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"Purity, servanthood etc are things I will actively AVOID teaching my daughter. A 'helper' to her husband? Bleargh - No way."These comments were made by women who never thought they'd be read by me, and I certainly don't take offense. Nor did I brush them off, thinking "oh, what a bunch of godless Aussie moms." The plain fact is that these comments could have been made just as easily by American Christian mothers, having been steeped in feminism. Because none of us, including me, get very excited about being a servant.
"My definition of a 'lady' doesn't have anything to do with 'servanthood'."
"Sorry, I couldn't get past the first paragraph. Maybe you could summarise what you find interesting about it for those of us whose heads explode when we read about girls being trained to be servants?"
"I plan on raising my DD to be a polite, self-respecting and caring woman but there's no way she'll ever be subservient to a man, or anyone else for that matter - especially when she's already (at 5mths) got my DH saying to her things like, 'See? Daddy's doing the dishes and is cooking dinner - this is what men are supposed to do!' "
Jerry White writes, "No one wants to be a servant. Servants are unobserved. They exist for another's comfort and convenience. They receive no recognition."
From childhood, we have the opportunity to observe servants in action, but we learn to overlook them. We see janitors in restrooms; we see waiters and waitresses in restaurants; we see customer service representatives. And we see how they are treated, and we are told in every way to avoid holding these jobs and avoid being treated this way. "Even in the Christian community, where servanthood is extolled, no one actually wants to be treated like a servant. The idea sounds great; the reality is miserable."
Living out a life of servanthood isn't easy, but if Jesus is our Lord, then that makes us servants. What makes it even more difficult, as White points out in his book, "Choosing Plan A in a Plan B World: Living Out the Lordship of Christ," is that we are not merely called to be servants to the high and lofty of this world. We are not like celebrity assistants, who are looked up to as getting closer to fame than most of us ever will. No, "God's servant is automatically the servant to common, ordinary, sinful people."
White discusses the actions of a servant- which we can all describe easily enough. That's the easy part- figuring out how a servant acts. Making a meal, serving the sick, attending to the needs of the people around us- these are all ways that we can act as a servant.
The attitude of a servant may be less clear to us. It is lost to us in this society, as we are a part of a culture that treasures service but teaches us to never want to be the one that serves. Servants do not hear "thank you," do not get asked for their opinion, and are often despised and mistreated.
Luke 17:10 shows us the proper attitude of servants, who instead say, "We are unworthy slaves; we have only done what was our duty." Unlike human servants, who may cook a good meal with a lousy attitude and yet please their master with a meal well made, the underlying heart attitude is what makes a servant (and the act of service) pleasing to Christ. Even the most simple actions, like "offering a cup of cold water," are pleasing to the Lord if done as unto Him.
A servant does not demand 'rights', and "never thinks of any work as too menial or beneath his dignity." Jerry White asks some questions worthy of our examination: "Do I possess the attitude of a servant? Do I serve from my heart or because I must? Are my responses that of a servant or a superior? Will I truly serve my family? Have I ever been accused of being (or been treated like I was) a servant? Why not?"
Definitely food for thought. I know it does not thrill my heart to be talked down to or mistreated. I feel convicted by this whole topic, and will be thinking on this for a while. What say you?


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Skin Care
Skin Care Labels That Nurture Your Brand
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subset: commoncrawl


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MT 3000-2i Standard – Highlights
These high-performance material feeders are the ideal partners on every modern and well organized large-scale job site. The extremely high mix storage capacity and the innovative, heavy-duty transfer concept allow non-stop and non-contacting feed of the paver with mix. The MT 3000-2i Standard is capable of transferring as much as 1,200t of mix per hour. The trough-shaped and extra wide belt conveyor installed in the feeders provides for an accurate flow of mix and a clean job site.
- Uninterrupted paving thanks to a total storage capacity (material feeder and paver) of 45t with a conveying capacity of 1,200t/h
- Non-contacting material transfer ensures maximum paving quality
- Homogenized material in the receiving hopper of the material feeder due to conical augers
- Wide range of applications thanks to the pivoting and inclining conveyor
- Reliable material transfer based on automatic distance control and anti-collision protection
- Optimum overview and safety thanks to the convenient and practical ErgoPlus operating system
- Enormous power alongside low consumption from the powerful Deutz diesel engine delivering 160kW at 2,000rpm
- Outstanding mobility in any terrain and steering precision provided by crawler tracks with powerful separate drives


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NOYORK!, Blu 2011
[audio:http://ra-nyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/12-M-Y-S-U-N-S-H-I-N-E-F-E-A-T-N-I-A-A-N-D-R-E-W-S-..mp3|titles=12 M Y S U N S H I N E ( F E A T N I A A N D R E W S ) .]
Entertain an idea for a second: 6 degrees of musical separation. If you look into all of the different mc's, vocalists, producers, musicians and dj's that contribute to an album, you can really expand your musical library and awareness. If you follow any/many of the artists in the album reviews here on ra-nyc.com or previously on boywithstick.com, you will understand why I recommend NOYORK! by Blu. It's right up my alley and I would have written about it earlier, but it doesn't matter how late I am, as long as I make it there. Blu is a mc/producer from LA and the first time I heard of him was when he released a video featuring ScienZe and Versis from Open. The video is called TakingTheDayOff and the video is below.
[audio:http://ra-nyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/09-T-A-G-S-F-E-A-T-E-X-I-L-E-..mp3|titles=09 T A G S ( F E A T E X I L E ) .]
NOYORK! is a collection of beyond creative tracks, abstract, smoked out, at times off kilter while remaining above the hip hop bar, lyrically and literally. Blu is a MC and producer and his production is like a blend of Dilla and Madlib, and I don't throw those names around lightly. I'm not familiar with the majority of the featured mc's and vocalists, but that's how I find my music anyway. It's an opportunity to discover more music.
[audio:http://ra-nyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/11-D-O-W-N-T-O-E-A-R-T-H-F-E-A-T-D-O-N-E-L-S-M-O-K-E-S-D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-M-A-S-S-D-U-B-B-L-E-O-H-..mp3|titles=11 D O W N T O E A R T H ( F E A T D O N E L S M O K E S , D E F I N I T E M A S S & D U B B L E O H ) .]
Blu is as lyrically talented as he is musically. His underground appeal remains true and he doesn't sound like he's creatively bound by anything. I can't see Blu going mainstream though and that makes me respect his music that much more. When you have someone like Blu, that makes music as a means of self expression and an art form to explore, I think you get the best music. From what I understand, he's also interested in film, so he's a multifaceted artist that people should pay attention to. His illusive websites won't make it easy for you, so if you like the music and/or videos you see here, make sure to bookmark them. One more thing, there are other dope tracks on this album, but they were too big for me to upload. So, make sure to check out the album!


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- Home
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CDS 2017: CDS 2017 Examination has been conducted successfully on 5th February 2017 all over the country. Combined Defence Services Exam is one of the most sought after examination by a large number of aspirants who dream to serve the country by joining the Indian defence forces. It is the most prestigious examination of India, organized by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in order to select candidates for admission to the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Officers Training Academy and Indian Military Academy.
Candidates can apply for this exam only if he is fulfilling all the necessary terms and conditions. These eligibility norms for the exam of CDS 2017 are decided by the exam conducting authority so as to separate the creamy layer means the deserving candidates.
Candidate must be graduated in any stream from the recognized college equivalent for IMA or OTA.
Candidate must be unmarried as married candidates are not allowed in CDS 2017 Exam.
Candidate must have Indian citizenship.
Age limit of the candidates must be in between 18 to 24 years. Otherwise, the candidate is considered as ineligible.
Note: If the candidate is found ineligible then strict action will be taken against him and he will be responsible for the same.
The result of CDS 2017 will be announced after the completion of the examination so as to shortlist the candidates for personality test round. It can be checked by entering the roll number and date of birth. It will be released in PDF format which the candidate can download for the future reference.
Interested and eligible candidates can now fill the application form for the Exam of CDS 2017. The application form is mandatory to fill in order to register them so as to appear in the examination. Candidates are advised to fill the application form accurately.
The process of application has commence on 09 November 2016.
Registration fee is Rs 200 for male and general category candidates. Relaxation is allotted to reserved category and women aspirants.
This form can be filled in online mode only.
The form for the CDS Exam 2017 can be filled in two parts.
The candidates have to be filled the first part then pay the fee and then proceed towards the second part.
The fee can be paid online by credit/ debit card and offline by challan at SBI.
It is important to read and understand the syllabus and the pattern of CDS 2017 Exam before commencing the preparation. This encircles the basic format and the marking scheme which is to be followed in the exam and set by exam authority.
This exam will be held in offline mode.
0.33 marks will be subtracted as the negative marking for wrong answers.
For IMA, AFA, NA, there are 3 sections namely English, general knowledge and elementary mathematics. Each section consists of 100 marks. 6 hours will be allotted to solve the CDS 2017.
For OTA, there are 2 sections. Each consists of 100 marks. 4 hours will be provided to solve the exam.
Written Exam of CDS 2017
Personal Interview
Document verification
Medical verification
Aspirants are suggested to solve the sample papers to enhance the level of their preparation. The sample papers are available for all the subjects asked in CDS Exam. Solving the sample papers will help you a great deal in getting the best results.
The most important step for starting the preparation for any exam is knowing the syllabus, which will give you the comprehensive idea how to go further with your preparation. The syllabus is the snap-shot of all the topics which will be asked in the exam. You are supposed to cover each and every topic covered in the syllabus to perform well in the exam.
CDS Preparation tips are the brief guideline for the aspirants of CDS 2017. Aspirants are suggested to go through the tips in order to reap the best results in the exam. The preparations tips are the helpful resource for the aspirants having limited guidance or experience with respect to preparation for CDS.
The answer key for CDS 2017 will be issued by the Union Public Service Commission and various other sources. The answer key will be comprised of the correct answers for all the questions to be asked in the Combined Defence Services Exam- 2017. The answer key will be issued for all the sets to be there in the exam. We will post answer keys from various other trusted sources on our page for your reference.
CDS Cutoff 2017 is referred to the minimum qualifying marks to be scored essentially by the candidates for cracking the written examination of CDS. Candidates who shall qualify the cutoff will be eligible to appear in the Interview process that will be followed by the written examination.
The admit card for CDS 2017 Exam has been released. It is the mandatory document to bring in the examination hall. It provides aspirant's identification to the invigilator and must be shown to him on demand.
Notification release
Application form release
The last date to submit the application form
Admit card release
NDA (I) Exam date
Announcement of result
Notification release
Application form release
Last date for filling the application
Admit card release
NDA (2) Exam date
Announcement of result


