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Jeanette Winterson's new novel is a strange and spare piece of horror writing about witch trials that arrives on these shores just in time for Halloween.
"The Daylight Gate" is based on a real-life story of the Pendle Witches, men and women charged in 1612 with using their alleged craft to murder innocents in Lancashire in northwest England. Winterson re-creates the turbulent times that fed the anti-witch hysteria. King James, obsessed with the idea of witchcraft, has ascended to the throne. And Lancashire is famous as a hotbed of thievery and outlawed Catholicism.
"The north of England is untamed," Winterson begins. "It can be subdued but it cannot be tamed. Lancashire is the wild part of the untamed."
Winterson is a shape-shifter of the British literary scene, an author willing to tackle many subjects and forms, including children's books, memoirs, screenplays and comic books. She's written science fiction before, in the novel "The Stone Gods," though she bristled when critics attached the "genre" label to it. Many will also read "The Daylight Gate" as a work of genre, mostly because Winterson gives her stylistic talents a rest as she speeds through a fast-paced plot that's heavy on dialogue (long passages read more like a screenplay) and light on description.
"The Daylight Gate" was released in Britain last year by Hammer. It's a house that, according to its website, publishes "intelligent horror in the form of film tie-ins" and literary classics "re-imagined to bring them to a whole new market with a modern and sophisticated twist." Winterson's novel hews closely to that formula.
"The Daylight Gate" is said to take place in the early 17th century, but the novel's accused witches often act and feel like modern-day bohemians. They have same-sex relationships and group sex, and they aren't terribly discreet about it. One woman becomes an entrepreneur and grows wealthy enough to earn the envy of high society. A pair of Winterson's characters even rent a warehouse in the Bankside district of London — given that it's two centuries before the Industrial Revolution, they were lucky to find one.
The sex acts in "The Daylight Gate," consensual and nonconsensual, usually unfold with a few terse phrases devoid of the sorts of details that can arouse or repulse. There are many "erect" members, including one produced by a man while under torture. A few sentences later, the tortured man loses said member (and the rest of his genitalia) to the torturer's knife. Somehow, the victim survives his brutal maiming.
Winterson breaks all sorts of rules of about good writing in "The Daylight Gate." Sentence variety? Who needs it when you're racing to get another "ghostly presence" into a scene, as in this passage in which Alice Nutter, later to be accused of witchcraft, responds to hearing a mysterious whispering of her name:
"She smothered the fire screen … and went to the study door. She opened it onto the long, dark corridor that led to her bedroom. She looked this way and that; there was no one in the corridor. She went back inside and closed the door. She had a feeling of foreboding."
Winterson often describes the witchcraft, actual and perceived, with raw and evocative prose. But just as often, she resorts to cliché. Consider the opening to the chapter in which Elizabeth Device prepares a potion to cast a spell.
"She was tending to a cauldron coming to the boil over a dirty fire. A rough altar, a pair of sulphurous candles and a skeleton still chained to where its owner's body had left it, completed the furnishings of the cellar."
Candle? Cauldron? Skeleton? Check, check, check. Only the spider is missing. No fear, there's also a talking spider in "The Daylight Gate."
Later, Shakespeare enters. The Bard is retired in Stratford, but he's left his small-town comforts to come north to attend a performance of "The Tempest." He offers one of the doomed women a warning — and asks her for advice on the ending of "The Winter's Tale." Will anyone believe it, he asks, if I put a talking statue in my play?
It's one of the weirdest cameos Shakespeare has ever made, in a book that may just be the weirdest one Winterson will ever write.
The Daylight Gate
A novel
Jeanette Winterson
Grove: 240 pp, $24


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FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - Once again, Fabian Cancellara will start a one-day race with a big target on his back in Sunday's elite race at the world cycling championships.
Cancellara's sheer power, combined with his ability on tough, short climbs, make him the clear favorite for the 272.3-km trek from Lucca to Florence.
After 106.6 kilometers on the flat, the peloton will go around a 16.6-km circuit which includes the Fiesole climb (4.4 km with a gradient of 5.2 percent) and the Via Salviati (600 meters at 10.2 percent), where the pure sprinters will be eliminated.
The race will then turn into a duel between the climbers and riders such as Swiss Cancellara and Slovakian prodigy Peter Sagan, 23.
"We will be trying to make it the hardest race possible, to try to isolate the sprinters and make it more of a climber's race," said Tour de France champion Chris Froome, who is not at his best as the end of an exhausting season looms.
"I think Sagan and (defending champion Philippe) Gilbert (of Belgium) are the two to really look out for most. If they get into difficulty with the amount of climbing then I think it would be more of a climber's race but as long as they're there, then it's basically up to them.
"I'm not exactly very punchy or explosive when it comes to a bunch sprint or final kick, so I think if I am to win I'm going to have to try and go clear on possibly the last couple of laps."
Froome and Team GB, which also features Bradley Wiggins, should be helped in that task by other climbers' teams such as Spain and Colombia, who will work for Tour runner-up Nairo Quintana.
Spain have several cards up their sleeves with Joaquim Rodriguez, Alejandro Valverde, Dani Moreno and Alberto Contador.
Somehow, Froome forgot to mention Cancellara.
The Swiss, who achieved a rare Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double this year, tried to ease the pressure on himself, saying after claiming the bronze medal in Wednesday's time trial: "I don't want to talk about it.
"Everyone wants to know about Sunday â how I feel, how I go and how I look. There's no way I give that information to you."
The hugely talented Sagan, who won the Grand Prix de Montreal in awe-inspiring fashion this month, will also be a marked man, though less so than Cancellara.
The Swiss showed Sagan how it was done at the Tour of Flanders, when his acceleration in the brief but brutal Paterberg climb left the Slovakian stuck on the road as the youngster settled for second.
Home hopes lie with Vincenzo Nibali, winner of the Giro d'Italia and runner-up at the Vuelta this year, although he has yet to shine in a one-day race.
According to his team mate Alessandro Ballan, Nibali could be the surprise winner even if Cancellara is the man to beat.
"He seemed to be in great shape in the time trial, he has lost some weight, he is fast and powerful," said Ballan, who won the rainbow jersey in 2008 after team leader Paolo Bettini had been marked all day.
"He will be marked and all the riders will be racing against him as they did against Bettini in 2008. That's why we could end up with a surprise winner."
Rain is forecast and could have a bearing on the result.
"In that case, it could be a lottery," said Gilbert, who himself feels "relaxed, having already been world champion".
France, who have had a fine season with four stage wins at the Vuelta, could cause an upset with Warren Barguil, Thibaut Pinot, Thomas Voeckler or Arthur Vichot.
(Editing by Clare Fallon)


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S1 E03 Episode 103
ENTREPRENEUR: Marian Cruz
PITCH: Inventor of the Turbobaster, a battery-operated cooking device that siphons juice, has a silicone basting brush and an injector tip for marinades.
ASKING FOR: $35K in return for a 35% stake.
WORST PART OF THE PITCH: Marian reveals she doesn't yet have a working prototype of the Turbobaster. Things go further south for her when she says she has no idea what the estimated manufacturing costs would be for the product.
THE SHARKS BITE WHEN: Despite not knowing her numbers, they still find her to be charismatic. Kevin Harrington, who has experience selling products through infomercials, offers up the $35K for a licensing deal with a 2% royalty. Daymond offers $40K for only 51% of the company and a 2% royalty.
RESULT: In the end, Marian opts for Kevin and his selling-on-TV expertise.
WANT TO KNOW MORE: Visit www.turbobaster.com/.
ENTREPRENEUR: Brian Parks, from Eugene, Oregon.
PITCH: Creator of Chopstick Art, which recycles chopsticks and turns them into wine bottle holders and fruit baskets.
ASKING FOR: $100K in return for a 10% stake.
BEST PART OF THE PITCH: Through his research, artist/environmentalist Brian discovered that 25 billion chopsticks are thrown out each year. He explains that he came up with the concept for the art after living in China for six years.
DO THE SHARKS BITE? Despite thinking he's a nice guy, all five Sharks determine that he's offering a "nice-to-have" product rather than a "gotta-have" one. They all pass on investing in Brian's business.
WANT TO KNOW MORE: Visit www.chopstickart.com/.
ENTREPRENEUR: Lori Lite, from Marieta, Georgia.
PITCH: Creator of the Stress Free Kids line of books, aimed at calming children down. She's looking to grow awareness about her self-published materials.
ASKING FOR: $250K in return for a 20% stake.
BEST PART OF THE PITCH: Lori explains that it used to take her two hours to put her hyperactive son to bed each night. She turned her stress-management techniques into the line of children's books. Daymond says she's a star.
THE SHARKS BITE WHEN: She moved 30,000 units last year, working out of her kitchen. Kevin O'Leary offers $250K, but wants 100% of the company. Daymond offers $250 for 51%, and Barbara offers the same amount for 50%.
RESULT: Lori accepts Barbara's offer.
WANT TO KNOW MORE: Visit www.stressfreekids.com.
UPDATE: Barbara Corcoran's investment in Lori D. Lite's children's books publishing company, Stress Free Kids has been lucrative. Lori's book, The Angry Octopus, has become one of Amazon's top sellers and three additional titles are now sold in Border's bookstores nationwide.
ENTREPRENEUR: Ken Bradford
PITCH: The 50 State Capitals deck of instructional flashcards. He has a prototype, but wants to turn his idea into a business.
ASKING FOR: $155K in return for a 10% stake.
THE PITCH GOES SOUTH WHEN: Ken admits he's had only one sale.
DO THE SHARKS BITE? No. They're quick to thank him for stopping by and get him out of the room.
WANT TO KNOW MORE: Visit www.sharpestkidontheblock.com/.
ENTREPRENEUR: Jeff Cohen and his son Josh.
PITCH: The Voyage Air Guitar, designed to fold in half and fit into a backpack or an overhead compartment on an airplane. They need capital to build more units.
ASKING FOR: $500K for a 5% stake. And you just know the Sharks won't be having that!
BEST PART OF THE PITCH: Jeff says he owns the patent for the folding hinge.
THE SHARKS BITE WHEN: Jeff says he's sold 800 units already this year, for a sales total of $400K. Kevin O'Leary offers $500K for 51% of a company that owns his patent. Kevin Harrington goes in on that deal, offering to put up half the cash and bringing his expertise with TV infomercials to the table.
RESULT: Jeff and Josh decline the offer. Kevin O'Leary responds, "I'm stunned of your greed. You're a human tragedy. You're dead to me when you say no to my deal."
WANT TO KNOW MORE: Visit www.voyageairguitar.com/.


