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One of the best attributes of a Muslim who believes in Allah by heart is not to follow the majority but to act in compliance with what best suits Allah's consent and the voice of his conscience no matter what the circumstances may be. For such a person, the thoughts and behaviors of other people do not matter. A Muslim only attaches importance to earn Allah's good pleasure and thus aims at displaying the best attitude and the most suited words in compliance with the Qur'an.
This attribute of moral perfection displayed by sincere Muslims manifests in its perfect form in the lives of prophets. No matter how people lived in their societies, prophets never adopted a lifestyle and morality except from what is revealed to them by Allah and never tended to unbelievers' perverted beliefs and wicked habits. They had been subjected to the oppression and torture of unbelievers, those associating partners with Allah and hypocrites all through their lives solely because they had faith in Allah and submitted themselves to Him. They faced death threats; they were imprisoned, slandered, tortured and exiled from their homelands. They spent their lives in constant suffering. Even some of them were martyred in the way of Allah.
The prophets responsible for conveying Allah's revelation hardily faced up to threats and never stepped back because of difficulties they encountered.
Allah exemplified prophets' and genuine Muslims' moral perfection to Muslims thus:
''Many a Prophet has been killed, when there were many thousands with him! They did not give up in the face of what assailed them in the Way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they yield. Allah loves the steadfast.'' (Surah Al Imran, 146)
One of the major aims of a Muslim who deeply loves Allah should be, just as how all prophets did throughout their lives, not to fear the condemnations of those who condemn them and live with fear of Allah in the way that best suits Allah's good pleasure.
In societies in which people do not live by the morality of the Qur'an crowd psychology pervades. People act not in compliance with their own intelligence and conscience but with crowd psychology. This mood dominates all their lives. The pleasures, understanding of aesthetics, love, style of speaking peculiar to them are replaced by socially accepted artificial and insincere moods that are, most of the time, also disliked by themselves.
Because practices incompatible with those of the society immediately attract attention and, in some cases, get reactions, people who are not guided by the Qur'an and our Prophet's (saas) Sunnah utterly turn a blind eye to their wisdom and conscience and act in accordance with the societies' expectations. They blindly adopt an attitude, without calculating whether it is accurate or not, or whether it will bring any responsibility in the Hereafter. Consequently, loveless, unfaithful, selfish, interest-ridden people bereft of compassion and mercy appear. These arrogant people are full of hatred, greed, grudge and are prone to gossip and argument. Although these people who live by such morality also suffer from the harms of these wicked moral features themselves, they remain imprisoned in this wicked system throughout their lives merely because the majority of people around them live in this way and, probably because in a contrary situation they deem they will be oppressed, be defeated or remain without protection. In one verse in the Qur'an, Allah relates what consequences following the majority will yield as follows:
'"If you obeyed most of those on earth, they would misguide you from Allah's Way. They follow nothing but conjecture. They are only guessing.'' (Surat Al-An'am 116)
The fact is however, this is what distinguishes a genuine believer. A Muslim never takes the opinion of the majority as a measure to distinguish the right from wrong. He never assesses something to be right because people think so and vice versa. A Muslim evaluates everything in compliance with the Qur'an and our Prophet's (saas) Sunnah. If Allah relates an attitude, a happening to be erroneous and wicked, even if the whole world displays that attitude, a faithful believer never condescends to assume that reprehensible attitude. If everyone in the world does not assume an attitude Allah praises in the Qur'an, a Muslim assumes it with honor and dignity. A Muslim never displays a crude attitude contrary to the Qur'an. He conserves his noble attitude in every environment and under all circumstances. Even if people approach him with the most wicked morality, he knows that he will always prevail and that Allah will always protect him as long as he treats them with an attitude favored by Allah and the morality of the Qur'an. As Allah relates in the verse, ''Do not give up and do not be downhearted. You shall be uppermost if you are believers.'' (Surah Al Imran, 139), he is aware that he is morally superior and noble because he has faith.
That a Muslim does not follow the majority does not mean that he turns his back to everything he sees in the society and that everything the majority does is corrupt and erroneous. A Muslim evaluates what he sees around him in the light of the Qur'an; he takes the aspects that are in compliance with the Qur'an and considers those that are aesthetic as beautiful. For instance a person may have a morally flawed attitude. For instance he may be prone to anger. Yet he may also be very self-sacrificing. In such a case, only because that person has a furious personality, ignoring his self-sacrificing aspect and considering him as a wicked person as a whole would not be right. A Muslim appreciates the beautiful aspects of this person while trying to correct his morally wicked traits by explaining them to him with beautiful words and wisdom. A Muslim has a rational and balanced spirit. Even if held in the most arduous environment and subjected to all forms of adversity, his eye immediately catches a single beauty and his spirit turns to that beauty, for he knows that it is Allah Who manifests everywhere and in everything and that beauties are blessings from Allah. He is well aware of the fact that Allah creates the morally reprehensible traits in people around with purpose, to make him take lessons and have fear for Him. He also grasps that Allah specially creates the beauties so that he can admire and take as an example. For this reason, while not following the majority, a Muslim should not reject all the attributes he sees in the majority as a whole. He should simply turn his back to those traits incompatible with the Qur'an but adopt the beautiful details that are in compliance with it.


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A long while ago, I did a few sketchbooks full of pattern drafts for two textile commissions that unfortunately got killed before they were printed and sewn into garments. I went back into them this weekend and altered, colored and adapted those sketches into these 2 new complete patterns. Though it would have been amazing to see parts of these on the garments they were intended for, I'm still really pleased with the outcome.
Recent Posts
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Portraits for Sir.tv
Over the last few months, I've been working with Sir.tv (Social Innovation Rockstars) to develop a series of portrait illustrations for their site. Above are the first four!

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Aperture – The First Photography Theme for Ghost
Aperture Ghost Photography Theme v.1.4
10 Nov, 2015: The Aperture theme has been updated with compatibility for Ghost 0.7.x and now supports dashboard managed navigation, previous/next post links and includes fixes, improvements and latest versions for all scripts and plugins included.
Meet Aperture – The First Photography Theme for Ghost
When creating Aperture, we had one thing in mind. To build it responsive, yet in respect to the choices photographers make when publishing their photos. So, every resize of the portfolio images is done proportionally, reflecting your choices in terms of shape, format, cuts etc, on desktop devices, tablets and mobile phones alike.
As Ghost grows, so will Aperture. We will update the theme with all the goodness that Ghost has to offer its users. For free.
Thank you!
Client testimonials
"I've had a single day's (and only a single blog entry's) worth of looking at it and seeing what works (from the POV of what I'm trying to do), and I must say I really, really like it a lot." – msimpson69
"Your Aperture is one of the best implementations of (responsive) horizontal themes." – mystmyst
"Hi there! I love this theme. I'm migrating my website over to Ghost, and this is what is powering the look and feel, perfectly showcasing my photography in a minimalist fashion." – strangeeducation
Resources & Credits
We at QBKL would like to extend our thanks to the developers of Ghost and jQuery, Inu Yaksa for jQuery Nicescroll, Alexander Dickson for waitForImages, Font Awesome for the beautiful iconic font and Unsplash for the wonderful imagery used in the demo of Aperture. All imagery copyright goes to their respective authors!
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mots. – A tasteful, responsive Ghost Theme


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From selfies, to games, to measuring heart rate and calories burned, today's smartphone apps can do a lot of things.
Now, researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York have developed a device that can add testing cholesterol and vitamin D levels to your phone's already impressive list of functions.
"What this is really about is enabling you to obtain health information about yourself quickly," said David Erickson, a biomedical engineer at Cornell.
Using a device that looks like a credit card reader and that fits over a smartphone camera users are able to get cholesterol and vitamin D level results from a single drop of blood.
"In two minutes it spits out…what your cholesterol level is today, right now," said Erickson.
To work the device, a user drops a blood sample on a test strip laced with chemicals designed to react a certain way. Then, the user takes a picture of the test strip with his or her smartphone. The device processes the image of the blood reacting to the test strip, determines cholesterol or vitamin D levels from that image, and displays the results.
The technology also works with drops of saliva or sweat.
"It gives you information about your healthcare very rapidly, secondly it does it much cheaper," Erickson said.
Researchers expect to make the device affordable and available to consumers in a few years.
"We wanted a simple system that allows you to measure your levels at home," explained Seoho Lee, a mechanical engineering student at Cornell.
Researchers are also developing the technology to give test results for other vitamins and infectious diseases.
Karin Heineman is the executive producer of Inside Science TV. She has produced over 600 video news segments on science, technology, engineering and math in the past 13 years for Inside Science TV and its predecessor, Discoveries and Breakthroughs Inside Science.


