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(with apologies for the blurry jumbotron screen caps).
One of the most anticipated concerts of the 2008 summer season is Donna Summer's concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
The event is sold out, which means the bowl is filled to its 17,000++ capacity.
There was no L.A. Philharmonic prelude to the concert. Her flautist played the national anthem (quite beautifully) and the show started.
Donna had an excellent stage with multiple screens, 3 backup singers and 3 backup dancers.
The center screen panel rotated to reveal the diva herself singing"The Queen is Back" from her new album - Crayons. She is wearing a very regal purple dress.
I must say those multiple screen panels in the background were very effective and flashed visuals relevant to the songs she was singing. Like a radio dial for "On The Radio" or rain for "Enough is Enough" or even a park for "Macarthur Park".
Let's stop here for a minute to say that I adore Donna Summer and her music and I do understand that at nearly 60 years of age, one may acquire some protective padding here and there but if and when that DOES happen - at least get a competent costume designer!
First costume change was this printed dress - meh!
The song she sang, "Sand on My Feet" was much better!
And then it was - oh no she dee-ent!
Da Who advised Miss Summer to wear a big red ill-fitting pantsuit? (and I mean BIG - the jumbotron turned all RED for a second). I've seen her in a pantsuit before when she did a surprise guest stint at Barry Manilow's concert in Vegas and it didn't work out then (let's just say that there was a collective gasp when the cameraman inadvertently focused on Miss Summer's derriere).
This part was completely confusing to me. Her Hattie Mae segment where she wears a big white hat. Did I miss something?
Her voice was in fine form specially for the disco hits "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff", one of the most applauded segments of the evening.
I'm sure a lot of people were there for the disco hits of the 70's. And I do appreciate Miss Summer's efffort to expand her range with her new album but somehow the show seemed all over the place. There are some pretty good danceable tunes from her new album but I'm still wondering what that Hattie Mae stuff was about.
Overall, it was an enjoyable evening and I'm happy to see such a wonderful and talented performer. I can't wait for her next album. And this time - I hope it won't take 17 years!
Hey Donna, call me!

subset: commoncrawl


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From hyperspacewiki
Let $(X,\tau)$ be a topological space. We say that a set $\mathcal{O} \subset \tau$ is an open cover of $(X,\tau)$ if $\bigcup \mathcal{O} = X$. A set $\mathcal{O}_0 \subset \mathcal{O}$ is called a subcover of $\mathcal{O}$ if it is also an open cover of $(X,\tau)$. We say that the topological space $(X,\tau)$ is compact if for every open cover $\mathcal{O}$ of $(X,\tau)$ there exists a subcover $\mathcal{O}_0$ whose cardinality is finite.


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The European Union are rapidly implementing new legislation which will effectively BAN FOREVER a large range of supplements. These include Chinese
mushroom capsules, reishi and cordyceps plus thousands of others. These
products will then only be available (if at all) through the pharmaceutical
companies at extortionate prices and they will be full of fillers/sweeteners
and other assorted 'nasties'.


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Firstly, log into our booking system to check to see if there are any bookings awaiting your approval. If you cannot find any bookings, it may be that your account is not set up with School Support Coordinator permissions.
If you cannot approve/reject the booking, please contact us at email@example.com and we can approve/reject it on your behalf.


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Give your customers a memorable gift to display all year round by branding our Mourne Mountains calendar for your own business. The covers will be designed to incorporate your business branding ethics and each month page will have a 287 x 47mm advert at the bottom displaying your business contact details; this will mean that no matter which month is currently open your details will be visible all year round. This is the perfect promotional gift that will leave a long lasting impression in local households and offices as well as over-sea countries.
Please refer to the below prices as guide prices only (prices may vary depending on design requirements and the order quantities
300 calendars at £4.00 + VAT each or 1,000 calendars at £2.20 + VAT each.
For more information please call us on 028 3025 2591.


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WHEREAS, Lee Myrben and his wife Billie moved from San Diego, CA to Frisco, TX in 2004; and
WHEREAS, Lee Myrben served in the U.S. Navy Aviation from 1955 to 1977 during that time he made six tours aboard the carriers, one on the USS Wasp, three on the USS Midway and two on the USS Ranger. Three of the tours were during the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, Lee Myrben, after serving in the military, worked in the civilian environment in programs and projects for corporations and the government for 27 years. He was involved in programs such as the design stage of the Blackhawk Helicopter, F18, and programs associated with engineering, logistics and training of new and improved equipment; and
WHEREAS, Lee Myrben, as a civilian employee, became a member of the National Corrosion Control Engineers, the National Logistics Engineers and the San Diego Engineering Society. With the SDES, he served as President which was the umbrella for 22 engineering societies within the San Diego area; and
WHEREAS, Lee Myrben retired in 2003 as Director of National Security Solutions and as the Director of the Coast Guard Program and moved to Frisco, Texas in 2004; and
WHEREAS, Lee Myrben has spent his time in Frisco volunteering heavily in our community. He has served as the Post Commander of the Frisco VFW Post 8273, a chairman of the Panther Creek HOA, the Frisco Community Parade committee, the Memorial Day committee, is currently the chair of the Frisco Veterans Advisory committee and is working on the upcoming Frisco Veterans Job Fair.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Maher Maso, Mayor of the City of Frisco, do hereby proclaim October 15th, 2011 as:
And encourage all citizens to join me in thanking him for his tireless efforts in serving our Country and the City of Frisco.


