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Novel approach: How to find a literary agent
Published 6:31 pm, Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Behind every good author is a good agent. The problem is, a good agent is hard to find.
Denise Marcil shared with aspiring authors just how to do that in her discussion, "Find a Literary Agent for Your Novel," which took place recently at the Greenwich Arts Council.
Marcil, a literary agent herself, has 34 years' experience in representing writers as head of the Denise Marcil Literary Agency Inc., where she has represented hundreds of first-time novelists and thousands of books.
"This is unique information I am sharing with you," Marcil told the writers during her lecture.
She had surveyed 20 fabulous agents, she said, on how they found their authors -- and how authors had found them.
More InformationFact box
Marcil spoke about the ins and outs of finding a literary agent and how to pitch your work.
Why does a writer need an agent -- especially in this time of e-books and self-published books?
You need an agent to get into the big six publishers -- Harper Collins, Macmillan, Penguin, Random House, Simon & Schuster and Hachette. Agents know which publishers are starting a new line of books, a new suspense imprint or new health line. Agents know which publishers are buying books, what they're looking for, what book ideas are floating around. They know which publishers give the best contracts. A good agent will help sell your book -- and they will not give up if you get 10 rejections. They may take your book off for a while or you may have to revise it. They help you negotiate better terms. Some negotiations can take up to six months to get a contract. An agent will be your business partner and help strategize your writing career. They allow you to do the writing and promotion of your book.
What are agents looking for?
We're always looking for passion in the writer for what they do. We're interested in writers with the promise of long careers in writing, for clients with more than one book. We need a flow of material. Besides the book they're pitching, what else are they working on? Young adult books are the hottest thing to sell now.
What's the best way to find an agent?
Your goal is to find the right agent for your type of book, one who is enthusiastic about your book. Good authors find agents one way or another. But you really have to do a lot of homework. Check out acknowledgment pages of books you read and like. Talk to the published writers about their agents. Get their referrals. A referral should have read your work. Some of my best clients were referrals. This is the No. 1 way these agents I interviewed got their clients. Other ways are referrals from book editors or referrals from magazine editors. Read up in the Literary Marketplace, the Writer's Market, the Jeff Herman's "Guide to Book Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents," Publisher's Weekly, and PW Newsline at www.publishersweekly.com. Read Publisher's Lunch online and Publisher's Marketplace, www.caderbooks.com, www.publishersmarketplace.com, and the website of the Association of Author Representatives at www.aar-online.org. Go to writer's conferences and network.
Make a list of 10 or more specific agents who would be the best match for your book. Then study each agent's website to check out their book lists and how to submit to them. Follow their submission guidelines. When you write to your selected agents, acknowledge their books to show you've done your homework and show how your work may be similar to the books they represent.
How do you best pitch a book idea in person to an agent?
Prepare a two-sentence pitch. Feel at home with it. Prepare a three-minute book description. Be courteous, concise and confident. Ask if you can send a query by mail or email. Then move away. Be sensitive to their moods. Being gracious can pay off. Practice patience, persistence and a sense of humor. At a Writers Digest conference earlier this year, a friend gave a pitch and got half a dozen agents interested in seeing her material.
What are winning approaches for query letters?
My survey of agents found that a majority of their books are discovered from a query letter. I receive about 3,000 inquiries a year. But there's a real art to writing a query letter. A good letter promises a good book. Don't address your letter to `Dear Agent.' Don't say you're writing a fictional novel. If you received a request for material, send exactly what the agent asks for. The first sentence tells what the book is, i.e. a suspense novel or a business book. The first paragraph tells what the book is about, how it's different from everything else in the market. Send one page double spaced. End with your credentials. Send hard copy -- I get about 100 emails each week. Kathryn Stockett, the author of the bestseller, "The Help," sent 60 query letters to get her agent. You can see query samples at QueryShark.com -- a blog that is run by a literary agent that provides advice on sample query letters, as does QueryTracker.com.
You've stated you are moving on from representing authors. What is your next move?
Like many literary agents, I'm starting my own e-publishing select backlist of books and out-of-print books of some of my authors. My colleague and I will be putting these books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.


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Colorado Refunds Transport Debt as Yield at Lowest Since 1994: Muni Credit
The Colorado Department of Transportation, which borrows to build highways and bridges, refinanced $104.7 million of revenue bonds as yields on five- year AA+ transport bonds reached the lowest since at least 1994.
The cheap rates enabled Colorado to refund AA rated Series 2004A bonds maturing in 2016 for net-present savings of at least 3 percent, Benson Stein, the department's chief financial officer, said in a telephone interview from Denver.
"We never thought that there would be an opportunity to refund the Series 2004A bonds, but interest rates actually went down enough that we could finally achieve 3 percent savings," Stein said.
Yields on five-year tax-exempt AA+ rated transportation debt fell to 1.12 percent this week, the lowest in at least 17 years, according to a Bloomberg index dating to 1994. The Colorado deal priced with all debt maturing in 2016 with a 1.41 percent yield, or 28 basis points above the index, according to Bloomberg data. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.
The refinancing resulted in net-present savings of $3.28 million, according to the department's sale documents.
The bonds are limited obligations of the department. Federal gas-tax revenue from the federal Highway Trust Fund and state motor-fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees back the debt, Stein said.
Garvee Bonds
Standard & Poor's said Aug. 19 that bonds secured by the federal trust fund allocations, called grant anticipation revenue vehicle bonds, or Garvee bonds, may face rating cuts if Congress fails to address the possible expiration of the federal gasoline tax. A reduction in funding, a delay in extending the gasoline tax or postponing vital road surfacing programs "could all have an impact on our ratings on Garvee bonds," according to an S&P report.
Permanent funding for the trust fund expired in September 2009 and Congress has approved temporary extensions. The status of that finance does pose "some risk," John Hallacy, head of municipal research at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York, said in a telephone interview from San Francisco.
"And there is concern about whether the federal gas tax at least will be continued," Hallacy said. "There's some risk there, although we don't think it's a very big one. Transportation programs are very popular."
Colorado's Garvee bonds don't rely primarily on federal highway funds as the state pays principal and interest costs on the bonds before receiving the federal allocation, Stein said.
"These are not what are called naked Garvees, where the sole pledge is the Federal Highway Administration revenues," Stein said. "We actually pay with state funds and then seek reimbursement from the federal government."
Tax-Exempt Yields
Yields on top-rated 10-year tax-exempt debt were 2.2 percent yesterday, below the year-to-date average of 2.9 percent, and higher than the 2.17 percent 2011 low on Aug. 23. Yields on top-rated 30-year tax-exempt bonds yesterday were 3.84 percent, following a year-low two days before of 3.84 percent. The 2011 average is 4.55 percent.
Investors withdrew about $148 million from U.S. municipal- bond mutual funds through Aug. 24, the fifth straight week of outflows, Lipper US Fund Flows said yesterday.
Following is a description of a pending sale of municipal debt:
FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, which encompasses Atlanta and is the state's most populous county, will sell as soon as next week $257.6 million of water and sewer revenue refunding bonds. Previously sold water and sewer bonds are rated Aa3 by Moody's Investors Service's, its fourth-highest grade. Citigroup Inc. is the senior manager of the sale. (Added Aug. 26)
To contact the reporters on this story: Michelle Kaske in New York at firstname.lastname@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Tannenbaum at firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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|Posted on Jul 14, 2011 11:31am
A young man is found decapitated in the woods and the CSIs believe the killing was ritualistic. Hodges finds the victim, Michael Wilson, has residue from a recent body wax and the team traces the wax to a hotel on the strip. Wilson was staying at the hotel and when the CSIs search his room they discover he was in town for his wedding which is taking place today. Langston, Catherine and Nick go to the hotel chapel to notify the wedding party of the victim's death but they receive a shock of their own when they find a room full of real-life vampires. Wilson and his fiancée Julie were practicing vampires who wanted to get married at the annual vampire and werewolf convention; where they met a year before. Vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies and when wolf hair is found in the victim's mouth the team traces it to the deceased pet of a practicing werewolf, Kurt Francis. DNA found on a yellow contact lens in the victim's hotel room is also linked to Francis. His truck is examined and the CSIs find not only the victim's blood but digestive enzymes from someone suffering from porphyria, also known as "vampire's disease". It turns out, Wilson held a secret - he was a werewolf. Wilson originally belonged to Francis' werewolf pack but when he saw Julie at the convention, he instantly fell in love and changed who he was for her. Francis recognized Wilson dressed as a vampire and confronted him. Francis also told a fellow vampire, Thomas Stewart, and both decided to work together to kill him. Thomas managed to also convince Wilson's fiancée Julie that he betrayed her and she was the one that delivered the first deadly blow.


