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Speaking to steel workers two weeks ago, President Barack Obama asserted that ingenuity and adaptability are driving a resurgence in American manufacturing.
"We haven't just been recovering from a crisis. What we've been trying to do is rebuild a new foundation for growth and prosperity to protect ourselves from future crises." he said.
Gill Metal Fab Inc. (GMF) is celebrating 25 years as a "Made-in-America" business and reflects the president's vision for industry.
The Brockton, Mass., company started as a job shop house with a minimal amount of money and machinery, said owner Paul Gill. It performed contract jobs, such as welding frames to sheet metal. About 10 years into business, Gill launched ModuLine aluminum cabinets and became a multi-million dollar success.
As major corporations began to unravel during the recession, Gill and his staff had to make sacrifices to keep the company afloat.
"We all took concessions, all the way to the owners," Gill said. "We all took less pay, worked harder and survived through it."
A Made-in-USA business philosophy helped the company maintain success as the rest of the country struggled, he said.
"We treat both small and large customers equally, so we tend to stay busy during these short flow periods that everybody else has," he said.
The company's clients now include the military and racing industries. It also landed a government contract to service hazmat and bomb squad vehicles.
Gill and foreman Jim West stress that Made in America is more than a slogan.
"I see the quality as better, the delivery is better, and the personal service is definitely better here, and both me and Jim have a lot of integrity. Our word is our word, and that's part of what you get in America," Gill said.
Gill and West are graduates of vocational school and agree that a key to success in business is having a supportive workforce, even if staffing that workforce poses a challenge. The company is currently looking for press brake mechanics, people for layout and CNC engineering, and sales employees who are mechanically trained.
"We are always looking for skilled labor," Gill said. "We don't just put people on the phone who can talk, they actually have to know the product and we put them in the shop."
While the company is willing to train new workers, recruiting skilled workers can be a daunting challenge for small and mid-sized businesses, said Gill, who employs 30 people.
Manufacturers report an aging workforce, and surveys reveal that parents are more likely to encourage their children to go to college than enter vocational schools. More than half of students in a recent poll said they have little or no interest in entering the manufacturing field.
"I really think America (and it comes from the top) needs to promote craftsmanship and people who are talented at jobs like that," Gill said. "You know, it's not all [based on] college, and I'm not anti-college, because I've had come college training experience myself."
West, who manages the shop floor, added: "The schools aren't producing the education that we need for the employees we're looking for, at least not to the point that we need."
Gill and West point to Gill's son Matthew as a manufacturing-career success story. As a teenager, Matthew Gill progressed from driving a forklift to on-the-job training in such skills as CNC layout and laser programming. He now works alongside West as a head foreman.
"I always say that I got my education but I got paid doing it," said Gill Sr., who got his start as a welder. "And that's what happens in a place like this. You can move your way up fast."
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Sony NEX-F3 Review
Popular Cameras
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I love the Sony NEX-7, i'm considering on upgrading to this!
If you have the nex-7 getting the f3 would be a downgrade
like Thomas said I cant believe that a student able to earn $5252 in a few weeks on the computer. did you look at this site link(Click on menu Home more information) http://goo.gl/s2Ldc
I think Sony have now released more NEX bodies than lenses. And only 2 decent lenses too. What a shame.
Not only has Sony released more lenses than bodies, they are almost all of good quality. And there are more still on their way.
What a shame that people are still misinformed about the best mirrorless system available today.
@ Dave the 50 and 24 are good glass. the rest are below average to poor. the 18-200 is pretty good for an 18-200 but average by any other standard; it's a super zoom. You can find many tests online confirming this. Sony have released 3 nex3 bodies, iirc 2 or 3 nex5 bodies and 1 nex7. They have released 7 lenses - 16, 24, 30, 50, 18-55, 55-210, 18-200. It is widely joked that nex is an interchangeable camera, not interchangeable lens, system. it's a shame, because the bodies are decent.
With the exception of the 16mm and the 30mm, all Sony NEX lenses are widely regarded as at least as good as their equivalents for other mounts. And the 24mm and the 50mm are exceptional.
Do they have to make more lenses? They sure do, but don't diminish their current line-up, because you favourite focallength-price-quality combination is not available yet.
Photographers need to be able to keep perspective.
Please don't use the phrase "retro charm" again - maybe the phrase unctuously derivative" could replace it.
Sadly the minimal aspect of the NEX line - best exemplified by the 5 and 5N - is gone. Just add a mirror and be done with it.
But I'm not totally bitter. The NEXs (NEXi?) have great sensors and produce wonderful images. They are much better than the m4/3 and better than the canon aps. The sensor is also used by Nikon for their 16mpx aps dslrs and by pentax.
I have the 5n and love it. If you set the custom functions properly you can work quickly. If you have to dip into the menu system sayonara mon amour.
The camera are smaller than you think and light . Build quality is very high. If sony lowered the price on accessories by about 25% they'd do very well indeed.
The price is a deterrent. I rather buy a Canon DSLR for this.
Sorry Sony, your cameras are too expensive.
I got this camera a few months ago and I've gotta say this camera is amazing. I got many compliments on this camera. It takes super clear photos and makes your skin look really smooth. Worth the buy! :)
I need some advice! Cannot decide which camera to go with the Sony nex-f3 or the Samsung nx1000? Both have good reviews the lack of built in flash bothers me on the Samsung but it and its lenses are cheaper…, am I right in thinking the Sony has more in the way of creative effects? Any advice gratefully received!
I Love this camera. I wanted something easy to use for my kitchen business. This nex f3 takes Amazing extra-sharp pictures even in low light without noise. Flash is barely even needed and the adjuster for that is so easy to use. I love that there's a pop-up available and can attach a hot shoe too, which attaches very securely. Auto works so surprisingly well and yet it has the ability to adjust everything manually too (when I am ready to learn more about that). I can't believe I got this quality without having to buy a dslr. Too many awesome qualities to mention. Excellent outdoor pics as well. Having lots of fun with it.
I have had this camera for some months now, my wife and I did buy it to take photos of our dogs without having to care too much about the price of it. Must say that my wife love the inteligent modes as she could not care about taking time to adjust settings.
(still must admit that the manual-mode gets the best pictures)
Uses it mostly outisde and it takes really good pictures, only thing I need to get now is a better lens.
I doubt that anyone are going to comment more here but, is there any cheap lens reccomended for multipurpose?
I posted above previously. Now that I've had the camera a while, I'm having a little trouble getting the crisp pictures I need for my business. I do see some noise indoors and using the flash attachment on top does help, but I haven't had the time to meet with someone more than once for a little lesson and I can see I need to. The person I met with was really impressed with the camera though but for an amateur who needs perfect pictures I do need to be familiar with how to make the adjustments. As for outdoor pictures, I can't see the screen in the sun.
Entry Tags
hd video, hd, 3 inch LCD, 16 megapixel, compact system camera, hdmi, sony, mirrorless, 1080i, tilting, 25p, 50i, 5.5fps, Sony NEX-F3, nex f3, nexf3, nex-f3, Sony NEX-F3 Review

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, I was on facebook and one of those "many who like blank like blank" ads was showing. This one said: Megan fox. Many who like Duct Tape like this. Alright facebook. I'm on to you. MLIA.
» "Facebook" sues "Teachbook," with Zuckerberg saying that the online community for teachers was "misappropriating the distinctive BOOK portion of Facebook's trademark." Zuckerberg would also like people to stop using the words "cookbook," "BlackBook," "The Good Book," "The Jungle Book" and "Book 'em, Dan-O."
(via inothernews)
Get over yourself Zuckerberg..
Family Secrets
What are your thoughts on blogging openly about your family? My family despises it. Yet, as long as it's not on my Facebook or Twitter, they will not now until I tell them or link publicly to my Tumblr. Or they happen to find it.
I'm a big fan of honesty. And venting. I'm also a bit of a writer so it's hard not to write. They say it's inappropriate to divulge intimate things about the family. I think they shouldn't do things that they're ashamed by. If they treated me equally and fairly, then I'd have nothing to bitch about.
So, what do the tumblrs think?
Honesty is awesome and too bad the world doesn't encourage it. My best way around all of that is to blog anonymously. Plus, my dad always said, "be careful what you do now because you never know who you will become."
I think I'm in love
with Northwestern. xD I just got facebook attacked by NU students introducing themselves to me (because I'm an incoming freshman and what not).
I have my biggest smile on right now. Thanks for the extra warm welcome to the coldest place I have ever been. ^_^
Krishni =D
White House Seat Results: I love laughing =]
Gary Wagner I agree with Debbie Trolsen- retire her chair. With one less chair, they could play a correspondant's musical chairs. Everybody gets a different seat every day.
Matt Harper Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?
Todd Bloom I bet it's like high school. You put the daft kid in front so he thinks he's important. I bet next the White House will assign Fox "important jobs" that "no one else can do better" like cleaning the blackboard erasers.
David Thaler Oh what's everybody gettin' so excited about? Don't you know that the law requires you to yield front seats to the elderly and disabled?
Kenneth DuPuis Boo, hiss. «LMAO.»
Laughter is a wonderful thing. More here.
And people too.
Chat on FB about Fox's "win" over NPR
- Jeffery Lindberg: The seating assignment was not made by the President or his staff, but rather by the independent White House Correspondents' Association - an organization directed by the media. (www.whca.net)
- Krishni Metivier: Does this tell us what the majority of the US really wants or which pockets in the US are deeper? Or, as one, are they both? Either way, I'm disappointed on all levels..
- Dan Caugherty: Now now, it makes sense for Fox to get that seat. Think of their viewers. Somebody after all has to translate official WH statements from English to Stupid.
- Ian Bortolotti: Why does Fox News need a seat at all? Can't they just make it up as they go along, as usual? Think of all the money they could save if they let their reporters go and just "assumed" the news.
- El Capitan Stanley: Fox isn't even a news organization.
- Eva Doblas: As a teacher, I would have done the same. You know, to help with the spelling, grammar and content of their news...and to help them focus and behave.
I know I'm not the only one
I put my Facebook link on my tumblr, then when people I don't know try to add me I say, "I don't know you" and ignore it.
I'm working against myself. Brilliant.
PLUS, when I see others' Facebook links on their tumblrs, I don't try to add them because I just think they probably do the same exact thing.
What madness.
I often visit Twitter and Facebook and think, "If I were a stalker, you would be an unbelievably easy target."
Then I quickly delete my geotweets.
Sad News =[
For anyone who sees this, please vote. Takes 10 seconds to create a change.
CTC International has been bumped out of the top 200 on Chase Community Giving contest on Facebook. We need your help and all of your friends help.
Please Please Please vote and ask your friends to vote for CTC International. Make sure to "like" before voting so that it count.
Please repost and vote by July 12.
Thank you.
A Little Birdie Told Me
Chit chat about me on the internet. *o* When did this start? lol.
RT @monicaeeek: Fab new video made for @CTCKENYA by Krishni, one of the interns! Check it out and then feel super inclined to vote! http …


