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SOCORRO, March 7, 2003 -- Ryan Michael Kruse, a senior majoring in electrical engineering at New Mexico Tech, recently was named the research university's "Engineering Student of the Year." Kruse was selected for the distinguished award by the university's engineering faculty on the basis of his exhibited academic excellence at New Mexico Tech.
Kruse is the son of Roger and Sandi Kruse of Jemez Springs. A member of the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, Kruse has maintained a 3.97 grade-point-average (out of a possible 4.0) while at New Mexico Tech, having made the university's honor roll for seven straight semesters. Last year, he was honored for his outstanding academic record by being named a New Mexico Tech Scholar, and was also named to The National Dean's List.
Kruse currently is working as a team member on a senior design project that entails a complete redesign of the New Mexico Tech Mobile Robot Kit, including a custom micro-controller circuit board and a new graphical user interface.
"The kit is targeted at the high-school level for outreach programs and competitions, such as the New Mexico RoboRAVE, which is held at Tech every year," Kruse explains.
"The goal of the senior design project is to provide the students with increased capabilities and performance over the previous design, while at the same time providing an easier interface to the robot," he adds.
Kruse also is currently working as an undergraduate research assistant with the New Mexico Tech Department of Electrical Engineering's Intelligent Systems and Robotics Group, where his primary research duties include designing and testing an electronics platform for a collaborative research project between the university and Sandia National Laboratories.
"This particular project aims to develop a coordinated group of more than 100 robots for sensor detection, mapping, and similar tasks with wireless communications capabilities," Kruse says.
"Later this semester, I will be designing a derivation of the new micro-controller board from my senior design project, which will be specific to the Tech-Sandia project requirements and platform," he says. "This will give the robot more capabilities and better performance than the current board."
In addition, Kruse has also assisted in other recent research group projects at New Mexico Tech, including a Landmine Remediation program to develop a robot capable of detecting and removing landmines.
Kruse also serves as club secretary of the Ultimate Frisbee Club at New Mexico Tech and is a student member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
"The professors here at New Mexico Tech really seem to enjoy working with students," Kruse relates, "and it shows in the time and effort they give to help students with questions and projects. . . . I've enjoyed my years here at Tech, and in a real way will be sad to leave it all behind when I leave for graduate school in the fall."


text: With influences as diverse as human rights and classical fiction, Vivienne Westwood translates its directional ethos into every piece. Well known for its craftsmanship and punk roots, the rebellious brand translates both of these into its range of necklaces. Expect to see many interpretations of the iconic Vivienne Westwood orb, whether as a diamante pendant, fashioned from different coloured stones or presented in a chandelier style. Slip on one of Vivienne Westwood's striking necklaces and lend your look a statement focal point.

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At the Weekly Standard, Daniel Halper describes the Iran PressTV site as the state-run propaganda outlet. In the outlet's piece on the prospective nomination of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense, one can observe that the mullahs are pretty excited by the Hagel thesis.
The piece struggles a bit with idiomatic English. Nevertheless, the Islamically correct Schadenfreude comes through loud and clear. "Some in the Israeli lobby have reportedly reacted with alarm to reports of Hagel's nomination as he is known as an outspoken critic of the Zionist lobby in Washington," Iran PressTV reports.
The mullahs aren't alarmed by the prospect of the Hagel thesis. They all but endorse it. What a friend they have in Hagel.
In its own way, the Iran PressTV piece is highly illuminating. The proper companion to it is "Chuck Hagel's Jewish problem" by Bret Stephens in today's Wall Street Journal.


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Sounds like we share pretty similar views.
Oh like I said I love those characters too, and the Zeke / Pandy dynamic is great. I just personally felt from a writing and acting perspective Tora really steals the show. Oh and I also think the story got really lame. Which is ironic because the XCX story gets a lot of shit for being barebones and unfinished but at least it was intelligent.
Would you still be interested in Big Brother x Survivor? We only need one more signup to get things rolling.
Hi there!
The picture is from the last page of Chapter 440, "Firefist vs. Blackbeard", when Teach for the first time shows the power of the Yami Yami no Mi.
Hope that helps.
lol I don't remember that conversation specifically, but I know I've definitely talked about Oda's thoughts on his battles before for sure. As long as you're willing to listen and contribute, I don't mind talking about whatever.
And you have nothing to apologize for, I've even gone into few off-topic rants about Naruto in One Piece threads just like you're doing. I loved Lee, Gaara, and their fight. I'm also very into My Hero Academia. I often think of it as Naruto Part 1, but better quality consistency and with superheroes lol. I get exactly what you mean about not wanting to get back into Naruto again.
No problem lol. Rock Lee was such a disappointment for all of his potential and likability.
I know, I didn't even realize it happened! jajaja Thanks
Sorry to hear about the games thing not working out...if you're more available during the summer and something happens then, I'll be sure to let you know
Well, It's a social game mostly, so the amount of time put into that aspect depends on the player. At the very least, you should be able to check in a few times a day and respond to anybody that might be talking to you.
As for the challenges, they're mostly going to be very quick to complete for the players. On a weekday, I don't expect any challenge to take more than an hour to do, if that long. If a challenge will last any longer, it'll be on a weekend, and announced well in advance to get player feedback. Most challenges will also have a time-span when they can be completed, as well.
Time wise... I expect this game to last over 2 months of real time. There will be built in break days, and there may be a few extra break days thrown in depending on the general morale of the playerbase/the host's availability.
From personal experience, I've played in or helped host every game since 2012. They're tons of fun, and it's a great way to meet fellow forum-goers!
I'm not sure; Galaxy would know better, but unless you're doing a challenge you can pop in and out at various intervals to talk and roleplay so it's mostly short bursts yeah
Flagon Snaggin' Dragon
#1 Merchant


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On 1st December, Sonic360 will release "Hark!the Herald", a haunting rendition of the Classic Christmas Carol, composed by Hana Miya.
Sung with attitude (think Nico/Patti Smith/Cat Power/PJ Harvey/Pete Doherty if he was a girl..) and complemented by beautiful piano and viola accompaniment, Hana Miya has created a poignant carol for the 21st Century.
"Hark The Herald is my personal response to the devastating carnage around the world, and the global political meltdown. It is my plea for people to spend 3 minutes 41 seconds listening to the old lyrics of this carol and to contemplate 'Peace on Earth'... 'God and Sinners reconciled'". - Hana Miya
Well, what more can we say?
Available to buy on iTunes from 1st December.
No are no events
|Listen to Tracklist
By Hana Miya
Hark! the Herald By Hana Miya
|Raising Grass top >


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Inspired by the 2004 BBC poll "50 Things to Eat Before You Die", Melissa at The Traveler's Lunchbox has started a food blogger joint project (aka meme) called "5 Things to Eat Before You Die". Julia at Tasting Life tagged me and I wasn't sure if I would participate because although I'm a passionate foodie, I'm definitely not a well-travelled one. But I live in one of the most diverse food areas in the country so I thought, heck, why not?
My 5 things to eat…
Spicy Angel Wings
Marnee Thai Restaurant, Sunset District, San Francisco
Chicken wings that are deep fried and slathered in a sticky, sweet, spicy, garlicky glaze and topped with fried Thai basil. I'm drooling just thinking about it.
Coffee Crunch Cake
Eastern Bakery, Chinatown, San Francisco
I call it the mother of all Chinatown (style) cakes. Sponge cake layers filled and frosted with coffee whipped cream and covered with a coffee brittle. It's my favorite cake from childhood and still one of my favorites today. I have never found anything else close in taste or price (currently $11 for an 8 inch cake).
Super Carnitas Burrito (with extra hot sauce)
Gordo's Taqueria, Ninth Avenue or Clement Street, San Francisco
I love the crispy, salty edge pieces of the carnitas. The super burrito is almost too big to eat all by myself. Almost.
Dad's Fried Chicken
My dad learned how to make fried chicken from my uncle who learned from a kind Southern gentleman.
Anything and Everything
French Laundry, Yountville, California
I know it's a total cop-out but I couldn't pick just one item from the menu. Our entire meal was absolutely amazing.
And I'm tagging all of you. So feel free to play along and send your five things to Melissa. By the way, I've tried 41 of the 50 things on the BBC list . How many have you tried?


