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photo 1 of 48
UFC® 140 Open Workouts Photo Gallery
Dezember 07, 2011
48 Photos
UFC 140 Open Workouts at the Xtreme Couture Gym on December 7, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario.
Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).


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By Matthew Heimer
Save the planet, or save your paperwork? Lately, retirement plans and other financial-service providers have been leaning on customers to do the former, encouraging us to go "paperless" and opt for electronic delivery of account statements and other key documents. AARP recently commissioned a survey to see how account-holders were responding to this effort, and the answer is: Not well. Perhaps not surprisingly, older respondents – those who spent the majority of their lives before the dawn of email, thank you very much – were more likely to say they only wanted to receive paper documents. But even tech-savvy millennial types aren't ready to abandon print. Two-thirds of younger participants in the survey also said they preferred paper, and in all, only 7 percent of plan members said they're currently getting their statements in electronic form only.
Speaking of saving the planet: A separate AARP study, this one by the organization's Public Policy Institute, speculates that the aging of the baby boomer generation could result in a world (or at least a country) that has less traffic congestion. The authors make a persuasive case that the boomers, more than any other demographic group, have been the Car Generation: Their rise to maturity coincided with the rise of the outer-ring suburb and the two-car family, and since the early 1980s, boomers on average have driven more miles per capita than the average of all other demographic groups. But as the boomers have, ahem, slowed down, they've been driving less, with their daily miles on the road having steadily tailed off since about 2001. Authors Nancy McGuckin and Jana Lynott say that trend has major implications for public policy and urban development: They prescribe bigger investments in public transportation, more mixed-use development centered around rail and bus stations, and more attention to the problem of safely transporting older boomers between their homes and medical facilities. (Here's a suggestion: Build shuttles that look like the 1972 Chevy Impala.)
Are you playing "charity chicken" with your IRA income? The Wall Street Journal's Laura Saunders reports this week that a surprisingly high number of affluent retirees may be holding off on taking their required annual distribution, in the hope that Congress restores a tax break that would let them donate some or all of that payout to a qualified nonprofit. That's Saunders's take on data from Fidelity Investments, which reports that of its 500,000 or so customers who are old enough to be required to take payouts, 54% hadn't done so as of earlier this month. (Investors 70 ½ or older generally have until Dec. 31 to make that withdrawal or else face a penalty on what they don't withdraw; investors who hit that age milestone this year have until April 1, 2013.) There's no telling whether the ongoing fiscal-cliff negotiations will restore the charity tax break or not, but for retirees who are holding out hope, Saunders offers some strategic advice on how much to withdraw and when to withdraw it.

subset: commoncrawl


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When Justin's father died, a good friend who believed it might be helpful for Justin to write out his thoughts gave him a journal. "For nearly two years I wrote about my dad, about the close relationship we had and about the wonderful father he was to me," Justin says as he looks back at that sad time in his life.
"As helpful as the journal proved to be, even more important was the fact that the friend who gave it to me said I could read any parts of it to him, any time I wanted to. Because my spouse and other family members seemed uncomfortable with hearing my pain, my friend was a lifeline out of grief as he listened to the words I wrote in the journal. They came from the depths of my heart. I don't know if I could have experienced grief recovery without my friend."
One of the lessons Justin learned from his loss was about the healing power of friendship. While we are grieving, it is difficult to recognize the spiritual lessons present in every painful life experience. Only after we have gained some space from the event can we see and appreciate the profound teachings that the encounter with grief brings us. Here are some spiritual lessons of loss which priests can help grievers identify. Knowing that such lessons emerge from the loss of a loved one can give the griever greater strength, deeper resolve and abundant hope for dealing with future struggles.
1) Loss prompts us to re-evaluate our priorities. Devastating losses create a realignment of priorities. The pain forces us to look closely at our lives and causes us to make healthy changes and adjustments. The ability to separate the significant from the insignificant is heightened.
Stephen J. Cannell, an Emmy Award winner regarded as one of television's most successful talents, created or co-created more than 38 shows including "The Rockford Files" and "The A Team."
Although highly successful and living the good life, Cannell and his family were struck by disaster. "At the age of 15, while playing on the beach near San Luis Obispo, my son, Derek, was crushed to death under a large sand fortress. Up until then, everything in my life had gone my way. I married the girl I wanted to marry. My career was great. I had my own studio, which my wife and I owned 100 percent, and I had 1,500 people working for me. All of a sudden, I don't have a son anymore and everything is upside down," he recalls.
Cannell said he and his wife experienced a five-year readjustment to life. During that time, there was a sifting and shifting of priorities. One of those concerned family life. "I realized that the only thing that was truly important in life was my family. I had lost valuable time with them because I was constantly at work. I decided I wasn't going to let that happen any more." Another change was attitude toward financial security. "In our society, money has become the goal. Money is not a joyous thing. It certainly beats not having money, but it shouldn't be the goal. For just when things seem to be as good as they can get, life changes everything," Cannell says.
2) Loss can result in discovering the power of faith. Whenever we face loss, whether it is the death of a loved one, divorce, separation, disability or terminal illness, doubts emerge about our ability to handle the crisis. At that time, we turn to God and discover the immense power of faith. Loss reminds us that we travel through life with an unseen partner.
When crises come our way, we remember that we are not alone in the battles and that we need not be destroyed by them. With the Apostle Paul we recall that God makes light shine out of the darkness (2 Cor 4:6). We can experience the all-surpassing power of God and bear witness to the truth of Paul's declaration: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed: perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor 4:8).
In his book A Grief Unveiled: One Father's Journey Through The Death of A Child, Gregory Floyd and his family discovered that God did not take away their grief: rather God showed up in their grief. He writes: "We experienced the presence of God along every step of the journey of grief. But he was with us in the pain, not lifting us out of the pain. He was walking the tortuous route with us, not paving a straight path. More than lifting our grief, I believe that God invited us to offer it to him."
3) Loss nudges us to ask the better questions. Those who have a successful grief recovery are the ones who ask better questions. Rather than focus on "why" questions, they quickly move on to "how," "what" and "where" questions. Rather than keep asking "Why did this happen?" "Why me?" they ask questions that will propel them forward: "How do I rebuild my life?" "What do I do with what is left?" "Where do I tum for help and guidance?"
Another shift that helps grief recovery is moving from "Why?" to "Why not?" Missionary Ruth Padilla Eldrenkamp, whose husband was murdered by car thieves on an isolated road in the Andes, said: "I must remind myself and others that this is the kind of world we live in: a broken world, full of emptiness, wracked by injustice and consequent poverty and violence. The question, then, is not 'Why?' but 'Why not?' Why should we as Christians expect immunity from pain and loss while most of the world suffers them." We do not become bitter and cynical because bad things happen to good people.
4) Loss can make us more grateful. Often our gratitude level rises when loss enters our life. Michaux Nash Jr., and his wife, Eileen, endured one of the worst losses that any parent could face: the death of a child. On the last day of May 1974, their eldest son, Michaux III, had an accident in the new car his parents had just given him. He was 16 years old when he died. Three decades later, they still feel pangs of pain over their loss. Surviving such a loss "really makes you appreciate every day," Eileen Nash says. "And you appreciate your other children even more."
5) Loss empowers us to become a light for others. After his wife of 50 years died, Sam Lubinsky of Orlando, Fla., was overcome with grief. No amount of consolation from friends, family or neighbors could lessen his pain. He spoke to rabbis, priests and clergymen but found no relief. As a last resort, his son dragged him to a support group. It was there that Mr. Lubinsky met other widowers and widows, women and men who shared his experience, understood his pain, felt his loss and spoke the common language of a broken heart.
Participating in that group, Mr. Lubinsky found his pain, which had been deep, intense and constant, gradually subsiding. Although it has been many years since he has shed his grief, Mr. Lubinsky continues to participate in the support group. He continues returning, not for himself, but to help others whose grief is fresh and raw. His understanding nod and gentle words of encouragement empower others to make the gradual movement from pain to recovery.
6) Loss teaches us how to love again. Following the death of a loved one, we are left feeling vulnerable. The temptation to resist loving again becomes great as we do not want to be wounded by another loss. Yet we learn to trust and love again. As a result, the boundaries of the heart are expanded.
One woman explains, "I lost my wonderful husband, friend and companion of 29 years. For many months I was numb and then, when it wore off, I thought I could never fall in love again. However, I found solace and love in the companionship of a widower friend who was in the same situation. This relationship has not replaced the love for my husband but it has permitted me to experience life, joy and love again."
When we recover the joy of living, we share in the enthusiasm of the Psalmist who wrote this gratitude to God, "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever" (Ps 30:11-12).
REV. PARACHIN, an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), writes from Tulsa, Okla.
Copyright © 1996-2019 Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.