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Classic long underwear crew neck shirt made from finest quality merino wool by Sunspel.
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Debbie Wurtzel ReviewsDebbie WurtzelReal Estate Professional (20 years experience)
6 Recent Sales (last 12 months)
Buyer's Agent, Listing Agent, Relocation, Consulting
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07/24/2012 - user5550726
Bought a home in 2009.
Mrs. Wurtzel went above and beyond with helping us find exactly what we wanted. She was always kind and professional. She spent a lot of time and energy helping us understand everything that was new and confusing, and with her guidance we survived buying our first home. We are very grateful for all the help she gave us. I don't feel like it could have been a better experience. Thank you.
Response from Debbie
05/11/2012 - user2436872
Sold a Single Family home in 2012 for approximately $125K in Leesburg, IN.
We worked with Deb 14 years ago when we bought our house and she has maintained contact over that period. She was our only choice when we decided to list the house. Thanks to Deb's work the house was sold in a much quicker time than most other houses in the area and for a larger percentage of the listing price. We were extremely happy with the results.
Response from Debbie
05/11/2012 - user8601539
Bought a home in 2007.
debbie was my realitor when i was looking for a lake house. she was excellent. any questions i had she answered them or found the answers at once. always responded to my phone calls and e-mail as quickly as possible. she was simply the best. i really can't say enough good things about debbie. good luck debbie.
Response from Debbie
05/10/2012 - user0144427
Bought a Single Family home in 2008 for approximately $225K in Warsaw, IN.
Simply stated: Debbie goes above and beyond... always! We asked Debbie to help us find a home that would meet our needs and dreams and she did an excellent job of taking care of us. We have recommended her several timse since and wouldn't hesitate to keep doing so. Thank you, Debbie!
Response from Debbie
05/09/2012 - user159801
Showed home in 2011 in Sevastopol, IN 46510.
Deb is friendly, easy to work with, and patient. She has a lot of experience and knows her market. She has many contacts and if you want suggestions she offers her opinion but is not pushy. I enjoyed my experience working with her as a agent.
Response from Debbie
05/09/2012 - user1393188
Bought a Single Family home in 2009 for approximately $150K in Milford, IN.
I really liked working with Deb, I would refer her whenever anyone asks about selling or buying a home. She was wonderful when we bought our home. Thank you Deb for a great job.
Response from Debbie
05/09/2012 - user919044
Listed, but didn't sell my Single Family home in 2011 in Leesburg, IN.
We have our house listed with Deb. She is very detail oriented. She has given us ideas to help our house be the best it can be and also names of people to help us do that. Also, she has always taken the time to address any concerns we have. Whenever we want to go look at a property she has set that up for us and taken us there. The home has not sold yet, but I look forward to seeing her negotiations skills at that time and when it is time for us to purchase a new home.
Response from Debbie
05/09/2012 - user257814
Bought a home in 2011.
As an overseas buyer I experienced very difficult hurdles and complications due to the International finance crisis. Deb was very patient and supportive throughout the process. If it was not for Deb I would not of been able to purchase my home. I was very impessed with her knowledge and she seemed to know about every home in the area I was looking. Deb recently helped me buy another property which thankfully was more straight forward. She is a pleasure to deal with and I would have no hesitation in recommending her to any buyer or vendor.
Response from Debbie


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Spare a Thought For the Poor Town Guards
Attending a gaming convention is a lot like being a town guard in a fantasy RPG or mediaeval settlement. You spend a lot of the day on your feet, possibly wearing a cumbersome outfit, and at the end of the day you go back to a cramped room with your comrades.
Let me tell you, spending three days at Anime Central dressed as a Whiterun town guard from the game Skyrim has given me a new appreciation for how careless we Dungeons & Dragons players are when we design characters' outfits.
1. You can't see crap out of a face-concealing visor
I opted to do without the Whiterun guard's iconic face-concealing helmet, since it would limit visibility of the convention stalls and events. Just ask anyone who goes dressed as a Power Ranger.
But the real town guards also need good visibility more than protection. As one says, "I mainly deal with petty thievery and drunken brawls. It's been too long since we've had a good bandit raid."
The helmet makes sense if you're marching into battle in immobile formation. When chasing a thief at night, it's suddenly a real hindrance.
2. Greaves gradually sap stamina
The Whiterun town guards wear only light fur armour on the lower legs. That's sensible, because according to modern research into plate armour, heavy lower-leg armour costs the wearer a lot in stamina as he moves.
Both guards and convention-goers do a lot of marching. If you're wearing something heavy on your lower legs, it's going to cost more energy to swing them.
3. Cloth does not fold that way
The most difficult part of recreating the Whiterun guard's uniform was the town's yellow cloth tabard. It looks simple, but it was impossible to make it fold right.
It bunches up and doesn't sit right. It slides around even with the belts holding it in place, and when you sit down the cloth and belts bunch up. It's difficult to make sure the front and the back of the tabard are the same length, like tying a necktie.
I consulted the live action Skyrim trailer to see how their costume department handled the tabards on similarly-dressed Stormcloak soldiers. It turns out even their tabards bunch up and don't sit right. The lesson here is that what works for an artist or game designer doesn't always go in real life.
4. Shields are heavy
Like the greaves that cover the legs, shields worn on the forearm apply considerable weight and tire the user more as the arm is swung.
I decided to forgo the shield with my outfit, but it would be reasonable for a town guard to sling the shield across his back when not in use. It guards against backstabs and makes the shield easier to carry by spreading the weight across the shoulders like a backpack.
5. Normal citizens don't walk around in armour all the time
It makes sense for town guards to wear armour, in case the town is attacked or they have to apprehend an armed criminal.
But why does every other male citizen in Whiterun walk around in iron breastplate?
Jon Battle-Born, son of a local warlord, hangs around town in iron armour like it's normal clothing. Sinmir, a warrior in the tavern, complains about the security in Whiterun as he drinks mead in full breastplate armour and a horned helmet. Even the town blacksmith's husband tends his shop in a suit of armour, as if he expects to be robbed at any moment.
Anyone who has worn armour will tell you that it's not exactly casual wear. At the absurd end of the scale is an online game like Runescape where everyone wears full plate armour at the marketplace, or when fishing, or even while sleeping.
Improve your character's outfit realism
People don't wear pieces of armour without a reason. Heavy armour is only worn when protection is a necessity, and people only make sacrifices like poor visibility and stamina in situations where those things are less important. They certainly don't sleep in it.
Dungeon Masters, writers and artists: Spare a thought for your poor town guards when you pick their uniform.
Comments (1)
Three cheers for town guards!
It's a tragic lot, indeed, being a town guard. For many a guard, there only purpose in fantasy is to die at the hand of hero or villan when the story suits it. They are, along with "Commoner" the most unappreciated of the NPC's that live in our fantasy worlds. They might not seem like much at first glance, but let's give them a second look.
In realistic world, these guys are what keep the law and order. While they may vary as much as modern police in their effectiveness, they are, nonetheless, men taking a thankless job with high risks and, often, low pay.
If you run a world like mine, these guys are people, too. I might not have names for all of them, but there's a table standing by in the event a PC asks. If your aim is immersion, remind your players that guards had families and friends, too. Make their deaths mentionable, not just "he died, loot?".
Lastly, give them some credit in the experience department. Not all should be dumb brutes. Town guards should be streetwise in their own home. I can also imagine that they wouldn't be guards long if they were incompetent in every aspect.
Show the guards some love, DM's and players, they might not be heroes like PCs, but they're heroes in their own right.
Comments for this article are closed.


