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Monday, September 27, 2010
Trek Life - "Back In Demand" Prod. By Oddisee [Free Download]
Trek Life & recently collaborated for a djbooth.net freestyle. The track is called "Back In Demand". Check it out at djbooth.net
In other news, Trek's album "Everything Changed Nothing" is available on vinyl over at FatBeats.com. You can also purchase the album on iTunes. If you dig the album, feel free to let Trek know. Links below to Trek online, peace.
Trek Life - Back In Demand - Listen Now
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Eid Mubarak
Eid Mubarak to all my brothers & sisters! Today was the first time I've had lunch in over 30 days. The first lunch after Ramadan has always been a special one for me. I just appreciate it so much more. Today I took my brother to Qualia coffee off of Georgia ave. in Washington, DC. We had Veggie feta wraps, couscous & olives, jasmine loose tea, Ethiopian iced coffee & cherry crumble.If you're in DC or plan on visiting, please stop by Qualia. The coffee is amazing!
Qualia's Address
3917 Georgia ave. NW
Washington, DC
Two blocks away from Georgia ave/Petworth Station
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Toine Stopped By
Toine of DTMD stopped by today. I was working on a beat before he arrived & decided to collaborate with him on it. It came out dope! Expect to hear it in the near future on Mello Music Group compilation. Despite another day of amazing weather, the session was indoors. When recording, birds & dogs in the background just don't seem to work, no matter how hard I try.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Making Beats Outside
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Trek Life In The LA Times
Trek got a great write up & interview in the LA Times, check it out. Read the article below or visit the LA Times.
Trek Life is so L.A. He bleeds purple and gold, bumps Battlecat and name-drops the oft-forgotten Funkdoobiest in interviews. That's as L.A. as you can get for someone whose formative years were split between the city itself and West Covina. Yet Trek waves the flags of both the Inland Empire and the 310/323/818 axis.
He's of the generation that came up on both Death Row and Project Blowed. His first experience rapping came in the mid-'90s, over will.i.am's earliest beats, back when he went by the name Will-1X. He learned how to make records firsthand by watching Atban Klann (Black Eyed Peas 1.0) and Blood of Abraham, two of Ruthless Records' less menacing outfits. He came up attending the famous Unity nights and even attempted to battle Myka 9 as a callow teenager.
Flash forward a decade and a half and Trek's sophomore release, "Everything Changed Nothing," is one of this year's finest local rap records, a thoughtful, well-crafted effort from an MC versed in regional history and his place in it. It helps when you have a slate of beats from Washington, D.C.'s Oddisee, who has rightfully asserted his place at the helm of producers working underneath whatever passes for the mainstream.
The genesis for the record came when the East Coast producer came west and sifted through Trek's old record collection: Freestyle Fellowship, Pharcyde and old Ice Cube records, from G-funk to the subterranean thump of the L.A. underground. The result never feels like sonic tourism. Oddisee's sojourn allowed him to soak up the vibes from the scorching sunshine, swaying palm trees and freeway funk. Meanwhile, Trek artfully uses the canvasses to spin tales of his daughter, cookouts to celebrate law school graduations, and black migration to the West Coast.
Released late last month on nascent indie hip-hop imprint Mello Music Group, "Everything Changed Nothing" is smart without being strident, and never loses its sense of place. In belated honor of its release, Trek is premiering "Due West," and explaining to Pop & Hiss why he's so L.A.
You went to a lot of Unity Shows as a teen, which is often regarded as one of the last great communal spots for L.A. hip-hop. Does any memory stand out most to you?
The most amazing show I saw was Mos Def at the El Hacienda. He had a glass of water, a mike and a stool, and would just go back and forth performing songs, taking sips of water, and then explaining the song like a jazz player -- right down to what the weather was like when he recorded it. Then he'd perform the next cut and completely wild out.
What happened when you tried to battle Myka 9?
I was a teenager and tried to battle him at Project Blowed. He just gave me a crazy look like 'What are you doing?' So it didn't actually go as planned. It's one of those stories that my friends laughed about back home in West Covina.
When you were growing up, was there a pretty well-established local hip-hop community in Covina or were you guys coming to L.A. every weekend?
There was a very strong local community, but it was strongly high school-based. I don't know if this is true for subsequent generations, but for us, high schools were the main vein. You'd hear about a battle at W. Covina High or a cipher at Rowland High.
Then there were the parties and that's how I got in. A guy named Jinx threw parties locally and he was our connection outside of the city. He was the one that put everyone on and introduced me to Project Blowed and Atban Klann, back when they were still called Grass Roots.
What was will.i.am. like back then?
Almost exactly the same as he is now. He was hungry, very much a musician and a very creative person. He was just learning how to play the Rhodes and how to produce.
How has working with Oddisee improved you as an artist?
Our independent grinds sharpen each other. He'll say he wants to do something and if the doors are closed, he'll find a way to open them. If a booking agent won't book us in Europe, we'll do it ourselves. He sharpened the way I create too -- not necessarily the way I created music, but the way I approached it. I learned that there needs to be a story built into every record. Oddisee is big on people getting to know you, and he'd be critical if he felt I didn't give the audience enough of a perspective on who I am.
How did the song 'Due West' come about? Were you pretty well-versed in the history of black migration west or did you do research?
That came from conversations when I was on tour with Oddisee and Diamond District. Them being from the East Coast and touring with a West Coast person, we talked a lot about family history. Odd's family is from Sudan and people often think L.A. black history starts with gang-banging. Yet we've been here a lot longer than Crips and Bloods. So I started asking my mother and father about how they got here, and my grandma talked to me about moving from Louisiana to California. The main point of the song was that I want to hear other cultures tell their perspective. I can speak on what it's like as a young black male, but I want to hear 2Mex tell his story, and so on and so on.
It's obviously a broad question, but what does being from L.A. mean to you?
L.A. is the city that's too diverse to gentrify. There are so many cross sections of people who interact so consistently. If you and I were out of town and say I mentioned Unity, we could have a two-hour conversation about that and other things. You could be from the Valley and I could be from West Covina, but we'd probably know four or five of the same people. It's a huge city, but it's small as far as people knowing each other. To me, that's the greatness of Los Angeles and why I would never want to leave. There's just so much to learn here.
You just spoke a moment ago about getting who you are across to people. To someone who was unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe yourself?
I'm a typical Angeleno in many ways. I'm a father and a worker. I have my big schemes of success. I represent the common duality of the city -- the person who sees the bright lights of the big city, but doesn't necessarily live in it. The individual who knows what it's like to be underclass -- someone who's not that well-known yet, but is capable of stepping outside the box and being the biggest thing.
How has being a father impacted your approach to music?
I really think about I write now, because I know that later on, she's going to listen to Daddy's records. It makes me feel that I can't be mediocre, because I want her to look up to me as a road map and see what her dad did, and so that there's no reason why she'd have to fear something like trigonometry. That's why I started writing songs like "Ready to Live," because I can't complain because of her. No matter how hard life gets, I have my little girl and the responsibility that comes with it.
Who are your favorite L.A. rappers?
Ice Cube is my favorite MC. of all time. The Pharcyde. Freestyle Fellowship. As far as right now, I'm a big fan of Richard Wright and Skeme.
What's next for you?
I'm working on a project with DJ Babu -- tentatively titled "Fire Outside." Since Babu produced my first official 12-inch and helped put me on, it's high time that we did a project together. "Everything Changed Nothing" was about establishing my place and where I'm from. In the future, I think I'll have a broader perspective factoring in my experiences traveling.
You recently had your album release party at Fat Beats, and that's going to be one of the final ones there. What do you think the local hip-hop community is missing with the demise of the store?
It's a huge loss in terms of the community aspect. We still have Amoeba, but the thing about Fat Beats is that it wasn't just about records. It was a meeting place, the spot where I met DJ HouseShoes, where Kev Brown and LMNO did their in-store. It's devastating to the actual recording community, and it's going to be hard to see it go.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
[Free Download] Cortez "Make A Star"
New track from my homie Cortez titled "Make A Star" off his up & coming mix-tape "The Journey" dropping September 28th. I produced this track & it's the first leak off his new project, Check it out.
Click Here to download---> "Make A Star"
Catch up on Cortez:


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Coney Island Mini Skirt In Twilight Flowers Twilight Flowers
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Skirt by Ganni, Printed woven fabric, High rise, Stretch waist, Regular fit - true to size, Machine wash, 100% Viscose, Our model wears a UK S/ EU S/ US XS and is 179cm/5'10.5� tall. ABOUT GANNI Danish label Ganni work with an aim to create wardrobe classics for the independent woman. Working as a creative hub, no one designer is behind the label, with the concept being driven by a talented team of designers and artists. Not dictated by trends; simple shapes are deconstructed creating a powerful combination of classic and contemporary with a unique twist. An online exclusive to ASOS sees Ganni adding a directional footwear collection to complement their main range; expect ankle boots, contemporary flats and block heels.

