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Here we go again. The high octane excitement surrounding the 2009 Bordeaux vintage has only just abated, but four months before the next en primeur campaign kicks off, 2010 is already been talked up as yet another brilliant harvest in the Gironde. The wines may indeed be very good, but how will the Bordelais market them to a public that gorged itself on the 2009s?
The term "vintage of the century" has become as worn as an old picnic blanket: by my reckoning we've had half a dozen of those in the last 30 years and two in the last five. Maybe the Bordelais should copy Nigel Tufnell, the lead guitarist in the spoof rock band, Spinal Tap, whose amplifiers could be turned up to 11 because it was "one louder", and introduce a new term: vintage of the millennium perhaps? The American wine critic Robert Parker famously gave out a number of 100* scores for the 2009s, risking self-parody. Will he use 100** for the 2010s?
Even without a magic Chinese number 8 in the vintage, the top 2010s will surely be in big demand, and not just in Asia. Over the last decade, the leading 50 wines from Bordeaux have become the international currency of wine. Just as the dollar is used from Argentina to Vietnam, Syria to China, so Lafite, Latour, Cheval Blanc and Pétrus are traded all over the world. At some point in the future these wines will be drunk, mostly by the very rich, but that's not their raison d'être any more. Fine Bordeaux is mostly about investment and speculation these days.
What people tend to forget is that Bordeaux is a large region whose best wines account for no more than 10% of what it produces. The cream disguises what is often a rather stale, flavourless cake below. There has been very little trickle down here. Punters and investors want to buy wines from the top châteaux; they are not really interested in the vast majority of claret, some of it very drinkable, much of it far less so. The star names have detached themselves from the rest of the region, becoming luxury brands in their own right. Lafite is the new Cartier or Ferrari.
If these wines are becoming unaffordable for most people, what will replace them in our fridges, wine racks and cellars in the future? The world of fine wine's pecking order, as I argued at a conference in Ribera del Duero earlier this year, has barely changed since 1855. It is still dominated by Bordeaux, with Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, the Douro Valley and a handful of wines from Italy, Germany, Australia, the United States, Australia and Spain making up the numbers.
This doesn't reflect what is happening in the vineyards and cellars of the world, where the old order is being challenged as never before. There is more great wine made today than at any point in history, much of it at approachable prices. Just consider some of the wines emerging from regions such as Salta in Argentina, the Elqui Valley in Chile, Canberra and the Yarra Valley in Australia, Hawkes Bay and Central Otago in New Zealand and the Swartland in South Africa, not to mention lesser known European areas such as Dão, Etna, Campania, the Pfalz, the Roussillon and Bierzo. They are just as good, and sometimes better, than wines from classic European regions.
There is also an acknowledgment by many young winemakers and wine drinkers that the range of ten internationally planted grape varieties is way too narrow. Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Viognier are all very well, but what about Grenache Gris, Assyrtiko, Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, Fiano, Cortese, Aglianico, Tempranillo, Mencia, Touriga Nacional, Nero d'Avola and Nerello Mascalese? These are all wonderful grapes that could be grown successfully all over the planet, enriching the diversity of the wines we drink. So-called alternative varieties don't need to be excluded from the mainstream for ever.
Could it happen? Or are we too wedded to the classics, both in terms of grape varieties and regions of origin? One hesitates to use FIFA as a good example of anything, particularly taste, but the fact that football's governing body can award the next two World Cups to Russia and Qatar, albeit for questionable reasons, shows that the old order (the UK's PR dream team of David Beckham, David Cameron and Prince William were humiliated in Switzerland) doesn't always triumph.
Am I alone in applauding this fact? I am no fan of FIFA's executives, but change can be liberating sometimes, in football as in wine. For all the hype surrounding the latest Bordeaux vintage, maybe now is the time to drink some great wines from somewhere else.
Originally published in OLN


text:
League of Nations
The League of Nations' logo, designed by Woodrow Wilson himself. | |
Sport: | War |
Founded: | June 28, 1919 — April 18, 1946 |
Teams: | 63 |
President: | Woodrow Wilson |
The League of Nations was a competition that existed from June 28 1919 to April 20 1946[1], comprised of countries that take part in the game of War. Winning a war scores points for their team. In the event of a draw, the country with the most kills wins, or in case of a further tie, whoever firebombed the most schools. (See also: World domination high scores list)
The League of Nations was formed in 1919 in order to keep the score on which countries were most successful in military conquests, or just to prove what rubbish the French are.
There were 63 countries involved in the League of Nations by 1946, although some sissy countries were not involved. Each country is allowed as many soldiers, tanks, battleships and aeroplanes as they can afford during the season. However, this could irritate the other countries as they might feel threatened by the other team's power, increasing their chance of being on the offensive[2].
Most of the major countries in the world were a part of the League of Nations at one point, with the exception of its founder, the United States[3]. The reason for this was that they didn't want to get involved with European affairs and wanted to isolate themselves from the rest of the world[4]. However, in the last battles of World War Two, they decided that they wanted to be a part of the competition and take credit for winning it.
After many years of War in the trenches of Western Europe, the Great War was nearing its end. President Woodrow Wilson however was very displeased when he found out that no one was taking score. The Allies had smashed the Central Powers into the dirt, at great cost, but there was no trophy, no prize at the end. Had it all been for nothing? It was at that moment that Wilson came up with the League of Nations and his 14 points.
The 14 Points
- Do anything you can to cheat, steal, deceive and otherwise annoy the enemy team. This is likely to make them hostile towards your own country and may result in a full scale war.
- Anyone can place naval forces anywhere in the world[5]. Feel free to block trade routes, blow up life boats, or small mammalian animals.
- Impose as many economic barriers on your country's trade as you like, make it 400% more expensive for people to buy goods off of you.
- To claim a colony, all that you have to do is to put a soldier on a piece of land. If someone else wants to claim that land, all they have to do is kill that soldier and claim it.
- Piss off Russia as much as you can. It's a big boy, it can take it[6].
- Everyone in Belgium will be picked up by a plane and flown to Spain. Belgium will become a free country, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
- All French territory should be made free, like Belgium. However, the French are to be put in Germany.
- As above but with Italy.
- Again, but with Austria-Hungary (to be put in France).
- Turkish people to Italy.
- Polish people moved to Germany.
- Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated, and their countries are not to be inhabited.
- The League of Nations will be formed in order to keep score of the military conquests.
- Lie about what you already stated on record
Treaty of Versailles
After Woodrow Wilson drew up his 14 Points, all the other countries were unsure as to whether his rules would work. Italy, France, and England whined about how Wilson was a big meanie for not letting them help write the rules. After months of incessant whining, Wilson finally agreed to host a big party in New York City where they could all get laid and forget about the whole thing. The French, slighted again that Wilson was writing the rules of the party, insisted that the party be held in some town nobody had ever heard of called Versailles.
Letting France host the party was an extremely bad decision, because everyone totally knew that France was gay. Seriously. There were no chicks. Total sausage fest. Wilson jetted an hour after the conference started, leaving everyone else at the mercy of those stripper mimes someone had invited. At that point, everyone except the mimes (who were thankfully killed a few minutes after showing up) decided that they would draft their own 14 Points. This was another bad mistake, since none of the guys knew how to draft any points. The end result was 15 nonsensical points about nothing in particular (since Italy couldn't count and insisted that it was 14).
Days later, France, Italy, and England showed Wilson the revised points. Wilson laughed and said that they could use the rules they wanted, but he wouldn't be playing. Frustrated, everybody just decided to forget about the whole thing and just use Wilson's 14 Points.
Hitler Takeover Controversy
The most notable series of events during the League of Nations was the rise of a brand new manager of Germany, Adolf Hitler.
Germany, after being defeated in the first War, was in huge debt. They needed a new, ambitious manager that would bring them fame, success, and women. The plucky young up-and-comer, Hitler, was really the only man for the job.
Despite having much experience playing in the First World War and being known as the Offensive Coordinator position for Germany under the head coach Hindenburg, the Nazis had finished the previous season with a pitiful 12 seats in the Reichstag. Hitler needed only two years to turn his presidential campaign into a presidential reality, defeating the Social Democrats.
This takeover of the German National side was slightly controversial in some quarters, because Hitler decided that he wanted to be the manager without any competition; to do this he brought in the new rule called the Enabling Act, allowing him to become the manager of Germany for the rest of his life, and up to, but no more than, three years after he died.
World War 2
World War 2 was the only major season of the League of Nations, caused by everyone taking part in it keeping to Woodrow Wilson's 14 points.
Pre Season
In the pre season friendlies, some of the pundits gleaned valuable information on how the season ahead was going to go. Italy fought Abyssinia in a very convincing win 10-0, taking their land for keeps. Germany also had their own fair share of friendly games, including at the Austria arena and at the Rhineland. Germany took both games by storm, winning a perfect 10-0 both games, much to the annoyance of France who managed to claim the Rhineland Territory after the First World War. The last of the German friendlies was against Czechoslovakia. This game however, was stopped by a joint protest of the coaches of the US and British teams when Czechoslovakia was in the lead with 3-2. This was because the Czechs were playing like sissies. This was not because they wanted the German Basher trophy themselves although many may say so. The British however had a particularly brutal friendly game with Ireland, causing the Irish to abstain from the main tournament in protest at the violence to the so-called "friendly".
A great discovery from these games was the fact that Russia had a great home record. This is due to the fact that the Reds' stadium is in terrible condition and has something to do with a cold winter.
However, during one of the pre season games there was much discussion on whether Japan should be eligible for the tournament, as they stole Manchuria outright without letting China have a chance of getting the land back. It was eventually decided that they could participate, but only if Americans could refer to them as "those damn Japs"[7].
Notable Games
Finnish Winter War
Score: 10-9 to Soviet Union (1-9 in half time)
After Soviet Walk-over victories against the Baltic States, the coach Stalin expected an easy game against another shithole. However, the Finnish called in their ski team and also got som lent players from Sweden. This combo proving very effective, the offense was completely stopped by the Finnish head coach Carl-Gustav Mannerheim. The Finns went out in break with a well deserved lead. However, in the break, it was discovered that the Finnish ski team, as usual, had been taking performance-enhancing drugs. After a time of counsulting, the League decided to ban the ski team for 6 months. This meant that only the reserves and Swedes were left. After this the Russians had no problem winning the war.
Battle of Britain
Score: 10-9 to Britain
The two countries that were primarily involved in the fighting were Germany and Britain.
The plan was for Germany to try and gain power over Britain by beating down the RAF, who were currently delivering many supplies to Britain such as food, materials for building bomb shelters and victory flags (for the inevitable win of the War). Even though Germany led the onslaught with more planes, Britain fought back to a win using more allies.
Score: 10-3 to Germany
This ended up as a German tactical victory and an Allied evacuation so although it was decided that Germany had won on penalties, the British felt they had achieved a moral victory. "We woz robbed," declared Churchill. They fought on the beaches of Dunkirk over the fact that Churchill had knocked down Hitler's sand castle on his way to the ice cream man. Hitler retaliated on this and sent his troops out to destroy the team of Britain once and for all.
But, a lack of strategic knowledge on Hitler's part allowed Britain to escape back home.
Score: 10-0 to the Allies
The final onslaught on Germany, organised by the USA. This title-decider is where the USA finally joined the League and picked up the most points[8]. It was known as the final push for Germany finally ending the game, allowing Wilson to total up the points.
The Last Season Table
Pos | Country | Battles Won | Battles Lost | Men Killed | Men Lost | Pts | Closing Remarks |
Britain | |||||||
Italy | |||||||
Germany | |||||||
Jews | |||||||
Japan | |||||||
France |
*Japan had all their points taken away due to war crimes, however, they still finished ahead of France because France is rubbish.
Most of the teams did not take part and therefore are not on the table.
After the War, the League of Nations depreciated because, apparently, the countries are at peace now and don't want to take part in any more competitions.
The organization that has spawned from the League of Nations is the United Nations, named in honour of the winner of the first and last season of the League of Nations.
See Also
- ↑ It had only one season, known as World War 2.
- ↑ Right, so they have more weapons than us, more man power, more tanks and a better defense than us. The are more advanced in every way... "So, let's attack them."
- ↑ What were they trying to do? Turn everyone against each other so that they could make money from trade? That's a good idea...
- ↑ Some saw this as a brilliant foreign policy, though others saw it as anti-social behaviour.
- ↑ Make sure it is in the water though, a boat in the middle of Russia won't do any good.
- ↑ This point caused the Cold War.
- ↑ Odds are good that your Grandmother still calls them this.
- ↑ This also led to people believing that the USA won the war for the allies.
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subset: commoncrawl


