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Trombone Champagne Bucket
Trombone insulated twin-walled round Champagne bucket made from 18/10 polished stainless steel. Dishwasher safe.
Height: 25 cm
Diameter: 20 cm
Inspired by the beauty and detail of brass instruments and the sounds and atmosphere at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London, the Trombone bar accessories are super, swish, stylish and seductive. They are also highly practical, designed to last and beautifully finished in mirror polished 18/10 stainless steel.
All Nick Munro products carry a minimum of one year manufacturer's guarantee from the date of purchase. Your delivery statement is valid reference for your guarantee.


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Most Insurances Accepted
EXCEPT (Medicare and Medicaid)
With our full continuum of care, we are confident that A Center for Addiction Recovery will meet all of your individual treatment needs.
In treating the whole person - body, mind and spirit we blend evidenced based practice and traditional therapies including but not limited to ; Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client Centered Therapy, Trauma Therapy, Family Therapy, 12-Step Integration, SMART Recovery® and Recreational Therapies such as Yoga, Exercise, Music and Art.
We will contact your insurance company, with accurate diagnosis of your condition to ensure you receive the maximum benefits you are entitled to. Qualifying clients with no insurance are eligible for private pay options. CALL FOR HELP WITH YOUR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
A Center for Addiction Recovery offers a complete individualized approach to treat addiction and mental health disorders. From Medical Detox to Aftercare Programs, our clients receive the foundation for a solid recovery empowered by therapies developed to heal the body, mind and spirit. Our detox services and addiction treatment programs are accredited and certified by The Joint Commission, which sets the standard for delivery of safe and effective care of the highest quality and value for our clients.
We provide inpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs for both men and women 18 and older, including specialized programs for expectant mothers, chronic relapsers and for individuals who are struggling with PTSD.

subset: commoncrawl


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I received this email from my former youth pastor's wife (Amy Hudelson) a few years ago that was shared with her. The list is decades old (I think someone must have added "e-mail" to #5 along the way!) but still has some timeless qualities to it. I can say that number 4 is not always one that I manage well, but he still thinks I look adorable in his sweats. Enjoy!
1. Praise him privately, sincerely, for something different once a day.
2. Praise him publicly, in front of others, and to others.
3. Watch your words: Remember that what you say has a powerful influence over him.
4. Keep yourself attractive. Freshen up and look your best when he comes home, even if dinner burned and the dog peed on the carpet.
5. Write him notes, handwritten and e-mail, to remind him you are thinking of him.
6. Be the first to say I'm sorry, mean it, and don't make it conditional on anything.
7. Pick up after him cheerfully, without drawing attention to it, just because you love him.
8. Make him your focal point, not your housekeeping, not your cooking, not even your children. If your relationship with him is solid and happy, everything else will fall into place. Make him successful in every way you can, and remember, if he is successful, you will be too.
9. Remember the "bigness" of the diversity your roles: sweetheart, confidant, counselor, best friend, encourager. Remember they all add up to: completer.
10. Pray for him continually and NEVER forget the burden of responsibility he carries as the head of the household.
Also? If you want to know the secret to my husband's success, you can read that (here).


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GSGC 2016 Part 2
Our second year at the Gem State Gaming Convention was a blast, this year saw a new venue at the Boise Riverside Hotel. Video gaming, Tabletop gaming, Quiddich, Pokemon and some Amtgard sword play made for a great time. (This gallery has Quiddich and Amtgard Pictures)
© 2016, Tim Boothby. All rights reserved.


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****Phase 1 Sold Out - 3 homes remaining in Phase 2*****
Casey and Kingston are delighted to announce the relaunch of Foxwarren, Moneygourney, Douglas, Cork.
The development, which when completed will comprise 33 homes, is being sold in 4 phases. With 5 house types to choose from, there is sure to be a house to suit your tastes and requirements.
All houses have been designed with energy efficient as a priority, ensuring that you will have minimum heating and running costs. All homes are covered by a 10 year Homebond Structural Guarantee.
Please see attached brochure for floor plans and full details


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Say hello to our gorgeous designer of the week, Caroline Matthews, who we caught up with this week. Born and raised in Leeds, Caroline graduated from Leeds College of Art and Design in 1996. She worked for numerous fashion houses before launching her own bridal collection in 2005 under the name Caroline Atelier. Her dresses are just stunning for contemporary brides wanting something completely different and all are designed and sewn using high quality silk, satins and embellishments.
The first dress shown here is Emmy, which Caroline told us is her favourite,"it was the dress that started my career in Ireland and has made brides all over look amazing. It's one of my best-selling dresses both in the UK and Ireland and the one I am most known for. This dress put me on the bridal scene for brides that wanted something different to the normal dresses available, whilst also offering the feature of being backless. Wedding guests tend to spend the whole ceremony looking at a brides back, so why not make it as beautiful and ornate as the front! I also won Best New Contemporary Designer with Irish Brides Magazine for this dress, so it's very special to me".
The next two dresses that Caroline has shared with us are part of her new collection. We asked her what her design style is and how this inspires her designs. "Everything inspires me", says Caroline, "from nature, to the Golden Globes and day-to-day things! It's great to be in an environment where you can be inspired everyday!
My designs feature heavily on Art deco inspiration as well as my signature style of backless dresses. I try to combine the Hollywood glamour that us girls are looking for, whilst still retaining the look and feel of a wedding dress".
Image below: Louella, part of the new collection
Image below: Bling, part of the new collection.


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It's extraordinarily difficult for me to decorate our apartment. I'm just simply incapable of making it look like two responsible, attractive adults working full time live here with their spoiled cats. I realize that being attractive has nothing really to do with this, but I thought I'd throw that in there. Also, it's pretty obvious that cats live here. And that they're spoiled. The easy answer is that we're 25 and not making very much money so we can't afford to decorate. I tell myself that sometimes. But I know it isn't true. The real truth is that I have no sense of style.
There. I said it.
I admitted aloud probably what most people have known since I was able to dress myself. I can't look cute. I can't look trendy. I can't even look "put together." Most of my clothing is in solid colors because I really can't be trusted with a pattern. And as much as I try, putting out fresh cut flowers, having all my books on display, carefully arranging various chachkes (how on EARTH do you spell that? Oh, I just looked it up and it's tchotchke. Tch. Yiddish.) as if I meant for them to be placed just so, I only put framed posters on the wall, we've bought plants and put them around the house in little white porcelain cups, we even have rugs that match our furniture for God's sakes. And yet it still looks like we're playing house, but it's not Adult Looking. (I heavily suspect our plaid couch that we found for free on the side of the road is partially to blame. But it's really comfortable!)
The next question to ask is why the hell does it even matter. It's not like I'm holding society ladies' bridge club meetings here. I don't really feel the need to impress my friends, though I sometimes secretly wish that my house was embarrassing enough that one of my friends would turn me in to one of those TLC intervention shows where they have snotty experts come in and tell me what a slob I am and how I can look better, act better, eat better, please my man better, raise my children better, etc. Wouldn't that be so much easier than having to do all that research? Yeah, just become a total fuck-up and let a reality TV show fix it for you.
It's a weird thing wanting to be an adult when you kind of are one. I can't really explain what I mean by that. I feel like I'm in the weird purgatory between being a college student and a working adult and that I'm not fully submerged into either. And I really want to be in the next phase. I'm having an opposite Peter Pan moment I guess. I want to DO this.
Also, I want to play banjo more. Seriously.