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After receiving an overwhelming response for his composition 'Main
Hoon Hero Tera' that has indeed become an instant hit with the
audience, music director Amaal Malik is all set to woo everyone with Hero's 'O Khuda'.
The melody portrays the pure innocence of true love and the same is
visible between the lead actors Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty in the video. The audience will instantly connect with their chemistry and is sure to thoroughly enjoy the seamlessly flowing rhythm.
Watch #OKhuda http://t.co/w51aDZcDPq
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) September 3, 2015
Hero, produced by Salman Khan and Subhash Ghai and directed by Nikhil Advani is releasing worldwide by


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You will have daily contact with your child's teaching staff and with the center's administrative staff. There are a variety of other communication options to assure you are fully aware of your child's activities and development. These include:
- Parent conferences at your convenience.
- Daily or weekly individual reports on your child, depending on age.
- Parent bulletin boards in each classroom.
- Classroom and center newsletters.
- One-way classroom observation windows so you can observe your child in the natural classroom setting.
- Phones in each classroom office so you can call at your convenience.
- Evening access to the center director by phone.
Please give us a call at (734) 434-0505.


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Albert Chowne VC
NX24405 Lieutenant Albert CHOWNE MM
2/2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF
25th March, 1945, near Dagua, New Guinea
Albert CHOWNE was born in Sydney, 19th July, 1920. He is buried at the Lae War Cemetery, New Guinea.
London Gazette: 6th September, 1945:
"For most conspicuous bravery, brilliant leadership and devotion to duty during an attack on an enemy position on a narrow ridge near Dagua, New Guinea, on 25th March, 1945. After the capture of Dagua, the main enemy force withdrew southwards from the beach to previously prepared positions on the flank of the Division. Further movement towards Wewak was impossible while this threat to the flank existed and the Battalion was ordered to destroy the enemy force.
"A" Company, after making contact with the enemy on a narrow ridge, was ordered to attack the position. The leading Platoon in the attack came under heavy fire from concealed enemy machine-guns sited on a small rise dominating the approach. In the initial approach one member of this Platoon was killed and nine wounded, including the Platoon Commander, and the enemy continued to inflict casualties on our troops. Without awaiting orders, Lieutenant Chowne, whose Platoon was in reserve, instantly appreciated the plight of the leading Platoon and rushed the enemy's position. Running up a steep, narrow track, he hurled grenades which knocked out two enemy Light Machine-Guns. Then, calling on his men to follow him, and firing his sub-machine gun from the hip, he charged the enemy's position. Although he sustained two serious wounds in the chest, the impetus of his charge carried him 50 yards forward under the most intense machine-gun and rifle fire. Lieutenant Chowne accounted for two more Japanese before he was killed standing over three foxholes occupied by the enemy.
The superb heroism and self-sacrifice of this officer culminating in his death, resulted in the capture of this strongly-held enemy position, ensured the further immediate success of his Company in this area and paved the way directly for the continuance of the Division's advance to Wewak."
[Photo courtesy of the Australian War Memorial]


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Why Do Mortgage Brokers Work for Borrowers And Not Lenders?
If you are going to submit an application for a mortgage, you will feel that you are in a sort of battle with the lender, since you are on two different sides of the issue. The lender wants the highest interest rate so he can make the most money, and you want the lowest interest rate so you can have the lowest mortgage payment. A mortgage broker (courtier hypothecaire) will be a middle man in these negotiations.
Does this mean that the broker works for the lending institution or for the borrower? If you know that the lender pays the broker's fees, you may come to the conclusion that the broker works for the lending institution, but this is not true.
The mortgage business in Canada is very competitive. Some big mortgage brokers have several billion dollars of home loans every year. Many lending institutions want to work with mortgage brokers (courtier hypothécaire), who can give them additional business.
Brokers (courtier hypotheque) make roughly the same commission, regardless of which lender they work with. This makes brokers fairly independent, as they will get the same fee from any of the lenders. Borrowers are perfectly happy not to be paying this fee.
This is what this kind of competition means:
-Lenders team up brokers to be exposed to more loan business
-A potential borrower's application can be seen by 50 or more lenders, without any additional burden on the borrower.
The borrower then really becomes the client of the broker (courtier hypothecaire). A broker makes sure to serve his client by finding the most appropriate mortgage strategy and mortgage product for him.
The objective of a good mortgage consultant are :
1) To create clients for life
2) To make them happy enough to refer the broker to friends, family and neighbors
Mortgage consultants (courtier hypothecaire) earn their money by the commissions they are paid. Their primary goal is to serve the borrowers and build up a reputation so that their business will grow based on recommendations.
This shows that, even though the lender pays the broker's fee, it is the borrower that the broker serves and wants to keep satisfied.