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Choirs present spring concert
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 2:00 AM
Pittsburg, KS
The Choirs of Pittsburg State University will present their annual spring concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, in the Sharon Kay Dean Recital Hall, located in McCray Hall on the PSU campus. The concert is free and open to the public.
The University Choir, PSU Chorale, and Jazz Choir are under the direction of Susan Marchant.
For the March 10 concert, conductor Robert Jenkins and organist Ian Classe will collaborate in the Chorale's performance of the Bernard Rose "O praise God in His Holiness." Meiling Jin will serve as pianist for the University Choir. Other instrumentalists will include cellist Maria Goydy Rios and percussionists Seth Boyer, Daniel McDill, Bryce Henson, and Katie Day. Vocal soloists will include Madison Youngberg King, Alyssa Marsh, Jeeyeun Kim, Kalee Woody, Daniel McDill, Aaron Hayse, Whitney Kraft, Ariele Foltz, and Anna Hautaniemi.
The remainder of the concert program includes:
"A Child's Prayer," by James MacMillan; works from "Five Flower Songs," by Benjamin Britten; "I was glad," by Henry Purcell; "The Deer's Cry," by Arvo Pärt; works from the "Vesperae solennes de confessore," K. 339, by W.A. Mozart; "Walk Together, Children," by Moses Hogan; "The water is wide," arranged by Craig Hella Johnson; "And death shall have no dominion," by Kenneth Jennings; "Ye Jaliya-o," by Joan Szymko; "Do not go gentle," by David Childs; "My flight for Heaven," by Blake Henson; "L-O-V-E," arranged by Kirby Shaw; "I wish you love," arranged by Ed Lojeski; and "'Già torna a rallegrar l'aria e la terra," by Luca Marenzio.
For further information, contact the PSU Department of Music at 620-235-4466.


text: Staten Island Injury Attorney Staten Island personal injury lawyer Paul Oliveri and his team at Oliveri & Schwartz, P.C. have a long history of representing injured clients. His skilled personal injury team handles all accident and injury cases throughoutStaten Island and surrounding areas. Since 1983, Mr. Oliveri has been advocating for injured victims and fighting for the compensation they deserve after being hurt. He has earned a place in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers Association, and has recovered millions in damages for injured victims. If you want a skilled, compassionate and caring lawyer to help you after you've been injured, Oliveri & Schwartz, P.C. are here for you. He will evaluate your case and will zealously represent you when dealing with insurance companies, or in court if your case proceeds to trial. When Do You Need a Staten Island Injury Attorney? A Staten Island injury lawyer can represent you in any situation where you or a family member have been hurt due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another individual, a company, or even a government entity, employee or agency. If anyone hurts you or causes an accident by failing to be reasonably careful in their actions, the law supports your claim for damages. Some of the types of personal injury cases that Oliveri & Schwartz, P.C. can help you with include, but are not limited to the following: -Car accidents -Bicycle accidents -Bus accidents -Construction accidents -Birth injuries -Brain injuries -Defective drugs or products -Dog bites -Motorcycle accidents -Pedestrian accidents -Premises Liability cases -Slip and fall accidents -Spinal cord damage -Taxi accidents -Truck accidents -Workplace accidents -Wrongful death MEETING YOUR NEEDS IS WHAT WE DO BEST! In each of these situations, you will need a strong advocate to help you determine if someone else is responsible for your injuries and if you have a claim to recover damages. If someone else is responsible for your accident or injury, upon hiring us, we will immediately negotiate with the responsible person or his or her insurance company to obtain full compensation. If negotiation fails, and the insurance carrier refuses to pay or lowballs your claim, we will have no problem filing a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf for full compensation. A personal injury attorney in Staten Island can take this responsibility off your shoulders, by negotiating and filing a lawsuit on your behalf for maximum monetary compensation. These actions protect your legal rights while you can focus on getting better or on grieving the loss of a loved one, killed or seriously injured in an accident. How Attorney Paul Oliveri Can Help Any time you are entitled to make an injury claim, you need to understand the specifics of what is required to win the maximum compensation for which you are entitled. It is important that you understand how to build a strong winning case for yourself. A great deal of strategy, planning and hard work goes into the process which includes gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses up to and including the filing of important and timely motions with the court. Hiring the best and most qualified experts in the field can only increase the value of your case and hence your eventual compensation. We invest in your future by utilizing well respected experts and consultants who will greatly contribute to either a settlement or a jury award. The insurance industry has vast resources and highly paid experts looking out for their own interests. So why not have us help you "even" the playing field by representing you against the powerful and well- heeled insurance carriers or governmental entities? Staten Island injury attorney Paul Oliveri will be your advocate by using our vast legal knowledge, experience and skills to make the law work for you. He can assist you in all aspects of your case so you have the best chance of achieving full and fair compensation–The Maximum Recovery Possible under the law. This compensation should cover losses for: -Medical bills and costs -Pain and suffering -Lost income/wages -Emotional distress -Future losses and ongoing medical care -The wrongful death of your family member (including payment of funeral expenses, lost companionship, medical bills and lost income) The money and compensation that we help you obtain for your injury claim can allow you to live a full and independent life without financial worries even if you have been seriously injured. Don't accept less than you deserve or are legally entitled to receive when a Staten Island injury lawyer can help you make your case and be "made whole" after the accident as the law requires. Contact Our Staten Island Injury Attorneys Today! The laws in New York allow you only a limited amount of time to pursue your injury claim, so don't wait until after the statute of limitations expires. Contact Oliveri & Schwartz, P.C. today. Give us a call or contact us online to schedule your free and confidential consultation. Please call us at 800-427-9546 for a FREE case evaluation. We have five centrally located offices for your convenience. We serve clients throughout NYC including Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan and Long Island. Put over 33 years of NYC personal injury law experience in your corner TODAY!


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Buyers Guide: Lifts
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text: Meet a Specialist: John M. Dobrowski, M.D., FACS As the son of a general surgeon and registered nurse, Dr. John Dobrowski was exposed to medicine from an early age. "Medicine was a huge part of my family while I was growing up. Both of my parents dedicated their professional lives to providing compassionate care for patients. It was truly inspiring to witness," Dr. Dobrowski recalls. Although Dr. Dobrowski was drawn toward building and working with his hands, his greatest strengths were in math and the sciences. He explains, "My exposure to healthcare as a child, along with my interests in science and working with my hands, led me to pursue a career in a surgical field of medicine." Becoming a surgeon was a natural progression, allowing Dr. Dobrowski to combine his technical and mechanical skills with his knowledge base. "ENT is such an intricate and complex area of study, yet it also provides the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients. I immediately gravitated toward that specialty in medical school," Dr. Dobrowski remarks. As both a Certified Sleep Specialist and an Otolaryngologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Dr. Dobrowski treats adult patients primarily for sleep-related breathing problems and obstructive sleep apnea (a condition in which the flow of air pauses or decreases while breathing, during sleep). Dr. Dobrowski says, "Many patients first make an appointment with me because they have been suffering from snoring. Other patients may be experiencing daytime tiredness or difficulty concentrating." Although many of Dr. Dobrowski's patients are self-referrals, primary care physicians in the community and specialists from within Mass. Eye and Ear and Mass General Hospital and its affiliates, also refer patients to Dr. Dobrowski. "Patients suffer from sleeping conditions for a variety of reasons, and obstruction can exist in different locations in the head and neck region, such as the tonsils, palate, tongue, nasal passage or windpipe. Because of this complexity, referrals come from a variety of sources," he explains. Once a patient has been referred to Dr. Dobrowski, he first determines where obstruction is occurring. "Typically my first course of action is to order a sleep study for my patients," Dr. Dobrowski notes. Sleep studies can occur in a sleep lab or patients may take part in a home sleep study. Although home sleep studies are gaining in popularity, in-lab studies are more controlled and provide more in-depth information about the patient. Dr. Dobrowski mentions, "In a sleep center, sleep technologists work to provide an in-depth recording of the patient during various stages of sleep. In-lab tests also provide information about a patient's brain activity during sleep, which helps determine if the cause of sleep disruption is not related to apnea, but another condition such as narcolepsy." Once a sleep study has been conducted, and if the patient is suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Dobrowski begins working with the patient on a treatment program. Managing sleep apnea often requires several different forms of treatment. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines (CPAP), are often the first method of treatment. Patients wear the CPAP mask at night, which provides positive air pressure to stint or open the patient's airway and allow uninterrupted breathing to occur. If a patient is suffering from severe sleep apnea, Dr. Dobrowski occasionally suggests a CPAP before a sleep study has been performed, to reduce the immediate danger from the obstruction. Depending on a patient's specific diagnosis, other forms of treatment may be prescribed. "Oral appliances such as a specifically manufactured sleep night guard, reposition the patient's jaw forward, which in turn, brings the tongue forward, and stops obstruction from occurring," Dr. Dobrowski explains. Certain patients also require surgical intervention to effectively manage their sleep apnea. Dr. Dobrowski notes that surgery is not the primary treatment method for sleep apnea, and that he prefers to treat patients using devices such as the CPAP or by suggesting lifestyle changes. If surgery is needed, however, the timing of surgery and type of procedure performed differs greatly from patient to patient. To receive the most favorable outcomes, surgery might be performed to enhance the function of the CPAP, or after the CPAP has been determined as ineffective for the patient. Oral surgeons perform maxillomandibular advancement (a surgical procedure which moves the upper and lower jaw forward), or an otolaryngologist might perform nasal surgery, a tonsillectomy or an adjustment to the soft palate to assist with air flow from the nose into the throat. Because obstruction can occur in a variety of areas, surgery and other treatment options depend on the patients' specific condition. One of Dr. Dobrowski's major initiatives involves bringing a team of doctors together from Mass. Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital to collaborate on patient care. "Currently, the group consists of oral surgeons, sleep specialists, neurologists, sleep dentists and ENT specialists," Dr. Dobrowski explains. Dr. BuSaba and Dr. Dobrowski provide expertise to patients from a structural and surgical, ENT perspective. Their colleagues from Mass General provide expertise in a variety of other psychological and neurological areas. Dr. Dobrowski concludes, "So far, the collaboration has been incredibly helpful for our patients. We are able to provide care across all aspects of sleep medicine, and are constantly striving to improve patients' qualities of lives. I truly believe our new collaboration will help achieve that goal." Contact Dr. Dobrowski's office at 617-573-4104. View Dr. Dobrowski's online bio for more information. Request an appointment. Contact Us Today! 617-523-7900