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Lighted Pinball Mods
"A new perspective on pinball mods"
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Looking to add a little bling to your pinball machine. These plexiglass speaker inserts are made to do just that! They look really cool on regular speakers but are absolutely amazing if your adding to your lighted color changing speaker panels. This item comes in a set of two. They are made from mirrored plexiglass and have a magnet placed on the back for easy installation.
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The bab.la language portal and the Lexiophiles blog are pleased to announce the start of the Top 100 Language Lovers 2013 competition.
Due to the success of last year's competitions (read more about why we started the competition here), we again nominate in four categories:
- Language Learning Blogs: blogs about the language learning process, both from the learners and teachers perspective.
- Language Professionals Blogs: blogs by people using languages in their profession, such as translators or interpreters.
- Language Facebook Pages: Facebook Pages related to language topics, such as dictionaries, translation tools, language lovers' communities and more.
- Language Twitter accounts: Twitterers who share content about languages.
How exactly does the competition work?
The competition is divided into three phases. In the nomination phase, you can submit a request to include any blog, Facebook page or Twitter account you would like to see on our list here. In the following phase, you can vote for your favourite nominees of each of the above mentioned categories. Users' votes will count for 50% of the final result and the Lexiophiles ranking criteria (see below) will count for the other 50%. Results will be made public in the third phase on June 12th.
What is the exact time frame and what happens during each phase?
Nominations (May 6th – May 20th , 23:59 pm German time)
Nominate your favorite language lovers here! All blogs from last year that are still active will be automatically nominated, as well as suggestions we have received since then. We will contact all bloggers, Facebook page administrators and twitterers who are nominated to let them know about the nomination. You can nominate max. 1 blog, 1 Facebook page and 1 Twitter account per person/company (so max. 3 in total). This means you can run in different categories at the same time. If you have several blogs, Facebook pages or Twitter accounts, you need to choose one. The official end for nominations is May 20th. However, we will stop considering suggestions after the first thousand nominations per category.
Voting (May 22nd – June 9th, 23:59 pm German time)
Out of all nominations received until May 20th, we will set a list of the 100 best ones per category to be submitted for voting. On May 22nd we will publish the voting lists of the top 100 for each category. We will check the votes at the end of the voting phase for fraudulent votes and, if necessary, adjust the number of votes. If your blog, Facebook page, Twitter account is on the voting list, you can ask your readers, friends, family and whoever comes to mind to vote for you. Bloggers will be provided with a voting button for their convenience before the voting phase starts. The voting period runs until June 9th, 23:59 pm German time.
Ranking & Results (June 10th – June 12th)
All the competitors will be ranked based on user votes (50%) and the Lexiophiles ranking criteria (50%, see below). We will then compile the top 100 overall language lovers list and the top 25 list for each of the four categories. Results will be published on June 12th. Each blogger, Facebook page administrator or twitterer will be contacted when the results are published.
What are the Lexiophiles ranking criteria?
Every competitor will be analyzed and ranked by our staff. Even though we know that no ranking system is 100% accurate and always somewhat subjective, we feel that the following criteria give a good overall view of how good a blog, Facebook page, Twitter account is.
Learning & Professionals Blogs: We look for authored and original content, considering the depth of postings, the incorporation of multimedia (such as videos, pictures, slideshows etc.) and meaningful linking (e.g. in-depth information for further reading, background information, interesting opinions on a subject, etc.). Interaction is also very important, i.e. sharing information and getting other people involved. The most observable feature is comments, but it doesn't stop there: can users contact the blogger via a contact page, Facebook or similar? We also take into consideration the regularity and frequence of updating, and, finally, the overall appearance of the blog.
Facebook Pages: We look for originality and diversity of content. Good interaction means there are discussions with comments from users and answers to them. We will take into consideration the regularity of posting and the fan base of the page.
Twitter accounts: We will take into consideration the relevance of the shared information, the diversity of content, the use of hashtags and links. Another important factor will be the influence of the twitterer, i.e. whether the content posted is also retweeted and the account is recommended by other twitterers via Follow Friday. Regularity of posting will count as well.
I am nominated. Why can I not find my blog/Facebook page/Twitter account on the voting list?
This might be the case due to one of the following reasons:
1. Your blog/Facebook page/Twitter account didn't get to the Top 100 best ones of its category.
2. You already have another blog/Facebook page/Twitter account nominated for the competition.
3. We received more than one thousand nominations for the category you fit into (after which we stop considering new suggestions).
What about the results?
The Top 100 Language Lovers 2013 competition will be published on bab.la on June 12th to reach the biggest audience possible. We will publish an overall Top 100 list and a Top 25 list for each of the four categories (see above). We also have some nice prices lined up for the top winners. We will support the an "Education Program" from Unicef in the name of the Top 3 overall winners of each category.
Some important FAQ's at last…
If you blog was nominated but runs in the wrong category please let us know as soon as possible. Once the Top 100 has been established, we cannot change your blog from a category to another.
Every blog/Facebook Page/Twitterer who has made the Voting phase will receive a voting button to let their readers vote for them. You will receive it by email when the voting phase starts. If you did not, check your junk mail folder. If you did not receive any email, it is possible that we were not able to find an email to contact you. Please email us and we will forward you the relevant code to embed on your page.
If your blog/Facebook Page/Twitter account was nominated, but you cannot find it in the Top 100 voting list, then it probably has not made the final 100.
Many of you have asked if you can vote for your own site. The answer to this question is YES. And how many times can you vote for one site? You can vote for one candidate per category. If you vote several times, these will be deleted when we check for fraudulent votes at the end of the competition.
The official hash tag for the competition is #tll13.
Good luck and enjoy!


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W Eugene Smith's photo, A Walk To Paradise Garden, is more than a snapshot of the photographer's children. It's a poignant image that captures the innocence of youth and the promise of better days to come. The photograph was featured in the famous Family Of Man exhibit at the Museum Of Modern Art in 1955. For this week's Assignment, submit your images of children that go beyond smiling snapshots. Enter by midnight, May 1.
#45: Children
Published May 20, 2016


text: The idea of using a TV to play video games first occurred to engineer Ralph Baer while designing a projection TV for the Loral company in 1951. But Baer didn't begin designing a prototype game system until 1966, and it was another five years before he licensed it to Magnavox. Odyssey could only draw simple images on the TV, so players attached plastic overlays to the screen to provide the game background. Odyssey used just electronics—no microprocessors or software.


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In a global economy that has been plagued by troubles in the world's financial systems, the words "safe" and "bank" still give investors pause. The shakeup of banking systems around the world raises the question: "Which banks are the safest?"
For the past 21 years, Global Finance has compiled a list of the world's 50 safest banks, and with the European debt crisis ongoing, and slowing growth having an impact on bank credit ratings, long-term safety of banks is of key interest. According to Global Finance, credit ratings and rankings of most European banks have suffered except for those at the very top of the list – those that have explicit banking from triple-A rated governments.
This ranking of safe banks was created through the comparison of long-term credit ratings (from Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch) and analyses of total assets owned by the 500 largest banks in the world.
For ease of comparison, we've listed the highest-ranking bank in each country, since many of the highly ranked banks are headquartered in the same country.
It may be a surprise where you'll find the safest banks in the world. Click ahead to for the list!
By Justin Menzan & Paul Toscano
Posted 16 Aug 2012


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Newbie = Slow-Bee buzzzzzzzzz
There's something really exciting about being able to say this. I don't know why. I don't know why I should be as pleased as punch, but there you go.
I am DONE with Clue #1!
In fact, I am on Row 109 in Clue #2!
A little here, a little there, I snuck in some knitting on my Mystery Stole #3 with my early early morning coffee over a few days time. I like working on this in the AM; my stitching seat is in a bay window with the sun rising over my shoulder. It makes the black yarn so easy to work with compared to the tungsten PM glow that might come later.
Path of the Newbie: but of course, first of all, I printed out the charts and taped them together to make one big one. I'm using an 18″ steel ruler right on the chart to *highlight* the pattern row. It has a strip of cork on the backside so it doesn't slip around and the whole thing just sits on the couch cushion next to me. I like the fact that I can see the preceding rows clearly with no markup.
I am also using a click-type counter for my row count. I love these things — it tickles my inner geek to no end to get to the end of a row and CLICKit.
Here's a bunch of different row counters I have. I'm using the one on the lower left for this project. Wonder why they're all red? ;p
As I get more deeply into this project, I keep having those daylight in the swamp moments — the main one being immersed into the essence of the knitting. For instance, after several pattern rows of the borders on either side, I became more comfortable knowing I was totally on track with the graph — the design moves back and forth in a natural flow. Where the SSK's or the K2TOG's fall let you know repeatedly that you are in the right place and they become touch points for an entire area.
The symmetry of the piece is soothing to me as well. I know if I made it to the center point without Wonking Out, chances are that I will successfully make it to the end of the row with no problem.
But even with all this new found karma, around Row 69 I fell down. Nothing wrong with the chart or instructions — I, for no particular reason, went off-count and just couldn't figure out WTF I was doing for many many minutes. Instead, I sat in the glow of the table lamp (yup, PM insanity) and stared at the stole moving my head back and forth like at a tennis match until I almost made myself dizzy. FINALLY I noticed that a space was on one side and not on the other and found the exact mistake: missed YO! Only two rows down. Not TOO painful.
I am so happy I switched to the larger needle size (#4 – 3.5mm)! Now the YO's are specific and more open and when giving the surface of the stole the Big Picture treatment, it was easy to see if I was on track.
Luckily, I'm still in love with the feel of that Baby Merino and it was just double the pleasure to knit it again.