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Westminster Council BabsGate scandal & cover-up – Part 1
On Thursday 29th March 2012 a series of questions were sent by Nutsville to a number of Westminster City Councillors. Those councillors were due to sit that evening on the councils Audit & Performance Committee.
In spite of regular checking of the Nutsville inbox, we were again disheartened that not one of them acknowledged our email.
The email to those councillors contained information that Nutsville hoped would prompt the inglorious members to use the opportunity of the meeting to ask some serious questions of Westminster Councils senior officers.
( Download PDF questions here ) (Download XLS spread sheet here)
Nutsville believed the information provided showed that Westminster City Council officers have had little regard for the governance procedure of the council.
We said that Virements (an administrative transfer of funds from one part of a budget to another) of earmarked reserve funds have been made without Cabinet or Cabinet Member / Leader approval which is in flagrant breach of council governance procedure.
We felt it was helpful to remind councillors that Westminster City Council's constitution made it clear that it was the duty of only elected members to make these decisions and not the unelected council officers.
To most people this would seem obvious and sensible – after all, what's the point of electing someone who has no control over their portfolio.
The importance of having these rules in the constitution is to prevent council officers shifting money around to directly influence policy decisions, as we believe has been the case at Westminster Council.
The whole process can be serious. If an officer makes out that a particular department is short of funds and underperforming, this could lead to not only unnecessary job cuts but also withdrawal of essential frontline services.
Last December (2011) Nutsville made a series of objections to the District Auditor, along with the clearly stated aim to follow up with more objections in the near future. ( Our post about the objections are here)
From the get-go the District Auditors took our objections seriously setting up a meeting with four of them at their headquarters in Millbank Tower.
As we were obliged to, directly after the meeting we delivered a copy of the same objections to the council.
Amazingly, within a few minutes a reply came back questioning whether what we had submitted were objections at all. It went further to the point of even asking for a copy of the evidence supplied to the District Auditor.
The District Auditor is only answerable to the Queen (yep not even politicians), and it is for them to decide what is, or is not, a valid objection.
It is also up to the District Auditor to choose what evidence is shared with the local council.
So Westminster City Council were not off to a good start, especially as this was the third set of objections we have made against the Council in as many years.
You would think they would have got the hang of it by now.
So we were flabbergasted that when the story the council's Chief Operating Officer (with responsibility for finance and performance), Barbara 'Babs' Moorhouse came out with, it painted an entirely different picture. Even more extraordinarily, she says that in her view this is a matter to be resolved in the next few weeks.
Babs got in front of her Remington, and all fired up with rarely seen passion writes in her report on the 20th February 2012;
A certificate, closing the audits, has not yet been issued for the 2008/09, 2009/10 or 2010/11 audits as the District Auditor is considering a potential objection from a local elector. The Council and the Audit Commission has met and will continue to do so over the coming weeks in an effort to expeditiously resolve these so the audits can subsequently be closed. (view source)
Considering we have more objections to present to the District Auditor for 2010/11, Babs saloon-bar rhetoric is more than a little over confident, to say the least!
One of our objections concerns the shifting of large sums of money around without first seeking the appropriate elected members approval in accordance with the councils constitution. This is called a virement.
That objection has already been accepted by the District Auditor for further investigation.
To many of the council's finance team our concerns are not news. These issues have been raised with them over the course of many meetings during 2011.
As we were obliged to, we ensured that copies of all our objections have been promptly delivered to the councils head of legal and democratic services.
As you will read and see in the video at the end of this post, it is baffling that, according to Babs, our concerns about the council's accounts are "news to her", and instead are the work of a former council employee who surprised everyone with his revelations on his very last day of work.
To help understand Babs reaction to our accounts questions it may first help know a little of her history;
Never out of the media for long, Babs Moorhouse originally worked for the private sector. In one of her last stints for the private sector she spent working for software company Kewill Systems as their finance director. After just two and a half years Babs resigned from Kewill. At the time of leaving, the companies share value was worth £2bn less than when she started. On her watch, ignoring profit warnings and missed forecasts, the share price nose dived. When Babs started at Kewill they were valued at £2.3bn yet on the day she shuffled out with her shoe-box of possessions, the company was worth only £17m. In this case her finance direction only went one-way; down! (view source 1 and view source 2)
At the time Kewill's Chief executive Paul Nichols said there had been no row over Bab's departure.
Eventually Bab's found her way to the public sector, initially as non-executive director for the Child Support Agency. In March 2005 she moved on to the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Understanding that she would climb the public sector ladder, as Babs said herself "it is like a spider's web of inter-connected relationships and influences".
Not one to wear out the cushions, Babs was soon off again, this time to the Ministry of Justice.
In May 2007 it became clear she was no shrinking violet and wanted more than just a say in dictating policy when she wrote;
"She [Babs] was not prepared to make the move into the public sector and find herself shunted into the back office, with little or no influence over the strategic direction of the organisation. The opportunity to influence policy debates and manage the interface between policy decisions and the budgetary framework was essential for Barbara." (view source)
But her move to the Ministry of Justice was not without problems as she told Parliament "we went backwards for a period of time" after problems with the Oracle database system which came to light shortly after Babs got the job. Babs didn't see the Oracle problem coming (geddit!), but it left the MoJ unable to pay magistrates and suppliers on time. (view source)
The next move for Babs was to the Department of Transport (what could go wrong?) Pretty soon after getting there the wheels started to come off. Her short time ended with her being paid to leave the station which brought Babs further media exposure as news of her £379,372 pay off got out. (view source, page 15)All of this at a time when commuters faced another stinging round of increases in fares. Ungrateful travellers might have been more understanding if they'd known that Babs does have a passion for a greener form of transport than smelly old busses and trains, and that is horses. It's not cheap to run just one mare, so perhaps her pay off should have been met with more sympathy considering her unfortunate choice of expensive hobby.
It wasn't long after the unfortunate DfT departure before Babs Moorhouse was back in the news again when her appointment by Westminster Councils chief executive Mike More came to our attention in November 2009. We wrote about Babs Moorhouse's very colourful past history in this post http://nutsville.com/?p=1280 Many of the comments to that post came from people using the various Whitehall Internet connections judging by their IP numbers, perhaps they were past colleagues just keen to wish Babs on her merry way.
Babs bizarre appointment later made it in to Private Eye's 'Rotten Boroughs' page, which also highlighted her string of past appointments / non-achievements and payoffs from organisations who had benefited from her peculiar financial wizardry.
Despite the bad publicity Mike More put a brave face on his possible gaff, saying:
"I am delighted that Barbara Moorhouse is joining Westminster Council. She has an exemplary record of achievement across the public and private sector and will be a real asset to the council."
"Barbara beat a very strong shortlist of candidates and has the skills, attributes and qualities that are needed to help lead one of the best performing local authorities in the country."
So Babs still has one fan at City Hall. She did have two back in July 2011 when the now disgraced former council leader Colin Barrow announced that Babs Moorhouse was to change from being Strategic Director of Finance to become the new Chief Operating Officer, a position she holds to this day.
So this is why it fell to Babs Moorhouse last Thursday to answer our questions about the council's finances.
She had intended not to appear at last week's Audit & Performance Committee meeting but was abruptly summoned to attend, perhaps to try to keep a lid on the serious points we had raised.
When stuck in a corner, smear liberally with fiction.
Babs (in a fetching red number reminiscent of the Queen Mother's wardrobe) looked decidedly uncomfortable, sitting bolt upright at the meeting.
She occasionally looked towards the District Auditor who was sat to her right. Wags may say that she was concerned her outfit clashed with his tie, but it's clear her glancing appeals for agreement / acknowledgement / lifeboat or just hope were not going to be granted.
It quickly became obvious from Bab's speech that when the mouth stumbles, its worse than the foot.
According to her, the embarrassing questions put by Nutsville were all the work of a disgruntled ex-employee. She took nondescript and made it a superlative departing from facts faster than a train on a leafy track and led the committee members along an altogether erroneous route saying that "We were quite surprised in that it was only on his [the whistle blower] last day that all sorts of issues/allegations have been made."
As we said at the beginning of this post, we had been to see to the District Auditor about a dodgy virement back in December 2011.
A whistle blower had begun bringing his concerns to the council's attention months before that.
You would think that Bab's Moorhouse would have known that the issue on virements is flagged every year, and is even discussed with the Deputy Director of finance. So how come Bab's seems to have no knowledge of this?
In June 2011, the point was raised again that virements needed Cabinet Member approval and a solid policy needed to be put in place. Yet to our knowledge we know of several occasions where virements have been processed without Cabinet approval, just on Babs's authority (well who wants to be shunted into the back office? )
On hearing Babs's explanation a wise politician would reserve judgment, at least until she had provided the promised written answers to our questions.
However one member of the committee was convinced by Babs's disgruntled mischief making ex-employee story, and he'd obviously made up his mind.
Almost on cue Councillor Ian Rowley appeared like the dog who is always on the wrong side of an opening door.
He asked Babs "If the individual concerned was so concerned why weren't they raised earlier?"
Well Councillor Ian Rowley why on earth didn't you ask the Head of Legal and democratic services? You would have discovered that your council was aware of this whistleblowing, (Nutsville has the evidence) 4 months ago.
Babs replied leading the councillor on "Correct, I mean they were participating in many of the transactions that they are now questioning, so it's slightly bizzare"
Councillor Rowley needed no further evidence other than the fragrant Babs's testimony saying "If you're going to be a whistle blower, do it earlier" (with perceptive advice like that its clear why he is a management consultant!)
Rowley then went on to ask Babs where these questions had been circulated.
This gave Babs a chance to explain how annoying this all was, with a number of staff being antagonised telling the committee "Well the Chief Executive, I think a variety of members have received notices, he's circulated widely with the finance team"…"He's certainly raised it with the minority party, he's certainly got on to Nutsville"…. and " I'm getting faintly bored having seen it in a number of places now" (to which I suppose one should say – don't go to those places then!)
Stuff it, how did that happen! Nutsville has gone from being banned from the council's computers, never to be spoken of out loud to being mentioned by the Chief Operating Officer. It was bad enough when the BBC's Ann Robinson mentioned us, now we've sold out and gone mainstream.
Rowley then asked Babs "Is there any issue where you think that employees of the council have been intimidated by this?"
Babs replied "Let's just say we are considering the behaviour of the individual whether it has been entirely in accordance with the usual rules" (the irony being that the 'usual rules' are somewhat of a stranger to Bab's)
With that Rowley said he was concerned this was about intimidating staff under challenging circumstances. He wanted it relayed to the finance staff that he fully understood the stresses they had been put under by this type of action saying "when it circulates in public it's a form of a deliberate attempt to intimidate" ending with "I hope that can be minuted as well".
We believe that if you're spending public money you should do it in public.
We must admire Cllr Ian Rowley's gift for being able to decide the facts based just on the testimony of Babs after he admitted not having had the chance to read our email of questions and spread sheets. What a gifted star!
As P T Barnum so famously didn't say – "There's one born every minute"
He was right about one thing (surprising we know). He was correct to praise the staff in the finance team who genuinely have worked hard, with 70 hour weeks not being uncommon.
To most people, 70 hour weeks are bad enough, but if you add to that a department ruled by fear and intimidation by morally bankrupt empire builders it rather puts a different light on things.
But that's for another post, soon!
If you have a story you think we would be interested in please email:


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Our player grades are in for the Eagles match against Germany.
Mike Te'o, 80 minutes (6): It wasn't the loudest game from Te'o and he didn't have a lot of opportunities to show his skills from the fullback position. A couple of times he had less than stellar kicks but his running was strong.
Blaine Scully, 72 minutes (7): He was once again one of the Eagles best players on the day. It's hard as backs to gain rhythm when you haven't really played together much but he was able to marshall his players well and get them on the same page.
Marcel Brache, 80 minutes (7): We though this was his best game in an Eagles shirt. He was able to make good meters on every carry and his defense was strong. Even though the level of the opponents wasn't as strong as what the Eagles are going to face regularly you like to see players like Brache take full advantage.
Bryce Campbell, 80 minutes (5.5): Another solid game from Campbell. It's maybe not his most spectacular game but he was solid enough.
Take the jump to read more.
Ryan Matyas, 61 minutes (7.5): We thought that Matyas played well on both ends of the floor. He was able to read the game well and he was dangerous every time he touched the ball. He was well rewarded with his try.
AJ MacGinty, 80 minutes (7.5): What more can you say about MacGinty. When the Eagles needed a player to take it to another level it was MacGinty that took them there. His awareness of the game is so strong and it eventually wore Germany down.
Shaun Davies, 65 minutes (6.5): Despite being responsible for the first try of the game with some carelessness he was excellent. The ball got out quickly which is what the Eagles need.
Andrew Durutalo, 65 minutes (7): At the breakdown Durutalo was a monster once again. He earned the Eagles the first shot at points on the night and was overall what the Eagles needed.
Tony Lamborn, 80 minutes (6.5): He continues to do the dirty work. Different coach but the same start. Lamborn is one of the first names on the team sheet.
Ben Landry, 80 minutes (7): This was his first chance to get the start at flanker for the full team. No complaints. Either at lock or at flanker he provided a good spark.
Nick Civetta, 80 minutes (7): It's hard to imagine Civetta not starting from this point forward. He is particularly strong in set pieces.
Greg Peterson, 40 minutes (6): He hasn't played a lot for Glasgow this season which showed some in his fitness even though he's been playing for Marr. Still, plenty of positive signs.
Dino Waldren, 60 minutes (7.5): We thought that this was the match Waldren needed in an Eagles jersey. He was strong in the scrum helping out the Eagles there. He was also very strong in the open field. That may not be enough to fend off challengers for the starting spot but it was a strong effort.
Joe Taufete'e, 57 minutes (7): Like the rest of the front-row players Taufete'e had a strong game. He dominated the German side and was good at the breakdown.
Ollie Kilifi, 72 minutes (5.5): A decent day for Kilifi in his return to the Eagles. Fitness is always an issue and there are still one or two moments he'd probably like back during a game but was still good.
John Quill, 40 minutes (7): When Quill came on he made a positive impact which is exactly what you want from a sub.
Peter Malcolm, 23 minutes (7): Another solid match from Malcolm.
Paddy Ryan, 20 minutes (5): Ryan has added a few pounds since the summer. At this point it's not clear if that's a good thing.
Will Magie, 19 minutes (6.5): When he came in he slotted to flyhalf and continued right where MacGinty left off. More performances like this and he could start somewhere on the pitch.
Nate Augspurger, 15 minutes (6): A bit of an unfamiliar position for Augspurger to come off the bench and it was hard to make an impact.
Cam Dolan, 15 minutes (6): Dolan was in the same boat as Augspurger having come on when the Eagles were well in control.
JP Eloff, 8 minutes (6): Not a lot of time to make an impact for Eloff.
Huluholo Moungaloa, 8 minutes (6): Also not a lot of time to make an impact.


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I have briefly mentioned this in a few other posts, but I've been really excited to be able to join the BlogHer Book Club! It's a chance to receive and review some great books and check out others in genres that I typically wouldn't pick.
Since starting a couple of months ago, I've read and reviewed six books. Technically, I've read and reviewed eight, but two are still waiting to publish, and I'm finishing up review number nine in the next day or two.
My List, so far (the links will take you to my BlogHer reviews):
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok - By far, this is the best book I've read in the review series, and I can't stop recommending it, to the point that it's on the must-read list on a forum I'm on and I've passed my copy to multiple friends. If you're only going to pick one from my list, this is definitely the one! (And I just realized that the author commented on my review, which is extra wonderful.)
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks - This was the first book I got to review and I found it to be a great historical fiction novel. It is the story of a Puritan girl and a Native American boy, in 1660 Martha's Vineyard. She is a minister's daughter and he is the first Native American to attend Harvard (he was actually a real person, while she is a fictional creation).
A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz - I actually thought this one could be called "Everything I need to know, I learned from Jane Austen". It wasn't a book I would have typically picked up, but it's an interesting non-fiction piece. It was accompanied by a large tome of Jane Austen novels, which I still haven't delved into quite yet (while review book wasn't bad, I'm just not a Jane Austen fan).
Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan - The long awaited sequel to Waiting to Exhale! I enjoyed this one too, although the road to get to happy is full of a whole lot of sad, life changing events. I'm not 100% sure everyone got to happy by the end.
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - It's kind of Twilight for grown ups, and not my first pick of genres. I tried to have an open mind and it was better than I anticipated. I do enjoy a good mystery and there is one within the novel. If you liked Twilight, you might very well like A Discovery of Witches too.
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - Definitely not something I would have discovered on my own, it's more teen fiction than anything else. Dessen is a good writer and touches on universal coming of age topics, I definitely see why she's a popular writer for teens.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel to push the pencil pushers into making a sequel. You know what I mean with the concept: take a bunch of old classic English actors oozing with quality and stick them at a crumbling Indian hotel for their retirement. Only that now, with The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, that hotel is no longer crumbling; the owner (Dev Patel) is actually seeking to expand. And of course, the residents (featuring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, and newcomer [American] Richard Gere) have their own romantic issues to deal with, again.
The first warning about the horror to come over the next two hours lies with the movie starting off, of all places, in the USA. Clearly, this one has been designed to bedazzle the Average American Viewer with both English class and Indian colors (and yes, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel paints such a bright picture of India). Then there is the poor excuse for a plot that follows, with financial and relationship problems that do not necessarily make sense and what amounts to total abuse of excellent acting talent through boring and trivial grind of a plot. Must have been such a humiliation for these actors to stoop so low!
Half way through I willingly put myself out of the misery and gave in to the urge. I fell asleep.
0.5 out of 5 oh so wasteful of talent crabs.


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Carrie grew up in North Yorkshire before moving to Paris at the age of eighteen.
After a year spent learning French, she returned to England to train as an actress.
She has worked professionally as both an actor and dancer, and she currently lives in west London.
Genres: Romance
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Code of Everand
Code of Everand is a free, casual massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that takes place in a dangerous world criss-crossed by monster-filled spirit channels.
The game is designed for 9 – 13 year olds and was commissioned by the UK's Department for Transport and through play patterns and social reinforcement aims to strengthen proper road-crossing safety habits.
As a Pathfinder in Code Of Everand, you use your powers to safely cross the Spirit Channels, helping the citizens of Everand, restoring peace where there is conflict, leveling up, making friends and undertaking quests to uncover the secret of the mysterious Code Of Everand.
Where combat would go in a conventional RPG, Everand has channel crossings. To succeed in the game, players must learn to stop and think, look both ways, see which monsters they are up against, choose the right spells and traps to dispel them and only cross over once the coast is clear.
The game uses real world traffic data to affect the behavior of monsters in the game, helping to raise awareness of the game and reinforcing the real-world stakes of this important issue.