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patrik em has not received any gifts yet
hi patrick..thanks for hitting me up..im always down to play..i need to definitely play more often..and since we both live in HC it should be easier to meet up..I play at sur la brea..and lomita park..
hit me up and lets meet up..im ready to play!!
What can you do here? At Tennisopolis, you can:
- network with your tennis friends. Invite your tennis friends and build your network now.
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- improve your game. Get tips in the Forum and check out video lessons.
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PLA receives IMLS Grant to continue leadership program for public librarians
For Immediate Release
Mon, 04/14/2014
Amy Sargent
Marketing and Communications Manager
Public Library Association (PLA)
CHICAGO — The Public Library Association (PLA), in partnership with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), has just been awarded a 2014 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for the project, "Navigating Change, Building Community: Outward-focused Public Library Leadership Training."
This three-year grant of $213,682 will enable PLA to refine and implement the PLA Leadership Academy: Navigating Change • Building Community introduced in March 2013 with support from IMLS. The PLA Leadership Academy is a unique leadership training program for public librarians. The asset-based curriculum developed with input from ICMA teaches librarians how to build successful relationships with local government and other community agencies.
"Working in a public library is not just about providing services within the library; it's also about reaching out and connecting with our communities," said Carolyn Anthony, PLA president. "The Academy is designed to empower librarians to do just that—to go beyond their library walls and become valuable partners and agents in creating a vital community."
In addition to extending the Leadership Academy, the grant will allow PLA to conduct research to measure the impact of the program on participants and to convene a meeting of leadership training providers to share evaluation results and trade best practices.
For more information, please contact PLA at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext.5PLA, or email@example.com.
The PLA Leadership Academy: Navigating Change • Building Community was initially offered in March 2013. The academy included a three-and-a-half day, in-person educational/networking event; a professional coach program with experienced public library leaders and city managers; online events that build on the in-person experience and development of real-world projects to be implemented at attendees' libraries. Twenty-four fellows were chosen via a selective application process and review by the PLA Leadership Committee.
The Public Library Association (PLA) is a division of the American Library Association. PLA's core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is the premier organization of professional local government leaders building sustainable communities to improve lives worldwide. ICMA provides member support; publications; data and information; peer and results-oriented assistance; and training and professional development to nearly 9,000 city, town, and county experts and other individuals and organizations throughout the world.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through grant making, policy development, and research, IMLS helps communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning.


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Breaking: Tibetan monk passes away in latest self-immolation protest
[Saturday, December 08, 2012 17:47]
Tibetan self-immolator Kunchok Phelgye in an undated photo.
DHARAMSHALA, December 8: The alarming escalation in self-immolation protests continues in Tibet with another Tibetan setting himself on fire protesting China's continued occupation of Tibet.
In fresh reports coming out of Tibet, Kunchok Phelgye, a 24-year-old-monk from the Sumdo Monastery in Dzoege region of eastern Tibet passed away in his self-immolation protest today.
The exile base of the Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, in a release, said that Kunchok Phelgye set himself on fire in front of the main assembly hall of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery at around 5:20 pm (local time).
"Kunchok Phelgye was enveloped in flames and his hands were joined in prayers as he raised slogans for the long life and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche, the exiled head of Kirti Monastery," the release said citing sources in the region. "He also raised slogans calling for the return and reunification of Tibetans."
Kunchok Phelgye succumbed to his injuries at the site of his protest.
Monks of the Monastery surrounded Kunchok Phelgye's burning body and began to recite the prayer, "Losang Gyalwa Kungi Nyingje Ter…" (usually recited in Kirti Rinpoche's honour). Later, Kunchok Phelgye's body was carried to his quarters in the Monastery where hundreds of monks and local Tibetans continue to visit to offer their last respects and prayers.
24-year-old Tibetan monk Kunchok Phelgye's body burns outside the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege, eastern Tibet after he self-immolated demanding the reunification of Tibetans on December 8, 2012.
"Right now hundreds of monks are gathered and offering prayers for the deceased," the release said. "Local Chinese authorities have now placed Taktsang Lhamo Kirti monastery and the surrounding villages under security blockade."
Kunchok Phelgye has nine members in his family. His parents are Kunchok Kyab and Dolma Tso.
Since his early childhood, he was a monk at the Sumdo Monastery and in 2010 joined Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery to continue his Buddhist studies.
In the same Dzoege region,
Kunchok Kyab
, a 29-year-old father of two, set himself on fire on November 30. He was forcibly taken away by Chinese security personnel, reportedly to a hospital in Barkham, where he passed away on December 1.
The United States this week expressed its "deep concern and sadness" over the "increasing frequency" of self-immolations by Tibetans and blamed China for further exacerbating tensions in the region.
The U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Maria Otero in a statement issued December 5 accused Chinese authorities of responding to the wave of fiery protests with "measures that tighten already strict controls on freedoms of religion, expression, assembly and association of Tibetans."
"The United States is deeply concerned and saddened by the continuing violence in Tibetan areas of China and the increasing frequency of self-immolations by Tibetans," Otero said. "Official rhetoric that denigrates the Tibetan language, the Dalai Lama, and those who have self-immolated has further exacerbated tensions."
Now, 93 Tibetans have set themselves on fire inside Tibet demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since the fiery wave of protests began in 2009.
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SEO ExcusesAugust 28, 2006
While I tend to write off the Search Engine Optimization field as an ethical quagmire where the bad are out to pollute the common waters for their own gain, and the good are little more than technically-savvy marketers, there's clearly an amount of science and depth to it that I don't understand.
Case in point, a recent demonstration of its effectiveness by hijacking the top 5 search results in Google for the term "five seo excuses" to form a top 5 list. And because the order is so precise, the URLs spell out an extra little message. The buzz it's generating means you're too late to observe the effects first-hand, but I can vouch for the accuracy of the screen shot in the prior-linked post.
Impressive demo to be sure. It shows that SEO techniques have evolved into a formidable tool that's of obvious value to many businesses. (I'm still glad that's not what I do to put food on the table, though.)
Such stunts, as geekily impressive as they may be, simply prove the point that Google is vulnerable and can be hacked to present irrelevant content. If someone was *really* trying to find information about the top five SEO excuses, four of those top five results are irrelevant duplicates which do not help solve the searcher's problem.
And the near-instant destruction of the top five list as soon as it was reported on and linked by other sources proves that Google still works.
Self-correction. I hadn't yet actually visited any of the articles when I made the first comment, and I incorrectly assumed them to be five instances of a single article outlining all five excuses. As it turns out, each article briefly states a single 'excuse' in somewhat poorly-written marketspeak plus a dose of fallacious reasoning. Hence, NONE of the five original articles is a useful result when searching for information about "five seo excuses".
I think google is going to face more and more challanges. If they make their algo so complex that only huge sites make it to the top - then the smaller local sites become almost unfindable.
The result is less relevent results on smaller items. Eventually even though "google" has become a verb, people will begin to use the other search engines.
I have already seen with my home town, searching for most city keyphrases (for example "Ann Arbor hair salon" simply returns nothing but lists of Hair Salon's and it is nearly impossible to find a webpage of an actual salon. I end up having to sort and click through 4-5 pages just to find one.
That is not relevant results in my opinion.
Google needs to accept that pages can be optimized, and find better ways to combat spam that doesn't make anything but "information hubs" rank poorly.
I love the website headline for the company that he was promoting:
"Virante Helps Businesses Leverage Technology & EBusiness Solutions To Promote Products & Services In A Global Market"
I don't think the Web Economy Bullshit Generator could have done a better job.
SEO should never have become an "industry" in the first place. Trying to manipulate your ranking irrespective of the quality of your content just makes search more useless.
At best, SEO should consist of html best-practices and _legitimate_ partnerships with like-minded sites. Unfortunately, shameless profiteers like Virante are all too happy to navigate the ethical quagmire to make a buck.
It's good to see Google has removed these spam listings (although who searches for such a bullshit query as "five seo excuses"?).
"Trying to manipulate your ranking irrespective of the quality of your content just makes search more useless."
I see it at a different light. At this point in time search engines display results that DON'T represent which sites have the most quality content.
Again - large information hubs tend to get to the top fairly easily due to google's algo. Smaller - yet still extremely relevent sites often are not visible at all simply because there are not a whole lot of reasons for other sites to link to them.
For example, a site I work for now is a small self storage company. They don't have great search engine rankings because there simply isn't a good reason for 100's of sites to be linking to them.
The large chains show up higher because they have nation wide links - even though they are no more relevent for the local search than my clients.
It's nothing but a cheap parlour trick.
1. They picked a phrase for which there were very few results. (That's how they got to the top)
2. set up the pages to link to each other in a way so that each had one more link pointing to it than the next. (That explains the order)
3. Got some advertising zeromillion.com to each page with the same link phrase: "Five SEO Excuses". (That's why the pages show up for that query)
The reason for it seems to be just a marketing gimmick, albeit a successful one, to get people talking about it and linking to them, thus increasing their own page rank, and making people think they're not evil and that SEO really works.
Google's search algorithm can find local search results for self storage just fine. I typed in "self storage & Chapel Hill" and Google gave me a whole list of local self storage joints.
Now, if one of these local Chapel Hill self-storage places wanted to "SEO" for the term "self-storage" even though they aren't as far reaching as other national chains, that would be polluting search results IMO.
The large nation chains are #1 on the Google results because they're the largest and most likely to be found nationwide. If you SEO'd a local self-storage joint to #1 on the term "self-storage", what use would that be to me if I lived elseware?
Now, if Google did more auto-detection of location and offered local results above national results, that would be fine. But that's Google's concern, not yours. By promoting locally-relevant sites over nationally-relevant sites you're polluting the results for the bulk of Google's audience.
The top 5 SEO excuse was broken:
I hope someone can post the link for the unbroken version…
It is me again, I found a post that include the unbroken effect image,
bloggers make a google bomb that pull the trick down.
(fake comment from IP 184.108.40.206 deleted, see following for explanation: http://mezzoblue.com/archives/2006/08/28/seo_excuses/#c029115 )
Smart marketing stunt. However it would be much more impressive if his "5 SEO excuses" remained top 5 at Google even after the bloggers picked up the topic.
I agree.. top 5 seo excuses is definitley not a well known phrase but it's interesting how they manipulated Google to link them up in order… looking at the code, not surprisingly it looks like the pages are dictated in order by use of descending h1-h5 tags. We've all known using semantically correct markup helps in google but this is an interesting example. Obviously this ain't going to fly when your competitors are all using h1 tags to title their content (as they should).
Hey Dave,
My apologies for the harsh words on my blog. I posted a rudimentary post (still in the 'flame' stages) for no other reason than I was heading to eat dinner and wanted to preserve the post. It wasn't intended for public consumption (nobody actually reads my blog). Embarrassingly, I did not expect anyone to actually read the post before I could get back, soften it, flesh it out, and actually read over at least once what I'd typed in a flurry.
I meant no disrespect towards you.
I'm headed out for a bit again right now, I'll revamp my post so it's sane later this evening :).
RE: comment #5
You are absolutely right. Unfortunately the term "optimization" is mis-used by many of these firms and they should really call it SEM, as in Search Engine Manipulation.
I have experienced time and time again that true 'SEO' is really centered around solid HTML, solid IA, and solid content that actually convinces others to link to your site without being asked to.
"I'm still glad that's not what I do to put food on the table, though."
True words. And although being Google-aware is part of running a large website, I'm also glad that the firm I work for does not have a marketing strategy –- or worse, a business model! -– that relies mostly on top Google rankings.
An interesting article appeared on CNNMoney.com, about Google's impact on business and especially on small entrepreneurs who rely on hitting the top-10: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2006/09/01/8384907/index.htm
I searched for the "five seo excuses" term, and you showed up as the first result (.ca.)
It's interesting also that the sites don't directly link to each other (presumably for ranking reasons, they use a span with text-decoration and an onclick to link.)
It's impressive how fast some sites can be indexed and picked up on the search engines these days; I recalled reading a Matt Cutts post which had shot up to #1 on a hot topic within hours of posting.
Maybe you just write really clean HTML - regardless, nicely done.
Your last sentence hits the nail on the head. Easily breakable parlour trick or no, it underscores how easy it is to mess with the system, not to mention how hard it is to keep promised rankings intact.
This is also why I only use Google to find general reference information, like how to fix (yet another) script I've broken.
I'm disturbed to see that post #11 above from "Andy Rutledge" is not me at all. I hope that you can ban the IP used for that entry to help prevent that idiot from posting here again.
Sorry for the posting here, but this is happening a lot lately.
Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge (the real one)
How sad that someone would use your ID to post messages! (unless he really is called Andy Rutledge)
It's impressive alright and like others i'm glad that Google isn't playing (yet) a significant part in our business. At times it seems like a black art to match Jedi.
I fully agree with post #7
Don't think there is any need to discuss this example because it isn't impressive seen the number of results for this query
What can be done for legitimate sites? Are we going to be forced to use those horrible tactics? I was in a forum the other day talking about how easy it is to spam. And as a demonstration, one member posted about 300 words relating to car rentals in Halifax. He then created a link from the forum to his site. Not only did that forum page become #1 for the term, but his site also moved up in the listings. I hate to admit it, but I may start using these tactics. (I hang my head in shame.)
It's interesting to note that the company behind this, Virante ( http://www.virante.com/ ), has their site marked up in the beautiful tables of '98.
Now, why would anyone trust a company who's trade is SEO - yet doesn't use semantic markup on their own site? I can't say I'm impressed by the SEO industry as a whole…
It's really not very impressive, in fact it's more worrying it think that all my (I would say) Ethical SEO work can still be stomped on by hacking a search engine. It's 2006 surely Google should have sorted it out by now!
Thank you for all of your comments on this project, I did however want to respond to some of the comments…
1. Ethics…
I did want to point out some of the positives that come out of the search industry. For example, please take a moment to visit PoundPrivacy.org, to look at our campaign to create a privacy standard for all search engines. There truly are magnitudes of difference between professional SEOs and that guy down the street who claims to do SEO.
2. Cheap Parlour Trick, Not Impressive…
On the contrary, when we ran the project, you would have noticed that the order did not occur in Yahoo or MSN. The search engine algorithms vary substantially enough that nailing down the exact idiosyncracies to secure the correct order of 5 pages is far more difficult than you would imagine.
3. Virante.com is in Tables…
No excuses here, we have since relaunched the site.
4. SEO should not be an industry…
Let's say that no SEO occurred at all. Instead, people wrote good HTML and likeminded sites linked to them. Who would win? Companies with multiple web sites, and big companies who are able to advertise outside the web, getting other individuals (inevitably a few of whom are likeminded webmasters) to visit the site and link to them. SEO is one of the few advertising methods left in the world that can be successfully executed by small businesses at a reasonable price.
@Russ Jones: with point 4 you´re right, if no black hat methods are used for promotion…


