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Friday, April 9, 2010
The One Where the Chipmunks Find My Blind Side
I found that the movies had much in common with each other. For one thing, both had high school football, and I do love a sports movie. Each storyline featured a homeless man. During one of the movies, Skippy told me he was bored. During the other, I told him I was bored. You have to admit there is a certain symmetry to that. I cried quite a bit during both movies, and there were parts in both movies where I had to cover my eyes. During each movie, Skippy repeated aloud an inappropriate word from the movie, and then giggled. Each time, I said, "Hey buddy, we don't say that word." To which, both times, he immediately replied: "Yeah, I know." Seriously, someone should have brought him up better.
Both movies featured adopted family members, although I think Sandra Bullock hit the jackpot with Big Mike… as opposed to that poor guy that ended up with a bunch of rodents living in his house who caused multiple accidents requiring him to be hospitalized. But basically the plotlines were the same: Guy (or girl) with heart of gold takes in less fortunate person (or rodents) who then go on to fame and fortune. The end. I thought both movies were really good at building suspense. But then I realized that that feeling of suspense was caused by the $1 hot dog I ate before the first movie. It has been 24 hours now, and I still taste rancid hot dog every time I burp. So probably neither movie had much suspense. One movie flew by so quickly I didn't want it to end. The other movie was mercifully short. And finally, I liked each movie exactly as much as I expected to.
Taking two kids to two "dollar movies" (which tickets actually cost $2.00): $12.00
Rancid hot dogs: $3.00
Sandra Bullock head-to-head with the chipmunks: Priceless.
11 comments:
- sad but true said...
hey! you changed the picture already!
- April 9, 2010 at 7:47 PM
- Victoria said...
I wasn't even done posting yet~!!!
- April 9, 2010 at 7:55 PM
- Cherie said...
Ha ha! I managed to excape The Squeakal but I loved The Blindside. It was really good and I totally think Sandra Bullock deserved her Oscar.
Hotdogs - Oh man I cannot even eat a hotdog anymore. My old stomach does not seem to be able to handle the tube steak too well at this point in life! You are brave!
We both have a little straggler in our life - that baby that came a little later and it is so fun to be able to get that one on one time with them. I bet Skippy loved every minute!
BTW that is exciting that your boy is off to Rexburg! He is going at a good time of year because when it finally warms up it is a beautiful place/ and if he is staying for summer he will LOVE IT!!
- April 9, 2010 at 8:22 PM
- Cherie said...
Yeah just re-reading my comment and please disregard my bad spelling. ugh!
- April 9, 2010 at 8:23 PM
- whitney said...
haha, i just blogged about a dollar movie i saw. nothing better than sticky floors and cheap entertainment.
- April 9, 2010 at 8:34 PM
- Garden of Egan said...
Wow.......I never got the cinemetography of that until just now. I am now coming to you to translate and help me with all of my movie making questions.
I wonder if Sandra Bullock slaps one of the chipmunks on the butt.
- April 9, 2010 at 10:01 PM
- Small House said...
OKAY...I did like the Blindside. As for the other, no one to watch them with. For some reason they think they're all a little old... hmmmm....
I did cry in the Blindside though. WAH!
- April 10, 2010 at 9:45 PM
- Carolyn said...
I am impressed you watched 2 movies back to back...
I found your review insightful, creative, and darn it... much better than the last movie I saw.
- April 12, 2010 at 1:39 PM
- Just ME the MOM said...
Seriously up too late - can't stop laughing all throughout your post :D
What on earth made you cry during the Chipmunks??
- April 13, 2010 at 1:12 AM
- Victoria said...
Kristin, I don't know if it was the little shrill voices of the characters, or 50-something female school principle who had a chipmunks tattoo, or the really really bad acting... it could have been all of those.
- April 13, 2010 at 8:22 AM
- Victoria said...
oops... school principal.
- April 13, 2010 at 8:22 AM


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Sandra Tsing Loh...
As we sit on the cusp of a new year—"Lucky 2013!" as I like to call it—I'm going for some fresh perceptions and attitudes.
I am so happy that I've just turned 50, which I consider a kind of cosmic oil change, my odometer cleansed with zeroes.
I am an old dog learning new tricks—you should see me do Keynote on an IPAD now, while twizzle-animating my photostream—
Even though I am a Democrat, I love Bush the First's phrase "a thousand points of light," so I'm going to celebrate it—no irony.
In so doing, I'm going to celebrate some unsung heroes, in this great land of ours.
Insurance agents.
Insurance agents have long been mocked. Remember Groundhog Day? "Ned! Ned Ryerson!" Am I right or am I right? Funny, but it's time insurance agents get some respect. I gave a speech last year to a group of Farmer's Insurance agents, for which they gave a generous donation to the 24th Street Theatre! I'm on the advisory board of a non-profit that received $20,000 from State Farm to promote child car safety! Good things are happening, people! Thanks to insurance—or as some people call it, IN-surance.
Insurance has an interesting history—which, I admit, I wiki-ed FOR that speech. The first insurance policy? On a Babylonian Obelisk—Hammurabi's Code! Early group insurance? Medieval Guilds! Early instance of underwriting? American Colonists! Lloyd's of London!
But what about service? I had Newport/Balboa home insurance that got sold to QBE, but they wouldn't renew it due to an erroneous CLUE Report. That's all the detail you want to know. This was five hours on the phone with liability, claims, adjustment, customer care—who either tell me they can't do anything or will "return your call in 24 hours—" NONE DOES.
As a last resort, I call a supervisor, Gregg Langerfeld, to leave a complaint. To my surprise, Gregg picks up before the second ring, listens, takes action— By the end of lunch, I have insurance! I mean, QBE is a giant conglomerate, I need them more than they need me— It seemed unnecessary for Gregg to give such excellent customer service—and yet he did!
I write both Gregg and his boss honeyed thank you notes, to which he wrote back a thank you note which read: "It's nice to hear when we have made a customer satisfied. We try to do what is right and offer the experience we ourselves would want. We cannot always achieve it but we keep it as a beacon of light to forever strive to obtain."
What a pure notion of service— Am I right or am I right? Just like our American Colonists, it's a brave new world.
1000 Points of Light
Popular now on KPCC
Sandra Tsing Loh...

subset: commoncrawl


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The Truth is Funny .....shift happens! with Host Colette Marie Stefan: Find Your Personal Power
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text:
Monday, May 29, 2006
Memorial Day
I place white flowers
on the grave
of one young soldier
boy who gave
his life, my own and
yours to save,
to honor him.
Though I may not
in fact agree
this war is a
he bravely fought to
keep us free.
I honor him.
And as I watch the
mothers cry
in anguish while their
children die,
there is not one who
questions why
we honor them.
The bravery with
which they fought
to buy the freedom
others sought
came from within,
could not be taught.
We honor them.
The question I would
ask is for
the leaders who have
chosen war:
How many men must
die before
you honor them?
Note: The photo accompanying this original poem was taken at a Civil War reenactment at Magnolia Mound Plantation, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in November 1997.
4 comments:
I read some where, old men make war and young men fight and die.ReplyDelete
I think this is a bad war maybe no war is good but I feel sorry for the mothers and wives who lost their young men.I see on tv a lot anymore about Harry Truman did wrong by droping the a bomb on japan but i figure that it saved my fathers life because he was going to have to go to tokyo next so i am not sorry he droped the bomb.
There are no "one-size-fits-all" solutions, are there, Patsy?ReplyDelete
What a very moving poem and tribute.ReplyDelete
So many men, just so many numbers to those who send them to fight their wars when often it is just greed and politics disguised as humanitarian. We never learn.
Enjoyed reading your site. Very interesting.
Thanks, Sandy. I'm glad you came to visit.ReplyDelete
Your comments might be the very best thing about blogging. I love it when you care enough to share your thoughts here, so go ahead and say what's on your mind.


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Former Democratic NYC Mayoral Candidate Equates Gun Owners to Child Molesters (Video)
Former Democratic Mayoral Candidate Mark Green equated gunowners to child molesters on MSNBC. Green said he believes there should be a registry where people can go to see if their neighbor is a gun owner, just as "Megan's Law" allows for individuals to see if there is a convicted sex offender living in their neighborhood.
Mediaite reported:
As a privately owned web site, we reserve the right to edit or remove comments that contain spam, advertising, vulgarity, threats of violence, racism, anti-Semitism, or personal/abusive attacks on other users. The same applies to trolling, the use of multiple aliases, or just generally being a jerk. Enforcement of this policy is at the sole discretion of the site administrators and repeat offenders may be blocked or permanently banned without warning. Guest posting is disabled for security reasons.


