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My Top 7 Retro Gaming YouTubers
One great thing about the retro gaming community is how many amazing people there are within it. From great bloggers, which will be a future list, to a whole host of different YouTubers, retro gaming has a huge community of wonderful people. To celebrate that, I wanted to bring attention to some of the retro gaming YouTube channels and YouTubers that I watch on a regular basis.
So, with that said, here is a list of my top 7 retro gaming YouTubers. It's a mixed bag of different channel types, but I thoroughly enjoy each and every one of them. Hopefully, you will too!
7. Retro Game Rater
Retro Game Rater's channel features a bunch of short, easy to digest reviews are a variety of different retro games. However, whilst the reviews are incredibly well put together and informative, it is his personality that really makes the videos great. His review of Halo: Combat Evolved definitely showcased his personality the best, making for a brilliant video that kept me hooked throughout the review.
Every Friday, Retro Game Rater releases a new review and covers all manner of games from a variety of consoles. If you're wondering what retro games to play and which ones to avoid, then Retro Game Rater's channel is a must-watch!
6. Smackers
I've only recently found Smackers' channel on YouTube but it's already gotten to the point where I don't want to miss one of his livestreams. Having completed Resident Evil 3 on stream, as well as Silent Hill, it was a lot of fun to watch his reactions and engage with him during the streams. Now Smackers is playing through Silent Hill 2 (blind) and Resident Evil: Outbreak. His reactions to the likes of Pyramid Head are hilarious and each stream is so fun to watch.
The streams are certainly not PG, but they are just so enjoyable that I can't help myself but laugh or find myself getting really engaged with his content. You should definitely check him out!
5. Top Hat Gaming Man
As a fellow Brit, I must say that I find the Top Hat Gaming Man's accent amusing. I certainly don't speak with such an accent, but it makes the videos sound so much better than if he were to speak with a more "central England" accent. His videos that feature travelling and handheld gaming around the world are very unique and different to anything else that I have watched.
On top of this, his take on (and ongoing coverage of) the current CeX scandal with copied cases is really well done. I have been watching his videos for a while and never find them boring.
4. TheGebs24
When it comes to pick-up videos, one of the most enjoyable channels that I have come across has to be TheGebs24. Each one of her videos completely shows how much love she has for retro gaming, especially when it comes to the SNES. On top of that, I generally don't enjoy Call of Duty, but her livestreams of the game are actually really enjoyable. She interacts with the viewers a lot which is great and also makes the game fun to watch.
Gemma has also uploaded a number of "real talk" videos that are far more serious in nature but still feature her entertaining personality. They deal with a host of different subjects in a way that is mature and down to Earth, yet still enjoyable. If you're looking for a friendly and relatable retro gaming YouTuber, then TheGebs24 is the perfect channel for you!
3. BeatEmUps
Whilst not 100% a retro gaming channel, BeatEmUps is definitely worth watching. His recent unboxing video of all of the games he struggled to bring over from Australia was amazing to see, and as with the other YouTubers on this list, he lets his personality shine through. The videos feature very common vlogging cuts and edits, which make them easy to watch whilst also keeping your attention as well.
He's published loads of Nintendo Switch videos as well, which is great for me as I intend to get a Switch in the future so his videos help me work out what I would like to get for the console when I finally buy one.
2. Pixel Game Squad
So, pick-up videos and game hunting is a staple of the retro gaming YouTube community. A huge amount of channels (myself included) have done these types of videos. However, as mentioned earlier, I tend to find many of them a bit dull. They tend to lack personality and that's what really makes you connect with a YouTuber. That certainly isn't the case for the Pixel Game Squad videos!
Each episode feels like you are actually watching a comedy TV show, like an episode of a retro gaming themed Sit-Com. The editing is brilliant and every single one of the Pixel Game Squad has their own personality which shows through in droves. I often find myself laughing at the show because of the humour, as well as smiling at how much love the Squad have for all things retro gaming.
1. Metal Jesus Rocks
It probably won't come as a surprise that Metal Jesus Rocks is at the top of this list. I mean, his channel is huge anyway, but he's also incredibly enjoyable to watch. His hidden gem videos can be really helpful when trying to find what games to buy that you haven't played before. On top of that, his videos with the Metal Jesus Crew are often hilarious, especially the $5 challenge videos that he publishes.
I also love the honesty in his videos, and the unscripted nature makes everything feel realistic and down to Earth. Also, the random sound effects he puts in during editing, like when he and Radical Reggie fistbump, make some truly amusing little moments. He's also really knowledgeable about the various games and systems that he has.
And That's All Folks
Well, there you have it. That was a list of my top 7 retro gaming YouTubers that I watch on a very regular basis. They have all influenced my own YouTube channel as well, helping me define my own content. Each one is incredibly enjoyable to watch and I would definitely recommend checking them all out.
Who are your favourite retro gaming YouTubers? Let me know in the comments below!


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8 Nights
Cape Town 'The Mother City' is where this tour begins. The cosmopolitan beauty of this city is hard to ignore against the imposing backdrop of Table Mountain.
Based in Cape Town, enjoy three days of touring to discover the city sights and surrounds.
Between Cape Town and the Eastern Cape runs an astonishingly beautiful stretch of coastline dotted with quaint towns and villages; a journey in itself which only ends when the safari starts in the malaria-free Eastern Cape private game reserve of Kariega.
This is a self-drive tour, allowing you to travel and discover at your own pace.
Prices on request, please call, or click on enquire above
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Current travel health information can be found by visiting
a resource set up by the Department of Health.
The advice can change on all sites so please check regularly for updates.

subset: commoncrawl


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Psychoborgs!!, Easily the most overpowered unit in the Legion arsenal. Robot warriors that somehow generate a field of 'humanscare' an ability that makes even the staunchest and most disciplined soldiers stop in terror, and those persons of lesser moral fibre, such as the %$#^&* (fill in your own bias here, I'll say Eastern Gibrovians), flee in terror!
Every time you go to shoot them, there is a 50% chance you lose your action. Then they kill you. Seriously overpowered, but as I am playing Legion, I don't care quite so much, I even have two Tesserans of them, here are some piccies.
A comparison shot above, just to help you realise there size.
From behind ofc
Obligatory, 'model in wrecked house' shot
I really like these Death Robots, and I hope you do too.


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Friday, September 7, 2007
There exists an old MicroProse game called Duels of the Planeswalkers but many players "in the know" refer to it as Shandalar, which is the name of the in-game world. I downloaded my version from http://www.the-underdogs.info/ Shandalar is pretty good, it has three main parts. One, you can play against the computer using all of the cards, a la constructed. Two, you can play in a sealed deck tournament. I found this very impressive and it actually inspired me to write MTG Forge. Three, you enter the world of Shandalar and try to collect cards in order to defeat the 5 evil wizards, one for each color.
Defeating the wizards in Shandalar takes a good amount of time or luck. It is sort of like a primitive Diablo, you fight creatures (duel) and try to build your deck into something competitive. You usually start out with a handicap, you will be at 9 life and your opponent might have 16 life. Sometimes your opponent even starts the duel with a creature in play, which is really astonishing the first time you see it. Starting out with even Llanowar Elves in play is a huge advantage. All of the duels are for ante (you win or lose a random card from your deck), so you need to win because losing will mess up your deck.
The graphics are very basic, you have to remember that the game was made in 1996. Shandalar looks like a very basic RPG where you walk around from town to town encountering random fiends and completing basic fetch quests. It takes a long time to assemble an optimized deck, so you will often use whatever decent cards that you have around. The duels tend be to short because both you and your opponent start out with less than 20 life, so aggro is the definite way to go. Not being able to mulligan really hurts because you often get mana flooded or screwed. It is still pretty interesting if you want to try it sometime. The last guy has 100 life and finally I did beat him (you just have to play him, you don't have to win). I did rid Shandalar of evil for 1,673 years. :)
8 comments:
- Ghiro said...
hi forge,
i also got addicted to Magic playing Shalandar, it all began 2 years ago when i tried the game for the first time, loved it, played a lot, and then i frequently went to my friends house to play "real games with real cards" that a friend of mine got all stuffed up in his basement....
then, one week ago i discovered Mtg Forge and really liked it....
Now, in the last post you tried to guess the dynamics related to the Planeswalker card but in this comment you said that "Vess is already programmed".
My question is: you programmed it following your hypothesis or you actually know how it works now??
bye and compliments again,
- September 10, 2007 at 5:20 AM
- Anonymous said...
The Microprose game actually uses the mulligan rules that were in force at the time - you could replace a no land or all land hand, and that's it.
Also, the life totals of the opponents depend on the difficulty level you select. The final enemy (which you don't have to actually defeat) has either 100, 200, 300, or 400 life; I won by decking him.
- September 10, 2007 at 8:21 AM
- Forge said...
My question is: you programmed it following your hypothesis or you actually know how it works now??
I programmed what was thought to be true and now is confirmed to be true http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/planeswalkers/week4
I have 2 planeswalkers working, a new version of MTG Forge should be released within the week.
- September 10, 2007 at 2:53 PM
- Forge said...
Also, the life totals of the opponents depend on the difficulty level you select. The final enemy (which you don't have to actually defeat) has either 100, 200, 300, or 400 life; I won by decking him.
LOL, I guess I need to play it on hard mode. 400 life is crazy, decking sounds like the way to go.
- September 10, 2007 at 2:54 PM
- Ghiro said...
then i'll wait for the next release and i' ll start to put hands on the code, concentrating mostly on the gui part as a start, to get used to the structure of the model and the view.
- September 12, 2007 at 8:02 AM
- Ghiro said...
ghiro and luca ar my nickname and real name. it's always me.... :)
- September 12, 2007 at 8:02 AM
- Anonymous said...
in shandalar i only used 10 lands cuz the computer gives u more mana sources than you can handle, lol. the last guy really ticked me tho, cuz i didnt expect him to have 100 life and my kobold aggro got trounced... until i found a glitch where I play the same card over and over, lol. (1,000,000 of those 0/1's)
- June 30, 2008 at 8:03 AM
- Void said...
I am interested both in Magic and programming, so I have started reading your blog from the beginning. I really enjoy your posts, and their frequency.
I have never committed to real MtG, so it was Microprose's version what got me into it in 2007.
I regret I haven't learnt about your project earlier.
- June 23, 2010 at 4:52 AM


