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This essay was originally published in N+1's Occupy! An OWS-Inspired Gazette
Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images via The Big Picture
A Tumblr of user-submitted handwritten signs with bleak personal testimonies first captured the internet's attention. Presented are the lives of real people, unmistakable hardships, ready to reblog and retweet. But implied—by the faces, the faces, the faces —is that to sympathize you must show up. This time a Facebook "like" is not enough.
There is something twisted and belittling about the momentary act of tapping on Tumblr's like button — a heart icon — when you are looking at the face of someone who has itemized his debt in magic marker for you to calculate. How much we have and what we owe is what we are typically raised never to discuss openly in polite company. These images of persons denuded of financial mystery request from the viewer something just as human; not a thoughtless mouse click. To properly commiserate with the enormity of this curated series of individual misfortunes, one must in person participate.
Around the globe, the "99 percent" sloganing rings effortlessly. This is a generation accustomed to encapsulating arguments into 140 character messages. It is also a generation experienced in negotiating private entities for public means. Zuccotti Park's tenuous standing as a privately owned public park seems an inevitable metaphor for the questions of free speech, assembly, and property rights posed by so many virtual spaces. Brookfield is like Facebook, Bloomberg like Zuckerberg: their threatened park closure is like the ever-present possibility that Facebook will suspend activist accounts and group pages used to plan rallies and activities, for vaguely specified reasons.
"We must occupy real and virtual spaces," Reuters' Anthony De Rosa tweeted, quoting an occupier at the second Washington Square park General Assembly. Without one there couldn't exist the other.


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For years I've tried to climb numerous "brick walls" as I've worked on my family history -- many of my challenges are my women ancestors. I've met many wonderful, helpful genealogists, town clerks, historians, and societies along the way. Some of the names I'm working on: DAKIN, WORTHINGTON, SEARING, RICHARDSON, DeLOSS/LOSS, COPELAND, HARVEY, WRIGHT, EVANS, HELSTEN, SMITH (Conn.), HEARTY, ROBBERT, BOGART, NYE, BLODGETT & COBB.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Dear Cousin ... 2 1/2 Years Later
Recall Louise's first letter to her cousins, Elizabeth and Augusta Radford. She was discussing novels, how schools were organized & teachers certified, and her views as an abolitionist. She was doing household chores and sewing while her sister was working in a factory, and possibly her mother was recovering from something (alluded to, not said). Now she is no longer talking theoretically about teaching but she has been teaching, since autumn and the school is closed, possibly for a winter break in Madison County, New York-- could be snowy there. She has that feeling of exhaustion and relief that teachers have when they get to a break, can catch their breath and get revived to go back again to the intensity of the classroom demands.
Morrisville Jan.y. 30, 1849
Dear Coz.
Your letter of October was received and as I concluded
not to accept the invitation contained therein. I have not
been as prompt in reply as I should have been.
My school is closed, is having been opened early
in autumn, and I am released; I always consider it
a release to be far away from a school house, and have
at this time a prospect of breathing the air of freedom for
some months to come, for I cannot teach more now.
Your communication was a very frank, cousinly,
and confidential document! When one's path is along
the "cool sequestence vale of life," where little breaks the
monotony of a retired maiden's existence, there is little
to confide, often little to communicate, so I complain
not of my correspondents if they do not make their letters
records of loves, marriages, deaths, and romantic adven-
tures. If, however, such events should ruffle the surface of
their lives, it is a pleasure a right, to be acquainted with
them, that interest, and sympathy may have a right direc-
tion even in absence. It is fortunate for me that I have
an uncle near the Rocky Mountains, that I may be
able to address my cousins by their right names, a some
thing of some consequence, as they are my friends & correspondents
Louise depends upon her cousins and friends to write. If you recall from her first letter, there is a loneliness out in rural up state New York. Elizabeth has written and made an offer to her last October, possibly to visit based on the comments later in the letter. She depends upon the news from her correspondents -- it doesn't have to be of love, marriages, romance, death, etc. -- she is still unmarried living at home, as is Elizabeth. Louise won't marry for another two years, so she lives with her imaginary visits with cousins and friends from elsewhere. Her younger sister Sarah is already married (1847), as is her older brother Raymond Perry (1848). Elizabeth's sister Augusta is also married. She has an aunt in the area, but they are talking of moving from Chautaugue to Pennsylvania-- but just like today, you can't afford to sell your property if it is at a loss! Uncle Bennet and his family has already moved away, possibly he is the uncle in the Rockies. She clearly misses time with the various family members including the children.
I am an old maid yet, and farther than ever from being
any thing else. Do you not pity your unattractive cousin?
and yet she is perfectly contented, never more so.
A long letter from Uncle Bennet came to hand a day or
two since. It stated many things interesting to me.
The children both wrote, and I am almost homesick.
whenever I hear from them. I enjoyed under this roof the
privileges of home and for do long a period that I cannot
bear frequent imaginary visits to the dear little band of which
I am now a dissevered link. There are some young people
there who write to me, and enough that I am attached
to, to cause me much enjoyment in another visit.
I wish you could visit Chautaugue. You would like
Aunt Sarah and Uncle. The scenery too is delightful.
He e has his eye now toward Pennsylvania; since Sarah
made a visit to Pittsburgh. I should not be surprise
if he should remove to some other spot, but he is not
very fond of changes, and Aunt makes few inconsiderate
movements. They will not sell for less than the full value
of their farm and its location has some disadvantages.
Our family—- I can say little new of them. Emory
is now home. He is a green boy. Nothing influenced him
but his own inclinations. He will love me only on
condition that I do not meddle nor advise!
I have been wavering between visiting you, attending
school, or doing something else next summer, but
rather than think I shall attend school. I should like
above most things to visit you but cannot afford it.
Oh the miseries of a shallow purse!
I am not sure what a "green boy" is, but whatever it is, Emory doesn't like his older sister to meddle or advise him-- sounds like their political views might be different (recall, she is the abolitionist). Definitely sounds like siblings who are a year apart in age.
She is thinking about going to school next summer. She is asking the advice of her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth [much to my recent surprise] attended Mount Holyoke Seminary for the 1844-45 school year and was teaching when Louise wrote her first letter to her cousins! Clearly she is the person to ask about going to school. [I have not located where Elizabeth taught beyond Mt Holyoke's records that she taught from 1845-1850, when she married.]
She wishes to visit Elizabeth -- probably that was her offer referred to in the beginning of the letter. But she can't afford it -- "the miseries of a shallow purse!" and "I am obliged to limit my gratifications to my income, which is nothing when out of school"
If it were not too much to ask, I should be happy to be
informed of whatever may concern one so distant and dis-
connected as a cousin is. You do not, nor cannot think
how much I prize the friendship and confidence of my
relatives, and tho' I never intend to demand the respect
of anyone, yet until I am conceived of meriting /distrust
I shall expect a continuance of regard.
I am spending the winter in something of a fool-
ish manner but nothing offers for my improvement, and
I am working, reading, and what not. Enjoying myself
papably, not as well as I did last winter; but an-
ticipating, as I always am great things from the future.
If I could travel, that is all I would ask at present.
I have half a mind to take my destiny by storm. ——
I could do it! (Ahem! Self Esteem!), but —- common sense
and uncommon laziness suggest other things and tell
me to make myself happy "in life' more low, but happier
way." Lo I suppose I attend school next summer, and
teach next winter. Hast my suggestions, Coz? —-
Uncle has heard from Cousin Horace. When I visit you
I shall make him a visitation. But if I attend school
I shall never go out of the county, for I am obliged
to limit my gratifications to my income, which is noth
ing when out of school. Give my love to Mrs. Augusta
and Juis whoever he may be as I am bound to return
the love of every one who presents such a gift, Hoping you
will write to me soon I am as ever
Affectionately Louise
P.S. I would write to A. but really — I do not know
her name and do not like dark proceedings.
Cousin Horace, is Elizabeth and Augusta's much older brother.
Augusta married Julius Bronson, who is a widower with a child.
This letter was written shortly after Augusta's wedding, they married 3 January and this is 30 January.
She needs Augusta's married name to be able to write to her. I do not know what might be the "dark proceedings" maybe it is new husband who is 13 years older and a 13 year old daughter for Augusta.
Oh, how I wish I had the rest of the correspondence between these women!
©Erica Dakin Voolich, 2014
The link to this page is http://genea-adventures.blogspot.com/2014/05/dear-cousin-2-12-years-later.html
Posted by Erica at 8:41 AM No comments:
Labels: BRONSON Augusta, BRONSON Julius, green boy, Mount Holyoke Seminary, RADFORD Augusta, RADFORD Elizabeth, RADFORD Emory, RADFORD Horace, RADFORD Louisa Pauline, RADFORD Raymond Perry, RADFORD Sarah
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
First of two Cubs-Bucs challenges is MLB's first
Cubs manager Renteria asks for play to be reviewed; 10th-inning play overturned
PITTSBURGH -- In the first use of expanded instant replay in the history of Major League Baseball, Cubs manager Rick Renteria challenged a play at first base in the fifth inning of the Pirates' 1-0, walk-off win at PNC Park on Monday.
With the game scoreless, the Cubs had runners at first and second with nobody out when pitcher Jeff Samardzija bunted toward the third-base side. Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano fielded the ball and threw to third baseman Pedro Alvarez to get the runner, and he then fired to second baseman Neil Walker, who was covering first.
Samardzija, a former All-America wide receiver at Notre Dame who runs well, signaled safe as he crossed the bag, but first-base umpire Bob Davidson called the pitcher out. Renteria went out to talk to Davidson, and he challenged the call.
Did Renteria want the play reviewed because of Samardzija's reaction?
"When I went out there, it was a combination of that and what we were looking at," Renteria said. "We were already in the fifth inning, and if he's safe, [we have runners at] first and second, as opposed to just a man on second. I thought it was a time to give ourselves an opportunity to get a call."
Did Samardzija signal safe because he heard something?
"I was just trying to coax the call right there, trying to grease the slicks a little bit, but it didn't work," he said, with a little chuckle. "I knew it was close. I couldn't really tell if I was safe or out. They handled it well, the umpires did a great job and it went nice and quick, and we didn't have to sit around, and Liriano didn't have to stand around too long. I thought it went pretty smooth."
After Davidson and home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck consulted with the Replay Operations Center at Major League Baseball Advanced Media's headquarters in New York, the call was confirmed. Handled by MLBAM replay technician Timothy Akins and MLB umpire Larry Vanover, the ruling was made in about 90 seconds.
"That could've been a big change in the game for them, maybe lead to something happening for them," Walker said. "It slowed the game down a bit and the fans were probably not too excited about it, but they got the call right."
The replay was shown on the video scoreboard at PNC Park, which is part of the new replay process.
In the top of the 10th, the Pirates became the second beneficiaries of a call overturned in MLB history. With the game scoreless, relief pitcher Bryan Morris made a pick-off throw to first base, but Davidson signaled the runner, Emilio Bonifacio, safe.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made his way onto the field to engage Davidson, who, along with Hirschbeck, immediately went to the headsets to consult with the Replay Operations Center.
After 2 1/2 minutes, the umpires made their way back to the middle of the field and signaled Bonifacio out.
"First, I thought he just hit me in the face, but after I saw the replay, I was out," Bonifacio said. "I didn't feel anything on my shoulder at first."
Said Renteria: "The one with Bonifacio, I couldn't really make it out myself. I'm still trying to figure out what the clear and convincing evidence is supposed to be. It's a work in progress. They have a lot of people looking at those videos in New York. They must have gotten it right."
The Cubs have video coordinator Naoto Masamoto and quality assurance coach Jose Castro as the extra eyes in the clubhouse, watching replays of any questionable calls.
"I think like all of us, it's going to be something that's ongoing, correcting ourselves, setting up a system to communicate with each other," Renteria said before the game. "I'm sure we'll muff some and get some right. The process will be developed and perfected over time. It's new to everybody, and we're all cognizant of that and we'll keep trying to do the best we can with that."