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Supplier Homepage Product Skin Beauty Injectable Skin Whitening 1500mg Glutathione Injection for Skin Whitening
1500mg Glutathione Injection for Skin Whitening
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- Function: Anti-Aging, Whitening/Lightening, Nourishing, Anti-Wrinkle, Glutathione
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- Transport Package: 5 Vials+ 5 Ampoules Per Box
- Origin: Hungary
Product Description
Function of Glutathione:
(1) Anti-wrinkle. (2) Whitening skin. (3) Anti-aging.
(4) Anti-radiation. (5) Anti-cancer (6) boost immunity
Many specifications and packages for your choice:
300mg, 600mg, 900mg, 1200mg, 1500mg, 2400mg, 3000mg.
Glutathione is a beauty product which can solve many problems of skin, and our products sales to many areas around the world such as Africa, South America, Central America, Southeast Asia, and Middle East countries.
Pakage details :
5vials + 5 amps /tray /box
shipping :
1, for samples, then used Express like TNT, UPS,EMS.
2, for large cargo, we used Door to Door Service more. Like to Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand. Then also used by Sea or By Air.
Many people who had used the glutathione give us a Positive feedback, which prove the obvious result of the glutathione. They also give the high reputation to us!
about us
our products for skin whitening and body slimming, etc.
we are Skin Beauty Injectables producer and exporter, we specialized in beauty products for nearly ten years. We are specializing in:
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Our goods sell quite well in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Philippine , Malay , Thailand and Vietnam. and our high quality products and reasonable price earn the best feedback from buyers.
Hope to cooperate with you .
If interested in , the catalogue could be sent to you for reference .
Reduced Glutathione Powder (GSH) is a physiologic tripeptide - a chain of three amino acids - cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. The tripeptide GSH is one of the most important endogenous antioxidants. It plays role of a sulfhydryl (SH) group provider for direct scavenging reaction catalyzed by Glutathione peroxidise and as a scavenger of vitamin E and vitamin C radicals.
What is the benefict of glutathone?
a. Glutathione is an antioxidant that cleans the liver, takes care of free radicals and helps the brain as well. Glutathione is safe for everyone, no matter the age.
b. Glutathione is considered to be the most powerful, most versatile and most important part of the body's self-generated antioxidants.
c. Glutathione is a food supplement and not a drug, therefore doesn't require Food and Drug Administration approval. It is listed in the USFDA's GRAS list of safe food supplements.
d.Glutathione is effective in helping with skin lightening if you take it in a greater dosage. The most advisable Glutathione dosage is 500-1,000mg daily. It is also recommends to take Vitamin C (500-1,000mg) ascorbic acid to be able to maximize its lightening effect. The skin whitening treatment has been one of the most sought procedure that needs good CLINICAL result. It is a tedious process and many of us might even go for the cheapest way to get the best skin lightening effect. IV Glutathione is never a far-reached option for us!
Is there any drug interactions?
Yes, you must not take Glutathione if your are taking Haloperidol (anti-psychotic drug). Glutathione deactivates these drugs actions.While using Glutathione suppository, if any rectal irritation, rectal pain, abdominal discomfort (excessive gas, bloating, pain) discontinue immediately and seek medical care.
Depending on individual skin condition and the problem needs to.
The following is the proposed use:
Intensive treatment: 2 vials per week, lasting two months
Maintenance: 1 vial every 2 weeks
Store below 30C. Constituted solutions of parenteral Glutathione maintain satisfactory potency at room temperature (up to 25C) up to 3 hours. Protect from light.
Three years from date of manufacture.
Administration of this drug should be by a licensed medical practitioner or a certified clinician.


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"Desperate Housewives" star Marcia Cross has promised show creator Marc Cherry
she won't get pregnant again after creating chaos on the set.
Cherry, who is also the show's executive producer, was forced to turn the
actress' real-life home into a set when she was put on bed rest by doctors at
the beginning of the year.
She says, "I promised him I wouldn't (get pregnant), but you never know if
there's an adoption in the future."
Cross filmed until she was too tired to work anymore. She gave birth to twins
in February.
Crow will mark her return to the small screen in the "Desperate Housewives"
season finale, and, ironically, she reveals, "All I will say is it's got
something to do with pregnancy!"


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Author has written 35 stories for Sonic the Hedgehog, Powerpuff Girls, Mario, Invader Zim, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Kirby, and Star Fox.
FAKE FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
REAL FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.
FAKE FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr./Mrs.
REAL FRIENDS: Call your parents DAD/MOM.
FAKE FRIENDS: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was wrong.
REAL FRIENDS: Will sit next to you saying "Dang … we really messed up … but that sure was fun!"
FAKE FRIENDS: Never seen you cry.
REAL FRIENDS: Cry with you.
FAKE FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
REAL FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
FAKE FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
REAL FRIENDS: Can write a book about you, with direct quotes from you.
FAKE FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that is what the crowd is doing.
REAL FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds ass that left you.
FAKE FRIENDS: Will knock on your front door.
REAL FRIENDS: Walk right in and say "I'M HOME!"
FAKE FRIENDS: Are for awhile.
REAL FRIENDS: Are for life.
FAKE FRIENDS: Say they are too busy to listen to your problems, but when it comes to them they expect you to have all the time in the world.
REAL FRIENDS: Not only kick everything out of their schedule to listen to what's wrong, but help come up with vindictive plans to make you feel a whole lot better!
FAKE FRIENDS: Make you say sorry when you want to talk to them at odd hours of the night, or even just hang out at odd hours.
REAL FRIENDS: Come right over and hang out with you, until you either fall asleep, or kick them out.
FAKE FRIENDS: Will ignore this.
REAL FRIENDS: Will repost it
This is really sad...
Mummy...Johnny brought a gun to school
Now you have two choices
Sonic OC Sheet
OC Name:
Age: (if appliable, if there immortal just state that instead)
Weapon Specialty:
Alliance: (good or evil, hero or villain)


text:
Re: Hariam Surdam,NY
In reply to:
Hariam Surdam,NY
in referance to your posting,i too am relaterd to the surdam family of southern,n.y.( this particular branch i believe). there was a book written in 1909 by charles edward surdam abt.this branch with many ties to salisbury,conn. area. if you are in n.y.state check the local library or state documents. if i can be of further assist please contact. it`s good to hear of other surdam family members from the central and southern n.y. area/conn. lineage.if you do find a copy of the book my great grandmother was ada perry(m.williamson). she and her immediate family at that time were some of the last entries of the book in time for that printing.


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US President George W. Bush has been quite upset these days for non-stop troubles in Iraq and problems one after another at home. What annoys Bush the most is poll. 60 percent of American people wish a "change" to the master of the White House for one that is totally different from the current one.
According to a latest poll conducted by US Time magazine, currently, 53 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with Bush's performance. On the Iraq issue, even 60 percent feel that way. In fact, Time is not the only one pessimist about Bush. In mid-November, surveys by USA Today, CNN and Gallop showed Bush's job approval rate had dropped to 37 percent, the lowest since his presidency...


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Pro-Dex, Inc. Appoints Frank Noone Vice President of Sales and Marketing
May 23, 2012, 16:05 ET from Pro-Dex, Inc.
IRVINE, Calif., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PRO-DEX, INC. (NasdaqCM: PDEX), a developer and manufacturer of powered surgical devices, components, and sub-assemblies for world-class medical device OEMs, recently appointed Frank Noone as its Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Mr. Noone has spent more than 15 years in sales leadership roles in the medical device and technology industries. Prior to joining Pro-Dex, Mr. Noone was Vice President of Instrument Sales at Symmetry Medical, Inc., a medical device provider of orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, and sterilization cases and trays. Prior to that, Mr. Noone served as Manager of New Business Development at STD Med, Inc., a Massachusetts-based medical device contract manufacturer. Prior to his career in medical devices, Mr. Noone was Director of Professional Services for CBE Technologies an IT services provider. Mr. Noone received his MBA and a Masters in Criminal Justice Administration from Anna Maria College, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Stonehill College.
Michael J. Berthelot, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We enthusiastically welcome Frank to the Pro-Dex team. Throughout his career, he has launched and directed sales initiatives that have been instrumental in driving growth both domestically and internationally."
"Pro-Dex's efficient structure and collaborative culture has positioned them well for growth," said Mr. Noone. "I look forward to being a part of a progressive company that is focused on customer service, advanced innovation and expansion of its opportunities to supply highly reliable medical devices to leading OEM partners."
About Pro-Dex, Inc.
Pro-Dex, Inc., with operations in California and Oregon, specializes in bringing speed to market in the development and manufacture of technology-based solutions that incorporate powered surgical device drive and embedded motion control systems serving the medical, dental, semi-conductor and scientific research markets. Pro-Dex's products are found in hospitals, dental offices, medical engineering labs, scientific research facilities and high tech manufacturing operations around the world. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.pro-dex.com.
Statements herein concerning the Company's plans, growth and strategies may include 'forward-looking statements' within the context of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding the Company's future events, developments and future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates or projections relating to the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those suggested as a result of various factors. Interested parties should refer to the disclosure concerning the operational and business concerns of the Company set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Pro-Dex, Inc.


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Just wondering: Is there any legal ethics specialist who is willing to opine that Judge Reinhardt is not obligated to disqualify himself from the Prop 8 appeal?
Here's a high-level review of the two separate grounds for disqualification. (See the linked posts for more detail and documentation.)
1. Reinhardt's wife is executive director of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. The ACLU Foundation of Southern California participated as counsel for amicus (and as counsel for proposed plaintiff-intervenors) in the district-court proceedings in this very case.
Canon 3.C of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges provides a non-exhaustive list of circumstances in which a judge must disqualify himself on the ground that his "impartiality might reasonably be questioned." Subpart (1)(d) states that those circumstances "includ[e] but [are] not limited to instances in which … the judge's spouse … is (i) a party to the proceeding, or an officer, director, or trustee of a party; or (ii) acting as a lawyer in the proceeding." Federal statutory law (28 U.S.C. § 455) sets forth virtually identical grounds for disqualification.
In this case, Reinhardt's wife was an officer of an entity that acted as a lawyer in the proceeding—a trivial variation on the examples given.
Judge Reinhardt properly has an established policy of disqualifying himself in all cases involving the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. He presumably did not apply that policy when the Prop 8 appeal was assigned to him because he was unaware of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California's involvement. Now that he has become aware, he must disqualify himself.
2. The lawyers for plaintiffs consulted with Reinhardt's wife in deciding whether to file their lawsuit. In other words, Reinhardt's wife was actually involved in this case.
By the way, I've seen a lot of fog in the blogosphere about how Reinhardt's situation is supposedly not distinct from various other situations involving conservative judges. But no one has actually pointed to a case in which a judge's spouse did anything like (1) head an entity that participated in the very case, or (2) become actually involved in the very case. Indeed, on this latter point, I'll note that Eugene Volokh, in a post months ago entitled "Justice Thomas and Judge Reinhardt," distilled this rule: Situations in which a judge should have to recuse himself because of a family relationship "should generally be relatively rare situations, and limited to the family member's actual involvement in a case and not just the family member's political or ideological sympathy or alliance with a party." (Emphasis added.) That "actual involvement" is exactly what we have here.


