normal loads; use a "sanitize" cycle for towels plus add liquid bleach, never-ever let clothes sit wet for long periods in the washer, and always keep the door open when not in use. I have the Steam Washer and Dryer from Samsung (front load) and have had it for 3 1/2 years. Buy the warranty, I have used it twice. But I LOVE them!!!! The only time my clothes smell weird is when I have forgotten about them ;( I also run the sanitize cycle for towels...usually at night or when I am leaving because it takes two hours...love my towels after it though. I have a 6 year old Duet Sport set that has been trouble-free and does a great job. Got both pieces for $1500 with warranty. Clothes are clean, come out of the washer very dry and take little time in the dryer. I use HE liquid, no FS and leave the door open when not in use. No smells, no problems. have had my Miele pair for about 6 years. Never a problem. We have a farm and our clothes are the cleanest they have ever been. I don't care how long it takes to wash them as long as they are clean and they are. I use Charlie's soap. My washer has never had a bad smell or anything like that. I have the 220 v. washer that heats the water to very hot and I use the sanitize cycle pretty often. I've been using a front loader for about 13 years (the first lasted 12, the new one is very shiny). I'd never buy a top load washer again. The front loader gets things cleaner, uses less detergent, rinses more thoroughly, and I never had a maintenance issue with the first one in the 12 years I had it. No mildew or mold issues at all. I'M NOT! We bought an LG fl in 2006 because it was rated number one. Mechanically it's been fine. No issues, but; It wears out clothes faster, doesn't clean as good as our old top load. The cycle length is horrendous. Our old washer took 40 minutes for the absolute longest wash, The regular wash for the LG is 1 hour 15 minutes. We had sheets that lasted for over 30 years that were regularly washed in our top load. New sheets of the exact same consistency last only 3 years before they start fraying. There are the mystery holes in cotton, scratchy towels, embedded dog hair that would come out. I don't see how clothes rubbing together in small amounts of water can be gentler than clothes agitated fully immersed in water. Miele front loader for 14yrs. Have loved them. Never leave the door open since the unit is in a closet. Never had mold or smell issues. I do use the 190f temp settings at least twice a week for kitchen towels. I recently purchased a used Miele from eBay. Although the washer had only been used for two months, Downy has done a job on the unit, I performed the cleaning sequence for the 4840 (I have a w3033) and all the odor was removed. I use very little fabric softener, seventh generation unscented. The washer work flawlessly and all the scent is done. I was one of the people that did not want to like the 110volt machines but it works almost as well as the 240volt machines. I realize most people think these machines are small but they work for me and my family because we are sorters. We sort by color and type. Good luck with your choice. I have both a front loader washer and a front loader dryer. The dryer is old (about 15 years) and performs as flawlessly as when it was new (knock on wood). The washer is only 7 years old and it just quit. Both are Maytag. I don't know the model of the dryer but the washer is a Maytag Epic (no longer available). I am going to buy a new washer as I understand it is not economically feasible to repair it. It was a very expensive ($1400.00) washer at the time I bought it but I believe a repair may be as much as $500.00 or more and then I still have an old washer that could give me additional problems at any time. I was going to look for something other than a Maytag, but after reading about the great amount of people that replaced their front load washer after 3 or 5 years, I guess I was lucky (in a funny sort of way) to have it last 7 years. I actually think the dryer lasted this long because it is an older one. When I first got it, I had an old Hotpoint top load washer that quit after 13 years. I have to say that I loved my Maytag Epic when it was working. My husband has really dirty work clothes and I usually had to wash them twice in the Hotpoint. I was amazed at how clean they came out of the Epic with only one wash with an extra rinse. I put in his clothes with old stains and they also came out unbelieveably clean. It looks like (since my old Maytag dryer is still working) I will be buying another Maytag and hope for the best. The new model is called a "Maxima", model #MHW8000A. But I will have to spend to get an extended warranty since they generally don't last nearly as long as they used to. I just love the results of washing with a front loader. So it's a "mixed bag". I love how it works, but I don't love that it didn't last all that long. Good luck! No, No, No. I have an 8 year old GE profile and am looking to replace it. My whites come out just as dirty as they go in. It is good on the gentle cycle, I can even wash my hand knits it it. But it doesn't get my clothes clean on the regular cyclle and even though I have drastically reduced the amount of HE detergent, less than 1/4 cup, use the 2 rinse cycles, there is still soap suds in the *** thing. I need a stackable machine, so a top loader is out. So, what front loader really works? I am redoing my bathroom/laundry room combo and now is the time to buy a new front loader if there is one out there that can get real dirt (I am a gardener and get clothes really dirty) off clothes. I have two Asko sets and love them! Before these I had an LG FL that worked fine but didn't rinse as well. There is a definate learning curve. Detergent for a FL is minimal. As for wear on garments, FL is gentler IMO. I garden, have 3 kids with dirty, sweaty sports uniforms and washed cloth diapers in a FL. I would never go back to a TL. Buy a machine that does what you need. If a heavy rinse is important, high temps, a good delicate cycle, programmability, whatever you need make sure the unit you purchase will do it. I haven't had any odor issues but I leave the detergent drawer and washer door open between cycles and occasionally clean out the drain. Strangely I did have mildew issues with my old TL Maytag. I have a GE FL with matching dryer that I'm happy with. It's been about two years now. It's not top of the line but just a couple down from top as I didn't want all the fancy stuff I never use and didn't want to pay extra for. I didn't get the largest capacity because the bigger they are the more prone to getting out of balance. Just me and hubby. It washes king size blankets just fine. I think it's about 3.5 or 3.6 capacity as opposed to the big 4.3 or more. What I love about both W and D is that they are so quiet. Appreciate that since our laundry room is off the kitchen which is off the great room. Yes, we live in an open floor plan that echoes all sound. The top of the line Maytag Bravos TL HE that I detested and sold was so noisy especially the dryer for some reason. So much better situation with this set. Happy camper here. After 4 years of a brand new Miele W4840 and Dryer T9820, I'm in the market for a new washer and dryer. I won't bore you with all the details but the short story is that I don't think FLs are worth the investment and inherent problems. I don't think they wash better or are more economical. They may save water, but they take longer. I'm thinking that I will be better served with an old fashioned top load washer and no frills dryer. The electronics and technology isn't necessarily better (I think someone else posted a similar opinion). The electronics and parts are ridiculously expensive repair down the road, if not right off the bat, and I'm although I'm interested in quality products, I don't think that FL's are worth it. Once your warranty has expired, you are left with those repairs. A service call is about $175. Does anyone have opinions about standard appliances that will last like the old Sears Kenmore? I had 2 service calls in 20 years with those babies, and they still work. I gave them to my niece 4 years ago! Thanks for any advice. diwoman 1, about the only washer/dryer that will last about that long is Speed Queens. Their TL is old school, no electronic anything, a 3 year warranty, and a LOT FASTER than a FL. I have the AWN542 and I love it. Clothes are cleaner than with the Bosch, no out of balance, no shaking the house down on anything but gentle spin-and even that would shake at times. And they are made in USA in Rippon, Wi. Check out their web site. Beagle, we had an "old school" TL Maytag, built before Maytag washers became junk and while it still functioned like it did when new when we replaced it 2 years ago, it didn't wash well. Washing dirty rags left them dirty after TWO complete hot cycles with lots of detergent, as well as leaving the drum and agitator black. We got a Samsung 520 FL and couldn't be happier with the results and who cares if the cycles take longer? The results are what matter! And the results are nothing short of miraculous: even the dirtiest oil rags come out clean (with minimal detergent--far, far less than when we had the Maytag) and the drum doesn't have ANY black scum in it at the end of the cycle. So bottom line is I couldn't give a rat's ass that the cycles of a FL take longer than my old TL--everything comes out super clean. And after two years, we have ZERO issue with mold or smell. I always leave the door open and wipe puddled water out of the bottom of the boot after the last load of the day. Better to have to do that quick little "chore" on a FL, than suffer through the lousy cleaning ability of a TL. It's a no-brainer, in my book. Dave1812, let's not get huffy or dirty. I couldn't be happier for you and your Samsung 520 FL. I, too, had zero mold and mildew after 5 years with the Bosch also no mechanical troubles. The machine was level but still the vibrations that I could feel over a good part of my house, the water that puddled in the back of the drum, the twisted and mangled clothes, and some not even getting wet all over, are the main reasons I got rid of it. Had I chosen another brand with a true Haxis, it might have been different. Sure there are things about a fl that I do like and even miss. However, TL or FL it's whatever one is happy with. Just because I happen to like a TL over a FL better is no reason for anyone to get bent out of shape. From the way the vast majority of people on this forum feel, if you do prefer a TL you are second class and to be snubbed, just an observation. I'm sure the rat is happy to have his behind. :) beagle you are a strange bird to characterize my previous post as huffy or dirty. Nor am I "bent out of shape". Kinda touchy about your machine? heck, I'd never recommend my particular unit, due to all the SERVICE CALLS I've had, but it DOES wash very, very well. "Second class"? LOL! You ARE touchy! Get over it. the fact is that a FL WILL clean better, all else equal. It's a matter of physics, not brands or detergent or money. Sorry you fail to understand, but don't take it personally. Chip on shoulder is not a pretty sight. I was thinking buying a set until I ask in here as you have done. I came to the conclusion I did not want one. By the way when I was looking I ask a sales person about the smell. He opened the washer and pulled up on the seal around the door. He said you have to wipe the seal down occasionally or the green stuff will grow and stink. I mentioned leaving the door open and he replied with, they don't have to do that if they wash the seal. We just moved into a new home, and replaced our TL W/D with a stacked LG FL set. I have two dogs, and we show them, so there's a lot of dog laundry to go around, both keeping the dogs themselves clean, but also keeping their beds clean (so they don't dirty the dogs). Add to that, I am picky picky picky about "dog smell" in the house. My #1 frustration with our old top loader set was that it couldn't handle washing the dog beds. I would load in a bed, run a cycle, and then have to flip the bed over so the other side could get washed. Or, take the beds to a laundromat. No complaints on how the TL cleaned our clothes -- that was fine. So, now we've moved and the past two days I've had the joy -- although I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon -- of washing every single item of clothing or bedding in the house. The FL set we have kicks the ass of our old TL in every single way. Dog beds fit fine. People clothes are clean. Wash cycles are much longer than with a TL (so far they've averaged about 50-55 minutes), but the dryer cycles are correspondingly shorter. Best of all, I can put my nose down into the dog bed and take a deep sniff and not smell dog. It just smells clean. I've only owned this set for about a week, so I can't speak to long term durability, but my initial impressions are very, very good! If your willing to change your washing habits a little bit you will love a frontloader. If you are unwilling to change your washing habits at all you will hate a front loader. Even though some frontloaders can have extended wash times, but because of the higher speed spin and better water extraction they spend less time in the dryer so the overall time from wash to dry is about the same as with a TL. Just about anybody I've seen with a FL who complained about cleanability usually was doing something wrong. Many times over stuffing the washer was the culprit. Or using too much detergent. Frontloads because they can spin at much higher speeds ( some up to 1600 rpm ) can make a subpar floor that was not designed for these higher stresses shake. Toploads have much slower spin speeds (600 rpm ave) and don't cause as much stress to a floor however I have seen plenty of toploaders shake a house. This post was edited by jakvis on Thu, Oct 10, 13 at 19:09 Yep! FWIW, I absolutely adore and love my both my Bosch Axxis FL washer and dryer (the latter is ventless which is perfect for my tiny space and apartment). A lot of people donâÂÂt realize that overtime the brushes that help with spinning and, thus cleaning, in the Bosch FL will eventually wear out and need to be replaced (theyâÂÂre like $40 last time I checked). ItâÂÂs a shame that many people think that their machine is broken for good and, sadly, end up junking it for a new washer, wasting sooo much $$$! It seems that this thinking that their FL (namely Bosch) machine is now useless is many times a result of a handymen/repairmen inspecting the âÂÂworn outâ washer and telling the owner so, which is wrong! IâÂÂm not trying to cast blame and shame on anyone but it does seem that a ton of âÂÂservicemenâ are just unfamiliar with said European type of washers/HE/FLs, hence them having been educated solely on the standard American TL/agitators that we all grew up with. All that said *whew!* I really do love my Bosch Axxis stacked W/D - got in 2003 and theyâÂÂre each still going strong 10 years later. IâÂÂve been told numerous times by various, knowledgeable people that they should last 30 years if maintained properly (i.e. replace brushes, rubber seal, etc which is a small inconvenience compared to shelling out another $1000+ for a new set!). IâÂÂll keep my fingers crossed and knock on wood, as my luck would have it, though! It washes our clothes and linens better than anything else IâÂÂve used! Love the condensed air for the dryer - no dampness or lint everywhere; much more gentle and wrinkles far less than other dryers IâÂÂve used. For very large things like rugs, etc., I haul them over to my dear mothers who still has a Hotpoint utility-style TL from eons ago! Alas, those canâÂÂt fit into the Bosch washer. But I digress⦠:D. I actually felt sad that we had to leave them behind when we sold the house and moved to a condo. The new homeowners were ecstatic, b/c they had the exact same pair they had to leave behind, so it worked out well for them. Yes, it takes an hour to do a wash, but usually the dryer only takes 20 minutes b/c the spin is so fast on the washer it pre-dries the clothes! I loved that the machines have sensors. I found that the clothes don't over-dry, therefore, they don't shrink and the colour lasts longer. As for the mildew smells, if you leave the washer door open for a while afterwards, or you take the time to wipe dry the inside of the door, you won't have that problem. Since our laundry was in the basement, I didn't mind the door open. Naturally if you have kids and/or pets, you need to check inside before closing the door later. In regards to holes in clothes -- are you talking about small pinholes that tend to appear on cotton tshirts around the waist line? Don't have a problem with that myself, but a lot of people have realized that if you pair a tshirt that hangs over a pair of trousers with a button close, and then stand at say a kitchen counter to do dishes or cook, that a hole tends to form where the tshirt material rubs and is caught between the button and the hard counter top...go figure! I can't comment on short life spans. My friend has had the LG Steam pair for many years now, and other than the mildew smell noted above, and a vibration issue which can be solved with rubber stands and/or mat, her only other complaint is that she wished it did a better job on cleaning the collars of her husband's shirts. They have two rough and tumble boys, so generate a lot of laundry. Please do post a follow up if you found something you like. About 12 years ago, I bought the inexpensive Frigidaire FL despite hearing about 50% negative comments and 50% good comments about it. I took a chance because I absolutely HATE when clothes come out of a TL and they are twisted up and a wrinkled mess. I was assured by many that the FL would not TWIST them up and would clean them properly. I must say -- I used that machine for 5 or 6 years without EVER a problem. It was not an expensive machine, I had no mildew issue, (never left the door open), it never skipped a beat! I was SOOO happy that I didn't pay attention to the negative feedback. I had even bought an extended warranty in case I ran into issues. Never used the warranty. I since moved out of that house and had to leave that washer behind and am currently using an older GE TL. For the past few weeks, the TL has started to leak water and sounding like it needs a bearing. I am looking to buy another Frigidaire (as basic a model as they have) and feel pretty confident that I will be just as happy. I hope. I am happy and completely satisfied with my Maytag Neptunes purchased in May 1999. These were the second models of the neptunes that Maytag came out with. Have used front loaders all my life, starting with a 1950s Westinghouse. If you're switching from a top loader to a front loader, there is a bit of a learning to do. Most of it is common sense: less water means use less detergent/bleach/softner; don't pack the machine; As far as mold/mildew go.....think what causes this: damp/airtight space: leave door open, wipe out boot so the interior of the machine & boot stay dry. I have had my Neptunes since 1999 (14 1/2 years) and no problems whatsoever. I realize a lot of Neptune owners had a lot of problems, there was even a class action suit against Maytag. Fortunately, my machines have no problems. This post was edited by mr._jms on Sat, Nov 2, 13 at 16:47 I have had my Whirlpool manufactured (Kenmore branded) FL washer and matching dryer for over 10 years. The performance of the washer has continued to be outstanding. Clothing is less wrinkled, looks newer longer, and even heavily soiled or stained items come out completely clean. I am also happy with the savings and convenience of using a FL washer. It uses less detergent, softener, and bleach. I also use less water and energy, not only in the washer, but also when drying, since items come out of the washer so much dryer they spend less time in the dryer. I no longer have to buy pretreater, as I can just hit the stain treat button and the cycle is modified to remove stains using my regular detergent. I still have the same bottle of shout pretreater I had when I bought the washer over 10 years ago. If I had to replace my washer, I would get an American made Whirlpool or Maytag (manufactured and owned by Whirlpool) FL washer. I do think it is a shame that the majority of Kenmore FL washers are now made in Korea by LG. We have had a set of compact Bosch W/D for 12 years, nary a problem, not a bit of mold (despite living in a damp place.) Always leave the door open between loads. Love them entirely. Even though the washer is teeny, you can get a lot in there, as much as our previous top-loader. Clothes come out much cleaner than with a top-loader. Sadly the washer may need replacement soon, though the dryer is fine, and I just don't know what to get. They no longer make this model. Sigh. I have a front load washer and l LIKE IT for many of the reasons noted above: -deals with full and queen size linens -saves some money for water/sewer and natural gas -does a decent job on lightly to medium soiled clothes, the ones I make -works OK with HE soap or just a smidge of top load soap -rinses well on extra rinse (3 total rinses); probably OK with default 2 rinses -spins at 300G so dry time is quick -fast cycle time, mine has an approx 45 minute cycle apparently matched to the average dry time of the mating dryer, not an hour and a half! -reasonably quiet, I'm sure quieter stuff is out there, but I have a laundry room door I can shut if I need silence -stays in place on my first floor laundry on a vinyl floor -very basic controls that my 13 yr old son can understand; requires only to press start if not changing the cycle from the last one The only thing I don't like: -not a big fan of stooping to get stuff in and out in my 50's -miss not being able to throw the forgotten sock in after starting the cycle. That said, with a bunch of boys in the house, laundry never ends anyhow, anything missed just goes in the next load. Both FLW and TLW can do laundry, it's just a personal preference and an incremental investment analysis for the utility savings vs higher acquisition cost of the FLW vs the TLW. I don't understand this stuff about not being able to add something after the cycle starts. I can pause my washer and add something--I do it all the time. I think there's a point where you can't anymore, but I honestly have never tried that far in. :-) I do like my front loader, and I'm not sorry I bought it. I bought pedestals because I'm getting older and I didn't want to stoop--and I'm glad I did, because I like the extra storage that they provide. I agree that it's just personal preference, and I am confused as to why people always have to insist that everyone agrees with their choice, as if they need validation. I'm glad you like your washer. I'm glad I like mine. Can't we just leave it at that? I'm sure there will be another thread along shortly. Cj Love ours. Clothes go in, cycle selected and they come out later clean. No issues with failures, suds lock, etc. If there are stains, hit the stain cycle and a profile wash is done. Then again we actually read the manual, use HE detergent, and don't try to use old school thinking on a new machine. I'll take the "Bells and whistles" all day and twice on Sunday, thanks. Leave the door open when done for the day for it to dry and maybe run the clean cycle when I remember. Here are my comments comparing the two machine types. By top loaders, I mean the conventional, agitator type machines. -Both front loaders and top loaders are capable of obliterating clothing under the right circumstances. In a top loader the damage is from the rather fast agitator action.. - Most front loaders do give you agitation/wash options that can be way much gentler than what is offered in top loaders, while still allowing for a good deal of wash water to flow through the clothing. - Top loaders have the edge when it comes to soaking large amounts of clothing for extended periods of time. No need to fiddle with multiple menu levels. Just open the lid and the machine is now in soak mode until further notice. Also, with a top loader, it is more likely that the water level will be high enough to adequately wet the clothing during the soak period. - For water extraction during the spin cycle, the front loaders have the edge. This means less time drying the load after the washer is done. - For washing bulky stuff that floats, like pillows and lightweight winter coats, the front loaders have the advantage. No need to manually dunk and re-dunk the item in the wash water, which can be a nuisance if the tap water during the rinse cycle is rather cold. - For maximum wash performance I was very impressed with how well my sister's front loader washed my winter coat. With my top loader the coat always has a residual "used tent" smell when I'm done washing and drying it. Granted, with my sister's front loader I used all of the possible settings that I could throw at it (extra water level, maximum soil/extended wash time, plus an extra rinse/spin cycle), but the coat came out with no lingering smells at all. None. - For energy and water efficiency, the advantage goes to the front loaders. Water requires tons of energy to get it hot, and the more water you have, to more heat you need. Considering that both water and electricity cost money, I'm not surprised that many commercial coin laundromats use only front loading washers despite their initial higher purchase cost. zoapbox, agree with pretty much all you wrote but I have a question. You wrote,". " What fabric fit for human apparel is likely to be damaged by falling a foot and a half? I've not seen my wife's sheerest fabrics be damaged by our FL over the last few years. I've seen even durable clothes ruined by our old TL. also, the paddles of the FL drum, hitting fabrics, even during a "gentle" cycle, is likely to be an order of magnitude more of an issue for fabric wear, than fabric dropping from the top of the drum. About the only time I see anything fall from the top is at the end of a spin cycle or when the drum cycles back and forth to even out the load, before it begins spinning up to speed. WHOA - Clothes damaged due to a larger drum diameter - absolutely not true! Folks, the clothes in a washer fall into one of the following: -puddle of water -clothes on top of a puddle of water - remote possibility, hit the drum wall, less likely if you really loaded it All washers turn at about .80 to .90G to facilitate the lifting and tumbling during normal wash action, slower in half wash speeds. More likely to damage articles is washing and drying with rigid objects like shoes in the load, and in the case of the dryer, the clothes potentially could impact a metallic object (the drum wrapper or the plastic lifter) or get hit by a flying shoe while at high temperature, without the benefit of water to dampen the blow. But the real culprit to fabric wear is in fact wash temperature. All of you folks who love those super hot washes, that is in fact the most damaging element of all in the wash cycle as the fibers are degraded by heat primarily and swell the most to absorb the most water with increasing temperatures. Want your clothes to last the longest? Wash warm, and save energy while doing it. Modern soap is tailored to be effective in warm washing. @dave1812: That was my experience using Maytag commercial front loaders when my home TL broke down. Several clothing items were quickly showing visible signs of accelerated wear like falling labels on underwear, and tears on t-shirts. The damage rate was way much faster than I normally get from a conventional top loader. I own both types of machines. We kept and rebuilt our old German made Duet front loader for washing larger throw rugs and large quilts. That is all I currently use my front loader for. My main go to washing machine is a basic, no frills, Speed Queen top load set. It is hands down the best washing machine I have ever owned. My clothes do not come out in a wad, they are spotless, well rinsed, no odors, and no issues with electronics because it does not have a computer board. It does what it is supposed to do...wash clothes. I am also able to soak a load overnight in plenty of water if I want to, drain it, and do a wash cycle the next morning. I can choose really hot water if I want it. Using hot water on my towels, and sometimes on my jeans, has not made them wear any faster than using cooler temperatures. What hot water does is kill germs better, and removes heavy garden soil from garden clothing. Using a top load has caused no more wear to my laundry than a front load. In any machine, the clothing needs to move freely and not be packed in tightly to avoid wear and damage to the fabrics. My cycle times are short with my Speed Queen as compared to a front loader. It matters to me if a cycle is ridiculously long. I want clean laundry, at temperatures I want to select, and have complete control over water levels. I want to get the load done and move on to other things. Computer boards are becoming more and more unreliable so I did not want a machine with a computer board again. Ditto with a dishwasher. We removed a fairly new and expensive dishwasher and it's been replaced with an old Hobart built KitchenAid. I love it. Absolutely clean dishes....very quickly. Newer isn't always better, and older can be spiffed up with repainting and new racks. I'm having my dishwasher panels painted to match my ruby red BlueStar range. If I ever need another washing machine and Speed Queen messes up their design, I'll look for an older washer and refurbish it. @laundryvet: If mechanical action has no effect whatsoever on the wear and tear of clothing, why do front loader machines typically offer a gentler drum motion in the delicates cycle? And no, I did not wash shoes with my clothing when I have used front loaders. In any event, the drum and the paddles in front loaders are far more rigid and unyielding than shoes are. Sandy, is your TV a CRT? Zoapbox, At a common G force, drum diameter does not matter. The claim above was that drum diameter affected clothes wear. All target the same G force more or less in normal cycle. I agree delicate, half speed, is less wear and tear. I never stated as much. That said, -temperature is #1 -mechanical action #2p A top loader is harshest on clothes mechanically. Strongest mechanical action, best cleaning action per minute if not overloaded. So if you ran a top loader at 160F-190F and normal agitation speed this will absolutely destroy the clothing over the long haul, assuming it did not destroy the machine itself. Of course without a lid lock you will have exposed yourself to a dandy of a scold hazard (anything over 135F in water). I would never advise such a situation. Somebody posted a Miele washer normal cycle is 160F, yikes! Having seen and run many very high temperatures loads during my time in the industry, without a doubt temperature is the harshest on clothes at the fiber level, with mechanical action a close 2nd. Temperature literally pulverized linens, turning them to dust over several significant cycles. Some synthetics might be able to take it, almost none survive long above 165F, which interestingly is what many state laws require the bath temp to be to kill some of the "bugs" in the linen. Hence the popularity of ozone technology, performed at much lower temperatures, with the benefits being smell and linen life. Google it, it's all out there. Ozone, recall, has the best solubility at colder temperatures. Just saying it like it is from a commercial laundry vet......... I wash my sheets weekly in 140 degree water, occasionally 195. Two of those sets are over 5 years old. I wash my kitchen towels at 195 every single time. I have dishtowels older than 5 years. I cannot agree that temperature is a totally true answer to degrading clothing. Bleach degrades clothing more than any detergent, washing method, or temperature. So do clothes dryers. All that friction, heat, and and air movement, combined, slowly destroy fibers more than most any washer could. Wet fabric becomes more fragile when it is wet, making it more susceptible to wear. As some of you may know, there are 5 factors to proper laundering. Each one of those contributes to wear and tear. I find it unfair to name only one cause, when really it is all factors combined that cause wear, and each individual laundry situation is different. @laundryvet: I'm not talking about the centrifugal G forces during the spin cycle.. Zoapbox, At first I could not see your argument, but now I can. A machine of a given diameter with a fully variable speed system, you could make the case that running a larger drum at a slightly less than normal speed would equate to your statement above, a cycle slowly beginning to approach a delicate cycle. For very small changes in drum diameter as those present in the home market it probably does not amount to much. I think the key is a very partially loaded machine you describe. I would tend to agree with Miele1966 that it is most likely a combination of factors, heat, chemicals, mechanical action, and what else is in the load first, but I know from comparing life test loads in electric heat machines vs non electric heat machines over thousands of cycles that the fabrics deteriorate at a much faster pace in the electric heat machines, all other factors identical. Zoapbox: ." The standard rate of acceleration of an object falling through a vacuum at sea level is 9.80665 m/s^2. Most of the pieces of clothing in a front-loading washing machine droop over and fall into the water on the upward roll of the drum; that is, they do not fall from the top of the drum, and they do not fall as a piece. And the tail of a larger piece of laundry need not fall at all, as it gets pulled back into the water below by the leading edge of the piece of laundry falling down. And, of course, the environment inside the washing machine drum is not a vacuum, and wet laundry would have considerable wind resistance slowing its fall. So the computations of velocity on impact would be extremely complex. But assume that every square centimeter of every piece of laundry fell all of the way from the very top of the inside of the drum all the way to the water surface somewhere below the midpoint of the drum, but well above the bottom of the cylinder. And assume that a vacuum obtained to decrease air friction. Could you please provide a calculation of the difference in velocity between a piece of laundry in a very large consumer washing machine drum and a piece of laundry in a very small consumer washing machine drum, when the respective pieces of laundry hit the water below? This post was edited by herring_maven on Mon, Dec 16, 13 at 20:29 @herring_maven: Better yet, find an accelerometer app that you can download to an Android phone. Put the phone in a waterproof bag and toss it in with the laundry. That way you can get real life impact force data that you can use to make an even better mathematical model than just a straight distance vs. speed gravity calculation. Better yet, you two find something practical to occupy your lives with! No one cares about accelerometers in an appliance forum. This isn't rocket science. And your idea that fabrics are destroyed over time if they fall from "the top" of a home FL is ludicrous. Stop with this childish farce and get back on topic. HINT: look at the title of the thread to determine what the topic is. Hi Dave1812: "HINT: look at the title of the thread to determine what the topic is." That is exactly what I did when I answered the OP's question in my 12/8/13 post when I provided a summary of some of my experiences with both top loaders and front loaders. "And your idea that fabrics are destroyed over time if they fall from "the top" of a home FL is ludicrous." I already provided an answer to that question in my 12/13/13 post. I will add that YouTube has an abundance of videos of front loading washing machines in action. Plenty of examples to compare the rigors of normal/cotton wash cycles vs. delicate cycles. I'm not the first person who has observed accelerated wear on clothing that has been washed in some front loaders. People still need to do their homework when considering specific machines and wash cycle settings. "No one cares about accelerometers in an appliance forum." Herring_Maven wanted to expand the subtopic further by initiating discussion on calculations of the impact speeds of falling laundry for different fall heights. You can take it up with him if this annoyed you. If anybody else is still curious, it should not be that difficult to measure the impact forces involved. Consumer grade smartphones usually already have a built-in accelerometer, which is used to determine if you are holding the phone vertically or horizontally by sensing the direction of the pull of gravity. So all you basically need is to download an acceleration analysis APP (software) and the phone can be used to measure impact forces. No need extra hardware is need. dave1812: ". . . idea that fabrics are destroyed over time if they fall from 'the top' of a home FL is ludicrous." Erm, that was kind of the whole point of another post two posts up from yours. "Herring_Maven wanted to expand the subtopic further . . ." One suggests that your understanding may be advanced if first you follow the link below. Here is a link that might be useful: This link may help I don't need to go to Youtube to see how fabrics move in a FL. I OWN a FL. give it a rest, you two. Herring_maven I had to LOL when I read your link. I took that post of yours hook, line, and sinker! enduring: "I had to LOL when I read your link." Thank you. "I took that post of yours hook, line, and sinker!" [blush]. Being taken at face value always has been the risk when employing irony in dialogue. But my ironic post seemed to encounter a bigger issue with another contributor here, who appeared to think that a link to a Wikipedia article about an English satirist was link to a YouTube video of a washing machine. (Maybe he was engaging in irony as well?) This post was edited by herring_maven on Fri, Dec 20, 13 at 8:38 Interesting comment from a Miele web site related to load size vs. fabric wear during the wash process (for FL machines): "When small loads of towelling items are washed, a great deal of fluff is created. For this reason, it is better to wash towelling in the largest load possible." Here is a link that might be useful: Fabric care - Towelling zoapbox, the link you provided first condemns fluff and then extols it further on down the text. LOL! dave1812: The noun "fluff" in the first paragraph refers to what we call "lint" in American English. You can confirm this by doing a Google search for "tumble dryer fluff filter". The paragraph that I pointed to basically says that towels washed in small loads in a Miele residential FL will take more of a beating than those washed in larger loads. It confirms that the accelerated wear process that I observed on lightly loaded FL commercial laundromat machines using aggressive wash cycles does scale down to compact residential washers to a certain extent. I was somewhat happy with our Whirlpool Duet...up until the point one of the bearings took a dump and it now sounds like a high revving engine with terminal rod knock when it spins. I tolerated the occasional funky smell, even tho we left the tray and the door open and I cleaned out the trap (which Whirlpool, in their infinite wisdom, made exceedingly difficult to access). We are headed to the local appliance store tomorrow to likely buy a Speed Queen AWN542. Hopefully I'll get more than 5 years out of it. I reckon I could have been scared to death to buy my second Maytag Neptune sloped front set, this set had the touchscreen setup and very pretty but class action suit says its a nightmare. But I couldn't resist the 600.00 clearance price NIB last one from my local sears store. Going on 9 years without a failure or a hint of mold since I had learned with my first Neptunes that 99 percent of the failures on models made after 2001 were user abuse. I learned how to use a front loader and proper dosage of detergent and use of one hot wash a week. Ive seen many folks sing the praises of many replacements to their Neptunes only to see them wailing about those machines within a few years. I think Maytag had actually fixed all their bugs but unfortunately all those who ramped up the whining without cause resulted in the class action suit as well as Maytag making poor substitute replacements like the Samsung Neptunes and the top load Neptunes which were all disasters. Now Maytag as they were is dead. After having one(Kenmore) for a few years I will never do it again. It wears out the front of all my pants so my clothing bill has gone way up. It also has horrible mold issues in the door gasket. Yes we leave the door of it open and run cleaning cycles with bleach but it does not help. If you take a close look at the door gasket with a flashlight you will see that it is impossible to clean it effectively. Way too many groves and crevices. There was even a class action lawsuit filed against the major manufacturers and Sears for the mold issue. How do you explain all the people that have used front loaders for years without mold issues then? Washer cleaning cycles are a morning after pill for people with bad laundry habits. You shouldn't have to use them on a regular basis. I would bet that the design of the door boot gasket, the door, and the tub varies by manufacturer and by model. Some of them obviously seem to work ok. Others don't seem to. We use the proper detergent, leave the door open, etc. The environment that the washer is in might have some impact also. Okay, but that doesn't explain that there are both rave reviews and complaints of the same model. And the fact that I have seen spiders from identical models, one completely corroded and one that looked brand new. It also doesn't explain that some people have owned multiple front loaders with no problems, and others have issues with every one they try. All signs point to user error. Do you use fabric softener? How much detergent do you use? Too little is as bad as too much. What temperature wash water do you use? How often do you use liquid chlorine bleach? How long do you wait to remove clothes upon cycle completion? Do you remove the detergent drawer afterwards and let it dry? There is a lot more you have to pay attention to than just leaving the door open and wiping the boot. The fault is also with the machine manufacturers and detergent manufacturers for failing to emphasize and explain proper HE laundry habits in their documentation. In my opinion they have done a terrible job minimizing user error. Anyhow, this thread was completely hijacked a long time ago. The original poster wanted to hear from people who were HAPPY with their front loaders. They had already read plenty of complaints and did not want to read more. They just wanted to confirm that there were people who liked theirs. Although they did get some relevant responses they also got plenty of people with bad experiences who just had to get their word in. This post was edited by hvtech42 on Sat, Aug 9, 14 at 21:43 Well, just for the record, I'm still happy with my Electrolux 70 series front loader set. It still outcleans my old top loader Maytag and I'm still in love with the capacity. I run approximately two hot washes a week (whites and kitchen towels) and I use a fraction of the detergent that the label suggests. Fortunately, Electrolux has suggested detergent levels marked on the dispenser cup, about 1/3 of what the detergent bottle/box recommends. I've found that it's enough to do the job without excess sudsing. I still run an occasional bleach cycle, mostly in the hot and humid summer months, not because the machine smells, but because I've read so many complaints about mold that I'm not taking any chances. Bleach is pretty cheap insurance. I agree about detergent manufacturers and most machine manufacturers not doing enough to prevent user error. If I used the amount suggested by the detergent manufacturer, I have no doubt that I'd not be as happy with my machine. Manufacturers obviously lost all motivation to properly instruct users on use and care to increase durability and performance when they all bailed out on long warranty periods. Most all of them only allow one year on parts and labor these days. So many of the name brands have the same parent company. I guess they figure the odds of reselling to the same customer is pretty high over shorter periods of time. Ages ago there was a time when Maytag for example would offer up to 10 year warranty on some components of their machines and could count on a LONG time between customer purchases. They also knew word of mouth would sell a lot more machines to first time buyers. Too bad this ethic is lost in todays industry. Hello I'm glad I stumbled into this thread. I'm a new owner of a ge front load washer. I was worried about the time that it took to wash a load. I figured that it was quite long but from the comments I see that the lengthy time is normal. I guess I have to get used to my new washer

A small plan to review I've posted a number of plans over the last couple years, and thought I had finalized my plan, but times being what they are, I am exploring ever smaller and simpler layouts to cut costs. I need to build this house without a mortgage for our plans to work out. This plan is a 1-1/2 story, so there will be potential living space upstairs. I wanted to fit all of our requirements on one floor, however, since we are not getting any younger, and I have learned that one can become temporarily or permanently handicapped at any age. If we can afford to finish the upstairs, we might put the master suite up there, and use the main floor BR as a den. This house will also be on a full basement, so the potential is there to take this 880 sq ft house to over 2400 sq ft. Other pertinent information is that we have views in all directions, but the best one is out the back, off the kitchen and master BR. The property slopes, so the basement will be a walk-out, in the same direction as the view. Thus the back porch and deck will be about 10' off of the ground. I figure the small home experts here will be able to see what I'm not seeing in this design. There are a few things I'm not sure about, but I'll hold off until I get some feedback. Thanks! This looks like the perfect space to do this wonderful kitchen we all have been swooning over. See link. Scroll down a little over half way and there is a kitchen across one long wall. Open to the living room. I would love that kitchen. Might give you more options for your living room arrangement. My only thought on what you have now would be to place the fridge next to the sink at the end of that counter. Would be great to open it up and place food on counter to work on at sink then over to stove and then around to counter to serve. I have had many a kitchen with fridge across the room and it is always back and fourth.Dripping all the way in the center. LOL I am a messy cook. Chris Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen area. That seems like a large foyer. How big is it - 8x10? Since you have great views from all sides, it would be nice if you could have more than one window facing the front in the living room. Is there enough room to put a dining table without blocking access to the basement stairs and the MBR door? Do have access to the back porch from the MBR? It's a really nice plan and I'm sure you can tweak it to suit your needs. The foyer is 8X8 (outside dimensions). I need the size so I can access the stairs and the entrance to the living room. It also gives me enough room for the closet and powder room. The foyer bump-out will look as if part of the porch was enclosed, sharing the same roof line. I probably won't put the basement under that area; just a crawl space. That will keep the basement simpler/cheaper. Since the house will be in the middle of the woods, there are views in all directions, but the front view is probably the worst. It's a flag lot, so you can't see the street, nor can the house be seen from the street. I may connect a garage to the foyer, maybe through a breezeway, which would further block any view out the front LR window. Due to the lay of the land, that's the only place a garage could go. I'll probably have access to the back porch from the MBR, although I doubt we would use it much, knowing our habits. A glass door could take the place of a window, and would let lots of light and air in. Chris- Good point about the fridge- that's why I like to have input from others! There could be an eat-in bar on the LR side of the kitchen, which would open things up a lot. Our company (which we rarely have) is the type that would sit and chat with us while we cook, so a more open plan would be better. As for the dining area- I'll have to draw it in 3D and play with furniture to see if it's workable or not. Our old dining table is quite small (it's more of a kitchen table) but we have a number of leaves to expand it for a crowd. In it's 'normal' mode, with the two chairs we use, it would fit fine. With a crowd, we probably wouldn't need to access the basement or the MBR until after folks left. Once I get done playing on paper, I construct a model out of foamboard at 24:1 scale to get a feel for the actual 3D house. I bought 24:1 dollhouse furniture to complete the effect. A couple hours with a hot glue gun and a razor knife goes a long way towards visualizing a home, at least for me. It occurs to me (a bit late) that it would be better to have the LR take advantage of the view (mountains) than the MBR. I may re-arrange the same footprint, swapping the LR and MBR to see what that looks like. To be continued...... What Chris said....I love the way they added the kitchen in that photo. All personal, but I agree with the refrigerator being moved over by the sink. Although, moving the fridge would be the first thing seen when walking into house. My problem with my current kitchen is needing more room between the sink and stove. Seems everyone wants to be there even though there is room on other counters. A couple thoughts without knowing the land would be to flip the plan, leaving the stairs where they are. Then you could add a garage at bath wall and walk in at the foyer. Plus have doors going out to the front porch from the living room. And those stairs can give you storage underneath or is this a double stair set, one going to the basement? Am probably little help, love that you are doing this and what you have come up with. Plans are difficult as it is. Tis' wonderful to walk through the dreams with others in our little houses. As shown, the end of the house with the kitchen and LR is to the east. I'd rather have the MBR on the east side, too. The way our land is, where the front of the house is won't really be the front. The driveway comes in on the west side, which is the bottom of the plan shown, then curves 90 degrees and runs parallel to the house. So as you drive in, the bottom of the plan would be what you were facing after the curve. If I flipped it, you wouldn't see the front door unless you drove past it. BTW- the stairs go up and down. If I have to economize further, I'd go to a single story, and just have stairs going down to the basement. Plans are difficult, especially small houses with stairs! I totally understand this plan deal. So hard to make such important decisions. The foam board is a great idea. When we built our small house years ago Joe and I sat down one evening and laid it out on paper and never varied from the original drawing. THEN after living in the house for a few years we really wished we had moved our master bedroom from one end of the room to the other. It would not have made a difference to our room but it sure would have made a difference to how we could have done our kitchen. So you are very wise to ponder over all of this. Even then you will wish you had done something different. Having lived in so many houses and had to live with the way they were we came pretty close to getting the house we are in now to what we wanted. I would have liked to move the door in the laundry room out from the corner but after so many changes the manufactured home guy was getting upset with me. So I let it go.It would have been nice to be able to have room for my step stool or hamper behind the door. Oh well. It did not happen but I have it on all my other doors. The little house we built was 24 by 36 pretty close to your size. We also had an attached garage that the people after us finished off to a family room. We had that in the plan if we needed it and even backed up the bath to that outside wall so it would be easy to add a second bath. Enjoying your process. Chris I made a mistake in my post. It should have said we wished we had moved our bedroom door from one end of the room to the other. DOH on me. What I get trying to type before I am totally awake. Chris I am so bad at visualizing. Are you saying that the road/driveway will run beside the master bedroom side of the hosue? I like this plan, it looks really workable. I agree with everyone about moving the fridge though. The only other thing I would like, if it were my house, would be to have the closet door from the bathroom instead of the the bedroom. I don't know which slot the toilet is planned for, but if there is room, could you put a door at the end of the tub? Then you could put clothes up easily as you do laundry, and get dressed in the morning without making a trip through the bedroom and waking up the spouse. As drawn, the driveway would run from the bottom of the page to the top, on the right side. This is actually parallel to the road, but the road is 300' away, and on the other side of the hill. I forgot to draw in the toilet, but it would go at the end of the tub (which will likely be a shower). We really don't like having to go through the bath to get to the closet. I know many houses are done that way, but we are very modest people, and if DW was in the bathroom, I would have to wait to access the closet. Just one of our hang-ups, I guess. Chris- You know, in thinking back on all of the houses I've lived in, I was always quite happy with the room and layout that we had. I'm sure none of them were perfect, but we're just not that fussy. The only thing I notice about the house we live in now is just how little of it we actually use. Other than storing stuff, we actively use less than half of our 1600 sq ft. That's one of the reasons I keep trying to whittle down the size. And with the space in the basement, we'll have plenty of room for all of the stuff we shouldn't have in the first place! I agree for the most part we have been happy with the houses we have had. Mostly it was little things that we always said .What were they thinking?? Our last house was set up so the master bedroom was placed so it took a trip all the way up one side of the house and down the other to let the dogs out at night to potty in their back yard and stand there and wait for them and by that time I was too awake to go back to sleep. So this house has a door to the back yard in the master bathroom. Also nice for the day we might get a hot tub again and I DO get that out door shower in place. The other thing mentioned was the door out at least 16 inches from the corner so a person can place something there on the wall and not bump into it with the door. Made it so much nicer. For us we do use this whole house. Or I do. Hubby lives mostly in the living room and our bedroom and bath. I like to sew and do my mosaics so that uses the two other bedrooms. I also sometimes nap in my sewing room or go in there to read if the TV is on and annoying me. And of course we both use the kitchen living room dinning room so it is really nice they are all open to each other like your plan is. I do not know how much more expensive pocket doors are. I would do one in your master closet if you could. Rather then having it open into the closet. It will be come a pain to open it inwards go in and have to close it to get what you want from behind it. For us I took the closet door off and hung lace curtains over the opening. I like the closet to breath. Keeps your clothes so much fresher. But then I am sort of weird. Hehehehe Chris i guess u have an out house out back am i missing something where is the toilet? Well, it IS in rural SC! The toilet will go at the end of the tub as drawn. I like the idea of pocket doors, but have had bad luck with them in the past. I'll have to research to see if there is decent hardware available. Flgargoyle- South Carolina is a beautiful area. I can see why you want a design that will take advantage of the views as much as possible. I'm wondering, is there a reason you have to work with this plan, or are there others you can consider? You said at the beginning that you're continually scaling down to make your dream house affordable. A small plan with access to a walk-out basement must have several options. I only ask, because I just finished getting my mom into a new home, which was much smaller than her old one and we looked at SO MANY plans...but it was worth it. The hardest thing to find was the kitchen she wanted and the front door on one end of the house to work with her lot layout. It sounds like you know what you want in your home and are trying to make this plan fit those requirements. I've seen a lot of small home plans on the Internet. You may find one you like even better than this one, but if nothing else, they may give you some ideas on how to tweak your existing plan :) That gives me an idea Lavender lass. Flgargoyle. Try going to manufactured home sales websites. They have lots of floor plans there you can look at for more ideas. We chose the house plan we have to get the house to fit our lot. Chris Because we have a lot of room, we can build anything we want (and can afford). I've looked at so many plans, if I had a dollar for each one, we could pay for the house in cash! There are actually some limiting factors due to the lay of the land. The best view is out the back, which eliminates a lot of plans, since they don't take advantage of that. I actually got a lot of ideas looking at waterfront plans, since they are more oriented towards a rear view. We want the kitchen looking at the view, the sink in particular. That's the only thing my wife has specifically requested! We're both foodies, so a decent kitchen is important. We're both rather private, so we want two baths, but they can be small. The one thing I've noticed about all of the houses I've lived in is that the master closet is never big enough, or some of it is hard to access, like the house we have now. I've really agonized over the stairs; they're surprisingly tough to fit in to small house plans. We may have a partial upstairs, but we want to be able to live on one floor, should the need arise. If we have a connected garage, which I would like to, it has to be in the front- due to the slope, the only other option would be in the back, under the porch. I considered that idea, but then everything has to be hauled through the basement and up the stairs. I'm playing with a modified version of this plan, with the master BR and the living room switched. That's gets the MBR on the east, which I prefer, and allows people in the LR to see the view. Here's one of my older plans- probably still my favorite. The cross gable design allows all of the major rooms to see the view, and allows for lots of cross-ventilation, which we love. But the house is about 1300 square feet, and the basement has an expensive 12 corners! flgargoyle, since I could not sleep last night I was thinking about floor plans. Here is my arrangement of rooms in a small house with a great view - which is 40' x 25'(800 sq feet.) Thanks, Loretta! That certainly looks like a workable plan- I'll play with it tonight. I might flip it to put the MBR on the east. I don't really care about a foyer. Everyone says you need to have one, but our old house didn't have one, and our current house has such a small foyer it's almost worse than not having one. We rarely entertain, and when we do, it's close friends or family, so I don't care about making a 'grand impression'. Hopefully, folks are there to see us, not the house. I would have to do something different for the stairs if I decide to go with upstairs access. I could add a foyer to the front porch, which would give me access to the stairs from either end. BTW- 25' X 40' is 1000 sq ft, not 800. What if you made your front porch half glassed in and half open? The glassed half could be in front of the dining room, entry and stairs (allowing you to access the stairs on both sides if necessary). It would also give you a nice area to welcome guests if it's raining or cold. It would be a great place for a couple of chairs and a table, maybe a bench and a few plants. What a great place to sit and have tea on a rainy day...just a thought :) --'BTW- 25' X 40' is 1000 sq ft, not 800' Duh! lol, I originally had it 20'x40', but it seemed a little tight so I added the extra because of the stairs (and forgot to change demensions). I was still up at 4:00am and had to get up a 7:30 because I had a doctor's appt at 8:30! Talk about sleepy! Flgargoyle, Aw, I really liked the plan you had put together before, but sure understand about the downsizing. Here is a plan you might want to check out. I have been in the model and we had at one time considered building it. We would have just put one bedroom up instead of the two small, head room does slope down. It is a decent layout. FWIW, maybe it will give you some other ideas. Jill Here is a link that might be useful: Timberline plan I just want to say 'good luck' flgargoyle! There are so many good ideas here. :o) I don't know how I would ever build a house from the ground up. I think I would end up seriously unbalanced long before it reached completion. ~ Missy flgargoyle, I like your 2nd plan too, but agree your first would be cheaper to build, at least when it comes to the roof. I've never seen closet doors open inward, is that the way you want them, or just how that program did them? Jill- That plan isn't necessarily 'dead' yet, but I have to consider alternates. One idea I've had is to have a single gable, and use a shed roof over the parlor and master BR wings. Not nearly as pretty on the outside, but a lot simpler to build. Since I'll be doing much of the work, the added labor isn't really a factor, but it's surprising how many more linear feet of wall there are in the cross gable design. I'm not sure on the foundation yet- I may go DIY ICF, or I may just have it poured. Of course, the more linear feet of wall, the more it costs, and I've also been told that the more corners, the more expensive. I would rather have a house with good 'bones', though, and cut back somewhere else. I'll live on a plywood sub-floor if that's what it takes! As for the closet door opening inward- I didn't really think about it. I might go with a slider, or not have a door at all. The software I use has nothing to do with architecture- it's actually for computerized machining! It's rather awkward and tedious for drawing houses, but that's what I have. On the plus side, I can draw 3D renderings pretty easily, so I can 'see' what the house will look like. I have a couple cheap architecture programs, but I always find something I want to draw that they don't seem to be able to handle- or I'm just not skilled ehough (which is likely). It's fun bouncing ideas off of other people- it really helps the process. Thanks for all of your input.I'll post a few more lay-outs as I get them done. FG, You know I am biased because I love our cross gable house, but your points on cost and increased labor are valid ones. We realize we could have built a rectangular house easier and cheaper, but the character and how the design accentuates the views is worthwhile to us. DH did curse all the corners when it came to siding and soffits, though. He says he feels like he has been working on this house forever and that if we'd have built a simpler one it would have been finished sooner. I'm not much help with input on your current plan only because I like the other so well. But you have been so meticulous in your planning that I know you will end up with something that is perfect for you and your family. Jill

HassMC901247.48 8'15 Schubert Octet in F, D803: 4th movement (Theme & variations) Berlin Soloists Teldec 0630-14543-2 12'15 Mozart Piano Concerto No 27 in B flat, K595: 3rd movement Imogen Cooper, p; Australian Chamber Orch/ Richard Tognetti ABC Classics 481 0190 9'20 CD OF THE WEEK: SPHERES - DANIEL HOPE Jenkins The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace: Benedictus Daniel Hope, v; Jacques Ammon, p; Berlin Radio Choir; German Chamber Orch Berlin/ Simon Halsey DG 479 0571 5'45 Bach arr Fourés Well-Tempered Clavier Book1: Prelude in E minor Daniel Hope, v; Juan Lucas Eisemberg, va; Christiane Starke, vc DG 479 0571 3'00 Brahms Hungarian Dances Nos 19 & 20 London Sym Orch/ Neeme Järvi Chandos CHAN7072 5'20 7:00am Bach Cantata, BWV146: Sinfonia Howard Moody, organ of Schlosskirche, Altenburg, Germany; English Baroque Soloists/ Sir John Eliot Gardiner Soli Deo Gloria SDG107 7'25 Bach Cantata, BWV12: Aria "Kreuz und krone sind verbunden" (Cross and crown are linked together) Yoshikazu Mera, ct; Bach Collegium Japan/ Masaaki Suzuki BIS CD-791 6'00 Bach Cantata, BWV103: Chorus and Arioso "Ihr werdet weine und heulen" (Ye shall weep and lament) Dominik Wörner, b; Bach Collegium Japan/ Masaaki Suzuki BIS SACD-1611 4'55 R Schumann Symphony No 3 in E flat, Op 97 “Rhenish”: 2nd movement Philharmonia Orch/ Michael Woods IMP DPCD1048 5'55 C Schumann Romance, Op 22 No 1 Daniel Hope, v; Sebastian Knauer, p DG 477 9301 3'40 Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No 1 in D, op 17: Andante – Allegro assai Aldo Ciccolini, p; Orch of Paris/ Serge Baudo EMI 3 67661 2 12'20 Mertz arr Gardiner & Kassenberg Ländler Duncan Gardiner, g DRG2009 1'35 8:00am Tchaikovsky arr Edward Grigoryan The Seasons, Op 37b: December Slava & Leonard Grigoryan, g Which Way Music WWM014 4'30 Rachmaninov Vocalise, Op 34 No 14 Anna Moffo, s; American Sym Orch/ Leopold Stockowski Newton 8802085 7'00 Borodin Symphony No 2 in B minor: 2nd movement (Scherzo) Seattle Sym/ Gerard Schwarz Naxos 8.572786 5'30 Shostakovich Jazz Suite No 1: Polka Russian State Sym Orch/ Dmitry Yablonsky Naxos 8.555949 1'35 Burt The Pig James Saxon, n BBC 2219CD 0'30 Lanchbery Tales of Beatrix Potter: Pigling Bland Orch of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/ John Lanchbery EMI 9 67063 2 15'15 George & Ira Gershwin and Joe DiPietro, orchestrated by Bill Elliott Nice Work If You Can Get It: Sweet and Lowdown; Nice work if you can get it Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara & Robyn Hurder, voc; 2012 Brodway Cast & Orch/ Tom Murray Shout Factory 826663-13740 7'20 Gershwin arr Kay Who Cares?: Fascinatin' Rhythm Royal Phil Orch/ Andrew Lotton Carlton Classics 30367 01062 2'00 Sunday Morning with Marian Arnold 9:00am Vivaldi Concerto in Cmajor “con molti strumenti”, RV558 The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock DG Arch 415 674 2 10'01 Monteverdi Zefiro torna Nigel Rogers, Ian Partridge, t; Instrumentalists/Jürgen Jürgens DG Arch 415 295 2 5'32 CPE Bach Cello Concerto, WQ172 Truls Mørk, vc: Les violons du Roy/Bernard Labadie Virgin Classics 5099 6944920 8 19'05 Mozart Symphony No.29 in Amajor, K201 – Scottish Chamber Orch/Sir Charles Mackerras Linn Records CKD 350 31'08 Beethoven Piano Sonata No.17 in Dminor, Op.31/2 (“The Tempest”) Stephen Kovacevich, p EMI 7243 5 622705 2 22'08 Dvořák Czech Suite: Romanza Prague Philharmonia/Jakub Hrůša Supraphon SU 3867 2 4'46 Borodin Symphony No.3 in Aminor (Unfinished) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orch/Gennady Rozhdestvensky Chandos CHAN 9199 19'40 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 in Dminor, Op.30 Valentina Lisitsa, p; London Symphony Orch/Michael Francis Decca 478 4890 39'28 Music Makers with Bob Maynard Coordinated by Mairi Nicolson and Ngaire Duffield. The Bombay Chamber Orchestra with Emma Ayres. All music played was performed by the Bombay Chamber Orchestra and recorded at its 50th Anniversary Gala concert in Mumbai in December 2012. 6'00 12:00pm Sunday Afternoon Concert with Bob Maynard Concert programmed by Derek Jones. 1:00pm Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Isabelle Faust, violin Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano Claudio Abbado, conductor Schumann Genoveva: Overture, Op 81 8'45 Berg Violin Concerto (To the Memory of an Angel) 28'45 Berg Altenberg Lieder, Op 4 11'07 Schumann Symphony No 2 in C, Op 61 39'31 Recorded in the Philharmonie, Berlin. Courtesy of Berlin Radio-Brandenburg. 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A preview of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and some musical recollections of the Thatcher years and their aftermath. 4:00pm T Newman The Iron Lady: Discord and harmony Chorus and Orch/Thomas Newman Sony 88691914342 2'36 John Billy Elliot: The stars look down Liam Mower, voc; Original London Cast; Orch/Martin Koch Decca B0006130-72 7'31 Jones Brassed Off: We'll find a way Orch/Trevor Jones RCA 09023-68757 3'25 Marcangelo Brassed Off: Clog dance Grimethorpe Colliery Band/John Anderson RCA 09026-68757-2 2'40 Yazbek The Full Monty: Let it go Original Broadway Cast; Orch/Kimberly Grigsby RCA 09026-63739-2 3'51 Herman Dear World: Garbage Milo O'Shea, Angela Lansbury, Jane Connell and Carmen Mathews, voc; Original Broadway Cast; Orch/Donald Pippin Sony SK 48220 3'21 Barry Goldfinger: Oddjob's pressing engagement Orch/John Barry EMI 72435-80891-2-7 3'08 T Newman Skyfall: She's mine Orch/Thomas Newman Sony 88765410402 3'53 Goldenberg Ballroom: Fifty percent Jodie Gillies, voc; Tommy Tycho, p; SBS Youth Orch Festival TVD 93371 4'53 Van Heusen Papa's Delicate Condition: Call me irresponsible Anthony Warlow, voc; Band/Tommy Tycho Skylark 5136192000 2'11 Schwartz Wicked: What is this feeling? Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, voc; Original Broadway Cast; Orch/Stephen Oremus Decca B0001682-02 3'34 Waller Honeysuckle Rose Phil Scott, voc and p Middle Eight Music MEM-007 2'59 Guettel The Light in the Piazza: Passeggiata Matthew Morrison, voc; Original Broadway Cast; Orch/Ted Sperling Nonesuch 79829-2 3'56 Jazztrack with Mal Stanley 5:00pm Doug de Vries Blues on the Table Doug de Vries DdV 601 (Free Range) 0'30 Jamie Oehlers Open Door Jamie Oehlers Quartet with Ari Hoenig (Smoke and Mirrors) Jazzhead head 152 4'23 G Hekselman Eye in the sky Gilad Hekselman (This just in) Jazz Village sp 9570013 5'03 D Lisik Walkabout Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra with Alex Sipiagin and Bob Sheppard (Walkabout:A place for visions) Rattle Jazz rat-j-10132012 9'35 Darrin Archer Melancholy Woods Darrin Archer Trio (Melancholy Woods) Independent release 9'00 Barney McAll SexMagikDeath Barney McAll (Graft) Jazzhead head 146 7'32 O Mor Shaha Omri Mor Trio (Unreleased concert recording) 7'42 C Parker Big foot Andrew Dickeson (Weaver of dreams) Rufus rf097 6'31 C Parker Scrapple from the apple Django Bates (Beloved Bird) Lm 004 4'35 Trad arr Tabor/Ballamy/Warren/ As I roved out June Tabor/Iain Bellamy/Huw Warren (Quercus) ECM 2276 5'56 A Norris Good Addiction South Florida Jazz Orchestra (Trumpet Summit) MAA 1043 7'22 Stephen Magnusson/Eugene Ball/Carl Pannuzzo/S Beresovsky RG3 Magnet (Magnet) Magnet Sounds 4'08 Tom Vincent Good things Tom Vincent Morphic Resonance Project (Just Enough) Lumbini House 4'33 Callum G'Froerer Virginia Callum G'Froerer (City Speaks) Listen Hear Collective 4'47 K Reveyrand Watch your step Celine Bonacina Trio (Open Heart) ACT 9514-2 4'44 E Bosgraaf/Y Honing Sheraton Erik Bosgraaf and Yuri Honing (Hotel Terminus) Brilliant Classics 9418 8'01 Metropolitan Opera Radio Broadcast Season Diana Damrau, s (Violetta Valéry); Saimir Pirgu, t (Alfredo Germont); Plácido Domingo, br (Giorgio Germont); Patricia Risley, ms (Flora Bervoix); Maria Zifchak, s (Annina); Scott Scully, t (Gastone); Jason Stearns, br (Barone Douphol); Kyle Pfortmiller, b (Marchese d'Obigny); James Courtney, b (Dottore Grenvil); Juhwan Lee, t (Giuseppe); Seth Malkin, b (Flora's servant); Joseph Turi, b (Messenger); Paul Corona, b-br (A Gentleman); Metropolitan Opera Orch and Chorus/Yannick Nézet-Séguin Verdi La Traviata - Opera in three acts to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after Alexandre Dumas's play ‘La dame aux camélias'; (Venice, 1853) 2hrs06'14 Recorded recently in New York. By arrangement with the Toll Brothers Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network. Post-production for ABC Classic FM by Simon Healy. 9:34pm Ibert Trio for violin, cello and harp (1944) Colin Twigg, v; Lucy Wilding, vc; Bryn Lewis, h Somm CD 0122 16'14 Mozart Piano Concerto No 25 in C, K503 Tasmanian Sym Orch/Howard Shelley, p ABC 481 0192 31'54 Ibert Caprilena for solo violin (1950) Colin Twigg, v Somm CD 0122 3'02 For The God Who Sings with Stephen Watkins 10:30pm Pärt Cantus (Theme) Staatsorchester Stuttgart ECM 817 764-2 1'00 Capricornus Surrexit pastor bonus Linda Perillo, s; Cordaria/Walter Reiter Signum SIGCD033 4'13 Leighton An Easter Sequence: Psalm 23 Choir of St John's College, Cambridge/Christopher Robinson Naxos 8.555795 4'51 Bach Cantata BWV175 Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen (He called his own sheep by name) Nathalie Stutzmann, al; Christoph Genz, t; Stephen Loges, b; Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner Soli Deo Gloria SDG 138 15'51 Halffter Psalm XXII (Ps.23) Susan Chilcott, s; Clare Powell, ms; Joan Cabero, t; José Antonio Carril, b; The Polifónico Choir, University of Laguna; Tenerife Sym Orch/Victor Pablo Perez Discobi D 2009 11'30 Blow The Lord is my shepherd Robin Blaze, ct; Joseph Cornwell, William Kendall, t; Stephen Varcoe, Stephen Alder br; The Parley of Instruments; Winchester Cathedral Choir/David Hill Hyperion CDA67031/2 10'57 Carissimi Surrexit pastor bonus Ensemble Seraphim Classico CLASSCD 422 2'19 Bach Cantata BWV184 Erwünschtes Freudenlight(Longed-for light of joy) Lisa Larsson, s; Nathalie Stutzmann, alt; Christoph Genz, t; Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner Soli Soli Deo Gloria SDG 138 21'47 Brian Psalm 23 Royal Liverpool Phil Chorus & Orch/Douglas Bostock Classico CLASSCD 456 15'34 Gelineau Psalm 23 Choir of St Paul's Cathedral, London/John Scott Hyperion CDA67398 4'37 Scheidt Surrexit pastor bonus Cambridge Singers/John Rutter Collegium COLCD 123 4'08 Schubert Gott ist mein Hirt D.706 Monteverdi Choir; Malcolm Bilson, p/John Eliot Gardiner ABC 456 360-2 4'36 Spohr Three Psalms Op.85: Gott ist mein Hirt Rundfunkchor Berlin/Dietich Knothe cpo 999 149-2 5'02 G Ives Psalm 23 The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford/Bill Ives Harmonia mundi HMU 907420 2'45 All Night Classics with Bob Maynard 12:30am Anon Kyrie fons bonitatis (Lord source of all goodness) Santo Domingo de Silos Monastery Choir/Ismael Fernández de la Cuesta EMI CMS 5 65135 2 4'05 Veracini Sonata in E minor, Op 1 No 6 Sirius Ensemble (Anna McDonald, v; Erin Helyard, hc; Tommie Andersson, theorbo) Artworks AW024 20'42 T Simpson Taffel-Consort, 1621: Ricercare on Bonny Sweet Robin – Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet L'Oiseau-Lyre 414 277-2 2'56 Edgar Bainton ed Newton Epithalamion, Rhapsody BBC Phil Orch/Martyn Brabbins Chandos CHAN 10019 13'12 Schubert ed Dullo Piano Sonata No 12 in F minor, D625 Geoffrey Saba, p IMP PCD 950 24'54 Mondonville Venite, exultemus Domino (O come, let us praise the Lord), Grand Motet Gillian Fisher, s; Charles Daniels, t; Stephen Varcoe, b; New College Choir, Oxford; London Baroque/Edward Higginbottom Hyperion CDA 66269 24'50 Mozart String Quartet No 22 in B flat, K589 Leipzig String Quartet MDG 307 0936-2 26'01 Margaret Sutherland Concertante for oboe and strings Jeffrey Crellin, ob; Melbourne Sym Orch/Richard Mills ABC Classic FM recording 17'27 Boyce Trio Sonata No 14 in F Parley of Instruments/Peter Holman Hyperion CDA 67151/2 8'39 Monteverdi L'incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea), Act 2: Scenes 2, 3 and 5 John Graham-Hall, t (Liberto); Gregory Reinhart, b (Seneca); Juliet Booth, s (Valletto); Janice Watson, s (Damigella); City of London Baroque Sinfonia/Richard Hickox Virgin 5 45082 2 17'46 Stuart Greenbaum New Roads, Old Destinations Ian Holtham, p Move MD 3239 10'03 Vaughan Williams arr Brown Charterhouse Suite English Northern Sinfonia/David Lloyd-Jones Naxos 8.555068 14'11 Dvořák Eight Slavonic Dances, Op 72, B147 Czech Phil Orch/Sir Charles Mackerras Supraphon SU 3422-2 35'00 Degtiarev (Degtyaryov) Let all the peoples 2'10 Degtiarev Song of the Cherubim Yurlov Academic Choir/Stanislav Gussev Le Chant du Monde LDC 288 041 5'18 Rubinstein Cello Sonata No 1 in D, Op 18 – Steven Isserlis, vc; Stephen Hough, p RCA 09026 68290 2 22'59 5:05am Holborne The Choise, Almain Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble ABC Classics 446 735-2 1'00 Telemann Concerto in A minor, TWV52:a2 Hans-Dieter Michatz and Sally Melhuish, r; Salut! 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- News - Sports - Opinion - Obituaries - Features - Special Sections - Classifieds - Public Notices. The Ocean Ridge Ladies Golf Association had its quarterly charity tournament June 30. ORLGA presented $258 to Hospice, an organization whose goal is to help those with life-limiting illnesses. Hospice provides in-home healthcare and helps with daily needs of the patient. It also provides support to the patient’s family through services and education. Past beneficiaries of the ORLGA charity tournaments have been Brunswick Family Assistance, West Brunswick High School, Cat Tails and Paws Place. The format was flighted low gross, low net. A Flight: low gross was Linda Johnston, 87. Low net was Doris McLaughlin, 91. B Flight: low gross was Skip Lindstrom, 102. Low net was Carole Schuster, 70. C Flight: low gross was Betty Coffini, 112. Low net: Olive Larson, 61. Chip ins: Peggy Jones at No.15. Birdies: Sue Kane at No. 11. Chip-in birdies: Erma Krahl at No. 11, Doris McLaughlin at No. 7, Mickie Underhill at No. 16. Linda Johnston broke 90 for the first time in league play with a score of 87. On July 10 at Lion’s Paw, the format was cha-cha-cha: Teams of four count one low net from the first hole, two from the second, three from the third and so on. Not all players finished the round because of slow play. Low gross: Linda Van Horn, 89. Low net: Grace Bradicich, 62. Birdies: Linda Buck had a chip-in on No. 10, Pam Fitzgerald had a birdie at No.17 and Linda Van Horn a birdie at No. 13. Chip-ins: Judy Keegan at No. 2, Alice Christiansen at No. 2. OCEAN RIDGE MEN The Ocean Ridge men played July 7 at Lion’s Paw. The format was two net scores, one each from the A/D and the B/C players. First: Ed McCloskey, Mike Sullivan, Bill Prophet and Mike Ratchford (-17). Second: Tom Johnson, Wayne Underhill, John Weaver and Thack Brown (-16). Third: Bob Larkin I, Greg Kent, Bill Mackenzie and Paul Socha (-14). Fourth: Roger Buck, Rich Scaler, Joe Coffini and Carl Schuster (-11). OCEAN RIDGE MIXED COUPLES Here are the results of the July 13 Mixed Couples event played on Tiger’s Eye at Ocean Ridge. The game counted three low nets on each hole. First: George Brooks, Dennis Larson, Pam Fitzgerald, and Pam Hartman at -18 (-15 on the back nine). Second: Norm Fitzgerald, Joe Neal, Peggy Jones and Grace Bradicich at -18 (-8 on the back nine). Third: Gordon Wicke (blind draw), Bob Bradicich, Doris McLauglin and Jean Bourne at -1. Fourth: Gordon Wicke, Bob Hartman, Linda Buck and Becky Williams at -10. Birdies: Frank Burianek at No. 1. Marie Pugh at No. 6. Chappy Jones at No. 10. Pete Williams at No. 1. Ed Gruver at No. 10. George Brooks at No. 3 and at No. 15. Pam Fitzgerald at No. 15. Grace Bradicich at No. 1 (chip-in). Peggy Jones at No. 10. Other chip-ins: Bob Hartman at No. 4. Joe Neal at No. 18. Low nets were Becky Williams, Pam Fitzgerald and Grace Bradicich (69), Bob Bradicich and Chappy Jones (68), Doris McLaughlin (67) and George Brooks (66). BEACHCOMBERS The Beachcombers played a 1-2-3 tournament July 11 at Cypress Bay. Taking first place with a score of 102 (minus 34) was the team of Hal Riebesehl, Stu Cleveland, Paul Michal and Ed Hennessey. In second place with a score of 108 was the team of Bob Byrne, Ed Smith, Jim Quigley and Fred Ortiz. Low gross of the day was Stu Cleveland with a 78. Bob Byrne was second with an 80. Low nets for the day were Bob Byrne and Stu Cleveland (63s), Ed Smith (64), Ed Hennessey (67) and Hal Riebesehl (69). Bob Byrne was voted golfer of the week. BRIERWOOD MGA The Brierwood Men’s Golf Association played July 7 and the format was two best balls. In first at 24-under par was the team of Bob Nobes, Chuck Hornfeck, Dick Baynton and a blind draw. In second at 23-under par were Odie Johnson, Bernie Gruzlewski, Tom Kronyak and Jack Harrison. Two teams tied for third at 20-under par: the team of Paul Salerno, Mike Prokop, Joe Brust and a blind draw and the team of David Harper, Tom Bowen, Bill Miller and Jim Pope. On July 10, the format was one point for a par, three points for a birdie, five points for an eagle and eight points for a double eagle. In first at 119 points was the team of David Harper, Walt Wilson, Dick Baynton and a blind draw. In second at 99 points were Paul Salerno, Bill Miller, Bob Sterner and Tom Kronyak. In third at 81 points were Bernie Gruzliewski, Chuck Hornfeck, Joe Brust and Jim Pope. The Brierwood MGA tournament July 12 was one best-ball gross, one best-ball net (must be different ball). In first at 14-under par was the team of Hollen Groff, Tom Arney, Chuck Hornfeck and a blind draw. In second at 4-under par was the team of Wayne McGlothlin, Larry Dickerson, Paul Salerno and Tom Bowen. Tying for third at 2-under par was the team of Bill T. King, Harvey Hundley, Mike Prokop and Bob Hopkins and the team of Jim Robinson, David Harper, Odie Johnson and Al Butler. Closest to the pin at No. 3 was Odie Johnson (14 feet, 7 inches), at No. 9 was Tom Arney (21-2), at No. 14 was Mike Prokop (38-8) and at No. 17 was Jim Robinson (19-8). BRIERWOOD WGA The Brierwood Women’s Golf Association played a crossover game (best nine of 18 holes less one-half handicap) on July 8. The flight A winners were Marje Roach and Mary Schaack, who tied for first with a low net of 28. Marje Roach had the fewest putts (27). She also who also had a chip-in and a birdie on hole No. 5 and another birdie on No. 2. Schaack had a chip-in on No. 12 and Sarah Lula had a birdie on No. 15. The flight B winner was Janice Owens with a net of 22. Mickey Salerno was second with a net of 26. Sara Baynton had the fewest putts (29). Rita Du-Gan was the low-net winner in flight C (24). Marianne Nobes came in second with a net of 25. Rita Du-Gan had the fewest putts (34). BRIERWOOD MIXED SCRAMBLE In the Brierwood nine-hole mixed scramble July 9, the team of Deloris Gausch, Marje Harper, Ralph Trimmer and Walt Wilson claimed first place with a 1-under-par score. In second place, with even par, was the team of Liz Boyer, Marianne Nobes, Bob Nobes and Dave Harper. Third place went to Fran Thomas, Rita DuGan, Barb Wilson and Haywood Edmundson. BRICK LANDING LGA The July 10 league game for the Brick Landing Plantation Ladies Golf Association was a match play versus par of the course. Score +1 if your net beats par, -1 if you lose to par and 0 if you equal par. Add plusses and minuses for total score. First flight: Dale Calhoon and Pat Christenbury tied for first with a +6. Mary Biesack and Lois Huber tied for third with a +5. Second flight: Jean Hasty and Bernice Logan tied for first with a +2 and Ursula Styczynski was third with a +1. Third flight: Betty Grace Grabb came in first with a +6 and Pat Bumgartner, Peg Campana and Sue Nelson tied for second with a +1. Birdies were scored by Lois Huber on No. 4, Bernice Logan on No. 13 and Pat Christenbury on No. 9. Peg Agrimonti had a birdie chip-in on No. 15 and Pat Christenbury had a chip-in on No. 15. BRUNSWICK PLANTATION LGA The Brunswick Plantation Ladies Golf League results for July 7: Fewest putts at Azalea-Magnolia were Denise Kantner, Barbara Johnson, Pat Haniquet and Celie Cionek (39 putts). Fewest putts at Dogwood-Azalea: Janet Iekel, Helen Kaehler, Pat Wish, Marcia Clark (47 putts). Chip-ins: Barbara Johnson at Azalea No. 2. Birdies: Janet Iekel at Dogwood No. 4, Jan Spessard at Dogwood No. 4, Nancy Smyka at Azalea No. 2. BRUNSWICK LADYBIRDS Results of the Brunswick Ladybirds matches June 25 at Brunswick Plantation: First flight, low gross: 1. Judy Nicoletti (Carolina Shores) 77; 2. Mona Dye (Brierwood) 80. Low net: Billie Ellwanger (Meadowlands) 70: 1. Sally Robbins (St. James) 70; 2. Laura Botto (Lockwood Folly) 71. Fewest putts: Jan Diedrich (Oak Island) 33, and Cathy Story (Ocean Ridge) 33. Second flight, low gross: 1. Barb Seelos (Ocean Ridge) 86; 2. Irene Dowdy (Brick Landing) 92; 2. Jan Howard (The Lakes) 92. Low net: 1. Mae Drezek (Brunswick) 74; Bobbi Platukis (Lockwood Folly) 74; 2. Pam Fitzgerald (Ocean Ridge) 75; Mickie Underhill (Ocean Ridge) 75; Linda Connelly (Meadowlands) 75. Fewest putts: Kathy Siciliano (St. James) 33. Third flight, low gross: 1. Karen Buchelt (Brunswick) 94; 2. Carolynn Elliott (St. James) 97. Low net: 1. Grace Bradicich (Ocean Ridge) 74; 1. Jo Ann Barton (Sea Trail) 74; 2. Mary Helen Naecker (Brunswick) 75; 2. Rochelle Simpson (St. James) 75; 2. Chris Sparks (The Lakes) 75. Fewest putts: Janet Iekel (Brunswick) 33 and Toni Roe (Ocean Ridge) 33. Fourth flight, low gross: 1. Peggy Jones (Ocean Ridge) 96; 2. Elizabeth Fuller (The Lakes) 98. Low net: 1. Wanda Krasniewicz (Brunswick) 73; 1. Ann Smith (Brunswick) 73; 2. Doris Fairchild (Ocean Ridge) 74. Fewest putts: Sharon Burns (The Lakes) 33. Fifth flight, low gross: 1. Marge Layden (Sea Trail) 99; 2. Blanche Maxwell (St. James) 103. Low net: 1. Sue Todd (Oak Island) 71; 2. Camille Cantello (Brunswick) 75: 2. Geri Conroy (Brunswick) 75. Fewest putts: Gerry Gosselin (Brunswick) 30. Sixth flight, low gross: 1. Laura Lagenur (Brunswick) 104; 1. Ruth Apalinski ( Sea Trail) 104; 2. Sue Sadlon (Brunswick) 105. Low net: 1. Jean Rentch (St. James) 76; 2. Fran Hursh (Lockwood Folly) 78; 2. Carrie Wilson (Brunswick) 78. Fewest putts: Peggy Blair (Oak Island) 35. Seventh flight, low gross: 1. Maggie Holcomb (Carolina National) 109; 2. Donna Holshouser (Oak Island) 111. Low net: 1. Karen Entwistle (Carolina National) 78; 1. Barb Paolicelli (Carolina National) 78; 2. Diane Lucarelli (Brunswick) 79. Fewest putts: Pat Copple (Oak Island) 35. Eighth flight, low gross: Barb Berinoto (Brunswick) 10; 2. Emily Campbell (Brunswick) 104; 2. Rose Marie Fassbender (Carolina National) 104. Low net: Gloria Lee (Sea Trail) 74; 2. Dorrie McGurn (Sea Trail) 77. Fewest putts: Marianne Nobes (Brierwood) 29. CALABASHERS The Calabashers played the Crown Park Golf Course July 11. Twenty men played, and the format was two-man low net, using best ball. The winning team was Rod Rodriguez and Phil Smith. In second was the team of Bill Bowden and Wash Dayton. Both teams finished with a net of 60, but the winning team won with a match of cards. Wash Dayton had the low gross of the day (82). CALABASH ELKS On July 12, Ed Kerr shot a low net 67 to win the Elks tournament at Brierwood. Don Hunt placed second with a 68. In the B flight, Bill Wood was first (65) and Bob Malone second (68). In the C flight, Jim Simmons was first (63) and Ray Richard second (66). Closest to pin: Bob Malone, 10 feet at No. 3; Bob Murphy, 4 feet at No. 9; Tom Klink, 1 foot at No. 14; Bill Soucy, 2 feet at No. 17. CAROLINA BOGEY BUSTERS The Carolina Bogey Busters played July 8 at Carolina Shores. Low gross, flight A: 1. Tom Ditzler, 80. 2. Mark Segar, 81. 3. Bruce Kertcher, 82. Low net, flight A: 1. Tom Ditzler, 63. 2. Steve White, 64. 3. Mark Segar, 65. Low gross, flight B: 1. Jim Burke and Pete McGerr, 91. 3. Dennis Sullivan and Pat Perryman, 93. Low net, flight B: 1. Dennis Sullivan and Corbin Leford, 66. 3. Jim Burke and Pat Perryman, 68. Closest to the pin: Larry Frazier at No. 3. Fewest putts: Mark Segar (26), Tom Ditzler (27), Pete McGerr (29), Dick Wilson (31), Charlie Dugan (32), Jim Burke (32), Ralph Phillips (32). CAROLINA FAIRWAYS AREA GREENS On July 7 at Farmstead, Larry Laws, Boomer Needham, John Methvin and John Ogden placed first with a 118. Format for the day was cha-cha-cha. Sid Pennington, Steve Maiorca, Cliff Musselman and Joe Gallo were second with a 122. On July 9 at Meadowlands, Jim Kennedy, Ned Meier, John Methvin and Joe Meo placed first with a 132. Teams scored one net and one gross per hole. Jerry Rubin, Boomer Needham, John Ducey and Cliff Musselman placed second on a match of cards with a 136. On July 11 at Meadowlands, Steve Maiorca, John Methvin, Joe Gallo and a blind draw placed first with a 125. Teams scored two nets on the even-numbered holes, a net and a gross on the odd-numbered holes. John Ducey, Bill Mercer, Ned Meier and Jim Kennedy placed second with a 132. CAROLINA GOLF COURSE RENEGADES Donna Watkins won the game format of low gross and low net with a gross of 90 and a net of 63. Kathy Hahl had a low gross of 94, followed by Kim Balbach (97). Kay Craig and Kathy Hahl on a match of cards scored a net of 69. Chipping in on No. 9 was Martha Hannon. Kay Craig chipped in on No. 13. Kathy Hahl made a birdie on No. 12 and Donna Watkins had a chip-in birdie on No. 9. Watkins also had the fewest putts (28). CAROLINA SHORES AL GRAHAM TOURNEY Nine teams played in the Al Graham Stableford match July 9. The winning team at plus 8 was Frank Talak, Jim Barnett, Bill Teschler and Paul Wuthrich. Second place went to Chet Drouin, Tony Sneska, his son D. Spicer and Leo Jarmusz by a match of cards (plus 7). The team of Ernie Schober, Joe Lowery, Joe Fiorvanti and Ray Girard was third. Fourth place went to John Kain, Dan Roberts, Don Rose and Gean Sanborn (plus 6). Fifth place at plus 5 were Rich Hamilton, Sandy Howard, John Crane and Dick Polonski. In the skins game, only three skins were awarded: one each to Joe Lowry, Ray Girard and Arnie Northrop. CROW CREEK MEN’S LEAGUE Crow Creek Golf Club Men’s League played July 8, and the format was three-man team gross quota (each player’s net points are added for the team score). First-place team: Greg Massey, Andy McCorison and Al Ricozzi (team score of +10). Second-place team: Artie Stoecker, John Huntey and Mike Murphy (team score of +5). Third-place team: Jerry Dickson, John Buddemeyer and Ed Darrow (team score of +3) Individual winner in the A flight: Greg Massey. In the B flight: Andy McCorison. In the in C flight: Ed Darrow. FARMSTEAD MEADOWLANDS MGA Results of the Farmstead-Meadowlands modified Stableford tournament July 8: Flight A: Dick Turner, Bill Blewitt +4; Paul Groves, Rick Ellwanger +4; Ray Laconte, Jim Weter +1.5. Flight B: Jim Bonne, Dan Bruscella +4.5; Steve Lawson, Bud Pierce +3; Ed Dodson, Ed Hobgood +0.5. Flight C: Jim Marsh, Bob Mecleary +2; Glen Hafield, Dan Andrews +1.5; Nick Caldararo, Bill Cleaver E. Flight D: Gordon Much, Pat Neese +8.5; Ed Peters, Bill Kasper +4.5; Larry Robinson, Ken Ellis +4. Flight A individual: Ray Laconte +8. B individual: Jim Boone +7.5. C individual: Bill Tencza +4. D individual: Ed Peters +6.5. Superflight: Ray Laconte +8. MEADOWLANDS PGA The Players Golf Association held its annual four-club and putter tournament July 10 at Meadowlands Golf Course. There was a three-way tie for first with 67s, so with a match of cards the winners in order were Bob Davis, Jack Gorman and Bob Butkevicius. Fourth with a 69 was Don Clark. Fifth with a 70 was Nick Samela. Sixth by a match of cards at 71 was Bob Lange over Dick Pearce. Closest-to-the-pin winners were Ernie Weeks at No. 5, Nick Samela at No. 8, Bob Butkevicius at No. 11 and John Ogden at No. 15. LOCKWOOD FOLLY LGA The Lockwood Folly LGA played July 10 and the format was get the point: four points for a birdie, three for a par, two for a bogey and one for a double bogey. Add to full handicap. There was a five-way tie first at 56 among Patti Ayling, Kay Gregory, Kathy Spinoso, Susann Thompson and Mary Ward. Carolyn Puckett chipped in at No. 12 PIPERETTES The Piperettes played a match of count only the par 4s, one-half handicap, on July 8. First: Marci Berry (23). Second: Ethel Nobles (25.5). Tie for third: Deanna Donnelly, Ro Martere and Wanda Green (26.5). Sixth: Mique Luckett (27.5). Tie for seventh: Shirley Holmes, Kathy Manning and Jean Hartwell (28). Birdies: Candy Jones at Bay No. 5. Mary Ard at Piper No. 5. Kathy Manning at Bay No. 2. Loretta Delamere at Bay No. 5. Chip-ins: Kathy Manning at Bay No. 2. Lynn Hamlin at Piper No. 4. Barb DeMore at Bay No. 4. SANDPIPER BAY MGA The following are the results for the week of July 7 for the Sandpiper Bay Men’s Golf Association. On July 11, the format was low net score: First at 65 was Bill Snyder. Second, a tie at 67, were Jack Hinte and Ralph Bowman. Next, a tie at 68, were Al Hooker, Chris Christie, Wayne Purdy, Don Moore and Bill Sarkisian. In a tie at 69 were P.J. Jones, Jon Radziewski, Ron Redman and Gordy Coulson. On July 9 the game was count one best ball for the first three holes, two for the next five, three for the next five and all four for the last five. In the Piper to Bay flight, first with a minus 26 were Bob Nicoletti, Bill Sarkisian, Marv Pethal and Don Bartholomew. Second at -25 were Tony Rossi, Al Roeder, Charles Richardson and Doug Williams. Third at -21 were John Donnelly, John Kealey, Bob Morley and Tom Ioven. In the Bay to Piper flight, first place at -24 were Bill Snyder, Greg Scalzi, Jim King and Charles Maglio. Second at -21 were Don Capretta, Frank DeStefon, Dean Montgomery and a blind draw. Third at -17 were Al Bowman, Bob Arace, Dan Norman and Robert Schenck. July 7 was a wonderful day for Bob Zambri, because on the sixth hole at Piper he made an ace. He used a 9-iron from 120 yards. The format was three best scores on par 3s, two on the par 4s and one on the par 5s. In the Bay Piper flight, first went to Joseph Cramer, Gene McDonald, Wayne Purdy and Frank Testa with a -27. Second went to John Hannigan, Mike Finkelstein, Vince Niland and Bill Sarkisian with a -25. Third went to Don Moore, Guy Tavel, Ron Donley and Frank Destefon with a -24. Fourth went to John Radziewski, Ed McTighe, Jim Barker and Bill Spellicy with a -21. In the Piper Bay flight, first at -28 were Bob Zambri (leading the pack with his ace), Bob Nicoletti, Doug Williams and Ed Killgoar. Second at -25 were Don Capretta, Jack Hinte, Bernie Fowler and a blind draw. At -24 were Rich Brouwer, Joe Martere, Charles Richardson and Paul Maultsby. Fourth at -23 went to John Donnelly, Bill Lester, Bob Morley and Tom Ioven. SEA TRAIL MEN’S LEAGUE The Sea Trail Men played on the Jones front nine and the Byrd back nine July 8.The format was four-man teams, two- best net balls. In flight A, Gene Method, Bill Narath, Tony Novalis and Bob Perry were first with at 114. John Barton, Dennis deLagarde, Ron Dubas and Dan Morrin were second with a 121. In flight B, John Goodrich, Ben Madura, Art Olsen and Harry Snyder were first with a 118. John Bowles, Jim Gooding, Charlie Schorpp and Bo Sellers were second with a 120 and a winning match of cards. In flight C, Nick Forlidas, Gary Keife, Norm Melanson and Jerry Tanner were first with a 121. John Johnsen, Ron Klein, John Olson and Bob Thwaites were second with a 123. In flight D, George Bartley, Norm Christen, Ralph Gardner and Larry Tedesco were first with a 114. Ches Burton, Bill Connor, Bob Leahy and Mike Pozdol were second with a 115. Add new comment Read and share your thoughts on this story

; VIEWS: 20 PAGES: 12 POSTED ON: 9/15/2011 Prevention Burn Support Events Volunteers Novelty Lighter Update Winter Camp Padres Salute Firefighters Tony Arballo’s True Spirit 3 h t t p : / / w w w. b u r n i n s t i t u t e . o r g 7 8 10 VOLUME 42, NUMBER 1 SPRING 2008 This boy was playing with his Dad’s lighter and the results were devastating. *Billy is standing in front of what once was his bedroom. Fortunately, the 6-year- Photo: Phillips Creative old, his brothers and father got out with their lives – but their house, possessions and treasured memories were lost. (*Name has been changed). Young and Lethal: Is Juvenile Firesetting on the Rise? L ate last fall, while the Southern California the Buckweed Fire in Santa Clarita. The wildfire parenting. It became a part of the public discourse – at wildfires reduced entire communities to destroyed 21 homes (63 structures total), injured least for a few weeks. smoldering ash, as hundreds of families assessed three civilians and two firefighters, scorched more than 38,000 acres and forced the evacuation of about How could this happen? The scenario did not fit. their neighborhoods and began the long, painful process 15,000 people, according to the Los Angeles County This was not your stereotypical arsonist – the shadowy of sifting through what little they had left – a disturbing Sheriff’s Department. outcast (“Neighbors said he just kept to himself”), reality crept into the public consciousness. waiting for the perfect tinder-dry, Santa Ana day to put A shocking confession from a Los Angeles County boy Suddenly, a subject that people rarely talked about was a flame to brush. This was a kid – and he could have made the national news. The 10-year-old admitted he appearing regularly on the front page. Broadcasters been anyone’s child. was playing with matches when he accidentally started asked about rehabilitation, incarceration and poor (continued on Page 2) NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA 8825 Aero Drive #200, San Diego, CA 92123 PERMIT NO. 1352 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED B UR N INS TITUTE B EA C O N 2 BEACON (continued from Page 1) Six months later, the story’s shelf-life has expired and younger than 18. More than half of those were children the issue has disappeared from the headlines. The younger than 15. public has largely forgotten about the problem, though the incidents of juvenile arson have continued to According to the Wall Street Journal, more than 5,000 minors are arrested for arson annually, which is slightly increase, nationwide. It is a growing concern for the fire higher than the number of adults arrested for the same The Burn Institute is a nonprofit service and juvenile justice professionals who see these children on a regular basis – and it should be for the rest crime. The National Association of State Fire Marshals health agency dedicated to reports that juveniles make up 51 percent of all reported of us, as well. arson arrests in the U.S. reducing the number of burn Though the Santa Clarita wildfire momentarily FINDING SOLUTIONS: injuries and deaths in San Diego, brought the issue to the forefront, juvenile fire play can occur anywhere at any time, including the home, In San Diego County, the Burn Institute’s Juvenile Imperial, Riverside and San underlining the need for parents to educate their Firesetter Intervention (JFS) Program has proven to be an effective means to combat the problem. Each year, Bernardino counties through fire children about the dangers of playing with matches and lighters. the organization’s successful program sees an average and burn prevention education, of 200 children – and the numbers continue to rise. Last October, a 6-year-old San Diego County boy Are parents just more savvy about what their children burn care research and treatment, set his bedroom curtains ablaze while playing with a are doing, or are more youngsters getting into trouble? and burn survivor support services. lighter. His Father, who attempted to put the fire out, Are kids setting fires out of curiosity or boredom – or is suffered burns to his hands and had barely enough there a psychological component at work? The reasons time to get his sons out of the house. (See front page) are seldom clear. Understanding that youngsters have a natural curiosity “Juvenile firesetting is a complex problem,” explains about fire is important; protecting them from Aida Flores, Program Director at the Burn Institute. experimenting with it is vital. Flores oversees a staff of trained JFS Interventionists who work with children, a majority of whom, (more Board of Directors BY THE NUMBERS: than 95 percent), are boys. Program referrals come Juvenile firesetting – children experimenting with through the fire service, juvenile justice system Gerald S. Davee, Esq. combustible materials – has become a national (including the District Attorney’s Office and Probation Chairman of the Board epidemic, and is identified as the fastest-growing fire Department), psycho-social professionals, schools threat in the United States today. Each year, juvenile and other community-based organizations who work Jim Hansen arson or “firesetting” causes an estimated $1.2 with youth. President billion dollars in property damage and kills nearly 1,000 children. Parents and/or guardians are part of the 2-hour Chief Bob Pfohl educational intervention session. Because they are Vice President Chief Financial Officer The leading cause of fire deaths among children too young to prosecute and often lack the maturity to younger than 13, is a result of playing with fire – most understand the ramifications of playing with fire – the often with matches or lighters, according to data from Allan W. Arendsee JFS Interventionist must work at the child’s level to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Vice President Development educate him/her about “good” and “bad” types of fire In 2006, the U.S. Justice Department reported that 49 and what to avoid. Parents are taught to look for danger Michael Pierschbacher, Ph.D. percent of all arson arrests nationwide were juveniles signs (i.e. matches in pockets, lighters in backpacks, Vice President Program Young and Lethal (continued on Page 3) Dolores Juditz Secretary Dear Friends: Jeff Berend Jim Boland Charlie Brown Proud. Very, very proud. That’s the feeling I had this We’re well on our way in the Inland Empire, and we Chief Dave Burk past President’s Day Weekend as I traveled home expect that same quality of programs and services that Captain Angelo Cappos after an inspiring weekend in the San Bernardino San Diego and Imperial counties have benefited from Chief Kevin Crawford Mountains. for 36 years to bring those same vital resources to San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Paul Dawson As you’ll read in this edition of the Beacon, the Theodore S. Drcar, Esq. Institute just completed another successful winter Camp Beyond the Scars – a burn survivor support So, from all of us here in Dale Ganzow Ron Houston program that we have conducted in concert with our affiliate in the Inland Empire the past two years. San Diego – congratulations Victor Jaime, Ph.D. As camp grew to a close, I had this overwhelming Inland Empire! Chief Tracy Jarman R. Anthony Mahavier, Esq. feeling of pride. Our dream of starting the first Burn Susan McClellan You, too, should be proud of your efforts. You are Institute affiliate has really taken form – and we’re Chief Kenneth J. Miller (ret.) making a difference, and we are proud to have you as making such great strides in providing vital programs Chief Dave Ott part of the Burn Institute family! and services to that region. Bruce Potenza, M.D. I was so proud of all the Burn Institute-Inland Stay Safe! Chief Mitch Villalpando Empire (BI-IE) staff and volunteers. They did such an Chief David Waltemeyer outstanding job of hosting this year’s camp, and their Chief Erwin Willis (ret.) hard work and efforts really paid off. Much the same as San Diego and Imperial counties, the fire service is truly the backbone of the BI-IE. Camp Directors Tim James A. Floros Luna of Corona Fire, and Roger Noon of Pechanga Fire Please remember the Burn Institute in your annual and their dedicated volunteers put on one of the best Executive Director/ United Way/CHAD & CFC Campaigns. winter camps we’ve ever had! And with the dedication Chief Executive Officer Member Agency of Combined Health Agencies of new BI-IE Executive Director, Gary Stansberry, (San Diego County #95581) and the steadfast support of board president Dave P.S. Plans are underway for future Burn Institute affiliate United Way (Imperial County) Waltemeyer (also of Corona Fire) – combined with the sites. If your community is interested, just give us a call! Combined Federal Campaign (San Diego #50359) experience and know-how of the Burn Institute-San (Imperial County #7024) Diego – we achieved something truly special. DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE F&T Fire and Burn Prevention Facts & Tips Fact Every family should plan and practice a home fire escape plan that includes a central meeting place outside the home. Tip Visit to learn how to safeguard your family with a personalized family fire escape plan. SPRING 2008 BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON PREVENTION 3 Novelty Lighter Update: Burn Institute Pushing for Ban SAN DIEGO, CA – They are as inviting as toys but Executive Director. “Leaving a lighter or matches lying have adopted a ban to forbid novelty lighter sale and are fires waiting to happen: Novelty lighters in around where a child can use them is the same as distribution. They include the City of San Diego, colorful shapes are a danger to young children who leaving a loaded gun on the kitchen counter.” El Cajon, National City, Solana Beach and Vista. In don’t know the difference between a toy and a safety addition, there are several cities within the county hazard. Inspired by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s The Consumer Product Safety Commission is “charged considering implementing their own ban. But there is Department, the Burn Institute is leading the charge with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of still much work to be done. The San Diego County Fire to ban the hazardous lighters locally, and continues to serious injury or death.” Since 1996, the Commission Chiefs’ Association, the San Diego Regional Camber gain public support as it moves closer to introducing has recalled thousands of novelty lighters, citing them of Commerce and several public safety agencies have legislation outlawing the lighters in the entire state as a public safety hazard. In recent years, thousands joined with the Burn Institute in endorsing the ban. of California. more have been recalled due to the lack of federally- mandated child safety mechanisms, designed to make The Burn Institute would like to hear from individuals Many adults find novelty lighters collectible and cute, in them tougher for children to operate. Despite the with information about fire incidents related to the designs ranging from cookies and dolphins to friendly stricter standards, this lethal device can still harm lighters. Its Program Department is currently collecting characters like Gumby. And that’s the problem – their children, yet it remains on many store shelves. data on sample novelty lighters. Please e-mail toy-like appearance, flashing lights and sound effects information to: [email protected]. makes them utterly inviting to youngsters unaware of In March 2007, the UK implemented a full ban of the risks. the toy-like lighters. In March of this year, Maine Governor, John Baldacci, made history when he signed “Juvenile Firesetting is the fastest growing fire threat legislation to ban novelty lighters – the first state to in the United States,” said James Floros, Burn Institute do so. Locally, several cities within San Diego County Young and Lethal (continued from Page 2) Open Letter changes in their child’s behavior). During the session, the Institute identifies whether the child is a “curiosity” A Call For Volunteerism or “problematic” firesetter; problematic cases are referred to psycho-social professionals for professional Throughout San Diego County we are experiencing Burn Institute, we see skill and trait honing that comes counseling and observation. an exodus of senior firefighters, and officers from back as a force multiplier to our agencies. our ranks due to retirement. On the one hand, “We try to get to these kids before what may have congratulations to the Baby Boomers who made it One way to get new firefighters started on the right begun as a natural curiosity with fire becomes an foot is during new employee orientation. Bring in your through 30-35 years of service! Hopefully they retire intentional act with an established pattern of behavior,” strongest advocate of the Burn Institute and provide injury-free or at least reasonably so! said Flores, who encourages concerned parents to your new employees the opportunity to get involved contact the Institute for more information about There are a number of challenges and opportunities early in their careers. Over time they will develop skills the program. that co-exist with the loss of our senior personnel. that will assist your department or district to become While recidivism rates of between 15 and 25 percent As the fire service leaders, fire chiefs are faced with a stronger organization. They will exercise leadership, are the norm, the Burn Institute’s JFS program has succession planning. This includes clearly identifying research, program development and implementation, seen rates of less than 2 percent, making it one of strengths and weaknesses of potential promotees communications, networking, and interpersonal skills. the most effective programs of its kind in the United and implementing multi-year plans to complete But most of all, they will experience what the fire States – and an important component in reducing the their development to be competitive, confident and service is all about – giving back to the community and dangerous trend. competent in their new positions. We can handle this serving others. part of the challenge by reviewing our personnel’s “The good news is that most of the children we see are education, training and experience, and providing them We need new leaders to take the place of those who have one-time offenders,” said Flores. “They come through with growth opportunities as a starting point. done such a fantastic job with the Burn Institute over our program, learn about the dangers of fire – and the years. We also need to create organizational depth that’s it.” However, we should not forget that there is another so that we do not overburden those who frequently component to succession planning and personnel step-up, but still ensure that the Burn Institute is development that we should factor in to our plans. supported at the proper level to provide their essential What You Can Do: Community Service, specifically how we will replace services to burn victims and their families. Let’s work Parents and family members should educate their some of the historic leaders of the Burn Institute’s together to build a strong future for the Burn Institute. children about the dangers of playing with fire, and programs and projects. We have a great partnership It starts with you. follow some of the steps below: with the Burn Institute and like any partnership it requires maintenance and replacement of personnel Augie Ghio Check your child’s backpack, jackets and pants pockets for matches, lighters and other from time to time. This is a clear component of Vice President, San Diego County Fire Chiefs’ incendiary devices. succession planning for the fire service; when we look Association Talk to your children about the dangers of fire and at the personnel development value of working with the what to do if caught in a fire. Make sure your family has a fire escape plan (visit, download the Family Fire Floros to receive the Burn Prevention Award Escape Plan template and customize it to your home). James Floros, Burn Institute Executive Director/CEO, has been selected to receive the prestigious national Burn Prevention Award from the American Burn Association, headquartered in Chicago. The honor is in recognition of Lock up matches and lighters especially with young children in the household, (see Novelty Lighter Floros’ outstanding contribution in the field of burn prevention over his 16-year career at the Burn Institute. story, above). “I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to be honored by the Burn Prevention Committee Dry ice, aerosols and common household items can and the American Burn Association,” said Floros. “The ABA really is the center of the become potential fire/burn hazards. Keep on top of universe in the burn community – and to be recognized for my work in the field of burn dangerous trends to protect your children. Closely prevention by such an esteemed group is as overwhelming as it is gratifying.” supervise Internet use, including visits to YouTube and MySpace sites, where videos of kids creating The award will be presented at the American Burn Association’s 40th Annual Meeting homemade bombs have become commonplace. held in Chicago from April 29 to May 2, 2008. PREVENTION A $150 gift provides a juvenile fire setter intervention to teach children the dangerous consequences of playing with fire. $150 BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON 4 GIFTS & TRIBUTES Donors Mr. Richard Hopcraft Mr. & Mrs. Andy Singer Hunter Industries, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Brian Smith Chief & Mrs. JJ Hunter III Society of Fire Protection Engineers Imperial County Children & Families First Commission Solar Turbines Incorporated The Burn Institute is grateful to the following Insurance Brokers & Agents of San Diego Sony Electronics, Inc. Integra Foundation Standard Filter Corporation individuals, corporations, foundations and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Ms. Suzanne Stanford & Mr. Robert Schroeder community groups for their generous gifts. J.G. Tate Fire Protection Systems, Inc. Stay Classy Foundation Listed below are donations of $250+ made from Jack in the Box Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Herb Steele Jason Goloboy, C.P.A. Mr. & Mrs. Robert Steiner October 13, 2007 to February 22, 2008. Mr. & Mrs. Warren Johnson Stephen & Mary Birch Foundation, Inc. 1st Centennial Bank Ms. Dolores Juditz Mr. & Mrs. Harry Stone A-1 Fire Protection, Inc. Ms. Nancy Karl Mr. & Mrs. Joey Staraza A-American Storage Management Company, Inc. Ms. Lisa Kay Ms. Wendy Swift ABA Design Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Kellman Mr. & Mrs. Cyrus Tahmasebi Action Donation Services Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Kendall Taylor Jones Architect Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kew Mr. Matthew Taylor Ms. Sandy Amorde Mr. Jason Kimbrell Mr. & Mrs. Dale Teschler Dr. & Mrs. Karl Anderson Kiwanis Club of El Cajon Valley The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Club Anheuser-Busch Sales of San Diego Kiwanis Club of San Diego Foundation The Brady Company Anthony Botte Family Fund of the Homebuilding Community Mr. Joe Kobryner The Charles H, Stout Foundation Foundation L.N. Curtis & Sons The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Allan Arendsee La Mesa RV Center, Inc. The T-Shirt Guy.com Mr. & Mrs. R.W. Arendsee Mr. Jeff Lakin Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Arthur C. Butler Elementary Mr. & Mrs. Ross Larson Ms. Sheri Thurman Ascension Lutheran Church Mr. Scott Larson Traveling T’s Auto Anything Mr. Jim Leckliter Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Turner Balboa Thrift and Loan Ms. Ann Lemke UCSD Pre-Pharmacy Society Mr. & Mrs. Mark Baldi Letofsky & McClain UCSD-Fire Safety Resource Bank of America Foundation, Inc. Ms. Claire Lightner Union Bank of California Mr. Nicholas Barnes Mr. Mike Lindsey United Way of Imperial County Barney & Barney Mr. & Mrs. George Longstreth Vallecitos Water District Barona Band of Mission Indians Ms. Donna Lupinacci Mr. & Mrs. Peter Van Dam Mr. & Mrs. James Batman Lusby Vision Institute Chief Mitch Villalpando BD Biosciences Lytle, Cartwright & Smith PLC Vista Ridge Investment Bell Enterprises Ms. Cynthia Mah Walden W. & Jean Young Shaw Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bell Mr. R. Anthony Mahavier Mr. Harley Wallace Mr. & Mrs. Bill Black Ms. Molly Mann Mr. & Mrs. Dale Wedge Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Block Mr. & Mrs. John Mattos, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Rick Wells Mr. & Mrs. James Boland Mr. & Mrs. Craig McClellan Mr. & Mrs. John Witt Mr. & Mrs. Louis Botte Mr. Ryan McClellan Mr. Joe Wolowsky Mr. & Mrs. Blaine Briggs Mr. Dennis McConnell World Class Travel by Invitation Mr. & Mrs. Earle Brucker Mr. & Mrs. John McCotter Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ybarrondo Chief & Mrs. Dave Burk Chief & Mrs. Ken Miller Mr. & Mrs. David Yeager Mr. & Mrs. James Burke Ms. Nichole Miller Mr. Robert Zigman Burnham Real Estate Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Miller Mr. & Mrs. Nol Calabrese Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Mize Modern Postcard Memorial/Tribute Gifts California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation Capital Wealth Advisors Ms. Isabel Monahan Carlsbad Firefighters Association Chief & Mrs. Butch Moody, Ret. In Memory Carpe Diem Social Club Mr. & Mrs. Mark Moothart CCPOA Calipatria Chapter Mr. & Mrs. Charles Muha Mr. John Ahler Center for integrative Care Mr. Adell Mujtaba In Memory of Jim Ahler Sr. Change a Life Foundation Ms. Laurie Munday Charles C. & Sue K. Edwards Foundation Mr. James Murray Mr. & Mrs. Louis Botte Native Daughters of the Golden West Foundation In Memory of Beverly Jeanne Young Mr. Ben Cherski Mr. Vin Ciruzzi North County Times and CW5 Fire Relief Campaign, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Earle Brucker Ms. Suzanne Cohen In Memory of Stephen Brucker Chief & Mrs. Kevin Crawford Ms. Carolynn Nydahl Dr. & Mrs. Tim Crawford Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Nyquist Mr. Michael Filio Mr. & Mrs. Peter Csathy Mr. & Mrs. Alfred O’Brien In Memory of Cee Cee Connor Cubic Corporation Oceanside Firefighters Association, Local 3736 Ms. Sue Currie Mr. Eddie Ortiz Ms. Judy Halford Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Davee Chief Dave Ott In Memory of Katherine Underhill Del Mar Firefighters Association Overland Storage Ms. Sheila Dine Mr. & Mrs. Phil Overlund Ms. Elaine Halik Mr. Theodore Drcar PAETEC In Memory of Michael Calvert Mr. Hugh Dunklee and Ms. Mary Beth Kellee Pala Band of Mission Indians Pala Fire Department Mr. Allan McAllister Mr. Patrick Edinger Parkhouse Eatery In Memory of Joy Torstrup McAllister Ms. Cheryl Einsele Captain & Mrs. Doug Elliott Ms. JoAnne Parmenter Pickford Realty Cares Mr. Joe Wolowsky Ms. Ann Elms In Memory of Better & Allan Wolowsky Mr. Brandon Cormode M. Barbara Poe Mr. Michael Favish Quality Loan Services Corp. Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Filipovic Radelow-Gittins Property Mgmt. Fire & Rescue Magazine Rescue Task Force In Honor FIRE-ETC Mr. & Mrs. David Richardson Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Mr. Marvin Richardson Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Carle Ms. Ruth Rimmer Mr. Robert Evans Fire Unitarian Universalist Church Mrs. Dawn Robinson In Honor of Captain George Uzdavines Mr. Steve Flynn & Mrs. Kathleen Bell Flynn Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Runyon Engineer john Steumke FM Global Firefighter/Paramedic Tim Olsen Foothills United Methodist Church Mr. Dennis Gene Russell Mr. & Mrs. Julian Salazar Firefighter Steve Swetavage Dr. Douglas Forbes Paramedic Patrick Farrier Foresters Mr. & Mrs. M. H. Samana Paramedic Teri Trudell Mrs. Helen Fornaca San Diego County Credit Union Captain Ralph Frame San Diego County Office of Education Mr. & Mrs. Steve Davis Mr. & Mrs. Scott Free San Diego Fire Protection Association In Honor of Mr. & Mrs. Boland Mr. & Mrs. Ron Freshman San Diego Fire Rescue Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Gaertner San Diego Firefighters Federal Credit Union Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Mr. & Mrs. William Gang San Diego Firefighters – Local 145 In Honor of their employees Mr. Thomas Gardner San Diego Medical Services Enterprise General Atomics San Diego National Bank Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lowry San Diego Padres Foundation In Honor of Brent Lowry Mr. & Mrs. Steven Golden Goodrich/Rohr Employees’ Will-Share Club San Diego Unified School District Community Services Association Mr. David Santistevan Ms. Ruth Rimmer Ms. Deborah Grady In Honor of Cunningham Law Firm Mr. & Mrs. J. Allen Graham Mr. Pablo Scheibe Grand Pacific Resorts Ms. Laurie Schmid Mr. & Mrs. Charles Skipsey Ms. Laury Graves Schmidt Fire Protection In Honor of the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department Grossmont Healthcare District Mr. Martin Schwartz Ms. Judy Halford Ms. Mary Lou Scott Mr. & Mrs. John Snyder Ms. Karen Hamilton San Diego Gas & Electric In Honor of Joi and Jeff Carle Mr. & Mrs. Jim Hansen Ms. Lisa Selzer Mr. John Hartman & Ms. Natalie Martin Ms. Sharon Sharpe Travel Dynamics Group Inc. Mr. Michael Haworth Shinn Park Ranch, LLC In Honor of Dispatch Broadcast Group/Dispatch Printing HCF Homebuilding Community Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sigala WBNS – TV Ms. Kathy Hines Mr. Lewis Silverberg WTHR – T V SimplexGrinnell Datron World Communication Mr. & Mrs. John Hinkle Mr. Steve Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. John Simpson Ms. Billie Truesdell & Mr. John Hackett In Honor of Captain John Francois SPRING 2008 BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON GIFTS & TRIBUTES 5 President’s Circle Members as of February 2008 P resident’s Circle members are individual donors who support the Burn Institute with an annual gift of $1,000 or more. This annual gift can be made in the form of cash, check, credit card or appreciated stock. You can become a member for only $83 a month. To learn about all the exciting annual benefits you will receive as a President’s Circle member contact Diane Sutherland at 858.541.2277 ext. 19 or [email protected]. Current Members of the President’s Circle Mr. & Mrs. Allan Arendsee Julianne James Mr. & Mrs. Dick Arendsee Chief Tracy Jarman Samantha Barryessa Mr. & Mrs. Warren Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Jim Batman Mr. Derek Jones Mr. & Mrs. Gary Beardsley Ms. Dolores Juditz Mr. Randy Bixler Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Block Mr. James Boland Mr. Charlie Brown Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Kellman Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Kerl James Kimbrell Mr. Jason Kimbrell Check Presentations Mr. & Mrs. Earle Brucker Loren Kramer Mr. & Mrs. Richard Byer Ross Larson Ms. Robin Callaway Mr. Vin Ciruzzi Mr. James Lockwood Margaret Lowery Union Bank of California Ms. Velma Cooney Mr. Tony Mahavier Mr. & Mrs. Doug Cox Mr. & Mrs. John Mattos In February, Union Bank of California presented the agency with funds earmarked for the Emergency Needs/ Chief & Mrs. Kevin Crawford Mr. & Mrs. Jill McCarty Special Assistance Fund, and for Camp Beyond the Scars. Pictured L-R: Joseph Benoit, Retail Marketing President Battalion Chief Gary Croucher Mr. & Mrs. Craig McClellan Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Davee Mr. Ryan McClellan Union Bank of California; Shari Laughlin, V.P. UnionBanc Insurance Services, Inc; Diane Sutherland, Burn Mr. Ted Drcar Chief & Mrs. Ken Miller, (ret.) Institute Assistant Executive Director; Kathy Patoff, V.P. Foundation Officer, Union Bank of California, and Mr. Hugh Dunklee Joseph Mize Ms. Ann Elms Mr. & Mrs. Butch Moody James Floros, Burn Institute Executive Director/CEO. Battalion Chief Brian Fennessy Mark Moothart Mr. & Mrs. Steven Fields Mr. & Mrs. John Nyquist Mr. & Mrs. James Floros Mr. & Mrs. Alfred O’Brien Mr. & Mrs. Steve Flynn Chief Dave Ott Mrs. Helen Fornaca Chief Bob Pfhol Mr. Ralph Frame Dr. Michael Pierschbacher Mr. & Mrs. Scott Free Thomas Gardner Mrs. Dawn Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Romine Tyco International Chief Augie Ghio Mr. & Mrs. Martin Schoonderwoerd Ms. Connie Golden Mr. & Mrs. Allan Severson In November, the Burn Institute received a donation Mr. & Mrs. Robert Goldsmith Mr. & Mrs. Lew Silverberg from SimplexGrinnell, a subsidiary of Tyco Mr. & Mrs. J. Allen Graham Mr. & Mrs. John Simpson Mr. Laury Graves Mr. George Staraza International. Pictured L-R: Greg Frankhauser, Karen Hamilton Mr. & Mrs. Robert Steiner District General Manager; Diane Sutherland, Burn Mr. & Mrs. Jim Hansen Mr. & Mrs. Gary Sutherland Mr. & Mrs. E. Miles Harvey Ms. Sheri Thurman Institute Assistant Executive Director; Ross Larson, Mr. Steve Hoffman Chief Mitch Villalpando Mr. Ron Houston Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Weitzen Operations Service Manager, and Burn Institute Dr. Victor Jaime Chief Erwin Willis Executive Director/CEO, James Floros. Larson was Chief & Mrs. James Hunter Mr. & Mrs. Dick Woltman Mr. & Mrs. Kent Humber named the winner of Tyco International’s Award for Excellence and he generously chose the Burn Institute as beneficiary on his behalf. Join the Heritage Society Today! The Burn Institute’s Heritage Society is for those who have included the Burn Institute in their estate plans. Membership is growing! All Insurance Brokers and Agents Heritage Society members are invited to an annual luncheon, as well as receive other special benefits, This check was presented at the Insurance Brokers as a special thank you. For more information and Agents (IBA) of San Diego Annual Dinner last about the Burn Institute’s Heritage Society, December. President of the IBA, Scott Sherman, please contact Diane Sutherland at dsutherland@ presented the donation to Burn Institute Assistant burninstitute.org or 858.541.2277 ext. 19. Executive Director, Diane Sutherland. Funds were raised at the group’s annual Holiday Luncheon. The Jerry and Carolyn Davee Fund While Burn Institute events and community outreach programs help the organization to raise awareness of the work we do, it is the Jerry & Carolyn Davee Fund that specifically targets the funding of Burn Survivor Support programs. Jerry SDG&E Customer Service Davee is a burn survivor and Chairman of the Board for the Burn Institute. Since his accident Field Department more than 30 years ago, he and his wife, Carolyn, In January, the SDG&E Customer Service Field have devoted their lives to support the programs of the organization. Their endowment will provide Department presented the Burn Institute with much-needed funding, in perpetuity – to help a donation. Pictured L-R: Paul Crimi; Burn burn survivors at a time when they need it most. Institute Executive Director/CEO, James Floros; With an initial goal of $1 million, the endowment Burn Institute Board Member, Jim Boland, and has reached more than $600,000 in gifts and Jose Rivera. pledges. Should you wish to make a gift to the endowment, please contact Diane Sutherland at 858.541.2277 ext. 19 or email her at [email protected] A growing number of couples are incorporating philanthropy into their weddings. To learn more about this new way of creating your legacy, call Diane Sutherland at 858.541.2277 ext.19 or [email protected]. GI F T S & T R I B U T E S BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON 6 BURN SUPPORT Davee Scholarships Amanda Lynn Cummings of Jamul, California is Merlyn Ameily Ayala Garcia was severely burned currently attending Cuyamaca College and would like while driving a school bus in September 2006. Garcia’s to work in the medical field of Genetics. Her goal is to bus collided with a semi-truck that had stopped on transfer to the University of San Diego or Penn State. the freeway. Though she attempted to veer around the Cummings is a burn survivor who, at the age of 6, fell truck, the two collided and an explosion ignited a fire into a fire pit. She has faced many challenges in her in the bus’s engine. Garcia was trapped and sustained young life, including isolation and guilt. burns on her legs and feet. All of the toes on her right foot had to be amputated. In accepting her scholarship at a recent Burn Institute Board Meeting, Amanda gave a moving speech: “In, Despite the horrific event and painful rehabilitation, April it will be 14 years since my accident. Many Garcia maintains a positive attitude and carries a big people say that my accident was tragic. However, I am smile with her wherever she travels. “My scars inside proud to be a burn “survivor” not a victim. If I wasn’t and out make me remember who I am,” she has said. burned, I wouldn’t have met the people I know today. I wouldn’t be here standing in front of you, with weak Garcia continues to work for the San Diego Unified knees and clammy hands. Lastly, I wouldn’t have the confidence to stand in front of you with the confidence School District. She is married with two daughters and cares for her disabled mother. She was continuing her college education when the accident occurred. Her goal Holiday Party 2008 to look every one of you in the eyes. I have many people is to earn a Master’s in Business Administration. I to thank. Dana, for first telling me about the Davee t was a packed house at the Holiday Celebration scholarship. To the people, who wrote my letters for “Finishing my college career will make me feel for Burn Survivors December 12th at the Sheraton recommendation. Most importantly, Mr. and Mrs. complete,” said Garcia. “It will make me scream with Hotel, Mission Valley. The annual party was co- Davee for their generous gift. And lastly, to my mother, happiness that everything is possible if you put your hosted by the UCSD Regional Burn Center and the for putting up with me through thick and thin.” mind to it…” Burn Institute, and included a cookie-decorating station, A camper at Camp Beyond the Scars for 11 years, a tasty dinner and entertainment by Jose “Memo” Vega (a fellow burn survivor), and his dance troop. Amanda recently became a Counselor-In-Training where she is able to provide positive support, teach “The top of the mountain does not The night was capped-off with a dramatic entrance by coping skills and share her experience with fellow burn belong to just anyone, but to the Santa Claus on a bright red City of San Diego Fire- survivors. “Amanda is a wonderful role model at burn camp,” said Camp Counselor, Paula Wernecke. ones who climb it and conquer.” Rescue Department fire engine. As the truck blew its horn and rounded the entrance to the hotel, hundreds of rosy-cheeked youngsters wildly clapped and waved to Santa, who listened to wishes and handed out goodies later that evening. More than 400 friends and family attended the party, 250 of whom were child and adult burn survivors. Christmas for Burn Survivors Fire Service Delivers Holiday Cheer to Young Burn Survivors M iramar Fire Department (MCAS), generously sponsored burn survivor, Carlos, and his family for the holidays. Four Yes! I want to learn more about the Burn Institute additional young burn survivors and their families ___ Please send me information on planned giving were sponsored as well, with a total of 25 children ___ Please send me information on available programs and services participating in holiday cheer. The firefighters shopped Clip & Mail and wrapped the gifts themselves. To top it all off, gifts ___ I am interested in becoming a Burn Institute volunteer were delivered via a shiny, red fire engine! Additional ___ I am interested in joining the Burn Institute Auxiliary sponsors were: Morse Senior High School, Starbucks, Leann Cortimiglia of UCSD Regional Burn Center, ___ I would like to support the important work of the Burn Institute Seeley Fire Department, Jason Kimbrell and Enclosed is my tax-deductible gift of $ _____________________ Jim Leckliter. Credit Card # ______________________ Exp. Date____________ ❍ Visa ❍ MC ❍ Discover Young Adult Retreat Contact Information in Georgia January 25-27, 2008 NAME _____________________________________________________ ADDRESS __________________________________________________ T CITY _______________________ STATE ______ ZIP _______________ he Burn Institute sent four young adult burn PHONE (__________) ________________________________________ survivors (Jose “Memo” Vega, Diana Medina, Yadira Ihmud and Wilbur Barbee) to the Georgia E-MAIL ____________________________________________________ Firefighters’ Burn Foundation’s Young Adult Retreat, “Beyond Survival” in Covington, Georgia. Also Clip and Mail to: Burn Institute attending on behalf of the Burn Institute were Jason 8825 Aero Dr., #200 Kimbrell and Tony Arballo. Cindy Rutter (far right) is a San Diego, CA 92123 Burn Survivor from San Diego, a member of the Burn Institute Advisory Board and was Support group Seely Fire Department made a family’s holiday brighter with gifts and brand new bicycles! Firefighters even helped the young ones facilitator during the weekend retreat. learn to ride for the first time. All of the children in this family are burn survivors. SPRING 2008 BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON BURN SUPPORT 7 WINTER CAMP 2008 – A Very Special Thank You Arrowhead Regional Temecula Dance Studio Burn Center UCSD Regional Burn Center Assistance League of Winter Camp Planning Riverside-Firehouse Auxiliary Committee Big Bear City Fire Department Michael Alberts – Volunteer in Big Bear Mountain Resort Counselor Committee Big Bear Snow Play Christina Brady – Lead Female Counselor Burn Institute Staff Fernando Cardona – Lead Male CDF Firefighters Counselor Corona Fire Department Dana Carnduff – Camp Crossroads Community Church Coordinator Cubic Corporation Dennis Ellison – Supply Coordinator John DeYoe – Videography Mindy Gerbitz –Volunteer in Dragon Alliance Support Eagle Design Productions Jason Kimbrell – Volunteer in Activities Edward G. Hirschman Burn Center at Arrowhead Regional Dustin Kuhn – Activities The entire crew posed for this year’s Camp Beyond the Scars group photo. Camp was held Feb 15-18, 2008 at Big Bear Lake, California. Medical Center Committee Camp Beyond the Scars – Winter 2008 Fender Museum “Kids Tim Luna – Director Rock Free” Adrian Martinez – Medical Grossmont Healthcare District Director Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of San Diego Imperial County United Way Roger Noon – Assistant Director W Instant Imprints inter Camp beyond the Scars got started “It was hard to tell who was having more fun,” said Brett Panceroff – Volunteer in Jason Kimbrell with an unexpected snow storm as Camp Stansberry of the energetic evening. “The band really Activities Director Tim Luna, Co-Camp Director enjoyed seeing the campers having such a good time Jen Z Photography Jason Roltson – Volunteer in Roger Noon and Camp Coordinator Dana Carnduff out there.” Bud Korn – Photography Activities and others arrived a day early to prepare. Robin Lackie Ron Rondero – Volunteer in BI-IE Board President David Waltemeyer may have Transportation Burn Institute-San Diego Executive Director, demonstrated the most courage of the old school rock Legacy Quilt Guild Gary Stansberry – Burn James Floros, joined Burn Institute-Inland Empire and rollers as he took a turn in the “mosh pit” being MFM Enterprises, Inc of San Institute Inland Empire Executive Director, Gary Stansberry, to welcome passed high above the crowd from hand to hand. The Diego, CA Director staff, volunteers and campers as they began arriving crowd of campers and staff even passed “Big John” Miramar Fire Department Mike Thompson – (MCAS) early Friday, Feb. 15. Camp Activity Director, Jason along – an amazing feat of strength, possibly fueled by Transportation Director Kimbrell and the Camp Committee had prepared an the excitement of the moment. Moonridge Animal Park Mark Wilde –Volunteer in exciting plan of activities starting with a visit from NAEIR Transportation Paw Pals Assistance Dogs. The dogs were a warm At the closing ceremony, a new tradition took hold. Native Daughters of the and friendly welcome for anxious campers – but the Staff and volunteers formed a gauntlet for campers to Golden West Foundation pass through, allowing everyone to say goodbye to one Medical Staff: Ann Malo snow was in abundance, adventure awaited, and new Paw-Pals Assistance Dogs (UCSD), Sherry Owens friends would soon be made. another. It was an emotional and inspiring ending, as (Arrowhead), Julie Carson kids, staff and volunteers vowed to see each other again Pechanga Fire Department (Arrowhead) and Francisca The campers enjoyed a variety of outdoor snow at summer camp. Having run the gauntlet of hugs, each Sanchez (Arrowhead) Presbyterian Conference activities on the nearby slopes. One camper, camper received an “old school” I-Pod Shuffle so they Center of Big Bear Lake Isidro, while still visibly affected by recent injuries, could take something fun back home with them. Press-Enterprise San Diego Lead: was particularly courageous as he insisted on Riverside City Fire Department James Floros, Burn Institute taking eight trips down the tubing slopes. Other The I-Pods were made available through a generous Executive Director donation by Vons. Additional devices will be donated Cindy Rutter-Camp Burn activities that were a big hit with the campers Survivor Support Ann Malo, UCSD Regional included a presentation and visit from the local to the Edward G. Hirschman Burn Unit at Arrowhead Burn Center Regional Medical Center to assist with pain management. San Diego Fire and Rescue Moonridge Animal Park and the City of Big Bear Department Cindy Rutter – Burn Survivor Fire Department. San Diego Kiwanis Club Support Mark Waters, San Diego Fire Sunday’s activities proved to be the overwhelming Sundance Stage Line, Inc an Rescue Department favorites as the college youth of Crossroads Sun Diego Car Rental Community Church presented an indoor carnival Sundt Foundation of fun complete with clowns, games and prizes. As the carnival came to a close, the stage was set for the Fender Guitar Museum’s “Kids Rock Free” rock band to bring down the house – and they did. August 4-10, 2008 Summer Camp at Oakbridge Camp, Ramona CA For more information, contact Dana Carnduff: 858.541.2277, Ext. 14 Campers Melissa Valencia (left), and Diana Medina (right), flank Camper Cristian Gamboa gets to shred with his sled at Winter Camp ‘08. San Diego firefighter and Camp Counselor, Jamie Nichols. BURN S U P P O R T BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON 8 EVENTS Chairman of the Board Jerry Davee and his wife, Carolyn. The Bill Magee Blues Band Performs Board Member, Chief Dave Ott and Nancy Ott. Share Your Heart 2008 Baubles, Blues & Bidding, New-Orleans-Style O n Saturday, February 9, the Burn Institute and was in the air all night long. Auctioneer Bill Menish nearly 400 of its closest friends gathered at the skillfully worked the crowd into a bidding frenzy as House of Blues, San Diego. This exciting new he moved among the colorful silent auction tables, venue was the perfect location for the 16th Annual San displaying over 70 lots of donated items and services. Diego County Credit Union Share Your Heart Mardi When the evening was over, the Burn Institute Board Member, Chief Mitch Villalpando and his wife, Elaine. Gras Party. The redesigned event, organized by the Burn Auxiliary event had raised nearly $70,000 for the Institute Auxiliary, was great fun for its guests, dressed important work of the Burn Institute. in colorful beads and finery – and reached a new level of fundraising success for the agency. Next year’s event is tentatively planned for February 28, 2009. Please call Rick Ochocki, Burn Institute Special Kimberly Hunt generously donated her talent as the evening’s emcee. The crowd enjoyed fantastic Southern- Events Manager, at 858.541.2277, ext. 20, if you’d like to join the event committee and help organize this high- SAVE T HE DAT E! themed cuisine and beverages, while being entertained energy event. by the Bill Magee Blues Band, who rocked the house with their authentic New Orleans-style blues. 35th Annual Spirit of Courage With a live auction featuring such crowd-pleasers as a Awards Banquet trip to New Orleans, a Nile River Rafting Adventure, Thursday, May 22, 2008 and tickets donated by Alaska Airlines – excitement Hyatt Regency La Jolla – Aventine Ballroom For sponsorship information, contact Diane Sutherland 858.541.2277, Ext. 19 [email protected]. Fire on the Fairways Despite Wildfires and Setbacks, Tournament Successfully Tees-Off On Monday, December 10, 2007, Riverwalk Golf Club hosted the third annual Fire on the Fairways Golf Tournament to benefit the Burn Institute. This final special event of the calendar year had been postponed from October 22 due to the devastating 2007 wildfires, which diverted the firefighter/ golfers from the manicured greens to the front lines of the disaster. At the rescheduled tournament, more than 200 golfers teed off on all three nines under sunny skies. Throughout the day, golfers enjoyed donated food from the House of Blues San Diego, Shakespeare Pub, California Pizza Kitchen and Hotcha Salsa. Complimentary beverages were provided courtesy of Monster and San Diego-based Firehouse Brewing. A heartfelt thank you to Emcee/Auctioneer Bill Menish, whose energetic performance capped off the day’s boisterous award banquet, silent and live auctions and “Green Jacket” trophy presentation. The event, presented by the Fire Fighters Advisory Council to the Burn Institute, brought in almost $23,000 for the Burn Institute. This event was made possible by generous sponsors Sycuan and FIRE-ETC. SPRING 2008 BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON EVENTS 9 Firefighter Night at the Padres Presented by Sycuan, May 10, 2008 Cheer the Padres and support the Burn Institute on Saturday, May 10, as they take on the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Pregame ceremonies honoring local fire service will begin at 6:40 p.m., which will include firefighters lining the first and third base paths, a firefighter video tribute on the Padre Vision Screen and young burn survivor Carlos Quintana, featured as the “Play Ball” kid. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. and every fan in attendance will receive a free T-shirt! Tickets for this special night are available for $15 each at the Burn Institute. Hosted by the San Diego- Imperial County Firefighters Advisory Council to the Burn Institute, this event promotes awareness of burn injury and burn/fire prevention. A portion of the proceeds will help fund Burn Institute programs & services. To order tickets or for more information, contact Linda Van Wickel at 858.541.2277, ext. 12. Hurry, supplies are limited! (Left to Right) Jeff Chumbley, Honorary Chair and Carlsbad Firefighter/ Paramedic; Burn Survivor Carlos Quintana and Padre Great, Trevor Hoffman. Swimming for Survivors This summer, Becky Jackman will introduce “Give Burns the Boot”- “The fire service really is the backbone of this organization. Finland to the Burn Institute, when she adopts the organization Firefighter Boot Drive Working as a team, we can as the beneficiary of her 50-mile benefit swim. By all accounts, this Presented by Sycuan, May 7, 2008 better serve our community.” particular swim has never been accomplished. Jackman is a marathon swimmer from La Mesa, W hat began nine years ago as a grassroots effort can be attributed to the energy and support from California who has made her mark in the sport backed by the fire service, the “Give Burns local fire service. “It really makes me proud to see that with several long-distance swims, including the Boot” Countywide Firefighter Boot Drive synergy between various agencies and ourselves,” said the Catalina Channel (23 miles), the English has become a hallmark fundraiser for the Burn Institute, Floros. “The fire service really is the backbone of this Channel (26 miles), and Manhattan Island raising more than $216,000 for the organization in 2007. organization. Working as a team, we can better serve (28.5 miles). our community.” Each year, hundreds of uniformed firefighters from fire Her August attempt across the Gulf of Finland, departments all over San Diego County come together Proceeds benefit Burn Institute fire and burn which would nearly double her longest swim, for a common goal, hopping aboard their engines to prevention education programs and burn survivor is set to begin in Tallinn, Estonia and end in meet at locations within their communities to collect support programs such as Camp Beyond the Scars Helsinki, Finland to the north. Jackman holds a donations in their boots during the morning and for burn-injured children. All of the money raised 1997 National Championship title and teaches through the Boot Drive stays in San Diego County. swimming to tri-athletes. evening commutes. And each year passing motorists generously help to fill those boots with their spare Last year, 30 departments participated in the change – ones, fives, twenties – even $100 bills. fundraiser, which was the agency’s best ever. As Sponsored by the San Diego – Imperial County Fire always, the top fire department in each region will Fighters Advisory Council to the Burn Institute and the win a highly-coveted bronze Boot Drive trophy. San Diego County Fire Chiefs’ Association, the event Look for firefighters in and around San Diego is not only the agency’s largest one-day fundraiser, but County, as they take to the streets for Burn Institute’s it illustrates the close relationship that has developed annual “Give Burns the Boot” Boot Drive. For more between the Burn Institute and the fire service. information, contact Rick Ochocki 858.541.2277 “The Boot Drive has become one of the Institute’s most ext. 20. successful events,” said James Floros, Burn Institute Executive Director/CEO, adding that the past success E VE NT S BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON 10 VOLUNTEERS 2008 EVENT CALENDAR MAY “Give Burns The Boot” Firefighter Boot Drive Wednesday, May 7 Presented by Sycuan Join firefighters throughout San Diego County during morning / evening Tony Arballo commutes, as they raise funds in Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer Spotlight Smoke Alarm Installations support of Burn Institute programs & services. Tony Arballo is a volunteer force beyond compare, Individual volunteers and employee- Firefighter Night at the Padres according to Burn Institute staff members – especially based volunteer groups are needed to Saturday, May 10 after February’s Winter Camp Beyond the Scars. In install smoke alarms within the county Presented by Sycuan February, Arballo kicked his volunteerism into high of San Diego. Teams of volunteers Petco Park, Downtown San Diego gear when he came to the rescue, helping stranded are regularly scheduled to install the Padres at Colorado Rockies – 7:05 campers get from the airport to Winter Camp on time. alarms for seniors who own their own p.m.; Support your fire service while “He met us at the rental place to pick up and drive homes and are at least 65 years old. benefitting the Burn Institute. All fans one of the vans on Thursday,” said a grateful Kathleen Spend a few hours a month making your in attendance will receive a free T-shirt. Frampton, Director of Volunteer Services. “Tony picked community safer. Special game tickets are available at two kids up from the airport at two different times of the Burn Institute. To volunteer, please contact Kathleen the day.” Frampton at 858.541.2277 ext. 11 or 35th Annual Spirit of Courage As if that weren’t enough, Arballo drove one of the email [email protected]. Awards Banquet rental vans up the mountain, stayed to work as Camp To schedule a smoke alarm installation, Thursday, May 22, 2008 Counselor, and got a final camper to the airport in Hyatt Regency, La Jolla qualified seniors may contact Eric time for his flight back home. Aventine Ballroom Stevens at 858.541.2277 ext. 15 or email Tickets: $100 each; Support Services Coordinator, Dana Carnduff, is [email protected]. Sponsorships available equally appreciative. Arballo not only made for a “smooth ride” while working at camp, but recently filled-in for Carnduff when she was unable to attend a Burn Support event in Atlanta. “Tony went to the Georgia Young Adult Retreat as a Burn Institute representative on my behalf,” she said. “He is awesome!” S AV E TH E D ATE ! JULY Arballo routinely volunteers to install smoke detectors for seniors and often lends a hand at various Burn Institute events. He is currently working with Carnduff in launching the agency’s new Mentoring Program. Broadway-West The Viejas 2008 Fire Expo A Fundraiser & A Fun Night Out Presented by FIRE-ETC The Burn Institute staff thanks Tony Arballo for his Saturday, July 19 time and dedication to the agency. He and others like Come out and enjoy the arts, while Qualcomm Stadium him are helping to make a difference in the lives of supporting a worthy cause! “Broadway-West” 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; 1 p.m. Burn Run burn survivors every day. is a unique production that will offer dinner Parade. FREE ADMISSION – Bring the For more information about volunteering, call Kathleen and a show with performers from Starlight whole family! Frampton at 858.541.2277 ext. 11 or email and the Senior Follies, and music from [email protected]. Broadway shows and featuring music from The Viejas 2008 shows originated here in San Diego before Firefighter Combat Challenge going on to – hence the “Broadway – West” (Held in conjunction with the Fire Expo) Burn Institute Auxiliary title. Produced by the Christian Community Saturday, July 19 Theatre group and directed by Roxanne Qualcomm Stadium Parking Lot If you have team spirit and lots of energy, then Fulkerson. Organized by the Thursday Club, proceeds from the event will benefit the AUG you have what it takes to become a member of the Burn Institute. Burn Institute Auxiliary. Meet new people and Thursday, May 29, 2008 Camp Beyond the Scars make friends, while you August 4-10, 2008 help to plan exciting Lunch & Show – $50 Oakbridge Camp, Ramona events, such as the annual Share Your Heart Mardi Thursday, May 29 & Friday, May 30 Gras Party, which will be held at the House of Blues Dinner & Show – $75 on Feb. 28, 2009. Meetings are held monthly and annual dues are only $25. Giving back not only Thursday Clubhouse feels great, but volunteerism is one of the best ways to make a difference in your community. So 1224 Santa Barbara St. come aboard and join the Burn Institute team! San Diego 92107 To learn more about this exciting program, For Tickets/Information, call: contact Director of Volunteer Services Kathleen For more information, call 858.541.2277 Frampton at 858.541.2277 ext. 11 / kframpton@ 619.223-1359 or visit us online at. burninstitute.org. SPRING 2008 Will send one burn-injured child to summer Camp Beyond the Scars for one week. $700 VOL UNT E E RS REGIONAL UPDATES 11 Spirit of Courage O n Friday, March 7, 2008 Burn Institute-Inland church youth group van that had been struck head-on Empire held their 4th annual Spirit of Courage in a horrific collision that claimed the lives of four. Awards Banquet with attendance exceeding The van and youth group from the First Presbyterian 300. The event took place at the main ballroom of the Church of Upland was returning home after a week Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula California of serving the community of Bishop California. and honored award recipients for their acts of courage Those honored included Mathew Borger, one of the to save the life of another. youth in the van who assisted others by cutting seat belts to facilitate their escape from death; off-duty Recipients included Mike Diss who rescued his Battalion Chief Dave Shoemaker and his wife Denise; neighbor from a burning home; Keith Alexander Terry and Clare Abbott; Eric Lune and Al Ordway. and George Lightburn who, during a fishing trip, All but Mathew were at the scene by happenstance saved a woman from a car fire; John Happ and John and responded courageously while saving the lives of Ontiveros, two electricians from Southern California total strangers. Edison that saved co-workers during a flash-over incident that caused severe electrical burns; Dave Special congratulations were offered to James Floros, Peterson, a firefighter that was returning home from Executive Director/CEO of the Burn Institute-San his shift when he pulled a trapped driver from a Diego. Floros was selected to receive the 2008 Burn burning vehicle fire; the Strike Team 6003A Members Prevention Award from the American Burn Association of the Riverside Unit of Cal-Fire who left the safety and in Chicago. comfort of their homes to provide exceptional service during the Harris Fire in south San Diego County. Perhaps the most moving moment of the evening was when seven others were honored for their efforts to save the lives of several passengers within a burning Fire Ball Lights up the Night December Golf Tournament M ore than 300 people in the Imperial Valley Michael J. Lutz, Yuma enjoyed a Hot Time at Fire Ball 2008 – the Proving Ground Fire Ninth Annual Dinner, Dance, Auction, Department. These Hole-in-One for Campers Casino fun and Tribute to the Fire Service held at the brave firefighters Barbara Worth Resort on Friday, April 4, 2008. were recognized for T actions beyond the he morning frost of The generous contribution of title sponsor Viejas ordinary call of duty Dec. 14, 2007 gave Enterprises helped the event reach an all-time high in the community, and way to a beautiful gross of nearly $23,000. Presenting sponsor FIRE-ETC, received a standing sun-filled day of golfing for Associate Sponsor Wireless Infrastructure and Casino ovation from the participants of the Burn Sponsor Burgers & Beer, added to the funds raised to assembled guests. Each honoree took home a special Institute-Inland Empire’s serve programs in the Imperial Valley. plaque donated by Brawley Sports and Award. Send a Kid to Camp Golf The emotional highlight of the evening was the Michael Anderson was given the Burn Institute’s 2008 Tournament held at the presentation of the Exceptional Service Award to Distinguished Service Award for his dedicated volunteer Sierra Lakes Golf Club nominees from 10 area Fire Departments: Rodger commitment to the Burn Institute and Fire Ball. His in Fontana. Smith, Brawley Fire Department; Mark Beach, Carlos tribute was enhanced with the presentation of an Tempting golfers was the big prize: A 2008 Honda Estrada & Miguel Estrada, Calipatria State Prison autographed Trevor Hoffman baseball to a die-hard San Accord EX for a hole-in-one contest, donated by Honda Fire Department; Eduardo Medina, Centinela State Diego Padres Fan. Autos of Corona. Though no golfers drove home in the Prison Fire Department; Edward Harris, City of The Burn Institute thanks Sylvia Elias Preciado for her new car, one player walked away with a new set of Ben Yuma Fire Department; Jim Payne, El Centro Fire wonderful work as emcee, and Dr. Victor Jaime who Hogan irons for his hole-in-one on the 13th – a 9 iron Department; Cisco Flores, Holtville Fire Department; shared presenter duties with James Floros, Burn shot of 165 yards straight to the pin. Battalion Chief Alfredo Estrada, Imperial County Fire Department; Institute Executive Director/CEO. Most of all, we Bill Roth hit his first ever hole-in-one after 20+ years Arthur G. Chavez, Jr., Marine Corps Air Station Yuma appreciate the heartfelt generosity of all the guests who of golfing to take home a major tournament prize. Fire Department, Paul Vigeant Winterhaven Fire made this special Imperial Valley event the Burn Bill and his teammates from the City of Hemet Fire Protection District and Leonard R. Haile, Scott C. Institute’s best ever. Department also took 2nd place over-all. Wilson, Trevor W. Richardson, Tyler R. Hudson and On hand was Burn Institute Executive Director/ CEO, James Floros, who had high praise for the Sierra Lakes Golf Club and its amenities. Designed by Ted Robinson, the course sits at the base of the picturesque snowcapped San Bernardino Mountains, east of Los Angeles. The biggest winners of the day were the kids – proceeds helped to send young burn survivors to the Burn Institute-Inland Empire’s Winter Camp Beyond the Scars, which was held in February 2008. Gary Stansberry, Executive Director for Burn Institute- Inland Empire, was pleased with the outcome and thanked the players for their involvement. “Despite a few last-minute changes, the tournament was a successful start for long-term involvement at Sierra Lakes,” adding that though the car wasn’t claimed this time around, “I have high hopes one of our supporters will win even bigger at the next tournament.” BURN N A L P O R T E S RE GI O S U P U P D AT BURN INST IT UT E BE ACON 12 PROGRAMS & SERVICES Programs and Services Beacon Bits You are reading the Spring 2008 issue of the Burn Institute Beacon. Please don’t throw this newsletter away! Pass it along Fire and Burn Prevention Education The Burn Institute Board of Directors would like to welcome new Board Member, to a friend. If you know someone who • Burni the Dragon’s Preschool Curriculum Guide would like to receive this publication, Dale Ganzow. • Fire and Burn Prevention, Fire, Burns & You would like to be removed from our mailing Curriculum Guide A warm welcome to Eric Stevens, Community list, or if you have an address change, • Firesafe Kids Interactive Program K-3 Outreach Specialist / Juvenile Firesetter please e-mail [email protected]. • It’s Your Choice: Stop Fires and Burns Interventionist. Among his many duties, Eric • Burns are Serious Business is in charge of our First Responder, and Senior • Child Care Burn Prevention Safety & Smoke Alarm Programs. • Juvenile Fire Setter Program • Senior Fire Safety & Smoke Alarm Program A warm welcome to Reyna Doerr, • First Responder Smoke Alarm Program Development Assistant, who joined the Burn Staff • Wildfire Program Institute family in April. James A. Floros • Fire Safety Training Program (Nominal Fee) Executive Director/ The issue of Juvenile Firesetting takes center Chief Executive Officer Burn Research stage during Arson Awareness Week, May 4-10, 2008. The theme is “Toylike Diane Sutherland • Funding Vital Burn Research and Treatment Lighters – Playing with Fire”. Assistant Executive Director/ Chief Operating Officer Burn Survivor Support Over the holidays, the Burn Institute Diane Sparacino • Camp Beyond The Scars for Burn-Injured Children partnered with KYXY 96.5 and SDG&E/ Director of Communications • Retreat For Adult Burn Survivors Sempra for a Winter Safety Campaign, which Linda Van Wickel • School Re-Entry Program included informational Podcasts, fire/burn Executive Assistant • Emergency Needs Fund prevention facts posted on the station’s website, a coloring contest for kids and safety Dana Carnduff • Special Assistance Fund Support Services Coordinator/ tips played over the airwaves. • Scholarship Program Juvenile Fire Setter Interventionist • Adult Support Group In the aftermath of the 2007 Wildfires, former Reyna Doerr • Holiday Party San Diego Padre and sports artist, Gene Development Assistant • Special Outings Locklear, felt compelled to commemorate Aida Flores local firefighters. A limited number of posters Director of Program Services/ Community Service from his original work, “San Diego Heroes,” Juvenile Fire Setter Interventionist • Spirit of Courage Awards Banquet are available to the public for a suggested donation of $20 each. Contributions will be Kathleen Frampton • Fire and Burn Prevention Literature Director of Volunteer Services equally divided between the Burn Institute’s • Public Service Announcements Emergency Needs Fund and to assist Art Garcia • Speakers Bureau firefighters who lost their homes in the recent Community Outreach Specialist/ wildfires. To purchase a poster, please call the Juvenile Fire Setter Interventionist (Imperial Valley) Burn Institute at 858.541.2277. Christina Lesniak i Program Highlight Development Coordinator Rick Ochocki Special Events Manager Senior Fire Safety & Smoke Alarm Program ADULT RETREAT COMING SOON! Vicki Schoonderwoerd Office Manager If you are 65 years or older, own your own The next Adult Retreat for Burn Survivors is home, and do not have a working smoke scheduled to take place in November 2008. Eric Stevens alarm, you qualify for a FREE smoke alarm Community Outreach Specialist/ For more information, contact: installation through the Burn Institute’s Senior Juvenile Fire Setter Interventionist Fire Safety & Smoke Alarm Program. To sign Dana Carnduff 858.541.2277 ext. 14 up for this lifesaving program, contact: or e-mail [email protected]. Eric Stevens at 858.541.2277 ext. 15 e-mail [email protected]. CONTACT US The Cost of Caring Burn Institute – San Diego 8825 Aero Drive #200 Burn Institute – Inland Empire Arrowhead Regional Medical San Diego, CA 92123-2269 Center – Burn Center 858.541.2277 phone 400 North Pepper Avenue 858.541.7179 fax Colton, CA 92324-1801 951.246.9766 phone Burn Institute – Imperial Valley Where 612 “J” Street, Suite 3 Your Dollars Imperial, CA 92251 Go. 760.355.3175 phone 760.353.3005 fax ■ 84% Program Services ■ 13% Fundraising ■ 3% Management & General Costs Burn Institute Beacon Editor Design & Layout Printing Published tri-annually by: Diane Sparacino Kramer Design AlphaGraphics Burn Institute [email protected] us586.alphagraphics.com SPRING 2008 PROGRAMS & B RVICE S B UR N INS TITUTE SEEA C O N Pages to are hidden for "Young and Lethal Is Juvenile Firesetting on the Rise "Please download to view full document

About a year ago I decided to donate my ASDA Value Slow cooker for a charity food sale. We had prepared curries and stews using other friends' slow cookers including mine which had the smallest capacity and wasn't used for the largest grub on offer. I realised there and then that with an impending winter coming, I would require a larger slow cooker than what I have. It seems that buyers are also now tapping into the idea of slow cooking with low energy running costs - and as a result the cost prices of a larger "canister" slow cooker seems to be too expensive at what I required. Although there are quite a few on the market, I shopped around for the best deal, nearly considering a £28 Morphy Richards 3.5 litre capacity slow cooker with Argos vouchers, and instead waiting for a few months later in the September 2012 sales to see what I could find. I eventually found the Wahl ZX710 at quite a reduced price and seemed to offer exactly the same spec I had found with a Morphy Richards product. Nar2's Quick Skip Product Spec * Model: Wahl Slow Cooker ZX710 large Slow Cooker. * 3.5 litre capacity with 3 settings. * Black finish and clear glass lid with black heat insulated top. * 200 watts total running power. * Dishwasher safe inner container & lid. (claimed!) * General size: 35cm by 25.5cm by 20cm & approximate weight of 4kg. * 2-year guarantee. * My price £11-00 at Amazon UK; now £19-99 (B002HRE06E) to £29-99 elsewhere. General Design & Quality When I think of the brand name "Wahl," I think immediately of their hair care ranges such as hair dryers, tongs, shavers, beard trimmers and such like. I'd never consider the 90 year old company to produce a slow cooker and I've often had friends whose own experiences of Wahl hair products have been less than favourable. Yet I like a bargain, just like I did when I first feasted my eyes on my own ASDA Value slow cooker at £6; a price that's largely unheard of these days for a 2.5 litre capacity bowl. Yet, the design of my round ASDA Value slow cooker is pretty similar to what the Wahl offers, with a thick and heavy ceramic made inner pot where the cooking prep goes into, cradled by an outer light metallic shell, even though close up and from a distance the Wahl ZX710 looks like an oval cauldron due to its shiny black finish and oval looped grab handles at the sides! For the cost price here there is no timer, but three heat settings comprising of "low," "hot" and "auto," where the slow cooker determines the highest heat setting from previous continuous cooking and decreases and increases the temperature depending on the actual food that is being cooked. There is a large red LED light that stays on whenever the slow cooker is switched on. Since purchase though, the Wahl has remained shiny and black - a perfect storer for Halloween treats on display without the slow cooker being switched on. Closer inspection of the Wahl ZX710 reveals a few surprises though. Online at Amazon, some models from a few reviewers have a tendency to have a brittle control dial that either snaps off or disintegrates, and though I haven't experienced the same, the dial does reverberate through the metal panel somewhat too easily and can be quite stiff to change from one setting to the next. No wonder some owners have reported failing control dials! I can see how this could be possible as the Wahl ZX710 definitely needs a gentle hand to operate the dial slowly and its general twist shape isn't really comfortable anyway! That said, I am generally impressed with the heat insulated glass lid (to a point) and stable design helped by the four permanent feet on the base of the cooker. What is less impressive is the fact that the inner black ceramic bowl seems to be a ceramic-coated bowl with terracotta underneath. This is more apparent if you place the bowl continuously in a dishwasher after use, where part of the finish starts to rub off all too easily. The power cord is also quite short requiring the owner to place the slow cooker near a plug socket. General Performance Since purchase, I have used the Wahl ZX710 a couple of more times in October recently than my smaller ASDA Value slow cooker with 1 litre less capacity. In terms of the use, it is fairly easy to make a delicious hot pot, stew, soup, casserole or even a curry whenever the slow cooker heats up on the low program and it only takes a few minutes for the Wahl ZX710 to heat up. Just make sure you have plenty of plastic airtight food boxes if you are going to batch bake, as I realised early on that despite the larger 3.5 litre capacity, my home made soup required six large boxes to cram all the soup in for freezing compared to the usual three I have with the ASDA slow cooker! However, like my smaller slow cooker, the Wahl ZX710 isn't heat insulated from the metal body and though the ceramic grab handles above the main carry handles on the body do allow them to be touched, they grow worryingly hot through the cooking process. What the Wahl ZX710 does for me though is exactly what my ASDA Value slow cooker does. It cooks food slowly and won't generally burn food prep unless you forget to add in some water to the meal you are preparing. From chunky cut vegetables to thinly sliced or cut, it won't matter when it is being cooked in a slow cooker as the intention here is to release natural juices as slowly as possible, affecting other foods that have also been placed at the time of cooking. It is the slow way of cooking that heightens the taste experience and very much the idea that I love using, where I don't have to stand around a cooker and wait for things to cook whilst I keep a watchful eye over it! The instant advantage of the Wahl ZX710 mirrors a lot of slow cookers these days on usage promise. It is quite possible to cut your energy bills because of its constant low energy release via its low energy built in element. The Wahl ZX710 is able to be left on for a constant 24 hour period without burning out the element since the Wahl (by UK law) has a thermal cut out protection device fitted should the slow cooker be left on inadvertently. The cooker also works silently and it is easy to change the temperature control should your food prep require it. The Wahl ZX710 does have 50 watts more than my ASDA Value slow cooker, so cooking times can take a bit shorter such as soup or stew preparations where the Wahl can easily cope being left on for 7 to 10 hours to get the best tasty meat with mouth watering juices cooked to a high temperature safely and effectively. A slow cooker is definitely a must for anyone who works 9 to 5 and just wants a hot meal to come home to. Unlike normal cooking, the Wahl Slow cooker disperses steam out from the sides of its glass lid and fills my kitchen with the scent of prepared food. There are other ways of using this slow cooker though; you don't always have to leave the lid on every time you use the cooker, but it depends on the prep or recipe you are cooking. When it comes to cooking a shared meal, i.e. bolognese and meat sauce, I brown off the mince first before adding it to the cooker, chuck in the vegetables and through the cooking process, add in herbs so that the meat becomes saturated with the fresh scent of herbs and additional spices if required. In all cases I would recommend that if you are doing soups or stews to add a knob of butter, or a squirt of "One Cal" oil spray to get the meat softer. Do not add meat tenderiser powder as I find this just doesn't do much to any meat cooked in a slow cooker! The basics of convection cooking is all that is required to get succulent juices from meats flowing, and you don't need premium meat to get the best taste when cooking with a slow cooker - another great budget and cost saving aspect! Similarly, spoiled vegetables, scraps such as "what to do with the rest of the pumpkin?" should be thrown in to make a hearty Halloween inspired Pumpkin soup. Perfect before taking the children out guising! Throw in chocolate sauce and marshmallow with added cream to give guisers a treat on marshmallow sticks as a fondue when they come to the door. The ideas are endless with a slow cooker - it just so happens that the Wahl is fit for Halloween fun, even if safety has to be guarded at all times for its non-heat insulated exterior body. Maintenance & Other Downsides Instead of being dishwasher safe, which I don't think is quite true, I find washing out the inner ceramic bowl & lid to be fairly easy but a very heavy experience where the inner bowl is concerned. This is what happens if you buy a much larger slow cooker than what you are used to. The bowl weighs 3kg by its own, so you'll need extra muscled hands to lift the ceramic bowl out of the metal carrier to wash it out, thus inferring that if you're going to serve food out of it, best leave the whole appliance on the work top and work around the Wahl. Hot soapy water and a good scrubbing brush (preferably not steel wool but of the dishwashing nylon type) brings the pot up to its shiny standard, also emulated by the wipe clean exterior of the main carrier. However, the entire pot doesn't have grippy parts to it, with the grab handles at the side also being slippy due to the all over ceramic paint. There are however a few other downsides. Compared to my ASDA slow cooker lid, there is no steam dispersal hole in the glass lid that allows steam to escape through the lid when food is being cooked. Although I personally haven't burnt myself yet, it is a small but necessary aspect that I feel warrants a mention as I find the glass lid gets too hot compared to my ASDA slow cooker. As mentioned before, steam will rise eventually through the sides of the lid, but it makes for a very hot lid when it requires to be lifted off. The glass lid itself has a black stubby plastic top that matches the black cauldron look, but in the two months I've owned and used the Wahl ZX710, the top is beginning to come away from the glass, requiring a standard flat head screw driver to screw the top back in safely and securely. The main exterior body is also less well made than previously thought, able to dent easily by the slightest knock if the ceramic pot has been taken out. Another downside is that at this price, this isn't the kind of slow cooker where its feet or a secondary frame can be used to carry the pot straight to the table. It isn't anything new from my smaller slow cooker, but the more important downside to the Wahl is that it is quite bulky due to its oval shape, thus requiring kitchen surface with enough space for the Wahl ZX710 to be accommodated. Physically, I find the Wahl ZX710 takes up as much length as our Kenwood Chef! This is where my ASDA slow cooker fights back because of its taller, narrower round shape. If only a brand could come up with a round slow cooker with a large capacity! It would be the most perfect accompaniment on the dinner table to serve straight off rather than serving onto plates and then carrying to the dinner table! Final Thoughts I am very surprised by the Wahl ZX710 slow cooker. It has cooked some very succulent dishes so far such as chicken and beef casserole to steak and kidney filing, chicken broth soup, curries and more recently was also used to prepare hot continuous porridge to keep me warm throughout the day. Easy to clean if only by hand wash only, this is a price competitive slow cooker that does what it promises by its performance. The build quality however could be a lot better and for all that it offers a larger capacity, its general shape could be made far more compact with more heat insulated parts than just the lid and grab sides. Thanks for reading! ©Nar2 2012. I love to cook and in particular I love to cook hearty meals that need to simmer for a long time. Favourites in this family include various stews, casseroles and bolognaise all of which benefit from being cooked for a long time on a low heat. For years I've been preparing these meals on a conventional cooker, simmering the meals in a saucepan and spending hours over a hot stove. But having a young baby has severely reduced the amount of time I have available for preparing this sort of meal, so I decided to get a slow cooker, and the Wahl ZX710 in particular. I chose the Wahl ZX710 for a few reasons, firstly it looked pretty good in the picture on Amazon. The second reason was the Wahl's capacity, at 3.5 litres it sounded as if it would be big enough for me to prepare meals that would not only feed my partner and myself but would leave some for freezing. The final point that swung me to the Wahl was the price, £24.99 with free delivery from Amazon. ==The Looks= The Wahl ZX710 is quite a large piece of equipment and weighing in at 4.5kg it's not one that you would want to be lifting in and out of cupboards. So if you're considering purchasing this you might want to check that you have a large enough space (25cm x 35cm) for it to live permanently on your work surface. Luckily enough, I have a huge amount worktops in my kitchen, so I had no trouble finding it a home, and the power lead is a good length meaning that it doesn't need to be placed too close to the plug sockets. Looks-wise, the ZX710, while not spectacular, is quite sleek and stylish. The oval shaped body is formed from a glossy black enamel-like material, which features two moulded handles and a simple dial control along with a red LED power indicator. The toughened glass lid is capped by an easy grip handle which means that it can be removed without needing to touch any hot surfaces. On lifting the lid, there is a heavyweight, enamel 'crock pot', that can be removed for easy cleaning, either in the sink or dishwasher. Although, disappointingly there are no handles on the crock-pot, meaning that it is not easily transferred to the table for serving. ==Cooking== Although the ZX710 came with a small instruction booklet giving a few sample recipes, I can't really say that I've taken much notice of it, having perfected my own recipes over the years. Preparing meals using the ZX710 really isn't difficult, it's simply a case of placing your ingredients in the crock-pot, plugging in and then choosing whether you want to cook on high, low or auto. How long you leave the cooker on for then depends on which heat setting you've used and what ingredients you are cooking, but generally I'll cook a meal for about 8 hours on the low setting. One of my favourite meals to cook in this is a good hearty beef stew, where I will prepare the ingredients just before bed and then allow it to cook overnight (when electricity is at it's cheapest). I love that I can just chuck all the ingredients in, switch on and then forget about it until the morning, when I all I do is simply turn the cooker off and then allow the flavours to further develop before reheating (on high) in the evening. Previously I would cook a stew all day on the gas hob, to get the same sort of flavour, meaning I would have to be spending a large part of the day checking and stirring. That's not to say that I don't have to do a little preparation and it's taken me a little while to get the absolute best from the cooker. Potatoes definitely need to be cut a lot smaller than if I was cooking them on the hob, otherwise they simply do not go as soft as they should. The instruction booklet also suggests browning meat before adding it to the pan, but to be honest I've never bothered with this and nobody has complained at the results. Talking of results, meat cooked in this method is incredibly tender, I can take a cheap cut of meat, such as stewing or braising steak and the end result will be chunks of meat that literally melt in the mouth. I've never tasted such tender, tasty meat as I've got from cooking it in this. I also use the ZX710 to cook some of the best tasting chilli I ever had. I do find that it's with the meals where the flavour develops and intensifies over time that I get the very best results. I've also used the slow cooker to produce some very tasty stock, which if you've ever made stock, you'll know is a process that normally involves simmering bones and vegetables in water for a couple of hours. When I use the ZX710 to make stock, I simply roast the bones off for half an hour before adding them to the crock-pot along with an onion, carrot, bay leaf, herbs and water. I then switch the cooker to high, leave the lid off and let it cook for a couple of hours. This leaves a delicious stock that I can use as the base for soups, gravy or even a stew. Talking of soups, I also use the ZX710 to cook soups in, the long, slow cooking process is perfect for preparing a really tasty onion soup, the onions almost melt into the stock and it tastes absolutely delicious. The same goes for chicken soup and almost any vegetable based soup you can think of. Not everything works as well though, I tried to make pea and ham soup, but because the water doesn't boil, the split peas didn't quite cook to perfection, so if you're planning to try and cook with dried beans, lentils or peas then I would suggest par-boiling them first. Although the instruction book does state that it's not a good idea to use the ZX710 to cook dishes containing rice, cream or milk there is one more dish that I prepare in this that is simply scrummy. My partner, my son, myself and all visitors to the flat absolutely love this dish and it puts the tinned varieties to shame. And the dish is, creamed rice pudding, which is incredibly easy to make using the slow cooker. I simply take a pot of cream and then add enough milk to make it up to two pints (the more cream the richer the pudding), pour this mix into the crock-pot, add 100g of pudding rice, 50g of sugar and lots of nutmeg, then switch the slow cooker to high. After an hour with the lid on, I remove the lid and cook for another hour and the result is the creamiest, fluffiest rice you could imagine, with very little actual work and no worrying about milk boiling over or rice sticking to the pan. There's also the auto setting, which apparently will keep food warm, but I really can't say that I've ever bothered with it. If I want to heat food back up, then I'll simply set the cooker to high for half an hour. As well as cooking meals overnight there have been a couple of occasions when I plonked all the ingredients for a stew in this and then gone out for the day. The first couple of times I did this I was worried that everything would go horribly wrong. But I needn't have worried, the meals turned out fine, even when I left it on for nearly twelve hours. That's the lovely thing about this cooker, you really don't need to worry about your food boiling dry or burning if you're not quite on the ball. Cleaning the crock-pot after cooking is far easier than when I've used saucepans, it's simply a case of lifting it out of the main body and then soaking for a short time before washing. Because the food doesn't reach such high temperatures as it would on the hob, it doesn't burn and stick to the sides leading to easier cleaning. I've tried to find out how many Watts of electricity this uses, but it's not documented on either the manufacturer's or Amazon's website. What I can say that, if used overnight this literally uses a few pence worth of electricity. Which is a lot less than if I had cooked the same meal on my gas hob. ==Final Words== I don't know how I ever lived without the ZX710 (although I obviously did), it simply takes all the standing over a hot stove out of cooking. Every meal I produced using this has been delicious (although that of course still has a lot to do with my stock recipes) and even cheap cuts of meat come out so tender I barely need to chew. I also like the fact that it looks pretty good on my work surface, reduces the washing up that needs doing and uses far less energy than preparing the equivalent meal on the hob. I'm therefore giving the Wahl ZX710 a very healthy five stars out of five and recommending it to anyone who enjoys eating stews (and don't forget the rice pudding) and has the space on their kitchen work surface. Short name: Wahl ZX710