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After the 9/11/2001 attacks al-Qaeda became our terrorist enemy. Today it is ISIS. If the pattern continues and we are able to weaken ISIS as we have al-Qaeda, another terrorist group will rise like "whack a mole" to take its place.
What must occur, according to a Dec. 15, 2015, Stratfor article, "Why the U.S. Cannot Leave the Middle East," is that the U.S. government must come up with a strategy that is both "effective and sustainable." Unless some rebalancing is done, the Middle Eastern crisis will continue to disrupt and destabilize both the European Union and the United States.
The U.S. has neither the resources nor public support to sustain long-term wars like we have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11. Those wars raised our national debt, cost thousands of American lives and resulted in millions of deaths and injuries to the native populations in what has come to be called "collateral damage."
Massive immigrant migrations are flowing out of the Middle East partly as a result of our invasion and then withdrawal from Iraq. These mass movements have increased pressure on the very structure and existence of the European community.
The fear and uncertainty engendered by Syrian and Iraqi exiles, coupled with terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, have pushed a portion of this nation into intolerance of Muslims and of immigrants. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has increased his popularity due to his highlighting of these fears.
Differences of opinion over immigration have contributed to the polarized divide between liberals and conservatives in this country. Additionally, the old structures of the Middle East created during and after World War I are crumbling, forging new forces and movements rising from its ruins.
Radical Islamist groups have found a place in the power vacuum created by the massive changes to old boundaries. Regional powers are becoming more involved. Power struggles for dominance are emerging between Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. These nations are being forced to act because the U.S. is withdrawing from deep involvement in the region due to the high costs and U.S. public fatigue.
Parts of Syria and Iraq have been reshaped into ISIS. The civil war in Syria has created the Alawite (a Shia sect supported by Bashar al-Assad) rump along the coast. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council are fighting pro-Iranian Houthi forces in chaotic Yemen as well as ISIS to the north.
The United States, according to Stratfor, must reconsider its new strategy in the region. A new balance must be forged because terrorism is not going away for the foreseeable future. We must create a strategy that continues to get our regional allies to shoulder more of the burden and, at the same time, and in the right proportion, use Special Forces to tip the balance against radical Islam.
What the U.S. should do is to find a way to live in the tension between withdrawal and invasion. Neither extreme will protect us from terrorist attacks. The current U.S. strategy against IS has had some successes, but at a high cost. President Obama has also reversed his policy of complete withdrawal from Afghanistan. This change in direction comes as a result of the rise of IS in Iraq and Syria.
According to Stratfor, that cost is better and less expensive than reengagement with a massive military footprint.
What is certain is that the turmoil emanating from the Middle East will continue to roil the European Union and affect the U.S. during our election cycle and beyond. What is also certain is that the U.S. will continue to be involved in the Middle East long-term. A strategy must be developed that strikes a balance between invasion and withdrawal. At the same time we must develop a parallel strategy of balancing openness to immigration and concern for terrorist attacks in this country.
Expect 2016 to be tumultuous.


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Canadian Gestapo Destroys Men's Blogger
Regular readers of The World According to Bob know that many MEN from around the world celebrate Saint Marc as the hero who first began fighting back against the violent feminist war on men. International Marc Lepine Day, or Saint Marc's Day is celebrated on December 6th in every English speaking nation, French speaking nations, and a few other European nations. But in Canada the femiNazi 4th Reich Gestapo now rules with an iron fist. Their thought police attack and destroy men like Mr. Rochefort for speaking truth to hate. He was arrested and caged for daring to use words like "Saint Marc." on his blog. The Canadian war against men is violent and pervasive. Every man risks his life and freedom to speak the truth in Canada.
Canadian MAN, Jean-Claude Rochefort dared to write a blog about the heroic Marc Lepine in the femiNazi 4th Reich Police State of Canada. The femiNazi cows go wild and scream for blood when a man speaks truth about them. They call out their murderous dogs in blue shirts and red coats. Probably what vexes the femiNazi most was the image of a femiNazi dumping a baby into a trash can. Murdering babies is sacred to the femiNazi. Mr. Jean-Claude Rochefort dared to challenge their sacred baby killing
A typical example of femiNazi hate is the misandrist article bashing Jean-Claude, Bob, and other MEN is from a Canadian hate publication called "The Star." Antonia Zerbisias, a hate columnist for The Star, calls her hate column "Broad side." Perhaps she got the name from looking at her hips in a mirror. Broadside
Another femiNazi hate bitch, Ms.Anabelle Nicoud. She writes French language hate against men. One of her recent hate pieces is another attack on Mr. Rochefort, and all men. Des disciples de Marc Lépine font fuir un réalisateur
Make no mistake. The femiNazi and their Gestapo gun thugs are waging a very violent brutal war against all men. From Tiananmen Square to the streets of Quebec, a man who speaks against the femiNazi will be find the jackboot Gestapo ready to haul him off to the basement of some hellhole prison. The hate war against men continues. Only by many men fighting back can freedom for men be reclaimed in our lands.
A crime against any man is a crime against all men.
Canadian Hate Story about the destruction of another MAN.
CBC Canadian hate story with femiNazi hate comments
February 5, 2010
The FemiNazi 4th Reich of Kanuckstan has denied bail to Mr. Jean-Claude Rochefort. The pen is mightier than the sword. The evil FemiNazi Gestapo are afraid that he will spread the word and non-PC thoughts against tyranny if he is allowed to wait his trial at home where he has access to the Internet. His alleged "crime" is writing an anti-FemiNazi blog. The 4th Riech cannot allow MEN to speak out against their hate. His "trial" (lynching) is to be held about mid-February.
A crime against any man is a crime against all men.
Read CBC Story
Labels: Agents of Satan, Blue gun thugs, Canada, Marc Lepine Day, Men men's rights, men's activism, Misandry, Murderous pigs, police state, police violence


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Thursday, January 17, 2013
Palace Drops Support for Film
Considering how supportive the Grimaldis seemed to be in the past toward the film, this came as a surprise to me. However, perhaps it should not be as the time period the film is focused on; when relations between France and Monaco were extremely tense over French citizens relocating to Monaco to avoid taxes and when Princess Grace was invited back into the movie business by her former director (and admirer) Alfred Hitchcock. It is a sensitive period to look at it and, perhaps, it should not be surprising that filmmakers would disregard the truth and the wishes of the family in an effort to make an even more dramatic story. That is quite normal, however, speaking for myself, I am far less interested in seeing this movie if it is just going to be another carbon-copy Hollywood drama rather than the real story of what actually happened to Princess Grace in Monaco at that time.
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text:
ValleyCoin.com is the internet effort of Valley Coin Inc., a full time coin store located in Crystal, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The owner, Craig Johnson, has been dealing in coins since 1986. At Valley Coin we pride ourselves in offering accurately graded coins and currency at reasonable prices, as well as a full line of collecting supplies. We have items for all collectors and investors- from beginner to advanced. We are authorized dealers for both Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), and we can handle any coins you may want to submit to these services. Please call for details.
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text:
During the 2018-2019 school year, more than 43% of Servite students received financial aid in the form of tuition assistance. And each year, the number of requests grows. Will you please help make the dream of a Servite education a reality for these young men?
When you contribute to the Fund a Friar Program, your gift will go directly to our Financial Aid program for qualified students. all students receive Financial Aid are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA, work 40 hours per year through Trinity Corporation's work-study program and volunteer 25 hours or more in the community.
Please be as generous as you are able. Thank you!


text:
Courts proposal on taped witness statements could skew justice A REPORT published today by the Scottish Court Service claims digital technology should be used to "transform our criminal justice system" and 'capture' evidence from witnesses in advance of a criminal trial.
The review, chaired by a senior judge concludes witness accounts recorded at or soon after the scene of a crime should be admissible at trial, and criminal trial procedure should be re-thought to permit such developments.
In response, solicitors say the latest round of politically rooted meddling in the justice system contains little in the way of safeguards for accused and protections for the right to a fair trial.
The Evidence and Procedure Review – chaired by Lord Carloway - calls for Scotland to harness the opportunities that new technologies bring to improve the quality and accessibility of justice – by recording statements from witnesses in advance of criminal proceedings. The Evidence and Procedure Review was an internal Scottish Court Service research project led by the Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Carloway, supported by a small reference group and a full-time Project Director.
However, legal insiders say the proposals are of serious concern to how the justice system deals with witnesses and the rights of all accused persons – who have the right to test evidence put forward by the prosecution in court.
The move – which some see as a plan to substitute dodgy witnesses for a video recording - may also increase a growing trend in criminal trials where it has become obvious witnesses have been 'coached' by prosecutors in their delivery of evidence while under oath.
The growing trend of dodgy evidence presented in court by the crown - an issue familiar to many experienced criminal defence solicitors and counsel - has now reached a point in Scotland where trials attract regular criticism from the bench of crown agents conduct and the incredulity of witness testimony – among them – statements given by serving Police Officers.
Published here: the Evidence and Procedure Review consists of five Chapters:
Chapter 1 introduces the Review, its remit and details the considerations that led to the Review taking place.
Chapter 2 considers how children and vulnerable witnesses are treated in Scotland, Australia, England and Wales and Norway, and concludes that Scotland there is more that we could to improve the way in which such witnesses are required to give evidence.
Chapter 3 looks at the legal issues raised if witness statements recorded prior to trial are to be generally admissible. It reviews the law on hearsay, under which such statements are currently generally excluded, and considers the implications of a rule that would provide for their general admissibility.
Chapter 4 considers how criminal procedures would have to change to accommodate and take full advantage of the availability of such evidence; it also covers how the infrastructure of the justice system, both in terms of the technology available and the nature of facilities in the courts, police offices and elsewhere will have to be rendered fit to undertake the tasks of recording, editing, storing and presentation of such testimony.
Chapter 5 provides some concluding remarks.
A statement released by the Scottish Court Service said: "We need to rethink what constitutes the best evidence at trial – and this may mean a transformation in the way the evidence of witnesses in general is captured and presented. It is highly likely that a witness account taken at the scene of a crime or shortly after will be more reliable, full and accurate than their attempt to recall what happened many months later in court. The Report explores what legal and other changes need to be made to allow pre-recorded witness statements to be admitted as direct evidence, and what safeguards need to be in place. There are, potentially, great benefits – these include greater accuracy and reliability of the evidence; the ability to manage cases more effectively; and less reliance on witnesses turning up at court on the trial day.
Scotland needs to move to the forefront of law and practice in relation to children and vulnerable witnesses.There's extensive evidence that giving testimony at court is especially distressing and potentially damaging for young and vulnerable witnesses; and it is a poor way to get good evidence from them. Although Scotland does have a range of protections available, experience elsewhere, such as in England and Wales, Australia and Norway, suggests we can go further to protect such witnesses and ensure their evidence is taken in the most appropriate way in advance of the trial.
The Report is a starting point for developing ideas and proposals – it aims to be a catalyst for developing reforms that will bring a better experience for those called to give evidence in criminal proceedings, a system of justice that deals with cases speedily, effectively and fairly, and one which remains relevant, trusted and respected by the Scottish people. The Scottish Court Service will now work with the Scottish Government, other justice agencies, the legal professions and victims groups to explore the implications of the report's propositions and develop proposals for change."
Chief Executive of the Scottish Courts Service - Eric McQueen said: "This Report aims to stimulate discussion about the very nature of criminal trials - how do we ensure the testimony of witnesses is as reliable, accurate and complete as it could be; how do we eliminate unnecessary delays and preserve a fair, transparent and just system; how do we make sure that young and vulnerable witnesses are safeguarded against further trauma?
"The propositions in this Report could transform our criminal justice system. We now need work through their implications with everyone with an interest, so that the proposals that emerge are ambitious, workable and will help create a modern, fair and efficient criminal justice system for the digital age."
Speaking to Scottish Law Reporter earlier today, a criminal defence solicitor said "The proposals presented by the SCS are just another politically motivated 'think-of-the-PR project' with little real regard for the interests of justice or the right to a fair hearing".
James Wolffe QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, promised to consider the report's conclusions in detail but in an initial response said: "It is fundamental to the rule of law that an accused person should be able to challenge and test the evidence led by the prosecution. That is the mechanism by which we, in Scotland, seek to ensure that only the guilty are convicted. All of us have an interest in securing the sound administration of justice in Scotland – and, used appropriately, technology may provide opportunities for improving that system."
Lord Carloway – who chaired the report – previously called for the removal of CORROBORATION – a long held safeguard against miscarriage of justice in Scots law where evidence in a criminal trial is required from two separate sources for a conviction.
The plot to remove corroboration was instituted by the now sacked Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. The bitter debate on removal of corroboration reached a point where Crown Office insiders – angry over adverse media coverage – lashed out at members of the judiciary after a number of High Court judges signed a petition against the planned removal of corroboration.
Prosecutors at Scotland's Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) appeared before MSPs at the Scottish Parliament to back the removal of corroboration in an effort to assist the Crown Office in obtaining higher rates of convictions.
The proposal to remove the right of corroboration was effectively shelved after Scotland's top judge warned the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee against meddling with legal safeguards which cut across almost any criminal offence in law – ensuring the right to a fair trial.