text:
Any game bold enough to be titled The Asskickers -- which would have been an awesomely apt and uncomfortably juvenile name for Stallone's ensemble action flick The Expendables -- better be able to back up its brash attitude with gameplay.
The Asskickers is an old-fashioned, side-scrolling beat 'em up, so you would think the name is fitting. Well, it's not. Unfortunately, the game, which presents itself as an homage to the forgotten genre, ends up being an incredibly frustrating experience that's inferior to the games it apes.
The Asskickers (PC [Reviewed], Mac)
Developer: AGO Games
Publisher: AGO Games
Released: June 30, 2011
The Asskickers purports to be tongue-in-cheek social commentary on today's economic climate, but the dialogue isn't clever and the writing isn't sharp -- perhaps something was lost in translation from the original French version. Accordingly, the negligible narrative comes off as a painfully amateur satire, though the art in the game does a little better job of attempting to get the game's message across.
The game is your typical beat 'em up. There are three characters to choose from, each tailored towards a different play type (speed, strength, balanced), environmental objects to break, weapons and health to pick up, and different enemies to fight. It is also repetitive and frustratingly difficult. I had to play through the game on easy because it's the only difficulty setting that lets you start from the beginning of each level, and I couldn't stomach playing through the game in one sitting. Besides, I probably wouldn't have been able to anyway.
The six stages are adequately varied, with respect to the background art, but that's about all the variety you're going to get. There are a number of expected enemy types, like "frat boys" who drive across the screen on a moped, but they aren't stage-specific. You will be fighting the same polo-wearing, golf club-wielding frat boys from the start of the game to construction sites and all sorts of odd places much later.
Much like the old-school games The Asskickers is modeled after, the enemies can be unbelievably cheap, sometimes pinning you down and draining huge chunks of your health with their moves. The AI also doesn't mind mirroring your abilities so that you can't get near them or running entirely off screen for a breather, leaving you to wait until they come back before you can progress. In the case of one particularly annoying enemy type, you're left waiting for them to revive their fallen comrades by making a call on a cell phone.
Most infuriating, however, is that the game is flat-out broken. Occasionally, your character will inexplicably be unable to grab items. For example, I managed to fight my way to a full health item with only a sliver of health left, only to find my character unable to pick it up. It's demoralizing. Further still, there was one instance when I was on a roll and had completed several stages (had a respectable score going, accordingly), then an enemy got himself stuck outside the level geometry where I couldn't hit him. I had to restart and lose all of my progress. Later in that same spot, I got knocked out of the level geometry and couldn't get back in! Again, I was forced to restart.
Even when the game works properly, the combat isn't very satisfying, due to limited animations and unsatisfying sound effects. If not for the enemies' health bars, it almost wouldn't feel like you were actually doing any sort of damage at all. In fact, little attention was paid to the game's audio as a whole, with there being but a handful of repetitive in-game tracks.
If I haven't dissuaded you yet because you're a glutton for buggy punishment or you wish to atone for some terrible misdeed, the game also has a Time Attack mode, where you try to "kick ass" as fast as you can, and a Survival mode, where swarms and swarms of enemies keep coming after you. To their credit, these modes actually bugged me less than the main story, perhaps because dying in them didn't mean I had to replay large sections of the game. There is also two-player co-op, assuming you have a number pad on your keyboard or a compatible gamepad of some kind, which does help with the difficulty curve somewhat.
The Asskickers does little to elevate itself over the antiquated genre it spawned from. The hand-drawn 2D art is nice, and the real-world caricatures that act as bosses after each stage might elicit a smirk, but the game is short, shallow, and unable to properly execute the simple, tried-and-true beat 'em up gameplay style, let alone advance it.
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The Asskickers reviewed by Steven Hansen
Any good they might have had are quickly swallowed up by a plethora of issues. The desperate or the gullible may find a glimmer of fun hidden somewhere in the pit.
How we score: The Destructoid reviews guide


