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Steven Rene Jacobo
Name: Steven Rene Jacobo
Tribal Seeds / Vocals / Composer
Where does the muse for your lyrics and music come from? I've always listened to the messages in roots music and that made me look more into the bible. That's where my main inspiration for writing comes from. I've always felt a deep connection to the lyrics of reggae legends and I just want to continue that message.
What is your favorite thing about being a musician? Favorite thing is just being able to make a living from doing what I love. To be able to travel, playing music for our fans is something I truly feel blessed about.
We hear you've read the bible from cover to cover. What is your favorite story or book in it? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had no fear, no fear at all.
Where does your love for reggae music come from? My parents always used to play reggae music in the household so I grew up listening to it. Glad my parents had good taste, ha.
Is there any social, political, or environmental issues that you are passionate about and want to help change? I mean there's a lot of problems going on environmentally and politically and it keeps getting worse but the outcome of all this is written in the book.
How do you relate to Todo Tranquilo's message? I relate to Todo Tranquilo because I love peace and tranquility. It's nice to just ease your mind and enjoy life for its natural beauty and to celebrate it with good people.
What are you listening to at the moment? I've been starting up a vinyl collection so I've been buying a lot of the classic reggae albums. Some of my favorite ones are Culture - International Herb, Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution, and Jacob Miller - A chapter a Day. Just to name a few.
What would be your advice to someone who might be considering giving up on their dreams or aspirations? I would say to devote yourself to what you love and things will fall into place.
Favorite quote: "Practice noble silence"
Qualities you look for in a woman: Beautiful, chill, and has noble ambitions. Ha.
Latest cool discovery:
Who do you look up to? I look up to a lot of the reggae legends who started this music with such talent, creativity, and spiritual drive.
If you weren't playing music what do you think you would be doing? I honestly don't know what I'd do if I didn't play music. But I'd try to do something I love.
Anything else you would like to add? Just want to say thanks to all the fans and people who took the time to read this. Also want to thank Tony from Todo Tranquilo for having me and for promoting good culture.
Billy Winslow
Name: Billy Winslow
Soul Surfer
How did you get into surfing? I grew up in Encinitas and my dad surfs so I was always around the ocean, then my dad taught me to surf on Kauai at Pinetrees beachbreak by the pier when I was 5 years old and it's the lifestyle I've chosen since then.
What do you enjoy the most about surfing? Warm water and deep barrels.
What athletes or people in general inspire you? My parents, Greg Russ, JS, and Flaco Moises Landa.
We know you love surfing down in Mexico, whats the scene like down there? Mexico's coastline is so long needless to say it's full of some of the best waves in the world and beautiful beaches.
Does your well spoken spanish come from all your previous visits to Mexico? I've always loved Mexico and wanted to speak spanish ever since the first trips in grade school. The big inspiration to learn the language was on a trip I took in 2006 to Mainland Mexico with a friend a year older than me, who already dominated the language and spoke comfortably in conversation. My current spanish teacher is my girlfreind Vanessa from Colima who I've been with for 3 years.
What are your aspirations as a human being? Live a long healthy life in company of my family and freinds
How do you relate to Todo Tranquilo's message? Todo Tranquilo is everything I'm about, I love the ocean, speaking Spanish, and I want to continue to spread the message of peace and good vibes.
How is your recovery coming along after such a devastating injury in the water? After a year out of the water I cherish every moment in the ocean and being able to wake up everyday and go surfing.
What were you feeling the first time you were able to paddle out and surf again? Being in the ocean has always been a big part of my life so the first time back in the water after a year was like a fresh breath of air. I'll never take this lifestyle for granted again.
Tell us a bit of how you scored such a cool board in Mexico: The board I've been riding recently is a 6'0'' stretch quad that Bruce Irons rode in a big swell this summer in Mexico. One afternoon I saw a local guy who had picked up the two pieces of it and was carrying it up the beach. Besides being broken it looked like a brand new board so I asked him what he wanted for it and he happily traded it for the two cold caguamas (40 ounce beers) I had.
What place would you like to visit and surf? It's been almost 3 years since I've been to Kauai and O'ahu and I'm really looking forward to getting back over there.
What are you listening to these days? Only roots music like Steel Pulse, Cultura Profetica, Midnite, Tribal Seeds, Gondwana, and Enanitos Verdes. Roots reggae and especially music with spanish lyrics.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering giving up on their dreams and aspirations? Phil 4:13
Favorite meal after a long day in the water: Tacos de adobada y unas cervezas Victoria.
Qualities you look for in the opposite sex: Brown eyed virtuous girl.
If you had the power to change something for the better of humanity, what would it be? Stop racism and break the boundaries that divide us.
Anything you would like to add? Creo en un solo Dios, Padre Todopoderoso, creador del cielo y de la tierra de todo lo visible y lo invisible.
Name: Star 27
Location: Mexicali, Baja California. Mexico
Artist / Muralist
Where did you grow up and what was it like? I grew up in Mexicali in a very united Mexican family. I would say I had a normal life, playing soccer, trompo, yo-yo, los encantados, etc. Just fun traditional Mexican games.
Do you remember the first time you discovered an interest for art? Yes, everything started with a painting my father had in his office. It was a gift his friend gave him, who was an artist. That painting has always caught my attention.
How do you think art influences our society? Art is all around us, it's everywhere. I think it influences people even without them knowing it. On my behalf, I try to influence people in a positive way decorating the streets with colors in the places I visit.
What is the art scene in Mexicali like? Is there a movement and galleries happening? The art scene in Mexicali is growing really fast. We are obviously not at the same level as LA, SD, Mexico D.F. etc, but opportunities are opening and people have been very receptive of the emerging art scene. Currently there are very few galleries and we artists have to find our own space and places to expose our work.
We've seen some of your mural work. How long do you have to prepare before you actually start the mural painting? Projects are always different. Generally I paint a mural in a day because of the weather in Mexicali, which is where I mostly paint. The weather here is too extreme, either too hot or too cold. For big projects, I like to prepare ahead of time and have all of the material ready. It usually takes me a day or two to complete these big projects.
How would you describe your art? My art is pure color that includes abstract shapes, eyes, faces, and continual lines. It's a very friendly art and it adapts to any space or environment.
What has been the key element in developing your skills? School? Practice? Practice, Everything I know I learned it in my 12 years I have been painting.
Do you like collaborating with other artists? Yes, although I am very selective. My experience has taught me to do things of better quality every time. I try to collaborate with serious artists who value their work and mine. This enables me to obtain a result that makes us both proud to share.
What is the most challenging aspect of being an artist in Mexicali? There are different type of challenges. One is the lack of support that the artists in Mexicali receive. Another challenge is to stand out from the rest, being proactive and consistent helps one progress. Like I mention before, the extreme weather can also make it challenging for artists.
Where do you get your inspiration from? My family, my music, my work, beer, and from my friends.
Do you enjoy doing murals more than canvas work? Yes because more people have access to see my murals. Generally I paint them in well seen places.
Where do you see you and your art 5 years from now? In more cities in the United States and Spain would be rad too.
How do you relate to Todo Tranquilo's message? It's a very relaxing phrase that goes along really well with my line work. I think a lot of interesting things will come from this project.
Fav quote: Unas Cheves!!
Most memorable moment as an artist: There's many, what excites me the most is for people to recognize my work and liking it.
What inspires you the most? My wife.
Advice to anyone out there trying to pursue an art medium: Just go for it, practice and don't stop practicing.
Where can people find your art? www.facebook.com/star27mexicali www.instagram.com/star_27
Anything you would like to add? Thanks for all the support.
Reed Dolman
Name: Reed Dolman
Place of Birth: Honolulu, Hawaii.
Occupation: Student
When did you start surfing? I started surfing when I was about 11.
Favorite place you've traveled to surf? Costa Rica.
Whats your favorite thing aout being out in the water? Being able to relax.
Favorite Surfer/s: Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson.
3 words that describe you? Young, happy, weird.
We hear you also like art, what form of art do you enjoying doing the most? I like painting and ceramics a lot but recently I've been doing a lot of digital art using photoshop and illustrator.
Is there a relation from your art to your surfing? In both art and surfing I draw lines.
Do you sell your art? If so where can people find it? I haven't really been selling my art but now a days I've been making a little bit of money doing some graphic design.
Favorite traits in the opposite sex: Nice body.
What inspires you? Nature.
Do you have a favorite quote? "The earth has music for those who listen."
How do you relate to Todo Tranquilo's message? I'm a simple person who simply likes art and wave riding.
Eric Rachmany
Name: Eric Rachmany
Nickname: Rock (Rach)
Place of Birth: San Francisco, CA.
Occupation: Musician (Singer/Guitarist for Rebelution)
Where did you grow up and what was it like? I grew up in the Sunset District of San Francisco. SF is a pretty diverse place. There was lots of good food, especially in my neighborhood. I never felt like I was in danger growing up in my district but because it is a city I always had to look out for myself anywhere I went.
Earliest memory of playing music: 5 years old at the piano. I can still remember the first song/melody I made up.
Where does your motivation come from? I suppose just from my observations and the people I meet.
What does it feel like to play music in front of all your fans? It really never gets old. I truly love performing. I can have a terrible day but once I get on stage ALL my troubles go away. Hearing and seeing the fans sing the music back to me keeps the energy flowing.
What musicians or bands do you look up to? Don Carlos, Dave Matthews.
What has been your most valuable lesson and why? To be thankful. Life is a gift. What we do with our time here is our gift back to mother nature.
What is something music has taught you? It helps me see a brighter and cleaner perspective on life. Sometimes my vision becomes so cloudy and I lose grasp of things. Music brings that reality check to me. It's purely meditative.
What do you think is your biggest responsibility as an artist? To help others feel that sense of clarity I get when I listen to music. Also to spread positivity in the lyrics and melody I create.
Why is it important to recycle and take care of our environment? We need to make sure we take care of this planet. The more we re-use the more longevity we have.
Your thoughts on fast food restaurants: Unfortunately the FDA doesn't care about the health of this country. I hope to see fast food chains start incorporating healthier options.
Something you are proud of and why? I'm proud of myself for keeping an open mind to the universe. I take pride in my openness to every religious belief. I believe it's stubborn to think your own spirituality is the "correct" one. We are all different and should be appreciated for all these differences.
What are you favorite personality traits in a lady companion? A girl that has a sense of humor is important to me. Also I love a girl who sets an example of kindness to others.
Currently listening to: Million Stylez
Favorite Book or Author/s? Gary Shteyngart "Super Sad True Love Story"
Latest cool discovery? The Settlers of Catan
How do you relate with Todo Tranquilo's message? Music puts me in a meditative state. When I compose or simply play a melody on my guitar I go to a different place. Similar to other art forms, music keeps me calm. It is a release of emotion and internal thought. When I think of Todo Tranquilo I think about the peaceful state of mind I am while immersed in the art form of music.
Where can people find your music? www.rebelutionmusic.com or www.facebook.com/rebelution
REBELUTION - Sky is the Limit [Official Video]
Adam Taylor
Name: Adam Taylor
Place of Birth: London, England
Occupation: Musician
Instrument: Bass Guitar
Stance: Regular
Where did you grow up? and what was it like? I grew up traveling a lot because my dad was a pilot, but I spent most of my childhood in Hawaii. Growing up on an island was a really cool experience and helped shape my love of music and surfing.
Earliest memory of playing music and surfing: Earliest surfing experience was 8 years old on the boogie and music came around the same time.
What does it feel like to play music in front of all your fans? It feels great. It's an amazing feeling to connect with people in a live setting through our music.
What inspires you? I get inspired by watching others do well, whether it's in music or surfing. Seeing another band approach their live set is always inspiring, as is watching other people rip at surfing.
Coolest venue or city to play a concert? I really like playing the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Favorite surf trip destination? I'd love to go back to Indonesia and do some exploring by boat.
What is something the ocean has taught you? Humility and determination.
If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be? I'd love to travel to South America.
Advice to an aspiring musician? Believe in yourself and put in the hours.
What are some goals you're still trying to accomplish? We haven't played internationally yet and thats a goal I'd like to accomplish.
Why is it important to recycle and take care of our environment? It's important for us as individuals to minimize the waste we generate and recycling helps reduce the negative impact of that. Here in California it's not safe to surf after a rain, and thats a result of us not taking care of the environment around us.
Something you are proud of and why: I'm really proud of our band Iration. It's been really amazing to see something grow from nothing, and it's been a great feeling to know we are impacting people in a positive way.
Personal Pet Peeves: Negative attitudes!
Currently listening to: Crystal Castles, UB40, Two Door Cinema Club.
What do you want out of life? Good waves.
Favorite Book or Author/s? I love the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.
How do you relate to Todo Tranquilo's message? I am inspired to be a positive role model on stage, in the water, and in every day life.
Where can people find your music? www.irationmusic.com
Iration - Turn Around (Live by MoBoogie)
Israel Rodriguez
Name: Israel Rodriguez
Nickname: Igato
Place of Birth: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico from mexican parents, and raised in Mexico City.
At what age did you discover your passion for art? I was about 6 years old. I loved drawing all the cartoons I would watch on TV, especially Mazinger Z.
How would you describe your style? Like a flow of energy coming straight from my soul.
What is your favorite aspect of painting? I love being able to disconnect myself from all the distractions of our daily life. When I start painting it slowly takes me to a place where time doesn't seem to exist, I enter into a new dimension, into my own world.
Who do you look up to? My mother and my grandmother. They both raised me and taught me to be respectful. They taught me to always be willing to help someone without expecting anything in return.
What would be three words to describe your art? Passion, Culture, Roots.
Why do you like panting portraits of classic reggae artist's? I identify myself with them because they have created the person I am today through the power of their music, and their devotion to god. I feel obligated to render a tribute to them.
What fascinates you the most about the portraits? I love being able to capture the essence of a persona, conveying their natural expressions and emotions.
What would you like people to feel or think after looking at one of your pantings? I would love for them to like the art, but mostly I would love for people to get to know more about the artists I paint and the message in their music. Once knowing who these people were and did, one can have a better appreciation for the painting itself.
What inspires you the most? What inspires me the most is being at peace with myself and being surrounded by good company, like my family and friends. I love watching everyone getting along in harmony, living inspired too from their own projects and aspirations. Seeing everyone at peace and inspired inspires me.
What is your favorite medium and why? I like using acrylic paint because it dries fast, which helps correct errors faster if you're changing ideas or need to fix anything. You can also paint over it and take a different route if you decide to.
Favorite style painters? I like the Renaissance Era, painters like Caravaggio, Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, and Peter Paul Rubens.
How do you relate to Todo Tranquilo's message? I relate with Todo Tranquilo's message because I feel like it's describing me as a person. Im tranquil and friendly. I'm good friends with Tony the owner and it's definitely the vibe we share, todo tranquilo.
Where can people buy your art or contact you for a custom panting? They can contact Todo Tranquilo at email@example.com or they can contact me directly at firstname.lastname@example.com
El Fabirucho
Name: Fabian Pacheco
Nickname: III ( I sign my art with three lines )
Place of Birth: San Jose, Costa Rica.
Where did you grow up and what was it like? Born and raised in Costa Rica. It's laid-back, the Pura Vida way of life led me to where I am now. My Costa Rican roots shaped and taught me a fair share of values symbolic to my way of life and how I want to live it. Costa Rica will always be my home and will eternally be close to my heart wherever I am.
Tell us about your early morning missions to go surf in Costa Rica before school started: Jeez. Those were the days! Waking up at 4am with our boards already packed in the car and breakfast sandwiches ready to go since the night before. We usually tried to go to bed early, but you know how it goes before a surf trip, you end up rolling around in bed more than you sleep, waiting for the alarm to go off. Two hour and a half trip from San Jose to playa Hermosa. Usually surf for about 3hrs and quickly hit the road back with hopes on making it to school back on time. No shower and exhausted we would pass out during our lectures, good thing we got attendance point.
How did you get into Art? Both my mother and my sister are artists, I guess I ended up doing it by default. Check out my sister Allegra Pacheco, she is a rad photographer/artist.
What do you like the most about being out in the water? Apart from surfing itself, thinking. I usually tend to sit by myself, It's that one time a day I get to just sit and think.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? Skeleton Bay, Namibia. I have a thing for African wildlife and never ending barrels.
Do you showcase you art in local galleries? Not yet, hook it up!
Why is it important to recycle and take care of our environment? Because it is our home, our backyard. We play in it everyday, it is every surfers responsibility to give back to what gives so much to us.
What are your favorite personality traits in a lady companion? Artsy, down for adventure. No pansy chicks! Down to road trip.
Pet Peeves: Waiting on people.
Currently listening to: 1980-1990's Punk Rock.
How do you relate with Todo Tranquilo's message? It represents the Pura Vida way of living from Costa Rica and thats the way I want to live.
Where can people find you surfing? I'm currently living in Newport Beach so I would say around here, SoCal.
Where can people find your art? I'm working on a blog, I'll keep you posted.
Tony Navarro
Tony Navarro is the founder and executive director of art and design for Todo Tranquilo. The concept and vision for Todo Tranquilo came from his passionate admiration for the ocean, world cultures, and the arts. Todo Tranquilo simply started as a fun way for Tony to channel his creativity, and now the concept has inspired the desire to create an empowering platform for youth and community development where creativity and culture can thrive, creating a synergy to inspire and become inspired.
Favorite music? I go through stages when it comes to music but my favorite sounds are afro-cuban ensembles of jazz and salsa, roots reggae, and rock in the representation of indie or electronica. Classical compositions are fun to listen to too.
Favorite Quote? The way of peace insures internal growth and stability. It is a movement of self purification. -Gandhi
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? Africa, Thailand, Japan, and certain areas of southern Mexico and Central America (la vieja Mesoamerica) where pre-"hispanic" African people settled, specifically the Olmecs. Who I think were the early roots of the Amerindians in Las Americas.
Latest cool discovery?
Anything you would like to add? Thanks to everyone who supports Todo Tranquilo. Special thanks to our Ambassadors and to my family who always works as a team to get things done.