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2015 ford f-250 Model Overview
New for 2015
The Ford F-250 Super Duty adds a second-generation 6.7-liter turbocharged diesel V-8 making 440 hp and 860 lb-ft of torque, up from 400 hp and 800 lb-ft, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Maximum fifth-wheel/gooseneck towing capacity also increases to 26,700 pounds for the F-350 and 31,200 pounds for the F-450.
Vehicle Summary
The 2015 F-250 is a heavy-duty truck sold in five trims, single- or dual-rear wheel variants, three cab styles and two box lengths with rear- or four-wheel-drive configurations. In addition, the F-350 and F-450 are also available for those looking for larger, more capable trucks.
In addition to the diesel V-8, the 2015 F-250 Super Duty is also available with a 6.2-liter V-8 with 385 hp and 405 lb-ft. The truck's 24,400-pound maximum towing capacity puts it ahead of the competition and improves its usability as a work truck. Diesel F-250s drive well with 735 lb-ft of torque available from 1,600 rpm. Steering feel, on the other hand, is nearly nonexistent, and the "rear suspension bucks too much" around town.
Interior quality on the 2015 F-250 is impressive, especially in King Ranch variants, with good build quality and an upscale feel that "would impress an Audi driver." The leather-upholstered seats provide good support and complement the truck's smooth ride quality. Instruments and controls in the 2015 F-250 are also a strong suit with high quality graphics that display information such as average fuel economy "as a nice big number." Exterior styling is slightly polarizing with its bold, in-your-face "chromed locomotive look."
UPDATE: Depending on the drivetrain, the 2015 F-250 Super Cab and Regular cab models have a three- or four-star rollover safety rating while the F-250 Super Crew has a four-star overall score (out of a possible five stars).
What We Think
The 2015 F-Series Super Duty remains a viable choice, especially with its powerful diesel V-8 and generous maximum towing capacity. Additionally, its comfortable ride and well-appointed interior give off a more premium feel that rivals that of luxury cars, especially in upper trim levels. In a 2011 First Drive review, we noted that the cabin was a pleasant place to be with seats that are supportive but "won't lull you to sleep." However, we noted in a Comparison Test against the Ram 2500 that the Ford F-250 can get expensive quickly due to the swath of optional premium and convenience features.
You'll Like
- Good ride quality
- High-quality interior
- Powerful diesel V-8
You Won't Like
- Polarizing styling
- Numb steering
- Expensive
Key Competitors
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
- Ram 2500 Heavy Duty
- GMC Sierra 2500HD


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It doesn't work like that anymore. And by the way, as I remember it — and I watched "Firing Line" in the 60s — Buckley wasn't a charming, refined guy — or not just a charming, refined guy. There was something freakish and weird about him. I remember the exaggerated imitations of him emphasizing elaborate squirming in his seat, his tongue darting in and out of his mouth, the long pauses with abrupt spates of words, the crazy gesturing with a pencil, and the bizarre reaching for big words people had never heard before. Maybe upper class people and Yale graduates were able to perceive him as one of their own, but to average TV viewers, he was a big oddball.
Ah, yes! Here it is: Joe Flaherty's impersonation (the second character shown in the SCTV sketch).


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How to Measure
At Keep Me In Stitches, we offer a very wide selection of bridesmaid dresses, prom gowns, wedding gowns, quinceanera and sweet sixteen or sweet 16, junior bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, frilly pageant dresses, infant dresses, girls and infants holiday Christmas dresses, Easter dresses, mother of the bride and mother of the groom dresses as well as a nice variety of boys formal wear including tuxedos, suits, and Christmas outfits. We also offer boys and girls christening or baptismal gowns and outfits and communion dresses. If you need accessories, we have these as well with a nice collection of girls floral crowns, communion veils, dress gloves in satin for girls, juniors, and women as well as bridal slips and crinolines, crinolines for prom gowns and flower girl dresses. We have hoop slips as well as the tulle netting variety. We offer a wide range of styles at cheap, discount prices that come in a variety of colors and sizes including chocolate, white, ivory, pink, baby blue, burgundy, sage, periwinkle blue, yellow, banana, red, peach, off white, lime, lilac, gold, rose, purple, mauve, plum, black, brown, orange, dark orange, green, fuchsia, turquoise, teal, steel blue, celadon, champagne, off white, apple red, candy apple red, wine, maroon, grape, spring green, maize, cornflower blue, dusty rose, coral, silver, aqua, almond, Bordeaux, bronze, burnt orange, buttercup, cafe, camel, candlelight, cappuccino, cerise, cinnamon, copen blue, cream, dark ivory, powder blue, lavender, flamingo, fluorescent green, grey, heather, hunter green, jade, kiwi, latte, lemon, mango, melon, mint, mocha, orchid, pearl, raspberry, rose, rum pink, rust, salmon, sand, sapphire, sea mist, teal, terracotta, toffee, Victorian amethyst , Victorian mauve, violet, watermelon.


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Despite Paul Ryan's attempt on NBC's Meet the Press to shut the door on speculation that he might run for president in 2012, he got one high-level possible supporter today.
At a press conference on Capitol Hill today, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said he'd like to see Ryan (R-WI) run.
"Sure, I think Paul is about real leadership," Cantor said in response to a question of whether he would like to see the congressman make a bid. "I think that's what this public so desperately wants to do right now. They want to see Washington that will lead. They don't want to see individuals dismiss the current problems as something that we can sweep under the rug. These are problems that go to the very existence of programs that are so important to people. Yet, somehow the other side castigates, us for putting a plan out there that is responsible. What is the choice, their choice thus far has been bankruptcy of these programs and rationing of healthcare."
Cantor's comments come as many in the GOP are disappointed with the current crop of 2012 candidates. When asked about Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' decision not to run, Cantor said, "Certainly I think Mitch Daniels would have been a great candidate. He had his decision to make, and he made it."
Cantor made sure to praise the current field as a "strong candidates" but mentioned it's "early still."
When asked whether any GOP 2012 nominee should totally embrace Ryan's budget plan, a plan that includes a significant altering of Medicare, Cantor said, "I'm looking for the presidential candidates to embrace our formula in the Ryan Budget. I'm looking for them to embrace a leadership roles that makes tough decisions."
Cantor also made sure to point out he himself would not be a candidate for president in 2012.


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Great political novels are rich in spiritual attitude. Poor ones are agenda driven.
- Literature is as vital to our lives as food and shelter. Stories and poems help us work through the challenges we face, from everyday irritations to loneliness, heartache, and death. Literature is meant to mix it up with life. This website explores how it does so.
Please feel free to e-mail me [rrbates (at) smcm (dot) edu]. I would be honored to hear your thoughts and questions about literature.
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Shopping Cart Germs – They're EVERYWHERE. Time To Start Wearing Gloves!
Health experts warn shopping carts are filthy with germs.
A random test of some Tulsa, Oklahoma grocery stores found germs everywhere.
And researchers say it's not just confined to the Tulsa area - it's a problem in stores all across the country.
They learned that bacteria found on handles and seats of shopping carts can even contaminate your food.
The sanitizing wipes provided by many grocery stores are good, but in many cases it can take at least ten minutes of contact time just to kill what's already on the handle.
Researchers even uncovered some microscopic bacteria that can last up to four days.
So, the next time you're grocery shopping and see me in the store wearing rubber gloves, you'll know why.


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Suzanne Hewes
Class of 1991
Major/Minor: Biology
The advances that have been made to the campus and faculty since I left are incredible and I would come back here and do it all over again in a heart beat.
How has your liberal arts education influenced you? How do you apply your liberal arts education in your current career?
My father wrote a poem for me at graduation from Washington College, part of which said, "The road that brought you here, that's who you are." Coming to Washington College is definitely a part of me and will remain a part of me until I am no more. I can remember coming over the Bay Bridge for my weekend as a perspective student and thinking "I think this is it." I was between two institutions trying to decide where to go to college, and Washington College in my gut was the choice. It was absolutely the right choice for me. At WC I found myself, my strengths, my weaknesses, what I believed in, and what I would avert. Yes, the campus and surroundings were beautiful and the friends that I made will be my friends and family forever. But, those that really influenced me were the faculty and Deans. They nurtured, they challenged, they filled me with knowledge and questions. But they also encouraged that drive to continue to improve myself; to keep learning. I am the epitome of life long learning. After WC I went on to earn two more degrees. Now in my career as a physician assistant, I never stop learning because medicine is always changing. I also take from my faculty the example of the excellent teachers that they are and I try to emulate them in my teaching of future physician assistants. So I thank you Washington College from the bottom of my heart. To my friends, you are my family and I love you. To the future Washington College Student, this place is AMAZING! The advances that have been made to the campus and faculty since I left are incredible and I would come back here and do it all over again in a heart beat. Life is an experience, its a journey. Make the most of it and be happy.
Campus Involvement
Alumni Duties:
- Class Rep
- Alumni Board - Nominations Committee
- Newly elected Vice Chair for Alumni Board
Graduate School:
Hood College, M.S. - Biomedical Science, Alderson-Broaddus College, B.S. - Physician Assistant Program


