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20+ new and exclusive tracks recorded by Touch artists. A photographic counterpoint,
the view from Hampstead Heath during the London lockdown. Touch: Isolation is a subscription project that will evolve over the coming weeks. Click here to subscribe.
A time to support independent music while it still exists!
"Please keep your distance, the trail leads from here…"
The cancellation of gigs and festivals has already severely impacted our artists creatively and financially. In addition it has denied you, our audience, the opportunity to see them play and support them. The notion of 'independent music' might, in effect, be pushed deeper into the self-isolation mode it is already struggling to break free from. We don't need studios to the same extent, but we do need a stage, a physical reference and if not, a mental space with which to question the drive to online existence.
We set out to respond to these challenging times in a creative and helpful way. The idea is to present Touch: Isolation whereby a new exclusive track from one of our artists, each with a bespoke photograph/cover image, is presented on a regular basis over the coming weeks. All the income received is collected from your subscriptions and put in a kitty, the proceeds of which are then divided up between the contributing artists.
These new and exclusive interventions will include works by Oren Ambarchi, Richard Chartier, ELEH, farmersmanual, Fennesz, fennesz sakamoto, Bana Haffar, Howlround, Philip Jeck, Bethan Kellough, Daniel Menche, Anthony Moore, Yann Novak, Zachary Paul, Claire M Singer, Geneva Skeen, UnicaZürn, Mark Van Hoen, CM von Hausswolff, Chris Watson, Jana Winderen and others to be confirmed – all expertly mastered by Denis Blackham.
We invite you to take this unique opportunity to support the artists, without whom there would be no alternative to corporate art… support the industries which realise the artists' creation – the uncredited producers, designers, software developers, distributors, vinyl cutters, mastering engineers, friends and family etc., who all symbiotically depend on the other to bring their works to fruition…
The subscription costs £20 for 20 (or more) tracks – please support the artists by investing in the Touch: Isolation project, and expect surprises – good ones for a change.
Social distancing. Actual space. If you can get out, you have to get out. Escape velocity – from Brexit, then somehow prevent institutional meltdown? The UK shows the way, in a method that beggars belief.
The photographs were taken on Hampstead Heath during the early days of the UK/London lockdown, 25 March 2020, primarily in West Heath and the area around Golders Hill whose open space minimises the problems of social distancing. The weather, being superb after weeks of high winds and heavy rain, seemed a metaphor for regeneration and recovery, with the trees coming into bloom – in defiance of the scene we witnessed 33 years earlier after the Great Storm of October 1987 when, in the days that followed, the Heath looked like an arboreal graveyard.
The objective is to find a sense of quiet celebration, to look at the balance between the detail and the scaling force of open spaces. Let's hope they can remain open.
To make 20 (or more) record covers in less than a week for sound and music we had yet to hear, and to then match the photography to each artist's contribution… If this seems somewhat in the style of the children's game, 'Pin the tail on the donkey', then perhaps that's more apt than pretending we know how everything fits together at this juncture.
This might also be seen an opportunity to give an early documentation to the mental state of 2020, remembering the year 2000 and the threat of the 'millennium bug', this may well become known as the year when x melted into y, to avoid z.
Roughly a dozen years ago, life went broadband. Today we see our reliance on digital systems like never before.
'As a dwindling member of the generation that lived through and served in the Second World War I think in some ways this is much worse. It was possible to live in a country area and apart from rationing see little of the war. Bombing was spasmodic and haphazard, and our defences were really good. After a year, there was very little chance of an invasion and much of life – sport, theatres and radio, continued as before. Restaurants and hotels remained largely open, rationed according to turnover.' David John Harding, b. 1925.
Further reading:
furtherdot blog
igloo magazine
ambient blog
Broadcasting House, BBC Radio 4


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The guts and soul of Indian Springs are our two swimming pools. Hockney, who is revered as one of Nice Britain's most influential artists and a pioneer of the Nineteen Sixties pop artwork movement, conceived the composition for the double portrait by likelihood, after seeing the juxtaposition of two photographs on the ground of his studio in London – one of a figure swimming underwater in a pool and the opposite of a boy observing one thing on the bottom.
We imagine that video games must be free for everybody to get pleasure from, and ads help us achieve this aim. On a surface of 1700 sq. meters we exhibit swimming pools, sauna plunge pools and whirlpools in many various variations. Each tier is distinguished primarily by its general performance, which is measured in elastic Database Transaction Models (eDTUs) See Service tiers for elastic database pools for details.
As a culmination of Hockney's most iconic motifs, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) has develop into certainly one of his most celebrated and recognisable pictures. Treat your self to a therapeutic massage at Onsen Scorching Pools and expertise the ultimate in relaxation. Hockney's iconic swimming pool motif also arrived by one thing of an accident. Your deployments will continue running and might be billed at an on-demand charge as soon as the reserved capacity profit expires.
Deal with your self to the romantic lure of a Mediterranean-infused al fresco poolside experience – unquestionably Las Vegas' most inviting pool area. Sign as much as receive our daily Right now in three information and procuring email, plus all The Pool has to offer, including our new Up With The Children parenting publication. Expertise a poolside oasis situated at the the Grand Tower with panoramic views of Downtown Las Vegas and the scenic valley mountains.
License included: Excludes Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server. Lounge poolside in a serene setting and feel refreshed in this outdoor, Mediterranean-fashion haven. Poolside service can have a Frosé or Park Punch in your hand in no time. David Hockney's "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" was auctioned Thursday at Christie's Publish-Conflict and Contemporary Artwork Night Sale in New York City for a report $ninety million, which smashed the $58.four million record set by Jeff Koons' "Balloon Dog" in 2013.

subset: commoncrawl


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Liberalism is at the forefront of poverty
This is the opinion of Star Parker, founder and president of CURE, the Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education, a non-profit think tank that provides a national voice of reason on issues of race and poverty in the media, inner city neighborhoods, and public policy.
"Blaming poverty on liberalism and the federal government, a conservative activist on Friday said: 'It is very sad what the liberals have done with their war on the poor in this country.'
"'After 40 years of failure, they still insist that they want to expand this war, that they think they should pour more money into this war,' said Star Parker, president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education. 'Already, over $3 trillion has been spent on the war on poverty, and so far, we've not seen results.'
"Parker said the war on poverty has really been a war waged by liberals on four fronts -- 'war on the family, the war on thought, the war on tradition and a war on religion.'"
For more on this read "Conservative Activist Blames Poverty on Liberalism."


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2024 January
A Fresh Start for Spinal Health
As we embrace the arrival of the new year, it's an opportune time to reflect on our health and make positive changes. Alongside popular resolutions, such as exercise and healthy eating, consider the crucial aspect of spinal health and the benefits of chiropractic care.
Chiropractic plays a vital role in managing pain, alleviating tension, and restoring balance to the spine. By removing restrictions within the spine, chiropractic helps enhance overall well-being and supports a healthier lifestyle.
Additionally, chiropractic adjustments enhance mobility, flexibility, and posture. These improvements contribute to better overall physical performance, reducing the risk of injuries and enhancing daily activities.
Moreover, chiropractic care supports the body's natural healing process without the use of medications or invasive procedures.
If any of these benefits resonate with you, we'd love to see you in the practice soon.
Try Our Nutrient-Packed Zucchini Noodle Stir-Fry Recipe
As we embark on a new year, it's the perfect time to prioritise our health and well-being. And what better way to do that than by trying out this healthy recipe: Zucchini Noodle Stir-Fry! This delectable dish also promotes natural health with its numerous benefits.
Zucchini noodles serve as an excellent alternative to traditional pasta, packed with essential nutrients and low in sugar. To whip up this recipe, simply spiralise fresh zucchinis and sauté them with an array of colourful bell peppers, mushrooms, and your choice of lean protein such as chicken or tofu. Enhance the flavours with garlic, ginger, and a splash of low-sodium soy sauce for an extra burst of taste.
Why is this recipe great for natural health? The low sugar content helps support overall well-being, while the crunchy vegetables provide valuable fibre and promote healthy digestion. Additionally, the vitamin C from the bell peppers boosts immunity and supports vibrant skin.


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From Oracle FAQ
TOAD (Tool for Oracle Application Developers and DBAs) is a database administration and SQL development software application from Quest Software. TOAD is a very popular tool with a large user base. It includes a SQL Editor, Schema Browser, Procedure Editor, SQL Modeller, etc.
TOAD is also available for other database systems, including SQL Server, DB2 and MySQL.
The following TOAD books are available:
- Toad Pocket Reference for Oracle 2nd Edition by Jeff Smith, Bert Scalzo, and Patrick McGrath, O'Reilly, 2005 (ISBN 0596009712, ISBN-13 978-0596009717)
- TOAD Handbook by Bert Scalzo and Dan Hotka, Sams, 2003 (ISBN 0672324865, ISBN-13 978-0672324864)
- Toad Pocket Reference for Oracle 1st Edition by Jim McDaniel and Patrick McGrath, O'Reilly, 2002 (ISBN 0596003374, ISBN-13 978-0596003371)
Also see[edit]
- TOAD Product Review, a detailed product review


