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Sunday, 28 August 2011
Omar S @ PS1
Here is a review I did for Resident Advisor on Omar S at PS1. It was a great day, much enjoyed by all.
Having been held for 14 years now, MoMA PS1's Warm Up, a series of parties in the Long Island City venue's giant courtyard, have set something of a benchmark for summertime electronic music in New York. Acts like Chez Damier, DJ Harvey, Spacetime Continuum, Afrika Bambaataa and Carl Craig have provided New Yorkers with the sort of uniquely euphoric moments that this wonderful space was tailor-made for, and the recent booking of Omar-S lay the groundwork for another healthy event.
For those arriving from Manhattan, there are a number of ways of accessing the venue, but few can claim to be as good a warm up for the Warm Up as taking the water taxi from East 34th Street. After an edifying walk from the shore side, we entered to see Beppe Loda, a PS1 veteran, guiding the small but growing crowd through a selection of his trademark afro-cosmic electro. Lindstrom's "I Feel Space" sidled up comfortably alongside Henrik Schwarz's "Kuar" remix. Like a muddled cross between New Order and Oneohtrix Point Never, Steve Moore's 45 minute synth excursion after Loda's set failed to set feet a-tapping, the dance floor thinning as the beer tents bulged.
This lull played into Simian Mobile Disco's hands. Feelings tend to be divided over SMD, with harsher critics accusing them of straying closer to pop than heads down house and techno, even if Delicacies and some of the tracks on Is Fixed showed that they knew their Blake Baxter from their Burt Bacharach. Here they started strongly. Levon Vincent's "Man or Mistress" and Axel Boman's "Purple Drank" provided early highlights as a wave of cooling rain ruffled hipster hairdos. Then came Oliver $'s "Doin" Ya Thing." And then the crowd went wild. Much digital ink has been spilled over the relative vices and virtues of this Moodymann-sampling ditty. Having witnessed its rapturous reception here, it seems safe to assume that this particular crowd wasn't overly caught up in issues of intellectual property.
Omar-S took to the stage as the rain started falling more heavily, and "Here's Your Trance Now Dance" was welcomed by a patchwork of bobbing umbrellas, each a toadstool of approval. The precipitation did nothing to cool the crowd's enthusiasm, and the Detroit resident's vocal-heavy set provided a glorious complement to the simple enjoyment of dancing in the warm summer rain.
These parties do an admirable job of walking a difficult tightrope between anaesthetised commercialism, art world bureaucracy and dance floor mayhem. It is in the crowd's recognition of how unique these events are that provides the stimulus, year in, year out, for collective explosions of smiling faces and hands in the air. When the last record stopped spinning at 9 PM, most were too grateful to complain.
Posted by Gabriel Stargardter at 20:16
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For someone who'd never entered a gym in all of his 25 years, working out with the trainer who helped Aamir Khan go from pudgy to beast in 13 months was bound to end with aching limbs and a world of pain. I was prepared for the worst… or so I thought.
When I reach Satyajit Chaurasia's Lokhandwala gym at about 2pm, I quickly realise the fitness enthusiast doesn't waste time with small talk. He firmly shakes my hand, then grunts, "Cardio".
He guides me through the maze of gym equipment to a cycle. After making a few adjustments, he beckons me to take a seat and start spinning.
"You want to do Aamir's workout?" he says looking straight at me. "Only the initial bit," I reply. "There's no way I can keep up with his advanced regime."
"Yes, that's true," he says, matter-of-factly. That's when I realise this is going to be even more intense than my torture session at the hands of Ironman Kaustubh Radkar. Satyajit doesn't look pleasant, nor does he care to pretend.
"You're about 28, 29?" he asks, still giving me the stare-down.
Shame. I blurt out: "I'm actually 25."
"You should work out more often. At least, you'll look your age," he sniggers.
Now, I have no pretensions of my physical capacity. I'm pretty much Jonah Hill without the funny bone. Even so, I'd rather people make fun of me when my back is turned. Especially when I don't have the guts to offer a comeback for fear of my life.
This guy thinks I'm going to break easy. I'll show him.
"With Aamir, we worked on opposing muscle groups like biceps and triceps and quadriceps and hamstrings each day and obliterated it," he says about an hour later, while motioning me to get off the cycle. "We started slow, but that was because we had time. I'm going to just give you a basic test run into what Aamir had to do for 13 months to prepare. Try and keep up"
I'm not worrying about the training method which, incidentally, follows the same principles Will Smith went through for his role in Ali. I'm starting to freak out about Satyajit. He's smiling enough to make me feel like he's enjoying himself, but it's the kind of smile you'll see on a Bond villain right before he announces the creatively painful method by which 007 will die.
"We'll start with dumbbell curls," Satyajit says. As much as he's in the mood to destroy me, he's got nothing to prove. I'm just another client, a client he needs to train. "Sit down, pick up a dumbbell in each hand. In alternates, first do seven reps where you raise the dumbbell halfway so that it's perpendicular to your torso and bring it down. Then, do seven reps where you lift the dumbbell from where it's perpendicular to your torso. And finally, do seven full reps all the way. Remember, seven times three is 21."
My earnestness pleases my torturer. He helps out by counting down the reps and instructing me on posture.
"This was for your biceps," he tells me, once I complete the set. "Now we'll go for the opposing muscle which is the tricep."
I mouth the word tricep on cue, like an obedient student and follow him to the next machine.
"We're going to do rope tricep pushdowns," he says, adjusting the weight to 40 kgs. "Keep your elbows by your sides and pull down. Hold for a second and then, slowly release."
With the first one, I let the rope pull my hands up to my chest while my elbows are still joined to my sides.
"Oi! Don't cheat," Satyajit chastises me. "The release has to be slow. Feel the strain on your tricep. Let that pain be your teacher."
Pushing down is easy, it's the slow release that takes more concentration and focus. After 10 pushdowns, he makes me take a seat again.
"What you did right now was one circuit. When I started with Aamir, for the first month we did five cycles of the circuit. The first three circuits are generally light. The fourth, heavy and the fifth, super heavy. Now come on. Seven times three is 21. Hammer curls."
This time, I can feel the tension on my tricep. It's faint, but it's enough for me to start worrying. Satyajit notices I'm slacking and yells again. The man is elated. Every time he yells, he smiles like a proud father. What I wouldn't give to have him go back to being a stoic Easter Island statue.
Done with the hammer curls, but no breather. More rope tricep pushdowns, this time on 50 kgs. After that, we do a complete cycle again. Satyajit notices me stretching my arms and retorts, "Good, that means you're feeling the pain. You should flex after every set for at least five to seven seconds. Keep your arms tight. Like me," he says smiling, bringing his arm forward to show off triceps that could drive through concrete. "That's what you should aim for."
He reaches for my arms. "This is like cake. You have a long way to go. Come on, stand back against the wall and do 10 barbell curls."
He hands me the zig-zag barbell with an instruction to keep my elbows bent. I get through the first seven, struggling with the last three.
"Come on! Raise it up slowly. At least do one set, yaar," he growls like the world's scariest cheerleader.
"I made sure Aamir spent at least about two hours just on arms. We'd do an hour-long cardio and an hour on core or abs. So on any give day, we'd spend about four hours at the gym," he says, allowing me a five second respite. "We'd do more cycles of the same circuit on one day. Each time with more weight. You've done pretty ok. But since we don't have time, I'll make you do a complete round today. Is that ok?"
Maybe he expected me to chicken out. Or maybe he has a thing for human sacrifice. Either way, I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. We begin this on-the-fly workout regime with seated chest presses.
"This machine wasn't around when Aamir was training, so we'd do these with dumbbells. But this is far more sophisticated," Satyajit says, adjusting his mechanical monster. "This is resistance training now. Make sure you push for three seconds, hold for one and pull back slowly in five seconds. Do 10 reps"
My determined start doesn't seem to have fooled him.
"Tomorrow morning, you'll feel muscles you never knew you had," he boasts.
"Let's take a break from lifting," he orders. "Do 30 squats."
Now here's something I'm not terrible at. Satyajit even lets a half-compliment slip. "That was very good. You could have gone a little lower, but still good," he says, before adding, "Now to make it more interesting. Jump up after each squat. Since you're looking a little tired already, I'll make you do only 10."
Now, I'm destroyed. He can see that.
"Go drink some water and I'll get you a banana," he says pointing to the far end of the gym. By now, I can barely walk. As I reach out for the glass, my arms refuse to obey. They can barely lift this glass of water to my mouth. Still, there's a certain kind of pleasure in this pain. Satyajit hands me a banana.
"Eat this. Bananas are good. You won't have that puking sensation."
I look ready to meet my maker, but Satyajit is not letting me off this easy. He makes me take a seat near some space-age machinery, pulls the grip down just enough for me to reach it and says, "we're going to do wide-grip lateral pulldowns. Pull the grip all the way down to your chest. I need to hear the metal clang to know you've pulled it to the maximum. The pressure must be on your lateral muscles so make sure your back is straight. Release slowly."
While I make my way to 30, he's expanded his area of expertise and is now directing the photographer. "Wait for the last two pulldowns and then take the picture. Those are the expressions you'll need."
Now it's time for some aerial stunts. Satyajit makes me climb up on the seat, and then pulls out two Ab straps fixed to a rod that's suspended from the ceiling. He instructs me to place each arm through the strap all the way to my elbow. It's entering fetish territory now. I don't want to be suspended from the ceiling, but I don't want to be a coward either. So I oblige. Once I look comfortable, he pushes the seat back to leave me hanging by my elbows on the Ab strap.
"We're going to do no arm pull-ups now. Using only your elbow and the Ab strap, complete 15 pull-ups."
I like how he says "we" when I'm the only one doing it. The story was meant to be me working out with the trainer. Not me getting my ass handed to me while the trainer watches. You think pull-ups are hard? Try doing 15 without using your hands as a grip. This guy is the devil.
I don't get through my allotted 15. Turns out, I can barely get my unfit ass through 10 before Satyajit has to help me down.
He says, "To give you perspective, by the time the shoot for Ghajini started, I made sure Aamir could do 200 of those. We're done for the day. If you're not a complete robot tomorrow, come by."
I'm not arguing.
The next day, I discover Satyajit is clairvoyant. I am a robot. Dressing takes longer and eating is so painful, I'm seriously considering fasting. But I'm alive. Just barely…

