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Special Reports
For a decade, girls endured the horror at home
Kellie and Kathie Henderson are twins born in Wichita 19 years ago.
Their brothers began molesting them before the girls reached Kindergarten.
When their mother found out, she did little to nothing. When their father found out, he raped them too.
The police who rescued them say somebody should have called 911 immediately, once relatives and friends knew. But it didn't happen like that. When the cops finally showed up, the twins lied to protect the rapists.
Until now this story was shrouded in all the secrecy that society can devise. Revulsion keeps people from discussing it; child abuse victims in court papers are sometimes listed with initials rather than names; newspapers almost never publish victims' names, or defendants' names; defendants escape notoriety for their crimes because naming them would identify victims.
Police and prosecutors say the secrecy that protects victims has kept the rest of us in the dark about how bad sexual abuse is.
They say hundreds of perverts abuse children here every year; there were 455 cases investigated in Sedgwick County last year alone. Most such criminals are men trusted in the home.
The twins say our secrecy and our revulsion let deviants keep other kids stuck in spiderwebs of lies, threats and forced sex.
The authorities say the twins have a point. Marc Bennett, who prosecuted the twins' rapists, said that nearly every time the newspaper writes about a sexual-abuse case, more victims come forward.
So the twins are telling their story here with their names and faces revealed, rejecting secrecy, revulsion, shame.
They hope other victims come forward.
Jim and Shelly Vasey moved into their southeast Wichita neighborhood in 1992, with Jim earning a living in the claims department for State Farm.
She kept busy with their son and daughter, and Bible studies, and Sunday and Wednesday attendance at Countryside Christian Church on South Rock Road.
A couple of years after they moved in, little kids from across the street came knocking, led by a cute blond boy begging food. His name was Andrew Henderson.
"Could we have eggs and milk?" they'd ask.
Sweet-looking kids, Shelly thought. Soft yellow hair, big eyes, kids maybe three to five years old, boys and girls. They'd ask for milk, eggs, cheese and Band-aids on some days, and cereal and cookies on another day.
"Don't you have food at your house?" Shelly asked.
They begged at other houses too. Cunning scroungers, they never asked for the same things at the same house in the same week.
Begging made no sense. The houses south of Harry and Webb indicated good incomes: a new neighborhood with bay windows, porch pillars, SUVs in the driveways. Brad Henderson, the father, worked at Boeing, but had habits involving cocaine and Crown Royal whiskey, Jim Vasey learned. Six kids and no common sense, Jim thought.
They needed the food. "They don't even have toys," Jim said.
So Shelly gave them food, invited them to play with her children's dolls and swing set.
They looked adorable; no wonder people gave them food, Shelly thought later.
Later she would learn that the kids were good at keeping a secret.
The Secret, as Kellie called it, began with her earliest memories, perhaps age three.
Andrew began molesting the twins when he was 7 or 8 and they were 3 or 4. About a year before fifth grade, Andrew began to force intercourse.
The girls hated it. Kathie thought sometimes that dying would be a relief.
By fifth grade they were getting raped every day, and Andrew had coaxed younger brother Matt to join in, before school, after school, at night, on weekends. The girls complained, but the mother didn't believe. They'd watch her drink vodka.
At night the twins would hear footsteps, and one twin would feel a hand on her mouth.
Kathie and Kellie slept in the bottom bunk; their sister, a year younger, slept on top.
Sometimes one would speak up.
"Why us?"
Sometimes Kellie in desperation would betray her sister, telling Andrew, "Leave me alone, take her instead." One time Kathie told the boys to take Kellie. Betrayals followed betrayals.
Neither twin ever forgot.
By the early 2000s the Henderson kids were a fixture at the Vaseys, bouncing on their trampoline, (sometimes with Shelly), shooting baskets. The girls stayed late.
The hugging-est girls anyone ever saw, Shelly thought.
Shelly tried to coax them to church. Their dad said no.
They hopped and jumped, swung in the swing, ate pie, candy, cookies. They ate ravenously.
They adored Jim, a big man with dark hair and a gentle manner. But Jim worked 50-hour weeks. By nine or ten at night, when the girls refused to leave, he'd make them go, and walk them home.
One day the mother, Lisa, finally suspicious, confronted her husband and demanded action. The girls took heart at this; he seemed angry. He beat Andrew, which was not unusual; he beat Lisa twice a week or more.
But after Brad Henderson beat Andrew he called the twins into his bedroom one at a time, and asked what his sons had done.
"Show me," he said.
After that he made the twins have sex with him too. Sometimes he made Kathie and Kellie put on their mother's lingerie and walk around the bed while he watched them.
After he beat her up for challenging him, Lisa never confronted him again.
Kathie thanked God that Andrew and Matt and her father were leaving her little sister alone.
She seldom talked to Kellie, but adored their little sister. They'd climb a backyard tree to hide, climb up the roof and talk.
If they ever go after my little sister, that's it, Kathie thought. I'll kill them.
One day, in fifth grade at Seltzer Elementary school, Kellie and Kathie sat staring as a teacher in health class took up sex education.
The teacher said sex happens with couples in love, couples giving pleasure with affection, loyalty, trust.
Nothing about this surprised Kathie; she already knew her family was despicable. But every word dropped like a stone in Kellie's ears, especially "couples."
She had assumed sex at home was how families lived. Now she knew better.
She and her sisters had been told repeatedly to never tell.
Kellie went home that night filled with revulsion. She could see many things clearly now: Her brothers and father were raping her; she and her sisters were prisoners, trapped in a lie: They could not have friends, play sports, sleep over. They could not have a childhood. Their abusers denied them money, true friendships and food; the girls sometimes ate wallboard crumbling off basement walls. Andrew threatened to kill any girl who told. He beat them with fists if they resisted. He knocked out Kathie one day; there was no one to cradle her head. He dragged the girls to the basement nearly every day and raped them.
It was all she and her sisters could do to keep the secret; if they told, Andrew would beat them; he was a tall, beefy kid who outweighed the twins by more than 100 pounds.
They went to the Vaseys not just for the fun but for food and comfort and loving. They would play on their swing set, shoot baskets, and for a little while, they'd feel safe.
She was living a lie: everything she did and everything she did not do was fashioned to keep the secret.
On the night after the sex lecture, when Andrew grabbed her, Kellie punched him, screaming that she now knew this was disgusting, this was wrong.
Andrew knocked her down, grabbed an ankle, and dragged her to the basement.
On the way down, her head hit every step.
Brad Henderson left his family in October 2003, when Kellie and Kathy were 12. He left them with no car, no food, no electricity. Lisa begged friends for help, found a job that kept her out late.
The last thing Brad did before he left was rape Kathie again. As usual, he paid. He often gave $20. On his last night he gave her $100.
He said he would miss her.
Brad rode to Colorado with his sister, Jennifer Walker, who lived in Ordway, and who blistered his ears for miles. He cried.
"Don't you want to be there for your girls? Protect them, keep them pure?"
"Too late," Brad said.
"Too late."
Jennifer stopped the car.
"What do you mean?"
Brad said Andrew was a monster. That Andrew monitored phone calls.
Rape, he said.
Jennifer said they had to go back. Brad said no.
"Too late."
Jennifer drove on.
She vowed to rescue the girls. But she was broke, working in a Pizza Hut.
She wanted to call, but Andrew monitored calls.
So on the day she learned the girls were getting raped, she drove home and began to save pennies to go back.
It took a year and a half.
With Brad gone and no longer able to object, Shelly Vasey had the girls come to a Christian discipleship class at her home. The few Bible passages about sex upset the twins: right and wrong, love and affection. Couples. Consent. Trust.
The girls almost spilled the secret, but fear stopped them.
Sometimes at night Kellie lashed out, and for once Kathie agreed with everything Kellie said.
"Where is God?
"If there is a God, if He is perfect, if He wants everything perfect, why does He let this happen to us?"
Sometimes Kellie ran out of her house, wanting to shout "rape" to all the neighborhood. But she feared for her sisters. So she kept the secret.
Excerpt from Kellie Henderson's writings
One day when the girls were 12, Jim Vasey with his big arms and gentle manner dipped the three Henderson girls into the baptismal tub at Countryside Christian and welcomed them to the faith.
Andrew watched, a bulky and muscular lineman for Southeast's football team. At close to 240 pounds, he outweighed his little sisters by about 140, and always had an angry look. Kellie thought this had gotten worse the more he smoked pot.
The girls had told Jim they wanted Andrew there because they loved him.
Apparently so, Jim thought. The boy, now 17, was sobbing like a child; Jim thought he was deeply moved by the baptisms.
But Kathie knew better.
Andrew raped her that night.
A few months after that, he molested his youngest sister.
In mid-March 2005, Jennifer Walker showed up at the Hendersons', driving a camper, friendly to all. She had cried and saved pennies for more than a year.
She said nothing to Lisa, the mother. Her brother Brad, the father, had warned that Andrew was vicious and monitored phone calls and mail. So she had not written, never called.She made an excuse to sit in her camper with the twins.
"Is something going on?"
She said Brad had told her that Andrew was molesting the girls.
Yes, Kellie said. Andrew and Matt.
"Matt!" Brad hadn't told her that. Furious, Jennifer asked Kathie if it was true.
Yes, Kathie said. "And Dad."
Sick and sobbing now, Jennifer said this would stop.
"We will tell somebody," Jennifer said. "Who baptized you? Who do you trust?"
Aunt Jennifer called Shelly Vasey immediately.
When Shelly cheerfully let them in her door minutes later, the twins hugged Shelly, and sat down with her — Kathie to Shelly's left, Kellie to her right; Jennifer sat on the couch opposite.
Moments later, as Jennifer talked, Shelly collapsed sideways in sobs, with the arms of the twins wrapped around her.
"How could I have missed this?" Shelly said. "I failed you."
"No," Kellie said.
"I failed you."
Then came rage.
She wanted the girls out of that house. Now.
Up to this point, everything Jennifer had done since arriving in Wichita had been decisive; she'd questioned the girls, decided to act, and had driven the twins immediately to the home of a woman the girls trusted. She'd told the story, assuming (but not saying) that Shelly would act swiftly.
Shelly would remember Jennifer asking her not to call, not to act, at least until Lisa, the mother, could be consulted; and Shelly heard the girls agree. Jennifer and Kellie worried about upsetting Lisa, worried what Andrew might do.
They made her promise not to tell.
Jim Vasey came home to find his wife crying, a woman he did not know on his couch, and the twins looking scared.
They told him. And for the next half hour, Jim paced off to the side, back and forth, looking like he wanted to tear somebody up. Now he knew why Andrew cried at the girls' baptism. And why the girls never wanted to go home at night. And he had taken them home.
Jennifer brainstormed. "Is there somebody at your church you could talk to, sort out what to do?"
Kellie said they should talk to Lisa. Kathie got angry; she wanted Shelly to call the cops, but she stayed silent.
"Something has to be done," Shelly said.
Yes. Kathie said, speaking at last. Because Andrew is raping the younger sister too.
"What?" Shelly said. "This stops now."
Jennifer had to get back to her job in Colorado. She assumed she had fixed this. She thought, as she said later, that Shelly would sort this out and call in the cavalry, from church or somewhere. But Shelly thought Jennifer said not to tell.
They left Shelly crying on the couch, with Jim consoling her. Jennifer took the girls home, and drove to Colorado the next day.
The day after that, Andrew dragged Kathie down to the basement.
She kicked and fought all the way.
PART TWO: Neighbors rescue girls from years of molestation
PART THREE: As shattered lives are put back together, cracks remain
For more, visit our special section at Kansas.com/promisenottotell.