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As President Obama's signature legislation is rolled out nationwide, a recently released book raises serious questions about the constitutionality of Obamacare.
In "Impeachable Offenses: The Case to Remove Barack Obama from Office," New York Times bestselling authors Aaron Klein and Brenda J. Elliott make the case Obamacare not only is unconstitutional, it illegally bypasses Congress, infringes on states' rights and marks an unprecedented and unauthorized expansion of Internal Revenue Service power.
Klein and Elliott quote scholars and legal organizations contending Obamacare constitutes a clear case of "taxation without representation."
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"Impeachable Offenses" shows Obamacare may violate multiple sections of the Constitution, as WND reported.
While the Obama administration may argue the health-care legislation was upheld by the Supreme Court, "Impeachable Offenses" reports the White House has been hard at work changing the implementation of key sections of Obamacare without congressional oversight.
TRENDING: USDA colludes with left-wing group to turn out voters, documents reveal
Taxation without representation
One part of the Constitution that may be violated is Article 1, Section 9, which stipulates: "No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken."
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The section is clarified in the 16th Amendment: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."
The Supreme Court ruled the health-care mandate under the legislation is a tax. However, according to experts cited in "Impeachable Offenses," this tax does not satisfy the requirements of any of the three types of valid constitutional taxes – income, excise or direct.
Write Klein and Elliott: "Because the penalty is not assessed on income, it is not a valid income tax. Because the penalty is not assessed uniformly or proportionately, and is triggered by economic inactivity, it is not a valid excise tax. Finally, because Obamacare fails to apportion the tax among the states by population, it is not a valid direct tax."
Despite Obama's public statements that the individual mandate was not a tax, the Supreme Court ruled June 28, 2012, in a 5 to 4 vote, with conservative Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the majority, that the requirement that the majority of Americans obtain health insurance or pay a penalty was constitutional, authorized by Congress's power to levy taxes.
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"The Affordable Care Act's requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax," Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. "Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness."
In a second 5-4 vote, again with Justice Roberts joining the majority, the court rejected the administration's most vigorous argument in support of the law, that Congress held the power to regulate interstate commerce.
The Commerce Clause, the Court ruled, did not apply.
However, Klein and Elliott document the White House has been changing the law without involving Congress since the Supreme Court ruling, and multiple sections of the implementation of Obamacare are unconstitutional.
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Bribing states?
"Impeachable Offenses" cites Jonathan H. Adler of the Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Michael F. Cannon of the Cato Institute.
The duo found: "The law encourages states to create health-insurance exchanges, but it permits Washington to create them if states decline. … Obamacare authorizes premium assistance in state-run exchanges (Section 1311) but not federal ones (Section 1321).
"In other words, states that refuse to create an exchange can block much of Obamacare's spending and practically force Congress to reopen the law for revisions."
The Obama administration, however, was furiously at work in an attempt to avoid a legislative debacle. The administration proposed an IRS rule to "offer premium assistance in all exchanges 'whether established under section 1311 or 1321,'" Adler and Cannon said.
The Treasury Department, they continued, was "confident" that the IRS had the authority to offer premium assistance where Congress had not authorized it and that this overreach was "consistent with the intent of the law and [its] ability to interpret and implement it."
"Such confidence is misplaced," Adler and Cannon asserted. "The text of the law is perfectly clear. And without congressional authorization, the IRS lacks the power to dispense tax credits or spend money."
In May 2012 the IRS released its final regulations that would "provide guidance to individuals who enroll in qualified health plans through Affordable Insurance Exchanges and claim the premium tax credit, and to exchanges that make qualified health plans available to individuals and employers."
Free-market advocate Phil Kerpen, cited in "Impeachable Offenses," called the regulations an "outrageous edict that attempts to up-end the ability of states to opt out of [Obama's] health care law's new entitlement."
Kerpen called the Obama administration out for what he said was an obvious attempt to "bribe states to participate by manipulating language in the law that is meant to authorize start-up grants to instead fund years of operating expenses."
Indeed, a July 2012 announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services offered states six full years of funding.
Was the maneuver constitutional? Article I, Section 1, states: "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives."
Congress does not vest the power to write and rewrite laws in HHS and IRS; nor can unelected bureaucrats impose taxes on states that legitimately opted out of a federal program, Kerpen continued.
"Impeachable Offenses" further cites Adler and Cannon on how the IRS went ahead in May 2012 and finalized "a rule that will issue tax credits – and therefore will trigger cost-sharing subsidies and employer-mandate penalties – through federal exchanges."
They contended that the rule is not only illegal, but it also lacks any statutory authority.
'State's rights violated'
The 10th Amendment to the Constitution reads: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
The Tenth Amendment Center, which was among the plaintiffs that took Obamacare to the Supreme Court, clarifies that the amendment was "written to emphasize the limited nature of the powers delegated to the federal government."
"In delegating just specific powers to the federal government, the states and the people, with some small exceptions, were free to continue exercising their sovereign powers."
As of February 2013, only 17 states and the District of Columbia planned to run their own exchanges, while another seven opted for state-federal exchanges. The 26 states that have chosen to opt out entirely challenged the law in the Supreme Court
In January 2010, Ken Klukowski explained that the 10th Amendment does not apply here in the way many people have thought – although it does apply in a more serious manner, "Impeachable Offenses" relates. Klukowski co-authored with former Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell the 2010 book "The Blueprint: Obama's Plan to Subvert the Constitution and Build an Imperial Presidency."
Citing two cases from the 1990s, Klukowski wrote that the Supreme Court "shocked the legal world" by striking down the cases for violating the 10th Amendment.
The first case was in 1992, New York v. United States, in which the Court "struck down a federal law requiring states to pass state laws for the disposal of radioactive waste, and to issue regulations for implementing those laws."
In the second case, Printz v. United States in 1997, the Court "struck down a provision of the Brady Act – a federal gun-control law – that required state and local law enforcement to run background checks on handgun purchasers."
From these two cases, Klukowski explained, "emerged the anti-commandeering principle, holding that the 10th Amendment forbids the federal government from commandeering – or ordering – any branch of state government to do anything."
"The states are sovereign and answer only to their voters, not to Washington, D.C.," he said.
The commandeering principle is the real problem for Obamacare, write Klein and Elliott, since the law requires each states to set up insurance exchanges.
"It then requires the states to pass regulations for implementing those laws. And it further requires the states to dedicate staff and spend state money to administer those programs," said Klukowski.
In his opinion, Obamacare is a "straight-out repeat of those 1992 and 1997 cases."
"The main difference is that Obamacare violates the anti-commandeering principle in a far more severe and egregious way than those previous laws ever did," Klukowski concluded.
Originated in Senate?
"Impeachable Offenses" cites Article 1, Section 7, of the Constitution, which states: "All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives."
The Sacramento, Calif.-based Pacific Legal Foundation filed a challenge to Obamacare that contends it is unconstitutional, because the bill originated in the Senate, not the House.
The foundation claims that under the Origination Clause of the Constitution, "all bills raising revenue must begin in the House."
The tip to follow this course of action came from the Supreme Court itself. In his June 28, 2012, ruling, it was noted that Chief Justice Roberts took pains in the majority opinion to define Obamacare as a federal tax, not a mandate.
The Justice Department claimed that the bill did not originate as a spending bill and therefore does not violate the Origination Clause.
The bill, which began life as House Resolution 3590, then called the Service Members Home Ownership Act, was stripped of its contents after it passed in the House in a process known as "gut and amend." The legislation was replaced entirely with the thousands of pages of what eventually became Obamacare and given a new name.
The Obama government's position is that while using the resolution as a "'shell bill' may be inelegant … it's not unconstitutional."
The foundation's response, as documented in "Impeachable Offenses," was that "it is undisputed that H.R. 3590 was not originally a bill for raising revenue."
"Unlike in the prior cases [cited by the Justice Department], the Senate's gut-and-amend procedure made H.R. 3590 for the first time into a bill for raising revenue. The precedents the government cites are therefore inapplicable."
While the Justice Department contended that raising revenue was incidental to Obamacare's "central purpose" – to improve the nation's health care system – the foundation's attorney, Timothy Sandefur, disagreed.
"What kinds of taxes are not for raising revenue?" he asked.
Creating commerce
The Commerce Clause, as stated in Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution, grants Congress the rights to regulate interstate commerce, not intrastate commerce, Klein and Elliott note.
Since the 1930s, Supreme Court decisions have interpreted the Commerce Clause broadly," relates Ilya Somin, an associate professor of law at George Mason University School of Law and co-editor of the Supreme Court Economic Review.
"But every previous case expanding the commerce power involved some sort of 'economic activity,' such as operating a business or consuming a product. Failure to purchase health insurance is neither commerce nor an interstate activity. Indeed, it is the absence of commerce," Somin added.
Georgetown University Law Center professor Randy Barnett, a former student of Harvard Law School professors Charles Fried and Laurence Tribe, "both of whom argued for the constitutionality of the [economic] mandate," writes Klein and Elliott, has been referred to as "the 'mastermind' of the legal challenge" against Obamacare.
Barnett opined in a March 2011 debate with his former teachers: "Though Congress can compel people to be drafted into the military or sit on a jury, those activities relate to, as the Supreme Court put it, the 'supreme and noble duty' of citizenship . … There is no supreme and noble duty of citizens to enter into contracts with private companies." Barnett added that "the mandate would result in a 'fundamental alteration in the status of American citizens.'"
Even the Congressional Budget Office weighed in, stating in January 2010: "A mandate requiring all individuals to purchase health insurance would be an unprecedented form of federal action. The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States."
Illegal penalty?
Obamacare affixes a financial penalty on Americans who fail to purchase health insurance to regulate behavior – regulatory powers not granted in the Constitution, documents "Impeachable Offenses."
Scott P. Richert commented after the Supreme Court ruling: "Congress has been given the green light to do something that even the most imaginative interpretation of the Commerce Clause would not allow: to compel the supposedly free citizens of the United States to purchase anything that Congress deems in those citizens' best interest – or to compel them to purchase one thing rather than another."
Richert, executive editor of Chronicles, the monthly magazine published by the conservative think tank the Rockford Institute, continued: "All Congress has to do is to pass legislation levying a tax on those who, say, fail to purchase smoke detectors for their homes, or who insist on purchasing a car that runs on gasoline over one that runs on electricity."
Cronyism, corruption, cover-ups
The Daily Mail of London has called the "Impeachable Offenses" "explosive," reporting the book contains a "systematic connect-the-dots exercise that the president's defenders will find troublesome."
"Consider this work to be the articles of impeachment against Barack Obama," stated Klein.
"Every American, whether conservative or liberal, Democrat, Republican or independent, should be concerned about the nearly limitless seizure of power, the abuses of authority, the cronyism, corruption, lies and cover-ups documented in this news-making book," Klein said.
The authors stress the book is not a collection of generalized gripes concerning Obama and his administration. Rather, it is a well-documented indictment based on major alleged violations.
Among the alleged offenses enumerated in the book:
- Obamacare not only is unconstitutional but illegally bypasses Congress, infringes on states' rights and marking an unprecedented and unauthorized expansion of IRS power.
- Sidestepping Congress, Obama already has granted largely unreported de facto amnesty to millions of illegal aliens using illicit interagency directives and executive orders.
- The Obama administration recklessly endangered the public by releasing from prison criminal illegal aliens at a rate far beyond what is publicly known.
- The president's personal role in the Sept. 11, 2012, Benghazi attack, with new evidence regarding what was transpiring at the U.S. mission prior to the assault – arguably impeachable activities in and of themselves.
- Illicit edicts on gun control in addition to the deadly "Fast and Furious" gun-running operation intended, the book shows, to collect fraudulent gun data.
- From "fusion centers" to data mining to drones to alarming Department of Homeland Security power grabs, how U.S. citizens are fast arriving at the stage of living under a virtual surveillance regime.
- New evidence of rank corruption, cronyism and impeachable offenses related to Obama's first-term "green" funding adventures.
- The illegality of leading a U.S.-NATO military campaign without congressional approval.
- Obama has weakened America both domestically and abroad by emboldening enemies, tacitly supporting a Muslim Brotherhood revolution, spurning allies and minimizing the threat of Islamic fundamentalism.