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Tuesday, June 10, 2008Conscience is deeper..............
"I feel safer down here among the Christian savages along Narragansett Bay than I do among the savage Christians of Massachusetts Bay Colony," wrote Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, shortly after his exile from polite society in 1635. Williams was one of the great heretics of what Europeans deemed a new world, not least because he bothered to learn the languages and customs of those he found already living there. He knew the Native Americans he admired were not Christians in any doctrinal sense, but he believed they lived according to a spirit of brotherly love more fully than the Puritans of Massachusetts from whom he'd fled. Martha Nussbaum argues that Williams's friendships with Narragansett leaders in Rhode Island left him with the kind of nuanced understanding of tolerance that would become the bedrock of American religious freedom--and, what's more, liberty of conscience. What is the distinction? Religion is a set of beliefs, ideas, rituals or customs. Conscience is more fundamental: the faculty of searching for the beliefs, ideas, rituals or customs that make up religion or, for that matter, the rejection of religion. Conscience is "precious," she says, whether it's exercised or not, an insight she credits Williams with recognizing long before John Locke--due, in large part, to Williams's fascination with the non-Christian savages he encountered in the process of colonizing their land.
Was Williams romanticizing the Native Americans he met, mostly leaders like himself who surely grasped the value of good relations with a powerful newcomer to their territory? Undoubtedly. Does Nussbaum, a professor of law, philosophy and divinity at the University of Chicago, take a similarly rosy view of what she calls "the lesson of the first Thanksgiving," "a distinctively American combination of principles" she refers to throughout Liberty of Conscience as "the tradition"? (emphasis mine) Surely. After all, "the tradition" hasn't had much staying power, as she demonstrates in chapters on anti-Mormonism, anti-Catholicism and even, quite recently, a Supreme Court hostile to the religious customs of Native Americans. The tradition isn't yet traditional, but Nussbaum's book, a fundamentally flawed but wise consideration of the subtle distinctions between "freedom" and "equality," may help cultivate it in years to come.
Meanwhile, Founding Faith--a new book by Steven Waldman, a former religion reporter--is the sort of carefully crafted crowd pleaser that trades Williams's liberty of conscience for the solace of centrism. "The Founding Faith," Waldman writes, "was not Christianity, and it was not secularism. It was religious liberty--a revolutionary formula for promoting faith by leaving it alone." Here we see the implications of the fine line Nussbaum draws between "freedom" and "equality." The former, on its own, can collapse into the sort of bland theism announced by an original catchphrase of Beliefnet, an online religion portal created by Waldman in 1999 and recently sold to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp: "Everyone believes in something." In political terms, such a sentiment results in the banal cold war faith of President Eisenhower, who dispensed with the Constitution's Establishment Clause with the curt declaration that "our government makes no sense unless it is founded on a deeply felt religious faith--and I don't care what it is."
Religious freedom protects one's right to believe, but too often it has been interpreted as doing no more than that, and not just by sleepy executives who prefer golf and war to the subtleties of civil liberties. "An 'establishment of religion,'" Nussbaum reminds us--that which was forbidden to the federal government by the First Amendment--"means that government has put its stamp of approval on some particular religion or group of religions, creating an official orthodoxy." It's a short leap from Waldman's implicit contention that government ought to promote faith to the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist's judicial notion of "nonpreferentialism," which holds that while government cannot favor one religion over another, it can certainly favor religion in general. Nonpreferentialism is itself an orthodoxy: call it religionism.
That idea didn't die with Rehnquist. Justice Antonin Scalia sharpened Rehnquist's point by arguing in a dissent in McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky (2005) that government may favor monotheistic religion, and Justice Clarence Thomas is ready to write off the Establishment Clause as it applies to the states altogether, arguing in a concurring opinion in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow (2004) that while the federal government can't establish religion, states can. If one follows Thomas's logic, widely shared by evangelical conservatives, there is nothing stopping Texas from declaring itself Baptist territory--a prospect foreshadowed in the official platform of the Texas GOP, which declares the United States a Christian country.
How do we avoid that slide into Christian nationalism, from the centrism of Waldman to the monotheistic prejudice of Rehnquist and Scalia to the blatant Christian favoritism on display in President Bush's faith-based initiatives agenda? Waldman thinks he has a solution: "extremists" on both sides should admit that everybody is a little bit wrong and a little bit right. Conservatives should stop accusing separationists of being antireligion. Separationists should stop being so, well, separationist. Conservatives should stop claiming the founders were all Christians. Liberals should stop claiming the founders were all deists.
Much of Founding Faith, in fact, is dedicated to providing capsule biographies of the founders that in the end reveal nothing so much as the religious eccentricity of the Revolutionary era, when all the old ways were subject to re-examination and reconstruction, most famously in Thomas Jefferson's cut-and-paste Bible. Jefferson deleted all of Christ's miracles, making of the Messiah an ordinary man. (It's an iconoclastic impulse lost on the annual Congressionally sponsored National Prayer Breakfast, the program of which so violently wrenches out of context Jefferson's views on Jesus that it makes a President accused in his own day of atheism sound like a holy roller.) Benjamin Franklin, whom Waldman dubs "the Puritan New Ager," was also a Bible cutter, snipping Mary out of the Apostle's Creed; as for the "Angry Unitarian" John Adams, he emerges in Waldman's short portrait as deeply conflicted about the role of religion in the new nation.
But the relationship between the "spiritual journeys" of the founders, as Waldman describes the stories he tells, and contemporary governance is a mystery, unless you're an adherent of Waldman's "Founding Faith," otherwise known as the myth of origins: as a thing was created, so its essence forever remains.
More at:http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080609/sharlet