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Image Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC[/caption]
Last night, Bedford Ave. awoke to find itself in the heart of midtown.
Radio City Music Hall, that gilded palace of pop, teemed with flannel and fitted jeans, nose rings and horn-rimmed glasses, as Brooklyn's poster children amassed to see their ambassador to planet earth: Bon Iver.
Anaïs Mitchell, whose 2010 folk opera Hadestown featured Iver's Justin Vernon as the mythical bard Orpheus, opened the night with a short set that was pleasant but unremarkable. Her voice, a perennially youthful coo, lacks emotional range; happy or sad, every song sounds like it's sung by your perky younger sister. It makes for an endearing stage presence—she totally pulls off phrases like "super rad"—but isn't particularly affecting. Only when she closed with Hadestown's funereal "Why We Build the Wall" did the material reach beyond typical indie folk.
Bon Iver's set, the second of a multi-night stand at Radio City, began with the sound of wind chimes – a suitable entrance, given For Emma Forever Ago's front-porch intimacy. But this tour isn't supporting that record; it's supporting last year's Bon Iver, Bon Iver, an album whose approach to folk is decidedly maximalist and layered. As such, Vernon took the stage accompanied by eight other musicians: two drummers, two guitarists, a bassist, a violinist, and three horn players. To recreate the album's grandeur apparently requires a small army.
What caught me off guard the most was the show's volume. After For Emma, you'd go see Bon Iver expecting to cozy up in front of a hearth while Justin Vernon sat cross-legged on the floor in front of you, mournfully strumming a beat-up acoustic guitar; it would all smell like pine and tea leaves. And artisanal beardo erotica.
Not so anymore. From the get-go this performance was rock & roll: "Perth" opened the set thunderously, strobe lights pulsing in time with the song's concussive, militaristic drum line. The band moved seamlessly into an energetic "Minnesota, WI," which closed with a single spotlight on bass sax player Colin Stetson—himself one of the most impressive musicians around—rocking savagely to and fro, sustaining a sinister tremolo that introduced "Holocene."
From there it was a breathless transition to "Blood Bank," a pensive early track that the band brought to a searing climax, Vernon wailing—yes, wailing—on his electric amid a rapturous cacophony. Later on he quipped, in a wry understatement, "this is a song about college," before launching into a shout-along rendition of "Towers." This, too, departed from the studio version and concluded in a maelstrom, with Vernon channeling Hendrix as he knelt before his effects pedals and summoned otherworldly distortion from his guitar.
In a word, it was melodrama. Each song was imbued with such sweeping emotion that, with Vernon's unintelligible warble overhead, it felt at times like Sigur Rós at their most cinematically overwrought. As a result, the quiet moments made the biggest impressions. "Beach Baby" was a languid, bittersweet respite from the intensity, spare enough to lend the subtle cry of a violin a chilling effect. And Vernon truly shone on his solo electric performance of "Re: Stacks," demonstrating his masterful dynamic control and the wrenching sincerity that made For Emma so moving. Alone on stage for the first time all night, it was clear that this was the real heart of Bon Iver: soft, solitary, almost painfully intimate.
Early in the set, a fan shouted out, "Skinny Love!" to which Vernon responded, "Yeah, we're probably gonna play that. We're not complete dicks." And play it they did, finally, in the inevitable encore. Few people are guilty of calling "Skinny Love" a lively romp, yet this foot-stomping live performance—managing, miraculously, to involved all 9 musicians on stage—got the audience up and dancing.
If anything, it was a welcome change in tone from the gravity of the main show. And the final song, "For Emma," with its bright, harmonizing horn lines, had a quality of euphoric release. It's funny – Vernon worked so hard to make the concert explosive and intense, and in the end the two best songs, by a long shot, were the simplest.
Read More
Coachella 2012: Best of the Fest
Record Store Day 2012 preview: The best vinyl, the coolest stores

subset: commoncrawl


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The hearing, entitled "Road Map to Sound Money: A Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1098 and Restoring the Dollar," was held on Tuesday, September 13, at 2:00 p.m. in Room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Dr. Lawrence M. Parks, Executive Director, Foundation for the Advancement of Monetary Education
Dr. Lawrence H. White, Professor of Economics, George Mason University
H.R. 1098, the Free Competition in Currency Act of 2011, would allow competitive free market forces to provide sound money through choice in currency. The bill repeals federal legal tender laws, repeals restrictions on private mints, and repeals taxes on gold and silver which prevent them from circulating as forms of payment. The hearing will discuss the need for and efficacy of sound money, the means by which sound money can be achieved through measures such as H.R. 1098, and the constitutional role of government in money.
"For too long the Federal Reserve has exercised a monopoly on currency issuance," Chairman Paul stated. "The result, predictably, has been an increasingly devalued dollar. We have been experimenting with a pure fiat currency system nationally and internationally for 40 years, and it has been proven unsound and unsustainable. Our fiat system helped create the massive debt crisis we find ourselves in, and has eroded the purchasing power of every American. The American people deserve to have a choice of currencies to protect themselves and their families from the poor decisions of government. Serious monetary reform is needed, and this hearing is the first step towards addressing this crucial issue. I am pleased that the subcommittee will be examining ways to return to sound money," Paul continued.
Are you looking for Solutions for America in Distress
You are in the right place to find out about what is really going on behind the scenes in the patriot movement in America, including solutions from Oathkeepers, Anna Von Reitz, Constitutional Sheriffs, Richard Mack, and many more people who are leading the charge to restore America to freedom and peace. Please search on the right for over 4250 articles.
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Friday, September 16, 2011
Know the TRUTH about the Government Health Care Bill H.R.3200 - Key Points
Everything in this bill is EVIL to the core. That is why they wouldn't let anybody see what was in it before it was passed. This can NOT stand. This IS NOT THE LAW because it flies in the face of the US Constitution. This so called law is NULL and VOID on the face of it.
When the government tries to enforce this it will cause a civil war in America.
LEGAL NOTICE: The Authors specifically invoke the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and of the press, without prejudice (UCC 1-308), on this website. The information posted on this website is published for informational purposes only under the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution for the United States of America. Images, text and logic are copyright protected. ALL rights are explicitly reserved without prejudice, and no part of this website may be reproduced unless by written consent. You hereby have written consent to post any individual post from this website containing this copyright to any other blog or email only if you post the whole and unaltered article including this copyright, and give proper credit to the author, and a link back to this blog at http://www.paulstramer.net/. This applies only to articles written by Paul Stramer. ©2005-2011 by Montana Business Communications (PDS) All rights remain in force. Removing this notice forfeits all rights to recourse. Copyright strictly enforced © The videos are third party and not covered by this legal notice.
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I had a super fun time hanging out with this little darling! Her and her mother came along with Little O and his mom. We got to run around the grounds of the Arboretum and play Ring-Around-the-Rosie. The sun was out too. Please enjoy!
Thank you– we love the pictures, it was great working with you!


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Monica Kass Rogers wrote and photographed this piece about me for Sheridan Road Magazine. I am so please with how she covered the diversity of the work I do, as well as some of my history. Enjoy!
Terrain Biennial Evanston
The Terrain Biennial is an exciting exhibition of temporary public art in front yards and on porches--we have an outpost of the exhibition in Evanston, with ten artists creating installations at nine homes on a walkable route just west of downtown Evanston. We'd like to invite you to our opening on Saturday, October 7 to meet the ten participating artists and the neighbors hosting their installations! Join us at 1217 Church for drinks and snacks, poetry, music, pick up maps of the sites, and meet the artists from 4-7pm.Read More


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Survay Says!
Survay Says! are a New Jersey pop punk and ska band. They're easily categorized by clean upstrokes and a dynamic horn section into ska, but incorporate heavier sections to show their hardcore punk influence. The band basically lives in a van, touring across the US on 200 extremely energetic shows a year. They play everywhere from VFW's to bowling alleys to concert venues to crews of dedicated fans.
"Observations of the Human Condition" is the band's most recent effort. It's an enjoyable, upbeat record with a realistic, cynical perspective on habitual behavior and the inability to change. With tracks like, "Cake Eater", "This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" and "Ode to My Willpower (or Lack Of)" you learn the line between seriousness and humor the band toes. Catch these guys on tour with Reel Big Fish and get to skankin'.
Session Tracklisting
1. Marble Tower
2. Ode To My Willpower
3. I Aim To Misbehave
4. Anger
5. Cake Eater
6. Denial
Blairstown, NY
Band Members
Henry Menzel – Lead Vocals and Guitar
Dennis "D Jay" Menzel – Lead Vocals and Trombone
Ricky Coates – Trumpet
Michael Fenton – Tenor Sax
Colin Keeley – Bass
Brent Friedman – Drums
For our friends that live in countries where YoutTube is blocked, watch the session on Vimeo.