text:
Watch A Big Joke Free Online. Stream and Download The Full Movie A Big Joke For Free Online
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A comedian who is everything but funny is pushed to his limit when a man heckles him off stage. The comedian takes the man prisoner and will only spare his life if the man can tell him a joke and make him laugh. When the man tells a joke that makes the comedian laugh, the comedian decides to kill him anyway. When the comedian uses the joke in his act, it is the only joke that gets a laugh. So he
George Orwell wrote that in a repressive political system every joke is a "tiny revolution." Jokes were an essential part of the communist experience because the monopoly of state power meant that any act of non-conformity, down to a simple turn of phrase, could be construed as a form of dissent. By the same token, a joke about any facet of life became a joke about communism. Hammer & Tickle rec
In the highly competitive world of urban comedy a killer joke or premise is an invaluable commodity, especially the much coveted 'closing bit;' the comics last rousing joke before exiting the stage. These gems are so highly regarded and closely guarded that many stand ups will go to great lengths to protect them from their 'light-fingered' and perhaps less scrupulous colleagues. 'JOKE THIEF' is
The Earth is an old, sick, grumpy and tired old man. The Moon, a beautiful and cheerful young woman. The Moon constantly tries to tell jokes to the Earth in order to cheer him up, but since he is very sick it is a difficult task. She will eventually get him to finally tell a joke. A joke about an old man on a porch, a joke not necessarily very funny.
Javier is a shrink who tells his disturbed patient Pandora a bad joke to break the ice. It looks like he might finally get through to Pandora when a strange man, one of the characters from the joke, walks into the room and then exits silently. Confused Javier struggles on with the therapy as piece by piece the dark world of the joke crosses over into his reality. Pandora breaks down and reveals
It's Cathy's party, but she's not having a good time. The boys have found an Ouija board and are out for some harmless fun. When strange things start to happen, they blame each other, but the joke goes too far and soon they realize it isn't a joke at all...
As a joke, several members of the gang convince Farina, who is "brave but superstitious", that he's caused the demise of a young acquaintance and must therefore lay the body (actually still very alive) to rest in the old burying ground, under the watchful eye of "the graveyard witch". The joke backfires spectacularly on the pranksters.
A group of friends get together in the future for a costume party and become infatuated with a dip that they just can't stay away from! This is the first ever movie where the audience is in on the joke, but the characters are not. The answer to the joke rests in the title of the very movie itself. Get ready for some heavy-duty surprises around every bend!
A comedian hatches a great joke: rig a fake killing live on TV. He takes a gun with blanks, and shoots his accomplice during a talk show. Happy that his joke has been successful, he walks away. His accomplice is really dead, however, and nearly a million viewers saw him pull the trigger.
Alien Humour is a look at the humour of aliens, specifically a Public Joke, as performed by the Pranksters of Outer Space! Experience the humour that has amused a black Octoplanthean and others with tentacles and vast inhuman minds! Get in on the Joke!
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text:
Lease accounting: finance lease accounting: finance lessees: example 2: allocating the interest element
The lessee's finance charges (the 'interest element') of the rentals are then allocated to the different periods of account using one of the prescribed methods, see BLM15040. In Example 1 the Rule of 78 was considered likely to be an acceptable method. This is less clear in Example 2, see BLM15620 onwards.


text:
There is a yin and a yang to fashion -- a balance that becomes predictable after successive seasons. Minimalism one year begets extravagance the next. Basic black one fall will burst into a kaleidoscope of colors the following spring.
So it is no surprise then that this fall -- one year after the omnipresence of all things ladylike -- that menswear has crept back into the fashion landscape.
And it makes sense that a spring of all things boho and peasant has evolved into a fall of structure and luxury.
"Women want to have options," says Gregg Andrews, a fashion director at Nordstrom. "And it is very much a season of opposites attract and juxtaposition."
As proof, consider these musings by fashion insiders:
From Marina Kievsky, design director for Cache, a chain of mall stores that specializes in luxe: "The theme of this season, it's very folkloric and Bohemian in feeling."
And from Nicole Fischelis, vice president and fashion director at Macy's stores: "This fall, we will see a return to feminized menswear, which means beautiful suiting, impeccable tailoring, lots of tweed, lots of glen plaid, pinstripes with feminine blouses and interesting underpinnings."
Contradictory? On the contrary, say those in the know.
This is the season of fitted velvet blazers paired with taffeta circle skirts. Dainty camisoles and glen plaid trousers. It's Victorian and cowboy. Leather and lace. Boy meets girl -- and falls in love.
Which is lucky for us. In a season of mix-and-match and blended trends, that just means there's something out there for everyone to wear.
Here's what you'll have to choose from this fall.
"There's a lot of talk about the return of the suit," says Andrews, of Nordstrom.
But make no mistake, ladies. This is not some boxy power suit handed down from the men's department.
"It's very sculpted to the body. It's very shapely," Andrews says. "It's very reminiscent of suits from the '30s and '40s."
Fall's feminine suit has a fitted jacket, often with a flounce -- "to accentuate a small waistline," Andrews says. It's paired with a slim pencil skirt or a fuller skirt, much like those that were popular this spring and summer.
Trousers also will dominate store racks this season, in many different shapes and styles. The trendiest is the menswear-inspired trouser, with pinstripe-detail or in a smart glen plaid. Some have pleating; others have cuffs or are cropped. Some are wide-leg; others, slim.
"The most fashion-forward pant is extremely, extremely narrow -- it can be almost as narrow as leggings," Andrews says. "We're even seeing pants that have an equestrian feel, that resemble jodhpurs or britches."
Opulence and romance
Last year's luxury bent has risen to a whole new level this season. This fall, what was rich is now even richer. What was lush is now ultra-luxe.
"Lots and lots of opulence," says Fischelis, of Macy's. "From jackets to dresses to even the skirt we've seen all summer."
Instead of cottony or gauzy lightweight materials, fall's full skirt will be done in rich velvet, Fischelis says. Or taffeta, says Andrews.
"We're seeing the influence of shines and brocades and opulent materials mixed in for day," Fischelis says. "It's sort of the modern opulence."
Velvet will be one of this fall's signature materials. You'll see it on skirts, blazers, dresses, collars, and trims.
The key to wearing such a traditionally dressy fabric in the daytime, experts say, is to pair your velvet item with something more casual or understated -- such as a flimsy camisole or a pair of jeans.
Fur, both real and faux, will continue to be big. Especially on coats, and sweaters, hoods and trim. On the runway, Dolce & Gabbana even showed a pair of denim capri pants cuffed in fur.
Ethnic looks / classic looks
"There's two directions this season," says Abigale Greenberg Levinson, fashion market editor for Elle magazine. "Either the very classic, clean, neat style or it's the very embellished, over-the-top kind of ethnic thing -- Russian, Eastern European. What's nice about it is that you can incorporate what you have in the wardrobe and update what you have. ... (And) with the ethnic things, it can be a really great wardrobe builder."
As jeans have worked their way from yardwork gear to fashion staple, they've become more decorative and unusual. This fall, jeans will dress up even more than ever.
"The denim we are doing is very modern, embellished, embroidered. Lots of rich washes," says Kievsky, of Cache, which only recently got into the jeans market, because of the latest trend toward luxury. "It's great because all this embellishment is so rich and expensive- and luxe-looking."
Sweaters, shrugs and shawls of all kinds will be popular again this fall -- things women can wrap themselves in and be cozy.
"Large, chunky knits, cables; it might even look as if a stitch was dropped. Things that look as though they're crocheted," says Andrews. "There's a huge interest in things that have a hand-finished look to them, an artisan touch, things that are special and unique."
Trends for Fall
Opulence, luxury, baroque: Velvets, brocades, matelasse, tapestry textures, herringbones, satins, furs
Embellished denim
Feminized menswear: Trousers, suits
Victorian / Edwardian tops: Lace, ruffles
Ethnic looks: Tunics, Russian, Eastern European
Full skirts / pencil skirts
Boots: Round-toe, flat and lace-up
Oversized handbags


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Product Description
Name:Fate Stay Night Mouse Pad Fate Stay Night 3D Mouse Pad
Size: 1 1/2″ × 8 2/3″ × 10 2/3″ (4cm x 22cm x 27cm)
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1:High quality, Integrated, Anti-slip.
2:Provides your mouse with a smooth ensuring greater accuracy, control, and faster response.
3:Point, click and drag quickly, smoothly and accurately


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Orchard Supply Hardware gift cards are great for buying home and garden supplies like Craftsman power tools, Benjamin Moore Paints and outdoor storage kits. Gift cards can also be used on kitchen repair items, household cleaning products, landscaping or on over 45,000 other items the hardware retailer has to offer. Since 1931, customers have been their number one priority and can always count on knowledgeable staff and advice.
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February 1, 2010 --The school board for Maine Township High School District 207 meets Monday night. It is expected to approve $15 million in cuts and layoff 137 teachers and employees. It's all an effort to reduce a projected $19 million deficit for the 2010-2011 school year.
The district was once lauded for its financial solvency.
District 207 administrators blame "accounting errors" and economic conditions for the financial problems.