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I was going to start this feature a while back and then forgot to. Shit's been super busy and I can't be responsible for that. Anyway, I'm starting it now.
Brunch, as we know, is more than just a meal. It is a Life Requirement on par with oxygen and reality TV. But we can't always go out for brunch. It gets expensive and we can't take our dogs. Instead, tomorrow or Sunday invite some peeps over and make this shit. It is SO FUCKING GOOD that The Wife and The Sister always demand it and I'm all I CAN'T MAKE THIS EVERY TIME YOU BITCHES WANT BRUNCH and they're all SHUT UP AND MAKE THE HASH and then I make the hash.
Sources indicate that this recipe originated with Gordon Ramsay. If that's true, dance in heaven, you foul-mouthed famewhore British son of a bitch, for your gift to us all is immeasurable.
Let's get on with it.
1 lb. fingerling potatoes
1 large sprig rosemary
Olive oil
8 oz. loose chorizo
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced
4 eggs
Sea salt & black pepper
Orange juice
Pomegranate juice
Acme Bakery herb slab
Open the champagne. Pour into glass with either orange or pomegranate juice, your choice.
Boil the potatoes in a pot with the sprig of rosemary until they're just cooked, not like super-soft, but enough so a knife slides easily into them. Rinse them in cold water and then get someone to cut them in half or cut them in half yourself, what do I care.
Heat a big pan over medium heat and pour enough olive oil in to coat the bottom. Put in the chorizo and saute it until it begins to release its oil, then throw in the onions and peppers. Take a sip of your drink and saute all that stuff for like 4 or 5 minutes, until the onions start getting soft.
Add the potatoes and a big hunk of butter and mix it all together. Keep stirring it and sauteeing until the potatoes start to get a little crispy, so like 7 to 10 minutes. Salt and pepper the whole thing.
When the potato stuff is almost done, either poach or fry 4 eggs. I like poaching them, but I'm not gonna tell you how to run your life. If you fry them, it's not the goddam end of the world.
Divide up the hash into 4 portions and put an egg on top of each. Serve with the bread and more champagne.
When finished, recline on the couch. Moaning optional, depending on how badly you're hungover.
Serves 4, duh.
Friday, January 27, 2012
TK's Recipe of the Week
famous people,
Mr. Dogg,
The Sister,
The Wife,
TK's recipe of the week
4 comments:
- Rocco said...
- January 27, 2012 at 9:46 AM
- Generik said...
Dude, can you come over to my place and fix that for me and my wife this weekend? But be sure to poach the eggs, and I like the yolks kind of runny. Also, we'll probably need at least two or three bottles of Champagne.
Thanks. - January 27, 2012 at 4:31 PM
- Dusty Modern said...
Wife? That was fast. - January 28, 2012 at 5:05 PM
- Generik said...
Perhaps you have me confused with some other Generik (some generic Generik, maybe). I've been married for years, possibly longer than you've been alive. - January 30, 2012 at 4:30 PM
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World eating champ defends title at Ohio contest
CINCINNATI (AP) — The top-ranked competitive eater in the world and reigning king of the World Bratwurst Eating Championship has defended his title in Cincinnati, washing down 35 brats in 10 minutes.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Joey "Jaws" Chestnut approaches the contest like a sport.
Chestnut, a construction manager in San Jose, Calif., says he prepares by fasting for two to three days before the contest, which took place at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, North America's largest Oktoberfest.
The 10 male competitors put away 170 brats in 10 minutes Saturday during the officially sanctioned contest.
One observer called the contest "pretty wild" and said he didn't know whether to throw up or get a brat for himself.
For his victory, Chestnut won $2,000 and a golden Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati chicken hat.


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Text neck is a very real condition that is caused by staying in a prolonged "texting" position – hunched shoulders and neck tilted forward. As a result, the back, neck, and shoulder muscles become overworked and your spinal structure is actually changed. Many people who spend a lot of time on their mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, develop this condition (and others including "cellphone elbow" and tendinitis of the wrist and hand) and it can be very painful, even causing mobility problems. More than 95% of Americans have a smartphone or mobile device and most people spend a great deal of time on their devices – it is easy to see how this is a common problem.
What Exactly is Text Neck?
A normal human neck has a slight curve to it that travels along the spine. It is part of the intricate system that supports the head and body. However, a person with text neck will have a straight cervical spine. Their neck will not have that slight curve and that is a problem.
The cause of the absence of the curve is because of the position that the head stays in for such long periods of time. The average adult human head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds. When the head is upright, the neck supports it and the slight curve gives it the stability that it needs.
When you keep your head tilted forward, such as when you are hunched over your smartphone or mobile device, your head is thrust forward instead of sitting over the balanced curve of the cervical spine. The gravitational pull is greatly increased and the neck is already in an unnatural position. This combination places unnatural and damaging stress on your neck. It is like carrying around an additional 60 pounds on your neck.
Symptoms of Text Neck
In the early stages of text neck, a person may feel some tightness in their shoulders, neck, and upper back. This may progress to discomfort in those areas and eventually pain. If left untreated, you can develop pinched nerves and herniated discs.
Your central nervous system begins at the base of your skull, so it extends down your neck and upper back. When you put unnatural pressure on your neck, you are also affecting your nervous system, causing it to malfunction. This can lead to pain throughout your body, stiffness, headaches, low back pain, and problems with your hands and arms.
How to Prevent Text Neck
Text neck is surprisingly easy to prevent. Your first step is awareness. Over two or three days, take some time to be very aware of your body's position. Carefully examine your posture while you go about all of your daily activities. It is important to remember that text neck is not strictly confined to texting. You can get it any time you have your head bent down for an extended period of time, such as when looking at a laptop screen or even writing for a long time.
The best way to avoid the problem is to keep your devices at eye level. If you have a handheld device, hold it up at the level of your eyes instead of bending your neck to look down. The same goes for your laptop; arrange it so that your screen is at eye level.
Chiropractic for Text Neck
If you are already suffering from the effects of text neck, your chiropractor can help reverse the condition if it hasn't progressed to disc degeneration (even then he or she can help with associated pain). Regular chiropractic treatments, along with following expert recommendations for screen heights, can help reduce the pain and discomfort. It is smart to address these issues before they become a bigger problem. Your chiropractor can help.
This article is copyrighted by Blogging Chiros LLC for its Doctor of Chiropractic members and may not be copied or duplicated in any manner including printed or electronic media, regardless of whether for a fee or gratis without the prior written permission of Blogging Chiros, LLC.


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What follows is the unedited press release distributed by PR Newswire.
IBBY Announces Winners of 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Award
by The International Board on Books for Young People, Published March 19, 2012, Distributed by PR Newswire
The Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury of the international Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) announces that María Teresa Andruetto from Argentina is the winner of the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Author Award and Peter Sís from the Czech Republic is the winner of the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award.
The Andersen medals and diplomas will be presented to the winners at the international IBBY congress in London, United Kingdom on Saturday, 25 August 2012.
The Hans Christian Andersen Award, considered the most prestigious in international children's literature, is given biennially by the International Board on Books for Young People to a living author and illustrator whose complete works are judged to have made lasting contributions to children's literature.
In awarding the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for writing to María Teresa Andruetto the Jury recognises her mastery in writing important and original works that are strongly focussed on aesthetics. She creates sensitive books, which are deep and poetic with a clear literary base. Her books relate to a great variety of topics, such as migration, inner worlds, injustice, love, poverty, violence or political affairs.
Andruetto was selected from 27 authors nominated for the Award. The four finalists are Paul Fleischman (USA), Bart Moeyaert (Belgium), Jean-Claude Mourlevat (France) and Bianca Pitzorno (Italy).
In awarding the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration to Peter Sís the Jury recognizes his extraordinary originality and deep creative power to relate highly complex stories that can be interpreted on many different levels. The jury particularly appreciates his use of different design and artistic techniques, as well as his innovative approach using a subtle balance to depict well-documented and historical events and fantastic elements.
Sís was selected from 30 illustrators nominated for the Award. The four finalists are Mohammad Ali Baniasadi (Iran), John Burningham (UK), Roger Mello (Brazil) and Javier Zabala (Spain)
The other author candidates were Christobel Mattingley (Australia), Monika Pelz (Austria), Bartolomeu Campos de Queirós (Brazil), Tim Wynne-Jones (Canada), Elli Peonidou (Cyprus), Lene Kaaberbøl (Denmark), Sinikka Nopola/Tiina Nopola (Finland), Paul Maar (Germany), Christos Boulotis (Greece), Eoin Colfer (Ireland), Masamoto Nasu (Japan), Hwang Sun-mi (Republic of Korea), Tonke Dragt (Netherlands), Bjørn Sortland (Norway), Silvia Kerim (Romania), Ljubivoje Ršumoviċ (Serbia), Tone Pavček (Slovenia), Agustín Fernández Paz (Spain), Lennart Hellsing (Sweden), Franz Hohler (Switzerland), Sevim Ak (Turkey), and Philip Pullman (UK).
The other illustrator candidates were Pablo Bernasconi (Argentina), Bob Graham (Australia), Renate Habinger (Austria), Louis Joos (Belgium), Stéphane Jorisch (Canada), Charlotte Pardi (Denmark), Virpi Talvitie (Finland), Henri Galeron (France), Rotraut Susanne Berner (Germany), Efie Lada (Greece), Francesco Tullio-Altan (Italy), Satoshi Kako (Japan), Hong Seong-Chan (Republic of Korea), Anita Paegle (Latvia), Annemarie van Haeringen (Netherlands), Øyvind Torseter (Norway), Valeria Moldovan (Romania), Gennadij Spirin (Russia), Dobrosav Živkoviċ (Serbia), Alenka Sottler (Slovenia), Anna-Clara Tidholm (Sweden), Kathrin Schärer (Switzerland), Feridun Oral (Turkey), Chris Raschka (USA), and Arnal Ballester (Venezuela).
The ten members of the 2012 Jury, led by Jury President María Jesús Gil from Spain, met in Basel, Switzerland on 10 and 11 March 2012. The Jury of children's literature experts comprised Anastasia Arkhipova (Russia), Françoise Ballenger (France), Ernest Bond (USA), Sabine Fuchs (Austria), Ayfer Gürdal Ünal (Turkey), Jan Hansson (Sweden), Eva Kaliskami (Greece), Nora Lía Sormani (Argentina), Sahar Tarhandeh (Iran) and Regina Zilberman (Brazil). Elda Nogueira from Brazil representing IBBY and Liz Page as Jury Secretary attended the meeting ex officio.
Basel, March 2012


