text:
Today I received the Red Triangle Catalogue. It is an amazing catalogue the quality of the paper the photography every single detail of to. It's so well put together, so classy it just brings the quality of our cars to another level. Every paragraph of the catalogue really brings a flame of joy of ownership.
A.M. California
I am glad to report that, after a couple of local journeys in London, my car seems much improved. Well, actually vastly improved. The engine seems to be running better with the electronic distributor, the steering feels just right, the brakes are right up and the awful passenger door rattles have gone. Even the heater motor is working - and registering on the ammeter. I send my compliments to you and everyone at Red Triangle, especially those who have tweaked the car and raised it to its present, better-than-ever condition.
S.R. London
Thank you for your beautifully produced catalogue, which arrived today.
Thanks for all the work and making it possible to use Mavis this week at the wedding. The door job is superb, and thanks for leaving the small pot of touch up paint - very useful. Thanks again and please pass on my thanks to all members of the team responsible
Thank you for the catalogue, received this morning. A magnificent production!
Please thank Paul for the excellent service with the pedal rubbers & Owners Manual which arrived on Friday.
I drove my car straight off the ferry at Jersey to rally with Car Club of Jersey. The engine is pulling really well and running the best it has for years and the rear spring you recommended changing has transformed the cars handling. A job well done!
Wow!! What a privilege to spend an hour and a half with you yesterday Richard. Michael and I did not stop talking about our visit all afternoon. The quality of your work and sheer beauty of the product is just amazing. We loved the archive and all the history and quite honestly we could have spent all day there - no – all week! You treated us like royalty and you can be sure we will be good ambassadors for Red Triangle and Alvis
Thank you for all your help Paul. I look forward to receiving the items as soon as possible and thank you again for the excellent service.
Mike, many thanks for today. The car is a credit to you all
Just a quick note of thanks for your time on Wednesday. I very much appreciated your incredible knowledge and passion for all things Alvis
With the brake servo replaced and the all-around service, the car now drives superbly. Thanks again for your very kind support
R.K. – Switzerland
My alvis has covered 400 miles on the new clutch, thanks again for the support
S.M. – County Galway
I just wanted to say thank you for my folder - it's beautiful and a considerable upgrade on the plastic carrier bag that I currently use ! A really nice touch
C.P. – Hertfordshire
Your hints and tips are always very useful
C.M. – Kent
I would like to congratulate you on the speed and efficiency of supplying parts to my London hotel address within 24 hours of telephoning
Thank you for the parts, well received, in 2 days! And they fit perfectly
Good morning Mike. The car arrived looking beautiful and your driver Steve is a credit to you
Just calling to say how pleased I am with the car. Thank you for all your hard work. It has not looked this good for a long time
Good morning Neil. The Alvis cars on display were stunning and I really appreciated the craftsmanship that went into producing such lovely cars
It was great to have the car back for such a glorious weekend; thank you for making it happen. The car won best restoration completed in the last twelve months. You will remember the dreadful state the car was in when you picked it up in October 2014 – it's been a real transformation.
Thank you Mike for your time yesterday. I enjoyed my visit and I am delighted with your work. I look forward to speaking next week and to getting my hands on the car!
Alan in customer service could not have been more helpful. It was the best value for money I have had in decades.
The essential pre tour service has been beyond reproach. We drove some 2750 miles in hot and cold weather, wet and dry, high up to usually around 5000 ft and down again many times, in congested Inter – states, around big cities and all the time the car never missed a beat.
A big thank you to Paul in customer service - it was exactly what I needed! You have been so helpful.
Many thanks for the Red Triangle Catalogue which I received yesterday. It is a fine quality publication and I'm sure it will be most useful in sourcing parts for my recently acquired Speed 20 SD
I called to say my car was running very well and I'm pleased with Red Triangle's work. My car will be returned in the Autumn for the additional work items we discussed
"The car is running very well and looked very clean. I'm impressed with the condition of the car when returned and I'd like the paint work done in the Autumn"
"The engine and transmission has arrived safely and all been installed. Well Done. We are extremely happy with the finished product - it looks fantastic."
"I called to say that the car is running and driving well. I used the car this weekend and I am very happy with it"
P.S. – Oxfordshire
"I am very happy with the paint work and colour match and also I'm pleased with the mirrors"
R.G.F. – Cambridgeshire
"I have just received the latest mailshot from Red Triangle and I felt I had to write to say how impressed I was with the range of services you are offering and the plendid variety of cars you have for sale. The range of modern upgrades is exceptional and what I particularly like is that it is all aimed at those who want to keep their cars on the roads and to use them in all modern conditions - night time, traffic jams, motorways etc. Great stuff!"
T.C. – Surrey
"To have had so much work undertaken and to have been able to use the car without any problems whatsoever has been an absolute joy!"
P.M. – Cornwall
"Thank you for all your efforts with the sale of my car and going to the bank and organising the payment etc."
P.M. – London
"The car drove beautifully from Paris to UK. Thank you"
P.D.S. – Surrey
"I wanted my TD21 ready for my daughter's wedding and this was achieved comfortably, indeed there was time enough to put 500 miles on the car. What particularly pleased me was that the work moved forward without delay. At every visit it was clear that progress had been made. At the wedding the car drew many compliments and the compliments continue whenever the car is out and about. "
C.V. – Cheshire
"Enjoyed your first newsletter. We shall measure the oil before putting new oil in next time"
E.G. – Kent
"You are a splendid man! Many thanks for sending the Silver Crest Supplements"
C.N. – France
"Many thanks for your attention to this. I received my parcel safe and sound"
J.K. – Derbyshire
"I must say how pleased I am with the service on my Speed 25"
J.G. – Hertfordshire
"The parts have just arrived. That was great service !! My compliments to all at Red Triangle"
D.P. – Netherlands
"VERY many thanks for your email and attachment. They are really helpful. I am thrilled !!"
M.H. – Northumberland
"Just a note to thank you very much for the two emails and attached documents which have made very interesting reading - nice to be able to fill in some bits of the history. Thanks also for the handbook and spare parts list which arrived safely today. I am grateful to you for the very efficient way you have dealt with my requests"
R.A. – Scotland
"I thought you would like to know that I have completed nearly 400 miles in the car over the last few days and it has been a joy to behold and drive and has performed faultlessly throughout. We went to the South west Alvis day near Tiverton on Sunday where the car was much admired and won a cup for best car from Cornwall, much to our surprise as we had not entered !! Since my initial drive a couple of weeks ago, much seems to have been done to improve the steering and now the interior is fitted , the car seems surprisingly quiet and easy to drive. My wife Moyra has even driven the car and finds no difficulty in doing so and she is full of praise for our new carriage"
P.M. – Cornwall
" Car arrived safely this afternoon. We have been out for a run and all appears to be well. Seat belts are very neat, and it's nice to see a bit of a gleam on the paintwork. Brakes and steering much improved, thanks "
P.T. – Surrey
"Dear bodyshop team. The car is gorgeous and Charles is looking very happy. Already, 3 neighbours have come and said 'what a beautiful colour'. I'm loved bringing cakes for you, its lovely making them for people who enjoy them. With many thanks for the flowers and all your hard work on the car"
V. I. – Merseyside
"Thank you very much for your recent phone call. I have had a number of conversations and they have all been very courteous and helpful, indeed models of customer relations. Please pass on my thanks to all concerned. I am grateful for their friendly and expert help"
J.F.W. – Cheshire
" What can I say. Thank you so much for all the time you spent yesterday with us. It was so enjoyable and so great to see all that you do. It was like being a child in a sweet factory! Indeed that is exactly what my daughter described my face as I saw the stores. I so envy you all working with such great machinery. I believe you must be a pretty unique operation. It was so kind of you to spend so much of your valuable time with us. I cannot describe the pleasure I derived. Thanks for all your help and assistance and I am going to have great fun this afternoon playing the films! Really great service and really looking forward to seeing the Alvis "
M.H. – Merseyside
" Thanks Ian - I appreciate the care and attention from your end. "
A.B. – Wiltshire
" Thanks for the update Ian, she's looking lovely."