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Claddings for harvesting machines, roof structures for buses, panels for sun beds – only a few companies can manufacture such large-size plastic parts from polyurethane. One such firm is Pestel Pur Kunststofftechnik from Chemnitz, Germany. The company was founded in 1990 by Ulf-Peter Pestel directly after German reunification. It has 50 employees on a premises of 10,000 m² and it produces components with a shot weight of up to 100 kg and a surface of up to 4.00 m x 2.00 m.
In their own mould-making processes, the team headed by Michael Legler produces the necessary mould tools from customer-specific ideas or from delivered Solidworks data. With a total weight of up to 19 tonne, they are manufactured on three to five-axis portal milling machines. Bearing in mind that milling machines have to work through the night when machining such large mouldings, two things are particularly sought-after: High machining speeds and absolute process safety.
"On the CAD side we were excellently positioned at Pestel Pur with Solidworks," explains Michael Legler, who has been active in the company since 2011. Over the years, however, the customer parts and the moulding tools became more geometrically complex. Deep-mould cavities and complex areas visibly overwhelmed the former CAM system. Legler reports: "For a medium-sized mould half, around one hundred CNC programs were necessary and each program had to be manually edited. In part, the post-processors covered only half of the machine functions that were available in the CNC controller." It got to the stage where Michael Legler felt that the expense of the CAM programming was unacceptable and the safety of the milling was insufficient.
So, in early 2012, he resorted to looking for a more suitable CAM system. The requirements were clearly defined: Integration into Solidworks, simple and fast programming of complex 5-axis moulds, calculation and processing of residual material, a functioning collision control and sophisticated CNC post-processors. After extensive research on the Internet about the current status of CAM systems and their scope of functions, a variety of suppliers presented their solutions to Pestel Pur on-site. Two systems made it on to the shortlist. After only two days of the testing phase, Solidcam was the clear favourite.
The CAM software was seamlessly integrated into Solidworks, fulfilled its function and exceeded all demands placed on it. Mould-making manager Michael Legler reminisces: "Of course there are special solutions for a variety of applications. But for the individual and small-batch production of moulding tools and machine components, Solidcam is ideal." Meanwhile, the CAM programmers at Pestel Pur productively use all available 2D, 3D and 5-axis milling modules from Solidcam except the 5-axis module for tube milling and impeller milling, which are not required.
Over the past few months, the Pestel Pur team has been using iMachining technology. "We already knew about iMachining before this. But we always thought that is not for us," recounts Legler. "Ultimately, we do not rough-machine any tool steels but instead mainly cast aluminium and high-strength rolled materials."
Application engineer Mario Bujack from the Solidcam branch in Suhl, Germany, did however convince Legler to do a test run in early 2015. Michael Legler: "Up until then, we always used insert tools for rough machining. So our eyes lit up when we saw what end mills could bring to our machines." The result has been a massive time saving in rough-machining. The preparation of CAM machining is now extremely simple, according to Legler, "because iMachining has the technology assistants that optimally control all machining parameters. In doing so, it includes the material to be machined, the tool used, the geometry of the model and the CNC machine data."
What used to be a problematic workflow between CAD, CAM and CNC machining has transformed from nerve-wracking to effortless since Solidcam was introduced. Thanks to its seamless integration into Solidworks, CNC machining can now be programmed far more quickly, processing the residual material runs smoothly while the integrated machine simulation enables reliable control. Michael Legler is pleased: "It is now the case that the CNC programs can be sent directly to the control system without us having to edit them. What is more, we can sleep easy at night while the machining runs unsupervised!"


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Amy Quinn, State Relations Executive, is responsible for NCCI's regulatory and legislative affairs, including rate/loss cost filings, legislative pricings, rule and form filings, appeals mechanisms, and residual market issues.
Prior to joining NCCI in 2005, Ms. Quinn worked closely with the director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance (DOI) as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and Washington liaison. In this capacity, she closely monitored regulatory activities and helped develop relationships with trade organizations, NAIC members, and the US Congress. Earlier in her career at the DOI, Ms. Quinn was the director of agent licensing and education.
Ms. Quinn earned her BS in risk and insurance management from the University of South Carolina and her MBA from Winthrop University, also in South Carolina. She is also a certified Associate Public Manager (APM) in South Carolina.
South Carolina and Tennessee
Amy QuinnState Relations Executive561-893-3812


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My name is Jason Heuser. I'm an artist, I like history and drawing weird things.
I've worked in the video game industry for 7 years with a focus on creative illustration, marketing, and packaging design.
My art has been featured in the following web publications and print:
The Boston Globe, New York Times, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, The Joe Rogan Experience, The Colbert Report, Good Morning America, and Good Morning Sacramento.


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Questions, Oral and Written
Oral Question: Housing White Paper
- Tuesday, 7th February 2017
...that will include the affordability of housing, so that it deals with the places where the pressure is most acute?
Oral Question: Post Leave EU Relationship
- Thursday, 26th January 2017
Only two frameworks are possible— a continuation of free trade, or a move to trading on most favoured nation terms.
Written Question: Friends of the Earth
- Monday, 23rd January 2017
...if she will ask the Charities Commission to investigate the implications for the charitable status of Friends of the Earth...


text: |Benier 225 & 300 Pocket INTERMEDIATE PROOFERS Quality, versatility, reliability— all in one economic design. The Benier Intermediate Proofer is perfectly suited for the floor proofed and no-time dough process. Benier Proofers can process virtually any bread and roll dough, variety bread and pizza dough balls. Intermediate proofers are designed and manufactured in our efficient Atlanta facility according to your specification and requirements, such as: • Proofing time • Hourly capacity • Process range • Process style • Available floor space and layout Proofing time is a function of proofer size and operating speed. Benier Intermediate Proofers can be configured in the format that suits your specific needs. Different proofing times can be achieved by using only part of the proofer. Benier Intermediate Proofers are modular in design and can be extended in the future. Through a variety of different infeed systems, the Benier Intermediate Proafers can process from 500 up to 16,000 pieces per hour allowing the operator the highest possible operational flexibility. Whether you require a French bolancelle style proofer, which does not have any dough ball transfer or an infinite proofing time in a batch style proofer, Benier has the answers and the solutions far all your intermediate proofer requirements.