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Liam Gallagher has given a new interview to Beats 1 in which he holds court on Skepta, Ed Sheeran, and his relationship with older brother Noel.
The iconic frontman is back in town, with new solo album 'As You Were' set to drop later this year.
Stopping past Beats 1 last night (July 26th) the singer held court on a variety of topics, including Ed Sheeran - "I don't know much about him but he is talented" - and Skepta, who he labels "the talk of the town out in England right now."
Naturally, though, the topic soon turned to Oasis, and to Liam's relationship with his brother and one-time band mate Noel Gallagher.
"We don't do it for the money, I did Oasis to make music and get out of Manchester and see what was going on out there," he told Zane Lowe. "The most important thing that people keep missing is that me and our kid don't speak and that's the saddest thing about it, two wrongs don't make no right."
"So before Oasis get back to together and before this cheques knocking about, me and him need to start becoming brothers and friends again, and inevitably we'll start making music. So there doesn't matter how many noughts are on the end. I know you've heard it a million times, but it's not about the money. We were the real deal."
"I don't care about getting Oasis back together," the singer continues. "He prods me and I prod him. I'm letting him know that I'm still here. I'm right here, I ain't going away. I'm back and I'm here. For me music is about having a laugh, life is about having a laugh and everyone seems to be making a tune, thing a cheque and going back to their big houses. I find it funny taking the piss out of my older brother who thinks his s*** don't stink. I find it funny."
'As You Were' will be released on October 6th.


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Khia was born on November 8, 1977 in Philadelphia and was raised in its Germantown neighborhood, and she moved to Tampa, Florida when she was 11. Khia attended Dowdell Middle School and Hillsborough High School. She was expelled from Hillsborough during ninth grade and attended an alternative school afterwards. Khia dropped out of high school in 10th grade after becoming pregnant, and she moved in with the baby's father, who was in the U.S. military. In 1991, Khia had her first child, a daughter also named Khia. In 1992, she moved to Hawaii when the father was stationed there and had her second child with him, a son named Rashawn.Before becoming a rapper, she worked as a bartender at Club XS in Tampa, Florida.
i got all the syrup


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Dietary team members assist with ensuring the health and well-being of residents by providing dietary support. This position is responsible for meal preparations for our residents in a variety of ways including preparing and serving meals, dish washing, preparing nourishments, stocking unit kitchenettes, working tray line, setting tables and preparing beverages for serving.
Shift: Various day and evening shifts, including every other weekend
Remain aware of menu for day and diet needs of residents seated at assigned tables.
Serve meals to residents in Dining Rooms, making certain that resident receives foods to meet diet requirements, and that residents have everything in place for eating a meal.
Clear, clean and set tables for next meal.
Clear food and cleans serving area.
Prepare/pour beverages prior to meals.
Prepare cold foods for service prior to meals.
Assemble food for nourishments and deliver to nursing stations or unit kitchenettes.
Perform cleaning duties in kitchen and/or serving areas as scheduled and directed.
Assist in care and maintenance of kitchen equipment.
Software Powered by iCIMS


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You've seen the commercials for companies like Quibids and Beezid: Win an iPad 3 for just $36.43. That's more than 90% off! With deals that good, who wouldn't try?
Penny Auction Sites have become very popular in the past ten years. The concept is fascinating and addicting as well.
Every time you bid, the item you are bidding for goes up one cent. Each item has a different timer from five to thirty seconds. Every time someone else bids on the item, the timer will be reset to the original time. When everyone stops bidding for the item, the timer expires, and the person with the last bid wins the prize.
For example: Tim is interested in a Macbook Air. The timer is set at 15 seconds so every time he or someone else bids on the item, the timer resets to 15 seconds. Being very patient, Tim is able to win the brand new Macbook Air for $124.88. What a deal, right? Not necessarily.
What penny auction sites fail to acknowledge is the bidder must purchase 'bid packs', certain amounts of bids for a specified price. For example, 100 bids might cost you a heart-breaking $50. From our example, let's say Tim purchased 1,000 bids for a discounted $400 (the more you buy at one time, the cheaper it is). To win that item, Tim used 900 of his purchased 1,000 bids. At 40 cents a bid, Tim spent an additional $360. In total Tim spent $484.88 for his Macbook Air. In this venture, Tim came out on top since Macbook Air's currently retail around $1,200.
Not everyone is as lucky as Tim, though. What about those bidders that lost to Tim? If they used as many bids, they just spent a hefty $360 and now have nothing to show for it. Realize there are on average seven to twenty different people fighting for the same item depending on how expensive that item is. Your chances of winning are greatly decreased because of it.
I have personally tried penny auction bidding. It was a very exciting and addicting experience. With $60 worth of bids, I was able to win a paper towel holder, a $10 Walmart gift card, and two $15 Subway gift cards. The total value of all my wins? About $50. Even with all my 'loot', I still didn't come out on top, losing ten dollars in the ordeal.
If you currently do penny auction sites or are interested, please be very careful. Before you know it, you will have spent hundreds of dollars on a product you won't even get to take home. 9 times out of 10, it is cheaper to simply buy the product at a retail store.


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Good News (Maybe)
I have an interview!
This is a real, honest-to-gawd interview. For an academic position. This interview is four hours long (and yes, they feed me, too!) and best of all, this interview is not;
1. a frantic telephone call begging me to teach 36 hours before my class begins
2. not for an hourly part-time temp (adjunct professor) position
3. not teaching at a low-quality school that embarasses me
This interview IS;
1. for a position that pays well enough that I can actually pay my rent while simultaneously affording;
a. decent food that is NOT RICE AND BEANS!
b. MTA cards
c. my monthly cell phone bill
d. some decent clothes without holes in er, strategic locations
e. AND still afford to buy a few books and go to a movie once in awhile (Broadway shows will still be beyond my income, unfortunately)
I wonder if I will have health benefits, too??
This interview is in one month (we are working out the precise details now). It is for a contract position that pays better than an adjunct position (LOTS!) and even though it is not a tenure-track position, it is the next best thing. Not only would getting this position show some real progress along my career path, but it is an interview with a very high-quality institution, one that I will be proud to be associated with, one that I can pour my heart and mind into, a place into which I can invest every molecule of energy and passion I have. I don't want to say exactly who it is yet on my blog but you all have heard of them and you would all be thrilled to see me there, this I can guarantee you!
This position, if I get it, is for next spring semester, so all I have to do is figure out how to stay alive and housed through January, 2006.
Anyway, regardless of the outcome, I shall probably reveal who they are after the process is over. I will, of course, keep you posted as to my preparations: This requires careful planning if I am to succeed.
I am afraid to feel too happy about this, but I will indulge myself for the remainder of today in happy, floaty feelings because I will finally have a purpose again.
Uh oh, what to wear? What to wear? I have no idea what to wear! IEEE!!!
Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you with that weird picture.
© 2004, 2005, 2006 by GrrlScientist


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Thoughts flutter throughout the day. Few stay, few flit, few need to be celebrated. Thoughts are man's gift, valuable enough to cherish for infinity. In a hope to immortalize those thoughts, I etch words onto this blog wishing all the way to carry them further into the world.
Saturday, 13 April 2013
#13. Forbidden Apple
You were the forbidden apple in my life
and I did what Eve had done at her age.
When one world saw us happy and glad
the other one questioned our sincerity
but I knew no matter what we would be okay.
The first bite hurt, it changed the space around,
it was crushing yet irresistible
so I let the world have its way. With it came
flooding knowledge all in stark form,
and I took them in as much as I could for I wanted
to show the people I was going to do this my way.
No one understood, no one tried
now I know who are friends
and the ones who are not.
You gave me everything you had,
teaching me, showing me, making
me see myself. It was too much at
the start, maybe like how Eve might
have felt, but the world changes and
All things forbidden someday.
You just have to take the first bite.
It may be wrong, it may be right
but atleast your universe is stirring
no longer at a mundane stay.
Posted by Manisha Mahalingam at 12:06
Labels: change, forbidden apple, life, Poem, world
2 comments:
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CHIC HAPPENINGS…….There are some bright spots in Retailing!
The Merchandising Star Awards at Hotel ZaZa
Thursday, February 5, 2009, 11:30 a.m.
Yes, these days it's hard to find a bright spot to talk about in the Retail world, but it's not all dark and cloudy. In fact, there are some real STARS and they are being recognized by the University of Houston, College of Consumer Science and Technology at their Third Bi-Annual Merchandising Star Awards Luncheon benefiting The Merchandising Star Awards Endowment, which accomplishes many things, not least of which is scholarships for prospective Retail students.
This event is hosted by The University of Houston Merchandise Advisory Board representing many Retailers in the city and is being chaired this year by Philamena Baird and Lou DeLone. It's emcee, KPRC-TV News Anchor, Dominique Sachse will be presenting awards to the following for their outstanding contributions to the community.
**Target Stores……Retail Innovation
**Roseann Rogers……Media
**Emily Armenta…….Design
**Harris County Judge Ed Emmett…….Community Service
**Amy Mayfield……..EmergingStar; U. of H. Student Scholarship Award
For more information on attending this event, click on to…….http://www.tech.uh.edu/StarAwards/


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Why am I publishing this animated working of bridge rectifier circuit? Because in my long teaching experience, I have noticed that sometimes, the 11-12th standard students get confused with the working of bridge rectifier and cannot properly explain it. This same case occurs for HWR & FWR circuits as well. So I have created the animations of all these three circuits, which would help you understand the working.
So just watch the video given below, and I am sure that you will never forget it the working of the circuit from now on! I can bet on that…!
If you liked this post, or want to suggest something more, please write your comment below.