T.H. – Hampshire
" Thanks for the return of my Alvis - badge on the radiator looks fine as does the replacement heater hose. Thank you for your good work on this. "
J.O. – Oxfordshire
" Thank you so much for the photos; really helpful and very much appreciated "
C.C. – East Sussex
" Very happy with my car and that you have cured the vibration - thanks for getting me and the car back on track. "
S.H. – Hampshire
" A quick note to thank you for your help in sorting all the parts. Your customer centric approach is highly commendable and appreciated. If only all businesses had such helpfully minded staff. Many thanks again. "
N. G. – Dorset
" I'd like to congratulate the team for the great job you did on both the doors and frontal bodywork recently - car now looks as good as it goes - makes me want to get the remainder of the bodywork done now! "
A.F. – Northamptonshire
The car is going very well
C.S. – Wiltshire
" Well done! Alvis arrived and is beautiful. Fine work, inside and out. Mechanics and engine and gears flawless. Thank you for a good job and please use me as a positive reference. "
R.Q. – United States
Parcel just arrived; excellent service, thanks.
P.H. – Surrey
" Thank you for the work done on the Silver Eagle; it is driving great and the engine is pulling the best it ever has "
F.R. – Oxfordshire
My compliments to Red Triangle on handling my enquiry before my car came in and further on the thoroughness, knowledge and facilities shown on my visit "
R.M. – Kent
" Thanks for hard work on my 4.3 - engine is great. I would like to put Silver Eagle in at end of summer for engine improvements "
R.H. – Hampshire
" I have done around 600 miles through Peak District & Yorkshire in severe weather conditions then back to London; very happy with engine which didn't miss a beat; thanks to all for your hard work and prepping car so well to my deadline. "
E.R. – London
Enjoyable first drive and looking forward to many more; pleasure to deal with Richard and your staff; everyone I encountered at Red Triangle was very helpful and courteous and I wish you well for the future.
R.M.D. – Kent
Many thanks for the collection and the work
C.S. – Wiltshire
" As a new customer visiting Red Triangle I am impressed; my estimates were ready; the car was on ramp ready for my visit. I was very pleased for the invitation to come to Red Triangle and the time spent with me going over my estimate whilst looking at the car - a professional service "
B.H. – Derbyshire
" Thanks to everyone concerned with the highly informative and enjoyable day on the 7th. Will stick in the old memory box for some time to come! "
J.N. – Buckinghamshire
" Just rang to say how well and courteously your driver Paul Gibson had been when collecting the car "
N.O. – Essex
" Thanks for all your help - great to put a voice to the name "
J.T. – Australia
" Thank you for my order which arrived safely this morning. Great service! "
M.C. – Lancashire
" Thanks for speedy dispatch of parcel and always looking after me "
R.C. – Cambridgeshire
" Thanks for work done on the Alvis; looks and drives even better than 10 years ago "
H.G. – Tyne and Wear
" Thanks for time, hospitality and enthusiasm in showing me around; Red Triangle can be justly proud of what's in Kenilworth "
M.O'B. – Australia
" Just to say thank you to all at Red Triangle that made possible for us to arrive in style at Goodwood last Sunday "
N.T. – Norfolk
" Thank everyone for their troubles; car came back much cleaner than it went "
A.B. – Gwynedd
" Thanks for the good work undertaken on the advance/retard last time car was with RT; will look at trim later in year "
R.W.L. – Northamptonshire
" Both cars are going brilliantly; the TE 21 goes like a bomb and has just won a cup at the Northern Classic Car Show "
G.P. – West Yorkshire
" Thank you for all your effort with the car, it is running the best it has ever run "
I.W. – Oxfordshire
" Car has done 1200 miles, 6 drivers, immaculately - thanks to whole team "
P.F. – Surrey
" Many thanks for your prompt and courteous service. You will be pleased to know that the parcel arrived at 11pm your time last night - amazingly quick and all looks good. Thanks again. "
P.D. – Australia
" I am delighted to have Alvis back and thank you to the team for all their hard work; it's going very well; downpours tested every orifice and new windscreen fitting stood up well "
A.G.M. – Suffolk
" Thank you for introducing us to joys of Alvis motoring; presentation and tuition greatly appreciated "
P.F. – Kent
" Your parts service is quite frankly excellent … help from staff is not only helpful and excellent but also friendly; in modern society we are only to happy to complain but never say thank you "
M.G.H. – Cheshire
" I rang to say "thank you very much" for sending my parcel on a before 9am delivery as it has arrived! Especially as I had only called yesterday afternoon. "
R.B. – Surrey
"Thank you for achieving such a good result in the commission sale of my Alvis ; company's breadth of knowledge and expertise is a great advantage to any sale, but your personal skills brought about such a good result; it has been a pleasure to deal with you and be guided wisely as to the best course of action following our valuable discussions; I am a most satisfied customer "
S.L. – Surrey
" Thanks for privilege of learning more about my car at the workshop forum "
B.P. – Dumfries & Galloway
" Thank you so much for all you have done - petrol pump received, installed and working beautifully "
A.J. – United States
" Thank you for technical support during recent Fougeres rally for bespoke gasket for Sp20; compliments on the whole team's can-do culture and hands-on enthusiasm "
F.K. – West Sussex
" The car is going brilliantly "
M.F. – London
" I wish to thank all at Red Triangle who were involved with my car and returning it very speedily looking very spick and span both inside and out. I took it for a good run yesterday afternoon and it goes so much better. "
R.W.L. – Northamptonshire
"I cannot tell you how I am happy for your help and given information. It will help me a lot, especially for the future orders of spare parts ……. "
P.K. – Czech Republic
" Really happy with the service and please pass on my sincere thanks to all concerned "
G.P. – West Yorkshire
" I appreciate the service you give to us here in New Zealand "
R.H. – New Zealand
" Thanks for patience & professionalism; parts exactly right; really happy car looks as though it will be back on road later this year after 16 years! "
T.P. – Australia
" Appreciation and thanks for 26.04 forum; superbly organised and full of extremely useful information; knowledgeable and enthusiastic speaker and impressive workshop facilities; personalised booklet much liked; high quality lunch and excellent opportunity to meet other owners "
G.H.A. – Middlesex
"Sincere thanks for fascinating forum day "
R.McD. – Herefordshire
" TB 14 now safely home so many thanks to the team and my best wishes for Christmas "
G.P. – West Yorkshire
" Thanks for TLC to car; appearance and performance so far very pleased with; thanks for photographs, MOT and valuation
S.B. – Peebleshire
" Silver Eagle is driving the best it's ever driven; cooling issues sorted after many year; delighted "
F.M.R. – Oxfordshire
"Splendid workshop forum on 7 December "
D.M. – Essex
" Very many thanks to you all for the excellent day at Kenilworth. I greatly enjoyed the talks, lunch and workshop sessions, in fact everything. The car record copies were a particularly appreciated inclusion "
G.L. – Middlesex
" Just to thank you for sorting out the recent problem, and so rapidly too. The car arrived back yesterday, as you no doubt know, and I am very pleased with your work on it. Best wishes for Christmas and for a successful 2014 "
P.W. – West Yorkshire
" Engine parts ordered Monday evening; email to confirm packed and ready Tuesday morning; package arrived 10.30am Thursday morning; is this some kind of record? "
R.McK. – Australia
" The car is performing very well indeed and is a pleasure to drive, keeping up with modern traffic well too. "
P.W. – West Yorkshire
" I ordered a set of carburettor gaskets for my Speed 20 SB at approx 4.30 pm yesterday, Friday 27th Sept and they arrived in this morning's post. Consequently the car was unexpectedly back on the road today. Many thanks for impeccable service! "
P.S. – Norfolk
" Just to say we had a marvellous trip down to West Cornwall on Friday - 320 miles with just one stop! ..….cruised down topless all the way between 70 and 80, which she seemed to find very comfortable. She ran beautifully. So great job, well done to you and the guys. "