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Microsoft on the Issues Blog: One Billion and Counting…
Posted by Lisa Brummel
Chief People Officer, Microsoft
In October of last year, we marked the 30th Employee Giving Campaign and celebrated a major milestone: $1 billion in cash raised by U.S. employees and our company match for more than 31,000 global nonprofit and community organizations since the start of the campaign in 1983.
Four months later, we've tallied the result for 2012 alone and we're proud to share that the Employee Giving Program raised $105 million last year for 18,755 unique nonprofit and community organizations in the United States and around the world.
Microsoft's Employee Giving Program is one of the largest in the world. Its impact is local and global, and real. At its heart stands our employees' dedication to their communities, near and far. Time and again, I am impressed by the impactful stories they have shared with me, such as the employee who established the North Dakota Autism Center (NDAC), focused on bringing services to families affected by autism in the areas in and around Fargo. The center's mission is clear: to help children affected by autism spectrum disorder (AUD) realize their full potential through excellence in care, therapy, instruction and support.
Our employees tell us that they join Microsoft to make a difference in the lives of others, knowing that we will actively support them in doing so. Each year Microsoft matches employee volunteer time at $17 per hour and dollar-for-dollar charitable contributions to all eligible nonprofits up to $12,000 per employee. In 2012, nearly two-thirds of Microsoft U.S. employees participated in the Employee Giving program.
While employees are free to donate to any cause they care about, most are drawn to nonprofits dedicated to providing education opportunities for children, discovering cures for illness and disease, and providing aid during international humanitarian crises. Four nonprofits have received the most employee donations since we started our program: World Vision, Seattle Children's Hospital, United Way of King County, and American National Red Cross. We granted them an additional $25,000 in October, the impact of which is already making a difference.
The Employee Giving Program is emblematic of two of Microsoft's core values: our respect and appreciation for our employees, and our dedication to serving the communities where we live and work. We have an immense amount of gratitude for all the Microsoft employees who participated, either by coordinating and participating in fundraising efforts during our October kick-off, or by quietly donating to the causes they believe in. We also want to extend our appreciation to our nonprofit and community partners who dedicate themselves every day to making a difference in the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world.
I am absolutely confident that Microsoft employees will continue to vigorously support others less fortunate. In fact, I predict that we will reach the next billion dollars in giving within a decade. Given the passion and dedication of our people, it would not surprise me at all…


