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Troubleshooting irrigation controls
Too often, golf course irrigation system problems are not identified until it's too late. Suddenly, you're faced with a large area of stressed or burnt-out turf on your course and no way to bring it back to life. Even with the most advanced irrigation installations, there will be times where controllers, system wiring or valves will fail to operate according to the automated plan. Your sprinkler heads will sit there idle, waiting for instructions.
When an irrigation system goes on strike, the tendency is to look for a quick solution to bring the distressed areas back on line as soon as possible. Inexperienced technicians often focus their efforts on the most visible component in the system, the irrigation controller, placing the blame on a perceived problem within the complex electronics of the system's brain. It's a comforting thought that perhaps the irrigation can be revived by just changing out a few components within the controller, or the entire unit, as a way to quickly remedy the problem.
However, this method is generally a waste of time. Even though expensive components may be changed out, the system will usually continue to misbehave after each attempt. And the technician will become more and more frustrated by this waste of time and efforts chasing an unidentified problem.
A better approach: Step-by-step troubleshooting
A better way to approach electrical system trouble shooting is with a step-by-step method that isolates and checks each of the irrigation components: the controller, the zone control valves and the wiring that connects it all together.
Step 1: Check the obvious.
Before launching a thorough system diagnosis, don't forget to check the obvious. Is the system water supply on? Are there isolation valves at the backflow preventer, pump station or in the mainline that are preventing water from flowing? Has the flow control on the valve been turned off? Has the "on/off/auto selector" on a valve-in-head sprinkler been left in the "off" position? Reviewing these factors up-front can save time and effort.
Step 2: Make sure you don't have a programming error.
If the zone operates fine manually using the controller's manual mode, but does not operate automatically, this usually indicates a programming error rather than an electrical problem. Review the controller's programming guide and look for data-entry mistakes.
Step 3: Know how to use a volt-ohm meter.
An inexpensive volt-ohm meter (VOM) will be your most valuable tool and a required component for successful electrical troubleshooting. VOMs can be purchased in the electrical-supplies section of a local hardware store, electronics shop (such as Radio Shack) or your local irrigation equipment supplier. Modern digital meters are more reliable and provide an easy-to read display that can give precise quantitative feedback of the system symptoms.
Step 4: Is the controller operational?
After these preliminary steps, you're now ready to check the controller itself. A blank LCD display or failure to respond to keyboard entries could indicate a lack of power to the unit or other damage. Begin by using your VOM to take a voltage reading of the primary incoming power to the controller. It should read somewhere between 110 to 125 volts. If it doesn't, you've found your problem. Unfortunately, it's seldom that easy.
In some cases, you'll notice that the display of the controller is scrambled, missing LED segments or the entire unit is "frozen" preventing buttons or dials from entering data. This is a symptom of "micro-processor lock-up," where the primary brain of the controller has become confused with bad data from electrical surges or other causes. This can often be cleared by re-setting the device. Reset the controller by either disconnecting all electrical and battery power from the unit for several minutes, or by pressing a "reset" button which clears the memory of the processor and re-boots the system.
Step 5: Check for a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse.
If the controller passes these tests, next check the station output of the controller to the valves that control the zones not receiving water. Again using the VOM, you can check to see if the output terminals indicate the 24 volts needed to open a standard solenoid. If you do not get a reading here, you should check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker within the controller. Also check the output of the transformer in the controller to make sure that it is outputting correct voltage.
A blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker in most controllers indicates an overload condition in the field, not a problem with the controller. If one of these problems is present, you can certainly replace or reset the controller. However this will not solve the root cause of the problem with either the field wiring or valve solenoid.
If you are fortunate enough to have a top-of-the-line controller, you may have the benefit of a more modern feature called "automatic short-circuit detection" which is a specialized self-diagnostic system within the controller itself. This handy feature allows the controller to identify a zone that has a fault in the field wire or valve and skip over the affected zone, eliminating a blown fuse. The best part of this feature is that the controller will digitally display a message that says: "Station 3 Error" to assist with locating the valve or field wire problem.
Step 6: Check field wiring.
If the controller, transformer and station outputs all work properly, the next place to check is the field wiring. And this happens to be the most common place where unforeseen problems occur.
Use the VOM to perform an "ohm test" on a specific zone circuit (the common wire plus a station wire), with the controller power turned off. At this point, you will want to make sure the VOM is set to the correct resistance setting to make sure the unit provides accurate and measurable feedback. Make sure to disconnect the wires you are testing from the controller terminal block so that your reading is specific to the wires in the field and not mixed up with feedback through the circuits of the controller.
The "ohm test" will send a small pulse of current from the battery in the VOM through the circuit to measure resistance. A normal reading is 20 to 60 ohms.
If the circuit has a "short," meaning the current is taking a shortcut back to the controller, the reading may be as low as 1 to 10 ohms. If the circuit is completely broken, you will get a reading of infinity, meaning there is no clear path for the electricity to flow back through the circuit and to the VOM (thus, resistance is total, or "infinite").
A reading of a high number, but not infinity, would indicate that there is still an intact circuit, but there is a high amount of resistance in the circuit that is keeping current from flowing well enough to activate a solenoid valve. This is a common symptom of a bad electrical connection, often an underground splice that was not properly waterproofed.
Test each circuit from the controller and you'll notice a pattern. The good circuits will have similar readings and the bad circuit will stand out from the others. This gives you confidence in the process and helps you work specifically to the final step of checking the valve solenoid.
Step 7: Check the valve solenoid.
The final step in a systematic approach is to decide whether diagnosed problems in the field wiring are related to the wiring and splices, or to the specific solenoid on the valve, or the valve-in-head sprinkler. At this point, you'll move to the actual location of the valve in the field and cut into the wires leading into the solenoid to take an ohm reading of the solenoid's resistance. Typically, if the solenoid is bad, you will get a reading for a "short" or 1 to 10 ohms. (There is no need to test voltage at the valve because you have already "ohm tested" each circuit at the controller and you should know which zones have problems.)
Sharpen your troubleshooting skills
I've presented some basic steps in this article in simplified fashion. However, electrical troubleshooting an irrigation control system using a step-by-step process takes time to learn and requires a willingness to try multiple approaches before finding the solution to your problem. Many irrigation manufacturers and distributors offer training classes on electrical troubleshooting that will give you an opportunity to get hands-on experience with this process.
A few hours in an irrigation troubleshooting course can provide valuable training for that hot summer day when you face stressed turf and a system that will not operate.
Jeff Carowitz is vice president of marketing for Hunter Industries (San Marcos, Calif.).
Irrigation wiring diagram (highly simplified)
Steps for diagnosing irrigation electrical problems*
First, check primary power. Reading should be 110 to 120 volts.
Next, check power output from controller to solenoids by testing voltage at C1, C2 and C3. No voltage here probably indicates a blown fuse or tripped breaker in the controller.
Next, disconnect common and control wires from the controller and then test resistance through each circuit (C1 and common, C2 and common, etc.). If the resistance is high or infinite, you know you've got a break or a bad connection. Too low and you have a short.
If the previous test indicates a problem in a particular circuit, you should next test the solenoid (S1, S2 or S3) in that circuit. Cut into the solenoid wires (to bypass all splices in the circuit) and test resistance in the solenoid. An abnormal reading indicates that the solenoid is faulty.
* See table, facing page, for VOM values.
* See table, facing page, for VOM values.
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© 2020 Penton Media Inc.


