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Filed under: Uncategorized
It is several years since I have described myself as a 'Christian'. After I rejected the Pauline theology of the Church I described myself for a long time as 'a follower of Jesus'. However I may be described, one thing has been constant, even today my behaviour and attitudes to others are guided by the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
In 2018 I intend to refresh my acquaintance with Matthew's Gospel. Why now? Because 2017 and 2016 have been distinguished by people who profess to be Christians telling the rest of us how to behave. I know the same is true of other religions, but I am more familiar with Christianity so that's where I'll start.
When a student I fell under the influence of St. Francis of Assisi. He was guided by the Story of the Rich Young Man which is found in Matthew 19: 16 – 24, but effectively to the end of the chapter, to give away all his possessions. I took the easy route of merely handing in most of my possessions to Oxfam, I retained a couple of changes of clothes and the books I needed for my studies. It has been easier to get rid of possessions than remain free of them. However it shook the hold of the material and on a later occasion allowed me to just leave behind possessions moving with only what I could carry. Once again I find myself with rather more than is convenient, but that's another story.
A useful side effect of having followed Jesus's words to the rich young man was that I could weaponise the words in conversation with people determined to impose their Christian opinions on me. I would merely quote Jesus's injunction to "sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." I would then ask them when they had followed the injunction which usually led to objections that the words should not be taken literally. But if not these, I would ask, why any others? I then told them to come back and talk to me about their faith after they'd got rid of their possessions, none ever did.
The Rich Young Man is a good measure of whether a person has any right to use their Christianity to justify their actions, people like Donald Trump, Teresa May, Jacob Rees Mogg. The bottom line is this, it is a person's conduct that matters rather than their words. If their actions are not congruent with their professed faith they are hypocrites. They should not be ignored, that would be dangerous, but resisted: by Christians because they pollute Christianity, and by the rest of us in so far as we believe their actions are wrong.
I have no objection to Christians being guided by scripture, they should be. However should they profess to be Christians they should live coherent with the teachings of Jesus. Me, I prefer not to be a 'Christian'.
Filed under: asperger's syndrome, Steampunk, Travel, Writing | Tags: #asylumsteampunk, Asylum Steampunk Festival, Glasgow Ubiquitous E Steampunk Society, GUESS, Lincoln, Steam Powered Giraffe, The Victorian Steampunk Society, Welcome To The Asylum
I am a little disappointed that my plan to attend the Asylum in Lincoln again this year will not come to fruition. However the simple fact is that I cannot afford it. I am not blaming the ticket prices which are not at all unreasonable, at £36 for a weekend wristband that covers and enables participation in events for four days (and probably Thursday evening) that's less than a tenner a day for a lot of fun and access to the most amazing Steampunk markets. Of course tickets to Evening Events add to the cost, but with a city full of Steampunks there's plenty of fun to be had without paying for evening entertainment. I should point out that while tickets for the Steam Powered Giraffe concert are £25 (worth every penny and cheap for the BEST BAND in the Universe) most of the other evening events only cost £12.00 and that's positively cheap these days! Sadly one also needs to factor in the costs of accommodation, transport, and food and my budget won't stretch that far.
Of course not going to Asylum provides no block to my Steampunkery. I have written several times in my blog and in the Glasgow Ubiquitous E. Steampunk Society Newsletter about how Steampunk accommodates itself to a limited budget. Although the Asylum is out this year, and I'm sure there are others in a similar position, there are still plenty of local opportunities for unexpurgated Steampunkery. Most countries now host a number of Comic Cons and our Glasgow group takes advantage of them. As well as the Cons there are plenty of other events to which our group is actively invited so there are plenty of occasions to enjoy. It's true that these events are not the same as being surrounded by thousands of fellow Steampunks for a weekend, but they do allow what one might call 'missionary work'. After each event we attend we receive requests to join GUESS. Although we may only have a handful of members at an event our online group is growing and it's not always the same members who attend each event.
Perhaps the hardest part of not going to Asylum is reading the posts of all those excited people on 'Welcome To The Asylum' who are preparing to attend. However, on the plus side, this does at least hold out the promise of some wonderful photograph albums to peruse in September. There are so many events I can't attend like Wild West Con and the Steampunk World's Fair, but whose photos provide pleasure and inspiration; this year the Asylum will be another of them.
