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The purpose of this paper is to explore and reflect on the ideas that state policy needs to address in the long term to support a transformation to competency-based education systems designed to ensure equity so all students can be truly ready for success. We explore threshold concepts ("core concepts, that once understood, are needed to transform a given subject") of certifying learning; assessment literacy; pedagogical innovations based on learning sciences; and meeting kids where they are, as part of a long game strategy.
This draft paper was prepared in advance of the National Summit on K-12 Competency-Based Education and will be revised based on attendees' input. CompetencyWorks is hosting the Summit in Denver, Colorado on June 21-23, 2017. The Summit is invitation-only and will convene 100 leading innovators to move the field of competency-based education through the next generation of ideas and actionable outcomes, with a specific focus on equity and diversity. The Summit will tackle 6 issues: equity, policy, quality, meeting kids where they are, identifying emerging issues and revising the working definition of competency education.
Review the other draft Summit papers that explore key issues:


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Amazon Store Template
Design, Niche Marketing, Template 5:20 pm
With Amazon Web Services you can create an amazon store on your own website. This way you can sell amazon products and make money with Amazon Associates. I have found Amazon to be a great way to make make money.
The easiest open source option to build an Amazon store that I have found is Amazon Products Feed. This script is simple to install and use. Just unzip, upload in ASCII to a directory, and then CHMOD amazon_products_feed.cgi (775). Then point your browser to the apf_config.cgi file and follow the onscreen directions.
You can see your store by visiting amazon_products_feed.cgi and after that you'll most likely want to use php includes to create static pages for each major page you wish to show in your store. There is plenty of documentation with the file, so be sure to read it for further details.
I have created a simple template for the Amazon Products Feed (APF) that anyone can use. To make it easier to install the template I have included my template as the default in the following zip package of APF. You can see a preview of the store template below:
Download Amazon Product Feed with Template Installed
If you find the template useful and would like to leave a donation you may do so through paypal with the button below:

subset: commoncrawl


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By O'Neill Institute | Leave a Comment
This post was authored by O'Neill Institute research assistant and third-year Georgetown University Law Center student Mirona Dragnea.
On November 7, 2011, District Judge Richard J. Leon of the D.C. District Court sided with five tobacco companies in granting a preliminary injunction in R.J. Reynolds v. U.S. FDA. The decision prohibits the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") from enforcing its rules requiring new graphic labels on cigarette packages.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed into law by President Obama on June 22, 2009, and gives FDA the authority to regulate the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. As part of this Act, in June 2011, FDA published a final rule, which requires, among other things, that all cigarette packages manufactured and distributed in the United States after September 22, 2012 display cigarette warning labels. These warning labels are comprised of nine rotating textual warnings accompanied by graphic images, and must cover the top 50% of both the front and back panels of all cigarette packages. In their complaint, the tobacco companies alleged that the rule violates the First Amendment right to free speech by unconstitutionally compelling speech in the form of graphic images, and by hampering tobacco companies' ability to convey their own messages on cigarette packages. In its opinion, the court analyzed the rule under the strict scrutiny standard and sided with the tobacco companies in concluding that the FDA requirements and the new labels are unconstitutional.
The court found that the First Amendment protects "both the right to speak freely and the right to refrain from speaking at all," and that the labels are a form of compelled commercial speech that do not involve "purely factual and uncontroversial information" designed to protect consumers from "confusion or deception," as required by the strict scrutiny standard. The court concluded that the graphic images were meant to elicit an emotional response and change consumer behavior, rather than simply convey information on the harmful effects of smoking. Moreover, the court went so far as to determine that, due to the size of the images and the "emotional response they were crafted to induce," the graphic warning labels are meant to turn every package of cigarettes into a "mini-billboard" for the FDA's "obvious anti-smoking agenda," thereby crossing the line into advocacy. The court then went on to say that the graphic images are not necessary to achieve the government's objective to inform consumers, and that the FDA could instead "publish a graph demonstrating the difficulty of quitting smoking by showing the correlation between the number of people who try to quit and the percentage who actually do."
The court held that the tobacco companies had demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits (free speech) and that they would suffer irreparable harm absent injunctive relief pending a judicial review of the constitutionality of the FDA's rule. The court thus issued an injunction against enforcement of the label requirement for 15 months after a final ruling on the merits of the case by the court. The 15 months are designed to provide the tobacco companies with enough time to implement the requirements should the final judgment be in favor of the FDA's new tobacco control law.
Tobacco control advocates reacted strongly against the ruling. Mathew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, released a statement declaring, "Judge Leon's ruling ignores the overwhelming scientific evidence about the need for the new cigarette warnings and their effectiveness. It also ignores decades of First Amendment precedent that support the right of the government to require strong warning labels to protect the public health." Myers concludes his statement by suggesting that "the Justice Department must now immediately appeal Judge Leon's ruling, so that implementation of the warning label requirement can go forward without delay."
The issue of cigarette warnings and their effectiveness in curbing tobacco consumption and informing consumers has also been addressed in two previous O'Neill blog posts:
Categories: FDA Healthcare Tobacco uncategorized
Tags: district court FDA free speech Supreme Court tobacco
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Spike Lee made waves portraying bigotry and violence in 1989's "Do the Right Thing." He's made scads of films since, "Inside Man," "Malcolm X," "When the Levees Broke." The latest is an unmistakably potent addition to Lee's oeuvre.
"BlacKkKlansman" is the true story Ron Stallworth, a black detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in 1970s Colorado Springs. Using his "white" voice and his real name, Ron (John David Washington) answers a newspaper ad calling for recruits. He soon charms leadership into a face-to-face; that's where Flip (Adam Driver), Ron's white, Jewish partner, comes in. The Rons are so good at "passing" that they make contact with the then-grand wizard of KKK, David Duke (Topher Grace).
This film's based on Stallworth's memoir, and while it's rooted in the '70s, the rhetoric and struggles parallel contemporary America.
"We are being shot down in the streets by white, racists cops," said Kwame Ture (Corey Hawkins) at a Black Student Union event. Later, during a white supremacist hang, there are many calls "for America to achieve its greatness again."
"BlacKkKlansman" juxtaposes two movements with vigor, and Lee and cinematographer Chayse Irvin bring the tension in creative ways through tight cuts to eyes and hands loading guns. In another scene, KKK members chant, and the camera captures different responses of white and black waitstaff. In a signature directorial move, Lee scans his lens in a tight shot of their expressions, some excited, others exhausted. It's eerie and unsettling.
There's a deep look at the power of portrayal and perception. The film opens with footage from "Gone with the Wind" and D.W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation." Cue footage of blackface. Later, writers Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Lee note the KKK saw a resurgence after the Griffith's 1915 film was released.
There are laugh-out-loud moments, too, no doubt thanks to producer Jordan Peele, and the softness is as good as the suspense, especially in a sequence on black beauty.
Washington (son of Denzel) plays Ron with care, tapping into the bubbling emotions of a double life realistically, with a teetering stoicism. Driver is spot on as Flip, an accessible, down-to-Earth cop trying, and failing, to hang onto apathy in the line of duty.
Laura Harrier plays BSU president Patrice as refreshingly uncompromising in her positions. When she and Ron discuss blaxploitation film figures, Lee inserts movie posters of Coffy, Superfly, Shaft. Patrice says their images were damaging to the people, and you sense this character's contribution is a positive one.
Grace's performance is a stand-out. He's well-spoken, racist lite to Jasper Pääkk'nen's wired Felix. But when Duke meets a black person, Grace communicates a locked-down disdain dripping with etiquette, revulsion ready to pounce. It's something to see. That goes for the whole movie, though.
Heads up: It's a hard R rating with a detailed description of torture and plenty of racial epithets, mostly coming from Ron. Lee tops it with last year's footage from Charlottesville, Va., where a car drove into a rally of people, killing Heather Heyer. ("Rest in Power" flashes on the screen near her name.)
There will be laughs, goosebumps, and you might leave the theater with weak knees. It's all worth it.
Grade: A
Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier
Director: Spike Lee
Writers: Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee
Time: 2:15
Rating: R for language throughout, including racial epithets, and for disturbing/violent material and some sexual references
Opening Friday: Zinema 2


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In case you haven't noticed, I'm insecure about a lot of things. I'd liken living in my head to hanging out in a room with a bunch of people who spend all their time pointing out my inadequacies and then one person who every so often creepily whispers, "That person walking behind you on the street is about to MURDER you."
So when I was 20, the voice that tells me I'm a loser who's never going to achieve anything was like, "You've never had a job, you fucking loser… Who is ever going to hire a 20 year old who's never had a job?" And I was like, "YOU'RE RIGHT, VOICE," so I went to the Waffle House and applied for a job.
I was pretty sure no one would hire someone whose only line on her resume was Dad's Home Office Secretary, Age 12. Much to my excitement, immediately after filling out the application the manager was like, "Ok, you start Saturday." It turns out they were in the market for a Door Corps, which is an under-glorified Hostess. Under-glorified is definitely not a term, but it applies here. It was like Hostessing lite.
I proceeded to work as a Door Corps for about two months, and I took it incredibly seriously. I even turned in a written two week's notice when I quit. It was the worst job ever. ANYWAY, I have pieced together my memories of what training day was like and written it down for you. This is about 99.9% true and please do read it with an accent in your head.
"We here are real dang proud to have y'all here as the newest members of our team and we jus' gotta run through a quick training so you can give our customers the same Southern Hospitality we've been servin' up since 1955. Now, first things first… I know it don't sound like much, but being a Door Corps is a time honored position. Sure, you might not get tips or nuthin' but you get the satisfaction of knowing that you opened the door for every single smilin' face that comes in these doors lookin' for a good meal after their huntin' trip or Sunday service. I don't know 'bout all y'all, but every time my Preacher gets 'ta preachin' 'bout hellfire and brimstone I get a crazy hankerin' for some hashbrowns smothered, covered and chunked… Ooo wee!
Anyway, y'all are the ones that make sure people want 'ta come into the Waffle House even when it's at its busiest. Here are your key responsibilities:
- Open the door for anybody and everybody who's comin' in or leavin' the Waffle House.
- Smile real big at 'em all.
- When you notice it's gettin' a little busy, make sure to close the blinds so people don't get scared away or nothin'.
- Keep the toilets nice and clean. Now, I know this ain't the most glamorous but it's gosh dang important, ya hear? Like the Bible says, cleanliness is next to godliness and that sure as heck applies to our commodes!
- Ok, time to come outside with me so I can show you a little something. Come on out now and don't you be shy! See this little area right here? In between the curb and the cars? We call this "The Buttway." Why? Well, because it's where all them cigarette butts fall and we don't want 'ta make a bad impression so you gotta' sweep it oh 'bout, every thirty-five minutes.
Well, I think that about wraps it up. You get two breaks a day and if you want 'ta have yerself a smoke, you can hop on round back and take a seat on the milk cartons next to the dumpster. I'd recommend that you don't take breaks with Leslie for the first couple months as she can be real mean to strangers. Once she warms up to you though, she's a real darlin' and she'll tell you all 'bout her five granbabies and her three great granbabies and that time she unhooked Brenda's bra while she had about five plates of Bert's Chili in her hands. Oh boy, that was a hoot!
Ok, y'all, all that's left is I gotta let you watch this video on our sexual harassment policies. Now, some folks have complained to our corporate office that they felt as if watching this video was sexual harassment itself, but we looked into it and it turns out they were just from Atlanta. Those city folk can be real dramatic sometimes, ya' hear?"
Peace, love, and if you work at Waffle House even your bras smell like waffles,