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Happy Birthday Baby Girl Lovie Lamb – Personalized
Product Description
Give a birthday gift that is fun and great for snuggling with. This little lovie lamb is adorable and cute. Any young child will love to cuddle up with this little lovie and they will not want to part with it, as they hold it in their little hands. The great thing about lovies is that they will grow with the child, who will become attached to them, and never want to part with their special friend. This lovie lamb is specially designed for birthdays, and it can be personalised for your child. The snuggly lamb is made of soft polar fleece and the blankie portion is trimmed with silk fabric and measures 23-in x 17-in. Her new lamby will be a favorite bedtime companion for many years to come.
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{image-Asus-unveils-Windows-8-ready-27â-ET2701-All-in-One-PC.jpg www.gizbot.com}
Asus has recently introduced the ET2701 All-in-One PC Series— an AiO PC with a frameless 10-point capacitive touch screen optimized for the Windows 8 experience through precise touch inputs. It utilizes a VA panel that delivers a wide-view 178° angle on both horizontal and vertical planes.
The ET2701 is coupled with an enhanced version of SonicMaster technology, DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC technology, and a bundled external subwoofer that takes the audio and visual capabilities of AiO PCs to the next level.
The ET2701 features built in SonicMaster technology optimized by audio experts — it features a finely-tuned digital signal processor that produces every note in pristine clarity with near-zero distortion. Also onboard is DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC™ ll audio technology, which delivers the most realistic, three-dimensional sensation of being completely surrounded by sound.
The ET2701 comes with an external subwoofer with a 580cc resonance chamber dedicated to low-range frequency audio signals that provides a rich bass response never before heard in Asus AiO PCs.
The ET2701 features a 27" screen that is ideal for both personal and shared multimedia entertainment. Its 1920 x 1080 Full HD LED backlit display comes with a high contrast ratio to deliver life-like HD images; its VA panel eliminates color shift and delivers a wide-view 178° angle on both horizontal and vertical planes to ensure stunning visuals from most angles. The optional Blu-ray combo drive and TV-tuner card gives users added entertainment options.
The ET2701 comes with a slew of convenient features that make it easy to surf the web, browse through movies and music libraries, or edit photos. The capacitive 10-point touch screen gives users precise fingertip control; giving them the ability to manipulate and navigate touch-optimized apps through intuitive pinch-zoom, swipe, scroll, or rotate gestures.
The ET2701 also comes with two USB 3.0 ports, along with a HDMI input port that turns it into a 27" display for game consoles. VESA-mount compatibility also enables the ET2701 to be wall mounted.


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at first i'm a newbie in this software. I'm Thai people and interesting about new medias.
Now I've an art project for install in gallery. In my project, I want to project the sun images over everybody that walk in front of my wall like this :
There is a white wall and when people walking pass or stand around there, My projector will be project images of sun (.png or video) over their heads. and wherever that they wanna walk that sun will follow them until they will walk out from my wall.
so, now I can get realtime video from my camera already. and I change brightness/contrast/saturation for make image from camera to black and white, because it have to make it to easy to track sun video.
Now how to specify a video position on people head and make it follow them???
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Today's Featured Artist: Michael Godard
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Mad Hatter iphone 5 case by Stephanie Necessary. Protect your iPhone 5 with an impact-resistant, slim-profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your iPhone 5 for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone's features!
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Mad Hatter from my Alice in Wonderland set.
Protect your iPhone 5 with an impact-resistant, slim-profile, hard-shell case. The image is printed directly onto the case and wrapped around the edges for a beautiful presentation. Simply snap the case onto your iPhone 5 for instant protection and direct access to all of the phone's features!
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Paths to MCNY: Layla St. Hilaire
by Ren Evans on August 17, 2015 in Paths To MCNY, Uncategorized with No Comments »
Layla St. Hilaire was born and raised in New York City. Her family is from Grenada and she tries to visit her Grandmother there as often as she can. Layla joined the work force immediately after finishing high school. She often told herself she would go to college but other things got in the way. With the encouragement of a close friend and former MCNY student, as well as the support of several of her clients, Layla made the call and enrolled at MCNY in Human Services.
Before coming to MCNY, Layla worked as a home health aide. Currently, she works for the NYC Housing Authority. Her favorite part of working in the home health field was the great relationships she built with clients. Working with people is a skill that comes naturally to her.
Layla's goal at MCNY is not only to get her degree but to learn more about herself and others. The demands of work and school keep her busy but she enjoys staying active and finds learning to be an enjoyable experience. In the future, Layla hopes to work with people with developmental disabilities.


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You'll all be glad (or otherwise) to hear that I've finally got my hands on a production Nikon Coolpix 950 which I'll be reviewing over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully the review will be up before next weekend. I'll also be doing a direct comparison with the Canon Pro 70 (separate from the main review).
Here are a few very quick samples I've taken in the first hour with the camera. Don't draw any conclusions from this, I just wanted to share a couple of shots with all those people who are interested in this camera.
(click on any thumbnail for the original untouched image)
Please don't draw any conclusions about the camera or my shooting from these shots, they're literally taken from the first few shots out of the camera. I'll be starting the review proper as soon as possible and you won't see any more out of the camera until the review is complete


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Brownie Troop bridging ceremony cake. The little girls are asked by what right do they ask to cross the bridge to Junior Scouts and as one they respond "By the right of our wings". So sweet to picture all the little girls happily waiting with their new golden wings to cross over to Juniors!
Bliss Pastry, Deland, Florida https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bliss-Pastry/123883354373830


text: A Mario and Miyamoto For NightmaresLuke Plunkett1/12/11 5:30amFiled to: NsfwThe HorrorMarioNintendoHumorCultureClips173EditPromoteShare to KinjaToggle Conversation toolsGo to permalinkI never thought I'd see the day when the worlds of the Mushroom Kingdom and a Tool video intersected, but it appears 2011 is going to be full of surprises. Advertisement This isn't for the impatient, or the faint of heart, but there's an eerie vision of the future to be found by sticking around to the end. Past the "Money for Nothing" Mario and the frankly unsettling Miyamoto. It's tough to imagine now, but just as silent movies and the fireside chats by the wireless sound faintly ridiculous to us today, so too will the games of today be a relic to the gamers of tomorrow.Even if the gamers of tomorrow probably won't look so damn horrific.Reply173 repliesLeave a reply