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5 Best Guitar Amps Under $300
Amps Under 300 Dollars
If you are a guitar player looking at amps around the $300 mark you are probably expecting something a little better than the typical practice amp. Sure, it has to sound good at bedroom levels, but it would be nice if you could use it to jam with your buddies as well. And, it would be a bonus if it had some of the features you see on larger, higher-end amplifiers.
It might sound like a tall order, but there are a few amps out there that make the cut. In this article you'll read about some of your top choices and get some advice on which amp might be the best option for you.
The problem with sticking to a $300 budget is that you'll see a wide range of amps intended for different uses. There are small, low-wattage solid state amps that are mostly just good for practice. Then there are micro-wattage tube amps that sound awesome, but aren't going to get you enough volume to let you jam with a drummer.
Honestly, if all I wanted was a practice amp I'd probably be looking at something small and inexpensive, and there are some great amps under the $100 mark. These are solid choices, but you can do better at this price range. And you should expect an amp with more power, and more features.
For the purposes of this review I'm looking at options that meet three specific criteria:
- It must have enough power for a band situation. Your little practice amp was fine for your bedroom, but moving up to a better amp should mean you can take it out of the house and jam with a drummer if you feel like it.
- It must be a combo. If you spend your whole budget on an amp head you will still need a speaker cabinet. That's not the point here. You should be able to get everything you need and stay under budget, and that means you're looking at combo amps.
- It must not be a tube amp. There are a few micro-wattage tube amps on the market in this price range. While they sound good, some really good, they are not going to cut it with a band. If you want a gig-worthy tube combo they are out there, but you're going to spend more than $300.
So, let's look at some gear!
Line 6 Spider V 60
When it comes to modeling amps, the Line 6 Spider V 60 is at the top of my list. At 60 watts and with a 10-inch speaker plus a tweeter it should serve you well in many band situations. This power rating is right around what I consider the lower limit for solid-state amps when it comes to playing in a band, but it really depends on what kind of music you are playing. If you are competing with a heavy-handed drummer or another loud guitar amp you might consider one of the bigger Spider models.
The Spider V 60 is a digital modeling amp, meaning it is capable of a huge array of tones reflecting different types of amplifiers and speakers. If you are the kind of guitar player who needs to be able to recreate a whole bunch of different sounds this amp is a great choice. For example, guitarists in cover bands would benefit from the flexibility of the Spider V 60.
There is a lot of stuff here. The V 60 features more than 200 effects, amps and cabs for a massive range of sounds. There is also a USB interface with free recording software included.
In my opinion, Line 6 is not only one of the top amp builders when it comes to modeling technology; they also have some of the best distortion in the business, at least when it comes to non-tube amps.
The downside is they are possibly a little complex for some guitar players. If you like tech, gadgets and computer stuff this is the perfect amp for you. But if you prefer to just plug in, twist some knobs and play you may find the Line 6 modeling amps a bit overwhelming.
The Line 6 Spider V Series Features
Randall RG80
If the Line 6 above makes you a little nervous with all of that new-fangled technology and whatnot, you'll probably like the Randall RG80. This is a no-nonsense, straight-up rock guitar amp with plenty of power for gigs and rehearsals. Randall is known for outstanding solid-state tone, especially among metal players.
The RG80 is an 80-watt, solid-state powerhouse packed in with a single 12-inch speaker. The setup is basic but effective: Two channels, each with their own gain and volume controls. There is shared three-band EQ with the addition of a presence control to shape your sound, and on-board spring reverb as well.
If you find you need more power in a live situation, the RG80 includes a speaker-emulated XLR direct out. Run it to the house PA or mixing board and you don't have to worry about mic'ing your amp.
I think this is the ideal amp for the intermediate guitarist who is looking for their first real amp. It actually makes me think of the Peavey Bandit a bit, which is one of my favorite intermediate-level solid-state amps out there. Of course the Bandit is quite a bit more expensive than the RG80, but they share many of the same attributes: Simplicity, very good distortion and plenty of power.
And, the RG80 gives you the same kind of bang for your buck, with much better sound than the typical starter amp and enough power to lug off to rehearsal with your first band. It also doesn't hurt that it comes in around $50 short of your $300 budget, making it one of the most affordable amps in this review.
The clean sound here isn't bad, but I do wish the clean channel had its own EQ section. Not a huge deal, and for the level of player this amp is intended it probably doesn't matter. The cabinet also seems a little slight for a 1x12, but both of those things would certainly increase the price of the amp.
Altogether, if you are looking for a straight-up plug-and-play amp for under $300, look hard at the Randall RG80. Especially if you are a rock or metal player, this amp is a good choice.
Peavey Vypyr VIP 3
I'm a big fan of Peavey amps. I own three of them, including an older model Vypyr which I use as a practice amp. So, including the Vypyr VIP 3 in my list was pretty much a no-brainer.
The VIP 3 has 100 watts of power, making it the most powerful in this review. It has a single 12-inch speaker. Like the Spider it is a modeling amp, allowing the user to recreate many different guitar tones based on well-known amplifiers. It also includes Peavey's TransTube distortion technology rather than digital distortion, which is a huge plus in my book.
All of this this lands the VIP 3 somewhere between the two amps listed above: It has more basic controls than the Line 6, but it is still a modeling amp. And it has solid-state distortion like the RG80. This makes it something like the best of both worlds. If you like all the bells and whistles of a modeling amp, but you get frustrated with complicated menus and interfaces, you might want to consider the Vypyr VIP 3.
The controls incorporate Peavey's WYSIWYG interface, meaning easy changes can be made to tones and effects with the turn of a knob. Other features include 10 instrument models, 12 stompbox models, 36 on-board amp models, 6 bass amp models, 6 acoustic amp models and 26 total on-board accessible effects.
And one more thing: The VIP 3, along with the other VIP models in Peavey's Vypyr lineup, isn't just a guitar amp. It's also a bass amp and an acoustic guitar amp, and as you can see from the features listed above there are different models for each instrument. VIP stands for Variable Instrument Performance.
Is that a good thing? It's up to you to decide. Personally, with a few bass guitars and acoustic-electric guitars in my collection I think it is something I'd get a lot of use out of.
Guitar World Looks at the Peavey Vypyr VIP 3
Two New Amps
Here are a couple more amps to consider. They didn't make my top three for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they don't really have the power to be functional in a band situation. But, if you play at home or in a not-so-loud band they might be perfect of you.
Secondly, they are somewhat new. On one hand, I'm pretty excited about them. Because they are made by some brands I know and trust, I'm pretty confident they are going to go on to become well-appreciated amps in the intermediate category. But, since they are still new, and feature a few innovative ideas I'm not sure I'm crazy about yet, I just can't recommend them as strongly as those amps listed above.
Marshall Code 50
The Code 50 is a modeling amp. It's not just new on the scene, but a new idea for Marshall altogether. Previously, the only real foray Marshall had made into the modeling amp world had been the limited effects sections on some of their MG models. Everything I've seen and heard so far on the Code serious is pretty impressive, so my best suggestion is to go check one out and decide for yourself.
The Marshall Code Series
Fender Mustang GT 40
The Mustang GT 40 is another new one, but Fender Mustang guitar amps are already well-known as quality, affordable modeling amps. I really liked the V.2 series, and I'm kind of sorry to see them go. But, according to Fender, this is an upgrade, and if that's true these amps are going to be something amazing. Like I said with the Marshall, go play one and find out what you think.
The Fender Mustang GT Series
Choose Your Amp
So, which amp should you get? I can only give my opinion and point you in the right direction. You have to make the final decision for yourself.
Which amp would I get? I'd go with the Peavey Vypyr VIP 3. It has the most power of any amp in this article, and it has Peavey solid-state distortion which I really like. It's also pretty easy to use, even though there is a massive array of sounds at your fingertips. It's useful in a home practice situation, and it is useful in a band situation.
But that's me. If you want something simpler, go with the Randall. Plug in your guitar, turn some knobs and off you go. It has enough power for a band, and metalheads in particular will appreciate the distortion sounds.
If you are going to record with your computer and you generally like the tech side of modeling amps, the Line 6 has the edge here. They continue to lead the pack when it comes to modeling technology, and especially interfacing with computers. And, as I said before, I really like Line 6 distortion compared to other digital distortions out there.
All that said, I'm keeping a close eye on the Marshall Code series and the new Fender Mustangs. I expect the new Mustangs to be fantastic, just like the old ones. The Marshall Codes are a dark horse of sorts. They may end up being legendary, or Marshall might decide their other amps are so darned good they won't bother kicking around the modeling amp world anymore. We'll see.
Good luck finding the best guitar amp under $300, and I hope this article gave you some food for thought.
Which Amp?
How will you spend your $300 budget?
No comments yet.


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IMDB Link:
Hot Tub Time Machine
Directed By:
Steve Pink
Summing It Up:
Four friends travel back in time to the 80s via a mishap involving Russian energy drinks and a hot tub. Once there, they must relive the past as their younger selves while trying to figure out how to get back to their future lives.
Quick Thoughts:
After I realized that Sean Anders, who wrote and directed Sex Drive (see my thoughts HERE), was also a co-writer on Hot Tub Time Machine, I suddenly felt the urge to watch it again. This was my third viewing of the film in the past year, and it was just as good as ever this time around, cementing its place as one of my favorite recent comedies.
Hot Tub works so well because it doesn't take it's subject matter very seriously, yet it also manages to pay homage to just about every sub-genre of 80s comedies without making fun of them. All the staples are here: A Hair Metal-fueled soundtrack, Jheri Curls, Cocaine, Bad Fashion, John Cusack... The result is a movie that is very funny and brings back a lot of nostalgia for those of us who grew up on those types of films.
If you haven't seen Hot Tub yet, I definitely recommend it. I know that I will probably watch it a few more times.
4 out of 5


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The Hardware and Me
Originally uploaded by Cavalier92
After waiting for about 30 minutes in line, I got my chance to actually touch the trophy and pose for a photo. Carlo and Ann were right behind me and we got a nice shot of them too.
I am guessing thousands of folks came out to the park today to see the hardware. My photos from the day are up here.


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While it is illegal to pay kickbacks to certain mortgage originators, title companies and other services connected to a real estate deal, that doesn't stop people and companies from taking action in the "grey" area of illegal kickbacks.
Just recently, Prospect Mortgage agreed to a settlement with HUD to repay alleged illegal kickbacks. The company built a large network of "affiliates" to facilitate (allegedly) the transactions and avoid the direct kickbacks known to be illegal.
It just goes to show that no matter how many laws, statutes or ethical principles come in to play, there will always be highly intelligent cons played against the system. In the end, it always comes down to buyer (or end user) beware.
Get more information on this story here.