Two true. Assisted by Tim van Beveren, an investigative journalist who specialises in aviation related technical documentaries … …German television network ARD and Schweizer Fernsehen (Swiss Television) have sent journalists on board ordinary flights with different airlines in various aircraft types. Their purpose was to take swabs from surfaces in aircraft cabins and have them scientifically analysed for their content. The swabs vvere taken from measured surface areas (10 x 10cm) and sent to a laboratory for analysis. In all aeroplanes but one, measurable quantities of the neurotoxin tricresyl phosphate (TCP) were found to be present. Before I let Tim tell the story below, this blog is an appeal for crew and passengers who have reason to believe they have suffered even temporary effects from this and other toxins known to be present from time to time in cabin air to get in touch. We have set up a forum specifically for this purpose on our community site, Airspace, on which we want pilot, cabin crew, and passengers who suspect they may have been harmed by a cabin air contamination incident to give details of what they have experienced and under what circumstances. If you want to know more, visit the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive’s website. I’ll let Tim tell the story of this investigation by the television companies: “Within the last month reporters of ARD German Television Network and Schweizer Fernsehen (Swiss Television) secretly collected more then 30 swab samples from leading airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, Air Berlin, EasyJet and others. The samples were analyzed at the laboratories of the University of British Columbia, Canada, under the supervision of Professor Christiaan van Netten, a highly renowned toxicologist and expert in this field. The samples were analyzed for tricresylphosphate (TCP) an organo-phosphate that is contained in modern jet oil as an antiwear additive. TCP is a known neuro-toxin. The manufacturer of the widely used synthetic jet engine oil, Mobil Jet Oil II EXXON warns about the inhalation of oil mist that may cause nervous system effects. But despite hundreds of reports and scientific articles by toxicologists from Australia, the USA and Canada, nothing has been done so far to prevent oil fumes from entering the cabin environment via the bleed air system of modern jet engine airliners. For more than a decade the issue has been controversially discussed in English speaking communities. But it has now gained momentum in Germany, as the first cases became known to the German Cockpit Association where pilots are suing their employers because they lost their licences because of ill health after what they claim were numerous toxic fume events. “The German Accident Investigation Bureau, the Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU), expressed its concern about the flight safety implications of such events and confirmed ARD that there is an annual average of 10 cases reported to them where crew members were incapacitated following smell or fume events within German registered aircraft. “But it seems that not all pilot reports make their way to the BFU”, says BFU investigator Karsten Severin.” Tim reports the results, and here is just some of what the reporters found: “Out of 31 samples, 28 were found positive for TCP. The three samples that were negative were all taken from the same aircraft, a year-old Boeing 737-700. The average amount of TCP found was 80 nanograms on a surface area of 10 x 10 centimetres. But higher amounts were found on three different 757s belonging to the German Charter Carrier Condor (part of Thomas Cook Group): on the aircraft registered D-ABOL the measurements were 154.950 nanograms on a 2 x 2 cm surface only. In the cockpit of the same aircraft the measurement taken a week before was slightly above 60,000 nanograms. “757s have long been suspected of having higher cabin air contamination than other aircraft. Other high values were measured within the samples taken from BAe 146 / AVRO aircraft, operated by Swiss and Eurowings, the latter a subsidiary of Lufthansa. Despite modifications on these aircraft within the last years in an attempt to eliminate the contaminated cabin air events, on both types high amounts of TCP were found: between 244 and 544 nanograms on a 10 x 10 cm surface. “Neither Swiss nor Lufthansa wanted to comment when being confronted with these findings. Condor issued a written statement saying that the “results may not allow conclusions about the toxicity on board of the sampled aircraft.”" I just would like to emphasize: under normal operation conditions 0 (zero) nanograms of TCP should be found in the cabin enviroment. It belongs into the oil that should stay in the engine, – not the cabin. We took all our samples under “normal operation conditions” on regular scheduled flights. For a follow up program to be aired soon we are looking for pilots and crewmembers who got incapacitated by smell and/or fumes events in the last years. We have indications to believe that not all events were properly investigated by the respective authorities or the investigation did just focus on “maintenance issues”. We would appreciate information about such events and we guarantee that we will treat information and individuals providing such information confidential. TvB I am a pilot and was made ill by the BAe 146 and then the Boeing 757. Of the dozens of pilots and cabin crew I’ve spoken to or know of, the majority flew one of these types. The documented evidence and independent studies on this issue show overwhelmingly that there is a big problem. It’s time the manufacturers, airlines and regulators were held accountable for the cover-up. The Aerotoxic Association has a page with various documents relating to the German and Swiss TV programmes. Congratulations to the logical and honest style of the Germans and Swiss for presenting so clearly the cause of serious ill health in aircrew as a result of breathing heated engine oil in a confined space. Where are the British media who should be tracking this major public health issue? It is regrettable that even pprune is censoring anything to do with this subject, now. It will be inderstood one day very soon – the question will not be so much about the poisoning of innocent people but more about the joined up cover up, which denied it for so long…. It is surely better to be roughly right – than precisely wrong? for further. Maybe I’ve missed something, but the presence of a chemical on a surface does not imply that the chemical is airborne. It’s at least reasonably likely that the TCP could have gotten on to those services by contact (e.g. an engineer wearing overalls that aren’t 100% clean gets on board and touches surfaces while fixing something). This could happen in a number of ways.. Having operated the B757 for awhile, I can confirm that I have been a victim to several fumes events and witness to what I could only describe as an industry-wide cover-up. This particular aircraft and certain engine combination, has, right from the beginning, been dogged by an on-going oil fumes problem which has never been resolved. The problem was rubbished by the original aircraft operators (enforced by sacking the crew who brought the first law suit). Now the same appears to be happening with the aircraft’s current owners. Although the DfT have been involved with testing, results are still being ‘massaged’. Apart from the very first few equipment validation flights (which were undertaken to decide what sensing equipment to use and where on the aircraft to place it), no aircraft with a previous history of fumes events were used in the test series. In fact, the only recorded significant fumes event occurred on one of the first equipment validation flights, but the data was discarded because ‘the flight was only meant to validate the use of the equipment, not to collate data’! During and following the trial, we were repeatedly quoted the ‘theoretically safe’ exposure quantities of the various chemicals being sampled. The problem with these figures is that they were all tested under ISA conditions in a laboratory, in ISOLATION and for single exposures. Goodness only knows what happens to the human body when repeatedly exposed to multiple, toxic chemicals in a cabin environment, at altitude. There have been many reported fumes events across the fleet for which a large number of pilots have gone sick (some only for a day, but others for considerably longer). Symptoms vary from sore/streaming eyes (with accompanying temporary blindness), nose and throat irritation, headaches, sickness and rashes, to name but a few. As the aircraft continue to age, this problem will only get worse. Significant effort needs to be put into not only finding an engineering solution, but also researching the long-term medical impact of exposure on the crews and passengers and possible compensation for those having been exposed, WITHOUT compromising future career prospects in the industry. The swab test results undertaken by WDR/Swiss TV fall in line totally with the other swab tests that have been done around the globe. TCP is being found in almost all aircraft cabins on all aircraft types tested to date. This means people are being exposed to TCP a known neurotoxin & the additive in the engine oil. It is a shame that it takes the media to have to resolve this issue but it is the reality. The aerospace industry has had far to long & is in reality in such a state of denial or damage control. This fact is clear to those that follow what so many in the industry are doing: denial, damage limitation or straight misuse of the facts. I have been researching this issue for over a dozen years & the evidence is there that it is more likely than not that there are serious health and flight safety problems from exposure to engine oils & similar. The law is there that prohibits this in terms of aviation regulations, OH&S regulations & straight duty of care. To allow this to continue with so much evidence is negligent & unconscionable. There are solutions. The excuses from industry are tired & unacceptable. The smart ones will start to truly deal with the issue rather than deal with it to get the result they want. There are some positive moves underway, however far too slow & infrequent. My research can be found in the 844 page reference manual that I published: ‘Aviation Contaminated Air Reference Manual’. The Royal Australian Air Force undertook a review of this research as it is the only collated source of data available on the subject & said it was ‘groundbreaking’ & ‘seminal work’. The review is on my website & the industry denial is clearly stated. For those that think to sit on the fence is the way forward, that the evidence is not there or it is just too hard & leave it to others, this strategy is no longer wise. These views no longer stand up as there is too much evidence & real actions are required now by people from all areas involved in this issue. To think that the data is available going back 32 years showing crews being clearly impaired in flight from inhalation of synthetic jet engine oils, service bulletins acknowledging the problem from at least 27 years ago and airlines such as Dan Air & East West/Ansett vocally voicing their concerns about the health effects going back almost 20 years. This is just the start. How much more evidence do we need, how much more is out there? The experts in denial have no right to ignore such data & defer to science, the requirement for 100% conclusive proof when all that is required is: Is it more likely than not? Answer ABSOLUTELY YES. Some may think my line is hard, however I am entitled to say this as I KNOW the evidence. What I don’t have is the deep pockets to manipulate the issue and allow it to go on at the expense of flight safety & human health and careers. However the data is becoming more widely known and those in the game of denial or damage control no matter how nicely they dress it are running out of time. There is time to act now, change now & all work together. Well done Flight Global for raising this issue here & giving us a chance to speak, an opportunity to let people power work instead of corporate greed endorsed by Governments. Well done WDR and Swiss TV. People must speak out now, tell their stories, present the evidence & work together to stop this. Here is what a world leading manufacturer explained in January 2009 to a world leading airline maintenance about the issue. (Unfortunately the world leading manufacturer does not properly reflect the scientific available research, results and facts and refers to findings from the year 2000 that had to be relativated in 2007): “The subject of oil contamination of the aircraft bleed system by engine or APU, leading to cabin and flight deck fumes (and supposed by some to be toxic) has a long history. All aircraft that use engine or APU bleed air to supply the air-conditioning system have the potential to supply air to the flightdeck and cabin that is contaminated with oil due to failures within an engine and APU. However, Airbus do not believe there is any scientific evidence to show that such oil fumes have toxic effects on crew or passengers. We do note that large oil leakages leading to a haze or smoke can be unpleasant on the flightdeck (which generally receives more fresh air than the cabin in relation to its size) and the FCOM procedure under these circumstances instructs the pilots to use oxygen. Certain individuals and groups have claimed that engine and APU oil contain substances that can cause toxic effects on humans. The substance identified within aviation engine oils about which these claims are usually made is TRI-ORTHOCRESYL PHOSPHATE (TOCP). TCP is an anti-wear additive used for many years in aviation oils, it typically forms 1 to 3% of the oil. One component of TCP is Tri-Ortho-Cresyl Phosphate (TOCP). TOCP in high concentrations is indeed toxic. However, TOCP forms a very small part of the TCP additive, typically less than 0.1% of the TCP additive. With a little bit of mathematics you can see that the TOCP content of aviation oil is extremely small. In 2000, Airbus was invited to provide evidence to a UK Government inquiry into aircraft cabin health and safety matters. Airbus along with other aircraft manufacturers submitted evidence which included the calculation of a worst case scenario oil leakage into the aircraft air supply and the resulting level of TOCP in the cabin/flightdeck air. The calculation concluded that in the worst case scenario (total engine oil loss through the engine !), the level of TOCP was well below typical heath and safety limits. Please see the following extract: “4.39 Calculations by Airbus Industrie (Q 461 and refined in subsequent correspondence) showed that the worst-case scenario of the total discharge of an engine’s lubricant into the engine would result in about 0.4 kg of oil passing into the cabin ventilation systems. Assuming that the oil contained 3% TCP, of which 0.1% was TOCP, the peak cabin atmosphere TOCP level would be about 0.025 mg/m> 3, reducing as a result of normal ventilation thereafter. The peak level would be a quarter of the workplace limit of 0.1 mg/m3 (and less than a tenth of the emergency workplace limit of 0.3 mg/m3). Contamination at much lower levels would result in visible smoke and odour which would normally result in the crew switching off the ventilation feed from the affected engine. ” The conclusion that the report comes to in relation to this matter was: . ” I personally wonder if this company will issue a written statement that inhaling heated engine oils is safe and does not pose any risk to the health of any human being? – Or maybe their top management just inhales half a heated can, like other prominent people did in the past in regards to the mad cow disease, which wasn’t really an issue…, – was it…? It is just incredible to think that this statement assumed to be from Airbus in 2009 can write such flawed information. As previously stated they refuse to look at the data, then put out such amazing incorrect data & assume they are above the law & can get away with it. As examples of the misinformation a few points in brief: - It is a problem of the design flaws of the bleed air system/ oil bearing seals as well as maintenance failures that may occur. - They just refuse to look at the scientific evidence that is available & the evidence as a whole. - More fresh air for pilots = more oil inhaled? - TOCP is the chemical of concern: Well it has been known since 1958 that the other ortho isomers (present in the oil), MOCP & DOCP are in the TCP in higher quantities & ar far more toxic than TOCP. this is either misinformation or ignorance. It was stated in 1958 that it was INAPPROPRIATE to refer to TOCP only. That’s 51 years ago. You would have thought the brains at the big manufacturers would have caught up by now. - The House of Lords statement from their 2000 report referred to here also incorrectly used the TOCP alone logic. They too were 42 years behind the published research. For Airbus? to still quote this in 2009 is truly amazing. Would be ok if the stakes in crew and passenger health, careers & serious flight safety implications were not so high. Any jet engine oil seal is designed to work ‘wet’ by allowing small amounts of oil to pass through the seal. This is why BBC Panorama found TCP on 2 so called random ‘normal’ flights in 2008. Just imagine how much more oil will pass through a damaged, worn seal…into the air that pilots, cabin crew and customers breathe. This subject is NOT rocket science and TCP does what it says on the tin. It is a neuro toxic poison. Jet lag explained – just like that! I am cabin crew. I have had health problems for 12 years – since 11 months after joining my present airline. I have been diagnosed as having peripheral and autonomic nerve damage, occupational asthma, chronic fatigue, pneumonia, cancer, chronic sinusitis and osteoporosis.I haven’t flown for over a year, on my last flight nearly all the cabin crew were ill. I wonder how many passengers were too? Mr Learmount, I [the anonymous above] am not saying that there is no evidence for extremely dangerous airborne chemicals being present in passenger aircraft. The testimony of all of the above commenters (and others on the AirSpace forums) points to this being a real problem. All I’m saying (from a scientific point of view) is that that specific piece of evidence of surface-chemicals is not enough to prove it. For this subject to be taken more seriously, then the evidence needs to be better – or better-presented. If you’re fighting the good fight, you need to do it with a skin-tight argument (and with as little emotion as possible). What would you have said if the airlines had carried out tests that showed there was no TCP on surfaces? Would that be evidence of no airborne TCP? Thanks This is only the latest tip of the iceberg of evidence, and on its own it would not stand up in court. That’s because courts are not about truth, they are about the law, and the burden of proof in this case is with those who have been harmed. That is not justice, but it is the way things are. But the German media have just found TCP in more than 30 cabins, and where are the people in the industry who are in a position to deny that this was deposited by contaminated cabin air? We know they are reading this blog, and they know they have the chance to provide evidence to the contrary here, but they are choosing to remain silent because they have no explanation for the existence of the TCP except cabin air contamination by bleed air. Come on, you bleed air contamination deniers, where are your refuting arguments? I thought so. Silence. As usual. But I didn’t expect a result from the deniers anyway. What I want is the stories of those whose health has been damaged in the long term, or perhaps permanently, immediately following a single air journey or a series of them. The effects of this poisoning is normally cumulative, which is why it affects more crew than passengers. We have the records of many of them. We want the stories of people who did not know who to talk to. Please talk to us now. We can use what you tell us. Anonymous: I can certainly understand why you do not want to use your name on this post based on what you are saying: “It’s at least reasonably likely that the TCP could have gotten on to those services by contact (e.g. an engineer wearing overalls that aren’t 100% clean gets on board and touches surfaces while fixing something).” & “All I’m saying (from a scientific point of view) is that that specific piece of evidence of surface-chemicals is not enough to prove it.” Please, show some intelligence & lose your industry bias. Clearly you have not read the rest of the evidence available. I published 844 pages of it in the Aviation Contaminated Air Reference Manual in 2007. Then again that will only have been about 50% of it.The manual will be updated shortly & the evidence you & your colleagues are allowing to be unaddressed is growing by the day. When you have looked at all of the evidence or most of it as I & others have then come back & discuss it properly. Your industry affiliations are clearly obvious. My bias is that I have seen the evidence & I want a healthier & safer work environment in the sky. I stand to benefit nothing. In fact I lost my job & health & so have too many others. We do have the evidence & it’s there for anyone who wants to see it & rationally look at it. My husband flew the BAe146 for two years in the early ’90s. Since then he has had medical problems. First it was headaches, then shortness of breath, dizzy spells, depression. After ten years of this he had to take early retirement. Medical investigations showed peripheral and autonomic nerve damage. Now his sight is poor, he suffers memory loss and has difficulty moving. The latest diagnosis is some form of neurodegenerative disease. It seems too much of a coincidence that all this started when he flew the BAe146; before that his health was excellent. I have told a small part of my story in the film ‘Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines’ I have spent nearly 10 years looking at these issues and doctors found Tricesyl Phosphate in my blood after a contaminated air event. The whole issue can be broken down into 4 parts: Health Effects Liability Human Rights Flight Safety Health Effects Some people do not accept the medical evidence, the CAA accepted the medical evidence my doctors gave them without question and took away my licence. Liability Who is liable for the fact the problem has not yet been resolved? Oil manuafcturers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, unions, politicians, safety regulators, air accident boards, crews, health and safety agencies, EASA, FAA, COT, government agencies etc… Probably all share some of the blame but the longer the problem goes on the more people will have their lives ruined, die or suffer the daly consequences of these exposures. Human Rights In my view, without doubt airlines failure to inform passengers when they are exposed to contaminated air is a breech of human rights. Flight Safety The debate over health effects and liability could continue for decades without any resolution but the fact aircraft have no form of detection system to warn pilots when the air is contaminated with chemicals which have incapacitated crews is a scandal in an industry that prides itself on safety. Airlines, crews, unions and the regulators know crews are not following aircraft manufacturers guidelines to use oxygen when they suspect the air is contaminated but everyone turns a blind eye and the public are kept in the dark. The travelling public put their lives in the hands of the airline industry and crews are the weakest link. Detectors need to be fitted urgently as crews cannot be relied upon due the political, finacial and legal nature of the problem. The air supplied should be supplied ‘Bleed Free’ or filtered. An open international Public Inquiry is needed not a white wash British COT investigation which is a scandal and disgrace to the nation. The facts are there for anyone to see: Aviation Contaminated Air Reference Manual I note that the B737-700 was found not to have contaminated cabin air. However, has anyone checked the air in the vicinity of the engine exhaust of this type after shutdown? This is an area ground staff are exposed to daily and choking fumes are clearly visible emanating from the oil breather system. If the CFM 56-7 engine is started and run briefly after servicing, it is considered normal to find a pool of oil sitting in the exhaust. Can CFM also explain why their newer engines use 50% more oil than their older models? Where does the oil go? Dear Anonymous I was exposed to TCP in October 2005. Since then I have a number of ailments that have left me disabled. I breathing and sinus problems, dizziness, headaches mental confusion, brain damage, joint and muscle aches, fatigue, digestive problems,skin allergies and rash,loss of sensation to my lower extremities, depression and anxiety. I have also developed tumors in my brain and salivary gland. This has affected me emotionally, mentally and financially.I was wondering if you could tell me, why would anyone put themselves through this hardship????????? If this is not airborne…then how did i get exposed???? Wait…..I remember………I was busy SNIFFING the “engineers” overalls!!!!!!!! Let me tell YOU….i will NEVER forget the odor and the smoke/haze that burned my throat, eyes and lungs. The inability to breath and massive headache which incapicitated me. (as well as the rest of the crew and some passengers) Try educating yourself before you make such remarks, as i am living proof that it is “airborne”. I am stuck at home shattered, my career ruined. All my medical reports concure with those of many other tested pilots -poisoned flying 146. Sorry I can’t write more but am feeling too sick… I am a current Boeing 757 pilot and my view on these matters is that crews are dealing with these significant flight safety issues like people did 40 years ago with drink driving….The ‘I’ll be OK’ attitude. I have told my union BALPA that flight safety is being compromised and something should be done but they don’t want to deal with the issue. One BALPA person in Flight Safety said it was all in the head which is very sad. No doubt one day BALPA will regret their denial. On another note an informal chat on the matter with a Training Captain last week after a sim check resulted in him saying: ‘If you want your job I would keep a low profile.’ As a frequent flyer I have often smelt contaminated air onboard aircraft and the cabin crew always told me it was like a cooked bread smell in a bakery and totally harmful. This is outrageous as I have often gone into meetings after flights way below power and not thinking clearly. It makes sense now. A quick search of the internet shows this problem has been reported for bloody years and nobody does anything. I will be writing to my MP requesting a Public Inquiry especially when solutions exist to resolve the problem! WE pay the fares and we deserve clean air. B757 F/O wrote:- “On another note an informal chat on the matter with a Training Captain last week after a sim check resulted in him saying: ‘If you want your job I would keep a low profile.” May I therefore suggest:- If you want your health and therefore a career, then change types or profession asap! Not much consolation, I know, but then again potential exposure to TOCP isn’t either! Unfortunately the Training Captains statement denotes the underlying aparthy from within the industry. Joined a major European Operator and climbed up from the regional turboprops on to the big jets. A few years ago I was sent home after a type recurrent, all results were “SLOW” and I could hardly remember my own name anymore. Memory items were already an issue for half a year prior to this occasion, which I had to study for at least half an hour before every flight. My occupational doctor decided it was a “burn out” and advised me to sit in front of the tele. He wasn’t sure what to do with me and also called in a psychologist to treat me. “It would make his position look stronger!”, he said. It felt a bit like being sent to the physio with a broken leg. A year later I came in contact with a colleague of BA, who was in the same miserable condition. He brought the contaminated air issue to my attention. I was stunned. Having been an Aviation Medical Examiner in the past and never heard of this before I started to dive into this matter. Found a lab in the US which showed Organic Phosphate metabolites in my body to be way above maximum. This, a year after last exposure! I showed these “evidence based results” to my company-occupational doctor. He refuted everything and said that this was caused by the vegetables I eat and other very “scientific” statements. Then I got hold of two cabin filters of two different modern jetliners out of the fleet, one only two years ex factory, and had them examined. It was full with TCP. Showed this test result to my company doctor, who again, went into full denial. He called in another Prof. Dr. friend of his and both of them started to convince me that I would find this TCP also behind the refrigerator in my own house, it was my psychological problem, it was again from the biological vegetables which I eat, the test was American and not valid in Europe! Hmmm, which medical university did you say? I went on to our top-management. The good man had never heard of toxic compounds in the cabin before and after half an hour he said he would sent it to the VP in charge of this subject. Utter silence. I forwarded an update of a second test to him a month later, lo and behold a answer by email. He had forwarded it to my boss. It was a problem of the industry and not of the company! My last flight was a long haul on our newest “flagship from Seattle”, of which the engines do consume an average of 1 litre Mobil Jet Oil II/hour. After 6 hours symptoms started to appear: severe headache, nausea. I had anticipated this and donned my special Dreager Gas-mask, of which I was told is only used occasionally in remote areas like Iraq. Symptoms started to recede after 20 minutes. I decided that this was the last time I would ever be on a jetliner again. During the 2 day turn around I found 3 out of 12 Cabin Attendants describing to me the symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathia, also know as severe degradation of the peripheral nerve system ending up in a symmetrical numb feeling of lower arms and hands. That is 25% of a further normal and healthy population of around 40 years old, suffering from long term exposure of TCP. Our union: the management of our company asked them to not publish anything about this subject. It has been decided on behalf of all the members, without their knowledge and consent to fully comply with this request for the coming years. Status Quo after a few years: regained most of my health after a 3 month detox, found all types (4) in our fleet 100% positive on TCP in the cabin (some also in separate air samples), have it been explained to me by an engineer why and where in these engines there is always, yes always, some oil fumes leaking away passing the oil seals (4 mm rubber bands sitting there for about 7 years around these shafts, slowly drying up and becoming brittle) and the different paths these fumes do follow to end up in the bleed air. The can of Mobil Jet II oil we use, states there is TCP as an additive, the same stuff I found in the cabin of all the different turbine aircraft and of which our EU International Chemical Safety Card (ICSC:0961) states that we need “local breathing protection” without mention of a minimum dose. I think it is a matter of time before the “aviation industry” will need a serious explanation in front of different courts. I have been sick since 2005. I have flown both the 747 and 777 both with Rolls Royce engines. I can’t describe the effect this has had on me personally, financially and emotionally. My symptoms mirror those of so many others on this forum that it is impossible to be a coincidence. Today I struggle. Remembering where I left the cup of tea I just made. My brain, my body and my life has been destroyed. The disgrace is that it was sanctioned! They knew before, they know now. It is time for them to pay!! I was a Cabin Manager(BAe146,A320 and others) until cumulative exposures resulted in my health deteriorating to a point beyond which it was irretrievable and I could no longer continue to effectively or safely perform my duties in the role as a Cabin Manager. My symptoms include but are not limited to: anxiety, depression, dizziness, headaches, hand tremor, memory failure,extreme fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivities. Implications for me personally are: *financial due to restrictions with where I can work, *ongoing related health issues affecting everyday life, *emotional, Tristan Lorraine’s comments breaking the issue down into the following 4 points clarify the topic more than adequately-any one of them on its own deserves thorough investigation at the highest level. •Health Effects •Liability •Human Rights •Flight Safety I can only hope that it does not have to take too many lives in one form or another before this is realised……. I too have suffered greatly from the disgrace of what only can be called the greatest cover up since the Asbestos fiasco years ago. I suffered from exposures from contaminated air for 8 years and had to take a year off from flying to help recover. I had all the various tests which confirmed that I had been exposed to contaminated air, with a whole alphabet of Neurotoxins, including TOCP, Benzene’s,( yes there are more than one type) Hexane, N Heptane, Phenol, Carbon Monoxide, just to name a few. More alarming was that a Chest X Ray showed that all the lymph nodes around the lung area lit up like a Christmas tree, with the doctor asking if I had ever suffered from pneumonia! Which, as far as I was aware, I had not. I now know this to be a sign of “Chemical Pneumonia” caused by inhalation of Petrochemical by products, Smoke, Fumes, Aerosols and Vapours. I have numbness in some of my toes and tingling/burning in the soles of my feet and occasionally the Palms of my hands I still continue to have recall problems and occasional dizzy spells for no apparent reason. Balpa were next to useless and are obviously having their “Strings Pulled” from on high. After I left the airline there were a considerable number of high profile cases hitting the Press and TV channels, it would appear nothing has changed, as there are still recent reported cases in the local press. Whatever happend to the Treaty of Rome’s “Precaution Principle”? Why is the Industry still getting away with it? Why isn’t Health and Safety doing anything about it? Whatever happend to Duty of Care? Don’t even get me started on the Flight Safety aspect, which does not bare thinking about. When there is a serious accident and there will be; it won’t be an accident, it will be gross negligence as with all the information and technology available, it could have been prevented. Gas Man I was affected by flying in June 2005 but have managed to overcome most of my complaints with complementary therapies – many of which can be bought off the shelf. Please dont despair – your body is capable of recovery with a little help. But, I must say I have stopped flying since then even though I miss seeing my family and friends. See my report at: I am a pilot and I was flying the AVRO RJ for one of the major European carriers. I was suffering for more than a decade until I stopped flying that aircraft. Oil fumes in the cockpit and the cabin are everyday business and in spite of all the reports crews are filing the airline just doesn’t give a damn. They just keep doing what they have always done, poison crews and passengers ruthlessly and they even don’t comply with the service bulletins they have from BAe. When management talks about safety it’s all lip service. As long as people don’t drop dead on the plane management is interested in schedules, benchmarks and money only. Like many of my fellow pilots I have had all the short term symptoms during and after flights on aircraft with that well-known oil smell: headache, nausea, sore throat, fatigue, dizziness, sleepiness at day and sleeping problems at night, blurred vision and so on. There were flights when we were using oxygen in the cockpit, because the oil smell was so bad. All the short term symptoms disappeared when I stopped flying that aircraft but heaven knows how those oil fumes affected my health in the long term. I am no longer inhaling oil fumes but many other people still are day after day. And they don’t have an oxygen mask. When you board the plane as a passenger and there is a strange odour, ask the crew, voice your concerns and when you feel bad, don’t fly with that aircraft. And make yourself heard. Maybe the crew would be very grateful. I am a frequent flyer, who often travels Business Class. When I select who to fly with from A to B I take into consideration previous experience and flight safety concerns. In the UK where I live I refuse to fly British Airways and Fly Be who both fail to inform passengers when they are exposed to oil fumes. I pay a small fortune in fees for taxes etc… let me and my fellow passengers pay another £ 1 a flight for clean air PLEASE!!! Yet another example of the Government failing the people. I have suffered not only on the 146 but also on the A320 I now fly. The BAe 146 has had this problem since the first flight, BAe knows it, the CAA know it, the Government know it and BALPA have known about it as we told them about it, not once, but time and time again. Everyone has looked the other way. You can expect the avaition industry and Government to look after their own but BALPA is gutless. Only one guy in BALPA tried to do anything and tried to change things. He was from memory a British Airways pilot who recently made the Toxic Airlines film about this but he stood alone trying to get the union to be a union when all around him did nothing. That guy deserves a medal and the rest of the union should be prosecuted for negligence. How many more need to get sick? I agree with ‘Beer Fan’ that BALPA is as guilty as the industry on this massive corporate cover-up. The guy ‘Beer Fan’ refers to is Tristan Lorraine, ill health retired from the World’s favourite airline by the CAA. A BALPA lady once said to me he wasn’t looking after the financial needs of the industry…Well forgive me lady but my health comes first and he gets my vote. God bless. Let’s also not forget the Air Accident Investigation Branch. They are also guilty as charged. I have written 39 Air Safety Reports in the last 12 years about being gassed against my will and they have rang me ZERO times… Enough said Having flown the Boeing 757 for most of my career I did not experience a major oil leak incident but I was subjected to frequent short term exposures. I am told this was due to the non-standard engine oil filling procedure at a certain large Britiish airline. I was diagnosed with Parkison’s Disease in 1996 and managed to carry on flying on a different aircraft for 2 years but on returning to the 757 fleet my health deteriorated again and I lost my licence after another2 years. Since then my health has declined slowly but gradually. I am now on the waiting list for DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) treatment which may restore some of my capabilities. When asked whether there was a connection betwween flying and P.D. the reply was ” Yes I believe there is.” I am a former 146 pilot (3000 hours on type) who lost my licence approximately 10 years ago at the age of 29 due to ill health. I had two episodes of partial incapacitation two years apart. The first was put down to being 5 months pregnant (and operating) but the second, after a severe chest infection, worried me enough to discuss with my doctor more fully. I was referred immediately to a neurologist who advised me that these episodes were most likely “simple partial epilepsy”. I was immediately grounded and further tests with more eminent doctors revealed little to back up this diagnosis, except that a 24 EEG noted that I had slightly unusual brain activity which was seen in people who had sustained some kind of brain injury (which I had not). Since then I have had a mere suggestion of these episodes every so often. No one has ever offered an explanation of why I had abnormal EEG readings when my initial tests for licensing had been completely normal. I am now convinced that this brain injury is related to inhalation of TCP type gases. Last year I lost a friend and 146 colleague to a malignant brain tumour and I have been very sad to learn that another is suffering from the very same illness. The body of evidence is growing for contaminated air to be properly investigated…when will the CAA and British government wake up!!! Last December i had a conaminated air event, missed the cleared level 3 times, got the approach spped wrong, mis set the QNH and set the wrong minima. My co-pilot didn’t pick up any of these errors. Engineers said best not to report it but they would sort it out. Is flight safety about to kill someone? Absolutely and the CAA don’t care. Two of my mates who got their PPLs with me have died of Motor Neuron Disease. Is health being sacrificed? Absolutely but the HSE don’t care. Welcome to the world of corportate negligence. Thank you for taking care in this subject. I am on the 757 with RR-Engines now for 9 years and I always wondered about sleeplessness and heavy heartbeats,as well as other strange things happening to my body and brain! In our airline ,we always were led to to the idea, that the strong smell comes from glue of the carpetfloor and that any smell on board “is normal”. The strong headache after many flights and the feeling of getting a cold became a normal situation and we blamed the long days with a lack of oxygen, as well as the fact of missing ozon-filters on our fleet. I strongly believe in the shocking results of german tv-station, as the amount of tcp found on board of three of our aircraft was much higher than on any other aircraft-type! The reaction of our board of directors to calm down the crews shocked me. They stated, that the airquality in our aircrafts is BETTER than in any public building or in office!!! Wow!!! Now as I started investigations and put focus during briefings on the problem, I experienced heavy pressure from my company…. I was missing articles in German press and had to learn, that magazines were put under pressure from leading German airlines (promoting Stern,Spiegel,Focus on board). Make up your mind and don’t close your eyes!!! Dear Anomynous as of March 3rd, 2009 12:12 PM I was also shocked when we at WDR got the response from your management. Seems they don’t have a clue how to proceed with this issue and yes it is serious on your fleet as we even have samples from the same a/c with one week in between. This was done, because we first did not believe the results we got. The second time it had increased even more which I find very scary. If I would have a say within Condor and being a responsible person and I pilot as you may be aware, I would have grounded that particular ship right away. Your company knows the tail numbers, as we did provide these. If you may feel any need to pass any information along, please contact me at [email protected]. We will treat all information confidential. But we will follow up on this issue very soon… promised! TvB The ARD – plusminus broadcast is online for viewing in an English language version at: Regards TvB I mentioned the Aerotoxic Association before. Could I also add this link of victims’ testimonies … As has been seen on this blog, the testimonies show a common theme: Years of ill health, mis-diagnoses and inappropriate treatment, and in the case of aircrew, absolutely no help from their employers. Then followed by a stumbling on the truth after extensive research by the victim. It seems that there are very few Unithed States based websites on toxic cabin air. One of the few U.S. based websites is. Why is that? It seems that all of the studies and government actions regarding TCP and toxic cabin air are all in Europe or Australia. Is there a reason? Do the airlines in the U.S. have some kind of government protection? I started flying the Ba146 in 1988 until my enforced retirement in 2004 ,when I was pronounced as suffering from Organophosphate poisoning.This caused my Sinus to be inflamed and a resultant swelling causing respiratory problems,headaches,memory loss.I had submitted several MORs(ASRs) but only a change of Safety Officer brought about an investigation.Several other Crews were affected,some young as well as old.I had to have an operation which went wrong,and I suffered a severe secondary infection.On a head to head with my wife,the Consultant Neurologist stated that I had suffered from continuous Organophosphate Poisoning Symptoms,which had resulted in me having the operation to relieve the problem.However both the CAA and my Company took fit to claim it was my Secondary Infection,not the Toxic Fumes,that was responsible for my loss of licence,through the removal of my medical.It took over 18 months to get back to any quality of life,and when flying passenger since,especially in 757s,the old symptoms return.Headaches,sore throat,Hay fever type runny nose and blocked ears.It does not go away. As a first officer on 737s I am the one that does the exterior inspection. Most times the inspection is done right after the aircraft blocks in and the engines are still hot. Smoke from burning oil is coming out the back of the engines and I usually inhale several breaths of this smoke during the walk around. My concern is if this smoke is just as bad as the toxins that may enter an aircraft through the pneumatic system or is it worse due to the concentrations? Right now I am not experiencing any negative symptoms but I would like to keep it that way. Having worked on board a Perry Class Frigate and an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer as a Gas Turbine Systems Tech Mechanical USN the stark truth is that we entered the Engine Enclosures on a regular basis. That is with the Cumbustor Sump blowing the atomized synthetic lube oil all over us and unfortunately in us. I was diagnosed with “Adult Onset Asthma” just a few months after reporting to the Fleet. The downward spiral of my pulmonary health took years to realize and even longer for VA pension compensation. I realized a long time ago who the culprit was but what do I do? While grateful for the pension it doesn’t begin to recompensate me for lost wages or harm done me. I also would like the Navy to address the fact that thousands of GSM’s are still in harms way. If anyone might have any help/info please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. In June of 2006, I was poisoned by an APU Oil Gasket Leak in the back of an AB 321. The APU was replaced and the airplane put back on line within weeks. I was in the hospital 3 times. Once for intestinal problems, then for Heart and lungs….the doctors thought I was haveing a heart attack. Then for brain scans for toxic encephelapathy. I still can not believe how much has been covered up about this. As a flight crew member, I knew nothing about this toxin on airplanes, until I got it. TOCP poisoned me and I still have toxic encephalopathy among many other major problems. Look on Toxiccabinair.com for all the latest updates.I no longer fly …my career of 29 years ended in July 2008. Hope the House of Representatives get the ball rolling soon. Anna D. Sandefer Anna VERY IMPORTANT REGULATORY DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE: OIL FUMES AND EASA – CALL FOR URGENT ACTION This is the first time that EASA has asked for crewmember input so it is really important that we respond. Submission deadline is 8 January 2010. EASA promises that personal information will be kept confidential. Even if you’re not working on an European airline, report your story as well, please. Info and links here:

- 290, 7 pages Is Health-Related Quality of Life Associated with Upper and Lower Airway Inflammation in Asthmatics? 1Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica (DIBIMIS), Sezione di Pneumologia, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy 2Allergy & Respiratory Diseases Clinic, DIMI, University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, 16132 Genova, Italy 3Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy Received 30 April 2013; Accepted 29 July 2013 Academic Editor: Surinder K. Jindal Copyright © 2013 Nicola Scichilone et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.: , ; ECP: , ) or bronchial inflammation (pH of the EBC: , ; bronchial NO: , ; alveolar NO: , ). The mean ACT score was 18. When subjects were divided into controlled (ACT ≥ 20) and uncontrolled (ACT < 20), the alveolar NO significantly correlated with GS in uncontrolled asthmatics (, ). Conclusions. Upper and lower airways inflammation appears unrelated to HR-QoL associated with respiratory symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest that, in uncontrolled asthma, peripheral airway inflammation could be responsible for impaired HR-QoL. 1. Background Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world and is associated with high morbidity, decreased productivity, poorer quality of life, and higher health care costs. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines [1], the goal of asthma therapy is to achieve and maintain full control over the disease. Clinical manifestations of asthma can be controlled with appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment. When asthma is controlled, there should be no more than occasional flare-ups. Moreover, it would be desirable to accomplish full asthma control using the minimum possible number of drugs to reduce the likelihood of side effects. In other words, the goal of GINA guidelines is the return to an “acceptable” health related (HR) quality of life (QoL), with little or no impact of the disease on patient’s life. An important factor that may impact on current strategies of asthma control is the presence of associated morbidities. Among these, rhinitis plays a prominent role [2]. The association of rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms reduces performance at school and work, affects learning, and worsens the quantity and quality of sleep. For all these reasons, in recent years a growing number of studies have focused on assessing the HR-QoL benefits that medical care can provide to patients with asthma and associated conditions [3, 4]. Several studies have demonstrated a correlation between the severity of rhinitic and asthmatic symptoms, as well as the impact of associated rhinitis on asthma severity [2, 5–7]. In addition, allergic rhinitis and asthma have been demonstrated to interfere with HR-QoL [4, 7, 8]. However, to what extent the severity of upper and lower inflammation affects HR-QoL in patients with asthma and rhinitis has not been investigated so far. The current study aimed at exploring whether HR-QoL of patients with respiratory allergy diseases is associated with inflammatory changes in the upper and lower airways. Therefore, it is intended as preliminary to larger, more specifically tailored studies. 2. Methods 2.1. Patients The study was conducted at the Department of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Section of Pneumology, University of Palermo upon approval from the local research ethics committee. We recruited subjects with bronchial asthma and concomitant allergic rhinitis, on the basis of clinical assessment and skin reactivity to common allergens. The diagnosis of asthma was based on the presence of respiratory symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, wheezing, acute episodes of dyspnea, and the ascertainment of variable airway obstruction by chest examination and spirometry, in agreement with the GINA guidelines [1]. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed by the presence of recurrent episodes of runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and itching, according to the most recent ARIA guidelines [9]. Skin prick tests were performed on all subjects at least one week after suspension of antihistamine therapy. Subjects enrolled in this study had mild asthma (FEV1 > 80% predicted) and tested positive to at least one aeroallergen. We excluded patients with heart disease and/or uncontrolled chronic liver disease and cancer, both past and current. 2.2. Study Design The study was performed in one visit. Each patient underwent a clinical evaluation and the administration of questionnaires on HR-QoL assessment (Rhinasthma) and the degree of disease control (Asthma Control Test, ACT). Subjects were refrained from taking medications the two weeks preceding the study day, with the exception of rescue medications. Each patient also underwent the following functional and biological investigations: respiratory function test, measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and nasal wash. Short-acting beta-agonists were stopped the day before the tests. The study was performed in accordance with the Good Clinical Practice guidelines recommended by the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements and was approved by the Ethics Committee of University Hospital of Palermo, and all participants gave written informed consent before inclusion. All measurements took place in the morning, and coffee or tea was not allowed prior to the evaluation. 2.2.1. Clinical Investigations The Rhinasthma questionnaire assesses the impact of rhinitis and asthma on the patient’s HR-QoL. This questionnaire is composed of 30 questions, whose responses are graded based on the subject’s perception of symptoms and converted into a 0–100 score to allow a quantitative estimate of the QoL associated with disease of the upper airways (UA) or lower airways (LA) and the impact of allergic symptoms over the QoL (Rhinitis-Asthma Impact (RAI)). Moreover, Rhinasthma provides a global summary (GS) that indicates the overall impact of symptoms over the patient’s QoL [8]. Each patient was also administered the ACT questionnaire which allows the estimate of the level of asthma control. The test consists of five questions. The resulting ACT score is interpreted as follows: fully controlled asthma (score ≥ 25), poorly to partially controlled asthma (score 20–24), or uncontrolled asthma (score < 20) [10]. The questions address symptoms and rescue medication use occurring within the 4 weeks preceding the evaluation. 2.2.2. Functional Investigations Respiratory function was assessed through a bell-shaped spirometer, in line with the most recent guidelines of the ATS/ERS recommendations [11]. We recorded, in addition to FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC, also the expiratory flows at different lung volumes (FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75%, and FEF25−75%). Lung function was defined as normal when FEV1/FVC was above 88% of predicted (lower limit of normality). 2.2.3. Biological Investigations This evaluation aimed at assessing the inflammatory profile of lower and upper airways by employing nitric oxide (NO) measurements in the expired air, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and nasal wash. The fraction of exhaled NO (FENO) was measured with a standardized single-breath method by using the electrochemical analyzer (HypAir FeNO, Medisoft), which was calibrated daily. The measurement procedure was consistent with guidelines published by the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society [12]. Subjects were in sitting position during the entire procedure. Each individual was asked to take a deep inspiration from room air and, immediately after, to forcefully exhale through the mouthpiece that was connected to the online analyzer. To determine if subjects maintained a constant flow-rate during exhalation, a continuous monitoring of expiratory flow rate by graphic display on the monitor screen was used. All samples were acquired in the morning between 11:00 and 12:00. FENO was obtained as the mean of three acceptable measurements at the airflow rate of 50 mL/s. The alveolar concentration of NO (Calv) was calculated by using multiple exhalation flow rates of 50, 150, 250, and 350 mL/s. Calv is described by the slope of the plotting of the expiration rates of NO against the exhalation airflow. No correction formula was applied, since this is still a matter of debate. EBC was collected using a condenser (EcoScreen; Jaeger; Wurzburg, Germany) [13]. Patients were asked to clean the oral cavity before and during operation to reduce contamination of the sample with saliva. The subjects were asked to breathe at tidal volume, with a normal frequency, through a mouthpiece connected to a two-way valve with saliva trap, wearing a nose clip for about 10 minutes. The condensate, whose quantity varied between 1 and about 4 mL, was collected on ice at −20°C, aliquoted, and transferred immediately at −80°C. The samples were analyzed within one month of collection. The pH of these samples was measured with a pH meter (HI 221, HANNA Instruments) equipped with a microelectrode after deaeration with argon (350 mL/min) for 5 minutes to remove carbon dioxide. Nasal washes were performed by instilling 5 mL of Ringer solution, preheated at 37°C, in each nostril through a sterile syringe. During the procedure the patient sits with head tilted back at 30 degrees horizontally and occludes the nasopharynx with the soft palate, then tilts his head forward and forces the liquid into a sterile test tube. The volume of liquid obtained was measured using a graduated container, then the sample was stirred and filtered through a Cell Strainer (70 µm mesh, BD Falcon) to remove mucus and centrifuged at 1600 rpm at 4°C for 20 minutes. The supernatant was stored at −80°C for subsequent determination of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), while the cellular pellet was resuspended in 0.3 mL of PBS. An aliquot (20 μL) of this suspension was applied onto a Burker chamber for the total cellular count, then equivalent numbers of cells were cytospun onto slides for differential cell count (Shandon) at 500 rpm for 5 minutes, allowed to dry, and stained with Diff-Quick. Slides were observed at the optical microscope by two different operators in order to verify the reproducibility of the data. At least 100 cells were enumerated in 3 different sites or 6 random fields. ECP concentration was measured in supernatants by chemiluminescence using an IMMULITE 2000 instrument as described. ECP concentration is expressed as ng/mL. The limit of the assay is 200 ng/mL. 2.2.4. Statistical Analyses Due to the explorative nature of the study, no formal sample size calculation was performed. Depending on the distribution of the variables, nonparametric tests were used whenever appropriate. Data are reported as mean ± SD. Nonparametric tests were used for nonnormally distributed variables. Unpaired -test was used to compare variables from different groups. Linear regression slopes or Spearman rank correlations were constructed to assess the relationships between variables. In all analyses, two-tailed values ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The statistical package we employed was StatView 5.0.1 (Abacus Concept, Berkeley, CA, USA). 3. Results Twenty-five consecutive asthmatics were recruited. After enrollment, three subjects refused to participate for reasons not related to the nature of the study. A total of twenty-two subjects took part in the study (M/F: 10/12, age: 38 ± 17 yrs, mean ± SD). The GS score of Rhinasthma was 25 ± 11, ranging between 7.5 and 47.5. Figure 1 also depicts the mean ± SD values of single domains (UA, LA, and RAI). All patients showed values of respiratory function within a normal range (FEV1/FVC% predicted above 88%, LLN). FEV1% predicted ranged from 82 to 129%, and FVC% predicted ranged from 83 to 129%. Complete baseline lung function measures of the study subjects are presented in Table 1. The biological findings from upper and lower airway procedures are described in Table 2. With regard to the NO values, the FENO values were around the upper normal level of eNO, which ranges from 20 to 30 ppb, with 95th percentile values being 39 ppb for subjects 12 to 80 years of age. On the other hand, no reference values are still available for the alveolar concentrations. The pH of the EBC was lower than that usually recorded in healthy subjects, suggesting a condition of airway inflammation. The detection of ECP levels and eosinophils in the nasal wash also confirm the occurrence of allergic inflammation in the upper airways. We also assessed the level of asthma control: the mean ACT score was 18; in detail, 3 patients had a totally controlled asthma (ACT = 25), 6 partially controlled (20 ≤ ACT < 24), and 13 uncontrolled (ACT < 20). As expected, we found a significant correlation between the Rhinasthma GS score and the ACT score (, ) (Figure 2). In addition, Rhinasthma LA (, ) (Figure 3(a)) but not UA (, ) and RAI (, ) (Figures 3(b) and 3(c)) correlated significantly with the ACT score. To assess whether the HR-QoL is affected by the degree of upper and lower airway inflammation, we explored possible correlations between these measures through simple regression analysis. The Rhinasthma GS did not correlate with the percent of eosinophils (, ), or with ECP levels (, ) in the nasal wash. Likewise, we found no significant correlation between Rhinasthma GS and the EBC pH (, ). Finally, neither FeNO or Calv values showed a significant correlation with the Rhinasthma GS. Similar results were obtained for the single domains of Rhinasthma (UA, LA, and RAI). To further investigate the role of airway inflammation on the HR-QoL of patients with asthma, we divided them into two groups according to the level of disease control: group 1 (patients with fully or partially controlled asthma, ACT ≥ 20) and group 2 (patients with uncontrolled asthma, ACT < 20). The two groups were similar with respect to the pulmonary function: FEV1 was, respectively, 105 ± 18% and 95 ± 22% of predicted value, ; FVC was 116 ± 20% and 101 ± 17%, . Similarly, the expiratory flow rates at various lung volumes did not differ significantly between the two groups ( in all cases). With regard to the inflammatory markers in the nasal washes, no significant differences were found between groups 1 and 2 in eosinophil percentages (15 ± 9.8% versus 13 ± 8%, respectively; ) and ECP concentrations (5.8 ± 3.2 ng/mL versus 3.9 ± 3.6 ng/mL, respectively; ). The pH of EBC was, respectively, 6.85 ± 0.16 and 6.79 ± 0.20 (). FeNO levels were not significantly different between the two groups (16 ± 5.3 ppb versus 25 ± 23 ppb, respectively; ). In contrast, Calv was threefold higher in patients with uncontrolled asthma (9 ± 6.5 ppb) than in those with totally or partially controlled asthma (3 ± 2.3 ppb) (). In addition, a significant correlation between Rhinasthma GS and Calv was found in patients with uncontrolled asthma (, ) (Figure 4). 4. Discussion The results of this pilot study suggest that, in individuals with uncontrolled asthma, the HR-QoL is associated with inflammatory changes in the peripheral airways. The findings of the current study could carry clinical implications. In our previous study [14], we demonstrated that the improved control of respiratory symptoms obtained with nasal corticosteroids in allergic rhinitics with asthma appeared to be mediated by functional changes in the peripheral airways. It is plausible to speculate that, in individuals with uncontrolled asthma, a more intensive anti-inflammatory treatment, perhaps targeting the small airways, is necessary to improve HR-QoL. The main limitation of the study is represented by the small number of subjects. This implies that no generalization of the findings can be applied to the asthmatic population. The small number of subject could explain the lack of significance between biological variables and quality of life. It is, however, important to highlight that the study was exploratory in nature and was intended as preliminary to larger studies with the attempt to select those biological markers who could show an association with impaired quality of life. In addition, we did not measure nasal NO; we feel confident, however, that ECP in the nasal wash provides similar information on the quality and magnitude of nasal inflammation. In addition, the discrepancy between normal lung function and lack of asthma control is only apparent; indeed, the control of asthma, specifically the ACT, which reflects the patient’s perception of disease control, can be dissociated from the level of airway obstruction measured by the physician. The importance of measuring QoL in chronic allergic respiratory patients lies in the notion that the different pathophysiologic parameters that are commonly used as an index of severity are only part of a more general state of health. In addition to the common functional and clinical manifestations of asthma and rhinitis, these two conditions are typically associated with fatigue, disturbed sleep, and discomfort from therapies and medical equipment [4]. It is well known that asthma can cause a host of psychological problems such as anxiety, fear, addiction, or depression [15]. Rhinitis reduces academic and work performance, affects learning, and reduces the quantity and quality of sleep [16]. This stresses the need to assess the QoL of these patients by administration of specific instruments, for example, questionnaires. To this aim, we administered the Rhinasthma questionnaire, in which asthma and rhinitis are considered as different manifestations of the same disease [17]. Evaluation of NO in exhaled air has been proposed not only as a new experimental tool in translational medicine but also as a valuable clinical resource for asthma screening, diagnosis, and monitoring [18, 19]. Hence, its measurement could be used to assess asthma severity and the risk for exacerbations in asthmatic patients. In recent years, several studies have been performed to evaluate the relationship between eNO levels and parameters of lung function or other markers of airway inflammation [20]. In particular, it is well established that alveolar eNO levels are representative of peripheral bronchial inflammation [21–23]. As also inferred in several studies, the peripheral airways in asthmatics are the site of an inflammatory infiltrate that is not observed in nonasthmatic controls and, within asthmatic lungs, is more intense than in the central airways [24, 25]. In conclusion, the results of our explorative study provide additional insights into the factors that affect asthma control and the QoL associated with symptoms of upper and lower respiratory allergic diseases, suggesting a major role of abnormalities at the level of peripheral airways. Although novel, the findings of the current study should be interpreted with caution and confirmed by further studies specifically aiming at addressing the role of peripheral airways in impaired quality of life of uncontrolled asthmatics. We emphasize the need to perform the alveolar NO methodology to test whether in large population of uncontrolled asthmatics small airway abnormalities are the cause of impaired quality of life. Conflict of Interests The authors declare no conflict of interests. Authors’ Contribution Nicola Scichilone designed the study, recruited the volunteers, performed the lung function test, contributed to the analysis, the interpretation of the findings, and the writing of the paper. Fulvio Braido designed the study, participated in the analysis and the interpretation of the findings, and contributed to the writing of the paper. Salvatore Taormina administered the questionnaires, collected and analyzed the biological samples, and contributed to the interpretation of the findings. Elena Pozzecco performed the nitric oxide measurements and contributed to the interpretation of the findings. Alessandra Paternò analyzed the biological samples. Ilaria Baiardini participated in the analysis and the interpretation of the findings and contributed to the writing of the paper. Vincenzo Casolaro participated in the interpretation of the findings and contributed to the writing of the paper. Walter Giorgio Canonica participated in the interpretation of the findings and contributed to the writing of the paper. Vincenzo Bellia contributed to the design of the study, participated in the interpretation of the findings, and contributed to the writing of the paper. Nicola Scichilone and Fulvio Braido equally contributed to the study. References - “National Institutes of Health NH Lung and Blood Institute: Global Strategy for asthma management and prevention (Updated 2011): Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA),” 2011,. - M. S. Blaiss, “Rhinitis-asthma connection: epidemiologic and pathophysiologic basis,” Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 35–40, 2005. View at Google Scholar · View at Scopus - F. Braido, I. Baiardini, S. 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Ms. Ginn, left, in her rat-pelt dress, and Ms. LaViola chatting with guests before dinner. ― scott seward, Friday, 27 July 2012 02:32 (2 years ago) Permalink damn, for some reason i couldn't get that rat-pelt dress picture to show up. maybe a moderator can add it. ― scott seward, Friday, 27 July 2012 02:33 (2 years ago) Permalink i couldn't even save that picture to my computer. the times is tricky. ― scott seward, Friday, 27 July 2012 02:38 (2 years ago) Permalink ― scott seward, Friday, 27 July 2012 02:39 (2 years ago) Permalink she needs to come along for the ride..” (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink something about eating rats that really pisses people off. sorry, link: ― scott seward, Friday, 27 July 2012 03:10 (2 years ago) Permalink Sometimes I feel like the cycle of trolling and being trolled has just become a ritual for the Times style sections, like the commenters are just this chorus of people who "come to boo" ― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Friday, 27 July 2012 14:59 (2 years ago) Permalink I mean that's what we are, basically ― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Friday, 27 July 2012 15:00 (2 years ago) Permalink ya they know what theyre doin ― lag∞n, Friday, 27 July 2012 15:02 (2 years ago) Permalink SamiLong Beach, CA ― scott seward, Friday, 27 July 2012 04:07 (13 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink ^ rad ― , Blogger (schlump), Friday, 27 July 2012 16:51 (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink i hope that they get the plague and die. ― KARLOR CAN FUCK ANYTHING! AND HE WILL AND HAS!!! (Eisbaer), Sunday, 29 July 2012 00:33 (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink the ILX seems limited to fans of zing-it-yourself compacts at a relatively high price. ― undermikey: bidness (Autumn Almanac), Sunday, 29 July 2012 07:01 (2 years ago) Permalink too much time on nyt ― I dont even know that I think this sucks per se (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 29 July 2012 14:11 (2 years ago) Permalink ― lag∞n, Sunday, 29 July 2012 14:43 (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink ya tavi is awesome ― lag∞n, Sunday, 29 July 2012 16:38 (2 years ago) Permalink yep rookie is great and i wish i was as cool and smart at 28 as tavi is at 15/16 ― Roz, Sunday, 29 July 2012 16:55 (2 years ago) Permalink nothing to hate about tavi. ― wmlynch, Sunday, 29 July 2012 18:25 (2 years ago) Permalink Rookie is great and I wish it was there to read when I was 12+ years old. So much better than so many teen girl mags. ― Crabbits, Sunday, 29 July 2012 19:54 (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink i tried it on the long orig breaking bad thread & it didnt seem 2 work ― johnny crunch, Friday, 3 August 2012 12:18 (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink i have tried it and it worked ― lag∞n, Friday, 3 August 2012 18:46 (2 years ago) Permalink What I do with a long thread is open it at my bookmarked spot and then hit permalink on the first post while the rest is loading. ― Moodles, Friday, 3 August 2012 19:51 (2 years ago) Permalink fyi you can also click on the permalink for the last post before the fold and then just click “view previous page" ― 1staethyr, Friday, 3 August 2012 20:40 (2 years ago) Permalink View Previous Page has only ever worked sporadically for me. ― Godzilla vs. Rodan Rodannadanna (The Yellow Kid), Friday, 3 August 2012 20:46 (2 years ago) Permalink i enjoy that scott is all 'that tavi girl' ― thomp, Friday, 3 August 2012 21:24 (2 years ago) Permalink ― Godzilla vs. Rodan Rodannadanna (The Yellow Kid), Friday, August 3, 2012 4:46 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark ― smells like ok (soda) (dayo), Saturday, 4 August 2012 13:35 (2 years ago) Permalink men. living together. ― goole, Saturday, 4 August 2012 17:57 (2 years ago) Permalink i was looking for a thread on like manchildren or something to post this on but i guess this is close enough because lol nytimes not so much these guys are the ruling class ― buzza, Saturday, 4 August 2012 18:58 (2 years ago) Permalink "Shyaporn Theerakulstit, actor and audiobook narrator" ― I dont even know that I think this sucks per se (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 5 August 2012 12:46 (2 years ago) Permalink.” Nope. No you don't. ― Playoff Starts Here (san lazaro), Sunday, 5 August 2012 13:00 (2 years ago) Permalink it notes clearly that she was joking ― lag∞n, Sunday, 5 August 2012 13:16 (2 years ago) Permalink yah what gives ― smells like ok (soda) (dayo), Sunday, 5 August 2012 13:17 (2 years ago) Permalink Another showed a rifle and the words “Defend Montauk.” printing hipster shirts against hipsters u might be a hipster ― lag∞n, Sunday, 5 August 2012 13:21 (2 years ago) Permalink (2 years ago) Permalink quiddities thread has made me insensitive to the real articles, i want all the stupid setup cut so i can get right to the aughs ― j., Sunday, 5 August 2012 15:58 (2 years ago) Permalink so by hipster they just mean young money? ― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Sunday, 5 August 2012 16:09 (2 years ago) Permalink well ― lag∞n, Sunday, 5 August 2012 17:47 (2 years ago) Permalink.®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 ― scott seward, Saturday, 28 February 2015 04:27 (3 weeks ago) Permalink It was the perfect night for a séance. ― mookieproof, Saturday, 28 February 2015 05:39 (3 weeks ago) Permalink This is awesome and I had a similar idea to do this last year. I totally want to go to a seance. ― ©Oz Quiz© (Adam Bruneau), Saturday, 28 February 2015 07:11 (3 weeks ago) Permalink I don't know how I ended up on this article but this guy starts his travelogue humblebragging about not caring about losing expensive stuff (credit cards, cash, laptops, etc.) and how it is really just evidence that he is some kind of absent-minded genuis.®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=article I saw there were like 3 or 4 articles on this guy, turns out he is a novelist. The NY Times says "He cries all over the place in the first three volumes of his six-part autobiographical novel". The book sounds like a monument to pointless self-indulgence and naval gazing. ― ©Oz Quiz© (Adam Bruneau), Saturday, 28 February 2015 07:22 (3 weeks ago) Permalink um, well it's driven by him coming to terms with his abusive upbringing .” ― Maybe in 100 years someone will say damn Dawn was dope. (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 28 February 2015 07:27 (3 weeks ago) Permalink he's sort of a big deal ― polyphonic, Saturday, 28 February 2015 07:46 (3 weeks ago) Permalink Lol I've never heard of him but after first glance at the URL thought it said Karl Rove ― tobo73, Saturday, 28 February 2015 12:34 (3 weeks ago) Permalink he's apparently the new Proust ― ancient texts, things that can't be pre-dated (President Keyes), Monday, 2 March 2015 01:48 (3 weeks ago) Permalink that reviewer got malaria from him :(((( ― hammer smashed nagls (mattresslessness), Monday, 2 March 2015 02:08 (3 weeks ago) Permalink ― five six and (man alive), Thursday, 5 March 2015 02:31 (3 weeks ago) Permalink featuring one of the best taglines I've ever seen It’s not selling out; it’s buying in. ― five six and (man alive), Thursday, 5 March 2015 02:32 (3 weeks ago) Permalink Only the NYT could set the beginning of their triumph-over-adversity story at Exeter. ― schwantz, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 15:07 (1 week ago) Permalink And it ends at Scripps ($47K / year) ― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 15:51 (1 week ago) Permalink Somehow she managed to make something of herself.” ― Maybe in 100 years someone will say damn Dawn was dope. (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 15:55 (1 week ago) Permalink what 17-year-old doesn't like to 'drown their sorrows' in the shower for 45 minutes at a time amirite ― bizarro gazzara, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 15:57 (1 week ago) Permalink tooooo much informationnnnnnn......... ― scott seward, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 16:11 (1 week ago) Permalink man I'm glad I don't have to apply to college again ― stately, plump buck angel (silby), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 18:36 (1 week ago) Permalink ― bizarro gazzara, Wednesday, March 18, 2015 11:57 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink looooooooool ― marcos, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 20:11 (1 week ago) Permalink today i learned that rich kids do that too ― head clowning instructor (art), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 20:21 (1 week ago) Permalink ― scott seward, Thursday, July 26, 2012 10:00 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink ! ― RAP GAME SHANI DAVIS (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 20:31 (1 week ago) Permalink this is monumentally ridiculous Teens and preteens are getting involved in finding multimillion-dollar homes for their families, and in a few instances, doing everything but writing the check. ― panettone for the painfully alone (mayor jingleberries), Friday, 20 March 2015 16:59 (6 days ago) Permalink the comments are great ― Maybe in 100 years someone will say damn Dawn was dope. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 20 March 2015 19:45 (6 days ago) Permalink also:Skye van Merkensteijn Skye van Merkensteijn Skye van Merkensteijn Skye van Merkensteijn Skye van Merkensteijn Skye van Merkensteijn Skye van Merkensteijn Skye van Merkensteijn ― Maybe in 100 years someone will say damn Dawn was dope. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 20 March 2015 19:46 (6 days ago) Permalink Fantastic. ― schwantz, Friday, 20 March 2015 20:20 (6 days ago) Permalink "Katie Haggerty, a fashion designer, has worked as a real estate broker. " ― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Saturday, 21 March 2015 00:19 (5 days ago) Permalink like, you know ― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Saturday, 21 March 2015 00:20 (5 days ago) Permalink you know the drill, right?. Someday internet archaeologists will exhume examples of people repeating sentences and wonder why they did that. Someday internet archaeologists will exhume examples of people repeating sentences and wonder.....ah, hell ― Vic Perry, Saturday, 21 March 2015 05:13 (5 days ago) Permalink maybe more Late Stage Empire-Decline than quid-ag per se but I don't know where else to put this WARNING: disturbingly graphic images ― Hadrian VIII, Saturday, 21 March 2015 12:06 (5 days ago) Permalink None of the people in those photos should count as adults. ― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Saturday, 21 March 2015 12:56 (5 days ago) Permalink Nope. ― Jeff, Saturday, 21 March 2015 13:23 (5 days ago) Permalink Maybe at least this is their way of coming to terms with that fact. ― Hadrian VIII, Saturday, 21 March 2015 19:44 (5 days ago) Permalink get some blinds yo!!! ― too many willies all in one hand (yeoman wassup), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 03:31 (2 days ago) Permalink Huh, trying to select text to copy results in being redirected to another page. In this case one called "Canine Fashion Paralysis." That's pretty annoying. Anyway, those LEDs are gross. They're really cold and harsh. ― a girl with colitis (Je55e), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 15:40 (2 days ago) Permalink If only there was a way to stop light from coming in these windows. ― ©Oz Quiz© (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 15:45 (2 days ago) Permalink That's my neighborhood. I noticed the LEDs only after I saw that piece. Still, it does make the street seem like a big holding room. Get me outta there. Wish we'd gotten a photo of Skye van Merkensteijn in his middle-school ascot. Oh yeah the nabe profile in Real Estate this week was Sunnyside, which i can apparently add to the Unaffordable column. ― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 15:49 (2 days ago) Permalink Get you some tinfoil. ― ©Oz Quiz© (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 16:32 (2 days ago) Permalink Sunnyside's been unaffordable for a good while, I was looking for places there a couple years ago and...yeah, nope. I don't love LED lights, especially because municipalities tend to really go completely OTT with them and turn once-pleasant streets into blinding nightmares. Columbus and/or Ohio State were doing this while I lived there and I remember it being a big deal when trekking up Woodruff to get Wendy's became like going through an interrogation. The basic idea of energy efficiency is totally reasonable though and TBH I'm sure in a few years it'll just be one of those things where, yeah, there's something kinda magical about old-timey photos that we don't experience anymore, but I have a feeling something similar probably went on with the demise of gas lights or candles or what have you. The one that drives me nuts is getting CFLs for the house and accidentally getting a way too "cool" temperature. Now that is ghastly. ― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 16:58 (2 days ago) Permalink where should i live, dr c? ― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 17:01 (2 days ago) Permalink If I only knew. I'm doing okay at the Bushwick/Bed-Stuy border but it's a compromise situation considering the respective budgets and commute needs of myself and my girlfriend. Would really, really love more trees and maybe more food options, and to not live with this one horrid roommate that's been in the building for nine years, has some insanely low grandfathered-in rent, doesn't bathe, and behaves like a petulant child emperor. I think to achieve all this we'd need to double our annual income, or go back in time and lock in some great place in Lefferts Gardens like my friends used to have. ― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 17:08 (2 days ago) Permalink i don't buy CFLs for my house, i still use incandescents, i can't stand the fluorescent light. ― marcos, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 17:24 (2 days ago) Permalink Got to make sure you get the "soft white" CFLs. Except in the bathroom where harsh bright light is necessary for applying makeup and plucking chin whiskers. ― from batman to balloon dog (carl agatha), Tuesday, 24 March 2015 18:02 (2 days ago) Permalink Sunnyside is still cheaper than gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhoods, I think? Tho prices def have gone up over the last few years. We have a nice 1br for under 1400. Morbs you should move to the Bronx xps ― iatee, Tuesday, 24 March 2015 22:36 (2 days ago) Permalink surprised this wasn't posted yet. shocked that this is a thing: ime everyone just has cellphones w/whatever their area code of origin is? 408 for me. ― chinavision!, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 16:54 (Yesterday) Permalink man those people at the beginning of the article are such dweebs ― chinavision!, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 16:55 (Yesterday) Permalink Who even knows anyone's phone number. Once it's in a contact, set it and forget it. Never seen again. ― Jeff, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 17:04 (Yesterday) Permalink idgi - 212 is for landlines! the OG mobile area code is 917 ― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 17:06 (Yesterday) Permalink i don't set nuthin ― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 17:16 (Yesterday) Permalink

1. The issue of whether a district court has authority to impose attorney fees under a particular statute is a question of law over which appellate review is plenary. 2. As a general rule, an appellate court does not decide moot questions or render advisory opinions. However, an exception is recognized if the question is one likely to arise in the future unless settled by the appellate court. 3. K.S.A. 40-2,118(c) is construed, and the phrase "any financial loss sustained" by an insurance company is held not to include recovery of attorney fees. 4. A determination of whether a person is a contingently necessary person under K.S.A. 60-219 is subject to an abuse of discretion standard of review. Under the circumstances shown, the district court's denial of the defendant's motion to join a potential tort claimant as a contingently necessary person in a breach of contract suit brought by an insured to recover first-party benefits does not constitute an abuse of discretion. If the insured seeks a determination of whether there is coverage to pay the claims of a tort claimant, its remedy is to pursue an action for declaratory relief under K.S.A. 60-1701 et seq. 5. The standards for appellate review of summary judgment are stated and applied. 6. Once an authorized binder of insurance has been issued, it is the duty of an insurance company to notify an insured of rejection or rating up before terminating the temporary contract of insurance. 7. The provisions of the written binder are interpreted to require that notice of rejection or rating up be given in accordance with the provisions of the underlying insurance policy ordinarily issued by the company. 8. Issues of whether an insurance agent is acting as an agent of the insured or the insurance company and whether notice was mailed to the insured present jury questions precluding the entry of summary judgment. 9. Equitable estoppel is not applicable absent a showing of misrepresentation and detrimental reliance by a party. Under the facts of this case, the district court erred in holding equitable estoppel applied and would preclude the insurance company from setting the time when coverage would end under the binder extension. Appeal from Sedgwick District Court; KARL W. FRIEDEL, judge. Opinion filed April 9, 2004. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions. Paul Hasty, Jr., of Wallace, Saunders, Austin, Brown & Enochs, Chartered, of Overland Park, for appellant. Gerald W. Scott and Mark A. Scott, of Gerald W. Scott, P.A., of Wichita, for appellee. Before GREENE, P.J., ELLIOTT, J., and KNUDSON, S.J. KNUDSON, J.: This appeal follows the district court's grant of summary judgment to Katrina Hershaw (plaintiff), against her automobile insurance company, Farm & City Insurance Company (defendant). The district court concluded that as a matter of law coverage was provided to the plaintiff and her claim was denied without just cause or excuse. The plaintiff was granted a judgment of $1,383.31 for damages to her automobile and an additional $30,000 for attorney fees. On appeal, the defendant contends the district court erred as coverage had lapsed before the underlying automobile accident had occurred. The defendant also contends the district court erred in refusing to join the potential tort claimant as an additional party, dismissing its counterclaim for attorney fees, and granting the plaintiff's claim for attorney fees. We conclude the district court did not err in refusing to join the potential tort claimant as an additional party or in denying the defendant's request for attorney fees; however, we also conclude summary judgment was improvidently granted. Thus, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings. Factual and Procedural Overview Both plaintiff and defendant filed motions for summary judgment. The following circumstances are disclosed from pleadings and memoranda filed under Supreme Court Rule 141 (2003 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 191). In early September 2001, the plaintiff telephoned American Insurance Agency (American Insurance), an independent insurance agency, and spoke with one of its agents, Dick Hadley, concerning quotes on automobile insurance for a 1995 Saturn SL that she was considering buying. The plaintiff claims she told Hadley she had one ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road in May 1999. The plaintiff claimed she only had to give her driving history for the previous 2 or 3 years, based on her previous experiences buying insurance. On September 10, 2001, the plaintiff purchased the 1995 Saturn SL. Also on September 10, 2001, she met with Hadley. Hadley determined the least expensive insurance would be the defendant's. The plaintiff signed the application for insurance and gave Hadley a check for the premium of $260. While at American Insurance, the plaintiff received an insurance identification card that showed coverage provided by the defendant with the policy number BIN12305 and an effective date of September 10, 2001, and an expiration date of December 10, 2001. The plaintiff used the insurance identification card given to her by Hadley, as well as a vehicle listing sheet that showed Twin Lakes National Bank (Twin Lakes) as a recognized lienholder on the insurance policy, to obtain a loan from Twin Lakes to buy the Saturn. She also signed an "Agreement to Provide Accidental Physical Damage Insurance," which required her to maintain insurance on the Saturn. After receiving the application, the defendant issued a written binder of coverage effective at 12:01 a.m. on September 10, 2001, and expiring on October 7, 2001, at 12:01 a.m. The binder number was 582963A. The back side of the binder stated: . Unless previously cancelled, this Binder shall terminate at 12:01 A.M. on the day indicated on reverse side. Acceptance by the named insured of a policy (or policies) as ordered in place hereof shall render this Binder null and void. A premium charge at the rates and in compliance with the rules of the Manual of Rates in use by the Company when this Binder becomes effective will be made for the time this Binder is in effect if no policy of insurance in place hereof is issued and accepted by the named insured." The binder was sent to American Insurance. The binder contained a statement that the premium quotation would be forwarded after the plaintiff's driving record was verified. After the defendant finished its underwriting procedures, on or about September 28, 2001, it sent a quotation to American Insurance indicating plaintiff owed an additional $22.10 for her premium and stating that this was due before expiration of the binder. American Insurance unilaterally extended coverage afforded through the binder until December 2, 2001, at 12:01 a.m. Quotations sent by the defendant contain the same language on their backs as do the binders. Additionally, the quotation contained a request by the defendant to forward the quotation to the plaintiff. Hadley claims he sent the plaintiff the quotation, but plaintiff denies ever receiving it or any cancellation notice on her policy. On December 2, 2001, at approximately 2:45 p.m., the plaintiff was involved in an accident while driving the insured automobile. She called American Insurance on December 3, 2001, and claims first learning of the additional premium due. The plaintiff then gave American Insurance a check for the additional premium of $22.10 that was rejected by the defendant. Accordingly, the defendant refused to pay the plaintiff's claim of $1,883.31 for damages to her automobile. The plaintiff filed suit seeking damages, attorney fees, and indemnification from the defendant for any claim that might be asserted by the potential third-party claimant arising from the automobile accident. After the defendant filed a motion to join the potential tort claimant as a contingently necessary party, the plaintiff abandoned its claim for indemnification and the district court denied joinder. In its answer, the defendant made a claim for attorney fees, claiming the plaintiff committed a fraudulent insurance act by misrepresenting her driving record to American Insurance. Upon the plaintiff's motion, the district court dismissed the defendant's claim for attorney fees. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment. The district court granted the plaintiff's motion and denied the defendant's motion. In a separate hearing, the court granted the plaintiff attorney fees and expenses of $30,000. The defendant filed a timely notice of appeal. Defendant's Claim for Attorney Fees The defendant claims the district court erred in dismissing its claim for attorney fees. The defendant's claim is based on K.S.A. 40-2,118(c). The issue of whether a district court has authority to impose attorney fees under a particular statute is a question of law over which appellate review is plenary. Hamilton v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 263 Kan. 875, 879, 953 P.2d 1027 (1998). K.S.A. 40-2,118 punishes fraudulent acts committed against insurers in obtaining insurance. K.S.A. 40-2,118(c) states: "In addition to any other penalty, a person who violates this statute shall be ordered to make restitution to the insurer . . . for any financial loss sustained as a result of such violation." The defendant contends this is remedial legislation and "any financial loss sustained" should be construed to include recovery of reasonable attorney fees. See Squires v. City of Salina, 9 Kan. App. 2d 199, 202, 675 P.2d 926 (1984). The defendant's argument fails. In order to be entitled to restitution under K.S.A. 40-2,118(c), the defendant must prove the plaintiff committed a fraudulent insurance act. The district court specifically held: "[T]here was no fraud on the part of the plaintiff in the application for insurance." The defendant has not appealed this finding. Therefore, whether K.S.A. 40-2,118(c) allows for attorney fees is a moot issue. As a general rule, an appellate court does not decide moot questions or render advisory opinions. However, an exception is recognized if the question is one likely to arise frequently in the future unless settled by the appellate court. In re T.D., 27 Kan. App. 2d 331, 333, 3 P.3d 590, rev. denied 269 Kan. 933 (2000). Ordinarily, a statute must specifically allow for "attorney fees" before such fees will be allowed. In Legislative Coordinating Council v. Stanley, 264 Kan. 690, 703, 957 P.2d 379 (1998), the court determined that the use of the term "costs" in a statute does not allow for an award of attorney fees absent express statutory authority. The court in Stanley specifically found that the use of the term "all costs" in K.S.A. 25-1452 does not include attorney fees. 264 Kan. at 703. Additionally, in Wolf v. Mutual Benefit Health & Accident Association, 188 Kan. 694, 700, 366 P.2d 219 (1961), the court stated: "Ordinarily the term 'costs' and 'expenses' as used in a statute are not understood to include attorney fees." Finally, the legislature has had no difficulty in expressly providing for the recovery of attorney fees, including remedial legislation, when recovery is intended. See K.S.A. 8-2416; K.S.A. 16-1207; K.S.A. 16a-2-507; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 17-1902; K.S.A. 17-5571; K.S.A. 17-6305; K.S.A. 17-6908; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 17-7670; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 17-76,133; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 22-4110; K.S.A. 40-4011; K.S.A. 44-536a; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 44-566a; K.S.A. 48-241a; K.S.A. 49-416a; K.S.A. 50-505; K.S.A. 55-1210; K.S.A. 56-1a554; K.S.A. 58-3966; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 58a-1004; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 59-3086; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 59-3087; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 59-3088; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 59-3089; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-211; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-216; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-226; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-230; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-237; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-256; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-721; K.S.A. 60-905; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-1607; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 60-4116; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 61-3102; K.S.A. 65-1526; K.S.A. 65-1954; K.S.A. 65-4968; K.S.A. 74-7039; K.S.A. 74-7312; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 75-2973; K.S.A. 75-4360; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 79-15,126; K.S.A. 79-32,193; K.S.A. 84-4a-211; K.S.A. 2003 Supp. 84-9-607. Accordingly, we conclude the district court did not err in rejecting the defendant's claim for attorney fees as recovery is not expressly authorized under K.S.A. 40-2,118(c) and controlling canons of statutory construction do not permit authorization by implication. Refusal to Join Third Party The defendant claims the district court erred by refusing to make the potential tort claimant a party in the lawsuit. A district court's determination of whether a person is a "contingently necessary person" under K.S.A. 60-219 is subject to an abuse of discretion standard of review. McHorse v. Koontz, 27 Kan. App. 2d 817, 821, 7 P.3d 1272 (2000). K.S.A. 60-219 states: "(a) Persons to be joined if feasible.. "(b) Determination by court whenever joinder not feasible. If a contingently necessary person cannot be made a party, the court shall determine whether in equity and good conscience the action ought to proceed among the parties before it or ought to be dismissed. The factors to be considered by the court." As already noted, plaintiff abandoned her claim for declaratory relief. Thus, remaining before the district court was plaintiff's breach of contract claim with a request for recovery of damages arising from the automobile collision. Under these circumstances, joinder of the potential tort claimant in a breach of contract action brought by the insured against her insurance company would not be appropriate and would lead to an additional level of legal complexity, probable delay, and increased litigation costs for the insured. If the insured wishes to seek a determination whether there is coverage extended to pay claims of a tort claimant, it may pursue an action for declaratory relief under K.S.A. 60-1701 et seq. Misplaced is the defendant's reliance on Heinson v. Porter, 244 Kan. 667, 772 P.2d 778 (1989), overruled on other grounds Glenn v. Fleming, 247 Kan. 296, 799 P.2d 79 (1990). In Heinson, the Supreme Court held a determination of liability coverage in a declaratory judgment action brought by an insurance company against its insured was not binding on the plaintiff who was not joined as a party in that action. 244 Kan. 667, Syl. ¶ 1. In the case now on appeal, the plaintiff abandoned any request for a determination of liability coverage with her remaining claim being based upon the defendant's breach of contract. Under these circumstances, we agree with the district court that a third-party tort claimant is not a contingently necessary person in a breach of contract case brought by an insured against its insurer. denying the defendant's motion for summary judgment, the district court found: "1. Farm & City had a legal obligation to communicate the request for additional premium directly to the plaintiff, Miss Hershaw. "2. When the company sent the communication about additional premiums being due to the agent and instructed him to send it on to the plaintiff, Farm & City was expecting him to act as the defendant's agent." In granting the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, the court found: "5. The back of the binder No. 582963A incorporates the provisions of written policies of insurance in current use by the Company in Kansas for the kind of insurance specifically ordered on the other side of the Binder, and these policies render it necessary for the defendant to have communicated notice directly to the plaintiff, Miss Hershaw, giving her notice of the additional premium due and the deadline for the amount of the increased premium requested. "6. This was not done and plaintiff was unaware of the request for additional premium. . . . . "8. Regarding the issue of estoppel, the agent's issuance of the ID card and the declaration or the listing and certainly the bank's reliance and the State of Kansas Motor Vehicle Registration reliance upon those documents does not by themselves create the contract. However, when one takes into account Mr. Hadley's issuance of those documents, especially the ID card and the application for insurance and the actions of the company by purportedly extending the period of coverage to December 2, 2001, the Court finds that these are significant elements of estoppel, and the Court finds that as a matter of law the company was estopped to claim coverage ended at 12:01 a.m. on December 2, 2001. "9. Further, the Court finds that the coverage began at 4:55 p.m. on September 10, 2001, and that is the time of day which is the ending time on each day of coverage. "10. The Court finds that it would have been improper for the company to unilaterally make any termination of coverage earlier than 4:54 p.m. on the last day of coverage." Although the district court did not explicitly incorporate its findings entered in denying the defendant's motion, it is apparent those findings were implied in granting the plaintiff's motion. The defendant does not dispute that upon issuance of the binder a temporary contract of insurance was entered into between the parties but contends there exist material issues of fact that preclude the entry of summary judgment. Specifically, the defendant contends sufficiently controverted is whether the plaintiff was given notice of a rated-up counteroffer with extension of coverage under the binder until 12:01 a.m. on December 2, 2001, at which time coverage would end unless the additional $22.10 premium charge had been paid. The defendant suggests the district court confused cancellation of an insurance policy with lapse of an insurance policy. The defendant argues because the binder lapsed by its own terms, Kansas law does not require notice as would be required if a policy of insurance was cancelled. We do not agree with the defendant's reasoning. Here, we are not addressing coverage under the 90-day insurance policy; we are addressing the nature and extent of coverage afforded under the binder issued by the defendant. In Service v. Pyramid Life Ins. Co., 201 Kan. 196, Syl. ¶ 6, 440 P.2d 944 (1968), our Supreme Court stated: "A binding receipt issued by a life insurance company connotes obligation, and when supported by valid consideration, suggests a contract." The Service court explained: "Under authorities which hold temporary insurance to be in effect, the conditions imposed by the receipt herein would be treated as conditions subsequent. The company was bound to act either affirmatively or negatively on the application. The insured, if an acceptable risk, was entitled to a policy. If he was not acceptable, the insurance company was required to so notify him, and return the premium paid, or if rated up, notify him by tendering an application at the higher rate." 201 Kan. at 215. Although Service concerned life insurance, not car insurance, we find persuasive the requirement that temporary insurance is not terminated without rejection of the application and notice to the insured. In Statewide Ins. Corp. v. Dewar, 143 Ariz. 553, 559, 694 P.2d 1167 (1984), the court recognized that "[i]t is also generally recognized that the notice of rejection or refusal [of the insurance application], with its implicit termination of the binder, is effective only when received by the insured. [Citations omitted.]" The court noted that if an expectant insured did not receive notice the application was rejected, the individual would not know he or she is driving without insurance. The reason for requiring notice to terminate a binder is based upon sound public policy. 143 Ariz. at 559. In addressing whether there is a notice requirement, we also consider the terms of the binder issued by the defendant: ." Whether the binder incorporated the notice requirements of the underlying standard policy of insurance issued by this defendant has been considered by another panel of this court in Sutton v. Farm and City Ins. Co., Nos. 90,160 and 90,408, unpublished opinion filed November 7, 2003, rev. denied 277 Kan. ___ (2004). The Sutton panel noted: "There is case law support for [the insured's] argument that a binder incorporates the provisions of the insurance policy. For example, in State Auto Mut. Ins. Co. v. Babcock, 54 Mich. App. 194, 220 N.W.2d 717 (1974), the insured filled out an application for insurance coverage, paid a 30-day premium, and was issued a receipt for a premium. The court held that this created a temporary contract of insurance. 54 Mich. App. at 204-05. The court also determined that the binder should include provisions of an insurance policy that ordinarily would have been issued by the insurance company. Because the applicable policy stated that all relevant statutory provisions applied to the policy, the court held that the cancellation statute applied to this binder. As a result, the insurance company had to give the insured 10 days notice that his application was being rejected and his binder cancelled in order for him to obtain other insurance coverage. 54 Mich. App. at 205-08. Importantly, the court pointed out that a binder, absent express agreement at the time of issuance, is subject to the terms of the insurance policy that would have been issued or that is ordinarily issued by the insurance company. 54 Mich. App. at 205. See also Terry v. Mongin Ins. Agency, 105 Wis. 2d 575, 581, 314 N.W.2d 349 (1982) ('A binder, even in the absence of express language, is construed as incorporating the terms and conditions of the standard policy used by the insurer or of a particular insurance policy specified by the parties.'); Willis v. Midland Risk Ins. Co., 42 F.3d 607, 612-13 (10th Cir. 1994) (applying Oklahoma law regarding binders)." Sutton, slip op. at 11-12. Although the Sutton panel did not explicitly hold the defendant was obligated under the terms of its binder to give notice according to the terms of its underlying insurance policy, its obiter dictum is persuasive, and we hold that the district court did not err in its determination Farm & City was required to give notice as required by its standard insurance policy. We next turn to the issue of how notice is given to the insured. The defendant's standard insurance policy provides, in material part: "TERMINATION "A. Cancellation. This policy may be cancelled during the policy period as follows: . . . . 2. We may cancel by mailing to the named insured shown in the Declarations at the address shown in this policy: a. at least 10 days' notice (1) if cancellation is for nonpayment of premium; or (2) if notice is mailed during the first 60 days this policy is in effect and this is not a renewal or continuation policy; or b. at least 20 days' notice in all other cases." It is uncontroverted the defendant sent the premium quotation with notice of an extension of coverage to Dick Hadley of American Insurance, not directly to the plaintiff. Whether Hadley forwarded the document to the plaintiff on September 30, 2001, is controverted. Also controverted is whether Hadley was an agent of the plaintiff with authority to accept the quotation and notice. Whether an agent of an insurance company was the agent of the insured to receive notice of cancellation of a policy is ordinarily a fact issue to be resolved at trial. See Shultz v. Insurance Co., 112 Kan. 369, Syl. ¶ 1, 210 Pac. 1102 (1922). Consequently, we hold whether Hadley was acting as an agent of the defendant or the plaintiff and whether notice of cancellation was effectively provided to the plaintiff are material issues of fact precluding summary judgment. Ending Time for Binder Coverage and Estoppel The defendant also claims the district court erred in finding coverage under the insurance policy could only end at 4:55 p.m. instead of 12:01 a.m. on December 2, 2001. For the reasons we have already given, this finding by the district court is material only if the required notice of cancellation was given to the plaintiff. If proper notice was given, there is no principle of contract law precluding the defendant from unilaterally extending the binder coverage until 12:01 a.m. rather than 4:55 p.m. Alternatively, the district court held the defendant was estopped to claim coverage ended at 12:01 a.m. on December 2, 2001. Equitable estoppel is not applicable absent a showing of misrepresentation and detrimental reliance by a party. Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Bernasek, 235 Kan. 726, 730, 682 P.2d 667 (1984). If the defendant gave notice of cancellation to the plaintiff as required under the contract of insurance, we fail to discern evidence of misrepresentation or detrimental reliance that would support application of equitable estoppel. There is no credible evidence in the record that Hadley's issuance of the identification card and evidence of insurance was somehow inconsistent with the requirements of Kansas law. Under these circumstances, we conclude the district court erred. Finally, we note the plaintiff's contentions on appeal that she did receive her refund of the unearned premium and the defendant's cancellation was based on erroneous information regarding her driving record. These issues were not addressed or relied upon by the district court in its grant of summary judgment. Consequently, these are not issues we should address on their merits. Conclusion We conclude the district court did not err in dismissing the defendant's claim for attorney fees or in denying its motion to join the potential tort claimant as a contingently necessary party. We further conclude summary judgment was improvidently granted to the plaintiff and the cause should be remanded to the district court for further trial proceedings consistent with our opinion. Consequently, the district court's grant of attorney fees to the plaintiff must be set aside. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings. END

- Journal List - BMC Syst Biol - v.2; 2008 - PMC2277374 Connecting genes, coexpression modules, and molecular signatures to environmental stress phenotypes in plants This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Background One of the eminent opportunities afforded by modern genomic technologies is the potential to provide a mechanistic understanding of the processes by which genetic change translates to phenotypic variation and the resultant appearance of distinct physiological traits. Indeed much progress has been made in this area, particularly in biomedicine where functional genomic information can be used to determine the physiological state (e.g., diagnosis) and predict phenotypic outcome (e.g., patient survival). Ecology currently lacks an analogous approach where genomic information can be used to diagnose the presence of a given physiological state (e.g., stress response) and then predict likely phenotypic outcomes (e.g., stress duration and tolerance, fitness). Results Here, we demonstrate that a compendium of genomic signatures can be used to classify the plant abiotic stress phenotype in Arabidopsis according to the architecture of the transcriptome, and then be linked with gene coexpression network analysis to determine the underlying genes governing the phenotypic response. Using this approach, we confirm the existence of known stress responsive pathways and marker genes, report a common abiotic stress responsive transcriptome and relate phenotypic classification to stress duration. Conclusion Linking genomic first begin to understand the complex biological processes of how the resultant phenotype is generated from the genotype and then seamlessly coalesce our newfound understanding with population and evolutionary genetics. To initiate this task, we have adapted and integrated two recent analytical advances from the biomedical community. The first approach uses a novel weighted gene coexpression network to determine signaling networks and core genes underlying disease states and evolutionary diversification [19-21]. The second approach explores the genomic signature concept as recently defined by Lamb et al. [22], and is currently used to connect the disease state of an organism with the underlying genes and possible drug treatments [23]. Our purpose is to determine if these techniques can be used to associate the abiotic plant stress transcriptome with common and specific pathways underlying phenotypic response in a manner that is conducive to current and future genetic studies. We address this by combining gene coexpression networks with the genomic signature concept to investigate transcript profiles for plants exposed to drought, osmotic, salt, cold, heat, and UV-B stress. Our intent is not to describe in exhaustive detail the genes unique to or common among these stresses, although we do this to some extent, but rather to illustrate the power of this approach and provide sufficient information so that we and others can evaluate the full potential of this technique for plant biologists and evolutionary ecologists. Results Arabidopsis stress gene coexpression network It is known that the plant stress response is characteristic of highly complex and often integrated signaling pathways [6-12]. To help elucidate the transcriptional networks associated with exposure to abiotic environmental stress, a weighted gene coexpression network was constructed as described in Zhang and Horvath [20] and in Materials and Methods from a subset of the AtGenExpress abiotic stress dataset [24]. The data subsets were determined by first analyzing all abiotic stress datasets separately for differential gene expression between control and treatment conditions using the limma package [25] operated within the R statistical program language [26]. Genes that had an adjusted p < 0.01 and a log-odds ratio > 1.5 were deemed significantly differentially expressed and were subsequently included in the data subset. This subset, or initial input gene list, contained 16,036 (~57% of the genome) unique gene transcripts identifiers with significantly higher or lower abundance at least once per treatment and per time-point [see Additional file 1]. The network construction algorithms were applied to normalized raw intensity transcript abundance values across all microarray samples (n = 64) for designated genes from the above subset list. Due to computational constraints, only the ~66th quantile (4000) of the most highly connected nodes (genes) were subjected to unsupervised hierarchical clustering to define groups of highly correlated gene expression patterns, termed modules. Using the above criteria, six unique modules were found to have high expression similarity (connectivity), and were subsequently assigned individual colors (Fig. (Fig.11). To determine the relationship between module designation and environmentally-induced expression patterns, we rank ordered all genes according to the log2 fold-change in transcript abundance between treatment and control and then color-coded each gene according to its corresponding module color. The resultant ranked gene-lists showed clear patterns in response to treatment duration (Fig. (Fig.2A2A & Fig. Fig.2B).2B). In the osmotic condition, for example, yellow (Pearson X2 test, p < 2.0 × 10-6) and red module (p = 7.0 × 10-7) genes significantly enriched the distribution of up-regulated genes at the initial time point, with both modules maintaining significantly enriched distributions throughout the treatment period [see Additional file 2]. However, at three hours of osmotic treatment, blue module genes began to enrich down-regulated genes (p = 1.6 × 10-5), while turquoise module genes enriched up-regulated genes (p = 3.0 × 10-4). Temporal trends for module enrichment of up- and down-regulated genes were apparent for all treatment conditions (Fig. (Fig.2C),2C), and are summarized [see Additional file 2]. According to network theory [27,28], genes within coexpression modules often share conserved biological functions. To investigate the functional relationship between individual modules and stress response, we used the singular value decomposition method as developed by Alter et al. [29] and applied by Oldham et al. and Horvath et al. [19,30]. This method characterizes the expression of each module by its first principle component- eigengene value. In general, the results from the singular value decomposition corroborated the visual patterns from the rank lists (Fig. (Fig.2)2) and distribution of module genes within differentially expressed genes [see Additional file 2]. For example, the greatest eigengene value for the green module was for the heat treatment (Fig. (Fig.3E;3E; p = 5.4 × 10-5, Kruskal-Wallis test). Using the GOStat program for gene ontology analysis (, [31]), the most overrepresented GO category for the green module was in response to temperature stimulus (GO:0009408, p = 4.4 × 10-22). The green module contained genes known to participate in the heat response pathway including many of the heat shock proteins (HSP 83- At5g52640, HSP23.5-At5g51440, HSP17.6-At5g12030, mtHSP70-At5g09590, HSP21-At4g27670, mtHSP23.6-At4g25200, HSP22-At4g10250, HSP17.4-At3g46230, HSP70-At2g32120, HSP101-At1g74310, HSP-17.6-At1g53540). In addition, the green module eigengene significantly correlated with the expression of heat responsive markers genes At5g59720 (Pearson cor = 0.95, p = 10 × 10-20) and At4g36990 (Pearson cor = 0.78, p = 4.6 × 10-14) as previously reported [32-34]. The brown module showed a slight yet significant relationship to the cold treatment (Fig. (Fig.3C;3C; p = 1.3 × 10-3, Kruskal-Wallis test) and was enriched with gene products targeting the thylakoid (GO:0044436, p = 1.4 × 10-78) and that participate in photosynthesis (GO:0015979, p = 1.8 × 10-7). The module was most associated with the early stages of cold stress as determined by differential gene enrichment [see Additional file 2] and the -0.57 Pearson correlation (p = 10 × 10-20) between eigengene value and the known cold responsive marker genes [33,35,36] COR15A (At2g42540), but not in At4g25480 (DREB1A), as previously reported [32]. The turquoise module showed a significant relationship for both salt (Fig. (Fig.3A;3A; p = 5.4 × 10-5, Kruskal-Wallis test) and osmotic (p = 5.4 × 10-5) treatments. The module is enriched with GO categories in starch metabolism (GO:0005982, p = 1.9 × 10-5), protein/peptide degradation (GO:0009056, p = 1.1 × 10-4), and included dehydration responsive genes (At5g66400-RAB19, AT5G52300-RD29B, At5g25610-RD22, At3g56080, At1g01250-DREB A4), early dehydration responsive genes (At1g08930-ERD6, At1g69450-ERD4 like) and late embryogenesis abundant genes (At5g06760, At4g36600, At4g13560, At2g35300, At1g32560). The module eigengene value significantly correlated with known maker genes for salt [33,37,38] (ATPLC1, Pearson cor = 0.68, p = 7 × 10-10) and osmotic stress (KIN1, cor = 0.74 p = 3.5 × 10-12; COR78, cor = 0.64, p = 1 × 10-8) [33,39,40], further suggesting a role for the turquoise module in the dehydration responsive program. The blue module showed a significant relationship with the UV-B treatment (Fig. (Fig.3D;3D; p = 2.2 × 10-5, Kruskal-Wallis test), which is characterized as a down-regulation response. According to ontology analysis, blue module genes tend to encode products that are involved in protein modification (GO:0006464, p = 1.3 × 10-19) including amino acid phosphorylation (GO:0006468, p = 3.2 × 10-25) and translation (GO:0043687, p = 9.3 × 10-21). The yellow module also showed a significant relationship with the UV-B treatment (Fig. (Fig.3B;3B; p = 2.2 × 10-5, Kruskal-Wallis test), except that the module genes were up-regulated. Ontology analysis indicated that the yellow module was enriched for macromolecule biosynthetic processes (GO:0009059, p = 1.3 × 10-90) including organelle biogenesis (GO:0006996, p = 4.8 × 10-64) and ribosome biosynthesis and assembly (GO:0042254, p = 6.8 × 10-58). The blue module showed a significant relationship with the UV-B marker At2g24850 (Pearson cor = 0.7, p = 1.3 × 10-10), but not At5g52250 (cor = 0.05, p = 0.67). Alternatively, the yellow module displayed a weak yet significant relationship with At5g52250 (cor = 0.26, p = 0.037), but not At2g24850 (cor = -0.13, p = 0.29) as previously reported [32]. According to the singular decomposition values and differential gene enrichment analysis, the red module showed significant relationships with nearly all stress treatments [see Additional file 2, Fig. Fig.2].2]. Ontology analysis indicted that the red module was overrepresented with genes participating in signal transducer activity, including transmembrane receptor activity (GO:0004888, p = 7.6 × 10-3) as well as response to environmental stimuli (GO:0050896, p = 0.013). Interestingly, the most connected gene within the red module, or hub, is an uncharacterized ankyrin repeat family protein [At5g54720; see Additional file 3], which has been shown to regulate salicylic acid signaling. Genes involved in calcium-based signaling also enriched the red module, including calcium dependent protein kinases, calmodulin related proteins, calcium and calmodulin binding proteins [see Additional file 3]. Genomic signatures As illustrated above, genes with significantly higher or lower transcript abundance were associated with specific modules depending on the duration of and kind of stress treatment. To relate patterns of genome-wide mRNA expression to phenotypic state, we adapted the genomic signature concept from Lamb et al. [22] where statistical approaches are used to scan an unknown query signature against a database of known reference profiles. For our purposes, the database of reference profiles was created from the above AtGenExpress dataset specific to UV-B, heat, salt, cold, osmotic, and drought treatments at the four initial time-points already detailed above. The 'query' signatures were derived from independent studies imposing UV-B [41] and cold [42] treatments as well as our own heat and drought investigations. In contrast to the Lamb et al. [22] approach, we used ordered list statistics [43-45] to determine structural similarities among gene ranks of query and reference signatures. To investigate the integrity of the reference database and the concept in general, we generated a rank-based signature from an independent expression profiling experiment conducted by Lee et al. [42]. The authors imposed a 0°C cold treatment starting at 12 PM under light for 0 (untreated control), 3, 6, and 24 h on two-week old Arabidopsis seedlings grown in agar medium. Query signatures from the 3 and 6 h time-points had the highest similarity scores against the 6 h cold reference, 380 and 533, respectively (Table (Table1,1, Fig. Fig.4A).4A). The intersect between query and reference signatures (genes driving the similarity score, see Material and Methods) consisted of known dehydration responsive marker genes, namely DREB family genes, including DREB-1A (At4g25480), DREB-2A (At5g05410), DREB-1C (At4g25470), and DREB 1B (At4g25490), [see Additional file 4]. The 24 h cold query list showed similarity to the 6 h cold reference signature (similarity = 157), but also had similarity to the 3 h osmotic (similarity = 218) and the beginning stage of the drought reference signature (0.5 h drought, similarity = 148). Previous research has shown a close link between dehydration and cold responsive signaling in the past and our results support this notion [6,7]. Next an independent UV-B specific query signature was generated from Brown et al. [41] data to scan against our reference database. Despite differences in growth and treatment induction conditions, the query signature showed strong similarity with the UV-B 3 h and 6 h reference signatures (Table (Table1,1, Fig. Fig.4B).4B). Interestingly, the common intersect genes between reference and query signatures were enriched with transcription factors, particularly the WKRY family At1g80840, At2g38470, At5g24110 and zinc finger family At1g27730, At5g27420, At5g27420, At5g59820, [see Additional file 4]. Under field conditions, plants are often exposed to multiple environmental conditions that impact yield and fitness [46]. To test if the signature concept could be applied to multiple stress treatment conditions, we conducted an expression profiling experiment on plants exposed to heat, drought, and then heat and drought in combination (refer to Materials and Methods). The singular heat stress scan yielded high similarity scores specific to heat at 1 h and 3 h, with similarity scores 192 and 196, respectively (Table (Table1,1, Fig. Fig.5A).5A). Intersect genes common to query and heat reference signatures contained genes known to participate in heat responsive pathways, particularly the heat shock proteins (mt-HSP At4g25200; sm-HSP At2g29500, sm-HSP At2g19310, HSP 17.6 At1g53540). The scan from the singular drought treatment showed high similarity to dehydration responsive signatures including drought at 6 h and osmotic 3 h and 6 h references (Table (Table1,1, Fig. Fig.6A).6A). Nine genes were common to query signature, and drought and osmotic reference signatures [see Additional file 4] including a water responsive transcription factor (At1g52890), salt stress responsive gene (RD20, At2g33380), and fungal defense response (respiratory burst) (At5g64120). We next created a signature from the simultaneously imposed heat and drought treatments to query the reference database. Interestingly, the two highest similarity scores were 3 h heat (Table (Table1,1, Fig. Fig.5B)5B) and 6 h drought (Table (Table1,1, Fig. Fig.6B),6B), indicating that the genomic signature concept as applied here has the potential to detect more than one environmental perturbation within a single treatment. Unfortunately, the significance of the similarity score is difficult to interpret. To address this more specifically, we decomposed the dual stress signature into its 6 independent replicates [see Additional file 5]. The results still place drought and heat as the two most similar signatures yet the significance of the drought similarity is weak. However, the similarity score becomes significant when the depth of the signatures is increased [see Additional file 5 for further discussion]. Nonetheless, the query signature had 17 genes in common with the drought signature including the drought responsive marker RD20 (At2g33380), and contained 26 genes in common with the heat reference including many of the heat shock protein encoding genes and a number of genes encoding DNA heat shock N-terminal domain-containing proteins [see Additional file 4]. Discussion The goal of our study was to demonstrate the use of an integrative systems approach for connecting gene expression patterns to physiological characteristics, thereby providing mechanistic insight into genome function under abiotic stress conditions. Central to our approach is the use of the genomic signature concept to characterize the plant stress phenotype and provide a link to the underlying network pathways, modules, and eventually genes. The use of expression array data to create a signature cataloging system (reference signature database) has been used previously to characterize chemical perturbations on tissue samples and cell culture populations [47,48], and more recently to link genes and disease states to potential therapies [22,23]. In the present study, we extend the signature cataloging approach to plant biology/ecological genomics by using the ATGenExpress abiotic stress dataset to compile our first-generation reference signatures database. Validation of the reference database, and the approach in general, was accomplished with independent datasets for UV-B [41], cold [42] and our own datasets for heat, drought, and the simultaneously imposed heat-drought treatments. Altogether, more than half of the stress treatments included in the signature database were scanned by independent query signatures. Our results are encouraging and show that despite differences in array platform, growth conditions, and even the application of treatments, the signature approach is robust in classifying the plant stress phenotype. This was particularly evident with highly conserved stress specific responses such as heat and UV-B. At the same time, our results illustrate the complexity of the stress response that is characteristic of cross-talk pathways [8-14] and multiple secondary effects from prolonged treatments. For example, the early cold stress query signatures (3 h and 6 h) showed very high similarity to cold signatures with only weak similarity scores to other signature phenotypes. Alternatively, the 24 h cold query showed similarity to cold signatures as well as drought and osmotic signatures. This result likely reflects the secondary effects of the prolonged (3 h and 6 h vs. 24 h) cold treatment. Not surprisingly, the co-occurrence of cold and dehydration response reflected in their signaling pathways, or cross-talk, is widely reported in the literature [7,49]. One promising aspect of the signature approach as applied in this study is in the potential use for classification of the dual imposed heat/drought treatment. In nature, a departure from the homeostatic equilibrium, or stress, is often brought about by multiple environmental factors [46]. Heat and drought, for example, are co-occurring stresses that have been implicated in severe yield losses ([46], and citations within). In this study, the highest similarity scores were observed with the heat and drought reference signatures, but the significance of the drought score was dependent upon the depth the signature lists interrogated (see Additional File 5). One explanation for this finding is that the drought responsive transcripts were further down the signature list than the more responsive heat induced transcripts, thereby requiring a greater depth of the signature lists to be compared. This suggests that care must be taken with comparisons between multiple stress phenotypes. However, our results are encouraging in this regard and future research should consider additional statistical means for determining depth of signature list comparisons. Network theory and analysis was used in an attempt to relate the phenotypic signature information to genome-wide transcriptional programs. Network theory, in general, is promising in this regard because it allows us to view the biology as a system of networks and interacting modules [27]. Here, we use the weighted gene coexpression network approach recently proposed by Zhang and Horvath [20], which has been used successfully to link molecular targets to oncogenic signals [30], complex traits (e.g., mouse weight; [50]), and even network divergence between human and chimpanzee neural patterns [19]. This approach is particularly relevant for our application because it is based on unsupervised clustering, bypasses multiple testing problems when relating gene information to physiological traits, and does not need a priori gene ontology information. The latter point is especially important for ecological genomics, which continues to transition from the use of model organisms to those of more ecological relevance. Results from weighted gene coexpression network analysis produced six distinct modules from the abiotic stress dataset. Importantly, this unsupervised approach grouped genes into network modules that are reflective of biological process. For example, brown module genes clearly participate in photosynthetic processes while turquoise module genes contribute to starch and sucrose regulation. In addition, specific stress responsive modules were identified. The green module, for example, was almost entirely unique to the heat stress pathway and was, in fact, enriched with genes known to participate in heat responsive programs. Equally interesting was the identification of module genes participating in multiple stress responsive pathways. This was apparent for modules consisting of conserved metabolic pathways i.e., brown (photosynthesis) and blue (starch/sucrose metabolism) modules. One of the more promising aspects of weighted gene coexpression network analysis was the identification of a common abiotic stress responsive module (red module) that enriched differentially expressed genes for all treatments investigated. The most connected gene, or hub, within this module was an uncharacterized ankyrin repeat family protein that was specific to our analysis. Ankyrin proteins have been reported to act as regulators in salicylic acid signaling, which is a key molecule in signal transduction of biotic stress responses [51]. The discovery of this ankyrin family member as the hub in our common stress responsive module suggests that salicylic acid signaling may play a role in abiotic stress response, which would corroborate results from exogenously applied salicylic acid [52]. In addition, this common stress responsive module was enriched with genes known to participate in calcium and calmodulin signaling pathways, which have been shown to participate in a multitude of cellular functions including cell death [53]. Although our findings are robust within the current context, a number of questions remain to be answered. For example, the reference database is generated from immediately perturbed systems that typically exhibit marked and highly significant changes in transcript abundance, and does not include acclimated states where changes in transcript abundance are typically smaller. This has recently been shown in studies investigating changes in gene expression in response to long-term growth at elevated carbon dioxide concentration [54-56]. Therefore the feasibility of scanning the database with a signature from a fully acclimated organism and obtaining a highly correlated signature is uncertain. However, we hypothesize that the acclimated state will also be characterized by unique expression patterns that, in theory, should be amenable to our approach. Like Lamb et al. [22], we are also uncertain how to interpret the significance of the similarity score. Unique to our approach is the use of ordered lists statistics to compare signatures. This statistical test provides a p-value based on permuted data that indicates if signature comparisons are more similar than by chance alone. Unfortunately, the interconnectedness among stress responsive pathways resulted in low p-values even for some low similarity score comparisons (data not shown). However, we are reluctant to disregard the p-value entirely, because as the reference signature database grows and more diverse datasets are included, the p-value may help assign phenotypes to general category (e.g., abiotic stress vs. development). Here, a first-step approach toward classifying and understanding the processes behind the plant stress phenotype is presented. We integrated two analytical techniques that have traditionally been applied only within the biomedical community. Results from our adaptation of the these techniques show that one can take an unknown query signature and through pattern matching software scan a reference database to classify both singular and multiple plant stress phenotype(s). Then, one can use a number of inferential techniques to link phenotypic attributes to their corresponding signaling modules and genes. In essence, this technique provides a tool allowing one to navigate the potential phenotypes of a given Arabidopsis genotype. In the current context, the approach is restricted to a single organism. However, a number of technical advances, including sequence-based transcriptomics [57], comparative gene ontology algorithms [58], and analytical approaches for linking network characteristics to quantitative genetics [59] illustrates the potential to enrich our methodology to address questions of evolutionary and ecological interest, particularly physiological trait development. There are two attributes of our approach that facilitate its use for such purposes. First, the technique is applied within a network framework. Network theory, has been well received in molecular biology for providing a 'systems biology' framework for the discipline (see [60] for a historical perspective), and has more recently been proposed as possible means for determining the evolutionary basis of complex phenotypic traits [61]. Second, and just as important, is the potential to link our approach with population-based genetic analyses. Many of the molecular-based, systems biology experiments are conducted within a narrow adaptive context, with little or no regard for other nonadaptive evolutionary forces (drift, mutation, recombination, gene flow). The inclusion of a genetic association with network analysis, as demonstrated by [59], and placed within a population genetic context allows the appropriate testable null models (e.g., genetic drift) to be included in such studies. Therefore, relating genomic information to genetic information, e.g., quantitative trait loci, is not only possible, but crucial for those interested in exploring the full potential of the evolutionary mechanisms shaping phenotypic development. Although useful in its current form, we envision that the true potential of our approach will be realized when the scientific community accepts, critiques, and eventually amends our methods with current and future applicable analytical and technological improvements. To facilitate this process, we conducted our analysis within the publicly available R statistical language and make available to the scientific community our signature compendium, R scripts used within, and a brief tutorial illustrating the process, with the near-term goal of providing the community with an integrative systems tool for connecting genes and signaling networks to phenotypic characteristics in order to further the continuing goal of understanding plant genome function. Conclusion In the present study, we detail the initial stages of a theoretical and analytical framework for classifying the plant stress phenotype according to the architecture of the transcriptome, and relate that information to underlying coexpression networks and genes. Our results confirm the existence of known stress-specific genomic signatures, report previously unknown stress-responsive modules and genes, and successfully scale such information to the physiological state of the phenotype. We are encouraged by the results of our present investigation and believe that the approaches developed and information gained here will be critical as we continue to use these tools to better understand species and population-level adaptation to environmental stress, including stress resulting from climate change. Future research in our laboratory is centered on linking functional genomic approaches to genetic information, thereby providing a clear means to pursue evolutionary and ecological genomics at the level of individual organisms, populations, and ecosystems. Methods Plant growth and treatments For hydroponic plant production, seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana 'Columbia' wild-type were cultivated in a modification of the system described in Norén et al. [62]. Briefly, seeds were sterilized in 70% ethanol 5 min, gently agitated in 0.5% SDS solution 15 min, then triple rinsed in sterile Type I water and stratified for 3 d at 4°C. Sterilized seeds were suspended in a 0.1% agarose solution for dispensing onto nutrient agar. Nutrient agar for germination contained 0.5X MS (Sigma-Aldrich) pH 5.7 plus 0.3% phytagar/0.3% phytagel. Approximately 200 μl sterile nutrient agar was placed in the barrel of a 200 μl pipet tip in a 96-well cell well plate. After 2–3 seeds were placed on the cooled and solidified agar, plates were covered with lids, sealed with parafilm, and placed in a CMP 3244-controlled Conviron growth cabinet under 10 h, 22°C days/16 h, 18°C nights with fluorescent lighting (~45 μmol m-2 s-1) for 2 weeks until the seedlings had produced 6–8 leaves. The seedlings were then transferred to holes cored into a Styrofoam lid floating atop a 10L plastic tub filled with 1 mM N nutrient solution (1.0 mM KNO3, 1.5 mM CaCl2, 1.0 mM MgSO4·7H20, 1.0 mM K3PO4·7H20, 0.5 mM NH4Cl; micronutrients and Fe-EDTA as described in Norén et al. 2004; and 0.5 gL-1 MES, pH 5.7). Tubs were transferred to a Conviron BWD80-controlled growth room programmed for 10 h, 22°C days/16 h, 18°C nights, 80% RH with aeration provided by aquarium stones attached via tubing to an air pump. Metal halide and tungsten incandescent lamps provided an average of 110 μmol m-2 s-1 within the growth chamber. Seedlings were misted twice daily for approximately one week and lightly covered with a dome to reduce desiccation. A series of shadecloth coverage (70%-50%-30%-no shade) was used to acclimate the plants to MH lights over the course of 7–10 d. During the fourth week the plants were gradually introduced to lower humidity by loosening and finally removing domed lids. After complete chamber acclimation (week 5), plantlets were transferred to JetFlo® Econo Mini hydroponic systems (American Agritech). The system consisted of a 22" × 22" × 7" ebb and flow tray mounted to a 20 gallon reservoir containing 1 mM N nutrient solution as described above with aeration provided by a circulating pump and aquarium stones in both upper and lower chambers. In total, there were 10 hydroponic systems resulting in a population of over 200 Arabidopsis plants at a relatively mature pre-flowering stage. At the end of 11 weeks, 24 plants were randomly chosen and six each were subjected to the following treatments: (1) Drought- systems drained and roots exposed to air until ~10 % fresh weight had been lost; (2) Heat – systems placed in 38°C chamber for 3 h; (3) plants subjected to combined treatments 1 & 2; and (4) no change (control). At the end of the treatment, plant shoots were harvested and immediately flash frozen in liquid nitrogen for subsequent RNA isolation. RNA preparation, design, and microarray hybridization Total RNA was isolated and labeled from control and treatment shoot tissue using methods from the Vicki Chandler Lab [63]. Briefly, the TRIZOL reagent procedure was initially used to isolate total RNA that was further purified with RNA clean-up spin columns (Qiagen). This two-step process ensured for high quality RNA determined spectrophotometircally (Nanodrop) and with denaturing agarose gels. For each treatment, RNA was transcribed into cDNA primed with T7 Oligo (dT). Amino Allyl-modified RNA was then amplified and purified using manufacturer directions (Ambion) as modified by the Vicki Chandler lab (refer to [63] for protocol). Six μg of each amplified RNA (aRNA) sample was coupled to either CY3 or CY5 monochromeric dye (Amersham) also according to the Chandler protocols. Three μg of labeled aRNA were subsequently used for hybridization onto Arabidopsis slides printed with Operon v 3.1, 70 mer oligos obtained from the laboratory of David Galbraith at the University of Arizona [64]. A formamide-based (50%) hybridization solution was applied at 42°C for 14 h and then washed according to Galbraith protocols [64]. The experiment consisted of one control and three treatments (heat alone, drought alone, heat and drought together) with six replicate plants RNA samples per treatment. To maximize the full power of the design, we used a direct loop design in which half of the samples from each treatment were labeled with CY3 and the other half were labeled with CY5. Therefore, each treatment was directly compared with all other treatments with the possible confounding effects of dye bias controlled for by the inclusion of dye reversals [see Additional file 6]. Microarray data analysis Arrays were imaged with a Scan Array 5000 system (Perkin Elmer, Wellesley, MA) and the resultant image files were imported into Imagene v.6.0 for data extraction and initial data diagnostics. All statistical calculations were performed using the limma (v.2.10.5) Bioconductor open access package run in the R statistical framework (R Development Core Team, 2005). Quality of the hybridization was assessed with the Bioconductor packages arrayMagic v.1.14.0 and arrayQuality v.1.12.0. Log-fold (M) over variance (A) plots (M-A plots) were used to determine the most appropriate background correction method. We used basic subtraction in this study, but normexp, normexp offset = 50, and no correction at all were investigated. Arrays were normalized with print-tip loess and no between array normalization was applied. Using limma, a linear model was fitted to compare control to all treatment conditions as contrasts and empirical Bayes was used to compute a moderated t-statistic [25,65]. Multiple testing errors were accounted for by using a false discovery rate (FDR) correction [66]. Construction of gene coexpression network Data for network construction came from the AtGenExpress consortium [67] using the first four time-points for cold (4°C), heat (38°C), osmotic (300 mM mannitol), salt (150 mM NaCL), drought (15 min air dry, about 10% loss of fresh weight) and UV-B stresses (15 min exposure, 1.18 w/m2 Phillips TL40W/12). A complete description of experimental design and treatments for the abiotic portion of the AtGenExpress was recently reported by [24]. All hybridizations were performed on the ATH1 affymetrix microarray platform [68]. To reduce noise of the subsequent network, the input gene list was restricted to genes that were differentially expressed at a minimum of one time-point and one treatment. This resulted in a list of 16,036 (~71% of the all non-control array identifiers on the ATH1 slide) unique gene transcript identifiers [see Additional file 1]. Raw intensity values from the gene list were downloaded and log2 transformed before being subjected to network construction algorithms. Construction of the gene coexpression network has been described in detail [20] and R scripts for our network construction were modeled after the Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network [69]. Briefly, the framework for the weighted gene coexpression network (WGCNA) consists of 4 steps: (1) A similarity matrix of gene coexpression is initially determined by the absolute value of the Pearson correlation for all genes across all treatments; (2) transformation of coexpression similarities into connection strengths (connectivity) using a power adjacency function; (3) identification of network modules (highly correlated gene expression patterns across samples) by coupling linkage hierarchical clustering with topological overlap matrix; and (4) relating external gene or sample information to network properties. Details and tutorials of the WGCNA are available at the website. Signature comparisons Similar to Lamb et al. [22], the first step in our process was to create a catalog of reference signatures representing known biological states, plant stress phenotypes in our case. As a first step in this process, raw .cel files from the AtGenExpress dataset were downloaded and analyzed for differential expression. We again used the limma (v.2.10.5) Bioconductor open access package run in the R statistical framework. The entire dataset was normalized using gcRMA procedures and the linear model was fitted and contrasts were restricted to within treatment conditions. A moderated t-statistic was computed using empirical Bayes [25,65] and a FDR correction [66]. The log-fold change in expression relative to the control was used to rank the lists. Therefore, the first gene on the list represented the most over-expressed gene in relation to the control while the last gene in the signature represented the most down-regulated gene in relation to the control. The reference signature database therefore consisted of six treatments for the first four time-points, resulting in 24 independent signatures. The rank-based nature of the signatures allowed us to use list statistical tests from the OrderedLists Bioconductor statistical package [43,44]. The test includes a user defined value for how many genes to consider in the list comparison. In our case, we found that an alpha level of 0.3 interrogated a substantial portion of the list while focusing on list portions that were significantly differentially expressed for all conditions. The similarity score is computed as the shared number of genes between both signatures (lists) including the weighted sum score as determined by a weighting vector (refer to [27]). Therefore, the ends of the list are weighted most highly and contribute more to the similarity score, ensuring that the most differentially expressed genes contribute most to the score. Similar to Lamb et al. [22], the output consists of a non-parametric similarity score generated from the number and weights of the rank-based comparison between query and reference signatures. In addition, a p-value is calculated based on the rank of the query signature genes compared to the rank of the reference profile genes and a 1000 random permutations of the reference profile (refer to [43]). Therefore, a significant p-value means that the genes in common to the lists are not due to chance. Availability of the methods and data As mentioned in the manuscript, we present only a prototype version with limited number of signature phenotypes represented. The full potential of this resource, however, will become apparent when the representative phenotypes grow and began to exhaust that realized by the genome, and eventually genomes from other ecotypes and closely related species. Therefore, our microarray analysis has been deposited in the Gene Omnibus database (GEO: {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE9415","term_id":"9415"}}GSE9415). In addition, a the R scripts to reproduce our weighted gene coexpression network results [see Additional file 7] as well as the complete file of all reference genomic signature lists has been provided [see Additional file 8]. Information regarding network theory and R-code tutorials for weighted gene coexpression networks is available from the Steve Horvath Lab [69]. Authors' contributions DJW formulated the experimental questions and design, performed all analyses, and drafted the manuscript. LEG was responsible for plant propagation, assisted in experimental treatment and microarray hybridizations, and helped to draft the manuscript. AR critically annotated gene lists and helped draft the manuscript. SDW assisted with experimental design, data interpretation, and helped draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Supplementary Material Supplementary Table 1; Gene network coexpression gene input list. Supplementary Table 2; Module gene enrichment of differentially expressed genes. Supplementary Table 3; Results for the weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Supplementary Table 4; Signature intersect gene annotation and network properties. Supplementary Figure 1; Similarity score comparison of individual replicates of the combined heat and drought treatment. Supplementary Figure 2; Microarray hybridization design schematic. R scripts used to construct the weighted gene coexpression network. The reference genomic signatures lists. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank David Yang and Chris Schadt for critical reviews of the manuscript and the AtGenExpress consortium for availability of their data. In addition, the authors are indebted to Steve Horvath for contributing R-code. 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Ankyrin G restricts ion channel diffusion at the axonal initial segment before the establishment of the diffusion barrier Abstract In mammalian neurons, the precise accumulation of sodium channels at the axonal initial segment (AIS) ensures action potential initiation. This accumulation precedes the immobilization of membrane proteins and lipids by a diffusion barrier at the AIS. Using single-particle tracking, we measured the mobility of a chimeric ion channel bearing the ankyrin-binding motif of the Nav1.2 sodium channel. We found that ankyrin G (ankG) limits membrane diffusion of ion channels when coexpressed in neuroblastoma cells. Site-directed mutants with decreased affinity for ankG exhibit increased diffusion speeds. In immature hippocampal neurons, we demonstrated that ion channel immobilization by ankG is regulated by protein kinase CK2 and occurs as soon as ankG accumulates at the AIS of elongating axons. Once the diffusion barrier is formed, ankG is still required to stabilize ion channels. In conclusion, our findings indicate that specific binding to ankG constitutes the initial step for Nav channel immobilization at the AIS membrane and precedes the establishment of the diffusion barrier. Introduction In mammalian neurons, the axonal initial segment (AIS) is a unique domain that plays a crucial role in the physiology of the nerve cell, as it orchestrates the interplay between electrogenesis and neuronal polarity. At the AIS, the concentration of voltage-gated ion channels ensures the generation of action potentials (Clark et al., 2009), whereas the peculiar nature of the AIS scaffold maintains the segregation between the axonal and somatodendritic compartment for membrane constituents and for intracellular trafficking (Grubb and Burrone, 2010b). At the molecular level, AIS functions require the segregation of the cytoskeletal adaptor ankyrin G (ankG; Salzer, 2003; Ogawa and Rasband, 2008). The ankG–βIV-spectrin scaffolding complex not only concentrates Nav1 sodium channels (Srinivasan et al., 1988; Zhou et al., 1998; Garrido et al., 2003; Lemaillet et al., 2003; Hedstrom et al., 2007) but also Kv7 potassium channels (Chung et al., 2006; Pan et al., 2006; Rasmussen et al., 2007) and cell adhesion molecules neurofascin-186 (NF-186) and neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NrCAM; Davis et al., 1996; Dzhashiashvili et al., 2007; Hedstrom et al., 2007). Importantly, the interaction between ankG and Nav1 channels is modulated by protein kinse CK2 (CK2) phosphorylation. CK2 concentrates at the AIS, phosphorylates the ankyrin-binding motif of Nav1 channels, and consequently regulates Nav1 interaction with ankG (Bréchet et al., 2008). In addition, Kv1 voltage-gated potassium channels are concentrated at the distal AIS in certain types of neurons (Inda et al., 2006; Lorincz and Nusser, 2008). A handful of studies have revealed that the functional organization of the AIS contributes to the establishment and the maintenance of neuronal polarity. Hedstrom et al. (2008) recently demonstrated that axons acquire the molecular characteristics of dendrites upon AIS disassembly, a result that was also confirmed in vivo (Sobotzik et al., 2009). This contribution occurs through intracellular and cell surface mechanisms, which are still poorly understood. Two studies have shown that the AIS acts as a cytoplasmic filter controlling the entry of vesicles in axons (Burack et al., 2000; Song et al., 2009). At the plasma membrane, the AIS forms a diffusion barrier that maintains the differences in protein and lipid composition between the somatodendritic and the axonal domain of neurons (Kobayashi et al., 1992; Nakada et al., 2003). Importantly, this fence restrains diffusion of axonal proteins independently of their ability to bind to ankG (Winckler et al., 1999; Boiko et al., 2007; Song et al., 2009). However, the mechanisms of the diffusion barrier and its assembly have yet to be determined. The formation and the maintenance of the AIS depend on ankG expression (Zhou et al., 1998; Hedstrom et al., 2007), and in developing hippocampal neurons, its assembly occurs as soon as the axon starts elongating (stage 2–3 neurons; Boiko et al., 2007; Yang et al., 2007; Bréchet et al., 2008; Martin et al., 2008). Because the segregation of the AIS components appears before the general diffusion barrier (Nakada et al., 2003), this opens the possibility that ankG-dependent tethering is sufficient to restrain the surface diffusion of interacting proteins like Nav1 and adhesion protein. Therefore, the present study aims to analyze the precise role of ankG in the restriction of ion channel diffusion and the potential role of CK2 phosphorylation in this process in an attempt to unravel the mechanisms of the formation of a diffusion barrier at the AIS. We used a construct bearing the ankyrin-binding motif of Nav1.2, whose interaction with ankG is regulated by protein kinase CK2 phosphorylation (Bréchet et al., 2008). We were able to measure the surface diffusion of various Kv-Nav tetrameric ion channel constructs with different ankyrin binding properties. To do so, we used single-particle tracking (SPT; Borgdorff and Choquet, 2002; Tardin et al., 2003) with semiconductor quantum dot (QD) labeling (Dahan et al., 2003). Experiments in N2A cells demonstrated that ankG binding restricts the diffusion of chimeric ion channels and that phosphorylation of the ankyrin-binding motif by CK2 modulates this immobilization. In immature hippocampal neurons, ankG highly restricts the diffusion of ion channels in a CK2-dependent manner, as soon as it concentrates at the AIS. In mature neurons, ankG binding is still necessary for full immobilization, although the appearance of the diffusion barrier also slows the diffusion of proteins that do not bind ankG. Altogether, our findings strongly suggest that the immobilization of Nav1 is controlled by ankG from early stages. Such an immobilization occurs independently of the AIS diffusion barrier and may constitute the initial step toward its establishment. Results ankG directly restrains ion channel diffusion when expressed in a neuronal cell line To determine the effect of ankG on the surface diffusion of Nav1 channels, we first chose to heterologously express ankG and an ion channel chimera in neuroblastoma N2A cells. The C terminus of Kv2.1, which dictates its somatodendritic clustering (Lim et al., 2000), was deleted and replaced with the 1,080–1,203 segment of Nav1.2 that encompasses the ankyrin-binding motif (Kv2.1-Nav1.2, further called Kv-Nav; Fig. 1 A; Garrido et al., 2003; Bréchet et al., 2008). The resulting construct can tetramerize (Li et al., 1992), leading to a complex that has a membrane topology similar to Nav channels and bears four ankyrin-binding motifs. In N2A cells, expression of endogenous ankG was not detected by immunostaining (unpublished data). Kv-Nav was uniformly expressed at the plasma membrane in N2A cells (Fig. 1 B) in contrast to what is observed in human embryonic kidney cells in which Kv-Nav and ankG formed aggregates (Garrido et al., 2003), and transfected ankG-GFP displayed a homogenous submembrane localization (Fig. 1 B). This allowed us to analyze the effect of ankG on Kv-Nav mobility using an SPT method to measure surface diffusion (Borgdorff and Choquet, 2002; Tardin et al., 2003). Kv-Nav was coexpressed in N2A cells with either GFP or ankG-GFP, and surface channels were labeled on living cells with QDs using their myc extracellular tag. Rapid time-lapse imaging of individual QDs allowed us to analyze a large number of individual trajectories from which the distribution of the instantaneous diffusion coefficients (DIDC) could be determined. From the DIDC, we chose the maximum diffusion coefficient (D) of immobile QDs lying on the glass coverslip (D ≤ 0.00075 µm2.s−1) as the threshold, allowing us to define the immobile population (Fig. 1, D and F). Key mobility parameters such as median instantaneous diffusion coefficients (MDCs) and mean square displacement (MSD) could then be extracted for the mobile particles (see Trajectory analysis in Materials and methods). In cells expressing GFP, surface Kv-Nav was highly mobile, and the DIDC exhibited a broadly spread mobile population (Fig. 1, C and D). In ankG-GFP–expressing cells, the Kv-Nav trajectories were visually more restricted than the trajectories recorded in GFP-expressing cells (Fig. 1 E), and Kv-Nav DIDC was characterized by the appearance of a markedly less mobile population (Fig. 1 F). Compared with GFP, ankG-GFP expression strongly increased the population of immobile Kv-Nav, which rose from 6 ± 1 to 34 ± 4% (Fig. 1 G). The MDC of mobile particles significantly decreased between GFP and ankG-GFP conditions (0.025 µm2.s−1, interquartile range [IQR] of 0.0085/0.048 µm2.s−1, and 0.014 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0024/0.032 µm2.s−1, respectively; Mann and Whitney test [MW], P < 0.0001; Fig. 1 H). These data indicate that ankG restricts Kv-Nav diffusion in N2A cells. Modulation of ankG binding affects the surface diffusion of ion channels Neuronal sodium channels bind to ankG through their ankyrin-binding motif, which spans from amino acids 1,102 to 1,128 in the II–III intracellular loop for Nav1.2 (Garrido et al., 2003; Lemaillet et al., 2003). We recently showed that this interaction is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation (Bréchet et al., 2008). Nav1.2 and ankG associate with an apparent affinity constant (Kd) of 1.2 ± 0.4 × 10−6 and 0.9 ± 0.7 × 10−9 M before and after CK2 phosphorylation, respectively (Bréchet et al., 2008). The mutation of the four serine residues (S1112, S1123, S1124, and S1126) to alanine (4SA mutant) in the Nav1.2 ankyrin binding site not only abolished the CK2-mediated affinity enhancement but also prevented the negative dominant effect of Kv-Nav on Nav accumulation at the AIS. Furthermore, these four serine mutations combined with the mutation of the glutamate residue E1111 (EA4SA mutant) fully abrogated the interaction of the Kv-Nav construct with ankG (Bréchet et al., 2008). Thus, these three structurally identical Kv-Nav constructs differing in their ankyrin-binding motif offer the unique opportunity to study the relationship between the strength of ankyrin binding and the surface mobility of ion channels (Fig. 2 A). It must be noted that these constructs are tetramers that bear four ankyrin-binding motifs, exacerbating their binding to ankG and its modulation in the different mutants. We measured the diffusion of site-directed Kv-Nav mutants in N2A cells expressing either GFP or ankG-GFP. In GFP cells, the immobile population of Kv-Nav, Kv-Nav 4SA, and Kv-Nav EA4SA were 6 ± 1, 7 ± 2, and 4 ± 1%, respectively, with no significant difference between the three constructs (unpublished data). In ankG-GFP–expressing cells, the complete loss of ankG interaction (Kv-Nav EA4SA; Bréchet et al., 2008) induced a large shift of the DIDC toward higher values of diffusion coefficients and a significant difference in cumulative frequencies (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test [KS], P < 0.0001) when compared with Kv-Nav (Fig. 2, B and D). The immobile population decreased from 34 ± 4 to 13 ± 1% (MW, P = 0.0095; Fig. 2 F), and the MDC of the mobile population rose from 0.014 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0024/0.032 µm2.s−1, to 0.023 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0059/0.066 µm2.s−1, respectively (MW, P < 0.0001; Fig. 2 G). The diffusion behavior of the phosphodeficient Kv-Nav 4SA mutant (Bréchet et al., 2008) was also affected when compared with Kv-Nav (Fig. 2, C and E). The cumulative frequency of diffusion coefficients of Kv-Nav 4SA (Fig. 2 E) was significantly different from that of Kv-Nav and Kv-Nav EA4SA (KS, P < 0.0001 and P = 0.001, respectively) as well as the immobile population (18 ± 1%; MW, P = 0.0286 and P = 0.0190, respectively; Fig. 2 F) and the MDC of the mobile population (0.016 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0052/0.042 µm2.s−1; MW, P = 0.0242 and P = 0.0053, respectively; Fig. 2 G). These findings indicate that site-directed mutants with decreasing affinities for ankG exhibited increasing diffusion speeds, highlighting the importance of ankG binding for chimeric ion channel immobilization at the plasma membrane. ankG immobilizes ion channels at the nascent AIS of neurons In the nervous system, the subcellular localization of ankG is highly specific, being segregated at the AIS and in the nodes of Ranvier (Kordeli et al., 1995). ankG accumulation also occurs at the AIS of developing hippocampal neurons maintained in vitro (Garrido et al., 2003; Boiko et al., 2007). In these cells, the AIS molecular assembly has already begun after day in vitro (DIV) 4 (Boiko et al., 2007; Yang et al., 2007; Bréchet et al., 2008; Martin et al., 2008), as visualized by the consistent immunostaining for ankG, Nav1, and NF-186 (Fig. 3 A). The AIS of cultured hippocampal neurons then develops a diffusion barrier that restricts the mobility of membrane proteins and phospholipids, but this general diffusion barrier is not yet formed in DIV 4 hippocampal neurons (Nakada et al., 2003; Boiko et al., 2007). We took advantage of these observations to assess the specific role of ankG in ion channel diffusion. We first examined the surface distribution of Kv-Nav and Kv-Nav EA4SA when they were expressed in DIV 4 neurons (Fig. 3, B and C). Kv-Nav was highly concentrated at the AIS of 81.5% of the expressing cells, whereas Kv-Nav EA4SA was not polarized in any of the counted neurons. These observations are in line with our previous studies in more mature cells (i.e., DIV 10 neurons; Garrido et al., 2003; Bréchet et al., 2008). We next compared Kv-Nav and Kv-Nav EA4SA mobility using ankG-GFP for AIS identification (Fig. 3, D–G). A large fraction (77 ± 6%) of the Kv-Nav population was immobile at the AIS (Fig. 3 F). This restriction relies on the ability of Kv-Nav to bind to ankG, as DIDC and the cumulative frequency of Kv-Nav EA4S4A shifted to higher diffusion coefficients (KS, P < 0.0001; Fig. 3, D and E). As a result, only 16 ± 10% of the Kv-Nav EA4SA population was immobile at the AIS (MW, P = 0.0294; Fig. 3 F), and the mobile population diffused more than the Kv-Nav population (0.0015 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0010/0.011 µm2.s−1, for Kv-Nav and 0.0413 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0082/0.13 µm2.s−1, for Kv-Nav EA4SA; MW, P = 0.0019; Fig. 3 G). We verified that the accumulation of endogenous ankG was sufficient to account for the drastic reduction of Kv-Nav mobility by substituting NrCAM-GFP for ankG-GFP to visualize the AIS (Fig. S1). In this condition, the immobile population was 78 ± 8% for Kv-Nav compared with 27 ± 2% for Kv-Nav EA4SA, and the MDC of the mobile population was 0.0019 µm2.s−1 for Kv-Nav versus 0.071 µm2.s−1 for Kv-Nav EA4SA (IQR of 0.0011/0.0070 and 0.021/0.12 µm2.s−1, respectively; MW, P = 0.0009; Fig. S1). These results show that the specific interaction with ankG dampens the diffusion of Kv-Nav in young hippocampal neurons. Thus, the nascent accumulation of ankG is sufficient to markedly and specifically immobilize ankyrin-binding ion channels in developing neurons. CK2 phosphorylation modulates ion channel diffusion at the nascent AIS in young neurons We next examined how modulation of ankG binding properties impacts the surface mobility of ion channels in young neurons. Kv-Nav 4SA, which binds ankG with a reduced affinity, still concentrates at the AIS of DIV 4 neurons (Fig. 4 A), similar to what was observed in DIV 10 neurons (Bréchet et al., 2008). However, the diffusion properties of Kv-Nav 4SA were significantly different from those of Kv-Nav, as a shift toward higher diffusion coefficients was seen in the DIDC and in the cumulative frequency (KS, P = 0.002; Fig. 4, B and C). It should be noted that the significant enhancement of mobility observed in the cumulative frequency of diffusion coefficients was not associated with a significant change of the immobile population (77 ± 6% for Kv-Nav and 57 ± 6% for Kv-Nav 4SA; Fig. 4 D) nor in the MDC of the mobile population (0.0015 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0010/0.011 µm2.s−1, for Kv-Nav and 0.0043 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0018/0.016 µm2.s−1, for Kv-Nav 4SA; Fig. 4 E). These results indicate that the mutation of CK2-targeted serines alters Kv-Nav immobilization in young neurons. To further assess the role of CK2 phosphorylation on Kv-Nav immobilization, we analyzed Kv-Nav diffusion upon acute inhibition of CK2 activity using DMAT (2-dimethylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo1 H-benzimidazole), a potent CK2 inhibitor (Pagano et al., 2004). Kv-Nav diffusion was first measured in control medium (vehicle condition; t = 0 min; Fig. 5 A). After replacement of the medium with an equivalent solution supplemented with DMAT, the movements of the same QD-labeled ion channels were then repeatedly recorded for a further 10–25 min. The mean diffusion coefficients were calculated for this period (t = 10–25 min; Fig. 5 A) and compared with the initial coefficients. After 10–25 min of DMAT application, the MDC of initially immobile QDs increased significantly (from 0.00027 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.00013/0.00043 µm2.s−1, to 0.00060 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.00027/0.0029 µm2.s−1; Wilcoxon signed rank test [WSR], P = 0.0004; Fig. 5 A). This was not observed in control cells treated with vehicle instead of DMAT (from 0.00023 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.000098/0.00040 µm2.s−1, to 0.00018 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.000091/0.00056 µm2.s−1; Fig. 5 B). We next examined the effect of DMAT on the diffusion of the phosphodeficient mutant Kv-Nav 4SA. No significant difference was measured in the MDC before and after 10–25 min of either DMAT or vehicle applications (from 0.00020 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.00010/0.00025 µm2.s−1, to 0.00023 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.00017/0.00041 µm2.s−1, for DMAT and from 0.00022 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.000086/0.00047 µm2.s−1, to 0.00031 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.00024/0.00050 µm2.s−1, for vehicle; Fig. 5, C and D). Comparison across conditions between DMAT and vehicle treatments indicated different MDCs for Kv-Nav, but not for Kv-Nav 4SA (MW for Kv-Nav, P = 0.0078; Fig. 5, C and D). Altogether, these data strongly suggest that inhibition of CK2 phosphorylation is able to alter Kv-Nav mobility at the AIS. We next examined whether the increase in mobility induced by CK2 inhibition could later destabilize the concentration of ankyrin-binding ion channels at the AIS. We quantified the immunostaining of ankG and endogenous Nav1 channels in neurons treated for 4, 8, or 24 h with either DMAT or vehicle. The inhibition of CK2 activity induced a progressive decrease in Nav1 labeling at the AIS (80 ± 5% of control value after 4 h, 77 ± 7% after 8 h, and 69 ± 6% after 24 h), a process that seems to occur before perturbation of ankG concentration (decreasing to 86 ± 55% after 4 h, 86 ± 6% after 8 h, and 48 ± 4% after 24 h; Fig. 5 E). Collectively, these results show that binding affinity, restriction of diffusion, and AIS concentration are correlated in young neurons. They also demonstrate that CK2 can modulate Kv-Nav binding to ankyrin and Kv-Nav immobilization in the nascent AIS. ankG restricts ion channel diffusion at the AIS of mature neurons We then studied the relationship between ankG binding and the restriction of ion channel diffusion in mature neurons, which develop a general diffusion barrier at the AIS (Winckler et al., 1999; Nakada et al., 2003). To discriminate between an effect driven by direct ankG binding from the effect of the general diffusion barrier, we compared the diffusion behaviors of Kv-Nav, Kv-Nav 4SA, and Kv-Nav EA4SA in DIV 10 neurons. A loss of compartmentalization was observed for Kv-Nav EA4SA, but not for Kv-Nav 4SA (Fig. 6 A), in agreement with our previous study (Bréchet et al., 2008). In DIV 10 neurons, the diffusion properties of Kv-Nav EA4SA were different when compared with Kv-Nav (Fig. 6 B): the DIDC and the cumulative frequency of diffusion coefficients shifted toward higher values for Kv-Nav EA4SA (KS, P < 0.0001), and the percentage of the immobile population dropped to 43 ± 3% (MW, P = 0.012; Fig. 6 C). Note that the MDC of the Kv-Nav EA4SA mobile population was not significantly different from that of Kv-Nav (0.0075 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0018/0.017 µm2.s−1; Fig. 6 D). In comparison, Kv-Nav and Kv-Nav 4SA displayed similar diffusion properties (Fig. 6, B and C): we did not find any significant differences in the DIDC, the cumulative frequency of diffusion coefficients (Fig. 6, B and C), the immobile population (78 ± 4% for Kv-Nav and 72 ± 8% for Kv-Nav 4SA), and the MDC of the mobile population (0.0028 µm2.s−1 for Kv-Nav and 0.0074 µm2.s−1 for Kv-Nav 4SA; IQR of 0.0019/0.012 and 0.0017/0.021 µm2.s−1, respectively; Fig. 6, B and C). These observations suggested that CK2 modulation of Kv-Nav mobility might be occluded in DIV 10 neurons in contrast to what was observed in DIV 4 neurons (Figs. 4 and and5).5). Therefore, we analyzed Kv-Nav diffusion upon acute inhibition of CK2 activity in a similar manner as described for young neurons (Fig. 5). From 10 to 20 min after drug application, the MDC of initially immobilized channels varied significantly in DMAT but not in vehicle conditions (from 0.00013 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.000080/0.00022 µm2.s−1, to 0.00020 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.00012/0.00085 µm2.s−1, for DMAT; WSR, P = 0.0186; and from 0.00016 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.000072/0.00039 µm2.s−1, to 0.00026 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.00015/0.00074 µm2.s−1, for vehicle; Fig. 6 E). However, comparison across DMAT and vehicle conditions, implying the use of unpaired statistical tests, showed no significant difference (Fig. 6 E). Altogether, these data show that Kv-Nav immobilization still depends on ankG binding in mature neurons but that the CK2 modulation of Kv-Nav mobility is largely attenuated at this stage. We next conducted experiments using FRAP (Bats et al., 2007) to compare the fluorescence recovery of GFP–Kv-Nav, GFP–Kv-Nav 4SA, and GFP–Kv-Nav EA4SA in DIV 10 neurons (Fig. 6, F–I). NrCAM-mCherry coexpression was used to visualize the AIS. The percentage of the immobile population of GFP–Kv-Nav 4SA and of GFP–Kv-Nav was higher than that of GFP–Kv-Nav EA4SA (71 ± 2, 75 ± 2, and 32 ± 6%, respectively; MW, P < 0.0001 for both pairs; Fig. 6 H). The half-recovery time of the three constructs was in the same range of magnitude and did not differ significantly (Fig. 6 I). This independent measurement of Kv-Nav mobility confirms that, in mature neurons, a direct interaction with ankG restricts diffusion of ion channels. A diffusion barrier restrains the diffusion of an ion channel deficient for ankyrin binding in mature neurons The differential effect of CK2 on Kv-Nav immobilization at the AIS between young and mature neurons may be linked to the appearance of the diffusion barrier between these stages (Winckler et al., 1999; Nakada et al., 2003). If this additional mechanism is functional in DIV 10 neurons, the diffusion behavior of Kv-Nav EA4SA should be different in proximal dendrites and in the AIS. To test this hypothesis, we compared the diffusion properties of Kv-Nav EA4SA in DIV 4 and DIV 10 neurons using NrCAM-GFP for the assignment of AIS and proximal dendrite. In DIV 4 neurons, Kv-Nav EA4SA diffusion properties were identical in the AIS and the proximal dendrites (Fig. 7, A–C). In DIV 10 neurons, the cumulative frequencies of the diffusion coefficients were significantly different (KS, P < 0.0001; Fig. 7 D). The percentages of the immobile populations were 13 ± 4% for proximal dendrites and 43 ± 3% for the AIS (MW, P = 0.0358; Fig. 7 E), and the mobile fraction diffused faster in proximal dendrites (0.080 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.020/0.14 µm2.s−1) than at the AIS (0.0075 µm2.s−1, IQR of 0.0018/0.017 µm2.s−1; MW, P = 0.0014; Fig. 7 F). We further analyzed the confinement properties of the mobile population at the AIS by evaluating its MSD. In DIV 4 neurons, the MSD of Kv-Nav EA4SA increased linearly as a function of time, indicating a free diffusing pattern of surface diffusion. In DIV 10 neurons, MSD plotted as a function of time was negatively curved, demonstrating that the protein moved in a confined space (Fig. 7, G and H). To exclude the possibility that the differences observed were caused by a low level of ankG expression in DIV 4 cells, we replaced NrCAM-GFP by ankG-GFP as an AIS marker (Fig. S2). In this condition, Kv-Nav EA4SA diffusion properties were similar for proximal dendrites and for the AIS, similar to what was observed in the presence of NrCAM-GFP (Fig. 7, A–C). These data show that an ion channel deficient for ankG binding exhibited a restricted mobility at the AIS of mature neurons, but not of immature neurons. This is likely to result from the appearance of a general diffusion barrier, in line with previous studies (Winckler et al., 1999; Nakada et al., 2003). Altogether, these findings revealed that a two-step mechanism of diffusion restriction takes place at the AIS. As soon as the scaffold protein concentrates at the AIS, before the assembly of the diffusion barrier (DIV 4), a tight and CK2-regulated binding to ankG is required to immobilize Nav channels. Once the barrier is formed (DIV 10), ion channel immobilization still requires ankG binding, but the presence of the barrier also immobilizes proteins that bind weakly or do not bind ankG. Discussion In the present study, we show that ankG restricts diffusion of Kv-Nav chimeric ion channels through interaction with the Nav1.2 ankyrin-binding motif in N2A cells and hippocampal neurons. In young neurons, CK2 is able to modulate the immobilization of Kv-Nav. In mature neurons, ankG is still necessary for Kv-Nav immobilization, and CK2 modulation is attenuated. Our findings demonstrate that a CK2-regulated binding to ankyrin is initially required to immobilize Nav channels at the AIS before the assembly of the diffusion barrier. Once formed, the diffusion barrier can partially supplement the role of ankG in immobilizing ion channels, as demonstrated with Kv-Nav mutants with reduced ankyrin binding. Thus, early immobilization of ankyrin-binding proteins may constitute a preliminary step in the formation of the diffusion barrier (Winckler et al., 1999; Nakada et al., 2003). Diffusion of ankyrin-binding proteins at the AIS SPT with QDs was first used to study diffusion of the glycine receptor in spinal cord neurons (Dahan et al., 2003). The main benefit of this technique is that it allows the investigator to obtain a detailed DIDC rather than a mean coefficient of diffusion-like ensemble methods such as FRAP (Triller and Choquet, 2008). The diffusion coefficient values obtained for Kv-Nav constructs are in the order of D = ∼0.001 µm2.s−1 in both young and mature neurons. Compared with other membrane proteins, this places AIS channels at the slowest part of the diffusion spectrum (for review see Groc and Choquet, 2008). Early results suggested a slow diffusion of Nav1 channels at the axon hillock (D = ∼0.015 µm2.s−1; Angelides et al., 1988), later confirmed by SPT of toxin-tagged channels (D = ∼0.01 µm2.s−1; Nakada et al., 2003). For adhesion proteins, a diminished diffusion of neurofascin at the AIS was observed using bound latex beads (D = ∼0.01 µm2.s−1; Winckler et al., 1999; Boiko et al., 2007). The slower diffusion observed in the present study could be caused by the higher sensitivity of the SPT/QD method. Alternatively, immobilization could be enhanced by the tetrameric nature of Kv-Nav constructs that bear four ankyrin-binding motifs. The tetravalence of Kv-Nav complexes is likely to exacerbate the differences in the ankyrin binding properties of Kv-Nav and its mutants and could have helped to discriminate their differences in diffusive properties. Nevertheless, one of the main goals of future studies will be to measure the diffusive properties of endogenous Nav channels that bear a single ankyrin-binding motif. Diffusion-trapping model for accumulation of ankyrin-binding proteins at the AIS Studies of chimeras containing different portions of the Nav1.2 sodium channel have shown that these constructs are sent to both somatodendritic and axonal compartments before being selectively endocytosed (Fache et al., 2004) and retained at the AIS because of their interaction with ankG via the ankyrin-binding motif (Garrido et al., 2003; Lemaillet et al., 2003). By using N2A cells and neurons at different stages of development, we now show that the slow diffusion of Kv-Nav depends on its binding to ankyrin. Downstream of targeting mechanisms, this supports a diffusion-trapping mechanism for ankyrin-binding channels at the AIS. Trapping of ion channels and adhesion proteins by ankG could explain how they progressively concentrate at the AIS in developing neurons (Xu and Shrager, 2005; Boiko et al., 2007; Hedstrom et al., 2007). Interestingly, the ankG–Nav1 interaction is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation, and the restriction of CK2 to the AIS can explain why Nav1 channels are preferentially trapped by ankG at the AIS rather than by ankB further down the axon (Bréchet et al., 2008). Ankyrin-based trapping of L1CAM by ankB has been demonstrated in axonal growth cones (Gil et al., 2003) and is also dependent on phosphorylation by an unknown kinase (Garver et al., 1997). Here, perturbing ankG–Nav1 interactions by inhibiting CK2 with the DMAT inhibitor affects ion channel diffusion and accumulation at the AIS. CK2 inhibition leads to an enhanced diffusion of Kv-Nav after 10 min and to a decrease in endogenous Nav1 concentration at the AIS after 4–8 h. The difference between the short-term effect on diffusion and the long-term effect on localization could seem paradoxical. However, differences in diffusion can be very slow to affect steady-state localization of membrane proteins, as shown by mathematical modeling of neurotransmitter receptors at the postsynaptic density (Holcman and Triller, 2006; Sekimoto and Triller, 2009). Primary role of ankG in restricting diffusion at the AIS The primary role of ankG in AIS assembly and maintenance is now established (Zhou et al., 1998; Hedstrom et al., 2007, 2008), but its role in the diffusion barrier has not been clearly addressed yet (Lasiecka et al., 2008). Previous studies have shown that there is a correlation between ankyrin concentration at the AIS and the restriction of the diffusion of neurofascin (Boiko et al., 2007) and lipids in older neurons (Nakada et al., 2003). In a recent study, knocking down ankG expression allowed VAMP2 to diffuse more freely at the AIS of young neurons (Song et al., 2009). First, ankG is able to specifically restrict the diffusion of ankG-binding constructs before the diffusion barrier appears. Second, after the diffusion barrier has established at DIV 10, all constructs are slowed at the AIS compared with proximal dendrites, but constructs that bind to ankG are more immobile than constructs that do not. We could separate the immobilization of ankyrin-binding proteins from the general immobilization of membrane proteins caused by the diffusion barrier because, in our system, we observed a concentration of ankG at the AIS by DIV 4, similar to other studies (Hedstrom et al., 2007; Song et al., 2009), before seeing an effect of the diffusion barrier that is present at DIV 10. An interesting question, given the large spread of DIDC for Kv-Nav, is the relative contribution of ankG mobility, as scaffolding complexes have been shown to be dynamic (Specht and Triller, 2008). However, the mobility of such scaffolds is usually very low compared with the diffusion of membrane proteins. The DIDC spread is more likely caused by rapid association–dissociation events with ankG along the trajectories, resulting in a diminished diffusion coefficient. Subsequent steps in the diffusion barrier assembly Our results show that ankyrin-binding proteins are immobilized at the AIS as soon as DIV 4, whereas the mobility of ankyrin-noninteracting proteins was restricted at a later stage of development. This suggests that immobilization of ankyrin-binding proteins is a preliminary step in the assembly of the diffusion barrier. In the “fence and pickets” model of the AIS diffusion barrier (Nakada et al., 2003), ankG acts as a fence post to recruit ankyrin-binding membrane proteins as pickets. If ankyrin-binding pickets are sufficient to slow down all AIS membrane proteins, overexpressing NrCAM-GFP pickets at the AIS of DIV 4 neurons should have a significant effect on the diffusion of Kv-Nav E4SA, which does not interact with ankG. However, we observed that NrCAM-GFP only slightly decreased Kv-Nav E4SA diffusion (Fig. 6). This could be because overexpression of NrCAM-GFP is not sufficient to reach a critical concentration of pickets (Nakada et al., 2003) or NrCAM-GFP is not as functional as endogenous NrCAM, as it lacks the extracellular FnIII domain that was swapped for GFP (Falk et al., 2004). More likely, the presence of more membrane ankyrin-binding proteins is not sufficient to create a diffusion barrier. The AIS still develops and matures between DIV 4 and DIV 10, with the assembly of additional components. βIV-Spectrin (Berghs et al., 2000) is likely to be another constituent of the fence, although its depletion affects the diffusion of only L1CAM along the AIS (Nishimura et al., 2007). Specific lipids that are organized and stabilized by membrane proteins, such as cholesterol, which interacts with NrCAM through its palmitoylated residues (Ren and Bennett, 1998), could also contribute to the restriction of diffusion. Another probable factor is the appearance of a specific brevican-containing extracellular matrix that ensheathes the AIS in mature neurons (Hedstrom et al., 2007) and is likely to affect diffusion of membrane proteins (Frischknecht et al., 2009). Physiological role of the modulation of protein mobility at the AIS This major role of a scaffolding protein in restricting membrane protein diffusion and ultimately localization is reminiscent of what has been consistently found at the postsynaptic compartment. Direct or indirect interactions of neurotransmitter receptors with scaffolds drive receptor concentration and play a role in modulating their presence at the synapse. At excitatory synapses, AMPA receptors associate with stargazin, resulting in the immobilization of AMPA–stargazin complexes (Bats et al., 2007). At inhibitory synapses, γ-aminobutyric acid and glycine receptors bind to gephyrin, which leads to their concentration at the postsynaptic density (Renner et al., 2008). Furthermore, modulation of receptor concentration at synapses by neuronal activity could occur through regulation of the scaffold–receptor binding strength, suggesting a mechanism for synaptic plasticity (Ehrensperger et al., 2007; Newpher and Ehlers, 2008). Here, we clearly show that Kv-Nav diffusion at the AIS is linked to its capability to bind ankG, demonstrating that a regulation of scaffold–membrane protein interaction can drive differences in diffusional behavior. It must be noted that such a regulation implies that the scaffold is in excess relative to the membrane protein, which seems to be the case for ankG at the AIS (Davis and Bennett, 1984). In addition, the modulation of ankG binding to Kv-Nav is caused by phosphorylation by a specific kinase (CK2; Bréchet et al., 2008), and we were able to detect the regulatory role of CK2 on Kv-Nav diffusion in young neurons. As the AIS has recently been shown to be modulated by neuronal activity (Grubb and Burrone, 2010a; Kuba et al., 2010), it would be very interesting to test whether variation in Nav1 diffusive properties, as well as its dynamic regulation by CK2 phosphorylation, play a role in this new mechanism of neuronal intrinsic plasticity. Materials and methods DNA constructs The myc–Kv2.1-Nav1.2 1,080–1,203 (Kv-Nav) chimera and point mutant constructs have been described previously (Bréchet et al., 2008). HA–Kv2.1-Nav1.2 1,080–1,203-GFP (GFP–Kv-Nav) was generated from myc–Kv2.1-Nav1.2 1,080–1,203. The ApaI–ApaI fragment of this construct was introduced into the ApaI sites of plasmid containing EGFP–Kv2.1 (HA; gift of M.M. Tamkun, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO). GFP–Kv-Nav mutants were obtained by sequential PCR amplification using a site-directed mutagenesis kit (QuickChange XL; Agilent Technologies). NrCAM-GFP plasmid, in which the FNIII domains were replaced by the GFP, was provided by C. Faivre-Sarrailh (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France; Falk et al., 2004). To obtain NrCAM-mCherry, GFP was substituted for mCherry into AgeI–XhoI sites. 270 kD ankG-GFP plasmid was a donation from V. Bennett (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC). All of the generated constructs were verified by DNA sequencing. Cell culture and transfection Neuroblastoma cell line N2As were cultured in DME–GlutaMAX medium (Invitrogen) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (ABCyS), nonessential amino acids, and sodium pyruvate (Invitrogen). Transfection was performed using jetPEI (Polyplus Transfection). Transfected N2A cells were then cultured in serum-free medium (Opti-MEM–GlutaMAX; Invitrogen) to induce differentiation overnight. Primary hippocampal neurons were prepared as previously described (Goslin and Banker, 1989; Garrido et al., 2003). Neurons were transfected at DIV 3 or DIV 8–9 using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Experiments were performed 18–25 h after transfection. Kv-Nav QD-based tracking Hippocampal neurons were cotransfected with NrCAM-GFP or ankG-GFP and Kv-Nav or Kv-Nav mutants. When transfected in neurons, NrCAM-GFP and ankG-GFP were concentrated at the AIS, and thus GFP fluorescence concentration was used to localize the AIS in living cells. Conversely, proximal neurites not exhibiting GFP concentration were considered as proximal dendrites. Neurons were incubated for 10 min at room temperature with 1 µg/ml rabbit polyclonal anti-myc (Abcam). Cells were then washed in neurobasal medium (Invitrogen) and incubated for 2 min at room temperature with 605 nm QDs conjugated to 0.1–1 nm F(ab′)2 anti–rabbit (Invitrogen). QDs were previously incubated with 1% casein to block nonspecific binding. After three fast rinses, coverslips were mounted in a sealed custom chamber filled with imaging buffer (120 mM NaCl, 3 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl2, 2 mM MgCl2, 10 mM glucose, 10 mM Hepes, pH 7.35, and 250 mOsm). Neurons were imaged at 37°C on an inverted microscope (Axiovert 200; Carl Zeiss, Inc.) equipped with a 63× oil immersion objective (NA = 1.4) and illuminated by a halogen lamp (HBO 100; OSRAM GmbH). GFP and QDs were detected using appropriate excitation and emission filters (band pass (bp) 475/40–bp 530/50 for GFP signal and bp 546/12–long pass 590 for QD signal). 512 consecutive frames were acquired at 13.3 Hz with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera (CoolSnap HQ; Photometrics). All recordings were done within 30 min after mounting the chamber. N2A cells were cotransfected with GFP or ankG-GFP and Kv-Nav or Kv-Nav mutants. Cells were treated and imaged in the same conditions as neurons with the exception that N2A cells were washed in PBS and imaged in MEM medium (Invitrogen) supplemented with 20 mM Hepes. Trajectory analysis QDs were detected and tracked using multidimensional image analysis software (Racine et al., 2006) run by MetaMorph (MDS Analytical Technologies) with subsequent reconnection performed with routines written in Matlab (MathWorks). QDs exhibit a discontinuous fluorescence emission with “off” periods (blinking), allowing us to unambiguously detect single QDs. Trajectories were reconnected during off periods using the Matlab routines, adapting for each video the maximum duration of the fluorescence disappearance and the maximum distance covered by the QDs during off periods. For N2A experiments, parameters for the reconnection of the trajectories during off periods were kept constant among videos. The MSD was calculated using MSD (ndt) = (N − n)−1∑i = 1N−n((xi+n − xi)2 + ((yi+n − yi)2)dt, where xi and yi are the coordinates of the tracked object on frame i, N is the total number of steps in the trajectory, and dt is the time interval between two successive frames. Instantaneous diffusion coefficients were calculated from linear fits of the n = 1–8 values of the MSD using MSD(t) = 4 Dt. Inhibition of CK2 activity Inhibition of CK2 activity was performed using the CK2 inhibitor DMAT (Pagano et al., 2004). DMAT (EMD) was dissolved in DMSO at 10 mM. For long-term treatment experiments, DMAT was added to the culture medium at a final concentration of 50 µM. Corresponding amounts of DMSO (vehicle) were added to the medium of control cells. For DMAT acute application experiments, coverslips were first mounted in an open chamber (Life Imaging Services) with imaging buffer, transfected neurons were chosen, and control QD trajectories were recorded. Then, the imaging buffer was replaced by the same medium supplemented with 50 µM DMAT or DMSO as a vehicle, and the same QDs were then imaged every 5 min for 20–25 min. Imaging was performed as described in the previous section with the exception that GFP and QDs were detected using different excitation and emission filters (bp 470/40–bp 525/50 for GFP signal and bp 525/45–bp 605/20 for QD signal). 1,024 consecutive frames were acquired at 27 Hz with a CCD camera (QuantEM:512SC; Photometrics). Only QDs that were initially immobile (D ≤ 0.00075 µm2.s−1 before application of DMAT) were considered for the analysis of immobilization inhibition by DMAT. FRAP experiments Experiments were conducted on a wide-field FRAP imaging system (L5D; Institut Curie/Roper Industries) run by MetaMorph software using routines developed at the imaging platform of the Curie Institute. The microscope (DM6000; Leica) was equipped with a 63× objective, a monochromator for wide-field fluorescence excitation (Cairn Research), and an emission filter wheel (Sutter Instrument Co.). Hippocampal neurons were cotransfected with NrCAM-mCherry and GFP–Kv-Nav or mutated GFP–Kv-Nav. The AIS of transfected neurons was visualized by NrCAM-mCherry fluorescence concentration. Conversely, proximal neurites not exhibiting NrCAM-mCherry concentration were considered as proximal dendrites. For FRAP experiments, only the GFP channel was recorded. Cells were mounted in a custom sealed recording chamber in imaging medium (145 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl2, 1 mM MgCl2, 10 mM glucose, 10 mM Hepes, 0.2% BSA, pH 7.39, and 280 mOsm) and maintained at 37°C. One to three circular regions (Gaussian profile beam of 1-µm width) on each AIS were bleached by high-intensity illumination using a 200-mW solid state 488-nm Sapphire laser (Coherent, Inc.) for 15 ms at 15 mW, reducing local fluorescence by 50–80%. Recovery was monitored by time-lapse acquisitions (one frame every second for 180 s) with a back-illuminated CCD (Cascade II; Photometrics). Illumination intensity was set to prevent observational photobleaching (<10% in 200 frames). Fluorescence intensities were preliminarily corrected for background signal. Fluorescence signal was then normalized and corrected for ongoing photobleaching with the following equation: Fcorrt = (Ft/F0)/(Fnbt/Fnb0), where Ft is the fluorescence at time t, F0 is the fluorescence before bleaching, Fnbt is the mean fluorescence intensity of whole nonbleached image at time t, and Fnb0 is the mean fluorescence intensity of the whole nonbleached image before bleaching (Phair et al., 2003). Best fits of FRAP recovery curves were made according to the following equation: F(t) = Fmax(1 − exp(−Kt)), where Fmax is the normalized maximal fluorescence limit for an infinite recovery time, and K is the inverse recovery time constant. Half-time recovery is defined as 0.6932/K. Immunocytochemistry For immunohistochemistry, cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 20 min at room temperature. Nonspecific binding was blocked with 0.22% gelatin in 0.1 M phosphate buffer for 30 min. For labeling of transfected Kv-Nav and mutants, cells were incubated for 1 h with mouse monoclonal antibody to myc (1:200; Roche). Endogenous proteins (ankG, Nav1, NF-186, and microtubule-associated protein 2 [MAP2]) were then immunodetected after a permeabilization step (1-min incubation in 10% Triton X-100 for Nav1 labeling or 0.066% saponin and 0.22% gelatin in phosphate buffer) with rabbit polyclonal antibody to ankG (1:400–1,000; a gift from G. Alcaraz, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Marseille, France), mouse antibody to sodium channel (panNav; 1:100; Sigma-Aldrich), rabbit polyclonal antibody to NF-186 (1:200; a gift from V. Bennett), and chicken polyclonal antibody to MAP2 (1:10,000; Abcam). Corresponding secondary antibodies conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488, 546, and 633 were incubated for 45 min (dilution from 1:400 to 1:800; Invitrogen). Coverslips were mounted in Fluor Save reagent (EMD). Confocal microscopy and quantification Cells were imaged using a confocal microscope (TCS-SPE or TSC-SP2; LCS or LAS-AF software; Leica). Confocal images were acquired with 40×/1.25 NA and 63×/1.40 NA oil objectives (Leica) at ambient temperature. Fluorescence was collected as Z stacks with sequential wavelength acquisition. Quantification was performed using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health). Regions of interest corresponding to AIS were manually selected on ankG and/or Nav1 images and reported on other channels for intensity measurements. All intensities were corrected for background labeling. For illustration, image editing was performed using ImageJ or Photoshop CS4 (Adobe) and was limited to rolling-ball background subtraction, linear-contrast enhancement, and γ adjustment. Statistical analysis Statistical analyses were performed with Prism software (GraphPad Software, Inc.). The parametric two-tailed t test was used for steady-state localization experiments, and the nonparametric tests (MW, WSR, and KS) were applied for diffusion experiments given to the anomalous nature of data distributions. Comparison of DIDC was performed using a KS. Online supplemental material Fig. S1 demonstrates that accumulation of endogenous ankG is sufficient to account for the reduction of Kv-Nav mobility in young neurons. Fig. S2 shows that overexpression of ankG is not sufficient to induce a diffusion barrier in young neurons. Online supplemental material is available at. Acknowledgments We thank F. Castets, J.-M. Goaillard, H. Vacher, and A. Woodhouse for comments on the manuscript; M.P. Blanchard, C. Poujol, and P. Legros for their help on imaging; and M. Savary and F. Rueda for preparing neuronal cultures. We thank G. Alcaraz, C. Faivre-Sarrailh, M.M. Tamkun, and V. Bennett for providing plasmids and reagents. This work was supported by grants from the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, the Ministère de la Recherche, the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (grant A05161), the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (grant R06048AA), and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A. Brachet was supported by fellowships from the Ministère de la Recherche, the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale that also supported M. Irondelle, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. C. Leterrier was a recipient of post-doctoral fellowships from the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche, the Fondation pour l’Aide à la Recherche sur la Sclérose En Plaques, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We thank the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique for additional financial support to D. Choquet, B. Dargent, and J.B. Sibarita. Footnotes Abbreviations used in this paper: - AIS - axonal initial segment - ankG - ankyrin G - bp - band pass - CCD - charge-coupled device - CK2 - protein kinase CK2 - DIDC - distribution of the instantaneous diffusion coefficients - DIV - day in vitro - DMAT - 2-dimethylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrabromo1 H-benzimidazole - IQR - interquartile range - KS - Kolmogorov-Smirnov test - MAP2 - microtubule-associated protein 2 - MDC - median instantaneous diffusion coefficient - MSD - mean square displacement - MW - Mann and Whitney test - NF-186 - neurofascin-186 - NrCAM - neuronal cell adhesion molecule - QD - quantum dot - SPT - single-particle tracking - WSR - Wilcoxon signed ranked test References - Angelides K.J., Elmer L.W., Loftus D., Elson E. 1988. Distribution and lateral mobility of voltage-dependent sodium channels in neurons. J. Cell Biol. 106:1911–1925 10.1083/jcb.106.6.1911 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Cross Ref] - Bats C., Groc L., Choquet D. 2007. 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tag: Clandestine: Recent Art, Design & Photography //assets0.redbubble.net/favicon.png 2015-03-26T22:37:56Z tag: 2015-03-14T14:35:33Z 2015-03-23T14:44:22Z Walter White Clandestine Labs Heisenberg <a href=""><img alt="Walter White Clandestine Labs Heisenberg" src="" /></a><p>Walter White Clandestine Labs Heisenberg</p> harahap88 tag: 2015-02-14T02:18:26Z 2015-02-18T21:50:28Z Clandestine Flowers Yellow Blue Black <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Flowers Yellow Blue Black" src="" /></a><p>Thank you for visiting this yellow, blue, and black, Flowers Botanical artwork <br />listing. Flowers are a symbol of peace and love. This art print. evokes a <br />playful and carefree feeling. This item was created from an original hand made drawing. High-quality printing gives this fine art print its vivid and sharp <br />appearance. A perfect addition for the home, office, or gallery.</p> martygraw tag: 2015-02-07T03:35:54Z 2015-02-13T06:42:57Z Cold War Spy <a href=""><img alt="Cold War Spy" src="" /></a><p>A mysterious woman operative in a hat and coat stands waiting out in a snowstorm as she watches and spies on her assigned target</p> Ryan Jorgensen tag: 2014-11-26T07:36:07Z 2014-12-02T07:18:57Z Clandestine Farm <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Farm" src="" /></a><p>This was taken several weeks ago near Puslinch ON Canada, when my friend and I thought this was abandoned property. Thinking there would be great photo material, we began walking up the driveway. It wasn’t long before we saw a Mercedes and Cadillac, with possible illicit activity going on. We made an about face and quickly toddled on out.</p> <p>Image courtesy of a Nikon D80 with 70-300mm VR lens and processing by Topaz Impress.</p> <p><strong>Featured in AMERICAS</strong> Nov. 30, 2014<br /><strong>Featured in FEELIN’ GOOD</strong> Nov. 30, 2014</p> sundawg7 tag: 2014-10-23T23:30:40Z 2015-03-26T19:35:13Z Clandestine Meeting (St Trinians II) - (Card) <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Meeting (St Trinians II) - (Card)": 2014-09-15T23:53:21Z 2014-09-15T23:53:21Z James Bond <a href=""><img alt="James Bond" src="" /></a><p>Bond, James Bond</p> Celincg tag: 2014-06-24T11:01:02Z 2014-06-24T11:01:02Z Clandestine Bat Heart - Red <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Bat Heart - Red" src="" /></a> Roxsayy tag: 2014-06-24T10:56:40Z 2014-06-24T10:56:40Z Clandestine Bat Heart - Grey <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Bat Heart - Grey" src="" /></a> Roxsayy tag: 2014-06-24T10:46:03Z 2014-06-24T10:46:03Z Clandestine Bat Heart - Purple <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Bat Heart - Purple" src="" /></a> Roxsayy tag: 2014-06-24T10:27:31Z 2014-06-24T10:31:19Z Clandestine Bat Heart - White <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Bat Heart - White" src="" /></a> Roxsayy tag: 2014-06-24T10:21:29Z 2014-06-24T10:21:29Z Clandestine Bat Heart - Black <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Bat Heart - Black" src="" /></a> Roxsayy tag: 2014-05-28T04:08:01Z 2014-05-28T04:08:01Z clandestine <a href=""><img alt="clandestine" src="" /></a><p><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen</iframe></p> eon . tag: 2014-02-04T00:00:29Z 2014-05-05T02:39:49Z heptagonal transformation stage seven <a href=""><img alt="heptagonal transformation stage seven" src="" /></a><p>seventh stage of transformation</p> Tigerbuck tag: 2013-12-20T02:52:18Z 2013-12-20T02:54:18Z Glamour Kills - Clandestine Industries <a href=""><img alt="Glamour Kills - Clandestine Industries" src="" /></a> carlameatsix tag: 2013-11-25T12:51:51Z 2014-06-03T08:26:32Z lynx <a href=""><img alt="lynx" src="" /></a><p>A sneaky cartoon lynx. I was a bit surprised I didn’t already have a lynx drawing…</p> greendeer tag: 2013-10-22T20:08:21Z 2014-04-16T18:53:41Z Masonic symbol, all seeing eye, freemasonry <a href=""><img alt="Masonic symbol, all seeing eye, freemasonry " src="" /></a><p>The Square & Compass symbolize Man’s state as an eternal soul manifesting in a temporary body (squaring the circle). The All-Seeing Eye is the eye of consciousness and divinity and and refers to the Great Architect.</p> nitty-gritty tag: 2013-10-21T11:35:59Z 2014-03-14T07:20:53Z Masonic symbol, squaring the circle, freemason <a href=""><img alt="Masonic symbol, squaring the circle, freemason" src="" /></a><p>The Compasses tool and the Square tool form a square and a circle. Since Antiquity, the square has represented the physical body. The circle, on the other hand, has always represented the soul.</p> nitty-gritty tag: 2013-10-05T04:02:43Z 2014-09-19T04:10:21Z light psychic attack <a href=""><img alt="light psychic attack" src="" /></a><p>pyew pyew pyew</p> <p>- ink, digital edit</p> HiddenStash tag: 2013-10-05T03:55:22Z 2014-09-19T04:09:37Z dark psychic attack <a href=""><img alt="dark psychic attack" src="" /></a><p>pyew pyew pyew</p> <p>- ink, digital edit</p> HiddenStash tag: 2013-09-24T13:28:35Z 2014-05-04T15:34:56Z Polikarpov PO-2 Mule G-BSSY white 28 <a href=""><img alt="Polikarpov PO-2 Mule G-BSSY white 28" src="" /></a><p>The Polikarpov PO-2, originally U-2, is the most produced biplane ever, being in continuous production from 1928 to 1959. It was allocated the NATO reporting name of Mule during the Cold War. This preserved example, G-BSSY, is operated by the Shuttleworth Collection and is pictured at the 2013 Military Pageant at Old Warden.</p> Colin Smedley tag: 2013-07-12T00:45:11Z 2015-03-26T19:34:36Z Clandestine Meeting (St Trinians II) <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Meeting (St Trinians II)": 2013-05-18T14:08:53Z 2014-05-04T05:46:43Z Clandestine Capture III <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Capture III" src="" /></a><p>Not quite as naughty this time, This photo inside “ANZ’s Gothic Bank” at 388 Collins St was taken of the ceiling in the Cathedral Room, where as far as I know photography is (might be) allowed – The brochure isn’t explicit.</p> <p>Nikon D7000<br />1/13 sec<br />F/3.5 <br />ISO 400<br />Focal Length: 10.0 mm<br />Tamron SP 10-24 Lens</p> Adam Le Good tag: 2013-05-18T13:58:58Z 2014-05-04T05:46:42Z Clandestine Capture II <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Capture II" src="" /></a><p>Detail of a column.</25 sec (hand held)<br />F/5.0 <br />ISO 400<br />Focal Length: 65.0 mm<br />Tamron AF 18-270 Lens</p> Adam Le Good tag: 2013-05-18T13:54:12Z 2014-05-04T05:46:40Z Clandestine Capture I <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Capture I" src="" /></50 sec<br />F/3.5 <br />ISO 400<br />Focal Length: 21.0 mm<br />Tamron AF 18-270 Lens</p> Adam Le Good tag: 2013-03-10T06:59:31Z 2014-09-26T02:26:28Z Clandestine - Grunge Urban Digital Art <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine - Grunge Urban Digital Art" src="" /></a><p>Clandestine – Grunge urban style photo enhancement with Courtney Simonds.</p> <p>Clandestine ©Galen Valle. All rights reserved. Full image credits here: <a href=""></a></p> Galen Valle tag: 2012-08-27T12:56:31Z 2014-06-03T08:26:20Z gangsta kitten <a href=""><img alt="gangsta kitten" src="" /></a><p>A desperado cartoon cat securing a fishbone for it’s own sinister purposes…</p> greendeer tag: 2012-03-23T08:40:15Z 2014-05-02T19:28:24Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a><p>Watercolor, ink & colored pencil on recycled Bristol board.</p> OlgaNoes tag: 2012-01-07T21:32:40Z 2014-10-27T00:55:50Z 1983 - clandestine <a href=""><img alt="1983 - clandestine" src="" /></a><p>ascona, switzerland<br />1983</p> <p>nikon fe, 75-150mm, 400asa film pushed to the limit, <br />negative scanned and processed in gimp</p> moyo tag: 2011-12-21T14:42:37Z 2014-05-02T11:18:42Z clandestine <a href=""><img alt="clandestine" src="" /></a><p>ball point pen on colored paper………boworm………clandestine and netharious quite a wicked pairing but it’s so much more adventourous when life’s a little daring</p> wormink tag: 2011-12-12T06:12:21Z 2014-05-02T10:32:31Z Seven Seven <a href=""><img alt="Seven Seven" src="" /></a><p>During my stay in Dili, East Timor I was informed about the violent gang 7-7 (Seven-Seven). About 20 minutes later I met this guy on the main street. I chatted to him and he reluctantly agreed to let me take a couple of photos. His tattooed chin signifies his allegiance.</p> <p>According to a brief internet search, the 7-7 gang is: clandelistine and generally composed of unemployed youth, with membership in the security forces; average age 16–35 but leadership older. Numbers probably in the mid- thousands.</p> <p>40D<br />50mm f1.4<br />@f1.4, 1/800, ISO100</p> David Baird tag: 2011-12-07T17:52:11Z 2014-05-02T10:05:28Z ANON <a href=""><img alt="ANON" src="" /></a><p>After all is said and done, more is said than done.<br />- Anonymous</p> <p>There is a difference between a psychopath and a neurotic. A psychopath thinks two and two are five. A neurotic knows that two and two are four, but he worries about it.<br />- Anonymou</p> <p>Respectability: the offspring of a liaison between a bald head and a bank account.<br />- Anonymous</p> <p>No one in this world needs a mink coat but a mink.<br />- Anonymou</p> <p>The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.<br />Anonymous</p> <p>If Jesus was Jewish, how come he has a Mexican name?<br />- Anonymous</p> <p>When the 30-year-old lawyer died he said to St. Peter, “How can you do this to me? – a heart attack at my age? I’m only 30.” Replied St. Peter: “When we looked at your total hours billed we figured you were 95.”<br />- Anonymous</p> Yago tag: 2011-12-07T01:20:57Z 2014-03-22T01:15:03Z ANON <a href=""><img alt="ANON" src="" /></a><p.</p> Yago tag: 2011-11-28T07:30:32Z 2013-11-09T23:05:30Z A Clandestine Arrangement <a href=""><img alt="A Clandestine Arrangement" src="" /></a><p><strong><em>Wahkeena Creek, Columbia River Gorge, Bridal Veil, Oregon, USA</em></strong></p> <ul><li><em>Canon 5DII · 24-70mm f/2.8L · CPL</em></li><li><em>70mm · f/14 · 4s – 25s · ISO 50</em></li><li><em>Five images fused in Photomatix Pro · highlight recovery via layer masking in CS5</em><br />_{<em>(Better viewed <strong>LARGE</strong>)</em>}</li></ul><hr /> <p>Ensconced deep in the shadow of a massive fallen cedar, a wayward offshoot of Wahkeena Creek flows on in relative anonymity.</p> Tula Top tag: 2011-10-29T11:01:23Z 2014-05-02T04:40:19Z Sheltering Clandestine Fruit <a href=""><img alt="Sheltering Clandestine Fruit" src="" /></a><p>One of the Brothers Grimm stories (Golden Bird) offered as a contest suggestion at Pxleyes.com. I used some wonderful free sources from flickr, you can trace them back to the link below and see the contest entry.</p> <p><a href="">SOURCES</a></p> GolemAura tag: 2011-10-07T10:02:05Z 2015-02-05T11:37:51Z Clandestine iPhone Case <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine iPhone Case" src="" /></a><p>The iPhone case design from the original piece below</p> <p><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a></p> <p>Canon 50D<br />18 – 55, 58mm</p> <p><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a></p> <p>MCN: C9AY2-39RR7-WNVWH</p> Andrew Paranavitana tag: 2011-08-15T12:04:14Z 2014-05-06T07:44:42Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a> Ramona Organ tag: 2011-07-06T11:11:12Z 2015-03-05T04:29:07Z Clandestine Whispers <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine Whispers" src="" /></a><p>plotting to take over the world? don’t sound so surprised ! I do it all the time, why shouldn’t fish have a go at it?</p> Octochimp Designs tag: 2011-06-11T15:48:13Z 2014-06-02T23:04:50Z City of Darkness <a href=""><img alt="City of Darkness" src="" /></a><table><tr><td><strong>Paris Series</strong> <strong>ISO 1250</strong><br /> <br />Along the banks of the Seine at night, the tribes emerge. Small groups colonize the small Medieval alcoves, ledges and recesses left over from centuries of distracted neglect. The character of this beautiful city relies on its age and the shadows cast in its quiet corners. Here lovers meet, thieves lie in wait, conspirators plot and photographers stalk.<br /> <br />The first thing I did in Paris was to take a night walk along La Seine, to see what was happening in one of its darkest places, to regain the feel of the City of Light that I left so long ago. And of course, the best light is in the darkest places.<br /> <br />Paris was always good to me, and after all this time it proved to be more special than ever before. Thank you Paris and <em>merci beaucoup</em> to you very special Bubblers who helped make it so memorable.</td><td> </td><td><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen</iframe><br /> <br />Paris Night Images by Rhoufi – “Images Unseen” music by Ralph Towner</td></tr></table><p> <br /><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a></p> <p> <br />Single RAW capture: Pentax K-7; FL=70mm; A = f2.4; T = 1/200sec; <strong>ISO = 1250</strong>; Ev= 0.0<br />Post processing in Lightroom 3.5: cropping, exposure, contrast, desaturation, white balance, sharpening</p> Rhoufi tag: 2011-06-08T15:55:45Z 2014-03-22T01:14:53Z CLANDESTINO ( clan·des·tine ) <a href=""><img alt="CLANDESTINO ( clan·des·tine )" src="" /></a><p>Clandestino refers of someone that have broke the law and needs to hide or run from authority, In recent times, Illegal Immigrants are being force to hide into anonymity for a constant persecution under the excuse of been broken the law. Even though the action of being the US illegally is a Misdemeanor, many political groups are pushing to converted into a Felony, a crime, forcing millions into the Clandestinity, It’s time for a real reform, is time to bring 20 million people out of Clandestinity</p> Yago tag: 2011-01-12T06:00:31Z 2011-01-12T06:00:31Z Arcane Association (P/G) <p>Kiss me with fervent desire, / Unveil my hunger, my rapture. / A degustation of anatomy, how we mingle.</p><p><a href="">Read more...</a></p><p>this didn’t come out how i wanted it to but i’m putting it up anyway. there are lines i like but it’s not right…. <strong>sigh</strong></p> vampvamp tag: 2010-11-08T12:40:26Z 2014-05-06T16:09:24Z The Private Kiss <a href=""><img alt="The Private Kiss" src="" /></a> Kyleacharisse tag: 2010-09-14T21:15:00Z 2010-09-14T21:15:00Z Watcherby. <p>Sit — stiff, silent and monogamous / Holding the world tightly to your chest, / Unraveling earth like a ball of yarn / With your clandestine fingers.</p><p><a href="">Read more...</a></p> rachelreagan tag: 2010-08-16T16:55:13Z 2014-04-16T18:27:06Z Clandestine + <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine +" src="" /></a> mariasole oste tag: 2010-05-09T11:28:43Z 2014-04-15T21:35:37Z Backstreet Love (Poetry accompanying) <a href=""><img alt="Backstreet Love (Poetry accompanying)" src="" /></a><p><em>Poetry featured in the book of poetry called ‘The Forsaken Muse, A Woman’s Journey from Sorrow to Hope’</em></p> <p>Artarmon, Sydney – May 2010, Twilight<br />(Image belongs to ‘Raoul’; poetry and model me).<br />Image taken with Canon 5D</p> <p><strong>Backstreet Love</strong><br /><em>(A Honky Tonk Girl’s Song)</em><br />I love in darkness where no one can see<br />Where my only witness is a deserted alley.<br />I wait patiently for you to appear<br />Not knowing how long it will be.<br />I get one moment of joy<br />After days of sorrow.<br />It is a cycle….<br />I now see your shadow approaching<br />My heart beats faster,<br />I agonize and travail….<br />With every tear I shed, I drive my pain away,<br />With every sad gaze, I curse at the nothingness and hopelessness of it.<br />Let me ask you my sweetheart- <br />How long can we make this backstreet love last?</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="345" src="<a href=""></a>" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> moonlover tag: 2010-04-30T11:06:00Z 2014-09-08T10:00:41Z A secret path <a href=""><img alt="A secret path" src="" /></a> rickvohra tag: 2010-04-29T21:44:20Z 2014-04-15T19:40:53Z Clandestine...The Sioux <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine...The Sioux" src="" /></a><p>2010 Abstract Acrylic on 140 lb. watercolour paper 24×18′’</p> <p>Clandestine… The Sioux was Featured in <br />Enthnic Art Group 13 May 2010</p> <p>From 2nd Native American Tour</p> <p.</p> <p>Reynaldo</p> Reynaldo tag: 2010-04-24T11:02:43Z 2010-10-06T20:30:26Z [ clandestine ] <a href=""><img alt="[ clandestine ]" src="" /></a><p>THANKS 2 the photographer : aNNi ART !!!<br />model/editing : me</p> MelAncholyPhoto tag: 2009-09-24T02:15:39Z 2010-10-27T14:47:06Z Untitled, 1995 Keith Decker <a href=""><img alt="Untitled, 1995 Keith Decker" src="" /></a><p>Silver Gelatin Print, Plaster, Acrylic on Canvas</p> <p>As mass graves were unearthed in clandestine cemetaries, forensic scientists worked to piece together the remains of the indigenous Guatemalan population, victims of the country’s tumultuous civil war, in an effort to afford them a respectful and proper burial.</p> parkwestkt tag: 2009-08-26T09:11:47Z 2015-02-05T11:30:32Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a><p>Another one of Melbourne’s magical lane ways. This one runs between Bourke Street and Little Bourke Street. I love the industrial urban grunge this one has.</p> <p>The graffiti on the bin in the foreground reads COOKIE, as the building at the end of the lane way is The Curtain House, a multi level building housing Cookie, The Toff In Town and the Rooftop Bar & Cinema (in summer).</p> <p!</p> <p><a href="">This image has been selected for retail sale Australia wide</a></p> <p><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a></p> <p><strong>Featured on the Home Page</strong><br /><strong>Featured on the Home Page Nov 09</strong></p> <p><strong>Featured in Tunnel Vision</strong><br /><strong>Featured in Beautiful Garbage</strong><br /><strong>Featured in Cityscapes & City Skylines</strong><br /><strong>Featured in The Secret Society Feb 2010</strong><br /><strong>Featured in Dark & Industrial Imagery</strong><br /><strong>Featured in REDemption</strong><br /><strong>Featured in The Secret Society June 2010</strong><br /><strong>Featured in Extra-Ordinary Photography</strong><br /><strong>Featured in Street Art</strong><br /><strong>Featured in High Quality Images</strong><br /><strong>Featured in Streetscapes</strong></p> <p><strong>Top 10 in Cross Process It Challenge</strong><br /><strong>Top 10 in Toned Colour Challenge</strong></p> <p>Canon 50D<br />58mm, 18 – 55<br />f5.6, 1/25, ISO 1600</p> <p>69 Favourites<br />1450+ Views</p> <p>Edited in Photshop CS4.</p> <p>MCN: C219J-CGHQ2-Y74GY</p> <p>More Laneway work:</p> <p><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a></p> <p><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a></p> <p><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a><: 2009-07-11T20:58:46Z 2014-10-06T17:03:49Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a><p>Acrylic on canvas with gel medium.<br /><img src="" alt="" /><br /><img src="" alt="" /></p> Ruth Palmer tag: 2009-04-12T22:44:52Z 2014-08-10T02:27:26Z A Walk With Perception <a href=""><img alt="A Walk With Perception" src="" /></a><p>Created in CS4 all my own images and brushes</p> <p>They were out on the same walk</p> <p>She saw buildings<br />He saw the sky</p> <p>She saw shadows<br />He saw the shadows of birds that fly</p> <p>She saw a crack<br />He saw a crevice</p> <p>She saw a hole <br />He saw a ditch</p> <p>She saw the homeless<br />He saw the rich</p> <p>She saw a rock<br />He saw a diamond</p> <p>When they got home they looked into each other’s eyes,<br />How shall we ever agree on this life at the same time?<br />They said all at once<br />Well… <br />She said <br />We must learn to revel in our differences<br />Lets go against society,<br />Every time I see differently or you do <br />Lets break out the champagne and the sweet meats<br />Every time one sees a problem.. Lets celebrate for the other<br />Every time one sees a solutions lets do it again … <br />Celebrate <br />Celebrate each other.. And then we will loose track of<br />Perfect timing cause every moment will be just perfect!!</p> <p>So they made a pact and they went for walks<br />When she saw buildings and he saw the sky they both<br />Were so happy for what the other was seeing it was like they were seeing EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE. <br />It was like it did not matter any more who saw what when or where; It just mattered that they were together.<br />And guess what?<br />THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER…</p> <p>TEE HEE<br />THE END</p> <p>Linaji 2009</p> linaji tag: 2009-03-19T07:15:09Z 2014-08-10T02:27:25Z Coastal Mantra Series... LEADERSHIP IN LIGHT <a href=""><img alt="Coastal Mantra Series... LEADERSHIP IN LIGHT" src="" /></a><p><a href="">Homepage Featured Image</a><br /><a href=""><img src="" alt="" /></a><br />April 8, 2011<br />:<br />Taken on the coast of California, <a href="">Año Nuevo</a><br />NIKON D80<br />AP<br />F/5.6<br />ISO:200</p> <p><strong>It’s all about light in the Mantra of Love</strong>.</p> linaji tag: 2009-03-08T06:04:40Z 2014-08-10T02:27:24Z Vibration Series... The Vibration of Youth <a href=""><img alt="Vibration Series... The Vibration of Youth" src="" /></a><p><img src="" alt="" /></p> <p>This.</p> <p <strong>if she asked me</strong>..<br />I love one line I have taken from my Abraham work..<br />You Ms. Linaji… Are Never Finished and Life Is Never Done!!</p> linaji tag: 2009-03-03T20:05:08Z 2010-12-16T16:20:11Z A Daughters Farewell Revisited <p>It was then that I saw clearly I was no longer the central man in her life, but just her loving father</p><p><a href="">Read more...</a></p><p>This piece is inspired from <a href="">BillyBoys</a> wedding picture of his daughter titled <a href="">Dearly Beloved</a><br /><img src="" alt="" /></p> <p>Thank You for the inspired word BB.. your work is incomparable!</p> linaji tag: 2009-02-25T19:29:29Z 2013-12-08T19:53:33Z Mind Reading <p>What will happen when comes the / Time we can read each other’s thoughts?</p><p><a href="">Read more...</a></p><p>this thought has always fascinated me.</p> linaji tag: 2009-02-18T22:43:28Z 2014-08-10T02:27:24Z Vibration Series... Vibration of US <a href=""><img alt="Vibration Series... Vibration of US" src="" /></a><p>I melt when you come down and curl up with me, <br />Candle drips and curly tips<br />Here you are my babyji<br />Sobbing lightly and descending to chill<br />Now I am attracted to you most<br />In all my senses <br />Participating<br />Available<br />Without thought or notion<br />Of where we began <br />Any of this…</p> <p>It is when you set all the vibrating ideas<br />Aside,<br />That spins you like a topsy tervy<br />Whirling dervish<br />And you box them up and pack them away <br />…..only for a moment, I know,<br />It is then that I see <br />You.<br />A Soul completely simple and basic <br />And here it is the loving of Us<br />That I feel<br />Nothing comes between us except <br />Maybe a fine smearing of tears, <br />Soon to be dried <br />Against the warmth of my skin.</p> <p>There is quiet <br />The quiet that makes me focus on the sound of our Kiss, <br />Or the complete understanding of my<br />Hands sliding over your skin<br />Then the involuntary intake of breath when I’ve Touched you <br />Somewhere that makes you feel <br />Grounded here<br />On the common waves of silence<br />Human and raw<br />Intertwined<br />Allowing your own sexuality<br />To call you in<br />And let my love speak in tones<br />That become the color of our world.</p> <p>Babyji and Co.<br />2009</p> <p>This was Co-Written <br />with my Heart. Thank you so much!!</p> <p>Half Moon Bay California</p> linaji tag: 2009-02-17T09:31:54Z 2014-08-10T02:27:24Z Vibration Series... LIFE AFTER LIFE <a href=""><img alt="Vibration Series... LIFE AFTER LIFE" src="" /></a><p>This really is putting the last of the series first.. but.. it’s all one big fat circle anyway!!!</p> <p><strong>Sunset Rendezvous</strong></p> <p>And he came to meet me at sunset<br />Is that how it always ends?<br />My goodness he is beautiful once again<br />No longer full of cancer and sorrow<br />He is 39 and I remember that was his favorite age<br />He was 39 for 5 years and then he got sick</p> <p>But look now with a belt from the 80’s and an<br />Umbrella from Harrods<br />He is so happy and shining and seems to know<br />The way.<br />What is he saying?<br />He just sounds buzzy to me<br />Can’t quite make it out.<br />But I will nod yes because that is what I feel like<br />Here with him at sunset<br />Like everything is Yes Yes Yes!</p> <p>I’m not even thinking really<br />I am just dancing in his charm<br />And feeling like the whole of me is present<br />I feel like there is no need nor want<br />I feel satisfied and full and beautiful</p> <p>I left at 70 but as I see my hands they are not <br />70 years old<br />I think they are 30ish.. and my breasts feel ripe.<br />Oh this is marvelous simply marvelous<br />I think this life after life <br />Hits the spot!</p> <p>Linaji 2009</p> linaji tag: 2009-02-09T16:19:03Z 2011-02-08T15:11:41Z House Cat <p>I ate in silence / The screech of the mouse in the corner made</p><p><a href="">Read more...</a></p><p>A poem.. you get it?</p> linaji tag: 2009-01-29T21:21:30Z 2014-04-10T23:42:58Z clandestine passenger 2 <a href=""><img alt="clandestine passenger 2" src="" /></a><p>from a different angle …</p> Fran E. tag: 2009-01-29T20:18:46Z 2014-04-10T23:42:33Z clandestine passenger <a href=""><img alt="clandestine passenger" src="" /></a><p>The wing below the balloon is waiting the best moment to set him free and start it’s descending back to the ground … looney, nothing but looney!</p> Fran E. tag: 2009-01-28T19:39:36Z 2012-01-29T22:15:01Z Letting Art Go <p>I laid back and let tears roll down my cheeks / I laid back and heard the wind sweep across my belly / I laid back and shut my eyes to the bright new day</p><p><a href="">Read more...</a></p><p>One of my first Abstracts that broke my heart when I had to <em>let it go</em></p> <p><img src="" alt="" /></p> linaji tag: 2009-01-28T04:12:51Z 2014-08-10T02:27:24Z CLANDESTINE <a href=""><img alt="CLANDESTINE " src="" /></a><p><img src="" alt="" /><br /><img src="" alt="" /><br /><strong>Letting Art Go</strong></p> <p>By:Linaji 2009</p> <p>When I was 11 I used to cut school<br />Walk to the beach and pretend<br />I pretended I was loved<br />And I pretended I was beautiful</p> <p>I used to sit then on the sand<br />And pick up shells and use them as<br />A phone to my heart<br />Worried that I was not hearing Me!</p> <p>I did not know it then but<br />I wasn’t.</p> <p>I laid back and let tears roll down my cheeks<br />I laid back and heard the wind sweep across my belly<br />I laid back and shut my eyes to the bright new day<br />I laid back and dreamed I was loved<br />And light and gay…</p> <p>Sometimes when the weather was a mix of<br />Sun and clouds<br />And the smell of rain arose<br />I would get a feeling:<br />It had edges of smiles and tender pats on the backside<br />It had a feeling<br />I still get when I open my bed<br />And jump inside cause it is so cold<br />But I pull the covers over me and<br />Shiver shiver shiver<br />And laugh all the while</p> <p>I never asked anyone in the world if they do this<br />Or did.<br />But it feels exciting almost sexual and free..</p> <p>And, alone on the beach with the wind sand and sea<br />I would feel this amazing loneliness that seemed to have<br />Jumped off from the shoulders of this expansive joy.<br />Like I just made something so beautiful<br />And had to let it go.</p> <p>That’s what I feel today<br />As I look at the strokes of love and the<br />Layers of light I just allowed into Being<br />Which for some damn reason,<br />Feels all at once beautiful<br />And all at once Lost.</p> <p>I seem to worry<br />Does that mean I lost a part of me?<br />Or<br />Have I released the latch?<br />The one that opens my heart<br />Once again,<br />To another realm of Creation</p> <p>Linaji 2009</p> <p>As of 11/2010<br />views: 1212<br />favs: 41</p> linaji tag: 2008-11-17T02:05:49Z 2010-10-26T05:00:51Z Cherry Darling <a href=""><img alt="Cherry Darling" src="" /></a><p>Photo by Clandestine Wishes</p> EstherJane tag: 2008-11-05T18:48:12Z 2015-03-04T18:52:33Z In The Wood (Self Portrait) <a href=""><img alt="In The Wood (Self Portrait)" src="" /></a><p>Digitally altered photo, Corel Painter, Photoshop.</p> <p>In The Wood<br />RoyAllenHunt © November 5, 2008</p> <p>I’ve always been so shy.<br />Now you’ve got me doing something I never tried,<br />Taking my clothes off before your eyes<br />in the wood under a bright blue sky.<br />I can feel the sun and the wind on my skin.<br />Is this pleasure what they call sin?<br />Whatever this is I unveil myself to you.<br />Trees loose their leaves and so too my innocent youth.<br />In the wood I sprout up<br />in quick response to your touch.<br />Silky evidence drops down<br />to feed the earth that I lay upon.<br />In the wood I breathe a sigh<br />as overhead the clouds drift by…</p> <p><img src="" alt="" /></p> RoyAllen Hunt tag: 2008-10-14T06:25:20Z 2010-10-26T01:10:59Z obsidian lace corsets / clandestine wishes <a href=""><img alt="obsidian lace corsets / clandestine wishes" src="" /></a> missnic tag: 2008-08-22T21:02:46Z 2014-05-13T00:42:11Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a><p>(Can be available without watermark)</p> ShorehamBoy tag: 2008-07-31T14:16:22Z 2010-10-25T18:41:40Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a><p>Location: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Australia 2007. Photographer: Paul Wesley. Paul Wesley Photography <a href=""></a></p> Paul Wesley tag: 2008-07-21T06:39:00Z 2014-04-09T16:40:04Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a><p>Clandestine</p> Rosina Lamberti tag: 2007-12-03T09:16:43Z 2012-01-09T01:04:13Z Clandestine <a href=""><img alt="Clandestine" src="" /></a><p>scare your friends with “clandestine”, a finger painting I did last week!<br />do you have any enemies in need of t-shirts? Then “clandestine” is right for you!<br />buy clandestine!</p> kristeng