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US 'in lockstep with India' on MaldivesFebruary 18th, 2012 - 12:27 pm ICT by IANS
Washington, Feb 18 (IANS) Noting that India has "traditionally played a strong role" in Maldives, the US has said it was working closely with India in resolving the political impasse there after the abrupt exit of its first democratically president last week.
"We've been closely coordinating with India. India has traditionally played a strong role," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters Friday.
"Our understanding is that we are pretty well in lockstep with India in terms of calling for unity and calling for a democratic, peaceful path forward."
The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake and his Indian counterpart "are working very closely together on these issues," she said. Blake had recently travelled to Maldives to take stock of the situation.
Mohamed Nasheed, who won a historic election in 2008 and became the Maldives' first democratically elected president, resigned last week in what he said was a coup on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Nuland also welcomed "the efforts that all sides appear to be making to find a peaceful way forward,"
"We also welcome the ongoing dialogue among Maldivians regarding the role of a unity government in addressing these issues and possibly creating the conditions for early elections. We're continuing to urge all parties to work together to find a way through this," she said.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at email@example.com)
- New Maldives government legitimate, says US - Feb 10, 2012
- Male calm as new president readies national government (Lead) - Feb 08, 2012
- US envoy to visit Maldives - Feb 09, 2012
- India closely monitoring Maldives situation - Feb 07, 2012
- PM pledges support to new Maldivian president - Feb 08, 2012
- Nasheed's supporters rally against new Maldives government - Feb 12, 2012
- Commonwealth, US welcome Maldives report on power change - Aug 31, 2012
- Nasheed disappointed with India, says Maldives ex-foreign minister (Interview) (Lead) - Feb 12, 2012
- Nasheed disappointed with India, says Maldives ex-foreign minister (Interview) - Feb 12, 2012
- US envoy calls for new coalition government in Maldives - Feb 11, 2012
- Maldives president wants to meet Manmohan (Second Lead) - Feb 08, 2012
- Maldives president wants to meet (Lead) - Feb 08, 2012
- Maldives President Nasheed resigns after public protests, mutiny - Feb 08, 2012
- India urges Maldives to resolve issues peacefully (Lead) - Feb 11, 2012
- Waheed meets Manmohan, commits to early polls in Maldives (Second Lead) - May 12, 2012
Tags: archipelago, arun kumar, assistant secretary, central asia, india india, indian counterpart, lockstep, maldives, maldivians, mohamed, nasheed, peaceful path, political impasse, robert blake, secretary of state, spokesperson, state department, unity government, victoria nuland, working closely with india


text:
Already a paid subscriber but not registered for online access yet? For instructions on how to get premium web access, click here.
Horne, Winn deny coordination on the stand
Testifying in the campaign finance case against him, Attorney General Tom Horne emphatically and repeatedly denied that he illegally coordinated with an independent expenditure campaign.


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United Blood Services is inviting citizens of the South Plains in honor of Memorial Day. For donations today and Saturday, they will offer a free cholesterol screening, registration to win a gas grill courtesy of Big 5 Sports and $50 worth of steaks from United Supermarkets.
The blood donations center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and is located at 48th Street and University Avenue.
For more information, call 797-6804.


text:
A Broadening Top, a.k.a. Megaphone pattern has emerged, calling for Bonds to tank over the intermediate term. A wave 1 bottom will arrive after the final Minuette wave v down. Once Minor Degree wave 2 up corrects the recent decline, a Bearish Head & Shoulders pattern warns a wave 3 down should hurt Bondholders - about the time the Fed stops reporting M-3 in March/April. Perhaps how it will go is, demand for U.S. Dollars (to buy oil) will decline once Iran opens its euro-based oil bourse in March. With too much supply, the Dollar collapses. A collapsing Dollar is tantamount to rising inflation, which should put pressure on Bonds. The Fed may need to monetize this debt, i.e., be the buyer, to support Bond prices, hence the need to hide the only tool at their disposal to accomplish this - M-3.
The Treasury Yield Curve this week is a normal upward sloping curve from the 2 year out to the 20 year, however, from the 2 year to the 10 year is flat on January 20th, 2006. There was very little change from last week.
The U.S. Dollar completed its second wave A up and second B down of a Double Flat/Zigzag corrective intermediate-term rally. The final wave C to a corrective Primary wave (2) top is next.
We can estimate the timing of the start of the Dollar's coming collapse into the 60s (probably even lower) by doubling the time the first A-B-C (a Flat 3-3-5 pattern) took for corrective Primary degree wave (2) up. From the time the U.S. Dollar's Primary (1) bottomed on December 31st at 80.39, to the time the first of what will be two A-B-C patterns topped at C on July 8th at 90.77, was about seven months. Then the dividing wave, X, took the Dollar down to 86.02 on September 2nd. That timing says the start of the decline should arrive coincident with the March/April period when M-3 is hidden and Iran starts selling oil on its bourse in euros.
A Free 30 day Trial Subscription gains you access to our Guest Articles section where we recently posted a fascinating piece, The Approaching War With Iran, by Edward F. Haas.
If you would like a Free 30 day Trial Subscription to check out our remarkable buy/sell signals on the blue chip Dow Industrials and S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, or HUI Amex Gold Bugs Index, simply go to www.technicalindicatorindex.com, and click on the "Contact Us" button, and email us with your request, including a password you would prefer to use to access our site. A subscription gains you access to index buy/sell signals, our thrice weekly Market Analysis Newsletters, Traders Corner, Guest Articles, and our Archives. On October 13th, 2005 we closed out our latest Trader's Corner transaction with a 51.8 percent profit over a 21 trading day period (this is not an annualized figure). The prior trade garnered a 34 percent profit.
"Let no one in any way deceive you, for {the day of the Lord}
will not come unless the apostasy comes first,
and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god
or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the
temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
And you know what restrains him now,
so that in his time he may be revealed.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;
only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
And then that lawless one will be revealed
whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth
and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming."
2nd Thessalonians 2: 3-4, 6-8


text:
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Moet & Chandon champagne. epernay. france