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Erik Rudolph Arnebold was arrested and charged with with 24 counts of possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
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|New Comics Day 8.13.14
|Written by Jen Vaughn | Filed under New Comics Day, Jim Woodring
|13 Aug 2014 1:15 PM
by Jim Woodring
224-page black & white/color 7.75" x 11" hardcover • $29.99
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New Releases
This week's comic shop shipment is slated to include the following new titles. Read on to see what comics-blog commentators and web-savvy comic shops are saying about them (more to be added as they appear), check out our previews at the links, and contact your local shop to confirm availability.
by Jim Woodring
224-page black & white/color 7.75" x 11" hardcover • $29.99
"Jim Woodring is one of our greatest cartoonists, and these are some of his greatest comics. There are two or three potential top 25 all-time comics shorts in here." -Tom Spurgeon, Comics Reporter
"Fantagraphics hardcover collection of Jim Woodring's personal, allegorical and autobiographical comics from the '80s & '90s, works which proved very mind-expanding to me, personally, through their treatment of conscious and subconscious realities as equally pertinent to funnybook memoir. Some of them are also really, REALLY funny - proper 'alternative comics'-era classics in here!" –Joe McCulloch, The Comics Journal
Just arrived and shipping now from our mail-order department:
Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2: 1981-1983
112-page full color 9" x 13" softcover • $27.99
Book 2 covers the early years of 1981-1983, when Hip Hop has made a big transition from the parks and rec rooms to downtown clubs and vinyl records. The performers make moves to separate themselves from the paying customers by dressing more and more flamboyantly until a young group called RUN-DMC comes on the scene to take things back to the streets. This volume covers hits like Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock," Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message," and the movie Wild Style, and introduces superstars like NWA, The Beastie Boys, Doug E Fresh, KRS One, ICE T, and early Public Enemy. Cameos by Dolemite, LL Cool J, Notorious BIG, and New Kids on the Block(?!)! Featuring an introduction by Wild Style director Charlie Ahearn.
Just arrived and shipping now from our mail-order department:
212-page full color 6" x 8.75" hardcover • $29.99
Megg is a depressed, drug-addicted witch. Mogg is her black cat. Their friend, Owl, is an anthropomorphized owl. They hang out a lot with Werewolf Jones. This may sound like a pure stoner comedy, but it transcends the genre: these characters struggle unsuccessfully to come to grips with their depression, drug use, sexuality, poverty, lack of work, lack of ambition, and their complex feelings about each other in ways that have made Megg and Mogg sensations on Hanselmann's Girl Mountain Tumblr. This is the first collection of Hanselmann's work, freed from its cumbersome Internet prison, and sure to be one of the most talked about graphic novels of 2014, featuring all of the "classic" Megg and Mogg episodes from the past five years as well as over 70 pages of all-new material.
Waiting for the Great Pumpkin
64-page color 5.75" x 5.75" hardcover • $9.99
Ships in: September 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now
Linus and his wait for the Great Pumpkin have been a pop culture touchstone for nearly 50 years thanks to the animated television special ("I got a rock"), and it all started in the classic Peanuts strips from 1959-1962 collected in this affordable, fun-sized gift book. Linus's belief and proselytizing that on Halloween, the Great Pumpkin rises from the pumpkin patch and travels the world bringing presents to good little girls and boys are laughed at by Charlie Brown, derided by his sister Lucy, met with skepticism by baby Sally, and even causes "denominational squabbling" over who's better, the Great Pumpkin or Santa Claus. Year after year, Linus faces his persecution and inevitable disappointment with either blind faith or Quixotic perseverance. Charles M. Schulz's homage to the power of idealism and belief makes these some of the most beloved comic strips of all time.
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Friday, August 15th
If you're in Athens, GA (or feel like taking a vacation) come celebrate an artist of immeasurable talent with the book release party for the acclaimed work, How to be Happy! From 4-6 pm on Friday the 15th, at Bizarro-Wuxtry Comics, Toys, & Records.
Whimsical, sensitive, and earthly real, cartoonist, Eleanor Davis achieves a level of quiet poignancy throughout this collection of comics and short stories that leaves the reader wondering, "how did she know?".
Pick up one of the most important books of the year, and head over to Bizarro-Wuxtry to say "Hi!" and other pleasantries.
This week's summery, sun-warmed collection of Online Commentaries and Diversions:
Review: Unlovable Vol. 3 by Esther Pearl Watson
"Though Watson illustrates Tammy's life in excruciating, embarrassing detail to often-hilarious effect, her clear affection and empathy for her subject shines through. She universalizes Tammy's experiences, taking us back to relive our own tortured, giddy, deadly serious, horny, boring, and horribly self-conscious teenage years." – Robert Kirby, The Comics Journal
Review: Twelve Gems by Lane Milburn
"This is exactly what summer blockbusters should be, only Milburn's is a singular vision. He exploits clichés by embracing them, and he busily captures hyperspace hilarity, while the black and white pages never feel overwhelmed by the dark backdrops or Milburn's detailed designs." – Alex Carr, Broken Frontier
Review: It Was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi
"Tardi is unremitting in his focus on the small, human details of the catastrophe—not just the look of uniforms and weaponry, but the way one soldier advances in an awkward, stiff-armed posture, 'protecting my belly with the butt of the rifle,' and the way another makes sculptures and rings from discarded shells, to sell to his comrades." – Gabriel Winslow-Yost, The New York Review of Books
Review: How to Be Happy by Eleanor Davis
"Many of Davis' stories here explore the way people live with each other and try to find themselves in the modern world. They are funny, surprising, touching, and insightful. Some have a sci-fi slant to them, some are fantasy, and some are just about real people." – Rich Barrett, Mental Floss
Review: Judgment Day and Other Stories by Joe Orlando, Al Feldstein, et al.
"The title story might be the best known in the entire EC comics oeuvre… EC tales often sported morals reinforcing decency and forward-thinking that were decades ahead of their time. 'Judgment Day' is one such story, an O. Henry type of tale about an Earthling astronaut who visits a robot-inhabited planet that is strictly divided along color lines…When the twist ending comes, it carries a surprise even today; sadly, this reflects as much on our own time as the era in which the story was produced." – David Maine, Spectrum Culture
Review: Heroes of the Comics: Portraits of the Legends of Comic Books by Drew Friedman
"I was amazed to find that many of these people were born in the late 1800s and that most of them have military service as part of their illustrious resumes. These weren't hoity-toity art students born with silver spoons in their mouths; these were hard-working American mutts that, against nearly impossible odds – using only their imaginations, a lot of blood, sweat and tears (and apparently a huge amount of cigarette smoke) – managed to craft a uniquely American artistic medium that would influence countless generations to come." – Bob Leeper, Nerdvana
Review: Nijigahara Holograph by Inio Asano
"The story unfolds asynchronously, creating a sense of mystery. Why does the kids' teacher, Miss Sakaki, have bandages on her face? Why is the class bully so affected by what happened to Arié? Why is the new kid at school, Amahiko, willing to jump out of his classroom's window? And why are there glowing butterflies everywhere?" – Unshelved
"The book is an absolute essential for any hip hop head to read and any comic book fan to gander over." – Mass Appeal
"…Presents the facts in a nostalgic, faded-ink and rubbery realism of '70s Marvel Comics style, turning raps early innovators into larger than life heroes of history." – Spin Magazine
"These Stories are carefully researched and detailed along with great comic book style art…" – TheSource.com
"…Captures the personalities, imagery and milestones with a hilarity and efficiency that no other medium could." – Billboard Magazine
Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 2: 1981-1983
112-page full color 9" x 13" softcover • $27.99
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"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin." – Linus Van Pelt
"Novelty Peanuts books are the best kind of novelty book." – The Comics Reporter
Waiting for the Great Pumpkin
64-page black & white/spot color 5.75" x 5.75" hardcover • $9.99
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Tales Designed to Thrizzle Vol. 1 [Softcover Ed.]
160-page color 7" x 9.75" softcover • $22.99
Ships in: August 2014 (subject to change) — Pre-Order Now
Fans and comedy cognoscenti alike, basking devotedly in the glow of Tales Designed to Thrizzle, have made it the smash hit humor comic of the decade. And now the first four issues of Michael Kupperman's revered series are finally collected into one deluxe hardcover. Even better, Kupperman has taken the original two-color printing and made the entire book full color! These tales are more thrizzling than ever!
What are tales designed to thrizzle? Tales designed to thrizzle are about evil girls and their owls. They are about Jesus' half-brother Pagus, the Mysterious Avenger, Dick Crazy, scary snakes, delicious bacon, Private Eye Johnny Silhouette, the Silver Knight, Murder She Didn't Write, the Mannister, the Space Patrol, portraits where the eyes move, Pablo Picasso, sex blimps (and their logical inverse, sex holes), the hot boy band Boybank, soccer joust, Underpants-On-His-Head Man, Hercules the Public Domain Superhero, Cousin Granpa, Mister Bossman, Mark Twain, the silent robot Citobor and, of course, the Thirties.
The stories in Tales Designed to Thrizzle made their debut in 2009 on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim program as Snake 'N' Bacon. The show, a mix of live-action, puppetry and animation, stars David Rakoff (This American Life), Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live), Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords), James Urbaniak (The Venture Brothers), and Dan Bakkedahl (The Daily Show), and is produced by Kupperman, Robert Smigel (SNL, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog), Scott Jacobson (The Daily Show) and Rich Bloomquist (The Daily Show).
View Video & Photo Slideshow in New Window
The dastardly Super-Enigmatix revels in creating chaos and catastrophe across the globe, and no one knows why. Former Detective Natalie Charms and Former Inspector Jory—along with his grandson, George—are hot on the trail of the the shadowy menace, but the closer they get to him, the greater the destruction Super-Enigmatix sows.
This 19-page excerpt (10.2 MB) sets the stage for Richard Sala's latest book, In a Glass Grotesquely, with Natalie and Inspector Jory piecing together a web of seemingly-unrelated crimes that point to a single mastermind: Super-Enigmatix!