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Hung-Kuan Chen has been described as one of the great personalities of the music world: enigmatic, brilliant, and versatile. And he is admired both as a performer of uncompromising individuality and as a remarkably inspiring teacher.
Born in Taipei and raised in Germany, Chen's early studies fostered strong roots in Germanic classicism, which he tempered with the sensibility of Chinese philosophy: the result is a dynamic and imaginative artistry. He is regarded as an extraordinary interpreter of Beethoven's music.
Chen's career was launched when he won First Prize in the Young Concert Artists' Auditions, which presented him in his New York debut on the Young Concert Artists Series and followed it with a second major New York concert at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. One of the most decorated pianists of his generation, Mr. Chen won top prizes in the Arthur Rubinstein, the Busoni and the Geza Anda International Piano Competitions, along with prizes in the Queen Elisabeth, Montreal, Van Cliburn, and Chopin International Competition. He is a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.
Chen has performed in the major cities of Asia, Europe, and the Americas, where he has appeared with many important orchestras, including Houston, Baltimore, Israel, Montréal, Pittsburgh, the Tonhalle, San Francisco, and Shanghai. He has performed with such highly esteemed conductors as Hans Graf, Christoph Eschenbach, George Cleve, Joseph Silverstein, Andrew Parrott, and Sui Lan, and colleagues including Yo-Yo Ma, Cho-Liang Lin, Roman Totenberg, Denes Zsigmondy, Bion Tsang, Anthony Gigliotti, David Shifrin, Laurence Lesser, and pianists Tema Blackstone and Pi-hsien Chen.
Chen was chair of the piano department of Shanghai Conservatory and continues to codirect the International Piano Academy in Shanghai. Previously he was on the faculty of Boston University and was a Distinguished Artist in Residence at Mount Royal University in Canada. In addition to his current work at New England Conservatory, he is a Professor at Yale University. Chen has adjudicated International Piano Competitions such as the Van Cliburn, Busoni, and Honens, and is known as a brilliant and devoted teacher.
In 1992, Chen suffered an injury to his hand that caused neurological damage and eventually resulted in Focal Dystonia. Through Qi Gong meditation and his own unique research, he was able to heal and return to his life as a concert artist. In 1998, his first post-accident solo recital received rave reviews, and he was described as a transformed artist. Following his 2006 Jordan Hall concert, Richard Dyer wrote in The Boston Globe: "Hung-Kuan Chen is back in prime technical form after years of struggle following an injury, but those years have made him a different pianist, and a better one. This man plays music with uncommon understanding and the instrument with uncommon imagination."
Hung-Kuan Chen recently completed a concert tour playing in San Francisco, Boston, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other major cities worldwide. This followed his 2008 concert in Stern Auditorium of New York's Carnegie Hall and major engagements in Asia in 2009. His Jordan Hall recital this season is the first in a series of live recordings he is projected to complete in 2016.
Hung-Kuan Chen is represented by Opus 3 Artists & Blackstone Artist Management.
Artist Diploma, New England Conservatory. Studies with Russell Sherman. Current director of the International Piano Academy in Shanghai. Former Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Mount Royal Conservatory in Canada. Former piano chair of Shanghai Conservatory, former faculty of Boston University and New England Conservatory's Preparatory School.
Photo by Andrew Hurlbut


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Rhombic Knit Mesh Fabric
Brand : MRUN
Product origin : Jinjiang, China
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Supply capacity : 200 tons per month
Rhombic Knit Mesh Fabirc
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7: Usage: Footwear; Garment; Car seat cover; Sofa;Babt Stroller
8: MOQ: 500 M per color
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11: Packing: PVC bag /Woven bag/2 sides lable
12: Shipping port: Xiamen port
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Color fastness above 3.5 class; anti-yellowing 4 class etc
4. Team: A strong research and development team
Strict quality control team


text:
The Forces Driving NYC's Startup Revolution and How to Scale It
Every tech hub has its own recipe for success. New York has a unique tech scene that has grown rapidly since the the late 1990s. Following the Dotcom Crash in 2001, NYC entrepreneurs in finance, fashion, media, advertising and other information-centric fields took advantage of the precipitous drop in the cost of web services, allowing the Tri-State startup economy to thrive.
In order to grasp where this ecosystem is going, it's important to take a close look at the forces driving its growth. We spoke with leaders in the New York City tech community to learn what's feeding the local startup revolution -- and more importantly, what should keep it sustainable for years to come.
Etsy CEO on Massive Expansion Plans
Steinberg on How He Grew BuzzFeed & Plans for New Gig at Daily Mail
7 Ways Fashion Startups Can Become the Next 'Rent the Runway'


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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:09 am
Another standard remark! I should of expected that from a male. The sum of testosterone and ego!danyet wrote:Firstly, everybody is more than just the sum of their addictions. Secondly you say "sex addict" as if it is a bad thing. All women should be sex addicts!Anahita wrote: just as Shazzam said, a drug and sex addict , nothing more, nothing less.


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Texas Teacher and Aide Quit After Duct Taping Student to a Chair
A South Texas teacher and an aide have resigned after using duct tape to restrain an 8-year-old boy in his chair for several hours to keep him under control.
Officials with the Judson Independent School District in the San Antonio area say the incident happened May 30 at Woodlake Elementary School. Both educators quit the next day.
District spokesman Steve Linscomb says the teacher, who'd been with Judson ISD since 2010, and the aide had faced being fired. The aide had been with the district since November.
A school district police report says the boy said his ankles, wrists and torso were taped to the chair. Tape residue was found on his clothes. He wasn't hurt.
His mother says she'll move her son to another district next year.
Associated Press


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One of my favorite bands is The Scene Aesthetic. They are really cool and weird. But I still like them. I wrote a little Bio for them and about some of their songs that I like. They are not very well known, but they are sooo good. I found them on Myspace (even though I have no myspace) and watched a few of their homemade videos, and liked them.
The Scene Aesthetic
Cait Hagar


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WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama, struggling in his second term, is bringing Democratic strategist John Podesta on as a counselor, people familiar with the decision said.
Podesta, President Bill Clinton's chief of staff during the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal and Clinton impeachment, will help Obama Chief of Staff Denis McDonough in areas related to the troubled healthcare law, administration organization and executive actions, a person familiar with the plans told the New York Times, which first reported the appointment online Monday.
He will also focus on climate-change issues, a personal priority, the person said.
McDonough helped recruit Podesta, the Times and Washington Post said.
Podesta, who turns 65 Jan. 8, will be part of the White House inner circle for a year, people familiar with the move told the newspapers.
He led Obama's presidential transition in 2008 and has been an outside adviser to Obama since then.
Podesta is the chairman and former president of the Center for American Progress, a progressive public-policy research and advocacy organization, and a visiting law professor at Georgetown University Law Center.
The White House declined to confirm Podesta's recruitment, the Times said. Podesta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
His imminent arrival comes as Obama seeks to recover public support and credibility after the flawed October start of the Healthcare.gov insurance marketplaces that are central to his signature Affordable Care Act.
Obama this week brought back former chief congressional lobbyist Phil Schiliro from New Mexico to spearhead healthcare issues.


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California Delta Chambers and Visitors Bureau is an organization of chambers of commerce, visitors bureaus, businesses and boosters in the vast.
The Downtown Stockton Alliance is a non-profit, property based improvement district responsible for promoting, developing, and maintaining downtown Stockton.
The mission of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce is to aggressively develop and promote an economically vibrant business community.
The Lodi District Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving our members, influencing public policy and fostering a climate in which business and industry can operate profitably.
"The Manteca Chamber of Commerce is organized to advance the economic well-being and uniqueness of the Manteca area so that its citizens and all of the business community shall prosper."
The Manteca Convention and Visitors Bureau creates partnerships throughout the region to cultivate, develop and promote tourism.
This will increase economic development and support the well being of the local economy.
Whether you are here for business or pleasure, visiting friends or family, or just passing through, we encourage you to discover the many wonders of Stockton.
As the largest local business organization, the Tracy Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping businesses thrive in today's competitive market.


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(Lamar press release)
Donna Blaisdell has become The Texas State University System's first ever recipient of the TSUS Regents' Staff Member Award. The award was presented today at the TSUS board meeting in San Marcos.
Blaisdell, executive assistant to David Carroll, director of library services, has worked for more than 27 years serving in areas of Lamar University including biology, graduate studies, institutional research and reporting, computer science and the library.
Blaisdell, who is retiring at the end of the month, said she is "extremely honored."
"It is unbelievable to me that I was selected out of so many to represent the excellent staff of The Texas State University System," she said.
The honor includes a framed resolution, medallion, and a check for $3,000. She will hold the title of Regents' Staff Member for life.
"Donna has shown outstanding performance in all six areas of this important recognition award – commitment to the university and its mission, job competency, collegiality, length of service, community involvement and exceptional achievement," said Stefan Andrei, associate professor of computer science.
"She is dedicated to assisting and nurturing the students at Lamar," said Lawrence Osborne, chair of computer science.
"She would maintain that her many years at Lamar have enriched her life in ways too numerous to list," said David Carroll, director of library services. "In the end, it is we – her colleagues – who have been enriched. She signs every email 'With Cardinal Pride.' For Donna, this is not an empty sentiment. She truly takes extraordinary pride in the university, its programs, accomplishments, and, most of all, its people."
Her achievements include receiving the LU Regent's Award in 1989, and two nominations for LU staff awards. She is a Certified Texas Purchaser, a charter member of the Lamar Staff Association, and a member of the Lamar Staff Senate. In addition, she assisted in the preparation and coordination of Lamar's first computer science alumni reunion and preparation for the ABET accreditation site visit for the Department of Computer Science.
Blaisdell's community service includes many community events and organizations including the Hardin County Genealogy Society and Muscular Dystrophy Association. She has played an active role in many university events including Cardinal Lights, open houses, blood drives and United Way campaigns.
[1] http://theexaminer.com/users/kevin-king
[2] http://theexaminer.com/sites/default/files/StaffAwd5x7.jpg
[3] http://theexaminer.com/stories/news
[4] http://theexaminer.com/tags/donna-blaisdell
[5] http://theexaminer.com/tags/lamar
[6] http://theexaminer.com/tags/tsus


