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Home > Hemdat Yamim > Archive
Shabbat Parashat Pinchas 5771
Parashat Hashavuah: The Authority of LeadersHarav Yosef Carmel
The daughters of Tzlufchad introduced their request to inherit their father's portion in the
We proved in the past that Moshe had the standing of a king, and thus Korach's group, who questioned Moshe's authority, were mordim b'malchut (rebels against the king). There are differing opinions among Tannaim about whether the property of mordim b'malchut goes to their inheritors or to the king, against whom they rebelled (Sanhedrin 48b). In contrast, all agree that when one is executed by beit din, his inheritors receive his property. The Yerushalmi (Makkot 2:7) uses one of the opinions to explain the conversation between Yoav and Benayahu as to where Yoav would be executed. Yoav preferred to be put to death by beit din rather than by King Shlomo's officer, so that his children would inherit him. The Rambam (Avel 1:9) also accepts this assumption. This also explains why King Achav seized Navot Hayizraeli's vineyard after executing him as a mored b'malchut.
Now we can understand Tzlufchad's daughters. These astute women made their claim to Moshe for inheritance after informing him that their father was not a mored b'malchut and thus there was no reason for Moshe to inherit him. (One can prove that Moshe was unwilling to benefit monetarily from his public role and did not take the property of Korach's group either.)
We know that a king can execute those who rebel against him and then seize their property. Can he skip a step? In other words, may the king say that he will not kill a mored b'malchut but only seize his property? The Minchat Chinuch (497) posits that the king certainly can, for if he has the power to take one's life, obviously he has the authority to take his money, which is a lesser consequence.
The Shiurei David (Sanhedrin 48b) asks the following questions. According to the Minchat Yitzchak, why does the Rambam bring the law of the king getting the property in the Laws of Mourning, which implies that it has to do with death specifically? Also, how did Yoav plan to gain by having beit din execute him if the king could have anyway confiscated his property?
On the other hand, how can one argue on the Minchat Chinuch's strong logic? It seems that the laws come to protect the property of the citizen. If a king could claim that a subject rebelled and take only his property, it would be very tempting to do so. The king could say to himself that it is "only a matter of money." However, if the condition is that the accused is executed, then even a moderately corrupt king would find it unconscionable to kill in order to steal property.
It turns out that we can learn from Tzlufchad's daughters not only laws of inheritance but also laws of proper government. Let us hope that we will merit leaders who take Moshe's lead and not use their leadership roles to make money.
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is dedicated
Hemdat Yamim
is endowed by
Les & Ethel Sutker
Louis and Lillian Klein, z"l
This edition of
Rabbi Shlomo Merzel o.b.m,


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de Havilland DH115 Vampire T.11
Aircraft Overview:
The Vampire T.11 was the first advanced jet fighter trainer to use side-by-side seating. It was argued that having the instructor beside him gave the trainee a higher level of confidence, enabled each to see better what the other was doing, and gave both the same gun-sight view. So the existing broad fuselage 'pod' of the Vampire NF.10 two-seat radar night fighter was adapted for the dual control trainer. The wings, intakes, tail booms, undercarriage, engine installation, control, fuel tanks, identification light etc., are essentially similar to those of the Vampire FB.6. The gun installation is also similar, although the T.11 often carried only the two inboard guns. The T.11 could also carry and release bombs and RPs. Among the main system changes, the cockpit pressurisation now uses engine compressor bleed air instead of a separate blower. Compared with the FB.6, the curved leading edge fin extensions, and the extensions of the tailplane outboard of the booms, were added to improve T.11 spin recovery. Effectively they provide additional rear stabilising area to compensate for the larger nose. Other feature include a windscreen wiper, rear-hinged canopy, retractable gyro-gunsights, and ejector seats introduced on later T.11s. The T.11 was first built and flown in private venture form at Hatfield in 1950. Some 804 Vampire trainers were built altogether, serving with more than twenty air forces.
Aircraft Specifications:
Power Unit: One 3,500 lb.s.t. de Havilland Goblin 35
Wing Span: 38 ft (11.58 m)
All-up Weight (A.U.W): 11,150 lb (5,057 kg)
Max Speed: 538 mph (866 kph)
Ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,192 m)
Range: 840 miles (1,351 km)
On Display at the Museum:
The Museum's t.11 was built in 1952 and acquired in 1994. The ventral and wing-tip blade aerials on this particular aircraft are for a Rebecca 8 'get you home' system, homing onto a Eureka ground radio beacon.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you are currently enjoying a great holiday at Hotel Yaramar, your hotel in Fuengirola, and you are planning on going to Mijas you might find our recommendation today quite interesting.
This week's recommendation is an exhibition called "Finding the Light" by Joy Fahey, a talented British artist resident in Mijas.
This interesting exhibition is held in the Tourist Office of Mijas Pueblo, in Plaza Virgen de la Peña, and can be visited until Monday, the 16th of September.
Its opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 09:00 A.M to 7:00 P.M and Saturday, Sunday and Bank holidays from 10:00 A.M to 2:00 P.M.
If you enjoy art and seeing interesting stuff, do not miss the opportunity to visit Mijas because as we frequently inform you here on the blog, in Mijas there is always something fun to do or see.
Enjoy your autumn holidays in the Costa del Sol!


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Island Fresh Produce (IFP) is one of Tasmania's leading fruit and vegetable distribution outlets, supplying both independent retailers and other food service customers across Tasmania. Access to the IFP online store is by invitation and limited to business customers.
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Access to the TIR online Turn In store is limited to members of the TIR Cooperative and are customers of SIW.
If you do not have an account, please contact TIR.


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Help / FAQ
1.7 The Amendment Process
The process, by which the federal Constitution could be amended, is set forth in
Article V. Amendments could be proposed on the
initiative of Congress (by two-thirds vote in each House)
or by convention (on application of two-thirds of the state
legislatures). However, no convention was called under this authority.
Ratification could be done, at the discretion of the Congress, either
by the legislatures or by conventions, in three-fourths of the states.
Only the Twenty-first Amendment, repealing prohibition (in 1933),
was ratified by the state conventions.
1.0 -
1.1 The Continental Congress1.2
The Articles of Confederation1.3 The Constitutional Convention1.4 Key Concepts in the Constitution1.5 Summary of the Constitution1.6 The Debate over Ratification
1.7 The Amendment Process1.8 The Bill of Rights1.9 Subsequent Amendments (1789-1992)