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Need information on peanut allergy for Penn State University program
I am a dietetic intern through Penn State university. I am putting together a marketing campaign to promote awareness of peanut allergies. Any information that you can send to me, handouts, posters, other sites to visit... would be greatly appreciated. On Oct 29, 2001 Yes! If ...read more


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A wonderful post from Karen Hart this week, who writes about how Ray Bradbury used lists to spark off creative thinking through word association. Karen uses this technique and the [entirely optional] theme of colour to share with us some highlights and memories around the colour blue.
Lists, writing and memory by Karen Hart


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Moé Rising: The line between cute and characterization
What is eternity doing tonight? has become Mega Megane Moé. For the latest posts, please change your links accordingly.
Ikimashou, Mega Megane Moe's host, is going through some hard times, and until these get resolved, posting will continue here at Eternity.
(I like Hisui, but the ol' line about "So moe I might die" comes to mind)
Moe: is it in your anime, killing your enjoyment?
Recently I've been in a bit of despair over Clannad, the third installment in Key's sad-girls-in-noun series that has been animated by high-quality animation studio Kyoto Animation. By all means, I like to consider myself a Key fanboy (I believe the official term for this is "kagikko") like the best of them; look up at my banner (might need a couple refreshes, admittedly) or down at my posts, and you'll see a whole lot of raving, ranting, and allusions to vanilla ice cream, among other catchfoods.
But with the advent of decidedly more real, down-to-earth visual-novel type stories in anime, for example, the highly lauded KimiKiss, it seems that some of Key's works could almost be growing stagnant. Even other shows with what could be considered mildly moe characters, take a more realistic, balanced view, as the infamous quote in ef - a tale of memories goes: "If the girl is thought to be cute, it means she isn't being described properly."
There are a lot of instances of concentrated moe in anime nowadays, but Key works are generally among the genre-leaders in this regard. Just look at Kanon, and Yuuichi's four childhood friends. Clannad is a bit more even-keeled in terms of characters, but Kotomi's recent arc is what really tipped the scale for me, and led me to this post.
It made me wonder - is there a sort of divide between moe characters and strong characters? Is a moe character, by definition, one that has to be shallow? Or is this just a false dichotomy?
Now, as you may surmise, I'm going to be one to stand by the Kanon characters until the end of time. Whether it's the persistent, fight-o attitude of Nayuki, Mai's deceptively kind demeanor lying behind her silent personality, or Shiori's strange, worldly poetic monologues, they all strike a chord somewhere deep inside.
But one has to wonder whether this emotion results from a liking of a strong characteristic or personality they have, or just what many people label as "moe", what has been described as a sort of 'protective urge', a sort of "wanting to be there for them" of like.
I say this because if you think about it, what exactly would happen if you removed the main character (and projection of many a viewer), Yuuichi, from the puzzle. Would they all come crashing down? Would Shiori ever have been happy? Would Mai ever have stopped fighting those demons, internal and external? Would Makoto and Ayu even exist?
It's a sort of grown-up fantasy for people to idolize guys like Yuuichi and situations like his, more than just a simple lust that people feel towards swimsuit models and front-page pin-ups, more of a wanting to "be the only one that can help them", an ironically selfish motive.
And in order for this situation to exist, the girls' characters have to be intentionally flawed, they have to be incomplete, one might say 'broken'. Of course, that's not to say that any flawed character is bad - a character in fiction shouldn't be perfect by any means, and entire Shakespearean works have been built around characters - and stories - gone horribly wrong.
But I think the key to a character is to make them functional enough so that they can live on their own. Kaiji, from his self-titled series, I think, is an example of one such character; he lives a rather poverished, lacking life, but there's no question that he could survive in his tiny apartment on his gas station pay. He may not be happy with his current life, but he is capable in every way, and so when he gets offered these deceptive opportunities by the yakuza to step up into a greater life, the audience can really feel for the torture, the human emotion that he has to go through.
However, the case really does seem different in many a visual novel, and Kotomi's one such unfortunate example. As blog feedback has been indicating, Kotomi's a sort of mixed bag: she's one of the most adorable characters since the history of ever, but her story just doesn't click as Jeff Lawson in one of the above posts puts it:
"I also have this gnawing feeling her story will turn out to be the weakest of the entire show. She's hot moe infused with essence of sweet moe with a side helping of refined moe served on a dish made of moe mined in the moe mines of ancient Moetopia."
And somehow, I can't help but think that these two facts were linked.
For example, if you walk down to your local Moe dealership to purchase one of the latest 2008 models, you'll be greeted with a customization list that reads off like a list of some of the biggest cliches in anime. Childhood friend? Traumatic childhood incident that caused mental impairment? Unable to make friends with anyone but one person? Check those boxes.
It's sort of a left-brain, right-brain thing. The subjective right half eats it all up, loves the characters and their emotional ploys and the world be damned if anything come between them. But the logical left half notes that they've seen it all before, notes that it's all been done to death, hates it and wishes there was something more creative.
Are these 'moe triggers' always cliched? Maybe that's part of what it is - you really can't get that sense of comfort with a character without really knowing who they are, and the easiest way to do that is to pigeonhole them into at least a partially stereotyped character. If you have a character that breaks bounds, that isn't cut and dry, it's admittedly harder for them to be moe. Why? Because they're new, because they're different, and for a lot of situations, different is scary.
This is where ef goes, in taking a different path - the characters can't wholly be sympathized with, and they can't wholly be hated either. Miyako's 99 Missed Calls is a perfect example of this; you really feel sorry for the girl, for trying so hard and getting shut down, but on the other hand, you get really creeped out by her persistence and desperation.
And while this sounds like a bad thing, I enjoy this style a lot, because it really invokes a lot of thinking, really makes you consider the character more than a simple black and white portrayal.
Once again I want to hark back to Stripey's post on fanservice in anime, and argue that moe is largely the same way. Logically, you could probably argue that moe is essentially a subset of fanservice, for a more 'pure' type of fan.
And it functions the same way, on a character-by-character basis. If you take a blank character as a plain ice cream sundae, and lather it in moe syrup and dip it in moe chocolate and sprinkle moe candy all over it and put sliced moe on it with a moe cherry on top, it may look tasty to the eye but the fact of the matter is you'll probably be gagging by the second bite.
Moe functions well as a garnish, a way to accentuate an otherwise strong character. It shouldn't replace a character's true personality and strengths but rather add to them, show a kind of contrast.
To speak in character terms, it's similar to the theory of why tsunderes are so widely loved by many anime viewers. If a character was only tsuntsun (cold, mean, etc) or only deredere (loving, affectionate, etc), it wouldn't be half as effective, because the viewer would not get that feeling of 'seeing the side of a character that not everyone sees'.
Similarly, in visual-novel-type shows, having a character that's all moe, or conversely, not moe at all, doesn't work quite as well. If a character looks weak on the outside, but really has a strong inner drive (Nagisa), or if a character looks mean on the outside but has a soft spot inside (Tomoyo), it really works better, provided that one doesn't overpower the other. And as you may have guessed by the parentheses there, that's why I'm still liking Clannad, why I look forward to the arcs of the other characters. (Aside from the comedy, of course.)
And that's probably why I still continue to idolize Kanon; even though the character structure is very weak in spots, the characters, at least some of them, do fit this concept quite well. I know I described Mai to a T last paragraph. Other characters, like Ayu, may not work quite the same, as her clumsiness, loli-ness, and uguu~power generally overwhelm her serious aspects, but deep down, they are there somewhere, so I can't say that I could truly hate on any of the Key games. Such is the tint of the rose-colored glasses.
Kotomi, I should hope is just a holdback of the older days of visual novels, when characters were perhaps a bit weaker, a bit more stereotypical. Since a lot of her story is so cliched, so moe-engined, she lacks that 'other side' to her, that something that makes her more than an cute 2D (in both senses) character. Certainly I see potential in a lot of other Clannad characters to break the mold and balance the opposite scales of rational appeal and emotional appeal, so don't count me disenchanted yet.
Sometimes, there just needs to be a bit of stepping back for a minute and seeing how this new trend for moe is and isn't changing things...
(Hopefully not in this direction, for one...I apologize.)
(This post should rank pretty high on the incoherency scale, the analytical articles are always tough to write. Especially when you're arguing against every anime you've ever watched. I still have no regrets in liking moe characters, I'm just surprised at how much of my viewing lineup is tilting away from stereotypical moe offerings - the ef rewatch (in case you were wondering what was holding the review), Kaiji, ARIA, SZS Zoku, even KimiKiss is on the lighter side of moe)


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BattleTech fans,
I have a large number of extra BattleTech books. Books that I worked hard on, books that I'm proud of. But, they are extras, and I need some cash and space in my office more than I need them.
So here's the deal&mdashlpick a book from the list below (all full-color hardcovers, except for the coveted FedCom Civil War):
Total Warfare
Tactical Operations
Strategic Operations
25 Years of Art and Fiction
Fedcom Civil War
Email me — [email protected] (subject line: "BattleTech books" please), telling me which book you want from that list. I'll reply to confirm that it's still available. You then zap me $75USD via PayPal. I'll send you the book and three other softcover BattleTech books. North American shipping included. You can send me a list of softcover books that you would like, and I'll do my best to fill them, first come, first served.
Don't want additional softcovers? Want more books? Make an offer!
And here's a list of the softcovers I have:
Masters and Minions: the Starcorps Dossiers
Starterbook: Sword and Dragon
Starterbook: Wolf and Blake
Blake Ascending
Jihad Hot Spots 3072
Jihad Hot Spots 3076
Jihad Conspiracies
Record Sheets: 3039
Record Sheets: 3067
Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age
Aerotech 2 Record Sheets
Aerotech 2 Revised
Handbook: Major Periphery States
Handbook: House Marik
Field Manual: Periphery
Field Manual: Updates
Field Manual: Mercenaries
Mercenaries Supplemental II
A Guide to Covert Ops
Combat Equipment
War of 3039
Miniatures Rules
Combat Operations
Interstellar Players
Brush Wars
Classic BattleTech Companion
Map Sets:
Solaris VII
Map Set 7
Compilation 2
Technical Readouts:
3055 Upgrade
3057 Revised
3058 Upgrade