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Cause Beautiful is a not-for-profit organization that empowers photography as a catalyst for social change.
On Any Given Day We Are
- Empowering urban youth to use visual storytelling as a catalyst for change through The W.H.Y. Project.
- Providing support for photographers to enable them to make a difference.
- Utilizing mobile technology to expand our definition of what is beautiful.
- Spotlighting visual storytellers who are holding society accountable through their stories.
- Creating partnerships with organizations that have their thumb on the heartbeat of social issues within their communities.
- Actively taking a stand for what is just, and encouraging others to stand with us.
Meet Our Team
Luanne Dietz
Director of All Things Good and executive director
Luanne is an Emmy Award winning visual storyteller. Before joining our team she was a photo editor and multimedia producer at the San Francisco Chronicle. She has worked in various aspects of the journalism industry including editorial, international documentary, inner-city media education, non profit and movie production. Her endeavors have taken her around the globe, including extended periods of time in Europe and the Middle East. She is rarely seen without a smile on her face.
Justin Warren
Director of Education Strategy
Justin is an interdisciplinary design activist, strategist, and digital media maker. He specializes in project-based education design and brand storytelling. Currently he is the Strategic Initiatives Director at Life Learning Academy, where he crafts systems and experiences that spur teacher innovation and spark student engagement. He has a bachelor degree in Anthropology and Afro-American studies from UCLA.
Marshall Murray
Outreach and Development
Marshall has set out to make the world better. He has a knack for establishing new opportunities and creating ways to empower human development. His dedication to making the world feel smaller through personal connections has provided him the expertise needed to expand global reach. In 2010 he founded a non-profit called More Than a Game, which brings youth baseball to developing countries around the world. Marshall was voted best to be stranded on a deserted island with by his high school class.
Heather Charles
Oakland Site-Leader
Heather is an award-winning multimedia photojournalist. She grew up in Baltimore and studied photojournalism at Ohio University in the hopes of documenting the lives of the undeserved. Before joining the CB team she worked at the Chicago Tribune as a multimedia photojournalist. She currently works with the Media Enterprise Alliance teaching photography and video production to students throughout Oakland where she lives with her husband and their dog, Chance.
Lucas Buick
Lucas is a graphic designer turned entrepreneur. In 2006, he founded Synthetic Corp. with his best friend, Ryan, which focused mostly on design, brand and web consulting. In 2009, Synthetic Corp.'s focus shifted to mobile software. That pivot, coupled with Lucas' passion for shooting on his Polaroid SX-70, resulted in the birth of Hipstamatic. Today, Lucas continues to dedicate his work to helping people beautifully capture their lives based on his belief that art and visual storytelling can change the world.
Ryan Dorshorst
Vice President
Ryan was born and raised in the corn fields and cranberry bogs of Wisconsin. After graduating from Stevens Point with a BFA in Graphic Design he moved to Minneapolis where he ran a design and branding shop out of the side of a snowbank with Lucas for several years. After launching Hipstamatic he decided it was time to move to a warmer locale and began a journey west that ended in San Francisco. In his spare time he enjoys building Legos and playing N64. He also cooks a pretty mean lasagna.
Melissa Lyttle
Board Member
Melissa is a staff photographer for the Tampa Bay Times and is committed to documenting the lives of people in her community, and finding an interesting way to tell their story. Her work has been recognized by UNICEF, the Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism, POYi, the NPPA's Best of Photojournalism, the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, the Southern Short Course, and the Alexia Foundation. In 2001, she started an online community of photographers called A Photo A Day, which has since then grown to over 2,100 members around the world.
Richard 'Koci' Hernandez
Board Member
Richard is an Emmy Award winning visual journalist who worked as a photographer at the San Jose Mercury News for 15 years. He is the creative brain behind the MultimediaShooter blog. His work for the Mercury News has earned him two Pulitzer Prize nominations along with a national Emmy award for the New Approaches to Documentary category for his work on the film, Uprooted. Since then he has joined the faculty at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism where he teaches various New Media courses, including Mobile Reporting. He can often be found chasing a hat into good light.
Mario Estrada
Board Member
Mario is a lover of today. Designer of life. Mario studied at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point where he double majored in Graphic Design/Spanish and minored in Photography/Art History. He worked for years as a Designer and Art Director before joining Synthetic to handle their active community. He is currently the V.P. of Special projects at Hipstamatic. He's Called the Director of Fun for short. Essentially, Mario went from showing people to telling people and he likes it.
Graham Rees
Board Member
Graham is a founding member and program developer of Study Edge, a Y-Combinator company. Through in-person and virtual lectures, study hours and exam reviews, Study Edge educates and trains high school and collegiate students. Graham utilizes online platforms and multimedia to reach a wide range of students through Facebook and social media. Graham is also an attorney currently practicing civil litigation in New Orleans, LA. He also really loves to take selfies.


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Floor Graphics
Review By: Emily Adams (27 January 2012)
I would like to thank 858 graphics for designing my floor graphics - they have really made use of valuable marketing space that I would never have thought of using. The colors are brilliant and the design is unique which really helps to catch the attention of my customers. Thanks again for the speedy delivery and brilliant artwork design.
About Floor Graphics
Floor graphics have the ability to reach customers as they shop, direct traffic, promote an event, and create or reinforce brand identity. It is an extremely versatile form of advertising and one that can be repositioned and reused many times. Floor decals have laminates that are slip and scratch resistant, ensuring that they can withstand heavy traffic. These San Diego floor graphics can be used at malls, public transportation stops, and anywhere else there is heavy foot traffic. With photo realistic quality and customization, floor graphics are great way to market your company. Call the guys at 858 Graphics and let our team of experienced graphic designers help you create the perfect floor decal for you. 858.568.5133
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"A paradox of old age is that older people have a greater sense of well-being than younger ones — not because they're unreservedly blissful, but because they accept a mixture of happiness and sadness in their lives, and leverage this mixture when events come their way. They waste less time on anger, stress and worry." -- John Leland
This year, two reporters from The New York Times shared stories of six people aged 85+ living in New York City throughout the year. The culminating story, "The Wisdom of the Aged," sums up some of their most beautiful lessons and profound insights.
Here are three of my favorite quotes from the article:
"Your life goes so quick, all of the sudden I'm 90 years old. I remember when I was 13. I used to come home for lunch every day. And I was going down the hill and I said, Hey, I'm 13 years old already. And here I am, 90. It's all right." -- Helen Moses
"Time is short, I know. No matter how much time I have I will laugh. The everyday activities I do will make myself happier. I prolong it by myself." -- Ping Wong
"I know we are all limited, and at some point our work ends, but you don't think about it. I don't think about it. I just do, and I know if I do something that is good for humanity, there will be somebody else who will pick up from the point where I leave it. That's normal. If we give up the possibility of paradise, then that would be very bad." -- Jonas Mekas
You may also enjoy this humorous and tender video of lessons shared by elderly people from around the United States: The Secret to a Long Life. (I especially love the clip of the woman jumping on a trampoline with her great-grandson.)
Happy Sunday, all.