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Bettmeralp is situated at 1.957 m above sea level in the canton of Valais. The community has 444 inhabitants and covers an area of 26,4 km².
Mean annual temperature is 2,8 degree Celsius, annual precipitation is 1.091 mm. Rainfall is at its highest in December at 117 mm, at its lowest in September at 59 mm. It's warmest in July, coolest in January.
The villages of Riederalp-Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp are situated on a sunny terrace high above the Rhone Valley at about 2000 metres. Holidaymakers will enjoy their stay in this traffic-free region (only accessible by cable-car).
No matter which village of the Aletsch-Plateau you choose for your holidays, it will always be right in the centre of the ski area. Skiers and snowboarders find perfect conditions on the Eggishorn Mountain. A total of 36 lifts serve more than 100 kilometres of pistes. The snow-capped peaks allow a fantastic view to the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps.
A number of marked winter walking trails are available in the Aletsch region. The 2335 metre Moosfluh Mountain is one of the absolute highlights: from here even the Jungfraujoch can be spotted.
In summer 150 km of hiking trails and 300 km of mountain bike routes run through gentle Alpine meadows set against the backdrop of the impressive Aletsch Glacier.
The mountain area of Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn was the first region in the Alps on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which includes natural sites like Grand Canyon or Galapagos-Islands.
Very close: Riederalp, Fiescheralp
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Three-Way Panel Mount PWC Switch
This universal waterproof switch can be used to run dual bilge pumps; one or two at a time or running lights and a bilge pump!
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What objects would I want to use to list files in a directory and possibly move/rename/delete them or can Max even do this?
AFAIK there are three possibilities:
1. use folder external, but it will only provide a list of files in a directory 2. look at shell external (osx only), over at maxobjects.com 3. or otherwise if you want cross-platform, u could look into writing your own java based tools.
The [fscopy] external included in the Jasch bundle can do this on Mac OSX machines.
I'm on a windows machine, so I'm pretty much SOL? :-(
Have a look in the Examples Overview for jsFileTester which can copy files. It is a javascript so will work on windows too but will be a fair bit slower than a custom external. Hopefully this will help a bit.
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I find it strange to think that almost two full years have passed since my eldest child started school. It doesn't feel anything like that long since we were proudly dressing him in his crisp, blue uniform on that first early Autumn morning.
Nothing compares to the way I felt that day. My stomach churned with butterflies from the moment I opened my eyes. I can vaguely recall my nervy anticipation of my own very first day in school, all those years ago, yet I felt infinitely more anxious when it was my child taking those brave steps into the next chapter of his life.
His behaviour was excellent that morning. He gathered his things together – the pencil case he was so proud of, his little notepad, a water bottle – and I asked him what he planned to take them all to school in. He paused for thought, and meekly said he would fetch a plastic bag out of the cupboard under the sink. My heart exploded a tiny bit more. We presented him with the Toy Story rucksack that we had saved to be a First Day Surprise. He was delighted.
We walked as a family down the picturesque country lane that led to the school. Dad had taken the day off work to share the experience with us all. We had our one year old with us, too, and I was pregnant with our third.
Father and son walked hand in hand in front of me, our little boy wearing his smart, new rucksack with pride as I took an unnecessary number of photographs, desperate to capture every last moment of this pivotal day in his life and terrified of the thought that I might forget something. It turns out I needn't have worried. I would never forget this day.
I felt like an imposter as we walked into the school amongst all these parents of older children who looked like they knew what they were doing. New, unfamiliar territory that was destined to become such an integral part of our lives. It was incredibly surreal.
We stood in the playground holding our son's hand, waiting for something to happen. He was excited, but he looked like a bewildered little bunny in the headlights. The playground was noisy and wild. First day back, lots of children very excited to see each other. I couldn't help but feel like I was throwing him into the lions' den. He was still so tiny with his hunched little shoulders, the last remnants of his puppy-fat cheeks a distinct reminder of his all-too-recent toddlerhood. Could he really be ready for school?
And there it was – a noise I hadn't heard since my final day of school. So many memories flashed through my mind as the shrill school bell reverberated through the playground. The moment had actually arrived.
We settled him in his classroom and exchanged pleasantries with his new teacher. This woman I was entrusting to care for my baby. I felt like I should be interviewing her, interrogating her, making sure she was fit for the job. But I had to trust the system and pray for the best. It felt so unnatural.
It was over all too quickly and before we knew it we were walking the other way back down that country lane, one child lighter, tears rolling down my cheeks.
Nothing could have prepared me for the rollercoaster that having a schoolchild has turned out to be.
The tearful pride and elation I felt when my child arrived home each day with new skills and knowledge that he had absorbed all by himself. When he read his first book to me. I just can't begin to explain that feeling.
The sick lump in my throat and the aching, heavy heart each time he returned home saying nobody would play with him today, and that he sits alone on the mushroom seats at break. The lost nights of sleep, the endless stream of letters I wrote and never sent, the torturous suffering.
The solace I found in the fact that the woman who was taking care of my baby was not only a great teacher but also a loveable character. A teacher who looked out for the kids and took care of them. Maternal.
The darkest depths of guilt I was plunged into when I somehow missed the memo about Harvest Festival, and found out that my boy had to borrow a tin to take to the front in assembly when the other kids had bags or baskets, and wondered where I was because other mums or dads came to watch. He had forgotten about it by the end of that afternoon. I still grieve for that missed opportunity to this day.
The way you are thrown in at the deep end with stuff. They don't wean you in gently. Charity sales. Discos. Fancy dress days (parenting points lost for shop-bought costumes). Nativity plays. School trips. After school clubs. Fêtes. Parents evenings. All with approximately 5 minutes notice. Woah, woah, woah. I'm still wrapping my mind around the fact that he's in school.
The endless frustration, after spending all day wishing I could be a fly on the wall, desperate to know what he is doing, how he is getting on, for him to arrive at the gates and tell me he's forgotten everything about the day, every day.
The interesting playground politics, and I don't mean the kids. The diverse range of cliques. The rich ones. The gossip queens. The smokers behind the fence. The childminders. The nans. The hippies. The PTA mums. The late ones. The snooty ones. The stragglers.
The relief when he finally clicked in with a great little gang of kids. Life was looking good. Watching them play together. Kids charging around, learning about the world, having fun together. This is how it should be. I began to think that having a child in school wasn't all that bad, after all.
The endless stream of parties. Weekend after weekend, each one more extravagant than the last.
The bittersweet emotions when we decided to relocate to the other side of the world, the place we had always dreamed of raising our children, after only a year. The upheaval he would go through. The fact that he would lose his friends. The unknown. The tears of sadness on his last day. How much we'd grown to love that school. You don't know what you've got until it's gone.
The awe, the excitement, the anticipation of his new school. Everything is so different here. Sure, we loved his last school… but this one has a beach! And a forest! No more stiff school uniforms. The kids can go barefoot. The parents don't stand around in one huge gang in the playground here… so how do you meet people? An earlier start. An earlier finish.
The devastation when it all went so horribly wrong. When all the kids told him he was stupid and annoying over and over again in his first week. When I got that first awful report that he had lashed out in anger. Then the second. And the third. Nobody would play with him because he's the kid who hits. And he hits because nobody will play with him and they all call him names. The turmoil. Is my child a bully? Is my child being bullied? How unhappy he became. How withdrawn. No more playdates. No more parties. Nobody wanted to know him. The reject. He was angry. Always so angry. Life was so difficult. He hated me for taking him away from his friends. I have ruined his life, he told me, time and time again. The guilt, the sickening guilt. Why didn't we just stay where we were? How could we have done this to him?
The gratitude we felt to have fallen into the hands of a second great teacher. A teacher who tried so hard to help him integrate. Another maternal role model he grew to trust.
The relief we felt when things slowly began to change. Bit by bit, over the coming months, he settled in. The kids began to accept him. His horrible behaviour calmed down. He wasn't angry all the time any more. He talked about his day. I began to feel like I was getting my boy back.
The little changes.
Mum, what's for dinner?
What did you just call me? Mum? What happened to Mummy?
I can't call you Mummy any more Mummy, I mean Mum, that's so uncool!
The crazes. Oh, the crazes. Dreamworks cards! I need more Dreamworks cards! I'm taking them in to swap. I need White Shadow. Mum, Mum, I swapped all my cards until they were all gone. The tears. The life lesson. RAINBOW LOOMS! Forget cards! I need RAINBOW LOOMS! How do I use my rainbow looms? Can I take them to school? Mum, all my rainbow looms got taken! More tears. The following day, Mum, I swapped a lollipop for an arm full of rainbow looms! I've learned how to make rainbow looms! All I can talk about is rainbow looms! SHOES WITH WHEELS IN THEM MUM I NEED SOME SHOES WITH WHEELS IN THEM THEY'RE SOOOOOO COOL! WOW MUM THESE ARE THE COOLEST THINGS EVER! I am one of the COOL kids now!
The hole that finds its way into your pockets. How much stuff costs, and how much gets lost. Lost pencil cases. Lost slippers. Lost water bottles. Lost swimming gear. Lost chapstick. Lost clothing. Lost books. Lost everything.
The people you get to know and the friendships that begin to unfold. A new life.
The speed at which the day flies by with a child in school. The eager anticipation with which you await your child's arrival at the end of the school day. The uncertainty of not knowing what mood he will come out in. Whether he will have happy tales or sad tales to tell about the day.
The way I live and breathe every last moment with him, but can't be there to hold his hand.
The music lessons. The soccer practice. The swimming club.
The routines.
The homework.
The tired ends to the day.
It has not been an easy ride, and we have a very, very long way left to go. At times I have detested it, resented it. I have written letters saying I want to pull him out and home school him, and never sent them. I have worried myself sick. Cried myself to sleep. Spent so many nights awake. Had so many rants. Held him so close.
However, amid all the stress and the difficulties there has been hope. Happiness. A bright future. I look at my schoolchild now and I am so filled with love and pride. He is so much taller. So much slimmer. His legs are hairy. His face is angular. He is so insightful. So inquisitive. So eager to learn. So talkative. So friendly. So mischievous. He loves his lessons. He loves his teachers. His world revolves around toilet humour, his friends, his teacher, his family, and whatever the latest craze is. He reads and writes so well. He has so much potential.
I have changed so much as a parent since my child started school. Life is so different. Such a strange experience. But now, just about, it feels normal.