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This week's London Street Photography Meetup was "Eye spy in Knightsbridge". We were tasked with 5 themes - anonymous, glasses, windows, phones (almost hard to find someone without one) and close-up for the merry band of covert operatives.
Polly had us channelling a bit of Dougie Wallace and his Harrodsburg project, which encouraged me to eschew my usual street photography monochrome. Luckily the Harrods' window displays were vibrant and flowery, and as one of our themes was reflections in windows, or through a window, it gave me something to work with.
My favourite image of the day was a shot from the hip photo of an extraordinarily elegant woman reclining against the main entrance of Harrods, framed by the flowery window and clutching her phone, as most people were today it seemed. I think she may have clocked me though.
There were a couple of astonishing coloured outfits too, plus a fabulous hat! And I even opted for a rare selfie, I was inspired by sporting my new vintage Leica as I hoped to find time to grab some film and perhaps advice on cutting that film. Though actually you can't really see my lovely Leica jewellery in the reflection.
This was my 24th Meetup and my very first was also in Knightsbridge. That time we spotted Dougie doing his thing, this time we just had an angry women demanding to have Mikey's photo of her deleted, and yet kept repeatedly wandering by in front of us holding a bag in her face. I couldn't resist taking a sneaky photo whilst she was in full attack mode, and amazingly, I got away with it!


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Bre's Wallpapers
These wallpapers have been designed by Bre, of Primordial Souls. For more information, see the 'About the Artist' information here. I hope you enjoy these wallpapers as much as I do!
BF: Bre
Respect Our Artists I really hope you like this site and the wallpapers archived here. Please remember these wallpapers belong to their respective artists and are not to be archived on other websites unless the proper permission is given. These artists have allowed their wallpapers to be archived here and I do hope you respect them.