subset: commoncrawl


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Today's random implausible lashup: CN 2604-CP 6029-FURX 3000-CP 9122-CP 8746-BNSF 9370-EAR 5505
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CN #390 climbs the grade at mile 30 with colourful boxcar MMA 1 about mid-train.
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Scotch Block, Ontario
(map) Scotch Block is an excellent photography location at mp 30.0 CN Halton sub, between Milton and Georgetown.
April 20th, 2006
I beat GEXR #432 to the Via station by a few seconds. The train had a 12-axle 4-truck transformer load from ABB. In the evening, Laura and I caught CN #390 with that most elusive target - MMA 1.This image viewed times, as of last night.


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Unless you are a sucker for punishment.
- Glitter. Don't ever give glitter to a pre-school age child, unless you are mentally very strong or you are in someone else's house.
- Glitter glue. Just as bad as glitter. Avoid at all costs.
- Tissue paper. The colour always runs when you get it too wet with glue, it gets all over hands that then put the colour all over your walls.
- Sand. Whoever invented sand art was obviously childless.
- Fabric pens. No they don't understand that they shouldn't use them on everything they wear.
- Smelly pens. Great idea in theory. Not so great in practice when your child is walking around with a green nose that won't wash off.
- Shredded paper. Why do all craft sets put this in it? It's hamster bedding.
That's my list, if you have any genius additions put them in the comments below and warn other unsuspecting parents!