R.S. – Warwickshire
" Thanks for water pump rebuild; car has run beautifully and delighted with cooling in standing traffic "
J.P.C. – Oxfordshire
" Thank you for your time the other day in showing me round Red Triangle especially as you had no notice beforehand. It's nice to put a face to a name and a voice also. I much appreciated that, and was impressed by the setup at Red Triangle and by my car's performance too. "
P.W. – West Yorkshire
" Just to say many thanks for the excellent job. The car looks great. "
G.P. – West Yorkshire
" Thanks to Richard and the Red Triangle team for the professional way in which the purchase of my car and subsequent work on it has been handled; buying such a car from RT is the easiest and safest way for someone not acquainted with their peculiarities; appreciate high level of craftsmanship and knowledge that Red Triangle has preserved over the years "
G.dL. – France
" Enjoyed the forum on Saturday; we depend on Red Triangle for parts and support and all need you to flourish - thank you and the team's efforts and hope you are here for many years hence "
J.B. – South Glamorgan
" I have received the pump housing at Friday afternoon. Thank you very much for the prompt delivery. It was fitted at Saturday and the car is running again. "
U.B. – Germany
" I just got home and could see the pictures of the car. What truly beautiful piece of work you have all done. It's stunning. "
B.T. – London
" I received the Alvis back and I am very happy with the work that has been carried out "
M.D.B – London
" Thank you for enjoyable and informative workshop forum; impressive knowledge and enthusiasm "
R.McD. – Herefordshire
" Many thanks for the copy of the build sheet, it is really nice to have these details especially for such an original car. Also please pass on my thanks to everybody for a really great workshop day, everybody who I have spoken to really enjoyed the day, great venue, food and organisation and a superb subject, what more could one ask ? So a big "well done" to everybody "
D.W. – Leicestershire
" Enjoyed forum; staff welcoming; beautifully organised; learnt lots; good opportunity to meet and make friends; thank you for thoughtful touch in putting build record in binder "
D.W. – Somerset
" Thanks for hospitality, interesting and worthwhile day "
A.N. – Somerset
" Thanks for workshop forum on Saturday; good to see workshops where my car is sometimes fettled and to meet staff; friendly and well run; much effort involved "
T.R. – Essex
" Thanks to all at Red Triangle who made the seminar day worthwhile and enjoyable "
J.P.C. – Oxfordshire
" Thanks for a super day at the 12th Jan forum; really enjoyed meeting RT people "
D.G. – West Lothian
" I rang to thank Red Triangle for wonderful job on car water pump which had leaked since I have owned it and now it doesn't - also, wonderful job on cleaning wheels "
B.A. – Staffordshire
" Very pleased with way in which car is running and with the brake work carried out "
J.R.O. – Kent
" Thank you for the work you did earlier this year to improve the car's starting; it's greatly improved "
P.S. – West Sussex
" The car looks splendid and runs very well - your team seems to have done an excellent job, so please also pass on my thanks to Frank, Dave and Richard. "
C.S. – Wiltshire
" We've had plenty of use now with the 12/50 plus overdrive including 1,500m to France. The overdrive ratio is excellent; 18% coupled with the 4.5 diff means we have all the benefit of the '5th' gear but there is still plenty left for overtaking or long inclines without dropping to top. So thank you and thank you for tackling all the under floor and behind dash fiddlings you obviously had to contend with "
A.B. – Gwynedd
" The overdrive is an absolute marvel, long motorway journeys can be tackled without having to pay tag with HGVs all the time! "
F.C. – Kent
" On return from taking car on Scandinavian tour, I am anxious to express gratitude to Dave and team for preparation earlier in year resulting in her faultless performance throughout; not only completed whole tour but travelled total of almost 3500 miles - a fine testimonial to Red Triangle's work "
D.W.B. – Dorset
" Very pleased with my car, thank you Red Triangle for your work "
G.C.R. – Hampshire
" Called to say my car has driven better than ever - and the conditions were abominable - so I am delighted "
J.D. – Somerset
" Visited Goodwood stand. Congratulations on a really good display. Most surprised to see Alvis so well represented and hope it was all worthwhile. "
K.S. – Gloucestershire
" May I offer my sincerest thanks for lending me your starter motor for the Flying Scotsman Rally? It was jolly decent of you….. Without your offer of help the adventure would probably not have gone ahead, so thank you once again. "
F.G. – London
" Great job with the parts catalogue; thank you for sending it "
R.W. – Australia
" I rang to say thank you for returning the car - it looks wonderful and is driving really well "
A.F. – London
" I called to say thank you for all the work - the car drove and handled brilliantly on its way home "
B.C. – East Sussex
" I called to say thank you for a job well done "
J.H. – West Sussex
" Thanks for prompt reply in re-sending crank and rods hints and tips; much appreciated"
R.C.- New Zealand
" I had a pleasant surprise when I got to the office today with the Alvis Record folder. What a good idea. Thank you (and the team at Red Triangle) very much - I will look forward to filling this in "
A.B. – Worcestershire
"I called to say how pleased I am with the work and service I have had from Red Triangle"
R.S. – Lancashire
" Thank you for your speedy service "
M.M. – Staffordshire
"A job well done"
S.B. – Isle of Man
"Just done over 70 miles in the car and it is the best it has driven in the 25 years, I love the power steering and the adjuster switch has made a big difference"
T.B. – Suffolk
" Very pleased with the car and impressed by how quickly Red Triangle turned the job round and with no fuss about collecting and redelivering "
G.K. – Oxfordshire
" A pleasure working with you & having car restored; mark of a company is one that resolves an error to complete satisfaction; Red Triangle took all good & bad, resolving issues magnificently; feel free to use my appreciation any time"
L.C. – Herefordshire
" I must say it is a completely different car; much admired at a friend's wedding; body shop have done a wonderful job - well worth it and the paintwork surpassed all expectations; interior trim as good if not better than original and a tribute to Red Triangle's craftsmen; hood looks much better in canvas than leather-cloth and has withstood torrential rain; steering and unleaded fuel conversion also well worth while and thanks for help in rectifying problems and installing electronic upgrades; please pass on gratitude to all concerned for such a thorough and professional restoration"
B.H. – South Gloucestershire
" Wheel Cylinder received today, Thank you for your excellent service "
F.B. – East Sussex
" The car drove wonderfully all the way home, ran like a dream; thanks for all hard work over summer "
T.E. – Germany
" The car has never run as well as it has since Red Triangle had it "
P.D. – Essex
" Parts arrived yesterday lunch; I appreciate your prompt action"
Y.I. – Japan
" Thank you for splendid attention over the years - still in good fettle and still drives beautifully "
H.G. – Tyne and Wear
" Congratulations on the best looking stand at Goodwood! Many thanks, Frank to you and Curtis for taking the time to give me the comprehensive tour of Red Triangle. Really impressive! I really appreciate it! "
J.L. – United States
" Wonderful - please accept my heartfelt congratulations for your outstanding service "
L.C. – Switzerland
" I love the power steering and find the adjustment range spot on. I'm happy to sing your praises to anyone who asks. Thank you for all the work carried out "
J.M. – South Yorkshire
" Thank you for the good work "
M.O'F. – Channel Islands
" Very happy with the car "
M.N.D. – Worcestershire
" Thank you for help and great service once again "
P.D. – Australia
" Thanks for work carried out; car is driving wonderfully "
W.F.C. – Kent
" Parts arrived "today 2pm" - Such fast service! "
J.B. – Japan


text:
C-950, Road No. 14 V.K.I. AreaJaipur
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Gharhi Wali Building, Vastukar Marg Chandi TaksalJaipur 302002
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Note: The Pledge Project is featured on the most recent edition of Dogma Free America. Please check it out and let me know what you think.