subset: commoncrawl


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|Deep ruby nectar straight from the conditioning tank
Now and then it's always nice to brew something slightly higher gravity. HXS (as its abbreviated) is quite the heavyweight for its 5.2% abv. Deliciously full-bodied and packed with rich fruit cake, berry fruit and caramelised malt leading to sweet candy-sugar notes contrasting prickly challenger hops in the finish.
From memory the brew day went really well. We had a lovely time. A straight-forward big-bodied beer that's now available in cask or bottle. I'm thinking of saving a bottle for the big Christmas day line up, ether for Christmas dinner, or the evening.i


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INDIAN LAKE - The Warren-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) has been chosen to receive $3070 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in Hamilton County , for the year 2010. The selection was made by a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The board was charged with distributing funds appropriated by congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high need areas around the country.
Further information on programs offered by Community Action Agency can be obtained by contacting the Client Service Director, Deborah Ameden, Hamilton County Community Action at the Indian Lake Theater Building or by call


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Fans of James Wan's recent hit "The Conjuring" are making life an absolute pain for a Rhode Island couple.
Norma Sutcliffe and her husband have owned a 1730s-era home in the suburb of Harrisville for twenty five years.
It's the home made famous in the movie by the supposed haunting that occurred when another family, the Perrons, lived there in the 1970s.
Sutcliffe says she and her husband haven't slept in days as people with flashlights turn up in their yard in the dead of night. They also frequently receive calls asking "is this 'The Conjuring' house" along with other harassing phone messages.
Sutcliffe adds: "There are already threats on the Internet that 'wouldn't it be fun to break into that house?'. Our barn is very vulnerable and there is a big story connected to the barn about supposed hangings. Can you see kids breaking in and doing a seance with candles and having it burn down?"
While the so-called "real life incidents" of the film took place there, the production itself was shot far away in North Carolina.
Sutcliffe has seen the film and says "I just laughed at the whole thing. I thought it was so ironically ridiculous. I thought it was an insult to the Perrons."
Source: The Woonsocket Call


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Fall is the perfect time to enjoy that old classic: soup and grilled cheese. But, I like to experiment with the classic by changing up their basic parts. Therefor, I came up with this fantastically delicious spin on a traditional grilled cheese.
The secret? Truffle butter.
Listen, I never asked to have expensive taste. And, believe me, my taste is not exclusively expensive as evidenced by the fact that I used truffle butter to make grilled cheese of all things. (Not to mention the ham I cooked in Dr. Pepper, the crescent-roll jalapeño poppers I made last Super Bowl Sunday, and the retro-jello-mold cranberry sauce I make every Thanksgiving; I mean I can really kitsch it up when I want to).
That said, I do really love truffles. But the great thing about truffle oil (and, by extension, truffle butter) is that a little bit goes a long way when it comes to infusing any dish with that yummy truffle flavor.
I've listed instructions for making one sandwich, since I don't like to share my truffle butter with anyone. If you are a nicer person than me, you can easily double the recipe.
2 slices good quality sandwich bread (I like white, but buy mine from a local bakery that does it up right. If you really insist of spreading truffle butter on Wonder bread, however, I won't tell anyone.)
1-2 oz. gruyere cheese, grated
1 tablespoon truffle butter (buy pre-made or mix a bit of truffle oil into room-temperature butter)
01. Spread truffle butter on one side of each slice of bread. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
02. Lay your first slice buttered-side-down into the skillet, add gruyere and top with your second slice of bread, buttered-side-up.
03. Grill until golden brown, then flip (taking care not to spill any cheese) and grill on the other side.
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I saw the ICT Department playing with this the other day so thought I would give it a try.
The software is called Crazy Talk its fairly simple to use!
1. Find a picture of a person
2. Add your voice
3. Crazy talk does the rest
4. It can be saved as a wmv file and imported into Windows Movie Maker to add music and effects.
The full version comes without the logo that you can see with my example, although it is pricey! However there is a 15 day free trial, and good fun.
I wanted to make one using Sherlock Holmes to introduce how to go about solving a thinking skills mystery because I often find it hard to explain and the students are more likely to listen to him. Maybe a set of clips that can remind the students of how they should go about solving the mystery as they go.
However the logo would be annoying. Instead I have settled for GATM's most famous supporter. Nice accent Shane! Oh and if you ever read this Mr Warne...this is for educational purposes only!


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Bio Based industries: a further €189 million of funding for 2016
BBI Call covering new bio-based economy research and support actions, demonstrators and flagships bio-refineries.
Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) officially launches its 2016 Call for Proposals today, supporting research on every type of action on topics ranging from waste treatment to marine tech.
In its third Call for Proposals, BBI JU will provide up to €189 million of new funding for the European bio-based industries, researchers and entrepreneurs across a broad range of 27 new topics, including two new flagship topics. The 2016 Call encourages collaboration through partnerships that cut across traditional industry boundaries. Unlike other Calls, this time the proposals do not have to be linked to a specific value chain.
Philippe Mengal, BBI JU's Executive Director commented: "The 2016 Call appeals to all actors involved in the bio-based industries, including small and medium-sized businesses, academia, and new previously unconnected industry, particularly as it includes specific emphasis on proposals to tackle issues around better re-use and valorisation of agro-forestry side and waste streams, novel ways to extract value from municipal waste and innovative marine-based solutions to increasing sustainable supplies of new types of bio-mass."
This year's Call is expected to be more inclusive than ever before, as it reaches out to innovators who can turn their research into new and improved industrial processes. It is the latest in a series of Calls for Proposals launched by the BBI JU, whose programme is designed to support the coherent development of Europe's bio-based economy.
Dirk Carrez, Executive Director of the Bio-based Industries Consortium acting as the private partner for the BBI JU initiative, explained: "The real added value of BBI is that it brings different sectors and industries together. This leads to the creation of new value chains, with different partners working together within a single project. With this 2016 Call, new areas were introduced such as research topics using algae and other aquatic biomass, demo projects focusing on industrial crop varieties and novel sources of biomass such as municipal solid waste or flagship actions addressing waste-streams and by-products from the food processing industry."
The focus of the BBI programme does not stop at the research or pilot phase, but continues with demonstration projects, through the creation of small scale production plants which can be used to explore elements such as proof-of-concept, sustainability and competitiveness. And the so-called 'flagship projects' are innovative first-of-a-kind production plants in Europe. In this case funding is made available for the innovative aspects of such plants, and not the entire infrastructure. While this approach already exists in many other parts of the world, it is entirely new for Europe.
John Bell, Director for Bioeconomy with the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission stated: "The development of bio-based industries, if successful, can bring rewards for many European stakeholders: consumers who get access to new sustainable products based on renewable biological resources, bio-based industries that take technological and sustainability leadership and thereby build long-term competitive advantages; enhanced economic growth and new jobs in rural, coastal and industrial areas; and new revenue streams for the EU's agri-food, forestry and marine sectors."
The 2016 Call for Proposals will be formally launched in Brussels ahead of the BBI JU's Open Info Day on 21 April, an information and awareness event on the 2016 Call gathering high-level speakers, programme managers and experts from business and industry.
The event, to be held at the European Commission Charlemagne Building, will offer guidance on how to take part in the 2016 Call, including tips and tricks on writing and submitting proposals. It will also provide information and advice on relevant local and national resources, networks and synergies between the BBI JU programme and other initiatives.