Christy & Susanne connecting this week over events in their lives this past week. Come join us with no judgment. We are holding space to learn, laugh, and downright pointe at ourselves. — Watch the episode here: Listen here: Coffee chat with Christy & Susanne | Why you should be taking responsibility for your actions. Welcome back to Coffee Chat with Christine & Susanne. Christy, would you do me the honor and read the title today? I want to give some insight into how we decide what we’re talking about this week. Your competition isn’t other people. Your competition is your procrastination, your ego, the unhealthy food you’re consuming. The knowledge you neglect, the negative behavior you’re nurturing, and your lack of creativity compete against that. So, this week, I asked Christy, as I’ve got nothing, girl, I need your help. And this is what she sent back. I could not agree more. I think this is something we should address. Performing artists always believe that they compete with so many other variables that are entirely outside of them. And that’s let’s debunk that myth. Let’s rewrite that story. Let’s take some responsibility. Maybe make it a little easier for you. But before we even dive into this, Christy, how was your week, my love? My week was interesting; I spent most of it in bed, I did not feel well. And I think that this was a sign both physically and mentally, and emotionally that I was meant to hit the pause button. I have a reflex to lead with my analytical side a lot of times and my thinking side to make decisions. It’s been evident over these last couple of months, three months maybe. That is no longer with the operating system that I need to be functioning. It needs to be coming from a soul level, and something that few I’m feeling pulled to, not that my mind rationally decides is a good decision for me. And while just laying about, that came up for me very strongly this week. That you know it, I have to be very aware of where the decisions are coming from for me. And I know we live in a world where the operating system is our thinking mind. I’ve found a lot more ease and flow and a lot more inspiration and creativity when I’ve been able to drop down out of that mode and into feeling what’s going on inside that quieter voice. What is she saying? So it’s been very clear that it’s time to rest and reflect again. So that’s been my week, but I am feeling much better. It’s, I have the strength to at least be vertical now. So that’s helpful. But this is also a testament to the growth that I wasn’t impatient about the rest that I accepted it and received it, and I’ve gotten a lot of excellent sleep and a lot of really needed reflection. I love that. You’re not the only one who has had that experience. I have another friend who came back from two retreats. One that she held and one she was a taking part. She was literally out of commission for two weeks after that. She mentioned she doesn’t even know what’s happening and does not know that that’s not physical. I want to go as far as bacterias and viruses are taking over our bodies at times. I genuinely believe that there is always a reason that in a moment where we invited that in, where we hoped for it to show up so that we could take either a break. Our feeling mind needs that break to reset to have those parts that no longer serve us die off and reframe refresh, to recharge, to rise out of the ashes. Procrastination I was sitting a lot of procrastination. Let us talk about the real root of procrastination at one point and dive into that because I’m an expert and a total procrastinating expert. I’m also an expert in convincing myself that I get overwhelmed fairly quickly. I no longer buy into that story. I am not a person that procrastinates; I want to be different. And how does that look? So for me, I started taking a look at my schedule and what my schedule looks like. I have four out of convenience. And because I don’t want to invest much time in thinking about how I should structure my day, that feels overwhelming. What can I do differently? Because right now, I’m at a point where a lot is coming at me. And if I am not careful, it’s going to be so overwhelming that I’m not taking any actions, meaning I’m procrastinating a lot though that’s no longer who I am. So what ways can I find? How can I look at 24 hours in my day in a different way? What are other people that are high-performing doing? How are they managing? What is running a sprint versus a marathon? Twenty-four hours feels super long. What if I chunk it down into 100 yards or 200? yard increments? What does that look like? Will I be able to give 100% every time? What does it look like? And then how do I recover? With that, I am more productive. So that’s where I’m at right now. Freakin love it. Because it pushes me to a level that I always want to be at, but I didn’t know how and I believe that I wasn’t there, but now it feels okay. I am approaching that portal. So how am I going to walk through it and live it? What are your qualifications? I also have been asked this week. What qualifies you to lead a media company and ignite change in the performing arts? My throat tightened, and I thought absolutely nothing. That was my inherent thought in my mind. And I shared that with my mentor. Okay, so how do I armed myself when these questions are coming up? Because that’s not a good answer. And, it is also not the truth. So how do I find the truth? I recorded a podcast just around that that we don’t give ourselves enough credit at any given point. I mean, think back, Christy, when we were performing without a compliment ever, I mean, how awful did that feel? Like, how much pride do we take and deflecting that compliment when it came? Or did we say, no, no, no, no, that is nothing? That push and pull just never fit together. And I also realized with us not allowing ourselves to see how great we are at any given stage and where we are, we deny ourselves our future success. Because if I cannot see how great I am right now, I will also not see what’s down the road for me. And I think that’s where so many performing artists hold themselves back in so many ways. And with that, they hold back the floodgates of income coming in, because let’s be honest, they don’t think they deserve anything of any kind of value or rewards or monetization or have you just work for free, it feels much better. Then you can slide into that rut or self-talk. ‘I can’t do a thing today. I can’t think of anything today. I don’t want to listen to anybody.’ Would you please tell me what else I have to do? Because it’s not you choosing that moment, however, that’s what you want to be aware of so that you can lean into that and recognize it so you can realign with what you want. Looking for competition Let’s talk about that quote because it’s not the first time that I came across it. I think, out of comfort and out of familiarity, we seek our own greatness. And are we? Do we look for competition? See, she doesn’t, so I can’t. And looking at other people what they’re great at, not using it as proof that we can do it. But we look for it as a benchmark. Well, that’s a lie. Nobody else out there can ever tell you what you are capable of and what you’re not capable of. That’s on you. That is solely your business. That is what you are going to figure out. What you believe you can do is what you’re capable of doing. It’s on you. When you’re reading that quote, why did you choose that? Well, it’s just brought up so much of the way I used to exist. I mean, in really every aspect of my life, I never had the worthiness to feel. I could compare myself to myself. I didn’t think that I was good enough to be the one that I saw. I had an underlying feeling of never being enough in any aspect. So I was always striving, which is another thing that came up. At the same time, I was horizontal all week. The programming for me is all there, constantly striving because the underlying of that is because there’s still feeling of not-enoughness, like and there’s a very fine line for me, between wanting to better myself and not feeling it’s because I don’t feel enough. So I’ve got to do something to feel a certain way. That just came up because I know that I’m not alone in this, in that kind of behavior. And I know that it’s so prevalent in the arts, and we’re so used to sizing one another up in a role that we might share, or sizing each other up in an audition, or sizing each other up for class. I would do it in class like we’re just in class, you’re in class for yourself, you’re in class too, warm up your body or work on your technique or whatever, you’re in class for yourself, supposedly, but I wasn’t. It’s a great statement that I think is not the viewpoint of the arts for most people. Take responsibility fully for ourselves. I think most people are competing against other people to get themselves to another level then, but they’re not competing with themselves. They’re not aware of the energy they’re exerting mentally on themselves. Are you in optimal health? And are you comparing yourself to someone who is and you’re not? It’s like it’s another way to take the responsibilities off ourselves and put it onto somebody else. And why do we do that? Why do we not take responsibility fully for ourselves? Why do we put it into other people’s hands? And I’m asking the question because I have lived so many years that way. I didn’t understand that it was all me. It’s you getting humble to look at yourself. You know, and if you’re not willing to do that. It’s sometimes too painful to look at the behavior you’re doing that creates your reality. It would be best if you got humble because I remember that I would get mad when I started doing that. I would get triggered by myself, but like, with myself, it would irritate me, and I didn’t want to look at it. There’s the humble level that needs to be there for you to be ready to do that. Do you think it is because our unworthiness would actually for a moment become more prevalent when we look at and take full responsibility? Not having any way to blame? What are the thoughts that are going through your mind? What is that thought when you don’t get the role? Or you’re not getting the contract? Like, who are you? What are the ideas that are coming in? Is it another one that didn’t like me? I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t pretty enough. I wonder what it was this time? Like, how can I adjust? What do I need to do to fit in? All of those things? What goes through my mind? But these are such powerless thoughts? So not creating a new reality. They’re just really driving in where you’re at? And really, who’s in charge at that moment? These thoughts are from your subconscious mind, and they’re coming from past emotions. They are not going to create something that you’re looking forward to? So, therefore, you might as well not. Because you’re not in charge yet? Yes, you are. You are creating something you don’t want that you think somebody else is making for you, when you’re not taking responsibility for this kind of thought, like even having the awareness that these ideas are coming in and how you can rewrite them to create something different. I think that’s where responsibility comes in. For yourself, right? Yeah. And we’re not saying responsibility equals self-doubt and not being enough, and I’m doing something wrong all the time. Accepting that if it still is in your life, and it comes over and over and over again. With that, you know, you are in the driver’s seat that you can change that. If you can lovingly look at yourself and say, I create art. But if I can make that, then I can choose something else to create it too. Right. And I think that’s where the sweet switch is. Look at all the justifications I have of my unworthiness. Get to the bottom of it in the first place. So you can release it. Because if we don’t, first flip the switch of understanding. Then our subconscious dictates everything that comes into our life. So if we don’t look at it, heal it, accepts ‘x’, you can bet I have received it. I’ve been back, taking myself back in time when a situation or a person or something was said to me. I locked in a part of it, the unworthiness that kept getting built up with different scenarios. But I’ve gone back and felt that and said, it’s okay to feel crappy about that. It’s okay to feel sad about that. And accept that and let that emotion out now. Then it can just be released because that’s how you break the cycle. Otherwise, if you don’t do that, you’re tricking yourself into thinking you’re going to do something else. If you haven’t healed that wound, it turns into a scar, then a deep wound. Still, you’re just going to do that same cycle over again. And this is getting a little deep. But that’s really where it starts, what the statement I made when we first started. This is the first step to flipping the mirror on yourself and getting empowering. I have the capabilities of making these changes, and then you got to get to the bottom of it. Otherwise, that’s why we are all walking around perpetually hurt all the time. We can either decide to have a temporary amount of hurt or go back to those scenarios that brought us there in the first place and let them go. Or ignore them still, and we’re perpetuating a lot more hurt still to carry on that will be reflective in our lives. Not taking responsibility for ourselves shows up in our life. Let’s give a few nuggets on what are some behaviors that identify this kind of statement? Then what are a few tools that we can give you to help you through to switch that? Behaviors and procrastination. I was sneaky because I would procrastinate if I started to feel overwhelmed or not good enough, I would end up in the kitchen most of the time. I would eat something. Most of the time, it wouldn’t be something that was for my highest good. And I use that as a tool to heal, which it didn’t. Then it just made me feel worse because we needed something to make us fit. That was a twofer for that because I would be eating something. I knew it wasn’t even hungry, first of all. So number one, I shouldn’t be eating when I am not hungry. I wasn’t making good choices. And I would allow that to elevate my stress level. It was a domino. I would be procrastinating. Then I would find myself in the kitchen, make me make bad choices. And then Whatever I experienced and whatever it didn’t work the way I wanted it. I was very quick to blame somebody else and talk about it all the time. I was very fast and deflecting the thoughts that were coming out? Well, maybe it’s you. I’m just like, No, not me. Everybody else, not me. Like it didn’t even occur to me that I could be a part of this. And, frankly, we’re always a part of it. Because at one point, we just didn’t decide to either walk away or have the conversation or make a different choice. So whatever is happening to us, or for us, is what we created, like it’s not, it can be as bad as you want to, and you can say, why is this happening to me? The reason for that will reveal itself later on. But at the moment, you know, it’s us. So for me, I used to, and I still like to, and I also pass it on to my children. Like, let’s say they fall on my dog. Did you have to lay in the way, you know, always swift to blame somebody else? And even though she was like in a different room, it would still be the dog that they fall over. But that was me totally like it’s a mirror held in front of my face. Not taking responsibility for anything, and are not just talking about the studio. Everything in life, from relationships that didn’t work out to conversations that didn’t work the way you wanted them to. What else I can relate to is the procrastination and finding myself in the fridge. Also, I get tired when I procrastinate. Yeah, no, you’re just going to sleep because you don’t want to deal with it. You don’t want to take responsibility. When I don’t want to take responsibility, I find myself either on my phone, or I’m going to meditate, ‘nap.’ I am also slipping into tasks that I know exactly how to do them. They feel comfortable there, like, oh, why don’t I just put on another load of laundry? Why don’t I clean the house? Or why don’t I record another podcast episode? So I don’t have to do what is really in front of me that would move me forward. Yeah, I didn’t even know it until I read the big leap by Gay Hendricks. It took quite a bit to realize what was going on. That’s what’s happening here. Like how I was manipulating myself in, so I wouldn’t take responsibility for my actions. The ego is very cunning and very good at justifying so many actions of why it has to be a certain way. And it can’t possibly be something else. I think that that’s why this journey is such an evolution because there’s so much you have to uncover of so many different levels of awareness you have to discover, and that one is deep. Those kinds of behaviors that ultimately what we both described as a victim mentality come from? It could come from a plethora of reasons from our past. But eventually, like we were, most people are operating with some victim mentality because it’s just it’s, it’s easier, and it feels better on the ego to blame somebody else. That’s really like Pandora’s box of excuses. Pandora’s box of excuses Companies are making excuses. I bet you have heard this before. I can’t pay you enough. I cannot pay you. Your $1,000 a week, I can only give you $550. They are not taking responsibility. The excuse, because this donor hasn’t given or we had to pay this insurance or whatever. Also, not taking responsibility for their actions. That kind of behavior makes me angry. The first step is to be aware that you do it. And see what comes up? Does this trigger you? Does this make you reflect or not? Or can you go? Yeah, okay, that’s me. So it’s first able to hear the statement. And sit, however, it is like, quietly or with a pen and paper if that is your jam, and just look at these areas and say, am I behaving competitively with other people or behaving like this in these areas, and that that’s first you have to be able to admit it. And look at your behaviors and yourself with a clear line. And be okay with whatever those answers are without judgment. That’s, that would be first. Because if you can’t admit that you do these things, and you might not do all of them, but if you do some of these things, the first part is being okay with that, and then you can do something about it. If we don’t know where we are, we can go forward, right? Because we don’t know where the gap is that we have to close. When we are gaining awareness of what we’re doing, then it is checking in with ourselves. You know, if you’re doing that once a year, it’s like, oh, well, where am I at? Where’s my awareness at? Am I in the driver’s seat? Self-checking forty times out of the 100 times. But with 40 times, you’re not going to get 100% of the results. So you need to check in more often. The more often you check-in, the more you will be able to change your behavior because you’re continually assessing. How often do you check-in? And we know you do a lot. And therefore, check in with where you’re at in your life, taking responsibility. Does that person next to you at barre make you feel when her leg is higher? Is that something that inspires you and makes you ask questions, or turn to her and say, I love what you’re doing? Can you quickly give me two tips on how you’ve got there, and then apply it, then you’re in a really good spot. But if that deflates you. Suppose you look at her and blame her for not getting the roles or the contracts or the spot in the company you want to be. I would suggest you dive into that feeling because it’s not on them. It’s not her fault. It’s not the director’s fault. It’s your business, you there’s something that you didn’t do, or you don’t have, or you’re denying yourself that led you not to believe and that you’re capable of getting there. So it’s that checking in every day. I heard this morning. High-performance people checked with themselves every hour to see okay; how much further did I get ahead? What have I done? How can I apply the gap or the learning over this part? It’s very intentional, around where you want to go? And how do you want to feel? You can set goals, but where are they coming from? Do you even care? Some things in these last year and a half that I’ve won tuned in to how I felt. I don’t care about that. Why am I trying to achieve that? It’s what I’m trying to achieve to be something? So I fill up the cup when I don’t care about the cup. Why did I do something that didn’t fire me up? Why am I going for that because I don’t feel good enough? I’m operating from that place. That is huge because, for me, that’s change running in some rat race of just trying to justify, I’m successful, I’m good. I’m good enough. I could do all the affirmations in the world. Do I feel what I’m doing? And that’s changing everything. Because I can tell you the operating system that I functioned from for most of my life, which is a reflex, something I have to be aware of, was just, check the boxes. The thing that you think you like to care so much about? Do you care about it? Does that really matter? Or are you just trying to show somebody that you matter? Isn’t that what we’re doing when we’re auditioning? Isn’t that what we’re doing every day in the studio? When we come in, already defeated by score on social media looking at everybody else. Thinking they are so much better and we have no place in this company anyway, we are already defeated, we have no self-esteem left. And that’s how we show up, not taking control of our own life. But finding rescue in somebody else’s, and then comparing ours to theirs. And of course, do we not find anything that’s worthy in our own life? Because we don’t even know of it because we have not taken control yet. Knowing your powers is being in a powerful position. The reason I did not want to show up powerful was that my relationship with power was backward. I thought influential people are bad people. They screw other people over. They hurt other people. They manipulate other people. They’re seen as evil. And I didn’t want to be that way. That’s not the truth. From what I’ve seen or heard, that was just my story, even from my mother or from others? No, that’s not what it is. And that’s where I had to lean into what does it mean? What does owning my power mean? That’s where the power lies that we can make that choice for ourselves. We don’t have anybody else telling us what that means to us because nobody else has us. And understanding that owning your own choices has so many beautiful sides. Sometimes it does not feel good. No, because we have to eat the humble pie. And then you move on because you learn. I would rather be with people making so many mistakes and owning them than with people blaming others because that is not the energy that I want to be in anymore. I can’t even go there. It’s revolting to me; I must remove myself immediately. I would suggest, and even thinking back to it, that maybe you even start with understanding what owning your power means. Or with taking responsibility, like what do you associate with? Is this something that lays heavy for you? Or does that give you the feeling of regaining some more energy? The industry doesn’t, isn’t naturally behaving in this way. The industry is naturally behaving, the opposite of the statement that we have discussed. Going back to how you feel, does it feel good? Is it something that you want to keep doing? Is it something that energizes you by acting that way? Or is it starting to drain you, and you need some higher vibrational to keep you feeling like you. You love what you’re doing every day like you love to keep striving, and you love to be in your creative zone. So if it feels draining if the way you behave feels draining, that is it. We have to tune into subtle cues that there’s something that is not quite in alignment with you anymore. And so if you feel that which again, I will say, if you’ve been listening for 108 podcasts, you probably feel that tug. But somehow, there’s something that Susanne brings out in you that is in resonance that you want to implement; that’s the start. If you’re feeling that tug, then it’s okay that nobody else around you might be behaving in this way. But you’re ready to step into new behavior because it feels right for you. You can. All you need is your light and that own little inner tug for you to go. It’s okay; if you don’t see it around you, you follow what feels right in your heart and what you’re feeling. We’ve taught ourselves so beautifully over the training period and wherever you are at right now. Everything else is not a high-performing state of being. Perhaps isn’t that what has been taught to us? That’s at least what I remember. You had to be always on, meaning happy. So if you are not used to any other emotions, or even labeling what you’re feeling, then that will be your very first step, and be patient. Know, this is not something you unlearn. This is your natural state. You will have to unlearn and let go of all the other beliefs that have piled themselves up in you. It’s just a matter of decision. . Christy and I would love it. If you could share your most significant takeaway here on social media with us, it would make our day. It would make our week because then we know that we’re, speaking to actual human beings. And we also want to invite you to ask questions, what are the topics you want to talk about? We want to know because we can come up with everything under the sun, everything that matters to us, but what matters to us may not matter to you. We want to serve you, so, therefore, let’s let us know. Ask the questions. Let us know what you want. Yeah..

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The Purchaser has the right to request termination of the Contract, excluding requests for damages whatsoever that derive directly /or indirectly from the delay, or any resulting penalties whatsoever, if the delivery of the Products is delayed beyond the terms agreed and when such a deadline has been recognised in writing by both parties as essential, and is ascertained to be exclusively and irrefutably due to Cicaboom. 10.3 If the Purchaser is unable to be present in the place and at the time indicated for the delivery of the Product, it is the Purchaser’s responsibility to communicate this as soon as possible to Cicaboom in order to agree on a new delivery date. 10.4 If Cicaboom postpones delivery on request of the Purchaser, the latter will refund Cicaboom for all the additional costs that could be incurred. 10.5 If it is not possible to deliver on the agreed date, the order will be sent to the Cicaboom warehouse. In such case, Cicaboom undertakes to send a notice to the Purchaser providing details of the place where the Products are held and the methods for arranging a new delivery date. Storing products at the request of the Purchaser or due to delay in delivery by the latter is considered a delivery in all respects. All the risks of loss or damage during the storage of Products is the responsibility of the Purchaser. 10.6 In any case, if the delivery cannot be made for reasons not attributable to Cicaboom, the latter will consider the Contract terminated after 30 days from the date that the order was ready for delivery. Once the Contract has been terminated, Cicaboom undertakes to refund to the Purchaser the amounts paid at the time of placing the Purchase order, minus the costs of delivery, without prejudice to possible, additional costs that derive from the choice of an alternative delivery method to the standard form, besides any potential costs that derive from storing the Products ready for delivery in Cicaboom’s warehouse and potential additional costs resulting from the termination of the Contract. Cicaboom will refund the above amounts immediately and in any event within 7 days from the date of the termination of the Contract. FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER € 40.00 All Purchase Orders placed in Italy for a sum of less than € 40.00 are subject to a fixed delivery charge of € 5.50. At the moment, it is not possible to deliver abroad. Article 11 – Transfer of risk 11.1. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in the Contract, shipment shall be carried out at the Purchaser’s risk. The risk shall be passed to the Purchaser as soon as Cicaboom has handed over the Products to the carrier responsible for the shipment. The ownership of the Products will be transferred to the Purchaser following delivery and in accordance with the agreed terms of delivery and upon full payment of the amounts due, including delivery costs. Article 12 – Warranty and trade compliance 12.1 Pursuant to and for the purposes of Article 1490, of the Italian Civil Code and Articles 128 and following of Legislative Decree no. 206/2005 (“Consumer Code”), Cicaboom only guarantees the compliance of Products on the Site, to the characteristics in the Contract, as well as guaranteeing that they are free of defect in the matter of design, planning, materials and manufacture under normal conditions of use. If the Purchaser has stipulated the Contract as a consumer, that is as a natural person who operates on the Site for reasons unrelated to business or professional reasons, such warranty is extended to 24 months from the date of delivery (“Warranty Period”). 12.2 Cicaboom undertakes, at its own expense and responsibility, to repair or replace any defective Products, covered by the warranty provided for in paragraph 12.1 above, provided that the claim is forwarded in writing, detailing the faults, and at the same time requesting repair or replacement of the Product by the Purchaser within a maximum of 2 months from the date in which the fault has been identified, using the appropriate form on the Site. The Purchaser agrees to complete the above-mentioned form, with correct and truthful information. In such circumstances, as a further remedy to the faults notified by the Purchaser, Cicaboom guarantees to apply an appropriate reduction in price or to terminate the Contract relative to the goods contested and the consequent refund of the cost. 12.3 It is understood that all costs of replacement for faulty Products will be sustained by Cicaboom. 12.4 The warranty does not apply to the Purchaser and Cicaboom is therefore not held responsible if: (i) it regards Products or their component parts subject to wear and tear or whose life expectancy is less than the Warranty Period; (ii) it regards the ordinary deterioration of the Products; (iii) the faults and/or damages experienced by the Purchaser are a result of the incorrect use of the Products on behalf of the Purchaser or any third party; (iv) the Purchaser or a third party has modified the Product and/or attempted to intervene to repair the fault without prior consent from Cicaboom. 12.5 The warranties and remedies described in paragraphs 12.1 – 12.4 above are the sole warranty rights granted to the Purchaser by Cicaboom. The present warranty is in substitution for and excludes any other warranty, express or implied set forth by law or otherwise. Article 13 – Right of withdrawal and Return of Products 13.1 In compliance with Articles 52 and following of the Italian Consumer Code, the Purchaser has the right to withdraw from the purchase without penalty and without stating the reason within 14 days from receipt of the Products. The right to withdraw applies to all, or part of the Products purchased. In the event of multiple purchases by the Purchaser in one Order and with separate delivery dates, the 14-day period starts from the date the last Product was received. 13.2 The Purchaser who intends to exercise his right to withdraw must explicitly communicate this to Cicaboom, in writing by registered mail to the following address: CICABOOM S.r.l. VIA TULLIO MOLTENI 2/12, 16151 Genova (GE) Italy The Purchaser can, in addition, communicate his intention to withdraw, by providing the order number and the name of the Purchaser via PEC to: [email protected] 13.3 The Purchaser can also exercise his right to withdraw by sending any form of the explicit declaration containing the decision to withdraw or by sending a withdrawal template form, as in Annex I, part B, Legislative Decree no. 21/2014 (non-mandatory). 13.4 In the event of withdrawal, the Purchaser agrees to return the Products to: CICABOOM S.r.l. VIA TULLIO MOLTENI 2/12, 16151 Genova (GE) Italy The goods must be returned undamaged, in the original packaging, complete in all its parts and with the tax documentation attached. Without prejudice to the right to verify the above, Cicaboom will refund the cost of the Product/s returned within 14 days, including any delivery costs. The packaging and the integrity of the Products to be returned are the sole responsibility of the Purchaser. Each Product to be returned must be adequately packaged for standard or express shipment. If the Purchaser no longer has the original packaging or if such packaging is no longer fit for the purpose, the Purchaser is obliged to obtain a similar or superior type of packaging. Cicaboom informs the Purchaser that Products returned with torn or opened packaging will not be accepted. 13.5 As provided for in Article 56, paragraph 3 of Legislative Decree no. 206/2005, amended by Legislative Decree no. 21/2014, the Site may withhold the refund until the Product/s have been received or until the Purchaser can demonstrate the shipment of the Product/s, according to which situation occurs first. 13.6 It remains understood that the right to withdraw will not apply to Cicaboom’s services and Products that are included in the categories in Article 59 of Legislative Decree no. 206/2005. 13.7 Cicaboom will undertake to refund the amount using the same payment method chosen by the Purchaser at the time of purchase. In the event of payment made by bank transfer, should the Purchaser intend to exercise his right to withdraw, the Purchaser must provide the bank details: IBAN, SWIFT and BIC codes that are necessary for the refund. Article 14 – Protection of personal data 14.1. Cicaboom, as the data controller of personal data, handles the Purchaser’s personal data in compliance with EU Regulation no. 201/679 (GDPR), concerning the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data as well as the free circulation of such data. For more information regarding the methods and purposes of the processing of personal data, please read the privacy statement, pursuant to Articles 13 and 14 of the GDPR, available at the following link: informativa-clienti-e-commerce. Article 15 – Severability Clause 15.1 If one of the clauses present in these General Terms and Conditions is considered void for whatsoever reason it will not compromise, in any way, the validity and compliance of the other conditions present in the General Terms and Conditions. Article 16 – Contacts 16.1. Any request for information can be sent by email to the following address [email protected], by telephone to the following number: +39.3505832065, and by post to the following postal address: CICABOOM S.r.l. VIA TULLIO MOLTENI 2/12, 16151 Genova (GE) Italy Art. 17 – Applicable Law and Court of Jurisdiction 17.1 These General Terms and Conditions are governed by Italian Law and interpreted in accordance with it, without prejudice to any other regulations prevalent in the Purchaser’s country of residence. Consequently, the interpretation, execution and termination of the present General Terms and Conditions are exclusively subject to Italian Law. 17.2 Any disputes inherent to/or consequent to the same must be resolved exclusively by the Italian Judicial Authorities. In particular, should the Purchaser assume the position of Consumer, any disputes will be resolved by the Court in the place of domicile or residence of the latter according to the applicable law. In any other case, the Court of Milan shall have exclusive jurisdiction. The conditions herein were drafted on 09/09/2019.

Tips and Guides on How to Use Power XL Air Fryer in 2022 Having but don’t know how to use Power XL Air Fryer? Don’t worry! After reading this blog post, you will know how to use it safely and efficiently! The article will cover some safety precautions, tips, and guides on How to Use Power XL Air Fryer! Air fryers are a type of kitchen appliance that uses convection and conduction to cook food. Air fryers use less oil than traditional frying and they produce healthier lower-calorie foods. Some air fryers come with different settings for cooking various types of food such as meat, vegetables, or fish. This brand brings a new twist to traditional cooking methods. It is not just an air fryer, but also an oven and grill. This means you can cook anything from chicken wings to pork chops with the same appliance! The best part? You won’t have to turn on your stove or oven, saving you time and energy. Read this blog post to learn more about precautions, tips, and guides on How to use Power XL air fryer and what I recommend using it for! Before that, let’s take a look at the basic information about this air fryer. Basic information about How to Use Power XL Air Fryer This product is actually an oven, grill, and fryer in one. You can cook any type of food with this air fryer! As mentioned earlier, this new amazing appliance allows you to save more time than traditional cooking methods because it doesn’t require a stove or oven. This air fryer is also healthier than traditional frying and cooking methods. It helps you reduce calories by up to 80% in comparison with oil-fried food! Below are the safety guidelines and setting up if this is the first time you have bought this appliance. Important Safeguards Your new air fryer is made to cook a variety of foods and offers you many safe options. At the same time, the appliances are sophisticated high-tech devices and must be handled with care and respect at all times. Please read these important precautions before using your appliance, as they will help you to be safe when using your new air fryer. - Please be aware that the appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning the use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety. - This appliance has hot and moving parts. Use caution when touching heating elements inside the fryer basket as they remain very hot after cooking! Always let your air fryer cool down before cleaning it. - Your Power air fryer XL comes with a detachable base made from ABS plastic which houses all electrical components; I advise you to avoid submerging it in water and to wipe it clean using a damp cloth. Finding this tip before how to use Power XL air fryer will be helpful for you. - The rest of the appliances, including the basket and handle, are dishwasher-safe. However, if you want to hand wash some parts, please separate the heating base from the fryer basket before washing them in order to avoid a shock hazard. - If your air fryer is not going to be used for a period of time, I recommend that you first unplug it from its power source and then remove all accessories before storing it away. - Plug your air fryer into a socket with an A/C voltage rating of 220 – 240V AC 50HZ only! - Please pay attention when using extension cords as they may overheat or become damaged due to incorrect usage. They are not suitable for use with the air fryer, or any other appliance. - I recommend that you do not use adaptors. If you need to relocate your air fryer during operation, please always switch it off and wait until it has cooled down before moving it. - Always make sure that there is enough clearance around your Power air fryer XL while cooking, especially if you plan to operate it on its side or upside-down. Make sure there is no inflammable material nearby! Important tip on how to use Power XL air fryer to protect your house. - If you see smoke coming out of the air fryer, switch off the unit immediately and unplug it from its power source! Follow the special instructions on how to clean the heating element at this point. If you have any further questions, please refer to the user manual or contact the customer service department. - I advise you not to leave your air fryer unattended while in use. I also recommend that you never heat up oil in its container directly on the base of the appliance without using a basket, as it may overheat and damage the heating element inside the appliance! - It is normal for some smoke to come out from time to time during cooking. In order to avoid having smoke coming out of the air fryer while cooking, please ensure that there is no grease on utensils being used. Do not overload your air fryer with too many foods at once! - If you notice smoke or smell a strange odor coming from the air fryer during cooking, stop using it immediately and let the manufacturer know about your experience by contacting their customer service department. I mention this comes before how to use Power XL air fryer because of your safety. - If you have been using the oil tray supplied with the appliance, I recommend that you periodically clean its lid in order to avoid spilling oil or condensation which could cause a fire hazard when heating up for a second time. Make sure the thermostat knob is set to an appropriate temperature range before placing food in your air fryer! - Do not exceed the maximum capacity specifications stated in the user manual! Please ensure that all parts of your air fryer are correctly assembled before operating it! - The air fryers are not intended for use by young children or infirm adults without supervision. Children must be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance. Please discontinue use immediately if you notice anything abnormal while using your air fryer, such as oil leaking from it. - In order to prevent any risk of harm, I recommend that you use this appliance only for its original intended purpose and maintain a distance of at least 10 cm between hot surfaces and all surfaces in contact with food! - Do not over-tighten screws on your air fryer when assembling it. If you have any further questions, please refer to the user manual or the customer service department. - Do not let children touch your air fryer in any circumstances, especially when it is in operation! Make sure the appliance is turned off and unplugged from its power source before handling or assembling parts of it! - If you need to replace a part on your air fryer, please contact the customer service department for assistance. I do not recommend sending your appliance out for repairs without contacting them first. This is important for how to use Power XL air fryer too because it will get you safely. - In order to avoid having oil leaking from the unit during cooking, I recommend that you do not use plastic containers or utensils with narrow necks, which may become blocked and prevent oil from draining away. Do not leave standing water in metal containers: this could cause rusting and lead to damage to the appliance. - I advise against using your air fryer for purposes other than cooking food! Never insert metal objects in your air fryer, as they may become very hot and cause injuries when you touch them or make contact with electrical parts inside the appliance! - Make sure that there is no sharp object in the basket before operating the appliance! Before how to use Power XL air fryer, this tip will help you to protect your appliance. - Never use harsh chemicals such as detergent when cleaning your unit: doing so could damage it beyond repair! Please do not use abrasive cleaners which could scratch parts of the exterior surface of the unit. Wipe down your air fryer with a damp cloth. If you have any further questions about this product, please refer to the user manual or the customer service department. While unplugged from its power source, never attempt to dismantle your air fryer unless specifically advised otherwise in these instructions! Setting Up Before Using Power XL Air Fryer for the First Time I found that some people are looking for some basic instruction on how to set up the Power Air Fryer XL (they were new to air fryers and didn’t know where to start). I figured that might be a common question, so here’s my step-by-step guide helping you through your first time setting your air fryer! The first thing first to set up before how to use Power XL air fryer is removing all packaging materials. There should be the manuals as well as several accessories in the box. There is also a safety/recipe book included with this air fryer, but if you have this blog handy then it is no need to read that one. A full list of accessories can be found below under “Accessories Included”. Remove the accessory box and turn the machine around to find the handles – you need to remove these before attaching anything else. There is also a paper that covers up to one of the control buttons, don’t forget to take it off! Next, attach the side drain hose – be very careful doing this as there are metal clips that could damage your hands/fingers if you’re not careful. The instructions in the manual said you should only push it on “gently” which was kind of funny. As long as both ends click into place, you shouldn’t have too much trouble with this step either but again, use caution! The front handle can be pushed back down once it’s connected at least mine came attached after hooking the hose on. Remove all of the foam/paddings around the inside of the machine and get rid of it – once you’ve gone through this process, put your cover onto the machine and screw it in place with the included tool. While we’re at it, go ahead and remove any protective plastic from your new air fryer! There is a wire grid that covers one of the frying baskets (it’s on top) – after removing that, connect that up using the next accessory: The Wire Grid Extension. This just screws into place so no worries there either. Make sure to add vegetable oil before placing anything inside though! The last thing you needed to do is a test run for no odor or plastic smell. So plug in the machine, let it heat up for 30 minutes, and turn it off – leave your cover open. After 15 hours (not minutes!) you should be good to go! I hope this was helpful for some of you who are wondering how to set up the Power XL. If you have any other questions about it or need help, please feel free to comment below and I’ll answer them as soon as possible. How to Use Power XL Air Fryer Previously, it is the only way that I cook my cheat meal once a week. Cooking them on the stove with butter and oil just makes me feel awful, but it’s fast. Using the Power XL oven change things around for me. Now cooking this dish is no longer necessary because I can bake all of them in an hour or so! That means more energy to do other important things. It also helps me control how much sodium goes onto my food, betters blood pressure, and less fat gain over time. The biggest advantage is being able to bake it without using butter or oil. This saves a ton of calories and tastes great at the same time! Here are the steps on How to Use Power XL Air Fryer thoroughly: Step 1: Plugging in the machine Before using it for the first time after purchase, make sure to plug it in and turn it on. This will already help you know if there is an issue with the unit that needs attention right away. Step 2: Inserting the tray into its designated space This is the second step on how to use Power XL air fryer. Once you have plugged in and turned on your air fryer oven unit, ensure that everything is working properly before putting anything inside because once it starts cooking food, there is no turning back until finished! So naturally, there’s an element of risk involved but as long as you’ve checked all over to ensure it works fine, then go ahead and insert your tray or basket (depending on which one was included). The metal rack should be inserted into a slot that feels snug. It may take a little bit of jiggling because it’s possible there may be some parts still coming together. Step 3: Attaching the basket handle The basket is where you put your food to cook, but before you do that, please make sure to attach the handle to any one side of the basket. Once you’ve done this then it’s time to load the goods into the basket or tray. Here are some things that can go into an air fryer oven: potatoes (whole with skin), sweet potatoes (whole with skin), root vegetables like carrots, and yams (cut in half for cooking ease). Cut meat should be cut down too if needed because anything larger than bite-size will not cook correctly in an air fryer oven. Step 4: Put basket back into its designated space Now that the goods are safely inside, it’s time to put the basket back into the oven or air fryer depending on which model you have. For this step, please ensure that the power is off because if it wasn’t already, now would be a good time to do so before inserting anything back in. I think this is the easiest step in How to use Power XL air fryer if you choose the right one. Step 5: Cooking the food! Now that everything is in its designated space, it’s time to select your heat and press start. Depending on what you’re cooking, some foods will take more or less time than others and you can always adjust the cooking time according to your taste preference. When the timer goes off, don’t open the lid because opening it during cooking will disrupt the flow of hot air. It’s done when it looks like it has been thoroughly cooked through and possibly even a bit crispy around the edges (if you want). Step 6: Cleaning up After it’s finished cooking, use caution when removing anything out of the oven because it might be hot. The metal racks are hot too so make sure to not touch them with your fingers since you can easily burn yourself. For this step, please ensure that the unit is unplugged before cleaning up or putting away. This is the necessary step on how to use Power XL air fryer properly. Step 7: Re-assemble after cleaning Once everything has cooled down enough for safe handling, you’ll want to reattach any parts that were removed for cooking purposes in their designated spaces once again. There may have been some parts that got loose during use so just go ahead and put them back into place. Step 8: Storage! Finally, this is the final step of How to Use Power XL Air Fryer. Always store in a space where curious children cannot get at it because it does heat up while in use. It’s not necessary to put everything away but the best practice would be to clean it all up and store each individual part that was taken out for cooking or cleaning within its designated space. Now that you know how to use the air fryer oven, go ahead and give them a try! After all, you can’t become an experienced cook without trying new recipes so enjoy your new toy! Tips for How to Use Power XL Air Fryer when cooking The Air Fryer uses hot air to make the food crispy outside and moist inside. This is how it works. The heating element heats up the metal mesh which spreads heat evenly on all sides of the product. Hot air blows through this heater at high speed, where it dries out moisture from the food touching the inside of the device. The dry heat then transfers heat into the oil that makes food crispy outside and soft inside without adding extra oil or fat for a healthier cooking experience! When you first spend time with your Air Fryer, I recommend that you read these tips carefully as they will help you get more value from your unit by improving its performance! These tips are designed to give more life and better performance to your Air Fryer, and also it will help you learn some tricks that will allow frying food with less oil than cooking in an oven! More Oil! Tip 1: Always cut the food into equal-sized pieces so they all cook at the same rate. Smaller pieces cool down the air fryer more quickly than larger pieces of the same weight do. If you put too many small pieces in at once they can start to stick together since they are cold or room temperature before entering the hot air fryer. To avoid this problem, stick to one piece per basket. Tip 2: When cooking multiple items like chicken legs, fish fillets, etc., there is no specific order for these items. Just make sure not to overcrowd the basket or you will not be able to cook at an even rate. If you put too many pieces in, it is best to remove some from the basket and continue cooking. This is a very useful and efficient tip on How to use Power XL Air Fryer. Tip 3: Always use a basket when cooking with the Air Fryer! This is because the basket enables food pieces to move around inside the basket allowing them to come into contact with hot metal mesh which helps cook faster and more evenly. It also keeps your fries crispier since they are moving inside the fryer without touching each other! A single layer of non-sticky food pieces will allow airflow around them resulting in a crispy outside and moist inside! Tip 4: If you want your food to look like they were fried by a professional, make sure to dry off the excess liquids (e.g., water, oil) with paper towels before cooking. Tip 5: To make healthier food using less oil or fat, place peeled potatoes in cold salt water for approx. 20 minutes before placing it into the fryer basket! This will help remove some of their starch content making them crispier than when they are not pre-soaked! Never soak fries that are already cooked as they will become soggy! Also, try spraying the potato slices with Fry Light spray prior to placing them in the fryer basket for crispy fries without adding extra oil! Tip 6: Always use a nonstick frying pan when cooking something like bacon as it is super-easy to clean and also cooking with little or no oil! Tip 7: You can cook many types of food in the Air Fryer! I recommend natural products such as vegetables, meats, fish, and more. This is another helpful tip on How to use Power XL air fryer to save time when cooking. If you want to create a full meal out of your product pieces I suggest adding potatoes and carrots during the middle stage of the fryer’s cycle for approximately 15 minutes. This will turn your small piece into a healthy complete meal without changing its original taste! Tip 8: Always let the cooked food rest off from heat for approx. 5 minutes before consuming them. Hot air coming from inside then continues cooking your delicious food causing some loss of moisture which makes them dryer than the original state. Letting them rest will allow time for cooking heat to leave giving you a moist and soft result! Tip 9: The mesh cooking basket included with your Air Fryer can be used as a baking tray for muffins, chicken wings, homemade chips, etc., anything you want to cook without the fat! The testing results have shown that the ideal temperature to cook foods is 180-200°C. I recommend that you experiment with your own foods but remember that less time will require lower temperatures and vice versa! It is always best to give sufficient time for food to soften before removing it from the heating source though. Also, the tests have revealed that better results would be achieved by lowering the temperature raising the quantity of food being cooked. Tip 10: I recommend using these cooking times as a rough guide and to adjust to taste. Some foods may require more or less time, for example, raw potatoes take up to 40-50 minutes whereas chicken is only around 25 minutes! It’s is always best to experiment with your own tastes as well as experimenting with the quantity of food being cooked at any one time. Tip 11: If you want your cooked product pieces to maintain their original shape, use a nonstick pan when making chips on the hob rather than deep-frying them! This tip of how to use Power XL air fryer is very important for whom to cook precisely and accurately. Avoid using too much oil as this will make it harder for air circulation around each chip leaving some undercooked and soggy! Remember the 20 Minute Pre-Soak Technique. This helps retain moisture in the chips making them crispier! Tip 12: I recommend using a baking tray included with your set to cook vegetables such as mushrooms and peppers. Remember seasoning these prior to cooking is a must! For best results, I advise that you always start by sautéing or grilling your food before placing into the Air Fryer basket for crispy and healthier cooking result! Tip 13: Another way of keeping your food moist and juicy when cooking is to add some basic ingredients such as beer, vinegar, or buttermilk in the batter mix when preparing fish or chicken pieces. This will help keep your frying basket’s mesh basket clean too since it makes batter stick less often than if you were not adding this product to your mixes! Tip 14: The mesh cooking basket included with your set can be used to create desserts! To do this you will need to spray the baskets’ surface with Fry Light Spray, place desired cookware in it, and add oil. When finished baking, just remove it from the frying basket and enjoy your delicious treat! Tip 15: Try adding chocolate chips when cooking small pieces of fish or chicken! This method makes them turn out extremely tasty and moist throughout without the need for additional oil which will only make them greasier than they already are. FAQs about How to Use Power XL Air Fryer Do you have to PreHeat the Air fryer? No, you don’t have to. This product is engineered in a way that allows it to reach the desired cooking temperature in just 5 minutes! When using the air fryer for the first time, I recommend preheating it for 10 minutes, so that your meats and meals are perfectly cooked from day one. Can you cook frozen food in the Power Air fryer XL? Yes, you can cook frozen food in the Power Air fryer XL. Cooking frozen foods is one of the advantages of the product over other air fryers that don’t allow cooking with pre-heated (frozen) oil and at a relatively lower temperature. It allows for crispy and healthier results! Is it possible to clean the Air fryer? Yes, it is possible to clean the Air fryer if desired. The inner basket of the appliance is dishwasher safe. However, it is advisable to hand wash with warm soapy water and dry carefully before use again. Indeed, hot air can escape during cooking, and food may splatter or stick on some surfaces inside the cavity where dirt may gather more easily. So make sure you wipe out any oily residue after each use for the best results in your cooking process! How to Use Power XL Air Fryer for Recipes Seasoned Pork Chops with Avocado Salsa Seasoned Pork Chops with Avocado Salsa Air Fryer Recipe will help you create a delicious dish that tastes as it took much longer to prepare than it actually did. This quick and easy pork chops recipe is perfect for any night of the week and can be prepped ahead of time and either refrigerated or frozen to use when needed. This tasty avocado salsa recipe can be prepared ahead of time, refrigerated for up to two days, or even frozen in an airtight container. The chilling time is what gives the flavors in this pork chops with avocado salsa recipe several hours to mingle before being served. This will create a delicious flavor that just melts in your mouth when you take your first bite. Make sure you have all the ingredients before starting this dish so that it can come together as quickly as possible. Below are the ingredients and how to use Power XL air fryer to make this recipe. Ingredients: - For Pork Chops: - 1 tablespoon of olive oil - 2 tablespoons of Homemade Italian Seasoning - 1 teaspoon of salt - 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper - 4 (4 ounces each) boneless pork loin chops (about ¾ inch thick) - For Avocado Salsa: - 1 ripe avocado, peeled and cut into chunks - 1/2 cup of grape tomatoes, quartered - 2 tablespoons of finely chopped red onion - 1 tablespoon of minced fresh cilantro leaves - 2 teaspoons of lime juice - 1/4 teaspoon of salt - For Serving: Optional: fresh cilantro sprigs and lime wedges to garnish at the end. Instructions: - To prepare the avocado salsa, in a medium bowl combine avocado chunks with tomatoes, red onion, cilantro leaves, lime juice, and salt. - Place pork chops between two sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; using the flat side of a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound to an even 1/4-inch thickness. - In a small bowl stir together Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops evenly with spice mixture; drizzle both sides with olive oil. - Carefully brush one side of each chop with some of the avocado salsa (refrigerate remaining salsa for another use). Starting at one end, carefully roll up each chop; secure with toothpicks if necessary. - Arrange chops, overlapping slightly, in the bottom of an air fryer basket; close lid. You can stop here and refrigerate or freeze until you are ready to prepare this dish. - If freezing, place the chops on a baking sheet so they don’t touch each other and freeze for one hour or overnight. Once frozen, remove them from the freezer and place them back in the air fryer basket. - Set time for 10 minutes; preheat Air Fryer at 370 degrees Fahrenheit. - Turn off the Air Fryer and open it carefully (watch out for the steam). Remove chops with tongs. If you want them crispy, turn on your air fryer again for 3 to 5 more minutes or until desired crispness is achieved. You can alternatively finish them in a regular oven broiler or under your broiler on the grill. - To serve, place each pork chop on a plate and top with some of the avocado salsa mixtures; garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges if desired. Enjoy! Cheese Stuffed Meatballs Meatball recipes can easily be made in the air fryer with this recipe for Cheese Stuffed Meatballs! It’s a super easy and tasty way to make meatballs. Cheese stuffed meatballs in the Air Fryer that are crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside! A step-by-step video is included in this post. This recipe makes eight cheese stuffed meatballs, perfect for a small family of four or two people who really love their leftovers. You can double or triple this recipe if needed, just know it will increase your cook time by about 10 minutes depending on how many you make. These cheese stuffed meatballs are great on their own, or dipped in marinara sauce, or served with your favorite pasta! Below are how to use Power XL air fryer to cook this delicious dish. Ingredients: - 1/2 pound of lean ground beef (ground turkey or chicken would also work) - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs - 1 clove garlic, minced - Pinch red pepper flakes - Salt and Pepper to taste - 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into eight equal small pieces Instructions: - In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, breadcrumbs, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. - Place one piece of mozzarella in the center of your meatball mixture and form a ball around it. Repeat until all meat is used up. - Line a metal rack on top of an air fryer pan or baking sheet with parchment paper to make clean-up easier. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick spray or olive oil. Place stuffed meatballs on the lined tray so they are not touching each other (these won’t expand while cooking). - Place the tray in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes then gently move them to ensure even cooking. Continue cooking another 8 – 12 minutes checking for doneness by cutting into one of the meatballs. If it is still pink, cook an additional 3-5 minutes then check again. - Once all meatballs are cooked through, remove from oven and serve as desired or refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat, place in 350 degrees Fahrenheit preheated oven for 10 minutes. Final thought about How to Use Power XL Air Fryer An air fryer is a powerful appliance that can be used for many different purposes. If you want to get the most out of your new air fryer, follow these simple instructions on how to use it. The tips and guides on how to use Power XL air fryer in this article will help ensure that you are using this appliance properly for maximum results. Be sure to take a few minutes to read this How to Use Power XL air fryer blog now before cooking anything in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises or disappointments later on when things don’t turn out quite as expected. If there’s anything else you want to know about using this product, just let me know in the comments! Read more:

Idiots and Isotopes by Pat O’Malley Instagram instagram.com/Patomwrites. The rumbling, heavy truck swerved on the interstate. It was a large sixteen-wheeler with a tight, blue tarp. Under the tarp were dozens of yellow barrels with the words EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS and TOXIC printed beneath radiation symbols, accompanied by a skull and crossbones. At the wheel of the truck was middle-aged truck driver Edgar Brown. Hungry and desperately needing to take a piss, Edgar had been driving for over eight hours now. He was supposed to drop these barrels off at some big-shot science building at the end of a town called Maplethorpe. He knew that there were dangerous chemicals in those barrels in the back of the truck, but they were sealed in the barrels and those barrels were sealed by a tight lead-lined tarp. There was nothing for him to worry about. Taking his eyes off the road, he pulled out his cell phone. He had been sexting with this knock-out blonde Norwegian chick he had met on a dating app. So what if she asked him for money constantly. The sexts set his pants on fire. As soon as he sent her enough money for her visa she was going to fly down to New Jersey and rock his world. “Hey, baby how’s your day going?” The text from Olivia read. Keeping one hand idly on the steering wheel, Edgar began to text back. “Pretty godj hot btch just enw-“ “Dammit,” Edgar grunted. He always did have fat fingers and now he couldn’t write out a clear message. Just as the heavy vehicle passed a large sign that read “WELCOME TO MAPLETHORPE!” The truck began to swerve off-center as he focused on texting her back. “Pretty good hot bitch, just on my way to drop off some bullshit for my job. How’s that pussy doing?” “Nice,” Edgar smiled looking up just in time to see the truck almost drive off the edge of the road. “Oh shit!” Edgar screamed as he pulled the steering wheel sharply to the right. The truck lurched forward, just narrowly avoiding driving off the road and tumbling down the ridge. Struggling to regain its center, the long truck slithered down the road like a giant metal snake as cars driving honked hysterically and turned out of the truck’s way. Behind the wheel, Edgar was white-knuckle gripping the wheel, steering it right to left, hoping that the truck didn’t flip over. The truck swerved and skidded on the interstate. He heard a tearing sound along with several heavy THUDS dropping off the truck but Edgar was too busy focusing on steering for his life to pay it any mind. Slamming on the brake, Edgar heard the tires screech. Closing his eyes, he prayed that the truck would stop before any more damage happened. When he opened his eyes, he saw that his prayers had been answered. Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed-Girl” continued its chorus from the truck’s radio as Edgar unbuckled his seat belt and jumped out the door to see what, if any, damage there was. Outside he saw that far behind the truck there were several other cars that were jetting diagonally off the road. To his right, he saw that the long end of the truck had swerved to an almost 90-degree angle away from the head of the truck, but otherwise, the vehicle appeared undamaged. That wasn’t what made Edgar’s stomach lurch. The tarp of the truck had come undone and it looked as though several barrels had fallen from the truck. Sure enough, the sound of alarmed screams shocked him as he looked back at the road he had swerved down and saw several upturned yellow barrels. The metal containers had burst from the impact on the road and they were all spilling out some sort of sizzling, smoking, green fluid. Edgar gulped. This was not ideal. He ran back to his truck just in time to watch people leaving their cars and begin coughing spastically. He yanked out the truck’s walkie-talkie and radioed for dispatch. “This better be good Edgar,” the walkie-talkie crackled. “There’s been an incident,” Edgar laughed nervously. His mustache felt wet. He raised his fingers to his upper lip. When he pulled his hand back, his fingers were dripping red. “What do you mean there’s been an incident?” “I-uh-I really think I dropped the ball on this one.” II. Sometime later… “What are you thinking about back there, Pete?” Tilda asked, her voice muffled by the blue hazmat suit. Peter, staring out the window of the dump truck’s backseat, turned to look at her sitting in the passenger’s seat. He also wore a hazmat suit, only his was yellow. It was mandatory that all three individuals traveling in the dump-truck and anyone else unfortunate enough to set foot in Maplethorpe wore their radiation suits constantly while on the clock. It was almost as if their lives depended on it. The only way to tell any of them apart was by the suits’ colors. The only way to tell their genders was by the sound of their voices. Aside from the obvious, there were additional reasons why wearing the masks constantly was ideal. The inside of the truck seemed to permanently reek from the nauseating stench coming from its contents. Never-mind the fact that an ungodly amount of lethal radiation was poisoning an entire town outside. “Hmm? Oh, nothing, it’s stupid really,” Peter said. “Aw come on, tell us!” Tilda urged, curious. “Okay, just because you asked. I was thinking about the theme song to this old TV show I used to watch back when I was a kid. Isn’t that sad? I could be using that space in my brain for actually important, useful knowledge. Instead, that space is taken by the memory of all the lyrics to some stupid kids show that was canceled years ago.” “Jesus Christ, that IS sad,” Jeffers, the green hazmat-suited man, chuckled from behind the wheel of the truck. “Dick,” Peter grumbled under his mask. “Don’t listen to him… There it is!” Tilda pointed straight ahead. Jeffers pressed on the truck’s brake. With a black trail of the truck’s engine exhaust behind them, the heavy, rocking truck slowed down as it arrived at what had once been Maplethorpe’s quarry. The three riders inside the truck were greeted by a body of water filled with death. Hundreds of dead, rotting fish floated at the surface of the irradiated body of water. Peter and Tilda hopped out of the truck, grabbing pitchforks from the back. Stepping aside they watched as Jeffers turned the truck around. A loud beeping sound filled the toxic air as the large, foul-stench truck slowly backed up towards the water. “So, what show was it anyway?” Tilda asked. “Oh, you know, one of those dumb 90’s CGI shows about robots that could turn into animals or whatever. What I was really thinking about was this funny part at end of the theme song where the announcer yells the show’s title ‘ANI-BORRRRGGGGSSSS!’ but he would drag it out like that right? Then, right as the credits ended he would say ‘ANI-BORGS!” one more time but really fast and abrupt. I don’t know, that always stuck out to me.” “Pete, buddy,” Tilda said shaking her head. “You’re a nice guy but you really do need to find yourself a hobby.” “Hey, you asked! Still, I mean, I always wanted to learn to cook more. Maybe I could work on that?” “There you go! Set goals for yourself! Head’s up!” The open-box bed in the rear of the dump truck tilted towards the filthy water. An avalanche of lifeless, radioactive human corpses toppled out splashing into the water. The bodies were pale, hairless men and women covered in radiation burns. Eventually, the last dozen remaining bodies piled on top of each other, halting their descent into their make-shift watery graves. “It’s not my fault my mother never taught me how to crack an egg,” Peter complained as he stuck his pitchfork into one of the bodies. Sharp metal prongs easily skewered the corpses. The damage from the radiation had rendered the deceased emaciated skeletons with wax-like skin. The bodies were so weightless Peter almost felt like he was picking up elementary school science class skeletons with his pitchfork. He thrust and stabbed the metal prongs into one of the meatier-looking bodies. “I could start by making simple things like Quesadillas and-Oof! Damn bastard is heavy,” Peter struggled to lift the radioactive body. He yanked and pulled but the pitchfork couldn’t budge it. “Here, I gotcha,” Tilda jabbed her own pitchfork into the corpse and in a swift motion, pulled the body up. It landed in the water with a loud splash before sinking to the bottom. “Thanks. You know, I still say we should have just burned them all in a big pile but NOOOOOO! Those up-tights back at HQ thought it was too ‘disrespectful’.” Peter air-quoted with his gloved fingers. “Hurry it up back there! We still have to hit up the shelter!” Jeffers called from the front of the truck. “All right, already! Keep your shirt on!” Tilda called back. She and Peter hefted the remaining bodies into the quarry and watched behind their lead-lined visors as the bodies bobbed lifelessly in the water. “Eh, they’ll sink eventually,” Peter shrugged. “We’re finished!” Tilda called out. Back in the truck, the three multi-colored hazmat suits left the quarry. As they drove back into town they passed the town’s welcome sign. At some point when shit hit the fan, some clever artist had spray-painted over the sign. Now, instead of saying “WELCOME TO MAPLETHORPE” the sign read “HELL COMES TO MAPLETHORPE” in red, dripping letters. For several months, the sleepy little suburban town had been completely sealed off from the rest of civilization. For the safety of the rest of the country, a miles-long dome of impenetrable lead had been built over the town. The U.S. Army set up blockades all around the perimeter. Teams of hazmat-fitted, armed soldiers guarded the exits. Martial Law was all but directly said to be in order. Only members of the Clean-Up Crew, government agents in hazmat suits with clearance badges, like the one’s Peter, Tilda, and Jeffers had, were allowed any possible entry from what was left of Maplethorpe. Driving through town, the streets were eerily quiet. Stores and buildings were derelict with broken windows. Banners for a Spring festival dated several months earlier were still hanging on cable wires in the Town’s Main Street. The street was lined with dead things. In the long months since the radiation spill had first broken out, Maplethorpe had become a barren, irradiated ghost town. All the citizens of Maplethrope, including the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick-maker, were all either dead or in quarantine in the town’s radiation center’s shelter. The shelter was a large concrete fortress built into a mountain at the edge of town with enough provisions to last a week at a time. One of the many laborious responsibilities for the hazmat agents was to do a supply drop by at the end of the week. When the mood struck them, they were even known to occasionally listen for additional resource requests for survivors. “I hate coming here, this place is such a downer,” Peter sighed. Everyone inside bounced as the truck ran over something. “Shit!” Jeffers cursed. “What the hell was that?” Tilda asked. “I think I just ran over a damn corpse.” “Right, well be careful. I get car sick y’know,” Tilda said The truck pulled up to a gigantic metal door that served as the shelter’s only entrance. The impenetrable doors had two sliding entrances, one to speak with someone through the radiation-proof glass and the other to safely slide supplies to the shelter’s many occupants. Inside were the remaining stragglers who had managed to drag themselves and their families inside the shelter. This was after the first wave of the meltdown when rioters began dropping dead of radiation sickness. Unfortunately, even safety and sanctuary from deadly radiation did not temper the high anxiety of the survivors waiting every second for the word that it was safe to leave their iron cage in the mountain. They were all scared and desperate for answers, aimless, and powerless in the face of uncertain death. “Damn ingrates,” Tilda said staring at the shelter. “Huh?” Peter asked. “Nothing, nothing,” Tilda replied. “All right, let’s go to work,” Jeffers switched the truck into park. The three multi-colored hazmat agents hopped out of the truck and made their way towards the shelter. Tilda held a clipboard and pen in her blue shielded hands. Peter and Jeffers, lemon and lime, carried big bags of toilet paper, sanitary wipes, and sudoku puzzles. In the back of his pocket, Jeffers also carried a small, .38 revolver holstered to his hip. It never hurt to have a safety piece. “Time to feed the prisoners,” grumbled Peter. “Occupants,” Tilda corrected. “Right, sorry ‘occupants.’” As they walked, a small, metal Geiger detector strapped to Peter’s waist started crackling and shaking like mad. The flashing warning lights signaled that the ungodly levels of radiation permeating throughout the town around them were sending the detectors off the charts. Tilda and Jeffers stared alarmed at Peter as the young man set down his supply bag to desperately grab at the detector. “Sorry must have switched off silent mode by accident,” Peter said sheepishly. He quickly flipped a switch on the detector and it immediately went silent. “Try to keep it professional, remember they’re under a lot of stress,” Tilda cautioned. The three returned to walking towards the shelter. A moment later they were standing in front of the vault doors. Their last few visits had shown that the survivors were clearly growing more unruly. The lack of any news or update on when the town would finally be radiation-free was making them increasingly anxious and frustrated. Electricity or running water had vanished since the town had been sealed off. As the days passed and nothing changed, the human spirit could only take so much boredom and anticipation before it started to bend their minds a little. Tilda thought the phrase “going feral” was a little harsh. She preferred to think of the survivors as “roughing it.” That was much better, less aggressive. Clipboard in hand, Tilda knocked on the steel door. Immediately there was the sound of rustling behind the door. “Did you hear that?” came a voice from inside. “It’s them! They’ve come back! See, I told you!” Another voice, this one high pitched and rattling. “Open the window for God’s sake open the window!” The glass window above the metal vault door slid open. Behind the glass was a crowd of men and women of various ages and races, all sharing the same hopes and fears, pushed around the older bearded man to get a view of their possible saviors. The men were skinny with long bedraggled beards and long unkempt hair that matched the women’s own unruly manes. They all looked unclean and emaciated. All of them shared the same wild, feverish look in their eyes. “Has there been any news? Anything at all?” “Are they any closer to fixing the radiation?” “Folks! Folks! One question at a time! Settle down! Settle down!” Tilda raised her gloved hands defensively as Jeffers and Peter stood motionlessly behind her. The crowd went silent. “Thank you! I mean really, sheesh. Now then, I believe it says here-” Tilda looked down to her clipboard. “When are we getting out of here?!” They all asked in unison. If there was one thing that irritated Tilda it was being interrupted. “As I was ABOUT to say, the good news is that word came from HQ. You’ll be happy to know that we are about to enter Phase 2 of cleanup efforts!” Tilda had been practicing her ‘enthusiastic’ voice. It didn’t seem to be helping. “You said we were already in Phase 2 the last time you were here!” A voice behind the glass cried. “Did I? Oh, yes now I remember. Well, it’s true like I said Phase 2 is underway so the radiation will hopefully be erased by…erm, what’s today?” “Thursday!” Someone inside shouted “I meant the date.” Tilda sighed. “It’s the 10th!” A bald man yelled. “No, it’s the 12th!” A woman shouted. “Dammit, I’m telling you it’s the 10th!” “No, she’s right, it’s the 12th!” A new voice said. “Fuck you!” “Fuck YOU!” “This is becoming monotonous,” Jeffers whispered behind Tilda. The woman in the blue hazmat suit whistled sharply drawing everyone’s attention. “Fighting amongst yourselves isn’t going to fix things. But look! See, it’s not all bad news we’ve brought provisions, plenty of toilet paper, and sudoku to keep you occupied.” A small metal door slid open at the side of the shelter’s entrance. Jeffers and Peter stuffed the provisions into the chute and slid the door shut. It was the only way to safely transfer care packages without exposure to deadly radiation. “Why can’t we have radiation suits like you guys!” Someone yelled. “We’ve been over this. You need… you need special clearance to be issued an official hazmat safety suit.” “The whole damn town is a nuclear fallout zone! How is that not clearance enough?!” “You all know that the radiation is going to go down eventually. I promise you’ll all be the first to know when it’s safe to go outside. Whether it’s the 10th or the 12th, we should have things back to normal by the end of the month,” Tilda thought she sounded convincing. The truth was that she herself had wondered why they couldn’t just pass along dozens of hazmat suits to begin evacuating the survivors. It was possible that the POTUS didn’t want to risk survivors bringing anyone outside who could secretly be ridden with toxic levels of radiation, for all the sense that made. Radiation was not contagious but the Big Boss wasn’t having it. Fate had conspired to make Maplethorpe the 21st-century American version of Chernobyl. The three-mile town was sealed off, shielding the rest of the country, the rest of the world, but that didn’t help the people who were still trapped. There were rumors that Tilda’s superiors were working on building a sarcophagus around the primary radiation hotspot, where the chemical truck had spilled all those months ago. Each of the hazmat employees tried not to think about what would happen when excuses and delays would no longer work on the trapped citizens of Maplethorpe. A comforting thought was that as long as everyone inside the town was smart and protected from the radiation, they just might be able to weather the meltdown until the radiation really was depleted. Everyone was doing their very best. “Ugh, my nose is itchy,” Peter groaned as he began scratching his face through his mask. “What about food?! The rations in here taste like garbage!” A man with sagging flesh yelled. “They ate my dog!” A child’s voice cried from behind the glass. “Quiet you,” a woman, possibly the child’s mother, shushed. “I’ll see if I can greenlight some airport meals. For now, everyone needs to hang in there with the rations ‘kay?” Tilda said. “Son of a bitch, I can’t scratch it through this mask,” Peter set his supply bag down. He wriggled his right arm, pulling it inside his radiation sleeve. The right sleeve of the hazmat suit sagged as Peter furiously scratched his nose from the inside. “Ooooh that is SO much better,” Peter smiled. It was only a few seconds after he said that when his wriggling hand accidentally yanked the hazmat mask right off his damn suit. The empty, black mask crumpled on the ground. It looked like the decapitated head of a large mosquito. Peter’s terrified face, pale and shaved, was exposed to the irradiated air. Tilda and Jeffers looked on, mortified at their associate’s containment breach. “Fuck! Oh, fuck! Fuck!!” Peter yelled. He scrambled to reattach his mask to his suit back on. He strapped the mask back on to the lead-lined suit. With the mask back in place, heavy, breathing fogged up the eye-holes in the mask. Even though the fog Tilda could see Peter’s terrified, darting eyes. “Damn, cheap bastards!” Peter screamed, desperately pressing the mask to his face. “Breach! He had a breach!” Several voices behind the window yelled. Tilda held up her clipboard like some kind of ineffective calming shield. “Everyone remain calm! A three-second breach is hardly enough time to cause any damage!” Even she couldn’t buy her lie. “Yeah, what she said! I’m fine! Everything’s fine!” Peter shouted behind the hands over his mask. “You stupid little bastard,” Jeffers whispered, clamping his hand on Peter’s shoulder. “What!??” Peter turned to look at him. “We’re in the middle of a radioactive wasteland and you just had to scratch your nose, didn’t you?” Jeffers voiced dripped with angry frustration. “I told you, it’s fine!” Peter raised his hands from his mask in proof. The mask immediately slipped off his face and fell to the ground again. “Son of a-!” Peter’s exposed face screamed as he scrambled to pick up and reattach his mask again. “Breach! Breach!” The crowd behind the glass window was in a frenzy now. “I-I…Oh Jesus,” Peter’s eyes darted around but he couldn’t find the words. “C’mon, let’s get back to the truck. I’ll scan you with the equipment, see what we’re dealing with.” Jeffers sighed. “It wasn’t off long enough, right? It wasn’t off long enough,” Peter whimpered. “Just shut up and keep walking.” Jeffers led Peter away from the shelter, out of sight from the others. The crowd inside the shelter behind the glass was growing increasingly anxious. “What’s happening out there? Where are they going?” “Nothing, nothing at all. Certainly, nothing to worry about. We’re all trained to deal with these types of scenarios. Like I always tell you every time we visit; everyone at the VOX Radiation Co. is working diligently round the clock to bring your town back to normal.” The sound of a single gunshot rang out. Even behind the glass of the shelter, the mob of people crowded around could hear it. Cries of concern and pounding came from behind the glass. “What the hell was that?” “What was what? Sorry, you’ll have to speak up. Again, you all have nothing to worry about,” she tried her hardest to smile behind her visor. After that fiasco, they managed to part ways with the people in the shelter. Soon they were back in the truck, Jeffers was again behind the wheel and Tilda in the passenger seat. Behind them, carefully folded on the backseat was a yellow hazmat uniform speckled with blood. “You know, I almost feel bad for all those people in that shelter,” Tilda said. “Fuck them,” Jeffers replied. Taking one hand off the wheel, he pulled the truck’s walkie-talks from the console. “Welp, better get this over with,” Jeffers beeped on the walkie-talkie, and it crackled with frequency. “Hey boss, so listen we had a small hiccup with Peter. He-wait, what? Damn son, really? Wow. Yeah, I’ll let her know. What was what? Oh nothing, I’ll tell you later. Over and out,” Jeffers clicked the walkie off and set it down. “Get ready to be amazed,” Jeffers looked at Tilda. “What? What did she say?” “They’ve made significant progress in containment procedures. Radiation levels are already dropping! HQ said the town may be clear by the end of the month.” “That’s incredible! I was right all along!” Tilda beamed. Smiling, her happiness was interrupted as an ugly thought reared its head. Tilda slumped in her seat, letting out a depressing, resigned sigh. “What are you thinking about?” Jeffers asked, not that he really cared. “I just remembered all the paperwork I’m going to have to do with what happened to Peter. God what a nightmare that’ll be.” “I bet he would have made a terrible chef,” Jeffers said. “You know I never really liked him much anyway,” Tilda confessed. “Fuck him and Ani-Borgs,” there was no tone in Jeffers’s voice. “ANI-BORRRGGGSSS,” Tilda thought for some God-forsaken reason. She leaned her masked head on the truck’s window. In another moment, the rumbling truck drove through the town’s guarded perimeter, exiting Maplethorpe, off into the night. Neither of them looked back.

). This pathological pattern is not specific for any disorder or cause, but reflects one type of inflammatory process resulting from lung injury. It may also be a feature of the organising stage of adult respiratory distress syndrome and may be an accessory finding in other inflammatory disorders such as vasculitis. However, organising pneumonia is the particular pathological hallmark of a characteristic clinicoradiological entity called cryptogenic organising pneumonia. This terminology is preferred to the other name used for this condition—namely, idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans with organising pneumonia (BOOP)—which may be confused with other types of bronchiolar disorders, particularly constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans which is mainly characterised by airflow obstruction. Buds of granulation tissue in the distal air spaces defining organising pneumonia at histopathology. Aetiology of organising pneumonia Because organising pneumonia is a non-specific inflammatory pulmonary process, it may result from a number of causes. Pathologists may report features of organising pneumonia in association with conditions such as infectious pneumonia, lung abscess, empyema, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, broncholithiasis, chronic pulmonary fibrosis, aspiration pneumonia (giant cells and foreign bodies usually are present), adult respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary infarction, and middle lobe syndrome.3 ,4 Organising pneumonia may be classified into three categories according to its cause: organising pneumonia of determined cause; organising pneumonia of undetermined cause but occurring in a specific and relevant context; and cryptogenic (idiopathic) organising pneumonia. Several possible causes and/or associated disorders may coexist in the same patient. There are no clear distinguishing clinical and radiological features between cryptogenic and secondary organising pneumonia.5 ORGANISING PNEUMONIA OF DETERMINED CAUSE Infection is a common cause of organising pneumonia. Indeed, the concept of organising pneumonia as a distinct pathological entity emerged at the beginning of the 20th century with its recognition at necropsy in patients dying from bacterial pneumonia, especially pneumococcal pneumonia.6-10 It was interpreted as the failure of the usual resolution of pneumonia. Organising pneumonia has since been found in association with many other infections, mainly bacterial, but also in viral, parasitic and fungal infections (table1). In bacterial infections organising pneumonia occurs mostly in non-resolving pneumonia where, despite control of the infectious organism by antibiotics, the inflammatory reaction remains active with further organisation of the intra-alveolar fibrinous exudate. Rheumatic pneumonia occurring during the course of rheumatic fever was recognised as a typical organising pneumonia with intra-alveolar buds described as “bourgeons conjonctifs” or Masson's bodies.11 ,12 Infectious causes of organising pneumonia With drug induced organising pneumonia it is sometimes difficult to determine causality since organising pneumonia may also be associated with the underlying disease (a connective tissue disease, for example). Resolution of organising pneumonia after stopping the drug is obviously the best clue to establish causality. In many cases, however, it is not possible to determine whether the drug is responsible or not—for example, in patients with cancer or haematological malignancies who may be treated with several drugs that are able to induce organising pneumonia.5 Serious diagnostic pitfalls may occur with drug induced organising pneumonia—for example, bleomycin induced organising pneumonia which may present as pulmonary nodules resembling metastases in patients treated for aggressive and potentially metastatic cancers (table 2). Drugs identified as causing organising pneumonia It has long been known that radiation therapy to the chest may induce radiation pneumonitis, an inflammatory reaction within the radiation field with some pathological features of organising pneumonia.13 ,14 However, a syndrome similar to cryptogenic organising pneumonia has been identified recently in women receiving radiation therapy to the breast after removal of a malignant tumour.15-22 It differs strikingly from usual radiation pneumonitis in that the pulmonary infiltrates occur or migrate outside the radiation fields and in the good response to corticosteroid treatment. The pathological findings are typical of organising pneumonia. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid differential cell counts show an increase in lymphocytes in particular, but also in neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells. Although corticosteroid treatment is usually necessary, spontaneous improvement may occur.20Interestingly, unilateral breast irradiation, whether or not it results in pneumonitis, has been shown to induce bilateral lymphocytic alveolitis with activated CD4+ T cells23 ,24; however, this does not result in organising pneumonia in the majority of patients. An additional genetically determined host factor and/or trigger acting on radiation “primed” lymphocytes may be necessary to induce the organising pneumonia syndrome.15 ,19 ORGANISING PNEUMONIA OF UNKNOWN CAUSE OCCURRING IN A SPECIFIC CONTEXT The connective tissue disorders often involve the pulmonary parenchyma. Infiltrative lung disease in this context varies and may include usual interstitial pneumonia, non-specific interstitial pneumonia, or organising pneumonia. The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies may cause a characteristic organising pneumonia syndrome.25-36 Organising pneumonia also occurs in rheumatoid arthritis5 ,22 ,37-43 and Sjögren's syndrome44 ,45 but, in contrast, is uncommon in systemic lupus erythematosus40 ,46-49 and systemic sclerosis.5 ,50 ,51 In addition to organising pneumonia, bronchiolitis obliterans may occur in connective tissue disorders (particularly in rheumatoid arthritis).52 Pathological features of organising pneumonia may occur with Wegener's granulomatosis. These usually consist of small foci of organising pneumonia at the periphery of otherwise typical granulomatous lesions, but in some cases they are the major histological finding although the patients do not differ clinically or radiologically from those with classical Wegener's granulomatosis.53 Organising pneumonia has been reported occasionally in polyarteritis nodosa.54 It is well established that both lung transplantation and bone marrow grafting may be complicated by constrictive mural bronchiolitis with airflow obstruction. This is generally interpreted as a manifestation of chronic rejection and graft versus host disease, respectively, and it often results in severe chronic obstructive respiratory failure. Less commonly, organising pneumonia occurs in transplanted lungs.55-61 Organising pneumonia in this setting may result from preservation injury, infection or aspiration, or it may be a manifestation of lung rejection57 ,61 ,62 and it may be associated with chronic rejection associated bronchiolitis obliterans.57 In lung transplant patients the combination of constrictive obliterative bronchiolitis and organising pneumonia appears to be associated with a poorer prognosis than constrictive obliterative bronchiolitis alone.59 Organising pneumonia also occurs after allogeneic bone marrow grafts63-66where it is considered to be a manifestation of graft versus host disease.63 Other disorders that have been reported to be associated with organising pneumonia include Sweet's syndrome,67 ,68ulcerative colitis,69 ,70 Crohn's disease,69polymyalgia rheumatica,71 ,72 thyroiditis,43Behçet's disease,43 mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis,73 myelodysplasia,74leukaemia, myeloproliferative disorders, cancer,63 ,75-77common variable immunodeficiency,78 and hepatitis C.79 Since only single or small numbers of cases have been reported, it is unclear whether these represent a true association or whether the organising pneumonia results from other causes such as undiagnosed infection or drug induced reaction. CRYPTOGENIC ORGANISING PNEUMONIA Although organising pneumonia may result from numerous causes or occur in the context of systemic disorders, it remains cryptogenic and solitary in many cases. The recognition of cryptogenic organising pneumonia (COP) as a clinicopathological entity was long delayed for several reasons.80 Pathologists used to consider organising pneumonia as a non-specific finding of little, if any, interest, and merely a consequence of previous unrecognised infection. When mentioned in pathological reports it was not accorded attention by clinicians. With the increased use of lung biopsies, organising pneumonia was identified more often but included in the vast group of interstitial lung disorders. COP was therefore only recognised as a distinct disorder in the early 1980s after the reports of Davisonet al 81 and Epleret al. 82 Further studies in the 1980s83 ,84 described its characteristic features, and COP is now accepted as a rare but very characteristic clinicopathological entity in pulmonary medicine. Clinical characteristics5,40,43,63,81-90 Men and women are affected equally in most series and are usually aged between 50 and 60 years (with a range from about 20 to 80). Occasional cases in adolescents have been reported.91 No predisposing factors have been identified and, in particular, organising pneumonia is not related to smoking (most patients are non-smokers or ex-smokers). Seasonal cases (late February to early May) with biochemical cholestasis were found in one study,92but this has not been further reported. The onset of symptoms is usually subacute with fever, non-productive cough, malaise, anorexia, and weight loss. Haemoptysis, bronchorrhoea, chest pain, arthralgia, and night sweats are uncommon. Severe haemoptysis is exceedingly rare.93 Dyspnoea is usually mild and only on exertion but it is occasionally severe in some acute and life threatening cases. In most cases symptoms develop over a few weeks after a viral like illness and diagnosis of COP is usually made after 6–10 weeks. Physical examination may be normal, but sparse crackles are commonly found over affected areas. Imaging5,22,81-83,86,87,89,92,94-117 Although the imaging pattern of COP is heterogeneous, the radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) findings are often so characteristic that they suggest the diagnosis. Three main imaging patterns may be distinguished. The most frequent and typical imaging profile of COP is of multiple patchy alveolar opacities with a peripheral and bilateral distribution (fig 2). These opacities often migrate spontaneously. Their size is variable, ranging from a few centimetres to a whole lobe. On the CT scan the density of the opacities varies from ground glass to consolidation; an air bronchogram may be present in consolidated areas (fig 3). This imaging pattern, although highly suggestive of COP, is not specific and the differential imaging diagnosis comprises conditions such as the chronic eosinophilic pneumonias (which can occur with COP), primary low grade pulmonary lymphomas, and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Typical imaging pattern of organising pneumonia with patchy alveolar opacities on chest radiograph. Typical imaging pattern of organising pneumonia with patchy consolidation in the lower lobes containing air bronchograms on computed tomographic scan. The two other common imaging patterns of COP are less characteristic. Some patients present with a diffuse bilateral infiltration (fig 4) usually associated with interstitial opacities and small superimposed alveolar opacities. These patients show a greater degree of interstitial inflammation in addition to intra-alveolar organisation on pathological examination. Since intra-alveolar organisation is a non-specific feature that may be found in a variety of interstitial disorders, some cases may overlap with the organising stage of diffuse alveolar damage, non-specific interstitial pneumonia, or cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. Diffuse infiltrative pattern of organising pneumonia with interstitial and small alveolar opacities on computed tomographic scan. COP may also present on imaging as a solitary focal lesion associated usually with subacute or chronic inflammatory illness. This is often a pathological diagnosis after surgical excision of a lesion suspected to be a lung cancer on a routine chest radiograph; it usually occurs in the upper lobes (fig 5) and may cavitate. Some cases probably correspond to unresolved pneumonia.5 ,22 ,40 ,84 ,95 ,112 Solitary focal mass in the right upper lobe. This pattern may be diagnosed as lung cancer. Less common radiological findings in patients with COP include crescentic opacities surrounding areas of ground glass attenuation, multiple or cavitary nodules or masses, pneumatocele, peripheral irregular subpleural bands in parallel with the pleural surface, and bronchial dilatation (in association with opacities). Large nodules may have irregular or spiculated margins and a relatively broad pleural tag.118 Pleural effusion is generally uncommon although it was present in 22% of patients in one series.5 Lung function tests40,81-8486-88,92,97,101,119 The most common finding on lung function testing in patients with COP is a mild or moderate restrictive ventilatory defect. Airflow obstruction may be present in smokers but is not a characteristic of COP (in contrast with the often severe airflow obstruction found in constrictive bronchiolitis obliterans). The transfer factor for carbon monoxide is reduced, but the transfer coefficient may be normal. Mild hypoxaemia at rest and/or on exercise is common. Hypoxaemia is occasionally severe and correlates with right to left shunting as shown by increased alveolar-arterial oxygen difference while breathing 100% oxygen (unpublished personal data). Severe hypoxaemia in COP may reflect widespread and severe pulmonary disease or shunting in more limited lesions, or both. Bronchoalveolar lavage and laboratory findings Bronchoalveolar lavage may be used to exclude other disorders or causes of COP, particularly infections. The differential white cell count may show a characteristic “mixed pattern” with increased lymphocytes (20–40%), neutrophils (about 10%), and eosinophils (about 5%), sometimes with some plasma cells or mast cells.5 ,84 ,89 ,120-122 The lymphocyte CD4/CD8 ratio is decreased.90 ,120 ,123 ,124 There are no specific laboratory findings in COP. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein levels are increased, with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate being >60 mm in about 30% of patients.5 ,81 ,84 ,89 ,124 There is a moderate leucocytosis, with an increased proportion of neutrophils. Diagnosis of cryptogenic organising pneumonia The diagnosis of COP relies on finding typical pathological and clinicoradiological features and the exclusion of any recognised cause or associated disorder. Pathological examination of lung specimens shows intra-alveolar buds of granulation tissue associated with fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and loose connective tissue. Inflammatory cells may be present in the granulation tissue, especially during the early stages of the process (see below). The buds may extend from one alveolus to the next through the pores of Kohn (which were initially described in this condition), giving a rather characteristic “butterfly” pattern. Foamy macrophages are conspicuous in empty alveoli. The lung structure is not disorganised. Bronchiolar lesions consist of similar plugs of granulation tissue inside the airway lumen in continuity with lesions in the alveoli and with only limited inflammation in the bronchiolar wall. The plugs of granulation tissue in organising pneumonia occupy the more distal air spaces.1 ,40 ,125 ,126 This distribution is strikingly distinct from another type of bronchiolocentric lesion consisting of bronchiolitis obliterans with organising pneumonia limited to the alveoli adjacent to the involved bronchioles, thus giving a miliary pattern on the chest radiograph (Cordier and Loire, unpublished data). For COP to be diagnosed the organising pneumonia should be the main pathological feature and not merely an accessory to other well defined lesions such as vasculitis, eosinophilic pneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, or non-specific interstitial pneumonia.1 ,127Furthermore, a careful search for a possible cause of organising pneumonia is necessary, including special stains to detect infectious agents. Because the pulmonary lesions are often migratory and may resolve spontaneously, a chest radiograph just before the biopsy is necessary. Video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy is the currently preferred technique for diagnosing organising pneumonia since it provides quite large lung specimens which allow the diagnosis to be made with confidence and makes it easy to search for other pathological features. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens may show organising pneumonia in many cases5 ,128-130 but they do not adequately allow the exclusion of associated lesions or disclose clues to a cause for the process. We consider therefore that the diagnosis of organising pneumonia by transbronchial biopsy may be accepted only in typical cases and requires careful patient follow up to prompt a surgical biopsy if the initial diagnosis has to be reconsidered because the evolution of the illness is unusual. Most cases require a surgical lung biopsy specimen to be taken before starting treatment. The diagnosis of COP without a biopsy is seldom justified. It may be considered in patients who are critically ill (particularly older patients) or if the clinical diagnosis is considered as highly probable by an experienced physician. Particularly careful follow up would be necessary in such patients and lack of improvement with corticosteroids or relapses despite relatively high doses of corticosteroids (over 25 mg per day) should lead the clinician to suspect other diagnoses, particularly lymphomas.131 Treatment and prognosis of organising pneumonia Spontaneous improvement occurs occasionally in organising pneumonia91 ,97 ,118 and slow improvement has been reported in some patients after prolonged treatment with erythromycin.132 However, corticosteroids are the current standard treatment, although the ideal dose and duration necessary for complete healing are less certain.87 ,90 ,133 The response to corticosteroids is impressive, although much less dramatic than in idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Clinical manifestations improve within 48 hours but complete resolution of radiographic pulmonary infiltrates usually takes several weeks (usually without significant sequelae). Most patients show a marked improvement after one week of treatment. Although some authors recommend starting treatment with doses of prednisone of 1–1.5 mg/kg/day for 1–3 months,133 ,134in patients with typical COP we start with a lower dose of 0.75 mg/kg/day. Relapses involving the initial sites or different locations occur frequently as the dose of corticosteroid is reduced.5 ,79 ,81 ,82 ,84 ,89 ,92 ,109 ,135 The final outcome is not significantly affected by the occurrence of relapses.135 The severity of hypoxaemia at first presentation has been reported to be a determinant of subsequent relapse79 but we could not confirm this finding.135 The duration of treatment required varies considerably but is usually between six and 12 months. Some patients experience several relapses and require treatment for much longer. Because of the adverse effects of prolonged and high doses of corticosteroids, we try to withdraw them after a few months and only prolong treatment in patients with relapsing disease. The prognosis in typical COP with patchy alveolar opacities is usually excellent following treatment with corticosteroids.82 ,84 ,88 ,89 ,98 ,136 The prognosis of organising pneumonia secondary to a determined cause or associated with a specific condition such as a connective tissue disease is more difficult to determine because of the heterogeneity of reported cases. The prognosis in COP is usually better than that seen in secondary organising pneumonia,5 probably due to the nature of the underlying disorders. There are reports of patients with severe and rapidly progressive COP137 ,138 but interpretation of such reports is unclear. Of 10 patients with rapidly progressive organising pneumonia characterised by severe respiratory failure and organising pneumonia on the initial pulmonary biopsy, subsequent pathological examination of the lung at autopsy in six showed a fibrotic honeycomb pattern.137 In another series of patients with acute and life threatening organising pneumonia, organising adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was considered likely.138 Some cases with a poor outcome may represent an uncommon evolution of otherwise typical organising pneumonia, but most are likely to be either acute interstitial pneumonia or organising ARDS, widespread organising pneumonia resulting in respiratory failure, organising pneumonia associated with other chronic disease or lung injury either aggravated by lung biopsy or associated with delayed treatment.5 ,63 ,137-140 Some patients with severe disease requiring assisted ventilation may improve completely with corticosteroids.140 Factors that appear to be associated with a poor outcome in COP include a predominantly interstitial pattern on imaging, lack of a lymphocytosis on the BAL fluid differential cell count, associated disorders,136 and a finding on histological examination of scarring and remodelling of the lung parenchyma in addition to organising pneumonia.141 Cytotoxic drugs, especially cyclophosphamide and azathioprine, are occasionally used to treat COP,90 ,134 ,137 ,139 ,142but they have not been evaluated. The cytotoxic drugs are usually given in addition to corticosteroids so whether the observed improvement is due to the prolonged course of corticosteroids or to the cytotoxic drug is not known. Cyclophosphamide may be considered in severely ill patients who show no improvement with corticosteroid treatment within a few days and in patients who fail to improve despite a prolonged course of corticosteroids. In such acute and severe cases our usual practice is to give one to three intravenous boluses of cyclophosphamide, as in the initial treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis.143 Pathogenesis of organising pneumonia Organising pneumonia is the pathological hallmark of a distinct type of lung injury and repair rather than a disease with one defined aetiology. The histopathophysiology underlying organising pneumonia can be seen as a blueprint of a pulmonary type of “wound healing” that results in a serious lung disorder.144 ,145 Organising pneumonia was described initially as a failure of resolution of acute pneumonia. Laennec146 defined the usual pathological course of acute lobar pneumonia, later identified as pneumococcal pneumonia, as a sequence of congestion, hepatisation (when the appearance of the lung resembled the liver), followed by resolution without sequelae. The corresponding histological sequence comprised oedema rich in pneumococci and inflammatory cells, fibrin deposition within alveoli and, finally, liquefaction of fibrin by neutrophils and macrophages. Resolution of pneumonia did not occur in all cases, however, particularly before the era of antibiotics. Organisation of the inflammatory fibrinous exudates in the alveoli was described precisely in such cases, with the identification of the fibroblast as the main cell type involved in the process of organisation.6 ,7 ,9 ,147 Apart from a direct infectious cause, organising pneumonia has also been found in rheumatic pneumonia11 ,12 ,148 ,149 as a result of pulmonary inflammation comparable to the inflammatory process of carditis. Massonet al 11 described the intra-alveolar bourgeons conjonctifs, also called Masson bodies, in rheumatic pneumonia. It was clearly shown that these were not specific to rheumatic pneumonia but were present in a number of inflammatory disorders.12 The process of intra-alveolar organisation has been studied mainly in experimental animal models and in human ARDS. It results from a sequence of alveolar injury, intra-alveolar clotting with deposition of fibrin, and subsequent colonisation by fibroblasts to produce a connective matrix.144 ,150 The injury to both capillary endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells results in the leakage of plasma proteins, especially coagulation factors, into the alveolar lumen. Activation of the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade is triggered by tissue factor and results in fibrin deposition. The metabolism of fibrin in the alveolar lumen and on alveolar surfaces results from the complex balance between the local procoagulant activity and the fibrinolytic processes. Increased procoagulant activity and decreased fibrinolytic activity result in the intra-alveolar coagulation of the exuded coagulation proteins, fibrin deposition, and alveolar damage. The migration and invasion of fibroblasts involves the cell surface matrix receptor CD44151 and is blocked by anti-CD44 antibodies. In addition to building a provisional matrix for the continuation of the organisation process, the coagulation proteins and their degradation products exert a number of biological activities (especially chemotactic, activating, and proliferation promoting activities152-154) on fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and inflammatory cells. The histopathophysiology of COP is a model of a lung fibroinflammatory process.144 The first step consists of acute alveolar epithelial injury with cell necrosis and denudation of the basal laminae.155-157 Organisation begins with the formation of intra-alveolar fibrinoid inflammatory cell clusters rich in coagulation factors and further intra-alveolar migration of interstitial fibroblasts through gaps in the injured basal laminae. The proliferating fibroblasts colonise the fibrin strands. They undergo phenotypic modulation into myofibroblasts and organise into fibroinflammatory buds with deposition of a loose connective matrix in which fibronectin and collagen III are abundant. The buds become progressively more fibrotic with concentric layers of myofibroblasts and connective tissue, thus giving the typical appearance of intra-alveolar buds.155 ,157-159 The alveolar architecture is remarkably preserved, with the intraluminal buds extending into some alveolar ducts and bronchioles. Alveolar collapse and mural incorporation of the buds may be present in some areas, depending on the degree of initial alveolar damage. An experimental model of BOOP has been developed recently in CBA/J mice infected with reovirus 1/L.160 Respiratory infection by reovirus 1/L does not give rise to BOOP in CD-1 and BALB/c mice, suggesting that genetic host factors are important determinants of the development of the fibrotic response of the BOOP type. In this model increased numbers of macrophages are observed in the lungs of the mice within the first week after inoculation with the virus, and these express reovirus proteins. Increased numbers of macrophages persist during the three week course of the pulmonary disease, but whether they continue to express reovirus proteins after infectious virions can no longer be detected is not known. Tissue factor antigen is expressed in COP, mainly in hyperplastic type II pneumocytes.161 Anti-adhesive glycoproteins have been studied in organising pneumonia. Tenascin is present throughout the extracellular matrix of the intra-alveolar buds whereas SPARC is only observed intracellularly in fibroblasts, and thrombospondin 1 forms a ring at the periphery of the buds, just beneath the epithelium from which it is probably produced. However, the role of these anti-adhesive proteins is still unclear.162 Increased expression of interleukin-8 and fibronectin genes by alveolar macrophages have been reported in COP, suggesting that the inflammatory pulmonary process may be initiated and/or perpetuated by inflammatory cytokines produced in situ by alveolar macrophages.163 Increased platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) positive cells have been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in organising pneumonia lesions and attributed to the local recruitment of monocytes into the foci of connective tissue proliferation.164 How corticosteroids induce the disappearance of the well organised fibrotic intra-alveolar buds remains a mystery. Degradation of the connective matrix requires specific enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), gelatinases, and stromelysins. These enzymes may be produced by leucocytes and the fibroblasts themselves. Cytokines may modulate the production of MMP-1 (collagenase) by fibroblasts,165 ,166 and the composition of the matrix itself may modulate the production of proteases by fibroblasts.167 Relaxin, a cytokine/growth factor, stimulates the expression of MMP-1 in a biphasic, dose dependent manner.168 Thus, fibroblasts may play a role in the degradation of the matrix they themselves previously built. Taken together, the clinical, pathological, and biopathological data suggest that COP reflects the response to an initial injury of unknown cause(s) which causes pulmonary inflammation, which is further self-perpetuated in some patients to produce the characteristic buds of intra-alveolar granulation tissue associating (myo)fibroblasts and connective matrix. The most intriguing feature of COP is its rapid resolution following treatment with corticosteroids, the mechanism of which is currently unknown. Conclusion and research perspectives Although rare, COP is now a well characterised entity with characteristic clinical and radiological features and pathological diagnostic criteria. Although treatment with corticosteroids is very effective, we are unable to predict which patients will relapse after reducing or stopping treatment, nor do we know the most appropriate dose with which to start treatment and how long patients should be treated. Some patients are probably overtreated whereas others would benefit from longer treatment. There may not be a single cause of COP but biopathological studies are needed to identify the mechanisms whereby a limited wound healing reaction switches to an idiopathic persistent inflammatory process which is nevertheless very responsive to corticosteroids. Acknowledgments The author thanks T Greenland for linguistic revision of the paper.

Character-Specific Pages: Kazuma Kiryu | Goro Majima | Akira Nishikiyama | Ichiban Kasuga Yakuza | Yakuza 2 | Yakuza 3 | Yakuza 4 | Yakuza 5 | Like a Dragon: Ishin! | Yakuza 0 (Dojima Lieutenants | Kamurocho Residents | Sotenbori Residents) | Yakuza 6 | Yakuza: Like a Dragon Judgment (Takayuki Yagami) | Lost Judgment These are the characters that debuted in the third game of Sega's long-running Yakuza series, Yakuza 3. For Goro Majima, see his page. For Haruka Sawamura, see her entry on the Character Index page. Morning Glory / Sunshine Orphanage"Morning Glory" ("Sunshine" in the early English localizations) is an orphanage sited in Okinawa, with connections to the Sunflower orphanage where Kiryu, Nishiki, Yumi, and Haruka grew up in. After the previous owner had passed away, Kiryu decided to take over the place along with Haruka following the events of the second game. There are eight orphans residing in the orphanage aside from Kiryu and Haruka. Things change for them in Yakuza 5 when Kiryu and Haruka leave the orphanage, in order for the latter to pursue a career as an Idol Singer, and so the older kids wouldn't have to make sacrifices to support the orphanage. They're all still there by Yakuza 6, now teenagers, and play a large part in what kicks off the game's plot. - The Bus Came Back: Though they were reduced to background characters with very small minor appearances at best in 4 and 5, they have a more substantial appearance in 6 having also grown up more in the time that has passed. - Dub Name Change: It was originally named "Morning Glory", but was changed into "Sunshine" for the game's localization. It has been reverted back to "Morning Glory" in Yakuza 6 with the remasters of 3, 4, and 5 following suit. - Heartwarming Orphan: All of them really. That they suffer pretty harsh prejudice for lacking real blood families and not having blood ties to one another yet still act like they're inseparable helps. - Meaningful Name: The original name for the orphanage was "Asagao" (Morning Glory), named after a Japanese flower. Kiryu gave it the name based on the orphanage he was raised in, "Sunflower". "Sunshine" can also be seen as a tribute to the place Kiryu was raised in. - Nice Guy/Nice Girl: They're all pretty friendly and considerate kids albeit with some character flaws here and there which they tend to resolve or at least are working on anyway. Kiryu seems to think it has less to do with his parenting and more with how independent yet close to one another they are, though he's clearly having a positive effect on their values. - Retcon: The subsequent games state Kiryu founded the orphanage even though in 3 it was established he took over after the previous director passed away. - She's All Grown Up: In Yakuza 6, all of the orphans are now teenagers. - Ungrateful Bastard: Downplayed but aside from Haruka, the kids are revealed to not be as vocally thankful towards Ayako for being so selfless and considerate towards them and always helping them with their problems when they need it. When Kiryu points this out during a family meeting, they all definitely feel guilty about it so they band together to apologise and properly thank her. Voiced by: Shunzo Miyasaka A tough boy with an aspiration of becoming a professional wrestler. Ten years old as of Yakuza 3, and in his second year of middle school by the fifth game. However, he planned on getting a job to support the orphanage instead of pursuing his education. When Kiryu and Haruka leave the orphanage, he's the one who takes over in their absence, and writes Haruka a fan-letter using the pen name "Dragon Mask Man". - The Ace: He is like a natural leader to the rest of the orphans and wishes to protect the orphanage from the yakuza when he grows up as a professional wrestler. - The Captain: When Kiryu and Haruka leave the orphanage, he's the oldest boy left and tries to be as responsible and dependable as they were. - The Cameo: Appears in the fourth game during Kiryu's segment as well as a flashback in Dead Souls. - Plot Allergy: Chapter 10 in Yakuza 3 has him pass out from an asthma attack and worry his dreams of being a pro wrestler may be over before they begin due to asthma. It turns out he's allergic to buckwheat, the main ingredient in soba noodles. - Tender Tears: When Kiryu returns to the orphanage in Yakuza 6, Taichi immediately glomps him with tears in his eyes. - Stout Strength: He's a big on the big side but pretty tough for a kid. - Vitriolic Best Buds: With Mitsuo. Voiced by: Yumi Sudo The eldest of the orphans second to Haruka, age 11 as of Yakuza 3. A quick thinker who is also quiet, caring and committed, she carries a motherly role to the orphanage, but tends to put others ahead of her own needs. By the time of the fifth game, she texts Haruka letting her know she and the others watch her on TV. Like Taichi and Koji, she was planning to find work to support the orphanage at the expense of her education. In Yakuza 6, she learns of the scandal surrounding Haruka and catches her trying to leave the orphanage because of it, but is told to keep it a secret from the others. When Kiryu returns without her, she realizes she wasn't told the whole truth either, and informs him of the scandal and why she left. - Accidental Athlete: After making Kiryu chase her throughout downtown Ryukyu, he and the others realized she was rather athletic and convinced her to join the track team. In the fifth game Kiryu can send her Christmas money to buy new running shoes. - The Cameo: Appears in the fourth game during Kiryu's segment and a flashback in Dead Souls. - Cool Big Sis: She is the eldest of the orphans and helps all of them out whenever she can, whether it's clothes, homework, money, or attending to injuries, feeling its her responsibility. Unfortunately, they tend to take advantage of her kindness and take her for granted. - Dude, Where's My Respect?: She runs off after she's fed up with their ungratefulness and refuses to go back with Kiryu, giving him a run for his money as he chases her throughout Downtown Ryukyu. He manages to convince her they're grateful, and they're apologetic afterwards. - Extreme Doormat: Puts the needs of the other kids before her own and can't bring herself to say no to them even when it's clear that she's hitting her limit. - Girlish Pigtails: A pair of braided ones. - My God, What Have I Done?: See Secret-Keeper below. After Kiryu returns from him sentence, shocked to see Haruka isn't with him, Ayako breaks down in tears realizing her mistake, and is blamed by the others for not telling them the truth. Kiryu however tells them no one's to blame but himself. - Secret-Keeper: In Yakuza 6, she reluctantly agrees to keep Haruka's departure and the scandal a secret from the others so they wouldn't worry about her and blame themselves for it. But she's told Haruka would be near Kiryu when she actually heads off to Hiroshima instead. Voiced by: Yuta Kasuya An active boy who is into sports, particularly soccer and baseball, and generally plays with the other orphaned boys on the beach. Ten years old as of Yakuza 3. Like Taichi, he's also in his second year of middle school by the fifth game, and also planned to find work to support the orphanage instead of going to high school. - The Cameo: Appears in the fourth game during Kiryu's segment. - Lovable Jock: He's the orphan with the most interest in playing physical sports on a real team and a very friendly and considerate kid too. Voiced by: Kanae Itō A girl who has trouble getting along with other orphans, who took it hardest when she lost her parents. She tries fitting in but learned it was best to just be herself. Nine years old as of Yakuza 3. - I Just Want to Be Normal: Tries harder to fit in with the other kids at school so that they won't see her differently for her lack of biological parents. A big part of the reason she borrowed money from Ayako without asking was out of desperation to have enough money to go to the movie theater with classmates who invited her. She didn't want her excuse to be that as an orphan in an 8-child household, she doesn't get enough allowance to pay for her own movie ticket. - The Eeyore: She's somewhat quieter and gloomier than the others. She keeps to herself more often too. - Girlish Pigtails: Sports them. Voiced by: Kimito Saito, Kokei Yamazaki (Yakuza 6) The son of an American soldier and a Japanese woman. He was orphaned when his father returned to the United States without even knowing he had a child and his mother died. He's nine years old as of Yakuza 3, and in his first year of middle school by Yakuza 5. He's got a huge crush on Riona. In Yakuza 6, he's become an active baseball player at his school, and his skills have been recognized to the point that it could earn him a college promotion. Now that Haruka is known to have been raised by the yakuza and lives in the same orphanage they do, the others fear it will interfere with his chances to make it big in life, which plays a large part in why she leaves them. - Bully Hunter: He finds Riona being harassed by the rich boy she was supposed to go see a movie with, who along with his friends discriminated against her for her burnt scars. Mitsuo puts a stop to it but gets beaten up in the process. - But Not Too Foreign: Half African-American, half Japanese. - Call-Back: If you give him a dragon print t-shirt to wear on Rikiya's dress-up competition to make him look cool, the shirt itself appears to be purple and the dragon is gold. This easily shouts out Shinji Tanaka from the first game. - Disappeared Dad: His dad doesn't even know he exists. - Lovable Jock: In 6, he's become very skilled in baseball, playing for the middle school baseball team. - Puppy Love: With Riona, which Rikiya called the trope by name. In the fifth game, he writes a fan letter to Haruka under the pen name "I Heart Riona", asking for advice on how to impress his crush. Even Kiryu thinks he'd be good for her. - Surpassed the Teacher: Taichi jokingly notes how Koji was the one who taught Mitsuo the basics of baseball and now Mitsuo's better than him at the sport. - Token Minority: Partially black due to having an African-American father who is in the United States Army. He even uses his skin color as a means to comfort Riona, telling her he's also different from others when it comes to his appearance, which is why scars don't bother him. - Vitriolic Best Buds: With Taichi. Voiced by: Sayaka Maeda A girl whose parents died in a burning building and had her arms burnt badly. The trendiest kid at the orphanage, she's into fashion and clothes. Mitsuo also has a crush on her. Nine years old as of Yakuza 3. - The Fashionista: The orphan at Morning Glory who's most concerned with fashion trends. - Lovable Alpha Bitch: Has shades of it. She's more concerned with phsyical appearances, fashion, and appearing trendy than the other kids and tries hard to make friends with some of the more popular kids at school. She also rejects Mitsuo's romantic advances primarily because of his darker skin tone though she has enough tact to not say so to his face. In any case, she's still a rather friendly kid and her experiences with the far more judgemental kids at school humble her. She comes to really appreciate Mitsuo's kind personality when he stands up for her when the popular kids insult her over her bad burn scars. She tearfully apologizes to Mitsuo afterwards and the two have apparently been hanging out more ever since. - Noble Bigot: Kiryu's parenting has given her a fairly friendly and considerate attitude but she rejects Mitsuo's invitation for a movie date due to his dark skin which reflects poorly on her more when you consider how she accused him of stealing the movie tickets. She ends up learning her lesson about judging others the hard way and apparently started hanging out with him more since then. - Scars are Forever: Her arms are burnt from the fire that killed her parents, which she covers by wearing long-sleeve shirts. - Pink Means Feminine: Wears a pink sweater with a heart on it. Voiced by: Mariko Tonomura, Makoto Ohara (Yakuza 6) A shy and smart boy who wants to grow up to be a doctor since his parents died of different diseases, and enjoys reading books about space. Eight years old as of Yakuza 3. In the fifth game, he writes Haruka a letter under the pen name "Professor Cosmos". - Butt-Monkey: He got constantly bullied at school by someone who turns out to be the son of a teacher. - Beware the Nice Ones: He decided he had enough and fought back against the bullies. - Grew a Spine: Encouraged by Kiryu to stand up for himself when he keeps getting physically tormented by a bully at school. He ends up getting in a fight with the kid and comes home with bruises but he turns out feeling a lot happier about the situation since he still got some hits in and didn't submit to the bully as usual. - Nerd: He is very smart, but not strong or athletic. The poor kid is frequently made fun of by other kids because of this. - In Yakuza 6, he already has an interest in stock market investment, using a tablet to run stock market simulations. Voiced by: Mai Aizawa The smallest and youngest of the orphanage. She is very lonely and quite selfish. She takes care of a dog named Mame (Rex in the English version) who reminds her of her previously owned pet dog. Eight years old as of Yakuza 3. - Intergenerational Friendship: Gets along very well with Mikio (in his 20s) who can build a doghouse for Mame. - Interspecies Friendship: She is considerably best friends with Mame, the maru dog of the orphanage. Ryudo Family Voiced by: Shigeru Izumiya The Patriarch of the Ryudo Family in Okinawa who threatens Kiryu with a sudden eviction notice to give up the land the Orphanage is on. When Kiryu decides to discuss the issue, he turns out to be quite a reasonable and decent guy and is only looking out for the Okinawa's economy. But it's when his foster daughter Saki is taken from him that the two get on good terms, and swears an oath of brotherhood to Kiryu when he rescues her. A year later, he's shot around the same time Daigo is, which kicks off the game's main plot. - Ain't Too Proud to Beg: When Mine and Tamashiro start to demolish the Morning Glory Orphanage Nakahra gets down on a Pose of Supplication to plead with them to stop, citing how the kids have nothing else. Unfortunately, considering who he's trying this on, his pleads fall on deaf ears. - Asian Lion Dogs: Prominently tattooed on his back. - Blood Brothers: Becomes one with Kazuma Kiryu in 3. The process is even shown on-screen with Daigo officiating. - Charles Atlas Superpower: When Saki screams for him when he's about to be attacked by a charging bull, he grabs it by the horns and managed to overpower it as well as the remaining two offscreen. - Cool Old Guy: An elderly man who cares about the wellbeing of the people of Okinawa, and badass enough to fight a multiple bulls in the ring. - Drowning My Sorrows: He became extremely upset and inebriated after the Tamashiro Family came into his office to steal Saki away from him. - Good Parents: Clearly adores Saki as his own daughter, which the poor girl desperately needs considering how horrible her biological mother is. - Heroic Spirit: When he's shot at the beginning of the game, the doctor mentions he was shot three times at point blank range, and still managed to call the ambulance himself. And it really comes into play when, well, see Charles Atlas Superpower above. - Katanas Are Just Better: Threatens Kiryu with one when he thinks he's being disrespected. Thankfully, Kiryu manages to talk him down before things get ugly. - Mythical Motifs: A shisa ("lion dog"), which is symbolically a guardian in Okinawa, Japan and China. - Neighbourhood-Friendly Gangsters: Initially tries to evict Kiryu and others from the beachfront location, but only because Nakahara thought it would be best for the resort deal that would help the town financially. He even offers to help Kiryu with acquiring a new place to use as an orphanage. He's also highly regarded by the town's folk. - Oh, Crap!: After swearing an oath of brotherhood to Kiryu, this is his reaction when he realizes the man he tried to evict earlier is none other than the Dragon of Dojima himself.Shigeru Nakahara: I just swore an oath of brotherhood to one crazy bastard. - Papa Wolf: Adopts Saki from her troubled parents. - Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue to Rikiya and Tamashiro's red and Mikio's purple. - Put on a Bus: With Ryukyu, Okinawa only being relevant and explorable in Yakuza 3, him and everyone associated with him have not made any further appearances in the series after the events of said game. - Stout Strength: He definitely has a fair bit of a gut, but he is powerful enough to survive being shot at point-blank range and wrestle a bull into submission... then two more in succession. - Tattooed Crook: The Shisa, as mentioned above. - Tender Tears: After he saw Saki's thankful drawing of his face surrounded with flowers. - This Is Unforgivable!: Along with Rikiya, he never approved of Saki's abusive mother after she stormed off.Saki's mother: If you want the kid that badly, you can have her!Shigeru Nakahara: [disbelieved] What kind of mother... could do that to her child? - When Elders Attack: In spite of being a chubby elderly man he doesn't hesitate to raise his fists to the significantly taller, younger and more athletic Kiryu when he feels disrespected, though he does have a minor freak-out when he realizes just who he was picking a fight with. He is also capable of wrestling a bull into submission, and calls for an ambulance by himself after being shot multiple times at close range. Voiced by: Umeka Shoji A mute girl that comes from an unstable family, which leaves her under Nakahara's greater care. She only communicates by showing her drawings on her sketchbook. - Abusive Parents: See The Voiceless. - Big Damn Heroes: She gained the ability to speak again while her foster father is about to be massacred by bulls Tamashiro provoked by shooting his gun in the air three times; this boosted Nakahara's hopes up and managed to take down the bulls all by himself. - The Eeyore: Rather depressive because of her troubled past. - Happily Adopted: An unhappy home life left her mute, but Nakahara took her under his care. Despite the fact that he believed she hated him, she came to see Nakahara as her father, even drawing him in her sketchbook with "Daddy" written. - The Stoic: In addition to being The Voiceless, she emotes very little. - Talking with Signs: To be precise, drawings. - The Voiceless: Cannot speak due to a traumatic incident with her father who hung himself to death and her alcoholic mother who blames the girl for ruining her life. Averted when she witnessed Nakahara going to be assaulted by a bull, becoming Suddenly Voiced. - Yakuza Princess: She is looked after benevolently by Shigeru Nakahara who took her in after her father hung himself while her abusive alcoholic mother was was happy to give her away. Voiced by: Tatsuya Fujiwara - "I've got a viper on my back. The soul of Okinawa. No matter what comes my way, I'll strike at it, fangs out." The captain of the Ryudo Family and the most loyal friend to Kiryu in the third game. - Animal Motifs: Has a tattoo of a viper on his back, which he calls it "the heart and soul of Okinawa" which was left unfinished due to the death of his tattooist. A substory in Kamurocho while he's hanging out with you will have it finally be completed by Utabori II, the same tattooist responsible for Kiryu's own dragon. - Badass in a Nice Suit: In Kamurocho he wears a pinstriped blazer over his usual floral-print shirt and black dress pants, giving him a somewhat more refined look. - Big Eater: When he comes to Kamurocho and after defeating Tsuyoshi Kanda, he tells Kiryu that he has a big love for yakinuku and when agreeing to visit the Korean restaurant, he orders a long list of kalbi and other Korean dishes along with bottles of beer. Kiryu tries to be a bit frugal with him. - Death Glare: Throws some of these at Kiryu and various other characters who appear hostile to him. - Defeat Equals Friendship: He's far more friendly to Kiryu once you defeat him. - Distressed Dude: Lau Ka Long and his men capture him and hold him hostage. - Died in Your Arms Tonight: He dies in Kiryu's shortly after he takes a bullet for him. - Expy: Once they're on good terms, he's similar to Shinji from the first game as they're both young Lancers who look up to and have Undying Loyalty for Kiryu. - Fire-Forged Friends: With Kiryu. - Fragile Speedster: A variant focused on avoiding damage. He only ever has a single healthbar as a boss fight even in postgame content, but his evasive skills, short quick attacks with little ending lag, and ability to block almost all attacks from the front make it rather difficult to find any openings to deal heavy damage to him especially since he's fought so early in the story that your combat options are so much more limited. Moveset Clones of him in later games are similarly characterized by having strong defensive abilites that make them trickier to damage than most opponents. - Have I Mentioned I Am Gay?: Played with when trying to enter the Red Brick Hotel in Kamurocho to confront Kanda and being refused access because couples are only allowed in, by lying to the receptionist that he and Kiryu are gay and this worked well... much to Kiryu's dismay. - Heroic Sacrifice: Takes the bullet from Tamashiro which was meant for Kiryu. - Hero-Worshipper: Seriously looks up to and respects Kiryu after being beaten by him and learning he's a big name yakuza who once made it to the top of one of the nation's biggest yakuza families. He also insists on calling Kiryu "aniki" even though Kiryu doesn't care for the moniker much since he's not longer yakuza. - Hot-Blooded: Young and full of energy to the point where multiple characters take note of it. Overlaps with Keet at times, particularly if you hang out with him in Kamurocho more. - Hypercompetent Sidekick: Not so much towards Kiryu, but as Captain of the Ryudo Family, he's this to Nakahara. He's described by locals as unmatched in a bare-knuckle brawl and with his Patriarch getting on in the years, Rikiya's become the family's primary provider. - I'm Cold... So Cold...: During his death scene. Poor guy. - Intergenerational Friendship: With 40-year-old Kiryu; in his 20s. - The Lancer: To Kiryu throughout the game. - Naïve Newcomer: He's this to Kiryu's Experienced Protagonist. He may be a Yakuza with a strong reputation around Ryukyu, Okinawa but he's relatively young being in his 20s and proves to be out his element when dealing with mainland Yakuza like Kiryu. When he visits Kamurocho, Tokyo, he's stunned by how many "weirdos" there are hanging around and how frequent street fights seem to be. - Neighbourhood-Friendly Gangsters: Shortly after his boss fight, Kiryu quickly discovers that he's well-liked around town. - Nice Guy: He might be a Yakuza, but he's kindhearted, friendly, and loyal. An early NPC even notes how strangely aggressive he's been acting in terms of trying to evict Kiryu and his surrounding neighbors since he's normally so polite. - Oh, Crap!: When Tamashiro is about to shoot Kiryu, only for him to throw his life at. - Punch a Wall: He does this in the hospital in the prologue after hearing Nakahara had been shot. - Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red to Kiryu and Shigeru's blue and Mikio's purple. - Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The Sensitive Guy to Kiryu's Manly Man. - Shout-Out: Because of the tattoo on his back, he refers to himself as "The Fighting Viper." - Taking the Bullet: He takes the bullet from Tamashiro in the bullfighting arena where Nakahara is held hostage. - Tattooed Crook: A pit viper as mentioned above, but is also unfinished, which signifies his youth and immaturity. - Tender Tears: Only gives very few while dying. - This Is Unforgivable!: He does not take Saki's mother's rejection of her own daughter too kindly.Saki's mother: This kid ruined my life! She's been in my hair ever since she was born!Rikiya Shimabukuro: How can you say that in front of your own daughter?! - Undying Loyalty: Whenever Shigeru or Kiryu get themselves into trouble, he's always willing to aid them no matter what the cost. - Warm-Up Boss: He's got a tight defensive fighting style with less openings compared to Majima who's fought before him but he also has only one health bar as well as a attacks that aren't too damaging unless you allow him to use a heat action on Kiryu when he grabs him. Being fought in an area with a lot of grabbable outdoor furniture also helps though regular combos with the chairs will prove to be ineffective against his blocking skills. - Wrestler in All of Us: During his boss fight, he'll perform a belly-to-belly suplex on Kiryu if he grabs him and he doesn't escape in time. - Later in the story, he stages a wrestling match with Kiryu to cheer up Taichi. As Ricky Mask, he uses a completely different fighting style from his usual refined street fighting skills. Instead he focuses entirely on pro wrestling techniques with a heavy lucha libre influence: He'll use frankensteiners, jumping tornado DDT's, shining wizards, and a frog splash. Voiced by: Daisuke Miyakawa A young blond-haired lieutenant of the Ryudo Family who is usually praised by the merchants of Downtown Ryukyu for protecting their businesses. - Big Eater: People in Ryukyu mention him getting free samples of food from every merchant he meets on the way. One sidequest exhibits this where he requests Kiryu to secure Downtown Ryukyu's market and it mostly has him trying out different sorts of food the merchants offer him for free. - Bonus Boss: It's possible to fight him as an arena boss after the main game, albeit as part of a Dual Boss with Rikiya as part of the "All-Star Tag Tournament". - Disney Death: Got the back of his head bashed by a sledgehammer wielded by one of Tamashiro's thugs to shield Mame's doghouse but failed to do so in the process. It was later revealed that he survived the blow. - Hidden Depths: It would be easy to dismiss Mikio as a Fat Idiot, but it would be a very severe mistake. As has been mentioned in other places, he is extremely tough and while not an excellent fighter, he holds his own off the back of his ability to soak damage. He also bonds with Izumi over a mutual love of dogs, and proves to be pretty good with his hands when he builds a doghouse for Izumi and Mame. On top of this, dialogue implies that he is the one who takes care of the Ryudo family's bookkeeping, and he is well-respected by local shopkeepers for his friendly and helpful nature. - Intergenerational Friendship: With Izumi, aged 8; in his 20s. - Made of Iron: He managed to survive and recover from his head repeatedly being beaten in with a sledgehammer. - Mighty Glacier: Shares the same fighting style as the generic fat mooks with slow, hard-hitting hits that can knock enemies off their feet easily. - Neighbourhood-Friendly Gangsters: He is very respected by the Ryukyu merchants. - Red Oni, Blue Oni: The purple (colour-coded by his clothes) to Rikiya's red and Shigeru and Kiryu's blue. The Tojo Clan Voiced by: Shido Nakamura II - "...Every last thing I do is done with the aim of aiding the Tojo Clan. A motive I'm sure Daigo-san would approve of. Anyone that stands in my way will be eliminated. Even if that person is one of our own. The Chairman of the Tojo Clan's Hakuho clan, a family that emerged during the time gap between the second and third games. An extremely rich young man who was brought into the Tojo Clan by bribing Kanda. Since then, he's come into his own under Daigo's wing and suffers an erratic breakdown when Daigo is shot, which sets the events of the third game into motion. - Affably Evil: Barring his major Kick the Dog moment, he always acts well-mannered and polite to everyone he meets, even people who he obviously dislikes like Kanda, Kiryu, and the Morning Glory orphans. Truly a businessman and professional no matter what. - All of the Other Reindeer: When he was a kid, he was ostracized by others his age due being poor and an orphan. Ambiguous Disorder: His unhealthy mistrust for others as a result of his poor upbringing implies that he suffers from Cluster A Personality Disorder. His obsessiveness and clinginess towards Daigo is also rather suspect. - Ambiguously Bi: He's heavily implied to be attracted to Daigo and Katase. However, he dies hating the latter and loving the former. - Authority Equals Asskicking: Head of the Hakuho clan, and one of the most formidable fighters of his time. - Badass Bookworm: His most notable trait is his intelligence granting him great success as both a civilian and a crime boss, but don't underestimate his fighting skills. Kanda found out the hard way. - Because You Were Nice to Me: Daigo was the first person to show him sincere kindness and respect as an equal, and he latched on hard. - Berserk Button: Do not in any way insult Daigo, as one of his goons found out the hard way with a butter knife embedded into his hand. - Big Bad: Emerges the winner of the power struggle within the Tojo after Daigo's near-assassination, and is colluding with Black Monday. - Big Bad Slippage: Believe it or not, Mine at the start of the game shows no antagonism towards Kiryu. In contrast to the other patriarchs who seek to kill Kiryu so they could become Chairman themselves after Daigo's hospitalisation, Mine's proposal is to let Kiryu take charge until things cool over. But as things start going even more sour for the Tojo, Mine decides to take matters into his own hands. - Bling-Bling-BANG!: His personal weapon is a gold-plated SIG-Sauer P230. - Blood Brothers: With Kanda and later Daigo. - Boxing Battler: He's first seen boxing in his office-gym. In his boss fight, he will utilize Dempsey rolls in his orange Heat Mode. - Brains and Brawn: The brains to Kanda's brawn. - Breakout Character: To an extent. Despite only appearing in a single main-line game, he's consistently been a rather popular character according to fan polls and word-of-mouth. Thus, Ishin has him play the role of a major supporting character on the hero's side while Online goes over part of his past when he used to work with Kanda under the Nishiki Family. - Broken Ace: Smart, cunning, wealthy and a skilled fighter to boot. But his internal issues and obsessive love for Daigo ends up driving him over the edge. - Chekhov's Gun: He tosses aside his gun just before his battle with Kiryu. Daigo uses it upon waking up from his coma to save both Kiryu and Mine, gunning down Richardson and his Black Monday goons. - Child Hater: His scene with Kiryu's orphans, reeks of this. - Contrasting Sequel Antagonist: Ryuji was the son of a powerful Yakuza boss and a savage Blood Knight motivated by a selfish desire to be the best and surpass said father to the point where he betrays him early on. Mine is a cold, calculating Genius Bruiser who clawed his way from poverty by hard work and ambition alone and his villainy motivated by his Undying Loyalty to Daigo. Combat-wise, Ryuji was also The Big Guy with a hulking physique and a gift for brawling that saw him whooping teens and adults as a kid, while Mine trained hard for his deceptively athletic build and highly technical and evasive fighting style. - Corrupt Corporate Executive: Mine is the chairman of a large venture company by day and a Yakuza patriarch by night. - Cultured Badass: An educated, refined, sharp-dressed, well-mannered businessman. He's a savvy executive at a glance, but he's also an extremely competent criminal mastermind who is as good in a fight as he is at a board meeting, pulverizing the powerhouse Kanda without breaking a sweat and going toe to toe with the legendary Kiryu. - Dark Is Evil: See Purple Is Powerful. - Deceased Parents Are the Best: What little of his childhood memories depicted his adoptive father as a caring, supportive man who's early death due to illness unfortunately left Mine alone in a cruel world that refused gave the lone orphan any more proper love and support due to his poor upbringing, at least until he met Daigo. In any case, for most of Mine's life, all he had for support was his dying father's dying request to not waste his strong intellect. - Decomposite Character: A gameplay example but three of the Final Bosses from the sequel Yakuza 4 have certain characteristics that Mine has all of: - Hiroaki Arai has multiple different Heat modes similar to Mine along with having the same axe kick as him. - Takeshi Kido can heal himself just like Mine though he's completely invincible while doing so. Also he has one of Mine's three-hit boxing combos. - Daigo Dojima is probably the least like Mine ironically but he is the only boss in the main story of 4 to have 3 full health bars like Mine and he's also fought by Kiryu as well. - Despair Event Horizon: Daigo's apparent death. Mine loses his shit when the only one guy who accepted him is on the verge of death and almost kills Daigo's vegetative self at the hospital. - Desperately Craves Affection: His original goal of becoming a successful businessman was to become wealthy, as he believed money could buy affection. Unrelated to his wealth, he finally found someone who could give him affection in Daigo... which unfortunately drove him off the deep end when Daigo fell into a coma after being shot with the possibility of never fully recovering or even waking up. - Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: After Daigo, the man whom he loved, is shot and left comatose, Mine wanted to find a new reason to live for, and found a new purpose in attaining more power for the sake of the Tojo Clan Daigo's worked so hard to run. - Disney Villain Death: Drags the Greater-Scope Villain, Richardson, off of Toto Hospital with him. - The Dog Bites Back: His story in Yakuza Online revealed that Kanda abandoned him when they were ambushed by a rival family. This makes Kanda's execution at the hands of Mine all the more fitting. - The Dragon: Yakuza Online reveals that he served as Captain of the Nishikiyama Family under Kanda, before starting off on his own. - Even Evil Has Loved Ones: He genuinely loves Daigo as he's the first person to treat him with genuine kindness. He also cares for his secretary Katase, and is genuinely hurt when she calls him out of concern for the state of the company, which only reinforced his worldview that people only care for money and power. - Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Due to having grown up without love or affection, acts of genuine kindness befuddles Mine. He considers Kiryu's decision to run an orphanage rather than take charge of the Tojo Clan in a time of crisis to be "cowardice", "irresponsible", "meaningless", and "mere hypocrisy". His insistence on using savage and underhanded means to keep the Tojo Clan afloat also shows that as much as he respects if not outright adores Daigo's selflessness, he doesn't truly understand it and he personally sees no reason to engage in such behavior himself if there isn't any worthwhile benefits. During Kiryu's final confrontation with him, he admits that seeing selfless people like Kiryu that never stop trying to help others outright pisses him off. He just can't understand how a fellow orphan like Kiryu could end up so different from himself. - Evil Counterpart: Like his predecessors, Mine is another one to Kiryu. In contrast to Nishiki was a reflection of Kiryu should he succumb to the Despair Event Horizon, and Ryuji who was a bastardization of Kiryu's noble traits, Mine is a dark reflection of Kiryu's own self-destructive desire to help others. Thus while Kiryu is an All-Loving Hero who helps others out of selflessness, Mine's desire to help the Tojo Clan in his own twisted way was out of his selfish desire for validation from Daigo. And to cap off the similarities between them, both Mine and Kiryu were orphans, the difference being that Kiryu grew up with friends like Nishiki and Yumi, whereas Mine had no one after his adopted father passed away. - Evil Is Petty: He has Morning Glory Orphanage bulldozed. While the justification on paper seemed to be for the Okinawa resort deal, Mine's bitter remark towards the orphans implies that it was partly out of spite and misplaced jealousy. - Final Boss: Of 3. - Flash Step: The way his quickstep sometimes functions based on where you're looking occasionally lends itself to suddenly zipping around you in an impossibly quick fashion just to make sure he ends up beind you. - Freudian Excuse: As a child, he grew up with no support from anyone, often being ridiculed for his poor origins. This has led him to believe that money and power were everything. His pursuit of money and power caused him to be surrounded by like-minded people resulting in him being constantly betrayed by those around him. Daigo was the only person who treated him as an equal with no strings attached, which led Mine to attach himself to Daigo to an obsessive degree. - Friendless Background: Never had anyone to support him while growing up as an orphan. This wound up being the source of his issues. - Genius Bruiser: His success with the Yakuza is owed through a combination of frequently being both the strongest and the smartest guy in the room. - Graceful Loser: Lampshaded. He's shocked over he feels after Kiryu violently thwarts his plans to take over the Tojo Clan and ensure its prosperity: At peace. Everything's he's worked so hard for has come crashing down and yet all it amounts is all the immense pressure being lifted off his shoulders. - Green-Eyed Monster: It's implied that the reason why Mine decided to bulldoze Morning Glory Orphanage was out of jealousy that the children of the orphanage get to have a second chance for a happy childhood, something that Mine never got to have.Mine: You like it here, huh? Funny, seeing you kids leech off an adult's generosity... It makes me sick to my stomach. You're stray pups, sure. But that alone doesn't mean you deserve protection. I'd rather see you all put down. - Healing Factor: Can heal himself when his Heat Aura turns Purple. Interestingly enough, his healing move is considered an attack since as it staggers Kiryu at close range. Thus, proper timing with the Komaki Parry can be used to interrupt it completely and keep him from healing. - HeelFace Turn: Daigo's continued concern for him despite all the things he's done up to trying to Mercy Kill him causes Mine to show deep remorse for his actions. - Heel Realisation: After his defeat, he discovers how much destruction his ambition had caused. Before sacrificing himself to take Richardson down with him, Mine laments that he and Kiryu had not met sooner. - Hidden Depths: He's an avid art collector. According to Online, it's because "paintings cannot betray anyone". - Hyper-Competent Sidekick: Kanda never would have risen as far as he did without Mine's assistance and financial backing. Technically subverted by the time of 3 as Mine's more or less Kanda's equal if not outright superior seeing as he's now running his own Yakuza family. - Impaled Palm: He does this to one of his subordinates for insulting Daigo... with a butter knife. - I Owe You My Life: His devotion to Daigo kickstarted, as revealed in Yakuza Online, after Daigo saved Mine from a rival family and was willing to take a bullet for Mine. - I Just Want to Have Friends: Having spent most of his childhood in solitude and poverty, all Mine truly wanted was to have friends. He became a successful businessman because he believed that money would win the affection and companionship that he craved. When that turned out to be superficial, he joined the Yakuza because of their ideals of loyalty and brotherhood. - Kick the Dog: He has the Morning Glory Orphanage destroyed in the game's climax out of spite. - Kick the Son of a Bitch: Disposes of Kanda once he's outlived his usefulness, not that Kanda didn't have it coming to him. - Kingpin in His Gym: He's introduced this way, showing that he's not a pushover, considering he's the game's Final Boss and all. - Lack of Empathy: With the exception of Daigo, Mine cares for no one else but money and power. Even that love of Daigo has its limits since he's disgusted to see Daigo in a vegetative state and considers giving him a Mercy Kill on the off chance that he never fully recovers into the man Mine originally adored. - Leitmotif: "Fly". - Lightning Bruiser: His speed and agility are on par with Majima and he hits like a runaway train. Of course, as the final boss, you'll spend quite a while chipping away at his massive health bar, too. - Love Makes You Evil: The whole game's plot more or less started because this guy had a mental breakdown over finally finding love and acceptance from Daigo only for him to be put in a coma not much later. As a result he's dedicated himself to gaining further power and keeping Daigo's Tojo Clan running by any means necessary. - Man of Wealth and Taste: His choice of maroon pinstriped double-breasted peaked lapel suit with pinstripes works well in expressing both his profesionalism and his wealth as a result of the hard work and financial success he brings to the Tojo Clan. - Mr. Fanservice: His first scene shows him shirtless during a training session, showing his well toned ohysique and tattoo. - Mythical Motifs: The Kirin, known in Chinese legends as the "Qilin", a mythical creature said to appear with the arrival or passing of a sage or ruler, and is the only known creature that can slay a dragon. The Kirin is also regarded as a symbol of fertility and protection, which reflects not only as the Tojo Clan's top earner, but also his Undying Loyalty to Daigo. - Only Sane Man: After Daigo falls into a coma, he serves as this alongside Kashiwagi in the Tojo Clan. While Kanda and Hamazaki were more obsessed over power-grabs than keeping the Clan alive, and Majima prefers to keep to himself, Mine's proposal is to request Kiryu to become chairman again temporarily. - Psycho Supporter: Downplayed, then subverted. His obsessive devotion for Daigo and subsequent mental breakdown over his apparent death drive his many evil acts, and he goes as far as to try to kill him himself, believing it would be a Mercy Kill. At the same time, that love is sincere and ultimately his most redeeming quality, and drives his HeelFace Turn. Before performing his Heroic Sacrifice his wish is to be reborn as someone truly deserving of Daigo's affection. - Purple Is Powerful: Wears a dark purple suit, is the Final Boss of the game, and is one of the most dominating yakuza family captains. He also has a purple aura in his healing state. - Rags to Riches: Was incredibly poor as a child but used his smarts to become incredibly rich and powerful. - Redemption Equals Death: Throws himself into gunfire protecting Daigo from Black Monday, and sacrifices himself to stop Andre Richardson from killing Daigo. See Taking You with Me below. - Red Baron: He's often nicknamed the "Treasurer of the Tojo", as it was the Hakuho Clan's income that was keeping the Tojo Clan afloat in times of strife. - The non-canon All-Star Tournament refers to him as the "Lone Entrepreneur". - Red Oni, Blue Oni: The stoic blue to Kanda's hot-blooded red. - Reused Character Design: Yakuza Kiwami has an unused model of Mine in the game's files. This model is apparently reused for one of the MIA agents who is fought as a boss, due to the agent's strong resemblance to Mine. - Sanity Slippage: In Mine's early scenes, he's shown to be remarkably composed, patient and professional. However, he becomes more and more susceptible to his emotions and rage from unresolved psychological issues as time goes by; see Big Bad Slippage, Not So Stoic, and Would Hurt a Child below. He's noticeably more unhinged and illogical when Kiryu confronts him atop Toto Hospital. - Shoryuken: One of his attacks. - Self-Made Man: Rose to the top using only his determination and smarts. - Sequential Boss: He's fought immediately after Andre Richardson. - Sophisticated as Hell: Usually speaks in polite and professional manner befitting his status as a suave businessmen. When sufficiently riled up, such as hearing one of his men badmouth Daigo or when going over his Dark and Troubled Past, he starts dripping into the rougher speech patterns as other Yakuza characters in the series. - Stance System: Mine has multiple fighting styles, each of them having different colored heat auras, in his boss battle with Kiryu. - His orange Heat Mode primarily has him rely on fast and speedy attacks while also gaining resistance to knockdowns. - In his red Heat Mode, he becomes Immune to Flinching entirely and will use more telegraphed attacks like heavy haymakers and spinning backfists. They are slower and relatively easier to avoid than his orange Heat Mode attacks, but they hit a lot harder, enough to send Kiryu flying. - And finally, his purple Heat Mode allows him to regenerate health while fighting more defensively with the same resistance to knockdowns as orange Heat Mode as well as gaining complete immunity to grapple attempts as he'll automatically pull a Counter-Attack when grabbed. - The Stoic: He never shows any emotion, commented one several times by other characters. - Not So Stoic: When two of his goons insult Daigo, Mine completely snaps and proceeds to stab one of them with a butter knife, all the while snarling right in the poor sap's face. He also loses his composure when Kiryu criticizes the man's whole philosophy. - Surprisingly Good English: When he talks to Andre Richardson in Daigo's hospital room on his mobile phone. It's heavily accented but still comprehensible without subtitles. - Straw Nihilist: The hardships he experienced in life led him to believe that people only value money and power, which have become the only things he values. Then Daigo came along and changed that, but to worrisome levels. - Strong and Skilled: Displays borderline superhuman strength, agility, and skill with his Mixed Martial Arts-based fighting style. He's possibly the only opponent to go toe-to-toe with a completely uninjured and unhindered Kiryu and still leave him bruised, bloodied, and exhausted despite still losing against him. It helps that he is one of the only characters who is shown devoting time and effort to training instead of getting by on experience and raw power alone, as he is seen in his personal gym with weights and a heavy bag. This fits his character, having had to work hard his whole life to get anywhere. - Stronger Than They Look: Almost quoted word for word before he beats the shit out of Kanda. While he's rather tall, he mostly comes across as more of a dignified and intelligent businessman than the brutally strong and talented fighter that he is on top of his business acumen. - Taking You with Me: To the Greater-Scope Villain, by giving him a Dragon Suplex off Toto Hospital, a 30-story building, in a similar vein to Nishiki in the first game. - Tattooed Crook: The Qilin as mentioned above. - There Are No Therapists: See Straw Nihilist, Yandere, Love Makes You Evil... All of these traits manifested in him because no one was there for him when he was younger. - This Is the Final Battle: He says a variant of this:Mine: Kiryu, this will be your final battle. Make the most of it. - Tragic Villain: He would not have become the man that he is now had he been raised with love. - Tranquil Fury: Kanda wrecking his office like a brat due to the beating Kiryu gave him was the final straw for Mine. When Mine calmly tells Kanda to show some respect while in his office, Kanda tells him to stuff it, trashes more artworks, before attempting to punch him. Mine, however, after pointing out how much the items were worth, easily kicks his ass with cold efficiency to show hes finally done with Kanda. - Undying Loyalty: To Daigo. Unfortunately that doesn't keep him from targetting his friends like Kiryu if that's what it takes to keep Daigo's Tojo Clan running. - The Unfettered: He'll do whatever it takes to keep the Tojo Clan up and running. After all, it's what Daigo wants right? - Villain Has a Point: - For all of his actions, his intent in forcing the Okinawa resort deal to go through could very well have saved the Tojo Clan from the issues that ensue in Yakuza 4, as the bankruptcy ensues near-entirely due to Daigo's refusal to take the deal in 3. In a fit of Irony, Daigo even has to take his own immoral measures and betray former allies to make ends meet, unwittingly justifying at least some of Mine's twisted world view. - One that would only be fully realized in Yakuza 6. Mine calls out Kiryu for abandoning the Tojo Clan when it was in crisis, wondering why Daigo still looks up to him. At the end of 6, Kiryu apologizes to Daigo for pushing the role of Tojo Clan chairman onto him and not properly mentoring or spending time with him, feeling that his strong desire to leave the clan behind ultimately caused both Daigo and the Tojo too much grief. - Well-Intentioned Extremist: The reason why he becomes the Big Bad of the game was that he signed the Okinawa resort deal, believing that it would save the Tojo Clan from bankruptcy. - White-Collar Crime: Started his fortune via insider trading and the such. - Would Hurt a Child: Destroys Morning Glory Orphanage out of spite for Kiryu, then hits Haruka back when she slaps him over it. - Yandere: He can't bear to see the usually strong Daigo on the verge of death, not knowing if he'll live or die, so he'd rather put him quickly out of his misery than see him suffer. - You Are What You Hate: Before their final confrontation atop Toto Hospital, Kiryu calls Mine out for his actions, and that he's become no different from the very people he hated.Kiryu: Do you still hate those who left you?Mine: Of course! Those heartless shits care about nothing but money! If they were here now, I'd slit their throats! What about it?!Kiryu: You're no different from them. Like them, you've let money control your life. You never tried to confront people. You only ever cared about yourself. And you never really loved anyone else. That's why no one loves you. - You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Once Kanda has become more of a liability, Mine quickly has his men dispose of him. Amusingly down the line, he outright says this almost word for word with himself when Andre Richardson is about to finish him and Kiryu off post-Final Boss. Voiced by: George Takahashi Patriarch of the Hamazaki family that works on the fringes of the Tojo, they are vital but mistrusted for their close links to the Chinese Triads, and helped take over Yomohama with the help of Lau Ka Long. Big, ugly and nasty, Hamazaki is an opportunistic thug who will do whatever it takes to succeed. He goes to jail at the end of the third game, appearing in the fourth game where he recognizes Saejima and uses him to plot an escape. He subsequently not only starts to see Saejima as a genuine brother, but also gains possession of Okinawa Penitentiary No. 2's ledger, sparking off Kiryu's involvement. He suffers several critical injuries in the process, and after helping Kiryu and Yasuko escape the prison's staff, they reopen, leading to his death. - Alas, Poor Villain: Although 3 portrays him as a thoroughly unpleasant man to the end, his death in the fourth game comes off as a tragic surprise. - Because You Were Nice to Me: In 4, he becomes this way to Saejima during their prison break, when Saejima tries to hold the line to ensure Hamazaki's escape and especially when Saejima referred to him as his brother. He states that nobody has ever trusted him like this before, prompting his HeelFace Turn. - Becoming the Mask: Initially using Saejima as means of revenge against the Tojo Clan, Hamazaki ends up genuinely befriending Saejima and is what prompts his HeelFace Turn. - Bonus Boss: He can be fought in the postgame as part of the "X-Tiger, the House of Extras" minigames by talking to the fortune teller at the Kamurocho Hills construction site. - Determinator: After helping Saejima break out of prison in the beginning of his chapter in Yakuza 4, Hamazaki had seemingly died taking a bullet from the head guard and plunging himself and said guard into the ocean. Its then revealed he not only survived, Hamazaki also winds up on the shore outside of Morning Glory Orphanage where he receives some first aid and tells Kiryu about how much trouble the Tojo Clan will be in. He lasts long enough afterwards to protect Yasuko only for his wounds to open up from the effort. He would later die in a hospital bed, telling Haruka to give Kiryu one final message. - Dressing as the Enemy: Part of his plan to escape from prison in 4 is to use a stolen prison guard uniform to infiltrate the warden's office and dig up any sort of dirt that can be used to leverage his ensured freedom after he escapes. - Easily Forgiven: In Yakuza 4, by Kiryu. Hamazaki asks for his help in exposing the truth behind the ten billion yen incident and honor his oath to Saejima. His old enemy agrees to help him, believing even those who have tried to kill him deserve a second chance. Haruka's none too pleased, having been traumatized after Hamazaki nearly killed Kiryu in front of her eyes. - Enemy Eats Your Lunch: In his introductory cutscene in 3, he threatens a Chinese restauranteur by chopping off the head of a Peking Duck and crunching on it as loudly as possible. - Expository Hairstyle Change: His slick pompadour in 3 has been shaved into a buzzcut by the time of 4 due to being imprisoned. It certainly makes him seem humbler and it goes well with him developing into a less villainous character. - Faux Affably Evil: His relaxed, casual manner of speech compared to Kanda doesn't hide how very little he cares about anyone except himself. His experiences working together with Saejima in 4 has him outgrow this and become a legitimately more decent guy. - Genius Bruiser: A capable planner and manipulator who's larger than Saejima. That said, he doesn't get too many opportunities to really get his hands dirty. Gameplay-wise, the only mandatory time you'll see him in action is during a single room full of enemies in 4 where he works together with Saejima to take them out. His only other gameplay appearances are as a non-canonical Bonus Boss in a few postgame minigames in 3. - Gonk: Cartoonishly ugly, and with a cruel personality to boot. The latter is phased out by his last appearance in 4. - Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has a fairly large burn scar around his right eyebrow and he's prone to rather sinister looking facial expressions in 3. Averted in 4 in which he comes across as much less evil. - Handshake Refusal: Kiryu offers him a handshake when offering to give Hamazaki a second chance, only for Hamazaki to instead stab him in the gut. - HeelFace Turn: In Yakuza 4 as a result of Saejima's selflessness and developing camaraderie with him. - HeelFace Door-Slam: After he tries to help Kiryu, his wound reopens and later dies from it before he's able to fully redeem himself. However, Hamazaki's death still has a positive legacy. His sacrifice convinced Saejima, who was content to return to prison upon hitting the Despair Event Horizon after losing Yasuko, to join the others in stopping Munakata, as saving the Tojo Clan was Hamazakis dying wish. - Heroes' Frontier Step: Despite his cruel personality in 3, he finds himself unable to abandon Saejima in 4 when he tries to hold the line to allow Hamazaki to escape from prison safely on his own. When the cruel prison guard Saito attempts to put both of them down for good, shooting Hamazaki with a gun in the process, Hamazaki grabs Saito and sends the both of them off the roof of the prison and plummeting into the ocean. He manages to survive and proves to have turned a new leaf. - Heroic Sacrifice: After protecting Yasuko while Kiryu works on dealing with Saito and his prison guards, he later suddenly collapses to the ground from a huge wound on his back either suffering a bullet wound at the time or having his previous bullet wound from Saito open up from the effort. Either way, Kiryu seems to consider his final actions to be this trope. - How the Mighty Have Fallen: Once one of the most powerful families in the Tojo Clan, now reduced to a bum living in the streets by the end of 3 where he then gets arrested after trying to stab Kiryu to death. Downplayed in 4 where he apparently has enough connections outside of Okinawa Penitentiary No. 2 to bribe the guards for certain requests. - Jerkass: The first thing we see him do is threaten a chef with a butcher knife, and proceeds to blow up his restaurant when he refuses to pay protection money all with a horribly smug grin on his face. He grows out of it in his appearance in 4, though it's not too long after he does that he dies. - Killed Off for Real: In 4, he's wounded when he takes a bullet for Taiga. After he helps Kiryu and Yasuko escape from Saito, he passes out when it's shown that the wound is fatal, and passes away in hospital not long after. His death isn't shown, and Kiryu learns about his demise through a phone call from Haruka. - Made of Iron: Survives getting shot through the back by the prison guard Saito and then plunging into the ocean and not making ashore until at least two days have passed. Sadly, it's not enough to keep him from dying after his gunshot wound opens up from over-exertion though he makes it all the way to the hospital to give Haruka his final words. - Manipulative Bastard: Tries to blackmail Majima into killing off Kiryu using a compromising photo of him speaking to Minister Suzuki, implicating him in pushing the Minister's Okinawa Resort Plan and possibly hold responsibility for several of Kiryu's allies being targetted in related violent attacks. - He knows the truth behind the Ueno Seiwa hit, and tries to get Saejima to help him break out of prison by convincing him that Majima betrayed him to get higher in the Tojo Clan and fuel a need for revenge. He eventually regrets doing so, and tries to make his way to Kamurocho in order to explain himself to Saejima in person. He doesn't get the chance to do it himself. - Mighty Glacier: His gameplay appearance in 4 gives him the same slow, heavy moveset of the generic larger enemies. Somewhat odd since his postgame Bonus Boss fights in 3 gave him a completely unique fighting style comprised of strong yet rather quick attacks and a tight defense. - Moveset Clone: Downplayed, but as a Bonus Boss, a lot of his moves are the same as several of Tsuyoshi Kanda's though he has a different taunt and unique moves of his own like a rolling sobat kick or a sliding kick. There's also his unique Polish Hammer swing he'll perform as a Block Counter-Attack. - In 4 during the escape from prison, he's one to Futoshi Shimano from the original version of the first game. - Obviously Evil: Very shady and sleazy-looking in 3 with his flashy suit, greased hair, and sinister facial expressions. He's even mockingly compared to a washed up porn-star at one point. Less so in 4 after spending a year in prison with a shaved head though Saejima clearly doesn't fully trust him and offhandedly mentions that he doesn't seem like much of a good person. - Oddly Small Organisation: The Hamazaki family is only made up of 10 members, since he primarily relies on the Snake Flower Triad to serve as his muscle. This ends up biting him in the ass when the triad turns against him and wipes out his family. - Out of Focus: Despite being introduced as a major antagonistic faction in 3 alongside Kanda and Mine, such a role gets supplanted by his Yokohama associate, Lau Ka Long of the Snake Flower Triad who leads the charge against Kiryu in Hamazaki's stead. After Ka Long's death, Hamazaki's family is destroyed by mainland Triads as retribution for Ka Long's death, removing him from the plot entirely. ...At least until the ending. - Downplayed in 4 in which he provides Saejima with his motivation for breaking out of jail and actually becoming part of the main plot. In the aftermath of his death, he continues to motivate Saejima to continue supporting the Tojo Clan the best he can. - Red Baron: Nicknamed the "Emperor of Hama". - Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue to Taiga's red. - Redemption Rejection: In the ending of 3, Kiryu offers him a second chance in life, only for Hamazaki to stab him. - Reformed, But Rejected: While Kiryu is willing to accept that his experiences with Saejima have really turned his idealogy around, Haruka is far less forgiving. You really can't blame her since the last time she saw Hamazaki, he had a knife handle-deep into the gut of her beloved Uncle Kiryu. For his part, Hamazaki fully acknowledges her to be justified in her thinking and promises to never bother her family again. - Sharp-Dressed Man: Wears a flashy looking silvery gray suit, darker than Kiryu's, over a black dress shirt. Once his family is destroyed leaving him disgraced, destitute, and fearing for his own life as a fugitive, he's now wearing much shabbier clothing with a tattered dark grey trench coat and a matching bucket hat. His clothes in 4 are also much more casual though he does briefly don a prison guard outfit as a disguise. - Spanner in the Works: He becomes one in 4, after he discovers Munakata's conspiracy which led to him bringing both Saejima and Kiryu into the plot. - When you think about it, Saejima probably would have stayed in prison and accepted his execution without complaint if Hamazaki hadn't been there to tell him that he failed to kill Yoshiharu Ueno during the shootout and make him suspicious of Majima's absence. - Tattooed Crook: Unusually for a yakuza elite, he completely averts it as he's shown shirtless in 4 after being bandaged up at Morning Glory Orphanage without a single trace of ink on his back. While no one comments on it, it does suit him will as he has the mindset of a more modern, ruthless, and pragmatic yakuza, not really having any ideals or beliefs associated with such irezumi tattoos... at least until he met Saejima anyway. - Took a Level in Kindness: Saejima's selfless nature has had an incredibly positive effect on him. Even before Saejima considers him a brother, he decides to come back to help Saejima escape despite Saejima telling him to just abandon him while he distracts Saito and the prison guards. Hamazaki even notes how leaving him would leave a bad taste in his mouth. It's solidified when he finally sees Kiryu again in Okinawa. It's possible that Kiryu's selfless actions a year prior helped him grow a conscience and care more for his fellow man, even commenting on Saejima being the second person in his life to ever trust him since Kiryu was the first. By the time he reunites with Kiryu, he shows complete awareness of what a terrible, deceptive person he's been and somberly accepts that Haruka will never forgive him for nearly stabbing Kiryu to death a year ago. When Kiryu hesitates to go on yet another potentially deadly journey back to Kamurocho on account of Haruka's misgivings over the risks of this new conspiracy, Hamazaki reassures the two that Kiryu doesn't have to leave if he doesn't think it's important to him. Hamazaki ultimately decides to return to the deadly penitentiary he escaped from since it gives him another shot at reuniting with Saejima and properly apologizing to him for lying about Majima. - The Unfought: Though he's a major bad guy in the third game, you never actually fight him. It's even more odd since - as stated above - he is a non-canon bonus fight in the arena, where he even gets his own unique fighting style. - What Happened to the Mouse?: In the third game, he vanishes off-screen once his plans have been screwed up and his family destroyed. He comes back right at the end, accuses Kiryu of ruining his life and (near fatally) stabs him in the gut. - Wrestler in All of Us: As a Bonus Boss, he fights like a pro-wrestler with moves like a double axe handle or a jumping German Suplex from a grapple. Voiced by: Hiroyuki Miyasako The third patriarch of the Nishikiyama family. Loud, rude, violent and ignorant, he's against Kiryu returning to the Tojo Clan considering what happened to the previous patriarchs of the family. When Daigo is shot, he's just as eager to claim the position of Chairman like the others. - Asshole Victim: Gets disposed off by Mine's men once he acted out of line, not that he didn't deserve it. - Bald of Evil: Bald, and a huge scumbag. - Beware the Silly Ones: Downplayed. He comes across as the most pathetic of the antagonists in 3 with even his scrawny direct subordinate Hasebe showing more vigor than him. Don't think that makes him push-over however. He's one of the few bosses in the game to have more than 2 health bars. He definitely didn't reach the position of Nishikiyama Family Patriarch because of his brains that's for sure. - Big Bad Wannabe: He is simply too violent, and ignorant to be main villain material. He ends up being turned in by the third game's actual Big Bad, who had him as an Unwitting Pawn all along. - Blood Brothers: Technically Mine's though neither him nor Mine really respect this supposed bond. To be fair to Mine, Kanda did effectively leave him to die in the past as revealed in Yakuza Online so it's no wonder why Mine doesn't acknowledge their ties at all. - Brains and Brawn: The brawn to Mine's brains. - Call-Back: Seems to be fairly reminiscent of Futoshi Shimano due to his appearance and personality. - Charles Atlas Superpower: In his boss fight, he's capable of lifting up stone ornaments even larger than he is and swinging them around as an improvised weapon. - Classic Villain: His introduction and his past conviction for sexual assault make it clear he's a lustful man, but he also spends almost all of his screentime shouting in rage for any reason so his wrathful side is more prominent. - Curb-Stomp Battle: Is effortlessly pulverised by Mine. - Decapitation Presentation: It's strongly implied that Mine had him decapitated and stuffed into a suitcase to show to Kiryu. - Dirty Coward: For all his bluster during a Tojo Clan meeting about how much he despises Kiryu and wants to kill him, he acts submissive and frightened when Kiryu first meets him before suddenly making a break for it and yelling at his men to keep Kiryu away from him. - Fat Bastard: He's fat and a greedy hedonist. - From Nobody to Nightmare: Downplayed. He was originally just a plain old Mook in the Nishikiyama family who got sent to prison on sexual harassment charges. Fortunately for him however, he was released around the time Shindo, who took over the family after Nishki's death, was killed during his attempted coup on the Tojo Clan, giving Kanda free reign to put himself in charge and use aggressive tactics to take property from the Kazama family, allowing him to rise up the ranks quickly. That being said, he's more of a Big Bad Wannabe and is quickly disposed of by Mine when he's no longer useful. - Hair-Trigger Temper: Flies into a violent rage at the slightest provocation. - Hate Sink: Boorish, violent, and giving women rough massages, he's meant to receive scorn from the players. It thus makes his death all the more satisfying. - Improvised Weapon: During his boss fight he'll often try to grab any piece of furniture that isn't nailed down and swing it at Kiryu. He even Heats up whenever he's holding things. It gets rather ridiculous when he starts ripping the huge stone ornaments on the wall of the room off and uses those against Kiryu. - Jerkass: His brutishness is his most notable aspect in every scene where he appears. - Killed Offscreen: By Mine. - Laughably Evil: He's so over the top and childish that it's damn near impossible to take him seriously. A Quick Time Event during his Boss Fight has Kiryu brutalize him in a particularly humiliating fashion. - Mean Boss: Shows no respect for his underlings as he's introduced slapping an entire row of them hard across their faces. All because one of them was briefly confused by his question and a little too slow to answer it. - Mister Big: Unlike previous Patriarchs like Nishiki or Shindo who were rather tall physically imposing men, Kanda seems to be on the shorter side with Kiryu towering over him and even the young Rikiya appearing taller than him. It's especially odd when in-game measurements say he's 180 cm tall while Rikiya is supposed to be 177 cm tall. - No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Is on the receiving end by Mine's hands. - No Indoor Voice: His first scene has him screaming at his subordinates and he continues to speak in such a manner practially every other time he shows up. - Oh, Crap!: Has this expression when Mine completely overpowers him before sending his men to dispose of him. - Psychopathic Manchild: His temper tantrum in Mine's office after being beaten by Kiryu shows that he's nothing but one, tearing apart Mine's office like a spoiled brat. It also doesn't help his case that the art he destroyed in Mine's office was worth 1 billion yen (Approximately ~$10 million dollars!) - Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: [slapping each of his subordinates] "That's! What! I'm! Fucking! Talking about!" - Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: Double Subverted: Introduced engaging in what sounds like some pretty messed up activities offscreen with a screaming woman, just so you know he's a nasty piece of work. Later it turns out Kanda likes kidnapping women so he can give them rough massages. On the other hand you know the guy's a nasty piece of work since he was convicted of sexual assault. - Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red to Mine's blue. - Say My Name: Repeatedly screams Mine's name as he's about to be killed by his former Blood Brother's men. - Smug Snake: He really thought he had a chance at killing Kiryu and taking control of the Tojo Clan. Once Kiryu got involved, any plans he had began to fall apart at the seams. - Spin Attack: One of his stronger moves is to perform a spinning clothesline whilst covered in heat energy. - Stout Strength: Strong enough to use the massive stone wall decorations in his room as weapons against Kiryu. - Tattooed Crook: A Tennyo and multiple Okame masks on his arms. - Underestimating Badassery: Kanda made the mistake of trying to attack Mine to show hes the one in charge. Its the last mistake hell ever make. - Villain Decay: Not him as he wasn't much of a threat to begin with, but the fact that he managed to become the new patriarch becomes this to the Nishikiyama Family as a whole. In the first game, they were among the most powerful families in the Tojo Clan, a status which carried on in the second game. But by the third game, the family is a shell of its former self, relying on Mine's income to keep them afloat and after Kanda bites it, the entire family crumbles. - Villainous Breakdown: After Mine gives him a great beating and sends his mooks to kill him, he cowers in fear. - Weaksauce Weakness: While he's got a bit of fighting ability and strength, he only truly poses a threat once he grabs furniture around the room he fights in. However, the "Essence of Destruction" Heat Action will instantly destroy his weapon while dealing great damage, nullifying his greatest strength. Unfortunately for you, this Heat Action is a Revelation and can't be learned until right after his defeat, so the only way you'll be able to abuse it against him is through New Game Plus. - The Worf Effect: He's quickly demolished by Mine, establishing Mine as a far more formidable threat. - You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Brought Mine into the organization, and then proceeded to take him for granted. This was a bad idea. Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai Captain of the Nishikiyama Family and the most violent member of the Tojo Clan. Even Kanda views him as most dangerous member. Due to his rank, he's trying not to needlessly stir things up, but tends to resort to violence because it is in his nature. - Ax-Crazy: Suggested in his in-game profile and more subtly implied through his on-screen behavior. - Curb-Stomp Battle: Meets Kiryu, tries to fight him, and gets this instead. - The Dragon: To Kanda. - Faux Affably Evil: Revels in violence but tries to go about things in a relatively civil manner via negotiations and cash offers since it's expected of a yakuza of his rank. All bets are off when that fails. - Flunky Boss: Rolls into Stardust with a whole mob of Nishiki Family members. - Katanas Are Just Better: Pulls out a katana when his fight against Kiryu, Katsuki, and Yuya in Stardust doesn't go his way. - Mighty Glacier: Despite his small, wiry frame, he uses heavy, sluggish swings. The most he'll do if Kiryu tries to put distance away from him is to jog after him at a leisurely pace. Otherwise, he prefers to slowly pace around in combat. He gets more aggressive when he pulls out his katana but his movement speed is still rather slow, especially if he readies his sword for a wide swing. - Mister Big: Captain of a yakuza family and pretty small and scrawny. - Moveset Clone: Uses a variant of Futoshi Shimano's moveset from the original Yakuza. It's identical to the moveset used by certain enemy types. - Purple Is Powerful: Downplayed. He's got a purple suit and is a dangerous, unhinged man. However he poses no threat to Kiryu and is most certainly not a major player in the grand scheme of things. - Slasher Smile: When Kiryu, Yuya, and Kazuki refuse to give in to his demands, he gets this before siccing his men on them. - Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Comparable to Koji Shindo from the first game, being the Captain and thus 2nd-in-command of the Nishikiyama Family and fighting with a katana. His cornrows are somewhat similar to the blonde streaks Shindo had in his hair as well. - Turns Red: He's really not all that threatening until he loses half his health and pulls out a katana, gaining a HEAT aura in the process and using faster unblockable moves, even using Heat Action if Kiryu falls to the ground near him. Unfortunately for him, his sword will break when he takes too much damage which will also nullify said aura and benefits. - Violence is the Only Option: Double Subverted. He's got enough restraint to use negotiations and money first but when that fails he's all too eager to start causing mayhem to get what he wants. Voiced by: Unshō Ishizuka The ruthless patriarch of the Tamashiro Family, who are rivals with Nakahara's Ryudo family. He was working with the Tojo Clan to ensure the Okinawa resort deal goes through before Daigo called it off, and was beaten by Kiryu to get Saki back from him. - Alliterative Name: Tetsuo Tamashiro. - Arch-Enemy: Of Shigeru Nakahara. - Authority Equals Asskicking: He's may be an old bastard but as the Tamashiro Family patriarch, he's seriously tough with the skill to wield a variety of thuggish weapons with impressive proficiency. - Boom, Headshot!: Received from Joji before he can kill Kiryu. - Boxing Battler: Once he switches to brass knuckles, he uses a boxing stance and relies heavily on powerful boxing style punches. This is especially noticeable during his Quick Time Event. That said, some of his swings break away from proper boxing conventions like his double axe-handle swing or spinning backfist and he lacks the swift-footed evasiveness normally associated with boxing that other clear-cut boxers in the series have. His Counter-Attack from a block is also a kick rather than a punch. Moveset Clones of him in the Coliseum modes of multiple games including 3 have been described as kickboxers which could explain such discrepencies. - Call-Back: The encounters with him, first at day and second at night, can bring one back to the time when they fought Shimano in the first game, since the second encounter usually involves Kiryu's closest ally Taking the Bullet and involves one child character. - Classic Villain: Much of what we know of him firmly cements him as a man of Lust. - Combat Pragmatist: Never takes on Kiryu unarmed and even calls in for backup during your second bout with him despite carrying a pistol. - Counter-Attack: Pressuring him while he's blocking will usually lead to him reacting with a heavy kick. During the rematch when he has a pistol on hand, he'll also take a shot after throwing out a counter kick. - Dirty Coward: A tough fighter, but he also plays dirty, resorts to kidnapping and takes hostages to get an advantage. - Dirty Old Man: He slept with a lot of women, runs many brothels in Downtown Ryukyu's red light district and is meant to have an affair with Saki's mother. - Degraded Boss: Several of his punching attacks have been reused for mini-boss strength foes in 3 as well as in several games released after. - Evil Laugh: Seems to really find the suffering of others to be amusing and will even laugh mid-battle. He lets out a more bombastic laugh while having his men demolish the Morning Glory orphanage. - Evil Old Folks: He's in his mid-50's and is a force to be reckoned with. - Evil Sounds Deep: With Unshō Ishizuka, this is a given. - Evil Redhead: Auburn variant. - Flechette Storm: A more realistic example; his knife-fighting skills are far more reliant on throwing a bunch of throwing knives at Kiryu rather than actually trying to slice and stab at him like most other characters in the series. His skill in throwing knives is somewhat foreshadowed by the dartboard covered in fresh darts that can be seen from certain camera angles in his introduction cutscene. - Flunky Boss: Calls in for backup twice during your second boss fight against him. - Four Eyes, Zero Soul: Wears glasses, and is among the evilest characters in the game. - Gun Fu: Downplayed. He may twirl about or perform backwards somersaults before shooting at Kiryu during the 2nd boss fight against him. - Guttural Growler: Only when he shouts and screams. It even helps that he is voiced by Heihachi Mishima's second voice actor, Unshō Ishizuka. - Hate Sink: One of the series' villains who stands out for being as despicable as possible. With everything he does in the game, you'll be looking forward to the catharsis after seeing just how much abuse he can take. - Hero Killer: Ends up killing Rikiya when he Takes the Bullet for Kiryu. - Jerkass: He kidnapped Saki to make things harder for Nakahara, rejected Saki's mother's offer to become family, gives the Ryudo Family a tough time, destroyed Morning Glory Orphanage with the help of the Hakuho Clan and put Nakahara's life in danger at a bullfighting arena. - Kick the Son of a Bitch: Slaps around and insults Saki's mother. Considering said woman is a selfish Gold Digger who regularly cheated on her husband and was an absolutely ''horrible'' mother to Saki before abandoning her it's hard not to cheer. - Knight of Cerebus: While he's not exactly biggest threat amongst the antagonists in 3, his utterly vile and selfish actions and personality are all treated completely seriously without any sort of levity or sympathetic moments to lighten the mood. He's also front-and-center of some of the most intense moments in the story to such a degree that he even kills off a major supporting protagonist before getting killed himself in a rather grim fashion. - Lack of Empathy: Shows absolutely no kindness at all to everyone he comes across, especially women and children. - Leitmotif: He doesn't have one but the Tamashiro Family he runs has the aptly named "Pure Malice" playing during several story encounters. - Licking the Blade: Licks the blade of his knife after he's done threatening Kiryu. - Manipulative Bastard: Something of a villainous Casanova. He's described by an NPC as a playboy having relationships with women from all over Ryukyu only to ship them off to one of his brothels the minute he gets bored of them. Real caring guy. - Coerced Saki's mother into kidnapping her estranged daughter back from Nakahara in the name of "starting a family together" when all he really wanted was to use her as leverage against Nakahara to acquire the deeds to the land Kiryu's running his orphanage on. Saki's mother is shocked when he lets this slip while he mocks her for ever thinking he'd ever "shack up with a hag". - Mighty Glacier: Zig-Zagged after he switches to brass knuckles halfway through your first fight against him. He tends to pace around slowly or casually saunter towards Kiryu but once he starts attacking he's aggressive and can be surprisingly fast and unpredictable with his various punching combos - Never Bring a Knife to a Fist Fight: Threatens Kiryu with a knife and initially fights with it but switches to brass knuckles after losing enough health and he ends up a lot more dangerous as a result. - Past Victim Showcase: Threatens to kill Kiryu and send a box full of his fingers back to Nakahara as a warning so he's definitely not above this sort of behavior. - The Pawns Go First: He summons a few waves of his mooks to keep Kiryu at bay on his second encounter. - Power Fist: Uses brass knuckles after a good amount of his health is depleted during his first boss fight. - Psycho Knife Nut: He licks his knife as he threatens to cut off Kiryu's fingers in his introduction. During his first encounter he will brandish it and throw multiple of them at Kiryu. - Psychotic Smirk: Just look at his picture above. It's usually his default expression when he's in a good mood. - Rapid-Fire Fisticuffs: One of the Quick Time Events during his boss fight has him try to nail Kiryu in the face with several brass knuckles-assisted punches at a swift pace. During the IF 7 rematch against him, he gains a new move borrowed from some of the heavy generic enemies where he'll throw a bunch of quick punches in front of him before reeling back for a big haymaker punch. - Recurring Boss: He's one of the early bosses in the third game, and returns toward the end for a rematch after the Big Bad makes his move. - Red Baron: "The Ryukyu Assassin". - Red and Black and Evil All Over: Red suit over a black shirt. You could probably tell he's a bad guy just from a glance really. - Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red (given the colour of his suit) to Shigeru's blue. - Sadist: At his most cheerful when destroying lives and making others suffer whether physically or emotionally. - Screaming Warrior: Despite his rather luxurious appearance, he roars and bellows like a wild animal when he's fighting. - Sharp-Dressed Man: Wears a flashy red suit with a black shirt and some expensive-looking glasses. - Silver Fox: He's in his 50's but is still an infamous playboy around Ryukyu. - Slasher Smile: Has a pretty fearsome one whenever he's causing trouble. - The Sociopath: He's got enough charisma to be a well-known playboy in Ryukyu but he'll have women sent to a brothel the moment he gets bored of them. Overall, he's a completely selfish man who only ever treats other people as tools to be used for his ambitions and desires or trash to be disposed of. - Spectacular Spinning: For some reason he tends to perform spinning side steps to avoid attacks when he's wielding a knife or a gun. Downplayed for when he's using brass knuckles and has a single spinning backfist he may use as an attack. - Spell My Name with an S: A rare Japanese variant. His given name is written with the kanji 鉄生 most of the time, but there are cases where it is written as 鉄夫 instead, both of which can be read as "Tetsuo". - Turns Red: Halfway through the fight, he switches from throwing knives to brass knuckles while gaining a Heat Aura. He's much more damaging and aggressive and you'll find that most of your attacks won't be able to knock him to the floor anymore nor can he be grabbed either. - Villain Forgot to Level Grind: He's legitimately threatening the first time he's fought due to being something of a Difficulty Spike. However when he's rematched late into the game, you'll find that his health bar hasn't changed at all from being 2 bars long despite having already fighting several bosses with more than that amount of health and leveling up significantly since the last time he was fought. That gun he's carrying around, as well as the 3 waves of henchmen he'll send at you mid-battle does prevent it from him from being a complete Anticlimax Boss though. - Wake-Up Call Boss: If the previous fights against a Willfully Weak Majima or Rikiya didn't test you enough, then Tamashiro should prove to be your first major challenge in combat. He's aggressive, has decent defensive skills, relies on weapons to deal out extra pain, and is the first boss with multiple health bars, a heat mode that prevents him from being knocked down, and Quick Time Events comprised of multiple button presses and harsh punishments for failures. Not helping matters is that him being fought rather early deprives you of upgrades that would make him far more manageable. Hope you have some healing items on hand. - Would Hit a Girl: Slapped Saki's mother when she berated him for lying to her about their affair and then he almost knifed her in the face. The CIA Voiced by: Tetsuya Watari - "When your chairman tells you to do something, you damn well do it. And the CIA is my "chairman." They say I need to kill someone, no matter the target... I'm going to kill them." A man who carries an uncanny resemblance to the late Shintaro Kazama. He's later revealed to be an agent of the CIA who seeks to ensure the Okinawa resort deal goes through by any means necessary. He is the younger brother of Shintaro Kazama. - Backup Twin: Downplayed. He bears a strong resemblance to his older brother Shintaro Kazama, to the extent of sharing the same voice actor and they're both implied to be The Ace in their respective fields. However unlike Shintaro Kazama's attempts to defy the orders of the ruthless Dojima Family, Joji proves to be more dedicated to following the CIA's ruthless orders to the point where Kiryu has to beat him down to make him reconsider his actions. In any case, the most obvious motivation behind his inclusion in the game is to give Kazama a chance to shine in gameplay as a Boss Fight against Kiryu, even if it's not the Kazama that we've become acquainted with in earlier games. Once his role in the plot is over, he never appears in the series again. - Big Damn Heroes: After switching to Kiryu's side he shoots Tamashiro in the head before he can try to do the same to Kiryu whose guard was down at the moment. Unfortunately, he sorrowfully notes that he was too late to save Rikiya who had already been shot through the chest and is bleeding out. - Bilingual Bonus: Compares Kiryu's eyes to his brother's eyes when he meets him for the first time, heavily implying that his brother is Shintaro Kazama, Kiryu's adoptive father whom Joji heavily resembles. However since he said it in English, Kiryu doesn't understand at all though and frankly the player might not've either if they were Japanese and playing without subtitles. - Cool Old Guy: He's sixty years old and still thoroughly kicks some ass. - Counter-Attack: Better not hit him if when if he stands in place and makes a small circular motion with his hands opening. The audio cue may make it seem like he's taunting you and letting his guard down but don't be fooled. He'll even start pacing around while still being in "counter mode". You can tell that he can still counter attack because his hands are open since they're normally closed into fists. It won't be safe to hit him until he either closes his hands back into fists or he performs an attack, ending his counter mode. - If he's in Heat Mode, he'll automatically counter any grapples with a punch to the face and another to Kiryu's gut. - For the entirety of the fight he can also perform a counter combo if he blocks too many hits in a row. - Defeat Equals Friendship: Joins Kiryu's side once you beat him in a boss fight. - Dub Name Change: To keep it consistent with his brother. - Duel Boss: The inevitable confrontation with him is quite hyped, and he is one of the few bosses in the third game that fights fair and square, no weapons, no mooks, just a straight up honorable showdown between two men. - Feeling Their Age: After his defeat he states that he's getting to old to be getting wrapped up in fist-fights though Kiryu seems to disagree. - Leitmotif: "Lyricism Without Tears". - Lightning Bruiser: If age slowed him down it sure as hell isn't apparent. His strength and agility seem to surpass Kiryu's at times particularly during his Quick Time Event. Even Kiryu admits he probably would have lost had Joji been in his prime. - Only Friend: To Tamiya. They met back when they were Japanese cops working up the ranks. Even now they're working together to expose and take down Black Monday. - Put on a Bus: As a loyal agent of the CIA, he really doesn't have much of a place in any of the later Japan-centric plots unless they decide to involve the CIA again. - Red Herring: Turns out he's not actually the one who shot Daigo and Nakahara. - Shared Family Quirks: Gun-slinging and overall badassery must be common in Kazama's family. - The Stoic: His icy cold demeanor doesn't falter once. At one point, he does offer a smile to Kiryu when he compliments his eyes and compares them to his brother's but it just makes him even more mysterious, especially since he does so in English to prevent Kiryu from understanding. Even when you're fighting him, he has the most subdued voice lines for a boss fight in the game. - Strong Family Resemblance: Heavily resembles an older Shintaro Kazama, to the shock of Kiryu and Kashiwagi. - Surprisingly Good English: Considering that he's Japanese by birth but an agent of a major American intelligence organization, he'd need to brush up on his English. We only hear two sentences though, but while heavily accented it's still very much intelligible. - Undying Loyalty: To the CIA. When it was discovered that his older brother was the infamous Shintaro Kazama, high-ranking Tojo Clansman and hitman with hundreds of confirmed kills under his belt, Joji was forced to resign from the police from such a scandal since it was a more conservative time period in Japan. He was left in a dark place in life until the CIA reached out to him. He was offered a fresh new start in America where skill and competency mattered more than whatever your family members did. Now, he'll do whatever the CIA asks of him even if it involves gunning down his own countrymen in Japan regardless of whether or not they're even criminals as poor Toma nearly found out. Thankfully Kiryu was there to help him have a bit more principles... in his own way. - Villainous Rescue: He goes out his way to save Rikiya's life before he gets executed by Lau Ka Long's goons. For added measure, he also offs Lau Ka Long as well before he can recover. Voiced by: Charles Glover - "Looks like you're a little late." A mysterious individual who's only known motive is that he wants Kiryu dead. Is in fact the leader of a terrorist group known as Black Monday, and has conspired with Mine to bring about the events of the third game. - Arms Dealer: His goal is for the Okinawa land deal to go through, increasing Japan's military prowess and driving neighboring countries to buy arms from Black Monday. - Badass Longcoat: It definitely stands out since none of the men he leads dress like him. - Big Bad Duumvirate: He shares this position alongside his collaborator Mine. But because Mine only starts becoming an antagonist later in the game, and Richardson being the the man responsible for shooting Daigo and Nakahara, not to mention the leader of Black Monday, he can qualify as the game's true Big Bad. - Bilingual Dialogue: One of his scenes with Kiryu invokes this, with Kazuma speaking Japanese and him speaking English. The two don't break a sweat while conversing. - Actually subverted in that instance since Kiryu needs Mine to translate Andre in a later scene of the game. If you look closely at the previously mentioned scene, all that Kiryu understands is that Daigo's on the roof because of Andre pointing up while mentioning Daigo by name and then adjusting his gloves to show Kiryu that he won't let him get upstairs without a fight. Andre himself is responding directly to Kiryu's questioning though so at least he can understand Japanese. - Boss in Mook Clothing: Kinda. A lot of the time he's made to seem like a miniboss or The Dragon, but he's actually the more evil of the game's Big Bad Duumvirate and could be considered the story's main villain, even if he's not the final boss himself. - Bottomless Magazines: Played Straight for his dual pistols but Averted for his shotgun. He will in fact crouch down to reload it. - CIA Evil, FBI Good: Subverted. Leads the CIA's corrupt Black Monday division, but the rest of the CIA is trying to stop his evil plans. - Climax Boss: Arguably the game's real main antagonist but he's fought right before the Final Boss who's more conflicted over the matter. - Cold Ham: Always calm and composed but rather expressive and melodramatic once he starts talking. His tendency towards hand gestures probably helps with communicating to the rest of the Japanese-speaking cast who for the most part do not understand his English. Overlaps with Evil Is Hammy especially when he pulls off an Evil Laugh later. - Combat Tropes: - Extremity Extremist: His close-ranged fighting skills are heavily reliant on agile kicks though he will use his hands for a couple swings and grapple techniques. Moveset Clones of him in the Coliseums of other games are described as practicing Savate, a French form of kickboxing. - Guns Akimbo: His primary weapons are two automatic pistols. - Gun Fu: He's already agile enough to weaponize acrobatics when fighting barehanded. Add guns into the mix and you get this. - Gun Kata: Both variants. From afar, he may perform a "shooting combo", firing at Kiryu with various poses even performing a sweeping shot with his automatic pistols at one point. At close-range he may throw various kicks beforing taking a shot. The QTE halfway through the last fight against him is rife with close-range Gun Kata, with the way he tries to shoot at Kiryu at point-blank range only for Kiryu to redirect his hands with blocks and strikes to keep him from getting a clear shot at him. - Shotguns Are Just Better: Occasionally busts out a shotgun the third and last time you fight him. Aside from occasionally pausing to reload, it really doesn't slow him down at all. - The Conspiracy: It's said that he and his organization orchestrated the massive global stock market in 1987 for their own benefit. The organization of "Black Monday" is even named after the nickname given to said event. - Counter-Attack: He'll perform two-hit backfist and kick combo if you pressure his block too much. - Dark Is Evil: Wears all black with a dark red tie and is always fought at night in rather dark, poorly lit areas. - Degraded Boss: Weaker Elite Mook Moveset Clones of him may appear on the streets in random battles though they're uncommon. - Disney Villain Death: He falls off Toto Hospital, which is 30 stories high, or rather, gets suplexed off one. - Evil Is Bigger: Post-game bonus content gives his measurements as being 196 cm or 6'5", making him one of the tallest characters in the entire series. - Evil Laugh: Gives a couple rather hammy ones after the Final Boss. Disturbingly, he does so after getting shot through the chest and bleeding from the mouth at one point. - Expy: Looks reminiscent of Albert Wesker. - Flunky Boss: Fights Kiryu while aided by three other dark-suited foreigners the first time they meet. The next couple times he's fought, he takes Kiryu on solo though he's sandwiched between other encounters filled with several waves of goons. - Greater-Scope Villain: He's the one who shot Daigo and Nakahara, and the Okinawa land deals were all a ploy to flush him out of hiding. - Gun Fu: Switches between a shotgun and Guns Akimbo in the second fight against him in the hospital. A QTE sequence involves Kiryu trying to avoid getting shot while he pulls off some impressive gymnastics. - Guttural Growler: Speaks in a rather rough tone. - Leitmotif: "FM-Sound's Storm". - Lightning Bruiser: Incredibly agile and very aggressive in combat. The last time he's fought, he actually has as much health as the game's Final Boss though his lack of a Healing Factor means he shouldn't take as long to take down. - Made of Iron: A tough bastard with some of the largest health bars in the game. By the time of the finale he's a two phase boss with the first phase boasting 2 and a half health bars, and the next having 3. He later recovers in time to confront Kiryu and Mine after their Final Boss fight. Even after Daigo shoots him in the chest, sending him to the floor, he gets back up a minute later with a cheerful Evil Laugh despite blood trailing from his chest wound and out of his mouth. - Meaningful Name: His organization is named after the nickname "Black Monday" given to the massive global stock market crash in 1987 which they're even believed to be responsible for. - The Men in Black: When first fought, him and his men are even referred to as such by name. He's later revealed to not just be a CIA operative but also secretly the leader of a terrorist group that the CIA have been hunting down for ages. - The Mole: He's managed to infiltrate the friggin' CIA! - Neck Snap: When he's unarmed, he may try to perform a Charged Attack in which heat energy visibly gathers around him before unleashing a kick followed by gut punch. If the gut punch lands, he then grabs Kiryu by the neck with both arms and snaps it. Thankfully it won't kill Kiryu but it definitely hurts. - Perfect Play A.I.: Downplayed when he's fighting unarmed. At close-range he's not much different than any other boss being rather defensive with strong blocking skills and having a decently effective Counter-Attack should you pressure his block too much. From a distance however, he'll always try to rush Kiryu with a jumping axe kick. It's especially troublesome since it can come out surprisingly quick and will stun you, opening you up to damaging combos so it's generally better to stay close to him so he won't keep using this attack. However, it's possible to abuse his A.I. by purposefully making him use the jumping axe kick, using good timing to avoid it, and then attacking him from behind while he's still recovering from the ending lag. - Recurring Boss: You haven't seen the last of him after you beat him the first time. - Red and Black and Evil All Over: His red tie carries this off as a distinction. - Sequential Boss: He's fought before Yoshitaka Mine. - Silent Antagonist: Doesn't make a single sound in his earlier cutscenes even when he's about to start a fight with Kiryu. Averted mid-combat and later on when Kiryu confronts him during the conclusion of the game. - Sinister Shades / Sunglasses at Night: Wears a dark pair of sunglasses so you know he's up to no good. - Surprisingly Good English: He's voiced by an American VA, meaning he speaks perfect English. - This Cannot Be!: Utterly dumbfounded when Daigo who's spent the entire game after the prologue in a coma suddenly rolls out of his hospital bed, grabs Mine's gun, and unloads on all of Richardson's men.What the fuck!? - Token Minority: As of this writing, the only major character throughout the plots of any entry in the series to be a white, Caucasian male unless one considers his historical look-alike Thomas Glover in Ishin. - Villainous Breakdown: Resorts to first angrily declaring he is going to kill Kiryu, then screaming for Mine to stop grabbing him and pulling the both of them to their deaths from the rooftop of Toto Hospital.Andre Richardson: I won't let it end like this. I'll kill you all! (begins shooting at Mine) Die, damn you! Die! (is dragged to the edge of the roof) Stop! [...] Stop it! Are you nuts!? [...] Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! - Villainous Cheekbones: Has more visible, detailed cheekbones than most of the cast and is definitely not the sort of face ya want to meet in a dark alley... which is exactly what happens to Kiryu. - Villain Forgot to Level Grind: Seemingly Played Straight but ultimately Averted. The first time you fight him a third into the game, he has a respectable two and a half health bars while also being accompanied by three other CIA operatives with above average health for mooks. The next time you fight him, he's on his own now and still has the same fighting style and amount of health despite how much Kiryu has improved since then. However, after taking him down and four more CIA operatives in the next room, he suddenly returns with two pistols in hand and three healthbars, the largest of any boss in the main storyline, matching that of the Final Boss. Now he has a new fighting style that's skilled at both close-range and long-range combat while periodically switching to a shotgun and proving to be just as dangerous with it. - Western Terrorists: Heads a group of illegal arms dealers within the CIA called Black Monday. - Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: Actually has an opportunity to shoot Kiryu after losing against him the first time, but he ultimately retreats when he hears police sirens. He remarks later, that he should have gone through with killing Kiryu after seeing how much trouble he's caused for his plans. Funnily enough, his later attempts to avert this a la Guns Akimbo end much the same way as his first bout with Kiryu. - You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: After Mine is defeated, Richardson attempts to dispose of him, saying that there will be plenty of others who could replace him. Unfortunately, he ends up being dropped of a thirty-storey building in return. Politicians Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka The Defense Minister, Ryuzo appears in the third game as one of the two politicians vying for the Prime Minister job. His big plan for winning the position revolves around a new missile defense system for Japan, built in co-operation with the Americans. - Big Good: As Defense Minister his position in society is one of the most powerful and high-ranking in the entire series and his true goals turn out to be surprisingly virtuous as well as aligning with Kiryu's. After helping Kiryu understand what's really going on, he only asks in return that Kiryu save the life of his apprentice who is being targetted after learning the truth as well. It works out for Kiryu anyway since he also hopes to keep the assasin, Shintaro Kazama's brother Joji, from unnecessarily killing any more lives like his brother regrets doing. - The Chessmaster: He tells Kiryu the entire base expansion bill is nothing but a ruse to draw out Black Monday, an American terrorist organization. And it works. - Face of a Thug: Your first impression of him is a grumpy old bureaucrat with a wrinkled, tired face. He doesn't seem to care about how the base expansion bill will affect Okinawans and is much less personable and charismatic compared to the more smooth-faced Suzuki. Turns out he doesn't actually want anything to do with the land Kiryu lives on and it's just all part of a plot to expose and take down dangerous terrorist arms-dealers. He's also quite a bit more pleasant when Kiryu actually talks to him face-to-face even if he's still rather cynical. - Good All Along: "Good" might be stretching it a bit, considering most characters in the series, but early impressions of him make him seem like a villain, while his actual motivations are to protect the country. He turns out to be a surprisingly decent guy once he meets Kiryu face-to-face. - Hero with Bad Publicity: You won't find anyone else who's more dedicated than this guy when it comes to protecting Japan, but his stance on military and defense makes him extremely unpopular among the people. - Knight in Sour Armor: He's very cynical and is definitely not an idealist. Still, he does legitimately care about protecting the country. - Mr. Exposition: When he finally meets Kiryu face-to-face with Date tagging along, he gives a rather massive Infodump on his plans, revealing much of what's really happening in the plot behind the scenes. - One Degree of Separation: Back then he was a cop working in what would later be known as the Foreign Affairs Division. He used to work with Joji Kazama, the younger brother of Shintaro Kazama, the adoptive father of Kiryu. - Reasonable Authority Figure: He's actually a surprisingly nice guy, and gets along very well with Kiryu. - Token Good Teammate: From a series-wide example, he's one of the very few high-ranking political figures in the government to actually be a pretty decent person. Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu The defence minister's apprentice and assistant. He wishes the best for Okinawa, which is why he agrees with the base expansion bill. Upon learning it was a ruse, he defects to Suzuki (Tamiya's possible rival in the future election) to get the bill to pass. - The Atoner: Apparently takes a plane back to Tokyo to personally apologize to Toma but after turning himself in to the police, presumably for attempting to leak Tamiya's false plan to install a military base which also involves working together with high-ranking yakuza, Yoshitaka Mine. - Distressed Dude: He becomes the target of Joji Kazama late in the game, requiring Kiryu to save his hide. - Easily Forgiven: Tamiya forgives him the moment he learns of his betrayal, pleading for Kiryu to save him from being killed by Joji. - He Knows Too Much: Word-for-word stated by Tamiya to be the reason why he's being targetted by Joji Kazama. He just knows too much about Tamiya's plans and he's sided with Tamiya's political rival in getting the bill passed which goes against the agenda of not just Tamiya but the CIA who are colluding with him. - My God, What Have I Done?: After Kiryu tells him Tamiya asked him to save him from Joji in spite of Toma's betrayal of Tamiya as well as how proud Tamiya is of Toma as a politician, the regret drives him to tears. - Not So Stoic: Presents an incredibly stern and professional veneer when he first meets Kiryu but he's later shown to be bombastic and gloating over his ambitions to see Okinawa prosper. To be fair, he's at a hostess club filled with pole dancers, being fawned over by hostesses he's trying to impress, and he's probably more than a little sloshed. When Joji pulls a gun on him to off him for the CIA, he's appropriately scared shitless. Also as noted above, he gets very emotional once he realizes how much Tamiya cares about him. - Well-Intentioned Extremist: All he wants to do is to see his birthplace Okinawa flourish and to that end he'll do anything to ensure the base expansion bill passes. He's so driven that when he learns that it was created simply to lure out terrorists, he defects to Suzuki's side and even collaborates with high-ranking Yakuza Yoshitaka Mine to ensure it is successful. On a lighter note, even while drunk he seems to honestly believe he's saving Okinawa while gloating about it at a hostess club. Okinawa Residents He becomes an opponent in the Underground Coliseum once his training is completed. He continues to do so in 4 as a Cameo with no lines of dialogue. In 5, he's joined the Victory Road as a competitor for Shinada in Kiniecho. - Afro Asskicker: Hides an impressive afro underneath his straw hat. He claims that he wears the hat to contain his power and that he can only fight at full strength when exposing his afro. - Blood Knight: He leaves Okinawa for Kamurocho after hearing about the underground Coliseum in Purgatory. While his profile description 3 details how enamored he's become with it, his new profile in 4 implies that he's become obsessed with the Coliseum and can't stop himself from competing in more and more matches. By the time of 5, he's joined the Victory Road, travelling around around the country and cheerfully honing his combat skills against other competitors to prepare for his return to the Underground Coliseum. - Bunny-Ears Lawyer: He's rather silly with his insistence on how much stronger he is when exposing his afro, calling it "his final form" on top of his laid back wisecracking manner of speech. However his fighting ability is no joke and he proves to be an effective training master to Kiryu and a consistently fearsome opponent in Coliseum matches - Leitmotif: "Encounter the dragoon". - Moveset Clone: Fights unarmed for the first time as a Victory Road competitor for Shinada in 5, reusing the same attacks as Lau Ka Long in 3. He switches back to his usual nunchaku techniques after seemingly being defeated and of course removing his straw hat to show off his afro. - Multi-Melee Master: His preferred weapon is the Nunchaku but he's also highly skilled in fighting with kali sticks and the tonfa. Kamurocho Residents Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki The proprietress of New Serena, and the widow of a police officer killed in the line of duty who worked under Date's jurisdiction. Date felt responsible and looked over her following her husband's death, but became quite smitten with her. She's largely absent in the fourth game as she attends to her family, with Date taking her place, but she returns in the fifth. - The Bartender: Serves as one for New Serena, and lets Kiryu and his pals use it as a hideout. - Broken Bird: Her late husband was a cop who was killed right in front of her. She's afraid of growing attached to Date fearing he'd suffer the same fate as her late husband, but begins to reconsider after he saves her from the man who killed her husband. - Damsel in Distress: She was taken hostage when her husband Keisuke was killed. When her husband's killer comes for Date years later, he makes it a point to abduct her again. - Dub Name Change: In Japan and in the PlayStation 4 Remaster, she goes under the nickname "Mama" (a common nickname for a female bar owner), and is named Mariko in the original PlayStation 3 release. - Love Interest: Seems to be set up as one for Date, but she's yet to act on her own feelings for him. - Only Known by Their Nickname: In the Japanese version, she's known as the "Mama of New Serena", or "Mama" for short. A local male crossdresser introduced in Yakuza 3. He frequently chases Kazuma Kiryu around Kamurocho lovingly for just his beauty. - Abhorrent Admirer: Kiryu's, partially due to Incompatible Orientation partially because the guy just flat out doesn't get that Kiryu isn't into him. - Adapted Out: Michiru's substory has been removed from the PS4 remaster. His cameo in the remastered verison of Yakuza 4 (see below) was kept intact, however. - Black Comedy Rape: There's a reason Kiryu's reaction to seeing him is "run like hell." - The Cameo: Returns in Yakuza 4 where he takes a drink at Earth Angel in the Champion District. - Creepy Crossdresser: He's a crossdresser by lifestyle, and his mannerisms don't endear him to the player. - Depraved Homosexual: Tries to accost Kiryu for his good looks. - Fan Disservice: Downplayed. He wouldn't be as bad looking if he chose a dress that fits his muscular frame and didn't slather on the makeup. However, his dress is too small for him, and he does. - Identical Twins: He has three siblings, all of whom look like him. - Crossdresser In Red: Wears a bright red dress. - Stalker with a Crush: Kiryu's.