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Healthy Republic
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OAT Shoes. I'm almost certain that these would make a terrible meal…even if doused in brown sugar and milk, but biodegradable shoes are a cool idea.
Architect and designer, William McDonough shares his views on the importance of green design, specifically from his book, Cradle To Cradle, for a TED Conference:
"Design is the first signal of human intentions. So what are our intentions?
How do we love all the children of all species for all time? …we start our designs with that question."
In an effort to curb fast fashion and promote eco-fashion Kristy Powell began a her year-long commitment to a One Dress Protest. Yep, she will be wearing the same dress everyday for an entire year. She's only on
No blood diamonds here, just conflict-free diamond jewelry and recycled gold and platinum.
Using organic linen, Tencel, organic cotton, and recycled polyester, H&M is revamping its known business model for turning out cheap, disposable clothing to incorporate a zero-waste, conscious approach to garment production in the form of a sustainable clothing line.
Though your fowl darlings won't actually be pulling a plow down each row as the chicken tractor might suggest (I can't imagine them keeping to straight lines anyway), they will do something even better. Here's how a chicken tractor works:
Move the chicken tractor along your garden rows or yard every so often for excellent fertilizer, while giving your chickens premium worms and bugs to munch on, and allowing them to do some weeding for you. No clean-up required, just refill their water and food, shut their "bedroom" door at night, and collect the eggs!
How To Dye Your Clothes With All-Natural Dye
Today's Slow Fashion Inspiration: Living Clothes! Commissioned to create a piece for the Amsterdam Centre for Architecture (ARCAM), fashion designer Mattijs van Bergen and landscape architect Anouk Vogel crafted this dress out of wool and recycled bicycle inner tubes. The flowers are held in little vases that hold the flowers' water.
On a scale of 1 (gouge my eyes out) to 5 (enjoyed every moment), I rate it: FIVE STARS 13 episodes (Games doesn't work on Netflix, so no-go on that one, but each episode is 25 minutes—so many nuggets of great information rolled into such a small amount of time! I realize this list is [...]
A big shout out goes to the bees today and their lovely craftsmanship in home designs. I'm absolutely in awe. These incredible creations are quite "modern" in their architectural tastes! Check out more about these natural architectural wonders here. Photos by Treehugger … Find Healthy Republic on Twitter and Facebook Fan Page
From the gardening and homesteading to holistic healing, nutrition and fitness, you can find many of the Healthy Republic recommended reads at the Healthy Republic A-Store. Can't find what you're looking for? Since Amazon doesn't carry everything—try The Little Green Book.
Media Club: Summer Reading
Nutrition & Healing
Inspired by the movie Julia & Julia, with Meryl Streep,—which I absolutely LOVED—Marisa decides to get inspired. Instead of cooking through the Julia Child Cookbook, she opted to combine something that she enjoys (shopping) with frugality in a year-long challenge: $365, 365 days, 365 dresses.
A designer's guide to over 150 green solutions (eye candy for non-designers), the Green Design Library was created to be a lookbook of sorts to avoid duplication of design research for green products. Brilliant.
In the attempt to create non-biased reviews and recommendations to readers, all Healthy Republic reviews and recommendations are non-sponsored and are based solely on the author's viewpoint, unsolicited purchases, and experiences, which leaves full discretion to flaunt or find fault with a product.
We mustn't let advertising and sponsors get in the way of truthful reviews must we?
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I'd been waiting a week for a repeat of our Saturday night goodtimes (which I have yet to blog about. Sigh). At any rate, the day sorta came…and went…and despite having bought Anne flowers and a chocolate cake to celebrate the end of the year and her graduating top of her class with a diversity certificate, I ended up watching too many cartoons on TV with my child and husband. And then I fell asleep in my kid's room while doing his bedtime routine.
All of this after eating half a Trader Joe's flourless chocolate cake…by myself.
Because, see, I had let myself get my hopes up. It's something my mom told me NOT to do as a kid, rather than just teaching me how to deal with crushing disappointment. I don't like to show how sensitive I really am, so I build up a shit-ton of walls to put on this swag that gives an impression that I am cool and unflinching in the face of disappointment. But, I gotta be honest, when Anne texted that she had to cancel our date, I was pretty fucking bummed.
The rational part of my brain kicked into gear, though, of course. I mean, her little sister had driven up from Oregon to fucking surprise her on Friday for her graduation. Out of town family TOTALLY trumps finger-banging your not-yet-girlfriend in a Saturday night date. I would have done the same thing. Especially since her sister doesn't know about me. And it was partially my fault. Because Friday night she had invited me to this awesome end-of-the-year party thrown by her "wild friends," and I had said no, earlier in the week, because I'm not yet ready to go to a party where I'll stumble home at 5am drunk or stoned off my ass. With a toddler, that sort of shenanigans doesn't fly unless I've pre-pre-pre arranged it. And it'd be better if I was just gone for the weekend than coming home.
So I had the opportunity to see her, and had to say no. And she got blindsided by her sister surprising her and had to cancel our date. I'll survive. We'll survive. But in the meantime, with my period just starting and being 'stood up' (or…cancelled on? rescheduled on?) I ended up eating half a cake and drinking a beer. Which made me feel barfy and chubby and probably why I fell asleep relatively early.
I hate that newness in relationships, where a one time change in plans can cause the emotional upheavel. I feel like a junior higher again.


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Гледай преди Коледа ; – )
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The Colorado Mountain College Leadville Running Club is passionate about creating running and racing opportunities in Leadville and Lake County, Colorado. The Club is open to Colorado Mountain College students and faculty of all fitness levels and running goals. Runners meet several times per week to explore the roads and trails surrounding our Timberline Campus.
The Club is managed by Coach Darren Brungardt, a mathematics faculty at the CMC campus in Leadville, CO. He loves his career as a math professor and coaching at CMC. In 2012, he earned his Master's degree in Coaching from Adams State University in Alamosa, CO. Brungardt coaches CMC's running club in trail and snowshoe races from two miles to 100 miles. He has coached professionally, collegiately, and at the high school level (rugby fitness coordinator, cross country coach, and everything except pole vault and hurdles in track and field). While earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Coach Brungardt ran Division 1 track for the Bears. He competed in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, earned three varsity letters, and was an academic athlete all four years. His post-collegiate running career has taken him all over the country competing in trail, road, and snowshoe races.
Coach Brungardt loves his family above everything else. His wife and daughter live with him in Leadville. When not teaching or coaching, Brungardt loves to hike, snowshoe race, travel, read, listen to loud music, and play board games.
Under Coach Brungardt's direction, our runners have competed in several events throughout the Rocky Mountains:
- Lake County High School High Altitude Invitational 5K in Leadville, CO
- Back at the Ranch 5 mile, 10 Mile, and 30 Mile Duathlon in Wolcott, CO
- Tombstone 10 mile in Minturn, CO
- Two Turkey Relay in Salida, CO
- Colorado Cup 10K and Colorado High School Snowshoe State Championships 5K, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 200/200/400/800m Medley Relay in Leadville, CO
- Tunnels 10 Mile in Buena Vista, CO
If you are interested in learning about the CMC Leadville Running Club, contact Coach Brungardt at his office by calling (719) 486-4296 or sending him an email.


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They are everywhere: at any given moment, of every single day, waiting to be discovered, eager to share the beauty within them. They are the seemingly meaningless moments we all tend to overlook.
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Our History
Hangzhou Xiaoluan Imp & Exp Co.,Ltd owns factory Hangzhou Anjie Brake Co.,Ltd. Who has focused on topquality Brake calier,brake pads, disc brake, Pigment in China. We offer products, such as: Brake caliper,brake pads ,disc brake, pigment, and so on.
Our Factory
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I am a lazy chef. But when I do cook, I like to throw simple and delicious things together. So when I came across this recipe for brownies on My New Roots I couldn't believe that there were only FOUR main ingredients and not one of them included eggs, sugar or flour. Also, they claimed, the brownies didn't even need cooking. It seemed too good to be true.
The only four ingredients I used are: 100g Raw Cacao, 100g Medjool Dates, 100g Walnuts, 1 tablespoon of Desiccated Coconut (a slight variation from the recipe I found online). I whizzed the ingredients together in a blender until the mixture looked like cake crumbs and then I pressed it all into a heart shaped cake tin. I then left it over night in the fridge… et VOILA. The most delicious brownies I have ever eaten.
It's a complete bonus that they are super healthy and incredibly easy to make!


text: OK folks. Ammo and powder are hard to find. I need to practice before the big trip to SA next year. I have a friend who is willing to let me use some powders he has on hand to make up a good load. Does anyone use Quickload software that can input some info and give me the max loads and velocities? I prefer not to shoot max, hence the needed data. Barnes website is really not helpful. If you can help, great and thanks. Here is the info: Bullet- Barnes TTSX 225 gr 1.547 length Case-2.50 length OAL-3.34 barrel-24 inches Powders on hand:IMR 4831, IMR 4350, Reloader 17, Reloader 19


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While GCompris is nice, it needs nice graphics badly. Now the GCompris authors are running a indiegogo crowfund exactly for that - to get new unified graphics.
Why should you fund? Apart from the "I want to be nice for any oss project", I see a couple of reasons specific for this crowdfund.
First, to show kids that apps can be changed! Instead of just using existing iPad apps as a consumer, Gcompris allows you to show kids how games are built and modified. With the new graphics, more kids will play longer, and eventually some will ask if something can be changed/added..
Second, GCompris has recently become QT/QML based, making it more portable than before. Wouldn't you like to see it in your Jolla tablet or a future Ubuntu phone? The crowfund doesn't promise to make new ports, but if you are eager to show your friends nice looking apps on your platform, this probably one of the easiest ways to help them happen.
Finally, as a nice way to say happy new year 2015 :)


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For our dinner on Sunday I made some sautéed shrimp and Giada's Lemon spaghetti recipe. It came out really great; John and I enjoyed every bit of it.
We try to make a nice Sunday dinner every week. We enjoy being in the kitchen together.
Lemon Spaghetti recipe:
1 pound spaghetti
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.
Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.
This dish is great with everything from, fish, steak on the grill and chicken you just can't go wrong and it is so simple but fantastic.
The shrimp we just sautéed in olive oil and I sprinkled it with bread seasoning spice which is a Sicilian blend it is very good. I have done this with just salt and pepper and that is great also.
I also, took a nice fresh loaf of Italian bread and cut into slices and I heated 2/3 cup olive oil with a tablespoon of oregano, some black pepper and salt and I bring the olive oil to a simmer and let it stand for 15 minutes. I then brush each side with the mixture and put it in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until crispy. I sometimes sprinkle the top with freshly grated parmesan cheese, it is outstanding.
I hope you enjoy and try these recipes they are very easy and well worth the time and effort.