text:
Home > Apple Accessories > iPhone Accessories > Full Screws Set with 2 Bottom Screws Replacement for iPhone 5 (5th Generation) Phone Repairs
Product Details
This Brand New Complete Screw Set Kit includes all screws needed to for repairs on your iPhone 5. All screws are brand new and include the bottom 2 pentagon star shaped screws as well as the full set of other screws.
- Condition: Brand New
- Best replacement for full screw set
- Replace damaged or missing screws
- Compatible with iPhone 5
- Approx. 54pcs a set, coming with 2 Silvery bottom star screws
- Some screws may be stained by blue glue, which is used for antislip
- Color: Sliver
- Note: Installation guide or Tools not included, please be sure you know how to install before buying it.
Package Includes:
- 1 x Full Screws Set for iPhone 5


text:
There are tons of Internet Browsers available including Internet Explorer, Opera, Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari, however, the Epic Browser is a bit different in the sense that it has been created specifically with Indians in mind.
A Bangalore based startup called Hidden Reflex has made available a browser called as the "Epic Browser". Epic Browser is a Internet web browser which is based on Mozilla Firefox, which taps into several services to serve content which is useful and relevant to Indian users.
For example you can get cricket match score updates, share market updates, video streams and more. Epic Browser also has a built in Antivirus solution to keep the bad malware and Trojans out of your PC. Currently Epic browser has over 1500 applications and also supports Firefox add-ons. Read our earlier review of Epic Browser here or download Epic Browser from here.


text:
- A Workspace that Makes Sense
- Tips, Tips, and More Tips
- Want More?
In 2003, I wrote an article for InformIT titled "Optimizing Your Flash MX 2004 Workspace and Revealing Hidden Features." What you're reading now, in case you didn't notice the similarity in the titles, is an update to that article. If you haven't read the original, cruise on over there and check it out. Everything in the original article is still true with Flash 8, but a few things have changed for the better, and a few new tricks have popped up that will improve your Flash experience even more.
Flash 8 brings us what we all wanted with Flash MX 2004: a truly stable application that performs extremely well, has features galore, and displays user-interface improvements that make you want to stand on a rooftop and yell, "Viva la Flash!"
Some of what is discussed in this article is undocumented, so you're bound to learn something that will help you out.
A Workspace that Makes Sense
In the 2003 version of this article, this section was called "The Workspace that Ate My Car". My, how things have changed. Flash 8 has just as many panels as Flash MX 2004 did, but creating a workspace layout that makes sense for you is now much easier, and the result is a clean layout that doesn't suck up all of your screen space.
How did the Macromedia Flash team engineers do it? Well, they listened to their users, and did everything they could to make those users happy.
First, see Figure 1 for a flashback to the MX 2004 workspace, with every panel open and accessible.
Figure 1 The horror, the horror.
Now, take a look at the same situation in Flash 8 (see Figure 2).
Figure 2 Caption: Um, yeah. That's just... better.
Figure 2 also shows every panel that Flash has to offer, and they are all open and accessible, just like Figure 1. The major difference between the two is the result of the new panel grouping feature in Flash 8. Any panel can be grouped with another by opening the Options menu in the panel (accessible via the button in the top-right corner of the panel) and choosing the Group <panel name> With option. Simply choose another panel from the list and watch as the two are magically grouped into a single panel, each accessible by tabs in the panel. At last, a clean and simple solution has been created that lets you keep your workspace organized and easy to use.
To leverage Flash 8's new approach to panel management, I recommend organizing panels into logical groups. For example, group the Color Mixer with the Color Swatches panel and group the Components panel with the Component Inspector. To get you started, the Align panel is grouped by default with the Info and Transform panels.
Wanna see the icing on the cake? Open the Options menu in any panel group and choose Rename Panel Group. Enter a new name and click OK. Now, even the title bar for the panel is nice and clean. See Figure 3 for an example.
Figure 3 It's probably best to name your panel groups with logical descriptive names, not at all like this one.
There are just a couple of small things to note about panel management in Flash 8. First, a test movie (produced by pressing Ctrl/Cmd+Enter) can now be opened either in its own window or in a document tab. To select the option you prefer, open the Preferences dialog box and either check or uncheck the Open Test Movie In Tabs option in the General section.
Second, document tabs can now be reordered manually by dragging the tabs into the order you want. This is a subtle enhancement, but it means that you no longer have to think about the order in which to open your documents beforehand. Just open everything you need and reorder things at will.
As an added bonus, Macromedia also fixed a few panel annoyances with Flash 8. For example, Mac users should notice that choosing File > Save As now makes panels disappear temporarily so you can clearly see the Save As dialog box. (In Flash MX 2004, you often have to move panels out of the way to see it.) As soon as you finish saving a file, the panels reappear.


text: A Resident Welfare Association (RWA) is a civic body that represents interests of the residents of a specific locality in Indian cities. It is not an official part of the government. An RWA can work well if there is active participation of the members. They take up issues like lighting on roads, cleanliness of roads, safety measures for residents, stray dog problems, water supply problem, etc. Taking an active part and interest in your RWA is a must for every resident. An efficient RWA is necessary in a society to maintain proper security, solve garbage disposal issues, and take care of utility and other services.In a colony, people face a lot of teething problems. Coming together to form an organization and doing your bit for the community is not only important but also necessary because you are an integral part of that community. You will also face the problems others face. If the roads are pitiable, water supply erratic and electric supply irregular, everyone living in the locality will face it and so will you and your family. Hence, by taking avid interest and participating in the community services you are also helping yourself and your family.


text:
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Racism toward Jews and Muslims is growing in Sweden, a public agency that advocates for tolerance, democracy and human rights says in a report.
The Living History Forum report indicates the number of racist Swedish Web sites has nearly doubled since 2009, the Swedish news agency TT reported.
Web sites created by right-wing extremist groups publish and spread anti-Semitic and Islamophobic propaganda. The report showed school textbooks have begun to show prejudice.
"There is today a small but growing minority that harbor hatred against Muslims and Jews," Minister for Integration Erik Ullenhag said Monday in a statement.
Recent crime statistics show there were 161 anti-Semitic crimes reported and 272 Islamophobic crimes reported last year. However, the Living History Forum said it believes the actual numbers may be higher.
"Above all this study shows that research and follow-ups into preventative actions regarding intolerance against Jews and Muslims is sorely needed," said head of Forum for Living History, Eskil Franck.
The study was requested by Swedish government officials to further their knowledge about xenophobia throughout the country.
"We have learned from experiences in other European countries that all the forces who want a tolerant society need to be active in the public debate. Prejudice against Jews and Muslims can never be normalized," Ullenhag said.