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Shiny Happy Flintoff, and outside-in emotions
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Click here or scroll down for the first post on this topic
Thursday, September 23, 2004
4.00pm IST - Woolmer, Botham and Kapil's four sixes
I'd wagered with a friend that after my last post I'd get at least 20 emails with goofy smilies in them, and it pains me to have to inform you that I have lost that bet. Most correspondents, however, agreed with me on the broad theme that I'd set out, though some disagreed with the specifics.
Matt Merritt pointed out that positivity "was one of the things stressed by Bob Woolmer when he coached Warwickshire to great success in English domestic cricket in the 1990s, and by his club captain, Dermot Reeve. On the evidence so far, I think we might soon see a happier, smilier Pakistan team, with a corresponding upturn in consistency of results." Matt continued:
Another example, to my mind, was in the debate during the 1980s over who was the world's greatest allrounder. Hadlee was the best bowler, Imran probably the most complete allround player, but Botham and Kapil Dev both had a certain magic about them that, in my opinion, was inextricably linked to the fact that they played as though they loved the game and were enjoying every minute of it.
The best example where Kapil Dev was concerned was in 1990 at Lord's when he smashed Eddie Hemmings for four sixes in four balls to save the follow-on. Probably only he or Botham would have considered even trying such a thing (in fact, even in these much more attacking times, I can't think of many players who might have tried it), but he made it look like the obvious thing to do, flashed a few dazzling smiles, and carried on. Probably that's why even people not much interested in cricket (my mum, for example), liked him.
Matt, along with a couple of others, gently chided me for suggesting that Gough is crabby, and endorsed my disclosure of not being too knowledgable about English cricket. Tom Lloyd said that Gough was "from the same mould as Flintoff", and that the first paragraph about Flintoff could "equally apply to Goughie". Matt wrote that "Goughie was often the only player who remained buoyant and upbeat during some very dark times, although he could get a bit snarly with opposition batsmen at times". Hmmm ... well, that must be why I referred to him as crabby, he is more crabby than shiny in my memories of England playing India, but I'm happy to admit that I probably got this wrong. Tom suggested that he might not have been displeased if I'd described Andrew Caddick as crabby, and I just realised that would also be an alliteration. Should I change it on the sly? Nah ...
Matt also said that I was too harsh on Hussain. "He took over as captain with England at a very low ebb," he wrote, "and his tough-minded approach laid all the foundations for the success England are now having. Under different circumstances (if he had had the young players coming through that we have now) I think he might have been every bit as upbeat as Vaughan. Certainly in his new role as a TV commentator over here he is excellent - very shrewd, and often drily funny. I think history will judge him as one of the best England captains, but I don't think he'll mind if the equally excellent Vaughan takes some of the credit that is rightfully his. As he showed with the timing of his retirement earlier this summer, unselfishness was one of his greatest virtues."
9.20pm - The joy of cricket
When 2004 is done and dusted, one enduring cricketing image from the year will stand out for me: Andrew Flintoff smiling. Smiling after being out for 99; smiling after being hit on the body by a short ball; smiling after a catch is dropped off his bowling; and smiling after hitting one of those sixes that, in their exuberance, are quite of a piece with that smile of his. Flintoff plays his cricket with a delight that is, like delight always is, infectious. The man enjoys playing; but does his enjoyment help him become a better cricketer? And does it help his team become a better side?
I believe it does. I was reading Malcolm Gladwell's wonderful book, The Tipping Point, recently, and in it he describes a fascinating experiment carried out by the social scientists Gary Wells and Richard Petty. This is how the experiment went, in Gladwell's words:
A large group of students were recruited for what they were told was a market-research study by a company making high-tech headphones. They were each given a headset and told that the company wanted to test to see how well they worked when the listener was in motion - dancing up and down, say, or moving his or her head. All of the students listened to songs by Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles, and then heard a radio editorial arguing that tuition at their university should be raised from its present level of [US]$587 to $750.
A third were told that while they listened to the taped radio editorial they should nod their heads vigorously up and down. The next third were told to shake their heads from side to side. The final third were the control group. They were told to keep their heads still. When they were finished, all the students were given a short questionnaire, asking them questions about the quality of the songs and the effect of the shaking. Slipped in at the end was the question the experimenters really wanted an answer to: "What do you feel would be a appropriate dollar amount for undergraduate tuition per year?"
The students who kept their heads still were unmoved by the editorial. The tuition amount that they guessed was appropriate was $582 - or just about where tuition was already. Those who shook their heads from side to side as they listened to the editorial ... disagreed strongly with the proposed increase. They wanted tuition to fall on average to $467 a year. Those who were told to nod their heads up and down, meanwhile, found the editorial very persuasive. They wanted tuition to rise, on average, to $646.
Thus, the mere act of nodding their heads made the students who did so agree, subliminally, with the advertorial, with the opposite effect on the ones who shook their heads. The physical expression of an emotion actually brought about the emotion itself - even when it began as a meaningless gesture, something they did because they were asked to. Of course, they would all have rationalised it differently, but they allowed their opinions to be shaped not by thinking about the problem, but by acting out a reaction to it that they did not probably feel to begin with.
Interestingly, Gladwell quotes Wells and Petty as concluding that "television advertisements would be most effective if the visual display created repetitive vertical movements of the television viewers' heads (eg, bouncing ball)." My lesson of the day from this: never try to convince someone of something while they are watching a tennis match.
Gladwell, after also discussing how emotions are contagious - when someone smiles at you, you instinctively smile back, don't you? - sums it up beautifully. He writes:
We normally think of the expressions on our face as the reflection of our inner state. I feel happy, so I smile. I feel sad, so I frown. Emotion goes inside-out. Emotional contagion, though, suggests that the opposite is also true. If I can make you smile, I can make you happy. If I can make you frown, I can make you sad. Emotion, in this sense, goes outside-in.
Well, Flintoff makes me smile every time I see him strut his stuff, and you can bet that his team-mates feel the same way. (Another of my favourite players, Adam Gilchrist, also smiles a lot on the field.) There are plenty of social-science studies that demonstrate that our efficiency and productivity are higher when we are happy than when we are sad. Happiness is infectious, and self-reinforcing, and you will often find that the happiest team in the business is the most successful - and that victory and joy do not necessarily come in that order.
We all know that confidence and diffidence can be self-reinforcing. You feel confident, you play better, that gives you more confidence, and so on. (This is why that term "momentum" is used so often in a cricket context.) But what do you do when you are in the middle of a bad run, with the losses piling up, and self-belief getting progressively less? Well, what Wells's and Petty's study, along with many others, indicates is that a happy, confident demeanour could be a useful start to a resurgence. What you show outside, you may well begin to feel inside, and that could, in turn, begin to affect the way you play. (This does not mean, of course, that wandering around with a goofy smile is enough; you also need talent and hard work, along with that positive attitude, and Flintoff and Gilchrist are a delightful confluence of all three.)
I am not very knowledgable about English cricket, but from a distance it seems to me that they have turned a corner in the last couple of years - and the difference in their approach has preceded the upturn in their performances. Stressed-out Nasser Hussain replaced as captain by chilled-out Michael Vaughan, crabby Darren Gough giving way to shiny happy Flintoff. When Flintoff won the ICC One-Day Player of the Year award recently, he thanked Vaughan for allowing him to express himself. With a player like Flintoff in his ranks, who plays cricket with such obvious joy and relish, that is quite the smartest thing that any captain could have done.
Amit Varma is managing editor of Wisden Cricinfo in India.
Click here for the 23 Yards homepage
More 23 Yards
Attitude Inflation, and the quality of broadcasting
How Indian cricket fans are like the left parties in India, and why hardworking players rather than talented ones make the best captains, coaches and commentators More.
Cricket journalist? But have you played cricket?
We should judge journalists only on the basis of they write, and not their biodata More.
Beating up little brother, and harsh Indian fans
Indian cricketers, and other Indian sportsmen, are constantly vilified and denigrated by their "fans". Why is this so? More.
Hayden's salvo and the angry fat man
Was Matthew Hayden's salvo at subcontinental batsmen just an attempt at mental disintegration, or was there some truth to it? Was Murali's brace like Perl, the programming language? What if the fat man is too fat for you? More.
Do the right thing. But what?
Is there a moral dimension to cricket distinct from the laws of the game? If so, what is it? More.
Murali's redemption, and our arrogance
Muttiah Muralitharan has proved, with his new documentary, that his action is clean. But what does the controversy reveal about us? Was our judgment based on the available evidence, or on the biases we held? More.
Mind games, performance enhancers and the huddle
Twenty20 cricket is good for the sport, and for the commerce of it. What about performance-enhancing drugs? More.
A trophy on the mantelpiece, or a pot of gold?
A constant conflict in cricket is that between the long-term interests of a team, and their short-term needs. Generally, the short term wins out. More.
Towards a posthuman sport, or a better world?
Should we fiddle with biology? Will genetic engineering make us lose our humanity, or will it improve our lives immeasurably? And what are its repurcussions for sport? More.
Current players v past players, and gene doping
There is a strong argument that standards of excellence have risen in just about every single department of every single sport. Are the dominant sportsmen of today, then, the greatest ever? Also, gene doping. More.
Headless Ganguly and the fair and lovely worm
A blog of the India-Pakistan match on July 25, 2004. Some great cricket, and fairly unbelievable commentary. More.
Twenty20 to the rescue?
Twenty20 cricket draws in spectators and has revitalised cricket. It might also be the key to globalising the game. More.
Is there a crisis in cricket?
Has the balance of the game shifted, with the bat dominating ball, as we enter "a batting bull market"? Or is that just alarmism, with bowlers impacting the game as never before, and ensuring that 77% of all Tests end in results? More.