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Swedish is the first language I study completely by myself, so I had to create my own method. When starting to study a language independently you might find it confusing to navigate through the resources and apps the internet offers. It's normal to try out a few, discard the ones that don't work for you, and adjust your routine along the way.
I have been fascinated by Sweden since my days in Japan, where most of my close friends were Swedish and I became acquainted with the sound of their beautiful language. I picked up a few words, but not much more.
Last year I decided to give it a try for the sake of learning, without any hurry to become fluent. Some things have changed since then and now I'm willing to speed up the process.
First resources: language learning apps
The first resources I tried are Duolingo, Memrise and Babbel (affiliate).
For starters, I tried the super popular Duolingo. The app is a very intuitive, easy to use and it's completely free. The exercises include translation of sentences, matching a word with its meaning, typing what you hear, or say what you hear. Duolingo lets you produce your first simple sentences from the very beginning, so it really feels like you are making progress. On the other hand, some of the sentences you will practice are a bit unnatural. I also find its repetition system doesn't match my learning speed.
After playing with it a bit I decided to keep it as a side resource for when I have some extra time or I want to refresh some topics.
Memrise is my everyday buddy. During my commute, when I prepare lunch, whenever I have some spare time I open it and practice. As the name suggests its main purpose is to help you memorize information. It has type in exercises and multiple choice questions repeated at increased intervals to maximise your ability to retain vocabulary. It has a pro version but I have been using the free one and it has been working just fine for me. It's a great tool to build your first core vocabulary: thanks to it I was able to start reading simple texts soon. It will likely not improve your speaking skills unless you make an effort and produce sentences with the words and expressions you practised.
Among the apps I use for my Swedish studies, Babbel is the most solid. Its lessons include new vocabulary, grammar, a dialogue and a review of what you just learned and they take about 15 minutes to complete. Moreover, it has a review manager function that helps you memorize words and expressions through the spaced repetition system. I like to get firm grammar foundations and through Babbel, I got my first contacts with rules and structures. It costs about 5£ a month for the 6-month subscription. I got a 50% discount when I purchased it and it has been worth its price.
Grammar and pronunciation
Learningswedish.se is my reference site for grammar and overall a great website to study Swedish. It has clear and thorough explanations and exercises to practice the theory. It also includes a complete guide to pronunciation to make sure you get Swedish word stress, accent and prosody right.
Here you can find plenty of audio material and dialogues in a natural, everyday language. I have experienced some difficulties understanding spoken Swedish and it's super useful for me to listen to the dialogues while reading the script. I also use the texts on Learning Swedish for shadowing.
Listen, listen, listen!
Listening is essential when learning a language. Even if you don't understand much of what is being said you should try and get exposed to the sound of your target language as much as possible. Little by little you'll start recognising words and sentences.
I already wrote about music I use to study Swedish. If you want to get some inspiration check out this Spotify playlist I made.
Movies are one of my favourite things, so I try to combine study with pleasure by watching one or two films in Swedish every month. It's an effortless way to keep practising in my free time. I've recently started watching the Millennium series and surprisingly I could grasp more than a few sentences. What a great confidence boost!
I've been looking for good Swedish youtubers, but for now, I only follow Clara Henry. I like her sassy attitude and her vlogs are entertaining. I would love to find more Swedish vloggers to follow, so please feel free to leave a comment if you know any.
Boost your vocabulary through reading
During my latest trip to Sweden, I bought a Bamse comic to practice reading. It's a magazine aimed at kids and it uses a cute, childish language, but through it, I'm picking up many everyday expressions. And how happy I was when I first opened it and realised it was surprisingly easy for me to understand.
My next goal is to become able to read my beloved Moomin series books. I'm already anticipating the sense of satisfaction I'd get from that.
Other resources
A good online dictionary I use is Folkets lexikon.
I also have the Rivstart books on my desk, waiting for less busy days. I like apps and online tools, but I also need to have real textbooks to browse. I'm looking forward to properly working on these, hopefully from next month.
Do you know any resource to study Swedish? Are you learning a language by yourself, and if so what tools do you use? I'd love to hear from you!


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Buckle up: Bell Media launches Discovery Velocity
The channel is steering toward a male demo with its focus on automotive programming like the auctions of collector cars by Barrett-Jackson (pictured).
Bell Media has announced it is rebranding Discovery World as Discovery Velocity and putting a focus on automotive programming along with adventure travel content.
Leading auto coverage for the channel, which is targeting men 18-54, will be live broadcasts of Barrett-Jackson, an auction of collector cars. In addition, there will be new seasons of Wheeler Dealers, about a car enthusiast and mechanic who refurbish run-down classic automobiles and sell them, as well as Classic Car Rescue, Canada's Worst Driver and How it's Made: Dream Cars.
Discovery World in Canada was a reincarnation of Discovery HD Theatre, which was originally Discovery Channel HD, a simulcast feed of Discovery Channel broadcast in a widescreen format. Discovery Channel HD first launched in 2003.
Discovery Velocity borrows its moniker from Discovery Communications' U.S. channel, Velocity, which was launched in 2011 to replace Discovery HD Theatre there with a channel focused on high-end automobiles, sports and other male-focused programs.
Since launching in the U.S., Velocity has continued to grow, says Paul Lewis, president and GM at Discovery Channel.
The new channel launches in Canada Feb. 12 with a 48-day free preview. Online, DiscoveryWorld.ca will become DiscoveryVelocity.ca on Feb 2.
The Canadian market had been lacking an auto-focused channel since U.S.-based Speed shut down in 2013 and its auto shows, along with racing coverage, moved to Fox Sports 1 and 2. The channel was not converted in Canada, with Canadian providers continuing to carry Speed featuring simulcasts from Fox Sports programming as well as re-runs of factual programs. Rogers, Bell and Cogeco have since dropped the channel from their lineups.
This has created a gap in the Canadian marketplace, Lewis says
"We know from our own audience data across Discovery networks that there is an appetite for this programming," he says.