text:
Costa Rica, Correos de Costa Rica, asks us to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that, starting on 23 November 2016, Costa Rica has been experiencing torrential rain and strong winds, especially in the northern and Caribbean regions of the country, as a result of Hurricane Otto. This extreme weather has affected transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges and ports), as well as telecommunications, with the resulting impacts on the national postal network. This will lead to delays in mail processing and delivery (letters, parcels and EMS).
Correos de Costa Rica thanks all member countries for their understanding; it will update designated operators via EmIS once the situation has returned to normal.


text:
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Recommended replacement: AXIS P3245-V
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Tamper-resistant casing
AXIS M3204 with its tamper resistant casing is a fixed dome specifically adapted for unobtrusive video surveillance in indoor environments. The camera is suited where discreet and compact solutions are required, e.g in retail stores, receptions, building offices and hotels.
Stay focused on results
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AXIS M3204 includes intelligent capabilities such as enhanced video motion detection and detection of camera tampering attempts like blocking or spray painting. The pixel counter helps the installer verify that the pixel resolution of an object or face fulfills regulatory or specific customer requirements, for example, for facial identification purposes.
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text:
I don't wear them anymore, because (between them shrinking and me expanding) they show off my midriff, sort of an unsexy Britney Spears look.
So yesterday afternoon Craig found one in my closet, held it up, and said "Dad, why do you own a dress?"
A Blog detailing the insanity of my medical practice and the stupidity of everyday life.
My kids look at my hubs old bball shorts and ask what kind of weird boxers are these? They laugh at the shorty-shorts.
Is that...purple?
OMG, in lovely purple too!
Yeah. Purple.
Before I met Mrs. Grumpy my main criteria for buying clothes had nothing to do with color or style. It was simply "Does it fit?" and "Is it cheap?"
Sorry Grumpy, but that is the gayest basketball jersey I have ever seen.
Well, I was a flamingly hot player in my time!
it even looks polyester! yikes!
I spent part of the day yesterday (whilst on am outing with my M-I-L) catching up on your old blog posts. Manical cackles were erupting from the backseat of the vehicle where I positioned myself to get away from M-I-L. Thanks a million for providing much needed hilarity on what would have otherwise been an insufferable experience!
Is this from the 70s? Purple....
Seriously Dr. Grumpy, did you go to Northwestern? If not pass your man card to the front of the class.
I've never seen a purple wife beater shirt.
Is there a stash of Richard Simmon's VHS tapes and shorts with glitter gobs in that closet too?
Anyway, you must be one hot piece to pull of purple.
LD50 Rat
Late 80's, on sale at Target for a buck if I remember. I was a poor college student. I bought them in whatever they had to have something to wear to the gym.
The late 80s was a "magic" era for the Lakers.
I'm sure Grumpy was or was easily mistaken as a Lakers fan with that purple shirt.
That or he was a government employee during college and played for the SEIU team.
Am I the only one who has Right Said Fred in their brain now?
"I'm...too sexy for this shirt...So sexy it hurts!"
And OMG, my word verification is withcarbs...no comment needed. ;)
Did you offer it to him to play dress-up?
My main criteria for buying clothes is still "does it fit" and "is it cheap", along with "is it comfortable"
This seems more like folded-in-a-drawer material to me.
Interesting that you hang your up in the closet.
If we saw you wearing this shirt you might appear on "People of Walmart"
Doris- that's what my wife said: "Why isn't that in a drawer somewhere?"
I can only assume I hung it up there when we moved into our current house 7 years ago, and it's been forgotten ever since.
I'm pretty sure Will Smith wore this in the opening credits of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Real men DO wear Purple!
I can see why he thought it was a dress. It looks shockingly similar to many American Apparel Women's Tanks/Dress popular right now (whether or not they are hideous).
Little Calf Creamery. Delicious homemade ice cream and food in Thousand Oaks!