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The latest in the lot is the following blog
Well this is one of the Citi moment of success by the blogger as this blog becomes hugely popular!!
Apparently this is written by some fringe player based on Kolkata in the KKR team (They have a team of 43 players!!!) and giving all the inside stories about team strategy, player politics, commentators looking for bedding around with South African chicks etc.
The alternate view is that this is another marketing strategy by the KKR team management and SRK himself to keep KKR in news all the time!!
The writer has very good hold in English (One of the key reason to believe that this is not coming out from a local player!)... The humor is good, although sometimes it crosses the thin line of vulgarity!! But still a time pass read!!
The nicknames of the players given by him are all DLF maximum sixers!! Like,
Kaan Moolo: Agarkar
Prince Charles of Patiyala: Yuvraj
Mr. Batliwala: Vijay Malya
Lord Almighty: Sourav
I don't think this is done by any player neither I think this is a marketing strategy by SRK!! I mean com'n SRK is crazy enough to call himself bi sexual in his own blog or abuse the coach whom he is supporting!!
For me this is a very clever journalist in SAF making fun of the players!!
What do u guys think is up to you. Please do read the blog and let me know what's your take on this!!
That's it till now!!


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Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 20
Pure minerals. Pure comfort. Pure perfection.
Mineral makeup from Elizabeth Arden comes in a portable grinder compact. No waste. No mess. No kidding.
- Fresh ground technology delivers a virtually weightless microlight powder that blends perfectly on the skin.
- Takes the mess out of loose powder mineral makeup to control just the amount you need. No more powder
- Non-drying. It's skin-brightening and comfortable to wear.
- Smooths imperfections. It doesn't cake or settle into fine lines.
- Infused with minerals rich with antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E and natural skin-smoothers.
- Enriched with sea water complex, containing elements such as calcium magnesium, known to strengthen skin and support natural mineral equilibrium.
- Buildable formula -- it's easy to create your own customized look from light to full coverage, without a made-up look.
- Pure, luminous, natural finish.
- SPF 20 sun protection.
- UVA/UVB protection.
- For all skin types. Sensitive skin-tested.
- Clinically and dermatologist allergy tested.
- Talc-free. Fragrance-free.
Top Questions See all 3 Q&A
- Does this powder have a light weight finish? 2 Answers
Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 20
Reviews (15)
Media (3)
- "I would definitely recommend it to my friends and family! " in 1 review
- "This foundations looks great if you use a bb cream or looking for light coverage...I use it for touch ups" in 1 review
- "I put it on after my liquid foundation as a finishing powder, and it works amazingly!" in 1 review
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15 reviews
I really like this powder. It is really good quality. and I love the packaging--so many powders are just loose or it had that netting and is really hard to get out so I love that this has the twist top!!!
It is a little expensive but it lasts a long time so its worth it
It is a little expensive but it lasts a long time so its worth it
Love this Pure Finish powder it's packaging is great, love the fact the you can turn the compact and it shaves the product for you. Loose powders can get really messy! Great for a finishing powder after applying foundation. SPF is also a plus.
I Idiscovered it by chance and now is one of my favorites, when you apply not need anything else , let your perfect face and lit the use on special occasions , the recommended 100 %
I love this stuff. I put it on after my liquid foundation as a finishing powder, and it works amazingly! It provides extra coverage, absorbs oil(which is awesome because my skin is SUPER oily), and it doesn't clog my pores!
I love the finish this leaves on my face. It doesn't show any fine lines or show off any of my pores. It really is very pretty. I find it a little bit drying though, but some products tend to do that to my face. All and all though I really like this product.
This powder/foundation does dual work, I recommend it to women who do not use that much makeup nor have the time to apply much. Once you use this product it evens out your skin and gives you a finish as if you had on foundation and powder.
This powder is my all time favorite. Whether I want sheer to full coverage , this powder foundation delivers with a 20 spf as well.
Mi polvo favorito !! Buena cobertura y durabilidad se mantiene por muchas horas en mi piel de manera natural.
This foundations looks great if you use a bb cream or looking for light coverage...I use it for touch ups
This powder is really good. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and silky. It's not too heavy. The puff is pointless though and I find mineral powders difficult to work with at first.
See All Photos & Videos


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Gown Isidora from the new 2013 collection!
It's that time of year again! Bridal season has slowed down for the winter and designer Melissa Gentile is putting the finishing touches to her Spring / Summer 2013 collection. New pieces are arriving in store weekly! Book your appointment to preview these gorgeous new dresses!


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Yogi Brunch's Two Mushroom Aglio et Olio is a delicious ready-to-cook dish. Prepared in roasted garlic and HImalayan salt, just toss some on a pan to heat, then pour over your favorite pasta and enjoy.
Ingredient: Shitake and Oyster Mushroom, Garlic, Herbs, and Spices
Flavor: Savory
Weight: 300g
Shelf life: 6 Months
(out of 0 ratings)


text: It remains for us to consider the vices which are opposed to beneficence, among which some come under the head of injustice, those, to wit, whereby one harms one's neighbor unjustly. But scandal seems to be specially opposed to charity. Accordingly we must here consider scandal, under which head there are eight points of inquiry:


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Julie Burstein is a radio host and creator of the show, 'Studio 360', which explores pop culture and the arts. Burstein is adamant that storytelling is the best way to explain creativity; in this talk she shares the stories of 4 people she's interviewed as part of her work.
Film-maker Mira Nair runs the company, 'Mirabai Films.' She describes the small town in India she grew up in; a place of 2000 temples, where they played cricket on the street and she was inspired by the great battles of good and evil taking place in the travelling folk theatre she witnessed.
Prize winning novelist Richard Ford drew on one of the most challenging facets of his youth to develop a love and understanding for words. As a dyslexic child he was forced to linger over each word on the page. He credits this with helping him to write sentences later.
Sculptor Richard Serra began as a painter, until one day in the Prado in Madrid he saw a painting by Diego Velazquez and realized he would never emulate him. Instead of giving up art, he moved to New York and playfully explored what he could do with the shapes of materials.
Burstein tells us the embrace of loss is one of the hardest lessons. 'In order to create, we have to stand in that space between what we see in the world and what we hope for, looking squarely at rejection, at heartbreak, at war, at death.' This is a familiar concept to the photographer, Joel Meyerowitz, whose studio looked over the Twin Towers in New York. He was out of town for 9/11 and when he returned, found himself like any other passerby, standing at the fence. Meyerowitz managed to obtain a press pass and spent nine months photographing the destruction daily, in order to leave a record of events.
We all live in a constant cycle of creation and destruction, of letting go and control, of picking up the pieces and making something new. Creativity is essential; whatever your medium or experience, art is made not because the artist wants to make something pretty, or acclaimed, but because they need to create that work.


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Pagos is a police officer in Penguin Village. Pagos and his partner Gala constantly have their car destroyed accidentally by Arale Norimaki whenever she runs through town.
Wonder Island
Pagos' first appearance was in the one-shot Wonder Island 2 alongside Gala and Gyaosu working as police officers in Metropolis Island.
Dr. Slump
The Birth of Arale
Main article: Volume 1: The Birth of Arale
In Arale-chan's Birth, the anime adaptation of The Birth of Arale!, Gala and Pagos replace the unnamed man that accidentally drives their car into Arale when she walks into the street but then are surprised when they're car breaks and she is uninjured.
In Here Comes Arale, Pagos who was writing someone a ticket sees Taro Soramame, Peasuke Soramame, Akane Kimidori and Arale driving by on scooters and pull them over because they are only in middle school. Arale pulls on Pagos tie and tells them not to pick on their friends and then ends up getting injured when Senbei Norimaki ends up having to pick the kids up at the Penguin Village Police Station.
In My Friend, Mr. Bear!!, the anime adaptation of Bearly Friends!, Pagos and Gala replace the unnamed police officer that talks to Arale and Aoi Kimidori when they are peeking over the wall of the Bear Owner's house.
Arale runs through their car at the beginning of "Is It a Girl? Is It a Boy!?" so fast that they didn't see her come by but just assumed it was her.
Arale on the Loose
Main article: Volume 2: Arale on the Loose
He appears in the "Arale on the Loose" chapters, and "The Lovely Trio".
Monsters' Night
Main article: Volume 5: Monsters' Night
In the chapter "Untouchable", it is them who try to destroy Arale's car, but they fail miserably.
My Toilet Paper
Main article: Volume 7: My Toilet Paper
In "Penguin Village Dom-Dom-Dom!", Gala and Pagos follow Arale and Gatchan thinking Arale is preparing something because she does not destroy their car, while she is in fact bringing ice cream to the Norimaki Residence.
Other Media
Dragon Ball
In the General Blue Saga, he helps Gala and Taro try to arrest General Blue, but they end up failing. Pagos later gets with the rest of the Penguin village police force, and they end up shooting King Nikochan's spaceship down. He appears at the beginning of Dragon Ball Super episode 69 along with Gala where they once again get their car destroyed by Arale running through it.
Dr. Slump remake
Pagos looks almost exactly the same in the 1997 remake of Dr. Slump.
Video Games
- Gala and Pagos were named after Galápagos Islands.
Voice Actors
- 1980's Show: Masaharu Sato
- 1997's Show: Michio Nakao
Latin America:
- 1980's Show: Armando Réndiz
- 1997's Show: Unknown Actor
- Dragon Ball (The Second dub): Gerardo Reyero.
- Dragon Ball (First dub): Unknown Actor.
|Penguin Village Police Force
|Gyaosu • Gala • Pagos • Polly Buckets • Drop-kun • Taro Soramame • Charmy Yamada
|Related articles
|Penguin Village Police Station • Police Car


