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Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay, tucked into Ontario's Lake Huron, is a bit of a misnomer. At 5,792 square miles it's not that much smaller than Lake Ontario (7,320 square miles), earning it the nickname "the sixth Great Lake." With more than 1,240 miles of grayish-pink granite shoreline, it is part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve and a summer freshwater playground for boaters, anglers, and kayakers.
"One of the things I love about living here is that you can access the water from just about anywhere—and it's access to big water, right into Georgian Bay and onto Lake Huron," says Jennifer McGillivray, lifetime resident of Ontario and former executive director of the area's annual Festival of the Sound.
By early September, when the summer cottage crowd has headed home, the bay is quiet, yet the water and air are still warm enough for kayaking and canoeing. This is the time to rent a canoe from a local outfitter like White Squall and paddle out among the bay's 32 historic lighthouses and 30,000 islands, which form the world's largest freshwater archipelago and Georgian Bay Islands National Park. "Definitely navigate the archipelago to see the islands," McGillivray says. They are accessible by water only, and while you could motor through on a cruiser, gliding ashore silently in a kayak or canoe just feels right.
When to Go: June through August is the busiest tourist season. Beginning in mid-July, the three-week Festival of the Sound classical music celebration is staged on the waterfront at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts in Parry Sound. For beach-going, try seven-mile Sauble Beach in the town of South Bruce Peninsula; the crescent-shaped Providence Bay beach and boardwalk on Manitoulin Island; or Wasaga Beach at the southern end of Georgian Bay, a nine-mile stretch of white sand that bills itself at the world's longest freshwater beach. For kayaking and camping in the archipelago, plan a late August or early September visit when the water and campsites are quiet. Late September to early October is the best time to see fall foliage. In winter, you can blaze your own trail across the frozen bay via snowshoe, ski, or snowmobile.
Where to Stay: Quiet beaches, challenging hiking trails, and unforgettable sailing vistas are all within easy reach thanks to the many B&Bs, cottages, campgrounds, and resorts that dot the landscape. If you're traveling with your dog and/or kids, the 224-room Westin Trillium House Blue Mountain Resort will accommodate you with upscale rooms and suites that have kitchenettes and gas fireplaces, and sleep as many as ten. Renting a traditional summer cottage is one of the best ways to experience Georgian Bay summer lake culture. Killbear Provincial Park invites visitors to sleep under the stars. This Georgian Bay peninsula park has 882 camping sites, flush toilets, showers, and a general store. Winter camping is available at Cedar Spring and Chimney Bay (primitive) campgrounds on Beausoleil Island in Georgian Bay Islands National Park.
How to Get Around: Take advantage of Georgian Bay's aquatic highway and access the region's top attractions by boat. Yacht rentals are available in Gore Bay, Little Current, Penetanguishene, and Midland; pleasure craft operators must carry documentation that they have a basic knowledge of boating safety (see Transport Canada's website for details). Land travelers can explore by car, RV, or motorcycle.
Where to Eat or Drink: All of the ingredients used to prepare tapas, wood-fired thin-crust pizza, and the local fresh menu items at Haisai are grown or raised on nearby farms, including Eigensinn Farm, part of the culinary apprenticeship program—along with the restaurant—run by Governor General Award-winning chef Michael Stadtländer. His Singhampton restaurant and bakery follows a strict farm-to-table philosophy—the fish is fresh from Georgian Bay and even the whimsical wooden dining room furniture is handmade. Haisai is open for lunch and dinner Friday through Sunday; reservations are recommended.
Year-round, Grandma's Beach Treats in Wasaga Beach hand scoops Kawartha Dairy ice cream like Black Raspberry Thunder and Blueberry Ripple, but it's the homemade Canadian butter tarts—flaky crust with gooey pecan filling—that set this place apart from other lakeside ice cream stands.
What to Buy: Buy handcrafted local collectables such as soft leather moccasins, birch bark, or porcupine quill boxes, pottery, and beaded jewelry from artists on Manitoulin Island or at the Wolf Den in Parry Sound.
- Nat Geo Expeditions
What to Read Before You Go: Award-winning Canadian journalist David Macfarlane's debut novel Summer Gone (Anchor, 2001) details three defining Georgian Bay summers in a man's life and offers an insider's look at southwestern Ontario cottage life.
Helpful Links: Georgian Bay Coastal Route, Georgian Bay Islands National Park, Explore the Bruce
Fun Fact: More kinds of reptiles and amphibians live within the confines of Georgian Bay Islands National Park than anywhere else in Canada. Of the 33 species, the most infamous is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Seldom seen, it is the only venomous snake found in Ontario. Travelers can protect themselves by wearing protective clothing and being aware of their surroundings.


