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Top model Sean O'Pry covers the S/S issue of Harper's Bazaar Men Thailand. Sean was was photographed by Natth Jaturapahu and the shoot was styled by Nichakul Kitayanubhongse.
+ Sean O'Pry on VGL
Model | Sean O'Pry @ VNY
Images | Natth Jaturapahu for Harper's Bazaar Men Thailand
Stylist | Nichakul Kitayanubhongse

subset: commoncrawl


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Duuna Dee Shirley Westlake
Duuna Dee Shirley Westlake, 47, was called home Jan. 31. She was the wife of Pastor Ty Westlake of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Owasso, OK. Duuna was a devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother, wonderful Christian woman. Through her nine years fighting cancer she held her faith and never gave up.
She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Ty; daughters, Sarah Bryant and husband, Steve of Okmulgee, OK, Rebekah Gee and husband, Allen of Hinesville, GA, and Leah Westlake of Owasso, OK. Her parents Bill and Gloria Shirley of Little Rock, and her grandsons, Carson, Breckon, and Caidon.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, February 4, at the chapel of Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home, 10200 Hwy 5 N. in Alexander, with burial following in Forest Hills Memorial Park.
The family will receive visitors from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3 at the funeral home.
Online guestbook: www.griffinleggettforesthills.com


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¿Están casados de las miradas de compasión por ser personas solteras? ¿Te aterran los días festivos y las ocasiones especiales porque sabes dónde te vas a sentar?
How to be Married when you are Single
OVERCOMING YOUR STRUGGLE WITH SINGLENESS: How can we help single people truly understand what it means to be single? How do they learn to be content in this season of life? How do they prepare for marriage?
Teach Yourself Haitian Creole
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Have you ever wondered about the power we possess as Christians? Do you enjoy reading about superheroes and their powers? From The Hero Within Series – Awareness A Story that will excite your imagination, and inspire you to ask yourself "Who am I"… A Christian fiction book through spiritual warfare fighting demons. Most of times…


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Okay, first, thanks for your time.
Here is my situation:
I am running Ora8i...new install.
Need to perform full import.
I am an assistant to a db programmer.
I have a cd with a full .dmp file.
When I read all about importing, it seems as though it would be relatively easy to import this full database so that we can have it locally. Not too much DBA tasks once it is loaded, right?
I haven't really tried importing with the gui wizard. I have tried with the command prompt. Successfully. I just can't find it once it is imported. I get errors that say: 'user does not exist' and 'object already exists'
I am wondering if my parameters are correct. Basically, I need to do a full import. Is this possible?
This what I currently use to import:
imp system/password@db file=path.dmp full=y log=filename.log
Do I need to create a db to import into with no parameters? An empty db with no tablespaces or anything? I currently import to a db that I created with the gui...it might be a "typical" db?
Sorry for rambling and not knowing much of anything, really. I simply need to import this database. I have read so much on importing. I think what I am trying to do should be simple. I am missing something, can you help?


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Last time I brought up Murray someone pointed out that he plays the left side exclusively.Hockey Widow wrote:Is he a lefty or righty? Not that it really matters just curious.
So we'd probably be looking at something like:
Hamhuis - Bieksa
Edler - Garrison
Murray - Tanev
Alberts(??) - Weber
Corrado, playing top minutes in Utica, gets the call if there's a LTIR in the top 4.


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Looking for a low-cost way to conduct consumer research?
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This information will help you answer their questions, solve their problems and define your social media and content strategies.
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Find Out What Questions Your Customers Are Asking
Hearing the questions your prospective customers are asking and problems they're facing can help you find new customers, support existing ones and outline a content strategy that will appeal to both.
The best products solve problems. If you can solve someone's problem, they'll be much more likely to check out your products, because they already trust you as an expert.
Here are three places to easily find which types of questions are being asked.


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Author Archive
The Journey
One year ago this Saturday, in the early morning hours of October 2, 2010, I stumbled out of my apartment in Washington Heights and caught the A train downtown. I was headed to Canal Street, where a contingent of intrepid, sleep-deprived WGAE members and staff was gathering at 5:45 a.m. to board buses bound for Washington, D.C. Our destination: a large, labor-sponsored rally, which was meant to be the answer to Glenn Beck's kooky Restoring Honor Tea Party event that had been held on the Mall in late August.
Huddled together on the darkened sidewalk along 6th Avenue just north of Canal, we had no idea our rally would have its thunder stolen by a different progressive gathering, the one that Jon Stewart had announced for October 31st, which he dubbed the Rally to Restore Sanity. So many rallies, so little time. And ours, alas, just didn't have a catchy name (One Nation Working Together – sorry but that definitely needs a rewrite).
The 5½ hour bus ride to Washington D.C. was not especially memorable. I tried to catch up on my sleep, then introduced myself to some fellow scribes. WGAE staff did an excellent job of organizing: attendance was taken, sandwiches and beverages were handed out and the Guild's red t-shirts were distributed.
The bus dropped us off in the parking lot of RFK Stadium, where we joined tens of thousands of other union members from around the country. It was a stirring tableau…until practical matters intervened and we were forced to wait for an hour in the mother of all lines to catch the Metro to the Mall. Kudos to Guild staff for providing us all with subway passes and keeping our contingent herded together.
When we reached the Mall, we trekked to a spot along the Reflecting Pool, about a quarter mile from the speakers' podium in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It had turned into a beautiful autumn day and from that picturesque location we raptly listened to a succession of gifted, inspiring, progressive speakers deliver uniformly brilliant, impassioned oratory that would have given Martin Luther King a run for his money.
If only.
The speeches I heard that October afternoon were not especially memorable. Unfortunately, President Obama didn't make an appearance. A year later, I can't recall a single speaker or what they talked about. The same was true the day after the rally!
After two and half hours of hanging out on the Mall, our WGAE staff minders informed us that it was time to head back to the buses for the ride home. The seven hour bus ride back to Manhattan was not especially memorable. My recollection is that we returned to our gathering spot in Lower Manhattan at about 10:30 p.m.
Superficially recalling that day a year later, I remember spending twelve and a half hours on buses and three hours on subways in order to sit on the Mall for a couple of hours listening to a succession of mediocre speakers at a now-forgotten rally that barely registered in the media. Dr. King's 1963 March on Washington it wasn't.
I probably sound like a grumpy curmudgeon and perhaps I am. But, honestly, I had a wonderful and memorable experience that day. It was truly exciting to trek down to the nation's capital with union brothers and sisters and make our political views known. I relished the deviation from my normal routine and the fun and adventure that this journey provided.
And two of the seeming drawbacks of the day – the long hours spent on buses and the inferior quality of the speeches – turned out to have unexpected benefits.
The bus rides provided ample opportunity to spend quality time with fellow writers. Long conversations flowed. Old friendships were renewed. New ones were forged.
And the mediocre speeches allowed me to wander away from our gathering spot to take in the sights and sounds of the rally and photograph some of the unique and unforgettable characters who were drawn to it.
Like the guy dressed as the Grim Reaper who carried a huge, hand-lettered poster that read, "Death thanks the GOP for its stance on healthcare reform. You guys sure make my job easy." And the elegant, gray-haired, octogenarian woman who held above her head a placard bearing the words, "Feed the Poor. Eat the Rich." And the bearded, middle-aged man whose sign proudly proclaimed "Amnesiacs Vote Republican." These signs weren't written under a WGAE contract, but good writing is still good writing!
In retrospect, I am especially delighted that the Guild took it upon itself to organize this field trip, providing the buses and the meals and even the Metro cards. It seemed to signal a new, more activist bent to our union and I really welcome that.
I hope there is another, similar field trip in the Guild's future. This curmudgeon would be more than happy to rise again at 4:30 a.m. to be part of it.
Dealing With Rejection
I just counted up the number of rejections I received last week, by email and snail mail, and the total was eight. This was higher than normal, so it was definitely a banner week for my work to be passed on!
All of these rejections were for stage plays, both full-length and one-act, that I had submitted to a variety of theater companies and playwriting competitions across the country. This got me thinking about how my attitude towards, and response to, rejection has changed in the 25-plus years that I've been writing.
When I first started, fresh out of USC Film School, each rejection I received was extremely painful, like a dagger aimed straight at my heart. I was exclusively writing screenplays then, and every time one of my scripts was turned down by a studio or production company, it affected me profoundly. My typical response would be a deep melancholy that would last for several days. The rejection and the disappointment that accompanied it seemed to seep deeply into the marrow of my soul.
In retrospect, a lot of this had to do with the fact that I was just starting out in my writing career and every script seemed precious. And it wasn't just the script that was being rejected, it was me. Each rejection made me question whether I was really a writer or just another wannabe, a poseur.
In response to this crippling melancholia, I eventually evolved a different strategy for dealing with rejection – anger and dismissal. I built up a wall around my self-esteem by angrily dismissing whoever had rejected my script as an idiot or moron who was clueless about good writing. William Goldman's famous dictum from ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE, "Nobody knows anything," became my mantra. In hindsight, I don't think it was much of an improvement to be walking around angry and bitter for a few days, as opposed to sad and depressed.
Fortunately, as the years passed and I continued to write, each piece became a little less precious, each rejection less a personal affront. I began to inure to rejection and to see it as an inevitable part of a writer's life. Writing stage plays really helped to bring this into focus because they are more of a renewable resource. Unlike a screenplay, a play is not limited to a single production.
All eight of the rejections I received last week were for plays that had previously been selected for production or for staged readings elsewhere. In other words, they had been winners of other competitions. One short play, ANYTHING ELSE?, had been one of six plays selected for production from 650 submissions in the 2010 Festival of One-Act Plays at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson, New York. I hadn't change a word of the play, yet it was turned down without comment last week by two other festivals. How is this possible?
The answer is obvious – it's all completely subjective and somewhat random. Every reader brings a different taste to the task of script evaluation. This particular lesson was brought home to me in dramatic fashion last year after I submitted another short play, a dark comedy entitled THE SURPRISE PARTY, to the Dubuque Fine Arts Players (DFAP) in Iowa for consideration in their National Playwriting Contest.
The play was not selected, but as part of the process the DFAP sent me the actual critique sheets of the two readers who evaluated my work. (These sheets are akin to the coverage that screenplays receive). Each reader evaluated my play on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best) in 10 different categories, so the maximum possible score was 100.
The first reader gave my play a perfectly respectable overall tally of 70. But the second scored it with an execrable total of 12.5! That's right – a total score of 12.5 out of 100, or an average of 1.25 out of 10 in each category. Reader Number 2 (I will refrain from calling him or her an idiot or a moron) obviously hated the play. Perhaps dark comedy doesn't play as well in some quarters of Dubuque, Iowa as it does in New York City – THE SURPRISE PARTY was later selected from several hundred submissions and produced at the 2010 International Cringefest here in Manhattan. How to account for this? It's all completely subjective and somewhat random. (This is my new mantra.)
I would be lying if I said that rejection had no effect on me these days. There is still genuine disappointment associated with it, but that seems normal to me. And it is usually brief, a matter of minutes rather than days. It is no longer crippling; it's just a part of the process.
The gifted playwright and screenwriter John Guare gave this clearheaded assessment in a November 14, 2010 article in The New York Times:
"What a long career does give you, during the long nights of thinking and rewriting, is a healthy perspective: As writers, we're always starting all over again," Mr. Guare said. "That's what I tell younger playwrights, that you have to learn how to live with despair, resentment, rejection and failure. Because if you can't, you need to find another line of work."
Sobering words, indeed, but somehow strangely inspiring. I have them framed above my writing desk.
Jeff Stolzer is a screenwriter, playwright and former question writer for Regis Philbin on WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE. He is a proud member of the Writers Guild since 1991.
Why I March on Labor Day
I march on Labor Day because workers are under assault in our country. Corporations have been using their increasing power to try to bust unions and deprive workers of their basic rights to a living wage and health care benefits. Similarly, numerous state governments have recently cast their unionized workers as the scapegoats for their budget problems and have outrageously attempted to curtail collective bargaining rights. We need to speak out and fight back against these assaults.
I march on Labor Day because the gap between rich and poor has increased dramatically in the past few decades. We have witnessed wage stagnation for the working and middle classes while CEO salaries have reached astronomical, obscene levels. We are still the wealthiest nation on the planet and there is absolutely no reason why the share of the pie that goes to workers should be diminished. We need to make our outrage known.
I march on Labor Day because I know from past experience that it's great fun. It's joyful and empowering to take to the streets with fellow writers and union members and exercise our rights to free speech and assembly. These rights are only valuable when they are actually used – if we neglect to exercise them, we risk losing them. When we march, we become part of a noble tradition of expressing ourselves with our feet and our lungs that ties us historically to Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Lech Walesa and the leaders of this year's Arab Spring. How cool is that?
Finally, I march on Labor Day because I spend too much time in my writing cave, parked at the keyboard, staring at the computer screen. My skin is too pale, my muscles risk atrophy. I need the sun and the exercise.
Click here to RSVP
Saturday, Sept 10th
44th and 5th Avenue
Look for the red WGAE banner
Jeff Stolzer is a screenwriter, playwright and former question writer for Regis Philbin on WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE. He is a proud member of the Writers Guild since 1991.