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Discover Author
Armistead Maupin is the author of the nine-volume Tales of the City series that includes Tales of the City, More Tales of the City, Further Tales of the City, Babycakes, Significant Others, Sure of You, Michael Tolliver Lives, Mary Ann in Autumn, and now The Days of Anna Madrigal. The first three books were made into three television miniseries starring Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney. Maupin's other books include Maybe the Moon and The Night Listener. Maupin was the 2012 recipient of the Lambda Literary Foundation's Pioneer Award. He lives in Santa Fe with his husband, the photographer Christopher Turner.
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How the Fundamentalist Mind Compels Conservative Christians to Force Their Beliefs on You
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Many evangelicals wear their religion on T-shirts and around their necks and on car bumpers and eye-blacks. They hand out tracts on college campuses and stage revival meetings on military bases. They use weddings and funerals to preach come-to-Jesus sermons. In their resolve to spread the good news that Jesus saves, some also do things that are more morally dubious.
In Tucson, nice young couples cultivate relationships with lonely college students without disclosing that they are paid to engage in " friendship missions." In Seattle, volunteers woo first- and second-graders to afterschool Good News Clubs that the children are incapable of distinguishing from school-sponsored activities. In Muslim countries, Christian missionaries skirt laws that ban proselytizing by pretending to be mere aid workers, putting genuinely secular aid workers at risk. In the U.S. military, soldiers bully other soldiers into prayer meetings or the Passion of the Christ and then send bizarrely profane emails to people who try to stop them.
Perhaps the most devastating consequence of evangelical zeal in recent decades has been millions of unnecessary deaths in Africa. Many evangelicals saw the HIV epidemic as an opportunity.
"AIDS has created an evangelism opportunity for the body of Christ unlike any in history," said Ken Isaacs of Samaritan's Purse. Another group that pursued HIV dollars has its mission built right into its name: Community Health Evangelism. Christian ideology ultimately redirected billions of U. S. aid dollars away from science-based results-oriented interventions such as contraceptive access and safe-sex education and into programs that espoused traditional Christian values: monogamy, evangelism, and compassionate after-the-fact care for the sick.
I spent over 20 years of my life as an evangelical Christian, and during that time these behaviors seemed benign, even laudable to me. Today, as a psychologist who creates resources for former fundamentalists, I find them disturbing. Even so, I am sympathetic to the moral conundrum fundamentalism can cause for genuinely decent people. After I watched the documentary Jesus Camp, a friend commented, "Wasn't that horrifying?" I had to confess that it seemed kind of, well, normal -- and that I could relate to the woman running the camp.
To explain why Christians will sometimes violate their own commitment to compassion or truth in the search for converts, it helps to consider the psychology of fundamentalist religion.
Religion has a set of superpowers—ways it shapes or controls human thinking and behavior. Chief among these is the fact that religions take charge of our moral reasoning and emotions, giving divine sanction to some behaviors and forbidding others. Because there are many kinds of "good," all of us make moral decisions by weighing values against each other. For example, most parents place a value on not hurting their children and yet get them immunized because long-term health trumps short-term pain. Religion can alter the way we stack those competing values, adding emotional weight to some, removing it from others.
The relationship between religion and morality is complicated. Religion claims credit for our moral instincts. It channels them via specific prescriptions and prohibitions. It offers explanations for why some things feel right and others feel so wrong and why we find the wrong ones tempting. It engages us in stories and rituals that bring moral questions to the fore in day-to-day life. It embeds us in a community that encourages moral conformity and increases altruism toward insiders. It creates the sense that someone is always watching over our shoulder.
When religious edicts align with the quest for love and truth, religion's power can encourage us to be more compassionate, kind, humble or act with integrity. But religions also assert moral obligations that have little to do with love or truth, harm or wellbeing. Consider, for example, sacramental rituals, pilgrimages, circumcision, veiling, vows of silence or rituals of purity. Some demands of piety have little human or planetary cost. But other times, divine edict compels adherents to do harm in the service of a higher cause that to outsiders simply doesn't exist. The Aztec and Inca practice of human sacrifice to appease gods was one of these. To outsiders it was a horrifying moral violation; to insiders more analogous to a community vaccination; the young men and women who were sacrificed gave their lives for a greater good—the wellbeing of the whole society.
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Monday, 20 September 2010 14:54
By: Todd Martin
Blog: toddwmartin.blogspot.com
Date: 09/20/10 from Indianapolis, IN.
The Big News: Raw set up its top two matches for the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, Randy Orton vs. Sheamus and John Cena vs. Wade Barrett in stipulation matches.
Show Analysis:
Randy Orton came out to start the show but was immediately interrupted by Sheamus. Sheamus said that the title has been stolen from him twice in six person matches. Orton pointed out Sheamus won the title in a four way with interference from Nexus and got himself disqualified in his singles title match against Orton. Orton and Sheamus exchanged threats.
The anonymous GM then announced Sheamus vs. Orton for the title in a Hell in a Cell match. Sheamus asked for the WWE title back from Orton. Orton threw the title up towards Sheamus but then gave him the RKO. He went to punt Sheamus but Sheamus escaped the ring.
This was a good opening segment. However, Sheamus vs. Orton as a Hell in a Cell match perfectly illustrates the problem with these stipulation themed pay-per-views. A heavy stipulation match ought to be the culmination of a big feud. That sort of match should be saved for when the timing is right in a feud, not at a specific time each year because that's the gimmick. It makes Hell in a Cell seem like less of a big deal when it's used for a feud that isn't even hot.
Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes beat Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov. The Hart Dynasty did commentary and David Hart Smith whipped out some amazingly bad comedy. Santino went for the cobra but got kicked in the head. He kicked out at two. The champs worked over Santino. Santino tagged Kozlov, who came in with a powerslam on McIntyre. Rhodes broke up the pin. Kozlov kicked Rhodes out of the ring but was caught with the future shock for the pin.
Backstage, Zack Ryder suggested to Edge that they start hanging out again. Edge was angry about not winning the title and said they aren't friends. Daniel Bryan came in carrying a book and told them to keep it down. Ryder told Bryan to "read this" and put an L on his forehead. I completely lost it. I'll give the WWE writers this much, for the last month or so they've been finding ways to make me burst out in laughter at least once a week.
Ryder wanted a high five from Edge for this but Edge no sold him. Edge challenged Bryan to a match and Bryan accepted. Ryder then said "see you later" to Bryan with the L on his forehead and a gigantic smirk on his face. I love Zack Ryder. Edge pointed out the L was backwards.
John Morrison beat Chris Jericho. They explained that Jericho simply refused to abide by the stipulation that he would leave WWE if he lost Sunday. Why do they kill off stipulations for no reason? I mean, at least for a while they tried to get something out of reneging on stipulations.
Morrison hit a plancha on Jericho. Jericho retaliated with an enzuigiri, knocked Morrison into the barricade, dropped Morrison on the barricade, and then hit a suplex, dropkick, clothesline and bulldog. Jericho applied the Walls but Morrison got to the ropes. Jericho tried again but Morrison countered. He then hit a knee and starship pain for the pin. They played up that Jericho is totally dejected and on the biggest downturn of his career. This was a good match.
Backstage, John Cena did comedy about not winning the title. He had plenty of jokes and said he enjoyed seeing Orton win because Wade Barrett got the RKO. Good thing Cena doesn't care about not winning the title because we wouldn't want fans invested in that sort of thing. Cena pointed out that Nexus went from 8 to 5 and said he would take the rest of them out one by one.
Miz came out for a brief promo and then did commentary for Daniel Bryan's match. Two guesses how that match ended. Anyway, Miz said that he didn't tap at Night of Champions. He claimed an MCL injury and said that he needed to save himself from surgery.
Daniel Bryan beat Edge via DQ. Bryan came out to the Ride of the Valkyries of all things. Everyone was bewildered. They're going strong with the geek gimmick for Bryan. Miz said on commentary that he has signed Alex Riley to a personal services contract. Edge worked over Bryan. Bryan came back with a clothesline, jawbreaker and running knee. He came off the top but was caught with a kick.
Edge went for the spear which was countered into the LeBell lock. However, Riley got up on the apron for the distraction. Miz then snapped Bryan's neck on the top rope and Edge hit the spear for the apparent win. However, the anonymous GM then reversed the decision. Given we see this type of finish twice a week on Raw, I'm not sure why the GM decided to act now. Particularly if the GM ends up being Michael Cole or someone in cahoots with Michael Cole. Edge said that he is sick of the computer. Who isn't? Riley and Miz jumped Bryan afterwards and verbally berated him. Miz was really good throughout this segment.
Layla beat Melina to retain the unified women's title. Michelle McCool did commentary. Melina went after her. She was all over Layla with punches and forearms and used a curb stomp. However, Layla then whipped out diamond dust (seriously!) for the pretty much clean win. Any segment where Layla El pulls off a nice looking diamond dust gets a thumbs up from me.
Chris Jericho backstage plugged his DVD. He then said he is close to discovering the identity of the mystery GM. He basically said he will rule the world when he figures it out. Randy Orton approached Jericho and suggested they wrestle next week. If Jericho wins he gets a title shot but if Orton wins he will make sure Jericho is gone for a while. Yay, more Jericho stipulations.
R. Truth and Eve Torres beat Maryse and Ted DiBiase. Truth came out again to his new theme. The match mostly involved the women and was sloppy. Eve won with a neck breaker. After the match as Maryse and DiBiase were leaving romantic music played and the screen said "I will have you."
I guess John Cena won a gauntlet match over Nexus via DQ. Wade Barrett was supposed to wrestle Cena in a singles match but Barrett said that since Cena said he wants to take out Nexus one-by-one he should be happy to do a gauntlet match.
John Cena beat Heath Slater first. Slater got in a little offense but Cena rolled through a top rope crossbody and hit the FU for the pin. John Cena pinned David Otunga next. Otunga hit a couple suplexes before Cena rolled him up for the pin. Cena next made Michael Tarver submit to the STF. Tarver was limping badly.
John Cena finally beat Justin Gabriel via DQ. Gabriel hit kicks, a superplex and an STO. Cena came back with shoulder blocks, the Cena slam and the five knuckle shuffle. He went for the FU but all the Nexus guys ran in for the DQ. Cena fought them all off anyway. If they've simply given up on Nexus and are writing them off, this was fine. If they are planning on having Nexus continue, the booking of this was really bad.
After the match, Cena challenged Barrett to a match. Barrett refused and said he has nothing to gain from that. Cena said he would do anything to get the match, so Barrett said he would wrestle Cena at Hell in a Cell but if Cena loses he has to join Nexus. Cena responded that if he wins, Nexus will be done. Barrett accepted.
This conclusion made no sense. They started with Barrett backing off from a match with Cena. Then he ends up agreeing to not only the match but that his group will have to dissolve if he loses in a really one-sided set of stipulations. Oh wait, you know what. It makes sense after all. Because if Barrett loses he can just refuse to abide by what he said and no one will do anything about it.
Final Thoughts:
This show was a mixed bag. It was pretty entertaining but the booking was largely counterproductive.
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Hollywood Police are investigating a house fire after a body was found inside a residence Sunday afternoon.
Police received a call about fire and smoke coming from a house located on 2831 Taylor Street in Hollywood just before 5 p.m.
The body of a white male in his 60s was found inside the house by Hollywood Fire Rescue.
Detectives are asking for anyone with information to call the Hollywood Police Department at 954-967-HELP or 954-967-4411.