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Sunday, September 30, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
1984 - Anatomy of a cover - Comics Interview #14
Posted by Jason Shayer at 9:27 AM 8 comments
Labels: 1984, Comics Interview, Comics Interview #14, Mike Zeck, Secret Wars
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Top 10 Deaths in the Marvel 1980s (revised)
I wrote an early blog entry on the Top 10 Deaths of the Marvel 1980s, so I thought I'd revise the list based on those characters that actually stayed dead! Interestingly, I had to strike 7 of those original 10 off my list!
- Captain Mar-Vell (Died in The Death of Captain Marvel Graphic Novel)
- Jean DeWolffe (Died in Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #107)
- Stick (Died in Daredevil #189)
- Mariko Yashida (Died in Wolverine #57)
- Kraven (Died in Kraven's Last Hunt, 1987)
- Madelyne Prior (Died in X-Factor #38; clones of Madelyne have recently surfaced, but the original Madelyne has not)
- Kyle Richmond/Nighthawk of Earth-712 (Died in Squadron Supreme #12)
- Sam Sawyer (Died Captain America #274)
- Deathstalker (Died in Daredevil #158)
- Skurge the Executioner (Died in Thor #362)
Okay, I had to stretch the timeline a bit to get to 10. :)
Posted by Jason Shayer at 11:15 AM 14 comments
Labels: Captain Mar-vell, Daredevil, Deaths, Deathstalker, Douglas Ramsey, Jean DeWolffe, Kraven, Kyle Richmond, Madelyne Prior, Mariko Yashida, Marvel Comics, Nighthawk, Sam Sawyer, Wolverine
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
1989 - Anatomy of a cover - Spectacular Spider-Man #147
Posted by Jason Shayer at 9:10 AM 0 comments
Labels: 1989, Inferno, Marvel Comics, Sal Buscema, Spectacular Spider-Man
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Wolverine - First Official Picture
Posted by Jason Shayer at 12:15 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hugh Jackman, Marvel Comics, Movies, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Men
1977 - George Perez pinups
Posted by Jason Shayer at 12:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: 1977, George Perez, Jack of Hearts, Luke Skywalker, Marvel Comics, Star Wars
Sunday, September 23, 2012
1983 - Amazing Spider-Man #243
August 1983
Writer: Roger Stern
Penciler: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Dave Simons
This issue starts with a fun Archie moment with Peter locked in the arms of Amy Powell and covered in lipstick as Mary Jane Watson walks back into his life. Interestingly, it's MJ's sudden reappearance that has more of an effect on Peter's life as over the next few years, she becomes a more prominent character.
Amazing Spider-Man #243 is a quiet, character issue with no real bag guys to fight (okay, maybe a handful of armed men taking worshippers hostage in a church), that gives Peter a chance to digest everything that's been going on in his life and to figure out the direction he wants to take going forward.
This story isn't so much about options like the story title suggests, but more about decisions. Peter has been struggling with balancing all of his responsibilities. He's a student, photographer, and super hero, and something has to give. Peter passes his final exam, but realizes that the next year of school will demand much more of him, especially in terms of the lab and research work.
After considerable thought, Peter decides that its school that has to give at this point in his life and quits. It's not an easy decision and it was a shocking twist by Stern, who was the first writer in Spidey history to pull Peter out of school. Even today, I recall that last page and the emotional weight of it. "And once those decisions are made – for good or bad – we must live with them… all the days of our lives."
Growing up with a maturing Peter Parker, I could sympathize with his dilemma, but I couldn't help but feel it was the wrong one. Rereading the issue it's difficult to see where the blame of this decision should land. Was Stern to blame or was this simply a natural progression of the character. People don't always make the right decisions, but that's part of growing up. Even for a comic book character.
Peter's life up until that point has always been tied to school and his studies in the realm of science. Leaving that behind seemed to be liberating. Unfortunately, this character shift isn't really dealt with later in the Stern-Romita run, but is eventually picked up over two decades later by J.Michael Straczynski, who had Peter return to the classroom as a teacher.
Posted by Jason Shayer at 8:44 PM 3 comments
Labels: 1983, Amazing Spider-Man, Dave Simons, J. Michael Strazinski, John Romita Jr., Mary Jane, Roger Stern, Spider-Man
Some Incredible Commissions by John Byrne
Posted by Jason Shayer at 7:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Abomination, Hulk, Incredible Hulk, John Byrne, Leader, Marvel Comics, The Thing, Yancy Street
Friday, September 21, 2012
1988 - Alf house ad
Posted by Jason Shayer at 9:13 AM 2 comments
Labels: 1988, Alf, Dave Manak, Marie Severin, Michael Gallagher
Thursday, September 20, 2012
1982 - Michael Golden's cover to the X-Men Companion (revisited)
I picked up a print of this artwork at the Boston Comic Con and finally got a frame for it!
Here's the original art for comparison...
Here's the original art for comparison...
Posted by Jason Shayer at 11:44 PM 2 comments
Labels: 1982, Boston Comic Con, Michael Golden, Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, X-Men Companion
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
1984 - News - John Byrne Takes On The Green Giant
Posted by Jason Shayer at 7:51 AM 2 comments
Labels: 1984, Alpha Flight, Comics Feature, Comics Feature #34, Hulk, Incredible Hulk, John Byrne
1985 - Hulk sketches by John Byrne
Found these over at the Comic Book Resources forum:
Posted by Jason Shayer at 7:49 AM 0 comments
Labels: 1985, Incredible Hulk, John Byrne, sketches
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
1979 - Anatomy of a cover - Iron Man #121
Posted by Jason Shayer at 8:38 AM 1 comments
Labels: 1979, Anatomy of a cover, bob layton, Invincible Iron Man, Iron Man, Iron Man #121, sub-mariner
Monday, September 17, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
1989 - Anatomy of a cover - Avengers #305
Posted by Jason Shayer at 4:41 PM 1 comments
Labels: 1989, Anatomy of a cover, Avengers, Avengers #305, John Byrne, Lava Men, Marvel Comics, Mighty Avengers
Friday, September 14, 2012
X-Men Versus Alpha Flight commission by John Byrne
Posted by Jason Shayer at 2:44 PM 5 comments
Labels: Alpha Flight, Aurora, Colossus, Commissions, Cyclops, Guardian, John Byrne, Nightcrawler, Northstar, Sasquatch, Shaman, Snowbird, Storm, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Men
1989 - Marvel shopping bag
Posted by Jason Shayer at 7:27 AM 2 comments
Labels: 1989, Captain America, Hulk, Punisher, shopping bag, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man
Thursday, September 13, 2012
My Top 10 New Spider-Man Villains from the 1980s
- The Hobgoblin (Amazing Spider-Man #238)
I've always loved the Hobgoblin as I felt he was my Green Goblin of the 1980s. His storyline that ran through Amazing Spider-Man was great as it kept everyone guessing as to his secret identity.
- The Symbiote/Venom (Secret Wars #8)
The Symbiote was a nice twist on the new costume gimmick. Eddie Brock was also a great new character, but early in the 90s, Venom's popularity led to some over-exposure which had me disliking the character more and more.
- The Puma (Amazing Spider-Man #256)
Really liked the calm and collected Thomas Fireheart and the complications that this millionaire added to Spidey and Peter's life. The Puma was a great character and went beyond the native american stereotypes.
- The Sin-Eater (Spectacular Spider-Man #107
The Sin-Eater storyline stunned me and the shocking death of Jean DeWolffe was a complete surprise. This four issue story arc made me aware of Peter David for the first time. He did an amazing job fleshing out the Sin-Eater and really getting into his head.
- The Rose (Amazing Spider-Man #253)
The Rose was a solid addition to the New York mob landscape of the Marvel Universe and his connection to the Kingpin made him that much more powerful and that much more of a threat.
- Tombstone (Web of Spider-Man #36)
- The Foreigner (Web of Spider-Man #15)
- Hydro-Man (Amazing Spider-Man #212)
Hydro-Man was a simple take-off on Sandman, obviously substituting the sand for water. He doesn't really live up to his potential for another few years at which point he joins the Sinister Syndicate.
- The White Rabbit (Marvel Team-Up #131)
- The Spot (Spectacular Spider-Man #99)
- Slyde (Amazing Spider-Man #272)
Okay, okay, I know it's 11... :)
Posted by Jason Shayer at 11:39 AM 9 comments
Labels: Amazing Spider-Man, Hobgoblin, Hydro-Man, Puma, Sin-Eater, Slyde, Spider-Man Villains, The Foreigner, The Rose, The Spot, The White Rabbit, Top 10, Venom
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS - Avengers vs. X-Men #11
Based on today's New York Times article, Cyclops kills Professor X.
Enough with the killing off of your characters. Sigh. It's just become such a throw away concept that has little effect any more since its been overused. I'm still getting over them having killed Nightcrawler a few years ago. (And don't get me started about the Spider-Man-Mephisto reboot.)
I was never a big fan of the deterioration of the relationship between Scott and Xavier. Sure, we all grow up and bump heads with our teachers and mentors, but I never bought that the cool and collected Cyclops would have such a disdain for Xavier.
Based on today's New York Times article, Cyclops kills Professor X.
Enough with the killing off of your characters. Sigh. It's just become such a throw away concept that has little effect any more since its been overused. I'm still getting over them having killed Nightcrawler a few years ago. (And don't get me started about the Spider-Man-Mephisto reboot.)
"The moment is shocking, and certainly will be talked about by message boards forever and ever, but it's really about what you get afterwards," Bendis says. "What Cyclops has to do now, is dig himself out of the biggest, deepest hole in the history of comic books."
I was never a big fan of the deterioration of the relationship between Scott and Xavier. Sure, we all grow up and bump heads with our teachers and mentors, but I never bought that the cool and collected Cyclops would have such a disdain for Xavier.
Marvel executive editor Tom Brevoort promises, "This is about as serious and lasting a death as you're apt to get in one of these."
Maybe I'm just a grumpy, cynical old man... Any bets on how long it'll take for they bring Professor Xavier back?
Posted by Jason Shayer at 7:42 AM 8 comments
Labels: Avengers, Avengers vs. X-Men, Brian Bendis, Cyclops, Marvel Comics, New York Times, Professor X, Tom Breevort, Uncanny X-Men
Iron Man unpublished cover by Bob Wiacek
Circa 1987? 1988?
Posted by Jason Shayer at 6:55 AM 0 comments
Labels: 1987, 1988, Bob Wiacek, Iron Man, Silver Centurion armor
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
1981 - Anatomy of a cover - Amazing Spider-Man #223
Posted by Jason Shayer at 11:06 AM 1 comments
Monday, September 10, 2012
1984 - Incredible Hulk #300 unpublished cover
Tip of the hat to Ferran Delgado who found this on eBay, the unpublished cover to Incredible Hulk #300 by Bill Sienkiewicz.
And here's the published version by Bret Blevins.
Posted by Jason Shayer at 10:29 AM 5 comments
Labels: Bill Mantlo, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bret Blevins, Incredible Hulk, Incredible Hulk #300, Marvel Comics, Sal Buscema, Steranko
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
I had this sent to me in email today. I've seen it a few times before (even though I usually delete all those forwarded forays).
By the time the Lord made woman, he was into his sixth day of working overtime.
An angel appeared and said, 'Why are you spending so much time on this one?'
And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart -and she will do everything with only two hands.'
The angel was astounded at the requirements.
'Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish.'
' But I won't,' the Lord protested. 'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days.'
The angel moved closer and touched the woman. 'But you have made her so soft, Lord.'
'She is soft,' the Lord agreed, 'but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.'
'Will she be able to think?' asked the angel.
The Lord replied, 'Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.'
The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. 'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.
'That's not a leak,' the Lord corrected. 'That's a tear!'
'What's the tear for?' the angel asked.
The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.'
The angel was impressed. 'You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing.'
And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take 'no' for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.