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SEMI Commends Introduction of Advanced Manufacturing Legislation
By Jamie Girard, senior director, SEMI Americas Public Policy
Recognizing the important role that advanced manufacturing plays in the US, SEMI has announced its strong support for newly introduced legislation aimed at bolstering domestic advanced manufacturing competitiveness. The bipartisan "Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act," was introduced in early August by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) with companion legislation in the House of Representatives being introduced by Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY-23) and Congressman Joseph Kennedy (D-MA-4). The bill would establish a Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NMI) to position the United States as the global leader in advanced manufacturing.
"This is the kind of industry-led solution that we see as being the most effective way to jump start more advanced manufacturing in the U.S.," said SEMI president and CEO Denny McGuirk. "With government and academia as partners, and with industry as a leader, we think that some great things can be achieved to address the most difficult challenges in creating breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing."
The program is designed to bring together industry, universities and community colleges, federal agencies and all levels of government to accelerate manufacturing innovation in technologies with commercial applications. It would establish public-private institutes to leverage resources to bridge the gap between basic research and product development.
"Our industry commends Senators Brown and Blunt as well as Representatives Reed and Kennedy for their leadership on this issue," continued McGuirk. "This is a clear case where these leaders have seen a need, and put politics aside to come up with a common sense, 'all-hands-on-deck' solution to promote more advanced manufacturing in the U.S., and create the jobs that go along with it."
With the many technological challenges being faced by SEMI members, the support of such a program could help to level the playing field with incentives being offered by foreign governments to promote more semiconductor equipment manufacturing outside of the U.S. Impressive goals and financial contributions from countries like China, Korea, Taiwan, and the EU have been highly publicized recently, with the agenda of promoting semiconductor manufacturing. The EU's 10/100/20 campaign to bring public and private funds together to increase IC output in Europe to 20 percent of the world's total is especially ambitious, and something that the U.S. government must take seriously.
While the total cost of the transition to 450mm is still largely unknown, using a system like the NMI to leverage federal dollars and industry cooperation would certainly help to reduce the cost, and perhaps even bring the products to market more quickly. Work currently being done by the G450C at the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering in Albany, New York, presents a compelling model to show the U.S. government the kind of work that can be accomplished when industry, academia, and government work together to focus on a common goal.
Such legislation is only one example of the kinds of services that SEMI provides to its members through its public policy and advocacy work in Washington, D.C. A full time staff advocates on a wide variety of public policy issues on behalf of SEMI members and their interests. If you would more information on the public policy work done by SEMI, please feel free to contact Jamie Girard, senior director, SEMI Americas Public Policy, at firstname.lastname@example.com.
September 3, 2013


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Broadway's twinkling lights lost some of their sparkle this week with the death of Marty Richards, one of the street's last, larger-than-life impresarios.
Eccentric doesn't begin to describe Marty. Bonkers is more like it. He was passionate, funny, lovable, generous — and nuts.
He had millions and burned through millions. He produced spectacular hits ("Grand Hotel") and spectacular flops ("Rockabye Hamlet").
He was openly gay but was married, happily, to a Johnson & Johnson heiress. He once hid from a hit man in the trunk of a car. And he threw a lamp at Harvey Weinstein. Or maybe it was a chair. Or a desk. Every time Marty told the story, he changed the furniture.
He was a screamer whose high-pitched, nasal Bronx whine is ringing in my ears as I write this.
I'll never forget the first time I heard it. It was a Sunday night, and I was playing bridge with friends. That day in the paper I'd written a season preview, tipping "Titanic" as the show to beat. Marty was producing "The Life," which I dismissed as hopelessly old-fashioned.
The phone rang. It was Judy Jacksina, Marty's longtime publicist, and herself one of Shubert Alley's lovable lunatics.
"Hi, Michael. It's Judy. Can you hold for Marty Richards?"
"Is this Mark Riedel?" he yelled. Before I could correct him, he started in: "What the f – – – is this I'm reading in the paper? You want to send people to a musical where everybody drowns?"
(Marty momentarily forgot that he produced "Sweeney Todd," a musical where everybody ends up as a meat pie.)
"How dare you call 'The Life' old-fashioned. It's about hookers, for God's sake! You listen to me. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to break every bone in your body. Not only won't you work in this town, you won't walk in this town!"
"Mr. Richards," I said. "I'm in the middle of a bridge game."
There was a pause.
"Did you win your rubber?"
The next day, I got an invitation for lunch — corned beef and cabbage — at Marty's sumptuous River House apartment. He gave me a bear hug when I left.
Jacksina, who worked for Richards for 30 years, remembers the screaming phone call well.
"We were at an ad meeting, and Marty read your column. He was furious. We tried to tell him to just let it go, but he said, "Nobody does this to me! This is one Jew they wouldn't have gotten in the oven!'"
(Roger Berlind, Marty's co-producer, dryly replied: "Marty, they wouldn't have wanted you.")
At another meeting, an ad person showed Marty a poster idea for "The Life." The colors were red and black. Marty didn't like it. The ad executive said: "Red and black is a very bold marketing statement. It works very well."
"Yeah, I understand it worked very well for the Nazis, too, but not for this musical!" Marty yelled.
And then there was the time Marty showed up for a bus trip to Atlantic City. He was wrapped in a silver fox fur coat and had his Louis Vuitton overnight bag.
"Marty, we're only going for the day," one of his underlings said.
"Yeah, well, this is how I go to Auschwitz!"
Marty started out as a cabaret singer, then became a casting director and, eventually, a producer. One of his first shows was the original production of "Chicago." It was a flop, but he held onto the screen rights, and eventually, after suing Miramax, reaped millions from the movie.
In 1976 he met Mary Lea Johnson, heir to the pharmaceutical fortune, and her psychiatrist husband, Victor D'Arc. They wanted to invest in Broadway shows.
Mary Lea, who'd been abused by her father and whose marriage to D'Arc was on the rocks, began spending more and more time with Marty. When they moved in together, Marty was convinced D'Arc had hired a hit man to kill him.
Marty called an agent friend and said, "They're coming to get me!" The agent smuggled him out to Queens in the trunk of his car.
Marty and Mary Lea married in 1977, and though he was openly gay — "but I don't walk around in a tutu!" he once said — they adored each other. Friends always said Marty was the only man who ever treated Mary Lea kindly.
She died in 1990. Marty kept a silver-framed picture of her in the lobby of his production office.
Marty inherited about $50 million from Mary Lea and merrily went right through it. He threw lavish parties at the River House and in Southampton. He passed out gifts like Santa Claus. His floral bill was said to be $75,000 a month.
He once called Jacksina and said: "I've decided I'm not getting old! I'm going to get a facelift. There's this genius doctor in Los Angeles. We're going out there. I'm bringing you with me — and I'll buy you one, too."
"That was Marty," says his longtime associate Dan Gallagher. "Nothing was ever simple. It was always the grand gesture."