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Friday, August 8, 2008
rage is better than caffeine
This morning, however, View From the Porch has made me angry. Tam found a story about how the U.N. (& yeah, I admit it. Most mentions of the U.N. make me a little pissed anyway) has found that children are being raped in Afghanistan. Not surprising, of course - it has happened since human beings first started to war against each other, which I suspect was probably very, very early on.
Oh, yes, the U.N. will protect them. Terrific. We all know how they feel about rape, right? I am not holding out much hope for these Afghan girls...especially since I researched and discovered what exactly the U.N. is doing about rape. (here's a clue: not a damn thing.)
They encourage us all to learn this gesture:
which reminded me instantly of this Oleg Volk poster:
But I bet self-defense and fighting back is not in the U.N.'s "plan" for these helpless girls. It would kind of put them out of a job, wouldn't it?
16 comments:
- George said...
Just when I think that the UN cannot possibly become more of a parody of itself...I see this silliness.
What planet do you have to be from to think the appropriate response to women and children being raped is "Oh...we need to spread a gesture!"
I guess we should be happy....at least they aren't doing the raping anymore.
- August 8, 2008 at 8:44 AM
- Turk Turon said...
Goings-on in the Third World are very discouraging, such as this observation in the Irish Times (http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/africa-is-giving-nothing-to-anyone--apart-from-aids-1430428.html):
"The wide-eyed boy-child we saved, 20 years or so ago, is now a priapic, Kalashnikov-bearing hearty, siring children whenever the whim takes him."
The author, Kevin Myers, may be facing prosecution for that article under Ireland's Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act of 1989. Myers could face two years in prison for what he wrote. Unlike the U.S., Ireland has no mandatory jury trials.
Thank God for the Bill of Rights!
I'm with Tam on this: I'd drive down to Fort Bragg and answer phones and live in my car for a month if it would free up some young soldier to go over there and take care of business.
- August 8, 2008 at 9:08 AM
- Oldsmoblogger said...
It would put some of them out of a hobby, too.
- August 8, 2008 at 9:16 AM
- Rio Arriba said...
Rapists respond to trendy gestures? News to me. I always figured 2B/1H was the language they needed to hear.
*2 to the body, 1 to the head.
- August 8, 2008 at 10:19 AM
- Jeffreyquick said...
Well, yeah, the UN isn't going to support the Ruger Spay and Neuter Clinic...because the same guns that can prevent rape can be aimed right under the blue helmet.
- August 8, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Reminds me of an old gun-control site's advice that women should carry a tongue depresser with them everywhere they go.
Because if someone starts raping you, you can jam it down your throat and vomit on yourself, thus becoming "no longer desirable."
The mind of the antis is a strange place indeed.
- August 8, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Correction needed.
It wasn't a gun-control group per se advocating barfing on yourself.
It was the Illinois State Police.
My bad.
- August 8, 2008 at 11:34 AM
- knitalot3 said...
Wouldn't a finger work as well as a tongue depressor.
I think a thumb in their eyeball might be a better deterrent.
I like 2b/1h!
- August 8, 2008 at 12:38 PM
It boggles the mind that the UN - which was, among other things, founded to help protect people from aggression - is so anti-gun. Do they WANT people to be helpless?
Oh, wait... Yeah, I guess they do. People who aren't helpless don't need the UN.
Personally, I think rio arriba has the solution.
- August 8, 2008 at 2:13 PM
- Hecate said...
I'm a rape survivor, and this crap beyond enrages me.
It happened when I lived in Chicago. Now I live in a state where I can own and carry a gun. I won't even visit Illinois ever again.
If anyone tries to rape me now, I will shoot him to the ground. That's the solution they should be promoting.
- August 8, 2008 at 4:27 PM
- Rio Arriba said...
I could not agree more strongly with Hecate nor more enthusiastically applaud her resolve. May she never have to use it, but if she does I hope she shoots straight.
I got my handgun/self-defense instructor certification as a result of my anger over a couple of rapes where I used to live. Any woman that was serious about protecting herself was welcome to contact me for free instruction.
If enough of these scumbags got a bad surprise to spoil their twisted fun we'd see some down-flow in rape statistics. It's definitely something to work for, along with the turning out of politicians and bureaucrats who make it hard for people to defend themselves.
Sorry, but couldn't resist coming back for a second comment. The whole topic makes my blood boil.
- August 8, 2008 at 5:31 PM
- smith kaich jones said...
The Cross-Armed X Gesture? Are they KIDDING?!!! Gawdalmighty!
My aunt was brutally raped & beaten when she was about 12 or so & it took more than one deputy to keep her brother & father from killing the bastard who hurt her. More than two. Only prison saved him from death at their hands. But this is Texas, and we're just not as highly evolved as the jerks at the UN. Thank God!
- August 8, 2008 at 6:13 PM
- TOTWTYTR said...
Bravo Hectate.
It beyond boggles my mind that anyone seriously thinks that the cross armed gesture, or any gesture for that matter, could stop a rapist.
For twenty years I've been told that rape is not about sex, it's about power, control, and violence. A stupid gesture isn't going to stop that sort of thing, but some lead and copper sure might.
- August 8, 2008 at 8:05 PM
The only thing the "cross armed gesture" is good for to me is to signal taxiing aircraft to stop.
Rapists will stop only if the attack is met with force. Rape used to be a capitol crime; it should be again.
- August 9, 2008 at 6:09 AM
- Haji said...
I'm so sick of the UN. They don't do anything but cost Americans money, and they have the gall to have their HQ here-because they couldn't run their suck like they do against any other host country-and tell us we're doing it wrong. I'd like to see a compilation of the estimated number of lives the UN hasn't saved...but I fear the number would be so huge I'd get sick.
- August 9, 2008 at 6:59 PM
- Joe Carpenter said...
Breda, snap a pic of your own "cross gesture", though might I suggest an embellishment?
Caption: "Rape? Not a good idea."
- August 11, 2008 at 6:09 PM


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Happy New Year! It's the first day of 2014, and as we all know, the start of a new year means the promise of new beginnings. It also means the emergence of those infamous promises we make ourselves: New Year's resolutions. Sure, maybe most of them don't make it past February, but I still think it's good to motivate ourselves to make the next year even better than the last. That's why I want to start this year's blog posts with a list of my own resolutions for my 2014 writing experience!
Since I'm in vacation mode, I'll keep this post short and sweet. Here are my hopes for 2014:
1) Be more productive with my writing. Not that I haven't been productive already, but there's always room for improvement, right? It probably goes without saying that I'd love to be able to write even more in 2014 than I did in 2013, as much for my blog as for my stories. What writer wouldn't want the time and inspiration to work on several projects at once?
2) Work more on my novels. I admit it: I haven't been working on my novels as much as I should. I could blame it on all the other projects that I've been busy with lately, but in the back of my mind, I still keep telling myself I should be working on my novels every day, even if it's just a little bit at a time. Hopefully I can get back on track this year. Like many aspiring writers, I dream of the day when I can finally say I published a book!
3) Read new books. Guess who got Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane and J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy for Christmas? Hint: she's so excited to read these books that she's blogging about them right now! I'm looking forward to reading some great new books this year, and maybe even adding them to my list of book reviews!
4) Connect with more writers. I really should be networking more. After all, if I want to be a successful author, it's essential that I connect with as many other writers as possible. I've already met some very interesting people in the past year; I hope to meet many more in the year to come!
5) Keep having fun! Need I say more?
So what about you? What are your hopes for 2014?