text: If you're a fan of the TV show, then you'll love the free Family Guy slot machine from IGT provider. However, if you're not familiar with the show, then you should be ready for fart jokes. This video slot game has five reels and 30 pay lines. You can make a bet from 0.50 to 1,500. The jackpot prize is 500.


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Our Company
Wombat Security, a division of Proofpoint, provides SaaS-based information security awareness and training software to help organizations teach their employees secure behavior.
Wombat was born from research at the world-renowned Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Our company was founded in June 2008 by Drs. Norman Sadeh, Jason Hong, and Lorrie Cranor — all faculty members at the CMU School of Computer Science.
While at CMU, our cofounders led the largest national research project on combating phishing attacks. Their goal was to address the human element in cybersecurity and develop novel, more effective anti-phishing filtering solutions.
This project, funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense, yielded a uniquely effective suite of cybersecurity software training and filtering technologies. These technologies provided the foundation for our Security Education Platform and our unique Continuous Training Methodology.
Recognized as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America, we are headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA and have offices in Denver, CO and London, UK — as well as global network of partner organizations. In March 2018, Wombat was acquired by Proofpoint, Inc., a leading cybersecurity company.
Today, we are helping Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 customers in industry segments such as finance, technology, banking, higher education, retail, and consumer packaged goods to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses. Our Security Education Platform includes integrated knowledge assessments, a library of simulated attacks, and interactive training modules, which have been proven to reduce successful phishing attacks and malware infections by up to 90%.
Wombat offers a fun, dynamic, and collaborative work environment, and was recently named one of Pittsburgh's Top Workplaces by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Workplace Dynamics. Our employees enjoy that they are helping people everywhere learn how to protect themselves from cyberattacks.Leadership Bios
Continuous Training Methodology based on proven Learning Science Principles
Founded in 2008 based on research at Carnegie Mellon University
A leader for five consecutive years in the Gartner Magic Quadrant
Global customer base, including many Fortune 500 companies
Continuous Training Methodology based on proven Learning Science Principles
Founded in 2008 based on research at Carnegie Mellon University
A leader for five consecutive years in the Gartner Magic Quadrant
Global customer base, including many Fortune 500 companies
"We have been using Wombat for over two years now and one of the reasons we chose to go with them was not just because we felt the product offered more than their competitors technically, but also because the user education experience had the edge with tone, pace and multinational options. The product itself is constantly evolving, and there's always something new to offer our colleagues by way of education."
Lesley Marjoribanks, Customer & Colleague Security Awareness Manager | Royal Bank of ScotlandRead More Testimonials


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Oribitel TPU 900 and TPU 901
The world's first GSM phone and the first phone to receive a text message
- Date launched: 1991
- Network: GSM 900Mhz
- Form: Transportable
- Size: 172(w)x216(h)x75(d) mm
- Weight: 2100g
- Can you use it today: Yes, in theory
The Orbitel TPU 900 (left) was the world's first GSM phone. As you can see it was hardly tiny. Digital technology was more bulky than analogue. This world's first went to a British company, Orbitel, a joint venture between Racal and Plessey, beating Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson to make the first phone to be approved for the new GSM standard in 1991.
As you can imagine these phones were not great sellers, however, Orbitel succeeded in exporting them to Germany and there was a revised model, the TPU 901. The Orbitel was the first phone that the UK's first GSM provider, Vodaphone, offered.
This phone also has the accolade of being the first phone to receive a text message. Neil Papworth, sent the world's first text "Merry Christmas" on 3 December 1992 to Vodafone director Richard Jarvis, who received it on an Orbitel TPU 901.[1]
As GSM spread to Africa, these phones became something of a status symbol, because of their large size.
References[1]Wikipedia - SMS
Add your comments
Please spell VODAFONE correctly.
Although, having said that, Gerry Whent sacked our then PR officer for displaying 'don't forget your f in Vodafone' on a DM display at the TMA Conference in Brighton in the late '80s." David Pearce 10/09/2013
Racal became Racal Telecom and bought out Plesseys share.
Vodafone bought Racal Telecom.
Vodafone sold Orbitel to Ericsson
Ericsson closed the basestation part of the company. Kept the mobile phone part.
Why do I know this. I Worked terecascan RF Engineer. Designing the TPU 900 then the 901
1988 to 1993" NIgel Tout 08/16/2014
The SIM was a pain in the rump though. It was a full-sized credit card that slotted into the handset just under where your fingers fell when making a call. It was so easy to accidentally knock and cause an IMSI Detatch..." Nick Cooper 06/19/2015
I have the Carry case as well its like new" Terry 07/01/2015
I hav an old "Orbitel MTU/TPU 900", the Siemens Clone, and I'd like to ask if you have the Pinout for the Charger and Power Port.
Thank you in advance.
Wolf" Wolfgang Waldthaler 10/09/2016