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Gin Akasarahsmom: if the panelists for Legend of the Seeker please change their font color to Red… and introduce themselves… we can get this party started!
Gin Akasarahsmom: no worries Staci… Bomb Girls went a tad bit over..
Arbryna: Hey all, I'm thedawn from LiveJournal :
Arbryna: Oops
Arbryna: Itchy enter finger.
Arbryna: You can also call me Alex, if it's easier.
Stacicle: Hi, I'm Statuepup from LiveJournal
Gin Akasarahsmom: If you have a question just raise your hand and I'll take you in order… I'll start things off… What got you interested in this fandom… the books, or the tv show?
Arbryna: Haha…for me, it was actually the fanfic. I stumbled across the lots_femslash group and started reading, then I had to watch the show.
Gin Akasarahsmom: How about you Staci?
Stacicle: For the sake of disclosure, I should probably say that I'm a beta reader, not an author. And it was the fanfic that got me interested in the show… in fact the first "new" episode I ever saw was the series finale. 😛
Gin Akasarahsmom: LOL…
Arbryna: I was pretty close to that, I think…"Desecrated" was my first new one.
Stacicle: What a good episode to start with Arbryna!
Gin Akasarahsmom: This question is for the whole room… What is your favorite pairing for this fandom? Just go ahead and chime in…
Arbryna: LOL…I dare anyone to guess. *eyes long list of Cara/Kahlan fics*
Gin Akasarahsmom: I very much prefer Cara/Kahlan
Stacicle: I'm afraid I'm a femslash purist – Cara/Kahlan is my OTP
Gin Akasarahsmom: okay… the room seems reluctant to chat, for the moment…
Arbryna: It's fun to play around with other pairings, but I can never seem to get away from those two.
Nikkeh: Cara/Dahlia
Gin Akasarahsmom: panelists… what about the Cara/Kahlan fandom do you like.
Arbryna: The fandom or the relationship?
Gin Akasarahsmom: the relationship.. what makes them perfect for each other
Stacicle: There have been a couple Cara/Dahlia fics I've chanced reading and liked them.
Stacicle: C/K… part of the draw to their relationship for me is the whole opposite thing
Arbryna: Ah. Well, to me it's that classic "sworn enemies falling for each other" thing. The fact that they've both been brought up hating everything the other stands for, yet they can't seem to hate each other. The fact that Cara is in more danger than most from Kahlan's powers (because she'd die) just makes it that much more exciting.
Stacicle: Opposites without really being opposite – they're trained to hate each other but their work ethic, their loyalty and dedication are so similar.
Stacicle: Well put, Arbryna.
Stacicle: They open up new and unexpected worlds in each other.
Arbryna: Exactly. There's so much they can learn from one another.
Gin Akasarahsmom: Cara is a bit different than other Mord'sith too though right? She took the training but pretty much continued to think for herself.. something the others don't really do…
Arbryna: True. Cara's training gave her a fiercer loyalty to her sisters than to Rahl, which left the opening for her to betray him.
Stacicle: I only know the TV show, but that seems true, Gin.
Gin Akasarahsmom: yes.. I only know the TV show as well… if the books contradict that, anyone who has read the books is welcome to chime in
Stacicle: And she established much of her own code, which makes her loyalty, first to her sisters, then to Richard, (ahem), then to Kahlan, all that more meaningful.
Arbryna: Hm…well it's harder to say in the books, really, because Richard claims his title as Rahl immediately.
Alsike: I was really interesting in the Mord'Sith dynamics – because Cara is so odd on her own, I wanted to find out what she'd be like in a quad, especially a quad of the more free thinking Mord'Sith.
Arbryna: So her loyalty to Lord Rahl is never really questioned.
Arbryna: Alsike – I would have been interested to see that as well.
Stacicle: Right, Arbryna.
Alsike: Well, if I ever finish that fis…
Alsike: fic*
Stacicle: Alsike, I would have loved to see what Cara, Berdine, Raina, and …someone else… could have accomplished as a quad.
Arbryna: Something to look forward to
Alsike: I did the set up with my Berdine/Raina fic, where Cara's a minor character. But I have the set up for them going to find her after Darken dies and totally messing up the Kahlan/Cara/Richard/Zedd dynamic.
Alsike: not plot though
Nikkeh: I have a question
Gin Akasarahsmom: go ahead Nikkeh
Nikkeh: WHat do you guys think of the other femslash pairings in LotS. most of them dont get as much visibility as K/C
Gin Akasarahsmom: what other pairings are you talking about Nikkeh?
Stacicle: Sometimes, I think you need fuel for a fire, and it's inspirational to see your pairing onscreen. Lots of that with C/K, and significant scenes with C/D.
Arbryna: Oh, I love them. They may not reach my "Ultimate OTP" status, but I love playing with other pairings. I was really aching for some Kahlan/Nicci fic at one point, and there have been a few Denna/Kahlan and Denna/Cara fics I was into. Cara/Dahlia never quite did it for me, funny enough.
Arbryna: I mean, they clearly were in love at one point…and I've read a couple of fics that go back into their past together, which I can get behind. But post-"Eternity" I just can't quite do it.
Stacicle: The point made earlier about Cara's Mord'Sithiness being unique – I don't see Kahlan hooking up with Denna, or Dahlia, not without Cara in the mix somehow.
Arbryna: Staci–well, that's the fun of fic, though…you can always find reasons
Arbryna: Of course I've always been of the opinion that Kahlan is a lot more of a sexual being than she lets on, or maybe even admits to herself.
Stacicle: I agree, Arbryna – Dahlia's betrayal turned me off post-Eternity, post-Tears C/D fics.
Stacicle: *You can*, Arbryna, you're the writer. Heh.
Arbryna: It's just lack of opportunity, since her powers limit practical experience.
Stacicle: Yes, and Cara brings that out of her so nicely.
Arbryna: LOL Staci…I've had a few readers suggest things in the past 😛
Nikkeh: so was it mainy the betrayal that put you off cara/dahlia?
Nikkeh: because you both mention that specificaly
Gin Akasarahsmom: possibly because Kahlan CAN'T be close to anyone.. it's not lack of opportunity.. it's an actual barrier stopping her
Arbryna: Nikkeh…it was more that I can't see them finding common ground anymore. Dahlia put her loyalty to Lord Rahl above everything else. She thought she was doing the right thing for Cara, but she still refused to let Cara make her own choices.
Stacicle: The betrayal, yes, but not by itself. It's Dahlia's betrayal reflected against the unwavering loyalty and caring shown by Kahlan (and the merry band).
Arbryna: Gin – that's what I meant, really…the lack of opportunity to overcome the "powers" obstacle. It's not like Rada'Hans are lying around all over the place
Gin Akasarahsmom:
Arbryna: Staci…exactly. Cara is a different person than the one Dahlia knew.
Stacicle: Dahlia would always choose herself, which by extension, is choosing Darken.
Arbryna: Traveling with Richard and Co. changed her, and I'm not sure that Dahlia could find common ground with this Cara.
Nikkeh: thats a good point. i think thats why they're my favorite.
Arbryna: Given time, maybe they could…but I'm not sure Cara could manage the forgiveness required to find out.
Stacicle: There are one or two fics that have Dahlia joining the band, and C/K, but that shows a transformation of Dahlia that frankly just wasn't achieved in thte show.
Gin Akasarahsmom: Each character has a loyalty to Richard… but each is different in the way they show it… how do you think Richard changes the way Cara and Kahlan see each other?
Arbryna: Hmm….well first, there's the obvious- Richard more or less forces Kahlan to see Cara as a potential ally, rather than an enemy.
Gin Akasarahsmom: true…that is a "she stays because I say she stays" kinda thing
Stacicle: Best gift he ever gave Kahlan! lol
Arbryna: Staci…lol, much to his eventual regret 😛
Stacicle: Right!
Gin Akasarahsmom:
Arbryna: And it's Richard that really encourages Cara to question what she's been taught about everything, including Kahlan.
Stacicle: Serving Richard, however unintentionally, gives them common ground. A necessary building block.
Arbryna: Yep. Their loyalty to and protection of Richard brings them closer together.
Stacicle: And in doing so, Alex, Kahlan herself gets to question everything she's been taught about Mord'Sith.
Gin Akasarahsmom: so without Richard… if Cara had been tossed out of the Mord'sith and just happened upon Kahlan on her own… do you think they would have become friends?
Arbryna: Mmhmm.
Arbryna: Oh, not a chance.
Arbryna: Kahlan would quite possibly have confessed Cara on sight.
Stacicle: Probably not without a talented femslash writer at the reins.
Arbryna: Assuming Cara let her get close enough.
Gin Akasarahsmom: LOL.. I see
Arbryna: There would have to be another factor that sort of replaces Richard's influence…some common goal or something.
Alsike: Or, you know, if they strip her of her leathers and Kahlan doesn't know.
Stacicle: Yes. But Cara – expunged by the Mord'Sith – she was sort of a potential blank slate. Who knows what could have influenced her?
Arbryna: Alsike…very true. But would Cara know Kahlan was a confessor? Because you've got the same sort of instant animosity on her end as well.
Stacicle: Yeah, but take away their ritual garb, and could they have discerned each other's nature right away?
Arbryna: Staci…I don't know that I'd agree about the blank slate part. She's been Mord-Sith almost as long as she can remember…that training stays with you.
Alsike: Cara still needs a reason to stick around – she'll only hold on to things that are useful to her.
Arbryna: If not the loyalty to Rahl, then the core values she adheres to–pride, strength, etc.
Stacicle: Right, the training stays, but what would she do with it?
Arbryna: Little to no value of human life, lol.
Stacicle: Rigth, she definitely needed a redefining influence in her life.
Alsike: I always thought that one of the ways Cara was unlike other Mord'Sith was that she wasn't at all cunning.
Gin Akasarahsmom: Kahlan had a lot of training as well… did she not?
Arbryna: Gin, yes she did. Very different from Cara, of course…more focused on diplomacy and morality.
Arbryna: Alsike…true. She's not exactly the best liar.
Gin Akasarahsmom: because it's so moral to capture someone's mind and bend them to your will?
Arbryna: Gin…well you can see that she struggles with that part of it 😛
Stacicle: So both very disciplined, very trained, and adhering to that training.
Arbryna: Morality more in terms of what's right and wrong, how to judge disputes fairly and objectively.
Gin Akasarahsmom: LOL… yeah.. I know. needed a /sarcasm tag on that last comment
Arbryna: To ensure that she doesn't bend anyone to her will that doesn't deserve it.
Stacicle: Ha, Gin! Good point. I guess you gloss that over when you hold the title "Moral Authority of the Midlands".
Arbryna: Haha oh I got that, I'm also just a brat sometimes 😛
Alsike: it's probably a lot of formal logic.
Alsike: Kahlan – unexpectedly good at maths.
Gin Akasarahsmom: but if Kahlan went a little off her training… and Cara went a little off her training… then they may indeed find some common ground, other than Richard
Arbryna: Alsike…LOL, not in the books…you give me the odds of 5,000 men vs. 50,000 and I'm running the other way 😛
Arbryna: Gin–Oh, the potential is still there. It just needs some kind of catalyst.
Stacicle: Exactly, a catalyst.
Arbryna: If we're talking about Kahlan just happening upon Cara alone instead of with Richard, back in Marked, I'm not sure they'd get there.
Stacicle: Surviving catastrophe, some common goal maybe.
Arbryna: Exactly, Staci. Common goal.
Gin Akasarahsmom: yes.. I can see that..
Alsike: or each one coming up with a use for the other – like a hostage, or something
fortunata1: Hello all.
Arbryna: Ah, true. Maybe if Cara thinks she can win her way back into the Mord-Sith by capturing the Mother Confessor, or something.
Arbryna: Hey fortunata
Stacicle: I hate to think of Kahlan taking someone hostage
Stacicle: Hi fortunata!
fortunata1: Hello!
Arbryna: Ha…well the problem with Kahlan taking Cara hostage, is why? Who's she going to deliver her too? 😛
Stacicle: But yes, I can see her trying to get in Darken's good graces doing that.
Gin Akasarahsmom: hello fortunata… welcome
Arbryna: *to
Alsike: Really? Kahlan would totally take a hostage. She's hardcore.
Stacicle: Maybe using her as a shield to escape a situation?
Arbryna: Oh, I don't doubt that Kahlan's got the nerve to do it. There just has to be a point.
Alsike: That is where plot intervenes.
Stacicle: Yes, she can be ruthless, but with a purpose.
Arbryna: Cara being used as a shield would require her to be important to someone. Which, depressingly enough, she's not. Not until Richard.
Gin Akasarahsmom: Kahlan left her own sister dead in a river… she can be ruthless when necessary.
Stacicle: Mmm, I guess that's right, Arbryna. The Mord'Sith would just kill Cara to get to Kahlan, casualty of war.
Alsike: hmmm, now I'm having a thought about both of them actually being aware of each other's identies, and Kahlan wanting to use the mord'sith as a human sacrifice for… crossing the boundary, or something, and Cara wants to lure hier into Darken's grasp.
Alsike: and they lie to each other a lot.
Stacicle: Go forth and fic, Alsike!
Gin Akasarahsmom: yepper… write it all down…
Arbryna: Do it
Gin Akasarahsmom: sorry.. Staci… you have a question?
Stacicle: Yes. Because that leads us to the big elephant in the room, the apparent slow death of LotS fic.
Stacicle: Discuss.
Arbryna: *sigh* It's terrible, I know.
Gin Akasarahsmom: What do you think has contributed to the lack of fic in the fandom? Natural because of the show being off the air… maybe?
Stacicle: That's always a big factor, Gin.
Arbryna: I think the show being off the air for so long, plus more and more shows coming out with F/F storylines, or even subtext…
Alsike: there also was a glut of it. Maybe people think most of the stories have already been written.
Arbryna: It's a bit too easy to move on.
Stacicle: Agreed. New shows, new subtext inspire new pairings.
fortunata1: I think lack of readership is also a factor.
Stacicle: Path of least resistance and all that.
Arbryna: Alsike – also a good point. If I were just stumbling into the fandom I'd be a little daunted by the mass amounts of fic. I'd have to read them all to know I wasn't re-doing someone else's idea.
Gin Akasarahsmom: I suppose so… there do seem to be a lot more shows with subtexty content..
fortunata1: Writers write to be read.
Alsike: yeah, yeah, – go to the small fandoms panel
Gin Akasarahsmom: 10 minutes left in this panel…
Gin Akasarahsmom: there are a lot of small fandoms
Gin Akasarahsmom: but still quite a few juggernauts in the femslash world…
Arbryna: fortunata…Also true. As a writer, I tend to get most excited about the fics that draw the most attention. I still write whatever I get inspired to write, but a more active fandom means more ideas and inspiration.
Stacicle: True, fortunata. And if folks aren't following an older, or off the air, show's fic site, readers are hard to come by.
Gin Akasarahsmom: Xena still seems to be up and running after how many years off the air? Buffy still has a big following…
Arbryna: Those shows also had 6/7 seasons each, though.
Alsike: is there a tumblr community for LotS fic?
Arbryna: Much more material to mine for stories.
fortunata1: Don't get me wrong, I write anyway but it is a bit of a bummer.
Gin Akasarahsmom: Star Trek Voyager…
Stacicle: Yeah, so when I hear the word "glut" mentioned, I think Xena not LotS
Arbryna: Alsike…not really :/
Alsike: Xena has a tsunami, not a glut
Gin Akasarahsmom: that is true too .. they all had more seasons
Stacicle: Right, and we only had Cara on LotS for one season.
booklover81: @Alsike – I don't know of one for fic, but I do see some gifs/manips cross my dash on a semi-regular basis
Stacicle: lol, Alsike
Alsike: that was what I was thinking – that there are a lot of gifs still going around on tumblr, and maybe that's an opportunity for fic too?
Alsike: marketing.
Arbryna: I mean, heck, I've still got a list of nearly thirty different LotS fic ideas that I wanted to write, and I still intend to do them some day…it's just easier to get excited about shows that other people are excited about.
Gin Akasarahsmom: do you think the fandom will totally fade away? Or will fans always be fans?
Stacicle: Poke poke poke, Arbryna – I know about your list. And boy, do I want to read those fics.
Alsike: I'm still hoping for a season 3 kickstarter.
Stacicle: madame_denna said that SMGO is trying to get a third season going.
Nikkeh: as someone who doesnt write anything ever. i think that it wont fade out
Gin Akasarahsmom: readers are important though.. without readers… why write?
Arbryna: Oh, I don't think it'll ever be gone. It may just become one of those things that people mention randomly, like Popular. That show was two seasons, and I still see some fans from time to time talking about Brooke/Sam and whatever.
Stacicle: I' hope it will linger, and have a resurgence.
Gin Akasarahsmom: I have a few fandoms like that… I know they are there.. lingering in the shadows…
Gin Akasarahsmom: lol
Gin Akasarahsmom: Five minutes left… any last comments??
Alert: Welcome.
Alsike: especially new longfic – like a nice 30k fic all in one go.
Alsike: i may be fantaisizing here.
Stacicle: Guys, I've got a storm brewing in my area, so I'm going to have to sign off early. Thanks for the chat, and be inspired – write more C/K, write more LotS fics, please!
Arbryna: Heh…well, when I write longfic, I have a rule that I can't post it until it's finished, so it's not that far out of an idea
Stacicle: And I'll keep beta-ing and doing my part.
Arbryna: Adios Staci! Stay inside and warm
Stacicle: Bye!
Gin Akasarahsmom: sorry Paltalk hiccupped on me…
fortunata1: Bye Stac
Stacicle: And warm isn't the problem this summer.
Alsike: try dry.
Gin Akasarahsmom: Thanks to everyone attending.. and thanks to the panelists for being here…
Arbryna: Haha…well, dry then 😛
Gin Akasarahsmom: Up next is SVU
Arbryna: No problem. I had a blast Thanks to everyone who asked questions and participated…and thanks to the lurkers who just kinda stalked us all creepy like
fortunata1: Take care everyone.


