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A few weeks ago I was sitting on a curb in Venice Beach, drinking coffee and reading the paper on my iPhone, when a couple walked by, in the middle of an argument. Wearing a slinky dress from the night before, the woman yelled at what I assumed was her soon-to-be ex-flame: "Just because you're tall and have a long cock doesn't make you a man!"
We used to live in an XX/XY world, there was a binary code of conduct and boys didn't cry about it. They also didn't grow heirloom tomatoes, they didn't covet raw, selvedge denim, they didn't sculpt their abs and wax their pubes and they didn't wear their hearts on their sleeves unless they were Purple and issued by the US Military. In 2012, things are a little softer.
She's wrong, of course, anatomically speaking. On average, men are six inches taller than women and only one of us has a penis. Still, it was obvious that her dig went deeper than the epidermis. She was attempting to castrate his character, taking dead aim at his manliness.
"What's that?" you ask.
I'm not exactly sure. No one is. Like obscenity, it's subjective—you know it when you see it. From the primordial soup to powdered wigs to Propecia, the concept has always been in flux, dissected and re-defined by an ever-evolving audience of our peers. As a kid, I was always struck by that scene in The Godfather where Johnny Fontaine pleads with Don Corleone, begging for his help getting a role in a Hollywood picture: "Godfather, I don't know what to do; I don't know what to do." After a beat, Don Corleone explodes, grabs him by the shoulders and attempts to shake some sense into him: "You can act like a man! What's the matter with you? Is this how you turned out? A Hollywood finocchio that cries like a woman?"
A valid point, perhaps, but for a different era. The film was released 40 years ago, and it was a 1940s period piece—before feminism, before The Pill, before Gym-Tan-Laundry. For better or worse, it was an XX/XY world, there was a binary code of conduct and boys didn't cry about it. They also didn't grow heirloom tomatoes in their urban gardens, they didn't covet raw, selvedge denim, they didn't sculpt their abs and wax their pubes, and they didn't wear their hearts on their sleeves unless they were Purple and issued by the US Military. In 2012, things are a little softer. The draft has been replaced by a more emotional call to arms. Now we're expected to have the courage to be vulnerable.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to spend an afternoon listening to Dan Savage, eating a ripe Brandywine with some creamy burrata, a barrel-aged balsamic, and a sprinkle of fleur de sel. But feelings? Facials? Pilates? The code of conduct between men and women has never been more difficult to crack. What was once chivalrous can now come off as chauvinistic. One girl's "sexy" is another girl's "sexist." And while face-to-face contact has been on the decline since the rise of Facebook, people seem touchier than ever.
So what does it mean to be a man in 2012?
Naturally, I turned to a modern, intelligent woman for answers. Born in the Midwest and now living in Los Angeles, she's a 35-year-old divorcee—a head-turning single mother with her own business and a closet full of high heels and vintage dresses. We spoke over waffles and acai smoothies at her place, the morning after our first date.
I'm writing this piece about modern men, and I feel like we're seeing two types: Metroman, with his skin products, his personal trainer, and his gluten-free diet. And on the other end of the spectrum, though no less contrived, is Old Timey Guy, someone who looks very "masculine," he dresses like a stylish lumberjack, or a coal miner, with a big beard, suspenders, maybe he's taking butchering classes.
Yes, I agree, and I find that to be super annoying. If I had to go on a date with Metroman or Old Timey Guy who makes his own cheese, I'd probably choose Metroman. At least he's trying to improve himself, whereas Old Timey Guy is just trying so fucking hard, it's irritating. I'd rather meet the real guy in the middle of America who happens to have dirty jeans from actual work. You know Old Timey Guy just rubbed a brick on them for half an hour. It's embarrassing.
So what does it mean to be a man in 2012?
Guys are the new girls.
How so?
They're creeping into our territory. They care about mid-century modern pottery, and gardening, and they don't go to barbers anymore, they go to hairdressers.
Is it all so bad?
No, it's not all bad. Some stuff is easier. I did a re-model of a house with the man I was living with, and he totally took charge.
He was more into design than you?
Yeah. And it became such an argument that I just said: 'Do it all. If the drawer pulls are that important to you that we're actually gonna break up over them, just pick them out.'
Have girls become the new guys?
In some ways, yeah. It used to be cute and funny if a girl couldn't change a tire; now it's pathetic.
Somehow so much hotter than a guy applying moisturizer.
What about sex. Are men more passive in bed these days?
No. They're actually better. Because they're more in tune.
So in becoming more like women, we now have a better understanding of what women want, and we're better lovers because of it?
Yeah. The guys that I've dated that are into these more 'feminine' pursuits are actually much better in the bedroom. They take charge. That's a hot mix.
What about dirty talk. Do you think men are more aggressive now because of porn? Is there good dirty talk and bad dirty talk?
I like all dirty talk.
Even if it turns misogynistic?
Like how?
You're a little whore…
Oh, I don't love that. Actually, sometimes I do [laughs]! What's the matter with me?
Do most of your friends like that stuff, too?
My friends and I talk more about dirty actions than dirty talk. Like, one of my best friends just told me about how she was unloading the groceries and her boyfriend came up behind her and hiked up her skirt and threw her up against the counter.
I'm getting mixed messages. Do you prefer Metroman or Caveman?
Both! I feel like my last boyfriend, if I asked him to hang some pictures, he would have hired a handyman. Or if I was stuck somewhere, he would send a car instead of coming to pick me up. It would get done, but not by him.
So making the effort is masculine. Some old-fashioned chivalry. You want to see him sweat a bit.
Yeah. I went on a date a few months ago, and after, this guy came over with his tool box and did some stuff around the house, without his shirt on, and the whole time I was taking secret pictures of him and texting them out to my girlfriends, like: "This is what's happening in my life right now, I'm about to lose my mind." And literally, all the females in my address book wrote back immediately and were like, 'Shut up! How is this happening to you? Can we order this?'
I ask her to see the pictures. She shows me. Dude's pretty buff.
Do you like a guy who works out?
I like a guy to take care of himself but if he took off his shirt and was flexing his six-pack, no. Ew. I'd literally almost rather go out with a fat guy.
What about guys who don't eat carbs?
Annoying. Not into it. Life's short; I'm gonna eat some donuts.
Would you prefer a man to be on Facebook or not?
Not. Dating a guy who's on Facebook is an issue for me. Bad. Stop being on social media for no reason!
What about yoga?
Yoga is perfectly acceptable now.
Gay. Orlando Bloom takes pilates with me and I have such an issue with what he wears. It skeeves me out.
What does he wear?
Ballet pants. I wanna die.
Metro or not, the dude married a supermodel.
What about grooming? Have we taken a step forward or backwards?
Backwards. You guys get facials now. I know you do. You don't admit it, but I know you do.
And that's a 2012 thing?
Five years ago, you'd get a guy and you'd say: 'With a little bit of work, we could get him up and running.' Usually, it'd be guys with bad jeans or something, so you'd say, 'He has a real potential but we're gonna have to take him jeans shopping.' Now, guys, like one of my best friends, he'll text me and say: 'Rock the Halston tonight.' He's a straight guy. No straight guy should use the phrase 'Rock the Halston.'
What does that mean?
It's a Halston vintage dress I have. So if we're going out together, or if I'm going on a date or something, he might tell me to wear it.
And do you like that?
I guess I am sending mixed signals. Because yeah, I like it, but I think that deep down, as fun as it is, we all still want an old fashioned guy.
Who also manscapes.
I actually just learned about this! I caught my ex shaving his balls. I didn't know this was something you guys did. I was blown away that that was part of his ritual.
Really? Presumably you were familiar with his balls. Did you think they were just naturally hairless?
Would you prefer if they were hairy?
Would I prefer hairy balls? No.
Wait, you seem outraged that he's shaving his balls and yet you prefer them hairless.
OK, so the modern man just needs to be more secretive about the things that he's doing to be more attractive to the modern woman.
Right. Don't want to know the details at all.
You realize that's insane.
Do you realize the amount of effort it takes for women to look natural?
No, because you're better at hiding it.
So you want us to maintain the mystery. Like you. You want the spoils of metrosexuality without being made aware of the process.
Yes. Here's the girls' wet dream: You're holding a puppy, you've got a tool box, you know how to cook, you're smart, you can buy pants that fit you properly, but you're still a teeny bit of the 1950's guy.