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The Walking Wounded
By Alfred Opp, Vancouver, British Columbia
Edited by Connie Dahlke, Walla Walla, Washington
"I swear to serve and be obedient, so help me . . . ."
Emil was a man who worked in my father's wagon-making shop. His wife and my mom were the best of friends. Mom spoke highly of Emil, who was a good worker and true to his word. After the relocation to Poland, Emil was conscripted into the German Army and served nearly four years in the military during which time he slept every night in a bed and had regular meals. He never was on the front lines in battle, never was wounded nor taken prisoner. When the war ended, the next day he was in civilian clothes and on his way home. Yet he became the victim of guilt left in his soul by the war. His conscience gave him no rest. Here is his story:
When Emil entered the military, he did so well in training that Headquarters promoted him to the military police. He was assigned as a guard at Headquarters and became an escort for government officials. When the tide turned in the war, Emil's assignment also lost its glamour. With Russia gaining momentum and Germany losing, security concerns became the big issue, front and center. Stalin made sure that Germany's allies knew what was coming to them if they continued to hold the line for Germany. The allies of Germany ran off like people escaping a house on fire. In the areas of former alliance, ethnic Germans and German soldiers became targets of ambush attacks. Emil and his unit got the order to keep their area under control. Every house was searched for weapons, and anyone found with weapons was often shot on the spot. It got very ugly. Emil was very disturbed by the violence and asked for a transfer. His commanding officer advised Emil to reconsider, along the warning that if Emil did not stay with his assignment the commander had no choice but to report him as refusing an order. Not being able to stand up to duty is a serious offense in the military. With a wife and three daughters at home, Emil went back to work.
By the time the war ended and Emil returned to his family, he was a changed man. The world around him had become a dark place. He was haunted by guilt from which his conscience would not release him. He started drinking and died before his 65th birthday. He was obedient to everyone, but lost himself.
Wounds for which there is no bandage
World War II left millions dead, and additional millions suffered guilt, shame, homelessness or grief from the death of loved ones. Many of the survivors were never able to get their lives back. Their stories are many. To get the feel of their situation, to understand, one has to walk in their shoes. Here are a couple of stories:
Once we were settled in West Germany, Mom befriended a woman named Selma. Selma was attractive and had been married to Heinrich, a wealthy Bessarabian farmer with whom she had two children. Theirs was a marriage that had some problems and stresses. With others from Bessarabia, they made the Trek to Europe and were resettled in Poland. For a while their life seemed better. A year later, Heinrich was conscripted into the German Army.
Selma and Heinrich kept in touch, under the wartime conditions. Then Selma received a letter from the military telling her that Heinrich was missing in action. That meant he was either captured or dead. When the war ended, people everywhere put up names and pictures to locate loved ones. Both the Red Cross and the post-war press stepped in to help people find their loved ones. Selma sent Heinrich's picture and description to the Red Cross. Eventually, Selma received a letter from the Red Cross saying that someone had been positively identified by her picture of Heinrich, but that his name was not the same. She wrote to the man to clarify the situation. The man wrote back, saying that his name was Paul Schulz. Selma wrote again, giving a more complete description of Heinrich. Again the man wrote back with the same answer - his name was Paul Schulz. She began to suspect that her waiting might be over - it was. Selma died of old age and a bleeding heart. "Oh Lord, help me with the burden the war laid upon me."
Another lady we met in Germany was married with two children. She knew her husband was alive somewhere in Russia. It took some time before he got out, and by then he was skin and bones. Eventually he arrived in West Germany and his wife nursed him back to health. He then got a job and went back to work. Two years later he began an affair with a younger woman. When the wife found out about it, she said nothing. She was a good mother and a brave wife who gave up her feelings to keep her family together. This was not an isolated case. The war destroyed so many men. Young ladies and widows became the forgotten. But they, too, wanted to get back into life. Many young women gave up on what Mother taught them, in order to have a man. The war of hearts was real. "Oh Lord, shed light on love I can feel."
How dark is dark? - Soldier Ewald
I met Ewald when we, as homeless refugees, were assigned to live in an old Inn. The place had nine rooms and two toilets. This became home to nine families. We spent three years in that situation, and adjusted well to one another. We felt safe, and felt that with patience better times would come. Life did become better for us, but not for Ewald.
Ewald had been blinded during the war. I went with him on walks, and so did others. He was a remarkable person: handsome, smart and fiercely independent. He was rarely seen without a tie. Born in Bessarabia, he left on the Trek for Europe with the rest of us. On our walks, he shared with me his experiences and feelings. Here is his story:
After his family was resettled on a farm in Poland, Ewald was called into the German Army. He was assigned to a Storm Trooper division stationed near a big city. On pass, he and his buddies visited the city, and there he met his sweetheart. After his training was completed, he was allowed time off, which he spent with his girlfriend and her family. Then he had to say good-by and was off to Russia.
The train ride out was long and dangerous, passing partisan hangouts. The troops knew they were headed East, but didn't know their destination. Everything was in code to keep their position secure. Traveling in boxcars, his group made it to a place - out in the middle of nowhere. On arrival, the commanding officer greeted them, shook hands, then called them to order for a briefing. The troops were given instructions as to what position to take when an attack was called. The soldiers were told they were expected to fight courageously and bravely for the Fatherland.
His first assignment that day was to go out on patrol. Ewald later described this as a death trap. Along with four others, he went on a walk to check up on the enemy. They remained on patrol until late that afternoon. Besides an isolated shot here and there, all seemed normal. The Corporal wanted to have a last look, and told Ewald to cover him. The Corporal went ahead, and Ewald lost sight of him, so he went looking for his comrade. Walking along, Ewald heard a "bang" and everything went dark. He felt a burning sensation around his eyes, and called for help. His comrades came running to see what was going on. All who looked could see something was wrong with his eyes. They tried to figure out what had happened. It turned out that a bullet hit him in one side of the face and went out the other, showing little damage to his face, but destroying his eyesight. They bandaged him up and took him to the medics who looked him over and decided they couldn't help him. He was then sent to a field hospital where he was told his eyes couldn't be saved. He was treated and sent home. His parents were notified by the military of his condition, and Ewald sent word to his girlfriend. It was bad news all around. Ewald had a huge hill to climb. Both of his parents were elderly, and his mother was not well. His only brother also had a health problem. The military could provide some monetary support, but Ewald needed more than that - he needed a home. His hopes now rested on his girlfriend. They met and talked, and both came to an agreement that they would be married. With this decision, the girlfriend returned to her parents to prepare for the wedding.
Two weeks later, Ewald received a letter from his girlfriend informing him that she couldn't go through with the wedding. She felt she did not have what it takes to adjust to what life would be like with Ewald. The letter came as a blow. He tried to persuade her to change her mind, but the facts were settled as far as she was concerned. It was not his decision to lose his eyesight - it was the bloody war. He was now dependent on his elderly parents. When the war closed in on them in Poland, like everyone else they, too, had to flee to the west. They ended up in the same place we did, only ten months earlier. Here we met, and here we parted. I moved on to get my life in order. Ewald tried to pick up his life as best he could. Ewald was unable to write to me, and neither did I write to him, so we lost contact. Later on, a friend told me the rest of Ewald's story.
Ewald was given a good pension because of his war disability, got a job, bought a house, got married and became the father of two boys. One would think he had it made. But once again bad luck came down on him like an avalanche. His wife befriended another man and ran off, taking money from Ewald's bank account. The younger of the boys went with Mom, and the older son stayed with Dad. Nearly broke, Ewald was in need of help again. Friends and the community stepped in to help him out. A caretaker came in to look after the house-keeping needs. The son that was living with him had a job.
One day, the police showed up to arrest his son on a serious criminal charge. The case went to court and the boy was put behind bars. Ewald had no choice but sell the house and check into a Care home. When my friend last saw him, he was frail and showed no life. He sat in his chair, withdrawn - a shadow of the man he once was.
"In a war the bullets often hit in slow motion."
Alfred Opp is the author of "Pawns on the World Stage" - the memoirs of his childhood in Teplitz, Bessarabia and the experiences of his family in war-torn Europe (Poland during 1941-1945 before they fled to East Germany in 1945, then the reconstruction of West Germany 1945-1955).