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Cape Dorset, Nunavut Territory, Canada
Osuitok grew up traditionally on the land and learned to carve by watching his father, Ohotok. He sold his first ivory carving in the 1940s and was already highly regarded for his artistry by the time that James Houston arrived in 1951. Osuitok participated in the introduction of the printmaking program in the late 1950s and his work was in the "Sculpture/Inuit. Sculpture of the Inuit: Masterworks of the Canadian Arctic" show (1971-73) that toured the world. His sculptures gradually became more stylized and minimal; by the late 1980s, his austere renderings of caribou were more symbol than depiction.
Spirit Wrestler Gallery
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Vancouver, BC
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Toll Free: 1-888-669-8813
Phone: 604-669-8813
one block West of the Granville Island gates
Between Pine St. and Fir St.
Tuesday to Saturday, open 10-5
Sunday and Holidays, open 12-5
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- On this, some of Washington's highest-ranking budget players can agree: A "grand bargain" this year to close the nation's chronic budget deficits seems like a long shot.
That was the consensus at an annual Washington "fiscal summit" thrown by billionaire deficit hawk Pete Peterson, who's staked $1 billion of his fortune on a foundation aimed at raising public awareness of the dangers of the government's growing debt.
But barely 100 days into President Barack Obama's second term -- supposedly a time of peak possibility in a divided capital city -- a bipartisan squad of Washington's budget big shots was decidedly downbeat on the chances of following up January's big tax increase on the wealthy with a follow-up deal.
"A 'grand bargain' implies you're going to fix the problem, but when you have the majority party in Washington unwilling to embrace the kinds of reforms that make Medicare solvent or make Social Security solvent ... I don't see a grand bargain happening," said House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., a frequent attendee at Peterson's event.
"The question is," Ryan continued, "'Can we make divided government work and can we make a down payment on the problem? Can we buy the country time and fiscal space?' That's what we're shooting for -- something that's realistic."
The cause for the gridlock is a familiar impasse over tax increases. GOP resolve against tax hikes has only intensified since Obama in January extracted a $600 billion-plus tax hike on the wealthy over 10 years as the price for extending the rest of the Bush-era tax cuts. Without GOP retreat on taxes, Democrats won't offer curbs on rapidly growing benefit programs like Medicare.
Appearing a few minutes later, Ryan's counterpart as top Democrat on the Budget panel offered a similarly pessimistic assessment.
"There is no evidence that we are getting closer to an agreement," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
Obama's representative, National Economic Council Chairman Gene Sperling, demurred when pressed by moderator Chuck Todd of NBC News about whether he was optimistic of a budget pact.
"He has shown that he is willing to go out of his comfort zone to put forward a real compromise," Sperling said, referring to Obama's proposal to reduce Social Security cost-of-living increases, which has inflamed his liberal allies.
"Deficit reduction is never easy. It's never fun. It requires hard choices. And when you have divided government, whether it's 1997 or now, it requires compromise," Sperling said. "What you need though is for both sides to be able to feel that they achieved enough of their objectives that the compromise in the areas they don't like is acceptable because the plan as a whole is balanced."
"You wouldn't get any sense that the ice was melting or the ground was shifting in any way," said audience member Robert Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a non-partisan anti-deficit group.
There was less nitty-gritty talk on the budget from Peterson's two marquee guests, former President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Both called for protecting federal investments in science and research. And both fretted about global warming, a topic that's largely slid off of the Washington agenda.
For her part, Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash., was eager to exploit Republicans' refusal to appoint a House-Senate negotiating panel on the starkly different House GOP and Senate Democratic budget plans. She chided Republicans for spending years assaulting Democrats for not passing a budget only to refuse to negotiate under "regular order" now that Democrats have passed one.
Ryan gently pointed out that what Democrats are really after is the right, under Capitol Hill's arcane rules, to offer nonbinding, politically charged budget votes. They can't do that unless an official House-Senate conference committee is named. He observed that such votes would actually harm prospects for an agreement since it would put the House on record against reducing Social Security COLAs, for instance.
To sum up, Congress is not only gridlocked over the budget but it's gridlocked over how to begin negotiating over the budget.
"We can't even get an agreement in principle to begin talking," Ryan said.
Ryan and Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said an upcoming need to increase the government's borrowing cap could provide the impetus for any potential agreement. But it's increasingly looking as though the deadline for increasing the so-called debt limit won't come until October instead of August, adding months of further budget delays.
That's because the government's finances are doing a little better than had been earlier thought. The Congressional Budget Office offered the latest proof on Tuesday with a study saying the deficit for the 2013 budget year that started last October is running $231 billion below the deficit for a comparable period in 2012. Revenues are running 16 percent higher over the period, while spending is 2 percent less.


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At Westside Volkswagen, customer service and competitive prices reign supreme. Whether you're looking to purchase or lease a new or pre-owned vehicle, our dedicated team will walk you through every step.
Take a look around our new website to browse our inventory, request more information, schedule a test drive or service appointment - even start the process of financing your new Westside vehicle! We look forward to helping you drive into the sunset (or wherever you're going) in your new Volkswagen.
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Every car purchased from Westside VW also comes with the Luther Advantage. This means you are guaranteed a free CARFAX report and a comprehensive inspection with every pre-owned vehicle you buy from us. We think that's a pretty great deal.
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If genuine OEM parts are what you're looking for, look no further. Westside Volkswagen carries a comprehensive inventory of high-quality parts, and our experienced staff is available to answer your questions. If we don't have the part you need in stock, we'll be happy to order it for you and get it in your hands as quickly as we can.
Westside Volkswagen is proud to serve the communities of St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Edina, Plymouth and Richfield. Visit us at 2370 Hwy 100 in St. Louis Park or give us a call at 888-346-2937 to learn more about our inventory and how we can help. We look forward to joining you on your journey to a new vehicle!