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The Irish senior side may be struggling following a string of disappointing results over the past year, but it's hard not to be excited about the plethora of young talent we have coming through the ranks.
The likes of Caoimhin Kelleher at Liverpool, Troy Parrot at Tottenham and Ryan Nolan at Inter Milan have all caught the attention of the footballing world in recent times, as a fresh set of young Irish prospects begin to emerge.
One name that few would likely be familiar with is Shane Flynn, who is currently in the academy of former Premier League winners Leicester City.
The 16-year old may not be a household name just yet but the quality he possesses is certainly beginning to attract the right kind of attention.
The Guardian online put together a piece on Wednesday where they highlighted 20 of the best academy talents at Premier League clubs, one at each of the teams in the division, with Flynn included as the Foxes representative.
The Irish U16s international is praised for his "delivery from wide areas" and his ability to create half a yard of space, with the Guardian outlining that despite left wing being his prefered position, Leicester see him occupying one of the roles in the front three.
Flynn joined The Foxes in May 2017 from St Joseph's Boys/Bray Wanderers, where he was part of their joint academy set up and has already featured in the highly rated U18s Premier League.
Irish fans will certainly be hoping that Flynn can continue impressing at the Leicester academy and work his way up to the first team ranks.
Photo Credit – sjbacademy.ie


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Best Affordable Paintball Gloves
As most players know when you first get started into playing, when a paintball hits skin it hurts a little bit.
One of the most important accessories you can buy when you're first getting started in paintball is Paintball gloves to protect your hands.
Paintball glove don't have to be expensive but it does need to make sure it covers up the skin on her hand, at least to the knuckles.
There are quite a few options you can look at when purchasing paintball gloves but here are some options that you would not think of that are inexpensive but will still get the job done!
Best Paintball Glove- Choice #3 – See More Options Here
One of the least expensive ways to get Paintball gloves is the purchase workout gloves or something similar. Workout gloves cover the majority of the hand all the way down to the knuckles
The reason you don't need full finger gloves when looking for paintball gloves is that your hands are typically gripping the paintball marker and so your fingers are curved around so the only part of your hand it's actually exposed or just your knuckles all the way to your wrist.
If you're looking something that flexes and isn't real rigid , this glove will be great for you as our next glove as a little more durable and a little more heavy duty for protection
Best Paintball Glove- Choice #2 – See More Options Here
Your next step up from just a workout gloves is a heavier duty glove that's made to stand up to crawling in the woods and getting really dirty.
This glove is going to cost you a little bit more but do everything you need it to do.
The glove that we recommend is going to be a half finger gloves with a heavier duty palm but this one actually has a hard plastic covering for your knuckles on the back of your hand.
This glove is specifically made for Paintball and has been around for probably 20 years or so. It's very inexpensive but going to do everything you need it to do.
I would highly recommend to get your child or a smaller person or your girlfriend these gloves if it's their first time playing.
Luckily this glove is very inexpensive so you're able to purchase a pair or two to make sure that they last or you have an extra pair just in case they wear out.
Best Paintball Glove- Choice #1 – See More Options Here
The Last glove that we recommend is a very high-end but very low priced glove. This glove has very hard knuckles and has extremely durable palms. This paintball glove is going to give you more protection all the way around especially when you're going through the brush or crawling through the woods. If you like to be able to fill the trigger of your paintball marker a little better we recommend that you cut the first finger off between halfway or a quarter way on your index finger or even your middle finger if you shoot with both.
This glove is by far my favorite! It is a little more expensive but this glove is going to do everything you need it to no matter you're playing style or conditions.
I think they look great and they seem to be a knock off of the Oakley glove that sells anywhere from $75-$150 depending on where you look
Overall when you're shopping for your paintball glove any of the ones we listed above will do. All of these have a four star or better rating on Amazon so you know that you're getting at a quality product for a good price.
As you play you'll learn a little more of what you need from your equipment and your gear this will include your gloves.
Some players that always play right-handed will typically get shot in the left hand more or vice versa if there left handed as your least dominant hand is typically in the front holding the paintball gun. Some people will choose to only wear one glove which is completely okay if that is what you like!
I hope this article helped you in your buying decision. Below are two more paintball gloves for your consideration. These area little more heavy duty and much cooler looking!
As always thank you for reading this article if you have any questions you can email me directly at John at Pro Edge Paintball .com or can give my store a call and any of my employees can help you out at 713-896-8841!
Best Paintball Glove- Additional Option 1 – See More Options Here
Best Paintball Glove- Additional Option 2 – See More Options Here


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text: Home » Plot for Factory Search Results We have found 1 items matching your search query. Close Sort By: TitleDatePopularityFeaturedRatingNearestPriceExpires List Grid Map 4.45 Kanal For Factory / Petrol Pump / Marriage Hall Rs.23,000,000 Land & Plots 0 bids 4.45 Kanal (110 feet front), best for factory or petrol pump or marriage hall, good chance for profitable investment. best for investment.. Location : Main Jaranwala road Makkuana bypass left si Ad Finished Item not sold. 1 Page 1 of 1


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I have been derelict in posting information on the Mary Binder performance at Casa Cultural La Guaricha.
I will apologize for the quality of the videos that follow. I didn't pick the best location to film and I am using my SLR for video. This was the first time Mary had been to Casa Cultural La Guaricha and the sound equipment was not her own. I know that performers always prefer to use their own sound equipment.
Mary performs often in Volcan and thank you God for allowing her to venture to David so that those of us living in this part of Chiriquí could enjoy her artistry.
The event started a little late because everything starts late in Panama. By the end of the performance, most of the tables had occupants.
I, for one, had an outstanding time.
Out of the event, I picked four of the videos I shot to give you an idea of what you missed. Mary sang all of the songs that I like. It really turned my evening into an evening of nostalgia. Here is another thing I need to apologize for. On all of the videos, I misspelled Mary's last name. What can I say? I am getting old. When I get more time, I will see if YouTube will allow me to upload replacements. Sorry Mary!!!
Here is the first video – It's A Heartache.
The second video is – I fall Too Pieces.
Everyone growing up in Odessa, Texas in the fifties, like me, loved Buddy Holly. The next video is – Raining In My Heart.
The last video is – Rose In Spanish Harlem.
Here is a photo of Antonio Singh thanking Mary for a very enjoyable evening and letting all know about future events.
This was a super event and gringos living close to David really missed a fun time. Hopefully this will give you enough of a taste that you won't miss the next opportunity to listen to Mary.


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Enclosed from All Sides: Reading Contact and Ambivalence in the Imaginary Al-Andalus of Hrotsvit's The Passion of Pelagius and The Song of Roland
Year of Award
Document Type
Degree Type
Master of Arts (MA)
Degree Name
English (Literature)
Department or School/College
Committee Chair
Ashby Kinch
Commitee Members
Eric Reimer, Paul Dietrich
Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, The Passion of Pelagius, The Song of Roland, The King of Tars, Al-Andalus, Contact literature
University of Montana
Subject Categories
Literature in English, British Isles | Medieval Studies
Hrotsvit of Gandersheim's The Passion of Pelagius and The Song of Roland have never been read together in terms of their shared engagement with the Muslim other in the Iberian Peninsula, known during the Middle Ages as Al-Andalus. This project is a comparative reading of the texts' approach to the presentation of an imaginary Al-Andalus as a space of alterity. The texts' emphasis on imaginative as opposed to accurate portrayals of Andalusian history and Islamic culture suggests their engagement with a process of Christian identity-building, where the "Christian," as portrayed in each text, is defined against and in comparison to the "Muslim," as imagined. As such, this thesis examines the way the texts present the imaginary Al-Andalus as a staging area in which to interrogate both difference and an ideal Christian identity. The texts employ the space of alterity as one to define the Christian "self" in opposition to the Muslim "other;" however, in this space of alterity, the Christian must also confront the other's likeness to the self. By employing existing scholarship on cloistered women's communities and hagiography, this project argues that The Passion of Pelagius implicitly embraces the position of the female religious other even as it explicitly demonizes the figure of the Muslim other. The Song of Roland, meanwhile, reflects traditions of epic literature and chivalry to express ambivalence about the difference between Muslim and Frank, especially in terms of the poem's vivid battle scenes.
Recommended Citation
Wipf, Briana J., "Enclosed from All Sides: Reading Contact and Ambivalence in the Imaginary Al-Andalus of Hrotsvit's The Passion of Pelagius and The Song of Roland" (2017). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 10950.
© Copyright 2017 Briana J. Wipf