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With Primer and his latest film Upstream Color, writer-director Shane Carruth has clearly established a unique cinematic voice. With the exception of a few filmmakers, Carruth demands every ounce of his audience's attention. It's great to have a filmmaker like Carruth out there who has an unmistakable style and knows how to keep us captivated. But in his films, holding our attention is a trick to get us to invest in solving his characters and story. Carruth hopes that his abstract, dreamlike narrative can hold us in its sway, and that by struggling to follow the plot, we will somehow care about the characters' problems. Upstream Color is masterful at keeping our attention through its complex storytelling, but it ironically makes its emotions as nebulous as its plotting and characters.
Carruth enjoys playing around with time and space, but the opening act of Upstream Color is fairly easy to follow. A special kind of maggot is grown from a plant, and the maggot is implanted in a person, it can make the victim completely submissive to suggestion. A thief (Thiago Martins) uses this parasite to make Kris (Amy Seimetz) give him all of her money, and then she is led to a farm where the parasites are pulled from her body by receiving a blood transfusion from a pig (I said the plot was easy to follow, not that it wasn't strange). From here, we see Kris try to maintain a grip on reality as she begins a romantic relationship with Jeff (Carruth). The film also circles back to the pig pen and the observations of a mysterious figure credited as "Sampler" (Andrew Sensenig).
The film is a masterwork in capturing the audience's full concentration. Upstream Color clearly lays out its tone and feel, so the viewer knows from the start the kind of movie they're in for. From there, Carruth wisely goes for long stretches with no dialogue, so the audience can place all of their focus into the editing, cinematography, and score. We become even more absorbed because all of these aspects are designed to keep us off-balance with their atonal sound and offbeat flow. When the characters do talk, their conversations are erratic and dissonant.
This approach makes Upstream Color understandable in its broad strokes, but infuriating in its individual scenes. Viewers should be able to walk out of the movie with the gist of the plot, but still scratching their heads about certain actions or the inclusion of certain moments. Carruth never makes any attempt to offer us the solutions to these scenes, nor should he. But there should at least be enough material for the viewer to at least make an argument for a solution. Instead, we get hung up on the individual puzzle pieces and stop looking at the big picture.
From there, we start wondering if it's worth completing the puzzle in order to see the picture. Upstream Color is so fractured in its storytelling that while we may be absorbed in the plot, we may not be emotionally invested in what happens. The film isn't plot driven, and the characters behave in such an abnormal fashion that we probably couldn't relate to Kris if not for Seimetz's stellar performance. Carruth wants to carry his movie on ideas and emotions, but there's no reason to invest in either because the connection with the story and characters is too weak. It's enticing to see what's on the other side of the chasm, but for viewers like me, the leap doesn't feel worth the effort.
I was almost wooed at points by Upstream Color. Carruth does a fantastic job of finding the essential moments in Jeff and Kris' relationship, subverts expectations, and goes to great lengths to break through surface connections. But he goes far too deep down the rabbit hole, and the story reaches the point where Jeff could say to Kris, "It doesn't have to be your schizophrenia. It could be our schizophrenia!" Upstream Color is so busy throwing us off balance that it never lets us get a grip on where we are in relation to the larger aspects of the storytelling and character development. We can draw the parallel between the pigs and the status of Jeff and Kris' relationship, but to what end? Carruth's film appears to make the promise of an emotional connection assuming you're willing to dig beneath all of the tricks he used to make you pay attention in the first place.
Some viewers will happily grab a shovel. They won't need special mind maggots to be enthralled with the film Carruth has created. Personally, I see the technical craft as a barrier rather than a lure. Carruth is clearly an intelligent person, and I'm sure Upstream Color has a point. Multiple viewings can probably explain why Kris makes paper chains when she's under the parasite's power, or why Jeff decides to get into a fistfight for apparently no reason. The film will probably spur its most ardent fans to pick up copies of Walden because it factors heavily into the plot, and Henry David Thoreau's book could be some kind of decoder. But going to all of this trouble is a waste when Carruth can grab our attention but never elicit our concern.
Rating: C
Click here for all our Sundance 2013 coverage. Click on the corresponding links for my previous reviews:
- Before Midnight
- Computer Chess
- Don Jon's Addiction
- The Gatekeepers
- Inequality for All
- The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete
- Kill Your Darlings
- The Lifeguard
- The Look of Love
- Mud
- The Spectacular Now
- Stoker
- This Is Martin Bonner
- Twenty Feet from Stardom
- Who Is Dayani Cristal?

subset: commoncrawl


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Furnishings in the Master Bedroom
#614 Chest of Drawers
Dimensions: 45" W x 61 1/4" H x 21 1/2" D
Materials: Oak with copper hardware
Date: Ca. 1902 - 1903
Mark: Red joiner's compass decal with "Stickley" in rectangle
Design: Attributed to LaMont Warner
Anonymous gift to The Craftsman Farms Foundation.
Stickley's firm first offered a bedroom chest with frame-and-panel cabinet doors over stacked drawers in the catalog "Things Wrought by the United Crafts," issued in January 1902. Though its design varied from the design of the chest of drawers now in the log house master bedroom, its dimensions were the same, it was cataloged as a #614 chest of drawers, and it too was offered with wrought iron or copper hardware. It was made with "Red Scented Cedar Drawer Bottoms," a feature both pleasant and functional. Its $70.00 price tag made it one of the most expensive items offered in that early catalog.
Later in 1902 Stickley issued a set of "retail plates" which included a photograph of the #614 chest that had evolved from the earlier version. This second and final iteration did not have cedar-bottomed drawers, but its cabinets – perfect for storing top hats – were lined with that wood. It was given a projecting, bevel-edged cornice that emphatically capped the vertical case and cast shadows across the wooden surface as light conditions changed. The beauty of this rectilinear cabinet was further enhanced by its rich, brown-toned quarter sawn oak planks and by the light-catching pyramidal wood screws that fasten the hammered copper hardware to the drawer and door fronts. The #614 chest of drawers at Craftsman Farms has great presence. It is a large-scale, dramatically proportioned piece of furniture with the characteristic mass and rectilinearity of Stickley's 1902 furniture production, the year his designers were working at their peak.
#632 Dressing Table
Dimensions: 54" W x 57" H x 22" D
Materials: Oak with brass hardware
Date: Ca. 1902 - 1903
Mark: Red joiner's compass with Stickley in rectangle, on the back.
Designer: Attributed to LaMont Warner
Anonymous gift to The Craftsman Farms Foundation.
Stickley first cataloged bedroom furniture in early 1901, but it was not until the middle of 1902 that his firm produced a bedroom piece specifically intended to be used by a woman – a dressing table of this design. His furniture – especially the furniture made in 1902 – is often thought of as "masculine," though this dressing table shows the firm attempting to enter the realm of the "feminine." In that sense it may not be completely successful. The applied pewter, iron, or copper candlesticks bracketing the mirror in the cataloged versions are an attractive decorative touch, but the boxy case is essentially an elongated reworking of a "genderless" Stickley writing table made the same year.
This dressing table, however, is important as an example of Stickley's evident intent that year to expand his product line. With the introduction of this dressing table, the firm's customers could now buy a complete bedroom suite of Stickley furniture. This included a bedstead; night table (cataloged as a "somno"); wardrobe; man's chest of drawers; woman's chest of drawers; cheval mirror; wash stand; and, by mid-1902, a dressing table for the woman of the house. The decision to extend his line of products is perhaps best understood as a business decision meant to increase sales. But it was equally an aesthetic choice. In 1902, Stickley and his designers began to work toward the visually unified Craftsman interiors that would blossom under the pencil of Harvey Ellis when he arrived in the Craftsman Workshops design studio the following year.
13 August 2020
Plan Your Visit


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Golden Dawn members killed in Greece drive-by shooting
Far-right party members shot point-blank amid government crackdown
Police in Greece investigating the slaying of two members of the far-right Golden Dawn party and the serious wounding of a third person said Saturday the assailant finished off his victims at point-blank range before escaping on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.
The shooter fired 12 rounds from a Zastava Tokarev semi-automatic pistol in the Friday evening attack outside a suburban Athens office of the Nazi-inspired party. The bullet casings came from the same weapon, which has not been used in any previous case, police said in a statement.
The shooting came amid a government crackdown on the party following the fatal stabbing last month of an anti-fascist musician in Athens. A Golden Dawn supporter has been arrested and charged with murder in that case, though the party has denied any wrongdoing.
A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because officers were not authorized to comment on the investigation, described to The Associated Press a video from a nearby security camera that confirmed accounts from Golden Dawn lawmakers that the assailant started firing from 15 metres away and finished off his victims at close range.
The gunman fired at a fourth person, who managed to enter the building housing Golden Dawn's local offices in the suburb of Neo Iraklio, north of Athens, escaping unharmed.
The video shows the assailant wearing a jockey cap, while the motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet, the official said.
A second official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said police found an abandoned motorcycle north of the site of the attack, which "almost certainly" was the one used by the assailants. The motorcycle had been declared stolen two weeks before and is being examined by forensic experts.
The names of the two dead have not yet been officially released, but they were named at a memorial service held Saturday evening outside the Golden Dawn offices where the attack took place.
They are 27-year-old Giorgos Fountoulis and 22-year-old Manolis Kapelonis. Golden Dawn has said that both were party members, but has called the wounded 29-year-old man "a fellow citizen".
'Guiding lights'
Golden Dawn spokesman and lawmaker Ilias Kassidiaris said "the souls of Giorgos and Manos are guiding lights" for the whole country.
"The Greek people will remain united, and together will keep on moving forward during this difficult and critical period our homeland is going through," he said.
The police's counterterrorism squad is investigating the case. Suspicion has fallen on one of several far-left and anarchist extremist groups that have claimed to be behind violence that has killed two policemen and a journalist. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
Golden Dawn lawmakers blame the slaying on authorities' prosecution of party members, including the jailing of the party's leader and deputy leader following last month's killing of a left-wing rapper. The outcry has prompted authorities to investigate the party's involvement in violent attacks and criminal activities.
Eleni Zaroulia, a lawmaker and wife of jailed Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos, accused Public Order and Citizen Protection minister Nikos Dendias of being "the moral instigator" of the two Friday deaths. "Golden Dawn demands his resignation," she told reporters on her way to a police precinct near her home, where she surrendered her gun.
Formerly a marginal organization with neo-Nazi roots and a reputation for violence, Golden Dawn had polled just 0.29 percent in a national election in 2009. It rode a wave of public anger over Greece's financial crisis, rising crime rate and unchecked immigration to become the country's fifth largest party.
It has steadily grown to third place in recent polls, although support has slipped since the prosecution of its leaders.


