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Words: Patricia Podorsek
Photos: Monica Tindall
One look at the views from the Grand Hyatt's Thirty8 restaurant and you know you are sitting in a place with lofty standards for quality and aesthetic. It is no surprise then, that the hospitality team is happy to welcome the arrival of Rolf Knecht as its new Executive Chef.
Grand Hyatt KL's New Executive Chef: Rolf Knecht
Swiss-born, Chef Knecht has spent 24 years in F&B, including tours with the Grand Hyatt in Shanghai, Jakarta, and Fukuoka. Perhaps more notably, Chef is a second-generation Asian Hyatt chef: his father was the first Western chef ever to lead a Hyatt kitchen in Asia way back in the 1960s! Now that is a pedigree that will surely earn him a place at the table in KL!
We talked for several minutes before the start of dinner. He is a charming man, engaging in conversation about his varied travel and work experiences around the world. In addition to Asia, he has also cooked in several places in North America and Europe, including some time in my hometown in Michigan! Now that is a small world!
Focus On Sustainability
Of particular interest is Chef Knecht's focus on sustainability. He works hard to infuse his cooking with locally sourced ingredients, and works with small farms to procure specialty items that support local communities. The Langit Collective is one of his favorites, an eco-friendly organization working with rural farmers in Sarawak. He also tells us that Malaysian honey is one of the best kept secrets in Malaysia, "Chefs all over the world brag about the fine quality of Malaysian honey. Here, no one talks about it!"
Grand Hyatt KL's New Executive Chef: Tasting Menu
Thirty8 Menu – Starter
Charming as he is personally, it is soon time to learn about his cooking. Moving from the elegant bar at Thirty8, we settle in to a cozy table to enjoy a five-course 'Meet the Chef' tasting meal. The first course is Scallop Crudo, a tender Hokkaido scallop served with a wash of kombucha and sweet Indonesian apple. Chef procures the scallops from a village where he has a personal relationship with the purveyors. Clearly a man who likes to know his food deeply, I am happy to know it deeply as well: the zing of chili and star anise linger on my taste buds long after the plate is taken away.
Complementing the starter is the Australian 2015 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc by Seppelt Stony Creek. A well-balanced wine, its combination of fruit and flower offset the seafood with a crisp finish. It also pairs well with the housemade bread and creamy eggplant spread, as rich as butter but with smoky undertones.
Second Course
The second course begins with an elegant array of whole prawn, baby clams, tomato and broccoli. Over this is poured warm seafood broth, golden in color and light on the palate with hints of tomato. Drifting along on this raft of goodness, I am happy to see a whole basil leaf floating by and add its edge to my sails.
Main Course Menu Thirty8
Appetites fully prepped for the main, we see the Chef reach into his European roots for a classic meat and potatoes dish: Roasted beef is served with a bright house-made steak sauce and creamy truffle potatoes. The tenderloin cut is sourced from a small Australian farm that employs a more sustainable and more humane treatment of the cows. Even the vegetables are thoughtfully sourced from a local farm. Do you see what I mean about how Chef Knecht pays attention to both people and sustainability?
Paired with the main, we enjoy a 2016 Shiraz Cabernet blend from South Australia, bottled by Metala Vineyard. Its deep berry aromas complement the fruit of the meat sauce and underscore the meal with notes of clove and anise.
Dessert at Thirty8
Sweet tooth that I hold, I'm never disappointed by a two-part dessert. First, we enjoy a Banana Semifreddo, an icy mousse sweetened only by local fruit and topped with caramelized banana wedges, bits of cocoa-rice crunch and fresh passion fruit. Bananas and passion fruit: sourced locally. Cocoa: sourced locally. Honey and eggs: sourced locally. Do I sound like a broken record? I should.
Lastly, with another turn to his roots, Chef Knecht delivers Brookies and Milk, a recipe that introduces his grandmother into the menu. Crumbly, earthy, sweet goodness returns us all to childhood and memories of a safe and warm good-night.
Grand Hyatt KL's new executive chef Rolf Knecht is a man that believes in relationships: Relationships with people, relationships with food, and a relationship with the earth. These connections, along with Grand Hyatt KL's lofty standards, create an unwavering invitation to anyone who appreciates food.
Thirty8 at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is open daily until 1:00 a.m., opening at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and public holidays. Special events and a la carte menus can be found on their website.
Reasons to meet Grand Hyatt KL's new Executive Chef: Rolf Knecht brings experience and sustainability to the menu at Thirty8 – all of which can be enjoyed with with marvelous views and a comfortable set of ethics.
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
12, Jalan Pinang
Kuala Lumpur, 50450
+ 6 03 2182 1234
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Website
Love Hyatt properties? Find more of our coverage of Hyatt properties from around the world here.


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- Wildlife rescuers are calling for restrictions on hunting with bows and arrows, after kangaroos took hours to die in a recent shooting in NSW....Thursday 19 May 2011
- ABC Central West Mornings delves into some of the lesser known sports of the Olympics. We ask experts on these sports the questions you always wanted to know but were too afraid to ask. Today's sport is archery and we talk to Jim Larven from Archery Australia. ...Tuesday 12 August 2008
Explore by Topic
Latest Archery stories on ABC Central West NSW
Latest Archery stories on ABC Online
- Could this central Queensland mining family be right on target to become Australia's top archers?...Friday 7 November 2014
- Wildlife rescue workers are seeing an increasing number of native animals being shot with bows and arrows, prompting calls to outlaw compound bows....Tuesday 29 July 2014
- Think either horse riding or archery is hard? Imagine combining the two. For the first time outside of Japan, Yabusame horseback archery came to Port Douglas Carnivale....Saturday 17 May 2014
- Clint Barton, codename: 'Hawkeye', spins in the air as he draws an arrow from his quiver. He leaps off the side of a building, narrowly missing being caught in an explosion. In big-budget movies like The Avengers, or The Hunger Games, archers never miss their targets thanks to computer-generated ...Wednesday 14 May 2014
- The 14th Australian Masters Games wraps up after 8 days of competition....Friday 11 October 2013

subset: commoncrawl


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DREAM 17 went down earlier today in Saitama, Japan, with the promotions lightweight champion Shinya Aoki, former 155 pound contender, Tatsuya Kawajiri and former UFC veteran Gerald Harris all coming out on top.
Aoki defeated former WEC champion, Rob McCullough in the main event, winning the fight mid-way through the first round with a neck crank. Tatsuya Kawajiri Made his featherweight debut after years in the lightweight division, defeating former 155 pound champion, Joachim Hansen in the co-main event in a back-and-forth bout that seen Kawajiri picked up a third round arm-triangle submission.
Former UFC veteran, Gerald Harris made a successful DREAM debut with a split decision win over Kazuhiro Nakamua and another former UFC fighter, Antonio Banuelos picked up the same result against Hideo Tokoro in his bantamweight grand-prix quarter final bout.
The official results:
Shinya Aoki def. Rob McCullough via submission (neck crank) – Round 1, 4:52
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 2:30
Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via knockout (kick) – Round 1, 4:17
Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 2:42
Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via split decision
Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamua via split decision
Antonio Banuelos def. Hideo Tokoro via split decision
Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otsuka via technical submission (rnc) – Round 1, 0:41
Masakazu Imanari def. Abel Cullum via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 0:46
Rodolfo Marques def. Yusup Saadulaev via unanimous decision
Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via submission (scarf-hold armlock) – Round 1, 4:39