text:
In-Air by Mickael Chatelain
In-Air by Mickael Chatelain
Four cards are selected and presented face down. One card is placed face down on the table. Just to make sure there are only 3 cards remaining, the performer counts them. The cards are lined up in hand and turned over to show 3 different cards. The fourth card on the table is flipped over to form a pair. A flick of the wrist and a pair becomes a 4-of-a-kind right before the spectators' eyes!
Comes complete with gimmick Bicycle card and instruction sheet.


text:
The Dialysis Technician certification program is designed to train students the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to enter the health and wellness field as a patient care technician. Program topics include medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology of the kidney, blood chemistry, renal diseases, and disorders, with appropriate interventions. Students will be trained to operate dialysis equipment and learn how to communicate effectively with patients and team members. This program will prepare graduates to take the Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician Certification Exam and be prepared to start work as a CCHT, Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician.
Students are required to purchase the following textbook prior to the first class: Core Curriculum for the Dialysis Technician, 6th Edition. ISBN: 978-1937886059
Learning Outcomes:
- Work under the supervision of a registered or licensed practical nurse to administer this life-sustaining procedure in a highly invasive and specialized patient care environment
- Perform the hemodialysis procedure, which removes waste products from the patient's blood
- Have a working knowledge of how blood is removed from the patient's body, cycled through the artificial kidney for cleansing of metabolic waste products before returning to the patient
- Create daily reports for patient status regarding specimens obtained for testing
- Possess core knowledge to take the professional certification exam for Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity
Learners who complete this program will have the opportunity to interview for an optional volunteer externship with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience. Certain grade requirements must be met to be eligible for externships.
Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.
Payment Plan Available
This program is eligible for a payment plan as a 34% Down payment and 2 Monthly installments. Select this option at time of checkout to pay a 34% deposit at time of checkout, and then be billed (invoiced) in two equal installments. Please note the first installment is due on the month the course starts. *Based on prices as of June 2022: $679.66 [down payment] + $659.67 [1st installment] + $659.67 [2nd installment] = $1,999 [total cost of the program].
Course Dates and Times
Date and Times | Location | Course Cost/Fees |
Hybrid Center for Business and Industry, C1-14 |
$1,999 |