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The Dining Room at The Langham (Pasadena, CA) [2]
1401 South Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
Fri 02/26/2010, 07:30p-01:20a
My last visit here was in August of last year, shortly after Michael Voltaggio had replaced former chef Craig Strong in the kitchen. The Dining Room was scheduled to shutter for renovations at the end of summer 2009, but due to Voltaggio's win on Top Chef, the restaurant has remained open to capitalize on Voltaggio's newfound fame. Renovations have currently been pushed back to Q3 2010. I definitely had planned on coming back prior to the closure, and I was recently presented with the perfect opportunity: the startup that some friends of mine worked for was about to get acquired. A celebratory dinner (perhaps the first in a series), thus, was called for. We considered the usual suspects--Melisse, Providence, Spago, Urasawa--before deciding on The Dining Room.
Now, seeing as how this was supposed to be a celebratory dinner, I requested the Private Dining Room. The PDR normally requires a party of eight, and seats up to 18. However, we were "eating for eight," so to speak, so we had no problem securing the space.
The standard menu just wouldn't do, so in true kevinEats fashion, we requested to run the gamut, getting a taste of all 21 courses (a vague reference to Bryan's Table 21 perhaps?) on the menu, split between two people, paired with a mind-boggling assortment of 21 libations, courtesy of new Sommelier Josh Goldman. Previously, Josh worked with David Haskell at BIN 8945, and also served as GM at Church & State and Bastide, both under Walter Manzke. In fact, we chatted briefly about Manzke's recent departure from C&S, and both agreed that a chef of his caliber just couldn't last doing "mere" bistro fare. Click for larger versions.
Caviar Service
Pierre Peters, Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, Le Mesnil, France
To go along with the celebratory nature of this dinner, we decided that some caviar was in order. One of my dining companions managed to procure some beluga, and I requested "caviar corkage," to simply be able to consume the caviar at the beginning of the meal--we even brought our own blinis and crème fraiche. Voltaggio, ever the perfectionist, however, would not let this stand. Our accoutrements were tossed aside, replaced by his egg salad, traditional housemade buckwheat blinis, and amazing liquid nitrogen "Crème Fraiche 2010." Voltaggio definitely exceeded expectations here, going well above what was called for.
The star here, clearly, was that stellar nitro crème fraiche. It was somewhat lighter, more ethereal than your typical variety, and played beautifully with the roe, forming a perfect interplay of creamy and briny flavors. It also gave the caviar a great temperature contrast as well. The combination of caviar, crème fraiche, and blini was magical! In addition, I also tried the caviar alone, and noted its deliciously robust, yet refined flavor, imbued with nutty, buttery goodness--I still preferred it with accompaniments, though. To drink, I'd actually brought a bottle of vintage Bollinger Grand Année, but Josh recommended the "grower" Pierre Peters in its place--it was a wise substitution. Think dry and crisp, but not overwhelmingly so, with plenty of yeast, backed by hints of citrus and vanilla. It was almost Krug-like in character, and a superb complement to the caviar.
Amuse Bouche: Sake Jello
The meal proper began with a fruity bang: a sake gelée encasing fraises des bois (small, wild strawberries), topped with strawberry tonic. This was a lovely, refreshing start to the dinner that captured the very essence of strawberry, intermingled with just a touch of astringency from the tonic.
The first round of bread saw a bacon soft roll and a country white, served with Échiré unsalted butter and Vermont salted butter.
1: Japanese Shima Aji | Jamon Iberico, Sea Sponge, Finger Lime
Terres Dorées, FRV100, Effervescent Gamay, Beaujolais
The gauntlet of courses started with a shima aji, or striped jack, sashimi, done up in a somewhat crudo-inspired style. Taking the fish alone, I really appreciated the tartness imparted upon it by the finger lime. The best part of this, though, was the use of Jamón Ibérico, which added a fantastic saltiness to counter the relatively restrained flavor of the jack. The "sea sponge," meanwhile, with its mirin and dashi verve, contributed a briny, umami-tinged finish to the course. The wine pair was the "infamous" FRV100, a fizzy Gamay that I'd had previously at Church & State (with Josh) and at LudoBites. I was a bit wary of its overt sweetness, but actually found it to be a great foil to the savoriness of the dish.
2: Langoustine | White Asparagus, Tiny Eggs, Fried Calamari
2007 Paul Pernot, Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
Next up was perhaps some of the best langoustine I've ever had. Its texture was just fantastic--soft, snappy, supple--while the taste was delicately sweet, lightly sea-tinged. The eggs added an appropriately luxurious complement, while the squid ink-tinted asparagus' bitterness also made itself known. The star here, however, was the calamari--crisp, crunchy, and absolutely bursting in salty savor. The pairing of a bourgogne blanc, with its citric sweetness, marked minerality, and clean acidity, just made sense here.
At this point, we were presented with The Dining Room's famous tennis ball-sized truffle brioche, accompanied by an airy goat cheese butter from Turlock, CA. Almost mesmerizing in appearance with its concentric rings of sable, the brioche was positively imbued with the heady sapor of truffle--I nearly finished it in one go! Given the length of the meal, however, I knew I had to temper my appetite.
3: Garden Harvest | Vegetables of the Season, Warm Burrata
1999 S. Tissot, Vin Jaune, Arbois, France
This was an interesting course, and not one that I'd exactly expect from Voltaggio. It harkens back to other Gargouillou/Michel Bras-inspired vegetable compositions such as David Kinch's signature "Into the Vegetable Garden," Paul Liebrandt's "From the Garden," and Daniel Patterson's "Garden, Late Fall." Made with a whopping 20 types of veggies (including carrot, beet, nasturtium, and squash blossom) and supplemented by vegetable gelée, sherry vinaigrette, harissa paste, burrata, and cardamom-coffee soil, it was an intriguing exposition of disparate tastes and textures, a cacophonous symphony of savory-bitter-sweet. The sherry-like vin jaune, meanwhile, did a respectable job in moderating and integrating the power of the various veggies. One the highlights of the meal for me.
4: Octopus | Buttered Popcorn, Piquillo Confetti, Cilantro
Dewazakura Brewery, Izumi Judan, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
I adored the octopus' firm, yet yielding consistency here, along with its mildly sweet flavor, perked up with the subtle heat of piquillo pepper. Meanwhile, the popcorn purée added a palpable weight to the course, but was a touch too buttery for me. To stand up to the forcefulness of the dish, we needed something relatively austere, and the Dewazakura fit the bill nicely. A minerally, juniper-tinted sake (Josh even likened it to a gin martini!), its dryness countered the gravity of the popcorn purée admirably.
5: Tasmanian Sea Trout | Hibiscus, Pink Peppercorn, Puffed Mushroom Cracker
2008 Sant'Elena, Traminer Aromatico, Delle Venezie, Friuli Venezie Giulia, Italy
I loved how the fish itself was cooked--rare, raw almost, with a nearly gelatinous consistency and a biting, briny sapor. Besides the fish, I really appreciated the porcini crackers, which lent an earthy finish to the course, and which made for a great crispy textural element. The hibiscus air, however, was considerably more jarring, a bit disconcerting even; I was sort of ambivalent. Its sweetness did find a match in the floral, tropical fruit flavors of the wine though.
6: Foie Gras "Chaud" | Celery, Medjool Date, Mustard Sabayon
Lustau, Solera Reserva, Emilín, Moscatel Sherry, Jerez, Spain
Next, Chef Voltaggio wanted to demonstrate two foie dishes--hot 'n' cold (get thoughts of Katy Perry out of your head)--side by side. Both were paired with sherry, to boot. Now, regular readers will know that I'm somewhat of a terrine slut, so imagine my surprise when I actually preferred the chaud. It was one of the best hot foie gras I'd ever had, in fact. I appreciated its fabulously finespun foie flavor, and how the astringency of the celery (a veggie I usually abhor) formed a faultless foil to the gravity of the liver. Fantastic.
7: Foie Gras "Froid" | Apple, Saffron, Marcona Almond, Aerated Brioche
Lustau, Solera Reservera, Don Nuno, Dry Oloroso, Jerez, Spain
For the cold preparation, Voltaggio presented a seemingly simple cylinder of foie, accompanied by sous vide apples in saffron syrup, grated Marcona almonds, and the Chef's famous microwaved nitrous oxide brioche. However, penetrate the terrine, and you'll release a deluge of apple juice and vanilla, making for an amalgam of counterbalancing sweet and salty flavors. The light, fluffy brioche, thus, acts the part of a tempering element, sopping up all the goodness on the plate. As for the Lustau, it was a light sherry--nutty, woodsy, subtly sweet--that did a great job in cutting the fat of the foie. As a pairing, I preferred it to the Lustau served above, though I liked the darker, sweeter Moscatel better alone.
8: Kurobuta Pork Belly | Bok Choy "Kim Chi", Kabocha Squash Preserves, Peanut Butter Powder
Hitachino Nest, Real Ginger Brew, Kiuchi Brewery, Japan
Kurobuta Pork Belly--is there any ingredient that's more played out? Perhaps not, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this was a simply outstanding example, one of the best I've had, in fact. I loved the use of kimchi, and how it, profuse in piquant spice, steadfastly stood up to the heft of the belly--a perfect counterweight. This was easily the best use of kimchi I've seen in a non-Korean setting. Beer, thus, was a natural pairing with the dish, and boy, did Josh pick a good one! The Hitachino showed lovely notes of ginger and citrus over a slightly spicy backbone--it worked very well in offsetting the power of the dish.
9: Veal Sweetbreads | Green Olive, Lemon, Romaine Lettuce
2007 Dönnhoff, Riesling, Nahe, Germany
The sweetbreads, chiseled into cuboid form, could've been mistaken for the pork belly above. Flavor-wise, though, they were quite distinct. This was much more in-your-face, dense and buttery, with plenty of that signature sweetbread savor, perked up by the sourness of the lemon and the bitterness of the olive "caviar." The key here, though, was the romaine, which served as a light, juicy, crispy counterpoint to the weightiness of the veal--it absolutely made the dish for me. A light, sweetish wine was in order here, and the Dönnhoff fit the bill nicely with its floral, fruity character.
10: Jidori Chicken | Winter Truffles, Egg, Sunflower Root, Sunflower Seeds
2007 Geyerhof, Ried Richtern, Zweigelt, Kremstal, Austria
Yes, though it may not look the part, this was indeed a chicken dish. Truffle and slow poached egg is almost unavoidably a winning combination, and this was no exception. Their classic, heady flavors were apt complements to the relatively subdued chicken, which took on more of a supporting role in the dish. The use of sunflower seeds, meanwhile, provided a lovely nutty punctuation to complete the course. Josh paired this with a Zweigelt, sort of the prototypical Austrian red. He compared it to a heavy Gamay, and I liked how the fruit in the wine moderated the power of the truffle's earthiness.
11: Pastrami Pigeon | Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, Rye
Duchesse de Bourgogne, Ale, Brewery Verhaeghe, West Flanders, Belgium
This was the one course that was repeated from my last visit, and I'm happy to report that it was definitely improved this time around. It was a bolder, more balanced dish, with the delectable, spicy cured pigeon beautifully complemented by the cubes of sauerkraut gelée and heightened by the pieces of puffed Swiss. The squab was paired with one of my favorite libations of the night, the Duchesse de Bourgogne, a Flemish ale that Josh likened to Doc Brown's Black Cherry soda! Indeed, it was suitably sweet, with gorgeous notes of sour cherry that just blended beautifully with the bird. This pigeon, a Moto-esque deconstruction of a Reuben sandwich, is quickly becoming one of Voltaggio's signature dishes, and with good reason!
12: Mediterranean Sea Bass | Mussels Billi-bi, Fennel, Quinoa
2007 Chateau La Rouvière, Rosé, Bandol, Provence, France
Here we have a expertly prepared cut of seabass, semi-flaky and supple in body, with a softly briny flavor, and a delectably crisp, savory skin. I wasn't in love with the quinoa, but I did appreciate the billi-bi, along with the pungency of the fennel, which played nicely with the spicy-strawberry flavors of the paired rosé.
With the fish courses came a tasty side of seaweed mashed potatoes. I made sure to finish the entire pot--very nice!
13: Skate Wing | Brown Butter, Scrambled Cauliflower, Caper Powder
2008 Mormoraia, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy
A few weeks ago, at Petrossian, I had an excellent rendition of skate wing, done à la grenobloise, which means cooked with brown butter, capers, lemon, and parsley. In a way, this could be considered Voltaggio's take on the classic dish. The fish itself was soft, spongy, and possessing of a considerable depth of flavor, thanks in part to the beurre noisette. It was balanced by the tang of the lime and caper, presented here in powder form, and I loved how the mashed potatoes elevated the fish's inherent briny essence. The pairing with the crisp, fruity, acidic Vernaccia was spot on.
14: Jamison Farm Lamb | Vadouvan, Nori-Spaghetti Squash, Yogurt, Fried Rice
2007 Bibich, Riserva, North Dalmatia, Croatia
Our first meat course consisted of a sous vide lamb three-way: shoulder, loin, tongue. Vadouvan, which is all the rage these days (Ludo's fav!), provided a lovely spicy foil to the dish, and heightened, but did not overwhelm, the meat's intrinsically "lamby" flavor. Humorously, one of my dining companions even compared the flavor of the vadouvan to chili CornNuts! Countering the power of all this was the yogurt and the scrumptious rice. We were poured a Croatian wine, the Bibich Riserva, which I'd had previous at ParkAve. Described as Zin-like by Josh, the wine's peppery, dark fruit flavors stood up to the intensity of the course.
15: Milk-Fed Veal Breast | Risotto, Broccoli, Fiscalini Cheddar
2008 Julien Frémont, Cidre Brut, Normandy, France
The veal was some of the best I've had. I usually find the meat boring, but this was anything but. Soft and tender in consistency, the veal had a somewhat smoky, almost "hammy" tinge to it. Delicious on its own, I also enjoyed the meat paired with the cheddar and char of the burnt broccoli florets. The cider, another Church & State import, had an intriguing farmhouse nose, leading to earthy flavors over a backbone of apple. It went well with the broccoli and cheese here.
16: Japanese Kuroge Beef | Marrow Toast, King Trumpet, Bordelaise Sauce
2000 R. Lopez de Heredia, Viña Tondonia, Reserva, Rioja, Spain
Now, we turn our attention toward our bovine friend, Mr. Kuroge. Though contemporary in appearance and technique, the flavors here were thoroughly classic: a perfectly-prepared parallelepiped of protein, savory mushrooms, red wine sauce, and the heady weight of bone marrow. The paired rustic Rioja? A no-brainer.
17: Wagyu Short Rib | Smoked Potato "Tots", Nantes Carrots, White Ketchup
2001 COS, Nero d'Avola, Sicilia, Italy
And now, for our final savory course of the night: an even more decadent presentation of beef. Rich and unctuous, the Wagyu broke apart near instantaneously upon mastication. I altogether enjoyed the meat by itself, but I did appreciate the moderating effect of the potato and carrot. The "sexy tomato seeds," meanwhile, provided a tart, offsetting tang. The paired wine, a dark, jammy Nero d'Avola, was a natural choice.
Pre Dessert: "Cookies & Milk"
Before dessert proper, we were presented with Voltaggio's version of Dippin' Dots. Basically globules of ice cream frozen with liquid nitrogen, the spheres were quite tasty indeed, with a great, light, airy texture.
18: Baba Au Rhum | Textures of Coconut and Pineapple
2004 Weingut Rosenhof, TBA Chardonnay, Illmitz, Austria
First up was a reimagined rum baba, presented here as a fruity gallimaufry of varying textures and tastes, which one of my dining companions described as almost "gummi bear"-like in flavor. The whole amalgam seemed very Adrian Vasquez-esque to me (not necessarily a bad thing, mind you). The paired wine, teeming with tropical fruit flavors, worked perfectly, as expected.
19: Lavender Flower Macaron | Crème Fraiche Panna Cotta, Vanilla-Passion Sorbet, Floral Cotton Candy
2000 Patricius, 5 Puttonyos, Tokaji, Hungary
Here, the floral character of the macaroon took center stage, where it was joined by the subtle tanginess of the panna cotta, and the marked tartness of the passion fruit. The Tokaji, with its unabashedly saccharine nature, easily cut through the floral notes, resulting in a pleasing admixture of creamy and fruity flavors.
20: Sticky Toffee Pudding | Jasmine "Rice Cream", Lime, Banana Custard
1998 Domaine Fontanel, Rivesaltes Ambré, Roussillon, France
And now, we move into the heavier chocolate-based desserts. Despite appearances, the cake was actually quite light, and not terribly sweet. It was nicely foiled by the cool, soothing "rice cream" and airy lime foam, but the crux of this dish was the banana custard, which lent an overarching weight to the dessert. I apologize for the sloppy presentation here--I accidentally spilled the wine, a Grenache Blanc, on the plate!
21: Fools Gold | Chocolate, Salty Hazelnut Praline, Milk Sorbet
1989 L'Étoile, Cuvée Réservée, Grand Cru, Banyuls, Roussillon, France
Fool's Gold, which I first tasted at Hatchi, is quickly becoming the Chef's signature dessert. The base of the dish is a serpentine block of ganache-like chocolate. This combines with the hazelnut praline to form a flavor combination not unlike that of a Ferrero Rocher. The use of salt provided an interesting counterpoint, while the sorbet served as a cool, calming contrast. Our final wine of the night, a sugary, raisin-y Grenache blend, worked wonders in complementing the chocolate.
Some fruit candies and mini macarons to close, along with Voltaggio's famous pop rock-infused chocolate lollipops.
After dinner, we visited the kitchen, chatted a bit, and shared a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée (they just happened to have an open bottle laying around!) with the Chef.
For all you poker fans out there, we also ran into the husband-and-wife team of Chad Brown and Vanessa Rousso. According to a reader, the guy on the the far left is Ali Eslami, a high stakes cash player, and the guy on the far right is also a poker player--anyone know his name?
Somehow, the idea of Champagne sabrage came up, and Josh proceeded to show off his sabering skills outside!
When I look back and compare this dinner to my first visit to The Dining Room, it's obvious that Voltaggio has experienced some real growth in his cooking. The food is undeniably more confident, more focused, more self-assured--the Chef has really come into his own here. The result, quite simply, was a meal of epic proportions--somewhat cerebral, but not esoteric, approachable. In fact, if Michelin were still around, two stars would not surprise me for arguably the most progressive cookery in Los Angeles.


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Not a happy camper - by Ellie,
April 1, 2011
1/ 5stars
The lamp burned out and now I have to replace it.
Rated 3.5/5 based on 11 customer
Great Dane Snowy Window Ornament / Dog Breed Christmas Ornament
The photos definitely do not do this one justice! This 3D ornament is just stunning with warm mahogany window and tree layer and crystal clear acrylic window showing us a wonderful winter world.
- 3" x 3" x 3/4" two layers of Mahogany and one layer of crystal clear acrylic makes a stunning effect
- Reversible! Looking from the front, you see the cat looking out the window at the winter wonderland. Looking from the back you see the view looking into the window at the dog on the other side.
- See all the animals currently available here - we're adding more all the time!
These beautiful holiday ornaments are perfect to give as gifts or just keep for yourself.
Made in Campton Hills, IL in a smoke free studio.


