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Friday, July 8, 2011
Have you Started Planning Your Fall and Winter Sewing?
Lately though I have been thinking a lot about my fall and winter sewing. I think it would be wise to at least have a vague idea of what I want to sew for the upcoming seasons. You see, I have been entertaining the crazy idea of making a coat this winter. Nothing too detailed or exciting, but just a simple coat that doesn't need three months worth of tailoring and ten miles of thread to pad stitch with. I suppose my recent acquisition of some wool is to blame for this sudden desire. I have also came to the realization that if I truly wish to make a coat, I am going to have to put some forethought into it if I want to finish it while it's still cold out. Don't get your hopes up dear readers, since this may not be one of my fantasy projects that comes to fruition anytime soon.
When I am not day dreaming about sewing a coat, I've been dreaming about sewing pieces to match things that are already in my wardrobe. I have lots of cute jackets and the like that I just don't seem to own the "perfect" shirt to accompany. It would be so amazing to reach into the closet, pull out a jacket, and know that there are coordinating pieces to match. So, I suppose my other tentative sewing plan is to make pieces to match the loners in my closet.
Oh, so many plans and so little time! So, readers, I want to hear from you. Do you plan your sewing or do your prefer to wing it? Do you make lists and rarely stick to them like me? Are you a meticulous planner who already knows what they'll be sewing in 2012? I want to hear your lovely thoughts!
5 comments:
In the past I was pretty willy nilly about my sewing plans, and my lack of finished projects is a testament to how well that works. Due to my current circumstances (moving to another country) I've had to really buckle down and plan. I find I really like it and I think it will really increase my productivity.ReplyDelete
I also want to make a coat this fall. I finally realized that 4 animal print coats doesn't cut it. Sometimes you really just need a solid color. So my goal for the fall is to sew a black trench coat. A fairly lofty goal for me. Perhaps we can help keep each other accountable. :)
PS: I should have a post on wardrobe planning up on my blog soon if you want to take a look. :)
When I get fabric, I usually have a plan for it or a pattern I want to use it with. As for actually knocking out said project... erm.... yeah. My ambitions exceed my time. Some fabric (for skating costumes) I buy way far in advance (like 2-3 years...) because I never know when I will find something unique. Since we have a fairly regular competitive season each year, I do try to plan out my skating sewing fairly rigidly.ReplyDelete
As for other types of fabric... I usually buy with a plan in mind, but I get distracted by other things, or my projects take longer than I expected, or don't turn out and I have to remake them... Yeah.
So to keep all of these things from bouncing about in my brain, I keep several sewing lists. One is for upcoming projects I want to make, and while I try to stick to the list, it isn't rigid, and things move up and down as necessary. I also keep a list of Burda magazine patterns I want to make, so I can remember what I liked in each issue.
However, I don't really do much wardrobe planning. I don't really think about clothes for various seasons as much as many people do because our seasonal weather shifts are quite a bit more mild here. So what I might consider dead of winter sewing, someone else would probably consider early fall. I do try to make things I think I would use in the near future, but this year I have done so much sewing for special events, I haven't done a lot of sewing with the intent of wardrobe building. Sadly, most of the clothes in my wardrobe are rather ill fitting at the moment (when you can pull on jeans without undoing the zipper or the button, it is time for new jeans). On the other hand, I have gotten so picky with fit I don't want to buy new clothes because in many cases I could make it so it fit better.
So I guess this is my plan for the rest of summer: sew up some pants that I need in a few weeks, then make my sister a winter coat. By that point, it will probably be fall. If I have time I might whip up a skirt for her before she leaves. Although I have been wanting to make myself a coat, I think after all of the complicated projects I have done in the first half of the year (and sewing for other people...), I will probably want to try some tops that I can wear year-round, and also various pants patterns that I have been dreaming about since April. Long-term projects include a rain coat and a wool coat, but I think some instant gratification type projects are in order this fall.
I can relate to this. I was just thinking the other day about planning my fall wardrobe and saw your post on the same. Now that I'm sewing a lot, I want to plan for my fall-winter wardrobe and get some nice clothes made for the fall. We'll see.ReplyDelete
I love to make list but like you I rarely make what I plan because I can't stick to my fabric choices.ReplyDelete
Oh my god, I am like that too. I make countless list and plans but often deviate from them, lol.ReplyDelete


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The Downs, Altrincham
Property Features
- Modern One Bedroom Apartment
- Centrally Located in Altrincham
- Modern Fitted Bathroom and Kitchen
- Ideally Located Close to Metrolink
- High Specification Interior Finish
- New Development
- Ideal for professional tenants
- Ideally Located for Restaurants and Town Centre Shopping
- White Goods Integrated
- Available Mid August 2019
Property SummaryAvailable mid August 2019. Gorgeous one bedroom apartment, with furniture optional for a slightly higher rent, located right in the centre of Altrincham! With a lovely array of shops and restaurant on your doorstep. Just five minutes stroll to the metro and train station. Recently converted and fitted out to a very high specification!
Full Details
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION Beautifully finished one bedroom apartment, located in the heart of Altrincham with nice restaurant and shops on the doorstep. Fitted out with the highest quality fixtures throughout to accommodate luxury living. The apartments were converted recently, the kitchen is fitted with new appliances (washer, dishwasher, fridge-freezer) and the bathroom also decorated and finished to a high standard. Just a short walk away from Altrincham Metrolink and train station, along with all of Altrinchams local amenities such as the extensive choice of restaurants, bars and shopping.
This apartment is a one bedroom apartment with one bathroom, and includes a generous open plan living/dining area with modern fixtures and fittings. The property is available from mid-August 2019.

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Vinnie, Chris and Pete star in the bloody chiller that just gets better with age.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
The Fly on Film4, 29 January, 3pm
Help me! Please help me! Vinnie stars in the all-time classic. What batter way to spend a winter's afternoon?
Leave Her to Heaven, Channel 4, 29 January, 1.20pm
The divine Gene Tierney gives Cornel Wilde the runaround in the classic 1945 melodrama.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Vincent Price Presents #14 is now available in stores from Bluewater Productions. The issue is written by Mel Smith and Paul H. Birch, with art by Adriano and a fantastic cover by Mel Smith.
Here's how Bluewater describes the issue: 'Dr. Phibes is back in another new adventure. As the new world prepares to ring out the old millennium, Inspector Trout arrives in New York City to be greeted by a series of macabre murders and the knowledge that his arch-nemesis, Dr. Anton Phibes is behind them!'
Vincent Price Presents #14 is 32 pages, costs US$3.99 and is as collectable as the previous issue, below.
Vincent Price #13. 'Investigating a bad actor's death, Inspector Trout joins Thanatos, a mysterious man involved with Dr. Phibes' past, into a journey to London's sewers. They, they discover what happened to the master of bizarre murder.'
Masque of the Red Death Collectors Model
We can't wait for the September release of this fantastic new 12" collector's figure.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
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Friday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LYCC, second grade teachers from all over Cleveland County came to Gardner-Webb University for a Literacy Event hosted by the School of Education.
The students and teachers got to hear from children's book authors and illustrators, participate in readings and other fun active events in different parts of campus.
Photos by Megan Hartman, Madison Hyleman, and Dylan Charles