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Beautification Committee
The Beautification Committee is a volunteer organization dedicated to maintain five area gardens and five large self watering planters. It is also responsible for the care and placement of American Flags in the downtown area on all major holidays and town celebrations. The Pittsfield Beautification Committee meets on the first Monday of the month at 7 PM at the Town Hall. For information, contact Carole Richardson 435-8351. The committee's budget is funded by public donation and a local business sponsorship program.
Donations can be sent to:
Pittsfield Beautification Committee C/O Tina Fife 1394 Upper City Rd. Pittsfield NH, 03263
Donation Boxes are located at: Bell Brothers, Danis Market, Jack's Pizza and Jitters Cafe
Carole Richardson,Chairman
Tina Fife, Treasurer
Carol Lambert, Secretary
Gail Allard
Nancy Barto
Paula Belliveau
Jason Isabelle
Ted Mitchell
Ryan Wood
The Fall Mum and Bake Sale
The Pittsfield Beautification Committee will hold a fall Mum and Bake Sale as a fundraiser in August at the Aranosian Garden – next to Jack's pizza.
We will be accepting any and all PERENNIAL donations during the Fall Mum Sale. Your donations will be repotted, carefully over-wintered, and sold at our Spring Plant & Bake Sale. If you are not able to bring your donation on this date, please contact Nicole Ward @ 603-340-3317 or 435-5285.
The Five Gardens and Their Sponsors
Tilton Hill Median Garden located at the intersection of Tilton Hill Rd & Catamount St and Sponsored by Pittsfield Women of Rotary
Rite Aid Median Garden located at the intersection of Catamount St. & Carroll St and Sponsored by Barton Lumber
Aranosian Lot located at the intersection of Catamount St. & Broadway Rd. and Sponsored by Exit Reward Realty
Washington House Lot located at the intersection of Main St. & Oak St. and Sponsored by Pittsfield Rotary Club
Crescent Median Garden located at the intersection of Crescent St. & Lyford Hill Rd. and Sponsored by Globe Firefighter Suits


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Acosta to Head Pappas Spanish Stations
Pappas Telecasting Cos. promoted Fernando Acosta to vice president, Azteca America group manager, effective immediately. He will report to Howard H. Shrier, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Pappas Telecasting's TV Stations Group.
In his new position, Acosta will oversee Pappas Telecasting's Spanish-language television stations, including KAZH Houston, KTNC San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose and Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, KAZW Yakima, Wash., and KUVR-CA Reno, Nev.
Additionally, he will continue to oversee KAZA Los Angeles, where he was previously general manager.


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Peace is the foundation for all philanthropy. It is time to support peace.
Mediator L Randy Drew, co-founder and President of Southern California Family Mediation Inc., earned his Master's in Business Administration and Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University's Schools of: Law and Business. Standing on the shoulders of giants with passion & commitment, he is the creator of Rapid Mediation.
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Southern California Family Mediation, an award-winning family mediator and patient advocate with over 15 years' experience working with families, couples & youths, Stacey specializes in divorce, parent/teen conflicts & elder care.
Stacey assists individuals and families to resolve differences and create a cooperative atmosphere that can lead to more productive conversations, an evaluation of the options, and the creation of a successful plan to ensure consensus.
Holding an M.A. in Negotiation and Conflict Management, Marvin is a private divorce mediator, and has experience mediating family, landlord-tenant, medical, real estate, and construction, with CAMP, LACBA, L. A. City Attorney Dispute Resolution Program and Neighborhood Justice Program, and L. A. & Ventura County Superior Courts.
Holding an MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding, and a B.A. in Physchology, Leyla specializes in high conflict divorce and family law, Leyla is also a member of the LACBA Arbitration panel and SCMA. She focuses on win-win solutions that allow parents to collaboratively reconcile their issues with consideration for the best interests of their children.
Attorney, mediator, MA Clinical Psychology, and Supervising Mediator for Southern California Family Mediation, Alik has developed many of the most unique and effective techniques used in child dependency mediation. www.divorcewithoutrevenge.com
Maria Brinson-Sampson, JD, St. Mary's University, has her own mediation firm, Downtown Mediators, and her non-profit, The Marrying Kind Inc. Her book, The Marrying Kind, was the catalyst for her non-profit.
As an Air Force wife, Maria has worked with diverse communities in leadership positions. www.dtmediators.com
As a collaborative family law attorney, Lynette helps litigants arrive at timely, cost-effective resolutions for clients. Ms. Kim has served clients in L. A. & Orange Counties since 1995, and is a recipient of LACBA's Justice Benjamin Aranda award for outstanding public service. www.attorneylynettekim.com
An attorney with twenty years of resolving disputes within major companies, Ted mediaion trining also includes Pepperdine, Los Angeles County DCBA, and Centinela Youth Services. He is a mediator with Intrepid Dispute Resolution. www.intrepiddisputeresolution.com
With Master's degree in Community & Agency Counseling from the University of Wisconsin and more than 30 years experience, Roseanne has directed military family support programs, both foreign and domestic. She was a program Manager and Network Trainer for three of the largest EAPs, and founder of InHerVision, a mediation and conflict resolution company.
Educated at UCLA and a mediator since 2001, Leslie has served on the L.A. Superior Court ADR Panel and CAMP. She is a 2018 member of the Board of Directors of SCMA (Southern California Mediation. Much of Leslie's efforts are focused on working to educate the public and business communities about how mediation works, its effectiveness, and its many applications. www.kushnermediation.com
Kristen earned her J.D. from Whittier Law School, and her LL.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Southern California. She has served at the Orange County District Attorney's Office and the Norwalk Superior Court. Her passion is softball and she has been playing since she was 3. "I have a 5 years old son who is my world."
A native Angeleno, a California-licensed labor lawyer since 2000, and a mediator since early 2016, Aaron has mediated hundreds of cases with the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, the LA City Attorney's office, the Center for Conflict Resolution, CAMP, and the LA County Bar Association. He's also a mediator and the mediation case coordinator with the LA office of California Lawyers for the Arts.
As a mediator, Nellie has worked with the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the L.A. City Attorney's Office. She is a retired Project Manager, Trainer, and Quality Analyst. Nellie has also worked with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
Holding an MFA from the New York Tisch School, Essie is currently a Peperdine MDR student. She has also worked as a mediator and trainer for MIT, Metropolitan Mediation Services, USC Law, Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, and INVLA.
Holding a JD from UCLA, Sarah is a mediator for individuals, couples, families, and attorneys. She mediates with the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, and CAMP.
She clerked with the Honorable Jacqueline H. Nguyen, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Holding a Master's in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University, Jean is a mediator and organizational consultant. She is a past Board of Mediators Beyond Boarders International, and has mediated with the L.A. Superior Court, Centinela Youth Services, Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, and a variety of organizations and private clients. jean is a Producer of the documentary film,
"The Window in the Wall".
Milan has mediated more than 600 cases, and is the recipient of multiple awards from the L. A. Superior Court and the State of California. He is a panelist & co-founder of Valley Bar Mediation Center.
He has advanced degrees in mathematics and philosophy. His work is widely published. www.valleybarmediationcenter.com
J.D. and Principal at Koenig Mediation, LLC, I specialize in Family Mediation in the areas of prenuptial arrangements, divorce, co-parenting plans, and family business related matters. My main focus is to assist families in conflict to develop creative ways to solve problems, knowledge building and personal empowerment. I am Fluent in Spanish & English.
Received her master's degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace-building from Cal State Dominguez Hills University. She has mediated a variety of cases including family, civil, community and cross-cultural disputes. She is very known for her natural ability to connect and relate to people which allow her to achieve effective, long lasting and mutually satisfying resolutions.
Susan North has been working with children and their families since 1971. Her diverse background includes Head Start, preschools and day cares, along with LA Unified's Parent Education Division. Susie opened her mediation practice in 2007 and now divides her time between conflict resolution, parent education, parent coaching, blogging, and teaching school-age kids to be peer mediators.
After acquiring a JD from UCLA Law School, Leigh practiced in the field of Family Law for several years. She has received extensive training from several well known mediators in Los Angeles. Leigh is a certified mediator with Centinela Youth Services (CYS) where she mediates in English and Spanish for both victim-offender mediation and family conflict mediation.
Founder and owner of 'The Interpreter,' a mediation, facilitation and grant writing firm, Ingrid Lenz earned her MPA, Summa Cum Laude, a BA in Political Science, is a National Conflict Resolution Center Certified Mediator and is a Certified Paralegal. As a former government analyst, she expertly alchemizes intellectual rigor and heart-centered interpersonal skills. Ingrid is a member of SCMA and MBB International.
Sid is a graduate of the University of Hawaii (B.Ed.), the University of Southern California (J.D.) and the Pepperdine, Harvard, and Dan Simon mediation and negotiation programs. Over the course of 40 years, Sid has seen the mediation process from all sides as an initiating and responding advocate, as a principal/client, and as a mediator and is still learning about and amazed by the power of listening with an open mind and open heart.
Rachel is a LMFT in Los Angeles, CA. She has been working in community based organizations for over 20 years. Professionally trained Mental Health and Infant/Toddler Specialist with expertise in early intervention, early childhood education, mental and behavioral health, and family services. Passionate and focused on meeting the needs of children and families within the community.
Christine Vahramian, J.D. has experience in civil and small claims mediation through the Ventura Superior Court. She has been a mediator since 2012 when she completed her requisite training with the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement. Christine is a member of the Southern California Mediation Association and currently serves on Ventura Superior Court's pro-bono mediation panel.
With a JD from Massachusetts School of Law in Andover, Massachusetts, Maureen has many years of experience in mediation. She has mediated with the LA City Attorney's Office. Maureen also taught peer mediation at Alexander Science Center School for the Institute for Non Violence in Los Angeles, and has served as a facilitator for INVLA's Days of Dialogue.
Olatunji Oniyaomebi (Ola), has an M.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding. He is an experienced mediator, with a lifetime devotion to peacemaking.
I have adopted the quote, "Tomorrow belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Sandy is a bilingual mediator with 17 years' experience in family violence prevention working with offenders and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Ms. Villeda began her career in restorative justice in 2014 with the City Attorney's office where she obtained her training. Sandy also studied mediation at Loyola Law School, Western Justice Center, and Institute of Non-Violence Los Angeles.
Karin Alm is a licensed attorney currently working as the Program Manager for a Domestic Violence Program that provides free legal services, licensed therapy and case management to CalWorks recipients. Karin has served as a mediator at the Queens Civil and Small Claims Court, and assisted in mediating employment discrimination cases at The New York Division of Human Rights.
Commissioner Mordetzky, with over 10 years Dependency Court experience, is the L.A. County Children's Court Mediation Program founder.
International Peacemaker and author of several books including Mediating Dangerously, Crossroads of Conflict, and The Dance of Opposites.
University of Southern California, School of Law, Judith O. Hollinger Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation Clinic Director.
Dr. Goetz is the Associate Director, Judge Judith O. Hollinger Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lecturer at USC Gould School of Law, and 2018 President of Southern California Mediation Association.
National Mediation Board,
Washington, District of Columbia USA, Professor, and Mediators beyond Boarders 2018 Board of Directors.
Former Executive Director of Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, Nine years experience as a trainer, coach, and mentor, and 12 years experience mediating disputes,
Communications that are part of a mediation discussion are confidential and inadmissible, consistent with California Evidence Code sections 703.5 and 1115 thru 1138, and California Code of Civil Procedure section 1775.10.