text:
- Home
- Departments
- Public Works
- Parks & Recreation
- Permit for Use of Areas - Parks and Facilities
Parks & Facilities
Reserve For Events - Permit for Outdoor Areas
Permit - Use of Area form request
City parks, playgrounds, and cemeteries may be reserved for events. In order to make a reservation, please read and fill out the and drop it off or mail it to the department you will need to attend a commission meeting for approval. Renewals need a permit completed and dropped off at the office you do not need to attend a meeting unless there are changes from your previous permit. Contact the office.
NOTE: In some cases, a $ 50.00 deposit is required "where applicable" for events (determined by the commission pending approval of the application). After the event - if the area/facility used is in good standing, the $ 50.00 deposit will be returned by mail and processed through the city.
Commission meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. If a holiday could change.
Please call the office at 572-6263 to get your name (s) and group listed and posted on the Agenda well in advance a month or two before your desired event date to reserve is recommended. You must be listed on the monthly Agenda before attending a meeting for a permit request Once approved by the commission meeting agenda date you will receive a copy of the approved permit from the department signed. A list of areas is listed on the permit-use-of-area form at the top of this page. Renewal permits do not need to attend a commission meeting we need the permit filled out and dropped off at the office. First come first serve.
Please keep in mind that once approved by the Commission, for larger events, the Police Department receives a copy of the permit and they have the authority to charge the permittee a fee on their own for traffic control and safety.
There are no vehicles or trailers allowed to park on any park or fields due to irrigation heads and the safety of the public. If you are requesting Park Square or the Pavilion- You will need to unload by the Black Bollard and then remove your vehicle and trailer to another close by the parking lot. And the same when unloading after the event. In other words "No Vehicles or Trailers" are allowed to be parked at Park Square during any and all events.
The Police department will enforce a no-parking citation to anyone who cannot follow these rules.
For those of you, that reserve Whitney Playground is your responsibility to Inform everyone to enter through Shepard Street over the hill and Exit out on Sackett Street Follow the road slowly! DO NOT go back out on Shepard Street a One Way Street. Please drive slowly as you enter and exit the area. Thank you and drive safe!
Permittees' responsibility is listed on the form when you sign the original copy.
By signing the permit below, you, the Permittee, agree to comply with the Guidelines for Use on the back of this form. You agree to assume direct responsibility for acts of vandalism or damage to the area, facility, or existing equipment during the time an area is made available for use. You agree to clean up all rubbish or debris caused by your use of the area. You also agree to be liable for all damage or injury to property or persons that may occur or be caused by the use of the permit and agree to save the City of Westfield and the Department harmless from any claim whatsoever which may result from such use. And you agree to pay the Police department for large events a fee if they contact you to offer staff for the safety of the public. They receive a copy of the approved permit for large events.
City of Westfield Parks and Recreation Department-4 Holcomb Street-Westfield, MA 01085-Office 572-6263
Permit Guidelines for Use of Parks and Playgrounds and City Ordinances
Eligibility - Westfield organizations, associations, sports organizations, or individuals are eligible if they:
1. Provide services that include Westfield residents.
2. Can demonstrate benefits to the citizens of Westfield.
Rules and Regulations
- Those who wish to reserve an area under the jurisdiction or management of the Department must obtain and complete an application. If an individual is applying for a permit on behalf of a group or athletic league, the Permittee must designate the application. Only one individual may apply for a permit per group or athletic league.
- The permittee must confine activities to the locations and times specified on the permit.
- The permittee shall remain subject to the Rules of the Department, the specific terms of the permit, and all rules, regulations, and laws of all City, State, and Federal departments insofar as applicable.
- The permittee must clean and restore the premises after each session.
- Pamphlets, handbills, signs, or advertising material of any kind may not be posted, placed, or distributed on premises unless the department grants written permission.
- The permittee is liable for all damage or injury to property or persons that may occur or be caused by the use of the permit, and by accepting the permit the permittee agrees to save the City of Westfield and the Department harmless from any claim whatsoever which may result from such use.
- The permit is not transferable.
- The maximum reserved time is five months.
- The following are not permitted on any park or playground property:
No fires or grills.
No admission may be charged.
No person shall possess, drink, or consume any alcoholic beverage or any malt beverage upon any school, parks, or playgrounds property of the city.
No possession or ignition of fireworks, rockets, or sparklers.
No tents or stakes are driven into playing areas without permission.
No fake flower petals, rice or other items may be thrown in or around fountains, rivers, or other water bodies and must be picked up from all other areas.
No motor vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, go-carts, mini-bikes, snowmobiles, ATV or similar items shall be used in public parks.
No person shall play or practice golf in a public park.
No excessively loud music.
No smoking is allowed in city parks or playgrounds per the Free Clean Air Act ordinance. The ordinance gives non-criminal enforcement authority to the Westfield Police Department and Health Department. Violations are subject to fines.
- The department reserves the right to prohibit use if areas are deteriorating because of overuse.
- All domestic animals must be on a leash (not exceeding six (6) feet in length) and controlled by the owner at all times. Owners shall remove all animal fecal discharges from the park property immediately.
- Refreshment stands or concessions will be operated only with the approval of the Health Department and the Parks and Recreation Department.
- All persons in charge of a group using the areas will be responsible for the conduct of all participants, spectators, and others connected with the activity, including visiting teams and opponents.
- All groups are responsible for policing the area used and the placing of litter in receptacles.
- Persons shall comply with all lawfully posted signs.
- There will be no construction, modification, or physical changes to any field or facility unless specific permission is received from the Parks and Recreation Commission.
- Park/Playground hours are dawn to dusk. Unless the area is lighted for night play then hours are until 10:45 PM.
- For those of you who reserve Whitney Playground- Inform everyone to enter through Shepard Street over the hill and Exit out on Sackett Street Follow the road. DO NOT go back out on Shepard Street a One Way Street.
- The Police department has the right to contact the 'Permittee" to charge them a fee for additional staff and safety of the large event.
- NOTE: A $ 50.00 deposit is required "where applicable" for events (determined by the commission pending approval of the application). After the event - if the area/facility used is in good standing, the $ 50.00 deposit will be returned by mail and processed through the city.


text: Back Amphetamine Screen (Blood) Does this test have other names? Amphetamine concentrations screen (blood), amphetamine screen (blood) What is this test? This test measures the amount of a drug called amphetamine in your blood. This drug is a central nervous system stimulant. This group of drugs also includes methamphetamine, or "meth." The test is most commonly used to screen for drug abuse. It's often required by the court system and some workplaces. If you show symptoms of an amphetamine overdose, such as severe agitation and psychosis, a doctor may order this test. Amphetamine is a commonly used recreational drug that overstimulates the central nervous system and makes users feel unusually alert, energetic, and productive. Stimulants like amphetamine and methamphetamine can also cause euphoria, overwhelming agitation, delusions, and hallucinations. Feelings of aggression and paranoia can make people more prone to violence. Abusing these drugs can also cause other serious health problems, including stroke, heart disease, convulsions, and severe tooth decay. Amphetamine also has medical uses. Doctors sometimes prescribe the drug in small doses for patients with attention-deficit disorder, or ADD, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Doctors also sometimes use the drug to treat depression and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder marked by falling into a sudden deep sleep in inappropriate places or situations. The test can distinguish between abuse and prescription use. Why do I need this test? Amphetamine can be dangerous to your health if you take too much. If you have been prescribed this drug, your doctor may use this test to make sure you are getting the correct, safe dose. If you come to the ER with signs of a drug overdose, the ER doctor may also order a blood or urine screen for methamphetamine, which metabolizes to amphetamine. Signs of an overdose include: Hyperactivity High blood pressure Dilated pupils Hyperthermia, or dangerously high body temperature Aggressiveness Irrational violence Psychosis Rapid heartbeat Severe agitation Even if you don't use amphetamines, your workplace may require you to have the test as a condition of employment. If you are a parolee or someone being treated for drug abuse, you may need to take this test to show that you are "clean." What other tests might I have along with this test? You might also need a urine test to screen for amphetamine or a blood test to check for other drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. If you have signs of a methamphetamine overdose, a doctor may also order a fingerstick blood sugar test, an acetaminophen test, and an ECG to rule out other medical emergencies or monitor your condition. Doctors may also order tests to check your electrolyte balance and the health of your kidneys and liver. What do my test results mean? Many things may affect your lab test results. These include the method each lab uses to do the test. Even if your test results are different from the normal value, you may not have a problem. To learn what the results mean for you, talk with your health care provider. A test showing small amphetamine concentrations in your body is not necessarily cause for alarm. On the other hand, large amounts of the drug in your system can be dangerous or even deadly. Here are the ranges typically used in these blood tests: Levels of amphetamine within the range 0.02 to 0.05 milligrams/liter (mg/L) and even up to 0.2 mg/L fall under the category of therapeutic, or prescribed use. A concentration greater 0.2 mg/L is likely a sign of abuse. Levels greater than 2.5 mg/L can be toxic and possibly fatal. The results of this test only show the amount of amphetamine in your system at the time of the test. Doctors diagnose amphetamine abuse only after a physical exam that includes taking your personal history and talking with you. If you have a problem with amphetamine abuse, your doctor can suggest treatment for addiction, drug abuse, or depression. How is this test done? The test requires a blood sample, which is drawn through a needle from a vein in your arm. Does this test pose any risks? The risks are very minor. The needle may feel uncomfortable or painful. You may experience bruising, soreness, or pain in your hand or arm at the puncture spot. These symptoms usually go away soon after the test is over. What might affect my test results? Although blood tests for amphetamines cost more than urine tests, they are the more accurate testing method. It's possible to alter a urine test if a tester is not present when the sample is taken. How do I get ready for this test? No preparation is needed for this test.


text:
Font Designer – Justus Erich Walbaum
1796: buys printer Ernst Wilhem Kircher's type foundy in Goslar. 1803: the type foundry moves to Weimar. 1828: Walbaum hands over the type foundry to his son, Theodor, who is killed in an accident in 1830. J. E. Walbaum continues to run the business. 1836: Walbaum sells his type foundry to F. A. Brockhaus in Leipzig. 1918: H. Berthold AG in Berlin gains possession of art of the Walbaum foundry and some of its matrices.
* TYPOGRAPHY – An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History by Friedrich Friedl, Nicolaus Ott (Editor), Bernard Stein, published by Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.