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Survivor is built on a shatter-resistant polycarbonate frame clad in rugged, shock absorbing silicone. A built-in screen protector seals your Multi-Touch display from the outside environment, while hinged plugs seal the dock connector, camera lens, headphone port, hold switch and volume controls. The included stand clips on, then folds open for landscape viewing and typing.
How well does Survivor perform? You can view the entire Survivor line online at www.griffintechnology.com/survivor.
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Most of us living in the Yampa Valley are ecologically minded. We want to do things that are good for the environment.
Composting is an ideal way to reuse and recycle, however our environment makes it difficult, if not impossible. The summer nights are so cool and there is not enough heat in the winter to sustain the composting action.
But, there is one way to compost your kitchen scraps year-round -- Worm Composting.
All you need to get started is a container, material for moist bedding, and, of course, red worms. The container can be placed in your kitchen, laundry room, basement, or heated garage. It must be kept above 40 degrees but cannot get too hot. It works year-round as long as these conditions are maintained.
Worm composting containers are available in several garden supply catalogs. These units, which are made of plastic, usually have three or four trays stacked on a reservoir. For a less pricey container, make your own out of wood, plastic or recycled drawers. The container should be 8 to 12 inches deep and provide 1 square foot of surface area for each pound of food waste generated each week. Drill holes in the bottom to let moisture to drain and elevate with bricks or blocks to allow for air circulation.
Red worms are best suited for composting as they thrive on organic material. They are found in aged manure piles, active compost bins, or may be purchased. For 1 pound of food waste per week, you will need two pounds of worms (roughly 2,000).
Now you are ready to set up worm housekeeping. Shredded newspaper and cardboard (old pizza boxes are great), chopped up straw and dried grass clippings or leaves are suitable for bedding. When adding bedding, vary the material you use to provide more nutrients for the worms and richer compost. Dampen the bedding until it is as moist as a wrung-out sponge. Add the bedding to the container, fluffing it to create air spaces.
You are now ready to add your food waste to the container. Food waste includes fruit and vegetable peels, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells that have been rinsed and crushed. Do not use meats, dairy products, oily foods or grains. It is best to finely chop all food materials or process in a food processor. To add to the container, pull aside the bedding and bury the scraps deep in the bedding. Subsequent additions should be placed in a different part of the container.
The bedding will turn dark after about six weeks and will be ready for harvesting in about three months. The moisture that drains during the composting process is called worm tea and is an excellent fertilizer for houseplants when diluted with water.
The Internet offers several sites for more information on setting up and details on harvesting your worm compost.
Louise Poppen is a Master Gardener through the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office in Routt County. Questions? Call 879-0825 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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St. Nicholas Park
Manhattan Schist in New York City Parks - St. Nicholas Park
Schist, which can be seen in St. Nicholas Park, is an extremely strong and durable rock type. Deep below the buildings and busy streets of New York City, beneath the labyrinth of subway tunnels and stations, lies the geologic foundation that makes New York City unique in the world. This foundation consists of the city's five bedrock layers: Fordham gneiss, found primarily in the Bronx; Manhattan schist, in Lower and northern Manhattan; the Hartland Formation, in central Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens; Staten Island serpentinite, in Staten Island; and Inwood marble, in Manhattan and beneath the rivers that surround it. But it is Manhattan schist, the most prevalent bedrock in Manhattan, that makes the city's famed skyline possible.
Manhattan schist was formed about 450 million years ago, making it the second oldest of New York City's bedrocks, after Fordham gneiss. At that time, the continents of the world existed as a single supercontinent, called Pangea. The continents and oceans are not anchored down in a fixed position—they rest on landmasses called tectonic plates, which float on the earth's molten core. The plates shift continuously, colliding and separating, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and forming jagged mountain ranges.
A continental collision between what is now the East Coast of North America and the floor of the Atlantic Ocean pushed a layer of shale–a sedimentary rock composed of clay and sand–roughly nine miles into the molten core of the earth. There, the intense heat and pressure transformed the shale into a conglomeration of minerals, including quartz, feldspar, hornblende, and mica. The resulting metamorphic rock is known as schist. Subsequent continental shifts pushed the schist back to the surface. In some areas the schist has even been exposed. The massive rock formation that rises out of St. Nicholas Park is a visible sign of the Manhattan schist bedrock below. Schist can be recognized by its glittering appearance, which is caused by flecks of white mica within the rock.
Manhattan schist is found at various depths – from 18 feet below the surface in Times Square to 260 feet below in Greenwich Village. Where bedrock is far below the surface, skyscrapers are not practical because it is too difficult to reach the schist that provides structural stability and support. Consequently, there are few tall buildings in Greenwich Village, but skyscrapers stand in dense clusters in midtown where schist lies close to the surface. The schist formations in St. Nicholas Park display a rock whose importance cannot be overestimated—New York City reaches its towering heights because of this strong foundation.
Directions to St. Nicholas Park
- Arlington "Ollie" Edinboro Playground
- Manhattan Schist In New York City Parks - St. Nicholas Park
- Monarch Butterflies In New York City - Saint Nicholas Park
- St. Nicholas Park


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Losing Weight and Finding Motivation
Last week I went shopping for some new clothes. I hate clothes shopping and often get very frustrated. Expecting to not have any fun at all, I was a bit reluctant. However, I really needed some good clothes!!
Imagine my surprise when I had some decent luck. Not only did I find some clothes which fit, I had to request smaller sizes in practically all the tops and at least one pair of pants. I'm not sure that last time I had that particular experience. It was probably the time that I lost weight in school and got down to about 160 lbs, fitting into sizes 10-12. That was during graduate school and I was fasting one day/week and taking some sort of pills to boost my metabolism. Shame on me for not knowing exactly what they were, but my recollection is that they were some type of thyroid medication which were provided from the doctors at a medical weight-loss clinic.
This time, I'm not taking any unknown pills...ever. It just isn't copacetic with my new way of leading the life of an empowered patient. I want to know all about what is prescribed for me, everything I take, and how it is supposed to benefit my health. In fact, we should all take an active role in our health and healthcare.
Yesterday, I packed some of those new clothes and hopped a train to Philadelphia. It was an easy ride during which the time passed very quickly. Sitting nearby were two nurses who had just attended a conference in Baltimore regarding eHealth and teleMedicine. One of the nurses was a home healthcare nurse and when I heard that bit of information, I gave her big kudos and thumbs up. She asked if I was a nurse and I explained that I am a patient, one who lives with chronic illness and is friends to several other patients who do need the help of home care nurses.
Another train passenger nearby was very interested in talking to the ladies. He is someone who works on the rails of Amtrak (literally works the rails in maintenance and repairs). A bit of information which came up in discussion was that he smokes and drinks....plenty. One nurse suggested that he was a perfect example of "what not to do" as a patient or person who simply cares about their health. No, drinking a 12-pack of beer over the weekend is not a good idea no matter who you are or what the condition of your health is.
I laughed a bit to myself. Here I am trying to do better with eating well and steadily losing weight. Whether or not being overweight 'might' have contributed to developing two incurable, autoimmune, inflammatory diseases doesn't really matter. My health suffers now and his probably will later. The difference is that I'm doing something about it now.
As a result, I am very proud of myself to be succeeding. I have lost 44.3 pounds in 38 weeks. That's amazing in my book!! A steady 1.16 lbs/weeks which fits the recommended 1-2 lbs/week weight loss which is reasonable. At this rate, I will definitely achieve my desired 20% weight loss by the end of the year.
Before having started this year with a public journal of my own journey, I would not have believed that I could do this. I ignored the recommendations of doctors to lose weight for years, just like the Amtrak guy was ignoring the gentle suggestions that he should stop smoking or drinking (so much).
I'm not really sure why this attempt at taking control of my health is working so well. In one way, I don't really care; I'm just glad that it is. On the other hand, I'm interested in how more people could have a similar experience.
How do we use online tools or websites to motivate others to DO SOMETHING to improve their health? What can other people or companies do to help us help ourselves? These are things which I'm pondering this week while attending the ePatient Connections conference in Philadelphia.
Please share your thoughts below. Where do you find motivation to make positive changes?
September 19, 2010
Weight: 230.4 lbs
Blood Pressure: 125/75
Pulse: 67
September 26, 2010
Weight: 227.3 lbs
Blood Pressure:
Pulse:Weight Loss Year-to-Date:
Lisa Emrich is author of the blog Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA and founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers.


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on orders of $85 or more
An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2017
Wibourne Early OriginsThe surname Wibourne was first found in Kent where the family name was first referenced in the year 1212 when Wybern of Kent held estates at Keistret in that shire. Wibourne Spelling VariationsWibourne Spelling Variations Spelling variations of this family name include: Wyborn, Wyburn, Wybourn, Wiborn, Wiburn, Wybron, Whyborn, Whyburn, Wibourn, Wibourne and many more. Wibourne Early HistoryWibourne Early HistoryThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wibourne research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1241, 1275, 1455, 1487, 1533 and 1606 are included under the topic Early Wibourne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Wibourne Early Notables (pre 1700)Wibourne Early Notables (pre 1700)Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wibourne Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. The Great MigrationThe Great MigrationSome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John and James Wyborne settled in Boston, Mass in 1653; John Wyborne settled in New England in 1660; and another John Wyborn settled in 1760. MottoMottoThe motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto. Motto: Fama perennis erit Motto Translation: Thy fame shall be enduring. Wibourne Family Crest ProductsWibourne Family Crest ProductsSee AlsoSee AlsoCitationsCitationsOther References
The Wibourne Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Wibourne Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname. This page was last modified on 12 June 2015 at 08:26. Sign Up
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Aloha Tan
Come to Aloha Tan for your tanning needs. 275-1645
Come in and say you saw our website and receive 10% off your first visit, product, or massage!
Monday, January 3, 2011
January Special
All Monthly Unlimited Packages are $5.00 off their regular price and All Products are 20% off.
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Miriam: advice to skip session is from Heart, but it's also revenge for peers' no-show
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said Monday that she heeded the supposed advice of actress Heart Evangelista, her "surrogate" daughter, not to attend the Senate sessions to protect her health. At the same time, however, the senator admitted it was a form of revenge for the no-show of most colleagues, except for two, at the controversial hearing she called motu propio last Friday on resigned DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno.
In an apparent playful mood, Santiago said earlier Monday she is avoiding going to the Senate so as not to be exposed to stress that might push up her blood pressure.
"Heart Evangelista called me early today to say that I should no longer go to the Senate if I will only lose my temper," Santiago said, laughing.
She said she received a similar request from her only surviving child, Archie Santiago.
"Last Saturday evening, my son invited my husband and me to dinner at Greenhills. It turned out that he brought his entire family, including my grandkids so that they could all admonish me not to jeopardize my health. So I am under interdiction," she said.
Santiago said she will be absent this week, to show that she resents the "snub" shown to her during her committee hearing last Friday.
'Tit for tat: they snub me, I snub them'
"Tit for tat. If they snub my hearing, I will snub their session," Santiago said.
However, Senators Edgardo Angara and Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III denied there was a conspiracy between the Senate and Malacanang to snub the hearing on Puno last Friday.
They echoed the assertion made by Sen. Panfilo Lacson---who earlier admonished Sanago to simply follow Senate rules on the holding of inquiries---that framing the senators' absence from her hearing as the result of calls from Malacanang smacked of an "insult" to the senators.
Lacson said Sunday it was unfair of her to simply paint her peers as Palace stooges sans any proof, considering the hearing was called on short notice and questions were raised because she called an inquiry motu propio---without any privilege speech or any referral, as is the practice.
Even if he wanted to attend the hearing, Lacson added, he and Sen. Gregorio Honasan had a commitment to the PNP Foundation which had an out-of-town event that had been set months ago.
Despite the questions over Senate rules, Santiago pushed through with the hearing, which mustered a quorum with the appearance of Sens. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Alan Peter Cayetano. Santiago said she had asked the two senators to attend her hearing, but in a radio interview on Sunday, she said they attended because, after all, the hearing was aired live on national television and "they are reelectionists."
On Monday, other senators also took issue with Santiago's having painted them as Palace stooges for not attending her hearing.
"I am not in the country, I just arrived---how I can attend the hearing? But If I were here in the country, I'd certainly attend the hearing," said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws that Santiago chairs.
For his part, Sotto, ex-officio member of the committee, said there was no conspiracy to snub Santiago's hearing since two senators attended to constitute a quorum.
"Hindi ako makaka-attend, eh. Kahit ano pa ang katuwiran ng kahit sino. Meron ka na bang nakitang hearing dito na humigit sa dalawa ang dumalo? Kaya walang snub," Sotto said.
Sotto added that any decision by Santiago to snub the last session days before the break on Monday is "her call" because as long as there is a quorum, the functions of the Senate will continue.
"We don't have to name names as long as we have 13 (senators), we don't care who is present or absent, as long as we have a quorum," Sotto explained.
Santiago said it was obvious that there was a conspiracy between the Cabinet and certain senators, because in the excuse letter sent by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, he raised exactly the same questions raised by certain senators about the legality of Santiago's committee hearing.
"The Malacañang letter raises the issue of a lack of resolution passed by the plenary session. This is exactly the same issue raised by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Panfilo Lacson. I have already pointed out, for their education, that several provisions in the Senate Rules and the Senate rules concerning inquiries in aid of legislation strongly imply that there is no need for a formal resolution, if the committee has competent jurisdiction," she said.