text:
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Understanding horse characteristics is a very important part of horse ownership. By reading this book you will learn about what it really means to be a horse and how by understanding and utilising this knowledge it is possible to improve the health and welfare of your horse.
What horses are…
This section looks at why horses are built the way they are, their physiology, and how the physiological characteristics of horses are linked to their behaviour, just as they are with all animals including humans.
Horses are part of the equine family which also includes asses (donkeys) and zebra (and of course ponies which for the sake of clarity will be encompassed with horses in this book). The equine family used to be much larger but many species of equine are now extinct.
Equus ferus caballus is the scientific name for domestic horses. They can usually produce offspring with other members of the equine family (such as a horse/donkey cross which results in a mule) but any resulting offspring are usually unable to reproduce (are sterile). In their natural environment, equines were/are hunted by predators such as large felines and canines although in modern times many of their natural predators have also become extinct.
Horses are herbivores (plant/herbage eaters). There are three main types of herbivore, ruminants, pseudo-
Humans, pigs and dogs are also non-
Ruminants and non-
The main differences are in the feet and in the digestive systems but also in behaviour. Ruminants such as cows and sheep etc. are 'even toed ungulates' (artiodactyla) because the line of symmetry in the foot goes between the second and third toes. Non-
It is the differences in the digestive systems (which also results in differences in behaviour) that are particularly important. Ruminants (such as cows and sheep) have a rumen. This is a large area that is positioned before the intestines and this is where they carry out much of their digestion. Therefore another name for ruminants is foregut fermenters. Ruminants initially chew and swallow their food more quickly than equines because they regurgitate it later to 're-
Fermentation is very important to all herbivores. Plant material is impossible to digest in the same way that carnivores (animals, such as cats, that eat only meat) and omnivores digest meat and certain other food types (meat eaters mainly use digestive juices that are rich in enzymes to digest their food). Grass plants in particular are coated with a very tough substance called cellulose. Herbivores require assistance to break down this cellulose, therefore animals that predominantly eat plants have to host (provide a home for) large numbers of micro-
These micro-
Therefore, ruminants (such as cows and sheep) host these micro-
The mouth parts of cows and horses also differ significantly. Horses have six upper and six lower incisor teeth which meet edge to edge. This means that they can clip grass and other plants very close to the ground. They also have a highly mobile (prehensile) top lip which allows them to be extremely selective when they are grazing. Cows have only lower incisors (of which there are eight) and their top lip is not very mobile at all, instead a cow's tongue is highly mobile (prehensile). Cows have to rely on their tongue to break the grass and so cannot eat very short grass. Sheep and goats also have mobile lips (like horses) and are also able to eat very close to the ground. This ability of a horse to eat very short grass is beneficial in the wild where forage may be difficult to obtain at times, but can work against your horse (and your land) in the domestic situation because it leads to overgrazing if you do not manage your pasture properly.
Horses are highly successful as wild and feral animals in various climates around the world. Two of the reasons that horses are able to survive in very harsh conditions are due to this ability to eat very short grass (therefore, if necessary, they can eat what other animals leave behind) and they do not need to 're-
Another very important fact about horses is that gastric acid is made and secreted into the stomach continuously (rather than just as a meal is eaten which is the case with most omnivores). A free-
Domestic horses range in size far more than their more natural living counterparts. Wild and feral horses are usually between 12hh (hh = 'hands high') and 15hh but are most commonly around 14hh.
One 'hand' equals four inches or approximately 10 cm. The use of the 'hand' is an ancient but still widely used way of measuring horses from the wither (top of the shoulders) to the ground.
Domestic horses have been manipulated (by breeding) to range in size from less than 8hh to more than 20hh. Apart from size however, free-
Horses have very sensitive skin which is necessary for detecting flying pests and parasites. In the free-
Some parts of the horse are even more sensitive than others and these include the top lip, muzzle, flanks, eyes, ears, feet and legs. The top lip has many nerve endings and, as already mentioned, is highly mobile (prehensile) which allows a horse to select certain plants. The muzzle is covered in whiskers that help a horse to 'feel' in much the same way as a cat uses its' whiskers to 'feel'. These whiskers should never be removed (but in the case of domestic horses often are). The flanks are sensitive to the extent of being very ticklish in some horses. The eyes, ears, feet and legs are essential to wild horse survival therefore a horse that is not accustomed to being handled by humans is particularly wary of these areas being touched.
The relatively large eyes of a horse are situated on the sides of the head which gives excellent all round vision at the expense of sharp forward focusing vision. In effect, a horse has a much wider peripheral vision and can see much further than we can, but has a smaller focal point. Horses are unable to focus on objects at the same speed that we can and this lack of sharp focusing can cause a horse to be anxious about an object until the object has been properly identified. If horses cannot ascertain what a potentially scary object is very quickly then they prepare for flight because in the wild spending time thinking about what to do next could lead to being caught and eaten.
By contrast a horse can detect moving objects in the distance that a human eye would struggle to see. Horses also notice when unfamiliar objects are positioned in a familiar place because they take the whole situation into account when looking for potential dangers.
A horse's eyes are situated a long way from the mouth in order to lift the eyes out of the grass when grazing and increase vision. This also has the advantage of reducing the amount of grass seeds that get into the eyes (a potentially dangerous occurrence for a horse).
When the head is in the grazing position a horse can see along either side of its' legs. At all times a horse has a small blind spot directly in front of the face (between the eyes) and is unable to see the area below and behind the chin.
Having a long neck allows a horse to see directly behind and directly in front with only small movements of the head. If a horse becomes aware of a possible danger the head is immediately raised above the level of the body where all round vision is easily possible. The only time a horse is unable to see behind their body is when the head is straight forward and level with the body (the usual position of the head when being ridden).
In addition to raising the head for better vision, the long neck allows a horse to easily reach the ground to graze, but also acts as a balance for the body while moving at speed. Yet another function of the long neck is to permit the head to swing from side to side to bite at flies on the body or to reach out to nip/bite another horse. The teeth are sharp and the jaws are extremely strong (because a horse spends so much time biting plants and chewing). A bite from a horse causes a crushing rather than a tearing injury (as is the case with a cat or dog bite). Horses nip or bite each other when playing or asserting themselves, but they also use their front teeth (incisors) to mutually groom one another, an essential bonding behaviour among horses.
The ears of a horse are situated right on top of their head and are serviced by numerous muscles (in us most of these muscles have disappeared through the process of evolution). These muscles enable each ear to swivel 180 degrees providing the horse with potentially 360 degrees of hearing without even having to move the head. The ears also work independently so that a horse can have one ear facing forward and one back at the same time, or one ear 'fixed' on something and the other 'ranging' and searching for other sounds. The possibilities are endless. This gives a horse the ability to hear very well indeed, so a horse can hear objects approaching well before we humans can. The ears serve the dual function of being used for hearing and for signaling certain behaviours as part of the body language of horses.
The hoof of a horse is relatively very small and lightweight (compare it to a human foot) on the end of a leg that is concertinaed (the joints are always partially bent when the horse is standing or moving slowly) which allows a lot of extension when running and kicking. This means that very little energy is required to move the hoof and it can move very quickly, it also means that a horse can kick with accuracy, speed and strength if required. If a horse is being attacked by a predator it can defend itself by kicking backwards and running away at the same time. This relatively lightweight hoof has a small area of contact (like stiletto heels on a soft floor) it is capable of causing a lot of damage to potential predators.
A horse is also capable of striking forward with a front leg if necessary. In the free-
Horses have a strong sense of smell. As well as being necessary for food selection, a horse uses this sense of smell when assessing a potentially dangerous situation. Many horses are unsettled in windy weather and one reason for this is thought to be because wind distorts and adds to the normal noise level making it more difficult for a horse to hear potential danger. The wind also brings various scents that a horse then has to decipher.
Horses do not like wind and rain together and will turn their rump into the wind and rain to protect their head. Turning their rump in this way causes the tail to 'fan out' across their rump which helps to keep the hairless areas directly under the tail warm and dry. At the same time the wind blows the rest of the tail between the back legs to help protect the hairless areas between the back legs (the udder of a female and sheath of a male horse) and the belly. For this reason the tail of a domestic horse that 'lives out', like the whiskers, should not be cut (except to shorten it slightly if it grows long enough to drag on the ground).
The long forelock and mane of a horse is there to protect the head and neck from rain and from flies. They also help to keep these parts of the body warm when necessary so again they should always be left intact in a horse that spends time outdoors.
Horses have very large lungs which enable them to accelerate from slowly walking and grazing to moving very quickly indeed if and when necessary. This can be achieved at just a moment's notice. Horses are also able to keep up speed for relatively long distances. In comparison to a cheetah for example, which is extremely fast but can only run at high speed for very short distances, a healthy horse can sprint fast enough to get away from most predators and keep up a reasonable level of speed for hours if necessary. Therefore horses are supreme grazing athletes in many respects.
The way that horses are built, their physiology, is closely linked to their behaviour, and in turn is vital for their survival. Everything about horses, including their large eyes, long legs, sensitive skin and all of the other things that make horses what they are, has evolved for a purpose. That purpose is to thrive in a range of climates and landscapes throughout the world as a free-
What horses are not…
As humans it is very easy to assume that animals 'are just like us' and that they want the same things that we do. Domestic horses have no input into who owns them, how they are kept and what their owners do to them therefore it is very important that we understand what is important to them (and what is not) so that we can continually strive to improve the way that we keep them.
It is commonly regarded as 'normal' and 'good horse care' for a horse to be permanently separated from other horses. It is also common for domestic horses to stand around for many hours a day with nothing to do and not enough fibre to eat. These and other practices have become normalised in the horse world and this is a very sad situation for the domestic horse.
We have established that horses are large grazing herbivores and that they are not ruminants, like cows or sheep. But there are other important facts that we need to acknowledge about horses and how we interact with them. It is important not to label horses (or any animals for that matter) with human characteristics (to anthropomorphise) but instead to try to view their behaviour from their perspective. It is a curious human characteristic to look for human behavioural traits in many things ranging from inanimate objects such as their car to animate creatures such as their pets and other animals. Humans then use this misinformation as a reason for treating these objects or creatures in a certain way. This is not usually done with any malicious intent, quite the opposite in fact, but the problem is that while it can be fun for humans to anthropomorphise (and harmless in the case of inanimate objects such as their car) it is not helpful and can actually be harmful because it disregards an animal's real needs and replaces them with human needs.
Beware of attaching human emotions and needs to horses as this may impede understanding of their true behaviour and can even lead to welfare issues. For example, contrary to popular opinion, horses do not bear grudges (a common human failing!). They do not sulk if they cannot 'have their own way' (another common human failing!). There is no proof that horses see us as they would see another horse (it is highly unlikely in fact because we look nothing like a horse!) so acting like an 'alpha mare' is not likely to get your horse's 'respect' (only fear if you insist on trying to dominate your horse). Another common misconception about horses is that they deliberately set out to upset or even hurt you. This is why horses are often labelled with descriptions such as 'lazy', 'mean' or even 'cunning'. Likewise it is common to hear horse people say that a horse 'knows he is doing wrong' when in fact horses are horses and have no concept of what we humans regard as 'right' and 'wrong'.
Another example is that we might think that a horse 'needs' a warm stable and/or lots of rugs because as humans that is what we tend to value highly, albeit human versions i.e. a warm house and clothes. But horses usually place a higher value on other things instead. They value freedom to move, the companionship of other equines and high fibre foodstuffs. Horses do need shade (in hot weather) and shelter (in bad weather) however it is best if a horse can choose when to access these resources rather than having them forced upon them as they so often are in the domestic situation.
Another example is that we humans often value (in ourselves and others) such behaviours as risk taking (for thrills and 'personal development'), education (in order to 'better ourselves') and exercise (because we know we should). Horses have no concept of 'personal development'. They do not strive to challenge themselves because it will 'do them good', in fact they resist taking risks 'just for the fun of it' (as we do). They do not exercise themselves to 'keep fit', they move because they have an innate need to move.
There are many other important differences between humans and horses. Humans are by nature one of the top predators (hunters) on earth whereas horses are hunted by predators (carnivores and omnivores). These differences often lead to a lack of understanding because as predators we tend to think a certain way whereas our horses think quite differently! It is a good idea to keep reminding yourself that you are the one with the plan, the agenda; the domestic horse is just trying to figure out which behaviours will help them to survive and thrive.
Beliefs about modern horsekeeping is an assortment of ideas, superstitions etc. from a time when horses were kept for a purpose (for work) combined with now when horses are kept mainly (in the western world) for recreation. If you are struggling to understand what you need to do in order to improve the welfare of your horse always try to think about what the basic requirements are for a horse. Free-
Acknowledging that horses are not like humans does not mean that we should disregard or even say that horses do not have emotions, feelings etc. Horses are a complex animal that have intricate needs. As humans we should strive to understand what is really important to horses rather than simply assume that they want what we do. This means that we have to learn about horse behaviour.
Horse behaviour and 'lifestyle'
We owe it to our domestic horses to understand and acknowledge their behaviour properly. In order to learn how a domestic horse should behave we actually need to start with learning about the behaviour of free-
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A Horse is a Horse -
This book will teach you about horse behaviour, in particular those aspects that relate to their management. It also includes information about training horses, including about how horses learn, and it explains the main scientific concepts behind behaviour and training. This book will give you a thorough introduction to the subject of horse behaviour -
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A Horse is a Horse -
What horses are…
What horses are not…
Horse behaviour and 'lifestyle'
Natural living horses
Domestic horses
Vocalisations and other noises
Body language
Intelligence and learning ability
Training effects
Time spent grazing
Time spent sleeping
Time spent loafing
Herd and social behaviour
Grazing and feeding behaviour
Paddock/field behaviour
Dunging behaviour
Sexual differences
Individual differences
Abnormal horse behaviour
Improving the 'lifestyle' of domestic horses
Introducing a new horse to an established herd
Final thoughts
Further reading
Our other publications
Other recommended books
Recommended websites
Bibliography of scientific papers
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I've been on a pudding kick. For whatever reason, I've just been craving pudding. I must be getting old. Isn't pudding an old person thing? Or maybe I'm regressing. (Puddiiiiing POPS!).
The sad thing is at the particular intersection of food craving dilemma, it wasn't delightfully creamy chocolate pudding that I wanted, it was... tapioca. Oh tapioca (le sigh). It's so weirdly delicious. I'm slightly ashamed to say I really enjoy it; however, I'll risk public embarrassment in order to bring you this recipe, which I gently borrowed from Alton Brown with a few tweaks.
I'm sorry... I had to.********************
Tapioca Pudding
Makes six servings
3 1/2 ounces large pearl tapioca (approximately 1/2 cup)
2 cups cold water
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean
Pinch of kosher salt
1. Place tapioca in a medium mixing bowl along with the water. Cover and allow to stand overnight.
2. Drain water from the tapioca. Place the tapioca into a slow cooker along with the milk, heavy cream, vanilla bean (or 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract) and salt. Cook on high for two hours, stirring occasionally.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and sugar. Temper small amounts of the tapioca into the egg mixture until you have at least one cup. Add this mixture back into the remaining tapioca in the slow cooker. Cook for an additional 15 minutes, stirring at least once.
4. Transfer the pudding to a bowl and cover the surface with plastic wrap. Allow to cool at room temperature for one hour and then place in the refrigerator until thoroughly chilled.