text:
Sgt Grit Newsletter - 24 MAR 2011 In this issue: •Boot Camp Movie Torture •Revising PI •Salt Peter Debate
T-shirts Flags Auto Accessories Ka-Bars Hats/Covers Coins Bags/Luggage
Sarge; What is a "contract Marine?" I thought that each of us signed a contract when we were enlisted. As "Chesty" told me one night - of course he was only a Col. then in Korea - "The contract you signed only guarantees four hours of sleep and two meals a day." - can I sue them for lost nights and/or meals. I remember one night when the Army set up a Howitzer company about a half mile in back of us - and nobody told us. They started a barrage at 04 dark. It took a while to determine outgoing, but it did interrupt the sleep. And the meals were catch as catch can most of the time. Edwin Tate E7 ret'd
As usual excellent stories this week, here we go: PFC Smucatelli, cover up tattoo, 13 day PFC, interesting short rounds, more salt-peter, women leave the bus, I've noticed something Daddy, never pass up an opportunity. Okay! I get it! Some of you think I have sold out to the Navy by using "Fair winds and following seas". I will not change and only use it occasionally. But... I would like to accumulate a long list of Marine salutations to use in the future. So send them to me or forever hold your tongue. Do in NOW! Email your send off to email@example.com or just hit reply. I will start this week with my own new ending. Semper Fi, MAC! Sgt Grit Ps: Actually this is a pretty good idea, if I do say so myself. It will be fun to see and use many different endings.
Took helo pic while on exercises on Camp Pendleton. The flag pic is myself, LCPL Ohigashi, LCPL Johnson and LCPL Johnson on a float to the Portland, OR, Rose Festival, on the USS Okinawa, in 1987. Dave Brown. LCPL, 3/5 Comm Plt. 84-88
Dear Sgt. Grit, My family and I were in Hilton Head, SC last week on vacation when I decided that I had to visit Parris Island. I had not been there since I stood on the yellow footprints in June of 1982 and I figured I'd go back and see what they'd done with the place since I left. My wife, also known as "the Sergeant Major" and 2 of my daughters decided to tag along as well. One of the first things I noticed was that this visit wasn't nearly as "intense" as the first one. In 1982 the welcoming committee was a large, This time I was called "Sir". PI is a very beautiful place... which is something you notice when you can actually move your head around and look as opposed to only being allowed to stare at the back of the shaved skull of the recruit directly in front of you in formation. It was a beautiful day, so we were driving around the base with the top down on the convertible. We happened to arrive at an intersection just as a platoon of female recruits approached from the east. Knowing what was coming next, I smiled and growled, "Road Guards!" My wife & daughters just looked at me convinced I was finally losing my mind. They figured it out a few seconds later when the Drill Instructor bellowed the same thing and a recruit shot forward and came to the position of parade rest in front of the car, blocking our way. I was stilling grinning when that same recruit was chewed out for being too slow to rejoin the platoon once they were through the intersection. Memories! At one point, my 12 year old daughter remarked, "I've noticed something Daddy. These guys all walk like you do". I hugged her and thanked her for the compliment of comparing me to these young, hard-charging Marines. It was nice to know that even though I'm not as lean and mean as I once was, I have still retained some of the knowledge my Drill Instructors worked so hard to instill in me. Once a Marine, always a Marine! Semper Fidelis Brad Fields USMC Retired 1982 - 2004
I saw some promotion stories in your last newsletter and thought I'd add one. My recollection is that there was a "ceremony" at each of my promotions. BUT... the best promotion I received was to Gunnery Sergeant. I was with 3/5 at An Hoa. I was CommChief and the 1stSgt came over to the comm office and said I needed to go with him to find an officer to read my warrant to me. At that time, we started getting hit by 120mm (or 122mm - can't recall now) rockets. All of us dove into the bunker and while there the 1stSgt said to sit at attention and he then read my warrant to me, said I was a gunny and congratulations. I loved it. We didn't get to celebrate much as the attack ended and we needed to put out a fire in the supply office which had been hit and was a disaster. I had my people immediately type up a bunch of forms indicating equipment we had turned in for replacement. So...my big gift for the day was getting additional equipment sent to us. Never pass up an opportunity! Everett L. (Bud) Sharpe Sergeant Major (Ret'd)
For the world to see as I travel the great U.S.A SEMPER FI SGT GRIT keep up the good work ! D. Burke
In June, 1957, together with 10 high school classmates and 35 others from nearby communities, I set foot on PI for the first time. After several weeks, our DI's informed us, with great fanfare, that since we had been good, they were going to take us to a movie. The big evening came, we fell out and marched from the Second Battalion across Iwo Jima Boulevard and were properly seated at what was then an outdoor theater. The DI's told us we could relax and enjoy the show. We had no idea what the movie was and didn't care anyway, but to our great surprise, we were treated to the film "The DI" starring Jack Webb. Needless to say, after several weeks on the island, we got a great kick out of the movie since we were able to laugh at the action which portrayed life at PI in a much different light than we knew existed. I must say, however, that I believe our DI's had as much deep down compassion as portrayed by Webb and I will never forget what they did for me. In 1998, nine of us and our wives returned to PI for a reunion. I was amazed at the reception the Corps gave us from a Welcome Platoon 138 sign at the entrance to assigning a male and female DI to take us around the island, picking us up and returning us to our hotel, having lunch in a mess hall, allowing us to fire the M-16 at the Khe San range, observing the beginning and end of the Crucible with the awarding of the EGA, the men staying overnight in a squad bay, attendance at graduation, etc. While us men were doing man things, the women were treated to life on the female Marine side. We even had the treat of arriving at receiving early on our first morning when one of the DI's entered the bus and asked whether we wanted to start the way we did back in 1957 or do it the civilian way. When we responded 1957, the DI said "All right, you women leave the bus". Once they were gone, he began issuing orders and told us to get outside and on the yellow footprints (don't remember them in 1957) at attention. He then proceeded to walk between our two ranks doing the DI thing. We, of course, responded with Yes sir, No sir as appropriate. All had some problems with stomach size and other matters, but our wives thought it was a riot. My daughter is now a Marine Major having chosen the Corps after graduation from the Naval Academy and is on her way to Bahrain shortly. I am proud of her and all other Marines past and present and I fly the US and Corps flags in my front yard daily. The receiving DI did his best to play the part, but he had a difficult time not laughing at 60+ year old men trying to act 18 again which only proves that these men really are human. Semper Fi Walt McFarland
Semper Fi Sgt Grit, Today I had the pleasure of "eyeballing" a Marine walking down a street perpendicular to me as I was walking to chow at the Oasis DFAC, Camp Victory, Iraq. From about 75 yards, I could see that he was "squared away" and walking correctly. I knew that if *I* kept up my normal "30 inch step" (ingrained since June 10th, 1981) we would intersect. In that 75 yards and closing, I also noticed something NO OTHER SERVICES can match (among many, OoRah). In his LEFT HAND he was carrying a "writing tablet" and a "writing utensil" and his arm "parallel to the ground at a 90 degree angle". Within 5 yards I called out "it's good to see that the Marines still know how to carry I items when they are walking". To which he replied "Of course, how else are you going to salute." Did my heart proud.... and he was a lite colonel at that! The sidewalks in the area are only good for "column of one's" so I found it easy to walk with him and talk. After following him for about 20 yards, I noticed that we were already walking in step, without even trying. Some things are hard to forget - I almost asked him if his belt buckle was matched up with his trousers and fly... but thought better of it! Semper Fi JRD -- USMCR 1980-1986 Son of a Retired MSgt 1948-1972
This is a tattoo that is inspired by one of your t shirts. It's a cover up of one that I got when I was in the Corps back in 1994. It still has about three hours of work to cover the old one but I wanted to send it to you because it is pretty sharp now. I'll send you a finished pic when done.
What a bunch of hog-wash! Having spent from 68 - 73 at Parris Island, rest assured that us Drill Instructors eat the same chow and drank the same cool aid along with the recruits. The majority of the Drill Instructors were married at the time, don't know about now and not having the capability of doing one's homework would in no way be tolerated by the Sgts Majors at home doing her MOS of keeping the family unit together. Oh well, point explained with the "Little Soldier" standing tall... Pun intended.
Grit: As far as the question of Potassium Nitrate (saltpeter) in the food... I went through PI at the beginning of '66... I know I was under too much stress to have my Lil buddy stand to attention... but after cook school, I became a 3371... didn't like it but it was not my choice... I cooked at 3/2 main side... and we never used that stuff... our Mess Sgt... Top Turpin... told me he had never used it... he had been in nearly 30 years... I mean... what are you gonna do with one of those while you are sleeping and showering with 75 other men... no one in their right mind would even think about that. When I got to Chu Lai in March of '68, I was glad I was a cook... I never went out in the bush and everyone protected me. L/Cpl Gallant... 2200015
Sgt. Grit: Re salt peter; Walking fire watch at PI in July/Aug,1956 with a temperature in the 90's it was to warm for blankets. The majority of the guys had their hands covering the family jewels, protecting the jewels from the stress induced by our friendly DI's. Semper Fi Cpl Rowe
Just read mention of Pickle Meadows in the Newsletter, that was one of the best training assignments I almost forgot! I attended the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Feb '97. Up until then I had no idea about the exciting things you could do with chlorine and petroleum products! The kids think I'm the coolest dad ever when we go camping and I pull off my boot lace and start a fire with a rod and bow! We were out doing our training week in the field. LCpl Lujan, a motivated young Sniper of probably 19, and I found us a nice scenic spot on a snow drift surrounded by trees and proceeded to dig our two man trench 6 feet down. For those of you who are experience in this scenario, you already know what we did wrong. Anyway, two nights into the training a blizzard hits in the middle of the night. The next morning LCpl Lujan and I wake up to Marines yelling "Come here and dig these Marines out double time, they might be suffocated or some sh-t." We looked at each other and scrambled to go help. Our entry got snowed over so we dug ourselves out to find ourselves surrounded by Marines... We were the dumb-as-es (City boys from Albuquerque and L.A.) that got buried! So, for those of you who haven't figured it out. Don't build a survival shelter on a snow drift because guess what... The snow collected there for a reason and you may not survive if you do! The E-Club there was called the Pickle, they had the coolest unit T-shirts, and the rabbit and pine needle stew wasn't bad either! Semper Fi! Aguilar D.F. Cpl USMC '95- Always
I was in 59 - 62. Made Cpl E-4 in 19 months. I was told to be in formation one morning in 62. I was last in line & when Colonel reached me he had no more promotions. He held us in formation while company clerk went in and typed up my promotion to E-4. Never had Corporal stripes pinned on. jcf Semper Fi
Reading the stories and it could be I once met SSgt Cihak on top of Hill 327. I was a radio repairman with 5th Comm Bn. in Da Nang from Jan. '68 - Jan. '69 and had gone to the top of 327 a couple of times to work on their radio gear. Really great times, because we always stopped at the beer gardens at the bottom of 327 on the way home! Cpl. Keith Newton, USMC 67-71, RVN 68-69 (I just live up I-35 from Sgt. Grit; I really need to get to the city and meet this guy! Semper Fi!)
i don't know if ya'll get my messages?! but Praise God for the Marine that wrote mom about baby-wipes! Semper Fi sarge "I" 3/9 0311~67-68
A great book to read for all you jarheads out there is" Carlson's Raiders". What a great bunch of Marines these guys were. Semper Fi, Delta Co. 1st Batt 9th Marines, 67, Con Thien
I know that we in America have "freedom of Speech" But I think that anyone who cut's down John Wayne Is a royal a-s whole. He may not have served but he's one of America's leading hero's. I would never have joined the Corps if it hadn't been for John Wayne. Jim Lowell 3rd Bn. 8th Marine's 2nd Mar Div.1964 to 1968.
please publish "interested in photos and stories about USMC am- tracs-P5's and H6's", thank you Arnold USMC 2nd Armored Amphibian tractor Battalion 1959-1966 USMC MCL Det. #942 2003-present SF
Talking about torture we came back to main side from Matthews and we got to see a movie "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" with Elizabeth Taylor now that was torture. E.L. Collins Cpl '59-'63 VMGR-352 & 2/7
I was told that John Wayne was classified as 4-F because of a college football injury to his back. He was 34 years old when Pearl Harbor was hit. "After the draft was instituted in 1940, not all of the young men who registered were accepted into the service. Thirty percent of registrants across America were rejected for physical defects. The 4-F classification was given primarily for muscular and bone malformations, hearing or circulatory ailments, mental deficiency or disease, hernias, and syphilis." Cpl Walstib
Just a short note to say how much I enjoy the stories that you in print in your magazine. I made my hitch in the Corps from 1966 to 1969. Served in Nam from June 67' till I was wounded on Mar 30th 1968. Spent my whole tour at a little base known as Khe Sanh. Was Bravo Co. 26th Mar. senior radio-operator under Capt. Ken Pipes who was one of the best officers I have ever known. We were both wounded on the same day, which is coming up shortly. Again just wanted to thank you for all that you do. Semper Fi Sgt, Tom Quigley
My Drill Instructor Sgt. Dickerson was a DI at both San Diego and Parris Island and swears there was no difference in the training. However since I know of no Marine who went through both depots one can only speculate on which was rougher. My own experience in San Diego has convinced me that seeing all those people going up and down the streets and highways was tough. I had no idea when I enlisted that MCRD was actually in San Diego. For some dumb reason I thought they just said San Diego because it was the closest town and that it was actually in the country outside of town. Little did I know. As for torture imagine you are in about your sixth week of boot camp participating in your first parade and that you have not seen a female of any make or model for that entire period. When you march by the reviewing stand there are several attractive teen age girls and your nose catches just a whiff of perfume. You can see eighty recruits' noses all straining to inhale every bit of that wonderful smell. Now that is torture. I may have asked this question before but does anyone remember seeing a movie titled the Marine Who Lived 100 Years when in boot camp? I swear I saw it in boot camp. It was and old Hallmark Television Movie starring Ward Bond that was loosely based on Lou Diamond. The catch phrase from the movie was "give me a case of beer and I can go anywhere." Jim Grimes Former Sergeant 1969-72
This memory was so horrible that I had blocked it out. I didn't recall it ever happening until I read the story by Richard Constable (newsletter 10 MAR 2011). It was exactly the same for us in 1989. We were allowed one movie in the theater at MCRD San Diego. We were excited to actually be doing something that was taken for granted back on the block and were really looking forward to the movie. We sat in our seats and were allowed one king-sized Snickers bar each. The curtain rose, the coming attractions came and went and then... sorry, I need a moment... The Accidental Tourist. Talk about cruel and inhumane. Paul D. Raines 89-93
I enlisted in Aug 1946. When I reached Camp Le Jeune, after boot camp, there were hardly any NCO's, as they had all gotten out after the war. Our first shirt was a Buck Sergeant and our machine gun Platoon Sergeant was a Corporal. At that time you had to have six months time in the Corps to make PFC. No such thing as PFC out of boot camp. When my 6 months came up, we were on maneuvers at Puerto Rico, so there was no promotion. On the 1st of April, I got my warrant for PFC (no ceremony). I guess someone higher up decided it was time they got some stripes for guys serving way above their rank, so I was called into the company on the 13th of April and given my warrant for Corporal (again no ceremony). So I was a PFC for 13 days. I was told that at that time I was the youngest Corporal in the Corps. Two days later, I was given the job of Platoon Sergeant of our machine gun platoon. Talk about being scared and confused. Here I was ordering around the guys I had went through boot camp with. They took it pretty good and listened to my orders or my requests that I issued. Except for two guys that I had to run up for disobedience of orders. I got out in 1948 and called back in 1950 and made Buck Sergeant during that tour. No crossed rifles on any of our stripes then. Sgt. Clyde R. Fortner 620594 Aug 1946-Mar 1948 Oct 1950-Nov 1951