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December 2013 LibraryReads List
Take a look at the top titles being recommend by library staff to patrons across the country!
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished: The Third Rule of Scoundrels by Sarah MacLean
Published: 11/26/2013 by Avon ISBN: 9780062068545
"In the third book of MacLean's Rule of Scoundrels series, Mara Lowe mysteriously disappears on the eve of her wedding day. Widely believed to be responsible for her murder, Temple leaves society in disgrace and becomes a partner in the Fallen Angel club. He doesn't remember what happened that night 12 years ago, until Mara returns asking for his help. Seeking his vengeance and eager to return to his Dukedom, will Temple sacrifice Mara to make it happen?"
Kim Storbeck, Timberland Regional Library, Tumwater, WA
The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles: A Novel by Katherine Pancol
Published: 12/31/2013 by Penguin Books ISBN: 9780143121558
"When Joséphine Cortès finally kicks her do-nothing, two-timing husband out of the house, she struggles to make a living for herself and her two daughters. Despite the criticism and contempt of her own family members, the mousy and insecure Joséphine gradually emerges as an entirely new creature. The secondary characters add lots of personality and drama to the tale, and the overall effect is entertaining and light–with some touching moments and bright flashes of insight as well."
Nancy Russell, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH
Vatican Waltz: A Novel by Roland Merullo
Published: 12/3/2013 by Crown ISBN: 9780307452955
"Cynthia Piantedosi has always lived an interior life filled with a devotion to prayer. As she becomes older and her world changes, the spiritual messages that she receives become more and more urgent with a message that appears to be counter to the Church's doctrine. Should she trust her faith, or should she meekly follow the teachings of the Church? Merullo's writing gives depth and breadth to this winning heroine and her spiritual quest. You can't help but love her and cheer her on her way."
Jennifer Dayton, Darien Library, Darien, CT
How to Run with a Naked Werewolf: A Novel by Molly Harper
Published: 12/31/2013 by Pocket Books ISBN: 9781476705996
"Molly Harper's third book in the Naked Werewolf series is a relatable romance with a supernatural twist. Doctor Anna Moder spent several years hiding among werewolves in Alaska, but in order to protect herself and those she cares about from an ex, she runs away, and right into the arms of Caleb, who happens to be a werewolf. This supernatural romance is not only light-hearted and fun, but also has characters who face real-life problems."
Emily Savageau, Thief River Falls Public Library, Thief River Falls, MN
The Supreme Macaroni Company: A Novel by Adriana Trigiani
Published: 11/26/2013 by HarperCollins ISBN: 9780062136589
"Adriana Trigiani's new novel covers all the major milestones in life from birth to death, with a wedding and much Italian family drama in the middle. As Valentine struggles to figure out how to grow her successful shoemaking business while adjusting to life as Gianluca's wife and partner, she learns to rely on her extended family for support. This is a beautifully written novel that will make you laugh and cry."
Jean Anderson, South Central Library System, Madison, WI
The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret by Catherine Bailey
Published: 12/31/2013 by Penguin Books ISBN: 9780143124733
"Catherine Bailey's The Secret Rooms is a very interesting and intriguing read. The author attempted to write a book about World War I, but ended up researching a historical mystery and presenting great historical facts about the war. This is an easy book to suggest to readers who like historical fiction and nonfiction alike."
Joni Walter, Nappanee Public Library, Nappanee, IN
Dangerous Women edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
Published: 12/3/2013 by Tor Books ISBN: 9780765332066
"With a range of amazing voices — from Martin to Butcher, Abercrombie to Gabaldon — comes a range of amazing, dangerous women. Queens and bounty hunters, magicians and bandits, these 21 stories will take you all over the world, and other worlds, and proves the adage wrong: women are definitely not the weaker sex!"
Kristi Chadwick, Emily Williston Memorial Library, Easthampton, MA
My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind by Scott Stossel
Published: 12/31/2013 by Knopf ISBN: 9780307269874
"Scott Stossel, editor of The Atlantic, has written an all-encompassing treatise on the condition of anxiety, one of the most pervasive yet most misunderstood human conditions. Stossel not only recounts the history of the condition itself, its causes, and its treatment, but bravely relates his own lifelong battle with anxiety. Sits well alongside other works on mental health like Daniel B. Smith's Monkey Mind and Andrew Solomon's The Noonday Demon, and highly recommended for anyone who struggles with anxiety or who has loved ones who suffer."
Cristella Bond, Anderson Public Library, Anderson, IN
The Trip to Echo Spring: On Writers and Drinking by Olivia Laing
Published: 12/31/2013 by Picador ISBN: 9781250039569
"What a unique way of looking at some of the most written-about 20th century authors. Olivia Laing, with prose that draws the reader in, traces the connections between alcohol and the relationships of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, John Berryman, John Cheever and Raymond Carver. As she travels the United States following their trails, she beautifully weaves together their stories, hopes, dreams, fears and failures, while at the same time exploring the history of alcohol and alcoholism in our society. An engrossing book."
Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, NJ
Innocence: A Novel by Dean Koontz
Published: 12/10/2013 by Bantam ISBN: 9780553808032
"Dean Koontz's new novel Innocence goes beyond anything he has written before. He brings us two unique and complex characters who are against all humanity in a battle against all battles. What seems to be more sci-fi than horror ends with a beautiful spiritual ending that puts Koontz in a whole new light!"
Michele Coleman, Iredell County Public Library, Statesville, NC


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Welcome to the forums! Enjoy your stay!
<< Return to Smack Jeeves
At least out of these three, I think I see a common problem: the torso seems to be shaped a little off. It's like you know there are arms off the sides, and a neck at the top, and boobs in the front, but in the middle there's just a slab of flesh that holds them together, instead of all the muscles and bones that should be there. I would suggest doing some drawings without the big jackets and shoulder-pads and all that stuff to make sure you've got the anatomy down. Doesn't have to be from a nude model, just in tight or skimpy clothes--and that should be pretty easy to find, what with the internet and all.
BuddyParaiso wrote:Drawn artworks of my very own characters:Spoiler! :
Twinkiesama wrote:Hmm, I'm not too thrill ed at the anatomy here, but that colour pallet makes me envious!
I would have to agree with you on the anatomy. I could not get the hand just right and her bust-line looks a bit off to me. Poor girl.
Your artwork is quite cute, but one thing that stands out to me is that the middle of everyone's mouths (with few exceptions) seems to be missing, in the lineart. This is less noticeable in your colored works and I think it goes well with your coloring style, but in your b/w pictures and comic pages, it gives a bit of an unfinished look.
I understand what you're trying to do, and somewhat vague lines for the mouth and lips are common in different kinds of art styles, but I think you should consider closing it up a bit more because as it is, it looks a bit like you drew the mouths, then ran an eraser over them.
That said, you seem quite a prolific and creative artist! And that is nice to see. (and I love guinea pigs. I miss my piggy.)
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Please join us at Huron Hills Church for Christmas Eve observances.
We will have a slightly shorter gathering at 5:30 in the Sanctuary, during which our HHKids ministry will lead us in some singing. The 5:30 gathering will also have videos and other features
to delight younger children.
All are welcome to join us for a more traditional service in the Sanctuary at 7pm (kids too!).
As always, we love having people of all ages in our gatherings. The sound of squirmy kids is the sound of the future of the Church. That said, our Welcome Lounge will be open to parents with squirmy kids. The service will be shown on a screen, and kids are free to read, color, and play.
The Welcome Lounge will not be formally staffed, and there will be no formal children's programs for the evening.
Christmas Eve at Huron Hills
Please join us at Huron Hills Church for Christmas Eve observances.


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Cemex in Thailand recently celebrated Safety Day at its Saraburi cement plant, north of Bangkok. At the event, Cemex in Thailand commemorated 730 days without a lost time incident, a milestone that underscored its long-term commitment to a "Safety First" work culture. This accomplishment showed that injuries and incidents could be eliminated when the whole organisation works together to achieve the safety goal of zero accidents.
Published under Cement News


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Posted| Updated
Police are appealing for public assistance after a series of incidents where a man stole cars and fled from police from the NSW border to South Brisbane.
Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, burglary, police, mansfield-4122, wallangarra-4383, qld
A house at Mansfield on Brisbane's south has become a major focus of a murder investigation.
Topics: police, murder-and-manslaughter, crime, missing-person, mansfield-4122, qld
Police are trying to capture a group of men who conducted a series of ram raids around Ipswich and Brisbane overnight.
Topics: armed-robbery, crime, police, law-crime-and-justice, mansfield-4122, fernvale-4306
Posted| Updated
LNP Leader Campbell Newman scrubs graffiti off a wall in Mansfield in Brisbane's south-east on February 26, 2012, while campaigning for the state election.
Topics: elections, states-and-territories, mansfield-4122
Classes at the Mansfield State School on Brisbane's southside are expected to return to normal on Tuesday after fire destroyed 10 classrooms and the tuckshop.
Topics: fires, business-economics-and-finance, industry, education-industry, disasters-and-accidents, education, schools, primary-schools, public-schools, mansfield-4122, australia, qld
Posted| Updated
A worker moves portable fencing at Mansfield State School, south of Brisbane, after a fire almost destroyed the school early on May 24, 2010.
Topics: fires, industrial-fires, education, mansfield-4122
Posted| Updated
Fire investigators will this morning look into the cause of a blaze which almost destroyed a school building in Brisbane's south.
Topics: industrial-fires, disasters-and-accidents, fires, mansfield-4122, qld
Posted| Updated
Townsville and Mansfield have safe Labor margins, but they are vulnerable to the LNP ahead of Saturday's election.
Topics: elections, government-and-politics, alp, liberal-national-party, states-and-territories, townsville-4810, bohle-4818, garbutt-4814, mackenzie-4156, mansfield-4122, mount-gravatt-4122, mount-louisa-4814, wishart-4122
An early morning fire has caused extensive damage to a home in Brisbane's inner west.
Topics: residential, disasters-and-accidents, fires, bardon-4065, qld, brisbane-4000, mansfield-4122
Authorities say three separate fires in bushland on Brisbane's southside and one at Samford were deliberately lit.
Topics: bushfire, arson, mansfield-4122, samford-4520
Firefighters are trying to put out two separate bushfires in the Brisbane area.
Topics: bushfire, samford-4520, mansfield-4122
Overnight thunderstorms in Queensland's south-east have left up to 27,000 homes without power.
Topics: storm-event, storm-disaster, mansfield-4122, brisbane-airport-4007, eight-mile-plains-4113, manly-4179


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One event I have always seemed to miss in the past has been Doors Open. The City of Toronto gives access to the public to free and rare access to more then 155 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across the city. This event goes over a two day period.
Taking a look at the list of the buildings open, I visited the ones that were good for photographs. I was able to visit all but one of the locations I wanted to which was the Don Jail.
The day started off with a Instameet, hosted by @Alexandramack22 + @evologist . They were able to provide all of us with media passes. These came in handy as we were able to bypass the long lineups.
The first location I wanted to head to was Toronto City Hall. They opened up the observation deck to the public which had a beautiful view of the city. Unfortunately the glass was very dirty so it made it near impossible to take photos of the view.
Next on our walk was a visit to The Sick Kids Hospital. The building they opened was The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning. We were taken up to the 27th floor to a lobby room with interesting architecture.
Onto the next! We then headed our way over to the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre. It was a fair bit of a walk from our previous spot but it was a beautiful day out. Two of my favourite grammers below @AshtonTekno + @bora.vs.bora were one of the few to branch off with us to the theatre.
The Elgin theatre was my favourite building. The architecture was beautiful, as you can see. The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre is the only double deck theatre in all of Canada.
This is a place i've ALWAYS wanted to go but never took the time to go. It is always open to the public, but as soon as you pull out a camera you will most likely be asked to leave. This is my favourite shot from the day.
Lastly we went to Queen's Park, I imagine this was on everyone's list as it was very busy. This is the Parliament Chamber. This was definitely my favourite room in the building
Hope you enjoyed the Doors Open event!
Until next time..