Old fashioned. Take charge.
Right. We want to feel like we have a guy where, if something happens, he's going to save us. And for some reason if you're out buying moisturizer that doesn't make us feel safe.
Her phone dings. She checks it, smiles, and says: "Y'see? These are the types of texts I get from my girlfriends." She shows me the screen. It reads: "I may kill myself."
Why'd she write that?
She just got back from a date. This is the modern woman reacting to the modern man.


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Salma Hayek Eye CandyBy Laura Blum
On Cinco de Mayo, we can't help but take the opportunity to fawn over our favorite MexicanAmerican actress's spicy style. From glamorous red carpet gowns to skintight street wear, Hayek shows off her curves with flair. In honor of Salma's Mexican pride, Wonderwall rounds up some of her most wowing looks.Salma sparkled from head to toe in a strapless Gucci gown at the 2012 Golden Globes. The dress's geometric pattern amplified her famous figure without showing off too much skin.© Steve Granitz/WireImage


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The Vikings jumped out to an eleven point half-time lead and never looked back in handing the Hawks their 10th loss on the season.
Leondre Lintz led the Hawks with 18 points on a quiet 4 for 11 shooting night including 0 for 5 from 3 point land. Lintz continued his strong showing from the foul line as he connected on all 10 of his free throw attempts. Lintz added three rebounds on the night as well.
Jordan Roberson was next up for the Hawks with 17 points and 2 rebounds. Khari Hutt had 15 points for the Hawks along with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals for the game.
Robert Tolbert chipped in with 6 points and Victor Wariso and Trevor Hooper matched with 5 points and 2 rebounds each.
The Hawks drop to 11-10 on the season and are 2-4 in Big 8 action.


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The Danger of Fireplace Vents
A fireplace does not always need a chimney. You can have a vent, but there are some concerns with a vent when the fireplace is in use.
I often see problems with chimneys. On the metal units that have a flue going out of the roof, you will find a wooden box built around them. The box will be coming apart, so rain can seep into the house. The metal cap holds water and is rusting. Insulation is not correctly kept away from the flue. With brick chimneys, you find cracks in the bricks and the cement cap. Every once and a while I find that the chimney has no cricket or saddle (the roof framing to help divert water away from the chimney). I have discovered chimneys pulling away from the house. There are many small issues that can lead to bigger problems. One problem has nothing to do with my field, but rather with the design of the home. I saw a beautiful home that had windows surrounding the fireplace to provide a better view of the porch. In another home, the chimney would have cut down on living space or added a larger cost to the house. In these cases, we will see builders adding a fireplace vent.
Fireplace vents are an acceptable solution, but they come with two problems that I consistently find. One issue that I bring up on my home inspection reports is the nature of the vent itself. Look at the photo, and you will see a metal box coming out of the wall. Hard to see is the fact that this box is stamped with the word "hot". The hot combustion air and particles are going through this vent to the exterior. This vent is placed at chest height for me (about five feet above the ground at its top edge). I have noticed similar vents placed closer to the ground. In either case, when a fire is burning, the vent will be quite hot. What is to prevent you or a child from touching the vent? Nothing. With the vent going out to the porch, you could burn someone during a party. With the vent in the photo that is against a rear wall, children could hit the vent while playing. Another vent may be near shrubs that could burn if they are dry. Having an extra protective measure to prevent contact with this vent when its hot is not in any building code that has been brought to my attention. I imagine that other home inspectors may not place this item on a report, but I do, because a hot vent can be dangerous.
The next issue has to do with the smoke coming from the fireplace. If you have a gas or wood burning fireplace, you will have a combustion gas (smoke) exiting through the vent. This particular vent was for a gas fireplace that was sealed on the interior. The vent had a good deal of creosote. This is the burned particles in smoke, and they can act like charcoal, meaning that they can catch on fire. As a side note, most smoke detectors that we have in our homes are not detecting a gas like oxygen. The detectors work by sensing particles in the air. This is why they can be set off with dust. All of these particles do not land on the walls of the vent; they go out of the building. If you have an operable window that is near this vent, you could have the smoke blowing back into the house. This does not always happen. Vents are placed a distance from the openings to prevent this from happening. Also, the fireplace is used when it is cold, and a window will not be open. However, the smoke flowing into the house can happen. The problem with smoke that builders ignore is the vent in a covered porch. The home with windows around the fireplace was meant to be inviting for entertaining. A door near this interior space led out to a porch that was covered by the roof. This home had a second story, so the porch roof was high up. Yet, I could already see signs of the soot on the ceiling over the porch due to the fireplace being used. There was about eighteen feet between the vent and the edge of the porch. Unfortunately for the homeowner, smoke goes up, not diagonally out to avoid the roof. Over time as the homeowner entertains, the creosote will build up on the ceiling of the porch.
Fireplace vents are not a bad idea. A vent can reduce the cost of installing a fireplace. They avoid problems which can ensue from a chimney. However, a fireplace vent can bring its own problems, and I just want you to be aware.
« « Thoughts on How to Make Passive Heating, Solar Water Heaters, and Skylights| Take Care of the Front; Leave the Back Alone » »


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Once upon a time, Roger Zelazny came up with an idea for a new short story. In it a being had the ability to create parallel worlds. When he did this he could guide the process into making changes that suited him. His race could travel between the worlds. They are stronger than the beings they create. At the start of the story, he would awaken on one of the worlds. From there Zelazny weaves a story of betrayal and a quest for freedom.
Fans of Zelazny's work will recognize this as the basic plot behind the Chronicles of Amber (my reviews of the first two books can be read at Nine Princes in Amber and The Guns of Avalon). But the Amber series was not Zelazny's first attempt at writing this story. The first one is called "Love is an Imaginary Number". Having read the Amber novels before I discovered this story, it seems like it is full of ideas that are never developed. The short story form did not give Zelazny time to explore all of the concepts he introduces. Fortunately for us, he went on to develop them in a series of novels.
"Love is an Imaginary Number" is an interesting piece of history. Fans of Roger Zelazny should invest the small amount of time it takes to find and read this story. I look at it as an alternate universe version of Corwin. Based on the principles of the Amber series, it could be a story of Corwin that fits into the Amber Chronicles. Although the details do not match up with the novels, it is possible that the main character is not being completely truthful.
Either way, I am glad I read this tale. Any time I get the opportunity to read a new "Amber" story, I will take it.
Featuring reviews of science fiction & fantasy novels, short fiction, anthologies, graphic novels, with occasional television & movie reviews and general commentaries.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Beginnings of Amber (a Roger Zelazny Tale)
Labels: 1966, New Worlds, Zelazny (Roger)
1 comment:
- Jugular Josh said...
I really enjoy your reviews, and this is another one of my favorites, and I agree, it seems very much like a proto-Amber. I especially like the narrator's response when they offer him peace: "The peace of the eunuch; the peace of lobotomy, lotus and Thorazine."
It's a great story, but nobody ever talks about it. I'm glad you reviewed it!
- July 6, 2011 at 9:17 AM
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Subject: I have found a DVD that I think you would enjoy
|Stanley Kramer Film Collection
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner / Ship of Fools / The Member of the Wedding / The Wild One / The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T
Actors: Mary Healy, Hans Conried, Tommy Rettig, Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier
Directors: Fred Zinnemann, Laslo Benedek, Roy Rowland, Stanley Kramer
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
NR 2008 8hr 33min
Guess Who?s Coming To Dinner (1967) — When Joey Drayton (Katharine Houghton) brings her fiancé, Dr. John Prentice (Sidney Poitier), home to San Francisco her meet her affluent parents, played by the incomparable Spencer Tra... more »
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Similarly Requested DVDs
Movie Reviews
Member of the wedding
j in boston | 08/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The only film in this collection that I'm interested in enough to buy is "The Member of the Wedding". I have been waiting years for a dvd release of this great film. Directed by Fred Zinnemann and containing three of the greatest performances you are ever going to see. It stars Julie Harris(who may be America's greatest actress imho), the magnificent Ethel Waters and Brandon DeWilde. So far there has been no announcement of a stand alone release and I'm certainly not buying the entire box for one film. If anyone is paying attention please give this film a release outside of the box set."
Let's have a Member of the Wedding DVD
Gerald H. Fuller | Virginia | 01/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's long overdue! Put out a single DVD of Julie Harris's great performance in this great story."