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Japan vs Vietnam Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Japan vs Vietnam Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Asia Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message aboylikedaveJoined: 25 Jun 2004Posts: 6Location: London Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:13 pm Post subject: Japan vs Vietnam Would anyone have a view on whether it is easier to break even financially by working in Vietnam rather than Japan over 5 months (Ekinaiwas) on a basic 25 hours or so teaching. For what its worth I'm a youthful 39 with MA Applied Linguistics, lower management in University Administration and some IT teaching (at degree level) and training experience. Japan interets me more as a country but as my main aim is to gain TEFL teaching experience I'd be prepared to go to Vietnam (hardly a hardship!) if it means I'm more likley to break even whilst I'm gaining experience. I wouldn't be partying all the time, I like the odd beer but would be fine away from the main cities if needed. Back to top sigmoidJoined: 21 Jan 2003Posts: 1276 Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 5:16 am Post subject: Quote: Would anyone have a view on whether it is easier to break even financially by working in Vietnam rather than Japan over 5 months (Ekinaiwas) on a basic 25 hours or so teaching. I haven't been to Japan, so I can't comment on what is happening there but in Ho Chi Minh City teachers make $12/hour and up. So with 25 hours per week you'd be making $1200/mo. Of course someone with your creds can make more and the cost of living can be quite low if you can live cheaply which is something a lot of British blokes can do well. So you'd probably save a bit of money. The work is somewhat seasonal though. Things slow down quite a bit near the lunar new year in February. The main drawbacks with Ho Chi Minh City is that it is deadly boring, underdeveloped and somewhat dirty which, I imagine, is just the opposite of Japan.Last edited by sigmoid on Wed Sep 08, 2004 5:59 am; edited 1 time in total Back to top GordonJoined: 28 Jan 2003Posts: 5309Location: Japan Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 6:18 am Post subject: Vietnam would probably be better because other than Westgate, I know of no other schools or institutions in Japan that offer contracts of less than 1 yr. You will also work more than 25 hrs/wk in eikaiwas. Back to top aboylikedaveJoined: 25 Jun 2004Posts: 6Location: London Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:19 am Post subject: Well, I would be planning on going to an Ekinaiwa and leaving after 5 months. I know some feel it's naughty but I'd like to think I'd give good value for that period and wouldn't take the p*ss. Back to top GlenskiJoined: 15 Jan 2003Posts: 12844Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:07 pm Post subject: Japan. Let's start with proper terminology. It's eikaiwa, not ekinaiwa. A person with a master's in applied linguistics will often be considered overqualified for eikaiwas in Japan. That's not to say you can't get hired. It just might take a bit longer. And, the pay won't be any higher, if much. NOVA, for example, might only pay you 5000 yen more per month. You will make about 250,000 yen/month in Japan at an eikaiwa, working 25-30 hours per week. That's 2083 to 2500 yen per hour, or about US$20 per hour. But, wait! Those are classroom hours per week, the amount of time you spend in the classroom teaching. Add to that the preparation time and other assorted duties you likely will face, and you actually end up working a full 40 hour week. So, your hourly wages are really 1562 yen, or US$14. After you pay for basic necessities (rent, groceries, utilities, insurance, and basic phone service), you will have spent half of your wages. A conservative nightlife will chop that down by another 30,000 to 50,000 yen per month. That leaves you with about 70,000 to 90,000 yen each month to spend on everything else in life: postage stamps, souvenirs, snacks, sightseeing, long distance phone charges, batteries, film developing, etc., plus any outstanding debts back home (student loans, car payments, mortgage, etc.). Some frugal people have more to spend. Want to leave a job after only 5 months? Yes, you can, and it's more than merely "naughty". It's rude, disrespectful, and it contributes to the negative image of the rest of us foreigners. Leave if you have poor working conditions, but why PLAN to leave so early and not honor your contract if the job is ok? Besides, look at it this way... You spend about US$800 on airfare. About the only way you get it back is to complete a year's contract and get the bonus equivalent to that. Meanwhile, you will spend a month or two on less than FT wages because of a probationary training period, so that 70,000 to 90,000 yen each month is actually going to be less. You are bound to do some sightseeing while you are here. It's only natural, but that means you will spend a lot of that residual pay. Leaving in 5 months will just about allow you to break even on your setup expenses. Back to top aboylikedaveJoined: 25 Jun 2004Posts: 6Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:27 pm Post subject: Glenski, many thanks for this, I appreciate the time you have taken to reply. Regarding the MA, yes, having been turned down by Westgate and ECC I had decided a) not to mention the MA and b) include a photo as I look a lot younger than 39!. Regarding the 5 months, I do see your point, the catch is I'm on a year round the world trip and want to spend 6 months working in Japan and 6 months in Mexico. I should say though, that if someone in England were to say to me ' I want to apply for a job but know I will be leaving in 5 months' I'd say 'apply anyway and its not actually that dishonest' because who in all honesty can say what they will be doing in 5 months. I know alot of peolple who start jobs intending to stay but due to another great opportunity, in the company or outside, or change in life circumstances, leave before 5 months anyway. So I'd say don't not take a job and allow it to go to someone who may well leave after a short time anyway. This is actually what my boss said to me recently when offering a promotion and I told him I was unsure of my long term plans. But thanks again. I have decided that Vietnam it is for me - even though I am much more interested in Japan and its culture, given my short termism and my main desire being to gain teaching experience, Vietnam is the better bet and less of a financial risk. Back to top GlenskiJoined: 15 Jan 2003Posts: 12844Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:41 pm Post subject: Quote: Regarding the 5 months, I do see your point, the catch is I'm on a year round the world trip and want to spend 6 months working in Japan and 6 months in Mexico. A contract is a contract. Employers won't give a hoot what your traveling goals are like. I've spoken my peace on honoring them and not making the rest of us look bad. Quote: I should say though, that if someone in England were to say to me ' I want to apply for a job but know I will be leaving in 5 months' I'd say 'apply anyway and its not actually that dishonest' because who in all honesty can say what they will be doing in 5 months. You are applying western thinking to an eastern culture. Besides, if you stated this up front, you wouldn't get hired anyway. It's not dishonesty that would cause you to lose the job, but the honesty. They advertise for a year's contract, and they expect you to work it. So do the students that sign up for your classes. Best of luck and no hard feelings. Back to top AsiaTravellerJoined: 24 May 2004Posts: 908Location: Singapore, Mumbai, Penang, Denpasar, Berkeley Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:37 pm Post subject: aboylikedave is indeed behaving more like a boy than like a mature individual. If you're serious about teaching as a profession, then you won't plan your year like a tourist who says, "I want to spend x months here and y months there". Deliberately planning to leave a contract early is the action of a 'boy', albeit a 39-year-old boy. Back to top monkeyladyJoined: 21 Oct 2004Posts: 16 Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:13 am Post subject: Actually I disagree with the 1 year contract thing. I have been working in Japan for the past two years. From what I have seen, a lot of the big lang schools don't give a damn about their employees, partic Nova who almost expects people constantly leaving and coming. A lot of these big companies won't treat you with any loyalty...you are just an English teaching machine to them - and if they needed to cut staff would probably not give a damn about letting you go. I think making money in Japan is super easy compared to in other countries. I teach some private classes on top of my normal job, and get around 15 pounds (30 dollars) and hour for these, so it is easy to save a lot. I haven't met anyone who wasn;t able to save a nice amount in Japan! Back to top GlenskiJoined: 15 Jan 2003Posts: 12844Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:11 am Post subject: Quote: I haven't met anyone who wasn;t able to save a nice amount in Japan! But the original poster wanted to do that in six months. Not likely. Even getting private lessons takes time. Good luck in Vietnam. 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Safety Restraints - Driver Safety
The Role Of Safety Restraints
In a recent issue, we drove home the point about safety apparel for the driver. Now that your driver is wearing the right gear, it's time to make sure the restraints are in proper order to keep him or her firmly in place. In the past, many have given restraints little thought until a catastrophic accident occurs and the restraints did not perform as expected. Often, the restraints did the job for which they were designed, but age or improper use could have affected the outcome.
Safety belts could be considered one of the best replacement candidates in the driver's compartment. It is important to remember that these belts have an effective life span and are subject to faster deterioration than many other safety elements.
It is widely accepted that the safety belts need to be replaced no more than two years after the date of manufacture. "We suggest replacing the belts yearly," says Kevin Larkins of Speedway Motors. "You definitely need to inspect them after you have a situation like a wreck. If you need to replace them, then go ahead and do it. Make sure that the belt wasn't compromised by being torn."
There is also a quest for better materials in making safety belts. The primary materials are nylon and polyester, and Bob Postell of G-Force Racing Gear says they are continuing to use the nylon belts in their inventory. Testing has shown nylon to be sufficient for the sport, consistently meeting SFI safety standards testing. "The military has access to all the testing data and they are still using nylon restraints. Nylon does stretch a little more, about 16 to 20 percent with a 2,500-pound load. We're still looking at polyester. It retains much better, but it's putting a higher g-load on the body," says Postell.
Simpson vice president Doug Doolen says the company has found polyester to have a lower propensity to absorb water (such as sweat) and chemicals. New designs like the Simpson Platinum Series try to stop the whip effect, catching the driver in impact sooner and easing neck tension.
The material debate may be secondary to belt efficiency. In a motorsports application, proper mounting and installation are critical aspects to guarantee a part will do the job expected. Improper angles, insufficient mounting, or altered hardware may complicate the situation.
Quality belts have a "born-on" date listed on a tag, which is generally sewn into a shoulder belt. The tag shows the important date of manufacture with a punch-out showing the month and year. This is where the tech inspector is looking for his information.
There are some tracks and sanctions that specify belts can be as much as five years old before mandatory replacement. For the best possible results, replacements need to be more frequent.
"We know from the data that it's best to replace the belts more often than that," says Bob Stroud of Stroud Safety. "This is no conspiracy to sell belts. This is all about driver protection."
Another factor in belt efficiency is the elements, which have a direct effect on the life of the unit. "Ultraviolet light like sunlight is an enemy of the belts," adds Stroud. "If you don't think so, turn them over and look at the color. The sunny-side up is faded. You can take a set of belts, leave them in the sun for seven days, and you'll find there is a 40- to 50-percent loss in protection."
A new idea that could further enhance driver safety has come to stock car racing from open wheel racers. Drivers there utilize arm restraints for obvious reason. The idea is slowly catching on for others.
"The biggest thing I've noticed about arm restraints is that people wear them wrong," says Larkins, a racer himself. "Some wear them above the elbow; they're designed to be worn on the forearms."
Head-and-Neck Restraints
Helmets do their best to protect the head from impact. Recently, there has been a step that essentially merges the helmet with the restraints to create the "head-and-neck restraint."
These devices have actually existed for more than 10 years and have been seen in other forms of racing. Oval track racing has caught up to this innovation, and some major series now mandate a head-and-neck device to be worn. In principle, the helmet is mounted to a restraint that allows the driver's head to move in conjunction with the body, reducing whip and cutting down lateral movement.
The Safety Solutions (formerly Hutchens) device and the HANS system require an alteration to the helmet. D-rings must be attached to the helmet for the systems to be used. Attaching D-rings to the helmets must be done carefully and below the test line used in determining Snell safety standards (HANS requires the helmet be submitted while the Safety Solutions device has helmet drilling instructions). A new system, called the SRS-1, marketed by G-Force is a complete unit. "We don't offer it with a retrofit," says Postell. "The other helmet manufacturers don't want the liability, and I don't blame them."
The system is composed of a cable assembly fixed to mounting points on the helmet supports that is connected to a strap and Nomex cape with a reaction rod inside the cape. The strap is made of a patented material called "tailored elongation restraint material." This material is designed to restrain the neck and head in a certain position before the work of the reaction rod comes into play. The rod, made of a high-strength composite material, slides up the back under the belts and limits the movement of the head and neck.
"The idea is to hold the helmet and keep it from rotating," says Postell. "This lets the neck go in a natural line and reduces the neck strain loads." The SRS-1 system allows the driver easier egress when needing to quickly exit the car. "Once you undo the belts, you can get out," adds Postell.
The systems mentioned are highly recommended. There are others on the market, but drivers are advised to watch claims and supporting data to determine if the product will work for the need.
Often Overlooked: Window Nets
Racers have the opportunity to take their safety to the next level with a simple part, but few do it. The window net, which is an inexpensive investment, is seldom seen unless mandated.
The nets themselves will meet SFI standards (spec 27.1), but there is no set standard for the mounting kits. Cars are so different that a standard has not been developed that will suit all needs.
G-Force window nets are made of polyester material and come in ribbon and mesh styles. "Some drivers prefer the mesh because it's easier to see through," says Postell. "The nets definitely play a role in making the driver safer." At a recent dirt Late Model event, there were five cars in a field of over 70 that used a window net.
Get It Right
Common sense needs to be the determining factor in a driver's choice of safety gear. While you cannot create a situation that is absolutely safe, you can certainly take steps to cut down the risks. The responsibility does not rest with the racetrack or the sanction, but with the driver. You won't violate the rules if you replace belts before the suggested time: You will violate them by doing it after the belts have served their purpose. It all comes down to a safe environment; you should want nothing less.