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This section is updated almost daily with the most current industry-related press releases we receive.
Alchemy CATALYST 2019
Dec 11, 2018
Alchemy Software Development Ltd., a visual localization solutions provider, has released Alchemy CATALYST 2019. New features include the ability to label segments with customizable, color-coded tags, editing of Alchemy .tm files, visual view for DOC, PDF and XML files, and a second memo field called Translator Note.
Past news for Alchemy Software Development Ltd.
KantanMT partners with Alchemy
May 21, 2015
KantanMT, a subscription-based machine translation (MT) service, and Alchemy Software Development Ltd., have announced a partnership intended to enable users of both platforms to integrate MT into Alchemy CATALYST localization workflows.
Acrolinx partners with Alchemy
Nov 05, 2013
Acrolinx GmbH, a developer of linguistic analytics software, has integrated its content optimization technology within the localization solution CATALYST from Alchemy Software Development, a division of TransPerfect.
Alchemy CATALYST Image Translator
Nov 19, 2010
Alchemy Software Development Ltd., a localization solutions provider, has released Alchemy CATALYST Image Translator for the Apple iPhone, an application that translates text within pictures in more than 30 languages.
Alchemy CATALYST 9.0
Oct 27, 2010
Alchemy Software Development Ltd., a localization solutions provider, has released Alchemy CATALYST 9.0. The new version includes improvements in supported languages, usability, standards support and better functionality with online help technologies.
Alchemy training courseware and certification exams
Sep 15, 2010
Alchemy Software Development Ltd., a visual localization solutions provider, has created training courseware and certification exams for Alchemy CATALYST. The course materials were developed at the Localisation Research Centre and the Centre for Next Generation Localization in the University of Limerick and are designed to teach students how to use translation memory technology to localize software applications, online help systems and complex websites.
All qualified news is subject to editing. To have your company's news considered for publication:
To keep up to date on the latest language industry news subscribe to our free newsletter:


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Flamingo Jersey - Man
Flamingo Bib - Man
Pineapples Bib - Woman
Red Line Jersey - Man
Red Line Bib - Man
Flamingo Jersey - Woman
Pineapple Jersey - Woman
High quality bib for cycling.
Style: Flamingo.
Recognisable from the unique design and the usage of cutting edge technology of the materials aimed at the great comfort and durability of the bib, suitable for any kind of cyclist thanks to its pads.
Bib with great comfort thanks to a particular type of lycra making it very soft, the bands are in fact suitable to all types of muscles: thanks to the soft grip they do not squeeze aggressively, but rather envelop the muscle to facilitate its functionality. The pad is ideal for medium-long distances, for any type of cyclist and mostly for
every kind of saddle.


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RCA Victor BPL 3055
The famous Luiz Gonzaga has been presented as composer In this parallel reality on a Rildo Hora tribute album: Rildo Hora Interpreta Luiz Gonzaga (1988),
Now we have a career album, his second of altogether (at least) 43, a 10′ LP released back in 1957 for RCA Victor.
Although I do not think that it is necessary to explain anything about such a well known figure, I will point to two texts about him on the back cover:
The first one, signed by Nerço Barbaio and the other signed by E. B. which is a feeble attempt to hide the identity of the writer, who can be no other than Elmo Barros, notorious for his authorship of linear notes printed on RCA Victor releases.
The Baiãos are:
1. Forró No Escuro (Luiz Gonzaga)
2. Moça de Feira (Armando Nunes / J. Portela)
3. Sertão Sofredor (Nelson Barbalho / Joaquim Augusto)
4. Xote das Moças (Nelson Barbalho / Joaquim Augusto)
5. O Delegado no Coco (Zé Dantas)
6. Gibão de Couro (Luiz Gonzaga)
7. Comício Do Mato (Joaquim Augusto / Nelson Barbalho)
8. Meu Pajeú (Luiz Gonzaga / Raimundo Granjeiro)
Créditos: Pedro & 300discos


text: What if you could have fresh organic veggies, herbs and flowers that are grown year round with no chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers right in your kitchen? Thanks to Hyundai you can! This is a whole food lovers dream come true! The Nano-Garden is an absolutely amazing invention especially for people, like myself, who are living in condos, or in houses that don't have much yard space


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Brendan Maclean – Love, Music & Hankies
Brendan Maclean is an Australian musician and the man behind this year's most provocative music video, House of Air. This iconoclastic single was released in February, and it's accompanying racy content caught the attention of mainstream media like The Guardian. House of Air features gay cruising culture, the hanky code, real gay sex and extreme gay sex too. You can view the (NSFW) video at the end of our chat with the talented Mr. Maclean. Why not listen to Brendan and some of his inspirations as you read?
Essential Info
Name: Brendan Maclean
Country: Australia
Smoker: Yes
Kinky: I'm pretty game. But not scat, oddly enough.
Occupation: Musician, Actor, Artist
Inspirations: Freddie Mercury, Rufus Wainwright, Fiona Apple, Eddie Vedder, whoever is reading this.
The Interview
We've selected a few highlights from our in-depth conversation with Brendan Maclean below, or you can read the full interview here.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm a musician from Sydney Australia. I smoke too much. I love listening to pop and love writing folk music, so what I make generally ends up somewhere weirdly in-between.
Do you think House of Air has opened up doors for you, or quite the opposite?
The answer has to be both. Certainly some companies will never work with me again, I'll never be on prime time television or in a Disney Movie… but was I ever going to be? I think I've always been a little too quirky or too gay for mainstream consumption…
Only Boyfriend is so beautiful and so different. Is it commentary on monogamy versus polygamy?
…"If what they say is, 'Nothing is forever' then what makes love the exception?" That piece of wisdom is the lyrics of OutKast – Hey Ya, and I suppose Only Boyfriend is my take on it. I would say I'm single, but it's a lie to say I'm not in relationships with many people all the time. I have a lot of love, and it hurts, but maybe forever relationships are super duper rare, and it's okay not to have them, ya know?
Question from a fan: If old gay symbols (totems) are brought back, how do you think they will be reimagined, if at all, by younger generations?
I think the hanky code was a generational fashion code, and I think every generation has their own. It could be an artist you like that bonds a community. In Russia, House of Air is played in gay bars as a protest, that's what good art is and that's what will become our totems.
Ciao for now
If the interview highlights have made you curious to learn more about Brendan, you can still read the full interview here. And here's the House of Air music video, but we can't stress enough, it's not suitable for work NSFW. NOTE to viewers: the last 20 seconds of the music video are particularly provocative, and may be considered shocking to some people.
Who's next?
If you have a favorite artist, porn star, queer public figure you'd like us to interview send your suggestion to firstname.lastname@example.com
Enjoyed this story? Then you'll love this one too.
In the mood for something completely different?