Kramer vs Kramer
Phoebe Stogstill | by the shores of Gitchee Goomie | 06/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I ordered this Stanley Kramer collection because it had a copy of "The Member of the Wedding" on it--one of my favorite movies, and it is almost impossible to get a copy of this as a single. It is a fantastic collection and I have seen all of the movies before, but of course I had to view "Member" first and then "Ship of Fools." The actors that stand out in this collection are Tracy and Hepburn plus Poitier in "Guess," Marlon Brando in "Wild," Vivien Leigh in "Ship" with equally fine performances by Lee Marvin and Michael Dunne, and of course Julie Harris and Ethyl Waters in "Member." The most stellar performance of the whole pack is the young Brandon de Wilde in "Member." If it were re-windable, I could re-wind and watch this young man over and over and over. Too bad we lost this actor, although his skill seemed to disappate with maturity. The odd movie in this pack is the "1000 Fingers." It is a heroic undertaking, the making of this movie, but instead of being the surrealistic masterpiece it could have been, the sets and props seem amateurish. I must review this one several more times to fully appreciate it--the acting by Tommy Rettig is quite good--and I may finally decide that I love it BECAUSE of its faults, instead of in spite of them. (I have given more detailed reviews of the individual movies, previously) Stanley Kramer was a genius as displayed here on celuloid."
Great Value for $24.00!!
James A. Butler | Baltimore, MD USA | 12/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I read a review from someone lamenting the fact that "The Member of the Wedding" is not available on DVD by itself. I ask you; Where can you get 5 classics for $5.00 apiece? This outstanding Stanley Kramer Collection boxed set features "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", "Ship of Fools", "The Member of the Wedding", "The Wild One", and "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T." There is also a bonus "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" disk with special features. Anyone waiting for "The Member of The Wedding" to be released on DVD by itself might be waiting a long time! Not to mention a single release could easily cost what these 5 films together are selling for. I believe this package provides an excellent opportunity to add classic films to one's collection!"


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The Girl from the Naked Eye
Jake is a driver for a seedy escort service operating out of 'The Naked Eye strip club', he's a street thug type who falls for a witty high-class escort named Sandy. Except one night Sandy is found murdered, the only clues left behind are cell phone calls made the night she died. To avenge Sandy's death Jake must risk everything and walk a bloody path to find her killer.
Genres: Action, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Actor: Jason Yee, Samantha Streets, Ron Yuan, Dominique Swain, Gary Stretch, Jerry Ying, Sasha Grey, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Chris Ufland, Assaf Cohen, Brandy Grace, James Lew, Pete Antico, Kovar McClure, Lateef Crowder
Director: David Ren
Production: Lifted Productions, Mu-Yee Productions, MiniFlix Films
Country: USA


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The 5 Senses
The five senses, that is, the sense of sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell, provide us with necessary information regarding the world around us.1 These precious capabilities enable us to navig ...View Article
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Natural Allergy Remedies
While millions of people have benefited from chiropractic care for their allergies, no one can say allergy medications have ended their allergy problems. While chiropractic care is not typically considered a specific allergy treatment, it works with your body to push function to an optimal level. So, could chiropractic care help your allergies this season?
When your body fails to recognize and remove abnormal cells, your system could struggle with infection, react badly to foreign substances or try to attack itself. The most common immune disorder is an allergic reaction, which is prevalent among every part of the public. Many people struggle with some kind of environmental-, seasonal- or food-related allergies.
When the body overacts to an allergen, you have an allergic reaction. Your immune system is responsible for removing anything from the system which it believes is foreign, explaining the violent reaction to foreign particles it deems are harmful. Instead of using medication to cover up the symptoms, chiropractic care addresses root causes so your body can heal itself.
When one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves, the symptoms in your body can be compromised. Chiropractic adjustments remove the interference and allow blood flow, nutrients and fresh oxygen to flow through the body. By boosting the immune system with all natural treatments, symptoms are lessened because of the lessening of the attack from the confused immune system (and not in spite of it).
Your chiropractor understands that nerves are relevant to the immune system's function. Studies in psychoneuroimmunology have connected the effect of nerves on the immune system. We follow the meric system as an ancient chiropractic practice that the spine corresponds with every part of the body. With a hands-on approach to body alignment, sublaxations are removed along with the stress placed on the nervous system.
Traditional medicine has no cure for allergies – merely a few Band-Aids you can hide the symptoms with (namely, allergies relief pills). These masking medications make it difficult for you to take your allergies serious enough and alter your habits in a way that helps your body. Instead, medications can cause dangerous side effects, complications and can cause a foggy haze over your daily activities. Instead of finding true relief, patients find themselves in a circular habit of taking allergy relief medications daily with no end in sight.
If you are struggling with allergies and looking for a chiropractor in the Fort Worth area, call us and schedule an appointment today! We are one of the only family owned and operated chiropractic clinics anywhere to practice Atlas Orthogonal adjustments. These treatments work specifically with the top vertebrae (the very highest vertebrae on the spine) to open communication lines between the body and the brain via the nervous system. Since there are only 450 Board Certified Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractors, and we are the only one in North Texas, it is one of the many things that set us apart from others in the area. Schedule your first appointment and see what a difference Back to Health Family Chiropractic can make for you!


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"It is likely to be confused with or mistaken for FijiFirst. FijiFirst is the only political party with two words in it, with the word 'party' not in it and with the word Fiji in. FijiFirst is the political party which has its name also as the logo. FijiFirst connotes or signifies that the party puts Fiji first. The other words has the country of Fiji first and its people, the Fijians. The Proposed OneFiji seeks to portray this idea while the philosophy behind this idea may not be exclusive to any political party. It is the manner in which this idea is manifested in the name of a political party that is the issue. The logo of the proposed OneFiji party only had "OneFiji" and the rainbow; this manner, was very similar to how the FijiFirst had been laid out. OneFiji is put as one word similar to FijiFirst, and the beginning of the two words (one and Fiji) are capitalised as in FijiFirst. Furthermore, the word 'One' in the name OneFiji party is similar to the word 'First'. Colloquially, everyone regards or equates the word 'First' to be one or number one. In this instance the voter could be misled to believe that FijiFirst and proposed OneFiji are the same. Accordingly we object to the registration of the name OneFiji party and its logo OneFiji." Khaiyum to his hand-picked Supervisor of Elections poodle and first time voter Saneem
BEYOND BELIEF: First he secretly registered the internet domain Fijifirst in 2009, later he objected to original Fiji1st Party and now the serial thief Khaiyum is crying foul over ONEFIJI party's registration application
ONEFIJI Party to Saneem: No political party (Fijifirst) should have monopoly of an idea; throw out Khaiyum's objection, and go and consult Oxford English Dictionary about the meaning of FIRST and ONE!
The ballot papers filled with numbers and without names or logos will not cause any confusion to voters during election, says the registered officer of the proposed One Fiji Party Sitiveni Kalou: "The Ballot paper will not contain party names, symbols, or even candidate names, so there is no chance of confusion under those factors. As we are sure the FijiFirst Campaign will be clear and concise in its delivery as well. No political party has a monopoly and should not be allowed to have a monopoly of an idea, as ideas are innovations in nation building which should be encouraged and promoted. Any number of political parties may not have 'party' in their names (if they all perceive themselves more as a movements, for example), just as a number of parties do have them most probably because they consider themselves as a party first and foremost. Any number of political parties may have two words in their names; just as a few have three words in theirs. In fact, if a number of associations find one word that reflects their reason for being; then they should be permitted to do so...One Fiji perfectly reflects our ideology of the uniqueness and oneness as a society and nation, and has nothing to do or to be confused with those of the objectors. Kalou said the names were different and had different meanings where FijiFirst connotes or signifies that the party puts Fiji first. "First in the Oxford dictionary means-Coming before all others in time or order; earliest". "Whereas One Fiji connotes or signifies the promotion of a single, unique, focused, and united Fiji. He said "One" in the Oxford dictionary means "A single person or thing; just one as opposed to any more or to none at all; single." He adds "One and First do not mean the same and cannot possibly cause any confusion; 'First' is who came ahead of others, while 'One' is by itself and always will stand alone. "FijiFirst may be meant to connote putting Fiji as a nation, or Fijians as a people, first as they claim. But it ends there. "One Fiji is about the uniqueness of Fiji and Fijians as well as their oneness; how they came to be, how they are, and how they should be as a people, as a society, as a nation," Kalou said. He said One Fiji connotes how the members see Fiji now and in the future; the choice of words and construction are deliberate and essential to the name and The rainbow represents their break from the past or the end of the old ways of seeing and doing things, and the promise and the seedling represents the birth of the One Fiji movement and realization of the promise. "The Party is only the vehicle for the movement, hence the absence of the word "Party" from the logo. "The acronyms and/or abbreviations are different: The acronyms for One Fiji are "OFP". The acronyms for FijiFirst is definitely not "OFP" He has also highlighted that the symbol is the word FijiFirst and a variant of the national flag. Kalou also stated that their logo is OneFiji which is a variation from the rainbow and the budding flora. "In conclusion, the objection registered with your office by FijiFirst should be dismissed based on the argument and response above; and the following: (a) Similar objections made to the FijiFirst registration petition were dismissed by the Fijian Elections Office, so precedence has already been created by the Fijian Elections Office. (b) The Proposed One Fiji Party constitution states the official name of the Proposed Party is "One Fiji Party"; so on that fact alone the objection is in error, and is addressing a non-issue; as the official party name contains three words and not two.