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Sunday, September 16, 2007
let me share my dream with you because psychosis loves company
This morning a little while before sunrise I awoke to the distinct feeling that someone was leaning over me in the bed, like when little kids get in your face to see if you are asleep. It goes down hill from there. I proceeded to take the dream equivalent of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. It was definitely a mickey-mouse adventure, only this wasn't Disney World, and Mickey Mouse was nowhere to be seen.
It played more like Twilight Zone or Outer Limits, and featured, of all things, a nun in a navy blue habit that drove a stick shift minivan (burgundy, for anyone keeping count). At one point, she leaned over to me from the back seat to ask who was driving, and I had to somehow jump into the driver's seat. Naturally, the gears were all in the wrong place.
She kept wanting to know the topic of the next That Catholic Show and she was evidently going to drive me around until I spilled the beans. We ended up at the bottom of the Zugspitz, although I recognized the village as a little town outside of Bamberg where John and I used to drink beer and eat awesome meats and cheese. Help!
Finally, I demanded that we return to get my car, which I had inexplicably abandoned by the side of the road. The keys were in the ignition, but someone had taken my cell phone apart and left all the pieces neatly arranged on the bottom shelf of an emergency room crash cart.
I woke up then. It was actually kind of disappointing. I was really getting into the weird adventure, ya know?
My friend and former professor, Gonzalo, a Freudian Psychoanalyst, wouldn't touch this dream with a ten foot pole. Of course, I wouldn't trust anyone with a cat named Mario anyway.
To be sure, I recognize all the elements of craziness going on in my life at the moment. I shouldn't have had that second glass of cabernet sauvignon before going to bed last night. The only thing I don't get is the nun.
Who is the nun?
update: my friends, the Lindas-Squared, pointed out that Blue Nun is a wine. I guess that makes sense. Even as I was drinking that second glass of wine I was thinking that I should switch to white because red gives me heartburn. Hmmm.
2 comments:
- Goldiefish said...
"At one point, she leaned over to me from the back seat to ask who was driving, and I had to somehow jump into the driver's seat. Naturally, the gears were all in the wrong place." -
Mi quierda amiga - truly Classic - give me two hours and some coffee at Kaituer. This is going to be fun!
- PurpleP said...
Taking the phone apart into little pieces had to be your litle brother...
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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REV: 2005 Austin Under-21 Slam
I was in east Texas for the weekend doing seminar trips at an Environmental Educator's Conference and hoped i might get to Austin in the evening in time to catch some SXSW flick action. Besides the passes being sold out, i couldn't find a schedule anywhere, even at Waterloo, and had left mine at home. So after stumbling around needlessly for an hour, i stopped in at Ruta Maya for something delicious and came across the final championship slam to designate the 2005 Under-21 Team to head to nationals. Well, i knew this was coming up but had lost track of it somewhere, and so my stumbling in (right at opening announcements) was purely fortuitous.
But since i have a soft spot for slam (see the links to the left) and have worked with a number of students and kids who will be slam stars someday, there was no more reason to go looking for film.
I was immediately accosted by my good friend and exceptional poet and poetry promoter Thom Woodruff, who everyone knows better as Thom the World Poet. He continues to be a magnificent inspirer for anyone interested in performance poetry. I am always amazed at his output and sheer energy to keep words flying through espace and airspace. Good to see him.
Also present were some of the leading lights of Austin (and National) slam -- Matthew John Conley (of Albuquerque, Minneapolis and Austin slam fame), the enigmatic Christopher Lee (one of the finest real poets working in slam in my mind), DaShade Moonbeam (the current Austin Slam Champion), LaLove Robinson (new to me but a fine welcoming sacrificial poet), three-time Austin team member Andy Buck (another of those i consider at the top of the slam heap), and two-time Austin team member Tony Jackson. And of course there were probably others present that i missed seeing.
And then there were the judges: Mayor Will Wynn (literarily who knew?), state rep Mark Strama who is no stranger to slams (with a long history of neighborhood advocacy in Austin it was extra special for him to sit and hear the various political and personal rants about equality - even if he is already a Democrat - the same as it was for the Mayor to get a taste of his urban fiefdom), Dr. Marcus Nelson from Austin ISD, Ric Williams from the Austin Chronicle, and the members of Unified Tribe.
Celebrity judge panels are nothing knew to slam -- but i'd rather see the celebs come out to listen to the slam because there's something worth hearing, and stick to the honored slam tradition of picking random people from the audience to judge. And that comment was not meant to imply that celeb judges would do or were doing anything improper, only that it'd be nice if they were there on their own, and to honor the populist flavor of what slam is all about.
So let's get to the real topic -- the young poets of Austin. Let me say that, as a slam poet, and a critic of a sort, i'll have my own view here of who i'd like to have seen win. That is in no way a condemnation of the ones who did win, nor of the process (which i really, really like and support) -- just that i had my own favorites and i'd ask for folks to read on to my own brief analysis of slam styles to know more about my choices.
There were 11 poets present of 12 who apparently qualified. Almost all had a high school or college affiliation and were chosen by winning school slams or Austin Youth Slams over the past few months. I don't want to get into all the details of how slam teams and champs are chosen -- let's just say you can go to the National Slam site for basics (although the youth slams are governed by another organization, slam has generally done what few other competitive organizations have managed -- to maintain a modicum of adherence to a general idea of rules while allowing some freedom for the moment).
What you need to know here is that some of the process was almost determined on the fly at Ruta Maya but apparently traditional heads prevailed (which is a good thing). From the 11, eight were picked to go on to a second round, and from there the final team of four was chosen and given another round to determine a champ.
Of the group, i would have chosen Shannon Leigh (St. Andrews High School), Clark Perry who goes by Greyt White (St. Edwards U.), Jonathan who goes by Young Star (Stony Point High School), and Jay (Reagan High School). Leigh and Jay actually were chosen. Third was Gator (Reagan High School), and the fourth chosen was Phillip (apparently unaffiliated) who only made the final cut after a slamoff with Young Star but then walked away as the overall champ.
So, yeah, the guy who won the whole thing was not even on my list.
The four i chose had something going for them that none of the others did in my opinion -- except for Phillip. They all were poets in the deepest sense.
Slam was conceived by Marc Smith as a way to bring poetry back to the masses, to involve folks personally in performance. Much has been said about what it takes to win in slam, eloquently by slammaster Mike Henry i think, but what it comes down to in my mind is that just being able to get up and deliver your words to an audience constitutes the win.
But slam does have a competitive aspect to it and so there is strategy of a kind involved. Over the years i've watched slam (since 1990) there has been a very distinctive evolution in style. Much of this has had to do with the geography of its spread. I am certain that we could divine Chicago, New York and San Francisco styles, but i'm going to stay closer to home and say that at least until very recently there were even very distinctive Austin, San Antonio and Dallas styles.