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
1808 Classic head large cent pennyTotal Mintage: 1,007,000Struck at the Philadelphia Mi..
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Sole Desire 27 July – 21 September
Hand selected by Fluevoger, Viv Heslop, John Fluevog Shoes is exhibited in Sole Desire in Auckland!
Sole Desire showcases a selection of shoes of 11 collectors who share the role shoes play in their lives. The diverse selection of shoes at Sole Desire expresses the personalities and meanings shoe can have for us. For more information on the show and Sole Desire publication, visit Objectspace!


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Boudicca was a Queen and a Britannian army leader who in the early years of the Roman occupation led the Boudicca uprising and if they would have won, she would have changed the destiny of Europe.
when? 60 - 61 AD. where? Britain
Boudica (d. AD 60 or 61) was queen of the British Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire.
Boudica's husband Prasutagus, ruler of the Iceni tribe, who had ruled as a nominally independent ally of Rome, left his kingdom jointly to his daughters and the Roman Emperor in his will; however, when he died, his will was ignored —the kingdom was annexed as if conquered, Boudica was flogged, her daughters were raped, and Roman financiers called in their loans.
In AD 60 or 61, while the Roman governor, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, was leading a campaign on the island of Anglesey off the northwest coast of Wales, Boudica led the Iceni,Trinovantes and others in revolt. Tacitus wrote: "Goaded by such mutual encouragements, the whole island rose in arms under the command of Boudicca, a woman of royal descent – for Britanni make no distinction of sex in the appointment of leaders." They destroyed Camulodunum (modern Colchester), earlier the capital of the Trinovantes, then a colonia (a settlement for discharged Roman soldiers) and the site of a temple to the former Emperor Claudius. On hearing the news of the revolt, Suetonius hurried to Londinium (London), the twenty-year-old commercial settlement that was the rebels' next target. He concluded that they did not have the numbers to defend the settlement, so it was evacuated and abandoned. 100,000 (Iceni, Trinovantes and others) lead by Boudica burned and destroyed Londinium and Verulamium (St Albans) and the Legio IX Hispana was cut to pieces. An estimated 70,000–80,000 Romans and British were killed in the three cities by those lead by Boudica. Suetonius, meanwhile, regrouped his forces in the West Midlands and, despite being heavily outnumbered, defeated the Britons in the Battle of Watling Street. The crisis caused the Emperor Nero to consider withdrawing all Roman forces from Britain, but Suetonius' eventual victory over Boudica re-secured Roman control of the province. Boudica then either killed herself, so she would not be captured, or fell ill and died—the extan sources, Tacitus and Cassius Dio, differ.


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"Chairman Thune, Subcommittee Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee.
"My name is
"In April, this committee heard testimony from Mr.
"When the
1. Increase funding for the
2. Create a coordinated SafeSport public awareness campaign that all national governing bodies can use and support in solidarity. This campaign should be created by experienced child-welfare professionals with a goal to educate athletes, parents, coaches and all who work with young athletes to be vigilant, informed and reactive to all forms of abuse.
3. Provide a national database of banned and suspended persons, searchable by name, sport, state and region.
4. Amend the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act to give subpoena power to the
5. Finally, at some point in the near future, expand the reach of the
"Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this topic. I am happy to respond to any questions members of the Subcommittee may have."


text:
Sarkar got released in a record number of screens in many parts of South India. According to a tweet send out by popular Trade Analyst Sumit Kandel, the Vijay starrer went on to fetch approximately 35 Crores from all over India on its very first day of release.
It has also been mentioned that the Vijay starrer has overtaken the Ranbir Kapoor starrer Sanju, in terms of the opening day collection. Sanju had collected above 34 Crores on its day 1.
By overtaking the Ranbir Kapoor starrer Sanju, Sarkar has turned out to be the top opening day grosser among at the all India box office of the year 2018 so far. Well, that indeed is a big achievement and rightly speaks about the hype that the film has had.
Meanwhile, Sarkar has set a new record in Chennai as well. According to the report, the film fetched above 2.37 Crores from Chennai alone to beat Kaala and become the top opening day grosser. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that the movie has become the top opening day grosser at the Kerala box office as well.
Sarkar Cast and Crew Details
Sarkar Movie Cast and Crew details ,News, Complete Details
|Sarkar Movie
|Cast and Crew details ,News, Complete Details
|Director of Sarkar
|A.R. Murugadoss
|Release date of Sarkar
|6 November 2018
|Hero of Sarkar
|Heroine of Sarkar
|Keerthy Suresh
|Kalanithi Maran
|A. R. Rahman
|Girish Gangadharan
|Running time
|164 m
|AR Murugadoss
B. Jeyamohan
|Production Company
|Sun Pictures
|Edited by
|A. Sreekar Prasad
|Distributed by
|Sun Pictures
|Latest News about Sarkar
|Latest News