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Former Test fast bowler Mark Gillespie has been cut from Wellington's contract list, but both Gillespie and Wellington coach Bruce Edgar have left the door open for a possible return. New Zealand's six major associations have announced the players offered first-round domestic contracts for the 2015-16 summer, with Gillespie one of several former internationals missing from last year.
Wellington have lost former captain James Franklin, whose Irish ancestry has allowed him to sign as a local player for Middlesex, meaning if he was to play for Wellington it would need to be as an overseas player. Brendon Diamanti is gone from Canterbury's list, while Wellington fast bowler Andy McKay, Otago batsman Aaron Redmond, Central Districts batsman Jamie How and Northern Districts fast bowler Graeme Aldridge have all retired.
Gillespie, 35, has made no decisions on his future, but last summer played only three Plunket Shield matches for 11 wickets at 27.63. New Wellington coach Bruce Edgar said that although Gillespie was no longer contracted, he still had some hope of being selected during the season.
"We believe that Dizzy was off the pace last season and that he's slipped down the order behind other more effective bowlers," Edgar said in a statement. "That said, we want to work with Dizz to get him firing in time for the season. If that happens, then he's available to be selected like any other player and I'm sure he'll give it everything he's got."
Gillespie this week told stuff.co.nz: "I've made no decisions regarding my future. As far as I'm concerned, not getting a contract does not mean I am no longer a cricketer."
In other moves, Jesse Ryder has completed his return to Central Districts from Otago, as reported last week. Otago have been particularly active in their recruiting, with Neil Broom returning after one season at Canterbury, Anaru Kitchen and Warren Barnes having joined from Auckland, and Brad Wilson having moved from Northern Districts. Anurag Verma has moved from Northern Districts to Wellington.
Franklin is not the only player who has moved on due to county commitments: Central Districts allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett is gone from their list after signing as a local player with Gloucestershire.
Several players have disappeared from the domestic lists after gaining New Zealand Cricket contracts, including Central Districts' Doug Bracewell, Northern Districts' Mitchell Santner, and Wellington's Grant Elliott. Colin Munro is back on Auckland's list after losing his national contract, while Ish Sodhi has reappeared on the Northern Districts list for the same reason.
Other notable additions include well-known coach Bob Carter's son Leo Carter, who has signed with Canterbury; Kane Williamson's cousin, the batsman Dane Cleaver, who has joined Central Districts; and Brisbane-born spinner Alecz Day, who has signed with Wellington and qualifies due to his mother being from New Zealand.
The contracting process involves nine to 14 players being offered deals as part of the first round, with the remainder of the 15-man squad to be confirmed by August 10.
Auckland Michael Bates, Brad Cachopa, Colin De Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Donovan Grobbelaar, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Shawn Hicks, Colin Munro, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Robert O'Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Matt Quinn, Jeet Raval
Canterbury Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Leo Carter, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher, Peter Fulton, Roneel Hira, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Cole McConchie, Ryan McCone, Henry Nicholls, Edward Nuttall, Logan van Beek
Central Districts Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver, Greg Hay, Marty Kain, Andrew Mathieson, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Kruger van Wyk, Ben Wheeler, George Worker, Will Young
Northern Districts Cody Andrews, James Baker, Jono Boult, Dean Brownlie, Joe Carter, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, Brett Hampton, Jono Hickey, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Bharat Popli, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
Otago Warren Barnes, Nicholas Beard, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Ryan Duffy, Josh Finnie, Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rae, Hamish Rutherford, Craig Smith, Sam Wells, Brad Wilson
Wellington Brent Arnel, Brady Barnett, Tom Blundell, Alecz Day, Dane Hutchinson, Matt McEwan, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Michael Pollard, Matt Taylor, Anurag Verma, Luke Woodcock


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Recipes contributed by Quick and easy family favorites by Vickie and JoAnn
Make up of this double patch of these yummy bites to have on hand for unexpected company.... or for yourself for snacking! They're handy snack, because you can bake just a few at a time when you want them.
12-oz loaf French bread, crust trimmed
1 c. butter
1/2 lb. sharp Cheddar cheese cubed
2(3-oz.) pkgs. cream cheese soften
4 eggs whites stiffly beaten
Optional: marinara sauce
Cut bread into 1 inch cubes; set aside. Melt butter and cheeses in a double boiler over low heat, stirring often. Remove from heat; fold in egg whites. Dip bread cubes into cheese mixture; set on greased baking sheets. Place into freezer until frozen: remove from baking sheets and store in plastic zipping bags in the freezer up to one month.
To serve, bake frozen bites at 400 degrees for 12 minutes on greased baking sheets. Serve with marinara sauce, if desired.
Serve 8 to 10.
Nola Laflin
Coral Springs, FL
Andrea Albright Featured on Health and Fitness Jan. 2015
will Personally Coach You How to Get There The Easy Way


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10 Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls (EP)
This super-solid seven-song debut effort is a nice introduction to one of the best guitar players around, and now that the band has added Jon Cavendish on piano/organ, the Black Crowes-esque sound you hear on songs like the reggae-flavored "Stand Up And Be Counted" will match up with what you see with the live act. "Hell Raisin' Kind," "Time Don't Wait Around," and "I Don't Believe You" are the more rockin' tracks; "It's Been A Minute" shows the softer side of the former American Minor member. Now, with his own band, Carroll looks to develop his own following, which he and the band have been doing quite nicely. Maybe it's the solos.
9 "Know It All" by The Dig-Its
We actually avoided visiting this band's MySpace profile when they started uploading the new tunes back in, like, March, before we got the CD. We're glad we waited, so as not to spoil the surprise to the follow-up to their eponymous "Green CD" that we picked up what seems like a lifetime ago. "Better Days" and "Goddamn Shame" hew close to The Dig-Its timeless version or punk and/or rock; "Summer Days" and "Wrong Way" are more recent-sounding incarnations of punk, "Mama Tried" approaches rockabilly, and "Your Song" -- well, it's one of our favorite songs of the year, honestly. We're still trying to get the opening riffs of it as a ringtone for the cellphone we haven't bought yet. The band may have a different singer these days, but they're still one of our faves.
8 "The Empire Penguin Strikes Back" by The Concept
Their first stab at a CD was, in their own words, not that great an idea. With this seven-song effort, our friends in The Concept prove that they can kick out the jams on CD just like they do live. Newer songs like "Ye To The 10th Degree" and "Out Of Nowhere" have Team THC branching out stylistically, maybe. You also get some songs you may have heard if you've been writing "The Concept" on your eyelids, batting your eyes at the band, like "That's The One," "Not The Only" and their growl-core version of Tom Petty's "Learning To Fly." The CD closes with the instrumental "Ben's Song," showing that they can do stuff besides write songs about guitar picks falling into some awesome tasting artificial fruit drink. Oh yeah.
As much as we love this band, they are at a bit of a disadvantage in the countdown here 'cuz we're so familiar with 'em; if we'd have got this CD in the mail, not having any clue about who these guys are, we'd have peed our pants.
7 The Emergency (EP)
The third installment in, as we call it, "The Trilogy" finds this Magic Town trio finally reaching the end of its run. This superbly produced nine-song effort, however, has all the catchy Brit-rock you've come to know and love, and is a solid follow-up to "Doo-Lang Doo-Lang" and their first CD, "How Can You Move?" Richly layered songs, with the dynamic duo of frontman Rob Wehrle and bassist Aaron Crothers setting the band apart. "Not This Time" nicely encapsulates the band's two-minute pop side, "Soaking Up The Scene" is the Brit-rock side, and the bittersweet "Bring On The Good Times" is an apt way to close up shop. Seriously, we've loved all the CDs from these guys.
6 "No Star Could Be As Large" by Attack Flamingo
So these guys e-mail us one day and are all like "Check out our CD and stuff!" -- we're paraphrasing, but we're glad we took Attack Flamingo's advice. Where the Blues Brothers were on a mission from god, Attack Flamingo is on a mission to god, with all their well-written, catchy, synth-based space rock.
"Rocketship" and "Burning" are two standout tracks; but although Attack Flamingo relies heavily on the synth, we hesitate to call them an electronic band, because the songs are well-written, catchy, and powerful. This CD takes the cake for surprise hit of 2008 for us. There is no award for "Surprise Hit of 2008" by the way, it's just something we made up cause it's true. This band has a sound and style that we thought the band below at #5 may have approached on their full-length debut.
5 "Lights Won't Go Out" by The Red Velvet
This full-length debut effort by this Huntington-based four-piece is one of the more solid CDs we've got all year. Between releasing their first demo and this one, they've thrown in re-recorded versions of a few songs, incorporated some of what guitarist Russ Fox seemed to have in his Sinks Of Gandy outfit, and came up with a few great new songs like "Chasing The Sun," "Above The Clouds," the title track, and the more straight forward rock of songs like "Today" and "Useless." The Red Velvet's songs are beautiful, atmospheric, catchy, and with the triple threat vocal attack of frontman Jordan Andrew Jefferson, Fox, and their drummer, Jonathan Jefferson, you don't know what to expect next, which is good.
4 "They Will Surface" by Hyatari
Huntington's Hyatari is way more drone than you, and this recently released six-song, sixty minute effort proves it. From orchestrations like the 15-minute "Abyssal Plain" to the more pretty melodic changes of "Prolonged Exposure," Chris Tackett, Brett Fuller, and Mac Walker remind you that sometimes, words can get in the way. The low, slow, gut-pummeling low end and the atmospherics provided by guitar and synth give the entire effort a kind of elemental feel. Think of the best Nine Inch Nails instrumental stuff and you may not be too far off; put some headphones on and "drone" out if you're into this kind of sound.
3 Sarasota
This CD reminds us of our favorite all-time punk records. Ten songs, nine originals, and all punk rock, this coherent self-titled effort and Sarasota's version of punk rock evokes Face To Face, maybe. Standout songs are the hopeful "Everything Changes" and "Woe Say Canseco," with a chrous of just one big "WHOAH" on it.
Frontman Mike Schritter belts out powerful, emotive vocals with lyrics that read like they're straight out of his personal diary; while keeping his version of punk downright distressed, with all the despair and self-destruction, there's a maturity and hope underlying it all. From "All We Know" through "Boy You Never Learn," "By The Wayside" to "Cigarettes And Alcohol," "Kerosene" and the acoustic closer "Can't Remember To Forget," this CD is easily one of our favorites of 2008. Thanks to Dave of The Concept for hooking us up with it for free!
2 "Stone Age Kicks Vol. I & II" by J. Marinelli
Honestly no other CD spent more time in the WVRockscene stereo than this 16-song tribute by Marinelli to some of his favorite artists. Marinelli went back and added songs by artists ranging from Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg to The Pixies, to what was Volume I, a cassette only release.
Upon downloading the CD and promptly burning it onto CD, we were duly blasted with Marinelli's one-man roots punk act on Beat Happening's "The 'This Many Boyfriends' Club" but, the surprising, great thing to hear was Marinelli's not-so-overdriven side; he drops his electric caveman guitar and picks up a banjo and harmonica on killer covers of "Head On" and "Wave of Mutilation" by The Pixies, the heartbreaking Neil Young song "Winterlong" and the bitter Rolling Stones track "Dead Flowers" has the now Lexington, Ky. resident belting out the lyrics, with no distortion or anything like that. "Ride A White Swan" has Marinelli covering T. Rex, leading his own old-timey tent revival, and he commandeth ye to shake it.
But, you still get the cantankerous, overdriven Marinelli style of rock you've come to know and love off "Pity The Party" and "Keep It Fake" -- his versions of Daniel Johnston's "Grievances," and "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" will definitely wake up the neighbors.
Dylan's "Positively 4th Street" and Woody Guthrie's "Pretty Boy Floyd" are two standout tracks, and we've come to like Marinelli's overdriven, understated cover of "Hey Whoopy Cat" by The Emergency more than when we first heard it, honestly. If you're known by the company you keep, in the lyrics of the cover songs he sings, Marinelli says a lot about himself. A great CD to get introduced to Marinelli's not-so-angry one-man band. You know you'll never get that cassette.
1 "Covering The Distance" by Jeff Ellis
Ellis follows up on last year's epic "A Front Seat For The End Of The World" with this solid 12-song effort. Where "AFSFTEOW" was harder in parts, "Distance" has more of a rockin' acoustic-based alt-country and bluegrass sound, but layered with a big sound, and with Bud Carroll on lead and his Southern Souls backing up Ellis among other guest musicians, Ellis proves why so many people have come to dig his music.
Songs like "I'm Not Leaving This Time," the title track, and "Goodnight Capital City" have the more well-rounded brand of Wilco rock; "West Virginia Hills," "The Men In Sago Mine" and the uber-catchy "Grandpa's Place" drop the bluegrass on ya, and our favorite, "Something Bad's Gonna Happen" portends bad things, the only real "downer" on the upbeat, mature CD.
Just like on "Front Seat" Ellis' songs feature Carroll's soaring solos, and Ellis' longtime friend and former Guinness Clarke's Wine bandmate Phil James on piano and organ give the songs depth and textures you don't hear in a lot of bands.
Between hearing Ellis play most of the songs at a solo acoustic show at Taylor Books back in May, hearing the advance copy, and now the final, mastered version, it's clear to us how talented he is, and this CD just helps reinforce it.
"Covering The Distance" -- Ellis' third solo release, is not only an outstanding followup, it cements the 27-year old Marshall student and Army reserve member as having the top two local CDs over the past two years, in our opinion, and that ain't bad.