text:
My name is Ryan and when I was growing up I would go over to my neighbour's house after school until my parents got home from work. My neighbour Jessica was in her 30's and single which was probably why my parents and her liked to hang out. I loved it there because she would look after me like I was her son and i would play video games and watch TV while i was there.
As I grew up I saw less and less of her as my parents trusted me more, when I began puberty i started seeing her in a diffrent way instead of her being the loving other - mother of mine i started seeing her as this sexy woman who i fantisized about. Jessica was now in her early 40's with chestnut hair down to her shoulders and 30DD breasts which were firm since she had never had kids of her own.
It was my parents anniversery this following weekend and they were going away for 3days so they left me with Jessica seeing as most of my family lives far away I was 16 at this time It was the morning and my parents had just left and i was just doing a few lenghts of the pool when Jessica nicole aniston has a perfect ass tube porn in.
"Hey, watch were you're diving!" "Sorry, Ryan I was bored round the house so I thought I would come join you, is that Okay?" "Yer, thats fine" She was wearing a red bikini which didnt leave much to the imagination and i was just wearing some swimming shorts I had an athletic body and was keeping fit for a swimming competition later in the summer Jessica was quite fit too in both senses of the word she could keep up with me but gave up and went to the shallow end I joined her, she was catching her breath "Wow.
You're quite the good swimmer" "Well i'm practicing for the competition later this summer" "I'm sure you'll win" She laughed. "Why don't we go into the house and get dry?" "Your place or mine?" I asked jokingly. She blushed "Well you can come over and I'll fix us something up to eat" "Sounds like a plan" We walked into her house through her patio doors.
Jessica's house was the same size as our house but it seemed a lot bigger because there wasn't as much junk in her house she had her living room joined to her kitchen so we sat in there and ate.
"Why don't we put on a DVD till it cools down outside" "Okay" At this point I was in my swimming shorts and she was in her bikini and we were sat at either end of her three seater couch I young hot kamilla screwed well in the kitchen off and turned on her TV and DVD player It started playing a porn film "OH Shit!" She went as red as her bikini and jumped down to turn it off "I'm so so sorry about that, please don't tell your parents" "Don't worry about it, I've seen better" I joked she was still embarresed and quickly put on another film we carried on eating our lunch but i noticed the effect that film had had on me and with me wearing swim shorts it was quite visable.
I must of dozed off because now it was dark outside I walked into the kitchen to see Jessica in pajamas which were just some skipmy pink shorts and a red T shirt she wasn't wearing a bra because i could see her nipples through the fabric "Hey sleepy head".
"Uh Hey, what times is it?" "It's almost 10pm" "Wow I have been asleep for a long time" "Must have been all that swimming you've been doing. I'm just making some supper, why don't you bring over some bedding and we can camp down in the living room and put on some scary films" "That sounds great" I didn't really want to sleep on my own seen as it was my first night alone and the idea of me sleeping in my boxers next to Jessica got my blood pumping in more then one way.
It didn't take us long to set up the bedding in her living room I was wearing boxers and a T shirt. Jessica had brought down a king sized mattress and a sleeping bag which was the same make as teacher and stident xxxx blue film com so they could be attached.
She came in with supper and some films, we settled down and watched the film i laid with my back up against the coush and she laid down, from were i was sat i could see up her top. The film finished, Jessica got up and turned the film off and i took my shirt off "Ooo were you expecting something big boy?" I blushed "Sorry I always sleep with my shirt off, I hope it's not a problem" "No, none at all" We got into bed and fell asleep, I hadn't been really fallen asleep when i started hearing these noises coming from Jessica I looked over and saw her with her eyes tightly shut I looked down to see her fondling her breasts and her other hand between her legs I was shocked.
I had never seen a naked woman before, Well I had seen porn but this was completly diffrent this was the real thing my cock stood to attention. Jessicas eyes opened and by this point I was trying to get as much of a look in as i could I didn't even noticed her eyes were open when she spoke "Do you mind". I was terrified it took it all out of me to speak. "I'm s.sorry" "Please don't tell your parents!" As she came round in full awareness of what she had done, I was still shocked.
"N. no I won't I. p.promise" She gently rubbed my arm "Go back to sleep" I blurted out "Take Your time" "Why, you little pervert" I got back into my bed and went back to sleep but after seeing her beautiful body them big firm tits and that juicy pussy that was almost shaved complete apart from a little bit of hair above all these wonderful fantasys were running through my head.
The next morning I awoke to the sound of muffling noise next to me so I got up leaving Jessica asleep and I went to take a shower, having been in her house as a kid I knew were to go there were two showers one in her ensuite and one at the end of the landing near the guest bedroom but her shower had jets and was more powerful so I chose that one I turned the water on slipped down my boxers and got in.
I was feeling horny after last night so i thought I could jerk off to the sight of her body in my mind, it took me a while to get soaped up and hard I didn't even hear Jessica come in the bathroom.
I was stood there in her shower completly naked as the day i was born when I felt a cold hand on my shoulder, I imdiatly span round to see Jessica in all her glory but - naked I tried to cover what I was doing but she just laughed and I asked her "Wh.
What are you doing?!" "I thought I'd come and check what you was doing" "Well I'm having a shower, I hope you don't mind" "Not at all, besides I need a shower to we mgiht aswel go together" I was stunned at the words, the shower itself could handle at leasst three people in with room left over so it wasn't a problem but what was a problem is I still had an erection so I offered to stand behind her.
My cock fully erect was about 7" I was about average I was just day dreaming about her when suddenly "Ryan can you soap up my back please" I started rubbing her back till it was done then she turned around to wash it off, I was in awe I didn't even think of trying to hide my erection "Oh dear Ryan what have we here" "err.err" "Well I can't get washed with that in the way now, can I?" I just stood there speechless as she slowly got on her knees and started licking my shaft and my balls.
Jessica took her hand and started pumping up and down my shaft while sucking the end off "Uuuuh god Jessica that feels sooo good" she stopped for a moment before I was about to cum. "Seen as you're enjoying it so much I think I want some" She walked out of the shower through her bedroom into the guest bedroom I followed her she turned around kissed me passionatly and jumped back stretching a taut anal opening hardcore blowjob to the double size guest bed "Come on then" I jumped on my back onto the bed we laid there for a moment in silence until Jessica got up on her knees and pulled we to my side and started kissing me she pulled herself on top of me and slowly pushed the end of my cock into her hot wet pussy, her juices made it glisten she was tight really tight like she was a virgin.
She stayed there in silence with her eyes closed for a moment and slowly started squatting up and down on my shaft picking up speed I helped by thrusting and we got into a rythm. Fuck was this good, I had been dreaming about this for ages I couldn't believe it was happening I didn't want it to end.
Jessica got off me and laid on her back and told me to get on top of her as I did I began thrusting knowing that I was soon going to ejaculate and didn't know if she wanted me to so I carried on thursting "oh my god Ryan! Harder! Faster! Deeper!" She squirting ho facial bbc interracial and big dick out like she was this sex maniac I gave her all I could "Uuuuuuuuuuuh fuck yes. Ryan fuck me fuck me harder Ryan oh god yehhhhhh" Them words pushed me over the edge "I'm cumming!" we laid on our backs next to each other panting like dogs trying to catch our breath.
"That was fucking awesome" Jessica laugh and put her arm around my chest holding me tightly I turned to her and hugged I kissed her forhead and rubbed up against her "Whats going to happen now" I asked worrying a little bit. "Did you enjoy it?" "Are you having a laugh" "Well then theres no reason for beautiful indian and foreign girl lesbian sex to stop is there?" I laid there with a smile on my face.
Jessica got up and finished her shower I soon followed knowing that this weekend was going to be fun. As the weekend was ending I gathered my stuff and took it back to my house I thought how things were going to change. My parents got home later in the afternoon looking a lot happier with themselves they invited Jessica over for dinner they had bought her some expensive wine and this thing in a package. We sat around the table chatting when I brought in her gifts she started to open the package when my mum intervened "Oh no, you won't need to open that now" "It's fine, I can't wait to see it anyway" Jessica opened the package to see a birght pink vibrator she laugh and I burst out laughing to which my dad wasn't amused "Now Ryan shut up".
It was about 11pm and my parents had gone to bed after a day of travelling they were tired and jet lagged so I snook out of the house and over to Jessicas I knocked on the patio doors she jumped out her skin when she saw me "Jesus Ryan you scared me half to death" "Sorry, have you tried your gift out yet" "Why would I need to try it out when I you?" "Well did you want to use it now?" "Err. Yes of course" She ran upstairs with me behind her we quickly stripped down to our underwear and we got into the 69 position when we heared a knock at the door, Jessica ignored it but they knocked again so she put on her dressing gown straightened her hair and ran downstairs I could hear but I couldn't see who it was "Oh hi Jessica I was wondering if you had seen Ryan" Oh shit it was my mom.
"Yeh he's here" "Oh good as long as he isn't places where he shouldn't be" "Why don't you come in we was going to watch a film" "Well I can't get to sleep with him snoring" I quickly got changed and ran downstairs "Hey mom" I was sat on the chair opposite where my mom and Jessica were sat during the film I saw m mom and Jessica getting close to each other.
Fuck was this what I think was happening?! I saw Jessicas hand slip out oh her dressing gown arm and on to my moms thigh she slightly jumped and moved her hand on to Jessicas thigh.
My mom went into her kitchen saying she need to get a glass Jessica followed her, I snook into the kitchen and peaked around the door to see Jessica with her dressing gown ont he floow and on her knees with my moms hands round the back of her head. Fuck me I thought.


text:
Here is what, the founder of travel blog "Velvet Escape" and prolific traveller, Keith Jenkins has to say about her experience with travelling:
I feel happy when I'm gaining new experiences and insights and challenging my boundaries. Travel is the perfect catalyst for happiness, as it has allowed me to experience the natural, cultural and man-made wonders of the world. Being in foreign lands, it also continuously forces me to step out of my comfort zone – a great confidence-builder. In my book, travel is the best school there is: I've learned so much about the world and, most importantly, about myself.
So, the next time you find yourself heading out on a shopping spree to lift your mood, why not put that money towards a flight instead? Here are some ways how travel can make you happy.
It's much easier to make new friends on the road than it is at home, where people are less inclined to chat to strangers on a bus or strike up conversation in a bar. When people are away from home, there seem to be less boundaries to cross and making friends becomes much easier, whether it's a local curious to know where you've come from or a fellow travelers keen to have someone with whom to enjoy a beer or share a taxi. Social interactions make us happier and increasing our social circle means that we're talking more and meeting different, interesting people, which hopefully means we're learning more, too.
Social media can be used for both good and bad, but it's healthy for everyone to have a break from the internet every once in a while. Wi-fi is so prevalent that it's hard to turn off and you can quite often find yourself tuning out whatever amazing place you're in with your face in your phone, checking Twitter, scrolling through your Facebook feed, checking your emails… stop. Turn it off. Better yet, find somewhere with no reception and no wi-fi so that you don't have a choice. It's liberating and allows you to better enjoy the 'here and now', which nicely ties into the following point.
Traveling gives us breathing space that is often lost in our usual day-to-day existence. Having a moment to take advantage of peace and quiet and to simply 'be' allows us to let go of stress and tension and just enjoy being in the moment — a key focus of meditation and a practice you can take home with you. If you're traveling with a partner, it's a chance to spend time with only each other for company, which is a thought that probably shouldn't fill you with dread
There comes a time when everyone must deal with an unexpected situation when they're on the road. Even if you plan your trip to the letter, things can take a surprise turn. Whatever happens, there is a way around the problem and knowing that you can deal with these situations is a big boost to self-confidence and therefore your happiness.
Aside from making you happier in the short-term, traveling can make you a much more contented, happy and relaxed person in the long run, too. Of course, most travel enthusiasts are constantly planning their next trip, but when we're at home or past a point of being able to jet off whenever we like, past travels leave us with the memories and personal skills – such as confidence, broad-mindedness, friends and a worldlier perspective — that make people happy. And that's why travel makes you a happier person.


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How to point Java stack to correct HANA node after takeover or failover in HANA multitenant database environment?
We are having SAP Java stack application server and after HANA takeover or HANA failover you want the JAVA stack to automatically points towards the correct SAP HANA node.
We are using the JAVA Stack connected to SAP HANA multitenant database containers.
The HDBUSERSTORE is only used to store connection information for SAP HANA application clients that supports ABAP, ODBC, HDBSQL connection types. Whereas JAVA stack uses JDBC based connection types for connecting to an SAP HANA Database which is not supported by HDBUSERSTORE.
Please do as following to resolve this issue:
Edit the URL property string in the Connection Pools window of the AS Java Config Tool so that it has information about the failover nodes or the node on the secondary sites you want to takeover
In the above example Url saphananode1 is the current working SAP HANA node and saphananode2 is the standby node that you want to failover too. The multitenant port is 3XX13 where XX is the instance number. SID is the name of the SAP HANA Database.
Although for windows environments SAP JAVA does not use HDBUSERSTORE functionality to connect to SAP HANA Database, but it is still Mandatory to add user SAPService to HDBUSERSTORE as described in the following SAP 1852017


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Excellence and innovation happens best when you use teamwork.
Our focus is on building the right solutions for our clients. Through partnerships with industry leaders like Microsoft and IBM we're able to deliver best-in-class business and technology solutions quickly. These strategic partnerships also allow us to develop our technical skills through in-depth training and technical certifications and provide technology solutions to our clients using proven methodologies and best practices.