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By David Singer, INN http://www.israpundit.com/archives/63596425
The 1922 League of Nations Mandate for Palestine – and international law – have finally emerged as triumphant victors over the 1964 PLO Charter, following the collapse of 50 years of failed attempts by the PLO to arbitrarily void the vote of the 51 members of the League of Nations who unanimously endorsed the legal right of the Jewish people to reconstitute the Jewish National Home in 23% of former Palestine.
This significant PLO defeat and loss of face follows the ignominious end – on 29 April 2014 – of the nine months negotiating deadline period imposed on Israel and the PLO by US Secretary of State – John Kerry – designed to achieve the "two- state solution" – the creation of a second Jew-free Arab State – in addition to Jordan – in former Palestine (a name given by the Romans to the area and that has no connection to the Arabs who invaded hundreds of years later) for the first time ever in recorded history.
The American and PLO failure to achieve the "two-state solution" after 20 years of fruitless negotiations represents a lost opportunity not likely to return for a long time – leaving the political prestige, influence and credibility of those much-vaunted negotiators in total disarray in the rapidly growing silent and abandoned diplomatic graveyard.
The PLO – since its formation in 1964 – had arrogantly strode the world stage claiming Palestine as the sole property of the Arab nation, while simultaneously denying the Jewish people any right to live in their 3000 year old Jewish, ancient, legally sanctioned and biblical homeland.
Article 18 of the 1964 PLO Charter had brazenly declared:
"The Balfour Declaration, the Palestine Mandate System, and all that has been based on them are considered null and void. The claims of historic and spiritual ties between Jews and Palestine are not in agreement with the facts of history or with the true basis of sound statehood. Judaism, because it is a divine religion, is not a nationality with independent existence. Furthermore, the Jews are not one people with an independent personality because they are citizens to their states."
Four years later article 18 had been replaced with a more strident, equally dismissive article 20:
"The Balfour Declaration, the Mandate for Palestine, and everything that has been based upon them, are deemed null and void. Claims of historical or religious ties of Jews with Palestine are incompatible with the facts of history and the true conception of what constitutes statehood. Judaism, being a religion, is not an independent nationality. Nor do Jews constitute a single nation with an identity of its own; they are citizens of the states to which they belong."
This outright rejection of international law by the PLO has never been questioned by the League of Nations' compliant successor – the United Nations – which, acting in clear breach of Article 80 of the UN Charter, knowingly collaborated to prolong the Arab-Jewish conflict in violation of international law when welcoming the PLO purveyor of Jew-hatred -Yasser Arafat – into its midst, with adulation and enthusiastic applause, on 13 November 1974.
The acceptance of this terrorist organization into the realm of civilised political discourse by the United Nations, while the PLO simultaneously continued to assert that the League of Nations had no power to make any legally binding decisions, must surely rank among the most shameful episodes and low points in United Nations history.
Lecturing to Israel on international law while allowing the PLO to reject international law was breathtaking hypocrisy on the United Nations part.
The principle of respect for the law was cast aside by United Nations members as they trashed the original and noble principles enunciated in the Mandate on the altar of expediency and national self-interest
Adopting countless condemnatory General Assembly resolutions of non-binding validity, those spineless members lined up with the automatic majority represented by Arab Islamic and third world member States to sell out their souls to appease an organization of terrorists, law-deniers and Jew-haters.
Former UN Secretaries General stood by in silence as anti-Israel resolutions denigrating and delegitimizing Israel were ramped up with ever increasing hatred.
The legal commitments enshrined in the Mandate had previously stood resolutely firm against this Arab assault on the Jewish National Home since 1922 – as partition proposals by the Peel Commission in 1937 and a newly created United Nations in 1947 were contemptuously shredded into the garbage bin of history by an Arab leadership that would not brook any compromise or reconciliation with the Jewish people.
The advent of major wars, including the 1948 War of Independence, the 1967 Six Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, brought staggering losses and suffering for both Arabs and Jews as the Arab League armies still vainly attempted to eliminate the Jewish State and the consequences of the Mandate.
While the PLO fails to recognize Israel as the Jewish State – no peace between Jews and Arabs is realistically likely to occur.
The Arab League and Kerry have the power to create a breakthrough – pressuring Jordan and Israel to redraw the internationally recognized boundary between their respective countries, as successor States to the Mandate for Palestine
In view of their loss of political clout, do these neutered politicians and the United Nations really possess the diplomatic ability to make peace finally happen?
Using the wisdom and political sagacity of their League of Nations ancestors – the miracle created by the Mandate for Palestine 92 years ago might hopefully be set to resurface.if attempts to rescue the peace process are started once again.David Singer is an Australian lawyer who is active in Zionist community organizations in that country.


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The College of Engineering believes strongly in the need to recognize and honor our major contributors. This section of the development website includes descriptions of the various Michigan State University giving clubs and societies. As a responsible steward of your donations, the College of Engineering provides a Donor Bill of Rights for all our donors.
Donor Societies
Michigan State University has established several distinguished giving clubs to recognize those who demonstrate a sincere interest in and support of University programs, to create a pattern of substantial giving, to ensure significant annual support by alumni and friends, and to set an example for others to give.
For more information about these donor clubs or how to support the College of Engineering, please see the full listing.
Or contact the College Development Office at 517-355-8339 or via email at email@example.com
MSU Donor Societies
|William J. Beal Society
|$10,000,000 or $15,000,000 planned gift
|Joseph R. Williams Society
|$5,000,000 or $7,500,000 planned gift
|Clifton R. Wharton Society
|$2,500,000 or $3,750,000 planned gift
|Frank S. Kedzie Society
|$1,000,000 or $1,500,000 planned gift
|Robert S. Shaw Society
|$500,000 or $1,000,000 planned gift
|Theophilus C. Abbot Society
|$250,000 or $500,000 planned gift
|Jonathan L. Snyder Society
|$100,000 or $200,000 planned gift
|John A. Hannah Society
|$50,000 or $100,000 planned gift
|Beaumont Tower Society
|$25,000 gift
|Presidents Club
|$10,000 gift
|Landon Society
|Planned gift of any size


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Reviewed: Trek Superfly 9.7 mountain bike
The Superfly 9.7's biggest selling point is its frame, and though the parts are modest, it has potential
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
It's easy to look at this bike and imagine an old Gary Fisher logo in place of Trek's mark. I mean that as the highest compliment.
Quibble all you like about who invented the mountain bike. One thing's certain: Gary Fisher played a huge role in popularizing 29" wheels, now the must-have size in nearly any off-road discipline.
His experience with his own brand, which is now rolled into Trek's lineup, is apparent, giving this simple, middle-of-the-road hardtail an excellent personality.
Most mountain bikers need at least a couple hands to count the number of parts they break or replace any given season, but the frame is usually a constant. That is the Superfly 9.7's biggest selling point, and though the parts are modest, it has real potential.
A fine frame
Trek doesn't specify the particulars of their carbon construction, aside from claims that it's thoroughly designed and tested to be used in an off-road frame.
Talk all you like about carbon, but the geometry is really what makes the Superfly sing. As soon as I hopped aboard the bike, its West coast heritage slapped me in the face like a wave off the Marin headlands.
In a few words, the 9.7 is long, low, slack, and fun. Having ridden some 29ers with 70-degree-plus head tube angles, our medium tester's 69.3 degrees was comfortable and confident. For comparison, the Specialized Stumpjumper HT line has a 71.5-degree head angle. Trek also insists on a custom-offset fork to complete its G2 geometry.
The Superfly's top tube length and reach are slightly longer than the Stumpjumper's, and both lines have the same chainstay length — 435mm. It seems that the Trek gets most of its 1,160mm wheel base from the slacker head tube, making it 88mm longer than the Stumpjumper.
Interestingly, the Superfly's bottom bracket drop is 5.5mm less than the Stumpjumper, meaning that the pedals sit slightly higher in the frame.
Aside from that detail, Trek's bike is a longer, slacker machine than most ordinary cross-country race bikes.
Passable parts
To be charitable, the 9.7's components are adequate. I've often found SRAM's lower-end mountain bike shifting to be a bit clunky and slow to respond, and this pairing of X7 shifters and an X9 rear derailleur is no different. Trek does deserve credit for speccing a Type 2 rear derailleur with a clutch to eliminate nearly all chain noise.
The wheels are also humble — Bontrager rims and blue anodized hubs, which may not stand the test of time from a fashion standpoint. The cartridge bearing internals, however, are reassuring. The wheels are tubeless-ready, which is an essential upgrade, so it's nice that the Trek is ready for it.
I'll come right out and say that all 29er hardtails should have 100mm travel forks. Yes, the Fox Float 32 on the 9.7 was equipped with the Evolution damper, which is noticeably inferior to the higher-end FIT damping. But the extra cushion goes a long way to taming rough trail. The CTD lever was helpful to provide a firm ride on paved climbs, but I'd trade that for a damper that supports the middle of the travel any day. I'd lower the pressure to get top-end suppleness, only to be punished by excess brake dive and overly linear stroke.
Shimano SLX disc brakes are one of the finest aspects of this bike's build. It's remarkable how Shimano can deliver basic, affordable brakes like these, which are within striking distance of its XTR models.
Unfortunately, our Shimano HG62 cassette did not do as well. I destroyed it by somehow shifting the chain between the third and fourth largest cogs. It may have been a freak occurrence. It was certainly the first time for this unlucky tester.
Am I being too critical of the components? At $3,150, the Superfly 9.7 is certainly not targeted as an entry-level model. This is the type of bike a junior or collegiate racer would buy to enjoy for many years of pinning on plates. Surely they deserve a more reliable drivetrain and a capable fork.
The wheels are an easy upgrade that almost any racer expects to make. I did so myself with this test bike, improving the ride with some ENVE M50s. The faster acceleration and surefooted steering was an improvement. Those wheels also shaved a pound off the Superfly's 25-pound stock weight. However, the most noticeable way to improve the bike's feel is to convert the tires to tubeless, a much less expensive alternative to carbon wheels.
Another upgrade I made was a Stages power meter, which is becoming an essential training tool, even for mountain bike racers.
Taking it to the trail
Performance on paper doesn't always equate to performance on dirt, and in some ways, the 9.7 makes that point.
I forgot about its hefty (for a hardtail) weight once it started snapping through corners and pumping fast rollers. As I've alluded to, the geometry gives this bike a great personality on the trail, letting you open things up on fast descents, keeping your body weight back just far enough on the steeps, and somehow avoiding any 29er sluggishness.
It's rare to find a cross-country bike as playful as this, but the Superfly was happy to pop off jumps and whip around berms. Once terrain got rougher, things became a little less cheerful, especially with the fork's shortcomings, but the bike loyally stayed on line. Perhaps that's a testament to the carbon construction, as well as the 142x12mm rear thru-axle.
Once the fun ended and the work began, the Superfly was capable. It responded well as I hammered out of corners on steep climbs, rarely betraying its weight. I also enjoyed the fairly rangy top tube in the races I did. It encouraged me to stretch out a bit more, also helping to keep weight over the front wheel on steep pitches.
Is it super enough for you?
When it comes to high-speed riding and racing, the Superfly 9.7 is pretty hard to beat. You can overcome its components' shortcomings with a few key upgrades, but you might be better off spending an extra $730 to get the 9.8 model.
However, if your riding and racing happens primarily in a place like New England where the corners, rock gardens, trees, and competition are all very tight, make sure to get a test ride on the Superfly. Its laid-back west coast personality is great in many settings, but it might not be sharp enough for every course.
Price: $3,150
Weight: 25 pounds
Pros: Fun, comfortable geometry and personality. Great frame construction, reliable brakes.
Cons: Underwhelming shifting and fork. Might not handle quickly enough for certain tastes.