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Round trip flights from Toronto to Sarasota
If you're considering your options for round trip flights from Toronto to Sarasota, WestJet is the smart choice. We fly into more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe — including Sarasota Bradenton International Airport — which means we're able to take you wherever you want to go. In addition, our commitment to safe, friendly and affordable air travel is second-to-none, so you can expect your money to go further with us. Take a look at our range of round trip flights today.
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You can get to Circus City with WestJet
Airport Details: From YYZ, Toronto Pearson International Airport To SRQ, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
Found on Florida's Gulf Coast, Sarasota is a city admired for its great selection of spectacular white sand beaches, each offering a different atmosphere and recreational activities. This includes Siesta Beach, which lives up to its name as a top spot for rest and relaxation; Turtle Beach, a must-visit locale for shell collectors; and Venice Beach, a great place for all-day fishing off the pier. Away from the warm waters of the Gulf, Sarasota is a great destination for culture seekers thanks to celebrated attractions like the Sarasota Opera House, the Towles Court art district and The Ringling Museum of Art, the official state art museum of Florida. Those in search of outdoor adventure can head to nearby Myakka River State Park, a vast park and nature preserve with ample activities including hiking, camping, biking, canoeing and wildlife watching, to name a few.
Arrange your round trip flight now and start planning an exciting trip to Florida's charming, culturally rich destination. Whether it's for business purposes or to see the likes of Lido Key, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium or Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, WestJet offers air travel from Toronto to Sarasota that's swift, safe and comfortable.


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I recently had the opportunity to visit Downtown Napa and had the most romantic little getaway with Shahzeb! On Friday night, we checked into our hotel and spent the weekend eating and exploring to our hearts' content! Here's my quick guide on where to stay, eat & play!Read More
If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley, one thing you must consider is taking a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. For the wine buff, you'll get a unique view of the vineyard from above. For the thrill seeker, sights that will take your breath away. And for those with a little vertigo, you can take your love of adventure to new heights.Read More


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The Art of Character Design and the Drawing Mindset
August 3 - 5, 2018
Friday - Sunday, 2 nights
All-inclusive program package to include:

Tuition

Three Meals in Kitchen Table (daily)

Shared or Private Accommodations

Signature classes and wellness offerings

Please Note: All packages are priced per person. Should you elect a shared accommodation and community hall bath, 1440 will randomly pair you with a gender-specific roommate. Only private rooms have the option of a private bath. 1440 Multiversity is a smoke-free campus.
Registration Closed
Program Description
There are three treasures to success in life: determination, passion, and desire. Living by these three rules, character designer Stephen Silver has carved a thriving career working for countless animation studios and teaching worldwide.
Be inspired and empowered by one of the most prolific character designers today as you learn the artistic and professional secrets of the industry directly from a master of animation and of the art of teaching drawing and the drawing mindset.
You will motivate the artist within you, develop a keen observing eye, learn how to design animated characters, and draw people from observation. You will engage in:
- Drawing exercises and sketching people to develop and broaden your skills
- Group discussions about the art journey to delve deeper into your practice and draw inspiration from others
- Drawing hikes to hone your observation skills and challenge your drawing muscles with a variety of subjects
- Meditation sessions to connect to your passion and ground your creative spirit.
You will discover your true artistic purpose, learn what it takes to become a full-time professional working artist, and acquire the skill set you need to design characters for any type of project. You will also take home any artwork you produce.
Faculty Bio
Stephen Silver
Animated character designer and teacher
Stephen Silver aspired to be a professional artist from a young age. He began his professional career in 1992 drawing caricatures at Sea World, in San Diego.
He has since designed characters for Disney Television Animation, Sony Feature Animation, and Nickelodeon Animation, designing the style of shows such as Kim Possible, Danny Phantom, Kevin Smith's Clerks: The Animated Series, and many more.
Stephen is the author and artist of eight books on the art of sketching, character design, caricature, and life drawing. In addition to working freelance and giving lectures, he is the owner of Silver Drawing Academy, an art school located in Los Angeles, California. He also teaches two character design courses online at schoolism.com.
He shares art talk discussions weekly on his website, where he has created a place to inspire, encourage, and help guide listeners in attaining their goals. He discusses the business side of art as well as his philosophies and experiences, and gives people industry tips on how to improve their art.
Why Attend
Learn from an industry-savvy professional who has worked for nearly every major animation studio, taught all over the world, and published eight books on art.
Be invigorated in a fun, dynamic learning environment packed to the brim with artistic knowledge and skills training.
Round out your professional skills and learn how to thrive as a full-time artist in today's changing animation world.
Things to Know/Schedule
Program ScheduleView Program Schedule
Program Schedule
None required.
Experience Level
None required.
Things To Bring
Drawing paper, pencils, 9×12 sketchbooks, and a backpack for your supplies
Special Interest To
Artists and anyone who wishes to make art a career
About 1440 Multiversity
Beautifully nestled in the California redwoods near Santa Cruz, our 75-acre campus is within easy reach of San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
1440 Multiversity is a place to spend time engaging some of life's most meaningful personal questions and to enjoy, restore, and reenergize yourself as you do it.
You'll find new energy through immersion learning—setting aside daily urgencies and dedicating uninterrupted time to focus on important, but often elusive, priorities. Our unique collaboration with world-class faculty coupled with an original, inspirational curriculum and magnificent grounds make this a place like no other. Add in fresh, redwood-scented air, delicious and healthy food, deep reflection, fun exercise, and good sleep and you've pretty much captured what you'll experience here.
View Accommodations
At 1440 Multiversity, you'll find a wide range of accommodations to meet your preferences and budget. All of our rooms have been thoughtfully designed to provide comfort, promote reflection, and foster connection with others.
Accommodation rates include more than just the bed you sleep in.
Per-person per-night rates include:
- nourishing locally sourced, seasonal meals
- daily meditation and yoga classes
- non-ticketed evening events
- use of all facilities, including the Fitness Center, steam rooms, and infinity-edge hot tub.
Guests also enjoy access to woodland trails, cafés, and shops.
Related Programs