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Reiki Healing
Reiki, (pronounced ray' - kee), is a philosophy of Wellness. It is, in a real sense, the application of Love as a palpable force, thus is, of course, non-invasive and drug-free. It is now being applied in many hospitals by emergeny room personnel, by medics, police officers, fire-fighters, and other first-responders.
Through a simple "laying on of hands," energy is caused to flow gently through the body, reducing stress, promoting relaxation and calming the emotions, which facilitates the natural healing of the body, both in the immune and musculo-skeletal systems. This energy is transmitted from the Universe through a healing facilitator -- preferably a Reiki Master -- to assist in pain relief and speed the healing process on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Example -- A Client's Testimonial
In 1997 I was diagnosed with Essential Thrombocythemia, with a platelet count of 1,400,000, which is considered a form of blood and bone-marrow cancer. In 2003, Rebecca Vogler started treating me, and although the average life expectancy of people with this disease is eight years, I have had it for twelve years, and am still able to take care of myself at 77 years of age! I have to take oral chemotherapy every day, which is enough to kill a person in 12 years. When I started the treatment with Mrs. Vogler, I was taking meds for high blood pressure as well, which I no longer need or take! I am thankful for Becky and her treatments.
Robert Loy,
Piedmont area, North Carolina
Click on the link below for the full story of Robert Loy's amazing journey with Reiki and my other modalities
Reiki is not a religion. The term Reiki derives from two Japanese words, Rei and Ki, meaning "spiritually guided life force energy" -- the energy which is said to animate us all, and permeates the space around us. This concept of universal life energy is found in many cultures, and is widely recognized to be the force that vitalizes the body.
There's no belief system attached to Reiki, thus anyone of any faith can receive treatment. As in any healing, the first step towards a healthier life is the desire to heal.
The client reclines on a table or bed, or sits in a chair, while the Reiki Master holds her hands on or above (the choice of the client) the surface of the client's body. Beginning at the top of the head (crown), the practitioner focuses the Reiki energy progressively on all internal organs, joints and glands. There is no pressure applied to the body, making it ideal for treating clients of all ages and conditions.
Regardless of the location of the Reiki Master's hands at any moment, the energy flows to that portion of the body most in need at that time. It can be felt as a gently flowing sensation, or tingling in the body. This force is often perceived by the recipient to flow progressively through the body at points the practitioner is addressing, but it is also felt moving to specific locations as directed by the body, rather than by the practitioner.
A typical treatment lasts an hour, or occasionally longer, as required. When combined with other treatments -- Bowen Therapy, for example -- times may be extended.
* Enhancement of all natural healing processes in the body.
* Facilitation of functions of organs and glands.
*Strengthening of the immune system.
*Amelioration of pain.
*Clearance of toxins via cellular flushing.
* Increase in personal awareness.
*Relaxation and diffusion of stress.
*Promotion of creativity.
*Release of suppressed emotions.
*Reduction of strength of destructive inner dialogue.
*Increase of knitting speed of broken bones.


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Have a question about our mission, store or how you can help us out? Drop us a line and we'd love to chat with you!
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[rescue_column size="two-third" position="first"]
[rescue_column size="one-third" position="last"]
We're based out of:
St. Augustine, FL
Email: email@example.com
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Need More?:
We're active in the community, so let us know if you'd like to be involved in our goings-on!


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Sharon's Curves Are in Fleek
There's a lot of perks to working with an experienced model. But Sharon always brings a little extra to the table. She's always well prepared, brings more outfits than we can shoot in an afternoon and she always has something cool. Take this CURVES ON FLEEK top. It is just too cute not the use in on a photo shoot.
No photoshoot with me would be comeplete if it does not involve some latex. And combining lingerie and latex was definitely a good idea. It shows off Sharon's beautiful curves and tattoos. I really love this photo.


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|Personal Training
Are you unhappy with what you see in the mirror? Are you stressed, tired, and have low motivation? Have you gone back and forth with your weight for years? Stop yo-yoing! If any or all of these questions apply to you, Instant Fitness personal training is the perfect service for you! Personal training is designed for those trying to make big changes in their mind and body. You can completely transform yourself with our Instant Fitness 3.0 system!
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-Increase in stamina, flexibility, and strength
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-Live a long, healthy, and happy life!
Instant Fitness Personal Training 3.0 has everything you need to get your dream body and keep your dream body!
Instant Fitness 3.0 includes:
-24/7 help and guidance from your trainer and nutrition consultant
-An Accountability system to make sure you're reaching your goals
-Customized workout, tailored to fit your goals and your lifestyle
-Customized off-day training schedule, based on fitness goals, to be completed outside of personal training sessions
-Customized meal plan and Nutrition consultations
-Access to all Instant Fitness Bootcamps
-Progression checks, including body measurements, BMI, body fat analysis, and before and after pictures
Call today for FREE fitness assessment and plan a healthier future!


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UCB fave Chris Gethard takes the lead in Comedy Central series with Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell
If you see a comedy nerd acting extra weird today, it's because they're slowly figuring out the news that Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre fixture Chris Gethard reported for work today as the new lead of the untitled Gary Sanchez Productions Comedy Central series that also features Horatio Sanz and Chris Parnell. Yes. That's correct. When Gethard said on Twitter that he had to get up this morning for work, he meant this. The sitcom that Comedy Central greenlit for 10 episodes, with an option for 90 more, was supposed to begin production March 31 with Jon Heder in the lead role, until Heder dropped out last week. We can speculate all we want on why Heder dropped out. I have my theory. Anyhow. With the sets ready to go in New York City, producers quickly looked to fill the lead role and auditioned several comedians over the past week. Gethard, as a UCB fave and ASSSSCAT regular, obviously already has chemistry with UCB original Sanz. Gethard also has generated buzz in his ESPN basketball commercials, his Christmas morning appeal to Sean "Diddy" Combs, and making an Ohio comedy nerd's dream come true. Welcome to karma. In his biggest break yet, Gethard will play a young man who loses his job and has to move back in with his parents. Sanz plays one of his friends, an ex-con, while Parnell...Read More


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Free Shipping on $75+ Must select Sure Post at checkout.
Ear Piercing Common Questions | Piercing Pagoda
Since 1969, Piercing Pagoda has safely pierced over 20 million pairs of ears. All Piercing Pagoda associates are thoroughly trained in ear piercing procedures.
Is the ear piercing system used by Piercing Pagoda safe?
Yes, the system is 100% safe. All piercing earrings are sterilized and stored in capsules. The piercing earrings sold by Piercing Pagoda are either hypoallergenic or have nickel content that is less than half of 1% total, which significantly reduces the risk of allergic reaction.
Does ear piercing hurt?
Ear piercing is fast and very gentle. Most people feel little to no discomfort during the piercing.
Will I be able to leave the earrings out without the hole closing?
Some people assume earrings can be removed and easily re-inserted; this is not the case. You should only switch into new earrings after the healing period, which is 4-6 weeks for an earlobe piercing and 8‐12 weeks for a cartilage piercing. Wearing earrings continuously is required for the first 6 months after the piercing to prevent the piercing from closing.
Is it safe to pierce infants and children?
Yes, however Pagoda does recommend that babies have a current D.P.T. shot. The first D.P.T. shot is usually administered by a pediatrician at 8 weeks of age.
How long does it take for an ear piercing to heal?
Piercing earrings should be left in for at least 4-6 weeks after an earlobe piercing and 8-12 weeks for a cartilage piercing.
How is the cartilage different from the earlobe?
Cartilage is the translucent, elastic tissue located in the upper portion of the ear. Think of the cartilage area as two separate sections – the skin covering the cartilage and the cartilage itself. Cartilage differs from the earlobe primarily in that it has a limited blood supply.
Is a cartilage piercing as gentle as lobe piercing?
Yes, with the system used by Piercing Pagoda, cartilage ear piercing is just as gentle as a lobe piercing.
What is the age limit for ear piercing?
Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Anyone under 18 years of age must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to obtain ear piercing services. Those over 18 must have either a valid driver's license or state-issued identification card for all ear piercings.
What does it cost for ear piercing?
Free ear piercing is provided to our customers with an in-store purchase of piercing earrings. Half piercings are available for an additional $3.50 restocking fee. Cartilage piercing is available in select stores for an additional $2.00 charge.
Learn More About Ear Piercing


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Thursday, March 12, 2015
St. Patrick's Day Inspiration!
14 comments :
Youre definitely making me want to have a St Patricks Day party now with all of this fun inspiration. I love the green table runner with all of the candles and gold coins!ReplyDelete
<3, Pamela
Sequins & Sea Breezes
I love the four leaf clover on the door! And the mason jars!ReplyDelete
Those mason jars! So, so adorable.. This is putting my lack of decorating to serious shame! Definitely pinning a bunch of these!ReplyDelete
Agreed, St Patricks day is such a small holiday, but any excuse to decorate or make festive treats and I'm down. The mason jars with the clovers are super cute.ReplyDelete
aw i love the gold mason jars! cute. xo jillian - cornflake dreamsReplyDelete
The clover on the door is so cute! And I love the mason jars...just can't do wrong with gold!ReplyDelete
adorable! i love the cute little wreath and those mason jars!ReplyDelete
The wreath is my favorite, followed closely by the table runner and the gold coins- so cute!ReplyDelete
I love that pot of gold with the rolos, in fact now it's making me want some rolos!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 12, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Those candles are just adorable! Dried peas!?ReplyDelete
I'm with you, St. Patrick's Day is not my favorite, but I never pass up an excuse for some festivity! I love that table runner with the coins!ReplyDelete
Love the four leaf clover door decoration. So nice and springy!ReplyDelete
You're making me wish that I went ahead and decorated for St. Patrick's Day! I skipped right over and went to Easter! These are all so great – especially the mason jars!ReplyDelete
Beautiful table setting from The TableScaper! I also love a good excuse to be festive. Thanks for sharing these great ideas- Happy Friday :)ReplyDelete