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As a poverty economist, I know how difficult it is to forecast poverty numbers for even the next year. But, since the World Bank Group (WBG) announced the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, I have been projecting poverty numbers of some countries and regions for nearly two decades into the future. I could not help but ask myself "What am I doing this for?"
Forecasting versus Benchmarking
I looked for answers by reading recent papers on similar topics. Most seemed to be competing to prove that their projections were the most plausible. Some seemed better than others, but they were not convincing enough to erase my doubt. Before giving up the search, I reread Ravallion (2012, 2013) , and at last got an answer. In both papers Ravallion projected future poverty under the assumption that the developing world maintains its current pace of growth and poverty reduction. Although his methodology ensures that his projection predicts future poverty accurately if this assumption holds, it is still uncertain whether this assumption will hold and, consequently, whether his projection will prevail.
But, Ravallion does provide a benchmark. His projection tells us whether the developing world should focus on maintaining the status quo or whether it needs to accelerate its pace. Furthermore, by changing assumptions, differences between new projections and the benchmark can inform us of key bottlenecks. Hence, I became convinced that poverty projections are useful if conducted for benchmarking and policy simulations and, along with my colleagues, began working on our recently published paper, "Is Extreme Poverty Going to End?"
A New Benchmark
The usefulness of benchmarking is determined by the underlying assumptions. Ravallion called his assumptions "optimistic." Although I initially thought they looked reasonable, after studying them carefully, we realized some of his assumptions are indeed optimistic, possibly too optimistic.
Here are the three key assumptions of Ravallion's and of our paper for comparison:
The growth rate of 4.5 percent is not so unrealistic, but it is unrealistic to assume all countries grow at the same rate. According to PovcalNet, there have been large variations in the growth rates of developing countries. In fact, poorer countries in general have grown more slowly; therefore the assumption of a uniform growth rate for all countries is optimistic and likely overestimates the progress of poverty reduction. The other two assumptions also seemed optimistic; thus we replaced these with more realistic assumptions and created a new benchmark.
Key Results
Our benchmarking analysis suggests that if each country maintains its current pace of economic growth, population growth, and changes in distribution, then the global poverty rate will decline to 8.6 percent by 2030. This is significantly higher than the extreme poverty target of 3 percent. According to our decomposition analysis (figure 1), a key contributor to the high poverty projection is the large variation in growth rates of developing countries. Indeed, switching from the uniform growth assumption to the country-specific growth assumption raised the poverty projection by 5.7 percentage points. Introducing country-specific population growth rates and considering recent within-country inequality trends also raised the poverty projections, but the impacts were not as strong.
Figure 1: Decomposition Analysis
What Will It Take to End Extreme Poverty?
Two papers helped us organize our findings: first, Dollar, Kleineberg, and Kraay showed that the main driver of poverty reduction in the past has been growth, and that the contribution of reducing inequality has been minimal. Second, Basu clarified with an interesting hypothetical example that their findings explain well what happened, but do not necessarily indicate what is going to happen or what is needed to meet the extreme poverty target, and also argued for the importance of promoting shared prosperity.
Our findings are consistent with Basu and Dollar, Kleineberg, and Kraay. For example, like Dollar, Kleineberg, and Kraay, we found that within-country inequalities will have a minimum impact on future poverty if they maintain the trends of the last 10 years. But, like Basu, we also found that accelerating growth alone is not enough and that promoting the sharing of prosperity is necessary to meet the extreme poverty target. Indeed, our projection suggests that unless GDP per capita in the developing world grows at an unprecedented pace (around 10 percent) until 2030, the target cannot be achieved by accelerating growth alone. The only difference is that Basu focuses on the sharing of prosperity within a country, while our analysis suggests a slight extension of this concept—the sharing of prosperity across countries—is also important.
Our findings show interesting links among the WBG twin goals. It is clear that the extreme poverty target cannot be met without promoting the sharing of prosperity within and across countries. Also, meeting the extreme poverty target requires strengthening environmental and fiscal sustainability. Given the challenges in achieving the extreme poverty reduction goal, it is crucial to minimize countries' risks of facing an economic crisis or a natural disaster—and if either of these fates does occur, it is critical to help countries recover as quickly as possible.
I remain skeptical of the use of projections to forecast poverty into the distant future, but I am convinced that projections can be useful if they are used for benchmarking or policy simulations, as shown by our study. Our work on this topic will continue and any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Join the Conversation
Main obstacles seem to be conflict, uprisings, wars, natural disaster and climate change, all of which seem to be increasing and contribute to extreme poverty... How can governments better anticipate or manage such very difficult occurrences, so as to minimize their impact on poverty levels? Agree with author that within-country inequality should not be underestimated, especially when in most poor countries, 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. Relying on growth has not thus far and will probably never help alleviate extreme poverty...cash to the very poor might be the only way to help them lift themselves out of poverty (governments willing...).
A suggestion...It might be useful to evaluate when governments are truly committed to growth...The poorer the country, the more governments seem interested mainly in the survival of the elites and care little about the poor...and too often, the perception is that the survival of the elites hinges upon maintaining significant inequality gaps to fend off dissent from the poor... (the reality is that many people are interested in what happens to them and their families, in their own lifetime...) A subject that may deserves serious consideration. What are the incentives for governments to eradicate extreme poverty? Can some be devised and proposed to Governments? A lot of persuasion may be needed, too...mainly by people from the South, if they understand and care about extreme poverty.
I enjoyed this paper very much and believe it usefully adds to our stock of knowledge about what it takes to end extreme poverty. It is a powerful rejoinder to the erroneous claims I've heard from some quarters that the Bank's 3% global poverty target is all but guaranteed to be met and is therefore lacking in ambition.
A key question is how far business as usual will take us. This informs our judgment of how ambitious the 3% target is, or in other words, how much bending of the arc of history is required.
As your bar graph shows, the difference in results between Martin's benchmarking exercise (which results in the 3% target being met) and your benchmarking exercise (which results in a global poverty rate of 8.6% in 2030) is nearly all accounted for by your use of country-specific historical growth rates to project future growth.
Looking more closely, two regions - South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa - have experienced lagging (survey-based, per capita consumption) growth rates which account for most of the difference between the two exercises.
South Asia is dominated by India, but as you point out in the paper, slow consumption growth recorded between 2002 and 2010 can be explained by the 2009/10 survey occurring at the height of a severe drought. If the newer 2011/12 survey data point is used, South Asia looks more or less on course to meet the 3% goal and this change alone would bring your global benchmark down 1.3 percentage points to 7.3%.
As for Sub-Saharan Africa, you find that per capita consumption has only grown at 2.1 percent a year between 2002 and 2010. This may surprise some readers as 2002 is the year when Africa's economic growth took off. The truth, however, is we don't know nearly enough about what has happened to household consumption in this period. Less than half of the region's countries have undertaken two surveys - the minimum required to discern a trend - since the start of the century.
The reliance on historical survey-based growth estimates to project future growth is one of the virtues of your approach to benchmarking global poverty, as it avoids the messy process of combining irreconcilable data from national accounts and surveys. However, as the points above suggest, it is also a weakness given the paucity of surveys.
One separate point: while I agree that the way in which the benefits of growth are distributed will be crucial to meeting the 3% target, I disagree that past distributional trends at a country level are a meaningful guide to future trends. Forecasting distributional trends may be even harder than forecasting poverty.
Have we resolved the question as to what defines poverty?


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George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center
The George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center is the home of the Equine Studies Program at Lake Erie College
The George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center is the home of the Equine Studies Program at Lake Erie College. The Learning Center was completed in 2009, and provides state-of-the art classroom and laboratory space for the academic program in Equine Studies. Equine Studies faculty and staff offices are also located in the Learning Center. The Learning Center serves as a "home base" for Equine Studies students, with a computer lab and a very popular student lounge overlooking the main indoor arena. The Equestrian Center is located approximately 5 miles from the main campus. Shuttle service is provided for students Monday through Saturday during the school year.
The Equestrian Center houses all of the equestrian activities and facilities at Lake Erie College. The 86-acre facility offers permanent stabling for up to 95 horses in two barns, including school horses and student and faculty boarders. We also have temporary stabling for 39 additional horses during horse shows. Our turn-out facilities include grass and all-weather paddocks with electric and vinyl fences. A breeding laboratory in the school barn contains space and equipment for students to learn and practice all aspects of modern breeding management including collection of the school's stallions, the evaluation and processing of cooled semen, teasing mares and artificial insemination. Coursework and practical laboratory experience at the Equestrian Center provide opportunities for students to utilize industry-best practices in the day-to-day management of our equestrian facilities.
Our facilities provide many riding and showing venues for our students. Our 100' x 225' indoor arena with seating for 700 spectators has an attached 70' x 130' warm-up arena. We also have four outdoor rings including a lighted 225' x 100' enclosed outdoor arena, a hunt field with cross country jumps and a recently renovated multi-tier bank. Throughout the year, we host several dressage and hunter/jumper shows, as well as clinics with professional horsemen. Information regarding upcoming shows and clinics is available on our web site at www.lec.edu/equine-events.