text:
This blog post was researched and written by World Affairs Council inter, Erin Elliot.
Tomorrow Scotland will hold a referendum on becoming independent from the United Kingdom. Current political polling puts the referendum in a statistical dead heat: there is a 50-50 chance that tomorrow Scotland will be a brand new country.
Scotland has been part of the Kingdom of Great Britain with England and Scotland since the Acts of Union in 1707. Prior to then, it was an independent country united under a single monarch since 1603. The question of independence has always been present in Scottish politics but the recent bid was driven by the Scottish National Party after they won a majority of seats in the 2011 National Parliamentary election. The SNP has led the push for independence since it was founded in 1934 uniting the National Party of Scotland, a left pro-independence party, with the Scottish Party, who are more politically conservative but are in favor of home rule.
This vote is different than past attempts at independence. Prime Minister, David Cameron says the UK will not block the vote. This means that if the referendum passes, Scotland will be on its own once and for all. Given the gravity and finality of this decision, the referendum has the potential to ripple outward through continental Europe and into the rest of the world. There are already factions in Spain, Italy, and Belgium that are expressing interest in starting their own bids for independence. Just last week during Catalonia's National Day in Spain, there were rallies in the streets of Barcelona. The Northern League in Italy and the Flemish community in Belgium are among others that have expressed self-deterministic desires.
Most observers are focusing on the economic implications of an independent Scotland. Many financial firms are nervous about the effect of Scottish independence on business and have relocated to Great Britain, including the Royal Bank of Scotland. Critics say that Scotland would face a long and difficult challenge in the monetary and fiscal issues alone. Some Scots maintain that they could continue to use the British pound, but Britain would have to give its permission which looks unlikely at this point. Scotland could adopt the Euro, but to do this they would have to join the EU. Also, given the instability of the Eurozone, it would be a risky monetary decision for a new country. They would also have the option of establishing their own currency.
Further analysis of the economic and political implications for Great Britain are equally complicated. If Scotland votes yes, Prime Minister Cameron will suffer political setbacks and pressure to resign for allowing the referendum in the first place. Additionally, if Scotland leaves the United Kingdom it will take the oil industry with it. Cameron's criticism would be compounded by the loss of this asset. The loss of Scottish seats in British Parliament won't have a detrimental affect; most of the Scottish seats are in the Labour party, but the Conservative party holds a majority even if Scotland remains in the UK.
On the other hand, Scotland requires a significant amount of British social welfare. If Scotland votes yes, the low income earners in Scotland will be the most vulnerable. Great Britain, however, will be at an advantage because they will no longer have a financial responsibility to Scotland.
There are also other questions about Scotland's future, such as security, defense, health care, childcare, and education. Concerning foreign policy and international affairs, there is also the question of Scottish membership in the European Union and in NATO. Would independent Scotland seek to become members of either organization? If it did would it be able to join? How long would the process take and what would be the requirements?
Since there are so many practical concerns, it is interesting to see so much popular support in for the referendum. The Economist lends an interesting perspective to the drive for Scottish independence. According to the article, a sweeping sense of nationalism is the driver of the movement for self-determination; practical concerns like the economy and defense are in the periphery. The national identity of Scotland has always been strong, but genuine independence has continued to elude them. As the author suggests, this may be for historical reasons: unlike the Irish, the Scottish have had a relatively good relationship with the British. As such, the incentives to continue to be a part of the United Kingdom have tended to outweigh popular support for independence.
Even if Scotland votes no tomorrow, they still win; their government will become even further devolved from the British Parliament. Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, and Scottish Liberal Democrats have laid out proposals to Scotland as contingency for a no vote expanding upon the Scotland Act of 2012. Most of the proposals would grant more taxation responsibility to Scotland while continuing to allow Britain to manage oil, defense, foreign policy and the economy.
Both sides of the debate have their own web presence and social media campaigns. Yes Scotland, the side favoring independence, and Better Together, the side favoring continued UK partnerships, have continual updates on each of their respective sites and social media pages.
The next twenty-four hours will be a very exciting time for Scotland and we eagerly await the results!