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Snacks & Treats
Holland Michigan is considered one of the nation's top safest cities, best places to retire, best places to raise a family, healthiest and most beautiful. Ours is a college town built on the foundation of Dutch culture and a strong work ethic. Holland is a gem in a coast that's full of beautiful towns, beaches, and restaurants just waiting to be discovered. We put a short list of things to do while you're here. We hope you'll join us and love it here as much as we do.
- Things To Do
- Food & Dining
- Other Services
- Medical
Ottawa Beach General Store
Ice Cream and Convenience Store
2256 Ottawa Beach Rd., Holland
Located near Holland State Park
Dune Dogz
2233 Ottawa Beach Rd., Holland
Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm


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Jackson State University is $75,000 richer after students captured the top academic prize during the 29th annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC) National Championship Tournament in Torrance, California.
JSU competed in a head-to-head battle with 48 Historically Black Colleges and Universities on the campus of the American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
The four students representing JSU were Zaveon Demon Cooper II, a senior majoring in theatre arts from Jackson, Mississippi; Justin Clarke, a junior majoring in accounting from Atlanta, Georgia; Charles Octavius Pennington, a senior majoring in chemical engineering and chemistry from Hollandale, Mississippi, and James Meeks Jr., a senior majoring in finance from Jackson, Mississippi. Team coaches were JSU instructors Dr. Farah Christmas and Joshua J. Cotton, both in the Department of History and Philosophy.
Honda Campus All‐Star Challenge is a year‐round program that includes campus engagement, intramural play, qualifying tournaments and culminates with the National Championship. The fast‐paced competition highlights students' academic prowess and ability to answer questions about history, science, literature, religion, the arts and pop culture.
In 1989, Honda established HCASC to highlight and recognize the academic achievements of HBCU students. More than $8.5 million in grants from Honda have provided support for scholarships, facility upgrades and other investments to improve the student experience. Now in its 29th year, more than 125,000 students have participated in HCASC.
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Here are 3 more of the impressive collection of hotels in Las Vegas. First, The MGM. I love the color of the building.
It is that color because MGM is the WIzard of Oz movie makers, you know, Emerald City. Even though I can't watch the Wizard of Oz, I still like the color! It is also the largest hotel in Vegas with over 6,000 rooms! Crazy big!
Leo, the MGM lion. When the hotel first opened you had to walk through a lions mouth to enter. But they were not getting enough of the Asian gambling crowd. They found out in Asian cultures lions are thought to steal luck, so of course they stayed away. Now you just walk through a door.
Then there is The Excalibur. The architect designed it how he thought a medieval castle would look. Obviously, he has never visited an actual castle.
Finally we move on the Egypt and The Luxor. The light on top of the pyramid can be seen from space!
"The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land." – G.K. Chesterton


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Posted by Lorraine on July 31, 2001, at 22:43:38
In reply to Re: Give me back my hand- (just kidding) » Elizabeth, posted by shelliR on July 29, 2001, at 23:51:29
> > > It's complicated and it's sounds much more bizarre than it feels, I am so used to it by now. I have different personalities inside; girls clustered around three and eight, related to sexual abuse at those ages. If you heard them you would not think they are me--the three year old especially, not only has the voice of a three year old, but has the verbal patterns of a three year old: repetition, disinterest in answering questions, etc. and chatters on and on. I worked a lot with them in therapy with EMDR and in body therapy, and at this point while still present, they do not dominate my life
Shelli: I just want to say that navigating your path through this life with alters sounds like a real challenge. In therapy, I had to embrace the 8 year old child in myself that I had discarded as quickly as I could, but that is a far cry from dealing with and negotiating with alters. I have been on a couple of support groups with people who had alters and I found that these people were remarkably careful and considerate in how and whom they let communicate with the group. Then to have people discredit the notion of alters as well--that just makes things more difficult.
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010731/msgs/72814.html


text: Miguel Calvo is a Managing Director and leads the Digital IT practice for Accenture's Financial Services Technology Advisory in Europe. He has extensive experience helping financial services companies get the most out of technology and incorporate new IT tools into their operations. His specialty includes aligning the IT organization with overall business strategy, rotating to new digital technologies, from infrastructure, architecture and applications perspective. He brings a pragmatic approach to his work and seeks to leverage his wide-ranging experience working with technology across industries.


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Monday, November 5, 2012
DT Card for Unstampabelles #17 - Monochromatic
24 comments:
Looks fantastic WendyReplyDelete
This is gorgeous Merry I like the butterfly and the squares background.ReplyDelete
Kevin xx
Great monochromatic card Merry. Love that butterfly. Thanks for joining us at Come and Get It this week.ReplyDelete
Beautiful card Merry. I spotted this on MIM..LozReplyDelete
How funny - stamps! Yes, it is a beautiful butterfly and I love being green - that and pink are my favourites! Fabulous card boss.ReplyDelete
Saw you on MIM and your card is gorgeous!! I love the monochrome.. and Green!! My favoritE!!ReplyDelete
Sounds like something I've done...make a card for a DT only to find out it doesn't fit for what ever reason...I can feel for ya! This is beautiful! Love the butterfly!ReplyDelete
Saw ya on Make It Monday - I'm #4 - come on by and enter to win my candy!
Karen C
Hello Merry. Your card is Beautiful. Visiting from MIM..FayeReplyDelete
Loved your confession, made me feel human. Lol. And this card has the most amazing monochromes. Love them. Butterfly looks very befitting as does sentiment.ReplyDelete
This is lovely, Merry! All the squares look great.ReplyDelete
Hello Merry,ReplyDelete
You've made a stunning monochromatic card with al lovely butterfly.
Hugs Wilma
What a hoot that you used stamps..lol..but wow, was the second make a gorgeous turn out! Love the double butterfly and embossing and the arrangement of your squares looks wonerful in those colors!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for taking the time to link up your talent and creative ideas with us at Make It Monday!
Happy Crafting...
Lisa xx
Merry this looks amazing xReplyDelete
Beautiful card Merry, great colour comboReplyDelete
beautiful tone on tone card, Merry! love it!ReplyDelete
What a fantastic butterfly... love the variety of patterned squares. I'm here via MIM.ReplyDelete
saw this on MIM #14 and had to tell you how pretty this isReplyDelete
Very pretty card!! Love the colors you used!!ReplyDelete
Pretty monochromatic card. Very nice design. Thank you for joining us at Come and Get it Challenges this week.ReplyDelete
Thank you for joining us at Sketchy Colors this week!!
Hugs, Jannhild
So sorry I missed this one Merry, it's totally delightful, love the patchwork effect and the gorgeous butterfly.ReplyDelete
B x
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2012 at 9:54 PM
Beautiful card, I love all the greens with the butterfly, very pretty and so effective!!!ReplyDelete
Oh Merry this is so beautiful I love the wonderful shades of greens you have used that background design is perfect for that magnificent butterfly. Merry I wanted to thank you so much for the lovely comments that you have left on my blog they have meant so much to me.ReplyDelete
lorraine x
Very lovely take on the monochromatic challenge...I always struggle with that one!ReplyDelete
Thanks for much for visiting my little part of the world. I really appreciate the time you have taken to leave me a comment. I love hearing from you and if you are new I really like the fact I can now visit your blog too.


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After a weekend of wet, windy weather and big surf on the North Shore, Oahu residents can look forward to calmer skies and seas this week.
National Weather Service forecasters said a shear line that produced high winds and heavy showers starting Friday night has mostly dissipated, though the Big Island will likely experience its effects through this morning.
Police said wet weather likely played a factor in the death of an 18-year-old pedestrian struck by a city bus Saturday night while trying to cross Pauoa Road. Shun Ying Wu of Honolulu is the island's 61st traffic fatality so far this year, compared with 52 at the same in 2004.
The accident happened about 8:09 p.m. when the city bus, driven by a 48-year-old man, was turning from Pacific Heights Road to Pauoa Road.
Wu was in a marked crosswalk. She was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where she died.
The rains and high winds also caused the cancellation of Sunset on the Beach in Waikiki, public relations spokeswoman Mona Wood announced in an e-mail.
The movie scheduled yesterday, a tribute to late local film director Kayo Hatta, might be rescheduled, Wood said.
Intermittent showers unrelated to the weekend system will pass over Oahu through the week, but winds will remain at 10 to 15 mph.
On the North Shore, surf is expected to return to below advisory levels today. A high-surf warning was canceled yesterday, while a high-surf advisory for east- and north-facing shores was expected to remain in effect until noon today.
A swell, produced by a storm off Alaska, came in Saturday and peaked yesterday morning, bringing wave faces of up to 30 feet.
Despite the high surf, there were no rescues or assists on the North Shore yesterday. Lifeguards said that is because they were persuading inexperienced surfers to stay out of the water.