Sergeant Grit: The story in the 10Mar2011 edition about liver cutlets brought back a memory from my days at MCRD, San Diego, 1964. As we all know, going through the 'boot' chow line was sometimes an extraordinary experience. This particular day was somewhat like the cutlet story, but I was saved by the recruit sitting next to me. That private was a bit over weight for his height so was put on the interesting diet of a hardboiled egg, un- buttered toast and skim milk. But, back to my dilemma. As I silently moved through the chow line, I realized that the meat of the day was country fried steak. Wow, I thought! I love chicken fried steak! The recruit messman could see by my expression that I wanted more than one steak. He motioned! I blinked my eyes. And, whala, there on my tray were two of the best looking country fried steaks I had ever seen. I could hardly wait for the order of, "Ready! SEATS!" from SSgt Bridges. When it came I quickly cut into the first steak. Oh, my gosh, I thought. This isn't steak! This is EGGPLANT! I hate eggplant! As I prepared to try to sneak those two evil othings into the map packet of my utilities, I noticed that the recruit next to me was ogling my tray. Through some mind meld between us I realized that that guy would eat anything! I managed to slide the offending items onto his tray without either DI seeing the move. (They probably did see it and were very impressed my our stealthy move! Yeah, right!) I am proud that I could assist a starving recruit in having his taste buds actually sated that day! That day I learned a valuable lesson! Don't believe it until it is proven to be true! Bob Lonn MCRD March-May 1964
I was just reading one of your OLDER newsletters (Oct 9, 2008... yea big fan here) and there was some talking of the terms "Old Corps...New Corps". Having gone thru P.I. in 2001 myself, you know what I think of when a Marine says he is "Old Corps"? It reminds me of being on the High School football team and someone who graduated a couple years back says "Oh well...WHEN I was on the football team WE USED TO have to...". You know a lot of times I will read a newsletter and a Marine will be describing something he/she had done at P.I. and I think "oh I remember my D.I.'s having us do that" Then at the end of the newsletter it says PFC Smucatelli P.I. Platoon 211/ Summer of 1965 Although I am sure the layout and living quarters at P.I./S.D have probably changed a few times over the years, I don't think the Recruits now have it all that different than the ones who were there 20-30 yrs. ago. (Including "Hands on Training") S/F KA
Noticed some talk about Camp Hauge. I served in H&S Co. 3rd Shore Party BN at Camp Hauge in March 1956 until April 1957. Prior to this Shore Party Company had been stationed at Camp McGill, in Yokuska, Japan. H&S Co and Charlie Co. were transferred to Hauge in March 1956. Able Co. stayed in Japan. I believe Baker Co was with the 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii. At the same time a company from the Communication Bn and 12th Marines were also on the base at Hauge. There was also a Brig on the base. Shore party was housed in Quonset huts on the left side of the road entering the base. Bn headquarters was across the street on the right side of the road. Col Smith was our Bn Commander, and since he was the Senior Officer on the base, he also served as the base commander. At that time all the Marines on the island had what was called "Cinderella liberty". Rules were you had to be out of the bars at 2300 hours, and had to be on the base by 2400. Also remember the typhoon Emma which hit Oki in October 1956. All of the old Quonset huts withstood the winds, but many of the new concrete block buildings at Kadena Air Force base had major damage. Most damage we had was loss of one jumbo Quonset hut "Supply storage" and loss of electric for 30 days. Cpl Don, 1511### Fair winds and following seas
Sgt. Grit, Thank you and your staff for all they do for our veterans. I look forward to reading all the submissions to your newsletter, this is a great service that you provide. I like especially that your website offers links to help veterans and also helps us locate old friends. There is a special bond that exist between veterans that only grows greater as we age. Our Headquarters Company 9th Marine Regiment 3rd Marine Division RVN 65-69 will be holding its 4th reunion in San Diego, CA. April 12-14, 2011. Our fellowship this year includes a trip to MCRD San Diego; when we visited Parris Island in 2009 our tour bus stopped behind the "yellow foot prints" where our "not so lean" took position on those famous prints. There was a platoon of newly formed recruits standing across the way and I wonder what was going through their mind as they witnessed us forming up, I know their Drill Instructor got a chuckle out of it. More information about our reunion can be found on our website (www.hqco9thmarines.com) or if any served with HqCo 9th Marines (0/9) they can contact me at jackloveday @ scrtc .com (no spaces), we have located just over 100 of our men thus far. I've attached some logos connected with our company.
See more upcoming reuions
Sgt Grit, Just got finished reading the December 2010 issue of Leatherneck (a buddy sends them to me when he is finished reading them) and read an article about the proper way to blouse the trousers of the utility uniform. The article mentioned that the trousers are bloused differently based on whether or not the Marine is in an infantry unit and went on to say that infantry units blouse the trousers over the boot tops, while non-infantry units blouse the trousers above the boot. I served back in the early 80's (1981 to 1985) and was a grunt (0331) but do not recall a distinction between units where the blousing of trousers was concerned. I do distinctly recall that we were allowed to blouse the trousers over the boot (high or low), but that the trousers were to be bloused neatly and so that the socks did not show and I seem to recall the socks not showing as being more critical than how high on the boot the trousers rested. Has the uniform code changed? Semper Fi Mike Kunkel Cpl. 0331 Lima 3/8 Weapons Plt.
Hi Sgt Grit; I enjoy your newsletter immensely & look forward to every Thursday's edition. I served with Dog Co. 2/7 /1st Mar. Div. in Korea as a 0331. First of all, there was no yellow footprints in the early 50's. I served as a squad leader in Boot, came out a PFC. I went before the Battalion CO, the Exc., the 5 Company CO's for meritorious promotions for both Cpl & Sgt . There was one representative from each Company. We were called in one at a time & each officer grilled us with military questions. Both times I was awarded the promotions. I was notified by my Plt Sgt & that was that, no chevrons, no company formation or congratulations by the Co. After the drowning of the six at P.I., I was called into the Skipper's office, told to report MCRD San Diego as a temp. D.I. I reported to a plt of about 80 recruits who were doing squads right formations, I didn't have a clue. P.S. when I went through Boot, Pfc's served as D.I.s Wrschroeder, Sgt. God Bless all our Brothers & Sisters.
Aloha, Sgt Grit: One thing I recall about my time in the "Crotch", was the constant bul-sh-t chatter about who had the most "time-in". Of course, "service numbers" (Can we give that topic a rest? Who cares?) were always dragged into the fray, but weren't always a valid way to settle the unending debate. I remember the hilarious back-and forth put-downs between my enlisted comrades that left no doubt as to who was "saltier". Examples: "I've got more time in the air, jumping out of my rack, than you have in the whole Marine Corps!" "You f--king shower-shoe! I've spent more time in the chow line than you have in your whole career!" "I've got more time on the sh-t-ter"... ETC. ETC. I'd love to hear some of my fellow Marines' contributions to the unending battle of who's "saltier"! Jeff Barnes/ LCpl (Ret'd)/2108389 USMC-'64-68/ 1833/ Amtracs (Waterborne!)
Sgt. Grit, Have been reading your letter for awhile now. Always interesting. Hopefully you will find my contributions worthy of adding to one of your future letters. I joined in August of 1963, age 17. arrived at Parris Island early September. On that fateful day that we were formed up I met SSgt. J.G. Ferrari. Sgt. John J. McGinty and Sgt. Jack Huffman. Three men who would influence my life forever. SSgt. Ferrari informed us that he didn't care what our color or ethnic background was he "hated everybody". A glorious start to our time in paradise! We started with 100 recruits. Finished with 60. My skinny 130 lb. body was one of the graduates. The funniest thing that occurred was during our first foot locker inspection. Sgt. McGinty was checking us to make sure we had followed the image in our Guide Book for Marines. Of course none of us had done anything correct by the time he came to the hapless Private next to me. Amazingly, he had words of praise for the Private about how squared away his folded skivvies and socks were. He asked him if his father or brother had been in the Corps. The Private answered "Sir, No Sir". Sgt. McGinty asked him where he had learned to fold his skivvies according to the Guide Book. The poor Private answered "Sir, The Private's maid showed him how before he left home, Sir!" Well, the explosion that followed matched anything heard on the demolition range! I will leave the exchange of words up to your imagination. The private was on our Junior Hat's s--t list until we graduated. The most shocking thing that happened was when we were practicing for our graduation on the Parade Deck on the morning of Friday, November 22. We had run through the routine once and had reformed in front of the reviewing stand when a full bird Colonel stepped up to the microphone. None of us had seen a full Colonel. Just Lt. Col.'s, Majors, Captains, and Lt.'s. As he spoke it got quieter than I had ever heard during my time on the Island. "Drill Instructors, take your platoons back to your barracks. We just received word that our Commander in Chief has been killed in Dallas, Texas. You will be informed as to what will be happening at a later time." The ONLY time I saw anything resembling emotion on the faces of our three D.I.'s. Graduation was delayed, we did not have to stand our Final Field Inspection and we left the Island November 30, 1963 with Sgt. Huffman's farewell ringing in our ears---"Just because you graduated doesn't mean you are a pimple on a man's a-s, let alone a Marine's!" Sgt. McGinty went on to win the Medal of Honor in Viet Nam. He truly was a Marine's Marine. After ITR at Camp Geiger I spent 2 years in the 6th Marines, Weapons Plt. E-2-6 as a M-60 man 0331. Finished my time out back at the Island, where I got mustered out as a Sgt. Would not trade anything for the experiences and friendships made. Old Dog --Sgt. 1963-1969. Plt. 269 Parris Island Sept. '63 -- Nov. '63.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw "IKE JACKET" in an article about Promotion Ceremonies in my Sgt Grit newsletter. The USMC was phasing the "short jacket" out of inventory, so only a few of the Marines in my 1962 San Diego Boot Camp Platoon received one BATTLE JACKET, WINTER SERVICE "A" and one Full Length Blouse Winter Service "A". Our Drill Instructor Sgt Romero told us that he would personally "Unscrew our head from our shoulders, and kick it all over the Large Grinder" if he ever heard the GLORIOUS Marine BATTLE JACKET called an "IKE JACKET" ! Only in the Army issued an "IKE JACKET". Ken CPL USMC 1962 - 1966 Vietnam June 64 - Oct 66 PS: Jun 1964 Operation Shu-Fly at Da Nang before "The War"
William N. Thompson, Honorable Discharge, USMC, Pfc (E-2), Ph.D., Retired 4. The Mosquitoes of Elliott Beach and Bends and Thrusts - 5000 of Them! Elliott Beach is a bivouac area of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot of Parris Island. It is in low land bordering swamping grasslands. During the fourth week of boot camp, recruits are marched to Elliott Beach with all their camping gear for the joys of pitching tents, having a picnic, and sleeping out. Our fourth week was in early September. It was probably the hottest week of the year. This also meant that it was the most humid week of the year. After using our tin mess kits for dinner, we lined up in formation for some unannounced fun and games to be conducted by a junior drill instructor. I should not call the exercise "fun" and games. It was really a session of "games" one would not normally call "fun." But then, on the other hand, it must have been fun for the mosquitoes, as they had decided to join us (voluntarily) en masse. As we were standing at attention, we carefully watched for the eyes of the drill instructor to turn away in order to have a chance to slap a mosquito or two, or more quietly, to brush them away from our faces. It was a tricky exercise, and in my haste to act quickly, I also brushed my fatigue hat off my head, and it fell to the ground. All the time, I remained in a rigid "attention" position. I had no chance to reach to the ground to pick up my hat. I was stuck, I was screwed. I knew my situation was bad, I just didn't know how bad. The drill instructor caught my dilemma. He decided to "strike." He yelled, "Prive. You seem to look different. Why do you look different?" I had learned by then that one responds when spoken to by the drill instructor. One responds loudly and with vigor. I yelled out. "Sir." "I have lost my hat, Sir!" I quickly recognized the ill chosen words I had uttered, but before I could correct them, the drill instructor asked me to do so. He screamed, "You lost your what, Prive?" All Marine Corps terminology relates to ships. I screamed back, "My cover, Sir." The drill instructor continued. "Well Prive, where is your cover?" "Sir," I responded, "It is on the ground. Sir." Again he screamed, as I had managed to screw up again. I corrected myself, yelling out "Sir, it is on the deck. Sir." "Well, Prive, now you know what you have lost, and just where it is." I braced myself for his next command. In such conditions, I would secretly hope that the drill instructor would simply hit me in the gut, or on the shoulder (that would be the best). Bada Bada Bing. Then it would be over. Wince. All over in a second or two. Once I had been shining my shoes in a way that the drill instructor did not like-perhaps against his instructions. He grabbed one of my shoes and hit me with it on the top of my head. Sting. But in a second or two, it was all done. I corrected my manner of shining the shoes. But that was inside the barracks, and that action by the drill instructor was not observable to anyone else, except perhaps one or two recruits beside me. They did not bat an eye during the episode. But here I was outside and at Elliott Beach. Another one of our drill instructors was with us, and the entire platoon of 73 recruits was cognizant of my screw-ups. My tormentor-the junior drill instructor-was not going to give me another swift and quickly-over punishment that would represent a violation of boot camp (and likely Geneva Convention) rules against physical abuse. Actually, all the other recruits were amused, as they knew that drill instructors could only punish one or two of us at the same time, and this was my turn. They had had their turns, and likely they would have their turns again tomorrow or some other future day, but now that I had screwed up, they would be off the hook-for tonight. Of course they had to contain their amusement, because just one laugh would put them into harm's way big time. So I did not "luck out" with a quick and done punishment. The drill instructor came in front of me and yelled out, "Bends and Thrusts-5000 of them." A bend and thrust is a jumping-jack type exercise. The individual reaches toward his toes, and places his hands on "the deck." He then kicks his legs backwards, and comes down into a push-up type posture. Pushing up, he then kicks his legs forward and stands up once more. That would be "one." He then repeats the exercise for "two." I started my 5000. "My God," I thought, "5000 of them." As I was doing the bends and thrusts behind the formation, I could see the thinly veiled smiles of several of my fellow recruits, all of them thinking-"it could have been me." I also knew (hoped) that this would be an episode we could laugh about together over the next few days. I could hear the drill instructor shouting out various routines the recruits would be doing the rest of the night and the next day. I counted out---"twelve, thirteen...eighteen, nineteen," as sweat poured from my face down my neck. I was basically out of the drill instructor's sight line as I counted out, "thirty, thirty-one." I thought, "Ok, give it a try." I stood up, and at attention, I marched to the drill instructor. "Sir. The private requests permission to speak to the drill instructor, Sir." "Speak, Prive," he responded. "Sir, the private has completed his bends and thrusts, Sir." The drill instructor scowled as he asked, "How many bends and thrusts did the private complete." I responded loudly, "Sir, 5000 bends and thrusts, Sir." I could hear some barely concealed laughter from the other recruits. The drill instructor yelled back. "You are f---ing kidding me prive. Are you really saying you just did 5000 bends and thrusts?" "Yes Sir." I shouted back. The drill instructor then asked me how many bends and thrusts I had done during the recorded physical training exercise two days before. We had been given one minute time intervals to do various exercises. We were "on record." I replied, honestly. "Thirty-two, Sir." "Prive, are you saying you did 32 bends and thrusts in one minute two days ago when they recorded your activity, and just now you did 5000 of them?" I responded. "Yes Sir." "D-mn, Prive, you were screwing with us. When it counted, you did only 32. Tonight proves it. If you would have given your best you could have done better. Get out of my here." "Yes sir." I had been pardoned from my punishment. Drenched in sweat, I still sort of wished that he had only hit me in the gut. As I put my head on the "deck" inside my tent that evening, I thought. "One more day survived at Parris Island. 25 down, 52 to go."
"Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat." --RAdm. "Jay" R. Stark, US Navy; 10 Nov. 1995 Welcome Home Marine, Job Well Done! Semper Fi Sgt Grit