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ScoopDog needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 48 designs submitted by 15 freelance designers.
Scoop Of The Day
"deal of the day" website with some social aspects included. Visitors will be able to view that day's deal, discuss the deal in discussion and purchase the deal.
The actual Deals are the best things to see and do in each city. ie Restaurants, Spas, Yoga etc. There are no physical products shipped.
Group Buying, if a certain amount of people buy the deal then the deal is on. If the quota is not reached the deal is off.
A bit about why we chose the Brand Name.
1. Scoop up a deal
2. Play on words "Soup of the day"
3. Whats the scoop?
4. Scoop someone...get the better of him or her by beating them to the deal
Young Savvy people that live in the city, have disposable income and use Facebook. Most purchasers are female.
We are looking for a logo represent our brand Scoop Of The Day. We are open to any ideas.
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text:
One girl's twistedly fantastic interpretation of what the hell is really going on in those tribes.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Getting Down To The Nut Crackin'
*CLUNK* Dazed and with fluttering eyelids I can feel my body moving across the sand yet I can't seem to stop it. The clanging in my head, the ringing in my ears... the *thwump thwump* in my temples. In and out of consciousness I float as single frames of some sort of movie with a herky jerky handheld camera click by hither and thither. The flicker of flames... *blackness* The stringing up of a wild boar still squealing... *blackness* The grunting, guttural grunting... man or beast? *blackness* Parched and sore, I think I can finally lift my head up off this bed of pine needles. Why is that spoon bent backwards like that? *CLUNK!* Again... *blackness* Has it been days, minutes, hours... years? How long have I been in this cave with my captor? Let's recap, shall we?
We continue our tediously tiresome tale at the tiptop of the tick tock. It is at this zero hour that we find sticky gumdrop feet tiptoeing through the Rhode Island (Redemption Island) sand. Head shaking in disbelief, KitKat (Kat) should be disappointed in herself. But she's not! She is not disappointed at all. She is proud. Miss Twizzler fingers through Big League Chew hair is proud that she has yet to cry. Being sent to Rhode Island so early in the game is emotionally challenging for any returning player, but our KitKat has risen above such petty tomfoolery like tears and feelings. Oh sure, her bohunk boyfriend will probably break up with her tomorrow and she'll go down as the most embarrassing player in Survivor history, but she didn't cry dammit. She did not cry. And so, in the frigid night air, her toffee lining and the caramel running through her veins hardened to a toughness lulling the candy queen to a dream-filled sleep of dancing sugar-plums.
But then... the sun! Fierce and fiery, that blinding behemoth took its rightful place in the sky and proceeded to melt all that had grown hard and crusty. Snow on mountaintops, ice-covered ponds and, yes, the candy shell that once protected the KitKat from the world. Underneath that blazing fireball, the slick and shiny shell began to bend and distort itself into something malleable, something feeling. Do you know what happens to jelly in extremely hot temperatures? It stretches, it leans, it reaches and softens. Softens until it is a jelly no more. Softens until it drips... *glop glop plop!* Thus, this is why we now find the KitKat, just another victim of the sun, reduced to nothing but gritty plops in the sand. Ruined! Because as any baker knows, a gritty sandy batter is of no use to anyone.
And this brings us once again to the Rhode Island ludus. The place where dreams are shattered and clues are burned. Come on in guys! Benihana (Tadhana) gets its first glimpse of the new WangChung (Galang). HayDouche (Hayden) sits on the bleachers puzzled. He quietly counts the WangChungs to himself, "One, too, C, See's Candies... hey, where's KitKat?!" Dimples then waves in the losers living on Rhode Island.
Wifey (John) and Medusa (Laura M.) march in ready for battle while KitKat slowly drags her gummy worm legs one at a time into the arena. Upon seeing HayDouche up in the stands, she stops in her tracks (gummies frequently get stuck in the sand) and asks, "Hug me. Hug me. Can you hug me?" HayDouche sighs and reluctantly goes to hug his jar of syrup. *squish squish*
"KitKat, immediately you told HayDouche you were sorry. Sorry for getting voted out?"
"Yeah, I feel like I let him down."
Meanwhile up in in the stands...
"Psst, Aras, do you have Parvati's phone number?"
"Parvati. Or how about ChaCha? Hell, I'll even take Jugs' number if you have it. She's got some big knockers on her."
It is here, through all of this jibber jabber, that we get a creepy insight into the love affair that is HayKat. KitKat, for some eerily creepy reason, is convinced that HayDouche will now dump her for getting voted out before the Merge. *scratches head* The absurdity of it all leads me to believe that either KitKat is a nightmare of a girlfriend steeped in paranoia - Where were you last night? Why didn't you return any of my 37 phone calls? You were totally flirting with that waitress! - OR HayDouche constantly treats her like she's disposable and easily replaceable (kind of like he treated Kristen Bitting). In my expert opinion as a board certified Survivor blogger, I conclude that both hypotheses are correct. Yes, KitKat is irrationally and psychotically paranoid. BUT she got that way because HayDouche made her that way.
So while HayDouche is doing his best trying to convince Dimples that KitKat means more to him than anything "EVEN this game" (Was anyone else creeped out by the way he emphasized "even"?), Dimples decides to test the young lad's conviction.
"My relationship with KitKat is more important than... EVEN this game."
"It is. Yeah. It is."
"So I want to challenge you on that."
With an intake of breath and a struggle to swallow the golf ball now sitting in his throat, a panic stricken look flashes across HayDouche's face for a brief moment. He knows what's coming. Dimples is going to ask him if he wants to take KitKat's place at Rhode Island. KitKat knows it's coming too. She's already gathering up her satchel, her Smarties necklaces and her jelly bean vitamins. She blows Hershey kisses to Wifey and Medusa as she steps over Aras to take HayDouche's place at Benihana.
Hold on there, Sister Christian. Repack those Butterfingers and take back those kisses because your ass isn't going anywhere. HayDouche might say he cares about you more than Survivor, but that sure as hell doesn't mean he means it. HayDouche puts his neck on the line for no one. We learned that way back in Big Brother 12.
So, long story short, KitKat is forced to play in the duel which requires nothing more than the logic to open a bag before you empty it. Sadly, this sort of logic is the kind that KitKat has never come into contact with in her silly tralala existence. And so we bid adieu to the candy cane and start taking bets for how long it takes for HayDouche to break up with her. I say 2 months.
Back at Benihana, the menfolk are comforting HayDouche with hugs and brah pats on the back. Little do they know that HayDouche is secretly doing backflips in his head, "The ball and chain is gone! Yessss! I can play for himself now! It's about time! She was totally cramping my style! Yo Parvati, hit me up!" After performing a jaunty jig in private, HayDouche returns to camp where the conversation is now an intense discussion on game strategy. The plan is to keep winning Challenges, Merge, pull Yogi Vytas into their alliance and then steamroll their way through the game. With the rest of their time in The Philippines all mapped out for them and the hard thinking out of the way, the men scatter for a siesta.
Aras, however, has another idea on how the Benihana's can fill their free time at camp. A hoity toity idea that leads to betterment of self, strengthening of the psyche and a union with spirit. "Anyone fancy a peaceful walk and a relaxing meditation? My guru at Canyon Ranch gave me some fascinating affirmations and a recipe for rosemary lemon water that will curl your toes." Cupcake (Tyson) and the others grunt out some no thank you's and choose to nap instead.
And here is where we see some Survivor fakery. I don't often call out Production, but let us evaluate the above photo, shall we? Here we see Aras "meditating." What we don't see is the crew down behind him radioing instructions up to the helicopter capturing the moment. A shot like this takes preparation. It takes planning. Christ, he's even softly lit at magic hour! This is a preplanned choreographed filler shot not the spontaneous Buddha on the mountaintop moment Production wants us to think it is. And why are we getting filler shots? BECAUSE THIS CAST IS BLOODY BORING!!! The 85 twists have yet to create drama, the damn Hidden Immunity Idol clues keep getting burned up and these twits do nothing but sleep all day. No one worries about food because there's a feast every other day and cast members like Crusty (Katie) and Ciera are about as animated as a tree stump. I've said it before, I'll say it again... I hate this season. I HATE IT. I get ticked off that I have to interrupt whatever I'm doing to watch it every week. I'm sorry, but it's true. Do you know that I faked food poisoning last week so I could spend the day doing yoga instead of writing a blog? My apologies for lying to you, gentle readers, but you know how I get when I'm not entertained.
Alright, so Aras is doing his Shakti Gawain Creative Visualization - something I happen to be very familiar with (last season I creatively visualized Dimples saying, "Our next question is from Colette Lala") - and imagining himself as the winner of Survivor Blood v. Water. For a creative visualization to be successful, one must feel, touch, smell, taste every facet of the desired outcome. For example, I shall creatively visualize an entertaining season of Survivor. I can see it now... I'm sitting on the couch with my heart in my throat. The cunning gameplay and backstabbing is unfolding before me on my television. The air smells of gin and popcorn. I am smiling. I am feverishly typing notes. Survivors are tweeting me gushing compliments and I am tweeting them back. Golden Boy (Malcolm) takes off his shirt. Wait, what's he doing here? I'm getting my scenarios mixed up. Anyhow, you get the gist of it. Believe, believe, believe. Believe so hard that your dreams have no choice but to manifest. So mote it be!
While Aras' heart is in the right place and he says he's visualizing Dimples handing him the check, how are we to know that that is what is really going through his mind? What if he's really envisioning beating the crap out of Vytas at the next Challenge? Or perhaps he's thinking about a sexy late night tryst where Cupcake let's him lick his icing? We have no idea where Aras is truly sending his energy, but he might need to focus it a little better because, as we speak, Cupcake is hard at work convincing the others back at camp to get rid of Aras. The idea of Aras reuniting with Vytas scares Cupcake. *shrugs shoulders* I don't know, I still maintain the two brothers hate each other and would love nothing more than to send one another out of the game.
So while Cupcake is making an alliance we'll call the Lost Souls (those without loved ones), those WangChung's are over on their side of the island darning socks and planning a quilting bee. Tina watches out of the corner of her eye as Vytas and Crusty sit next to one another in the sand. She winks loudly at Vytas and makes obscene finger gestures while motioning towards her daughter. Poor Crusty. At this rate, she's on the path to spinsterhood and Mrs. Tina Bennett simply won't tolerate having an old maid for a daughter. She's ready for grandbabies and she's ready for them NOW. If Vytas can't seduce Crusty into spreading her legs for him, then how about he bludgeon her over the head with a club? It worked for the cavemen!
Transitioning into WangChung's way of life might have been difficult for the average guy, but Vytas isn't your run of the mill average Joe. He is a yogi and that means that he is in tune with the feminine energy swirling all around him. Instead of fighting it, he will hand himself over to it. He'll go ahead and let the women braid his hair and give him facials. He'll bring them elderberry tea in the morning and show them yoga poses to relieve their PMS symptoms in the afternoon. He'll use feeling words and talk romantically about "the one who got away" reminiscing over how they'd watch Love Actually every Christmas. Women eat that shit up! Plus, Vytas has that reformed bad boy thing going for him. If there is anything the ladies love, it's a newly reformed bad boy. He's still dangerous and exciting enough to keep you on your toes, but he's not so bad that he'll steal money from your pocketbook and go score a gram.
So while Vytas has ingratiated himself into the tribe seamlessly, The Creepster (Laura B.), uh, hasn't. The Creepster moseys awkwardly midway into conversations. She farts during yoga class. She lifts her armpit to a tribe mate and says, "Smell this!" This is her way of opening up and making new friends. But for all of The Creepsters weird idiosyncrasies, she can identify a "good guy" when she sees one. Yogi Vytas is one such good guy. He's so good that The Creepster feels totally comfortable revealing her feelings to him, "I'm having such a good time. A good time. You know? You listening? I said I'm having a good time. Yes sireebob. Just me and these gals. You've gotta an eyelash inside your nose. Here, let me get it. Oh don't be scared. I do this all the time Nana's ole goat, Buddy. He had some crazy shit up his nose, I tell ya. *The Creepster belches* Does your pubic hair itch? Mine does. Right here. Ya think ya got a yoga pose for that? Gramps always said damn smelly hippies do yoga, but you really don't smell that bad. Yeah, it's fun out here. I'm glad I met you. Have you ever shoveled cow shit? Sometimes it gets in your mouth. It's really not that bad you know. It kind of smells like that tea you've been giving us every morning." Umm yeah, she creeps me out.
And this brings us to the big Immunity Challenge. Come on in guys! For today's Challenge you'll all be tied up in a chain gang. Gervase and Aras will escape from the chain gang and do a reenactment of The Defiant Ones where racial hijinks will ensue. Black and white must work together if they want to persevere. As in film, as on TV, as in life. First tribe to land 5 things called bolos onto a rack wins Immunity and fried chicken. That's racist! Survivors ready, go!
The Challenge begins and it's a melee! A wild raucous melee of confusion and ass. You read that right. ASS. Monica's ass to be specific. It's tight and it's toned and gosh darn if it isn't going to try to stop Aras in his tracks! First, she shakes it in front of him. Then, look away Pythagorus (Brad Culpepper), she sits on his face. That Monica is such a flirt!
Kerfluffle, hiccup, yadda. The Creepster's pubes break free. Ack! Cupcake and Tina go head to head. Toss, toss, toss. Sneer, gum, toss. Cupcake and Tina are tied 4-4. Tina tosses and breaks a hip. Cupcake tosses and scores! BENIHANA WINS REWARD!!!
While the Benihana's are busy licking the grease off their fingers, the WangChung's are wearing their sad faces and staring at the sand. Yogi Vytas remembers something Patanjali (that famous bad boy from New Delhi) said in the Yoga Sutras, "Whooah, we're half way there. Livin' on a prayer. Take my hand, we'll make it I swear. Livin' on a prayer." The women are moved by the sentiment. They close their eyes letting the words sink in. Only the leaves on the trees rustling in the breeze can be heard. Until... until The Creepster speaks, "Um Vytas, I respect you so much. You're a hell of a guy and if I didn't have that tie dyed man back at home waiting for me, I'd love to wrap my milky thighs around you, but forget about that for now. Look, the thing is, you're going home. Me and these other vaginas have talked it over and we gotta get rid of you. *The Creepster blows a snot rocket* You're the most amazing man and, I tell ya, if I was single." *The Creepster elbows Vytas in the ribs* "So let's just enjoy your last day ever. Let's sing some more of those Pootang lyrics you got and just be happy, k?"
Ewww! Eww, eww, eww. Make it stop! Someone make her shut up. Please! *shivers* Yuck! She gives me the heebie jeebies. So while at home I'm scrubbing myself down because I feel dirty now, the women of WangChung are all staring at The Creepster with their jaws agape. They are all thinking to themselves, "What the hell is she doing?!" Monica's lips form a thin line of anger as she resents how The Creepster decided to give this weirdo speech of hers without consulting any of them. Tina stares at the sand and shits uncomfortably while Crusty hides behinds her hands hoping the whole scene will just disappear. Vytas, on the other hand, is staring right at The Creepster. Actually, he's not staring, he's sneering. And there it is, folks! The bad boy. A reformed bad boy always has a little bit of the old bad boy inside and sometimes, in scenes just like this, he'll peer out from within and make an appearance. The bad boy doesn't mince words. He doesn't have time to mince words for he doesn't know how long his glimpse will last. So, Bad Yogi, glaring at The Creepster, asks, "So you think this makes me want to have a good afternoon?" *bites fist*