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145cm x 183cmMade in Britain
100% Wool with 100% Polyester Back
Whether picnicking on the beach or enjoying Proms in the Park, our luxury picnic rug is the perfect companion. Sit comfortably on this pure wool blanket in rainbow striped herringbone, knowing you're protected from damp ground by the durable waterproof canvas backing. Finished with genuine leather carry straps. An inspired gift that will last a lifetime.
Do you want to give someone a special gift, but aren't sure which throw to choose? A British Blanket Company gift card is the perfect solution so they can have fun picking a present that's absolutely perfect from our extensive collection of pure wool throws, blankets and luxury picnic rugs. Denominations from £20 - £200 Delivered instantly via email, so ideal for last-minute presents Available to UK and international customers Emailed to the buyer. Forward on adding your own message Click here for full Gift Card Terms and Conditions.View full product details
145cm x 195cmMade in Ireland 100% WoolIf you'd like to add a bold splash of colour to your home, look no further! This throw is woven from warm grey wool with a bright rainbow stripe panel at both ends. Whether you choose this blanket for yourself or a gift, the cheerful rainbow colours are guaranteed to raise a smile. Made from cosy pure wool and finished with twisted tassels.FREE DELIVERY ON ALL UK ORDERSView full product details
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70cm x 183cmMade in Britain 100% WoolThis is a smaller version of our ever-popular rainbow herringbone blanket. The 70cm x 183cm size is perfect over your knees, around your shoulders on chilly evenings, or as a runner at the end of the bed. This stripey multicoloured throw is finished with a twisted tasselled edge.Also available as a larger full-size throw.FREE DELIVERY ON ALL UK ORDERSView full product details


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Metro P - My Right [User Submitted]
Metro P wears his hoodie in his latest video in
support of Trayvon Martin, the young teen shot in
Florida by a neighborhood watchmen because he had a
hooded sweater on in the rain and looked supicious.
Follow @MetroPmusic
Visit MetroPonline.com
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Kellogg's recent dumping of Michel Phelps as its spokesman had at least one unexpected consequence: The sudden appearance of about 3,800 pounds of cereal at the San Francisco Food Bank.
Kellogg's, one of the many corporations to tell Phelps to get out and stay out as their spokesman after his love of bongs and frat parties hit the media, had to have somewhere to get rid of all the cereal boxes adorned with his likeness. Nicaragua is already teeming with Patriots 19-0 t-shirts; it's not taking the Frosted Flakes as well.
So suddenly boxes and boxes of the stuff began showing up at the San Francisco food bank, as columnist C.W. Nevius reports in his Chronicle column today.
Kellogg's isn't actually saying that it dumped the cereal boxes on food banks — a spokesman for the cereal company did not return a call — but it is a logical conclusion. For starters, said San Francisco Food Bank executive director Paul Ash, it has become unusual for companies to offer cereal. "It's a very tough item to get," Ash said. "In the last six or eight years, it's become very hard to get ahold of."
So Phelps' indiscriminate Mary Jane toking is curbing the munchies in major metropolitan areas?
Few seem troubled by Phelps' marijuana problems. "The boxes have kind of flown off the shelves," Ash said.
We would advise quickly disposing of the free toy surprise: The plastic crack pipe that is also a whistle.
Photo: San Francisco Chronicle.
Phelps' Loss Is Food Banks' Gain [San Francisco Chronicle]


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Outfit Details:
convertible coat - c/o WiNK
Mink Pink dress - Gilt
bag - Rebecca Minkoff
hat - Goorin Bros
Jett Boots - c/o Modern Vice
When you think of cotton, you might think of warmer weather, but I've been living in this Wink cotton utility jacket all season long. It's the most practical thing I own. It has an optional faux fur vest that can be worn separate or as a lining for extra warmth, the bottom half of the body zips free to make it a cropped jacket, and the hood even comes off. I like that I can wear it with just about anything, and also that it's extremely warm. Here, I'm wearing it with a dress and my Modern Vice Jetts, but I also wore it with jeans and muddy boots for a day of volunteering. It got a little beat up that day, but I think it gives it a little more character. As much as I like statement pieces, I also like to keep things in my closet that can be worn over and over in completely different ways. I'd say this fits the bill.


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here), there was as outcry on the internet and the whole project was abruptly and conveniently swept under the carpet, Gibson acting as if it had never happened.
The reason for the outcry was two-fold. Many thought it was in poor taste, a crass attempt at cashing in on Hendrix's legacy. But many seemed shocked at the very idea of Gibson issuing a guitar so obviously based on a Fender design.
I was surprised at the fuss was being made over this secondary complaint, for this was nothing new. In the late 1980s, Epiphone - a subsiduary of Gibson - issued budget guitars based on the Stratocaster and Telecaster (which are NOT as "rare" as eBay sellers would have you believe). At around the same time Gibson themselves issued the US-1 and the U-2 - guitars firmly in the Superstrat mould.
Even before this in the mid to late 1960s, Gibson decided that they wanted a slice of Fender's success with their student models and from 1965 produced bolt-on neck guitar and bass models under the Kalamazoo brand (named after Gibson's original home of Kalamazoo, Michigan) which looked suspiciously similar to Fender's Mustang series. These were indeed budget instruments with bodies being made from Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF). It's not surprising that Gibson wanted a different brand name on them, which isn't to say they were bad as such, but that they didn't represent the usual high quality build that Gibson were known for.
In 1968 the design was changed so that the bodies took on more of a SG-inspired shape, but still used the same MDF construction with bolt-on Fender-esque neck. These were still being produced into the early 1970s.
Gibson continued to flirt with bolt-on neck designs throughout the 1970s and 80s. These included the S-1, the timber and composite resin bodied Sonex, the L6-S, the unexplainably weird-shaped Corvus, etc, but with the exception of the latter named these all had more of a familiar Gibson look to them and wouldn't be mistaken for a Fender or derivative thereof.
The above-pictured 1966 Kalamazoo KB bass in Las Vegas Blue is currently being offered for sale on eBay and looks to be in fine condition for a student model of its vintage. It had a starting bid of $0.99 and has been attracting a fair few bids. I don't think it's going to sell for big bucks but these Kalamazoos have certainly been generating a lot of interest in recent years.
With thanks to Colin Brown who suggested featuring this auction via our Facebook page.
G L Wilson
© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!