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Brighton Rock review
Check out the Time Out review of this British thriller
Watch the trailer to 'Brighton Rock'
Time Out review
A remake of John Boulting's 1947 noir classic? It may sound like sacrilege, but Joffe's sharply turned entertainment will stand on its own merits. Joffe's big idea is to update the material to 1964, when mods and rockers brought their tribal differences to the sea front.
It's a clever conceit that resonates without radically altering the thrust of Graham Greene's novel, published in 1938. There are passing references to the pill and capital punishment, but most pressingly, there's the prevailing apprehension that youth is on the brink of throwing over the last remnants of the pre-war order, and probably the baby along with the bathwater.
Sam Riley's pier-lurking thug Pinkie Brown is a self-loathing sociopath, but also a quick study who sees opportunity when his boss is murdered by a rival protection racket. Andrea Riseborough is Rose, the none-too-bright tea girl whose testimony could put Pinky and his mates behind bars.
Recognising a fellow 'Roman', Pinkie insinuates himself into her life but uncharacteristically hesitates to take it. 'You're good, I'm bad – we're made for each other,' he tells her, a line that Greene might have been proud of.
Director Rowan Joffe – whose father Roland made 'The Mission', and whose script for the upcoming Anton Corbijn film 'The American' also exercises Catholic themes – appreciates that the couple's mutual attraction is the heart of the matter, and provides enough insight into each of them to make it work. In one early scene, Pinkie vindictively pinches her arm, and she gives him permission to carry on if it pleases him. 'Don't be soft,' he scoffs, but it's his own emotions he's afraid of.
With its spivs and shivs and grease-slicked hair, 'Brighton Rock' feels far more of a period piece than 'Quadrophenia' ever did. Rather than fight it, Joffe accentuates the melodrama in a heightened rhetorical style that's unmistakably old school: he signals pivotal moments with bold crane shots and cues another crescendo from Martin Phipps's orchestral score (neither the mods nor the rockers get much of a look in). There is even a cliff-top embrace beside the Seven Sisters – the kind of romantic flourish that would make most contemporary filmmakers blush. Maybe that stuff doesn't fly with audiences now, but bless Joffe for going for it.
Representing the old guard, a flame-haired Helen Mirren almost walks away with it as the indefatigable Ida Arnold, but in the end there is no getting around Riley's sneering, shabby louse, and Riseborough's pathetic, blind devotion to him. This is one wretched love story, but it sticks. Tom Charity