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Premium Membership
The S15OC forum has been up and running now for more than 10 years. During that time the numbers have steadily increased and, I hope, people have gained information and help. Running the forum and site isn't free, however.
Currently, all the costs out weight the contribution by our members. We sincerely hope that you appreciate and enjoy the club enough to make a contribution towards its running costs.
Becoming a paid member is not a requirement to be part of our community.
Premium Members package.
Members will receive:-
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Become a premium member to help the upkeep of S15OC.com
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Once completed, you will have a "Contributing Member" tag on all your posts during your active membership which looks like this:
Once you've paid for your membership, please PM a forum admin with your name and address so we can send your sticker/s. Paypal unfortunately does not provide us with this information when you subscribe.
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Granddads would have you believe things were better in the good ol' days, but a short stroll through the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago makes liars of them all.
From graphic paintings of childbirth to a vast collection of often-ghastly tools of the trade, the Surgical Museum is a morbidly fascinating journey into the blood-spattered beginnings of modern medicine. After a look at these hair-raising exhibits, you might remark that while the United States may be in serious need of health care reform, at least we have anesthetics and the germ theory of disease.
Read on for a photo tour of the museum that will make you grateful you weren't sick back when surgeons wielded tools that would make Sweeney Todd blush.
Above: A skull found in Paracus, Peru, shows evidence of trepanation, the removal of pieces of the skull for "therapeutic" purposes. The evidence indicates the skull's unfortunate owner had undergone (and survived) the primitive surgery.
Pre-Columbian societies from the Andes to Mexico employed the technique, which was also practiced in Europe for thousands of years: Hippocrates himself drafted written instructions for the procedure.
Even today, a small group on the pseudo-scientific fringe advocate and occasionally administer trepanation, which has resulted in an appearance on Howard Stern, a story on ABC's 20/20 — and felony charges. The group's website, complete with New Age Muzak worthy of a softcore porn movie, may be even creepier than this museum.
The IMSS is housed in a mansion on the shores of Lake Michigan, next door to the headquarters of the International College of Surgeons, whose members opened the museum in 1954. The building, designed by noted architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, was inspired by Marie Antoinette's personal clubhouse at Versailles.
Guillotines, however, are not among the collection's many cutting tools. Constructed in 1917 by heirs to the Diamond Match fortune, the Countiss Mansion, named for its former owners, made the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Its hallways are now filled with large paintings and murals depicting surgical sciences through the years.
The museum opened Sept. 9, 1954, and one of the first exhibits to open was the "Hall of Immortals," 12 looming statues that depict the great contributors to the surgical sciences.
Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
Sir Henry Gauvain invented the iron lung for the treatment of coal gas poisoning, but it wasn't widely used until the massive outbreak of polio in the 1940s and 50s. The iron lung helped patients draw breath, when paralysis from the disease made it difficult or impossible for them to breathe on their own.
At one point during the polio epidemic, hospital wards were lined with patients locked in iron lungs. Nearly 60,000 people were infected with the disease in Illinois alone, and thousands died. It wasn't until the late 1950s that the vaccines invented by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin put an end to the most terrifying health scare of postwar America.
Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
This surgical set (partial) belonged to a Dr. Leonardo (1796-1860), personal physician to Ferdinand II of Bourbon, King of the Two Sicilies. The tools included a trepanning instrument (the procedure was still used into the 19th century) and tools for amputating limbs, including a chill-inducing bone saw (top). The pliers were probably used to pull bullets from flesh.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
A set of 47 ophthalmic surgery instruments from the F. Alfred Reichardt Co. (USA, 1917). The handles of the delicate tools on the right are made from ivory. The syringe ... well, you probably felt more than a pinch when the needle went into your eyeball.
It's a hemorrhoid surgery kit, circa 1850-1900. You don't want to know.
Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
From A.M Phelps comes the "lightest, neatest and most durable jacket available on the 1899 market." Designed to correct scoliosis, or terrify children into standing up straight, the aluminum vest could be worn underneath the clothing (or so the manufacturer claimed). The holes provided ventilation and must have left a pretty interesting pattern on the skin.
Soldiers who busted a leg during the Civil War would likely have used a pair of these splints, manufactured in Vermont by A.M Day: clearly a more appealing option than the bone saw.
Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
These kidney stones were found in Egyptian mummies from the 28th Dynasty — some stones weighing nearly an ounce. Surgical techniques for removing them have been around for thousands of years, and are even mentioned in the original Hippocratic oath, which required ancient physicians to promise not to "cut for the stone." Instead, presaging the modern approach, they were expected to defer to practitioners who specialized in the procedure.
This portable surgical set from 1874 belonged to George Barrow, M.D.
Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
The Lambert X-ray tube stand, (1897-1905, manufactured by Levy X-Ray Equipment) allowed an operator to set the X-ray tubes in one of three positions, and the lead-lined wooden housing shielded patients and technicians from the harmful effects of radiation.
These safety measures represented a big improvement from previous techniques: Emil Gruebé, a pioneer of radiology in the Chicago area, initially gauged the success of an X-ray by how severely it burned his hands and the body of his patient. He had a change of heart later in his career, and dedicated himself to making X-rays safer.
The Villard osmosis-regulator tube for use in X-rays was manufactured between 1898 and 1905 by the Emil Gundelach Co. of Germany.
Photos: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
The museum features a vintage apothecary shop, complete with remedies of yesteryear such as Lydia E. Pinkham's patent medicines. Their massive success made their inventor and namesake into a minor celebrity.
Though born into a wealthy and politically prominent Massachusetts family, Pinkham was struggling financially in the 1870s. Pinkham and her husband sought to escape their dire straits by marketing potions that she had supposedly developed and used herself. Blending colorfully named ingredients like unicorn root and black cohosh with a hefty helping of alcohol, the concoctions promised to alleviate "female complaints." They enjoyed widespread popularity during the late 19th century and remained common well into the 20th, after a few modifications spurred by the FDA.
Pinkham's fame continued over a hundred years after her tonic's debut. "Lily the Pink," a risqué folk song inspired by Pinkham and recorded with backing vocals from Elton John, reached No. 1 in the British charts in 1968. Homeopathic cures bearing the Pinkham name, and claiming to follow at least some of the original recipe, are still sold today.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com


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The Dictator Movie Review
Six years after he blew audiences away with Borat and three years after destroying all goodwill he previously earned with the horrendous Bruno, Sacha Baron Cohen is back with The Dictator, a very quotable movie about a racist, sexist, anti-Semitic Middle Eastern dictator who travels to New York City to talk about his plans for obtaining nuclear power before the United Nations.
"Is it a boy, or is it an abortion?"
This is the kind of thing Cohen espouses throughout The Dictator, a deeply offensive tirade against Muslims, Arabs, Jews, black people, Chinese people, white people, women, hippies and Americans. Nothing is off limits, including pedophilia, rape and torture. The Dictator should offend everyone.
It's not that different than Bruno in that regard, except for one critical different: it's actually funny.
Cohen plays his part well, ever eager to be just a little more absurd and a tad more politically incorrect than the minute before. General Aladeen is a hilarious caricature of racial stereotypes, maliciously innocent even as he revels in his [perceived] ability to execute and torture anyone who gives him a sideways glance. He's an idiot with absolute power, but deep down he means well. Well, he means to do the things he does, and that has to count for something.
Cohen is paired with Jason Mantzoukas, who plays his scheming but frustrated cohort. Though Cohen commands singular attention in every scene, Mantzoukas delivers a less overt but no less satisfying performance. He's hilarious.
Anna Faris, meanwhile, is underutilized. The funny Scary Movie actress has many jokes thrown her way at her expense, but director Larry Charles (Borat, Bruno) fails to take full advantage of her comedic talent.
As for the movie, it only falters in a few small moments. One especially awkward scene about raping young boys falls flat. There are a few other brief moments as well, but The Dictator, for the most part, walks that fine line beyond funny offensive (Borat) and obnoxious offensive (Bruno).
The Dictator isn't a perfect movie, but it's a laugh-out-loud experience that largely absolves Cohen of previous crimes.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.


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Daisy Ring by Eric et LydieDesigner: Eric et Lydie
This sweet daisy ring by Eric et Lydie is simply charming. No one else will have a ring as special as this!
- Adjustable band
- Stainless steel, enamel
- Handmade in France by Eric et Lydie
More about Eric et Lydie:
Surprise and delight are two of the most important reactions I must feel when "discovering" a new artist. Without it I wouldn't present their work to you. This dynamic husband/wife design duo from the north of France clearly illicited that reaction in me and more.
I met Lydie Chabot and Eric Semain in Paris and was instantly charmed by their pieces. Whimsical, delicate and striking craftsmanship define their line. Each ring, necklace or bracelet was inspired by nature and/or jewelry worn by their grandmothers. They create their pieces using high quality materials like bronze, gold plated brass and silver. They further embellish each bijou with crystal stones, natural pearls and/or semi-precious stones. Elegance, femininity and playfulness are exuded in their work - which has also delighted fashion and cinema luminaries who have collaborated with them for runway shows and movies.