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hello patvs, I just started using HEM and I really need your help. could you please write me down which hud stats should I use for MTT and cash 6-max in correct order and with colour codding. I will be really appreciated. thanks a lot
man fix this problem please i did a post 1 month ago about this http://fotos.subefotos.com/27f0c9e40...d51a08932o.png http://fotos.subefotos.com/c0414ea4f...99d9e95bfo.png i am not in a SNAP TABLE and i cant use hud i cant fix this because my english is poo link of thread : http://forums.holdemmanager.com/bug-...ork-888-a.html
Hi Patvs, could you help me in the Leak Buster forum section? My HEM Charts are not showing up
Hello, I cant post in the forums? It says I dont have permission? Please let me post I have a problem that I need help with! /Erik
Does purge, backup/restored worked for postgres 9.0? does it only work for 8.4?
Hi I would like to be added to the ticket HM-2781. I would like you to include, fold vs delayed cbet vs 1 opponent in and OOP aswell. Its a bit disturbing because I don't want the 3+way pots to be included in the IP/OOP thing.
hey, do you think you could set up poker sites on my hud via teamviewer for 25$ a site?
hi! My table scanner stopped working properly about a month ago. I posted on the table scanner stick issue. Table scanner is no longer scanning nor opening tables with stars pro seating at them . Prolly something to do with stars logo at tables names. Any thoughts? Thx
Hey Patvs, can you please help me get someone for a teamviewer session. I have already emailed support and one was scheduled 1 hr ago. I waited 25 minutes for the support team to connect yet they did not connect. Please PM me because I want to get the issue with HEM2 fixed.
Hey Patvs.. any chance we can schedule a teamviewer session? I have used HEM for over a year successfully, and just bought a newer desktop to run poker off of. I have downloaded the 1.12.09 update- HEM is loading successfully on Ongame, and Party Poker, but not 888 and PokerStars.. I am well versed in how to use HEM, and I've done all the recommended steps, making sure it's in English- saving my hand histories to my desktop. I've also tried table finder and nothing is coming up. It is recognizing the table, just not populating the hands. Please let me know if you can do a teamviewer session ASAP. Thanks


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The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well (Penguin Life)
The Sunday Times bestseller The New York Times bestseller The Danish word hygge is one of those beautiful words that doesn't directly translate into English, but it more or less means comfort, warmth or togetherness. Hygge is the feeling you get when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, in warm knitted socks, in front of the fire, when it is dark, cold and stormy outside. It that feeling when you are sharing good, comfort food with your closest friends, by candle light and exchanging easy conversation. It is those cold, crisp blue sky mornings when the light through your window is just right. Denmark is the happiest nation in the world and Meik puts this largely down to them living the hygge way. They focus on the small things that really matter, spend more quality time with friends and family and enjoy the good things in life. The Little Book of Hygge will give you practical steps and tips to become more hygge: how to pick the right lighting, organise a dinner party and even how to dress hygge, all backed up by Meik's years' of research at the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. This year live more like a Dane, embrace hygge and become happier.


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The bay of Giardini Naxos is situated in the Northern sector of the Ionian coast of Sicily (Italy), between the towns of Messina and Catania. The town of Giardini Naxos has about 10,000 inhabitants and it is characterized by a strong tourism with plus than 1 million tourists per year. Over recent years several stretches of the coast of Giardini have been victims of an intense erosive activity, caused and aggravated by a series of man-made constructions: within the hydrographic basin (check dams); along the coast (subparallel breakwater barriers); or directly at sea (harbour quays).
In the 1970s and 1980s and until the early 1990s, the only projects for erosion prevention were for a rigid type of barrier, consisting of structures oriented in various directions with respect to the shoreline. These structures were always emergent and were rarely placed at a sufficient distance from the shore to b#337199e effective, in consequence of that they had a limited efficacy causing further erosion problems downdrift. On the basis of these observations the Regional Department of the Environment (ARTA) under the pressing of the EU, published a public announcement, within the project for public works from 2000 to 2006, which contained the guidelines for the definition of priority areas to be protected and the type of projects to be adopted, as well as the various stages, of which this study is a part.
The aim of the announcement was "removal of the causes of deterioration and/or erosion in the coastal areas, by means of the restoration of the natural conditions which led originally to the formation of the shoreline, with particular reference also to building activities inland, to the recovery and restitution to their natural state of the wet and dry river courses and the restoration of the solid littoral transport; particular attention is to be paid also to the effects on an increase in tourist potential, the recovery of state property and the protection of private and public goods from sea storms".


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Vaikasi Visagam, Vaigasi Visakam, Vaikasi Visakam Date, When is Vaikasi Visakam in 2031?, 4th June 2031
Vaikasi Visakam is the Lord Muruga's Birthday celebration. According to a story, God Muruga born from the six spraks emanated from the third eye of the Lord Shiva. This festival is observed in a grand manner at all Lord Subramanya (Murugan) temples around the world. Special rituals and special pujas are performed on this day.
Vaikasi Visakam is also called as Vaikasi Visagam and Vaigasi Visakam. Every year, Vaikasi Visakam is celebrated during Visakam Nakshatra in Tamil month Vaikasi. This day happens to be the full moon day of that month. Vaikasi is the second month in Tamil calender and Visakam is the 16th star out of 27 stars. This year, Vaikasi Visakam falls on Wednesday, 4th June 2031.


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Arrows of Darkness (World of Arcas #2)
by B.I. Woolet
Publication Date: Spring 2015
Jackson returns to Arcas expecting to find peace—a peace greatly
lacking within his own home. But when a violent archer takes over as Lord of the
White Palace, the future of the ancient kingdoms is shaken.
While Rigel, Otava, and Merope work together to rescue the six sisters
trapped at the White Palace, Sephdar returns from shadowy crusades to find White
Wings' army leaderless. The new self-proclaimed ruler has a plan for the Seven
Sisters and a plan for The Bridge to Earth. But when his ambitious arrows pierce
the peaceful kingdoms, an unlikely force confronts the dark lord and the future
of the crowns is changed forever.
In absence of the seven sisters, Jackson returns to find that dark creatures
have overtaken the beautiful Starling Forest, destroying everything in their
path. Jackson and Nekkar narrowly escape together, but Nekkar blames the Son of
Earth for releasing the present darkness in Arcas. The rocky, new friendship
strengthens as they journey through dangerous lands toward the Free Realms. Can
their loyalties survive when the beautiful Princess Andromeda interrupts their
quest and the darkness of war batters their souls
Hold to your axe and hold to your lass as you join Jackson
to combat the darkness spreading through the world of Arcas. But remember, the
most powerful arrows do not pierce the body but the soul.
About the Author
B. I. Woolet (Benji & Ila Woolet) is the author of the World of Arcas
book series. They enjoy creating lyrical and literary arts, playing music
together, and exploring nature. They are happily married and live in Indiana
with their children.
They are currently working on the second installment
of the World of Arcas series titled "Arrows of Darkness" due for release in
spring of 2015.
Author Links:
Cover Reveal Organised by:


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We've all been warned that it is coming, but as SHTFPlan.com's Mac Slavo notes, what is disturbing is that while technology surrounds us and *some* have concerns about privacy, most shrug at the massive amounts of data they are collecting about our lives, and the incredible level of control the system now has over each individual.
This bill passed, clinging to the broadest base of "good intentions" that it could muster, i.e. caring for those with disabilities and decline with age.
But in reality, it is a nose under the tent for a system that needs the ability to microchip dissenters, and to force cooperation on the part of the general population. In effect, everyone is now under their thumb with this, because anyone could doesn't go along with the mass conditioning will be labeled 'mentally –––' and branded with a track-and-control chip. Game over.
At the first sign of suspicious behavior, or troubling social media profile, or a misunderstanding during an encounter, police and medical personnel – among others – will have the authority to declare someone 'mentally disabled' (or incapacitated, or temporarily insane, or unsound of mind, or whatever label is handy) just because they express discontent, anger or outage at the state of the world and political affairs. "Fake news" journalists can be shut down, and "conspiracy minded" individuals controlled… and of course, it will be abused. The tactics used against parents by CPS will be forged together with the creepy total surveillance of the fusion centers, etc. Potentially a very nasty police state.
This power will expand, and try again if it is slowed down or rejected. Whether it takes the form of an implanted chip, or a tracking number that is tied to each person, they will stop at nothing short of mark in everyone with identity tied to bank accounts, etc. They will insist you be on the grid in every way… and with this bill, they just got one step closer to controlling the future. All this has been foretold, and yet it is beyond anything anyone could have imagined.
Though the bill only targets those with conditions such as Alzheimers and autism, critics say the bill's passage will open a "pandora's box" of invasive government surveillance.
Six years ago, NBC Nightly News boldly predicted that all Americans would be fitted with RFID microchips by the year 2017. Though at the time, NBC's prediction seemed far-fetched, the House recently passed a bill that would bring a micro-chipped populace closer to reality before year's end. Last Thursday, the House passed HR 4919, also known as Kevin and Avonte's Law, which would allow the US attorney general to award grants to law enforcement for the creation and operation of "locative tracking technology programs."
Though the program's mission is to find "individuals with forms of dementia or children with developmental disabilities who have wandered from safe environments," it provides no restriction on the tracking programs inclusion of other individuals. The bill would also require the attorney general to work with the secretary of health and human services and unnamed health organizations to establish the "best practices" for the use of tracking devices.
Those in support of the legislation maintain that such programs could prevent tragedies where those with mental or cognitive disabilities wandered into dangerous circumstances. Yet, others have called these good intentions a "Trojan horse" for the expansion of a North American police state as the bill's language could be very broadly interpreted.
"While this initiative may have noble intentions, 'small and temporary' programs in the name of safety and security often evolve into permanent and enlarged bureaucracies that infringe on the American people's freedoms. That is exactly what we have here. A safety problem exists for people with Alzheimer's, autism and other mental health issues, so the fix, we are told, is to have the Department of Justice, start a tracking program so we can use some device or method to track these individuals 24/7," Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX) said in a floor speech opposing the bill.
Gohmert's assessment is spot-on. Giving local police the authority to decide who is micro-chipped and who is not based on their mental soundness is a recipe for disaster. Though the bill specifically mentions those with Alzheimer and autism, how long before these tracking programs are extended to those with ADHD and Bipolar disorder among other officially recognized disorders. Even the dislike of authority is considered a mental disorder known as "Oppositional Defiant Disorder," which could also warrant micro-chipping in the future.
If these programs expand unchecked, how long will it be before all Americans are told that mass microchipping is necessary so that law enforcement and the government can better "protect" them? Many Americans have been content to trade their liberties for increased "security" in the post-9/11 world, particularly when the state uses these talking points. Yet, as Benjamin Franklin once said, "those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one."


text: The public's reaction to the Newtown, Connecticut shooting has emboldened politicians on both sides to act. At the federal level, the House and the Senate are slow and divided. President Obama is seizing on this opportunity to act by executive fiat in the form of the Executive Order. What is an Executive Order and is President Obama permitted to use this power to alter the Second Amendment?