text:
Teen angst gets down to the primal basics in Maurice Pialat's À nos amours, an affecting drama about a "beautiful young thing" entering the world of adult sexuality that's now considered to be one of the best French films ever made.
The riveting Sandrine Bonnaire (La Cérémonie) is Suzanne, a 15 year-old who gets the attention of every man in a room. Suzanne's eyes express a hurt quality but her smile is guaranteed to stop hearts. Early in the film she's invited for a spin on a boat and strikes a pose at the prow while the men watch from the deck above. Suzanne senses their attraction and wants more.
Suzanne is in a miserable predicament at home. Her perfectionist father (director Pialat) realizes that if she isn't already sleeping around, she soon will be. Her father leaves her mother (Evelyne Ker), who reacts to abandonment by becoming abusively critical of Suzanne. Big brother Robert (Dominique Besnehard) dotes on Mom and indulges her emotional outbursts; his maternal attachment is more severe than Suzanne's interesting relationship with her father.
The provocative Suzanne is soon ditching summer camp to neck in the bushes with a boyfriend, Luc (Cyr Boitard). She mysteriously surrenders her virginity not to Luc but to a casual pickup, an American. Suzanne rejects the boyfriend but keeps going out with other boys; it all seems a classic reaction to being abandoned by her father. When Suzanne later decides she wants Luc back, he's attached and abusive; when she announces plans to marry he begs to reconcile. Suzanne lives for the attention of men but seems incapable of committing to any of them.
In average hands all of this might be a standard drama underscoring the psychological effects of an unhappy home. Suzanne's unresolved relationship with her father is the cause of her maladjustment to life and love. Robert's unhealthy attachment to his mother affects his sexuality and his zeal to surpass/humiliate his father. Ex-painter Maurice Pialat avoids overdramatizing these conflicts and instead offers a series of brief observations that illustrate his story without focusing on precise narrative details. We're given some moments but not others, in the same way that we seem to be selective about which memories we retain. Suzanne is happy when she is with her lovers but spends an equal amount of time alone and forlorn, waiting for busses in the rain. The young man she eventually marries is seen in several hopeful 'snapshots' being supportive and loving. Then he's suddenly gone. Without an explanation, Suzanne is leaving to go to America with yet another young man.
Pialat barely shows the last boy, a directorial choice that reveals his 'accidental' style to be very carefully controlled. Sometimes called the French John Cassavetes, Pialat hits us every few minutes with an improvised family scene. Evelyne Ker's mother runs amuck as only an unhappy, hysterical mother can, bashing her head against a wall until she draws blood. Cameraman Jacques Loiseleux (in Criterion's detailed extras) tells us that he had to anticipate what actors might do and betters Cassavetes' often-uninspired dependence on close-ups. The camerawork in these partially improvised scenes is remarkable.
In the original plan the father was supposed to die, and Maurice Pialat's deviation from the script kept the cast off balance for the rest of the shooting. The director's strategy pays off in the most-discussed scene, a family dinner party late in the picture. Suzanne appears happy with her husband of six months (Cyril Collard) while brother Robert has become more annoying than ever after his writing has attracted some critical success. Then the estranged father walks in unannounced and raises tempers by telling off Robert and his pretentious friends. The scene quickly becomes an utterly convincing shouting match. According to the interviews, the actors at the table were not told that the father character would enter, and everything that happens from then on -- which is practically a perfect scene -- is an improvisation. John Cassavetes constructs entire pictures out of similar behavioral exercises, which can be extremely rewarding but require the audience to make a radical adjustment. Pialat's party scene is more tightly fitted into his structured plan, but its conflict engages us at the same "this is happening right now" Cassavetes level.
Maurice Pialat and his writing partner Arlette Langmann show concern and affection for Suzanne and her father in a touching pair of scenes. When the father realizes that his little girl is slipping away from him to become a woman, they share a flirtatious late night moment. The close-ups of Ms. Bonnaire smiling made her an instant movie star. At the end Father sends Suzanne on her way to America with a little speech about finding happiness. Many movies about young girls written and directed by older men conceive of their heroines as fantasy figures of one kind or another, perhaps "the one that got away." The suspicion also arises that the director may be using his young actress as a way of fumbling through a mid-life crisis. À nos amours has a more mature stance and plays as an honest look at an interesting girl's passage into womanhood.
Criterion's 2-disc presentation of the 1983 À nos amours has a perfect enhanced transfer of the handsome film that brings out its soft colors and warm flesh tones. The second disc has three interviews. French filmmaker Catherine Breillat comments on Pialat's style and Jean-Pierre Gorin discusses Pialat's films as a reaction to the 60s New Wave. Actress Sandrine Bonnaire gives a touching interview, recalling how she was too naïve to appreciate the movie when it was new, and how she remained friends with Pialat until his death.
The Human Eye is a 1999 documentary on the film by Xavier Giannoli that rounds up several more of the cast members and shows how highly regarded the film is now in France. Another very good extra combines a 1983 Pialat interview with behind-the-scenes shots and deleted scenes. This excised material plugs holes in the story or describes the unused plotline in which the father is dying of a liver malady. Pialat's interview is wonderfully open. Fifteen years into his career he feels like he really hasn't gotten anywhere. He considers it a slight to be described as a 'fringe' director because French cinema is already "on the fringe." We also see auditions that tell us exactly why certain actors were chosen. Young Cyr Boitard is incapable of getting into character but he has the perfect look.
The 2-disc set comes with a booklet containing essays by Molly Haskell and Kent Jones that help position Maurice Pialat for viewers who have never heard of him. It also has text interviews from Pialat and his extraordinary cinematographer Jacques Loiseleux.
On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor, À nos amours rates: Movie: Excellent Video: Excellent Sound: Excellent Supplements: Trailer; interviews with Catherine Breillat and Jean-Pierre Gorin; 2003 interview with actor Sandrine Bonnaire; The Human Eye a 1999 documentary on the film; Archival interview with Pialat on the set; Actor auditions; booklet with essays by critics Molly Haskell and Kent Jones and interviews with Pialat and cinematographer Jacques Loiseleux Packaging: 2 discs in keep case Reviewed: June 29, 2006
Republished by permission of Turner Classic Movies.
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JW Decks and Porches
JW Decks and Porches. Your hometown deck pros here to make your outdoor time relaxing.
We build, repair and refinish decks, pergolas and other outdoor structures. Deck and Pergola design and construction is our specialty .
Sparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. It was founded in 1904, incorporated on March 15, 1905, and is located just east of Reno. The 2020 U.S. Census counted 108,445 residents in the city. It is the fifth most populous city in Nevada. It is named after John Sparks, Nevada Governor (1903–1908), and a member of the Silver Party.
Antelope Ridge Park, Border Town, Bristle Cone Condominiums, Burgess Park, Catalina at Stonebrook, Coyote Springs Park, Croston Springs Park, Deer Park, Dickerson, Downtown, Freight House District, Golden Valley, Hidden Valley, High Rock 5300 Apartments, Iron Horse Shopping Center


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By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter
Angola Archbishops speaking at the Plenary Assembly of the CEAST (Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tomé) have warned that abortion is not only something that goes against the law of God, but also threatens the very existence of the African nation.
"Remembering that life is sacred 'from conception' because 'we are faced with an independent life with one own's DNA', the message stresses that 'no human being can claim the right to suppress it under any pretext. Thus, parents, friends, educators and health care operators should not recommend or facilitate abortion. Rather, they should encourage the acceptance of a new life, regardless of the circumstances in which it was conceived," Agenzia Fides reported on the bishops' comments on Thursday.
The bishops argued that the Angola culture states that abortion is a disregard for the fundamental values of society, as regardless of religion, life is always viewed as sacred. Any threat against life, including unborn life, therefore destabilizes the society, they added.
Close to 38 percent of the Angolan population identifies as Roman Catholic, according to the CIA World Factbook. Another 15 percent are Protestants, while nearly 47 percent hold indigenous beliefs. Other estimations state, however, that Catholics make up almost three-fifths of the country's 19 million citizens.
The bishops have criticized government plans to decriminalize abortion in Angola, which they said "would be a real attack on national security and to our survival as a people."
Catholic priests have strongly opposed such measures, with Archbishop Jose Queiroz of Huambo telling AFP in 2012 that the push for abortion legalization represents the state's lack of responsiblity when it comes to battling poverty and supporting Angolan women. Huambo argued that women have the right to choose when it comes to conceiving, but not when it comes to whether a human being can live.
Bishops at the recent Plenary Assembly added: "We remind everyone that Angola has been a Christian country for centuries. Therefore, it is expected that Parliament elected by a large majority of Christians and mainly composed of believers, fulfill the duty to respect the wishes of their voters," the message concludes.
Major Catholic figures such as Pope Benedict XVI, when he was still the head of the Vatican in 2009, have also spoken out in support of the Angolan ban on abortion.
Justice Minister Guilhermina Prata, who proposed an early draft in 2011 that sought to challenge the abortion ban, said that clandestine abortions have caused the death of many young girls in the country.


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After an extensive winter refit at Amels in the Netherlands, MY Volpini is back in the Mediterranean and her new owner is enjoying the stunning as-new Amels superyacht.
It seems that Amels successfully achieved its key mission – nothing short of a rebirth while ensuring the integrity of the yacht's original character.
Owner Representative Ben Young of SYM oversaw the project on the 49.30-metre superyacht, originally delivered by Amels in 2004 and he said; "After months of consultations with leading designers and a review of proposals from refit yards around the world, the decision was taken to return the yacht to Holland and back into the careful hands of the Amels team."
He says the reason the new owner chose Amels for the refit was to ensure the continuity of the same standard carried out throughout. "We wanted it to look seamless, so you don't notice its had the refit.
The team did a fantastic job. I would strongly recommend to anyone with a yacht of that quality to return back to the shipyard that built her to ensure absolute consistency and maintain the integrity of the yacht."
The scope of work included a full repaint, interior customisation, machinery and electronics upgrades. Amels treat repaints with as much attention to detail as new builds – with the same spectacular results. "We go all the way back and start with primer," explains AMELS Refit Project Manager Frank van Loo. "Doors, hatches, everything comes off."
The interior upgrades enjoyed the same focus on quality, notes Volpini's Captain Nathan McFadyen. "The owner wanted it to look exactly as it looked ten years ago when it was brought out.
We had some woodwork done in France prior to coming here and they couldn't match the wood at all."
As the original builder, Amels was in the perfect position to ensure the best finish, calling in original interior co-maker Metrica. The results, Captain McFadyen says, is perfect. "It's absolutely fantastic."
With the project completed on time and on budget, Volpini's new owner was ready for a summer's sailing in the Mediterranean.
Amels has now completed almost 40 refit projects, on yachts built by them and others..