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All The Things That You Should Know About CBD Oil
CBD is a product that has been made from marijuana plants. When CBD is extracted from marijuana plants, then it is then packaged in different quite a few different ways. There is CBD products that are in form of chewing gums, others are the form of oil, others in the form of something that you can smoke and a few more forms that you can see once you go to buy CBD products.
You can take the CBD oil in order to treat a lot of symptoms and sometimes you will actually not be treating symptoms but the real condition and it will totally be treated and go away. CBD has a lot of health benefits and this is the reason why it has really become popular among many people.
CBD oil can be taken by a person depending on the illness that you are suffering from and also, depending on the prescription that your doctor has written you which you will use to buy CBD oil or any other product that is made from CBD. Some countries and some states have legalized the use of CBD and its products while others have not and this is something else that you should know about CBD oil which us one product of CBD. What this means is that you would be on the wrong side of the law when you are found selling or even buying CBD products in states or in countries that have not legalized this.
For you to be able to use CBD oil or nay other product that is made from this product that is extracted from marijuana or cannabis plants, what you need to do is to make sure hat you are in a place that has legalized CBD or CBD oil. There are very many states that have legalized the use of this drug or product however so you do not need to worry if you need to use it. For an oil to be known as a CBD oil, it has to contain CBD amounts in it. There is a variation in the uses and in the concentration of CBD in this oils.
If you want to find the best CBD oil, the best places that you should visit is the internet. Before you choose the best person who will be selling the product to you or even before you choose the best website to be buying the product from, you should ensure that you have checked on the internet and done your research very well.
Practical and Helpful Tips: Options