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To John Adams from François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 3 October 1795
Kempwick. 3 oct. 1795
Dear Sir!
After the renewed marks of distinction, which your Excellency's favour bestowed on me, I maÿ be so bold, without fear of incurring any blame, to appeal to you under this familiar epitheton—there you, calling yourself my real friend, contributes so much to that serenety of mind and comfort, which I enjoy in my retirement, notwithstanding so many toils and disappointments which would have embittered an ordinarÿ Life—Yea, Adams! I glorÿ in the wilderness, that I maÿ boast of your kindness, and Live, scarc known in America not forgotten by you.
Strange it maÿ seem after your benevolent encouragement to writ you Excellency from time to time, that I kept such a profound Silence during so manÿ mounts, but the uninterrupted Labour required to make my familÿ subsist—more comfortably, in the woods—a severe illness of mrs vanderkemp with her children this season, by with my own health is impair'd, my wishes to establish, if possible, some order and decency in the court where ignorance and stupidity prevails, and the labour inseparable from them, the yet fluctuating state of European affairs of France and Holland speciallÿ the principal topic for me to expatiate upon, with mÿ unrelented endeavours to establish and organise a Society of Agriculture and Natural Hist, in which I succeeded for a part, have bereaved me of the enjoyment in adapting sooner your particular favour to my advantage.
The Society is established—not in everÿ part as I could desire—but a trial to controul other inclinations would have destroy'd the whole. there maÿ be—in time—raised a more permanent and lofty edifice upon the foundation I Laid.—
I wished to submit to your judgment—my printed speech—if I can send it, to Philadelphia—at your arrival there—Washington, Adams—yaÿ and Rob. R. Livingston are chosen Patrons. My circumstances obliged me—to decline everÿ farther intercourse as to its organisation. I must avoid everÿ, self the smallest, extraordinarÿ expences, and mÿ situation requires a continued attendance.
If ever Davila's discourses—from the ren. stat. gazette, come's again in your Excell. hands—conveÿ them to Gen. Schuyler—by one of the New York State Representatives—for my use—Let me be singular in this, if you chuse to consider it so, I am it not in the attachment to your person, though verÿ few enjoy'd the opportunity of observing you under so manÿ aspects—since so manÿ years—I Holland—I consider'd it as a duty—to weigh everÿ trifle if it had any relation to your private or public character, and often my bluntness had been rewarded bÿ marks of kind condescension.
We approach, I imagine, to the last act of the French extraordinarÿ Political drama—It maÿ contain yet some bloodÿ scenes—the issue can yet be favourable, if among the mute personel are men of Abilities and honesty enough, to discard the obstacles—or to let them discard by otthers, to organise a good Constitution—The new-proposed plan how defective it seems, maÿ be a step to farther improvements—'though there are yet more Scories, who must be skimmed from this boiling kettle—'Tis unhappÿ that Artois and Provence have so little value in them—but, now, it might be yet in the power of the nation to controul them, and oblige them, willing—unwilling—to do more actual good, and leave beyond them, a more worthÿ successor, than, perhaps a man of an eminent heart and head—placed at the head of government, with a mere unlimited power—by a violent waÿ—after one or two years more of convulsions, may be able to accomplish—
I want not to expatiate long upon the state of affairs of the Dutch Republic so little known by Americans, and by it so lavishly praised, sem's condemned as unreasonable by the same—our ideas will not deviate far from another—I wish it prosperity—civil and Political Liberty, under a solid organis'd constitution. I approve much the demolishing of manÿ parts of that Gothic building—they maÿ yet continue, if in the same time the leading men can and will prepare and accumulate materials—readÿ for emploÿ, when the happÿ moment calls for their immediate use; not leaving it entirely to the good will—or convenience of an allied power, either to oblige her with a constitution, with it pretends, that must suit her, or to betray her again, if she was rustic enough in rejecting such kind offices.
I rejoi with the ratification of the treaty, though I could have wished it more favourable—if wishes were a rule of conduct in Politics—Washington and the senate have merited our confidence, they would have been unworthy of it, if the clamorous vociferations of a considerable Party could have intimidated them, if they had lent their assistance of sapping the foundation of our constitution.
Is the continued chance in the offices of state occasioned accidentally or by a radical fault in some parts of the Executive? or the ofspring of intrigues?
Favour me and my familÿ with your kind continued kindness, and permit me to pay you that tribute of consideration and esteem, due to your Excell—in so many respects, by / Sir! / Your Excellency's most ob. humble st.
Fr. Adr. vanderkemp.
MHi: Adams Papers.


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In this, the 4th installment of You Got Some Video Games in my Movies, I take a look at one of the biggest disappointments of my adult life, Mortal Kombat. As you'll see with this review, I was a big fan of the games growing up. Then, Paul W.S. Anderson decided to find what was most sacred to me and carpet-bomb it with enough stupidity to keep me far, far away from whatever enjoyment he thought he was giving me. The previous movie in this series, Street Fighter, actually has some entertainment value (albeit also stupid) to it. Mortal Kombat, on the other hand, plummets like Goro off of a cliff after getting kicked in the (presumably) four-testicled nutsack. Thanks, Anderson. Thanks for that one.
DVD case accolades:
"A rock'em, sock'em, action flick!"
September 13th, 1993. I remember it well. It was Mortal Monday, and I was ten-years-old. The original Mortal Kombat had released that day on the Sega Genesis, and it was delivered right to my doorstep. I have a clear memory of rushing through the back door and making a bee-line for the front porch. I opened the door, and sure enough, the package was sitting on the ground, waiting to be opened. I'm pretty sure I let out some ten-year-old male version of "SQUEEEE!!!" *swoon* as I feverishly ripped the box open to reveal the greatest thing since things began existing. This was Mortal Kombat, mother fucker. IN MY HOUSE. It was time to bicycle kick people in the chest with Liu Kang and perhaps even dabble in some Kano heart-eating. Yes, he totally eats his opponent's heart after he rips it out. Go YouTube it.
Just in case you haven't got the plot yet, I loved that shit more than my own mother (Mother, in case you're reading this, go ahead and chalk that up to hyperbole.). At the time, either Midway, Acclaim, or Sega was running a contest that had something to do with beating the game. I can't remember exactly what it was about, but it entailed beating the game and then taking a picture of the end-game screen. Yes, that was before the internet. I had to take a picture, get it developed, and snail mail it in a truck and everything. The point is, I did it. I beat that game. Over 200 times. I could go on and on about this, but I just want you to understand how much of an MK fan I was back in the day. When the movie came out, I was hyping it up like I had stock in New Line. I loved the movie. I mean, holy shit, Sub-Zero was in it, and he was my favorite character. I even dressed up like him for Halloween one year, and that costume is still sitting in my closet back home.
So, how does the movie hold up now that I'm a grown man? Not so well. It kind of sucks, actually. Time to break out the notes. Let's see...what was bad...what was bad...ah, yes. Everything.
Okay, not literally everything. The one cool thing about Mortal Kombat is the Goro puppet. I don't know exactly what the hell is going on with that thing, but there are about 4 or 5 puppeteers listed in the credits. The lower half is an actual dude walking around, and the upper half is some kind of movable monster torso. The eyes move around and bulge out, and the mouth makes decent attempts at lip-syncing to the dialogue.
Aside from Goro, nothing else really works. The number one reason to watch a Mortal Kombat movie would be for the fights, right? Right. Too bad, then, because they're all lame. First of all, seemingly half of them take place for no reason whatsoever. The tournament would be happening in one location, but...just because...the main characters would wander off and get into these battles of attrition to see who could suck up the most screen time with punches and kicks I could have blocked as a grade-schooler back in '93. The only reason they exist is so that Sub-Zero could fight Liu Kang (Umm, fail. Sub-Zero should fight Scorpion, you assholes.), and also so the movie's runtime could reach a respectable length. Otherwise, the thing would have been like 20 minutes. But no, Paul Anderson really, really wants you to watch Johnny Cage and Scorpion fight in a bamboo forest out in the middle of nowhere, for no reason.
That reminds me, the rules of Mortal Kombat make no sense. The humans win in the end, but Shao Khan still storms the place, crushes a building, and calls everyone dicks while yelling about taking over the joint. Where are the Mortal Kombat police when you need them? I'd even take Stryker if he was available at the time, or at least something like the vegan police from Scott Pilgrim. Coincidentally, if you're going to just make him a white dude, Thomas Jane would have made a better Raiden. More on that in a minute.
Anyways, the fights aren't lame only because the setups are nonsensical. On the whole, the choreography is also pretty asstastic. At least once per fight, one guy will do his defensive block like a full second before the other dude even attempts the strike. The one on defense will then just hold it there like a tool and wait for the striker to place his arm neatly inside his raised arms. Either that, or the punches would just look staged and shitty. It's almost as if some of the stunt guys couldn't get the routine down at full-speed, so they just said fuck it and filmed it at three-quarters.
One of the most obviously poor choices is - you guessed it - Christopher Lambert as Raiden. Bizarro casting aside, though, Raiden is the most unhelpful douche ever. His entire M.O. is to drone on and on about no one being "ready," but he won't ever teach anyone anything. Seriously, all the guy does is mosey on over whenever Shang Tsung attempts something obviously too dickish to let slide and say stuff like, "Heyyyy you guyssss...that's against the rulesssss."
There are also no training montages. In fact, there is no training at all. I mean, it's not like a video game or something where you can just keep trying over and over until you beat the son of a bitch. That would be ridiculous.
I've written just about all I can about Mortal Kombat, save for one last thing that kind of irks me. Throughout the whole movie, Sonya Blade is portrayed as a strong-willed, independent woman who could take care of herself and kick anyone's ass. It's misguided from the start, because I really don't believe a strong female character needs to be able to scissor-kick anyone. Plus she's a bitch. That's not being strong, that's just being a bitch. But if you're going to go that route, you have to go the whole way. At the end of the movie, she's relegated to a damsel in distress, replete with messy, "sexy" hair and a pseudo dress. Look, don't give me your shit about this being Mortal Kombat and that I should calm down. I get it. I'm just saying that if this movie had any higher aspirations, I would be offended. But it didn't, so whatever. She looked hot in her stupid dress.
Alright, I'm done with this one; on to the next. Coincidentally, the next video game movie happens to be Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Oh, joy. Sindel is just soooooo good in that.