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June 26, 2008
Two of My New Favorite Things
And for my 3rd and final post of the day–I have two new favorite things definitely worthy of a blog post! This past week I have discovered the amazing power of white vinegar. I saw something on TV about using it to clean as a "green" option. I have to admit that I'm not totally into the "green" trend, but on a whim I decided to give it a try the other day. I happened to have a bottle sitting on my bathroom counter that I had been using to disinfect during a bout of thrush (that calls for another post on another day). So I poured a 50/50 vinegar/water mix into my ironing bottle.
WHALA! My life will never be the same! I am now convinced that there is nothing that white vinegar can't clean! Sure, you and your home will smell a little like a salad for a while, but all of the harsh chemicals I usually use to clean can't even come close to the cleaning power now contained in my ironing bottle. We have very hard water and it dissolves the mineral build-up and soap scum with ease. It also cleans mirrors, glass, the crud around faucets and that disgusting pink mold that grows in the crevices of our showers (yes, we all have it although no one wants to admit it). Plus, I can feel safe washing my kids' tubs without exposing their skin to chemical residue. I am totally sold and highly recommend it. I'm so excited about it that I have cleaned my bathroom twice in the past week!
My second favorite discovery of the week is homemade popsicles. Or, as Little Ro' calls them "focafocles." We get some looks when he says that one, as you can imagine. Yesterday we got out the smoothie maker and blended up the following:
1 C fresh blueberries
1/2 can peaches (drain all but about 2T of the liquid)
2 6 oz containers vanilla yogurt
I bought some cute molds at Target so we filled them and had them for dessert after dinner. He had no idea it was a healthy snack and devoured his entire popsicle. I've decided this will have to become a regular activity and next time I'm going to spike it with some hidden veggies and/ or protein.
Back in the Saddle Again
Here is a big pat on the back to SavvyToddlerMom and me for making it back to the gym last night! It felt great! I have to admit that we were very impressive, considering that I'm 4 weeks postpartum and STM is just about 3 weeks after TWO D&Cs and an overall horrible ordeal. We're back and totally committed. We're setting up a goal and reward system to motivate us to lose our baby weight. Not only do we get to have the fun of working out together, but we now also get to indulge in some pedicures, girls nights out together, new shoes, etc. as reward for our successes. I know we can do it! Thanks, STM for always pushing me to be better!
Better Late than Never…Introducing…
The newest member of our little family. Here are some pics of our baby boy, born May 27th weighing 6 lbs 15 oz and measuring 19.5 in. He was smaller than big brother (whew!) but is growing SO fast! He's a little wiggle worm, constantly moving, but has a calm, easy-going personality. That's a good thing since he has to put up with Little Ro's constant harassment!
This pic really puts the size difference into perspective!
June 23, 2008
Kung "FuT" Panda
Little Ro's latest obsession is (as he pronounces it) Kung FuT Panda! He has super cool Kung Fu moves which he came up with on his own and will happily perform anywhere anytime. Watch out!
June 20, 2008
"Life is But a Dream…."
Row, row, row your boat…aaah, where do I begin?? I have blogger's guilt because I have had so much to write about that I haven't had a moment to sit down and type! Stay tuned for a bunch of posts. Well, we are attempting to adjust to life at home with our newborn and a 2-year-old. On Monday I thought I was just starting to get the hang of things and I decided to take Little Ro' swimming at my aunt and uncle's house. Prior to leaving, I was feeding the baby and heard the toilet flush and continue to run. Said toilet tends to run, so I didn't think much of it. Especially when Little Ro' ran into my room naked. He has started using the potty (YEA!) a couple times a day and prefers to do so naked. That all came to a crashing halt when I wandered from my room a little while later.
Water EVERYWHERE!!! I call my DH, who is irritated with me for leaving the bathroom door open. His wonderful sister came to my rescue to watch the kids while I attempted to clean up the mess. Mind you, I'm 2 weeks and 6 days post-partum at this point and I'm cleaning carpets. I cleaned what I could and my DH cleaned more that night. To no avail. The damage was much more extensive than we originally thought. Little Ro' had managed to flood the bathroom, half of his bedroom, a third of the nursery, and part of our family room. Thank Heavens for home owner's insurance! They have had a disaster cleanup crew out here pulling up carpet, drying out flooring, etc. etc. It looks like they're going to replace most of our main floor carpeting, possibly the bathroom tile, some insulation and plastic in the crawl space, base boards, and possibly some drywall. What a mess!!!
Like SavvyToddlerMom–I too am grateful to the wonderful makers of Zoloft, without which I do not believe I would have pulled through on this one.
The fun never stops at out house!


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The Undergraduate Student Association Elections Committee will facilitate campus-wide elections over the next five weeks to fill class officer positions as well as Student Association executive board positions.
"USAEC is the standing committee of the Student Association which oversees all class elections and elections of the SA Executive Committee," said junior Steve Fisher, USAEC chair.
USAEC supervises all parts of the election process from start to finish, including producing ballots, publicizing elections and campaign events, hosting and facilitating debates and speeches, expediting elections, counting votes and publishing results.
For the upcoming spring 2012 elections,USAEC scheduled six separate informational meetings from Monday Feb. 20 until Thursday Feb. 23 for interested parties wishing to run for office. These general information meetings allowed potential candidates to ask USAEC questions, familiarize themselves with the campaign and election processes and to get the paperwork necessary for entering the election.
USAEC has also released a series of deadlines for the election process, which can be viewed on their website. The official campaign will begin on March 3 and polls will open to the student body for voting on KnightLink on March 23.
Unofficial results for the elections will tentatively be posted on the door of the SA office on March 26. Barring any grievances, the results will become official on March 27.
"Something unique about this year's elections is that they will be hosted over KnightLink rather than KnightWeb," said Fisher. "KnightLink is like a college social network – it will allow us to be in the face of voters. It is much more convenient and will provide for greater flexibility for USAEC and voters. The system onKnightLink also has a much more sophisticated format than KnightWeb."
Instead of the online ballots listing the candidates' names, KnightLink will allow USAEC to categorize the candidates on the ballot based on the office for which they are running.USAEC will also be able to attach a picture of the candidate along with a short personal statement. This will make the candidates accessible for student voters that are unable to attend any speeches or debates.
"USAEC is hoping that this change toKnightLink will result in increased voter participation," added Fisher.
USAEC is also hoping to increase voter participation through greater publicity of campaign events, debates, speeches and elections. This publicity will take the form of What's-Up emails, window paintings in the Union and Facebook event notifications.
Senior Lindsey Hebell, SA public relations chair, will assist in the effort to publicize throughout the process.
"Anybody who is interested in running for office is encouraged to apply and get their name on the ballot as a candidate," said Fisher. All candidate paperwork is due to the SA office by 4 p.m. on Monday Feb. 27.
Interested parties considering running for office can email USAEC with any questions about the campaign and election processes at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Building a Community
Kristin Read and myself, WELD:
Professionally, what is your ultimate goal?
To avoid comfort altogether.
When I'm borderline uncomfortable, that's when my best work comes to fruition. I want to continue building things with a genesis aligning with my passions, and that others are delighted to use/engage with. I want to help others build a framework for their personal success, to develop personally (online and off), and to be able to stand on a platform that I can proudly say I created.
When people think of startups, co-working spaces, and venture funding, I suspect Dallas, Texas infrequently comes to mind. It's a city well-known for its corporate, straight-laced, deeply right wing mentality, certainly not a burgeoning disruptive spirit.
In truth, however, there is a budding community of creatives, entrepreneurs, and thoughtful people attempting to build great, new things in Dallas. Out of nowhere, the city has been greeted to renowned conferences, support networks, incubators, and government initiatives. At any given time, there seems to be something new sprouting before our eyes.
It would be easy to write this phenomenon off as a simple result of the decentralizing power of the Internet. In my eyes, however, it's a sign of a sincere desire from within the entrepreneurial community to build something fantastic and new outside of the traditional startup hubs in the U.S.
Over the past twelve months, I've witnessed a plethora of ideas and people emerge from within Dallas. At the forefront of this is WELD — a co-working space nestled into the up-and-coming Design District.
Attracting some of the most highly-decorated artists, photographers, models, illustrators, and entrepreneurs I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, WELD is the embodiment of the momentum of the Dallas startup community. And I'm genuinely honored to consider myself apart of it.
Although, as I mention in my interview, I'm unable to go into detail about my upcoming project, I will say that I'd be at a loss without the help and support of the WELD community. It's a bafflingly diverse and talented network of people, all of whom are willing to work freely and compassionately to help those around them succeed.
Compared to stories of insular startup experiences on either coast, Dallas' narrative is fresh, new, and we all have the capability to define it as we choose. So far, that definition comes in the form of positivity, familial support, and genuine passion.
So, it was an absolute honor — and pleasure — to be interviewed for WELD's 'Artist of the Week' series (or here with full photography). Whilst you check it out, be sure to have a look through the rest of WELD's site.
Moreover, if you're in Dallas, I urge you to visit all of us one day soon. You can follow @WELD on Twitter for information about upcoming events and creative labs.
It's an exciting time and an extremely promising year. I look forward to chatting a little more about Dallas, my project, and WELD over the coming months.