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Healthy Mouth, Healthy Kids |
Root that Does Not Belong02/08/2011 |
In a trational exam and x-ray near tooth # 17 a root that should not be nor is attached to any tooth was shown it almost looks like it touches the jaw bone. My son is almost 12 years old. What is this and what is the treatment. Thank-you
It is difficult to give a diagnosis based on this information alone. It is not uncommon for roots of baby teeth to be seen in between adult teeth. However, this is a little far back for a baby tooth. A dentist would best be able to tell you if it is a broken root from another tooth, or possibly an area of bony growth.
Sarath Thikkurissy, DDS, MS Professor Director, Residency Program, Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |


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Every year, for as long as I can remember, my parents have prepared a huge (18-20 pound or more) turkey for our family on Thanksgiving Day. And every year, without fail, my mother or father prepares open-faced, hot turkey sandwiches with leftover turkey and gravy for days following.
You would think that the day after turkey day, the last thing any one of us would want would be more turkey. But I think on Thanksgiving Day itself, the turkey can take almost a back seat to the sides on the plate. There are just so many sides to choose from. But the next day? It's all about the turkey. And the gravy. The bread is there so you can call it a sandwich and eat it for lunch.
This really isn't a recipe as much as it is a tradition in our family. But if you've never made hot turkey sandwiches with your leftover turkey and gravy, here's how. It's as easy as it seems.
Hot Turkey Sandwich Recipe
PrintThe amounts are approximate, we never measure.
- 1 1/2 lb leftover turkey meat, sliced
- 1/2 cup or so of leftover turkey gravy
- Stock or water (to thin the gravy if needed)
- 4 large slices of rustic bread
1 Heat gravy in a skillet until bubbly. If the gravy is too thick, thin with a little stock or water.
2 Add pieces of sliced cooked turkey meat to the gravy. Coat with the gravy on all sides and heat until the meat is heated through.
3 Arrange a slice of bread (rustic French or Italian loaf would work great) on a plate. Top with sliced turkey and gravy.
Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to Hot Turkey Sandwich on Simply Recipes. Thank you!
PrintIf you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #simplyrecipes — We love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter!


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BRIEF-Gazit Globe Q4 FFO per share ILS 0.84
* Gazit-Globe reports year-end and fourth quarter 2016 financial results
* Putin signals no shift on Syria
* Says Obama is honest, but Romney could widen missile rift
* Says not meddling in Pussy Riot case
By Steve Gutterman
MOSCOW, Sept 6 President Vladimir Putin signalled in an interview aired on Thursday that Russia is not ready to shift its stance on Syria, and suggested Western nations were relying on groups such as al Qaeda to help drive President Bashar al-Assad from power.
In wide-ranging remarks to Russia's RT television, Putin held out hope for an end to a dispute with Washington on missile defence if President Barack Obama is re-elected, calling him "an honest person who really wants to change much for the better".
Putin took aim at Obama's Republican rival Mitt Romney, calling his criticism of Russia "mistaken" campaign rhetoric and suggesting that a Romney presidency would widen the rift over the anti-missile shield the United States is deploying in Europe.
In some of his most extensive public comments since he started a six-year term in May, Putin dismissed Western criticism on issues ranging from Syria to the conviction of three anti-government protesters from the punk band Pussy Riot.
Putin was asked whether Moscow should rethink its stance on Syria after vetoing three Western-backed U.N. Security Council resolutions designed to pressure Assad to end violence that has killed 20,000 people.
"Why should only Russia re-evaluate its position?" he said. "Maybe our partners in the negotiation process should re-evaluate their position."
Without naming any country, he hinted the United States was looking to militants to help topple Assad and would regret it, drawing a parallel with U.S. support for the mujahideen who fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan during the Cold War.
"Today somebody is using al Qaeda fighters or people from other organisations with the same extreme views to achieve their goals in Syria," Putin said. "This is a very dangerous and shortsighted policy."
He noted that the United States had imprisoned many alleged Islamic militants at Guantanamo Bay and said it might as well "open the gates to Guantanamo and let all the Guantanamo inmates into Syria, let them fight. It's the same thing".
Putin, who has signed laws in his new term that critics call part of a campaign to suppress dissent after the biggest protests of his 12 years in power, defended such actions as necessary to instil order and said he had taken steps to improve democracy.
"What is 'tightening the screws'?" he said, according to a Kremlin transcript. "If this means the demand that everyone, including representatives of the opposition, obey the law, then yes, this demand will be consistently implemented."
Putin used a mix of moral arguments and earthy language in an exchange on Pussy Riot, three of whose members were convicted of hooliganism and jailed for two years after performing a raucous anti-Putin protest song inside a Moscow cathedral.
He prodded the interviewer to translate the first word of the band's name and made an off-colour joke about the merits of group sex but also said that "the state is obliged to protect the feelings of believers".
He denied allegations from Pussy Riot's lawyers that he had influenced the trial.


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Argeleb II
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{{disambig-two|the tenth [[Kings of Arthedain|King]] of [[Arthedain]]|seventh King|[[Argeleb I]]}} | {{disambig-two|the tenth [[Kings of Arthedain|King]] of [[Arthedain]]|seventh King|[[Argeleb I]]}} | ||
{{royalty infobox | {{royalty infobox | ||
− | |image= | + | |image=[[File:Argeleb II.jpg|250px]] |
|name=Argeleb II | |name=Argeleb II | ||
|othernames= | |othernames= |
Revision as of 17:51, 14 November 2010
Template:Royalty infobox Argeleb II (T.A. 1473 - 1670, died aged 197) was the tenth king of Arthedain, and succeed his father, Araphor, upon his death in 1589, at the age of 116.
In 1601, the twelth year of Argeleb's reigh, many hobbits migrate from Bree so Argeleb granted them the land beyond the Baranduin to dwell in. These hobbits were joined in The Shire by Stoors from Dunland in c. 1630. Prior to this, the area of the Shire was unpopulated and was regarded at the king's hunting ground.
In 1636 the Great Plague devastated Gondor (the King, his children and the White Tree perished) and moved north to the lands of Argeleb's rule. Although the Great Plague decreased in severity as it moved north, there was still much suffering throughout Arnor: most of the people of Cardolan perished (especially those living in Minhiriath) including Cardolan's last prince. The last prince was burried in the Barrow-downs (in the same mound as Frodo was caught in), which was also about the time that evil-spirits started coming from Angmar to dwell in the Barrow-downs.
After having ruled for eighty-one years, he was succeeded by his son, Arvegil, upon his death in 1670.
Argeleb's name is Sindarin for "Silver King" from ar meaning "royal", and celeb (becoming lenited to geleb) meaning "silver". It is likely that Argeleb II was named after his great-grandfarther, Argeleb I
Isildur : : : Araphor | | ARGELEB II | | Arvegil | | Arveleg II
Preceded by: Araphor |
10th King of ArthedainIII 1589 - 1670
Followed by: Arvegil |


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Artist description:
OK well i saw the last Moon and Earth drawing that I did and it was missing something so this time decided to redo it on canvas draw and this time I think its finally complete... Hope you guys like it as well. No reference used since the beginning
Canvas Draw Created Jan 18, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 HOMILUIS.
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i think it looks amazing i love programmes about space there so interesting to watch i can imagine looking through a telescope and seeing this scene 5h fav
U rated my drawing saying good job so...... thank u soooooooo much homiluis & Good job 4 ur rawing Too.:)
Super Cool! Love the lights and the sparkle you made it have. I haven't learned that yet. I'm still pickin and pokin' lol.. Just a beautiful piece of art.