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Largest private donation in Canadian healthcare history will bring together the strengths of SickKids, UHN and U of T in personalized genomic medicine, tissue engineering and advanced cardiac care to address heart failure across the lifespan. - U of T Engineering News
The Santerre Lab will be joining the more than 30 clinicians and researchers and 80 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and clinical fellows in establishing the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research. The Santerre Lab's focus will be on the advancement of regenerative medicine for treating cardiovascular disease using vascular tissue engineering.


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Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman sharply criticized Arab Knesset members for supporting terrorist organizations which seek
In a radio interview, Liberman responded to the protests by the members of the Joint Arab List against the IDF for the alleged killing of an Arab journalist on the border with the Gaza Strip.
"Unfortunately, this is a sign of poverty for Israeli democracy that it allows a fifth column, as I said representatives of terrorist organizations, who are working to destroy the State of Israel from within."
"There is something to be done," the defense minister said. "You have to act like any healthy and loving people need to act. And with all due respect and respect to the Supreme Court, we should go and enact laws that even the Supreme Court can not intervene with."
"We are constantly supporting the passage of [a law to bypass the Supreme Court]. The High Court of Justice can not intervene in legislation, there is a separation of powers, and it can not be that the judicial authority intervenes again and again in decisions of the executive or legislative branches, "Liberman said.


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Gilbert King has written a wonderful account of Thurgood Marshall's most active years in the Civil Rights Movement. From the early 1940's, and on into the early 1950's, Thurgood Marshall traversed the back roads of the Deep South, searching for, and rooting out Jim Crow, root by root. Although the book is centered on the "Groveland Boys" Case in 1949, the book is all encompassing in its scope.
Thurgood Marshall was the victim of a kidnap plot in 1949, just at the height of his fight against the Jim Crow laws in the South. While working with the NAACP on the broader issues concerning educational opportunities, and preparing a defense against the Supreme Courts stated policy of Separate but Equal (Plessy V. Ferguson), Mr. Marshall became involved in a case in Florida, not twenty miles, and only twenty three years removed from the infamous Rosewood massacre of the 1920's. It was about to happen all over again.
Briefly, the case involved a young married white couple. Norma and Willie Padgett had been married the year before, but had been separated for a few months; she was 17 and he was 23 at the time of the "incident". On a hot night in July of 1949, the Padgett's were out together, drinking, when their old car became stuck in the sand. They flagged down the first car which passed. That car contained two young African-American men, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Irvin, both veterans of the Second World War. They got behind the Padgett's car and attempted to free it. The car would not budge, sinking instead, further into the sand. Willie Padgett became enraged with the two men and berated them in the most vile of racial terms. Norma offered the men a swig from the whiskey bottle as a way to ease the tension. She then made the mistake of offering it back to her husband, who said, "Do you think that I'm gonna drink behind a nigger?"
That was the straw which broke the camel's back. Samuel Shepherd became angry at Willie Padgett's outburst, and grabbing him by the front of his shirt, a struggle ensued. Soon, Willie Padgett was lying unconscious in the road. The two would be Good Samaritans fled the scene. Norma was found wandering the road several hours later, strangely composed for someone who had just been raped and thought her husband had been killed.
The die had been cast; and there was trouble coming. By mid-morning the entire county was up in arms over the "white girl who was raped". The fact that there was no physical evidence of the crime did not stop the white population from rising up, along with the aid of the Ku Klux Klan, who came from as far away as Georgia. For several days, and nights, after the incident, Lake County was in flames, just as Rosewood had been only a few decades earlier.
With great skill, the author takes you through the history of segregation in Florida, and the labor shortages engendered by the Second World War. That labor shortage helped to keep in place a system so closely resembling slavery, that it rattles the mind.
Just as after the First World War, many African-Americans believed that once they got back home, things would be different. They had fought, and died, along with white Americans, and expected to be afforded the elusive equality which they had sought for so long. But some things never change, and that included the laws, and attitudes, of the people in Florida. After beating "confessions" from the two defendants, and adding two other names to the indictment, one of whom was deceased, and another who was not even present at the crime, the trial was scheduled for September 2nd, 1949; less than 8 weeks away.
The jury was all white, and the judge was Truman Futch, known as the "Whittlin' Judge" for the cedar sticks he whittled while listening to the case. You might say that the defendants never had a chance.
The NAACP argued cases in the lower courts with the expectation of losing the trials. This was a strategy designed to have the case overturned by the Supreme Court. Therefore, the prosecutor did not enter the coerced "confessions" into evidence, and the defense did not dwell on those documents. If the prosecution had entered them as evidence, they could be challenged. And of course, the defense did not want the "confessions" admitted at all. The Florida trial, as expected, was lost. The defense appealed the conviction in the Supreme Court, where it ws heard two years later, and the convictions overturned.
This is an all-encompassing read, which explores the racial attitudes and customs of the state of Florida at the time these events took place. The author does a superb job in describing the racial tensions which permeated the Jim Crow South of the time. The fear in which the African-American population was forced to live is palpable in his hands. He also gives some interesting background on the labor-convict system which was in place at the time. These arrangements allowed the Sheriffs, and the Counties, to make serious money by conscripting prisoners for work, with the proceeds going into the pockets of the officials involved, as well as creating increased profits for the companies which made use of the system.
More than just a book about the "Groveland Boys", this is also a very insightful biography of Thurgood Marshall's years as a Civil Rights attorney in the days leading up to the landmark "Little Rock" school desegregation case in 1954. The history of Jim Crow laws in America is a shameful one, which makes it all the more important to read about it, and hopefully understand its lessons.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
"Devil In the Grove" by Gilbert King (2012)
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We regret to announce that due to extenuating staffing circumstances, OSN will be temporarily closing on Sundays beginning September 2, 2018.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our wonderful clients and hope to reopen on Sundays as soon as possible! We will still be open regular business hours Monday through Saturday. If your pet is having post-surigcal complications from a surgery performed at OSN that you do not feel can wait for our open business hours, please call the clinic to speak with an after-hours technician. If your pet is having a medical emergency, please seek treatment at your nearest emergency clinic, or Inland Valley Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center 909-931-7871 at 10 W 7th St in Upland.
Our mission is to make sure that everyone has access to low cost spay and neuter and quality yet affordable veterinary care. Our vision is to join the coalition of forces that is working to end unnecessary euthanasia and to ultimately reduce the number of homeless pets and shelter intake.