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Of course you're all familiar with Apple's ridiculous, bona fide blowout-type numbers. Let's see if my post can, albeit from a humble home gamer's viewpoint, provide a somewhat different take on the quarter that was and the implied promise of those that follow.
"Seventy Four Point Six Billion Dollars"
Apple's $11B more than analysts were expecting as of around three months ago result was impaired by ForEx, but also net deferrals.
Regarding ForEx – per Maestri (about 23:45 into the earnings podcast/call), "our revenue growth during Q1 would have been 4 percentage points higher on a constant currency basis". As helpfully reminded by longtime amateur AAPL analyst Daniel Tello of deagol's AAPL model, that means Apple's massive, but inherently incomplete currency hedging program (due to economic feasibility considerations) was unable to mitigate roughly $2.3B ($57.594 x .04) of revenue impact.
Net ESP deferral (the only source of deferred revenue/gross margin that can be roughly estimated) played a significantly larger role than anticipated. With nearly 74.47M iPhones, 21.4M iPads, and 5.52M Macs sold, there was, at minimum, about $1.65B in gross deferred revenue based on software upgrade rights alone. Given that ESP per-unit deferral range is actually "between $15-25" for iPhones and iPads alike (the logical average being $20 deferred per unit), however, that number may be closer to $2.1B. In other words, nearly equal to ForEx impact. Account for estimated amortization, and Apple's perhaps-Sarbanes-Oxley-driven deferral "probably" ended up reducing revenue – and GAAP-reported gross margin – by an additional one billion dollars.
Meaning that Apple, in non-GAAP (read: more accurate) measures, actually crested $75 billion in revenue this holiday quarter, even if you give Apple zero credit for ForEx factors and discount my estimated net deferral by half. If you're an optimist? Then Apple could have rung up about $78 billion in sales. I lack the words to describe that kind of quarter by a tech company.
"39.9%" Gross Margin
Apple did not quantify the impact of foreign exchange on FQ1 gross margin – probably quite intentionally. 39.9% is a consensus-beating number, and there's little need or desire by Maestri and the Finance team to give additional information to competitors. However, in my humble opinion, it's more than reasonable to assume that ForEx reduced gross margin by at least 50 basis points, considering that the 5% estimated revenue growth impact due to ForEx in FQ2 2015 is said to result in 100 basis points of gross margin impact. If you accept my assumption that $1B in combined revenue/gross margin was net-deferred due to software upgrade rights alone, that's an additional 80 basis points worth of gross margin impact in the December quarter.
In other words, "true" gross margin was around 40.7%, and if not for ForEx headwinds, was "actually" north of 41%, perhaps as high as 41.5%. The significance of this is more subtle, but worth keeping in the back of one's mind as we progress from FQ2 2015 through FY 2016.
Why? Let's go back to the first full quarter of iPhone 5 availability – which is not far from the time Apple's gross margins "hit rock bottom":
Being a redesign, iPhone 5 had a higher cost structure than the 4S before it, and it showed. Additionally, the newly-launched iPad mini, the smallest (and lowest-margin?) of the iPads, was proving quite popular and corporate-average-margin-dilutive. iPhone 4 remained popular, also "pressuring" gross margins. These were among the factors that saw Apple's gross margin continue its multi-quarter drop, from 38.63% in FQ1 2013 to a 5-or-so-year low of 36.5%.
FY 2015 is shaping up to be quite different. iPad ASP continues to fall (slightly), but so do unit sales year over year. iPhone is dominating revenue mix, and, due to iPhone 6/Plus's massive sales, is driving down the cost curve at record velocity. iPhone 6/Plus momentum, as easily seen in record average selling prices, strongly hints at higher average "new iPhone mix" throughout FY 2015.
Not only that, Maestri guided gross margin on the high end to 39.5% for FQ2 – fully aware that actual quarterly gross margin has matched or exceeded guidance since FQ4 2013. That's a strong hint that gross margins will not have a "bottoming phase" as seen in FY 2013 and FY 2010, when the iPhone 4 launched. Given the 130+ basis point gross margin beat in FQ1 2015, it's possible that FQ2 2015 will bring a sequential increase.
In other words, gross margin trends, particularly if ForEx headwinds weaken, are looking quite positive in iPhone's redesign year – before the historically gross-margin-friendly S generation cycle.
The "Resurgent" iPhone
No one doubted that "the iPhone everyone really wanted" would sell "well" given enough supply. It's just the extent that shocked most everyone. Record ASP, not far from $700. 46% YOY unit growth from an already-lofty 51M units in year-ago quarter, with strong interest in the US (44% unit growth), and massive interest from Greater China (read: China Mobile subscribers) driving segment revenue growth of 70% year-on-year.
Speaking of growth markets, Apple cited BRIC countries iPhone growth of 97% – a not-so-subtle hint that India is also a strong performer, relatively modest revenue contribution notwithstanding.
But it can't last, right? Not this growth pace. Well, one would think that Apple's iPhone 6 cycle will follow iPhone 5 and 5S in a general sense – a surge of initial interest, then slowing YOY growth rates through the third full quarter of availability as seasonality and "new iPhone anticipation" kick in. The 46% unit growth rate has a "one-time" feel to it. And there's a "common sense" in thinking "stronger-than-average" interest in iPhone 6/Plus will come at the expense of the presumptive iPhone 6S.
There's just one thing. Tim Cook did absolutely nothing to dampen expectations for iPhone 6. Instead, he cited record numbers of new-to-iPhone customers and Android switchers, while pointing out the 15% or less upgrade rate amongst the iPhone installed base. He also noted that supply/demand balance was only reached in January, meaning channel fill will be a tailwind for iPhone sales. And only a small fraction of China Mobile's 806M customers (330M+ of whom are 3G/4G customers) have iPhones, with 4G coverage continuing to expand.
Granted, there's no need to preemptively lower expectations for an unannounced product – so the question of whether the iPhone 6 generation represents a "sales nova" will probably have to wait until around late January next year. But returning to the present, given the strong FQ1 start, is 30-35% really that unrealistic a FY 2015 unit growth rate?
A quick sidenote on the "Apple is too dependent on iPhone" storyline. Apple was once an Apple II-dominated company. Then, a Mac-dominated company. And later, an iPod-dominated company. In each case, Apple moved on to the next big thing, which is currently far larger than MP3 players and PCs ever were. (Never mind wearables for now.)
Of course, Boeing's revenue derives chiefly from aerospace (mostly, commercial aircraft). BMW, from automobiles. Costco, from "buy in bulk" sales to members. Are we suddenly to believe that a company's core competence is now its worst liability by virtue of it being a core competence? Maybe if the world moves on. But it hasn't yet, and the smartphone market continues to grow – subsidy or otherwise.
iPad in "Decline"
Tim Cook made it very clear to Wall Street not to expect anything "different" out of iPad this year. Meaning, growth rates between -10% and -20% sound quite reasonable.
On the other hand, Tim remains bullish on iPad "in the long arc of time", and according to Francisco Jeronimo of IDC, Samsung Electronics (which sells at least 10 distinct models of tablets in the US) shipped 11 million tablets in CQ4 2014 – essentially 10M less than Apple in the same time period.
Also worth noting – Apple had multiple ways of enhancing the iPad lineup for Fall 2014. Higher entry-level capacities, an A8 chip in the iPad mini 3, reducing the $130 cellular radio premium after all these years or even dropping Wi-Fi only. It deliberately chose not to. In other words, Apple seems perfectly content to think of iPad in multi-year terms and remain patient, because it still leads the field in general-purpose tablet computing.
The AAPL "Discount"
After growing EPS by 48%, reducing ttm EPS by around 15%, and increasing net cash reserves by $22B in a single quarter, Apple shareholders were rewarded with a one-day stock price increase of…5.6%.
Surely options play a role, but the reaction in the wake of this massive earnings surprise was relatively muted (if typical in terms of post-earnings percentage upside). AAPL is the market-cap leader, which automatically makes it something of a special case. Nevertheless, its current (ttm) multiple in the mid-15s comfortably trails the S&P 500 (close to 19), the NASDAQ (26) and the $480B+ revenue, not-exactly-growth stock known as Wal-Mart (close to 18).
On the other hand, ex-AAPL S&P 500 technology earnings growth rate has never exceeded 10% since at least CQ1 2012, according to Factset. And while Apple's domestic cash reserves are "somewhat low" (at $20B vs. $158B internationally), Apple remains more than willing to grow dividend payouts and buyback shares indefinitely (having repurchased $45B in stock in FY 2014 alone).
It's also hard to find anything particularly troublesome on the weekly chart other than a relatively controlled consolidation/downtrend phase from last November.
The bullish investor might say that all things considered, it seems that Apple's forecasted diminished future is baked into the stock much more than the reality of the present and the strong guidance of the near-term. Assuming that Apple continues to show solid growth throughout the remainder of FY 2015, and the markets don't go to heck in a handbasket, do bears have the consensus – or contrarian – view that AAPL has already met its market cap ceiling? I'm not qualified to render investment/trading advice of any kind – but that doesn't mean I lack an opinion on the matter.
The World's #1 Technology Company
Samsung just reported revenues of 52.73 trillion won for the December quarter. Earlier in the year that would have been around $52B USD. Today, just over $48.1B USD. In either case, Apple's seasonality-fueled quarter bested Samsung's by well over $20B – and unless Samsung manages to reverse its current downtrend, Apple looks poised to out-revenue Samsung for two quarters in a row. It now appears likely that Apple will out-revenue Samsung for calendar year 2015 and take over as the world's largest technology company by sales.
And with a first-half FY 2015 revenue total of $129B based on the top-end of management guidance, it's quite clear that Apple is well on the way past $200B in total FY 2015 revenues. Wall Street now expects $220B in sales (22% YOY growth) just as iPhone 6S presumably launches.
It's understandable if you think Apple is in the middle of an outlier fiscal year, with considerably less growth a distinct possibility for FY 2016. And yet, management has made little attempt to manage expectations (other than for iPad), and ForEx-impaired top-end revenue guidance of $55B (ahead of analysts' pre-earnings expectations) is already setting the Wall Street consensus on a path to once again exceed guidance before late April rolls around. There is no way Maestri has failed to account for this, or the continued spillover effects. Words of caution should be easy to detect and must be watched for – but around the corner they are not.
Sure, Apple is playing in a world marketplace filled with the keenest competition yet, with companies like Xiaomi or Lenovo "threatening" Apple as they grow smartphone shipment volumes from lower price points. But this isn't the Apple of 1996, or 2007, or 2010. It's now pushing into territory never before reached by any technology company in history, never mind that new all-time quarterly net income record. It's playing in a space large enough for multiple winners, while bringing in customers who have never owned Apple products before. Competitors are still scrambling to fit 64-bit, biometric security and an integrated payment platform together, while Apple took care of the first two over a year ago, and has already signed up more financial institutions and card networks onto its industry-standard-compatible NFC platform than any other competitor – before any international expansion of Apple Pay.
Oh, and it'll soon start selling multi-thousand dollar gold watches to an installed base of iPhone 5+ users numbering in the many tens of millions.
Back in December 2012, Tim Cook advised Brian Williams – and the world – "don't bet against us".
Does anyone care to take that bet now?


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Rachel MacGregor quitting days before the 2014 election all but ensured that the Conservative Party did not get its coveted 5%. ?It certainly looked possible up to that point. ?Of course, in hindsight, Ms MacGregor did New Zealand a huge favour by exposing what Colin Craig was like.
Mr Craig was hoping to clear his name in time for the 2017 election so he could lead what has been ostensibly his party to the election win he feels he deserved. ?But a number of public court case results and a number of still active cases have not put him in a position to be a viable political candidate for the 2017 election.
Whaleoil has kept an eye on the Conservative Party because until recently it was fair to say that Colin and the Conservative Party were one and the same thing. ? They shared the same offices, computer systems and some staff.
At some point, those with some ambition for the party, had to cut Colin loose. ?They left it too late, but it appears the genesis of the split started late last year, around the time Colin Craig lost to Jordan Williams in the very public defamation case.
In truth, Whaleoil didn't believe the split was real. ?After all, money talks, and Colin was holding all the purse strings, with the exception of some spare change that Laurence Day would chuck into the kitty. ? So when new leader Leighton Baker was announced, he very much felt like a seat warmer because at the time, everything else still seemed to point at Colin owning the party infrastructure.
This week has seen the first public sign of a genuine breakup between the party and Mr Craig. ?They mentioned their party web site in a public press release. ?Instead of conservartive.org.nz, it is now nzconservative.com.
Also, authorisation statements now point at Kevin Stitt's home address in South Auckland instead of the Castle in Triton Drive on Auckland's North Shore. ?
This indicates that Colin has refused to release control of certain aspects of the party infrastructure, and the rebel Conservatives in the party have had to be pragmatic and just grab another web site name.
Also of interest has been the sudden promotion of the Conservative party by Ian Wishart of Investigate fame. ? He was asked to stand for the party for the 2014 election, but that didn't work out. ?He does seem more heavily involved now, even to the point where the Investigate web site and the new Conservative party web site look the same.
The Conservative party have recently run an Internet-only poll which was promoted to Investigate website readers. ? The party are now distributing the results as if it was a genuine poll carried out by an independent and professional company.
In this poll, the Conservatives had 4.9% support, which forms the basis for their self-fuelled confidence that they are, once more, in the running for 2017.
I'll cover this poll in more detail tomorrow.
As much at home writing editorials as being the subject of them, Cam has won awards, including the Canon Media Award for his work on the Len Brown/Bevan Chuang story. When he's not creating the news, he tends to be in it, with protagonists using the courts, media and social media to deliver financial as well as death threats.
They say that news is something that someone, somewhere, wants kept quiet. Cam Slater doesn't do quiet and, as a result, he is a polarising, controversial but highly effective journalist who takes no prisoners.
He is fearless in his pursuit of a story.
Love him or loathe him, you can't ignore him.
To read Cam's previous articles click on his name in blue.