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Welcome to Town & Country Crossing, the unique shopping experience.
Town & Country Crossing is a unique shopping center located in Town & Country, Missouri. Centrally located at the intersection of Clayton and Woods Mill Roads, Town & Country Crossing features national and local brands in a blend of retail stores, restaurants and business services. Retailers include Target, Whole Foods, The Bar Method, Bistro 1130, Burn 1000, Clarkson Eyecare, Coldwell Banker Gundaker,Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Cotton Babies, Dollar Stop, FedEx Office & Print, Ginger Bay Salon and Spa, Great Clips, Klutch, Laurie Solet, Mathnasium, Mr. Goodcents, Napoli 2UE, PNC Bank, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Sprint, Starcrest Cleaners, Three Dog Bakery, and Town & Country Veterinary Hospital. Combined with a nearly three-acre lake, spacious promenade and expansive greenery, Town & Country Crossing offers a shopping atmosphere unlike any other in the St. Louis area.
We invite you to browse the site to learn more about Town & Country Crossing. View the SITE PLAN and see what is available.
Click here for more information.


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On this Fourth of July, it was a different kind of fireworks over at Luna Park in Coney Island.
Sparks were flying from the Astro Tower as crews used blowtorches to dismantle part of the 275-foot tower that was dangerously swaying over the park.
"We have most famous Funnel cakes, they've been here forever," said a Funnel cake worker at Game World.
If the funnel cakes have been around forever, it must seem like Coney Island has been around even longer than that.
But no one can remember a time when the world famous amusement park was closed on the Fourth of July – at least for part of the holiday.
"I thought was going to the close park today because of the situation with the tower because it was leaning over -- but I'm glad to see it was over though. But I still had good time with family," said one man at Coney Island.
"It was great time, no complaints -- at the least nothing collapsed on me," added another.
Tuesday night the park's Astroland Tower, which has been a Coney Island fixture for 50 years, started to sway a little too much for comfort.
So, structural experts made the quick call to close Luna Park for a few hours this Fourth of July, bringing in cranes Wednesday night just before the busiest day of the year to remove the top of the tower.
"We had two cranes assembled. One crane was there to basically hold the tower in place," said Robert Limandri, NYC Dept. of Buildings Commissioner. "The other crane had what we call a 'man basket.' A man basket allows welders to operate."
Gone along with the top of the tower's top was also some Coney Island business. Some shops did not open until 3:00 p.m., like the makers of the world's most famous Funnel cakes who estimate they lost well over $1,000.
"Of course it hurts, after Sandy we're still trying to recover from that of course. And then this is our last holiday of the season besides Labor Day and it's not easy. You know we have high rent," said Nicholas Johnson of Game World owner.
High rent and less than usual business lowered store owners morale, but visitors seemed to stay upbeat keeping with the spirit of the Fourth of July.
Everyone's wishing America a happy birthday and Fox 5 has learned each individual section of the AstroTower weighed between 200-300 pounds.
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1. The Chief Justice is often called the "first among equals."
2. Before the Supreme Court was built in 1935, the justices met in the Capitol Building.
3. The Chief Justice swears in new Presidents during their inagurations in January.
4. There has never been a female Chief Justice.
5. Justices wear black robes when hearing cases.
Chief Justice Roberts, Supreme Court of the United States, One First Street N.E., Washington, DC 20543.
Copyrights to the pictures and photos on this EL Civics website belong to individual photographers. We have purchased the rights to use them. Do not copy the pictures/photos on this site. Permission is granted to copy any of the worksheets for classroom use. Permission is granted to link to any page of this website. Contact Christina Niven, Web Developer, at email@example.com. Please send corrections, comments, greetings, and requests for new units. Copyright © Christina Niven, 2007.


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- Jonathan Lash is president of the World Resources Institute. The views expressed are his own -
Much of the world's attention is fixed on the brutal effects of the global financial crisis.
But sooner or later – sooner we hope – the global economy will rebound. Markets will recover, and stocks will rise. Nature, on the other hand, does not do bailouts. The effects of today's greenhouse gas emissions – like those of yesterday and tomorrow – will be permanent, at least in the timescales that we care about.
They are what will shape the lives and markets of tomorrow.
My view of sustainability is very simple: what can't be sustained won't be. It was impossible for real estate values to continue to rise much faster than economic growth. It had to end sometime . . . and it did. When the bubble burst, the consequences were severe.
The same lesson applies to the ecological sphere. We simply cannot continue changing the chemistry of the atmosphere, through rising greenhouse gas emissions, without inviting enormous consequences. We cannot continue to increase human use of fresh water at twice the rate of population growth. Not only are there are limits on available supplies, but in many places these are reduced by climate change and pollution. Nor can we continue to create coastal dead zones, in areas where hundreds of millions of people depend on fisheries, by releasing ever more nitrogen into the surface waters of the Earth.
Since these behaviours can't be sustained, they won't be. The key question is whether we choose a managed transition to sustainability, or wait until the bubble bursts. That choice will have a profound effect on tomorrow's markets.