In addition, there were styles within styles -- political rants, personal harangues, emotional soliloquys, standup comedy and various things in between. In the last four years or so hip-hop has played a larger and larger part, especially as youngsters come into slam from the music angle instead of the writing angle.
What's important here is that sometimes slam forgot about poetry in my opinion. Of course many will argue that poetry cannot be so narrowly defined and i could argue that angle myself i suppose. But there IS a difference in simply telling a story and in using words to evoke a story, and that latter is where i want my poetry to go.
Obviously, i'm irrelevant since i wasn't and am not judging any slam in particular, and even if i do, which i have, i am only one-fifth (or one-third depending on your viewpoint) of the opinion. Nevertheless, for me slam is still labelled poetry and should aspire to that.
So, most of the youngsters performing the other night went the Austin-style route with rants about personal, social and political injustices. These are powerful moments that need to be unleashed -- and are the most powerful things a young life can expound upon. But when they never proceed beyond 'i've been wronged, so screw you' then the narrow audience that identifies with that pain is all that is left to cheer. Ostensibly, if injustice is done, one is seeking redress and that is hard to come by by simply delivering insults. That's where poetry -- getting a message through subliminally -- is the greater art. And then everyone applauds, and perhaps things change.
Most of the pure ranters didn't get through, though they often got thundering standing O's.
My biggest disappointment was in Greyt White not making even the second round. He seemed to deliver poetry to me. I do think he was a victim of a tie-breaker somewhere (the night's scoring was extremely tight and very high -- as Conley said, "They're booing 9.8s, at Ego's we'd be going 'whoa, i got a 9.8!'"). Anyway, when the second round rolled up he wasn't there. He was a member of last year's team that competed in LA and won fifth in the nation. His style is very animated as well. He clears off the stage and does his work mike in hand. Unfortunately we got only one taste of him Sunday, but i hope you'll be reading more about him here soon.
Of the ones who did make it, let's take those i went with first. Jay and Gator were both in rant mode, but Jay stepped over that line into poetry with his work, and sure enough i think that's what propelled him into the final four. He was especially strong in the early going, and he came into the last round with the highest score and total, but i think he'd spent himself early. His last piece was delivered with paper in hand (which was SOP in the old days, but now it's not often seen, especially at championship events), and he fumbled it a couple of times. The crowd was so with him that i think he'd have been the Austin champ were it not for the uncertainty of that last piece.
Shannon Leigh is a long-time favorite of mine. I first saw her when she had just started slamming (at one of Thom the World Poets venues just after 9/11) -- i think she was 14 and an eighth-grader at the time. She submitted her performed piece and i published her in The Black Widow & The Brown Recluse, my student writers ezine. She also read with my student group, The Locker Room Writers & Thinkers Workshop when we were invited to the Texas Book Festival at the state capitol. She has matured gracefully as a poet without losing any of her punch. The piece she did on hip-hop Sunday would have won many a slam i've been at. She was spectacular.
Also on the team is Gator, who i've not seen before. He was a rant style performer. Without dissing on him, he simply was of the style i don't care for. The crowd though was behind him every step of the way, and the judges thought he was dynamite too. Having a huge Reagan crowd was probably to both his and Jay's benefit.
Lastly, the winner Phillip. This is a tough one for me to adjudicate. He did have the poetry in some of his pieces, and yet in others he didn't. His first piece, Hot Sauce sure got the crowd fired up. It came across to me as both shallow and punitive. But the objects of his putdowns seemed to be those who liked it the most. I don't know, maybe i didn't get it. It also suffered from trying too hard to be funny i thought, and to that end used faux poetic word twists without really being poetic.
Oddly, i thought his weakest piece was the last one, the one he used to win. I feel like he probably had three prepared pieces for the night (kind of standard among slammers), and when he was called up to do the slamoff used his best piece (IMHO) to make the team (while his opponent Jonathan/Young Star i think did the opposite, chose to save his best piece and pulled out another to try to make the team -- a choice which probably cost him). Further evidence that Phillip made that kind of decision is that he verbally tossed off his last piece by saying something like 'well, i'll just go back to a humor thing.' But the crowd, typically, liked humor. As it happens, it was so inconsequential that i can't even remember what it was about -- maybe i will later. In any case it was his middle two that were his best pieces -- and very good ones at that.
Now, here's something else about him by way of explanation -- it's why, i think, i wouldn't have picked him, but it's also likely no one else in the house had any clue about. His first three pieces, as each one started, sounded to me exactly like something else i'd heard before. It didn't take me long to figure out why. He sounded, at times, exactly like Andy Buck, or Matthew John Conley, or DaShade Moonbeam, or Christopher Lee. I thought i even heard bits of Genevieve Van Cleve and Ernie Cline and Jeff Knight in there. In verbiage, in style, in delivery, in everything. I'd bet that Phillip has spent much time watching and learning from the masters. Mimicry, flattery and all that. Well great, until it is only mimicry. He has some great material, but he needs to deliver it as himself. Enough said.
Ron Horne and Dr. Sheila Siobhan are the masterminds of this new Austin slam group. They call it Texas Youth Word Collective and via their literature they not only have inspired and noble goals but have already accomplished many of them, including taking a team to nationals last year, with this new team headed the same direction. This is major worthy in my mind. I especially salute them at accomplishing something i've been trying for a long time in a smaller town (with limited success) -- to get kids to express themselves in a performance venue. So congratulations.
They're raising money too -- so if you've a mind to, check out www.txywc.org .
I bought their DVD Sunday, and don't mind having done so as a means of helping their efforts, but . . . the video is of the nationals trip last year and is poor. I'm hoping that this year's use of two or three high-end cameras allows for a better product. The DVD is an adequate document, but the video is poor, and the audio is worse. One would hope for better views of the young participants, but more especially for the chance to actually hear what they have to say -- that is after all what slam is about. In some of the poems hardly a word is discernible, and in every case enough is lost as to make it nearly impossible to follow the piece. And that's a shame since some of them are remarkable pieces (including Shannon's hip hop work). There is video here of Saul Williams in a magical performance as well and that alone would be worth the DVD.
There is more slam coming up: March is SXSW; April is International Poetry Month and the Austin International Poetry Festival (founded by our friend Thom) will be in full swing; April 9th -- Citywide Slam Team Bout; April 20-24 Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Festival, San Francisco; August 10-13 -- National Poetry Slam, Albuquerque, New Mexico; April 2006 -- Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Festival, New York; August 2006 -- The National Poetry Slam returns to Austin!; April 2008 -- Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Festival, Austin