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We have just returned from a stay at this apartment and I can truly say it was one of the best experiences. The apartment is beautiful and the views are absolutely amazing! We had a group of 6 adults and two children, there was more than enough space for everyone. The location is perfect with many attractions just on your doorstep or a short metro ride away. As for the hosts I have never dealt with such helpful hosts before, they went out of their way to make our stay as easy as possible. I would highly recommend this apartment and we will be returning for another stay next year! Shaminder Quite, safe for kids , and lovely place to stay with your family.
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Wonderful location Free parking All you need around you Easy communication with the people And much more things. Pleasant stay and good people you deal with Habib First class house, panoramic view of the entire Palm Island. Housing cleanliness, complete supporting facilities.
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Private Beach Residence with beautiful pool - Palm
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Nice Studio In Down Town Host met me in person even tho my trip got delayed twice and i arrived very late after midnight and I didn't even have phone service due to a glitch, he contacted me via (Hidden by Airbnb) and provided the location and even met me outside when i arrived and gave me a card and a key, as well as, showed me my particular parking spot in the building's garage. The view on this particular apartment is very good. Super clean and stylish. Also within walking distance to Dubai mall (7-10 minutes walking) Prime location in downtown.
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Private Beach Residence with beautiful pool - Palm
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Appartamento molto grande e spazioso , adatto a chi ama condividere con amici , posizione molto comoda per gli spostamenti in altre zone al di fuori della palma
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Luxurious High Floor Duplex 3 Bedroom Apartment Place is just perfect for what we needed. Clean, tidy with all the needed furniture and kitchenware. Too much soap which is always a good thing. In our view it had a bit too much furniture and less of the kitchen items like salt or pepper which I think could have been useful. However there is a Supermarket below and a pharmacy both of which were very useful. Also being part of a Hotel was very handy it offered great restaurants and a bar downstairs for me to spend time away from the kids. About the hosts in short money hungry despite clearly staying that checkout is needed at a later hour they still insisted checkout to be at 12pm unless we pay an amount. You don't experience such a treatment at hotels and to be honest I have not experienced it at other Airbnb locations I have used. The team that delivers the property to you are very professional and helpful. They go through extra length to make sure your stay is comfortable.
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text: The Earl of Sandwich may take all the credit for this genius food's name, but people have been putting ingredients between bread since the earliest recognizable sandwich in 110 BC (bitter herbs between two pieces of matzo). Now almost half of all Americans eat a sandwich every single day—and there's no shortage of options to choose from. Nearly every country and region has its own take on this classic. Cubans are famous for taking a ham and cheese sandwich to new heights by combining ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard and pressing it between two slices of Cuban bread to create a crispy, melty meal that will make your mouth water. New Yorkers love a hot pastrami on rye with a slathering of mustard, while New Englanders opt for a luxe lobster roll in the summertime. F&W's guide to sandwiches covers all your favorites, no matter where you're from.


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I have a new favorite snack that is so easy, tasty and healthy. A friend gave me the idea for this a while ago (Thanks, Dana!).
- 1 bag organic plain popcorn (An option: Newman's Own Organics — go for the no salt, no butter variety)
- a really good drizzling of extra virgin olive oil (probably 1 tbs total)
- 1 – 2 tbs of Brewer's Yeast Powder *not the flakes (Easily found at your local healthfood store. One option: NOW Foods)
- sea salt to taste
- mix it all up
- Enjoy!
So it's a combination of fiber + good fat + B-complex vitamins. The Brewer's Yeast actually makes the popcorn taste a bit cheesy and I've found this is my favorite way to take it (much better than adding it to water or juice). I made this last night and I literally could not stop eating it. I love when something so nutritious is also so delicious!


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Manuela Lusso London is one of the leading bespoke retailers of menswear in London. Our tailored outfits are made from the world's finest fabrics for any formal or casual occasion: business and public speaking, family celebrations, weddings, sports events and exclusive private parties. Choose the cut that suits your unique style best, and our gifted tailors make a striking outfit for you!
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I can honestly say that these suits and shirts made by Manuela Lusso are amongst the finest I have ever had from a bespoke tailor.
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My wife was very impressed with the suit. She said it was the best cut suit I had ever purchased and she liked the fact that I had ventured outside my normal colour range. Let's catch up again in the Autumn if not before.
Manuela turns her passion for fabric, design and quality into a great product and a great service.
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I've been a customer for many years and can highly recommend Manuela's bespoke tailor services!
My husband loved his blue suit and it fits perfectly. Thank you so much for your advice and expertise in helping to make his birthday a memorable one!


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Former The Walking Dead star Michael Rooker says that he thought the show would fail, and that "middle America would hate it." While that's obviously far from what ended up happening, it's hard to blame Rooker for doubting that TWD would take off. After all, nobody knew that a serialized drama about the zombie apocalypse could even work, as it hadn't been attempted previously. Genre TV had certainly featured zombies in the past, but not in the long-form, serialized way TWD was going to.
Of course, The Walking Dead did the polar opposite of fail, quickly becoming the highest rated scripted series in all of TV. Before TWD hit, the thought of a cable drama so effortlessly topping the numbers of its competitors on the big four broadcast networks was unheard of, but that's the been status quo for so long as this point that most don't even question it anymore. Despite some ratings dips here and there, TWD still has a long way to fall before it's in much danger of losing the top spot.
Related: Michael Rooker Imagines a Lonely Walking Dead Series Finale
Rooker made his initial worries about The Walking Dead's success - or potential lack thereof - known during a Q&A session at the recent New York Comic-Con event. Here's his full quote - via ComicBook - on the matter, which lays out why exactly he thought TWD wouldn't catch on with the masses.
"It's guts and blood and chewing and eating. It's like, really weird. When I first read it, I'm thinking, 'Dude, I'm digging this, but middle America is gonna hate it — it's not going anywhere. This is obviously not going anywhere. But I'll do it because I need to pay the rent.' I got to pay my rent for a couple months."
While Rooker has been a consistently working actor in both films and TV for decades, it's amusing to learn that he thought of playing Merle on The Walking Dead as a paycheck gig that wouldn't last. He clearly believed in the material from a creative standpoint, but also thought when he took the role that it wouldn't be something he'd be attached to for that long. That just goes to show that one never knows what professional decisions might lead to an important turning point in life.
In many ways, the horribly flawed yet not entirely immoral Merle Dixon is now the character Rooker is most known for, with the possible exceptions of Yondu in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and his breakout role as the titular murderer in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. While Merle is long-since dead and buried, one wonders if Rooker might ever reprise the character again for flashback purposes. As dastardly as he could be, many fans would likely be quite glad to see him.
More: 16 Most Controversial Things The Walking Dead Has Done
The Walking Dead season 8 airs Sundays on AMC.
Source: ComicBook