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June, 2006
Yogyakarta, Bantul and Klaten on the Pacific Rim.
There is a stock sentence, which is encrypted into the computer of every journalist who writes about this island chain. It reads something like this: "Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin."
This simple sentence seemingly explains why Indonesia has experienced some of the most dreadful natural disasters on record. At the end of the journalistic comments on any earthquake, tsunami or volcanic eruption in Indonesia where the details are at best sketchy because the already inadequate communication infrastructure has been rendered less functional by nature, this sentence is pasted in to elucidate, for those of us "who have just joined the programme".
While the picture painted by the media and the reality are often very different, a catastrophe is a catastrophe wherever it occurs and we are all sorry for the people caught up in it whoever we may be.
Today's Indonesian catastrophe is centred in the area of the Yogyakarta (DIY) province and its neighbouring Central Java province.
Indonesia doesn't do things by halves. When events happen here they happen with an earth shattering reality, which makes us all wonder. The size of natural disasters in Indonesia often seems to outstrip those other parts of the world.
The recent tsunami in the Indian Ocean devastated many areas but none so much as the northern tip and western coast of Sumatra island in Indonesia. Aceh (NAD) and North Sumatra provinces suffered huge losses and enormous destruction. Shortly after this event the island of Nias in the province of North Sumatra was decimated by another earthquake.
In the past month or so we have been regaled with the news that Mount Merapi "one of the world's most active volcano's" which lies between Yogyakatra and Surakarta (Solo) in the middle of Java Island has been on the verge of erupting. The locals have been in and out of refugee status so many times that even the newscasters are beginning to be bored with the story. It seemed it may remain like this forever. This is a continuing story as the volcano has been much more active since the unrelated Yogyakarta quake.
At almost 6 a.m. on the morning of Saturday May 27 2006, an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale took place. This violent tremor lasted less than a minute but it managed to wipe out whole villages in the Bantul region, the area closest to the coast where it's epicentre was located. The whole of Yogyakarta city and the surrounding area was affected including the city of Klaten to the east in the neighbouring Central Java province.
The death toll is now estimated at 6,234. Damage is huge and the loss of productivity will be enormous. Over 10,000 families are estimated to have lost their homes. In some areas the local communities have already started to clear the rubble and ready the land for building again. Last night the Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamangkubuwono X appealed to the foreign teams who are now coming into the area to assist by giving "nails and cement".
Not only are the people faced with the tragedy of re-building but also many of them are now without income as their workplaces have been destroyed and their livelihood is gone.
Yogyakarta is one of Indonesia's most beautiful cities and a constant tourist attraction. The Prambanan temple complex which legend tells us was built in "a day" will take an estimated 10 years to repair. The wonderful Borobudur complex remains open to the public and was not affected.
The Yogyakarta airport was completely closed by the quake, which partly destroyed many of the terminal buildings and the tower as well as leaving gaping cracks in the runway. This important lifeline was very quickly restored to working order. It was somewhat shattering to see such destruction but that is what living in Indonesia is about.
There are times when that which we have known and loved will be shaken and even destroyed. That is a part of the cycle of life in this place.
News spreads rapidly these days and soon the broadcasters had gathered on the streets of Yogya, Klaten and Banten to telecast their descriptions of the tragedy to the rest of the nation. Bodies are shown being dug from the rubble; hospitals are shown with patients on the floors as they attempt to cope with the overflow of the injured. The President is shown visiting the wounded. He moved his office to Yogyakarta for the first four days after the tragedy.
Potential donors representing large and prosperous firms in Indonesia are contacted and tell the TV audiences how much they will contribute to helping those in need.
The generosity of the donors is obvious and while the Red Cross brings supplies and the army help to extract the wounded from the rubble mankind shows how helpful man can be to his fellows in a time of a crisis.
Teams arrive from overseas to set up field hospitals and bring the latest emergency equipment and engineers to assess the damage.
Everyone's heart goes out to those who are suffering for whatever reason because of the earthquake. For those of us who live in Indonesia there is always a tinge of thankfulness for the fact we are not the ones who need that assistance on this occasion. At any moment the tables can turn. At any moment the gods can decide that it is our turn. We are all aware of this.
As the people in the quake areas try to resume a "normal" life and slowly begin to recover they are helped by the abundance of food and staples which are there in the village rice fields where there is always something to use for food. This abundance is also a part of living on the "Pacific Rim". The volcanic nature of Indonesia means that the soils are rich in nutriments for the plants, which sustain life. The "yin and yang" of life in Indonesia is also evident in a catastrophe.
Douglas Myers
Copyright 2006 archipelaGo. All rights reserved.


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José Antonio Estudillo
José Antonio Estudillo
|July 20, 1852
San Diego, California
|María Victoria Dominguez
José Antonio Estudillo (November 2, 1803[1] – July 20, 1852) was a Californio and an early settler of San Diego, California when California was part of New Spain.
José Antonio Estudillo was born in 1805 in Monterey, Alta California to Captain José María Estudillo, who was born in Andalusia, Spain. José Antonio Estudillo probably came to San Diego as a boy in 1820, when his father became commandant of the Presidio of San Diego.[2] His brother José Joaquín was the second alcalde of Yerba Buena, the pueblo that later became San Francisco.
Estudillo joined the Spanish Army at the Presidio and eventually made lieutenant around 1824. He received the Rancho Janal Mexican land grant in 1829 and Rancho San Jacinto Viejo in 1842. He was a member of the assembly from 1833 to 1835. During 1837–38 he was Alcade and Juez de Paz of San Diego Pueblo. At various times he was also treasurer and tax collector for San Diego.
In 1827 Estudillo built a large L-shaped adobe house for his father on land granted by Governor José María de Echeandía . The adobe was later enlarged and became U-shaped. It was considered one of the finest homes in Alta California. The house is still standing, known as Casa de Estudillo, and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in California. It is located in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, on the southeast side of the Old Town San Diego plaza, and is designated a National Historic Landmark in its own right. The Estudillo family lived there until 1887, after which the home became a tourist attraction popularly known as "Ramona's Marriage Place," based on the fictional character in Helen Hunt Jackson's novel Ramona. The house was obtained by the State of California in 1968, was restored to its original condition, and is now a museum open to the public.
During the Mexican–American War Estudillo remained neutral. After California became part of the United States in 1850, he was the first San Diego County assessor.
Estudillo married María Victoria Dominguez (July 28, 1800[3] – October 19, 1875) in the Presidio of San Diego on March 1, 1824.[4] She was the daughter of María de los Reyes and Sergeant Cristobal Dominguez, grantee of Rancho San Pedro. They had 7 sons and 5 daughters. Their daughter, María Antonia Estudillo, married Miguel Pedrorena. Their daughters María Francisca Estudillo and later María del Rosario Estudillo married José Antonio Aguirre. Their son José Guadalupe Estudillo was California State Treasurer.
Estudillo died in 1852 and is buried at El Campo Santo Catholic Cemetery in Old Town San Diego. In his biography in Smythe's History of San Diego, he is described as "a man of excellent character and large influence.[5]
- ^ "The Huntington Library, Early California Population Project Database, 2006."
- ^ "The Estudillo Family", The Journal of San Diego History 15:1 (1969) by Sister Catherine McShane
- ^ "The Huntington Library, Early California Population Project Database, 2006."
- ^ "The Huntington Library, Early California Population Project Database, 2006."
- ^ Biography from San Diego Historical Society from Smythe's History of San Diego (1907), p. 169.


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It's been a great and pretty warm week here in West Valley! We had a lot of great experiences this week! Monday we had our lesson for that evening after P-Day fall through. So, we went contacting with our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Gomez! He is a great guy! So we went contacting to some referrals we had but not much success came from it sadly. Tuesday we had a pretty similar day. We were going to met with Braxton the 10 year old that we baptized last transfer to do one of the Recent Convert lessons, but it fell through. We happen to be with Brother Gomez and he was free as well and we did the same thing as the night before and contacted names this time with great success! We contacted most of the names. Not everyone accepted us, but we got them checked off the list and had something to report to the Wards. We did get a few lessons set up which is always great as a missionary.
Wednesday was a good day. We had one lesson set up last night for today but it fell through (surprise, surprise) but we set up a correlation meeting with one of our wards in the Hunter Stake which went awesome! We had most of the ward council there and we talked about the people we were working with or trying to. haha. We talked and we got referrals for 4 family with people that are not baptized for us to go and contact in that ward which is great! So we are currently working on contacting those names. Thursday we had our weekly planning day for the afternoon where we plan out what we are going to do next week. In the evening we taught Rebecca who we baptized at the end of last transfer the recent convert lesson. It went very well and she is doing very well and is on track on getting sealed with her husband in the temple.
Friday we had District Meeting which was great. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and working with members. We had lunch and watched President Monson's funeral at one of the senior couple's house. It was really awesome to watch it and see the funeral. I am definitely going to miss him! Later we met with one of our investigators and we had a great lesson and we taught the Plan of Salvation which went well. They had a lot of good questions & are still coming to church. Saturday we went downtown with one of our investigators, Rey, to the Church History Museum for him to see about the Prophet Joseph Smith and learn about the history of the Church. It was really awesome and their video about the first vision is the best part! It was really good for him! Plus it's always fun to go downtown. We did this in the afternoon and then afterwards we had dinner. Later that evening we did our weekly progress reports and emailed them out to the Ward mission leaders in our area.
Sunday we had church, of course. Brother Gomez, our ward mission leader, got released so we went to his ward to see that and talk to our new WML Brother Nelson. We watched the YSA devo broadcast as well which was great, and it was a lot of fun to listen to that! It's been a pretty good week and I hope everyone is staying warm back home! I've been pretty blessed here with warm weather for the most part. Love y'all, and I hope you have a great day!
Elder Bowie
Salt Lake City West Mission