open/close all folders # - The first season finale of 9-1-1 had a terrible traffic accident in which a motorcyclist was torn in half. This is featured in the promo which implies that the paramedics will make a miracle rescue and somehow save his life. What actually happens is they admit there's nothing they can do but make the victim comfortable as he dies. A - Adventures in Wonderland: The TV promo for "Christmas in Wonderland" makes it look like the episode is all about the quirky Wonderland Christmas traditions, and how even though they're different from the familiar traditions, the spirit is the same. Actually, the quirky Wonderland traditions are only shown for comedy at the beginning of the special, which is mostly about the Queen being depressed because it never snows in Wonderland and the other characters trying to make it snow on Christmas Eve for her. It also implies that building a "sourdough bread house" is one of the weird Wonderland traditions. Actually, it's part of the White Rabbit's attempts to recreate the non-Wonderland traditions Alice has described: he wants to make a gingerbread house, but doesn't have time to make gingerbread, so he uses sourdough instead. - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: - Promos for the episode "The Well" promised that it would be a tie-in to Thor: The Dark World, and even showed footage of Thor, Asgard, and the Dark Elf ship that attacked London in the film. Not only did none of these characters or vehicles appear at any point in the episode, but the "tie-in" itself consisted of the agents cleaning up debris from the battle in London before immediately moving onto a completely unrelated plot about a Norse hate group. A LOT of people were pissed about this episode. - The TV spots for "The Bridge" made it seem like Melinda was being cold to Sixth Ranger Mike, telling him "You shouldn't be here." The clip was spliced together from two entirely different scenes, and at no point in the actual episode is Melinda ever rude or dickish to him. - ABC released the first 17 minutes of the Season 5 premiere "Orientation" online, in which the agents appear to have been mysteriously sent deep into outer space to an abandoned craft. Most the crew is dead, and the confused agents are being stalked by an alien monster. Once you watch the full episode though, it turns out the agents have been on Earth the entire time. Instead of being sent through space, they were sent hundred of years into the future, where Earth has been rendered uninhabitable and the surviving humans are slaves of the Kree. The monster was in a less-protected section of the station, and is one of the few animals able to survive on the surface of Earth now. The season is less an Alien ripoff and more about surviving in a dystopian future and figuring out how to get back to their own time. - Airwolf: One episode preview has Dom complaining about how low they're flying, followed by a cactus being splattered against the window. The cactus was removed from the actual episode. - Intentionally invoked with American Horror Story: Roanoke, which didn't confirm its subtitle until after the premiere. Of the 26 teaser trailers released before the first episode, only one of them was representative of the show's theme. - American Idol had one On the Next promo that showed Barney the Dinosaur auditioning for a brief couple seconds. Needless to say, when he didn't appear in the next episode, some were thoroughly disappointed. - America's Got Talent usually includes a teaser featuring a mediocre contestant crying during an elimination round, bookended with clips of the judges admonishing someone. 95% of the time, the contestant is actually crying Tears of Joy because they're so happy to have made it through. - Teasers for upcoming episodes also sometimes feature contestants who never appear or only pop up weeks later. - Andromeda: - A trailer for an early episode where Beka thinks she's found a way to Tarn Vedra plays up the Vedran aspect and makes it look like the plot is that the Vedrans are a sinister group tormenting the crew. In the episode they never actually reach Tarn Vedra and all of the problems they had came from Beka overdosing on a stimulant. - A mid-series episode has Dylan jump into a ship with its crew of one to get him out of a hairy situation. The bad guys come gunning for him and the captain says "do you have a plan B?" Dylan confidently replies "I always have a plan B. You were plan B." In the promo for the episode the question "do you have a plan B?" was followed by Dylan worriedly saying "You were plan B." Same line but different message. - Angel: - In the middle of the Jasmine arc, there was an On the Next promo that centered around Angel and Fred kissing, with the announcer going on about how the crisis will drive them together... in the actual episode, the kiss turns out to be a Fake-Out Make-Out and no romance comes of it. - Another trailer showed Darla, Angel chained against a wall, Angel jousting and the implication that this was all centered around her machinations. While those things actually do happen, the joust is for a minor character and by the time Angel ends up on that wall it's actually part of a test to save Darla who is dying of disease. - Season 5 of. - Arrested Development plays around with this in which the clips at the end of each episode were almost never actually featured in the next, but sometimes became important in their own right. - Sometimes those clips would appear on the next episode, but the viewer would never expect it because of so many falsities, they would never expect the truth. -. - Sadly, this trope may have led to the show's cancellation. The original TV-spots didn't quite present the show as they should have. - Trailers for the Arrow episode "Sara" made spliced two different shots from different scenes in the episode together to make it look like Laurel blames Oliver for her sister's death and threatens him with a gun. Not only does this never happen in the episode but despite the trailer's implications Laurel never once thinks Oliver is Sara's killer or involved somehow. B - The trailers for each new Babylon 5 episode - reproduced on the DVDs for your viewing dissonance - always tried to make it sound much more of an action 'n' explosions show than it actually was. Sometimes this almost worked, most times you'd wonder if it was the same show, and sometimes, you'd wonder if if was the same universe. - Battlestar Galactica (2003): - In an interesting case,). - Another episode's trailer has Tom Zarek state that Saul Tigh is dead and Bill Adama is facing execution. In the actual episode, both men were alive and well and Zarek was only lying to Roslin as part of a last-ditch gambit when his mutiny was falling apart. - Being Human had an On the Next trailer that showed (in order): A woman looking into her hand mirror and realizing that Mitchell has no reflection, A Torches and Pitchforks mob of neighbors woman's son accidentally borrowed a vampire porn/snuff film from him. The Masquerade remains unbroken, except for the boy and his mum finding out about Mitchell at the end before promptly leaving and telling the neighbors that they made a mistake. - NBC promoted Better Late Than Never (both the series itself and the individual episode) with a shot of the veteran entertainers visiting the border between South Korea and North Korea. Their guide, Jeff, tries to take a selfie and accidentally drops his smartphone on the North Korea side of the border and causes a minor international incident. This scene plays out as advertised, but afterwards Jeff reveals that he was never going to take four entertainment legends to the most contested border in the world and the whole thing took place on a movie set as a joke. - The Big Bang Theory: - The 2009 Christmas special featured a clip of Leonard's mother kissing Sheldon as if it were a huge plot point. In the actual episode, she was drunk and curious. It was more of a gag than anything. - Promos for the third season finale did this as well. They had the announcer ask what the guys would do for the finale with Sheldon saying "We're going to blow up the moon." In the actual episode, Penny's date asks if that's what they're going to do and Sheldon actually says "You'd be crazy to think we're going to blow up the moon." - The original trailer for "The Plimpton Stimulation" had the narrator saying "this is the episode you've been waiting for," then showed scenes of a hot woman in the guys' apartment and a scene of Sheldon giggling childishly, as if he was attracted to her. Needless to say, or it wouldn't be in this category, Sheldon had no romantic interest in her whatsoever (she was a fellow physicist he'd invited to stay with him) and the giggling was taken out of context. (Dr. Plimpton did have sex, but with Leonard, and later, Raj). - (But not Howard, or for that matter Leonard, Howard and Raj at the same time. Though not for lack of trying.) - For whatever reason the Australian promos all try and play the episodes for drama. Several treat Sheldon's "we can't be friends anymore" moments as shocking swerves that will change the show forever instead of a one-time gag about the roommate agreement that barely factors into the plot. One of the most infamous instances were the kiss aftermath adverts during the seventh season, claiming to be the television event of the year. - The promo for "the Flaming Spittoon Acquisition" had the narrator say something like "sorry Shamy fans" and showed a scene of Sheldon chastising Amy in the comic book store, then had him in Penny's apartment saying "how about you and me go on a date" implying he wanted to get together with her. While he does ask her out in the episode it was never serious and part of a plan to make Amy jealous; indeed, the episode ends with Sheldon & Amy solidifying their relationship in their own unique way. - During the story arc where Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard are working on a secret government project, promos for one episode showed them entering the lab and discovering the government stripped it clean of their research, then they went back to the apartment to find that stripped clean as well. While the empty lab is definitely the result of the government taking back the project, the empty apartment is actually because they went to the wrong one. - The WB's Birds of Prey (2002) kept employing this trope week after week to the point where it actually played a large part in causing the show's demise in the eyes of many critics, in retrospect. To elaborate, the show centered around the full-grown daughter of Batman and Catwoman fighting crime alongside Black Canary and the former Batgirl, 20 Minutes into the Future...or today (the show was kinda vague about it), with guidance from Alfred, while a manipulative Harley Quinn hid in plain sight, and plotted to avenge The Joker by getting back at the Bat-Family. Cool...except that the show kept promising "Next week...*cut to silhouetted images of Batman or a Batarang on a wall*" and promising that Batman would be returning to Gotham, with much hype and fanfare...and then every week it'd turn out that the trailer had just lied. The show employed this so much, and so shamelessly, that viewers en masse got sick and tired of being lied to every week, and the vast majority stopped watching by midseason. The ratings got so abysmal that the show was suddenly yanked off the air without warning (not that anyone was watching by that point), though The WB did air the already-filmed season finale as the Grand Finale a few months later. - Blindspot had an episode guest-starring Ronda Rousey as a tough woman involved with a serious crime. Promos claimed she would prove to be Jane's ultimate match. When she and Jane finally face each other in combat, the fight lasts less than a minute and that's because her partner accidentally shoots her in the leg. - Blue Bloods: The trailer for the season 3 premiere made a valiant effort to convince us that Tonight Danny and Jackie Get Blown Up. They didn't. - Bones: The Verizon FiOS info for one particular episode states that the cast is working undercover at a bar to help solve a case; additionally, ads hyped the fact that Booth and Bones would wind up in bed. Actually the episode was All Just a Dream because a comatose Booth was hearing Bones read the rough draft of her latest novel and his mind was inserting his friends as various characters, including himself and Bones as a Happily Married couple. The trailers were, in fact, just as deceptive for that episode. - Breaking Bad had an in-universe example in one episode. Jesse goes off on a rant about how frozen meals never look or taste as good as they do in the commercials or on the box, and asks "Whatever happened to truth in advertising?" - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: At the end of a season finale,!. - Australia's Network Ten does this to just about every show they have. Take for example their ads for Burn Notice which always end by asking if this is the episode where Michael's plan fails, followed by footage of an unrelated car exploding from later in that episode. C - Caprica: In the midseason finale, Amanda Graystone attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge. In a trailer for the next half-season, her husband Daniel was seen angrily throwing a holographic avatar of Amanda to the couch and shouting "I want you to be real!". The obvious interpretation was that Amanda had actually died and Daniel was trying to create a Replacement Goldfish (as had already been successfully done with his daughter Zoe and Joseph Adama's daughter Tamara), making this a case of Trailers Always Spoil. Except, when the half-season aired, it turned out that Amanda had survived but was estranged from Daniel, and the Amanda avatar was created to test the Replacement Goldfish program before mainstream use. - Castle: In the previews for the episode "Nikki Heat", we see Castle hold a diamond ring in a box and ask an unseen person "Will you marry me?". In the actual episode, Castle is just giving Ryan advice on how to propose to his (Ryan's) girlfriend. - Chicago Fire frequently gets promoted with footage of the firefighters responding to an emergency with the narrator asking if this is the call that ends the firefighter's life or career. Not only does the character normally survive, the incident rarely has any bearing on the episode's plot. One notable exception is when Jimmy Borelli gets too close to an exploding car, ending his firefighting career. - Code Black had an episode with the paramedics responding to a boating accident. One of the victims falls into the water surrounded by leaking fuel which then catches fire. The promo implies that the paramedics will pull off a daring rescue while braving the flames, but instead all they can do is watch helplessly as the victim burns to death. - Cold Case overlaps this with Tonight, Someone Dies: one episode had a plot where one of the detectives had gone missing and the others were looking for him. The trailer had a scene where they encounter a body, with one of them pulling away the sheet and reacting appropriately. Of course, it wasn't their friend, but a homeless guy who had jumped off a building, and had no importance to the plot whatsoever. - Control Z: In the second season trailer, there is a hooded figure that is supposedly the avenger, who attacks Javier and pays a visit to Gerry. We can also see Alex gagged and tied inside a classroom, making her a victim of the avenger. Ironically, the figure turns out to be Raúl, who isn't actually the perpetrator. His attack to Javier was to make sure that Sofía was fine and the reason behind visiting Gerry was to convince him to hide from the police. At least for the time being. In addition, Alex is the actual avenger as she had orchestrated her own kidnapping to avoid suspicion. During Rosita's birthday party, Raúl can be heard telling Sofía that there is something he wants to show her, with the scene transitioning to his house where Sofía replies "I'm surprised that you're still a hacker". However, in the episode where he actually says it, Raúl only took Sofía outside to see Javier and Natalia kissing, as she previously thought that she and Raúl were a couple, when it was actually an alibi Natalia used to hide the fact that he was hiding Gerry at his house. - CSI: NY: CBS had a promo for the episode "All In The Family" with Danny shielding a woman from another person with a gun, then the screen cutting to black and the sound of a gunshot. In reality, he managed to convince the person with the gun to not kill him or the woman he was protecting (Rikki Sandoval, mother of Reuben, the boy who was killed) and no one was shot. The gun sound was in fact a sound effect added in. D - A Brazilian cable TV trailer had a promo for Dawson's Creek which had Dawson saying the words I love you to Pacey, then leaning towards him. The voice-over even joked about Dawson borrowing some of Jack's genes (all the trailers in that network were really humorous and tongue-in-cheek) It turned out that episode had Dawson and Pacey reading one of Dawson's movie scripts, and he's not leaning towards Pacey, he's just reaching for the script. Though the reading the script scene was the first one in the episode, so for half a minute you thought Dawson was really professing his love for Pacey. - During the 2009 opilio crab season, Deadliest Catch had an On the Next promo that included the captain of the Cornelia Marie calling for a Coast Guard helicopter, leading the viewer to assume an emergency. The reality? The captain was calling to ask what the ice conditions were like while preparing to leave the harbor. - Anything involving Capt. Phil and emergencies is now Harsher in Hindsight now that he's dead, although that happened while he was in port. - The trailer for Season 2 of Defiance made it look like Nolan and Stahma were kissing. In truth, she just gave him a chaste peck for saving her life from a roller bomb. - Teen Nick mastered this trope for their Degrassi promos, especially for Season 10. - Fiona standing at the edge of the roof (is not a suicide attempt, she just finds it dramatic to think on the roof). Anya's pregnant (no she's not), Clare's getting a boob job (no she isn't). In the final episode of 2010, they showed Jenna looking like she was in labor at a party(she wasn't) Then they continue with this in the trailers for the 2011 premiere, as if everybody forgot what the actual situation was. The best being an ad playing on Ship Tease, with the two actors practicing on the copier for the show. That couple never happened in the series, ever. - Another implied that Declan and Clare would hook-up (it turned out to be All Just a Dream). - Design Star on HGTV does this. It is pretty much a guarantee that whoever looks like they are in trouble at the end of the episode is fine, and vice versa. For example, in a recent episode, the judges say, "This is not your best work" and it cuts to a dismayed-looking Karl. In the actual episode, the criticism is directed at Kellie, who ends up going home, and Karl's look is his stunned relief in having been declared "safe" for the next week. - Desperate Housewives: One preview ended by promising "a twist so shocking, we can only hint at it," followed by the first line from the chorus of Katy. - Detectorists: By the time series two came round, it was well-established that the show was a gentle, slow-paced character comedy. So the BBC trailer was Played for Laughs with fast cuts, clips very obviously taken out of context to make them look more dramatic, and topped off with In a World -style narration. - Dexter: A trailer for one one asked if this was the episode were Dexter would be found out, which only did not happen, but had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. - Doctor Who: - exterminated. - A trailer for the 2007 episode "The Family of Blood" showed John Smith getting married and having children. In the episode itself, this was just a Last Temptation to the life he could have if he didn't turn back into his usual self. - The ad for "The Doctor's Daughter" puts a great deal of emphasis on a blonde girl backflipping through a row of lasers. The scene was actually a three-second filler with no real importance to the plot (except to further showcase the amazing talents of the Doctor's offspring). - The Australian trailer kept repeating "Father and daughter REUNITED!", even though Jenny was actually a newborn clone who took her first breaths in the episode. (May also be a misunderstanding of the fact that the Doctor's original companion was his granddaughter.) - Let's not even get started on "Turn Left"... - The BBC One trailer for "The Waters of Mars" ends with the Blatant Lie of someone knocking four times just like The Prophecy said, in the actual episode however, it was Lampshade Hanging and the Doctor stopped the villain from knocking a fourth time. The trailer repeated the fist knock. - Suffice it to say, no one was really surprised when the ads for "The End of Time" featured Wilf ominously informing the Doctor, "The Master is going to kill you!"... and in the actual episode guess what? he didn't! - We can't even trust promo shots: almost all the photos of the Eleventh Doctor's companion Amy Pond showed her wearing a policewoman's uniform, leading many to believe that that would be her job; turns out she works as a kissogram, and the uniform was just a costume she switched into when the Doctor showed up in her house. - "Vincent and the Doctor": - The "Next Time" trailer for the episode ended with a coffin topped with sunflowers, implying it was Vincent's. In the actual episode, it's the coffin of a girl whose death by the Monster of the Week Vincent is blamed for, and who is never seen. It's also a reference to a lost van Gogh painting of the same subject matter. - One BBC trailer made the episode look like a Girl with a Pearl Earring-style romance with an artist being revitalized by a new muse. - The preview trailer for Series Six (played at the end of the 2010 Christmas Special) has two examples: a shot of three Nazis bursting into a room while one episode did take place in Nazi Germany, this scene never occurs, and a naked River Song winking at someone (presumably the Doctor). Again, no sign of that anywhere in the new series. - The trailers for "The Almost People" suggested that Ganger!Doctor was a villain, when in reality he was generally good and helpful throughout the entire episode, even pulling a Heroic Sacrifice at the end. - Season 7 trailers showed a clip from "Asylum of the Daleks" with Rory surrounded by a group of blown up Dalek shells, leading him to ask "Who killed all the Daleks?" Implying this was the end of the episode. It wasn't, it was only the halfway point. They were merely half-active and insane by Dalek standards. - The trailer for "The Day of the Doctor" has the War Doctor's line "Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame." In this context, it makes the War Doctor sound villainous. In the episode proper, we learn he's referring to himself as the lesser man, and the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors as the great ones. - The "Next Episode" clip for "Death in Heaven" (the Series 8 finale) has Clara say "I am not Clara Oswald. Clara Oswald never existed!" implying a rather dark twist. She's merely trying to stall for time against the Cybermen by claiming to be The Doctor. There very much is a Clara Oswald. For that matter, Trailers Always Lie was deliberately invoked for this and its predecessor "Dark Water", making Clara look worse than she was to hide the massive plot twists of Danny Pink's death and Missy's true identity until "Dark Water"'s transmission. - The trailer for Season 9 prominently featured the shot of Maisie Williams removing her Knightmare mask in "The Woman Who Lived", with the Doctor knowingly exclaiming "You!", and Maisie calmly responding "What took you so long, old man?" Since the trailer was shown before anyone knew anything about her character, that scene understandably gave fans the impression that she would be playing a character from the Doctor's past, fueling speculation that Romana or Susan Foreman would be returning to the show. The trailer left out the fact that "The Woman Who Lived" is not the character's introduction. The Doctor acts like he knows her because he first meets her in "The Girl Who Died", the episode before "The Woman Who Lived"; for those who are curious, she is a Viking girl whom he saves from the grave in a way that makes her functionally immortal, and who from there must take The Slow Path. - The "Next Time" for "Hell Bent" showed what looked for all the world like someone being forced to regenerate. While a regeneration does take place in the episode, it happened because the Time Lord in question was shot — no one was force-regenerated. In addition, most promotional materials focused on the first 20 minutes of the episode and the Doctor's return to Gallifrey for the first time post-Time War to hide the twist that he wants to save Clara Oswald's life after she already died, which drives the remainder of the story and was not what many fans expected from the story's setup. - The Series 10 trailer that aired after "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" included an exchange from late in "Oxygen" where the Doctor, after being asked who he is, responds with a Badass Boast that he's the "man who will save all your lives, and you'll spend the rest of them wondering who I was." When the episode actually aired, it became clear that the shot had been edited to make the Doctor's eyes look normal, as partway through he gets blinded after having to go on a spacewalk without a helmet, leaving him with Prophet Eyes for most of the rest of the episode. - The trailers for "The Pyramid at the End of the World" made it look like the imminent threat of World War III was how the Monks were going to get permission to take over the Earth. It's actually misdirection the real threat that may bring about the end of the world is the accidental creation and release of deadly bacteria from a lab. - The trailers for the next episode, "The Lie of the Land", focus on Bill and Nardole having to storm the castle to find the Brainwashed and Crazy Doctor, and Bill having to shoot him in the chest, which causes him to partially regenerate all of which happens in the first half of the episode. The real climax is something different. As with "Hell Bent", They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot hit this one hard when fans realized they weren't getting what was promised! - One much-circulated still for "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" shows the Doctor staring out at something in front of Yaz, Ryan, Graham and Grace. Trouble is, the Doctor's in her new costume, which in the episode she only chooses after Grace's funeral. - Don't Forget the Lyrics: - FOX's promo monkeys tried to make a contestant's brief moment of discomfort much more dramatic than it actually was. (Source) - And also promoting the same show , they managed to combine this with Trailers Always Spoil: The promos said that a contestant would win more money than anyone else, and said contestant only actually tied for the biggest win. E - EastEnders during the early 00s. - There was an episode of Elementary about an explosion in an office caused by a bomb that was planted four years earlier. An Australian promo made it sound as if Barack Obama was involved and hinted that it may have been an attempt to assassinate him before he became President, when in fact he only played an incidental part in Sherlock Holmes' deduction of the bomb's age. - Promotions for the Emerald City episode "Beautiful Wickedness" implied that Lucas would be horribly tortured by Eamonn or West. Eamonn considers it for about two seconds and decides against it. West warns that her magic will be "painful" but abandons the use of that spell when she sees she's fighting Glinda's magic. - ER: There is a preview for one episode where a main character seems to suffer a very serious heart attack, with ominous music and worried onlookers. In the actual episode it turns out to simply be gas. - Eureka: Sci-Fi Channel actually used expectations about never trusting a trailer to its advantage for the fourth episode of season three,. - Everybody Hates Chris did this all the time in the later seasons. They weren't even subtle. No editing, just stuff that didn't happen. One episode trailer had Drew in a school talent show, getting booed off the stage and people throwing things at him. Never happened, not even if a dream before hand about how things might go. He just showed up and rocked. F - Firefly: As part their infamous treatment of the show, Creator/FOX heavily promoted the show as an action comedy . While there's some of this, it's still a mostly serious Space Western. - Frasier: The trailer for the season 5 episode "First Date" seemed to show Niles finally confessing his love for Daphne, shocking her to the core. The trailer has him saying to her "I wanted to tell you." Turns out his "confession" was about another woman whom he wasn't even dating (when Niles predictably chickened out telling Daphne the actual truth). G - Game of Thrones: - Trailers and promotional material for season four heavily featured King Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey died in the second episode (out of ten). Several scenes in the trailer referring to "the king", or Cersei Lannister referring to her son, were revealed to be actually about Joffrey's younger brother and successor, Tommen. - The trailers for the fifth season and the episode "Hardhome" were edited to imply there would be another major battle between the Night's Watch and the Wildlings to conceal the presence of the White Walkers. - Glee did this a lot by leaking the titles of songs that would be performed in the upcoming episodes...reading too much into the lyrics and what they may or may not indicate about your favorite couple is not advised. - Gilmore Girls: - A season four episode featuring Rory and Paris on Spring Break had a promo from The WB which almost asserted that they would become a couple during a Sweeps Week Lesbian Kiss scene and managed to get a New York Post writer to write a hilarious and badly-researched article dissecting said promo and getting most of the sexualities of the characters all wrong. In reality the kiss was Played for Laughs (Paris just wanted to experience Spring Break at its most heightened absurdity, and Rory stumbled around confused after it happened). - The most egregious example for this show has to be the promo for season three's "The Big One" — in the episode, Paris reveals to Rory that she lost her virginity to her boyfriend Jamie and questions Rory about her own first time. Rory reveals that she hasn't slept with her current boyfriend, nor her previous one, stating that "it's just not the time." The promo, however, shamelessly edited it to "It was just...time," heavily implying that she sleeps with her ne'er-do-well boyfriend Jess in the episode. - A trailer for one episode of the New Zealand series Go Girls has a main character being told by her boyfriend that she's fat, ugly, and that he's gay. In actuality, this was a daydream of what she was expecting him to say— what he actually does is ask her to marry him. - Gotham: A Season 1 episode trailer made it look like Bruce finding the future Batcave would be a major plot point. In reality, that scene probably lasted less than a minute, and was at the very end of the episode. - Grey's Anatomy: In the trailer for the fifth season opener, Nurse Rose told Dr. McDreamy that "I'm carrying your child." In the actual episode, she immediately follows those words with an admission that she was only kidding. - And in the trailer for the seventh season finale, Meredith walks in on a cleaned-out bedroom after having a fight with Derek, during which he said he couldn't live with someone who'd screwed up his Alzheimer's trial. In the actual episode, the room isn't even Derek's, and Meredith actually asked that character to move out earlier in the episode. - The trailer for a late-tenth season episode showed Burke was returning, making it look like he was still in love with Cristina and wanted her to run away with him. In the actual episode he's actually offering her to take over his job as he's retiring. H - Hell's Kitchen: - A trailer for one episode of. - Any time you see an ambulance or fire engine in the "Next on". Expect it to be either A. a complete over-dramatization of something minor (with no ambulance or fire engine in the actual episode) or B. part of a challenge. - One episode made a big deal out of the Red Team freaking out over some blood, making it look like somebody got badly injured. In the actual episode, the blood came from a cow carcass they were carrying. - Late in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' run the trailers practically guaranteed that a particular episode was the finale of the series. Turns out Hercules did retire...for about five seconds. - Home Improvement during its last few seasons was notoriously misleading with its advertisements. - In the season 6 premiere, Jill catches her her oldest son, Brad, in a compromising position with his girlfriend Angela. The advert for the episode shows the pair getting caught in the act and Jill asking, "What if Angela gets pregnant?", followed by a glimpse of Brad's serious expression and a shocked look from his mother (heavily implying that a Teen Pregnancy plot is about to unfold). The reality? Brad and Angela never actually have sex in the first place, Jill's statement about pregnancy is actually spoken to her husband (to convince him to have "the talk" with Brad), and her "shocked reaction" is in response to Brad yelling at her and storming out of the room. - In another episode from a later season, Jill hires a professional (played by Tom Wopat) to install granite countertops, only to find that he's the same man who once flirted with her at the gym and tried to ask her out. Nothing happens between them, and Jill actually fires the guy because his behavior makes her so uncomfortable. The advertisement, on the other hand, shows the two of them kissing passionately (which actually happened during a Dream Sequence in a previous episode), Jill tearfully confessing "He kissed me!" (which he did — without her consent, right before she fired him), and Tim opening the front door and coming face to face with the flirtatious handyman (who actually just came back to get his tools). - House does this far too often. House: This test isn't exactly FDA-approved.Wilson: You committed a crime! Do something! - For example, the trailer for an episode during the Tritter arc had the following exchange:! - The reality, however, was more like this (somewhat paraphrased): - Also, the trailer for the season 5 ep. Lucky Thirteen made Thirteen's sex scene look way hotter than it was - Can't forget the various romances that also were teased to come to a culmination including House making out with Cameron in Season 3. She turned out to only be trying to distract him long enough to stab him with a needle to get a blood test - Another part of the trailer for this episode shows House saying he has brain cancer when later in the episode he reveals it was a con to get drugs implanted in his brain - The end of Season Five did this the most because all the revelatory stuff it showed such as House sexing up Cuddy was solved very quickly because it was all a narcotic induced hallucination - This trope has been so overdone for House, anytime you see House getting "some" in a trailer it would be safe to assume shenanigans. - The episode with the suicidal author. Turns out, he was just trying to prove that she was still suicidal to extend her psychiatric watch.Author: You really think I believe you're going to help me commit suicide? House: I'm giving you a choice. - The ad for the sixth season showed Cuddy with House's voice saying that she had said yes, but he heard no which could be seen as that House had proposed to Cuddy and she had said yes. Turns out that he was talking to Wilson about how Cuddy had given him permission for an insane treatment on his patient and House was having second thoughts about it. - How I Met Your Mother: - The original, pre-pilot trailers put a lot of emphasis on Robin, talking about how she changes everything in Ted's life, so on and so forth, making it blatantly obvious that she's the "mother" of the title. She's not.Future Ted: And that kids, is how I met...your aunt Robin. Son: What!? I thought this was about how you met Mom! Future Ted: I told you, it's a long story! - Newer trailers in Germany feature only various scenes of Barney, letting it appear as if he were the main character. - Both American Season 7 recaps (one's for the Season 7 finale, the other's for the Season 8 premiere) are completely untrustworthy. What makes this really egregious is that these aren't trailers, but recaps. They're supposed to help you get caught up on the series, and they fail at doing this. They both show Robin telling Barney she might be pregnant, and if so, he's the father, but leave out the part that Robin's not pregnant, and is in fact infertile. Both recaps also leave out important cliffhangers that viewers are already supposed to be up to speed on. The Season 7 finale recap leaves out the cliffhanger befroe the finale that Lily's going into labor in NYC while Marshall is stuck in Atlantic City, stone drunk. The Season 8 premiere recap leaves out the finale's cliffhanger of Ted running off with his old flame, Victoria, on the same day she's getting married to somebody else. - Henry Danger: In the promo of "Thumb War", Captain Man and Kid Danger get trapped in a rocket that sends them to space, but in the episode, The Thumb buddies were the ones who got sent to space. I - iCarly: - For the episode ''iStart A Fan War'' . After months of fandom speculation that this episode would be a ship-centric episode that would involve shipping development, the first trailer appeared to confirm that not only would it involve the ships (using both popular ships by their Portmanteau Couple Name), but that it would actually end the Ship-to-Ship Combat in regards to which became canon. This was not what happened, as the show ended with an Author Filibuster about how shipping was not what the Word Of God wanted to focus on. Obviously, neither ship was even vaguely developed positively. The Word Of God released a blog post later that made it appear to be a miscalculation by the marketing department of Nickelodeon, who either didn't realize that the episode didn't actually do anything they claimed, or something, and release the trailer like that to hype up the episode. - It happened again in the episode iGet Banned. In the trailer, it shows Carly spitting out a smoothie followed by T-Bo telling her she's banned from the Groovy Smoothie. This makes it look like Carly got banned for bad-mouthing his smoothies on the show. However, the scenes were played backwards, T-Bo banned Carly because she yelled at him, and she was spitting out a smoothie she tried to make herself after getting banned. - The trailer for "iSpace Out" promoted a special about the cast going to space, complete with graphics of Carly as an astronaut. The actual episode isn't a special, and most of it has the cast undergoing tests on Earth to see if they can do a web show in space. They can't, because Carly gets "space madness" while sleeping in a simulated space station and disqualifies them from the running, meaning the trailer's promise was a lie. - The show would often advertise regular episodes like iSpace Out and iOMG as specials. - The commercial for the series finale of In Plain Sight ended with Marshall telling Mary he loved her, playing it up like they would end up officially a couple. They didn't: Marshall did tell Mary he loved her, but in a way that's more akin for one's sibling or best friend than a love interest. J - During the hype blitz in the lead-up to the 2010 Juno Awards (the Canadian Spear Counterpart to the Grammys) the trailers stated that Nickelback and Hedley would be giving performances. Neither of them did. Nickelback didn't even show up (though that may have been caused by the fog...), but Hedley did, even presenting an award and taking part in the finale song. However with almost all live awards shows, the Stock Phrase "scheduled to appear" nearly always appears in promos; this covers the network in case a fan who staked their entire being on a performer being on an awards show can't sue them or the promoters. - Each episode of Judge Judy opens with a precap. What's the problem with it? More often than not, there are more than one cases per episode, but the precap is entirely fixated on the first one featured. It doesn't matter if it ends before the first commercial break, or is not the most interesting case, the precap always presents the first case as if it's the only one in the episode. K - Kamen Rider: - The trailer for Kamen Rider Faiz made us believe that there world be a lead female Rider for the first time. Though the Transformation Trinkets in this series do get passed around rather freely, and occasionally end up in the hands of women, there are no recurring female Riders; in fact, the female lead trying and failing to transform is actually something of a Running Gag. - Kamen Rider Decade: At the end of the last episode came a fifteen-second trailer for the Grand Finale Movie. The trailer shows an Evil Twin of the main character, the sidekick (who closed out the series Brainwashed and Crazy) seemingly killing The Rival by punching THROUGH his gut, the female lead trying to kill the hero with a sniper rifle, and more. In the actual film, none of this happened as depicted, though two concepts (the female lead opposing the hero and a tagalong character becoming a Rider) were merged together. Reportedly, the movie was going to be like that, but they were forced to basically abandon the entire plot and start over from scratch. The trailer scenes finally showed up in the Director's Cut...as part of a dream sequence the female lead has at the start of the movie. - Kamen Rider Build: In Episode 4, the main character finds evidence that the kindly café owner who's been helping him out is actually part of Faust, the Nebulous Evil Organisation that experimented on him and erased his memories. The preview for Episode 5 includes an audio clip of the owner seemingly admitting "I'm a member of Faust". In the actual episode, however, the owner denies the accusation, and his statement is a disbelieving "Me? A member of Faust?" before he busts up laughing. However, he admits that he pretended to aid Faust in the past so he could double-cross them, stealing one of the two panels that came off of Pandora's Box and rescuing his daughter from them. It's double subverted a few episodes later when we find out that the owner actually is part of Faust and lied about being a good guy. Though as the series progresses we learn that the truth is...a good deal more complex than a standard FaceHeel Turn. - Trailers for the NBC show Kings ignored the heavy religious overtones and the fact that the story was based loosely on that of King David. NBC apparently was afraid that religious audiences would find fault with their retelling, and that secular viewers wouldn't want to watch a show with its basis in the Bible. L - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: - One trailer. - Yet another notorious example was a trailer for an episode where Stabler went undercover and got shot by smugglers he was investigating. The trailer made it look as if Stabler was at death's door, with a shot of Benson pleading for him to survive. Not only did Stabler survive the shot in the actual episode, but he was out of the hospital and even helped nab the bad guys one commercial break later. - In one trailer the main focus was on the fact that Olivia was going to take a pregnancy test. That, along with the writers on twitter teasing the fan base, lead to the intense fan speculation that she was pregnant. Of course in the end the pregnancy test was negative and took up about 20 seconds of screen time. However; a shot in the promo showed Olivia holding a baby and smiling which fans for the most part ignored. That baby turned out to be her future adopted son and fans realized they had seen the beginning of the biggest personal arc in the characters history in a trailer that they had ignored at the time. - The trailer for a Season 17 episode made it seem like the episode was going to be about Benson's son Noah going missing. In the actual episode, he briefly wanders off on a playground and is found before the end of the teaser; the bulk of the episode centers around a case involving a missing, and later murdered, teenager that wasn't even hinted at in the trailer.note - Another trailer showed a shadow of someone pointing a gun at Olivia as she was sleeping. It turned out to be her ward Calvin Arliss playing with a water pistol. - One trailer had Cragen tell Olivia that she was "Dismissed", making many people think that she was going to get fired. Instead, while Cragen was pretty pissed at her, he was basically saying "Get out of my sight" - The Australian network who show this (Network Ten) basically make all their SVU trailers into one of these two versions: - Elliot does something to a perp that he shouldn't out of anger and it could cost him his career. - Benson gets too emotionally involved in a case, does something she shouldn't, jeopardises the case and it could cost her badge. - One of the USA Networks standard promo for the show has what appears to be Elliot casually asking Fin what his favorite form of torture is while the two are relaxing and playing cards. However this scene never appeared on the show. The clip of the card game is from the episode Class while the torture question was from Uncle and asked to a suspect Elliot was trying to get to confess. - Legends of Tomorrow - The first tease trailer seems to be just a "proof of concept" thing due to several things not making into the show proper: - Oliver gets a whole new costume while Barry has his logo modified. The trailer shows them wearing their previous outfits. - It shows Oliver and Barry assembling the team, while the series opens with Rip Hunter as the moving force. Oliver appears for two scenes in the pilot, while Barry doesn't appear at all. - Notably nearly everything about Sara Lance/White Canary made it into when that happened. - A later trailer for the show also featured Rip assembling the team, but it's an entirely different scene than the one used on the show and we never see how he got them in the same place to begin with. - The promo for "Guest Starring John Noble" made it seem like the "Grodd attacking Obama" angle would last a majority of the episode, when in reality it is resolved almost as quickly as it was introduced, with Obama appearing in two more scenes following. - The trailer for Life on Mars (2008) is shot like a Starsky & Hutch parody. Seriously, watch it. This seems entirely in keeping with the UK version. - Lost: - A preview for the. - Season six has done this. The trailers for the first five or six episodes mixed footage from all of them together, in a attempt to make a fairly slow moving and talky arc seem more exciting. Jack destroying the mirrors in the lighthouse was in pretty much every trailer despite not happening until episode five. The ad for "The Last Recruit" showed Sayid aiming a gun at Desmond and firing; in the episode, he doesn't fire it and Desmond's fate is left ambigious. - Trailers for "Dr. Linus" made it look like Ben was going to die in it. Ben not only survives, but makes it to the final episode alive. - The UK advertisement for the final episode of Lost Girl actually showed a clip from "Death Doesn't Become Him", an episode from Series 2 (of 5).. and in that clip, the main character is possessed. - Lucifer: The Season Six trailer implied that the main plot would be about a mysterious new angel who's set herself up as the new ruler of Hell and is attempting to kill Lucifer for unknown reasons. She turns out to be Lucifer and Chloe's Kid from the Future who doesn't actually want to kill Lucifer, she's just angry with him for disappearing before she was born. The real plot is Lucifer trying to bond with her and avoid becoming an absentee father (the thing that he hates more than anything else). M - Mad Men: - The main character Don Draper changed identities with a dead guy during the Korean War and has been hiding it ever since. A promo for the season two episode "A Night to Remember" had Joan Holloway announcing, "Someone people think is dead is not dead," in a context intended to make it look like she was going to find out his secret and out him (or threaten to, or something). In fact, she'd spent the episode reading TV scripts for work and was talking about an upcoming storyline on a soap opera. - Series creator Matthew Weiner is notoriously closemouthed about upcoming episodes, and accordingly, the previews these days have become so impenetrably cryptic they have to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek, featuring very short, disconnected and completely unrevealing clips like people hanging up phones, putting on their coats and uttering only the most generic lines: "Get the door." "Where are you calling from?" "I'm sure you'll figure something out." The Internet has produced many parodies. - Madam Secretary: The trailer for "The French Revolution" makes it look like the scene is very emotional when the FBI ask Liz and Henry, "You want us to just let him go?", implying that their stalker is someone close to them. In reality, this is a matter-of-fact scene where they are discussing letting a patsy of their actual stalker go so that they can use him. And their actual stalker turns out not to have any connection to them, either. - The Man in the High Castle's Season 3 Trailer made it look like the films were being used to reform Nazi America by combining the dystopian parts with the best parts from worlds similar to ours. Nope; that Nazi Peace flag was just the Lebensborn gearing up for mass-assassination. And the Nazis aren't sending scouts into other worlds, they're failing to use test subjects in the prototype. Horribly. And most of the resistance doesn't even want to think about these worlds that are far better off, let alone believe they exist. - The commercials for the American MasterChef only featured Gordon Ramsey as the judge. They completely failed to mention that there's two other judges involved in this. - The first episode of Medical Investigation had the team investigating a series of patients whose skin has turned blue. The promo shows Dr. Connor asking "What do these people have in common?" with Miles replying "They're blue." When Dr. Connor asks this question in the scene, no one has an immediate answer. Meanwhile, Miles is called away to examine a baby who's come down with an ailment himself. Coincidentally, the whites of his eyes have also turned blue which is what Miles was referring to in his line. - Medium: - The Season 5 finale was billed as the main character's "last vision". Which it was...on NBC. The show took a Channel Hop to CBS that fall. - Promos for the first season finale showed Joe becoming panicked when he loses one of his daughters in a store. This turns out to be a dream...of Joe's oddly enough. - Summaries of the series finale claimed that Allison and Joe would become increasingly pulled apart by the responsibilities of their new jobs. In reality, they're separated when Joe dies in a plane crash. - Trailers for the NBC Merlin miniseries. - BBC's Merlin show wasn't much better. - One trailer. - Monk did this for a trailer for the seventh season finale. Narrator: "You'll never believe what he finds [at the site of his wife's murder]..." What did he find? Nothing. In fact, the episode was about him admitting that there wasn't anything to find. Though to be fair, no one believed it. - My Name Is Earl: Most trailers will always show footage from the flashback scenes, giving you the impression the show is just about an idiot doing stupid things. This isn't really deceptive, the show got a lot of mileage out of pretending it didn't approve of Earl being a colossal jackass for Rule of Funny because he could fix it in the non-flashback part of the episode. N - One Nash Bridges episode was promoted with a shot of Nash's 'Cuda exploding followed with a shot of him saying "Now you have my attention." tensely. In actually, the car that gets blown up is a kit car replica bought by recurring villain Tamera Van Zandt and Nash's response is a series of "Dammit"s. (Although fans of the series know his response to his car getting destroyed would be closer to the latter than the former.) - The trailers for the 1990's Swedish miniseries Nattens barn made it seem like a vampire/supernatural story (by incorporating footage from the protagonist's fantasy sequences and dreams), while it was in fact a perfectly realistic series about a Pseudo-Romantic Friendship between two Goths. - NCIS: - This preview for the season six finale made it look like Ziva was going to kill Tony on her father's orders. Pretty shifty of CBS, but at least the episode itself was good. - "Under Covers", which has a giveaway title as it is, was played out as being an actual hookup between Tony and Ziva. It's really too bad that the big reveal was five minutes in, and that it was a repeat. O - NBC at one point promoted an episode of The Office (US) as a Halloween Episode, with scenes of Dunder Mifflin in the spirit of the season. Turns out that any Halloween-related material was relegated to the Cold Open in the first few minutes of the show; it was a regular episode all along. - Once Upon a Time: - The promo for Last Rites made it look like Zelena was about to dump several episodes worth of character development and become a villain again. She does This is actually the episode that cements her having a HeelFace Turn. - The Season 5 finale trailer wold have you believe the episode is all about Regina coming to terms with Robin's death and potentially becoming evil again. This sub plot has about five minutes screen time in the two part finale. - The trailer for "Awake" implies the episode is about the Charmings going back in time to raise Emma themselves so she never becomes the Saviour. There is a plot about Snow and Charming trying to get to a child Emma to raise her but it is a standard flashback. - One Tree Hill had a promo that outright stated that Peyton was going to once again have feelings for Nathan. Cue the episode where Nathan and Peyton become partners on a project and spend the rest of the episode having fun with no mention of romance at all. - OZ: The fourth season. P - The Person of Interest episode "The Crossing" had a promo that was not necessarily untruthful, just misleading. The promos fully divulged the fact that one of their police contacts would be killed. The promo wasn't wrong, it just implied that the victim would be Fusco when instead it was Carter. - Power Rangers: - In the lead-up to the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers 3-parter "The Wedding," in which Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa get married, Fox did a promo of the "Someone's getting married...who could it be?" variety, and seemed to suggest that it might be one of the Rangers, perhaps Billy, or even Tommy and Kimberly! Never mind the fact that they're all supposed to be teenagers... - In May 1995, the actors who play the Rangers out of character did a few rather ambiguous promos for a Fox Kids special entitled Talkin' It Out. From the way the promos were put together, they seemed to suggest that the special was about the cast pushing the difference between reality and TV-programming fantasy for a good 30 minutesnote . When it aired, however, it turned out that the Rangers were barely even in it, only appearing during a short introduction to briefly discuss what we were about to see, and suggest to younger viewers that they watch with their parents. The remaining 29 minutes involved John Walsh interviewing children about the then-recent Oklahoma City bombing and how it affected them. - The trailer for Power Rangers Time Force that was featured in the VHS tape for Digimon: The Movie seemed to be made for a very different show entirely. - Most of the footage shown is from Mirai Sentai Timeranger, the Sentai series Time Force was based on, with no mention or scene of Ransik who was the actual Big Bad of Time Force. - The trailer states that "five special Rangers" are sent back in time to capture an escaped criminal mastermind. In the show, the original Red Ranger Alex is supposedly killed in action and the other four Rangers - who were fired for failing to stop Ransik's escape in the first place - steal the morphers and hijack a ship to travel to the past after Ransik. In doing so, they meet and recruit a new Red Ranger who is Alex's ancestor. - The trailer's claim that the Rangers' time machine had never been tested would be contradicted by the three episode arc revolving around the Quantum Ranger which revealed that Time Force (the organization) had been experimenting with time travel long before. - Speaking of the Quantum Ranger, the trailer suggests his identity will be an ongoing mystery in the show. It wasn't. The Quantum Ranger debuts an episode before he gets his powers and his identity is only a mystery for about five seconds to four of the Time Force Rangers who didn't see him morph for the first time. - The trailer implies the Rangers will be hopping from one era to another in pursuit of bad guys. The actual show had about seven episodes out of forty were time travel occurred. - This trailer for the Power Rangers Samurai: Clash of the Red Rangers DVD refers to the Red RPM Ranger as a new Ranger. In fact, he's So Last Season. Though with RPM being Screwed by the Network and a Channel Hop between the seasons, he likely was new to most of the viewers. - Pretty Little Liars: ABC Family's trailer of the season finale switched out which characters were in a car accident. - The Psych episode "Lights, Camera, Homocito" had Shawn going undercover on a telenovela. Promos implied that Shawn was in over his head in the acting department or not understanding Spanish by having his co-star rattle off a line in Spanish and Shawn replying "Que?" In actuality, Shawn does pretty well as an actor and understands Spanish perfectly. The "Que" was in the telenovela's script. - The SDCC 2017 ad for The Defenders (2017) and The Punisher (2017) had a scene of Frank Castle with his signature skull saying "looks like I got here just in time." But the footage from Frank's attack on Billy Russo's men at David's lair from episode 11, and the line itself actually appears much earlier, and in a much funnier context, as a quip Frank makes upon interrupting Colonel Bennett in the midst of BDSM. R - During the middle of Red Dwarf's run they had an intro sequence that made it look more like some kind of high-adventure show than an irreverent comedy with a sci-fi backdrop. - Revolution: -. S - The trailers of the Columbia Tristar Home Video reprints of the obscure direct-to-video series Secret Adventures has hidden the fact that it is a Christian series. - The trailers for Secret Girlfriend implied that the show would primarily be about two pervy slacker guys trying to get women to perform activities of a sexual or suggestive nature, completely ignoring the fact that the viewer is experiencing the actual protagonist's experiences (kind of like Being John Malkovich) and is about the nameless protagonist's attempts to deal with a psycho near-ex-girlfriend who won't stay broken up, a cute girl he likes but wants to protect from the first woman, and the zany antics of his two best friends (the aforementioned slackers). - Previews for The Secret Life of the American Teenager are usually either uninformative or edit the footage together in a very misleading way. For example, there were numerous previews hinting that Amy and Ricky had feelings for each other or that they were going to get together long before they finally became a couple in season three. - Sherlock had the infamous official Korean trailers that make it appear Sherlock and John's relationship is the focus of the series. Any of them. - Promos for the 1975 ABC game show Showoffs, which had clips taken from the pilot episode taped in May 1975, had to be severely edited because its intended host Larry Blyden, a popular game show panelist of the early 1970s and who had just finished a stint as moderator of What's My Line? was killed in a car accident while vacationing in Morocco. The intended promos featured Blyden on-camera congratulating a winning contestant. Bobby Van a stage veteran and popular Goodson-Todman game show panelist was quickly hired as host, and the hastily edited promos included his name. - NBC's promos for the mini-series The '60s made it seem like Jeremy Sisto gets Julia Stiles pregnant when in actuality their two characters don't even know each other. Sisto actually plays one of Jordana Brewster's love interests. - Sleepy Hollow: Fox's trailers prior to the premiere strongly suggested that this would be a dark, brooding, action-packed supernatural horror series, through the use of dark camera shots and pounding background music. Now that the pilot has aired, it's clear that the "action-packed supernatural horror" part is entirely correct—but the trailers entirely failed to show that it's also funny. The Fish out of Temporal Water plotline is frequently played for laughs, there are plenty of witty one-liners in the dialogue, and the general tone of the show is more Grimm than it is grim. - just cut to black, leading many people to call their cable company and complain. - So You Think You Can Dance: - One episode was promoted by FOX with a clip of Nigel Lythgoe shouting "Get off the stage!", suggesting that he was so angry at a contestant's performance he wanted them to leave. As shown in the actual episode, however, he was shouting out of enjoyment, and telling them to get off the stage because they'd made it to the next round. - One of the later episodes of the Australian version's first season was promoted with the audience booing and leaving the set, with the voiceover saying that someone would perform so badly that the audience would walk out. What actually happened was that the judges asked the audience to leave for a short amount of time (I can't remember why, I think it had something to do with the voting). -. - Stargate SG-1: - A preview for one episode. - In one episode, it was hyped up that a team member would end up dying and a clip of O'Neill falling to the ground wounded in battle was shown (it ended up being the doctor who died). To be fair, the episode itself actually implied that up until the last five minutes or so. So it wasn't just the creators of the ad, but the writers as well who intended the audience to be misled. - An episode was set up with Carter finding herself alone on a ship with only illusions to help her. The trailer made it look like she and O'Neill would end up kissing, but in the actual episode it was only a fantasy of hers that passed through her mind for a second- two at the most. - Stargate Universe follows the trend for one episode. Footage of the crew running down the hallway is accompanied by the usual urgent voice overs, as if they're running to avert some disaster. In the actual episode, it turns out it's just the crew working out during the opening montage. - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds implied in pre-release publicity the USS Enterprise had crash landed on an alien world, but it turned out to be a sister ship to the Enterprise that had crashed. - Star Trek: Voyager, - For the first trailer the announcer mispronounced almost EVERY SINGLE NAME of the characters note . And considering that one of the characters is named "The Doctor", this is especially bad. The announcer also mispronounces words ending with "er" as ending with "a", such as "fighter" as "fighta" and "voyager" as "voyaga". And they also called Harry Kim the communications officer, when he's actually the Chief of Operations. Notably, at least two episodes had been filmed at that point, as the trailer had shown clips from the two-part pilot, so it wasn't an issue of the characters' names not being known at the time. The actors had already said who they were. - One later. The plot does play at Does This Remind You of Anything?, with Borg nanoprobes replacing date rape, but it was still incredibly misleading. - Special shout-out to the trailer for "Virtuoso." Not only does it have zero footage from the episode it is advertising, but it has Chakotay essentially ordering the audience to enjoy themselves. - "Resistance" had a trailer implying that Captain Janeway would dress slutty and even sell her body to protect the ship. in the episode it's a 30-second scene that's basically a Distracted by the Sexy moment. Even Kate Mulgrew and some of the crew called them out on it. -. - Another trailer similarly name-dropped Captain Picard; the interview review The Cynic pithily remarked "dropping Picard's name will not get them Picard's ratings." - There's also the trailer for "Survival Instinct" which showed brief flashes of Borg-related stuff and culminated in Seven of Nine declaring "I will...return...to the Borg." In reality, two words were omitted from the line she actually said, which (omitted words emphasized) was, "I will not return them to the Borg." "Them" referred to three other ex-Borg whose still partially-Borgified brains suffered a major malfunction, and the only way for them to survive longer than a month was to let them be re-assimilated. - The trailer for "Tsunkatse" plays up a fight between Seven of Nine ("Voyager's Battle Babe") and an alien played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. In the episode, that was treated as more-or-less a warm-up for the real climactic fight (which didn't involve a professional wrestler). - At least twice, a promo has used the voiced-over line "Has Voyager entered a parallel universe?" while showing the crew dealing with weird alternate versions of themselves. In one instance, they were actually dealing with scam artists posing as them, while another time the weird alternate versions were characters in a holo-novel. - The trailer for one Deep Space Nine episode showed the Enterprise being destroyed... or so we thought. Turns out it's a ship of the same class, called the Odyssey (Justified, maybe, in that Word Of God says that the point of it happening in the episode was to tell the viewers "This might very well happen to the Enterprise" and to make them think of the familiar ship in that situation). - A trailer for Deep Space 9 on the CBS Reality channel showed how to do it when you've no idea which show you're talking about. It went on strangely in poetic terms, including the line "When the universe sleeps...Enterprise wakes (and basically saves us all)." Huh? - The trailer for the Star Trek:. - The trailer for "Bounty" is based around the line "T'Pol's in heat, and she needs relief" while showing her behaving in a blatantly sexual manner. T'Pol does go through the Pon Farr in this episode (thanks to an alien pathogen), but that's the B-plot; the A-plot, and the reason the episode is called "Bounty," is Archer being captured by a Tellarite bounty hunter. (The Klingons put a price on Archer's head after he escaped from their gulag Rura Penthe several episodes earler.) - For "Similitude," the trailer shows what looks like Trip's dead body in a casket; the voice-over then says something about what Trip left behind, along with clips of what looks like Trip snogging T'Pol, followed by her holding a baby. Turns out those clips all feature Trip's clone, Sim, who does not have sex or a baby with T'Pol. The clips in question are also shown out-of-order. The real Trip has very little screen time. And no sex, either. - Final Star Trek spin-off example: UK TV channel Virgin 1 marketed Star Trek: Enterprise on the basis of the handful of relatively sexy moments that make up the 4 seasons. While it might have featured more blatant sexual situations than the previous Star Trek series, the show was still pretty tame by most modern standards. - Supernatural had a trailer which makes it look like Dean set Jessica on fire. - And let's not forget the one that makes it look like the Crossroads Demon seduces Dean. And the episode summary even said that. - Previews for season nine made it looked like Bobby, who had died back in the seventh season, had mysteriously been resurrected and was aiding the boys again. As it turns out though, this wasn't the case: "Bobby" was actually just a figment of a dying Sam's imagination and represented the part of him that felt it was his time to go. - Survivor does this religiously, especially in Samoa. - They tried to edit it so that people were thinking about eliminating Russell..except for some incredibly odd reason, seeing the episode brought out no talks about actually doing it. - One of the early seasons of Survivor featured an episode trailer that vaguely described some kind of horrific accident occurring, while flashing footage of crocodiles. An accident did actually occur (a contestant passed out due to smoke inhalation, was burned by their campfire, and had to be evacuated), but involved no attack by a wild animal of any kind. T - Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles had a few notorious trailers that were aimed at the sleaziest element of Summer Glau's fanboy fanbase, using a few uncharacteristic and decontextualised shots to suggest that the show would be non-stop fanservice by her. - That '70s Show: A commercial for one episode featured a scene where Donna told Eric she had to leave him. It turns out this scene was part of a dream sequence. Perhaps the shows only dream sequence played like a normal scene. Although they didn't get married, they remained a couple until Topher Gracee left. - Top Gear plays with this, especially since season 3. Their previews are not only useless, but also mislead on what the episodes actually mean....Hammond falls on a valley... - Top Gear Season 16 had a preview which went, "Tonight! I wear a hat! Richard wears a hat! And James! Wears a hat!". And true to their word, they all did! - The reality series Total Divas: - One scene that appeared in almost all of their commercials for season 2, a scene of Summer Rae slapping Natalya Neidhart across the face. The commercial made it appear as though Summer slapped Nattie because Nattie said Summer dresses like a stripper. In the actual episode, the slap occurs after Nattie insults Summer for being 30 and still single. - Previews for Season 3 featured a conversation between Mark Carrano and Ariane, with him saying "you won't be a Diva anymore" - implying she's at risk of being fired. In the episode where it happens, the conversation is about what might happen if Ariane goes back to NXT to train (and hypothetically losing her spot on TV). - The Twilight Zone (1959) has an odd case, a sales pitch to the sponsors of the series, where Rod Serling outlines a few episodes from the first series. When talking about Escape Clause it splices in footage of a car being hit by a train, planes crashing and he talks about homicides. The actual episode has none of these things. - 24 does this cleverly in the trailer for the 13th hour of Day 7. Scenes show the President being taken hostage, Jack fighting off a task force that's invaded the White House, a character (Bill) being caught in an explosion, and the results of said explosion leaving Jack falling to the ground and choking up. That's not the lie part: all that stuff happens. What sets this apart is it all occurs in the first ten minutes, rather than the entire episode as the trailer implies. Most of the episode is spent on Jack following a lead on who was collaborating with the White House attackers. U - The main ad for Underground BBQ Challenge on Food Network Brazil made it seem like the show was entirely about the rivalry between the neighbors from the Austin, Texas episode, showing very little of host G. Garvin. V - The Vampire Diaries: One season 4 episode was advertised as being the return of much-loved character Katherine. She only appeared as a hallucination. Though this ended up having its own payoff when Katherine appeared for real later in the season, with nothing in the previews to suggest it would happen. - Veronica Mars: The Australian promos described the show as "What would you do if your best friend was murdered, and YOU were accused of being the murderer, and the whole school hated you?", which is inaccurate. Veronica was never a suspect for Lilly's death. - Victorious did this multiple times during its run. - One year, Nickelodeon aired promos for "Crush Week" starring Justin Bieber and the Victorious girls. One of the new episodes to premiere that week was "The Wood". The promos hinted the possibility of Tori and Beck becoming "more than friends" (read: a couple), showing a scene of her calling Beck on her phone, expressing love and offering to tickle his tummy. Almost immediately, fans of the Beck and Jade pairing that is currently present on the show raged and bashed the thought of said idea. Then, when the episode aired, it had next to nothing to do with love or pairings. It was a fusion of two clips-one with Tori calling her aunt about their puppy, another with Beck ordering a pizza. This made Jade think Tori was hitting on Beck, causing them to ensue hilarity. Thus, the Beck/Jade shippers got worked up for nothing. Although at least that was what actually happened in the episode itself, with a reality show cutting those two conversations together in-universe, it wasn't created by the promo department. - The promos for "Jade Gets Crushed" make it seem like the premise of the episode is Jade going on a rampage. Really, she's significantly nicer in the episode than usual. W - The Walking Dead: - In the season 2 trailer, aside from having scenes that never appeared in any episode, it implies that Rick and Shane have a serious falling out while engaging a horde of walkers. They do, but not until much later in the season and in a completely different context and setting (the situation with Randall). The scene in the trailer is from a deleted sequence where they go to the Vatos retirement home and see that everyone's died and become a walker. - The S2 trailer implies that Shane and Andrea, and possibly Dale and T-Dog, separate from the group and go off on their own. This is discussed but never acted upon in the premiere, and it becomes a moot point because everyone moves to Hershel's farm. - The season 3 trailer has a shot of Rick and The Governor seemingly walking towards each other at the front gate of the prison, and Rick saying, "We took it... this is ours. We spilled blood for it." The shots of the characters are from two different episodes (The Governor walking towards the National Guard convoy in "Walk With Me" and Rick speaking with Oscar and Axel in "Killer Within"). The two characters never actually meet until very late in the season. - The season 4 trailer: - An early shot has Bob Stookey standing outside the Big Spot, then hearing screams from inside and going in. It's not the case in the final episode - he's simply standing outside and walks in when he knows the coast is clear. There's a walker attack, but it's actually caused by him when he tries to take a bottle of alcohol. - The trailer implies that the attack on the cellblock was caused by a saboteur, while in the episodes themselves, the group figures out that it's been caused by a virus almost immediately afterwards. A later scene has Glenn seemingly telling Maggie that they should abandon the rest of the group and go off on their own, but it's actually a scene where he's telling her to stay at the prison while he and the others go on a supply run in the premiere. - The season 5 trailer makes it look like Rick's group is reluctantly joining forces with the Terminus group to get to Washington, using footage of Bob pleading with them and dialogue from Rick seemingly threatening Gareth and saying he doesn't trust him. In the show, Bob is ignored, and Rick's dialogue is actually referring to Father Gabriel Stokes, an unrelated character. Neither group ever seriously considers the possibility of a team up, and the Termites are massacred in the premiere, with the few survivors dying only a couple episodes later. - The season 6 trailer implies that a horde has made their way into Alexandria, and various characters (including Jessie and Carol) are trying to hide from them. However, the shots in question are from a completely different incident (the Wolves breaking into the town and massacring residents). While a horde does arrive at the front gates of the town, it doesn't occur until after the Wolves have been taken care of. Moreover, the shots of Carol seemingly hiding are actually her springing into action and becoming a One-Man Army in order to secure the town's armory and save residents. - It also massively plays up the Rick vs. Morgan conflict, to the point of making it look like Morgan is staging a revolt against Rick and Rick seemingly preparing to shoot Morgan when it fails. In the actual show, they learn to trust each other pretty quick. They do have vastly different viewpoints which lead to some disagreements on how to handle various threats to the community, but they always talk it out and nothing violent ever happens between them. Morgan does end up getting in a fight with Carol, however. - Previews of episodes of The Wall, including those within the actual episodes, tend to manipulate clips to make it look like the balls are going to fall in the million dollar space or other high-value amounts as a hook for audiences to tune in, when the clips are actually just mashing together entirely separate ball drops or leaving out the disappointing bits and the actual result tends to be anticlimactic. For instance, if balls head in the general direction of the right side of the board where the biggest dollar amounts reside, then skitter over to the left or the middle, those unfortunate outcomes will be doctored up. This also works to its favor, as it can prove to be a mislead before the balls actually land in these spaces. - War of the Worlds (1988) has a rather dated example: The original "On the Next" trailer for the. - WandaVision: The 2020 Super Bowl trailer shows clips from the episode "Previously On" without context, including a shot of Wanda recreating Vision with the spell effects removed, leaving just Vision writhing and Wanda making odd gestures for no apparent reason. - The West Wing: In the network promo for the Season 4 episode . - Wheel of Fortune in October 2010, ran a trailer hinting at a $1,000,000 win a few days later. It showed a contestant hitting the Million-Dollar Wedge (which must be taken to the Bonus Round, where one of the Bonus Wheel's 24 envelopes is replaced with a $1,000,000). The contestant in the clip actually lost the Wedge to Bankrupt, and with it, the chance at getting her million. - The trailer for the 2017-18 season of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? showed Chris Harrison telling a contestant they are only one question away from $1,000,000, but it can be seen from the different lighting and camera angle that his delivery of that line was staged just for this promo. In fact, not one contestant managed to reach the $500,000 question that season. - Wildfire provides a sleazier example. A trailer showed one character inviting another to a Two-Person Pool Party, with a clear implication of sex. Since this was on primetime TV before the Watershed, in the actual episode the line was immediately followed by a blunt refusal. - One trailer for WWE Tough Enough featured some WWE Divas as guest stars, and showed one of them slapping Jeremiah with the implication that he'd done something untoward to deserve it. In truth, he was just drunk and being goofy, and asked to be slapped in a moment of euphoria. - Wizards of Waverly Place:. - Workaholics plays this straight with this trailer. Z - Z: The Beginning of Everything's first season trailer employs Manipulative Editing with the audio of Zelda discovering that Scott has used some of her writing in his book. The trailer makes it look like a huge argument - when in the actual episode, Zelda is flattered to discover this, and thanks Scott for making her part of his book. Overall the trailer makes their relationship look like it's full of rows and fights, when there's less of that in the actual series.

SA Eye Cbd Oil Help Eye Floaters – Adam Fields Organabus Cbd Oil Review cbd oil help eye floaters Cbd Oil Azara La Crosse, will cbd oil show up as thc on a drug screening. Things seem to be not Laser Floater Treatment (LFT) Floaters appear as gray or black specks, lines, or cobwebs in your vision. As your eyes move, the floaters can move too. They do not follow your eye movements precisely, as they usually drift when the eyes stop moving. Floaters are caused by clumps or bits of material suspended in the vitreous gel that fills the back of the eye. When you are younger, the vitreous is a solid gel and the floaters are not mobile and that is why it’s easy for your brain to disregard them. However, as you enter middle age, the gel in your eye begins to liquify and these deposits are able to move around. As light enters your eyes, the floaters cast shadows on the retina. It is the shadow of the floater inside your eye that you see. Floaters may have a variety of causes, some serious, and some not so serious (continue reading below). What are Flashes? Flashes are sensations of light, when no light is really there. They may appear as many tiny bright lights (like sparklers) or like flashes of lightening. Flashes may occur when the vitreous gel longer. They typically appear in the center of your field of vision and progress slowly towards the edge of the visual field. A headache that is commonly throbbing, and on one side of the head, may follow the disappearance of the flashes (but a headache does NOT need to occur for one to be diagnosed with migraines). Are Floaters and Flashes Serious? Many people have floaters. Floaters that you have had for years, and that show little change, are usually not serious. It is the sudden onset of a new floater that may be serious. The onset of flashes may also be serious. Anyone with flashes or the sudden onset of a new floater(s) should be examined promptly by an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will perform a dilated exam (looking at the vitreous and retina with specialized equipment after giving drops to dilate the pupils). What is the Vitreous? We’ve mentioned the word vitreous multiple times already. What is the vitreous? The vitreous is a jello-like substance that fills most of the space inside the back compartment of the eye. As we age, the vitreous liquefies. This is more likely to occur, and occurs much earlier, in eyes that are nearsighted (myopia). It can also occurs after injuries to the eye or inflammation in the eye. This vitreous gel is composed of 99% water, and the other 1% consists of special substances known as collagen and hyaluronic acid, which endow the vitreous with its gel-like consistency. The vitreous has many functions, which include: - To help maintain the shape of the eye - To act as a shock absorber - To allow transmission of light from the external environment to the retina (located immediately behind the vitreous) - To help keep the retina in contact with the back wall of the eye is called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and is a normal aging process. What is the Retina? The retina is a thin sheet of light sensitive, nerve tissue that lines the inside of the eye. It is the tissue that turns light into an electrical signal to send to the brain. It is often compared to the film in a camera. What will my Doctor Look for if I have Flashes and Floaters? Your doctor will look inside the eye for evidence of disease, liquefaction or detachment of the vitreous, and tears or detachment of the retina. The sudden onset of floaters or flashes is often due to a separation of the vitreous gel from the retina. When this occurs, it tears the retina in only about 10% of cases. This can sometimes happen in a delayed fashion, so you may need to be examined again in 1-2 months. 3 Possible Symptoms of Posterior Vitreous Detachment? - Floaters. A person typically sees anywhere from a few to hundreds of dark spots or objects “floating” in the field of vision. These floaters may represent bleeding inside the eye, or torn retinal tissue, but they usually represent particles that have been in the vitreous all along. With normal aging, the vitreous becomes more liquid and the particles can float and be seen. When they were fixed in space in the more solid gel, the brain did not notice them. Floaters have also been described as “spots and dots,” “a cloud of smoke,” or a “swarm of bees.” - Lightning flashes. Lightning flashes are generated by the vitreous tugging on the retina during eye movement. When a posterior vitreous detachment occurs, there may initially be residual areas where the vitreous remains attached to the retina, causing these light flashes. Patients have described these flashes as “a sparkle or twinkle,” “a disco light,” or “fireflies.” - Decreased vision. Decreased vision is not usually present, although vision can decrease secondary to bleeding inside the eye or retinal detachment. If retinal detachment develops early on, central vision may be normal but some patients begin to note a “curtain, veil, or fog” that may progressively obscure the peripheral vision, followed by loss of central vision. Will I Have a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)?: - A history of cataract surgery - Nearsightedness - Inflammation inside the eye - Injury to the eye (such as blunt trauma, accident, or falls) - Bleeding inside the eye Are Posterior Vitreous Detachments Dangerous? The majority of people who develop a posterior vitreous detachment are not in danger of further eye complications. The only residual symptom may be the persistence of a few floaters. In 7%-15% of those who have a posterior vitreous detachment associated with floaters, cannot be determined by symptoms. An ophthalmologist will need to dilate your eye to look for a tear or detachment. When is it Important to be Examined? If a retinal tear does occur during a posterior vitreous detachment, it usually happens when one begins to experience the initial symptoms of the PVD. Therefore, it is important to be examined shortly after these symptoms begin. In a small percentage of patients, the tear may occur many weeks after the onset symptoms or after the symptoms have stopped. For this reason, your physician may request that you return for a repeat examination four to six weeks later. How is Posterior Vitreous Detachment Treated? If the posterior vitreous detachment occurred without associated retinal tears, treatment is not required. The vitreous will continue to age and liquefy and floaters will usually become less and less noticeable. With time, most people’s symptoms will completely disappear. If a retinal tear has occurred, treating the retinal tear with laser is usually recommended. Surgery will be indicated if the tear has progressed to a retinal detachment. What can be Done about my Floaters and Flashes? Floaters tend to last longer than flashes. In most cases, they diminish gradually over weeks or months. Often they do not go away completely. A study that included over 300 patients concluded that floaters had the same negative impact on quality of life as age-related macular degeneration. If your activities of daily living are hindered by bothersome floaters, we may be able eliminate your floaters in a non-invasive manner in the office with a laser. The risks of laser treatment are significantly less than the risks of vitrectomy. In some cases, laser may not completely eliminate debilitating floaters and a vitrectomy may still be required. We can evaluate your floaters to determine if they are good candidates for laser treatment. Retinal tears and retinal detachment must first be eliminated as possibilities. Laser Floater Treatment is a minimally-invasive procedure that can significantly improve one’s life and is an excellent for choice for multiple reasons, including: Cbd Oil Help Eye Floaters – Adam Fields Organabus Cbd Oil Review cbd oil help eye floaters Cbd Oil Azara La Crosse, will cbd oil show up as thc on a drug screening. Things seem to be not that simple. He doesn rix mix cbd oil t sleep in the middle of the night, and he moves long distances. The nose moved slightly, her face cbd oil help eye floaters changed slightly when she was about to sleep cbd oil help eye floaters again. About a month ago, the team led by Takeshi Iwata cbd oil help eye floaters witnessed the Headless Horseman here. 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Yes, they look totally dorky, but if you’re Green, that’s obviously not a consideration. I’m currently experimenting to see if they can be turned into espadrilles to completely replace Birkenstocks. They’re a little slippery and tend to wear out too fast, but, hey, we’re saving the planet, aren’t we? Aren’t we?? Some decades ago, I made several weighted bent-rod frames to hold the plastic grocery bags open as waste receptacles. My mother-in-law used hers until she died, and we and our daughter each still have ours, in the cabinet under the sink. When full, just tie the loops together and discard appropriately, and then fit another! How many times can a bag made of recycled paper be recycled again? I figure three more times before it ends up as cattle feed or in a landfill (or in Combos “Nacho Cheese” filling)? And how many times can a plastic bag (a by-product from hydrocarbon refining) get recycled into new bags before it gets turned into car upholstery or whatnot? I’m guessing at least 20 times, possibly more—like those evil Styrofoam clam shell containers (70 times). So which one’s the environmentally responsible one again? Talking of plastic bags… “Plastic bags less damaging to environment Plastic bags may not be as bad for the environment as previously assumed, and may in fact be better than their “eco friendly” alternatives, government research suggests.” I remember when they came out with the plactis shopping bags and said they were supposed to save the planet by saving “X” million trees/year. I’m totally serious. Plastic bags were going to save the planet… Carlin is right and he makes his point very well. Plastic bags are good. My wife saves them for use and they serve a lot of secondary purposes. She also saves paper bags and re uses them. The only problem with these bags is the people who want to eliminate them. Try using beer cans with a few pebbles in them along the top wire. You’ll hear when they get in the garden and then, POW, venison to go with the veggies… AND I remember plastic bags’ intro in Oregon they were forced on us by the same green idiots that now want them banned. It was supposed to save trees (those big things that grow like weeds everywhere and are worshiped by some people.) Thanks JK We save plastic grocery bags and use them for cleaning out Smokey’s litter box [the cat’s box, not mine]. They’re perfect for putting the treasure hunt discoveries in. We tie ’em off and they go into the garbage bin. Clean and sanitary, and better than a paper bag. And paper bags can be dangerous. Sign of the times. For the past twenty years my husband and I diligently used our plastic grocery bags to collect our kitty’s litter. Great devices. With the introduction of fees for the bags, we’re now using small plastic garbage bags. Our “carbon footprint” now includes our felines’ (X5) waste disposal. The guilt would be killing us if we actually believed we had a carbon footprint. I don’t agree with everything George Carlin ever said, he did seem to be right more often than not. He couldn’t be more right in this case. Already watched that on Utube a while ago. Cracks me up every time. > The article he cites goes on to argue why both plastic bags and paper bags are bad for the environment…. I’m lost. Which article says paper bags are bad? The BlueOregon piece by Jon Isaacs promotes an anti-plastic-bag bill but speaks favorably of paper bags. @ HeckSpawn says: February 25, 2011 at 1:20 pm Try using beer cans with a few pebbles in them along the top wire. You’ll hear when they get in the garden and then, POW, venison to go with the veggies… No need. I just put out some corn, and sit on the porch for 20 min. Haven’t missed in 10 years. @ jim karlock says: February 25, 2011 at 1:35 pm AND I remember plastic bags’ intro in Oregon they were forced on us by the same green idiots that now want them banned. It was supposed to save trees (those big things that grow like weeds everywhere and are worshiped by some people.) Thanks JK Some trees are weeds. I spend a lot of time and money every year cutting them down so I can continue to use my 1/4 mile driveway thru the woods, among other things. Some, I cut up for my hobby. I guess that means I’ll be going to ecohell eventually. 🙁 😉 Every dog Owner should carry a used plastic bag, but evidently they don’t around my area at least. Plastic bags were supposed save the planet by saving paper and trees, margarine was supposed to save our health from evil butter, low fat everything was supposed to save us from ourselves, carob was supposed to save us from the health ravages of chocolate, soy was supposed to replace the cruelty of eating meat, bottled water was supposed to save us from the dangers of tap water, and now high gas prices are supposed to save us from rising temperatures which, like everything I’ve listed, is actually a GOOD thing… We have farmed trees for generations, butter is natural and delicious, fat has been a mainstay of our diet for millennia, chocolate is a wonderful healthful antioxidant, meat is an important part of our diet, our tap water is fine and never harmed a soul and countless archeological studies have shown cooling to be a terrible source of misery due to increases in crop failures while warming tends to produce more consistent yields…… He said ban ‘single use plastic bags’ but many, maybe nearly all people, reuse plastic bags to line small trash cans at home or office. A paper bag is ineffective at that kind of reuse (they’re quadrangular for starters). Carlin is a national treasure. Language and all. The plastic bag banning has been promoted by big grocery chains like Fred Meyer – this is simply a tax on poor people since they can now charge for the bags they used to give away for free. I am not kidding. new town, new park near new green buildings a library and city hall, they have rolls of plastic bags to catch animal poo. I am opposed to reusing bags for groceries. They cross contaminate food from previous trips to the market and different foods in your current grocery order. Reusing bags are dirty. Just as dirty as airport gropers not changing gloves. Indeed, maybe the whole world has gone mad. Though, I think it mainly the world that views it through green colored glasses. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ They do a pretty good job of making me mad. Freaking lunatics. paper/plastic/canvass………I can’t imagine people having nothing better to do than to sit around and contemplate the significance of what people use to haul their foodstuffs. And then others lending credence to the people for their contemplation. What is wrong with these people? We’ve literally have had people obsess about how someone else carries their groceries for about 40 years now. I think they’ve killed enough jobs and wasted enough peoples’ time. I think we should re-institute corporeal punishment for such offenses to usefulness. George Carlin was a planet-wide treasure. Rest in Peace, George. James Sexton, Too much leisure time can indeed be a scourge…idle hands are the devil’s workshop. I am all for corporeal punishment as a manifestation of corporal punishment! :+) Anne @ Kaboom says: February 25, 2011 at 2:26 pm George Carlin was a planet-wide treasure. Rest in Peace, George. Well, for those who believe in such things, George is probably guarding the Pearly Gates about now, having beat out St. Peter for the job. 😉 Even the Independent, normally a very warmist lot, couldn’t resist covering the plastic-bags-are-good story this week. “A cotton bag would have to be re-used 171 times to emit a similar level [of Co2e as a single use plastic bag]” If I had to use a cloth bag 171 times only the bacteria would be keeping the wretched thing from falling apart. Which didn’t stop them recommending: “The best solution would be to use a cotton bag several hundred times, probably using it constantly for years.” Several hundred times….?! That reporter definitely needs to do his own shopping more often. Dave Stephens says: February 25, 2011 at 2:10 pm… The way I’ve heard it put is that, as a species, we’re still not far different from those african plains apes we’re said to be descended from, in that our brains are hard-wired to be in a near-permanent state of distress and fear. We’re constantly looking for danger. Now as civilisations grow, for most of their lifetime they’re on the verge of collapse in some way, and their denizens are living close to the edge of sustainability all the time (that meaning, they may just fall over and can’t guarantee continued existence, rather than the modern definition of sustainable to mean “designed by morons”). An low-tech agrarian society runs the risk of starvation every single year, and can easily be wiped out by a relatively small natural disaster. Now we’ve progressed past the agrarian phase in to a high technology phase, we no longer have that constant danger to be aware of, but our brains are still looking for the dangerous thing. In essence, we aren’t built for a life of ease. I’ve noticed in my travels that environmentalism generally doesn’t have much traction more, ah, politically fraught societies. That is, places where there is a great deal of real danger to be wary of, rather than the made-up danger we have to content ourselves with in the west. Like many things in a mass-production consumerist society, our dangerous things are a pale imitation of reality. thegoodlocust “The plastic bag banning … …this is simply a tax on poor people…” Just a method to augment the proceeds from the other well marketed poor tax, “The Lottery.” Enough of this plastic bag nonsense, already. What about the owls ? The thing that puzzles me about the “evils” of plastic bags, which as many have said make great bin liners, is that “they take {insert scary big number} years to break down in a landfill.” So? Who cares? The bag is buried, it is not blowing around getting stuck in tree branches. It can sit and rot in the ground for millennia, surely? Why is this slow decay when buried such an evil feature of plastic bags? The lady in this video makes really cool textured “paper” out of plastic bags. I layer several bags to make a bigger page. And I don’t worry about the printed labels on the bags. Still looks cool no matter the color of the bag. I don’t really need the ‘greenies’ telling me how to re-use stuff. I’ve had far more practice than they can even dream of and my stuff turns out way cooler. 0 They are not appeased at any point. So they should be relegated to the backwaters. They can meet each other there an commiserate over evil humans. Here’s a case of eco-insanity that I discovered just a few minutes ago. I went to the pharmacy to buy a Primatene Mist inhaler. Printed on the inhaler’s box was a notice stating that it would not be available after December 31, 2011. Immediately after returning home I checked the internet to try and figure out why they might be pulling such an effective OTC drug off the market. Answer: The ozone layer. They are pulling Primatene Mist off the market because its propellant contains CFCs! This is so absurd that I hardly believe it myself. Can anyone verify? Many years ago I bought a large parcel of land very cheaply. The reason for the cheap price was the trees on the land were specifically grown to make paper. The trees had a useful life of 20 years after which they would deteriorate and rot. Time came for the trees to be cut down. The greenies stepped in and eventually had a ruling made to forbid the tree felling. Bottom line is that after 25 years the trees started falling down by themselves and started rotting. In 1983 the whole area was gutted by a bush fire – the remaining trees were burned down to the roots. I truly miss George Carlin. I quoted this routine for years after it was shown on HBO. I think of it every time I see the “forever in a landfill” filtered water commercial. I ask my liberal idiot friends, “So what? What is wrong with plastic bottles?” No one can give me a good reason other than they are unsightly. I see nature using them for condos in the woods and have seen a whole ecosystem in one that washed up on shore, complete with barnacles, algae and little fish hiding inside to avoid being eaten by bigger fish. Having shown that clip here, this is now officially the coolest website I frequent. 🙂 Now they’ve gone down the path of “we have to kill the owls to save the owls” since nothing else has worked. The irony is that barred owls and Spotted owls can mate. They are the same f**king species. Dave Stephens says: February 25, 2011 at 2:10 pm Agreed with most of your rant Dave but you went way off-track with the “tap water never hurt anyone” bit. Tap water actually sickens about a million people a year with everything from rota and rhino virus to crpto and giardia. The first commercial use of Chlorine was to kill soldiers in trenches. Then the brain-trust decided to put it into our drinking water to “purify” it. Great for washing your truck but don’t drink that crap! About the owl story: It’s a good thing there were no conservationists around 50,000 years ago, or we’d still be killing off “modern” humans to preserve Neanderthals. You know, like in Libya…oops. “Just as dirty as airport gropers not changing gloves.” Hadn’t thought about that. They are passing germs from person to person and need to change gloves between each passenger. Everyone should insist on it. Otherwise the inspection could end up killing a lot of people if one passenger is carrier. “A cotton bag would have to be re-used 171 times to emit a similar level [of Co2e as a single use plastic bag]“ That seems very unlikely. There is a fair amount of energy used to produce a cotton bag and transport it for sale. Again lots of energy used to keep it as clean as a plastic bag. You get a lot of bags out of very little oil, and they can be transported in large numbers using very little space. Imagine a hospital re-using cotten gloves for surgery. Why should food be treated less hygenically? When we lived in Riverside, California and had a single stream recycling program we put an open paper bag inside a plastic bag under the sink for trash and garbage. The paper bag held more and the plastic bag around the bottom prevented wet-caused rupture of the paper bag. Now we’re in eastern Washington State and get to separate our recyclables, and they only take about half of what we recycled in California. When are these green idiots going to learn for every action there is a reaction. Leave the Owls alone for Gods sake! On the Plastic bags, We shop a different Super markets and they all have 6 to 9 weeks degrading plastic, We stuff them behind the fridge, they even get flaky and fall apart there never mind in the land fill. We use the bags as garbage liners as well as recycling to a fault. What is insane is if we didn’t do that we would buy small glad bags to do the same bloody thing! And we wont use paper bags because that means more trees have to be chopped down. Green’s make up your minds and let the people like myself who really are environmentally friendly and caring alone. Environmentalist there own worsted enemy and have become a dislikeable menace to their themselves and alienated people like me who has ALWAYS tried to do what is right for the environment in action and deed. Watch a few minutes of James Hansen being interviewed by David Letterman. Both are yuppies to the extreme. Wealthy and sarcastic. Be patient, force yourself to watch it to the end. How would you describe Hansen and Letterman’s personality? The head “green people” are advocating spending trillions of dollars which we do not have on problem which is not a problem. There are multiple published papers that show the entire biosphere increases in size and productivity as a direct result to an increased in atmospheric CO2. We are carbon based life forms. (Yes or no?) Plants eat CO2. (Yes or no?) Plants make more effective use of water by reducing the number of stomata when the CO2 increases. (Yes or no?) There is less desertification when CO2 levels are higher and more when it is less. (Yes or no?) Increased atmospheric CO2 is scientifically beneficial to biosphere. That is a scientific fact. The biosphere also expands when the planet warms and contracts when the planet cools. This is related to the planet being 70% covered with water (total precipitations increases when the planet warms and is reduced when it cools) and there being massive ice sheets at both poles. When the planet warms most of the warming occurs at higher latitudes where life is limited due to the cold and massive ice sheets. That statement is also a scientific fact. Warming period is over, unfortunately over. There are numerous papers warning of the new cooling trend. There are multiple scientific reasons why the IPCC warming prediction is incorrect by a factor of 5. Cloud cover increases when the planet warms so the planet’s response to a change in forcing is negative not positive. Roughly 80% of the twentieth century warming was caused by a reduction in planetary cloud cover. Enric Palle published a series of papers that measured the reduction in planetary cloud cover by satellite measurement and by measuring changes in the brightness of the moon. In those papers he calculated that roughly 60 to 80% of the 20th century warming was caused by a change in planetary cloud cover. The reduction in planetary cloud cover was caused by a mechanism called electroscavenging which is the name for a mechanism where by solar wind bursts create a space charge differential in the ionosphere which creates a voltage potential which removes cloud forming ions. There are other papers by solar specialists that note there were a very high number of solar wind bursts in the later half of the 20th century and planetary temperature changes correlate with the frequency and magnitude of the wind bursts. The sun has abruptly moved to a low magnetic cycle. In the past the planet has cooled when the sun moved to a low magnetic cycle. There is in the paleoclimatic record cycles of warming and cooling that all correlate with the longer term solar magnetic cycle changes. The Solar magnetic cycle activity was the highest in 8000 years at the end of the 20th century. The late Gerald Bond tracked solar magnetic and climate temperature warming and cooling for 22 cycles through the Holocene interglacial period and into the glacial period. What we are living through has happened before. After the warming period the planet abruptly cools. There is a short interglacial period of roughly 10,000 years followed by a very long abrupt glacial period that is 100,000 years long. We are at the end of the current integlacial period the Holocene. Physics does not pick sides. Hansen is incorrect and ignores obvious data in multiple published papers that shows the extreme AGW paradigm is absolutely incorrect because he is a messiah (Hansen is not the messiah, he actually just has a large ego like David Letterman.) rather than a scientist. Reusable fiber bags work better than your arms. William says: February 25, 2011 at 5:00 pm Watch a few minutes of James Hansen being interviewed by David Letterman. ==================================================== I understand your noble cause, but there’s no way I could bring myself to watching either a$$bag for any length of time. My stomach’s a bit queasy as it is. . ” @ Curiousgeorge says: Well, for those who believe in such things, George is probably guarding the Pearly Gates about now, having beat out St. Peter for the job. 😉 I thought he was stuck on the roof… : Frisbeetarianism If George Carlin were alive, he’d be a warmist. Mr Moderator: My last comment lost the link I put in: Frisbeetarianism I prefer the Osaka way for garbage: trash, recycle, burnable. They run a very efficient co-gen operation there and plastic is just another fuel Plastic bags DID save the planet… think of how many billions upon billions of trees were NOT cut down to make the paper to make the paper bags since plastic bags came along. Then think of how much CO2 those trees (that weren’t cut down) managed to pull out of the atmosphere. And, to take the California Air Resources Board’s argument a bit further, plastic bags instead of paper bags has increased employment and boosted the economy tremendously. See, paper bags cost much more per bag than plastic bags. Grocery prices are therefore lower with plastic bags. Lower grocery prices puts more discretionary spending money into each person’s pocket. That discretionary spending can then be spent on coffee at the corner coffee shop. There will be more people employed in making and selling coffee. (The above is EXACTLY the argument that CARB makes in defending the economy-destroying state law on carbon emission reduction, known as AB 32, or the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.) The problem with trying to show warmists they’re wrong, is that you’re trying to teach common sense….to people who have no common sense. SamG says: February 25, 2011 at 5:44 pm If George Carlin were alive, he’d be a warmist. ======================================================= He was. My wife and I went to go see him about a year or two before he died. His routine had devolved to a slurs/rants/insults to conservatives, Christians, and just about anything that didn’t agree with the leftist narrative. It was depressing. We didn’t stay for the whole thing. We weren’t the only ones either. Apparently either idiocy or senility had set in and he didn’t realize he was playing to a crowd in SE Kansas. But as I recall he had a bit in his schitck poking at skeptics. He did get one thing right, he said the earth didn’t have a problem when it got tired of what we were doing, it would shrug us off. The idea that we can permanently effect the earth is absurd. If we all vanished tomorrow, 500 years from now, one would have to look far and wide for the traces of our civilization. James Sexton I think that’s where the confusion lies with this video. As you state, he didn’t believe the earth had a problem, he did however say “the people are f****d” . He also refers to the natural equilibrium of the planet and the universe as a big electron. Is this not remarkably close to the concept of Gaia? Based on the second link I posted, Carlin implicitly endorsed militant civil disobediance. Hicks wasn’t much different either. I used to find these guys funny until I realized they were serious proponents of the left. I have a theory on the connection between a popular paper product and the decline of the Spotted Owl. Too many Oregonian tree huggers apparently took to heart the message on a bumper sticker of the 1980’s: “Save the trees! Wipe your a$$ with a spotted owl”. To find a solution to the current Barred Owl problem, the Oregon legislature should fund a study to see if a process could be developed to recycle Barred Owl carcasses into shopping bags. If a process is found, declare an open hunting season on the critters and put a bounty on them. Several problems are solved with the bonus of establishing a new eco-friendly industry in Oregon. Unemployed loggers represent a huge pool of future forest-wise bounty hunters. sarc Dave Stephens; As a backup to your need-and-love-fear thesis, consider the immortal Mencken: “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” Actually, the above should have been to Archonix, citing Dave S. While driving through Oregon I also spotted a simpler bumper sticker: Eat an Owl, Save a Logger Obviously a sentiment to some local situation. /sarc Richard Jeni’s stand up comedy on politics, ending with folks that ride in private jets to energy conservation meetings. 0 Huh! My mom uses large sturdy baskets. They are in the trunk, so she packs the stuff from the trolley right in there. And I put most of my stuff in a rucksack, which works for my bachelor life-style. The average Brit can walk with so many plastic bags from an average shopping tour that I sometimes feel I should challenge them in the car park over their out of hand conduct. Some people reall need a dozen bags to pack the contents of one trolley. Sounds familiar to anyone? The simplest way to recycle paper bags is to burn them for heat. Plastic shopping bags? Great things. Put one bag inside another to form a double-skinned bag, half fill with potting soil that has a dash of well rotted compost in, plant a chitted potato. Top up as the potato grows, feed with tomato fertilizer once a week. I grow Arran Pilots, a delicious first early. After ten weeks empty the bags into a wheelbarrow and collect your bug ‘n’ slug free potatoes. No digging, trenching, backfilling etc. and the outer plastic bag is well on the way to decomposing into brittle flakes. I have always re-used plastic bags until they are no longer practical (torn). Why not produce and encourage the re-use of bio-degradable plastic bags by offering a small discount or shopping points at the checkout? Pretty soon we will have a tax on clean clothes, meant to encourage us to reuse our garments instead of washing them. I could turn my bras inside out, but then you would notice all the hardware that goes into making middle age bras that are worth a damn. Talk about yer panty lines! I’ve started fires with plastic. Pretty flammable stuff, burns hot, and can keep wet fire starter material burning long enough to get the kindling going. Plastic bags have all kinds of uses, from burning in the woodstove for heat (get a hot fire going first, and they’ll burn completely w/no smoke or leftovers), or balling up & tossing overtop the fiberglass insulation in the attic for some additional insulation. Doing that once of yr for several yrs has built up a respectable new layer for free. I also use a screwdriver to jam them into crevices in the house’s ground-level cement block/wood transition to cut air leakage & infiltration.’s what Northwesterners have paid, for nothing. And the bills continue to mount. The parallels between junk wildlife biology, junk climatology, and junk government policies are too numerous to detail. Suffice it to say that when the junkers hold sway, everybody suffers enormously. The solution is one much of the world is too hypocritical to endorse: Grow hemp, weave bags from it. Trees stay uncut and the plastic not made into bags leaves more for fuel and other value-added items we’ll miss if the Peak Oil theory holds water…no pun intended. Meanwhile, we waste corn on the ethanol scam while hemp for paper, cardboard and yes, fabrics, is NOT grown on marginal land that doesn’t require irrigation. And no, I don’t smoke dope. Wallowa County, Oregon, 90 years ago, ranked 2nd in the state for number of hogs sent to slaughter. Several other agricultural products ranked high. And logging kept forest floors clean. Now we rank highest in cougars, wolves, and rotting fuel strewn forests. No hogs, just a few bags of wool, maybe a train car of cattle, less and less elk and deer, and empty buildings. All this will not end well. What a picture. It´s simple economics: The more items we recycle, the less items are produced, the less jobs are created to produce new ones and the more poorer we will become…..Oh!,,,,,,How intelligent we are! (BTW: The more madcows we will have, because of prions´generation by recycling). Carlin was brilliant, but very much a leftist who became extremely bitter, fatalistic, and angry after the death of his wife. The tone of his routine became remarkably different towards the end of his life. RIP George Carlin might have done a skit like this: Democrat. Plastic bags are very handy to catch and eventually reduce the expulsion of CO2. All your eco friends will love this solution – simply put the bag over your head and wrap it tightly together with tape at your neck. Eventually you will no longer expel CO2 and help save the planet. Smokey says: February 27, 2011 at 1:58 pm Brilliant!

During elementary school, my Mom and Dad would sometimes forget to put lunch money into my account. So on the days I couldn’t get a hot lunch, the lunch ladies would offer me a simple tuna sandwich. Back then, I truly despised tuna so I’d skip the sandwich and go hungry until I could get home and stuff my face with one of Dad’s delicious turkey sandwiches. Sad, but true. I look back on this memory and think about how I wish I had the taste buds of an adult as a child because these days I find myself LOVING tuna. From honey mustard apple tuna salad to jalapeño cheddar tuna melts, I can’t get enough of the inexpensive, protein-packed amazing flavor that tuna brings to meals. A couple of years back my bestie and I were talking about traditional recipes that we had growing up that could be made a little bit better for you. She suggested that I make a healthy tuna noodle casserole, as that was one of her favorites growing up. So I gathered up my reusable bags, headed to Trader Joe’s, threw around my tiny red cart like a woman on a mission and filled it to the brim with plantain chips (hi, I’m obsessed) and delicious ingredients for this healthy tuna noodle casserole. What’s in tuna noodle casserole? If you haven’t had tuna noodle casserole before, then you might be wondering what the heck it is. Traditional tuna noodle casserole is made with cream of mushroom soup, egg noodles, peas and of course tuna. Most people top it with breadcrumbs or even potato chips for a crunchy topping. It’s creamy, savory, and absolutely delicious! Everything you’ll need to make a healthier tuna noodle casserole I say, why not make tuna noodle casserole from scratch with better for you ingredients? My recipe is healthier, customizable and doesn’t involve any canned soup. Plus it’s EASY! To make this healthy tuna noodle casserole recipe, here are the ingredients you’ll need: - Pasta: feel free to use any kind of noodles you’d like. I prefer shells, large elbow noodles, or bowties for this recipe. If you are gluten free, please feel free to use your favorite gluten free noodles. - Butter: a little goes a long way in helping flavor and break down the onions and mushrooms, but also to make a slurry parmesan gravy sauce to coat all the pasta - Veggies: we’re adding white or yellow onions (I find that white onions are best in this recipe), sliced baby bella mushrooms, and peas in this recipe. - Herbs & spices: you’ll also need garlic powder and thyme, which creates an amazing depth of flavor and savoriness in this recipe. - Flour: you can use all purpose flour, whole wheat flour or an all purpose gluten free flour in the sauce. Coconut flour and almond flour will not work. - Milk: you have the option of using whatever milk you’d like. I have only tested this recipe with unsweetened almond milk, but I think skim milk or unsweetened cashew milk would work well. - Cheese: parmesan cheese creates the perfect amount of sharp flavor melted into the sauce. - Tuna: you’ll need two cans of tuna for this recipe. Make sure you drain the cans before adding the tuna to the casserole! - Breadcrumbs: I still kept the delicious crunchy topping because who doesn’t love a good crunch? If you are gluten free, feel free to use gluten free breadcrumbs, gluten free potato chips that have been crushed up, or gluten free crushed crackers (Simple Mills crackers would be delish!). Doesn’t it look down right FABULOUS? I was so elated about this tuna noodle casserole that I pretty much kept the entire pan to myself for the entire week, I reheated leftovers for lunch and dinner and gobbled up every last bite. SO FREAKING GOOD. AND CREAMY. AND SAVORY. AND HOMEMADE! AND HEALTHY too. What more could you want?! Customize your tuna noodle casserole This easy tuna noodle casserole is great for customizing to your taste preferences as well! Here’s what I can recommend: - Choose your veggies: if you’re not a mushroom fan, feel free to skip and add something like green beans or spinach instead. I think peas are a MUST in this dish, but you can also skip them if you’d like. - Make it gluten free: make sure to do is use gluten free pasta noodles, gluten free all purpose flour and gluten free breadcrumbs (or substitute crushed up gluten free tortilla chips, potato chips or crackers). - Go dairy free: simply use vegan butter, a dairy free milk of choice and dairy free parmesan cheese. Freezer-friendly tuna noodle casserole That’s right, this lightened up tuna noodle casserole is easy to make ahead of time and freeze for later! If you want to make this tuna noodle casserole ahead of time, simply: - Make the recipe as directed, except do not bake the casserole. - Put the casserole into a freezer container pan such as these, cover the container, then place it in the freezer until ready to bake. - Once ready to bake, thaw out the casserole in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, bake as directed! More amazing comfort foods - Buffalo Tuna Melt Stuffed Peppers - Pesto Mushroom Chicken Lasagna Roll Ups - Blow Ya Mind Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Pot Pie - Stovetop Southwest Tuna Mac and Cheese - Incredible Caramelized Onion Spinach Chicken Pasta Bake Get all of my delicious comfort food recipes here! If you make this healthy tuna noodle casserole, be sure to rate the recipe below and leave a comment! You can also follow me on Instagram and tag #ambitiouskitchen. Enjoy – xo! Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole Ingredients - 10 ounces dry pasta shells (or use rotini, fusilli, or whatever pasta you’d like) - 3 tablespoons butter, divided - 1 white onion, diced - 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, sliced - 1 teaspoon dried thyme - Salt and pepper, to taste - 1/4 cup all purpose flour (or whole wheat flour or all purpose gluten free flour) - 1 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or cashew milk or regular milk) - ½ teaspoon garlic powder - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese - 2 (5 ounce) cans tuna, drained - 1 cup frozen peas - Salt and pepper, to taste - For the topping: - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, gluten free if desired - 1 tablespoon butter Instructions - Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Spray a 2-quart baking dish or 9x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, or grease with olive oil or butter. - First boil the noodles until al dente, according to the directions on the package. Once done cooking, drain and set aside. Cook your mushrooms: Place a large pot over medium-high heat and add in 1 tablespoon butter. Once butter melts, add in the mushrooms, onions, thyme and salt and pepper. Stir occasionally until mushrooms and onions are cooked down about 4-6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. In the same skillet you cooked mushrooms,. If it gets too thick, add in ¼ cup more milk. Once thick, turn off the heat and stir in garlic powder, parmesan cheese. salt and LOTS of freshly ground black pepper. Stir in cooked noodles, mushroom and onion mixture, drained tuna and peas. Season again with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour mixture into your prepared baking pan. - In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture on top of casserole and bake for 20-30 minutes. Serves 6. Recipe Notes How to make dairy free tuna noodle casserole: If you want to make this tuna noodle casserole dairy free, I suggest using vegan butter, a dairy free milk of choice and dairy free parmesan cheese. How to make gluten free tuna noodle casserole: This tuna noodle casserole can easily be made gluten free too! All you'll need to make sure to do is use gluten free pasta noodles, a gluten free all purpose flour and gluten free breadcrumbs (or substitute crushed up gluten free tortilla chips, potato chips or crackers). Nutrition Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats This post was originally published on September 10th, 2019, and republished on April 18th, 2022. YESSSSS! I have been very impatiently waiting for this recipe since you posted it on insta! 15 weeks manana and this looks like the PERFECT food for this prego momma’s! Thank you! It’s here!! So excited to share this recipe. Enjoy! 🙂 I made this and it was amazing! I substituted cheddar cheese for the parmesan. Delish!! Love it! So happy to hear that. Just made this awesome food today. It is so hearty and comfort food indeed! Thank you for sharing! (I wanted to give 5 stars but it won’t let me) Love it! So happy you liked this one 🙂 We’re working on a fix for the stars – thank you for the heads up! Made this for dinner last night–AMAZING! My 7-year-old loved it. Amazing! I’m so glad. This was my first time ever having or making tuna casserole and it was AMAZING. Thank you so much for such a delicious and easy-to-follow recipe. So glad you loved it! Perfect dinner staple 🙂 Just wanted to let you know broth is not listed in the ingredient list, but is described in the recipe. I’m just going to use water, since I didn’t buy broth. Also, the amounts of butter listed differ between the ingredient list and recipe. Hi Mary Beth! Thank you for the catch. I’ve updated the recipe, so it is now correct! So tasty! Thanks 🙂 Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 Made this last night and loved it! I grew up on tuna noodle casserole so I was so happy to find this healthier version. I didn’t modify anything, just topped with crushed up tortilla chips instead of breadcrumbs – came out great. Will be making again! Love that!! So happy you found this one. Best tuna noodle casserole we’ve made! Fresh mushrooms give a great burst of flavor. I increased ingredients by about 50% to use all of 16-oz box of pasta shells. Also sprinkled Parmesan over bread crumb topping for extra touch. Definitely a keeper! Perfect! So glad you all loved this one. Parmesan is the perfect topping, too. This is amazing! I could eat all six portions myself ☺️ So delicious! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 This was okay. My main issue was that it turned out pretty dry. The flavor was good though! Hmm that’s so odd, I haven’t had that issue and make it quite often. Perhaps it was the flour you used? Next time feel free to add a splash more milk! We don’t like mushrooms, so we skipped them and added an extra half cup of peas. Thought it was funny that my husband didn’t read this post, but the first thing he said was “Mmmm, comfort food.” Perfect! So glad you both enjoyed 🙂 I made this last night and it was absolutely delicious! Thank you! So happy to hear that! One of my favs 🙂 Could this be frozen after cooking? That should be fine! I have some instructions in the post for freezing before baking, but to do so after baking I would recommend bringing it to room temp and then freezing the entire pan. I would also make sure you double wrap it so that the casserole does not dry out (assuming you are freezing the entire pan.) Once ready to reheat, thaw it out and bake it covered at 350 degrees F for 30-45 minutes or until heated through. Another great recipe! I was hesitant about using almond milk in the sauce but the end flavor was so good! Love the how the thyme subtly comes through too. Yum! It adds the perfect creaminess! And yes those herbs are delicious 🙂 glad you enjoyed! Making this again for my family tonight, my toddler never eats mushrooms or tuna but she LOVES this! Amazing!! So happy to hear that 🙂 Tuna noodle are my favorite. Kindly make more of dishes regarding tuna noodles. My kids love it. So happy to hear that! Skipped the mushrooms because we were out, but thoroughly enjoyed by my picky husband and toddler! So happy they loved this one! It’s delicious even without mushrooms 🙂 My boyfriend and I used to make tuna casserole as our poor student dinner in college but so this gave us total nostalgia. We try to eat fresh, unprocessed dinners now and both loved this version. I used chickpea shell pasta and skipped the breadcrumbs to save time. I bet if we compared it side by side with the boxed stuff, this would be 100x better. Aw love that! I’m so glad you two found this recipe – so delicious. I was very very skeptical about using almond milk. I tend to be very picky with very sensitive taste buds, so I can taste right away when things taste “off.” Even while I was cooking the almond milk with butter/flour, I was thinking how this will not go well (at that step, the almond milk mix had an off sweetish flavor like a dessert even though I used unsweetened, non-vanilla almond milk). But somehow all the flavors came together at the end. My husband LOVED this dish and kept on gushing about it as we were eating. To me, it still tastes a tad bit off (Again, I’m very sensitive) but overall the dish is pretty great. My husband has asked me to make this every week. I’m so glad he loved it! Feel free to use any type of milk you’d like, too, if you’re sensitive to almond milk 🙂 Made this recipe for the first time last night and we loved it! I’m always hesitant to use almond milk because sometimes I think it can change the taste, but my husband had no idea. It tastes like a cleaner and more well balanced version of our childhood favorite. It definitely still gave us all the feel goods of an old favorite comfort food! We will be making it again soon! So happy you guys loved it! Comfort food at its finest 🙂 you can also feel free to use regular milk in this if you like! Since I’m not leaving my house right now, I had to use whatever I had. I did not have mushrooms, so used celery, onion, and part of a leek. I used almond milk, rotini, and toasted bread to make breadcrumbs. Even though I did not have nearly enough Parmesan cheese, this was delicious. I doubled the recipe and froze it, so we’ll have it next week, too. Looking forward to making it with the right ingredients and quantities. Perfect! This one’s great for customizing. So glad you enjoyed! LOVE this recipe! I am a fan of comfort food dishes & this one hits the spot! So creamy and delicious, I’d recommend to everyone. Also, one time I didn’t have mushrooms or peas, so I subbed asparagus & corn (don’t ask 😂) & it was just as delicious!! Perfect! This one’s great for customizing with veggies you have on-hand 🙂 so comforting! Love this recipe!! I always add extra tuna & breadcrumbs. Perfect! So delicious. The flavor was really good but I ended up having way more than what would fit in the recommended baking dish. I ended up filling a 9×13 baking dish and felt like there was way more pasta than needed. I think I’ll cut back on the ounces of pasta next time but otherwise the flavor was good! It could have potentially been the noodles you used or how you measured the noodles. Glad you liked the flavor though! Next time feel free to use less noodles if that is your preference. A great recipe that is easy to make your own with your choice of veggies. Leftovers if there are any are just as fantastic. Thank you! Absolutely! Perfect dinner 🙂 This didn’t last long to make a photograph of it…. we loved it! So I will definitely make this again and wanted to say I like the options to use other types of milk, noodles etc. Leaves lots of room to explore more! Thanks for sharing. Amazing! So happy to hear that. And yes, great for customizing! If you’re on the hunt for an incredibly comforting, nourishing, easy-to-throw-together, feel like you’re being hugged meal with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, THIS IS IT! This was my first time having tuna noodle casserole, and honestly, I was a bit skeptical about the concept of tuna mixed with noodles. But I trust Monique, and the moment I tasted it, I knew to never doubt her again. IT’S INCREDIBLE! Will definitely be a repeat in my household. I improvised a bit, since I didn’t have frozen peas, so instead I added an equal amount of chopped celery and cooked that with the mushrooms and onions. For the breadcrumb topping, I used crushed Simple Mills crackers, and it was delish! Just make sure they’re fully crushed. Thanks for another winning meal, Monique! Absolutely! This one’s great for customizing with what you have on-hand. The Simple Mills crackers sound AMAZING. Glad you loved this, Nicole! This was so fantastic. I only had purple onion so I used that & small jar of chopped pimentos. My pasta was small egg noodles. It tasted so different from when I made it with canned cream of mushroom soup & store bought bread crumbs. This is a keeper. Love it! Such great comfort food 🙂 I used spinach instead of mushrooms, and Panko breadcrumbs. Turned out delicious! Hubs loves this recipe, will make again! Thank you 🙂 Perfect! Such a great dinner 🙂 Can this tuna bake be frozen . Yep! Check out the blog post for freezing instructions 🙂 Loved this recipe! Very comforting which we need right now. My parents loved it as well and both had seconds. Thanks for another winner 🙂 Absolutely! So glad everyone loved it 🙂 Going on repeat. It was delicious. I made zero modifications, thank you! Perfect! So happy to hear that! I just love all your recipes! I made this one today and used chickpea pasta (only ingredient chickpeas) and gluten free flour. It worked very well! After it cooked is it ok to freeze I followed the directions very closely, proportions of ingredients were followed carefully, but the dish was (1) dry and (2) lacking flavor. In other words, it was bland. Would’ve perhaps benefits from more sauce and, I think, a more flavorful cheese, like a good cheddar. It was light on flavor for sure. Strange! I’ve always found this to be perfectly sauced and flavorful. You may want to add more salt next time, or feel free to incorporate another cheese. One of the best tuna casseroles I’ve made. The only ingredient I added was 2 cloves of chopped garlic with the mushrooms and onions. We loved it. Thanks. So happy to hear that!! My favorite Tuna Casserole had too much sodium, I went looking and yours seemed just the thing. I was disappointed that SODIUM WAS NOT LISTED in Nutrition. Hi Kevin! The sodium content depends a lot on the brands + any additional salt used in the recipe, which is why we don’t list it. I’d suggest taking a look at the back of the brands you’re using in the recipe to get a better idea! Delicious! Appreciate the make ahead/freeze direction Absolutely! Perfect, easy dinner 🙂 This casserole is INCREDIBLE. I followed it to a T and it came out perfectly. One person in my family that doesn’t like tuna loved this meal! There are so many textures in it that go together so well making each bite exciting and fun to eat. Love love love this comfort tasty food 🥘 Amazing! So glad everyone loved it! I made this delicious casserole and it turned out great. I added a little more tuna and some other items that are listed in this recipe to have a little more. I also added, instead of just peas, a stir fry blend of veggies because I wanted corn and carrots in it, too. It turned out perfect. It fit in a 13×9 casserole dish. My husband said it was very good. So I am keeping this recipe for sure for a monthly bake. Thank you. Love that! Glad you both enjoyed 🙂 I appreciate that the recipe is editable by #of servings desired. I also like the adaptations to gluten free and dairy free choices. Absolutely! Enjoy 🙂 I added celery to this recipe for added texture and flavor. It was delicious! Didn’t even miss the canned soup usually added to this casserole. I also skipped the butter and used coconut oil in it’s place. Topped it off with whole wheat breadcrumbs to keep in even healthier. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I will definitely be making this again! Perfect! Love that! I did not grow up with casseroles and I would bet my mom hasn’t touched a can of tuna in her life so I did not have anything to base this recipe off of. All I can say is WOW. 10/10 dish that I will be making this again and again! I added 2 stalks of celery to the mushroom/onion mix as well as some chili flakes. I also used a higher end tuna canned in lemon and oil and that worked wonderfully. I love how peppery this dish is (I really went for it, as you suggest) and I love how quickly it comes together! Thank you for another great recipe! Amazing! Also the lemon tuna sounds delicious. Glad you enjoyed! Another delicious, comforting meal. So good with whole wheat pasta! Absolutely! Great for fall and winter. Delicious light alternative. I used it for meal prep and it was perfect! Such a great dinner! So good! I made half to freeze and half for now, but something tells me the freezer meals won’t last in there long! I followed the directions, but added a couple cloves of garlic with the onion and mushrooms and some Parmesan to the bread crumbs topping. Absolutely delicious, maybe better than the original version! Perfect! Best dinner for fall & winter 🙂 Dare I say better than my childhood tuna casserole? This was spot on! A well rounded dish leaving you satisfied. The perfect comfort dish on a chilly day. Absolutely! Comfort food at its finest 🙂 One of the first things I learned to make as a kid was a tuna casserole with a canned soup base – every time I make this I’m thankful for how my skills have progressed. As written this dish has a very classic flavor profile. I usually add some chipotle powder for a hint of warmth and a little extra milk for a creamier end product. Perfect! So glad you enjoyed! SO GOOD! I used oat milk and GF pasta instead and it turned out amazing 🙂 ate leftovers for breakfast today.. Perfect! Good enough for breakfast 😉 First time i made this recipe. But, with 5 stars I couldn’t resist. It was awful no flavor and dry. I was very disappointed. After it took me a good hour to get it in the oven. I did everything the recipe called for. Very disappointed. So sorry to hear that, Laura! Did you follow the recipe exactly? It should be super flavorful and not dry (just like the photos and video). I wish I could help troubleshoot! This was SO delicious. My kids and husband loved it so much. I used Cheddar style Daiya in the white sauce and topped it with both Daiya and gluten free bread crumbs. The white sauce was just so amazing I’m trying to find excuses to make it for other dishes. I did use Trader Joe’s Umami seasoning in it. Love it! So glad it was a hit! Thanks so much for sharing this Monique. I love casseroles and I feel like you can never go wrong with the classic tuna version. I also appreciate you showing us how to freeze this casserole. That is super helpful. Absolutely! Hope you love this one 🙂 all i can say is my husband had 3 large helpings and as i was cleaning up dinner i could NOT. STOP. EATING. this dish. 🙂 even though it’s a little time consuming (but not much) i love that this healthier version exists for an update to an old classic. thank you!! Absolutely! So glad you both loved it! I love this recipe Monique! I have made it well over 4 times now. Only thing that changes is the kind of milk I use and I added some cheddar instead cause its usually what I have in the fridge. Perfect! So glad you love this one! Tuna noodle casserole is one of my absolute favorite foods but the classic recipe always leaves me feeling kind of gross after. SO grateful for this version… same hearty comfort dish with better ingredients (although I do still top with Lays potato chips instead of breadcrumbs!). This has become a dinner staple. The flavour is really comforting; super creamy. It doesn’t take very long to put together. Everyone enjoys it! OMG This is sooooo delicious. I used panko bread crumbs on top. Love it! Glad you enjoyed! I made this recipe months ago as is (loved it) and I made it again last night. Time was of the essence and I skipped the baking and breadcrumbs and it was just as delicious as the first time! Perfect! Glad you love this one! Not your grandma’s TNC! I made this for my 11-month-old daughter and SHE LOVED IT. I have never been a huge fan of tuna noodle casserole and I even thought it was delicious. Will definitely be making it again. Amazing! So happy to hear that! Really yummy recipe! Have kept this one and will make it again! 😆👏🤗😋 So glad that you’re enjoying it, Kay! Although I intentionally way undercooked my pasta, I thought this tasted much better before it was baked. Hi, Linda! Do you mean that the pasta overcooked while baking? Hi! Would this work with rice or spelt flour? Thanks! I haven’t personally tried it, so not quite sure! If you’ve had luck with those in thickening bechamel sauces, go for it! 🙂 This way be a dumb question , but I don’t really ever eat tuna … what kind of tuna in can should you use for this recipe ? do you use tuna in water for this recipe ? Thanks Very excited to try this one out Not a dumb question at all! You can use any tuna you like, but I usually get it packed in water 🙂 ENJOY! LOVED it! I didn’t have mushrooms so omitted those, I used Panko breadcrumbs which I had on hand, and I used 14 oz of tuna, because my cans were 7oz each….but it still was delicious! Thank you! Nice, so glad that all worked out and that you loved it! Yummy! Woohoo! Happy you enjoyed it! Loved this recipe, but any suggestions on how I can prevent it from getting too dry without adding more calories. My friend suggested I put some pasta water in the cream of mushroom mixture. What do you suggest? Pasta water is a great idea! Healthy, hard to tell. Since the butter, tuna, cheese and milk all add CHOLESTEROL. But you conveniently left that OUT of your nutritional values. Hmmmm. We don’t calculate cholesterol but you’re welcome to use an online nutritional calculator to do so. Also this is made with unsweetened almond milk to lighten it up a bit. My crew doesn’t eat mushrooms… assuming I can just leave them out… or is it important for texture? Is adding celery an option or will it be too watery? Thanks! Don’t think you need it for the texture, based on what I saw. I’m pretty sure you can leave it out. You can definitely leave them out! Shouldn’t there be some type of broth used in the recipe? 1 3/4 cup of milk doesn’t seem like enough liquid for all the flour. Thanks! Nope! I’ve found it’s enough liquid. I was pretty disappointed. Based on the other reviews, I thought this would become my new favorite, quick recipe. Two hours later, I think I can say the following: This recipe isn’t simple, or easy. I found it very, very involved. Usually, when making tuna casseroles I want the recipe to be SIMPLE. (I fancier recipes when I have time for fancy). There are too many steps, and way too many bowls for the recipe to be considered simple. The prep takes a long time, between making pasta, mushrooms and onions with different spices, and milk and flour as well as the cleanup, between the frying pan, pot and bowl to wash, in addition to measuring cups and spoons, and cutting boards and knives (and counters). Also, did I mention the time it takes to get from the measurements to the instructions? It would drastically improve the recipe and cut down the time making it if the measurements were listed inside the instructions, to take away all that time scrolling and searching for amounts. The recipe didn’t mention if the cooking at the end should be covered or uncovered. I kept the casserole uncovered. The noodles on top got a bit crunchy. The amount of veggies was also a bit stingy (you could’ve easily upped it to 1 1/2 or even 2 cups of peas, corn, carrots etc.), and there was lots of butter, so in case you wanted to consider this recipe healthy – I would. Were the results worth it? It was yummy. But… Don’t think I’ll be making it again. As I said, tuna casserole recipes should be simple. This one wasn’t. Just for the record, here’s the bowls I dirtied (before this recipe even got in the oven!): 1. the pasta 2. onions and sauce 3.onion bowl until sauce is ready 4. pasta drainer 5.butter and breadcrumbs Sorry to hear this took longer than expected! I haven’t found it to be too time-intensive, but I appreciate the feedback. You cook it uncovered. You might find some quicker recipes you like in my 30-minute meals category 🙂 I love this recipe! So easy and hearty, good enough to please everyone! I used to make it dairy-free with no parmesan, dairy-free butter, and either almond milk or coconut milk. Still just as delicious! Now I prefer to make it with the parm, it just adds an extra layer that dairy-free cheese can’t really replicate. Sneaky vegetable in here too, with the peas and mushrooms, and easy to sneak in others since the sauce is so great! I never had tuna casserole growing up, yet this recipe is so cozy and nostalgic that it feels like I’ve been eating it since I was born! I made this last night, and OMGosh! It screams comfort food! So easy and tweakable (is that a word?). Very creamy and satisfying. I highly recommend this recipe! It’s going into our family recipe file. Thank you for the scrumptiousness! I have always made the usual tuna casserole (which we like very much), just tuna, noodles, cream of mushroom soup, sometimes sauteed mushrooms, peas and a little swiss cheese). This recipe takes it up a notch and we loved it. The depth of the flavor is interesting and I will definitely be making this dish again and again. It would also be a good dish to take to a family or share with someone living alone. It certainly makes enough to share. So happy you loved this one, Carole! Thank you! This was really yummy, my whole family enjoyed it! We didn’t finish it, have about half left. I saw the freezing instructions say to not bake it before freezing; but do you think it’d be ok to freeze it after having cooked it? Thanks for another great (and kid friendly) recipe. I’m glad you loved it! And yes definitely, you can freeze the leftovers 🙂 Very good! The instructions say to add LOTS of salt and pepper, which I thought I did, but it was still a bit bland when we served it up. Once we sprinkled on some more, it was so tasty, and my picky husband had seconds. Said picky husband also hates mushrooms, or at least seeing them; he actually likes the taste if he doesn’t know he’s eating them. So I stealthily cooked them up, then blended them in my Vitamix with some of the white sauce, then combined everything in a big bowl as directed. He was none the wiser, and we have our tuna casserole recipe! This was delicious- a pretty easy weeknight dinner! Bonus points because my toddler and my 10 month old ate it! We did substitute canned salmon for the canned tuna only because that was in the pantry My MIL has always made my husbands favorite tuna noodle casserole but It’s sooo rich I only make it for special occasions. This is the BEST alternative! Tastes even better than my MIL (shhh) and I feel so much less guilty because of the healthy swaps. Obsessed!!! Haha I won’t tell her!! 😛 SO glad you love this one. Thanks, Ashley! Love this recipe and have made it exactly as written several times. If you like me are old enough to remember the canned soup version, just forget that bad memory and make this lovely casserole . I use Wild Planet tuna and do not drain it. I use any pasta I have on hand and don’t measure or weigh it just use as much or as little as you like. Always use almond milk. Use Panko bread crumbs. Kids and husbands eat it up! Hahaha yes I much prefer the homemade version, too!! I’m so glad you loved this one 🙂 Delicious! I used oat milk, gluten free flour and pasta and it was great… Thank you for this gorgeous recipe! Nice, glad those GF subs worked well and that you loved it! It tastes fine, but is really kind of dull. The spices (garlic powder and thyme) don’t seem to add much punch to the flavor, leaving the dish bland. Wondering if there’s a way to liven it up more? Sorry you didn’t find it very flavorful! I personally do so I’m wondering if maybe it needed more salt + garlic powder? A little lemon juice might help bring some bright flavor, as well 🙂 Used canned mackerel and it was delicious! I really enjoyed this. I add some hot sauce sometimes and reheat it with some Mexican cheese til it gets crispy in a pan…YUM. I just wish I knew how big a “serving” was, for the nutritional facts posted. My husband wants to eat some but is watching his calories and the vagueness of “1 serving” isn’t something he can do. 🙁 Hi, Anne! SO glad you loved it 🙂 It’s a little hard to say exactly how big (inches-wise) a single serving is because it depends on what size pan you use, but it’s one sixth of the whole casserole. Hope that’s helpful! I tried the Tuna noodle casserole and it was the best? I have tried many recipes as I’m all about healthy and tasty cooking and this is by far the tastiest, flavorful, and easy to prepare recipe. Yay!! I’m so happy you tried it and that you loved it, Marlene. Thanks for the review! I was so bored of everything I make and had virtually no leftovers and nothing defrosted till I thought of tuna Casserole! But I’ve always made it with the gloppy Campbell’s soup, which I didn’t have either. A short search for a healthy version led me to this absolute gem! I used less butter (plant based), whole wheat flour and whole wheat noodles,, skipped the mushrooms (yuck in my book)and it was DELICIOUS! I could have eaten the whole thing but I’m glad I saved some for later this week! I could say it was a tad bland so I might spice it up next time with a teensy but of mustard. But the bottom line is that there WILL be a next time! Thank you for sharing and for those wonderfully comprehensive and easy to follow directions too! Please keep those healthy dishes coming!❤️ SO happy you found this recipe, Ellie, and that you enjoyed it! I bet a little mustard would be incredible. Glad it was easy to follow, too! Thanks so much for leaving a review 🙂 Tuna casserole is one of my husbands favorite childhood recipes, this is a recipe I can get behind. Absolutely delicious and super easy for a weeknight family meal. Loved it! Super quick & easy. All of your recipes are just incredible. Aw thank you!! I’m SO happy you loved it ❤️ Yum, yum,yum! I substituted artichoke hearts for the peas (highly recommend) but otherwise made this as written. Chose to make with a mixture of almond and cashew milks. I will make it again…and again. Artichokes are an EXCELLENT idea!! Thanks for sharing! I made this for the first time and it is delicious! Given some of the comments that said it was too bland, I made sure I added LOTS of black pepper and used more salt than I normally would. It was very tasty!! Forgot to add that I used panko breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese

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Simon Grunfeld: With our topology of multiple exchanges, any trader can see in real time, how trades are realistically executed, routed and how coins are delivered. Anyone can compare the service and offerings, by any of our white labels and evaluate. CryptoNewsZ: At present, the regulator and government from around the world become strict towards the cryptocurrency-based trading and exchanges. Is Ibinex approved by the regulatory authority in which it operates from various geographies like Israel, Estonia, New York, Panama City, Philippines as stated in your website? Simon Grunfeld: Ibinex limits its scope of operations, to specific territories. Our regulatory framework doesn’t currently allow us to take on US clients. Ibinex operates currently in the EU, Latam and South America, Africa and Asia. CryptoNewsZ: Does the Federal Reserve, Securities Exchange Commission support to execute such kind of practices when you operate from the U.S.? Simon Grunfeld: Because we do not yet cater to US clients, we do not yet fall under SEC jurisdiction. We are planning a US presence at some point soon and have taken the steps to comply when we do. CryptoNewsZ: Does your team comprise of industry veterans having strong domain expertise on the blockchain technology? Can you please elaborate more about your team and senior management? Simon Grunfeld: Some of the upper management, have worked in crypto for a number of years. However, many of our staff (both management and below), are fairly new to the industry of Blockchain and cryptocurrencies. CryptoNewsZ: What sorts of corporate governance and internal controls systems does Ibinex have in place to implement defense mechanism? Simon Grunfeld: The level of our security is no doubt military grade. Everything from the Office security and down to the operating system of each of our servers, is accounted for, documented and part of our 24/7/365 defense systems. CryptoNewsZ: How does Ibinex assist financial institution, token project, media company or any entrepreneur to launch their private label exchange? Simon Grunfeld: Ibinex has a process, by which we evaluate the strategic intents, team members, capabilities and past experiences of each of our white label candidates. Once we size them up, we’re able to create the customized environment for them that lines up with their business strategy. CryptoNewsZ: How will Ibinex assist businesses to overcome numerous challenges like pricing & liquidity, KYC & onboarding, licensing & regulations, coin listing, affordable listing through its exchange to exchange ecosystem in place? Simon Grunfeld: As our ecosystem grows, so does the availability and liquidity of inventory, thus lowering spreads even more. Our platform and company, provides automated and manually approved AML/KYC processes, thus taking this task out of the WL’s hands. Coin listing happen when our clients are asking to list a new coin or token, because of either new-found interest, or the exchange has done a deal with that vendor. We try to be as cost effective in adding those coins/tokens, seeing we’re in business to monetize trade volume and not technology services. Business can opt to use our licenses (if they choose the IB route), and streamline their time to market, or not. Its available when needed. CryptoNewsZ: How do you reach your market potential? Do you see any major competitors in the same space? Simon Grunfeld: We see a lot of competition in our space now, but most of it isn’t real as they claim. In addition, we have a strong workforce, flat matrix and 4 offices worldwide and leadership with experience in the FX/Commodities market, which translates very easily over to our own. We have not yet reached our market potential – that will come into play when we’re able to create new products and instruments on our platform. CryptoNewsZ: What’s your target market? What’s your immediate plan to tap your target market? Can you please describe any strategy? Simon Grunfeld: Our target market is divided into 4 categories of client: 1) Brokers – institutions that are currently offering trading services, in the FX, Commodities, Equities, etc, markets and are now looking to offer their customers another asset class in crypto. 2) Marketers – groups of marketing professionals, who have a deep book of retail/institutional business and are looking to create a new Brand for Cryptos. 3) BlockChain developers – who have build their own blockchain/coin, and require a way to sell coins/tokens of their own, or tokens of 3rd party developers. 4) Miners – Holders of large amounts of inventory, are looking for retail outlets to sell their coins, and Ibinex platform allows them to do exactly that. CryptoNewsZ: How does your ‘Security Token Model’ fund your business? Can you tell us a bit about the business models you work with and how does it differ from the existing players in the market? Where do they come from? How do they work? Why can users be sure that the system is fool-proof? Simon Grunfeld: Our model is different from the 99% of the others on the market, seeing that ours is first and foremost not a utility token. The difference between a security and utility, is fundamental; utility suggests there’s an actual Use for the token (ie. Paying commissions, using a platform, etc), whereas a security allows owners to own an asset without taking actual possession (ie. A part of the company and/or profits/dividends based on performance). All existing players in the market currently issue utility tokens; which have almost no regulatory hurdles to overcome. They are easy to setup, deploy and monetize (the issuing company decides on the use cases for the tokens issued). Cost of ownership is limited to the usage and utility. On the other hand, a security token has immense legal and compliance requirements (based on the issuing jurisdiction), is not subject to our own interpretation of its utility seeing that it secures a form of profit sharing of our company and therefore invites more institutional investors than retail ones. As a regulated entity, Ibinex is narrowing down the jurisdictions we’re about to launch our token offering through – provided it meets all regulation/legal requirements, so we can assure our investors the proper protection of funds and processes, via transparency and compliance. CryptoNewsZ: How does Ibinex differentiate itself from its major competitors like Binance, Blockex, AlphaPoint, Houbi on numerous parameters and token comparison? Simon Grunfeld: Ibinex is a hybrid of technology and liquidity, compliance and operations. Most of our competitors have a “one or the other” focus; Alphapoint is a software company with great tech, but lack much of the operational benefits clients find with Ibinex. Binance and Houbi have great operational resources, but their tech isn’t as flexible as one would hope, in the case of a B2B white label. Blockex has its roots in Binary and CFDs; nice platform, but unable to provide the banking/fiduciary responsibilities, which Ibinex does provide. CryptoNewsZ: What kind of risk management practice that the Ibinex has in place that provides it with shelter from unwanted events? Simon Grunfeld: Our technology stack infrastructure utilizes best practices when it comes to data latency, attack mitigation, and disaster recovery. We have the proper monitoring and logging of network events and have the proper countermeasures for when an alert is generated. CryptoNewsZ: Which geographies do you operate at present? Any future plans to enter into new geographies or markets going forward? If so, what will be your strategy to go for it? Simon Grunfeld: We currently operate primarily in the EU. We’re expanding our reach to LATAM, South America, Africa, and Asia CryptoNewsZ: What are your thoughts about the future of cryptocurrency as a whole, and specifically about crypto trading? Are we likely to see a mass entry into the market for traditional capital anytime soon? Simon Grunfeld: My thoughts are 2 folded: how the industry is forming now, and how options for new outcomes in innovation and commerce will dictate future opportunities. Innovation in this market is still producing new ways of thinking of blockchain and we’ve certainly only seen the beginning of such advancements. CryptoNewsZ: What role is Ibinex playing in the development of the crypto economy in your country? Simon Grunfeld: Ibinex is a premier catalyst for growth in the midsize marketplace. Specifically, remittance services in developing countries: Panama, Philippines, LATAM, SE Asia. CryptoNewsZ: What sorts of other regulatory and taxation issues arisen in the countries where you currently operate or are going to operate? And how will you tackle with them? Simon Grunfeld: Regulation is our biggest hurdle, as every jurisdiction has its own rules and guidelines we need to work within. Source of funds, KYC/AML processes, are somewhat different from location to location, but overall, we’re able to minimize the exposure there by simply adhering to US standards (even though we do not, at this point, take clients from the US). CryptoNewsZ: How the most prevalent issues in the cryptocurrency like price manipulation, pump and dump ICO schemes, lack of uniformity in price, cybercriminals, and hackers will affect Ibinex technology? Does Ibinex have any defense mechanism in place in order to ward off these anomalies? Simon Grunfeld: The best way to manage malicious intent, is to have the right protocols in place to identify, log and then mitigate the issues in real-time. With ICOs, we perform a full legal vetting of the application, to make sure it falls within our guidelines, otherwise, we don’t list them. The key to dealing with threats from ill-intended people is to consistently keep our security team as updated as possible and provide them with the best tools possible to address some of these examples. CryptoNewsZ: With the innovative platform in place, Ibinex Financial Corp bridges the gap between traditional exchanges and Crypto traders. How does Ibinex replace the traditional system where financial institutions had to develop their own exchange and privately source for cryptocurrency liquidity thereby eliminating the pain? Can you please elaborate more about your innovative platform? Simon Grunfeld: The Build vs Buy analysis that an organization performs before making such a decision, requires the input from subject matter experts in the area of engineering and blockchain development. This area of IP is so new, that it makes sense for companies to buy ready-made technology and use their available resources in order to market and sell their offering. CryptoNewsZ: Since Ibinex has developed CryptoBridge, a white label exchanges that offers patent-pending proprietary software solutions, how does it enable trading as well as offer the best user experience while executing a trade through Ibinex? Is the platform easy to use or highly sophisticated model which requires certain preliminary training? Simon Grunfeld: Our offering of the Cryptobridge, in no way effects user experience through our, or any other 3rd party interface. The development and release of Cryptobridge are meant to help organizations tap into our growing pool of liquidity while keeping their development costs down to a minimum. This is a server-side platform and in no way effects the UI/UX. The method by which our liquidity aggregation and order management is conducted is only making execution of trades faster, more reliable and ultimately more profitable to the stakeholders involved. CryptoNewsZ: Since Ibinex is an Exchange to Exchange Ecosystem channeling the power of thousands of exchanges with one unified backend infrastructure. How does it assist users significantly and cost-effectively? Simon Grunfeld: Our clients have a go-to-market strategy, which involves planning the deployment of the exchange + liquidity + the operational overhead needed to support retail/institutional customers. By using our turn-key solution, businesses can focus on the sales and marketing of their platform and offering, while allowing us to power their needs. CryptoNewsZ: What sorts of Crypto world’s biggest challenges does Ibinex see and aim to eliminate through a variety of mechanism in place? How will you streamline all those challenges sprawling their legs? Can you please focus on it? Simon Grunfeld: One of the biggest challenges that we’re aiming to resolve, is the streamlined onboarding process for customers onto our platform. KYC/AML processes are different across the globe and as compliance and regulatory requirements begin to grow, we understand the need to streamline this process to the meet gold standards. We’ve put much time and effort into understanding how to best capture, validate and repeat this process 1000s of times a day, in a simple and scale-able method. CryptoNewsZ: What sorts of security measures taken by cryptocurrency exchanges? Are they sufficient enough that one can apply? What sorts of others may you expect to introduce at Ibinex? Simon Grunfeld: Security is usually the #1 concern with regard to cryptocurrencies. There is no lack of individuals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities and steal from victims. We have put much effort into securing our physical and virtual infrastructures and have made it so that our customers are completely hands off. We can always do more, and we try to without us compromising the essence of what we’re doing as an organization. So as new advancements in security and monitoring become available, so will our adoption. CryptoNewsZ: A large number of exchanges are coming with a variety of business models in place. What do you think the core competitiveness of these exchange is? For the new entrants, what are the barriers associated with it? Simon Grunfeld: As in any industry, the best advantage that any organization can have over its competitors, is its people. The service that they offer to their clients, which nobody can compete with, is directly and unequivocally associated to the people on the team – from support, to client services, to accounts payable, HR, sales, etc, etc. It’s the organizations people and leadership, which provide the services to their customers, which are the most important aspect of any service offering. For all new entrants, the biggest barrier is their ability to provide client services and engage their base with the proper ideas and initiatives, if their own knowledge and capabilities are still new. CryptoNewsZ: In your opinion, what are your personal and your team’s advantages and disadvantages? What opportunities and threats are you facing at the moment? Simon Grunfeld: My personal advantage is the background I have in IT and the financial markets. I have launched and operated an FX brokerage, trading platforms, I’ve provided support, liquidity and risk management, I’ve seen how exploits lead to lost money, how regulatory bodies act in according to their mandates and how businesses start from nothing and become dominant players. CryptoNewsZ: What sorts of Corporate Social Responsibility are expected at Ibinex? Simon Grunfeld: An Organization’s resources and capabilities are key factors for a sustained competitive advantage, they need to possess core competencies which are valuable and rare, and inherently focus attention on their value over others. Our first responsibility is to our customers and the security of funds (both Fiat and Crypto). Other than the usual responsibilities we take on as a company, we also are focused on solving remittance problems in areas of the world in dire need of better banking solutions CryptoNewsZ: How do you see the future of cryptocurrencies and crypto major like, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin? Simon Grunfeld: Bitcoin is and will always be the ‘gold standard’ of crypto. Ethereum is a close second, by showing the world what a 2nd generation blockchain is capable of doing. Ripple and Litecoin, or any others like them, are symbols of growth and potential in the industry. CryptoNewsZ: How do you see the future market status of Exchanges globally? Simon Grunfeld: The future market statuses of global exchanges will begin to go through a significant compliance and regulatory change. For example, in the US we will see crypto adoption by federal regulators, as it is with any commodity currently offered. We will also see a wider adoption by other government regulatory bodies in the EU, Asia, and South America, as the need for regulation in this industry is ever growing, allowing normalization to occur. CryptoNewsZ: Can we expect any strategic alliance like, mergers & acquisitions, a strategic tie-up that you may explore with anyone domestically or globally in order to reduce competition or scale up at the highest level? If so, can you elaborate about synergy emanating out of it? Simon Grunfeld: Ibinex is always looking to take the necessary strategic steps to secure our position in the marketplace. We feel very strongly about our competitive advantages, and although our competitors are few and far in between, we feel there’s enough runway in this industry to allow for it. CryptoNewsZ: Why should users use Ibinex and not the others available on the market? Simon Grunfeld: Ibinex provides its customers with a complete turn-key solution, allowing anyone to start an exchange from scratch, then begin to market and sell it, while promoting entrepreneurial among members of our ecosystem. CryptoNewsZ: Where do you see Ibinex in the next 3 to 5 years from now? Simon Grunfeld: Being listed on a public exchange and powering 1000 white labels across the world.