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It's that time of year again, my favourite time when the smell of autumn lingers in the air and everything feels new and possible. Every year I have such high hopes for autumn. I promise myself that I shall be out revelling in it as much as possible. I imagine the long walks in my favourite knitwear, my ochre scarf wrapped around my neck as I kick up leaves in my walking boots. But for me, autumn always comes with a side serving of trepidation and fear. Because autumn is as much about food as it is about being outdoors. It's the season of harvest and abundance, tempting me with big roast dinners, warming stews and wholesome soups. I love to plan walks where I know there's a cafe so I can sit and enjoy my cake and coffee as the light fades around me. For me, autumn gives with one hand and cruelly takes with another.Read More
Autumn though is a time of contradictions too. The early darkness forces us to slow down, to retire the day earlier than usual. As the winds pick up and the air finds it's bite, we retreat. We batten down the hatches and wait, finding solace in our domesticity. Yet I often find that this time of year brings about a new vigour, experiencing a rush of energy and creativity. The crisp days lure me outdoors where I'm not startled by a squintingly bright light but instead I'm beckoned by a low sun that is soft and unobtrusive.Read More


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Sun Peaks ski resort is located in the central interior of British Columbia, Canada, just 45 minutes north of Kamloops. It is a year-round ski resort surrounded by three picturesque mountains; Tod Mountain, Mt. Morrisey and Sundance Mountain. The village of Sun Peaks ski resort is situated at 1,255m and the peak elevation takes you up to 2,152m providing skiers and boarders with an impressive 882m vertical drop.
Skiing began in 1961 with a single chairlift, opened on Tod Mountain. It was the longest chairlift in North America at that time. A winner of many awards, Sun Peaks ski resort was voted Best Village Location and Atmosphere (#1), Best Canadian Resort (#2), and Best for All-Round Family Activities (#3) in 2016 by Holidays with Kids and Top Three North American Ski Resorts by Net Promoter Score by The Ski Club of Great Britain also in 2016.
The addition of 522 acres of new terrain in the 2014/15 season has maximized ski area to 4,270 acres. The current ski area includes 110 acres of trails on West Morrisey (between the Back in Time and Static Cling trails) and 412 acres of runs on the current back-country area of Gil's, atop Mt. Tod. After that, Gil's features hike-in /ski out trails, (from 5 Mile trail accessed via the Burfield and Crystal chairlifts) with an outrun at the bottom increasing the current vertical.
Sun Peaks ski resort offers 135 trails with the longest run of 8km suitable for beginner skiers and boarders. The mountain tours meet twice daily, 7 days a week and are complimentary (that means Free!) for all. The terrain breakdown is approximately 10% beginner trails, 58% intermediate and 32% for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
From terrain park events to family festivals to races, there's always something on the event calendar at Sun Peaks ski resort for every winter or summer enthusiast. You may also get the opportunity to ski with former Female Athlete of the Century and Olympic gold medalist, Nance Greene, as she lives here! Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the mountains, the professional sports school at the base of Sun Peaks ski resort is always here to help.
As you are researching and planning your ski holiday one of the most expensive costs to budget for will be your accommodation costs. Snowcomparison offers you the best prices and largest range of hotels, hostels and apartments in and around Kašperské Hory ski resort.
Please visit our STAY page and you can start searching and comparing accommodation prices in Kašperské Hory ski resort. You can now book your ski holiday accommodation directly online through the Snowcomparison website.
Snowcomparison is the only ski resort search engine that enables you to compare almost every ski resort on the planet side-by-side and on a like-for-like basis. With over 2873 ski resorts there are over 4.1 million ski resort comparisons.
We are always reviewing and updating every ski resort profile on the Snowcomparison website, including the information provided here on the Kašperské Hory ski resort profile page. We do strive for accuracy and fairness, but sometimes mistakes do get made. If you do see something that doesn't look right, please contact us and let us know what information we need to update.
We appreciate your support and we hope that Snowcomparison can help you search, compare and book more ski holidays throughout the world.


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Expansion into Europe
By God's grace, the School of Spiritual Direction has already become the largest training group of its kind, with cohorts operating in 28 cities in the US, as well as in Canada, the U.K., Netherlands, and Hungary.
Yet doors continue to open for us, especially abroad. Sara Carlisle, one of our most experienced teachers, is responding to the call by relocating to the Netherlands in early 2019. She'll lead cohorts and build a network of European facilitators / trainers.


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Welcome to SkinSmart Organics!
I'm Jessica and on the left is my partner Andre, together we created an organic skincare company using local and organic ingredients.
My background is Tourism and Spas. Andres background is Computers and Marketing. We're total opposites but together we make a pretty good team! We love our family, traveling, hiking & our rescue dog, Newman.
We've been developing SkinSmart Organics for a few years now.
Health concerns led us down this path. Using organic skincare, along with a balanced diet and active lifestyle is really important to us.
SkinSmart Organics is our way of sharing what we love with you! We use only natural ingredients, no animal testing, no chemicals, no nasties!


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Elder Abuse: How To Stop It
Why Elder Abuse Is Everyone's Problem One story: Prosecutors in Seattle charged Christopher Wise with the murder of his mother, Ruby. His crime? Letting her rot to death with eight huge pressure sores, several to the bone, while he played Internet poker and lived off her pension. His excuse? She didn't want to go to a nursing home or a doctor; he was just respecting her wishes. This is only one example of elder abuse. REPORT ELDER ABUSE – IT'S A CRIME! Call: 1-800-962-2873 | Online at:...Read More
Taxes: Tips for Seniors
Learning About Taxes Relevant to Seniors An Article From Elder Law Answers. Taxes are due April 15th and it is time to finish crossing T's and dotting I's in completion of your taxes. You want to make sure you file all the proper forms and take all deductions you're entitled to. Following are some things to keep in mind as you prepare your tax form. Gifts. Did you give away any money this year? The gift tax can be very confusing. If you gave away more than $14,000 in 2015, you will have to file a Form 709,...Read More
Nursing Homes: Don't Put Me There
By Tara Bahrampour for the Washington Post Nursing Home Discussions Are Important As the population of older Americans swells, the nursing home decision becomes an inevitable part of aging. It impacts not only the elderly, but also the caregivers. Promise you won't put me away. It is hard to say no to that request. But it often is even harder to honor it. The author presents some very different conversations in families as they struggle to find the balance between home care and nursing home placement. For many, the idea of...Read More
Geriatricians: How Can They Help My Elderly Parents?
Many of our clients at The Miller Elder Law Firm not only need legal consultation but also need recommendations for other areas impacting seniors such as medical care. We wanted to share information about geriatricians, physicians who are trained to work with the medical complexities of aging adults, so you may consider this specialty as a resource. Defining Geriatric Medicine Geriatrics is the subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the health and well-being of older adults. Geriatricians must complete seven...Read More
Preventing Holiday Scams Targeting Seniors
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for Older Americans presents tips on preventing scams targeting seniors during the holiday season. Scams targeting seniors occur every day, but you can count on scammers to ramp up their efforts to prey on people's generosity during the holiday season. These grinches, armed with their dirty tricks, may even weave the holidays into elaborate stories to pull at your heartstrings as they slip their sticky fingers into your wallet. During the holidays, the common scam known as the imposter...Read More


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Day 6 of the New Zealand excursion was one of the first "Holy Moly" kinds of days. We were coming from Marlborough wine country traveling through fields and patches of forest. It seemed like one turn of a corner, and all of a sudden we were looking at snow capped mountains overlooking tropical beaches.
One of first stops was a TripAdvisor "Must Do". The Oahu Stream harbors a large pod of seals that swim up river from the ocean to give birth to their pups. This event only happens within a short time frame during NZ's Spring. We happened to hike the trail on the perfect day. Numerous pups and adults were both climbing and gliding down the small rapids. In preparation for an up steam shot, one of the friendly locals positioned himself on top the center rock.
Minutes later, that same little dude swam up to me inspecting my tripod and showing us his impressive back stroke. At the top of the trail was a 3 story waterfall with dozens of seals playing and napping in the mist. It was sight I still cannot believe and certainly will not soon forget.
Our second day was filled with more wildlife friends including swimming with wild dolphins along with feeding and sheering sheep. The last afternoon in Kaikoura was spent on the penninsula with immensely saturated panoramic views of the Pacific and the Southern Alps.