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An offering to meet small business security needs
With AXIS Companion Line, advanced network video security is now an easier, more cost-effective and low risk option for shops, restaurants and offices, among other small businesses. Customers now have a reliable solution for their basic need for video surveillance to secure employees, customers, properties and assets.
It is enterprise-level quality in an easy-to-use solution so that business owners can focus on running their operation.
The ideal solution for small businesses
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Vivificante offers relaxed and friendly accommodation along with pottery workshops in Puglia, southern Italy.
Situated just 4km outside of the unspoilt town of Ceglie Messapica, Vivificante is no more than 15km from the stunning city of Ostuni (la Città Bianca), the bustling Martina Franca and the charming town of Cisternino. It is also within easy reach of the two UNESCO heritage sites of Alberobello and Matera. The architecturally beautiful Baroque city of Lecce is just one hour's drive away.
The nearby coastline offers a wide choice of both sandy and rocky beaches with clear waters and little or no commercialism.
Vivificante provides a perfect base from where to explore Puglia, Basilicata and, for the more adventurous, Calabria.
The property is an original two cone trulli home extended with a spacious, idiosyncratic villa. Renovation of the property began in 2006 and the house welcomed its first guests in Spring 2008.
As recommended in:
© Vivificante 2018


text:
Frequent Links
Cass Elliot
|Cass Elliot
Elliot in 1972.
Ellen Naomi Cohen
September 19, 1941
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
July 29, 1974 (aged 32)
Mayfair, London, England
|Other names
|Mama Cass
|Leah Kunkel (sister)
|Musical career
|Years active
|Associated acts
Cass Elliot (born Ellen Naomi Cohen; September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974), also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. In 1998, Elliot, John Phillips, Denny Doherty, and Michelle Phillips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their work as The Mamas & the Papas.[1]
- 1 Early life
- 2 Early career
- 3 The Mamas & the Papas
- 4 Solo career
- 5 Personal life
- 6 Death
- 7 Tributes and other popular culture references
- 8 Discography
- 9 References
- 10 External links
Early life
Elliot was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of Philip and Bess Cohen. She had a younger sister, Leah, who also became a singer as a member of the Coyote Sisters. The Cohens later moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Elliot adopted the name "Cass" in high school, possibly borrowing it from actress Peggy Cass, as Denny Doherty tells it. In any case, it was "Cass", not "Cassandra". She assumed the surname Elliot some time later, in memory of a friend who had died.
While still attending George Washington High School, she became interested in acting and was cast in a school production of the play The Boy Friend. She left high school shortly before graduation and moved to New York City to further her acting career. She toured in the musical The Music Man, but lost the part of Miss Marmelstein in I Can Get It for You Wholesale to Barbra Streisand in 1962.
Early career
Elliot would sometimes sing while working as a cloakroom attendant at The Showplace in Greenwich Village in New York, but she didn't pursue a singing career until she returned to the Washington, D.C. area to attend American University (not Swarthmore College as mentioned in the biographical song Creeque Alley). America's folk music scene was on the rise when Elliot met banjoist and singer Tim Rose and singer John Brown, and the three began performing as The Triumvirate. In 1963, James Hendricks replaced Brown and the trio was renamed The Big 3. Elliot's first recording with The Big 3 was Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod, released by FM Records in 1963. In 1964, the group appeared on an "open mike" night at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, billed as "Cass Elliot and the Big 3", followed onstage by folksinger Jim Fosso and bluegrass banjoist Eric Weissberg (who became famous eight years later for performing "Dueling Banjos" on the soundtrack for Deliverance in 1972).
Tim Rose left The Big 3 in 1964, and Elliot and Hendricks teamed with Canadians Zal Yanovsky and Denny Doherty to form The Mugwumps. This group lasted eight months, after which Cass performed as a solo act for a while. In the meantime, Yanovsky and John Sebastian co-founded The Lovin' Spoonful, while Doherty joined The New Journeymen, a group that also included John Phillips and his wife Michelle. In 1965, Doherty persuaded Phillips that Elliot should join the group, which she did while she and the group members were vacationing in the Virgin Islands.
A popular legend about Elliot is that her vocal range was improved by three notes after she was hit on the head by some copper tubing while walking through a construction site behind the bar where The New Journeymen were playing in the Virgin Islands. Elliot herself confirmed the story in a 1968 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, saying,
It's true, I did get hit on the head by a pipe that fell down and my range was increased by three notes. They were tearing this club apart in the islands, revamping it, putting in a dance floor. Workmen dropped a thin metal plumbing pipe and it hit me on the head and knocked me to the ground. I had a concussion and went to the hospital. I had a bad headache for about two weeks and all of a sudden I was singing higher. It's true. Honest to God.[2]
However, friends later said that the pipe story was a less embarrassing explanation for why John Phillips had kept her out of the group for so long, the real reason being that he considered her too fat.[3]
The Mamas & the Papas
With two female members, The New Journeymen needed a new name. According to Doherty, Elliot had the inspiration for the band's new name; as written on his website:
We're all just lying around vegging out watching TV and discussing names for the group. The New Journeymen was not a handle that was going to hang on this outfit. John was pushing for The Magic Cyrcle. Eech, but none of us could come up with anything better, then we switch the channel and, hey, it's the Hells Angels on the Carson show... And the first thing we hear is: "Now hold on there, Hoss. Some people call our women cheap, but we just call them our Mamas." Cass jumped up: "Yeah! I want to be a Mama." And Michelle is going: "We're the Mamas! We're the Mamas!" OK. I look at John. He's looking at me going: "The Papas?" Problem solved. A toast! To The Mamas and the Papas. Well, after many, many toasts, Cass and John are passed out."[4]
Doherty also said that the occasion marked the beginning of his affair with Michelle Phillips. Elliot was in love with Doherty, and was displeased when he told her of the affair. Doherty has said that Elliot once proposed to him, but that he was so stoned at the time that he could not even respond.
Elliot was known for her sense of humor and optimism, considered by some to be the most charismatic member of the group. Her powerful, distinctive voice was a major factor in their success. She is best remembered for her vocals on the group's hits "California Dreamin'," "Monday, Monday," and "Words of Love," and particularly for the solo "Dream a Little Dream of Me," which the group recorded in 1968 after learning about the death of Fabian Andre, one of the men who co-wrote it, whom Michelle Phillips had met years earlier. Elliot's version is noteworthy for its contemplative pace, whereas almost all earlier recordings of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (including one by Nat King Cole and another by Ozzie Nelson) had been up-tempo versions—the song having been written in 1931 as a dance tune.
The Mamas & the Papas continued to record to meet the terms of their record contract. Their final album was released in 1971.
Solo career
After the breakup of The Mamas & the Papas, Elliot embarked on a solo singing career. Her most successful recording during this period was 1968's "Dream a Little Dream of Me" from her solo album of the same name, released by Dunhill Records though it had originally been released on the album The Papas & the Mamas Presented By The Mamas and the Papas, earlier that year.
Las Vegas incident
In October 1968, Elliot made her live solo debut headlining in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace. Scheduled for a three-week engagement at $40,000 per week with two shows per night,[5] Elliot went on a six-month-long crash diet before the show, losing 100 of her 300 pounds. According to Elliot, the weight loss led to a stomach ulcer and throat problems, which she treated by drinking milk and cream (and regaining 50 pounds in the process).[6] For three weeks before the first performance, a nervous Elliot was confined to her bed as the musical director, the band and the production supervisor attempted to put together a show in her absence. Although scheduled to rehearse for a full three days before the show opened, Elliot managed to get through only part of one runthrough with the band before saying that she was losing her voice. She skipped the remainder of rehearsals and drank tea and lemon, hoping to recover and pull herself together for opening night.[7]
On the evening of Tuesday, October 16, an audience of 950 people, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and Jimi Hendrix, filled the Circus Maximus theatre. Joan Baez, Liza Minnelli and Mia Farrow had sent flowers to Elliot's dressing room. But backstage, a shivering Elliot had developed a raging fever and her vocal cords were hemorrhaging. Friends attempted to urge her manager to cancel the show, but he felt it was too important and insisted that she perform. Sick and having barely rehearsed, Elliot began to fall apart as she was performing. Her voice was weak and barely audible, and despite the celebrity well-wishers, the large crowd was not sympathetic. At the end of the show, she returned to the stage to apologize to the audience stating "This is the first night and it will get better," then sang "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and left the stage as the audience applauded half-heartedly. She returned later that night to perform the second show, but her voice was worse and many of the audience noisily walked out.[7]
Reviews were harsh. Esquire magazine called the show "a disaster" that was "heroic in proportion, epic in scope."[5] The Los Angeles Free Press called the show "an embarrassing drag." Newsweek compared the show to the Titanic disaster: "Like some great ocean liner embarking on an ill-fated maiden voyage, Mama Cass slid down the ways and sank to the bottom." The show closed after only one night and Elliot flew back to Los Angeles for what was described as "a tonsillectomy."[7]
Within hours, rumors began to spread that Elliot had been taking drugs in the weeks before the performance. In her biography, Dream a Little Dream of Me, author Eddi Fiegel wrote that Elliot later admitted to a boyfriend that she had shot up on heroin immediately before going on stage. Embarrassed by the debacle, Elliot plunged into a deep depression.[7]
Later work
Elliot appeared in two television variety specials: The Mama Cass Television Show (ABC, 1969) and Don't Call Me Mama Anymore (CBS, 1973). She was a regular guest on TV talk shows and variety shows in the early 1970s, including The Mike Douglas Show, The Andy Williams Show, Hollywood Squares, The Johnny Cash Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and The Carol Burnett Show and was a guest panelist for a week on the game show Match Game '73. She guest-hosted for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show and also appeared on the show 13 other times. She also appeared on and co-hosted The Music Scene on ABC and was featured on the first The Midnight Special on NBC.