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Did you know that nude is new black? Fall in love with 359 Minna ballet flats from Vionic. Genuine leather upper, breathable textile-leather lining orthotic design, what else could we want? Wide fit, ballerina slippers are as comfortable as they are versatile. Eye catching bow and snake skin toe cup bring the unique finish. Casual style pumps have microfiber covered, removable footbed containing Foot Motion Technology, it can reduce over-pronation, heel pain, knee pain, back pain and much more. Women's flats have deep heel cup for stable support and heel-forefoot strike zone on the footbed that cushions the walk. Healthy ballerinas help to align feet from the ground upwards and support correct posture. This footwear has traction pattern, TPR sole which secures durability and grip.
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Do you want to smile with confidence? If you have missing teeth, gaps in your smile or just want a more attractive smile, talk to Dr. Manju Kejriwal about smile makeover solutions available at our practice. We can put together a series of custom procedures that will take care of those flaws and rebuild damaged teeth. When you decide to undergo a smile makeover, you need the help of qualified and experienced doctors. You can count on us for both restorative and cosmetic procedures to create your new smile.
We help patients achieve their dream smiles and maintain it for years to come. We are here to change lives because we know how important having a beautiful smile is for patients of all ages. Boost your self-esteem, improve your self-confidence and just feel good about yourself each and every day with a new smile.
We use an integrated approach to rebuild and enhance the smile with natural-looking results. Whether you want to fix damaged teeth, replace missing teeth or just want straighter teeth, we are here to help you achieve the results you want.
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Take a look at our before and after photos, review patient testimonials, and schedule a consultation with Dr. Kejriwal to learn more about our smile makeover solutions.


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Business 24-7 Reviews the New iPhone 7 – Check out What is Inside!
In the UAE, the iPhone 6 is far and away the most popular mobile phone and smartphone in the region. According to the UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), the iPhone 6 actually takes up a whopping 4.48% of the overall mobile phone market share, nearly doubling the second most popular model, the Nokia 108 at 2.92%, and the second most popular smartphone model, it's older cousin the iPhone 5S (2.39%).
What does all of this mean for the UAE smartphone market?
With rumors of the new iPhone 7 possibly hitting the UAE market sometime around September 16th, it's more than certain that the UAE's love for Apple smartphones will continue. Here's what you need to know about the new iPhone 7 and what it means for your older iPhone 6 models and accessories.
One of the first changes in the market due to the iPhone 7 release date rumors is the cost of the most recent iPhone release, the iPhone 6S.
Previously, buying a 16GB iPhone 6S online would have cost approximately Dh1,999, but since the rumors of the 7's release date, online offers for as low as Dh1,899 have been spotted. It's assumed this price drop is a reaction to new iPhones soon to hit the open market, however, it may also be an effect of slowing sales for Apple.
The global drop in iPhone sales is estimated to be around 15% quarter-to-quarter. NASDAQ listed Apple stock (AAPL) reflects the downturn in iPhone and other Apple product demand hovering around the $108USD mark showing a year-over-year loss of several dollars per share, even after bouncing back from a horrendous late April nosedive.
The rumors of the new iPhone release though have both investors and consumers interested in Apple again.
One of the biggest rumored changes to the new handset is the lack of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. That means any wired headphone or earbud upgrades current iPhone users have made could go to waste, or they will need to run through adapters that connect via the iPhone's Lighting connector, if they switch to the newer model.
Other changes to the new handset include a pressure sensitive home button designed to mimic the feel of a laptop's trackpad as well as a dual lens camera, which might seem like overkill as the iPhone 6 and 6S cameras' are already fantastic.
The improved camera, which seems to be a focal point of every iPhone upgrade, is allegedly designed to capture more detailed photos than its predecessors. It's also supposedly better in low-light conditions.
The real test for how popular the new device will be for UAE residents will come when the soon expected pre-order begins. Weak pre-orders both regionally and worldwide could force Apple's hand with current pricing models, especially if existing iPhone users do more than hold on to their 6 or 6S and jump ship to a competitor device like the waterproof Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Regardless of how hot the iPhone 7 is one thing is for certain. In the UAE the smartphone wars are alive and well.


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Brandi - posted on 10/22/2009 ( 14 moms have responded )
I have gestational diabetes and my Dr. just told me that they would like to induce my labor at 38 weeks because my sugar levels continue to spike up for no apparent reason.
The Dr. also mentioned that in order to deliver that early their office requires an amniocentesis to ensure that the baby's lungs are fully developed and able to function on their own.
Has anyone else ever been told this? My sister was induced with her first child and at that time this test was not required. I'm having a hard time finding risks associated with this procedure this late in pregnancy. I have read about the risks when the test is preformed in the 1st trimester. Any input would be a great help, as I'm not really sure what questions I should be asking or how I should handle this new information.
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New Music: Bobby Shmurda feat. Mavado, Junior Reid, Popcaan & Jah X 'Hot N***a' (Remix)'
Brooklyn-native Bobby Shmurda has recruited Reggae's hottest artists to jump on his summer anthem track "Hot N***a."
The Epic Records-signee recruited lyrical verses from Jah X, Mavado, Junior Reid, and Popcaan to hop on the Jahlil Beats-produced melody.
Listen below.


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Twelve authoritative reviews with tables, illustrations, and references: prevalence of HIV infection in the U.S., assessment of risk for infection in occupational settings, priorities for reduction of risks in various risk-defined populations, laboratory tests for HIV infection, natural history and predictors of progression, clinical implications of HIV-2 in West Africa, management of pneumocystis pneumonia, prophylaxis of opportunistic infections, neuropsychologic problems, associated lymphomas, pruritus, and zidovudine in symptomatic disease. Subject index. (EJH)
AIDS Clinical Review 1989. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:696. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-111-8-696_1
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At the MIPTV conference in Cannes recently, there was a special mobile content VIP lunch organized by Reed Midem and sponsored by Vodafone and Buongiorno. 120 leaders from the mobile and advertising industries dined together in a beautiful beachside restaurant, and had a chance to share opinions on the current state of the industry. Companies represented included Vodafone, Alcatel, Turner Broadcasting, Ogilvy, Admob, Amobee, Nokia, TIM, Dentsu, Cap Gemini, M:Metrics, 3, Ericsson, American Express and many more.
Two of the main topics of discussion during the lunch were Mobile TV and Mobile Advertising. As part of the event, several questions about each topic were distributed during lunch, and feedback was gathered from the attendees at the end. MobiAdNews was invited to help structure this industry dialogue, as well as produce a synthesis of the conclusions. To download the full write-up CLICK HERE
Note: if you don't see a "CLICK HERE" link, then copy the following URL into your browser and the file will be downloaded: http://www.momad.tv/adserver/adclick.php?n=a87bb9a3