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Gov. Christie Greenlights New Jersey's First Medical Marijuana Dispensary
(MONTCLAIR, N.J.) -- The commissioner of New Jersey Department of Health announced this week that for the first time physicians can register qualified patients for the state's medical marijuana program.
It's a move that got support from Republican Gov. Chris Christie, whose face will hang in a place of honor on the wall of the first functioning dispensary in the Garden State.
"At one point we felt that the progression of the program installation was slow," according to Julio Valentin, COO of Greenleaf Compassion, the dispensary in Montclair. "But we understand that Gov. Christie and the state of New Jersey is doing the best they can to cross their T's and dot their I's to make this program as successful as possible."
Valentin, who intends to hang a framed photo of Gov. Christie on one of the walls of the dispensary, says that Christie has given them "the green light" to proceed with developing the program.
Valentin told ABC News he wants the dispensary to look like any other official government building. "I think it is respectful to hang a picture of the governor as well as other governmental officials in the store." Valentine continued, explaining that having a photo of the controversial Republican governor is not intended to be factious. "It is out of respect. We will have our certificates, an American flag and the N.J. state flag hanging inside too."
Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, however, isn't as convinced that Christie's intentions in supporting the medical marijuana project are all good. According to him Christie "begrudgingly embraced" the legislation.
St. Pierre believes that Christie is not doing this because he is a supporter; he is doing to for "political pragmatism."
Though the governor seems supportive of medical marijuana, in June he vowed to veto a bill decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Advocates for decriminalization hope that one day Republicans will see their argument from a financial point of view.
"It'll be awesome the amount of money these places will generate," according to St. Pierre.
"The most infamous dispensary in California, Harborside Health Center pulls in $60,000-$70,000 per day in cash sales. That's over 30 million dollars a year in revenue," he said. "There is a lot of money to be generated in these dispensaries. Legislators are beginning to see that money and want to get a piece of it, which is very logical."
St. Pierre hopes that once establishments get going in New Jersey they will set a precedent for other East Coast states. "New Jersey's marijuana program is the antithesis of that in California, St." Pierre said. "Everywhere and every state looks to California and says that is not the model they want to replicate." That is why Christie has made a push for the strictest possible laws.
The newly installed patient registry system allows doctors to go online and electronically sign patients up to participate in the program, allowing them to explore alternative treatments of specified illnesses through means of medicinal marijuana. The qualifying conditions required to receive a med card include terminal illness, cancer, glaucoma, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Six dispensaries have been issued permits by the state but only one, Greenleaf Compassion Center of Montclair, is set to be up and running by the beginning of September.
Though five of the six permitted dispensaries do not yet have storefront locations, the medical marijuana program has made huge strides since New Jersey's Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine more than two years ago. However, the law's implementation was delayed under the Christie administration as the state labored over regulatory details. Christie said that passing the decriminalization bill would be "contrary to the message we are sending" by establishing a structured medical marijuana program.
When asked how he felt about Valentin hanging a picture of the governor in New Jersey's first dispensary, St. Pierre responded, "In my opinion, these permits landed in the hands of political partisans. That man running that dispensary will one day be on the end of a political donation to Christie. Mark my words."
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio


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After an initial set of chapters dedicated to the fauna of Réunion Island, the national Red List of Threatened Species in France has been expanded to include the flora of the island.
All indigenous vascular plants, which include 905 species of ferns and flowering plants from Réunion, were assessed using the Categories and Criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. The study was carried out by the IUCN French National Committee, the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, the Fédération des conservatoires botaniques nationaux and the Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin. This study highlights the current state of affairs on Réunion; it shows that 49 plant species (5.4%) have already disappeared from the island and that another 275 species (30.4%) are now classified as Threatened.