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I've seen the stories about schoolchildren who can't play dodge ball or tag anymore because of the fear from overprotective adults that kids might get "singled out," and I always roll my eyes in frustration. I understand the logic behind these decisions - I just don't agree with it. I feel the same way when I see stories like the one that appeared this week in the Rocky Mountain News regarding the death of Halloween in one Broomfield school:
There won't be little ghosts and goblins at Kohl Elementary School this Halloween. In a newsletter sent home to parents last week, principal Cindy Kaier wrote that the traditional Halloween party celebrated in classrooms each year will be replaced by a fall party. The party is Friday, and since it is focused on fall, not Halloween, kids can't wear costumes. Parents expressed frustration they weren't included in the decision. Kids are used to having parties on special occasions and holidays, so it's hard to explain a random Oct. 5 party to a kid, said parent Brook Kimber... ...The decision came after an ongoing discussion culminated two weeks ago in an "emotional" meeting with teachers, during which the discussion focused on school holiday parties and how Kohl could continue to celebrate without leaving out anyone. At the meeting Monday for parents and staff, Kaier said it was a hard decision. The Halloween party, which is organized by classroom parents, has morphed into a fall party over the past three years with an emphasis on fall, with leaves and pumpkins and less blood and guts, she said. Last year, kids in grades three through five voted on whether to wear costumes. Some classrooms chose to wear them, some did not. She pointed out the small percentage of kids who are left out because their parents can't afford costumes or because their families don't celebrate Halloween. Kaier and her staff also cited safety concerns when kids bring fake knives or blood to school as costume accessories. The party is only an hour and the more time it takes them to transform into Dracula, the less time they have to actually party, she said.
First off, citing the "safety concerns" of fake blood and knives is ridiculous. Is that four-foot-tall kid dressed like Freddy Krueger from "Nightmare on Elm Street" really a homicidal maniac, or is he just wearing a costume? What about the child dressed as a "Transformer?" Is he really an evil robot? Obviously the safety concern is the most ridiculous of the arguments for eliminating Halloween parties, but I don't agree with the other rationales, either. As the News writes:
No one, however, had a good way to include an uncomfortable kid whose family doesn't celebrate Halloween. "In my class of 26, if I've got one kid in the room that doesn't celebrate Halloween ... if I have to send one kid home because they feel weird or they feel ostracized, I have failed at my job," said fourth-grade teacher Jim Tingley.
I thought about this for awhile when I read that quote, and I completely understand where Tingley is coming from. But I still don't agree with him. In fact - and I don't want to single out Tingley here - I think we are actually failing our kids by doing everything we can to protect them from hurting their feelings. I fear that we are going to end up, 10 years from now, with a bunch of mis-adjusted adults who can't understand why their boss is being mean to them for not doing their job correctly. When we try to protect children from everything, don't we also leave them incredibly vulnerable and exposed when they grow up? When we cancel Halloween, we're teaching kids that you'll never be left out of a celebration. When we cancel dodge ball, we're teaching kids that you'll never be singled out for a weakness. There's one big problem with that logic: It's not true. You will be left out of things in life. You will be singled out for weaknesses. You can't isolate kids now and pat yourself on the back because they didn't feel sad when they were under your umbrella, because they might just take it even harder when it happens later. In trying so hard to protect kids from having hurt feelings, I think we're also assuming a lot that we shouldn't assume. One of my best friends growing up never celebrated Halloween because his family didn't believe in it. I remember talking about it once in high school, but other than that I don't think he ever mentioned it; I don't want to speak for him, but I am virtually certain that it wasn't a big deal for him. And forget about what message we are teaching kids - what about the 99% of the kids who do celebrate Halloween? Don't we have some sort of obligation to them? The solution here isn't to eliminate celebrations in order to protect kids - it's to celebrate and recognize more events. We should recognize Rosh Hashana. We should recognize Halloween. You don't have to participate, but it doesn't hurt to be exposed to something that other people celebrate.


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Samurai Jack Intro - Remake Latino
Samurai Jack Opening remake by latin animators
4.39 / 5.00 6,787 ViewsEDIT: I have won the Tournament of Flash Animators here on Newgrounds thanks to this piece! Thanks everyone who liked it, I'm happy to warm all of your hearts :)
WARNING! This Movie is very graphically intense! If you have an older computer, please click the link on the Preloader to be directed to a Youtube Version of the movie that should run better on your computer. If the links don't work just by clicking them, RIGHT CLICK them and select "Open in a New Window".
This is my entry for the 2011 Tournament of Flash Animators (TOFA) Final Round. We had 4 weeks to animate to the theme "A Clean Slate". I want to give a BIG shout out to my music man, Allen Cruz thanks for the great soundtrack!
This was a really satisfying and fun animation to make! I can confidently say that I am proud of the work I created here and wholly plan on using alot of it in my latest Demo Reel, which is one of the main reasons I joined TOFA this year anyway. Looking back on all the rounds prior to this, I can honestly say my skills have vastly improved at Flash. Compare "Totaled", last year's Final Round entry, to this one and you'll see a definite increase in my skill, and this is something that, even if I don't win TOFA, I can deem as a win. The characters were extremely fun to work with, them being simple blob characters that do these crazy actions. If you didn't catch it, the "clean slate" was the characters themselves, starting off extremely simple and then adding all these crazy things, until finally going back to a clean slate again.
I'm glad I was able to figure out how to do the reflections, as I feel they are a big part of the message. He is not looking at himself, but the images beyond the reflections (like the Advertisements and such.) and he's not realizing what a mess he is making of himself, being too focused on making himself what the media deems "attractive" (until it obviously spirals out of control to the point of hilarity.)
The main motivation and reference for this piece is thanks to my girlfriend. The girl (Blobette as I like to call her.) resembles her (as much as a blob can) and acts just like her. Her ability to make me feel great about myself when I'm feeling down is truly astounding. For this I thank you babe :). But this isn't just for her, its for anyone who has that special someone that, no matter what has you down, they have that special and amazing power to make you feel great again.
All in all, TOFA has been very rewarding this year (and even more so if I actually win it!) and I hope this latest entry made you giggle and saw "Awwww". This has been Dave Bruno for the Newgrounds Tournament of Flash Animators 2011, I'll catch ya later.
Touched my heart.
It really did. It just show's that a good girl don't really care for how you look on the outside but instead focus on the inside. Also it's a really cute video ^-^
I know I'm in the minority...
.... but something just doesn't sit right with me about this Flash. I understand what the point of it is, the moral of the story, etc. But the fact is (and yes, I know I am being overly analytical when I point this out) the main driving impetus behind his transformations as pertains to self-image just doesn't stand up past the first transformation. It makes sense that he would want to become the muscle man - because the advertisement and, seemingly, general consensus is that those kinds of guys attract the ladies. So there is a REASON for him to take on the muscular look. However, then he goes on to adopt the mantis appendages of the toy, and even airplane details - even though his girlfriend (originally the only reason he was making a transformation - to impress her) indicates to him that this is not what she wants. So, where I originally identified with the desires of the character to look better for his mate, all that identification with the character was squashed into non-existence when he decided to start making himself look like an idiot by taking on the attributes of everything in sight. It doesn't make any sense. Let's say I saw a rapper, and he was getting the chicks. So, to impress my girlfriend, I buy a hoodie. She let's that slide. Then I get a couple gold chains. And then, when I express my intent to upgrade my teeth to golden replacements my girlfriend straight-up tells me that she thinks gold teeth are for jack-asses... in your Flash, the character still gets the gold teeth. I liked the animation style, and the intent of the Flash with respect to moral lesson or point, but part of me just can't get past this glaring error in the story's build-up.
I can respect that. Basically what happened in my mind was that at first yeah, he is trying to impress the girl, but after a bit of it he thinks that just adding onto himself is fun, so he lets the fun of it blind him from what he was originally intending to do. Kind of like someone who has a hobby that their mate disagrees with. Its like, yeah ok, its a little cute that you have a few collectible trains, but when it gets to the point that you're making entire replica cities with working trains and subway systems in your basement then its a problem. Thats the way I viewed it, and I'm glad you shared your opinion. You didnt really "point anything out", its more like you described the plot lol, the way you viewed it was just differently, and thats important to me because chances are you aren't the only one who viewed it like this.
Only if we have more contributors who are as creative and poses the vision to carry out there ideas like you.
Grade AAA+ stuff