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PBS is proud to host the 22nd Public Broadcasters International Conference in Washington, DC, November 6-8, 2013
Online registration for PBI is now closed. Please contact Sonja Johnson at firstname.lastname@example.com or +1 (703) 739-8464 to review on-site registration options.
Important Travel Information for Attendees here:
What is PBI - Public Broadcasters International?
Alongside liberalization and commercial growth, the overwhelming trend in broadcasting in recent decades has been globalization. In light of this, since 1990 public service broadcasting executives from around the world have met annually to share experiences and ideas about how best to deal with challenges unique to public service broadcasting.
PBI was created on the initiative of, amongst others, PBS, CBC and TV Ontario in North America and was soon joined by many others including BBC, NHK, KBS, SVT, DR, NRK, SABC, RTE, and France Télévisions. Since then more than 80 public service broadcasters, representing all continents, have become members. The PBI conference usually takes place in the autumn and is hosted by a member broadcaster representing different continents on rotation. Public service broadcasters from North America, Africa, Asia and Europe have subsequently hosted conferences.
Membership not only supports international public service broadcasters, but guarantees attendance at the PBI Conference and access to the information PBI gathers (eg. broadcaster profiles). It is open to broadcasters offering programs and news for all audiences and who are required, by law or charter, to serve general public interests. PBI is not-for-profit. Membership fees, which contribute towards each annual conference, depend upon the size of the broadcaster. Associate membership is also available. Further details will be provided upon initial registration or you may email firstname.lastname@example.com.
To view the PBI statutes, please click here.
Who takes part?
Senior executives from most of the important public service media groups and union representatives (ABU, EBU, CBA, SABA) meet during the three-day conference. This provides high-level and wide-ranging debate and the development of a network of public service broadcasting leaders across the world.
PBI Conferences have previously been held:
2012 London (U.K.) BBC
2011 Singapore MediaCorp
2010 Sintra (Portugal) RTP
2009 Kyoto (Japan) NHK
2008 Arles (France) Francetelevisions
2007 Seoul (Korea) KBS
2006 Maputo (Mozambique) RM, TVM
2005 Oslo (Norway) NRK
2004 Macao (China) TDM
2003 Krakow (Poland) Polish TV
2002 Hong Kong (China) RTHK
2001 Toronto (Canada) TVOntario, CBC
2000 Cape Town (South Africa) SABC
1999 Belfast (UK) BBC
1998 Biarritz (France) Francetelevisions
1997 Washington DC (USA) PBS
1996 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) RTM
1995 Prague (Czech) CTV
1994 Stockholm (Sweden) SVT
1992 Brussels (Belgium) BRTN
1991 Toronto (Canada) TV Ontario in association with NHK


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JANUARY 2ND, 1947 FLIGHT load on the engine is at once increased and thus the r.p.m. tend to fall, and (although the boost value does not change) immediately this happens the constant-speed unit regu- lates the blade pitch to finer angles, say 30 and 28 deg., allowing the engine to speed-up to its original figure of 2,100 r.p.m. On the other hand, should the pilot start diving, the load on the engine is relieved, the "revs" tend to soar and the blade pitch is consequently coarsened until the engine r.p.m. are brought back to their selected figure. As the time-lag between enghve r.p.m. change and corrective action is very small, engine speed and boost pressure remain virtually constant. The actual power output of the engine is thus maintained at a determined value, irrespec- tive of the attitude of the machins, although naturally OPERATING LINKAGE from the engine. Meshing with the driving g^ar is an idler gear mounted on a short hollow shaft incorporating a non- return valve through which engine oil enters the unit. These gear wheels form the pump which feeds oil, via ducts in the casing, into the interior of the hollow driving- gear shaft, from which two outlets give access to the oil pipes connecting to the airscrew tubes. Inside the hollow gear shaft is the piston valve which has lands upon it and is moved by the centrifugal governor, so determining to which oil tube the high-pressure oil shall he fed. When the piston valve is in a central position IIOIIJ -outlets are blanked-off by the lands, and the high-pressure oil from the pump is by-passed back through a relief valve to the suction side of the pump. The centrifugal governor consists of two L-shaped fly- BEARING DRIVING PIN ASSEMBLY TRANSLATION BEARING UNIT The design and construction of theRoto/ 15 Geg. pitch range six-blade contra-rotating airscrew are clearly shewn m this special "Flight" cut- away drawing. How the movement of the sliding cylinder is transmitted through the operating links and translation bear- ing for pitch-change motion can easily be followed. the speed of flight is dependent upon attitude. When climbing, L for instance, the engine would be \\ .turning over at the same speed for •s*8HfJ~same boost, thus producing the same power as for level flight, but due to the finer blade pitch which permits this condition, the aircraft will not be pullett through the air for so great a distance per revolution of the airscrew, and thus the climbing speed will be lower. Constant-speed Unit The constant-speed unit is mounted on and driven by the engine, and is composed of three main elements, viz., a gear-type oil pump, a centrifugal governor, and a piston valve, all of which are housed in a three-part casing. The gear-type pump is also the drive for the centrifugal governor and comprises a driving gear mounted on a long hollow shaft, one end of which is splined to transmit the drive weights, the lower arms of which bear against the outer race of a ball bearing mounted on the end of the, piston valve. On the other side of the ball bearing is a flange against which bears a, coil spring to compensate the centri- fugal movement of the fly-weights. Above the spring is a sleeve along which are cut racking teeth to mesh with a toothed segment controlled from the pilot's cockpit. Thus, according to the position to which the segment is turned, the tension of the coil spring is either lessened or increased in order to balanGe the centrifugal moment of the fly-weights, and so determine the position of the piston valve and the consequent distribution of the oil to the
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"On Your Mark"
phrase, used to instruct competitors in a race to prepare themselves in the correct starting position. "on your marks, get set, go!"
Whether you have hundreds of questions about your first bike, or you are a seasoned athlete looking to refine your game and improve your times, On Your Mark can help. We have been there.


text: Andy Brown <abrown at daqtron.com> writes: > This patch simply adds demuxing support for AC-3 streams in DVB TS > files. In these streams AC-3 is given type 0x06 (private stream) and > includes a descriptor with either tag 0x6A or 0x7A. The code already > handles ATSC AC-3 which uses stream type 0x81. All the new patch does > is look for any stream type 0x06 that has a descriptor with the proper > tag (i.e. 0x6A or 0x7A) and if found forces it to be recognized as an > AC-3 stream. applied -- M?ns Rullg?rd mru at inprovide.com


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The Padres beat the Rockies 5-4 at Coors Field on Friday night, a fitting end to the month of August for one of the hottest teams in baseball.
San Diego has won 10 of 11 games. Their record for the month is a stellar 18-10. Only the Reds, Nationals, Rangers and Orioles had a better winning percentage in August than the Padres, and only by a few percentage points.
On Friday, Clayton Richard put together another amazing start, going 6.1 innings and allowing 3 runs to get his 12th win of the year. In the 9th inning Luke Gregerson gave up a solo home run to snap his 23-inning scoreless streak, but still hung on to get the save (Huston Street is on the mend and could be back by the end of next week).
The offense was paced by Carlos Quentin, who hit his 15th home run of the season and chased that with an RBI double. Cameron Maybin had three hits and Chase Headley had a pair of knocks and another RBI.
Headley must be morose to see August go. He drove in 31 runs in the month, most in the National League.
The Padres improve to 62-71, and believe it or not are just 9.5 games behind the Cardinals for the 2nd Wild Card spot.
I know, I know. Talking playoffs is crazy talk. But, after a 7-17 April, saying the Padres could finish the year at even .500 was nutty, too.
This is baseball. Anything can happen.