text:
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The Slab by Slim Timber
Thanks for checking out our project! As you can tell by now, we love wood. It's a fantastic material and we've been working for the past 6 months playing with wood stabilization, tweaking designs, making various prototypes, and testing for countless hours to bring you The Slab. It's the first wood watch of its kind. Please check out our rewards below along with more important information about The Slab!
The face of The Slab features slightly raised 3D-pyramids, giving it a subtle textured look. We also chose to keep the face super simple. You won't find any words on the face, just a sleek Slim Timber axe logo. The tick marks as well as the hands glow in the dark so when you are out partying hard, you will still be able to tell time.
Powered by motion: The heartbeat of the watch is a Miyota 8215 automatic (mechanical) movement.
Wood: Maple (stabilized right here in the USA) or seven-ply maple skateboard wood.
Water resistant: 5ATM - a watch with this level of resistance is wearable while swimming but not diving or snorkeling.
Beautiful: We take pride in the way The Slab was designed and how it looks, we hope you enjoy it.
We have fitted The Slab with a Miyota 8215 automatic (mechanical) movement, making it the first automatic wood watch. This means that you never have to worry about changing batteries because it's powered by kinetic energy. The watch runs for up to two days when not in use. The movement also has a self-wind. The Miyota 8215 movement is used by many reputable companies including Citizen, Invicta, and Jacques Le Mans. It's a quality movement.
Automatic Movement vs. Quartz Movement
A watch's movement is basically its engine or heartbeat. Quartz watches are battery-powered and the battery dies every 1-4 years. Automatic or Mechanical watches have many moving parts and can last forever. Automatic watches have been around for centuries and are the preferred choice of watch makers. Since we wanted our watches to become hassle-free heirlooms with the potential to last forever, we ditched the battery.
The wood we use in The Slab is either 100% stabilized or pressure-treated, repurposed skateboard wood. We wanted our watches to stand the test of time rather than break after six months. We first discovered the process of wood stabilization last year when looking at knives. Many fine knives have a stabilized wood handle to make them water resistant and extremely durable. So we began testing this process and found that we are able to make watches out of stabilized wood. The process involves putting the wood into a vacuum while at the same time being submerged in resin. The air in the wood is replaced with resin. The wood is then removed and baked. This seals the wood and protects it from the elements to prevent warping. Using stabilized wood has allowed us to create the most durable wood watch ever made.
Introducing the first-ever Skate Watch
The Skate Watch is made from seven-ply, repurposed skateboard wood. It is black with natural maple accents and looks stunning. We decided to make a skateboard watch because of its durability. The flexibility and strength of seven-ply maple makes skateboard wood the perfect material to repurpose . It also gives us the ability for endless color variations moving forward while creating a unique look. The Skate Watch also features a Miyota 8215 movement, a textured face, a glow in the dark dial and the same heirloom quality .
Watch Specifications:
- Case Diameter: 41mm
- Face Diameter: 31mm
- Bezel Width: 5mm
- Case Thickness: 11 mm
- Band Material: Stabilized Maple or four-ply repurposed skateboard wood.
- Band Width: 25mm
- Band Length: 235mm (Adjustable)
- Clasp: Stainless Steel Fold-Over Clasp
- Dial Window Material: Crystal Mineral Glass
- Display: Analog
- Movement: Miyota 8215 automatic movement.
- Water Resistant: 5ATM
- Weight: 100 grams (3.53 ounces).
The Team
My name is Shane Humphreys. My wife and I started Slim TImber in the summer of 2012 originally making wood wallets. Since then we have grown our small business and have added a couple of members to help with design and marketing. I have experience in small business startups and graduated with a degree in Accounting. Our team has what it takes to make this project a success and with your help we know we can!
Next Step: Production
As you can see from the video and from the pictures above the design of The Slab is complete. We have finished prototypes in hand. These watches are the result of months of testing and design tweaks. We have established a relationship with a reputable manufacturer and know that they can produce these watches after our project ends. At the completion of a successful (fingers crossed) project, wood will be selected and stabilized in Wisconsin. It will then be sent to our manufacturer to be cut and assembled into the final product. They will then be shipped out to our backers! This whole process should take 45-60 days after the close of the project but we posted the delivery for July just to be safe.
Where are the funds going?
All pledges are going towards the first production run of The Slab. We will use the money towards buying wood, stabilizing wood, freight, buying movements, production/assembly costs, and packaging.
We are really happy with where we have taken this design and we need your support! Please help us get The Slab into production and on wrists all over the world.
Risks and challenges
As with all manufactured products, quality control will be crucial for our success. During our R&D phase, we visited with reputable and experienced suppliers in order to identify a manufacturing partner that could deliver. Based on their work-to-date, we think they can.
Our manufacturers are prepared to ramp up production but lead-time could still be an issue. In the event that delays do arise, we will reach out to all backers and keep them updated.
Our other challenge will be getting funded. We need your help!Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Questions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Funding period
- (30 days)


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Regardless of how strong you believe your security posture is, no technology, person or process can be 100% failsafe – and it is near impossible to have a perfectly protected environment which still allows an organisation to run efficiently. Monitoring your environment adds a another layer to your cyber security defence, further reducing your risk and exposure.
Intalock offers a range of solutions to help measure, manage and reduce security risks within your organisation, including:
- Infrastructure penetration testing
- Web application penetration testing (OWASP aligned)
- Mobile and application penetration testing
- Wireless penetration testing
- Vulnerability assessment testing
- SCADA and critical infrastructure assessments
- Security information and event management (SIEM)
- GRC metric reporting services
A security information and event management (SIEM) system plays a critical role in identifying and preventing security breaches, however the selection, implementation and monitoring requires specialist expertise. And being subject-matter experts in information security, Intalock has the knowledge and experience to help.
We have implemented SIEM solutions in a range of industries, including health, financial and government sectors. With our specialist know-how and expertise, we can deliver a SIEM solution that will provide you with the perfectly balanced combination of security intelligence, rapid incident response, streamlined log management and compliance reporting.
Don't have the resources to continuously monitor your environment? Our SIEM managed services will keep a close eye on your organisation's IT security – all day, every day.


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Friday, February 03, 2017
they're short because so's my attention span
Scott Foley, Routes & Branches
What a rush and a gut kick to have a new record from this Kansas trio, their first in about 8 years, and only their second without founding force Kirk Rundstrom. I tripped across Split Lip Rayfield's lime green beauty unexpectedly whilst traipsing thru Bandcamp. While I've been a fan of SLR since way back, let's admit that it's been awhile. As founding fathers of the roots punk thing, who could blame them for losing a step to age?
Well, good news: Not only have Wayne Gottstine, Jeff Eaton and Eric Mardis kept their edge honed, they've even seen fit to push out in some new musical directions for On My Way. Sure, you've still got the firey fingers banjo and the legendary gas tank one string bass upon which the group built their reputation (see "All Alone" or "Used To Know Your Wife" for this fix). But listen to the sinister minor key haunt of "Start the Fire", where a near-metal vocal almost makes you forget that all the noise is being generated by three guys with acoustic instruments. And you'd be forgiven for expecting another raver from "All Fucked Up", which turns out to be a downcast, tuneful moment of introspection and self-doubt: I'll just lay down right here in the yard / Like an old piece of trash, it's time to mow the grass / The wind makes me cold. / Would you help a broken fool who's lost in the rain. And like most of the collection, the song is instrumentally remarkable.
Another sweet moment comes from "This World", riding a rubberband riff from that unexpectedly expressive bass. This world ain't nothin' but a place for you and me to laugh and sing. Even more soulful is "Drunk and Sad", which features the trio's deceptively tight harmonies on a heartfelt plea for moderation.
Of course, longtime listeners will cherish SLR's more freewheeling moments like "That's My Girl". A loose and loping romp with a bluegrass bite and your fair share of banjo. If bass is more your thing, dip into "I Don't Need a Gun", another acoustic metal go-for-broke moment. With some of the record's most rewarding instrumental work, the song reminds us that Gottstine, Eaton and Mardis aren't simply on a state fair victory lap. We're dealing with deserving trailblazers.
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The other night, by chance, I created a new cocktail - at least, I think it's new, and I pass it on in the interests of good cheer and enlightenment. Here's the recipe:
A generous slug of Sloe Gin.
An equally generous slug of Campari.
A similar amount of Orange Juice.
A splash or more of Soda.
A little ice if you fancy it, and a good stir.
A slice of orange or (if you can be arsed) twist of peel to finish.
Because of its generic resemblance to the classic Negroni, I call this elixir the Nigroni. It looks good, tastes good, and by golly it does you good - well, probably not the last, but it certainly makes you feel good. Cheers!
Monday, 28 March 2016
2 comments:
The Nigroni? Sounds excellent.ReplyDelete
For a man of your sensibilities, Nige, might I also suggest another variant on the Negroni that might suit you? Merely substitute the Gin in a Negroni for Rye Whiskey (I'll allow you Bourbon at a pinch) and you have The Boulevardier.
Magnificent - thanks Recusant!ReplyDelete
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text: My next door neighbor, a woman in her 80s, recently was forced to move out of her long-time home and into assisted living. In doing so, she had to leave behind a semi-feral kitty who had adopted her as her person. Before the house was sold, her sister-in-law asked me if I would look after […]LEARN MORE


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- Heating Installation
- Heating Replacement
- Heating Repair
- Heating Maintenance
Heat Pumps
- Ductless Split Heating and Air Conditioning
- Thermostats
- Zone Control Systems
Air Conditioning
- Air Conditioning Installation
- Air Conditioning Replacement
- Air Conditioning Repair
- Air Conditioning Maintenance
- Ductless Split Heating and Air Conditioning
Heat Pumps
- Nest Thermostats
- Thermostats
- Zone Control Systems
Indoor Air Quality
Light Commercial
Commercial Air Conditioning
Commercial Heating
- Rooftop Units
- Commercial Air Conditioning
About Us
Commercial Air Conditioning Maintenance in Gaithersburg, MD by Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing
Whether you notice that your commercial air conditioner is no longer as energy efficient as it once was, or you're eager to make your recent purchase last as long as possible, we can make sure that your commercial air conditioning maintenance service in Gaithersburg, MD is completed perfectly. This tune-up of your commercial cooling equipment offers numerous benefits, including improved efficiency, performance and reliability. If you're not taking care of your central air unit, heat pump or ductless mini split, then who is? For more information about this essential service, you can get in touch with Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing.
When it comes to servicing commercial HVAC equipment, it's critical that you hire an expert technician who knows exactly what they're doing. While you may be tempted to take care of your own commercial air conditioning maintenance, only a professional has the knowledge, skill and experience to ensure that your AC is treated right every time. Every one of our technicians is highly skilled and trained so that you can have complete confidence in what we do when we're at your place of work. Call now to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our services.
For quality commercial air conditioning maintenance service in Gaithersburg, MD, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today.
What is Commercial Air Conditioning Maintenance?
Many owners and operates of large commercial HVAC equipment assume that once installed, such systems are more or less good to go until they fail completely and must be replaced. However, just as your car needs a regular oil change to ensure that it's in good working order so does your commercial air conditioning need to be routinely checked in order to ensure adequate performance and energy efficiency.
What is commercial air conditioning maintenance? This cost–effective service is typically carried out once or twice a year by a trained technician and it involves three basic steps: inspection, cleaning and tuning–up. Inspecting your system regularly is a great way to ensure that we catch any issues with your system before they gain traction and emerge as significant and costly problems, while the cleaning and tune–up of your various system components ensures that your system performs effectively and efficiently throughout the hot and humid summer.
Benefits of Professional Commercial Air Conditioner Maintenance
The benefits of regular commercial air conditioner maintenance are clear. Not only will your system be optimized for maximum performance, but it will also be that much more reliable. A clean and well–adjusted system is one that you can feel good about turning on during even the hottest days of the year. Our commercial air conditioner maintenance also gives your energy efficiency a boost so that you save money in the long–term. Sound good? Let us help you make the most of your AC.
Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing for Commercial AC Maintenance in Gaithersburg, MD
When you want to get serious about taking care of your commercial HVAC equipment, don't hesitate to get in touch with our team. We can make sure that your commercial AC maintenance is completed correctly the first time so that you reap the full benefits of this cost–effective service. Contact the friendly technicians at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing today.