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Category Archives: Science Bits
Lunar Months, Tides; for Vukcevic
Answering a question from Vukcevic per lunar months and tides, plus some links and background on lunar cycles and influences. Continue reading
Posted in Earth Sciences, Favorites, Science Bits, Stonehenge Tagged Luna, Moon, Orbits, Tides 7 Comments
LENR Year Of Answers?
Some recent news makes this look like the year where we are likely to finally get an answer on "does it work or not?" for Cold Fusion / LENR power systems. A couple of players have said they will be commercialized in 2014. One can only watch and hope. Continue reading
Posted in Nukes, Oil Energy Nukes, Science Bits, Tech Bits Tagged Cold Fusion, energy, heat, LENR 186 Comments
CO2 does not Black Body Radiation make
CO2 does not do "black body" radiation and the general assumption that it does radiate IR in that way is simply wrong. It would rather heat up than radiate, so drives convection rather than "back radiation". So much for "settled science". Continue reading
Posted in AGW Science and Background, Science Bits Tagged CO2, Global Warming, Infrared, radiation, science 35 Comments
Tinkering Around With Nonsense Doesn't Work
A very interesting talk by Piers Corbyn that knocks present weather / climate change theory and talks about weather forecasting, natural cycles, and even a bit of how space weather impacts Earth. Continue reading
Posted in Science Bits Tagged Corbyn, Magnetic, Piers, weather 33 Comments


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Rinat Valiev's goal in the fifth round of the shootout lifted the Kootenay Ice to a 3-2 shootout win over the Spokane Chiefs Friday night in Cranbrook, B.C. The win was Kootenay's third in 4 games against Spokane this season and clinched the 5 game season series for the Ice over the Chiefs.
Jagger Dirk's one timer at 13:13 of the first period gave Kootenay a 1-0 lead after one. Spokane killed off 3 Kootenay power plays in the first as the Ice outshot the Chiefs 8-6 in the period. Valiev would score from the point just 5:45 into the second to put Kootenay ahead 2-0. Keanu Yamamoto would score his 8th of the season from Connor Chartier and Marcus Messier at 8:15 to cut the lead to 2-1. Yamamoto would strike again for his second of the night from Chartier and Messier at 15:45 for his 4th goal in his last 4 games to tie the game at two after the second.
Neither team was able to score in the third or overtime as the Ice outshot Spokane 21-12 over the 25 minutes. Kootenay would outshoot Spokane 42-27 in the contest. For the first time this year, Spokane did not get a power play chance, while the Chiefs penalty kill was a perfect 5 for 5 on the night. In the shootout, both teams failed to score in the first 4 rounds. Valiev would break the deadlock in round 5, and then Ice goalie Makenzie Skapski denied Jason Fram to seal the win for Kootenay.
The two teams will meet for the final time this season when they face-off in the Spokane Arena Saturday night at 7:05pm. Mike Boyle will have the call on 790 KJRB beginning with the pre-game show at 6:30pm.


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Thanks for putting the tut online again :)
Printable View
Thanks for putting the tut online again :)
Welcome Back!
Thanks, i've been a bad guilder :) and i'll try to be more present.
Link is dead
The new link seems to be http://patoumonde.com/Maps/Valedalewalkthrough.pdf
Thx for uploading it again (and writing it, by the way). It seems very very useful :D
I took the link back to the site only, and then scoured it to find the walkthrough. The new link is: http://www.patoumonde.com/uploads/1/...alkthrough.pdf


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William S. Burroughs, 'Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1986'.
despite how I've materially benefited rather enormously from the conquest of the Americas, and how, on the basis of a few ancestors scattered in my maternal line (and the general theme of emigration as a good option for religious minorities that pervades my ancestral history), I should feel a connection to the hegemonic narrative of poor downtrodden English Protestant religious refugees looking for a better life in the so-called New World, and blah blah blah-
not grateful, so much as enraged.
however much you love the United States and how important the thanksgiving ritual is to you personally and conceptually, it's important to remember that it memorialises something awful as well. it is not neutral- it is ambivalent, perhaps, but not neutral. like a lot of other dominant narratives and rituals that form part of U.S.ian nationalism, it is made of much that is truly wonderful and inspiring and much that is truly horrifying and unspeakable, all at once.
how you choose to negotiate that is your prerogative- I'm not saying there's any right way to do, or not do, Thanksgiving, or that there's any inherent good in opting out (as I'm doing). I'm just saying that it's important, for non-Indian U.S.-Americans, to remember all aspects of the terrible burden and marvelous privilege that come with this particular national identity, and to think critically about what it means to have so much invested in nationalist ritual.
omg in love forever with jasika nicole for using this william s. burroughs video.
(via sugarbooty)—


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Supercars used to be savage, one-dimensional beasts that tore up the tarmac like a nuclear-powered drill. They were uncomfortable, hot and dangerous, but they were fast and that was all that mattered. Not anymore. Now even warp-speed weapons are expected to be iron fists wrapped in the softest velvet glove, hard thugs in touch with their feminine side. The Ascari KZ1 has the brief nailed.
It was never intended to be a pared-down racer, despite its final curb weight of 2,810 pounds. This is a luxury GT with comfy Connolly leather seats, a fully decked out interior and a setup geared as much for comfort through town as a committed assault on the apex. Considering the 5.0-liter BMW E39 M5 engine, tuned in house at Banbury and clearly visible through the rear window, delivers 500 bhp through the rear wheels, that's no mean feat. The engine is a pussycat beneath 4000 rpm; after that all hell breaks loose right up until the 8500-rpm redline and g-forces do strange things to your face.
This car races to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, to 100 mph in 8.3. It will stop pretty much as fast, too, thanks to AP Racing six-pot calipers on the front and four-pots on the rear clamping on drilled and ventilated discs. But far more important is the relatively civilized manner in which it gets there. Soft suspension helps transmit the power to the road, as well as stopping the car from spinning violently on every bend, and despite a lack of electronic traction taming measures the KZ1 rarely lights up those 19-inch rear wheels without serious provocation. You can do it, of course, but it takes a solid stamp on the right pedal.
Major ruts in the tarmac thump through the whole carbon-fiber monocoque, which tends to mark out a first-class hypercar these days. But the KZ1 can still soak up disastrous roads and there's no savage sting in the tail. The rear end simply didn't threaten to overtake the front at any point. This is not a car that intends to put the fear of God into its owner; it's there to catch you when, in an old-school F40 or even Porsche 911, you would fall. The steering feels alive from the moment you turn the key and the car jinks in response to the slightest movement at speed. It's not nervous, thanks to the natural tendency to push wide at the first sign of trouble or excessive input. Incidentally, the first sign of trouble was so far beyond the remit of a normal road car that, had the local police witnessed the test, I would now be on a career break.
It will mooch through town happy as your average saloon, though, and reversing and tight maneuvers, traumatic experiences in almost every other car of this ilk, become second nature in no time. It's only 8 inches shorter and narrower than the Lamborghini Murcielago, but it's like a rapier next to a broadsword at parking speeds, and those lithe dimensions make a world of difference when facing oncoming traffic. Barring a serious blind spot when the car lies at 45 degrees to the junction, necessitating neck craning or mirror adjustment to avoid pulling out in front of trucks and smashing this creation into so much carbon shrapnel, it's near perfect. It's a genuine go-anywhere supercar, which had no trouble with curbs, humps, ditches or countryside park roads. The manufacturers have awakened to the fact that most people that have the financial means to buy a machine like this don't necessarily have the ability or inclination to ride the ragged edge. For them, its ability to cruise past nightclubs is just as important as its talents at 200 mph or in off-camber bends.
When Klaas Zwart took the reigns of the company it was a traditional English sports car manufacturer, knocking out road rockets from what looked like an old greenhouse. Now Zwart has a glass-fronted workshop in Banbury, within spitting distance of BAR's headquarters, and a unique race resort near Marbella-read about it on the next page. His clientele expects creature comforts like air-con, sound insulation, a suspension that doesn't break newly purchased teeth on speed bumps, and a car that is safe to drive. This creates a much harder task, but Ascari has created a near masterpiece without going to ridiculous extremes like fitting an auto or nasty F1-style 'box.
The essence of driving remains, therefore, fun without the danger. Yes, a Porsche Carrera GT and Ferrari Enzo will be quicker, but how many owners are really going to test that out? The KZ1 is a hellishly beautiful machine, too, and every organic panel flows towards that rear end in a display of cohesive design missing from the Ferrari Enzo and Lamborghini Murcielago. Everything is carbon-fiber, from the monocoque that one man can lift to the swooping panels that are manufactured in sufficiently low numbers to not worry about simplification. There are mass-production components, including Peugeot headlights and a Vauxhall VX220 starter button, and those side mirrors look like they came off something far cheaper and nastier. But the money saved there has gone into race-bred suspension, brakes, a beast of an engine and more than three years of development.
There will never be lots of these cars around, as this is no common Ferrari, and that alone will be worth the price of admission to this exclusive club for some. Only 50 will ever be made, so get on the phone right now if you're one of the elite few that could even contemplate an impulse buy of this magnitude.
If you're rich, love looking tough and driving fast and never want to feel the indignity of spinning off the road then rejoice-your car has arrived.
Ascari KZ1
DrivetrainLongitudinal mid-engine, rear wheel drive
Engine5.0-liter (4,941cc E39 BMW M5) V8, dohc, four valves per cylinderAscari ECU, camshafts, performance headers, exhaust
SuspensionUnequal length wishbones, coilover dampers, front anti-roll bar
BrakesFour-wheel AP discs, six-piston front calipers, four-piston rear
ChassisCarbon-fiber monocoque and body
PerformancePeak Power: 500 bhpPeak Torque: 368 lb-ft0-60 mph: 3.8 sec.Top Speed: 200 mph


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Blown Bulb
A wife comes home and turns on the lights. ¿They flicker.
"Honey," she asks, "can you fix this light switch?" The husband replies, "What do I look like, an electrician?"
The husband then goes to the bar, and when he returns home the lights are working fine. "Who fixed it?" he asks his wife.
The wife replies, "I asked the neighbor, and he said he'd do it for either a blow job or a baked cake."
The husband asks, "Well, what kind of cake did you bake him?"
The wife calmly answers, "Who do I look like, Betty Crocker?"