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Headed to London and the Olympic village, the defending champion Chinese gymnastics squads have finalized their rosters for the upcoming Olympic Games.
He Kexin has earned the fifth and final spot on the women's team, joining Deng Linlin, Huang Qiushuang, Sui Lu and Yao Jinnan in China's London lineup.
The Chinese squads have been training at Salto Gymnastics in Northern Ireland since mid-July. Team alternates will continue to train there until competition begins July 28, after which they will head back to Beijing if they are not called to London.
"As the alternates we need to make the team feel safe," men's alternate Yan Mingyong told CCTV. "It's already a huge pity not making the team, but I don't want to make the pity bigger by giving up training."
Yan, the 2009 world champion on still rings, came close to making the team after an injury scare to team captain Chen Yibing. Chen, the defending Olympic rings champion, suffered an injured meniscus training vault at Salto, but will likely concentrate on pommel horse and still rings in London.
The men's team went to Northern Ireland with its lineup finalized, but He, Jiang Yuyuan and Tan Sixin had been battling for the final spot on the women's squad. Having Deng and Sui on the team left a void on uneven bars, and the coaches eventually decided to take a risk with the spectacular yet inconsistent He.
Jiang — who along with Deng and He helped China win four years ago in Beijing — was in tears as she described her slim chances of competing in London.
"I think there is just a 20 to 30 percent chance of that miracle," said Jiang, the 2010 world all-around silver medalist. "But as long as I tried, it's fine."
Competition begins July 28 with the men's qualification.
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Thursday, 19 August 2010
Training runs vs. races (or running vs. running away from a bear)
The inherent problem with running a race is you trick your body into believing you are running away from a bear. A race is like a training run on amphetamines and opiates. Endogenous though they may be, they allow us to temporarily overlook the fact that we are doing damage to our body (so we aren't eaten by that bear). People who don't believe in pain killers when training should not believe in races for training for the same reasons. What kind of damage are we doing to our body? Well, skeletal muscle is damaged, first of all, and maybe ligaments and tendons. But you can't feel it at the time because you have induced that survival instinct in your body. And nothing hurts, that is, until you attempt to train again. Do races do long term damage to the body? Well, I don't think that question has been fully answered. There is damage to heart muscle, but does it mean anything long term? We don't know...
But what about straight out training? Well, since I just returned from an interval session, I can assure you that you feel pain. And despite the pain, you push yourself. But you can never run like you do in a race when you are alone. That is unless there actually IS a bear behind you. So you slowly increase your body's ability to run fast over time. And THIS is where real improvement comes from.
Here are my 6 x 1 mile interval times from today (2 min. rest):
(same back and forth course as last week, but this time with a strong wind coming from a certain direction (can you tell which direction? :))
And last week
Note the 2 second improvement overall. Okay, not much. But slow and steady progress is the key.
So why run races? Well, the first obvious answer is, because then you have something to train for. The next reason is you gain experience. This is particularly important in ultras. Third is they are fun.
I'm going to use May-Britt as an example, just because I like her so much and because I'm tired of using myself. May-Britt wrote one day that she was going to substitute intervals with a 10k run. My first problem with this was a 10k is a tempo run and not intervals. The second problem was, even if she said it was just a training run, it is hard to not go all out. And she ended up setting a beautiful PR. That is great in itself, but then you suffer a setback the next time you try to train and I don't think you gain anything extra from a race than a training run (since you're high on adrenaline). But she DID get a PR, but she could have gotten a FASTER PR had she trained specifically for that race (hey, but who am I to judge?... I do it too and I'm always happy with a PR!)
An extreme example of this, and my insspiration for writing this post, is stage races, where you run an incredibly challenging race day after day. Jill Homer has just written a very thought-provoking post about her experience and others' at the Trans Rockies bike rice. From my own experience at the Trans Alpine foot race last year, I know that if you are simply used to running on your own on relatively flat land and then race a marathon in the mountains day after day, you body starts pumping out adrenaline big time until it simply can't keep up anymore and your body begins to fall apart. My entire body swelled up like a balloon for 2 weeks after the Trans Alpine last year and then it took me nearly 3 months before I could run and train at my previous speed. One could argue it was a net loss, but it really was an experience of a lifetime. I recommend you read Jill's post for more on this topic.
But let's say that you trained for an entire year or maybe two, where you gradually ran longer and harder in the mountains day after day. And ran very few races. You would then be one of the few people who could show up at the Trans Alpine or Trans Rockies race and escape relatively unharmed (Angela Mudge was a perfect example of this at the Trans Alpine race last year.). And you'd be in super shape because you had focused your training. People who are not used to the terrain and the day after day pounding are simply going to be destroyed by the experience.
With all this in mind, why are we running so many races this fall? They are just so gosh darn fun, of course. Plus they are social events. And things to work towards. I will mention that this weekend is our half ironman. By the time we get to run, I think and hope I'll be too tired from the swim and bike to do damage in the run. I do think my swimming will suffer, though. I had an interval session yesterday in the pool where I did 80 lengths in a 25 meter pool. I had a total of 11 interval down and backs, 1 at 53 seconds, 2 at 54 and the rest around 56-58 (I enjoy writing my swimming times since I have no clue what is fast. It is just totally uncharted territory for me.). It will be interesting to see how much my swimming suffers when I try to do pool intervals next week. And normally 1km of swimming (which we will do this weekend) would have no sort of negative impact. But again, I'm sure the race will be a setback.
Not rocket science here, people. But something I needed to get down in writing to further my own understanding.
Running song of the day: Rococo by Arcade Fire
18 comments:
- May-Britt Hansen said...
Allow me to explain: The 10K race was meant as a testrun towards my main goal - a 24 hours race in sept. The particular race is very good as a testrun, because it´s held every month.
I don´t believe you should run a 10K competition and intervals in the same week, at least not when you´ve just taking up intervals as I had.
- 19 August 2010 at 14:34
- PiccolaPineCone said...
i'm a great believer in using races as work-outs as long as one trains through them i.e. no taper and accepts the result for what it is i.e. a work-out time not a race time. as always i believe the fastest race times inevitably come from picking a goal race, training to it and tapering.
I agree, races are so much fun... I often use them as work-outs just to partake in the atmosphere and adrenaline - they're getting so costly though I am having a harder and harder time justifying this approach.
- 19 August 2010 at 15:30
- SteveQ said...
The line between training and racing gets blurred among ultrarunners who are just trying to finish. I've tried using races as training runs, but I end up going WAY too hard in the "low-key" race and need too long to recover.
The social aspects of racing are most obvious in small local races and ultras, where everybody knows everybody. In the big local races, everyone races to their car to beat the traffic after finishing and have thei "game face" on beforehand.
- 19 August 2010 at 19:19
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- 19 August 2010 at 19:23
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- 19 August 2010 at 19:41
- Karen said...
I believe that a really hard effort is a good thing. That's what makes us stronger!! When substituting a training run for a race, it's important to make sure they're of similar efforts, ie- a 5K instead of a 5 mi tempo run, or a half marathon for a 15 mile long run.
I really love using races as runs, just to change it up a bit. I don't ever race to the point where nothing is left in the tank though. A recovery of one to two days is fine for all distances but the marathon (since I'm still new to the sheer distance of it all).
Everyone knows their limits, one just has to trust that they won't be tempted to push them too far.
PS- Running away from a bear gives me more adrenaline than running a race. There's the added "I think I might pee myself" factor with the bear that isn't present in a race. :) Can a bear chase me for my next race? I wanna PR.
- 19 August 2010 at 21:05
- mmmonyka said...
I have never had a chance to use race as work-out but I think that I would not like that. Truth is that I do not like racing that much especially when I do not feel 100% prepared for a race. But I love training so I think I will continue with solo work-outs.
- 20 August 2010 at 03:45
- sea legs girl said...
Thanks for the comment. I will just say that whatever you are doing is working because you are getting faster at all distances it seems and one can't complain about that. Just want to point out that had you run a 10k tempo instead of a race that you could have run a tempo and intervals in the same week and maybe gotten more out of the week. But heck, races AND PRs sure are fun.
PPC, I have no trouble training right up to a race, but it's just the training afterwards that inevitably suffers. No matter how much I tell myself to take it easy, that bear always shows up.
I agree. And this is a good point I forgot. Anytime anyone goes into something thinking: I just want to finish, the bear actually does disappear. Or sometimes. Our bike ride last week was only a minor setback in my bike training since I really went into it just to finish. But my first 50 miler, though my ostensible goal was just to finish, my goal ended up being to win. Where am I going with this?
Anonymous, I don't think you even read what I wrote...
Glad to have a comment here from someone who truly understands the bear analogy :). I was once also really chased by a bear while running.
I basically believe that my most productive weeks are the ones where I don't have races. Unless it's a 5k, I always suffer a setback. But maybe that will change as I get more used to run fast for long distances.
Mmmonyka, I also used to hate the idea of racing. I went nearly all 4 years of med school without a race, just training on my own. Then I ran one marathon. It was great. And then I started racing with SR and racing became a part of my identity. Like everything else, the more you race, the more you'd like it. But as PPC said, you save money by not racing. But you do miss out on meeting people and learning about new running routes.
- 20 August 2010 at 13:25
- olga said...
I am an advocat of "race yourself in shape". It always worked for me, even before ultra days (I raced about 100 times before my first marathon in 1.5 years after I started, I would guess). I know how to separate races vs training through races, and in fact, I finished with a feeling "I gave it all I had" only a handful of times in my 80 (or 90?) longer races. I am a slacker, or just don't know how to tap into my potential. I can train hard as well, but it's more mentally demanding to do so for longer than a month. Then I need a race to focus on. I got short-term focus device in my brain, without a goal I loose sight. Because, really, my first real run was a race:) However, it doesn't mean it's the way it has to be done. Everybody simply picks what works for them. That's why on every method there is a contra-method. Like an argument on taper or not, intervals or tempo runs, hills or LT repeats...try it all and figure out what works for you, physically and mentally.
- 20 August 2010 at 17:40
- Lisa said...
I may be doing something wrong in my training (probably not training enough), but intervals don't seem to make me faster. The only thing that has made me faster is racing the race distance as a training run. I've read all the stuff about increasing your VO2 max... used different training plans (Jack Daniels, Furman Institute). I find it really confusing, though, because my intervals are inevitably the same - fast, slower, slower, slower, and slower. On the other hand, if I just race as hard as I can, I get faster overall and have more endurance.
I will never know how much my aging process affects my running, since I started so late in life. It's confusing to me - am I getting faster, or am I just slowing the inevitable slowing-down process?
Anyway, this is a good topic and it is interesting to read others' opinions about it.
- 20 August 2010 at 18:46
- sea legs girl said...
Olga, yeah, well, as I have seen from the comments here, everyone certainly does have a different idea of what works for them. But part of the problem is, of course, that we are talking about all different lengths of races. When one is training for an ultra, it is hard to use anything but races. But, despite that, my first 50 miler was my best. And I think it was because I trained very specifically for an ultra for over a year prior to it. And I will point out I don't think one would get that much better at 10ks by just running a 10k every weekend. So, I guess what I'm saying is I agree with me... because I'm me. Thus, I agree with you ;). Hope you understood that.
Lisa, I love the honesty of your comment! But for me trying to figure out why your intervals aren't making you faster is like trying to diagnose a heart murmur over email. If you run them as fast as you can regularly (like once a week) you AT LEAST should get faster at the intervals themselves, if not actual races. As women get older, I find they actually get better at the distances of half marathon and beyond (sometimes shorter distances) partly because they know how to train and have gained experience racing. So, I can't explain what's going on with you, but if your goal is to get faster, you definitely can (you are also not very old :)).
- 20 August 2010 at 20:30
- mmmonyka said...
I have never races a lot, maybe when I was a kid. But I do not remember whether I enjoyed racing when I was a kid or not. I probably did because what else would keep be going to the track every day while my schoolmates were outside playing, plus prices were always awesome:) Then when I was about 11 or so I went through a phase when I got so nervous before every race that I vomited before every single one. It started before finals on Slovak Championships when I was some of the favorites for 600m title. Maybe too much pressure or something. Weird. It went on for about a year and I do not really understand why.
Later I got kinda indifferent about racing and when I went to college I started to nearly hate it- I loved training although. Only after I quited my college team and started to train on my own (and winning the races in France- probably the hugest factor)I started to enjoy it again. Now I think that I would love to do more races maybe even try using a race as a workout:) You are probably right that more I do more I will enjoying it. But it is really expensive in the US.
- 21 August 2010 at 02:35
- SteveQ said...
I absolutely loved the new Cloud Cult song "You'll Be Bright" (currently available only by buying their CD on their official site) for the first 10-20 listens. I was going to recommend it, but now... meh. Tired of it.
- 21 August 2010 at 19:52
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- 22 August 2010 at 09:05
- saucony said...
I love training runs and I love to race too. I like you blog too...:D
- 22 August 2010 at 12:36
- cherelli said...
I often find it easier to get into a "PB-flow" mode when training....vs a race where mentally everything is quite different. Having said that my fastest times are often in a race simply through pure adrenaline or competitiveness ( or maybe because I'm poor at keeping track of my times in training!). Anyways, I'm hangin' for the HIM race report...I hope it well!!
- 22 August 2010 at 18:12
- mmmonyka said...
I became an internet stalker and looped up the results of your HIM. I am not going to spoil the report no worries! Was it really HIM distance (I know you wrote swim is only 1k) because those times were fast! Not that I do not believe that you ran run or bike that fast of course:)but it does not seem right. Either way YOU ROCKED!!!!
- 23 August 2010 at 01:10
- sea legs girl said...
Mmmonyka, where did you find the results?? (I don't see that they're listed yet?).
Cherelli, agreed. PB's are in races. But one can get better PB's if one trains right for longer, without using races as training runs (just my opinion). Thanks for hanging in there for the report - good to know someone actually wants to read it.
Steve Q, I just downloaded the song free and legally with Real Player from Youtube. I am impressed you listen to a song so many times before you recommend it or not. Probably a good idea. Thanks for the non-recommendation.
- 23 August 2010 at 08:12