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Wednesday 4th December 2013 07.00-09.00
Extended episode. The team renovates the house of a widower who cut back his working hours after his wife died so he could spend more time with his children. As a result, his chiropractic practice has suffered and he is struggling to make ends meet, which means he is unable to afford the repairs required on his home. Ty Pennington and the designers make adding space to the property their main priority to ensure the family has more living space.


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On July 29th from 11am to 8pm, Soulsational Festival will be celebrating music and wellness for its 7th year at Veterans Park in Bayville, NJ. This free community event will feature "live music, local health and wellness businesses and practitioners, giveaways, a silent auction, and lots of opportunities to give back and unite the Jersey Shore community." One of this year's live music acts will be ATLAS BLOOM. Enjoy this interview with Andrew Funcheon (Vocals / Drums / Piano), below:
What's your name, where are you from, where are you based now, and what do you do?
My name is Andrew Funcheon, and I grew up in central New Jersey with my bandmates Eric Tapper and Josh November. We are now based primarily in New York City but tour regularly around the Eastern U.S. and Canada. We all got our start playing in New Jersey, and now that we are out of college, we are all musicians full time. Outside of Atlas Bloom, we each teach private music lessons on our instruments and perform with other musical groups when we can.
What's your background? What would you like people to know about you & your work?
I grew up playing a mixture of rock music and classical music, and ended up getting my Bachelor's and Master's degree in Classical Percussion Performance at Juilliard. I still regularly perform and teach classical music but have made playing in Atlas Bloom a huge priority in these last few years. People should know that we as a band try to bring a high level of musicianship to all of our performances and recordings, and that we try to push ourselves to make music that is both challenging and expressive.
How did you hear about Soulsational? What can we expect to see/hear at the festival, and what are you personally most looking forward to?
I performed at Soulsational 2016 as the drummer in another band, Foxanne. This year, I'm excited to be bringing a special version of Atlas Bloom to Soulsational. For the first time, I'll be performing Atlas Bloom songs solo on keyboard and vocals. I'm looking forward to that new experience, as well as taking in the fun ambiance of the festival again.
How can people connect with you online? Do you have a website? Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, etc.?
The best way for people to connect with Atlas Bloom is on Facebook and Instagram, both @atlasbloom. If you like us on FB and follow us on Instagram, you'll hear about our tours and new releases, as well as get a window into our day to day life as a band.


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March 31, 2016
Frank Penela (850) 488-7082
April is National Fair Housing Month
~ Shared Opportunity in Every Community ~
Tallahassee–As the nation celebrates National Fair Housing Month, the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) is holding events across Florida commemorating the 48th anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Fair Housing Act. This year, the Fair Housing Month theme is "Shared Opportunity in Every Community." This theme supports Floridians who are entitled by law to rent a place to live or to buy a home without discrimination.
The landmark federal legislation, signed into law on April 11, 1968, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, sex, and, as amended, disability or family status. Every April, people across the country are encouraged to learn more about their rights and responsibilities under the Act as a part of National Fair Housing Month.
More than 10,000 people filed housing discrimination complaints last year in the U.S., most from persons with disabilities, according to an annual report released this month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD also found that race-based housing discrimination was the second most frequent reason individuals filed complaints.
The FCHR Housing Unit has many activities planned during the month of April to celebrate Fair Housing Month 2016 in Florida. Here are a few:
- April 19- FCHR will take part in a housing training with the Sweet Life Realty Group of Port St Lucie.
- April 20- FCHR will take part in a panel discussion on Disability/Accommodations in West Palm Beach
- April 22- FCHR Executive Director will give the Keynote Address at the 2016 Florida Fair Housing Summitin Orlando
- April 20- FCHR will take part in a panel discussion at a City of Tallahassee Workshop
- April 28- FCHR will take part in the Florida Fair Housing Summit in Orlando in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Fair Housing Continuum, Inc., Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, et al
The Florida Commission on Human Relations, established in 1969, is the state agency charged with administering the Florida Civil Rights Act and Fair Housing Act. Fair treatment, equal access and mutual respect are the benchmarks of the Commission's commitment. Through education and partnerships, the Commission works to prevent discrimination and costly litigation through teaching best business practices and fostering understanding amongst Floridians.
For more information on events, please visit http://fchr.state.fl.us or on Facebook and Twitter.
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Next month my best friend is getting married! I remember the day she brought Marques home to meet all of us our freshman year of college and I knew then that this was going to be something really special. This woman is more than a best friend to me, she is truly a sister. If there has been anyone who has seen me at my worst and witnessed me blossom it would be her. I am beyond excited for her and Marques! Se'nyce, you deserve the world girl. You are a phenomenal woman. You have a heart of gold and there truly isn't anyone on this earth quite like you. It seems like yesterday we were forming our friendship throughout basketball tryouts and now we are here.. this is really happening! (as Alex would say lol)
I wanted to make sure that her special day could be remembered so I vlogged it for her. More celebration is on the way!


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Measurements: 12.1 cm – length (with spout), 9.6 cm - width
Description: An interesting and rare Attic Greek wheel-made pottery lamp in orange clay with a central, conical tube with a slightly everted rim – convenient to be used as a finger hole. The body of the lamp has a concave rim turned inwards and a rounded short nozzle with a large wick hole. The lamp is decorated with concentric circles in red slip. Olive oil in the hollow interior fuelled a wick set into the projecting nozzle. The lamp is approximately Howland Type 19A.
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum
Provenance: German collection, early 19th century.
Period: 6th – 5th cent. BC
Condition: Very fine. Chipping to the inner rim and two hairline cracks to the bottom.


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Create a Ning Network!
Cycling in Melbourne Australia
I came down from Sydney and tried the blue bikes for the first time. Good bikes (better than the Copenhagen ones), good system - shame about the helmet laws.http://richardtulloch.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/melbournes-bike-share-system-my-road-test/
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Saturday, December 18, 2010
I'm not a super fan - Well Maybe...
I recently did a fan piece for a great Indy creator Travis.
Outcast Studios member and founder of Bean Leaf Press. I have been a fan of this creator since the first book being released. I often wonder how I could get involved with other artist and their work and if I could do image plates or pinups or add any value to their work I'm just thrilled to do so.
Low an behold an opportunity came by and I jumped at it. He was looking for fan art.
I had just two days to come up with something that I love about his site, his work and world. Normally that would be enough time but not this time. I submitted a piece that was good but I have updated the image with final colors here as well.
I really wanted a professional finished colorist to aid me, but time being what it was I could not afford to track down a good colorist that would be able to do my piece justice so I tackled all the art on the second refined piece myself.
Enough talk.... Enjoy.
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Gratitude is good for your health, so this month we want to help you keep your focus on the good things in life rather than getting mired down in holiday stress and sickness. Our featured products, monthly challenge, and massage spotlight all fit the theme of strengthening the body inside and out, allowing you to accentuate the positive each day.
Product of the Month
Nutri-West Total Brain is a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals and herbs which have been scientifically demonstrated to maintain or enhance various neurological processes.
Optimal brain function
who needs it?
Neurological function naturally declines with age, so adults of all ages could benefit from the support associated with the ingredients in Total Brain. However, Total Brain is likely to be especially critical for older adults, who are at greater risk of developing degenerative neurological diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's in addition to experiencing natural age-related decline.
What do I get with the monthly special?
For November, a 3-month supply of Nutri-West Total Brain (90 tablets) is available for only $28.00 + tax—a 20% discount on our regular price. Is it worth $10 per month to maintain your best possible ability to move, talk, and think for the rest of your life? (Pardon the pun, but we say that's a no-brainer.)
Massage Spotlight
Most of us enjoy indulging in some of our favorite foods this time of year—many of which are loaded with sugar, processed ingredients, and proteins that promote inflammation. The good news is that massage therapy can help the body flush out these harmful substances.
how does it work?
Massage therapy stimulates the lymphatic system, which provides systemic detoxification.
am i a candidate for detox massage?
The vast majority of individuals can safely receive detox massages, as long as they communicate clearly with their massage therapist regarding their health history and current conditions before beginning therapy.
how long does a detox massage take?
Detox massage can be performed in either 30- or 60-minute sessions. You can choose what works best for you, or your massage therapist may offer a recommendation based on your individual circumstances.
Challenge of the Month
Every November, Rollette Chiropractic Center sponsors the 30-Day Wall Push-Up Challenge.
what does it do?
Strengthens the upper body, including the arms, shoulders, and chest
why wall push-ups?
Wall push-ups are good for beginners or for people with certain medical conditions because they provide less resistance and reduce stress on your joints, including those in the spine. They offer a less aggressive but still effective form of strength training, and also engage the body's core muscles to increase stability, balance, and stamina.
what if I'm too busy?
Good news! While the number of push-ups you perform increases daily, even the latest stages of the challenge should require no more than 2-3 minutes each day to complete.
how do I participate?
This guide to our 30-Day Wall Push-Up Challenge offers a reference chart that indicates how many push-ups you need to do each day to complete the challenge, as well as step-by-step instructions to ensure you do them safely and effectively.
Product Spotlight
Silver Wings Colloidal Silver is a high-quality blend of silver particles in ionized water.
Optimal immune function
why do i need it?
Colds and other respiratory infections tend to peak in the fall and winter months, resulting in many complications, sick days, and even hospitalizations. Typical treatments can also result in unpleasant or even dangerous side effects. Silver, however, is known to be potent anti-microbial (germ-killing) agent and generally causes no side effects unless taken in extremely high doses over a long period of time. Silver in the form of a concentrated colloid therefore offers a safe, natural alternative that can help fight off these common seasonal illnesses before they become a direct threat to your health.
what does it cost?
A 4.1-ounce bottle of Silver Wings Colloidal Silver is only $12 + tax at Rollette Chiropractic Center, and can be purchased at the Front Desk.