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Harvey Korman, the award-winning comedic actor who rose to fame playing second banana to Carol Burnett on her television variety series and who starred in hit movies like "Blazing Saddles" and "High Anxiety," died on Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 81.
The cause was complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm four months ago, his family said in a statement released by the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center.
A tall man known for his outlandish characterizations, Mr. Korman was nominated for seven Emmys for his television work and won four. He also was nominated for four Golden Globe awards, winning one.
"Everything he did on 'The Carol Burnett Show,' especially the Mother Marcus character, was a special favorite," his daughter, Katherine Korman, said in an interview on Thursday. Mother Marcus, which he played in drag, "was a Yiddish grandmother based on his own real-life grandmother," she said.
Mr. Korman also considered Hedley Lamarr, his role in the 1974 film "Blazing Saddles," as one of his favorites, she said.Continue reading the main story
A native of Chicago, Mr. Korman studied drama there and then tried, unsuccessfully, to break into show business in New York City.
"For the next 13 years I tried to get on Broadway, on off-Broadway, under or beside Broadway," he said in an 1971 interview.
Eventually he gave up and returned to Chicago, but he later went to California to try again. After subsisting as a car salesman and movie doorman, in the mid-1960s he began getting minor movie parts, doing voice-overs as the Great Gazoo on "The Flintstones" and winning a TV spot on "The Danny Kaye Show."
The Kaye show, which he joined in 1964, proved to be a springboard. It went off the air in 1967, but Mr. Korman soon landed a job on the Burnett show, which turned into his breakthrough. He was a natural fit with Ms. Burnett, and their weekly comedy sketches won high ratings for the show and a national audience for him.
Their performing partnership lasted for a decade, and both of their television careers faltered after they split. He became the host of "The Harvey Korman Show," which ended after one season. Ms. Burnett acquired a new cast member in Dick Van Dyke, but that partnership did not have the same chemistry. Her show ended soon after.
Crediting Ms. Burnett for giving him an opportunity, Mr. Korman once said: "We were an ensemble, and Carol had the most incredible attitude. I've never worked with a star of that magnitude who was willing to give so much away."
Ms. Burnett "loved Harvey very much," according to her assistant, Angie Horejsi, The Associated Press reported.
Mr. Korman's career was far from over after he left the Burnett show. He appeared as a guest star in dozens of television series, specials and movies as recently as 2004. His roles covered a range of styles and included voice-overs in "Garfield and Friends," Bud Abbott in "Bud and Lou," co-host of "The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration" and a guest appearance on "ER."
Mel Brooks cast him not only in "Blazing Saddles" and "High Anxiety," but also in "History of the World: Part I" (1981) and "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" (1995). His film career also included "Huckleberry Finn" (1974), "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" (1976), "Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983), "The Flintstones" (1994) and "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" (2000).
Mr. Korman reunited with a Burnett alumnus, Tim Conway, and toured the country to give live performances, reprising skits from the old shows as well as creating new material. "They had a private jet and went all over," Katherine Korman said.
Mr. Korman had two children, Maria and Christopher, by his first marriage, to Donna Elhart, and two more children, Katherine and Laura, by his second marriage, to Deborah Fritz.
Even when off stage and off camera, Mr. Korman still loved to clown, his daughter Katherine said. "He was always funny in real life," she said. "He would like to see how far he could push the limits, making people laugh. If he were here now, he would want us to be joking."Continue reading the main story