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Health Indicator Report of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Deaths
In Utah in 2017, motor vehicle traffic crashes (MVTCs) accounted for 280 deaths. This was one of the main injury causes of death. Other types of injury death that year included suicide (663), accidental and undetermined poisoning (583), and unintentional falls (224).
Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Death Rates by Utah Small Area, 2013-2017
NotesICD-10 codes V02-04 [.1-.9], V09.2, V12-14 [.3-.9], V19 [.4-.6], V20-28 [.3-.9], V29-79 [.4-.9], V80 [.3-.5], V81-82 [.1], V83-86 [.0-.3], V87 [.0-.8], V89.2. [[br]][[br]] Data have been age adjusted to the U.S. 2000 standard population. [[br]] [[br]] A description of the Utah Small Areas may be found on IBIS at the following URL: [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/resource/Guidelines.html]. *Use caution when interpreting, the relative standard error is greater than 30% and does not meet UDOH standards for reliability. **The estimate was suppressed because 1) the relative standard error is greater than 50% or the relative standard error can't be determined, 2) the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication.
Data Sources
- Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
- Population estimates produced by the UDOH Center for Health Data and Informatics. Linear interpolation of U.S. Census Bureau and ESRI ZIP Code data provided annual population estimates for ZIP Code areas by sex and age groups, IBIS Version 2017
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control's Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS)
DefinitionMotor vehicle traffic crash deaths among Utah residents per 100,000. ICD-10 codes V02-04 [.1-.9], V09.2, V12-14 [.3-.9], V19 [.4-.6], V20-28 [.3-.9], V29-79 [.4-.9], V80 [.3-.5], V81-82 [.1], V83-86 [.0-.3], V87 [.0-.8], V89.2.
NumeratorNumber of Utah resident deaths due to motor vehicle traffic crashes.
DenominatorTotal number of persons in the population of Utah.
Healthy People Objective IVP-13.1:Reduce motor vehicle crash-related deaths per 100,000 population
U.S. Target: 12.4 deaths per 100,000 population
State Target: 8.7 deaths per 100,000 population
Other ObjectivesUtah's 42 Community Health Indicators
How Are We Doing?The motor vehicle traffic crash (MVTC) death rate has been decreasing in Utah over the past two decades, although there was a significant increase between 2013 and 2014 and remained steady between 2014 and 2017. Among males as a whole there was a significant increase in motor vehicle traffic death rates between 2013 and 2014. Rates have since remained steady through 2017. Among females as a whole, there were no significant changes in motor vehicle traffic death rates between 2013 and 2017. Between 2015 and 2017, San Juan (59.2 per 100,000 population), Southeast (22.4), and Central Utah (15.4) health districts had the highest MVTC death rates. Summit County (3.4 per 100,000 population), Davis County (7.3 per 100,000 population), and Utah County (6.9 per 100,000 population) health districts had the lowest. Utah males aged 65+ had the highest MVTC death rates (21.5 per 100,000 population) between 2015 and 2017, followed by males aged 45-64 (15.6) and males aged 25-44 (14.7). Among females, the highest MVTC death rate was among Utahns aged 65+ (8.5 per 100,000 population).
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?In 2016 (the most recent year for U.S. data), Utah had a lower rate of MVTC deaths (8.9 deaths 100,000 population) than the U.S. (12.1).^1^[[br]] [[br]] ---- 1. CDC Injury Control and Prevention: Data & Statistics (WISQARS); Fatal Injury Reports, [http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html]
What Is Being Done?The Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) provides funding to Utah's 13 local health departments to implement motor vehicle safety programs and Safe Kids coalitions/chapters activities. These programs focus on child passenger safety and teen driving. The VIPP partners with the Utah Teen Driving Safety Task Force, Zero Fatalities Program, and Utah Highway Safety Office, among other state and local agencies to prevent MVTC deaths. For the past eight years, a book has been published that tells the stories of teens who died in motor vehicle-related crashes. The book is distributed to each drivers education instructor in the state as a prevention tool. The books can be downloaded at [http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/teens/teen-driving/] or [http://zerofatalitiesut.com/dont-drive-stupid/]. The Utah Department of Transportation Zero Fatalities Program ([http://ut.zerofatalities.com/]) is a comprehensive, educational campaign aimed at reducing Utah's top five causes of traffic related deaths: not buckling up, drowsy driving, impaired driving, distracted driving, and aggressive driving. Utah is one of 18 states that does not have a primary seat belt law. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place. Secondary seat belt laws state that law enforcement officers may issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt only when there is another citable traffic infraction. The Utah Department of Public Safety conducts an annual safety belt observational survey to determine safety belt use for Utah. Overall, safety belt use in Utah for 2017 was 88.8%, an increase from the 2016 rate of 87.9%. In 1999, a graduated driver licensing law (GDL) was enacted in Utah to address the concern of teenage driving and crashes. GDL programs allow young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges. GDL programs are proven to reduce the number of fatal crashes among young drivers. Several changes have been made to the Utah GDL since 1999. There has been a 62% decrease in the rate of teens aged 15-17 killed in motor vehicle crashes since the Utah GDL laws went into effect in 1999. Prior to 1999, there was only a 31% decrease. In 2000, the Utah Legislature upgraded the law to make child safety seat use mandatory for children through age four. In 2008, the Utah Legislature enacted a booster seat law, requiring children younger than 8 years of age to use an appropriate child restraint device like a car seat or a booster seat. Previously, the law only required children under the age of 5 to use an approved child restraint device. The new law now protects children from ages 5 through 7 through use of a booster seat or car seat. However, children younger than 8 who are at least 57 inches tall are exempt from the law and may use a regular seat belt. In 2009, the Utah Legislature passed HB290 which prohibits texting and use of electronic mail while driving. In 2013, the Utah Legislature passed HB103 which bans drivers 18 years of age and younger from talking on a cell phone while driving. In 2014, the Utah Legislature passed SB253, which prohibits drivers from using cell phones and other electronic devices to manually dial phone numbers, access the internet, or take photos or videos while driving.
Available ServicesCall 1-888-DASH-2-DOT or visit [http://cert.safekids.org/] to locate the certified child passenger safety technician nearest you. Violence and Injury Prevention Program, Utah Department of Health[[br]] 801-538-6141[[br]] [http://health.utah.gov/vipp] Safe Kids Utah[[br]] Service provided: child safety seat inspection, booster seat inspection[[br]] 801-538-6852[[br]] [http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/kids/safe-kids-utah/] Zero Fatalities Program[[br]] [http://ut.zerofatalities.com/] Utah Highway Safety Office[[br]] 801-293-2480[[br]] [https://highwaysafety.utah.gov/] Utah Safety Council[[br]] Service provided: defensive driving course[[br]] 801-262-5400[[br]] [http://www.utahsafetycouncil.org] Intermountain Injury Control Research Center[[br]] 801-585-9157[[br]] [http://medicine.utah.edu/pediatrics/critical_care/research/iicrc.php][[br]] [[br]] [[br]] '''NATIONAL WEB SITES:'''[[br]] [[br]] Governors Highway Safety Association[[br]] [http://www.ghsa.org/] National Center for Injury Prevention and Control[[br]] [http://www.cdc.gov/injury/index.html] National Highway Transportation Safety Administration[[br]] [http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/] Safe Kids USA[[br]] [https://www.safekids.org/united-states-0] Children's Safety Network[[br]] [http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission[[br]] [http://www.cpsc.gov/]
Health Program InformationThe Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) is a trusted and comprehensive resource for data related to violence and injury. Through education, this information helps promote partnerships and programs to prevent injuries and improve public health. VIPP goals are to a) focus prevention efforts on reducing intentional and unintentional injury, b) conduct education aimed at increasing awareness and changing behaviors that contribute to the occurrence of injury, c) strengthen local health department capacity to conduct local injury prevention programs, d) promote legislation, policy changes, and enforcement that will reduce injury hazards and increase safe behaviors, e) collaborate with private and public partners, and f) improve the Utah Department of Health capacity to collect mortality and morbidity data from multiple sources and conduct injury epidemiology for use in prevention planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Page Content Updated On 10/30/2018, Published on 11/21/2018