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Gluten Free Baseball??
We received free tickets to the Twins game Friday night (thanks, Wendy!) and were totally pumped. I know FAAN and other organizations have helped to make peanut free days/sections at games in the past (great job guys!). Based on this, I was at least hoping for a listing of the vendors provided or some sort of info on food available at the Metrodome. Theywant you to buy $5 dollar pop, etc., right? Yeah, nope, not so much. On their website I was finally able to find a link to what the food vendors were, but the link was dead, so no go. I figured there would be peanuts in the shell, and water bottles, but it would have been nice to have a little information before hand. After feeding her a big meal and sending her with a small bag of gluten free pretzels in her pocket, off she went with Daddy and had a great time.
Okay, so sometimes an event isn't all about the food, huh? Eat up before hand, bring a snack, and go have FUN!


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It's been grand here at Typepad for the last 10 months, but it's getting a little crowded! So for more
I'm moving! Please come see me at www.freemybrain.com where you will find the Free my Brain from Migraine Pain blog along with resources, newsletters and articles, relaxation teleclasses, and Migraine management coaching. Please update your browsers and RSS feeds to the new site! Come over and pay me a visit and let me know what you think - it's kind of like a house warming. You don't have to bring a gift but you could say "Love what you've done with the place!"
- Megan
Elbow room image courtesy of Jessica R.


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NBC has announced additional details about their plans for the summer. They include six new scripted series — The Night Shift, Undateable, Crossbones, Taxi Brooklyn, Working the Engels, and Welcome to Sweden — as well as four unscripted series — Food Fighters (new), America's Got Talent, American Ninja Warrior, and Last Comic Standing.
It appears that last summer's Crossing Lines and Siberia won't be back.
Here are the summer details:
Six Original Scripted Series Mark the Most for Any Broadcast Network in 21 Years
"The Night Shift," "Undateable" and "Crossbones" Arrive in May, "Taxi Brooklyn" Debuts in June, and "Welcome to Sweden," "Working the Engels" and "Food Fighters" Premiere in July
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – March 26, 2014 – Continuing NBC's summer dominance, which for the past three years has been led by "America's Got Talent," the network spreads its wings to bring a content-rich summer schedule to build off strong anchor shows that also include the emerging hit "American Ninja Warrior" and returning favorite "Last Comic Standing."
Six original scripted summer series – the most of any broadcast network in more than 20 years – as well as a new original alternative series will join the line-up as the network continues to have strong original programing year-round rather than just during the September-May season.
Scripted series receiving their launch dates are "The Night Shift," "Undateable," "Crossbones," "Taxi Brooklyn," "Working the Engels" and "Welcome to Sweden," as well as new alternative series "Food Fighters."
Premieres for the new seasons of "Last Comic Standing" (Thursday, May 22, 9-11 p.m.), "America's Got Talent" (Tuesday, May 27, 8-10 p.m.) – the #1 summer reality series in adults 18-49 and total viewers – and "American Ninja Warrior" (Monday, May 26, 9-11 p.m.) were previously announced.
Here are the summer premiere dates and times. Series descriptions and information are below:
– Tuesday, May 27 (10-11 p.m.) "The Night Shift"
– Thursday, May 29 (9-10 p.m.; back-to-back half-hour episodes each week) "Undateable"
– Friday, May 30 (10-11 p.m.) "Crossbones"
– Wednesday, June 25 (10-11 p.m.) "Taxi Brooklyn"
– Thursday, July 10 (9-9:30 p.m.) "Welcome to Sweden"
– Thursday, July 10 (9:30-10 p.m.) "Working the Engels"
– Tuesday, July 22 (8-9 p.m.) "Food Fighters"
Cast: Eoin Macken, Jill Flint, Ken Leung, Brendan Fehr, Daniella Alonso, Robert Bailey Jr., Jeananne Goosen, JR Lemon, Freddy Rodriguez
Executive producers: Gabe Sachs & Jeff Judah
Production companies: Sony Pictures Television
Logline: "The Night Shift" focuses on the men and women who work the overnight shift at San Antonio Memorial Hospital. They are an irreverent and special breed, particularly adrenaline junkie T.C. Callahan (Eoin Macken, "Merlin"). After three grueling tours of duty in Afghanistan, T.C. is about to learn that his toughest battles will be fought right here at home. He and his team of late-night docs, including best friend Topher (Ken Leung, "Lost") and protégé Drew (Brendan Fehr, "Roswell"), know how to let off steam with the casual prank or two, but when lives are at stake, they are all business. Unfortunately, the night shift is now under new senior management and boss Michael Ragosa (Freddy Rodriguez, "Six Feet Under"), who has to balance the real-world pressures of cutting costs while battling the stigma that he is more interested in saving money than helping people.
Cast: Chris D'Elia, Brent Morin, Ron Funches, Rick Glassman, David Fynn, Bianca Kajlich
Executive producers: Bill Lawrence, Adam Sztykiel, Jeff Ingold
Production companies: Doozer in association with Warner Bros. Television
Logline: Whether it's due to a lack of style, the wrong job, or even just a bad haircut, everyone goes through a time in their lives when they're undateable. Most of us eventually grow out of it, but some people need a little more help than others. Enter Danny Burton (Chris D'Elia, "Whitney"). Confident, attractive and impervious to outside opinions, 29-year-old Danny – who may be in a state of arrested development himself – decides to help out his new roommate, Justin Kearney (comedian Brent Morin), the owner of an unsuccessful bar and a chronic overthinker, and Justin's group of oddball friends – Shelly (comedian Ron Funches), Burski (comedian Rick Glassman) and Brett (David Fynn, "Game of Thrones"). Danny introduces the gang to his recently divorced older sister, Leslie (Bianca Kajlich, "Rules of Engagement"), who immediately bonds with this group of guys, as she feels a little stuck in her own life as well. The gang spends most of their time at Justin's bar, helping solve each other's respective problems over beers, and while they love to give each other a hard time, they always have each other's back.
Cast: John Malkovich, Richard Coyle, Tracy Ifeachor, David Hoflin, Yasmine Al Massri, Chris Perfetti, Claire Foy
Executive producers: Neil Cross, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Ted Gold, Ciaran Donnelly
Production companies: Parkes/MacDonald Productions, Universal Television
Logline: It's 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence where the diabolical pirate Blackbeard (John Malkovich) reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreant sailors. Part shantytown and part marauder's paradise, New Providence is a mounting threat to international commerce. To gain control of this fearsome society, assassin Tom Lowe is sent to the buccaneers' haven to take down the brilliant and charismatic Blackbeard. But the closer Lowe gets, the more he ?nds that his quest is not so simple. Lowe can't help but admire the political ideals of Blackbeard, whose thirst for knowledge knows no bounds, and no law. But Lowe is not the only danger to Blackbeard's rule. He is a man with many rivals and one great weakness – a passionately driven woman whom he cannot deny.
Cast: Chyler Leigh, Jacky Ido, Ally Walker, Jennifer Esposito
Executive producers: Edouard de Vesinne, Gary Scott Thompson, Thomas Anargyros, Olivier Megaton (episodes 1-2)
Production companies: EuropaCorp Television
Logline: An action-comedy police procedural centered on the fractious, closely bonded partnership between a streetwise Marseilles-born New York City taxi driver and an intensely driven NYPD detective for whom this immigrant cabbie becomes chauffeur, insider on the streets and unofficial partner.
Cast: Greg Poehler, Josephine Bornebusch, Lena Olin, Claes Månsson, Patrick Duffy, Illeana Douglas, Christopher Wagelin, Per Svensson
Executive producers: Greg Poehler, Amy Poehler, Pontus Edgren, Carrie Stein, Frederik Arefalk, Felix Herngern
Production companies: eOne, TV4, FLX and Syskon
Logline: Bruce Evans (Greg Poehler) and Emma Wiik (Josephine Bornebusch) seem to be the perfect couple, so when she makes the life-changing decision to move back to her native Stockholm to accept a prestigious banking position after a year together, she is surprised and thrilled that he agrees to move with her. Moving halfway around the world with a new love is a huge step and Bruce, with no job, friends or real clue about what he is getting himself into, is quick to face the many unique challenges and culture clashes that living in a foreign land presents – most notably, how to win over Emma's strange and very Swedish family.
Cast: Andrea Martin, Kacey Rohl, Azura Skye, Benjamin Arthur
Executive producers: Katie Ford, Jane Ford, Howard Busgang, Tom Nursall (episodes 101-106), Noreen Halpern
Production companies: Halfire Entertainment in partnership with Shaw Media
Logline: The series centers on a family who must band together to keep their heads above water when their father and breadwinner passes away, leaving them a mountain of debt. The Engels must all go to work running Dad's storefront law firm, with one minor problem – daughter Jenna is the only one who is qualified to practice law.
Host: Nick Cannon
Judges: Mel B, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Howard Stern
Executive producers: Simon Cowell, Jason Raff, Sam Donnelly, Trish Kinane, Rob Wade
Production companies: Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America
Fact: Last summer, the eighth season of "America's Got Talent" averaged a 3.3 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 12.0 million viewers overall, according to Nielsen Media Research, making "Talent" the #1 summer reality series in adults 18-49 and total viewers. It's the eighth year in a row "Talent" has been the #1 summer reality series in total viewers. "Talent" grew year to year by 6% in total viewers (12.0 million vs. 11.4 million).
Hosts: Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbaja Biamila
Co-host: Jenn Brown
Executive producers: Arthur Smith, Kent Weed
Production company: A. Smith & Co. Production
Fact: Last summer's NBC run of "American Ninja Warrior" averaged a 1.8 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.6 million viewers overall in "live plus seven day" results from Nielsen Media Research, winning its time period among the Big 4 networks in 18-49 with four of its last five telecasts. On Jan. 13 of this year, a special "USA vs. Japan" edition of "American Ninja Warrior" scored the show's highest adult 18-49 rating (1.9 in "live plus same day") since July 23, 2012 and equaled the series record in men 18-34 (1.8).
Host: JB Smoove
Executive producers: Wanda Sykes, Page Hurwitz, Javier Winnik
Production company: Push It Productions, Universal Television
Logline: America's most compelling comedy competition is back when NBC's Emmy Award-nominated series "Last Comic Standing" returns with three new celebrity judges – comedy icons Roseanne Barr and Keenen Ivory Wayans, along with international comic sensation Russell Peters. The top 100 comics in America will vie for 20 spots. These 20 will then compete in a semifinal round and the best of the best will emerge, with the top 10 moving into the compelling challenge rounds. In this phase, they will compete in different comedy disciplines, such as sketch, improv and stand-up, proving themselves both individually and in teams. Then the funniest of all will take the coveted title of "Last Comic Standing," winning a prize package that includes $250,000, an NBC talent deal and a half-hour scripted project to be developed by Universal Television.
Host: Adam Richman
Executive producers: Ben Silverman, Chris Grant, Jimmy Fox, Tim Puntillo
Production company: Electus, Universal Television
Logline: The best amateur cooks in America put their signature dishes to the test against five professional chefs. Television personality, author and food enthusiast Adam Richman ("Fandemonium," "Man vs. Food") hosts this compelling food battle in which home cooks face off against five culinary pros, climbing a money ladder with increasing cash prizes for every professional chef they knock out. A "Dinner Party" of culinary judges determines who has made the tastiest dish, revealing whether amateur cooks have what it takes to beat the very best.
What do you think? Do you plan on watching any of these summer shows on NBC?