In 1972, she made three appearances on the variety series The Julie Andrews Hour. Her final appearance on the show was the Christmas installment that aired on Wednesday, December 20, 1972. In December 1978, four years after Elliot's death, the episode was rebroadcast on syndicated stations as a Christmas special called Merry Christmas With Love, Julie. However, all of Elliot's solos were cut from the syndicated prints. In 2009, a complete videotape of The Julie Andrews Hour Christmas Show was donated to The Paley Center For Media in New York with all of Elliot's numbers intact. In 1973, she performed in Saga of Sonora, a 1973 TV music-comedy-western special with Jill St. John, Vince Edwards, Zero Mostel, and Lesley Ann Warren.
She also sang the jingle "Hurry on down to Hardee's, where the burgers are charco-broiled" for Hardee's fast-food advertisements.
Throughout the early 1970s, Elliot continued her acting career as well. She had a featured role in the 1970 movie Pufnstuf and made guest appearances on TV's The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Young Dr. Kildare, Love, American Style, and The Red Skelton Show, among others.
In 1973, Elliot hired Allan Carr, who at the time managed the careers of Tony Curtis, Ann-Margret, and Peter Sellers, as her manager. Carr felt that Elliot needed to leave pop and rock music altogether, and head into the cabaret circuit, so a show was put together that consisted of old standards along with a few new songs written for her by friends. The act included Elliot and two male singers, who served as backing singers and sidekicks during the musical numbers. The title of the show, Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, was named after one of the songs written by Elliot's friend, Earle Brown. The song was born out of Elliot's frustration with being identified as "Mama Cass".
After the show debuted on February 9, 1973 in Pittsburgh, Elliot felt she was ready to tackle Las Vegas once again and premiered at the Flamingo. This time, Elliot received rave reviews. The Las Vegas Sun wrote, "Cass Elliot, making a strong point that she is no longer Mama Cass, has a good act serving notice that she is here to stay. The audience was with her all the way... no empty seats anywhere." She then took her act to higher-echelon casinos and swankier nightclubs in cities throughout the country.
Personal life
Elliot was married twice, the first time in 1963 to James Hendricks, her groupmate in The Big 3 and The Mugwumps. This was reportedly a platonic arrangement to assist him in avoiding being drafted into the army during the Vietnam War;[8] the marriage reportedly was never consummated and was annulled in 1968.[9] In 1971, Elliot married journalist Donald von Wiedenman[10][11] who was heir to a Bavarian barony. Their marriage ended in divorce after a few months.
Elliot gave birth to a daughter, Owen Vanessa Elliot, on April 26, 1967. She never publicly identified the father, but many years later, Michelle Phillips helped Owen locate her biological father.[12] After Elliot's death, her younger sister, Leah Kunkel, received custody of Owen, then just seven years old. Owen grew up to become a singer as well and toured with Beach Boys member Al Jardine.[13]
At the height of her solo career in 1974, Elliot performed two weeks of sold-out concerts at the London Palladium. She telephoned Michelle Phillips after the final concert on July 28, elated that she had received standing ovations each night. She then retired for the evening, and died in her sleep at age 32. Sources state her death was due to a heart attack.[14][15] Elliot died in Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London which was on loan from singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Four years later, The Who's drummer Keith Moon died in the same flat at the same age.[16] Elliot was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.[17]
An oft-repeated urban legend claims that Elliot choked to death on a ham sandwich.[18][19] The story, which spread soon after the discovery of her body, was based on speculation in the initial media coverage. Although an autopsy had not yet been performed, police told reporters that a partially eaten sandwich found in her room might have been to blame. Despite the post-mortem examination finding that Elliot had died of a heart attack and no food was found in her windpipe,[15] the false story that she choked on a sandwich has persisted in the decades following her death.
Tributes and other popular culture references
The song "Mama, I Remember You Now" by the Swedish artist Marit Bergman is a tribute to Elliot. She was the subject of a 2004 stage production in Dublin,[20] The Songs of Mama Cass, with Kristin Kapelli performing main vocals. The Crosby, Stills & Nash Greatest Hits album released in 2005 was dedicated to Cass Elliot. The British play and film Beautiful Thing feature her recordings and one character reflects on her memories of Elliot.[citation needed]
Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers cited The Mamas & the Papas, and especially Elliot, as an influence, in an interview for Rolling Stone, saying, "There have been times when I've been very down and out in my life, and the sound of her voice has sort of given me a reason to want to carry on."[21] Boy George and k.d. lang also cited Elliot as an influence.[22] George described her as "the greatest white female singer ever."[7] Beth Ditto, singer of the band Gossip, named Elliot both as music and fashion inspiration, saying, "I really wanted to sound like Mama Cass growing up."[23][24]
Elliot's recording of "Make Your Own Kind of Music" is featured prominently in several episodes of seasons 2 and 3 of Lost as well as season 8, episodes 2 and 9 of Dexter (the later one also uses the title as the episode's title). Her recording of "It's Getting Better" was featured in a season 4 episode of Lost.[citation needed]
The Big 3
- 1963: The Big 3
- 1964: Live at the Recording Studio
The Mugwumps
- 1965: The Mugwumps
The Mamas and the Papas
- 1966: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
- 1966: The Mamas & the Papas
- 1967: The Mamas and the Papas Deliver
- 1968: The Papas & The Mamas
- 1970: Monterey Pop Festival (Live)[25]
- 1971: People Like Us
- 1968: Dream a Little Dream - US #87
- 1969: Bubblegum, Lemonade, and... Something for Mama - US #91
- 1969: Make Your Own Kind of Music - US #169 (a reissue of Bubblegum, Lemonade... with the hit title song added)
- 1970: Mama's Big Ones (half solo greatest hits, half new) - US #194
- 1971: Dave Mason & Cass Elliot- US #49
- 1972: Cass Elliot
- 1972: The Road Is No Place for a Lady
- 1973: Don't Call Me Mama Anymore
- 1996: Beautiful Thing (soundtrack with Mama Cass and the Mamas and the Papas)
|Chart Positions
| "Dream a Little Dream of Me"
(As Mama Cass with the Mamas & the Papas)
|"The Papas & The Mamas"
|"Dream a Little Dream of Me"
|Dream a Little Dream
|"California Earthquake"
|"Move in a Little Closer, Baby"
|non - album
|"It's Getting Better"
|Bubblegum, Lemonade, and... Something for Mama
|"Make Your Own Kind of Music"
|"New World Coming"
|Mama's Big Ones
|"A Song That Never Comes"
|"The Good Times Are Coming"
|Mama's Big Ones
|"Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By"
| "Something To Make You Happy"
(with Dave Mason)
|Dave Mason & Cass Elliot
|"The Costume Ball"
|Doctors' Wives
| "Too Much Truth, Too Much Love"
(with Dave Mason)
|Dave Mason & Cass Elliot
|"Baby I'm Yours"
|Cass Elliot
|"That Song"
|"(If You're Gonna) Break Another Heart"
|The Road Is No Place for a Lady
|"Does Anybody Love You"
|"I Think A Lot About You"
|Don't Call Me Mama Anymore
|"I'm Coming to the Best Part of My Life"
- ^ Rockhall.com
- ^ Rolling Stone magazine, No. 20 reprinted as Hopkins, Jerry (October 26, 1968). "THE ROLLING STONE INTERVIEW: Cass Elliot". Rolling Stone (San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.). Retrieved 27 May 2014.
- ^ "Pipe Dream" Snopes.com debunking of pipe story
- ^ "Dream A Little Dream" performance transcript from Denny Doherty's website, DennyDoherty.com
- ^ a b "Sink Along With Mama Cass". Esquire. June 1969.
- ^ "Mama Cass In Training for Night Club Re-Entry". Ocala Star Banner. December 15, 1972.
- ^ a b c d e Fiegel, Eddi (September 28, 2005). Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Life of Cass Elliot. Chicago Review Press. pp. 265–267. ISBN 978-1-55652-588-9.
- ^ Cass Elliot dies at age 32
- ^ Meet the Mugwumps
- ^ July 12, 1971 Time Magazine announcement of Elliot's marriage to von Wiedenman
- ^ For a photo, see the Official Cass Elliot Website.
- ^ "California Dreamgirl". Vanity Fair. December 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- ^ Beach Boys FAQ
- ^ "Cass Elliot, Pop Singer, Dies; Star of the Mamas and Papas" (PAID ARCHIVE). The New York Times. July 30, 1974. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ a b "Cass Elliot's Death Linked to Heart Attack" (PAID ARCHIVE). The New York Times. August 6, 1974. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
- ^ Wilkes, Roger (17 February 2001). "Inside story: 9 Curzon Place". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ Macdonald, Les (2010). The Day The Music Died. Xlibris Corporation. p. 127. ISBN 1-469-11356-2.
- ^ "Ham and Wheeze" from Snopes.com
- ^ Leopold, Todd (September 23, 2009). "John Phillips had checkered, sometimes sordid, life". CNN. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ "Pop: Kristin Kapelli". The Sunday Times (London). January 11, 2004. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
- ^ Anthony Kiedis' interview in Rolling Stone magazine
- ^ Cass Elliot on veryimportantpotheads.com
- ^ Wooten, Amy (6 September 2006). "Gossiping with Beth Ditto". Windy City Times. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ Alexander, Hilary (6 July 2009). "Beth Ditto's collection for Evans". Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ Cass Elliot interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
External links
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cass Elliot.
|Wikiquote has quotations related to: Cass Elliot
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Alicia, the Awakening
- Discontinued
- Published By: eXtasy Books
- Author: Tianna Xander
- Page: 330
- Word Count: 81000
- Publication Date: August 10, 2010
- Heat Level:
- Available Formats: Adobe Acrobat, Epub, Mobipocket, Mobipocket (.mobi)
- Categories: Erotic Romance , Paranormal, Romance , Shapeshifter, Vampire
Alicia Chalmers has not had an easy life. A victim of rape, circumstances force her into a loveless marriage for her own safety. It doesn't take long before she finds herself falling for her new husband, a man she hardly knows. Gabriel LeBlanc has many paranormal powers and even more responsibilities but all he wants is his mate to love him. He marries Alicia not only for her protection but because he desperately needs to keep the other half of his soul close. He knows full well she may never overcome her past and return his feelings. As the newlyweds struggle to build a life together, their future is threatened by rogue vampires, Satan worshippers and creatures from another dimension. The newlyweds pool their talents to fight the forces of evil that manage to slip into the world from another dimension. Can Gabriel convince Alicia they were meant to be together regardless of what happened in the past and the very real threat that still threatens her?