The circle disperses and The Creepster is left by herself. She stands, legs wide, with her hands on her hips nodding approvingly. She grabbed that bull by the horns and told it who's boss! She sure did! She's the leader of the vaginas now. Making a slow mosey circle around camp, she snorts and chuckles to herself. "Yup. They respect me now," she thinks to herself. Raising up her arm, she sniffs her armpit and exhales, "Ahhh yeahhhh. That's good stuff there." *cringes*
Meanwhile, the rest of the sewing circle is fit to be tied. Monica is seething to Crusty about some Survivor 101 class she took back at the community college. Out in the water, Yogi Vytas is doing a symbolic dead man's float. When Tina swims up next to him he asks her, "Is it my time to go tonight?" Tina replies that she doesn't think so, but the truth is that she doesn't really know. He should go home, but The Creepster is just so damn creepy!
And this brings us to Tribal Council. Dimples is glowing by the light of the fire and then The Creepster speaks. *cringes again* "Well Dimples, we got 4 vaginas here. Count 'em, go on ladies, show him. 1-2-3-4 vaginas. And that there *points to Vytas* is not a vagina." Dimples stares horrified. "I became a leader, Dimples. I grabbed the game by the balls, like this *The Creepster reaches out and squeezes Dimples' balls* and I told Vytas, 'Man, you gots ta go.' I'm making moves here, sweet cheeks. Either piss or get off the pot, you know what I mean?" Dimples replies, "No, I have no idea what the hell you mean, but you're totally sketching me out so I'm going to move on."
Yogi Vytas responds and takes issue with the use of the word "vagina." He tells Dimples, "Vaginas don't matter. It's who you trust that matters." Dimples covers his ears, "Stop saying 'vagina'!"
Tina then chimes in and compares Vytas to Aras. You can almost see the resentment wafting off of Vytas when she says that both brothers are honest and sincere. He shifts uneasily in his seat because, while he may be putting on the good trusting yogi act within the game, he's still got that naughty boy living inside of him and that naughty boy isn't a golden sun god like Aras is.
The Creepster then jumps in and points out that Vytas is a huge threat because Aras has won before. *scratches head* How does that make Vytas a threat? If anything, that makes him a target. Here's my approach to people who have won before and have returned to play the game - GET RID OF THEM. If I were on Survivor and a former winner was on with me, I would make it my mission to vote them off first thing. I would be jealous and resentful that they already won. I would be bitter that I hadn't won yet. The last thing I'd do is keep them around. I'd teach those greedy jerks a lesson and get them the hell off my island! How those people let Sandra sit around and win TWICE is beyond my comprehension.
Alright, let's get to the vote. The Creepster, please pack up your vagina and go. You're scaring the children.
So, what did you think of last night's episode? Would you target Tina and Aras like I would? How many times have you creatively visualized about Golden Boy? Comment it out bitches and have a great day!
25 comments:
LIke you, I hate this season. Hate it! I detest all of this "loved ones" bullshit, especially at the beginning of each episode when Rhode Island rejoins them for their little comp. Yes, they psychology of Kat and HayDouche was entertaining...or frightening...but I still hate all of these tears for people who they get to see almost every day. And giving them all feasts for every comp win is pure junk! They're supposed to be hungry. They're supposed to be desparate. Instead, they're at summer camp! Plus, most of these "loved ones" would never pass even the initial audition if they actually applied. Laura B is the perfect example. She offered nothing. She had no personality (unless you're beguiled by middle-aged small town Middle America). She had no intellect. She definitely had no physical abilities, although they're not really needed in a year of puzzles and untying knots. Both of the young daughters have zero personality. The only person even really playing is our smack-shooting yogi, and that's why he's saved himself two weeks in a row.ReplyDelete
- MirrorGirlOctober 31, 2013 at 6:18 PM
I knew you were faking it last week, Lala, and I don't blame you. I can't remember the last time you even mentioned glitter, let alone dunked your quivering breasts in it. You must be touching yourself during American Horror Story or something (I am, every time Jessica or Angela are onscreen), as there's nothing going on here to get one going at all. I visualize Golden Boy constantly during the 42 minutes of boring, but it doesn't help. On the other hand, I am mesmerized by the shirts that Dimples is wearing to Tribal--they're covered with ringpulls, tabs, seams that lead nowhere, stitching that looks like shiny white scars. *shudder*ReplyDelete
I was hoping you'd have something to say about HayDouche's weird little speech about how clueless KittyKat is and how she depends on him to "help her". Talk about a window into their relationship. I feel for her, though, after a childhood plagued with serious illness and hospital stays, she doesn't seem to have grown up much. She is a bit sad, don't you think? And finally, I think you meant to type "Tina stares at the sand and shiFts uncomfortably"; at least I hope you did, otherwise I missed a very big moment last night! Ugh. When will it all be over?Replies
No doubt!!! I thought for sure Lala would latch on to that! Haydouche has to 'help' Kitkat with life. Ughhh.Delete
I can't believe he said that on national TV. How demeaning. If Kitkat had a brain instead of Smuckers Grape and Jelly Swirl in that big ole noggin, she'd be pissed.
- AnonymousOctober 31, 2013 at 7:49 PM
I agree. This season is boring, I HATE redemption island and everyone is so stale. At least last season had entertaining moments like Brandon throwing out the rice.ReplyDelete
I'm almost sad to see Laura B go because we are going to miss your Nobel prize winning renditions of her creepiness.ReplyDelete
This is one of seasons (again) where I couldn't give a shit who wins. I'm not invested in anyone ... at all. I guess if I was under duress and had to pick, I'm going Yogi Vytas - he at least seems to have a personality and is actually playing a game. Sigh, Golden Boy, where are you when we need you?? I would even settle for a little Pretty Pony about now.
Very disappointing season CBS. If you are looking for some people to do casting, I believe our zoo here has some extra monkeys, cause you people sure are not cutting it.Replies
- MirrorGirlOctober 31, 2013 at 10:43 PM
Even just getting permanent rid of Redemption fucking Island would be a start. And getting rid of all that food, going back to reward challenges, AND what was up with them all getting actual TOOLS to build their shelters with? This season has been lame, but also mystifying, as though the producers aren't sure what show they're doing. Very irritating.Delete
- Honest AliceNovember 3, 2013 at 10:50 PM
The problem with Redemption Island isn't so much that it completely ruins the game, it's more that it isn't really an island. It's a pit. If the producers were simply honest, and called it Redemption Pit, we old school fans wouldn't have such a problem with it. Because honesty is really, really important. Take, for example, the case of the blogger who only lied to her readers once, but who now will never be believed when she claims she's sick ever again. EVER AGAIN!!!Delete
I wanted to ask this particular blogger about the intro to this very blog, because I get the feeling she's riffing off something, and I want to know what. But if I asked, she'd probably just lie about it.
OW! OW! Oh, I've gotta go. I'm sick! It just hit me. Food poisoning I think. Or maybe it's leprosy. Yeah leprosy, that's it. You should all write in and wish me "get well soons" and tell me you're thinking of me in my time of illness, bitches.
The producers are hopelessly over-directing the cast.ReplyDelete
People don't just burst into tears every 11 seconds, even on Survivor. A couple's only winning strategy (subject to Vytas wanting to sink a sharp one deep into Aras' sun god entrails) is to keep their strongest player in the game as long as possible.
We can all understand that the Boneheads naturally ignored this, and any other strategy, to keep the undead corpse of Laura B slouching towards Redemption Island while all about her wound shadows of the indignant desert birds.
If Laura Bonehead had 2 functioning brain cells she would have said 'Stuff that honey, hang in there and campaign for the fan prize'. HayDouche (why do you say that as if douches were a bad thing) appreciates this simple strategy. Kat the Splat does not.
What is to be expected of the player whose only memorable quote, immediately before her own blindside, is 'Blindsides are always fun and exciting'?
PS Tyson is also in my bad books. He had a golden chance to throw the challenge and boot Aras. That chance is not going to come back.Replies
- AnonymousNovember 1, 2013 at 9:05 PM
Tyson probably did try to throw the challenge. Apparently, Tina could barely lift the bolo balls, let alone throw them... so after 20 minutes of trying to throw the challenge, Tyson probably couldn't fake it any longer and simply had no choice but to throw for the win... since the majority of Tina's tosses were barely reaching the ladder rungs (conveniently edited out, of course)Delete
- AnonymousNovember 1, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Great Blog as usual.ReplyDelete
I laughed my ass off when slack jawed Hayden threw his "girlfriend" under the bus too. Can you imagine the conversations between these two when he claims to be the brains of the operation? Holy shit Batman, it doesn't bear thinking about...
I am beginning to think that Monica is the real Alpha male in her marriage, her cut throat reactions make Brad look like a boy scout. I get that Creeper made a mistake in outing the plan, but it still made more sense to get rid of Vytas than Creeper, her interpersonal game was a clear disadvantage to her and her ability to make strong alliances once the merge happened, she was a walking easy vote to get out in the very near future so her reaction is based on a personal affront rather than a game move. I think Monica is getting a bit of a big head in the ladies tribe and once the merge happens, her ego will get her in trouble.
I think that since she was voted of so early the last time we didn't get to see this side of her personality, so I am not sure if I am team Monica any more.
I have to say the editing in this season clearly indicates who is heading out, I have been guessing correctly the last 5 episodes who ultimately got voted out based on the editing. I don't remember it being this telling in the past. Am I wrong about this? Last season there was some good drama, unpredictable tribal counsels, this year, I seem to know within the first 15 minutes. I don't like it.
Lets hope the merge makes this slightly more entertaining..
I pre-hated this season when J-Pro introduced it, and when I found out about RI, I moaned -- and not in ecstasy. It's barely watchable. Actually, I barely watch it. I get my Survivor fix reading your blog, CL. Cheers!ReplyDelete
So glad you're back! Even when you admittedly hate something, you do a great and entertaining job of recapping. So, I know you aren't entertained but you dig deep and entertain us. For that I thank you.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 2, 2013 at 5:19 PM
I was thinking almost exactly the same thing about the Monica ass thing xDReplyDelete
- Jeff ProbstNovember 3, 2013 at 1:18 PM
Look, all of you people moaning about Redemption Island and editing and twists and food rewards need to calm down. It's just a show.ReplyDelete
Colette, the reason I read your question at last season's reunion was because I wanted to show respect for someone who never lies to her readers. Although I accept your apology, I'll never read your name at a reunion again.
Also Colette, I do not like my nickname. I'm proud of my dimples. I would prefer you called me "Alpha", because I am a man. A man with testicles. Unlike you weak, pathetic women, with your tits. And your glitter. And your tits dunked in glitter. I am a man like Boston Rob, although he's more of a man than me. OK then, call me "Beta". I don't mind being second to Rob.
Come on in guys! Wanna know what you're playing for?
I'm so cool.
12 fucking comments?! What the Hell is going on?ReplyDelete
Anyway, this week's blog is much better than last week's blog. Oh, I know what you're thinking: "But I didn't blog last week!", and yes, you have an excellent point; me saying this week's blog is much better than a blog that doesn't exist is not much of a bloody compliment is it? It's like me saying "Ooh I love your new hairstyle, it's so much better than the cold vacuum of space".
Alright, seriously: if you wanna move to a fortnightly schedule for this season, you wont get any crap from me. It's quite obvious Tina and Aras, as the only ex-winners, have made an arrangement. Post merge Tina and her daughter, and Aras and his brother will represent an extremely powerful four person voting bloc. They will take some beating. Of the others, only Tyson has the requisite brains to pull something off. We shall see.
Well, I will leave you to your water. It's truly fascinating to me how you are documenting your water challenge. Fascinating.Replies
What evidence is there for the brains of Tyson?Delete
He was blindsided in both Tocantins and Heroes v Villains. IN H v V he managed the unparalleled achievement of actually blindsiding himself. Tyson certainly has a large view of himself as social assassin but we have yet to see the knife sink into anyone's shoulder blades but his own.
How long do you imagine it will be, post-merge, before Aras becomes aware of the Tyson plan, from one of the people Tyson has already told? There must be someone on the island not privy to Tyson's masterstroke but I don't recall them offhand.
When the edit gives you endless confessionals from X on how they re in charge of the game and about to execute the masterstroke of all time it's worth recalling the sad fate of people like Brenda and Sash from Guatemala or Hantz the Elder from any of his seasons.
- AnonymousNovember 3, 2013 at 4:33 PM
The Creepster dialogue in this weeks blog was classic and oh so close to the subtitles I was adding during this episode. I am so sorry she didn't make it onto the jury since she is such an emblem of this survivor season!ReplyDelete
Thank God (and you, Colette) for this blog...the show would be pointless, otherwise. LOL! Completely tired of the whole "bringing back ex-players" concept altogether (well, except for Golden Boy, he can come back anytime)....but the show needs fresh characters each season. Really tired of trying to like ones a second time, who I never liked the first time. Especially the pukes who come on and then have the gall to quit! ::yawn:: I've missed a couple episodes due to more interesting things to do, and had to force myself to watch, to stay-in-the-loop.....but far preferred this blog to the show. ;)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 15, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Lala, I don't know where you are but please, I beg you, if you're done blogging this season (and who could blame you) please don't leave without taking her picture down. PLEASE. Thank you..ReplyDeleteReplies
I'm not done. I've been in CA working and I'm still here. You guys really need to friend me on FB. It will stop the questions about where I am or why there's no blog this week.Delete
Not on facebook, so I'm left empty. Bummer.ReplyDeleteReplies
I hate this season with a burning fiery passion. It's boring, predictable, phony and it makes my blood boil so I have elected not to waste my time writing about it. I have much better things to do than write about Katie staring into the wind. HOWEVER, I will be back next season. Although, we'll have real problems if it's another lame loved ones twist.Delete
The biggest problem is the lack of characters. There's no one to extrapolate, no one to delight in. The highlight (and lowlight) of the season was when Vytas (who I wouldn't begrudge getting another shot) said "Namaste bitches" when he left Redemption Pit.ReplyDelete
I agree with you; you DO have much better things to do than challenge your writing skills by trying to make Katie interesting. Like imitating planks.