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We are pleased to announce that the Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter and Ladies of Vision Charities, Inc. 2019 Scholarship Program is now accepting applications. These scholarships are for students living in Baltimore County. All students must submit a complete application package. Though we have a specific award for entering freshmen, our other awards are also open to entering freshman students beginning their studies in Fall 2019.
We offer scholarships in the following categories:
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact our scholarship committee at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter & Ladies of Vision Charities, Inc.
Scholarship Program 2019


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Section: Near Shawville to Karthaus
The West Branch of the Susquehanna offers some of the best canoe-camping trips in the region. My favorite trip is a leisurely one or two night trip starting near Shawville and ending at either Karthaus or Keating. The longer trip is 52 river miles. The mostly secluded banks offer beautiful scenery, wildlife and plentiful primitive camping areas.
This section of the river is canoeable through June, but check the gauge at Karthaus as you plan your trip. It should read at least two feet to avoid frequently dragging of your boat over the slippery rock bottom. The mostly flat water and riffles are frequently interrupted by short, class II rapids and large boulders. Since the river is fairly wide, you can usually choose to pick a line which avoids the obstacles, or head for the waves and slalom through the rock gardens, getting plenty of practice for your paddling techniques.
The obstacle course look of the river will quickly disappear during high water, 3.5 ft or more at Karthaus gage, so if you want to maximize your paddling fun look for 2.5-3ft water conditions. When packing your camping supplies, I suggest a folding saw, as firewood gathering usually involves cutting fallen tree limbs.
While the highway will occasionally cross or parallel the river, the area is vary secluded. Don't expect your cell phone to have service in the river valley. On a weekday river trip you may not see another boat on the water.
If you need shuttle services in the area contact McCracken Canoe Sales and Rentals near Shawville. There you can also pickup a great laminated paddler's map, Susquehanna River Water Trail – West Branch. If you need overnight accommodations before your trip, check out the Quehanna Motor Lodge in Karthaus.
Happy Paddling !


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Choose your room
Property Location With a stay at Hostal Inti Wasi Plaza de Armas Cusco in Cusco (Cusco Historic Center), you'll be minutes from ChocoMuseum and Museum of Contemporary Art. This hotel is within close proximity of La Merced Church and Plaza de Armas.Rooms Stay in one of 20 guestrooms featuring plasma televisions. Your room comes with a Select Comfort bed. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers.Business, Other Amenities A shuttle from the airport to the hotel is complimentary (available on request).
Useful information:Other names for Hostal Inti Wasi:
Hostal Inti Wasi Plaza De Armas Cusco


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At the start of the new year, a lot of people take a look at their accomplishments and what is to come in the year ahead. More and more of us, and I also speak for myself, look within and take note of the baggage we carry on our shoulders or in our grieving heart, serving as obstacles that prevent us from stepping confidently into a perfectly joyous year ahead.
The truth is that in our everlasting reality we are as free as birds, soaring into infinity, with our wings extended beautifully. But for some people, heavy chains hang from the wings hindering flight, preventing navigation through the free, blue sky.
This New Begining I would like to share with you implies a new commitment. I did not make a long list of needs or precious objects to be bought, or long trips to be undertaken. Instead, this year I had a conversation with my 'Inner Voice', the 'Voice of the Inner Teacher', which often manifests itself and to whom we should listen to more often. I took a good look at the chains hanging from my wings and noticed that there were quite a few: there was one called resentment, another called fear, there was doubt and the past. I sat for a while observing them and how they restricted my ability to soar high. As I observed, I had a conversation with myself. Was I insane for having this conversation with my Inner Voice? I don't know, but it felt very real. I spoke to my Inner Teacher about the chains on my wings and the Teacher spoke to me and asked: "do you wish to keep that painful memory? Do you want to stay with that sense of doubt? How does it serve you?" And as I heard these inner questions, the answers also came from within, startling me with the realisation of how willing I was to 'let go' of the chains. The answer blossomed from within, in my own voice: "No, I do not wish to keep the pain this resentment generates in me. No, doubt impedes trust. I don't wish to live in doubt."
I began to feel lighter. The experience of this inner conversation lightened my movement and soothed my heart. I became aware that it was I who had been holding the chains over my wings, and they began to fall away. I no longer chose to keep them. A few of the chains demanded more of me and I discovered that I cherished some of them as treasures. Despite this, I gave one last effort and released all of the chains I could see. What Joy! What happiness! I experienced myself flying!
I soared. I was actually meditating in my garden, under the morning sun, but the experience was of ample freedom. Then I took off in flight, my wings extended, my heart in radiance and quietness, knowing that in this new beginning there would be no more chains unless I placed them there myself.
Carolina is an International Speaker on topics pointing at peace. She is a Teacher of Peace and creator of IntroDanza as her method for selfinquiry, to go from fear to love, in support of the teachings of the book A Course in Miracles. www.introdanza.com
For conferences, workshops, appointments, you may write to her at: firstname.lastname@example.com
Carolina Corada
This post is also available in: Spanish


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I asked to borrow the book, and as I read it I learned that Nimoy now considers his previous title something of a mistake. He was only trying to be clever, not denounce his role as one of the best-loved science-fiction characters of all time. Nimoy cares deeply about the character of Mr. Spock, and has fiercely defended him against script writers and directors that just didn't understand the half-Vulcan, half-human Starfleet officer.
Which brings up two invaluable things I learned about storytelling as I read this book.
First of all, the audience will not always understand what you're trying to do. The title, I Am Not Spock, for instance. Fans were furious. It haunted Leonard Nimoy for years. In fact, he almost lost the chance to direct Star Trek IV because the producer erroneously thought Nimoy had written a whole book about how much he hated Spock. That's not what the book was about at all. Few had bothered to read it, apparently. They'd only looked at the title and jumped to a conclusion.
What to do? Beware ambiguity. When misunderstood, move on to your next project.
Sub-point: Being misunderstood can be agonizing, but it won't necessarily ruin your career.
Now for Mr. Spock's second tip for writers. This one is about character. It took a few episodes of the original Star Trek series for Leonard Nimoy to get a firm grasp on who Spock was, on what made him tick. But once he knew, he was ready to defend his concept of Spock. Time after time, a script-writer would come along who wanted to have Spock lose his temper, or be violent, or let down his Vulcan dignity in some other way, and Nimoy would have to go in and say, "I can't play this scene." He got some writers mad at him, especially since most of them had two other scripts to finish yesterday and they didn't want to re-write some scene for this pointy-eared alien. But because Nimoy insisted, and because Mr. Spock was so true to his character on the show, the fans responded. They loved him. They believed in him.
Know your characters. Then be willing to fight for them. Don't let anything compromise the integrity of their personality. If they wouldn't do something, it doesn't belong in the story. Rewrite!
Subpoint: Audiences love a character with a powerful internal conflict. But don't make the character constantly swing between one side and the other. That makes the character seem wishy-washy. Mr. Spock succeeds as a character because he almost always goes with his Vulcan side, though there are enough glimpses of the human side to let the audience know what a pressure-cooker is going on inside.
Thanks for the tips, Mr. Spock.


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This season's Welcome to Yorkshire Scarborough Cricket Festival takes place on Sunday 19th to Wednesday 22nd August
The annual Scarborough Cricket Festival is one of the most historic sporting events in the world, and over the years has played host to some of the world's greatest cricketers. The ground, situated at North Marine Road, has seen large crowds of holiday makers watching first class cricket since 1876 - and with the stands built right to the boundary edge, it offers exceptional views and unique atmosphere.
This year at Scarborough Gary Ballance's men will play Worcestershire in a 4 day County Championship match.
For further information on Scarborough Cricket Festival, tel: 01723 365625, email: firstname.lastname@example.com or visit the Scarborough Cricket Club website.
To book tickets, go to the ticket booking page on Scarborough Cricket Club Website.
Need accommodation in and around Scarborough during the festival, why not search below?
SEARCH ALL SCARBOROUGH HOTELS - From here you will also be able to change your search results to suit your preference - why not browse B&B's and Guest Houses, Camping and Caravan Parks, Self Catering and Lodges, and many more accommodation options!
Why not try The Sands in Scarborough? Their brand new luxury holiday apartments are designed and furnished to the highest standards imaginable, and are perfect for a romantic break or a luxury family holiday


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Picnic among the vines, vineyard tour and opportunity to buy wines!
Field Day at Hitchen Road Vineyard, Hitchen Rd, Pokeno
12.30pm on Sunday 2nd December 2012
Come and start the pre-Christmas party season with a relaxing picnic lunch among the vineyards and then be informed and enjoy the enthusiasm of the Hitchen family as they discuss viticulture and wine making.
Hitchen Road Vineyard is a 5 acre vineyard on very favourable north facing slopes above the Pokeno Village, just south of the Bombay Hills. It is part of a 100 acre pastoral farm and has a beautiful view over the North Waikato. All the wines are hand crafted here from grapes that are grown on the property. The only process that takes place off site is bottling.
The Hitchens love Italian grape varieties and have planted Pinotage, Dolcetto, Mon-tepulciano, Sangiovese and Chardonnay. They are proud of the quality of their wines as each year they enter the competition associated with the annual Romeo Bragatto Conference and each year they receive medals. In 2011, they branched out and entered the New Zealand International Wine Show and were delighted when they received a silver medal for their 2010 Dolcetto. All their wines have had good reviews from Michael Cooper in his "Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines 2012". They are also reasonably priced so come prepared to taste and buy!
Bring a picnic lunch and a mug for tea/coffee as we will set up our urn and have afternoon tea together at the end.