/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70174093/usa_today_16299932.0.jpg) In the second half of 2021, the Vancouver Whitecaps looked like they might have a path to being legitimately good. But one area that stood out right away was the quality of the “guys” was a bit lacking. When Vanni Sartini had to turn to his depth players he was frequently having to lean on players who were out of position or who were lacking in ability. In a weak-link game (a game where the winner is more likely to be determined by who doesn’t have the worst player rather than who has the best player) that’s a bad thing. When you look back at recent supporters shield winners, one thing that really stands out for all of them is the quality of depth in their squads. In the case of the 2020 Philadelphia Union and the 2018 New York Red Bulls, the quality of depth in their squads ended up being more important than their lack of star power. So, I decided to look at some guys who could help with that. Methodology: I have been writing for Eighty-Six Forever for five years. If you do anything for five years you are going to get better at it. I have done articles suggesting players who would be good signings in the past and, looking back on them, I don’t think they were very good. I think I tried too hard to cover the whole world and as a result, I ended up talking about players I only had a surface-level understanding of. This time I wanted things to be different. This has been a much more long-term project. The players discussed in this article were first identified using data. I then spent months watching as much of them as a person who doesn’t get paid to watch soccer could reasonably be expected to (if somebody would like to pay me to watch soccer then please get in touch). The profile I was looking for was simple: young, cheap, domestic, able to make an impact in MLS. The first three are had easily enough but combining them with the 4th one is where things get tricky I was also cognizant of Axel Schuster’s stated desire to turn the Whitecaps into “the Athletic Bilbao” of MLS. I.E relying as much as possible on Canadian talent. These players are not only Canadians but I did focus more on Canadians than Americans. There are also a couple of major limitations to my approach. Firstly, my assessments are based only on what the players do on the field. I don’t know, for example, if any of these players are rabid anti-vaxers (I can guarantee nobody in this article is good enough to be worth putting up with that kind of nonsense). I also don’t know who might be available in the MLS super draft. The Whitecaps have been taking the super draft more seriously in recent years and have snatched up a couple of good players, the most successful of which has been Javain Brown. But I have no idea where one would even begin to start watching NCAA soccer in Canada, let alone who the good players are. Like the rest of you, I just wait until a week before the draft and read how tall every player is in the mock drafts. I also don’t have a very good sense of which players are coming through the academy who might be worthwhile. Trying to figure out which academy players were good was a bit like pre-1989 Sovietology at the best of times but the pandemic has totally destroyed any idea I have who is a worthwhile prospect. There are three strikers mentioned in this article but if the next Cyle Larin is just over the hill then they probably don’t make as much sense to pursue. With all that out of the way let’s finally get into this behemoth. Goalkeeper(s): I sort of doubt the Whitecaps would be interested in signing a goalkeeper this offseason. But, if one of Crepeau or Hasal gets sold (I think this upcoming window is a great time to do that to avoid a Harvey/Adekugbe type of situation) then they might want a bit more help. In that eventuality, there is one obvious choice to pursue. Player: Dayne St. Clair Age: 24 Position: Goalkeeper Nationality: Canadian Current Club: Minnesota United Estimated Cost: Transfermarkt lists a 1.1M value but recent poor form may mean he is available for considerably less. The third-choice keeper for the Canadian national got off to a terrible start in 2021 and was dropped after three games by Minnesota. He hasn’t made a club appearance since. But he has had many more good games than he has had bad ones in his career and he makes surprisingly little money. He seems to be well and truly out of Adrian Heath’s plans and MLS backups hardly ever cost anything. St. Clair might be a bit more expensive than the average back up but his value will probably never be lower than it is right now. In 2020 St. Clair saved the second-most goals above expected per game of goalkeepers that played at least 450 minutes. As we have seen with Matt Turner in New England, a keeper who can save significantly more goals than average can be the thing that elevates a good team to contender status. The 2020 season is a much bigger sample size which leads me to believe that his three terrible games in 2021 were probably a fluke. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023805/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.03.50_PM.png) There are two elements of St. Clair’s game that might give the Whitecaps pause. Firstly, he isn’t the most aggressive on crosses. In 2020 he stopped only 3.7% of the crosses he faced. That’s about half the league average. He is, however, quite willing to come off his line to cut out through balls. The other problem is that when he has the ball at his feet he usually sends it into row Z. This seems to be partly a tactical thing as Tyler Miller does basically the same for Minnesota. But even still, St. Clair’s accuracy is a concern. He had one of the worst long pass completion rates of any keeper in the league in 2020. But, despite those potential drawbacks, St. Clair represents good value overall. Especially if Youssef Dahha can do for him what he did for Crepeau. Fullbacks/Wingbacks: Fullback was one of the areas where the Whitecaps’ depth was most exposed in 2021. They managed to find diamonds in the rough in Cristian Gutiérrez and Javain Brown but when one of them was injured Sartini was often forced to play a midfielder out of position. The Whitecaps have shifted to a back 3/5 so it’s vital that the players playing in these roles be able to attack as well as defend. Player: Diyaeddine Abzi Age: 23 Position: Left (Wing) Back Nationality: Canadian Current Club: York United Estimated Cost: 100-200k This is maybe the biggest no-brainer signing out there right now. Abzi is basically CPL Ali Adnan. Tremendous dribbling ability, great offensive contribution, and defending that’s good enough that it shouldn’t be a major problem in MLS. Abzi has a transfermarkt value of 165k and his contract expires next year so York United won’t have the strongest negotiating position. As I have discussed in previous articles, it is difficult to project how CPL production would translate to MLS. But the best estimate I can come up with, based on the performance of the few players who have played in both leagues, is about a 40% drop-off in production. Even with that hefty cut, Abzi would still be in the top 25% of MLS fullbacks for xG+xA with a similar xG level to players like Richie Lareya, Sam Vines, and Cristian Gutiérrez. His dribbling game is also pretty incredible. He is amongst the leaders in CPL fullbacks with 2.6 completed dribbles per game, a total that not a single MLS fullback can match this season. Obviously, we would expect him to be less dominant after making the jump to MLS but clearly, he would be able to run the ball up the field pretty well. Abzi’s defensive game is solid enough, though it probably wouldn’t be anything special at an MLS level. He was exposed a little bit in York United’s game against Toronto F.C. But other players were a lot more exposed and in a back five, there would be a lot less individual stress placed on him. His defensive numbers are down this year but I think that’s partly down to being played on the left side of the midfield a lot more often this season. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023809/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.07.19_PM.png) Player: Raheem Edwards Age: 26 Position: Full Back/Winger Nationality: Canadian Estimated Cost: $0 (pending free agent) Every year Raheem Edwards gets signed by a new team, puts up some decent numbers in limited minutes, and then he gets unceremoniously shipped somewhere else. This year, once again, it looks like Edwards will be looking for a new club, as he is a pending free agent. This can be a great opportunity for the Whitecaps because he really is pretty good. Scoring from players outside of Gauld and White is, in my view, one of the things the team will need to take the next step. Only two fullbacks (with at least 1000 minutes played) had more xG+xA per game than Edwards last season so he definitely provides that. Plus he was in the 99th percentile for pressures and the 97th percentile for tackles so there is no shortage of defensive effort to his game. If the Whitecaps were to sign a wing-back from outside the league he would have to be pretty damned good to exceed the level that Edwards has already shown he can achieve in the league. You don’t have to surrender any assets to get him, he made less than 100k this season, and he fits with the club’s stated desire to mostly rely on Canadians. Overall he just makes a ton of sense. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023813/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.09.17_PM.png) Player: Kunle Dada-Luke Age: 21 Position: Right Back Nationality: Canadian Current Club: Pacific F.C Estimated Cost: $0 (contract expiring according to Transfermarkt) When watching Pacific F.C-looking at the usual suspects-one thought kept occurring to me. “That guy with the headband looks pretty good.” I then looked at some stats and came to the conclusion that my eyes were not deceiving me, and thus Kunle Dada-Luke is on this list. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023819/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.11.03_PM.png) Dada-Luke is extremely athletic creative, and defensively sound. There’s just nothing relevant for a wing-back where he is weak at the CPL level. His biggest weakness if probably his 1v1 defending (though even here we must note that he is comfortably above the CPL average). This weakness, such as it is, is a lot less likely to be exploited if he were playing in a back 3/5 as there would be a lot more cover for him. A wingback role would also give him a lot more freedom to get forward. The fullbacks who generated more xG+xA per 90 minutes than him also got to play significant minutes on the wing. Dada-Luke, on the other hand, has almost always played on the right side of a back four. So perhaps, with more freedom to attack, an even greater offensive breakout is possible. Of course, MLS is a step up from the CPL so you can’t necessarily expect the same level of all-around dominance. But he’s only 21 so there is room to grow and it would be hard for him to put up a more impressive performance at the CPL level than this so I think he’s earned a shot. He earned a starting spot relatively late in the season but he played 10 matches worth of minutes so I think we can be confident this performance is not a fluke. Player: Zachary Verhoven Age: 23 Position: Right Back/Right Wing Nationality: Canadian Current Club: Atletico Ottawa Estimated Cost: $0 (contract expiring according to Transfermarkt) For a while, Zachary Verhoven was in no man’s land when it came to career progression. He was not quite productive enough to be a winger and not quite defensively sound enough to be a full back at a higher level. But the Whitecaps’ switch to a back 3/5 opens up all kinds of opportunities for fullback/winger tweeners. Verhoven generated the most xG+xA amongst fullbacks and wingbacks while playing on by far the CPL’s worst team. To me that says with better teammates he could do even more. Now, he is a bit soft defensively and a bit easy to knock off the ball. You would probably be relying on the right-sided centre-back to cover for him pretty often. But his offensive production, even on the pathetic Atletico Ottawa team, suggests he’d be pushing the top 10 attacking fullbacks in MLS. For a guy on an expiring contract that’s pretty good. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023825/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.15.18_PM.png) Centre Backs: Folks I won’t lie to you. The market for cheap domestic center-backs who are also good is a bit thin this year. This is a shame because this is the one position the Whitecaps could really use some help in, after switching to a 3 at the back-formation. The ‘Caps have a starting back three that is fairly solid but when they had to turn to reserve players things got pretty dicey last season. Truly the best thing they could do for domestic depth might be to just give some minutes to Facchineri and Campagna. True neither of these players are very experienced at the pro level but they are at least centre-backs. But I have done my best to come up with some options in any case. Player: Jake Ruby Age: 21 Position: Anywhere along the backline Nationality: Canadian Current Club: HFX Wanderers Estimated Cost: Transfermarkt value of 83k The Whitecaps Academy graduate has played for HFX wanderers for the last two seasons. Initially, I wrote him off because, while his defence is very good, he offers very little going forward. But the switch to a 3-4-1-2 opens up some interesting MLS possibilities for Ruby. I mean, just look at this guy’s chart. He was born to play on the outside of a back 3! :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023826/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.17.56_PM.png) Would he be an elite MLS centre back right away? Probably not. But could he play adequately when the inevitable injuries to Erik Godoy and Florian Jungwirth happen? I think so. Plus he’s only 21 so there is still plenty of room to grow and he would be eligible to play for the Whitecaps U-23 team, who supposedly will be playing in a new MLS reserve league next year. Player: Callum Montgomery Age: 24 Position: Centre Back Nationality: Canadian Current Club: Minnesota United (On loan to San Diego Loyal in 2021) Estimated Cost: 50-150k (contract expiring but I figure Minnesota Probably have at least one option year) Montgomery is probably the best domestic USL centre-back who isn’t a highly valued prospect of another MLS team. He’s really good in the air and with the ball at his feet. True, he’s not very fast and it’s a bit late for him to develop into anything more than a backup at MLS level. But he has enough ability that he can probably be trusted to play 10-ish games (especially in a back three where there is less stress on each individual defender) and Minnesota aren’t using him so he probably wouldn’t be that expensive to acquire. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023837/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.28.13_PM.png) Centre Midfielders: The Whitecaps have about 75 centre midfielders vying for two spots in Vanni Sartini’s starting eleven. So maybe it isn’t the number one area of concern when it comes to building depth. If anything it might be better to clear out some of the sea of middling players and add a more high-profile signing in this position. Nevertheless, there are a couple of interesting propositions out there and this article isn’t nearly long enough so here you go. Player: Harry Paton Age: 23 Position: Centre Midfield Nationality: Canadian Current Club: Ross County Estimated Cost: $0 (Expiring contract) Harry Paton is young, proven in a league that’s similar to MLS, and according to Transfermarkt, his contract expires in May of next year. His current team, Ross County, seems destined to be relegated so a move to MLS would definitely be a positive career move for him. That seems like an avenue worth exploring to me. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023855/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.39.49_PM.png) Paton Contributes well defensively and gives the Whitecaps a bit of a different dynamic in the middle of the park with his dribbling ability. Plus he creates quite a few chances for his teammates. His xA per 90 is comparable to MLS midfielders like Mark Anthony Kaye, Gadi Kinda, and Tomas Pochettino. MLS is a better league than SPL but it’s also a lot more balanced so while he is facing harder competition he would also probably have stronger teammates. So I think his performance in Scotland might be a bit more transferable than you would think. Player: Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare Age: 26 Position: Centre Midfield Nationality: Canadian Current Club: HFX Wanderers Estimated Cost: 100-150k If a CPL player is in his mid-20s and has already had one crack at an MLS team then I want to be absolutely blown away by everything about them. For me, Gagnon-Lapare meets that bar. He was a key part of the 2021 HFX side that often played teams off the park but couldn’t put their chances away. He defends, he progresses the ball, he attacks, and he does it better than almost everybody else in the league. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023861/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.47.16_PM.png) Now, he obviously wouldn’t be this dominant in MLS and at 26 this is probably as good as he is going to get. I probably wouldn’t pay a transfer fee higher than 100k for him, even that might be a stretch. But if you can get him for an Evan Newton/Tyler Pasher type of transfer fee then I think there are a lot worse things you could do with that money. There isn’t really another midfielder in CPL who can touch this level of all-around excellence and even if he saw significant drops in all of his key performance indicators he’d still be an above-average MLS midfielder In particular, 0.3 expected assists per 90 minutes is pretty insane, especially while playing in a double pivot. That means he’s assisting more high-quality scoring chances per game than Ryan Gauld is for the Whitecaps. There would surely be some drop-off in MLS but even if his output were cut in half he would be in the top 10 MLS centre midfielders in xA. Pair those attacking gifts with above-average 1v1 defending and winning a whopping 59% of his duels and Gagnon-Lapare seems like a guy who could fill in very nicely for injured players and, just maybe, challenge for a starting spot. Strikers/Attacking Midfielders There is a ton of uncertainty around the Whitecap’s striker options going into next season. Brian White seems like a lock to lead the line but other than that it’s hard to say. It’s not clear that the Whitecaps would want to keep Lucas Cavallini but it’s also not clear that anybody would want him, especially for the price the Whitecaps payed. David Egbo showed some promise on loan in USL but his status as an international makes him a bit difficult to fit in as a backup striker. Theo Bair also showed some promise on loan but 3 goals in 875 minutes probably wouldn’t be getting anyone excited if he were a player we had never heard of called Gunnar Gunnarson. Tosaint Ricketts is out of contract. So the Whitecaps have anywhere between 1 and 5 strikers next season. Fortunately, there are great options at reasonable prices to fill however many spots the ‘Caps need to. Player: Cal Jennings Age: 24 Position: Striker/Winger Nationality: American Current Club: LAFC Estimated Cost: 200k Sometimes the easy pick is the easy pick for a reason. Cal Jennings has put up two insane seasons in USL. In 2020 he averaged a goal every 63 minutes, earning a move to LAFC. But LAFC, for whatever reason, has hardly used him this season. He has spent most of 2021 on loan to the Las Vegas Lights, a simply dreadful team, and has still managed to light up the USL. The Lights finished the 2021 season with a -36 goal differential. Despite this Jennings led all USL players with 0.83 xG+xA per game. On average USL players see a reduction of 25-31% in their offensive output when they make the jump to MLS. If that were the case for Jennings then he would have a similar output to players like Raul Ruidiaz, Josef Martinez, and Alan Pulido. So, good people, I submit to you that if LAFC aren’t going to use this player then somebody else bloody well should. Stylistically he’s also kind of a good compliment to Gauld and White. He’s fast and good at dribbling, which are basically the only things that stand out as weaknesses in the Whitecaps’ current front three. There have been several times this season where the Whitecaps have been defending the lead, won the ball while the opposition has too many men forward, Ryan Gauld picks his head up and scans the field…and the only option is a ball into space to Brian White. Much as we have all come to love Brian White there is perhaps no other MLS striker you would less want to have to win a foot race to save your life. A striker with some pace who’s comfortable on the shoulder of the last defender could help a lot with keeping other teams honest when defending a lead. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023867/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_8.53.30_PM.png) Player: Adonijah Reid Age: 22 Position: Striker/Attacking Midfielder Nationality: Canadian Current Club: Miami F.C Estimated Cost: $0 (expiring contract according to transfermarkt) I’m sure you all knew this was coming, seeing as I am the internet’s foremost Adonijah Reid evangelist. But I have good reasons. At 0.77 xG+xA/90 minutes Reid is the USL player, not currently owned by an MLS team, who generates the most xG per game. If he sees a drop-off of 25-30% when making the jump to MLS then he’d still be expected to get a goal or assist every second game. But despite this he gets surprisingly little love from Miami F.C. He only started 10 of his 29 appearances this season. So the already low price of top USL talent is likely to be even lower if there is any price at all. Now, you might reasonably ask, how can I possibly be suggesting an MLS team sign a player that barely starts for a USL team? Well, he’s played almost 1200 minutes (if you include stoppage time, as American Soccer Analysis does) so we can be reasonably sure that his incredible per-minute production isn’t a fluke. Plus, as far as I know, there isn’t any other U23 Canadian who produces this level of offence that’s available at this low of a price point. If you want to be the Athletic Bilbao of Canada then this is the kind of swing you just have to take. Now, no doubt you’re wondering if he’s so good why does he never get to start in USL? Well, I think there are two key reasons. Firstly, until a brace on the final day of the season, Reid was pretty spectacularly underperforming his xG. It’s possible he was being punished for his lack of scoring, even though he was creating a ton of chances for himself and others. The other reason is that his on-field attitude is a bit Barry Robson-esque. There’s a lot of exasperated looks to the heavens when he doesn’t get a pass he wants and he isn’t exactly an enthusiastic defender. But even with these factors I think the low cost and huge potential upside make this a risk worth taking. Plus, in Ryan Gauld, the Whitecaps have a player who made some changes to his game to become more complete. Maybe he can get in Reid’s ear about that stuff. :no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23023881/Screen_Shot_2021_11_17_at_9.00.31_PM.png) But with that long screed out of the way, what type of player is Reid exactly? Well he usually lines up as a center-forward for Miami but in practice, he’s more of a false 9. He’s also played on the wing in the past but I think he’s a much more effective player through the middle (and there are no wingers in Sartini’s system in any case). When Reid is in the middle he is less likely to dribble into a blind alley and he can use his excellent vision to find teammates. Player: Terran Campbell Age: 23 Position: Striker/Winger Nationality: Canadian Current Club: Pacific F.C Estimated Cost: $0 (expiring contract according to Transfermarkt) Just when I think I’m out, he pulls me back in. I have been watching Terran Campbell since 2017. When WFC2 folded and Fresno buried him on the bench I thought his MLS prospects were done. When he had a good but not great first CPL season I thought his MLS prospects were done. When Pah Modou Kah dropped him to the bench, I thought his MLS prospects were done. But in his age 23 season, Campbell put forward a performance that’s hard to deny. He’s not quite as prolific in the xG department as Jennings or Reid but even with a significant drop-off with the jump to MLS, he would fit in comfortably with the Diego Rubio’s and the Max Urruti’s of the world. I doubt he would be a prolific MLS striker (though with my record of assessing his MLS prospects he would probably win the golden boot) but I am pretty sure he would be a better option to come on and close out a game than 34 year old Tosaint Ricketts. When it comes to fulfilling the Tosaint Ricketts role, Campbell ticks all of the boxes. He does a lot of effective defensive work, he generates a lot of shots and he’s got a bit of speed to exploit a stretched defence. Terran Campbell smashes it home to open the scoring for Pacific FC! #CanChamp pic.twitter.com/m1AXarGPgx— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 23, 2021 There you have it, folks. Over 4000 words on 12 domestic players I think can make a difference for the Whitecaps next season. But the fun doesn’t stop there. I’m planning to do a part 2 on players who I would not sign for the first team this offseason but who I think are worth keeping an eye on. Given how long this one took to write, and there are even more players on that list, I have no idea when it will be out. But I figure if I tell the 15 people or so who made it to this point that I am going to do it then I will be forced to. So keep an eye out for that!

What was missing in FIFA 21 career mode? Which features should be added to FIFA 22 career mode? Write your creative ideas for FIFA 22 Career mode here. Put down your suggestions and the features that you think it could improve the Career Mode in upcoming FIFA 22 game. You can also write your general wishlist for FIFA 22 separately here in this link. 165 thoughts on “FIFA 22 Career Mode Wishlist” in fifa 23 think that you should be able to customize a teams kit and sponcer not in create a club and, i think that in fifa 23 you should be able to have an actul academy expirince like be able to play when your 11 Why there’s unusable boots they should be all usable y’all left extremely nice boots out and it’s bothering me some not that I don’t appreciate the boots we have but man they look soo clean More skill points would be very nice as well maybe more interaction with the manager too something to fill the time between matches would be great. in manager career you can play as a specific player, but you can’t make a substitution to the player you chose to play with cuz you’ll continue the match playing with the whole team, PLEASE.. make a way to choose another player in the field, like a button in the pause menu One thing I would love to see implemented into career mode is the ability to offer your young players out on loan to lower league teams with you covering the wages. I find it so annoying you list 10 young players for loan and all you get are offers from abroad for loan to buy options. I wish they would put an option in where I can reach out to teams and if they want the player I can loan that player to them with me covering the wages. I would also like to see more realistic transfer offers, ie if my player is in great form and doing well week in week out, when the window opens I’d like to see more teams interested in that player I would love to see more customisation as far as kits go within an authentic club career and as well as create your own club career. It’s so disappointing creating lovely kits for your created club and they don’t have any sponsors even made up ones. One thing I can’t believe fifa have never done, when it comes to regens or academy players, I hate the computer generated faces. I would love it if fifa reached out to their fans and got their consent to send a picture of their face to use for player pictures and models. Just seems like such a small change but would be much better aesthetically How about in 30 year developing EA could actually make teams more or less play like they play in real life. When playing with single player then your team posession stats are always low, even if you win 6:0. MOST annoying is that when playing against tougher opponents then instead of computer playing well they downgrade all of your team stats including you – wtf is that? Playing with Rangers against Barca and nobody wants to go forward even if we are 2:0 down, you run into 8 players and you have to turn around to find somebody to pass to. That is really poor EA, really poor. Does your game get tested as well before you release it because I can find about 10bugs in 1 day playing, that is unreal. What kind of i…ts have you working there? We need to see the length of our contract and when we become a free agent. The ability to earn or just receive captaincy after a minimum couple seasons played. Your my career player is the reason your team is winning cups so it is only fair that it should be you who leads and hoists the cup when you win create an online mode where we can play with our career mode team. I would like if there was qualifications for the europa league, champions league, and conference league. I think that would be a lot of fun to go through the qualifications in smaller leagues. Player Career mode: 1. First of all have all the bugs fixed 2. Choose the exact position you see yourself in (VW, HW, CM) You can’t choose these positions at the moment. 3. Dialoge with the gaffer – Fx if he sees you right now more as an VW than ST because of competition etc. & then play in that position for a period, then request to get back to ST. ETC. 4. Influence on your future. Maybe you can request to your agent, that he will try to get you a move to a specific club that you want. 5. Get even more transfer offers, even though you haven’t requested a move. 6. Get Oscar back as a name by the commentator (my name is Oscar obviously) 7. Create your face avatar again. 8. boot sponsor deals 9. Better & more flexible ways to improve certain skills & strengths. FX why are you automatically slow in pace just because you’re tall? Often taller people are actually quicker than smaller people. 10. in extend to 9th. Maybe some kind of practice arena, where you can train specific skills & strengths besides the normal practice. 11. More hairstyles. Sorry to offend you but my brother’s dog name was oscar….. My Fifa 22 Wishlist: Manager Career Mode: -Create a Team -More Seasons (at least 30) -Community Creations -Create a League -Download Databases (ex. Old School Leagues or Leagues that are not in Fifa) -Every Country should have at least two leagues -Create a Stadium -Champions League, Europa League, Conference League intros -Trophy Room -Advanced International matches -FUT Cards in Career Mode -Kit Creator -Ability to choose a sponsor of club -Reserve League Volta: -It should be more like Fifa Street not like normal Fifa -Volta Manager Career (like normal Career but in Volta) Ultimate Team: -Less events -Better servers -More special cards for skill not like What If cards or some other s*** -At least one icon form every country -It shouldn’t forcing E-Sports and grinding, it should be more fun -There’s shouldn’t be any schemes, Player career mode: 1. Greater control over club moves – ability to contact a specific club or clubs and ability to reduce/increase wage demands to allow a move to happen. 2. Increased control over position – eg ST/CAM when young then gradually playing deeper. 3. More training and achievement based stat progression – stamina increase should come from distance covered in games, etc. General – another The Journey please In Player Career Mode include national callups for your created player I’m not buying another FIFA game without this feature you can choose your own goaltune in careermode i want the goaltune from the euro2020 to careermode Multiple user teams for manager career U22 or u23 team for youth development More indepth stats like career stats and awards history and league history and tournament history Longer manager career Request funds The ability to initiate a transfer of your own player without waiting for a random offer or a player swap More unique championship celebrations I’m tired of seeing the same celebrations for every single league and tournament winning the world cup or champions League should be more exciting than a lower tier league. The ability to negotiate your season objectives. World cup qualifiers for north America and more national teams. Also more international tournaments. Records and the ability to view them Manager career mode: Better youth team management, like form youth team and migrate them from first team to youth team. Stadium, facilities and staff upgrades (which I think was in FIFA 08). Customize sponsors. Player career mode: Make salary some sense, like upgrading stats using salary or buying bigger better house makes stamina recover faster… Select ability to start from youth team and work way up to the star level. Have sponsor and contract negotiations and add ability to become free agent. Also could be amazing if you do something like adding volta to player career free room (something similar to NBA2K and I can not believe that I am giving praise to 2k). And I know I am going to regret saying this, but yes, there are lots of ways to monetize player career mode by adding suggested features. Created player features < we need new hair styles especially for black folks , beard , tattoos, body shape and accessories. Youth Academy 1. Editing options: Let us edit appearances and names. It’s a bit annoying when some of my best prospects have the spaghetti arms, or when I end up with the same first or last name 5x in my lineup. National Teams 1. Give us the option to only manage a national team: Allow us to scout that country only (so we can build a golden generation), schedule friendlies, etc.. 2. The option to pick a national team job rather than wait for the random offers to come in. 3. More national teams, and world cup qualifying for every region, not just Europe and South America. 4. Better presentations for big International tournaments General Career Mode 1. Better transfer logic: the richest teams shouldn’t be willing to sell their best players just because an offer comes in that meets their value. 2. Career stat tracking: track how many goals and appearances each player has for your club. It would be nice if the game/commentary celebrated important milestones like 100 caps or breaking the club goal record. 3. More in-depth budget management: Set ticket prices, upgrade the stadium, choose sponsors, etc. 4. End of season awards: Like young player of the year, League team of the year, world player of the year. 5. More than 15 seasons for Career Mode. 6. Trophy room or wall: An interactive space where we can see a physical representation of everything we’ve won. 7. Club Legends: When a player retires from your club, have the option to designate them a “club legend”. This puts their name on a list in your trophy room that you can view. It also triggers a retirement ceremony cinematic that takes place before their last home game. Hii, I am buying fifa since 2000. I just want to play career mode and there is no significant improvement over it for the last few years. You can add more customisation to it. We all want to play with legends like Robben, Ronaldo, Klose etc. In other sports related gamed they have teams of different era. Perhaps you can do that also like Real Madrid (2000), Real Madrid (2005) and so on. It would be wonderful and it will mean that you listen to us. Thankyou Return creation mode in career mode fifa 22, choose name team, kits colors, differents stadiums, some sponsors… Some news leagues, Serbian league, Ukrainian league Russian league, Hungarian league, Bulgarian league, Czech Republic league, Uruguayan league, Peruvien league Some news teams rest of the world, Hadjuck Spit, Ferencvaros, Red Star Belgrade, Cska Sofia, Ludogorets, Slovan Liberec, Honved Budapest, Partizan Belgrade, Dinamo Minsk, Dinamo Tbilissi, Apoel Nicosie More seasons for a managerial career On career mode I would like it like lma manager when you get to see who scores goals and other European teams like final score that would be awesome Here some nice advise in career mode: As a player, start from junior league, there will be a few scouts will inspect you the sign you and bring you to the club’s youth camp. You can have your own social life during club training, play at the club echelon and get the chance to play for the first team. When you start to be famous, you can interact with fans, speak in behalf of various brands, have your own social activities, interviewed before and after the game, communication with coaches and so on. And add ways to let us spent money i earn from the club, like buying cars, daily life clothes, soccer shoes and doing charity. Add daily training and interact with media teammates and coaches during training. When communicating with coaches, you can ask to play at different positions in the next game. Add honor exhibition room. Add the function of choosing your own image for each game, such as a base coat, shoes, hairstyle and so on. At the end of career, you will enjoy legendary treatment, the club will set up a statue for you, the media will commemorate you, and the fans will remember you. Let us experience the off court life and growth of player. In career mode 1.as a player, you can start from youth competition, then there will be a few scouts to inspect you and sign you for the club’s youth camp, from unknown child to famous star,the course of growth, that’s what i want to enjoy. Socializing between players, interaction with fans, brand business activities and so on. 2.as a manager, you can improve the previous play, make us feel more like a coach when playing a game, not control the team play like a player. Good idea Player Career Mode: Contract negotiations, pre and post Match interviews, stadium builder, boots customization, more options creating a player i.e hairstyles and beards, tattoo options, player sponsorship. Manager mode: Again negotiate your own contract, option to expand your stadium if you begin with a smaller team going from say EFL 2 up to the premiership going from a 20,000 stadium to 60,000+, a camera view from the dugout being able to watch the game from a mangers perspective. All boots and hairstyles from previous few games to comeback, be able to mix and match kits to save kit clashing, more exciting celebrations, more than just the 2 commentators (listening to Lee Dixon go on about Ian Wright gets boring) more realistic fans and fan reactions. As a Scotsman i’d like to see Hampden Park, Celtic Park, Pittodrie, and even Ibrox added to the licencing. Throwback kits, both NBA and MLB games have classic kits to choose from. FUT to be a separate game! Manager career mode -Finances 1. Request funds. You should be able to request money as a manager for signing new players 2.the ability to chose and remove sponsors. These sponsors can impact the finances and team kits 3. Stadiums. You should be able to renovate,rename or move stadiums. This can impact the finances as the stadiums will have an increased capacity. You can also play in these stadiums and we won’t see more generic stadiums. Youth 1. better youth player faces. The generic player faces are monstrous and duplicate. When I sent a youth scouting in china, all the players Don’t look Asian 2. Seperate youth team. My youth players get not a lot of Gametime and they don’t reach they’re potential. I’m tired of sending everyone to loan moves. So we need a separate youth team or U21 team. Gameplay -weather can effect matches. Player slips when rainy and the ball moves slower when snowing -better referring -FIX Bugs and glitches -slower paced gameplay -make ai better in general general – club creator. You should be able to create your own club and start your way from the bottom and build it to reach the top. – Kit creator. You should be able to create kits or at least change kits every season – wage has an impact on morale – better press conference questions – dynamic potential nerf or an option to turn of dynamic potential -a better transfer and search player system. Right now you have to go through 2 different menus to search and sign player. -better news tab -More real faces. Why does mason greenwood not have a real face. -commentators. Bring back martin Tyler and Alan Smith… The new commentators are just boring ON CARRER MODE you should be able to create your own tean and playy online by own team i mean choose a squad and create your own players and play online with other people liv fut chams or div rivals Bring back Hunter the journey WISH LIST FOR FIFA 22 CAREER MODE (PLAYER CAREER) 1- during the creation of the player, to have more choice in the level of hairstyles and beards, to have modern hairstyles and beards such as dreadlocks, curly, degrader etc… to be able to modify the volume of hair and beards. Add tattoos. Choose an agent already created by the game according to his physique and abilities. Have the possibility to give more information about your player, for example his club and city, his personal character, his favorite team, his qualities and defects, his lifestyle, his main goals to reach during his career etc… To have more choices about his playing style and characteristics. To have more choice on the soccer shoes, to have more accessories. 2- To have the possibility to control his player and make him walk, run, sit, lie down, eat etc… outside the game, before the games, while he is being substituted and after the games. To have a house to eat, rest, invite other players of his team, his agent or even the coach, to have a car to be able to move to the training, to go back home and of course to control him when he arrives, clothes for the house like in “THE JOURNEY”. also, a phone, a computer, a TV to follow the news (transfer, result of other games, winners of competition and others etc…) throughout the season and receive the news of the manager and the staff on his e-mail box. to be able to buy sneakers when the player is at home. To have more accessories such as rings, chains, earrings, hats, bags, watches, glasses, t-shirts, shorts, jogging suits, sweaters, underwear, tracksuits (and team tracksuits if possible), modern pants (hunters) and jackets for interviews and press conferences. 3- be able to talk with teammates and receive instructions from the coach and be able to respond to them during halftime and pre-game (which includes more discussion scenarios). Change jersey after each season for more realism. Receive a visit from his agent and if possible the manager of the interested team in the house of his player after each transfer and loan offer to discuss (including more discussion scenarios) during the mercato. To be able to travel by plane with the whole team during away games and national selections. 4- introduce the player when he is new to a club through interviews, sign spelling to the fans and Receive several offers from sponsors and be partner with the chosen sponsor until a decided end of contract. Receive an invitation in his e-mail box to participate in a TV interview when the player is player of the month. To be interviewed at the beginning and end of each game when the player is man of the match. To have his popularity rating increased when the player reaches a certain level like golden ball, top scorer of the competition or championship, best player of the competition or championship which could increase the number of fans of the club and the player. 5- to have more realism in the comments: add more names in the list of names in comments to hear his name during the matches. Add more statistics in the comments about the performance of the team and its player. Have more reaction and opinion of the commentators on the actions of the player during the game. Thank you. Agreed, look for my response down in the forums and look at all 13 of my recommendations. On pes when you play career, famous players like CR7, Messi, Sneijder,… Get tired and after 2 seasons they are coming back as a young talent player. there are also Icons who’s retired but even they coming trough to the career mode as a young player talent. FIFA Career Mode should do it too cause after few years the famous players get tired and you only see players in the transfermarkt who hasnt’t even official face. SO FIX THIS EA Pro Player interviews, Career mode. On career mode, it would be nice if one’s created Pro Player gets interviewed after a match just like with the Coach career mode. It would make the FIFA franchise even bigger if the Career mode Pro Player and be Role Play like, where the Player can ask to renegotiate they contract and also be able to express how they feel. Pro Player on career mode with Role Play capabilities, buying houses, going for interviews, like the Alex Hunter story. And also coming off the bench as a sub will make things different and awesome for the Pro Player career mode, which is just standard at the moment no offence 1. Remove the pointless training drill. It doesn’t do anything and is annoyingly boring. 2. Youth players need to gain traits. You get a player to 87+ and the have no traits its stupid. 3. Need a youth/U23 team to manage so you can actually improve the younger players. 4. Transfer values are currently ridiculous. Any player 83+ going 50m is stupid. 5. Assistant manager, youth coach, fitness coach etc need to be brought back. 6. Need information on loaned players. How many games they’ve played how they are improving. A simple monthly report would do. 7. Scouting should be positioned based instead of the current system. You can go seasons without getting the defender in the position you want. 8. Players who never leave your club is annoyingly as hell. Can be on transfer list for seasons. 9. Rate of youth player improvement is too slow. They demand to leave the youth set up at 60 rated and take 4+ years to get to 80 rated. 10. Stadiums,kits,sponsorship and players should all be fully customizable s***, s***ty s*** over and over again and its sad. Please listen to the community for once EA, Thank you. I 100 percent agree with you on everything you listed… I am also 100 percent career mode player and I know exactly how you feel. I get bored of the game after 2-3 seasons it is because mainly of not able to change or customize the kits. I’ll get bored with a club and try to find another club I want to play but some of the clubs i want to play their kits are so s*** it isn’t even fun or not even worth taking them from lower leagues to the big leagues. Also there really needs to be a stadium builder because if in real life a small club actually get promoted to a higher league they have to upgrade the stadium to their prospected league rules. Not only that there are many clubs that get promoted and I would love to create a club to replace the club that got regulated I’ll add some more. – Add missions and instructions by managers per game when you play(either a starter or coming off the bench) eg; score/assist an equaliser, make atleast 50 passes, tackles. I remember in previous FIFAs when coming off the bench, the instructions were to score a freekick stated as ‘bend it like Beckham’. Peak. – Individual awards (for league, region, and world) such as POTY/young POTY/ballon dor should be notified (in mails) and exist as cutscenes, not just in the newsfeed that no one reads. It should be shown in the player stats section and recorded in our player’s ‘My Career’ section. – Your player status in your club. It is like your reputation seen by the club, teammates and it’s fans. Not just your status based on contracts. It’s like an indicator or meter that will raise based on your player’s performance or time with the club or global reputation. Eg; young player > wonderkid > backup > supersub > regular starter > enforcer > key player > captain/star player > club legend I know my list is not too much to ask because all of these had already been implemented in previous FIFAs (i dont remember which year) but Idk why they removed it. They really should put it back in. Si, lo mismo pienso también podrían agregar en las nacionalidades escoger de 2 a 4 nacionalidades porque puede ser que tengas nacionalidad Panameña, Puertorriqueña y Estadounidense y puedes escoger entre las selecciones que esten en el juego o si tengas 2 paises que están en el juego y se pelean por ti para representar el país. También agregar mundiales por lo menos si jugamos el FIFA22 estaría Qatar pero dentro de 4 años sería la de Canadá-Estados Unidos-México y en el 2030 sería no sé inventenlo o simulen que la FIFA escogió tal país como sede del mundial de 2030 o 2034 algo más realista. Además agregar competencias como la Concacaf Champions League o Champions League AFC o la de CAF. También lo otro sería agregar más apellidos y no solo apellidos, nombres también para que de vez en cuando te llamen por ej.: Erik Hernández tiene el balón o Hernández la lleva o que buen jugador es Erik. Algumas novidades para o Modo Carreira Treinador do FIFA 22: 1. Novas animações de entrada dos jogadores e adeptos nos estádios para os consoles da nova geração (PS5 e Xbox Series Ex) bem como para antiga geração (PS4, Xbox One e PC); 2. Diversificar as noticias bem como as perguntas e respostas nas conferencias de imprensa para não serem repetitivas e que se tornem realistas, de acordo com a realidade das equipas; 3. Opção de escolher técnicos reais no Modo Carreira e maior diversidade das roupas, com a adição das roupas do Modo Volta para o Modo Carreira e a adição de novas para o Modo; 4. Conseguir que quando o técnico chega ao clube, tenha a possibilidade de definir os objetivos da temporada, como desportivo, financeiro, de marca e categorias de base; 5. Ouvir e dar estes desejos à comunidade. I would like for player career to be a lot more exhilarating like The Journey and a lot more customizations to the my player like tatoos, voice enabled conferences for both the my player and manager career conferences as well as a way to spend the money I earn playing for the club Si, no se si han visto el juego de MLB 21 THE SHOW ellos tienen como un modo carrera de jugador que te deja escoger tus respuestas con respecto a las preguntas como tipo la Historia de Hunter y también que puedas seleccionar tus posiciones secundarias por si en tal equipo no haya espacio en la delantera pero si en el mediocampo o extremos o en pivote, etc. Be able to chose your traits when ou create your player for carer mode, its very nice to have that, and also too to be able to chose positions you want, like LW for ex or RW. After you do 2-3 season everything is boring, same sponsor, same kit, we need some new kits or sponsor! Tranfers, need more option like Obligation to buy, or to pay lik 10 m this year and 10 second year, to be like in real life! No extrem value of players! In player carer we want to extract your contract or if you don’t be free agent, get more like one offer, we want to see wich clubs are interest in us and be able to speak to our agent for sarly or something like that! More Internat team, like Croatia for exm, or Albania, Kosovo, and More african Teams. Add National leage too, and Club World Cup! we want and to be able too make Favorite player when tou play Carer mode, like in Pes, to chose your favourite player. Its nice to have good realti with the player! More leagues, for exm why not Albanian league? We are 3 m people and we made 11K+ votes for our leage? Other countres are biger than us 20M+ and results are very close! Me play a lot fifa and we want Our National and our League in the game Career mode: – we need popularity for club and fan club wich could grow. Players should have their own fans also and a popular player should bring more incomes to the team. – career mode without retiring. – Use unreal engine for conferences it would be better and if it doesn’t help then use a higher topology or better textures. – i must can reply to another club if i want too. 1. youth team play their own league to improve. 2. option to only coach national team 3. able to change kits design little bit each season. We should be able to change our kit every season and upgrade our stadium. 1) International career mode, an option just to manage an International team 2) Having in games managers as playable coaches for your career mode 3) Having real youth teams and being able to manage the youth team so you can develop players not good enough for your first team until they are 4) More options when talking to player 5) Super Agents such as Mino Raiola & Jorge Medes in the cut scenes when signing a player with such as high profile player with a super agent Would love to see a friendly Tournaments bracket. So we can play with friends What would be nice in career mode: 1 Club/ League ranking !!! in strick mode would be perfect for transfers. I would be also perfect for the changes in the difference leagues. For example if u play in a low league its not possible to get it high and have more teams in europe. 2 Kit editing and sponsor changing. Incomes should be different. 3 i would also like to play career mode without retiring!!! Sometimes you make your own super player and u retire before his career ends. 4 i would like to have my own league. 5 other teams should also make their own talented players with overall 90+ 6 edited players should can be selled from the first day 7 have a second league for my young players in academy so they can play some games and improve more. 8 competitive mode must do more things because it’s boring when it can’t even counter attack you !! For creating a custom player and using it in kickoff and career mode make it able to choose what traits the player could have! Youth squad make it atleast have players with special traits like flair and finesse shot! Make it more easier to get

Quick Links Volunteer Sri Lanka! Have you ever wanted to explore South East Asia? Are wonders of Sri Lanka calling your name? Are you interested in giving back to those in need? Join Global Crossroad’s Volunteering in Sri Lanka program, many organizations working to help poor communities and children need and be a part of lasting change in their lives and communities. Join a Global Crossroad volunteer program and see lovely Sri Lanka through the eyes of the local people. Click below to get started. Volunteer Projects Are you interested in volunteering in Sri Lanka, but want to find a program that is a perfect fit for you? We offer a variety of different programs to choose from. At Global Crossroad we give you the opportunity to select a program that matches your passions and interests. It’s up to you. Increasingly, Sri Lanka has struggled to manage and cope with an ever-growing number of orphaned children. Orphanages in Sri Lanka try their best to provide food, shelter and care, but are chronically unable to make ends meet, and are often helpless to provide all that is necessary. Global Crossroads orphanage volunteer program aims to provide care, love, and attention to these children, in an effort to fill the gap. Joining as a volunteer in Sri Lanka orphanage project means you will take care of these children and help wherever it is needed. Your role here is to teach Basic English, Math, Science, and other subjects of interests. Most importantly, you are required to provide care, love and attention to children who do not ever get enough. You will help the children with their homework, take part in playtime activities, give them necessary tips on personal hygiene, and generate new ideas to keep their interest going. Want to share your passion for orphans? Go to the project page to find complete information. English is spoken widely in Sri Lanka, yet a majority of its population lags behind in developing these skills. This is largely due to a lack of resources for English learning in public schools. There is a shortage of skilled and experienced teachers. Global Crossroad’s teaching English volunteer program works with local schools to help fill this gap, and give language skills in areas where they are most needed. As a volunteer English teacher in Sri Lanka, you will teach students in rural schools. You will teach them the Basic English language skills, hold debates and discussions to improve their conversational skills, and build their confidence. You will also organize educational tours and field trips, teach creative life skills such as painting, sewing, cooking, etc. Interested in teaching English to children from low income families? Go to the project page to find complete information. Do you dream of immersing yourself in Buddhist culture and traditions? Are you looking for a chance to do this while also providing a real benefit to the monks you’ll be learning from? Then this Volunteering Teaching English to Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka is perfect for you! Interested in Buddhism and help local monks? Go to the project page to find complete information. When you take part in medical volunteering opportunity in Sri Lanka, you will gain invaluable international medical experience and insight to the healthcare system of Sri Lanka. You will be placed in a local Teaching Hospital that offers plenty of learning opportunities. On a daily basis, you will provide basic first aid treatment, distribute necessary medications to the patients, stitch and dress wounds, if possible, and help patients with physical therapy and rehabilitation. To join this program, you need to have a medical background, and/or physician’s credentials. This is a hands-on experience, which allows people here to live a healthier life in the future. If you are interested in medical volunteering in Sri Lanka go to the project page complete information. In the past, elephants were considered to be a good income source for wildlife tourism, and also for logging activities in Sri Lanka. However due to changes in Sri Lanka laws and society, they are now considered to be more of a burden than an asset. Their population is declining at an alarming rate. Global Crossroads Elephant Conservation volunteer Project aims to provide care and attention to these animals. Participating in Sri Lanka elephant volunteer program, you will help take care of these animals. Your role is to work directly with mahouts (elephant handlers). You will ensure that the elephants are healthy and safe. You will be involved in daily maintenance and treatment of the elephant, including playing, washing, and feeding the elephants. Interested in a unique experience of working with elephants? Go to the project page to find complete information. With the increase in the human population in Sri Lanka, forested lands are being systematically destroyed. As a result of diminishing forests, the elephants are losing their habitat. With their homes being cleared on a daily basis, they have also been victims of abuse and their population continues to shrink daily. We work with a local elephant conservation organization, caring for elephants that have been rescued. In joining this volunteering in Elephant conservation Sri Lanka project, you will be placed at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. You will be working alongside the Mahouts, or elephant caretakers to help care for elephants which have been victims of abuse. You will be involved in helping the mahouts in various tasks, including cleaning the sheds, and mucking out the elephant enclosures. Interested in a unique volunteer experience of working with baby elephants? Go to the project page to find complete information. Are you a medical professional, student or a doctor? Are you looking forward to share your skills for treating the impoverished whilst traveling to Sri Lanka? If yes, then Global Crossroads Medical volunteering Sri Lanka project is the best fit for you. While participating in Volunteering hands on medical project in Sri Lanka program, you will be working in local community hospitals and medical centers. You will be working alongside health care professionals, where your role will be to provide basic first aid treatment to patients. You will distribute necessary medications to the patients, stitch and dress wounds, and help patients with physical therapy and rehabilitation. For joining the hands on medical volunteer program, you need to have some medical skills and qualifications, as well as a passion for helping the needy. If you are interested in Hands-on medical volunteering in Sri Lanka go to the project page complete information. Global Crossroad’s Sri Lanka volunteer abroad program is a unique chance to volunteer abroad, immerse yourself in the cultural and language of this beautiful country, and embark on an exciting wildlife adventure. Visit the project page for the complete information. Do you want to embark on an escape to Sri Lanka where you will have the opportunity to volunteer and explore? Global Crossroad offers a highly acclaimed short term volunteer and travel opportunity in Sri Lanka for those seeking adventure and a chance to give back to the local community. Visit the project page for the complete information. In addition to the above projects, we also offer family Volunteering, alternative spring break, high school volunteering, college/university volunteering and many other programs. Contact Global Crossroad for further information. Sri Lanka is a fascinating destination, and we don’t want our volunteers to miss out. When you volunteer in our Sri Lanka project, we make sure you have ample time for exploring. Work days are 4-6 hours, after which you are free, and weekends are entirely open for adventure. Learn more about some exciting ways to spend your free time and weekends in Sri Lanka. Accommodations and Meals Global Crossroad’s volunteer programs in Sri Lanka weekly fees include management of volunteers’ meal plans and accommodations throughout the projects. Volunteers working in orphanage, teaching, medical and Pinnawala elephant project will stay with our carefully chosen host family. Volunteers working in Kegalle elephant project will stay in a volunteer house located on the project site. When you join Sri Lanka volunteer program, you will in Sri Lanka project note that their stay truly enriched their entire experience.. Find detailed information about your accommodation and meals in Sri Lanka. Volunteer Sri Lanka: Major FAQs Do you have more questions about our volunteer opportunities in Sri Lanka? We hope so. We have provided a series of answers to our most frequently asked questions. Please take a look and learn more about this exciting opportunity for international volunteering. Where are the projects located? Our volunteer projects are located in separate locations. You go to Galle for our Orphanage Volunteer Project, Teach English and Teach Buddhist Monks Volunteer Program. Likewise, you will be placed in Pinnawala for our work in the Elephant Orphanage. Is there any minimum and maximum stay? Yes, there is a minimum and maximum time period of stay for our volunteering programs. You can volunteer for a minimum of 1 week. up to a 12 weeks maximum. Can I extend my stay if I choose to? Yes, if you want to stay for a longer period of time and continue your volunteer project, you can extend your stay in Sri Lanka. A visitor wishing to stay more than 30 days in Sri Lanka, may apply for an extension. You can easily extend your visa for another 90 days in Sri Lanka for your volunteering projgram in Sri Lanka. You will have to go to Immigration office available in Colombo; however, we can assist you to extend your visa. Will I have enough time to travel after work and in weekend? Our international volunteers in Sri Lanka will have enough free time to travel and explore Sri Lanka after work and on weekends. Our volunteering work programs are designed flexibly, for volunteers who wish to spend some of their time exploring Sri Lanka’s beautiful landscapes. Who will guide or support me in the project? Our in-country coordinator will be responsible for guiding and supervising you throughout your Sri Lanka volunteering project. Similarly, our local staff will keep an eye on you at all times. Can I change project if I do not like? Yes, our participants can change volunteering programs at any time they like, if issues arise with their first choice. There are no restrictions set in place for volunteers in Sri Lanka for changing their projects. However, most of our volunteers hardly ever decide to change their volunteer projects, as we make sure that volunteers experience a smooth and satisfying volunteering experience. Can I work in more than one volunteer project? Yes, you can work in more than one volunteer project in Sri Lanka. If you are interested in more than one volunteer program, you should get in touch with our in-country coordinator to begin the application process for two volunteer programs. However, you should keep in mind that each of our volunteer programs requires you to work for at least 4 hours every day, thus, it can be physically exhausting to work on more than one volunteer project in one day. What age ranges take part in these projects? Volunteers must be at least 18 year old in order to be eligible for our volunteer projects. If you are below the recommended age of 18, but still wish to go on a volunteering trip to Sri Lanka, then you must get a parental consent from. Who manages the volunteer projects in Nepal? All of our volunteering Sri Lanka programs are managed by our in-country coordinator. You will receive constant support and assistance from our in-country coordinator during your volunteering trip. Will I receive training before the start of the project? Global Crossroad provides a training class to its volunteers before the start of any of their volunteer programs. The nature of the training will depend on the difficulty of the volunteer project. You will receive proper training and guidance during the orientation class, run by our in-country coordinator and local staff upon arrival in Sri Lanka. Our in-country coordinator and local staff will make sure to help you get through all the hurdles during your volunteer trip. Is there dress code in the project? No, there is no dress code for any of our volunteering Sri Lanka projects, so you are free to wear clothing of your choice without any restrictions. However, we advise our international volunteers to wear modest clothing and maintain a tidy appearance, in keeping with local cultural expectations. Why pay to volunteer abroad? GLOBAL CROSSROAD is a non-profit volunteer organization. GLOBAL CROSSROAD depends on its volunteer program fees for the operation and management of its programs. Money paid by volunteers helps GLOBAL CROSSROAD to cover daily expenses. Everything from the utility bills, rent, and advertisement, to the salaries of its staff, and taxes of the company, is all covered by the fees of the volunteer programs. Your fees also pay for your food and accommodations. Why are GLOBAL CROSSROAD’s fees so much more affordable than the fees of other volunteer organizations? GLOBAL CROSSROAD’s Sri Lanka volunteer program fees have always been affordable, opportunities. Can I get a tax deduction for my volunteer program? Yes, volunteers can get a tax receipt for our volunteer trips. Being a 501(c)3 organization, GLOBAL CROSSROAD can provide tax receipts to its participants and donors. Can I get help to raise fund? Yes, we can help you raise funds for your Sri Lanka volunteering work. Once you are accepted, please ask us for help regarding the funds for your volunteer work in Sri Lanka. For more readings Cost/Money Matter Why do I need to pay to volunteer? Program fee Is it safe to travel to Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka is a safe country. With relatively low crime rate and great police security, Sri Lanka serves as a safe place to travel in the world. It is extremely rare for foreign volunteers and travelers to encounter dangerous situations while staying in Sri Lanka. GLOBAL CROSSROAD also puts effort in keeping its volunteers safe during its programs.What are safety measures you take for the volunteers? While Sri Lanka is a safe country for foreigners, it is always a good idea to exercise some degree of caution, as you would do in any other country. You must always make sure that no one is following you. You also have to keep your money, credit cards, and passport in a safe place. We advise all our volunteers to do proper research before coming to Sri Lanka. What will happen if I get sick during my volunteering project? If you ever get sick and require help while volunteering in Sri Lanka program, our field staff will take care of you and provide whatever services are necessary. Our in-country coordinator, along with the doctors and medical professionals here will do their best to help you in every way possible. What Vaccination Do I need to take prior to my volunteer trip? Yellow Fever, Diphtheria, Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Measles, Rubella Poliomyelitis, Rabies and Mumps are some of the vaccinations suggested by CDC and WHO for those planning to volunteer in Sri Lanka for at least a week. However, you must visit your local doctor and ask them for advice before actually taking all of these vaccinations for your volunteering trip. You can learn more about vaccinations for Sri Lanka here What are the principle health risks for volunteers in Sri Lanka? Like any country, Sri Lanka has its own set of health risks and hazards, which you should be prepared for before joining volunteer opportunity in Sri Lanka. You must be cautious while volunteering outdoors and prepared to cope with the temperature and exposure to sun and insects. Staying hydrated should be a top priority, but at the same time you should only drink boiled or chemically filtered water. You should avoid drinking from tap and only eat food from places that appear clean and hygienic. For more readings Vaccination Health and Safety Which airport do I need to fly in? You should fly into Bandaranaike International Airport for your volunteer project. Do you organize airport pick up? Yes, we do organize airport pick-ups for our volunteers in Sri Lanka. You just need to provide our staff with your flight details. What happens if I missed flight or arrived late? If you miss your flight or will be arriving late, you should advise the country coordinator as soon as possible so that he/she can arrange for your airport pick-up at a later time. Who will come to pick up me? How do I recognize the person at the airport? Our local staff will come to pick you up at the airport prior to the start of your volunteer program in Sri Lanka. The local staff will be carrying a sign with your name on it, so you should have no trouble recognizing them at the airport. How can I get to my accommodations from the airport, if I did not connect with Global Crossroad’s local representative in the airport? We always provide the address details of our accommodations to volunteers who have been accepted. If you have not contacted our local representative in the airport for a pick-up, you can hire a taxi driver to take you to the address given to you by us. If my assignment begins on Monday, when should I arrive? If I want to arrive earlier than then my assignment begins, where do I stay and who will organize the accommodations? Does it cost me extra? If your assignments begins on Monday, we highly advise you to arrive on Sunday, one day before the start of your volunteering project in Sri Lanka. Similarly, if you plan to arrive earlier than the starting date of your Sri Lanka volunteer program then you should get in touch with our country coordinator and let them organize the accommodations for your stay. Bear in mind that it will cost you an additional $20 to $30 per day. Alternately, you can look for hotels online, and make reservations for your stay yourself. Who will bring me to the airport for my departure? After the completion of your volunteer project, we shall arrange a transfer vehicle to take you to the airport for your departure back home. What do I need prior to departure from my home country? Prior to your departure from your home country, you need to make sure that you have packed all the important things necessary for a successful volunteer work in Sri Lanka. You need to have all your official documents, credit/debit cards, cash, travel insurance, clothing, snacks, medical kit, laptop, camera and mobile phone. How can I apply to volunteer program? You can apply for our volunteer programs by completing our online application form for a specific volunteer project. You need to go to our website, choose the project of your liking and then fill in the application before submitting us for approval, either online, or through mail. When should I apply for a volunteer program? You can apply with Global Crossroad for a volunteer project in Sri Lanka whenever you feel like doing something remarkable and meaningful. What happens once I submit my documents and application? Once you submit your documents and the application for the volunteer trip, we immediately start to process your application for approval, and sending it to the country coordinator for review before giving you the details of your volunteer project. How long does it take to process my application? Usually it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to process one application for our volunteer programs in Sri Lanka. What documents do I need to submit with my application? You don’t need to submit any documents with your application. However, if you have applied for our medical/ health care volunteer program then you must be ready to provide us with an authentic medical certification from a recognized institution. Do I need visa to volunteer and travel in Sri lanka? Yes, you do need a visa to volunteer in Sri Lanka. You are responsible to have all the proper documentation necessary to be eligible for a tourist visa. How do I apply for the visa? The easiest way to apply for a Sri Lankan tourist visa is by visiting the Embassy of Sri Lanka in your home country prior to your departure. You need to have passport with a validity period of at least 6 months to obtain a tourist visa. Can I extend my visa while I am in the country? Can you help me on this? You initially can get a 30-day tourist visa which can be extended quite easily if you visit the Department of Immigration, located in Colombo city. You can extend your visa for the next 90 days from the date of your arrival. Volunteers who plan to continue volunteering in Sri Lanka or join our other Sri Lanka volunteer projects can ask for help to our local field staffs to assist them in extending their visas. How do I contact with Global Crossroad’s local coordinator? You can contact Global Crossroad’s local coordinator by mobile phone. Or you can send them an email or text while volunteering. Can I use my phone? Yes, you can use your phone while volunteering in Sri Lanka project. Can I buy SIM card in Sri Lanka? Yes, you can buy a local SIM card. Buying a SIM card is cheap and one of the easiest things to do in Sri Lanka. You can choose SIM card manufactured and operated by Mobitel, Hutch, Airtel, Etisalat, and Dialog. How can I get/purchase internet services? To purchase internet services, you first have to buy a local SIM Card. Once you insert the SIM Card and activate it, you can then ask the vendor to help you purchase internet data plans Is there internet available everywhere? Yes, there are internet facilities available everywhere in Sri Lanka. What I need to bring? Earplugs, sunscreen, insect repellent, water bottle, towels, mobile phone charger, shoes, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, masks, safety pins, travel insurance, pajama pants, extra memory cards and batteries, umbrella, long sleeve shirt, multiple credit cards, sun glasses, books, flashlight and first aid kit are some of the things which you should pack up in our luggage and bring with you for your volunteer project in Sri Lanka. NOTE: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is generic information and should not be used as a definitive travel guide. Travel information and situations abroad change constantly. Participants should consult Global Crossroad or travel advisors to verify this information. Page updated: 30th July, 2019

Investigation and prosecution of sheriff solemn cases: thematic review The Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland's review of the investigation and prosecution of sheriff solemn cases. This document is part of a collection Chapter 5 – Analysis Of Reforms 52. We examined the key measures implemented by the reforms to ascertain if COPFS was complying with their statutory duties and whether the objectives of the reforms were being achieved. Case Preparation 53. Key to effective and efficient use of the sheriff solemn courts is preparation. The additional time between the service of the indictment and the first diet and the obligation to provide a detailed account of the state of preparation in the written record was intended to result in more focus on front loading resulting in better prepared cases by the first diet. 54. Of the 91 cases further lines of enquires were instructed by the case preparer or SLM in 44 cases and supplementary statements from the victim or witness (es) were requested in 26. There were a variety of reasons why additional enquiries/supplementary statements were necessary, some were very case specific, but there were some recurring themes. - By far the most common reason (16 cases) was to obtain information on the nature/extent of injuries sustained from medical personnel/medical records or the victim. - 10 required additional information on 999 calls. - In five it was to establish whether there were any additional victims; four involved sexual crimes and one was an offence of domestic abuse. - In five it was to clarify/obtain, at least in part, further information requested by the accused's representative. 55. Of the 26 cases where supplementary statements were requested, 11 involved sexual crimes or offences of domestic abuse; seven were obtained from victims. 56. One indicator of how well the cases are prepared is the number of Section 67 notices required to add productions, labels or witnesses. Section 67 Notices What we found 57. Of the 91 cases, there was one or more Section 67 notice in 34 (37%) cases. In 16 of the 34 cases, almost half, the proceedings were subject to custody time scales. In 13 there was a direct correlation between the additional enquiries and the evidence added by section 67. 58. Of evidence added by a Section 67 notice there were some recurring themes: - Transcripts of interviews of the accused or of joint investigative interviews of child witnesses (five cases) - Transcripts of 999 call evidence (four cases) - VIPER reports (five cases) - Forensic/Fingerprint reports (five cases) 59. While Section 67 notices should not be used to add essential evidence that should be routinely obtained at the outset, in certain circumstances, it cannot be avoided due to the late submission of reports from other organisations or late requests from the defence. In one case photos and medical information was added at the request of the co-accused and in another the evidence, following the arrest of a co-accused, required amended forensic and fingerprint reports. 60. Overall productions or witnesses were added by a Section 67 notice in just over a third of the cases with in the majority of cases only one notice being required. What we heard 61. As no statistics are retained on the number of Section 67 notices lodged, we were unable to compare our findings with an average number of notices used prior to the reforms but most prosecutors reported that the number of Section 67 notices have decreased. Communication between the Prosecution and Defence 62. A key component of the reforms was to improve communication between the prosecution and defence prior to the first diet with a focus on agreeing non-contentious evidence and resolving cases at the earliest possible stage. The reforms placed an obligation on the prosecutor and the accused's legal representative to communicate with each other within 14 days of service of an indictment and submit a written record with the court no later than two court days before the first diet.[24] 63. To encourage early engagement COPFS produced two letters – one to be issued when the case is allocated to a case preparer and the second when the indictment is served. - The first letter provides contact details of the case preparer and the SLM and invites the accused's legal representative to make contact if there is any prospect of a Section 76 plea or any other matters that may assist in reaching an early resolution. - The second letter provides contact details of the first diet depute (where known) and the SLM and invites the accused's legal representative to make contact if there is any possibility of a plea; any reason why the case cannot be continued to trial; any outstanding disclosure issues or preliminary issues; and any evidence that can be agreed. 64. We examined whether the second letter was being issued and the extent/nature of the communication that had taken place within 14 days of service of the indictment. What we found 65. For the 18 cases where a Section 76 plea was accepted there was no need to issue the second letter. 66. Of the remaining 73 cases: - In 54 (74%) a letter was sent when the indictment was served. - In 13 there was no record of the letter being issued. The indictment was sent with a brief covering letter. From analysis of the written records, we ascertained: - In six there had been some communication with the accused's representative that occurred after the 14 day period. - In three some other form of communication took place within the 14 day period. - In three the prosecutor had left messages for the accused's representative to make contact. If there was any subsequent communication, it took place after the 14 day period. - In one there had been contact by phone on various occasions but the dates were not recorded. - In four, due to the indictment documentation not being retained on the COPFS IT system, it could not be ascertained whether any correspondence had issued. From analysis of the written records, we ascertained: - In two there had been contact but it could not be determined whether it took place within the 14 day period. - In one there had been email contact regarding possible resolution and agreement of evidence after the 14 day period. - In one a telephone message had been left for the accused's representative. If there was any subsequent communication, it took place after the 14 day period. - In one early correspondence from the accused's representative, indicating that the case may resolve in a plea, resulted in an email exchange between the SLM and the solicitor. The accused pled guilty to an amended charge at the first diet. - In one, a letter was sent after the indictment was served and a meeting took place both beyond the 14 days. The case resolved by a partial plea of guilty at the first diet. Communication 67. Of the 73 cases: 68. We found that communication, beyond sending letters with the indictment, took place in 54 (74%) cases: - In 35, we found there was fruitful discussion on various aspects of the cases including potential resolution by a plea, agreement of evidence; disclosure; obtaining social work records and Evidence on Commission (EOC). The majority of which (74%) involved discussions regarding resolution by plea and/or agreement of evidence. - In 19, it was not possible to ascertain the content of the discussion from records or the written record. 69. For the remaining 19 cases, it was unclear whether there had been any discussion between the prosecutor and the defence although in nine cases the prosecutor had left a message for the accused's representative to make contact. What we heard 70. There are a variety of approaches taken to engaging with the defence; some areas operate designated surgeries where a prosecutor is available at specific times to discuss cases; in others prosecutors pro-actively attend the local defence common room to facilitate discussion. 71. Prosecutors advised that early notification of contact details of the case preparer and first diet depute and a more pro-active approach taken by sheriffs to query the extent of communication at the first diet has encouraged earlier engagement. 64% of defence solicitors that responded to our online survey[25] reported there was better communication between the prosecution and defence. 72. Overall, there was a high degree of compliance – 74% – of the prosecution providing contact details and communicating on key issues when the case was indicted and/or before the first diet but given the statutory duty on the prosecution and defence to communicate within 14 days of serving the indictment there is room for improvement. While the issuing of letters with the indictment is unlikely, without other communication, to fulfil the intention of the statutory duty, they do open up channels of communication and should be issued in all cases where a legal representative is instructed.. Agreement of Evidence 73. The reforms placed emphasis on the defence and prosecution to agree as much evidence as possible. 74. There are two mechanisms for agreeing evidence: - A Statement of Uncontroversial Evidence (SUE)[27] – setting out any facts that one of the parties assess are unlikely to be disputed by the other party. What we found 75. In the 18 cases where the accused pled guilty by the Section 76 procedure the issue of agreement of evidence did not arise. 76. Of the remaining 73 cases: - In 34 a JMA was sent to the defence or a SUE was served prior to the first diet. - In 31 there was no JMA or a SUE served prior to the first diet. - In eight a SUE was served and a JMA was sent to the defence. 77. Of the 31 where there was no record of a SUE or a JMA: - In 23 the prosecutor had identified evidence that could be agreed in the written record or there had been discussion with the defence. - In five the cases were resolved at the first diet. - In two the prosecutor assessed that there was no evidence capable of agreement. - In one the accused died prior to the first diet. What we heard 78. While in some areas draft JMAs are prepared and sent to the defence prior to the first diet, the most common approach is for the prosecution to serve a SUE with the indictment which is subsequently used to inform the content of a joint minute, if the case is not resolved. Prosecutors reported that greater scrutiny by sheriffs on why evidence could not be agreed was instrumental in securing agreement of evidence. Key Finding There was a high degree of compliance by prosecutors with their statutory duty to agree evidence. First Diets "The First Diet should not sound the starting gun for preparation, rather it should sound the bell for entering the final lap."[28] 79. The purpose[29] of the first diet is to establish the state of preparation of the prosecutor and defence for trial and the extent to which they have complied with their duty to agree evidence.[30] What we found Section 76 Pleas 80. 18 cases pled guilty by the Section 76 procedure prior to the first diet. First Diets 81. Of the 73 cases that had a first diet: - 19 pled guilty - 28 had a trial fixed - 23 had an adjourned first diet fixed - In two a warrant was issued for the arrest of the accused - One case was discontinued Key Finding By the first diet 72% of cases had been resolved or were continued to trial. 82. Given that continued first diets are intended to be the exception we examined why an adjourned first diet was fixed in 23 cases: 83. Six were adjourned at the request of the prosecutor: - One was to make enquiries regarding the whereabouts of a co-accused - Following the arrest of a co-accused, one was to re-indict the case to prosecute both accused at the same time - Two were for productions to be added by a Section 67 notice - One was for a Video Identification Parade (VIPER)[31] to be conducted - One was for the accused to attend court following a warrant being issued after he failed to appear at the first diet. 84. Nine were adjourned at the request of the defence: - Three related to consulting on or obtaining expert reports - In four, the defence required more time to seek instructions and/or prepare and in one to also obtain disclosure - One was due to the accused not being brought to court from prison - In one there was no record of why it was adjourned. 85. Seven were on joint motion: - In two the reasons were not recorded - In one the prosecutor was awaiting witness availability information, the defence required to obtain instructions and a co-accused had instructed investigation of a possible defence witness - One was for possible resolution - One was for the defence to obtain legal aid and for the prosecution to trace the complainer - In one the defence requested an evidential hearing to be fixed - In one the defence requested further lines of investigation to be explored by the prosecutor. 86. One was adjourned by the sheriff for the prosecutor to disclose a forensic report and for the defence to consider agreeing evidence. - 45 had one first diet - 14 had two - 14 had between three and seven. 88. There were a variety of reasons for multiple adjournments. 89. The most common were: - Difficulties involving a co-accused where the prosecutor was seeking to prosecute all accused at the same time - Absence of an accused or co-accused - Evidential issues such as seeking to admit the statement of a witness who was overseas and to debate an application to introduce sexual history or character evidence - To enable the accused to be psychologically or psychiatrically examined - To consider an application for evidence on commission - A change in legal representation. 90. In the main, the reasons for multiple adjournments first diets were not due to cases being ill-prepared but to progress legitimate further inquiries arising from discussion with the defence and often due to the absence of accused and/or co-accused. What we heard 91. There was agreement from administrative staff, case preparers and prosecutors that the discipline of having to produce a written record detailing the state of preparation of cases has resulted in more front loading and better prepared cases by the first diet. 36% of defence solicitors identified having more time to prepare between the service of indictment and the first diet as a positive impact of the reforms. 92. Prosecutors have varying amounts of preparation time prior to the first diet ranging between 2/3 days to two weeks although in the latter model prosecutors deal with other associated work including warrant requests, correspondence and taking decisions on new cases. Most prosecutors advocated 7 days prior to the first diet as the optimum period for preparation. Court loadings also varied from between 6/7 to 15 cases. 93. Some offices operate a model of dedicated first diet deputes dealing exclusively with preparing and conducting first diets and in some smaller offices the prosecutor preparing the first diet court also deals with the subsequent trials. The combination of volume of cases, the logistics of court programming, leave and part-time working precludes replicating these models in some jurisdictions. 94. There is excellent communication between the sheriff clerks and first diet prosecutors with regular meetings to discuss court loadings/scheduling, prioritisation of trials, witness availability and potential problems with cases. The sharing of management information is key to the effective management of the first diet and trial courts. 55% of defence solicitors reported they had seen better scheduling of trials since the reforms. 95. Prosecutors reported a greater degree of consistency of approach where there were dedicated solemn sheriffs dealing with the first diets. Witness Engagement 96. One benefit of the reforms is that witnesses only have to attend court after the sheriff allocates a trial diet. The onus is on the prosecution to advise the court on the availability of witnesses for the trial at the first diet. Prior to the reforms, COPFS established a Project Board to consider the most effective manner of obtaining information on witness availability, resulting in COPFS, together with Police Scotland, implementing the witness engagement scheme. Witness Engagement Scheme 97. To engage non-police witnesses, the following process was implemented by the prosecution. - The system automatically sends out letters (five months after the accused has appeared in court in bail cases and 10 days post FC in custody cases) to all non-police witnesses to provide dates when they are unavailable to attend court within a specified time frame - If they fail to reply within seven days, where there is a mobile contact number, a text reminder is sent - For those witnesses identified as "essential" and who have not replied within 14 days, their details are passed to the Witness Engagement Team (WET) at COPFS, who contact them by telephone and/or email is attempted - If essential witnesses cannot be contacted within 21 days, the WET issue a trace request to the police asking them to make contact with the witness (es) and ascertain their availability - On receipt of a trace request the police should make inquiries as to their availability. If unable to make contact, the police are required to make two phone calls and a visit to each witness before submitting the report. What we found - In 51 trace letters were sent to the police for at least one or more witnesses - In 33 no trace letters were required - In seven only police witnesses were required. 99. Of the 51 cases trace letters were issued for 116 witnesses: - In 33 (65%) the police provided availability information or details of their efforts to contact the witness (es) - In 15 (28%) there was no record of any report from the police - In three (6%) the police provided a report for some of the witnesses. 100. Our findings mirror the national performance by the police in 2018/19 where they successfully contacted and ascertained the availability of 66% of witnesses.[34] It is acknowledged that some witnesses/victims are a hard to reach group but given the necessity of witnesses attending and the reduced number of witnesses that are now required to attend at court, it is a significant short fall from the 100% target that is required. What we heard 101. There was unanimous agreement that the main reason cases are adjourned is due to witness difficulties – either not having sufficient information regarding their availability to attend court resulting in adjourned first diets or they are reluctant or hostile and do not attend at trial diets resulting in adjourned trials. Prosecutors advised that they spent a considerable amount of time tracing and chasing up witnesses. 102. The role of police liaison officers, who are co-located in some Procurator Fiscal Offices, was highlighted by many prosecutors as providing an invaluable service in tracing, contacting and securing the engagement of witnesses and went some way to bridge the gap where there was no availability information provided by the police in response to trace letters. 103. The provision of police liaison officers in the larger offices in each of the Sheriffdoms may go some way to improve police performance in this area. First Diet Witness Reports 104. Advising the court on the availability of witnesses is critical to any decision to fix a trial diet. It is, therefore, important that prosecutors have full information regarding witness availability and any witness issues. All information on the availability of a witness is recorded in the COPFS IT system. The WET will also capture any relevant information in a note field on the system. All information on witness availability is pulled into a first diet witness report (First Diet Report) for the sheriff and jury teams. The report also provides contact history/attempts for those witnesses who have not engaged with the process. What we heard 105. We were told that prosecutors were generally unaware of the role and work of the WET and that the information provided in first diet report was confusing and unclear. Recommendation 2 COPFS should refresh the guidance on witness engagement including an explanation of the content of the reports. 106. As currently constituted, if the witness indicates that they are available throughout the dates specified in the letter, the report records their availability but does not capture any information recorded in the note field. For example, in one case the witness, who had confirmed his availability to attend on all dates, advised that he required a Polish interpreter. While this information was recorded by the WET in the note field, it was not pulled into the report and the first diet prosecutor was not aware of the need to obtain an interpreter. Recommendation 3 COPFS should ensure that all relevant information provided by witnesses (whether they provide availability details or not) is pulled into the first diet report. 107. Further, in accordance with the guidance, the WET only record information if the police have completed all required inquiries for all witnesses in each case. Otherwise the entire response is returned to the police for action and no information for any witness is included in the first diet report. The intention is to avoid police engagement statistics being inflated by including cases where there has not been full compliance and to emphasise the importance of contacting all witnesses. While appreciating the necessity for accurate data and the need to obtain information for all witnesses, there requires to be a mechanism to enable information gathered for any witness to be made available to the first diet prosecutor. The failure to record information obtained for some witnesses is a significant omission in the first diet report. Recommendation 4 COPFS should ensure that any information obtained on the availability of witnesses is captured and included in the first diet report. Securing the Attendance of Witnesses 108. Given the importance of securing the attendance of witnesses, if the witness, having been requested to attend at court, deliberately and obstructively fails to appear or the court is satisfied that the witness is not likely to attend, the prosecution or the defence can apply for a warrant.[35] On arrest the court can, after hearing the parties, remand or release the witness with bail conditions. 109. Where it is anticipated that a witness is unlikely to co-operate and attend court, the prosecutor can also issue a citation requiring the witness to attend at the first diet. If the witness attends the importance of attending at the trial can be emphasised. If they fail to attend the prosecutor can seek a warrant. What we found 110. We examined the cases to ascertain whether a citation was sent to any witnesses to attend a first diet or a warrant was obtained to secure their attendance. Attendance at the First Diet[36] 111. There was only one case where witnesses were required to attend the first diet. It involved an offence of assault to severe injury and danger to life. Three witnesses were sent a citation to attend at the first diet – the victim and two essential witnesses following information from the police that the victim was fearful of reprisals and the essential witnesses were hostile. On receipt of the citation the victim contacted VIA and advised that he would attend the trial. His attendance at the first diet was then excused. The other two witnesses attended at the first diet and the case proceeded to trial. 112. Witness warrants were obtained in two cases. - The first involved a charge of assault and robbery. At the trial an essential witness for the prosecution, who was also required for the defence, did not attend and a warrant was granted for their arrest. The witness had a number of outstanding warrants and was actively evading the police. The proceedings were eventually discontinued. - The second case involved charges of domestic abuse. Warrants were granted for two witnesses at the first trial diet. The witnesses were arrested and appeared at court and were held in contempt of court throughout the proceedings. The accused was found guilty and sentenced to 21 months imprisonment. 113. We identified a number of cases where the police had advised that the witnesses were hostile and non-co-operative but no citation had been issued to attend the first diet. - In a case of assault to severe injury, where there were counter allegations that were being prosecuted separately and the witnesses were known to be hostile there was no citation sent requiring them to attend at the first diet. - In a case of domestic assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement the victim was not cited to the first diet despite failing to attend a VIPER parade. 114. Although both cases ultimately resolved by pleas of guilty, citing the witnesses to the first diet would have provided the prosecutor with an indication of whether the witnesses were likely to attend at the trial. What we heard 115. We heard mixed accounts of the use of the provisions to require witnesses to attend at the first diet and/or seeking warrants for witnesses. In Glasgow, there is a dedicated prosecution sitting manager located at the court with an administrative member of staff and a police liaison officer. The police liaison officer assists in tracing witnesses and the sitting manager is extremely pro-active on seeking warrants if there is information that the witness is hostile or is unlikely to attend. A less pro-active approach was taken in other jurisdictions. 116. Given the consensus by all those involved in dealing with sheriff solemn cases that the main reason for cases being adjourned or discontinued is due to witness difficulties, borne out by our findings at paragraph 124 below, there is clearly potential to make more use of this provision to pre-empt difficulties at the trial and to place prosecutors in a strong position to seek warrants. Trial Diets What we found 117. Of the 91 cases: 118. 44 cases did not have a trial diet. 18 were resolved by a Section 76 plea, 23 pled guilty at a first or an adjournment first diet and three were discontinued before a trial was fixed. There are a further two cases which have never had a trial diet fixed. 119. There were 45 cases where at least one trial diet had been fixed. Six of these are still ongoing. 120. Of the 45 cases: - 31 had one trial diet; - 10 had two trial diets; - Four had three trial diets. 121. Of the 31 cases with one trial diet: - Ten were found not guilty or not proven; - Nine pled guilty on the day of the trial; - Five were found guilty; - Two were discontinued – one due to insufficient evidence and the other following the non-appearance of the victim; - Two cases are ongoing; - One was deserted by the court on defence motion following receipt of new information; - In one the accused failed to attend and a warrant was granted; and - One had a not guilty plea accepted. Key Finding 79% of all cases were resolved by or at the first trial diet. Two Trial Diets 122. Of the 10 cases with two trial diets, an adjourned trial diet was fixed in nine at the first trial diet and a warrant was granted due the absence of the accused in the remaining case. Of the nine that were adjourned six were primarily due to the absence of an essential witness (es) and one was due to the absence of the co‑accused in a case where the prosecutor wished to prosecute both accused together. One was adjourned by the sheriff due to a lack of court time and the reason was unclear for the remaining case being adjourned. 123. Eight of the nine adjourned cases concluded at the second trial diet. In four the prosecutor accepted a plea of not guilty or discontinued the case due to witness issues. Two pled guilty, one was found guilty and one was found not proven. 124. The remaining case was adjourned to a new first diet and remains ongoing. Three Trial Diets 125. Of the four cases with three trial diets, at the first trial diet, there was a mixture of reasons for the adjournments including a lack of court time, a change of legal representative, for disclosure of CCTV evidence and witness issues. 126. In three there were pleas or findings of guilty and one is ongoing. 127. Of the 45 cases where a trial diet was fixed: - 14 pled guilty on the day of the trial; - 13 proceeded to trial (seven were found guilty and six were found not proven/not guilty); - Six cases are ongoing; - Five were deserted by the prosecutor following evidence from the complainer or witness (es); - Three were discontinued due to witness difficulties; - In three cases, pleas of not guilty were accepted – in one a plea of guilty was accepted from the co-accused, the prosecution could not trace the victim in another and in the remaining case a plea to a lesser charge was accepted following the victim indicating that she would not give evidence - One was deserted following the non-appearance of prosecution witnesses and the refusal of the sheriff to grant a further adjournment. What we heard 128. Reduced court loadings mean that there is a real likelihood of the trial commencing rather than being adjourned which focuses the mind of accused. Trial deputes reported that following the reforms jury sittings are much more manageable and less stressful. The churn that characterised the system prior to the reforms meant that a case prepared by a particular depute for trial may well not be heard in that sitting or may not commence on a day that falls in the prosecutor's working pattern whereas the greater certainty that trials will proceed provides more opportunity for continuity and for part-time prosecutors to conduct sheriff and jury trials. Glasgow Model 129. One area where the reforms have had a significant impact is Glasgow. Glasgow Sheriff Court has the highest volume of cases in Scotland with five jury trial courts available daily. The sheriff clerks and prosecutors agreed 15 was the optimum number of trials each week resulting in three trials for each court. The cases are prioritised and moved into available slots as trials conclude. With a team of seven prosecutors, the workload of the trial prosecutors is significantly reduced and the programme enables more straight forward cases to be allocated to less experienced prosecutors. The availability of courts and slots means that the accused cannot rely on the case being adjourned and "put off the day of reckoning". Extensions to Time Bar 130. Scotland has one of the tightest time limit regimes among comparable jurisdictions. Of the 91 cases, there was an extension to the statutory time limit in only 15 cases. In only four of the 15 cases was the accused remanded. The relatively small number of cases where extensions were required indicates robustness in the systems, processes and procedures in managing the new time limits. 131. On examining the time lines for the cases[38] we found on average they were indicted and served 48 days prior to the last service date necessary to ensure that the cases are progressed within the time bar. This is provides a significant cushion for the prosecution and indicates that the cases are being progressed more expeditiously. What works? 132. Feedback from all involved in the investigation and prosecution of cases in the sheriff solemn courts regarding the impact of the reforms was positive. Many attributed this to a cultural change largely driven by more pro-active judicial management and greater certainty in the system. 133. While the reforms have reduced churn and improved the efficiency of sheriff and jury business we observed significant variations on the approach/model adopted to preparing and prosecuting such cases across the various jurisdictions. 134. We identified various practices and approaches that contributed to providing an effective model to deal with sheriff and jury business. These included – - Having a dedicated cadre of sheriffs dealing solely with sheriff solemn cases - Providing a minimum of seven days preparation time prior to the first diet - Earlier notification of contact details of the case preparer and prosecutor dealing with the case has generated earlier meaningful engagement with the defence supplemented by proactive arrangements whether hotlines or surgeries - A proactive approach to citing witnesses to first diets and seeking witness warrants where there is credible information that the witness is unlikely to attend the trial - Manageable and agreed court loadings - Having a dedicated police liaison officer within the sheriffdom - Preparation of written narratives for cases where it is known there is likely to be a plea - Regular "lessons learnt" meetings with sheriff clerks. 135. Having a minimum of a week for preparation prior to the first diet is the lynchpin to enabling many other good practices to be undertaken. 136. While accepting that one size does not fit all due to geographical variations, volume of cases and different court programmes, we found models incorporating most or all of these practices worked well and there was positive feedback from staff within those teams. To maintain the momentum that has been achieved following the reforms, COPFS should seek to incorporate elements of good practice into a national model. Recommendation 5 COPFS should seek to incorporate the various elements of good practice into a national model for investigating and prosecuting sheriff solemn cases that can be adapted for local variations. There is a problem Thanks for your feedback

Abstract GRP78 conducts protein folding and quality control in the ER and shows elevated expression and cell surface translocation in advanced tumors. However, the underlying mechanisms enabling GRP78 to exert novel signaling functions at cell surface are just emerging. CD44 is a transmembrane protein and an important regulator of cancer metastasis, and isoform switch of CD44 through incorporating additional variable exons to the extracellular juxtamembrane region is frequently observed during cancer progression. Using super-resolution dual-color single-particle tracking, we report that GRP78 interacts with CD44v in plasma membrane nanodomains of breast cancer cells. We further show that targeting cell surface GRP78 by the antibodies can effectively reduce cell surface expression of CD44v and cell spreading of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. Our results uncover new functions of GRP78 as an interacting partner of CD44v and as a regulator of CD44v membrane homeostasis and cell spreading. This study also provides new insights into anti-CD44 therapy in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. Introduction GRP78 (78 kD glucose-regulated protein, also referred to as BiP or HSPA5) belongs to the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family and is a major ER chaperone protein that facilitates protein folding, quality control, and regulates the unfolded protein response (Ni & Lee, 2007; Luo & Lee, 2013; Lee, 2014; Pobre et al, 2019). Overexpression of GRP78 is associated with cancer cell growth, invasion, and drug resistance (Lee, 2014; Cook & Clarke, 2015; Gifford et al, 2016). Atypical translocation of GRP78 to cell surface was observed in various cancer cells and further elevated under stress conditions (Ni et al, 2011; Zhang et al, 2013; Tsai et al, 2015). Cell surface GRP78 (csGRP78) has emerged as a novel regulator of cell surface signaling, beyond the traditional protein foldase activity as a chaperone protein in the ER (Ni et al, 2011; Zhang et al, 2013; Tsai et al, 2018). Previous studies have highlighted the importance of csGRP78 in cancer cell–matrix adhesion, motility, invasion, and proliferation; however, the underlying mechanisms are just emerging (Misra et al, 2005b; Kelber et al, 2009; Li et al, 2013). Because GRP78 exists on the cell surface primarily as a peripheral protein (Tsai et al, 2015), the identification of plasma membrane proteins that interact with csGRP78 is critical toward understanding how GRP78 is anchored on the cell surface and exerts its signaling functions. Recently, it was reported that GRP78 facilitated chemo-radioresistance and invasion in head and neck cancer (HNC) cells exhibiting molecular characteristics (CD24−CD44+) of HNC stem cells (Chiu et al, 2013). In addition, GRP78 knockdown in HNCs suppressed stem cell regulatory proteins, Oct-4 and Slug, and transformed cell morphology into rounder cell shape (Chiu et al, 2013). CD44 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein known to facilitate cell adhesion, spreading, migration, invasion, ROS defense, and drug resistance in a variety of cancer types (Misra et al, 2005a; Ishimoto et al, 2011; Zoller, 2011; Montgomery et al, 2012; Hiraga et al, 2013). It is widely used as a cancer stem cell marker in subtypes of cancers including breast (Al-Hajj et al, 2003; Liu et al, 2010; Yan et al, 2015) and serves as the major receptor of hyaluronan (Ghatak et al, 2010). It can also bind to a wide range of ECM components, including metalloproteinases, collagen, laminin, chondroitin sulfate, and fibronectin (Zoller, 2011). CD44 is a highly heterogeneous glycoprotein; it can be regulated by alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications (Zoller, 2011; Yae et al, 2012). CD44 variant isoforms are created by alternative splicing through incorporation of variable exons into the extracellular juxtamembrane region. CD44 standard isoform (CD44s) lacks variable exons. In addition to its role as a cell surface receptor, CD44 variant isoforms can function as a co-receptor that binds FGF2, HGF, VEGF, and osteopontin and present them to their receptors (Zoller, 2011). It has been reported that breast cancer stem-like cells expressing CD44 variant isoforms exhibited enhanced metastatic capacity (Yae et al, 2012). CD44 containing variable exons 3 to 10 (CD44v3-10) instead of CD44v8-10 or CD44s is correlated with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients (Hu et al, 2017). Collectively, CD44 is a critical regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics, cell motility, migration, and invasion in normal development and cancer progression (Senbanjo & Chellaiah, 2017). In searching for GRP78 interactive partners on the cancer cell surface, we recently discovered that CD44v3-10 (hereinafter CD44v) forms complex with GRP78, and they co-localize on the cell surface of tamoxifen-resistant MCF7 cells (MCF7-LR) (Tseng et al, 2019). In this study, we further explored their interaction and functional significance using biochemical assays, time-lapse total internal reflection fluorescence/photoactivated localization microscopy (TIRF/PALM) imaging, and functional studies. We discovered that CD44v can directly bind to GRP78 in vitro, and they exhibit co-diffusion and co-confinement in plasma membrane nanodomains in MCF7-LR cells. We further showed that monoclonal antibodies against csGRP78 can effectively reduce cell surface expression of CD44v and suppress cell spreading in MCF7-LR cells. Our study uncovers a new mechanism for csGRP78 to regulate behaviors of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells at least in part via modulating CD44 protein expression. Results Co-expression and co-localization of CD44v and GRP78 in breast cancer It has been reported that tamoxifen-resistant MCF7-LR breast cancer cells exhibited elevated expression of GRP78 (Zhang et al, 2013; Cook & Clarke, 2015) and CD44 (Hiscox et al, 2012; Bellerby et al, 2016). To characterize their interactions in such cells, we first confirmed that MCF7-LR cells expressed CD44v, a single-pass transmembrane protein containing variable exons 3 to 10 (Fig 1A), using RT–PCR and DNA sequencing (Fig 1B and Supplemental Data 1). At the protein level, the expression of CD44v in MCF7-LR cells was confirmed by Western blotting using the monoclonal antibody specifically against CD44 variable exon 3. The observed molecular sizes of CD44v ranging from 100 to 250 kD were consistent with those previously reported (Hu et al, 2017) (Fig 1C). To extend our studies in patient-derived cells, we used circulating tumor cells (CTCs), BRx-68 and BRx-07, derived from breast cancer patients, which are considered as metastatic precursors (Alix-Panabieres et al, 2007; Aceto et al, 2014). The molecular sizes of CD44v detected in CTCs were similar to MCF7-LR cells (Fig 1C). To further confirm the specificity of the anti-CD44v antibody and the identity of CD44v, we overexpressed HA-tagged CD44v (vHA) and detected a major 250-kD protein band similar to the size of endogenous CD44v in Fig 1C (Fig 1D). Furthermore, a positive correlation of csGRP78 and CD44v expression levels was observed in MCF7-LR cells as demonstrated by flow cytometry, with the specificity for the signals confirmed by the absence of primary antibody (M.O.M. control) and isotype control staining (Fig 1E). (A) Left: Immunofluorescence and compressed z-stack confocal micrographs showing the CD44v (red) levels on the cell surface of nonpermeabilized MCF7-LR cells treated with the MAb159 antibody or control IgG for 72 h. The cells were seeded on coverslips coated with collagen I (100 μg/ml). CD44v was detected by the anti-CD44v3 antibody. Nuclei were stained by DAPI in blue. Scale bar, 20 μm. Right: Quantification of relative cell surface (cs) CD44v levels. Number of analyzed independent image areas (A) and cells (N): A/N = 5/377, IgG; 3/318, MAb159. Data represent mean ± SEM *P < 0.05 (t test). (B) Left: Bright-field micrographs showing crystal violet–stained MCF7-LR cells. Cells were treated with MAb159 or control IgG for 72 h and then re-seeded onto culture plates coated with collagen I (100 μg/ml) for 1 h. Scale bar, 20 μm. Right: Quantification of relative levels of cell attachment. Crystal violet staining of adherent cells was dissolved in 100% methanol, and the OD was measured at 595 nm. Data represent mean ± SEM from three biological repeats. *P < 0.05 (t test). (C) Kinetic measurement of cell spreading area. MCF7-LR cells were treated with MAb159 or control IgG for 72 h before re-seeding onto collagen I–coated culture plates for the indicated times. Cells were stained with rhodamine phalloidin and visualized by epifluorescent microscopy. Cell area was quantified by the FIJI-Image J software, and the results were represented by the box and whisker plot. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 (t test). (D) Data obtained from panel (C) were represented by mean ± SEM for each condition. n, number of analyzed cells. Discussion Although both GRP78 and CD44 have been widely implicated in aggressive cancer growth and therapeutic resistance, the physical and functional interactions of these two proteins in the context of breast cancer cells resistant to hormonal treatment are just emerging (Chiu et al, 2013; Tseng et al, 2019). Because acquired tamoxifen resistance of breast cancer cells is accompanied with an elevated level of csGRP78, the tamoxifen-resistant MCF7-LR breast cancer cells represent a clinically relevant model to study the interaction of csGRP78 with its partner proteins. Here, we provide evidence that csGRP78 co-expressed and co-localized with CD44v in MCF7-LR cells and in CTCs derived from breast cancer patients. We further established that GRP78 can directly bind to and interact with the extracellular domain of the variant isoform of CD44. Our studies uncovered previously unidentified functions of csGRP78 in regulation of CD44 homeostasis, cell adhesion, and cell spreading, and our findings could have important therapeutic implications for blocking CD44v functions by targeting its partner protein in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. It is well established that GRP78 is a key chaperone in the ER, facilitating folding and maturation of proteins destined for the plasma membrane or to be secreted. We recently observed co-localization of GRP78 and CD44v both in the ER compartment and on the cell surface (Tseng et al, 2019). These results suggest that CD44v could be a client protein of GRP78 during its synthesis in the ER, which could result in their co-trafficking to the cell surface. The ability to study protein diffusion on a subdiffraction limit scale provides opportunities to highlight interactions between GRP78 and CD44v on the cell surface. Using dual-color sptPALM, we discovered the correlated lateral diffusion and co-confinement of GRP78 and CD44v in plasma membrane nanodomains, indicating that they dynamically interact with each other in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. Our studies revealed that GRP78 knockdown differentially impacts the diffusive behaviors of fast and slow subpopulations of CD44v. This suggests that GRP78 and CD44v could form diverse complexes in plasma membrane nanodomains. Previous studies have shown that CD44 can localize to lipid raft or nonraft membrane microdomains. For example, the association of CD44 with lipid rafts activates SRC family protein kinase and annexin II signaling, thereby regulating cytoskeletal dynamics (Ilangumaran et al, 1998; Oliferenko et al, 1999; Lee et al, 2008). Induction of cell migration in triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells led to reduced affiliation of CD44 with lipid raft, and this was accompanied by increased association of CD44 with active ezrin, a membrane-cytoskeleton linker, in the nonraft fraction (Donatello et al, 2012). The VEGF-induced cell migration of mesenchymal stem cells rapidly modified the nanodomain size of CD44, which resulted in FAK activation and rearrangement of cytoskeleton (Ke et al, 2015). It is tempting to speculate that GRP78 facilitates differential CD44v signaling and actin remodeling by associating with subpopulations of CD44v on the cell surface, and future studies will be required to elucidate these intriguing observations. Our discovery that targeting csGRP78 resulted in reduction of CD44v protein level on the cell surface raises the question concerning the potential mechanisms. Here, we determined that CD44 reduction is not because of decrease of CD44v mRNA levels, rather we observed an increase. This increase in mRNA level is likely a compensatory feedback response to the reduction of CD44v protein level. Another possibility for decrease in the cell surface expression of CD44v could be an increase in the endocytosis of CD44v, which was observed in MCF7-LR cells treated with an anti-GRP78 antibody. Other potential mechanisms include alteration of CD44v protein stability or its shedding from the plasma membrane, although treatment of MCF7-LR cells with BB-94, an inhibitor of broad-spectrum matrix metalloprotease known to cleave CD44 (Chetty et al, 2012), showed little or no effect on rescuing the CD44v level. Targeting CD44 using peptides or antibodies has drawn great attention in cancer therapeutics but challenges remain because of abundant expression of CD44 in normal tissues including bone marrow, liver, spleen, and skin (Jin et al, 2006; Marangoni et al, 2009; Masuko et al, 2012; Li et al, 2014; Jordan et al, 2015). Therefore, it is critical to identify alternative approaches to target CD44, possibly through indirect means. Here, we discovered that the molecular chaperone GRP78 interacts with the transmembrane protein CD44v, which could serve to anchor GRP78 on the cell surface of breast cancer cells. Importantly, GRP78 is up-regulated and preferentially expressed on the cell surface of tumor cells and minimally in normal cells, making it an attractive target for cancer-specific therapy, including aggressive breast cancer (Arap et al, 2004; Sato et al, 2010; Liu et al, 2013; Lee, 2014; Dobroff et al, 2016; D’Angelo et al, 2018). Here, we discovered that the antibodies against csGRP78 resulted in reduction of CD44v protein level and suppression of cell spreading capability. These results suggest that perturbation of csGRP78 could represent a previously unidentified strategy for anti-CD44 therapy, which warrants vigorous future investigation. Materials and Methods Cell culture and reagents Tamoxifen-resistant MCF7 (MCF7-LR) cells were gifts from Dr Rachel Schiff (Baylor College of Medicine) and cultured in phenol red–free RPMI containing 5% charcoal-stripped fetal bovine serum, 200 mM glutamine, 2.5 μg/ml fungizone, 10 IU/ml penicillin, 10 μg/ml streptomycin, and 100 nM 4-hydroxy tamoxifen. HEK 293T and MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 4 mM l-glutamine, 4.5 g/l glucose, 100 IU/ml penicillin, and 100 μg/ml streptomycin. Patient-derived CTCs were cultured as described (Yu et al, 2014). All non-CTCs were authenticated by STR DNA profiling analysis at the Bioreagent and Cell Culture Core Facility in the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Only mycoplasma-negative cells were used. Antibodies used in the study are listed in Table S1. Reagents used in the study are listed in Table S2. Table S1 The antibodies used in the study. Table S2 The reagents used in the study. Plasmids and cloning The construction of plasmids including CD44v-HA, GST, and GST-tagged GRP78 (FL, N, and C) was previously described (Tseng et al, 2019). The CD44v-EC-His plasmid was produced by PCR amplification of the CD44v3-10 coding sequence (nt 1–1,821) from the CD44v-HA plasmid with the reverse primer containing hexahistidine sequence. The PCR product was inserted into a pcDNA3 vector at KpnI and ECoRI sites. The PATagRFP-GRP78 plasmid was produced by PCR amplification of the PATagRFP coding sequence from an ABP-PATagRFP expression plasmid using the forward primer containing GRP78 ER signal sequence (78ERSS). The caveolin-1 coding sequence in caveolin-1-SNAP expression plasmid was then replaced by the 78ERSS-PATagRFP sequence at ECoRI and SacII sites. This generated an intermediate 78ERSS-PATagRFP-SNAP expression plasmid. Then, the PATagRFP-GRP78 expression plasmid was produced by PCR amplification of GRP78 coding sequencing from FLAG-tagged human GRP78 (wild-type) expression plasmid. The SNAP coding sequence in 78ERSS-PATagRFP-SNAP expression plasmid was then replaced by the GRP78 coding sequence at SacII and KpnI sites. The SacII restriction site was destroyed after cloning. The CD44v-PAGFP expression plasmid was produced by PCR amplification of the CD44v3-10 coding sequence from the CD44v-HA expression plasmid. The caveolin-1 coding sequence in caveolin-1-SNAP expression plasmid was then replaced by the CD44v3-10 coding sequence at ECoRI and SacII sites. This generated an intermediate CD44v3-10-SNAP expression plasmid. Then, the CD44v-PAGFP expression plasmid was produced by PCR amplification of PAGFP coding sequence from PAGFP-CD4 expression plasmid. The SNAP coding sequence in CD44v3-10-SNAP expression plasmid was then replaced by the PAGFP coding sequence at SacII and KpnI sites. All constructs were verified by sequencing. The primers used in the study are listed in Table S3. Plasmid transfection Cells were transfected with BioT transfection reagent (Bioland Scientific) according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Media were freshly replaced 5 h posttransfection. Cells were collected 48 h posttransfection for Western blot analysis or purification of recombinant proteins. Gene knockdown For short interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown, cells were transfected with Lipofectamine RNAiMAX reagent (Thermo Fisher Scientific) containing siRNA (Dharmacon; GE Healthcare) to the final concentration of 60 nM. Oligonucleotides used in the study are listed in Table S3. Immunoblot analysis Cells were lysed in radioimmunoprecipitation buffer (50 mM Tris–HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, and a protease and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail). The cell lysates were subjected to 10% SDS–PAGE and transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane (Bio-Rad Laboratories). The membrane was blocked by TBS containing 0.05% Tween-20 and 5% nonfat dry milk at RT for 1 h and then incubated with primary antibody at 4°C overnight. After four washes, the membrane was incubated with secondary HRP-labeled antibody (Thermo Fisher Scientific and Santa Cruz Biotechnology) or fluorescent IRDye-labeled antibody (LI-COR). HRP signal was detected by chemiluminescence (ECL) and quantified with Image Lab (Bio-Rad Laboratories). Fluorescent IRDye signal was detected by Odyssey (LI-COR). Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy For detection of endogenous GRP78 and CD44 containing v3 exon on the cell surface of MCF7-LR cells, cells were grown for 48 h to subconfluence on sterile coverslips. Coverslips were coated with 50 μg/ml poly-l-lysine in ultrapure water (Sigma-Aldrich) at RT for 1 h followed by 100 μg/ml collagen I from rat tail (Corning Inc.) in 0.02% acetic acid at RT for 2 h. The cells were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (Electron Microscopy Sciences) in Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline at RT for 10 min and blocked with 4% BSA in PBS at RT for 1 h. The primary antibody against GRP78 (MAb159) was incubated with the cells at 4°C overnight in blocking buffer, followed by staining with Alexa Fluor 594 or Alexa Fluor 568 secondary antibody (Thermo Fisher Scientific) at RT for 1 h. Then, the cells were treated with M.O.M. mouse Ig blocking reagent (Vector Laboratories) at RT for 2 h to block mouse immunoglobulin from primary mouse anti-GRP78 antibody. The cells were then incubated with the primary antibody against CD44 variable exon 3 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) at 4°C overnight in blocking buffer, followed by staining with Alexa Fluor 488 or Alexa Fluor 647 secondary antibody (Thermo Fisher Scientific) at RT for 1 h. Each step was followed by four washes in PBS. Coverslips were mounted with Vectashield anti-fade medium containing DAPI (Vector Laboratories), and the fluorescent signals were visualized on a Zeiss LSM510 confocal microscope (Carl Zeiss). Z-stack images were acquired with a Plan-Apochromat 100×/1.4 NA oil DIC objective. For detection of endogenous GRP78 and CD44 containing v3 exon on the cell surface of BRx-68 and BRx-07 CTCs derived from breast cancer patients, cells in suspension were immunostained using the protocol described above. Before mounting with Vectashield anti-fade medium containing DAPI (Vector Laboratories), cells were rinsed with ultrapure water (Sigma-Aldrich) and applied to Superfrost Plus micro slide (VWR International). The fluorescent signals were visualized on a Zeiss LSM510 confocal microscope (Carl Zeiss). Z-stack images were acquired with a 63×/1.4 NA oil immersion objective. Single-particle tracking and diffusion analyses For dual-color single-particle tracking by PALM, MCF7-LR cells were seeded on Marienfeld-Superior precision coverslips (thickness no. 1.5H) coated with collagen I (100 μg/ml) and transfected with PATagRFP-GRP78 and CD44v-PAGFP expression plasmids 24 h after seeding. For sptPALM of CD44v-PAGFP with GRP78 knockdown, MCF7-LR cells seeded on collagen I–coated Marienfeld coverslips were co-transfected with the CD44v-PAGFP expression plasmid and siRNA using BioT transfection reagent (Bioland Scientific) for 5 h. The culture media was replaced by media containing Lipofectamine MessengerMAX reagent (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and siRNA oligos. 48 h after initial transfection, imaging was performed by TIRF on an inverted Nikon Eclipse Ti-E microscope, equipped with a 100×/1.49 NA objective (Nikon), two iXon EMCCD cameras (Andor Technology), a dual camera light path splitter (Andor Technology), an axial stabilizing system (Perfect Focus System; Nikon), and laser lines at 405, 488, and 561 nm (Agilent). A multiband pass ZET405/488/561/647x excitation filter (Chroma Technology), a quad-band ZT405/488/561/647 dichroic mirror (Chroma Technology), an emission FF560-FDi01 dichroic mirror (Semrock), and appropriate emission filters for simultaneous sptPALM imaging of PATagRFP-GRP78 (600/50 nm; Chroma Technology) and CD44v-PAGFP (525/50 nm; Chroma Technology) were used. In both emission channels, images were acquired continuously at a frame rate of 30 ms/frame. Precise image alignment of both RFP and GFP channels was performed using 40 nm TransFluoSphere fiducials (488/685 nm; Life Technologies) spread around the cells. Single-particle localization and tracking were performed using SlimFast, a single-molecule detection and tracking software written in Matlab. Localizations were done by 2D Gaussian fitting of the point-spread function of each activated PATagRFP-GRP78 and CD44v-PAGFP in each frame. Diffusion trajectories were built by linking individual localized positions from one frame to the other, taking into account blinking statistics and local particle densities. Only trajectories with at least three steps were kept for diffusion analyses based on the MSD of individual trajectories or on the PDSD (Fernandez et al, 2017) of all trajectories. Diffusion coefficients from individual MSD were determined by fitting MSD curves over the first three time lags using a free Brownian diffusion model with measurement error:(1)where σ is the position error and D is the diffusion coefficient. Diffusion coefficients from PDSD were determined by fitting each Pr2 curve over the first 10 time lags with the general model:(2)where and αi(t) are the square displacement and the fraction corresponding to i numbers of diffusive behaviors at each time lag t, respectively. For both PATagRFP-GRP78 and CD44v-PAGFP, the Pr2 distributions were best fit with i = 2 behaviors. Error bars for each in curves were determined using , where N is the number of data points used to build each probability distribution function. Diffusion coefficients were obtained by fitting curves with an Origin software (OriginLab) and using the free Brownian diffusion model with localization error in Equation (1) or using a circularly confined diffusion model with measurement error:(3)where R is the confinement radius, σ is the position error, D is the diffusion coefficient, A1 = 0.99 and A2 = 0.85 (Pinaud et al, 2009). All the diffusion coefficients D are reported in micrometer squared per second ± SD of the fit value. Flow cytometry analysis Cells were collected using nonenzymatic cell dissociation solution (Sigma-Aldrich) and blocked with blocking buffer (Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline, 3% FBS, and 0.1% sodium azide) on ice for 1 h. For co-expression analysis, 1 × 106 cells were aliquoted and incubated with the 10 μg/ml primary antibody against GRP78 (MAb159) or corresponding isotype control (BioLegend) on ice for 1 h in blocking buffer, followed by staining with Alexa Fluor 488 secondary antibody (1:200; Thermo Fisher Scientific) on ice for 1 h. Then, the cells were treated with M.O.M. mouse Ig blocking reagent (Vector Laboratories) at RT for 1 h to block mouse immunoglobulin from primary mouse anti-GRP78 antibody. The cells were then incubated with the 10 μg/ml primary antibody against CD44 variable exon 3 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) or corresponding isotype control (BioLegend) on ice for 1 h in blocking buffer, followed by staining with Alexa Fluor 647 secondary antibody (1:200; Thermo Fisher Scientific) on ice for 40 min. Each step was followed by three washes in blocking buffer. For single staining in antibody treatment experiments, 1 × 105 cells were aliquoted and blocked with M.O.M. mouse Ig blocking reagent (Vector Laboratories) and 3% FBS. Then, cells were incubated with 10 μg/ml anti-CD44v3 primary antibody or corresponding isotype control (BioLegend) followed by Alexa Fluor 647 secondary antibody (1:200). Cells were suspended in blocking buffer containing 1 μg/ml DAPI (Sigma-Aldrich) and subjected to flow cytometry. The data were acquired by LSR II (co-expression analysis) or FACSVerse (single staining) flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson) and analyzed with the FlowJo v10 software. Purification of GST-tagged recombinant proteins Purification of GST-tagged recombinant proteins was performed as previously described (Tseng et al, 2019). Briefly, FL GRP78 and truncated mutants were cloned into pGEX-4T-1 vector and transformed into E. coli (BL21). The expression of the GST fusion proteins was induced with 4 mM IPTG at 37°C and 200 rpm for 4 h. Bacterial cells were lysed in TBS containing 50 mM Tris–Cl, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mg/ml lysozyme, and protease and phosphatase inhibitor cocktails (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Supernatant was collected and incubated with glutathione-Sepharose 4B beads (GE Healthcare) at 4°C for 12 h. Recombinant GST-tagged protein was eluted with freshly prepared reduced glutathione (10 mM; Sigma-Aldrich) at 4°C for 12 h. Then, the recombinant protein was buffer-exchanged to TBS. For long-term storage, the recombinant protein in TBS containing 15% glycerol was snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and then stored at −80°C. Purification of polyhistidine-tagged recombinant proteins The CD44v-EC-His plasmid was transfected into mammalian 293T cells. 48 h after transfection, cells were lysed in PBS buffer containing 50 mM sodium phosphate, 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, and protease and phosphatase inhibitor cocktails (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Clarified cell lysate was pooled with concentrated conditional media and then incubated with TALON cobalt resin (Clontech) at 4°C for 12 h with gentle rotation. Then, beads were washed three times with 100× bed volume of PBS buffer supplemented with 40 mM imidazole (Sigma-Aldrich). The beads were then transferred to gravity flow column and washed three times with 40× bed volume of PBS buffer supplemented with 40 mM imidazole. Polyhistidine-tagged protein was eluted with PBS buffer containing 250 mM imidazole at 4°C for 12 h. Then, the recombinant protein was buffer-exchanged to TBS. For long-term storage, the recombinant protein in TBS containing 15% glycerol was snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and then stored at −80°C. In vitro GST pull-down assay The GST pull-down assay was performed as previously described (Tseng et al, 2019). Briefly, GST tag or GST-tagged GRP78 (FL, N, and C) was coupled to Glutathione Sepharose 4B beads and then incubated with 1 mg 293T WCL containing overexpressed CD44v-HA at 4°C overnight in IP lysis buffer (Thermo Fisher Scientific; 25 mM Tris–HCl, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 1 mM EDTA, and 5% glycerol) followed by six washes with lysis buffer. Bound proteins were eluted with 2× SDS sample buffer. In vitro direct binding assay GST tag (2.5 μg) or GST-tagged FL GRP78 (2.5 μg) was coupled to Glutathione Sepharose 4B beads at 4°C for 4 h. Then, the beads conjugated with GST or GST-tagged GRP78 were incubated with recombinant hexahistidine-tagged extracellular region of CD44v3-10 (1.5 μg) at 4°C overnight in the binding buffer (50 mM Tris–HCl, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl). Beads were then washed four times with the binding buffer containing 0.05% Tween-20. Bound proteins were eluted with 2× SDS sample buffer. Real-time quantitative RT–PCR The MCF7-LR cells were treated with the 76-E6 antibody or the control IgG for 24 h, and then RNA was extracted from the treated cells using the TRI reagent (Sigma-Aldrich). The reverse transcription was performed using 1.5 μg extracted total RNA per condition, random primers (New England Biolabs), and the SuperScript II reverse transcriptase (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The cDNA samples were analyzed with the SYBR Green Supermix (Quanta Biosciences) according to the manufacturer’s instructions using the Mx3005P thermocycler (Stratagene). The primers used in the study are listed in Table S3. Cell attachment (siRNA group) or nonenzymatic cell dissociation solution (antibody group; Sigma-Aldrich) and plated at a density of 60,000 cells per well on 48-well plates precoated with collagen I (100 μg/ml). Cells were allowed to adhere for 1 h. Adherent cells were fixed with 100% methanol at −20°C for 10 min and then visualized by crystal violet staining (0.5% wt/vol crystal violet in 20% ethanol for 10 min). Crystal violet staining of adherent cells was then dissolved in 100% methanol, and the optical density (OD) of the methanol solution was measured at 595 nm. Cell spreading and plated at a density of 30,000 cells per well on 6-well plates or 6,000 cells per well on 12-well plates precoated with collagen I (100 μg/ml). Cells were allowed to adhere for 1, 2.5, or 5 h and then fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde at RT for 10 min. Then, cells were permeabilized with 0.1% Triton X-100 at RT for 1 min followed by staining with rhodamine phalloidin according to the manufacturer’s protocol (Cytoskeleton, Inc.). Cells were then visualized by the Keyence fluorescent microscope (BM-X710), and the images were acquired with a 20× objective. The cell area was analyzed by the FIJI-Image J software. For the MCF7-LR cells treated with the antibody against GRP78 (76-E6, 50 μg/ml) or the corresponding control IgG, cells were treated for 24 h and then dissociated with nonenzymatic cell dissociation solution (Sigma-Aldrich). Then, cells were plated at a density of 30,000 cells per well on 96-well plates precoated with collagen I (100 μg/ml) and allowed to adhere and spread for 7 h. Cells were then fixed with 100% methanol at −20°C for 10 min and visualized by crystal violet staining (0.5% wt/vol crystal violet in 20% ethanol for 10 min). Cell morphology and area were analyzed by the FIJI-Image J software. Statistics and reproducibility Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, FIJI-Image J and OriginPro software. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Significance was calculated by two-tailed unpaired t test or Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Statistical significance was represented as *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001. All experiments were independently performed three times or with specified sample/repeat numbers described in the figure legends. Acknowledgements We thank Dr Rachel Schiff (Baylor College of Medicine) for the gift of MCF7-LR breast cancer cells, Dat Ha and Daisy Flores Rangel for helpful discussions. We thank the Cell and Tissue Imaging Core of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (supported by National Institute of Health [NIH] grant P30 CA014089) and the Cell and Tissue Imaging Core of the USC Research Center for Liver Diseases (supported by NIH grant P30 DK048522) for assistance with confocal microscopy. This study was supported by NIH grant number R01 CA027607 to AS Lee. Author Contributions C-C Tseng: conceptualization, resources, data curation, software, formal analysis, validation, investigation, visualization, methodology, and writing—original draft, review, and editing. R Stanciauskas: software, formal analysis, investigation, visualization, and methodology. P Zhang: formal analysis and investigation. D Woo: investigation. K Wu: investigation. K Kelly: resources. PS Gill: resources. M Yu: resources. F Pinaud: resources, data curation, software, formal analysis, validation, investigation, visualization, methodology, and writing—original draft, review, and editing. AS Lee: conceptualization, resources, data curation, supervision, funding acquisition, methodology, project administration, and writing—original draft, review, and editing. Conflict of Interest Statement The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. - Received March 12, 2019. - Revision received August 2, 2019. - Accepted August 5, 2019. - © 2019 Tseng et al. This article is available under a Creative Commons License (Attribution 4.0 International, as described at).

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Gold has actually been able to weather many tornados over the ages, commonly acquiring worth also when the market tends to go down. As you may picture, then, the fact that Goldco provides investors a way to utilize this kind of device can profit those wanting to acquire a action of security in the future. If you’re going to invest in gold, however, you have to go with a name you can trust. Goldco is one of the leaders in this industry, mainly through aiding customers to establish gold IRAs that truly make a distinction in their retirement. Getting into the gold market isn’t always as simple as one could hope, but Goldco does simplify the procedure dramatically. Goldco stands as a barrier against the bad choices made by numerous financiers. Though it prevails to see investors place all of their cash right into stocks and bonds, the truth is that any type of portfolio that only has one type of investment is more harmful than most would certainly wish to confess. Therefore, numerous wise capitalists are seeking to work with business like Goldco to expand. Given that precious metals seldom see the type of considerable dips seen on the planet of traditional investing, Goldco offers a novel solution for investors who intend to maintain their riches safe from considerable market shifts. Actually, gold also functions well as a bush versus inflation as well as a means to ensure that the money you spend currently isn’t cheapened with time. Stability is the key element below. When you select gold, you’re picking an investment that remains stable in time. It might vary a bit here or there, however the price often tends to be preserved in such a way that you just can not anticipate from other types of investments. Their business stands as a important entity because it provides capitalists a possibility to invest in something that a minimum of seems like even more of a winner than most of the other investments they could make. They do a amazing task helpful to make sure that its customers will certainly acquire real gold as well as use it as a real financial investment for the future. Is gold right for you? If you’re looking to reduce your threats and keep the value of the money that you already have, gold – as well as Goldco – are absolutely worth your time to investigate. Doing so will certainly give you a strong possibility to buy a manner in which ought to minimize your stress over the future. Why Capitalists Need Education And Learning. You can not simply throw your cash at a retirement account and also expect the very best; instead, you’ll need to hang out finding out exactly how to invest your money so that you can pleasantly retire. Doing so implies taking the time to inform on your own on how numerous investments work as well as how details properties might or might not be the ideal suitable for you. Sadly, most typical investors do not do the sort of homework they must do to prosper. These financiers trust that an consultant will certainly constantly make the ideal choice, so they do bit greater than authorizing a check. Regrettably, this indicates that you’re actually putting all of your hopes in a bachelor – and also in a lot of cases, that individual can lose in manner ins which you may not expect. If you choose to collaborate with a company like them, however, you will not be just turning over your cash. Rather, you’re going to be organizing your very own future as well as obtaining some excellent advice along the road. One of the best aspects of dealing with this company is that they do a fantastic work enlightening their customers. Any kind of connection with Goldco will begin with a conversation with a member of the business’s personnel. These individuals are well-read, obviously, yet much more than that, they’re efficient explaining exactly what solutions the business provides. The company also does a wonderful job clarifying to you precisely why you could want to put your money in precious metals. The big reason why this issues is that gold is a unique investment possibility. The excellent individuals at Goldco will certainly stroll you via exactly how gold has actually boosted in worth in the last few years, how the long-term diagnosis for gold financial investment is solid, and also exactly how buying gold can assist you to put money into when you’re worried about the worth of your current revenues being diminished as a result of inflation. Placing cash in a gold individual retirement account is just an exceptional means to make sure that you’re keeping a few of your money separate from the kinds of financial investments that can be unduly influenced by things like securities market collisions or global financial unpredictability. The money that is usually lost when big economic troubles take place usually discovers its way right into the precious metals market. It’s always a good idea to precisely understand how to get into that part of the market before it goes south. Certainly, your investment advisor will tell you about greater than simply the value of gold. They will likewise walk you through exactly just how your prospective gold IRA would function as well as how it can maintain value in manner ins which a much more standard individual retirement account could not be able to match. Your expert will certainly discuss how gold operate in basic, exactly how your individual retirement account will function as an financial investment device, as well as just how you’ll have the ability to utilize the power of the gold market to fulfill some of your very own investment goals. Your advisor will certainly additionally spend some time to clarify specifically what you’ll be able to include in your account. Your goal here isn’t just to include gold or silver – it’s to do so in a way that assists you to meet your very own objectives. This means making sure that you understand which items to acquire, which items may be a better long-lasting financial investment, and also which pieces that you’ll need to look at as you start to decide what you’re intending on performing with your account. Gold Future Investing Chart 2. AUGUSTA PRECIOUS METALS Gold Future Investing Chart Do you require to expand your retirement saving methods? Does your current portfolio have way too much direct exposure to standard stocks and bonds that are at danger from the endless devaluation of the united state buck? Are you seeking a clear, efficient, and also reputable company to help with your retired life objectives? Are you trying to find an alternative way of assets to aid you get ready for your retirement savings? Look no further since Augusta Precious Metals Business is the best fit. The customers are pleased with the firm’s solutions, hence giving it an exceptional online reputation as well as first-class rankings. The business was produced in 2012, as well as it has not received any kind of issues from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as well as business Consumer Alliance (BCA). Augusta Precious Metals is known for its great reliable image in conducting company. This testimonial will highlight the advantages and also demerits of the business, look comprehensive at what the firm does, the product or services it provides, its capable team, the factors for one to purchase the rare-earth elements, i.e., gold, silver, and so on, and also what makes the company distinct to its consumers. Advantages as well as disadvantages of Augusta Precious Metals. The following are the advantages of having an account at Augusta Priceless Metals. They include;. • Transparency, honesty, as well as instructional in all its ventures. • The BBB and also BCA have actually increased no grievances since their establishment. • Exceptional track record in the state and also good reviews of five-star from its clients. • One of the highest ranked companies in the industry per their numerous favorable evaluations. • No pressure sales by salesmen. Drawbacks include;. • One requires to have a minimum of $50,000 bucks in the account. • There is no on the internet setup, whereas the world has actually gotten utilized to doing everything online. Augusta Priceless Metals History. Augusta Precious Metals is a company whose primary business is helping capitalists in converting financial investments into rare-earth elements, e.g., silver and also gold. It is also a gold Individual Retirement Account ( INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT) company that does not have stress sales, hence providing a stable workplace for its employees. The company’s knowledge is with rare-earth element Individual retirement accounts, which have a tax-benefit advantage in physical steels, unlike supplies that are not backed by substantial properties. Rare-earth elements hold their worth and also have a lot less volatility, unlike supplies that have irregular cost activities daily. Through its knowledgeable team, the business informs its customers regarding their retirement diversification options. It makes use of a simple technique that allows its clients to clearly understand the services rendered as well as the items given. The services given proceed even after the client has invested with the company. Several gold companies do not supply long-lasting durable service beyond the original purchase. The benefits of dealing with Augusta do not gap after the initial purchase. Augusta is understood for its respectable name as well as draws in more customers as no other IRA business can declare not to have problems from the BBB as well as the BCA. The company’s goal is to secure its consumers’ futures with precious metals IRAs. The business additionally needs to provide sales to non-retirement customers that intend to have their silver and gold outside the IRA. Augusta Firm is straightforward and also clear in its negotiations with clients. It informs the customers regarding getting the rare-earth elements Individual retirement accounts and exactly how to preserve them throughout the conserving procedure. The firm suggests its clients on the threats included and the durability of their solutions. Gold Future Investing Chart Administration Team of the Business. Isaac Nuriani is the business’s CEO. As the business specifies, he aided introduce the firm to help people retire and also conserve by multiplying their savings through rare-earth elements. Mr. Nuriani facilitates the procedure by enlightening the clients on the value of them keeping their assets like precious metals. Isaac Nuriani believes in the worths of transparency and also commitment when leading the company. Mr. Isaac is additionally a participant of numerous companies, such as the Ethics network. A solid team supports Mr. Nuriani to allow the firm to finish its obligations. Devlyn Steele forms part of the team as he is the company’s Education Director. Mr. Steele leads the education and learning group to inform the clients concerning saving devices through different assets. His work has made many Americans affluent by investing in business as well as additionally begin saving with rare-earth elements. Howard Smith, the Chief Financial Officer of the firm, supplies expertise about danger monitoring to the firm and the consumers. He has helped the business attain its monetary as well as business objectives because he started working with the business in 2018. Mr. Smith has better assisted clients overcome the possible threats that might influence their retirement. What You Need to Find Out About Augusta Priceless Metals. Augusta Priceless Metals testimonial. Augusta Precious Metals is among the most relied on names in gold investing, and if you’re looking to purchase gold and silver bullion, you may find yourself asking yourself whether it’s the ideal business for you. If so, you have actually pertained to the best place; our Augusta Valuable Metals review has all the info you require to make an enlightened decision concerning whether this investment firm is right for your needs. Augusta Valuable Metals Testimonial. Augusta Priceless Metals is an IRA manager that has been around considering that 2006. The firm was called among Inc 500’s fastest expanding firms in 2013 and they are accredited as an individual retirement account administrator by both internal revenue service and NFA. Augusta concentrates on physical rare-earth elements consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium and also rhodium. They have a vast array of items from fractional sizes (1/10 oz) to bars ( as much as 100 oz). They also have numerous options for storage ranging from Augusta Vaults to self-directed risk-free deposit boxes. In general, Augusta has been an established company that is still expanding. If you’re seeking a legit and also solid gold IRA company, they are among your best options. { Nonetheless, in order to offer you with an honest point of view on Augusta’s solutions we had some help from our friends at Bullion Exchanges in Dubai. In order to give you with an unbiased opinion on Augusta’s solutions we had some help from our buddies at Bullion Exchanges in Dubai. Take a look at their testimony listed below:. Among our clients had an interest in opening up a Gold IRA with a carrier beyond North America. We aided him in choosing Augusta Precious Metals as his favored alternative. The procedure went efficiently and he bought physical gold for his individual retirement account via Augusta Valuable Metals. Ever since he notified us that he received returns on his possessions and also makes routine payments in the direction of constructing wide range utilizing precious metals such as silver and gold due to reduced rising cost of living rates compared to paper currencies. He says their customer service is outstanding! The Creators Behind Augusta Precious Metals. Augusta Rare-earth elements was founded in 2012 by Isaac Nuriani. Augusta Rare-earth element uses affordable prices as well as premium quality gold with their normal low fees ( among many factors they constantly rate as one of our favored places to open a precious metal individual retirement account). They’re members of both The National Coin Dealers Association as well as Industry Council for Concrete Assets. Their company is guaranteed by Lloyd’s of London. Regarding gold IRA business go, Augusta Precious Metals stands apart for its practical approach and also service values. If you’re trying to find a place to purchase silver or gold for your individual retirement account, we definitely recommend providing a shot. Augusta Precious Metals has an A+ score with the Bbb and all of their evaluations on Google declare– even if they often tend to commend them greater than deal useful objection. They have actually also received favorable evaluations from rare-earth elements expert Peter Schiff! Since Augusta Valuable Metals is an well-known company with years of experience, they do their finest to walk consumers with what is frequently an unfamiliar process. Augusta will certainly aid you pick which sort of metals (gold, silver, platinum) makes good sense for your financial investment objectives. History of Gold IRAs as well as Gold Purchasing. Prior to you make a decision to buy gold, it is very important that you understand what a gold individual retirement account is and also just how it works. The government permits precious metals like gold, silver, platinum as well as palladium to be utilized in a retirement account. This enables financiers to diversify their profiles, avoid too much danger in stock exchange and obtain tax benefits. To read more regarding Augusta Precious Metals and also why investing in rare-earth elements is useful for your financial future, read on! And also for more on why buying precious metals is useful for your economic future, have a look at our section listed below! Augusta Precious Metals supplies capitalists a variety of gold bullion products that make for wonderful retired life investments. If you’re considering opening a gold IRA, or searching for a solid place to purchase precious metals, we invite you to contact us today. Our group will enjoy to address any concerns and overview you with our different offerings. When it involves investing in precious metals, there are couple of names that carry as much reputation as well as regard as Augusta Precious Metals. As one of America’s biggest gold and silver dealers, we deal with numerous global mints consisting of The Royal Canadian Mint and The Perth Mint. Kinds Of Gold IRAs. Augusta Precious Metals Review. There are 2 major kinds of gold Individual retirement accounts: direct and also indirect. The most typical type is a direct individual retirement account, which can be established at practically any type of bank or cooperative credit union that supplies Individual retirement accounts. The majority of economic advisers suggest choosing a self-directed account, because they enable financiers to purchase alternate properties like realty, tangible property and also rare-earth elements. On top of that, these accounts often tend ahead with higher payment restrictions than various other accounts ( as much as $70,000 each year). It’s crucial to keep in mind that there are stricter Internal revenue service guidelines for establishing straight gold Individual retirement accounts; some investments such as hedge funds do not count as qualified. It is very important to keep in mind that there are more stringent internal revenue service guidelines for establishing direct gold Individual retirement accounts; some financial investments such as hedge funds don’t count as qualified. That claimed, not all investment choices will certainly work for every person– if one doesn’t benefit you now it doesn’t mean it won’t function later on down the road. It’s constantly a good concept to run suggestions by your tax obligation expert prior to making any type of significant modifications. Investors that desire maximum protection can go with an indirect account with a monetary organization like Augusta Priceless Steels (APS)– the process is really similar to a standard IRA or 401( k), however rather of holding supplies and also bonds you’re holding physical gold and silver bars saved at APS’s safekeeping facility. Investors who want maximum defense can choose an indirect account via a financial institution like Augusta Precious Metals (APS)– the procedure is really comparable to a standard IRA or 401( k), however rather than holding stocks and also bonds you’re holding physical gold and silver bars saved at APS’s safekeeping center.

Because Of Endless Years Of of Research… These are our Best Four Recommendations: Goldco – Our Best Choice What Are The Best Gold Coins To Buy Goldco is a independently held firm specializing in assisting individuals protect their retired life savings. Goldco serves as a broker for silver and gold, but what establishes them aside from others in the market is they likewise supply their customers with an outstanding advisory solution, both when acquiring rare-earth elements and also in the future in retired life when it is time to liquidate. What is Goldco’s Refine Like? ” From Goldco’s internet site, we entered our email address and also contact number in order to get a cost-free informational set. A associate called us a few mins later on to obtain our address and also walk us with a short appointment. The whole process was easy, stress totally free, and also insightful. After briefly inquiring about our current properties, investing objectives, risk tolerances, and also future plans, our account representative educated us on the basics of silver and gold IRAs. After our set arrived, which was filled with lots of information, we completely experienced all of our retirement possessions. Viewing as just how we were practically 100% bought the stock exchange as well as nearing retirement, we made a decision a rare-earth elements IRA would certainly benefit us. We set up another telephone appointment with our account representative and he patiently walked us via the remainder of the procedure. We had an old individual retirement account that we determined to move right into a gold IRA. He looked after all the paperwork and also called the broker agent firm that held our assets. Within a number of weeks, our assets were sold off, and the money was transferred to Goldco. The paperwork for our brand-new gold IRA was additionally established by our account representative. We obtained a very reasonable price for our new gold and also obtained proof it was being held securely as well as firmly at our custodian center. Moving forward, we will certainly still be designated to our very same account representative in case we want to acquire even more gold or liquidate our gold if we need it. The whole procedure was straightforward and also tension totally free. Our general experience was very positive and also we do recommend Goldco for anybody significant about hedging their retirement plan versus uncertainty.” — Goldco Customer GoldCo Affiliate Program– Expert Testimonial, a Scam or Legit? February 13, 2020 by John 10 Comments This review is mosting likely to be about the GoldCo Affiliate Program I have actually been been a member of it for 6months yet actually started to use it just now the other day once again. I need to state I am very delighted that I have, since it looks extremely encouraging, let me telly you why in this brief review.GoldCo Associate Program Item: GoldCo Associate Program. Website:. Owner: Goldco. Cost: FREE to sign up with (IF you certify). That is it for: Associate marketers, Financial advisors. Particular niche: Buying general, Rare-earth elements, Cryptocurrency, Trading, and so on. Total ranking: 4.9 out of 5 celebrities (4.9/ 5). P.S. All web links on this page are second rate associate links, suggesting I will certainly generate income if you make sales (if you get authorized to the program). The money I might make, will of course, Never ever get on your part, but on the behalf of the business, that you promote. What Are The Best Gold Coins To Buy + ALL the Links on This Page Include Only Benefits! IF you join with any of the Hyperlinks on this web page you will get a HUGE advantage over any type of competitor who put on ´ t, as I will certainly provide you with some “secret strategies” that every little thing from a skilled Blog owner, Social network or PPC marketing professional, search engine optimization specialist, or even a complete beginner in Associate marketing will certainly have substantial gain from, ( learn more about that below). Why I would certainly do this? It goes without saying, right? I mean if you earn money, I generate income, right? Yeah sure,. I also happen to LOVE to Help People Succeed. / John. Founder of: $tart Make $ leading Waste. Table of material. What is Goldco affiliate program? Exactly how does it work? Info for affiliates. Making possibilities. Some instances of my commissions & revenues. Just how do you earn money? Other options? How you get approved. My expert experience. Final words. Goldco Associate program (What is it)? As the name suggests the GoldCo affiliate program is plain as well as easy the Gold IRA service provider company ´ s GoldCo ´ s associate program. If you are approved to join it, you can use this program to promote the investing services that GoldCo provides to clients and make large compensations doing so. Inside the backend you get access to your associate web links, and also stats. Something that is very good concerning this is that you can additionally recieve fantastic SEO training if you prepare to take that route in your promotion endavours. Simply put, it is a excellent chance to make big associate compensation. Exactly how does it work? The GoldCo associate program works much like any other affiliate program around, you are offered with your individual associate links as well as other material and also can then begin promoting the products and services for the firm. You are also able to see statistics inside your backend as well as you will certainly get an e-mail notice as quickly as you have actually produced a new lead, you can obviously additionally, if you do not desire this alert, you just transform it off:. ( start below) What is GoldCo Affiliate program. P.S . As stated over, one thing that I such as a lot is that there is some top-class affiliate training provided inside the backend, from the cost-free training just, that permit you to discover, exactly how to do search engine optimization and also rate your internet site and also messages high in the SERPs, which means get free website traffic to your web links. It’s never ever too soon to begin considering methods to make saving for retired life a bit much safer. As you obtain closer to retired life, though, you’ll intend to focus on anything that will assist you to not only make conserving much easier yet that won’t need you to invest way too much time having to work with your accounts. Standard investing isn’t specifically very easy for most capitalists. A number of challenges will certainly commonly be in your method, some purposeful and some just as a result of how investing jobs. If you invest in the stock exchange, for instance, you’ll have to invest a substantial amount of time examining the efficiency of a provided stock before you want to invest. Even after that, however, there’s no warranty that a sudden market modification won’t invalidate all of your study. Average investors aren’t out of luck when it comes to building their portfolios. There are companies like Goldco that can help them navigate their financial investment alternatives. Goldco is a company specializing in assisting its consumers invest in precious metals. Instead of managing supplies, bonds, or even property, the firm looks to guarantee that its consumers will certainly be able to buy a part of the marketplace that tends to be ignored by lots of. The company tends to excel at making sure that their customers can invest in a way that makes sense. Why does this issue? Simply put, it’s because Goldco can make financiers feel secure in spending even if those very same capitalists don’t feel like they are already specialists in the rare-earth elements market. You do not need any kind of sort of history playing supplies or working in investment firms below – simply a willingness to work with an specialist from Goldco to make sure that you can discover exactly what steps are needed to build your account. The Value of Buying Gold. There’s been a lot of talk about purchasing rare-earth elements just recently, however individuals have been using steels as an investment tool for quite some time. Gold IRAs themselves are absolutely nothing new, yet they can be a new method for you to invest in a brighter future. Acquiring gold is simply a means of buying a well-recognized shop of value. Gold has actually had the ability to weather numerous tornados over the ages, typically gaining value also when the marketplace has a tendency to drop. As you might visualize, then, the reality that Goldco supplies investors a means to use this sort of device can benefit those seeking to acquire a action of safety and security in the future. If you’re mosting likely to buy gold, though, you have to go with a name you can trust. Goldco is just one of the leaders in this sector, mainly through assisting clients to set up gold IRAs that truly make a difference in their retirement plans. Getting involved in the gold market isn’t always as easy as one may really hope, however Goldco does streamline the process substantially.. Thus, lots of savvy capitalists are wanting to work with firms like Goldco to diversify. Considered that rare-earth elements rarely see the type of substantial dips seen worldwide of conventional investing, Goldco presents a novel remedy for investors that want to maintain their wide range secure from substantial market changes. Actually, gold also functions well as a bush against rising cost of living as well as a method to make sure that the money you spend currently isn’t devalued with time. Security is the vital element here. When you select gold, you’re selecting an financial investment that remains secure with time. It may rise and fall a little bit here or there, but the cost tends to be kept in a way that you just can not get out of other kinds of investments. Their firm stands as a beneficial entity because it offers investors a chance to purchase something that a minimum of feels like even more of a sure thing than a lot of the other financial investments they can make. They do a amazing job of helping to guarantee that its clients will purchase real gold as well as use it as a genuine investment for the future. So, is gold right for you? If you’re looking to mitigate your dangers and also keep the worth of the money that you already have, gold – and Goldco – are absolutely worth your time to investigate. Doing so will provide you a solid chance to invest in a manner in which should lessen your fret about the future. Why Capitalists Need Education And Learning. You can not just throw your cash at a pension and expect the best; instead, you’ll need to hang out discovering just how to spend your cash so that you can easily retire. Doing so means putting in the time to educate on your own on how various financial investments work as well as just how certain properties may or might not be the ideal suitable for you. Most traditional investors don’t do the kind of homework they should do to succeed. These investors count on that an consultant will certainly always make the best option, so they do little greater than authorizing a check. This means that you’re really putting all of your hopes in a single person – and in many cases, that person can come up short in ways that you might not expect. If you decide to collaborate with a company like them, though, you will not be merely handing over your cash. Instead, you’re mosting likely to be taking charge of your very own future as well as getting some terrific guidance in the process. Among the most effective things about working with this firm is that they do a amazing work enlightening their clients. Any partnership with Goldco will certainly begin with a discussion with a participant of the firm’s team. These people are well-read, naturally, however even more than that, they’re efficient clarifying specifically what services the firm supplies. The company likewise does a wonderful work discussing to you exactly why you might want to place your money in rare-earth elements. The big reason why this issues is that gold is a unique financial investment possibility. The excellent individuals at Goldco will certainly walk you via exactly how gold has raised in value in recent years, how the long-term diagnosis for gold investment is solid, and exactly how buying gold can aid you to put money into when you’re bothered with the value of your present profits being diminished because of rising cost of living. Putting money in a gold individual retirement account is merely an superb method to ensure that you’re maintaining a few of your cash separate from the sorts of investments that can be unduly affected by things like stock exchange accidents or international financial unpredictability. The cash that is commonly shed when big economic issues take place often locates its method right into the rare-earth elements market. It’s always a good idea to precisely understand how to get into that part of the market before it goes south. Of course, your financial investment consultant will inform you concerning greater than just the value of gold. They will certainly likewise stroll you through exactly how your potential gold individual retirement account would function and how it can maintain value in manner ins which a extra typical IRA might not have the ability to match. Your advisor will certainly discuss how gold works in general, just how your individual retirement account will work as an financial investment device, and also just how you’ll be able to use the power of the gold market to fulfill some of your very own financial investment objectives. Your advisor will additionally spend some time to describe exactly what you’ll have the ability to add to your account. Your goal below isn’t just to include silver or gold – it’s to do so in such a way that assists you to fulfill your own objectives. This means making certain that you know which items to acquire, which pieces could be a much better long-lasting investment, and also which pieces that you’ll require to look at as you start to determine what you’re intending on finishing with your account. What Are The Best Gold Coins To Buy 2. AUGUSTA PRECIOUS METALS What Are The Best Gold Coins To Buy Do you require to diversify your retirement saving methods? Does your present portfolio have excessive direct exposure to standard supplies and bonds that go to danger from the countless devaluation of the U.S. buck? Are you trying to find a transparent, effective, and reputable company to help with your retired life objectives? Are you trying to find an alternative way of assets to help you plan for your retirement financial savings? Look no more since Augusta Precious Metals Business is the very best fit. The clients are pleased with the company’s solutions, hence offering it an excellent track record and also five-star scores. The firm was produced in 2012, and also it has not gotten any complaints from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and also the Business Customer Partnership (BCA). Augusta Precious Metals is understood for its excellent credible photo in conducting organization. This testimonial will highlight the merits and bad marks of the company, look comprehensive at what the business does, the products and services it offers, its qualified team, the factors for one to invest in the precious metals, i.e., gold, silver, and so on, and what makes the business special to its consumers. Advantages as well as disadvantages of Augusta Priceless Metals. The following are the benefits of having an account at Augusta Precious Metals. They include;. • Openness, honesty, as well as enlightening in all its undertakings. • The BBB and BCA have increased no grievances because their facility. • Excellent online reputation in the state and great reviews of five-star from its clients. • One of the highest possible ranked firms in the market per their countless favorable reviews. • No stress sales by salespeople. Disadvantages consist of;. • One calls for to have a minimum of $50,000 dollars in the account. • There is no on-line setup, whereas the globe has actually obtained utilized to doing every little thing online. Augusta Precious Metals Background. Augusta Priceless Metals is a company whose key organization is aiding financiers in converting financial investments right into precious metals, e.g., silver as well as gold. It is additionally a gold Individual Retirement Account (IRA) firm that does not have stress sales, thus giving a stable workplace for its staff members. The firm’s competence is with rare-earth element Individual retirement accounts, which have a tax-benefit benefit in physical metals, unlike stocks that are not backed by substantial assets. Precious metals hold their worth and also have a lot less volatility, unlike supplies that have erratic price movements each day. With its skilled group, the company informs its clients regarding their retired life diversification options. It uses a basic technique that enables its customers to clearly understand the solutions made and the products given. The services supplied continue also after the client has invested with the firm. Many gold companies don’t supply lasting durable solution beyond the original transaction. The advantages of working with Augusta do not gap after the initial deal. Augusta is understood for its respectable name as well as attracts much more customers as nothing else individual retirement account firm can claim not to have complaints from the BBB and also the BCA. The business’s objective is to safeguard its customers’ futures with rare-earth elements IRAs. The business also needs to use sales to non-retirement clients that want to possess their gold and silver outside the IRA. Augusta Company is sincere and also transparent in its negotiations with consumers. It educates the clients about getting the rare-earth elements IRAs as well as how to maintain them throughout the saving process. The company encourages its clients on the threats involved and the longevity of their solutions. What Are The Best Gold Coins To Buy Monitoring Group of the Business. Isaac Nuriani is the business’s CEO. As the business mentions, he helped release the company to assist people retire as well as save by increasing their cost savings via rare-earth elements. Mr. Nuriani helps with the procedure by enlightening the consumers on the importance of them keeping their possessions like precious metals. Isaac Nuriani relies on the worths of openness and also commitment when leading the firm. Mr. Isaac is likewise a participant of various organizations, such as the Ethics network. A solid group backs up Mr. Nuriani to allow the business to complete its responsibilities. Devlyn Steele creates part of the group as he is the business’s Education and learning Director. Mr. Steele leads the education and learning team to enlighten the customers concerning saving mechanisms with alternative properties. His job has actually made several Americans affluent by buying the business as well as additionally start conserving via rare-earth elements. Howard Smith, the Principal Financial Officer of the business, supplies expertise regarding threat management to the business and also the clients. He has assisted the firm attain its economic and company objectives considering that he began working with the firm in 2018. Mr. Smith has actually even more helped customers conquer the feasible dangers that may affect their retirement. What You Required to Know About Augusta Priceless Metals. Augusta Precious Metals review. Augusta Priceless Metals is just one of one of the most relied on names in gold investing, and if you’re looking to buy gold and silver bullion, you may find yourself questioning whether it’s the ideal business for you. If so, you’ve involved the appropriate area; our Augusta Precious Metals testimonial has all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding whether this investment firm is right for your needs. Augusta Precious Metals Review. Augusta Precious Metals is an IRA manager that has actually been around considering that 2006. The firm was named one of Inc 500’s fastest expanding firms in 2013 as well as they are licensed as an IRA administrator by both internal revenue service and also NFA. Augusta concentrates on physical precious metals consisting of gold, silver, platinum, palladium as well as rhodium. They have a large range of products from fractional sizes (1/10 oz) to bars ( as much as 100 oz). They likewise have lots of options for storage ranging from Augusta Vaults to self-directed safe deposit boxes. In general, Augusta has been an recognized firm that is still growing. If you’re trying to find a reputable as well as solid gold individual retirement account provider, they are one of your ideal alternatives. { However, in order to provide you with an unbiased opinion on Augusta’s solutions we had some assistance from our close friends at Bullion Exchanges in Dubai. In order to offer you with an objective viewpoint on Augusta’s services we had some assistance from our friends at Bullion Exchanges in Dubai. Take a look at their review below:. Among our customers had an interest in opening up a Gold individual retirement account through a supplier beyond North America. We aided him in choosing Augusta Rare-earth elements as his preferred choice. The procedure went efficiently and also he bought physical gold for his individual retirement account through Augusta Valuable Metals. Since then he educated us that he obtained rewards on his possessions as well as makes routine contributions in the direction of constructing wealth utilizing precious metals such as gold and silver due to low rising cost of living rates contrasted to paper currencies. He says their customer service is superb! The Owners Behind Augusta Precious Metals. Augusta Precious Metals was founded in 2012 by Isaac Nuriani. Augusta Precious Metal uses competitive rates as well as high quality gold with their regular reduced charges (one of many reasons they consistently rank as one of our favorite areas to open up a rare-earth element individual retirement account). They’re participants of both The National Coin Dealers Organization as well as Sector Council for Tangible Possessions. Their service is guaranteed by Lloyd’s of London. Regarding gold IRA firms go, Augusta Precious Metals sticks out for its practical approach and organization ethics. If you’re searching for a place to buy gold or silver for your individual retirement account, we absolutely recommend providing a try. Augusta Precious Metals has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and all of their evaluations on Google declare– even if they have a tendency to praise them more than deal positive objection. They have actually also received positive evaluations from rare-earth elements master Peter Schiff! Since Augusta Priceless Metals is an well-known firm with years of experience, they do their ideal to walk clients via what is frequently an strange process. Augusta will aid you pick which kind of metals (gold, silver, platinum) makes good sense for your investment objectives. History of Gold IRAs as well as Gold Buying. Before you determine to purchase gold, it is necessary that you recognize what a gold IRA is and exactly how it functions. The government enables rare-earth elements like gold, silver, platinum and palladium to be made use of in a pension. This permits capitalists to expand their profiles, prevent too much risk in securities market as well as acquire tax benefits. To get more information about Augusta Precious Metals as well as why purchasing rare-earth elements is helpful for your monetary future, read on! As well as for more on why investing in precious metals is helpful for your financial future, have a look at our area below! Augusta Precious Metals provides financiers a wide range of gold bullion products that make for excellent retired life investments. If you’re taking into consideration opening a gold IRA, or seeking a strong area to purchase precious metals, we invite you to call us today. Our group will certainly more than happy to respond to any questions and also overview you through our numerous offerings. When it comes to buying precious metals, there are couple of names that carry as much eminence and also regard as Augusta Priceless Metals. As one of America’s largest silver and gold wholesalers, we collaborate with several global mints consisting of The Royal Canadian Mint and also The Perth Mint. Types of Gold IRAs. Augusta Precious Metals Evaluation. There are two primary kinds of gold Individual retirement accounts: direct and also indirect. One of the most common type is a straight IRA, which can be established at nearly any kind of financial institution or cooperative credit union that provides Individual retirement accounts. A lot of economic advisors suggest choosing a self-directed account, because they permit financiers to buy alternate assets like property, tangible building and also precious metals. In addition, these accounts have a tendency to come with greater payment restrictions than various other accounts ( approximately $70,000 per year). It’s important to keep in mind that there are stricter IRS guidelines for developing direct gold Individual retirement accounts; some investments such as hedge funds don’t count as certified. It is very important to note that there are more stringent internal revenue service standards for developing direct gold IRAs; some financial investments such as hedge funds do not count as certified. That said, not all financial investment options will certainly help every person– if one does not work for you currently it doesn’t imply it will not function later on in the future. It’s always a excellent suggestion to run concepts by your tax obligation expert prior to making any kind of significant modifications. Financiers that want maximum protection can go with an indirect account with a financial institution like Augusta Priceless Steels (APS)– the process is really comparable to a conventional Individual retirement account or 401( k), yet instead of holding supplies and also bonds you’re holding physical gold and also silver bars stored at APS’s safekeeping facility. Investors that desire maximum security can select an indirect account via a banks like Augusta Precious Metals (APS)– the procedure is very comparable to a conventional individual retirement account or 401( k), but rather than holding stocks as well as bonds you’re holding physical silver and gold bars saved at APS’s safekeeping center.

In the course of operation, vehicles tend to collect dust, bird droppings, exhaust residue and so on which lead to an assortment of aesthetic issues. Since no one wants to drive around in dirty vehicles if they can help it, washing is known as an essential part of vehicle maintenance. Nowadays, once it comes to giving vehicles like cars and RVs a wash, numerous tools exist so vehicle owners get to use whatever they wish . That being said, regarding the amount of time and effort that goes into the washing, few could outperform pressure washers. Simple to use and easy to manipulate, pressure washers would restore the appearance of vehicles that have seen extensive use in a matter of moments. By getting a RV pressure washer for your rig, you should be able to keep it in top shape for many years with relative ease. Contents - The Basics About Pressure Washers - Best Pressure Washers For Cars, RVs - 1. Sun Joe SPX3000 – Best Of The Best - 2. Westinghouse WPX2700 – Editor’s Choice - 3. Simpson Cleaning MegaShot (MSH3125) – Editor’s Choice - 4. Briggs & Stratton S1800 - 5. WholeSun Electric Pressure Washer - 6. Suyncll Electric Pressure Washer - 7. Powerhouse Electric Pressure Washer - 8. Teande Electric Pressure Washer - 9. Karcher K1700 - 10. Stanley SHP2150 - Best RV Pressure Washer Buyer’s Guide - Top Brands Of RV Pressure Washers - How To Clean Your Cars/RVs With A Pressure Washer - FAQs About Pressure Washers The Basics About Pressure Washers What is a pressure washer? In layman’s terms, a pressure washer is a tool that can spray high-pressure water and remove everything from stains to dirt build-ups. Depending on the requirements, people may pair their pressure washers with a number of attachments: soap dispensers, power brushes, etc. Owing to the strength of their water sprays, pressure washers must be used with care to minimize the odds of physical injuries and unwanted damages. Also, it’s important to match the supply of water to the pressure rating as water starvation could damage the pump of the pressure washers. How does it work? Different models often have different characteristics but all pressure washers share the same operating principle: Water flows into the pressure washer via the inlet hose. Next, the water pump (powered either by a gas engine or an electrical motor) of the pressure washer would accelerate the water to increase pressure. At the user’s discretion, the pressure washer is going to run pressurized water through the high-pressure hose and out of the hose nozzle. Why do I need a pressure washer for car, RV detailing? It’s your vehicle so you could choose any tool you want to clean it. If you happen to have a flexible schedule, you can even scrub the vehicle using a few pieces of cloth. Still, being capable of blasting surfaces with high-pressure water, pressure washers for RV have superior efficiency and effectiveness. Because of that, if you wish to spend more time enjoying yourself and less time cleaning your rig, pick up a RV pressure washer immediately. Here are the key benefits of automotive pressure washers: - Adaptability: By changing nozzles, you should be able to change the pressure setting of your pressure washer at any time. As a result, you could adapt your pressure washer to light, medium and heavy-duty pressure washing with relative ease. - Time: All in all, it may take hours of scrubbing to remove the stains on the exterior of recreational vehicles. However, in the case that you have a pressure washer, you only need minutes to get the result you wish. - Money: With a pressure washer by your side, you could maintain the look of your rig by yourself instead of relying on professional detailing service. That is a big plus if you plan to cut down nonessential expenses and save a couple of bucks. - Environment: While you always have the option of using detergent, your pressure washer would be capable of washing away the undesirable elements with water alone. Thus, if you happen to be a eco-conscious vehicle owner, it’s widely advised that you grab an pressure washer as soon as possible. Types of pressure washers Today’s travel trailer washers come in all shapes and sizes but the market just contains four types of models: hydraulic, electric, gasoline and diesel. Hydraulic Pressure Washers: Utilizing a hydraulic mechanism to increase the pressure of water, hydraulic pressure washers have a quiet operation. Furthermore, models of the type don’t require electricity, fuel and alike to stay running. Therefore, hydraulic pressure washers prove popular among full-time RVers that like going off-grid. Electric Pressure Washers: As the name suggests, electric pressure washers rely on their electric motor to deliver pressurized water sprays. To keep models of the type in working order throughout the washing session, people must supply them with enough electricity. Noteworthily, the absence of emission means it’s possible to turn on electric pressure washers indoors as well as outdoors. Gasoline Pressure Washers: Equipped with a gas engine, gasoline pressure washers excel once it comes to heavy-duty vehicle washing. Models of the type generate exhausts in use though so vehicle owners could only use them in well-ventilated space. In addition, to get the most out of gasoline pressure washers, it’s important to maintain a stock of gasoline. Diesel Pressure Washers: They resemble their gasoline counterparts in certain regards but instead of gasoline, diesel pressure washers consume diesel. Able to raise the water pressure in plenty of conditions, models of the type give a good account of themselves. Diesel also lasts longer than gas and that is advantageous for those that travel extensively. Best Pressure Washers For Cars, RVs Due to differences in preferences, the model that other RVers believe to be the best RV washer on the market may appear mediocre to you. Nonetheless, if you like to make a wise investment, it’s strongly recommended that you check out the following models: 1. Sun Joe SPX3000 – Best Of The Best Specifications And Features: - PSI: 2,030 - Flow Rate: 1.76 GPM - Electric - Safety lock switch - Dual detergent tanks Why This Is The Best: Versatile and flexible, Sun Joe SPX3000 is able to give a good account of itself in a lot of situations. Possessing dual detergent tanks that happen to be removable, this pressure washer for RV could should different detergents for different washing projects with relative ease. Also, upon purchase, it’s accompanied by various accessories for pressure washing so RVers have an easy time adapting this pressure washer to their needs. Thus, plenty of reviews that cover auto-detailing pressure washers consider it to be the best electric power washer for RV in its price range. The majority of our testers appreciate the fact that the pressure washer made by Sun Joe incorporates a safety lock switch for the nozzle trigger. The moment we release the trigger, the pump would shut down on its own which reduces power consumption and maximizes the longevity of the pump. Since this pressure washer is designed with a long power cord as well, camper owners can reposition it in just a blink of an eye. That is advantageous for those that travel in big vehicles. As proof of confidence, Sun Joe backs its pressure washer with a two-year warranty. If your SPX3000 fails due to manufacturing defects within the warranty period, you could claim a replacement free of charge. Pros: - Resilient - Long-lasting - Maintenance is a breeze Cons: - Quality control requires improvements - People complain about leaks on occasions 2. Westinghouse WPX2700 – Editor’s Choice Specifications And Features: - PSI: 2,700 - Flow Rate: 2.3 GPM - Gas - Steel frame - Recoil start engine Why It’s An Editor’s Choice: Engineered from the ground up for heavy-duty pressure washing, Westinghouse WPX2700 could remove even the stubbornest of stains on the exterior of recreational vehicles. Packing a strong recoil start engine, it’s capable of delivering water sprays with high pressures for a long time. Moreover, thanks to the inclusion of quick-connect nozzle tips, this camper pressure washer allows RVers to wash their rig thoroughly. That is why this pressure washer earns a shower of praise from people who care about comprehensiveness during washing sessions. In terms of portability, WPX2700 contains two built-in wheels that would navigate all types of terrains without a hitch. Hence, getting this pressure washer into position is child’s play and only takes a couple of minutes to complete. For durability, it features a steel frame and that means this pressure washer can handle a lot of things from physical impacts to outdoor elements. Assuming that you pick it up, years should pass before you have to think about finding a pressure washer replacement. The Westinghouse pressure washer is not exactly the most affordable model but it’s far from a bank-breaking one. With a couple of calculations, RVers could squeeze this pressure washer into the spending plan. Pros: - Enduring - Great handling - Dependable and reliable Cons: - Reports of stoppages show up sometimes - Delivery service is less than ideal 3. Simpson Cleaning MegaShot (MSH3125) – Editor’s Choice Specifications And Features: - PSI: 3,200 - Flow Rate: 2.5 GPM - Gas - Pneumatic wheels - Quick-connect nozzle tips Why It’s An Editor’s Choice: Boasting everything that people need in an automotive pressure washer, Simpson Cleaning MegaShot (MSH3125) rarely lets people down in use. Outfitted with a flexible high-pressure hose, this pressure washer provides excellent reach to users which is a big plus. In addition to that, it possesses an ergonomic gun so people don’t have to do much to guide water sprays of this pressure washer. Needless to say, once it comes to convenience, this pressure washer is superior to the average models on the market. Owing to the Honda gas engine, the RV pressure washer from Simpson Cleaning is able to consistently spray water at pressures as high as 3,200 PSI. That and the flow rate of 2.5 GPM permit us to restore the look of our rigs in a few moments. Aside from that, the presence of welded steel in the construction of this pressure washer leads to tip-top ruggedness. Naturally, to full-time RVers that place resilience above all else, it’s the best pressure washer for RVs nowadays. While it’s indeed expensive, the values that MegaShot (MSH3125) offers justify its price tag. To reassure customers, Simpson Cleaning backs its model with a superb warranty: 5 years for the frame, 2 years for the engine and 1 year for the pump. Pros: - Compact - Quick shipping - Simple to use Cons: - Steep price - Customer service still leaves something to be desired 4. Briggs & Stratton S1800 Specifications And Features: - PSI: 1,800 - Flow Rate: 1.2 GPM - Corded - Turbo nozzle - Integrated detergent tank Why We Love It: Despite its plain appearance, Briggs & Stratton S1800 is a solid car cleaning pressure washer that could meet most power washing needs of modern vehicle owners. Featuring a turbo nozzle, this pressure washer is capable of cutting the length of washing sessions by 40% and that helps save a lot of time. Furthermore, designed with an integrated detergent tank, it allows people to optimize the washing effects. As a result, this pressure washer is popular among those that travel regularly and have little time for vehicle maintenance. When the need arises, our testers can move S1800 from spot to spot without breaking a sweat thanks to wheels. Also, the steel frame of this pressure washer packs terrific resistance against external forces so it won’t break apart after taking a few hits. Thus, it’s going to last longer than many of its competitors on the market. Since the maintenance of this pressure washer is basic as well, keeping it in working order is by all accounts a walk in the park. Reaching the market at a reasonable price, the pressure washer of Briggs & Stratton is a good match for the shopping budget of regular vehicle owners. For post-purchase support, it’s backed by a one-year warranty that covers defects. Pros: - Economical - Space-saving - Pressure rating is decent Cons: - A couple of units arrive with missing accessories - Users notice squealing sound every now and then 5. WholeSun Electric Pressure Washer Specifications And Features: - PSI: 3,000 - Flow Rate: 2.4 GPM - GFCI protection - Soap bottle - Total Stop System (TSS) Why We Love It: Want to get a quality pressure washer for your rig but your wallet is kind of tight at the moment? If that is the case, there is a good chance that you would come to like WholeSun Electric Pressure Washer. Available at a price that everyone could accept, this camper pressure washer permits you to keep your RV clean in a wide range of conditions. Additionally, it’s backed by a two-year manufacturer warranty so you should have something to count on if troubles occur out of the blue. With a high-pressure hose of twenty feet and a power cord of thirty three feet, the pressure washer made by WholeSun boasts fantastic flexibility. Therefore, we could position it anywhere we see fit to give our vehicle a washing. Interestingly, this pressure washer for RV is put together with Total Stop System (TSS) so the pump operates based on the need for pressurized water. Hence, the pump only activate when our testers squeeze the nozzle trigger which is why it’s possible to minimize expenses and wear-and-tear. Regarding safety, WholeSun Electric Pressure Washer incorporates GFCI protection that severs the flow of current as soon as issues surface. Unsurprisingly, this travel trailer pressure washer possesses a stellar operating record compared to its contemporaries. Pros: - Affordable - Easy to relocate - Well-written owner’s manual Cons: - RVers report inconsistencies between units - Water leak from time to time 6. Suyncll Electric Pressure Washer Specifications And Features: - PSI: 3,800 - Flow Rate: 2.6 GPM - Leakproof - Environmentally friendly - Flexible power cord Why We Love It: Capable of restoring the appearance of well-used rigs, Suyncll Electric Pressure Washer is a must-have for RVing enthusiasts that travel around the year. With a PSI rating of 3,800 and a flow rate of 2.6 GPM, it could remove everything that people don’t want to see on their vehicles. Moreover, furnished with leakproof connectors, this camper pressure washer eliminates the hassle of addressing puddles of water during washing sessions. Because of that, if you don’t make a mess while cleaning your rig, it’s the best RV washer for you on the market. Following the trend, the pressure washer of Suyncll comes alongside quick-connect nozzle tips that can reach hard-to-access areas. Thus, with it onboard, we have no trouble washing our recreational vehicles from top to bottom in times of need. Noteworthily, despite its strength, the motor of this pressure washer features a low noise level in the course of operation. That means we don’t have to worry about deafening people around us as we give our RV a wash. Suyncll Electric Pressure Washer is an economic model so its purchase would have inconsequential impacts on upcoming spendings of RVers. On arrival, this pressure washer for RV is backed with a two-year manfacruer warranty that put people at ease Pros: - Reasonable price - Terrific level of safety - Control is no-nonsense Cons: - People complain about pressure deviations - Mediocre packaging 7. Powerhouse Electric Pressure Washer Specifications And Features: - PSI: 3,000 - Flow Rate: 2.2 GPM - Universal spray gun - Power cord storage - Removable wheel cart Why We Love It: Put together with adaptability in mind, Powerhouse Electric Pressure Washer could maintain a consistent performance in quite a few settings. Boasting a removable wheel cart with four casters, it outmatches classic pressure washers for automotive once it comes to portability. In addition, since the length of its power cord is thirty five feet long, this pressure washer is able to operate far away from outlets. As a result, people seldom have to deal with reach restrictions as they reposition this pressure washer in washing sessions. After bring turned on, the motor of the pressure washer made by Powerhouse provide a suitable water pressure for car wash without making a ruckus. The flow rate of this pressure washer is decent too so our testers have an easy time getting rid of stains, dirt and similar stuff. In terms of storage, thanks to the compact construction, it occupies a bit of space. The power cord storage and the hose reel also help us keep the cord and hose organized outside of use. For accessories, Powerhouse Electric Pressure Washer is sold with two lances, two propriate nozzles and five quick-connect nozzle tips for its universal spray gun. It’s noteworthy that the accompanying adaptor even permits the use of aftermarket spray guns. Pros: - Robust - Intuitive operation - Handy gun accessories Cons: - Quality control could use some work - Sporadic leaks 8. Teande Electric Pressure Washer Specifications And Features: - PSI: 3,800 - Flow Rate: 2.8 GPM - Soap bottle - Adjustable water pressure - Electromagnetic induction power motor Why We Love It: Owing to the integration of an electromagnetic induction power motor, Teande Electric Pressure Washer manages to simultaneously deliver high water pressures and fast flow rates. Furthermore, it features a TSS switch and that means its pump only runs if people hold down the gun trigger. Hence, this pressure washer for travel trailer is an economical model that would work for many years without experiencing issues. The inclusion of built-in overheating protection ensures that this pressure washer never gets too hot in use as well. By using quick-connect nozzle tips, our testers could adjust the pressure of the pressure washer from Teande whenever they like. Since this RV pressure washer contains a purpose-design storage compartment for accessories, we don’t have to worry about losing the nozzle tips. Aside from that, it happens to possess two solid wheels so moving it around vehicles is a piece of cake. The long power cord guarantees a splendid range of movement in all sorts of environments. For post-purchase support, Teande gives everyone that decided to pick up its camper pressure washer a two-year warranty. Needless to say, many RVing enthusiasts that seek peace of mind regard it as the best pressure washer for detailing. Pros: - Great reach - Budget-friendly price - Positioning is child’s play Cons: - Irregular drops in pressure - Customer service is somewhat unresponsive 9. Karcher K1700 Specifications And Features: - PSI: 1,700 - Flow Rate: 1.2 GPM - Storage bin - On/off foot switch - Compatible with industry standards Why We Love It: As an entry-level model, Karcher K1700 fails to exceed in any particular aspect but most vehicle owners could still use it to good effect. Manufactured with a convenient on/off foot switch, this car pressure washer eliminates the hassle of bending over from time to activate and deactivate it. Therefore, it’s well-received by vehicle owners who have back pain and don’t want to exacerbate the condition. Additionally, the pressure washer for automotive packs outstanding handling characteristics so people never have to strain themselves to position it. Carrying a detergent tank, K1700 allows our testers to use a wide range of detergents to improve the washing power. Of the three nozzles that come with this pressure washer, one is optimized for power spray for car wash using mixtures of water and detergent. That is why regarding washing results, this pressure washer earns plenty of good scores from reviews of pressure washers. Last but not least, it incorporates a storage bin for accessories so vehicle owners have the option of keeping everything together. When it shows up, people only need a couple of minutes to get the Karcher pressure washer up and running. Being compatible with industry standards, it could accept plenty of aftermarket accessories without requiring modifications. Pros: - Silent - Nice price - Sublime delivery service Cons: - Occasional water leaks - Hose connection must be overhauled 10. Stanley SHP2150 Specifications And Features: - PSI: 1,700 - Flow Rate: 1.2 GPM - Storage bin - On/off foot switch - Compatible with industry standards Why We Love It: Slim and sleek, SHP2150 from Stanley is a good buy for vehicle owners who don’t want to lug around cumbersome and unwieldy pressure washers. Owing to the integral wheels, people could get it into position in a matter of seconds regardless of the terrain. Moreover, there is a tray for nozzle tips on the spray gun so this automotive pressure washer adapts well to an assortment of washing demands. Because of that, in terms of convenience, few models on the market can outperform it. In the course of operation, the pressure washer of Stanley is barely audible and that is why there is no need to bother with noise. A combination of 35-feet power cord and 25-feet high-pressure water hose results in extended reach which is vital in washing vehicles with large dimensions. Besides that, this washer pressure boasts a garden hose connector that is compatible with a lot of hoses for households. Naturally, keeping it supplied with water during washing sessions is a walk in the park. Once it comes to power, SHP2150 consumes a small amount of electricity as it runs so its presence won’t cause spikes in utility bills. If you like to save power, this washer pressure is going to be the best power washer you can get. Pros: - Portable - A breeze to set up - Noise level is low Cons: - Plug should be redesigned - Post-purchase support is hardly adequate Best RV Pressure Washer Buyer’s Guide The RV community is at odds about the best pressure washer for RV but to get your money’s worth, memorize the criteria down below Power To put it plainly, the power of a RV pressure washer indicates its ability to get rid of stains, dirt and other things like them. In most of the cases, you could deduce the power of a model by taking a look at its PSI (Pound per Square Inch) rating. The higher the PSI rating, the stronger the water spray. However, keep in mind that the finish of your rig may even sustain damages if the pressure washer you use happens to be too powerful. Nozzle Once it comes to managing the spray of pressurized water from RV pressure washers, the nozzle plays a key role. Because of that, while assessing pressure washers for camper on the market, you must pay special attention to the nozzle. Usually, models with narrow nozzles can produce thin sprays in the course of operation which proves ideal for spot cleaning. On the other hand, if you want to do some area cleaning, it’s widely advised that you go for pressure washers with wide nozzles. Hose Length As you wash your recreational vehicle, you have to move around it in order to cover every nook and cranny. Hence, to get the best pressure washer for your rig, it’s essential to take the hose length into account. For your information, the hose length varies between market models but if you desire convenience, make 25 feet your minimum limit. If you grab pressure washers with hose lengths less than 25 feet, there is a good chance that you have to reposition them repeatedly during washing. Soap/Detergent Tank On occasions, water alone is not enough and people have to resort to soap, detergent, … to bring the exterior of recreational vehicles back to normal. To facilitate that, manufacturers of camper washers incorporate a built-in soap/detergent tank into the design of their models. By checking out the owner’s manual of your RV pressure washer, you could tell whether it comes with a tank for soap and detergent. The capacity of the soap/detergent tank changes from model to model so you should choose one that lasts through the entire washing session. Price $100 – $150: Basic and practical, pressure washers in the range work well in lots of environments despite the lack of exceptional qualities. Additionally, with excellent affordability, models that cost from $100 to $150 fit the shopping budget of RVers. $150 – $300: With top-notch adaptability, pressure washers in the range could meet the washing demands of most modern-day camper owners. You seek a solid RV pressure washer but cannot spend big bucks at the moment? Then you should prioritize models with price tags between $150 and $300. Above $300: As high-end models, pressure washers in the range rarely fail to please RVers. Thanks to state-of-the-art technologies and top-of-the-line materials, models that cost more than $300 guarantee comprehensive washing for the average rigs. Top Brands Of RV Pressure Washers All things considered, the brand of a pressure washer for car seldom dictates its values. That being said, if you care about reputability, you should keep an eye out for models made by these names Sun Joe Once it comes to consistency in use, pressure washers of Sun Joe don’t have many competitors on the market. Able to maintain high water pressures for a long period of time, Sun Joe models earn plenty of compliments from those that own big vehicles. Westinghouse By investing heavily in optimization, Westinghouse could create robust pressure washers that remain uncompromised no matter how much abuse people put them through over time. Moreover, reaching the market across the price points, models Westinghouse suits the wallet of RVers. Simpson Cleaning Thanks to the application of innovation into production, Simpson Cleaning manages to keep the price of its pressure washers down without sacrificing their field performance. To reassure customers, Simpson Cleaning back offers everyone that buy its models limited manufacturer warranties. Briggs & Stratton With decades of experience designing pressure washers, Briggs & Stratton knows what it takes to match the demands of vehicle owners. Needless to say, Briggs & Stratton is the number one choice of people who desire no-nonsense pressure washers for RV. How To Clean Your Cars/RVs With A Pressure Washer You don’t have to be an expert to clean vehicles with a pressure washer. Nonetheless, in the case that you need a couple of instructions, follow the following steps Step 1: Search for a good spot Park your vehicle in open space away from anything that you don’t want to be damaged by pressurized water. Aside from that, if your pressure washer is an electric model then you should position your vehicle near an outlet. Step 2: Rinse the vehicle Roll up the windows, close the doors and lock the trunk to keep water out. Next, proceed to rinse your vehicle to get rid of loose dirt, mud, debris, etc. Step 3: Select the nozzle Take some time to determine the kind of wash you need and equip your pressure washer with an appropriate nozzle. Narrow nozzles provide high water pressures but only cover small areas while wide nozzles boast broad coverage but their water pressure is a bit low. Step 4: Pour soap/detergent If your pressure washer possesses an integral soap/detergent tank, you could pour your chosen soap or detergent into it. If your pressure washer happens to lack such a tank, feel free to pour the soap/detergent on your vehicle. In any case, you have to pour a bit of water as well in order to dilute the soap/detergent. Step 5: Spray the vehicle Aim the nozzle of your pressure washer toward your vehicle and then squeeze the trigger. Move around as you spray your vehicle with pressurized water to give a comprehensive washing. At the end of the washing session, you may use towels to dry your vehicle. FAQs About Pressure Washers Can I repair a punctured high-pressure hose? When the high-pressure hose of pressure washers gets punctured, it’s no longer usable. Even if you attempt to repair the punctures, the pressurized water should exacerbate the weakness in structural integrity as you turn on your pressure washer. As a result, it’s strongly recommended that you replace instead of repairing punctured hose. How come my nozzle keeps clogging? A wide range of issues could lead to clogged nozzles. For instance, if you run hard water through your pressure washers from time to time, minerals would build up in the nozzle and clog it. In addition to that, the nozzle of your pressure washers is going to end up clogged if you leave it idle for a long time. Is it wise to leave fuel inside pressure washers outside of use? After you finish cleaning your vehicle, you should drain the fuel inside your pressure washer if it’s either a gas or a diesel model. If you don’t do that, your pressure washer may experience fuel leaks during storage which presents a fire hazard. What PSI is safe for washing cars? Quite a few factors affect the PSI limit for pressure washing of cars but for good measure, stay between 1,200 and 1,900. Nowadays, a number of models let vehicle owners change the PSI rating by switching nozzles.