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WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
Grupo Televisa, S.A. v. Party Night Inc., a/k/a Peter Carrington
Case No. D2003-0228
1. The Parties
The Complainant is Grupo Televisa, S.A., Zedec Santa Fé, Delegación Alvaro Obregón, México, D.F. 01210, of Mexico, represented by Leventhal, Senter and Lerman, PLLC of United States of America.
The Respondent is Party Night Inc., a/k/a Peter Carrington, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
2. The Domain Names and Registrar
The disputed domain names <esmasmusica.com> and <telvisa.com> are registered with Key-Systems GmbH dba domaindiscount24.com.
3. Procedural History
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "Center") on March 21, 2003. On March 24, 2003, the Center transmitted by email to Key-Systems GmbH dba domaindiscount24.com a request for registrar verification in connection with the Domain Names at issue. On March 26, 2003, Key-Systems GmbH dba domaindiscount24.com transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the Respondent is listed as the registrant and providing the contact details for the administrative, billing, and technical contact. The Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Policy"), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Rules"), and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Supplemental Rules").
In accordance with the Rules, Paragraphs 2(a) and 4(a), the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on March 31, 2003. In accordance with the Rules, Paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was April 20, 2003. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent's default on April 30, 2003.
The Center appointed Brigitte Joppich as the sole panelist in this matter on May 9, 2003. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required by the Center to ensure compliance with the Rules, Paragraph 7.
4. Factual Background
The Complainant is an international media and entertainment company incorporated in Mexico since 1972. The Complainant is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world and a dominant figure in the international entertainment business. The Complainant produces the most Spanish-language television programs (50,000 hours in 2001) and is believed to own the largest library of Spanish-language television programming in the world. The Complainant also engages in other businesses, including radio production and broadcasting, professional sports and show business promotions, paging services, feature film production and distribution, dubbing, and a major Spanish-language Internet portal, EsMas.com. In 2001, Complainant's net sales totaled over 2 billion U.S. dollars.
The Complainant has registered several service marks for TELEVISA and TELEVISA & Design (the "TELEVISA marks") in sixty-one countries worldwide, primarily in International Classes 38 and 41, there under several marks in important countries as Australia, Germany, the UK, the US, and Community Trademarks in the European Community. The first usage of the trade mark TELEVISA was on January 31, 1973; the first use in commerce occurred no later than August 31, 1976.
Complainant has further registered several service marks for ESMAS and ESMAS & Design (the "ESMAS marks") in sixty countries worldwide, primarily in International Classes 35, 38 and 42, there under also several registrations in the above mentioned important countries. The first usage of the trade mark ESMAS was on April 16, 2000; the first use in commerce occurred no later than May 31, 2000. The ESMAS marks are used in conjunction with music-related services.
The Respondent has not provided the Panel with any information about his business or his person. The Respondent has registered the Domain Names <telvisa.com> and <esmasmusica.com> on November 24, 2002, and November 17, 2002, respectively.
5. Parties' Contentions
A. Complainant
The Complainant contends that each of the three elements specified in Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy are given in the present case, i.e.
(i) the Domain Names are identical or confusingly similar to the TELEVISA and ESMAS marks;
(ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the Domain Names:
- the Respondent is not a licensee of the Complainant, the Domain Names can neither be derived from the Respondent's personal name nor the name or the nature of the business operated by him and the Respondent is not commonly known by either of the Domain Names;
- the Respondent has furthermore no rights to or legitimate interests in the Domain Names as the registration of a Domain Name is not, by itself, sufficient to establish such rights or interests;
- the Domain Names were not used in connection with a bona fide offering of goods and services nor in any legitimate non-commercial or fair content as the Respondent's practices include linking to pornographic websites, thus tarnishing the Complainant's service marks;
(iii) the Domain Names were registered and being used by the Respondent in bad faith:
- the Respondent has intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to its websites by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's marks;
- concerning the domain <telvisa.com>, the Respondent has shown the behavior of typo squatting by registering a simply misspelled version of the Complainant's TELEVISA marks;
- bad faith is also displayed by the Respondent's usage of the disputed Domain Names linked to pornographic and gambling websites thus tarnishing the Complainant's marks and attempting to profit from the illegitimate relationship;
- the Respondent has further registered the disputed Domain Names in at least constructive knowledge of the Complainant's famous TELEVISA and ESMAS marks;
- the Respondent engaged in a pattern of abusive domain name registration, he has lost at least 29 complaints under the Policy.
B. Respondent
The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant's contentions.
6. Discussion and Findings
Under Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy the Complainant must prove that each of the following three elements are present:
(i) the Domain Names are identical or confusingly similar to the Complainant's service marks;
(ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the Domain Names; and
(iii) the Domain Names have been registered and are being used in bad faith.
A. Identical or Confusingly Similar
The Complainant owns rights in the TELEVISA and ESMAS marks which have not been denied by the Respondent.
- <telvisa.com>
The domain name <telvisa> under the TLD <.com> differs from the Complainant's TELEVISA marks merely by the omission of the second letter "e" as the TLD is of no consequence for establishing the identity or confusing similarity between the Domain Name and the Complainant's service marks. The Panel finds these words to be confusingly similar in respect of their visual and phonetic attributes. Furthermore, the overall impression of the Complainant's TELEVISA marks is not significantly changed by the omission of the second letter "e". Therefore, Respondent's domain name <telvisa.com> is confusingly similar to Complainant's TELEVISA marks.
- <esmasmusica.com>.
As to <esmasmusica.com> the TLD can again be left aside. The name "esmasmusica" fully incorporates the distinctive part of the Complainant's ESMAS marks and merely adds the descriptive term "musica" (Spanish for "music"). Domain names created by using a third party's trade mark and merely adding a generic word or term are in most cases confusingly similar. The fact, that the Complainant is engaged in radio production and broadcasting in Spanish language and uses the ESMAS marks in conjunction with music-related services only confirms this rule. The domain name <esmasmusica.com> is therefore confusingly similar to the Complainant's ESMAS marks.
The Complainant has satisfied the requirements of Paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy.
B. Rights or Legitimate Interests
Paragraph 4(c) of the Policy sets out three illustrative circumstances as examples which, if proved by the Respondent, shall demonstrate his rights to or legitimate interests in the Domain Names for purposes of Paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy, i.e.
(i) before any notice to the Respondent of the dispute, the use by the Respondent of, or demonstrable preparations to use, the Domain Names or a name corresponding to the Domain Names in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services; or
(ii) the Respondent (as an individual, business or other organization) has been commonly known by the Domain Names, even if the Respondent has acquired no trademark or service mark rights; or
(iii) the Respondent is making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the Domain Names, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert customers or to tarnish the service marks at issue.
The Domain Names can neither be derived from the Respondent's personal name nor the name or the nature of the business operated by him, nor is the Respondent commonly known by either of the Domain Names, which were not used in connection with a bona fide offering of goods and services nor in any legitimate non-commercial or fair content. The Panel therefore sees no rights of the Respondent to or legitimate interests in the Domain Names and finds that the Complainant has also satisfied the requirements of Paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy.
C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith
Paragraph 4(b) of the Policy sets out four illustrative circumstances, which for purposes of Paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy shall be evidence of the registration and use of the Domain Name in bad faith, including
(ii) where the Respondent has registered the Domain Name in order to prevent the Complainant as owner of the trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a corresponding domain name, provided that the Respondent has engaged in a pattern of such conduct; or
(iii) where the Respondent has registered the Domain Name primarily for the purpose of disrupting the business of a competitor; or
(iv) where, by using the Domain Name, the Respondent has intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to his web site or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of his web site or location or of a product or service on his web site or location.
The Respondent registered both of the Domain Names in 2002, i.e. at a time when the Complainant enjoyed rights in the TELEVISA and ESMA marks in numerous territories, including the Netherlands, the alleged residence of the Respondent. The mere fact of the registration of two domain names within one week, which are confusingly similar to the Complainant's TELEVISA and ESMAS marks respectively, is sufficient evidence that he knew of third party's rights in these marks. Taking into account the pattern of abusive domain name registration the Respondent has engaged in the past, the Panel finds that the Domains Names were registered in bad faith.
Furthermore, the Respondent has intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to its pornographic websites, by linking them to the misleading Domain Names, thus creating confusion and tarnishing the Complainant's goodwill in its service marks. The Panel finds that this constitutes bad faith usage of the Domain Names.
7. Decision
For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with Paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the Domain Names <telvisa.com> and <esmasmusica.com> be transferred to the Complainant.
Brigitte Joppich
Sole Panelist
Dated: May 21, 2003


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WV Grandaughter - Quilted 04/19/2015
Mar 22: First contact. WV logo panto. Learned it is called "the flyijng WV". Using wool batting.
Mar 26: Quilt arrived. Still need to select thread color & density.
Apr 17: Started prepping. Vacuumed trash off the backing. Trimmed threads (lots of them) off the back of the top so the dark threads will not show through the white sections.
Apr 18: Quilting. On point square blocks against the WV makes for some interesting geometries I wasn't expecting. Change "interesting" to unacceptable. At Karen's request, I have removed the stitching while she is considering an alternative pattern. Decided to do a quilt rendition so I could audition lots of patterns and densities. Don't know if it helped ... I asks Karen about her blocks -- ha! turns out she made up her quilt top pattern. As I studied it, I realized all the blocks are the same, just turned differently. Very interesting and very nice effect.
Apr 19: Fast Splash is the chosen pattern. Quilting. More pics in the morning.
Apr 20: Final pics.
Comments are closed.
November 2023


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6.18.08 | 0 Comments
Part of the Buy Local Baltimore guide, Bediboo offers clothing and accessory options for mommy and baby from 18 different brands selling products made mostly from soy fiber, recycled bottles, and chemical free plastics that also include handmade items. BumGenius! a one-size cloth diapers offers an industry first, stretch- to-fit tabs, cloth baby carriers, nursing tea, and much more.


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As Euro 2012 fast approaches, Jones and Lescott add weight to their claims for starting roles for the Three Lions, while memories of 2010 suggest Barry may be a wasted plane ticket
They did it to Spain, and now Norway. They're not gonna keep getting lucky by playing that counter attack style in the Euro, one team already did it this year, won't happen again. Hope they perform better in the tourney so that we have ourselves some good matches instead of boring ones.
Never thought I'd see Norway keeping the ball, piling on the pressure, while England counters in 1 - 0. Typically it's the other way around with Drillo.


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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Three Museums not to miss in Washington D.C.
2 comments:
I went to D.C. on a high school trip many years ago, and I can't wait to take my kids! I love museums and these all look great! I went to the National Museum of American History, but it was so long ago that I can't remember much except the ruby slippers!ReplyDelete
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is one of our all-time favorite tours. Funny because it really hadn't been on our radar to visit. My kids were 7, 8 and 10 at the time.ReplyDelete
We actually did get out tickets ahead of time by arranging our tour through our representatives office.
I've not been to the other two museums you suggested. It's so easy to run out of time in DC. We did visit the Holocaust Museum though- it was amazing. Very surreal and heartbreaking. But amazing.
Thanks for linking up to the Best of the USA blog hop last week. I hope you'll join me again next month.