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Let me explain the subtle differences amongst these two devices. Let's begin by outlining the name structural.
DVR (Digital Video Recorder): An analog and/or IP based recorder is a consumer electronic device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device. A digital video recorder configured for physical security applications record video signals from closed-circuit television cameras for detection and documentation purposes. Many are designed to record audio as well, whether at the camera or as a separate apparatus in an isolated area. DVRs have evolved into devices that are feature rich and provide options that exceed the simple task of recording video images that was previously done through VCRs. Any good DVR CCTV system provides a multitude of advanced functions over VCR technology including video searches by event, time, date and camera. There is also much more control over quality and frame rate allowing disk space usage to be optimized and the DVR can also be set to overwrite the oldest security footage should the disk become full. In some DVR security systems remote access to security footage using a PC, Smart Phone, or tablet can also be achieved by connecting the DVR to a LAN network that has an internet service. Some of the latest professional digital video recorders include video analytics software, to enable functionality such as 'virtual alarm system' or even the detection of differing objects on the scene. Security DVRs may be categorized as being either PC-based or a stand-alone unit. A PC-based DVR's architecture is a classical personal computer with video cards designed to capture video images. A stand-alone DVR is specifically designed as a digital video recorder with its own operating system and application software contained in firmware or built in flash memory.
Hardware features of security DVRs vary between manufacturers and may include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Designed for rack mounting or desktop configurations.
- Front panel switches and indicators that allow the various features of the machine to be controlled.
- Connections to external control devices such as a mouse, keyboards, POS device, or PTZ controller.
- Controlled outputs to external video display monitors.
- Data ports for network connections consistent with the network type and utilized to control features of the recorder and to send and/or receive video signals.
- Internal optical drives or HDD's typically for archiving video.
- Connections to external storage media.
- Alarm event inputs from external security detection devices, usually one per video input.
- Alarm event outputs from internal detection features such as motion detection or loss of video.
- Single or multiple video inputs with connector types consistent with the analogue or digital video provided such as coaxial cable, twisted pair or optical fiber cable. The most common number of inputs are 4, 8, 16 and 32. Looping video outputs for each input which duplicates the corresponding input video signal. These output signals are used by other video equipment such as matrix switchers, multiplexers, and/or an individual video monitor.
Software features
Software features vary between manufacturers and may include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Routing of input video to video monitors based on user inputs or automatically on alarms or events.
- Log filing of USERs, IP addresses, Input, time and date stamping.
- Alarm and event logging on appropriate video inputs.
- Alarm and event search.
- One or more sound recording channels. User selectable image capture rates either on an all input basis or input by input basis. The capture rate feature may be programmed to automatically adjust the capture rate on the occurrence of an external alarm or an internal event
- Selectable image resolution either on an all input basis or input by input basis. The image resolution feature may be programmed to automatically adjust the image resolution on the occurrence of an external alarm or an internal e vent.
- Compression methods determining the quality of playback. An H.264 hardware compression offers fast transfer rates over a data network with high quality video.
- Motion detection provided on an input by input basis, this feature detects motion in the total image or a user definable portion of the image and usually provides sensitivity settings. Detection causes an internal event that may be output to external equipment and/or be used to trigger changes in other internal features.
- Lack of motion detection. Provided on an input by input basis, this feature detects the movement of an object into the field of view and remaining still for a user definable time. Detection causes an internal event that may be output to external equipment and/or used to trigger changes in other internal features.
- Direction of motion detection. Provided on an input by input basis, this feature detects the direction of motion in the image that has been determined by the user as an unacceptable occurrence. Detection causes an internal event that may be output to external equipment and/or be used to trigger changes in other internal features. Such as a stationary camera being used as a trigger to tell a PTZ camera to look and focus in an area of interest based off of a preset you created.
NVR (Network Video Recorder): Unlike its predecessor, the DVR, a NVR is not limited to be in the same area as your cameras cabling to one section. The unit can be placed virtually anywhere, it simply just needs to be on the same LAN network as the IP based cameras. In terms, a network video recorder are distinct from digital video recorders as their input is assigned on a network rather than a direct connection to a video capture card. Video on a DVR is encoded and processed at the DVR, while video on an NVR is encoded and processed at the camera, then streamed to the NVR for storage or remote viewing. An NVR is a software program that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other mass storage device. An NVR contains no dedicated video capture hardware. However, the software is typically run on a dedicated device, usually with an embedded operating system.
NVR is used in IP video surveillance systems. Because of the nature of these units, a camera that is capable of capturing High Resolution (Mega Pixel cameras) will record and playback as that desired resolution unlike a DVR system. Hybrid DVR security systems exist which incorporate functions of both NVR and DVR.


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Help Wanted: New Generation of Founding Fathers
This is an open letter to a new generation of founding fathers who I hope will stand up and "pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor" to the cause of a restored Republic of the United States of America. I am asking for leaders to lead; people with wealth, name recognition, and the trust of We the People to lead us into a revival of the liberty once known by citizens of America. It is time for a political party to represent the disenfranchised in both political parties and the Independents who have been disenfranchised for a very long time.
I speak to Allen West, Sarah Palin, Rand Paul, Jim DeMint, Ted Cruz, Ted Poe, Jason Chaffetz, Mike Lee, Ted Nugent, Glenn Beck, Kelsey Grammer, Bruce Willis, Jon Voight, Donald Trump, Thomas Sowell, Herman Cain, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Neil Boortz, Dr. Benjamin Carson, Pastor John Hagee, Pastor James Manning, and many others who just don't come to mind right now. You have the money, the name recognition, and the respect of the 67% of We the People who identify as TEA Party members or sympathizers. I know there must be Democrats who are fed up with the Marxist tilt of their party also.
We have a plethora of people, black, white, red, yellow, and a few polka dotted ones, who are ready and willing to work to elect conservatives but are lacking in leadership. Neither political party represents the majority of, or even a plurality of, American citizens. Both parties pander to the fringe on the left, the moochers and looters who live their lives with their hands out, and/or the military industrial complex that simply makes money off of war.
Politicians in both parties ignore the two-thirds of We the People who make this nation work. Corruption is rampant and neither political party has any intention of changing the status quo. They make their fortunes and live a life of luxury off of the sweat of common people who just want a chance to be successful and become wealthy also.
The founders gave everything they had to forge a nation based on freedom and personal responsibility, with a focus on helping each other when in need. Many of them came out the other side destitute but free. There are millions of Americans just like myself who have a desire to live free yet find ourselves condemned to voting for the lesser of two evils, evils that are working together behind the scenes to subjugate and enslave us.
The Democrat Party has been full-fledged Marxist for many years now and the Republican Party is running as fast as they can to catch up with them. John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Eric Cantor, Jeb Hensarling, John Cornyn, Orin Hatch, and the other RINO's have not in the past, do not now, nor will they ever represent We the People who have conservative values. They make huge promises to get our votes then spit in our faces as soon as they get in office.
I wrote a blog article not too long ago reminding people of the promises John Boehner made in 2009/2010. He has never fulfilled any of them, instead minimizing the influence of the TEA Party in 2010 and blaming us for the losses in 2012. Karl Marx Rove has declared war on TEA conservatives and all but called us "enemies of the state". While he has been forced to grovel a bit we all know he meant what he said and will stab us in the back every chance he gets.
The New World Order globalists running both political parties despise everything our founders stood for, and so in turn despise everything I stand for as a conservative. We the People need, not just one, but scores of heroes who will stake their fortunes on our future. The founders did it and won a great crusade that established a freedom and a nation based on God given rights that has been the "shining city on a hill" (John Winthrop) for 237 years.
Republican governors are succumbing to the allure of millions of tax dollars to implement Obamacare in spite of the opposition of voters. John Kasich in Ohio and Tim Scott in Florida are but two prime examples of Republican politicians who were supported by TEA Party conservatives, got elected behind that support, and are now turning their backs on the promises they made and the people who supported and elected them. There are more, including Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, who publicly denounces Obamacare but works feverishly behind the scenes trying to implement it before We the People can stop it. This duplicity is treason in my mind, and an offense that should be punished by impeachment at the very least.
During the 2012 campaign I worked with a man named John Albert Dummett Jr. who was running for president as a Republican. John is just like me; a nobody who cares about his country and the legacy left behind by such great men as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, Nathan Hale, and countless others who risked so much for liberty. John Dummett is in this same class but doesn't have the national stage of those I mentioned earlier. His platform is one that conservatives everywhere can get behind. He is a well-educated and well-spoken man who can stand with anyone when it comes to knowledge of our Constitution and the courage to "protect, defend, and uphold" same. He should be a part of a new creation also.
When you look at demographics you find that 40% of Americans are Republican, 40% Democrat, and 20% Independent. The TEA Party montage makes up 67% of We the People. If all 20% of Independents identify as TEA people there are still 47% that have to come from somewhere, namely both political parties. Two-thirds of anything is a winning proposition.
It is time for real "change we can believe in". The outright lies and deceit of both political parties has reached a point that cannot be ignored by anyone who loves liberty. I am as much of a patriot as anyone, but lack the financial resources and public stage to make the kind of difference that can be made by the rich and famous among conservatives.
We the People are here; looking for encouragement, direction, and confidence in a future as great as that established 237 years ago with the defeat of Great Britain and the ratification of our founding document, The Constitution of the United States of America.
You people have the financial resources to get a party started and the fame to garner support from millions of Americans desperately seeking leaders they can believe in and count on. If all of you and all of those other unnamed conservatives would band together with the various TEA Party factions, Freedom Works, and other organizations we could forge an unbeatable force for freedom that would rival the accomplishments of 1776. Will you pledge " your life, your fortune, and your sacred honor" to liberty? I have no fortune but will pledge my life, my talents, and my sacred honor to the cause. All I need is a direction and that isn't available through the Republican Party.
I submit this in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in faith, with the responsibility given to me by Almighty God to honor His work and not let it die from neglect.
Bob Russell
Claremore, Oklahoma
February 26, 2013