If you enter into a public discussion on 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance, you will often encounter somebody who will argue that there should be no Pledge at all. 'Loyalty oaths,' they argue, are the instruments of totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany, and free people should not be bound by such oaths. It goes against the very idea of freedom.
I want to take a good close look at the ethics of 'loyalty oaths'.
Let me begin by quickly clearing away some of the larger brush.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with a loyalty oath. This is because there is nothing intrinsically wrong with anything. Intrinsic value does not exist. The only type of value that exists are relationships between states of affairs and desires. Moral wrongness is found in relationships between states of affairs and good desires (and the absence of bad desires). Good desires are those that people generally have reason to promote. Bad desires are desires that people generally have reason to inhibit.
Long-time readers will recognize these as the basic claims of desire utilitarianism, which I have argued for throughout this blog. A search through this blog for the term 'desire utilitarianism' or a look at the book mentioned on the right will lead you to postings that discuss the theory in more detail. Readers interested in an alternative presentation of desire utilitarianism (or 'desire consequentalism' as he calls it) are encouraged to check out No Double Standards
Anyway, a state of affairs in which people utter a loyalty oath such as a Pledge of Allegiance is bad only to the degree that a person with good desires would be averse to such a state of affairs.
One of the reasons a person with good desires might be averse to loyalty oaths is because they were used by totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany. However, the mere fact that a tool was used by evil people does not give us reason to reject the tool. Hitler also used airplanes and tanks, money, roads, cameras, and a great many other tools to further his ends. His use of a tool for evil purposes does not argue against our use of similar tools for good purposes.
A related argument that somebody can use is that there have been evil pledges. That is to say, the pledge itself was a promise to promote something evil, as when subjects in a dictatorship are told that they must pledge allegiance to the dictator. However, we can say the same thing about laws in general. Where there are laws, there is a risk of evil people promoting laws that do more to secure injustice than justice. We see this in totalitarian regimes all the time, and even in our own country where special-interest groups push for unjust laws that favor their faction over others. However, the existence of an unjust law is no argument against the legitimacy of just laws. The existence of pledges used for immoral purposes does not argue against the possibility of a pledge being put to good use.
I spoke above about the existence of desires and aversions that people generally have reason to promote. What if a Pledge of Allegiance were an effective way to promote good desires? That is to say, what if a pledge of allegiance to 'liberty and justice for all' were to actually to promote the desire for liberty and justice for all? Whereas liberty and justice (or an aversion to tyranny and injustice) are desires that people have reason to promote, this argues that we have reason to use such a 'loyalty oath' and no reason to refrain from using it.
In other words, a pledge, when the pledge is to something good (worthy of promoting) is something that a good person would favor (for its power to promote that which is good), rather than something to which a good person would be adverse.
What about the claim that loyalty oaths (a Pledge of Allegiance) is contrary to freedom?
We have to recognize that freedom is not an absolute. Freedom does not include a right to engage in murder, rape, or theft. Freedom does not extend to the 'freedom' to promote tyranny and injustice. The type of freedom that we have reason to argue is something good is the type of freedom that still does not rule out our taking steps to outlaw or to otherwise discourage people from murder, rape, theft, tyranny, and injustice. If a pledge of allegiance to 'liberty and justice for all' helps to discourage tyranny and injustice, then inhibits freedom in the same way that laws against murder, rape, and theft inhibit freedom.
This raises another possible objection – that pledges of allegiance do not work. We have had people pledge allegiance to 'liberty and justice for all' for over a century now, yet we still have unjust restrictions on liberty. (Furthermore, an argument can be made that those who argue most emphatically for the virtue of the Pledge of Allegiance seem to be pushing most strongly for unjust restrictions on liberty.)
This is an empirical question, and one that I must confess I am ill prepared to answer.
However, I will point out that we use oaths throughout our society in order to try to focus people's attention on certain duties and obligations. Elected officials take an oath of office – effectively, a loyalty oath (an oath to be loyal to the Constitution of the United States, in the case of federal officials). Witnesses take an oath before stepping on a stand. Many married couples (myself included) take an oath as the central part of the marriage ceremony.
All of these oaths aim to fix into the mind a commitment to particular ends, and an aversion to that which would violate those commitments. I think it would be difficult to argue that those oaths have no effect – that they do not actually promote the ends that they seek to promote.
In fact, if loyalty oaths had no effect, then tyrants and dictators would have no reason to use them. They, at least, expect these oaths to better secure their position. It is just as likely (or just as unlikely) that those oaths can also be used to secure certain values such as 'liberty and justice for all'.
If we are left uncertain as to the effect of such oaths, we would still be left with reason to believe that a loyalty oath to 'liberty and justice for all' will have some or no positive effect. It will not have negative effect. So, we still have reason to use such an oath (in terms of its possible positive effect), and no reason not to other than the possibility that it is a waste of time.
All of this depends, of course, on whether the Pledge is being used to promote something worthy of being promoted (e.g., liberty and justice for all), or to promote something that should not be promoted (e.g., obedience to a tyrant).
A relevant problem is that people will inevitably disagree over what is worth promoting. There is always a risk that one faction will put its ideas into a Pledge as a way of shutting down the opposition, stifling debate on issues that very much need to be debated. One way to avoid this type of problem is to simply not have a Pledge, It is not possible to make rhetorical use of a Pledge if there is no Pledge to use.
We see this very problem with the Pledge of Allegiance. The words 'under God' were inserted into the Pledge by demagogues attempting to close debate on issues that are very much need to be debated. Worse, they attempted to close debate on issues where the government has a prohibition on taking sides – on matters of religion. This gives us unambiguous evidence that demagogues will seek to use a Pledge to manipulate the public, from which we can argue that it is better that no Pledge exists at all.
Here, too, we must weigh this against the fact that all institutions are open to abuse. The institutions of morality and law themselves are constantly being abused by demagogues seeking to manipulate the public. Yet, these institutions provide so much of an advantage when used correctly that the possibility of abuse does not argue for abolition. These moral and legal institutions include the practice of making pledges. Where we need to devote our energies is in fighting these corruptions, not in eliminating the institutions that are being corrupted. In would be difficult to argue that we should rid ourselves of the institutions of morality and law simply because some people abuse these institutions.