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A city that moves
People and goods can move well and safely throughout the city, using a variety of convenient, affordable, accessible and efficient transportation choices.
The City is one of many organizations that can influence the quality of life in our community. To help Calgary become a city that moves, The City focuses on the safe and reliable movement of people and goods.


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The Cityview
Urban Hospitality in Harmony with Nature
The Cityview strives to provide the very finest in high quality, cosy and verdant accommodation as well as memorable dining experiences. We are your home away from home, offering you the ideal location and professional attentive services.
The Cityview has prepared a collection of dining offers and unforgettable festive dishes for you to enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones!
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City Café is delighted to present a variety of Oyster & Lobster delicacies & offer complimentary dish of Baked Half Lobster with Emmentaler Cheese in Black Truffle Sauce to you!
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Enjoy Exquisite Chinese Delicacies at only $328 up per person, beverage included!
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Let's enjoy up to 10% discount on Christmas and New Year's Day Tea Buffet with Bird's nest, Purple Potato & Chestnut Delights!
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The Cityview has delicately prepared an array of fabulous party packages for you to celebrate the joyous season with friends and colleagues at only $328 up per person.
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The Cityview offers of two magnificent pillar-less design banquet venues with glittering, exquisite crystal ceiling fixtures and rich wall coverings. Reserve your 2019 wedding banquet now (Starting at HK$5,288 per table) and enjoy a host of great special offers.
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The Cityview is celebrating the 10th anniversary with all of our guests by providing the ultimate delicacies, offers, videos and activities. We wish you enjoy them and thanks for supporting The Cityview!
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At a Glance
Our wide range of room types satisfies every need you desire, ensuring that your stay is always an enjoyable and comfortable experience.
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1 Minute to Metro Station


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Established in 1854, the Franciscan School of Theology has a long-standing tradition of religious values, catering to a diverse student body. The institution is a Roman Catholic graduate school that is owned and operated by the Province of Saint Barbara of the Order of Friars Minor, making it a thriving community of intellectual and well-disciplined individuals.
Those seeking an apartment in the Franciscan School of Theology area will be pleased to know that the close-knit community embraces mutuality, equality and respect, making it a great place for a well-rounded education. Apartment renters will also be thrilled to learn that a degree at the Franciscan School of Theology can easily lead to a long-lasting career in ministry or other church-related careers.
Situated in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay, the Franciscan School of Theology is a quiet and peaceful neighborhood, which is ideal for apartment renters who wish to pursue their studies in a distraction-free environment. There are plenty of nearby natural wonders for students to enjoy, such as the Golden Gate Recreational Area, Sibley Volcano Regional Preserve and Mount Diablo State Park.
The Franciscan School of Theology is also within close proximity to Oakland and San Francisco, which is convenient for apartment renters who prefer the hustle and bustle of a big city on the weekends. Anyone who wishes to experience the luxuries of northern California will certainly have their fair share of fun.
Looking for apartments near the Franciscan School of Theology in Alameda County? Look no further than ApartmentGuide.com to find Franciscan School of Theology apartments for rent and learn more about this neighborhood.