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Winning washes over all ills.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are proof, victors of two straight games and looking more like the team coach Greg Schiano has preached about for so long in Sunday's 41-28 stomping of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bucs (2-8) are in prime position to walk away with a high draft pick, but players and coaches alike are playing for their jobs in Tampa. Schiano's methodologies have come under fire during a campaign that's veered into multiple dark corners, but guard Davin Joseph praised his coach for keeping the locker room focused.
"There was a time there a few weeks ago when it could not have gotten any worse at One Buc (Place)," Joseph told reporters Sunday, per The Tampa Tribune. "I mean, it was the worst it's ever been, and I've been here for eight seasons.
"It was coming down hard on (Schiano). ... But he stuck with it. He stuck with what he believes and now it's starting to pan out."
Said Joseph: "All of a sudden, it's like a light's been turned on."
Many of Tampa's early-season losses were nail-biters, the products of a stingy defense with talent at every level. The Bucs' running game -- no matter whom you plug in -- is a beast. We'd argue they have shown more effort than their NFC South rivals, the Falcons, who have been outscored 61-135 during a lifeless, four-game losing streak.
There isn't enough time for the Bucs to make any real noise inside the division, but space remains for Schiano to put his stamp on this team. It's fair to doubt the plan in Tampa -- or ask if there is one -- but Joseph sounds like he's buying in.
We recapped every Week 11 game on the latest "Around The League Podcast."


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Diane McKnight, professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering and a fellow of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
McKnight is among 66 new members and 10 foreign associates of the academy announced today. She joins 16 other faculty from the campus who have been elected since the academy's formation in 1962.
Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice or education" and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education."
McKnight was recognized for making clear the interrelationship between natural organic matter and heavy metals in streams and lakes.
Her research expertise is in the interactions between freshwater biota, trace metals, and natural organic material in diverse freshwater environments, including lakes and streams in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and in the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica.
In the Rocky Mountains, she has focused on the impact of metal contamination in acid mine drainage streams and the influence of climate change and nitrogen deposition on alpine lakes and wetlands. McKnight has interacted with many state and local groups involved in mine drainage and watershed issues in the Rocky Mountains.
"Diane is a worldwide leader in the interactive effect of metals in our water system with natural organic matter," said Professor Ross Corotis, who was dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science when McKnight joined the faculty and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research in 1996. "In addition to her advanced research for protecting environments from the Antarctic to the Rocky Mountains, she is a leader in developing books for children to help them learn about the water cycle."
McKnight has been working in Antarctica since 1987, and is a leading investigator studying extreme life at the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research site funded by the National Science Foundation. In the harsh polar environment, stream channels flow only a few weeks out of the year and the only life forms inhabiting the area are microorganisms, mosses, lichens and a few groups of invertebrates.
She wrote and published a children's book, "The Lost Seal," in 2006, that tells the true story of a wayward seal discovered near the research camp in 1990 and its eventual rescue. The story gives children an understanding of Antarctica's extreme environment and the work of scientists there.
She earned three degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1975, a master's degree in civil engineering in 1978 and a doctorate in environmental engineering in 1979.
She was a research hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's National Research Program for 17 years before she came to CU-Boulder. She was named a fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2004 and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2009.
She is a former member of the National Research Council's Water Science and Technology Board and Polar Research Board, and she received a Meritorious Service Award from the U.S. Geological Survey in 1995.
Other CU-Boulder faculty who have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and their years of election, are: Bernard Amadei, 2008; George Born and Kaspar Willam, 2004; Ross Corotis and Fred Glover, 2002; Frank Barnes, 2001; Delores Etter, 2000; Martin Mikulas, 1999; Valerian Tatarskii, elected a foreign associate in 1994; Earl Gossard, 1990; Don Hearth and Richard Strauch, 1989; Jacques Pankove, 1986; Richard Seebass (deceased), 1985; Klaus Timmerhaus (deceased), 1975; and Max Peters (deceased), 1969.


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Mary Tudor's claim to the throne was effectively enshrined in law. Mary was the legitimate daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. While the law stated that Edward, as a boy, had the right to succeed his father despite being the youngest of the late king's children, Mary was legitimately the next in line. However, known for her fervent support of Catholicism, there were those in England who feared yet more religious turmoil in the nation if Mary became queen. Hence the move by John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, to put Lady Jane Grey on to the throne. This would have allowed the religious reforms introduced during the reign of Edward VI to have been maintained.
On the death of her half-brother, Mary must have felt isolated. The most powerful nobleman in England had put forward his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane, to be queen and the dying Edward had accepted this on June 21st 1553 when he signed a document excluding Mary and Elizabeth from any succession – claiming that both were illegitimate. To what extent Dudley exerted pressure on the very ill king is not known. Some believe that despite his ill health, Edward was capable of making decisions and that the decision to exclude Mary was his own.
Edward died on July 6th 1553 but his death was not publicly announced for three days, though rumours of his death understandably leaked out. During this time, Dudley did what he thought was needed to secure the position of Lady Jane. She was declared queen on July 10th.
However on July 9th, Mary, having heard rumours of Edward's death, had written to the members of the Privy Council. Mary's letter was a statement of her right to the throne. It was copied and sent to many large towns in an effort to gain support. In fact, for all his planning, Dudley failed to do the most important of tasks – to secure Mary and to control her movements and what she wrote etc.
Mary's letter of intent to the Privy Council was widely read in many towns and it was the almost instinctive support of the people for the true heir that ended Dudley's plot and led to his execution along with Lady Jane Grey's. The letter is also a clear indication of Mary's academic ability – it is well written and well argued.
"My lords, we greet you well and have received sure advertisement that our dearest brother the King and late sovereign lord is departed to God. Marry, which news, how they be woeful unto our hearts, He wholly knoweth to whose will and pleasure we must and do humbly submit us and our will.
But in this lamentable case, that is to wit now after his departure and death, concerning the Crown and governance of this Realm of England with the title of France and all things thereunto belonging, what has been provided by act of Parliament and the testament and last will of our death father – beside other circumstances advancing our right – the Realm know and all the world knoweth. The rolls and records appear by authority of the king our said father and the king our said brother and the subjects of this Realm, as we verily trust that there is no good true subject that is or can or will pretend to be ignorant hereof. And of our part, as God shall aid and strengthen us, we have ourselves caused and shall cause our right and title in this behalf to be published and proclaimed accordingly.
And, albeit this manner being so weighty, the manner seemeth strange that our said brother, dying upon Thursday at night last past, we hitherto had no knowledge from you thereof. Yet we considered your wisdoms and prudence to be such that having eftsoon among you debated, pondered, and well weighed this present case with our estate and your estate, the commonwealth, and all your honours, we shall and may conceive great hope and trust and much assurance in your loyalty and service, and that you will like noble men work the best.
Nevertheless, we are not ignorant of your consultations and provisions forcible, there with you assembled and prepared – by whom and to what end God and you know, and nature can but fear some evil. But be it that some consideration politic of some whatsoever reason hath hastily moved you thereto, yet doubt you not, my lords, we can take all these your doings in gracious part, being also right ready to remit and fully pardon the same freely, to eschew blood-shed and vengeance of those that can or will amend. Trusting also assuredly you will take and accept this grace and virtue in such good part as appeareth, and that we shall not be enforced to use the service of other our true subjects and friends which in this our just and rightful cause God, in whom our final affiance is, shall send us.
Wherefore, my lords, we require you and charge you, for that our allegiance which you owe to God and us, that, for your honour and the surety of your persons, you employ your selves and forthwith upon receipt hereof cause our right and title to the Crown and government of this realm to be proclaimed in our City of London and such other places as to your wisdoms shall seem good and as to this case appertaineth, not failing hereof, as our very trust is in you. And this letter signed with our hand shall be your sufficient warrant.
Given under our sign at our Manor of Kenninghall the 9th July 1553.
The reply from the Privy Council that Mary received was generally negative. Those who signed the reply on behalf of the Privy Council had good reason to be concerned once it became clear that the people supported Mary's right to the Crown.