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Boris Johnson used the first speech of the government's "road to Brexit" series to try to simultaneously reach out to remainers while doubling down on his arguments in favour of a hard break from the EU.
It is not really possible to achieve both outcomes in a single speech, and the foreign secretary probably opted to focus more heavily on the second point.
There was the Valentine's Day rhetoric for remainers from a Conservative MP clearly bruised by his depiction among liberal constituents, colleagues and even close relatives as the Vote Leave bogeyman.
And Johnson certainly set out to address key areas of remainer concern: from Britain's geo-strategic status, to its internationalism, and then the economic risks of a departure from the single market and customs union.
But his inability to resist a dig at many of those same campaigners, whom he claimed were plotting a major betrayal, made it land some way short of a lovebomb.
The stronger theme that emerged, in a section of the speech based more in substance than soundbites, was around his demands for regulatory divergence as a result of Brexit.
Here, Johnson was less bridge builder and more poster boy of the leave side, warning that anything short of a full and clean break would be seen as a deception.
He was able to do this without ruffling too many feathers within the Conservative party, with a speech cleared late the night before by Downing Street that triggered no serious pushback even from Philip Hammond's Treasury.
But the signalling within it will have certainly raised some Whitehall eyebrows, where there will be fears that it weakens the chance of the closest possible economic deal with the EU.
Johnson said it would be "intolerable, undemocratic" to continue to have to comply with Brussels-based directives, listing a number of particular areas in which he wanted immediate divergence.
He argued that Britain could cut VAT on domestic fuel, simplify planning, speed up public procurement, and develop new stem-cell technology and financial services instruments within a new regulatory framework.
All of which signals one thing to Labour, the Lib Dems, Tory remainers and other campaigners: deregulatory ambitions that they fear will damage Britain's economic relationship with the EU.
And some are not convinced that EU rules prevent the type of things that Johnson is talking about. John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, argued there was no evidence that British regulation was more effective than the EU's. He pointed out that productivity was 20-25% lower in the UK than in France and Germany, and that the big technological developments were emerging from the US.
He said also that changing procurement rules did not fit with an internationalist vision, as set out by Johnson, and would not benefit British consumers.
Meanwhile, Springford (and housing groups) suggested that the limits to housebuilding in Britain were more linked to UK planning restrictions than EU-wide rules, such as the habitats directive, that Johnson appeared to be targeting in his speech. Moreover, environmentalists would be shocked to see Brexit pave the way for weaker protections for endangered and vulnerable species.
Johnson's speech still leaves him largely at loggerheads with some of his own backbenchers.
Nicky Morgan, chair of the Treasury select committee, said she welcomed her colleague reaching out, although said the government should have done so in summer 2016. But she said that ultimately what people wanted was to know what Britain was asking for in the negotiations.
"It is 14 months to go and we still don't know what standards businesses in my constituency will be complying with. I'm glad someone is optimistic but without the detail it is hard to plan," she said, adding that financial services companies around the world wanted to comply with EU regulations for their own advantage.
And she argued that Johnson's love bombing was still eclipsed by his drum banging for a "clean break and hard Brexit". She said: "And he must know there is no majority in parliament for that.".
Her comments were a reminder of the battles yet to come, and showed why Johnson was so determined to set out his arguments now – at the start of the government's road to Brexit.


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Pop culture marketing: How to best capitalize on your audiences concerns, aspirations and how to test in the market place for best results or risk flops.
Pop culture marketing is becoming increasingly popular today as companies strive to make themselves more relevant and relatable to customers. However, consumers can quickly spot companies that have a poor grasp of the culture and aren't afraid to call out references that are in bad taste. As a result, companies who recently learned about pop culture marketing need to lightly tread as they explore how it can help boost their public image.
Here's what you should be thinking about as you launch a new pop culture campaign.
Who is Your Audience?
Initially, you need to know who your audience is. Pop culture covers a broad swath of programming and media, and different demographics have different tastes. The fact can be ignored, but too often we see companies using memes that simply don't register with the audience they're trying to reach. The audience who enjoys House of Cards references is probably not the same as the audience who enjoys Spongebob references, but both are popular today. The good news is that identifying which pop culture you want to capitalize on should be relatively easy with a quick survey of your followers.
Be Creative
Occasionally, there is an opportunity for you to directly reference your products when it comes to a particular pop culture reference. For instance, the battle of fast food companies on Twitter has become a big hit with plenty of not-so-friendly banter flying between McDonalds, Wendys, Chick-Fil-A and more.
Consumers have enjoyed watching the companies' different personalities develop, and each company can reference their products in every post directly. On the other hand, the connection to your products will often be far more subtle. You must be thoughtful and creative when using this method. One typical example is when companies use hit song lyrics to connect with customers or create parodies of a particular movie scene or character using their products.
Know Your Hashtags
Perhaps the most important ingredient of a pop culture marketing campaign is knowing how to tag your posts. Often it is the hashtag that goes viral, rather than the original post. Companies who have mastered pop culture encourage readers to get in on the fun by inviting them to post their own images, tags or stories. This ensures that a wider range of consumers will click on the tag to see what it's all about.
Some companies have done this by asking users to take selfies with their products, others have done it by using a pop icon to encourage acts of positivity. Still, others have managed to create a totally new meme out of thin air by launching a hashtag that makes people want to be a part of their mission, whether or not they buy the product in the end. All of these campaigns rely on the viral nature of hashtags.
This is significant to remember when creating your hashtags is that detractors may find a way to twist the story. Several companies have found themselves in trouble after launching a hashtag campaign that resulted in overwhelmingly negative posts. You can beta test your hashtags in a closed group prior to launching to avoid this situation. Remember, we are in a politically heated environment where hashtags have been co-opted for political means that the original company never intended. More than likely you will want to be very careful about how your hashtags are worded to prevent these situations from getting out of control.
Taking a Stance
Given the political environment of today, it's not surprising that some companies seek to win favor by taking a strong stance on a particular issue. There is a huge range of pop culture opportunities especially when it comes to hot debates like gay marriage. However, it all comes down to your audience.
Taking a strong stance on this issue can definitely boost your sales when done right, but it can also lead to calls for boycotts if you're not careful. Pepsi suffered a major setback with their Kendall Jenner ad a few years ago, and many people have not forgotten. Just like choosing your hashtags, you need to be sure that the stance you are taking is being clearly stated, and won't offend the people you're trying to support. Focus groups should definitely be consulted if you are going to try to pull something this big off.
Ultimately, pop culture campaigns can be successfully capitalized by showing communities of people that your brand is self-aware and engaged with their customers through its marketing campaign. However, there could be some risks associated with pop culture when used carelessly. So, if you want to hop on the bandwagon of pop culture to take advantage of the opportunities, then it is best to sign up a marketing firm who can help you flesh out your ideas and bring them to life while mitigating any risk.


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Can I drink the water in Cuba?
Water is potable and treated in Cuba but, in general, tropical water has a different pH and microbial content than "northern" water. You know your own system and what you can take. Bottled water is easily found for sale in many stores. If you're drinking tap water and have a reaction, it's usually a self-limiting diarrhea which can be treated by switching to bottled water for a few days.
For your information, it's important to know that the Ministry of Public Health has alerted all Cubans that it's safest to boil their drinking water, if they're drinking from the taps. Because we've had so many tropical storms and hurricanes during the past several years, it's affected the usual high quality of the water.


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Commercial roofs are extremely important. They protect businesses, their employees, and their customers from the elements. At the end of the day, they protect jobs and the families that depend on the income. You may think that is a way-too-serious perspective on commercial roofs, but it's the way we see them at Planet Roofing. We take commercial roofing very seriously, because we know what is at stake.
In our last blog, we debunked three unhelpful myths about commercial roofs. We are finishing up today with two more.
MYTH: Pressure washing will not damage roofing shingles like asphalt and wood.
Truth: Your roof is made to shed the water that falls on it. High-pressured water is a totally different challenge. If the pressure is too high, water will be forced behind the siding and under the shingles. This is the last thing you want, because it can undermine the structure and result in mold and mildew. If you think pressure washing is the only way to clean your roof, you need to give us a call. We can suggest other effective options that will preserve your roof rather than shorten its lifespan!
MYTH: Radiant barriers deteriorate asphalt shingles
Truth: If you do not know what radiant barriers, they are a type of insulation installed underneath the roof deck. Tests have shown that radiant barriers heat the asphalt shingles more than other barriers. However, asphalt shingles are created to heat up and be fine. There is no proof that their performance gets affected by the heat from radiant barriers.
Contact Planet Roofing for roofers and solar panel installers that take their work as seriously as you do.