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The NFL announced Wednesday that the San Diego Chargers have been fined $20,000 for attempting to conceal the use of grip-improving "sticky" towels during an Oct. 15 game against the Denver Broncos.
Here's the NFL statement on the matter:
"Following a review of the San Diego Chargers use of towels that included an adhesive substance in an October 15 game against the Denver Broncos, the NFL has determined that the club did not violate a competitive rule by use of the towels.
"However, NFL game officials are charged with protecting the integrity and competitive fairness of the games and club staff members, like players and coaches, have a clear obligation to cooperate in this effort and comply with the direction of game officials. As a result of the failure of club staff to follow the directive of a game official to immediately surrender the towels when directed to do so, and to attempt to conceal the towels, the Chargers have been fined $20,000.
"In order to ensure that products that may have a possible competitive effect are given appropriate review and testing, our office -- after consultation with the Competition Committee -- has advised all clubs that the use of towels or other products that contain any type of adhesive substance is now prohibited on game days until further notice."
Once again, the cover-up proved worse than the crime. The Chargers released their own statement that they are appealing the fine, saying their staff member was "unaware" the game official was trying to get his or her attention.
The whole story is a little odd. It technically wasn't against the rules to use the towels, but it's no longer going to be allowed. The Chargers didn't gain an advantage, but they were fined anyway.
It will be telling to see if similar towels ever are allowed to be used again. Our guess is the "sticky" towel is out of the NFL for good.


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Imagine that you visit each of these companies to learn how they tackled and adapted to changes in the industry, new stakeholder demands and limitations brought about by the mega-trends.
How would doing business in 2025 work in practice? We would like to give you a glimpse into the future through the stories of five different companies in five different industries.


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Earlier today I wrote a post about a lawsuit that Bristol Cars just lost. I called Bristol "weird," and said that its cars were known for "iffy construction quality." Apparently, this was wrong. And somebody wrote in just to let us know.
Bristol Cars, which was weird, has a long history as a British automotive manufacturer, going back to its days as the spawn of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It produced not very many cars, especially towards the end of its life, and the ones they did make were known for panel gaps that could be seen from outer space, according to one owner.
Its last offering, the Bristol Fighter, came with a Viper engine. It cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Bristol let hardly anybody drive it, pending personal approval from the owner of the company. Because that's the way Bristol Cars, which was weird, did things.
But I am wrong, as a Person on the Internet e-mailed us. Bristol is not weird. Those panel gaps were built to exacting tolerances. And also, I am a bowel movement.
The e-mail is below, in full:
From: firstname.lastname@example.com
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Subject: Insufferable Idiocy
Dear purveyors of falsehoods and general misinformation,
I don't often write emails as I have better things to do, but this is one instance where I will make an exception. While struggling to evacuate a rather large bowel movement (which I have since named Michael Ballaban) from the depths of my colon, I stumbled upon your quaint website. Noticing it to be automotive in content, I must say that my interest was immediately piqued. Imagine my disappointment in realizing it was a member of the Gawker conglomerate of journalistic abominations. My hopes were quickly dashed. Still, I soldiered on. After perusing several pages of poorly-written articles which were pseudo-automotive at best, I soon encountered something I found utterly deplorable. It was the recent article entitled, "Bristol Cars Still Pissing Everyone Off, As Traditional." My rage was almost palpable - so much so that my Michael Ballaban was sucked back up into the depths of my bowels, and I have only now realized that I have forgotten to rid myself of it. After stumbling through this textbook example of how an article should not be written, I felt that I had no recourse other than to write and inform your editors (if they even care) that they have in their employ a genuine buffoon. Let me address my complaints, one at a time.
I shall begin with the second paragraph. Though it contains a veritable grab-bag of grammatical errors, I shall not focus on them. I will instead focus on Mr. Ballaban's claim that Bristol was "weird" as he so eloquently put it. Bristol is not "weird". Kindly explain to me in your own special way, sir, how a company that manufactured fighter planes for both World Wars was "weird". Kindly explain to me how a company whose automotive division was founded to produce luxurious, rapid, and attractive grand touring cars, using in-house components was "weird". Explain to me sir, if you are capable, how a car company that has achieved multiple victories in European rallies and has even competed at Le Mans was "weird". Despite the idiocy of this alleged writer's first line, he has somehow managed to top even himself: "What we don't know is pretty much everything else about the company." Strange then, that someone who professes ignorance to a topic has no qualms about writing about it at great length. Perhaps Mr. Ballaban is also in the employ of a certain Fox News Channel? The next line is quite ridiculous. The alleged author claims that Bristol "stuffed" Viper motors into "coupes with iffy construction quality". At this stage, I am convinced that jolly old Ballaban's research consisted of visiting Top Gear's website, which is only slightly less trustworthy than your own, and banging his drool-encrusted keyboard until the word "Bristol" appeared in the search bar. It is now that his utter lunacy and complete lack of mental faculties becomes apparent. He has the sheer gall to compare a company that manufactured hand-made automobiles to aerospace tolerances, and made extensive use of aerospace-grade parts, to a fly-by-night company that has made itself famous by re-packaging Chinese cell phones. It truly saddens me to realize that I inhabit the same planet as a person such as this. I am gladdened by the fact that he is mortal, and thus the world need only be exposed to his drivel for a short time.
I will not address the legal issues between Bristol and a certain Mr. Olins, as they may or may not even be true, considering that the information originates from the Telegraph and has been relayed by a soon-to-be-defunct blog operated by Gawker. I will, however, address my sheer disappointment that uneducated fools such as Mr. Ballaban continue to contaminate the internet with their spewings about what is arguably the most underrated car company to date. Rest assured, sirs, that I shall not be honoring your blog with my presence in future, and I shall tell everyone I know that your site advocates the clubbing of baby seals, so as to decrease your traffic even further.
Good day to you all,
In my defense, the drooling is a dental issue.
Photo via Shutterstock


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Gossip can act as a useful social shortcut—it lets you know whom to avoid without your having to learn a person's faults the hard way. And gossip may also influence whether you notice someone in the first place, according to a study published in Science on June 17.
To test whether gossip affects visual awareness, psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett of Northeastern University and her collaborators took advantage of a phenomenon called binocular rivalry. Each eye is presented with a different image, and the viewer consciously perceives them as alternating back and forth. The alternation between images is not under the subject's control, and it typically happens every few seconds.
In the study, 66 volunteers first saw pictures of 30 faces, each paired with a sentence describing a negative, positive or neutral social behavior. For example, a face could be associated with the act of throwing a chair at a classmate, helping an elderly woman with her groceries or passing a man on the street.
After learning these relationships, the subjects were shown faces in one eye and houses in the other, and they pressed buttons to indicate which one they were seeing. Judging by the length of their button presses, the subjects spent more time perceiving the faces linked to negative actions than the visages connected to positive or neutral acts. This preference for seeing bad people could be protective, the authors suggest, because it might allow us to monitor threatening behavior from afar.