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Four courses designed for a general audience will be presented during the week-long Summer Seminar program at Hope College.
The seminars will run Monday-Friday, July 28-Aug 1. The courses are "Creative Writing: Sampler - Playing with Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Everything in Between!"; "Creative Writing: Memoir"; "Egg on Their Faces: Presidential Scandals in U.S. History"; and "Globalization and Poverty."
The seminars will meet concurrently from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the air-conditioned Van Zoeren Hall on the Hope campus. Refreshments will be provided during mid-morning breaks.
All of the courses are available for undergraduate credit, on an audit basis or for graduate credit, depending on the needs of the enrollee. Class sizes are limited to 15 students per course.
"Creative Writing: Sampler - Playing with Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Everything in Between!" is open to all levels of experience and will emphasize writing and related readings, and will feature a method for dealing with distraction and procrastination that can be used in generating all different forms of writing. The course will be taught by Dr. Heather Sellers, professor of English at Hope.
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I went to a sample sale. Oh Lawwwwwwwwwd. Do you know this dreamy sensation? I thought really great sample sales were limited really to NYC and LA but no, I got a little whisper of one and opted to make a visit. Upon arriving, there are scads of clothes on temporary racks which I, along with a litany of other women, began to pour through. Escada, Laundry, Nicole Miller, oh my. After bustling up my arms with some fab finds, I asked a woman who appeared to be working there if there was an opportunity to try anything on. She directed me to two double doors. On the other side of those doors was a giant mirror lined room that was soon packed with dozens of other women. Even though every other person present could care less, I didn't really feel like shedding down to my skivs standing in a space similar to an airplane hangar so I turned around as I thought, I will just buy them all and hope for the best. The only other sample sale I went to included this theory and let me assure you it is NOT a good theory.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Apparently, I will get naked for Prada
I went to a sample sale. Oh Lawwwwwwwwwd. Do you know this dreamy sensation? I thought really great sample sales were limited really to NYC and LA but no, I got a little whisper of one and opted to make a visit. Upon arriving, there are scads of clothes on temporary racks which I, along with a litany of other women, began to pour through. Escada, Laundry, Nicole Miller, oh my. After bustling up my arms with some fab finds, I asked a woman who appeared to be working there if there was an opportunity to try anything on. She directed me to two double doors. On the other side of those doors was a giant mirror lined room that was soon packed with dozens of other women. Even though every other person present could care less, I didn't really feel like shedding down to my skivs standing in a space similar to an airplane hangar so I turned around as I thought, I will just buy them all and hope for the best. The only other sample sale I went to included this theory and let me assure you it is NOT a good theory.
70 comments:
- Cara Smith said...
Hopefully everyone was wearing their skivies that day and not going comando.
- June 23, 2010 at 7:22 AM
- brokenteepee said...
Hey, a bargain will do things to people...
And do you really thing that in the fashion/bargain induced coma everyone was in that anyone was even looking at anything but the labels and green tags in their own arms?
I wonder what a sample sale in The Middle of Nowhere, Montana would look like.
My eyes! My eyes!
- June 23, 2010 at 7:23 AM
- Maria said...
Yes! Prada at 75% off? Hell yes, naked as the day I was born and a whole lot cleaner too!
- June 23, 2010 at 7:31 AM
- Joann Mannix said...
Oh, so would I, Baby, so would I.
My favorite boutique in town has some of the most exquisite things and I love shopping there, but it's crazy really. Their "dressing rooms" are kind of like that, one big curtained off area with wall to wall mirrors.
I don't know if it's a part of their hipness factor or what, but I absolutely hate it.
But, their things are lovely and one of a kind, so I guess I'll take it off, too, when the right fashion is calling my name.
- June 23, 2010 at 7:45 AM
- No Longer 25 said...
I remember a few shops with changing rooms like this in the UK from about 5years ago, it was fairly commen so we didn't really think about it but I've not seen any for a long time. That wasn't for prada either just your typical high street shop!
- June 23, 2010 at 7:47 AM
- Badass Geek said...
This sounds like the plot of a movie I watched once...
- June 23, 2010 at 7:49 AM
- Stacy Uncorked said...
Prada at 75% off? I think I'd shed clothes for that, too. ;)
- June 23, 2010 at 7:49 AM
- mermaid gallery said...
heh, who's looking...there are bargains to be had...we all enjoy a good deal and when the goods are designer...who cares about showing the girls?
- June 23, 2010 at 8:01 AM
- Splenderosa said...
OMG, you are hilarious on this one.
- June 23, 2010 at 8:09 AM
- Will Burke said...
For years, I've been trying to name the syndrome: "Freedom's just another word for nothing-left-to-lose." Thank you, and no wonder you have 1432 followers. I bow.
- June 23, 2010 at 8:12 AM
- Kir said...
It's official..you're my HERO.
this was the best post, the funniest thing I've read all week.
The "South Park" ..Horseshak OMG, I was laughing so hard my coworker asked if I was ok..."and why I was not working" ...hmmm???
LOVE IT !!!! and You!!!
- June 23, 2010 at 8:26 AM
- Brian Miller said...
haha. as far as naked in public...no comment...smiles.
- June 23, 2010 at 8:41 AM
- Ed said...
I have a whole bunch of laundry at my house.
Come on over.
You don't have to get naked, but I could use some help washing it.
- June 23, 2010 at 8:43 AM
- Secret Mom Thoughts said...
I'd get naked for a $12 Prada halter too.
- June 23, 2010 at 9:13 AM
- Sarah from 20somethingcupcakes said...
Oh yes - getting naked for a sample sale is totally necessary, and totally appropriate! One of the reasons I miss New York... xxSAS
- June 23, 2010 at 9:22 AM
- Unknown said...
You are too funny! I've seen dressing rooms like the one you described; they are not the most inviting places to try things on!
- June 23, 2010 at 9:41 AM
Ending with "hookers on Jersey Shore" made me pee a little. Ha!
I've been to a few spots with the communal dressing room. They would be a lot easier to take if the ladies from the nude beach were there but nooo, no saggies. All 20 year old hard bodies. Pure torment.
- June 23, 2010 at 9:43 AM
- Gigi said...
Hey, a woman's gotta have her standards. Those are some serious bargains. Any self-respecting shopper would've done the same.
- June 23, 2010 at 9:51 AM
After going to massage school, I'm ok with naked too. But the prancing around the gym locker room is still weird. And Sista, if you're getting a good deal, take it off!
- June 23, 2010 at 9:51 AM
- Andrea said...
Yeah, I would have done the same sister!
- June 23, 2010 at 10:20 AM
- SWS said...
My clothes would have been off in record time to try that stuff on FOR THOSE PRICES!!!
- June 23, 2010 at 10:24 AM
- Intense Guy said...
You ain't been to the Jersey Shore lately...
They haggle and haggle and haggle... and then they want to go someplace nice... takes 'em forever to get nake...
Oh.. I'm so far off the point here... sorry.
- June 23, 2010 at 10:30 AM
- Unknown said...
Sounds amazing - the sample sale, not you naked. Doesn't sound bad, don't get me wrong - just not my thing. Hell, at this point I'd get naked for some Limited or Ann Taylor. My standards are pretty low since my mortgage and student loans are pretty high. Anything that stretches out to the point that it's 10 sizes to big for you should be sent to me. Thanks.
- June 23, 2010 at 11:06 AM
- mCat said...
Oh how funny! At our gym, we have a bunch of old ladies who come do the water aerobics class at 8am in the morning. Those biddy's are FREE birds. Singing hymns in the shower, parading their 70 year old naked selves around and rubbing lotion on each others jiggly backs.
I throw up in my mouth every damn time
- June 23, 2010 at 11:17 AM
- Aunt Becky said...
I would TOTALLY get naked for Prada.
- June 23, 2010 at 11:23 AM
- Salt said...
I have never experienced the pure joy of attending a sample sale, but I'm quite sure that I'd drop trow for Dolce and Gabbana also.
A Prada halter for $12.50!? I just had to pick my jaw back up off my desk.
Oh and...there are SO MANY of those women at my gym. More power to them I guess, but I just don't get it.
- June 23, 2010 at 11:26 AM
- Grand Pooba said...
Bahahaha! $12.50 for Prada? I'd get naked too.
- June 23, 2010 at 11:41 AM
- Kristina P. said...
I will get naked for anything.
- June 23, 2010 at 11:44 AM
- Liz Mays said...
Shoot, I'd go straight up ho for $12.50!!
- June 23, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Imagine that top had been Old Navy! They'd have paid YOU to take it. Well done. :)
- June 23, 2010 at 12:16 PM
- Jules AF said...
I would too.
- June 23, 2010 at 12:23 PM
- Confessions of a Mother, Lawyer & Crazy Woman said...
Better than naked for Target. Be proud for having standards.
PS South Park is my new fave expression.
- June 23, 2010 at 12:43 PM
- Something Happened Somewhere Turning said...
That's just funny stuff.
- June 23, 2010 at 12:49 PM
- Ellen @ FirednFabulous said...
Oh lord, I just can't do sample sales! Too stressful. And while I have no problem with naked either, I tend to be modest in public places, like the gym locker room. It's not so much that I'm shy, it's more about the fact that I'm pretty certain no one else wants to witness my wobbly bits!
- June 23, 2010 at 1:05 PM
- Life Without Pink said...
OMG how awesome!! Why can't I find deals like that? $12.50, WOW!
- June 23, 2010 at 1:22 PM
- lisa and laura said...
$12.50 for Prada? Dude, I think I'd talk a long walk around the block for that. Sad, but true.
- June 23, 2010 at 1:26 PM
- Help! Mama Remote... said...
Rotfl!!!I'll get naked too. Might even pole dance on a rack! Purses, shoes, chunky jewelry! Oh MY!!!!
- June 23, 2010 at 1:53 PM
- Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...
Hon, I am stripping just reading this.
- June 23, 2010 at 1:55 PM
- Myya said...
Are you F.... Kidding Me is right! That is so cool. I've never been to a sample sale before either, but I think I'd run in naked if it meant buying some amazing pieces.
- June 23, 2010 at 2:52 PM
- Caty said...
wow, $12.50 for Prada!! You can't find those prices at the local walmart. Oh yeah, I'd get naked too (and I hate undressing in front of my best friends when we share a hotel room). congrats on the great buys!
- June 23, 2010 at 3:01 PM
- Taylor-Made Wife said...
You hussie! Just kidding. I would absolutely do the same thing. Im so jealous of your finds!
- June 23, 2010 at 3:03 PM
- One Photo said...
Oh my! I feel the same way as you but given an opportunity like that to buy designer clothes at knock-off crazy prices I'd be stripping off in no time too! But you didn't tell us - did you buy the top and all the other finds too?!?
- June 23, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Cool...So did the stuff look good? Did you buy them???
- June 23, 2010 at 3:52 PM
- Carma Sez said...
Hot dang! I'd get naked and roll around in mud for that if need be...
- June 23, 2010 at 4:41 PM
- Unknown said...
I'm a pretty modest gal but I'm pretty certain I would have done the same!
And anyone who is going to parade around naked needs to groom the lady parts. It's required!
- June 23, 2010 at 5:16 PM
- Mrs. M said...
I am so envious of your great finds!!
- June 23, 2010 at 5:20 PM
- Simply Mel {Reverie} said...
Prada could of had me naked at $50!
- June 23, 2010 at 6:36 PM
- Herding Cats said...
Naked for Prada? I can hardly blame you!
- June 23, 2010 at 6:40 PM
- Babes Mami said...
Who wouldn't get naked for 75% off!!!
- June 23, 2010 at 8:08 PM
we definitely learn something new about ourselves every day! LOL
- June 23, 2010 at 8:29 PM
- Emily said...
You better believe I would get naked for a deal like that!
- June 23, 2010 at 8:46 PM
- Jennifer said...
I know I'm "supposed" to care about those designer names, but really, I don't. Like, not at all. If I knew I could buy them for those prices? Sure, I'd shop. But I just plain don't believe in paying a lot more for basically the same thing. I like having a cute piece of clothing, but I could care less who's name is on the tag. Call me a freak. Whatever. Oh, and clearly I must be missing part of the X chromosome because I couldn't give two squats about purses either. Hmph. Guess I'm weird.
- June 23, 2010 at 9:46 PM
- wendy said...
This had me laughing right out loud.
I can do naked here on my ranch. No one lives close enough to see me. I often stand naked on more porch ....cooling myself for a moment with the ol'menopause thing going on. It is very liberating.
We have a hot tub and of course all I wear is my best smile.
BUT...I do not do naked around others. Seriously, I don't want to make people throw up.
I went to a hot springs last fall and some ladies in there were "naked" and I saw more bush then I needed too.....Hellllloooo.....Brazilian anyone.
funny post
- June 23, 2010 at 9:55 PM
- Little Ms J said...
Strip, sister. It's Prada. Love it.
I really wished I would've taken a picture of what I came across at the gym the other day. A wrinkly-butted (yes, it is a new term) Asian woman with a towel under her haunches. She was sitting at a vanity applying skin creams while I tried to figure out how I would get the image of her pocked and folded rear end out of my head.
- June 23, 2010 at 10:03 PM
- shortmama said...
We all have our kryptonite right?
- June 23, 2010 at 10:44 PM
- Joanna Jenkins said...
Sounds like some serious savings. I think even I'd get naked for 75% off ;-)
- June 23, 2010 at 11:37 PM
- Leah Rubin said...
Who could blame you? No way would or SHOULD we pass up such opportunities! Besides, you can't believe anyone was checking you out-- everyone was probably too focused on trying to find their own special treasures!
Nice going!
- June 23, 2010 at 11:47 PM
- The Random Blogette said...
I would've done the same thing! And, it's not like you are totally naked..unless you don't wear skivvies! LOL! I am jealous of the sample sale. Living in Toledo, we don't get anything like that.
- June 24, 2010 at 7:25 AM
- Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...
Getting neeked for that kind of a deal is good!
- June 24, 2010 at 11:54 AM
hilarious! I almost choked laughing so hard. My sister has your site bookmarked so I thought I would take a look. So glad I did. Cant wait to tell my friends about your blog.
- June 24, 2010 at 12:35 PM
- Intense Guy said...
I sat here most of today pondering what might happen if I bought a Prada anything and waved it around out front of the office building and shouted, "First naked lady gets it for free!!"
I decided it might even be worth the expense.
- June 24, 2010 at 3:51 PM
- leigh hewett said...
I just love you.
- June 24, 2010 at 10:32 PM
- Kate said...
I applaud you. It is important to have your priorities straight. And your seams. But mostly your priorities.
- June 24, 2010 at 11:14 PM
- Slamdunk said...
Glad to see you flourish on a journey of self-exploration... I mean nice steal on the shopping venture.
- June 24, 2010 at 11:37 PM
- Unknown said...
for 75% off, I probably would get neked too!
- June 25, 2010 at 8:44 AM
- Bumpkin on a Swing said...
I would strip down to my skivies for $12.50 Prada in a Mississippi Bumpkin second. One Mississippi, fashion orgasm regarding Prada for such a fabulous price.........Doesn't take much for us Bumpkins ya know.
I am here linking this post up for Friday Favorites leave you with a laugh.
- June 25, 2010 at 11:24 AM
- A.T. Post said...
Another humorous romp, Jenny. Good thing for me I've got a passion for outerwear, so the most I ever have to take off is my coat whenever I'm at a clothing sale. Still, you've got to take clothes off before you put 'em on, I always say.
- June 25, 2010 at 2:54 PM
- HalfAsstic.com said...
Oh, I can SO relate! A good sale is the biggest rush in life for me! Well... almost! ;-)
- June 26, 2010 at 3:04 PM
- Holly Lefevre said...
Oh yeah, I have been to those sample sales, and I have seen people bare it all for less than Prada...you were lucky!
- June 27, 2010 at 4:03 AM
So funny! And Prada? For 12.50? Sign me up.
- June 27, 2010 at 6:33 AM