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Rob Bredow has been promoted to CTO of ILM parent company Lucasfilm. Bredow joined ILM as a VFX supervisor in 2014, but at the end of that year was named VP of new media and head of Lucasfilm's Advanced Development Group (ADG), which develops tools and techniques for realtime immersive entertainment. It was during this time that Bredow helped launch ILMxLAB, a division that combines the offerings of Lucasfilm, ILM and Skywalker Sound to create interactive storytelling and immersive cinema experiences.
"Rob is truly the perfect fit for this role. His passion for technology and innovation, and his experience in filmmaking, make him the ideal candidate to lead our technology efforts for both Lucasfilm and ILM," said Lucasfilm GM Lynwen Brennan. "Rob's many years of experience as a visual effects supervisor combined with his expertise in technology and new media enable us to continue our longstanding tradition of innovation."
Prior to ILM, Bredow was the CTO and VFX supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks. He has worked on films such as Men in Black 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, Green Lantern, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Surf's Up, Castaway and Godzilla.
Bredow is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (VFX Branch) and the AMPAS Scientific and Technical Council, and a Visual Effects Society Technology committee chair.


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Hi all,
I wrote a macro to insert a general table into a drawing. To insert the table I use the InsertTableAnnotation2 method. The macro works fine but I can't control the name of the table. My question is: is there a way to set the name of the general table other than 'General Table1' or 'General Table2' and so on?
Hope someone can help me out here.
Kind regards,


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Jacks & Plugs
Jack Plate - Marshall, Mono or Stereo
Mono or stereo jack plate for back of cabinets.
Jack Plate - Marshall, Switchable Stereo / Mono
Switchable stereo/mono jack plate for back of cabinets.
Jack Plate - Plug and Play, Mono / Stereo
The Plug and Play eliminates the confusing switch found on most stereo cabinets. Just pick your impedance and plug in. Label is set at the common 4/16 Ohm Mono and 8 Ohm Stereo. Ready to install with a steel dish, wires, and speaker connectors.
Jack Plate - Electrosocket, for Tele, Anodized Aluminum
This modern cupstyle Tele® jackplate is milled from brass and has an shiny plated finish. Mounts with (2) screws that are included. No more having to deal with that sharp piece of steel used to secure the old original cups. Super easy to install! The cup is even threaded so no need for the lockwasher and nut from the jack. Just simply screw the jack into the cup, solder the wires and install into your instrument!
XLR Adapter - Amphenol, Male To Male, Nickel
XLR 3 pole male to 3 pole male adapter, pre-wired, metal shell. Nickel. Features:
- Adapter pre-wired for convenience
- 120 ohm terminators
¼" Jack - Pure Tone, Stereo, Double-Open Circuit, Long Thread
Pure Tone's new long threaded three pole (stereo) 1/4" jack provides full contact for improved connections and signal integrity. This jack locks the cable securely into place creating a greater surface area connection to carry more signal for an improved frequency stability. This jack is a great choice for both mono and stereo applications as well as guitars using active electronics.
¼" Plug - Amphenol, Mono, Right Angle, SwitchPlug™, Large
The Amphenol T series SwitchPlug™ uses a unique 360 degree precision sliding helical spring contact design to quietly and accurately switch the signal circuit safely to ground during instrument changes under load, thereby avoiding annoying thumps, pops and squeals.
¼" Jack - Switchcraft, Mono, Open Circuit, Gold Plated
Genuine Switchcraft Type 11 ¼" jack with complete gold plating. All metal parts are gold plated including the washer and nut.
¼" Jack - Switchcraft, Stereo, double open circuit, deep panel
Type 152B. ¼" Female Stereo Input Jack 3-conductor. Thick panel-mount jack with cable clamp. Brass finish.
¼" Plug - G&H, Stereo, Nickel, Copper Core
Made by G&H industries. High quality, oxygen-free copper core phone plugs. Made in the USA. Unique design and molded construction eliminates the need for an additional insulator over the ground tab, making it much easier to solder.
XLR Jack - Switchcraft, premium, circular panel-mount
C Series Circular Panel Mount 3 Pin XLR Female, mounts with #5 Screws (Not included) - Silver Pins / Nickel Finish.
Starting at $8.35
¼" Plug - Amphenol, Mono, Straight, SwitchPlug™, Large
The Amphenol T series SwitchPlug™ uses a unique 360 degree precision sliding helical spring contact design to quietly and accurately switch the signal circuit safely to ground during instrument changes under load, thereby avoiding annoying thumps, pops and squeals.
Save 11%
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¼" Plug - Straight, Used with F-Cap on Fender amps
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Home › Forums › ACCA Forums › ACCA MA Management Accounting Forums (FIA FMA Forums) › ACCA F2 June 2018 Exam results – Instant Poll and Comments
- This topic has 36 replies, 26 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 10 months ago by saftain.
- AuthorPosts
- April 4, 2018 at 7:22 am
opentuition_teamKeymasterApril 17, 2018 at 10:37 am
passed with 55% at first attempt, thanks for opentuitionApril 21, 2018 at 2:29 am
Hi guys. Successfully completed F2 on the first attempt. Thanks for your guidance.April 24, 2018 at 1:43 pm
hi guys thank you so march for the open tuition i almost gave up but thanks to the opentuiton i passed my F2 this was my third attemptApril 24, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Congratulation chebetchigozie.. 🙂April 24, 2018 at 4:45 pm
94%May 13, 2018 at 3:21 pm
I missed it by 1 point – disappointed. I am hoping that using open tuition will help me next time around. I did not use last time.May 13, 2018 at 3:22 pm
Hey well done!!May 15, 2018 at 5:05 pm
First attempt: 90%. Thank you.May 28, 2018 at 10:13 pm
Any advice on passing this paper……………I have use all of open tuition studying methods along with revision kit and five failures…………., Ready to give up………..DisappointedMay 29, 2018 at 11:46 am
Hi Brendacal my first piece of advice is not to give up. Failure is the biggest part of success.
You have done all the work, so you already know it. Be calm and patient with yourself. I suggest understanding the key concepts and outcome. Do this instead of memorizing the work.
Keep going over the revision kit until you understand were you're going wrong. Time yourself in the mock exams.
Good luck next time 🙂May 31, 2018 at 9:01 am
I passed F2 yesterday with 74% and have to say the Open Tuition website is absolutely brilliant. Thanks for everything you provide!June 2, 2018 at 2:45 pm
Hi dmorgan246 thanks your advice is superb………..yea felt like giving up but I must live my dream studying harder for greater success. I would keep u updated. Take care.
Best wishes to you too.June 6, 2018 at 2:08 pm
81June 9, 2018 at 10:26 pm
Studied for 1 month and passed on first attempt at 52%, didn't use open tuition, possibly the reason for low marks but
Will use this website from now on, u guys are awesome.June 10, 2018 at 12:28 am
Thanks Brendacal….June 10, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Passed with 73, Thanks to open tuitionJune 11, 2018 at 2:19 pm
Passed with 50%. It was my first attempt on 02nd of June. Thank you so much for your help and online lectures.June 13, 2018 at 12:36 am
Hi dmorgan246
You are welcome. What paper are you doing or just finished.June 13, 2018 at 11:34 am
I would like to thank you opentuition for all the study material they provide,
watched the lectures along with that practiced revision kit 2 times and practiced more and i passed today with 72%June 13, 2018 at 12:21 pm
@brendacal said:
Hi dmorgan246
You are welcome. What paper are you doing or just finished.
Hi brendacal. I'm doing paper F3.June 13, 2018 at 10:35 pm
Passed 84 at first attempt. Going to F3. Thanks to OPen tuition!June 14, 2018 at 10:19 pm
can i get ur mail id.. even i have score and get pass with thisJune 14, 2018 at 10:20 pm
can i get ur mail id even i need to pass i lost in two attemptsJune 14, 2018 at 10:21 pm
can i get ur mail id so that even i wnt to clear my f2
- AuthorPosts
The topic 'ACCA F2 June 2018 Exam results – Instant Poll and Comments' is closed to new replies.