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text:
Early voting
Early voting, better described as "political-machine voting," refers to extending voting over many days or weeks, without safeguards against voter fraud. "In 2020, 43% of voters cast ballots by mail and another 26% voted in person before Election Day. In 2016, 21% mailed in their ballots and 19% voted in person prior to Election Day."[1]
Early voting is a liberal gimmick that has the effect of partially disenfranchising the value of informed votes on Election Day. In 2013, states began working towards a restoration of Election Day voting by cutting back on the expansive early voting. For example, Nebraska trimmed its period of early voting back a bit.[2]
|I would prefer more educated voters than a greater increase in the number of voters. If you don't believe this is an effort to maximize Democratic votes pure and simple, then you are not a realist. This is a partisan stunt and I hope it can be stopped.
So observed Georgia legislator Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), explaining his opposition to having early voting on Sunday at a mall "dominated by African American shoppers."[3]
Mail-in voting, which is the biggest type of early voting, is universal in eight states (see below). Two additional states allow mail-in voting at the option of each county: Nebraska and North Dakota. Ten states authorize specific mail-in voting for certain minor elections: Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Early voting increases taxpayer expenses by millions of dollars but does not increase turnout. Doug Preisse, a Republican member of the Franklin County Board of Elections, described early voting as "contort[ing] the voting process to accommodate the urban — read African-American — voter-turnout machine."[4] "Early voting, in a sense, is like having my students evaluate my course halfway through the first class," said Professor Matt Streb, who also observed that early voting does not increase overall voter turnout.[5]
Texas has been shifting from red (Republican) to blue (Democratic), and the liberal media attributes that to demographics. But the bigger cause is the vast two weeks of early voting allowed in Texas, and how the Democratic political machine exploits that with greater efficiency each election cycle.
Traditionally, absentee voters had to state one of several allowed reasons to vote before election day, while early voting permits all eligible voters to cast ballots that are not fully informed, prior to Election Day.[6] which are used by more that 30% of United States voters.
Early voting has spread as Democrats realize that the uninformed votes give them a comparative advantage. As pushed by Democrats, many states in the United States have laws adopting forms of early voting. According to the Early Voting Center at Reed College, the following states allow early voting in 2012: North Carolina, Indiana, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Georgia, Arkansas, Idaho, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, California, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada and Hawaii.[7] Liberal-leaning foreign nations have also adopted some form of early voting, such as Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand.
In 2008, one-third of Americans voted prior to Election Day, and that fraction increased to 40% or so in 2012. In the Nevada Election 2010, more than half the votes cast were by early voting. Some states make the list of early voters and absentee voters available to the public or to the political campaigns. By contrast, all states make the list of voters available after an election.
The Democrat Party pushes hard for early voting. A January 2014 report by the President Obama's Commission on Election Administration stated, "In order to limit congestion on Election Day and to respond to the demand for greater opportunities to vote beyond the traditional Election Day polling place, states that have not already done so should expand alternative ways of voting, such as mail balloting and in-person early voting."[8] The report further described a "bipartisan consensus of election administrators in favor of voting before Election Day".[9]
The convenience voting data for 2010 in the swing states for the Presidential Election 2012 is as follows, with bolding for the States which do not allow no-excuse early voting.
|# Electoral College votes in 2012
|Percentage that voted early or absentee in 2010
|New Hampshire
|North Carolina
|25% (increased to nearly 40% in 2012)
Possible impacts
There are two major objections to early voting. First, it facilitates voter intimidation, particularly by unions and large employers that try to increase turnout by their people.[10] Scholars have noted that early voting, vote-by-mail and similar schemes eliminate the secret ballot—which is essential to preserving electoral integrity. Second, it increases the potential for voter fraud, particularly in the absence of protections that safeguard the integrity of physical votes.[11] Some critics claim early voting establishes a mechanism where union bosses and the Democratic machine can harass Americans until they vote. This risks infringement on the right not to vote.
While early voting plainly undermines the notion of a uniform Election Day, various arguments are used, typically by Democrats, to advocate its adoption by state legislatures. One argument is that early voting increases overall turnout. Another argument used in Ohio is that Ohio voters should not have to wait in line until 4:00 am the following morning to cast a ballot in a presidential election, as happened in 2004.[12] Of course, extra poll workers, voting machines, and booths could be added for Election Day to address this concern. Some, including Ohio's Cuyahoga County, argue that early voting can save money in this regard, as the same machines and equipment that would otherwise be idle can be used, avoiding the need to purchase new and expensive election equipment. But Political Science Professor Todd Eberly argues that early voting adds millions of dollars in expense while lowering overall voter turnout:[13]
|Early voting is actually a waste of taxpayer money that does not boost turnout. In a study of the 2008 election, researchers at the University of Wisconsin actually found that early voting results in lower turnout – not higher. Specifically they found that though more than 30 percent of votes cast in the 2008 presidential race arrived before Election Day, the study determined early voting actually depressed turnout in a typical county by 3 percentage points.
In a 1996 study of early voting turnout in Tennessee elections in 1994, Lilliard E. Richardson, Jr. and Grant W. Neely said that early voting could increase overall turnout.[14]
In a 2007 paper, Paul Gronke, Eva Galanes-Rosenbuam, and Peter A. Miller (all affiliated with Reed College) found that early voting improves the procedural integrity of elections and results in a modest increase in overall turnout. The authors nevertheless conclude "It is no longer a question of whether early voting is a smart reform; the question now is what sort of early voting to allow and how to adjust to its impact."[15]
A state-by-state analysis is available showing the percentage of ballots cast in early voting,[16] but note that the percentage is growing rapidly with each election.
Some people argue that early voting helps one political party over the other, but the impact of early voting depends on the circumstances of each particular election. Early voting has drawn support from both Republicans and Democrats.
"'Pre-election day votes tend to favor Democrats and Election Day votes tend to favor Republicans. I'm hopeful the remaining Election Day votes continue to favor Republicans,' Baugh told the Orange County Register in a statement Monday night."[17]
That understates the political shift caused by early voting, because nearly all those pre-election votes by Dems are new votes that would not happen on Election Day. Those early Dem votes are the result of driving and manipulating union workers and others to vote when they'd rather not, and to induce them to vote all-Dem when they might not otherwise. They probably are not sure the ballot is secret, and may fear losing their job if they voted early for the GOP.
In Georgia, race and age are oddly reported among early voters, and more manipulation and coercion can result.
In Colorado in "2008, Democrats had about a 25,000-ballot advantage over Republicans in early voting. But Republican turnout zoomed past Democrats' on Election Day, and more Republicans than Democrats ultimately voted in 2008."[18] In 2010, there were about 1,638,000 votes cast for the U.S. Senate seat from Colorado, but well over 1 million people participated in early voting.[19]
Maryland voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2008 to allow early voting starting with the primary elections in 2010. Maryland now offers both early voting in person and absentee voting by mail.[20]
In the 2012 General Election, 430,573 early votes were cast in Maryland. Of these early votes, 13.9% of registered Democratic voters and 9.3% of registered Republican voters voted early.[21]
The Texas Election Code provides all laws pertaining to elections at the state and local levels.
Early voting in Texas begins roughly two weeks prior to the actual election day (the start date depends on the election) and ends on the fourth day prior to the actual election day.[22]
The Texas Election Code allows mail-in balloting for only the following reasons:
- the voter plans to be absent from the county of residence[23]
- the voter has a disability or certain instances involving childbirth[24]
- the voter is age 65 or older[25]
- the voter is confined in county jail in certain circumstances[26]
- the voter is participating in the address confidentiality program for certain crime victims[27]
- the voter is involuntarily civilly confined as a sexual predator[28]
Otherwise, Texas allows early voting by personal appearance for any qualified voter, and requires no specific reason for doing so.[29]
Virginia does not have formal early voting. However, Virginia provides for both mail-in and in-person absentee voting.[30] To vote absentee, the voter must fill out an affidavit stating that one of several reasons for absentee voting applies.[31] In contrast, in early voting states, any voter can vote before election day without stating a reason.
The absentee voting period begins 45 days before election day.[32] In response to Hurricane Sandy reducing in-person absentee voting opportunities before the 2012 election, on October 28, 2012, Republican Governor Robert McDonnell announced that he was requesting the State Board of Elections to expand the number of in-person absentee voting hours between the end of the storm and the election day.[33]
Virginia provides the list of people who have requested absentee ballots or have in-person absentee voted to political parties "upon request and for a reasonable fee."[34] The parties then contact voters based on that data.[35]
In November 2012, liberal, Planned Parenthood-endorsed[36] Democrat State Senator Janet Howell renewed her call for Virginia to adopt early voting after a very small percentage voters had to stand in line for hours in the 2012 General election.[37]
Wisconsin does not have formal early voting. However, Wisconsin allows both mail-in and in-person absentee voting. In-person absentee voting is held in the two weeks before each election.[38]
Other states
New Hampshire and Pennsylvania do not offer early voting.[39]
In North Carolina, the list of absentee voters is available online without any charge.[35] Iowa authorized in-person absentee voting starting 40 days before a primary or general election.[40] Iowa charges for the absentee voter list on a per voter basis.[35]
Voting by mail
As of October 1, 2021, eight states plus the District of Columbia use all mail-in voting: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.[41]
Of those, the liberal states of Oregon and Washington were among the first to use mail voting for all voters. This scheme allows voters to cast their votes in advance of election day. In 1998, Oregon voters passed an initiative requiring that all elections be conducted by mail. Voters may also drop their ballots off at a county-designated official drop site.
In 2011, Washington passed a law requiring all counties to conduct vote-by-mail elections.[42] Local governments in Washington had the option to do so since 1987, and statewide elections had permitted it since 1993.[43][44] In the Washington system, ballots must be postmarked by election day, so complete results are delayed by several days.[44]
Other states allow absentee voting by mail, some have no restrictions on doing so, while others limit it for specific reasons (see Texas above).
See also
- ↑ https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/04/what-methods-did-people-use-to-vote-in-2020-election.html
- ↑ https://www.propublica.org/article/voting-rights-by-state-map
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121111/news/711119900/
- ↑ Gronke, Galanes-Rosenbaum, Miller, Toffey. Convenience Voting. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
- ↑ Early voting calendar, 2012. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
- ↑ The American Voting Experience: Report and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, p. 3
- ↑ The American Voting Experience: Report and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, p. 57
- ↑ "Executives at the casino giant Harrah's pushed company employees to vote early in an all-out effort to help the Harry Reid campaign, according to internal emails obtained by Battle '10." [3]
- ↑ See, e.g., "Early Voting Fraud," National Review [4].
- ↑ http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-11-17-early-voting_x.htm
- ↑ http://marylandreporter.com/2012/09/10/early-voting-costs-counties-2-6m-but-hasnt-increased-turnout-yet/
- ↑ L.E. Richardson, Jr. and G.E. Neely. "The impact of early voting on turnout: The 1994 elections in Tennessee." State & Local Government Review 28(3):173-79 (1996)
- ↑ P. Gronke, E. Galanes-Rosenbaum, and P.A. Miller. "Early voting and turnout." PS-WASHINGTON 40(4):639 (2007).
- ↑ http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html
- ↑ https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/15/house-control-midterm-elections-2022-00066959
- ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16495705
- ↑ http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_322cccba-e3e1-11df-9a7b-001cc4c03286.html
- ↑ Early Voting. Elections.state.md.us. Retrieved on November 14, 2012.
- ↑ Unofficial Early Vote Turnout (Statewide) (PDF). Retrieved on November 14, 2012.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 85.001 provides the specific dates.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 82.001.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 82.002.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 82.003.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 82.004.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 82.007.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 82.008.
- ↑ Texas Election Code Section 82.005.
- ↑ Walker, Julian. "In-person absentee voting scheduled today in Va.", The Virginian-Pilot, October 27, 2012. Retrieved on October 27, 2012.
- ↑ Absentee Voting. Retrieved on October 27, 2012.
- ↑ Walker, Julian. "Early voting period in Virginia has begun", The Virginian-Pilot, September 30, 2012. Retrieved on October 27, 2012.
- ↑ Wilson, Todd. "McDonnell urges caution and preparation; will expand hours for absentee voting", Hampton Roads Daily Press, October 28, 2012. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
- ↑ Va. Code § 24.2-710.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Haines, Errin. "Campaigns pay to track absentee ballots in Virginia", Washington Post, October 27, 2012, p. B1.
- ↑ http://www.janethowell.com/content/endorsements
- ↑ Contorno, Steve. "Long lines reignite push for early voting in Virginia", Washington Examiner, November 12, 2012. Retrieved on November 14, 2012.
- ↑ Absentee Voting. Government Accountability Board. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
- ↑ "How Sandy Affects Early Voting in Swing States", ABC News, October 29, 2012. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
- ↑ Absentee Voting in Person. Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved on October 30, 2012.
- ↑ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/california-republicans-e2-80-99-demonization-of-voting-by-mail-may-backfire/ar-AAOV7R8
- ↑ Grygiel, Chris. "Vote-by-mail is now the law in Washington", seattlepi.com, April 5, 2011. Retrieved on November 15, 2012.
- ↑ Keith Ervin. "Vote-by-mail gets new look in wake of low-voter turnout", The Seattle Times, May 25, 1990.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Tsong, Nicole. "First big all-mail election results posted smoothly - VOTE BY MAIL", The Seattle Times, August 19, 2009.
External links
- http://www.uakron.edu/bliss/research/archives/2010/EarlyVotingReport.pdf—A study of early voting in Ohio