Generating tons of leads to pass to your sales team is inefficient and useless. Marketers need to focus on high volume, buyer-led content and throw away the ineffective ebook strategy. Are you using ebooks, white papers, and value proposition-focussed videos to generate leads for your product or services? Then it could be time you stop. Chris Walker, CEO at Refine Labs, has a more efficient strategy for you. Chris' social audience continues to snowball as he hammers home this inbound demand generation marketing theory. He sees the majority of marketing teams making the same mistake: trying to generate as many leads as possible through ebooks, whitepapers and seller-driven content. But, most of those leads are useless and unqualified. Which means that your sales reps are wasting tons of time and seeing a 0.01% close rate, which generally means companies have to run a sales-rep heavy, expensive organisation. But there's a better way, a way that is more cost-efficient and effective. It's quite simple: create content that will be actually consumed by your customer. Forget for a minute, or forever, writing for yourself. Forget funnelling customers towards a sale, forget your value proposition, and just write for them. Consider what they are interested in, what challenges they have at work, and how your writing can help your customers biggest problems. Chris' theory goes: write valuable content -> That content is actually consumed -> Some people are intrigued to know what you do -> They consciously or subconsciously consider your services -> Next time they have a genuine need, your brand will be top of mind -> Your customer comes to you -> Your sales team supports them in their purchase, little selling needs to be done. Chris illustrates this method with an example of a lawyer who stopped writing boring legal content, and started writing about her passion: video games. After a while, other gamers learned she was a lawyer and when they were in need of legal services flocked to become her clients. Smart, right? This sentiment was also echo'd recently by Dave Gerhardt, CMO at Privy, when he stated "Don't build a marketing team. Build a media company for your niche." There's ton of insight in this interview to guide your inbound lead generation strategy. I hope you enjoy it. -- How the Fxck: When you first start working with a client, where do you start? Chris Walker: So the first step in the process, in my view, is to understand what's going on currently. And so, we do that in a couple of different formats, depending on the size of the client, the media budget, and their growth goals. There's a lot of different variables in that and how we decide how to do it. But it comes down to a very detailed analysis of their marketing performance from a channel and an overall marketing level, compare it to their outbound or other mechanisms for generating revenue, audit their ad strategies, their KPIs, the overall objectives of what they're trying to accomplish in those channels. Once we have a clear overview, how it's performing, and how the budget's allocated, we have a clearer picture of how what chanes to recommend. "this is working. Turn it up. Start focusing your conversions down this conversion point. This isn't working. This is a complete waste of money. Cut this, change this, scrap this." The upfront analysis is essentially the process. How the Fxck: Do you see a lot of commonalities in the challenges faced by your clients, and are they making the same kind of mistakes? Chris Walker: Yeah. So, over the past six months, I've probably audited somewhere between 20 and 35 SaaS companies and essentially in the SaaS world, almost everyone does it the same. There are like little tweaks, but everyone is in essence, following some form of the serious decisions, demand gen, waterfall demand, waterfall framework. Where the framework is: collect as many leads as possible, pass them over to your SDR tele-prospecting team for qualification, and then move them to a rep if they get qualified. Everyone is using that form, and inside of getting the leads, most people use the same tactics. Most focus heavily on ebook conversions is what I see, or syndicated content for leads or webinars for leads. That first metric point (number of leads generated) seems to drive everything, which I think is misguided and wrong compared to how you actually should generate demand in a B2B SaaS company today. How the Fxck: There seems to be some kind of conflict in marketing today. I mean, a lot of marketers are generating as many leads as possible through eBooks and the methods that you mentioned without concern for the quality of the leads that they're pushing towards their SDRs really, that can't be efficient, right? Chris Walker: No, I don't believe that it is an efficient process. Many companies use it and what actually ends up happening, is that they don't look at it to the level to know that those executions are doing nothing for them. And, all of the actual leads they're converting to revenue are coming through organic search or direct traffic, which is a surrogate to word-of-mouth, or already had the intent or, or got something else and all the attributable leads, so, the eBooks, don't end up going anywhere. This goes back to our overall methodology, how I think about the world in B2B SaaS. Most companies have structured their marketing team to act like an SDR team to generate as many as possible at who cares in the quality because you have the SDR filter, and then it goes to the AEs. However, if you just do the marketing well and you generate high quality leads at a lower volume, you don't need the SDR layer. And so those leads can go directly to account executives. When those leads go directly to account executives, there's a better buying experience and because of that you close them at a higher rate and with shorter sales cycles. However, if you just do the marketing well and you generate high quality leads at a lower volume, you don't need the SDR layer. And so those leads can go directly to account executives. And then there, after that, you can think about, okay, how do I deploy these SDR resources? Do they go outbound? And when they go outbound, if you get that far, you'll find that that channel just isn't that effective and that your demand gen engine, when it's running right, works better. And over time you end up having fewer SDRs, you invest more into marketing. Execution, well done, lowers customer acquisition costs that lower customer acquisition costs and higher efficiency allow you to invest in product and other infrastructure inside of the business that supports growth. And overall you come out with a better, more scalable business. How the Fxck: So, how would you suggest measuring the performance of a marketing team? If it's not on something like leads generated? But maybe you don't want to do it on the same metric is sales, which is sales volume. What would you suggest here? Chris Walker: I've done this for a long enough time to know that the most important variable in whether or not a sale closes is how the buyer comes to you. And, so I believe the biggest variable is not actually sales performance. I have past leads to people that have worked at the company for five days, had no idea what was going on with the product or the market or the buyer, and we're able to close in on leads because the person was pretty much decided and the sales person's job was just to help them buy it. For that reason, I do believe that marketers, when doing their job well, do have a huge amount of influence into whether or not the sales close. I've found that a lot of marketers are like "well, we don't have control over the actual outcome of the sale because the sales reps aren't following up for all this different stuff", and just making excuses. The reason the sales reps aren't following up is because you're passing them a bunch of junk. If they knew that when you pass them something, they had a chance of getting revenue, and it was their best opportunity to hit their goals, you bet they would call. But over time you've actually done the wrong things, giving them a bunch of junk, and now, therefore, they don't trust you, and they don't want to waste their time on the things that you've sent them. Just to get back to your original question, yes, I do believe that marketers should be measured on a revenue outcome. They can track all the leading indicators however they want. I recommend you track all the leading indicators to know where you can fix processes, optimize and all those different things. But the endpoint is the same. It's revenue. And when you're focused on revenue, you do different things to get the leads. I've found the most equitable method to score your marketing team is on marketing sourced revenue contribution for net new logo. But, this is specific for B2B SaaS with a traditional sales model. So, non-transactional, non-product led. And, because the net new logo revenue contribution will normalize for things like environmental business changes like the one that we're facing right now. Right? Like all revenue for some companies is down right now, but the percent contribution should remain somewhere stable. It also normalizes for sales performance. So if your sales team sucks, they're going to suck on whatever source the lead comes from, not just on marketing source. And so, therefore, you still should be able to hold yourself accountable to a percentage contribution, and that percentage should be decided based on a lot of different factors. I think the number one is budget allocation. So, between your outbound team and your inbound team, what's the percent budget allocation? If you invest 10% into marketing, you probably shouldn't expect them to get you 70% of the revenue. And I've worked at companies where the marketing team had 2% of the budget and generated 30% of the revenue. That is a broken model because if you just changed the way you allocated the budget, you would change your business. But I believe that is the North star for marketing teams to be aligned with their sales teams. How the Fxck: Yeah, I completely agree. That makes a lot of sense to me. One thing you said there was that a lot of time, the close rate depends on where the leads came from in the first place. What would you suggest marketers do to create the most high-quality leads? Chris Walker: Effective communication with the market is the number one way because the objective is to drive organic buyer initiated sales conversations. Most marketing teams will have somewhere between 90% and 99% of their sales conversations start seller-driven or company-driven, and the objective is to have more buyer-driven sales processes. Most marketing teams will have somewhere between 90% and 99% of their sales conversations start seller-driven or company-driven, and the objective is to have more buyer-driven sales processes. When the buyer's driving the process, you are more likely to close more of those deals. Things that don't usually work: the ebook downloads that I've talked about enough, because they downloaded an ebook, they didn't ask to speak with your sales team, but now all of a sudden you're reaching out to me to have a sales conversation. Like, I'm not interested. Secondly, syndicated content where you pay $50 a lead to some company to send you leads. Those people downloaded your white paper; they did not want to talk to your sales rep—no wonder the close rates are 0.1%. This is very straightforward, but most people don't look at it at that level because all they're doing is they're saying "okay, I need to get 30,000 leads". They never look at the actual 'outcome to qualified' pipeline, to sales cycle length, to win rates and, ultimately, to revenue. If they started breaking it up into those buckets, and I know this because I go into companies and I audit them, and I break them up into these buckets, you'll expose all the things that you're doing that have absolutely no value and have no place in your marketing mix. How the Fxck: Okay, perfect. So that's what not to do. What is it that works really well? Chris Walker: It's funny because most people will not be able to get there with me when I say this because it's very counterintuitive, it's very buyer-driven, not seller-driven. That's something that might resonate with some people, but giving people information which then creates awareness about what you do and then letting them figure out when they have a need. When they do have a need, that they come to you and you're top of mind, is the best way to generate revenue and do marketing. The problem is that most people are so short-term focused that they don't have the patience to do it. They tend to take all these shortcuts, which then lead them to very low-efficiency outcomes. How the Fxck: One of your central theories around content strategy is that marketers need to stop creating bullshit content and start writing content actually gets consumed. Can you tell me more about that? Chris Walker: Most people create content for themselves, not for their buyer. Most people create content for themselves, not for their buyer. If you just look at it black and white, most people design their content around 'how is this going to benefit me?' Not 'how is it going to help the person that I'm trying to have read this?' Which is, therefore, why it doesn't work. And, so people can feel it. It's very obvious. Like most companies do not invest in the talent, in the subject matter expertise in the production or in the distribution for a content strategy to actually work. They don't measure it the right way. They don't give it enough time to develop. And, for all those reasons, most companies don't have a good content strategy. They make less content than I do as a five-person company. It just makes no sense. It's because of all the reasons I just stated: they don't believe it's essential, they don't measure it the right way, they don't have the right talent or resources or investment, and they do not know how to do it. Especially growth stage or companies that are going up against a major entrenched legacy competitor, the way you're going to win is by being smarter, not by doing all the same shit that your big competitor does. If you're going and competing with a billion-dollar company, and you are going to run the same marketing mix (spend a hundred thousand dollars on trade shows and sponsorships, go heavy sales outbound, do all the same things that your competitors do), you're going to lose or you're going to limit your upside significantly. I've been talking about this for a long time. I've been seeing it come into play both for the companies that I worked at as an employee, and the companies where we now consult. When you execute better and you do things that are smarter, you grow faster. You start slowly taking market share from the companies that are wasting a bunch of money and not doing smart things are trading off a brand that's declining in value because they're not executing in today's today's world. How the Fxck: So the theory is that we should be creating content that is actually consumed by our audience, regardless of what it is, because that brings us to the top of mind when they are considering a purchase of similar technology. How far does this theory go on the content side, how far away from what your company does can you create content for? Say if you're in healthcare and your buyers don't consume much work-related content, but it's a really strong community, they love to consume all sorts of stories about each other. The theory is that we should be creating content that is actually consumed by our audience, regardless of what it is, because that brings us to the top of mind when they are considering a purchase. Chris Walker: Just the root of the question illustrates the point that I just made. Most companies create content for themselves instead of reverse engineering what their buyer needs and then giving it to them, regardless of whether or not it has to do with a funnel leading them to buy their product. So, the strategies that are going to work the best are when you understand, if you are selling to nurses, that nurses probably care about a lot of other things than what you're doing. And so then you have to pick a lane. Both lanes can work for that matter. (1) The one is, is getting very deep into everything that they care about for their job. So normally, this is not a scientific percentage but it's just to illustrate the concept, for most people the way that your product fits in is 2% of their job. There's a lot of other stuff in their job that has nothing to do with you, and that's where all the upside is for companies. But most continue to stay in this 2% and also super focused on moving people into buying their product as opposed to focusing on helping buyers with the 98% of their problems - content which the people care about. Content that people care about actually gets consumed, which then leads people to figure out what you do and then creates a sales action that way. (2) The other route that you could take, which I think is very interesting is to look at the people for other things that they care about. I'll give you an example. I was helping out someone that practices law in Florida, and she continued to struggle with making content about law and getting it consumed and no shit. Lawyer's content is not that helpful until you actually need it. And then, she started producing content about the things that she liked to do, which was, in this case, playing video games. And, so she would create content about her playing video games or different things like that. And what do you know, other people that also played video games found out that she was a lawyer and then needed her help with law. Both ways can work. I think one way is obviously going to be more preferred for a corporate entity for a lot of different reasons, which is like, you need to figure out everything that that person cares about and then build the community around that. What do you think would be the best way to measure the outcomes of content to make sure you have that kind of feedback. How the Fxck: What do you think would be the best way to measure the outcomes of this content to make sure you have that feedback loop that we need to see if our content is working? Chris Walker: The way that I measure the outcome of content is basically in three things. The first piece is consumption. Inside of the piece of content, if I have a five-minute video or I wrote a blog that takes five minutes to read, are people reading it for five minutes? Or are they reading it for five seconds? It's a straightforward first cut at whether or not the content is working. Most people will never measure that. And so, therefore, they're using ads to drive clicks to their blog, but what they don't realize is that if they looked in Google analytics, they would see that 99% of the traffic is bouncing straight away because the content sucks or you're driving the wrong people there. But nobody looks at that, and they say, "Oh, we got 20 cents CPC and so everything is great." And then the second two pieces are about the people that are liking the content and engaging with your brand, whether it's followers or other things, but not just the number. The key measure is who, who's engaging? If you're going after CFOs, are a bunch of CFOs and VPs of finance and financial analysts following your brand? Or is it the people that drive trucks because all you're doing is posting content that's irrelevant. So, the second indicator is: are the people that you want to be engaged, actually engaged. The third indicator (that I think is actually the most interesting, especially once you hit scale) is what is going on in the comments of the posts that you're making, who's commenting? What are they saying? Who's engaging? A very interesting metric for me right now is what people are tagging other people in the comments of my posts and who are they tagging? And that's very interesting to me. So, like, it would show up in the metrics that I got 150 likes on my audio posts. But what it wouldn't show up, is it the CRO of $500 million company tagged the four people underneath them that run marketing demand gen and business development in my post. Most people ignore it because they just are not smart about how they measure this stuff. But those are the three pillars of how I would go about measuring a content strategy. How the Fxck: This is some fantastic stuff thank you so much. What else should I be asking you to get the most out of your experience to help other marketers? Chris Walker: Marketers everywhere over-complicate everything. They spend so much time trying to figure out their list segmentation and their automation and their technology and their attribution and their bots and all this other shit, that they completely lose sight of the only thing that matters in marketing. Which is: are you effectively communicating with the people that you want to? They get so caught up in all these other things that they completely lose sight of the only thing that matters: am I able to earn the attention of the people that I am going after so that I have the opportunity for them to learn about what we do. I think that is a huge miss. I'm a tech marketer for sure, I appreciate the technology, but technology augments a successful strategy. It does not fix a broken strategy. I think that's one thing that marketers are looking for right now is they're looking for some magic formula of automation. 'How do I send a million automated DMs and get a bunch of leads for my sales team?' 'How do I install this new ABM tool and magically my top 50 accounts are going to buy from me'. They're doing this instead of actually trying to figure out, and have empathy for, their buyers and what they need to do to capture the attention of those buyers, so that those people then have the opportunity to understand what you do. If you're running a bunch of tech and like you spend five hours a week trying to figure out your attribution, wouldn't that five hours be better spent trying to figure out things that your customers care about? The questions that your prospects are answering before they ever come and talk to you? The key ways that people are discovering you? Those are the things that are important to me. Mmost companies spend so much time internally, whether it's like in an ivory tower, trying to figure out how to make this, you know, the best marketing campaign with these creative words in this video, um, without ever really auditing whether or not it resonates with their buyers. They spend so much time with themselves or with their technology. Instead of actually going out and talking to your prospects, you take shortcuts and listen to sales calls, which actually doesn't give you any of the right answers. It gives you a piece of the puzzle, but it definitely doesn't give you all of it because people actually do not tell you the truth when they're in a sales conversation. They tell you the things that they need to tell you in order to navigate that sales conversation. And so the best way that I figured out to actually understand buyers is to talk to them in non-sales situations. Almost no marketers do that. How the Fxck: There absolutely seems to be some kind of empathy gap in marketing right now. It's like, I don't want to have an ebook forced and forcing me to give my email to you to download this ebook and I didn't want the ebook that much anyway. Why are marketers doing things like this? I mean, he's got to come down to some kind of fundamental misunderstanding of what the customers want, how they buy, what they like and that kind of thing. For my final question, I get the impression that you're very data driven, and I would love to get your impression on the more creative side of marketing. Is there space for both? Chris Walker: You need both an understanding of the data and being able to analyze it and not only being able to analyze it but being able to make decisions based on what the data is telling you. So, a lot of people look at data directly, are not able to understand from their customer perspective why the data is like that. figuring out why it's like, that is the most important part. The creative is deeply important. We run ads and the difference between that campaign working or not as the picture you put in front of someone or the video or the words that you use. So, I have a very deep respect for how important creative is. But I believe that if we look at creative, you have to figure out whether we're talking about just the art or the art and the content, the substance of it, because I feel like the substance is right now more important than the actual production value. How I was able to grow a very large following on LinkedIn and, at the beginning, mainly using zoom calls or very low production quality lighting, was because the information that I had was very helpful. I post Zoom recordings on YouTube that get a good amount of views because it's 90 minutes of good information. I think that some people overthink or overvalue the production quality of the videos, which then prevent them from creating a lot of content. And there's this like weird spiral that happens that's a hidden effect, which is that if you don't produce content at a high volume, you lose the speed of getting better at it. I think one of the reasons why my content continues to progress and why the audience continues to grow is because I do it so much that I'm constantly getting feedback from what people are saying and what questions they're asking and what things are working. Like you've seen recently, I've been dropping audio posts on LinkedIn, which don't have me in the video. Obviously, the circumstances in a lot of cases prevent us from doing like a decent production quality video. And, so we've pivoted to audio posts with a sound wave and a picture of me and captions. Those are getting better engagement than the videos. And the videos cost a lot more to produce. I continue to try and figure out how to say this so that people will understand it, is that if you spend three months making one ebook, it usually prevents you from making a video every day. If you make a video every day in one quarter, you're a much better marketer than if you made one ebook in a quarter. You're a much better marketer. You understand your customers more. The process of actually creating the content has a huge intangible value, both in the quality of the content, the understanding of the audience, the understanding of the distribution, a better understanding of the metrics that matter. But nobody gets into the work enough to understand these things. And so, I would highly encourage people to create content in volume. Knowing that as you do it, the quality will get better. How the Fxck: I think this is interesting, but you know, in your company, I think you and your team are a lot of the value because it's a service-led company. What if it is a software company, how important would you say is the founder's role in creating this kind of content? Can you be creating tons of content about the topic in general topics about your ideal customer and that kind of thing? Chris Walker: Yeah, I have to believe that if my company was selling a SaaS tool instead of a service, we'd be a much bigger company right now. Honestly, the idea that it's whether this works for our product or service, the KPI is whether or not the people that you want to pay attention to you, are paying attention to you or not. I don't believe that it has to be the founder to do this. I think that I've done this as a brand manager for companies before and created the same content and seeing the same exact effect. It was not me. I was in the videos interviewing people, but it was under the corporate logo, and I was just the person that was producing it. So yes, I believe this is deeply important to all companies to try and figure out. Whether you do it under a personal brand, our corporate brand doesn't matter. I think that both can work. I think that most corporate companies, especially when they get to a larger size, have too many opinions and too many thoughts about what words to use and which colour works better. And all these different bullshit opinions that prevent them from actually trying something that might work. That's why you don't see very many big companies have a podcast, produced videos every day, produce anything but either high production testimonials or employee testimonials or animated videos that speak specifically to the value prop with that stupid little like voiceover that sounds the same every time. That's why companies don't do it and every company would benefit from attempting a strategy like this, but I've empathy for why most don't do it.

Dunwoody High School (DHS) will be a trailer park until at least 2022. This Summer a new 4 classroom quad with bathrooms will be placed next to the picnic tables. Over the next couple years, 2 more 4-classroom quads are expected to be placed next to the quad going in this Summer. If all E-SPLOST projects are on time and budget, the permanent classroom additions are expected to be completed in 2022. The School District will first have to get land disturbance permits from the City of Dunwoody before installing these new mobile quad classrooms. It is undetermined if the school district will seek waivers to the City of Dunwoody’s ordinances forbidding cutting down trees and/or having temporary structures. It is also unknown what will be done with the trailer park once the trailers are eventually removed. PROJECTIONS Last year the school district underestimated enrollment for this academic year. The school district estimated that the Fall 2018 enrollment at DHS would be 1,941 and Fall 2019 enrollment would be 1,977. The district estimated 2,093 students at DHS by 2022. ACTUALS Official enrollment at DHS is currently 1,982 students. A large class is expected to come up from Peachtree Charter Middle School (PCMS) causing enrollment to increase to a now estimated 2042. At the DHS council meeting yesterday, central office staff mentioned they expect enrollment to peak at DHS next year. When questioned about trailers at PCMS, Central Staff noted that they were increasing the number of trailers at the middle school next year. I don’t understand how enrollment will peak next year for DHS while at the same time they adding more trailers at the middle school. MOVING FORWARD It is reasonable to expect the number of students at DHS to continue to swell and squeezed like sardines into a school and campus originally designed for about 1500 students. The addition that is planned wont’ be completed until 2022 IF COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE. There are thousands of empty seats across the school district. The overcrowding at Dunwoody, Chamblee Charter, and Lakeside High Schools could be fixed tomorrow by redistricting. - Many projects are years behind. Both Smoke Rise E.S. and Pleasantdale E.S. were to be completed before now, but neither has broken ground yet. E-SPLOST IV was passed 7 years ago and those projects are still going on. They just finished up all of the eSPLOST III projects last year. Personally I hope the City of Dunwoody refuses to issue the necessary permits and forces the school system to reevaluate. Kim, Feel free to reach out to the city council. Note … Dunwoody City Council refers to the school district as a “Sovereign Government”. Let me know how the convo goes. Treating the school district as a sovereign government with little to no oversight and waivers to play by their own rules is precisely why we’re in this current mess. The leaders of our school system and government agencies must work together to protect the interests and needs of all stakeholders. The school system must seriously re-examine their enrollment projections and revise their SPLOST V project list to build a new high school (in addition to replacing CCHS) to relieve overcrowding in Regins 1 & 2. The current list was created AFTER the vote, meaning citizens didn’t actually approve the current projects – only the BOE did. Until new Schools can be built, the district needs to relocate the magnet programs in overcrowded schools to facilities with empty classrooms. They also need to thoughtfully redistrict to eliminate “learning cottages”. With the alleged focus on safety and security, the district must get rid of the trailers, not add more. Tom Lambert – Dunwoody Councilman, Terry Nall for Dunwoody, Lynn Prager Deutsch. Can we please refuse to issue the permits and bring the school system to the table? Kim Wilson, Please send your inquiry by email to our city email address so we can capture and respond on our open records system. I’m at: [email protected] That cannot and will not happen. Though it makes a good sound bite, the schools are not a sovereign state ( someone needs to explain that to our council). They need to have their buildings inspected but they are except from our Zoning codes in many ways Stan, You stated “Over the next couple years, 2 more 4-classroom quads are expected to be placed next to the quad going in this Summer.” Is there space for these units, other than parking lots or athletic fields? Where will they build the new addition, if there are at least 4 quad units on the campus? Talk about a nightmare construction scenario, especially since the construction span covers almost 2 entire school years. Shouldn’t Dunwoody stakeholders, including the City of Dunwoody, insist that there be a viable plan for all anticipated portable units before approving this “phase 1” project of adding one more quad? The new Dunwoody HS addition is only supposed to bring school capacity up to 2093 students, and that’s in 4 years. But if DHS is already at 1982 students, that means that they only need 111 more students to reach 2093 levels. DCSD’s projections for DHS enrollment last fall was off by over 100 students, so it’s hard to believe that enrollment will grow by only 111 more students in 4 school years. Something seems mighty wrong here. As a retiree from Gwinnett Schools, we opened as many as 4 schools a year, on schedule. They were ready for students the first day of school. Incompetence was not tolerated. As the superintendent said “this is not an adult employment agency.” I can only hope Dekalb can one day the exceptional district it once was. This is where attention and voting matters! stan, the dcsd building spaces website has projections through 2022 for all schools. they are from march 2016 so they are a bit dated. BUT IT DOES SHOW DUNWOODY HS 2022 enrollment at 2093, which is what they used for e-splost-v planning. but they certainly don’t show dunwoody hs or pcms enrollment peaking next year. it shows steady growth through 2022. it also shows that the dcsd forecast has been low for both dunwoody hs and pcms. Bob Lundsten yet, what Kim Wilson is suggesting is exactly what the City of Decatur does with Decatur City Schools, so there is absolutely more that our Council could do, if they so desired. They cannot stop them. The council has VERY little input on what the schools can do. Refusing permits is not one of them. Just take a look what Decatur Schools did with the expansion of the HS. That never would have passed the strict codes of Decatur if it was not a school. This is how the City of Atlanta and City of Decatur deal with the school district. Why can’t Dunwoody? City Building Permits For The School District May 30, 2017 – Many jurisdictions in Metro Atlanta seem to clearly know they are in charge of compliance with their local codes and vigorously perform that task. I’m not sure why others shirk that responsibility. Before the City of Decatur would approve the trailers, they wanted to know: • Whether the proposed use is suitable in view of the use and development of adjacent and nearby property. • Whether the proposed use adversely affects the existing use or usability of adjacent or nearby property. • Whether the proposed use results in a use which will or could cause an excessive or burdensome use of existing streets, transportation facilities, utilities or other public facilities. • Whether there is adequate ingress and egress to the subject property, including evaluation of the traffic impact of the proposed use relative to street capacity and safety of public streets and nearby pedestrian uses. • Whether there are other existing or changing conditions which, because of their impact on the public health, safety, morality and general welfare of the community, give supporting grounds for either approval or disapproval of the proposed use. I have opposed this plan from the start. I have stated, and still believe, that the school district must build another high school in the Perimeter Area. If you look at the attendance zones for Chamblee, Dunwoody, Lakeside, and Cross Keys, this is obvious. When school councils were debating whether to support or oppose various DSCD plan, I told the Dunwoody School Council that the information they were being fed from DSCD was incorrect. I told them that the promise of $23 million would be lowered. I told them that the promise of improvements for athletics, chorus, band, etc. would not materialize in the plans. I was ignored. I was correct. Now we see that the renovation/addition amount is $17 million….several million dollars less than originally promised. We see the plans don’t include improvements in chorus, music, band, athletics, etc. Now we see this addition will not happen on a timeline that was dangled in front of the Dunwoody school council. The schedule shows, at best, that the addition/renovation will happen in 2022. Keep in mind that DeKalb has never met it’s scheduled deadlines. SPLOST III projects were just recently finished. DHS is in SPLOST V. Several SPLOST IV buildings have only recently seen real progress (think Pleasantdale ES, Austin ES). The answer is to redistrict. DCSD have over 4000 open seats. If a few hundred are redistricted in total from Chamblee, Dunwoody, and Lakeside High Schools, the problem is solved tomorrow. For planning purposes, the school district knows that it needs to build a new high school in the Perimeter Area. Doraville and the rest of the Perimeter area need more high school capacity. Look at the distribution of high schools in DeKalb. It’s clear that there needs to be another high school west and north of I-85. This is a shoulda coulda woulda comment but they should have built a new Dunwoody high school on the PCMS property and moved the middle school to DHS. Lots of wasted land at PCMS that could have been an ideal location for a new big high school with athletic fields/facilities. There were 2 Dunwoody area high schools for a long time (Dunwoody High and Peachtree High). I agree that an additional school or redistributing of some sort for sure…and soon. Hello Mr. Jester, I hope that DCSS will look at where the growth is in the county and respond to it. If that means building schools in certain area, DCSS can show the need based on the population. I know that BOE members represent certain areas, but also aren’t they suppose to act in the best interest of all students? Are we just going to keep making certain schools bigger and bigger and bigger? This does not benefit the students or the community. Sick of this nonsense and Sylvia Richardson– all I can muster up is “bless your hearts” The citizens of DeKalb county keep putting these people into office, and for years the graft and thievery has been unaddressed. People are promoted based on who they know and never on what they know… I fear it will never change– just look at my nom de plume The comments that here all that needs to happen is redistricting fly in the face of the last 15 years in Dunwoody. Austin families nearly lost their minds with the suggestion that some Austin kids would go to Vanderlyn, clearly a completely inferior place for their children. Vanderlyn families threatened lawsuits about their kids going to the 4-5th academy, now K-5 DES, clearly again, a completely unacceptable alternative. Chesnut families were shifted over to Kingsley, and that was a hubbub. In 15 years+ of active involvement, I have not seen, not once, any volition within Dunwoody to advocate as a group, with the possible recent exception of GLASS. The suggestion that redistricting could fix this problem immediately ignores that the easiest solutions that would be proposed would touch Hightower, Chesnut, and Kingsley kids with very low – or no – impact on DES, Vanderlyn, and Austin. Then we’ll get to home values and who paid more to live where, and well… that’s right where the conversation gets ugly and eventually stops. When Dunwoody can learn to advocate for all Dunwoody kids and pool it’s power for the protection and improvement of all, that’s when we can talk about simple solutions like redistricting. I hear you. People are petrified of redistricting. Are you suggesting that the K-5 DES redistricting was a failure? It seems like you’re still a bit upset about that. Question – Why do you suppose that many on the Dunwoody School Council as well as others don’t want redistricting, but never admit it? I hear all kinds of lame reasons why not to go with the option that calls for redistricting. My guess is that everybody knows redistricting is a fact of life. Adding 600 seats to Dunwoody HS every 5 years is not a scalable solution. Eventually we have to build a new school and redistrict. The building additions plan is a disservice to academics and quality of life for everybody in the Dunwoody community. Has total redistricting been proposed in detail? Is there a map showing what the new clusters would look like? Redistricting on that scale has not been proposed. I wasn’t at the time, nor am I now, upset at all about DES – I’ll tone down the snarky comments. The 4-5th academy was a great idea and I think I recall that test scores were nice and high there during that brief period. I even recall some people being surprised at the performance because the original population there came from Vanderlyn (I think?), Chesnut, and Kingsley. Decatur has had a 4/5 since 2011 and it also performs very well, though also is periodically eyed for K-5 expansion, for the same reason that DES was converted – capacity needs. That was understandable, and pretty predictable given the lopsided overcrowding issues at that time. Why can’t people own their feelings against redistricting? Because it leads to the uncomfortable truth, IMO, that Dunwoody isn’t really that united when it comes to educating all Dunwoody kids. There is a clear line of demarcation for many people between DES, Vanderlyn and Austin, then Kingsley and Chesnut. And Hightower, of course, which isn’t Dunwoody City but is Dunwoody HS feeder. Lots and lots of people voted for the option that would’ve redrawn Georgetown out of DHS, across a highway – something they wouldn’t tolerate for their own kids because neighorhood schools, etc. – because it more safely preserved their own attendance zone and would’ve reduced their own overcrowding at DHS. I’ve occasionally wondered how a Dunwoody City School District would address the issue, as most assuredly, it wouldn’t disappear with the creation of a new structure and might even become more visible given such a smaller and closer-to-the-people organization, compared to DCSS. Stan– You can put a lot of concerns to rest in Dunwoody’s District 3 with one word: Would you support or oppose the redistricting of students residing inside the Dunwoody city limits to schools outside of the city? –ADD @Sick >> True words. Trailer villages and an ‘alleged focus on safety and security’ do not go together. Shame on the Dunwoody City Council for failing to protect students in their community from the horrible decisions made by the massive countywide school district (not to mention the hit on property values a trailer village high school will have). @Adrienne >> The real question is, would Stan (and You) support culling through students currently enrolled in over crowded schools and sending the ones who live in other districts but attend on a transfer back to their home school? I guarantee you will find hundreds. Should it be ok for transfer students to overcrowd schools in other communities? And if there are still enough students to overcrowd this school, you Stan (and You) be in favor of building a new high school in the Doraville community next door to relieve the burden on Dunwoody (and Lakeside)? Or are you (and Stan) just going to stand by and watch the school district continue to add on and add on and place trailers as band aids to schools in current locations that are completely landlocked and literally bursting at the seams? We have PLENTY of school buildings in DeKalb that are under-enrolled. We once wrote a blog post about the transfers out of south DeKalb schools, leaving them to close and causing blight. Our data was gathered by a citizens task force and was accessible online for a while. The school district does not share information like this anymore, so there is no way to update this 8 year old post, but I would bet a chicken dinner that it’s still the same deal. Transfer Count – The October 2017 Non Resident Attendees is the published student transfer count between schools. According to the matrix, DHS has a total of 54 transfers. Enrollment/Capacity – The 10/03/2017 Enrollment Report are the enrollment and capacity numbers this year for every school. Student Assignment – According to the student assignment policy, “Students may enroll in certain schools outside of their attendance area where space is available.” I would need an opinion for our legal staff, but it doesn’t look like over crowded schools should have transfers. a comment on April5 mentioned GLASS. Ha Ha Ha. GLASS was the voice of reason? BS. Where is GLASS now? Nowhere! GLASS was fake. They never intended to do anything. They set up GLASS to make it seem as they were doing something so that others would not set up their own group. GLASS was a fraud and I regret giving them money @Cere (Responding only for myself, not speaking for Stan) “The real question is, would Stan (and You) support culling through students currently enrolled in over crowded schools and sending the ones who live in other districts but attend on a transfer back to their home school?” Yes. “Should it be ok for transfer students to overcrowd schools in other communities? ” No. “And if there are still enough students to overcrowd this school, you Stan (and You) be in favor of building a new high school in the Doraville community next door to relieve the burden on Dunwoody (and Lakeside)?” Yes. ” Or are you (and Stan) just going to stand by and watch the school district continue to add on and add on and place trailers as band aids to schools in current locations that are completely landlocked and literally bursting at the seams? ” Not by choice. Pretty straightforward where i’m sitting. But the question that Dunwoody parents ask is: do Dunwoody kids attend schools inside Dunwoody city limits. That answer would either put a lot of minds at ease or raise more concerns. If a Few Hundred, There was NEVER a map to draw out Georgetown. Total lie. NEVER HAPPENED. We were presented with Option A, B, etc. There was NOT a map. Please stop your lies. And GLASS was mismanaged from day one. I regret giving them money. Where is GLASS today? What happened to the money? Did the group officially un-register? The 4-5 Academy was the best thing to happen here. I’ll agree with you on that. Now that Austin being rebuilt, let’s see how these new lines will be made. The ideal situation is to remove Hightower from DHS and make the DHS cluster only residents of Dunwoody. dcss escapee is exactly correct. History repeats and repeats and repeats itself in DCSD. They count on the passage of time, because with that, parents and ‘squeaky wheels’ come and go. New people ‘discover’ these acts of incompetence, waste and graft, and go to work opposing it … but get nowhere, because leadership knows that all they have to do is sit quietly and wait for time to pass and people to move on. Nearly EVERY SINGLE POST written on our DSW blogs (1 and 2) could be written or updated today. This is why we gave up, it was becoming a Groundhog Day cycle of reporting. Nothing will change unless and until this enormous, under-performing, goliath of a district is broken down into several smaller districts – including perhaps a few city districts – with focused, elected school board leadership that cannot get away with allowing corruption, waste and graft to continue at least not nearly at the current rate – as test scores lie dormant. As long as ‘some’ students get what they need, and their vocal parents are ‘happy’, the district leadership will continue on with the bad decision-making status quo – paid for by taxing homeowners at nearly the highest rate in the state. Adrienne, Will the DHA discuss the trailers at DHS? DHA seems like it has all its eggs on FoodTrucks and parade and PCID. How about some discussions on HOMEOWNER issues! ANd, I do appreciate your involvement w DHA. I know its a volunteer group. Pay my annual dues and try to watch on FB. Don’t believe me? Test scores were the WORST ever under the leadership of Ramona Tyson, yet here she still is, doing ???, collecting a mid-six-figure salary, poised for a million dollar + pension package … Hmmm. Perhaps she just ‘knows things’. ps. Glad to see your responses Adrienne. But the ‘not by choice’ response to allowing the band aid approach to expansion is of concern. It proves my point above – the district knows that they can just plow through with their ineffective plans because anyone who complains will be gone in a few years. Many I know personally back in the day, gave up and sent their kids to private schools. @ReDistrict If you watch last night’s video recap, you’ll see we spent the majority of the discussion on water/sewer capacity. Yes, that does focus on PCID because that’s where the highest density is and that’s where the latest proposals for development have been. But it’s an issue that affects everyone, including those whose only thought is a rooftop bar within walking distance from their home. 😉 Nancy made it a point of emphasizing that all of us HOMEOWNERs are paying more in water/sewer because of the problems generated from high-density housing. So in response to your concern – we did focus on “HOMEOWNER issues!” last night and every meeting. The DHS trailer issue was in the queue since the new trailers are going to tap the sewer line. We ran short on time. If you’d like a specific discussion or want to see a certain speaker address DHS questions (including trailers) the president sets the monthly agenda. Send a request to either [email protected] (the general contact address) or to me personally at [email protected]. Sorry for the hijack, Stan. I have a feeling if I get the message I requested you’ll be getting a phone call. 🙂 Thanks for those links Stan. The enrollment/capacity report is always interesting. It shows the huge variance in enrollment levels among schools – requiring several trailers at some, while hosting empty seats at others. What I am looking for is the number of students who LIVE in a district, but transfer out to another school in another district or a magnet/theme school. It’s literally thousands of students. One summer morning I had a meeting with a Dunwoody administrator. While I waited, there were at least 6 young people there waiting as well (no other parents). As I chatted with them, I found out they were ALL there for an ‘Administrative Transfer’. One girl told me this was her third high school in DeKalb. She said it was very easy to get a transfer. The enrollment by grade is always accessible at the GDOE. They even break it down by race and gender. Even though the documents I referenced have been removed from the online archives, my former blog partner and I do still have them on our own hard drives. I could always dig them up and send them to anyone who wants to see them. There’s also the issue of lying about residency. Would anyone in DeKalb be open to checking residency as they do in Fulton and Gwinnett? I have a relative who works in admissions in Fulton county – and she says they are vigilant about checking attendance zone residency. I grew up in Massachusetts and up there if you lived in a given town/ city you went to the high school for that town/city. It would be unheard of to attend school in a different town/city that where the student lived. So why do we have students coming into DHS who don’t live in Dunwoody? Kate, DeKalb County School District was established in 1873. Most of the cities in DeKalb were formed in the last 10 years. Obviously it is different for cities with their own school district. Adrienne, Please see if Sup Green will attend a meeting, or the regional super or daniel drakes. Thanks ReDistrict – I do not take agenda requests via social media or blogs. Please contact me via email or phone and use your real name. Thanks. I agree Stan. May I ask–In the plans above, it appears as if the gazebo is outlined in orange. Is the county proposing to demolish the gazebo for temporary trailers? Aha reported that it was built by a student and completed fairly recently. Has DeKalb County reached out to the student? Hello A. The fire marshal said the district can build right next to the gazebo if they spray it with some special clear fire retardant. I’ll reach out to the scouts and let them know. Stan – I saw that a new single-family/townhome development is being built in Doraville (Heights at Carver Hills), and is districted to Chesnut/PCMS/Dunwoody. Their website does not provide information concerning the number of units. Has DCSD studied the impact of this and other communities presently in development stages to our schools? Do they monitor the market? Would that information change their decision for the additions and instead build new facilities? I’m also concerned that no one seems to be talking about the crowding at PCMS. Yes, they have land for trailers, but that doesn’t mean it is any less impactful to the learning environment as a whole. Anyone who hasn’t done so should visit PCMS during a class change and see the mass of adolescent humanity trying to get through the hallways. Then, go to Chamblee Middle, a school that is not over-capacity and see the difference. As long as DCSD decides not to fill empty seats and redistrict all of DCSD, our area will be in need of both a new middle school and a new high school. Given that my kids have such a spread of ages (oldest graduated in 2013 and youngest will in 2026), I am like Cere above, and have realized that DCSD just does the same thing over and over again. I still care, but have realized it is a huge waste of my time to show up to meetings with DCSD administration just to be led astray, whether it is by intent or incompetence. Hello Michelle. The decision is part fiscal and part philosophical. Fiscal: It would be more expensive to build a new high school in Doraville. They would have to purchase land, build a new gym, new locker rooms, new football field, etc… With the building additions, they are just adding classrooms, parking spaces and cafeteria tables. Philosophical: Many board members and administrators don’t want “Cross Keys 2.0”. They would like to divide up and bus the children from Doraville and the Buford Hwy to the more affluent high schools to balance out racial and economic diversity. DeKalb Schools has a planning department. They are supposed to be accounting for all kinds of variables. At this recent DHS council meeting, Dan Drake, Director of Planning and SPLOST Programming for the DeKalb County School District, mentioned that PCMS has a big population wave that is expected to crest with the current 8th grade class. Drake then went on to say that PCMS will be getting more trailers in the near future. I didn’t quite understand that dynamic. Michelle, I don’t know what student yield rates DCSD uses for new housing developments, but I was very surprised by the low predictions for a planned 41 townhome development in Chamblee, less than 1/2 mile from Chamblee Charter High School. The documents presented to the City of Chamblee government predict that this new 41 townhome development will yield just 3 new students in the Chamblee Cluster: 1 at Huntley Hills Elementary School 1 at Chamblee Middle School 1 at Chamblee Charter High School That seems mighty low to me, but of course these numbers came from Professionals. My point in mentioning this is that if these yield rates are correct and typical of Region 1, then the school enrollment impact of the tremendous number of new homes and apartments in Region 1 may be less than an average person like me would guess. Unless the Professionals are wrong…… For those lamenting the fact that several projects (Austin, Pleasantdale & Smoke Rise) are just now really gaining traction, one of the main reasons has been trying to find property on which to build. The District had to negotiate with the City for Austin, DeKalb County for Pleasantdale, and finally decided to deal directly with Sears because it the City of Tucker kept delaying a decision on rezoning for the huge project at the old Sears property. The negotiations with the county took at least a couple of years because the county kept changing its mind on how much land they were willing to sell.Property for the new Smoke Rise became necessary due to the lack of sewer to the current site. Austin was going to be rebuilt on its current site, but the location of the pipeline and power lines made that problematic – and expensive to rectify in order to meet the demands of the Dept. of Ed (GA) to approve the site. So its not always the District’s fault. Insider, You make a good point EXCEPT that I would hope the District would be savvy enough to anticipate the complexity of these issues and develop realistic schedules. Instead, the District tends to over-promise and make people happy at the beginning, until they realize that the projects will be dragged out for years. The only reason that Chamblee Charter High School was built so quickly is that it used QSCB bonds that had to be spent within 3 years. Bless whoever thought up QSCB bonds!

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As we are talking about cases, I would like to remind you that we have already covered many extensive roundups of cases for Samsung’s S20 Series smartphones. Free US shipping and hassle-free returns. $39.99 Galaxy Z Flip Case | Folio Signature Cream Beige. $21.49. Reset - 5 products shown. Showing 13 Item(s) Filter By . Samsung. RINGKE Folio Signature Leather Case For Galazy Z Flip - Black. This case also has a metal plate on the rear for use with magnetic car mounts. Gripping anti-slip pads anchor the case to the device to easily flip open the phone. None of them! Hard Cases. This faux-leather cover is more akin to a clutch bag than a billfold but it is still appropriately-sized to bring along with you wherever you go. Ultra-Mince Coque pour Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Phone Case Écran Pliant, PC + 9H Verre Trempé Housse Tout Inclus Anti-Fall Édition limitée Protection Cover pour Samsung Galaxy Z Flip--édition limitée: Amazon.fr: High-tech Luxmo Case for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. And with the open cutouts, it ensures hassle-free access to all the ports and buttons of your device. You simply have to be more careful with your phone if you want it to last until the next generation of foldable phones is available. The red color looks sharp but I wish there were more color options available. My Account; Also for the Galaxy Z Flip. Moreover, it’s also got space wherein you can comfortably stash a couple of cards. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip cases with ring . iPhone XS. 3,69 EUR. Olixar Anti-Hack Webcam Cover for Phones, Laptops and Tablets - 3 Pack . Free postage. $21.49. It may be a little bulky but this is necessary to provide edge-to-edge protection from the Z Flip’s many vulnerable corners. The Spigen Galaxy Z flip case comes in two different tones: black and Gunmetal. Due in 1 - 2 weeks. Yet another Z Flip belt clip case that has managed to catch my attention. Question. Choose the best, stylish durable and highly protective case with ring for your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip… You’re frothing at the mouth to get your hands on those skins, which is why we offer lightning fast shipping options. So, you can expect your smartphone to retain the elegant feel even with this case on. Official Cases. - Olixar Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Clear Protection Case - 100% Clear Browse all of Skinit's Galaxy Z Flip phone skins below and pick your favorite design! Case. You have entered an incorrect email address! Taille: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. The Spigen Thin Fit isn’t the most protective case on this list but is ideal for those … This flaw aside, the Spigen Thin Fit is still a decent Z Flip case option. 1. The Case-Mate Tough touts 10-foot drop protection thanks to its air-cushioned bumper frame. (Pocket-lint) - Samsung has announced a new version of its folding phone - the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.The new model is simply called the Galaxy Z Flip … 4.2 out of 5 stars 315. Add to that the neat cutouts along with improved gripping and the Flex looks spot-on for your Flip. It is not too bulky to handle wireless PowerShare, though. It can even be flipped half-open for use as a mini laptop. 99. If you like the simple design of the stock Galaxy Z Flip clear case but want a little more drop protection, then the Araree Aero Z Flip case is a great choice. The outer pocket is sized to store your Galaxy Fold but it requires you to store it unfolded, leaving the screen more vulnerable to drops than it would be out of the case. From our state-of-the-art customization tool, to the smooth-as-silk checkout process, buying our Galaxy Z Flip wraps is simple. Hi guys! Spigen Thin Fit. But keep in mind, the QNMP metal plate may interfere with the wireless charging. 3,8 sur 5 étoiles 32 évaluations. At $80, it does seem quite expensive but considering the premium look and feel, you can’t go wrong with it. That said, it provides some extra grip and supports wireless charging so there is certainly no harm in settling for this option. New Clear crystal flip Phone Case Shell Cover Skin for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. What sort of cases do you prefer for your smartphone: a clear case with an impact-resistant bumper, a premium leather suit with a sleek profile or an impressive-looking cover designed to offer the best of both worlds (protection and style)? Other iPhone Series . £4.84. Latercase is easy to put on, easy to take off, and coated with a durable matte finish that's addictive to touch. 7,11 EUR. Our store offers accessories for your mobile phones and gadgets: Cases/Covers, Clips/Holsters, Armbands, Wallets/Pouches, Cables/Chargers, Portable Chargers, Wireless Chargers, Screen Protection, Mounts/Holders, Audio and Much More! Folding touchscreens are a fairly new addition to smartphones and as of right now, there are only a handful of phones sporting this tech. WWW Galaxy Z Flip Case. 1. Case. To kickstart this roundup on the right note, I would like to first go with Samsung’s official leather cover for Z Flip.… The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is one of the most innovative an What’s more, the company also offers a ton of customization so that your vanity purchase remains enviable. (Whatever adhesive was originally there is no longer working) Just opening the … Official Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Genuine Leather Cover Case - Silver (3) £99.99. Protect your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphone with a skin from Skinit. The OtterBox Symmetry Series Flex case strikes a fine balance between protection and portability, allowing you to keep your Galaxy Z Flip safe without stretching your pockets at the seams. Prix : 14,79 € Tous les prix incluent la TVA. $15.99. Those who were hoping for an official wallet case for the Z Flip will be forced to wait for a bit longer, but in the meantime, the Bemz MyJacket Posh Series case gets the job done. Browse skins for Galaxy Z Flip vinyl decal phone skins online. Sort by: Galaxy Z Flip Case | Slim. Ringke Slim Matte Clear Case. Shop Explore Field Log Ambassadors Support Warranty Information. So, you can trust the combo of faux leather and inner fabric to not only safeguard your Z Flip against impact but also scuffs. 11,81 EUR. Okay, so the Olixar Leather Universal Pouch Wallet isn’t actually designed for the Galaxy Z Flip, but we aren’t sure how many different wallet case options are going to be available for this case due to its unique design. iPhone 12 Mini. This case has been designed specifically for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, allowing the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip to remain in function with all of it's features, including wireless charging. Oh - and it's just 0.6mm thin. Apple. So, don’t expect me to overlook all the cool skins, wraps, and covers that dbrand has introduced for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.'. Bumper Cases. Araree Nukin Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Case - Crystal Clear . $21.49. Unfortunately, it can interrupt wireless charging depending on the strength of your charger. This may be a fairly simple case but you don’t want to add too much bulk to the Z Flip as it is already a pretty bulky phone. Unfortunately, the Z Flip fits best into this case unfolded, which kind of defeats the whole purpose. Due tomorrow 2 Item(s) 2 Item(s) Suggest a product? Accessories for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Spigen Thin Fit Designed for Galaxy Z Flip Case (2020) - Black 4.7 out of 5 stars 503. Skinit's got you covered with thousands of premium 3M vinyl decal skins cut and crafted to flawlessly fit your Galaxy Z Flip smartphone. Galaxy Z Flip OEM Leather Case Adhesive. Purchase a high-quality case and a screen protector, right? For Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G Case Luxury Leather Pattern Shockproof Back Cover. Cover your phone with soft calf leather for a luxurious feeling, with a thin profile for … Log In. Leaving out the fact that this protective case only comes in black, it is also an … Metal plate may disrupt wireless charging. So, let’s flip over right away! Pros: Holds 4 cards plus cash. As you may have already guessed, I’m a big fan of the signature skin that feels so comfy to the touch thanks to the soft-textured finish. So, whether you are a frequent traveler or a normal joe who prefers the comfort of a belt clip cover, this offering from DWLux can be worth checking out. That’s why a third-party Galaxy Z Flip case is a sound investment. 4.7 out of 5 stars 530. Olixar Waterproof Pouch For Smartphones Up To 6.8" - Black (15) $22.49 $16.99 Save 24%. Made from one-piece durable non-toxic BPA-free plastic, the case boasts 10 feet drop protection without compromising on the style quotient. iPhone 11 . The clear plastic is a nice touch because it shows off the naked beauty of your phone without leaving it susceptible to scuffs. 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Notes: starts after the outtake story that's available on the auto archive. Refuges for Refugees. Wade watched Xander research forging materials. He looked over his shoulder. "That's for glass work, kid." "I know," he said absently. "I'm going to try some cast glass stuff for beads and things." "You don't just suddenly start that stuff, Xander. That's like making jewelry; you learn and then do it." "Oh." He considered it. "How do you learn?" "Take a class?" He looked it up on the other computer Xander had out to run a separate search on. "There's a glass blowing class in one of the local college's art departments." Xander beamed. "We can talk to them. Now, about the jewelry stuff? What do you really need?" "He uses a full forge beside his pool." Wade nodded. "We don't have a pool. Are you going to clear some of the trees out for that? Put it at the farm?" "I was thinking about renting somewhere? Maybe?" he offered sheepishly. "You wouldn't get there every day." Xander considered it. "I can get there two or three times a week." "You probably could," he agreed. "Or you could denude some of the trees in the back that need it and put up a small workshop area. Or add onto your woodworking shop." Xander nodded, considering that. "I looked on youtube for vids and they showed basically a really hot burner and a crucible cup with a holder to lift it so you could pour for casting." "He does real forge work, like for horseshoes. I learned a lot of that." Wade looked something up, nodding. "They have a metal working for jewelry class as well." Xander beamed. "Are you thinking like hammered things or wire jewelry? It'll depend on what sort of flame you're using." "We can use the energy metal." "Then it'd never go out," Wade pointed out. "Good point. He does use a few chunks in with his coals. He learned the traditional way." Wade nodded at that. "I'm not bad at it. He even makes his own pretty hairpins." "Wonderful. You could use some more." Xander nodded. "Let's talk to the art department people this week and then we'll see when the classes start." Xander beamed and nodded, walking off calling the number Wade had found to talk to someone. Wade slumped. This was going to be insane. But if they ever needed to burn a body, at least he'd have a nice place to do it in probably. Especially if Xander did glass work. It still sucked that sometimes he was the voice of reason. He never got to do the fun stuff anymore. *** Xander came back with his contractor from his construction company, outlining plans on what he needed added onto the garage. He nodded, pointing out that they could do that. They had a good three thousand feet to the side of the garage and another half acre to the back. They'd have to remove trees but they weren't in that great of shape back there. No one had thinned them recently. He had to call someone to talk about what the forge and glass melting hole would need. He and Xander agreed on some things, including fireproofing the whole building and making sure the floors were pure concrete and that they had a fire system in case of something getting out of hand. Xander insisted on foam and water, which he appreciated. It wasn't that hard to install. He gave him an estimate and said he'd have to check with someone to give him a final estimate, that was just a guestimate. Xander agreed that was fine, fed him a few brownies, and let him get back to his present site. Xander bounded off to talk to Jensen about stuff, showing him what he had been working on. Jensen had decent taste and he could tell him what to give Anya for her birthday. He decided on a wire jewelry bracelet. It looked fashionable and had pretty stones that could go with nearly anything in her closet. They got boxes to put the stuff he had done into so they wouldn't get ruined. Xander showed him the other stuff they needed and what he had on hand. Jensen could find anything online so he could find him a forge and supply place. Which wasn't that hard when Jensen did it or Sam did it, but Xander doing it meant he'd never find anything. When he heard Jolene complaining at the baby, he got up to pull her in so she could look at what he had already gotten done. "They're real delicate," she said with a smile. Xander nodded. "They are. I did some hammered stuff but they're kinda plain." He showed her those too. "Aww, they're pretty, Xander." He showed her Anya's present. "That's beautiful work." Xander beamed. "I'm going to be doing it from a home workshop in a few months, when it gets built." "You let me know when so I can tell Pooch to come beg you for something for our anniversary." She winked and got up to tell her husband. They had been adorable but delicate. She needed something with more strength. Jensen grinned. "Soon you can be as good as a real jewelry shop." Xander beamed and nodded. "Take Anya her present? Isn't her birthday next week?" "Yup." He got up and headed out. He found them at home, because Wade tended to stay home most of the time these days. Apparently he was bored again. He knocked and Wade answered the door, giving him an odd look. "I picked out her birthday present." "Sure," he said, letting him inside. "Anya, early birthday present." She squealed and came out to open it. Wade nodded. "That's pretty work, Xander." Xander beamed. "Thank you. I softened the metal for each setting and then wrapped it around the stone." She gave him a look. "During the Xander convention I learned how to make jewelry. That's one of my first pieces." "It's very pretty, Xander. And it'll go with everything." He beamed and nodded. "Thank you." She kissed him on the cheek. "Are you taking Wade? He's bored again." "Nope, not right now. Jensen found the place online to get the forge and metal supplies," he told Wade with a manic grin. "We have a guestimate for adding the workshop behind the garage and I do need to weed out the sick trees from back there." Wade nodded. "So I'll get someone to do that today. Or this week." "I've got the number of the guys you use and I'll call them." Xander beamed and nodded. "You need to sort all the other ones for the things you want to work with and what you want to get rid of. Horatio was nagging about that again." "Good point. Thanks, Wade. Want to go to the bank with me?" "How many do you have?" he complained. It couldn't be as bad as the warehouse, right? "Six safety deposit boxes with free stones and the foot locker in the living room? Oh, and the regular vault box." Wade moaned, shaking his head. "We should probably tell the regular jewelry store too. That way they get first pick. I haven't visited recently." He scratched his wrist. "Should I take samples over?" "You can to show them what you're working on, that way they know if you need something specific." Xander beamed and nodded. "We can go do that tomorrow." "Okay." He kissed Anya on the tip of the nose. "Wear it somewhere pretty, Anya." He got up and bounced out. Wade waited until he was sure the kid was gone. "His poor horse is going to be worn out for days." He sat down. "That's very delicate work. I've seen things like that on that fashion show you watch." "It's very pretty, delicate work," she agreed. "Semi-precious stones." "If he had given you diamonds I would've complained, Anya. You only give your lover diamonds, not everyone." "Poo." She put it on her wrist, nodding. "It does go very nice with my wardrobe and it's very smooth, no burrs. He did a decent job with it." Wade nodded with a smirk. "Am I getting diamonds from you?" "I'm not the marrying sort," he said dryly. "I knew that," she sighed. "No. I'm getting you a shopping trip." She beamed and kissed him, bouncing off to store her new present. Wade went limp and considered it. He texted Steve Ellison, Xander's financial whiz and manager. He got back a sigh and an 'I know'. So he told him he was making jewelry with some of it. Steve sent back he was doing the happy dance for Xander finding a new hobby. Maybe it'd take some of his bored hours and let the puppies sleep instead of play all the time. Wade snickered and said they were pulling out the stone boxes to look through. Steve told him to wear sunglasses for some reason. So it was probably a lot. *** Wade walked a heavy box into the team's building, thumping it down outside Clay's door. Clay opened it to stare at him then at the box, looking very confused. "From his last suitor. It expanded the jewelry empire by over fifty percent." "That's a four foot high box, Wade." Wade pulled out the inventory the bank kept to show him. "I know. The bank people nearly cried when it got delivered, even though Xander said he hadn't ordered it." He pointed. "Get one of the spooks to sell it. The demon wouldn't take it back and showered him with sapphires in the bank itself. Not in the office, or in the secured sectioned, but in the main lobby of the bank." Clay just nodded. "Isn't that your job?" "They won't listen to me. They think Xander's mean again for some reason." He walked off. "Or let Jolene play with it but they'll definitely think she's part of the harem. Hell, teach Junior and Jensen colors for all I give a damn." He walked out of the building so he could drive himself to the bar. He walked in and handed the bartender his keys. "Tequila. Vodka. Beer chasers." He put down three hundred bucks, letting the pretty young waitress bring it back to his table. Clay looked at the box, opening the catch to look inside. "Damn," he said in awe. Jensen came down from upstairs to look over his shoulder. "Is that what the newest demon suitor sent?" "Yup." "Huh. Xander complained about it a lot already. He vowed to go destroy him if he didn't take them back." He smirked when Clay stared at him. "The guy pouted at him and offered him a concubine too. Apparently the demon's half quarth, which is their demon version of a GHS sort of sex demon. He also said he was going to get the other clans of quarth to help his suit. No matter what Xander wanted since his relationship wasn't that happy." Clay nodded. "Call Peter, see if he has any contacts. If not, call Jimmy Hellar." Jensen nodded, going to do that. "Pooch, come grab this to guard so your wife can play." Pooch opened his door, looking down the hall at him. He pointed. "New demon suitor to Xander." "Is it snakes? She'll scream and I've got a headache." "Not by a long shot. Wade's getting drunk." Pooch came out to look in the box. "Damn." Jolene walked out to look and moaned. "New demon suitor, baby." "They need to find reality," she complained. Clay smirked. "Wade suggested you use them to tease your boy and teach the other one colors." She snorted. "He'd swallow something." She walked off shaking her head. Pooch looked then at Clay. "Sorry, the wife speaks," he said with a smirk, going back to playing with the baby. Clay sighed but carried the box into his apartment to put under the table he never used. He looked up at cackling coming from Jensen's apartment and moaning from Cougar's. Then a higher pitched moan. "Clearly someone's got fun ordered in." Clay sat down to clean his guns. He'd probably have to shoot someone soon. Jensen leaned in a few minutes later. "Peter said he's a tenth-quarth and they're all pushing for Xander to find a good owner. Even if Xander doesn't like it. I pointed out Xander wasn't a quarth, GHS didn't get owned, and Xander was in a relationship. He said he can't go past that and if we tried he'd have to act against us." Clay rolled his eyes, stroking a barrel with a cleaning cloth. "Jimmy Hellar, interestingly enough, has been following Xander around whenever he's bored to see who else shows up in Miami. He warned me that our former boss is in town." Clay stopped his cleaning to stare at him. "Both of them," Jensen added. "The general and the higher up we worked with in the CIA the most often. Fi wanted to come play with them. Jimmy told her he'd offer her up to the one who gave them to Xander if she wanted when she interrupted to say that into his ear." He smirked. "Oh, and by the way, General Highpants McChemical Man is in town too." He closed the door and went back to his apartment to clean his own guns. Clay dialed everyone's phone for a conference call. "General Borkin's in town along with our old handlers." He hung up and finished cleaning the guns. He was definitely going to get to shoot someone soon. Even if Horatio didn't like it. He called Xander's engineering/magic/chemist team to warn them too. It was highly likely they're why that sort of top-heavy group was in town. No answer and the chemist always answered his phone. He had two kids. He called his home and got an out-of-service message. So he called Horatio and geared up to go save the geeks. Before they got Xander or someone destroyed. Or worse, Miami. Because nowhere else gave them the sort of easy yet frustrating job with bikinis. *** Roque hung up and stared at his phone then at the boy. "Xander, there's a top-heavy general's convention in town. I'm to stick with you just in case they try for you." "Fuck 'em. They come for me and I'm going to kill." "They'd probably have guns," Roque said, noticing he was cleaning his sword. Xander got up to get into the gun cabinet, pulling out a good few of them. "Sure, we can do that too." He sat down to finish cleaning his sword from practice to calm himself down. Roque loaded himself down. He didn't want to piss Xander off. Xander would make a mess out of him by hormoning him and then cutting off anything that stuck up with his sword. Buffy would miss his dick so he'd be calm and helpful for now. Roque answered the house phone. "If that's Horatio telling me not to react, bite me," Xander called. "I'm in a bad mood and if the spooks stick up for that suitor I'm going to have to kill all them too." "Sure," Roque said, repeating that. He heard why. "No, not the reason, Xander. Your chemist and his people are missing?" Xander looked at him. "Have him call the farm? They fall back to that hidden house." He put his sword in the scabbard on his back and got to work checking his guns. "He's in scary bastard mode, Horatio. He said to check the farm. Thanks, man." He hung up. "He has. He thinks they changed to your old backup spot or the one that's in another name?" Xander pulled out the ID to hold up. "Oh, that one. Okay." He found that address from Anya and told Horatio so he could check it. *** Clay pulled up in front of the hidden backup spot, honking. Someone looked out and he rolled down the window. "Not you, ma'am," he said. "Your neighbors." She closed the door. Someone peeked out and he nodded. They rushed out and got into the car. He drove off. "Anyone need anything?" he asked, putting up the window. "My girls are in school," the chemist said. "Horatio has them and your wife, Bill." The guy relaxed and smiled. "What happened?" "Someone set off our smoke detectors with a gas grenade," the engineer complained. "I got us moved." "Good job." He took them to Horatio and he handed over the wife and kids. Clay took them to a hiding spot Xander had set up with Wade. It was secure and damned if anyone knew it was anything but Wade's mistress' house. Though he wasn't sure Wade had a mistress. Usually he was too worn out thanks to Anya. They got them settled in and set up a perimeter watch and guard with the team. *** Xander hung up with one of the other GHS in town and threw his phone. "Hey!" Roque shouted. "You nearly hit the dragon." Xander petted him. "C'mon, Roque. We're going to rescue their hostage." Roque gave him an odd look. Xander stared back. "I can do it on my own." "No you can't." He followed him out to the new sports car and Xander drove really fast. And kinda worse than Jensen did. "What did they do?" "They kidnaped two GHS to draw the team into the open." "Okay, that's not an unusual tactic." "One's still sick. The other's pregnant." "That's sucky." "That's deadly for them." Xander switched gears as he went around a corner then sped back up. "This shit does not happen in my city. I don't give a damn who I have to destroy but it will not happen again and you do not fuck with my people." He knew Roque was giving him funny looks but yay! Xander was very overprotective of his people and friends. His chemist and engineer were friends. They found where the generals were hiding and parked, getting out to blatantly walk in there. Xander let his hormones rip when they got closer, making all the people guarding the doors and exits swoon and a few start to masturbate. Xander walked over one, shooting him in the dick. "You don't touch my friends." He walked inside and let it rip again. The generals gave him horrified looks. "You're touching my fucking people," Xander said bluntly. "Stop it." "But..." one started. Xander shot him in the knee. He got the others in there too. He paused at one. "Tell me you're desperate," he ordered. "Double agent," he said with a grin. "I'm the reason you're here instead of uptown. It's a small way to prevent too much bloodshed today. They're in the back room, Xander." "Thanks." He walked that way. "Roque, feel free to have happy moments with your knives. I don't give a fuck what Horatio wants. I want them out of Miami and if they go back in Cuban cigar boxes, so be it." He kicked in the door since there was a padlock. "You two good?" he asked as he walked in. They both gave him scared looks. "They were trying to get the retrieval team to out their position so they could confiscate the chemist I give grants to so he's not going to the highest bidder." They groaned. "So they're sorry. Very, very sorry. You don't touch my friends." He got their handcuffs undone and walked them out. "Michael, please get them home?" "Gladly, Xander. Do you two need the ER?" They shook their heads. "You sure? I know a good private doc who'll look you both over. He owes Xander poker money too," he offered with a grin. The pregnant one shook her head. "I'm okay. They just tried to scare us and said we'd be presents." She rubbed her stomach. "Including her." "I'd have killed them," Michael assured her. He walked them out to his sedan, taking them to Horatio for statements and to see if he could calm down Xander. Because he hadn't seen Xander as a scary bitch before. Now.... He knew agents he considered less scary than Xander. No wonder he had Wade. Roque finished cuffing people and looked at the boy. "Let's let Horatio clean it up." Xander flipped one over by kicking his shoulder. "So, how'd you like getting a GHS?" he asked dryly. The general whined. "Do you really think I'd let you touch someone I protect? Really? I mean, I can open the damn hellmouth if you're going to be that bad for people because you're bored." He stared at him. "Hell, I can create another one. There's a few nice spots in Virginia or New York upstate." He smirked. "Are you still bored or wanting my friends?" "No," he moaned. Xander smirked. "Good!" He walked off calling someone. "It's Xander. I just ....dealt with some people who took a few other society members hostage to get back at the retrieval team. Want 'em until Horatio tracks 'em down? Hormoned badly," he said dryly, staring at one. "You wave that puny fucking stick at me again and I'll make my ferret show you what a real one looks like." He whimpered and went limp in all meanings of the word. "Thanks, Pieter." He read off the address. "Thank you. No, Roque's worried I'm possessed." He hung up and looked at the building. "We can't burn it." "No, you can't burn it," Roque said, walking him back to the sports car. He even got in to drive. "Let's get ice cream?" Xander looked at him. "Do I look like a blonde, selfish bitch?" he asked dryly. "No but I figured it worked on your other bad moods," he offered. Xander snorted. "Let me go check on my people." He nodded, taking him where the team was waiting. Xander got out and walked inside from the garage. "People, the generals are fucking sorry. Pieter has them." Clay gave him a horrified look. He smirked. "You don't touch my friends and family. I tend to get mad. I also told them if they're that bored I'll open a damn hellmouth in Virginia." Jensen moaned, shaking his head. He hugged one of the kids. "Are you guys all right?" he asked calmly. She nodded, taking him back to talk to the adults and calm them down. Clay looked at Roque, who shrugged. "He hormoned them outside and then inside the building. He wounded them. He rescued the two GHS and handed them to Michael. He's really pissed off." Jensen went to calm Xander down. "He offered to let me turn them into bits and pieces but that's a shitload of work." Clay nodded. "Yeah, probably." He looked toward the bedroom then at Roque. "He still working out his earlier bad mood?" "Yup," he said, nodding quickly. "I nearly prayed." Clay shuddered. The last time Roque had said that, they had been under torture. "He's acting like Miami's his city." Clay nodded. "In some ways, yeah." He shuddered again. "All right. Let's call Horatio...." "Michael took them to him by the route he took driving off." "Even better." He stared at the back rooms then at Roque again. "Ice cream?" "He said he's not Buffy." "No, clearly not," Pooch said dryly. "Where's Wade?" "Drunk." "Damn." Pooch sighed. "Go watch Jolene and the baby? She's due soon." Roque nodded, leaving Xander with them. He went to check on Xander, finding him talking to them about what the generals would've wanted. "They could've just wanted them to work on a project that got taken from someone else." Xander nodded at that. "Roque went to watch Jolene and Junior." "Sure," he agreed. "Did he take my car?" "No." "Thanks." He smiled at the kids. "You guys relax. It's probably over with but I'll be making damn sure because you don't touch my friends." He tweaked the boy's ear then smiled at the mother. Then he got up and walked out. "Xander, with a guard," Clay ordered. "I'm fine. Not backed up at all." He walked out and to the car, taking it to go talk to someone. He found the local NCIS guy Gibbs sometimes worked with and walked into his office on the base, staring at him. "I just shot a few people, including a few generals, who took some GHS hostage to get my chemist out of hiding." "Okay," he said, taking out a form. "Which generals?" "No damn clue, don't really care," Xander admitted. "I'll call Caine." "Someone's got them until Horatio asks him for them." He smirked. "Because he was going to *gift* them. Including the pregnant one's new daughter." That got a growl. "By the way, they're all injured and hormoned. Because I've reached my I'll be damned line again." "I get that," he promised. "I'll let the higher ups know that some of their top people are screwing up, Mr. Harris. You don't take innocents hostage like that." Xander grinned. "Why don't you go calm down and I'll get with the Lieutenant. Then we'll make sure they leave Miami in disgrace." "I told Roque he could make them fit into cigar boxes but he apparently decided it was too much work." That got a nod and Xander left. The Major called Horatio. "Lieutenant, I just had Xander Harris in my office confessing that he rescued some people the hard way. Apparently they were going to *gift* their GHS hostages. Including one's daughter she's carrying. No, he's still pissed off. Static electricity in his hair and all pissed off. He said they're injured, you'd have to ask for them, and that they all got hormoned but Roque turned down the opportunity to make them fit into cigar boxes." He listened. "Exactly. No, I don't see a problem with it. Who might it have been so I can call a higher up to tell their bosses they're idiots?" He made notes on what Horatio knew. "I'll tell the director that. Thank you, Lieutenant." He hung up and called the DC office. "This is the Agent out of the Southern Florida office. I need to speak to the director please. There's a situation with a few generals. One ours, one Army, one Marine." He got transferred up to his assistant. He told her why and she transferred it to his cellphone since he was heading to a meeting. He gave him all the facts and told him what they might know. Clearly someone needed a belt up there to beat the stupid ideas out of their heads. He agreed if they could be found he'd take them into custody for the locals and tell him exactly who it was and why. He also agreed that the director could tell the people on the Joint Chiefs so they could fire them. *** Horatio met the man coming off the plane with a nod. "Gibbs." "I can't believe they took aim at the NCIS guy down here." "He's slightly injured and swearing. We've since locked Xander in the alternate house so he can't go destroy more people." "Good idea. Though, not a bad rescue from what I'm told." Horatio handed him the folder as they walked off. "Who went with him?" "Roque followed but didn't get any time to help." Gibbs gave him a funny look. "Xander was highly upset." "Where was his assistant?" "Drunk thanks to the newest suitor," he said dryly. "He's still complaining that he could've helped, even if he was dead drunk." "I've seen commandos do it. The team?" "Good. The ones they were protecting are safely in another area for a bit being protected." He smirked. "They're nicely in another house of his." "Foreign?" Horatio nodded. "Fine," Gibbs decided. "Not like he'd pick unsafe areas so it's a good hiding vacation for them I suppose." They got outside to the hummer and he climbed in. "There's days I almost miss driving one of these." Horatio smirked. "Everyone pouts that I get to take mine home." He drove them back to the office so they could go over the statement the local NCIS person had given before being admitted for surgery to replace the missing knee he now had. Don walked in a note, holding it up. Horatio nodded. "That's not a bad idea. Are the dogs and ferrets there as well?" "Yup. They'll be back when it's safer and he doesn't have to see the dirty looks from the others in the poker circuit. Or when he's not pissed off at us for locking him in the alternate house instead of helping him calm down. We're to exercise his horses for him." He walked off shaking his head. "Gibbs, we have a spare room." "Thanks, Flack." He looked at him. "Denver?" he asked quietly. "The next life plan." He nodded. "I pity their team." "The ATF team out there has been most helpful once they got briefed." He smirked. "Of course, I'll send out notice of what happened so they don't hear it from rumors." Gibbs snickered and let him send that whole case file to Larabee out there. Then they got to work arresting those that needed it from the hospital. The people who had them knew they'd only have them for a while so they had talked about what benefit they could have. It had taken a whole day for Horatio to find out who had them. They weren't in pretty shape by any means. Including the former spooks and agents that they had hired. Xander had been especially hard on them. *** Chris Larabee, out of the Denver ATF office, looking at the fax machine spitting out pages. "What now?" he complained. He gathered them to look at. "Ezra?" he bellowed. He came in and took the file. "Go ask him how accurate that is." He sighed, handing over the transcripts of the statement he had taken. "He's still very upset about his newest suitor and all that going on. Including that the former agents are trying to encourage his suit." He walked off. "He's making a new horseshoe set by hand." "He's got a forge?" Chris asked, looking confused. "Yes, he's recently learned how to make jewelry that way." He smirked. "He'll calm down eventually." "I hope." He took the file and the transcripts out to talk to the boy. Who had Wade but no one else. Even Sandburg was at home for the moment. Of course, he found out they had new dogs when they came out to growl at him. "Down, dogs," he ordered. The growling got worse. "Harris!" he bellowed. Wade came to the doorway. "Kids." They ran inside. "Thank you." He looked in there then at him. "He's still in a rage, Larabee. Give it another few hours of pounding things." Chris shook his head. Wade took the file to read over, smirking at it. "He did good." "Maybe." Xander sighed but came out petting the dogs. "What?" Chris glared. Xander glared back. "They were endangering my friends. I don't allow that." He went back to the forge after petting all three dogs. They ran out to play in the garden area and the pool. It was empty but they could play with the ball Wade had tossed down there. It was a great game of doggy soccer or something. Larabee winced at the pounding metal noises. "He's strong." Wade nodded. "Most of the time. I still had to open a jar of pickles for him earlier." He leaned in the doorway. "He'll be better tomorrow. Almost no one knows we're here. Let the kid calm down." "Fine. I want a full disclosure of how he did that." "He hormoned 'em," Wade said bluntly. "Twice." Chris shuddered. "Then he shot them. Xander wasn't nice by any means." "This probably sets a bad precedent." Wade shook his head. "I wouldn't want to mess with the kid. Ever. Especially not after that." "Maybe." He stared at him. "Security force?" "Day off. Xander's very sweaty and he didn't want to accidentally hormone them." "I suppose that's a good thing," Larabee said dryly. "Have him appear in my office tomorrow by noon." Wade nodded. Chris left him to calm the boy down. Not like he knew how to calm a boy like Xander down. He could barely get Ezra calmed out of a rage. Xander was a mystery to any sort of guy rules he knew and lived by. Wade went back inside. "They wanted to see you by noon," he said quietly. Xander looked at him. "Think we could just move up here now? Leave those two down there?" Wade shrugged. "I can ask some friends to see if they'd like to date you. Not a problem." Xander grinned. "All you have to do is let me know, Xander. It sucked that they locked you over there instead of calming you down." He patted him on the head. "What are you doing?" "Hair sticks." He showed him. "I'm decorating them in a minute then I'll split them." "Sure." He let him do that, going to watch over the dogs and make sure no one tried the compound to get Xander. He was really sweaty but thankfully not backed up in the least. His phone rang with a text. "Anya said we owe her better presents since we had to abandon her for her birthday." Xander looked back at him. "Tell her to call an incubus down to torture?" "Hell no," Wade snorted. "The only dick that touches her is mine. Or else I'll let you kill me horribly." Xander grinned. "I'm not the sort to have mushy love." "I know. We can work on something for you to give her." He finished his hair sticks and split them, then cooled them off. They were fairly simple but patterned with a small tool in a spiral all the way up the barrel. "I need to sand those smoother." Wade nodded. Xander found what he wanted and weighed it in his hand then got a few other things and came to melt it while he made a wax impression for a cast piece. He had learned how to do this too. "What's her ring size?" "Seven." "Sure." Xander made it a bit bigger for shrinkage and then set up the mold once it was fully carved. He checked the metal, adding a bit of powdered chemicals and stirring the slowly melting metal. Once it was ready he poured it into the mold and put it aside in a spot to cool down. He got to work on the settings. Not the traditional ones but two thin platinum wires that wrapped across each end of the stones. Once he had them grouped together and nice he checked on the cast piece. He took it out to look it over. He sawed off the small extra bit that had been the stand holding the wax up. He could cover that imperfection with the stones. He heated them both to bind them together. He delicately worked it. It didn't want to so he sighed. He prayed at Sividia Xander, who called that other GHS Xander. He got an answer back and told him. So he worked it that way and it was better. Much nicer. He smoothed the metal over the edges to make it look like the stones were growing out of it then found his leaf patterned punch tool. He did a few leaves around them, tipping his head. It looked odd. He adjusted it on his small anvil and it was better. Wade came over to look over his shoulder. "Add another leaf here," he said quietly with a point. Xander grinned and did that. That balanced it out better. Then Xander settled in to polish it and make sure it stuck together. He had to expand it a bit to make sure it was still a circle and the right size but that was fine. Xander stamped his initials into the inner band, under the stones, then held it up. Wade grinned. It wasn't diamonds. It was two rubies, very deep red ones, and an opal. He held it up to the light, smiling. "That's beautiful work, kid." "Thanks." He grinned. "That way she can have the special present." "She'll adore that." He patted him on the head. "Finish off your hair sticks so you can wear them tomorrow since you didn't bring anything." Xander had managed to get free of the mirror house and walked out after only grabbing his laptop and wallet. If Wade hadn't seen him stomping off, he wouldn't know where he was either. Xander nodded, working on them to smooth out the parts he hadn't stamped with the pattern. They were meant to catch his hair. He also sharpened them on the grinding wheel. His hairpins were a second level of defensive weapon. By the time he had them polished, he was exhausted. He turned off everything and let Wade walk him back to the house. "Dinner?" Wade asked. "What do you want me to order?" he asked when Xander pouted at him. "Thanks. I don't care." Wade nodded, calling the chinese place they had found out delivered out there. He went to the gate to wait on it. By the time he came back, Xander was down from the huge master suite in the attic after showering and redoing his hair. Wade handed Xander his, letting them settle in to watch something off cable and veg. When Xander fell asleep halfway through Wade took his carton to put up. Xander could nap on the couch. They were safe here and Wade's temporary room was just off the living room anyway. He settled in to read, smiling when he heard Xander finally get up and stumble upstairs. The bedroom had a large bed in a bay window-ish area that surrounded three-quarters of the bed with windows. Xander had gotten a bed with a low headboard so he could still see a lot of the view if he laid in the bed the wrong way. Wade fell asleep after setting his alarm clock. He needed it. He was exhausted because Xander was still upset. It was like he sucked at his energy. *** Xander woke up on the couch and looked outside. He seriously felt nasty. Not dirty nasty but tired and sore and emotional nasty. He sighed and got up to find a book. The dogs all stared at him but he waved them down. "Daddy's going to take a bath," he said quietly, hoping not to wake Wade up. The guy needed his sleep. He grabbed a few things from the kitchen and went through the library's hidden door behind his desk out to the special grotto he had put in. You walked out of the library's passage and into a river rock tunnel. It was more than comfortable for someone tall to stand in. Just before the end was an overhead shower head. It emptied out into an area he had done some plant sculpting with magic. The grotto was surrounded by a large set of bushes. In the center was a large soaking tub. No jets or anything but an ancient cast iron tub. The walkway to it was cool local slate tiles. It had a table next to it on the right that could be swung in over the tub. It had a single iron chair out there that he only used for clothes so they didn't have to sit on the tiles or on the ground. Of course, he had put in a cabinet in the hallway too but sometimes you needed a chair. He stripped down and started the tub running a wonderful soaking bath. He added some of the petals he had in the cabinet, putting his clothes in there. He walked back to shower off the outside world. It took a while, he had to take down his hair. He scrubbed himself down, not missing anything. His hair got put into a simple ponytail and he padded down the tiles to lay down in the tub. It was blissfully hot, very deep. He could sink up past his shoulders if he wasn't careful with the water level. He had a padded footrest in there since he couldn't quite touch the other end without laying down. Though he didn't mind floating, not tonight. He settled the back pillows under the arch of his back and one behind his head and sighed. He turned off the faucets with his toes and relaxed. The stars were twinkling overhead. The bushes smelled nice and there were flowers on the other side. One of the rose bushes that had already been here had been trained up the east side of the grotto's walls on the outside. Behind him he could hear Shells moving in the barn. He turned on some quiet music and relaxed, letting all the anger and the pain and the hurt feelings go for now. It was time to let it go. *** Wade woke up to the music starting. That should not be playing at this time of night. He got up and grabbed his gun from under his pillow, taking it to find the source of the unexpected noise. With his luck it was some demon outside the windows with a boombox trying to be romantic. When it wasn't he was confused but went searching. The dogs were in the study, which wasn't usual. Usually they spread out on the chairs in the living room. He spotted the slightly open passage and snuck down it. He found the cabinet because Xander had left it slightly open. Bath stuff. The shower head was still damp and a few droplets of water came off it to hit the rocks on the floor. He looked out and paused. Xander was taking a girl bath. He was asleep in his girl bath. Wade checked, there was no way short of teleporting to get into the area. Half the bushes on the walls had thorns. Xander whimpered and shifted. Wade walked out and found the heater underneath the tub, flipping it on with his foot. Then he snuck back inside. The kid needed the relaxation and thinking time. Xander whimpered again and Wade winced, going back out there. He gently petted him like he had seen Dean and Jensen do and it stopped that. Then Wade went back to bed. Xander needed privacy to get over the breakup stuff. Not like Wade understood that. He shot the ones he broke up with. *** Jensen sneered, grabbing something from his closet. "Let me show them how I do breakups," he muttered, heading for his apartment door. "No," Cougar said, stopping him in the hallway. "He wouldn't want that." "Not like it'll hurt 'em," he complained. "And they deserve it! Did you hear how they treated him!" Cougar nodded. "Then they really do deserve it, Cougs." Cougar nodded again. "So let me go." "No. He wouldn't want it." "He'll giggle. I promise he will." Pooch came out giving them a dirty look. "We're just barely back. Why are you two fighting in the hall and why do you have a rifle, Jensen?" "Probably because I need to show someone how I do breakups the easy way," he said with a snort at the end. "You're actually dating?" Pooch asked sarcastically. "No, Danny and Don locked Xander in the alternate house for three damn days after he rescued those two." Pooch blinked a few times. Cougar took the rifle. "The kid would want to do it on his own," Jolene said from their doorway. "Not have someone do it for him, Jensen. That should be his fun." "He's in Denver." She nodded. "I wouldn't stay around either. We can help protect the boy but you're not good enough to challenge them." Jensen gave her a dirty look. "Are you?" "Yes. They never practice." She smiled at him and came to give him a hug. "I need to help Xander. You help friends with bad breakups. Hell, I ruined Jess's shitbag boyfriend's next six cars after he dumped her for getting pregnant." "I'm sure you did," Clay agreed as he came down the stairs from the roof. "Still can't let you do it this time. It'd mean the other poker buddies could help. It'd get innocent officers hurt." He stared at him. "Stand down and give Xander ideas. He'll probably want some." "Xander's been on his forge all day from what Wade said earlier." "Good! It means he's getting that frustration out and we won't see a huge demon show up to eat them," Pooch said. Jensen grimaced. "Over too soon." Cougar nodded. "Yes," he agreed in Spanish. "But Xander would rather do it himself. It's his honor and pain." Jensen stared at him. "I just can't take this going on, guys." "We know," Jolene assured him with a smile. "I'd do the same if I wasn't sure the kid would pout me to death for it." "He'd cuddle me," Jensen quipped. "Then man up and go climb into bed with him," Pooch shot back, earning a confused look. "Never mind. It's late, we'll talk tomorrow." Cougar nodded, walking off with the rifle case. Pooch and Jolene went back to bed. Clay looked at him. "Stand down for a few days. Let's see where Xander starts it. You can always help but you shooting them will make them have problems that Horatio will skin you for," he said quietly. "Maybe but he could use a few days off too." Clay nodded. "He said he thought they got them out sooner." Jensen shook his head. "Fine. Just calm down and let Xander call the plays. You can always give him ideas, offer to help, all that. Make sure the extended family realizes that there's problems. Then you can help however." "Fine. I still say shooting their gas tanks is a good idea." "Perhaps but Xander would hate it if you killed them." He stared at him. "Even temporarily killed them." Jensen sighed but nodded that was true. "Let the kid lead this dance, kid." He went back up to his apartment, which of course made his phone ring. "Clay," he answered, sounding tired. He made notes. "Any idea which motherfucker took them? He's got chemo tomorrow. Sure. Thanks." He hung up and notified the kid's doctor that he had been snatched while he paged the others and got dressed. "Our sick one's in Antigua." They sighed and left for the airport. Some days it never stopped in Miami. *** Xander walked into the ATF offices after signing him and Wade in, handing Ezra the basket with a smile. "I made potato rolls and refrigerator pie." He grinned at Chris when he came to his office door. "Morning." "You can't spoil us." Xander snorted. "For some reason I hear tiny violins playing sad, whiny songs." Chris glared. Xander stared at him. "I spoil everyone around me, Chris. Really. And with the way I'm pissed off at my family, I might be here permanently." He smirked. "Anything else you needed to talk about today?" "Yes," he said. "Horatio wanted a statement from you, kid." "I'm not that young," Xander complained. "You look like you're twenty-two at the most," he said dryly. "Yeah but I'm nearly thirty. Give me some props please." He followed him into the office with Wade. Ezra looked in the basket and moaned. "Refrigerator pie is apparently like a quiche." Wade opened the door. "It's got sun-dried tomatoes, corn, and ham." He closed the door again and sat down. "Excellent." He cut a piece and moaned in pleasure. "This is wonderful." He let the others take their own and the rolls, plus the honey packs for them. Their overlording AD showed up with a scowl. "Harris is in the office getting scowled at." He ate a bite. AD Travis stared at the food then shook his head. "I'm told he does it to Miami's lab all the time." "Indeed," Ezra said with a smile. "We appreciate such repast even if Mr. Larabee doesn't." He ate another bite. Travis shook his head, knocking before going in there. "They saved you a piece, Chris." He looked at Xander. "Did Miami have a problem?" "Yup, a few of them," Xander said dryly. He smirked. "I'm still a bit pissed at some of them but not the others. So we'll see how it goes when I go back down later this week. Then, if my boys are really lucky, I won't be moving here permanently." Travis nodded. "What did they do? Just so we can help. You were said to be happy with them." Xander told him how everything had went after he had gotten home. Even Chris had to wince at that. "We'll talk with Horatio for you. I'm told he's you family's mentor." "Apparently he thought it was a good idea," Xander said dryly. "Gibbs is down," Wade said. "He got all the generals under arrest." That got a nod from Chris. Vin Tanner brought him in a plate and Chris scowled. Wade stared back. "We all get fed, Larabee. Cooking is one of his little pleasures throughout the day that helps wear him down. He even feeds me and my girlfriend can cook." "Because I taught her," Xander quipped. Larabee sighed but ate a bite, nodding. "Nice texture." Ezra came to the door. "Xander, where did you find that delightful recipe?" "Alton Brown on food newtork. I use half and half instead of cream." He grinned. "And I conveniently forget the nutmeg if it doesn't go." "Huh." He went to look that up. It was fairly simple and easily done. Even after a long night of work on a case. He came back with a smile. "That was delightful pie crust. Just the right sort of tough for this." Xander beamed. "I kneaded it a bit too long because I knew it had to be a bit more solid than flaky. I also parbake it for five minutes before I fill it because otherwise the bottom crust can be a bit mushy if you're using stuff that has a high moisture content like ham." Ezra smiled. "That's good to know. It's delightfully easy." Xander wrote out another one and he took it to read. "That sounds nice." "If that's the lemon custard stuff, that shit's addictive," Wade said with a smirk. "I'll have to try that." He smirked and left them alone. Xander looked at him. "Does that mean I should plan on putting up a greenhouse so I can grow lemons?" "You should," Wade agreed with a smirk. "We'd all appreciate it a lot if you grew some of those, the cherries, and the oranges. Plus the nut trees." "We have half an acre of nut trees. All different sorts of nuts." Wade beamed. "And some peanuts going into the garden by them." "Wonderful." He patted Xander on the back. "You did good plotting what you needed." Xander beamed at him. Travis smiled. "I'll let you guys finish the formal statement. Let us know if you're here permanently so we can go over the weapons inventory as soon as it's here." Xander nodded. He left them alone. Chris looked at them. "No routine spoiling," Chris said quietly. "If we save you, if you're bringing in critical information, those times. Not on a schedule, not every month." Xander shrugged. "We're not always here in the office." "I know." He grinned. "It'll be fine, Larabee. Unstarch the thong. Really. If I need something that huge done, I have Wade." "I know." He stared at him. "The weapons are...." "There at the moment." "Fine." "I'm moving some out here later this week," Wade said. "But it's coming in a containment bag." Chris stared at him. Xander pulled his emergency kit out of his pocket, letting Chris see it. He had hated the bottomless bags but Xander's emergency kit on a necklace was damn handy. Chris moaned and nodded, handing it back. Xander put it back onto the necklace and it was good. "We're moving something out in case something in LA starts to go south. Since even Roque left.... We're not sure what'll happen." "He fled the magic strangeness," Xander said with a smirk. "And Buffy sex." "That's a topic I don't need to think about," Wade said blandly. "Did Rosenburg figure out what birth control was?" Xander nodded. "Good!" Xander smirked. "Don't even think about polluting my magnificence with kid thoughts." "I like kids and some day I'll adopt." "Uh-huh." He patted him on the head. "We'll work on those thoughts so you can adopt someone older. Maybe a teenager?" Xander gave him a pointed look. "You'd hate diapers." "I like taking care of things." "Uh-huh. Older toddler, Xander. Diapers suck." "Fine. We'll talk about it sometime. After all, if I'm not in a relationship no one would let me adopt." "Good point," Wade agreed. He silently thanked Xander's gods for that bit of common sense. Xander smirked at him. "Thanking Ares." "Ares likes those sort of thoughts," Xander teased. Chris ate a bite and shook his head. "I'm a priest to a few of them," he told him. "I don't need to know anything about anyone's religion." Xander nodded. "That's cool but now and then they pop in. So if the big guy in leather and a beard shows up, don't worry about it?" Chris stared at him. Strife appeared to grin at him. "We love Xander. He's my favorite priest. He causes such merry hell." Xander leaned back to grin at him. "I'm going to start dating." Strife shivered. "Oooh, baby. Wade, make sure they're safe so you don't have to rescue him from somewhere." "Can you stop that quarth guy?" Wade asked. "No. None'a us can do that. We'd like him to stop. Even if the idea behind it is nice." He took a kiss from Xander then left to shiver and shake at the thought of his Xander toy dating. Cupid was twitching. "Xander said he might have to date soon." Cupid moaned and slunk into the seat next to him so they could work on each other's energy problems. Because that was a power rush waiting to happen. Wade looked at Xander. "So we'll kill him or something so he leaves you alone." "If that's what it takes. I'd rather he just take back the presents and go the fuck away. Like that guy in the Middle East." "No, him I'm going to kill," Wade assured him. "If Clay doesn't first since the guy wanted to kill him a few years back so he could have Jensen." "Cougar wouldn't like that." Wade snorted. "He's very protective of Jensen, yeah." He patted him on the back. "I'll send him a 'fuck you' present later." Xander beamed. "Did you want to show him the sticks?" Xander pulled them out to show him. "I did those yesterday." Chris looked them over, nodding. "They're pretty. And sharp." He handed them back. "I keep them sharp in case I need them," Xander said with a smirk. "No matter who complains about me wearing them to bed." "He's got some thicker and some thinner ones," Wade said. "They make pretty good handcuff picks." "Speaking of, during the next convention, have someone show everyone in self defense how to do that," Xander said. Wade nodded, sending that note to Gibbs. "It's something most of us can probably do but just in case?" "It's not a bad idea," Wade assured him. "I know some people I'd trust to teach to pick all sorts of locks." He sent that suggestion to Adam, who agreed it was a good idea and asked how Xander was. So he told him he was still pissed off at the family. Then he put back his phone. "Adam agreed." Xander grinned. "Were you going to bounce around and get something clean to wear since you didn't pack?" "Yeah, probably." He looked at Larabee, who waved a hand since he was chewing. "Just let me know if you guys need stuff for birthdays and things. Speed taught me how to decorate cakes too." He grinned. "And I make a mean cobbler." He bounced out. "Later, guys. Happy lunchies." Wade followed. "Have an easier day, guys." Ezra swallowed his honeyed roll. "I believe he's bored." "He's going shopping," Chris called. Ezra called someone. "There is a young man with a lot of hair who is going shopping. He is very wealthy, has a personal assistant/bodyguard type, and spends sinful amounts of money each month shopping." He ate another bite. "Harris. Check the stores' records for the Miami branch." He nodded. "Yes, him. We're his second home." He smirked. "I thought you might like that." He texted Wade a phone number and the name of the shop. "There, I've sent it to his assistant so he knows where you are. That way no one reacts to all the hair or the fact he's in jeans today. Thank you." He hung up and leaned back, finishing the other half of his roll. "I could get used to having food like this." "Don't," Chris said as he came out to get another roll. "He can't spoil us that often. Only for special things or if we save him." Ezra and JD both pouted at him. "Tough. We're not spoilable pets, people." He went back to his office with a honey pack and his other roll. It had been a great whatever-it-was. *** Adam walked up to where Gibbs and his team were. "Why is Xander upset with the family?" Horatio stiffened, staring at him. "Excuse me?" "He's apparently upset with the family?" "Yeah," Tony said dryly with a smirk for them. "Something about locking him in the alternate house for three days and not even trying to help him calm down." Adam nodded then glared at Danny and Don. "He in Denver?" Adam nodded. "That's fine." Anya parked and got out, walking over. "Adam, do you have my other birthday present?" "Why would I get you a present for your birthday, Anya? I only spoil the one I'm sleeping with." "Wade said he sent it to you for safety reasons." "Oh." He considered it then called home. Ray was home with their son. "Did we get something from Wade? He sent Anya's present to us for security reasons." He nodded. "Thank you. At the park with the others, yes. That's fine, bring Toby down with you. That way others can admire how handsome he's becoming. Horatio hasn't seen him recently and Gibbs' team is down." He hung up and smiled at her. "Ray will bring it, Anya." "Is it something big?" "No. A small package." She pouted. "He got me something tiny for leaving me here?" she demanded. "He left me on my birthday, Adam. That's not good!" He smirked at her. "Quit pouting at us, Anya. We wouldn't be that upset if it was necessary. Since Xander huffed out of Miami, he had to follow." Ray parked and got out, getting the baby out to join them. He tossed Anya the small box. "Hmm, an interesting size." He took his son to hold. "Good afternoon, Toby." The baby beamed at him and sucked on his nose. "Dadadadada!" Horatio smiled, taking off his sunglasses to take the baby. "Mellie said much the same thing the other day, Toby." Anya let out a loud squeal, which made the baby flinch but then squeal back. "Oh my god, he sent me real jewelry!" she squealed, bouncing around. Adam took it to look over. "It's very pretty." He found the maker's mark. "Huh." "It's not from a major shop but I do love it," she said, taking it back. He looked at her. "That's from a handcrafted shop." She pouted, slumping some. "Anya, Cartier and those shops still make jewelry by hand. That ring is worth more than everything you own probably." She lit up again. "Even if he did have someone handcraft it specially for you." "He had Xander make it," she said, staring at him. "Quite probably." He smirked. "He's gotten very good." Anya gaped. "Take it to have it appraised for insurance." She nodded, going to do that. He took his son back. "She'll learn the value of handcrafted versus more commercial things later, my son. The same as you shall." "That was really pretty work Xander did," Greg agreed with a grin. "Even if she's spoiled." "She expected Xander to always buy her things when they were dating," Ray said with a small shrug. "Hopefully she'll learn how expensive those can be," Horatio said. "Before she teaches my daughter such ideas." "Mellie's going to be spoiled," Ray assured him with a happy grin. "After all, no one else to take the girl jewelry." Horatio shuddered. A demon appeared, pouting. "Get away from my son." "Why cannot you people stick up for my suit? Xander is a perfect concubine for me." Dean shot him. "Because it's wrong to want to own one of us. It's where quarth and GHS differ, beyond the demon heritage." "Silver, Dean," Sam ordered. "Not lead." He shot him and Toby flinched but the demon wailed and died. "Good." He smirked. "Less people who want Xander." He grinned. "Sorry, Toby." He put the gun back into the holster and took him to cuddle. "I have not seen you in weeks because Xander hasn't been able to steal you again." Toby laughed when he tickled him. "No, I haven't allowed anyone to steal him recently," Adam said dryly. "Especially not the spoiling uncle and his slobbery mutts." He took him back. Toby pouted and pointed at Sam with a grunt. "He can watch you later so your father and I can go out to dinner, Toby." Ray beamed at him. "If you wanted?" Ray nodded with a grin. Horatio looked at the DPP officer who showed up and sighed. "He still wanted Xander." "Now he can't steal him," Sam quipped with a grin. "And if anyone tries to start anything because of it, I'm coming up there." The DPP officer stared at him. "Are you ill, Winchester?" "No. I'm in a bad mood." He beamed. "Oh, dear," he said quietly. "It's contagious, he got Xander's," Dean quipped. "Oh, damn." He took the body with him to warn the others. "Well, maybe we won't have to invade then," Dean decided. "Wade said he's sending some Middle Eastern mother fucker a 'fuck off' present? He sent the text to me and Larabee for some reason." Sam grinned. "You got a nice letter from him too, Dean." "Oh, him. Sick bastard." "Swear away from my son," Ray ordered. "Yup, sorry." He showed him the text message he had quoted. Horatio cleared his throat. "What is a present like that?" "Usually it goes 'boom'," Greg said. "And Xander can have it delivered by messenger demon so no going through Fed Ex or anything." He beamed. "I wonder if it's the same one that wanted you, Tony." "I don't know." He sent a question to Wade, and got back an answer from Clay, who said it wasn't but sent him the dossier number on that guy. "Huh. Boss, he has a dossier number that starts with a CIA code." Gibbs took it to look up and moaned at what he read. Tony took it to read too, nodding. "Yay me," he said flatly. "Maybe that sort of present is a good idea." He looked up a number he got from Greg's original phone. "Fu, Tony DiNozzo. Yeah, the one that Greggy went to be with. Can you set me up with someone who can tell me about my newest suitor since he's a puss sucking ghoul? Yeah, one of them. Thanks. This is my number, yup. Um, Denver. Thanks, Fu." He hung up. "He wanted Xander to clean out his shelf again." Horatio sighed when his phone went off with a familiar number. "Yes, Fu?" he asked, walking off. He listened then snorted. "That would be hard to do since he wasn't in town then. I would love to see proof of that game, yes. Xander has been in Denver for three days and locked in that alternate house since the day he went to rescue people." He smirked. "I would adore seeing that, yes. I can be there in an hour actually. We're having a talk in the park about such matters. Thank you for letting me know there was a problem." He hung up. "One of the relatively new people to the circuit said that Xander played him yesterday and lost large to him. Owed him something like thirty million." "First, no poker game goes that high," Adam said. Dean shook his head. "Even at the high stakes games they don't let you get more than half a mil on the table for any game. No bets above that." Horatio smirked at him. "We're coming with you." Horatio sighed but nodded. "Since we play too." Sam called Xander's phone. "Someone's saying you played yesterday down here and lost large, Xander." He hung up. "He's swearing." "Yeah, I'd swear," Dean agreed. They left with Horatio. "Adam, I'll pop by the house after this to bring him back to Xander's? Or do you want me to sit there?" "Sit him at our place so you don't have to cart half the toys in the house," Ray said with a smile. Sam grinned back and nodded. He took the son back to cuddle. Toby babbled at him and patted his hair. "I like yours too, Toby." Gibbs shook his head. "You guys are insane at times." "Only when he won't let us sleep," Adam quipped, cracking Don up. "I would fix this relatively fast, Donald. Xander's still mad and upset." "I know. We'll talk to him later, after we talk." That got a nod and the group meeting broke up. Tony went where Fu told him to, meeting his suitor in person. He suavely got him confused and not really wanting him. And the guy still tried to snatch him so Speed got to answer a scene when Tony had to wound him. Gibbs showed up too, mostly to growl Tony should've killed him. *** Horatio smirked at the poker circuit member. He held up something. "Xander has been in Denver for *days*." "He can pop around," he sneered. "Yes, but he didn't. Yesterday he was working some anger issues out on his forge." He showed the picture of Anya's ring and the hair sticks. "He made both of them yesterday. An ATF agent and Wade both saw him do it. Wade said he didn't leave the house outside of going to see Larabee this morning as ordered." The guy looked so confused. "Wade is his assistant." "We've heard," he sneered. Dean strolled in. "I want proof. All the poker areas are taped." Fu nodded, queuing it up. He stared. "That's not Xander. That's a wig." "No, that's Persimmons," Fu agreed, staring at it. "Definitely not Harris." "Harris?" he snorted. "That is Xander's last name," Horatio said dryly. The man backed off. "What did you think it was?" "Flack! He's his gay husband!" "No, Xander keeps his own name and they're only living together. They're not married." Horatio sent a smug look at him. "I would've known and been at any commitment ceremony since I'm the one that set the trio up together." His hands went to his hips. "Fu, is what he's trying to do legal?" "No. Not by any means." He called Don Cheva and the other poker hall managers. Sam forwarded the film to them. They all agreed it wasn't Xander, he didn't owe him the money, and Xander was probably okay in Denver as long as he was calming down finally. He looked at him. "The head of the poker circuit wishes to talk to you. Today." The former agent shuddered. "I suggest you head right over. The other is already on his way." He stomped off. "Thank you, Lieutenant, for being so calm." Horatio put back on his sunglasses. "You get used to the wicked thought process Xander bleeds into the air even if you don't usually use that method." Fu laughed. "Who is the head of the poker circuit? I thought you were all independent." Fu shook his head with a smirk. "No, not hardly. We're actually organized and watched over." He smirked at the boys. "Dean, you still have that debt on the books." "I paid him half of it yesterday and I told him I'd have the rest after that auction of stuff I got sent." Fu nodded and left it there. He looked at Horatio. "So, anyway, how are we going to beat the crap out of them this time?" Horatio sighed. "I'm not certain if we should." "I'm certain Xander's going to date and it'll cause us hell," Sam said dryly. "We saw Strife. He was looking forward to it." Horatio shuddered delicately. "Then we'd best do some counseling." He walked off. He knew the boy was upset with him. Wade had answered his text to Xander earlier. Perhaps a weekend trip to Denver with Speed and Mellie? He got into the hummer and got out to walk around in the small park. He called Xander. "Wade, may I speak to him?" He heard Wade ask and Xander say 'no, he was still mad'. "I'd like to apologize, Wade. I understand. Thank you." He hung up and sighed, calling Speed. "I need to apologize to Xander." He winced at the yelling he got from his husband. "I'm aware of that now, Timmy. Thank you. I tried, he said he's still upset. Thank you." He hung up and let his husband talk to their almost-son. He went back to work. There was probably a body or a report waiting on him somewhere in Miami that he could sulk at. *** Wade hung up. "Horatio wanted to apologize." Xander looked at him. "I'm not sure I care at the moment." "I understand." He patted him on the shoulder. "Don't trek to Tibet or anything, okay?" "Oz said Tibet was calm and cold." He looked at the shirts, holding one up. Wade shook his head and Xander put it back, picking out something else. Wade watched. This wasn't his Xander. His Xander could pinpoint what he wanted within minutes. "After this, we're picking up dinner." "I started a stew in the slow cooker." He looked at him. "Do you hate my cooking?" "I didn't think you'd be in the mood for it." "I'm not totally out of the mood." He shrugged and got what he wanted. Wade took one back and got it in the right size. Xander grinned. "Thanks, Wade." "Did someone herb you?" he asked quietly. "No, this is me coming down from my temper." "You didn't in St. Louis." "I did, you didn't see it as much," Xander corrected. He stared at him. "I'm just being pouty, Wade." He went to try things on and then bought them and left with Wade. They had one of the pickups from the farm. Xander tensed when someone ran up on them squealing. He stared at her. "Wade?" "Rosenburg, get off him," he sneered. "Don't make him kill you." "But..." Willow pouted. "He can't do that." "He can," Wade corrected. "And if he can't, I sure as hell can." He had noticed the slight flinch from Xander. So that's what was bothering him. Post battle stress. He'd talk to the kid later that night about it. Xander always talked more about personal stuff at night. "But we're friends," she said. "Really?" Xander asked. "When did we become friends again?" He got into the truck and put the bag on his feet. Wade got in to drive them home. Xander warded the truck to make sure no one could put any magic on it. He looked at his assistant/friend. "I apparently am drawing sucktastic things." "I have no idea why she's in Denver," Wade said, calling Larabee to see how he wanted to handle it. Larabee said he'd talk to her and have JD out with a bug scanner to run over the house, just in case. He hung up. "He got the full file on what they did in Miami. JD's meeting us at the house to check it." "Okay. Because if she blows up my dogs and the house I'm going to kill her. I don't care what sort of pouty mood I'll be in later, she's toasty." "Xander, none of them died." "I ordered them held by someone, Wade." "I heard that the next morning. I thought it was brilliant. They pumped them for information but didn't molest them or anything." He changed roads to something less populated. It was safer if you could watch the fewer cars around you. "Before you start down the beating yourself up again path, you're not turning into some poker circuit overlord either. The actual overlord of the poker circuit thought it was brilliant to give them a way to get on Horatio's good side." "Really?" "He said it was nice that you used your poker contacts that way instead of for minor things like laptop help. He also said it was good you were realizing that you did have some power within the system so you didn't accidentally wield it again. Because that one guy you made fun of the other day? He did commit suicide." Xander winced and slumped down in his seat. "It was his own doing. You didn't make him do it, just showed him how futile it was by picking on him when you caught him gay bashing. The only problems any of us are seeing is that quarth mother fucker turning some of the agents against you." "You sure?" "Do I say things I don't mean?" he asked dryly. "I have no idea if that's a flashback to minion days with Max." "No, if he had a crackhead plan I usually told him I didn't understand and made him explain the flaws out until he realized he had them. That way he didn't shoot me." Xander hugged his arm. "Get off! Quit hugging." "Shut up, Wade. I like hugging. It's positive contact that I could use." "I'm so finding you a permanent trouble buddy like you had in Sanders. And possibly better boyfriends when I sell them into the Middle East." "No, don't do that," he sighed. "Yay. Even I know that they're being assholes again." Xander nodded. "Wolfe's working long hours. I could have Cougar shoot him on a scene." "They'd arrest Cougar." "Maybe. But you'd get Wolfe full time for a bit." "Usually when that happens we go off-realm to travel." Wade glanced at him. "I'll take more horse riding lessons." Xander laughed. "And some sword lessons too." "Maybe we can stay on realm and go to India? The other GHS Xander seemed to like it a lot." "Maybe," he agreed. "Why India?" "It's exotic but still mostly safe. It's got great art and food. They kinda went halfway around the world and sent home a lot of stuff. Cheeses and meats and wines, plus he got a lot of saris because they're pretty." "Huh." He paused at a light and shook his head quickly. "Sorry, you in a sari." "I'd look fantastic." "Possibly." He drove on when the light changed. "Still a bad mental image." "Anya has one." "I saw and had a lot of fun unwrapping her and using it to tie her up." He smirked. Xander laughed and they drove home. JD was waiting at the gate. Wade let them in and helped Xander to a safe waiting area with the dogs. He and JD went over the house. "Xander, did the blonde or the redhead bomb your car?" he called. "Buffy. Why? Though she was a redhead when she did it." He walked there. "Stay," he ordered. The dogs sat and watched him walk off. "Good boys." He looked at the bomb. "Green wire." Wade clipped it and then the other one. Xander cut the one he meant and looked at him. "See, green." "Sorry, I usually call crayola green green," he said dryly. Xander smirked. "Let's get someone out here to search. Go back with the dogs and the pooka if Shells is around." Xander nodded, jogging back out there once he had some water from the fridge. Wade shook his head. "I have no idea," he said when JD continued to stare at him. "When I find out, I'll be sending them a fuck off present too." "Fed Ex and UPS won't let you." "He has messenger demon contacts. They can deliver things within minutes anywhere on any plane." JD shivered. "Exactly." They finished the search, finding the other one sitting on Xander's cold forge. That one he had no idea how to disarm. Xander had no idea. Roque had no idea when he sent the picture. So they might be screwed. His forge ran on gas. It'd blow up the gas line and probably send a fireball up to hurt the rest of the house. Xander got into the safety supplies, handing in a lead box. Wade took it to carefully put the bomb in and then carried it out to the pool area. The dogs whined. Wade threw the ball, letting them chase it off into the trees. Xander's dog Ramses continued to stare. "Fetch, dog." "Ramses, he's not playing," Xander called. "He has a bad thing." The dog ran back to guard the daddy. He whistled and the two labs ran back with the ball. Xander took them all down the gardens and fields. That way they were out of blast radius. JD was calling someone and Xander looked. "Wade, a signal blocker?" he called. Wade found his jammer and put it on the box. JD backed off and hung up quickly. "JD, come down here please. That way you won't be damaged." "I'm an agent, Xander," he complained. "And I'm fucking immortal, JD. That's why I'm thirty and look twenty-one." JD gaped. "Get your ass down here. Now." He stomped down there. Wade smirked at him. "You too. I'm not sure if the one that brought you back is dead or not." "Coma. That way she can't screw more things up." He came down to join them. Bomb squad showed up with Larabee's team in tow. Wade waved and pointed at JD, getting a nod from Chris. "You're immortal?" JD demanded. Xander took his hairpin out to scratch his arm, showing him how it healed. "Yeah, I am." He smirked. JD gaped in horror. Xander shrugged. "Long story and you can't tell people, JD. Otherwise they try to come kill me." "If you ever die again I'm killing them hard and then praying at your altar until someone comes to remove that tumor," Wade said firmly, glaring at his boss. Xander shrugged. "Usually it takes more than one death." "Yay!" "Fine. I love you too, Wade." He grinned. Wade looked at JD. "If he dies, he has a small brain tumor that grows in a bad part of his brain. It perpetually backs him up, makes him turn into a slinky evil thing, and gives him bad ideas." "Next time I'll take Chris' team to Disney," Xander sighed, sitting on the ground to pet the dogs. The bomb exploded and Xander winced. "Everyone all right?" he yelled. No one answered. He texted it and got a hand-command to stay. He pointed out he was a medic trained person and so was Wade. Apparently it was some debris but nothing too bad. JD jogged back to check on his team. He looked at Wade. "Are you ever going to forgive me for that?" "Nope." He smirked. "Not in the least." Xander shrugged. "But it'll never happen again or I'll find you some victims." "Next time, tell me to bring a charity group of kids," Xander said dryly. "Yup, I can do that and watch the other victims guard the kids." Chris stomped over. "The other one?" he asked a bit loudly. Xander did a quiet spell and touched Chris' hand, making him glow. "Better?" Chris nodded, wiggling his finger in his ear. "Kitchen. It's disarmed." "That's fine. Thank you. Any idea?" Wade shook his head. "Let us handle it, Wade." "If it's one I know I'll gladly send it back." "No, that's my job in Denver." He walked off to get that other bomb and check on his team again. Vin's ears were still ringing so he sent him to Xander. Nathan glared at him for it. "He fixed mine." Vin came back smiling and happier. "Better?" "The glowy touching thing was helpful." He helped get the other bomb out to the truck. "They going to react?" "I told Wade to let us have 'im," Chris said. "I'm hoping he listens." He saw the dogs sniffing. "He's got them in training?" Ezra smiled and nodded. "All three?" He nodded again. "What's the other?" "Pharaoh hound. Both sight and scent but in the US they tend to use them for scent dogs," Ezra said. "That's Ramses, Kiss, and Hershey." "Okay," Chris said. "I can understand that. The ferrets?" "Running around their cages in an agitated way," Buck said. "All four of 'em." "Little rats," Nathan said with a grimace. "Ferrets are actually part of the possum and skunk families," Ezra said firmly. "They make excellent pets. They're very loving, very active, and curious." He smirked. "You usually have to have ferrets descented. They're very social creatures and I'm surprised we haven't seen Hubert." He looked around. "Xander, is Hubert here?" he called. "Yes. He's in the garage," Wade called with a point. He whistled. "Dragon!" It came out of the garage to look around. "How can you sleep through a bomb?" "Growth spurt," Xander quipped. He grinned. "Introduce yourself, guys. Hubert's very smart." Ezra smiled and squatted down to let it sniff him. "I'm Ezra, Hubert. This is Chris, Nathan, Buck, Josiah, JD, and Vin. We'll be the agents guarding the family here in Denver." The dragon sniffed each one and rubbed himself against Vin and JD's legs, earning a pet from JD. "You're adorable," he said. "What are you?" "Xander calls him a baby dragon," Ezra said with a smirk. "Apparently he found him off-plane." Chris walked off shaking his head. "Horses are enough for most everyone." Vin petted it. "How do you pet you?" Xander was walking the dogs over. "Scratch an eye ridge or down the back by the fin," Xander said with a grin. Hubert steamed happily and let himself be put down. He looked at Ramses, who barked and ran off. Hubert chased and grabbed the ball to play with. Ramses barked and came back to play with him. Hershey and Kiss ran off to play too. He grinned. "Its good they all get along. Hubert's a champion ferret wrangler too." Josiah looked at him. "You have horses too, right?" Xander beamed and pulled out pictures to show them off. "That's a nice herd, son." He patted him on the arm. "I look forward to seeing how the warmares are trained." He walked off with the others to handle things. They rechecked the house with bomb squad. Then they went to find out who had sent the bombs. Xander looked at Wade. "Poker?" "I could use a good game. Check on the stew?" Xander went to do that while Wade found out where the local circuit played tonight. He told Fu why too. Fu could pass that along. *** Xander strolled up to Larabee's porch, holding up an envelope when Chris opened his door. "The idiot who sent the bombs. Apparently he thinks I might be a threat to his dominance. He's presently got his pecker stuck in a fountain downtown trying to cure that burning sensation I cursed him with. By the way, I can do a nerve zinging thing to make people beg for mercy and feel ruined. How do you feel about that?" "A what?" he demanded. Xander touched his arm causing him to get hard and shiver. "That strength only?" "No. I can full out do it. That's barely a touch. Horatio's rules are to use it to get myself free. Or if someone like the one guy who was dying asked me to." "Can it get worse?" "Yeah, at quarter strength I can make you come so hard you'll never get it that good again." He grinned. "I had one person say that in his suicide note." Chris nodded. "To get away is good. If they're dying and want it, fine but don't be an angel of mercy." Xander shook his head quickly. "Mild zings if you want to show off but nothing that would go that far." "Okay. I can do that." He grinned. "By the way, he's going to need a medic. I used one of Anya's spells to cause sudden clap. That's why he's in the fountain." He walked off. "Which one?" Larabee called after him. "No clue. Small but pretty. Two tiers. Looked like a wedding cake sort of fountain maybe?" He shrugged. "Classical fountain fountain." "What part of town?" "Purgatorio I think they call it? Just on the edge there." "I know that fountain," he sighed. "Thanks, kid." "Welcome." He smirked. "The poker buddies were most happy I was being pissed off up here instead of Miami." He got into the truck and let Wade drive them back home. Chris closed the door. "Vin, call someone." "Already have, big dog," he teased with a grin. "They've already arrested him and he's damn sorry. They're going to be scrubbing that fountain for days he's so nasty looking." "Eww," Nathan said dryly. Chris looked at the information, handing it to Ezra. "Looks like it intersects some of your contacts." "Indeed," he agreed, reading the notes over. "He gathers quite the vault of intelligence." He put it down. "We'll handle that in the morning when we take custody of the putrid miscreant." "If he hasn't died of it," Nathan joked. "What zing?" "He touched my arm and it felt like touching a low powered electric fence but it made me nearly instantly hard. He said that was barely a touch." "We heard that part," JD said, blushing a bit. "That's an interesting gift." "Well, yes, but if the idiot that has you captured is too busy panting off his orgasm to notice you're escaping it's probably easier," Ezra said. They all nodded they liked that idea. He asked a contact about that, getting waves of reviews for it. Ezra grinned at one. "He had been asked to do one at a political marriage's reception so they could consummate it properly. Apparently it caused a son to come into being and the wife has since grown her hair longer and taken up the study of witchcraft so she can do it herself." He put his phone back. Chris nodded. "I can see why." He went to deal with himself and calm down. Not like he had a better way to wear it out right now. That had almost been mean of the kid but a good diversion he guessed. And it was nice he had asked before doing it to someone. He came out. "Ezra, make sure he didn't do it to anyone tonight?" "He did to the chap in the unfortunate fountain but he's going to be begging for different reasons. They had to cut part of the fountain off to release him but it's too tight to remove the ring until he gets off, which he can't with it on." Chris snickered, going back to the bathroom. "Wonder how long it'll take to get that concrete piece off him," JD said. "It's been over an hour and it hasn't happened yet," Ezra said dryly. "They can't really use a saw there. Anything powerful enough would cut him as well. Though, were I that diseased I might not mind it much." "Well, I don't think anyone's going to be bothering the boy again," Buck decided, cracking Vin and Ezra up. "I sure as hell wouldn't if he made it so I could never enjoy a lady again." "At least it wasn't daylight and there weren't any kids," Josiah said. "Hopefully they bill him for the cleaning, repair, and rescue event as well. That should teach him not to gamble." They all cracked up laughing. *** Wade opened the door that night after dinner, staring at the man and baby. "You had to bring her?" "Yeah, she insisted." He walked around him and looked. "Upstairs?" "Top floor," he sighed. "He has a playpen somewhere in a closet." Speed shrugged. "She can nap with us." He walked up there, smiling at the layout of the bedroom. The sitting area faced the bed and windows. The bed's frame didn't get in the way of the view and enhanced it by being wood. The bathroom door was open and there was a nightlight on. Xander was surrounded by the dogs, but cuddling Ramses. Who was staring at him. "Easy, pups." He sat down on the bed, letting the dogs all lap Mellie. She was the peace offering to the dogs, not to Xander. He got up and closed the doors then came back. He took off his boots and laid down next to the boy, letting him cuddle. "My first son," he sighed, petting over his hair. Xander blinked at him. "Speed?" "Yup." He pointed. "I brought her to distract the dogs so we could cuddle and talk." Xander scowled. Speed smirked. "And to annoy Wade, yeah. I like watching him run from diapers. I'm a mean shit that way." He smirked and kissed Xander on the head. "We'll talk tomorrow. For now, sleep, Xander. We'll guard you and make sure you're all right." "Did they send you?" "No. I came because I wanted to come. You're like my adopted son. Hair and all." Xander nodded, relaxing slightly. "Mellie, quit getting drooled on and come cuddle." She crawled up, squealing at Xander, who cuddled her. They settled against Speed's chest, letting him watch over them and pet Xander's hair. And occasionally Kiss because she was a demanding puppy. *** Wade looked up from scrambling eggs when Mellie crawled into the kitchen. "Don't you have a parent?" he complained. She squealed and patted the door. He checked, the gate on the porch was up and Shells was out there. So was Roque for some reason. He let her go sit on the porch to babble at the pooka. Roque looked up from his coffee drinking, staring at his baby girl. "Mellie," he said quietly. She beamed at him and pointed at the horsy thing, grunting and babbling. She crawled closer, squealing at it. Shells leaned his head down over the fence gate to sniff her. "Good morning, child. Do you have a name? I can't be sure if you're the one I met last time. Baby's scents change so fast." "They named her Amelia but everyone calls her Mellie." Roque sat up and put his feet down. "I let her be adopted by Horatio and Speed so one must be here." "Hmm, that's good of you, Protector." He nuzzled her, making her happy and pat his nose. "Gently, Mellie. Very gently. I'm very soft." Blair came out of the garage and over, smiling at them. "Good morning, Blair. Did you have a good trip back?" "I had an excellent trip back; Jim was pouty but still being an asshole." He opened the gate and picked up the baby. "Hi, Mellie." She beamed and kissed him by slobbering on his cheek then petted the horsy some more. "This is Shells. Can you talk yet?" "Babbling," Wade called from the kitchen. "She's very adorable," Shells said. "She'll grow into a beautiful young woman. Hopefully a content one with a good family." Speed came out. "Good morning." "Hi." He stared at the Irish talking horse. "You must be Shells. Xander told us about you." He petted his neck in that special area horses liked scratched. "Morning, daughter." She squealed and patted him again. "That's Shells, he's a pooka." He took her from Blair. "Thanks, Sandburg." "Not a problem, Speedle. Horatio?" "Being pouty in Miami because he helped piss Xander off." He sat down on the stairs, letting his daughter pet the horsy that she liked so much. "Is the unicorn still at home, Wade?" "Yup. Though Xander invited it to come spend some time up here if it wanted." He came to the door. "Xander?" "Asleep. Really asleep." Speed smiled. "We talked around three and it's better, slightly. Though I'm going to paddle Danny and Don." "His mates?" Shells asked. "Yes. They decided to lock Xander in a safe area when he had to get into a fight to protect some people. They didn't help him calm down or anything. I'd be pissed too." Shells nodded. "Indeed so would I." He smiled when an SUV pulled up. "I believe we're getting a visit from Mr. Standish. I do like that suit on you, Agent Standish." "Thank you, Shells. It's one of my favorites." He smiled at Speed and the baby, who waved. He smiled and waved back. "Someone told Mr. Dunn about immortals?" Wade walked out with his breakfast. "He didn't say a thing about you. Only himself. He admitted to it to get JD away from the bomb while you guys were traveling. I think he told him I am too." "It did grandly freak out our fussy, torturing, overly reactive medic," Ezra said blandly. "He almost put poor Mr. Dunn into a white jacket with very long sleeves and shiny buckles." "Shocks like that are good for the mind," Roque said. "Clears it out so you can think clearly. That's why I keep going back to Sunnydale." "Not the sex?" Wade taunted with an evil smirk. "That too." "Why was Rosenburg in town yesterday?" Wade asked. "I have no idea. Girl shows up in the damdest places. Apologized for not being on the pill then expected more dick." Roque gave him a look. "Still not on something." Wade snorted. "She's not that sort of genius." "Some of us do have common sense," Blair said dryly. He petted Shells, grinning at him. He looked where Mellie was staring. "Aww, the unicorn did show up." Shells looked then trotted over to rub noses with it. "Hello, young prince." The unicorn foal nuzzled him then trotted up to the house, bleating loudly. "He's asleep," Wade said. "Let him. He's had a bad few days, foal." He ate a bite. Mellie was babbling and petting the unicorn all he wanted. "Do we have food here, Shells?" "Some, but not a great amount. Though it was beautiful clover Xander sent for me." Wade got into his phone, finding the phonebook app to find the local horse feed store. He found they had an online order form and called them instead. Just in case. He gave a few quiet orders, Xander's credit card number, then let them handle it. "Give them an hour." Shells smiled and trotted off. The foal was sucking up attention. Wade shook his head. "Kids still creep me out." Speed snickered. "They can do that, yeah. I'm shocked by her sometimes too." Roque got up and came over to sit next to him. "Is she happy and all that?" Speed grinned. "She's such a spoiled princess and my second-favorite redhead. She loves her other father's hair. They bond by burning in the sun on the porch sometimes. She's a good, happy, spoiled girl, Roque." Roque grinned. "Thank you." "Not a problem. I'm not daddy material." Speed smiled. "I learned by adopting Xander." Roque smirked at that. Mellie was reaching for him. "Here, get a hug. She hugs everyone." He hugged her then handed her back. "Thanks." "Want pictures?" "No. That'd be too hard." He got up and went back to the table. He texted Buffy about Willow having been in Denver and hoping that she was still taking her pill. Wade smirked. "It'll get better." "Did you stick Anya with the shot?" "Hers failed because of some antibiotics." Roque shuddered. "But she got her tubes tied after the birth. Toby's a little squeal monkey. They both love Xander's hair." He ate a bite. "He hasn't stolen them from their sitters as much since you've been hanging around." Roque nodded. "Thanks for that. I can't handle watching her grow up." "It's cool. The whole team knows her," Speed said with a grin. "He introduced them to her first, before going to find anyone who might want to adopt her from the poker circle." Roque snorted. "Then Anya went into labor and we showed up to support her so Mellie just sucked me in. I called for backup and Horatio got sucked in too. Toby latched onto Ray while he was still slimy. Adam is the most overprotective father ever. Even more so than Xander is." "I'm glad he doesn't like Disney. It freaked Anya out," Wade said dryly, getting a dirty look from Wade. "It's like Anya didn't realize what Disney was before he took us." He heard a familiar engine. "Winchesters are here." Ezra looked over at the dual quickening feelings. "Boys, good morning." "Tell me it's not a challenge," Dean complained. "Agent Ezra Standish," he said, holding out a hand. Dean beamed and shook it. "Dean and this is my brother Sammy. Hi, Mellie." He took her to cuddle. The unicorn grunted in irritation. "I need my own baby petting. Give her a sec and I'll hand her back." He cuddled, let Sammy cuddle her, which made her offer Ezra one, so he got one and some slobbering on, then the unicorn got her back. He stared at Speed. "When did you get out here?" "Eleven." The dogs ran out, barking at the unicorn and Shells but heading to water bushes. "Xander's up. Dean, go make breakfast?" He nodded, going to do that. Sam sat down beside him. "You were in the neighborhood?" Speed guessed. "I missed Xander. We both missed Xander. And the dogs." He petted Kiss, then she ran off to play with Shells again. Xander came out looking confused. "Sam?" "Yup. We missed you, Xander." He got up to hug him. "No one's played with us in weeks." Xander sniffled. Sam cuddled him and it was nice. "C'mon. Dean's making breakfast for us. We can sit and watch Mellie spoil the unicorn." Xander nodded, settling in with him to watch that. Wade smiled, taking a picture with his phone. The unicorn and Speed both looked at him. He showed it to Speed, who grinned. "Got my good side at least. My ass is fantastic." He helped Mellie pet the mane area and she was a happy baby. "No, leave the horn alone," he ordered. "That can cause booboos that will make Daddy Horatio worry. You know he fusses when he worries." She wiggled over, letting Sam take her again. The unicorn nicely moved over to let her pet him some more. "That thing is greedy," Roque said. "Not too many virgins in Miami," Speed quipped. "There's a good catholic school I could recommend him to," Ezra said dryly. The unicorn looked at him. He leaned down to tell him where it was. The unicorn vanished, going there. Xander grinned. "Thanks." "Not a problem. It's an all girls school so he'll be squealed over for days by them. If it happens to freak some of the nuns out, well, one did put down Mr. Tanner most rudely last year during a case." He smirked. Xander smirked back. "What should I correct Mr. Dunn about?" "I had to give him a reason to get him away from the bomb, Ezra. Sorry." "No, it's all right and we appreciate him still being alive to annoy us with questions." They shared a look. "Take an easy day today." "Is Rosenburg still in town?" Wade asked. "Yes, though we have no idea why." He left, going to the office. He ran into Josiah in the elevator. "I talked with Xander." "Did you tell him fibbing was wrong?" Ezra smirked. "Who said he was?" He went to his desk to check his morning email. Josiah had to ride back up because he was stunned. "You know of such people?" "Yes. I know a few actually." He stared at him. "The people you meet traveling the lesser used pathways of life." "Oh." He sat down. "Then it's true?" Ezra nodded with a smirk. "Are there more in the family?" Ezra nodded. "Huh. So, the assistant Wade?" "No, his was a witch that brought him back." "Pity." He got up and went to sit and think at his own desk. That was weird and wrong but apparently God had allowed it. "JD, there's no such thing!" Nathan complained as he, JD, and Buck came off the elevator. "I'll prove it to you. Everyone poke their fingers." "Haven't you seen enough of our blood?" Ezra demanded dryly. "I don't see the need to spill more on this computer's keyboard. Getting a new one is always a hassle." "He won't leave that fantasy alone," Nathan scowled. Chris came to the door of his office. "He's right. Harris is. That was part of the classified part of the briefing." "Ezra knows others," Josiah said. Chris nodded. "Doesn't surprise me any," he said dryly. "There's a huge fit about them among the officers that go to the GHS convention to guard it. Apparently there's some among them and some among the rest of us. To everyone else they're normal, average people who seem to disappear when they get too old to look so young." He stared at Nathan, who was gaping. "They die by taking their heads. Then some sort of power is given to whoever took it." Ezra coughed. "Only if they're immortal themselves. If a normal does it, as has happened in the past I'm told, then it's not passed on and they're lost." "Okay," Chris said. "Good to know. Do we have any others in town?" "Two that I'm aware of but they have a truce. They also have an organization that watches over them. There's one of those in town doing one's chronicles. He also watches the only safe place to take a challenge of that sort." "Good. So they keep histories?" "They tend to watch but not interfere. There's a few who may but they're not highly thought of the last I heard gossip about such matters." "How old can they get?" JD asked. "There's rumors that one of the original ones is over five thousand but he's considered a myth by some. I know there's some from Ancient Greece. I've run into one of them personally." "Wow," JD said, looking awed. "Think of all the history they lived through." "Yes but it's also wearing," Ezra told him. "They don't have children, it's not something they're born able to do. They're all foundlings. They have to watch their families live and die while they don't age. It's like that book with the spring water that enables a longer than average life." "I read that in school." He considered it. "You know the two in town?" "I know one fairly well and know about the other. I've also met a few others over the years. They seem to congregate in Paris and New York." "Damn glad I'm in Denver then. Scenes like that would drive me nuts since you probably can't arrest them for it," Chris decided. "Not often. And then they tend to commit suicide, sneak out of the morgue, and change lives." He smirked. "Some have gotten all too much attention. His name is Macleod and he's in New York presently or Seacouver." Chris moaned, shaking his head. "Heard of Duncan?" "Heard of Connor." "His clansman but he died last year." "Crap," Chris said. "How old was he?" "British invasion of Scotland times I believe. Both of them." Chris shook his head. "That's insane and has to be depressing. Just living past your spouse can ruin a man." He went back to his office, glad it wasn't him. Vin looked at him. "They're born?" "They are but they're all foundlings. They must first die a violent death to be brought back." "Are there bad ones?" JD asked. "As with any group there's some good, some bad, some cowboys, some agents, some officers, and some thieves. One of the most notable is a female jewel thief. Thankfully she got run out of town when she appeared last time." "So why Xander?" JD asked. "I believe he told me he was attacked by a headhunter. He was brought across by him and then the imbecile decided to let him wake up before taking his head. He did not count on Xander knowing something about swords." "How would a boy from southern California know about swords?" Vin asked. "I saw him using an axe on that battle but I couldn't figure that out." "Ah, you haven't heard of the delightful town called Sunnydale beyond that." He pulled up information on the town, including on a demonic site. "Where he was raised." Vin watched a video and whimpered. "I've seen some of those things in Purgatorio." "Yes, I believe the ones locally are not stakeable but if you ask him or either Winchester brother, who did show up this morning, they can handle them." "I can do that," Vin said. "We've had some missing people. Ey, Cowboy, can I go talk to them about that?" "Go," he called back. "Thanks." He got what he needed and headed out to talk to them. JD's phone rang a few minutes after Vin would've gotten out there, making him stare. "Is that a unicorn?" Ezra looked and nodded. "It was there but I kindly told it where the all girls' catholic school was." Josiah burst out laughing until he took the phone to look at the picture. Then he felt dirty for blaspheming God's name in awe. Nathan snatched it and whimpered. "Damn." The others looked and nodded. Chris smirked. "He said it showed up now and then. Must like the kids in the family group." He went back to the office. "Detective Speedle and his daughter showed up as well," Ezra called after him. "She was spoiling the little horned thing with petting. The dogs played with it too." "I don't need ta know," Chris said. He slammed his office door. "Must not be many virgins in Miami these days," Buck quipped. "I guess he's friends with the pooka," JD quipped back. Buck nodded but swatted him, knocking his ballcap off his head. "Hey!" "Work," Chris called. "Talk about the beasts he has later." "Yes, Dad," Buck snorted. But they did get back to work. *** Xander walked up to Ezra's desk. "Can I have you give an honest opinion as someone outside the family that has taste later on sometime? Anya said that my jewelry isn't as special as someone like Cartier and it's cheaper looking." "You're learning but I can see fit to give an opinion. Do you have pictures?" Xander handed them over. He looked through them. "I think that's charming actually. The wire ones are very fashionable and the back to nature sorts would probably like the hammered silver things." He kept going, staring at one ring. "That is fantastic," he said, smiling at him. "I made it for her for Wade because we were here over her birthday." He snorted. "She has little taste, Xander. I'd have to check the quality in person but I can't see any reason why it'd be worth less without the huge name." Xander handed it over from his pocket. He stared at it. "Very unusual method of securing the stones. Very nicely joined and very pretty." He smiled and handed it back. "Things from Harry Winston and Cartier do carry a slightly higher appraisal value because of the name issue but I'd put that up with there with any of their materials and it's much more original yet still classic." "Thank you. Anya's being a fussy, whiny girl sort like she learned from Buffy." He took the pictures back. "Though I could've waited and let you come out for dinner." Ezra smirked. "You saved me from the dreary drudgery of paperwork for a few minutes. I do not mind in the least." He smirked. "I'd like to see future things. I know some people who would adore having some pieces." Xander beamed and bounced, nodding and hugging him before leaving. "He makes real jewelry?" Buck asked from his desk. "Yes, that was a very pretty opal and ruby ring. Very classy and delicate yet strong. He's done some beautiful work, both simpler and not." He smirked. "I know a few people who would adore having him make them something if he felt the desire to part with things." He got back to work. Buck nodded. "There's that jewelry show next month." "I'll give him a brochure. Thank you." "Welcome." He got back to his own paperwork of doom. *** Xander looked at the gathered family. "Are we already all moving?" "We just followed you," Sam quipped with a grin. "We missed you and if we had known you were trapped over there, we would've let Danny and Don die a few times and come back smarter." Xander sniffled but hugged him. John Winchester faded in. "Why are you hugging my son?" "Because he said mushy stuff," Xander said, glaring at him. "Float off, John." Winchester floated back, looking alarmed. "It's been a really bad week. Sam's trying to make me feel better. So go bother another relative." "I thought we put up firm wards," Dean said, looking at Xander. "I'm not used to salt wards, Dean. I'm used to Wicca wards." "Good point I guess." He nodded. "We can ward the whole property." He glared at his father. "Leave Xander alone, Dad. It's been a shitty week." Mellie squealed and swatted him. He stared at her. "You're not a momma yet, Mellie," he said, picking her up to hug her. "You can't correct boys until you're a mother yourself." She snuggled in and waved at Xander, getting a grin and a wave back. Then she turned and sucked on Dean's throat until she fell asleep. "Awww, you taste good," Speed said dryly once Dean handed her back. "She's always done that to us," Sam said. He looked at Xander. "Debutante and Furry do not get along." "Furry needs his rump smacked." "Yup," Dean agreed. "Ryan said he tried to get aggressive and Pride snapped on his ass, sending him into the river to cool off." "Pride loves his herd, even the flittering one," Xander said with a small shrug. "Furry can have his own pasture." "They have," Sam said. "Are we moving?" he asked more quietly. Xander sighed. "I don't know." Speed hugged him. "We'll help, Xander. Even if you do have to start to date. Horatio's been blaming himself for setting you three up." Xander slumped. Speed cuddled him with the baby. "We'll figure it out. I promise we will." Xander nodded, resting against his shoulder too. "We need to explore this massive plantation. Which house was going to be ours?" "You guys and those two get to pick from one of the five," Wade said. "We can go look them over. We probably should since it's been a few days since bomb squad did." Everyone stared at him. "Some local putz who wanted to be threatened by Xander's presence. They had to pull him out of a fountain he was screwing to get the burning sensation Xander cursed him with to go away." "Almost better than the flying monkeys," Speed said with a grin for his adopted son. Xander beamed back. They got up and went to look at the other houses. Speed was staring at Xander, then at Wade, who shook his head he hadn't cured him. So why was Xander so lowered on his hormones? "Who's over the garage?" Dean asked, looking up. "Jensen and Cougar." "Cool." Xander pointed and Dean grinned. "Sammy would love that. Sammy, look, pseudo tree house." He hurried over to climb it and look, beaming at his brother. Dean decided he liked the inside and it was one of the smaller houses. Speed picked theirs and Xander got the door signs he had carved to let them hang them. Wade already had his put up. The others they'd let Ray and Adam and anyone else decide. They went back to the enormous kitchen, twice the size of the one in Miami, and settled in to make dinner. Of course, they made way too much so Sam called Ezra to find out where they could donate it. He got a recommendation from Vin who'd meet them there. They loaded everything into the original SUV at the house and took it down there while Xander babysat Mellie and the dogs. And the ghost of John Winchester. "Are you gay?" John asked. Xander looked at him. "Bi with a strong leaning thanks to the girls in my former life. And before you ask, I backed up a slayer, John." "Oh." He stared, blinking a few times. "Huh." He nodded. "So this hormone crap?" "It's a medical condition," he said impatiently. "If I could control it I would." "You're not backed up now." Xander stared at him. "You so sure of that?" John shuddered. "Frankly, I'm also sick at the moment and the medicine I'm taking for that is holding some of it down." He went back to teaching the puppies fetch while Mellie learned too. John faded out. Xander shook his head. "You'll get him used to us," he told the puppies. Who all lapped him and let him roll the ball again. Mellie squealed and crawled after it. Ramses let her have it so he could lap her. Xander laughed, capturing it on the camera. "That's very polite, Ramses. Thank you. Good boy." He petted him and rolled the ball again. Kiss was still an aggressive mooch but she even deferred to the baby because Kiss knew daddy would swat her good if she did more than lap any baby gently. Xander rolled it again and Mellie cuddled up to watch it, yawning some. "I know, it's been a long day." Ramses stole the ball from Hershey and brought it back, earning ear pets. "Very good steal, Ramses." He turned off the phone camera and let the dogs pile into his lap with the baby for a good nap. *** John faded in next to his son. "Why is Xander taking medicine for something? He doesn't seem sick." Sam considered it, looking at Speed, who nodded. "Yeah, we can figure that out." "He has an infection that's seeming to never go away on his leg," Wade said from where he was being forced to help by Blair. "It's been two weeks." "Huh," Speed said. "We'll have to look at what he's using. Maybe Greg didn't test it." They got back to serving the extras they had made. When dinner was done at the shelter they headed back to the farm, finding Xander curled up on the floor around Mellie and the puppies. They were all using Mellie as a pillow to protect her and it was very cute. Most of the group took pictures of it. Xander made an inquisitive grunting noise. "Just stay still, Xander. It's adorable." Xander blinked and smiled. They caught that picture too. "Dogs, can I have the baby?" Kiss growled. Speed stared at her, hands on his hips. "Don't make me turn into Horatio, Kiss." She whimpered but got petted. They let him have the baby to put down in their room and Dean helped Xander upstairs to look at his leg and the medicine he was taking. "Fucking tentacle spike," Dean complained loudly. He brought it down on the cotton pad. He also put down the tube of ointment. "There, for Greg." He went back up to cuddle Xander and make him feel better. Sam followed, taking Xander's free side. The dogs pounced them to get their own spots and it was nice. Even if Xander was cuddling Ramses like he was a teddybear on Dean's chest. Speed properly wrapped it and got Xander's messenger demon necklace to summon one. He wrote out a note and sent the package to Greg. Then he went to bed too. Mellie had worn him out trying to chase the unicorn and the puppies. He spotted Xander's phone and the 'new film saved' message. He got into it, grinning at the very polite dog. He uploaded it to the internet movie sharing site and went to bed. Horatio would be thrilled. John Winchester watched over the whole houseful of really strange people. And some really tough guys. He had no idea how Xander had gathered his sons into this group of semi-family. TBC... to next part back to index

Portland, Maine is one of our favorite cities in the United States and in this guide we’re sharing the best things to do in Portland, Maine, plus a two day itinerary! For our final stop on our big month long New England road trip we headed to Portland, Maine, which is a city we had been looking forward to visiting for so long. And it was basically love at first sight! With a historic downtown area, gorgeous waterfront views, an amazing restaurant scene, and unique activities, Portland had a vibe that we meshed with so perfectly and during our few days in the city, we had the best time trying delicious local foods, wandering around town, and even catching lobster. It quickly became one of our favorite cities we have been to! Check out our time in Portland, Maine, including exploring the city and going lobstering! Ready to experience this beautiful city for yourself? In this guide we’re sharing the best things to do in Portland, Maine, as well as all of our insight from our visit to this city, including where to stay, when to visit, how to get around, and a two day Portland, Maine itinerary to help you prioritize your time. We hope you fall in love with Portland like we did! Looking for more things to do in Maine and New England? - New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary - Our Favorite Hikes in Acadia National Park - The Best Things to do in Acadia National Park - How to see the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park - Hiking the Precipice Trail at Acadia National Park - How to backpack the Cutler Coast in Maine - 7 Day Vermont Portland, Maine Portland is the largest city in the state of Maine, with 40% of Maine’s residents living in the general area. But despite this, it still retains a small city feel, with historic buildings and no giant skyscrapers (the tallest building will soon be an 18 story building). The city was established in 1786 and was originally the state capital of Maine, until Augusta took the title in 1832. Because of its location on the water, Portland became a booming center of trade, as it was the closest U.S. port to Europe. The city continued to grow when the railroad came to Portland in 1832, even overcoming a fire that destroyed much of the city in 1866, but around the 1960s, the area now known as Old Port began to deteriorate. In the 1980s, the waterfront experienced a rebirth and today the Old Port neighborhood is one of the best preserved east coast historic waterfronts and has maintained much of its historic charm from the 1800s, with brick sidewalks and ornate buildings. While the city itself is beautiful to look at, what we loved about Portland is that it has a little something for everyone. Whether you’re a fine dining foodie or prefer a good food truck (like us!), enjoy museums and art, love to walk around parks and experience history, or prefer to be out on the water, there is no shortage of things to do in Portland, Maine for any type of traveler. When to visit Portland, Maine You can visit Portland, Maine year round, but your experience will vary depending on the season. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect! Winter As you can imagine, winter is bitterly cold in Maine. The lows in December, January, and February are well below freezing, with highs barely above freezing. If you enjoy snow, there are lots of snow activities to partake in near the city, including skiing, plus some great coffee shops and bars to warm you up afterwards. Note: Some activities and restaurants close in the winter, so you may not get the true Portland experience, but you will be able to see the city in a way many tourists do not and have less crowds. Spring The spring time will still be pretty cold, so you’ll want to pack layers for your visit, as the warmer temperatures don’t really come around until May. But the springtime will bring less crowds and flowers in bloom, with many outdoor activities becoming more accessible again. Summer Summer is the best time to visit if you want the perfect weather and most activity options. You’ll have temperatures that rarely go above 80 and the lowest chances of rain all year. However, this pleasant weather does bring the summer vacation crowds, so you’ll want to book activities and lodging early. There are also quite a few fun festivals and events in the summertime to enjoy! Fall If you’re looking for crisp, cool temperatures, fall foliage, slightly cheaper accommodations, and less crowds then fall is your season in Portland. We visited in the fall and LOVED it! Our visit was during mid to late October, around peak fall foliage time, and we were treated to sunny, warmer days. We may have just gotten lucky though, as typically October and November are rainier months, so make sure to bring a rain jacket and some layers just in case! Getting to + around Portland, Maine Portland is located in the southern part of Maine and is close to other major cities in New England and out East, which makes it pretty easy to get to no matter your mode of transportation. Flying to Portland, Maine The closest airport to fly into will be the Portland International Jetport, which is located very close to downtown Portland and is Maine’s largest airport. It is served by several major airlines including American Airlines, Delta, jetBlue, Southwest, and United. If the Portland airport doesn’t offer a good flight option for you, the Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is about 2 hours away and is a massive airport that is serviced by all major airlines and offers nonstop flights from many destinations in the United States. Driving to Portland, Maine Driving to Portland instead? Here is how far the city is from nearby popular destinations: - Boston, MA: 2 hours (112 miles) - Providence, RI: 2.5 hours (163 miles) - Bar Harbor, ME: 3 hours (175 miles) - Burlington, VT: 4 hours (257 miles) - New York, NY: 5 hours (316 miles) - Montreal, Quebec, CA: 5.5 hours (277 miles) - Buffalo, NY: 8.5 hours (556 miles) Note: These times are estimates based on no traffic, but plan to spend longer on the road. Also, some of the times above include driving tolls. If you want to avoid paying for tolls, make sure to turn off tolls on your Google Maps settings. Getting around Portland, Maine During our time in Portland, we did a combination of walking and driving to get around the city. The Old Port area is very walkable, but to get between neighborhoods and to explore some of the spots a bit out of town, you’ll either need to drive or rent a car, take a Lyft/Uber, or take public transportation. For Uber and Lyft, we’d highly recommend looking at their fare estimator tools (Uber, Lyft) to see how much you’d expect to spend when getting around town. While it would likely be affordable around town, it may get pricey to visit some of the spots outside of the downtown and main city area. We still think it would be cheaper than renting a car, but if you plan to explore more of Maine, having a car is worth it! Where to park in downtown Portland Since we were staying in our van while visiting Portland and were sleeping outside of town, we had to drive into town any time we wanted to explore. And while we mostly explored by foot once in town, we still had to find parking for our van. Our van is 22.5 feet long, so it’s longer than a normal vehicle, but we were able to find parking both times we drove into town. The first time was in the afternoon and we needed parking for about 5 hours, so we parked in this lot, which was $20 for all day parking. It was definitely pricier than street parking, but was a safe spot to leave the van. The second day we arrived in town very early and parked here at a meter, which only cost a few dollars for a few hours. It was a great spot! Note: RV parking (trailers or anything over 23 feet) is basically non-existent in the city, so if you have an RV, we suggest staying at a campground and either driving your vehicle or taking a Lyft around. Where to Stay in Portland, Maine To truly experience Portland, we suggest staying in the downtown area, where you can walk to coffee shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as the waterfront. Below are some of our top suggestions for Airbnbs (our preferred way to stay when not in our van!) and hotels, all convenient to the best things to do in this Portland guide. Hotels Portland has almost any hotel chain you can think of right in the downtown/Old Port area. - Hampton Inn Portland Downtown – Waterfront - Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront - Hyatt Place Portland – Old Port - Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront - Courtyard by Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront Airbnbs Staying in an Airbnb would be a great way to experience the downtown/Old Port area of Portland like a local. East End, Walk to the Old Port (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom): This Airbnb is located in the charming East End area, which has a more neighborhood feel than Old Port, but is still close by to enjoy all of the popular sights. It also includes parking, which is a big perk! Bright & Spacious Apartment with Amazing Shower (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom): This bright and airy apartment is located on the western side of downtown, north of West End. It has all the amenities you’d need in an Airbnb stay including a washer and dryer and very nice bathroom and shower. Extraordinary Architectural Masterpiece Downtown (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom): This beautiful penthouse rental is located on top of the Old Port area. You have great views of the surrounding area through the big windows and can even enjoy them outside in your own private courtyard. It has a fully stocked kitchen with a gas range, but is also walking distance from many of the delicious restaurants we mention in this guide. Quiet, Sunny 3 Br 2 Bath with Deck and Views (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms): This second floor rental can sleep up to 6, has beautiful bedrooms, and a deck with gorgeous views of the water, as well as a grill so you can cook and enjoy the outdoor space! Camping If you’re like us and traveling in a van or RV, here are some options close to Portland, but still a drive away. Bayley’s Camping Resort This campground is a 21 minute drive to Portland and has all the camping options you can think of. Along with loads of amenities, there is even live music on the weekends! Saco / Old Orchard Beach KOA Holiday This KOA is also located about a 25 minute drive southwest of Portland and has all the camping amenities you’ll need. Old Orchard Beach Campground This campground has 4 main areas with 3 of them being for campers and RVers. Reviewers say it is very clean, the staff is very friendly and is in a great location. Boondocking There aren’t very many boondocking spots in Portland, in nature or even in a parking lot. If you’re in a pinch or are just in for one night, the Falmouth Walmart allows overnight parking and the Freeport Village Station is a quiet place as well. We stayed at both of these and had a safe, quiet experience. How much time do you need in Portland, Maine? Portland, Maine is what we like to call a “liveable city.” This is a title we give cities we visit that we could see ourselves living in and when visiting, you may spend a lot of time doing things that you would do at home, like visiting parks, going out to eat, checking out coffee shops or bars, and shopping. They may have tourist attractions, but the town doesn’t necessarily revolve around tourist sights and for the most part the things you do are relatively normal activities. And what that means for us is that we could spend tons of time in these cities just hopping around to different restaurants, going for walks, and just enjoy “living” there. So while you could spend weeks in Portland just experiencing life like a local, for a tourist trying to visit the most popular sights, we suggest having 2-3 days. This timeframe will give you the chance to experience some of the best activities, explore the downtown area, plus try a handful of good restaurants. We’re including a two day Portland, Maine itinerary at the end of this guide to help you plan your time in the city! The Best Things to do in Portland, Maine Ready to explore the city? Below are some of the best things to do in Portland, Maine, based on our experience, as well as spots that were high on our list and highly recommended, but we ran out of time to visit. If you’re overwhelmed by all there is to do, we’re including a two day itinerary below as well! Watch our time in Portland, Maine, including exploring the city and going lobstering! Drink Local Coffee The best way to start our day in a new city is with a local coffee shop! And lucky for us, Portland has no shortage of solid options. We LOVED Tandem Coffee Roasters while in Portland, which not only roasts their own coffee, but also makes breakfast biscuits that we hear are solid (arrive early to snag one). This coffee shop is located in a converted 1960s gas station and you know it’s good when locals are lined up before it even opens. Some other good coffee shops to check out are Bard Coffee, Yordprom, Speckled Ax, Burundi Star Coffee, Coffee By Design, Higher Grounds, and The Proper Cup. Walk around Old Port One of the best things to do in Portland, Maine is to just walk around the Old Port area, which goes from Commercial Street along the water up a few blocks. This area of Portland is extremely walkable and has so much of the historic charm we mentioned earlier in the guide. While in Old Port you can check out the different shops and boutiques, enjoy the different restaurants (more on that next!), walk along the water, and maybe see fishermen loading and unloading their daily catch. You could spend a whole afternoon just in this area and likely not see it all! Eat your way through the city! Portland was named Bon Appetit’s 2018 Restaurant City of the Year and there is NO shortage of delicious restaurants to enjoy while in the city. In fact, where to eat will likely be the toughest decision you’ll have to make during your visit, as there are just so many incredible options. Where we ate During our visit we visited a couple spots that we highly recommend, plus a few that we were dying to try, but ran out of time for. First up on our Portland food adventure we went to The Holy Donut for their famous Maine potato donuts, which have a unique texture from a regular donut, but are so hearty and delicious. We got three donuts total, including a Chocolate Sea Salt (this flavor is their most popular), Pumpkin Head, and Maple Bacon, which was hands down our favorite. They also have gluten free and vegan donuts too! We also ate at Bite Into Maine, which was said to have one of the best lobster rolls in town. We were torn between the Maine style, which is cold and is tossed in mayo and has chives on top, or the Connecticut style which is hot and has melted butter that they pour on top right in front of you. The Connecticut style sounded better to us, but we were in Maine afterall, so we had to try both. And to our surprise, they were both equally delicious and we couldn’t really pick a favorite. Both had incredibly tender lobster meat and were served on a heavenly, toasted New England style hot dog bun. At the time of our visit, each roll (we got the 4.5 oz) was $26, which is pricey, but we had heard that lobster was more expensive in 2021 due to demand and that this was a pretty standard price. We typically do not spend that much on food, but it was more than worth it to try this decadent delicacy! We also got a homemade Whoopie Pie from Bite Into Maine, which is Maine’s official state treat. It’s two chocolate cake-like rounds with a creamy filling between them and is said to have been popular in Maine since 1925. It was delicious! And we washed it all down with the state fruit of Maine, but in soda form, Blueberry soda. Other spots to check out While we wish we could’ve eaten more in Maine, our time constraints and budget didn’t allow it, but there were some spots that came highly recommended to us that are high on our list for next time and we feel confident recommending. Hifi Donuts for more traditional donuts, Standard Baking for delicious baked goods, Eventide Oyster Co. for oysters and other seafood, Duckfat for duck fat fries (they also have a frites shack in town), poutine, and sandwiches, The Highroller Lobster Co for lobster rolls and other lobster filled dishes, Terlingua for BBQ, and Hot Suppa for brunch. There are obviously many more amazing local restaurants than this, but those are the spots that are pretty iconic to check out if it’s your first visit. Go on a food tour! Can’t decide where to eat and want to experience a taste of many spots? Go on a food tour! Maine Day Adventures offers food tours in both the Old Port and East Side neighborhoods! Go Lobstering! When you think of Maine, the top food item that comes to mind is likely lobster (or lobstahh!) and our absolute favorite thing we did in Portland, Maine was go lobstering with Lucky Catch Cruises! On this lobstering tour you go to not only get out on the water and learn about how lobsters are caught, but you also get hands-on experience, from baiting and emptying traps, measuring lobsters, banding claws, learning the difference between males and females, and so much more. The crew really makes you feel like you’re a fisherman and puts you to work. It was one of the most fun and educational tours we have ever been on! (Watch our full experience here) You can choose between different sailing locations and we did the Seal Watch tour, as it worked best with our schedule. We didn’t see any seals, but that didn’t matter, the views were still amazing and we were so focused and jazzed about catching lobsters! And at the end, you have the option to buy a lobster from the boat, which may be one that you just caught (don’t worry, they have extras from earlier cruises if you didn’t catch many, like our boat). You buy this lobster at market price (ours was $10) and then can take it over to Portland Lobster Company, where they’ll steam it and provide some sides, like fries, corn, and coleslaw for only $12. While we definitely preferred our lobster in roll form, it was so fun to catch lobsters and eat one fresh right afterwards! Tip: make sure to bring cash to buy a lobster AND for a tip! Take a ferry to Peaks Island Want to visit an island while in Portland? Take a ferry to Peaks Island, which is just a 17 minute ride away on the Casco Bay Ferry. While on the island you can walk around, kayak, rent bikes or a golf cart, and enjoy a couple public beaches. It’s a calm, relaxing getaway from the “big” city! Visit the Portland Observatory The Portland Observatory, which is located on the east side of town, is a historic maritime signal station and is the only one left in the United States! It was created in 1807 by order of Captain Lemuel Moody as a way to alert ship owners of their ships arriving, as you couldn’t see the ships entering the harbor until they were almost there. Moody charged a fee of $5 per year for ship owners to be alerted of their ships and used a telescope to identify vessels as far as 30 miles away. This maritime signal station ran until 1923, when two-way radios replaced its purpose. It has been renovated multiple times and is now open to the public to experience and costs $10 per adult for tours. Unfortunately this spot was closed during our visit, but we would love to check it out next time! Kayak to Fort Gorges During our cruise with Lucky Catch Cruises, we went by this cool looking fort on an island on the Casco Bay called Fort Gorges. This fort was built in 1864 to protect Portland from foreign naval powers, but by the time it was completed, new technologies for artillery had emerged and it was already obsolete. It ended up being a storage facility in both World Wars and was then given to the city of Portland. The only way to access this fort is by boat or kayak, which limits how many people actually get to experience it. If you don’t have your own method to get out there, we suggest going on a tour with Portland Paddle, who will ensure you cross the Casco Bay safely and take you all around the fort. It is worth noting that the fort isn’t maintained very well, so it provides a very dark, rustic experience, which in our opinion, only makes it more fun and authentic to check out! Explore Fort Williams Park & the Portland Head Light Another huge highlight for us in Portland was Fort Williams Park, which is a free park that was formerly a military fort. Construction of the fort began in 1873 and the fort became officially named Fort Williams in 1899. During World War 1 the fort was manned by artillery companies and National Guard troops and during WWII it served as the headquarters of the Harbor Defenses of Portland, before becoming more of a training site in 1951. Today there are a couple batteries to check out, an old mansion, and one of the most iconic lighthouses in the US, called the Portland Head Light. This lighthouse was the first lighthouse completed and put into service by the government under the Lighthouse Act of 1789. It was first lit in 1791, using 16 whale oil lamps. The tower and keeper’s quarters have changed a bit over time and the tower now stands at 80 ft tall. And it is said to be the most photographed lighthouse in America, and also the oldest in Maine. Tip: If you want to check out more lighthouses, Bug Light and the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse are close by too! Another perk of Fort Williams Park is that Bite Into Maine is located here, so you can enjoy history, views, and lobster rolls all in one spot! Walk the Eastern Promenade Located on the East Side of town is the Eastern Promenade, which is Portland’s largest developed park. Here you can walk the 2 mile trail that goes along the Casco Bay waterfront, hang out at a beach, and just soak up the views. If you’re looking for a nice, scenic stroll, this is a great stop! Visit the Victoria Mansion For architecture lovers, check out the Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House. This home is a perfect example of a 19th century Italian Villa style home, with a gorgeous exterior and interior to explore, with 90% of the interior being original. It was built as a summer home for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife and completed in 1860. Once Ruggles died, his wife Olive sold the home to J.R. Libby, who kept it in almost the exact same condition and lived in the home until 1929. The house has been a public museum since 1941 and costs $16 per adult, with different rates for seniors, children, students, and families. Go Brewery Hopping Portland is home to an amazing craft brewery scene and while we don’t drink, if you do, you’ll be in beer heaven! Here are some top breweries in town: - Allagash Brewing Company - Bissell Brothers Brewing Company - Oxbow Blending & Bottling - Foundation Brewing Company - Austin Street Brewery - Rising Tide Brewing Company - Belleflower Brewing Company - Lone Pine Brewing Company - Fore River Brewing Company If you want a safe way to check out multiple breweries around town and not worry about driving, go on a brewery tour with Maine Brews Cruise! Portland is home to an arts district, which is located around Congress and High Streets and was created in 1995 to be the cultural and creative hub of the city, with different galleries. The Portland Museum of Art is the most popular attraction in this area and focuses on a mission called “Art for All,” which was created to ensure the museum is diverse, inclusive, and accessible for all. There are changing exhibits, as well as permanent collections to explore while in the museum. It costs $18 per adult (22 and up), $15 for seniors and students over 22 years old, and is FREE for anyone 21 or under. If you visit the Arts District on the first Friday of the month you can take part in the First Friday Art Walk. During this event, all of the art institutions in the Arts District open their doors for free from 5 PM to 8 PM. Two Day Portland Itinerary Now that you know of some of the best things to do in Portland, Maine, here is our suggestion of how to combine some of these activities into two epic days in the city! While you won’t be able to see and eat it all in two days, these are our top suggestions to ensure you experience the best of Portland. Day 1 - Grab coffee at Tandem Coffee Roasters and then donuts at The Holy Donut. - Spend the morning and afternoon doing one or a combination of these activities: - Lobstering cruise with Lucky Catch Cruises (our TOP PICK!) and then enjoy steamed lobster at Portland Lobster Co. - Kayak to Fort Gorges - Take a ferry to Peaks Island - Go on a food or brewery tour - Visit the Portland Art Museum or Victoria Mansion. - Enjoy the rest of the day by walking around the Old Port area, going into different shops. - For dinner, head to Eventide. We suggest trying to make a reservation in advance! Day 2 - Start the day with breakfast at Hot Suppa or grab a pastry at Standard Baking. - Head to Fort Williams Park for the morning and afternoon. Explore the bunkers, outside of the mansion, and the Portland Head Light! - Have lobster rolls and whoopie pies at Bite Into Maine. - Spend the rest of the day doing any activities from day one that you didn’t have time for, or go up in the Portland Observatory and walk around the Eastern Promenade. - Enjoy your final meal at Duckfat or Terlingua. Ready to explore Portland, Maine? Pin this guide with the best things to do in Portland, Maine to help plan your trip!