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Sent on the 24th of July, 2016
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Midsize Sedans 2.0
If we're *only* talking styling, my $0.02:
1. FUSION: absolutely stunning from any front angle (and side profile with certain wheel combinations); portly and slightly awkward looking from the back
2. MAZDA 6: attractive from every stance; nicest rear-end of the group
3. ACCORD: looks like a much more expensive car from any angle but the front
4. (tie) ALTIMA: the best result Nissan has achieved with the "melted look" so far
4. (tie) MALIBU: I don't understand why people think it's such a wallflower; I think Chevy did a decent job w/this and GM always seems to have a pretty strong color palette
4. (tie) PASSAT: bland but not unattractive; should only be sold in tuxedo black
7. OPTIMA: looks best from the back; the side profile styling is ruined by the hatchbackian C-pillar kick-up
8. CAMRY: tries too hard to look futuristic; succeeds easily in looking putrid (SE trim is better than the others, but not by much)
9. SONATA: while I actually like the side profile, spin it just a sliver more on the platform and that Joan Rivers-in-a-Nuclear-Powered-Wind-Tunnel front-end brings new meaning to the word grotesque (particularly from the three-quarter view) - double that for the hybrid version
1. MAZDA 6: the beige/black color combination is gorgeous; has the most upscale cloth upholstery design (w/subtle pinstripe) I've seen from any automaker in several years
2. PASSAT: also looks very sharp in beige; simple but elegant dash layout
3. MALIBU: it's hard to believe it's from the same co. that was stamping out Lumina interiors from blown plastic just 10 years ago
4. FUSION: certainly not unattractive; Ford should fit the appearance package models with an anthracite headliner and ditch the satin trim
5. ACCORD: again, appealing in the beige/black combo but stacked dash is so '80s Pontiac 6000 (though I do like the large Volvo speedometer); looks very bland in monochrome dark gray color option
6. SONATA: windblown styling seems to work better on the inside than the outside but the excessively swoopy dash reminds me of a circa-2000 Mustang
7. OPTIMA: Bauhaus inspired instrument panel is uninspired; wall-like
8. ALTIMA: just tolerable at night (with the interior lights completely off)
9. CAMRY: a complete mess; the dashboard looks like the spawn of a love tryst between a Gobot and a Transformer0
benjaminh Posts: 3,517"9. CAMRY: a complete mess; the dashboard looks like the spawn of a love tryst between a Gobot and a Transformer"
"...Joan Rivers-in-a-Nuclear-Powered-Wind-Tunnel front-end...."
lmao!++2018 Acura TLX Tech 4WS (mine), 2018 Honda CR-V EX AWD (wife's)0
When the Fusion first came out the very first thing I said was it was too long, and someone jumped all over me for it.
I think a new taillight scheme would greatly improve it's overall look. Lincoln did great on the MK-Z, and managed to mask the long wheelbase too. It's funny how the MK-Z is marketed as a "Compact Luxury Vehicle", but the Fusion is mid-size.
Also, you nailed the Sonata problem. The front end just looks like someone pinched it between their fingers in the middle. I can't argue about the zillion of them I see on the road though. It is probably the most prolific mid-size sedan on DC roads; period.
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
I disagree on the interior ratings. Have you seen an Optima interior in black and tan? It is done better than the Mazda by far, (in EX and up trim). It was designed by Audi's chief designer, Peter Shreyer, who is now president of Kia. However, I do agree that at some angles, the Optima's stubby trunk looks a bit "off". Kia had to start with a Sonata platform though, and I think they created a far better looking product from what they had to work with. Especially the SX Optima with the "pizza wheels" and the LED taillights.
You said the Passat had a "simple but elegant" style...but the Kia was "uninspired"?
I have sat in all three, and driven two. The Mazda and the Optima of course, and the Optima interior had the best design in my humble opinion.
I am not on a personal attack BTW....and maybe I am fighting for my baby a little, but I really think the Mazda dash had too much black plastic, and the LED readouts for temp and whatnot were tiny and harder to read. The Passat's dash is very high quality, but very minimalistic as well.
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
benjaminh Posts: 3,517I think the Optima looks great in the back. It looks great from all angles. The problem I have with the Optima is that they put in huge rear roof pillars. The giant blind spots created are a problem that they didn't have to create, but they did. I'm glad Honda hasn't gone that route. Form should follow function, and seeing out of your car is an important function imho. I hope for the next generation of Optima Peter Shreyer thinks about that and goes toward an Audi level of visibility.
The Passat is a clean design, but I'd put it a notch below the really good looking midsize cars.
What's interesting is that in terms of style, function, safety, performance, mpg, and the rest, this segment is so competitive that the best of the midsize cars are not just good, but near great, and an amazing value for the money compared to most other cars . Just a few thousand dollars separates these cars from their smaller siblings like the Civic, Corolla, Elantra, etc, but the midsize cars are significantly ahead in terms of room, acceleration, safety, style, etc., and only sacrifice a comparatively small amount when it comes to mpg.2018 Acura TLX Tech 4WS (mine), 2018 Honda CR-V EX AWD (wife's)0
On exterior styling only I would tweak your order just a little:
1. Mazda6
2. Accord
3. Optima
4. Camry
5. Passat
6. Altima
7. Passat
8. Sonata
9. Malibu
10. Legend
I doubt I would ever buy a Mazda anything as they do not inspire me with their quality. The Passat is a bit bland but pulls off the look better than the Jetta. Sonata is tired and has not aged well. Legend is a typical Subaru styling job, rather dumpy.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6, 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S Holiday Coupe0
Question on the Passat: I see some that have chrome grill accents only on the horizontal bars, while I see others that also have chrome accents on the vertical bars too. These look better to me. I have not found why some have them and some don't. Anyone know?
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6, 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S Holiday Coupe0
I certainly don't want to offend anyone here; this is just how I see things (and it's only my visual critique, if we threw other aspects of design - e.g., handling, quality, etc. - into the mix, the Malibu would plummet to the bottom IMO). I should probably mention, I don't own any of the cars listed and have no loyalty to any one brand (my primary vehicle now is a Ford, before that it was a Chevy, before that a Hyundai and so on).
Although none of these cars are perfect in terms of design (again, IMO), I can't recall a time the mid-size class had so many stylish entries. And yet they're each going their own styling direction - for the most part (which, as a car aficionado, I love). The "problem" with that philosophy (for the manufacturers, of course) is that when you bolt on a 22-inch tall teardrop shaped headlamp assembly, such as Hyundai did with the new Sonata, some people (like myself) will go running as fast as possible in the opposite direction. Other people, like my neighbor, are going to fall in love and sign on the dotted line.
I believe the front end of the Fusion is stunning. But that's me. I bought a new Chevy HHR in Sunburst Orange Metallic back in 2008 because I absolutely loved the style of the vehicle from the front and sides and, yes, orange is my favorite color (shame on you, Dodge, for eliminating Toxic Orange from the Charger's color palette). The chrome grill, chrome wheels, all that bright orange metal... my God, I thought that car was beautiful. And as polarizing as boxy, retro-inspired orange vehicles have the potential to be, it still constantly surprised me to discover how many of my friends disagreed with my taste. Long story short, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
Interestingly enough, with each subsequent visit to the Chevrolet service dept. to repair problems with the steering system and sunroof, I loved Hhr a little less until she left my garage forever in 2010 (and an almost equally problematic Ford product drove in to take Hhr place).
I don't fault anyone for buying a Sonata or Optima based on style as Hyundai was clearly trying to inpart a distinct styling theme into each of those designs. I do, however, call into question someone's veracity when they say the Camry is a *visually* appealing car. Because it's all too apparent that aesthetic design was way down at the bottom of the list when Toyota penned it. Do I think the Camry is a bad car? No, but it's the proverbial ugly wife of the the midsize class. And, shallow me, I wouldn't want to be seen walking up to the thing in a public parking lot for that very reason.0
I've seen both the Mazda and Kia interiors in the black/tan combination and I much prefer the Mazda's.
It's a mix of several factors:
I really dislike the wall-like dash of the Optima; it almost seems like the instrument binnacle is launching itself toward the passenger compartment. While the Mazda's dash is nothing spectacular per se, it's certainly not offputting either. Mazda also uses a simple grayish white lighting scheme which I prefer to Kia's generally red lighting.
The aspect of the Mazda that really does it for me though is the cloth trim in the "Sand" color. I'll tell you right up front, I'm not a leather guy (I live in a state with 5 months of winter), so mine is a cloth vs. cloth opinion.
From what I've seen lately, and this seems to be reaching a crescendo, manufacturers are putting the ugliest materials and patterns they can find into their cloth equipped models (presumably so that buyers are forced into checking the box for cowhides). Mazda has just broken that pattern - no pun intended - with the 6. Their pinstripe cloth design reminds me of the textiles Audi used in their line-up in the '80s and early '90s (before Europe went all leather and leather substitute on their US spec. models). IMO, it actually looks nicer than the cowhide versions of the same model.0
Why don't the mfrs just offer a nice vinyl interior ? The new stuff is so close to leather in look and feel -- why not follow MB --- I know I wouldn't mind a nice synthetic seat surface.0
I find it humorous when folks think the Accord's styling is great and the Legacy's is "dumpy". Except for front details and a character line, they could be twins.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/2013-subaru-legacy-25i-qui- ck-spin---01-opt-1352990890.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/2013-honda-accord-ex-l-sed- an628opt.jpeg
IMO I don't know how anyone could consider the Camry to have better exterior styling than the Altima or Sonata... or the Malibu or Legend for that matter. To each his own!
But, interesting that the Passat is both 5th or 7th... does that depend on the trim level, or ??0
Jay, I can't tell if you're being serious or not with that comment.0
serenity185 Posts: 22Completely agree with your comments on the Mazda6's interior, gogophers1. The sand cloth interior just looks classy and well-made. As someone who's potentially shopping for $23-$25K sedans, I greatly appreciate that Mazda is one of the few manufacturers who are putting a lot of thought into the look and feel of their base models' interiors.
My current car is a 2007 Accord EX with cloth which I love since it's soft and looks plush, and after seeing the cheap, rough-looking fabric and finishes that many competitors use in this class on their base models, it's a bit disheartening. Thankfully Mazda is bucking that trend.0
Oops, copy/paste error. #7 should be Fusion. Not a fan of that design. I think that was probably the most over-hyped car when it was introduced at the auto shows last year. I cannot see what they were so wowed about.
Styling is obviously subjective. I find the Camry styling not bad. I would not mind being seen in one.
I find the Legacy very unattractive and don't see the similarity you mention. The front overhang looks way too long and the trunk way too short. Proportions are awkward.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6, 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S Holiday Coupe0
We all totally agree on Camry. Put together by committee, and loved by only frightened consumers because it is a "safe buy".
The mat draped across the dash is awful, and on the outside it is just a thin plastic mess. The fake chrome around the fog lights and the steel wheels with hubcaps just don't cut it anymore in this segment...but then again I see a zillion Sonata GLS running around. There are tons of people that aren't "car people", so I understand the rational. New and shiny is good, and for many it's good enough.
Another thing is that on the Camry (and the Corolla) the bodywork on the front wheel well is way wider than the tires, (for aerodynamic reasons I am sure), but it doesn't look right.
The SE is acceptable. It has a nicer looking front end and good looking rims. It's just bland.
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
In a Camry, no one sees you. It's as good as witness protection.
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
You are right about the Mazda quality. Also, the Optima cloth seats in base LX is nothing special. It is what you get for your money in the EX that wowed me.
In particular I can't stand silver painted plastic. (satin faux-aluminum) The Optima has NONE. It has an actual piece of aluminum around the gear shift. The Mazda doesn't have any either. The Sonata does. Lots of it. That is why I slammed the Sonata interior in another post. Still a good car though.
In the Camry, it's fake aluminum plastic is also squishy, and you can damage it with your fingernail. Awful.
It is a turn off for me in any product. Reminds me of a low buck Soundesign boom box.
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
I have leather seats in my LaCrosse and in my Prius. Other than the actual seating area, the rest is vinyl and it would suit me fine all over. The difference in look and feel is minimal. Most of the cloth seats I've experienced lately are mouse fur material and drag on your pants getting in and out so yeah -- give vinyl over cloth any day if the price is comparable0
I'm ok with cloth seats, it's just hard to get heated cloth seats.
My Focus had them, but usually you have to get leather to get the heaters.
Also, I do like my toys, so usually that model includes leather seating.2017 Ford Fusion SE 2017 Ford F-150 Limited0
Heated cloth seats aren't all that hard to find. My wife's Sonata GLS has them for example. (The Elantra GLS offers them too.) I use them more than I thought I would, feels good in the winter.0
When Fiat merged with Chrysler, their president was touring the Chrysler product line in person and after he saw the 2010 Sebring/Avenger he said "dreadful".
So, the story goes that he approved a rework of the interiors on the spot at $100 per car, a sizable investment. The the "hard points"" of the cars are exactly the same as pre-2011 cars, (so they can use essentially the same tooling) but there have been a host of other mechanical changes. With the addition of the 3.6 liter, 283 hp engine, the 200 has become a respectable ride....but still doesn't reach the sophistication of the majority of the other players. The 4 cylinder Avenger still uses a 4 speed automatic, and the 2.4 liter has been called "farm machinery" at higher rpm.
Here is some unabridged wiki info since no one else has posted any, and the Avenger is indeed mid-size:
"Although the Sebring platform has been retained, there have been numerous cosmetic and powertrain changes to the 200. While the 2.4 L four-cylinder 173 horsepower (129 kW) 166 lb·ft (225 N·m)[citation needed] engine with either a four-speed or six-speed automatic transmission is carried over, Chrysler's new Pentastar 3.6 L V6 engine is also offered, with a six-speed automatic transmission, generating 283 horsepower (211 kW) and 260 lb·ft (350 N·m) of torque. A flex-fuel version of the 3.6 L Pentastar engine is also offered. Other changes include stiffer body mounts, a softer ride rate, revised suspension geometry, a new rear sway bar, and upgraded tires. The 200 also introduces more premium features than the Sebring, such as LED lighting, thicker seat cushioning with higher quality materials, along with new measures to decrease noise, vibration, and harshness.
The 200 is produced at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant and arrived at dealers in December 2010. A 2-door convertible model was added in early 2011 with the same engine choices.
The 200 and sister car Dodge Avenger were ranked the "Most American Made" sedans and convertibles by The Kogod Made in America Auto Index in 2013."
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
I love your well thought out comments, and your lists were awesome, particularly the transformer/go-bot reference. You are not offending me at all. I didn't like the front end of the Optima at first. It grew on me. I initially thought the Sonata was beautiful. Then, after seeing thousands of grey GLS hubcap jobs that I grew numb to it. Kind of like the previous generation Altima's (with the clear plastic "altezza" rear lights). Neither does anything for me.
Then I saw an Optima SX (turbo) in electric blue with the pizza wheels. Killer. It turned heads. While I couldn't rationalize the expense of a turbo, I saw the EX model was very well equipped. Even the base model has dual exhaust and fog lights....along with alloy wheels. Also has the most horsepower in the base engine.
So, the Fusion "did it" for you. That's the cool part. People don't "fall in love" with Camry's. They need a car, and don't want to get a lemon.
That leads me to the American car. You mentioned your HHR, with a recurring steering problem, replaced by a problematic Ford.
I had the exact same experience. My Z24 had a cracked transmission resulting in poor clutch alignment....eating clutches every 30k. Then the alternator went every 30k also. I kept a spare in the trunk. Then I had an SHO. The engine seized .
I don't buy american cars anymore. Period. All the Asian cars I have owned have worked flawlessly. No "glitches". Also, I buy more mainstream engines, instead of the higher-zoot V6/turbo models; crammed into a small engine bay. That is why my Chevy's alternator fried. Too hot. I don't want a turbo- fear of more time in the shop as the car ages. When metal parts get red hot and spin at high RPM, then endure ice cold winters and 100+ heat summers, that hot and cold cycling will eventually break something....and that something will be attached to something else. However, it really boils down to having 3 kids under 13. I can't afford hi-performance engine problems/insurance/fuel/tires, and will not be able to until they are on their own.
Then, I will buy a mid-life crisis car when my hair is silver and my Viagra is daily!
I was happy that I found something in the middle for now. Sporty, roomy, reliable, smooth powertrain, and comfortable. $24,000.
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
Some only have heated lower seat cushions.
I like ones that also have heated seat backs.2017 Ford Fusion SE 2017 Ford F-150 Limited0
The big advantage with vinyl (or "leatherette" as VW likes to deceptively refer to it) IMO is that it ages well. I have seen fake leather/vinyl interiors in cars with well over 100K on the clock that still look virtually new.
Incontinent grandmother? No worries. Drooling canine? Not an issue. Careless children that can't hold on to their waffle cones? No problem. It's VINYL!
Leather, on the other hand, does not age well - at least not when it's installed in a car interior. Cowhides dry out and crack when exposed to extreme heat (and car interiors, even up here in MN, can get HOT in the summertime) and will discolor and pick up a sheen when they come into continued contact with human body oils (natural or otherwise). The lighter leather colors are the worst for wear, but I've seen some pretty nasty dark leather interiors on cars without a lot of miles on them too.
I think one of the big reasons automakers push leather nowadays is that, regardless of how solid a car is mechanically or structurally with over 100K on the odometer, it will "feel" old if the seats are brittle, worn and/or held together with duct tape. Call it today's version of planned obsolescence. Take a stroll down the back row of any large car dealership's lot and peek into some windows if you doubt my veracity.
In the 60's, '70s and '80s, cars would very often be well on their way to rustdom after 7 or 8 years in this part of the country. Build a car like that today and your brand image would drop with each and every passing glance on the road. But if your fancy model's leather interior looks like the backside of a cow exploded in it after just a handful of years, no one but the owner (and perhaps an additional occupant or two) will be any the wiser.
For anyone who is planning on keeping his car for a long time, vinyl is a much better choice [than leather]. That said, even if you poke a bunch of tiny holes in it (read: perforate), vinyl is a poor choice for actual *seating* surfaces.
After receiving a promo offer from VW, I was somewhat seriously considering a Jetta SE turbodiesel a few months back and took a close friend along on the test drive to get his opinion. While not obese, let's just say he's carrying along a few extra pounds. And he could not stop complaining about how much his butt was sweating on the VW's hot vinyl (and, no, the seat heaters were not on). Perhaps it was partly psychological, but I started feeling the same sensation by the end of the drive (I'm only 160 lbs, so perhaps my manner of driving had something to do with it). Ultimately, the vinyl interior (combined with the most abrupt clutch engagement of any new car I ever driven) was a dealbreaker.
Vinyl on door panels, seatbacks and armrests is one thing. Vinyl on seating surfaces is quite another. It may wear like plastic, but it breathes like it too.0
Cars were a lot different 20 years ago.
I still have my 1991 Mustang, and have had it for 22 years.
My kids drove my 11 year old Explorer in high school and I'm glad to have it back.
Can't wait to take my 2013 Fusion out to South bend for the ND/USC game.
Different perspective.2017 Ford Fusion SE 2017 Ford F-150 Limited0
Your concern [about American cars] is one we share. I haven't had good luck with them - even the ones I've purchased new.
It's exactly what's causing me so much agony right now [as I dream about driving that 3 year old dud of a Ford out of my garage for the very last time]. My heart says, "Get the Fusion. It's so beautiful and fun to drive," but my head says, "What? Are you nuts? You've done this before. Get the Accord or a Mazda 6."
And then I have all the constraints that go along with shopping for a new vehicle with a manual transmission (like, there's only about 5 choices still out there in the midsize class... and if you want cruise control and a radio, knock another two off the list...).0
The Mazda is now a 100% Japanese, in house Mazda. No Ford parts. I think it deserves to be in the #1 spot, and should be on anyone's mid size list. The 6 is a different animal all-together from the Fordza's of the past. . I believe Mazda has something to prove and they used the most modern, hi quality manufacturing processes to make it, and its made in Japan in a new facility.
I saw the interior of a base Honda Accord today at the grocery store, so I stuck my head in. The first thing I saw was lots of shiny plasti-silver faux-aluminum. I like the Accord exterior, but what you have to see everyday is the inside. So, if that 1980's Emerson-Soundesign boom-box cheap plastic is on other Accords...then Honda blew it interior wise.
Chris Skalski: Network Engineer 2012 Kia Optima EX0
The front seats of the Sonata have heated backs also... quite cozy. I think the rear seat heaters (not available on the GLS) are bottom cushions only.0
If it wasn't for Ford, there would be no Mazda.
They always took the road less traveled and it never has really worked.
Ford's financial stake was never over 33%, Japanese law.
My opinion is that the car reviewing media is trying to promote Mazda to show that still have market influence.
That is pretty much a Fail.2017 Ford Fusion SE 2017 Ford F-150 Limited0
Maybe the car-reviewing media happens to like what Mazda sans-Ford is making these days? IMO their last 3 new designs, the CX-5, the Mazda6, and now the Mazda3 are at or near the top of their respective classes. Could just be that some of the automotive mags think likewise.
Personally I wish Mazda had more market influence than they have. Maybe then the "market" would make better cars.0