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- Time
- Post link
DrDre said:
yotsuya said:
DrDre said:
DominicCobb said:
Omni said:
My last two cents on the "is TFA just SW 2.0?" argument: This video, in which the guy tries to be as unbiased as possible. It's a good video.
I will say it's baffling to see people saying that TFA doesn't have the same plot as SW. The story isn't exactly the same (even though it's incredibly similar) but the plot is, pretty much, the very same thing…
I don't see how it's baffling that someone would say they aren't the exact same. I don't think you're actually baffled, you know full well they aren't the same. I don't understand why these conversations always turn to hyperbole. (Maybe because there'd be nothing to argue about if we were all honest with what the films actually are.)
Honestly, I like TFA, but I would say the plot is highly similar to ANH, with a few elements of TESB and ROTJ thrown in for good measure. The question is not whether it is, or isn't similar, because it is, and not by accident, but if it is too similar, such that in the combination with the story, characters, and visuals, it ruins the movie for you. It didn't for me, but I think because of the similarities, it's lasting impact may be somewhat less, than if it had been more original. I would also say, that if someone were to argue, that they didn't like TFA, because it was too similar to ANH, that that would not be an unreasonable point of view. I would say, that I can see their point, but the other elements in the film, and the way they were presented, made it seem fresh enough for me to like the movie, and not classify it as a rehash.
I would say the plot is completely different. ANH is driven by the Death Star Plans and a huge danger to the free galaxy (first Alderaan and then Yavin IV). TFA is driven by the search for Luke. In ANH Vader is searching for the plans protect his asset and they fall into Luke's hands. In TFA, Kylo and Leia are searching for Luke and no one finds him until the last scene. The map to Luke never is within reach of Kylo like it is Vader (R2 is there on the Death Star with the plans). In TFA, the piece of the map they have is useless without the rest which we get after the climax of the film.
That is not completely different. That is very similar. In both films the villain is looking for important information vital to the survival of the heroes, that has been hidden at the last moment by one of the heroes in a droid. That droid ends up in the hands of the main protagonist, who lives on a desert planet, and with the help of an ally tries to get the information back to the home base of the heroes. The heroes go to a seedy bar in an attempt to further their quest. The villains use a super weapon to destroy a planet/planets. One of the heroes needs to be rescued from the villain's base, we get another desperate attack to destroy the super weapon, we get another trench run, etc, etc.
Now what is the same are a lot of the setups and scenes. As I said before, the opening is setup almost identical in many ways, but once the McGuffin arrives in our hero's hands, the story diverges greatly. We are treated to Abrams version of the Cantina (which makes story sense because it is the sort of place Han would frequent and would go to when he needed something), Death Star, trench run, enemy base rescue, imminent danger, etc. But the story between them is nothing alike. In ANH, they accidentally find Leia, in TFA they go to rescue Rey. In ANH Leia needs rescuing, in TFA, Rey does not. In ANH the Death Star is closing in to fire, in TFA Starkiller Base is charging to fire. In ANH Tarkin refuses to leave, in TFA Hux evacuates. So a lot of story points touch on the same ideas, but the execution and resolution is very different because they plot of the film has a different goal. ANH is all about the Death Star while TFA is all about finding Luke. The crawls set it up this way. I find both movies to feel very different. While TFA evokes a sense of nostalgia and plays in familiar territory, everything is different and new.
The fact that some details are different, or that the order of events have been altered somewhat, or that one character is switched for another does not suddenly make it completely different. It makes it not identical, because several things have been altered, but the similarities, are there, and they are obvious. The question is whether making a few changes, and adding some new elements is enough to make it seem fresh? Some will say yes, while other will say no.
You are focusing on what is the same. It is only the same in a vague way. In TFA the map was not stolen. Poe does not remain a prisoner but escapes with Finn's help. Yes, that initial beat is the same, but nothing else about it is. TFA uses a few beats from ANH and rearranges them and changes how they play out to create a new story. It is not the same story retold. The details being different is what makes it a different story. It isn't the second Star Wars film to feature a bar scene after all. It isn't like it is the second Death Star. Star Wars has been full of reused beats and tropes. Most people have enjoyed it and it is the second most successful Star Wars film of the franchise. So it must have done something right. If you focus the the McGuffin and the super weapon, then yeah, they are going to seem the same. If you focus on who does what and why, then story is totally original. The McGuffin is not the plot. It is a tool to drive action and get us into the story.


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In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Dear saints in Christ, friends and family of Jean, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her three daughters, Nancy, Diana, Pam, and their husbands, and her beloved companion, her confidant, her husband, Dutch: Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead and brought life and immortality to light, and who gives life to our mortals bodies.
You all have your cherished memories of Jean. Dutch, meeting her in New York on your way back from Germany; the week you two spent traveling and enjoying one another's company. Her girls, riding around in the old army Jeep, your "convertible," it filling up with water in the rain. Her friends from Westview Hospital could likely share a few stories; the ladies from St Peter could too. You all have them. Dear dreams. Faded memories.
During her last months those memories drifted far away from Jean. In the end she could hardly remember who she was. It was painful. Not only for her, but for you, her own flesh and blood, when she forgot your names, your faces, the memories you shared. Can a woman forget her nursing child?, asks Isaiah. So sadly, yes.
Even though these may forget, says our Lord, yet I will not forget you. behold I have engraved you on the palms of My hands! Our Lord will never forget His own. They are as dear to Him as His own flesh and blood. He has compassion on His people and comforts His afflicted. Our Lord sought out Jean, His own dear little lamb, His precious sheep.
For her our Lord took up the frailty of flesh and blood. For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," Himself entered into the darkness of our world. He who is the Light of the world, came into the world. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
He became her Good Shepherd. Indeed He is, and was, and always will be her Good Shepherd. And for whatever else Jean may have forgotten, she knew His Voice, she abided in His Word, for she is His own.
Yet it is so contrary to reason. For this dear woman progressed to the stage during this mortal life, where she could not "give her heart to Jesus," where she could not "make a decision for Him," where she could not "surrender to His love." But that doesn't matter. Jesus gave His heart to her. I am the Good Shepherd, says Jesus, I know My own and My own know Me; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
For all your reason and strength, you cannot do these things either; not really. Even at the peak of her health, Jean knew this. She knew herself to be a sinner. And she confessed it, saying, "I, a poor miserable sinner, confess unto You, almighty God, merciful Father, all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You." She did not proclaim herself. She knew what she needed – a Savior, a Kinsmen Redeemer, an Atoning Sacrifice.
This is the way of faith, the way of Christianity. Not you to God, but God to you. God for you. God for Jean. I am the Good Shepherd, Jesus says. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. She trusts His Word. She believes His promise. She received His absolution. She lives in Christ.
But this too seems unreasonable. Shepherds don't die for their sheep. They raise them for slaughter. Not so the Good Shepherd. In unfathomable love for Jean, in unbounded mercy for you, Jesus Christ laid down His life. He is not your example. He is your Atoning Sacrifice. He takes what was due you – slaughter and sacrifice, death and punishment – and He gives you what is His – forgiveness and mercy, life and salvation. This is the great exchange of Christianity. And this is precisely how Jesus is the Good Shepherd: He lays down His life for the sheep.
In this life slaves are branded with their master's initials and sheep die for shepherds. But these are things that are seen. They are transient. Look to the things that are unseen, for they are eternal. Our Lord came not be be served, but to serve, to give His life as a ransom for you. He has engraved you on the palms of His hands. Christ, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for the sheep.
He died for Jean. He took her place. The hand through which the nail pierced is engraved with her name. It is lifted before the throne of Father on her behalf. And there, in His shed blood, Jean has found comfort and peace and the forgiveness of all her sins. For He bore her iniquities; by His wounds she is healed. He laid down His life for her and He took it up again. Jesus is not dead, but lives. So too Jean is not dead, but lives. For she is baptized into His death and resurrection for her. Her death was His, now His life is hers, for all eternity.
Do not lose heart. Though she was afflicted, she is not crushed; though perplexed, not driven to despair; though persecuted, not forsaken. She carried in her body the death of Jesus. So too she shall share in His resurrection. On account of her Baptism, His goodness and mercy followed her and surrounded her and covered her all the days of her life. The staff of His Cross guided her and went on before her. She shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Today we will carefully place this mortal body into the earth. But on the Last Day it shall be raised immortal. Today this body is corruptible, at the Last it shall be incorruptible; today imperfect, then perfect.
Even now, beloved, her affliction has given way to eternal glory beyond all comparison. And we await the resurrection of the dead, when our Good Shepherd shall gather us together with her and all the faithful into one flock.
Until then, remember Jean, share your memories with one another. Yet more blessed, more joyous, more comforting than our memories of Jean could ever be is that Christ her Lord never forgot her. It is okay to mourn and grieve with each other. But we do not do so as those who have no hope. Comfort one another with the Word of Christ, with His forgiveness. We believe that Jesus died and He rose again. And through Jesus, God will bring to Himself those who have died in the Lord.
Jean has not been forgotten, she is not dead. She lives. She has been gathered into the arms of her Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus, and taken home.
In the Name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.


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A collective portrait of the German people during the first half of the twentieth century will be on view in August Sander: People of the Twentieth Century, at the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Center, May 6September 14, 2008. A pioneering photographer, August Sander (German, 1876-1964), worked throughout his life to create an "atlas" of his fellow citizens, arranging his portraits in groupings according to their classes and professions, as well as their association with the country or the city.
Sander's project remained unfinished, despite his dedication to it over five decades. Organized into seven groupings (farmers, skilled tradesmen, women, classes and professions, artists, the city, and the so-called
"last people" or the disabled and disenfranchised) and 45 portfolios, about 700 photographs have been identified as belonging to this "cultural work in photographic pictures."
August Sander: People of the Twentieth Century (Press Release)
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To request a press kit or images by e-mail, please contact . In your message, please indicate which image(s) you are requesting by number.