text:
Monday, April 20, 2009
I'd like to experience the life where you always need to have an umbrella in your bag
Never knowing when it might rain. Where I can sit for hours in the park under the huge, long trees and simply get lost in the book in my hands. Take long walks on the streets, and simply get lost between the people. Shop in a market, not in shopping malls. Be able to watch the sunset.
This is how I hope my life would turn out to be, some of these things I can have control over, and others I may not. But I truly hope it turns out that way. I do think I live in my head most of the time!!! I'm not a very dreamy person, but when it comes to the life I'd like to lead in the future, I have a very decided image.
What I struggle the most with is however what I'll be doing in my life-to-be. Is it so important to have a clear image of that too? Why can't I simply continue my dreaming without knowing what I'll be doing. Can I simply live life; reading, and taking long walks? That wouldn't do though. Because then what? I know the sound of such a life is certainly appealing, but I think too much of myself to spend my life in that somewhat idle way.
It's truly hard to contemplate what I want to study and do with my life. I talk about that a lot, but here is the probably the right place since there won't be any person going like ":O You don't know what you want to study? Well, you should by now!" It's frustrating how people react when they know I don't have a clear "purpose". The purpose, however, needs to meet their standards of what a "purpose" is. And that is, a major that you "have" to be highly interested in and want to work in that field. What if my idea of a purpose differed from theirs? What if my idea of a purpose meant me going off changing the world? I know it's become somewhat of a cliche, saying that I want to change the world. I will rephrase though, how about simply experiencing different things and making sure that people were affected by these experiences in a good way?
It is indeed too vague an idea to be pursued. Everything's so undecided that it leaves me in great confusion, I know there will come a time where I'll need to make a choice of where and what I'll be studying. I don't think you know how frightening it can be sometimes to simply think of the notion and of the possibility of choosing something to please others and ending up stuck with that. What makes it much easier to bear, is the fact that my work towards making my mark in this world is in no way connected to what I'll by studying or what will my job be. It's a huge relief to be fully aware of that fact. It makes my mind at ease.
I know I should have a clear plan ahead of me. I am an ambitious person, and I have enough personality to actually decide something and stick to it. However the realization of such thoughts is disappointing.
What am I to do with myself?
I'm not such a hopeless case really. I'm too positive to let this thinking get me down, but it is inevitable to be expressing this, to actually show myself I'm not the careless person I sometimes think I am when I think of my future "major".
4 comments:
- Ashok said...
lol if its any solace, I have friends who will be graduating college this year without a clue as to what they will be doing :P
See the thing is Noor, we aren't in the same world the previous generation was. Opportunities have cropped up for us that the people before us would have never seen and will never understand. Things like economic recession and falling oil prices would dictate that they not take risks and do things that were time tested. But now its different.
The harder times are, the more we crave for innovation, people who can think and act differently. This is good because now we "discover" what we want to do rather than knowing it. It is exactly the young minds who don't know what they want to become, but spend time introspecting, who will act as the saviours.
Everything has a time and a place. You will find your way as long as you don't force yourself to think about it too much. So chill out, read books and keep blogging so that the wisdom challenged like myself will gain some insights to life ;)
On a more personal note, having known you and Huda all these years; you and her will do great no matter what you guys decide to become. She has a very steady and mature presence and you infuse life as a person, so its only a question as to what profession will have the good fortune of having you and her in its field :) Give entrepreneurship a thought too. If books are what you love, open a book store with a open cafe amidst a huge garden ;)
- April 28, 2009 at 10:14 PM
- Ashok said...
The answer to your predicament my friend is that no one feels we should confine ourselves to one activity. Warren Buffet is not just a business baron but also a philanthropist and in our corporate culture, thats almost unheard of. So be a book shop owner and you can still be a doctor, teacher, lawyer, etc. You are right, your potential lies much beyond any of us can ever fathom.
But the mantra is simply innovation. For an illustrative purpose, a book store need not just be a place that sells books, but a meeting place for thinkers to formulate policies that help redefine our societies. It could be a place to encourage authors with potential to reach out to readers. You are helping individuals kick start their path to a life this way. And imagine the number of minds you can inspire the way the books inspired you.
The book store is not simply a business project but the representation of your mind, an idea so to say. Don't limit the idea by calling it a book store or something else. Heck just leave it without a name, blank. Define the idea as you go along the route. Attach names that fit the situation at hand and throw them out when it doesnt. Change the idea as and when you like, add to it, subtract from it. You own it, so you stretch the limits of your thinking and convert that idea into something that leaves an impact for everyone.
We have to face the consequences of our actions and unfortunatley enough nobody wants to appreciate something unthought of before. Our responsibility lies in not listening to them and remaining orthodox, but proving to them that even though the idea is out of the box, it works.
The infinite potential which we know exists will prove to all the skeptics including your parents and society that you can make anything work. Not just work, but work good. The single biggest enemy is our fear. When we begin to fear what other people might say, we fail to listen to what our conscience is telling us. Have faith in yourself and everything about you, even the confusion you are going through. Believe in it, appreciate it and keep introspecting into it.
To be frank, the answer is the confusion itself but let me not go over the line and bore you here :) Good day
- April 29, 2009 at 1:49 AM
- Ashok said...
and am more than glad to offer comments. I can see so much progress in your thinking and the way you approach the situations in your life. Our little Noor is growing up **sniff sniff** :P Goofiness apart, I am glad to be here as much as you are glad that I am offering my unsought advise :P
- April 29, 2009 at 1:51 AM
- Ashok said...
I am glad you are upto the challenge :) Its a tough endeavour I realise, but hey as Mr. Cohello puts it- Hope with such an intensity that the whole universe works overtime to bring whatever you want to you (or atleast something like that). Nothing is greater than the human will and determination :)
PS: Be an immature brat, be a kid :) Its perfectly fine :)
- May 2, 2009 at 7:11 PM


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I was in London on Wednesday on a course. Nerve wracking as I don't like the crowded tube – too many worries of fires, bombs and crashes underground and anxiety about meeting lots of new people I didn't know. It was all fine of course! The tube was crowded and dirty but sailed smoothly to Stratford and the people on the course were very nice and some interesting perspectives were shared.
It was a course about managing mental health in the workplace, an important subject and one close to my heart these days.
Whilst working in a small group one of the ladies commented on my print necklace. She said how pretty it was. I replied saying it was all of my boys. The other lady asked 'that' question, the one that loss parents dread… 'how many do you have?' Usually I freeze and say just the one, but that didn't feel like the right answer given that I'd mentioned plural rather than singular boys. My reply, after a deep breath was that I have a living five year old and we lost two boys at 23 weeks in 2015 and 2016.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and the ladies said all the usual kind words and we moved on to the task in hand.
This is only the third or fourth time I've been honest about the number of children I have to a stranger. It was scary but it felt good to be honest and to acknowledge all of my children.
I need to do this more often!