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Same-sex Marriage and Religious Liberty: Emerging Conflicts
Douglas Laycock, Anthony R. Picarello, Robin Fretwell Wilson
Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty, 2008 - 329
Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty explores the religious freedom implications of defining marriage to include same-sex couples. It represents the only comprehensive, scholarly appraisal to date of the church-state conflicts virtually certain to arise from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. It explores two principal questions. First, exactly what kind of religious freedom conflicts are likely to emerge if society embraces same-sex marriage? A redefinition of marriage would impact a host of laws where marital status affects legal rights_in housing, employment, health-care, education, public accommodations, and property, in addition to family law. These laws, in turn, regulate a host of religious institutions_schools, hospitals, and social service providers, to name a few_that often embrace a different definition of marriage. As a result, church-state conflicts will follow. This volume anticipates where and how these manifold disputes will arise. Second, how might these conflicts be resolved? If the disputes spark litigation under the Free Speech, Free Exercise, or Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment, who will prevail and why? When, if ever, should claims of religious liberty prevail over claims of sexual liberty? Drawing on experience in analogous areas of law, the volume explores whether it is possible to avoid these constitutional conflicts by statutory accommodation, or by separating religious marriage from civil marriage.
Co mµwiÝ ludzie - Napisz recenzjõ
LibraryThing ReviewRecenzja u¢ytkownika - dono421846 - LibraryThing
At the time this collection of essays was the basis for a developing conversation about how same-sex marriage would impact religious liberties. Although dated, it still provides some good insights ... Przeczytaj pe°nÝ recenzjõ
Inne wydania - WyÑwietl wszystko
Same-sex marriage and religious liberty: emerging conflicts
Douglas Laycock,Robin Fretwell Wilson
Widok krµtkiego opisu - 2008
Same-sex marriage and religious liberty: emerging conflicts
Douglas Laycock,Robin Fretwell Wilson
Widok krµtkiego opisu - 2008


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What exactly is in the coaching course? - video 2
okay - you've decided to focus
on the most important things keeping you from greatness, and start getting the most out of your hours in the practice room.
But exactly what does the curriculum in the 80/20 coaching course cover? In this video I go into greater detail about it, taking you through the details.
Check out the video to see in detail what I'll cover, and to get a better idea exactly what it looks like inside the course.
now, I want to answer your frequently asked questions
Because of the comment form below, and emails I get from students, I have a list of some of the most common questions people ask about the course. Here are the answers.
I just got the Roadmap and an armful of other videos. Shouldn't I work through all this stuff first?
I'll say this first. The Coaching Course is not a perfect fit for every drummer. You have to be dedicated to going deep into your weaknesses and motivated to learn to hear yourself more critically than you used to in the past.
That said, the course is different from the Roadmap and the free videos. If the former are like buying a book, I designed the course to be like taking lessons. All the material in the Roadmap is in the course (and about 10x that much in additional content you won't see in the free videos!), but it's there in context, so I tell you exactly what to practice week 1, how to tell if you're ready to move on, then exactly what to practice on week 2, and so on.
And if one of the Marcus Gilmore videos is the what, the Coaching Course is the how. It's possible to play almost all of the exercises and beats in my free videos without ever addressing the underlying issues of Playing Clean, Playing in Time, and Idea Flow. But the Course is designed to micro-target those meta-skills, so you'll sound twice as good when you return to those Marcus beats.
What if I'm a working musician and can only practice when I'm off tour?
There are two reasons the course may still be a good fit. First, I designed it with you in mind. Each module teaches you a fundamental skill, and being able to deploy that skill in a performance context before returning to the next module will actually help you internalize it better. Second, that's why I give you all the content of the DIY course for a single price - you can take a month off and not worry! Just pick it back up when you have time.
I only have 2-3 days per week I have access to a drum kit. Will the course still work for me?
As long as you're dedicated, the course will work with as few as 2-3 days of practice on an actual kit. (In fact, I tell many students that 2-3 days on a real kit is superior to every day on a pad.) I built in many self-pacing features. If it takes 14 days to complete a module, those days can be back-to-back, or they can be a few-a-week. The important part is you're progressing, and the course shows you exactly how to determine if you're ready to advance to the next level.
How do I know the course will be appropriate for my level? I'm a [beginner/advanced player].
If you're a touring pro and you don't believe you need to work on fundamentals ever again, you're right - the course isn't for you. But I still work on fundamentals. I'll be practicing a Justin Tyson transcription and notice a time tendency that requires me to go back and play something basic with the metronome.
If you're advanced - I've asked several touring pros to work through the material in the course, and they told me certain things were too easy. I took those comments, and incorporated concepts and exercises that they found more than challenging. By the later modules, you're dealing with concepts and techniques that still challenge me on a daily basis. If you're advanced, you may progress quickly through the first few modules to get right to the heavy stuff, and that's great.
If you're a relative beginner - the course starts with the fundamentals, and the beauty of 12 modules is that by the time you encounter some of the most difficult material you'll be up to the task.
Bottom line - I worked with a wide range of pilot students to develop this curriculum, and made sure it was a fit.
How many modules do I get from Day One, and how long do I have access to the course for the purchase price?
From Day One, I give you access to the first five modules. Beginning after 2 weeks, a new module opens each week. I do this to give it the look and feel of a college syllabus, and the sense that you're progressing.
All 12 modules are yours for life for the single purchase price. If you do the premium program, even if you cancel the coaching portion, the course is still yours to keep.
What do I get with the DIY and Premium versions of the course?
The DIY gives you the complete, "gameified" curriculum, with over 96 individual videos, most of them with transcriptions, PDFs of the weekly practice template for each stage, instructions for recording yourself at the end of each stage, and questionnaires to grade your progress and determine if it's time to "move on" to the next module. I like to say it's like Rosetta Stone for the drums.
The Premium, which I offer only to a limited number of students because it requires my time, offers everything above, with the addition of a submission for at the end of each module, with which you can submit your recordings to me, and I'll give you pointers, show you what to spend more or less time on, and ultimate let you know if you should go onto the next level. The premium is a monthly subscription you can cancel at any time and still keep the course.
How does the course divide jazz and non-jazz material, and do I have to pay twice for both versions?
There are two versions of the course included for a single purchase price. You don't need to do them both. There's a jazz version, for players who want to work on their Personal Drum Troupe, Time, and Idea Flow and who also want to work on jazz, and a non-jazz version for players who don't play jazz. Both include the same core curriculum, so it's useful to think of them as Regular and Extra Tasty Crispy. You don't need two fried chicken dinners. But I'll give you both for once price, then you can choose which to eat.
The jazz course covers - how to play the ride cymbal (how to really play it, since a lot of jazz players are weak at it), what to do with the left foot, how to improvise swinging grooves that sound great with a walking bass but aren't locked into "2 and 4" on the hats, how to practice the Swing 8th note, and eventually brushes and up-tempo playing in the later modules.
Anything else you want to know? Just use the form below to ask!


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Across the High Arctic: Looking to the future and honouring the past
Published Friday, October 20, 2017 2:30PM EDT
As our vessel approached Bellot Strait -- a natural, narrow corridor above Boothia Peninsula, the Northernmost part of Canada's mainland -- things didn't look good.
In fact, Captain Stéphan Guy put the Coast Guard on standby in case we needed rescuing. But even with emergency backup, it could take five days for help to arrive.
Luckily, ice conditions improved dramatically as we got closer to the Northwest Passage. And worry gave way to wonder.
I always knew this would be the defining moment of our journey. And demand for this leg of the Canada C3 voyage was the highest. After all, it's not every day you get to travel through such a storied waterway -- a coveted trade shortcut explorers had long attempted to discover, but died trying.
Sir John Franklin and his 128 men perished in these waters after departing England in 1845 aboard two ships. The Terror was only recently discovered in 2016, and The Erebus two years earlier -- more than a century after they vanished.
It took more than 20 hours to grind through the thick chunks of ice -- pounding with enough pressure to rock the boat and produce a deafening sound. Imagine a car barreling through a brick wall. I remember being blown away by what I was seeing, hearing, sensing. All of it happening against the backdrop of a golden sunset shimmering on the Arctic waters.
There was more: Prince Leopold Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary, with gigantic sandstone and limestone cliffs 265 metres high, a nesting habitat for birds in the summer; Croker Bay, where we tasted water from a glacier tens of thousands of years old; the breathtaking vistas of Sirmilik National Park; the experience of trying paddle-boarding (and failing miserably) in pristine, crystal clear waters.
But along with the captivating natural beauty, there are fears for the future. We saw sailboats in the Northwest Passage. Sailboats. A sign that the ice here is melting, threatening food sources Inuit have long relied upon. And tourism is on the rise as a result of more open waterways. There are more cruise ships passing through -- sometimes with more people on board than the populations of the towns they're traveling to.
It's just one of the issues that was top of mind for participants, especially the Inuit ones, who either live -- or were born -- here. A major part of the C3 voyage is also to shed light on Canada's dark past: forced relocation, residential school abuses, and the overall colonial legacy, which continues to impact Northern communities.
Many of these conversations happened inside the Canada C3 Legacy room, built in consultation with the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund -- a powerful way to keep both of their memories alive: the late Canadian singer whose evocative music and iconic lyrics resonated across the globe, and the 12-year-old boy who died of hunger and exposure trying to find his way home after running away from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ont.
The point Inuit participants wanted to make is that even though the journey was about celebrating Canada's 150th, it was also about honouring the past, and that communities existed here long before July 1, 1867.
The vessel served as a powerful symbol of a remarkable voyage: not only of discovery, but also about a journey to come to terms with Canada's historical scars.
W5: North by Northwest airs Saturday at 7pm on the main CTV Network and 10pm on CTV2. It can also be viewed later at W5.CTVNews.ca or the Official W5 YouTube Channel.