Primers • Python Tips and Tricks - Python Built-in Methods - Strings - Using isinstance()vs. type()for type-checking - Lists - Create a copy of a list using =vs. <list>.copy() - Get counter and value while looping using enumerate() list.append()vs. list.extend()vs. += - Get Elements - Unpacking - Join Iterables - Interaction Between Two Lists - Apply Functions to Elements in a List - Tuple - Dictionaries - Function - Classes - Abstract Classes: Declare Methods without Implementation classmethod: What is it and When to Use it getattr: a Better Way to Get the Attribute of a Class __call__: Call your Class Instance like a Function @staticmethod: use the function without adding the attributes required for a new instance - Property Decorator: A Pythonic Way to Use Getters and Setters __str__and __repr__: Create a String Representation of a Python Object¶ attrs: Bring Back the Joy of Writing Classes! - Datetime - Best Practices - Code Speed - Python Built-in Libraries - Sort the elements in the list by the key - Group elements in the list by the key Python Built-in Methods - This section covers some useful Python built-in methods and libraries. Strings Using isinstance() vs. type() for type-checking isinstance()caters for inheritance (an instance of a derived class is an instance of a base class, too), while checking for equality of type does not (it demands identity of types and rejects instances of subtypes, a.k.a. subclasses). For your code to support inheritance, isinstance()is less bad than checking identity of types because it seamlessly supports inheritance. It’s not that isinstanceis, however, quite a special case—a builtin type that exists only to let you use isinstance()(both strand unicodesubclass basestring). Strings are sequences (you could loop over them, index them, slice them, …), but you generally want to treat them as “scalar” types—it’s somewhat inconvenient (but a reasonably frequent use case) to treat all kinds of strings (and maybe other scalar types, i.e., ones you can’t loop on) one way, all containers (lists, sets, dicts, …) in another way, and basestringplus isinstance()helps you do that—the overall structure of this idiom is something like: s1 = unicode("test") s2 = "test" isinstance(s1, basestring) ## Returns True isinstance(s2, basestring) ## Returns True - A gotcha with isinstance()is that the booldatatype is a subclass of the intdatatype: issubclass(bool, int) ## Returns True Index of a Substring using str.find() or str.index() - To find the index of a substring in a string, use the str.find()method which returns the index of the first occurrence of the substring if found and -1otherwise. sentence = "Today is Saturaday" - Find the index of first occurrence of the substring: sentence.find("day") ## Returns 2 sentence.find("nice") ## Returns -1 - You can also provide the starting and stopping position of the search: ## Start searching for the substring at index 3 sentence.find("day", 3) ## Returns 15 - Note that you can also use str.index()to accomplish the same result. Replace a String with Another String Using Regular Expressions To either replace one string with another string or to change the order of characters in a string, use re.sub(). re.sub()allows you to use a regular expression to specify the pattern of the string you want to swap. In the code below, we replace 3/7/2021 with Sunday and replace 3/7/2021 with 2021/3/7. import re text = "Today is 3/7/2021" match_pattern = r"(\d+)/(\d+)/(\d+)" re.sub(match_pattern, "Sunday", text) ## Returns 'Today is Sunday' re.sub(match_pattern, r"\3-\1-\2", text) ## Returns 'Today is 2021-3-7' Lists Create a copy of a list using = vs. <list>.copy() - When you create a copy of a list using the =operator, a change in the second list will lead to the change in the first list. It is because both lists point to the same object. l1 = [1, 2, 3] l2 = l1 l2.append(4) l2 ## Returns [1, 2, 3, 4] l1 ## Returns [1, 2, 3, 4] l1 is l2 ## Returns True since they are the same object - Instead of using the =operator, use the copy()method. Now any changes to the second list will not reflect in the first list. l1 = [1, 2, 3] l2 = l1.copy() l2.append(4) l2 ## Returns [1, 2, 3, 4] l1 ## Returns [1, 2, 3] Get counter and value while looping using enumerate() - Rather than using for i in range(len(array))to access both the index and the value of the array, use enumerate()instead. It produces the same result but it is much cleaner. arr = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'] ## Instead of this for i in range(len(arr)): print(i, arr[i]) ## Prints ## 0 a ## 1 b ## 2 c ## 3 d ## 4 e ## Use this for i, val in enumerate(arr): print(i, val) ## Prints ## 0 a ## 1 b ## 2 c ## 3 d ## 4 e list.append() vs. list.extend() vs. += - To add a list to another list, use the list.append()method or +=. To add elements of a list to another list, use the list.extend()method. a = [1, 2, 3] a.append([4, 5]) a ## Returns [1, 2, 3, [4, 5]] a = [1, 2, 3] a.extend([4, 5]) a ## Returns [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] a = [1, 2, 3] a += [4, 5] a ## Returns [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Get Elements random.choice(): Get a Randomly Selected Element from a List - Besides getting a random number, you can also get a random element from a Python list using random. In the code below, “stay at home” was picked randomly from a list of options. import random to_do_tonight = ['stay at home', 'attend party', 'do exercise'] random.choice(to_do_tonight) ## Returns 'attend party' random.sample(): Get Multiple Random Elements from a List - To get nrandom elements from a list, use random.sample. import random random.seed(1) nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] random_nums = random.sample(nums, 2) random_nums ## Returns [2, 1] heapq: Find n Max Values of a List To extract nmax values from a large Python list, using heapqwill speed up the code. In the code below, using heapqis >2x faster than using sorting and indexing. Both methods try to find the max values of a list of 10000 items. import heapq import random from timeit import timeit random.seed(0) l = random.sample(range(0, 10000), 10000) def get_n_max_sorting(l: list, n: int): l = sorted(l, reverse=True) return l[:n] def get_n_max_heapq(l: list, n: int): return heapq.nlargest(n, l) expSize = 1000 n = 100 time_sorting = timeit("get_n_max_sorting(l, n)", number=expSize, globals=globals()) time_heapq = timeit('get_n_max_heapq(l, n)', number=expSize, globals=globals()) ratio = round(time_sorting/time_heapq, 3) print(f'Run {expSize} experiments. Using heapq is {ratio} times' ' faster than using sorting') ## Prints Run 1000 experiments. Using heapq is 2.827 times faster than using sorting Unpacking How to Unpack Iterables - To assign items of a Python iterables (such as list, tuple, string) to different variables, you can unpack the iterable like below. nested_arr = [[1, 2, 3], ["a", "b"], 4] num_arr, char_arr, num = nested_arr num_arr ## Prints [1, 2, 3] char_arr ## Prints ['a', 'b'] Extended Iterable Unpacking: Ignore Multiple Values when Unpacking - To ignore multiple values when unpacking a Python iterable, add * to _ as shown below. - This is called “Extended Iterable Unpacking” and is available in Python 3.x. a, *_, b = [1, 2, 3, 4] print(a) ## Prints 1 b ## Prints 4 _ ## Prints [2, 3] Join Iterables join(): Turn an Iterable into a String - To turn an iterable into a string, use join(). - In the code below, elements are joined in the list fruits using ,. fruits = ['apples', 'oranges', 'grapes'] fruits_str = ', '.join(fruits) print(f"Today, I need to get some {fruits_str} in the grocery store") ## Prints "Today, I need to get some apples, oranges, grapes in the grocery store" zip(): Create Pairs of Elements from Two Iterators - To to create pairs of elements from two lists use the zip()method which aggregates them in a list of tuples. nums = [1, 2, 3, 4] string = "abcd" combinations = zip(nums, string) combinations ## Prints [(1, 'a'), (2, 'b'), (3, 'c'), (4, 'd')] nums = [1, 2, 3, 4] chars = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'] comb = zip(nums, chars) comb ## Returns [(1, 'a'), (2, 'b'), (3, 'c'), (4, 'd')] - You can also unzip the list of tuples back to it’s original form by using zip(*list_of_tuples): nums_2, chars_2 = zip(*comb) nums_2, chars_2 ## Returns ((1, 2, 3, 4), ('a', 'b', 'c', 'd')) Interaction Between Two Lists set.intersection(): Find the Intersection Between Two Sets - To get the common elements between two iterators, convert them to sets then use set.intersection()(Python 2) or the &operator (Python 3). requirement1 = ['pandas', 'numpy', 'statsmodel'] requirement2 = ['numpy', 'statsmodel', 'sympy', 'matplotlib'] ## Python 2 intersection = set.intersection(set(requirement1), set(requirement2)) list(intersection) ## Returns ['statsmodel', 'numpy'] ## Python 3 intersection = set(requirement1) & set(requirement2) list(intersection) ## Returns ['statsmodel', 'numpy'] <set>.difference(): Find the Difference Between Two Sets - To find the difference between two iterators, convert them to sets then apply <set>.difference()(Python 2) or the -operator (Python 3) to the sets. a = [1, 2, 3, 4] b = [1, 3, 4, 5, 6] ## Python 2 ## Find elements in a but not in b diff = set(a).difference(set(b)) list(diff) ## Returns [2] ## Find elements in b but not in a diff = set(b).difference(set(a)) list(diff) ## Returns [5, 6] ## Python 3 ## Find elements in a but not in b diff = set(a) - set(b) list(diff) ## Returns [2] ## Find elements in b but not in a diff = set(b) - set(a) list(diff) ## Returns [5, 6] set.union(): Find the Union Between Two Sets - To get the union of elements from two sets, use set.union()(Python 2) or the |operator (Python 3). requirement1 = ['pandas', 'numpy', 'statsmodel'] requirement2 = ['numpy', 'statsmodel', 'sympy', 'matplotlib'] ## Python 2 union = set.union(set(requirement1), set(requirement2)) list(union) ## Returns ['sympy', 'statsmodel', 'numpy', 'pandas', 'matplotlib'] ## Python 3 union = set(requirement1) | set(requirement2) list(union) ## Returns ['sympy', 'statsmodel', 'numpy', 'pandas', 'matplotlib'] Apply Functions to Elements in a List any(): Check if Any Element of an Iterable is True - To check if any element of an iterable is True, use any(). In the code below, any()find if any element in the text is in uppercase. text = "abcdE" any(c.isupper() for c in text) ## Returns True all(): Check if All Elements of an Iterable Are Strings - To check if all elements of an iterable are strings, use all()and isinstance(). l = ['a', 'b', 1, 2] all(isinstance(item, str) for item in l) ## Returns False filter(): Get the Elements of an Iterable that a Function Evaluates True To get the elements of an iterable that a function returns true, use filter(). In the code below, the filter method gets items that are fruits: def get_fruit(val: str): fruits = ['apple', 'orange', 'grape'] return val in fruits items = ['chair', 'apple', 'water', 'table', 'orange'] fruits = filter(get_fruit, items) print(list(fruits)) ## Returns ['apple', 'orange'] map(): Apply a Function to Each Item of an Iterable - To apply the given function to each item of a given iterable, use map. nums = [1, 2, 3] list(map(str, nums)) ## Returns ['1', '2', '3'] multiply_by_two = lambda num: num * 2 list(map(multiply_by_two, nums)) ## Returns [2, 4, 6] sort(): Sort a List of Tuples by the First or Second Item - To sort a list of tuples by the first or second item in a tuple, use the sort()method. To specify which item to sort by, use the keyparameter. prices = [('apple', 3), ('orange', 1), ('grape', 3), ('banana', 2)] ## Sort by the first item by_letter = lambda x: x[0] prices.sort(key=by_letter) prices ## Returns [('apple', 3), ('banana', 2), ('grape', 3), ('orange', 1)] ## Sort by the second item in reversed order by_price = lambda x: x[1] prices.sort(key=by_price, reverse=True) prices ## Returns [('apple', 3), ('grape', 3), ('banana', 2), ('orange', 1)] Tuple slice: Make Your Indices More Readable by Naming Your Slice - Have you ever been confused when looking into code that contains hardcoded slice indices? Even if you understand it now, you might forget why you choose specific indices in the future. data = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] some_sum = sum(data[:8]) * sum(data[8:]) - If so, name your slice. Python provides a nice built-in function for that purpose called slice. By using names, your code is much easier to understand. JANUARY = slice(0, 8) FEBRUARY = slice(8, len(data)) some_sum = sum(data[JANUARY] * sum(data[FEBRUARY])) print(some_sum) ## Prints 684 Dictionaries Merge two dictionaries - Starting Python 3.5, you can use dictionary unpacking options: {'a': 1, **{'b': 2}} ## Returns {'a': 1, 'b': 2} {'a': 1, **{'a': 2}} ## Returns {'a': 2} Note that if there are overlapping keys in the input dictionaries, the value in the last dictionary for the common key will be stored. You can use this idea to merge two dictionaries: d1 = {'a': 1} d2 = {'b': 2} {**d1, **d2} ## Returns {'a': 1, 'b': 2} - However, Python 3.9 or greater provides the simplest method to merge two dictionaries: d1 = {'a': 1} d2 = {'b': 2} d3 = d1 | d2 ## Returns {'a': 1, 'b': 2} - To merge two dictionaries in Python 3.4 or lower: d1 = {'a': 1} d2 = {'b': 2} d2.update(d1) ## Returns {'a': 1, 'b': 2} max(dict) - Applying maxon a Python dictionary will give you the largest key. To find the key with the largest value in a dictionary, utilize the keyparameter (similar to sort) in the maxmethod in conjunction with lambda functions or itemgetter. from operator import itemgetter birth_year = {"Ben": 1997, "Alex": 2000, "Oliver": 1995} max(birth_year) ## Returns "Oliver" max_val = max(birth_year, key=lambda k: birth_year[k]) max_val ## Returns "Alex" max_val = max(birth_year.items(), key=itemgetter(1)) max_val ## Returns ('Alex', 2000) max_val[0] ## Returns "Alex" dict.get(): Get the Default Value of a Dictionary if a Key Doesn’t Exist - Refer the Python 3 Primer for examples and use-cases on this topic. dict.fromkeys() - To create a dictionary from a list and a value, use dict.fromkeys(). For instance, we can use dict.fromkeys()to create a dictionary of furnitures’ locations: furnitures = ['bed', 'table', 'chair'] loc1 = 'IKEA' furniture_loc = dict.fromkeys(furnitures, loc1) furniture_loc ## Returns {'bed': 'IKEA', 'table': 'IKEA', 'chair': 'IKEA'} … or create a dictionary of food’s locations: food = ['apple', 'pepper', 'onion'] loc2 = 'ALDI' food_loc = dict.fromkeys(food, loc2) food_loc ## Returns {'apple': 'ALDI', 'pepper': 'ALDI', 'onion': 'ALDI'} - These results can be combined into a location dictionary like below: locations = {**food_loc, **furniture_loc} locations {'apple': 'ALDI', 'pepper': 'ALDI', 'onion': 'ALDI', 'bed': 'IKEA', 'table': 'IKEA', 'chair': 'IKEA'} Function **kwargs: Pass Multiple Arguments to a Function Sometimes you might not know the arguments you will pass to a function. If so, use **kwargs. **kwargsallow you to pass multiple arguments to a function using a dictionary. In the example below, passing **{'a':1, 'b':2}to the function is similar to passing a=1, b=1to the function. Once **kwargsargument is passed, you can treat it like a Python dictionary. parameters = {'a': 1, 'b': 2} def example(c, **kwargs): print(kwargs) for val in kwargs.values(): print(c + val) example(c=3, **parameters) ## Prints ## {'a': 1, 'b': 2} ## 4 ## 5 Decorator in Python Do you want to add the same block of code to different functions in Python? If so, use a decorator! In the code below, the decorator tracks the time of the function say_hello: import time def time_func(func): def wrapper(): print("This happens before the function is called") start = time.time() func() print('This happens after the funciton is called') end = time.time() print('The duration is', end - start, 's') return wrapper - Now all we need to do is to add @time_func before the function say_hello. @time_func def say_hello(): print("hello") say_hello() - which outputs: ``` This happens before the function is called hello This happens after the function is called The duration is 0.0002987384796142578 s ``` - Decorator makes the code clean and shortens repetitive code. If we want to track the time of another function, for example, func2(), I can just use: @time_func def func2(): pass func2() - which outputs: ``` This happens before the function is called This happens after the funciton is called The duration is 4.38690185546875e-05 s from typing import List, Dict ``` Classes Abstract Classes: Declare Methods without Implementation Sometimes you might want different classes to use the same attributes and methods. But the implementation of those methods can be slightly different in each class. A good way to implement this is to use abstract classes. An abstract class contains one or more abstract methods. An abstract method is a method that is declared but contains no implementation. The abstract method requires subclasses to provide implementations. from abc import ABC, abstractmethod class Animal(ABC): def __init__(self, name: str): self.name = name super().__init__() @abstractmethod def make_sound(self): pass class Dog(Animal): def make_sound(self): print(f'{self.name} says: Woof') class Cat(Animal): def make_sound(self): print(f'{self.name} says: Meows') Dog('Pepper').make_sound() Cat('Bella').make_sound() ## Prints ## "Pepper says: Woof ## Bella says: Meows" classmethod: What is it and When to Use it When working with a Python class, To create a method that returns that class with new attributes, use classmethod. Classmethod doesn’t depend on the creation of a class instance. In the code below, classmethodinstantiates a new object whose attribute is a list of even numbers. class Solver: def __init__(self, nums: list): self.nums = nums @classmethod def get_even(cls, nums: list): return cls([num for num in nums if num % 2 == 0]) def print_output(self): print("Result:", self.nums) ## Not using class method nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] solver = Solver(nums).print_output() ## Prints Result: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] solver2 = Solver.get_even(nums) solver2.print_output() ## Prints Result: [2, 4, 6] getattr: a Better Way to Get the Attribute of a Class To get a default value when calling an attribute that is not in a class, use getattr()method. The getattr(class, attribute_name)method simply gets the value of an attribute of a class. However, if the attribute is not found in a class, it returns the default value provided to the function. class Food: def __init__(self, name: str, color: str): self.name = name self.color = color apple = Food("apple", "red") print("The color of apple is", getattr(apple, "color", "yellow")) ## Prints "The color of apple is red" print("The flavor of apple is", getattr(apple, "flavor", "sweet")) ## Prints "The flavor of apple is sweet" print("The flavor of apple is", apple.sweet) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- AttributeError Traceback (most recent call last) /tmp/ipykernel_337430/3178150741.py in <module> ----> 1 print("The flavor of apple is", apple.sweet) AttributeError: 'Food' object has no attribute 'sweet' __call__: Call your Class Instance like a Function - To call your class instance like a function, add the __call__()method to your class. class DataLoader: def __init__(self, data_dir: str): self.data_dir = data_dir print("Instance is created") def __call__(self): print("Instance is called") data_loader = DataLoader("my_data_dir") ## Instance is created data_loader() ## Instance is called Instance is created Instance is called @staticmethod: use the function without adding the attributes required for a new instance - Have you ever had a function in your class that doesn’t access any properties of a class but fits well in a class? You might find it redundant to instantiate the class to use that function. That is when you can turn your function into a static method. All you need to turn your function into a static method is the decorator @staticmethod. Now you can use the function without adding the attributes required for a new instance. import re class ProcessText: def __init__(self, text_column: str): self.text_column = text_column @staticmethod def remove_URL(sample: str) -> str: """Replace url with empty space""" return re.sub(r"http\S+", "", sample) text = ProcessText.remove_URL("My favorite page is") print(text) ## Prints "My favorite page is " Property Decorator: A Pythonic Way to Use Getters and Setters If you want users to use the right data type for a class attribute or prevent them from changing that attribute, use the property decorator. In the code below, the first color method is used to get the attribute color and the second color method is used to set the value for the attribute color. class Fruit: def __init__(self, name: str, color: str): self._name = name self._color = color @property def color(self): print("The color of the fruit is:") return self._color @color.setter def color(self, value): print("Setting value of color...") if self._color is None: if not isinstance(value, str): raise ValueError("color must be of type string") self.color = value else: raise AttributeError("Sorry, you cannot change a fruit's color!") fruit = Fruit("apple", "red") fruit.color ## Prints The color of the fruit is: #'red' fruit.color = "yellow" Setting value of color... ## --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## AttributeError Traceback (most recent call last) ## /tmp/ipykernel_337430/2513783301.py in <module> ## ----> 1 fruit.color = "yellow" ## ## /tmp/ipykernel_337430/2891187161.py in color(self, value) ## 17 self.color = value ## 18 else: ## ---> 19 raise AttributeError("Sorry, you cannot change a fruit's color!") ## 20 ## 21 ## AttributeError: Sorry, you cannot change a fruit's color! __str__ and __repr__: Create a String Representation of a Python Object¶ To create a string representation of an object, add __str__and __repr__. __str__shows readable outputs when printing the object. __repr__shows outputs that are useful for displaying and debugging the object. class Food: def __init__(self, name: str, color: str): self.name = name self.color = color def __str__(self): return f"{self.color} {self.name}" def __repr__(self): return f"Food({self.color}, {self.name})" food = Food("apple", "red") ## Invokes __str__() print(food) ## Prints "red apple" ## Invokes __repr__() food ## Prints Food(red, apple) attrs: Bring Back the Joy of Writing Classes! - Do you find it annoying to write an __init__()method every time you want to create a class in Python? class Dog: def __init__(self, age: int, name: str, type_: str = 'Labrador Retriever'): self.age = age self.name = name self.type_ = type_ def describe(self): print(f"{self.name} is a {self.type_}.") - If so, try attrs. With attrs, you can declaratively define the attributes of a class. import attr @attr.s(auto_attribs=True) class Dog: age: int name: str type_: str = "Labrador Retriever" def describe(self): print(f"{self.name} is a {self.type_}.") pepper = Dog(7, "Pepper", "Labrador Retriever") - The instance created using attrshas a nice human-readable __repr__(). pepper ## Returns Dog(age=7, name='Pepper', type_='Labrador Retriever') pepper.describe() Pepper is a Labrador Retriever. - You can also turn the attributes of that instance into a dictionary. attr.asdict(pepper) {'age': 7, 'name': 'Pepper', 'type_': 'Labrador Retriever'} - You can also compare two instances of the same class using the first attribute of that class. bim = Dog(8, 'Bim Bim', 'Dachshund') pepper < bim ## Returns True Datetime datetime + timedelta: Calculate End DateTime Based on Start DateTime and Duration Provided an event starts at a certain time and takes a certain number of minutes to finish, how do you determine when it ends? Taking the sum of datetimeand timedelta(minutes) does the trick! from datetime import date, datetime, timedelta beginning = '2020/01/03 23:59:00' duration_in_minutes = 2500 ## Find the beginning time beginning = datetime.strptime(beginning, '%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S') ## Find duration in days days = timedelta(minutes=duration_in_minutes) ## Find end time end = beginning + days end ## Returns datetime.datetime(2020, 1, 5, 17, 39) Use Dates in a Month as the Feature - Have you ever wanted to use dates in a month as the feature in your time series data? You can find the days in a month by using calendar.monthrange(year, month)[1] like below. import calendar calendar.monthrange(2020, 11)[1] ## Returns 30 Best Practices - This section includes some best practices to write Python code. Use _ to Ignore Values - When assigning the values returned from a function, you might want to ignore some values that are not used in future code. If so, assign those values to underscores _. def return_two(): return 1, 2 _, var = return_two() var ## Returns 2 - If you want to repeat a loop a specific number of times but don’t care about the index, you can also use _. for _ in range(5): print('Hello') ## Prints ## Hello ## Hello ## Hello ## Hello ## Hello Python Pass Statement If you want to create code that does a particular thing but don’t know how to write that code yet, put that code in a function then use pass. Once you have finished writing the code in a high level, start to go back to the functions and replace pass with the code for that function. This will prevent your thoughts from being disrupted. def say_hello(): pass def ask_to_sign_in(): pass def main(is_user: bool): if is_user: say_hello() else: ask_to_sign_in() main(is_user=True) Code Speed - This section will show you some ways to speed up or track the performance of your Python code. Concurrently Execute Tasks on Separate CPUs - If you want to concurrently execute tasks on separate CPUs to run faster, consider using joblib.Parallel. It allows you to easily execute several tasks at once, with each task using its own processor. from joblib import Parallel, delayed import multiprocessing def add_three(num: int): return num + 3 num_cores = multiprocessing.cpu_count() results = Parallel(n_jobs=num_cores)(delayed(add_three)(i) for i in range(10)) results ## Returns [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] Compare The Execution Time Between Two Functions - If you want to compare the execution time between two functions, try timeit.timeit(). You can also specify the number of times you want to rerun your function to get a better estimation of the time. import time import timeit def func(): """comprehension""" l = [i for i in range(10_000)] def func2(): """list range""" l = list(range(10_000)) expSize = 1000 time1 = timeit.timeit(func, number=expSize) time2 = timeit.timeit(func2, number=expSize) print(time1/time2) ## Prints 2.6299518653018685 - From the result, we can see that it is faster to use list range than to use list comprehension on average. Python Built-in Libraries - This section covers Python Built-in libraries such as collections, functools, and itertools. Collections collectionsis a built-in Python library to deal with Python dictionary efficiently. This section will show you some useful methods of this module. collections.Counter: Count The Occurrences of Items in a List - Counting the occurrences of each item in a list using a for-loop is slow and inefficient. char_list = ['a', 'b', 'c', 'a', 'd', 'b', 'b'] def custom_counter(list_: list): char_counter = {} for char in list_: if char not in char_counter: char_counter[char] = 1 else: char_counter[char] += 1 return char_counter custom_counter(char_list) ## Returns {'a': 2, 'b': 3, 'c': 1, 'd': 1} - Using collections.Counteris more efficient, and all it takes is one line of code! from collections import Counter Counter(char_list) ## Returns Counter({'a': 2, 'b': 3, 'c': 1, 'd': 1}) - In my experiment, using Counter is >2x times faster than using a custom counter. from timeit import timeit import random random.seed(0) num_list = [random.randint(0, 22) for _ in range(1000)] numExp = 100 custom_time = timeit("custom_counter(num_list)", globals=globals()) counter_time = timeit("Counter(num_list)", globals=globals()) print(custom_time/counter_time) ## Returns 2.6199148843686806 - To get the most frequently occurring element in the list: from collections import Counter a = [1, 2, 3, 5, 4, 2, 3, 1, 5, 4, 5] print(Counter(a).most_common(1)[0][0]) ## Returns 5 print(max(set(a), key = a.count)) 1## Another way; also returns 5 namedtuple: Tuple with Named Fields - If you need to create creating a tuple with named fields, consider using namedtuple: Point = namedtuple('Point', ['x', 'y']) p = Point(11, y=22) ## Instantiate with positional or keyword arguments p[0] + p[1] ## Returns 33; indexable like the plain tuple (11, 22) x, y = p ## Unpack like a regular tuple x, y ## Returns (11, 22) p.x + p.y ## Returns 33; Fields also accessible by name p ## Returns Point(x=11, y=22); readable __repr__ with a name=value style Defaultdict: Return a Default Value When a Key is Not Available - If you want to create a Python dictionary with default value, use defaultdict. When calling a key that is not in the dictionary, the default value is returned. from collections import defaultdict classes = defaultdict(lambda: 'Outside') classes['Math'] = 'B23' classes['Physics'] = 'D24' classes['Math'] ## Returns 'B23' classes['English'] ## Returns 'Outside' Note that the first argument to defaultdictwhich is default_factory, requires a callable, which implies either a class or a function. You could also achieve similar functionality using dict.get()](), however note that this requires specifying the default value at every fetch-item call rather than once when defining the dictionary. classes = {} classes.get("English", "Outside") ## Returns 'Outside' Itertools itertools[] is a built-in Python library that creates iterators for efficient looping. This section will show you some useful methods of itertools. 3.2.1. itertools.combinations: A Better Way to Iterate Through a Pair of Values in a Python List¶ If you want to iterate through a pair of values in a list and the order does not matter ((a,b) is the same as (b, a)), a naive approach is to use two for-loops. num_list = [1, 2, 3] for i in num_list: for j in num_list: if i < j: print((i, j)) (1, 2) (1, 3) (2, 3) However, using two for-loops is lengthy and inefficient. Use itertools.combinations instead: from itertools import combinations comb = combinations(num_list, 2) ## use this for pair in list(comb): print(pair) (1, 2) (1, 3) (2, 3) 3.2.2. itertools.product: Nested For-Loops in a Generator Expression¶ Are you using nested for-loops to experiment with different combinations of parameters? If so, use itertools.product instead. itertools.product is more efficient than nested loop because product(A, B) returns the same as ((x,y) for x in A for y in B). from itertools import product params = { “learning_rate”: [1e-1, 1e-2, 1e-3], “batch_size”: [16, 32, 64], } for vals in product(*params.values()): combination = dict(zip(params.keys(), vals)) print(combination) {‘learning_rate’: 0.1, ‘batch_size’: 16} {‘learning_rate’: 0.1, ‘batch_size’: 32} {‘learning_rate’: 0.1, ‘batch_size’: 64} {‘learning_rate’: 0.01, ‘batch_size’: 16} {‘learning_rate’: 0.01, ‘batch_size’: 32} {‘learning_rate’: 0.01, ‘batch_size’: 64} {‘learning_rate’: 0.001, ‘batch_size’: 16} {‘learning_rate’: 0.001, ‘batch_size’: 32} {‘learning_rate’: 0.001, ‘batch_size’: 64} 3.2.3. itertools.starmap: Apply a Function With More Than 2 Arguments to Elements in a List¶ map is a useful method that allows you to apply a function to elements in a list. However, it can’t apply a function with more than one argument to a list. def multiply(x: float, y: float): return x * y nums = [(1, 2), (4, 2), (2, 5)] list(map(multiply, nums)) ————————————————————————— TypeError Traceback (most recent call last) /tmp/ipykernel_38110/240000324.py in TypeError: multiply() missing 1 required positional argument: ‘y’ To apply a function with more than 2 arguments to elements in a list, use itertools.starmap. With starmap, elements in each tuple of the list nums are used as arguments for the function multiply. from itertools import starmap list(starmap(multiply, nums)) [2, 8, 10] 3.2.4. itertools.compress: Filter a List Using Booleans¶ Normally, you cannot filter a list using a list. fruits = [‘apple’, ‘orange’, ‘banana’, ‘grape’, ‘lemon’] chosen = [1, 0, 0, 1, 1] fruits[chosen] ————————————————————————— TypeError Traceback (most recent call last) /tmp/ipykernel_40588/2755098589.py in TypeError: list indices must be integers or slices, not list To filter a list using a list of booleans, use itertools.compress instead from itertools import compress list(compress(fruits, chosen)) [‘apple’, ‘grape’, ‘lemon’] 3.2.5. itertools.groupby: Group Elements in an Iterable by a Key¶ If you want to group elements in a list by a key, use itertools.groupby. In the example below, I grouped elements in the list by the first element in each tuple. from itertools import groupby prices = [(‘apple’, 3), (‘orange’, 2), (‘apple’, 4), (‘orange’, 1), (‘grape’, 3)] key_func = lambda x: x[0] Sort the elements in the list by the key prices.sort(key=key_func) Group elements in the list by the key for key, group in groupby(prices, key_func): print(key, ‘:’, list(group)) apple : [(‘apple’, 3), (‘apple’, 4)] grape : [(‘grape’, 3)] orange : [(‘orange’, 2), (‘orange’, 1)] 3.2.6. itertools.zip_longest: Zip Iterables of Different Lengths¶ zip allows you to aggregate elements from each of the iterables. However, zip doesn’t show all pairs of elements when iterables have different lengths. fruits = [‘apple’, ‘orange’, ‘grape’] prices = [1, 2] list(zip(fruits, prices)) [(‘apple’, 1), (‘orange’, 2)] To aggregate iterables of different lengths, use itertools.zip_longest. This method will fill missing values with fillvalue. from itertools import zip_longest list(zip_longest(fruits, prices, fillvalue=’-‘)) [(‘apple’, 1), (‘orange’, 2), (‘grape’, ‘-‘)] References - Python Dictionary Tips - Python Implementations of Data Structures - What are the differences between type() and isinstance()? - Quora: What is the height, size, and depth of a binary tree? - What is the time complexity of collections.Counter() in Python? - Python Time Complexity - Big-O of list slicing - What is the time complexity of slicing a list? Citation If you found our work useful, please cite it as: @article{Chadha2020DistilledPython3Tips, title = {Python 3 Tips}, author = {Chadha, Aman}, journal = {Distilled AI}, year = {2020}, note = {\url{}} }

We can all agree that traveling is stressful in and of itself. We don’t need anyone or anything to exacerbate an already stressful situation. However, We occasionally have no control over what occurs when we are traveling. For example, if a train is canceled or a flight is delayed, there are organizations available in place, where we can gladly file complaints and perhaps even request a refund. But, there is practically nothing you can do but endure it when a passenger behaves badly or acts out while you are traveling. This occurs so frequently that a community on Instagram called “Passenger Shaming” shares horrific scenarios brought on by unkind passengers. There are tales of people putting frozen chicken wings through security or creaming kids. Come on board and let’s explore some of these terrifying travel experiences. Mowgli of The Airport We are aware that raising kids can be challenging at times. When you’re traveling, they often make a scene and complicate everything. But to be really honest, we’re not sure if what this kid is doing should make us proud or ashamed. The fact that this young person was able to ascend the beam that far is very astounding. Imagine his upper body strength when there are no notch supports for him to cling to! Most men can only wish to be capable of doing that. Dehydrating socks We have no idea what occurred during this journey to cause the man to hang his worn-out socks from the window of the airplane. Perhaps he wanted to dry them out after unintentionally getting them wet in the bathroom? We don’t see the need to do this because, if you’re in a pinch, we’re pretty sure most planes will provide you socks. It’s just a good thing it was daytime for this guy. But even then, we’re not sure his socks would have ever dried because the cabin is often icy. Awaken me When you are sleeping on a flight, the flight attendant will frequently skip you when providing the meals, snacks, and beverages. They do this out of politeness because they believe you need the rest more than what they are providing. However, this means that you will miss meals and wake up hungry. In fact, the woman is quite clever to wear this tag. She could have positioned it a little bit better than on her travel pillow. However, the stewards at least now are aware that she doesn’t mind being awakened. In-flight makeup application Sometimes, as soon as your flight lands, you have to head straight to an event. In situations like this, you often have the appropriate clothing on the airplane. You might even apply makeup before leaving. But wearing falsies high up while flying in the air is a little bit difficult. Yes, you would require help if you wanted to avoid harming yourself. Isn’t this why we have best friends? They are always there at precisely the correct time to help you appear stunning when you walk out of the plane. A strong desire to lie down Insufficient legroom and straight-backed passenger seats on flights are enough to cause severe muscle cramps across your entire body. Sometimes you want to recline, but because you’re a kind person, you don’t want to make the person behind you uncomfortable. It seems like this man knows what he’s doing. It was probably okay as long as this occurred when the seatbelt indicator was off. Additionally, he could have just sat back all the way as no one is occupying the seat behind him. Passing Time On exceptionally lengthy flights, people pass the time by doing a variety of things to amuse themselves. Some people bring a book to read, while others try to use their laptop for a little work. The purpose of the onboard entertainment systems is to keep passengers entertained. The in-flight entertainment concept is different for this individual. Is he inking a stick-and-poke design there? If that’s the case, we’re just curious as to how he got it past security. It’s incredible what he was able to do before the plane landed, and this is undoubtedly a unique way to pass the time. DIY hammock On flights, there isn’t a lot of legroom available. Leg cramps are inevitable, even if you are sitting in the first row. When the seatbelt indicator is off, some people use this as an opportunity to go along the aisles. And some choose to do this. This would probably be a brilliant idea in any other situation. But what makes this situation so hazardous is that this person’s legs are currently blocking the emergency escape. This must pose a risk to safety. If necessary, the flight attendant won’t be able to use this door. Mask on the Eyes? The masking requirement makes it mandatory for passengers to wear masks when flying. It’s a preventative measure to reduce the spread of any virus infections. But what if the individual who is closest to the window won’t close it and you need to get some rest? He finds a workaround by using his mask as an eye mask. He doesn’t care that it’s not the healthiest course of action. He runs the danger of becoming sick by doing this. Additionally, he runs the danger of infecting others with the virus. He might have just requested an additional eye mask. Monkey on the Air Pets are authorized to be present on flights. They just need to be tallied. This is for those who might require emotional support animals. Therefore, it is most certainly not unusual, and as long as these creatures behave, everything is generally okay. However, this monkey is misbehaving. You are witnessing a monkey on an aircraft, that’s right! He is messing with the ceiling lights. Perhaps he is attempting to contact a flight attendant to get a banana or some peanuts. This monkey has to be contained by whoever brought it. Abandoned toilet Nothing is worse than using the bathroom on an airplane. It’s the greatest nightmare for everyone who is claustrophobic. There is little or no space, you have limited mobility, and for some reason, the toilet paper keeps running out. However, none have ever been in on like this one. Is this the fault of a single passenger, or did the rubbish build up over time with no one from the cabin crew bothered to clear it up? It appears as if a fight started in the toilet. Maybe this is have something to do with the monkey we saw before. Need a stretch badly If this series of stories have taught us anything, it’s that passengers often come up with ingenious methods to stretch out during flights. Stretching has been observed as normal in the aisle and in the open seats next to you. But this is a novel approach. To be able to extend her legs so far, this woman must be sitting quite low. This can’t possibly be secure for her. She can’t possibly be wearing a seatbelt in this setting. She would be thrown out of her seat in the event of turbulence! This poor boy The old lady we just saw with her attitude of raised legs. Another person was sprawled out on the floor. Someone else was lounging in an unofficial hammock. Now, this individual decided to violate the privacy of others by placing their legs on the seat in front of them. The toes protruding from the edge of this child’s seat are not amusing. He nearly begs his parents to allow him to exchange places or to tell the individual to stop stretching. Poor child. He only wants some quiet time to watch his cartoons! Violent littering The absolute worst item on this list is this. The cabin crew may periodically stroll around the cabin on long flights to collect any rubbish, but you must give it to them. This guy makes no effort at all. The ground in front of him appears to be a dump! It’s repulsive. What’s so difficult about giving trash in trash bags to the flight attendants? They really do it as part of their employment. There is no justification at all for the mess on your floor. A complete seafood buffet This picture nearly doesn’t seem genuine. Although it doesn’t seem possible that this could occur on a flight, it appears that it did. On the aircraft, these folks are feasting profusely on seafood! Check out all those lobsters! How on earth was this let on the flight? Just the two trays of food would have made the entire cabin smell bad. The inconvenience of having to sit through it must have been felt by the other passengers. Additionally, how did they first get on the plane? Gross One man has already been observed drying his socks on the glass of the airplane. Another unsettling traveler now demonstrates a different method for drying socks on a plane: the overhead air vents. We are unsure of which approach is the worst. If the socks were wet, drying them with the air vents would just spread the odor around the room! Nobody wants the smell of sweaty feet to fill the entire cabin. Any day, we’d prefer the scent of seafood to stinky feet on an aircraft. Block of frozen chicken wings The guidelines for taking raw food on a flight are unclear to us. Even if it is permitted, we are confident that you must store it in an airtight Tupperware at the very least. However, this passenger does not agree that it is essential. First of all, these wings are now frozen, but they won’t stay that way for long. Second, who would want to consume these wings knowing that they went through airport security and were placed on surfaces that had been touched by several filthy bags and rolling suitcases? Unplanned nail salon Do you recall the females doing their cosmetics on the plane? And the one who tattooed himself during landing? It appears that the lady fits well with that group. She is doing her nails here. She appears to be applying press-on gel nails. After she lands, we assume she will also be attending an event. This is perfectly acceptable and in no way something to be ashamed of. We do admire her commitment! Very sloppy This is why you should start using antibacterial wipes to clean everything that is close to your flight seat. People are not behaving well when treating airplanes as their own homes. Just observe how this person is using their toes to operate their device. This individual may be able to buy a flight, but that doesn’t ensure they will behave appropriately once they are on board. They appear to be rather vulgar with one foot on the wall and the other manipulating the touch screen. It’s quite disturbing! Why is using your hand while sitting up so difficult? Massage for the feet On lengthy flights, cramps are unavoidable, and when they hit, you have to do what you’ve had to do, which may include having the person in front of you massage your foot. In all honesty, this is absolutely OK as long as you know the person in front of you. We’d like to think that this woman is somehow linked to this gentleman. We doubt that any sane individual would feel at ease massaging the feet of a stranger on an airplane! But for this guy, it works. Stealing food The food on airplanes is often of poor quality, and occasionally you find yourself craving more after you’ve done. Even though the tray often includes an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert, there are instances when it simply isn’t enough. So what can you probably do if you still need some food? The right response would be to signal a flight crew and request snacks or a different meal because there could be one left over. But this youngster had a better thought. Why let the guy behind him throw away the fruits he didn’t finish while he may still use them? Selfish passengers During the pandemic, traveling is more stressful than usual. People are continually concerned that traveling may increase their chances of contracting covid. As respectful people, the least we can do is show consideration for others. Don’t board an aircraft if you’re feeling sick or having symptoms. Do not leave the house if you have COVID! These people’s own selfishness is endangering a great number of lives. What’s so difficult about being isolated at home for a few days until you’re allowed to leave? Short girl advantages Many people dream about being taller or gaining more height, yet on flights, being shorter might occasionally be preferable. Shorter folks have far more room for their legs and can spread them out like this if necessary. On the other hand, taller people often need the aisle seat, which prevents them from sleeping with their heads resting against the window. They would be unable to stretch out in this manner because they have far less leg room. Peeling Carelessly Airlines do a good job of making sure you have all the amenities you need, including food, beverages, snacks, blankets, safety gear, and entertainment. The only things you actually need to carry on board are yourself and your luggage. We assume that this lady doesn’t find the services offered by the airline sufficient. She brought a whole ear of corn, and started peeling it in flight! What she did with it after that is unknown. Maybe she eats it uncooked? Refuse to be separated during the flight Do you know those honeymooning couples that just can’t keep their hands and eyes off one another? They most likely experience this if they become separated during a flight. They manage to remain in one other’s personal space. Both parties will likely find this to be great. While still having her partner partially cuddle her, she can extend her legs. Additionally, the guy gets to somewhat embrace his lover. But, everyone else on the plane who has to witness this is in a disadvantageous position. Gigantic boarding pass Until we read the history of that, we had trouble understanding how odd this image is. Apparently, his buddies printed out his boarding pass in this size as a prank when he was traveling to his bachelor celebration in Prague. Isn’t getting completely wasted and embarrassing the groom to some extent the whole goal of a bachelor party? This boarding pass is probably only the start of a slew of practical jokes that these folks have in mind. So many things happening In this image, there are a lot of different things happening. Let’s start by discussing the improvised eye mask this person is wearing. He appears to have covered his eyes with his boarding cards to block out the sunlight, but having paper stuck to your face is maybe not that pleasant. Does anyone else notice the other person, likely his wife, resting on top of him? He has his arm about her and his legs crossed over hers. Nobody can possibly be at ease in this condition. Flight grooming On flights, people of both genders engage in self-care and beauty rituals. On an airplane, men can groom themselves as well. Still not convinced? Watch the man shaving his own head in first class. Undoubtedly a first. We hope he has a newspaper or a plastic bag down there for all the hair that has been shaved to fall into. If not, the unfortunate cabin workers would need to remove all that hair off the carpet! That is basically impossible. Boredom in the flight Long flights may get very monotonous. Either you attempt to discover methods to amuse yourself, or you waver between sleep and wakefulness. Children might find flights to be very boring due to their short attention spans and insatiable curiosity. All children want to do is run around, but it is obviously impossible to do when traveling by plane. This child did it by standing up on the table, which is equally dangerous as running on a plane. What made the parents consent to this? Just gloves; no shoes Have you ever witnessed something so strange that you couldn’t decide whether to laugh or be horrified? You will undoubtedly feel that way after you view the following picture. On airplanes, people frequently take off their shoes, yet… The gloves, why? Did the woman really believe that this was more hygienic than walking barefoot on the carpet? Where are her shoes? Who in their right mind would enter a toilet on an airplane barefoot? So many inquiries! Wanting more privacy When you’re on a plane, your seatmates can see everything you do. They can observe you when you eat, sleep, or cry during a movie. A little bit of privacy is usually helpful, but on an airplane, it just doesn’t exist. Of course, some people are creative and can shield themselves from prying eyes when necessary. To be able to live in peace on the plane, this traveler hung blankets on both sides of his seat. It’s truly a brilliant strategy! Airing out a shoe The only thing worse than someone using the overhead vents to air out their sweaty socks is someone using them to air out their foul-smelling shoes. We must once more investigate why these individuals believe it is OK to do so. First of all, why did you need to dry your sneaker there? Second of all, taking off your shoes already makes the cabin smell bad, so you really don’t have to make everyone smell more of that by aring it! Baby’s time for bed On flights, kids can have problems falling asleep and becoming restless. However, they need to rest frequently, especially during lengthy travels. Some parents allow their children to nap on their laps, while others turn the empty seat next to them into a bed. This woman does not treat her child well by allowing him to sleep on the floor. It is dangerous, the kid isn’t strapped in, and they will undoubtedly get in the way of the flight attendants. Real-world personal bubble Perhaps it’s time to make an investment in one of these if you’re afraid to fly but yet need to get someplace during these difficult times. Although we’re not sure what it’s called, we do know that it could lower the danger of contagion. We don’t know why this image was included on the Passenger Shaming Instagram Feed. The only goal of this individual is to travel securely. Although this approach is a bit less visually beautiful and unusual, it is still quite safe. Cover herself with a Trash bag This lady is undoubtedly attempting to travel safely in these difficult circumstances, just like the woman before her. She simply lacked the same resources, so she had to make up for that by using a big translucent garbage bag. Making all efforts to conceal herself. We just hope that she is able to breathe because it appears like there isn’t much circulation there, especially if she is wearing a mask. We hope she doesn’t doze off since it would be really risky! Relaxing promenade Have you ever imagined what it might be like to cross a plane’s wing? Have you ever found yourself wishing you were outside when looking out a window? This lady, however, felt the need to go for a walk. This lady apparently chose to go for a stroll on the wings just before takeoff because the plane was delayed. We were unaware that this was an option, and we don’t see why anybody else seized the opportunity! Sewing time On flights, we’ve seen folks apply cosmetics, paint their nails, and even get tattoos. Get prepared to witness people sewing from now on. We’re also not referring to knitting or the conventional manual needle and thread approach. We’re referring to a sewing machine in its whole. On the plane, this lady really carried a sewing machine. We don’t know how the large object got past security. Additionally, we’re unsure of how they’re running it without power. But it appears like they are creating a shirt for themselves. It’s just too strange to even react to this! Just a shrimp leak You did read that correctly. This guy was assaulted by a shrimp bag that leaked in an airplane cabin overhead compartment (We think the shrimp were frozen). To properly comprehend the problem, read the entire post. Why would someone want to take a cooler bag of prawns on a flight? Will they not be able to find any shrimps where they are going? Are they unique shrimps that they can only be found here? Why must they cause trouble for others? Cat Kid You may assume from this picture that the woman is nursing her young child. However, that is not the case. She has a cat! And this one is amusing itself by sitting in its own chair and looking at stuff on an iPad. The cat is also being hand-fed by this woman! She must truly adore this cat to treat it more like a child than a pet. The cat, however, is completely unaware of what is happening and is unable to recognize that she is being hand-fed while in flight. Absolute benchmark When traveling with someone, the experience is far less stressful. It could also be a test of how well you get along with that one. Traveling’s stresses might wear on a relationship and put a strain on it, but not for this pair. This is real love! It’s king conduct for a man to remain upright for the duration of a six-hour journey simply so his wife might stretch out and sleep. We adore seeing it! What a kind and generous man! Note boys. Pushed out Particularly when it comes to takeoff and landing, airlines apply stringent regulations and procedures. The least we can do is obey orders since the ground staff and cabin crew has worked so hard to assure the safety and security of every passenger. Why is it so challenging to put your phone down for fifteen minutes while the plane takes off? What is this extra important thing that let this man feel the need to defy rules and endanger other passengers? The flight attendant made it clear that she will not agree to that. In the end, she nailed it.

can see the table setting for yourself. I’ve created a little video of this week’s tablescape. Please leave a comment letting me know if you enjoy walking around the table with me…and if you would like to see videos more often. Hope you don’t need a translator for my southern accent. Ha! Oh, and I kept calling the Metlox dishware “china.” I know it’s not china but I have a bad habit of calling everything china, kind of like the way we called all tissues “Kleenex” and all bandages “Band-aids.” I do know the difference, I promise. 😉 I started talking a bit too soon, so the first words are, “Hi Everyone.” Hope you enjoy! Come on out on the porch…we are dining retro tonight…going back to the 60’s. Don’t you just love this lemon tree? It has little white daisies tucked in between…you would think it had been created just for this china! China is by Metlox…from their Poppy Trail line. Pattern is Sculptured Daisy. Sculptured Daisy…it is a raised pattern and is as much fun to touch as it is to view. See the daisies? 🙂 Normally, I would place some greenery around the bottom to hide the overturned bowl I’m using to raise the centerpiece. I left it uncovered for this tablescapes so you could see this little trick. 🙂 Usually the coffee cups wouldn’t be on the table at the start of the meal…normally brought in with dessert. But this is a casual tablescape…no rules this evening…just fun. For what purpose do you think this would be used? The top is attached to the underplate…the way you see with gravy bowls. Do you think it’s a gravy bowl? A vegetable bowl? A planter? I’m not sure but I think I would use it for either gravy or veggies. Stemware is from Pier 1… Thanks so much for stopping by! Looking forward to seeing your wonderful tablescapes! China: Metlox, PoppyTrail, Sculptured Daisy, 1-2 years ago, found while antiquing and some serving pieces were purchased on eBay Stemware: Pier 1, 1-2 years ago Flatware: Can’t remember…maybe Big Lots or HomeGoods, 1-2 years ago Napkins: Kohls, several years ago Napkin Rings: Kohls, several years ago Lemon Tree: A gift from my sister…thanks, S! Susan, what a beautiful summer tablescape in the sunroom! I LOVE the green glasses! Thanks for hosting! I absolutely love these dishes Susan! I got a bit confused at not being able to link till I saw that it starts at 8. Back to check out the video! Thanks for hosting! xoxo Pattie and Allie Oh what fun and perfect for summer. It's so clean and so refreshing looking! Very nice… Wow, if the heat is anywhere near in your neck of the woods as it is here, you are really brave to be out on the porch. Glad you were there. Your tablesetting is lovely. Love daisies! Christi @ A Southern Life Hello Susan, What a fun tablescape…love that little bowl trick:) Yes…I did enjoy walking around the table with you…thanks so much for hosting this great party…it's always a lot of FUN! Blessings, Linda Your table setting is so perfect for summer Susan. I love the lemon tree centerpiece. Looks great with your daisy dinnerware. It looks so inviting, especially set up on your porch. Thanks for hosting another TT! Nice video. Nice voice. Beautiful Table! Love the daisy dishes! Of course we want more videos!!! And I didn't have a bit of a problem understanding you with your "Southern Accent"!! 🙂 LOVE your tablescape!!!! Thanks for sharing!! Oh Susan, Just watched your video. I missed it the first time through. Love this! I didn't realize the dishes were from Poppy Trail. They really are vintage! Great job on this video, and love your accent! lol! xo Delores Susan, what a nice idea to create a video of your tablescape! I just felt like I could sit down in a minute and enjoy a wonderful dinner with you.And the most important thing: even a non-native speaker could understand you perfectly! It is a treat to come to see what you have created ~ you are so talented! Thanks Cornelia First off, love your video! No,you don't sound southern to me. Of course, I'm from S.C. you sound normal to me. LOL! I love those green glasses! So funny your setting colors are similar mine this week only mine is Lemons and Ivy. I also really like the Lemon tree too! Very pretty! Thank you for being such a great hostess, again! I love your party!!! I was WOWed by your daisy dinnerware! What a collection… very impressive! Love the Pier 1 stemware as well (green is just so soothing!). Thanks for the fun! Rachel Great job on the video, Susan! I loved it! Do that all the time! It definitely adds to the post. This week I did my very first video on my blog, too. It was of dancers from Ghana, West Africa. I was so excited to have added it! Take care and thanks for showing your lovely summery china! Susan Hi Susan! I love the video. You have such a beautiful voice. I felt as though I were in the room with you on a private tour. I appreciated the setting even more. Really love these dishes. Thanks for all the hard work. The video doesn't show how pretty the dishes are compared to pictures. But would really love any video you will post. Sweetpea I remember these dishes from way back! When I first married I had a passion for daisies! I love that china and I LOVED the video! Thanks for such great ideas! Love the video! It was such fun to hear your lovely voice describing the table elements. Please do another video soon! Your table looks great, and I really love that butter dish! Dear Susan, You have a lovely southern accent! It was fun to hear your voice. The video was great as you talked about the pretty tablescape. I like seeing the still pics as well as the video. I wouldn't mind it one bit if the background music was turned down just a touch so we can hear your voice even better. All in all…I always enjoy visiting yor place!!! God bless, d What fun to hear you! I enjoyed the video so much. This china is so sweet. It just makes me think of summer days. I love the raised detail. The centerpiece works with the china so nicely. I love the tablescape and I love love love the video! It adds a whole new dimension to the post. Wonderful 🙂 Jennifer "Beautiful Susan", like a crisp clean summer day!!! Hugs, Donna Susan! I loved hearing your voice on the video — Loved it – please do that again. Life got in the way of tablescaping for me this week – but I'll be enjoying just being a visitor at all my friends tables. I love the pretty daisy china! I enjoyed seeing the video and hearing your nice voice. I'm originally from Alabama, so you don't sound real Southern to me! LOL! Great idea! Katherine Yeah, it was fun to listen to the video and look over the stills at the same time! Good job–such composure! Very cheery and fun table. Jacqueline That was my sister in law's china. She lost it in a house fire-I cried!!!! It has always been one of my favorites. My daughter loves daisies so it might be a nice Christmas gift. I better start looking now! Thanks for a wonderful idea!!! How fun to have the video tour of your table! I loved hearing the details. It made everything multi dimensional. It's a lovely and HAPPY table, Susan! And as always, I thank you for setting such a pretty hostess table and inviting us to join your party. what a fun, summer setting on that beautiful porch of yours Susan! You have such a talent for putting tablescapes together for a lovely effect. LOVE all the daisies. Hi Susan! Your tablescape looks so light and airy and COOL! Perfect for a steamy summer night! Good job with the video! I'll be venturing into that unknown territory myself real soon! Looking forward to visiting with everyone again! Have a beautiful day! ;-D Kathleen LOL, you do sound Southern you sweet thang!!!But I understood every word! I love the table, so nice and crisp and summery! I need those glasses! Your dishes are so perfect for summer, Susan. Its very clever how you raised the lemon topiary. Very pretty!…Christine Susan, It was so lovely to hear your sweet voice giving us this tablescape tour of your pretty lemon and daisy table. I would love you to do this more often. Now I feel like a know you so much better! And your accent is one I envy! I am a southern belle at heart! hugs, Yvonne Oh How FUN, Susan!! I LOVED hearing your sweet southern drawl. 😀 Wonderful idea! Encore~Encore!! The table is very pretty & it truly IS from the 60's. My very first kitchen was done all in green & yellow & I can STILL visualize my pretty curtains. I loved them!! Such happy memories you have dredged up for me with this one. Thank you!! Hugs, Rett p.s. Did you notice your ceiling fan in your spoon??? IT looks just like a flower! How appropriate! Hi Susan! I LOVE the video! This is a great addition to your Tablescape. You have a very pretty voice! I bet when you were school you were called on often to read out loud. The dishes are so pretty and just perfect for summer. I love the lemon tree and think it is great that your sister gave it to you. Your family sounds like mine, we keep everyone's stuff and pass it on to others in the family. I would enjoy more videos and tours. Mary Wonderful china Susan! Love this table and I loved your video. It was wonderful to view your table this way. You sound so very gracious. Thanks for hosting another fun TT. Sherry Hi Susan~ Loved the video~ fun retro table! Your accent is only mildly southern to me 🙂 Loved this setting. Would you believe I have the platter that matches the dishes? My Mom use to have the whole set. I never see this pattern around anymore. It is so pretty and you're right, wonderful to touch. Nice video. (Your voice is lower than I expected!) I wouldn't mind seeing one on occasion, but I'm not sure I'd vote for every week. LOVE the upside-down bowl trick … LOL Susan: Such a great set of china. The three dimensions of this pattern make it truly spectacular. It was fun to see and hear the video. – The Tablescaper I admire your creativity so much! And what a wonderful gift from your sister — it makes the tablescape shine. However, when you said the 60's, I got excited that I'd see a lava lamp and tie-dye! Good evening, sweet Susan! I loved the video and would love more. The only problem I had was it was a little hard to hear you over the music! Was it just me and my computer maybe???? Loved seeing these dishes again, and the centerpiece is a real family treasure! How sweet for you to have gotten it! Have a great week. XO, Pinky Susan, I have those same dishes, including many of the serving pieces like the salt and pepper, butter dish and bowls! They were the ones I selected for my "informal" wedding china in 1972 (dating myself!) when I got married. I love them just as much today as I did then. Adored the video and would love a porch tour. Being from S.C. myself, you sounded just fine to me! Hi Susan, The video was a wonderful addition to your post! These dishes are so happy–I love daisies and all my attendants carried them at my wedding (in 1980!!). And the lemon tree, very pretty! The video made me feel as if I was right there in your beautiful home. Please do more! No tablescape post for me this week as my camera has rebelled and will not focus! Linda Your table is so summery and fresh. I love the green and yellow. Your scapes always inspire me. I love looking at them! Thanks! I adored the video. Everything is beautiful and inviting. I miss you like crazy!! Thanks for posting your tblescapes each week. They give us so many ideas. I've always loved these daisy dishes. I love being able to hear your voice, it sounds so pleasant and lovely, must be just like you! Stella Boatman More videos please! I would love to see your whole house. 🙂 Hi Susan! The video was very nice. I bet we will be seeing more of those from more people! Love the lemon tree and the daisy plates. So cheery! PS- sweet of Bill to take a picture on his trip for you! Love,~Nana~ I love the colors of that table! It's refreshing! What a treat to get to hear your voice. I would never be able to do a talking video on my blog. When I have taped my voice, it sounds so horrible, I tape over it a dozen times before I decide I have to erase it! Your tablescape is, as always, wonderful. Loving the lemon and daisy tree centerpiece. How great that Glenda (I guess) kept that and passed it on to you. This is such a classic pattern, and a tablescape with it always looks so "happy". Thank you for hosting. laurie HEY SUSAN, LOVE YOUR SWEET FRESH LOOKING DAISY TABLE. IT IS REALLY PRETTY AND LOOKS SO SUMMERY. BEAUTIFUL GOBLETS AS WELL AND THE LEMON TREE IS SO PERFECT WITH IT. VERY FUN AND WHIMSICAL TABLESCAPE. AND AS ALWAYS THANKS SO MUCH HON, FOR HOSTING, YOU'RE A SWEETIE!! BLESSINGS, NELLIE Sweet tablescape! It was neat to get to HEAR you to go along with feeling like I KNOW you from all of the postings! The video is fun, but don't replace the pictures!!!! The photos have so much more detail and color! You have the knack for getting just the right angle! I have tried photographing some of my tablescapes and they never come out as nice as yours do!!! Video+Pictures=GOOD! 🙂 Thank you for all you do each week!!!! It brings me great joy! I LOVE Mondays and Thursdays now!!!! 😀 Beka Hi Susan, That was so fun seeing your video and hearing your voice for the first time. Love the daisy patterned dishware. Didn't you just love all the daisy decorated mod style dresses and head scarves from back then too. They were so cute. Thanks for taking us on a trip back in time. Evelyn Wonderful post, Susan! Next week you should let one of us film YOU as you walk around the room and describe your tablescape. It would make a great audition vid for next season's HGTV Design Star! 😉 It's such a happy table … fresh as the proverbial … well, you know — the one with the yellow centers and white petals! Thank you for hosting and for sharing your unique voice and vision with us. Warmest regards, Bill I LOVED the video. It was good to hear your voice describing the table. My mom had those dishes when I was a kid. I got all nostalgic looking at your table. I miss those dishes. I really enjoyed the video and you did such a great job with it. I love that little bit of Southern I heard in your voice! I tend to think that we here in the Midwest don't have accents, but I've been told I'm wrong:) The table is very fresh and pretty. It does have that 60's charm! LOVE the lemons!!! You do FABuLOUS tables!!! I loved the video…then I went on to read everything with your southern accent! Ha! Happy TT from N. Washington state…my first time participating! Sarah Hi Susan, It was a lovely idea to show your tablescape on Video, I found the background music a little loud though, sorry. I felt as though I was on the porch with you and look forward to some more videos in the future, thank you. Jackie in UK. Your tablescapes always give me such inspiration! This one is beautiful! Thanks for Sharing, Valerie I love the video and the tablescape you did. Keep doing the video; it's so nice to hear your voice describing everything. Hi Susan, Beautiful tablescape again and Love the video. I tried doing one of the garden yesterday and I get dizzy watching it-guess it takes practice.Love your southern accent! Thank you for hosting and I have joined in today too. Carolyn Love your lemon tree! I have a similar one, but it's all fruits that belonged to my husband's grandmother, and we keep in our kitchen year round! ~angela @ peonypatch Susan – I loved your tablescape today. Lemons and daisies are so summery and refreshing! Also really enjoyed the video and would love a tour of your porch. I always start my Thursdays looking at the tablescapes. Thanks so much. I love the dishes and really enjoyed your video. I always enjoy looking at the tablescapes and hope to participated more often. I am always on the lookout for dishes after being inspired by all of the lovely table settings. oh I love your tablescape. I have the same dishes at least a few. They were our wedding pottery. And we used them like crazy. I have a ton of beautiful serving pieces. Thanks for sharing yours. What a gorgeous table Susan!! I have just discovered the Metlox Ivy pattern, and I just love it! At first glance, I thought your glassware was the LG Wright "Daisy and Button" which I used in amber this week. There is a green the same shade as yours. I have to thank you for all you do here at BNOTP! It is solely because of you that I started trying my hand at tablescaping, and it has grown into an obsession, lol! Every table you do is just fabulous! Thanks for the ideas! Hi Susan… I found something that I thought you might be interested in. Please check your In box on Facebook. Your Table scape is stunning as usual! I have an almost complete set of the Metlox Sunflower. (Im sure it's from the Poppytrail collection) I LOVE your collection.) xoxoxoxo Donna M What accent? asks the girl from Louisiana. Loved the video and your table is so fresh and sweet. You would never know we are swealtering in 100+ heat. I would love to see a porch video! This is just lovely. So summerly and bright. You always do the most amazing tables. Thanks so much for sharing yours and for hosting this party. Hi Susan: I really enjoyed the video, the dishes are lovely, a real summer treat. In answer to your question, I would definitely like to see a walk around video of your porch. Everything you do is so enchanting, I love coming here. Lovely! Crisp, fresh, and very summery looking! Tall pitchers of cold, iced tea and lemonade, A cup a perfect vichysoisse (I realize I have no idea how to spell that word!), a chilled with chicken lemon salad, a loaf of crispy french bread, and a raspberry sorbet! Let's eat!! Zesty & Refreshing tablescape Susan! Perfect feature for a hot summer day! Thanks for hosting Tablescape Thursdays… 😀 Lynda I just have to comment today. When I got my first real paying job (in 1974 I believe) the first thing I bought with my piddly paycheck was a set of Sculptured Daisy dishes. I saved and saved the money and then put the china on my store card (you had to use a card to get the discount) and then prompty paid it off. Over the next couple of years I added serving pieces and ended up with 12 place settings. I still have the china and have managed to not chip or break one piece in all these years! The glasses I have are Noritake "Sweet Swirl" in green which I have also had for several years. It was so good to see this used today! My mother in law also made me a hand embroidered tablecloth in white with the daisies on it right after we married – and we have been married 28 years now. Once I find something I like, I tend to hold on to it. I think this looks just as fresh and pretty today as it did back when I first got it. The casual feel of this tablescape is just perfect for summer. The video was great, really enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing. Christine I like the video and think it makes a nice addition. I've always liked that pattern. In fact, I almost bought it once, but it had been sold when I returned to get it. Think it would be great for a bridal shower (if I knew anyone getting married. :O) I have never seen all the serving pieces that you have, so that's cool. I do have the pitcher and planter. Love the green stemware too. Gorgeous! I love the soft yellow, green, and white color scheme. Hi Susan! How lovely to hear a voice to go with that sweet smile of yours…I finally have had a moment to spend online for a change this summer, and wanted to 'check in' on my fav's. Just a question though, where are the white curtains blowing in the gentle breeze on your porch? I hope they are only down for a short while! Put some of my son's wedding photos on my facebook from last week if you'd like to look…take care, and I will check back soon. Hi Susan, I love this table, everything is fresh and Summery. The daisy dishes are just making me smile they are so sweet. Love the lemon topiary. I'm off to watch your video now xoxo Bunny Your sister knows you well…I can tell. That is one great centerpiece. Seeing so much yellow and green these days….speaks well to summer and light. The goblets are such a wonderful shade of green! I can visualize them in so many variations of tablescapes. Thank you for your continued dedication to Tablescape Thursday. It is so much fun to find so many kindred spirits. Cherry Kay Hi Susan, I loved the video! I don't usually watch videos on the internet, but it was so fun to make that extra "connection" with another blogger. I adore the Metlox too, it was my parents' choice for their wedding dishes, so it's always sentimental for me. Loved the extra commentary, I hope you do this again! Hi Susan, The video was a great idea and I love your tablescape with all the daisies. Isn't it fun when you have a theme in mind (daisies) and you shop around and finally find your treasure? I'm sure you were thrilled when you found the daisy pitcher and the daisy butter dish. What fun! Randee How could anything be as refreshing as daisies and lemons for a tablesetting in the summer. Thank you for the walk around and being a wonderful hostess once again. I was so excited to see you are a follower of my blog. Your creativity always inspires me. Have a blessed week. Pam Super sweet dishes! And, that lemon tree is darling. I love the retro feel, Susan. Now I'm going to see the video. It will be fun to hear your voice and be able to match that with your picture. Have a great weekend, Nancy Loved the video it was great, do itagain sometime!!! Things look beautiful as always!!! Your porch is certainly an inviting setting for all your wonderful tablescapes. I'm thinking it would be nice to join you there. I'm in love with those dishes! Beautiful table! Loving that fresh green and lemon theme, thanks for hosting such an intersting group. Susan this glasses are gorgeous and I love your whole "retro" look. So fresh and summery! Love the video…my best friend in high school picked that pattern as her everyday china when she married in 1969! Your tablescapes are always inspiring to me. I look forward each week to seeing what you will come up with next. I've nominated you for the versatile blogger award – details on my blog. Thanks again. I so enjoyed the video! Yes, please do consider making more of them. My usual thanks for all of the inspiration that I receive from your blog…When will you write a book? Marge I love participating, but I love looking even more! I am, however, worried about my mother's addiction! I think she looks through each and every link. (And gets distracted by the other content once she gets there!) You've started a great thing and ALWAYS have the best tablescapes. Thanks! Paige Susan! I LOVE your voice! And you do not even have a thick Southern accent, it's lovely and lilting. I thought your voice would be higher, so I was surprised. It's deep and very sophisticated! 🙂 I'd hate to have you hear MY voice – a real New York accent at times! Thanks for sharing. Best, Gloria It's been a while since I've come visiting, but I must say, I never fail to be amazed at what you come up with! Those daisy plates are so cute! Also really love the lemon tree. This is so summery and fresh. Kady Life on the Edge My daughter chose this pattern of dishes when she married in 1975, I loved it then and still do! What a beautiful table setting you created with your set, so cool-looing and inviting!! Very, very pretty! Have a good weekend Francy How sweet! Looks so cheery and fun! You have no idea how often I wonder 'what does he or she sound like' … do they have marvelous accents? Thank you for the gift of your voice. And your talents!!!! How fun to hear your voice!!! You have a lovely soft accent. I loved hearing your thoughts too. How fun was this. Great addition. Thanks for hosting. I am not sure my husband thanks you for hosting! Actually he doesn't complain. The other day, I had moved two of the outside tablescapes inside and he said he felt like he was a newlywed with all of the pretty dishes out! loved your video, next time lets see you too! I loved that pattern the first time I saw it, and still do. It makes me smile. I looked up the piece you were questioning and it is a gravy boat…to me it looks more like a planter. You know I love this setting and I remember you getting this lemon tree from your sister. I had so much fun listening to you in the video! You sound just like you do when we have talked! Great job! Loved it! Got my laptop up and running! lol Susan, I love this table setting so fresh and fun. It takes me to warm summer days while I sit here watch the wind blow the snowflakes around. The videos are really fun and I would love a video tour of the porch. Thanks for your wonderful blog. Can’t wait for the first “Postcard from the Porch”. Hey Susan: I just looked at a large set of this Poppytrail Daisey pattern at our local antique store. They had a full set with several serving pieces i.e. divided bowl with this pattern. I remembered seeing this in one of your other table scapes & thought of you! I think the price was $25 for the bowl I looked at. If you need any serving pieces I can give you their phone #. I have really enjoyed following your blog! Leann Thanks, Leann. Appreciate that so much! I have a good bit so I’m in good shape. Wow, $25 is a lot. Usually you can find it on eBay very inexpensively. I also see it a in the antique/thrift stores around here from time to time. Always check vintage dishes for lead before eating from them. The Metlox factory in M.B., CA is a hazardous waste site due to lead contamination. However, they do make a delightful landscape. I’m so happy I found your site. Sorry. Meant tablescape.

When Jesus emerged on the scene, the Israelite nation was alive with hope. A prophet had arisen, the first for centuries, John the Baptist. With worldviews shaped by a world in which all empires are established with military force, Jesus came on the scene. Many were drawn to his power, believing that in Jesus their liberation from Rome had come. But Jesus had other ideas. See Also: Jesus in a World of Colliding Empires, Volume One: Introduction and Mark 1:1-8:29 (Wipf and Stock, 2018). By Mark J. Keown Senior Lecturer in New Testament, School of Theology Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand November 2018 It is intriguing to ponder what was going through the minds of the first disciples as they encountered Jesus of Nazareth. What were their hopes? What possibilities did they see in him? To answer such questions, one has to ponder the socio-political situation in which Israel’s people were saturated. Her story is premised on the Exodus, that great event when God liberated Israel from bondage in Egypt. Miraculously, God had brought them out of Egypt and led them by fire and cloud to the land of Canaan. Led by Joshua, they had vanquished most of its inhabitants and laid claim to the land.[1] Under a series of judges and then kings, they had lived in the land, albeit in a divided state after Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 12). Yet, in 722 BC, the northern tribes were overcome by the Assyrians. Some 135 years later, Judah was conquered by Babylon and many of her people taken into exile. Miraculously, the Exodus was re-enacted, and the exiles were liberated to go home and re-establish their life. The Temple was rebuilt. However, Judah remained under foreign rule—the Medo-Persians, the Greeks, and at the time of Jesus’ emergence, Rome. Such imperial powers all functioned in much the same way—established by a dynamic male military ruler (e.g., Cyrus, Alexander, Julius Caesar), armies, and occupation. The locals were subjugated enticed by benefaction (e.g., citizenship) or fear of force. Ranging from tribal rule to full-scale empires, the world beyond Rome was much the same. Dynastic tribes and empires formed and fell. Life was violent. Military force was essential to maintain the status quo and to expand. There was no other way. Israel’s hopes were no different. There were a wide range of expectations when Jesus emerged. Some hoped for God himself to directly intervene, imposing himself with supernatural force. Others dreamed of a transcendent Son of Man figure, drawn from Dan 7 and 1 Enoch. Many yearned for a Davidic Messiah. Some contemplated two Messiahs, one priestly, one royal (e.g., Qumran). Yet others longed for a prophet like Moses based on Deut 18. What all these figures have in common is God’s intervention with military power to establish his reign. God, or his agent (that I call Theo, “The Expected One”), will cleanse the land of Gentile defilement and domination with force, God’s glory fills his Temple, Jerusalem will be Israel and the world’s capital, and God’s law will be lived as it should be throughout the world. Other works of Second Temple Judaism, especially the Pseudepigraphal apocalyptic writings, looked to such divine intervention in colorful and symbolic terms. The Maccabean revolt and the establishment of the Hasmonean Empire also fuelled these hopes (167–63 BC).[2] For a short period, Israel had at least in part, thrown off foreign yoke and had found some degree of self-determination. If God supplied the power (as hoped for by some Jihadists), surely some similar revolution was possible. The desire for revolution is seen in the string of messianic pretenders who had arisen in the period leading up to Christ, and who would continue to emerge until the zealous fateful attempt to drive the Romans from the land in the late 60s AD. This would end with the nation, capital, and Temple demolished. It remains in ruins until today. Along with Israel’s writings interpreted to expect revolt against the Gentiles, men like Mattathias and his five Maccabean sons; Judas, the son of Hezekiah, Simon of Perea, Athronges; Theudas; and Judas the Galilean, all set a pattern of expectations.[3] Eventually, someone would come along who would lead Israel’s liberation from foreign rule. Yet, there is a range of other texts in the Jewish Scriptures which anticipated something different. These include a Davidic king surrounded by mocking crowds, his life poured out like water, his bones dislocated, crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps 22). Equally powerfully, there is the vision of a Servant of Yahweh, imbued by the Spirit, crying justice, who would be pierced, crushed, and killed, and yet bear the sins of many. He would be vindicated and be a light to the nations and whose salvation would reach the ends of the earth.[4] Israel’s worldview, preoccupied with ideas of conquest with supernaturally-empowered brute force, could not see that such texts would shape the mission of the expected one. Indeed, he would be Messiah, Son of Man, Son of God, the Prophet, all wrapped up in one. Yet, these would all be subservient to the vision of Isaiah’s Servant of Yahweh and David’s mocked and poured out, suffering Messiah. They could not imagine a messianic figure who would die on a cross, for “cursed is anyone who is hung on a tree.”[5] Messiahs do not suffer and die; they cause others pain and death until they yield to Yahweh’s rule. Enter Jesus. Or better, “Joshua,” for Iēsous is the Greek rendering of Hebrew yehô·šǔaʿ and variants.[6] His name is enough to connote revolution. After all, the first Joshua, performing amazing miracles, even stopping the sun (Josh 10:13) and leading the demolition of the walls of a city with trumpets and a shout (Josh 6:20), had led Israel’s finest through the land of Canaan, smiting the Canaanites, and laying claim to the land. This “New Joshua” would go one better—getting rid of the Romans and all foreign rule, the Spirit coming, the dead raised, the world righted, Jerusalem the home from where God would rule his world. Reading the four Gospels, it is likely that when Jesus summoned the four fishermen to join him (Mark 1:16–20 and parr.), they already knew of Jesus. They had perhaps seen him heal Peter’s mother in law and many others in Capernaum.[7] This man had serious power. Fuelled with such hopes of liberation, Peter, Andrew, and the brothers Zebedee responded immediately. Their hopes were no doubt heightened by hearing that they would fish for men—a splendid military metaphor of catching people, killing them, and “devouring” them.[8] The “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17) undoubtedly imagined glory. Soon, Jesus would gather others including a Simon, the Zealot;[9] Judas, possibly an assassin (Sicarii);[10] and other men fit for battle. Indeed, he would choose Twelve to be his Apostles, invoking thoughts of a reconstituted Israel and the Twelve Tribes taking the land (Mark 3:16–19, cf. Josh 3:12). As the Twelve and the others, including a number of women (Luke 8:2–3), joined Jesus traveling around Galilee, they observed this power repeatedly—casting out demons, healing the sick with a touch, befriending traitors (tax-collectors) and sinners, teaching in perplexing short stories, raising the dead, calming a storm, walking on water, and feeding enormous crowds with a few fish and loaves. It was becoming obvious that Jesus is a prophet (Mark 6:14–16), and yet more (John 6:14–15). Yet strangely, when anyone broached the possibility of his being the Messiah, Jesus shut them down.[11] He made no moves to turn his power toward the Romans. Even more unusually, Jesus seemed “hell-bent” of antagonizing and arguing with Israel’s leaders. When they asked for a vindicating sign, like those Moses performed as he came to Israel’s leaders (Exod 4:1–17, 30–31), something that proved his credentials to liberate Israel, Jesus swatted such questions away (Mark 8:11–12 and parr.). Surely, at some point, the disciples must have thought, he will summon them to join him, imbued with the power of God (the Man of War),[12] devoting the Gentiles to destruction (cf. Num 21:22–23). Eventually, at Caesarea Philippi, a town fittingly named to remember Rome’s great redeemer Caesar and Philip the Herodian Tetrarch (recall also Philip of Macedon), up in the north of the land, Jesus asked them the great question—who do people say that I am? The disciples tell him that most see him as some kind of prophet. Jesus persists—what about you? As always, Peter the brash spoke up: “you are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29). What follows is profoundly ironic and almost humorous. Jesus says nothing to refute the claim; he knows he is the Davidic Messiah. However, his understanding of Messianic rule and those of the disciples are poles apart. For the rest of his short life, he will teach the disciples what it means to be Israel’s Messiah. They will be summoned to live by the patterns of his life in the service of his mission. They will subsequently be empowered by his Spirit to do it (Acts 2:1–4)—but that is getting ahead of ourselves. Immediately upon Peter’s confession, Jesus seriously warns (epitimaō)[13] the disciples not to tell anyone of his identity (Mark 8:30). He then redefined Messiah in two ways. First, he assumes the title “Son of Man.” This multivalent term draws on the Son of Man in Dan 7 but was also likely chosen for its ambiguity. It can merely mean “person” (Ps 8:4), “prophet” (93 times in Ezekiel), a deliverer (Ps 80:17), or Daniel or Enoch’s transcendent figure. Clearly, for Mark, it means the latter, and as in 1 Enoch, it is fused to the notion of Messiah.[14] Secondly, Jesus speaks of this Messianic Son of Man dying and rising (Mark 8:31). Peter is shocked at such thoughts; a Messiah and Son of Man will not die! Despite his earlier confession of Jesus as God’s anointed Davidic king, he has the temerity to rebuke (epitimaō) Jesus—this is now way for a Messiah to speak! Jesus continues the exchange of rebukes, and then reproves (epitimaō) Satan. He does not directly rebuke Peter as Satan but hears in Peter’s words the voice of the one whose modus operandi is conquest by brute force, by the false patterns of the world. This is the one who in Matthew and Luke arrogantly offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world (Matt 4:8; Luke 4:6)—as if they were really his to give![15] In the Biblical narrative, it is he impels humans to constant notions of war and rule by imperial power.[16] Peter’s response shows how he and the other disciples were locked into dreams of revolution by brute force. They had no understanding that there is another way. It is this way Jesus is coming to enact and teach. Twice more Jesus will predict his death explicitly. After each, the disciples are equally baffled (Mark 9:31–32; 10:32–34). From Mark 8:34 to Jesus’ death on the cross recorded in Mark 15, Jesus sets about teaching the disciples what it means for him to be Messiah, Son of Man, and Servant. He declares that if anyone wishes to be a disciple, they must deny themselves, take up crosses, follow him, and lose lives (Mark 8:34). For the first disciples, this likely sounded like another call to war against the Romans; after all, it is they who did the crucifying. Gloriously, many would survive the war and see the Kingdom of God come in power (Mark 9:1).[17] That Jesus meant the resurrection prefigured by the Transfiguration is beyond them.[18] He tells them that the path to greatness is servanthood and the humility and dependence of a child (Mark 9:33–37; 10:13–16). He teaches that victory over demonic forces does not come through war, but through prayer (Mark 9:14–29). Using war imagery of severing hands and feet, he summons disciples to resist sin (Mark 9:42). Unlike Herod Antipas (Mark 6:17) and the Roman Caesars whose sexual infidelities and adultery were infamous, he summons disciples to marital fidelity and sexual purity (Mark 10:1–12).[19] When approached by a rich man, rather than claiming the young man’s loyalty and his money to further his own imperial ambitions, Jesus effectively likens the young man to a camel that must be squeezed through the eye of a needle telling him to sell all he has, give to the poor, and then join him (Mark 10:17–30). When the Sons of Thunder seek the places at his right and left hand, he summons them to renounce all such claims of glory and be servants, as he came to serve the world and give his life for it (Mark 10:35–45). Rather than march the disciples seven times around Jericho to bring down its walls, when a poor blind beggar in the city approaches him Jesus mercifully heals him. He does so after asking him the identical question he had asked James and John (cf. Mark 10:36, 51). Whereas James and John were not granted their wish for positions of power, as they acted out of arrogance and selfish ambition (and later failed the test),[20] Jesus grants Bartimaeus’ desire for healing from genuine need without hesitation (Mark 10:46–52). This Messiah is not about military takeover and destruction of the Romans. He is here to heal the sick and demonized, feed the poor, and respond to genuine human need. His mission is to save sinners and make them servants—Jew and Roman alike. Not seduced by wealth and power (e.g., the rich ruler), the likes of Bartimaeus are this Messiah’s people. So they must be our people too! Jesus then enters Jerusalem heralded by many as Davidic King astride a donkey, coming in peace, as Zechariah had foreseen (Mark 11:1–10). However, whereas Zechariah had imagined this Messiah bending Judah as a bow, making Ephraim an arrow, stirring up Zion’s sons as weapons to destroy Greece’s finest (Zech 9:9–13), this Messiah through the blood of God’s covenant (cf. Mark 14:24) would set prisoners free from the waterless pit through giving himself for the world without violent force (Zech 9:11). On his entry, Jesus does not launch an assault on the Romans but attacks the sacrifice system (Mark 11:15–19). He does nothing to woo the Jewish leadership, but debates them relentlessly, even humiliating and challenging them (Mark 11:27–12:40). Rather than launch a revolution, his mortal fate is sealed. After foretelling the destruction of the Temple and giving hints of his future return (Mark 13), he then sat to dine with his disciples knowing that one will betray him and another deny him (Mark 14:10–25). Yet, he breaks bread even with a traitor and a denier, an astonishing act of mercy and love by the friend of sinners—there is hope for us all! (Luke 7:34). As they celebrate Passover, he speaks of his body broken and his blood poured out for many as the blood of the new covenant. Again, his words are ambiguous and may have sounded like a declaration of war and the spilling of the blood of others.[21] After passionately pleading that God free him from what is to come, a prayer God chooses to deny, Jesus is then arrested and tried (Mark 14:32–72). When he faces Pilate, Rome’s representative ruling the city, instead of offering him terms and warning him of his forthcoming destruction, and the future subjugation of Rome to God’s rule by force, he makes a vague affirmation and is silent (Mark 15:1–5). In the place of a genuine rebel Barabbas (son of Abba), the One that a Roman soldier would acknowledge as God’s son, is then beaten and crucified without using his power in self-defence (Mark 15:6–41). The irony is palpable. He is deserted by his closest, including Peter, who fails the test (Mark 14:66–72). Jesus is utterly bereft. He cries out the words of Ps 22, a final plea for people to see that he is the Davidic Messiah come as God’s Servant (Mark 15:34).[22] Yet, he is merely mocked and ridiculed. If he is truly “King of the Jews,” he would not hang accursed on a tree but break free and launch the revolution. He dies. His followers are despondent. They have no idea what they would no later—he was indeed accursed but to take the curse of our sin (Gal 3:13). Luke’s version of the Jesus story shows how the hopes of the disciples were shattered (Luke 24:19). Jesus is no longer Messiah, but Jesus of Nazareth, merely a prophet. They had hoped for the liberation of the nation, but he was gone (Luke 24:21; Acts 1:6). Their vision was too small. Jesus did not come to liberate a nation politically, but to set free sinners from the whole world. Their expectations of the MO of God’s Messiah was fatally flawed. Yet, for Mark and the other NT writers, this is not the end, but a new beginning. What happens next changes everything. The women find an empty tomb (Mark 16:1–5). They are told to meet Jesus in Galilee. Mark ends his story with the women afraid and bewildered (Mark 16:8).[23] Yet, the existence of Mark’s Gospel shows that they did not stay in that state. As the other Gospels give witness (e.g., Matt 28:8–10), they did run to the others, told them, and Jesus did meet them in different ways over space and time. With his help and the Scriptures renarrated through the lens of a suffering Servant Messiah and Son of Man (Luke 24:26–27, 44–46), they realized that their hopes had been misguided. Their worldview was turned upside down. The way of Jesus is walking with crosses strapped on backs to the point of death (cf. Phil 2:5, 8), not inflicting such punishment on others. What they had experienced in the life of Jesus in first-century Galilee and Judah was indeed the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Prophet, and the Servant; God’s Theo. Yet, he had come to do something unforeseen other than in unrecognized parts of the Jewish Scriptures.[24] This Theo would come not as a hurricane of supernatural military force to impose God’s reign, but to wash feet, feed the poor, heal lepers and all manner of others with a touch, befriend those at the margins, and save a world through love. His life then is the pattern for discipleship—we who accept his summons to yield allegiance to this King, are to take up our towels and crosses and follow him. This is the way.[25] His Kingdom is not like any other ever seen before. There is indeed a war, yet it is a war of hearts, a spiritual war (esp. Eph 6:11–18). The Kingdom is planted in the midst of the swirling empires of the world that are led by the arrogant and assured, laying claim to people’s allegiance by hook or by crook. Christ’s Kingdom is a kingdom of love, service, selflessness, humility, suffering, and sacrifice, for the good of others (esp. Phil 2:1–11). It involves the renunciation of such things as selfish ambition and vain conceit (Phil 2:3). All are invited to yield. Others are free not to. Those that do are gifted eternal life with this King. The final outcome will be the return of the King sometime in the future and the establishment of his reign in a world free of the hubris of colliding empires. Mark’s Gospel then has two layers. The first is the experience of the disciples as they struggled to make sense of a Messiah, Son of Man, and Son of God who did not play the game of thrones the world was engaged in. Or better, he played it differently, summoning people to yield to God’s rule by love, wooing them with compassion and mercy. The second is our experience of reading Mark, and the other Gospel writers were doing as they wrote their accounts of Jesus. They are summoning us to see the deep magic embedded in the narrative. There is another way. It is the way of the cross. It is the way of renouncing the trappings of the world for a new way of being. It is the path of humility, service, and agapē that the world may know that we are truly his disciples (John 13:34–35). Sitting here in the twenty-first century, we are again in a world of colliding empires. Some are bona fide empires led by despots dominating with force, emulating the empires of old. Others are subtler, controlled by those who know how to use political intrigue, charisma, wealth, and rhetoric to win hearts. Their empires may not be violently enforced, but they are economically powerful, binding people to the patterns of the Kingdom by socio-economic necessity. Such rulers know how to control the narratives of the array of media options before us. We live unsure what news is fake and what is true. The world is a dangerous place with empires on the rise. The Jesus of the four Gospels summons us to live as subjects of the Empire of empires. In the cacophony of media, we are to listen to and consider more deeply the good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God. This will mean identifying the empires of our age and refusing to be conformed to them (Rom 12:2). Rather, to reference Paul, we are to be citizens of God’s Empire, led by Jesus, living as he calls us to live—cruciformly (Phil 1:27–30; 3:20–21). Where we have the honor and privilege of leading, we must lead without resorting to the duplicitous patterns of autocracy so many exhibit in politics, business, and other parts of society. We are to lead as humble and merciful servants. In this way, God’s reign will continue to be extended, nestled in this world of colliding empires, reshaping it from the inside out. We are not summoned to partner with those seeking rule by military force. We are to work from the inside out, changing the world with a reloveution of mercy. Ultimately, when his message has penetrated to its every part to his satisfaction, we are told he will return, and all will be right (Mark 13:10; Matt 24:14). In the meantime, we are to take up our crosses and towels and follow him. (Mark Keown’s recent book is Jesus in a World of Colliding Empires (Wipf and Stock, 2018.) [1] The Conquest is questioned historically. However, this is a modern debate. For Israel at the time of Jesus, the story was foundational as recorded in their sacred Scriptures; hence, its historicity is not important to this discussion. See on such questions Michael T. Kennedy, “Canaan, Conquest of,” “Historical Reliability,” in Lexham Bible Dictionary (hereafter, LBD). [2] The dynasty proper ran from 142–63 BC. See Tessa Rajak, “Hasmonean Dynasty,” The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary 3:67–76. [3] See Mark J. Keown, Jesus in a World of Colliding Empires: Mark’s Jesus from the Perspective of Power and Expectations, Vol 1 (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2018), 127–31 for a summary of the biblical and extra-biblical texts, particularly, Josephus. [6] G. Schneider, ”Ἰησοῦς, οῦ Iēsous Jesus,” The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament 2:180–81. [7] While Mark places this after the call (Mark 1:29–34), Luke sets it before (Luke 4:38–41). Combined with John’s account of the call (John 1:29–51), it is in my view more historically plausible that they had met Jesus before their call. [8] Any person who fishes knows that fishing involves the capture and killing of the marine life involved. The motif of capturing as in fishing is also used in the OT in a military sense (see Isa 19:8; Ezek 29:4; 32:3; Amos 4:2; Hab 1:14–17; also, Job 41:2; Eccl 9:12). Notably, while Mark and Matthew use halieus denoting a fisherperson (Mark 1:17; Matt 4:19), Luke prefers zōgreō, meaning “capture alive” (Luke 5:10, see BDAG 429), clarifying that this is not a capture and physically kill ministry that they are being invited into. [9] See Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1–8:26, Word Biblical Commentary 34A (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 163 on the variants. While it is unclear whether Simon was a full-blown revolutionary in the sense of the Zealots who inspired the later revolt against Rome, the tag Zealot indicates he had revolutionary tendencies; see R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text, NIGTC (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: Eerdmans; Paternoster, 2002), 163. [10] Ben Witherington III, The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001), 152. [11] The so-called “Messianic Secret” (Mark 1:24–25, 34, 43–44; 3:11–12; 5:7, 43; 7:36; 8:26, 29–30; 9:2–8). In my view, the central reason Jesus did this was to guard against revolutionary tendencies (see John 6:14–15). For various views, see Brendon R. Witte, “Messianic Secret,” LBD. [13] This is a strong term meaning to rebuke, reprove. In the LXX, it “becomes a technical term for the powerful divine word of rebuke and threat,” see Ethelbert Stauffer, “Ἐπιτιμάω, Ἐπιτιμία,” The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 2:624. [14] See especially 1 En. 48.1–10; see also 1 En. 46.2–4; 52.43; 60.10; 62:5–16; 63.11; 69.27–29; 70.1; 71.14, 17. The Book of the Similitudes in 1 Enoch 37–71 is dated by Isaac ca. 106–64 BC and so would have been well known by the time of Jesus in Palestine; see E. Isaac, “A New Translation and Introduction,” The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol. 1 (New York; London: Yale University Press, 1983)., 1:7. [15] See Ps 24:1—"the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” 93:1; 96:10; 97:1; 99:1—“the Lord reigns!” (NIV). [17] This likely refers to Christ’s future resurrection, foreshadowed by the Transfiguration. However, for first hearers, this would sound like a summons to fight Rome, see Mark J. Keown, Jesus in a World of Colliding Empires: Mark’s Jesus from the Perspective of Power and Expectations, Vol 2 (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2018), 12–23. [18] See James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 260. [20] If James and John had honored their commitment, they would have hung either side of Jesus on the crosses. However, they were nowhere to be seen. Assuming historicity and John’s authorship of Revelation, later they did participate in Jesus’ cup and baptism of suffering (Acts 12:1–2; Rev 1:9). [22] It is commonly held that the words “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” are to be read literally as Jesus being God-bereft in that moment. Yet, this does not fit the context of Psalm 22 (where David cries out to God feeling abandoned but not literally so) nor Jesus’ situation. Rather, Jesus is giving Israel its final opportunity to recognise that he is the one of whom David prophesied as he wrote those words (Mark J. Keown, “‘My God, my God, Why have you Forsaken Me?’ Did God Forsake Jesus on the Cross?” (…). [23] The textual evidence is overwhelming that Mark’s Gospel ends at 16:8, see), 103–106. In my view, this does not indicate Mark was interrupted or that the ending is lost. Rather, it brilliantly leaves readers with the questions—who is this man? What will be my response? (cf. Mark 4:41). [24] John’s Jesus tells Israel’s leaders that they search the Scriptures and fail to find Jesus and eternal life (John 5:39). We are warned against excessive confidence concerning the eschaton as we too examine the Scriptures. Article Comments If anyone is interested, I… If anyone is interested, I just did a follow up blog post on this issue connecting the thoughts about Plato and Jesus with what Joseph Ratzinger had to say about Jesus and the Impaled, Just man in Plato's Republic. It's here:-… It has long been noted that Jesus believed he needed to suffer to fulfill God's plan, such as demonstrated with the. Here is another avenue that might prove more fruitful as an explanation. In Book 2 of Plato's Republic, Plato gives the example of the lowly impaled just man as a condition to determine whether one was just and whether this is preferable to being a happy unjust ruler. Sachs comments that: . Plato's Republic was the most famous book in the ancient world, so it is not unreasonable to suppose some of its themes may have influenced Jesus and his followers, even if none of them ever read The Republic. Perhaps Jesus thought it was God's plan for him to nobly suffer as a criminal in society's eyes like Plato's impaled just man, because this would demonstrate him to be truly just and thus worthy of being the Son of Man/judge of people in the new age following the apocalypse.

Get this book in print About this book My library Books on Google Play crystal, and flowed gently on, till it had surrounded tions are, with very few exceptions, applied ed or founded our more mature character. the Knight's grave; it then pursued its course, and to every thing of consequence in the text. Then, the labours of all, who now gather emptied itself into a tranquil lake, which was near the consecrated ground. Even in our times, the They are so constructed, that no one can the fading recollections and traditions of inhabitants of the village show the stream, and en- enable himself to understand and answer elder days, and give them a permanent tertain an opinion that this is the poor, deserted them, without making himself master of the form, will be duly appreciated. The exeUndine, who, in this manner still surrounds with whole subject which they regard. cution of Mr Moore's work is as good as her affectionate arms, her beloved husband." The typography of the work, in every the plan and purpose ; it displays good sense, We have given these passages, not be respect but that of literal correctness, is good taste, and much industry. The “ Annals of Concord” are brought cause they are all of them among the best excellent; there are some errors of this which could have been selected, but as af- sort, but all which could cause any mistake, down, quite to the present day, and some fording upon the whole, a pretty fair view are corrected with the pen. It may be account is given of all the inhabitants of of the character and execution of the well to add, that the addition of the ques- the town, who have been remarkable in work. For ourselves, we repeat, that we tions does not increase the price of the any respect. The notice of Benjamin have been highly delighted with it. The work, this edition being sold at the same Thompson, Count Rumford, who passed some name of the translator is not given, and we rate as the 12mo edition of Blair's Rheto- years in Concord, is peculiarly interestknow not to whom we are indebted for the ric in common use. ing. pleasure it has afforded us. His task, we There is much in these Annals respecting have no doubt, though we have no acquaint the Indian warfare; much that it is now ance with the original, has been executed Annals of the Town of Concord, in the Coun- difficult to realize as having actually exwith fidelity; we know at least, that the ty of Merrimack, and State of New isted. What a contrast is there, between English dress in which he has presented Hampshire, from its first Settlement, in the present peaceful and secure condition this fanciful little tale, is neat, often beau- the Year 1726, to the Year 1823. With of our towns, and a situation which exposed tiful, and always interesting. several Biographical Sketches. To which them to circumstances like those narrated is added, a Memoir of the Penacook In- page 23. dians. By Jacob B. Moore. 8vo. PP habitants set out for Hopkinton, two on horses, and "On Monday morning, the 11th, seven of the inAn Abridgment of Lectures on Rhetoric. 112. Concord, 1824. the others on foot, all armed. They marched on By Hugh Blair, D. D. Improved by the This simple and unpretending book, is both leisurely, and Obadiah Peters, having proceeded addition of Appropriate Marginal Ques- pleasing and useful, in a high degree. It some distance forward of the others into a hollow, tions, numbered to correspond with Refer- appears from the preface, that the author about one mile and a half from the street, set down ences in the body of the page. By Na- collected the facts and materials for his The Indians, thinking themselves discovered, rose his gun and waited the approach of his friends. thaniel Greene. 12mo. pp. 238. Boston own use, but concluded to publish these An- from their hiding-places, fired and killed Peters on 1824. nals, in the belief that they would be gen- the spot. At this moment, Jonathan Bradley and The questions printed in the margin of erally interesting. He did well to collect, the rest of his party had gained the summit of the each page, are perfectly simple and dis- and better to publish them; and we hope hill. Bradley was deceived in the number of the tinct, and well calculated to direct the at- his success will be such as to encourage sim-ters to compose the whole party. He ordered his enemy, supposing the few whom he saw near Pe. tention of the scholar to those statements in ilar undertakings. Works like this are men to fire, and they rushed down among them. the text, which it is most important that he needed to illustrate our earliest history. It The whole body of Indians instantly arose, being should comprehend and remember. Every gives a plain relation of the first settlement about 100 in number. Bradley now urged his men instructer who is properly desirous that his of Concord, with a minute account of the to fly for safety; but it was too late—the work of pupil should profit by the book he reads, difficulties encountered and subdued, and shot through the body-stripped of his clothing, destruction bad commenced. Samuel Bradley was must ask him many questions respecting it; of all the doings, public and private, -for and scalped. To Jonathan they offered 'good not only to assure himself that it has been they were then almost the same,-of the quarter," having been acquainted with him, but studied with sufficient assiduity, but to lead infant colony. The interior townships he refused their protection, his heroic spirit thirstthe mind of his scholar to those subjects of New England were settled in a some- ing to avenge the death of his comrades. He which he should examine with most care. what similar manner, and yet the early until they struck him on his face repeatedly with fought with his gun against the cloud of enemies, But few masters, compelled as they must history of each has peculiarities that give their knives and tomahawks, and literally hewed be, to make little preparation in this re- to it a distinct interest. They agree, in him down. They then pierced his body, took off spect, can devise at once questions so much that a wilderness was about them, thinly his scalp and clothes. Two others, John Bean and to the point, as those which are here peopled by a savage enemy, of equal ac- John Lufkin, attempting to fly, were killed by the attached to the text; of course, these tivity and malignity; that' famine often same fire with Samuel Bradley Alexander Robmust not only be of great assistance to the came amongst them, threatening if not de- death, but were made prisoners and taken to Can erts and William Stickney fortunately escaped teacher, but of importance to the schol- stroying ; and that they generally, quite asada. Immediately after the melancholy affair took ar, because they secure to him an exam- soon as they were established, contrived to place, an alarm was given from Walker's garrison ination, at once precise and full. An- get into quarrels with their neighbours, to the people on the interval, and elsewhere, at other advantage isthat when boys recite about boundaries, or privileges of some consulted on measures of safety. The soldiers sta some little distance. They soon assembled and in numerous classes, as must be the case in kind. But the details of the savage war tioned at the garrison, and several of the inhabiacademies, but a small proportion of them differ, sometimes according to casual cir- tants, then repaired to the scene of slaughter. As can be examined with much care; but any cumstances of location or condition, and they approached, the Indians were seen upon the one who uses this edition, while he studies sometimes from the differing habits of dif- retreat. The bodies were brought away in a cart, the text, will have his attention directed ferent tribes of Indians; the dangers and and were interred in the church-yard on the followwhere a skilful master would wish to lead difficulties surmounted, and the spirit and unknown to the inhabitants until some time after, ing day. The number killed of the Indians was it; it is in fact, the same thing as if he resources which met them, are infinitely when the information was obtained from Roberts, studied the work with constant reference various. These particulars are more than who had made his escape from captivity. He stato a digest, or compact abridgment of it. amusing; they are the materials for useful ted that four were killed, and several wounded, two The only objection which can be urged a- history: they serve to illustrate vividly, mortally, who were conveyed away upon litters, gainst this method of printing school-books, both the character that our fathers brought hemlock tree in the Great Swamp, about half a mile and soon after died. Two they buried under a large is, that scholars, knowing beforehand what with them, and that which they found in south of the scene of slaughter. The other two questions are to be asked them, prepare the aborigines. In time to come, it will be, were buried at some distance from them, near Turthemselves accordingly, and neglect the re- perhaps, thought more interesting than it key river. Roberts found the two bodies under mainder of the book. This is a point which is now, to seek in the conduct and condi- the log after his return from captivity. The head deserves much attention; it is , however, tion of the infancy of our country, those of one was taken away, it was supposed, by wild but just to say, that in this work, the ques- traits, and those impressions, which indicat-beasts. For the skull of the other, a bounty was paid by the government." а 54 a On page 76 we have a copy of a letters and its maker, but of all goodness, justice,gar passion and all vile impulses are conwritten by an Indian Chief, to Cranfield, and happiness. If we may judge from his tinually uttering, is, that the love of these Lieut. Governor of New Hampshire. It is writings,—not from his prefaces and apolo- things is spirited ambition, and the ennobcurious enough to be extracted. gies, excuses and explanations, but his prin- ling aspiration of great minds. There are cipal works, those which have cost him care few whom this powerful lie does not at some “ May 15th, 1685. " Honour gouernor my friend, and toil, and on which he relies for fame, seasons and in some measure deceive, and You my friend I desire your worship and your -his prevalent and habitual sentiment is a there are many whom it deludes and ruins. power, because I hope you can do som great mat- thorough and bitter scorn for every thing How wholly unnecessary is it, to teach men ters this one. I am poor and naked, and I have but depravity, and an universal distrust of to forget that man is good, that his hopes no man at my place because I afraid allwayes Mohogs he will kill me every day and night. If your every thing but falsehood. Virtue, honesty, are secure and his happiness real, just in worship when please pray help me you no let Mo- respect for right, and obedience to law, are proportion as he loves peaceful usefulness hogs kill me at my place at Malamake river called with him, only cheating hypocrisy or cheat- betier than stife and turmoil, and pursues Panukkog and Nattukkog, I will submit your wor. ed folly ; be deems it an abuse and an error the path of his duty, looking not above or ship and your power. And now I want pouder and to suppose that men do themselves good by beyond him, but at his work. such alminishon, shot and guns, because I have imposing upon themselves restraints, and Earth would be heaven, if men loved forth at my hom and I plant theare. This all Indian hand, but pray do you consider considers him wise, who overleaps the their duty better than its reward, and sought your bumble servant, bounds which fasten in society, and dares no other recompense than the pleasure of JOHN HOGKINS." to forget or defy in mad revelry all cus- doing good. This a condition which can tom, decency, and law. It is his settled hardly be imagined and never perhaps creed, that we know not and cannot know, be reached ; still it should be perpetually apCain ; a Mystery. By Lord Byron. Bos- by what cause or to what end we are in be- proached. It should be a goal towards ton. 1822. 18mo. pp. 79. ing; religion is with him a time-rooted which all hope and effort should tend; and The Deformed Transformed; a Drama. falsehood, to which weakness, suffering, and there is nothing good and pure in the affecBy the Right Hon. Lord Byron. First fear have given power,-a strange folly, tions, nothing true in thought, and nothing American from the second London edition. making men barter away ease, liberty, and rational in belief or expectation, which Philadelphia. 1824. 12mo. pp. 84. pleasure for an equivalent to be repaid only does not look to it. Amid the barrenness of Few living authors exert so strong and to him who has become nothing; he sees in earth, even as it is, there are green and wide an influence as Lord Byron. His in. hope a miserable delusion, and in death lovely spots ; primeval happiness comes tellect is remarkable, not for its power nothing but the chill and darkness and cor- again, with a reality beyond the dream of alone ; with those qualities which are most ruption of the grave. These opinions of poetry or the hope of enthusiasm, to a pure sure to awaken and arrest attention, he has, his oppose the universal and hereditary heart, dwelling in a humble and a peaceful in an uncommon measure, the faculties most opinion of the world, and believing himseif home. The love of self has many forms necessary to take advantage of opportunities right, he, of course, thinks that he is wiser and many names; it is lofty ambition, noble thus gained. He is not only a poet of a high than the world, and that his views are more pride, just revenge, and many things akin extended and accurate. order, but an original, fearless, versatile, vain of the distinction, and regards it with dwell , for where they are, there is no room Of course be is to these ; but with them happiness cannot and sometimes mysterious character; he is therefore certain of patient and earnest should see it, and he tells men earnestly and that she loves, are innocent and humble, but much complacency, and is willing that all and no welcome for her. The companions listeners; and upon all who listen to his song, he can throw a spell which few are eloquently what fools, cowards, or hypo- glad and grateful thoughts, and pure and strong enough to break, by his absolute crites they are for believing, hoping, fear-kind affections; thoughts and affections command over the melodies of language ing, and professing like their fathers; that which come from heaven and almost bear and all that is powerful or beautiful in im- they may feel his superiority, his bold sa- one thither, but which Byron, and they who agery, and by his skill in waking the grace- gacity, who tells them so. are infected by his influence, hold in utter ful play of gay or tender thoughts, or paint Some things he has written to revenge scorn. This is a heavy accusation ; let us ing the fiercest madness of passion, or con- an injury; his mind is versatile and active, examine if it be not just. trasting all action and motion, whether and he has written some things merely from Who are his heroes? Who are they, to peaceful and joyous or fearful, with the caprice or in idleness; of late, some of the whom he gives beauty and courage and solemn calm of feelings, deep, 'silent, and appendages to his poems indicate alarm, if power? Who is he, that, whether his name tranquil as a reposing ocean. A man thus not penitence; but the mass of his power- be Harold or Manfred, Conrad, Lara, or endowed, if he be,—as Lord Byron is, – tul and splendid poetry has a distinct and the Giaour, is a reflection of the character ambitious of influence and notoriety, for we for satire, or humour, or pathos, or exquisite reckless ambition is utterly regardless of strongly marked character. His talents which Lord Byron loves? He is one, whose will not call it fame, cannot pass through description of the beauty or sublimity of all that does not minister to its own indulhis course, without giving a permanent direction to some minds and a bias to many, fully exerted as when he is fighting against others as born only for his use, and whose nature, are never so strenuously and success. gence, whose miserable pride looks upon and thus doing much to establish his own all the best affections and unfailing hopes ready vengeance is awakened against all fashion of regarding those topics which and sanctifying truths, which are left for who chance to cross his wayward path. form the strength or consolation of humanity. " His haunt, and the main region of his song." Such a being may exist; probably many It is mockery to ask whether such a man, such do exist; but when these qualities beThe extent and character of his influ- writing thus, produces a good or evil effect; long to men living in society, the absurdity ence is a subject well worthy of examina- the only question is, what is the evil, which of supposing them ennobling rather than tion. We speak not of the effect of By- most naturally grows out of his works? degrading, is impossible. Such men are ron's example upon the forms and appear. The answer is obvious. He has confounded avoided ; they feel no love and they seek ances of poetry, nor of the changes he may the distinction between all evil and all none; if they are unable or unwilling to have caused on the surface or in the depths good, and made beautiful and alluring by hide their pride and selfishness, all who apof literature, if any such there be; but of specious falsehood, that which in truth and proach them, recoil with disgust; and if the influence he has exerted upon the gen- in reality is as repulsive as it is dangerous. those qualities are hidden, it is by a disguise eral habits of thinking and feeling in culti- It is the evil of man's nature, which alone, of mean and temporary suavity, which Byvated society. whatever be its features or disguise, loves ron's poetry could not endure. Such must Lord Byron is an infidel; a thorough and discord, tumult, and revenge, and solitary be men who, in the ruling principles of consistent infidel. Of course we say this grandeur, and uncontrolled power; these thought and feeling, resemble Byron's faonly of Lord Byron as an anthor; as such, things barmonize with nothing that is good; vorites; and the falsehood of his poetry he is an unbeliever not merely of heaven and the great lie, which selfishness and vul- consists in giving to such characters unnat ural and impossible attractions ; in making | but hatred, despairing yet untiring. Satan combat with Lucifer; they avoid him or them mild, amiable, and affectionate, lovely is invested with unimaginable sublimity; they stand before him fearful and feeble. and beloved, and happy in their ambition, but it is the sublimity of darkness illu- Now then, Byron, by the terms of his own their vengeance, or their sensuality. Thus mined with hell-fire : it is composed of seeking, is reduced within an obvious dilema character is created and strongly im- every element of awe and terror, and ma. He has given the victory to the advopressed upon the imagination, the direct is unqualified by any thing which can cate of infidelity; therefore he either would tendency of which is to produce, in the in- allure to sympathy or imitation. We feel not or could not defeat his sophistry; if he tellectual apprehension, an association be- that he holds bis burning sceptre because would not, it was because it is pleasant to tween things which approach each other he is supreme in pain ;-he speaks to the him to blaspheme, and he loved the awful only in fiction, and a disunion between sun as something which had been beneath falsehoods of his hero too fondly to bring those which are seldom sundered in reality, bis sphere, but curses the beam that brings them into light; if he could not, then the and never should be in the belief; between the memory of his past brightness; and we sad conclusion is inevitable, that he is inhumility and content, between usefulness are continually led to measure the height sensible to those truths and hopes and affecand happiness. It may be thought that all of his lost throne by the abyss into which tions which alone can elevaie man from romantic works are liable to this charge in he has fallen. He ineets the ministers of earth to happiness, and has not yet learned common with those of Lord Byron; but God in combat, in argument, and in pur- that none but the fool saith, There is no it applies to his productions with peculiar poses of evil, but he is exposed, defeated, God. aptness and force. In other works of this and punished, like a guilty and miserable It is impossible to read “ Cain,” without class, the evil is commonly palliated, and, in thing; he is a rebel and a blasphemer feeling that Lucifer is a favoured and cher. some sort, remedied, by a degree of regard to against the Most High, but his rebellion is ished character; it is impossible to compare those domestic charities and those duties its own punishment, his blasphemy is a cry Lucifer with the heroes of Lord Byron's and relations of society, which Byron seems of agony and despair, and his every word other works, without perceiving that he is neither to love, respect, nor understand. and action and purpose proclaims that his one with them. There is, we have already This regard is seldom very enlightened; sovereignty in wickedness and power and said, a distinct character, which every fabut, at the worst, it is a folly neutralizing torment is one. Is it thus with Byron's vorite of the Byron school bears, and this a falsehood, which in Byron's poetry is Lucifer? Far from it; the impression he is character, strongly exaggerated, and rewholly unresisted. That Lord Byron's in- calculated to produce is precisely the oppo- lieved from a few of the incongruous amiafluence is checked and decaying, is certain; site to that which is caused by the charac- bilities which are commonly attached to it, but who can deny that it has been great, that, ter of Satan. becomes Lucifer. with any knowledge of human nature, has Milton's arch-fiend is opposed to the Al- There is a use in most things; and Lord any recollection of the admiration, which mighty as evil to good, as falsehood to truth, Byron may do some good, even as an author. his poems excited, and of the forgetful- as misery to peace and happiness ; but Lu- The limits which are put to his success, the ness of their moral character in the ac- cifer is triumphant and exulting. There is decay of his fame, the obloquy which is knowledgement of their power and splen- nothing of wretchedness about him, and he gathering about him, prove that there is dour. declares himself to be miserable only that among those for whom he writes, a sense of We may appear to have pushed the he may better illustrate his proud scorn his folly and wickedness, which will not be charge of infidelity and impiety too far. and successful defiance of that Almighty wholly blinded even by the splendour of his Byron, as we have already remarked, has vengeance which cannot inflict so much as poetry. In his earlier works Byron appearof late made many protestations and excus- he can endure. The cause of truth and ed as a poet of extraordinary powers, who es, which, with some critics, appear to have goodness is argued by Cain, feebly and foolishly affected much melancholy, and a degree of weight. In the preface to against his will; Adam and Eve are repre- who unhappily failed to discover that the Cain he seems to anticipate the horror sented as unresisting victims of God's in- time had gone by, when an author could which the foul blasphemies of Lucife must justice, worshipping him rather in fear than advance bis reputation for talent and origiexcite, and endeavours to excuse or defend in love. Abel, Adah, and Zillah are very nality by indulging his spleen in sneers at them, by saying that “it was difficult to good and peaceful, but rather weak and every thing holy, virtuous, or honourable. make him talk like a clergyman.” He else- quite unable to aid Cain in his wordy con- He wrote a series of delightful tales, unitwhere refers to a great precedent for his test with Lucifer. The spirit of evil is ing to great novelty in point of character justification : he appeals to Milton; and by alike triumphant in argument and in temp- every species of poetic beauty. At this the example of Milton, as far as two spirits tation; and his weapons are the same in period his reputation was at its height ; he so discordant can be brought into compari- both. He tempts to disobedience and sin, had indeed discovered the traits of character son, let him judged. by promising knowledge; and overcomes which he has since shown more openly, but The Satan of Paradise Lost, is the sub- the habits of devotion in which Cain had he had not then obtruded them upon public lime of evil. It was a thought which mark- been educated, by performing his promise, notice; he had not yet written Don Juan ed the character of Milton's intellect, to by compelling the reason of Cain to admit and Cain, as if to show that the finest poetregard a pure hatred of God, as the crown that man is miserable because God is essen- ry might be used to decorate vulgar licened and sovereign sin. Had the subordinate tially unjust and cruel! This tremendous tiousness or the sophistry and curses of devils been the creations of a less mighty blasphemy is repeated in many forms and blasphemy. But he has since gone so far mind, they would have differed from their with all possible distinctness, and adorned as to alarin and shock every feeling of love leader and from each other, only as they with all the poetry and enforced with all for goodness or respect for sanctity. Pubwere tainted with more or less wickedness. the eloquence which Lord Byron could lic sentiment is decidedly against him; his But it is not so: each one represents some command. It is no palliation, that Lucifer's last books do not sell; they remain on the elemental vice, and, in all that he says or arguments are altogether trite and futile, booksellers' shelves instead of being dedoes shows, with exceeding truth, the im- for they are all that infidelity has yet found. manded with an avidity which could hardly pulse and tendency of the sin he personi- To the excuse which Byron offers in his be supplied. The last cantos of Juan are fies. Avarice, Ambition, and Sensuality are own defence, that he was obliged to make almost unread here, and were it not for the there in vivid but disgusting reality. They his persons speak in character, we need not newspapers, which extract their best pasare there with their brethren, leading the answer that he was nowise required to sages, it would hardly be known that Byron armies of hell; but they bow with willing write that which could not be written with continued to write. In this fact there is inself-abasement to the preeminence in sin out blasphemy,--for the excuse wholly fails finite encouragement for them who hope and in suffering of him, on whom they rest of itself. If Lucifer must speak in charac- that men will one day learn to prefer good their hopes and from whom they derive ter, why must not Adam and Abel and to evil, and who would add their mite of their strength; of him, who is the life, the the Angel of the Lord,- for he too is a effort, to bring about this blessed consume essential spirit of all ill, as he is nought person of this Mystery ? But they do not mation. wear. : There is an attempt to liken “Cain” to He is my father: but I thought that 'twere In the clear waters, when they are gentle, and the ancient Mysteries or Moralities ; per- Rever to have been stung at all, than to A better portion for the animal When thou art gentle. Love us, then, my Cain ! haps to give it the sanction of some exam- Purchase renewal of its little life And love thy self for our sakes, for we love thee. Look! how he laughs and stretches out his arms, ple; but it differs from them about as much With agonies unutterable, though And opens wide his blue eyes upon thine, as from our common, acting plays. It is a Dispell'd by antidotes." To hail his father; while his little form poem in dialogue; the interlocutors are Flutters as wing'd with joy. Talk not of pain ! Soon after, Cain, in vengeance for the The childless cherubs wel might envy thee Adam, Cain, and Abel,-Eve, Adah, and • Zillah, -and Lucifer and the Angel of the preference paid to Abel's sacrifice, endea. The pleasures of a parent ! Bless him, Cain ! Lord. There is very little story in the cours to destroy Abel's altar, and slays him as yet he hath no words to thank thee, but poem. It begins with a sacrifice which all for defending it. The Angel of the Lord His heart will, and thine own too."" The “ Deformed Transformed” is the last the mortals offer in conjunction ; Cain is appears and pronounces the curse upon Cain, left alone, and Lucifer soon comes to him, who departs, a fugitive. There are passa- work which Byron has published; it is not and enters upon a long argument, which ges of poetry in this “Mystery,” which strongly characterized by the poet's pecufinally appears to convince Cain that God Byron has never surpassed. The scenes liarities, and many have doubted whether is merciless, and that it is a valiant and ex- between Cain and Adah are always beauti- it were his, but there are parts of it which cellent thing to defy him. We will quote ful. She meets him, after Lucifer had left only a poet could have written. The story is simple enough. A hunchback sells hima part of this dialogue, which may show not him, thus. only the exquisite beauty scattered over Adah. Hush ! tread softly, Cain. self to the devil for beauty; the “StranCain. I will; but wherefore ? ger," brings before him the eminent of past the whole, but the character of the dia Adah. Our little Enoch sleeps upon yon bed logue, that is sustained throughout the ages, that he may choose whose form to Of leaves, beneath the cypress. He finally determines to be as poem. Cain. Cypress! 'tis Achilles was; assumes his form, joins the " Lucifer. Approach the things of earth most O'er what it shadows; wherefore didst thou A gloomy tree, which looks as if it mourn'd army of Bourbon, and assists in the assault beautiful, choose it of Rome. And judge their beauty near. For our child's canopy? Anthony and Demetrius Poliorcetes are I have done thisCain. Adah. Because its branches The loveliest thing I know is loveliest nearest, thus described ; Luc. Then there must be delusion- What is Shut out the sun like night, and therefore seem'd Fitting to shadow slumber. Arnold. What's here? whose broad brow and that, Cain. Ay, the last- whose curly beard Which being nearest to thine eyes is stil And longest; but no matter-lead me to him. And manly aspect look like Hercules, More beautiful than beauteous things remote? Cain. My sister Adan.-All the stars of heaven, How lovely he appears ! his little cheeks, (They go up to the child. Save that his jocund eye hath more of Bacchus Than the sad Purger of the infernal world, The deep blue noon of night, lít by an orb In their pure incarnation, vying with Leaning dejected on his club of conquest, Which looks a spirit, or a spirit's world- The rose leaves strewn beneath them. As if he knew the worthlessness of those The hues of twilight-the sun's gorgeous coming- Adah. And his lips, too, For whom he had fought. His setting indescribable, which fills How beautifully parted! No; you shall not Stranger It was the man who lost My eyes with pleasant tears as I behold Kiss him, at least not now: he will awake soon- The ancient world for love. Him sink, and feel my heart float softly with him His hour of mid-day rest is nearly over; Arnold. I cannot blame him, Along that western paradise of clouds But it were pity to disturb him till Since I have risked my soul because I find not The forest shade-the green bough-the bird's 'Tis closed. That which he exchanged the earth for. voiceCain, You have said well; I will contain Stranger. Since so far The vesper bird's, which seems to sing of love, My heart till then. He smiles, and sleeps! You seem congenial, will you wear his features ? And mingles with the song of cherubim, Sleep on Arnold. No. As you leave me choice, I am difAs the day closes over Eden's walls;And smile, thou little, young inheritor ficult, All these are nothing, to my eyes and heart, Like Adah's face. I turn from earth and heaven of a world scarce less young : sleep on, and smile! If but to see the heroes I should ne'er Thine are the hours and days when both are cheer- Have seen else on this side of the dim shore To gaze on it. Whence they float back before us. Luc. 'Tis frail as fair mortality, And innocent! thou hast not pluck'd the fruit- Stranger. Hence, Triumvir! In the first dawn and bloom of young creation And earliest embraces of earth's parents, Thou know'st not thou art naked! Mast the time Thy Cleopatra's waiting Come thou shalt be amerced for sins unknown, [1'he Shade of Anthony disappears: anoth- Can make its offspring ; still it is delusion. Cain. You think so, being not her brother. Which were not thine nor mine? But now sleep er rises.) on! Arnold. Who is this? Luc. Mortal! Who truly looketh like a demigod, My brotherhood's with those who have no children. And shining lids are trembling o'er his long His cheeks are reddening into deeper smiles, Blooming and bright, with golden hair, and stature, Cain. Then thou canst have no fellowship with Lashes, dark as the cypress which waves o er them; if not more high than mortal, yet immortal Half open, from beneath them the clear blue In all that nameless bearing of his limbs, Luc. It may be that thine own shall be for me. Laughs out, altho' in slumber. He must dream- Which he wears as the Sun his rays-a something But if thou dost possess a beautiful Of what? Of Paradise !-Ay! dream of it, Which shines from him, and yet is but the flashing Being beyond all beauty in thine eyes, My disinherited boy! 'Tis but a dream; Emanation of a thing more glorious still. Why art thou wretched ? For never more thyself , thy sons, nor fathers, Was he e'er human only. Cain. Why do I exist? Shall walk in that forbidden place of joy! Let the earth speak, Why art thou wretched? why are all things so? Ev'n he who made us must be, as the maker Adah. Dear Cain! Nay, do not whisper o'er If there be atoms of him left, or even Of the more solid gold that formed his urn. of things unhappy! To produce destruction Such melancholy yearnings o'er the past : Arnold. Who was this glory of makind? Can surely never be the task of joy, Why wilt thou always mourn for Paradise ? The shame And yet my sire says he's omnipotent: Can we not make another?" of Greece in peace, her thunderbolt in warThen why is evil-he being good? I ask'd Demetrius the Macedonian and This question of my father; and he said, Cain dwells upon the sufferings and des- Taker of cities. Because this evil only was the path tinies of man until he declares it were better Arnold. Yet one shadow more. To good. Strange good, that must arise from out that his child had not been born ; Adab Get thee to Lamia's lap :* Stranger. (addressing the shadow.) Its deadly opposite. I lately saw A lamb stung by a reptile: the poor suckling answers him. Lay foaming on the earth, beneath the vain "Adah. Oh, do not say so! Where were then Achilles, thus. And piteous bleating of its restless dam; "Stronger. I must commend My father pluck'd some herbs, and laid them to The mother's joys of watching, nourishing, Your choice. The god-like son of the Sea godThe wound; and by degrees the helpless wretch And loving him? Soft! he awakes. Sweet Enoch! dess, Resumed its careless life, and rose to drain (She goes to the child. The unshorn boy of Peleus, with his locks The mother's milk, who o'er it tremulous Oh Cain! look on him: see bow full of life, As beautiful and clear as the amber waves Stood licking its reviving limbs with joy. Of strength, of bloom, of beauty, and of joy, of rich Pactolus rolled o'er sands of gold, Behold, my son! said Adam, how from evil How like to me-how like to thee, when gentle, Softened by intervening chrystal, and Springs good! For then we are all alike; is't not so, Cain? Rippled like flowing waters by the wind, Luic. What didst thou answer? Mother, and sire, and son, our features are All yowed to Sperchius as they were-behold them! Cain. • Nothing; for Rellected in each other; as they are And him-as he stood by Polixena, jog us. our son the joys With sanctioned and with softened love, before “ Book.--I have told you my author knows that occasionally, but which, repulsive as they may be The altar, gazing on his Trojan bride, you are ; moreover, he foresaw that I should meet to some whom I would fain conciliate, I have not With some remorse within for Hector slain you at this time, in this place, and that we should dared to exclude altogether from a work principally And Priam weeping, mingled with deep passion have such conversation together; for which he pre- intended for intellectual dissipation in leisure For the sweet downcast virgin, whose young hand pared me with the answers already given to your hours. Trembled in his who slew her brother. So very natural inquiries. * I have done my part to please you; and if you He stood i' the temple ! Look upon him as Reader.--Humph! no small proof of sagacity! do half as much to be pleased, neither of us will Greece looked her last upon her best, the instant - But how are you sure that I am the person whom have reason to complain. Readers in general are Ere Paris' arrow flow." he had in his mind's eye!' little aware how much of the entertainment of such " Book.--Only because you can be no other; works depends upon themselves. If you, my gentle and though you assume a thousand forms, and be friend, are one of these, make the experiment with Prose, by a Poet. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 411. as many ladies and gentlemen as you please, at my little book: do your best to be delighted with Philadelphia, 1824. once, or in succession,-indeed, the more the merit; and if there be stars in heaven, or flowers on We believe that Montgomery is supposed the very person, to whom he has sent a direct mesrier for him.--yet are you invariably the person, earth, you shall not lose your labour.' “So saying, my author dismissed me. I have to be the author of these pleasant little sage by me. come from his hands to place myself in yours, volumes; they are attributed to him in the ** Reader.-A message !-what is it? where I lie at your mercy. English journals, and are well worthy of Book.--Why, when he turned me out alone into " Reader.-I will do you justice.” him. Whoever the author may be, he is a the wide world, to seek my fortune,-after twenty vain efforts to write a character for me, in the shape There is a very pretty and playful “ Life man of fine sense and taste, and an excel- of a preface, which should justify my title, apolo- of a Flower,” narrated in two letters from lent writer. There is infinite variety in gize for my contents, anticipate criticism, and soft- a violet to a lady; we will venture upon a the matter and manner of the pieces ; some en the sternest reviewer into graciousness, he long extract from this autobiography. are humorous, some pathetic, and some ar- dropt his pen on the floor in despair, and with a gumentative; there are tales, allegories, look of forlornness that cast a shade of melancholy "My dear Madam, journals, dialogues, and essays,--all of which the blight of it there still — he took me up in his trived to write its own history. How in the course over my lightest pages.--I wish you may not find “Do not ask me by what means a flower has conare pretty good, and some very excellent. arms, - I was then in any manuscript or chrysalis of my short life, one week, five days, nine hours The author says that the different pieces state, and a vast deal more bulky than in my pre- and twenty-three minutes, at this moment, -I learnhave been written at different times, and sent butterfly form, --1 say he took me up in his ed so much of men and things, as to qualify me to principally on private occasions, within the arms, like an affectionate parent, which I assure tell you my little tale in language intelligible to belast ten years; and they are now printed, fear in his heart he loves them.-was there ever you will hear in the sequel. I can assure yon, on you he is, loving me for my very faults, because Iings so exalted in the scale of creation as you are, because he had accumulated so many of such a zigzag sentence of digressions to make the word of one among innumerable millions of a these miscellanies, that it seemed probable all straight, my author took me up and thus ad- race by whom a lie was never told since Adam a selection might be made which would be dressed me : plucked the first flower in Paradise,--and that, you acceptable to the public. The preface is *My little Book, know, was before he was married,--that every syl "I have done all that I could for you, consistent lable of the following record is as true as that I in the shape of an amusing dialogue be with my incorrigible indolence and constitutional myself ever lived. Who has lent me his pen, as tween the book and the reader. imbecility. I bave given you a moderate education, amanuensis on this occasion, I shall not tell; for “Reader.- Prose !--so it is; at least the greater to me a very expensive one, and made you as if you are not sufficiently well acquainted with the part of it; and that which looks like verse may be much like myself as such a child ought to be like hand-writing at once to recognise it as that of a the most prosaic of all. such a father. This, I fear, may be no great recon friend, he has deceived me, or you have deceived " Book. --True; but to make amends, you may mendation; and yet it cannot be quite unavailing, him. I have only to premise further, that if there expect that the prose of a poet will be poetical. since that which is genuine, however humble in its be any thing in my narrative unworthy of a violet, * Reader. If I thought so, I would fing you kind, will not be entirely unwelcome where it en- or what a violet could not have known, spoken, or into the fire at once; for next to maudlin verse I counters human sympathy. I send you abroad, a done, you will be pleased to attribute it to his ig. hate drunken prose.' Your title, to be sure, is a stranger among strangers; and your success hence norant or impertinent interpolation. little ominous ;-what does it mean? forward must depend partly upon yourself, but “I do not recollect being born, nor do I remem“ Book.-Every book must have a title, as every chiefly upon a certain personage whom you will ber my parents; for we violets, being only springman must have a name. meet on your travels to the world's end (and to the flowers, die nine months before our children come “ Reader.—But the title ought to be significant end of the world, if you can live so long), in as into the world. But this is idle prating; for, to tell of the contents. many shapes, colours, and sizes, as there are clouds the truth, there are no such things as fathers and " Book.- No more than a man's name need be in the firmament. This person, wherever found, mothers among us : we love ourselves, and our indicative of his character, which, however fash- and under whatever disguise, you will always know posterity are the offspring of self-love ; consequentjonable among savages, could not be tolerated in at tirst sight; for I neea not teach you the signs of ly, there can be no fear of our own issue failing, civil society. freemasonry between a Book and a Reader: but while this ruling passion is the universal inherit* Reader.-No, indeed; we should soon be all remember, that the latter inust always be addressed ance of all our tribe. The first event that I can savages again, if it were so :--who would choose as 'gentle;' and the more crabbed in reality your call to mind was, the fall of an icicle from the old to be reminded of what he wasma tiger, a bear, or patron appears, the more courteous you must be, oak tree under which I grew, upon my head, when a buffalo, like a wild Indian who glories in the re- both for my sake and your own. Wherefore, it was no bigger than a pin's. The pain of this unsemblance,-every time his name was pronounced? when you come into the presence of this multitu- couth accident was to me the earliest consciousness But it is quite ano her thing with books, which have dinous and ubiquitarian being, say thus from me:- of existence; I was then, according to the best no feelings to be hurt. "Gentle Reader, chronology, exactly eight and forty hours old, by “ Book.-But we have characters to lose, and it * Take this Book as a token of sincere esteem the church-clock of our parish, which struck six, would be infatuation to throw them away on the from one whom you may never have known, but A. M. just as the icicle was shaken from a branch outset. Great authors, who ought to be the best who, while invisible as your guardian angel, like above, by the sudden rising on the wing of a crow, judges what to call their offspring, have often given him has long been employed in secret offices of that had roosted on it all night, and who, having them titles which were masks rather than manifes- kindness on your behali . Believe me, all the time, overslept himself, was startled out of a pleasant tations of their purpose. The Diversions of Pur labour, stuuy, watching, and, if you will allow it, dream, by the report of agun, which farmer Gripe's ley,' - who could expect to be tasked with a game all the talent expended on its composition, were son fired at him over the adjacent hedge. As the at hard words after such a holiday decoy? Take fervently devoted to your service. Though you poor bird lost nothing but the remainder of his nap, the other aspect of this double-faced sphinx- may deem some of these pages too Arifling, others and his tail, which was shot sheer away, he will ""Era stigbeveæ ;' make • winged words' of these, too grave, a tew too florád, and many too dull, yet in not be any worse, or wiser either, for the misadand still, sulai ds concerns the subject (happily | all moods and vagaries of mind, I have had the two- venture ; the feathers will grow again, no doubt; hieroglyphic as they are), they will be · Heathen folt object in view, to amuse if I could, and ben- and so far from profiting by the warning, I saw him Greek, not to the vulgar“ only, but to the learned efit if I might, the goodmatured reader. When I sitting on the very same bough, the day before yesthemselves. have succeeded in one of these, I cannot bave mis terday, and cawing as if he were king of the re“ Reader.-Yes; but when you have got into canied altogether in the other; for in the wilden gion. This happened on the third of April, 1814; the spirit of the treatise, you will understand the humoura, amiast reveries of egotism, sallies of fancy, I therefore conclude that I must have been born on propriety of the one title, and pardon the affecta- and mazes of description, I have never lost sight of the first, as good a day as can be found in the tion of the other. soine moral aim, though I have not always placed whole calendar, for the coming forth of a flower. “ Book. My author asks no more for me and it ostentatiously before your eye:-at the same From the instant that sense and reason were tbus mine. time, in my most portentous lucubrations, I have awakened in me, I became a quick and diligent ob“ Reader. --Who is your author? endeavoured to embellish, though I may bare often server of all that passed within me and around, so “ Book.—That is a secret with which you 500, failed to illustrate those solenin and eternal verities far as opportunities were afforded for gratifying my he has not entrusted me. * *** which I will not say I have rentured to introduce I curiosity and improving my mind. The authentic

Kiplinger: CA taxes highest — and state hostile to retirees, too Over the years, when I’ve reported that the nation’s CEOs continue to rank California as the most anti-business state in the country, I’ve gotten some blowback in emails and comments that question whether the ranking was manipulated. This is goofy paranoia — the suggestion by CA Dems and labor types that national surveys are manipulated by … someone … to make the Golden State look bad. Now we have a new independent analysis that makes California look horrible whose sponsor can have its motives impugned. It’s Kiplinger, the business website that has millions of followers from its pre-Internet days as publisher of smart, common-sense newsletters and magazines on investments and personal finance. Kiplinger’s verdict: CA is worst of all when it comes to tax burdens on individuals: State income tax: 1%-13.3% State sales tax: 7.5% Gas taxes and fees: $0.50 per gallon (National average is $0.31) The Golden State is home to movie stars, beautiful beaches, Silicon Valley… and the highest income tax rates in the U.S. Rates range from 1% on taxable income of up to $7,582 for individuals ($15,164 also imposes the highest gas taxes in the U.S as well a bit of (relative) relief: Californians pay lower property taxes than residents in other high-tax states. Under the homestead program, the first $7,000 of the full value of a homeowner’s dwelling is exempt. But real estate is expensive. The median property tax on the state’s median home value of $384,200 is $2,839, according to the Tax Foundation. California also hostile to retirees In what paranoids will see as a bonus bashing, Kiplinger’s website also features an analysis that concludes CA is horrible for retirees. It doesn’t break down the 1 to 10 spots, but it says the Golden State is among the 10 worst states for people in retirement. The Bottom Line: NOT. Real estate is assessed at 100% of market value. cities. (Food and prescription drugs are exempt.) Income Tax Range Low: 1% (on up to $14,910 of taxableincome for married joint filers and up to $7,455 for those filing individually) High: 13.3% (on more than $1 million for married joint filers and for those filing individually) Social Security Benefits are not taxed. Exemptions for Other Retirement Income Homeowner Assistance program, which provided property-tax relief to people who were blind, disabled or at least 62 years old and met certain minimum annual income thresholds, has been halted and has not been funded by the state in recent years. Inheritance and Estate Taxes There is no inheritance tax or estate tax. So when it comes to taxes, it’s bad to be an earner in California. And it’s bad to retire here. But at least residents can rest comfortably knowing that public employees don’t have to fret about how they’ll make ends meet in their retirement. 40 commentsWrite a comment Write a Comment Related Articles Bill to limit effect of GOP tax overhaul on governor’s desk Gov. Jerry Brown will have to decide soon on whether to once again put California in direct conflict with the California health exchanges – ‘Mo Money’ Dec. 28, 2012 By Katy Grimes The Obama administration has a lot riding on California’s implementation of Obamacare, also known CalWatchdog Morning Read – November 9 Supermajority eludes Democrats Ballot measure breakdown Congressional update Good morning. As you know, Donald Trump will be the next president California also hostile to the financially challenged as the public is getting to absorb the ever increasing costs associated with their continuous support of AB32 since 2006, for products and services that are the basis of our lifestyle and economy. California’s Global Warming Initiative AB32 was passed in 2006 without a financial impact projection on its projected costs to the California economy. In 2010, following the recession, Prop 23 proposed delaying its implementation until the California economy could “afford” it, but it was soundly defeated in 2010. Cost of energy in California continues to rise and severely impacting the financially challenged that can least afford more expense to tread water. In 2015 the cost of implementation of other pieces of the law supported by the people is about to hit the pocket books of all Californians. EVERY CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY is dependent on energy from the petrochemical sector as well as the by-products from oil for their existence to provide products or services that support our lifestyle, standard of living, and our economy that we have become accustomed. Extra costs resulting from government actions on businesses are a slight inconvenience for products and services. Thus, the polluters i.e., the manufacturers as well as the users of the products or services manufactured have been and will continue to pay for the lifestyle that supports our economy. Those polluters are NOT just the manufacturers providing the products and services to the economy, but the entire population that is guilty by association to the pollution as they are the users of the manufactured products and services. Those that earn less than $20 per hour, which includes virtually all those in the food and hospitality industries, are the ones that can least afford higher costs for power, transportation fuels, and food. There is minimal impact to those that can afford the results of our relentless business unfriendly efforts, but little hope for the financially challenged that can barely exist at today’s cost of living. The pity is the working poor hold up this State, but they get cleaned out by gas prices/taxes as well as globalists fixing labor rates across the service industry board and owning the big box retail sector…..hardly low prices anymore. The middle class gets by living on negative cash flow, but swim in credit card debt with no reserves for emergencies or retirement contributions………they get ripped on housing prices too, but they do own something, at least…..for awhile! Busy busy busy…..when is the weekend? For the working poor, A Friday night is tacos and Old Milwaukee; the middle class supples on CVS jug wine, Walmart cocktail crackers……American faux brie. Then the politician’s savior of us all…Redistribution, alas, is too too inefficient only building power groups, for example, the purple shirts protect their extortion/funding of businesses through enviro, zoning, pitt bull fee grinding attorneys, pseudo health/welfare regulations. Such unmerciful, goose stepping groups are no citizen’s friend, but fool enviros gush altruistically, or something perverted like that. For you doubters, search the web for the recent article on tech service workers in Northern California scraping to get by……chilling….are you next? You betcha….eventually, those in a heavy emphasis service economy eat their own…..pass the French mustard- When Reason Foundation stepped-up to the plate and started the Saving California program, using Carl DeMaio, ex-San Diego councilmember and Mayoral Candidate, and now Congressional Candidate as their spokesperson, and I started the blog on saving the state that I live in: Very interesting. Did you know? Kiplinger is comparing tax rates. California has one of the highest sales tax rates, but NOT the highest sales tax burden. Because some states tax groceries, etc. California has some of the highest income tax rates, but not the highest tax burden. Because of the deductions and exclusions. In total state tax “burdens”, California is actually fourth, not first. Big whoop? California is a very “progressive” taxation state. (that word may be loaded, but it has several meanings of course) Meaning: if you live in California, AND you are in the highest quintile (over $96,000 income) your tax burden higher will be higher than the national average for your income group. If you are unfortunate enough to be in the top 1%, ($466,000 income), MUCH higher. The average state plus local tax burden for these folks in California is about 8.8%, US average for this group is 5.6%. In Texas, it would be 3.2%, and Wyoming would be lowest with 1.6%. (Wyoming actually appears to be lower than average for EVERY income group.) Texas: If you live in Texas and your income is $52,000 a year, or less, your tax burden will be HIGHER than the same group in California. Median household income in Texas is about $58,000, for what it’s worth. (data from THE INSTITUTE ON TAXATION & ECONOMIC POLICY) “But at least residents can rest comfortably knowing that public employees don’t have to fret about how they’ll make ends meet in their retirement.” See? I TOLD you the glass was at least half full!!! WELL said S Mod— bright post as always! On another website, I answered a question with a very short (but complete) reply. I got the error message “Your response is to short, please go back and try again.” Not a comment I usually hear. We try. Keep up the good work, Ted. Sorry, S MOderation, the ITEP study is complete garbage. I read the entire thing. The problem with the ITEP study is that its authors do not reveal the methodology of how they arrive at their conclusions. ITEP covers its analysis of California’s various taxes on page 34 of their study. Let’s look at the “sales and excise taxes” as an example. According to ITEP, the CA sales and excise taxes take the following amount of money (i.e., “tax burden”) from each of the quintiles as follows: lowest quintile 6.5% second quintile 5.6% middle quintile 4.3% fourth quintile 3.4% ITEP never reveals how they arrive at these figures. How did they calculate that middle quintile pays 4.3% of its income in sales and excise taxes? They don’t say. Then turn to page 112, where they cover Texas. Texas has a lower sales tax rate than California, and yet the figures that ITEP shows for sales and excise tax burden in Texas are as follows: lowest quintile 8.5% second quintile 7.6% middle quintile 6.1% fourth quintile 4.7% Nowhere in their documentation does ITEP explain how they concluded that people in a state with a higher sales tax rate (CA) would pay less in sales tax than residents of Texas. Both states tax the same types of items, and groceries are exempt from sales tax in both states. In other words, they claim that Californians have a lower sales tax burden, while having a higher tax rate, than people in Texas, but they never explain how they arrived at this amazing conclusion. Here are the actual sales tax rates allowed in the two states: California: 6.50% state tax, plus 1% county tax, plus higher rates for cities and counties with special tax districts; the maximum total sales tax is currently 9.75%; Texas: 6.25% state tax, plus local taxes can add up to a total of 8.25% maximum allowed by law. see for state sales tax rates. When I moved from CA to TX in 1990, I did a close calculation of my taxes, (gasoline, sales, property, income, etc), and I concluded that I paid at least $400.00 / month less in taxes by moving. Since then, taxes have gone up, up, and up in California, and I would venture that I save between $500 – $600 a month in taxes by not living in California. As far as I can tell, the ITEP paper () is a leftist ideological jab at all of the states that don’t have state income taxes. The states that have high income taxes all fare well in ITEP’s view, while the ones that don’t have state income taxes are skewered. ITEP never does clarify its strange calculation of tax burden. Other assessments have reach different conclusions from ITEP’s study. I think you may want to look elsewhere. I don’t know about their methodology, Here is a similar survey of major cities which shows a substantial difference in sales tax burdens in every income category. This study says their data comes from BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. It seems to corroborate ITEP sales tax trends, much higher in Texas. I had read a couple of articles which said basically the same thing. Even though Texas is a low tax state overall, the wealthy pay MUCH less. The difference must come from somewhere. On the other hand, this (DC) study does show higher taxes overall in California (property tax, perhaps, the main factor.) Interesting, this (DC) study is for a hypothetical family of three, and calculates NO income tax burden for up to $50,000 income. (Highest RATES in the nation, but high threshold of deductions) If you find a better study, I’d be glad to look at it. In the meantime, when someone says we are the HIGHEST taxed state, I will point out that Tax Foundation (not a leftist institution) says California is fourth overall, AND taxes for low to middle income are not as high as most people believe. I am at a loss as to why that seems to upset people so. With all due respect, I think “complete garbage” is extreme, unless you have better evidence. And, as always, the glass is at least half full. This may help. Probably difficult to verify ITEPs results because it is a computer model with literally thousands of inputs. S Mod, In the event you did not notice, you can avoid sales taxes by discretion. Unfortunately you cannot avoid income taxes. I hope you enjoy paying for those nice new illegal aliens Jerry B just invited. Interesting afterthought. I was researching an answer to another poster, and found a national study of state income taxes. According to their calculations, a typical family of three in Los Angeles with an income of $50,000 pays NO state income tax. That’s one reason we can have high “rates”, but lower effective tax burdens. High rates, but also high threshold of exemptions and deductions. My mother in law hasn’t paid income tax in years. Her non Social Security income is lower than either state or federal minimums. Very little sales tax. Her biggest spending is groceries. Property tax she can’t avoid. She sold her house, but her rent obviously includes tax passed through the landlord. I’m not sure how the aliens pertain to this article, but you realize there are studies which conclude that immigrants, legal or not, are a net financial benefit. And I’m sure S Moderation Doglass would be continue to be a Demoncrat apologist even if taxes were jacked up another 50% in this state. I’m sure he will have great things to say when AB32 kicks in next year and our gasoline goes up 8 to 10 cents or more a gallon (and we already have the highest gas tax in the country). Why not just send our paychecks directly to Jerry and the Demoncrats and let them take it all? I’m sure they will spend it more wisely than we ever could. “S Moderation Doglass” did not offer an opinion one way or the other on whether the taxes were too high or too low. Merely pointing out the FACT that the often repeated claims that California has the nations highest taxes, is incorrect. And the fact that taxes for all those who earn an average income in California, or less, are actually LOWER than the national average. On a personal level, I would prefer to pay LOWER taxes. If I didn’t have to pay income, sales, and property taxes, I could buy a new car every year, (do they still make Yugo’s?) Of course, there would be no roads to drive it on. “But at least residents can rest comfortably knowing that public employees don’t have to fret about how they’ll make ends meet in their retirement.” That SOUNDS like a Seilerism. Is it borrowed? Merely pointing out the FACT that the often repeated claims that California has the nations highest taxes, is incorrect. And the fact that taxes for all those who earn an average income in California, or less, are actually LOWER than the national average. Where are your sources for such a claim? Yeah, doglass you must be right and Kiplinger, the Wall Street Journal and numerous other organizations that have research California and come to the conclusion that it has among the highest if not the highest taxes overall must be wrong. You can’t deny that Colliefornia (as Ahnode calls it) has the highest fuel tax and it’s going up with AB32 kicking in and fuel prices ripple right through the cost of everything else. Colliefornia is one of the most expensive places in the country to live. Also, if you make under 50k you are in a 9.3% marginal tax rate and no other state has such a high rate at such a low income level. bob? I posted an answer hours ago, but it is apparently awaiting moderation. I guess you’ll just have to trust me. Or read my first post more carefully. From my original post: (data from THE INSTITUTE ON TAXATION & ECONOMIC POLICY) – See more at: Simple concept. State A has 10% income tax and residents can deduct or exclude 10% of income. State C has 13% income tax and residents can deduct or exclude 35% of income. State C has higher rates, but lower absolute taxes. ………………….. I reiterate: cut and paste….”Did you know? Kiplinger is comparing tax rates.” Kiplinger is correct…California has the highest tax RATES!! “doglass” ….is ALSO correct. California does NOT have the highest tax BURDEN. AND, again, lower and middle income have taxes lower than the national average. ……….. “doglass”(are we still calling that a typo, bob? Because it won’t get past my spell checker) State C has 13% income tax and residents can deduct or exclude 35% of income. In Colliefornia you can exclude 35% of your income? What can they possibly be smoking? I never said anything about California, bob. It was an example of the concept, bob. Some people don’t understand how one state can have the highest rates, but not the highest taxes, bob. And I never said Kiplinger was WRONG. Only that tax RATES are only ONE factor in computing tax. It’s like a fifth grade math word problem. BUT, some people are fixated on rates, and ignore the actual dollars going out of their pocket, bob. Assuming a person makes 50k and is in the 9.3% bracket, has no dependence and does not itemize (using CA standard deduction) the person will pay more in Colliefornia income tax than if they were residents of other states.. Sorry, I guess that bears repeating. So what’s the S stand for in S Moderation Doglass? I can imagine…. Anyhoo, Colliefornia (as Ahnode calls it) should have lower than average taxes to help the middle class and poor since the cost of living is so much higher than other states but the DemoNcrats would never consider it. You can try to sugar coat it any way ya want Doglass but you can’t make this pig pretty. April 7 2014 Cal. doglass”(are we still calling that a typo, bob? Because it won’t get past my spell checker) Yes it is a typo. I need to get some new glasses and a spell checker but try to remember most of us are not rich liberals like you who can afford such things including fancy pants spell checkers. Strike three. You’re a member of the RAWGI, aren’t you? 🙂 Yes he is Bob!! LOL Add to the OVERT taxes (sales, income, property) the COVERT taxes: worker’s comp premiums, unemployment insurance premiums, extreme bossy regulatory hassles at the city, county, state level, not to mention a starving zombie army of disability and liability attornies….If you can’t handle the climate or culture of Texas, and your life does not center around some industrial park off of some freeway, then the entire northwest looks pretty dang inviting compared to California. Make like Buck Knives and cmon up to the Redoubt…Leave some room for the entire country of Mexico, which was just invited by Gov Brown ( a former Jesuit seminarian BTW). They will need many benefits while they get established…… Take a deep breath Bill-o—it aint that bad little buddy! “Waiting moderation” Really? Moderation is my middle name! The RAGWUS feeders have it made in the Golden State. The Boomers not affiliated with the RAGWUS, that worked all their lives, saved, bought a home and paid it off, are also doing ok, but a large group of younger private sector workers will never have any hope of owning a home or retiring in this state, with most of their taxes going to the fat pay and pensions of the RAGWUS parasites. 🙂 The next generation is screwed. I think that’s the same thing they said thirty years ago. And a hundred years ago. And so on. My grandkids will live in a world I could only dream of. Lay of the crack S&MD!! Your grandkids are broke, as are mine. No generation has left the debt for their kids and grandkids like the RAGWUS feeders have. 🙂 Just talked to my granddaughter, she’s paying off student loans, but doing quite well in IT in San Francisco. Grandson is getting married and going to Hawaii for honeymoon. IBEW is doing OK in the bay area. They don’t share your pessimism. Neither of them has EVER heard of, you know, that five letter acronym. But you are still talking about the RAGWUS S&MD. 🙂 Womans smoke dance rawgus fall fest 2012 round 2 🙂 Mistakenly, was on a few centavos bus in Mexico City in 1964. People were hanging off the infernal thing…like….everywhere….while five menacing Crocidillas were careening and jockeying to pass each other with only three skimpy road lanes…..ahead… Back to the bus from hell….some had chickens in cages….feathers flying….the smells…oh my- Back, a relief, to the tourista hotel for Emilo’s fresh squeezed nectars in our awesome Tom Collins style drinks. Ah! Contrasts……get used to them……either inflation will get ya in California or taxes/fees…….and there be chickens in your shopping cage!

Add WebAssembly, get performance. Is that how it really works? The incredibly unsatisfying answer is: It depends. It depends on oh-so-many factors, and I’ll be touching on some of them here. Why am I doing this? (You can skip this) I really like AssemblyScript (full disclosure: I am one of their backers). It’s a very young language with a small but passionate team that built a custom compiler for a TypeScript-like language targeting WebAssembly. The reason I like AssemblyScript (or ASC for short) is because it allows the average web developer to make use of WebAssembly without having to learn a potentially new language like C++ or Rust. It’s important to note that the language is TypeScript-like. Don’t expect your existing TypeScript code to just compile out of the box. That being said, the language is intentionally mirroring the behaviors and semantics of TypeScript (and therefore JavaScript), which means that the act of “porting” TypeScript to AssemblyScript are often mostly cosmetic, usually just adding type annotations. I always wondered if there is anything to gain from taking a piece of JavaScript, turning it into AssemblyScript and compiling it to WebAssembly. When my colleague Ingvar sent me a piece of JavaScript code to blur images, I thought that this would be a perfect case study. I ran a quick experiment to see if it’s worth doing a deeper exploration into porting JavaScript to AssemblyScript. And oh boy was it worth it. This article is that deeper exploration. If you want to know more about AssemblyScript, go to the website, join the Discord or, if you fancy, watch the AssemblyScript intro video I made with my podcast husband Jake. Advantages of WebAssembly I think it is fair to say that most mature use-case for WebAssembly is tapping into the ecosystem of other languages. In Squoosh, for example, we use libraries from the C/C++ and Rust ecosystem to process images. These libraries were not written with the web in mind, but through WebAssembly, they can run there anyway. WebAssembly, in my perception, is also strongly associated with performance by a lot of people. It was designed to be fast, and it’s compiled, so it’s gotta be fast, right? Well, for the longest time I have been vocal that WebAssembly and JavaScript have the same peak performance, and I still stand behind that. Given ideal conditions, they both compile to machine code and end up being equally fast. But there’s obviously more nuance here, and when have conditions ever been ideal on the web‽ Instead, I think it would be better if we thought about WebAssembly as a way to get more reliable performance. However, it’s also important to realize that WebAssembly has recently been getting access to performance primitives (like SIMD or shared-memory threads) that JavaScript cannot utilize, giving WebAssembly an increased chance to out-perform JavaScript. There are also some other qualities of WebAssembly that might make it better suited in specific situations than JavaScript: No warmup For V8 to execute JavaScript, it first gives the code to the interpreter “Ignition”. Ignition is optimized to make code run as soon as possible. Afterwards, “Sparkplug” takes Ignition’s output (the infamous “bytecode”) and turns it into non-optimized machine code, yielding better performance at the cost of increased memory footprint. While your code is executing, it is closely observed by V8 to gather data on object shapes (think of them like types). Once sufficient data has been collected, V8’s optimizing compiler “TurboFan” kicks in and generates low-level machine code that is optimized for those types. This will give another significant speed boost. It’s tradeoffs all the way down: If you want to learn more about the exact tradeoffs JavaScripts engines have to make, I can recommend this article by Benedikt and Mathias. WebAssembly, on the other hand, is strongly typed. It can be turned into machine code straight away. V8 has a streaming Wasm compiler called “Liftoff“ which, like Ignition, is geared to get your code running quickly, at the cost of generating potentially suboptimal execution speed. The second Liftoff is done, TurboFan kicks in and generates optimized machine code that will run faster than what Liftoff produced, but will take longer to generate. The big difference to JavaScript is that TurboFan can do its work without having to observe your Wasm first. No tierdown The machine code that TurboFan generates for JavaScript is only usable for as long as the assumptions about types hold. If TurboFan generated machine code for a function f with a number as a parameter, and now all of a sudden that function f gets called with an object, the engine has to fall back to Ignition or Sparkplug. That’s called a “deoptimization” (or “deopt” for short). Again, because WebAssembly is strongly typed, the types can’t change. Not only that, but the types that WebAssembly supports are designed to map well to machine code. Deopts can’t happen with WebAssembly. Binary size Now this one is a bit elusive. According to webassembly.org, “the wasm stack machine is designed to be encoded in a size- and load-time-efficient binary format.” And yet, WebAssembly is currently somewhat notorious for generating big binary blobs, at least by what is considered “big” on the web. WebAssembly compresses very well (via gzip or brotli), which can undo a lot of the bloat. It is easy to forget that JavaScript comes with a lot of batteries included (despite the claim that it doesn’t have a standard library). For example: You can handle arrays, objects, iterate over keys and values, split strings, filter, map, have prototypical inheritance and so on and so forth. All that is built into the JavaScript engine. WebAssembly comes with nothing, except arithmetic. Whenever you use any of these higher-level concepts in a language that compiles to WebAssembly, the underpinning code will have to get bundled into your binary, which is one of the causes for big WebAssembly binaries. Of course those functions will only have to be included once, so bigger projects will benefit more from Wasm’s small binary representation than small modules. Not all of these advantages are equally available or important in any given scenario. However, AssemblyScript is known to generate rather small WebAssembly binaries and I was curious how it can hold up in terms of speed and size with directly comparable JavaScript. Porting to AssemblyScript As mentioned, AssemblyScript mimics TypeScript’s semantics and Web Platform APIs as much as possible, which means porting a piece of JS to ASC is mostly a matter of adding type annotations to the code. As a first example, I took glur, a JavaScript library that blurs images. Adding types ASC’s built-in types mirror the types of the WebAssembly VM. While numeric values in TypeScript are just number (a 64-bit IEEE754 float according to the spec), AssemblyScript has u8, u16, u32, i8, i16, i32, f32 and f64 as its primitive types. The small-but-sufficiently-powerful standard library of ASC adds higher-level data structures like string, Array<T>, ArrayBuffer, Uint8Array etc. The only ASC-specific data structure, that is neither in JavaScript nor the Web Platform, is StaticArray, which I will talk about a bit later. As an example, here is a function from the glur library and its AssemblyScript’ified counterpart: function gaussCoef(sigma) { if (sigma < 0.5) sigma = 0.5; var a = Math.exp(0.726 * 0.726) / sigma; /* ... more math ... */ return new Float32Array([ a0, a1, a2, a3, b1, b2, left_corner, right_corner ]); } function gaussCoef(sigma: f32): Float32Array { if (sigma < 0.5) sigma = 0.5; let a: f32 = Mathf.exp(0.726 * 0.726) / sigma; /* ... more math ... */ const r = new Float32Array(8); const v = [ a0, a1, a2, a3, b1, b2, left_corner, right_corner ]; for (let i = 0; i < v.length; i++) { r[i] = v[i]; } return r; } The explicit loop at the end to populate the array is there because of a current short-coming in AssemblyScript: Function overloading isn’t supported yet. There is only exactly one constructor for Float32Array in ASC, which takes an i32 parameter for the length of the TypedArray. Callbacks are supported in ASC, but closures also are not, so I can’t use .forEach() to fill in the values. This is certainly inconvenient, but not prohibitively so. Mathf: You might have noticed Mathfinstead of Math. Mathfis specifically for 32-bit floats, while Mathis for 64-bit floats. I could have used Mathand done a cast, but they are ever-so-slightly slower due to the increased precision required. Either way, the gaussCoeffunction is not part of the hot path, so it really doesn’t make a difference. Side note: Mind the signs Something that took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out is that, uh, types matter. Blurring an image involves convolution, and that means a whole bunch of for-loops iterating over all the pixels. Naïvely I thought that because all pixel indices are positive, the loop counters would be as well and decided to choose u32 for those loop variables. That’ll bite you with a lovely infinite loop if any of those loops happen to iterate backwards, like the following one: let j: u32; // ... many many lines of code ... for (j = width - 1; j >= 0; j--) { // ... } Apart from that, the act of porting JS to ASC was a pretty mechanical task. Benchmarking using d8 Now that we have a JS file and an ASC file, we can compile the ASC to WebAssembly and run a little benchmark to compare the runtime performance. d-What?: d8is a minimal CLI wrapper around V8, exposing fine-grained control over all kinds of engine features for both Wasm and JS. You can think of it like Node, but with no standard library whatsoever. Just vanilla ECMAScript. Unless you have compiled V8 locally (which you can do by following the guide on v8.dev), you probably won’t have d8available. jsvu is a tool that can install pre-compiled binaries for many JavaScript engines, including V8. However, since this section has the word “Benchmarking” in the title, I think it’s important to put a disclaimer here: The numbers I am listing here are specific to the code that I wrote in a language I chose, ran on my machine (a 2020 M1 MacBook Air) using a benchmark script that I made. The results are coarse indicators at best and it would be ill-advised to derive quantitative conclusions about the general performance of AssemblyScript, WebAssembly or JavaScript from this. Some might be wondering why I’m using d8 instead of running this in the browser or even Node. Both Node and the browser have,... other stuff that may or may not screw with the results. d8 is the most sterile environment I can get and as a cherry on top it allows me to control the tier-up behavior. I can limit execution to use Ignition, Sparkplug or Liftoff only, ensuring that performance characteristics don’t change in the middle of a benchmark. Methodology As described above, it is important to “warm-up” JavaScript when benchmarking, giving V8 a chance to optimize it. If you don’t do that, you may very well end up measuring a mixture of the performance characteristics of interpreted JS and optimized machine code. To that end, I’m running the blur program 5 times before I start measuring, then I do 50 timed runs and ignore the 5 fastest and slowest runs to remove potential outliers. Here’s what I got: On the one hand, I was happy to see that Liftoff’s output was faster than what Ignition or Sparkplug could squeeze out of JavaScript. At the same time, it didn’t sit well with me that the optimized WebAssembly module takes about 3 times as long as JavaScript. To be fair, this is a David vs Goliath scenario: V8 is a long-standing JavaScript engine with a huge team of engineers implementing optimizations and other clever stuff, while AssemblyScript is a relatively young project with a small team around it. ASC’s compiler is single-pass and defers all optimization efforts to Binaryen (see also: wasm-opt). This means that optimization is done at the Wasm VM bytecode level, after most of the high-level semantics have been compiled away. V8 has a clear edge here. However, the blur code is so simple — just doing arithmetic with values from memory — that I was really expecting it to be closer. What’s going on here? Digging in After quickly consulting with some folks from the V8 team and some folks from the AssemblyScript team (thanks Daniel and Max!), it turns out that one big difference here are “bounds checks” — or the lack thereof. V8 has the luxury of having access to your original JavaScript code and knowledge about the semantics of the language. It can use that information to apply additional optimizations. For example: It can tell you are not just randomly reading values from memory, but you are iterating over an ArrayBuffer using a for ... of loop. What’s the difference? Well with a for ... of loop, the language semantics guarantee that you will never try to read values outside of the ArrayBuffer. You will never end up accidentally reading byte 11 when the buffer is only 10 bytes long, or: You never go out of bounds. This means TurboFan does not need to emit bounds checks, which you can think of as if statements making sure you are not accessing memory you are not supposed to. This kind of information is lost once compiled to WebAssembly, and since ASC’s optimization only happens at WebAssembly VM level, it can’t necessarily apply the same optimization. Luckily, AssemblyScript provides a magic unchecked() annotation to indicate that we are taking responsibility for staying in-bounds. - prev_prev_out_r = prev_src_r * coeff[6]; - line[line_index] = prev_out_r; + prev_prev_out_r = prev_src_r * unchecked(coeff[6]); + unchecked(line[line_index] = prev_out_r); But there’s more: The Typed Arrays in AssemblyScript ( Uint8Array, Float32Array, ...) offer the same API as they do on the platform, meaning they are merely a view onto an underlying ArrayBuffer. This is good in that the API design is familiar and battle-tested, but due to the lack of high-level optimizations, this means that every access to a field on the Typed Array (like myFloatArray[23]) needs to access memory twice: Once to load the pointer to the underlying ArrayBuffer of this specific array, and another to load the value at the right offset. V8, as it can tell that you are accessing the Typed Array but never the underlying buffer, is most likely able to optimize the entire data structure so that you can read values with a single memory access. For that reason, AssemblyScript provides StaticArray<T>, which is mostly equivalent to an Array<T> except that it can’t grow. With a fixed length, there is no need to keep the Array entity separate from the memory the values are stored in, removing that indirection. I applied both these optimizations to my “naïve port” and measured again: A lot better! While the AssemblyScript is still slower than the JavaScript, we got significantly closer. Is this the best we can do? Sneaky defaults Another thing that the AssemblyScript folks pointed out to me is that the --optimize flag is equivalent to -O3s which aggressively optimizes for speed, but makes tradeoffs to reduce binary size. -O3 optimizes for speed and speed only. Having -O3s as a default is good in spirit — binary size matters on the web — but is it worth it? At least in this specific example the answer is no: -O3s ends up trading the laughable amount of ~30 bytes for a huge performance penalty: One single optimizer flag makes a night-and-day difference, letting AssemblyScript overtake JavaScript (on this specific test case!). We made AssemblyScript faster than JavaScript! O3: From here on forward, I will only be using -O3in this article. Bubblesort To gain some confidence that the image blur example is not just a fluke, I thought I should try this again with a second program. Rather uncreatively, I took a bubblesort implementation off of StackOverflow and ran through the same process: Add types. Run benchmark. Optimize. Run benchmark. The creation and population of the array that’s to be bubble-sorted is not part of the benchmarked code path. We did it again! This time with an even bigger discrepancy: The optimized AssemblyScript is almost twice as fast as JavaScript. But do me a favor: Don’t stop reading now. Allocations Some of you may have noticed that both these examples have very few or no allocations. V8 takes care of all memory management (and garbage collection) in JavaScript for you and I won’t pretend that I know much about it. In WebAssembly, on the other hand, you get a chunk of linear memory and you have to decide how to use it (or rather: the language does). How much do these rankings change if we make heavy use of dynamic memory? To measure this, I chose to benchmark an implementation of a binary heap. The benchmark fills the binary heap with 1 million random numbers (courtesy of Math.random()) and pop()s them all back out, checking that the numbers are in increasing order. The process remained the same as above: Make a naïve port of the JS code to ASC, run benchmark, optimize, benchmark again: 80x slower than JavaScript?! Even slower than Ignition? Surely, there is something else going wrong here. Runtimes All data that we create in AssemblyScript needs to be stored in memory. To make sure we don’t overwrite anything else that is already in memory, there is memory management. As AssemblyScript aims to provide a familiar environment, mirroring the behavior of JavaScript, it adds a fully managed garbage collector to your WebAssembly module so that you don’t have to worry about when to allocate and when to free up memory. By default, AssemblyScript ships with a Two-Level Segregated Fit memory allocator and an Incremental Tri-Color Mark & Sweep (ITCMS) garbage collector. It’s not actually relevant for this article what kind of allocator and garbage collector they use, I just found it interesting that you can go look at them. This default runtime, called incremental, is surprisingly small, adding only about 2KB of gzip’d WebAssembly to your module. AssemblyScript also offers alternative runtimes, namely minimal and stub that can be chosen using the --runtime flag. minimal uses the same allocator, but a more lightweight GC that does not run automatically but must be manually invoked. This could be interesting for high-performance use-cases like games where you want to be in control when the GC will pause your program. stub is extremely small (~400B gzip’d) and fast, as it’s just a bump allocator. My lovely memory bump: Bump allocators are extremely fast, but lack the ability to free up memory. While that sounds stupid, it can be extremely useful for single-purpose modules, where instead of freeing memory, you delete the entire WebAssembly instance and rather create a new one. If you are curious, I actually wrote a bump allocator in my article Compiling C to WebAssembly without Emscripten. How much faster does that make our binary heap experiment? Quite significantly! Both minimal and stub get us significantly closer to JavaScripts performance. But why are these two so much faster? As mentioned above, minimal and incremental share the same allocator, so that can’t be it. Both also have a garbage collector, but minimal doesn’t run it unless explicitly invoked (and we ain’t invoking it). That means the differentiating quality is that incremental runs garbage collection, while minimal and stub do not. I don’t see why the garbage collector should make this big of a difference, considering it has to keep track of one array. Growth After doing some profiling with d8 on a build with debugging symbols ( --debug), it turns out that a lot of time is spent in a system library libsystem_platform.dylib, which contains OS-level primitives for threading and memory management. Calls into this library are made from __new and __renew, which in turn are called from Array<f32>#push: [Bottom up (heavy) profile]: ticks parent name 18670 96.1% /usr/lib/system/libsystem_platform.dylib 13530 72.5% Function: *~lib/rt/itcms/__renew 13530 100.0% Function: *~lib/array/ensureSize 13530 100.0% Function: *~lib/array/Array<f32>#push 13530 100.0% Function: *binaryheap_optimized/BinaryHeap<f32>#push 13530 100.0% Function: *binaryheap_optimized/push 5119 27.4% Function: *~lib/rt/itcms/__new 5119 100.0% Function: *~lib/rt/itcms/__renew 5119 100.0% Function: *~lib/array/ensureSize 5119 100.0% Function: *~lib/array/Array<f32>#push 5119 100.0% Function: *binaryheap_optimized/BinaryHeap<f32>#push Clearly, we have a problem with allocations here. But JavaScript somehow manages to make an ever-growing array fast, so why can’t AssemblyScript? Luckily, the standard library of AssemblyScript is rather small and approachable, so let’s go and take a look at this ominous push() function of the Array<T> class: export class Array<T> { // ... push(value: T): i32 { var length = this.length_; var newLength = length + 1; ensureSize(changetype<usize>(this), newLength, alignof<T>()); // ... return newLength; } // ... } The push() function correctly determines that the new length of the array is the current length plus 1 and then calls ensureSize(), to make sure that the underlying buffer has enough room (“capacity”) to grow to this length. function ensureSize(array: usize, minSize: usize, alignLog2: u32): void { // ... if (minSize > <usize>oldCapacity >>> alignLog2) { // ... let newCapacity = minSize << alignLog2; let newData = __renew(oldData, newCapacity); // ... } } ensureSize(), in turn, checks if the capacity is smaller than the new minSize, and if so, allocates a new buffer of size minSize using __renew, which entails copying all the data from the old buffer to the new buffer. For that reason our benchmark, where we push one million values one-by-one into the array, ends up causing a lot of allocation work and create a lot of garbage. In other languages, like Rust’s std::vec or Go’s slices, the new buffer has double the old buffer’s capacity, which amortizes the allocation work over time. I am working to fix this in ASC, but in the meantime we can create our own CustomArray<T> that has the desired behavior. Lo and behold, we made things faster! Fixed: The ASC team has since fixed this regression v0.18.31 With this change incremental is as fast as stub and minimal, but none of them are as fast as JavaScript in this test case. There are probably more optimizations I could do, but we are already pretty deep in the weeds here, and this is not supposed to be an article about how to optimize AssemblyScript. There are also a lot of simple optimizations I wish AssemblyScript’s compiler would do for me. To that end, they are working on an IR called “AIR”. Will that make things faster out-of-the-box without having to hand-optimize every array access? Very likely. Will it be faster than JavaScript? Hard to say. But I did wonder what the more “mature” languages with “very smart” compiler toolchains can achieve. Rust & C++ I re-rewrote the code in Rust, being as idiomatic as possible and compiled it to WebAssembly. While it was faster than a naive port to AssemblyScript, it was slower than our optimized AssemblyScript with CustomArray<T>. So I had to do the same as I did in AssemblyScript: Avoid bound checks by sprinkling some unsafe here and there. With that optimization in place, Rust’s WebAssembly module is faster than our optimized AssemblyScript, but still not faster than JavaScript. I took the same approach with C++, using Emscripten to compile it to WebAssembly. To my surprise, my first attempt came out performing just as well as JavaScript. Lrn2code: The versions labelled “idiomatic” are still very closely inspired by the original JS code. I tried to make use of my knowledge of the idioms of the target language, but in the end it’s still a port. I am sure an implementation from scratch by someone with more experience in those languages would look different. I’m fairly certain that Rust and C++ could be made even faster, but I don’t have sufficiently deep knowledge of either language to squeeze out those last couple optimizations. Gzip’d file sizes It is worth noting that file size is a strength of AssemblyScript. Comparing the gzip’d file sizes, we get: Conclusion I want to be very clear: Any generalized, quantitative take-away from this article would be ill-advised. For example, Rust is not 1.2x slower than JavaScript. These numbers are very much specific to the code that I wrote, the optimizations that I applied and the machine I used. However, I think there are some general guidelines we can extract to help you make more informed decisions in the future: - V8’s Liftoff compiler will generate code from WebAssembly that runs significantly faster than what Ignition or SparkPlug can deliver for JavaScript. If you need performance without any warmup time, WebAssembly is your tool of. - Compilers can do a lot of work for you, more mature compilers are likely to be better at optimizing your code. - AssemblyScript modules tend to be a lot smaller than the other WebAssembly modules produced by other languages. In this exploration, AssemblyScript was not smaller than the original JavaScript, but this could very well be different for bigger modules. If you don’t trust me (and you shouldn’t!) and want to dig into the benchmark code yourself, take a look at the gist.