text:
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text:
Sentinel Pine Bridge #38May 23. 2013 3:01PM
Flume Gorge
Lincoln, NH
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests built this bridge in 1939 and maintained it until it was transferred to the state in 1948. The tall pine that gave the bridge its name once stood near the rear of the pool as if it were a sentry on guard. The great tree was over ninety feet tall, five feet in diameter, and estimated to be 100 years old when it was blown over in the 1938 hurricane. Workmen took a sixty foot piece of the tree and placed it over the river forty feet above the water just north of the pool. Taking other trees that were blown down,they made the footbridge over the pine to protect and preserve it. The bridge is put together with wooden pegs.
Year of Construction: - 1939
Original Cost: - Unknown
East of U.S. Route 3 over the Flume Gorge at the pool in Lincoln.
Stringer Bridge. The bridge is 60'5" long with a clear span of 50'0". it has an overall width of 8'2" with a roadway walking path width of 5'5" and a maximum vertical clearance of 6'2". The bridge is restricted to pedestrian traffic only.
* e-Edition subscription required


text:
For the fourth week in a row, the piercing ring of the telephone disturbed my mother's midday quiet in September 1960. Slowly picking up the receiver, she held her breath hoping it was just a wrong number.
"Mrs. Madden," Sister Mary sneered, "Jackie will be spending the afternoon in detention – again."
Chanting a mea culpa, my mom sought pardon for her 8-year-old daughter. As she was about to promise the black-frocked warden that I'd be duly crucified at home, the angry nun steamed, "Doesn't she ever shut up?"
Later that afternoon, as I was released from my prison cell at St. Charles School in San Carlos, I came face-to-face with my parole office and her infuriated glare. "Jackie, what's gotten into you? You used to be so good."
Feeling the intensity of her disapproval escalate, I bowed my head and whimpered, "I'm sorry, Mommy. Does this mean you don't love me anymore?"
Instantly, the stiffness in her back turned to rose-colored Jell-O as she bent down and took me into her arms. With a soft voice now void of all anger, I heard, "I'm not happy with you right now, but I'll always love you."
Over the years, this message was repeated not just for my benefit, but for my three brothers' as well. But as the arms of the antique cuckoo clock spun in lazy circles toward adulthood, I wondered how she could keep reciting it when one member of the family's choices constantly caused consternation.
As children, the Maddens resembled images from a Norman Rockwell painting. Life was innocent and sweet. The only discord that erupted centered on who got the last piece of chocolate cake. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, our baby brother's actions chipped away at the peaceful serenity that cherished childhood memories bring. The phone calls received on his behalf made my indiscretions look like small dribbles of milk dotting my chin, easy to wipe away.
Every family has one member who makes us cringe at times. It's just how life goes, but reflecting on my parents' struggle with the twists and turns of raising a child laced in heartache, there was a question I needed my father to answer: "Dad, how are you able to still care so deeply?" I blurted one night while spoon-feeding his medications.
Looking up from his wheelchair, he took my hand and said simply, "He's my son."
Now, I've always understood that a parent's love for his or her child is unconditional – that intense affection that has no limitations. I feel it for my kids every day. But when a person becomes toxic and poisons the surroundings you live in, it can feel like an impossible task.
Seeing the question still lingering in my confused eyes, Dad pulled me close to share a secret he'd been keeping all these years. "I understand that you might need to detach yourself from him physically, but it's his soul you must love. That's what God sees and holds in his hands."
My father taught me many things during our time together for which I'm eternally thankful, but I have to say this was the most powerful.
I've always been grateful for those who are easy to love. Maybe it was because I was getting something in return – a warm touch, a positive response, a gesture of kindness. But my father understood that loving the soul unconditionally despite the fact that it may be hurtful not only encouraged a balanced heart, but also kept you in tune with God's vision for the world. "We should love because of who we are, not because who they are," he said.
Thanks, Dad.