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There is wild and then there is wild. From February 27 to March 4, Extraordinary Journeys Africa, the organizers of luxury, customized safaris on the continent, will help you unleash a bit of both by living the wild life at Cape Town Gay Pride and viewing the wildlife at the Madikwe Game Reserve.
The tour begins with four nights at the gay-owned, boutique hotel, Kensington Place, just steps from the party-popular Kloof Street. From here guests can experience Cape Town's nightlife and Gay Pride events, as well as trips to Robben Island, the 4,000 year old prison now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sea kayaking with African Penguins, and a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain.
Your adventure continues via chartered flight to Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge for a three-night stay. The luxurious (and also gay-owned) lodge consists of only five villas, each with its own splash pool for ultimate privacy. While in Madikwe you'll have access to elephants, lions, monkeys and more than 300 square miles of game viewing in South Africa's newest reserve.
A leader in luxury safaris, Extraordinary Journeys Africa has specifically designed this 8-day-tour to explore the unique contrasts of South Africa… because there is fierce and then there's fierce!


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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
KT Tape
Since some other health issues I stopped running 2+ years ago but did manage to find periods where I could walk 5-6 miles a few times a week, until that is, early July when my Siatic nerve pain stopped everything except short walks.
The pain eventually faded but it left the front of my right leg numb from above the knee to the ankle, meaning the knee and shin, but I was able to resume some sense of walking.
In September I started distance walking again, first 3-4 miles twice a week to now ~5+ miles 3-4 times a week. But all of it was walking through shin splints in the left leg in the first mile or so, after which the pain disappears.
Then I saw an ad for Spider Tech sports tape. I sent away for the free sample which I have but in the meantime I found KT Tape (Kinesiology Tape), photo above, which works great on shin splints. I can do 2-3 days of walks with the tape and only feel a slight twinge for a minute or so in the first mile or so of the walk and then nothing afterward.
This is great stuff. I don't know how it works on other muscles but it's great for shin splints. The downside is that it isn't cheap and not common in stores. It's $10 for 14 strips (1 box), so that's about a $1.50 for each pair twice a week. Considering the alternative, it's money well spent.
The other up side of this is that I've lost over 10 pounds so far (all fat) and an inch in my waist where my old jeans now fit. Last winter I bought larger jeans from the weight gain from the health issues and this week they're too big for me.
I have a whole fall and winter to walk and lose more weight, aka fat on me, and another inch or so in the waist. Lots of older clothes will fit again. That's cool, especially for a mid-60's person like me.
As for the toes, well there's a story there too. Really?
Since I started walking last winter I got and always have 2-3 black toes on both feet. In addition, I love walking barefoot in and around the home, and the little toes are my foot bumpers, always hitting furniture and things, which then turns separates the nail and turns it black.
So I found it was easy to trim them and use black nail polish so the toes obvious to me when I walk barefoot. They also obviously hide the really ugly black toes. And to all those "real" men types who argue against something like this, you should try it, you might find it fun.
What are you afraid of? Your manhood over nail polish? Really? Try it, you can't lose anything and you'll get a smile from everyone. It's cool too.
Posted by WSR Photography at 2:47 PM
Labels: MyStory
1 comment:
Very informative post… I am so glad to left comment on this. Thank you for sharing such a nice experience.ReplyDelete
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A novelty point and shoot isn't exactly something the market is hungry for. Sometimes, however, one comes along that brings exactly the novelty features you're looking for. That could be the case for theQ Camera.
Designed as an "idiot-proof" camera, it simplifies everything for users. In a habit of forgetting to turn on the flash? They put two shutter buttons — one that shoots with no flash and another that automatically turns on the flash on the shot. Always deleting your photos when fiddling with menus? Not a problem, since the camera uploads all photos immediately to the company's online servers as soon as they're shot. Not really good fiddling with focus and exposure? They have preset settings to help you cheat your way to great shots.
Billed as "the world's first social camera," theQ Camera can send all pictures straight to various social networks over 3G. You just need to set up your account on the company's website and identify which websites to forward your images: all photos get automatically uploaded to Facebook, Twitter or IG when you hit the camera's "Upload" button twice. In case you end up someplace without 3G reception, the camera has a 2GB emergency storage, where it will hold the files temporarily until it finds a signal. Oh yeah, the thing is also fully waterproof, so you can use your camera in the rain, drop it on puddles, and even take pictures in the river without any worries.
Details include 5.0 megapixel optics, a 24mm wide-angle manual focus lens, a diffused LED ring flash that also doubles as a timer (it uses eight segments to count down the seconds so your subject knows exactly when to say cheese), a 2.7-inch LCD display in the back, and even an old-school viewfinder in the corner. It has a pocket-friendly size of 2.5 x 2.1 x 0.62 inches, which should fit right in your Pose Camera Case.
TheQ Camera is available for preorder in a variety of colors, priced at $199.


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Are you ready for your kids to
get kicked out head back to school? Here in Georgia our kids started back last week, so our Back To School mindset is in full-swing.
Join us this Thursday, August 15th for a special Twitter party that we're hosting sponsored by African Pride. The "Back to School – Beauty is Cool" Twitter party will kick off at 7PM and run until 8PM. We'll be co-hosting the event along with @nichemommy and are looking forward to having a great conversation.
If you've ever joined one of our previous Twitter events then you know we'll have a great time. Follow the directions below to join in on the fun and please spread the word.
Tweet: Join @blackandmarrried @myafricanpride & @nichemommy for the #APBacktoSchool Twitter Party 8/15 at 7PM Details: https://bmwk.me/19e1FpA
How To Join Us:
1) You'll need to have a Twitter account. If you don't have one you can sign up at www.twitter.com.
2) It's a good idea to follow our Twitter accounts for info on upcoming chats (@blackandmarried, @lamartyler, @ronnietyler).
3) Beginners can follow along during the viewing party here: https://twubs.com/APBackToSchool
Party Details
- Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013
- Time: 7PM – 8PM EST
- Hashtag: #APBackToSchool
- Sponsor: @myafricanpride
- Host: @BlackandMarried @nichemommy
About African Pride Hair Care:
African Pride Hair Care helps provide moisture and nutrients the hair & scalp desires, because it helps replace the moisture and elasticity lost to styling and environmental factors. Naturally rich in vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants,African Pride Deep Conditioning Hair Care products helps restore and retain hair and scalp's health, vitality and natural luster. African Pride's Family of Brands consist of: African Pride Olive Miracle and Shea Butter Miracle formulas, Dream Kids Olive Hair Care and Back to Natural Hair Care Products. Each brand in the African Pride family of brands will put you on the right path to healthy tresses with a silkening, feather-light formula containing the finest oils and African herbal extracts used to strengthen and protect. www.african-pride.com


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The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro is calling on communities to work together with the police following last night's government announcement of further restrictive measures to combat Coronavirus.
The PCC says residents must play their part in following the direction to stay at home to help halt the spread of the virus and keep people safe.
Police and local authorities are set to be given extra powers under new legislation to disperse gatherings and issue fines to those not co-operating.
Surrey Police are working with the government through the national police body to consider how these new rules can be most effectively enforced and to draw up guidance for officers on the ground.
The PCC has offered any support his office can provide which includes making around £500,000 available from the PCC's operational reserve to provide additional help where needed to those essential support services funded by his office who have been affected by the outbreak.
These organisations provide direct support to some of our most vulnerable residents and victims of crimes such as serious sexual offences, child abuse and domestic abuse. During this difficult time, they have adapted how they deliver their support, using telephone and video calls for instance, and are very much still there for anyone who needs their help.
PCC David Munro said: "These are extraordinary times which will continue to stretch our health and emergency services to the absolute limit in their efforts to keep us safe from the Coronavirus outbreak.
"I know this is a period of great uncertainty for many communities across the county. The disruption to every-day life is unprecedented but absolutely necessary to slow the spread of this virus and save lives.
"That is why I would ask everyone to work with us, follow the latest government guidance to the full and stay at home.
"The Surrey Local Resilience Forum (LRF) moved to major incident footing in the county last week and Surrey Police have been working around the clock with our partner agencies to respond to what has been a rapidly changing situation.
"I have been in regular contact with the Force's senior leaders over the last few weeks and have offered any support that my office can provide to help the evolving battle against this virus.
"As you would expect, the police together with those other agencies have well-rehearsed contingency and major incident plans in place. But it is worth reminding everyone that our emergency services, and of course our wonderful health service, are facing significant pressure at this time in dealing with this pandemic.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them for the professionalism and selflessness they have shown in such demanding and difficult circumstances.
"Our communities will look to the police to provide a reassuring presence and we will do everything we can to provide that support, particularly to the most vulnerable in our society. Surrey Police will continue to be there for you if you need them and will continue to do everything possible to support the national response to this pandemic and keep people safe."