CIVIL SERVANTS TO FIJIFIRST CANDIDATES: Dr Brij Lal latest to join district commissioners to stand in election; it just reveals they were never neutral when they came forward to prop up dictatorship in Fiji
Pio Tikoduadua, Joeli Cawaki and Laisenia Tuitubou have resigned from their top civil service jobs (which they were given as a result of the 2006 coup) to contest election for the FrankFirst Party. Why were they not included in the list of candidates announced last Friday? Was it just so they could suck on the civil service teat a few days longer, or was it to try to make the FrankFirst team look less military? Who do they think they're fooling?
VOTE RIGGING? Fijileaks receives complaint from military personnel saying Military Police have been going around to soldiers houses to collect their voter registration cards and have taken them to QEB!
The RFMF personnel set to vote in one polling station and all might be forced to vote for former army chief and FFP leader Frank Bainimarama
"A couple of people have told us that they were threatened, couple of cars had stones thrown at – obviously this is the kind of thuggery that the other political parties and their supporters engage in." Fijifirst Party general secretary Aiyaz Khaiyum to Fiji Broadcasting Commission News; http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/21534/fijifirst-vehicles-vandalised
"I took a passenger to Vuci Nausori and after dropping the passenger – when I was returning to Suva – a group of i-taukei boys approached my vehicle and damaged the back screen – because I have the FijiFirst party logo there. I did not stop the vehicle because I was alone and it was night time." -
TELLING PORKIES: 'If I am nominated by a political party then I will contest', says Pio Tikoduadua; truth is he resigned to join Fijifirst Party despite being sacked three times by his un-elected boss Bainimarama
If I am nominated by a political party then I will contest the general election on the 17th of September. Those were the words of the outgoing Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, Pio Tikoduadua after he resigned from his position today. The former military colonel who started at the Prime Minister's Office in August 2009 said he is looking forward to other opportunities. Tikoduadua is expected to contest the general election under the FijiFirst party banner: Source: Fijivillage News, 30/7/2014
Jumping the queue: PDP expresses concern that Military, Police, Doctors and Nurses will vote on 15-16 September before public votes in election
STATEMENT: PDP Queries Balloting Process
The People's Democratic Party has questioned the Supervisor of Elections on the balloting process for the upcoming elections. Of concern is the fact that the Supervisor of Elections has confirmed that balloting for the Military, Police, doctors and nurses will be held on 15th or 16th of September prior to the general public casting their votes. The PDP questions the whole intent of this exercise as it would expose these groups on their support for political parties of their choice. When questioned as to why this was so, the Supervisor of Elections advised that it was his discretion under the Decrees. He also advised that the counting of the ballots would be done on the 17th of September.
Questions arise as to the wisdom in such an exercise as none of these groups would be involved in the electoral process on the 17th September except for the police who will remain outside polling stations. We do not see the need for these groups to vote prior to the 17th September unless they would be required to be absent from their normal place of residence. While the Decree may give certain discretionary powers to the Supervisor of Elections, these powers need to be used in a responsible manner and not to expose the political leaning of any particular group or occupation. Furthermore, this is no ordinary group. It is the disciplined forces who are responsible for protecting the citizens of this country, which include each member of this group. They too have the right to be protected and free of victimization. This is supposed to be a secret ballot. We ask the Supervisor of Elections to reconsider his decision.
The Supervisor has also confirmed that voters abroad will have to make an application to vote and should they meet the requirements of the application, they will be sent a postal ballot. Voters abroad have to date not been advised of the balloting procedures. The process is cumbersome to say the least. Why is there a need to put another hurdle after these citizens have in good faith registered to vote? It is time that the Supervisor of Elections clarifies to the public the entire electoral process including all issues in which he has used his discretionary powers.
Felix Anthony
Shazzer for Freedom in Fiji:
We all want to reduce road deaths. But let's be realistic!
There are not even a million people in Fiji.
In 2013 there were 41 road deaths in Fiji. That is 41 too many.
To support Bainimarama's claim of saving millions of lives he would have to stop all road deaths in Fiji for over 48,780 years.
Or perhaps he believes he can stop all 1.24m road deaths worldwide.
One of the dangers of being a totalitarian dictator is you begin to believe your own propaganda. As a result you make many OUTRAGEOUS claims, especially before an election.
Compare this with some of his other claims which have turned out to be lies.
• The economy is well managed. 1.1% annual growth is the lowest of any prime minister of Fiji.
• The National debt is declining. When he couped Fiji the National Debt was just over $2bn. Now it has more than doubled to nearly $5bn. And that's only the debt we know about.
• Land is safer under the 2013 constitution. No one believes that and that's why no one can challenge a Land Bank decision in the Courts of Law.
• Increased Cost of Living was not caused by his policies. Devaluation, increasing VAT and incompetence all prove that a lie.
• A 300 room casino will open in Fiji in 2013. Remember he even got dressed as a Native American Chief for that delusion.
• The sugar Industry is booming. Well Frankie only in your simple brain does halving the size of an industry count as a boom.
Chiefly ghosts: Bainimarama tells native Fijian voters that they are still alive and well despite him abolishing 'political' Great Council of Chiefs!
The Great Council of Chiefs will only protect the itaukei, not other races. Those are the words of Prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama after the Turaga Na Ratu Mai Bureta Ratu Jone Davila asked the Prime Minister if the absence of GCC has affected the installation of chiefs around the country. Ratu Jone raised the issue during the Prime Minister's talanoa session with delegates at the Lomaiviti Provincial Council meeting in Levuka yesterday. Bainimarama told Ratu Jone that in the last eight years, the Vanua has not been affected in any way after the GCC was disestablished. He questioned the delegates if the GCC looks after the itaukei, who will look after the Indo Fijians, the Chinese and other races. Bainimarama said that some people are saying that they are Christian but they not acting like one. He said to live a Christian life is to respect and love others, not to bring in differences and hatred. Source: Fijivillage News
China mongering: Bainimarama tells voters that Fiji will not be sold to China - yes, he is right, for China will seize Fiji for defaulting on loans!
FijiFirst leader Voreqe Bainimarama has told the people of Levuka that Fiji will not be sold to China. He made this comment after a Levuka resident questioned Bainimarama on why the government has recently been engaging a lot of development works with China. Bainimarama said the developments through the Chinese government had already started before his government came into power. The FijiFirst Leader said these are just fear-mongering tactics used by other parties. He also says that Fiji's economy is growing compared to the government that was led by Laisenia Qarase from 2001 to 2006. He said that Qarase's government borrowed money to pay civil servants while the Bainimarama government only borrows money for road construction, building bridges, hospitals, wharves, rural electrification and schools. Source: Fijivillage News; Meanwile Chaudhry warns a woman voter on development debt: A Caubati resident has told Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry in a campaign meeting in Nasinu that many people are not attending the Labour Party meetings because people are satisfied with the developments undertaken by the current government. Chaudhry then told about 30 people attending the campaign meeting that he cannot see any real development done by the current government for the benefit of the people. He also said that people should realise that developments done is through borrowed money which has to be paid back.