text:
Re: Mathematica: Long divison for polynomials
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg84079] Re: Mathematica: Long divison for polynomials
- From: David Reiss <dbreiss at gmail.com>
- Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2007 06:37:18 -0500 (EST)
- References: <email@example.com> <firstname.lastname@example.com>
As yet another semi-frequent contributor to this group I'd like to point out the following option that I often exercise. When I answer a question by a Mathematica user who appears to need the answer quickly I simply CC the answer to him or her as well. Then, independent of the Moderation, the (hopefully) useful content of what I have to say gets to the questioner promptly and is shared more universally when it appears in the group... --David On Dec 7, 7:01 am, DrMajorBob <drmajor... at bigfoot.com> wrote: > I agree with Daniel completely and, in addition, I'll just point out that > quite a few individuals like myself donate many hours & much energy > answering questions on Mathgroup, for absolutely no compensation but the > chance to learn something in the process and the fun of doing so. > > It wouldn't be fun to see half the messages revolve around debating > (arguing incessantly, really) which CAS is best. I've seen and been a > participant in similar time-waster threads off-line, and I'm quite certain > that we're very fortunate (thanks to Steve Christensen) not to have such > things constantly polluting, even dominating, the mailings. > > I do sometimes wonder what other CASs do differently, but really, I don't > have time to worry about it, here or anywhere else. > > Bobby > > On Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:12:14 -0600, Daniel Lichtblau <d... at wolfram.com> > wrote: > > > Caren Balea wrote: > >> Thank you for your answers! > > >> As the reply in the newsgroup is quite slow I did try a different > >> newsgroup > >> and receive an answer right after 21 minutes (rather than to have to > >> wait > >> a whole day in this newsgroup): > > >>http://groups.google.it/group/sci.math.symbolic/browse_thread/thread/ > > bd8e9a5475af5fe9?hl=it > > > > > > >> There is also an interesting discussion about how meaningful it is > >> to have a moderation in this particular newsgroup. > > >> Frankly, I agree with what they are saying. > >> I'm curious though whether my post is going to be displayed or not. > > >> [I am offering a totally free service to those who want to use it. > >> You should probably go elsewhere if it does not meet your needs. > >> -- Moderator] > > > There has been substantial commentary in sci.math.symbolic, going back > > several years, over the various ups and downs of having a moderated > > forum comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica. Here is a URL to a reply I made in > > one such thread, a few months ago. > > >http://groups.google.com/group/sci.math.symbolic/browse_frm/thread/30... > > > I've had some involvement with this since the beginning so I think I can > > clarify and address a few issues. Bear in mind that I am replying as one > > who sometimes writes to the forum; neither this reply, nor other posts > > to the group, are part of my official job responsibilities. > > > First, the group began life, and remains, as a moderated mailing list > > forum known as MathGroup. It was extended to a Usenet group around 12-13 > > years ago. I think this was partly in response to a need to remove the > > many Mathematica-centric posts from sci.math.symbolic. And also there > > was a desire to extend the mailing list reach to more people for whom it > > was an appropriate venue, but who might not otherwise find it. > > > So what are the gripes about this moderated group? They fall into a few > > categories. > > > (1) Turnaround time. It takes a day or so for a post to appear. So what > > are the disadvantages to the relatively slow turnaround? One is that > > feedback to the person posing questions is slow. This, I concede, is a > > very real drawback. But short of cloning the moderator, I don't see a > > good way around it. Suffice it to say, the advantages to having a > > moderator (or at least to having the one we have), in my opinion, far > > outweigh this. More below. > > > (2) Another perceived drawback to the turnaround time is replication of > > effort in responses. I've seen this issue raised but frankly I think it > > is mostly baloney. The vast majority of responders know good and well > > that others are also likely to respond, and they do so anyway. The fact > > is, Mathematica is a complex program, and often there are multiple ways > > to achieve a stated goal. Responders know this and oftentimes "best > > practice", or several reasonable forms thereof, emerge in the > > multiplicity of responses. About the only actual drawback is that some > > responders might delay an extra day to see if others answer first, and > > this can prolong the process per (1) above. > > > (3) There has been persistent griping about the moderation amounting to > > "censorship". Depending on how you define the terms, I suppose perhaps > > this can be a valid sort of remark. But the upshot is that whether you > > call it moderating or censorship, the moderator keeps a huge amount of > > garbage out of the group. If you have not seen similar groups > > effectively crippled by rants, be happy. Likewise with spam. Suffice it > > to say that these problems have arisen and persisted for long stretches > > of time. But never, absolutely never, has such a fate befallen > > comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica. The group has remained consistently > > useable, with outages only in rare times (like two or three over a > > period of a dozen years) when the moderator's systems or ISP have > > suffered grievous damage. > > > (4) One particular censorship gripe concerns the rule against mention of > > competing programs. I myself am a bit sympathetic to this one; if there > > were a single restriction I could change, this would be it. That said, I > > think that unrestricted allowance of such could pose a problem. That is, > > we might see the sort of degeneration into rants ("Why can't Mathematica > > do X? Program MZZZ does it?" followed, a day later, by "Why can't > > Mathematica do Y?..."). In past I've seen at least some tendency toward > > such posts, and it is generally thwarted by this restriction, which > > means the restriction has some merit. Also it helps to keep the focus on > > Mathematica per se, which is what the group is all about. > > > As to what are the best places to take Mathematica related questions, > > answers will vary and to some extent it can depend on what you need. > > MathGroup aka comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica remains a compelling venue > > when the one day turnaround is acceptable, and high quality of response > > is needed. It is the forum with the most expertise. I think this is in > > large part because the moderator keeps out garbage, thus making the > > signal-to-noise ration quite high. Were it to degenerate to some of the > > things I have seen, I doubt most of us would maintain interest for long. > > So yeah, the turnaround time is an issue, but there are advantages to > > the moderating that, for myself at least, far outweigh this drawback. > > > Daniel Lichtblau > > Wolfram Research > > -- > > DrMajor... at bigfoot.com