text:
Courtesy of Springfield College Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Brian Harris went 3-for-5 for the home team, but in the end a 7-run eighth inning proved to be the difference as the visiting MIT baseball team defeated Springfield College earlier today, 11-5, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game at Berry-Allen Field.
With the win, the Engineers raised their record to 9-10 overall, 3-7 in the NEWMAC, while the Pride fell to 11-15 overall, and also 3-7 in the NEWMAC.
MIT used a 16-hit attack, overcoming four errors. Springfield had 12 hits, but could not string enough of them together to overcome the seven-run eighth.
Third baseman Dan Hyatt and catcher A.J. Hansbrough each went 3-for-5 for MIT. Also with two hits apiece were shortstop Bryan Macomber, second baseman Stewart Park, and first baseman Ricardo Perez.
For the hosts, leftfielder Harris was the only player to come up with three hits, knocking in three runs in the process. Centerfelder John Schmaltz and second baseman Mike Robilotto each went 2-for-4.
The win was allotted to Ryne Barry (2-0), who gave up three hits and no runs in 3 and 2/3 of relief. The loss went to Mark Grant (1-3), who gave up eight hits and four runs, all earned, in six innings in a starting role.
MIT jumped out to an immediate 1-0 lead. But SC countered with a run to tie it in the bottom of the second, then added two more in the bottom of the third. The Engineers came back with one in the top of the fourth, and then took a 4-3 lead with two in the fifth.
It remained that way until MIT piled on seven in the eighth to take a commanding 11-3 lead. SC pushed across two in the bottom of the ninth to make it a little more respectable.
Springfield will next play at Wesleyan Wednesday at 4 p.m. MIT plays again Wednesday when the Engineers host Salem State College at 3:30 p.m.


text:
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — Most Asian stocks climbed Tuesday on signs of progress in U.S. budget talks to avert the fiscal cliff, with exporters and financial firms driving Japanese shares to their highest level in more than eight months.
"Investors underweight equities are becoming more anxious about being left behind if there is a reasonable outcome to the U.S. fiscal cliff negotiations," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.
The Nikkei Stock Average NIK, -0.28% rose 1% to 9,923.01, a closing level not seen since early April. The advance builds on gains from the previous session, when a landslide election victory for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) sparked fresh optimism for the introduction of deflation-fighting policies.
South Korea's Kospi 180721, +0.22% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.94% added 0.5% each, Taiwan's Taiex XX:Y9999 rose 0.2% and China's Shanghai Composite Index 000001, -3.60% inched up 0.1%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.15% slipped 0.1%, paring some of this month's gains.
While overnight gains on Wall Street set the tone for early gains for most regional markets, a further advance for U.S. equity futures and higher commodity prices aided sentiment.
Also supporting stock gains, President Barack Obama reportedly made a new offer late Monday on a deal to avoid the cliff, moving closer to the Republicans' position. The White House's latest counterproposal included $1.2 trillion in revenue increases and $1.22 trillion in spending reductions, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed source familiar with the negotiations. Read: Obama reportedly makes new 'fiscal cliff' offer.
Financial firms led the gains in U.S. markets on Monday as fiscal cliff hopes gave investors some confidence about the health of the U.S. economy and optimism on the sector spread to Tokyo on Tuesday.
Nomura Holdings Inc. 8604, -1.12% NMR, -0.93% climbed 6.4% after a 3.2% rally for its American Depositary Shares overnight, and top Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. 8306, -1.05% US:MTU rising 3.8%.
In light of current global asset-price reflation and falling volatility, "Japan is our favored contrarian long," said Merrill Lynch's global equity strategy team, which recommended buying Japanese banks.
With the dollar trading around ¥84 Tuesday, many blue-chip exporters added to their Monday's gains. See: Dollar jumps to 19-month high vs. yen.
Olympus Corp. 7733, -2.25% OCPNF, +4.69% rose 6.2% and industrial major Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. 7012, -1.08% KWHIF, +0.00% gained 1.5%.
Sharp Corp. 6753, -2.21% SHCAF, -0.95% extended its rally Monday to add another 8.4%.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. 9501, -1.81% TKECF, -3.16% zoomed 17.3% higher, also building on strong gains in the previous session, when the stock ended limit-up amid hopes for a more favorable policy towards the sector under the incoming LDP-led government's regime.
In Hong Kong, insurance major AIA Group Ltd. AAIGF, +2.12% 1299, +0.13% lost 3.3% after former parent American Insurance Group Inc. AIG, +0.66% wrapped up its stake sale in AIA. Read: AIG sells AIA shares near top end of range.
Banks also gained broadly, with China Merchants Bank Co. 600036, +0.34% CIHKY, +1.52% climbing 1% and China Construction Bank Corp. 601939, +0.14% CICHY, +1.17% trading 0.3%.
Elsewhere in the region, Korea Exchange Bank KR:004940 KR:004940 rose 2% in Seoul, National Australia Bank Ltd. NAB, -0.69% NABZY, +0.11% added 0.5% in Sydney and Chinatrust Financial Holding Co. advanced 0.6% in Taipei.


text:
Annual Reports of the Mayor of Savannah, Georgia, 1855-1917
- Coverage Dates: 1855-1917
- Update Frequency: Complete
- Audience: General, student, research
The Annual Reports of the Mayor of Savannah, Georgia, 1855-1917 include information on city activities and finances, commercial statistics, health, death, and illness statistics, and information on trade, public schools, weather, charitable institutions and city ordinances. The documents also include reports of the City Attorney, the Police Department (including crime statistics), the City Engineer, the Fire Department (including statistics on fires and property losses), and the Board of Trade, among others.
The Annual Reports of the Mayor of Savannah, 1855-1917 are from the collections of the University of Georgia Libraries and were microfilmed in 1995 as part of the SOLINET/ASERL Cooperative Microfilming Project (NEH PS-20317). The images presented here were scanned from microfilm. This site currently contains only the holdings available on microfilm, but additional dates may be added in the future.
- Database Provider: Digital Library of Georgia
- Database Tutorial: DLG Help Information
Express Link (bookmark): http://www.galileo.usg.edu/express?link=zmos