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God's gospel will be brought to fulfillment by the Lord Himself at the end of this age.
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His holy angels when He will bring His kingdom to fulfillment and exercise His role as Judge of all. This coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Today we get to look at one of my favorite passages in the Bible: Acts 1:6-11:So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."This passage hits all the big points in our 9th article: kingdom, mission, return. Jesus is coming back, when he does he will bring his kingdom to fulfillment, and until he does we get busy on mission. Simple right?
Yet this is often the point at which churches split. Joke: God, Christian, Born-again, Return, Pre-millenial, Dispensational, Tribulation, Pre-trib – post-trib. This is also a point at which some Christians have been very publically embarrassed by speculations – the most recent being this Harold Camping non-sense.
One of the most encouraging core values of the EFCC is that its desire for unity around essentials. There are three ways to achieve this sort of unity. The first is to become relativistic and contend that because we don't know what view is right it doesn't matter what you believe. The second way is "to agree to disagree", holding strong convictions with charity toward the others whom you believe to be wrong. I prefer a third way – constructive theology in which the parties dialogue, attempting to uncover as much common ground as possible. I have found this approach may be helpful in bridging the gap in the camps. Furthermore, as modern evangelicalism has trended toward the construction of Biblical rather than Systematic theology, there is growing dialogue and consensus around the following points. That is why the EFCC took the bold step in removing labels from this article.1) We Proclaim a Kingdom: Jesus (in his first coming) was not interested in setting up an earthly kingdom, but to announce the spiritual character and requirements of the kingdom. Each of the gospels portrays Jesus as "proclaiming the kingdom" and charging people to pursue the kingdom through repentance and faith. You can almost see the exasperation in the disciples' question: Now are you going to do it Jesus? Yet again he points them to their spiritual mission.2) Not of This Earth: John 18:36. The church is not to pursue a theo-political kingdom on this earth until Christ returns to set up the kingdom himself. The instructions given to the church in Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, and 1 Peter 2:13-17 all presuppose a relationship in which members of the church carry out their duties as citizens of heaven in respect and submission to the state in which they reside. a. "We are in the awkward position of being called ambassadors of a disputed king, whose sovereignty itself is in question, leaving us vulnerable and without worldly legitimization." "The temptation is one of relieving the awkwardness of our position by accepting a lesser authority from another kingdom. In other words we are tempted to use some power of this age – the power of money or of academic reputation or of political clout - to make the other members of the world court listen to us, rather than faithfully relying on the validation of Christ as our Lord and King." Tim Tebow.b. Canadian Context: we are given the freedom to vote, to have a say in out government, to assemble, to voice our opposition.i. Be careful of those who would manipulate the Christian votersii. Choose our battles wisely: there is a time to speak out, and even a time for civil disobedience. In America the church is too political. In Canada, perhaps not enough.3) Intent on Mission: The mission and essence of the church is not to bring in the kingdom, but to embrace, embody, and bear witness to the kingdom. When the apostles ask Jesus in Acts 1:6-8 about whether he was going to set up the kingdom right then, he pointed them toward their mission to be witnesses until his return. As members of the church, we are to focus our efforts primarily on the ministry of proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom. Christian Reconstructionism, Zionism, Salvific Judaism and over-zealous eschatological speculations are diversions that keep us from our primary task of preaching the gospel while living sincere and quiet lives before unbelievers.a. Seek the Welfare of the City: Jeremiah 29:17-These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon … It said: "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.b. Tried By Fire: The church will be continually be hated and persecuted by the kingdoms of this world until the Messiah's return. Jesus said in John 15:18 that we should not be surprised at this, for the world hated him first. i. Prepare for persecution: ii. Spontaneous expansion of the church in Southern Hemisphere.4) Until Kingdom Come: There will be an ultimate physical expression of the rule of God at the end of the age, in which the Lord himself will rule over the earth from Zion/New Jerusalem. Revelation 22:3 locates the throne of God and of the Lamb in the midst of worshipful servants.a. Jesus returns personally, bodily, and gloriously. Acts 1:9-10b. At a time no one knowsc. This is the kingdom we long for. That is the real world – video game illustration.d. We labor for that kingdom.5) The present spiritual occupation of the church and the future eschatological dominion are understood as the "now/not yet" character of the kingdom. That Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10 that God's kingdom be realized now, both suggests that it is not yet fully realized even as believers pray for and experience some aspects of it.
God's gospel will be brought to fulfillment by the Lord Himself at the end of this age.


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Top 5 Avengers Eras: A Look at Avengers Teams of the Past
By Alex Wedderien — The Avengers may be a massive name in comics and entertainment now, but that wasn't always the case. Created in the early '60s as a way to fill a slot left by a late issue of Daredevil, The Avengers are a product of Stan Lee smashing together some of Marvel's most popular heroes to form the company's first super team. From those humble beginnings, the team grew from plucky upstarts to comic book icons.
Now the basis for a multi-billion dollar movie franchise and a major part of Marvel's most-recent publishing initiative under comic scribe Jason Aaron, The Avengers look to be in good hands for years to come.
In looking ahead, though, it's important to also remember comics are a unique medium, and along with their headstrong march into the future, they always keep an eye on the past. With that bright future for Earth's Mightiest Heroes in mind, I'm taking a look today at The Avengers of the past, specifically at the best lineups of years gone by. These are the five best—in my humble opinion of course.
5. The Late '80s Avengers
By the late 80s, The Avengers team was in flux. Taking over for a beloved run which featured what many people feel is the definitive Avengers lineup, Roger Stern and John Buscema decided to mix in some lesser-known heroes to give their book a new dynamic.
Boasting a lineup that featured Monica Rambeau, Black Knight, Dr. Druid, and Namor among the likes of veteran Avengers Captain America and Thor, the run also includes classic storylines like Avengers Under Siege, which sees a Helmut Zemo-led Masters of Evil destroy Avengers Mansion.
4. The West Coast Avengers
If Avengers is the cooler older brother, West Coast Avengers was definitely the scrappier younger brother. Born in the early '80s, West Coast Avengers became the first ever spinoff of The Avengers, as well as an answer to the question, Why are all superheroes in New York City?
Based in Los Angeles and featuring a unique roster, the West Coast team was lead by Hawkeye and comprised of Wonder Man, Tigra, Mockingbird, Jim Rhodes' Iron Man, and eventually even Moon Knight. West Coast Avengers served as a breath of fresh air alongside an Avengers lineup that had remained pretty consistent for the past decade, but by no means were they an inferior version of the main team.
Throughout their 10-year run, the West Coast team battled important Avengers foes like Ultron before it was eventually folded back into the main lineup.
3. The Late '60s/Early '70s Avengers
Being the follow-up to a beloved debut run can be daunting, but when the duo you're following is Jack Kirby and Stan Lee it might as well be an impossible task. That's just what Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Sal and John Buscema walked into with their late '60s/early '70s run on Avengers.
When it was all said and done, however, they would create one of the best Avengers eras of all-time, their greatest villain in Ultron, iconic stories like The Kree/Skrull War and the debut of one of the team's most beloved heroes, the android Vision.
Along the way Thomas and crew would add a returning Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye, as well as the debuts of Hercules, Vision, and Black Panther to the team, leading the small core of heroes to some of their most classic storylines.
2. Captain America Returns
It was clear in the first three issues of The Avengers that Earth's Mightiest Heroes would need a leader to rally its members. More of a ragtag group than an inspirational team of heroes, the original Avengers were a loose alliance who seemed like they could turn on each other at a moment's notice.
That all changed with the discovery of the long frozen Captain America, who would shape not only the history of The Avengers, but superhero comics themselves. Almost immediately the team became a unified force under Cap's tutelage and would go on to become the juggernaut it is today. Simply put, it all started here.
1. New Avengers Vol. 1
New Avengers came directly after the disbandment of the original team in Avengers: Disassembled, and it explored the idea of having a group of characters who had largely never been Avengers previously. Fan Favorites like Spider-Man, Wolverine, Daredevil, Iron First, and Ms. Marvel bolstered the popular lineup that quickly became known for its strong characters and frenetic action.
Bringing the team back to the forefront in a big way after The Avengers had slipped out of mainstream comics consciousness, New Avengers was the start of The Avengers renaissance that continues to this day.
Alex Wedderien is a writer and pop culture journalist. Find him on Twitter @criticismandwit.


text: India Zeesha published on June 03, 201076 responses 7 3.9★ / 5 Questions in vertical order India is the _______ largest country in the world? 5th 6th 7th 15th How many states are there in India? 28 29 27 24 Which is the largest city in India? Kolkata Delhi Mumbai Chennai The southernmost city of India is ______ ? Type answer (11 letters) Which city has the largest port, largest airport and the largest water mass in India Mangalore Mumbai Kolkata Chennai Which island has the only active volcano in India? Narocondam island Car Nicobar Island Sunderbans Barren Island What are four metropolitan cities in India? Select the four correct answers Delhi Bangalore Chennai Kolkata Vishakhapatnam Mumbai Jaipur Pune Nagpur Which two countries gained Independence from India Select the two correct answers Bangladesh Sri Lanka Bhutan Pakistan Nepal Which is the only place in India where french is spoken? Pondicherry Goa Daman Chandigarh


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To The Editor: Reading "Letters to the Editor" over the past several months, has made me feel sadder with every put-down and criticism voiced.
I can't help but think that these are children speaking, and not adults. So much quibbling over what's "my right," "your right," "mine," "yours," etc.
God created us for caring and sharing. He blesses us with a multitude of resources, to edify him and benefit one another. Any other motives are based in selfishness, ignorance and evil. This world could use a lot of healing, and we might still change it for the better.
We just need to use some different tactics, because the bad ones never did and still never will work!
Connie Weston


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Angel + Tigerr - Day 20 of the Dog Days of Summer | Sydney Pet Photographer
Tigerr is an 11 month old Staffy X
What does summer time mean to you and your dog?
Long walks, playtime, swimming, play dates
What are five (5) words that best describe your dog?
Energetic, loving, curious, laidback and obedient
What are your favourite things to do with your dog?
Beach days, bush adventures, wrestling, couch cuddles
How would you describe your relationship with your dog?
Closest thing I have to a daughter
What do you love most about your dog?
Snuggles, watching her play with her toys and other dogs
Tell me about your dog.
She is our perfect match. Total Summer baby with the gentlest nature and the biggest heart.
Thank you Angel and Tigerr or taking part in the Dog Days of Summer!