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The Respark The Romance
8 Scientific Ways To Be More Attractive To Men By Brian Robbens
Some things in life are set…
…but probably not as many as we think.
To illustrate this, have you ever ran into someone you went to school with ten years prior, and been amazed at how they looked now?
This last year, some of my high school classmates made a Facebook group, and soon I was reconnecting with people that I hadn't seen in twenty years.
Many looked very similar to the way they did in high school. One woman, however, about knocked me over.
She was a "side kick" to a popular girl back in the day, and not really that noticeable. Well, these days she's a bombshell.
But something was very different, even though I instantly recognized her.
It really makes you stop and think about attractiveness, which brings me to my first point:
Attractiveness relies on much more than your physical appearance.
You would think that being sexy, hot, beautiful, or attractive is about how you look physically.
It is… and it isn't.
It's in the way you carry yourself, the way you dress, how you care for yourself, the people you hang out with, and how you talk to people.
We don't need science to prove to anyone that you look healthier and more attractive if you eat right, exercise, and spend a little time and money on your appearance.
You can tweak your diet to help you build more muscle, to have better skin, and to have an overall healthy glow.
Someone who takes good care of themselves, and has a positive outlook, is very attractive to others. They pull all people in, so it's even more than a sexual attraction.
Click here to discover how to Respark The Romance in your life
Now that I've made that point, we can look at eight ways to use science to look more attractive to men.
All of these, except #5, are things that anyone can do.
1. Show those pearly whites
Smiling stimulates men's brains in many ways, and these work together to make you appear more attractive.
First, we know that anyone who smiles looks more welcoming, so a man will be more likely to approach you if you give him a smile. A smile disarms a man, so he'll feel more at ease and even protective of you. That will help you notice positive things and feel more comfortable.
Men like people who like them, so a smile makes them think you like them more, and therefore makes you appear more attractive. That might be a bit odd, but it's true. If a man thinks you like him, you appear more attractive!
That's important because some people have trouble smiling, or forget to smile, when they're nervous.
Remember that he's nervous too, and try for a natural smile.
Also make sure your teeth are healthy and white. A study found that when women had whiter teeth, the men showed a 54% increase in wanting to continue the date.
The really surprising thing was that men also thought that women with whiter teeth were more outgoing. So a natural, bright smile can make you appear much more attractive and outgoing.
2. Wear red
In a study, men rated photos of women for attractiveness in front of different color backgrounds.
The women in front of red scored the highest.
If a man isn't attracted to you, wearing red probably won't change that. But if you catch his eye, and you happen to have some red incorporated into your outfit, it'll grab his attention even more.
Red seems to trigger something biologically in men, maybe because they're drawn to rosy cheeks. Some experts will tell you to use this tip and wear red lipstick. Studies have found that men will look at a mouth for 2 to 3 times longer when a woman wears red lipstick. So in a group of women, wearing red lipstick will really make you stand out.
Go to your favorite makeup counter to have a professional help you find the right shade of red for you.
3. Wear Solid Colors
And while we're talking about what to wear—solid colors are more attractive to men than patterns. So a solid color shirt or dress will catch his attention more than a pattern.
Women tend to love patterns and layering things, so it goes against what we might pick out. But you can test this out one evening by wearing a solid color, and also take a look at women who men are watching, and notice what they're wearing.
4. Scent is sexy
While primping your appearance, don't forget about perfume.
Our smell is connected to our emotional and memory centers in the brain. That's why a scent can bring back a very old memory, or even evoke an emotion out of the blue.
Having a nice perfume is the finishing touch on classiness and sexiness.
It really pulls a man in when you smell nice!
The key is finding a perfume that combines with your own body chemistry, so you'll want to try perfumes on the test paper, in the air, and a little on your skin.
Go for a holistic approach and think about the scent of your shampoo, conditioner, skin conditioner, and perfume.
5. Keep your hair long and healthy
Long, healthy hair shows fertility, and that might by why men are genetically drawn to it.
Younger women also tend to have longer hair than older woman, so it's a sign of youth.
We could think about it deeper and say that long hair is seen as feminine, since most men have short hair. And men to like women, at least visually, for the things that are different about them from men.
But for whatever reason, studies have proven that men's preferred hair style is long, straight and down. Long, curly, and down is their second favorite hair style, followed by a styled ponytail. "Long" hair doesn't have to be super long, so you'll still want to trim split ends and keep it healthy looking.
6. Mimic his body language, subtly!
So this a weird tip, but another one that works on a subconscious level.
You can appear more attractive to a man by mimicking his body language. It makes you seem more likable. But you don't want to mirror him while he's doing something. Make sure it's not noticeable so it won't make him feel strange. The effect is subconscious. He'll feel more attracted to you without knowing why.
And men don't analyze why they feel attracted to a woman. They believe it's an either/or thing: they either feel it or they don't. Hardly any men realize that women can do different things to appear more attractive.
Keep this tip in mind, and notice things he does. Wait a few minutes, and do something similar. Notice if he touches his hair, how he sits, and body language.
Keep in mind, he'll do some things that look better on a male, so try to think of a female version. You don't have to copy him exactly.
7. Higher pitch voices
Men like things about women that are different than them. In other words, they like feminine things like pretty dresses, the hour glass shape, long hair, and big, pouty lips.
Men are drawn to feminine voices too.
So a higher pitched voice will make him want to protect you, and that makes him attracted. Don't go for a fake voice. But you might take some time and notice if you lower your voice. Some people do that out of habit.
8. Confidence is always in style
You can put all the time in the world into how you look, but it'll ruin that if you put yourself down, talk about not being good enough, or show that you doubt yourself a lot.
Sometimes people "wow" us with their personality and confidence, and we want to be around them, never thinking about what they look like.
Attractiveness is about much more than a straight photograph of a person; it includes personality, charm, flirtiness, and confidence.
If you put some of the above tips to use and add in a dose of confidence, you'll be a man magnet!
The secret mind method you learn here will turn even the most unromantic man into a caring, thoughtful, 'Prince Charming'!
Once you know the secret to making him desire you more, it will feel as though there is a magnet pulling him towards you.
He won't be able to stop thinking about you. Use this carefully!


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New Updates
Jeev to take 'course' aiming to defend his AAM Scottish Open title While 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' would hit the theatres on Friday hoping the 'flying sikh' can inspire many of the millions to take sports to a new level in the country, his son Jeev Milka Singh would be out on the course hoping to do a Scottish Open double as the Indian prodigy looks to defend his title at the Castle Stuart Golf Links in Scotland. The tournament tees-off on July 11 with the most fam |
LAHIRI FIRES 62 TO TAKE LEAD AT EAGLEBURG OPEN Local favourite Anirban Lahiri, after enduring a poor first round, bounced back with a vengeance with an awesome 10-under-62 to seize the lead in the PGTI Eagleburg Open at the Eagleton Golf Resort near here Wednesday. Lahiri's two-day total stood at nine-under-135 following his one-over 73 in the first round. |
KAPUR EARNS SECOND MAJOR APPEARANCE AT THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP July 3: Indian star Shiv Kapur battled through testing conditions to qualify for his second Open Championship at Muirfield later this month. Kapur, who is a winner on the Asian Tour, was among three players who qualified for the year's third Major championship at the 36-hold Local Final Qualifying (LFQ) event at the Musselburgh in Scotland. The talented Indian started his campaign with a one |
GANGJEE, THIND AND PRABAGARAN IN THREE-WAY LEAD AT EAGLEBURG OPEN Bangalore: Rahil Gangjee and Arshpreet Thind fired identical four-under-68 to share a three-way lead after round one of the PGTI Eagleburg Open here. Sri Lankas K Prabagaran was third player in the joint lead at Eagleton The Golf Resort near here. |
TOP GOLFERS FOR EAGLEBURG OPEN Top Indian golfers, including Anirban Lahiri and Shamim Khan, will star in the Eagleburg Open to be played at the magnificent Eagleton Golf Resort near here from July 2 to 5. The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and Eagleton - The Golf Resort have announced the PGTI - Eagleburg Open, with a prize purse of Rs 30 lakh. |
Where India's four-ball hangs out!
Golf Commune is India's 19th hole where golfers do fun stuff like create groups and events, share views using status, forums and blogs, read news from all the tours or find a game. Golfers can also track scores and stats, find course information, get your swing analyzed and buy discounted golf equipment.
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Rope Floral Diamond Cathedral Engagement Ring
This nature-inspired design with floral details is from the Dahlia collection. It features 1/20 ctw of diamonds. The signature handcrafted details include signature filigree and rope details. Both lab grown and natural diamonds are available for this setting. Ring as shown fits a 1.50 carat round cut stone. All center stone sizes and shapes are possible.
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Can You Guess the Celebrity Cleavage?
We'd like to send an enthusiastic Gracias to the people of Madrid, Spain for today's celebrity cleavage – Way to grow 'em!
Today's beauty got her start on the small screen in Spain, and moved on to star in several French and British films before appearing on the cover of Maxim in 2006. In 2009, she co-starred with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in the 5th installment of one of the highest-grossing action movies of all time. Think fast, (HINT!) who's our mystery girl?