By Professor Wadan Narsey
[Qualification: There are many voters who believe that an unelected government, deemed illegal by the highest Fiji Court of Appeal, should not be changing policies on taxation, government expenditure and public debt for eight years. One founding slogan for the American War of Independence was: "no taxation without representation".]
Economies can show high rates of growth, but have mixed results on the poor:
(1) the poor can become poorer, because the cost of living increases more than their incomes (some evidence of this).
(2) the poor can become poorer because of increased Value Added Tax, while the rich can become richer because of reduced direct taxes reduced (some evidence of this).
(3) the poorest can become better off even as the rich become richer, and income distribution can still become worse (no evidence of this).
As with the economic growth analysis, the analysis of changes in poverty may also be broken into two periods: one of increasing poverty between 2005 and 2011, and the second between 2011 and 2014 when many positive budget measures were brought in in the areas of education and infrastructure especially.
The likely changes in poverty are examined through household survey data form the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, the Wages Councils, changes in taxation, and the annual budget measures of the last three years.
Changes between 2002-03 and 2008-09
The FBS Household Income and Expenditure Surveys (HIES) for 2002-03 and 2008-09 give the changes in poverty between these two survey periods, with four years during the Qarase Government, and two years during the Bainimarama Government (the Bainimarama coup took place in December 2006).
Poverty between 2002-3 and 2008-9:
- in rural areas increased from 40% to 43%
- in urban areas reduced from 28% to 18%.
- Fiji as a whole, reduced from 35% to 31%.
Given the declining agricultural output in the sugar and non-sugar sectors, one can say confidently that rural poverty would have increased steadily through this entire period, both under the Qarase Government and the Bainimarama Government.
But because of the overall cumulative positive economic growth rate of 15% between 2000 and 2006, urban poverty under the Qarase Government would have been decreasing.
Changes in poverty between 2004-05 and 2010-11
The first year of this period was under the Qarase government, while the remaining five years were under the Bainimarama Government.
Assuming that the patterns of remittances were roughly the same throughout, the Employment and Unemployment Survey (EUS) data for 2004-05 and 2010-11, can be used to examine poverty at both the individual worker level, and also at the household level.
The EUS data at the household level indicate that the percentage of population in households below an estimated poverty line, changes as follows, between 2004-05 and 2010-11:
* in Fiji overall, poverty increased from 30% to 45%
* in rural areas, poverty increased from 34% to 55%
* in urban areas, poverty increased from 25% to 35%
The EUS individual worker data indicate that
* poverty of the workers depending on subsistence increased from 35% to 67%.
* the poverty of employees not covered by Fiji National Provident Fund, increased from 50% to 60% (those covered by FNPF remained the same at 20%).
This last result is not surprising given Governments' failure to implement Wages Councils (next section).
Government failure to implement Wages Councils
The poorest wage earners who are not represented by unions are supposed to be protected by the ten Wages Councils, set very sensibly at different levels for different sectors depending on how well each sector was doing.
For most of the post-coup period, the Wages Councils were under the Chairmanship of Father Kevin Barr.
Unfortunately, Father Barr's Wages Regulation Orders were postponed year after year by the Minister for Labor under orders from the Bainimarama Government, because of unethical pressures by employers and the Employers' Federation.
While the stagnating economy after the 2006 coup may well have been an important factor for some employers, not a single employer ever showed their audited accounts in justification for their inability to pay, to the Wages Council Chairman (Barr) or the Labour Minister.
After postponement for four years, small partial adjustments were allowed, which did not keep pace with the large increases in the cost of living, and most of these workers, already extremely poor and numbering about 50,000, slipped further into poverty (as the EUS data indicates).
Eventually, Father Kevin Barr was sacked as Chairman of Wages Council, after accusing the Bainimarama Government of practicing "crony capitalism", and threatened with expulsion from Fiji (Father Barr is an Australian citizen).
Then there was the National Minimum Wages debacle by the Chairman of the Commerce Commission (Dr Mahendra Reddy), who with great public fanfare, set a "scientific" national minimum wage of $2.32 per hour, only to retreat into silence, when the Bainimarama Government unilaterally, again under pressure from employers, reduced it to $2 per hour.
Regressive taxation: taxing the poor and helping the rich
There has been a false claim that because of the raising of the income tax threshold to $15,000, the poor now do not pay any tax, but the reality is that all consumers pay tax through VAT, on essential and non-essential expenditures alike.
Since 2006, the Bainimarama Government has changed the taxation system heavily in favor of the rich and increased the burdens on the poor:
(a) VAT has been increased from 12.5% to 15% increasing the cost of living for the poor;
(b) Income tax at the highest income levels has been reduced totally unnecessarily from 30% marginal tax to 20%, lower even than all our neighboring countries, thereby increasing the after-tax income for the rich (except for those earning over $270k).
(c) Corporate tax has also been reduced totally unnecessarily from 28% to 20%, with most foreign companies repatriating their increased profits.
These tax reductions have probably given back more than $150 million to the rich, and the lost revenues regained by taxing the poor and the middle classes more, through the VAT.
Income distribution and social justice has worsened in this period.
However, there have been some positive measures for the poor through budget measures in the last two years.
Changes in poverty 2011 to 2014: high growth and budget measures
The period 2011 to 2014 has seen an average growth rate of 3% growth rate, massive infrastructure investments amounting to more than $1 billion, and the continuation of the remittance receipts from abroad (now amounting to more than $370 millions according to RBF figures).
While there is no data to assist, almost certainly, poverty will have been reducing between 2011 and 2014 but annual budget figures also have a bearing on household poverty from the government expenditure side, which may be picked up in future household income and expenditure surveys.
The Bainimarama Government in the last three years has also brought in comprehensive subsidies on bus fares and tuition fees, and increased access to scholarships and loans for tertiary education. Commitments have also been made to make pre-schools free.
These are all clear and much appreciated benefits for the poor and there is statistical evidence of the positive effects.
The EUS data indicates that between 2005 and 2011, the percentages of children attending school have increased by 4% at primary schools (to almost complete coverage now), and by 7% at secondary to reach 88%, and by 7% at tertiary ages to reach 40%.
Almost certainly, the improvements in school attendance have continued to grow after 2011, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels given the easier access to scholarships and loans.
Of particular benefit to Indo-Fijian families is that there are no obstacles in their children's paths to higher education, whereas previously there used to be quotas on scholarships, and limited access to loans.
These education policies by the Bainimarama Government counter, to some extent, the changes in taxation policy described above, but not for those poor families without children at school.
Note that the awarding of scholarships in select areas based totally on academic merit has meant reduced access to indigenous Fijians in these areas.
Given that the emigration data indicates clearly that qualified non-Fijians are far more likely to emigrate than indigenous Fijians, then the current ethnically blinkered scholarship policies, are likely to lead to severe skill shortages in the future in those areas.
Another recent positive measure has been the allowances for the elderly which is of some assistance to the destitute.
More importantly, the building of rural roads and other socially necessary infrastructure on water and sewerage throughout Fiji (especially in the poorest Northern Division) will be of great assistance to the rural poor, facilitating the marketing of their produce and better access to essential urban services, and improving their livelihoods and standards of living.
However, these future benefits will only eventuate, if the increased infrastructure expenditure translates into higher economic growth, which can pay for the current large increases in Public Debt, which will otherwise be a burden on the future generations of the poor and middle classes.
It also depends crucially on the Republic of Fiji Military Forces respecting the democratic outcome of the September 2014 elections and staying clear of politics whatever the result.
FijiFIST Party: Fijifirst party candidate Nemani Bainivalu loses temper and assaults man in the Wainivula Church Hall: "O iko na luveni kailoma sega kemu qele"; Luveni turned blind eye to co-candidate's violent rage!
"Oh, you, son of a Part-European, you don't have any land"
By Fijileaks Ex-Fiji SUN Election Team in Fiji
Reports have been received from Wainivula that Fiji First candidate Nemani Bainivalu lost control when he was bombarded with questions from voters. Dr Jiko Luveni was also present. Bainivalu used abusive language and assaulted a man when answering questions.
The Fiji First party was queried on pressing issues such as:
· The deletion of the entrenched legislation which gave veto powers to 9 members of the GCC to the senate to oversee legislation that may affect any changes to the Native Land Trust Act
· The effects of the Land Use Decree 2010 and the complete powers given to one person the PM to control the administration of land deposited in the Land Bank
In the exchange of heated debate Bainivalu told the man in Fijian:
"…..o iko na luveni kailoma sega na kemu qele"; Bainivalu then physically assaulted the man.This was done in front of people gathered at the Wainivula Church Hall. They were completely shocked at the behavior of Bainivalu and the lack of control from Luveni and other party officials.