text:
Assignment Photography and Syndication
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This entire site ⓒ 2005-2011 The Sartorialist. All of the photographs herein, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted by the photographer. No part of this site, or any of the content contained herein, may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without express permission of the copyright holder(s).
Monday, January 22, 2007
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She is soooo a Rembrandt come alive!
Not at all Goth to me -- 19th century. Wonderful.
breathtaking I adore the cape.
Wow. While this look is not for everyone, she's so much more interesting than some of the formulaic fashionistas at the shows.
Lovely lady - she looks otherwordly! I wish I see more of this in Brussels when I visit early next month! When did yo ugo to Antwerp? My crew is going there as I write this, to set up one of our designs at the Antwer exhibition center, for the tourism show! If I'd known you'd be there, I would have accompanied them myself, just to meet you...
Es un hada en plena ciudad.
and behind her the flagship store of Dries Van Noten, 'Het Modepaleis'.
One of my favorites!
Hmmm . . . it's definitely goth but I don't know if it's really stylishly dressed re: a gothic fashion. I can say she's quite daring and has a definite flair for the dramatic.
Hrm..Dunno if i like this or not.
Very good idea for a site. Some of these peoples dress sense is very good.
Woua! as we say in French: LA CLASSE!(Lestat's daughter maybe)
This is quite amazing, an exercise in volume building that gets better and better as it progresses, inside to out. Note also how canny her sense of proportion....
About goths: I have to admit that the style is very popular on the nordic hemisphere cities and in some recent collections. But it is also an expected statement from young heavy souls that like to also experiment with eyeliner.
The further I've gotten into the goth path is maybe wearing all black and reading Demian by Hesse (not at once). I would dare to say that I DO avoid looking goth.... sorry heavy souls but you scare me a little.
This girl looks like she is very very wise and totally naive all at once. That is great! she seems to be enjoying her self, and she is proud of her assumed persona. Nice shot.
How gorgeous!
I'm with nan. What made it goth is the gloves perhaps? Without them, though, it's a simple time period homage that's well done.
Wow. How dramatic. She really does take your breath away. Her posture is quite impressive as well!
Why do you refer to her as a "girl"?
You don't refer to the men in your photos as "boys".
i don't have no words to describe such style! but i love it!
I passed on an orange scarf on recent trip to Chicago. Not that I didnt love it, but it occurred to me that with my black leather jacket, I would be wearing my high school colors.
yeha I get more of a 19th century vibe as well...I alwyas admire people who can wear fashion with no fear...check out my blog if you get a chance
She is other wordly - her face is beautiful. Sets off an incredible look.
Jane Eyre!
Antwerp??? Blimey! Allow me to send a proper welcome in the name of all your Belgian readers.
And raise a hand if you need a guide in Antwerp or Brussels these days!
I just love your blo, great!
Bravo. Simply wonderful. Gothic rather than goth; no black lipstick or nail polish, hair a delightfully naturally occuring color (though perhaps not her natural color)
goth? yes. stylish? no.
The outfit is quite dramatic and romantic but the shoes ruin it for me. So clunky.
I see some others agree with me that this look isn't really "Goth" in the normal sense, perhaps goth-inspired ("Goth-ic", to coin a phrase?) Did she actually admit to being a Goth, or was that your silent assumption?
That said, I think she's really stunning and certainly commands a presence. If she walked by me, I'd certainly feel the urge to compliment her striking outfit (unless my girlfriend's with me, obviously; then I just shut up and try to catch a sly glimpse.)
SARTORIALIST ... where's pics from the mens shows in paris? are they coming? i mean, the shows finish tommorrow!
Stunning. And confident. She does this wonderfully. And I do think that counts as goth, although there are some additional things to consider, such as music. If she wore that to a goth club I frequent, I would not think her out of place a bit.
- samantha
That's unbelievably theatrical!
It wouldn't really work out here in Brazil - not because we don't have Goths of our own, but because they want to seem sooooooooo mean...
But it's beautiful anyway.
Long time lurker, 1st time poster.
The thing that really makes this picture "pop" is the red. Her hair, the scarf, the color at her waist. Without these, the effect just wouldn't be the same...
Very cool. She seems so poised and self-possessed.
I rarely see capes that long since I live in a area that is too warm to wear one that long. I do love her cape though!
Thank you so much for recognizing the beauty of Goth and not ridiculing it like a lot of fashion magazines and blogs do. The girl is beautiful.
Or Cathy from "Wuthering Heights"
What are you doing in Antwerp? I really hope you'll be in Paris to cover the Haute Couture shows this week! X
Scott, you're a sucker for a pretty girl in a cape...
she's cute, but I'm with Jasper; lemme into the Dries shop!
This girl represents the soul of Antwerp very well! I have only been there once, but my impression was a sort of a mysterious city, with the same depth and "double" personality as this girl.. Like in the contrast between "the captial of diamonds"-Antwerp, "the capital of innovative art and design"-Antwerp and "the dirty harbour"-Antwerp
I hope the weird police man didnt scare you from exploring the city further...funny story though, hehe!
a very unique look, i like =)
&this is minor/anal, but there's a tiny typo in the entry...it's "sight" not "site" sorry to be so picky, but it just kinda stuck out when i read it
anyway, keep up the good work!!
WOW I love that picture! and with your stories i see that you are a funny writer too!
Nice :)
How beautiful!
If only she knew how we all appreciate her costume... ;)
Love it. Love the worn Doc Martens especially.
ah, but posture is always better with a cape---be it real or imaginary!
the photo is really cool, you don't find people dressed like that every day...but I don't really like her style...
I love seeing people commit to a look. Be it for one day, or always, it takes confidence and a bit of showmanship!
Also, gotta love a red-head!
SHe definitely has a certain look from maybe the 1800s. It's reminiscent of a movie set in centuries-old England, fitting for a dark, cold, dreary winter afternoon.
Oh, so cute! She's like a little girl Theyskens muse. Original and charming.
Great SHOT! What a beautiful girl - I can Write a novel with her as a character - her face is so beautiful and gentle aganst the strong black
Beautiful. Would be better with different shoes.
The boots, I think, would shore up any lingering doubts about whether it's a goth look or not.
Really lovely! I don't think or care whether she's goth or not, but certainly she's got her way! I mean, she looks spectacular, elegant and totally confident.
Great style. Antwerp is amazing, btw. I hope you stay a few days and shoot there. Do stay away from Amsterdam though...not quite as inspired, fashion-wise IMO.
I love this b/c she obviously has courage to break out of the "chic" mold and do her own version of beautiful style. While not my personal or subcultural taste, she is so beautifully self styled!
there certainly is a certain something about her isnt there?
Wow there missy! It's quite something, isn't it? It's not really my thing, but I love her pose and stare-very alluring...wooo.
To Nan and Anonymous 12:32:
They had Doc Martens in the 19th century?
Definitely goth - in that way that a woman in stovepipe jeans, an old white t shirt and a pair of Manolos is chic, and a girl in the same thing with converse is indie rock.
To Sart: I love the fact that you focussed on this. If your goal was to take pictures the way a designer sees the world (in your own way), I really think you hit the mark when you look outside the usual fashion crowd. Don't get me wrong - I love the pictures of the fashion crowd. It's just nice to know there's more out there to be inspired by.
She reminds me, a bit, of all of those early(ish) 90's monastic looks with the great coats. I think I still have a full length Calvin Klien coat from the period . . .
Oh, more from Antwerp, please. The fashion-watching is wonderful there because everyone in the city buys and wears the local designers. You would see mothers and daughters - no connection with the fashion business, not rich women - just naturally wearing stuff like the boiled wool asymmetrical skirts, jackets with three sleeves - looking exactly right in them.
How dramatic. Really nice. Love the contrast.
Sorry but I find it very...shivering!
I applaud her fashion risk-taking, but her look is one that betrays a potential sensibility to bore us with teenage angst poetry of moonlight, blood, and unrequitted love.
How amazing you are in Antwerp! My sister and I are fans of your great blog for quite a while now. Do come by in our shoeboutique 'georgette' at the Steenhouwersvest 15! It's quite close to the Fashion Museum. We can give you lots of tips on where to find some stylish antwerp ladies & gentlemen...
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!
Hester Prynne!
"What I really like is that she has a Goth look but has kept the sweet innocent face." That's what I was thinking when I looked at the photo...well sorta...i guess it was more like, "thank god she doesn't have goth makeup to match her goth outfit." i like it! nice shot w/ the cape just being picked up by the wind.
As always I love to remember that this one of the few places that values style over fashion.
I'm thinking Willow, in the bizzarro-world episode of "Buffy" - i.e. when Willow becomes a vampire.
Sorry. Got that out of my system now.
The shoes are a little heavy and mannish.....
The hood is lined in red, which complements her hair and offsets her face. But the rest of the cape appears either unlined or lined in black.
Interesting. I think a different color hood lining would be needed for different colored hair though. For brown hair, any suggestions?
Right out of the "Seventh Seal".
i'm with anon 11:50. she knows how to pull it all together, but it still gives off highschool kid in an emo phase who repetitively tells himself "my life sucks," vibe.
It's Gini Weasley all grown up, is what it is. And she's gorgeous.
The gothic cape outfit works well with her pearl white skin tone. The dark and light contrast work perfectly.
Good eye as usual, the lady looks delicious. Very glad you plucked up the courage.
Waw that's a great pic.
Can't wait to see the other shots you did in Antwerp!
Great pic.
So much better than so many of the -albeit stylish-fashionista's on your blog.
I adore someone who stands out of the crowd without being a follower of fashion (though some might say she follows a subcultural dresscode). It speaks volumes on one's character.
Individualism is the new black!
Wow, that is one gorgeous cape!
She is the most incredible thing I've seen in years. I'm at a loss for words.
Its with goth as any other lifestyle/style, the use of too many attributes will destroy the look.
(Rockabilly can look amazing if you don´t go too heavy on the tattoos, skulls and whatnots. Dito for punk. And don´t think the gentleman´s uniform of dries, armani and so forth is any better or worse. It is what you make it.)
Using a set style to dress is an easy way out. I love how the sartorialist catches those who walk the less trodden path. Whether it be a cape or a surprisingly loud scarf.
Pretty young girl. Almost angelical. Her ensemble is hauntingly beautiful. Wonderful.
you need to come to melbourne..
WOW! Love it. I once saw Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on the street in Montreal with a cape. He looked absolutely dashing and gorgeous. I've seen several capes since but only this one looks nearly as great. Beautiful photo, too!
Love it!
She looks directly come out of Interveiw with vampire with that Goth
In that street- de kammenstraat- in antwerp, there's a store that sells gothic clothes. -It's a wonderfull, bit creepy store, like all gothstores-
so you often see girls and boys with these styles. But this is an amazing shot.
For the author of the blog...
Well, Sir... I think if you go to the Wave Gotik Treffen festival, their eyes would be fascinated in the vision that you could have.
Oh! She has a really sweet and intelligent countenance.
Wow! She is a vampire!!! Beautiful and brave!