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Alumni meetings are held regularly. Do you have any ideas about this or do you want to make a difference to your programme, share your experiences with students or are you looking for an intern? Let your internship/alumni coordinator know: Karen Schoutsen.
After graduation you are a Utrecht University alumnus or alumna. Dutch students will automatically be included in the Utrecht University directory and receive the alummi magazine Illuster, offering background articles about the developments within the university and a broad overview of all the activities Utrecht University organises.
University Alumni fund
You can join the Utrechts Universiteitsfonds (U-fonds, only in Dutch). The Utrecht University Fund organises activities, subsidises student activities, awards scholarships and accolades, provides social support to students in financial need, establishes special professorships, and aids the university in its fundraising and sponsoring efforts. You can support the Utrecht University Fund by becoming a friend. This way you also receive attractive discounts.
Some of the events the Utrechts Universiteitsfonds organises:
- A special alumni event around the Utrecht University's Anniversary Day (dies), 26 March, including workshops for young alumni
- Refresher days & lectures in different cities in the Netherlands, during which alumni are informed of recent developments within their discipline and within Utrecht University.
View upcoming events in The Netherlands (in Dutch) and international events for Holland Alumni.
Alumni networks
If you wish to stay in touch with other alumni of Utrecht University, then there are several alumni networks you can take part in both for international students as well as Dutch students (in Dutch). Some Humanities programmes have their own alumni associations (Dutch).


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On Friday, I sent out an email to the tens of thousands on the Rally for Canada email list asking them to participate in a small survey concerning the upcoming federal budget. I asked people four questions concerning the government spending and their public policy priorities. Over three thousand people responded on Friday and over the weekend. I will be passing on the results to the office of the Minister of Finance as promised.
Q: On the question of Canada's upcoming federal budget to get us through the economic crisis, which balance within the following options do you think is best for the government to implement? (n=3003)
Q: Which issues are most important to you from a government policy point of view? (n=3051)
Here is the same graph sorted in descending order (n=3051):
Q: What should be done with the Senate? (n=3007)
Q: What should be done with funding for the CBC? (n=2998)
Some notes: "n" is the number of respondents to each question. Data was gathered from 8am Friday through midnight Sunday night. Sample data is gathered from a population set that registered on the anti-coalition website RallyforCanada.ca between December 4th 2008 and January 9th 2009. Answers were not randomly cycled.
That said, this data gives us insight into the priorities of Canadians who are against the concept of a Bloc-supported NDP-Liberal coalition government. The first question was a careful balance on both sides of the spending vs. taxes debate. On one hand, the answer set does not include an option to decrease spending and on the other, four out of five answers prompt at least some tax relief. Most analysts believe that the federal budget will include some tax relief and stimulus in the form of government spending. The largest group believed a balance spending/tax relief approach would be best while the second largest group favours substantial tax relief and no new spending (given the options presented).
The second question had 24 options. Each option was a yes/no checkbox to pick public policy priorities. There was little surprise on the distribution of public policy interests as the generally right-of-centre respondents selected jobs, economy, crime, tax cuts, healthcare choice, and military spending as priorities while passing on foreign aid, culture and arts, and native affairs. Wheat board reform is generally a conservative priority yet this question is likely too regional for a national survey.
On the specific questions, it is of particular interest that 90% of respondents believe that the Senate in it's current form must change. Only 10% of respondents thought that the Senate ought to be left as it is. On the question of spending for a particular budget item, respondents indicated that funding for the CBC should be decreased (61%) while only 6% thought it should be increased.