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Not the Mail & Guardian
04 Jan 2013 06:00
Tokyo Sexwale has gone into hiding after being targeted by Japanese whalers.
Jacob Zuma's landslide victory at Mangaung was owed to canny politicking behind the scenes, a complex network of patronage and his ability to hit a high C, said the panel of judges that gave Zuma the title of Mangaung Idol.
According to former R&B star Krotch Rott, who led the judging panel, Zuma was the clear favourite. "He's like Frankie Valli on the high notes, plus he's got perfect pitch, which is the ability to pitch his song perfectly for his audience.
So he'll do tear-jerking traditional numbers for his rural audiences and then do up-tempo house remixes for the urbanites," he said.
Fellow judge Vibrato Vilakazi dis-agreed, saying that Zuma can get "a little pitchy at times, especially when he sings about cleva blacks, knocking out homosexuals or how caring for dogs is un-African".
The panel confirmed that as the winner, Zuma would be awarded a five-year recording contract with All Bets Are Off Music, a trophy for his cabinet in his not-compound and the PIN code for the treasury.
The newly elected ANC national executive committee has confirmed that nationalisation is off the agenda until it gets put back on the agenda in order to remove it again, depending on what big multinationals tell it to do.
Meanwhile, spokesperson Flipflop Mfeketo said there are no plans to introduce direct representation into South Africa's electoral system. "Some might say it is not very democratic that a handful of cadres decides the fate of 50million citizens," he said. "But those people are racists and need to shut up. Democracy is working and anyone who disagrees is not going to get a tender."
Jacob Zuma's second term in office will see a general crackdown on corruption, the presidency has confirmed.
"We came up with a brilliant solution in Mangaung," said the deputy MEC for rhetorical hyperbole, Hupla Hlope.
"Basically, the plan is that we remove the temptation to steal public funds by investing all revenue in assets that are difficult to steal, like ministerial residences or not-compounds in far-flung rural boltholes."
Sources inside the ANC have denied that Tokyo Sexwale's lower profile in recent weeks is the result of his failed leadership bid at Mangaung. Instead, they said, Sexwale has gone into hiding after being spotted by Japan's whaling fleet.
"They saw his name on the ballot sheet and assumed he was a new species of Tokyo-based sex-whale," a spokesperson said. "Now they want to harvest him for 'research' before bottling him as an Afro-disiac."
Sexwale could not be reached for comment, but neighbours reported hearing haunting whoops, whistles and clicks coming from his garden shed this week.
The Democratic Alliance has announced plans to host its own elective conference "in Helen's Porta-Pool in the rose garden at Leeuwenhof". According to the DA spokesmatriarch, Auntie Dorris Selfe-Rytchis, the conference will be run exactly like the ANC's.
"We'll force a couple of token opponents into the ring as democratic window dressing, but we all know who's going to win and her name rhymes with Smellin' Pillar. Which should not be confused with the Smelling Pillar at Leeuwenhof, which we sniff in remembrance of the night in 1882 when Sir David Graaff got home blind drunk and barfed on it. It's that sensitivity to tradition that has kept the DA on the cutting edge of modern politics."
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A little more info, at HuffPo:
The video, posted December 23, features the Republican presidential hopeful's New Hampshire staffers decked out in Santa hats, singing to the tune of "Deck the Halls." While the group sings of Newt's solutions stopping Obama's "trauma," one staffer dons an elf outfit and runs around Gingrich's New Hampshire office.So... maybe the problem was the implication that an "elf outfit" is "gay apparel." (Paging David Sedaris.)
In other news... a teacher in a Michigan elementary school changed the "Deck the Halls" lyrics after the kids laughed at "Don we now our gay apparel." She made it "bright apparel" and then got publicly criticized for not turning it into a "teachable moment." Video at the link of the principal telling the reporter: "We have an anti-discrimination and bullying policy that includes sexual orientation, and so, going forward, the teacher will be addressing: this is how we're supposed to be reacting, this is how to be respectful about this."
"Gay" is not a bad word... I agree. But can you really teach people not to laugh at the silly line "Don we now our gay apparel"? Nothing makes you want to laugh more than being forbidden to laugh. And "gay" is supposed to mean mirthful. Where's the mirth? If mirth is forbidden because we must be respectful and ever on the alert for incipient bullying, then I think you need to pick another song. But "Deck the Halls" is one of the best secular Christmas songs.
What are you going to do? Maybe we need to recognize that music is not compatible with the highest values of the public schools of the United States:
It's better that our dear youth spend their valuable time in learning respect for all minority groups and essential and useful bullying resisting skills and fill their time with teachable moments and healthy recreations instead of music.ADDED: My son Chris tells me about the time, years ago, when he was in a public school chorus that had to sing the song "Scarlet Ribbons" and the kids were forbidden to laugh about the line "I peeked in and on her bed/In gay profusion lying there..." Chris IM's:
we had to practice a lot to get to the point where we wouldn't laugh on that line, and we had been able to do it in the last rehearsals, but then in the performance someone laughed, that made everyone laugh, and it made you laugh and you had to cover your face and sort of put your head downIt almost seems like bullying to put the kids through that! [LATER: I just realized that the "you" in his description referred to me! It still makes me laugh right now.]


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It's not a strict rule, it's just that weather forecasters usually use "will", because that is how we normally make predictions. "Going to" is used to indicate that something is definitely going to happen (see, I had to use it there). Sometimes the meanings overlap, because if we say that something is going to happen, that is also a kind of prediction.
So it's normal for a weather forecaster to say, "It will rain...", but other forms are possible. In your example, the speaker is so sure that it is going to rain that he turns the weather forecaster's prediction into a certainty. "Going to" very often also indicates that we expect something to happen in the very near future, usually because we can see the evidence already. If you point to a sky full of black clouds, you're more likely to say, "It's going to rain," because it's almost 100% certain.
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Whether you prefer an early service or later morning... Whether you prefer a traditional service or more modern, West Market Church has something for you!
Traditional Worship takes place at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in our historic sanctuary. Services include great hymns of faith and a wide range of high quality choral music, as well as a relevant and lively message helping to bring Biblical truths and their application to our day-to-day life. Traditional liturgy includes communal prayer and the use of historic creeds to affirm our faith.
Modern Worship takes place at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This intimate, casual setting is one in which worshipers often arrive early to get a cup of coffee and chat before gathering together in worship. The modern worship band leads worshipers in expressing faith through meaningful songs pointing to the wonder of God and the power of the gospel for our lives. The sermon brings home the truth of Christ's teachings and the character of the God we worship.
Faith & Fellowship Hour in between @ 10:00-11:00am


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Product Categories : Aluminum Die Casting Parts > Aluminum Casting LED Lighting Parts


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Southfield-based Lear Corp. will ask a bankruptcy court judge in New York later this month to sign off on an $8.75 million settlement to a Detroit lawsuit involving automotive supplier price-fixing over the previous decade.The manufacturer of interior systems including seats and electronics, with $16.2 billion 2013 revenue and 122,000 employees, will pay that sum to resolve accusations it was a part of a conspiracy to bolster the prices of wire harness components between 2000 and 2010 in a multi-district litigation lawsuit before U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani in Detroit. The settlement agreements call for a $4.75 million payout to the lawsuit's "direct purchasers," or other auto companies that bought the parts at colluded prices, another $3 million to car buyer plaintiffs and about $1 million to auto dealerships that are also part of the court case. The agreement also calls for Lear to put up $370,263 of its own cash and obtain the rest out of assets held in reserve from the company's previous Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization from 2009 for "disputed claims." The company has yet to ask Battani to approve the settlement, but it awaits a hearing May 27 before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Allan Gropper in New York to approve the use of those assets for it. "The company maintains that it violated no laws in connection with this matter … (and) the conduct alleged by the class plaintiffs overwhelmingly relates to periods prior to (our) emergence from bankruptcy," Lear states in a disclosure to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lear agrees to $8.75M auto parts price-fixing settlement
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I really wasn't too impressed with Argentina today. I expected a lot more from Milito and Messi.
Still, all things considered, I'm happy with the result. I'll take it. We should be able to beat Slovenia and Algeria and advance.
I wouldn't go so far as to call our team good. It's nearly exactly the same team we took to the World Cup in '06, only four years older. And some of these players were already pretty old.
It's the youngest World Cup team since 1934 for Germany; much younger than 2006 too.
"I don't know what it is about us," Howard said. "We're resilient— always after we get the punch in the face."
I don't know many players of your team too well, except for Kewell, Cahill and Schwarzer. Is Viduka on the squad...?
... minus Viduka (retired)...
Haha. Howard is my hero. Rumor has it he has a broken rib though =/
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Christmas Costumes for Men
Christmas Costumes For Men
Christmas time is a busy period for fancy dress parties and with Online-fancydress's array of Christmas costumes for men, women, children and pets you'll be sure to find something for your festive fling.
Our costumes cover the whole spectrum of Christmas - from the true beginning with our nativity costumes to the more modern glammed up garbs.
Some of our most popular fancy dress Christmas costumes include the Miss Santa costume, the Christmas tree and a wide range of male Father Christmas outfits.
Every Santa needs a hand at Christmas and you could provide that help by donning a reindeer costume, Elf Costume or even a snowman costume.


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Lucius O'Brien
Canadian, 1832–1899
Sunrise on Percé Rock, 1882
watercolour on paper
24.5 x 35.4 cm
Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; Gift of Mrs. Bernard Naylor in memory of her father, the Honourable T.A. Crerar, P.C.C.C., L.L.D.
As the first president of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Lucius O'Brien was sensitive to representing all regions of Canada in his art. Travelling extensively via the newly completed transcontinental railway, he recorded many of the natural wonders of the nation's frontier. Like his American counterpart, Albert Bierstadt, albeit on a more diminutive scale, O'Brien imbued his landscapes with luminous colour and atmosphere celebrating the young country's natural and rugged beauty. He saw his monumental images as tools to awaken national pride and reveal the potential in Canada's diverse geography. This watercolour of the Gaspé Peninsula on Canada's east coast suggests the promise held in a land rife with breathtaking scenery, evoking the optimistic sentiment of a young nation.
Gallery Hours
- Tuesday 11am-5pm
- Wednesday 11am-5pm
- Thursday 11am-5pm
- Friday 11am-9pm
- Saturday 11am-5pm
- Sunday 11am-5pm
- Closed Monday