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Now Playing: My Solution To Hollywood's Creative Crisis
My Solution To Hollywood's Creative Crisis
With the recent release of The Hangover Part II, a shameless scene-for-scene carbon copy of the original, and with the latest news that both Spiderman and Harry Potter are due for respective reboots before the paint has even dried from their last movie's billboards, it seems like Hollywood is having a bit of a creative crisis, a hiccup in originality. Just one look at what's cluttering up the current box office shows how bad it's gotten: a prequel to Planet of The Apes, a remake of 1985's Fright Night, a weak redeux of Conan The Barbarian which is as laughable as Conan The O'brien, and the once extinct Smurfs getting another breath of life. Oh and let's not forget about the fourth installment of the stale Spy Kids and a fifth Final Destination.
It's so rare, anymore that theaters are showing something truly innovative and different like Terrance Malik's Tree of Life, Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan or Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris. These fine films are instead buried amongst the rubble of Hollywood's fallen creative structures. But I think studios just needs some new blood, some fresh suggestions from the outside.
And so here are a few ideas that might help rejuvenate Hollywood and let it shoot its creative juices all over a few upcoming productions, taking them from feces to features, from garbage to gold.
Glee: The Movie/Transformers 4/Bruno 2
With the success of Glee 3D it seems inevitable that studios will crank out another film adaptation of the popular series. But what the song and dance-number routine-laden show has always been missing are explosions, robots, penises and, of course, exploding robot penises. Why not combine the inevitable remakes, put Michael Bay's "I like to make things go BOOM," sophomoric minded-ass at the helm and watch the Glee cast run around in terror—and in song—as they try to elude death from alien transforming beings and a bizarre British mockumentarist.
Hitchcock Sort of Presents Angry Birds: The Movie
The famed iPhone game actually has its own movie in the works, which is almost certain to end up being a horrible animated adaptation, but what if you put it in the hands of a young auteur hungry to emulate the Master of Suspense and rehash one of horror's greatest films? Imagine it as a retelling of The Birds, the Hitchcock classic. The new one will, in honor of its predecessor, be shot completely in black and white, but the winged killers, this time, will be the cartooned characters that anyone with a Smart Phone has spent hours catapulting across their screen. Watch them fly full speed into buildings and random passerbys consumed by their electronic PDA's, completely unaware of their impending doom.
We all know Tyler Perry pumps out more grotesque parodies of African American culture than all the Wayans brothers combined. But what if we strapped Madea with a mean mustache and an armory of munitions? Pablo Escobar's rise to power in the Columbian cartel has yet to be justly portrayed on film. Could Perry do it? Hells no, but a similar film nearly killed the careers of everyone on Entourage and maybe it could finally end the reign of Perry here in the real world. Hulalura. Ya Herrrrrd?
Adam Sandler in Die Schneider, Die
Remember when Adam Sandler was funny? Has his career died or was Billy Madison only good because, at the time, we were fighting our way through puberty? I can't really be certain, but what I am sure of is that if not for Sandler, Rob Schneider would not have a career (oh what a sweet alternate reality that would be). Sandller is the only thing keeping the man alive and so how ironic (read: artistic) would it be for him to kill Rob Schneider. I mean really kill him. Imagine it as The Waterboy meets a snuff film. It will have all the blood and gore of the hugely popular Saw films and, in the end, it will ensure a better America, ridding us of one of our worst actors. (And sparing us from another The Animal.)
Hangover Part III: The Story Behind The Story
Critics love meta-fiction (remember Stranger Than Fiction or Adaptation?) and Todd Phillips might be mentally retarded. Here's the quick fix: Producers can get the entire cast together, pump them all full of tequila and Rohypnol. When they wake in the morning—posed in various states of humiliating disarray, Ken Jeong's egg roll making its home on Ed Helms' face—they will find the script missing with several clues as to where it might have gone. Watch as the real actors behind the series chase around Hollywood in a dehydrated and migrained mess searching for the lost script they were preparing to film. Spoiler Alert: When they find it, they'll realize that it's just the same exact script as Hangover I, only this time it's being filmed in Jamaica. Brilliant, Phillips. Douche.
Take it or leave it Hollywood. These ones are on me.
Written By Jared Pulliam
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A genuinely hilarious article and a testament to (some of) America's frustration with Hollywood at the moment.
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The Fight for Gay Marriage0November 28th, 2011gay rights, Uncategorized
The real debate over gay marriage actually did not begin until the 2004 election cycle in the United States. The Bush campaign organization, led by political genius Karl Rove, needed a wedge issue that would both divide voters and distract from the real issues of the time such as the debacle in Iraq and the massive deregulation and tax cutting campaigns for the wealthy that would, in just two more years, nearly destroy the US economy and the gay marriage issue fit the bill perfectly. This debate continues to rage today, essentially costing the American tax payer more tax dollars than acceptance ever could. But the United States is, at least on paper, a democracy and a democracy is supposedly supposed to represent the will of the people and a democratic government is supposedly elected to represent all of the people.
So what are the real pros and cons of legalizing gay marriage? Opponents claim that if gay marriage were legalized it would require the government to pay extra benefits, to the tune of approximately $500 million. This fact has been touted over and over by the Fox Network yet this network completely ignores that legalization would earn the State of New Jersey alone over $200 million and create and additional 800 jobs in State. It would seem that the relatively minuscule cost of $500 million (the federal government spends more than that providing toilet paper to its hundreds of thousands of employees world wide), when we extrapolate New Jersey´s earnings to the rest of the country, would not matter. This means that legalizing gay marriage would actually help the economy.
Another argument is that marriage between a man and a woman is "traditional". The US Supreme Court, in the 1971, actually ruled that marriage can only be legitimate if between a man and a woman because the only purpose of marriage was for procreation and raising of families. This argument is ludicrous on its face for a number of reasons. A marriage license is not necessary for procreation. Nor is a marriage license necessary for the raising of a family. People have been procreating and raising families long before the governments were even created, let alone before they became involved in licensing marriages. In the United States however many people have been indoctrinated with the idea of a certain "family structure", the man/woman/two kids and a house with a white picket fence. This structure however is not the only possibility for any society, it is simply the one commonly used in the United States during the last 50 years. The fact is that for most of human history slavery was "traditional". For most of human history woman were second class citizens, with no say in how the world works and arranged marriages were much more common than marriages for love. These practices were traditional for thousands of years so, following this argument we need to return to those standards.
But the largest argument, and the one that really controls the issue, is that gay marriage is offensive to many of the largest world religions. This is yet another ludicrous argument however. First of all the only three religions that find it offensive are Christianity, Islam and Judaism, yet there are literally hundreds of different religions that are Representative in the United States. It is also true that is not gay marriage that these religions find offensive, but the homosexual act itself, which is banned in there "Holy" writings. This blog has exposed the many attacks, carried out on a global scale, by Christian groups on the homosexual lifestyle, from the creation of an iPhone application to "cure" homosexuality to the imposition of the death penalty in Uganda, to "Corrective Rapes" of lesbians in South Africa, and other atrocities. None of these attacks had anything to do with gay marriage and all were sponsored by fundamentalist christian groups.
According to the United States Census Bureau nearly 10% of the population of the United States is openly either homosexual or bi sexual. These are people who are prominent political leaders, like James Hormel, entertainers like Ellen Degeneres, news media commentators like Rachel Maddow, pharmacy technicians, truck drivers, doctors, lawyers, business leaders and and even people who are currently living in "traditional" families. Homosexuality is now legal in all 50 states and the only thing that legalization of gay marriage would actually change is that these citizens would be allowed to receive the same legal benefits as heterosexual couples with respect to benefits and maintaining families.


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Data Updates
Keeping you up to date on the latest data releases.
October 2014
- 02.16.2012
- Housing Starts
New privately-owned housing starts rose 1.5 percent in January to a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 699,000 units. January's increase in new privately-owned housing starts was driven by a large increase in multi-family starts—which rose 8.5 percent—compared to a 27.9 percent decline in December. Comparatively, single-family housing starts fell 1.0 percent in December to a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 508,000. January's decline in single-family starts ends four consecutive months of monthly increases. Compared to January 2011, new privately-owned housing starts are up 9.9 percent, with numbers of new multi-family housing starts down 4.0 percent and the number of single-family housing starts up 16.2 percent.
New privately-owned housing units authorized were up 0.7 percent in January to a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 676,000 units. January's improvement in new privately-owned housing authorized was the result of increases in both multi-family and single-family housing units authorized. In January, single-family housing permits rose 0.9 percent to a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 445,000 units. On a year-over-year basis, new privately-owned housing units authorized are up 19.0 percent, with multi-family housing permits—which tend to be more volatile—up 55.0 percent and single-family housing permits up 6.2 percent.