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Versus slicing - and I'm not talking about those swinging forehand volleys: I'm talking about a pickup motion over the net, with topspin and no slice. Is this supposed to be a low-percentage shot? Because it's my favorite way to volley, it's safe and just as penetrative, and I only slice when I'm sure that I can create a nice angle and win the point off of that shot. If there's something inherently disadvantageous in volleying this way, I'd like to know, since I never see anyone volley this way...other than in things like video games and sometimes when the pros are stabbing at the ball; upwards, though. Maybe I haven't seen too many matches with a lot of volleying.
Three reasons: 1. Topspin can't be hit with a blocking motion. When you're on top of the net, there is no time for a full swing. 2. To generate topspin, you have to have separate grips for the forehand and backhand. There isn't enough time to change grips at the net. 3. When you're closer to the net, you have more margin for error (think court geometry). You don't need topspin to keep the ball in the court.
low ball fh volley, stretched out, many do topspin volley...... one of the signature shots from sampras.
An appropriate user name for the response. lul But maybe I didn't explain it correctly. Maybe that's not even the name of the shot because I can't describe it perfectly. It's a volley and it's hit with topspin. It's hit in the traditional manner, so there's no full swing. You can hit topspin with any grip, and if you're good at it, you can hit a higher percentage shot than even a slice. I think margins still play a big role at the net, unless I just happen to suck, otherwise people would flatten-out all of their volleys. Think a blocked ball at the net, going forwards and with a fast, upwards motion. Mostly brushing.
The backspin from volleys is not used for margin. If anything, it decreases margin. It is used for ball control. It is very hard to hit a ball perfectly flat, so it is better to hit with backspin, so you know how the ball will behave when it comes off your racket. Brushing sharply upward in an abbreviated motion with a continental grip is a recipe for disaster. If the ball is a sitter, this motion is possible, but on a sitter, why do you need topspin at all? If the ball is not a sitter, then you're trying to time a steep brush with a ball coming straight at you at high speeds. You will have no control of your shot at all.
That's what I was thinking about the backspin, but isn't ball control used to increase the margin of error? If the incoming shot is hit a high speeds, all one really needs to do is abbreviate their motion and take some pace off of their shot.
Not necessarily. I could try to hit like Nadal, and I'd get a ton of topspin and margin for error. But, I would be pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and make a ton of errors from late preparation, shanks, etc. Here's the problem with abbreviating the motion and taking pace off the "topspin volley." You're hitting it with a continental grip. Is it possible to hit topspin with a continental grip? Yes. Is it efficient? No. So, if you don't put any oomph into the "topspin volley" that you're hitting with a continental grip, you're going to hit a weak shot that will be killed. Anyway, don't take my word for it. Take the word of every single pro and experienced player out there. Your proposal is intriguing. I'm sure it has been tried many times before. If it worked in match play, it would be used. It isn't used. It doesn't work.
Good point. I always assume the shot itself and nothing about the player's personal quirks, when I'm talking about margins. Maybe it needs to be honed. I see people struggling against slice backhands more than topspin backhands, yet the latter is the more widely used. More often than not, shots like these are good for, at least, setting up a winner off the volley. But I'm going to come to the net much more tomorrow, using this style and seeing how effective it is at winning me points. With slicing, I just find that there's a lot more to judge, to balance placement and power. Even though it's "supposed" to allow more room for error, it really just widens the angle and decreases the margins, like you say.
Why would you ever want to topspin your volleys? It makes the ball bounce up high, making passing shots easier. If you slice it you can keep it low and get it to skid. Also gives you the option to drop shot.
forget about spin. FH volley is a push with an open face. most often you get underspin as a by product. sometimes you get topspin as a by product.
It doesn't have to be massive topspin...just enough to clear the net. The trajectory is almost like that of a flat shot. Anything much more than that is a badly hit topspin shot, just like a poorly hit slice that barely goes past the service box.
If you're just going to clear the net, there's no point in topspin. Your ball will land in no matter what spin you put on it. For reasons I've already explained, you won't be able to hit a penetrating volley with this technique. You can try it, but you're wasting your time.
We need video. I really don't understand what you are doing? It is hard to put topspin by volleying a passing shot hit with topspin because you have to reverse the spin of the ball. How you are generating enough racket head speed to do this would be interesting to see. Hitting the ball flat or with slice is easier because you are adding to the spin rather than reversing it.
Ditto for most of the advice above. I think the biggest thing is that you want your volley to skid and stay low. Backspin will help with that. You want to force your opponent to hit up to you at the net. You don't want the ball to sit up. Also what would be the point? You're a couple of feet from the net. How much margin are you going to gain with topspin? Practically you will have a very hard time (like impossible) putting topspin on a ball that's ripped to you at the net. Sometimes you're happy just to get your racquet in front of it. A lot of volleying is about blocking and angles. You really have to have one grip for both fh and bh because of all of this. Continental is the best answer, and that that grip isn't great for topspin even if you had enough time to generate a swing upward, which you don't.
I have years. My slice volley is ok, but I've found the other easier. It's been a while since I've hit it, but from what I remember, I could place the ball just as well as, if not better than my coach's slice volleys, and there isn't much of a loss of pace. It may just be me comparing myself to my own experiences, but the better volleyers here should be able to improve upon the shot. @WV: I can try, tomorrow, but don't expect studio quality. You sure you want to see some young punk hitting unconventional volleys?:wink:
Again, it's been a while since I tried this. My responses would be more sure tomorrow, and I'm mostly going from the memory and perception: I'm not sure just "how" much margin would be gained, but you would gain more margin. Remember it's not a full swing. It's just as one would hit a traditional flat volley, but going upwards. From what I recall, it's very easy and allows you to make angles, just like a topspin groundstroke. You still must go out with it, though. Looks like it'll have to be something that I show on video - unless I can find a pro hitting this shot above the net, or like it in a video game, or something.
Sure. It would be interesting to see, and I don't really get what you're doing. I sometimes put topspin on blocked half-volleys, but the court has bounced the ball up into the racket so it is easy to guide it back up over the net. I can see putting a little topspin on high volleys without much difficulty, but I don't understand how you are taking lower balls and putting them back over the net with topspin. The main test is if something works. However, I'm still skeptical that you've made a break thru. Most of us won't develop a better way of doing something, but I'm willing to consider new technique.
Well, here's a video of Sampras doing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6E3vPigzxI I don't know if it was a half-volley or not, but if not, this is what it would look like. At least against a harder shot.
Uh uh... ...the first ball he hits is a half-volley (ball hits the court and you finesse it back in the court), not a volley. The second shot is a classic volley, no topspin there. So if what you're doing is a half-volley, then fine...that's one more tool in the toolbox, and everybody who comes anywhere near the net needs a half-volley. The Williams sisters, among others, do use a swing volley when the ball is up high, and it's basically a topspin groundstroke in stroke path. Doesn't work for me, or most volleyers, but if that's what you're doing and it works, fine. I don't see how anybody can hit a true topspin volley against a low ball, so I'd like a video of what you're doing, too...
If you've been talking about half-volleys this whole time then yes, it's common to hit topspin pickups on half-volleys. However, I've never seen a pro hit a topspin volley unless they were super stretched and reaching for the ball. It's just not an effective shot.
Sampras isn't hitting topspin in this video. His first volley is a half volley. You generally hit those by following the ball down and up with your racquet and keeping the racquet in front of you. It's like an infielder in baseball catching a short hop ball. The ball that Sampras hit would likely have a small amount of backspin from the ball bouncing up into the racquet, not topspin. The second volley clearly doesn't have topspin. Actually McEnroe used to have a bit of an upward motion on his racquet on low first volleys to his forehand side. He had that funky "racquet head below the handle" form and kind of pulled up on the racquet a bit at contact. But he's McEnroe. Generally a player would get their body lower for that shot, the racquet would be more level, and there wouldn't be upward motion. If you want to try some topspin on your volleys go for it. I just think you'll have a hard time doing it and you're missing the fundamental point of volleying, which is accessing sharp angles due to your proximity to the net. Keeping the motion simple, racquet in front, and using your opponent's pace are keys in accessing those angles, especially when you're trying to volley a rifled forehand.
I didn't know the ball bounced because I couldn't track it in the video. If it did, that's not the shot I'm referring to. I recall McEnroe hitting some shots like what I'm talking about, yes, and with the right technique, it's possible like everything else. I've hit them before, and used to hit them more before I began slicing. Topspin allows for almost as much angle as slice; why do you think you can't control the ball with a topspin volley?
knock yourself out if you want to hit topspin volleys. My opinion is it is a waste of time. Volleys are hit with a conti grip which is not conducive to top - yes, it can be done but not best fit. Also, you don't have much time at net and I think a bit of underspin with a conti grip is a quicker more compact stroke. My opinion is the only time to even consider top on a volley is for a mid-court high swinging volley but I personally don't even use this shot as I prefer to hit traditional volleys. But, to each their own. Try it you might like it but not for me.
I can't pull the racquet up in the couple of hundred milliseconds that I have to hit the ball, plus I want my volley to skid and bounce low, not sit up.