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Review: The New Extra Slim Fit Stretch Chino and More from Charles Tyrwhitt
Charles Tyrwhitt continues to expand their offerings. While they won the hearts of many well-dressed guys with their shirts (and their many fits), Charles Tyrwhitt has been adding to their store things like great outerwear options, suits, pants, chinos, casual shirts, polos — you name it, they offer it. For a while, though, their offering outside of their shirts did not get much attention, and many were not cut well, nor were they made out of attractive or modern fabrics. Recently, though, they have started offering many more fit options, as well as some more modern fabrics. Specifically, you can see this in their pants lineup. CT recently released an Extra Slim Fit stretch chino, as well as some really good looking Slim fit stretch dress pants. Here is what we thought of both.
Style & Design
Extra Slim Fit Stretch Chinos: These pants looks quite nice. They come in a variety of colors, from classic to more trendy. They have something for every season in this lineup. All the details in the design are there, too. Standard button fastener, double back pockets with buttons, straight pockets. The usual. Not much to write by way of their design. They're a standard, good looking chino.
Slim Fit Stretch Dress Pants: I absolutely love the fabric on these. They have the perfect subtle pattern that becomes more apparent the closer you get to it. These pants really do look even better up close. From afar, they have a wonderful almost knitted-like look to them, but it's not actually knitted. It's all in the fabric. Great job on the fabric here, and it also comes in a bunch of other colors too, some more conservative, some less so. All other details are pretty standard.
Quality & Construction
Extra Slim Fit Stretch Chinos: These don't feel like the best pair of chinos I have ever owned. The fabric would likely soften up over a few washes, though, so bear that in mind. They are a bit stiff, and, despite claiming to have stretch, you don't feel it all that much. These feel maybe a bit south of J Crew or Bonobos as far as quality goes. I don't have anything specifically negative to say, but I was not at all blown away here. They're certainly fine, but nothing to write home about.
Slim Fit Stretch Dress Pants: The stretch is more noticeable here, and these pants are super comfortable and feel somewhat light when worn, in a very good way. The drape of the fabric is nice, everything felt like a solid quality pair of trousers, and were, overall, quite nice to wear.
The Fit
(I am 6'1" and 165 lbs., and usually wear 30x32 pants.)
Extra Slim Fit Stretch Chinos: These pants are very oddly cut. They are less tapered on the bottom than the comparable J Crew 484 fit, but significantly tighter in the thighs and waist. This just all around makes for a pant that will hardly fit anyone. (Most people I know do not have huge calves and tiny thighs. If anything, it would be the other way around.) I could not comfortably button the waist, and could hardly get these pants on over my thighs. In all, it simply did not make for a good fit.
Slim Fit Stretch Dress Pants: These are slightly less slim than the Extra Slim Fit chinos, and, overall, it makes for a better fit. Still, why is the waist even smaller than the chinos? I could not button these at all, despite almost always fitting into a 30" waist from just about all other brands. Personally, I like my pants cut a bit slimmer, and so would take these in just a touch (not to mention, letting out the waist and seat), but for someone who can find their right waist size in these pants, and don't need quite as slim a cut, these pants should be perfect.
You can see all the exact measurements of these pants in the comparison chart below, and compare them to your favorite pair of trousers at home to get a great sense of how these will fit you:
Price, Value, & Conclusion
Extra Slim Fit Stretch Chinos: These chinos are $79 (though can be had for less during sales, or when you buy multiple pairs). It looks like CT still has some considerable work to do with their chino line. Their fit is odd, their quality is just fine, and this is simply not worth the money. For less money you can go with J Crew chinos, and for a bit more, Bonobos. Both places your money would be better spent.
Slim Fit Stretch Dress Pants: These pants are $99, and they are certainly more in the CT wheelhouse. Construction is fine, the stretch is nice, and they are quite comfortable. That being said, there are still some fit issues that need to be worked out here, especially when it comes to the waist being inconsistent with other brands like J Crew. So, it might take you a pair or two until you find your best size. Once you do, assuming you need little to no tailoring, these are a good option for dress trousers, especially for the coming months. They look great, feel great, and move great.


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Buddy BlueFreaks out in the Museum of Jazz
In 11th century China, the wealthy would wrap the feet of their daughters to retard their growth. Unnaturally petite footsies were considered a sign of beauty much distinguished, at least, from the lower-class girls' feet, which had been allowed to grow without restriction. The practice was outlawed in the 20th Century.
So, is jazz a dead Chinese woman's foot?
In this analogy, artists like Nicholas Payton and Wynton Marsalis are doing the wrapping, playing to preserve jazz' original form and preventing growth in the process. This is the sentiment of many critics local American music aficionado Buddy "Blue" Siegal among them.
"Everything that I've heard Wynton Marsalis perform has been technically superb, but I always get the feeling that his underwear's too tight and it's pinching his nuts. It always just sounds too scholastic, too scrubbed up," Blue explains, sitting in the backyard of his modest La Mesa home, his hands occupied by a Michelob Ultra and a Camel 'Crema' cigarette. The guitarist's ambitious belly presses against his black tank top, which reads: "Beer: Helping Ugly People Have Sex Since 1862."
Blue is a flat-mouthed intellectual words like "doldrums" flow as easily from his lips as "fuck." He's not afraid to openly criticize those he feels deserve it L.A. Times music editor Robert Hilburn, local promoter Victor Paaen and Reader columnist Ken Leighton but details their offenses so articulately that his sour grapes sound more like a vintner's reserve.
It's doubtful that Wynton Marsalis has the poor taste to get a Ren and Stimpy tattoo. But he also probably isn't loyal enough to permanently ink blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins onto his left bicep to commemorate recording with him.
Blue has both.
With a thick, pseudo-handlebar moustache, a rockabilly grease-coif and tattoos of Ren, Lightnin', Cab Calloway, his baby girl Lulu, his dead cat and something he explains only as "a bad day," this guy is anything but your archetypical jazz erudite.
Yet the former Beat Farmer, whose last solo album was a historian's take on jump blues, just released Sordid Lives 13 songs of unfiltered vocal jazz.
"I wanted to do something a little greasier, a little looser, a little more fun. The guys I was listening to, that was what they were all about," he explains, reverentially citing names like Chet Baker, Mose Alison and Ken Nordine. vThese are the guys that intrigued me, that were oddball jazz musicians. I'm not here to say I'm the greatest thing that ever happened, that I'm here to "rescue jazz from the doldrums." My only hope is that this album is unique and it's different from any other jazz album people have heard in a while."
Blue isn't new to jazz his past records are all spotted with post-bop workouts. He attributes the larger perception of him as a blues artist to The Beat Farmers' Country Dick Montana, who gave him the nickname Buddy ÒBig Bladder BlueÓ for the Òtorrential leaks" he would take in parking lots during gigs.
The liner notes of Sordid Lives serve as Blue's new manifesto. Currently a music critic for the Union-Tribune, OC Weekly and San Jose Mercury News, he writes in apt high-low brow on the topic of jazz: This is not music to be dressed up in a tuxedo and presented as a museum piece. Nor should it be insipid crap utilized as background music to perform missionary position sex!
Blue explains it was the idea of his record label, Los Angeles-based Bizarre Planet Entertainment, to affront the classicists. He didn't object.
"They wanted me to write something that would be offensive to people, I guess, which I don't have any problem doing," he says. "I'm well-known as this old fart who thinks everything is going wrong in the music business, and I do think that."
There are three easily identifiable times, however, when Blue doesn't come off like a jaded old fart: when heÕs playing Òupside downsies' with his baby daughter; when he's talking about his dog Moe; and when he's romping through feel-good bebop songs like ÒUptown at Minton's."
Sordid Lives doesn't reinvent jazz it just greases the joints with the sensibility of a guy who drinks Michelob. Blue and his band switch smoothly from Cab Calloway-like jumpers to low-swinging blues-jazz to West Coast cool a la Dave Brubeck. The tales are populated by degenerate drunks, "barflies and coyote women," Coltrane, bourbon, Ward Cleaver, murder, Harlem, Monk, comic books, the devil, Robert Mitchum movies, poverty, Kool cigarettes, "chicken rhythm and matzoballs," Chet Baker, Marcus Garvey and a whole lot of wine as medication.
If Tom Waits decided to lighten up and make a swingin' jazz bar album.
But Blue's tour this July won't be in the sorts of bars he's used to Starbucks has purchased 6,000 units of Sordid Lives and is sponsoring a month-long tour of Sheraton Hotel bars (the chain has a relationship with the coffee company.)
"For me, this is like a vacation," he says. "It's a lot different than a rock "n" roll tour where you're staying in flea-bag hotels, eating at McDonald's and everybody's farting in the van and wanting to kill each other."
Though Blue praises Dizzy's nightclub, Jazz 88.3FM and local musicians like Charles McPherson and Joe Marillo, he knows that San Diego is still a "B-market" for jazz. Cultural economics dictate that he take this show on the road.
"I'm always going to be loyal to San Diego," he says. "But the fact is this isn't a huge jazz market. If I was going to try and base my whole existence as releasing a jazz album in San Diego, I wouldn't be able to do it."
Then, interrupting himself: "You want another beer?"