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My new and final website is MelodyLauer.com. I hope to see you there!
Category Archives: Uncategorized
You're Not Safe With A Gun
Some things are just kismet. Like Tamara Keel posting this blog this morning after my husband and I had just spent a couple of hours talking about the issue. The blog is about safety and people thinking of it as binary. You are either safe or you are not. There's either risk of injury or no risk of injury. The truth–like with many other things–is somewhere in the middle. There are "safer" ways to do things, but nothing comes without risk. It's accepting the risks for what we do that keeps us honest and actually helps mitigate those risks through our preparation for them.
A Good Example of a Bad Example
When I came into guns in my early twenties I thought I was safe. I'd grown up like many others who assume that just because a gun has been unloaded it is therefore safe. I cringe when I look back at the things I used to do with unloaded guns. If you look hard enough you might even find evidence of those things.
Then, someone told me I was being unsafe. I was schooled on the four rules of safe gun handling and I had a decision to make. Did I reject those rules under the impression that I knew better? After all, I'd made it twenty-one years without shooting myself or anyone else. Or did I admit that I was being unsafe and adopt new rules.
A Third Option
The problem here is that most people see this as Tamara suggested, a binary problem–safe or unsafe.
The fact of the matter is I'm not going to shoot myself with an unloaded gun. I know this. You know this. But I run the risk of shooting myself with a gun I think is unloaded. Therefore, it is safer if I don't point guns at myself.
I changed my practices and I don't point guns at my own appendages any more.
I do, however, accept the risks that having guns in my home and carrying them around with me is an acceptable risk.
When people say things like, "I'm safe" or "it's safe." What they are attempting to convey is that they are in a state of safety and there is no risk. When we accept that there is always a risk by the nature of the activity we are participating in (in our case, gun play) we stop deluding ourselves and start protecting ourselves through safer practices.
Thank You, Stanley Fanelli
Ten years ago I was newlywed woman working a pretty awesome job at an education center managing a science and mathematics testing database and spending hundreds of thousands of tax-payers dollars in regards to continued education for teachers and curriculum for the great state of Pennsylvania. I had just finished writing my first (and to date, only) novel and I was seriously considering pursuing a career as a secondary mathematics teacher. I showed promise to that end and had people who were encouraging me to follow that direction.
I carried a gun but I didn't work in firearms and really never intended to do so. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with my future but, to date, the most I'd done with a gun was go to the range and shoot. I hadn't even taken any official classes (PA did not have a training requirement to carry) and had been carrying for less than a year.
I was, and still am, a logical person. I knew that getting a gun for self-defense did not mean that I was suddenly a master and I determined I would only carry it if I got professional training, continued to get training, practiced regularly and was given the freedom to purchase my own gun.
Having purchased my own gun, with my first class scheduled, I found myself taking frequent trips to an indoor range to practice. They had a lady's night where the range fee was waived for women and because my husband traveled frequently in our early marriage there wasn't much to do with my time but wander the local grocery store looking for oddball cheese (I love cheese) go to the movies or go shoot. I had to conquer my fear of going to the range by myself, but after that was done I was off to the range every week by myself.
The staff there was respectful, knowledgeable and kind and I enjoyed talking to and learning from all of them. I enjoyed engaging in conversation with them and got to know all of them, well.
One of the managers was a skinny, young guy named Stanley Fanelli. And on a particular night on my way out of the range he asked me a question that changed the course of my future.
"Do you want a job?"
I didn't want a job. I didn't need a job. I was making more money part-time with more flexibility and benefits than a many make full time.
I was happy and I was woefully under-qualified for the job. My firearms experience was limited to weekly range sessions with no real instruction. My only credential was my carry permit. I struggled with my shooting and outside of the 1911 knew almost nothing about guns.
I told him as much and his response was, "Don't worry about that. If you're willing to learn, we'll teach you. But you're here all the time and seem to have a passion for it and we could use a woman like you."
So I took home an application, filled it out and took it back to the range with me a few days later. I got free range time for myself and my husband, free targets and a few boxes of free ammo as long as I was shooting rental guns. And I got paid hourly to do it. There was no downside.
From day one, I loved that job. Because I was still working in education during the day I was limited to working evenings and weekends at the gun store and range which meant a lot of dealing with customers. Any free time we had usually started with Stan asking, "Hey, do you want to learn something?"
My answer was always, "Yes!"
He taught me how to mount a scope and about checking the timing on a revolver. He taught me how to take apart almost every gun on the shelves and gave me hours on range duty so that I could watch shooters and clean range guns–a valuable time to learn about how the innards of many handguns functioned. Any used firearm that was bought was tested and he allowed me to do the test firing. When it was particularly dead he would allow me to duck into the range for a little trigger time and gave me pointers when I came out as did the other instructors on staff. Stan was also deliberate in making sure I was present for any and all learning experiences with all manner of firearms. He was also the first person who suggested I go on to get some sort of instructor credentials.
Eventually, he asked me if I would be willing to go full time.
Long story made short, I left the path of education, dived head first into guns and training and never really looked back. There have been some distractions through the years, particularly when the babies started coming along but no matter what I do or get interested in I always find myself coming back to guns and self defense. The work is challenging, fun and meaningful, the people are great and toys are cool. And I owe a majority of my little part of it to Stan.
I was fortunate to run across a man who was willing to take me on as his project but knowledgeable enough not to fill my head with crap information, secure enough in his own ego not to try to make me his fan girl and encouraging enough to remind me there was nothing I couldn't do if I was willing to learn and work hard.
If the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step Stan was the person who asked me to start moving my feet. Thank you, Stan. I'm still traveling.
The Year I Put My Gun Away
If you could put my blog into a category it would be "self defense."
To me, however, it's a little more than that. It's my story–my unique journey. If others can glean a little from my experiences and thoughts I'm honored, if not, it's no big deal. There have been times, however, when I've purposely withheld parts of this journey from my readers because I wasn't sure how what I had to say would be received. Or I may not have been ready to put it out into the virtual void. This is one of those times.
I've been hanging on to this post for almost two years and it feels like a good time to get it off my chest.
I want to tell you about my biggest "break-through" year in self defense. It was a year I learned more about how to defend myself, increased my confidence, improved my overall skills and expanded my horizons. I learned how to manage fear and angst and to trust my instincts. I learned how to manage medical emergencies, have fun and express myself in many other ways. This was one of the best years of my life.
It was the year I put my gun away.
My journey, my work, my goals have all been a means to build confidence in myself, not a tool. I chose a tool to aide in my journey, not to define it. I sought to be well-trained with a tool, not ruled by it. Guns, to me, are tools to master in a long list of other tools to master (including my sewing machine).
I have always wanted real self-defense solutions, not crutches or bandaids, platitudes or false security. So when I felt my gun was becoming a crutch I decided it was time to get rid of it–or, at least put it away for awhile.
I want to tell you about why I felt compelled to put it down and why I picked it up again and why I always knew it would find a place on my belt again, when I was ready.
While my husband and I were packing for a much-needed vacation to a place without reciprocity I felt nervous at the prospect of having to leave my gun behind. I started thinking about all the "what if" situations and wanting my gun.
I hated the feeling.
It exposed everything I'd wanted to avoid about carrying a gun in the first place. It exposed my weaknesses and my fears, my shortcomings and false security. I showed me I wasn't confident that I could protect myself without my gun. I was using that gun as a means to "feel" safer, but that didn't make me safer. It was becoming a cliche I wanted to avoid.
I honestly evaluated myself and decided it was time to rip off that bandaid, throw out the crutch and walk on my own.
I left on that trip without a gun and left it off for a year.
I still wrote about guns. I still attended firearms training. I competed in pistol matches. I just stopped carrying my gun with me in public. Almost no one but my husband knew I'd stopped carrying.
The experience wasn't all that dramatic. I mean, really, millions of people don't carry guns. They survive. I won't pretend to tell you it was some eye-opening, melodramatic test of my ability to stoically face life unarmed. If I tried that crap I hope someone close to me would throw my slippers at me.
The truth is, life went on. And it went on very well.
I started EMT school and built a custom salt-water aquarium (complete with a kick-ass sump). I was raising two kids and taking Krav Maga. I started lifting weights. My husband and I took time to focus on our marriage and took something wonderful and made it amazing. I started reading more and enjoyed my family. I felt the healthiest and happiest I'd probably ever felt and I did it all without a gun.
I didn't close my eyes to the realities of the world. I understood the risks of crime as much as I ever did. Instead of potentially ignoring those risks because, "Well, I have a gun," instead, I worked on developing the awareness, confidence and other skills I felt would be effective in defending myself. I wrote a lot about those things at the time, too, and how I felt about them.
EMT school and training taught me a lot about chaos management and built a huge amount of confidence in myself and my abilities to take care of myself and others under stress. New hobbies and interests kept me, me–always expanding and learning and wanting to experience new wonders of the world. Krav gave me more confidence and fewer feelings of being intimidated in general (an easy thing to feel when you are my size). Lifting simply made me feel stronger and healthier.
I stopped attributing unrealistic expectations on my firearm and found confidence, skill and enjoyment from living my life. Fear, enjoyment, preparedness, skill were found in myself, not in what I had on my belt.
I felt great about myself and how I'd grown.
And the day came to get my gun out of the safe, again.
Once again, I won't let you believe this was some sort of dramatic, ominous or otherwise emotional affair. It happened with all of the fanfare of someone putting a piece of toast into a toaster oven. There was no foreboding music or deep sigh for effect. It wasn't some set date on a calendar or due to meeting some arbitrary goal. I didn't feel threatened.
I simply felt ready, again.
I went to the safe, took out my Glock, checked it over, wiped it down, loaded it and put it on my belt.
And life stayed exactly the same. Better. Richer. Fuller. Happier. And, now, armed. Not because of the gun but in spite of it.
Why did I pick it back up again? After all, I made it a whole year without being mauled by bears or violently raped in a cellar.
I armed myself again because despite everything–the additional training, the confidence, the skills, techniques, knowledge and health–I am, above all, a realist. The reality is I'm still the primary individual responsible for my own safety and the safety of my children and a gun fills a self-defense void that cannot be filled with any other tool or technique in certain circumstances.
It's compact, lightweight, can be carried with you, concealed and deployed in an instant. It fires projectiles that have the capacity to stop even the most determined of attackers at a vast variety of distances. It's capacity to continue doing the above is only as limited as your ammo supply which is relatively cheap and also compact. It's an affordable, available defensive system that is effective and accessible.
It has a viable place in self defense provided it is used within the constraints of skill, the law and with respect to its limitations.
If there's a downside it's that it requires skill and understanding to use effectively and many people mistake merely having a firearm for the both skill and understanding. That delusion can be devastating.
It's been a few years of carrying regularly again and I'm happy to say that my firearm remains put in it's place, not only on my belt but also in my mind and emotions.
I enjoy firearms. I enjoy shooting them, training with them and competing with them. I don't particularly enjoy carrying them but the gun and holster choices I've made have made carrying them an easy addition to my daily life. They have a legitimate and powerful roll to play in self defense and so I carry them. If I ever feel that balance getting skewed again or something better than a firearm comes unto life's scene I will put my guns away again.
Whether I was right or wrong in putting my gun away, I don't know. It's simply my journey. It's something I felt was important for me and my life. I felt it was necessary for me to get rid of the distraction to my personal growth and that my firearm was that distraction. I did what was necessary and therefore it felt right to me.
It felt just as right to start carrying again.
If there's something to take away from this story, maybe it's to be honest with yourself. Perform a self evaluation, honestly admit what roll your firearm in playing in your life and defense and whether or not you have the skill and understanding and mindset required to carry a firearm on a daily basis. Make adjustments accordingly.
What role is your gun playing in your life?
The First Step In Defense Against Rape