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Tag Archives: butterfly project
The Butterfly Project
Adele Aldridge sent us this synchro. It's compelling in that it illustrates how synchronicity often works with creative endeavors and how the Internet facilitates that connection. One day on Facebook, someone had shared the above image on my page – … Continue reading
Posted in synchronicity Tagged animals as messengers, butterfly project, creativity, transformation 5 Comments


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14th, 1929 to March 29th, 2017
I do not know if he
was born a pre-mature baby, but Jim 'Early' Byrd was definitely a step ahead of
his time. Born to Georgia and Wilbur
Byrd in Westfield, New Jersey, James Wilbur Byrd was a veteran of the Air Force,
and Radio Personality for over 60 years. James 'Early' Byrd, was 'a soldier', as his
daughter, Darlene, put it. 'Early' Byrd
was tall, good looking, charming beyond words and his personality was larger
than life from beginning to end. For
example, when he came down with TB in the military, while in the hospital
recovering, he met and quickly be-friended record producer, Jerry Wexler, who later,
at Byrd's suggestion, produced a record or two for Aretha Franklin among others.
Byrd began broadcasting in 1948, serving
as an Airman First Class by day and broadcasting on the base radio station by
night. When Byrd co-hosted Blues To Do radio
& TV shows in Seattle in his sixth decade of broadcasting, by request, he
would repeat some jingles and scripts from his early radio days and simply
mesmerize a younger audience of admirers in an instant, including me. He was always planting seeds for the future
of good radio & good music here and beyond.
Byrd was known as an
icon at WILD in Boston during most of the turbulent 60s and was a morning
personality radio Disc Jockey all up and down the East Coast over his 60+ years
in the business, including Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Atlantic City, NJ and
Durham, NC. He helped to launch the
careers of so many artists in many genres.
He was a born leader in the radio business and was way ahead of his time
technically too, at one time hosting live radio shows in three markets at once,
before the internet. Byrd also managed a
handful of James Brown's radio stations between 1977 to 1984 in Knoxville, TN,
Augusta, GA, and Baltimore, MD, as well as being basically family to Brown's
family. Byrd did live personality radio
when there was no tape, no bells and no whistles and he filled up the air with
captivating stories and true personality.
Byrd interviewed Diana Ross & The Supremes when they were teenagers,
Muhammed Ali when he was Cassius Clay, The Temptations with David Ruffin, and
so many more major stars over the decades.
Ike and Tina Turner composed and recorded a theme song especially for
Byrd's radio show called 'Doin' The Early Byrd'. His boss at WILD in Boston at one time was
Barry Gordy. Byrd broke barriers as the
first African-American DJ on Boston's rock station, WBCN. He was Oprah Winfrey's boss at one time as
well, for about a month. He told me that
early on when he was succeeding and asked the station management for more
money, the station simply let him go, hired another voice and called them Early
Byrd. He quickly learned to keep rolling
onto the next place. Byrd was written
about in books about James Brown, black history and early rock 'n roll by such
notable writers as Peter Guralnick, including 'Hardest Working Man' a book
about how James Brown saved the soul of America, by James Sullivan. Byrd's legacy was deep, even referenced in 'Dreamgirls'
and 'Cadillac Records' when Eddie Murphy played a character named Jimmy Early.
His lifetime of major
achievements included being inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in
Cleveland, Ohio, in the DJ category with Wolfman Jack, Allen Freed and Dick
Clark. He was the first black DJ
inducted, and it just happened to be the same year Sam Cooke was inducted. Byrd was known for bringing new music to a larger
audience for decades and was a powerful black man in radio with both black and
white fans in a day when separation dominated.
Records he played in the morning, he sold out of his trunk to record
stores later that afternoon. He even told
his callers to call his competitor, Woo Woo Ginsberg, to get those records he
was selling out of his trunk played even more.
Byrd used this clever practice on what later became the state song here in
Washington State, still played at ballgames and other big events, 'Louie Louie'
as done by The Kingsmen. Byrd had a lot
to do with getting that record played all over the world and later he claimed
that record helped to make him who he was, and I would guess it helped him put
his three daughters through Ivey League colleges too. Later, here in Seattle, members of The
Kingsmen celebrated with him at another Birthday event for Byrd and were
thrilled to meet him in person.
Yet, he considered one
of his proudest moments to be during a time when he was the king of morning
personality radio in Boston, black or white, from 1960 to 1970 at WILD in
Boston. As Byrd put it, 'Boston Gardens
was his territory.' It was April 4th,
1968, the night Dr. King was assassinated and riots and fires were occurring
all over the country. James Brown was
scheduled to perform at Boston Gardens the next night and the city leaders were
considering canceling the show but James Brown would not have it, so they asked
Byrd what to do. Byrd not only had James
Brown's people on the phone, he told the city leaders to broadcast the concert
on the PBS station so people could stay home and watch it, and not riot. As it turned out, he was right and many
people did stay home and watch it and so no riots happened, no fires, nobody
died. WGBH filmed the concert in the
process, so a 3-disc DVD/booklet, documentary film was later produced with that
precious performance footage. Most of
the story was told by Byrd on and off camera, since he was the only one still
alive who was there that night. The film
is called "The Night James Brown Saved Boston" and he also filmed a Part II,
with an even more indepth telling of Byrd's story called, "The Last of The
Story". It is not yet released.
His personal
friendships included Dr. Martin Luther King, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Stevie
Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Morgan Freeman, Bonnie Raitt, Clyde
Otis, The Campbell Brothers, Solomon Burke, The Holmes Brothers, Clarence
Fountain and The Blind Boys of Alabama, Roomful of Blues and so many more. When I would mention a group or an artist touring
thru Seattle, Byrd would say to me, 'Oh I used to baby sit them.' He said it so many times I finally asked him
if he ran a daycare, but these were truly his neighbors in St. Albany/Queens,
New York….people that encouraged him in his career and so he DID probably baby
sit some of their kids including Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Count Basie,
Cootie Williams, Milt Hinton and many other heavies. He also loved his daughters, Adrian Pena-Byrd,
Tonya and Darlene Byrd, and his grandkids Alexis and Anthony and had a large
extended family.
Byrd moved to Seattle
to be close to family and when he arrived in 2001, he got a copy of Blues To
Do, called me up and asked if he could speak to Phil, a writer I worked with,
whom Byrd assumed was my boss. I informed
him that I was Phil's boss and that, YES, I would love to meet with him. Nonetheless, we formed a lasting friendship
that endured, even though he sold that Etta James ticket I gave him! Yeah, I was mad, but I had to forgive him
because that's who he was, a wheeler dealer, a hustler, Dr. Jive, a fast
talkin' on-air salesman. A salesman is
gonna sell. He had seen Etta James in
her best days, he didn't need to see her again.
He knew just how to work a situation to get the results he wanted and he
was usually right. He taught me many
things over our handful of years as friends.
Byrd loved an open microphone
and initially joined me on the radio when I hosted Preachin' The Blues every
Sunday morning at KEXP, bringing gospel records he checked out from the
library, as his own 5000 plus collection of LPs, 45s, cassettes, CDs and other
formats was still being stored on the East Coast. His love of gospel dominated his later
years. He went on and on about quartets
and was honored at the NW The American Gospel Quartet Convention. He would explain in depth the details of the
music and the unique qualities of Gospel Quartets. Later, we co-hosted Blues To Do-TV episodes
and he was a favorite guest of many Blues To Do-TV staffers and audience
members, but most of all me! As I
watched some of these old TV shows this week, it seemed like he knew he was
writing his own obituary, telling a specific part of his story each time,
demonstrating a particular slice of his knowledge of gospel, blues, r&b,
soul, country, classical and every music! He had a memory like a trap, repeating names
and years and even specific dates in music history without hesitation. Many of his Seattle friends, Burl Garnett Jr.
of The Electrifying Mighty Gospel Warriors, Jeff Hofman-KSER Radio show called Dusties,
photographer/musician-Jef Jaisun, Doc Rivers with Bethel Christian Church,
Reverend Sofer Mr. Sacred Steel of Skyway, and others also came out to
celebrate some of his later birthdays at The New Orleans Creole & 88 Keys
in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square.
He was a broadcast communications instructor at Essex County College in
New Jersey and at Boston University and in his later years, he lectured on the
history of Black music and its influence on the music of today. His later years in Seattle were filled with lecturing and emceeing
opportunities for The Blind Boys of Alabama numerous times in Seattle and other
Northwest spots, plus Roomful of Blues and The Holmes Brothers at Jazz Alley,
Solomon Burke at Bumbershoot, plus The Campbell Brothers and more. Byrd also remained friends with Muhammad Ali
until the very end. Byrd was a strong
leader his entire lifetime and had the kind of strength that wouldn't allow him
to go quickly or easily. Byrd also
volunteered his time every week at the Veteran's Hospital in Seattle, where he
spent his own last days.
One time I was
feeling and acting rather puny, and he grabbed my shoulders, looked me in the
eye and said, "You are Marlee Fucking Walker!"
I laughed nervously with tears in my eyes, and I knew exactly what he
meant. That is one of the fondest
memories of MY life. Thank you for
everything Byrd.
"He went out
peacefully, we played music for him, Stagolee and gospel from James Cleveland
and when we played the gospel, he opened his eyes one last time and then passed
away." – Daughter Darlene
In lieu of flowers his family is asking that donations be made in James
"Early" Byrd's name to The Living Legends organization. They help with
financial assistance to music industry folks in need of financial services. www.livinglegendsfoundation.com
Just after the Northwest blues community finished
celebrating the life of Gaye Anderson, owner of The New Orleans Creole
Restaurant in Seattle, vocalist and until recently reigning Queen of the Blues,
Kathi McDonald, gave up tryin', too. She
went into a coma late Tuesday evening, October 2nd and her heart
stopped early on October 3rd, 2012.
She was an amazing vocalist and chef and deserved legend status. Until I get my complete obituary written, here is a piece written by her friend and guitarist, John Hanford.
Eulogy for Kathi "Mack": What Kind of
F*%kery is This?
An unconventional woman demands an unconventional eulogy. But don't get your hopes up; I am not the man
who can reduce that irreducible force of nature known as "Kathi McDonald" to
hackneyed sayings and even high praises: Kathi's spirit – heck, any of our spirits - transcends any