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The Truth May Scare You 2018-2019
Let us not forget the most significantly important false flag operation of the 21st century that has had a major impact on Americans and the world around them.
An event so traumatizing and paralyzing that many cannot still fathom that it was in fact an "inside job."
To think that a country would intentionally attack and hurt itself for future benefits is just pure evil, but it is our existing reality today.
"It's incredibly distressing to realise that your own country's government is NOT really running the country but, that a more powerful world wide association of evil, power hungry demons are controlling EVERYTHING world wide. It terrifies me to even try to conceive of what they're end game goal might be. At least now I am AWAKE and watching and asking questions, and not just believing whatever I'm told." – Anonymous
We must NEVER FORGET ….
Watch this 10 minute video via Anonymous Official:


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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
In Blood: The Bacchae at the Arcola
Right then, some words would be good I suppose, specifcally some words about theatre. I think I can just about manage that.
First visit of the year was to the Arcola, one of my favourite venues, to see In Blood: The Bacchae. Taking its cues from Euripides, this is a play set in Brazil during the twenties, that pads out its story with the distinctive movements of capoeira. But though not short on atmosphere, it ends up being a curiously flat thing, lacking in dramatic punch. The dance-combat scenes were very striking, but in terms of narrative the production suffered form a lack of coherence.
Frances Viner's play is based on the true story of Besouro, a young outlaw, a folk hero. In a divided society, he used his cunning and charm to humiliate the authorities rather than resorting to violence, but it was only through reading the programme notes that this really became clear. Instead of shaping and enhancing the production, the reliance on music and movement hobbled proceedings, fighting the narrative, weighing it down.
Apart from Greg Hicks' police chief, there were no strong performances, and even he was oddly muted. It was difficult to get a grip on his character. He was sometimes a caricature of a villain, flinging cocaine about the place, sometimes more ambiguous. Having long ago killed Besouro's mother he still returned to leave flowers on the spot were her body fell. But all of this was muddied by the often overly ornate language and the thick accents of some of the supporting cast.
The capoeira was exciting to watch and, coupled with the music played on drums and berimbeaus (cool twangy things that look like archery bows with gourds attached), the production had a degree of agreeable energy, but even so, taken together, it felt underpowered. The AfroReggae concert Barry and I saw at the Barbican last year managed to say more about Brazil's past and present than this odd concoction.
Posted by Interval Drinks at 6:44 AM
Labels: Arcola Theatre, Capoiera, Frances Viner, Greg Hicks
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Blueprints is our 2-week covenant membership class. In this class, you'll learn about the biblical call for believers to commit themselves to membership in a local church, what membership looks like at Bridgeway, and meet the elders who will commit to care for and watch over you, equip you for ministry, and seek your growth in godliness.
Despite what many of us in the Bible Belt may have encountered, Covenant Membership is not a badge of accomplishment or shackling yourself to abusive authority. Here's what we're asking:
If you call Bridgeway "home"...
We are asking you to join yourself to other Christian men and women. We are asking you to commit yourself to pursue godliness together and to live in relationships of mutual accountability and encouragement. We are asking you to identify yourself as a vital, contributing partner in this community of faith. This isn't about someone's control over you, but your commitment to others.
For more information about covenant membership, visit this page.
The next 3 dates for Blueprints are:
August 20 & 27, 2017 | Sundays, 9am
Nov 30 & Dec 7, 2017 | Thursdays, 6:30p
March 4 & 11, 2018 | Sundays, 9am
To sign up for Blueprints, fill out the form below.


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Adam Tooze's recent article in Foreign Affairs makes the case that Germany's avoidance of domestic spending is undermining its future prospects, but there is also the problem that its external investments have been substantially into the Eurozone, into better protected (through currency union) jurisdictions. Those investments have in effect fuelled the boom economies in those peripheral countries - Ireland included, and perhaps especially Ireland - whose underlying infrastructure was too weak to sustain the debt, yet the infrastructure of the Euro managed to obfuscate. In essence, the Euro itself guaranteed the return, even if the collateral against which the loans were being made, or the fundamentals of the investment, were unsound.
As so many of these discussions do, much of the current situation is bound in politics, in ideas, and in a shared vision. Germany doesn't invest as much as it perhaps should in Germany, perhaps because it doesn't truly believe in the idea of Germany any more. The post-war investments were infrastructure, functional, necessary for basic existence, though at massive scale. The choices Germany has had to make about domestic investments in the past ten to fifteen years have been about a future Germany, about a country that is becoming less and less relevant to the sustainability of prosperity of Germans. This is not exclusively a German phenomenon; European integration is working, and working well. Workers move freely today, people move freely and often, and societies are integrating while interdependency has grown. Multiculturalism and its failure is a topic confined to non-European integration, not to Europeans themselves. It is a tribute the the EU (as noted by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize recently) that intra-European racism is not spoken of any more.
European capital flows have been poorly managed, and that has been the failure of the Euro. Integrated banking, and banking regulation, will help to preclude a re-occurrence; ultimately however it is continued socio-political integration that needs to happen. We need to think more as Europeans, with European problems, and European solutions, rather than Germany versus Greece, or core versus periphery countries, or a two speed Europe. Only solidarity will keep the project together; fragmentation even at the periphery will lead to a loss of confidence at the core, and ultimately to its dismantling. It would be difficult to see how the European Union could be dismantled effectively without some kind of conflict arising, and the more one contemplates the modalities of reversal, the more abhorrent it becomes. It simply cannot be allowed to happen.
Europe has failed in recent times to manage its economy successfully. But it has had extraordinary success in fighting war itself, and in asserting a vibrant, liberal, humanist vision of genuinely collaborative government. Europe is about cultural integration, about civilisation, about tolerance and about human rights. These are enormous achievements that can not be, and must not be forgotten. The real European economy is that of people, of family, of ambition, and expression. Let's not throw that away.


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Tuesday Apr 22, 2003
Persistence of Memory
If there is any doubt that your eyes can fool you, try the following experiment. Take a ruler with you and look in the bathroom mirror. It seems that the face looking back is about life-size. Now, measure the image in the mirror and you will be surprised. We see what we want to see. It's for this reason that lawyers love having eyewitnesses to a crime. What you saw can be picked apart until you are no longer certain of what took place.
And if our perceptions of things are in question, there is a larger issue here. No one ever saw anything outside his head. Think about it and you will see the truth in it. Perception takes place solely in the mind's eye. What appears to be in front of you is taking place within you.
Buddha knew this and saw the maya, or illusion of the worldand in that moment, he was released to experience things as they are.
So, here's looking at you, kidwith deference to Bogey.