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OJV building 1 G/F One Julia Vargas Ortigas Home Depot Complex Julia Vargas Ave
Sitel is a global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) leader. The company meets clients' customer care and transaction processing needs through 67,000 associates in 27 countries. Sitel provides world-class solutions from on-shore, nearshore and offshore locations across 155+ facilities throughout North America, South America, EMEA and Asia Pacific.
The company's award-winning services provide clients with the strategic insight, scale and diversity of offerings to ensure the best return on their customer investment. The company is privately held and majority owned by Canadian diversified company, Onex Corporation. For more information, please visit www. sitel.com.
Active jobs
Functions : Others
Industries : ITES/BPO
Skills/Roles I hire for: N/A
level Hiring For: Junior Level, Mid Level
Experience in Hedge Fund/Private Equity environment is a MUST. Has access to work from home during ECQ. Once ECQ is lifted, work location is in Makati City
Responsible in communicating with the client regarding their payments via call. Work from Home during ECQ. Once ECQ is lifted, office is in Makati City
This position is responsible for developing client ramp up plans and forecasts by analyzing trends, modeling AHT, attrition, scheduling scenarios, and interpreting future client needs.
Technical support role in a BPO set-up.
Client is a coaching and leadership training company offering a wide variety of services for leaders and teams in the corporate, federal and nonprofit arenas.
This role is primarily responsible for understanding of KPIs, Data Pulling, Data QA, Data Clean-up, and Reports Automation.
This role is mainly focused in understanding each KPI of the team and how they measure those KPIs. You will also provide forecasts for main KPIs in partnership with the marketers. Experience with advanced Excel features is a must.
This role is primarily responsible for all revenue delivery on a set of sports that the client offers. You will be managing a team of sports owners working to define a strategy for posting contests, build promotional treatments, etc.
This role is primarily responsible for leading and developing a talented team of employees who monitor the operations. Collaborating across organizational teams, you will find new opportunities to generate new revenue.
The Product Marketing Analyst is primarily responsible for utilizing data to design contest mixes that optimize revenue as well as budget and price to create the best product for our users.
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Raymarine T075 Wireless Race Master System
Item #:
Raymarine Wireless
Model #:
Packaged Weight:
4.70 Lbs.
List Price:
Our Price:
Status: In Stock
Raymarine® T075 Wireless Race Master System
- Precise, reliable race compass with twin two-tier displays mounted at an angle to permit viewing from either side of the boat tactical scale provides clear, stable figures for port and starboard tacks
- Functions include:
- Compass heading
- Wind shift indicator
- Line bias
- Race timer
- Boat speed
- Depth data
- Sea temperature
- Display shows heading, how far you are above or below the mean course, and how much you are being headed or lifted
- Quickly and easily establish the favored end of the line
- See how far off dead downwind you are and when you should gybe for optimal VMG
- System includes T121 Hull Transmitter to provide speed, depth and sea temperature data
- T070 Race Master is solar powered with integrated lithium batteries to power the unit for life; power consumption is so efficient that unit can run autonomously for up to 300 hours / (7) nights at brightest backlighting / (20) nights at economy backlighting without charge
- T121 Hull Transmitter is powered by a dedicated solar panel (T138)
- T070 Race Master unit is completely waterproof: unit is sealed for life and submersible to 33 ft. / 10 m
- 2-Year limited warranty (upgradable to 3 years upon product registration within 90 days of purchase)
- In the box:
- T070 Wireless Race Master
- Mounting cradle
- T910 Speed / Depth / Sea Temperature Thru-Hull Triducer
- T121 Micronet Hull Transmitter
- T138 Solar panel for Hull Transmitter
- Raymarine System Model No. T075-916
- T070 Race Master:
- Display: Twin 2-line monochrome LCD display with 1.1" (upper) / 0.8" (lower) digits, (3) levels of backlighting
- Power: Solar / lithium batteries
- Water Protection: Submersible to 33 ft. / 10 m
- Dimensions: 6.56" W x 4.88" H x 0.8" D
- T121 Hull Transmitter:
- Power: Solar (via T138 solar panel) / 9 - 24 Volt DC external power supply / lithium cell with 100 hours autonomy
- Dimensions: 4.3" W x 4.5" H x 1.25" D
- T910 Thru-Hull Triducer:
- Cut-out: 2" dia.
Note: System can then be further extended to allow the addition of Wind and GPS information as well as compatibility with the entire range of Micronet Displays
As a result of the acquisition of the TackTick brand of wireless instruments, Raymarine has officially announced their transition and reintroduction as Raymarine Wireless Instruments.
Though the brand name has changed, the devices are otherwise identical to their TackTick counterparts in Form, Fit, Function and Appearance. Like every other Raymarine product, Raymarine Wireless Instruments are backed by their industry leading 2 year standard warranty.
Raymarine T910 Thru-Hull Retractable Transducer
Item #: 257749
Function: Depth / Speed / Temperature, Material: Plastic
Frequency: 200 kHz, Cone: 11° x 46°, Power: 100 Watts RMS
Compatible with Raymarine Wireless Instruments via T121 Hull Transmitter
Item #: 257749
Raymarine Wireless T232 Dual Instrument Mast Bracket
Item #: 258320
Mount (2) Race Master or (2) Maxi / Dual Maxi Displays
Black Powder Coated, Corrosion Free
Allows Display of Heading, Speed, Depth and Head / Lift
Item #: 258320
Raymarine Wireless T137 Mast Bracket
Item #: 256194
Single Display Mast Bracket
For 110mm Micronet Instruments
Item #: 256194


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Category : Wireless
By SEPVER
Price : £78.88➤Main Features: ● Calling: You can use this smart watch to call in 2 ways: The first way, if you put a SIM card into the smart watch, then you can make / answer calls by the smart watch. it only supports 2G network GSM SIM card(GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 band). We recommend the Vodafone and EE SIM card. The Second way, if you connect the smart watch with your mobile phone by Bluetooth, then you can make / answer calls by the smart watch, no need a SIM card in the watch. ● SMS: Send /... More Info