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Bouncy castle hire in Witham, Essex
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Went out a fishing hole late this afternoon ... it's a marl pit that they dug out years ago for making the road beds in this area. Of course, filled in with water and kinda deep in spots, too - and there's good bass & bream fishing to be had. Have fished it for years and great for trying out new fishing equipment & flies and such. Went out there this afternoon to try out some new poppers a fellow fly fishermen sent to me.
Got out the Radison canoe/boat and launched it at the pond. Loaded it with my usual gear ... canvas creel where I tote extra leader and tippet material, flies & poppers, a pair of great fishing pliers, a small bottle of water. The Radisson looks like the one below, which is a 14 footer, only mine is a 12 foot model ... and mine is painted green. Have used it for years, in many rivers and small lakes and ponds. Know it like the back of my hand.
Well, of all things I rolled it over while in the pond this afternoon! As best I can remember, while sitting in the rear seat, I turned around to look backward and meant to place the palm of my hand on the gunnel as I leaned back - however - the heel of my palm slipped off the gunnel and I rolled right over the side with the boat rolling right with me! Did a side swim stroke holding onto the canoe and headed for the shore which was maybe 40 feet away. Oh, did save the bucket, too, which I use to bail the remaining water out
after I turned the boat upright when we reached shore.
Did manage to save the fly rod! Grabbed that and placed in on the upturned bottom, along with some fly containers, a roll of tippet material and my fishing hat. However, lost the canvas creel which was weighed down with those nice fishing pliers!
Chalking this up to lesson number "eight-B-4-1" (LOL), plus saying a big "thank you" to the Higher Power for my being able to post this experience right now! AND, seem to remember the reason why we use to tie a small line from the thwart to things like that canvas creel ... just in case you might roll over or something!


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Wigwam | FRE5
'One Star Awake' is the debut Wigwam CD release. A collection of five traditional British folk songs given an upgrade for the 21st Century. Produced by Wigwam's Richard King, and engineered by Matt Elliott of the 3rd Eye Foundation and Richard Formby in Bristol and Leeds. The overall sound is a kind of Cosmic Albion Music - part field recording, part electronics, part folk tale drone.


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Praise for Remembrance of Things Paris:
"With selections from the last six decades, this book gives the reader snapshots of Paris that are crisp, clear, and often poignant, proof that things really have changed in the temple of food. The cameos of the sleeves-rolled-up individuals behind the big names—including Berthillon and Lenôtre—read like fiction and remind us of a fundamental truth: creating magic in the kitchen is hard work, and the French have been at it far longer than others. An entrancing book."
—Thad Carhart, New York Times-bestselling author of The Piano Shop on the Left Bank


text:
Rate This Movie SYNOPSIS: In 1978 in Hong Kong, a grisly murder takes place. Eight years later, on a Macao beach, kids discover the severed hands of a fresh victim. A squadron of coarse, happy-go-lucky cops investigate, and suspicion falls on Wong Chi Hang, the new owner of Eight Immortals Restaurant, which serves delicious pork bao. The hands belong to …Read More »
Home | Tag Archives: Bunman: The Untold Story


text:
Any future Amy Winehouse-related films, including biopics, have just met a significant stumbling block: Her father, Mitch.
The elder Winehouse, who owns the rights to all of his late daughter's music, told the Daily Mail that he will "never allow the songs to be released" for bio films.
Winehouse's stance may be an attempt to block a project rumored to be in development through the late singer's ex-boyfriend, Reg Traviss.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
"It would hardly be a biopic without the music," says Winehouse.
Mitch Winehouse then claimed to be planning a "heartfelt and revelatory" memoir about Amy, with proceeds going to the foundation for children in need he started in her name.
Selected Reading: People, New York Times, Daily Mail


text:
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
acreA non-SI (International System) unit of surface area, equal to 4046.86 m2.
ACREAppropriateness of Coronary REvascularization Study. An observational survey evaluating patients with coronary heart disease who underwent angiography at Barts and London hospital.
Trust Conclusions
(i) Increased duration of wait for angiography is associated with increased severity of disease;
(ii) A minority of patients do not receive a coronary revascularisation procedure even though it is appropriate, and vice versa;
(iii) South Asian patients for whom revascularisation is appropriate are less likely to receive it than comparable white patients;
(iv) Rates of revascularisation are consistent with crude estimations of coronary heart disease prevalence by general practice;
(v) women's descriptions of cardiac symptoms differ from men's.


text:
Bell Person at Talking Stick Resort
Job Title: Bell Person at Talking Stick Resort
Department: Hotel Front Office
Reports To: Bell Captain
Escorts arriving and departing guests in a friendly, courteous manner to and from their accommodations, transporting their luggage. Acquaints each guest with room and features.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.
Education and/or Experience:
High School diploma or GED required. Prior guest service or other hospitality experience preferred.
Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have experience working on PCs and a broad knowledge of current and standard software applications and hotel systems (Microsoft Office, Delphi, Visual One, etc.).
Language Skills
Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English. Knowledge of multiple languages is a plus.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand for prolonged periods of time; walk significant distances on property; use hands and fingers to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to secondary smoke and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.


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Latest MedicineNet News
By Randy Dotinga
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Lisa Zamosky
July 31, 2013 -- For the time being, South Dakota has rejected expansion of Medicaid as allowed under the Affordable Care Act.
While the issue remains under consideration, don't expect anything to happen soon.
"The state is wrestling with many issues, particularly the impact to the state budget on a long-term basis, whether there will be access for individuals to primary care in the rural areas of South Dakota, the federal deficit, and the moral issue that individuals with the lowest incomes will not have access to subsidies through the federal Exchange," says Deb Bowman, a senior adviser to Gov. Dennis Daugaard. "If Medicaid is expanded, the [start] date would be up to the governor and Legislature but likely would be no earlier than July 1, 2014."
In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that expansion of Medicaid was up to the states.
If South Dakota does expand Medicaid, coverage will become available to adults under age 65 who aren't pregnant, aren't already eligible, and have incomes less than 138% of the federal poverty level. That's $32,499 for a family of four in South Dakota and almost all other states.
A task force created to study the issue is expected to submit its report by Sept. 15. The group started meeting in May and has one more meeting in August.
"It is a difficult issue with strong sentiments on both sides of the issue," Bowman says. "The task force report will clearly outline the pros and cons for decision-makers in the state."
Almost all Americans will need to either have insurance by Jan. 1, 2014, or pay tax penalties. However, in states that rejected Medicaid expansion, people who would have qualified under it will be exempt from the mandate to have insurance.
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My favorite time of the month!!
Stamp A Stack Classes Start!!
Thought I would give you an overview of the cards that we will be making
instead of showing them to you individually.
If you would like to join us for this class please contact me
to reserve your place at my table.
Class dates and times are as follows...
Tuesday, March 13, 7 PM
*Wednesday, March 14, 10:00 AM
(*Please note this is a new time offered)
Thursday, March 15, 7 PM
Saturday, March 17, 10:00 AM
Cost: $12.00 - please bring your own adhesive it helps to keep your cost down.
Thanks For Stopping By!
Have a Blessed Day!!