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Casshan: Robot HunterSynopsisIn the future, all of humanity is taken over by (get this) environmentalist robots in the style of Terminator. The leader of the Environmental Robots is an android called BK-1, who the robots refer to as the Black King, whose agenda is to rid the earth of all humans so that the environment can be preserved (I guess no one ever thought to tell BK-1 that blowing up everything the humans own isn't very environmentally conscious). Pockets of human resistance remain here and there (again, a la Terminator), but hope seems dim, except for one man: solar-powered Casshan, Robot Hunter. Our hero in white is accompanied by his trusty dog that turns into a jet and breathes fire, followed by his ex-girlfriend who inexplicably bears an uncanny resemblance to Sailor Moon. It's up to Casshan to save humanity from the Environmental Robots. ReviewYet another gem from the Sci-Fi channel. Who's on the committee that picks titles to be aired Saturday mornings? I need to have a little talk with them. This title tries to combine martial arts, Terminator, environmentalism, family drama, and war epic genres, and manages to fail at every single one. The Environmental Robots for some reason have developed human emotions and laugh, cry, boast, and do everything we humans do, only with bad acting. Why in the world would MACHINES lustily shout "Hail Black King!" every time they beat another human? Got me. Casshan's story is filled with plot-holes and presumptions, and the characters are all caricatured versions of cliched heroes, heroines, and villains (yes, I know that cliches of characters are usually already caricatures. Just shows you how lame this film is). The plot somehow fails to build to any sort of climax whatsoever, preferring to go from lame action scene to lame action scene with interludes of corny, trite dialogue and reflection. Intercharacter relationships are laughable, and would be hysterical except for the fact that Casshan and company really seem to believe what they're doing. Casshan's hero ethic and philosophy make absolutely no sense to anyone not strung out on barbiturates, and the overall dialogue makes me wish that everyone would just die and get the movie over with. Dubbing is adequate, but I don't think any amount of voice acting could save this film from the terrible writing it's already suffering from. Top it off with a cliched, melodramatic, and entirely irritating soundtrack and poor, choppy animation, and you've got a title you'd best leave on the shelf. Want mecha action? Go watch Bubblegum instead. Or anything else, for that matter. Recommended Audience: A few brief scenes of casual nudity, with some somewhat graphic deaths of humans at the hands of the Environmental Robots. Not for the little ones. Ironically, though, the quality of the plot is one that can only be appreciated by the very toddlers this movie should not be seen by. Version(s) Viewed: Sci-Fi channel airing, English dub Review Status: Full (4/4) Casshan: Robot Hunter © 1993 Tatsunoko Productions |
© 1996-2015 THEM Anime Reviews. All rights reserved. |


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IRC, OFTC, #debian-hurd, 2011-10-21
[Python testsuite]
<pinotree> [169/340/1] test_logging
<pinotree> python:
__pthread_enqueue: Assertion `thread->prevp == 0' failed.
<pinotree> sigh
IRC, freenode, #hurd, 2011-10-21
<pinotree> am i missing anything, or in libpthread the __pthread_threads
list does not ever has elements removed from it?
<pinotree> ... thus potentially causing
"./libpthread/pthread/pt-internal.h:109: __pthread_enqueue: Assertion
`thread->prevp == 0' failed." because threads can be appended on
__pthread_dealloc() to the __pthread_free_threads list as well?
<pinotree> maybe reusing the same next+prevp pointers in the __pthread
struct for more than one list at the same time isn't a good idea...
IRC, freenode, #hurd, 2011-10-23
<youpi> pinotree: I don't understand the relation between thread->prevp !=
0 and the __pthread_threads list
<youpi> the list never has elements removed indeed, since libpthread never
frees __pthread structures apparently
<pinotree> youpi: ye sorry, that relation is indeed nonsense
<youpi> in which condition did you get prevp != 0
<pinotree> i wa trying to find some explaination for the "thread->prevp ==
0" assertion in the _queue function
<youpi> ?
<pinotree> *was
<youpi> it's not obvious to me how libpthread makes sure the various
cond/mutex/rwlock make sure that it's not queued several times
<pinotree> yeah
<pinotree> apparently prevp/next are used for lists of held
waitcond/mutex/rwlock and free threads
IRC, freenode, #hurd, 2013-03-20
<braunr> aw
<braunr> i hit the ext2fs.static: ./pthread/pt-internal.h:122:
__pthread_enqueue: Assertion `thread->prevp == 0' failed.
<braunr> assertion
<braunr> looks like there is a deadlock on assert
<braunr> which might explain why i never saw progress when i tested that in
the past
IRC, freenode, #hurd, 2013-04-21
<braunr> damn, there still bugs in libpthread
<braunr> (about prevp not being null when it should i mean)
<pinotree> braunr: found another trigger for that?
<braunr> no
<braunr> it's so random i wonder if it's not a completely unrelated
<braunr> pinotree: also, i'm having more of these issues with my custom
hurd packages that let threads exit after some time from managing ports
<braunr> (i removed the libports_stability patch)
<braunr> i once had this : http://www.sceen.net/~rbraun/darnassus_crash.png
[The assertion failure.]
IRC, freenode, #hurd, 2013-04-23
<braunr> removing the libports_stability patch exposed bugs in libpthread,
triggering assertions when queueing/dequeue threads from a queue (but i
don't know which one / in which function)
IRC, freenode, #hurd, 2013-06-25
<pinotree> braunr:
<pinotree> make: ./pthread/pt-internal.h:122: __pthread_enqueue: Assertion
`thread->prevp == 0' failed. \o/
<pinotree> (it should rather be /o\, but better pretend not)
<braunr> pinotree: yes, we regularly see it
<braunr> pinotree: how long has the machine been running at this point ?
<pinotree> dunno, you should ask samuel about that
<pinotree> does it happen after N hours/days?
<braunr> a few days of moderate to high activity yes
<pinotree> ah ok
<braunr> and i actually see this error much more often when i disable the
libports stability patch in the hurd debian package
<braunr> so i guess something is wrong with thread recycling
<braunr> but i wanted to completely rewrite that part with the new kernel
call i asked bddebian to work on :)
During a run of the GDB testsuite, I hit C-c
, and then saw:
Running ../../../W._C._Handy/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/shreloc.exp ...
^Cexpect: ./pthread/pt-internal.h:131: __pthread_enqueue: Assertion `thread->prevp == 0' failed.


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For decades now, liberals - a term I'm using loosely to mean anyone on the American left - have mostly shunned gun ownership and gun culture. Around half of Republicans own guns, and 41% of those who call themselves "conservatives," compared to only 22% of Democrats and 23% of those who call themselves "liberals".
Why? One reason is that liberals are more likely to live in big cities, where there is an assumption that violence will be stopped by the police (and by numerous witnesses), rather than by one's own defensive actions. But I think part of it is cultural - liberals, by and large, want to live in a society without widespread gun ownership, and many have decided to "be the change they want to see in the world."
But leading by example hasn't worked. Gun control has been mostly a political non-starter except for a very brief period at the beginning of the Clinton administration. Conservatives continue to use the issue of gun rights as a rallying cry and cultural wedge issue, constantly invoking the fear that liberal politicians will come storming into Americans' houses and take away their means of self-defense.
Now things may be changing. A recent BBC report found that since the election of Trump, liberal interest in gun ownership has spiked. The Liberal Gun Club, run by Lara Smith (no relation) has reported a 10% increase in membership and a "huge" increase in interest.
I think this is a good trend. More liberals need to own guns. Why? Here are two reasons:
1. It would make any calls for gun control more credible.
Right now, many conservatives see gun control as a plot to disarm them. But if liberals are also armed, calls for things like assault weapons bans, or background checks, or stricter licensing requirements sound more like an arms limitation treaty than a call for unilateral disarmament. In other words, instead of liberals saying "Hey, give up your guns," they'll be saying "Hey, let's all give up some of our guns." That's a more credible, more powerful message.
There's a precedent for this. Half a century ago, the Black Panthers, ardent gun nuts, staged an armed protest at the California state capitol. The state responded with the Mulford Act, which forbid open carry - a very big, rapid success for prudent gun control policy. Now, I'm not suggesting liberals stage armed takeovers of government buildings - the 60s were a very different time, and people like Cliven Bundy aren't going about things in the right way. But the larger point is that when liberals have guns, even conservative politicians are willing to embrace sensible gun control measures.
A more metaphorical example is the successful history of U.S.-Soviet and U.S.-Russian arms limitation treaties. The Russians love nukes like Ted Nugent loves guns, but because we had nukes of our own, we managed to make them see how sensible it would be to limit the total amount.
2. It's insurance against the breakdown of public order.
The total breakdown of public order is highly, highly unlikely. It would take a nuclear war, a civil war or coup, or a major natural disaster like a Yellowstone super-eruption to produce a situation in which America reverted to anarchy.
But just because it's unlikely doesn't mean it's pointless to insure against it. This is a tail risk, but the consequences would be huge and disastrous. So it might make a lot of people sleep better in their beds at night knowing that if it came time to grab our guns and get to safety, they'd have guns to grab.
And the erratic nature of Trump's leadership probably increases the tail risk just a little bit - an accidental tweet or a falling-out with Putin might set off a nuclear war.
Also, it's important to remember that small, localized breakdowns of public order do also happen in cities from time to time, and that it can help to have a gun in those extreme cases - especially if you're a minority, and less likely to get immediate help from the cops.
There's actually sort of a historical precedent for this as well. In the episode known as "Bleeding Kansas" in 1854-1861, the U.S. government decreed that slavery's legality in Kansas would be decided by popular vote. Naturally, this made pro- and anti-slavery people both rush to settle in the state, and it also sparked a guerilla war. The government, paralyzed by the fear of a larger civil war (which soon happened anyway), did little to quell the violence, so the state became a zone of anarchy. The anti-slavery forces, known as Jayhawkers, were well-armed, and eventually won the conflict.
So these are the two main reasons that liberals should own guns. The main argument against owning guns is the risk of accident - over a hundred American kids die from gun accidents every year. Why take the risk? Well, it's certainly possible to minimize the risk of gun accidents - keep the gun in a safe. If you take proper precautions, the risk is far lower than the aggregate statistics might suggest.
But if that risk is just too high, consider simply learning how to use guns. Knowing how to shoot, maintain guns, etc. is probably more important than physically having the guns in your home. Who knows...you might find out it's fun!
Anyway, remember, always safety first. And if you do have mental illness, I'd say don't buy a gun, even if the law allows you to.