text:
"Whatever it takes." The two stories tonight revolve around people doing it to get what they want, and it doesn't pan out so well for the show. First, the JVDB Dancing With The Stars subplot (which felt oddly disconnected from the show's timeline) didn't feel all there, though it did involve Dean Cain's highly entertaining "flipping you the mental bird" face and the cute relationship between JVDB and June's mom. The whole (JVDB gets a bad dance partner who, did we mention, dreams of making a movie about Eskimos)-(JVDB unsuccessfully tries to ditch her)-(June's mom, looking evil, suggests what sounds like the Tonya Harding Solution)-(Ha ha, nope, she was actually suggesting JVDB fund the Eskimo movie!) continuum had no surprises, and not that many laughs.
The Chloe/June story—in which Chloe gets June a job via "networking," or banging a brain-damaged investment-banker scion with an apparent mental age of four while so drunk she perceives him as a hot, clever biracial dude—had slightly more laughs. However, I had some serious problems with the next piece of that story, in which June's continued employment is contingent on keeping Chloe drunk enough not to notice that she's banging "I Am Sam" (as JVDB puts it). I had even more with the ending, in which the writers very quickly re-endow June with the title of Voice Of Moral Authority in an episode where she's stymied Chloe's (apparently genuine) attempts to temporarily get sober, then roofied her into having sex with someone she (as far as June knows) would be repulsed by if not hammered beyond belief. That is all kinds of fucked up, even for a dark comedy.
I'd argue, especially after the Thanksgiving episode, that Apartment 23 has a heart of gold under all the crudity and amorality lately—it's not really all that dark. So while I do like the way Chloe and June's friendship is gradually pulling both their characters to some sort of middle ground, I felt like this was either taking June far darker than her trajectory would predict, or treating her actions in this episode as not that bad. I like neither of those options, but I like the latter much less.
But it appears to be the latter, because June is let right off the hook for her (let me stress again) really fucked-up actions by having Chloe be all, "Whatever, I would have banged him sans pomegranate-juice-Mexican-nasal-spray roofies, because he's rich." It's doubly disappointing that a show that until this episode has been a TV unicorn—a show on a major network in primetime with a progressive take on female promiscuity—seems to be spouting yet another example of the icky cultural subtext that deliberately getting someone drunk enough to do something sexual that they wouldn't otherwise do is Not That Bad, Bro. Especially if she's an established drunken slut.
Why does June taking advantage of Chloe in this episode bother me so much more than the many, many times Chloe's done terrible things to June? Because there's no question in either the world or the show that the cartoonish things Chloe does are funny, but obviously over-the-top wrong, wrong, wrong. June and Mark (both of whom acknowledge that they're going to hell) have more of a foothold in the real world, as does the question of whether deliberately intoxicating someone to the point where he or she can't make the decisions about sex he or she would if sober or mildly drunk and is more likely to do what is suggested is Really Bad or Not That Bad.
That question is also, unfortunately, something that's up for debate in the real world—particularly if the person has a history of getting dead drunk and having sex without any outside help, as Chloe does—and the writers have Chloe act out many of the lame arguments of real-life Team Oh Come On It's Not That Bad.
So Chloe ends the episode by casually declaring her intent to set Trey's car on fire. That's pretty bad, right? But it's bad in a different way. It's not enough of a generally recognized problem that moms give cautionary speeches about watching out for ladies with Molotov cocktails—just in case. Nor, when someone's car is set on fire, is there always a debate about whether that person set their own car on fire, or is overreacting to their car being on fire, or is probably into the smell of burning seatbelts, or somehow led someone to believe that they wanted their car set on fire. Setting cars on fire, then—along with tranqing people, getting foster children as indentured servants, and most of the bad stuff Chloe does—is detached enough from reality that it can be played for silly laughs.
So what I really didn't like was that this show, which I like very much, suddenly had Chloe perfectly embody all the stalest arguments of Team OCOINTB, sort of in the same vein as the straw women that particularly thoughtless pro-life activists claim are always running down to the abortion clinic because whee, abortions! Chloe initiated banging him after getting herself wasted the first time (so it's not that bad); Chloe is such an epic drunk and sex machine she doesn't actually mind that much (so it's not that bad); Chloe discovers Trey's money is an appealing enough reason to continue fucking him after she removes the martini goggles (so it's not that bad); this isn't the first time Chloe's accidentally jumped on a tree stump thinking it was a Kennedy, and reacts to this being pointed out with a slightly embarrassed "Again?" (so it's not that bad).
But, dammit, what June did is that bad. And it's not something like setting cars on fire that's ripe for silly laughs. What's more, June actually has the nerve, before she even quits her job, to moral-high-ground Chloe about her plans to continue to bang Trey after it becomes clear that he has a wife and child. She pulls that Chloe-you're-disgusting face without even apologizing? (And when she does apologize to Chloe later, it's for not being able to do "whatever it takes," not for roofieing her.) And Chloe doesn't call her on the hypocrisy of that? That's some bullshit in Apartment 23.
I can already hear people typing "Well, what were they going to do, have Chloe be traumatized and go to a rape-crisis center? This is a comedy, for chrissakes!" The answer: I can't think of a single thing the writers could have done besides having Chloe not really mind being roofied that wouldn't have thrown the show and characters completely off the rails. I just wish that they hadn't gone there in the first place.
So with my extreme dislike of that ending plus the lackluster JVDB plot, I deem this the worst episode of the show so far—D. Sorry to do that to your only episode so far this season, Liza Lapira! Your character wasn't even annoying this time!
Stray Observations:
- A thing I did like: the idea that the investment bankers still left standing use sad job-seeker voicemails as their ringtones.
- Another thing I did like: Chloe's disgusted face when noting that June's mom's brownies "taste like love."
- A thing I don't like: Man, have the ratings for this show been bad since it moved out of its spot after Modern Family. I didn't like this episode pretty strongly, clearly, but I don't want it to get canceled.
- Fun fact: Nearly 90 percent of registered A.V. Club commenters are male. Please keep this in mind in the comments section. [EDIT: Wait! I stumbled across that number on a pie graph on the AVC Disqus dashboard a while ago, and (though "I was high on migraine medicine" is a sort of embarrassing excuse) I was high on migraine medicine and didn't realize that that number was just for that day, or that week, or something—maybe there was an interview with Alison Brie or something. Checking it now, it looks like the male-female registration ratio is about 2-1.]


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