Of late my focus has been on family issues with kids and self defense. So it may come as a shock to some that I'm going to take a hard left turn for a moment and talk about something a little awkward, maybe a little messy and far less straight and narrow.
Sex and self defense.
Yup! We're going there.
The Victim
News flash, for those of you who might be new to the blog: I'm a rape and sexual abuse survivor. This year was twelve years since my last rape. There were times before that. There was other sexual abuse before that. Many times. By many different men.
To say that I had a messed up sexual beginning would be an understatement. The decisions I made to get into some of the most abusive relationships of my life sprang from a viscous cycle of abuse, feelings of my self-worth being directly related to my sexuality, low self-esteem, fear, confusion over what I wanted vs what others wanted and the inability to stand up for myself.
From a very early age I learned that, "no" meant nothing to some people and it seemed to go a lot quicker and quieter if a victim simply consented to being a victim. I stopped trying to tell people no.
That mindset kept me a victim for the majority of my childhood up through middle school and high school. It kept me spiraling down a black hole of abuse, bouncing off a debris of twisted men until I landed on the bottom and into the arms of someone who wasn't content with my placid indifference to him.
It wasn't enough for him to just have me. He needed to hurt me. And he hurt me very badly.
It's hard to describe a life-changing moment. The images of light bulbs turning on or windows opening doesn't seem to do it justice. Not when you're lying in a bed, covered in bruises and staring at a sky you never thought you'd see again. When you're thankful to be alive in a very raw, real and literal way. But also knowing that it was your life decisions (or lack thereof) that put you in that place.
No, it wasn't my fault I was raped. I didn't make him beat me. I didn't ask to be choked. I didn't want what happened to me and I reject the fault for that, but I set myself up by not avoiding guys like him. I didn't shut him down when he approached me even though I had zero interest in him in any way. My ambiguity about what I wanted and what I didn't want and my inability to express those differences left me open to him deciding what direction the relationship would take. And he took it to his garage with a chain around my neck.
Had I shut him down the moment he showed up he would have moved on to another victim. Someone else just like me. But not me.
And then there was that moment.
Looking at the sky I thought I'd never see again, feeling ecstasy at the illusion of the newness of my life, I felt dread at the reality and awareness that if I continued on this road it would absolutely kill me.
The man who raped me wouldn't be the last. The last wouldn't be the worst. It might not be the next time or the next man but eventually I would end up with someone who controlled me like he did, someone who abused me and eventually beat me. Instead of letting me go, this person would marry me and just like every other man before him I would be unable to say, "no." I would be his property and when I was never good enough, never sexy enough, never faithful enough, never sorry enough, he would kill me.
And there it was. The totality of my future in one of the most painful, frightening and beautiful moments of my life. It wasn't a light bulb. It wasn't an open window. It was awareness. It was honesty. It was taking responsibility for my role in my life or what would be left of it if I didn't change.
That was my "no more" moment–my "never again." The first step on that road was changing myself.
Victim Blaming Or Honesty?
Talking about sexual abuse, rape and victims is a lot like walking a tight rope with a wet cat in each arm in the middle of a hurricane. You are bound to fall and despite your best efforts someone is going to misunderstand your message as victim blaming or perpetuating a rape culture (whatever that means).
One of the most honest conversations we should be having is turning into a sham. A ruse where we confuse between being smart and taking responsibility with blaming and being some sort of rapist sympathizer.
I'm not going to mince words and if you can't understand what I'm about to say then that is your disconnect, not mine. I do not, in any way, condone rape. I believe the sole individual who is responsible for the actions of rape and sexual abuse is the rapist or the abuser. They should incur the full wrath of the courts, society, media and everything else we can throw at them.
It is never the fault of the victim for being raped or sexually abused. Living a certain lifestyle, wearing a certain type of clothes, drinking, partying, being in a particular relationship does not mean that one deserves to be raped or abused. It does not excuse the animals who take advantage of those people. There should be a special place in hell reserved for people who say things like, "She (or he) deserved it."
Common Sense
Today, I read an article titled, "Why is Common Sense 'Blaming the Victim'?" (Please read the link, it's very good). It asks some pretty reasonable questions about how taking common sense approaches and having common sense discussion about avoiding a violent crime like rape are being misconstrued as victim blaming.
The horror of it all is that, when we shift the conversation from practical means of avoiding a violent crime to the narrative that we should be able to do whatever we want and not have to acknowledge the risks, we set up a bunch of young women for failure.
We tell them there is no personal responsibility for safety even when we expect people to take that responsibility in many other areas of their lives.
Something else the author touched on in his piece was responsibility of taking charge of your sexual desires.
But there's a troubling psychological reason that young women binge drink: they're anxious. They're self-conscious. They're uncomfortable with the sexual expectations they face (or think they face) in party situations. They expect themselves to participate in sexual activities they may not want to do—or that they can't admit to themselves that they want to do. Either way, alcohol strips young women of inhibitions that can feel quite inconvenient.
And so they drink so much that they become vulnerable. Unable to assess risk accurately. Unable to intervene in situations when they want to. Unable to say "I want X," unable to say "I don't want Y." These disabilities are the logical climax of deliberately disabling their inhibitions—all so they can cope with their ambivalence, inability to communicate, and self-enforced isolation about sexuality.
If our young women find sex so simultaneously desirable yet unnerving that they have to get semi-conscious to give themselves permission to participate, there's a serious problem we should be addressing. This is NOT anyone's license to rape them; being anxious and drinking to cope with anxiety does NOT mean you deserve to be raped.
But a little self-honesty would go a long way here.
The Sexual Survivor
And there it is.
One of the hardest parts of being a sexual survivor was figuring out what kind of sex I liked and what I didn't. Most of my sexual experiences, positions, discussions, or interaction were introduced to me in my childhood through some form of sexual abuse, forced sexual encounter or rape.
Part of determining to start my life anew was to take that back.
I refused to allow my abuse let me have a lifetime of negative associations with something that was supposed to be one of the most awesome, pleasureful experiences of a human being's life on earth.
Wiping that slate clean was a lot like trying to wipe permanent market off a white board. No matter how hard you scrub, the residue was still there.. is still there. It never goes away completely but you can clean it up to the point where the real message gets through and you really have to look hard to see the mess behind it.
I was resolute and in that resolution I learned something very important: my taking control over my own sexuality and what I liked and what I didn't like was the very first step in protecting myself against ever being raped again.
Not knowing what I wanted and didn't want wasn't fair to me and it wasn't fair to anyone I would later be with. It was also far too confusing to try to figure out in the context of who might be abusing or taking advantage of whom.
If I'm sending out all of the "go" signals and have sex but later regret my decision because I did something that maybe I didn't want to do was I raped? Was I not? What if I want to do it but don't particularly want to do it with that guy but I want to do it so I do it anyway? Was I raped? Am I taking advantage of him or is he taking advantage of me? Are we both taking advantage of each other?
How could I tell the difference?
I decided the first step was learning and being exceptionally clear about what I wanted and what I didn't want. Those who were not rapists would respect my wishes. Those who were would not. If I agreed to try something and decided it wasn't for me a non-rapist would acknowledge that and be okay with the change in schedule. A rapist would not.
It was that simple.
Maybe not easy, but definitely simple.
I had a lot of fun figuring that out. And I'm not ashamed of it. I can't be. I refuse to be.
I come from a particular upbringing that says I should be. That good girls don't have unmarried sex and they certainly shouldn't enjoy it. They certainly don't write about it!
My ability to be prudish about my sex life seemed to be abruptly altered the first time someone stuck his penis in me while I cried.
I needed to take that back. I did. I am a decisive, sexual survivor. And I've never been raped again. My wish is that other women might be able to make those decisions for themselves. That includes if they want to abstain from sex completely.
Does that mean that once women embrace their sexuality we will be free from rape? No. I am not that naive, nor that stupid. There will still be sexual predators in this world waiting to prey on the vulnerable. There will still be shame and guilt. We will still have to teach the next step in this evolution which is avoidance, escape and ultimately physical defense from someone who might try to attack you. But we can definitely start by getting rid of the ambiguity in our own lives.
Reholstering: Balancing Speed and Safety
In The Thing About Holsters I received a comment:
I'm all on board with everything you said except reholstering. If you draw your gun, you drew it because NEED it. Never should there be a moment when you have to quickly reholster. You need to be deliberate and cognizant of your gun, holster and any article of clothing or objects that can wedge their way in front of the trigger especially with the popularity of "safe action triggers" that adorn many of the guns used for self defense. Reholstering quickly, needlessly opens up a relationship between you and a new hole in your body. Putting a gun away = no more threat = no need to ever qickly reholster with your tunnel vision and shaky adrenaline pumped hands.
I find the comment particularly interesting because I only said two things about reholstering in the entire article which were:
Reholstering in that soft-sided holster sure is easy when you're standing in your bedroom and can take your time to carefully open the mouth with your off-hand with no distractions and nothing else to do. It's quite a bit different when you've just shot someone and have to put your gun away so that you can grab both your kids and move to safety. But your hands are shaking from the adrenaline, you can't see straight from tunnel vision and you're scared half to death.
How quickly could you reholster your firearm safely?
I did, indeed, use the "Q" word. That being said, my question was very direct. How quickly could you reholster your firearm safely?
The operative word in that sentence being "safely."
In the days of old, reholstering quickly was kind of a thing. After a few people put a bullets down their legs trying to beat some sort of speed record some wise people started teaching stopping, looking and then carefully and deliberately holstering our firearms no faster than you can do so safely. This is as it should be. Yet, sometimes this has been interpreted as meaning we shouldn't reholster at all under stress or that it absolutely cannot be done at a quick pace and safely.
Recently, I attended the Rangemaster Tactical Conference and I attended a block of instruction that was low light force on force incorporating medical scenarios. It was pretty interesting to see what people were doing with their guns after the actual shooting was over. Lots of them kept them out so they could continue to secure the scene but once it was established that shooting was no longer necessary, lots of people put their guns on the ground to start the medical portion of the scenario. Some lost track of them completely, distracted by the new tasks.
What happens if you have to grab a wounded loved one and move? What if someone is coming on scene you don't know? Do you really want your gun laying on the ground for them to potentially grab?
As I said in the original article. What if you want to get out of there but need both hands to extract children? Where's the best place for your gun?
When talking about how to avoid getting shot by responding officers in something like an active shooter event, lots of instructors recommend reholstering the gun to get it out of sight but so that it's still accessible should another event arise.
Just yesterday I was talking to some of my instructor friends on Facebook about some good ways to do one-handed reloads. As one of the instructors commented, "..put it in your gun holder, it's almost as if they were made to hold guns."
My point is that your holster is meant to carry your gun. It should be a safe and accessible place to put your gun if you need to put it away long enough to do something else that is also very important. If you need it again it should be just as accessible to draw and then ready to receive the firearm again.
You should be able to repeat this process as often as needed to get the job done. You should be able to do it safely with a relative amount of speed.
Kathy Jackson has some great examples of what some holstering gaffs look like and how to avoid them. I recommend taking a look.
Holsters that do not allow a relatively quick and safe reholster are on the bottom end of holsters that I would recommend and I encourage everyone to consider reholstering as part of the process of picking a sufficient every day carry holster.
I know. Comfort. Concealment. Etc.
Again, I get it. If a soft-sided holster that collapses upon the draw and is impossible to reholster in safely and quickly is the only holster you can find that provides the level of comfort and concealment you need then you do what you have to do. There will be times that I will carry in soft-sided holsters under the firm understanding of the drawbacks. There are other techniques to retain your firearm while you perform other tasks that may be better than trying to reholster in soft-sided holster but none of them are as ideal or as safe as reholstering using a rigid holster.
Don't let reholstering be something you leave off the checklist when considering what kind of holster to buy.
And don't buy this idea that reholstering never needs or shouldn't ever be done under stress.
Yes, it absolutely must be done safely but there's no reason you can't take your time to be safe and be quick about it.