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What started out as a bedroom recording project for Depreciation Guild frontman Kurt Feldman a mere four years or so ago, has evolved into something quite extraordinary. Two full albums later, his band has now toured the United States and Europe multiple times. They have also brought their show to Japanese audiences, inspiring a video for their song "My Chariot" from their latest album "Spirit Youth." Along the way the band has evolved from one man to the current four piece lineup. Their debut album "In Her Gentle Jaws" was an initial internet download sensation in 2008 and 2009, creating an excited response among bloggers and music lovers far and wide. Having subsequently been remixed and remastered, the tracks can now be heard with an even richer and fuller clarity. This year brought the much anticipated follow-up, a meticulously crafted album titled "Spirit Youth."
In the aforementioned recently released video for the lead single "My Chariot," two Japanese school girls are filmed meeting up for a day out together throughout the city of Tokyo. As the gentle-yet-sonically-powerful keyboard synths begin, you see the two friends greeting each other and heading out to explore the city. The gorgeous clarity of at times super slo-mo camera imagery shows the girls with their pink earmuffs and headbands, sharing an iPod headset (listening to this track, of course) as they put on makeup, brush their hair and eat ice cream. Kurt's vocals provide the perfect soundtrack for this delightful and intoxicating travelogue through a magical city of Tokidoki and Hello Kitty dolls. "The hope you feel, it will gratify you instantly," Kurt sings. However, it is tempered by a fear that one may "wake up obsolete." Thematically the lyrical content, with its references to "data" and things being "digital" more closely match the images of a cutting-edge electronic Japan. In fact, perhaps the song title itself refers to some kind of space chariot, rather than the ancient vehicle one might initially think of. The song and video climax together in an uplifting blend of new discoveries, wonderment and that magical feeling of shared experiences.
The Depreciation Guild -- My Chariot from Maura Milan on Vimeo.
The band's initial sound and visual imagery has close ties to the video gaming world. This is no casual association as Kurt has also created an iPhone/iPod Touch game called TileWild featuring three new tracks and an 8-bit sound design. Designed in collaboration with longtime friend Hayden Cacace, the game is a modernized evolution of the Tetris experience. However, rather than simply positioning falling blocks into their appropriate places, TileWild includes the concept of additive and subtractive color mixing to the fray.
Along with Kurt on vocals, guitar and overall sound design, The Depreciation Guild is comprised of twin brothers Christoph Hochheim (guitar, vocals) ,Anton Hochheim (live drums, percussion and samplers) and newest member Raphael Radna on bass guitar and keyboards. Their latest album "Spirit Youth" shows just how far their sound has evolved since Kurt's initial foray into Famicon driven song construction. "Crucify You" features Kurt's lead vocals in a clear and relatively unadorned manner, with very little sonic masking going on. The primary rhythm guitars are also clean and undistorted. What powers the song forward is the distinct melody guitar line behind the chorus. Live sounding cymbal and heavy drumming further emphasize the difference between their first and second album. The verses are left uncluttered, keeping the primary focus and emphasis on Kurt's vocals. A synth pad comes up in the mix towards the end of the song, providing additional richness and texture.
"Blue Lily" slows the tempo down somewhat, allowing Feldman to further explore his smooth vocal stylings, that are seamlessly woven within a traditional rock song structure. "Dream About Me" existed as something of a crossover song between albums one and two. Delivering a unique hybrid of 60's era soulfulness and present day data-centric gaming textures. The percussion is distinct in its electronic nature, positioning the track a bit closer to the first album. Kurt's lead guitar melody line is a thing of beauty, with it's wiry dance up the guitar next. That quality musicianship accounted for, this song is still really all about the silky, heavy-lidded vocals.
On the other hand "November" pulses forward via a thumping heartbeat kickdrum and gently picked guitar chords. Synths buzz, Kurt sings and then on to a glorious angular time signature change. The keyboard textures are strong on the airy and spacious verses. On its second pass through the angular change becomes the central sonic focus. Up to a drum heavy breakdown (with distant percussive clacks) that leads to gentle guitar progressions. Only to build it all up again. The title word is repeated throughout while layers of keyboards bathe the sonic landscape till its grand conclusion.
"Trace" is driven by an instantly hooky guitar line. Drums literally boom in the background while keyboard melodies work their way into the mix. The distinct guitar interplay between Kurt and Christoph really shine when they play this live. While Kurt features on the early melody lines on top, Christoph is slashing a rhythmic counterpoint. Deeper into the song Christoph creates a buzzing undercurrent by rapidly strumming a melody line behind Kurts vocals. It is just this sort of attention to detail that sets The Depreciation Guild apart from the pack of noisy bands popping up now on a daily basis.
Kurt frequently gives credit to his producer Josh Eustis for the high quality sonic clarity and detail to their albums. "Spirit Youth" was created between June and October, 2009 at Benelli Sound Labs in Chicago, IL., with additional mixing work from Studio Engineer Roger Seibel. Having top notch mic's and amps to record with is so essential for a quality finished product. Properly tracked drums can often be the difference between a merely ok sounding record and a truly great one. Besides fully recording and producing "Spirit Youth" with Josh at his studio in Chicago, they also had him remix and remaster their debut album "In Her Gentle Jaws." In addition to producing and recording other bands, Mr. Eustis has his own recording project that goes by the name "Telefon Tel Aviv."
What stands out the most about The Deprecation Guild is how they flawlessly merge a soft romantic feel with hauntingly beautiful melodies, but are not adverse to sophisticated key changes within those very same songs. And despite the lush quality of their recorded works, the band fully recreates it all in the live setting. On completing of their first headlining European tour, the band will return to New York and select east coast cities for a number of significant shows.


text:
I remember the day I got a call from United Media telling me they wanted to offer me a contract to be a syndicated cartoonist. Yay!
But hold the champagne, I thought. The contract was for what they call a "development deal." That means you work together for six months, and at the end they decide whether or not to sell your comic to newspapers. About four months into my development deal, United Media informed me they planned to launch Dilbert. Yay!
But hold the champagne. There's no guarantee that enough newspapers will buy the comic to make it successful. As it turned out, only a few dozen smaller papers picked up Dilbert. You need sales in major markets to really get things rolling. One day, after a few years of limping along toward oblivion, the Boston Globe decided to run Dilbert. Yay!
But hold the champagne. That doesn't mean the readers of the Boston Globe will like the comic. It got off to a rocky start, but eventually it found an audience and stayed. Yay!
But hold the champagne. One major newspaper isn't enough. I needed lots more. The new newspaper clients trickled in at nearly the same rate as existing clients cancelled. It was five steps forward and four steps back. My editor at United Media suggested that maybe a publisher would be interested in a Dilbert book, and if successful, perhaps that could get newspapers more interested. Andrews McMeel Publishing agreed to publish my business-themed book, "Build a Better Life by Stealing Office Supplies." Yay!
But hold the champagne. It takes a long time to write a book and get it published. About 18 months later, the book hit the market. It was a modest success, but didn't set the world on fire. The book helped newspaper sales a little, and the publisher asked for another book. Yay!
The second book didn't do as well as the first, although it made money. But at least new sales to newspapers were exceeding cancellations by a better margin. Yay!
And so it went, in ant-sized steps forward. Every pat on the back came with a kick in the nuts. I worked for ten years without a day off. During one particularly busy year, I held a full-time job at the phone company, wrote and drew Dilbert, and wrote a book called "The Dilbert Principle." I didn't sleep much that year. It was my first hard cover book. Yay!
The Dilbert Principle found the bottom of the best seller list fairly quickly. Each week it climbed until it hit a wall at #2. Dennis Rodman's tell-all book held the top spot and refused to let go. You would think that having the #2 best selling non-fiction book would be a good reason to crack open the champagne. But I waited. I hoped. And each week I got the call from my publisher, "You're number two again." I was happy about my book's success, of course, but something was missing.
Finally, I got the call. "You're number one." I can't describe what that felt like. If you're thinking it feels a lot like being number two, only slightly better, you missed it by a light year. I was home alone when I got the news, and I cried for about two hours. Life changed. Newspapers started snapping up Dilbert. Someone released the media hounds. Dilbert was showing up on the major magazine covers. I was booked on the morning shows. It was several years before I could come up for air.
I still haven't popped the champagne. I just raise the bar for what would be the right moment, and tell myself how tasty it will be if I ever accomplish something special in my work. Apparently the thing inside me that makes me work so hard is the same thing that keeps me unsatisfied. It's a package deal. The best you can hope for is a family that understands.