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Curt, Kade, Kins, Me in front of Big Tex - HOWDY FOLKS!
Kade and Kins with Big Tex
Kinsley at the petting zoo feeding a baby goat!
Kaden's turn!
This momma pig had so many sweet little piglets and they were HUNGRY!!!
A very friendly giraffe!
A longhorn momma and her baby - born at the fair!
A camel and Kaden!
This little creature's haircut cracked me up!
This was by far the largest pig I've ever seen - check out its size compared to Kai - up top in the pink jersey - HUGE!!!
Grandaddy with his grandkids:)
Kai and Kins
Gotta have Fletcher's Corn Dogs at the fair - or as we call them in Texas, corny dogs!:)
Going into the barnyard kids zone! How cute are they? Kins, Kai, and Kaden!
Gathering goods - trading feed for eggs!
delivering the goods
cute little farm girl
collecting their paychecks:)
Love this shot of the taffy booth - one of our faves!
Harvesting cranberries - did you know they do this cause the bad ones sink and the good ones float to the top? Me either!!!
Sweet girl - we were also able to taste several new flavors for OceanSpray - their new blueberry pomegranate is delish!
Ferris Wheel at Sunset:)


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PDX Sites & Eats: Proper Eats
We're moving! Neil landed a new awesome job that is in NE Portland so we are going to move once our lease is up in October (or maybe sooner) so until then we have decided to explore a variety of different neighbourhoods that have piqued our interest. This past weekend we decided to head to St. Johns for brunch and a little wandering.
Our main purpose of heading to St. Johns was to finally try the (mostly) vegan restaurant Proper Eats. We had actually planned to go to a different spot for breakfast and then found ourselves heading towards St. Johns so we decided to take advantage of the situation and try something new.
We picked a nice table near the back of the restaurant, grabbed a few building blocks for Edith to play with, ordered beverages and then perused the menu. After taking note of about 10 things that I would have liked to order, I narrowed it down to the tempeh scramble and the biscuits with gravy. I decided to ask our waitress which she would recommend between the two and before I could even finish asking she enthusiastically directed me towards the biscuits with gravy, she was so enthusiastic about it that Neil switched his tofu scramble order to the biscuits as well. They also had a great kids section so we ordered Edith a quinoa, black bean and cashew cheese burrito.
We watched as other patrons food arrived and I added to the list of dishes I wanted to try on our next visit (yes I was already making plans to visit again just based on the menu and other peoples' orders). Finally our meals arrived and I couldn't have been more impressed. The biscuits with gravy came with lots of yummy kale and veggies. Edith's burrito came with a few pieces of fruit and was topped with avocado slices.
We all dug in and Neil threatened to steal some of mine if I didn't watch out. Neil and I just about licked our plates clean and probably (most definitely) would have done so had we been at home. The biscuits were so delicious and the gravy was amazing. The best part is, I felt satisfied but not heavy and super full at the end of my meal. Edith also loved her burrito and devoured about half of it (okay I may have stolen a few bites). I was pretty impressed with the burrito and would have even ordered it for myself. I loved that it wasn't salty and that it came with the avocado and fruit as well. I ended up eating the leftover burrito for dinner topped with an embarrassing amount of Aardvark Hot Sauce, so good.
After our delicious dining experience, we decided to take some photos of us in our Ergobaby carriers and took a little stroll around the area. We walked over to the St. Johns bridge, which is really beautiful and alone is worth the drive up to St. Johns. We also went to a few thrift/vintage stores where I found myself a top and a few vintage rompers for Edith. We had a great late morning/afternoon in St. Johns and we have added it to our ever growing list of potential areas to move.
If you are a PDX local, which neighborhood do you live in and why do you love it?
If you aren't a local, tell me what your strategy is when looking to move to a new area.


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Hi, I'm a huge fan of Harris and am currently arguing about his book (Letter to a Christian Nation) with some Christian friends of mine. I would appreciate your help with the following two criticisms:
On p. 20, Harris writes (regarding the ten commandments), "The first four of these ... have nothing to do…with morality." Although the first four commandments do not concern our relationship with other human beings, they do concern our relationship with ourselves and god. But certainly our relationship with ourselves (and God, if you already believe Christianity) will impact our relationships with others.
On p. 76, Harris writes/quotes, "If there is a God, he has an inordinate fondness for Beetles [as there are now 350,000 known species of beetles]. One would have hope that an observation this devastating would have closed the book on creationism for all time." Could someone please make his argument much more explicit for my sake. My Christian friends aren't buying it, and I'm not selling it well
I really appreciate any help you might give me.
Hello, Ben Harper 31415:
If we define morality as how we treat other people, then the first four commandments (the first three if you're Catholic) do not touch on morality. And I don't see how rules governing the Hebrews' relationship with their tribal deity can be construed to be about our "relationship with ourselves."
For most of their 2000-year history, Christians have been violating the (3rd/4th?) rule about the Sabbath. They clearly picked "the first day of the week" for their gatherings because they believed it was the day their leader overcame death and the grave. Also, there have been so many upheavals in Jewish history that it is hard to imagine that the 21st Century Western European/North American Saturday is actually the real Sabbath. Yes, I am suggesting that Yahweh himself might have a problem with how Christians are not following this particular demand.
About not having strange gods, unless you equate idols with gods, most of us atheists are OK on the other gods question. There are many modern ideas about how people bow down to idols by really liking this or that earthly delight, but what we think and what was meant 2500 years ago or more are worlds apart.
Can anyone really tell us what the other god rule means? Is "taking God's name in vain" when you pray and he does not answer you and you keep praying?
If your friends choose to misunderstand Dr. Harris's sarcastic remark about the proliferation of beetles species as casting doubt on God's benevolence and anthro-centrism in creating the world, I suggest they are being willfully obtuse. One of the most common tactics used by the believers in their discussions with non-believers is the unanswerable objection. They lay awake nights thinking these up. If there is one tiny part of your argument (a word which here means "logical progression of reasoning process") which they think you can't explain, they seize on it and demand an explanation which satisfies them. If you can't give one, then you must be wrong on this one point and for want of a nail, the horseshoe falls off, your horse rolls over and you are crushed. And they think they have won the day.
But be forewarned: They will never concede defeat. If they win they would presure you to make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior on the spot. And most of them admit that even should they be convinced that the opposing argument was true, they would continue to believe as they always have.
Yours for rational thought and civil discourse, Starfire
Hi, I'm a huge fan of Harris and am currently arguing about his book (Letter to a Christian Nation) with some Christian friends of mine. I would appreciate your help with the following two criticisms:
I recommend you post this on the Project Reason Forum ... much more traffic over there.
Dear Newbie,
I cannot speak for Mr. Harris, and frankly I don't think it brings much to any debate simply because the 10 commandments are of no intrinsic value. They are pueril, antequated and obsolete hogwash, with all due respect.
To the risk of being lengthy, here is an essay on the subject. Hope it will be of use to you.
If god has dictated the commandments (rules for short), just how much can we bend these 'rules' if we can at all? What can possibly be the punishment for not following these commandments?
Most Judeo-Christian churches will tell you that these commandments are the pillars of the faith and that breaking them is punishable by eternal damnation (capital punishment of sorts), unless, say some Christians, we accept Jesus as our savior, in which case we may be entitled to some probation.
On a more serious note however, there is an obvious absolutism of the commandments.
Let us for the purpose of the discussion consider the seventh rule. Let us imagine for a moment that a person is destitute, has lost his job, his home, everything, and that he is literally dying of hunger. He decides to steal something to eat. Is this individual condemned to hell forever because of this? If not, then we can bend the rules, at least a little bit. If so, this seems somewhat cruel and unjust. Perhaps, in the marvelous plan of the 'Designer', no one will ever have to steal because no one will ever go hungry. This is only the first quagmire of the rules.
By comparison, let us consider the first rule. There seems to be no doubt as to the absolutism of this rule. Either one worships this 'Lord' or one does not. If one does not and if this Lord is the unique, the one and only Lord, then we are in for it if we do not follow this rule. There is obviously no room here for pardon, no attenuating circumstances.
If one rule is absolute, then all of them must be, just like in a creed, it's orthodoxy or nothing. Therefore, stealing or coveting someone else's goods, what ever the reason, is punishable to the maximum. If but one rule becomes disputable, then they all become disputable.
Let us finish with rule number 5. Now this one says, 'thou shalt not kill', just what does it mean? Kill what, kill who? Because the biblical 'Lord' delights in the smell of burning entrails and animal sacrifices, (all through the Old Testament) it most certainly does not mean killing animals. Therefore, it means killing other human beings.
Is there any circumstance where one could kill a person and not break the rule? By virtue of the absolutism of the rules, the answer is 'no'. This means that if you kill someone in the attempt to protect your own life, you are condemned. This also means that every soldier that ever killed another human, regardless of the side he was on, or the circumstances, is condemned; quite the quagmire here also.
Surely, an all Intelligent-Designer-God would know better than to dictate rules of this nature knowing full well that they could only be absolute and therefore easily broken. Surely, a loving god would not create quagmires to trap innocent people. Does this mean that we should live without rules, of course not.
We are gregarious beings and in order to live in harmony together we need rules of conduct; that is why we have invented Laws. The difference between secular laws and divine commandments is that secular laws are lenient at times and seldom if ever absolute.
I want to know more about the Christians. Would you please help me out by providing more info about the fact?!! Thanks you!!.....
(1) - Saying that our relationship with God will impact our relationship with others does not imply that worshipping God is a moral act. My relationship with my garden plants also affects my relationship with others, but that does not imply that I am morally obligated to worship my plants.
(2) - The argument certainly doesn't argue against a vague 'God', per se, but it does make an argument against a human-centric created universe. If all animals on earth were created strictly for human use/consumption/entertainment, then what possible benefit could 20,000 separate species of beetle be? One can always assume that God somehow intends for each of these 20,000 species to benefit humanity in some particular way, but it seems more reasonable to simply say that these were NOT created strictly for humans.
i way to express your ideas via sites I love to read it carefully. I refer you please join it and enhance your knowledge…..
Web construction
On p. 20, Harris writes (regarding the ten commandments), "The first four of these ... have nothing to do…with morality." Although the first four commandments do not concern our relationship with other human beings, they do concern our relationship with ourselves and god. But certainly our relationship with ourselves (and God, if you already believe Christianity) will impact our relationships with others.
They have no moral underpinnings. They are orders without explanation. There is no moral lesson. Only blind obedience to an entity that explicitly exhibits all the traits of an abusive spouse.
However, the connection between following these 4 and the (im)moral approach to others is worth noting.