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When you issue a trepctl offline command, Tungsten Replicator will bring all channels to the same point in the log and then go offline. This is known as going offline cleanly. When a slave has been taken offline cleanly the following are true:
trep_commit_seqno table
contains a single row
trep_shard_channel table
is empty
When parallel replication is not enabled, you can take the replicator offline by stopping the replicator process. There is no need to issue a trepctl offline command first.
Putting a replicator offline may take a while if the slowest and fastest
channels are far apart, i.e., if one channel gets far ahead of another.
The separation between channels is controlled by the
maxOfflineInterval parameter, which defaults to 5
seconds. This sets the allowable distance between commit timestamps
processed on different channels. You can adjust this value at
installation or later. The following example shows how to change it
after installation. This can be done at any time and does not require
the replicator to go offline cleanly.
./tools/tpm update alpha \
The offline interval is only the the approximate time that Tungsten Replicator will take to go offline. Up to a point, larger values (say 60 or 120 seconds) allow the replicator to parallelize in spite of a few operations that are relatively slow. However, the down side is that going offline cleanly can become quite slow.
If you need to take a replicator offline quickly, you can either stop the replicator process or issue the following command:
trepctl offline -immediate
Both of these result in an unclean shutdown. However, parallel replication is completely crash-safe provided you use transactional table types like InnoDB, so you will be able to restart without causing slave consistency problems.
You must take the replicator offline cleanly to change the number of channels or when reverting to MySQL native replication. Failing to do so can result in errors when you restart replication.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Police working the Penn State football game this past Saturday were busier than they have been all season, but they were no busier than they expected to be, according to Penn State Police Chief Tyrone Parham.
"We certainly were busy, but it was typical for a night game and for the size of the crowd. It was comparable to other games of this magnitude," Parham said. "As we anticipated, alcohol was one of the bigger challenges on the day. We had a number of citations for underage drinking, urinating in public, and one DUI in one of the parking lots."
Parham said although not all reports have been processed yet and they don't have official numbers, his sense is that the police got busier as the day wore on, with more serious issues arising later in the day. "By late afternoon we had quite a few people who had to go to the hospital for overconsumption of alcohol," he said.
Parham said they also received a few calls to parking lots for fights in progress or fights brewing. Once the stadium gates opened, some of that trouble moved from the parking lots into the stadium. Parham said there were at least a half-dozen calls inside the stadium related to fighting or potential fights. "These were random incidents linked to alcohol, but apparently not linked to team rivalries."
There was one incident inside the stadium that was linked to fan rivalry that caught the attention of many people in the section, as a man wearing a Michigan shirt became so disruptive and physical that police ultimately resorted to using pepper spray to subdue him.
"Alcohol was most definitely a factor in that situation," Parham said. "Fans in section NL asked an usher for assistance when the man became disruptive and offensive toward them. When the usher tried to eject him from the stadium, he allegedly struck her, which is when police were called to assist. Four officers responded - two from State College and two from Penn State - but when they tried to remove him from the stadium he continued spewing expletives, became physical and resisted arrest. At that point it became a safety issue and that's when the decision was made to use the pepper spray and attempt to handcuff him."
A second, unrelated incident came at the end of the game, when a few people left the stands to go onto the field. Most complied immediately when officials told them to leave, but a 51-year-old man refused to leave the field and became disorderly. When he ran from them, athletics officials asked for police assistance to apprehend him and remove him from the field.


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The controversial "Gift of a Lifetime" program that will generate $280 million in life insurance commitments to Oklahoma State athletics has caught the attention of a U.S. Senator.
Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, wants to know more about the program being pushed by Oklahoma State booster T. Boone Pickens, according to a report in Congressional Quarterly. Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, is noted for keeping an eye on abuses of the nation's tax system.
"Senator Grassley is generally interested in how tax-exempt entities such as universities are using their tax-exempt status or being used for their tax-exempt status," spokeswoman Jill Gerber told the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma State spokesman Gary Shutt told the newspaper that the university is looking at expanding the program and that the school has received calls from other universities asking about the program.
Critics have labeled Pickens' program a "Death Pool."
Pickens is the most powerful booster in college athletes and we've spent considerable time chronicling his maneuvers, including the university's plans to use eminent domain to seize a number of homes and property north of campus to build an athletic village after a "gift" of $165 million from Pickens. The site OK State Expansion has been following those developments.
Thanks to Hester Graphics for the logo.


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Pictures: Top Thanksgiving Foods
Most likely, you've been planning your Thanksgiving Day meal for a little while now. However, every year the issue surfaces of what to make and how much to serve, as the number of guests change, along with their eating habits. And do you want a fridge full of leftovers? If you're not sure which foods are must-haves, the highly criticized food critics at the Daily Press have compiled this list of Thanksgiving musts-haves.
Copyright © 2019, Daily Press


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Smith County Launches New 'SeeClickFix" App
Smith County Commissioners have announced that a new app is available for reporting non-emergency issues within the county. The app called SeeClickFix is available for iPhone and Android users.
The app allows users to report non-emergency issues like potholes, downed trees, suspicious activity, illegal dumping and more! Once an issue is reported the user will receive updates on the status of the reported problem. Users can upload photos of the issue and can also see other issues reported by other citizens.
Users can also report issues on the Smith County webpage or Facebook page.


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Living amongst death and decay was simply part of being a necromancer, but Khin-Topekh hadn't expected so much loneliness.
Employing his best problem-solving skills, the necromancer went to the pet store and picked out a puppy.
Little Fidus made him very happy, until she started stealing bones from his corpses.
This story is based on a title suggested by @Invariel.


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New Year, New Look. New Energy. Our agency decided it was time to evolve our image to align with our evolved expertise. We hope you like our style! Bootlegged with a tucked in shirt ;)
Ever want to control a giant sea beast? This weekend Old Spice gave its followers the chance to live the dream... technabob.com/blog/2017/05/2…
Remember the time Google brought us the 💩 ?
© 2018 The Greenhouse Advertising Agency


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'Naked and Afraid' participants share naked truth
How do you prepare to be a survivalist-in-the-buff on "Naked and Afraid"? One way: You start at the bottom and work up.
"I walked around barefoot for months," said Dani Julien, who then spent 21 days undressed in the wilderness on the popular Discovery Channel reality show.
Julien and three fellow self-described survival experts appeared, fully clad, at a panel on Wednesday at the summer TV critics' tour.
Quickly enough, the question arose: Why?
"This is who we are," replied Jeff Zausch. "This is what we're made of. We were made to push the limits of what's humanly possible."
But why (apart from the fact that they're attractive, telegenic young people) the nudity?
Self-discovery, according to Eva Rupert. "It's only when you're pulled down to the rawest, most central core of your existence that you know who you really are," she said.
"It adds to the difficulty level of the accomplishment," added Justin Bullard.
But the nudity isn't supposed to be racy, the producers insisted.
"We never meant for this to be an exploitative show," said executive producer David Garfinkle. "This is a family show."
The producers disclosed that the very title of the show is inspired by a phrase from, of all things, the Bible.
Of course, Discovery is a basic cable network, so camera angles are strategic and pixilation hides what clothes otherwise would.
Asked his reaction to the selective pixilation imposed on his own naked form in the show, Bullard voiced one complaint.
"They could have made the blur-spot bigger," he joked.


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, a B-moviemaker whose credits as a producer and executive producer of
films included "Fiend
Without a Face" and "The Haunted Strangler,"
has died. He was 85.
The British-born Gordon died Tuesday
at New York-Presbyterian Hospital
in New York
City. He had been hospitalized in recent months for
, said Tom Weaver, a friend.
Beginning his more than two-decade career as a producer in the mid-1950s, Gordon executive-produced movies such as
with Boris Karloff and
with Karloff, "Island of Terror" with
and "Fiend Without a Face" and "First Man Into Space," both with Marshall Thompson.
He later produced films such as "The Cat and the Canary," "Horror Hospital" and "Inseminoid."
"Gordon's horror and sci-fi movies changed with the times, incorporating slasher-type violence and some nudity because of the demands of the marketplace," Weaver said in an e-mail. His book-length interview with Gordon, "The Horror Hits of Richard Gordon," was published this year.
Gordon's "heart was in the Golden Age of horror movies he grew up with, and actually paid tribute to, even in the goriest of his pictures," Weaver said.
was a gory 1958 "science-gone-wild" movie in which a reclusive scientist's research results in the creation of human brains with snake-like spinal cord tails that attack and kill people.
When the movie opened at the Rialto Theatre in Times Square, a "Fiend" was displayed in a glass case in front of the theater.
"Every few minutes, the Fiend would move its motor-activated tail as a tape played the sounds that the Fiends make in the movie," Gordon told Weaver.
But after two days, he said, "the police made us take away the display because they said we were disrupting the traffic and flow of Times Square pedestrians."
Born in London on Dec. 31, 1925, Gordon developed an early love of the movies and wrote articles on films, edited fan club magazines and organized a film society while still in school.
After serving in the British Royal Navy from 1944 to 1946, he and
worked for film distributors in London before they moved to
in 1947.
While Richard Gordon remained in New York, Alex headed west, where he produced low-budget movies in the 1950s and '60s such as "The She-Creature" and "Dragstrip Girl."
In 1949, Richard Gordon launched Gordon Films Inc., which imported foreign movies for distribution in the U.S. He operated the company until his death.
"He was a lovely guy," Weaver said, "who lived and breathed movies."
Gordon had no survivors.