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Microbial Life Under PressureCreated by: Scott N. Montross, Montana State University
Pressure has a substantial effect on the physiology and biochemistry of living cells. Microorganisms inhabiting the deep-sea and subsurface of Earth have the ability to survive at hydro- and litho- static pressures greater than 1 atmosphere (atm). Studies of barotolerant (tolerate high pressure) and barophilic (dependent on high pressure) cultures of deep-sea bacteria show that both types are present, and the distribution of these organisms is a function of depth.-Madigan, M., Martinko, J., Parker, J. 2003. Brock Biology of Microorganisms, tenth edition.
How microbes deal with high pressure
Barotolerant bacteria under high hydrostatic pressure regulate the fluidity of membrane phospholipids to compensate for pressure gradients between the inside of the cell and the environment.
Characterization of organisms by tolerance
viable microorganisms found in the ocean up to depths of 4 km, nearly 400 atm but grow better at 1 atm
Dr. Paul H. Yancey, Deep Sea Biology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA. USA
organisms found in the ocean at depths consistant with pressures greater than 400 atm and grow better under high pressure
Extreme Barophiles-
organisms that obligately grow at pressures greater than 700 atm and do not grow at low pressures
High Pressure Environment Collections
General Collection: Resources such as news articles, web sites, and reference pages provide a comprehensive array of information about microbes under pressure.
For Educators:This collection includes activities, assignments, and reading materials created specifically for educators.
Advanced Collection: Compiled for professionals and advanced learners, this collection includes resources such as journal articles, academic reviews, and surveys.
Additional Resources
To see a complete collection of resources about Microbial Life in High Pressure Environments search the Microbial Life collection


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NORWICH � The Harlem String Quartet has traveled all around the world and played on many stages, including Carnegie Hall.
On Thursday, they added a different type of venue to their schedule; the Integrated Day Charter School in Norwich.
The quartet was founded in 2006 to help bring an appreciation of classical music to students.
The event was sponsored by The Musical Masterworks Outreach who, according to Administrative Director Pam Allen, brings musical education to young students.
�I hope they can listen with new ears and be open to all genres of music, including classical, because it really is exciting,� Allen said. �Exposing them at an early age may make them enjoy it as an adult, and this particular group is very engaging with the students.�
As part of the interaction, the quartet played a piece by Felix Mendelssohn, then asked the students how it made them feel.
Students yelled out �happy,� �excited,� and �angry.�
Violinist Ilmar Gavilan enlisted the aid of a student, Jacob, to show the difference between low notes and high notes.
Jaime Amador, who plays viola with the group, and violinist Melissa White, said Gavilan loves to participate in the outreach programs.
�We have been doing this for a while,� White said. �We try our best to acclimate ourselves to the children, but Ilmar is probably the best. He has his own kids, but he is also a big kid in general. He sees how the children see, and it gives insight.�
To explain a musical feud, the musicians broke the students intwo two separate groups to sing �Row Your Boat.�Students were allowed to ask questions about it afterwards.
White told the students that musicians dance with their instruments, while Favilan shimmied around in a square.
�The event was spectacular to see,� said Corinne McOmber who teaches second and third grade. �The group did a fantastic job with interaction. It allowed the students to make connections in their independent research and creating a visual for these instruments they have heard, but never saw before.�
Ava Hatch, 6, was in the audience experiencing her first string quartet performance and said her favorite part was when Gavilan was �dancing in his little square.�
�I thought it was cool,� Ava said.


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Army Criminal Investigation Command warns of disaster fraud scams
By US Army CID September 1, 2017
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is cautioning the Army community to be on the lookout for charitable schemes and scams associated with "disaster fraud" donations.
With these scams, criminals will use manmade or natural catastrophes, such as the recent damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, to get individuals to donate to charities claiming to support affected victims. Some of these organizations are fraudulent, or misleading at best because they do not have the infrastructure to support the affected disaster area.
Disasters can also lead to an increase in fraudulent fundraisers, monetary and charitable donations scams, and scammers will use various methods to seek "charitable donations." According to CID officials, "scammers exploit those wishing to assist people in need by soliciting fictitious charitable donations, making phone calls, sending fraudulent emails or creating phony websites to solicit contributions or personal information resulting in identity theft."
"Do not respond to unsolicited email (spam), links or attachments from these fake groups because in addition to stealing your identity, these links may also contain computer viruses and/or hijack your computer files for ransom," CID agents warn.
The scammers will also focus on getting their victims to become emotionally invested to help those in need. Special Agents from CID recommend that people who want to give do research before donating. Ask detailed questions about the charity or organization, which includes basic information such as their name, address, telephone number, and if the charity is registered. Also request proof that a contribution is tax deductible or if the organization is tax exempt. Be cautious of out of state organizations -- especially if their address is a post office box.
Officials also urge would-be givers to ensure monies are donated to trustworthy organizations and to make contributions directly to known and verified organizations rather than relying on a third party to do so.
Experts also advise that copycat websites are very active during natural disasters. Copycat websites will have links that will appear authentic to similar known web addresses. It's the same for some social media platforms. An increased use of social media platforms using copycat websites and accounts of trusted organizations will be used to display devastating and emotional images combined with a link in an effort to get you to donate to those in need.
If you decide to donate, go directly to the organization's website and do not donate using a link that has been sent via email or social media, CID advises. Be sure to check the organization's verification. Most sites use a check mark behind the name to let you know that you are on or viewing a verified account.
Additionally, some crowdfunding and fundraising websites and accounts may not be used for the intended purpose of helping disaster victims, so beware of solicitations from these sites posing as legitimate and fake organizations. It is important to verify all organizations before donating.
If you think you've been the victim of a charity scam, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
National Center for Disaster Fraud: (866) 720-5721
Department of Homeland Security / FEMA Fraud Hotline: (800) 323-8603
Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
Helpful Links:
• https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0074-giving-charity
• http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/how-to-avoid-hurricane-harvey-charity-scams-and-make-sure-your-money-gets-to-victims-who-need-help
• FTC Consumer information release: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/08/wise-giving-wake-hurricane-harvey
• Directory of national charities: http://give.org/charity-reviews/national


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Preferred Worker Benefit Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Preferred Worker status help me?
It can help you in your job search. A new employer who offers you work within your medical restrictions receives financial benefits:
- If you were to have a new injury during your PW eligibility period, L&I will pay the costs of the new claim with no direct cost or penalty to your new employer.
- The employer does not pay accident fund or medical aid premiums.
You will not have to pay the employee's Medical Aid Fund premium during your PW eligibility period.
- How long does this benefit last? Can it be extended?
You have PW eligibility for a maximum of 36 months. Your certification letter lists your start date and expiration date. Any time during that period that you are working in an approved PW job, the PW benefits cover you and your employer. Once the expiration date is reached, the PW benefits end. There are no extensions beyond the maximum 36 months. However, if you are medically unable to work due to your industrial injury during part of your PW eligibility period and your claim is still open, your certification period may be adjusted (decertified) for the period you were unable to look for work.
Note: If in the future your condition improves to the point your doctor releases you to return to work with no restrictions, you will no longer meet the eligibility for PW benefits.
- Am I limited to just certain types of jobs? Can I use PW out of state?
You may look for any type of job as long as it is within your medical restrictions. You are NOT limited to the job titles you were found employable in or the job you trained for. The job can be part time or full time. You can apply the PW benefit to 2 employers at the same time. Employers in other states that are not governed by the workers compensation laws of Washington would not benefit from this program.
- Can I change employers?
Yes, you can change employers as many times as you want within the 36 month eligibility period. Whatever time remains in your PW eligibility period can be applied to a new employer.
- Am I required to tell an employer I am a Preferred Worker?
You are not required to; its your choice. Decide if you want to use the PW benefit in your job search.
- Some workers prefer not to reveal that they had a work injury for fear that information would discourage a particular employer from hiring them.
- However, there are employers who welcome Preferred Workersas long as the job is within the workers medical restrictionsbecause of the financial incentives it offers employers.
- Why do I need to know my work restrictions?
You need to know your medical restrictions so that you are applying for jobs that can be approved for PW benefits. When your new employer requests to use the PW benefits, they submit a job description for the new job. If it exceeds the restrictions we have on file, we cannot approve the job.
Know your medical work restrictions. Do you have a copy of your most recent APF (Activity Prescription Form) or PCE (Physical Capacity Evaluation)? You can find these records on the Claim & Account Center.
Note: The employer can still hire you if they want, but the risk of future injury would be on their workers comp record, they would not be covered by the PW program.
- Is there a list of employers interested in hiring a Preferred Worker?
There is no list of employers. It's up to you to mention your PW status. Many employers are familiar with the Preferred Worker benefits. For those who are not, the PW brochure is a good introduction.
- What can I do if the employer has questions about the PW program?
- Make sure to show them the PW brochure you received with your PW certification letter.
- Encourage them to go to Lni.wa.gov/PreferredWorker for more information, including a calculator that lets them estimate potential savings from the PW program.
- Tell them they can call the PW desk at L&I (1-800-845-2634).
- You can call the PW desk yourself if you have questions.