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As a running tradition for 28 years, Arvest Bank hosted the annual Shawnee Academic Letter Jacket Program, an honor reception for Shawnee High School Seniors who have been in the top five percent of their senior class. This year, 15 letter jackets were awarded to students who have high expectations for themselves and have proved it in the years at Shawnee High.
Chris M. Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arvest Bank in Shawnee, Okla., said "Arvest is proud to continue to honor these students by sponsoring the academic letter jackets. In the past, comments about where previous letter jacket recipients are today made us realize what an esteemed group of kids these are as they have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professionals."
The nearly three decade relationship between Arvest Bank and Shawnee High School with this event has formed a special bond between the two, as well as with the community as a whole. It reassures students that they have support from people other than family and teachers, exemplifying and bringing in to light the importance of academia and doing well in school. "It takes three groups to achieve this award: the parents and family who support, encourage and help their child to excel throughout their school years; the teachers and administration for the direction and guidance through each year; and of course the student with the tenacity necessary to stay committed to achieve this honor," Clark said.
Best of luck to the Shawnee Senior High School Students on their future endeavors.
Submitted questions will be answered by an Arvest banker and may appear on the Arvest Blog.
All Arvest banks are Equal Housing Lenders and Member FDIC.
Investment products and services are provided by Arvest Investments, Inc., doing business as Arvest Asset Management, member FINRA/SIPC, an SEC registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Arvest Bank. Trust services are provided by Arvest Bank. Insurance products are made available through Arvest Insurance, Inc., which is registered as an insurance agency. Insurance products are marketed through Arvest Insurance, Inc., but are underwritten by insurance companies.
Securities and Insurance Products: Not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by a Bank or any Bank Affiliate.


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On June 12, 2014 the United States Supreme Court handed down its opinion in Clark v. Rameker, 573 U.S. ____ (2014). The Court held unanimously that retirement funds inherited by a beneficiary from the original plan participant are not considered to be "retirement funds" within the meaning of the federal bankruptcy exemptions found at 11 U.S.C. §522(b)(3)(C). As a result, a debtor's bankruptcy trustee may consider the inherited IRA to be an asset of the bankruptcy estate, available to satisfy creditors' claims. This could be a disastrous result if your IRA beneficiary is involved with a bankruptcy, either now or sometime in the future.
Importantly, the Court found that inherited IRAs do not operate the same way as an individual's own retirement account. A participant's own IRA is subject to early withdrawal penalties if taken out early, and an inheritor of an IRA must take out distributions from the inherited account either within 5 years of the plan participant's death, or over the individual beneficiary's remaining life expectancy as calculated under tables issued by the IRS determining annual Minimum Required Distributions.
Clark v. Rameker argues strongly in favor of setting aside retirement accounts that will pass upon the death of the plan participant into a special type of trust designed to both protect the inheritance from future creditors of the beneficiary, but also to ensure that the trust qualifies as a Designated Beneficiary under IRC §401(a)(9)(e) and the Regulations promulgated under that Section. These are sometimes called Retirement Plan Trusts.
Often, people assume that a spouse or child who inherits an IRA will use the most tax efficient strategy and distribute the IRA over the longest period of tax deferral allowed under the law. This rarely happens as IRAs tend to fall into the category of most inherited assets – more like lottery winnings or "found money" that end up being spent rather than saved for the future.
If a Retirement Plan Trust is right for you will depend on your ultimate planning goals. Generally, the Retirement Trust is established as a third-party trust for a beneficiary and is funded with retirement assets from a plan participant at death. This trust is an irrevocable, third party trust and as a result, third party trust laws will apply. In most jurisdictions a beneficiary under such a trust enjoys substantial protection from claims of future creditors. This is true because the beneficiary did not establish the trust, did not fund the trust with his or her own assets, and cannot modify the terms of the trust. If the beneficiary does not serve as trustee but has an independent trustee with purely discretionary power over trust distributions, the asset protection will be greater still.
In order for a Retirement Trusts to qualify as a "Designated Beneficiary" under IRS rules, it must be carefully drafted. In addition, the Required Minimum Distributions must be taken out annually in order to avoid a possible tax penalty. Charitable beneficiaries, certain distribution standards, and certain powers of appointment all have the potential to cause the trust to fail as a Designated Beneficiary. If this happens, the entire inherited IRA must be withdrawn within 5 years of the plan participant's death. However, when drafted properly, the Retirement Plan Trust will not only qualify for the stretch-out of the inherited IRA, but it will also safeguard the inherited account from the creditors of the trust's beneficiary.
The rules surrounding the use of trusts and IRAs are frequently misunderstood. As a result, it is important to work with a qualified estate planning or elder law attorney with experience in the area of inherited IRAs. Financial advisors are often counseled by their firms that trusts and IRAs are incompatible so often there is conflicting advice between the financial advisor and legal professional. Be sure to get all the information before you make a decision.


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#Python 2.7.5
orderFile = open('Source.csv','r')
customOrderFile = open('Target.csv','r')
orderLines = orderFile.readlines()
customOrderLines = customOrderFile.readlines()
orderSet = set(orderLines);
customOrderSet = set(customOrderLines);
print orderSet - customOrderSet;
#Response is below. Exactly, what I wanted to see.
set(['492023-13942389\n', '492023-139584\n', '492023-139325\n', '492023-13939\n', '492023-13945\n', '492023-1394545\n'])
Very simple. right? For a one-off, writing a script in Perl, Python or whatever your favorite language is fine. However, it is unfair to expect QA Analysts, Engineers to write scripts for their regular job. Few problems that often surface are:
1. There is already enough work to do. Not many want to learn something new.
2. There may be no common framework: The version of the scripting language may be different on each user's machine or worse yet, each user may prefer to write scripts in languages of their choice.
3. Let's say we want to do regression testing on a bi-weekly basis (at the end of every sprint), how can we schedule them? Write another script? :)
4. When we want to connect different databases (Netezza etc), we need specific drivers for each type. Painful!
5. How do you get reporting on top of the results?
6. How can you notify all the stakeholders?
Answers are not easy! So, to the extent possible, it is always better to have a consistent framework across all the business units within an organization to solve data testing challenges. ETL Validator provides you exactly what you need without writing code. Check it out! You will love it.


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My heart beats for the synergy between living things- most of all human beingness.
I strive to create experiences that shove people's faces in pie. I want to wake people up even more! Make them laugh uncomfortably! Feel! QUESTION! Challenge the norm! Feel brave enough to be whoever! DANCE hard! Get weird!
This life I've been living has been charmed so far- so I live this gift like an art project and do what I can to enable others to do the same- I create darkly comic political satire; I perform on stage with every ounce of pleasure I have in me; I produce Morning Gloryville- a space where people can express themselves without judgement, feel embraced by a community, experience natural highs and authentic connections. Looking forward I want to tap more into my role as a healer and explore bodywork healing on people suffering from trauma.
I believe that giving the body what it needs- nourishment and movement- is where everything begins and ends. So everything I do- the theater I create, the parties I produce- involves total physical engagement.
Lately, I am VIBING off of feminine energy and sisterhood. I want to connect all of the brilliant and beautiful women I've met all over the world, collect more and start a new world order that is feminist, socialist and nature-worshipping. For real though. Trying to dismantle the weird f-d up knots we've inherited through patriarchy, colonialism, capitalism, white-supremacy... etc. etc. I've got some ladies in my life who have been fighting these forces on the front lines- I want to stand with them.


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Chief Scientific Officer Dr. David Vollmer: "This patent covers the composition, manufacturing, and preservation of transfer factors in a liquid delivery format. It was constructed with over 30 unique and exclusive nutritional supplement claims, including the addition of various antioxidant fruit components currently represented in RioVida."
Patents provide independent distributors with exclusivity, protection, and scientific credibility.
Founder and Chairman of the Board David Lisonbee: "Since 1998, 4Life has built upon its product innovation, exclusivity, and patent acquisition. Patents play a fundamental role in 4Life science and take years to procure. We invest heavily in their acquisition to protect the businesses of distributors for generations to come."
4Life has offices in 24 markets to serve a global network of independent distributors and their customers.
For more information:
Calvin Jolley
Vice President, Communications
4Life Research USA, LLC
[email protected]
You are trying to view a My4Life page. Please log out in order to view this website.


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Ferrari 458 Speciale
Ferrari's 458 Speciale is part of CEO Luca Cordero di Montezemolo's strategy to boost the Fiat Group brand's profitability with customized versions of its vehicles while restricting their availability to enhance the marque's reputation for exclusivity.
Ferrari plans to reduce deliveries by 400 cars this year to about 6,900 vehicles. The 458 Speciale has the brand's most powerful naturally aspirated V-8 engine, which produces 596 hp compared with the 558 hp developed by the 458 Italia.


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Allan Wade Houston (born April 20, 1971) is a retired American professional basketball player for the NBA, and currently the Assistant to the President for Basketball Operations, for the New York Knicks. Currently Houston spends his time helping a plethora of different charity and non-profit organizations.
Houston was born in Louisville, Kentucky and played at Ballard High School in Louisville, helping them to win the 1988 Kentucky state championship. He went on to play at the University of Tennessee (where he played under his coach and father Wade) and graduated in 1993 as the school's all-time leading scorer, and he is currently second to Chris Lofton at Tennessee for three point field goals made. He was roommates with UT baseball standout Brody Hendrix. Houston is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Houston was selected 11th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1993 NBA Draft, and averaged 8.5 points per game in his rookie year. His average was raised to 14.5 and 19.7 points per game in the next two years.