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Fatherland Site (Grand Village of the Natchez Indians)
The Fatherland Site, also known as the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, is a National Historic Landmark archaeological site owned by the State of Mississippi and administered by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. A close correlation has been established between archaeological findings there and the ethnohistory of the Natchez Indians. Eighteenth-century European visitors who described the site include Iberville, Pénicaut, Gravier, Charlevoix, and du Pratz. At that time, the mound center was the home of the Great Sun, the hereditary chief of the Natchez tribe.
The first archaeological work at the Fatherland Site (named for a nineteenth-century plantation) was Warren K. Moorehead's limited testing in 1924. In 1930 archaeologist Moreau B. C. Chambers led the first extensive excavations at the site for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and over the following decade, he and James A. Ford identified it as the place mentioned frequently in French colonial records as the Grand Village of the Natchez. In 1962 and 1972 Robert S. Neitzel carried out further archaeological investigations for the department, eventually leading to state acquisition of approximately 126 acres for preservation and public interpretation.
The site's three mounds have been designated A, B, and C. French colonial descriptions focus on the Great Sun's mound (Mound B) and the temple mound (Mound C). Mound A was evidently not in use by the Natchez during the French colonial period. Excavations at Mounds B and C revealed that these two earthworks were built up incrementally, and radiocarbon dates from all three mounds indicate construction between AD 1200 and historic contact. Very little remained of the archaeological footprint of the last structure atop Mound B, which would have been the chief's house seen by European visitors to the site.
Mound C was identified as the temple mound based on its location and on the presence of twenty-six human burials, recalling French colonial accounts of burial activity in and around the temple building. A significant portion of the historic Natchez temple's archaeological footprint was documented atop Mound C. The temple's floor plan reveals a two-room structure—a smaller northern room, or portico, adjoining a larger southern (or rear) enclosure, with the whole building measuring about sixty feet in length and forty-two feet in width.
In addition to the structures on the mounds, colonial visitors to the Grand Village mentioned a few dwellings near the mounds and ceremonial plaza. Neitzel's 1972 excavations uncovered evidence of four off-mound building locations. In 1983 a fifth building location came to light during excavations connected with an erosion-control project. No further archaeological excavations are planned.
The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians is located within the Natchez city limits. A museum features exhibits about the Natchez Indians and the French colonial period as well as a reconstructed Natchez Indian house and outdoor interpretive signs.
Further Reading
- James F. Barnett Jr., The Natchez Indians: A History to 1735 (2007)
- Robert S. Neitzel, Archaeology of the Fatherland Site: The Grand Village of the Natchez (1965)
- Robert S. Neitzel, The Grand Village of the Natchez Revisited: Excavations at the Fatherland Site, Adams County, Mississippi, 1972
- John R. Swanton, Indian Tribes of the Lower Mississippi Valley and Adjacent Coast of the Gulf of Mexico (1911)


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Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers – 1/19/19 NHL Pick, Odds, and Prediction – Sports Chat Place
The New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins meet in NHL action from the TD Garden on Saturday night.
The New York Rangers will look to build on back-to-back wins after a 4-3 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks in their last outing. Chicago jumped out to an early 1-0 lead before Filip Chytil and Mats Zuccarello tied and took the lead for the Rangers just 4:28 apart to carry a 2-1 advantage into the 2nd period. Chris Kreider scored the lone goal in the middle frame to give New York a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes of play. Chicago pulled a goal back to make it 3-2 but Mika Zibanejad would ice the game with an empty-netter late in the 3rd, despite the Blackhawks pulling a consolation goal back with :02 remaining in the game. Henrik Lundqvist got the win to improve to 14-12-7 after stopping 24 of 27 shots faced in the winning effort.
The Boston Bruins will look to pick up some steam after a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues in their last outing. The game was scoreless through the opening 20 minutes before Torey Krug broke the deadlock early in the 2nd. The lead lasted less than a minute however, as St. Louis would tie the game and re-take the lead with just over six minutes to go in the period. David Backes tied the game for Boston at 2-2 just 2:24 later and send us to the 3rd period all square. Chris Wagner gave the B's the lead and Brad Marchand added an insurance goal before Sean Kuraly sealed the deal with an empty-net goal late in the 3rd. Tuukka Rask got the win to improve to 14-8-3 this season after making 28 saves on 30 shots in the winning effort.
New York is 15-37 in their last 52 road games and 1-4 in their last 5 games against the Atlantic division while the over is 15-5-1 in their last 21 games overall. Boston is 7-3 in their last 10 games overall and 39-15 in their last 54 home games while the under is 3-0-1 in their last 4 games following a win. New York is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams.
Boston is clearly the better team here and backing the Bruins on home ice is usually a solid play considering how well the B's play at the TD Garden. However, home ice hasn't mattered between these two teams as the road team has ended up winning 4 of the last 5 meetings. The Rangers have also had Boston's number over the last couple of years. Granted, both of the Rangers recent wins were at home, but given the history between the two sides, I'd take a shot with the Rangers and the huge plus money here.


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Brian Garland was recently featured in Production Paradise's Spotlight magazine. Here's Brian on feeling blessed, bringing together the right crew, and what he loves most about his work.
"Crew is everything. With a solid team, anything is possible. I have been very fortunate to work with truly amazing crews in the States, as well as China! I thank them all for their support and company.
In recent months, I have shot multiple ad campaigns for Chevrolet in Shanghai with MRM//McCann. This year also brought global digital and print work for Infiniti in central California for the Designory in Long Beach, as well as directing an accessory video for the gorgeous Q60 Infiniti coupe.
Most mornings, I wake up feeling like I've won the jackpot: I'm blessed to work with so many talented and forward-thinking individuals who collaborate in a way that always enhances the result beyond anything I could do on my own. Each project, each day is different, allowing me to create in new and unique ways, so this work never gets old.
And who doesn't want to travel to remote and mysterious lands, that only add to the emotion, gratification and sense of play this work yields?"
To see more of Brian's work click here.


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Dear Diary
About Dear DiaryDestiny is one tricky thing, isn't it? What if you could be its master? Meet Anna Blake, a girl who is making her way through highschool, and help her make life changing decisions. Every choice you make will interfere directly in Anna's fate… And that's kind of awesome! Sneak peek at Anna's diary and join her in all the amazing adventures! Rick the handsome and popular football player or Martin the smart and cute guy? Red or blue dress for prom night? Even harder going or not going to the prom and with whom?! Studying or going out? Kissing or waiting? Tough decisions... What about a little help with that? New challenging way of reading and interacting with a story Different endings depending on your choices Don't worry when the story ends, you can go back in time and choose differently. Can you discover every possible ending for Anna's story? Beautiful doodle art Life can be very challenging. Will you leave Anna by herself? Disclaimer While this App is completely free to play, some additional content can be purchased for real money ingame. If you do not want to use this feature, please turn off inapp purchases in your device's settings. Like our page on Facebook and be the first to know about our upcoming games and updates! http//fb.com/tappshq
Website: http://tappsgames.com/
Dear Diary downloads
Check these links to find your download for Dear Diary for & iOS or for your device iPod TouchiPhoneiPad.
- Download Dear Diary for iOS
- Download Dear Diary for iPod Touch
- Download Dear Diary for iPhone
- Download Dear Diary for iPad
This app is available for
Compatible devices
The app Dear Diary is compatible with te following devices.
- iPod Touch (models: 5, 4, 6)
- iPhone (models: 5s, 6, 5c, 4s, 4, 3GS, 6 Plus, 5)
- iPad (models: 3 4G, 4, 2, Mini 4G, 2 3G, Mini, 3, 4 4G)