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While it may be sloppy to eat, and it usually has big black seeds you've gotta spit out, one of our favorite summertime treats is watermelon. But whoever is responsible for this creation evidently likes the big green fruit even more than we do. Yep, it's a watermelon car, complete with a bright red interior. We don't see any seeds inside, but there are actually few black interior trim pieces to complete the theme.
As is often the case with such a creation, we have no idea what the rationale for it was. But, since the vehicle looks to be a
Kia Rio Daewoo under all the fruity garb, we suppose it may actually be an improvement over the standard budget-priced base model.
[Offbeat Earth] hat tip to Tim!


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Back to Main Page / Back to List of Rules
Rule 187. Deposition to Perpetuate Testimony (1973)
1. Petition. When any person may anticipate the institution of an action in which he may be a party, and may desire to perpetuate his own testimony or that of any other person to be used in such suit, he, his agent or attorney, may file a verified petition in the proper court of any county where venue of the anticipated action may lie. The petition shall be in the name of the petitioner and shall show: (1) that petitioner anticipates the institution of an action in which he may be a party; (2) the subject matter of the antcipated action and his interest therein; (3) the names and residences, if known, or a description of the persons expected to be interested adversely to petitioner; (4) the names and addresses of the persons to be examined, the substance of the testimony which he expects to elicit from each, and petitioner's reasons for desiring to perpetuate such testimony; and (5) a request for an order of the court authorizing such petitioner to take the depositions of the persons to be examined named in the petition, for the purpose of perpetuating their testimony.
2. Notice and Service. The petitioner shall thereafter serve or cause to be served at least fifteen days before the date of hearing, a notice upon the witness, or witnesses, and upon each person named in the petition as an expected adverse party, together with a copy of the petition, stating that the petitioner will apply to the court at a time and place named in such notice for the order requested in the petition, and which notice may be served as provided in Rule 21a. If the verified petition states that the name or the residence of any expected adverse party is unknown to petitioner and his agent or attorney cannot be ascertained after diligent inquiry, the clerk of the court or justice of the peace shall, on petitioner's request, cause the notice to any such party or parties to be published in some newspaper in the county where the petition is filed if there be a newspaper published in such county, but if no newspaper be published in such county then in a newspaper in the nearest county where a newspaper is published, once each week for two consecutive weeks, stating the substance of the petition, the court in which it is filed and the number thereof, the name of petitioner and each of the witnesses and their addresses, the names and addresses of the expected adverse parties, if known, or a description of such parties, and that a hearing will be had on such petition at a designated time and place on or after the 14th day following the first publication of such notice. Provided, however, that in any case where justice or necessity so requires the judge or justice may permit the taking of such depositions upon shorter notice than herein prescribed, or many extend such time in order to permit service on any adverse party.
3. Application to Probate Will. An application or petition, or an anticipated application or petition, for the probate of a will shall be considered as a suit within the meaning and purport of this rule; and, whenever any person in this State shall desire to perpetuate testimony for use in an anticipated application for the probate of a will, the notice, accompanied by a copy of the aforesaid petition may be served by posting as prescribed by Section 33(f)(2) of the Texas Probate Code, such notice to be directed to all parties interested in the estate of the testator and to comply with the requirements of Section 33(c) of said Code insofar as they may be applicable.
4. Order and Manner of Taking, Etc. If satisfied that the perpetuation of testimony may prevent a failure or delay of justice, the court or justice shall make an order authorizing the taking of such depositions and state whether such depositions shall be taken upon oral examination or written questions. The time and place at which such depositions shall be taken may be stated in such order or by means of notice as provided for depositions generally. The deposition rules not inconsistent with this rule shall apply to the taking, signing, returning, objections to, and use of such depositions. Any interested party may, after the filing in the court of any deposition taken under notice by publication under this rule, move to suppress said deposition, in whole or in part, by bill of review, such right to move to suppress to be cumulative of all other rights to attack or oppose said deposition.
Amended by order of Oct. 3, 1972, eff. Feb. 1, 1973: The first sentence of paragraph 4 has been rewritten to make it clear that the taking of a deposition to perpetuate testimony is to be authorized only when the court is satisfied that a failure or delay of justice may be prevented thereby.
|Prior Amendments
|Future Amendments
|Oct. 29, 1940, eff. Sept. 1, 1941
|Repealed by order of Aug. 4, 1998, and Nov. 9, 1998, eff. Jan. 1, 1999. See Rule 202.1.
|March 19, 1957, eff. Sept. 1, 1957
|April 12, 1962, eff. Sept. 1, 1962
|July 21, 1970, eff. Jan. 1, 1971
(No. 134) Question: Under Rule 187 providing for the taking of depositions to perpetuate testimony, is the taking of such depositions limited to instances where the persons adversely interested are unknown heirs or non-residents? This question is propounded because the portion of Rule 187 which authorizes the actual taking of the depositions is embodied in the second sentence of the Rule immediately following the first semicolon therein, and a question has been raised as to whether it applies to the first sentence of the rule dealing with cases where the adversely interested parties are residents and their addresses are known.
Answer: It is the opinion of the Subcommittee that this Rule authorizes the taking of depositions to perpetuate testimony in the instances referred to in both the first and second sentences of the Rule. We feel that the obvious purpose and intention of the Rule is to allow the taking of depositions in all such cases. Any other construction would make the first sentence of the Rule entirely meaningless and inoperative.
The notation at the foot of the Rule indicates that this Rule is "Article 3742, unchanged." It was obviously the purpose of the Supreme Court to carry forward Article 3742 as a Rule, and it was well settled that said Article authorized the taking of depositions to perpetuate testimony in either of the instances under consideration. When the Rule was drafted from the Statute, the first sentence of the Statute was divided into two sentences, apparently because of the extreme length of the sentence. However, the notation was made at the foot of the Rule that it was taken from Article 3742 unchanged, and we feel that the same construction should be given to the Rule that had been given to the Statute.
7 Tex. B.J. 327 (1944) reprinted in 8 Tex. B.J. 51 (1945).