One of the pleasures of the Asylum is watching civilians walking through the markets and gradually becoming Steampunked. That's the first step for some, hopefully it leads on to crafting one's own Steampunk creations. Events like the Asylum are a huge boost for one's Steampunk soul, but life has to go on and so does one's Steampunkery. Perhaps the true power of Steampunk is not that it can bring thousands of Steampunks together on the Castle Green during Asylum, but that it can provide them with pleasure and purpose throughout the other three hundred and sixty days of the year.
I won't be at Asylum this year, but I won't suffer the Asylum Blues, my life steams on regardless. However to those who are going may I wish you all a wonderful time and good weather. If it rains there's usually cover somewhere, last year as a shower came in I found myself in a tent full of corsets feeling like a character from Father Ted. I hope you have fun and make new discoveries. Take time to appreciate the organisers (The Victorian Steampunk Society) and volunteers too, they do a terrific job. Oh, and please post lots of photos to the Welcome To The Asylum Page, we'd all love to see what you get up to.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I have a stinking cold, I am in bed and I have no intention of getting out of it.My brain is foggy and I ache all over. However I have looked at my Facebook on my phone…not up to turning on the computer. One of my friends has posted a beautiful picture of a state of the Hindu god Shiva which lifted my spirits a little.To be honest, I'm not sure there is a point in my house from which I can't see a picture of Shiva, but I wasn't looking
My friend's posting reminded me that this Saturday will be Mahashivratri as well as my wife Neelam's birthday.The date of Shivratri is set by the position of the moon and Neelam was also born on Shivratri, so it's a special day in many ways.I had hoped to mark this year with a full Shivratri fast, but I doubt I'm well enough. I did it once before and it's the toughest fast I've ever done, but worth it for the sense of accomplishment at the end (probably totally the wrong reason, theologically, for doing it!)
The form of Saivism I follow is fiercely non-dualist. It has no personal God not object of worship. Everything is Shiva and Shiva is our consciousness. Our personal gods like everything else in creation are creations of our own mind. In the Siva Sutras what most people would consider organs for receiving information: eye, nose, skin, ear, are all organs of generation creating the world we experience. The world and our experience of it and of our individuality is entirely made up. Which means, damn it, so is my experience of being ill. When I'm feeling miserable I find comfort in the creation of a personal God, but it's just a symptom of losing touch with the oneness. This is all made up and so is the reality that the picture of Shiva by my bedroom door is laughing at me (trust me, he really does change expression according to my mood!)
I think I'll get up, I am feeling much better and the picture of Shiva is looking unbearably smug! Hara Hara Mahadev!
Filed under: asperger's syndrome, Justice, personal development, Politics, Religion, Scotland, Steampunk, Technology | Tags: Brexit, Glasgow Ubiquitous E Steampunk Society, GUESS, MCSC, Music City Steampunk Consortium, NESS, North East Steampunk Society, Trump
I think it is fair to say we live in strange and troubling times, what with the decision by the English to turn their back on Europe and drag their neighbours also into a new parochial rejection of the outside world, and the election of Donald Trump as President of the USA who appears also to want to turn his back on the world whilst at the same time plundering its resources. I accept this is somewhat of an over simplification, but the political details are not really my concern here, but rather how people respond to them. I think it is fair to say that that feelings are running high not only in The USA and the UK, but in Europe and throughout the Middle East, look further afield to Africa, Asia and Russia and it looks as if the whole world is on the edge of some sort of emotional cataclysm. So what, if anything, has any of this got to do with Steampunk?
I know that Steampunks like other folk hold political opinions, some are guided by political and religious beliefs so why, when countries are bitterly divided within themselves and from their neighbours, are Steampunks from all around the world still bumbling along together cheerfully? The answer is not 'Gin'…at least not entirely. I would like to postulate that there are several reasons Steampunk is not dragged into the political morass in which the world now wallows. I have to confess at this point that my reasoning is based upon my observations of British Steampunk, it may be that some countries Steampunk differently, however I suspect that what is true for a British Steampunk is as true for others around the world.