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Sorry for not posting this earlier, but I have been busy (in a good way) with work and school. I am planning some recipes and taking pictures and will hopefully get back to a regular blogging schedule soon.
I am also here to announce that I will have a guest post on here every so often. More about that as soon as his first post is ready to go! 🙂
Thanks to all of you who have been reading this blog, and I hope you check back soon to see any and all updates.
Happy (belated) holidays and new year!


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Milestone 1 Reached!
We cleanly passed our first major milestone this morning, with one of the Alpha PR2 robots (Gandalf) autonomously traversing π kilometers two days in a row. Gandalf had been doing a π-kilometer run each day for the past two weeks, but we wouldn't declare the milestone complete until we had two consecutive clean runs. In the process, we improved the navigation software to better avoid low obstacles (scooters are popular here, and weren't seen by the first version of the software), to more safely move into uncharted territory when stuck, and of course by fixing a few bugs.
This milestone is very important: It demonstrates the hardware of the PR2 (except arms), from casters to head, from power system to sensors. It demonstrates the software on the robot from the device drivers to the executive, from the controllers to the planners. It leverages the software infrastructure of ROS, the Open Source software development and testing infrastructure, and a very nice suite of tools that enable the work. Last but not least, it leverages the work of the Open Source robotics community.
We will continue testing the hardware and software, and extending its range of navigation and of things it can do. Our next milesone will require the robot to use its arms, and when we achieve it we will be confident that we have a robust platform to share with the Open Source robotics community - we stand on the shoulders of giants.
We wish you a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy and Productive New Year.
- Login to post comments


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Most store-bought survival kits are too cumbersome to carry along comfortably on outdoor ventures . . . but David Brock of Pleasant Grove, Alabama bases his own lightweight, pocket sized kit on a container that most of us just throw away: the 35mm film holder!
Inside the waterproof case David fits one compass, one Band-Aid, one aspirin tablet, one tube of antiseptic, one bouillon cube, five matches, one razor blade, a fish line, a hook, a lead sinker, and a small snare wire. "Make up several kits," says David, "one for your tackle box, one for your backpack, one for your boat, one for your car, and best and most Important of all . . . one for your pocket!"
Sounds like a lifesaver, David!
Are you tired of being left with just one wet winter glove to a pair, each time you come !n from an outing? If so, Carole M. Wooden of Spencer, Tennessee suggests making a "ropeladder clothesline". Just find a free comer (or any two supports a reasonable distance apart) . . . and drive one nail into the wall about a foot and a half to the left of the comer's seam and another nail directly across from !t about a foot and a half to the right (shorten or lengthen the distance according to the length of clothesline you wish to use). Then tie a piece of rope or string from one nail to the other, and repeat the process ail the way down the wall (leaving 10-12 inches vertically between strings) to accommodate as many pairs of gloves as you wish to hang.
If you position your miniature clotheslines according to the heights of your family members, even the smallest will be able to hang up his or her gloves upon entering. Just clothespin your water-laden hand warmers to the string as you come in from the cold . . . and you'll have a matched pair of dry gloves ready and waiting the next time you depart.
And don't be too quick to take down your contraption when the warm months of spring roll around, says Carole ... because work gloves, sun hats, and a wide variety of much-used, often-mislaid items can be clipped to your string ladder as well!
Thanks for the tip, Carole!
Like most folks, Hyla G. Moore of Phoenix, Arizona has felt the bite of today's supermarket prices. But unlike many, Hyla has found a way to soothe the sting, with an Idea that cuts down on the use of both dish detergent and garbage containers ... and provides, as well, approximately six free meal entrees a week: The secret is a concoction called "Transfer Soup".
"My soup," says Hyla, "is started with the water from a cooked vegetable or the broth from a boiled meat ... and from there It's simply a matter of transfer from one pot to another." Just take your starting liquid, Hyla tells us, and pour it into a recently emptied hot-cereal pot,
scrambled-egg pan, or other such receptacle with a trace of food left in it. Let the liquid soak while you eat your meal, transfer it back to your soup kettle, and refrigerate the mixture till the next time the opportunity arises to soak up the remains of an emptied milk container, food can, or what have you.
Pour any excess fat from cooked meat into your pot so that the soup can absorb all its good meat flavor. Add leftover vegetables, meat, or crust. And before you know it, you'll have a soup so delicious that-like Hyla--you just may find people inviting themselves over to "dip !n and enjoy". (And if guests begin arriving before the dish is quite ready, just add a bouillon cube for more meat flavor, a bit of pasta for thickening, or some milk, croutons, or pureed vegetables for a fancy touch.)
"All the food I prepare is good food," says Hyla, "so why throw any of It away? Transfer Soup is different every time I make It . . . but the result is Invariably downright delicious!"
Bill and Betty Cook of Boss, Missouri have come up with a constructive Idea for using that nonbiodegradable styrofoam packaging which we all pay for. Bill and Betty report that the often wasted meat trays and styrofoam egg cartons we accumulate are great for Insulating chicken houses, doghouses, and the like. "Just staple the styrofoam along the interior of the animals' structure," they tell us, "and your homestead critters will keep cooler In the summer and warmer during the winter!"
And If that doesn't keep your feathered friends comfy, Kathleen Gordinter has several tricks of her own which she uses to keep her chickens healthy and laying throughout Wal worth, New York's cold winters.
First, Kathleen makes sure that her poultry get plenty of light .. . at least 14 hours every day. Just before sunset, she turns on the over head bulb in the barn and leaves it burning for several hours ... thus extending the winter's shortened span of daylight for her barnyard crit ten.
Meantime, Kathleen gives her homestead fowl hot water twice a day . . . In both the morning and the evening. This way the water Is pre. vented from freezing so that her chickens never have to "go without". . . and the practice seems to protect them, as well, from the pain of frost bitten combs. In addition, Kathleen mixes a quarter cup of homemade apple cider vinegar into each gallon of her poultry's Hz0: This added acid, she believes, Is an aid to the chickens' chemical balance.
Ms. Gordinier also makes a point of feeding her feathered friends the "greens" they can't forage for in the winter . . . In the form of fruit and vegetable scraps added to their regular feed. Moreover, the chickens are allowed to wander In and out of the barn (except during blizzards, of course) . . . giving them plenty of opportunity to scratch.
And just in case that's not enough exercise for the birds, Kathleen ties a few pieces of stale bread together with a string and hangs it just above the cacklers' heads . . . a trick, she says, "that's sure to keep 'em jumping". "And," says Kathleen, "it must all be working . . . 'cause in all the time that we've had homestead fowl, we've never lost a chicken or had to go without 0995!"
Even after you bundle up in coat, hat, scarf, gloves, and boots . . . the winter's snow always seems to locate the most vulnerable inlet to the skin: sleeves! But up in Columbiaville, Michigan—where the winters can get mighty bitter Carl McGinnis leaves his house prepared when he goes off to chop wood and the like during the cold weather months: Carl takes an old pair of socks and cuts five finger holes In the toe end of each. Then he pulls the sock onto his hand and up his arm as far as it will go, pokes his fingers through the openings ... and dons his coat and gloves. What a great way to keep out the cold, Carl . . . our warmest thanks to you!
Plenty of us need to take our belts In a notch these inflationary days, but pokin' those extra holes with an ice pick makes kind of a ragged job of the whole Idea. You can do neater work on leather by concocting a punch from an empty brass cartridge, says Brad Pendergraft of Gunnison, Colorado. (If you're not a hunter or a skeet shooter, maybe your gun-totin' friends will save you some of their used ammunition casings.) Just pick out a spent shelf that has an opening the right size and use a file to sharpen its edges. Then spread your cowhide or pigskin -or naughty--on a block of wood, position your new cutter, sharp-side down, where you want to make the hole, and give the base of the cartridge a couple of good raps with a hammer.
If you're short of storage space, Brenda Neal of Tolima, Colombia, South America suggests this substitute for a closet or chest of drawers: Keep your clothes, towels, or whatever suspended in baskets hung from the ceiling with macrame hangers. Great for a child's room!
A blazing flame in the fireplace or hearth Is e heavenly thing in the midst of a cold winter's day or night . .. but to start the fire buming--while shivering In one's shoes-always seems to take forever. "Nonetheless," says Mrs. Stan Ellis of Brownstown, Illinois, "there Is a solution to this chilling problem, which takes only a little preparation beforehand. My husband and I make `Instant fire starters' and then put them aside until needed." Here's how It's done:
First drag out your muffin tins and fit each cup with a paper liner. Then melt down a batch of paraffin In a doubleboiler and mix enough sawdust into the liquid wax so that the blend Is thick enough to spoon Into the paper-lined tins. Press the mixture down and let !t cool until it's solid . . . and you'll be ready to start up a flame "quick as a wink" in the lowest of temperatures that winter has to offer.
The next time you come in frostbitten from wind and snow or awaken in the middle of the night shivering in your fire's fading glow, just toss a "paraffin muffin"-paper and all on your fireplace grate or your hearth's dying coals . . . add some kindling wood . . . give it all a light
. . and in no time flat you'll have a roaring flame that'll keep you warm and toasty.
Or . . . you can light the same tire with recycled corncobs, report James and Billie Harper of Clinton, Kentucky. Pour about two Inches of kerosene Into an empty three-pound coffee or shortening can, stand five to six cobs in the tin, and let the whole thing sit for several hours. (Always handle kerosene with extreme care, James and Billie wisely warn . . . and keep this
highly flammable substance far from the reach of children.)
In the few short hours that your ears of corn sit steeping, they'll absorb a considerable amount of fuel . . . and, once they do, your flame starters will be ready for use. Just put one petroleum-laden corncob on the bottom of your hearth or fireplace, top with small sticks, then larger chunks of firewood . . . and touch a match to the saturated ear of corn. The cob will bum briskly for several minutes . . . plenty of time--you'll find-for your fire to perk up and get going hot and strong!
"Here's a good way to get more wear out of those winter long johns with the worn-out elastic waistband," write Michael and Luisa Tschetter of Rocheport, Missouri. "Just turn down the old elastic and stitch it to the garment to form a 112-inch casing. Leave a small opening in front
Then run a drawstring through the casing and you're all set for a few more years of warmth. It beats us why they don't make 'em that way in the first place!"
Out in Grants Pass, Oregon, Bruce W. Lytle has been using what he calls a "quickie dustpan" for over 50 years now. Whenever Bruce gets to feeling as if his house could use a good sweeping, he gathers together [t) his broom, [2] an old piece of newsprint, wrapping paper, or other such parchment, and [3] some masking or Scotch tape. Then after some brisk whisks of the sweeper-Bruce tapes the paper to the floor near his amassed pile of dust and brushes the dirt right over the adhesive strip and onto his improvised dustpan. Finally, he lifts up the tape, wads the whole shebang Into a ball, and disposes of the accumulated debris.
It couldn't be easier! "Get the most from your candles," say Lt. Col. and Mrs. Glenn Pribus of Springfield, Virginia. "They save electricity . . . and are wonderfully romantic as well." For maximum brightness, Mr. and Mrs. Pribus tell us, put short candle stubs In tall holders ... or place lighted candles opposite one or more mirrors.
Another tip: If you have hordes of tapers but no candlesticks of corresponding size ... Immerse each candle's wickless bottom end in a container of boiling water and wait several minutes . . . then reshape each base to fit Its holder.
And when you've put all these Ideas to good use and are left In the end with a vast supply of small candle stubs, use the wax to ease sticky drawers and balky zippers .. . or better yet melt down the leftovers, mix colors together, experiment with shapes and sizes, and before you know it, you'll be decorating your house with a brand new set of imaginative, energy-efficient light makers!
OK. Now it's YOUR turn! We've all come up with some practical, down-home, time-tested solutions to the frustrating little problems that bug us every day. Let's hear YOUR best "horse sense" ideas so we can share'em and all benefit.
Send your pointers to Down-Home Country Lore, P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739, and I'll make sure that the most useful of the suggestions will appear in upcoming editions. A one-year subscription-or a oneyear extension of an existing subscription—will then be sent to each contributor whose tip does get printed in this column. - MOTHER