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Wheels, in our opinion, are the largest aesthetic change you can make to your bike besides paint and bodywork. The size and width of the wheels coupled with your tire choice can drastically alter your bikes stance and change the performance and look. When we build a bike we often start with the wheel and tire choice. We believe it sets the stage for the entire machine.
Our concentration when designing and producing our wheels is focused on two areas that receive the same amount of attention. Function and aesthetic. While a few of our wheels pay homage to the historic ones that came before it, the difference is in the details, and that's what makes an RSD wheel, and the bike they're on, truly unique.
Roland's Garage is an online window into the creative soul of RSD, where customers can buy ultra-premium goods and one of kind exclusive items that are a result of our diverse crew and inspirations.
These rare items won't last long, so when you add a Roland's Garage item to your shopping cart, you will have 10 minutes to move your items into Checkout. Once the Checkout process has begun, an additional 5 minutes will be added to allow for the checkout process to be completed. So be quick!
If the timer expires, click the option to re-add items to your cart, if they haven't been swooped up by another customer shopping in Roland's Garage, you will be able to re-start the purchase.
RETURN POLICY - All items in Roland's Garage are exempt from RSD's standard return policy. Items can, however, be returned if a manufactures defect is found.
Rolands Garage Limited items must be purchased within 15 minutes of being added to your cart before they are returned to inventory.
The items may have expired but you can try adding them back into your cart if inventory is still available.
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One holiday at a time, please. Let's enjoy tonight to the fullest, by logging onto Treatster, a new app/website that crowd-sources the best homes for candy in your neighborhood. The full-size Snickers are out there. Make them yours.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Trick Or Cheat.
One holiday at a time, please. Let's enjoy tonight to the fullest, by logging onto Treatster, a new app/website that crowd-sources the best homes for candy in your neighborhood. The full-size Snickers are out there. Make them yours.
Posted by Matt Shevin at 12:36 AM No comments:
Friday, October 30, 2015
They Still Make These?
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Friend In Lowe's Places.
But he did ask nicely, so here goes: it's for Lowe's. That's him on the right, playing a professional from the store who's installed a pedestal sink for a not-so-handy couple.
The spot is running like crazy, especially during the World Series. But not many more times during the series as the Mets are shitting the bed at an alarming rate. Congrats nonetheless, Ariel.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Put It On The Fridge.
But it's good to know that distractions aside, I have a shot. Above is a review from a casting workshop I attended last night, from a casting director for a new drama on FOX. Always good to have a fan.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Don't Text And Demolish Bus Stops.
Monday, October 26, 2015
We Feed LA.
Many aren't as lucky as me, and the other day I got to help them a bit by volunteering at the LA Food Bank. We put together buckets filled with food that kids can take home from school every Friday so that their families can eat over the weekend.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Friday, October 23, 2015
The Sexiest Sexists In All The Southland.
My big brother is a big shot at an ad agency here in LA, and last night, I attended the firm's 20th anniversary party. They spared no expense – a food truck featuring fabulous babes...
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Thursday, October 22, 2015
Getting Into The Halloween Spirit.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Allow Myself To Share Praise Of Myself.
Focus on the people who've earned it. Like the folks from the Napa Valley Film Festival, who recently accepted World Class, the comedy short in which I recently wrote and starred.
The festival starts November 11th, but there was a special screening the other night, and afterwards, I received this email:
Hey Matt,
Everyone at our private event LOVED World Class. Thank you so much for allowing us to do a pre-screen for the audience!
Best, Whitney
You made my week. Thank you.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Get To Know São Paulo, Part I.
I've still got a backlog of pics of São Paulo I've been meaning to share, including the above one of very cool attention to detail: the crosswalk by the historic opera house featuring a silhouetted pic of the opera house.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Once Again, Out-Of-Context Thank-You Notes I've Recently Written To Casting Directors.
• I needed that wedding to be Pearl Harbor. Because I wanted it to be da bomb. Just like that Michael Bay movie Armageddon.
• Where are all the nice guys? At home, probably, wondering why you just wanted to be pals.
• Yes, I will convince you to get MacBook. Stop shaking your cane at me.
• My SUV can sense an impending collision. The warning chimes of impending death are pleasant.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Date Rape Has A New Headquarters.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Belated Thanks…
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Thursday, October 15, 2015
Show It Who's Boss.
So hot that I received a text from my neighbor yesterday morning as I was on my way to San Diego. The smoke alarm in my bedroom had been going off from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Poor Ricky had been stuck in the room with it the whole time.
Sorry, Ricky, and thanks so much to my neighbor for getting into my place and yanking that alarm off the wall. And for leaving it for me to smash with a hammer.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
If Only.
But that's when I have to wake up today. I have a big meeting down in San Diego, and I'm driving there and back and won't be home until midnight.
To ensure I don't fall asleep at the wheel, I'm dropping by Tijuana for some Mexican 5-Hour Energy.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
My 2400th Entry.
Fine, I'll celebrate my own way – by choosing my favorite five entries from the last 100:
Prognosis: Meh. Glad my head is healed up, but I wish I could still use it as an excuse any time I screw something up. Brace yourself and go here.
Cruel Irony. If I ever miss out on a great opportunity like this again, put a gun to my head. Oh, wait, here.
Scrappy. June at our place looked like a MASH unit. Time to feel Ricky's pain here.
Official Selection. I'm actually not a wine drinker. Raise a glass of Yoo-hoo with me here.
What I'll Miss. Cows and a butler? Time to start a new bucket list. Relive the crazy good life here.
Monday, October 12, 2015
The Fifth Great Movie Of 2015.
Steve Jobs has had an impact on all of our lives, but especially on his development team. And his ex-girlfriend and mother of the daughter he repeatedly denies.
This isn't a biopic, but instead a three-act play, focused on the launch of three major technolody products. Aaron Sorkin's dialogue is as great as usual, and though he's been under fire for making Steve Jobs look like a pretty evil guy, I thought Steve came off as admittedly flawed – very passionate, and at times compassionate. It's fascinating to see how complex a man he was.
Making the film all that much cooler was director Danny Boyle, who shot each of the three acts in different formats: the 1984 launch was done on 16mm film, 1988 was shot on 35mm, and the launch iMac was on the digital ALEXA.
See this movie. It's great.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Utmost Suspension Of Disbelief.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Oh Sweet Liberty.
Last night, my dream came true, as I found out I wouldn't be needed and had fulfilled my obligation.
Desperately hoping for the same outcome this week – and achieving it – was my friend Dave, who was also on call. We shared a moment:
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Four Down. One To Go.
Or just hold your breath. I've been on call all week, and have managed to make it through today as a free man. I'll find out tonight if I don't have to report tomorrow, and if I don't, I'll have fulfilled my obligation.
I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that jury duty is like being in prison. Yes, it's my civic duty, whatever. I'll pass. I give back in my own ways. Like donating blood every eight weeks. And later this month, I'm going to work at the LA Regional Food Bank.
I'll find out at 5 p.m. if I've beat this rap. Keep those fingers and toes crossed, everybody.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Much Respect.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
I'm Matt Shevin, And I Approve These Coaches.
We're all guilty of thinking it, and making bad decisions based upon it. But I knew better the other day, when I got an audition for a TV show. I could have simply memorized my lines, made a couple of choices about the character and dressed appropriately.
Instead, I went to the experts: my friends Aina and Bru. They're the best at coaching actors. They helped me become completely prepared for the audition, and the casting director was very happy with my work.
They go above and beyond in everything they do. If you need to be coached, put on tape for an audition, have your reel edited, or anything directed, go to them.
Getting an audition is tough enough. Don't blow that rare opportunity. Casting directors bring you in because they know you have the right look for the role, and can deliver what they need. So why go it alone, only to have them wonder at how you've managed to wrap all that tremendous talent in all that frump? Oh, honey. You're not going to the prom in that?
Do your career a favor and visit Aina and Bru here: Undercurrent Media.
Monday, October 5, 2015
I Get Civilized And Shit.
They included a visit to LACMA (LA Country Museum of Art), and the new Frank Gehry exhibit. It featured Gehry's sketches, models and filmed interviews. I highly recommend it.
Posted by Matt Shevin at 8:04 AM No comments:
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Back To "Normal."
Many of my friends have asked how Ricky's been doing since he had surgery for a torn ACL in July.
Couldn't be better. He's up and running around, and feels no pain. The surgeon did a phenomenal job – even the scar is barely noticeable.
Ricky was super patient throughout the entire recuperation, giving up walks for two months, and letting me put lots of big pills on the back of his tongue without whining once. He's a great dog with a brand new, $4000 knee. It's time to get our money's worth.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
No Pitch On This Pitch.
Trust me, I'm an uncle. I've been watching my nephew's soccer games all season. His dad – my brother – is the coach, and attending the games alongside us is Cousin Sal, writer for "Jimmy Kimmel Live," and Jimmy's actual cousin.
My brother had talked to Sal about me, which normally gets a little icky for an actor. I'm not looking to hit him up for a role. But it doesn't matter, since I've already been in a sketch on Jimmy's show that Sal wrote. And I was in his buddy Adam Carolla's movie. It's the tiniest of worlds out here.
Anyway, he's the nicest guy, and it's good to hang out with him, because the last thing you want to do at a soccer game is watch soccer.
Posted by Matt Shevin at 1:18 AM No comments:
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