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ORLANDO, FLA. (April 3, 8:15 p.m. ET) — With the growing focus on the light-weighting of parts, 3M Co.'s Energy and Advanced Materials Division (Booth 35000) is finding increased interest for its glass bubble product line, and was at NPE2012 — along with some of its customers — showing what it can do.
It also brought along its newest glass bubble version, the iM16k for injection molding.
The use of the glass bubble line has provided five advantages for processors, noted Louis Lundberg, global business manager for specialty additives for the 3M Energy and Advanced Materials. He pointed to light-weighting of products, improved resin throughput, improved stability in fiber fill, more design flexibility and as a carbon neutral additive, it contributes to environmental sustainability.
He said that the 3M glass bubbles have been used for wide range of thermoplastics, composites and elastomers. Now the next generation is able to survive use in injection molding and compounding processes. Yet it has a specific density of only 0.46 grams per cubic centimeter and provides significant weight reductions when used.
"Together with 3M, we've developed a hand rail for use on AirBus. It's underneath the luggage rack and the weight savings was 12.6 percent and leads to significant fuel savings over the lifetime of the plane," said Bernd Kupferer, business unit manager for industrial solutions at Rehau Industries LLC in Leesburg, Va.
He said that it was designed with the plane with 3M's first generation glass bubbles and now is planning to use the newer version once it runs through the various approval procedures.
Another customer with the display in the booth was Hyundai Engineering Plastics, of South Korea, which created a center console for the Kia Optima. Kim Beom-Ho, senior manager of the PP research team, noted that the glass bubbles had reduced the console's weight from 3.44 pounds to 2.94, about a 10 percent savings.
A reformatting of the Honda Ridgeline spare tire tray resulted in a density reduction from 1.9 to 1.3 grams per cubic centimeter, according to Lou Dodyk, of Magna Exteriors and Doors of Troy, Mich., and shaved over 10 pounds from the truck's weight.
"We've actually been using 3M glass bubbles since 1980," said Dodyk, who admitted that they plan to use the new version as well.
With all the testimonials, the new product has firm group of users and "people are motivated to do new more stuff even though the economy is not perfect," said Doug Rowen, business director for specialty additives at 3M Energy and Advanced Materials.
Lundberg noted that 3M first started using glass bubbles for injection molding and extrusion of such products such as fuel system roll-over valves, exterior vehicle cladding and home appliances. Now it is finding that the properties of its glass bubbles such as IM16K can help customers improve fuel economy and reduce co2 emissions.
Lundberg also said that injection molders with glass-fiber filled systems can reduce warpage for improved fit and finish, and can also reduce cooling times of finished parts from 5 to 10 percent.
He said that the glass bubbles are used in everything from finished talc filled polypropylene and glass fiber filled nylon plastic parts in automotive to PVC foam based fishing boots for thermal benefits and floatation.
They even had a display of a pair of boots that the use of the glass bubbles had created a better product. Keiji Nakayama, senior marketing manager for the 3M Japan Group displayed a regular PVC boot that sank in a fish tank. A glass bubble version had a 15 percent weight reduction and floated. Thereby, a new boot product is being readied for sale by the end of the year.
The 3M division has expanded its capacity in the U.S. but declined to disclose details. However, it did say that it expanded capacity in all of its plants, most recently in Brazil and also in South Korea and France.
The newest iM16K production quantities will be available from the Korean plant in the fourth quarter of 2012, followed by the other plants around the world in 2013.


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Seoul: An enraged North Korea responded to new UN sanctions with fresh threats of nuclear war on Friday, vowing to scrap peace pacts with South Korea as it upped the ante yet again after its recent atomic test.
The United States warned the comments were "not helpful" and said tearing up peace agreements unilaterally would carry no legal weight.
Pyongyang is renowned for its bellicose rhetoric, but the tone has reached a frenzied pitch in recent days, fuelling concerns of a border clash with both North and South planning major military exercises next week.
It has even threatened a "pre-emptive nuclear attack" against the US and South Korea — a notion dismissed as bluster by analysts, but not without dangerous, underlying intent.
North Korea "abrogates all agreements on non-aggression reached between the North and the South", the state-run Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) said Friday.
Responding, White House spokesman Joshua Earnest said: "North Korea's threats are not helpful. We have consistently called on North Korea to improve its relations with its neighbours, including South Korea."
"As a legal matter, no party to the armistice can unilaterally terminate or alter the terms of the Armistice Agreement," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in an email.
The CPRK said the pacts would be voided as of Monday, the same day that Pyongyang has vowed to rip up the 1953 armistice agreement that ended Korean War hostilities.
It also announced the immediate severing of a North-South hotline installed in 1971.
State television, meanwhile, showed North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un laying preparations for "all-out war" as he visited a frontline military unit involved in the shelling of a South Korean island in 2010.
Footage of the visit showed him being greeted by chanting troops who were held back as they surged towards him. Their families brought children to meet the leader, with one woman encouraging her daughter forward for a hug.
At the end of the trip, the soldiers ran down to the beach and waded chest deep into the freezing water clutching at Kim's motor launch as it moved away.
The November 2010 shelling came eight months after the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel with the loss of 46 lives that was also blamed on Pyongyang.
While North Korea is not deemed capable of any nuclear strike on the US mainland, there are growing fears that it will mount some provocation in the form of a missile test or a similar artillery assault.
"To me, this feels like the most dangerous situation since the Korean War," said Paik Hak-Soon, a North Korean analyst at the Sejong Institute in Seoul.
"The North is cornered more than ever in the international community and will keep pushing ahead with even more confrontational moves militarily," Paik told AFP.
South Korea's new president, Park Geun-Hye, who was sworn in less than two weeks ago, said the situation had become "very grave" but vowed to "deal strongly" with any provocation from the North.
The CPRK statement came hours after the UN Security Council beefed up existing sanctions on the communist state in response to its February 12 nuclear test.
— Sanctions will 'bite hard' —
The resolution adopted by the 15-member Council tightened restrictions on North Korea's financial dealings, notably its suspect "bulk cash" transfers.
The new sanctions will "bite hard", said the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice. "They increase North Korea's isolation and raise the cost to North Korea's leaders of defying the international community."
Germany's foreign minister said he wanted his EU counterparts to consider further measures against North Korea beyond UN sanctions, while France urged Pyongyang to show restraint.
China wants "full implementation" of the resolution, said its UN envoy Li Baodong, but stressed that efforts must be made to bring North Korea back to negotiations.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged "relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint, and avoid actions that might further escalate tensions," describing the situation as "highly complex and sensitive".
Prior to the Security Council meeting, the North Korean foreign ministry had threatened a "pre-emptive nuclear attack" against the US and all other "aggressors".
The United States responded by saying it was "fully capable" of defending itself and its allies — including South Korea — against any missile strike.
Friday's CPRK statement condemned the UN resolution as proof that Washington and its "puppets" in Seoul were "hell bent" on confrontation.
An annual US-South Korea military exercise known as Foal Eagle is currently under way and another joint drill is scheduled to begin Monday.
The North is believed to be gearing up for nationwide military manoeuvres of its own next week, involving the three main wings of its armed forces.
In such a volatile atmosphere, "there's always that risk of a miscalculation and rapid escalation", warned Dan Pinkston, a Seoul-based security expert for the International Crisis Group.


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Season 1 Episode 10: Lee Gambin
The Night Crew was a podcast that ran from roughly 2010 to 2013 or so. It was mostly helmed by myself and Sean "The Butcher" Smithson and featured content from a regular cast of returning regulars: Heather Buckley (Dread Central / Fangoria), James Marsh (based in Hong Kong, writer for Twitch), Andrew Mack (Twitch writer), Mars Homeworld (musician and film composer), Gareth Jones, Lorelei Shannon (author), Phillip Nutman (author), and Chris Alexander (Fangoria).
Note: The sound on these REPAIRED files is not all that it should be.
Please bear that in mind while listening.


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Hollywood actor Owen Wilson walked out of a dinner at a restaurant in New York City this week after one of his friends threw a foul-mouthed tantrum in front of other diners.
The "Zoolander" star was enjoying a meal with his pal Peter Brant at Manhattan Italian eatery Da Silvano on Tuesday night when a member of their group, art dealer Tony Shafrazi, turned up late and yelled at the pair for failing to answer their cell phones while he was stuck outside.
A source tells New York Post gossip column Page Six that Wilson was so upset, he abandoned his dandelion salad and walked out.
The witness says, "Shafrazi was cursing them both out. … As Tony went on and on, Owen looked more uncomfortable. Finally Owen decided he'd had enough and said, 'Go [bleep] yourself,' and stormed off."
Shafrazi has since branded the incident a "misunderstanding" and insisted there are no hard feelings between the group, adding, "After a long day's work, I ended up at the wrong restaurant. … Having waited outside, I couldn't get either of them on the telephone. I felt a little embarrassed waiting in the street.
"I expressed frustrated language, but they are both extremely close friends. Owen is like a son to me, and Peter was my best man. I ended up sitting and talking to Peter for a while. Owen walked away, that happens. There is nobody I hold higher in my affection than Owen and Peter."