yea, this is logical. I think most hit volleys with a slightly open racket face and maybe a slight downward motion for underspin. This fits well with a conti grip. For topspin equivalent, you would have to use a slightly closed racket face and slightly upward motion for topspin. Seems like it would be too risky as open face helps lift ball over net while close face would push ball down toward net. Also, some volleys are just reflexes and you want the racket open for lift and underspin. I can not realistically see hitting a topspin reflex volley. Finally, having to sort out which type of volley do I want to hit - top or under - at the net seems overwhelming since you basically don't have any time to think in most cases. And, as you mentioned, I would rather have a low skidding bounce rather than a higher topspin bounce on my volley.
I hit my volleys on both sides with one hand and with a continental grip. There is, however, a way to hit a forehand volley with topspin but it is unorthodox. It involves using a two-hand forehand. If you're right-handed, the left hand goes above the right-hand. At the point of impact with the ball, roll your wrists slightly forward (left supinating, right pronating). You'll get some small degree of topspin on the volley, but it's only effective if you're angling it wide to the left, i.e., your opponent's right side. All in all, it's probably not worth the trouble to learn.
i just watched 11 mins volley highlights from sampras/krajicek us open qf match. no topspin volleys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36wpnYByAMA
I don't see how its possible and would like to see a Sampras video of it. The coaches say to lead with the bottom edge of racquet and volley with underspin. Topspin volley? On a LOW ball? Will need to see it to believe it.
well you are most likely not facing 70+ mph passing shots like the pros do. reaction time is a big issue and even if you have no real take back you still at least have to get the racket to your side and then reverse the direction. A normal volley basically can be punched directly from the chest with no reverse in direction. It is just a shorter swing. in Baseball you also want to Keep the swing compact and swing directly to the ball because the time is so short.
it's possible for an emergency measure when really stretched out but it's pretty rare and shouldn't be any part of regular volleys. way too much key strokes are being wasted on such silly idea.
I think he means this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36wpnYByAMA#t=0m53s sampras did the quite a lot when he had to reach. usually that was not a forcefull shot but he could place it well. I'm not sure this would work againsta heater hit at you.
A bit more like it. I don't know what you mean by "regular volley" Cheetah, since the only difference between a topspin and slice volley is the direction of your racquet frame. I'm scheduled to hit tonight, so I'm just hoping I'll have as much success with the shot as I used to, but if I'm not on and can't show it in video, I'll just have to find some other way to describe it. If I can't explain it any better, the swing path is essentially that of a half-volley, but it's an actual volley, and there's maybe a little more topspin described. Iirc, the topspin volley is also in the game "TopSpin".
regular as in the type of volley that everyone is taught, uses and practices for over 100 years and can see in any volley video or article. why would anyone want a volley to sit up and go at a slower pace? you're at the net. there's no reason to give it top to go over the net. you have angles. topspin volley from a low ball is very low percentage with a continental. I don't think there's a coach that would allow such a thing.
technically, not true. without changing grips, a semi western forehand = semi western backhand. it isn't ideal on a volley, but it can be done. also, dimitrov hits with a continental hybrid backhand for his top spin drives. gasquet hits with a continental forehand for his top spin drives. again, it may not be ideal for volleying, but it can be done. i also disagree with your first reason, if you have time to put underspin/ backspin on a ball, you have time to put some top spin on a ball. not a full stroke, obviously, but as much as you would with underspin. however, Top spin isn't very ideal at all for volleys, i agree with that. you could have said that the ball sits up with top spin, and the whole reason your up at net is to take time away from the opponent.
I just have trouble understanding why anyone would want to hit a topspin volley? lets slow the ball down and make it bounce higher! not I can see how it might be possible at really low levels when the ball is coming a bit slower and with less topspin of its own, but I still have no idea why you would want to do it in the first place! or, you are the next ATP number one with reflexes that put even Sampras to shame. (only way you are going to take a swing at a passing shot at anything over 4.5 or so..)
then you either have the best hands in the history of tennis or you play at a very low level. It is just not possible to hit a topspin volley off a powerful groundstroke. This is why nobody does it at any kind of level of skill. Your Sampras example does not hold water at all, those are half volleys, totally different shot. Sure, it can be done off a powder puff ball that not only give you time but doesn't really impact your racquet with any weight, but a genuine, solid drive? no way. (again, this is why nobody does it.) Watch Pat rafter volley. He was probably the last top player whol lived and died by his volleys. then think about it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN6iDbtJxs8 (turn down the sound, it's hideous)
While I'd jump onto the bandwagon for sliced volleys on all fly balls, I do know one 4.5 level doubles player with a strong W grip using the same face for his volleys, hitting top/sidespin on even low shin high volleys. On half volleys, he definetely uses topspin. I also know one former 5.0 player who consistently hits half volleys on both sides with heavy topspin, but he uses a continental grip. He's tall and strong of foreams and shoulder also. His normal volleys from shoetop on up are hit with penetrating slice. I think, if you have weirdo grips, you need to make that grip work for you, even if it takes superior shoulder/arm muscle and superior eyesight.
No, I didn't record myself, but I assure you all I was successful. I only had one person to hit with, so...maybe next time. But I was successful. I only FE'd once (by framing, as you said), and idr any UEs. I hit from below the net and above. I wear glasses but *don't* play with them. And I didn't miss any slices either. It was better than I thought. Let me tell you guys the difference because I was hitting both nearly perfectly and asking my coach to pass me as hard as he could. He's a 5.0. Topspin: Basically a brushing motion upwards, and very fast. Faster brush than a slice, and barely touch the ball. Cross court is near irretrievable - as fast as a CC drive, but faster. Bounces out but not up, since you aren't hitting looping topspin. I barely had to worry about meeting the ball in the sweet-spot. No lie - try it. BH: I used my continental grip, with A++ results. FH: I used my EE grip, sometimes SW even, unless I had to switch from the backhand. I'm very good at slicing with the SW grip, btw. But I'll say the topspin volleys allow for more margin and pace. Yes, talk is cheap. But you at least try the shot. Maybe my hands are good but I play with 20/100 vision. I hate glasses. And I one all but two net points out of 10+. I'll try harder at being prepared next time, but really, it's not traditional and it's much more effective.
Have you even tried it? You can't comprehend what you don't try to learn; and a half-volley is almost the same thing as a volley, only it's hit right after the bounce. If you can't hit the shot, all it means is you can't hit the shot. A skilled player can reliably hit any shot, and as I was just successful, I can yell you've never hit a topspin volley or you haven't done so without failing it. Give it a try.
Could you tell us your level of play? At my courts, everyone hits directly into the body of a netperson who switches grips from forehand to backhand volleys. Around 4.0, a little lower because I"m there. At 4.5, you'd have no time to switch grips, if you stood inside your service line. The ball comes too fast. I suspect your "coach" is hitting easy balls to your left and right. My background. Now I"m a bad 3.5 singles player. Back in the '70's, I was going 2-4 rounds in NorCal A/Open and have won 4 Q rounds for the TransAmerica....in two different years. Mostly S/V.
You realize net points can take more than two shots, right? 4.5 is my level. I need my wrist to heal, so I cam serve like I used to...probably too late for that. And my fitness sucks: I rarely eat. And if a ball is hit straight at me, I'l topspin it back with my backhand grip. This happened tonight. The shot is much, *much* better for service line volleys. Not even half-volleys. He took it easy on me, first, but when I asked him to and he tokk it up 5 notches, most of my volleys were unreturnable. I remember that feeling and it's good to feel it again.
but why???? I have a top 200 national open singles ranking at the age of 46, I have been playing tennis for almost 40 years, and I have never had a problem with my volleys. because I do them properly! why on earth would I want to try something like this? The last thing I wish to impart to my volleys is topspin!!! Sure, I can take a swinging waist height volley at the service line and give it topspin, but the sad reality is I don't get too many like that coming my way. even if I did I would be more inclined to drive it low into teh space with as much slice as I could get on it. Like everyone else, I'd like to see this, because I find it hard to even visualise. no offence, but it just doesn't ring true.
So you can see my point of view, and realize it's just as useful. I was a bit dubious as I went out because the high bouncing of the ball was a good point. But that wasn't there. The shot FAR exceeded my expectations. I won almost *all* of my netpoints on the first shot. A swinging volley is usually slower than a regular volley, and imo, it's less cool to see. I don't hit it, usually. It's possible to get to slice volleys, even more. A properly hit topspin volley will kick out and away from the opponent, like a...well, the serve. The only other possibility is I'm trolling you, which, I assure you, I've no reason to do. I'm just saying, this is a master shot; and it would behoove you to at least try to get what I'm saying, first hand. Like I said, just abbreviatedly brush up your volley, but keep it just over the cord and barely touch the ball. You can't fail. And sorry that I can't show you, or otherwise I couldn't have even gotten a chance to hit the shot. You can always play TopSpin: B is the topspin button at the net.
Let me introduce another idea that I don't think anyone has raised yet. An additional reason not to hit topspin volleys is you will get butchered once you need to start trying to hit approach volleys (as in S&V). With an approach volley, you are deeper in the court and you are trying to get your ball deep, keep it low over the net and keep it from bouncing up. How are you going to do that with a topspin volley stroke that needs to start *below* the ball to generate topspin? The opponent has put the ball at your feet in no man's land. Methinks you will crack a lot of rackets trying to get under such a ball. Not to mention how I, as your partner, will wring your neck for hitting such horrid volleys. 'Cause you will either be keeping your topspin volley low over the net (with the topspin bringing it down and short), or you will be getting more net clearance so that the opposing net player busts me in my forehead with the ball. I don't think we would do very well as partners if you are going to hit that shot!