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On June 11, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a judgment in excess of $10 million in favor of Alston & Bird clients Kevin Brittingham and his company Random Ventures, Inc.
The dispute arose from Brittingham's sale of his company to firearms giant Remington Arms Company, LLC. Random Ventures designed and manufactured firearms silencers for (among others) military special operations—including SEAL Team 6, the unit commended for killing terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Remington took note of Brittingham's success and approached him about purchasing his company. The parties agreed to a deal.
After a seven-day bench trial, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that Remington breached the parties' purchase agreement and did so in bad faith, costing Brittingham millions of dollars. The court awarded Brittingham the earn-out payments due him under the parties' contracts, his lost salary, and attorneys' fees. All told, the judgment totaled more than $10 million.
Joining the case at the appellate stage, Alston & Bird lawyers Mitch Mitchelson and Brian Boone convinced the Second Circuit to affirm the damages and fee awards in Brittingham's favor and to retroactively invalidate certain restrictive covenants in Brittingham's employment agreement that the district court had left intact. Boone argued the case before the Second Circuit on May 20.
Press Release June 16, 2015
Second Circuit Affirms $10 Million Judgment for Alston & Bird Clients
Media Contact


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Please note that the Augment application has been tested and works on the most widespread mobile devices. However, user experience has been more satisfying on the devices that are usually equipped with a higher quality gyroscope and a larger size screen.
The following page contains a list of preferred devices: https://developers.google.com/ar/discover/supported-devices
Supported Android operating systems :
- Android 8.0.0 or above
Watch this video tutorial to learn the basics of the Augment Android app.
*Please note that Augment Android does not yet support ARCore.


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- This event has passed.
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The following is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.
As far as cabinet positions go, secretary of state tends to be considered one of the most revered and highly sought after; at the dawn of the 18th century, most politicians considered it a stepping stone to the coveted White House itself. Luminaries such as John Jay and James Madison were once secretary of state, as were five of the first eight presidents before ascending to the presidency. Throughout American history, the secretary of state has served an integral role in representing the nation's interests overseas and proposing strategic policy initiatives.
With the election of Donald Trump, the position appeared to maintain its importance in establishing diplomatic relations, which makes the current predicament of current Secretary of State Rex Tillerson all the more intriguing. Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp., has been irrelevant to the point of ineffectiveness as he attempts to establish a diplomatic foothold in the first year of the Trump presidency. Recently, he has come under fire for referring to his boss as a "moron" at a Pentagon meeting in July; his relationship with President Trump has soured to a new low. New reports have suggested that Tillerson planned to leave the administration until Vice President Mike Pence, among others, convinced him otherwise. Tillerson should understand, however, that as one of the sane voices of reason in the Trump cabinet, he represents the type of American leadership that can propel the nation away from geopolitical chaos.
Tillerson's tenure has been marked by a series of rational proposals overshadowed by presidential "interventions." President Trump has repeatedly contradicted his secretary of state, notably in claiming that military action was a viable resource to counter heightened political tensions with North Korea and in repudiating Tillerson's call for diplomacy during the Persian Gulf states' embargo on Qatar. By overreaching into Tillerson's domain, President Trump undermines his political cabinet, not just by ruling over a key strategists' claims, but by also negating the policy decisions of one of the more level-headed thinkers in the White House. Tillerson has demonstrated moderation on many issues, including not only conflicts in Qatar and North Korea, but also in President Trump's reactionary decisions to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement and Iran Nuclear Deal. Given the president's propensity to fire up geopolitical conflict and evade any semblance of proper diplomacy, any official who can offer a rational strategy to combat crises ought to remain in place in order to restrain such talk from the president.
Part of Tillerson's issues, however, have to deal with how he manages his office. Unlike previous secretaries John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, Tillerson has yet to establish himself as a known commodity in the political spectrum, and, as such, has avoided committing to any policies or initiatives of his or anybody's creation. He is considered by many, as Politico states, to be the "least influential top diplomat" in recent American history. In order to regain his legitimacy, Tillerson must authoritatively and vocally lead the state department to establish a comprehensive diplomatic organization that stands for rational, realistic solutions to world crises.
He should look to Kerry, a diplomatic figure respected across the globe, who was in a position to strongly influence the Iran Nuclear Deal and the Paris Climate Agreement and thus leave a sound diplomatic mark on world affairs. Although Tillerson has ideological differences with his predecessors, he can make a similar impact around the globe by advancing American interests in a sound, forceful manner. America needs a strong state department to maintain its status as a geopolitical power. President Trump's actions, and Secretary Tillerson's responses, have only further fueled the fire of growing disenchantment with the state department. It is up to Tillerson to rescue himself from this current situation and demonstrate the capabilities needed to run a successful department; doing so would help his situation with President Trump, who could see him as a positive force depending on his policy proposals, and with the country in general, for a strong state department can restore America's reputation as a global power.
Believe it or not, the most important crisis facing American diplomacy is not any of the geopolitical issues straining American opinions, but rather the undercutting of the nation's state department by the commander-in-chief himself. If he does not take a stand for his department, Tillerson will be remembered not as a political figure who rose above the fray to advance diplomacy, but as a solitary puppet used and abused by his master.


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How to Transcend Partisanship and Create Effective Movements for Change in the Trump Era
Connect with the author
President Trump has wasted little time in trying to install key elements of his agenda through executive orders on health care, infrastructure, immigration, and other issues. Meanwhile, resistance movements opposing Trump's Administration have frantically leaped into action. But what is the likely outcome of this struggle? Will nascent social movements succeed in winning any political victories or stalling any of Trump's initiatives?
Partisanship is a Double-Edged Sword
The answer to these questions rests largely on whether movement leaders – and their followers – are able to move beyond the boundaries of partisanship. Partisanship is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is a tremendous resource for movements: if a movement can tap into people's partisan feelings, then it can draw upon a reservoir of strongly held beliefs about how politics should work. Partisan Trump resistance movements can leverage post-election anger, resentment, and partisan kinship to pull many people out into the streets. For example, disappointment over Clinton's loss seems to have motivated much initial opposition to Trump. When I surveyed 294 Women's March attendees, I found that 89 percent reported having voted for Clinton.
But the other edge of partisanship cuts just as sharply. When a group consists almost entirely of one type of people, it is unlikely to organize itself around messages that appeal to a wider audience. If anti-Trump movements are to shift the balance of power back in their direction, they will need to draw support from the ranks of nonvoters and, ideally, even find a way to attract some disappointed Trump voters. But an overwhelmingly Democratic movement is unlikely to do such things. Rallies focused only on channeling Democratic opposition to Trump may amplify polarization by pushing away those who might otherwise have joined parts of the opposition.
In other words, a movement that lives by the partisan sword dies by the partisan sword. For example, Fabio Rojas and I found that the movement against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan initially benefited from Democratic partisanship, but when Democrats returned to power, partisan loyalties steered antiwar activists away from calls to withdraw troops from invaded countries. As a result, Democrats in Congress and the White House did not face much grassroots opposition to the continuation of George W. Bush's foreign policies.
Defeating Trump Depends on Building Nonpartisan Movements
Trump's presidency has brought existing issues such as healthcare access, racism, gender inequality, and the needs of immigrants and refugees into the forefront. But if Trump's opponents focus on him as the embodiment of all that is currently wrong in this country, then the mobilization is likely to collapse once he exits the public arena. If those opponents want to solve these problems, they need to find a way to stay mobilized even after the Democratic Party eventually regains power. Thus, the key to defeating Trump's agenda lies in opponents actually turning their focus away from the President himself, and toward the underlying social conditions and policy problems that they wish to address.
Refocusing a movement from an individual person to specific issues is much easier said than done. As long as Trump is in the White House, it may be difficult to shift the focus of opposition. Trump's temperament, history of divisive language, and apparent lack of policy knowledge, provoke immediate feelings of outrage among many; and because he is a Republican, partisan identities affect how he is judged. Difficult as it may be to create a non-personal, non-partisan social movement, activists should make efforts to do so nonetheless. Here are five tactics for building broader movements:
- Use ideologically balanced rhetoric. For every liberal, progressive, or humanitarian argument that a movement uses in favor of a given cause, it should strive to find a conservative, libertarian, or patriotic argument as well. For example, a movement arguing that prisons treat people of color unfairly could also point out that prisons require wasteful spending.
- Focus on issues. Resistance movements would be wise to organize around individual issues rather than "resistance" itself. Focusing on policy specifics may attract some Republicans and independents. A lifelong Republican is unlikely to show up at a "Stop Trump" event, but could potentially be drawn into, say, a "Hunters and Hikers Together for National Parks" rally.
- Look for unifying concerns. Movements would benefit from focusing on topics with the potential to unify rather than divide people. A large number of women, of all political stripes, could perhaps be persuaded to support a movement for pay equity, but may not agree about abortion policies. Movements benefit from highlighting issues where preexisting partisan alignments are less extreme.
- Agree to disagree. Movements gain strength when they explicitly recognize the right of members to "agree to disagree" on non-focal issues. To build a wide-ranging coalition of individuals around increasing background checks and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, for example, members should make sure that they don't allow disagreements about, say, school choice to get in the way. Successful movements avoid elaborate litmus tests.
- Avoid demonization. When speaking to supporters, movement leaders should avoid demonizing other political groups and instead look for ways to understand others and make common cause around specific issues.
Employing these tactics may yield less short-term mobilization than deploying explicitly partisan rhetoric. The fuel of partisanship burns more brightly, but also more quickly. A deliberately nonpartisan approach has the potential to shift the balance of power over the long term by attracting support from groups that were formerly unaligned or opposed. The success of this strategy depends heavily on both the skill of leaders and the openness of followers to experimenting with new approaches in this most unusual political era.
This brief is based of of Michael T. Heaney, "Transcending Partisanship in the Age of Trump," Democracy, March 13, 2017. Read more in Michael T. Heaney & Fabio Rojas, Party in the Street: The Antiwar Movement and the Democratic Party after 9/11 (Cambridge University Press, 2015).