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Somebody asked me what I thought about the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He said, "do we have a duty to pitch in whatever we can to help humanitarian aid and peacekeeping forces, to help save lives that might be destroyed? Speaking generally of African countries where governments have so much ability to do terrible things, is this an inescapable type of situation that will always repeat itself? Do you think genocide will ever be a thing of the past? Do the UN and other intervening countries do enough to make this a top priority? Just curious to see what is the Buddhist stance on this sort of thing, or your stance. When one becomes aware of something like this going on."
I hear questions like this a lot. Of course big tragedies in far away places are important. It's very sad when things like this happen. And, of course, we have some duty to try and be of service. But, unfortunately there is very little we can do for people so far away.
Modern communications systems have brought news from incredibly distant places right into our homes. Modern transportation systems have made places that were once almost inaccessible seem very close. In a sense the world is getting smaller. But in another sense it's just as big as it ever was.
One of these days we'll establish communications with intelligent creatures on other planets. After the excitement has worn off a bit, we'll start noticing that they have problems too. Eventually there'll be people on Earth wringing their hands over the famine on Regizvon Centurus VII. It'll be important in social circles to express true concern for the plight of the suffering Glompnells on Zeta Reticuli. Which isn't meant to trivialize the situation in Darfur. Just to say that it's natural to want to help those who suffer, no matter where they are. And that it can be socially advantageous to express concern for whatever it's currently trendy to be concerned about.
The best thing you can do to be of service to people in terrible situations in far off places is to attend to your part of the world as carefully as possible.
I saw someone posted a response to my last article saying that he feared that if people were all like me no one would have the passionate commitment needed to take care of the world's problems. But I'm not so sure passion is what's called for. Do you need to feel passionate commitment in order to sweep your floor? Do you need passionate commitment in order to say hello to your neighbor? Do you need passionate commitment in order to separate your recyclables?
Big problems in far away places aren't nearly as critical as tiny problems right under your nose or behind your eyes.
You can attend to the big problems of the world best when you take care of these small things. As far as Darfur and Baghdad and Pyongyang and everywhere else where people live tragic lives, you can do a little. You can vote. You can donate money. You can write your congressperson, run a marathon for a good cause, and so on and on. It's fine to do these good things. Just be aware that you can never fix these far away tragedies, much as you'd like to. As Dogen said, "Flowers fall though we love them and weeds grow though we hate them."
It's not that there is anything at all wrong with making efforts to help out people far away in desperate situations. But far too often such efforts are an excuse to ignore the smaller problems much closer, the ones where we really can do some real good. It's a way of saying that Big Problems -- the ones everyone can agree are Big Problems cuz they're on TV and stuff --are important, but little ones can be ignored. Subconsciously we know we can't fix what's too removed from our immediate surroundings. By making those far away things the most important matters we're in danger of giving ourselves an excuse to ignore what's right near by.
It's also a way of saying that the biggest problems are "out there," not "in here." When you come to see that the real source of every evil in the world is you and you alone, your priorities have to change radically. Maybe we need more passionate commitment to the problems within ourselves. There are burning issues of international and historical importance that you must take care of right this very second and they are not thousands of miles away. They are right here. It's only when you attend to these matters very close that you can do anything about the ones that are far away.
I'm gonna go see Borat now. I'll give you a report later.