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This isn't a full episode. Just a little update on what we've been up to, with some very silly audio of my daughter. (What can I say? It's been a silly summer!) There's also an important announcement about the future of this podcast and some news on my daughter's love life (and mine too!).
Music credits: "Fudge" by Gillicuddy


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Couples Counseling
My fee for a standard 50-minute session is $150 for couples. Payment options include cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. I do not accept insurance. If you require a sliding scale fee, I have a limited number of spots available. Please contact me and I'll be happy to discuss your options.
I utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) when working with couples. EFT is an evidence-based model developed by Dr. Sue Johnson.
- EFT helps to create a secure emotional bond with your partner.
- EFT has over 20 years of empirical research.
- Studies have shown that 70%-75% of couples "recover" and almost 90% improve significantly.
- EFT is effective for all couples, straight or LGBTQ.
We all need secure emotional bonds so the healing process is similar for all of us. Emotion will be expressed differently by every couple and so EFT focuses on the unique interactions within each relationship in order to rekindle your bond with your partner. Additional information can be found at the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Premarital Counseling
Haven't had your big day yet? I very much enjoy working with couples -- straight or gay -- as they prepare for marriage. Premarital work focuses on issues such as marriage myths, relationship expectations and goals, finances, communication, living arrangements, sexual and emotional intimacy, family, and children. Premarital counseling is psychoeducational and time-limited, usually 6-8 sessions.
Please give me a call at 718.909.0019 if you would like to discuss your relationship. You also can email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The new year is upon us. This gift guide is all about products that will make the transition into setting goals and making your dreams come true a bit smoother. We put together gifts that fit a number of resolutions. Travel more, get fit, sleep better or de-clutter; whatever your resolution is, make it achievable.
Goals cannot be met without a good night's sleep. The Good Night LED Household Light Bulbs supports your body's natural melatonin production, the hormone necessary for good sleep. This lightbulb will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night.
Help someone you love break a dangerous habit. The Natural Stop Smoking Kit has been proven to reduce cravings and help someone who has been trying to quit smoking finally succeed.
Visual inspiration is extremely important when working to reach your goals. The The Original My Cinema Lightbox is a creative and fun way to always keep 'words to live by' around.
Physiclo Pro Resistance workout leggings have Built-in Resistance Band Technology. The first of its kind, this pant is said to boost fitness results. The built-in bands generate up to ten pounds of force to improve power, endurance and agility. They are available for men and women.
In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, author Marie Kondo breaks down the importance of cleaning and organizing your space. This book is the perfect gift for anyone who promises to organize their life this year.
Do you know someone who has resolved to improve their home? The WolfWise 9 Piece Garden Tools Set and Stanley 65-Piece Homeowner's Tool Kit both make the perfect gift to get them started on the home of their dreams.
Plan out your best life with The SELF Journal the perfect agenda, planner and notebook to achieve goals, increase productivity and happiness.
Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Luxury Las Vegas will earn a commission if you click through to make a purchase.


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Treatmix 006 – James Moss
Treatmix 006 is from Treatment Brighton resident, James Moss. With tracks from the likes of Audiojack, Jonas Rathsman, Leon Vynehall and Daniel Avery, this one will have your toes tapping from start to finish.
Track List
Audiojack – Winding The Box
Coeo – Lover's Theme
Moon Boots – Whatever You Need
Beesmunt Soundsystem – How I Wish
Mountal – Doma
The Checkup – The Race
Jonas Rathsman – Hope I'm Wrong
Forget Me Not – Evil
Shiba San – Okay
Martijn – Wub Wub
Darius Syrossian – Velvette
Leon Vynehall – I Get Mine, You Get Yours
Palace – Touch Me
Jamie Hustle – Night People
Gerd – Still Believe
Junior Jack – Thrill Me
Glimpse – LED
Deux Tigres – El Tigre (You Are Me Remix)
Khora Khora – Give Me Everything
Jaymo & Andy George – 1-900-RUMBLE
Daniel Avery – Knowing We'll Be Here (KiNK Remix)


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I want us to join hands as a nation and get a hold of the architect who has convinced hotel owners in Uganda that it makes sense to have the shower and toilet constructed this way. Once we have him or her in our grasp we will take a decision on the next course of action – but it should be decisive.
This man or woman is out there, and judging from the age of most of these hotels, should be about fifty or sixty years old now. This person is also influential and must be considered warped in perspective, and dangerous to the general comfort of all humans.
This is a matter of hygiene, aesthetics, self-esteem and basic decency.
No other country in the world has provided for this phenomenon within brick, cement and plaster. The juxtaposition of toilet and shower made sense in the outdoors, back when one only had to identify an empty space within which to place a bucket and water.
Now, in 2014: it is stupid.
You cannot – must not – place a shower head right above a toilet seat.
No, wait – let's start with the toilet itself.
First of all, squat toilets should not be provided for in any place where we are paying any amount of money for accommodations that is more than the price of five roadside chapatis. There can be no negotiation around this point.
Secondly, when the right toilet fixture is provided for, it must not be elevated above floor level. We, the paying customers, housekeeping staff or even casual observers to whom this is all quite entertaining, do not agree with this set-up. I have asked many people and we are of one voice.
I repeat: the toilet must not be elevated. There is no point in doing this. Nobody likes to sit on a toilet and balance off it using their haunches. We want to use the toilet with our feet placed firmly on the ground – not for traction to aid the process, even though that may sometimes be necessary, but because the distraction of one's feet dangling a couple of metres off the ground is distressing enough to delay the biological process that brings us to these places. That's why there has been no mention anywhere in history of human beings climbing trees as part of their toilet!
This also applies to the pit latrines that require the user to climb up a flight of stairs<— but that's another rant altogether, aiming at the abolition of pit latrines altogether.
Third, the architect responsible for our hotel discomforts neglected to level the floors in such a manner that the water flow from the shower goes to the corner with drainage. It is hard to understand why this is not obvious.
The toilet-shower is like a pot-hole after it has rained, complete with bits of grit and gravel. This is an upcountry hotel, so even walking from the car to the reception gets you enough dirt underfoot to muddy the toilet-shower within two steps inside – which is normally the breadth of the room itself.
And of course, the hotel management will not provide bathroom slippers. When they do, the damn things are made of hard rubber and have bits cut out of them to discourage theft, but which have your feet making contact with the floor.
Surely, you'd think, the architect could have made the shower floor recess a little below the floor of the rest of the room? No chance!
Of course we have to be thankful that the tilt of the floor is not in the direction of the bedroom chamber – because that sometimes happens, too!
Of course there are no bath mats! What are we talking about here? Focus!
Yes – I have slept in a room where after taking a bath-shower I dried myself off and gave the floor a few minutes to drain of all water before crossing back to the bedroom part of the room. I emerged to find that the water was actually draining INTO the bedroom part instead of the drainage hole!
My enraged bellowing got hotel staff into the room well enough, but they did not understand the problem because "but the bed is not wet" and therefore I could still use it to sleep on.
Fourth, the positioning of that shower head over the toilet. It's the architect to blame, hands down.
Why? Seriously, biki ebyo?
This has to STOP! It is 2014! We cannot be bathing indoors as if it is 500BC outdoors!!!!!
We have all been in that position: In the middle of toilet activity, feet dangling off the ground and all concentration placed on doing the deed against all odds. All of a sudden, totally unexpected, the shower above you releases a few drops of icy cold water right onto your nape!
Because the damn plumbing fixtures are never tight! And the shower units themselves never work properly. <—this is also another rant altogether, in which we will hope for the execution of all plumbers and for the bill to be directed to their parents.
When you are ready to actually take your shower, many times you discover that because of the positioning, the shower can only be bad by straddling the toilet seat.
And this is ANOTHER reason for the damn toilet NOT to be constructed on an elevated height.
So you're forced to use the basin – provided for this very reason – to 'fetch' water and then ensconce yourself in the corner next to the toilet. The use of the basin leads to an inevitable amount of splashing, unless one is of such a small size that the basin can be turned into a bath.
Being of such a small size is essential for one to comfortably make use of these upcountry toilet-showers – and few of us are actually that size. My children, for instance, tell me that they have no problem using the shower because they place the basin next to the toilet, stand inside of it, and then use the shower overhead – but that's because they are standing at one end of the basin, not in its centre. I CANNOT fit there. I CAN stand inside a basin with both feet, but once I have done that all movement has ended.
And the reason I can only use one corner of the toilet-shower room is another installation of our architects that I cannot justify and yet is somewhat necessary – the wash basin a.k.a. sink.
The sink that is affixed to the wall at an angle that ensures water pours off its sides onto the floor. The sink with a tap that is set so close to the wall that you can only wash a few fingertips at a time, and yet has such strong water pressure that it shoots out and wets your trouser front the moment you place finger on it.
It is always positioned in such a way that you have suck in your stomach to go in between it and the toilet to get to that corner of the toilet-shower room from which you proceed to splatter everything with your ablutions.
That corner is also where the broken toilet paper holder is, and where the hotel housekeeping staff place the toilet paper roll after cleaning up.
You will only discover this at a critical hour of the morning. And no amount of complaining is logical because even if the toilet paper were placed on the cover of the non-functioning toilet cistern, it would have gotten wet while you showered.
And by the way, I have considered that maybe the shower head is positioned above the toilet because the toilet cistern doesn't work, so your shower automatically flushes the loo but we should not allow this to continue!!!
We also should force all hotel owners to take a shower in their own bathroom-toilets early in the morning every day for a week. When they realise the discomfort involved in approaching that cubicle first thing in the morning after having used it the night before, the error of their construction will become clear. Then we should make them share the room with their plumbers so they understand what it's like to have two people use the same toilet-shower for any single activity within any twelve-hour window of any given day.
That's not punishment, it's only a preamble. Punishment is if they are made to pay accommodation fees at hotel rates. Tusaba gavumenti etuyambe!


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Henk Schiffmacher
Showing 1-1 of 1 item.
The Mingins Photo Collection
1288 Pictures of Early Western Tattooing from the Henk Schiffmacher Collection
University of Washington Press, Amsterdam Tattoo Museum
Mingins's scrapbooks convey a beautiful overview of the world of tattoos and attitudes toward them during the first half of the 20th century.
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