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Stop negative thoughts and the habit of negative thinking. This hypnosis has been designed to block negative thoughts and reprogram your mind to see, think and feel more positive and happy. When you block negative thinking you stop associated negative thinking patterns that your old self has been habitually and unconsciously using. This hypnosis starts by clearing out old negative thought patterns and developing new positive thought habits in your mind to break patterns those old unhelpful negative thoughts and ways of negative thinking. Consistency and practice are fundamental to learning a new behaviour. Let your subconscious mind learn new, more beneficial, positive patterns to produce positive thoughts and productive patterns of thinking.
This Stop Negative Thoughts Hypnosis, Overcome Subconscious Negativity and Be Positive recording has been written with a view to instilling positive thoughts and feelings and creating the habit of being in a positive state of mind. Make your life easier and more calm and fun with the habit of positive thinking.
We encourage you to listen to this recording daily for at least 14 days and even more often if you prefer. Repeated listening can help you strengthen your own positivity and deepen the behaviours you would like to experience on a daily basis.
Do not listen to this recording whilst driving or operating machinery.
This recording is in no way a replacement for any prescribed medication; nor is it intended to contraindicate or supersede any medically diagnosed conditions. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for use of this material.
All hypnosis is self hypnosis and you will only take on the suggestions that you choose. Therefore, we cannot guarantee your results or the permanency of any results. Because all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, you are always in control. If you choose to accept the suggestions presented in this session, you can rest comfortably knowing that you are the one safely in control of your own positive results.
We recommend you listen to all our recordings via headphones.
Progressive Hypnosis uses positive voice suggestions, relaxing background music to encourage the very deepest state of relaxation so positive inner change can occur and to remove negative blocks. We have created this with the idea of self guided healing in mind.
This recording includes the background music Letting Go (Alpha) by Christopher Lloyd Clarke 2011. http://www.christopherlloydclarke.com