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Call of Duty, from its beginnings on the PC back in 2003, has risen through the years to become one of gaming's biggest franchises. Constantly evolving the first person shooter, Call of Duty is sure to have something for everyone. From battles on the fields of World War 2 through to battles of the not-too-distant future, wield some of the most powerful and devastating weapons known to man!
Enter the battle, open fire, and order a Call of Duty game today!
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Enter into a conflict on planet Earth and beyond using advanced, futuristic weaponry in the latest instalment to the Call of Duty franchise.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Join a new breed of Black Ops soldier in the latest entry to the critically acclaimed Call of Duty franchise.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
The next stage of the battle is here. With powerful, futuristic weapons and vehicles Advanced Warfare has arrived.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Outnumbered and outgunned, Call of Duty: Ghosts pits you as the underdog in a world turned upside down by war, it�s up to you to beat the odds!
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Enter the Second Cold War and put your skills to the test as you utilise powerful new weapons, and technology, in Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Armed to the teeth with high-tech weaponry, head across the globe in the explosive third instalment of Modern Warfare!
Call of Duty: Black Ops
With the world on the brink of nuclear disaster, journey from Vietnam to Russia in one of the most ambitious and exciting Call of Duty games yet with Black Ops.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Full of action and political intrigue, Modern Warfare II delivers an epic campaign and gives you control of some of the most devastating fire-power around.
Call of Duty: World at War
From Europe to the Pacific, face the carnage and sheer terror of World War II head on in Call of Duty: World at War!
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Fight through countless enemies in an attempt to unravel a conspiracy that threatens to consume the world in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.