text:
Do people ever tell you to "just smile, you'll feel better"? If you're like our daughter Nora, you hear it a lot, and you get annoyed every time you hear it. Telling a teenager to smile is probably one of the best ways to ensure she won't smile for the next several hours. But the notion that "smiling will make you feel better" has actually been confirmed by research. There are several studies demonstrating that people are happier when they smile, at least in certain circumstances.
It's not as easy as you might think to study the effect. For one thing, it's possible that it's not the physical smile itself, but the request that's causing the emotional change. Researchers have attempted to get around that problem by simply directing people to move their facial muscles in a proscribed sequence ("Move your lips to expose your teeth while keeping your mouth closed." "Now use your cheek muscles to pull the corners of your lips outward," and so on). But still, it's likely that research participants will catch on to the purpose of the study when they are asked whether they are feeling happy or sad.
In 1988 a team led by Fritz Strack came up with a brilliant cover story that allowed them to manipulate facial expressions without the research participants' awareness. The researchers told participants that they were studying adaptations for people who had lost the use of their hands. Such individuals would need to use their mouths to hold pencils for writing, or to use a television remote. The study was to assess whether the unpleasantness or difficult of these tasks affected their "attentional abilities and responsiveness." The current study on people with full use of their hands was simply designed to test the procedure.
The participants then held a pencil in their teeth (which naturally activates the muscles typically used for smiling) or lips (which does not activate those muscles), and then rated several cartoons for funniness. Those who were (unknowingly) "smiling" rated the cartoons as funnier than people who weren't smiling.
Innovative as it was, the Strack team's study had several limitations, the most important of which is that the researchers didn't account for the physical differences in holding a pencil with lips versus teeth. If the people are simply more uncomfortable holding a pencil in their lips, that might explain the entire difference between the "smiling" and "not smiling" conditions.
In 2002 Robert Soussignan designed a new study which both addressed the earlier works' limitations and added a couple extra twists. He adopted Strack et al.'s cover story, but asked 96 female undergraduates to hold the pencil in one of four different ways: In the lips, in the teeth but without "smiling," in the teeth while "fake smiling" — exposing the teeth and stretching the corners of the mouth but not raising the cheeks in a more authentic looking smile, and in the teeth with an authentic smile expression. This was done by telling participants to both stretch the corners of the mouth and raise their cheeks. I tried these last two techniques myself:
I think you'll agree that I look much happier in the picture on the right.
Once participants were coaxed into these positions, they conducted two tests. In the first, a distractor meant to disguise the true purpose of the study, they used the pencil to underline the vowels in a sentence. Then they were shown several video clips and asked to rate their reactions to them on a scale of -9 (negative emotion) to +9 (positive emotion). Some of the clips were very negative, such as a mutilated body or a person stretching an animal skin. Others were mildly positive, like landscapes or baby animals, and others were extremely positive — funny clips from the cartoons Tex Avery and Tom & Jerry. For the positive videos, there was a distinct difference between the ratings of the participants who were smiling and those who were not. Here are the results for the cartoon clips:
The ratings for the authentic smilers were significantly higher than the non-smilers for each cartoon. The Tex Avery cartoon was rated significantly higher for authentic smilers than fake smilers, while there was no significant difference between smile types for the Tom & Jerry cartoon. The moderately positive videos showed an even more dramatic difference, with authentic smilers rating their reactions significantly higher than any of the other three conditions.
Soussignan also asked the participants to rate the unpleasantness of the requirement of holding the pencil during the study, and found no significant differences between any of the conditions. The students also were carefully questioned, and none of them suspected the real purpose of the study.
Interestingly, there was no difference in the ratings of the unpleasant videos between any of the groups. Only positive videos were affected by the smiling / non-smiling condition. Soussignan argues that this supports the notion that smiling will accentuate a positive emotional experience, but will have no effect on a negative experience.
This might also explain why it's so difficult to get a gloomy teenager to smile.
Soussignan, R. (2002). Duchenne Smile, emotional experience, and automatic reactivity: A test of the facial feedback hypothesis. Emotion, 2(1), 52-74. DOI: 10.1037/1528-3522.214.171.124