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This module gives a detailed introduction to the methodology used in the study of the skull in archaeology and physical anthropology, and the main current issues in research.
The module provides an anatomical background to the skull, as well as morphological variation, changes with age and development, and pathology, dealing specifically with the remains of Late Pleistocene and Holocene hominids, especially anatomically modern humans, but including Neanderthals.
Aims of the module
This module is intended to give students a detailed introduction to the study of the skull in archaeology and physical anthropology, and the main current issues in research. It provides an anatomical background to the skull, as well as morphological variation, sexual dimorphism, changes with age and development, and cranial pathology. It deals specifically with the remains of Late Pleistocene and Holocene anatomically modern humans.
It is intended that this module will provide students with the skills required to plan a research project, under the supervision of a more experienced researcher. With this in mind, when they have successfully completed the module, students should:
- be able to identify confidently all the bones of the skull in both adult and juvenile remains.
- be able to label the main features and landmarks of the skull.
- have an understanding of variation in size and shape of the skull, and its interpretation in terms of sexual dimorphism, growth and modern human Origins.
- to be able to take the most commonly used skull measurements and have a working knowledge of the main statistical methods used to interpret them.
- have an understanding of development of the skull and its role in estimating age at death.
- be able to recognise the most common types of pathological lesions and developmental anomalies in the skull and discuss the ways in which they may be interpreted.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate general skills of observation and inference, critical reflection and application of acquired knowledge.
Teaching Methods
The module is taught through lectures and practicals. Each week there is a lecture which introduces a topic in the study of the skull and prepares students for the practical session later in the week. Most lectures are based around Powerpoint presentations and these are available on WebCT, which is an online teaching resource that you will be able to access at any time on a password controlled UCL website. Details of this will be given during the first week of the module. Practicals are to teach students the identification skills required, more general understanding of the anatomical structure of the skull, experience of sex and age estimation, measurement and non-metrical variation. Most practicals are supported by worksheets and other handouts which are distributed each week.
Module information
- Code: ARCL0115
- Credits: 15
- Coordinator: Simon Hillson
- Prerequisite: This module does not have a prerequisite although, if you have no previous experience of the skeleton, it would be sensible to ask the advice of the coordinator.
- Handbook: open»
For registered students
- Runs every year


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I'm about two-thirds of the way through an amazing new book, so it would be unfair to call this an official Poop Review (how lovely that would look on a book cover, no? Poop Approved!) — but I did want to call attention to "The Daddy Shift" by San Francisco's own Jeremy Adam Smith because it offers an insightful look at the changing face of families — and family values — in America. And because there are some very interesting book-related events coming up this week and next that I don't want you to miss.
As a stay-at-home dad, I admit I was immediately intrigued by the full title: "How stay-at-home dads, breadwinning moms and shared parenting are transforming the American family." I wanted to think dads were finally getting their due, after a too-long history of being seen as some inept sit-com sidekick who is perpetually wrangling with messy diapers or, worse, viewed as some form of babysitter, as opposed to one half of a parenting team. But I was surprised to read that this idea of fumbling dads was a modern-day invention, according to the book — that most of the 1900s seemingly wiped out generations — no, centuries — of deep fatherhood involvement in the family.
In agrarian societies, dads taught kids to hunt and work the fields at a very early age; in Colonial times, dads were in charge of teaching kids (as young as 3) to read and how to help run the family business; and even up to the Civil War, dads were seen as an important cog in the family wheel, teaching kids and giving moms support. It was only in the 20th Century, when dads put in endless hours at the office or the mill, that the role of fatherhood was seen strictly as provider, breadwinner and clothes buyer. The role of dad had shifted from an important part of the family network to a virtual ATM machine, around only to dispense cash. Dads worked; moms raised children. For generations, it would become a common misconception that this is the way "it's always been," and any part a dad played beyond occasional coach or living room newspaper peruser would only be for comedic value. Who can forget the images of Michael Keaton fumbling his way around a grocery store in 1984's "Mr. Mom" — what a concept! Dads pitching in? How hilarious! Thankfully, Smith says things are starting to shift back, whether due to the economy leaving more dads at home or, more importantly, an evolving mindset among a new generation of fathers who see pitching in as an important part of family life.
In 1995, there were an estimated 64,000 stay-at-home dads — but by 2007, the number had risen to 159,000. This only accounts for dads who stay home and do no for-pay work at all. Smith found that the majority of care-giving fathers do some amount of freelance work at home or on the side somehow, making them ineligible for the Census count. All of this is to say that the number of dads charged primarily with caring for their children is much higher — more than 2 million compared to 5.9 million stay-at-home moms. But it's more than dads staying home or offering a more helping hand around the house that is changing the face of the American family. More than 80 percent of moms have jobs — and one third earn more than their husbands. With young women in college far outnumbering young men in college, it seems likely this number will continue to rise, and what, exactly, will this do to the homefront? It's an interesting question, and Smith's book lays out a richly detailed — and almost thumb-burning — narrative on the way a new generation of parents are raising their children under this shifting economic and familial landscape.
I say thumb-burning because behind the numbers, the book offers some incredibly honest accounts of what it's like for fathers to stay home — whether that means coming to grips with feelings of economic inadequacy or dealing with relatives who suddenly think of them as "less manly." The book shines when Smith talks about his relationship with his quarry-working grandfather who thought his wife "worked for him," and I admit I skipped ahead to some of the stories about other dads because when it came down to it, they were fun to read — motivational, even, for any new dad. I read most of the fatherhood books available before the birth of my daughter three years ago and though that's not the intent of this one, I'd still put it at the top of the list for new dads. Sorry to gush, but it's fascinating, well-written and insanely researched, and I can't wait to get back to it.
Which brings me back to those events I mentioned. Smith is giving a talk at the book's official release party this Saturday. It's at 7 p.m. at Cover to Cover bookstore in Noe Valley, (1307 Castro St.). Then there's a reading next Saturday, June 14, at 5 p.m. at Pegasus Books in Berkeley (2349 Shattuck Ave) — as part of an event for the award-winning 'zine Rad Dad. Smith promises to have lots of time for small talk.
For more information on Smith, you can check out his blog, Daddy Dialectic, and for more information on the book, check out his book site. (I'm including the book video just because A. I can, and B. it gives a better idea of the book than I ever could.) I'll be writing about a few more "dad books" this summer, so maybe we should get a Poop Approved! patch or something like it.
MIKE ADAMICK also writes at Cry It Out: Memoirs of a stay-at-home dad and Babble.com. His daughter will grow to hate this book, considering he has now put her to work like an old fashioned Colonial-era father.


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First it was "Born This Way" the song. Now comes the video.
Lady Gaga's smash hit song will be shown on Perez Hilton's Web site on Monday at 11 a.m. EST, Billboard.com reported.
"PerezHilton.com is thrilled to exclusively announce that the eagerly-anticipated music video for Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" will debut in less than a week!," according to a post on the blogger's Web site this past Wednesday.
U.S. & World
No specific details about the "Born This Way" video have been announced other than it was co-directed by the singer, fashion photog Nick Knight, and Gaga's choreographer Laurieann Gibson, reported Billboard.
Recently, "Born This Way" debuted at Number One on the Billboard charts, making it the 1,00th song to do so for the music industry publication.
The singer is currently on her Monsterball Tour, making stops in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Michigan and Toronto in the next few days.
Selected Reading: Billboard, PerezHilton.com, Lady Gaga Web site