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Jurgen Klinsmann: "Take Care of Business and Qualify"
ussoccer.com: We are four games into the Semifinal Round with two to go. How do you feel about being in a three-way tie on points, and competing for one of two spots?
Jurgen Klinsmann: "We have our backs against the wall. We want to win both games, so we have to go into Antigua and, from the first second on, go for goals and get those three points. Guatemala is a very difficult team to play. You have to beat them, and we'll have the home crowd behind us. We unnecessarily lost some points in Guatemala with a free kick eight minutes before the end of the game. We were leading when Clint Dempsey scored and it was all looking good. If you come away with three points it's a big difference than with a tie. And then in Jamaica we unnecessarily lose that game 2-1 with two set pieces that you give away. If you would say that there is a team out there that is outplaying you and plays better than you - like a Spain or an Italy - and you lose that game, you accept it and you give a compliment to the opponent. But if you give a game away because of just a set play or because of certain individual mistakes, then it makes you mad. I want to make sure that this is not happening again. We have to be focused from the first minute we get into camp."
ussoccer.com: When making selections for this roster, what will be your approach?
JK: "It is really crucial when it gets down to World Cup Qualifiers when you put your roster together that you look at their individual schedule; who is in full swing, who is struggling getting games in, who is spending too much time on the bench. Going into these two decisive games we need to make sure they are all at 100 percent. The coaching staff closely monitors our players in Europe and here in North America, and we are in constant contact with club coaches so we have a clear picture of where each player stands.
ussoccer.com: If you look at the last few camps and the matches with them, the players have been in various stages of their seasons. How much easier will it be this time around with all of the players in full swing?
JK: "It's actually an exciting point. It's the first time this year that we have all the players in a full rhythm. It wasn't the case when we beat Italy in February because the MLS players were in preseason. It wasn't the case when we beat Mexico because the European-based players were in preseason. The May-June camp was challenging with a lot of different situations with the players. Now everybody is in full swing and prepared. I'm convinced if the players give everything they have, we are going to take care of it."
ussoccer.com: You have been pushing players to try and reach the next level in their careers, and in the case of Clint Dempsey he wound up at your former club and got a big result this past weekend. What are your thoughts when you see Clint score a big goal like he did for Spurs against Manchester United?
JK: "You almost celebrate with him! As a National Team coach, you are connected with all the players at the different clubs wherever they play. When they score, you get a smile on your face. Your goal is to help those players get to their next level, wherever that is. With Clint in particular, I told him all year 'you need to push the envelope. You need to get to higher-ranked team. You need to play Champions League one day and prove to the top players in the world that you can compete with them'. He took that well. He worked hard for it. He had a very, very good season last year and then he was in an unknown place during the summer break with his club situation. It came at the last moment, and fortunately it came with a team that I played for, so there are even more emotions connected to it.
"So you try to explain to a player what it takes to get to their next level, and I think they buy into it. They understand it. At the end of the day, it's only the player's decision. Their inner drive determines if they want to go up or not. You have the phenomenon also that players are happy where they are. They become content and get the feeling they have made it already, and then you have to tell them to their faces that no, you never have 'made it', there is always another level waiting for you. You identify these personalities over time and you help them to change their mindset and look at it differently."
ussoccer.com: What do you think it's going to take to get six points from these next two games?
JK: "The situation is very clear. Everyone can look at the table in the group and see there are three teams with seven points. You have to give 100 percent from the first second on. You can't underestimate Antigua for one second. They have done amazingly well in the group, even if they just have one point. They had Guatemala right down the stretch in Guatemala, leading 1-0 for a long period of time. They were giving Guatemala a lot of problems in their home game, and obviously they tied Jamaica at home. This is a team that you have to take seriously. You have to keep the tempo high, create chances and finish those chances off. With Guatemala we know we have a very tricky team. Carlos Ruiz always is a guy that creates problems, and it's a technically gifted team, so again we have to keep the tempo high. Now it's really about zooming in and focusing on every little element, because it's always the little details that make the difference. I think if we have the right attitude from the first day on in camp, if we're determined and we are ready for it, we'll get the job done."
ussoccer.com: This upcoming camp will mirror the schedule of the training and games in September. What do you learn from that experience?
JK: "You learn obviously that you can't take things for granted. Every game from CONCACAF, especially away from home, is very, very difficult. You have to be focused and mentally prepared for it. We gave the game away in Jamaica because we were not ready to fight against them, to take the physical challenges and respond to them. We gave away free kicks away in situations where we shouldn't have and we paid the price for it. It tells you that with a month longer of the players being in a rhythm, you try and pick up where you left off in the home game against Jamaica where they played really well. They created a lot of chances. We should have scored more goals than just the one winning goal from Herculez Gomez. We just need to get the rhythm going again."
ussoccer.com: Do you think people outside the region underestimate the challenge of qualifying in CONCACAF?
JK: "I think everybody familiar with CONCACAF can tell you that it is not an easy qualifying campaign. It's very tricky, especially the first group stage where only two teams out of four are going forward. In every group you have three very strong teams, like we have in our group. You have to adjust to the different environments, fields, refereeing ... everything comes into play, so you have to really give everything you have in order to win or tie those games on the road. And then obviously you are always under pressure to win your games at home. I think that is very underestimated from people outside the CONCACAF region. Europeans and South Americans may think that this region looks pretty easy because they don't play here and they never experienced it. European coaches tell me you should qualify no problem, and I tell them 'why don't you come over and I'll take you to Guatemala and Costa Rica and Jamaica and you'll see'. It would be an eye-opener for a lot of people in Europe to see our qualifying campaign. But at the end of the day, we need to qualify, we have to qualify, and we will qualify. But you have to prepare yourself in a perfect way."
ussoccer.com: Now that you have been able to fill up your mental database on the teams in CONCACAF, how would you describe the experience you have had so far coaching these games?
JK: "It's pretty much what I expected. They are very difficult games going into countries in the Caribbean and Central America. You have to adjust to the environments there. You have the crowd's influence. You have refereeing that here and there may not be the way you want it. It's difficult. It's very physical and tough. You have to respond to it with the right attitude. You have to have respect for those teams. You have to battle them. You have to win your battles first before you play nice football."
ussoccer.com: How different is the experience that you went through as a player and a coach?
JK: "As a player, it's not very different to be honest. It's a different atmosphere and environment, because every country is unique. But all qualifying is difficult. If you're in Europe and you are a Germany or Italy or England and go to play in places like Albania or Azerbaijan, they also encounter a lot of difficulties.
"From a coaching perspective, I learned a lot about having games in Jamaica and Guatemala, so I know what to expect the next time I go in there. Every coach goes through those learning curves. At the end of the day, we are here for points. We need to qualify for the World Cup, so we need to make sure the players understand the urgency of doing things. I think that we lacked that a little bit in Jamaica. That's why we gave that game away, which made me furious. So now going into these last two qualifying matches of the first group stage, it's really important that the players understand from the first second on that we have a sense of urgency in everything we do."
ussoccer.com: It seems like qualifying for the World Cup is almost taken for granted in some circles. How do you explain the challenge to people?
JK: "World Cup qualifying is a very difficult marathon that you have to go through. You have to explain to people that even if you are on paper the big favorite, for your opponent the game against the United States is the game of the year, and maybe the game of the decade. They will rise to the occasion and give everything they have for 90 minutes. If you take just five percent off the gas, you will struggle. They will come away with a tie, they might beat you. It is important that the players must understand there is no easy game on the agenda. There is no such thing. Soccer is unpredictable. You can mess up again with one set piece, and then they bunker themselves in and you do not find a way through that wall and you lose 1-0 and wonder why afterwards. Every game starts from zero. Every game will challenge you from a new point. There is no guarantee that you will qualify at all.
"In 1990, Germany won the World Cup, but we almost didn't qualify. In the last qualifying game in 1989, we had to win at home against Wales. We were ahead 2-1, and it was such a tight game. Two minutes before the end of the game, they missed a 100 percent chance, a header from three yards out. Thankfully they missed or we would never have gone to the World Cup."
ussoccer.com: Against Antigua and Guatemala you got four points out of six, and you felt like a couple points were left on the table. How do you approach the games this time around to try and get two wins?
JK: "The attitude and the mental approach have to be a little bit better. They were focused in the previous camp. The attitude was good, but it wasn't at the top level. You really have to be at your best in order to get those points. Now the situation is clear – we need those six points in order to make sure everything is taken care of and we want to through in the pole position as the first-place team. If the players have that approach and they work hard from the first moment on and have a sense of urgency in Antigua we will get it done. Then we come back to Kansas City in front of a wonderful, emotional and excited crowd. But again, there is no guarantee for it. You have to have the right attitude going into the 10-day stretch.
ussoccer.com: You have said that at this point the most important thing is getting results in World Cup qualifying. In the long term, how do you gauge the progress of the team?
JK: "We just want to see the team progressing over time in the stretch of three years towards the World Cup. At the same time, we have to take care of business and qualify. So there are two things happening parallel. You have to qualify, and you want to improve the level of play: see progress in passing, in movement of the ball, creating more chances, the backline pushing up higher, learning how to high pressure teams, and we want to start to play with bigger teams more on an eye to eye level. We are trying to do this, and it is actually getting better. This comes along at the same time with the individual improvement of each player in his club situation. When a Clint Dempsey now gets games and is able to score against Manchester United, that will help him. When Michael Bradley gets games for AS Roma against Inter Milan or AC Milan, this makes a difference. Every player that improves his own personal situation with their club team is more likely to improve his own personal game within the National Team environment. That's why these two things really work hand in hand. We want them to get the highest level possible in their club career, and at the same time we want to get a little higher and better with the national team program. It's quite a challenge, but very enjoyable."


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Niklas Hedin, CEO, Centiro
This Christmas saw record ecommerce trading figures for UK retailers. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), online sales of non-food items were up seven per cent in December 2014 compared to the previous year, reflecting the continuing boom in ecommerce.
In the past, retailers had a fairly static number of delivery destinations and were able to optimise their networks based on product volume; now they must contend with shipping a wider variety of goods to an infinite number of locations with high precision. At the same time, increasingly demanding consumers want to get their hands on goods sooner, which is contracting order-to-delivery windows from weeks and days to hours and even minutes. This new order brings fresh challenges of course, putting greater pressure on order processing systems and delivery networks than ever before.
These retailer challenges were compounded by City Link's Christmas Eve administration, which came right in the middle of the biggest ecommerce event in history. Around one million parcels already with City Link were left stuck in depots over the Christmas and New Year period, leaving retailers with a job on their hands to find out when things would be delivered and communicate that news to customers. This highlighted the importance of a scalable and responsive carrier network, because without one they risk damaging customer relationships.
The reality is:
1) It is dangerous for businesses to rely too heavily on a single delivery firm 2) You must have the capability to bring new suppliers in quickly if you're experiencing problems
On a practical level, it can be difficult to quickly onboard multiple carriers, and manage them on an ongoing basis, because each one will operate on its own internal process and IT system. Adding a new one into the mix will obviously cause extra complications, meaning a headache for the IT department and – worryingly – presenting an opportunity for mistakes and mix-ups to creep in.
By moving their delivery management operation to the cloud, retailers can begin to overcome the technical complications of the past and provide a more consistent experience to carriers. In addition, retailers can get new carriers on board in a matter of weeks, while at the same time giving them greater visibility and control over performance and cost. For instance, greater visibility into the delivery windows provided by carriers will ensure that retailers aren't overselling delivery slots and are able to make more precise delivery promises to customers.
Retailers taking the bull by the horns will be in a great position to develop a more agile carrier network. They will then be able to offer a wide range of delivery options – for example, working with some carriers who can move quickly, or others who offer delivery on evenings and weekends. It will also make them much less vulnerable in a time of crisis.
Having a more robust and flexible carrier network will help retailers greatly improve the overall brand experience for customers. Product delivery is going to become increasingly important as ecommerce continues to become the norm; giving more options for delivery can only serve to foster long-term brand loyalty, because shoppers will know retailers can tailor their service to work around them.


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2019 Honda Crv Review
The 2019 Honda Crv offers outstanding style and technology both inside and out. See interior & exterior photos. 2019 Honda Crv Redesign, Price and Review New features complemented by a lower starting price and streamlined packages. The mid-size 2019 Honda Crv Exterior and Interior Review offers a complete lineup with a wide variety of finishes and features, two conventional engines.
2019 Honda Crv Likes
- Surround-view cameras are a must-have feature
- Excellent safety ratings and systems
- Lots of safety features
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Unmatched retro swagger
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2019 Honda Crv EXPERT RATING BREAKDOWN
8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10
2019 Honda Crv Interior, Exterior and Review
Styling 7.0
Performance 8.0
Comfort & Quality 6.0
Safety 5.0
Features 7.0
Fuel Economy 8.0