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With feminists seemingly now viewed as hairy, turtle-neck toting spoilsports, it would appear we have become something of a society of neo-feminists. As glamour models speak of empowerment and role model criteria shifts based on attractiveness, has 21st Century feminism has become about burning our bras, quite literally? Laura Routledge finds out.
It's the early 20th Century. Women are starving themselves, with food refusal the only form of control they have left in their struggle against subordination, and fighting with their lives to win the vote and equality.
Fast forward to 2009, my sister has taken up pole dancing lessons because, 'It's really good for toning muscles' and my mother encourages me to wear something a little more feminine to guarantee my male peers find me attractive. Feminism seems to have become a set of beliefs women are apologetic for and certainly quick to defend. Over the past century, it has become loaded with a host of negative adjectives from 'unshaven' and 'unattractive' to 'angry' and even 'lesbian'. Emmeline Pankhurst could have saved herself a lot of bother, had she realised that, a century later, we'd all be forgetting any moderate beliefs of equal rights for women and idolising a Geordie who was propelled to stardom after beating up a toilet attendant because she went back to her cheating husband and lost half her BMI.
Uncomplimentary stereotypes that cling to the noun 'feminism' lead to associations with Grumpy Old Women, Janet Street Porter and Germaine Greer. Not exactly a social group that many young women will be quick to draw allegiance to. With role models such as Cheryl Cole and Jordan, who has accumulated a wealth of £40 million and whose fame rose from her enlarged assets and various high profile relationships, perhaps feminism has simply been manipulated to adopt a new meaning in the noughties. With negative associations attached to word itself, women are now looking to new ways to show that they are liberated. Cardiff-born glamour model, Emma Green, feels that her decision to pose naked for photographers is an example of her asserting control over her own body and own brand of feminism. 'It is empowerment,' she explains. 'It boosts your self esteem, makes you super confident and gives others the confidence to do it.'
In the last few decades, lad's magazines like Loaded have propelled girls like Emma to the forefront of teenage boys' 'hearts' as their seeming obtainable 'girl-next-door' images make for soaring magazine sales. Martin Daubney, editor of Loaded, is responsible for almost 200 different scantily-clad cover girls over its fifteen year life span, not to mention the plethora of bare boobs and bums that grace its pages. But what has this meant for women's roles in society as a result? It is well publicised that even now, a whole century since women cared enough to die for the right to vote, women in the same jobs as men are being paid less and men continue to dominate the top positions. As the media becomes increasingly powerful it is hard not to presume a symbiotic relationship between the host of negative connotations to feminism, the rise in these macho rags and the suppression of feminism.
Martin believes that glamour modelling, rather than opposing feminist ideals, is a sign of the times and empowering thousands of women in society. 'Any woman who makes an informed choice about what they do with their lives is surely a feminist. It's just bullshit to say that women are in some way coerced into glamour modelling. You could argue that porn stars are feminist role models as they are highly paid and control men,' he says. 'When a Loaded cover girl earns more in one day than a male writer does in an entire year, who is having the last laugh?'
So are women now fighting glass ceilings in the work-place by taking charge of their fake-tanned bodies and manipulating men through this adaptation of feminism? Well, it's certainly not a path that Germaine Greer would have ever chosen. Alex Sim-Wise, a journalist and newly appointed gaming expert on Radio 1, fell into glamour modeling quite unintentionally while at University. But from her experiences as a model, Alex finds it hard to believe that glamour models have even heard of feminism. 'The girls who get into it as a career are generally the least empowered women you could imagine and are doing the job because they don't have the smarts to do anything else and are looking for a rich boyfriend,' she says. 'Added to that, a lot of glamour girls now work for free (due to the decline in magazine sales and the popularity of 'real girls' in magazines like Nuts and Zoo) so are essentially exposing themselves for zero reward. It's a male dominated industry where women have little control over their product.'
However, glamour model Kelly Crossin feels that the freedom to tantalise a male audience with her naked body is something of a reward as she manipulates the men that flick through the glossy pages. "I enjoy knowing men find me sexy and that they fantasize over me,' she says. 'I think we all unfairly portrayed. People assume I'm stupid, but glamour models often have a good business head on them.' Yet, even Front magazine editor, Joe Barnes, who has made a living from paying young attractive girls like Kelly to whip their kit off in a bid to 'give the men what they want', sees this as a rather unrealistic notion. Instead, Joe believes that these models have a counterproductive drain on a century of women fighting for the vote. 'The reason the girls do the shoots, it's a sort of myriad of different reasons. Maybe some of them think there's a sort of feminist thing behind it but I'm afraid that's a bit ridiculous really,' he admits. 'I can't see how it fits with feminism at all.'
The idea that male middle class media professionals are sitting in their nicely furnished offices rubbing their well-manicured hands as the money pours in thanks to the potential naivety of these models, leaves something of a bitter taste. Professor Sally Alexander has been a feminist since the sixties. Now a lecturer at Goldsmiths University in London, she continues to follow the developments and advances of the seemingly lost movement. Yet, Sally believes glamour modelling is not so much a replacement of feminism, but more a product of it. "If young women choose to model and pose for men's magazines and pop videos, then that is their choice, so far as it is education and their environment that has enabled them to do so,' she says. 'This is fortunate for those women.'
The 'have it all now' culture could be seen to be linked to the rise in the number of women who turn to glamour modelling enticed by the short hours and big bucks. In fact, Kelly has rather controversial views on modern feminism. It seems, the twenty-one year old from Poole feels empowered by tantalising men, but feels the feminism is something of a restraint. "I think feminism matters less now' the Nuts model explains. 'Personally, I think feminism has caused more harm then good as we now work as well as look after the kids and keep the house clean, where as before it was the women's job to stay at home and watch the children. So I think feminism is making life harder for women.'
There would appear a fine line between empowerment and the disillusion of pleasing men whilst convincing oneself that you are liberated. Yet it does not feel feminist to cast judgement on these women. Am I in a position to judge these women for finding a seemingly easy way to make a lot of money? Probably not. But it would seem that there is still room for improvement. Ellie Levenson, author of 'The Noughtie Girl's Guide to Feminism' wrote the novel after finding that the only ideas of feminism were American or completely out-of-date. The uncharacteristically proud feminist feels it is important that we do not blame girls who wish to use their looks to get them further. 'We shouldn't judge people by how they look or what career choices they make. That doesn't seem very feminist at all,' she says. 'We need to make a lot of improvements to change things for men and women because feminism is about making society better for everyone, not just women.'
With glamour models claiming feminism is holding them back and giving them too much to do, it is undeniable that feminism has done something of a u-turn. Whether feminism has been manipulated and modernised in the form of glamour modelling, I would suggest not. As while these women earn big money for doing little and toy with men's emotions with every finger bite and seductive lip-glossed pout, feminism should perhaps be more to do with making a difference and building on problems such as pay gaps, the treatment of rape claims and removing negativity from the term 'feminist'. In the words of a fully clothed Miss Pankhurst 'We have to free half of the human race, the women, so that they can help to free the other half'. Thus it seems there is more to feminism than the liberation of women, it is about society as a whole and the greater good of it. But whether or not glamour modelling will serve to improve or deter the status of feminism in the future, only time will tell. In the meantime, I think I'll be keeping my bra on.
By Laura Routledge


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It's just been a day of being thankful, and in spite of everything, I discovered there was actually a LOT I am thankful for at the moment. Not least of these things that there might be children of our own in our future. *phew*
Youtube is a very strong draw, tempting me away from paying attention and getting on (with useful, sensible things like sleeping or writing the article I'm meant to be submitting soon) offering me wonderful videos to watch about why we think things are cute, or how to make a mathematically perfect Thanksgiving feast (I particularly enjoyed the 'mathed' potatoes) and things far more esoteric and less edifying.
Am pretty much prepared for Christmas. We made our Christmas cards last weekend and last night completed our present-buying. Good grief Christmas is expensive! We're not even buying anything much for people! However, I *hope* we've got things that our friends-and-relations will like. And if not, they can lump it! Bah humbug.
Being still relatively new to the blogosphere, it's encouraging how many people are prepared to bare their lives, thoughts and actions to public scrutiny, and in fact it's been very helpful. The experiences of people I don't know but can read about are variously warming, strengthening, entertaining, distracting, heartbreaking, and in a strange way, condoning (for instance regarding grief – it's good to hear other people's experiences and feel that mine aren't so 'out there' after all, but definitely fall within the bell-curve of 'normal'). I'm rather pleased to be a part of it, and if anything I say here interests, entertains or helps any reader, I am quite prepared to take full credit – that's what it's all about.
Discovering this weekend how being emotional then trying to keep going can really take it out of you. I refer you to #2. And the fact that I could hardly get out of bed today and haven't done anything sensible like gotten dressed. I am but a few steps away from stewing in my own filth and care not a jot. Let the world carry on – today I have stopped it and got off.
I have a strong suspicion that the adoption agencies aren't going to send info of their own accord. Might be time to give them a ring. Or wait 'til after the fertility appointment. Hate all the not knowing – it's very difficult to plan ahead when the goalposts keep changing.
My Dad has (allegedly) finished his recipe book. He's an awesome cook and through my life I've enjoyed his cooking. He's finally been able to compile some of his best recipes and write them down. I was a little disconcerted to find that only on a couple of the recipes has he included any amounts! His reassurances of "You'll know how much to use" fell slightly on panicked ears – all very well for him; he's been cooking them long enough to know! I shall have to work the trial-and-error way, I think.