There is no argument against the moral permissibility of a good Pledge. There is no argument against the possibility of a good Pledge. The argument that evil powers have used Pledges is no more of an argument against a good Pledge then the fact that evil powers have manipulated the law is an argument against just law. Our focus should be on promoting justice over injustice, both in pledges and in laws, rather than throwing away tools that the unjust might be willing to exploit.


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The LEGO Batman Movie – McMennamins Kennedy School, Portland, OR
The problem I had with The LEGO Batman Movie was that, while it was funny, it was…for lack of a better word odd to experience this movie that feels like it's in the same universe as The LEGO Movie (with it's wonderful conceit of the kid mashing together the worlds), but to never have confirmation/acknowledgement that we are actually in that universe. That lack of confirmation makes me feel like we're being asked to accept at face-value that non-DC characters were legitimately banished to the Phantom Zone. And that just makes me twitchy lol.


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Gay Stockholm
Stockholm's men — tall and muscular in stature, endowed with meticulously defined jaw lines, and baby soft blond hair — will take your breath away. They seem to grace every corner of the regal city, giving new meaning to the slogan, "Take a liking to a Viking." Stockholm, one of the world's most beautiful capitals, is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, with handsome buildings, green parks, and water all around -- by far the most pristine of all Scandinavian cities. On every corner there's another fairy tale setting, and perhaps another Prince Charming.
Spring's the time when the layers come off in tandem with the rise of the perpetual sun. From May to September, you can watch the gladiators jogging over the bridges that connect the vast archipelago and lose yourself in long ambles through the gingerbread streets of Gamla Stan (Stockholm's Old Town). By day, visitors and locals are spoiled for choice, with charming boat rides through the archipelago, countless picnic spots through the "European Green Capital" and visits to the city's first-class attractions: the Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace), the Vasamuseet (Royal Warship), the open-air Skansen Museum, the National Museum of Art and Carl Milles' sculpture opus, Millesgarden.
When the weather warms up, the Stockholm party scene rages seven nights a week. The gay community here is out, loud, and proud. Stockholm Pride, a week of spirited partying, is usually held at the end of July and the beginning of August.
Getting here
Stockholm's Arlanda International Airport is about 26 miles from the city. The Arlanda Express high-speed train service departs every every 15 minutes from two airport stations: Arlanda South (Terminals 2, 3 and 4) and Arlanda North (Terminal 5) Tracks 1 and 2, to arrive in 20 minutes at Stockholm Central Station. There are also buses and taxis available.
Getting around
Stockholm has an excellent public transportation system. The subway and buses can get you anywhere you want to go, and tickets between the two are interchangeable. See the SL website for details in English. To do as the locals do, bike around the city, this is a city made for it. See Stockholm City Bikes.
Currency and Money
Sweden's currency is the krona. It is not among the Eurozone countries, but some places here will accept euros - though not always at the best exchange rate. On the other hand, Sweden is rapidly becoming a cashless society, with people increasingly paying even small amounts by app or plastic. Half the nation's retailers predict they will stop accepting bills before 2025. (Link ©nytimes.com).
Many branches of the country's biggest banks now keep no cash on hand, but ATMs can still be found in most the usual places. Choosing to be charged in the local (SEK) currency when using the ATM usually costs less than selecting the Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) option - ask your own bank before you go - and inform them of your travel plans, to minimize potential problems with both debit and credit card transactions.
Media and resources
QX is the Swedish gay magazine, printed in Swedish but with a lot of English, especially on their website where they have good listings for all the Scandinavian countries.
Viking Bears sponsor events all year, and regular Saturday Bear Pub socials at Bistro Corno Strada (Hornsgatan 37).
RFSL, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer rights, is a non-profit community services organization with activities that include lectures, café nights, pride celebrations and workshops.
Stockholm Gay Club website "lists all the coolest gay upcoming happenings."
See the website of the Stockholm Visitors Board for what to do and see.
For some hotels and guesthouse, and some restaurant suggestions, plus museums/galleries and performance venues, see our gay Stockholm map & listings pages.
Going out
Swedish alcohol licensing laws require many bars to serve food. Several places go the extra mlle to make it good quality while they're at it. Some clubs admit those 18-up but others bar anyone under 23 --check ahead on club websites (follow our links).
Berns (Näckströmsgatan 8, Berzelii Park), hotel, restaurant with gay-friendly cocktail bar and concert venue.
Bitter Pills (Verkstadsgatan 4), gay-friendly/mixed bar and cafe, food, wines and cocktails.
Björnpub/ Bear Pub by Viking Bears at Corno Strada (Hornsgatan 37), monthly bear get-together evenings over food and drinks. See more events at their website.
Café Golden Ladies at RFSL-Huset (Sveavägen 59), Tuesday (Tisdagscafé) 5pm cafe socials for age-35+ lesbians and bisexual women.
Chokladkoppen (Stortorget 18), gay-popular cafe/bar with outdoor seating at the heart of Old Town, known for delicious hot chocolate, coffees and snacks, hot meals and sandwiches. Local information, gay party flyers, and gay give-away magazines.
Clean Group sponsors LGBTQ dance parties featuring international DJs, including Guldrummet at Club Backdoor in Johanneshov/ Southern Stockholm. See their website for upcoming dates.
King Kong at Guldapan (Mariatorget 1a), Saturday gay/lesbian dance nights, with Schlager/Pop music, mixed men/women. CLOSED - final event August 31, 2019. See Peter & Erik present for the promoters' future plans.
Mälarpaviljongen (Norr Mälarstrand 64), gay popular summertime lakeside cafe, floating pontoon terrace bar.
Morfar Ginko (Swedenborgsgatan 13), LGBTQ-friendly mainstream bar with Pappa Ray Ray Restaurant; Klubb EVE events for "dykes, femmes, ickebinära, kvinnor, bi/pan, trans and queers."
Patricia (Söder Mälarstrand Kajplats N19), floating restaurant and bar on converted lightship, Sunday night drag shows, pop and schlager music, young gay crowd.
Secret Garden (Kornhamnstorg 59), Swedish restaurant, gay bar/lounge in Old Town; DJ sets, men/women mix.
SideTrack (Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 7), gay restaurant, regular guy beer-drinkers bar, early stop for SLM leather men and bears, underwear parties.
SLM (Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 18), Scandinavian Leather Men, leather, rubber, fetish, uniform party nights, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, dress code, men-only, 18-plus.
Södra Teatern (Mosebacke torg 1-3), theater, performance art, music, comedy, dance, circus, film, drag burlesque club nights.
The Viking Bears sponsor Stockholm events each month, including Björnpub/ Bear Pub nights, parties, walks, brunch dates, meetings and excursions.
CLOSED: Ambassadeur (Kungsgatan 18), big gay-friendly mainstream weekend dance club; Babs Kok & Bar (Birger Jarlsgatan 37), gay-friendly international bistro - became Bongo Bar; Tank (Kungsgatan15, Östermalm), gay nightclub, DJs, divas, dancing, shows; Wonk Stockholm Wed/Sun gay nights, Fri/Sat gay/mixed dancing -- Wonk Malmo (Amiralsgatan 23), continues Saturdays, with two dance floors and karaoke lounge.