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We love our botanicals, and Easter is the perfect time to try some fresh new ideas when it comes to mixed drinks. From sweet to savory, you'll find adding things such as lavender, blackberry, and chamomile will make for a memorable celebration. Here are five of our favorite botanical infused cocktails you and your guests will love on Easter Sunday. Cheers!
1. Strawberry Chamomile Palomas
You might say this one tastes like spring. Strawberries and chamomile honey syrup create a new spin on the traditional paloma.
2. Blueberry Mojito Royale
This one is almost too pretty to drink. Champagne and rum round out this blueberry, mint and lime chilled beverage.
3. Rosemary, Grapefruit & Gin Cocktail
Savory and herbal, this colorful drink will blend in perfectly with your Easter table.
4. Lemonade Prosecco Punch
Mint and blackberry mixed with prosecco and lemonade pack a ton of fresh flavors into one little drink. Serve in a mason jar for a traditional country feel.
5. Lavender and Bruleed Grapefruit Greyhound
Sophisticated and elegant it impresses with little effort, and the lavender and grapefruit mix well to create a refreshing drink.


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It's time to step your oil game up! Not only is it inexpensive, it's essential to the overall health of your natural hair. There are a lot of different oils out there, but there is a handful I believe work best and provide a wide-range of benefits. Try using these five oils your hair will love you for!
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is one of the best oils for moisturizing dry hair. It's packed with great vitamins like B, D, & E that keep hair healthy and strong.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO)
This is one of my favorite oils because of its thick texture. It's great for sealing ends and because it promotes growth, it's a great oil to use as a hot oil treatment. JBCO is also known for repairing damaged hair.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil! A natural's favorite. Coconut oil has many uses from promoting hair growth, moisturizing, to preventing breakage. It's basically an all in one package. If you're not one to use a lot of different products, this is the oil for you. It can be used for hair, skin, nails, cooking – you name it and coconut oil can do it!
Peppermint Oil
I wouldn't put this oil directly on your hair, but it's great for the scalp. Use peppermint oil to stimulate hair growth and keep your scalp from creating build up. Remember to dilute with another oil or water. I made the mistake of putting it directly on and I nearly burned my scalp to a crisp. Learn from my mistake and dilute, dilute, dilute!
Olive Oil
Olive Oil is considered to be the "godmother" of hair oil. Like coconut oil, this is a staple for most naturals. It's the one oil everyone is familiar with and is most likely in your kitchen right now. This is great to use for deep conditioning, hot oil treatments, or simply to seal in moisture from your leave-in conditioner.
Remember you can always mix and match your oils. Create your own concoction that meets the needs of your own hair. I use these oils separately, but I also have a mix I use for different things, so experiment!
Where To Purchase Oils
The great thing is most of these oils are in your local supermarkets. Whole Foods has just about every oil you would find beneficial using for hair or skin. For a more affordable option try Amazon or Vitacost online.
5 Essential Oils Your Natural Hair Will Love! was originally published on theyolandaadamsmorningshow.com


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Mon, 11 May 2015
Kurt blindfolds 50 strangers and puts them on a bus with Jonah Ray and Matt Braunger and tries to start a cult in the woods. The first ever Get Lost Live!
Direct download: KO77_Get_Lost_Live_From_Bridgetown_Comedy_Festival.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:56pm PST
Tue, 5 May 2015
The softest one yet! Kurt and Joe continue their exploration of two men becoming friends as adults. This week they suffer the first bump on the road to friendship and find out what that means. Plus, Kurt talks about moving and creationism up top.
Direct download: KO76_Emotional_Hangs_with_Joe_DeRosa.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PST


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5 Swing movement Faults You have to Ditch Today
Chopping 1 to the woods isn't the obvious way to learn to some sort of ditch. It could end people coming from creating par, increase pointless shots to your rating, preventing people coming from splitting 50. When you're playing some sort of complement as part of your golfing category, this will set you back your ditch. Normally, weak mechanics makes you piece. These kinds of golf swing flaws—as we like to call up these people in golfing education sessions—are dangerous.Read more


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Doing My Homework for Essay and Term Paper Needs
Doing My Homework is an exclusive archive of Term-Papers available to college students. We offer a custom essay writing service in addition to other resources, both local and national, in addition to our huge archive of research Term-Papers.
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The wrestling war between Hulk Hogan and Jeff Jarrett ended three years ago in a whirlwind of real-life controversy but, next month, NWA TNA is aiming to pick up the story where the WCW left off.
It began at the July 2000 Bash At The Beach pay-per-view when Hogan was scheduled to challenge Jarrett for the WCW world title.
As the story goes -- and the lines between work and shoot have always been a little blurry on this one -- the WCW was planning on giving the victory to Jarrett but the Hulkster, who supposedly had a creative-control clause in his contract, insisted on beating the champ and winning the title.
Frustrated with Hogan's refusal to put his golden boy over, lead booker Vince Russo decided to take matters into his own hands.
When bell-time came, Jarrett strolled to the ring and laid down in the middle of the canvas without even throwing a punch. He had been instructed to just lie there and get pinned, satisfying Hulk's contractual entitlement but doing it in a way that would make him look like a complete joke. Hogan stood over his opponent and yelled, "Is this your deal, Russo?" before reluctantly putting his foot on Jarrett for the 1-2-3, grabbing the title and storming to the back.
With the fans still scratching their heads, Russo came back to the ring and cut an expletive-laden shoot promo to discredit the win even further. Vaguely referencing the real-life situation, Russo claimed Hogan was a jealous old man who was using his power to hold back younger talent and keep himself in the top spot. He stripped Hogan of the title and announced the Hulkster would never again wrestle for WCW.
Jarrett, who was immediately reinstated as champion, went on to lose to Booker T in a surprise bonus match at the end of the show.
Hogan never did wrestle for WCW again but he did slap a lawsuit on the wrestling group for defamation of character, claiming Russo's unscripted outburst did serious damage to his reputation.
The case finally went to court in Atlanta last month and, according to the Daily Report law journal, the judge ruled Russo's comments were made in the context of the storyline and weren't a personal attack on Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea. The case was thrown out, although Hogan's claims of breach of contract will still go to trial.
With the legal aspects taken care of, there was still a rivalry waiting to be capitalized on and NWA TNA has made it clear it will be happy to pick up the pieces.
Hogan, 50, has been in talks with TNA owner Jerry Jarrett (Jeff's dad) for several weeks and while a deal is yet to be officially announced, the contract signing is just a formality at this stage.
TNA bosses have already announced the company's first three-hour pay-per-view has been pencilled in for Nov. 30. It's expected the show will be centred around Hogan's big debut for the upstart wrestling group and his chance to settle some unfinished on-screen business with Jeff Jarrett.
Hogan hasn't appeared on a North American wrestling card since a contract dispute with WWE owner Vince McMahon last June.


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Today I created this cute little navy skirt. As I was cutting it out, I was thinking of different ways to make this plain navy skirt more exciting. I made peek a boo pockets and trimmed the top of the inside with fun fabric but the outside was plain. Then I remembered a Scallop Hem Tutorial by Coletterie I had seen, so I decided to give it a try.
I serged the hem edge and flipped the bottom of the skirt up, right sides together. With a cup, I drew the scallop edge. After sewing the drawn scallop edge, I clipped the curves with my pinking shears. Very carefully, I flipped it right side out and ironed the hem. Finally, I used a straight stitch along the top of the scallop hem.
You could also hand stitch.
I should have taken more pictures of the process however I didn't know at the time if it really would work.
I love my skirt. It looks great with a denim button down top tucked in or fun graphic tee, so versatile. I can't wait to make more fun pieces for my wardrobe.