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Opening this up a little early, Franco takes the #5 spot and Aumont has been added going forward.
So Far:
- Jesse Biddle
- Roman Quinn
- Adam Morgan
- Tommy Joseph
- Maikel Franco
Between Asche and Pettibone for me. Martin is a close third but unfortunately I'm not convinced he can stick as a starter just yet.
Last year Martin had a K/9 of just under 8.5 and a walk rate of around 4.5. His K/9 is good but not elite and his BB/9 is terrible. I suppose the ray of light is that it was his best BB/9 of his career by far. Any improvement at Reading was minor at best and significantly helped by a BABIP against of .241 and a LOB% of 74.8. He is 23 and this year will be his age 24 season.
I have never seen him pitch. I hear his stuff is electric. However, I am not a believer at all. He is #11 on my list. I cannot wait for him to prove me wrong this year!
His walk rate did drop 1.5% after the trade to Reading. I'm not sure how significant that is but it seems like something. Also, of the 18 walks he issued as a Phillie, 7 of them came in one start, so for his other 6 starts he kept the walks in check pretty well. Maybe it was just an anomaly of some sort, but I can see where the optimism comes from.
Handzus, thanks for pointing that out. I checked into fangraphs data that I was using and I noticed they did not include his awesome postseason start. If you include that start, his K/9 is 8.7 and his BB/9 is 3.4. Decidedly better!
I recalculated his stats excluding his best and worst starts (the 7 walk start and his postseason start) and got a BB/9 of 2.8 and a K/9 of 8.0. Much better if you look at it that way. Let's hope he can avoid 7 walk starts in the future and develop a better third pitch.
Cody Asche and Daniel Murphy of the Mets were separated at birth.
Cody Asche. This is a guy who in one year's time skipped Low-A and absolutely dominated in Clearwater and Reading. His play at third is by most accounts decent, and the bat is for real, even if its more likely to produce doubles than home runs. I think he has the highest floor of any Phillies position prospect, and there's a chance he could turn into a Headley-type player at third.
Yep I went Asche here too. If all goes well he should get a September call up.
He doesnt have 30 HR power.
Headley never hit more than 12 HR in the four full seasons before his breakout last year. I'm not saying Asche is going to ever hit something like 30, but he has gap power and is likely to develop power as he matures.
Good point. I think the bat is for real. It he learns to elevate the ball some hr's will come. For now, I'll take another year like this.
Despite being a fan of Asche, I've been skeptical of some of the higher expectations people put on him. But while 30 HR isn't likely – 15 to 20 IMO is a more reasonable and even so still slightly optimistic expectation – I wouldn't rule it out entirely (see Mike's comment on Headley). Put it this way – I'd say his chance of a 30 HR major league season is greater than his chance of a .320 BA major league season, and that's even taking into account the greater volitility of BA.
yikes. I don't agree with that. I'm pretty bullish on Asche mostly because we've heard a bunch of varying reports on defense, and if he can play decent defense, than I think he is almost certainly a major league player. But I've always thought of BIll Mueller when contemplating Asche's profile (and conveniently for this post, Bill Mueller did in fact have one regular season with a .320 average but never more than 19 HRs).
Bill Madlock might be a good comp for Asche also. I don't expect any 30 homer seasons but if he does, it will be with a much lower average after sacrificing average for power. Hopefully, the Phils leave him alone to be a 300 hitter with 40 doubles and 10 homers. Btw – 320 vs 300 is only about 1 more hit per month.
Cody Asche is a Daniel Murphy type of player.
Trying to decide on which way to go here. It is initially between Asche and Martin. I like the floor that Asche has appeared to set for himself, but Martin was near dominant in his time with Reading and i think he has star potential and his floor is pretty high. I am waiting for people to state some cases before i make my decision.
Oh and another thing how much to you guys apply "value" to the prospects ranking? Right now I would think an avg 3b in the majors has more value than an avg (#3) pitcher. I am wondering more about positional vs. pitching not position vs. position. We all know a SS is more valuable than a 1B and so on.
I think the solid regular, 3b is close in real worth, to the #3 pitcher. However, the #3 pitcher now costs more to buy. So I would give the advantage to #3 pitcher.
True . Pitchers then catchers have more value, but in my mind all other pos players are equal based on individual tools.
I don't agree about Martin having that high of a floor. His stint in Reading was dominant, no question, but he's had major control issues throughout his career that remain a serious red flag. That said, his potential keeps him a bona fide top 10.
Ended up going Martin. I am anticipating his promotion to AAA this year and I am excited to see what the Phil's pitching coaches do with him with an offseason of work. It really came down to the potential associated with being drafted that High and the signs pointing towards improved control. It still is real close between him and Asche in my mind and now the next 2 for me are Asche and Pettibone.
Why was Tocci dropped?
I had Biddle first, then a 2-5 of Quinn/Joseph/Franco/Morgan, and now I'm trying to order my 6-11 set of Asche/Martin/Pettibone/Tocci/Watson/Ruf.
Tocci is too young for these lists. He hasn't started shaving yet, is years away from being able to get served alcohol in a restaurant and most importantly Tocci has not had one AB in full season A-ball.
THIS is about where Ruf should be. I'm very confident he will be at least a starting calibur player.
Other: Carlos Tocci
I'm leaning Asche on this vote. Tocci and Pettibone are good choices too, though. Asche projects to be a regular 3B, while Pettibone projects to be a #4 pitcher. I think the regular 3B is more valuable.
I am surprised you are not concerned about Asche's BABIP. I still need to see another year from him before I buy in completely (that said he is still in my top 10 and I would love to see him do well. And his twitter handle rocks).
I am still high on Pettibone. He doesn't strike a lot of guys out but he makes up for it with good control and keeping the ball in the park. He throws hard enough and looks like he can handle a starter's load. I think in 2013 he could be like 2012 Kyle Kendrick, which is not bad at all. If his secondary offerings develop more, which is possible considering his age, he could be even better.
I guess you are saying that his stats will be like KK averaged over the year but it is a tough comp to make since 2012 was the tale of two KK. One before mastering the change up and one after.
You are right, I am expecting something like Kendrick's average numbers over the whole year. That said, Kendrick had a FIP of 4.3 for the year and a FIP of 4.0 for the second half of the year. He had a BABIP against of .236 and an LOB% of 81% in the second half. I doubt he is that fortunate for a full season in 2013.
Should add Austin Wright to the poll next round.
yeah I got him somewhere 9-12
I can't put him that high.
I realize I'm one of the people that is highest on him. But until he gets moved from starting I have to view him ahead of bullpen guys, utility players (Hernandez), guys that may never stay healthy (Gillies), and low level prospects who aren't named Tocci, LGJ and maybe Watson. Obviously I have Pettibone and Martin ahead of him but next up pitching wise for me is Wright or Watson.
Asche. He's got a good chance to be an average starting 3B, and may end up being more than that.
I went Asche again. I think he can be an average starting major league 3B. I can also see Martin here. Really, both Asche and Martin jumped their games up so much in 2012 that I think we will all be watching with fingers crossed in 2013 that it wasn't a fluke.
So true.
I think Martin improved, but I wouldn't say he jumped his game so much. His K/9 went from the high 9s in 2011 to the low 8s in 2012. However his BB/9 did improve dramatically in 2012.
Biddle (not that we are talking about him, this is just an example) is someone who jumped his game dramatically in 2012 – K/9 went up from mid 8s to mid 9s and BB/9 went down from mid 4s to mid 3s. Lets hope he keeps it up in AA and let's hope Martin makes a similar improvement in 2013.
I went Martin here but the player issues are becoming more apparent.This vote should be really close.
I like Martin's upside more than Asche, Ruf, or Pettibone. (I'd pick Tocci but want to push for Martin ahead of the other primary candidates.)
Martin could end up a reliever but as a starter he has #2 upside in my opinion. The control improvement from Reading needs to be maintained.
Asche I still think will be a below average starter, good hitter with no power and average fielding. I think he will end up more of a backup player, but he sounds like the gritty type of player I'd want to root for..
Ruf I have ranked all over the place through the off season trying to find more opinions on his possible upside. I originally thought he'd be nothing more than bench bat but some scouting reports have me believing the bat could be special. His defense will be below average but I think he could reach Pat Burrell type numbers. In WAR that is only worth about 2 per season, though. I still had to keep him in my top 10.
Pettibone I ranked just outside my top10 since I think his low K rate will really hurt him as a starter but he could have a longer career than any of the other 3.
Cody Asche has done what a college player should do, if he is showing himself to be a legitimate major league prospect. Dominating younger competition and forcing his way to the upper levels early.
Comparison of initial seasons at Clearwater:
Cody Asche: age 22, PAs 270, OPS .825, BB 4.4%, K 13.7%, wOBa .377, RC+ 139
Darin Ruf : age 23, PAs 406, OPS .756, BB 6.4%, K 21.4%, wOBa .349, RC+118
Asche dominated High A as a 22 year old 3rd Baseman, and was promoted midseason. While Ruf was pedestrian as a 23 year old 1st Baseman, and had to repeat the level. These kind of numbers, along with the positional importance, lead me to believe Asche has the higher ceiling and is the better prospect.
I agree with this; I'd add that Ruf leading Asche here also surprises me because the "fan club" between the two players seems to overlap so much.
That said, I guess it comes down to a signficant portion of the readership not weighing age/level very heavily, or at all.
In a way, it's good that Ruf seems poised to win this vote, as the back and forth about him is getting tiresome (wherever you think he should be ranked).
I voted for Asche and will keep voting for him until he "wins." Probably Pettibone after that.
I went with Jon Pettibone at #6. He will be a member of the rotation this or next year because he can eat innings and because he has enough of a skill set that he can continue his steady progress to the majors. Whereas Martin has the stuff, but trouble with command, Pettibone's control and command of his pitches should bode well for him. I think Martin will wind up in the bullpen. Asche is my next in line.
I voted Martin again cause his potential to be a #2 and that's why I am going for Larry Greene next for his monster power potential…however I see some people ranking prospects by playing it safe with a Pettibone for example…he is close to majors and has a better chance of being a #4 starter than Martin has of being a number #2 starter…but if they both reach their potential who would you rather have? Also I've seen the term highest floor…huh?…each and everyone of these prospects can end up in the basement…I rather vote for best case scenario rather than worst case scenarios….just my two cents
Highest floor is simple. Ex. A guy already in AAA has a floor of AAA while a guy in A-, if he flames out, has a floor of A-. A real time example using Pettibone would be ceiling as a 4, but floor would now be long man as he is on the door step of the majors and the case could be made he WILL have some sort of major league career. A guy like Watson does not have the floor of long reliever as his floor could be low A flame out.
I get the concept of a floor but if someone says Asche has a floor of an avg MLB 3rd baseman…it means he will be no worse than an avg 3rd baseman…however there is a chance he never plays in the MLB…so the floor which implies can't go lower would be wrong…ceiling are based on projections and potential so its understandable…its also very possible to go beyond that ceiling…but giving someone a MLB floor is too much of a guarantee