Candy Friday night 20+ gay dance nights of Schlager, R'n'B and House music. Their last dance, January 2017 wrapped up 3 years at Le Bon Palais (Barnhusgatan 12).
Sauna, Sex clubs and video stores
Both gay saunas closed in late 2017, but cruising and sex play still take place at several cinemas/shops in town.
Blue Vision (Fridhemsgatan 44), gay/bi/curious adult cruise/ play area, dark room, everyone welcome; movies, sex shop, cafe, theme events.
Manhattan (Hantverkargatan 49, Kungsholmen), non-stop porn videos and m2m cruising, several screens, dark rooms, glory holes, noon to 6am daily.
US Video (Regeringsgatan 76), straight and gay adult video DVD store, magazines, toys, cruising, cabins, cinema lounges, open 24-hours every day.
CLOSED: Bronx Sauna (Barnängsgatan 19), saunas, slings, maze, dark rooms, cabins, massage, bears' nights; Texas Sauna (Barnängsgatan 9A), sauna, massage, gym, cruise/ play space, slings, cabins, dark room.


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Table of Contents
Too Often, First Amendment Protections Denied to Second Amendment Speech
The First Amendment protects core political speech—and, as should be obvious, that protection extends to speech regarding the Second Amendment. This means that students at public universities and private universities that promise the right to free expression on campus must be free to engage in unfettered discussion of the merits of federal, state and local gun policy in the same way that they are free to discuss, say, agricultural subsidies, diplomatic relations with Cuba, or last night's Daily Show.
But an unfortunate consequence of the tragedies at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University is that students are increasingly facing punishment or investigation for engaging in any kind of gun-related speech. While FIRE of course understands the paramount importance of protecting students on campus, we have too often seen abuses of speech rights justified by weak allusions to these tragedies, as if advocating for or against gun rights on campus was an inherently dangerous act worthy of official reprimand. This is an absurd and untenable outcome.
FIRE has explored just how deeply regrettable this gun-speech hysteria is in previous writings. For example, Greg wrote an article for The Huffington Post entitled "What Can The Virginia Tech Tragedy Do For Me?", in which he concluded that "the simple fact is that some administrators have been using the campus shootings of the past two years as an excuse to justify cracking down on speech they don't like." Similarly, here on The Torch, Adam discussed how a recent court order in student Hayden Barnes' ongoing federal civil rights lawsuit against Valdosta State University should remind colleges that "simply invoking Virginia Tech or other incidents of severe violence on college campuses does not mean that a school can get away with declaring the most minor (or in this case nonexistent) references to violence some kind of actionable threat to campus security." Torch readers will remember that VSU cited the tragedy at Virginia Tech to justify expelling Barnes for a "threatening" collage he posted on Facebook.com.
But in light of Robert's scheduled appearance tonight on CNN, it's useful to review just how many incidents of overreaction to gun-related speech we've seen on the part of school administrators in the past several years. It's a long and shameful list:
- At Central Connecticut State University, a student gave a presentation for his speech class about the safety value of concealed weapons on campus. His professor called the police, who subsequently interrogated him about where he was storing the guns that were registered under his name. This incident has already garnered national media attention—it was featured on the front page of FoxNews.com last week—and will be the focus of Robert's appearance on Lou Dobbs Tonight.
- At Tarrant County College in Texas, a student chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus was prohibited from wearing empty gun holsters to protest policies that forbid concealed carry on campus. In addition, the group was only allowed to protest (still without holsters) in the school's tiny and restrictive free speech zone. An administrator said that the empty holsters were too threatening for other students to see.
- At Colorado College, two male students were found responsible for sexually-related "violence" after they put up posters making fun of a feminist newsletter. Because the posters, which also parodied "guy stuff," made references to chainsaws and the range of a sniper rifle, administrators claimed that feminists on campus became afraid for their lives. The administrator who punished the students wrote, "I recognize that your intent in posting your publication was not to threaten but to parody. However, in the climate in which we find ourselves today, violence—or implied violence—of any kind cannot be tolerated on a college campus." Because of this miscarriage of justice, Colorado College is now on FIRE's Red Alert list, reserved for the worst-of-the-worst when it comes to liberty on campus.
- At Lone Star College near Houston, the Young Conservatives of Texas distributed a humorous flyer listing "Top Ten Gun Safety Tips" at the school's "club rush." They were threatened with probation and derecognition, and the flyer was censored. The school's general counsel invoked the specter of the Virginia Tech shootings, suggesting that even a "mention of firearms and weapons" is inherently a "material interference" with the school's operations.
- Arkansas Tech cancelled a student production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins "out of respect for the families of those victims of the tragedies at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech, and from an abundance of caution." At the dress rehearsal, wooden stage guns were required to be cut in half prior to the event and not used. Eventually, after national media attention and campus protests, the production was allowed to continue, albeit with added security.
- Yale attempted a similar maneuver after the Virginia Tech shootings, banning the use of any realistic-looking weapons in theatrical productions at the school. Under public pressure, Yale backed away somewhat from its original overreaction but still required audiences to be "notified in advance of the use of fake guns, swords and knives."
- According to USA Today, a professor at Emmanuel College in Boston was fired "after leading a classroom discussion about the Virginia Tech shootings in which he pointed a marker at some students and said 'pow.'" According to the professor, the five-minute demonstration included a discussion of gun control, whether to respond to violence with violence, and the public's "celebration of victimhood."
As always, FIRE will continue to monitor this unfortunate trend and to defend the rights of students and faculty to engage in fully protected speech on campus—even if that speech involves fake guns, empty holsters, or advocating for the right to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Recent Articles
FIRE's award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.


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Tiny Epic Kingdoms 2nd Edition
Tiny Epic Kingdoms is a very approachable small box board game! In Tiny Epic Kingdoms, you rule! But whether you reign supreme or crumble under pressure is entirely in your hands. You will be exploring lands and factions, expanding kingdoms, exploiting opportunities, and exterminating all those who question your ruleÆ'?Ãbut so will everyone else! The results of this tiny conflict are nothing short of epic!In this surprisingly simple, yet deeply engaging game, players will be coming back for more and more. With 13 unique and thematic factions and 16 unique territories no game will ever be the same. This game truly achieves a grandiose experience in a small box board game.


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Premium Leather Classic Staff Golf Bag- Black Leather with Natural Leather Trim
This bag is in stock and ready to ship!
Crafted with personally selected, American tanned hides & American made brass hardware, our Brand New Premium Leather Classic Staff Golf Bag, is a piece of functional nostalgia. Now including a full length sweater pocket for extra storage. Steurer & Jacoby® full-leather club carriers are unrivaled in quality, you will love the durability and classic design of these handcrafted products.
- 8" Rigid Opening
- Proprietary Wire Frame
- 4-Way Club Divider
- Full Length Divider
- Large Ball Pocket with Two Zippered Compartments
- Full Length Sweater Pocket with Two Zippered Compartments
- Tour Style Adjustable Sling
- Card Sleeve and Pencil Sheath
- Tee Caddy
- Bottom Assist Handle
- All American Sourced Brass Hardware
- Optional Personalization
- Zippered Ball Pocket
- Weighs Approximately 8 lbs
Creating your perfect golf bag is our passion. If your perfect golf bag isn't configurable with the options shown on this page, please call our shop at 502-267-6878 to discuss how we can bring your idea to life. Customer satisfaction is supremely important to us and we would love the opportunity to earn your business.