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Husavik is a small, seaside town located in North East Iceland. It is around 480 km from the capital Reykjavik and about an hours drive from the biggest town in North Iceland – Akureyri. Husavik has become the unofficial whale watching capital in Iceland due to the huge numbers of whales which arrive in the bay each year. The stars of the show are the spectacular leaping displays of migrating humpback whales! As well as whales you can see dolphins and a range of sea bird species. It is important to note that Iceland has a whaling industry and every dollar spent on whale tourism here helps to support those industries which want to keep whales alive and puts pressure on those who want them dead.
Average rating: 3.0 (good)
Average spend per person: $80 ($80 – $80)
Number of reports: 1
Best time to visit: May – September
Typical activities: boat trip, whale watching
Wildlife in Husavik
According to reports submitted to WildSide, the species visitors most want to see here are as follows:
Humpback Whale – 100% OF VISITORS (1/1) REPORTED SIGHTINGS
Northern Atlantic humpback whales migrate to Iceland from their breeding grounds in California each summer. During this time they are often found in shallow waters as they come into the bays and fjords to feed. The population in Icelandic waters is estimated to be around 1,500 to 1,800 individuals.
Whale watching tours are offered from March to November but the main humpback season covers the summer months of May to September. During this time sightings are pretty much guaranteed. While the tours aren't cheap, and the sea can be harsh, you quickly forget when a 40 tonne humpback breaches beside your boat and covers you with cold, salty spray. To help support the whales in the area make sure you pick a company which has good environmental policies. WildSide recommends North Sailing (you can see their policies here) who offer a silent, carbon neutral tour on electric boats.