characterization that words can summon up.
And although this is a somber and sad occasion, we might leaven it with
a bit of humor, as she so very much loved a good laugh—and wouldn't pass up the
opportunity to make a wisecrack even when suffering otherwise debilitating
She was, we know, an incorrigible punster! I've been on the receiving end of many a good-natured
barb (as was my dog Wilberforce, who was styled "Wheatabix," and my irascible
parrot "Sweet Pea," was dubbed "Mean Pea"), and I garnered a few R-rated
nicknames from Kathi Mack (e.g., "Golden Rod," "Short John Baldy"). Incidentally, she resented being called "Mack": she was, rather, she proclaimed: "An Irish
Mick!" And the inevitable misspelling both
of her first and last names on a marquee was an abiding irritant. But drummer Steve Peterson put it this way;
"riding to the gig with Kathi was often more fun than the gig itself."
Absolutely! She was irrepressible
even when saddled with the most messed-up of gigging circumstances. Keyboardist Pat Hues deemed her a "champion"
– both Pat and I can bear witness to Kathi having arrived at a job looking like
death-warmed over and then rallying for the performance, giving the audience no
clue as to her ailments.
Her storied "show-must-go-on" resilience is documented: some years ago
Kathi performed on Marlee Walker's Blues
to Do TV Show with a broken arm—a fracture that had been left un- or misdiagnosed
after a first trip to the E.R. She
writhed in pain all the way to the studio, and back again, but never once gave
a clue during the filmed performance—singing her proverbial rear-end off,
introducing each band member, announcing song titles and artists, and doing an
interview without a hitch. She put it
this way, when speaking of her dear friend & fellow performer, Patti Allen,
"Patti and I are old school." Meaning, "we dress up for our audience, we
try to respect our profession and the traditions of the great performers we
love & emulate." And she would scold
me: "I'm not like you, John, I DO care about what people think of me
and how I look to the audience!" (And oh
man, was she on my case about getting on board with "Dr. Oz's" remedies for
male pattern baldness!) She may have been unconventional in many or even most
ways, but she was careful to observe and uphold a good many traditional values.
At a funeral, we are permitted to gloss over the departed's foibles –
and Kathi didn't want for some, as she acknowledged. But she did
have her own code of honor and tried to abide by it; e.g., cuss all you
want, but taking G-d's name in vain was never to be done. And I can add this: that neither in fair nor
foul mood or situation, can I recall one gig, think of one car or plane ride,
of one phone conversation, or even a phone message that she left us, that
wasn't a memorable, or side-splitting—or yes, even a gonzo experience. One sin she never committed was that unforgiveable one: to be "non-descript." Even more
than her great talent and musicality, I shall miss this outsized personality,
indomitable spirit, and even the maniacal energy. I loved the woman.
About her talent I will share only a few bits. I first played in Kathi's band as a
substitute guitarist, just "sitting in" with Jim Matthews, Billy Reed, and
Gregg Keplinger. Until then, I knew
Kathi only socially. Her choice of songs was a gift to me, or if you will, gave
me a vacation away from the mundane musical fare I was accustomed to
playing. We did King Solomon Burke's "If
You Need Me," Freddy King's "Goin' Down," ("Pre-chick") Fleetwood Mac's
"Rattlesnake Shake," Bonnie Dobson's "Morning Dew," Randy Newman's "Guilty,"
and of course Etta James's "I'd Rather Go Shopping" (Kathi's riffing on what came
to be HER own signature song). I'd
always longed to play a book that was rich with these kinds of tunes, and now
here with Kathi, after having played liquor lounges around Seattle for decades,
I found a figurative musical home at the Stanwood Saloon—playing with a band of
gentlemen, led by a vocalist obviously of the first-rank—an interpreter who
OWNED this cherished music. Well, Ken
Cole and Tom Erak had told me as much before I heard her.
Surprisingly, although Kathi's name was, of course, the main draw for
bookings and we flew under her banner, she was never the "boss" of her band in
any usual sense. She made the gig in
order to sing, to entertain, to see
friends, to have a few drinks – or more than a few (she was not wont to turn
down a freebie!) – and she even helped move equipment. Getting the paycheck and even her share of the pay was left for
another one of us to procure and figure out (after a gig concluded, she plead:
"How much can I get tonight?"). Though she might appear to be the grande dame, she never played that role
in her inter-band relations. Exactly the
opposite: she celebrated her players, featured them, coaxed the best out of
them on stage. She would often call up
after a night's gig: "You played your d*$k off last night." (How many times could one hope to repeat that
feat?) She was always in her musicians'
For over a decade we lived close to one another in West Seattle and
often played the now defunct "Corner Inn."
The night that Ike Turner died we were playing the "Corner," and Kathi
dedicated a song – perhaps "As the Years Go Passing By," to someone whom she
regarded as a friend rather than as the wife-abusing monster we are accustomed
to hearing about. I was playing a Fender
guitar like the one Ike favored, so I made some adjustments in attempting to
conjure up Ike's blistering sound, as my own little tribute. In-between the song verses she backed up away
from the microphone and under her breath said to me, "You're freakin' me out
man." I don't share this anecdote to
congratulate myself for channeling Ike—I was just trying something out on
stage: what registered on me was the keenness of her ear for style and
sound. Well, she had played and recorded
with many of the artists I revered
(though I REALLY didn't find about many of them until I started reading the
posthumous tributes), but here was a talent possessed of a most subtle
understanding of stylistic allusion.
At the end of that same night's performance she introduced the band
members to a tepid response from the audience.
After introducing me, Billy Reed on keys, and Conrad Ormsby on drums—to
a roaring silence, Kathi thundered out an intro for Jim Matthews: "on bass, OSAMA BIN LADEN!—Wake up people!" I reckon that
unprepared dissonance reflected her degree from the "old school" of Etta
James. Her blood got up when she felt
the audience was not giving proper respect to her or her musical partners.
Kathi was a professional hub for me and for many of us gathered here:
through her I played with and now am privileged to call many fine musicians and
"civilians" my friends. And she deeply cherished her good friends – even
for the occasional tiff that might have gone down. Among her beloved Bay Area clan, Kathi's
manager and producer, Glenn Herskowitz, and his wife Danika, supported her in every imaginable way; Seattle friends Brad Oldman and Liz Latham saw her
through both thick and very thin; guitarist Ritchie Kirch was a valued friend
and collaborator; Deb Rock was nominated for sainthood, and Billy Stoops a
staunch ally; Marlee Walker has done us innumerable professional favors; Steve
Sarkowski, manager of the HWY 99 Blues Club provided our latest group
(variously dubbed, "Kathi McDonald and Her Beer-Swilling Louts," the
politically not-so-correct "Plebes, Dweebs, & Heebs," and "Monster Road")
with that most coveted of engagements – a monthly residency; Kathi revered singers Val Rosa, Duffy Bishop,
and her early role models, Nancy Claire and Gail Harris. She counted Karen Hunter, her friend since
parochial school, as her own flesh and blood.
Kathi did contemplate the "hereafter" and looked forward to being
reunited with her father "Mick" and her beloved Long John Baldry—another
larger-than-life kook from rock's great era.
Maybe she'll chill with Amy Winehouse.
As she would say, "What ev'."
for Lind Hornbuckle Donation Fund
recently diagnosed with kidney cancer, has taken a sabbatical from work and her
band while she undergoes treatment. Portland's rich music community will come
together to celebrate, bring hope and joy for Portland's 'soul diva' to
show their Love for Linda!
If you
are unable to attend the benefit concert on Nov. 11th, this is a way for you to
show your support for Linda Hornbuckle, Portland's 'soul diva!'
Bruce Conte of Tower of Power is battling leukemia and needs
your help.
Former Tower of
Power guitarist Bruce Conte was diagnosed with leukemia a few months ago. Bruce
is also an insulin-dependent diabetic and has been dealing with health issues
for years. You can help by donating any amount. 100% of the money collected
will go to Bruce's medical expenses. There is no generic available, which makes
the medication expensive. For now, his condition is responding very well to the
medication. Thank you for reading this and please consider helping Bruce Conte.
For more information and to donate to help Bruce pay his medical bills, click
on this link from the Tower
of Power website: http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/please_help_bruce_conte_in_his_battle_with_leukemia/
Sadly, The Oxford Saloon, featuring live blues in Snohomish
has not been able to come out of its financial hole and the current owners gave
up tryin' in late September.
The Royal Lounge in Olympia is hosting a Wednesday blues
night with help from The Sheriff, not to be confused with The Royal Room in
Seattle's Columbia City area with occasional blues nights as well.
Tim "Too Slim" and Nancy Langford moved from Seattle to
Nashville. Best of luck! You will both be missed so we expect regular
The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Inductee nominees for 2013 include
Albert King, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Marvelettes, The Meters,
Randy Newman, and the Northwest's own Heart among others.
Nick Curran just passed away from oral cancer. More later….
As we speak, the bulldozers are poised to pounce on Parker's Ballroom, formerly The Aquarius, and other names, on Aurora where many of us have had many fond musical memories including B.B. King in an intimate club setting of Parker's Ballroom.
Finally, there is a Recovery Support Group for Seattle Music Community,
With meetings every Tuesday, beginning Oct. 16th, 7 – 8 pm, Local 76 Musicians Association, 3209 Eastlake Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98102 (Free parking in back)/ MusiCares is proud to announce the start of weekly addiction recovery support group meetings in Seattle.
Johnathan "Oogie" Richards is joining forces with Marlee Walker once a month with both blues DJs streaming from 88 Keys where Marlee and her crew gather footage of new blues artists every Monday night and live stream from ilove88keys.com. This monthly NW Blues Forum will be held on the 4th Monday of each month (except December will be Dec 17th), and will include discussions on new blues releases, new artists, show reviews, news, plus an All Star Jam and more and will include invited guests from all parts of the blues community. Check out our first NW Blues Forum, Monday, November 26th.
Love for Lind Hornbuckle Donation Fund
?Linda, recently diagnosed with kidney cancer, has taken a sabbatical from work and her band while she undergoes treatment. Portland's rich music community will come together to celebrate, bring hope and joy for Portland's 'soul diva' to show their Love for Linda!
If you are unable to attend the benefit concert on Nov. 11th, this is a way for you to show your support for Linda Hornbuckle, Portland's 'soul diva!'
CONTRIBUTIONS MADE WILL GO TO THE CASCADE BLUES ASSOCIATIONS MUSICIANS ASSISTANCE FUND ATTN: LOVE FOR LINDA. https://www.tickettomato.com/event.php?event_id=1623
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