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Keyshia Cole, Iggy Azalea Team Up to Remake Notorious B.I.G's 'Mo Money Mo Problems'
Chart-topping superstars Keyshia Cole and Iggy Azalea have teamed up to remake a classic song from Notorious B.I.G. for 'The Other Woman' soundtrack.
The dynamic duo create their own version of Biggie's 'Mo Money, Mo Problems' (featuring Puff Daddy and Mase) from his 1997 album 'Life After Death.' Of course, the original song samples Diana Ross' anthemic tune 'I'm Coming Out.'
On the new Irv Gotti-produced song, Cole sings the hook while Azalea raps some girl-power lyrics.
"N----s be catching me in my mode. Hahah. @keyshiacole and @thenewclassic shit sounds great," said Gotti on Instagram. "[Director] Nick Cassavetes loves it @paul_smenus so I'm happy! Y'all will hear it in its entirety soon enough. And it's in The Other Woman Movie."
'The Other Woman' is a romantic comedy starring Nicki Minaj, Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton. In the flick, the Queen Barbz gives love advice to Diaz's character after she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. The movie opens in theaters on April 25.
Listen to a Preview of Keyshia Cole & Iggy Azalea's Remake of 'Mo Money Mo Problems'


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Chorioretinitis: Symptoms and Treatment
Chorioretinitis is an inflammatory disease with an acute or chronic course that affects the posterior part of the choroid. The retina is also involved in the process. The circulatory system in the posterior eye is designed so that the vessels here form a wide bed. This anatomical feature leads to a slowing of blood circulation in this area.
For this reason, all infectious agents that penetrate the human body often linger on the back of the eye. Inflammatory process first affects the capillaries, which nourish the blood in the mesh shell, and later passes to the vascular membrane.
The following factors can provoke the progression of chorioretinitis:
- penetration of infectious agents into the eye membranes
- autoimmune pathologies
- penetration into the eye tissue of influenza, herpes and HIV viruses
- immunodeficiency states
- eye injuries of varying severity;
- allergic reactions
- complications of myopia
- long-term exposure to radiation.
Classification, depending on the area in which the inflammatory process is localized:
- central serous chorioretinitis. In this case, the inflammation affects the macular area of the eye;
- Equatorial. Inflammation is localized near the equator of the eye;
- peripapillary. The process is localized in the immediate vicinity of the optic nerve
- peripheral. Inflammation occurs on the dentate line.
Depending on the number of inflammatory foci:
- Focal chorioretinitis. There is only one inflammation spot;
- multifocal disseminated. Inflammation occurs immediately in several areas of the eye;
- diffuse. A lot of inflammatory foci are formed, which tend to merge.
Depending on the nature of the course of the pathological process:
- acute;
- chronic.
At the initial stages of progression of chorioretinitis, blurred vision is observed, and after a few days a dark spot appears in the field of vision. Also, the change in color perception is not excluded. Then the clinical picture is supplemented by the following symptoms:
- «flies» before your eyes;
- night blindness. This symptom is characterized by a decrease in visual acuity at dusk;
- Photosensitivity significantly increases;
- distortion of vision. In medicine, this condition is called metamorphosis;
- there are «flashes» periodically before your eyes;
- clouding of the retina;
- pain in the eyes.
Features of chorioretinitis
Toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis in most clinical situations is congenital. Infection occurs during intrauterine fetal development. Infectious agents affect not only the areas of the eye, but also the tissues of the central nervous system, vital organs. Pathological process wavy — periods of exacerbation alternate with periods of remission. This condition is very dangerous, because without proper treatment, a detachment of the mesh shell can occur.
The tubercular type progresses only on the background of the primary lesion of the lungs. Specific tubercles are formed on the fundus. After the treatment, scars remain on the surface.
Syphilitic chorioretinitis appears quite specific. On the fundus there is an alternation of pathological sites. There are places with fibrosis, but there are also areas with pigmentation.
If the patient exhibits these symptoms, you should go to a medical facility for comprehensive diagnosis. The standard survey plan includes the following methods:
- visual acuity assessment
- Perimeter;
- refractometry
- biomicroscopy
- ophthalmoscopy using a special Goldman lens
- Ultrasound;
- Fluorescence angiography
- Electroretinography
The cause of the progression of chorioretinitis can be determined using the following diagnostic techniques:
- a general blood test;
- blood biochemistry
- Urine analysis
- Analyzes for the presence of antibodies to infectious ailments (hepatitis, syphilis, etc.)
The doctor ophthalmologist deals with the treatment of chorioretinitis. It is best to place the patient in a hospital at the time of treatment, so that the specialists could constantly monitor his condition. The treatment plan includes:
- use of anti-inflammatory drugs
- parabulbar and retrobulbar injections
- etiotropic treatment. Its main goal is to eliminate the cause of pathology. To do this, the patient is assigned antiviral, antibacterial drugs
- detoxification therapy
- Immunotherapy
- desensitizing therapy
- physiotherapy.
In severe cases, doctors resort to retroviral laser coagulation. This modern treatment technique allows to localize the inflammatory process.