Psychotic Waltz – Enter the VoidSunday, 16th February 2020 Intertwining a wide array of progressive metal, progressive rock and outside the box influences, San Diego act Psychotic Waltz didn’t easily fit into any “flavors” of the month during the 1990s. But their discography is rich and vibrant with unique songwriting, contributing an alluring combination of sounds that created a buzz through the metal community and influencing many musicians along the way. Their previous four albums have seen a few re-releases over the years, causing the band to do reunion shows starting in the early 2010s and eventually spurring the band on to record and release their first studio album in 24 years with The God-Shaped Void. Guitarist Dan Rock brings us up to speed on how the band feels having a new record out after being away for so long, if there were any challenges to handle and overcome – plus, letting us into the band’s highlights during their first run, how accidents have turned into strengths and resilience for certain members and the power of goosebumps when it comes to hard rock/metal memories. Dead Rhetoric: The fifth studio album from Psychotic Waltz is The God-Shaped Void. It’s the first new album of material from the band in 24 years. Can you discuss the fears and concerns about writing and releasing a new album to live up to the legacy of your discography and at what point you started feeling comfortable with the process? Dan Rock: Sure. To be honest, I don’t think any of us had any real fears about it. Not to sound fearless or arrogant or anything, but we kind of felt like when we first got back together in 2011 to do the few tours that had been put together, we had been broken up for about 14 years and got all five of the original guys together to jam the old stuff. We still felt a personal connection and the music came out sounding [great], the fans really enjoyed seeing us live again. It gave us the feeling that we are still the same people, and we still know how to play our instruments. It seemed safe to guess that if we started writing some new material, it would hopefully live up to the old stuff. We all agreed that if it didn’t, and we got done with the album, sat down and listened to it, and we all looked at each other and said ‘guys, this sucks’, then we wouldn’t release this. We didn’t expect that to happen as we all had some good ideas backed up. The songwriting process kind of came quickly. The first song we worked on was called “The Fallen”, imagine that song the way that starts out. It was actually a snippet of a song that we began working on back in 1995-96, that we never quite finished so it never made it onto Mosquito or The Bleeding, but I actually still had the cassette tape. We used to record on those back in the day for the younger crowd who may not know what those are. I took the cassette, converted it into an MP3 in my computer, and emailed it to the guys to start working on this one. It seemed like a good place to jump off, and everybody started putting pieces together. It took a few months to get that one, but when we were done everyone was pleased. It set the tone for the direction that we would take with the album musically. At that point, in a roundabout way, that’s when the fears subsided. We knew all we had to do was make nine or ten more (songs) like this and we were good to go. It took a while, but eventually we got there. Dead Rhetoric: How did the recording and songwriting process take place this time – and where do you see this album stacking up in comparison to the previous records? Were there any specific surprises, challenges, or obstacles to work through, and how do you feel about the final product? Rock: To get to the last point, we feel great about the final product. We are proud of the songwriting, our songwriting has matured it seems over the years. Some fans are going to like it less, some fans are going to love it, some may be indifferent – but to us it reflects who we are today. The sonic quality, we couldn’t be happier. We were lucky, we got Jens Bogren doing the final mix. We got a local studio here, Ulrich Wild did the engineering here. We had a really good time with all of it. In comparison to the previous albums, I would say it sounds better than all of them. Some people may say they like the rawness of A Social Grace and Into the Everflow, because they were raw and primitive, recording on tapes with no automation. It was fun. The place where we are at here and now is what made us happy with the sound of this one. The challenges that we had recording it… the only real challenges that we had is our singer Devon lives in Austria and the rest of us live here in San Diego. Back in the 90’s that would have been a huge problem, but today with the internet it’s simpler. It slowed us down a bit because you would have a whole day’s difference, sending him files at nighttime and he would be asleep, and get to work on them the next day so I wouldn’t get them back until the next day. It slowed things down, but with filesharing, uploading, and downloading – there wasn’t much of a technical hang up. But again, better late than never! (laughs). Dead Rhetoric: What can you tell us regarding the cover art this time around? Rock: This was Travis Smith – we had used him on our fourth album The Bleeding in 1996. He’s been doing t-shirt designs for us since Mike Clift our original artist died in a tragic bicycle accident on the highway years ago. Travis had been a friend of ours since a couple of guys (we knew) went to junior high with him where he was the go-to guy. We couldn’t be happier, he’s grown so much. Look at The Bleeding cover, that was one of his first. You can’t swing a dead cat without seeing a Travis Smith cover these days. We trust him enough that we gave him demos with the songs we were working on – listen to this, and let it inspire you. Get back to us and see if we are on the same page, and pretty much he was. We had a little bit of constructive criticism, a detail here and there, something darker or lighter with the colors. It really did fall into place quite well, and if we do another album I am sure we will end up using Travis again, we’ll see what happens. Dead Rhetoric: What surprises you most about the legacy and longevity of Psychotic Waltz over the years? Do you believe you’ve been able to make an impact on multiple generations of music fans and fellow musicians themselves? Rock: Interesting question. I don’t want to consider myself old enough to be affecting generations (laughs). You do have the fact that quite a few bands have thanked us in their liner notes over the years, and that’s very humbling. In the same way that Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles influenced Jethro Tull, Queensrÿche, etc. For younger, newer bands to throw our name out there, it’s flattering – and I do see some of it and see it in bands names or a riff we wrote – it’s all fine and dandy. Like John Lennon once said, all music has been rehashed, borrowed. A good point to bring up. Our manager is an old friend, Ula Gehret, he was at Century Media and I would bring him some of my solo albums and meet up in Los Angeles along with the Psychotic Waltz records. He would sell them, call me up and say, hey Dan – I have a check for you, can you bring more records up. When he offered to manage us when the 2011 tours came up, it felt like such a good combination. We trust him, he’s a good guy, he’s in our corner, he likes our style of music, he likes our sense of humor. He was very much responsible for all these re-releases coming into play over the years- the vinyl stuff that got released, the picture discs, color vinyl, all the stuff we are selling on tour, the new stuff coming out. We have him to thank for all that. Obviously the record companies that he worked this through, they did small reissues Metal Blade and Century Media, and we are grateful for them too. I honestly don’t know how to explain it. There’s enough demand that people like it. That’s a good feeling, we listen to those albums and it’s cool to think that these (records) got an extra shelf life other than the printing in the 1990’s. Dead Rhetoric: How does Psychotic Waltz translate in a live performance that probably differs from the studio record experience? And how does the band handle the response in many European countries that have always seemed to favor what you’ve done compared to North America where it seems like the band has developed more of a cult but loyal following? Rock: Yeah, I didn’t know that we had any following here in America to be honest with you. We never played much out of southern California, we did a couple of shows in Arizona back in 1992 when we were just starting out, and we played in Las Vegas once. We never went north of Los Angeles or east of Phoenix. When we played the ProgPower festival in Atlanta, we were quite pleasantly surprised to see and hear so many fans, singing along, cheering us on. I expected people to be polite and give us the golf clap after every song, but there were people singing along, they knew the (material), the t-shirt stands they had our shirts. We were like little rock stars over there, and it felt really good. We had a little recognition in the US, and to play for a crowd that truly enjoyed the music we were doing. Like you said, the European countries definitely seemed to favor us more over the decades. When we were hitting Europe during the 1990’s, we missed… we were never really hair metal, but that’s what we grew up on, and then things moved into grunge, and that didn’t really define us. We didn’t fit in either one of those categories. MTV didn’t have a place for us, FM radio didn’t have a place for us, so largely we went unnoticed. European crowds, they like what they like, and they are very loyal to it. We would see the same faces, people coming out to the shows year after year. I may be really bad with names, but I’m very good with faces – and I remembered those people. It was pretty cool, we saw some of those people at the most recent shows, they are older, greyer, a little bit balder. It’s cool to have that kind of connection with people. Dead Rhetoric: What would you consider some of the benchmark moments in the career of Psychotic Waltz – specific highlights of songs, albums, tours, or shows where you knew you were making an impact? Rock: Well, I would say the Dynamo Festival in 1991, our very first full show in Europe. We played the Dynamo club the night before, Biohazard let us borrow some of the gear onstage and we ran through a couple of songs to make sure things worked. We only did three songs, and the next morning when we played at Eindhoven at the Dynamo Festival, it was in front of 30,000 people and we were the opening act around noon. I’ll be honest we were nervous- we had played a lot of club shows, but that many people at an outdoor festival, with the first note coming out is going to be us? I was nervous, we didn’t have a click track – if you listen to any bootlegs or video footage, we definitely played a little bit fast. The thing that made us confident and feel good was after the show, we got the European version of a standing ovation. They chant something in German, but it means play one more. That gave us a wow factor. We met some people after the show that have become lifelong friends – and they said as an opening act, nobody gets that response. That was one defining moment. Another one was when we got to record with Scott Burns. Legendary producer to record us on our third and fourth albums, having somebody with his kind of background helping us out, taking the recording sound sonically to the next level. The Mosquito album to us, was the best we had ever been recorded. I still talk to Scott once in a while, that was a good moment. Another moment is right now. Being invited to play on the Power of Metal tour with Nevermore and Symphony X, that was epic. I wish all of our tours could have been that good back in the 1990’s, we might not have broken up. It was so well done, professional, so welcomed by everybody there – and to be back on stage after not having played in 14 years, you can’t imagine how good that felt to us to be even considered by the crowd as much as we were. We finally got the album done, and from what I hear it’s been getting some pretty good reviews. Dead Rhetoric: What are your views on the ever evolving, changing landscape of the music industry today compared to when Psychotic Waltz was around during your run of the 80’s and 90’s? Rock: There is an awful lot of music to choose from these days, isn’t there? It’s hard to… I would go to iTunes, and get lost. I’ve got dozens of favorite albums that I’ve heard my whole life, and there is so much new music. I don’t know where to begin so I don’t even start, so I resort to the classics. It’s going to be ever evolving, it always has. If you think about music since they began recording it with early Victrola records, every ten or twenty years there’s a major change. The first rock star was Enrico Caruso, the Italian opera singer that led way to Bing Crosby, and then Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, the Buddy Holly’s that led to early rock and roll which led to The Beatles. And then into heavier rock with Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath. It’s constant progression every ten, fifteen, twenty years – some major leap in the style of music. Hair metal, grunge, nu-metal. Where it’s at now- I couldn’t tell you. I lost track. Like anything with technology and advancement, I am sure there are pros and cons with the best and worst out of it. People have a lot more freedom to hear stuff they might not have before the landscape got so diverse. Dead Rhetoric: Being wheelchair bound for so long following the rappelling accident you had in the early 90’s, what helped pull you through this significant life changing aspect, and what helps you keep your mind, body, and spirit on the right path today? Rock: Just to be clear – I did have the repelling accident that caused me briefly to be in a wheelchair, but I’m not permanently in one – that’s Brian the other guitar player. People read, think and see pictures. I was repelling off of a bridge with Mike Clift and a couple of friends, I’m the one who fell 40 feet into the rocks below and should have been dead, and here I am today. I was in a wheelchair for a couple of months because I had a broken knee and broken ankle, broken wrists. I couldn’t play guitar for about eight months. I was fortunate, lucky and blessed to be even able to pick up a guitar and play- I couldn’t even pick up a piece of paper at first. It was a long recovery to relearn how to play guitar – a lot of it is muscle memory. Brian on the other hand – he and I were friends in 10th grade when he could walk. He moved to another city out in El Centro, had a car accident in the 11th grade where he broke his back. He’s had that permanent injury since 1984, and unless some major technological advances in medicine happen, he’ll never be able to walk again. I tell you – I’ve known a couple of people in wheelchairs, and he’s resilient. I can’t say that I would be as upbeat and positive as him considering the situation. There are difficulties everywhere you turn- especially in Europe. It’s not wheelchair friendly, the countries have cobblestone roads, the roads are narrow, stairways are narrow with a lot of twists and turns when a lot of these buildings are older because of their designs. I’m proud of Brian, I consider him one of my best friends and he was one of my best men at my wedding. I couldn’t be happier to be in a band with him, it’s such a joy again to be going over his house, writing, and working on new material again. We crack each other up, and we get along well on the road and when we are not on the road. I’m glad he has a good attitude towards things, if he didn’t it would make things a little more difficult. Dead Rhetoric: What has heavy metal meant to you personally as a genre – and what albums or bands have that longevity and respect in your realm that you turn to for inspiration, energy, hope? Rock: Well, I never have thought about that before. I’m not sure. I don’t really think I look at it as an entity that needs to mean anything to me, so much as it’s just something that when my ears hear it, I liked it. I look to a couple of things in particular. I was at a gas station, before I could drive it was ninth grade with my dad. And he went into the store to pay for gas and the radio was running, and on comes “No One Like You” by the Scorpions. First time I heard it, and I immediately loved that song. It was catchy, it had clean parts, heavy parts – and when the guitar solo came on, I was blown away. The harmony part of it, that inspires me still to this day – Brian and I get our harmony influences from the classic rock, early metal bands like that. You hear something, and you know you like it – nobody had to tell me because it was in a genre. Same thing with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads, Van Halen – my mind was blown. I saw Van Halen in concert, my dad took me in the ninth grade – but when I heard Diary of a Madman with Randy Rhoads, it took my love of the guitar to a whole new level. What he was doing, literally gave me goosebumps. Brian and I, our inside joke is when we are writing, we want to achieve goosebumps hopefully in ourselves, and the people who listen to our music. I can say our album isn’t the type of thing you listen to at a party, because you’ll miss all the subtleties and nuances. Dead Rhetoric: How do you see the next twelve to eighteen months shaping up for Psychotic Waltz? Will there be another studio album based on the reception to this one, or are you just taking things slowly but surely? Rock: We are already looking into more shows in Europe, around the September/October timeframe. We want to play the album live and give the songs a chance. Probably not a US tour, but maybe some one-off shows here. To be honest at this point in our career, it’s just hard for us- the rest of us have jobs and families. If all this could be happening when we were in the 1990’s as teens and early twenties, that would have been great. Now, we have reality to do with. As far as another album, it’s definitely something that we are considering. We would like to. I don’t want to give too much away as to whether that is or isn’t going to happen, we don’t know. I imagine people will like this record because we like it. Everybody would have to be very patient, and hopefully we could find a way to record a new record a little quicker than seven-eight years, because it’s time consuming. I wouldn’t count it out, as long as we can come up with good ideas. Psychotic Waltz official website

If you’re thinking about getting into freight brokering, there is no time like the present. Right now, freight brokering is a booming business, and you’d be doing yourself a favor if you started your brokerage anytime soon. Since the economy in the United States has begun to improve, the demand for freight brokers is now on the rise. As long as you are willing to invest some time and effort into learning this new business, you should be able to achieve plenty of success.So, how can you - Get a USDOT Number and Your Broker Authority - Obtain a Freight Broker Bond - Get Contingent Cargo Insurance and General Liability - Designate agents - Purchase your equipment - Get some operation capital - Start marketing your business. Since there isn’t much information available on the Internet today regarding how to become a freight broker with no experience, we created this guide to help you out. Below we will cover the steps you’ll need to take to become a freight broker, and we’ll include some background on the industry. FIND A FREIGHT BROKER TRAINING SCHOOL Before You Become a Freight Broker Becoming a freight broker has become a popular prospect since the U.S. economy improved after the recent Recession. The market for freight brokering is a growing industry, according to Forbes, meaning there is an ever-increasing demand for new brokers. Below we’ll cover some information you’ll need to know before you launch your career and achieve status as a successful freight broker. Before you start following the steps on our list below to help you start your freight brokerage, you should understand a few things about the role of a freight broker. Besides being a lucrative job opportunity (some freight brokers make $90,000 per year), freight brokers are necessary for transporting goods and cargo. In many ways, freight brokers are a huge part of the backbone of our economy, and they help keep the economy moving forward. Freight Broker Job Description The movement of freight in the United States is an outstanding job that many freight brokers perform well. Moving freight is the critical missing link we see when it comes to shippers and carriers. When companies use a freight broker, they can negotiate better shipping rates and arrange faster deliveries for their customers by connecting their clients to businesses that want to transport items. That way, carriers can get the most out of their loads and trips. So, brokers act as intermediaries in many cases, but they also perform other vital services. Freight brokers need to track their freight well and keep complete records of pickups, deliveries, and different types of information. Freight brokers also need to be well-versed in the legal areas of transportations since they must know everything about shipping regulations as well as procedures. As a freight broker, you’ll be working to ensure each step in the transport process happens correctly so that the items arrive safely to their destination. You’ll also have responsibility for several important areas of the shipping process. Starting Your Freight Brokerage Even if you feel apprehensive about starting your freight brokering business, you shouldn’t worry too much. The steps you’ll need to take to begin this business won’t necessarily be complicated or stressful. However, it will take some time and effort to get through each step on our list before you should consider launching a freight brokerage business. So, what do you need to start working as a freight broker? We’ve got the steps listed for you below. Step #1: Learn and Get Some Industry Experience First, you’ll need to focus on refreshing and developing some general freight brokering skills. Learning how to negotiate freight does mean you’ll need to get some experience in the field and take time to learn, but you’ll find that nothing about this job can’t be ascertained with some time and effort. If you have a strong desire to learn how to become an excellent freight broker, then you should do just fine. There are a few skills you’ll need to make sure you have before you become a freight broker. Math Skills When you become a freight broker, you’ll probably be using a few things you know about math almost daily. Much of brokering freight has to do with simple, necessary addition and subtraction calculations, as well as keeping track of time and the quantities of the items you are shipping. Beyond your fundamental math skills, you’ll also need to use plenty of critical thinking to help you understand when you should jump on an opportunity. Communication Skills You’ll also need to have fantastic communication and people skills since a lot of the work you will perform will take place over the phone, or via email, when you negotiate and close deals. If you are also able to gain some experience in the transportation field using a different job, that can also help you with brokering, because you’ll be able to network and get to know some of the famous people as you perform your job. Freight and Broker Training Even if you are well-versed already in some of the skills we mentioned above, you should also consider attending a freight broker school so that you’ll know every requirement when it comes to brokers. We also recommend purchasing some of the top freight broker training books. Having these books can be life-saving at times because you’ll be able to refer to the books when you aren’t sure about something, or when you have questions about something. If you want to obtain the best training to become a freight broker, then you should take a freight broker class. There is a bevy of different freight broker training experts in the field that offer excellent courses. For instance, one well-known instructor in the area, Dennis Brown, works at Freight Broker Bootcamp school. Another famous instructor you can consider is Scott Woods, who works at Transportation Training Group. However, you can always search for your own. Just make sure you take time to look at reviews from people that have previously taken the classes. Regardless of what class you attend, paying to get some broker training with an expert can help prepare you to succeed in the industry, and also connect you with some of the most influential people in the industry. By taking classes, you’ll learn some fundamental knowledge about your work as a freight broker, how to deal with shippers, and how to handle different shipping rate negotiations. Plus, training can also help guide you toward available freight broker jobs, allowing you to find the opportunity of a lifetime. The time estimate you’d most likely need to pass a freight broker course as well as learn some hands-on training is about three to four weeks. That’s because you’ll need to understand the Broker Operations Manual, which will tell you the necessary theoretical info and data. After those weeks, you’ll need to spend at least one to two more weeks doing some hands-on training. Training is Important Remember, you need to get your freight broker training done before you embark on a career. By training, you’ll be able to learn some essential knowledge from an expert in the field and gain experience from a person that already knows how to do the job. You’ll also be able to build your confidence so that it will be easier for you to accomplish all of your goals and become a freight broker. Also, training helps show potential freight brokers that might want to hire you that you are happy to invest time and money into practice for your career as a freight broker. Step #2: List Possible Freight Broker Partners Next, you’ll want to begin your list of possible freight broker partners. When you start, you’ll mostly be focusing on people that are local to you and within driving distance. However, you don’t need only to limit yourself to local brokers if you want to do more research. It would also be helpful to look for smaller companies because they are more likely to hire a new freight broker with no experience than a larger company would be. So, we recommend avoiding the big freight companies like XPO Logistics, CH Robinson, Coyote Logistics, Total Quality Logistics, or any other massive brokerage company since they will be far less likely to hire somebody inexperienced. However, if you are smart and don’t mind an entry-level primary freight job to get some essential experience in the industry, then you can apply to some of these larger companies. You can search for freight brokers by looking at places like,, and. Step #3: Make a Professional LinkedIn Profile To get yourself noticed and attract some attention from freight brokers, you’ll want to make a professional LinkedIn profile. When you make your profile, spend some time discussing your qualifications, experience, and any training you have completed that qualifies you to become a freight broker. You can also use other relevant types of preparation, including marketing, customer service, sales, computers, communication, etc. After you’ve finished your LinkedIn profile, you’ll want to make sure it demonstrates that you have a positive attitude, are a hard worker and that you want to prove your value to a freight broker. By getting those points across, you should be able to make some valuable connections on LinkedIn that could lead you toward job opportunities. Step #4: Contact Possible Freight Broker Partners Next, you’ll need to start reaching out to contact potential freight broker partners. There are many different ways you can do this. - You can search around and reach out to people that work at your target company by researching on LinkedIn. By doing this, you’ll get some recognition from these companies. After you connect with some people from the company, reach out to them and ask, “What’s the best approach to get started as a freight broker with your company?” You want to develop a working relationship with these people and eventually take the conversation offline into a call or face to face encounter. - If you already know some people in the business, talk to those people and ask them for referrals into companies that might work with you. Ask these people to do an email or phone introduction for you. - If you have the determination to do so, you can cold email or call sales managers from companies and ask them what the qualifications are for their freight agents. Find out if these companies have any job openings. - Try to set up a phone call or face to face encounter with your connections and let your connections know you want a chance to become a broker for their company. - After you’ve set up the call or encounter, make sure you tell your connection why this job is your goal or dream, and let them know you’ve been researching in the industry and also taking some training courses. - If you are comfortable working on straight commission only, you can tell these companies you’ll prove your worth by working on a commission-only basis, so you’ll only get paid when you attract new customers for your company. - While not all companies may respond well when you try to communicate with people, if you start by focusing on smaller or newer freight brokers, then it will be much easier for you to find an opportunity. Remember, you should be ready to tell people why you want to work as a freight broker, and also offer to prove yourself at no risk by providing to work for commission. Step #5 Pick a Company Name and Register! If you want to own your own brokerage legally, then you’ll need to pick a name for your company, and then register your business. Before you choose a business name, you’ll need to check to see if your selected name is already in use at the US Patent and Trademark Office. When you register, you’ll also need to decide on the type of entity you want to register your business as, which includes a partnership, sole proprietor, or limited liability company or corporation. Then, you’ll need to register your business in your current state at your nearest business license department. Step #6: Make Your Business Plan You’ll also need to make sure you’ve created a solid business plan, which is a critical step in this process. Once you establish a solid business plan, you can get a line of credit with your bank as well as figure out what niche you want to target. If you can include a go-to strategy and invest in figuring out how the market works, then you should wind up with a solid business plan that might allow you to get a line of credit from your bank for your company. Step #7: Locate Excellent Carriers If you want to become successful at this business quickly, then you’ll need to figure out how to find top carriers. You want to locate carriers that work in the field that you’ve also decided to work in, but you’ll also want to make sure the carriers you work with can be trusted and act like professionals. While it might take some time to locate top carriers, it is quite possible to do so. We recommend using online directories as well as direct references by other brokers so that you start networking and finding those top carriers. Using LinkedIn also gives you another opportunity to reach out to some carriers and establish relationships. Step #8: USDOT Number and Broker Authority Once you understand your role as a freight broker and you’ve taken some of the above steps to begin your education and formulate a business plan, you’ll now need to move on and understand some of the legal issues behind becoming a freight broker. Before you can start working, you’ll need to apply for your freight broker license from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Getting this license is also sometimes called obtaining your Motor Carrier Operating Authority (MC authority). - The first thing you’ll need to do is obtain a USDOT number, which you will need for your application form. - After that, you’ll need to begin your registration process on FMCSA’s website. You’ll need to fill out the freight broker application form, OP-1, and then pay the one-time application fee, which costs $300. If you need some assistance filling in the OP-1, go here. It takes anywhere between four to six weeks to process your application. - Once your application gets approved, FMCSA will mail you your new MC number through snail mail. Once you get your MC number, however, you still won’t be ready to kick off your business. - When the MC number is issued, it goes on the Register page of the FMCSA. Then, any person that might have a problem with your registration has ten days to protest it. Once that period ends, you’ll get your MC authority. Step #9: Apply for a Freight Broker Bond When applying for your MC authority from FMCSA, you’ll also need to get a freight broker bond, also known as a BMC-84 bond. Back in 2013, the bond requirement went up to $75,000 to ensure accountability as well as excellent industry standards. If you have no experience working with surety bonds, then you’ll need to know a bit about what they are. These bonds are a three-party contract. Your freight brokerage works as your principal, FMCSA is the oblige, and the surety is the individual providing the bond. A freight broker bond guarantees that you’ll apply all necessary rules and regulations when you start brokering. When you think about it that way, you can see how a relationship works as an extra line of credit for your company. Since there is risk involved any time you do this, when you apply for this bond, the surety will analyze your personal and business finances, your credit score, and your business’s stability. After you’ve been evaluated, you’ll be told by the surety what your bond premium is, and your freight broker bond cost. You won’t need to pay the entire bond, but only a percentage instead. What you are likely to pay depends on your credit score. If your current credit score is above a score of 700, then you’ll probably pay a premium between 1.25% to 3%, or between $935 to $2200. If your credit score is between 650 and 699, then the percentages go to between 3.5% to 5%, or $2,600 and $3,700. If you have bad credit, don’t worry; you still have a chance to get bonded through a poor credit program. You will have to pay a higher premium, but you should always be able to achieve your dreams. Another thing you’ll want to think about before you become a freight broker is your credit score. Before you get to this step and apply, do a few things to try and improve your credit score if you want to pay a lower premium. Since you’ll need some time to finish school and get through the many other steps we listed, you’ll have some time to rebuild your credit. Step #10: Get Contingent Cargo Insurance with General Liability Once you get your MC number, you’ll be able to get insurance and your surety bond. You’ll need to fill out Form BMC-34 to cover any loss and damage issues, Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X for bodily injury issues, property damage, and environmental registration. You’ll want to fill out these forms and get all of the necessary insurances because if you don’t have them, some shipping companies may turn you down for work. Often, shipping companies will ask to see your insurance before you work for them, so you’ll want to have all your insurance together before you kick start your business. Step #11: Choose Your Process Agents Now that you’ve gotten your bond and your insurances together, you are ready to figure out the process agents you’ll need to talk to depending on each state you with which you do business. You need to complete Form BOC-3 (Designation of Agents for Service of Process) and turn it into the FMCSA once you are done. Step #12: Purchase Your Equipment While you may not need a physical office building location when you first start your brokerage, you still do need to purchase a few other things for your daily operations. Before you get started, you’ll need a few vital components to run your business, including a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a copy machine, office supplies, a mobile phone, a landline phone, and a good Internet connection. You may also want to invest in some freight brokering software because it can automate some of your workloads and make you much more productive, boosting your earnings overall. As you get more experienced, you’ll find other software and your processes for approaching things that will make things easier to do. Step #13: Get Some Operational Capital Most of us don’t have a steady stream of cash available to us when starting new ventures like this. If that’s the case for you, you may need to apply for a line of credit before you can get your business going. Remember, you will work as the middle man between the shippers and the carriers. There will be many times when you’ll have to pay a trucker for a shipper before you’ve got a payment from the shipper. So, it does take some juggling work to run this type of business. After you’ve gotten your business plan together and received your line of credit, you should be on the right side of things financially. You’ll have enough capital to get through the rough patches, and you’ll be able to kick start your business. Step #14: Start Marketing! The last step you’ll need to consider is how to market your services to your clients. You want to focus on what makes your company stand out and try to get your message across as successfully as possible. Create a marketing strategy using social media accounts for your business. Add regular posts and updates to an excellent website with a blog and include some printed materials. Share those posts on social media as well. Nowadays, these are the types of things that impress clients. Final Thoughts Now that we’ve covered all the steps to become a freight broker with no experience, you should be able to set up a plan and start working on achieving your goals. You should begin by familiarizing yourself with what freight brokers do, reading materials and textbooks, and also taking a course or to. Then, you’ll want to review how to become a freight broker and kick start your business. After you’ve taken steps to start your business, you should be ready to get going. With a career like a freight broker that is in such high demand, you should be able to obtain plenty of job security and financial security for both you and your family. So, now it’s time for you to get started, and good luck!

Authors José Manuel Campa and Mario Quagliariello[1]European Banking Authority (EBA). This article is based and elaborates on José Manuel Campa’s speech “The regulatory response to the Covid-19 crisis: a test for post GFC reforms” at the … 1. Introduction Since the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), the European banking sector has made significant progress in restoring resilience and market confidence. At the beginning of 2020, while there were still significant challenges ahead – not least the structurally low profitability and pockets of idiosyncratic vulnerabilities particularly in mid-sized banks – the positive trend was robust and consolidated. Banks and supervisors were actively addressing remaining weaknesses, and market participants were expecting decisive steps towards the completion of the balance sheet repair. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic was an unprecedented test for the economy and made any forecasts outdated and obsolete. Organisations, professionals and individuals have gradually adapted to the new conditions and learnt how to mitigate the operational difficulties and emerging risks of a worldwide pandemic. Yet, with the vaccination campaigns progressing at uneven pace in different jurisdictions and widespread uncertainty on the start and speed of economic recovery, many challenges lie ahead. This is true for the health systems, the economies as well as the banking sector. The exceptional measures adopted globally in response to the first wave of the epidemic have brought the global economic activity to a sudden freeze. Because of the various forms of population confinement – such as lockdowns and social distancing – the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has markedly declined in the EU and at the global level and the path to recovery remains uncertain. The impact of Covid-19 largely depends on how successful governments are going to be in their vaccination campaigns, limiting the spread of new variants and preventing further waves. The effectiveness of the actions taken to support the economy will also determine the pace of economic recovery. Banks were not the source of this crisis, nor have they been the most affected sector. Thanks to strong starting positions and unprecedented public measures to support the economy, the banking sector proved able to absorb the initial shock, remain resilient, and provide liquidity to struggling households and firms. The combination of inner strength and prompt supervisory responses allowed banks to play an important role in supporting the economy during the heights of the crisis also thanks to the exceptional monetary and fiscal policies. EU supervisory authorities demonstrated the capacity to act quickly, resolutely, and effectively to mitigate the impact of the crisis on the financial sector. The European Banking Authority (EBA) took a number of steps, first, to facilitate banks to continue providing financing to households and corporates at a very difficult juncture and, second, to monitor the evolution of the crisis in order to adjust its measures as deemed necessary. However, as the pandemic continues to affect the economy, a legitimate question arises of whether banks will be able to absorb the full impact of the crisis as they continue providing adequate lending to the economy. Unquestionably, the crisis will also have longer-term implications on the future shape of the banking sector. There are some additional questions on whether the regulatory framework is fit for purpose to allow banks to pursue these goals. In this article, we try to address these questions with a focus on the European Union. We describe how banks entered the crisis, explain the rationale for the actions taken as the immediate response, provide some initial thoughts on the lessons learnt and try to look forward and sketch some possible implications for future policy-making. 2. Banks at the start of the crisis European banks entered the Covid-19 epidemic with relatively high capital levels and abundant liquidity buffers, particularly when compared to the recent past. The solvency level of EU banks had improved significantly since the GFC (chart 1) and, more importantly, the cross-sectional dispersion reduced materially, with banks in the lower quartile catching up steadily. In December 2019, EU banks’ Common Equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1) was 15.1% on average and banks were comfortably above regulatory minima. The management buffer – which is the additional capital banks hold in excess of capital requirements, buffers and supervisory expectations – was 300bps. This trend of higher capital ratios – which is also visible when looking at the evolution of non-risk-weighted metrics such as the leverage ratio – has been driven by both deleveraging and the increase in own funds, also in connection with the gradual adjustment to the Basel 3 standards. Chart 1 – EU Banks: Common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio Similarly, liquidity buffers were ample, with the Leverage Coverage Ratio (LCR) close to 150% (chart 2). Also in this case, the contraction of the interquartile range and the overall move upwards of the distributions are impressive and confirm that the progress was widespread. Banks’ funding mix was also more balanced and stable, with a steady increase of the share of household and non-financial corporation deposits since the GFC. In contrast to previous recent crises, available liquidity buffers increased even further in 2020, in connection with massive central banks interventions providing cheap funding to the banking sector. Banks also benefited from favourable conditions in wholesale funding markets in the quarters before the outbreak of COVID-19. Chart 2 – EU Banks: Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) Banks had also significantly reduced non-performing loans (NPLs) and improved asset quality, with an acceleration after the approval of the Council’s NPL action plan in 2017. With the introduction of a common definition of NPLs, the EBA provided the regulatory framework and monitoring mechanism that allowed supervisors to push banks strategies. Since 2014, NPL volumes have more than halved (chart 3) and the progress, while generalised, was more pronounced for countries with higher starting NPL ratios. The positive downward trend affected all sectors and asset classes and was achieved through both internal organic workout and disposals in secondary markets, either portfolio sales or securitisations. However, the pace of the adjustment in the sector could have been faster. The NPL ratio in 2019 stood at 3.1% on average, higher than in other advanced economies, with many countries still showing levels well above those recorded before the GFC. Chart 3 – EU Banks: Non-performing loan (NPL) ratio Despite the efforts put by banks in repairing their balance sheets and improving asset quality, a number of challenges remained in the industry. Banks’ profitability had not recovered since the GFC, with returns remaining subdued amidst low interest rates and banks’ difficulties in reducing operating expenses (chart 4). For many banks, the return on equity has not covered the cost of equity for many years, as also reflected in their market valuations. Chart 4 – EU Banks: Return on Equity (RoE) Persistent low profitability, and remaining pockets of poor asset quality, along with competitive pressures coming from new digital players, are likely to be exacerbated by the current crisis. Supervisory measures adopted in 2020 provided an immediate response to short-term tensions and the sudden halt of economic activities. However, banks still need also to address long-term outstanding problems, which require structural reforms. 3. A review of the regulatory response The immediate reaction of the supervisory community to Covid-19 and the gradual deployment of containment measures by governments aimed at ensuring business continuity in such difficult circumstances. It was important that banks were able to serve the economy and their customers, avoiding the collapse of credit to the real economy at the very moment when it was required to transmit fiscal stimulus to corporates and households. The rationale of the measures adopted by the supervisory community was clear. The target was to safeguard business continuity in the sector, allow banks to use the capital and liquidity buffers accumulated over time, and remove any unintended obstacles to the widespread use of public support measures. Regulators provided operational relief to banks, allowing them to shift resources where mostly needed. This decision was not made lightly. Postponing the ongoing 2020 EBA EU-wide stress test exercise by one year, delaying remittance dates for supervisory reporting, and putting on hold consultation processes determined a loss of valuable information, in particular on banks’ latest conditions, at the very moment authorities actually needed it the most. Nevertheless, this was the right thing to do in exceptional circumstances, with banks in great need to focus on critical functions and operational resilience. The EBA recognised the need for a pragmatic approach in the 2020 Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP) as well as for recovery planning, and recommended that supervisory authorities focus their efforts on the most material risks and vulnerabilities driven by the crisis. At the global level, the implementation of the Basel 3 standards finalised in December 2017 was deferred by one year to January 2023. In Europe, the EBA reminded that capital – and liquidity – buffers accumulated by banks over time were a reserve to absorb losses but also to ensure continued lending to the economy. In the same spirit, several macroprudential authorities released the countercyclical buffers and supervisors allowed banks to operate below their Pillar 2 Guidance (P2G). It was also clarified that part of the Pillar 2 requirements could be covered with instruments other than CET1. With the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) ‘quick fix’, which was approved by the European Parliament in June 2020, the transitional arrangements for smoothing the impact on capital of the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9 on own funds were extended by 2 years. Other measures already in the pipeline – for instance a revised and more generous supporting factor for lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – were introduced ahead of schedule. The EBA also frontloaded the rules on the prudential treatment of software investments introducing their partial deduction from capital. The corollary of capital relief measures was the recommendation to banks to follow prudent dividend distribution policies. Dividend restrictions and bans forced banks to preserve capital with an overall impact of about 40 billion Euros. This was a controversial measure, with a few stakeholders arguing that a case-by-case approach would have been better than a generalised restriction. However, a system-wide approach was proportionate to the severity of the crisis and the uncertainty on its effects. A case-by-case approach would have not achieved the same objective and the stigma effect on some banks could have adversely affected those intermediaries in more urgent need of support. We have mentioned already that banks entered the crisis with good solvency positions and a management buffer of about 300bps of RWAs in December 2019 (chart 5). Chart 5 – Evolution of management buffers in 2020 Capital related measures had the objective of further enhancing banks’ ability to finance the economy, thus creating additional headroom for lending. Taken together, these measures contributed to free up capital, with the management buffer increasing to 570 bps assuming the full use of P2G. However, the availability of buffers was uneven across the EU due to the different starting position of banks and to the diverse implementation of macroprudential measures across Europe. The EBA also intervened to avoid any unintended reclassification in default status for debtors in temporary liquidity difficulties. In particular, there was a pressing need to address the prudential treatment of legislative and non-legislative payment moratoria, which were introduced by several countries as a support measure to provide payment breaks to borrowers. The EBA published guidelines[2]EBA (2020), Guidelines on legislative and non-legislative moratoria on loan repayments applied in the light of the COVID-19 crisis. to clarify that the payment moratoria do not automatically trigger forbearance classification and the assessment of distressed restructuring if they are based on the applicable national law or on an industry-wide initiative agreed and applied broadly by relevant credit institutions. These guidelines were necessary for avoiding the automatic reclassification in forborne or defaulted status of loans under moratoria, but they also confirmed the necessity of a timely and accurate measurement of credit risk. They safeguarded borrowers with temporary liquidity problems, but did require the assessment of the long-term unlikeliness to pay. The emergency determined by Covid-19 called for emergency measures. However, it was – and it is – important to preserve the correct measurement of risks and the reliability and timeliness of risk metrics. Therefore, the EBA also put in place adequate tools in order to enable supervisors and stakeholders to monitor these exposures and adequately assess the evolving situation in the banking sector. The EBA introduced ad-hoc reporting and disclosure requirements for the exposures benefitting from moratoria and public guarantees. This allows supervisors to understand the materiality of the exposures as well as their classification for prudential and accounting purposes. 4. Is this time different? Capital ratios have improved further since March 2020, NPLs have not increased and liquidity has remained ample. Compared with the previous crises, bank lending to the real economy has increased, particularly in the first half of 2020. In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, non-financial corporations (NFCs), especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), made use of available loan commitments to secure liquidity and operational continuity. Later on, credit demand was mostly driven by government guaranteed loans. The increase in lending, along with the surge in cash balances that followed central bank extraordinary liquidity allotments, has resulted in a 9% increase in total assets in the first three quarters of 2020. This figure could slightly underestimate the size of asset growth since, in some jurisdictions, fully guaranteed loans can be derecognised by banks and, thus, are not visible in their balance sheets. In this section, we explore further the data available at the EBA, with a focus on banks’ use of moratoria and deposit guarantees and forward-looking indicators of asset quality[3] EBA (2020), First evidence on the use of the moratoria and public guarantees in the EU banking sector.. This should provide a more accurate picture of the future evolution of credit risk, beyond headline figures. In September 2020, EU banks reported EUR 587 billion of loans under moratoria compliant with the EBA guidelines, which represents around 5% of the total outstanding loans to households and NFCs. Banks also reported that moratoria had expired for about EUR 350bn of loans. The use of moratoria was heterogeneous across countries, reflecting the different timing and impact of the epidemics as well as the variety of national support measures deployed by governments. Loans under moratoria were around 6% for NFC, whereas 4% of household loans had been granted some form of payment holidays in September 2020, which is about half the amount recorded in June. Moratoria were more widely used by small and medium enterprises, which typically rely more on bank credit for financing their funding needs. About 55% of the moratoria had a maturity of less than 3 months, and around 85% of them were to mature before March 2020. The EBA guidelines require banks to perform the usual due diligence on asset quality evolution and, in particular, on debtors’ likeliness to pay. Therefore, the evolution of credit risk for loans under moratoria provides valuable information on the quality of these loans as well as on banks’ risk management approach during the pandemic. In September 2020, about 20% of loans under moratoria were classified as stage 2, which is more than double the share for total loans. The NPL ratio for loans subject to moratoria was 3%, which is slightly higher than the EU average (2.8%). This is, however, not surprising considering that some national schemes included only performing loans as eligible for payment moratoria. In our view, this suggests that banks, to some extent, have been proactive in assessing the unlikeliness to pay – in the absence of past-due criterion for the loans under moratoria – as well as any material increase in credit risk triggering the migration of loans from Stage 1 to Stage 2. On the other hand, this is also in line with the evidence that moratoria reached the intended recipients – i.e., the economic sectors most affected by the crisis – which tend also to be riskier. The use of public guarantees (PGS) was also widespread. In September 2020, newly originated loans subject to PGS amounted to around EUR 289 billion. This volume represents a relatively small share of the stock of total loans on average (about 1.6%) but is material for some banks and jurisdictions. Public guarantees were granted predominantly for loans to NFCs, which represented almost 94% of all new loans benefitting from PGS. PGS impact on banks’ lending was rather significant in the countries more affected by the first wave of Covid-19 contagion. Public guarantees have the potential to reduce significantly banks’ RWAs. In September 2020, banks reported RWAs of EUR 45 billion for exposures subject to PGS of EUR 289 billion. This implies an average risk weight of around 16%, which can be compared with an average risk weight for banks’ NFC exposures of 54%[4]EBA (2020), Risk Assessment of the European Banking System. According to estimates, this corresponds to a benefit in terms of CET1 ratio ranging between 10 and 20 basis points. Overall, public support measures – both on the fiscal and prudential side – along with very low interest rates did shield the banks from the first round effects of the crisis. NPL ratios and volumes remained low and the declining trend was confirmed, even though at slower pace than pre-Covid-19. However, there are also early signals of asset quality deterioration, particularly looking at more forward-looking indicators. The volume of loans classified under IFRS 9 stage 2 – those that are still performing but for which there was a significant increase in credit risk – increased by 24% to EUR 1.2bn in 2020, bringing their share to 8% of total loans. A similar trend was observed for forborne loans, which can at some point turn into non-performing status if the conditions of the restructured debtors worsen further. This dynamic was also reflected in profit and loss accounts. Banks have booked substantial provisions on performing loans that resulted in a material increase in the cost of risk, albeit with significant dispersion. As a result, the cost of risk – the ratio between the flow of impairments and total loans – was significantly higher than in 2019 (0.74% in Q3 2020 vs 0.46% in Q3 2019). Profitability deteriorated quickly due to increased provisions and plummeted to zero in Q1 2020, with a moderate recovery in the following quarters. Pressure on interest margins will not decrease anytime soon, as the low or negative interest rate environment is expected to persist for even longer. While it is difficult to make accurate forecasts on the timing and materiality of asset quality deterioration, all these elements point to a new wave of NPLs in the coming quarters. According to a sensitivity analysis carried out by the EBA for assessing the impact of COVID-19 on EU banks, stage 3 assets could increase to levels comparable to 2014 and credit risk losses could determine a decline of CET1 ratios between -230bps to -380bps, without taking into account the mitigating impact on impairments of PGS[5]EBA (2020), The EU Banking Sector: First insights into the COVID-19 impacts.. EU banks would have, on average, enough capital buffers for absorbing these losses, but there could be cases requiring corrective measures. While we are cautious in interpreting these results given the uncertainty on future economic conditions and the mitigating impact of the government support measures, this is an area that requires close monitoring, proactive actions and enhanced policy toolkit. Currently, the EBA is performing its biennial stress test exercise of European banks, which will provide a more detailed account on the status of the banking sector and its ability to weather a severe downward macroeconomic scenario. There are ways to mitigate the impact of the expected increase of credit risk on financial stability. First, it is for banks to proceed with the early and transparent recognition of any deterioration of asset quality. It is imperative that investors do not lose their trust in the EU banking sector as in the aftermath of the GFC, when banks – notwithstanding the strengthening of capital positions – were perceived to be hiding losses in their balance sheets. Banks need to have enough provisions. This crisis may be less harmful than we expect or the recovery faster but, at this stage, it is safer to err on the conservative side and reverse provisions later. Low for long interest rates can have a positive mitigating impact on credit risk, but it should not lead to unjustifiable delays of non-viable firms, nor to the delay in recognition of potential non-performing exposures. The same principle should apply to the banking sector itself. The low interest rate environment should also not delay a long-due restructuring of the sector and the orderly exit of weaker banks. In addition, low for longer interest rates will make it harder to regain profitability through credit intermediation. Banks need to redefine their business models, find other income sources, partly embracing innovation but also leveraging on their traditional competitive advantage in serving their customers, offering advice and higher value added services, and supporting their migration towards a greener economy. 5. Lessons for regulation All crises are different but they also share similar patterns. In the midst of the turmoil, economic agents tend to react looking primarily within their private interests and cooperation and coordination suffer. At the national level, this results in actions being taken pursuing national objectives and, at times, with insufficient coordination. This is understandable when there is an urgency to act under time pressure and uncertainty, but it is far from optimal and can jeopardise the overall economic recovery and the level playing field. The reaction to this crisis shows a mix of national bias and a strong, genuine effort to provide a common EU response with stronger coordination. On the one hand, the actions at the European level have been unprecedented, particularly when compared with previous crises. The monetary policy, macroprudential and supervisory responses were quick and well-coordinated. More importantly, the EU agreed on a long-term budget that, coupled with NextGenerationEU, represents a strong commitment to deliver an EU-wide post-crisis stimulus package financed through the EU money. On the other hand, the immediate public support provided to the economy was diverse across countries and commensurate to the fiscal capacity of the single Member States. Payment moratoria and public guarantee schemes affecting the banking sector were launched from national initiatives with little or no supranational coordination, different deadlines, coverage and conditionality. The EBA tried to provide with its guidelines on moratoria a harmonised framework for the prudential treatment of such measures. However, the policies implemented remain different in many aspects. Going forward, it is important that the interaction of these policies with the need for orderly restructuring of the corporate sector as a result of the crisis does not result in a fragmentation of the single market and an uneven playing field within the EU banking sector. The crisis has also proven that the regulatory reforms agreed at the global level in the aftermath of the GFC have been successful in strengthening banks’ resilience. While the long-term impact of Covid-19 is still to be determined, high capital, ample liquidity, improved asset quality, enhanced digital capacity, stronger risk management helped banks to respond to the emergency. This confirms the importance of a sound regulatory framework and its effective implementation. Globally agreed standards have helped us manage this crisis and have confirmed their overall usefulness. This is a lesson for the future. Regulatory authorities have proved to be up to the challenge and willing to make full use of the flexibility permitted in the prudential and – to the extent possible in their remit – the accounting frameworks. Flexibility was increased by the legislator where it was deemed necessary. Some rules, particularly on the treatment of non-performing assets, required some fine-tuning, but, overall, we did not change their philosophy confirming the need to timely recognise and measure risks, while avoiding automatisms that can determine unintended consequences in case of systemic crisis and system-wide support measures. Authorities allowed banks to support the economy, while demanding the preservation of reliable risk metrics. The distinction between short-term liquidity difficulties and insolvency – or unlikeliness to pay – was crucial in squaring this circle and proved fit for purpose. The evidence on the classification of loans under moratoria provides some initial reassurance that banks have implemented supervisory guidance as required. However, it is important that credit risk is monitored carefully so to ensure that banks identify any early signal of borrowers’ distress and provision against potential losses accordingly. Authorities have been also proactive in triggering the countercyclical features embedded in the Basel 3 framework. Since the onset of the crisis, micro- and macroprudential, European and national authorities provided the unequivocal message that capital is there to be used. Relaxing capital requirements and encouraging banks to make use of their liquidity buffers in a crisis do not come natural to supervisors, but they are key to allow the banking sector to act as a stabiliser rather than an amplifier of the shocks. This was the very purpose of including a macroprudential perspective in the prudential standards. Banks have, so far, made limited use of this flexibility. Until the third quarter of 2020, there is no sign of a decline in the CET1 ratio, at least on average at the EU level, and banks – with a few exceptions – are still able to meet their overall capital requirements. A first observation is that there is some confusion on the concept of buffer “usability”. Banks can use buffers to absorb losses and still be able to meet minimum requirements. This implies that buffers are used when losses are recognised. Banks can also use buffers to absorb the increase of risk-weighted assets in a crisis without reducing lending. If credit is flowing fine to the economy and the supply matches customers’ demand, then there is no need to use the buffers. At this stage, it is too early to say whether the issue of buffer usability is material. We documented that credit did increase in the aftermath of the crisis. Banks also increased provisions, but below some analysts’ expectations. Still, this is an important discussion looking forward. There is a view that banks are reluctant to use the buffers for reasons beyond supervisory expectations. If this is true, it is important to understand those specific concerns, their relevance, and consider whether adjustments to the framework are needed. On the one hand, there could be a general apprehension related to the market stigma associated with the use of buffers or even with the simple decline of capital ratios. This would indicate the reluctance of market participants to accept fluctuations of capital ratios in banks as a normal – cyclical – event. On the other hand, the scarce usability of the different buffers can be linked to the function they are expected to perform. In the prudential framework, some buffers – e.g., the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) – are inherently countercyclical since authorities can activate and deactivate the requirement depending on the evolution of economic conditions. Countercyclical, releasable buffers are designed to be used for macroeconomic adjustments. Other buffers – e.g., the capital conservation buffer – are instead structural and work as automatic stabilisers since banks failing to meet the requirement are automatically subject to capital conservation measures. Banks can be hesitant to use the structural buffer since this may undermine their ability to payout dividends and coupons if they are at risk of breaching the overall capital requirements and, thus, triggering maximum distributable amount rules. The relative size of the buffers determine their usability for the different economic policy objectives. This can also call for a recalibration of the buffer structure, with a greater role for buffers that can be switched off by the authorities. However, since countercyclical buffers have been built up only in a limited number of jurisdictions and to relatively limited levels, the question is whether we should also harmonise the way these buffers are deployed, pushing for a faster and larger accumulation in good times. While buffers should continue to reflect national financial conditions, some centralisation of their use at the EU level would be warranted, particularly in crisis times. The toolkit of macroprudential authorities is also relatively weak when it comes to preserving capital in the system. While microprudential supervisors can prevent institutions for distributing dividends on a case-by-case basis, no binding instrument is available for imposing system-wide payout restrictions. Finally, the crisis has also confirmed the urgency to complete the Banking Union and remove any obstacles to the free flow of capital and liquidity in the Single Market. National policies to address national stability concerns can often impede the free flow of funding across the union. Ring-fencing generates inefficiencies and eventually results in the inefficient allocation of resources, poor incentives to cross-border consolidation, and higher costs for customers. 6. Conclusions The EU banking sector has been resilient so far but there are challenges ahead. The strong capitalisation and liquidity profile, coupled with the decisive response of the regulators and supervisors, have enabled the European banks to cope with the immediate impact of the crisis, while supporting their customers and governments’ efforts to push liquidity in the system. Looking forward, the key question is whether banks will be able to withstand the likely increase of credit risk losses and maintain adequate lending volumes, particularly when moratoria, public guarantee schemes and other support measures expire. With the legacy and the experience from the GFC, it is important to be ready with credible, long-term tools to deal with the deterioration of asset quality. The 2021 EU-wide stress test will allow authorities to better assess the consequences of the crisis on banks, start discussing the appropriate way forward, and set supervisory expectations on capital planning. Banks should do their part assuring the accurate and transparent assessment of credit risk. Capital buffers provide headroom for prudent provisioning and there is no reason for delaying risk recognition. The Commission’s NPL action plan shows that this time is different and authorities want to be proactive rather than reactive. Asset management companies can be part of a broader toolkit within well-functioning efficient NPL secondary markets to transfer non-performing assets out of the banking sector and, while they are often associated to state-aid and resolution rules, they have a broader role to play particularly in case of widespread deterioration of credit quality. Early and proactive engagement with borrowers must be undertaken in a way that is customer centric if we are to retain public trust in financial services. The Covid-19 crisis has also made some weaknesses in the EU banking sector more visible and accelerated some trends affecting the industry. In this sense, the crisis can represent a catalyst to restructure and make EU banks more resilient and efficient. Some issues are generalised across the sector, while others may be more idiosyncratic. The EBA analyses show that the sector is overall resilient, but banks that entered the crisis with lower capital levels, poor business models and riskier exposures may face greater challenges. In addition, further waves of contagion and a delayed economic recovery could further weaken the banking sector. Deteriorating asset quality and the ‘lower for longer’ interest rate environment are expected to weigh on an already subdued profitability. The need to address overcapacity and advance with banking sector consolidation will become ever more important and supervisors are supporting measures to facilitate such process. A coherent and consistent application of the European resolution framework is a precondition of an orderly exit for those banks that become non-viable in the crisis. Although the challenges ahead are huge, the crisis can be the catalyst to address pre-existing vulnerabilities. Finally, digitalisation and the use of ICT was able to progress rapidly in the crisis thanks to the work of regulators and a further acceleration could be a game-changer for banks. It could bring costs down and allow them to move towards more sustainable business models, but this should go together with careful management of ICT risks and careful consideration of the environmental and social implications of enhanced use of digital channels and machine led offerings. The crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic put the post GFC reforms in the banking industry to test, a real-life stress test of the system. We believe that the experience so far has vindicated the reforms. The philosophy behind the post-GFC regulation – more demanding requirements in normal times that can be relaxed in bad times – has been successful. This does not mean that there are not some aspects of the existing framework that may require a critical review. Changes may be necessary, but we see this as a fine-tuning and calibration of the framework rather than a fundamental rethinking of it. We would also advocate taking enough time to reflect, discuss and make decisions. Changing the rules while the crisis is ongoing would be premature, imprudent and could be interpreted as a signal of weakness of the banking sector, at a time when markets are volatile and investors nervous. Once the health crisis is – hopefully – under control and the emergency over, it will be natural to make a stock-take of the elements that have worked well and those deserving some adjustments. We also learnt that some flexibility in regulation may be necessary, but we should avoid reinstating national discretions. We believe it would be also advisable to go back to the roots of the Lamfalussy’s reform, with primary legislation setting only the overarching principles and leaving the technical details – which may need quick fixes – to level 3 regulation. Supervisory judgment is also important, but only if exercised under a consistent EU umbrella. Footnotes

Fl guidie! Today most people who are familiar with the word Floriography know it to be the secret language of flowers. Floriography is certainly the meaning of flowers. Send any woman a perfect single red rose and she will automatically read Love into the gesture. Considering that is so, it is no big wonder why the red rose is THE flower of choice on Valentine's Day. It is quite true that Floriography is the unspoken language of the flowers. Sometimes a sweet language. Sometimes it is one that is cruel. Most of the time, though, it is so convoluted that it could be the source of troubling confusion that will absolutely boggle the mind, which will be begging for clarification. But, aside from conveying a message, Floriography...today...is actually about so much more. Consider this about Floriography: every major religion has at least one tree, plant or flower that is considered to be entirely sacred. Holy. Actually, many more than merely a few. Some are so holy that to remove them from a religious ritual would be unthinkable. Floriography reveals the symbolism of certain trees, plants, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and flowers In Floriography, certain trees, plants, flowers, fruits, and seeds have representative symbolism they present for a wide variety of reasons...perhaps religious, perhaps magical, perhaps legendary...it all depends. And, the symbolism might apply to as many purposes. This is how it has been throughout the course of human history. In addition, over time, the symbolism has increased to encompass wider...still...while continuing onward alongside the earlier symbols. Thus, in Floriography, there can be one plant with many meanings...some contrary to another for the same plant...and multiple symbols that might also be contrary to its own self. At any rate, they mean and represent something. That something requires research. Most often, to be on the enlightened side of comprehension, that research extends to each individual instance and occurrence. Being clued into what's what requires diligence. Floriography defines The Spriritual and The Magical Powers of a flower When it comes to Floriography's power, the power of a particular tree, plant or flower might easily be more legend than fact. However, oddly enough, there is a great deal of fact. It depends on belief. The more belief, the more power. And this power is increased the more and the longer it is believed to have the ability to resonate or vibrate in a particular manner. Power is cumulative. In folk magic it is common...in some cases absolutely habitual...that a particular plant is believed to harness a particular power or powers. That is why one plant is selected over another that might not have the power that is desired for use in a particular spell. Then again, certain spells can be enabled or banished as the particular plant decays or the fragrance dissipates. It all depends on the what, the why, the how, the when, and the who involved. Spell-casting is an art form. Those who can do it well have confidence in the plants that have been selected because it is understood that the power or powers have proven to be dependably potent over time and practice. Floriography will help you plan the perfect personalized garden Floriography has a growing interest when planning an event or a garden, drawing positive energy towards you or pushing negative energies away. Explore the possibilities so that you can incorporate the meanings, the symbolism, and the power of trees, plants and flowers into your life. The whole idea of attaching a meaning to flowers was most appreciated in Victorian England. When flowers were selected by the Victorian sender as a gift bouquet to the Victorian recipient, each flower was carefully selected to represent a specific particular feeling, endearment, intention, hope, or even damning condemnation. The meaning of flowers was more important than the beauty or the scent of the blossoms themselves. The bouquet was somewhat like an envelope with each blossom and leaf delivering the message to the recipient. For the most post, flowers were sent to convey words of love that were difficult to speak aloud. *sigh* Those Victorians were deeply romantic and highly emotional...inside themselves. *sigh again* If it were not for posies love would be wafting in the air like a scent. But if you didn't know that scent or from which secret garden from which it originated, it was mysteriously lovely...but... Alas, The Victorians were shy folks. This is when and how the use of Floriography's meaning of flowers came to the rescue. Especially when it came to the subject of romance. It seemed when a gentleman fancied a lady he would engage a go-between to deliver his sweet but heavily veiled love notes to her, because God forbid any one of them might be intercepted and fall into the wrong hands. In particular, her father or even worse – her disapproving mother! To get to that level of inter-personal interaction was a long leap to being forward. The usual method of sending messages with meaning was less direct and considerably less definitive. And although it was romantic to recieve a secret message, a note did not always have the Wow-factor that flowers still have. To this very day, nearly every woman loves to receive flowers. Unless she's allergic. Even then, she will take her antihistamine and greatly appreciate the thoughtful intentions that arrive with flowers. Messages with heartfelt meaning can be sent with flowers Little bouquets, better known as "tussy-mussies" were the vogue in messaging. A meaningful nosegay sent to anyone was the genteel Victorian floral equivalent of texting. The emoticons of engagement were the flowers themselves. Some of the flower meanings were widely understood and well know. But most other flower meanings were secretive – hidden within the pages of books that listed the specific meanings of each flower. Even the colors translated messages. To look back it all seemed so romantic. Or, so it would seem However, messages sent were solely dependent on a mutual understanding which was the Victorian version of an app. Yes, there actually was an app for that. The flower meaning book! Every thoughtful Victorian had access to at least one. But, if you didn't have the exact same book that the sender used to devise his or her message, then the message itself could be...and often was...scrambled...to mean entirely something else. This was because there were, and still are, many plants that have multiple and even contrary meanings. One person's message of friendship could easily be misconstrued to mean a betrayal if that is what your book indicated.. Just what would be going through your mind? Get the picture. A confusing flower meaning can confuse the floral gift recipient After a while, perhaps due to huge misunderstandings, the meaning of flowers with regards to the practice of using flowers as messengers went out of practice. Eventually the idea of it became an enchanting idea and the practice of linking meanings to flowers took on a new life. However, considering that the books on the market today are just as contrary as back in Victorian times, it is strongly advisable to include an actual note...one that clearly defines your intentions...along with your floral gift. And, if it is your usual practice to send flowers to your significant other, make a gift of the book you, yourself, intend to use to design your bouquets. It's the better way to send a secretive message. Without unity there could be a great deal of confusion. Just saying. The entire concept of the symbolism of trees, plants and flowers had to start somewhere. That somewhere is with religion. Every major religion has at least one tree, plant or flower that is considered, for whatever particular reasons, to be entirely sacred to believers of that faith. From the pre-dawn of religious belief throughout the spiritual history of humankind, there has been a Tree of Life that is considered to be sacred. From belief to belief, the specifically related symbolism of the Tree of Life varies. But one thing is consistent throughout each belief, that being The Tree of Life is revered. For Christians their most sacred book, The Holy Bible, relates in Genesis 2:3 that there was another particularly sacred tree located in the center of The Garden of Eden that was The Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. No one knows, exactly, what the genus of this immensely powerful tree actually was. What we do know is that The First Man and The First Woman, Adam and Eve, were specifically forbidden to even touch it. Or else that would be the end of...well...everything...because, to disobey God, who passed on this command would initiate Death. As a consequence, when a fruit from that tree was eaten, being as it was The Forbidden Fruit, the Garden of Eden was destroyed after Adam and Eve were forced to vacate the premises. Eventually, for them, Death did come. And now we all come and go by way of birth and death. Nobody knows for certain what the actual Forbidden Fruit was. Symbolically, it has been represented with an apple. Folklore supports the apple theory because if you cut an apple across the center between stem and bud end, the core pith forms the shape of a star. However, up until an eager botanist decided to call the genus of the fruit we know as an apple, to be Malus, all hard fruits...at the time...were called apples. Why was the apple we know called Malus? Hmm. Perhaps it is because a botanist decided that would be a good name for it...all things considered. And perhaps, because up until then the only fruit that presented a star shape was that particular fruit. The tropical Star Fruit had not yet been discovered to give it a star-like name...based of course, upon it's obvious shape. Was the Star Fruit the fabled Forbidden Fruit? Who knows? Nobody. But whatever we might speculate, back then...in The Garden of Eden...the particular fruit in question was forbidden. And now the apple we know so well, Malus domestica, is the quintessential symbol of The Forbidden Fruit. So be it. Whatever. In the story of the legendary Forbidden Fruit we have a symbolic fruit that is not only immensely sacred as to be entirely forbidden to eat or even touch the tree. As it turned out, the consequence was eventual but certain death wrought down by the angry God. In that respect, it was a killer fruit to be sure. It is a fruit that, for all practical purposes, might be merely a legend. However, the thing about legends is that they tend to originate with a true or true-ish event that might be embellished somewhat along the way of its telling. We, today, have long since discovered, via dreadfully unfortunate trial and error, that there actually are fruits so dangerous...so deadly...that to eat even a nibble from one will bring certain death. Oddly enough, there is also a tree that is so dangerous...so deadly...that the tree itself will kill! That tree is the Manchineel Tree. The Machineel Tree is native to Florida in the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. Hippomane mancinella, commonly known as the Manchineel Tree is one of the most poisonous trees in the entire world. The ancient Carib Indians would kill their enemies by simply tying their victim to the trunk of that tree and let the tree effectively do all the dirty work for them, slowly and painfully. One of the common names of the Manchineel Tree's fruit is called "The Devil's Apple." Under the circumstances, symbolically, it seems quite suitable since the native Caribe indigenous people used the Machineel Tree for all forms of eliminating when it came to being rid of people who the Caribe's did not want anywhere near them. They were not the only indigenous tribe in Florida who knew of the Machineel's deadly nature. It is a matter of documented fact, it was a Manchineel sap tipped arrow let loose by a Calusa native that delivered explorer, Ponce de Leon, his fatal wound when rounding near to where Saint Petersburg, Florida is now. Ponce de Leon's ship sailed onward to Cuba, where he died. We might not have a singular clue as to exactly what The Forbidden Fruit might have been, but we surely do know all about Hyssopus officinalis, which is better known as Hyssop. Hyssop was mentioned several times in The Bible. Firstly, in Leviticus where it was described as a purification herb. Even so, Hyssop was first used symbolically during its first mention in Exodus 12:20. There it is told that Hyssop was to be used by the Israelite's as a paintbrush of sorts, to dip into the blood of a lamb then use the herbal branch to mark...or paint...their own door posts. This was to be a sign to The Angel of Death to pass that household by on that deathly night when death claimed the firstborn of all–man or beast. It is written that the firstborn behind the blood marked doors of the Israelite households survived, whereas the firstborn of the Egyptians did not. It is written that the Pharaoh reluctantly let the Israelite's leave Egypt with Moses, as one of the firstborn who died was the Pharaoh's own son. The event is legendary, considered sacred, and has been commemorated as Passover ever since. In The New Testament of The Christian Bible, Frankincense and Myrrh made their appearance in the story of the birth of Jesus when The Three Magi presented their gifts to him in Bethlehem. Both of these cherished gifts are derivatives of the plants they are obtained from. The floriography relating to these particular plants is unmistakable and has persisted for thousands of years. A few others plants mentioned in The Old Testament are Fig, Acacia, Almond, Date, Anise and Palms. The list of plants, trees, and flowers mentioned in The Bible is quite extensive. Almost all of them have a symbolism of one kind or another. In the Jewish faith, there are four specific plants mentioned in the Torah in Leviticus 23:4 that absolutely embodies the concept of floriography because the symbolism of these plants is utterly crucial to Sukkot, which is also known as The Feast of Tabernacles or The Feast of Booths. There are a few interpretations of how to create a sukkah, but it is essentially constructed from the plants and fruits of the four species. The waving of these four plants is considered to be a mitzvah (a commandment) that has been ordered by the Torah, and waving it contains symbolic references to the Jewish commitment and service of God. These four sacred plants are the Palm (lulav), Myrtle (hadas), Willow (arava), and Citron (etrog). In the Muslim faith, there are fifty-four specific plants mentioned in The Holy Quran. Among them are: Fig, Pomegranate, Olive, Corn, Leek, Garlic, Onion, Lentil, Barley, Wheat, Ginger, Pumpkin, Watermelon, Tamarind, Cedar, Grapes, Banana, Cucumber, and Basil. In Dubai, botanists have had plans to plant and nurture fifty of the fifty-four plants in an extraordinarily unique garden Tulsi, means incomparable one and it is more commonly known as Holy Basil. Tulsi is actually so venerated that Hindu followers worship this plant morning and evening. To Hindu believers, Tulsi is so holy that the plant, itself, is considered to be diefied. No Hindu home would be complete without a cherished and nurtured Tulsi plant growing in an especially revered location very close to it. This is because Holy Basil symbolizes the religious pulse of that Hindu family. In Buddhism, the Ficus religioso, which is also known as the Bo Tree or Peepal Tree, is a very special tree. So special, in fact, that some of those trees are considered to be particularly holy trees because it is the tree under which sat Lord Gautama Buddha while he was meditating beneath its spreading canopy. It was then and it was there that he attained his spiritual enlightenment. From that point on, that tree became known as a Bodhi Tree which means enlightenment. Not all Ficus religioso trees are considered to be Bodhi Trees. Only those that can be traced all the way back to the original tree parent may have that esteemed honor. The original tree was destroyed a long time ago. However, a branch cutting from that tree had been taken, rooted, nurtured and grown to replace it. As a matter of fact, a branch of the original tree was rooted in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka in 288 BCE and is known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. It is the oldest flowering plant in the world. The leaves of a Bodi Tree are considered to be sacred. To have one in your possession is to have a holy relic. Although it is unlikely that the leaves being sold online are actually from one of the actual holy Bodhi Trees, it is possible to obtain a hand-painted Peepal Leaf. Some of them are extremely beautiful and meaningful in themselves. To the Druids, the holy plant was Viscum album, which is better known as European Mistletoe. Being a parasitic plant, mistletoe was found up in the tree branches of host trees. Viscum albumis also a part of Greek mythology and it is believed to be THE Golden Bough of Aeneas, which is the ancestor of the Romans. Mistletoe also figures into the Old Norse beliefs. Then in pre-Christian European beliefs, until finally it appears as a Christmas plant under which the custom of kissing during the Christmas season took hold. The Druids cherished it so greatly that to them there is nothing more sacred than mistletoe that is found in an oak tree. The oak tree has been an important element in the selection of sacred mistletoe because it is rarely found in oaks, which made its discovery all the more special. The Druids gathered mistletoe with great ceremonial reverence involving sacrifice and feasting, on...if at all possible...The Sixth Day of The Moon. In the ancient Druid language the mistletoe was called the all-healing. On and on the symbolism of trees, plants, flowers, fruit, seeds, sap, leaves, and wood developed throughout history until the floriography of these earthborn wonders became something we have not considered at all. This is because we have been taken them for granted. They are always there...somewhere...outside of our homes, inside our refrigerators and cupboards, everywhere there is something growing somewhere. Even what we perceive to be barren desert will have a plant growing there...somewhere. In some deserts there will be found an oasis that nurtures several perhaps even many different kinds of trees, plants and flowers that seemingly grow up out in the middle of what is seen as vast nothingness. To any who come upon a desert oasis, or if the oasis is large enough to support day to day residence (as some are) it matters not what any book or list assigns to any particular growing thing there around them as all of it is appreciated, cherished, nurtured and spiritually embraced as all that grows in an oasis is symbolic of Life. The Tree of Life Flora is one of the most ancient goddesses of Roman religion. Flora was so special to the ancient Romans that she and was one of fifteen deities to have her own state-supported high priest. An annual six day festival celebrating The Goddess Flora is known as Floralia and is still celebrated today between April 28th- May 3rd. Back in ancient times the festival involved nude dancing, gladiator contests, theatrical performances, circus events, sacrifices to Flora, the ceremonial release of hares and goats, the scattering of legumes, all the while wearing colorful garments. Needless to say, the modern celebration of Floralia is significantly different and not nearly as overwhelming. The ancient Romans adored the form, colors, and fragrances of all flowers. It is believed it was the ancient Romans who started the tradition of monthly birth flowers. Seasonal flowers were traditionally given as gifts and eventually the idea of having a particular flower represent a particular month, and consequently a celebration flower commemorating a birth month caught on and carries through to today. Over time, considering the locales and global blooming seasons, additional flowers were adopted. #300 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Admiration; Bad luck; Bonds of affection; Dignity; Disappointed; Disdain; Distinction; Fascination; Good fortune; Good luck; Gratitude; Health and energy; Heavenly; Joy and commitment; Love; Misfortune; Pride; Pride and beauty; Pure and deep love; Pure love; Self-esteem; Strength; True love; Woman's love. POSSIBLE POWERS: Divination; Healing; Luck; Protection; Strength. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: In ancient Greece, Dianthus caryophyllus were the most loved of all flowers. ~ A corsage or nosegay made up of Dianthus caryophyllus, a sprig of Rosmarinus officinalis, and Geranium flower means: Love, Fidelity, and Hope. ~ Fresh red Dianthus caryophyllus in the room of a convalescing patient will promote strength and energy. ~ Wearing a Dianthus caryophyllus flower was popular during Elizabethan times because it was believed that the flower helped prevent being put to death on the scaffold. SPECIFIC COLOR MEANING: Pink — A woman's love; Deep love; I'll never forget you; Sentimental love; A mother's undying love; Always on my mind; A mother's love; Mother's Day symbol; Woman's love. Red — Admiration; Admiration from afar; Affection; Alas! For my poor heart; Ardent love; Desire; Desires that never come to pass; Forlorn; My heart aches for you; Poor heart; Pure; Pure and ardent love; Deep Romantic Love. Light Red — Admiration. Dark Red — Affection; Alas for my poor heart; Deep love. Deep Red — Affection; Alas for my poor heart; Deep love. Mauve — Dreams of fantasy. Purple — Antipathy; Capriciousness; Changeability; Condolences; Whimsical; Changeable; Unreliability. White — Disdain; Innocence; Pure love; Purity; Sweet and lovely; Sweet Love; Good luck; Faithfulness. Yellow — Disappointment; Disdain; Rejection; You have disappointed me; Unreasonableness. Solid — Yes; Acceptance; I want to be with you; Affirmative. Striped — No; Refusal; Regret that love cannot be reciprocated; Rejection; Sorry, I can't be. #377 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS — Consolation; Friend in adversity; Friend in need; Hope; Hope in sorrow; Purity and hope. FOLKLORE AND FACTS — There is a superstition that it is unlucky to bring Galanthus nivalisinto the home, and that supposedly merely the sight of a single Galanthus nivalis growing in the garden foretold a pending disaster. #926 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS — Affection; Artistic ability; Faithfulness; Fidelity; Honesty; Loyalty; Modesty; Simplicity; Think of me; Thoughts; Thoughtful Recollection; Virtue. POSSIBLE POWERS — Calms tempers; Divination; Induces sleep; Love; Psychic sensitivity. #708 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Confidence; Contentment; Desperate; Early youth; Eternal love; Feminine energy; Frivolity; Happiness; I cannot be without you; I can't live without you; Inconstancy; Modest worth; Obsessive love; Pleasure; Pride of riches; Satisfaction; Silent love; Thoughtlessness; Woman; Young Love; Youth. POSSIBLE POWERS: Love; Protection. SPECIFIC COLOR MEANING: Crimson — Confidence; Heart's mystery; Pride of riches. Lilac — Confidence. Red — Merit; Unsupported merit; Unsolicited recognition. Rose — Neglected genius. #593 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Annunciation; Appreciation of honesty; Beauty; Chivalry; Clarity of thought; Contentment; Deceitful hopes; Egotism; Energy that comes from being in love; Excessive self-love; Faith; Forgiveness; Formality; Forthrightness; High regards; Honesty; Hope; Inner beauty; Love; New beginnings; Promise of Eternal Life; Regard; Rebirth; Renewal; Respect; Resurrection and Rebirth; Self-esteem; Self concept; Self-love; Simple pleasures; Singular love and chivalry; Stay as sweet as you are; Sunlight; Sunshine; The sun shines when I'm with you; Truth; Uncertainty; Unrequited love; Unreturned love; Vanity; You're the only one; Vanity and Death; Vanity and egoism. POSSIBLE POWERS: Aphrodisiac; Fertility; Love; Luck. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: The Narcissus is the flower of The Underworld. Animals do not eat the Narcissus flower because the sap contains sharp crystals. ~ Wear a Narcissus flower over your heart for good luck. ~ During Medieval times in Europe it was thought that if a Narcissus while it was being looked at, it was an omen of death. ~ Chicken farmers were superstitious and would not allow Narcissus into their homes as they believed they were unlucky and would stop their hens from laying eggs or keep the eggs from hatching. ~ In Maine there is a superstition that if you point at a Narcissuswith your index finger it will not bloom. ~ The Chinese believe that the Narcissus is lucky and will bring good luck for an entire year if forced to bloom during the Chinese New Year. ~ Fresh Narcissus flowers in a vase in the bedroom bodes well for fertility. #594 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Affection returned; Desire; Desires fulfilled; Longings; Love me; Return my affection; Sympathy; I desire a return of affection; Have pity on my passion; Return my affection; Violent Sympathy and Desire. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: The favorite flower of England's Queen Anne, who loved the Narcissus jonquilla so dearly that it inspired her to create Kensington Palace Gardens, the first public botanical garden in England. #496 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: A meeting; Blissful pleasure; Chastity; Delicacy; Departure; Goodbye; I think of you; Meeting; Thank you for a lovely time. POSSIBLE POWERS: Chastity; Courage; Friendship; Strength. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Wear Lathyrus odoratus for strength. ~ To keep someone chaste, place a nosegay of Lathyrus odoratus flowers in a vase in their bedroom. ~ Fresh Lathyrus odoratus flowers forge friendships. ~ Hold a Lathyrus odoratus flower in your hand to encourage the truth to be told to you. #120 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Beauty; Beauty and innocence; Cheer; Cheer; Childlike playfulness; Contempt for worldly goods; Creativity; Decisions; Do you love me; Faith; Forever-young attitude; Gentleness; Gentleness on behalf of both giver and recipient; Happy-go-lucky; I partake your sentiments; I share your sentiments; I will think of it; I'll Never tell; Innocence; Loyal love; Purity; Simplicity; Simplify; Strength; You have as many virtues as this daisy has petals. POSSIBLE POWERS: Divination; Divination for love; Heightened awareness; Inner strength; Love; Lust. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Bellis perennis is a sentimental and much loved flower among lovers, poets and children. ~ It was once believed that if a Bellis perennis chain were wrapped around a child, the flower chain would protect the child from being stolen by fairies. ~ If you sleep with a Bellis perennis root under your pillow your lost lover may return. ~ Wear a Bellis perennis flower to bring you love. ~ It was once believed that whoever it is that picks the very first Bellis perennis flower of the season will be uncontrollably flirtatious. #249 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Christ's second coming; Fortune in love; Good luck; Happiness and purity of heart; Humility; Joy; Purity of heart; Return of happiness; Returning happiness; Sociability; Sweet; Sweetness; Tears of The Virgin Mary; Trustworthy; Unconscious sweetness; You've made my life complete. POSSIBLE POWERS: Happiness; Healing; Making the right choice; Mental clarity; Mental powers; Power of people to visualize a better world. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Put Convallaria majalis in a room to uplift and cheer all the people in it. #266 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Duality; Chastity; Contradictions; Hope; Male energy; Union of opposites; Spring. POSSIBLE POWERS: Chastity; Continuity; Death; Fertility; Fishing Magic; Happiness; Hope. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea went to Britain to carry the message of Christ there. At one point, he pushed his staff in the ground to sleep nearby. When he awoke he discovered the staff had taken root, grew, and blossomed into a Crategus Tree. It is said that he left the staff there, undisturbed and that it flowered every Christmas and again every spring. Cuttings had since been taken of it, and one of those cuttings were planted near Glastonbury Abbey, and grows there still today as the Glastonbury Thorn. A branch of this particular tree is annually displayed at Christmastime at Buckingham Palace in London, England. ~ The Romans attached Crategus leaves to baby cradles to repel evil spirits. ~ In Medieval Europe if Crategus branches were brought inside it was an omen of illness and death for one member of the household. ~ Crategus is considered one of a witch's favorite plants. In the spring on Walpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht), when witches supposedly turn themselves into Crataegus Trees, the Crategus is to be avoided. ~ Because of it's correspondence with fertility, Crategus has been added into spring wedding flowers. ~ Put Crategus under a mattress and around a bedroom to maintain or even enforce chastity. ~ Tuck a Crategus leaf into your hat to promote a good catch when fishing. ~ Wear a spring of Crategus if troubled, sad, or depressed to help return you to a state of happiness. ~ Sprigs or leaves of Crategusplace around the home will protect it against lightning and storm damaged. ~ Sprigs or leaves of Crategus place around the home will protect it evil, and malicious ghosts. ~ Crategus is sacred to fairies. ~ It is believed that one will be able to see fairies where these three trees grow together: Crategus, Quercus, and Fraxinus excelsior. #757 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Balance; Beauty; Carrier of secrets and understanding; Divination; Equilibrium; Healing; Hope and passion; Love; Luck; Magic; Messenger of love; Passion; Perfection; Protection; Psychic powers; Strength through silence; Ultimate beauty. POSSIBLE POWERS: Beauty; Divination; Healing; Love; Peace; Protection; Psychic powers; Purification. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: In 1840 there was a Rosa collection of over one thousand different cultivars, varieties and species planted at a Victorian arboretum and non-denominational cemetary in England called Abney Park Cemetary, which operated from 1840 to around 1978 and is now a public park. ~ In Roman times a wild Rosa would be put on the door of a room where confidential matters were being discussed. Hence, the term sub rosa which meant “under the rose” meant, and still means, to keep a secret. ~ Plant Rosa in the garden to attract fairies to it. ~ Scatter Rosa petals around the home to alleviate stress and household problems that have surfaced and are upsetting. SPECIFIC COLOR MEANING: Black — Beauty; Death; Farewell; Hatred; Impending Death; Rebirth; Rejuvenation. Blue — Attaining the impossible; Mystery. Blush — If you love me you will discover it; If you love me you will find me out. Bridal — Bliss; Happiness; Happy Love. Burgundy — Implicitly; Unconscious beauty. Coral — Desire; Enthusiasm; Happiness; Passion. Dark crimson — Mourning. Dark Pink — Thank You. Deep Red — Bashful; Mourning. Dried white — Death before loss of innocence. Green — Masculine energy. Lavender — Enchantment; Love at first sight; Magic. Light Pink — Admiration. Orange — Desire; Enthusiasm; Fascination; Passion; Pride; Wonder; Pale — Friendship. Peach — Appreciation; Closing of the deal; Gratitude; Immortality; Let’s Get Together; Modesty; Sincerity. Pink — Confidence; Desire; Elegance; Energy; Everlasting joy; Gentility; Grace; Grace and sweetness; Gratitude; Happiness; Indecision; Joy; Joy of life; Love; Passion; Perfect happiness; Perfection; Please believe Me; Romance; Romantic love; Secret love; Sweetness; Thankfulness; Thank you; Trust; You’re So Love; Youth. Red — Beauty; Congratulations; Courage; Desire; Healing; I Love You; Job Well Done; Love; Passion; Protection; Respect; Well done. Striped or Variegated — Warmth of heart; Immediate affection; Love at first sight. Unique color — Uniquely beautiful. Violet — Admiration; Deepest love; Enchantment; Love at first sight; Magic; Majestic; Opulent; Special. White — Charm; Eternal love; Exorcism; Heavenly; Humility; I am worthy of you; Innocence; I would be single; Purity; Reverence; Secrecy; Silence; Virtue; Wistfulness; Worthiness; You’re Heavenly; Youthfulness. Yellow — Apology; Caring; Dying Love; Friendship; Infidelity; Gladness; Jealousy; Joy; Love; Platonic Love; Remember Me; Welcome; Welcome back. Pink and White together — I Love You Still And I Always Will. Red and White together — Together; Unity. Full bloom single stem any color — I Love You; Simplicity. Yellow single and eleven Red — Love and Passion. Orange and Yellow together — Passionate Thoughts. Red and Yellow together — Congratulations; Excitement; Happiness. #533 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Affection; Bonds of love; Devoted affection; Devoted love; Domestic happiness; Inconstancy; I will not answer hastily; Generous affection; Generous and devoted affection; Lasting pleasure; Permanence and steadfastness; Permanence; Steadfastness. POSSIBLE POWERS: Fidelity; Generosity; Happiness; Money; Protection; Psychic powers; Spirit vision. #248 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Levity; Lightness; Open Heart; Swiftness. POSSIBLE POWERS: Fend off ghosts; Fend off scorpions; Fend off venomous creatures; Health; Protection. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Consolida is believed to keep ghosts away. SPECIFIC COLOR MEANING: Pink — Fickleness; Lightness. Purple — Haughtiness. #608 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Eloquence; Harmony; Modesty; Purity; Purity of heart; Soothing. #295 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Ability to transcend the bounds of space and time; Airy; An open heart; Ardent attachment; Big-Hearted; Fickleness; Fun; Heavenly; Hilarity; Levity; Lightness. POSSIBLE POWERS: Lightness; Swiftness; Drive away scorpions. #397 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Flower of the gladiators; Generosity; Give me a break; I'm sincere; Infatuation;Integrity; Love at first sight; Moral integrity; Ready armed; Remembrance; Strength; Strong character; Strength Of Character; Vibrancy; You pierce my heart. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Gladiolus grew wild in the Holy Land and along the coast of Africa so abundantly that they are thought to be the actual "Lilies of The Field" that Jesus spoke of in his Sermon On The Mount. #636 in Floriogray Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Dreaminess; Eternal sleep; Fantastic extravagance; Imagination; Oblivion. POSSIBLE POWERS: Fertility; Fruitfulness; Invisibility; Love; Luck; Magic; Money; Sleep. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: At one time Papaver orientale seed pods were gilded and worn to attract wealth. ~ An interesting divination that could be used to answer a perplexing question is to write the question on a piece of paper using blue ink then folding it up and tucking it within Papaver orientaleseed pod. Put the pod under your pillow before sleeping to facilitate a dream that will answer the question. SPECIFIC COLOR MEANING: Red — Pleasure. White — Consolation; Dreams; Peace. #105 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Daintiness; Love; Modesty; Orderly. #587 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Clinging to the past; Do not forget me; Faithful Love; Faithfulness; Forget me not; Humility; Links to the past; Memories; Remembering; Remembrances; True Love. POSSIBLE POWERS: Healing; Secrecy. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Myosotis is a symbol of the human desire for loyalty. ~ Myosotis is also a symbol that signals shared secrets. #461 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Affection; Attachment; Bonds; Coquetry; Death; Death and rebirth; Deference; Embrace; Glorious beauty; Humility; I attach myself to you; Love in vain; Night; Obstinacy; Repose; She loves you; Spontaneity; Uncertainty; Willful promises. POSSIBLE POWERS: Happiness; Peace. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Blue Ipomoea will bring peacefulness and happiness if grown in the garden. ~ Ipomoea seeds under the pillow will supposedly stop all nightmares. SPECIFIC COLOR MEANING: Pink — Worth sustained by judicious and tender affection. #147 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Affection; Constructive loss; Cruelty; Despair; Fidelity; Grace; Grief; Health; Jealousy; Joy; Longevity; Pain; Sacred affection; Trouble. POSSIBLE POWERS: Amorousness; Dream magic; Evil thoughts; Helps with Seeing Fairies; Legal matters; Prediction; Protection; Prophetic dreams; Psychic powers; Rebirth; Sleep. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Carry Calendula officinalis petals with Laurus nobilis leaf to quiet gossip being passed around about you. ~ Calendula officinalis flower heads follow the sun like sunflowers do. ~ Early Christians would place Calendula officinalis flowers by statues of The Virgin Mary. ~ Calendula officinalis is considered to be one of the most sacred herbs of ancient India, the flower heads were commonly strung into garlands and used in temples and at weddings. #209 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Abundance; Abundance and Wealth; Abundance and loveliness; A heart left to desolation; Cheerfulness; Cheerfulness and rest; Cheerfulness in adversity; Fidelity; Happiness; Loveliness; Optimism; Promotes mental health; Wealth; You're a wonderful friend. POSSIBLE POWERS: Protection. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Chinese Feng Shui suggests that Chrysanthemum will bring happiness into the home. ~ During the years of Imperial Reign in China, common people were not permitted to grow Chrysanthemum, only Nobility had that privilege. ~ Chrysanthemum is a sacred flower in Asia. ~ In Malta and in Italy it is considered to be unlucky to have Chrysanthemum in the house. SPECIFIC COLOR MEANING: Red — I Love; I Love You; Love; Slighted Love. Rose — In Love. White — Truth. Yellow — Imperial; Scorned in love; Slighted love; Imperial; Scorned in love; Slighted love. #348 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Be of Good Cheer; Good cheer; Merriment. #455 in Floriography Today SYMBOLIC MEANINGS: Am I forgotten; Courage; Defense; Difficult victory attained; Domestic happiness; Dreams; Enchantment; Forecast; Foresight; Good cheer; Good luck; Goodwill; Looking; Man’s symbol; Protection; Questioning; Subconscious; The symbol of a human being; The symbol of Man; Vigilance; Wisdom. POSSIBLE POWERS: Anti-Lightning; Attracts and repels energies; Dream Magic; Immortality; Luck; Protection; Protection against harm in dreams; Protection against witchcraft; Protection against The Evil Eye. FOLKLORE AND FACTS: Ilex aquifolium is sometimes carried by men to bring luck. ~ The ancient Druids once believe that Ilex aquifolium kept the earth beautiful during the time that Quercus (Oak) trees had no leaves. During that period, the Druids wore Ilex aquifolium in their hair when it was time to watch their priests cut the Viscum album (Mistletoe), which was sacred to them. ~ In Medieval Europe, Ilex aquifolium was planted near homes to protect them from lightning and to bring good fortune. ~ In England it was thought that a sprig of Ilex aquifolium on a bedpost would bring about sweet dreams. ~ In Wales it was thought that if Ilex aquifolium were brought into the home before it was Christmastime that it would instigate family arguments. ~ It was also believed that if Ilex aquifolium was left to decorate past Twelfth Night that a misfortune would occur numbering for each of the Ilex aquifolium leaves and branches remaining within the house. ~ It is thought that bringing Ilex aquifolium into the home of a friend would cause death. ~ Another belief is that if a piece of Ilex aquifolium is kept that was used in a church for a Christmas decoration it will bring about good fortune throughout the year. ~ If Ilex aquifolium is picked on Christmas Day it will be very good protection against evil spirits and witches. ~ One divination that can be used is to place tiny candles on Ilex aquifolium leaves and float them on water. If the Ilex aquifolium leaves stay afloat, an endeavor that the seeker has in mind will prosper. However, if any of the leaves sink to extinguish a candle, it is a sign that it is best to not do it. ~ It is believed that throwing Ilex aquifolium at wild animals will make them leave you alone even if they are not actually touched by any part of the plant. ~ A weather divination that was once frequently taken very seriously is that if the Ilex aquifolium bush had an over abundance of berries that it was a sign that winter would be harsh. ~ The Druids believed that it was an important safety measure to bring Ilex aquifolium into their dwellings in the winter to give shelter the elves and fairies who would house with humans to escape the bitter cold. Copyright © 2000 Fayshoneshire / Suzanne Dietz - All Rights Reserved.

Latest Roleplays I come from the games. Through organizations, BOTS and Bosses, to this place. High Octane. My format: Wrestler. To game and to shame. To shame my new-found enemy. His hopes and dreams. To shame him from… BEING A GIANT DICKFACE. “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, the High Flyer theme song They say Big Boss lives outside the games and inputs fights for pleasure. No one knows for sure… but I intend to find out. ReBoot! I recognize the above reference may be lost on you. If it is, damn, you missed out hard. But if you DO know, we need to be friends and fast. I’ve got some openings too after I waste my false hero. Hit me up. I’m a good time. Don’t worry. Any further references everyone should understand. Let’s get to it… —~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~… Can I ask you something? Was wanting to emulate my hero such a bad idea? We all have someone we look up to. You can’t tell me otherwise. Even the most heinous of Bosses in HOW had someone they would have considered a mentor or idol at one point in time. Hell, two of them are currently bitching back and forth about this in the finals of the Street Fighter tournament, check it out. For me, anyway, my role model was Jack Harmen aka High Flyer. And then (apparently) he hated me for looking up to him. Well, Jack, Imma do you one better. In two weeks I won’t emulate you anymore. I will literally replace you. How’s THAT for a reboot? They’ve rebooted the Spiderman franchise thrice. Batman, numerous times. Technically Hulk twice while keeping it in the same cinematic universe. (Ya, I don’t know how that works, either.) I could go on and on but these reboots don’t star the same lead. Someone else is Spiderman. Someone else is Batman ( George Clooney). It’s the same character but a different spirit. It’s true for video games, as well. They’ve rebooted Tomb Raider three times and they’re working on a fourth installment. Maybe you can’t “star” in a video game but you can certainly lose your license. Ask Core Design, after they made that God-forsaken 6th Tomb Raider game, Angel of Darkness, they never got a chance to make another. Punt me in the head a few times and feed me to a Mega Boss, Jack, I promise you, you’ll NEVER have a chance to do that again. Because at March to Glory I don’t just REBOOT you. I don’t just kill you. I take your place. —~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~… Starbucks in NYC March 2nd, 2021 12:10 Okay, first off… I have no clue as to why I’ve been craving Starbucks recently. It’s pretty average and overpriced. But last time I checked it’s not Conor Fuse vs. Starbucks Ownership at March to Glory, so deal with the fact I’m in one of these… again. We’ll be going to other locations, too. So chill, dear gamer, chill. One obvious difference is I’m not on the phone with my mother. No, instead I’m waiting for someone else to join me. Looking down at my watch, they’re more than ten minutes late. They’re always late. After all, this is what it’s like… To have an older brother. I have two but the person I’m meeting is the closest in age. He and I used to co-op the wrestling scene together before we went our separate ways. You wouldn’t know him in the High Octane system but that’s why I’m introducing him now. It’ll be brief. He’s not really a talker. He’s methodical, stoic and angry. Christ, what the hell am I doing in HOW? It should be him who’s in my place. “Took you long enough,” I start as I glance down at my watch and my brother, Tyler, sits across from me. “I hate people,” He snaps back, “so I walked. Avoiding public transit ensures I don’t bust someone open along the way.” “Mom says hi.” “That’s nice.” Honestly, the conversation would probably stop here if I didn’t decide to continue it. “Listen, yadda yadda yadda, thanks for coming. I really need your input on stuff.” You’ve probably got a lot of questions about my brother. Does he game? Is he as cool as I am? Well, first off, as you can see he kinda looks like me… just with dark brown hair, he’s a few inches shorter and a few pounds heavier but not much. As far as gaming and things like that… well, I guess? He kinda gave that lifestyle up a while ago. As mentioned, he’s an angry dude. I’m lucky he likes me. Think of a sociopathic bully. Regardless, I’m about to go into a long-winded rant but Tyler cuts me off. “I thought about what you said on the phone to me the other day…” He begins. “This whole ‘Reboot High Flyer’ thing. It’s not bad.” I have to cut in. “I know, right? Did you hear his passionate speech after he kicked my ass last week? That might have been the best speech he’s given in some time and I brought it out of him! You can see he cares! He’s really into this! And then, come MSG… I take it ALL away! I leave him alone, dying in the center of the ring. I Mortal Kombat rip his heart out. Not because he cares about me but because if he loses to me, it’s over. He’s done, finished, finito. Totally, totally-” Tyler cuts me off by raising his hand. “I get that,” he starts, “and I really like this reboot thing you’ve got going on. I’m merely wondering how it fits.” Fits? FITS!? Whoa, clearly I’m the angry one. “Well, that’s the thing big bro, as you saw from Re-FUSED, I’m already in the process of rebooting him. He had such passion… such gusto! But the trick is, -and get this because it’s ultra twisted so I bet you’re game for it,- he never fully reboots because I Mortal Kombat rip his heart out-” “You already said that.” Tyler pinches his nose. “You need to focus. You’re always trailing off with a distant thought here, a distant thought there. It’s like you’re a lunatic sometimes.” “A… Lunatic?” I inquire. “Oooooohhhh. You may be onto something.” Tyler rolls his eyes at me. “Listen,” he clears his throat, “I’m going somewhere with this. I know you’re all over the place at times. It’s like you have ADHD or something…” “What’s that? A power-up-” Tyler gives me a look. I figuratively zip my mouth closed and throw away the key with a three point shot at the nearest garbage can. Swoosh. “I know you enjoy your definitions and it’s important for me to write things down for you.” Tyler pulls out a handful of folded notes from his pocket. He slides the first one over. LUNATIC [ loo-nuh-tik ] noun (no longer in technical use; now considered offensive) an insane person. -a person whose actions and manners are marked by extreme eccentricity or recklessness. -a person legally declared to be of unsound mind and who, therefore, is not held capable or responsible before the law: a former legal term. Example. Joe Hoffman: The Lunatic is going to the top rope! “No longer in technical use, eh?” I rhetorically ask him. Tyler replies anyway. “That’s correct.” “Now considered offensive?” I rhetorically state once again. “That’s correct.” “And yet, High Flyer still goes by this moniker?” “That’s correct.” “So, he’s gotta be really insane to do that. Or maybe have low self-esteem…” Tyler hears me trailing off so he points me in the right direction. “Here’s the way I see it, okay? You’re not quote-unquote ‘a lunatic’ and neither is he but you are both… colourful at times and you can take a tiny little element, blowing it up into something much, much bigger.” Tyler looks around the Starbucks location. “I’ll start you off on straws. What do you prefer? Bendy straws or straight straws?” It doesn’t take long for me to think before I open my mouth and start blurting stuff out. “Well, that all depends. You see, if I’m having a hot chocolate, I might as well go with a bendy straw because it really doesn’t matter at that point in time. I’m not drinking a coffee. I’m a 28-year-old man with a hot chocolate, a bendy straw isn’t going to do any further damage to my reput-” “Okay, okay. Christ Almighty.” I can see Tyler’s fed up with me. “Do you see my point?” Shit, I do. “Shit, I do.” “Good,” Tyler begins, “so we’re onto something. Let me cut to the chase, because I don’t want to overstay my welcome. What I’m trying to tell you, Conor, is maybe you are rebooting High Flyer and maybe you’re not. Yeah, that was a passionate beat-up inside the ring. It left you reeling and he made a great statement. Perhaps, you’re igniting a fire and then you crush his dreams at March for Glory-” “To Glory, Tyler. To.” “Whatever, I don’t work there. I’m saying you can do more with it. You can reboot the guy… by becoming him. Hell, you’re basically him already. A better version, though.” This is why I asked my bro to visit. He’s always got a mischievous direction. “Conor likes this.” I say, using myself in a cool third-person perspective. I take a few minutes to think. Most of it is coming together rather well… “I have a few questions, Ty.” I state. “So I reboot High Flyer by taking his spot. I’m with you there. My only concern is, and it’s a rather big concern, I’m not him. Yes, there are similarities but we are two different people.” Tyler nods, as if he knew I was going to say that. “What did you tell me Jatt Starr did before he faced you at Rumble at the Rock?” Tyler asks. First off, I’m honoured big bro’s been watching for so long. Secondly, I really had to think about this. It’s been a while. “I overheard him telling that Sektor guy he locked himself in a bunker and played video games for, um, two weeks. He needed to be in my head and understand me in order to beat me.” Tyler nods again. “Well, there ya go bud.” “You’re losing me.” “Act more like Jack. Become The Lunatic. Embody him over these next two weeks. Go a little… on edge. You’re already halfway there. Be fun and playful with someone and then snap on a dime. In all likelihood, dude, High Flyer probably meant what he said when he gave you that pep talk. Then maybe you shrugged your shoulders too much or nodded your head too frantically and seven days later he changed his mind and destroyed you because of it. I don’t know. That’s the beautiful thing, no one knows. Lean into that. Go a little wild. And then…” “Ya?” “Nothing will hurt him more than you ending his ‘life’ in MSG and rebooting him… by taking his place entirely.” Tyler sure has been talking a lot. Trust me, he’s not normally like this. “Ultimately, you want to make him pay for breaking your heart. You loved the guy since you were seven. Then you decided to toy with him on this whole rebooting thing… and now, Conor, I say you do it all. You break his heart by beating him. You reboot him by taking his place. And then… you look up to yourself.” My wheels are turning. “A spiritual successor to my hero. I dig.” Tyler slides the rest of his papers across the table. “Here are his moves. I know you do the whole scouting report/cheat code thing so you’ve probably got this but take a look. Every move… you can do easily.” “Oh, I’m taking the corkscrew suplex. ‘Very happy kicking’? I’ve done that for years! Double underhook brainbuster, simple. Frog splash, yes, although I’d have to wear a frog suit while doing it. You’re right, so many of these moves are in my arsenal already. Either consciously or subconsciously, I’ve been emulating High Flyer my whole life!” Tyler’s had enough of… well, anyone. “My work here is done. Good luck next week.” But before he rises from his chair, I stop him. We’re not typically for pleasantries, so there won’t be a thank you right now. “Can I change the nickname, though?” I can see Tyler’s confused. “The Lunatic is nifty neato stuff… but what about the LOONatic. Kinda Looney Tunes and shit. Jack’s more vile and mean than I could ever be.” Tyler shrugs it off. “Whatever you want, man. Just focus on your attitude. Dive into his headspace. It’ll suit you well for the battle. It’s clear he’s bringing that side of him… so you best bring yours.” And Tyler walks away. … … … Hotel Reception – NYC March 2nd, 2021 16:00 4:00pm check-in time. To be honest, I was a little early. The clerk at the counter is a kid and he’s struggling through signing me in on a laptop. “Name, sir?” Wow, it’s really weird to hear someone call me ‘sir’. “Yes, it’s Harmen. Conor Harmen…” The kid types the name into the computer but I can see he’s not getting results. “Oh, maybe I’m written down as the Advanced High Flyer. The Rebooted Jack? The New Neighbourhood Lunatic… oops, sorry, I mean Loonatic. Although what am I saying? You’re probably not hearing a difference between those two names right now HA HA am I right? Am I right? All aboard!” I stop talking. The kid has stopped typing. He’s merely looking at me. “Uh, sir, there’s no one in this database under those names.” “Conor Fuse then.” I sigh. Forgot. I booked this shit way before I had the master plan to kill, reboot, take over. I see the kid has found my name. He programs a room key for me. I can tell he’s about to give me a rundown of the amenities. Yawn. Boring. Let’s do something out-of-character. The second he walks over I grin and raise an eyebrow. “You wanna…” I look around to my left, right, ceiling, floor… “do some fun shit?” “Uh, I don’t do drugs.” I give my head a shake. “No. No, I don’t, either. Let’s do something off the charts! I want to, you want to, it’ll be so fetch!” “Uhhh…” “I can talk about whatever, MAN. You wanna go shoot some MF ducks with a gun? And no, I’m not talking about a Nintendo gun I’m talking real ducks!? I got outer space penguins too but they aren’t from outer SPACE… they’re from Outer Heaven! Ahaha, that’s a nice little Metal Gear Solid joke if you know those games. Let’s get reckless and cray!” I grab the dude by the collar and look down at his name. “Dennis. Dennis the Menace! It’s perfect! What the hell are the odds that’s your name! I’m bloody BELLIGERENT ATM, man! We can hang out, shoot some ducks, talk about aLiEnS and then I can punt you in the head directly after because I DIDN’T WANNA HANG OUT WITH YOU ANYMORE!” I can see this kid is growing scared. Good. “Uh… sir,” the boy starts. “My name isn’t Dennis.” I look down at his name tag. Lol, he’s right. It reads ‘Eric’. I give a big huff, let go of his collar and tussle the kid’s hair. “Of course it isn’t. I knew that.” I say with a wink. “Listen, how was my craziness, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most loopy? I’m really going for this whole uNsTaBlE vibe here.” The kid looks to be in deep thought. I actually appreciate him reflecting on this. “Maybe a five?” “A five!?” I snatch the kid by the collar for a second time, speaking directly into his ear as I bug my eyes out. “That’s all I’m good for… a FIVE?” “Well, yeah. I didn’t get the sense you were actually going to hurt me.” He replies. “What about now?” “Uhhh… I’m a little uncomfortable but I still think you’re harmless.” I let go. If I’m ‘harmless’ then give me a one or a two. But who am I to judge the kid’s rating system. Maybe that’s what instability is. I think I’m an eight but someone else thinks I’m a five? I don’t know. This whole Loonatic thing wasn’t going to come easy. But it’s a start. … … … Hotel – Elevator March 2nd, 2021 16:15 “Hold please!” I arrive at the end of a hall and in front of an elevator. There are a few suited men already inside, probably corporate. I slip through the doors before they close. What floor am I on again? Ohhhh, floor 18. However, feeling unpredictable… I hit the button to every floor. “Hey man, what the hell!?” “Going up?” I giggle, ignoring the comments. “I am. Well, that is if I beat my hero in two weeks time.” The elevator doors close and this interaction gives me déjà vu for some reason. It’s almost as if I recently interacted with corporate people the same way… on a Re-FUSED or something. Eh, whatever, I continue speaking. “Nevertheless, if I lose, I could be going down. Either way I gotta get into the ZONE if ya hear me.” I spin around and stare at the two men behind me. Suddenly, they don’t look so mad. Rather… concerned, for their safety? I most certainly hope so. “You see, I’d like to play a game. Oh no, not Jigsaw/Saw/murder type stuff. I want to play a real game, like a video game. Yet, if I invited you guys over to play with me, we’d become friends and YOU’D STAB ME IN THE BACK AFTER ‘CAUSE IT’S A SUPER COOL THING TO DO.” The lift doors are opening, one floor at a time but the suits don’t dare say a word. I slowly walk up to both men and sniff them. I grab the one I deem the weakest by the collar. I’m better at this already. “How would you feel if you worked so hard to get somewhere and it’s taken away from you!? And no, I don’t mean the Street Fighter tournament! I mean joining the company your hero works at and then he’s all NO. OUTTA MY WAY OR I’LL BUST YOUR SKULL OPEN IN THE PROCESS.” The man murmurs. “What’s that? I can’t hear you in my old age!” He still doesn’t say much. I don’t know what floor we’re on yet but the doors keep opening. “Don’t worry,” I tussle the man’s hair, “I’m beginning to find those answers and come Madison Square Garden, I will make sure he pays… with his life HA HA HA HA!” The doors open behind me again. I think a couple was trying to come on board, perhaps on their way to the spa-level suite for a nice little romantic time in their NYC getaway. I turn around and HISSSSS at them. They jump back and don’t enter as the elevator doors do their thing. I look at the two men in suits with a smile. “I’m learning! Now, you’re both going to tell me… what would you do in my situation…” Silence. “I said what would you do!?” More silence… until the man who’s collar I don’t have pipes up. “I’m sorry- what is your situation?” I roll my eyes and change my tone of voice. “My hero kicked my ass. He broke me. Now, if you were me… what would you do. Your options are a.) kill him, b.) reboot him and THEN kill him or c.) reboot him, kill him and take his place!” The second man is about to answer as I slowly let go of the first man’s collar. However, I catch the floor level out of the corner of my eyes. Floor 18. The doors open. “Well, that’s me! Good day to you BOTS. I hope you have an amazing time in New York City. Stay off the subway… there’s so many messed up people on them.” Off I go to my hotel room. Shit, that was fun. … … … Times Square – NYC March 2nd, 2021 18:00 I’m standing in the middle of everything. So many people. So many bright lights. So many… weirdos. I’m not sure I’ll stand out here, to be honest. There’s some dudes on rollerskates wearing pink skirts handing out pamphlets for a new off-off-off Broadway show that’s surely to fail. There’s a guy dressed as Spiderman but he’s definitely overweight. Jesus, is that Bobby Dean? Definitely a few hookers “undercover” to my left. It’s early, give it time and there will be more. To think I once lived here for a year. However, if you’re an NYC resident, you don’t come to these parts often. Why is Elmo covered in shit? But there… the biggest shock yet. Mario and Luigi. And Luigi takes off his head. “Oh hell no. Not on my watch.” I march over to the “Luigi” and punt his head across the street. The man looks super pissed at me until I start screaming. “What the hell are you doing, goomba!? You don’t deserve this costume!” HR Sutler of Catan would be all over this nonsense. Violations everywhere! Putting my hands on my hips and trying to take a deep breath, I walk away and realize this is no place for me to be a Loonatic. That was an actual outburst. I’d have done it if I wasn’t channeling Jack. No, this place won’t do. I’ve gotta go somewhere else. Somewhere no one would really want to be. … … … NY Rangers game – MSG March 2nd, 2021 20:00 Ya, hi Scotty. I bet you probably creamed yourself at the thought of this hockey game. Honestly, you’re probably in the arena watching right now, too. We could’ve gotten tickets together. I’ll hit you up next time. I have no real interest in this game, or this team. It’s irrelevant. This is simply a way for me to interact with others a little more, continuing to hammer home how I’m the new High Flyer of High Octane. Also, a way for me to understand this building and what it’ll bring on March 13th. Best Castle be damned ATM. I turn to the family beside me. “Wild game, huh!?” I start to the father. It’s a nuclear family, two kids in the middle and the mother on the far end. “As if Messier made that guarantee and came through on it.” The dad looks at me with this glance as if saying “that was 30-years-old dude” but he’s not mean enough to say it. “Uh ya, boys are playing well recently.” I laugh. “Yeah, boys. Go get ‘em.” Quick change of topic. “Hey, listen, can you switch seats with your son? I’d love to talk to him- NO, NO that came out wrong! Just want the insight of a kid… you know, how he would feel IF HIS HERO BEAT THE SHIT OUTTA HIM.” The father smiles uncomfortably. “Ya, Messier really followed through with his promise.” He says and his head slowly turns away. Ah well… I should have waited for the Knicks to play. That would’ve put me in the most eccentric of mindsets. Might’ve brought out a more experimental crowd, too. Team is a trainwreck. I wonder if a paralyzed Scott Stevens could beat them. … … … Hotel Room – Laying in bed March 3rd, 2021 00:00 It wasn’t the worst Day #1 as the newly rebooted Jack Harmen. Don’t worry, I’ll let you in on a secret… When I end Jack, I’m not going to be acting like this 24/7. I’m going extreme here. Gotta think and act like him for ten more days. Because we have lots of similarities, I thought it would be easy. Knock, knock. Seriously, at this hour? Alright, I’m up, making sure my Thomas the Tank Engine PJs are on straight as I scamper over to the door. I don’t look through the peephole. I doubt Harmen would so why would I? Let’s see what kinda insane stuff happens because I don’t. Door opens. “Dennis” stands in front of me. “Hey, sir…” he starts, itching his ear and twitching in the process, “figured if you have some time…” He holds up a ziplock bag with green looking clumps inside. “I didn’t know if you wanted to blaze with me or not.” He says. My eyes dart from side-to-side. “Ummm, sure, ya. I blaze all the time. C’mon in. The night is young.” Honestly, it’s blurry after this. I’m sure my memory will jog and I’ll find more stories for you later. Let the mindset of High Flyer truly commence. —~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~…—~~~~~… March to Glory, the High Flyer REBOOT is finalized. But the focus isn’t on you anymore. It’s on me, Conor Fuse. The Vintage. The Gamer. The Loonatic? High Octane’s ultimate high flyer. When I replace you, I’ll accomplish more with your skill set than you could have ever dreamt. The Yakuza Kick? Mine now. Your goofy zany attitude? I do it better. That switch you can flip from being evil and mean to fun and delightful? Haha, man, that’s so Vintage! I am already Jack Harmen, just with a hip-hopping cool video game twist and a bad-ass, don’t-press-the-buttons-on-my-controller kinda vibe. And March 13th I become the new and improved High Flyer. For good. All aboard the crazy train? TOOT TOOT, I’m the conductor, bitch.

BYLAWS OF HUMANIST SOCIETY OF GREATER PHOENIX, INC. A CHARTERED CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION Revised September, 2020; Revisions Ratified by Membership November, 2020 ARTICLE I. NAME The name and title of this organization shall be HUMANIST SOCIETY OF GREATER PHOENIX, Inc. (HSGP), a Chartered Chapter of the American Humanist Association (AHA). ARTICLE II. PURPOSE The purpose of HSGP is to promote humanistic ideals based on ethics, rationalism, and human concerns. ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP Any person who is in general accord with the above stated purpose may become a member of HSGP by applying for membership and submitting payment of monthly, annual or lifetime dues. Dues may be gifted by another member or waived through a simple majority vote of the HSGP board. Paid, gifted, or waived members shall be referred to as “MEMBERS”. Members will be included in an official membership directory. Participation in HSGP social media does not constitute membership in HSGP. ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 1 Powers and Duties of the Board. The Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix, Inc. shall be governed by its membership and Board of Directors (“Board”, “Officers”) elected from the membership of HSGP. The Board shall manage the business, property and affairs of the organization, and may exercise and delegate any and all of the powers of the organization as it sees fit, subject only to restrictions imposed by statute, the organization’s Articles of Incorporation, and these Bylaws. The Board shall establish administrative policies; authorize operational goals and objectives; emphasize overall organizational planning; authorize agreements and contracts; adopt the budget; approve committee appointments; provide for the maintenance of property; employ, direct and discharge executive personnel; authorize meetings; review committee reports; and determine action to be taken. Officers shall actively participate in community outreach, gift solicitation, and event and fundraising campaign planning. The duties for the Board, the Officers and committees of HSGP shall be those customarily pertaining thereto or as prescribed in Robert’s Rules of Order (Current Revised Edition). Section 2 Number of Officers and Compensation. The Board shall have up to 9, but not fewer than 4 members. The members of the Board shall receive no compensation, however, any member of the Board may be reimbursed for documented expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Board shall have a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer at all times. Section 3 Term and Eligibility. Board members shall be elected to one (1) year terms. Directors may be renominated for service on the board following their term. To be eligible for the Board of Directors, an individual must be a member of HSGP as defined in Article III. Section 4 Quorum. A quorum will consist of a simple majority (51%) of the Board of Directors. A quorum of the Board of Directors must be present to conduct business. Section 5 Resignations, Termination, and Absences. Resignation from the board must be in writing and received by the President or the Secretary. Board members may be excused from attendance upon notification to the President prior to the scheduled meeting. Termination from the board requires a vote of two-thirds (⅔) majority of the membership of the Board of Directors as well as one (1) of the following conditions: Missing three Board meetings in a row; Disruptive or unethical behavior, as outlined in Article XIII. Sexual Harassment, or the HSGP Code of Conduct, toward the Board of Directors, HSGP as an organization, or member of HSGP; or Non-payment of dues within three (3) months of due date. Section 6 Vacancies. Vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors may be filled at any time by appointment of the President with approval of a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors, followed by a simple majority vote of the current members at the next general membership meeting. The appointment will be for the unexpired term of the position. Fulfillment of appointed partial terms shall not count toward a director’s term; appointed directors may serve additional full terms subject to term limitations addressed in Article III. ARTICLE V: OFFICERS Section 1 General. The Officers of HSGP shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Program Director, Property Director, Membership Director, Development Director, and Communications Director. Each Officer of HSGP shall be a member of the Board. Section 2 Election, Terms of Office, and Co-Officers. All officers shall be elected for a one (l) year term. No one person may hold more than one office at the same time. No more than two (2) individuals may serve as co-officers on the Board. As such, the following conditions shall be met: - The co-officers conduct a joint election campaign for said position. - Once elected, the co-officers may contribute to meetings and committees independently. - Shall be allowed one (1) vote as the co-officer, not as individuals, on the Board. Section 3 Resignation and Removal. Whenever, in the judgment of the Board, the best interests of the organization will be served, any officer may be removed from office in accordance with Article III, Section 5. Any officer may resign at any time in accordance with Article IV, Section 5. Section 4 Vacancies. Vacancies occurring on the Board may be filled at any time in accordance with Article IV, Section 3. Section 5 Creation or Removal of Board Positions. As necessary for the continued operation of HSGP, the Board may create or remove Officer positions by a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of the Board. Section 6 Duties and Responsibilities of Officers. The Officers shall possess such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined by the Board. The President of the Board shall: - Preside at all meetings of the Board and the Executive Committee; - Lead Sunday Speaker events; - Perform other duties customary to the Office of President, or as directed by the Board; and - Be allowed voting privileges in all board meetings The Vice President of the Board shall: - Perform such duties as the President and/or the Board of Directors may determine; and - In the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of the President. The Secretary shall: - Oversee notice and maintenance of the minutes of the meetings the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee; - Prepare the agenda of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee; - Review individual assignments for each board member at close of the meetings of the Board of Directors; - Keep voter records of any board votes conducted over email; and - Perform other duties customary to the Office of the Secretary, and as may be required by the Board of Directors or the President of the Board. The Treasurer shall: - Be the custodian of the funds of HSGP, however received, save and except for such funds as the Board of Directors may from time to time entrust to the care and use of designated paid employees of HSGP, to be used exclusively for the operation of HSGP; - Disburse the funds of HSGP as ordered by the Board of Directors; - Oversee day-to-day authority for managing the finances of HSGP; -. The Program Director shall: - Be responsible for researching, interviewing, recruiting, and facilitating Presenters for Sunday Speaker meetings and other HSGP hosted presentation events; - Collect biographical and contact information information from the Presenter; - Be the liaison between the Presenter and the Board of Directors for any terms of contract, payment, or donation on the behalf of said Presenter; - Manage a master calendar of events for HSGP; and - Facilitate planning and execution of annual HSGP events. The Property Director shall: - Be responsible for the following items on site at the Humanist Community Center (hereafter referred to as the “Property”) located in Mesa, Arizona, and/or any future physical facilities, including but not limited to: - Safety Inspections - Security Systems and Locks - Groundskeeping - HVAC - Pest Control - Cleaning and Sanitation - Visiting the Property at a regular interval to provide a visual inspection for damage or record other maintenance issues; - Performing basic maintenance and repairs on the Property as the need arises; and - Ensuring the continued working order and safety of the Property through regularly scheduled maintenance with outside service providers as the need arises. The Membership Director shall: - Maintain a database of current members; - Maintain a contact list of current members; - Assist in renewing memberships; and - Contact members about renewal. The Development Director shall: - Identify, in partnership with the Executive Director, potential donors to HSGP; - Contact potential donors through various communication channels; - Contact current donors through various communication channels; - Foster partnerships between businesses and HSGP; and - Plan, in partnership with the Program Director, events to raise funds for specific projects of HSGP, or to be donated toward the general fund. The Communications Director shall: - Post and update events to applicable forms of social media maintained by HSGP; - Post and update events to the website maintained by HSGP; - Respond to inquiries received through social media maintained by HSGP; - Compose and publish newsletters, by electronic and/or other means; - Maintain a historical record of events at HSGP; and - Design, update, and stock business cards, pamphlets, brochures, signage, apparel, and/or necessary business materials containing HSGP branding and messaging. Section 7 Immediate Past President. - The Immediate Past President of HSGP is defined as the individual who had held the office of President in the previous election year. The Immediate Past President shall: - Be allowed admission to closed meetings of the Board of directors, in an advisory capacity, for up to one (1) year after their term has ended; - Not be afforded voting privileges at any meeting of the Board of Directors; - Not be considered a member of the Board of Directors for any official business of HSGP; and - Not be considered a member of the Board of Directors for the purpose of achieving a quorum. ARTICLE VI: STANDING COMMITTEES Section 1 Communications Committee. The Communications Committee shall be headed by the Communications Director, with no limit to how many Members may serve on this committee. This committee is responsible for assisting the Communications Chair with social media and management of social outreach accounts and platforms. Section 2 IT Committee. The IT Committee may be headed by any Member of HSGP, inclusive of those on the Board with no limit to how many Members may serve on this committee. This committee is responsible for managing, maintaining, and submitting recommendations for the well being of all information technologies, software and hardware, for HSGP. Section 3 Member Support Team. The Member Support Team is to be headed by the Member Support Team Leader with no more than 15 Members on this committee. This committee is responsible for assisting members in need within the limitations of the Member Support Team’s resources and of the coverage of HSGP’s liability insurance. Section 4 Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall be headed by the Membership Director with no limit to how many Members may serve on this committee. This committee is responsible for assisting the Membership Chair and maintaining the membership database, monitoring memberships and informing Members when their membership will expire. Section 5 Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be headed by the Nominating Committee Leader and will consist of no more than three HSGP Members who are not currently serving on the Board, with the Volunteer Coordinator being the primary candidate as Nominating Committee Leader. Should the Volunteer Coordinator position be vacant or should the Volunteer Coordinator also be a current Board member, the opening for the Nomination Committee Leader shall be presented to Membership for a Member to volunteer to head the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for: - Searching for prospective candidates for vacant Board positions, - Obtaining applications and recommendations from two (2) HSGP members for applying nominees, - Presenting to the Board with applications no later than the last meeting in October. Section 6 Program Committee. The Program Committee shall be headed by the Program Director with no limit to how many Members may serve on this Committee. This committee is responsible for assisting the Program Director with their duties as well as seeking out speakers and venues for events, coordinating annual events, and coordinating with the Volunteer Committee to make programs and events successful and keep them within budget. Section 6 Treasurer’s Committee. The Treasurer’s Committee is to be headed by the Treasurer with no more than 5 Members total on this committee. This committee is responsible for assisting the Treasurer with their duties as well as collecting and counting monies at events, keeping count of the money, and issuing receipts for any financial transactions. Section 7 Volunteer Committee. The Volunteer Committee is to be headed by the Volunteer Coordinator with no limit to how many Members may serve on this Committee. This committee will work in unison with the Program Committee and will also have additional duties wherever they may be requested. Section 8 Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is to be headed by the President and shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. This committee shall operate as needed to manage the day-to-day affairs of the organization with such authority as the Board may deem necessary. ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS Membership meetings shall be scheduled at regular intervals no less than once per year. Membership meetings shall be open to the public. A quorum for the transaction of business at Membership meetings shall consist of ten percent of the total membership, to be counted by the President or Vice President and recorded by the Secretary. A quorum for the transaction of business at a Board meeting shall be a simple majority of voting board members. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or an HSGP policy, all meetings shall be conducted in accord with Robert’s Rules of Order (Current Revised Edition). Both membership and Board meetings may be conducted electronically. Board meetings shall be scheduled by the Board as necessary. An open board meeting is defined as any board meeting that may be attended by any Member. All Board meetings shall be open with the following exceptions. The following meetings shall be considered closed: - Employment or personnel matters for the employees of the Corporation; - Legal advice from an attorney for the Corporation; - Past, pending or contemplated litigation; - Past, pending or contemplated matters relating to enforcement of the Corporation’s documents or rules; - Pending or contemplated business pertaining to real estate and other large transactions in which secrecy is needed for effective negotiation. - Executive Sessions of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer The decision to close a Board meeting or a portion of an otherwise open Board meeting shall be at the discretion of the presiding officer, subject to appeal by any Board member to the majority of the Board. ARTICLE VIII: ELECTIONS The Board of Directors shall be elected by the members of HSGP in elections administered by the Secretary. Any non-incumbent candidate seeking election to the Board of Directors must first be nominated through either of the following processes: a simple majority vote of the Board of Directors, or by submitting character and qualification references from at least three HSGP members to the Secretary. All nominees shall have given prior consent to serve and pass a criminal background check prior to serving. All nominees shall have given their prior consent to serve and shall be subject to a criminal background check prior to serving. Said criminal background check shall not exclude a person from candidacy should prior criminal convictions be found, pending the unanimous approval of the President, Vice President, and Secretary. All records are to be destroyed upon decision & will be kept confidential. The Secretary shall provide ballots and generally officiate at the election. Applications are to be submitted to the Board no later than the first meeting in November. Voting shall take place no later than the last meeting in November. Each then-current member has one vote for each Board position that can be cast by a signed, mailed paper ballot received at least two days prior to the meeting, in person at the meeting, or electronically by such means as shall be necessary to secure the integrity of the vote and the secrecy of the ballot. A mailed paper ballot is not counted if the member is present at the meeting. Election shall be by vote of a majority of those voting for an office, with no voting by proxy. Officers for the ensuing year commencing January 1st shall be officially installed in December.. ARTICLE IX. FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND RECORDS Section 1 Designation of Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the 1st day of January and end on the 31st day of December of every year. Section 2 Financial Records. The current 990 Tax Filing with the IRS will be made available to any member upon request. Section 3 Storage of Records. The Treasurer and the Secretary shall both be responsible for maintaining copies of all financial records and all records of the minutes of all meetings. Meeting minutes will be provided to the Treasurer by the Secretary and financial records will be provided to the Secretary by the Treasurer. Storage may be via electronic media provided that both Treasurer and Secretary maintain separate copies on removable media. Section 4 Liability Insurance HSGP shall maintain Directors and Officers Liability Insurance in effect at all times Section 5 Disbursement of Funds. All disbursements from the treasury shall require the authorization of the Treasurer with the documented approval of the President or the Vice-President. Unbudgeted disbursements of more than $100 shall require the approval of the Board. ARTICLE X: ENDOWMENT FUNDS HSGP shall have an Endowment account, with the following conditions: Section 1 Account. The HSGP Endowment funds shall be maintained in an “HSGP Managed Endowment Account” (“HMEA”) such as a bank, investment account, mutual fund, or other investment instrument, or in a “Trust” account, such as a professionally managed trust service under contract for the benefit of HSGP, having operational responsibility for the investments, disbursements, and accounting and legal reports of the Endowment funds. Section 2 Separation of Funds. All HMEA funds must be fully segregated from the rest of the HSGP accounts and funds. The HSGP Board of Directors must establish an investment policy statement (IPS) and withdrawal policy. Changes to either policy must be approved by the HSGP Board of Directors. Section 3 Gifts. All gifts to HSGP of $5,000 or more which are not otherwise designated shall be added to the Endowment funds (HMEA or Trust), unless a three-fourths vote of the HSGP Board of Directors otherwise designates those gifts. Section 4 Earnings. Earnings from the HMEA funds are any amounts in excess of the total of donations contributed (the Principal). Earnings up to a maximum amount equal to five percent of the principal, may be used each year by HSGP as directed by the HSGP Board of Directors. Section 5 Principal. Use of any amount from the HMEA Principal should be only for emergency needs requiring a three-fourths vote approval of the HSGP Board of Directors (with each Board members’ name recorded, i.e., roll-call vote). (Additional disbursements from the Trust will be according to the Trust contract, which should include coordination with the Trust management oversight.) Section 6 Management. The HSGP Board of Directors shall establish a permanent Endowment Committee, including the Endowment Committee Director, and which has the following responsibilities: - continual oversight of the security and appropriateness of investment decisions of the Endowment funds, as directed by the board, and reporting at least twice a year to the Board on the status of the Endowment funds and Endowment fundraising efforts; and - ensuring potential donors are aware of the Endowment fund, coordinating with other HSGP fundraising efforts, and assuring appropriate help and guidance is provided to potential donors. ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION OF CORPORATION Should HSGP disband and unincorporate at some future date per the laws of the State of Arizona, all assets thereof shall be liquidated or donated in a manner to be determined by the Board. All proceeds and property shall be donated to the American Humanist Association and/or to one or more non-profit organizations that promote Secular Humanism. ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS These Bylaws or any portion thereof may be amended through proposal by a simple majority of the Board of Directors and subsequent ratification by the following process: - All members must be notified by the Secretary in writing of the proposed changes at least 15 days prior to the meeting at which the vote is to take place; to ensure members have the opportunity to review and comment on bylaw changes. - Amendments may be ratified by a two-thirds supermajority vote of a quorum of the Membership voting at a Membership meeting. - In the event that a quorum of the Membership could not be reached, amendments may be ratified by a two-thirds supermajority vote of a quorum of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE XIII: SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND CODE OF CONDUCT reporting to law enforcement.. Section 1. Section 2. Section 3 Bullying. HSGP does not tolerate abusive conduct, bullying or other intimidating or aggressive behavior among members. Section 4. Section 5. Section 6 Retaliation Prohibited..

On today’s episode of the Conspiracy Theories and Unpopular Culture podcast we catch up on the celebs and the Illuminati agenda! Whitney Houston can’t rest in peace, Kid Cudi is being put through the illuminati emasculation ritual, Khloe Kardashian wants aliens, Boris Johnson’s fiancee is doing Crowley porn, Prince Phillip had alien visitations in his bloodlines and Grimes tattooed alien sigils on her back! WOW! Links: - *LIMITED TIME OFFER to first 1,000 supporters (*GET A 10% OFF PROMO CODE FOR COFFEE MUGS AND SHIRTS): Use promo code “HOTGIRLSUMMER” to get 20% off the VIP Section for 3 months!: - Breaking Social Norms “WHO IS ALEISTER CROWLEY?” show- Part one is here: - “Whitney, Kid Cudi, Khloe, Boris Johnson’s Crowley Girl, Prince Phillip & Grimes: TMZ ILLUMINATE!” Grimes is new ink is hard to miss. The singer shares a photo to Instagram featuring a look at her new whitening tattoo design that covers nearly her entire back. The design features a web of tangled lines and was done by tattoo artists tweet with some help from the alien computer brain of newsy Kara. Grab captions her posts don’t have a good pic because it hurts too much and I need to sleep haha and it’ll be red for a few weeks, but gonna be beautiful aliens covers She ends her post writing hope everyone’s having a good day. Greg’s famous friends praise her new ink in the comment section. Singer princess Nokia writes set makeup artist page piske and comments. Yes, alongside a bunch of fire emojis. 00:49 I mean, I’m a conspiracy theorist to a degree but when I connect dots that maybe shouldn’t be connected, I don’t know. But certain tasks like when I see that they put every black man and movies in a dress. At some point it’s really connecting them felt like wow, he’s gonna wear dress. This happened to me. I’m gonna move with Martin. Yeah, movies going good. So I was gonna trailer I’m like, Man, this must be the wrong trailer cuz here’s a dress and they come in. The rider comes in. I think he’s right. He’s like they listen. You got this hilarious thing where Martin sneaking out of jail, so he despises you as the Prophet. Isaac Weishaupt 01:40 Everybody says Isaac Weishaupt you’re listening to conspiracy theories and on popular culture. What are we gonna talk about today we’re gonna talk about celebrities your favorite. Your favorite celebrities doing the illuminate confirm. Whitney Houston. Kid Cuddy. Chloe Kardashian. grinds, we’re going to go across the pond even we’re going to hit a little bit on Prince Philip. Mr. virus himself. Boris Johnson. His little booth. Thanks. She’d be doing Alister croley stuff all my goodness. It’s all happening. It’s all happening today. Little bit of housekeeping. Two seconds. Give me two seconds. coffee mugs. I bought a giant box of coffee mugs. I vetted the process bought from many different people found one that holds up well I personally ran into the dishwasher myself. I don’t know how many times 2030 a million and held up on the logo. So I got him in stock, hit the link in the show notes from my gumroad store. gumroad gumroad.com slash Isaac W. pick yourself up a T shirt while you’re there because I’ve got limited quantities and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Not doing that again. So you got to get the super soft t shirt. That nerds are going to kill us which is becomes true or every day, my goodness. You don’t want to miss out on that shirt. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Same with the coffee mugs. You know a lot of people wanted some merge. I said okay, I don’t do merge. It’s not my thing. But I sunk a ton of monies into the merchant. I got it sitting here in my office waiting along with some books. It’s all here for you. Now listen, I’m gonna upsell you here. Because if you’re on the patreon.com slash Illuminati watcher, or you’re on my VIP section, Illuminati watcher calm, hit the VIP section link and you can check it out. You can get 10% off all this stuff that you’re going to pick up. So it’ll pay itself off in the first month. Speaking of the VIP section, you’re not going to have that hot girl summer. If you miss out on the deal. I have gone promo code hot girl summer for the VIP section, you get 20% off for three months, but that expires on May 1 2021. Get on it link in the show notes. Bonus and bonuses. right we’re doing Eyes Wide Shut mega deep dives. You heard the Eyes Wide Shut movie review. I did four episodes one and two. Well, I got more behind that I got a three, a four and a five. And then you’re going to hear number six. I’m going to put number six on the free feed. But we’re dropping another one this week. Deep Dive in behind the making of the film. I read all these books about the film. And shockingly, they provide a lot of strange details about the making of this film. It’s you know, Kubrick met his wife at a masquerade ball where he forgot to wear a mask Hmm Hmm. Makes you wonder well, you’re going to find out all about that. You’re going to find out about how he read this book about the occult when he was studying for the Gnostic orgy scene because it’s not in the novella dream novella. If you’re already on the Patreon or the VIP or the rockfon you already know all this because we talk about it on our deep dives. And that could be YouTube. It should be you. link in the show knows. Support your boy support the research, dude. Dang. Get some coffee mugs, get some shirts, all the things. Okay, let’s get into it. Rainn Wilson, Dwight from the office. This isn’t a story, but he is now doing a podcast or a TV show. I don’t really know. I just saw this dark air with Terry carnation. He plays a paranormal podcast or something like that. Let me know what’s good. Hit me in the social medias. Let me know if it’s good. I don’t watch or listen to a lot of stuff anymore. I’ve been reading books, I’m balls deep on books, books on books on books. I’m researching. I’m writing aliens. UFOs. And they call us allusion to I’m like 40 pages in. That’s Microsoft Word pages. So I only you know, the first book was 100 Microsoft Word pages. Like I don’t know how many words that 40,000 words. I’m like, already halfway there. And I still got a ton of more movies. I got to jam into this thing. Got to get to it. Now Whitney Houston, she’s back from the dead. And I’m not talking about that hologram tour that she was going to do in 2021. Not her. But the demonic puppet masters that control her spirit, and are still trying to milk this cow the best way they know how. Well they’re doing a concert tour in 2020. But they push it back to 2021. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about Bobby Brown, who miraculously is still alive. Don’t ask me how everybody around him is dying, left and right from drug overdoses. And I don’t say that in a disrespectful way. I say that in the most lovingly caring way possible. But he was on TMZ talking about how he thinks Whitney and Bobby both died in similar ways because Nick Gordon was the one that did it. That was Bobby Christina’s boyfriend. When when she died, right Remember that? We talked about this very extensively on the blog many years ago. In fact, I believe it’s in my book about hip hop conspiracy sacrifice magic mind the mic. But he was telling he was on red Table Talk. And he was telling Jada Pinkett Smith. He things Nick Gordon gave Whitney and Bobby the drugs that ultimately killed him, which is a huge thing, right? It’s a real problem in our country that I would argue is worse than the virus worse than the pandemic, the opioids, the fentanyl all this stuff is terrible. absolutely terrible. You can’t just do drugs anymore. Okay. I don’t know who needs to hear this. But you got to understand these drug dealers are lacing the drugs with this fentanyl and that fentanyl is extremely deadly. And I argue that’s what Bobby Brown is alleging here. Let’s see what else did he say in the whole articles on TMZ. And he says look, it’s very strange. They both died in the bathtub, which I talked about many times. Because that is the passage of the goddesses the Wiccan cleansing ritual. And he says Next, the kind of guy who provided party party favors. And then they made sure to put a note on here that cops investigated Gordon in connection with Bobby Christine’s death for years, but he was never charged. He was never a known suspect. But he’s already dead. He’s gone. He died January 120 20. of heroin overdose. You keep notes Bobby Brown, Jr. died just a couple months ago from drug overdose was going on in the Bobbi Brown family. Now let’s move it on to Chloe Kardashian. She’s looking for those aliens. She wants you to look for those aliens to do you notice this? Look at this. Now look, look, I told you the Alien Agenda was going to be heating up over the next five years, till 2025. And much like how they cannot place advertisements for the what are we going to call this to avoid the censors? The jabby stabby were called the jabby stabby. They which again like you’ve heard me on my Instagram lives and on my live streams. People asked me about the stuff and I say Look, I don’t go in this territory anymore because this is now a personal choice. But you go back to my book that I wrote about this I got banned by Amazon, you can get that on the gumroad to get it for free. I want you to read it, I want you to pay me for I want you to take it for free. Because on it, I go through the whole jabby stabby thing right and come away with the conclusion that I get where the anti jabby swabbies get their opinion, they say? They say, Look, I don’t know that this is that safe or that effective? And I say You know what? Cheers I see you, anti jabby scabies. I agree with you. But ultimately, I think nothing in life is safe, or effective. 100%. So like, a lot of troopers are out there, laying down heavy on the shame. And it’s like, you know, everyone’s got a personal thing going on. You’re trying to protect your family. You got high risk takers. I mean, I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t I’m not a medical expert. And this is not medical advice. I just know that people got to come to their own conclusion with this thing. And anyway, why are we talking about this is because I read this that the can’t have advertisements for the JB stabby So instead, they’re getting the celebrities to endorse it. Now, I argue we lay this idea over into the world of aliens and UFOs look at all the increased focus on aliens and UFOs in the occult from the celebrities in the past few years. And Satanism Of course, because I argue as I point out in Use Your Illusion one. I think it’s all connected. But the the idea like look at Keisha creepies she’s got a whole podcast where she talks about this crap all the time. Demi Lovato is out there doing I mean, the list goes on and on. If you follow me on the socials, you’ve heard my ranting and raving and my posts and my links will add Chloe Kardashian into the mix. I’m gonna read you from people calm. And as soon sneak peek at Thursday’s episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Chloe and tristin drive to a trail in Malibu, California to go hunting for aliens. Malibu has actually attracted a ton of UFO sightings. Chloe 36 says in a confessional with tristin 29 then when I was researching I found out about this trail and this trail is supposed to have amazing alien energy. I’m so excited again hiking aliens. What’s better? A day well won’t be better that alien comes get you with the probe. That won’t be better. And then it goes on to bid bah bah bah while tristin drives them Chloe shares what she’s quote been told about alien hunting. You might get crazy dreams after this she says to which the NBA player repeats her statement and adds hmm very insightful, Tristan, Tristan. As the pair hikes along the trail together, the good American co founder asked Tristan whether he feels quote anything weird. Though the former Cleveland Cavaliers player notes that he’s doing good he asked Chloe how she’s holding up. Do you feel anything? Do you feel supernatural powers? tristin ass as Chloe replies No, but I’m sort of supernatural myself. So maybe I’m exempt. Two things to unpack here. Will three I don’t know if I’m saying Kristen’s name right. He is apparently a sports ball player for the sports ball team in Cleveland there. But he asked do you feel supernatural powers? This is the CDs I talked about the CDs all the time. Because this again goes into an ancient religious idea the idea of contacting entities for the superpowers. So you could see he is also under the same belief that hey, you know you make contact with aliens and you could get all these great gifts from which has happened like there’s reports of alien contact with strange healing superpowers. Like GM a man Ryan Bledsoe, his father, Chris Bledsoe. But yeah, and then and then get this she says Chloe says no, but I’m sort of supernatural myself. Maybe I’m exempt. She’s talking about how she’s a witch. If you read my book, named after this podcast you’re listening to. There’s a whole section on the Kardashians. And there is a myth, a legend a conspiracy theory that the Kardashians are in fact, descendants of a witch coven. which ultimately I came to the conclusion. I don’t know. I can’t I don’t know. I can’t tell. They talk about it. Here she is saying it herself. Kanye West is getting divorced from kim k, right? Because he found Jesus and maybe she’s a witch and he’s like, you know what? deuces. Speaking of Kanye West, oh Starbuck, Kate Cuddy. He was on SNL wearing a dress, causing quite the scene. And some they say officially, he was paying homage to Kurt Cobain, who wore dress once. But this goes back to the conspiracy theory of Dave Chappelle who as you know sort of like wrapped it up and left millions of dollars on the table with Hollywood to go to South Africa and then later came back during the bird revelation stand up comedy show on Netflix and said he more or less said the there’s something sick and twisted with Hollywood, and gave a curious allegory with from the book pimp. From Iceberg Slim, about faking a death, putting on a ritualistic performance, which I tie into My Eyes Wide Shut. stuff, my shows. But Chappelle also said once when he was trying to relay his experience with Hollywood and he said, there’s something wrong with it. He was saying like, they wanted Dave Chappelle to put on a dress as a joke. And he was like, No, I’m not doing that. And he argued more or less that they’ve done this to people like Martin Lawrence. It’s a way of emasculating the black man. 16:50 I mean, I’m a conspiracy. There is to a degree, like when I connect dots that maybe shouldn’t be connected. I don’t know. What certain that’s like when I see that they put every black man and movies in a dress. At some point in their career. I’ll be Connect now that like, wow, he’s gonna wear a dress. This happened to me. I’m gonna move with Martin. Yeah, movies going good. So I walk in a trailer. I’m like, Man, this must be the wrong trailer. Cuz here’s a dressing here. They come in. The writer comes in. I think he’s right. He’s like they listen. You got this hilarious thing where Martin sneaking out of jail. So he disguises you as the prostitute. He put this dress on and how much he has to now I’m not doing it. I don’t feel comfortable with it. That should have been in a discussion. You don’t feel comfortable with it? I mean, this is hilarious bit all the greats have done it so well of all the grades then it is kind of hacky, right you’re right so why don’t we just not do it? Because I don’t feel comfortable wearing a dress. Oh come on, Dave. Let’s we got it all set up. We’re supposed to shoot every every minute you waste cost this much money. No pressure comes in. I’m not I’m not well dressed man. I’m funnier than the dress is give me so funny to say I only wear no dress to be funny Milton Berle you know we’re gonna like this. And then finally it’s like I and he leaves and then like the director comes David really would be great if you wear the dress. Brokeback Mountain and wear the dress don’t wear the dress to wear this dress. Oh, gosh, I so difficult. They leave. Matter producers comes Come on, they would be so great. I mean, and then I started thinking about all the comics that I’ve seen them, you know, strong. Nice dresses. But the minute it was clear, I was adamant. I’m not wearing a dress. I’m not wearing the dress. All right, fine. Something else that comes back 10 minutes later, the whole new day. How did you write the scene? So fake? 19:06 recent controversy online. I know you’ll spend all your time online about Kevin Hart 19:14 when addressing the SNL skit, and Dave Chappelle spoke about that, as a comedian, black actors always, you know, be asked to wear dresses. Have you ran into that? And what do you think about that whole Illuminati theory that people could put out there about that? Well, 19:34 thanks for that softball question is two answers. First of all, let’s be very, very clear. It is possible that there isn’t anything funnier than a guy in a dress. And if that’s the case, then it might also be said that there’s nothing funnier than a black guy in a dress. Okay, well, I watched all my friends throughout my entire life, be able to do Basketball but not me. So everybody can’t do everything. So you know, some of us make choices. I think it’s not a biggest choice. For others, I’m saying, at the end of the day, Kevin doesn’t have to worry about what people are gonna say about him wearing a dress because of the long line of dress wearing people before him. So now, we have big momma’s house, one, two and three. I’ve never seen Medea in a pantsuit. I think she wears dresses. So now I’m saying why we pick it. Oh boy, look, Kevin Hart, because it was his turn next. Some of us are against the Illuminati and we are against the Illuminati at our own detriment. When people are against the Illuminati, then they get punched in the face all the time. The Press hates him. And nobody likes him. In quote, we all love Dave Chappelle. Exactly. Dave Chappelle has never been a part of the Illuminati. They don’t want him or me or people like us. But now, it’s not necessary for us to store up that hornet’s nest, unless we intend to get stung a million times, I didn’t understand that they had to sting me a million times. I’m still not gonna join, but I respect them a little more. Isaac Weishaupt 21:20 And this is a, you know, this goes back further. This goes back to the time of slavery, where the slave masters performed lots of psyops on the black families which, if you’re keeping notes, and you read sacrifice magic behind the mind, we talked about how in the 60s there was a study funded, which came to that same conclusion that ever since the, you know, the white devil slave masters did their psyops on the black slaves. They’ve been suffering ever since they they purposely broke up the the nuclear families. And it still remains to this day in issue, or at least in the 60s when the study was done. And it’s like they’re weaponizing race. Now, Joyner Lucas, who was a rapper we talked about recently that the mainstream media smeared for left field for no reason because he was talking bad about little NAS x is satanic twerking video. And mainstream media was like, calling them washed up has been. I was like, okay, that’s completely irrelevant to the argument here. But you could tell their bias. By George Lucas said, he sort of defended Keith Gotti and said, even though he’s wearing a dress, he could still whip that as, okay. Now, one of these ideas by the dress, could it be kid cut, he’s just trying to grab some attention. They do this right. It works. But like I always try to say, always try to say here that because the conspiracy jurors immediately hop on the idea that well, you know, they’re trying to emasculate the men in general. They’re trying to make a bunch of soy out coasters. And, you know, it’s a real problem. They’re trying to break down the nuclear family. They’re trying to break down masculinity, calling it toxic. But I argue and then this goes back to like recently, Harry Styles wear that dress. Remember that? Well, the, the destruction of masculinity is the real, real crux of the argument here. Now, if you read, I’m reading sapiens, the book by Yuval Harare, and it’s extremely fascinating. And they talk about this exact thing. They talk about how you’ve got a biological term of a male which is, you know, I’m going to screw this up. Don’t crucify me. I will say as to why chromosomes. Let me look it up. Jeez, Louise. Let me look it out and I want to steer you wrong. I kind of thought it was two Y chromosomes and the female was an X and a Y chromosome. This is very difficult to find real quickly. Okay, I got I’m glad I looked that up. Males have 1x and one Y chromosome. females have 2x chromosomes. There you go. Okay. I don’t want to steer you wrong here. But that’s what the book talks about talks about how Yes, there’s a biological male. There’s biological female. Absolutely. There’s a difference between the two. Biologically, however, when you talk about a man or a woman, that is a construct as a gender construct. And that’s what this whole book Sapiens least the first half is laying out this idea of the collective imaginative myth. We all subscribe to a construct. And gender is a construct. I know, I know a lot of truth is don’t want to believe that you’ve got a biological difference. That’s an undeniable fact. But the idea of a gender of a man, what is a man? What does a woman those are constructs. So when people get upset about this, what you’re getting upset about is the idea of shaking up the social construct, the social construct of a gender is what keeps you manipulated is what sells products. It’s the toxic masculinity that makes you manipulated. And when people fight for this, I always say, why are we doing this? Right? I did you know, 100 years ago, boys wore pink and girls were blue. And then they decided to switch it up. You know, Edward Bernays, the king of propaganda, I would, I would argue, be part of this whole gender construct thing. Like there’s no there’s no attributes of what defines a man as male. And if a woman is female, outside of the chromosomes, you know, it’s like, you know, I faced a lot of this in my personal life because I meet I love me, I think it’s great. 26:30 And Isaac Weishaupt 26:32 I at the same time, and that minute, I’m an animal lover, and I hate the way that a lot of the factory farms treat the animals. Yeah, I know, they’re gonna die. Anyway, I got that, okay. And I’m not like a vegetarian, because like, Damn, I do like to taste the meat. I do think like humans, on some level are supposed to be eating meat to get the protein, right. And all the other vitamins and minerals and such whatever. But like, I try to be more cognizant about it, I try to appreciate when I have the, the meat on my plate. You know, say a little prayer over it. Like I don’t, it’s a thing for me, right? Like, I feel bad. I don’t want to indiscriminately just eat animals all day long. I try to minimize it to where I can, while staying healthy. Okay. But like, that is not what society deems to be a real quote unquote, man, a real man eat red meat every meal of the day. You know, and the list goes on and on. This is a whole show. In fact, I’m gonna you know what, you know what? Like me, Mrs. Wise, I will talk about this on breaking social norms. I hope you’re subscribed to that podcast because that’s going to come up again. On the next subject. So So to put a bow on this, no pun intended, kid Gotti wearing a dress? I’m okay with it. I don’t care. Who cares? What do you care? Okay, next. And you know, to be a man, toxic masculinity is so full of theories of ideas that just prove themselves. A real man doesn’t care what other people thinks about what he wears. But a real man doesn’t wear a dress like it doesn’t even work right. The logic fails. And I’m for anything that shakes up the construct that shakes up the things that manipulate us that sell us products that keep us locked into the matrix. Let’s go across the pond Boris Johnson old bozo over there. What is he the Prime Minister is out of the column. He’s like the president over there. Well, he’s got a fiancee Her name is Carrie so Siemens Simon’s and you know, she’s pretty good. She’s way better than he does. I mean, I got looks like a total doofus. I was kind of surprised. I had to double check this. I said, Wait a minute. Why? Yeah, his fiance Carrie, I don’t know how to pronounce her last name doesn’t matter. Well, she posted on her Instagram some photos from an X rated play that she was in at Warwick University. Shout out to my pa folks from Lancaster County there. I didn’t know Warwick that was that’s one of the towns or one of the cities or schools or whatever. And I didn’t know like a lot of those terms come from the English back there. I don’t know why but a work University. And what’s the x rated play you may ask? Well, it’s a play based upon Alistair Crowley. Which if you listen to breaking social norms and me Mrs. Weiss, I broke down to her. You know, um, the truth is she’s not. And she says what’s so bad about Crowley and I told her and I broke it down as a as a Satanist. He’s a domestic abuser. He’s a pedophile. He’s an animal abuser. He’s the worst thing ever. And here we are continuing his legacy. Promoting him on these plays. When he was he was a bad boy naughty. Now this x rated place he was in, you can see in the photos that there was a floor. She’s on the floor and there’s a table behind her says Cagni, AK. See you NT and cocaine. Now that came from one of Alister Crowley’s poems, I’m going to because I went into this for you, because the news didn’t go into you know, they surface level they got to keep, keep you Lightly, lightly educated, they don’t want you to, to educated. But the poem is called Leah sublime. And it’s about one of his Scarlet women. Her name is Leah herceg. And if you read this thing, it’s all boys triple x rated. It says it’s all about, you know, straddle the beast, spit on me. talks about peepee and poopoo and his mouth. Oh my god. If you ever seen that a GDL and documentary, like that’s what that guy was doing. That dude was nuts. He says, Listen to that there’s a line. Here’s a Limerick dribble, you’re done on the tip of my tongue. It’s actually kind of funny. I mean, inappropriate, gross, but he talks about, I was saying it’s so gross. Eating her gonorrhea smearing diarrhea in his eyes. You’re gonna get paid guy, for sure if you do that. But more importantly, he calls upon the devil calls the devil the Lord. He says, and I quote, Satan, you gave a crown to a slave. And it goes on and on and on and just seems gone forever. Turns out, it’s exactly 666 words. But it’s all about Leah herceg. There’s one of the Scarlet women had many women in his lives and he beat the crap out of them drove them insane. They were prostitutes. They were mental asylums, they’ve committed suicide. The list goes on and on. But he was the one that he took to the abbey of the Lima in Sicily, where he made her have sex with a goat. He was like drug and chicks his way before Bill Cosby. He was what else did he do there? is supposedly an infant went missing. And that’s what made Mussolini kick his ass out. So here, here we go with Boris Johnson’s fiance paying homage to him in a play. Now what’s even more curious if you look into her, she created like a like a final straw company and persuaded Boris to ban single use straws which I commend him like yeah, it’s cool. I get that. I like that. But more curious, like her passion for the ocean and ocean life goes further, because much further. She’s a senior adviser to Oceana. Now this ties us into the Epstein and Elaine Maxwell saga. Yes. Because Oceana was a is a nonprofit ocean conservative group that Elaine did some fundraising for while she was setting up a similar company, a similar nonprofit called Terra Mar, which TerraMar feeds into a lot of conspiracies about how they were trafficking and hosting high profile folks. Get them over to the orgy Island there. So lots of smoke there. Is there some fire? I would, I would guess so. Staying over there on that side of the pond, Prince Philip when he wasn’t talking about coming back as a virus to kill everyone, guess what else he was doing? He was researching UFOs he apparently was a regular subscriber to the flying saucer review. His assistant was collecting stories about UFOs His name is Sir Peter. The assistant I guess got knighted for helping him out. I don’t know. Very strange things they do over there in the UK. I don’t understand. Then you’re gonna need them. You’re now night. I’m going to read you from what’s this from Metro code at UK. In his autobiography sound from another room Sir Peter, who served as the Dukes a query from 1949 in 1986. mascot was old Hmm. Prince Philip says he was asked to bring witnesses to Buckingham Palace for private discussions talking about witnesses to aliens and UFOs Okay, this isn’t the hotspot back in 49 to 56. It was lit back then. Philip spent the summer 2019 reading the Hult perspective which tells the story of the Rendlesham Forest incident dubbed Britain’s Roswell the Duke had I’m gonna I’m gonna skip past some stuff that says the Duke had a number of other books on extraterrestrials and his collection including haunted skies The Encyclopedia of British UFOs The title is author a retired West Midlands detective says the Duke had 12 of his books. He told the I I’ve got about 12 letters from the Duke private secretary that say the prince found the subject interesting. I’m quite fond. I’m quite proud of Prince Philip, why shouldn’t he have been interested in UFOs because for goodness sake, that is something that we should treat seriously rather than flippantly. It is a phenomenon that has baffled mankind for millennia. Even Prince Charles is interested it in it and Prince William. See, again, there’s that message of, you know, you want to be cool like the celebrities, like the royal family, you better be interested in UFOs, which is kind of a dumb statement to make right but who’s not interested in UFOs. But what I’m saying is that they’re gonna get the celebrities to endorse this stuff to accept it. And the only thing that aliens can only be good, there could be nothing bad that comes from contacting these entities from another dimension and bringing them into our world what could go wrong? According to the sun. The Dukes interest in UFOs was first sparked by his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, who wrote an official report about a silver spaceship reportedly landing on his broadlawns estate in Romsey Hampshire in 1955. So the UFOs are coming to visit the Royals cuz they are lizard people, as David said. said their lizard people come from Draco the Draco constellation, Dracula the dragon and Here come the ovals to come say hi. The report which was kept secret until after Lord Mountbatten’s death in 1979. told how brick layer Fred Briggs brick layer. Why Does that ring a bell? The Freemasons they’re laying those bricks. Eyes Wide Shut Ziegler Ziegler was the means brick layer. Say don’t have brick layer Fred Briggs spotted the craft hovering above the ground. A figure dressed in overalls and a helmet was then said to have emerged from the bottom of the vehicle before Briggs was knocked off his bike and pinned to the ground by an unseen force. I don’t know about you, that doesn’t sound too friendly to me. In 2016, Nick Pope who ran the Ministry of Defense’s UFO project told the Daily Star that Philip at one time was absolutely fascinated with extra terrestrial activity. He said this royal interest in UFOs was extremely difficult for us at the Ministry of Defense, because our policy was to downplay the true extent of our interest in involvement in UFOs. We were tianli told parliament, the media in the public that subject was a very limited interest in no defense significance. The irony was that we were all crown servants and that our ultimate bosses were fascinated by a subject we were actively trying to debunk. So again, like I’m always trying to be the voice of reason of rationality, in the truth or community, because they tend to not believe anything or anyone ever. And this is why. How can you believe these people that change their story in lie? And I mean, it’s hard, right? How can you believe that? It’s like everything you hear, you almost have to run through your own filter of what do you want to believe? Which goes back to what I said, with the alien thing like choose your own reality? What do you want to believe? Guess what you can find people to join you in that belief. Then it becomes a social consensus, just like you’ve all Harare says, created our world. So that’s how we beat the Neanderthals. Imagine collective myths. Now here’s where it gets crazy. In the book, Sir Peter, who went on to become an RF commander claims that in November 1954, he had an encounter with an alien called Mr. Janis, who was able to read his mind. Oh my god, the others that he didn’t say he was a visitor from another planet, but I had that impression. I believe he was here to observe us. I never saw him again. I have no qualms about the reaction to my experience with Mr. Janus I just realized, look, it’s spelled. It’s j A n us like anus with a J. Mr. anus. And you might have got probed, I don’t know, loose connections or loose connections. I don’t care what people think it was what happened, Sir Peter says Mr. Janus wanted to meet Prince Philip, who he described as a man of great vision. Now, let’s do the math here. Prince Philip was the guy who said when he dies, he wants to come back as a virus and wipe out humanity. And Mr. Janus, the alien says, Well, that’s a guy with a great vision. In conclusion, Prince Philip’s alien Mr. Janus annually probe Sir Peter and gave us COVID now we’re all gonna die. Oh, no. Aliens are gonna kill us through the virus bizarre bizarre time to be alive folks. Last but definitely not least. Grimes you remember Grimes? She’s the artist that old Ilan Musk is Oh, baby mama now with the X 12 arch Angel, demon child. And the llamas already got another demon child named Damien. These nerves are gonna kill us. I said it and I mean, and I’ll say that. I want that on my tombstone. make that happen? By the way, fun fact you Did you know you can order a coffin on Amazon and get a prime delivered and save yourself 1000s of dollars. I just found that out the other day on the tick tock who says it’s all stupid stuff on Tick Tock right. Where were we okay Grimes? Yes. Okay, so she’s, she’s a Buddha was the king nerd. And on Instagram, she posted a picture that you got to see to believe she got a big old tattoo on her back. Says full back in white ink. By at tweaked with some help from the alien computer brain of at New see quero don’t have a good pitch because it hurts too much. And I need to sleep haha. And it’ll be red for a few weeks, but gonna be beautiful alien scars. hope everyone’s having a good day. That’s true. I got a tattoo cross my back and it’s a tramp stamp. Okay, it’s what is a big butterfly right above my ass. And man, is it hard to sleep? It’s hard to sleep. Yeah, it’s a big crazy it looks kind of like bio alien s kind of like hr gieger stuff. It’s kind of what it looks like if you haven’t seen it. Let’s but listen to this now. I’m gonna read you a little bit more. Is this going to add anything to the story? Probably not. CNN wrote. Canadian musician Grimes has unveiled the beautiful alien scars she had tattooed across her entire back. She shared the image. And then they basically say what I just told you. The singer already has a number of tattoos on her arms and hands last year Grimes and her husband Tesla and SpaceX CEO Ilan musk. world’s richest man. That’s that was me. I don’t know Is he still the world’s richest matters that basil basil says announced the birth of their first child when they named x a 12. Musk. The musician explained x stands for the unknown variable. And you know who else did that? Charles Manson. He wanted x out of society. So he carved a big old x in his dumb head. Which he then turned into a swastika which was a symbol that for many cultures meant you know, positive things divinity, spirituality all these things It was like a symbol of prosperity and good luck until the old Nazis come around and and inverted it and you know the rest is history. But yeah, that’s a that’s very curious that they would say such thing and call out the x. The X marks the spot when you put the x and the O you’re called upon notice from the Abyss what’s known as well. It’s the alien from the Abyss that kind of grant the iPhone Ian Ordo templi orientis tries to charge of the sigils through entertainment. At least that’s the conspiracy theory. So there you go. I wanted to catch you up TMZ illuminate confirm all these folks. Bobby Brown illuminate a farm kid got 11 acre farm call we eliminate ever I don’t know does it mean does it mean it thing anymore even though we’re just getting crazy over here now. Yeah, that’s the latest. There was a lot I didn’t want everything to get away from me to get too stale on the news cycle. The next show is going to be a bonus supporter show only. We’re going Eyes Wide Shut deep dive into the making of Eyes Wide Shut book. It’s gonna be a two parter. I got the first half done. Second half will come a few days later. But you can get on that get on that team get on that winning team. I don’t care which one you do, or if you do any of them. If you ain’t got the funds, I drip and don’t worry about it. This is my way of saying thanks to the people that do take that extra mile that extra step people joining me on the rock fan people joining me on the Patreon people joining me on the VIP section whichever one you want. The cheapest way to get all this content right now is if you want to get the hot girl summer, go to Illuminati watch calm hit the VIP section. Punch in hot girl summer promo code and you’ll unlock over 300 episodes of the podcast ad free bonus shows. I mean you got dozens and dozens and dozens of bonus shows you can catch up on but that expires may 1 and then it’s gone forever. Check it out link in the show notes as always and until next time, my friend stay woke Richard Evans says Mr Janus? You know who Janus is, right? Roman God of doorways and TRANSITIONS. Changes from one state to another

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A comprehensive source of public health careers and emergency assignments around the world The Sydney School of Public Health is seeking to appoint a Lecturer with broad global health knowledge to teach into the Master of International Public Health and to conduct relevant research in developing countries. Great opportunity to join one of Australia's leading public health schools. Develop your teaching and research profile in international public health. Full-time fixed term for three years, remuneration package: AU$114K-$135K which includes base salary AU$96K-$114Kp.a., leave loading and up to 17% superannuation. The University of Sydney is Australia's first university and has an outstanding global reputation for academic and research excellence. It employs over 7500 permanent staff, supporting over 52,000 students. The Sydney School of Public Health comprises a network of individuals, research groups and centres that offer a wide range of educational and research opportunities in a variety of public health associated areas of study. There are 1000 students enrolled in post-graduate coursework degrees and over 200 PhD students. One of the largest programs offered by the School is the Master of International Public Health. International public health is concerned with public health in low- and middle-income countries. Our staff have extensive experience working in many countries in Asia and Africa, including Bangladesh, China, India, Kenya, Myanmar, Tanzania and Uganda. The Master of International Public Health covers control of communicable and non- communicable diseases and maternal and child health, all underpinned by the principles of quantitative and qualitative research methods, project management, health policy and health systems strengthening. We are seeking to appoint a Lecturer with broad global health knowledge to teach into the Master of International Public Health and to conduct relevant research in developing countries. In this role you will: •teach into the Master of International Public Health, including taking on unit of study co-ordination responsibilities and providing support to other unit co-ordinators; •teach into other teaching programs in the School that are related to your skills and experience; •develop and conduct relevant research projects in developing countries, and produce and contribute to research publications, presentations and grant applications; •develop and maintain linkages with organisations (including development agencies) working in international public health. To succeed in this role you will have: •a PhD (or be close to completion of a PhD) in an area relevant to international public health; •research experience in international public health in developing countries; •demonstrated ability to develop and lead a research project; •a track record in peer reviewed publications; •coursework teaching experience at postgraduate level in international public health; •experience with unit of study or course coordination (desirable); •experience working in public health in developing countries; •demonstrated broad global health knowledge; •a post-graduate coursework degree in public health (e.g. MPH) (desirable); •excellent communication and time management skills and demonstrated ability to work with and across collaborative teaching and research teams. All applications must be submitted via the University of Sydney careers website. Visit sydney.edu.au/recruitment and search by reference number 2469/1115 for more information and to apply. CLOSING DATE: 11pm 29 March. The International Court of Justice is seeking a Senior Medical Officer (P-5) in The Hague. Duties: Undertakes day-to-day clinical duties, e.g., walk-in clinic, emergencies, pre-treatment and periodic medical examinations, immunizations, etc. Refers staff to outside specialists as necessary. Follows up with outside specialists. REQUIRES: Doctorate (MD) or equivalent in medicine, including residency in one of the medical specialties, preferably occupational medicine. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible clinical experience. Proven and sustained communication (verbal and written) skills, including the ability to prepare reports, articulating options clearly and concisely and making recommendations. Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships, both as a team member and team leader in a multilingual and multicultural environment. Good knowledge of the Dutch health system and capacity to liaise with the organizations concerned; previous experience in international organizations would be an asset. Proficiency in English and/or French and very good working knowledge of the other language; knowledge of Dutch would be an asset. TO APPLY: applicants are requested to send a duly completed United Nations Personal History Form and a supporting letter for the attention of the Registrar. Clearly indicate the title and number of the vacancy concerned. All applications should be sent to: Registrar, International Court of Justice, Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands, Fax No: + 31-70-364 99 28, Email: [email protected] Closing date: 3/30/16. Vacancy no: 2016/2 The World Health Organization has posted an opening for an Advisor, Human Resources for Health (P-4). Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at:. Reference the Appropriate Vacancy No. Closing date: 3/22/16. Vacancy no: PAHO/16/FT138 Only citizens of Pakistan are eligible for this position. MSI, a Washington, DC metro area international development firm with a 35-year history of delivering development results across the world, seeks a Family Planning Specialist to participate in a mid-term performance evaluation of the USAID/Pakistan Family Planning and Reproductive Health (FP/RH) project. The FP/RH is a five-year cooperative agreement awarded in 2013 and implemented by the Marie Stopes Society (MSS) in partnership with the Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS), Creative Social Marketing Pakistan Ltd. (CSM) and Marie Stopes International. The project aims to improve family planning and reproductive health services in the targeted areas. The evaluation will produce conclusions and recommendations that will help USAID/Pakistan and the implementing partner improve effectiveness and efficiency in the remaining years of the project. The evaluation will also identify innovations, best practices, poor performing activities, and lessons learned to guide the design of future similar programs. The assignment is expected to require about 42 days of work, approximately half of which would be in field areas of Sindh. Qualifications: A Master's degree in public health, social sciences, or a related field. Demonstrated expertise in the field of family planning and reproductive health. At least seven (7) years of experience designing, implementing, and/or evaluating public health, family planning and reproductive health and/or maternal and child health care projects in Pakistan. Experience in Sindh preferred. Familiarity with USAID and USAID evaluation policy. Excellent analytical and personal communication skills. Excellent English writing skills. Deadline: April 1, 2106. To apply: Please visit our website, The World Health Organization seeks candidates for the following positions. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at:. Reference the Appropriate Vacancy No. An Advisor, Human Resources for Health (P-4) is sought. Closing date: 3/22/16. Vacancy no: PAHO/16/FT138 A Technical Officer is sought in Suva. Duties: Provides technical support in strengthening the capacity of countries and areas in the development and implementation of comprehensive, population-based noncommunicable disease prevention programmes, with focus on specific risk factor reduction, in collaboration with Member States and in accordance with WHO action plans for NCD. Assist WHO country offices and national counterparts in the further implementation and utilization of WHO best buys, and the Package of Essential NCD interventions (PEN). REQUIRES: University Degree in Medicine, Nursing or in a relevant health-related field from a recognized university. Minimum of 5 years in Public Health and/or NCD, including experience at international level. Closing date: 3/21/16. Vacancy no: WPRO/16/FT133 MSI, a Washington, DC metro area international development firm with a 35-year history of delivering development results across the world, seeks an International Health Economist/Economist, Evaluation of the USAID/Vietnam "Community Links Program Activity," "Vietnam Monitoring and Survey Services (VEMSS) Project," Responsibilities: Conduct desk review of existing documents (program descriptions, annual work plans and reports, etc.); Develop the technical protocol for the costing exercise, and data collection tools (proven best practices or sound methods should be used); Prepare the presentation summarizing proposed methods, and present to USAID/Vietnam mission; Develop the field data collection plan , in coordination with the overall evaluation work plan; Conduct and oversee fieldwork process, including data collection and stakeholder meetings and interviews; Perform data analysis; Develop a presentation on key findings, and draft report; Review comment/inputs from USAID staff and related stakeholders, and finalize the cost component report. QUALIFICATIONS: Master's Degree or PhD level, or equivalent qualification, in a relevant discipline (i.e. Economics). Degree in health economics is preferred. Demonstrated 10 years' experience in conducting cost analysis for development programs- experience in costing of public health programs is preferred. Excellent personal communication and English writing skills. Ability to produce quality work under pressure and to tight deadlines. Experience working in complex environments. To apply: Please visit our website, FHI 360, a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions, seeks a Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Advisor to develop SBCC strategies and training materials, and conduct trainings that promote consistent nutrition/consumption behaviors for the anticipated Growth through Nutrition Activity. The incumbent will improve nutrition, WASH, and agriculture-related practices through innovative SBCC strategies that sustainably bring about positive behavior change. The SBCC Advisor work at the national, regional, and woreda levels with government and private sector businesses to incorporate appropriate nutrition objectives and indicators into agricultural production programs. He/she will provides global scientific leadership by staying current of evolving technical standards, guidelines, and program developments in area of expertise. QUALIFICATIONS: Masters degree in health communications, public health management, social sciences, international development, or a related field. S/he has at least 7 health (Nutrition, Water/Sanitation, RMNCH and/or livelihoods) projects that include a strong behavior change communication component. Guiding and providing technical assistance to project/host country government staffs working on Social Behavioral Change Communications projects. Experience in developing behavioral change communication tools and materials. Experience in monitoring and evaluation of health projects and implementation research experience. To apply:- change-communication-%28sbcc%29-advisor/job FHI 360, a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions, seeks a Nutrition Advisor. to provide overall technical director for nutrition interventions under the anticipated Growth through Nutrition Activity. The Advisor will play the lead role in guiding the implementation of technically sound and innovative approaches, in close collaboration with Government of Ethiopia stakeholders, to increase optimal nutrition, WASH, and agriculture behaviors, improve the quality of nutrition services, build nutrition capacities of frontline health and agriculture works, strengthen nutrition competencies in agriculture and health teaching institutions, and strategically incorporate nutrition objective into multi-sector polices. The Nutrition Advisor will report to the Chief of Party and will closely coordinate activities with the WASH Advisor and Agriculture/Livelihood Advisor. QUALIFICATIONS: Masters (MSc) in Nutrition or related field, with an emphasis on community nutrition, public health nutrition, SBCC, or other relevant sub-specialty. Minimum of seven years (7) of experience designing and implementing multi-sector nutrition programs. Demonstrated significant expertise providing technical assistance to project/ host country government staff working on nutrition and SBCC activities. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of partners with varying interests and priorities in the fields of nutrition, health agriculture, humanitarian assistance, resilience, and WASH. Prior experience in the Ethiopian nutrition sector desirable, preferably including experience with national and sub-national level coordination under the National Nutrition Program (NNP). Field experience in the prevention of malnutrition and under- nutrition and a strong understanding of nutrition and related policies, strategies and programs. Excellent inter-personal, communications and facilitation skills. In-depth understanding of the GOE structure at national, regional and local level. Travel Requirements: 10%-25%. To apply:- advisor/job FHI 360, a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions, seeks a Chief of Party for an upcoming, USAID-funded comprehensive social and behavior change communication (SBCC) program. Availability of the position is contingent upon issuance of a USAID Request for Applications, and selection of final applicant is subject to USAID approval. The COP will provide overall vision and leadership for the project; develop annual work plans and ensure successful implementation; and assume technical and management responsibility for all project personnel, including consultants. He/she will be the primary liaison for the project with USAID, other donors and institutions, implementing partners, technical agencies and other stakeholders, ensuring alignment and harmonization with other programming where appropriate, including public / private sector partnerships. He/she will be responsible for the successful implementation of the project, including achievement of program targets; submission of all program deliverables to USAID; and identification and resolution of issues and risks related to program implementation. He/she will oversee the development and monitoring of work plans and budgets; ensure appropriate levels of technical assistance in program operations; and coordinate partner efforts in program implementation. He/ she will be ultimately responsible for award management, including compliance with FHI 360 and USAID policies and procedures for prime award management, sound financial monitoring and control and sub award management. QUALIFICATIONS: Master's degree in public health or other related area, or bachelor's degree with at least five years additional relevant experience; 10+ years demonstrated experience in the design and monitoring of effective, evidence- based social and behavior change programming, including demonstrated experience with community-based and innovative methods; 5+ years of demonstrated experience in the management of a complex project; Demonstrated leadership success in: achieving project objectives, the use of community level and innovative approaches in SBCC or other related sectors. Demonstrated knowledge/experience of USAID policies, procedures and approaches related to program design/implementation, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation. Solid and up to date knowledge of current and emerging issues, strategies, and evidence in SBCC and HIV, family planning, malaria, gender and/or other health areas. Demonstrated capacity to build and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders. Strong written and oral communication skills in English. To apply:- fhi360.icims.com/jobs/16467/chief-of-party/job Position With: Infectious Disease Division, Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development. Assignment: Two Year Fellowship | GHFP-II-P5-191. The Senior Neglected Tropical Diseases Advisor (Senior Advisor) will serve on the NTD Team within the Infectious Diseases Division of the Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition in the Bureau for Global Health. S/he will receive direction from the NTD Team Leader and will serve as a member of the NTD Team, working closely with NTD Team technical advisors and health staff in USAID regional bureaus and missions. The Senior Advisor will support the technical excellence of USAID programs by coordinating appropriate technical assistance to country-level programs and ensuring cross-learning between countries. The Senior Advisor will engage with USAID country missions and regional offices and other US Government agencies (USG) to ensure appropriate collaboration. The Senior Advisor will also participate in monitoring any constraints to implementation and identifying solutions. S/he will participate in global meetings focused on coalition building, donor coordination and advocacy. RESPONSIBILITIES: Providing appropriate technical assistance to USAID/ Washington and field-based programs for the review of grant applications, country- level work plans, and in support of NTD program implementation in USAID-supported countries. Providing technical assistance to Ministry of Health programs and implementing partners to ensure adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in support of achieving the WHO 2020 disease specific targets. Country level technical assistance will be primarily for countries in Francophone Africa. Serving as the lead technical resource in one or more cross-cutting program areas, such as monitoring and evaluation, behavior change and communications, alternative financing mechanisms and/or expanding into new disease areas; Leading the evaluation and establishing guidance and best practices for the portfolio in the specified area(s). Liaising, participating and coordinating with other donor agencies, implementing partners, working groups and advocacy groups in global NTD coalition building and advocacy efforts. Developing and disseminating NTD communication materials (fact sheets and press releases)towards these efforts. Facilitating communication and coordination with USAID missions and partner agencies in implementing NTD activities to maximize resources and program progress. Liaising with other USAID regional and technical bureaus with investments that reinforce the USAID's NTD program goals and objectives to identify and develop coordinated efforts or initiatives that accelerate progress towards NTD control and/or elimination. Monitoring ongoing country-level activities under the NTD portfolio such as disease mapping, training, mass drug administration, surveillance and/or morbidity management, including travel to visit field activities. Participating in the planning, budgeting and reporting of results from the NTD portfolio. Preparing, presenting and disseminating materials, briefings, reports, etc. for colleagues, Bureau, Agency leadership, and other partners. Providing technical advice to USAID regional bureaus and missions involved in NTD. International and domestic travel approximately 30%. REQUIRED: Master's degree or higher in public health or a related social science field. Minimum ten (10) years' experience designing, implementing, and/or evaluating public health activities and programs and at least three (3)years' experience in an international or resource- challenged setting. Minimum of five (5) years working with NTD programming. Experience with coalition building and coordination across a diverse set of stakeholders atthe regional and/or global levels. Experience with program and sector wide monitoring and evaluation preferred. Demonstrated flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment. Demonstrated organizational skills. Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. Strong team and networking skills. Ability to work under pressure. Ability to travel internationally. Proficiency in French is required. US citizenship or US permanent residency required. March 18, 2016 by 5:00 pm Eastern time. an executive to provide technical vision and management to our overall portfolio. The ideal candidate brings proven program management experience, a strong understanding of health systems strengthening, and a solid global reputation. The candidate should have strong relationships with funding organizations to support ThinkWell's business development efforts. Most importantly, the candidate should be a 'builder'-- enthusiastic to shape the growth of a cutting-edge enterprise that represents the next generation of development assistance. This is a senior position, based in Washington DC, reporting to the CEO. In consultation with the CEO, s/he will be responsible for managing the overall technical direction and growth of ThinkWell. The incumbent will play a senior representational role with clients, partners, donors, and other stakeholders. View the full job description and apply through our website at:- programs both manage health systems engagements as well as provide direct technical support to clients. The successful candidate will have hands-on design and implementation experience in multiple countries in areas such as: health financing policy and strategy, health purchasing mechanisms, and resource tracking and mobilization. The ideal candidate will have strong relationships with funding organizations and prime contractors to support ThinkWell's business development efforts. The incumbent should be prepared both to work independently on engagements, and at other times to be leading and managing a team. The candidate will understand how to remotely support field-based programs and staff, striking the balance between mentorship, technical assistance, and accountability. The candidate should be a 'builder'--enthusiastic to shape the growth of a cutting-edge enterprise. Please view the full job description and apply on our website at:- thinkwell.icims.com/jobs/1034/health-systems-health-financing-manager work on our global portfolio of health financing projects. The candidate should have hands-on design and implementation experience in multiple countries in areas such as: health financing policy and strategy health purchasing mechanisms, resource tracking and mobilization. The candidate should also expect to support ThinkWell's business development efforts by supporting proposal development. The incumbent should be prepared to both work solo on smaller engagements, as well as part of a team on larger ones. The ideal candidate will understand how to work effectively with field-based programs and staff who are located in remote locations. The ideal candidate should be a 'doer'-- enthusiastic to shape the growth of a cutting-edge enterprise. Please view the full job description and apply on our website at:- thinkwell.icims.com/jobs/1049/health-financing-analyst-senior-analyst/job FHI 360, a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions, seeks a Program Officer. Responsibilities: The Program Officer. Suitably qualified candidates openly living with HIV and/or who are representative of the key populations affected by HIV are also actively encouraged to apply. QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelors required and Master's Degree highly preferred in Knowledge/ Information Services, Communications, Education, Environment, Health, Behavioral, Life/Social Sciences International Development, Human Development or Related Field. Minimum of 5 + years' experience with program management, cross- cultural communications, US Government rules and regulations. Substantial experience using computerized information systems. Demonstrated experience working with key populations in Barbados. Articulate and professional and able to communicate in a clear, positive fashion with clients and staff. Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English. Prior team lead experience preferred. Demonstrated leadership experience preferred. Strong knowledge of concepts, practices and procedures with program design. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent and demonstrated program and project management skills. Ability to influence and collaborate with others. Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors and prepare reports.Travel:50%. To apply:- officer---barbados-and-bahamas/job FHI 360, a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions, seeks a LINKAGES Behavior Change and Communications Advisor to work. Supporting the mainstreaming of human rights, gender and competency and capacity development. QUALIFICATIONS: Masters level degree in Public Health, Communications or related field or equivalent. 8 years of demonstrated behavior change communication, mobilization and advocacy key population group technical expertise, with substantial HIV prevention, care, and treatment experience with female sex workers, and/or men who have sex with men, and transgender individuals using mobile technology and implementing communications activities; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 5 years of demonstrated excellence in a technical advisor and leadership position, preferably in an international development context and working with key population groups. Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and English. Experience with U.S. government rules and regulations and experience working in an international NGO/PVO environment desirable. Previous experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is strongly preferred; Cote d'Ivoire experience is a plus. Proven skills in the implementation of SBCC driven HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs for female sex workers, and/or men who have sex with men, and transgender persons in Cote d'Ivoire or other countries in the region. Knowledge of processes for developing and implementing HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs with key population groups in Cote d'Ivoire. Understands the HIV-related needs of key population groups in Cote d'Ivoire, including female sex workers, and/or men who have sex with men, and transgender individuals and have worked to support and implement activities to reduce stigma and discrimination. Design, implementation, and management of public health /international development programs funded by USAID. Proven skills in mentoring, leadership and networking. Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the political and ethical issues surrounding public health issues among key populations in Malawi. Ability to manage and complete numerous tasks with a high degree of organization and limited resources. Experience working with civil society organizations to plan and implement HIV behavior change communication activities including condom and lubricants distribution.. Knowledge of PEPFAR programming and reporting preferred. To apply:- behavior-change-and-communications-advisor/job