Those who know my personal political beliefs to be extremely socialist, republican, and nationalist may find it strange to see me including Scottish Steampunks in the umbrella term 'British Steampunk'. The truth is that apart from some details of expression there is little to distinguish the attitudes of Scottish Steampunks from their southern neighbours…when in Steampunk mode. And I think that is my first point: Steampunk as a way of thinking occupies a place that is meta to ordinary political thinking. Some Steampunks live in a permanent attitude of Steampunkery, for others Steampunk is more of a cosplay that they put on and off. However as I have said, when in Steampunk mode Steampunks relate to the world differently from other people.
I remember being startled when I realised that in a whole weekend at the Asylum in Lincoln I had heard not one swearword nor a raised voice. There is something about being a Steampunk that induces courteous behaviour. A Steampunk uses politeness like a shield to parry the unpleasantness of the world and wit the blade to return the blow. I will not pretend for one moment that Steampunks do not insult each other, but we do so with wit and humour, perhaps some buffoonery so that there is almost as much enjoyment of defeat as pleasure in victory…when the other side scores a try (or a six) we applaud and enjoy the moment for its own intrinsic artistry. What is saddening about politics at the moment is the depths to which people have sunk in their interactions with each other, people have become nastier, xenphobia, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination and abuse have become commonplace. People have no embarrassment at being caught in a lie. Respect for the rights and opinions of others is no longer considered important or even desirable, there is no place for old fashioned courtesy. Except in Steampunkery where old fashioned courtesy lies at its heart (we do like old fashioned or even an Old Fashioned).
One might expect a strong conservative streak in Steampunk because of its embrace of old fashioned courtesy and dress. However Steampunk cherry picks what it takes from any era and so while embracing the virtues of the past it rejects its vices. Strong women are very evident in Steampunk circles, frequently armed to the teeth with customised Nerf guns and they're not afraid to use them! Steampunk is undoubtedly trans cultural as can be seen in its Facebook groups, but also at major Steampunk gatherings that attract attendees from all over the world. Our Glasgow Ubiquitous E. Steampunk Society is not only associated with the Music City Steampunk Consortium of Nashville, Tennessee, but has scheduled a jolly day out with the North East Steampunk Society from England (now that is true internationalism!). I haven't noticed religion entering the Steampunk conversation except as a costume, we have Steampunk monks with goggles and Victorian Bishops with gaiters at one end and goggles at the other. Given the international nature of Steampunk, I assume that it contains folk of all faiths, but they don't let it come between them or get in the way of the fun.
Conservatives may not be very evident in Steampunk, but conservation is. Steampunks have a respect for history especially, as the name suggests, for its technology. Nothing sets the Steampunk blood racing more assuredly than polished brass, well oiled pistons, smoothly turning gears, and the ecstatic call of a locomotive whistle. "Ah but," I hear you say, "Steam engines run on fossil fuels and pump carbon into the air!"…don't expect a clever argument from me, although I would argue for balance and responsibility. However the Steampunk embrace of steam should be interpreted rather as an embrace of the best of contemporary technology, which in Victorian times was steam. I think we should note that Steampunks are equally enamoured of clockwork. The essential thing about the Steampunk attitude is that technology is employed for the good of society. You may object that Steampunk has its evil villains and mad scientists with their death rays and killer robots, but they only exist as villains in opposition to the positive technological vision of Steampunk…besides they are playing a role (or possibly over playing in the case of Kenneth Brannagh's Dr. Loveless) we all come together in the bar at the end of the day. In Steampunk science is treated with respect and so is scientific method and evidence, some (many) of our inventions are fanciful, but they can be so because we are aware of the difference between science and superstition and so are free to play with both. More importantly in Steampunk the urge to conservation manifests itself in an abhorrence of waste, or more accurately a love of recycling and up-cycling. Steampunk is not part of a disposable society; where civilians dispose, we reuse and re-purpose.
I think what sets Steampunk apart politically from much of society is that it is cooperative and sharing. In victory there is little inappropriate triumphalism whether in cosplay competitions or a tea duel…okay there may be a little (I'm not sure 'little' is entirely the correct word.) triumphalism in tea duelling, but there's none of the vicious denigration of the losers that has marked the conduct of Trump supporters and Brexiteers, nor the bitter resentment we have seen from the other side. Steampunks are building a better future for all based on the best of the past and that means magnanimity and mutual support. You will rarely find a Steampunk rubbish someone else's work, but they will be generous with suggestions for improvement. Steampunks help each other, they share their skills and insights, they encourage each other. I think it is safe to say that wherever you observe someone indulging in selfishness, discrimination, misogyny, xenophobia, abuse, or any form of discourtesy the person you are observing is not a Steampunk. Steampunks are building a future on the foundation of the most noble values of the past. To put things more simply: If they ain't nice, they ain't Steampunk! Now it's Time For Gin!