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It's easy, especially for cineastes of the Duke's and my broad-ranging interests and experiences, to fall into the trap of thinking that one may just have seen it all, at least in the realms of the cinematic MAD. New atrocities are just riffs on old ones; new shocking plots are simply those of antiquity dusted off and given shinier packaging. The things that bring us delight, though still pleasant, lose the power to surprise. We become comfortable, but jaded; content, even, but nonetheless mourning for the days when the far distance was yet shrouded in darkness and mist, when monsters still lurked at the edges of maps. When there were still new joys to unearth, new countries yet to discover.
But oh my parishioners and subjects, let us never forget: ours is a wide, weird, and wonderfully MAD world.
Shot in 1968 but not released until 1973, Teuvo Tulio's Sensuela is quite possibly the first sexploitation movie ever to come out of Finland. Totally giving the lie to the Western (or at least Vicar-ious) view of the Finns as staid, neutral, and perhaps slightly boring folk of the Scandinavian lands, Sensuela takes the hoary old "innocent country girl corrupted by big-city living" plot and makes it something completely different, something that even thirty years on feels entirely new. Sure, you'll see things you recognize from other flicks, but slightly skewed--you'll detect influences and parallels, but just a little off--and you'll see something I can almost guarantee you've never seen in any other film ever. Interested yet?
Hans Müller (Mauritz Åkerman) finds himself having engine trouble. The budget-challenged nature of the entire proposition is apparent from frame one, as we see Hans belted in to a cockpit that will immediately remind any Mad Movie Watcher of the podium-and-shower-cutrains set-up from Ed Wood's Plan 9 From Outer Space. As his cartoon-dot-on-the-filmstock plane belches, farts, and backfires for what seems like a good five minutes, heading ever-so-slowly toward a majestic snow-covered mountain, Hans draws the attention of the native people below, about whom there is MUCH to be said.
Via some Marlon Perkins-esque narration over a combo of nature stock-footage and stuff that had to be shot for the flick itself, we get a Mutual of Omaha-worthy primer on the culture of the Laplanders, or Sami People*, the indigenous people of northern Europe who at least in part pursue a nomadic cultural lifestyle, living in tents and following the massive herds of reindeer that provide them with all their food, shelter, and tool-making needs. A bit like the Buffalo-herding native peoples of North America, but with a much colder climate and much more colorful clothing.
*Though they're used throughout the movie, apparently the terms "Laplander" and "Lapp" in reference to the Sami People are now considered derogatory. So watch yourselves next time you're trying to score among the reindeer herds.
Our main focus among these colorfully-clad Natives of the North is lovely young Laila Walk (Marianne Mardi), daughter of tribal chief and Genghis Khan-lookalike Aslak Walk (Ossi Elstelä) and the fastest damn reindeer-sled racer north of Helsinki. As luck would have it, the dark and "sensual" Laila is out for a spin when Hans's aircraft sputters overhead, and witnesses its horrifying (read: hilarious), leisurely-paced crash into the background mountain. Luckily Hans has ejected prior to impact, but hasn't reckoned on the airspeed velocity of an unanchored German--the cold North Wind fills his parachute upon landing, dragging him across the ice like Indiana Jones! Luckily Laila harnessed Comet instead of Dancer earlier that morning, and she races to the rescue in a nail-biting chase, with both Hans and Laila obviously pulled by (largely) off-camera trucks. Excitement!
Back in the unrealistically spacious blue-died tent of Laila and her father, Hans and we learn more about the Laplanders' way of life, which includes kindness to strangers regardless of their political affiliations or stances on cultural/religious genocide. (This code further extends to not giving them up to the Finnish Ski Police when asked). Pleased that his hosts are unconcerned with the whole "Final Solution" part of his job description, Hans soon finds himself developing tender feelings for the Hottest Lapp in the Land. He also glosses over Aslak's rather unsavory method of castrating the reindeer bucks, a traditional activity at which the old man is tops in the league. I won't spoil the particulars of this method for the uninitiated, but suffice to say IT WILL BE IMPORTANT.
freelance photographer, an assignment that a few years later finds him covering some traditional Lapland reindeer races--and I bet you can just guess who's the odds-on favorite at the match. Remembering their "in-tents" romantic attachment, Laila agrees to run away with Hans to the big city of Helsinki, much to her father's sour-mouthed disapproval. Once there, Hans turns his out-of-wedlock lover into a high class fashion model, peeling away her innocence with every layer of clothing (and in Lapland, they wear LOTS of layers) as the shutter clicks and clicks away...
The movie has had its slow spots up to now--the nature documentary portions can drag for non- National Geographic subscribers, but it's punctuated by bursts of such out(lap)landish MADNESS that you just have to keep watching. The Ed Wood vibe continues and grows stronger, with the cheap interior sets, the clumsily matched stock footage, and two of the most HILARIOUS usages of taxidermied animals it has ever been my pleasure to witness. Add the taboo-breaking fur-covered sex scene and Laila's strange, genuinely innocent-seeming sensuality, and it's more than worth hanging out through the slow parts for.
Plus, once you get through that first 20 to 30 minutes, you're rewarded with THIS:
Yes, it turns out Hans is a bit of a psychedelic swinger, and host to some of the wildest parties the Finnish capital has ever seen. I mean, just look at that pad. He's got the bold primary colors...the wild flowery draperies...Home Interiors' finest framed art prints over your grandma's easy chair...a lot of hip young Finns going go-go in their underwears...and oh, yes, A FREAKIN' DANCING SKELETON! PAR-TAY! As Nordic blonde beauties shake their unrestrained boobages to the throbbing beat of some sensual tunes, Hans drinks, does drugs, and attracts the eye of many a fine Finnish femme. When he goes into the back room to take advantage of some of the smorgasbord of flesh on offer, his firey tempered native girl decides she doesn't want to share and storms out.
Too ashamed to go back to her father's tribe after living in sin in Hell-Sin-ki, Laila writes to dear old Dad, telling him that she and Hans are planning to be married as soon as they have enough money--that oughta hold the old biter off for a few years, what? Suddenly homeless, Laila takes an apartment with disturbingly scar-breasted roommate Greta (Maria Pertamo), who just so happens to be a high-end independent contractor specializing in the Whorish Arts. Touting the plentiful easy money and no-discernible-downside of this career choice, Greta offers to set Laila up in business with the drunken friend of one her military clients. The prospective employer offers many many markka for Laila's favors, even interrupting his superior officer's tryst with Greta in order to borrow more, but at this point Laila still has her pride and dignity, and turns the fellow down cold.
Instead she takes a job working construction, showing herself as strong as she is beautiful, and on the job meets dreamboat Pekka (Ismo Saario), who knows nothing about her past but loves the way she handles a wheelbarrow. There follows an extended but by no means boring courtship between the two, as they visit a carnival (watch for the bikini-girl dunk tank!), feed seagulls on the beach, take in some suggestive fireworks, and finally get away for a dirty weekend to a (once again improbably spacious) cabin in the woods. Once there they take a sensual and culturally accurate sauna--complete with leafy green flagellation!--before the two do the voodoo that two do so well. Meanwhile poor Aslak, bereft of his only child, sadly plies his reindeer-castrating trade.
picture of nekkid boobs was forever, as unbeknownst to her, Hans has sold several of her old shots for a saucy calendar that quickly becomes all the rage in Finland. As if driven by the hand of a malicious fate, when Aslak makes his yearly trek into the nearest village to pick up his mail and non-reindeer-produced supplies (read: vodka), he happens to catch a glimpse of his daughter on the wall of the mom & pop grocery--smiling, arms akimbo, her perky-nippled frontspieces shoved out for all the customers to see. (Note to self: shop rural Finland.) Enraged, the old man decides to make the trip down to Helsinki and ensure Hans makes an honest woman of his girl.
After Aslak nearly beats the location of Hans's apartment out of Greta in an odd, off-putting scene, Laila knows the jig is up, or will be unless she can think up a plan but quick. Desperate, she rushes back to Hans, begging him to help her perpetuate the deception on her father and keep him away from her new love. Being the swinging, cosmopolitan sort, Hans agrees to help stage a mock wedding for Aslak's benefit, inviting all his groovy friends over to get in on the gag--because if one thing is universal, it's the glee city folks take in happily making fools of whatever country bumpkins cross their paths. Unfortunately Pekka hears about the impending nuptials, and not being in on the joke, rushes to the party to put a stop to it.
What follows is a scene you will have known was coming from near the very beginning, but one I'll wager will have your jaw on the floor nonetheless. (Of particular shock to me was the wedding guests' reluctance to do anything at all to assist their host. I mean sure, the vodka was cheap and the hors d'oeuvres were not the freshest, but STILL...) Unmoved by Laila's tearful confessions, both Pekka and Aslak abandon the girl to her fate, and Hans to the excellent Finnish health care system.
The movie could have ended right there and been one of the most amazing pieces of world cinema I'd ever witnessed, but it goes on for a bit following poor Laila's downward spiral in the wake of these shocking events. Now without pride, dignity, or male support of any kind, Laila takes work where she can find it--and where she finds it is in seedy nightclubs of the Jess Franco variety, where she dances naked on the stage and stands tearfully in front of the crowd while a burly Finn whips her like a lazy reindeer in the harness. When Pekka shows up with his new girlfriend to take in the show, the poor fallen angel's humiliation is complete, and she decides to take Greta up on her offer of sideline employment. It seems suicide is only a hop, skip, and splash away.
Greta is suddenly knifed by a dissatisfied customer, Laila is shocked out of her complacency. At just that moment (what are the chances?) she learns that her father has died, leaving the tribe without an elder statesman/Tundral Oyster preparer. Realizing that she should never go looking for happiness any further than her own back yard (and that that bitch Dorothy Gale got off WAY easy), Laila returns to Lapland and her simpler, less whippy way of life.
This movie is so wonderful, so OUT THERE, that I've really had trouble even summarizing it for fear of not doing it justice. Like the best (?) of Ed Wood's work, there's an earnestness and honest enthusiasm that shines through even the most outrageously inept acting, set-ups, and special effects, a joy that is (like Greta's love) infectious. Its bright colors and comic-panel framing seem either an imitation or an echo of Russ Meyer's trademark style, and the aforementioned Jess Franco nightclub scenes and perverse sexuality make for a 3-director trifecta that any Madite should be salivating over. There's plenty of grooviness, loads and loads of nudity, some genuinely hot sex scenes (bonus fact: Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake is the "chicka-chicka-waow-waow" music of Finland), interesting cultural facts, and enough MADNESS to stop a herd of uncastrated reindeer in their tracks. It's a movie that must be seen--maybe in order to be believed, but for whatever reason, it MUST BE SEEN.
3 Thumbs roof for this one. If you call yourself a fan of weird and wild world cinema, you owe it to yourself to track this one down. As a last resort, send an emissary to the vicarage with terms. I'm sure we can work something out. ;)
More images from Sensuela (1973):
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sensuela (1973): or, Nice Girls Finnish Last
Posted by The Vicar of VHS at 8:16 PM
Labels: '70s, 3+ Thumbs, Finnish Cinema, Groovy, Sexploitation, Whipping
12 comments:
- Michael J. said...
Well done, Vicar, for digging deep into the well of MmmmMadness for this one. Promise me this -- when you and the Duke open the web-store, pleeese stock up on those crazy Lapp hats. (size 7, in Spacious Blue). And on official Hans-Party Skeleton Suits. Consider my order IN.
- August 31, 2009 at 11:06 PM
- The Duke of DVD said...
When the Vicar first told me about this movie, while we sat on silken pillows at my mountain retreat in upper Romania, I was skeptical. Sure, I had a small room in a corner of my blackened heart that held out small hope that somehow, somewhere there would exist a movie containing the ritual castration of reindeer, and that said movie would also be sexploitation movie from Finland, but I had all but given up my dream of finding one.
Then along comes Sensuela. Micro budget, use of taxidermy'd animals, and garish makeup; Sensuela has it all. This, my friends, is as MAD a movie as I have ever hoped to view, and one (as the Vicar says) everyone who reads this blog should endeavour to watch.
Bravo, Vicar. You have put to the page the eloquence and charm that is Lapp softcore, and once again bring us to the brink MAD-ness, before roughly shoving us off into the abyss we so yearn for, yet fear.
- August 31, 2009 at 11:57 PM
- Tenebrous Kate said...
I showed up for the Lapp Dance punchline; I stayed for the dancing skeleton; I creamed my panties at the Nazi-Sami love photo. I'm actually having a hard time believing that this movie exists, that it's not just some clever Photoshop plot on the part of the Vicar to fill my heart to bursting from hope. Admit it--you just put a bunch of phrases into a hat, pulled out five ("Nazi," "reindeer," "hookers," "Crayola," and "drug dealer," to be precise) and crafted this plot around them. The real world cannot possibly be this beautiful.
- September 1, 2009 at 7:41 AM
- Paul said...
Kate, it exists, all right. The Vicar tweeted his disbelief in this film some weeks ago, leading me to move both hell AND high water to find it. It lives up to the description, that's for sure. For more on Mr Tullio's extraordinary oeuvre, go here:
- September 1, 2009 at 8:51 AM
- Jenn said...
Castrated reindeer? Leisurely paced plane crashes? Psychedelic swingers? Dancing skeletons? Finland? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Sensuela? The mind reels. Truly. If I wasn't so hungover today, I would swear this all made me kinda dizzy. It sounds kinda like Ed Wood and Jess Franco had a Finnish baby or something.
- September 1, 2009 at 7:03 PM
- Al Bruno III said...
Another amusing and informative post about a movie I had never heard of.
And MAD MAD MAD MAD MOVIES is still my favorite blog to read when I'm not wearing pants.
- September 2, 2009 at 5:22 AM
- The Duke of DVD said...
In addition to being the public's favorite blog to read whilst not wearing trousers, our extensive research also indicates that we are the blog to read while:
1) Sitting in a cheese shop eating the finest Gloucester.
2) Mounting a serving girl/man as other serving girls/men watch in horror.
3) Burning an effigy of the Vicar.
- September 2, 2009 at 8:17 AM
- The Vicar of VHS said...
Thanks for the comments, everyone!
@Michael J.--I predict that the Lapp Hats will be IN in a big way the next fashion cycle. We'll all be ahead of the game, there. And when is the Party Skeleton Suit ever OUT of style, I ask you? ;)
@Duke of DVD--This movie proves yet again what we've always known: there are more things in heaven, earth, and the Internet than are dreamed in our philosophy.
@Tenebrous Kate--Even if I had done the hat/fishbowl thing, then taken some of the Duke's special shrooms and spun myself around until I couldn't stand up, I don't think I'd have come up with Sensuela. Definitely seek it out at your earliest opportunity.
@Paul--fascinating stuff! I'd really like to see more of Tulio's work now...sounds like he was an artist with some interesting (if not always pretty) things to say! Thanks for the link!
@Jenn--I wasn't hungover, and yet I still felt that way once Sensuela had had its wicked way with me. :)
@Al Bruno III--that might be the greatest complement the Duke and I have ever received! In fact, it's totally our new tagline: "MMMMMovies: the #1 Movie Site to Read Whilst Pantsless!" ;)
- September 2, 2009 at 9:57 AM
- Samuel Wilson said...
Just getting around to reading this ... WOW! Sensuela sounds like not just a mad mad mad mad movie but a wild world of cinema landmark. Consider yourself a conquistador on top of all your other honors and titles, Vicar. Finland is clearly your territory.
- September 2, 2009 at 11:35 PM
- Ezreal said...
By the way, you don't have to go all the way to rural Finland to see Suomi snow mounds. I remember porn being on the regular news racks in the train station in Helsinki. And I'm not talking behind the seller - I'm talking the rotating metal rack for everyone to look through.
That's if you survive the plane flight into their airport. Attention Finn Air: a free-fall is not a gradual decent!
- September 3, 2009 at 12:47 AM
- bgc1999 said...
Great job, just one detail. I saw the movie last night. And the knife guy is Joni, the ex-pimp of Greta, she is used like a lure to get him away of Laila.
The movie is as sad and confusing as posible.
- May 20, 2010 at 12:05 PM
I just saw this movie on the finnish tv-channel, it was like nothing I have ever seen. It's so weird and bad that it somehow becomes fantastic. I want to own this movie! But my guess is it isn't out on dvd...
- June 24, 2011 at 5:43 PM