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Organize your favourite listings
Sign up to keep track of your favourite spaces and revisit them later.
Unit 9 is 1310 sf and is available now. It was a former Weight Watchers and is a wide open space. There is also the option to combine Units 8 & 9 to give you 2531 sq ft.
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ProQuest is offering free access this week to their ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source (PQNAHS) file in celebration of both International Nurses Day 2012 (May 12) and the American Nurses Association's 2012 National Nurses Week (May 6 -12). This file indexes and abstracts over 1,070 health-related titles, including the full-text for nearly 900 journals as well as 12,000+ full-text dissertations in nursing and related fields.
The announcement about the celebration, along with the free access, is available here (just click the free access link in the 3rd paragraph). Do enjoy the file for the rest of the week, and please join me in thanking ProQuest and my contact there, Beth Dempsey, for this free trial.
More as it happens,


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What We Do
Acquired Brain Injury
The Kennedy Center Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program serves individuals 18 years of age and older, who have either a traumatic or an acquired brain injury that may be a result from many different causes such as blunt force trauma to the head, stroke or anoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain). We have supported individuals who have injuries as a result of motorcycle/motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, falls, chemical toxicity, severe concussion, and objects hitting the head, just to name a few.
The ABI program accepts referrals from funding sources such as DSS ABI Medicaid Waver, Money Follows the Person/MFP, workers compensation insurance companies, privately funded contracts and self pay.
The mission of The Kennedy Center Acquired Brain Injury Program is to provide individualized support services to brain injury individuals. We assist individuals in achieving their desired outcome of rebuilding their life. The program uses a person-centered, consumer driven planning model which means program staff, along with the individual, develop an individualized plan tailored to meet the needs and desires of the individual.
The ABI staff supports the individual in his/her own home, workplace and in his/her local community through The Kennedy Center Community Integration Services, which includes: Independent Life Skills Training, Companion Support, Prevocational Skills Training, Respite Support Services, and Transitional Living Services.
The Kennedy Center is also introducing a new program model, ABI Day Rehabilitation, which offers individuals who are not able to access the ABI Medicaid Waiver, an opportunity to participate in a meaningful day. The ABI Day Rehabilitation model is a new initiative targeted to individuals who have had to remain home and would like to have the experience of engaging with other survivors.
Individuals, families, insurance companies, and other private entities pay for individuals with an acquired brain injury to participate in a 3 to 5-hour day program based out of The Kennedy Center Woodbridge, CT facility. Individuals are offered cognitive retraining, compensatory strategy development, independent living skill-building activities, prevocational skill-building activities, memory and organization enhancement activities, and social engagement activities. The services are provided in a group format with a ratio no greater than four individuals to one staff person.
Individuals who are interested in employment services may receive services through The Kennedy Center Employment Program through team collaboration with our ABI staff.


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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A researcher with New York's Federal Reserve Bank says Puerto Rico's labour market may not be as weak as previously believed.
Jason Bram says upcoming revisions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics will likely show that job loss was lower than currently estimated. He said in a blog published Friday that a current estimate of 44,000 total jobs lost from June 2012 to June 2013 could be revised to some 10,000 total jobs lost.
Bram said the education and health services sectors will likely see the biggest upward revisions, followed by professional and business services.
The U.S. territory of 3.7 million people has an unemployment rate of 15.4 per cent, the highest compared to any U.S. state.


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HPD Latest News
HPD Chief emphasizes pedestrian safety
Each year we lose about 17 pedestrians in motor vehicle collisions. And so far this year, we've lost 15, and we're just over halfway through the year.
Throughout next month, officers will be conducting pedestrian-related enforcement at various locations across Oahu. Drivers and pedestrians who break the law will be cited. Our goal is to deter dangerous and illegal behavior and save lives.
Here are some safety tips for pedestrians and drivers. Most involve common sense and common courtesy.
For pedestrians, the first one is to use available crosswalks.
Secondly, put your cell phone and music devices away when crossing, it will lessen the chance of you being distracted. Your full attention should be paid to vehicle traffic as you're crossing a roadway.
Third, avoid a leisurely stroll in a crosswalk and walk with purpose. The quicker you cross a roadway lessens the chance of you being hit by a distracted driver. Although a pedestrian may have the right of way in a crosswalk, you don't want to be right and dead.
Lastly, refrain from unnecessary or risky behavior on or near our roadways. With over a million people on this island our roadways are busy and not a place to take chances with your safety.
And drivers, be on the look out for pedestrians and be prepared to stop when approaching a crosswalk. Don't overtake other vehicles that have stopped for pedestrians.
Working together, we can make Oahu's roads safer for everyone.
HPD Chief emphasizes pedestrian safety


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The picture below shows a Fuel Tap Repair Kit OD 22mm x OD 35mm x 25mm Honda GL1500 Valkyrie 1997-2004. Thousands of other top quality spares listed on our website at refreshingly low prices.
All prices are in Pounds Sterling (GBP)and include VAT at 20% where applicable. VAT will be deducted at the checkout for goods supplied to outside the European Union.
Total: £ 0.00
(incl. VAT). Shipping calculated at checkout.


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Youngstown City schools holds a meeting tonight regarding to new programs they want to unveil for the upcoming school year.
WKBN 27 First News provides commenting to allow for constructive discussion on the stories we cover. In order to comment here, you acknowledge you have read and agreed to our Terms of Service. Commenters who violate these terms, including use of vulgar language or racial slurs, will be banned. No links will be permitted. Please be respectful of the opinions of others. If you see an inappropriate comment, please flag it for our moderators to review.


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Something to chat about.
What day in November one was you little one born? How much did he/she/they weight? Is this your first? And any other details you wanna share. Just a converstaion starter to...
Started by Brittney on 03/26/2010 in Mums Of November 2009 Babies
Last update on 02/25/2013 by Maverick Eiden


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Desktops and Monitors
10 Items
- HP 20 Monitor | BlackSpecial Price ₦30,000.00 ₦36,000.00
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Dell Vostro 3668 Intel Pentium 3.5Ghz (2GB, 500GB HDD) FreeDOS Desktop + 18.5" Monitor – BlackSpecial Price ₦123,000.00 ₦140,000.00
HP Slimline Desktop Intel Core i5 2.2Ghz (8GB, 1TB HDD) Win 10 Desktop - BlackSpecial Price ₦220,300.00 ₦245,000.00
10 Items
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The Oak Lawn the Chamber of Commerce
held its annual golf outing, its largest annual fundraiser, on July 10. More than 90 golfers participated in the event at Stony Creek Golf Course in Oak Lawn. National Golf Outing came out and provided the Shotmaker scramble, a format which gave golfers more chances to win prizes. Winners of golf were the Marquette Bank team of Jack Baker, Tom McGreal, Mitch Truesdale and Mark Wojack, who finished 14 under par, and Les Brothers Restaurant team of Matt Babich, Tom Bonick, Bill Les and Jim Les, who finished 5 under par. The closest to the pin winners were John Cotter and Lori Jadzak, and longest drive winners were Rick Lanham and Tammy Girten.
Seen here are Oak Lawn Professional Firefighters & Paramedics 3405 union members John Travnick (from left), Dave Vorich, Scott Tsilis and Luke Tsilis, above, and Chamber members Chuck Thompson (from left), Laura Shallow, Julie Miller, Laura Fasan, Vicki Scanlon, and Anne Marie Casey, below.
Submitted photos


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"We haven't found anything that we can't recycle." Cigarette butts are everywhere – clogging up our streets, littering our beaches – and for decades they've been thought of as 'unrecyclable', because they contain such a tightly packed mix of organic and inorganic products that recycling companies can't deal with them. But a New Jersey-based companyRead More
Plastic-Eating Bacteria Could Help Revolutionize Recycling
We all know the drill: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Except, of course, that by and large Malaysians continue to be laggards when it comes to recycling. Only a mere 15% of solid waste was collected for recycling all of last year. Perhaps a solution to all those growing mounds of non-biodegradable plastic bottles, containers and bagsRead More
Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles
Discovery could lead to new methods to manage the more than 50 million tonnes of this particular type of plastic produced globally each year Washington: A team of Japanese scientists has found a species of bacteria that eats the type of plastic found in most disposable water bottles. The discovery, published on Thursday in theRead More
New plastic-eating bacteria could help save planet
The species fully breaks down one of the most common kinds of plastic called Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It's the type often used to package bottled drinks, cosmetics and household cleaners. Styrofoam-eating mealworms might help reduce plastic waste, study finds The findings, published in the academic journal 'Science' on Friday, say that "Ideonella sakaiensis breaks downRead More
New Recycling Method for Fresh Fish Boxes
EPS FISH has been developed by ACTECO and AIMPLAS, with really good results, since the recycled material obtained has been validated by means of manufacturing XPS and EPS insulating panels with adequate physical-mechanical properties. Valencia (10-03-2016).- The project EPS-FISH to recycle expanded polystyrene wastes from fresh fish packages finished in late December 2015 with goodRead More
Live Heavily Printed LDPE Plastic Recycling Demo from EREMA at Chinese Trade Show
Austrian plastics recycling systems manufacturer, EREMA, is to showcase its technology for recycling heavily printed LDPE materials with live demonstrations at the upcoming Chinaplas 2016 exhibition in Shanghai. The company said that it will be demonstrating its INTAREMA® 1007 TVEplus® with an EREMA SW4/104 RTF melt filter at the show, which takes place from 25Read More
Recyclers of metals, plastics battered by global commodity plunge
Recyclers are fighting to stay alive as tanking commodity prices bring down the value of recycled industrial and post-consumer materials. During the past year, the Recycling Depot has slashed its workforce to 15 employees from 35 as it struggles with plunging prices and a lack of demand for scrap metal. Joe Salvatore, who manages RecyclingRead More
Cheyenne firm now recycling glass and plastic
CHEYENNE – If you drink bottled Coors beer and recycle, there's a chance you'll soon be drinking from a bottle made with your recycled glass. That's because starting immediately, WYCO Recycling and Shredding Services has started accepting glass at its facility at 2600 Missile Drive. The company bought the facility from Magic City Enterprises lastRead More