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Image source: Rubin Report video screenshot
© 2023 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
'This is the BIG LIE': Michael Knowles explains how 'woke' liberal politics actually cause systemic racism
June 23, 2020
It all begins on our country's college campuses
On "The Rubin Report," BlazeTV host Dave Rubin sat down with The Daily Wire's Michael Knowles to discuss progressive politics, woke college campuses, and the collapse of our liberal institutions.
Knowles talked about what he called "the big lie," or the idea that college students indoctrinated with progressive propaganda on campus would suddenly change once they entered the "real world." Instead, they are taking down institutions and destroying cities across the country.
"This is the big lie," he said. "I'm looking around the real world and I'm seeing the consequences of those college campuses as the buildings are burning down all around the country."
Knowles pointed out the flaws in the left's systemic racism arguments, since most powerful institutions are dominated by liberals.
"We've been told for the past few weeks that all of these protests are about institutional racism. But then it occurred to me, the left controls every major institution in America. They control the media, controls higher education and lower, controls Hollywood, controls Big Tech, controls administrative government. Basically, other than talk radio and some little parts of the internet, the left controls every institution. So, if there's institutional racism, whose fault is that?" he asked.
Well, not only whose fault is it, but they are the ones putting it [racism] into the institutions," Rubin added. "They are the ones making it systemic."
Knowles and Rubin shared their thoughts on the conflicting interests of inter-sectional politics with the Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ communities, and how even liberals seemed to be worried about the turn that "woke politics" are taking.
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
Watch Dave Rubin's full interview with Michael Knowles here: https://youtu.be/hzWiHUE6YLE.
Want more from Dave Rubin?
Looking for smart and honest conversations about current events, political news and the culture war? On "The Rubin Report," comedian Dave Rubin engages the ideas of some of society's most interesting thought leaders, authors, and politicians. Subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multiplatform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.
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Part 1
The Greek concert and after party
It's always tough for musicians to play a hometown gig. It's even tougher to play when L.A. is your hometown. Not only are you playing in front of family and friends you are playing in front of the entire musical community. Especially when you are Toto. The opener was "On The Run". The Nashville cats came out first. Shannon Forrest behind the drum kit started with a thundering roar and then came David Hungate the original Toto bass player back home, if only for one night. Together Forrest and Hungate provided a roar by themselves. As the duo stood alone the members of Toto followed one by one. Steve Lukather on guitar, David Paich on piano, Steve Porcaro on keyboards with another hometown guy, Joseph Williams on lead vocals. This is the biggest, brightest spotlight Toto has played in front of here in years. It was immediately apparent that EVERYONE had a bigger bounce in their step than on opening night in Portland, Oregon, Luke shouted to the crowd "get your hands up"! Williams motioned for the crowd to get up and then encouraged them to sing. The two then traded lead vocals. Forrest and Hungate were locked in. Williams slid back and forth across the stage as if he were on skates. The gleam in Luke's eyes was even bigger than in weeks before on this same stage with Ringo Starr and his All Starr's.
Luke addressed the crowd again "hello Los Angeles. We have a little bit of a new scene up here tonight. He took a 33 year coffee break! He's a soul brother for life! DAVID HUNGATE!" The smiles and hugs began as it had been years since all the guys have played as Toto. It was even more meaningful at home. There were so many recognizable faces in the crowd as the guys on stage began to recognize their friends and family just as the sun began to set on this perfect Hollywood night. With "Hydra" up next Paich started out on vocals later blending in with Williams. Luke had on his "Hollywood pants" as he did his usual magic with his six strings. At one point on this song there were three "keyboard players" with Paich, Porcaro and Williams "playing keyboards" on the back of Paich. As Williams continued darting back and forth across the stage he played air bass, air keyboards and air guitar. He was up there having a great time as that feeling resonated throughout the Greek during the entire set. Whatever glitches Luke talked about to me on opening night were long gone, disappearing into he Hollywood sunset. So as the sun was setting Luke began to light up the darkening sky with his guitar fireworks. Toto had the reputation as "just a bunch of studio cats" with a hint of negativity. Let me tell you there was a spectacular, phenomenal groove this night rarely have I seen before.
"I'll Be Over You" put thoughts of the Toto video in my head. It was the shot on a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles not too far from the Greek. The video starred Luke, Williams and Michael McDonald. Luke then introduced his longtime friend McDonald as he stepped out to join the guys on the #1 song he sang on almost 30 years ago. Luke joined McDonald and Williams on vocals as memories of the video became clearer and clearer. Luke played another flawless solo followed by a thankful McDonald walking off stage to a standing ovation saying proudly "Toto!... Steve Lukather!" Luke then said "I give you son of John!" (Williams music conductor/composer). Williams began the song with an emphatic howl on "Pamela." The second Williams era song in a row. Williams co-wrote this song with Paich. With assistance from additional vocalists Mabvuto Carpenter and Jenny Douglas-Foote this song had the crowd singing on another Toto hit. During this song Luke looked down at a late arriving Toto fan, a Baked Potato regular. He gave him a nod and a smile as he recognized the fan donned in a "Spud" t-shirt. The Baked Potato is a World famous music venue that Luke has frequently played over the decades. The crowd was full of recognizable faces mostly wearing Baked Potato shirts. Fortunately the Greek holds 60 times more fans than the Baked Potato.
"99" as explained by Luke had fans perplexed as to it's meaning. There were numerous explanations as to what it meant. He was able to narrow it's choices explaining that it WASN'T about the Barbara Feldon character on "Get Smart". A beautiful acoustic intro by Luke started off the song with Luke also on vocals. Williams, Paich, Douglas-Foote and Carpenter joined in to provide a wall of vocals emanating from every part of the stage. Forrest added his touch via brushes. Hungate then hit the spotlight with a bass solo that reminded the crowd of his importance to this song and to Toto. A Paich piano outro segued into "White Sister". A single spotlight shined directly on Paich as all other lights on stage were off. The focus was solely on Paich as Luke and Williams disappeared into the wings. As the lights came on after Paich, Williams and Luke were front and center bouncing off each other. Williams continued to jet from stage left to stage right. His energy level kept rising as he was giving his hometown crowd everything he had left in his tank. Williams was playing vocal volleyball with Carpenter and Douglas-Foote as they went back and forth. Everyone was on full speed on this number as the crowd was rocking out from start to finish. Luke even threw in a little air piano mimicking Paich. Luke ended it with a tasteful, clean, crisp solo.
As the song ended CJ Vanston (Toto producer) and Lee Sklar (former Toto, bass) were up on their feet in the crowd with Vanston turning around to give the crowd an encouraging thumbs up. "The funkiest man in show business" said Luke as he introduced Carpenter and "Gorgy Porgy". Toto has #1 ballads, FM Rock station standards and now they are the king of funk. This song let everyone show off their funky selves. You can't really put a title on this band as they cover all the musical bases. Luke tapped into his inner self for the most soulful solo of he night as he grooved along with everyone on this song. Paich introduced "Home of the Brave" saying "I'm happy to be back home. Jimmy Webb taught us to voice our opinions. Protests can be non violent. This is a prayer for the Middle East." "Africa" was the next #1 Toto song to be played. Luke said "It's a party song"! This smash had everyone up again and nobody needed encouragement to get up. Williams did though encourage everyone to sing. The crowd helped a band that needed no vocal assistance at all. As the house lights lit up the entire Greek, everyone was singing on this number. The smiling, singing and dancing crowd enjoyed every minute of it. Now everyone in the band was dancing at full speed. Steve Porcaro who had been groovin' stage left all night stepped it up a notch. Paich donned in top coat and top hat was having the time of his life dancing away. "Africa" ended with a thunderous groove from Forrest and Hungate. The last number was "Hold the Line" which starts with the memorable piano/guitar intro. Now I didn't see a single person sitting. This was the perfect song to end a perfect night. Everything seemed to work and everyone was on full speed.
Michael McDonald came out next with a stellar band of his own. Tommy Sims (b), Dan Needham (d), Pat Coil (k), Brandon Fields (sax), Drea Rhenee' (v) and longtime partner Bernie Chiaravalle (g). It was a set of solo, Motown and Doobie Brothers material. The Doobie numbers seemed to get the crowd going more than anything else. At the end of the set was a great encore which included the Eric Clapton worldwide smash hit "Change the World". The song was written by Tommy Sims who sang it tonight with help from Michael's band and Paich, Carpenter and Douglas-Foote. Luke came out on guitar and was smiling from ear to ear after Toto's smokin' set. With a couple of more encore jams since the last time I saw it this ending was much smoother. Next up was an ode to Stevie Wonder where Joseph Williams was off the charts on "Superstition". The final number was a perfectly chosen Doobie Brothers song "Takin it to the Streets". It was a perfect ending to a Los Angeles musical adventure.
Before the show I was able to talk to former Toto bass player Lee Sklar who told me "I'm so thrilled to see this tonight! I got to work on the new Toto record and it's UNBELIEVABLE! To come here and see Hungate playing is going to be heaven to me. I absolutely adore Dave. He's one of my oldest friends and to see him back with the band doing this is going to be fantastic. I'm like a kid in a candy store!" After the show was insane. It was hard to move around as there were so many family and friends. Hugs, smiles, handshakes and laughs were to be had in every direction. Luke told me "It sure felt good to hit a packed show in LA. The Greek theatre has a magic vibe. We had a blast and the hometown crowd really gave us an amazing welcome back."
It was an even bigger welcome back for Hungate as he made the move to Nashville over 3 decades ago. He has an astounding list of sessions that started in L.A. in the 70's and continued on to Nashville. Most recently Vince Gill's touring bassist spent a few moments with me as we walked to the Toto tour bus. I asked him what was it like to play with Toto here at the Greek Theatre? He told me "It's a dream come true! I NEVER thought it would happen after 34 years. It's amazing." I asked him "did you get a chance too see the Porcaro family?" David said "Yes I saw Joe and Eileen, Sam, Chris and all those wonderful folks. I saw them in 2009 at the Musicians Hall of Fame induction in Nashville but before that it had been twenty years." I said to Hungate I truly saw the love and admiration that everyone has for each other tonight. He told me "that's absolutely right! The last time I was in the band we were all in our twenties. That was a crazy time in your twenties. Everyone has grown up and been through a lot of life. All that's left is the good stuff." He also added: "I played on the new record too. It was a kick. I played on four tracks. The stuff sounds great!"
David Paich told me about playing the Greek "it's like a dream come true. It came full circle for us. We haven't played the Greek with our band. The whole band just fucking brought nothing but love to L.A.! And we got it back from our crowd! Lukather, I just saw him here with Ringo and he's bringing it! He owns this town. I LOVE Lukather man!" Joseph Williams told me also about playing the Greek with Toto. "First of all playing the Greek Theatre is a dream come true for me because I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I knew the Greek Theatre like the back of my hand. I've known this Theatre since I was a kid. That's a dream come true right there. Playing with Toto another dream come true because I am probably their biggest fan. So it's a combination of absolutely great miracles." Dan Needham the drummer for Michael McDonald told me about being on the same bill as Toto: "it's obviously an honor and a blast. We get to play the encore with them at the same time these guys I grew up listening to. I'm really proud to be a part of it." About having two Nashville drummers on the same bill he said "ya, Shannon and myself. I've known Shannon for years. It's kind of cool to get back together".
Part 2
Shannon Forrest Interview
Photos by Bob Dinsmore
© Prouddad Photography 2014
As I said before, it was a very hectic scene after the Toto Show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Ca. During the after party there wasn't much room to maneuver. There were musicians left and right from all the Toto cats, some of the Michael McDonald band to Lee Sklar, CJ Vanston, Toss Panos, Mark Schulman, Jay Graydon and many others. Even though Shannon Forrest was being tugged from every direction even during the interview he was kind enough to give me a few moments of his time. Forrest is a Nashville drummer who has a "Totoesque" list of sessions. Just to list a few of his top sessions are Boz Scaggs, Kenny Rogers, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, Reba McEntire, Brooks and Dunn, Faith Hill... As I said very similar to the Toto cats. Forrest has played with, among MANY others, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Dukes of September (McDonald, Scaggs and another Toto favorite Donald Fagen). Toto members David Paich and Jeff Porcaro also played with Scaggs. Forest listed Toto IV as his favorite album that he didn't play on. He also listed playing with Toto at the Musicians Hall of Fame induction as his favorite musical highlight. Shannon also has the approval from the patriarch of the Porcaro family Mr. Joseph Porcaro. So everything seems to have fallen into place as he slid right behind the Toto drum kit next to his pal David Hungate.
Reggie: Tell us about your connection to David Hungate and how you got the Toto gig.
Shannon Forrest: "Having known David, playing sessions in Nashville since I was 19 we've known each other for twenty something years. Over the years with his communication to the Toto guys he hipped them to me. When Toto was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2009 it was very overwhelming. David and the band had me sit in for Jeff (Porcaro) for that situation. So we got to know each other that way but it was very brief. Just a date. And then fast forward a couple of years I'm working with Michael McDonald who's managed by the same group that Boz Scaggs is managed by. Having produced some things for Michael, Boz was looking to do some publishing. Re-record a couple of his older tracks. So Vector Management recommended me to Boz. Boz did a background check on me and asked Hungate if he knew me and then asked (David) Paich. So we got the rhythm section together and we cut "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle". (Both of those songs are Scaggs/Paich compositions) So Boz and I had an immediate connection. The Boz thing turned into Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) and the Dukes of September (Scaggs, McDonald, Fagen). I was working with the Dukes, Michael, producing. When Toto came around Paich and I kind of had an ongoing relationship as did Luke and I. Paich and I had been interacting about some music I was working on for my own. I was also trying to get Paich to play on the Michael McDonald record I was producing along with Luke. So in the course of them seeing more sides of me as a musician and when David and I spent more time in the studio the next thing you know they were making a change. Keith Carlock was still busy with Steely Dan. So one thing led to another and that was it!"
Reggie: You are in Los Angeles playing the Greek Theatre with Toto. Tell us about that.
Shannon: "Oh man! It's heavy because everybody here in the music community has such a history with these guys. For me there's always comparisons that are inevitable. I always feel really bad about them. I never make the comparisons. Jeff was for everybody. His groove was unsurpassed. He was the most influential cat. When I'm playing the gig the first thing I tell the band is there's guy's that play a song a certain way, the part is so DEEP into the song that if you don't honor that part it doesn't sound like the same song. I'm not going to take a shit on somebody's part. When I'm up there playing "the part" I'm not going 'I want to sound like the originator of that part'. I know that's unobtainable. So it's about honoring it. So playing the Greek here with these guys and knowing who's in the audience checking it out and how far they go back with the band."
Reggie: Mr. Porcaro was here tonight with a ton of the Porcaro family.
Shannon: "Ya, that's the heaviest. It was a beautiful thing. I've loved their music. I've loved it like everybody else since I was a kid! So to sit up there in that setting was great for me. I never got to meet Jeff. He was the most influential musician to me as a kid coming up. I was drawn to all the music he played. I was too young to know what I was listening to but I just kept picking his music out just for the feel. It's like anybody else would have. Like everybody else picking up on the Beatles or whoever man! I was just dialed into him."
Reggie: These guys wouldn't have asked you to be in this band if they didn't think you could cut it.
Shannon: "These guys know. If all you're doing is trying to copy the way somebody else plays you couldn't bring any energy. There wouldn't be any interplay. You'd just be fucking robots that just played.
Reggie: It would be like playing in a tribute band trying to mimick people.
Shannon: "Right! It's not the same fucking thing. There's expectations. There's an ebb and flow to the music. Dynamics change. You're riding that shit! That's about being a musician. For me it's feel. There's NOTHING greater than feel. That's ALL I've ever cared about. When I was a kid and I thought about music the resonate word in my head was feel. I always thought about music and how it felt. Now that was a groove for me. It was the simplest thing if you could just play a simple beat but make it feel great. That is all I was after.
I feel grateful that I had exposure to that music because I turned it into a career. Like going to school on the groove. I've had a twenty year career in the studio because I can groove. I'm just so glad that I latched onto that one. Do you know what I mean?"
Reggie: Of course. I'm sure especially Luke and Hungate can relate too.
Shannon: "Oh ya, exactly, they're the best. This was amazing man. And the love! The way the musical community shows up here. They all come to dig each other and to support each other. It's the coolest. Another thing I've noticed is I've played some of these same venue's that we've played with Toto and the way the fans react to their music is totally different. There's a joy, an exuberance where people get up and into it. Sometimes it's the same people in the venues but they just react different. I've played these same places with different artists and the Toto fans interaction is totally different. They're great! This was really, really great!"