Though some products may ship quickly, due to the handcrafted nature of our products, please allow 4-6 weeks for order fulfillment. Some personalized products could take longer. International shipping rates not exceeding $100 may apply. There are no returns on personalized products. Thank you for your understanding.
Please select all options.


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The Jane Saddle is designed with a rounded three-quarter front flap, a magnetic snap closure and our custom Infinity Bar. It has a hidden exterior pocket, an optional chain with a leather wrapped accent, interior pockets and features our signature Thayer Blue lining.
Care of Materials
To care for leather materials, use a dry, soft cotton cloth with neutral silicon free wax. Do not use water or stain remover on the leather, as it can create spots of different colors. For calf hair, you can use a soft brush.
100% Handmade in Italy
*We work solely with highly trained Italian artisans
*Materials used come from tanneries who put social aspects first, strive to minimize their environmental footprints and preserve the health and safety of their workers
8.7" wide x 7" high x 3" deep


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As former Vice President Joe Biden's camp scrambles to contain any political damage over his past behavior with women, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has some words of advice: Keep your distance.
"Join the straight-arm club," Pelosi told a breakfast hour Washington event on Tuesday.
In other words, keep your handshakes at arms' length and don't be touchy-feely.
"Just pretend you have a cold and I have a cold," Pelosi said.
Pelosi, D-Calif., told the event, which was sponsored by Politico, that Biden "has to understand that in the world we are in now people's space is important to them and what's important is how they receive it, not necessarily how you intended it."
Her remarks came as Biden's aides are striking a more aggressive tone as he considers running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and faces scrutiny over his past behavior toward women.
In a statement on Monday, Biden spokesman Bill Russo blasted "right wing trolls" from "the dark recesses of the internet" for conflating images of Biden embracing acquaintances, colleagues and friends in his official capacity during swearing-in ceremonies with uninvited touching.
That statement came on a day on which a second woman said Biden had acted inappropriately, touching her face with both hands and rubbing noses with her in 2009. The allegation by Amy Lappos, a former aide to Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, followed a magazine essay by another woman, former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, who wrote that Biden kissed her on the back of the head in 2014.
The developments underscored the challenge facing Biden should he decide to seek the White House. Following historic wins in the 2018 midterms, Democratic politics is dominated by energy from women. The allegations could leave the 76-year-old Biden, long known for his affectionate mannerisms, appearing out of touch with the party as the Democratic presidential primary begins.
Lappos told The Associated Press that she and other Himes aides were helping out at a fundraiser in a private home in Hartford, Connecticut, in October 2009 when Biden entered the kitchen to thank the group for pitching in.
"After he finished speaking, he stopped to talk to us about how important a congressional staff is, which I thought was awesome," Lappos said.
She said she was stunned as Biden moved toward her.
"He wrapped both his hands around my face and pulled me in," said Lappos, who is now 43. "I thought, 'Oh, God, he's going to kiss me.' Instead, he rubbed noses with me."
Biden said nothing, she said, then moved off.
She said the experience left her feeling "weird and uncomfortable" and was "absolutely disrespectful of my personal boundaries."
The Hartford Courant first reported Lappos' assertion.
Russo, Biden's spokesman, didn't directly respond to Lappos, instead referring to a Sunday statement in which Biden said he doesn't believe he has acted inappropriately during his long public life. The former vice president said in that statement: "We have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will."
Biden hasn't made a final decision on whether to run for the White House. But aides who weren't authorized to discuss internal conversations and spoke on the condition of anonymity said there were no signs that his team was slowing its preparations for a campaign.
Asked on Monday by the AP about the accusations against Biden, Pelosi said, "I don't think that this disqualifies him from running for president, not at all."
Biden's potential Democratic rivals haven't rushed to back him up. Over the weekend, presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand came closest to calling out the former vice president. Warren, a Massachusetts senator, said Biden "needs to give an answer" about what occurred. Gillibrand, a New York senator, said, "If Vice President Biden becomes a candidate, this is a topic he'll have to engage on further."
Ultraviolet, a women's advocacy group, tweeted: "Joe Biden cannot paint himself as a champion of women and then refuse to listen and learn from a woman who says his actions demeaned her. Good intentions don't matter if the actions are inappropriate. Do better, Joe. And thank you @LucyFlores for coming forward."


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Welcome to our Community!
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana ("BCBSMT"), a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, offers Online Community Connect ("OCC"), a secure online community for individuals and BCBSMT to share information about health care. OCC is hosted and powered by Telligent® ("Telligent"), an operating division of Verint Americas Inc. ("Verint").
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About the Peony
Peonies are popular perennials that have become a beloved bloom across the globe. Their origin began in Chinese gardens around 1,000 B.C. when people started harvesting peonies to utilize in cooking and medicines. It wasn't until the Tang Dynasty that peonies began to be adored and favored for their elegance and beauty. From 618 to 907 AD, these particular flowers were bred in Imperial courts as an essential daily ritual, and therefore, have become linked to royalty and great wealth. It did not take long for these captivating flowers to become a worldwide sensation.
Characteristics of Peonies
The peony is a delicate flower with fluffy petals that create a full, puffy sphere and offers a sweet and alluring fragrance. This bloom can be found in many colors, including white, pink, yellow, and red. Purple, orange, and coral peonies also exist and provide brilliance to gardens and floral arrangements, but they are less common. Peonies thrive from late spring through early summer, but they are most abundant in May and June. Their outstanding quality enhances the peony's popularity as they can last for many days when cut and cared for properly in a vase.
Peony Flower Forms
Anemone, Japanese, Bomb, Single, Semi-Double, and Double are the six most popular shapes and forms that peonies can adopt.
Fun Facts About Peonies
- The Peony is the state flower of Indiana, and before the plum blossom, it was China's national flower.
- The 12th wedding anniversary is celebrated with peonies.
- In the beginning, peony buds are no larger than a golf ball. As they bloom, they open to three times their original size.
- There are hundreds of varieties of peonies.
- Peony plants can continue blooming annually for approximately 100 years.
- White peonies are one of the oldest remedies in traditional Chinese medicine.
- In China, "peony" translates to "most beautiful."
Peony Name Origin
The name "peony" is a product of Greek mythology. While there are two origin stories connected to the peony flower, both tell a tale of jealousy and anger resulting in the creation of the peony. The first story depicts a nymph named Paeonia, a bashful character, who was caught flirting with Apollo by Aphrodite. Paeonia was embarrassed, and Aphrodite became so enraged and bitter that she turned Paeonia into a flower.
The second story is of Paeon, a student of the Greek God of Healing and Medicine, Asclepius. When Paeon began using milk from peony roots to help heal Pluto, Asclepius was furious and envious of his pupil's success that he formed a plan to kill him. Zeus intervened and turned Paeon into a flower for protection.
Peony Symbolism
General symbolism of the peony includes good fortune, wealth, prosperity, good luck, a rebirth of relationships, love, and happiness in marriage. Chinese culture associates peonies with power, wealth, and class. Japanese culture connects peonies to bravery, honor, and good fortune, especially red peonies. In the Victorian Age, peonies were synonymous with beauty and bashfulness.
Peony Occasions
Many celebrations call for peonies, from romantic moments to sentiments of "good luck," "congratulations," and even apologies. Weddings are perhaps the most popular occasion to honor with peonies as this flower is representative of love and happy marriages. Aside from their symbolism, brides, grooms, and florists adore their full-bodied bloom and sweet, soft aesthetic.