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OK, I've had enough!!!
Am I the ONLY one out there screaming "Enough Is Enough Already"?!?!?
After literally EVERY major network and cable channel devoted at least a part of their day yesterday ... and, in some cases, upwards of 12 HOURS of their day yesterday ... to The Michael Jackson Memorial, haven't we ALL really had enough now?
Jackson died almost two weeks ago ... and for every bit of these past two weeks
virtually EVERYWHERE we've turned we've been bombarded with Michael Jackson ... even at the PEAK of his career, when it may have SEEMED as though he was everywhere we turned, we didn't have THIS amount of media saturation!!!
Not to say for a moment that he wasn't a great talent ... he was, in fact, an ENORMOUS talent ... there's really been NOTHING quite like him. Michael took music, dance and video, combined them all into something that ONLY Michael Jackson could pull off, and elevated it all to a whole new art form ... unlike ANYTHING we'd ever seen before or since ... and, in the process, captured the hearts of the entire world.
But this latest media event approaches ... even surpasses ... Princess Diana proportions ... for all his talent ... and for all the great music he left us ... Michael was NOT a saint!!! Yet we seem to have made it our mission to elevate him to some sort of sainthood!!! Let's not forget that for MOST of his adult career, we called him "Wacko Jacko" for a very good reason!!!
Between his fascination with sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber, a desire to purchase the bones of the so-called Elephant Man, a perhaps TOO close relationship with Bubbles, his live-in chimp, erecting a living shrine to Elizabeth Taylor, building and maintaining his Peter Pan Paradise, Neverland (at reported costs of about a million dollars a month!), what can only be described as an addiction to plastic surgery (I've seen estimates as high as 50-60 procedures!), skin-bleaching and now the revelation of his dependency on prescription drugs of MAMMOTH proportions, Michael Jackson was, in plain, simple facts, one strange dude!!! (Even stranger ... many of the most outrageous stories printed about him were planted by Jackson himself in order to stay on the front pages of the tabloids he would then criticize a short while later for not "leaving him alone"!!!)
And this doesn't even take into account all of the inappropriate sexual behavoir allegations that ALSO kept him in the media and on the front pages for years ... but suddenly, in death, this has all become fodder for a different time ... right now, we're told, let's just remember and appreciate the music. While his biggest, worldwide fans will quickly point out that Jackson was ultimately acquitted of these charges (at a payoff of what's estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty million dollars ... a pretty expensive neighborhood, wouldn't you say?!?!? ... and really, why would ANYONE pay twenty million dollars to proclaim their innocence?!?!?), this legion of fans cling to this acquittal as some vindication of Jackson's innocence. (Forget the fact that we're talking about Michael Jackson here for just a minute and tell me ... honestly ... is there ANY 40-something year old man living on the planet that you would feel comfortable with inviting young boys to come to his house and share his bed?!?!? ANY one ... ANYWHERE?!?!? Or would you, as a parent ... or simply as a sane adult ... want this guy locked up and put away somewhere???)
Yet we have elevated Jackson to an almost sainthood position SOLELY on the basis of the fact that his music made us FEEL good.
Well, it made ME feel good, too ... but enough is enough already!!! Come on, America, get a grip!!! Enjoy the music ... and pick and choose your favorite memories if you like ... but enough already with this elevated status.
Jackson's memorial service was beamed all over the world yesterday, watched by literally tens of millions of people ... perhaps even a HUNDRED MILLION people ... who wanted to express their love and say goodbye. Over half a million people entered an online lottery for 20,000 available tickets to witness this event live at The Staples Center in Los Angeles. Traffic was stopped and rerouted and, beginning at 10 AM California time people stopped whatever they were doing ... wherever they were doing it ... to watch the live telecast. NEVER before has this amount of mass grief been witnessed ... Princess Diana came the closest but I believe Michael Jackson even surpassed this. Certainly the world was shocked and stunned at the loss of John Lennon and Elvis Presley years earlier ... and worldwide grief and vigils were the calling of the day but we still never experienced anything even remotely close to this type of mass media saturation.
Elvis and The Beatles changed the musical world. They were innovators that impacted EVERY phase of culture ... music, movies, television, fashion, attitude. We've never really experienced THAT kind of culture shock since. Michael Jackson was a two-time superstar, first as a member of The Jackson Five in the early '70's and then again as a MEGA-star when he reinvented himself as a solo artist in the early '80's. Because stars of Elvis and The Beatles proportions were not forthcoming ... and we very well may NEVER experience the likes of which again ... we elevated "familiar" stars to mega-star status. (Hadn't we just gone through this same scenario in the '70's with The Bee Gees, a '60's act that had run its course and even split up, only to reinvent themselves to unfathomable proportion once the disco craze hit? Suddenly, since we didn't have anything on the musical horizon of Elvis or Beatles caliber, we were elevating "retreads" to superstar status!) Not that Michael Jackson wasn't worthy ... he certainly was ... as big as Elvis and The Beatles were, I don't think EITHER ever truly captured the love, excitement and adoration of the entire world the way Michael Jackson did. Certainly Elvis and The Beatles were HUGE ... the mania surrounding these two artists may never be surpassed ... but there was something "global" about Michael Jackson that appealed to HIS worldwide fans on a completely different level.
But when all was said and done, he was a pop star ... period. A pop star of mammoth proportion to be sure ... in fact, he named himself "The King Of Pop" ... and instructed those around him ... and the media ... to address him as such ... but when all is said and done ... at the end of the day ... he's just another in a series of dead mega-celebrities who leaves behind kids of questionable parentage (one of whom, let's not forget, he dangled out a hotel window!!!) ... a controversy regarding his sexual morals and a record of an overwhelming addiction to pain medication that makes Elvis pale in comparison.
And about that pain medication ... are you REALLY shocked by this? Between his hair and scalp starting on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial, breaking his leg while rehearsing, herniating a disc in his spine when he fell off a stage, untold plastic surgeries and skin bleaching procedures, taking hormones to keep his voice high and youthful and a work-out routine commitment to defy the aging process of any other 50 year old, I can't even IMAGINE how much REAL, intense pain he must have been in ... and we need to accept the fact that this was the REAL Michael Jackson ... not the comic book superhero he portrayed on stage and screen.
A tremendous performer? Yes. Tops in his field? Without a doubt. Did he leave behind a musical legacy that will last several lifetimes? I have to believe that he did. Did he help to change the world? I have to believe that in some capacity, he did. Did he help to HEAL the world? His charity efforts are legendary ... the good that Michael Jackson did throughout his career almost outweighs the bad ... almost. Michael, we'll miss your music ... and, quite honestly, some of your crazy-shit antics cracked us up ... and made for some entertaining pop culture moments (in a Trivial Pursuit sort of way) ... but it's time to move on and take a long hard look at the WHOLE picture. Michael Jackson WASN'T perfect ... nobody is ... but there also aren't a whole lot of people that we come across in a lifetime that are equally as talented and messed up all at the same time!
And it ain't over yet ... Michael Jackson's Memorial Service was beamed around the globe, viewed by perhaps as many as a hundred million people ... and highlights will continue to be broadcast for days to come. More and more details will emerge about Jackson's "behind the scenes" lifestyle ... toxicology reports will reveal the extent of his drug use ... there will be battles about his will and several more books will be written purporting to tell the REAL story of Michael Jackson's life ... and we STILL won't be any closer to the man because we're all so wrapped up in the legend and the spectacle.
And what about that memorial? Touching and moving? To be sure. The list of celebrities who were there almost makes you overlook the list of celebrities who WEREN'T there. Ex-Girlfriend Brooke Shields ... but not ex-wives Lisa Marie Presley or Debbie Rowe??? ... Motown Mentor Berry Gordy, who let The Jacksons slip away because he didn't believe they had the talent to write and produce their own material ... but not Quincy Jones, the man who helped Michael realize his vision and elevated him into the musical stratosphere??? ... Smokey Robinson and Lionel Richie ... but not Diana Ross??? Overweight Black spokeswoman Queen Latifah ... but not Oprah Winfrey??? And all the talk from the likes of Magic Johnson and Reverend Al Sharpton telling the world about all that Michael did to advance African-Americans when, in fact, Michael did everything humanly (and financially) possible to make himself look as UN-African-American as possible ... what the heck was THAT all about?!?!? Yet you couldn't help but get choked up when you watched and listened. (I couldn't help but wonder what Michael's family thinks ... tight and loving as they all are ... when they see the barrage of photos of Michael throughout his career ... and the OBVIOUS and RADICAL changes to his look ... do they silently shake their heads and wonder "What was that boy thinking?!?!?" or do they do what WE do when WE attend a family funeral or that of a loved one and whisper "Yep, that was Michael!")
Love the music ... remember the way it made you feel ... enjoy the moment and relive the memories ... how Michael Jackson will be remembered over time remains to be seen ... so for now, embrace the good. But really, I don't know that I can take much more than another day or two of this ... seriously, enough is enough!!!
In ALL the Michael Jackson press coverage I've heard these past couple of weeks, MUCH has been made about his collaborations with some of the best and the biggest in the business ... Quincy Jones, his producer, Lionel Richie, with whom he cowrote the anthem "We Are The World" (not to mention the superstar cast of singers who helped make that song a reality), Paul McCartney, who sang with him on the hits "The Girl Is Mine" and "Say Say Say", guitarists Eddie Van Halen and Slash, who make Jackson's hits "Beat It" and "Black Or White" (respectively) the huge, rock, pop and soul hits that they became, his brothers with whom he performed as The Jackson Five, his sister Janet, with whom he recorded the hit duet "Scream", his Motown Mentors Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight ... but not once did I hear mention of the "comeback" song that The Jacksons recorded with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones.
In 1984, their collaboration "State Of Shock" went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Chart ... and helped generate excitement for the upcoming "Victory" tour reuniting the Jackson brothers. Despite hearing The Michael Jackson Hit Catalog virtually non-stop for two weeks now, I never heard THAT song ONCE ... so we'll feature it here today as a deserving Forgotten Hit.
Michael Jackson was a true and deserving celebrity ... he earned the accolades he received as an artist and as a performer. Unfortunately, we now seem to live in a "Zsa Zsa Gabor Celebrity World" ... where you don't have to have done ANYTHING noteworthy to arrive on the front pages of the entertainment world. How sad that people like Paris Hilton or Heidi and Spencer or Jon and Kate today warrant the attention once bestowed on real, genuine celebrities with talent. We've even gone so far as to elevate the likes of crooked Governor Rod Blagojevich and likely murderer Drew Peterson to a manufactured celebrity status ... in what universe are these people worthy of our attention and our reverence? (Can you imagine some "wacky" radio host inviting Richard Speck on his program to play "The Dating Game" after killing those seven nurses?!?!) Have we stooped SO low ... are we SO starved for attention ... that THIS today constitutes our need for role models?!?!? C'mon America ... get a grip!!!