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musica massa :D
musica massa :D
muito bom
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Glamorous is the word that comes to mind when I think of this young couple ... Nikki and Fotis are both Doctors who have the most insanely busy schedule, but they pulled off the most fabulous wedding at Saheti and the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead last October.
From the colour scheme which reminded them of the sunset on the beach in Greece where Fotis proposed to his beautiful bride, to every last intricate detail, this is a wedding I will never forget. Nikki looked amazing in her fabulous gown, Fotis very handsome in his bowtie and tuxedo. They are a beautiful couple in every way.
It was my first time photographing a Greek wedding, and things are slightly different with the exchanging of rings by the best man and maid of honour and the Stefana ceremony followed by the walking around the altar, so it was very exciting for me. To top it all off they celebrated into the night with the traditional Greek dancing, throwing of the plates and the men dancing around the whisky glass.
I would like to thank all of the suppliers who made this day so perfect for them, as well as Chris who was my second photographer for the day, and took care of things when we were at different venues. Lastly a message to the lovely couple ... Nikki and Fotis, it was so special being part of your big day. I wish you both and your families all of the best and that you have many happy years together.
Here is a peak at their fabulous day
5/5/2021 07:02:03 pm
First time here at your blog and wanted to say i enjoyed reading this.
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Quirky and often described as rather eccentric, I am a lover of all things beautiful. Capturing special moments and making my clients look and feel beautiful is what makes me happy!
April 2017


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Shrimp is the most popular seafood in the United States, so it is good to know that it is a naturally renewable and sustainable resource. I live in the heart of shrimp country on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. We are able to purchase wild-caught shrimp year round. However, not all shrimp is sustainable and there is a big taste difference in the shrimp you buy frozen from the supermarket and US wild-caught shrimp. Most likely the shrimp you bought at the supermarket or the shrimp dish you ordered at a restaurant was not from the sea.
Ninety percent of the shrimp eaten by Americans is imported from countries such as Thailand, India and Ecuador, where industrial shrimp farms are harming the environment and coastal communities, and producing unhealthy, flavorless shrimp. Unlike imported shrimp, US wild-caught shrimp, are unlikely to contain the chemicals that are used heavily on many foreign shrimp farms. The impact on the environment from shrimping in the United States is far less significant than those of many foreign shrimp farms. Most US shrimp spawn offshore in deep water from early spring through early fall and grow very quickly. Additionally, choosing shrimp from the Gulf, the Carolinas, Maine or Oregon supports the economic well-being of U.S. coastal communities.
There are four species of wild-caught shrimp commercially harvested in the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic waters. Shrimp species are categorized by shell color: pink, white, brown, and royal red. The majority of the shrimp harvested in my area are the pink species.The meat is white with pink skin tones, firm texture and mild flavor.
Wild-caught white shrimp has a sweet taste and firm, almost "crunchy" meat which makes it a favorite of local chefs to use in a variety of recipes. They are harvested primarily in the fall from October through December. With a lifespan of up to 24 months, they can grow as large as eight inches.
Florida brown shrimp are harvested year round in both the Atlantic and Gulf waters with the highest yields June through August. Brown shrimp are named for their reddish brown shells and have a firmer texture than other varieties due to a higher iodine content. They can grow as large as nine inches long and have a maximum life span of 18 months.
Florida royal reds with their deep red color and soft, delicate texture have a unique taste that you won't find in any other shrimp. Royal Reds are frozen onboard the ships and contain more salt than other shrimp so do not add salt to the water when cooking. Royal red shrimp are harvested in the deep Atlantic waters off the coast of St. Augustine with peak season in late summer through fall.
- Raw, headless and unpeeled shrimp: 1/3 pound per serving.
- Peeled and deveined shrimp: 1/6 pound per serving
- Two pounds of raw, headless, unpeeled shrimp will yield 1 pound of cooked peeled and deveined shrimp.
- Shrimp are sized and sold by count (number of shrimp per pound) either whole or headless. For example, headless shrimp of 16-20 count means there are 16 to 20 headless shrimp per pound. Counts for headless shrimp range from under 10 (the largest shrimp) to 300-500 (the smallest.
- Store shrimp in the coldest part of your refrigerator at 32 degrees F and use within two days, or freeze at 0 degrees F for up to six months.
- Remember to purchase seafood last and keep it cold during the trip home.
Some of My Favorite Shrimp Recipes
Shrimp with Garlic and Bread Crumbs
- 1 cup Progresso Italian Panko Crumbs
- 1/3 cup very finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- big pinch of crushed red pepper
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Lemon wedges
1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly oil a large baking pan.
2. In a bowl, combine the panko crumbs, parsley, garlic, red pepper, lemon juice and zest. Add 2-3 tablespoons oil, just enough to moisten the crumbs.
3. Arrange the shrimp in the pan in a single layer, curling each one into a circle. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon a little of the crumb mixture onto each shrimp. Drizzle with a little more oil.
4. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp, or until the shrimp turn pink and the crumbs are lightly browned. Serve with lemon wedges.
Grilled Garlic Tomato Shrimp
- 1 1/2 pounds jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound), shelled and deveined, with tails left intact
- 4 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and patted dry, chopped fine
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Salsa Verde, recipe below
Mince together the tomatoes, garlic, parsley and basil. Turn into a medium bowl and stir in the hot pepper and olive oil. Toss shrimp with the tomato mixture. Keep cold in the refrigerator.
Sprinkle the shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook the shrimp on a lightly oiled, medium-hot grill, about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until pink and just firm. Serve with Salsa Verde.
Salsa Verde
- 2/3 cup lightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 3 tablespoons drained capers
- 1 clove garlic
- 4 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup low sodium chicken broth
Put the parsley, capers, the garlic clove, the lemon juice, anchovy paste, mustard, salt, and pepper into a food processor or blender. Pulse just to chop, six to eight times. With the machine running, add the oil and chicken broth in a thin stream to make a slightly coarse puree.
Main Dishes
How to Butterfly Shrimp for Stuffing
1. Use a sharp paring knife to cut along (but not through) the vein line, then open up the shrimp like a book
2. Using the tip of the paring knife, cut a 1-inch opening through the center of the shrimp.
3. After the shrimp have been butterflied and the opening has been cut, flip the shrimp over when placing in the baking dish, so that they will curl around the stuffing.
4. Divide the stuffing among the shrimp, firmly pressing the stuffing into the opening and to the edges of the shrimp.
Crab Stuffed Shrimp
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• 1/2 cup egg substitute
• 1 cup Progresso Italian bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons light or low fat mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 pound lump crabmeat
• 1 pound large shrimp
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Lemon wedges
Peel shrimp, leaving tails on; devein and butterfly shrimp according to the directions above.
Place shrimp in a baking dish coated with cooking spray with the tail pointing up and the shrimp curved into a circle. (Fan the tail out for handle)
Mix first 7 ingredients and gently fold into crab meat. Place a spoonful of crab meat mixture on top of the circle. Top with fresh parmesan and place baking dish in 350 degree F. oven for 15 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.
Stuffed Shrimp Oreganata
- 1 pound large shrimp (16-20 per pound)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 cups of fresh bread crumbs
- (made from Italian bread, crusts removed and processed into crumbs)
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Preheat oven to 375°F. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tail intact. To butterfly them, follow the directions above. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, spray with nonstick spray and arrange the shrimp in a single layer.
Heat the butter and the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, soft and just beginning to turn golden – do not brown. Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, crushed red pepper, salt and black pepper. Mix well.
Spoon even portions of the breadcrumb mixture over each of the butterflied shrimp. Using your fingers, gently mold each portion of stuffing around the shrimp. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with lemon juice and serve immediately.
Serves 4
Shrimp Parmigiana
You will need the following amounts for 2 servings. Recipe is easily doubled or tripled.
- 12 large shrimp (16-20 per pound), peeled and deveined
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup egg substitute
- 1/3 cup Progresso Italian Style Panko Bread Crumbs
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 cup homemade marinara sauce, warmed, see post http://jovinacooksitalian.com/2012/04/19/hello-world/
- 3/4 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray a baking dish that fits the portion of shrimp you are making with cooking spray.
Place the egg substitute in a shallow bowl, and the Panko breadcrumbs in another.
Wash and dry the shrimp. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Put shrimp in the bowl with the egg substitute to coat and then into the breadcrumbs. Place in the baking dish.
The shrimp can be prepared ahead up to this point. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Drizzle the top of the shrimp with the olive oil and bake on the middle oven rack for 12 minutes.
Pour sauce evenly over shrimp and then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Return to the oven and heat just until cheese melts about 3-4 minutes.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo with Spaghetti
In Italy the phrase "alla fra diavolo", which means "in Brother Devil's style," refers to a dish in which chicken is sprinkled heavily with black pepper and then grilled. In America, lobster fra diavolo became a popular restaurant dish in the 1930s—it was unknown in Italy, where they do not have American lobsters. The reference to "brother Devil" refers both to the red color of the lobster and the tomato sauce and to the hot bite provided by the chile pepper, which suggests that this sauce might have originated with Abruzzese cooks who came to this country. Abruzzo is renowned for its hearty and spicy dishes that use hot red peppers, called diavolini (little devils) that grow well in that region of Italy. Crushed red chile peppers give this sauce a better flavor than cayenne pepper but you may need to adjust the amount based on your tolerance for hot peppers. I choose to make this dish with shrimp instead of lobster.
2 (28-ounce) containers Pomi chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 bay leaves
4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt, taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
8 fresh basil leaves, torn into quarters
1 lb.spaghetti
In a Dutch oven heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the bay leaves and stir them in the oil until they begin to brown, about 10 seconds. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the onions, carrots, and oregano. Cook the vegetables until they are soft, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent them from scorching.
Add the tomatoes, the tomato paste, salt and pepper, and clam juice. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer, partially covered until the sauce thickens, about 1 to 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick. Remove bay leaves.
Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
Stir crushed red pepper into sauce and lay the shrimp in the sauce, increase the heat to medium, and simmer until the shrimp turn pink, 4 to 6 minutes. Adjust the seasonings, add basil and serve over spaghetti.
Related articles
- Shrimp Recipes: 13 Easy Ways To Cook Shrimp (huffingtonpost.com)
- Free the Shrimps (foryourowngood.org)
- Garlic Shrimp Pasta with Broccoli (thegoodcookermom.wordpress.com)
- Shrimp. Italian Style (sweetpaprika.wordpress.com)
- Stuffed Shrimp (spoonfeast.com)
- http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx


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Former Waterloo Road and Coronation Street heart-throb Lucien Laviscount will be bringing star quality to Lightwater Valley Theme Park this Saturday, 7th April.
Lucien will be at the park in Ripon, North Yorkshire from 12noon, and will meet fans for photos and autographs until 1pm, and then again from 3pm-4pm. There will also be an opportunity to purchase some official Lucien merchandise to have signed by the man himself.
Having won the hearts of girls up and down the country in BBC hit drama Waterloo Road, Lucien is now launching his music career with debut single 'Dance with You' featuring Mann, set for release on 22nd April. The music video sees some special guest appearances from actors Matt D'Angelo and Geoff Bell, Inside Men star Ashley Walters (aka Asher D from So Solid Crew), and all of the boys from Blue. Lucien is the first artist to be signed to SK Records – founded by British singer-songwriter Simon Webbe and business partners Karan and Preeti Singh.
Anyone wishing to meet Lucien will need to purchase a ticket (to gain entry into the park), and will then need to queue to meet Lucien at the specified time, in a designated area.


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Millennials And Self-Awareness
Here's Another Reason To Be Ashamed Of Your Generation
Page 2 of 2A lot of ink has been spilled on the subject of millennials in the workplace, and for good reason. When you have a workforce that's somehow 90% "gifted and talented," I don't see a way for sh*t not to hit the fan. If we screw something up, we have a cute excuse for it. "Oh, I can't use Excel because it makes my gluten allergy flare up." "Well, I was going to do that simple, direct task you gave me, but I decided my time was better spent innovating and building a sense of community, so I went on Facebook instead. Plus, I'm bad at directions." The oldest of us turn 30 this year, and I'll leave it up to businesses to figure out what to do with a group of people with skills 10 years behind where they should be that have no desire to work but somehow think they should be making six-figure incomes. Good luck with that.
What's more interesting to me, and what few people talk about, is our millennial lack of self-awareness and its implications for life outside of the office. It's huge, if you think about it. We are an entire generation that was raised to believe we were all incredibly special, fighting to come to terms with a world in which we aren't. The problem is, we've got a lot of fight in us. We have every conceivable excuse for our behavior, and as we age and gain prominence, the world is beginning to cater to us, mostly because it's really easy to make a lot of money off of people with an artificially inflated sense of self-worth.
We were told we could become anything we wanted when we grew up, so long as we put our minds to it. So we did. We became bloggers, social media gurus, tech entrepreneurs and perpetual students. What they should have told is though is that we could become anything we wanted, but that it wouldn't mean anyone was going to pay us for it.
I have high expectations for the millennial generation, and not just because I'm part of it. We were the last generation to come of age before computers were nothing but expensive internet machines, so we may well be the last generation with genuine interpersonal skills. We want to change the world, and to even believe you're capable of that, you need a pretty high sense of self. There's no shortage of that with us. The problem is that we're terrified of failure, because we've never been allowed to fail.
Have a conversation with a millennial and count how many times you hear them admit that they don't know or aren't good at something. They won't, and if they do, it will be some qualifying non-sequitur like "I'm bad at directions." Millennials are terrified of the interview question "What are your weaknesses?" because we genuinely have no idea. Actually, I've said that in response to that question before. My greatest weakness is that I have no clue what my weaknesses are. That's about as honest as I could be. We're a generation that's putting off everything (marriage, getting jobs, owning homes, etc.) simply because we're afraid to think what might happen if it doesn't work out.
My generation aspires to big things, to elevate ourselves to something greater than what we are now. I just think it would help if we were a little more aware of our place in the world. It figures, though. We're so bad at directions.
Check out Ian's site or follow him on Twitter.


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A special Pakistani court has sentenced a man to five-year rigorous imprisonment for posting blasphemous content on social media, becoming the first such case under the country's new cybercrime law.
The special court for cybercrime sentenced Sajid Ali, an active member of the Shia sect after he was charged for posting "sacrilegious, blasphemous and derogatory" material on Facebook in 2017.
He was punished under section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 and 298-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with the use of derogatory remarks against holy personalities of Islam.
Ali, a resident of Bahawalnagar's Chishtian tehsil, some 400 km from Lahore, was booked by the local police on the complaint of people in his locality.
The case was later transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circle Lahore over the issue of jurisdiction.
The FIA has termed the sentence a "first-of-its-kind" in Pakistan under the new cybercrime laws.
FIA Prosecutor Munam Bashir Chaudhry produced 12 witnesses including FIA Assistant Director Naeem Zafar who also submitted his technical analysis report.
Most witnesses testified against Ali, he said.
"The first conviction in the country under the new cybercrime laws on charges of posting blasphemous material against companions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) on social media," FIA Cyber Crime Lahore head Sarfraz Chaudhry told PTI.
"The court has also directed the government to launch an awareness campaign to aware the people about cybercrimes especially the blasphemous content," he said. Blasphemy is considered a sensitive topic in Pakistan and those accused of it often languish in jails for years. Pakistan has a history of giving stringent punishments to people accused of blasphemy.
Last year, the Supreme court had acquitted Aasia Bibi, the first woman to be sentenced to death under Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws, in a high-profile sacrilege case that polarised the society. The 47-year-old mother of four, now in Canada, was convicted in 2010 after being accused of insulting Islam in a row with her neighbours. She always maintained her innocence but spent most of the eight years in solitary confinement.