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NHL owners and players will resume talking Monday. What's unknown is whether they will be speaking the same language.
That has been the problem during the 64-day-old lockout that threatens the 2012-13 NHL season. Owners are seeking what they consider as a fair 50-50 split of hockey-related revenue. Players view their demands as another money grab.
Owners also want a change in contracting rules because they think the league will operate more effectively if veteran, proven players are rewarded rather than up-and-coming stars. Players see the owners' plan as another method to take away their rights and limit their leverage.
Monday's meeting will be the first formal session since last Sunday's 90-minute bargaining session that left both sides frustrated.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Sunday via email that he expected the Monday session would include himself, Commissioner Gary Bettman and a "small number" of owners. Some players are expected to join NHL Players' Association heads Donald and Steve Fehr at the meeting.
"I don't know what they have on the agenda," Daly said.
Any hope of starting a season around Dec. 1 would necessitate major progress Monday. It is expected to take 10 days from the time of a deal is reached to the opening of a season. Players would probably be given three days to report for a seven-day training camp.
But it seems as if the two sides are a long way from that point. Here is a recap at how differently they view the major issues:
Dividing hockey-related revenue 50-50
Players' perspective: They accepted a salary cap and took a 24% pay cut during the last collective bargaining agreement seven years ago under the flag that those changes would fix the system. In exchange for those concessions, they received a 57% share of the revenue. Now, they see owners coming back for more.
They say they are willing to accept 50-50 provided owners are willing to honor all existing individual contracts. Essentially, they want a guarantee that they can preserve their existing dollar take to ensure that players who signed deals won't have to give money back through escrow.
Instead of negotiating the split, players have said they will accept $1.883 billion each season for the length of the deal, compounded by 1.75% interest per season (to create room for new contracts to be signed). They view that as getting close to the 50-50 split. They want to set that as the core economic structure and then negotiate how to deal with the reduced revenue that would result from an abbreviated season.
Owners' perspective: With revenues expected to be reduced by a minimum of $350 million to $400 million, and probably by much more, they say the players' proposal actually ensures them a raise in their share of revenue in year one and then never goes lower than a little more than 52%.
Acknowledging that players with players under contract don't want to give back money, they have offered $211 million (deferred by a year with interest) to be returned to players as part of a make-whole provision designed to cover two seasons worth of individual losses resulting from dropping the players' share from 57% to 50%.
They think by the third season anticipated revenue growth will be enough to ensure that they will be above the $1.883 billion they were at last season.
How it boils down: Owners want a deal that cleanly establishes the 50-50 split of hockey-related revenue. They want a linkage and seem willing to risk the season to accomplish that.
Changes to contracting rights
Owners are seeking entry level contracts reduced to two years, a change in qualification for arbitration rights and changing unrestricted free agency qualifications from seven seasons or age 27 to eight seasons or age 28. Those changes, working together, would effectively reduce leverage players have to land the lucrative "second contracts" that have been commonplace since the last lockout. Owners are also seeking to cap individual contract lengths to five years, plus limiting the variance of salaries in a deal to 5% from one year to the next.
Owners' perspective: It's primarily a philosophical issue. They think, or maybe it is general managers who think, that the system operates better when they are paying players in the prime of their careers rather than players on the rise.
The cap on individual contract lengths, plus the variance restrictions, are designed to put an end to "back diving" contracts, the deals that include lower salaries late in a career designed to lower the average salary for salary cap purposes.
The owners' view this practice as legalized salary cap circumvention. Agents and GMs found a loophole and exploited it. Owners want to close it off.
Players' perspective: The proposed restrictions are as major as the 50-50 split to the NHLPA because the proposed changes would affect many members.
When the last CBA was completed, it was presumed a star player would receive 20% of the team's cap, which is the maximum allowed.
But that never happened. Instead, stars started taking less to ensure that they could be on a team with top players. With the current rules in place, agents were able to use existing rules and comparable player salaries to get better deals for every player coming out of his entry-level contract. Not only are rising stars getting lucrative deals, but many players have used the rules effectively.
They think the rules in place affect a large number of players, and they think they ensure a strong "middle class" in the NHL salary structure.
How it boils down: Players think the owners' position is that these demands are non-negotiable. That's difficult to believe. You don't even have agreement among teams about which of these rules is most important. If players accept a 50-50 split of revenue, would owners really risk losing the season over these issues? It seems as if this the area where owners would be most inclined to back off, although they have made it clear in recent weeks that they don't view these issues as minor.


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Jig fast steps at Jebel Ali
Treble Jig was the very impressive winner of Friday`s Jebel Ali Stakes, kindly sponsored by Shadwell, the UK arm of the breeding operation of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 1950m highlight of Friday`s Jebel Ali meeting.
Always in front under champion Jockey Wayne Smith, riding for his main employer trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, Treble Jig was kicked clear about 300m out before recording an easy 10 lengths victory from last year`s winner Emmrooz who looked to be travelling ominously well until Smith committed the winner for home leaving any potential challenger struggling.
Smith said: "He won like that at Abu Dhabi on his local debut before a disastrous run at Meydan when he was far too keen over a trip probably too far. I hoped this Jebel Ali surface would suit him and knew, if it did, he would be staying on strongly up the hill. That said, I do not think I expected we might win by that far. Hopefully this opens up plenty of options for him."
On an afternoon of doubles, trainer and jockey completed theirs when Youm Mutamiez won the concluding 1400m handicap to open his UAE account at the third attempt.
Trainer Satish Seemar and jockey Richard Mullen were also in double form with He`sminenotyours landing the 1600m prep race for the Jebel Ali Mile after On War`s comfortable victory in the 1950m maiden.
He`sminenotyours had to dig deep to beat Happy Today (representing the Al Muhairi/Smith partnership) to the delight of Mullen who said: "We knew we had a good chance if he stayed the 1600m and he has done that well. After his 1400m win here last time we decided the Jebel Ali Mile would be the target so we will be back in two weeks, hopefully with a live chance."
About On War`s much easier victory Mullen said: "All this horse does is stay and he will get further in time. He ran well enough from a bad draw at Abu Dhabi and did it nicely today."
The other pairing in double form were Doug Watson combining with rider Tadhg O`Shea to win the opening 1200m handicap with Kilt Rock who was registering his fourth straight win this season and Fares who scored a narrow victory in the 1600m on his first start since March 2011.
Praising Kilt Rock Watson said: "We thought he would have a good season after spending the summer here to acclimatise but I doubt we expected four wins. He just keeps finding more and seems to be improving with confidence and racing. We will have to see what the handicapper does now but hopefully we can find another race for him here at Jebel Ali as he loves it here."
The eight-year-old Fares had to dig deep to deny a determined challenge from runner-up Crackdown and O`Shea said: "He is a grand older horse who really battled to hold on close home. It has been another good afternoon in what has been a great start to the season. Long may it continue!"