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AutoFlower Video Intro
This page contains all of our AutoFlower Grow Series' as we have several variations and styles of growing them. Be sure to select the series most appropriate to what you want to accomplish and then begin with Video #1 on the next page!
STEP 2: Select a Series from Below
This Autoflower Series covers a Basic Grow, where the plants are not trained and are simply grown straight up.
In this Autoflower Series, we demonstrate how to Properly use Low Stress Training on your Autoflower Plants to Quadruple your Yields!
In this video series I am growing Gorilla Glue Autoflowers in a hidden Grow Room setup in my Bedroom Closet. A stealth grow is great for those who want to grow cannabis but have to do so in secret. You can use any sort of Closet, Cabinet or even an Armoire!


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… on March 29th 2014 – Heard metallic pulse/hum lasting 4+ hours in national forest land, up near Ruedi Res. April 2, 2014 Ancient Astronaut Theorist Leave a comment. Heard very loud metallic noise resonating from forest above Ruedi Res.
Read the rest…
Posted by Admin on Apr 2nd, 2014 and is filed under Ancient Astronauts.
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text: Sweatpants & TV | 20 "Orange is the New Black" Moments That Made Us Laugh By Emily Parker Posted on August 5, 2018 by Emily Parker in Sweatflix & Chill, Sweatpants & Humor, Sweatpants & Living, Sweatpants & TV // 0 Comments Tweet Emily Parker Emily Parker is a musician, writer, and avid reader who started Bucket List Book Reviews, the '1,001 Books to Read Before You Die' project. For Sweatpants & Coffee, Emily hopes to inspire the reading of the classics by a whole new audience by only reviewing the really good stuff. Share this:EmailPrintTweetShare on TumblrPocketFacebook Comments comments GIF TalesNetflixOITNBoitnb season 6OITNBS6orange is the new blackSweatflix & ChillSweatpants & TV


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Time to Talk Trash
There's a lot to know about garbage. Your garbage cart plays an important role in our collection
system. It keeps our recycling and compost clean of materials that do not have viable markets, that degrade the more valuable materials or that cause problems in sorting.
Are putting your trash in its place?
Invite your friends to be a Master Recycler!
How do most people hear about the Master Recycler Program? From other Master Recyclers of course.
- WHAT: Clackamas County course and volunteer program
- WHEN: Eight consecutive Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. starting on March 29, and two Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm on April 8 and May 6
- WHERE: Clackamas County Bldg., 150 Beavercreek Rd., Oregon City
- COST: $50 fee
- Partial and full scholarships are available without extra application requirements
Deadline for applications is Wednesday March 8, 2017 at Noon.
Details and application: www.masterrecycler.org
Volunteer Opportunities
Three exciting projects:
Gresham (Multi-family knock and talks)
January-March, times variable depending on your availability
The City of Gresham needs volunteers to help out at multifamily communities and do short education on recycling. We are conducting a study on the effectiveness of recycling bags and providing education on the bags. Flexible times and locations. More details.
New Zoo Education Center (Master Recycler Team Leads)
The Oregon Zoo has a new venue for regional conservation education! Their new Education Center is due to open in March and is designed to provide visitors with multimedia opportunities to learn about nature and conservation. The Zoo and US Fish and Wildlife Service invites Master Recyclers to set up information booths with the variety of kits and topics.
We are seeking a team of 2-3 people who would take the responsibility to lead the Master Recycler participation. You would commit to lead the effort of organizing a series of booths this spring and summer. You will decide how many times you would like to set up the booth, which topics you want to cover and check out the kits. You would also decide who will send in volunteer opportunities for the Master Recycler Calendar and take in sign-ups and coordinate shifts. More details.
Sunday Parkways (Green Program and Volunteer training team)
It's not easy being green, but it becomes much easier to achieve greenness when you create a plan of action! In our tenth year in operation, Sunday Parkways is looking to make its events even more sustainable. But we need you! We are recruiting 3-4 Master Recyclers to become members of the Sunday Parkways green team that will meet once a month (in person or via teleconference) for a 6-month project to create a Green Event playbook and provide training on greener waste streams for our events. More details
January Volunteer Opportunities
Click on the calendar image to get more details.
Thank you to centurions and Certified Master Recyclers
Two Master Recyclers reported their 100th hour this last month. We thank them for their continued commitment.
Jackie Yerby (Class 46) completed her 100th hour organizing the food scrap composting at the spaghetti feed for houseless folks through her church at St Phillip Neri. Most of Jackie's hours, in fact, have a theme of combining faith, social equity, economy and environment. Along with these annual events, she helped small emerging businesses and non-profits with sustainability plans and green teams, including Catholic charities, cascade aides project, and community cycling center. This video is Jackie Yerby talking about her work on Justice, responsibility and climate in her job, but you can rest assured the message was the same when she was volunteering. (Be sure and have a tissue ready for this video!)
Pam Vergun is the first from Class 63 to complete her 30 hours and become a fully Certified Master Recycler. In fact, she already surpassed the certification requirements and went right on to becoming a Centurion in her first few months as a Master Recycler. And Pam is just getting started. She has been involved in Plant for the Planet which engages youth in planting and understand climate. For her Master Recycler project, she is introducing a Plant for Planet club at the International School of Beaverton so that students there can connect to conservation and climate protection. This picture is from a previous group she worked with, because so far her project is in the planning stage working with school administration, students and parents. There will be many ways Master Recyclers can help with this project soon!
Job Opportunities
There are a number of relevant openings in the Job Seekers Board including:
- Washington County Solid Waste/Recycling Sr. Program Educator
- Metro Hazardous Waste Technician
- Trainings: How to Apply for City of Portland jobs
To see all the listings and keep up between newsletters visit the Master Recycler Job Seekers Board.
Conservation news
Repair PDX meet and greet
Curious about the repair movement taking shape in Portland? Join Repair PDX for a meet and greet!
This is your opportunity to learn more about what the grassroots organization does, how to get involved, or just come meet other volunteers. Repair PDX has been hosting free repair cafés for over three years and have held 34 successful events and fixed over 1,000 items.
Consider joining the repair community to help spread repair culture. Visit repairpdx.org or email email@example.com for more details.
Grant opportunity
Each year, Rockwell Collins awards $90,000 in grants to protect and preserve our environment. Since its inception in 1984, Rockwell Collins' Green Communities grant program has given nearly $900,000 to projects such as restoring rare upland wetlands, re-establishing habitats for endangered species, purifying drinking water and planting community gardens around the world.
To qualify, a nonprofit group must team with a Rockwell Collins employee or retiree (contact Brion Hurley at firstname.lastname@example.com) with a project that improves the environment of a community where our company operates.
Examples include conservation of natural resources and raw materials, restoration or development of ecological habitats, and environmental improvements to air, water, land or renewable energy. Typical awards range from $500 to $2,500 per project with preference given to projects that will be completed in 2017.
Applications need to be filled out and submitted online by 5 p.m. Central time on Monday, Feb. 13. Grant recipients will be announced on or around Earth Day, April 22.
More information can be found at: http://www.rockwellcollins.com/greencommunities
How to Be an Agent of Change
Registration Open Now!
Five Mondays, 6:00–7:45pm or 7:00–8:45
February 27, March 6, 13, 20, (break), April 17
If you would like to make a change in a circle of influence (workplace, neighborhood, school, center of faith, or other organization), this class may be perfect for you. It will help you be a more effective change agent.
There is no charge for the class, but advance registration is required.
Contact Jeanne Roy at 503-227-2315, firstname.lastname@example.com