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Learn How to Use Jump Rings
Jump rings are used in SO many different jewelry projects. Their basic use is to connect two components together. They are especially useful if one of the components such as a charm or clasp has a closed loop connector. A jump ring opens and closes very simply with a pair of pliers, as will be demonstrated below.
There are various kinds of jump rings. Most are circular, but they also come in various gauges, metal types, and there are some specialty shapes such as the star and square below. A slightly different kind of ring is a split ring which is a little sturdier, and will be explained later.
To show you one use of a jump ring I made this key necklace which is available in my etsy shop.
Here's how to make it!
Supplies Needed
Chain, clasp, various beads, key charm, jump ring, spring ring, headpins, wire cutters, needle nose pliers and round nose pliers.
Grab a jump ring and your needle nose pliers
Do NOT pull the jump ring open- this messes up it's shape. Always twist to the side.
Twist the jump ring sideways back the way you opened it to close it.
The different between a split ring (right) and a jump ring (left) is that a jump ring is made of only one wrap of wire and opens easily with one twist. A split ring is made with multiple wraps of wire and to open it and get a component on to the loop you have to twist it around the different wraps of wire. A split ring is more sturdy and holds up better in jewelry, but it is pretty difficult to work with. They make special pliers to help open them, but it is still a little tricky.
In this project I used a jump ring to connect a charm to a split ring. I used a split ring because that is the ring I will put the necklace chain through and will get the most stress while worn. A jump ring would also work, but the split ring will be sure to hold up better.
Next make some charms out of assorted beads and headpins and connect them to the split ring.
See all the different parts? It goes key charm, jump ring, split ring, charms.
Now you've got a cute key necklace AND are a master of jump rings!
To get an idea of the other ways jump rings are used, check out some of these other pieces I have made:
Pink Scroll Earrings
Swirl Heart Charm Necklace
Hammered Black Chandelier Earrings
Missed a jewelry lesson post? Learn how to use make earrings here, crimp beads here, learn about different types of beads here, and learn about the jewelry supplies I use here!
I will probably be taking next week off from jewelry lessons since I will be GRADUATING COLLEGE (!!) and moving back home...but check in again in two weeks for another lesson!


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Title: Drawing Down the Moon
Author: Steven Lee Climer
A group of misfits learn how to conjure an ancient dark evil that gives them the power to be judge, jury, and executioner.
Ronan and her friends unlock the secrets of delivering vengeance on their tormentors with an ancient artifact found in Ronan's mom's mail. However, it goes beyond petty high school teasing and the trio begins doling out horrific punishments.
When it goes too far and Ronan wants out, Lyda, the charming new student, gets in her way. Ronan must break Lyda's hold on her friends before they become the monsters hunting each other.
Tag Line: Because Every Teen Wants Revenge
Steven Lee Climer lives in Metropolitan Detroit with his partner. He is an avid amateur bodybuilder, gardener, and all-around handyman. He has sold the motion picture rights of his novel Demonesque to After Dark Productions, and is the recipient of several honors including the Darrell Award, Eppie for Best Horror Novel 2000, and 1997 finalist for Best First Novel from the International Horror Guild.
Twitter @Stevenleeclimer


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The Stupidest Movie Evah
But I digress. This post isn't about Liam Neeson, in spite of his long-term presence on my celebrity boyfriend list. This is about what is quite possibly the Stupidest Movie Evah.
The Smart Man and I were treated to the previews of a movie called Crank 2: High Voltage, starring Jason Statham (rowr) and GFY favorite Bai Ling.
The premise is that Jason Statham's character, Chev Chelios, has his heart "stolen" from his chest and replaced with an artificial construct. The bad guy wants Chev's heart because it's nearly indestructible, presumably due to the poisoning it endured in that cinematic triumph, Crank.
The catch in this story is that the artificial heart must be "charged" periodically in order to keep beating. This, of course, leads to Chev electrocuting himself in various ways as he attempts to track down his own heart.
Really, Lionsgate? Really? You brought us Dogma. And Monster's Ball. And Hotel Rwanda. And Akeelah and the Bee.
This is the kind of drek you choose to distribute when funny talented folks like Elana Frink are still struggling? Shots of Jason Statham electrocuting his nipple and tongue with a car battery?
I may sink into despair. Won't you join me by watching this trailer?
9 comments:
- Eric said...
Okay, see, this is totally an example of the way that sometimes someone will describe something awful in a way that inevitably makes it sound awesome. I have no doubt the preview you're talking about was painfully stupid. But when you basically tell me this is a movie where Jason Statham has to periodically electrocute his tongue and nipples because his heart has been stolen like Spock's brain in that eponymous Star Trek episode, I suddenly feel compelled to at least rent it.
- February 9, 2009 at 8:09 AM
- Eric said...
(PS--I won't be able to watch the trailer until later. O-nay OoToob-ay at ork-way.)
- February 9, 2009 at 8:11 AM
- Random Michelle K said...
OK. I saw some of the first twenty or so minutes of crank. Then I have to leave the theater because I was unbelievably motion sick.
From what I've been reading, the *point* of the movie is to be as ridiculous as possible. It's not supposed to be believable. It's supposed to be Jason Statham being FUCKING INSANE.
After all, it's not like his character was likable or anything. The whole point was simply to see how far they could go with the movie.
So, I'm not going to see it (I don't live vomiting) but I'm not offended either. Because that was the point. - February 9, 2009 at 8:20 AM
- Janiece said...
Eric, I thought of Spock's Brain, too! Hee!
Michelle, I'm not really offended - there's lots of entertainment out there that's not my cup of tea. And that's okay.
But if their goal (as you note) is to concoct a plot that is as far away from reality as possible, well, then they've succeeded. Because I really don't see how this could be any dumber. - February 9, 2009 at 8:33 AM
- mattw said...
Can't see how this could be any dumber!?!
Look at all the smartypants stuff they have: transplant surgery, electricty and it's effects on the body, different sources and strengths of electricity, physics (all those punches and crashes, etc.), life extension, etc. How could this movie be any smarter? :P
Yeah, looks like crap. Didn't see the first one and have no plans on seeing this one.
And if the bad guys want to harvest his organs as we're lead to believe in the trailer, why not take them all at once, or turn him into a vegitable and then just take them whenever they want? That way they don't have to worry about swift and furious retribution. - February 9, 2009 at 9:13 AM
- Janiece said...
Matt, you are attempting to infuse this treatment with plausibility and common sense.
Stop that right now. - February 9, 2009 at 9:25 AM
- Random Michelle K said...
There's a phrase that comes in handy quite often I've found. "Don't look for the logic in it."
That pertains to movies, sports, and especially politics.
Just repeat the phrase to yourself Matt.
After all, if we expected movies with logic, we'd never have had James Bond. - February 9, 2009 at 9:56 AM
- Anne C. said...
I can't believe they're making a sequel to Crank, which I believe was the last award winner for "stupidest movie evah." Obviously, they feel like they can top that.
- February 9, 2009 at 10:24 AM
- Anonymous said...
Saw that trailer when CuteFilmNerd and I watched My Bloody Valentine in 3D.
(Yeah, I know. Moving along...)
Bleh. But there were definitely people in the audience who were into the trailer.
Janiece, Lions Gate is also the studio that brings us the torture porn of the Saw and Hostel movies. Crank 2 is a step up.
(Disclosure: I used to work for Lions Gate. I was laid off in 2004. I don't miss working there AT ALL. None of this surprises me.) - February 9, 2009 at 11:45 AM