Filed under: Health, personal development, Politics | Tags: 2017, celebrity, death, EHCR, Good Friday Agreement, human rights, terrorism
Two days into Twenty Seventeen and we've already had the terrorist shooting in Istanbul and another mass shooting at a new year's party. We are being told that a terrorist attack on British soil is inevitable. Am I worried? Surprisingly not in the slightest.
When I say I am not worried I mean I'm not worried about a terrorist attack. Statistically we are all in a lot more danger from dying as a result of an air crash or road accident than at the hands of a terrorist. I am far more concerned that our politicians are going to use the supposed threat of a terrorist attack to further curtail our liberties and to spy upon our every day activities. I am concerned that our politicians' eagerness to reject the European Convention on Human Rights will undermine the Good Friday Agreement and expose us to the possibility of renewed paramilitary violence in the North of Ireland and to bombings on the mainland. I am worried that withdrawing from the ECHR will provide the Westminster government with an opportunity to destroy the limited devolution settlement Scotland now enjoys and anxious that it will lead to a further diminution of employment rights. The threat of Islamic terrorism against targets in the UK is very low on the list of things that concern me. I see the rise of the Right and of post Brexit xenophobia as far more dangerous to the UK than Islamic extremism.
I have to admit that I can see no logical reason for fearing death. Death is inevitable and no amount of fear will prevent it, only an idiot fears it. On the other hand it is equally stupid to unnecessarily seek death, except possibly in the face of debilitating illness. The upset of bereavement makes a degree of sense, it is natural to be upset when we lose someone we love. However death is inevitable and we will inevitably lose people we love, everyone we know will eventually give up this physical body and move on to something else. There is little point in speculating what comes next because we can't know until we get there, assuming there is anywhere to get to. If all that awaits us is oblivion then there is certainly no logical cause for fear.
Last year was marked by the deaths of many much loved celebrities as well as many less widely known benefactors of humanity in various fields, some of whom may have contributed more to the world in practical than even David Bowie. There is a meme on social media at the moment showing Bruce Forsyth saying "I made it, you bastards!" referring to the perception that Twenty Sixteen had been massacring entertainers; and, of course, there is the ever popular meme, "Breaking News: Keith Richard found alive!" The fact is that every year actors, musicians, academics, writers, politicians, and many other people well known in various fields will die and this year will be no exception. While our beloved celebrities are dying there will be many ordinary people dying from illness, war, the effects of the UK Government's austerity measures, unjust sanctioning of the sick and disabled, road accidents, natural disasters and many other causes and most of us won't even notice. No one life is worth more than any other, nor any less. Every life should be celebrated and every death marked with respect.
Many of us will die this year. Perhaps some of us by violence, hopefully not. The inevitability of our deaths is not cause for anxiety, nor upset. That we must die is an excellent reason for enjoying our lives to the utmost while we have them. We are all as capable of joy as we are of sadness, so why not choose to have fun? Our joy is not caused by our circumstances, but by how we relate to them. I don't have any plans to die this year, but I'm not going to worry about the possibility which will be there every year until it isn't (or I am not). My plan for this year is to live every second to the fullest, anything else is a waste of a precious gift. As for everyone else's lives, I intend to celebrate them whether they are alive or not. Now I shall retire for the night and probably celebrate Leonard Cohen or Elvis perhaps. So many lives then and now and each (even the worst) carries a gift that deserves to be celebrated.
Filed under: Politics, Religion, Travel, Writing | Tags: Cain: At The Edge Of The Universe, NaNoWriMo
I stayed for a week helping Simeon understand the frieze. Once we'd identified Earth and Keppler the cartographers started looking for clues to the frieze from among their charts. I returned to Obamapolis and Eva, leaving behind a project that might last for generations.