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Zhuangzi 莊子
《山木》 The Tree on the Mountain
Click on any word to see more details.
《山木》 The Tree on the Mountain莊子行於山中,見大木,枝葉盛茂,伐木者止其旁而不取也。問其故。曰:「無所可用。」莊子曰:「此木以不材得終其天年。」夫子出於山,舍於故人之家。故人喜,命豎子殺雁而烹之。豎子請曰:「其一能鳴,其一不能鳴,請奚殺?」主人曰:「殺不能鳴者。」
Zhuangzi was walking on a mountain, when he saw a great tree with huge branches and luxuriant foliage. A wood-cutter was resting by its side, but he would not touch it, and, when asked the reason, said, that it was of no use for anything, Zhuangzi then said to his disciples, 'This tree, because its wood is good for nothing, will succeed in living out its natural term of years.' Having left the mountain, the Master lodged in the house of an old friend, who was glad to see him, and ordered his waiting-lad to kill a goose and boil it. The lad said, 'One of our geese can cackle, and the other cannot - which of them shall I kill?' The host said, 'Kill the one that cannot cackle.'
Next day, his disciples asked Zhuangzi, saying, 'Yesterday the tree on the mountain (you said) would live out its years because of the uselessness of its wood, and now our host's goose has died because of its want of power (to cackle) - which of these conditions, Master, would you prefer to be in?' Zhuangzi laughed and said, '(If I said that) I would prefer to be in a position between being fit to be useful and wanting that fitness, that would seem to be the right position, but it would not be so, for it would not put me beyond being involved in trouble; whereas one who takes his seat on the Dao and its Attributes, and there finds his ease and enjoyment, is not exposed to such a contingency. He is above the reach both of praise and of detraction; now he (mounts aloft) like a dragon, now he (keeps beneath) like a snake; he is transformed with the (changing) character of the time, and is not willing to addict himself to any one thing; now in a high position and now in a low, he is in harmony with all his surroundings; he enjoys himself at ease with the Author of all things; he treats things as things, and is not a thing to them: where is his liability to be involved in trouble? This was the method of Shen Nong and Huang-Di. As to those who occupy themselves with the qualities of things, and with the teaching and practice of the human relations, it is not so with them. Union brings on separation; success, overthrow; sharp corners, the use of the file; honour, critical remarks; active exertion, failure; wisdom, scheming; inferiority, being despised: where is the possibility of unchangeableness in any of these conditions? Remember this, my disciples. Let your abode be here - in the Dao and its Attributes.'
Yi-liao, an officer of Shi-nan, having an interview with the marquis of Lu, found him looking sad, and asked him why he was so. The marquis said, 'I have studied the ways of the former kings, and cultivated the inheritance left me by my predecessors. I reverence the spirits of the departed and honour the men of worth, doing this with personal devotion, and without the slightest intermission. Notwithstanding, I do not avoid meeting with calamity, and this it is which makes me sad.'
The officer said, 'The arts by which you try to remove calamity are shallow. Think of the close-furred fox and of the elegantly-spotted leopard. They lodge in the forests on the hills, and lurk in their holes among the rocks - keeping still. At night they go about, and during day remain in their lairs - so cautious are they. Even if they are suffering from hunger, thirst, and other distresses, they still keep aloof from men, seeking their food about the Jiang and the Hu - so resolute are they. Still they are not able to escape the danger of the net or the trap; and what fault is it of theirs? It is their skins which occasion them the calamity. And is not the state of Lu your lordship's skin? I wish your lordship to rip your skin from your body, to cleanse your heart, to put away your desires, and to enjoy yourself where you will be without the presence of any one. In the southern state of Yue, there is a district called "the State of Established Virtue." The people are ignorant and simple; their object is to minimise the thought of self and make their desires few; they labour but do not lay up their gains; they give but do not seek for any return; they do not know what righteousness is required of them in any particular case, nor by what ceremonies their performances should be signalised; acting in a wild and eccentric way as if they were mad, they yet keep to the grand rules of conduct. Their birth is an occasion for joy; their death is followed by the rites of burial. I should wish your lordship to leave your state; to give up your ordinary ways, and to proceed to that country by the directest course.'
The ruler said, 'The way to it is distant and difficult; there are rivers and hills; and as I have neither boat nor carriage, how am I to go?' The officer from Shi-nan rejoined, 'If your lordship abjure your personal state, and give up your wish to remain here, that will serve you for a carriage.'
The ruler rejoined, 'The way to it is solitary and distant, and there are no people on it - whom shall I have as my companions? I have no provisions prepared, and how shall I get food? How shall I be able to get (to the country)?' The officer said, 'Minimise your lordship's expenditure, and make your wants few, and though you have no provisions prepared, you will find you have enough. Wade through the rivers and float along on the sea, where however you look, you see not the shore, and, the farther you go, you do not see where your journey is to end - those who escorted you to the shore will return, and after that you will feel yourself far away. Thus it is that he who owns men (as their ruler) is involved in troubles, and he who is owned by men (as their ruler) suffers from sadness; and hence Yao would neither own men, nor be owned by them. I wish to remove your trouble, and take away your sadness, and it is only (to be done by inducing you) to enjoy yourself with the Dao in the land of Great Vacuity. If a man is crossing a river in a boat, and another empty vessel comes into collision with it, even though he be a man of a choleric temper, he will not be angry with it. If there be a person, however, in that boat, he will bawl out to him to haul out of the way. If his shout be not heard, he will repeat it; and if the other do not then hear, he will call out a third time, following up the shout with abusive terms. Formerly he was not angry, but now he is; formerly (he thought) the boat was empty, but now there is a person in it. If a man can empty himself of himself, during his time in the world, who can harm him?'
Bei-gong She was collecting taxes for duke Ling of Wei, to be employed in making (a peal of) bells. (In connexion with the work) he built an altar outside the gate of the suburban wall; and in three months the bells were completed, even to the suspending of the upper and lower (tiers). The king's son Qing-ji saw them, and asked what arts he had employed in the making of them. She replied, 'Besides my undivided attention to them, I did not venture to use any arts. I have heard the saying, "After all the carving and the chiselling, let the object be to return to simplicity." I was as a child who has no knowledge; I was extraordinarily slow and hesitating; they grew like the springing plants of themselves. In escorting those who went and meeting those who came, my object was neither to hinder the comers nor detain the goers. I suffered those who strongly opposed to take their way, and accepted those who did their best to come to terms. I allowed them all to do the utmost they could, and in this way morning and evening I collected the taxes. I did not have the slightest trouble, and how much more will this be the case with those who pursue the Great Way (on a grand scale)!'
Confucius was kept (by his enemies) in a state of siege between Chen and Cai, and for seven days had no food cooked with fire to eat. The Da-gong Ren went to condole with him, and said, 'You had nearly met with your death.' 'Yes,' was the reply. 'Do you dislike death?' 'I do.'
Then Ren continued, 'Let me try and describe a way by which (such a) death may be avoided. In the eastern sea there are birds which go by the name of yi-dai; they fly low and slowly as if they were deficient in power. They fly as if they were leading and assisting one another, and they press on one another when they roost. No one ventures to take the lead in going forward, or to be the last in going backwards. In eating no one ventures to take the first mouthful, but prefers the fragments left by others. In this way (the breaks in) their line are not many, and men outside them cannot harm them, so that they escape injury. The straight tree is the first to be cut down; the well of sweet water is the first to be exhausted. Your aim is to embellish your wisdom so as to startle the ignorant, and to cultivate your person to show the unsightliness of others. A light shines around you as if you were carrying with you the sun and moon, and thus it is that you do not escape such calamity. Formerly I heard a highly accomplished man say, "Those who boast have no merit. The merit which is deemed complete will begin to decay. The fame which is deemed complete will begin to wane." Who can rid himself of (the ideas of) merit and fame, and return and put himself on the level of the masses of men? The practice of the Dao flows abroad, but its master does not care to dwell where it can be seen; his attainments in it hold their course, but he does not wish to appear in its display. Always simple and commonplace, he may seem to be bereft of reason. He obliterates the traces of his action, gives up position and power, and aims not at merit and fame. Therefore he does not censure men, and men do not censure him. The perfect man does not seek to be heard of; how is it that you delight in doing so?'
Confucius said, 'Excellent;' and thereupon he took leave of his associates, forsook his disciples, retired to the neighbourhood of a great marsh, wore skins and hair cloth, and ate acorns and chestnuts. He went among animals without causing any confusion among their herds, and among birds without troubling their movements. Birds and beasts did not dislike him; how much less would men do so!
Confucius asked Zi-sang Hu, saying, 'I was twice driven from Lu; the tree was felled over me in Song; I was obliged to disappear from Wei; I was reduced to extreme distress in Shang and Zhou; and I was kept in a state of siege between Chen and Cai. I have encountered these various calamities; my intimate associates are removed from me more and more; my followers and friends are more and more dispersed - why have all these things befallen me?'
Zi-sang Hu replied, 'Have you not heard of the flight of Lin Hui of Jia - how he abandoned his round jade symbol of rank, worth a thousand pieces of silver, and hurried away with his infant son on his back? If it be asked, "Was it because of the market value of the child?" But that value was small (compared with the value of the jade token). If it be asked again, "Was it because of the troubles (of his office)?" But the child would occasion him much more trouble. Why was it then that, abandoning the jade token, worth a thousand pieces of silver, he hurried away with the child on his back? Lin Hui (himself) said, "The union between me and the token rested on the ground of gain; that between me and the child was of Heaven's appointment." Where the bond of union is its profitableness, when the pressure of poverty, calamity, distress, and injury come, the parties abandon one another; when it is of Heaven's appointment, they hold in the same circumstances to one another. Now between abandoning one another, and holding to one another, the difference is great. Moreover, the intercourse of superior men is tasteless as water, while that of mean men is sweet as new wine. But the tastelessness of the superior men leads on to affection, and the sweetness of the mean men to aversion. The union which originates without any cause will end in separation without any cause.'
Confucius said, 'I have reverently received your instructions.' And hereupon, with a slow step and an assumed air of ease, he returned to his own house. There he made an end of studying and put away his books. His disciples came no more to make their bow to him (and be taught), but their affection for him increased the more.
Another day Sang Hu said further to him, 'When Shun was about to die, he charged Yu, saying, 'Be upon your guard. (The attraction of) the person is not like that of sympathy; the (power of) affection is not like the leading (of example). Where there is sympathy, there will not be separation; where there is (the leading of) example, there will be no toil. Where there is neither separation nor toil, you will not have to seek the decoration of forms to make the person attractive, and where there is no such need of those forms, there will certainly be none for external things.'
Zhuangzi in a patched dress of coarse cloth, and having his shoes tied together with strings, was passing by the king of Wei, who said to him, 'How great, Master, is your distress?' Zhuangzi replied, 'It is poverty, not distress! While a scholar possesses the Dao and its Attributes, he cannot be going about in distress. Tattered clothes and shoes tied on the feet are the sign of poverty, and not of distress. This is what we call not meeting with the right time. Has your majesty not seen the climbing monkey? When he is among the plane trees, rottleras, oaks, and camphor trees, he grasps and twists their branches (into a screen), where he reigns quite at his ease, so that not even Yi or Peng Meng could spy him out. When, however, he finds himself among the prickly mulberry and date trees, and other thorns, he goes cautiously, casts sidelong glances, and takes every trembling movement with apprehension - it is not that his sinews and bones are straitened, and have lost their suppleness, but the situation is unsuitable for him, and he cannot display his agility. And now when I dwell under a benighted ruler, and seditious ministers, how is it possible for me not to be in distress? My case might afford an illustration of the cutting out the heart of Bi-gan!'
When Confucius was reduced to great distress between Chen and Cai, and for seven days he had no cooked food to eat, he laid hold of a decayed tree with his left hand, and with his right hand tapped it with a decayed branch, singing all the while the ode of Biao-shi. He had his instrument, but the notes were not marked on it. There was a noise, but no blended melody. The sound of the wood and the voice of the man came together like the noise of the plough through the ground, yet suitably to the feelings of the disciples around.
Yan Hui, who was standing upright, with his hands crossed on his breast, rolled his eyes round to observe him. Zhongni, fearing that Hui would go to excess in manifesting how he honoured himself, or be plunged in sorrow through his love for him, said to him, 'Hui, not to receive (as evils) the inflictions of Heaven is easy; not to receive (as benefits) the favours of men is difficult. There is no beginning which was not an end. The Human and the Heavenly may be one and the same. Who, for instance, is it that is now singing?'
Hui said, 'I venture to ask how not to receive (as evils) the inflictions of Heaven is easy.' Zhongni said, 'Hunger, thirst, cold, and heat, and having one's progress entirely blocked up - these are the doings of Heaven and Earth, necessary incidents in the revolutions of things. They are occurrences of which we say that we will pass on (composedly) along with them. The minister of another does not dare to refuse his commands; and if he who is discharging the duty of a minister feels it necessary to act thus, how much more should we wait with ease on the commands of Heaven!'
'What do you mean by saying that not to receive (as benefits) the favours of men is difficult?' Zhongni said, 'As soon as one is employed in office, he gets forward in all directions; rank and emolument come to him together, and without end. But these advantages do not come from one's self - it is my appointed lot to have such external good. The superior man is not a robber; the man of worth is no filcher - if I prefer such things, what am I? Hence it is said, "There is no bird wiser than the swallow." Where its eye lights on a place that is not suitable for it, it does not give it a second glance. Though it may drop the food from its mouth, it abandons it, and hurries off. It is afraid of men, and yet it stealthily takes up its dwelling by his; finding its protection in the altars of the Land and Grain.'
'What do you mean by saying that there is no beginning which was not an end?' Zhongni said, 'The change-- rise and dissolution-- of all things (continually) goes on, but we do not know who it is that maintains and continues the process. How do we know when any one begins? How do we know when he will end? We have simply to wait for it, and nothing more.'
'And what do you mean by saying that the Human and the Heavenly are one and the same?' Zhongni said, 'Given man, and you have Heaven; given Heaven, and you still have Heaven (and nothing more). That man can not have Heaven is owing to the limitation of his nature. The sagely man quietly passes away with his body, and there is an end of it.'
As Zhuang Zhou was rambling in the park of Diao-ling he saw a strange bird which came from the south. Its wings were seven cubits in width, and its eyes were large, an inch in circuit. It touched the forehead of Zhou as it passed him, and lighted in a grove of chestnut trees. 'What bird is this?' said he, 'with such great wings not to go on! and with such large eyes not to see me!' He lifted up his skirts, and hurried with his cross-bow, waiting for (an opportunity to shoot) it. (Meanwhile) he saw a cicada, which had just alighted in a beautiful shady spot, and forgot its (care for its) body. (Just then), a preying mantis raised its feelers, and pounced on the cicada, in its eagerness for its prey, (also) forgetting (its care for) its body; while the strange bird took advantage of its opportunity to secure them both, in view of that gain forgetting its true (instinct of preservation). Zhuang Zhou with an emotion of pity, said, 'Ah! so it is that things bring evil on one another, each of these creatures invited its own calamity.' (With this) he put away his cross-bow, and was hurrying away back, when the forester pursued him with terms of reproach.
When he returned and went into his house, he did not appear in his courtyard for three months. (When he came out), Lin Qie (his disciple) asked him, saying, 'Master, why have you for this some time avoided the courtyard so much?' Zhuangzi replied, 'I was guarding my person, and forgot myself; I was looking at turbid water, till I mistook the clear pool. And moreover I have heard the Master say, "Going where certain customs prevail, you should follow those customs." I was walking about in the park of Diao-ling, and forgot myself. A strange bird brushed past my forehead, and went flying about in the grove of chestnuts, where it forgot the true (art of preserving itself). The forester of the chestnut grove thought that I was a fitting object for his reproach. These are the reasons why I have avoided the courtyard.'
Yang-zi, having gone to Song, passed the night in a lodging-house, the master of which had two concubines - one beautiful, the other ugly. The ugly one was honoured, however, and the beautiful one contemned. Yang-zi asked the reason, and a little boy of the house replied, 'The beauty knows her beauty, and we do not recognise it. The ugly one knows her ugliness, and we do not recognise it.' Yang-zi said, 'Remember it, my disciples. Act virtuously, and put away the practice of priding yourselves on your virtue. If you do this, where can you go to that you will not be loved?'
Source: Chinese Text Project http://ctext.org/zhuangzi, English translation: 'The Writings of Chuang Tzu', James Legge, 1891
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Colorista Long Rashguard
Please select all options.
This material is a performance fabric with fast dry technology. It is carefully curated to uphold the body and give a toned shape. It contains water repellant properties and has a smooth buttery feeling on the skin.
With this Colorista Long Rash-Guard, you can pair a turban in the following colors:
- Sky Blue Turban
- Beach Blue
- Nude Peach Turban
- Surfer Peach Turban
This model is wearing the Sky-Blue Turban
Please note: each piece is sold separately.
The idea is that you don't have to purchase something you don't need again.
Instead of buying one full set and have the exact same look all summer long, you can grab 3 or 4 rashguards to create many different looks and use only one pair of leggings on them.
We paired 95% of our rashgaurds on black so if you already have a pair of black leggings, you don't need to purchase new ones. If you'd like to renew yours, you'll find swim leggings on our website
Please take care not to wash any rashguards with detergent in the washing machine.
Any swimwear should be rinsed out with a tiny dab of gentle hand soap and hung to dry indoors. This will help prolong your swimsuit's lifetime.
This Rashguard is not padded from the inside. Padding shortens the lifetime of the suit significantly.
Rashguards are generally worn by surfers who wear a sports-bra underneath. We urge you to choose the color nude. It's better with light colors.
You will find a matching legging extension on the website. It's a seperate small piece to be worn over your leggings to match your swimsuit and give the whole outfit a coherent look.