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Volume 7, Issue 4
Trott's Corner
Visualization of Riemann Surfaces II
Today I deal with a slightly more mathematical subject than last time. But it is actually not the mathematics itself that is in the center, but in my opinion, the pictures of intricate surfaces that arise from the mathematics. Because of length, "Visualization of Riemann Surfaces II" will be split into three installments.
Michael Trott


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Journalism, General Journalism Projects in Ghana by Jamie Benson
I knew as soon as I finished school I wanted to go into political journalism. I loved reading, writing and public speaking, so journalism seemed like the natural path to go down. The next step was choosing a country to go to. I knew I wanted to go to Africa, because I've always been interested in African history and politics, and it's such an exciting and culturally rich continent!
I didn't know much about Ghana at the time. It is a country that doesn't make the news a lot in the West because it has thankfully been spared from the worst of Africa's problems, partly due to the friendly, peace-loving nature of the Ghanaian people. After reading a bit about Ghanaian culture and customs, I knew it was the place for me! Ghana is such a friendly country and it would be impossible to leave without making some life-long local friends!
I was a volunteer with Projects Abroad for five weeks in Ghana. I was 18 at the time and I decided to do a Journalism project for a period of five weeks, with an additional five day's independent travelling time, which I used at the end of my placement.
I had an absolutely fantastic time with Projects Abroad! Their friendly staff and calm, clear organisational skills helped make this experience the most fulfilling one I've had in my life so far. The experience of living and taking part in a local community so different from the quiet English countryside I've grown up around has taught me so much, and I feel like this placement changed my life!
My Journalism placement
I was placed in the town of Winneba, on the coastal highway between Accra and Cape Coast. I was working with Radio Windy Bay, a small community radio station ran by students and staff from the local university.
My Journalism placement wouldn't have been the same without the amazing and friendly staff helping me along the way and actively encouraging me to push myself to achieve. I got so much out of this experience because they didn't hold me back at all; they were keen for me to do anything and everything at the station so I got a really varied and worthwhile experience.
Almost straight away when I arrived I was made the News Editor. It was my job to pick the news stories from online sources and gather some local news, and then prepare it for the brief 10am news bulletin, and the major 5pm news bulletin. After about two weeks, they allowed me to become the news reader as well!
After three weeks I was invited by the presenter of the morning breakfast show to take part in the newspaper review every day from 8am, where we read the main national newspapers and discussed certain stories and headlines. I also appeared on the evening sports programme; in what the presenter called "ten minutes with Jamie", where I discussed some of the major international sports headlines from a British perspective.
The jewel on the Windy Bay crown, however, was when they gave me my own hour long slot on a Wednesday evening to write, produce and present my own radio chat show, which I called the Obroni Hour (Obroni means "White Man" in Ghana). I had two shows, on the first one I invited the local Projects Abroad co-ordinators to come and talk about Projects Abroad and volunteering, and on the second I invited the radio staff to talk about their experience having me!
Finally, I also had a chance of researching, recording, producing and presenting my own documentary about the state of the local beach. I got some really valuable experience recoding sounds and interviews, and editing clips, and the Windy Bay staff helped me all the way.
I couldn't have asked for a better placement than the one I was given - all of the staff we so friendly and helpful. I was in the unique position of being the only volunteer that they had taken in ten years, and I hope they take more after me. At the beginning, the staff at Radio Windy Bay were my work colleagues, but when I left the station they were all my friends.
Living with a Ghanaian host family
I think I was extremely lucky with my host family because I was placed in a family who included a professional cook. Living in a host family is by far the best way to experience local life, and make the most of your stay in another culture. At first it can seem a bit nerve-racking, having to live with a whole different family, but they're so friendly, and soon enough you will become part of their family!
Be prepared for nosy children too, my host brothers and sisters loved to show the volunteers to their local friends!
I had no complaints about the food - it is undoubtedly different from the food I'm used to, but so long as you have an open mind and aren't afraid of something different, the food is great! I usually got cornbread in the morning, followed by a stew with rice at lunch and some rice or fried/boiled plantain in the evening. As a small way to say thank you to my host family, I cooked them a meal of spaghetti and tomato sauce on one of my last evenings. I think they enjoyed it!
Free time in Ghana
Winneba didn't have many other volunteers and at one time there were just 3 of us, but that was fine as we became like a family. Every weekend we went travelling to a different part of the country, mostly we went to Cape Coast by local public transport.
We mostly went by Tro-Tro, a minibus-taxi hybrid, which is an experience in itself. They're cheap, crowded, and usually falling apart. The first one we got on, to go to Cape Coast, had 21 people, two chickens and a priest who was doing a sermon as we were driving along!
We did plenty at Cape Coast. There's a very nice beach, a castle and it's easy getting a taxi to the breath-taking Kakum National park. One of the fondest memories I took back with me was tackling the famous canopy walkway, which is great if you have a head for heights! On my first trip to Cape Coast we also helped a local t-shirt salesman who organised a party for some local children. We washed their hands, and gave them a meal and some sweets.
Travelling with the local volunteers gave me the opportunity to mix with other Western cultures, and to share some of my own! For my final weekend in Cape Coast I was the only British person amongst 3 Canadians, 1 Slovakian and 4 Americans. As the only British person, they were really interested in learning more about my culture, and they all had a go at doing British accents!
Every Wednesday, the other volunteers met at a location and did an activity. I had to organise a quiz one week, and the next week we had a go at painting a local school. These experiences contributed to making the volunteering experience as fulfilling as it could possibly be.
The fondest memory I have of travelling was visiting the far-eastern Volta region with my two Canadian friends. The region was the most beautiful place I visited in Ghana, filled with cascading waterfalls, impenetrable rainforest and towering mountains. We spent about ten hours travelling, all in the dreaded Tro-Tro, but being greeted with paradise made the journey worth it.
All in all, volunteering with Projects Abroad was the best decision I have ever made in my life. This experience has taught me so much, and I have made so many life-long friends in Ghana and across the world. The memories of my 5 and a half weeks in Ghana will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Jamie Benson
Ce témoignage est basé sur l'expérience unique d'un volontaire à un certain moment donné. Nos projets s'adaptent constamment aux besoins locaux, ils évoluent au fur et à mesure que des volontaires s'impliquent et s'adaptent aux saisons, ainsi votre expérience sur place pourra être différente de celle décrite ici. Pour en savoir plus sur cette mission, vous pouvez consulter la page de ce projet ou bien contacter l'un de nos conseillers de volontaires.