This is a glaring example of the dictatorial attitude now displayed by Fiji First candidates who are following in the footsteps of their leader.
The heat is up and the lies of the regime are now being exposed as the general public is now being informed of the real intent of Bainimarama and Khaiyum to enslave all of us in their constitution.
"These men and women have been chosen because we believe they have the commitment to the objectives, values and principles of FijiFirst. They individually bring a knowledge base and experience from their own respective fields of expertise and profession. We believe they will bring credibility and integrity." - Bainimarama introducing his FFP candidates to the voters
"...Secrecy is the keystone of all tyranny. Not force, but secrecy... censorship. When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, 'This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know,' the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives." --Robert A. Heinlein, -If This Goes On
Norway-Sweden Disunion: The 1905 Velvet Divorce: As Recorded In The Private Diary of British Diplomatist Sir James Rennell Rodd in Scandinavia [Kindle Edition] Victor Lal (Author);
click link below:


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Despite the lower numbers high-water fishing often produces, fishing it from a drift boat is a great way to find the biggest trout, according to Kent Klewein of Gink and Gasoline. Klewein gives four tips for finding and catching the trophy fish that "feed during high water because it's easy for them to ambush their prey."
High Water Streamer Fishing in Tailwaters
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AngelPad Founder Thomas Korte's 30-Meetings Requirement
Angel and venture investors packed the house at a San Francisco winery and events space called 25 Lusk to observe demos and business pitches from the latest crop of startups to graduate from AngelPad two weeks ago.
But none of them signed a term sheet that day. And that's how AngelPad founder Thomas Korte prefers it.


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If you want to turn thousands into millions, you've got to invest like the best. But you don't have to pay $50,000 a year for an Ivy League education. This lesson is absolutely free -- and could make you rich.
For years, endowment funds at major universities have scoured every nook and cranny, searching for the best places to invest their money. Endowment managers like Yale's David Swensen and Harvard's Jane Mendillo have put together track records of extraordinary performance that compare favorably to Berkshire Hathaway
Investing with trailblazers
Just 10 years ago, investors lived and breathed the stock market. With the run of great years in the 1990s, there wasn't much reason to look beyond U.S. stocks to make money. Furthermore, taking on other types of investing, such as trading commodities futures or investing in real estate partnerships, was complicated and often required separate accounts and specialized investment advice.
But despite the allure of stocks back then, endowments looked for other promising opportunities. For instance, as early as 1999, Yale's endowment managers were investing in real estate, oil and gas properties, and timber. They bought into private equity and hedge funds. They crossed borders and invested in international stocks, which were then out of favor.
Eight years later, Yale's endowment had just 11% allocated to U.S. stocks. Real estate, hedge funds, and private equity investments dwarf its stock holdings. And the majority of its stock investments are in international companies.
Beyond diversification
The success of these large institutional investors has changed the way ordinary investors put their money to work. Although access to hedge funds and direct ownership of commercial real estate is still limited to the wealthy, the rise of real estate investment trusts, as well as exchange-traded funds that focus on commodities, have brought these investments to the masses. Over time, these new asset classes have worked their way into recommended asset allocations.
There's no doubt that diversifying their portfolios have helped endowment funds weather turbulent times. For instance, consider the Yale endowment's 2001 fiscal year. Here's how some of the market's biggest stocks were doing:
Total Return:
Cisco Systems
General Electric
Source: Yahoo! Finance.
You'd think from these results, and the fact that the S&P as a whole dropped almost 15%, that the endowment had a rough year. But diversity saved Yale's endowment, which rose 9.2% in that year.
Be ahead of the crowd
But the real lesson from the success of endowment funds isn't in diversification for its own sake. Instead, what you can learn from institutions like Yale is that following the crowd won't earn you consistently superior returns. Identifying investment trends early on is what will help you beat benchmarks over time.
What's more, you don't necessarily have to look at exotic investment vehicles to secure a comfortable retirement. In the 1980s, Yale's endowment was primarily invested in U.S. stocks -- which performed very well in the aftermath of stagflation. When stocks are attractively priced, they definitely deserve a substantial place in your portfolio.
Similarly, as other assets like real estate and commodities have become more expensive, you can expect to see endowment funds move on to the next lucrative area.
To make the most of your retirement savings, keep your eyes open for novel and enterprising investment opportunities. You don't need an Ivy League education to retire rich -- just don't invest with the herd.
For more on managing your retirement money, read about:
- Generation X's last, best hope to retire
- Our guidebook to investing in down markets
- The retirement strategy you can set and forget.


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John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library
Resources for the Study of America's History
The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library is dedicated to advancing knowledge of colonial British America, the American Revolution, the early United States, and the history of the Restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. Unique to the library is the body of research on the buildings, people, trades, and material culture of 18th-century Williamsburg.
Catalog search (books and manuscripts):
- Look for books, manuscripts, images, journals, and databases.
- Explore a wide range of digitized documents from the Foundation's collection.
- Visit the Library or learn about the services we provide.


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Manchester Frontrunners, my beloved running club, recently arranged for none other than World and European 800m medalist Jenny Meadows to lead our track session! I have to admit, I don't get to track anywhere near as often as I should but the appeal of a masterclass in running techniques delivered by one of Britain's top female athletes was far too great an opportunity to miss.
We gathered by the indoor track at Manchester Regional Arena, and I was feeling a little nervous. This was massively compounded when I noticed a signed Team GB vest framed on the wall including a picture of Jenny Meadows herself. My nerves dissipated instantly as the session began: Jenny was friendly, down-to-earth, and seemed genuinely excited to work with us. She made a point of how nice it was to see the obvious camaraderie in our club, which was a nice reminder of how lucky I am to be part of the Frontrunners family.
Mind Games
Jenny started with a mental warm-up, a memory game to ease us into what turned out to be an important theme for the evening. Just as we are used to warming up for our physical sessions, we also learned about the value in mentally preparing for our workouts, focussing on the purpose and intent behind each drill and technique in order to maximise the carryover into our day to day running. I think in the rush to improve, this non-physical aspect of my own training gets left behind. The only time I ever truly approach running with intention is on race day – when it's all I can think about – and during long runs. I've spent a lot of time training myself to be inside my own head during long runs, without the comfort of company or music. As a slower runner, a 20 miler will take me around 3hrs 30 mins. That's a lot of time alone. I believe the reason I enjoy endurance running so much is because I've learned to love that time. However, I haven't honestly applied the same tactics to my shorter distances. Shorter training sessions tend to blend into one an other and I usually approach them with half a mind on what I have to do immediately afterwards, be that uni, work, or a social event. Jenny Meadows drove home to me the importance – and the ease – with which you can centre yourself prior to a workout in order to get the best out of it. One of the techniques she used was to simple to set your core and scapula by engaging the abdominals and letting the shoulders roll down and back, before starting a drill. In this position, looking ahead and with your mind firmly on the activity at hand, she taught us that we bring purpose to our movements. Any lapse in that physical or mental attitude – almost inevitable for me as soon as I started moving – demonstrated a lapse in focus and correlated with a degradation of running form.
The session was split into two halves, with the first portion concentrating on running specific drills to incorporate into our faster sessions, and the second portion dealing with running specific strengthening routines we could utilise during our training. Specificity was key. All of the drills focused on breaking down the fundamental mechanics of running with the aim to master the isolated elements and to iron out weaknesses. Running itself seems pretty easy. You put one foot in front of the other and propel yourself forward. Yet, when you slow it right down and isolate movement patterns, you're able to notice the otherwise invisible compensations and inefficient strategies you employ. I think the biggest shock to most of us was realising how little actually coordination we had when attempting some of the drills. Surprising, considering we spend most of our active time doing a series of one legged-hops for fun! I'm looking forward to getting on top of my weaknesses by regularly incorporating drills into my training.