text:
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN — As the stock market struggled late last month and early this month, Life Time Fitness, Eden Prairie, MN, also experienced some ups and downs after releasing its fourth quarter 2006 and year 2006 financials last month. The week that Life Time announced growth for those periods and a new three-story urban model, the stock dropped from $52.57 at close on Feb. 13 to $49.90 at the close of that week and continued to drop through March 1 when it closed at $48.83.
The drop in stock price came for several reasons, says Ken Cooper, senior director of finance and investor relations officer at Life Time. A few weeks prior to the earnings report, Life Time stock hovered around the $49 level. Then, two analysts released projections for the company, driving the stock to $54.85 at the close of Jan. 24. That price slowly dropped until it reached $52.45 the day before earnings were released on Feb. 15 before dropping even further due to what Cooper says was a reaction by some investors to the three-story urban model that the company announced in its earnings call.
"To the educated investor who knows our story well, they applauded that decision [to do the three-story urban model]," says Cooper. "To someone who didn't know it as well, it raised questions. A three-story concept doesn't change anything with the fundamental business other than it extends our growth in the long term."
The company, which already operates two-story models in the suburbs, plans to open the first three-story model in Houston in 2008.
"When we executed our IPO (in June 2004), one of the things we said was we see 200 facilities based on this two-story, large model," says Jason Thunstrom, director of corporate communications at Life Time. "What this new [three-story] model represents is no change to the path to 200. It gives us more options beyond that. We can site a 140,000-square-foot, three-story concept on half as much land [as the two-story model] or a 90,000-square-foot one on as little as two to three acres. It simply takes the story we told back then and opens that up."
Cooper agrees, saying that the demographics in the more densely populated areas that the three-story models will open in are "awesome."
"Why bypass giving our concept to those folks just because we can't find enough land?" Cooper asks.
Jim Cramer, host of MSNBC's "Mad Money," interviewed Bahram Akradi, CEO of Life Time, on his show in mid February after the stock price dropped. Akradi indicated that he was not worried about the drop.
"I think the results will show up in the near future," Akradi said on the show.
Results have already shown up for the company. Life Time's fourth quarter 2006 revenue grew 34.5 percent and full-year revenue grew 31.2 percent. Fourth quarter 2006 revenue was $139.3 million compared to $103.6 million during the same period the year before. Revenue for 2006 totaled $511.9 million compared to $390.1 million in 2005.
Net income during the quarter grew 16.9 percent to $14.1 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, including the effect of share-based compensation expense. This compares to net income of $12.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the same period in 2005. For the full year, net income grew 22.7 percent to $50.6 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, from $41.2 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, for 2005.
In-center revenue grew 41.7 percent to $35.9 million during fourth quarter 2006, and 41.6 percent to $138.3 million for the full year.
Cooper attributes revenue growth to three drivers: the opening of more clubs, increasing memberships at clubs less than three years old and clubs not at capacity (memberships at all clubs grew 23.8 percent to 443,660 in 2006), and in-center revenue growth through the addition of services and products to be sold in its five businesses. Those businesses are personal training; Life Spa, which is the spa element; Life Café, which is a restaurant in each club; member activities, which are the fee-based programs that don't fall under personal training; and tennis.
During the fourth quarter, the company opened clubs in Overland Park, KS; Palm Valley, AZ; Alpharetta, GA; and Scottsdale, AZ. The company has started construction on eight current model centers that are scheduled to open this year.
Analysts expect the company's earnings to grow at an annualized 25 percent pace during the next five years, according to Kiplinger's, which ran a March story urging investors to consider adding health club companies — including Life Time — to their portfolios. A Feb. 19 Fortune magazine story called Life Time stock "hot."
Thunstrom didn't give much credence to a story on Forbes.com that questioned Life Time's practice of taking on mortgages to purchase its land and to finance construction of clubs. The article said that the company couldn't finance the new clubs with its own revenue because Life Time's capital expenditures since it went public in June 2004 exceeded cash flow by $227 million. Thunstrom says the article does not echo the thoughts of the company's analysts.
Cooper adds, "We are in the red if you look at free cash flow, but that's because we are growing and expanding the company. The current plan that we have in place right now is to fund the company through long-term mortgages. If we stopped construction today or started leasing all the facilities, we would show cash flow tomorrow. We feel that the smart thing to do is to make sure we are using the best cost of capital for our shareholders."
Cooper says that the 6.03 percent interest on the 90 percent of cost loan is a better answer for shareholders than to lease at a higher rate.
"And it gives us more flexibility," Cooper says, adding that the company plans to continue to fund its growth through use of its operating cash flow of $126 million for the year, management of its $300 million revolver and use of long-term mortgages.
Although Life Time has been the focus of a lot of media attention lately, Akradi's personal life also has been in the spotlight. On Feb. 20, Akradi was sentenced to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, but he will not have to serve jail time or pay the fine if he stays out of trouble during the next year. The sentence stemmed from a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of assault that allegedly occurred in February 2006. A felony charge of property damage was dropped as part of the agreement. Akradi was charged in June 2006 with a felony after police investigated the February incident in which Akradi allegedly cut off a 17-year-old in the parking lot of Minnetonka High School. The teenager honked at Akradi, which allegedly led to Akradi yelling at the student, hitting the teen's car and opening the door to try to pull the boy from the car.
Akradi has said that the teenager charged at his car in an attempt to scare his daughter and him. He denies grabbing the teen's shirt or pulling him from the car.
The judge ordered Akradi to attend anger management classes and donate $5,000 in sports equipment to Minneapolis public schools.
In response to the incident, Life Time released this statement: "The fact that Akradi chose to settle this matter is a declaration of his intent to maintain sole focus on leading our world-class company. To date, the media coverage of this matter offers an incomplete set of facts and lacks pertinent detail surrounding the specific actions and character of the complainant, coupled with alleged claims that remain unproven."