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I can't go on like this forever. It's just not sustainable, this 1-degree-of-SST idea. I mean, there's only so many SST/New Alliance Records-related fixations a man can reasonably have. And I've talked about most all of them over the course of these here NeareSST Relatives posts (the 1st, or 2nd, or 3rd installments in this series will clarify things for newcomers). So: barring the appearance of, say, a TOM TROCCOLI commemorative water bong or a MERRILL WARD annotated tarot deck – this'll be the last of this series. Now, don't start stamping your feet: there'll be other SST rants/raves here is the future, oh yes indeed. But this'll stand as your last NeareSST affront. Turn it up to 12 and count it off . . .
1. THE PERFECT RAT – "Clouds" (from their Endangered Species, Alone Records, 2007) I once stumbled into The Idea Room – a short-lived coffee house & performance space adjacent to the SST Records HQ in Long Beach in the 90's – and watched slack-jawed as bassist Greg Ginn, saxophonist Tony Atherton, and an unknown-to-me drummer (Bill Stinson?) coiled loosely together into a freestyle jam. Then, up stepped one Rev. Jack Brewer, who proceeded to intone a stack of obtuse poems like they were particularly nasty death threats/suicide notes. Now I'd seen Brewer perform before, but as I'd missed out on seeing BLACK FLAG and GONE, this was my one and only time I ever saw Ginn play live (though I did bump into G. once manning a cat rescue table outside an LB pet store!). It was urgent, plaintive, intuitive and out there, man.
Now: this CD hits the "market", and dammit if it ain't oddly similar. It's the same core of dudes and the execution's not unlike that one-off performance, except the twin gtr smudge attack (c/o Mario Lalli and Gary Arce) pushes the sound away from BOHO JAZZ and right on into the smoldering firepit of HEAVY DUTY. A third of this is instrumental, but the rest has Jack right up front, preaching the word – older, but no less ornery or driven. If he'd been a bit more prolific over the years, Jack would stand as a Cali equivalent to THE FALL's Marc E. Smith in terms of nutrient-rich verbal content. And Ginn's basslines, alternatingly contemplative and playfully blippity – so unlike his chunkstyle riffing and careening soloing in FLAG! – compel me in totally unexpected ways.
These are a lot more than just TEN EAST demos, pal.
2. BRIAN WALSBY – Manchild 3 (Bifocal Media, 2007) – New softcover by this cartoonist to the HC stars. Brian Walsby has been around for a coon's age drawing flyers/recordcovers/comics based on our communal slam pit heritage that are boneheaded and bellyaching, in pretty equal amounts. This issue is especially heavy on the SST references, with a couple of great, full-page caricatures based on famous depictions of BLACK FLAG and THE MINUTEMEN, not to mention a hilarious Brady Bunch send-up of Greg, Chuck, and the rest of the gang. Other pieces include "Life After BLACK FLAG" (check that one out here), "Possible Careers for the BLACK FLAG My War Puppet Mascot" etc. . . you get the picture. The fact that Brian returns to this subject matter over and over (not unlike yours truly) belies a real reverence for the entire SST nexus. Bonus: this comes with a CD by Brian's other favorite subject – THE MELVINS. A lo-fi, unreleased demo tape from 1987, pre-Ozma with Lori Black on bass! Would make a great stocking stuffer fr sure.
3. TWISTED ROOTS – "Every Party Song" (from their Twisted Roots LP, CD Presents, 1986) – Not to be confused with the self-titled TWISTED ROOTS LP/CD on Bacchus Archives (which I recommend heartily), this was a one-off LP by Paul Roessler + a totally different band, including gtrist Dez Cadena and bassist Bruce Duff of the mighty JESTERS OF DESTINY. It was recorded while Paul was in DC3, but acted as a vehicle for his more theatrical, singer-songwritery impulses. It's kinda sorta similar to the wacko approach Pat Smear took on his Ruthensmear rec on SST that same year (i.e. glitter/croon/pomp), but with a focus on piano-driven pop songcraft. And, for reasons that escape me now, much less successful.
While Ruthensmear delivered what I always considered to be a bitchen, post-wave update of MICK RONSON's Slaughter on 10th Avenue, here Paul ends up sounding like, I dunno . . . an underground 80's JOBRIATH? It won't be the sort of brew most can stand, but hey: I'm kinda fascinated by JOBRIATH, so I can at least follow Paul's logic. This particular cut is no less sappy/over-the-top than anything else on this rec, but it does have one of them nice melodies both Pat and Paul were once able to toss off during a quick Oki Dog midnight run. Plus, it kinda makes me miss the days when going to see Pat's DEATH FOLK was a viable Friday night gig out in LA.
Stretches your patience, perhaps – but for whatever reason, I'm still sitting here listening to it.
4. SLUTS FOR HIRE – "Problem" (from The Happiest Band on Earth CD, Flipside Records, 1996) In many ways, the LEAVING TRAINS were odd-men-out within the SST constellation: they were glamfag and willfully Hollywood, unlike all the rest of those dress-down, hairy/nerdy SST rocker types living out in Harbor City or wherever back then. The TRAINS never bothered with boring things like musical chops, and though they wrote great tunes they were often so amped up they'd race through em hastily like they were devouring a tube of Pringles. But like their labelmates, the TRAINS were originally from 'burbs (well Pacific Palisades, anyway) and they always stuck their tongues out at any urbane coolness/smugness around LA.
As did their screaming kid-sisters, the SLUTS FOR HIRE. The SLUTS were initially the TRAINS + friends in disguise, and they released a stupid/silly single to prove it. Then, Falling James was kicked out for being too old. Soon after, the SLUTS released a full-length CD and became 90's Flipside mag idiot savant glitterati.
Now I'm not gonna kid you and say they were any shade of genius. But oh man they were soooo much fun live, kicking/yelling/screaming and flinging all their colored hair and bright, thriftstore duds round the clubs, long after most hipsters had lost any kinda fashion sense whatsoever. Seeing them had this unrepentant SPARKS/CELEBRITY SKIN fan thinking he'd died and gone to Tinseltown. Hell, I can honestly say they remain my favorite gig-on-cannabis ever. That's EVER. Best SLUTS lyric (from "Neil Young"): "Bruce Berry was a working man/ he used to load that Econoline van/ but that's not all Bruce was loading . . ." Wish there were still half a dozen bands this fun out in LA anymore . . .
5. BLACK KALI MA – "Evil Clowns" (from their You Ride the Pony CD on Alternative Tentacles Records, 2000) Gary Floyd's is the third voice I most-closely associate with my home state of Texas. His falls right after ROKY ERICKSON and BILLY GIBBONS, but most definitely ahead of both BUDDY HOLLY and GIBBY HAYNES. And Gary's is a great one. He screamed out one of the most memorable/iconic songs of the early hardcore punk rock era (THE DICKS' "Hate the Police") and howled all over two good SST LPs (THE DICKS' Kill From the Heart and SISTER DOUBLE HAPPINESS' self-titled LP) . Gary's also known for his large stature but by the time he put together BLACK KALI MA he'd lost a heck of a lot of that weight, surely for health reasons. But that didn't affect his voice one iota. I especially like Gary when he gets all sentimental, since it's so obvious he's a big – really, really big – softy underneath it all. Though here, the band is crunching down in that burning, hard 'n' heavy Texas blues rock tradition, bringing to mind THE MELVINS circa Stag. Tasty.
6. DEBRIS INC. – "I Love Livin' in the City" (From their Debris Inc. CD, Rise Above Records, 2005) If SACCHARINE TRUST were soul music, Wilmington-style, then Dave Chandler's SAINT VITUS were most definitely soul music, Lomita-style. Longhair boys who just wanted to rock it slow, low, and heavy. Nothing more. How many people this side of Terry Riley have been so goddamn single-minded about their mission?
But that GERMS (GI) t-shirt Dave always wore (prominently displayed on the cover of the SAINT VITUS Thirsty & Miserable EP) was the source of many moments of really, really deep thought for me a kid. Like: were all these HC punkers just metalheads reborn with crewcuts? Was THE GERMS' "Shutdown" a not-so-veiled BLACK SABBATH tribute? Did the Fabulous Furry Freak Bros. listen to THE RAMONES while they got high? It was positively confounding.
As was Dave's recent DEBRIS INC. project. I suppose this was just a lark – nuthin' but a diversion cooked up by bassist Rob Holzer (ex-TROUBLE) to get Dave away from the internet porn for an album's length. They do this FEAR cover, an X cover ("Nausea"), and a bunch of short, blunt riff rants that sound as if they were written in the studio. And while the sum total ain't exactly substantial (unlike every damn VITUS release), Dave is one unheralded gtrist/musician who actually deserves our unqualified support, even when he decides to goof off. My old boss once described his solos as sounding "like insects scrambling up a wall." And there's some of his patented insect-scrambling on this release too – ah, the sound of pure ecstasy! More than a few of us continue to slither in the shadows, patiently awaiting Dave's next project . . .
7. ANDY & THE RATTLESNAKES – "Patience" (From their Last Summer to Dance comp. CD, Fellaheen Records, 2006) As the 70's became the 80's, Andy and the boys held down a couple-year residency at the Taurus Tavern in Culver City near Venice. A pre-SST Records TOM TROCCOLI swooned to 'em many a night therein, vowing then and there: should I ever get the chance to make a record, I'm gonna record something by this man. He got the chance on his Dog album on SST from '85 with a wiggy version of this tune, albeit with liberties taken in the lyrical and arrangement department. And last year, Andy finally pulled together all his band's loose cuts/demos from '80-'81 on to this CD.
Time hasn't exactly smiled on the sound of guys like Andy – the GARLAND JEFFREYS of the West Coast, anyone? But see, people forget that bands like THE MOTELS defined Hollywood street rock way more coherently than, say, THE GERMS did back in '77 (Darby & Pat's thing wouldn't cohere for at least a year more). And Andy was the spiritual heir to that solid, early MOTELS sound. Aww, now you punkers just relax why doncha, it's all just music anyway. Some of this band went on to be in BURNING SENSATIONS, but if that bothers you imagine you're listening to the genesis of all things NIG HEIST and this tune'll sit just fine.
8. JACK BREWER – No Lunch (Sinistry Press, 1991) A fitting end to this fitting (as in epileptic) series of posts. I bought this slim printed volume of Jack's poetry at the tiny SST SUPERSTORE that existed on Sunset Blvd. for a year or two in the early 90's. Pat Smear wasn't working that day – maybe Kurt had already drafted him into NIRVANA? At any rate, it was left to a miserable-looking Falling James of THE LEAVING TRAINS, clad head-to-toe in drag, to accept my cash payment for this. And in all my travels, I've never ever seen another copy. It's mostly lyrics taken from his various musical projects (SACCHARINE TRUST, JACK BREWER BAND, BAZOOKA, etc.) but there's some stray bits in here that I don't believe have ever found their way to record.
Jack's always had a disquieting knack of melding mythical allegory & religious iconography with the mundane harshness of that $4.25-an-hour suburban CA life he's been exiled to. His words are timeless, crystaline sweat; they ring out loud and righteous, no matter if he's reading from high on a pedestal or from the prone position on a beer-splattered rock 'n' roll stage. And his art exemplifies that utterly compelling mix of high & low brow aesthetic senses – filtered through the grim reality of service-worker chumpdom – that underpinned all the best SST bands/artists. Dig the pull quote.
– – – – –
With that, I'm done. My hope for all you reading these NeareSST Relatives posts? That you will be reminded to plug into the work of these fine, fine ex-SST folks in the near future. Amen.
Vintage SST tuner photos courtesy of Jonathan Charles


text:
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for strong winds across most of Scotland on Saturday.
It says that winds will strengthen during Saturday morning to bring gales to many locations.
The swathe of strongest winds will start in the southwest during the early morning before transferring northeastwards through the day.
Gust speeds are expected to reach 55-60mph, with more exposed locations seeing some gusts of 65mph.
The public should also be aware of the potential for some localised travel disruption.
According to the Chief Forecaster: "A deepening area of low pressure will move northeastwards from the Atlantic through Friday night and Saturday with a swathe of strong winds around its southern flank.
"There is some uncertainty over the intensity of this system and therefore also the peak wind speeds, but latest indications are that the north of Northern Ireland, much of Scotland and also parts of northern England (especially to the east of the Pennines) are most likely to be affected.
"The winds will moderate from the west during Saturday afternoon, with northeastern Scotland the last place to see winds reduce."


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The Library: Bi People
This report addresses the lives and experiences, demographics and identities of bisexual people in Brighton & Hove and their vulnerability to marginalisation and exclusion on a number of measures: health and wellbeing (including mental health), discrimination, prejudice and abuse, housing, safety, and use of services. The report makes recommendations for future strategy and service development.
- Academic Findings Report (PDF 859 kb) 116 pages - December 2008
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Three new Uncommon Descent contests: Lots of fun for physics buffs
Win a free Privileged Planet DVD, courtesy the producers, for the best post answering any of the following questions:
Uncommon Descent Contest Question 13: The Large Hadron Collider is back up and running, but why?
Nine billion dollars and 15 years later, what is the Large Hadron Collider likely to tell us that is worth the cost and trouble?Uncommon Descent Contest Question 14: Is backwards or forwards time travel really possible?
Two physicists have suggested that Hadron's woes are due to particles travelling back in time. Their theory has been received with the amusement one might expect, but it raises an interesting question, one that is a staple of sci-fi literature - is forward or backward time travel possible, even for particles?
Uncommon Descent Contest Question 15: Can Darwinism - or any evolution theory - help us predict life on other planets?
At Britain's Telegraph (November 04, 2009), Tom Chivers advises that "Darwinian evolutionary theory will help find alien life, says Nasa scientist."Here are the contest rules, not many. Winners receive a certificate verifying their win as well as the prize. Winners must provide me with a valid postal address, though it need not be theirs. A winner's name is never added to a mailing list. Have fun, and enter as many as you like.
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