The second half of the workshop also dialled us into the specificity of strength and conditioning for runners. Jenny talked how her own training history had led to the development of her own unique core sessions after realising that often, what takes place in the gym, translates poorly to running. How I understand this is that the fitness boom has ensured that we all know how to plank. But planking is a static exercise. When we run we are moving and so we need to be able to stay strong during movement. In fact, we are moving all of the time…even when sitting 'still'. Too often, popular core strength programs rely on static strength building. Jenny had us trying out all sorts of unusual movements that really tested our cores and incorporated whole body compound and dynamic movements. I can't say that we were particularly graceful during this part of the session, but I think we all took away from it an idea of how to program a functional strength and conditioning program that would have real, specific, running purpose.
Practice Makes Perfect
Jenny Meadows finished up with a generous Q&A session in which she answered questions on everything from nutrition, sleep, her own current training goals, and books she's been inspired by. The Chimp Paradox by Prof Steve Peters and Go Faster Food by Kate Percy are both now on my must read list. I can honestly say she delivered a fantastic, thought-provoking session and I believe that as a club we will start to see some really positive effects as a result of her advice. Jenny's session was delivered a few days before I ran the 2017 Asics Greater Manchester Marathon. Obviously, I know that one solitary session would not have a huge physical impact on my running form, especially as it inevitably degraded over the hours I was out on the course. However, I believe that Jenny's words on mental attention did have a palpable effect on my race. I started the marathon consciously trying to adopt the same physically and mentally set state she had taught us to strive for, and I focussed on trying to bring attention to my form as often as possible during the race. (I won't lie, though. It was a marathon, after all and there was some crazy mental wildernesses my mind wandered to, despite my best intentions). The overall result was that I really felt lighter on my feet, and stronger throughout.
Maybe the sensation was all in my mind, but in a marathon, getting your mind right is a pretty important factor. Thanks to Jenny, I think I'm starting to get that right.
For more information, check out Jenny Meadows' website at www.jennymeadows.co.uk. Her Power of 10 profile is a staggering compilation of super speedy times, and you can also follow her on Twitter.
Please also take a moment to check out the website for my brilliant club Manchester Frontrunners. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.
Photo credits: Tess Ptonka and Nina Barthel, 2017.


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Cape Wildlife Center to continue operations for extended period in streamlined form
(Nov. 11, 2016) – Cape Wildlife Center will continue operations through March 1 due to a partnership between The Humane Society of the United States and The Pegasus Foundation. The extension will provide additional time for residents and other interested parties to develop a long-term plan to provide continued service to injured wildlife on the Cape. The Pegasus Foundation is an animal-welfare-oriented charity that is partially supported by long-time advocate and philanthropist Barbara Birdsey.
The HSUS and its affiliate The Fund for Animals were set to close the center on Nov. 18, but this extension for wildlife-care operations will allow continued help for animals over the winter months. It will also allow like-minded agencies to work together to develop a plan for continued wildlife rehabilitation services on Cape Cod. Input is being solicited from organizations including The New England Wildlife Center, IFAW, Tufts University Wild Care and other potential stakeholders.
Through March 1, Cape Wildlife Center will operate on a limited scale to provide emergency care and rehabilitation services for animals in need. The center will depend on experienced and trained volunteers to augment the core staff who will remain.
"I'm immensely grateful to Barbara Birdsey and others for stepping up and allowing Cape Wildlife Center to operate during the winter months, albeit in a streamlined manner," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "We've always believed in the extraordinary work of the center, but just haven't been able to get enough people to invest in this life-saving work. Maybe that changes starting today."


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I am not crazy about trends. I follow them as long as they look good on me. Culottes are one of those trends that I was quite skeptical about. I did give them a chance a few times, but did not feel they were my thing. Until I came across these denim culottes.
Being fairly petite (164 cm to be more precise) makes it a bit difficult to find culottes that look aesthetically OK on my body shape. So it took time and a dose of luck to find the recipe for finding a good pair. If you want to experiment with a different to skinny jeans style, and you are not one of those lucky girls scoring over 175 cm, then you might want to follow these tips:
- Look for a relatively straight cut. Everything that features a wide flare will make you appear shorter and put a little extra weight visually.
- Look for the proper length. Opt for pairs that go just below your knee down to your mid calf. Nothing shorter or longer.
- Look for a solid fabric. Denim culottes are a great pick because denim is a solid fabric. It will covers those little imperfections, unlike thin ones.
- Look for a high rise. High-rise and high-waiste models will elongate your legs.
And if you are still unsure whether you like culottes or not, opt for heels. That will give you the extra confidence boost you need.
Have you tried accommodating this trend into your Spring wardrobe already? Would you give culottes a chance?
Denina ♥


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text: In what seems like just a few months, Oakland's reputation has transformed from a city plagued by violence into a indie darling. The New York Times rated the city #5 on a list of top cities to visit. Movoto named Oakland the #1 most exciting city in America. The Huffington Post recently published a list of 10 reasons why Oakland has never been better. Now one of the positive attributes Mayor Jean Quan mentioned in her speech at Love Our Lake Day, the city's affordability, may be in danger. Driven partly by changing perceptions and partly by a tech boom that is pushing people out of San Francisco, Oakland's real estate market is turning red hot. Real estate website Trulia.com reports that Oakland's home sales are up 31% from a year ago. Local realtors America Foy and Remy Weinstein of Highland Partners report seeing "an average of 10 -15 offers on every home that's priced decently." Martha Hill of Pacific Union noted that homes regularly sell for 12-15% over the asking price. Oakland Recently Sold Homes Oakland Homes For Sale Hill attributes the real estate scramble to Oakland's recent positive press, combined with a more stable Bay Area job market. "I haven't talked to anybody in over a year who's worried about their job or their husband's job or their partner's job," she said. "It has to do with consumer confidence," agreed Weinstein. "The media is telling people that it's not a horrible thing to do anymore. All the people who have been holding off are jumping back in the game." It helps that credit is not only cheap, but finally more available to buyers with small down payments or less-than-stellar credit. "For a long time, it was a buyer's market, meaning that, if you had some money, you could state your price. Cash was really king during that time," said Foy. "A couple years ago, nobody could borrow money and there was a glut of foreclosed houses on the market." Foy feels that Oakland's real estate market is "getting pushed up from the bottom." He explained that investors, who dominated the market during the foreclosure crisis, now vie with individual homebuyers armed with bank financing. "It's driving the prices up exponentially because there's so much competition for so few houses," said Foy. Pricing investors out of the market could have a positive impact on Oakland. According to a June 2012 report by the Urban Strategies Council, investors bought 42% of the homes foreclosed in Oakland between 2007 and 2011. Foy noted that, "It used to be common to have a $100,000 flip," meaning an investor could make a profit of $100,000, often in a few months, by fixing up a house and reselling it. Oakland Recently Sold Homes Fewer homes for sale is another factor driving prices up. RealtyTrac counts 2,141 Oakland properties somewhere in the foreclosure process. Still, there were 70% fewer foreclosure sales in May of 2013 than there were a year ago, and both the sales price (up 13%) and the list price (up 23%) are higher than they were last year. Even the price to buy a foreclosed home has risen 5%. Hill, Foy and Weinstein agreed on the hottest neighborhoods: Rockridge (where values had remained high), Temescal, Montclair, and North Oakland. "The other area that's been really hot is Uptown," added Hill. "All the new [condo] inventory has sold out." Foy and Weinstein related the story of a modest 2-bedroom house in Montclair that was placed on the market at $575,000 and sold for $925,000. "It hasn't been like this for 10 years," said Foy. Prices are also going up in neighborhoods where buyers of more modest means retreat after getting priced out of places like North Oakland. "You know that North Oakland is going to be like Temescal in 10 years. West Oakland might take 20 years," said Hill. "The last frontier in Oakland is Maxwell Park, maybe the Allendale neighborhood. Deep East Oakland is not a part of [the boom]." Asked whether she thinks Oakland real estate is experiencing another bubble, Hill said, "I so wish I knew." She added, "The wounds are so fresh from what we just came from. Some of it really does worry me." • Can Oakland get more expensive without losing its heart and soul? • Is the current boom another bubble that will leave Oaklanders flat and foreclosed, once again? Read Oakland Local's past coverage on gentrification and let us know what you think. 