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By Mark A. LaveryProvided by WorldNow
Outside of the Northeast, train travel may not be an option. If you can travel the rails though, it can be the most efficient way to get from A to B around the holidays. Some things to remember:
35 Skyline DriveLake Mary, FL 32746
Phone: (407) 644-3535News Tips: (866) 55-FOX35


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Lewis and Clark (Just wanted to say that!) On White
Dr, James White has challenged Dr. R.Scott Clark to defend his remarks that baptists cannot be considered "reformed" in his recent blog entry. Dr. Clark does not need my help in doing so. I will leave that to him as a very capable theologian. However, while reading Dr. White's post, my mind was drawn to our Form For the Administration of The Lord's Supper, where it states, among other things, the grievous sins for which one ought to withhold one self from Holy Supper. The list includes, but is not limited to "all despisers of God, and of his Word, and of the holy sacraments".
Now before we get all upset and say that it is unfair to apply these words to baptists (yes, even those that hold to the First or Second London Confessions), lets take a step back and see if the clothes make the man. If they do, then we need to let the objective Word of God speak. Let us also remember, that many of our baptist brethren, in holding the to the conviction of their own understanding of the Word, would withhold Holy Supper from any who had not been baptized. Consistent baptists would recognize that if their system of thought is true, and baptism means immersion, then to have been sprinkled (thus not immersed), would mean not baptism has actually taken place. And if baptism is a requirement of Communion, then only immersed persons will be admitted. Further, if baptism is to be applied only to those who have made a credible profession of faith, then persons who were baptized as infants were not the proper recipients of the right, and therefor, again, are not truly baptized. Many, if not most rank-and-file reformed baptist churches consistently hold this view, looking, in essence, upon those of us who hold to paedo-baptism, as "despisers of God, and of his Word, and of the holy sacraments" in our own right. We are disobedient, and in effect, rebellious. Especially those of us that understand both sides! That is why they deny us the sacrament of Holy Supper in their communion.
So let's not get upset with the words of our form. The strict and particular baptist, as well as the reformed baptist hold us to the same standard we hold them to. It cuts both ways.
Dr. White, in his entry states this:
But I cannot tell you how often I hear my Presbyterian brethren handle this text in the exact same fashion as the Jehovah's Witnesses handle John 14:28 (it ends up being merely "the Father is greater than I am") or Arminians handle Matthew 23:37 ("how often I wanted to gather you but you would not"). The clear indication of tradition is seen in how Acts 2:39 is truncated in the thinking of my brothers so that it is simply "the promise is to you and to your children." What is the promise? What is the context? Why leave off the rest of the sentence both in meaning and application? The promise is for the Jews who heard Peter, to their children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." The promise of forgiveness upon faith and repentance, along with the promise of the Holy Spirit, is for Jew ("you and your children") and Gentile ("to all who are far off") based upon God's electing grace ("as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself"). Changing this to merely a statement about "you and your children" involves an eisegetical shift in hermeneutics that my Presbyterian brethren would never allow in discussing the Trinity, justification, or the resurrection, but when it comes to this one topic, all of a sudden things change.
First, I think it is incredible that Dr. White would compare the reasoning of the vast majority of the historic Reformed faith in Acts 2, to the reasoning methods of a cult. The remark is beyond unfair, its vitriolic. If I said that Dr. White's handling of the text was in the exact same fashion as the Christadelphians would that be a sign of fair play? But Reformed theologians do not truncate the passage, they parse it, and that properly. Even Calvin recognizes that the the words of Peter in Acts 2:39 have far reaching implications. "And we must note these three degrees, that the promise was first made to the Jews, and then to their children, and last of all, that it is also to be imparted to the Gentiles" (Calvin on Acts 2:39) . But Calvin, and the rest of the historic Reformed faith recognizes that within the 3 degrees spoken by Peter, each degree has its own meaning, and Calvin rightly points out the Abrahamic reference in the first degree. That is the focal point of the debate, the context of the first clause, not the truncating of it. There is a big difference. Dr. White simply paints with a broad brush and insists, "The promise of forgiveness upon faith and repentance, along with the promise of the Holy Spirit, is for Jew ("you and your children") and Gentile ("to all who are far off") based upon God's electing grace ("as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself")." He goes on to say, "Changing this to merely a statement about 'you and your children' involves an eisegetical shift in hermeneutics…". I do not know of a single Reformed or Presbyterian commentator of any note, dead or alive, that reduces this text to "merely a statement about 'you and your children' ". Perhaps Dr. White is speaking about personal experience with some Reformed folk, but we desire to remain objective and look at the passage as it is historically understood by the faith of our fathers, and the sound exegesis produced by them.
Dr. White insists that we look at the context before we rule on the meaning. We agree. Context is key.
Who was standing before Peter and the other apostles during that sermon? Well a list is given to us in Acts 2, verses 9-11, "Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.".
So in front of Peter on that wonderful day stood Jews and proselytes from many nations. Men and women who were devout in the religion of the Old Testament. And what was their understanding of the doctrine of the Covenant to that very moment? It was the understanding of Abraham. Genesis 17:7 "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." For thousands of years, this was the understanding of the Covenant; it is the seed-bed of reasoning in the mind of the hearers. All that they are listening to from the lips of Peter is filtered through this ancient understanding. The baptist would like us to believe that the broad brush anabaptistic generalization of Acts 3:39 is the right one. However, Dr. White is the one engaging in eisegetical hermenutics by truncating 2000 years of pre-Christ theological understanding, and in essence placing in Peter's mouth, "Look, I know that your children were in the covenant 2 months ago, but surprise! They're now out." Never mind that Peter employs Abrahamic language in verse 39. Never mind that he does not take time to explain to the hundreds, perhaps thousands of Jews listening to him that the most basic and fundamental aspect of the covenant has now been removed; that their children were "in" a few weeks ago, but now since the resurrection, they are no longer covenant members. No explanation, no reasons given by Peter. We just assume that they are now "out" based on a completely novel anabaptistic interpretation founded on a dispensational-esque hermeneutic with no place in serious exegeisis in 1600 years of the Christian Church. I think the Jew would have looked at Peter and said, "Thank you sir, but we will keep the covenant that our children are in." In other words, why not let the bulk of sound systematization of the doctrine of the Co
venant for the past 2040 BC years stand, and 1600 years AD stand? Never mind engaging with Dr. White in all the exigetical apparati of the two sides that have been at a standstill for 450 years. That horse is beaten to death. We have books and minds, we can read the arguments on both sides. But our theological grid is everything. Context is everything, and in my mind, the deciding factor. Within our Reformed framework, the New Testament, and the New Covenant (read "renewed" and upon better promises), makes much better sense in light of Peter's words and maintains the continuity of the covenant.
This will not change the minds of reformed baptists, but it should demonstrate why, on the subject of the sacrament of baptism, we cannot call them Reformed. Dr. Clark is right. Being Reformed IS defined by the Covenant. Baptists are wrong on the covenant. You do the math.


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Alibaba's IPO breaks the world record
The total value of Alibaba shares sold as part of the IPO reached $25 billion after underwriters exercised their options, making it the largest ...
Alibaba's IPO breaks the world record
The total value of Alibaba shares sold as part of the IPO reached $25 billion after underwriters exercised their options, making it the largest ...
E-retailer Wayfair values itself at over $2 billion
The home furnishings retailer set the value as it filed additional paperwork for its planned initial public offering of stock. The company aims to ...
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Sponsored by 2013 Social Media 300
To nearly 24% of online buyers, the answer is "yes," suggest survey data from Bizrate Insights.
We've been hearing so much about same-day delivery that we thought we would delve into what customers really think, need, want—and will pay for.
It depends: Products sold, Price point and retail footprint are influential
Over 100,000 online buyers answered Bizrate Insights' question on whether or not same-day delivery from the retailer from which they just bought was important—and nearly 24% said "yes." Looking at the category level, you see Gifts & Flowers and Computer Software (for which purchases are often downloaded) among others driving demand. We also took a look at luxury and higher end apparel retailers with retail store locations available in many major cities and see above average demand for Same Day Delivery.
It depends: The availability of alternate choices
What online retailers also need to consider is how many customers balk or consider abandonment because same-day delivery is not offered. For those customers that completed their purchase online, nearly 6% considered going elsewhere to buy for same-day delivery if it wasn't already offered (n=79,904). For those customers who abandoned at the cart or checkout, only 1.1% did so because their order would not arrive in time for when they needed it.
Other Considerations: Order arrival timing vs. delivery costs
Once you get past the importance of the same-day delivery option and customers' consideration of abandonment, you are left facing the question of cost. Both the high cost of same-day delivery and which is more important to online buyers—cost or order arrival date—factor into demand. Overwhelmingly, of the nearly 130,000 online buyers we asked, most are more concerned with costs!
What are online buyers willing to pay for same-day delivery? And what do they expect to pay? Most customers expect to pay more ($27.01 on average) than they would like to spend ($21.56 on average).
The Bottom Line
From what we see thus far, customers want same-day delivery, but at this point it is a too-expensive, nice-to-have option rather than a requirement to win their business. Unless, of course, you are sending flowers at the last minute!
BizRate Insights surveys online consumers on behalf of clients and provides ratings of retailers based on consumers survey data.
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If there's something you've bought offline that you weren't able to buy online, we're probably thinking about that."