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Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff Legislation Introduced in U.S. Congress
photo by Patrick Boury
While the Senate dawdles with one set of renewable energy incentives, four members of the House of Representatives, led by Jay Inslee (D-Washington), have introduced a new piece of legislation that everyone concerned about alternative energy in the United States really needs to watch.
Feed-In Tariff Legislation Introduced into House
The Renewable Energy Jobs and Security Act would create a feed-in tariff system of payments for small to mid-sized renewable energy suppliers (sites up to 20MW in size) similar to the one which has had such success, and has been recently expanded, in Germany.
Under a feed-in tariff system renewable electricty producers are paid a fixed, above market-rate, tariff for the electricity that is fed into the grid. The cost of this is then spread across all consumers of electricty. In Germany the estimated additional cost to the average family of three is €2 per month.
Inslee: "The feed-in tariff enacted in Germany in 2003 has helped the European nation achieve 55 percent of the world's installed solar capacity, provide 14 percent of its electricity supply from renewable sources and create at least 140,000 jobs. Similar policies also have been adopted by France, Spain and over 40 other countries, provinces and states."
Inslee's bill has three main components: guaranteed interconnection to the grid, long-term fixed rate contracts with electric utilities, and a rate-recovery program through a regional cost-sharing commission to minimize the impact on consumers. The bill would set technology-specific rates that utilities would pay renewable energy suppliers, that would incrementally decrease every two years for the 20 year lifespan of the tariff.
Though Inslee does not mention it, given the reports that we've seen recently about renewable energy reaching parity with fossil fuels, some of these rates should probably be set to depreciate more quickly than others, but overall the plan is sound.
New Direction in US Renewable Energy Promotion?
It may not seem it at first, and provided there are no demons lurking in the end pages of this bill which limit its effectiveness, this bill could dramatically change the way in which renewable energy is promoted in the United States.
Co-sponsoring the bill with Inslee are Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.; no relation to post author), and Mike Honda (D-Cali.). A companion bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate.
:: Representative Jay Inslee
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