19 Responses EG June 20, 2013 We need to make it easier to produce more housing, particularly small-scale DIY market-rate rental housing. It seems like the only buildings we allow are affordable housing developments or luxury condos by well-connected developers. It's absurd to me that my neighbors are gutting their 2-unit bungalow and turning it into a single family home. Like many other homes, it should be torn down and replaced by a 4-to-8-unit apartment building. If we don't change our land use regulations to allow for more and denser rental housing, soon Oakland will look like SF–a playland for the few who can afford it with some token affordable housing developments. Reply Len Raphael June 20, 2013 Oakland like all of California has had many real estate booms and busts over the last couple of hundred years. The odds are not good that this latest one will survive past this period in which the Federal Reserve has intentionally kept interest rates as close to zero as it could by literally purchasing a trillion dollars of mortgage backed securities over the past couple of years. We'll know the answer to that over the next 6 months as the Feds reduce their support of low interest rates. True that there's a surprising number of non investors coming up with hundreds of thou of cash to purchase their residences, or at least to put at least the 20% down that's required to get those low interest rates. Assumedly much of that is from well to do boomer parents and from double income high earning Bay Area tech workers' savings and stock options. There are enough of those buyers to continue to bid up prices in SF, Berkeley, and Piedmont where the schools are excellent and crime is much lower than ours, regardless of interest rate increases. Regardless of how frothy this bubble turns out to be, the Oakland City Council has reverted to dot com real estate bubble fiscal mode and give themselves the "flexibility" to spend all the booming real estate transfer tax money that's rolling in now. http://oaklandwiki.org/%22Excess_Real_Estate_Transfer_Tax%22 http://oaklandwiki.org/Oakland_5_year_official_fiscal_projections Reply E.G. June 22, 2013 Len, SF has "excellent schools?. Really? SF has hardly any kids. Reply Harold Nielson June 22, 2013 Len, I agree with you on the Federal Reserve. You can watch the interest rates go up dramatically over the next several months. Once that happens, you'll see the real estate market come to a grinding halt again. We have been living on borrowed time for the past several years. Harold Reply Chopz June 22, 2013 The nice neighborhoods in east oakland are not exempt from this boom. We bought in upper dimond for $435k 2 years ago, and our house just appraised for $575k! Sure, we've made some upgrades, but certainly not $140k worth. Reply Robert Mintz June 23, 2013 Although it seems logical that rising interest rates would act as a drag on housing prices, it's not clear that is necessarily true. Prices rise and continue to rise as long as buyers and investors believe that an upward trend will continue. Higher rates make houses more expensive to own but that in itself is not a deterrent as long as the dominant belief is that prices will continue to rise and credit is available at some cost. The California real estate booms in the 1970's, 1980's began and continued through rising and accelerating interest rates. Fixed rate loans moved from 6% up to 12% and then 16% variable and the buying continued. Buyers bought, despite rising rates because they believed that prices would continue to move strongly higher. In both of those periods, as well as the most recent crash, price increases gradually slowed, began to reverse, and then buyers and owners flooded out of the market as prices accelerated sharply downward. Home prices in Oakland (and most of California) are likely to continue to rise, despite rate increases, until the dominant belief in rising prices comes to an end as a result of market conditions that we can't yet foresee. Reply Spike June 23, 2013 It feels like a lot of those numbers aren't quite complete- other companies have some significantly varying numbers reflecting more sales. And based on trying to buy a home in Maxwell Park I can guarantee you it's not the last frontier nor the place resisting the bubble- most of what we bid on or wanted to consider went over $100k above asking. Bubble free? Reply Heather June 24, 2013 I also disagree that Maxwell park is the last bastion, as we live on the far side of Mills College from Maxwell Park, and the market is hot here as well, with houses going for $100K over asking – while that is no comparison to Montclair, for our modest pre-mid-century bungalows, it's nothing to sneeze at. Reply Max Allstadt June 24, 2013 Is this a fleeting bubble? Or was the fleeting moment actually the pronounced severity of the real estate market crash in Oakland? Oakland has tremendous reasons to be valuable. Weather. A central location within a region that has all but runout of property that middle class folks can afford. A boom in downtown that's spreading to other neighborhoods. We also carry tremendous stigma from crime and an incompetent and corrupt government. Is it possible that despite all the reasons for Oakland real estate to be highly valued, when the crash came it affected us more because when people panic, they become extremely risk averse, and Oakland's rewards come with great risk? Our crash was also exacerbated by predatory lending and foreclosures, but again, because exploitation was concentrated here in the same way the fear was, is it not reasonable to think that the crash was the anomaly, not the recovery of prices and high demand? Reply The iveywood secret June 24, 2013 I'm so glad hipsters and investors haven't yet discovered iveywood. While the rest of oakland pays ridiculous prices, we continue to have great access to public transportation, the airport, sports and music venues, walking distance from eastbay parks, redeveloped foothill square, and great amenities of San leandro (great library, coffee shops, grocery stores). The best part of the situation is laughable- our areas reain affordable and we have money left to actual live/enjoy life. Reply Mags25 June 26, 2013 Thanks for the tip on Iveywood! Reply Len Raphael June 24, 2013 IVW, next you're going to tell us about the wonderful public schools in your neighborhood. Though some of the best charter schools do seem to be in East O. btw, are Berkeley k-12 public schools as good for wide range of kids as legend has it, or is that just relative to Oakland? or myth? Reply The iveywood secret June 24, 2013 Um-is bishop o'dowd up the street from you. Likely not. Reply Laura McCamy June 26, 2013 Thanks for the great comments and information. I'm glad we're having this discussion! Reply Hamid Grinage July 2, 2013 As a realtor, these times definitely remind me of the bubble that ended in 07. The difference is, there is no more 100% financing and many cash buyers. So if values dip these buyers are not likely to walk away..because they have too much skin in the game. So it seems that Oakland real estate truly does have a solid foundation for long term value. Here's a blog post I wrote about getting offers accepted in a competitive market. http://www.oaklandhomespecialist.com/blog/tips-for-getting-your-offer-accepted-in-a-competitve-market.html Reply len raphael July 2, 2013 Buyers with low or no mortgages are less likely to abandon but those type of buyers can't sustain real estate values for more than another year at most. Just not enough of them and rents, high as they are, aren't aren't high enough to support those house prices. Expectations of rises certainly are key but so is affordability. To a certain extent when interest rates rise buyers dig deeper. But with lending standards the toughest in many years, higher interest rates have to mean that selling prices will have to drop unless wages rise. I understand why the public employee unions feel the surge in real estate transfer taxes belongs to them, but giving permanent pay increases based on bubbly real estate transfer taxes is risky business in the best of times. The 5 year fiscal projections for the city are grim even if you believe the projectionns are millions of dollars too pessimistic on the revenue side. If the pubilc employee unions are to get sustainable permanent raises, the money will have to come out of what's paid to police and fire, and out of grants to non-profits. Reply Redboss July 3, 2013 I've been house hunting all over Oakland and have had to bid up to 35% over asking just to be considered viable. Time and time again I have lost out to investers with cash offers. It makes me angry to think half of Oakland housing is owned by iunvestors living somewhere else. I finally found a home for $340K which months earlier sold for $135k! Even so, it appraised over selling priced. Reply Len Raphael July 5, 2013 If there was one lesson to learn from the last real estate bubble, it's that if it looks like a bubble and walks like a bubble, it's a bubble. All the rationalizations to the contrary about the Bay Area knowledge economy, limited supply etc., don't just explain prices in some areas of town that surpass those at the height of the last boom. Now that rates have jumped close to a full point in less than a month, we'll know within a month what prices and volumes of sales settle down to. But even then, the expectation that interest rates will almost certainly rise to neighbor hood of 6% by end of this year, could result in both a rush to sell and a counteracting rush to buy. So the long term price levels and volumes won't be known till next spring. Budgeting permanent raises for city employees based on current real estate transfer taxes is asking for trouble. Reply Marcus December 30, 2013 I've reading this half a year later. The bubble hasn't burst. What nobody is mentioning here is the Math behind everything. These prices are justified as the Bay Area's population has grown. I believe SF had 60,000 new jobs this year and only 120 new housing units….supply and demand. What everyone needs to follow is the rental market. As of right now, West Oakland 2 bedroom apt rent for $1,400 to $2,000 per month. What a $2,000 per month mortgage on a 30 yr fixed at 5.50% equates to is about a 380K loan. So is it cheaper to buy or to rent? Do the math…as long it is cheaper to buy than to rent…prices will continue to go up on buying till it reaches equilibrium. Once it goes beyond that and we don't see a rise rental prices…that's your trigger to sell. As for rising interest rates…well the do math. 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