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Al Murray's German Adventure (BBC4) | iPlayer
Ian Hislop's Age of the Do-Gooders (BBC2) | iPlayer
At Home with the Georgians (BBC2) | iPlayer
Mad Men (BBC4) | iPlayer
The traditional, deathly, pre-Christmas hiatus that leaves Britain with no fun programmes to watch seems to have started early this year and I say this even allowing for the possibility that your idea of fun might be BBC4's new Germany season.
If there was the remotest chance of finding fun in that, you might have put your money on Al Murray's German Adventure, though award-winning "Pub Landlord" comic Murray, who had grown a stern beard and full head of hair for the occasion, was determined that this should be no laughing matter. There was a twinkle in his eye when he promised "not to mention the war", but it was 37 minutes before he even mentioned beer.
Clearly, this was an attempt to not be beastly to the Germans after a lifetime of jokes about Teutonic efficiency, humourlessness and dawn raids with beach towels. No doubt there was an element, too, of Al Murray stretching his legs as a thoughtful Oxford history graduate after years of acting like an ignorant pig in the service of mischievous entertainment, but did he have to wear the hat and overcoat of enlightenment with quite so much reverence? (I now fear that Harry Hill will remember his medical training and turn up in a documentary performing knee surgery.)
To be fair, the programme opened with a little German eccentricity (the townsfolk of Heiligendamm taking a dip in the frozen sea) and things almost got a little racy on Hamburg's Reeperbahn, where Murray seemed genuinely surprised to discover that they don't allow camera crews in live sex clubs. But for the most part, this was a burdensome tour of heritage and culture, which, combined with the strangely underpopulated streets, gave the impression that most Germans must be busy at home writing operas.
Murray plodded about in the crepuscular, snow-blown cold (and if there was one thing this programme didn't need it was an extra layer of greyness), duly visiting this or that citadel of learning or art – at one point urging the Herr Direktor of a piano factory to tell us about the memorable day back in the 1860s that Clara Schumann popped in to try out a Grotrian-Steinweg grand. "Ah, that was a funny story," said the Herr Direktor, chuckling, though of course it was no such thing.
Double history, anyone? Here was Ian Hislop's Age of the Do-Gooders, which celebrated the giant leaps for cleanliness and godliness made by the great moral and social crusaders of industrial Britain. We've all heard of William Wilberforce as a force against the slave trade, but who knew he was the one dashing around London putting fig leaves on naked statues? Well, someone had to do it. By the 1780s, the entire country was a cesspool of debauchery, horseracing, gin-drinking, pox and bad manners. Once he'd got the ball rolling, others scrambled to the call for reform of all sorts, often spurred by worries that if we didn't mend our disgusting ways we'd catch something off the French (ie revolution and slaughter of the well-to-do).
These philanthropists and activists – Robert Owen, George Dawson, Octavia Hill – didn't quite make it as household names, though they should have, for their energy and genius in pushing the boundaries of improvement in labour, housing and civic works. Hislop, unafraid to employ a comedy top hat and megaphone where necessary, made a grand job of marshalling his unfashionable but inspiring busybodies in this run-up to the season of wishing we were better citizens and neighbours.
I was particularly touched and appalled by the story of the man who died in agony on the operating table, but also heartened to think that if I ever need bladder stones removing from the no-man's-land between my scrotum and anus with a teaspoon, there'll at least be someone qualified doing it, thanks to Thomas Wakley, pioneering first editor of the Lancet. Hurrah!
As if to confirm the worst of 18th-century behaviour, it was interesting, later in the week, to learn about George Hilton, a dissolute rural squire in Westmorland who was out every night at local taverns whoring, gambling, brawling and getting drunk. But was he happy? Not according to his tear-stained diaries in which he resolved daily to change his aimless life, finally epitomised here by the revelation that he didn't own a tea set. No wonder he ended up in an unmarked grave. As Amanda Vickery explained, in At Home With the Georgians, the ideal for the aspiring man in those days was a nice house, a carriage, a few must-have gadgets (silver tongue-scrapers were quite the fashion) and a wife embodying the virtues of Mrs Thatcher and Nigella Lawson.
Domesticity, not wild bachelorhood, was the hallmark of the alpha male. Prof Vickery was the acme of a pop TV historian, with her iPad and frisky asides and snatches from the Freddie Mercury songbook, as she introduced us to a variety of domiciles peopled by jobbing actors in the garb of impecunious young lawyers or desperate old maids with their embroidery and cats. Very interesting. I certainly feel I know enough to predict that part two – "A Woman's Touch" – will involve expensive curtains.
The blackest day for Mad Men fans was Wednesday, which brought to an end a great fourth series of the great US drama about advertising people in 1960s New York. The new agency turned a corner with a campaign for pantyhose; in a short, telling scene, Peggy and secretly pregnant Joan, like laughing schoolgirls smoking behind the bike sheds, found a rare moment of social equilibrium.
Mad Men's love of the lingering, inconsequential shot and air of enigma encourages casual viewers to complain at the show's glacial movement and yet plenty happens; it's just that sometimes you can't tell quite what it is. If you were puzzled by Betty firing the nanny over a trifle (no, not that sort), it helped not only to appreciate Betty's history of angry impulses and nervy way with a cigarette, but also remember a key scene in the first series, long ago, in which she found herself warding off the unseemly attentions of nine-year-old Glen, a divorced neighbour's son whom she now suspects is sniffing around her pubescent daughter, Sally.
Mad Men is full of unexploded knowledge, causing perplexing changes of direction and making everyone wonder why everyone else is so jittery. Only the audience sees the whole minefield. Cue Don Draper, who has spent this series simultaneously grinning and fearful to put one foot in front of the other. What madness was he up to now, one minute telling his own big secret to the blonde we liked so much, the next proposing to the brunette about whom we know so little. Yes, the secretary! Will Don never be happy with what the viewer wants for him?
If anyone saw it coming it wasn't Roger, memories of whose marriage to his own young secretary – much frowned-upon two seasons ago by Don – spiced the moment. You had to laugh out loud at Roger's startled response to Don's alarmingly beaming announcement: "Miss Calvet and I are getting married."
"Who the hell's that?"
He won't have been the only one asking.


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Darden School of Business
As of June 30, 2013, Darden received a total of $138.7 million to help support the four main priorities of the school. Unrestricted gifts, including Annual Fund and unrestricted endowment giving as well as corporate sponsorships, totaled $44.2 million. These flexible funds spark learning, teaching, research and academic innovation. The Annual Fund provides critical operating funds that fuel emerging priorities and enable Darden to seize opportunities and support innovation at the discretion of the dean. A portion of the $33.3 million raised for faculty support and curriculum development helped the school create two new Centers of Excellence and launch the Global MBA for Executives program. The funds raised for infrastructure, experience and technology, which totaled $43.8 million, enabled Darden to create online learning opportunities and to establish and expand the W.L. Lyons Brown III Innovation Laboratory and the i.Lab Incubator to support the development and growth of promising seed- and early-stage business ventures. Gifts to student organizations inform career choices and/or demonstrate public service and social responsibility through activities such as Building Goodness in April. The school also raised $43.8 million for student fellowship and financial aid and created nearly 50 new endowed or current-use scholarship funds, which have enabled Darden to form an exceptional, diverse student community. Donor support enables Darden to attract the best and the brightest students and faculty, which in turn helps the school continue to rise in the rankings.
Center for Asset Management
Darden's newest Center of Excellence was launched in 2013 after the school reached its Phase I funding goal of $12 million through the generosity of the center's founding donors. On completion of Phase II funding, the Center for Asset Management will have a $20 million endowment. CAM aims to advance the study and practice of asset management through top-quality research, regular conferences and activities, support for the students of Darden Capital Management and the development of educational programs. The center sponsors the University of Virginia Investing Conference, during which industry experts from around the world convene at Darden to discuss the investing environment.
Institute for Business in Society
The Institute for Business in Society, established as a Darden Center of Excellence in October 2011, aims to be a leading global catalyst and convener of thought, information and action, promoting the development of leaders to positively impact society through their roles in business. IBiS currently has $10.8 million in funding, collectively received from the generous support of corporate sponsors Amgen, MeadWestvaco, Northrop Grumman and an anonymous individual supporter. The activities and accomplishments of IBiS thus far include:
Gifts at Work
Raising Darden's Global Profile
The first Global MBA for Executives cohort graduated from Darden in May 2013. The GEMBA format, launched in fall 2010 with support from private donors, attracts working executives from around the globe who desire to earn an MBA and develop greater global business acumen. The program involves the same action-oriented, decision-focused curriculum found in Darden's full-time MBA and MBA for Executives formats, but is delivered across six global residency-centered terms. GEMBA significantly increases Darden's profile on four continents and helps Darden fulfill its mission of improving the world by developing and inspiring responsible leaders and advancing knowledge.