Nobody's said Asche's floor is an average third baseman. If you look through the comments, there are those who say he could very well be an average third baseman, but none have set that as his floor. I mentioned in my post above that I believe he has the highest floor of all the Phillies position prospects, and I stand by it — he is the one I would put my money on if you asked me which would become an everyday regular. But I don't think anyone here believes it is a foregone conclusion.
I was using Asche as an avg third baseman as an example. I know you were one of the people using the term floor…my comment is the general use of a players floor…I know the point you were trying to make …its just the use of word floor…it implies lowest…and I'm saying every prospects floor is the minors…
This is certainly very true of pitchers in the GCL. A guy with Watson's pedigree and current stuff is far likelier to flame out due to injury than because he can't pitch well enough to make the majors in some limited capacity. Look at Knapp. Ceiling (realistically) of a closer and at a stretch #1/2 starter. Floor (and reality) is severely injured and very possibly done.
Martin is a #2 if everything breaks exactly right. Very, very unlikely this happens. I think the control/command holds him back and that those projecting him as a #3 starter or reliever are being far more realistic. He's not super young and last year was his first good season. I always have a lot of doubt until such a player puts up a second good season. Martin isn't a guy who has Cole Hamels-type stuff. He doesn't even have Aumont-type stuff. If he becomes a #3 starter for us, I will be thrilled.
In my personal rankings I prefer a guy who has a 10% chance of being a #2 starter over a guy who has a 60% chance of being a #4 starter.
The poll says it's closed. I logged in at 5:30am. I didn't get to vote for #6. Only 203 got to vote. My vote won't change the poll but if there were 500 votes like the rest of the polls so far, it might make a difference.
Right. Visited yesterday afternoon and again early this morning and somehow missed an entire poll during that period. Is this officially closed?
Matt – is it possible to add a running list of our poll results? Not a necessity for the early rounds perhaps, but as we get past pick 10 it would be nice to see a list of those players already voted in
Going Pettibone here
I really feel like Ruf has no place at #6 and that is why I voted for Pettibone and have Martin and Asche next. I believe that whatever WAR Ruf gains with his hitting, he'll give up with his fielding, and there is no guarantee he is going to hit Right handed pitching, but I'm rooting for him.
I was struggling between Asche and Pettibone, but went with Asche, by a hair because I think, if all goes well, he could be, at his peak, between a 3-5 WAR player, which would be hugely valuable for the Phillies. That said, I like Pettibone a lot more than most. I think, as much as any pitcher the Phils have coming up soon, Pettibone could be helped by Dubee. Right now, it looks like Pettibone's ceiling is probably a solid #4 or borderline #3, but if he fine-tunes a pitch with deception, such as a plus change-up, he could be even better than that. I know his K/9 rates haven't been great, but I like his build, his motion, his velocity, and his make-up – so I think he's going to buck the odds a little bit. Frankly, I think the Phillies believe that, in not too long (by that, I mean May or June), Pettibone will be giving them what Worley gave them and that's why they were wiling to trade Worley. Otherwise, given Ruben's penchant for pitching, it would not make sense that he would go with Kendrick and Lannan in the 4/5 slots – which is a bit weak after the big three, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Halladay.
My guess is that Dubee leaves with Charlie so this is probably Dubee's last year and last chance to work with Pettibone. My guess is that Cloyd, Pettibone and Lopez start spring training with the big boys as starters before beng assigned to the minors later. Rosenberg has a great chance to be the long man in the pen but he won't be a major league starter. If the late season version of KK comes back, he was actually very good and I love Lannan in the 5th spot. While I like Pettibone very much, Cloyd will probably get a shot ahead of him (because he was already up last year). So will Lopez who they can add to the 40 man and bring him up in the case of injury and then release him. Of course, Pettibone could change my line of thinking if he has a great start to his AAA season.
I voted for Ruf again and I really hope he pulls this one out so I can move on. I like Pettibone in this spot. I like his size and control. I'm a little concerned about his BB shooting up in AAA, as that might be a sign that he may be a nibbler as he moves to higher levels, but it was a small sample size. I heard a lot of Pettite comparisons for Biddle – and I think Pettibone is of a smilar ilk (I guess Derek Lowe/Jon Garland would be a better comp for a righty). Pettibone should have a nice long career as a 4/5 starter. Pettibone gets the edge over Asche/Martin for me because he has put together 3 solid seasons in a row. I think the Worley trade shows that the front office is comfortable with Pettibone in the back end of the rotation as early as this season and I expect he will be the 6th starter (in AAA) and will get the nod over Cloyd in the case of a call-up.
Went with Ruf. Though the upside may not be as high as others, I would say his floor is much higher as will since he will most likely play a significant role on the Phils this season. He actually will be a major league player (barring anything unforeseen in the next couple months) where a lot of other guys may have more upside, but are further away. I think he'll hit at least 20 homers. High floor/proximity to majors makes him my vote. I will say that Ruf/Asche/Pettibone/Martin are all bunched together at this point for me
Went with Pettibone at this spot. I just can't go with Ruf this high because he reminds me too much of Chris Coste. Another older minor league guy who finally got his shot, had a big splash in his debut, and then had a couple of so-so seasons before being out of baseball.
Now Ruf is significantly younger than Coste was so maybe he lasts a little longer but Ruf also plays a position with much higher offensive demands.
I went with Asche very slightly over Ruf because of age and better defense at a premium position.
I went with Little Jimmy!!
Would've easily had Pettibone in the top 5. I'm probably in the vast minority and saying that Joseph is a tad overrated on this site….Valle hit a tad better (oh wait, next post will be someone doing their breakdowns and such, oh he was a year older, etc etc etc, shut it) and most of you seem to have written him off as a failure. A guy who plays in SS gets voted in at #2, what a crock. Who knows what Quinn will become, how about give him a year or two and lets see if he's not a one trick pony. Biddle at #1 is the only sensible thing I can see, lets hope the Phils dont ruin him…….or trade him like they love doing with good prospects.
Dom Brown will be a utter failure and finally his name will be put to rest and RAJ will stop coddling him like a little baby and playing with his titties. Maybe we can finally see a ballplayer in Ruf do some good things this year rather than a athlete like Brown be the failure he already is. You can't teach stupid, that's for sure.
No really…is this FreeAEC under yet another pseudonym!
I sense some racial profiling here.
Calling Ruf a ballplayer and Brown just an athlete sounds like racial profiling to me
This site needs to bite the bullet and adopt a procedure that requires people to register before commenting. Than we can stop subhumans like this from defacing the site.
This may be the absolute worst comment that did not involve $$$$ symbols. I would actually vote this ahead of many comments that do contain $$$$$ somewhere within and that is saying something. Also, "subhuman" is letting this commentor off a little easy in my opinion.
Geez, just pay no attention.
Yay, Asche is finally going to make it and I get to vote for somebody else. Of the guys already given slots, Ruf is the only one I haven't had this high. Martin or Pettibone next. Very different pitchers at the same level. I'll have to review their careers.
I'm not being racist at all, just telling the truth. And I knew my post would lead you guys there cause that is the first thing that will pop into your minds. Get off the Brown Kool-Aid that RAJ has given you, Jim Jones's people didn't listen (ok, most were forced, but you get what I am saying), maybe you can.
All the GMs and such get all giddy cause a guy can run a 4.3, or has a 44 inch vertical, or can hit a straight fastball to the moon. There are more intangibles than just athleticism that goes into the making of a ballplayer. People harp on Ruf cause he's "too slow" and such, but look at Brown. You can be as fast as you can be, but if you cannot read a perfectly easy fly ball, you have no reason even being out there. They play him in right, he sucks, ohhhh, lets coddle him and move him to left. Oh, he sucks there, oh, well playing there is throwing him off.
Listen, I was a big Brown fan probably four years ago, but seeing him in Reading and watching him make bonehead mistakes in the OF way back then was enough for me. Sadly, it seems its just the same old story with him. When he went 1-30 or something in winter ball a year or two ago, instead of staying there and getting a slice of humble pie, RAJ brings him back here. I'd rather have Mayberry hit .245 any day of the week over Brown, at least Mayberry can first off play all three OF positions. Second off, he can play them more than adequately.
Heck, if he puts up a .250/10/40 line this year, I will proclaim its a miracle and I will eat my words. If you think I'm a d—, so be it, I'm not going to sugarcoat anything here and that is all I have to say. Thank you and have a nice and enjoyable evening.
R-Truth+Little Jimmy
If you only see one thing so far that is sensible to you, perhaps you should recalibrate your way of making sense. It does not seem to be working at all.
I have a problem. I tried to e mail. Would not let me. Could you please list a e mail on the site. I was on last night and voted for Asche. I just got on tonight a little after 5pm and thinking I was voting on the next slot voted for Ruf and it took my vote. This is a big problem and I thought you needed to know. I would have e mailed if it would let me.
Matt please send me an e mail so I can explain my problem by replying.
Thanks will do.
Asche is just 8 votes back of Ruf as I type this. Close vote but not surprising. Asche is 4 years younger than Ruf and they both played at AA last year. Just sayin.
We need preferential voting! It's a travesty Ruf is going to go before Asche, Pettibone and Martin really considering most of the people who picked one of those three wouldn't have picked Ruf in a runoff. I don't even have Ruf in my top 10 to be honest.
Ruf is very hard to slot. It depends largely on how much you believe the reports that he was handling LF well defensively in VZ. I guess also whether or not you view his 2012 stats as a fluke. He's likely not a long-term major league starter, but he could burn brightly for several seasons. That's worth quite a lot. That said, I voted Asche and have Ruf below 10, although I'm not sure that is justified.
I'm so excited!
When does the "Reader Top 30 #7" post?
I'm all tingly just thinking about it.
Asche is just 4 votes behind now, too close to call!
Why is anyone voting Pettibone for a top 10 spot. If everything in the world goes right for him he is a solid back end starter. Wtf guys.
if everything goes right he's as good if not better than Worley.
There's nothing awful about being a solid #4 starter. I guarantee you we will have guys in the top 10 who turn out to be not as good as that. Pettibone doesn't have one of the highest ceilings of our top 30 prospects, but his control/command and proximity to the majors makes him one of the highest probability guys to approach his ceiling. Watson may have a higher ceiling, but his chances of ever becoming a solid #4/5 starter are a lot smaller than for Pettibone. A top 10 list must balance ceiling and risk. All primo draft picks start their careers with a high ceiling. What fraction have a major league career of any note.
Why don't we get a new poll? I got on here to vote for the next one.
R-Truth, Thank-you! Especially on your comments on Brown and Ruf.
I used to play the outfield and as I said before on here Its nots that hard,if you're willing to put the time and effort in to get better.
Now on hitting the small baseball,thats is totally different once you get to AA or higher.
Thats what is the major difference in good big league baseball players,and the rest that never make it.
I went with Asche here. Pettibone's Ks and Martin's BBs are both concerns for me, and when they're pretty even I go with position players over pitchers.
Comments are closed.


text:
Best Electric Shaver to Avoid Bleeding?
Answers Given
Answers Favorited
I've always been of the opinion that traditional razors give a better shave than electric razors. However, after having a heart attack last week, I've been put on warfarin (coumadin), a blood thinner, and now need to find a shaving method that will not cut me the way regular razors sometimes do. I've been told that electric razors fit that bill.
I'd be much obliged to get some cool recommendations.1
I use a Norelco Sensotouch Electric Razor 1280X that I purchased via woot. It isn't perfect, but it is pretty good. I have little to no issue with cuts, only occurring if I go too fast and push into my skin too hard. My main complaint is that there seem to be certain hairs on my face that is just does not want to cut, especially along the jaw line. That said I like that I can use it wet or dry and that I only need to spend a few minutes each morning to get a decent shave. I doubt it will ever be good as a normal blade, but the time saved has been worth the switch.
I've never gotten cut with my Braun Series 5 razor, and I have sensitive skin. The self-cleaning system is great too. I've had it for about 3 years.
The panasonic foil types are amazing - I've tried the braun/norelcos and the panasonic is my hands down favorite. The fact that it moves the blades so quickly really makes it pain-free and easy to shave. Some models (like the one I have) are also waterproof so you can use it in the shower. Personally, I think I can get a shave as close with an electric as i can with a traditional - maybe takes a bit longer.
(see this for an example: http://goo.gl/XspV4)
I've since switched back to blades, but I had great luck for many years with a series of Panasonic wet/dry shavers. I generally shaved in the shower, with a little shave gel. I can't recall EVER getting cut, even a nick. I never bothered with the pivoting heads -- but I did like the triple blade one with the pop-up trimmer.
Also, if you're switching from a blade to electric (or vice-versa), give your beard about a month to "train" itself. Don't make a call about what's smoother after just a week.
I have an older Braun, a 7505, that I have used for over 10 years, and I am completely satisfied with it's performance. I do replace the cutter head, and foil(they come packaged together, I found mine at target), about every 3-4 years, and it gives an almost blade-like shave consistently, without cuts, or burns. I'm sure the new models are just as capable, and probably have improvements. If my razor ever does quit working, I will have no qualms about purchasing another Braun to replace it.
I have a Panasonic travel electric razor that does quite well enough. Use it regularly to get a fully presentable shave. I've never managed to cut myself with it. This particular model (ES3831) is very inexpensive, uses two AA batteries (pretty good life), and is waterproof enough to use in the shower. Got it at Walmart online for less than $15 delivered. Fry's also sells it in store for about the same price.
I've been using the Panasonic Arc IV for about six months. Before that I had used a blade for a year after growing frustrated with my older electric, a Braun.
The Arc IV is awesome. Used dry, it's better than any other electric I had used in the past. Used wet, it's nearly as smooth as shaving twice with a blade (to get my smoothest shave with a blade, I always had to shave once down, relather, and once up). It's much smoother than shaving once with a blade, and far smoother than any other electric dry. It's much less likely to nick, and I seem less prone to bumps.
I shave in the shower. My process is to wash my face in hot water. I then apply conditioner (Trader Joe's hair conditioner with tea tree oil) and let it sit for a minute. I rinse that, apply shaving cream, and shave. It's a great, smooth shave every time.
I couldn't part with it. It's the first home shaving experience in my 22 years of shaving that's left me truly pleased.
You can find the best electric shaver online at amazon. There are some of electric shavers for woman and men.
A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it. Items can be either old or new as long as they are wonderful. We post things we like and ignore the rest. Suggestions for tools much better than what is recommended here are always wanted.Tell us what you love.
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text:
Nansen Wayside State ParkApril 26. 2011 4:28PM
Located near the banks of the Androscoggin River, Nansen Wayside Park is a popular place for picnicking, fishing, and boating. The park spans 14 acres and is the site of the 170-foot steel-framed Nansen Ski Jump, seen towering over the area.
Location: Route 16, Milan
Phone: 603-323-2087
Activities: Fishing, picnicking
Amenities: Picnic tables, boat launch, pit toilets
Operation Schedule: Year-round
Acreage: 14 acres
NH State Parks Website
NH State Parks Pet Policy