I returned to troubleshooting for Bennie's trying not to allow the Valley of the Kings to haunt my dreams. I had expressed my views, it was not for me to try and deny anyone the right to make their own choices. After one trip I got home to find Eva excited.
"What's wrong, what happened?" I asked anxiously.
"You did it!" She exclaimed. "You bought the Roddenberry! You've just got to have the confirmation witnessed at the Mayor's office."
The Mayor was as surprised as anyone. He asked me what I intended to do with Roddenberry. I hadn't really thought about it, so I asked him how long we had to wait before we continued the ongoing colonisation program.
"Well S-7 is established, but there's no need to push on yet. However with funding we could launch an expedition. Unfortunately we couldn't authorise public money until there is a demonstrable need to find a new colony and that won't be for generations." He mused.
"What if an expedition was privately funded?" I asked.
"It would depend on how many colonists there were. Theoretically anyone could voluntarily participate on a privately financed expedition."
I decided then to speak to the Astronomical and Exploration Institute to see whether there were any strong candidates for colonisation. But first I thought I'd better mention my intentions to Eva rather than surprise her with a plan for a new adventure in which she had no hand in designing. As I spoke of my ideas for the Roddenberry I noticed the grey in her hair and asked her if she regretted our lack of children. She smiled.
"It might have been nice." She said, "But I think in all honesty we've been too busy to bring up a family. Besides we have had a good time without children to distract us." She sat and looked at me for a while before saying, "I may be too old now to have children, but if you do want them, my eggs were frozen before the expedition began. If they're still viable we could still have children."
The next day she told me that one of her laboratory assistants – born a decade after our arrival – was willing to carry Eva's child for her. Becoming parents would delay the start of any expedition, but if the eggs were yet viable they might not be after another long voyage and we could not set out with a young baby. In the end we decided to go ahead and if successful use the extra years to prepare an expedition to Epsilon Ten the nearest viable planet which would require minimal terraforming.
We were successful and I more or less ceased my wandering in the wilds, having discovered again how much entertainment a child can provide. Not one, but two. A couple of years later we used Eva's laboratory to fertilise a second egg and so by the time our expedition was ready we had a seven year old boy, Vladimir Cane and the sweetest five year old daughter, Anya. The only colonial ship we would take was the Roddenberry, who seemed quite excited at the prospect – I really do feel machines can feel excitement although some would think that ridiculous. We secured the services of the Britannia as our escort. DC had retired, but vouched for the ability of the young Captain, Sean O'Rourke. In the Valley of the Kings the archaeologists were still at work deep within the mountain tunnels and in his stasis pod my Grandfather still slept.
The new colonists seemed so young as they boarded the Roddenberry. Young and optimistic. All the children of settlers and all wanting to move on and carve out a new life for themselves. Their families saw them off with many tears because we all knew this would be the last time they would meet. We left knowing that we no longer play a role in the development of S-7 and in the events of the settlements. I left with some anxiety because I was leaving my Grandfather asleep and for all their research the archaeologists had never explained his presence. However we have to each make our own choices, the archaeologists and government had chosen not to seal the stasis pod in concrete and I chose not to remain. As in the past I would remain out of stasis, but Eva and the children along with the other colonists would spend most of the flight in stasis. Before she entered stasis she said to me that she was looking forward to setting up a new home on E-10.
"I'm sorry," I asked," What did you say?"
"I'm looking forward to E-10. Why what did you think I said?"
I laughed, "For a moment there I thought you said 'Eden'!"
"Perhaps it will be a new Eden…good name for a colony." She observed.
"If it hadn't been used already," I replied.
"Our own paradise." Eva smiled. She kissed me and climbed into the pod.
"My paradise is wherever you are." I said as I closed the lid.
So a new Eva and a new Eden, but we would not – I hoped – be walking with God in the garden.


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Young Aaron Paul, Come on Down, You're the Next Contestant on 'The Price Is Right'
Future Emmy winner (and 2012 nominee) Aaron Paul, come on down …
Watch this awesome clip from a 1998 taping of 'The Price Is Right,' courtesy of Thursday night's episode of 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno. Paul, and the rest of the general public, hadn't seen this since the original air date. Bob Barker just loves his fighting spirit. Bitch.
First Gus Fring on Sesame Street, now Pinkman on a game show?
1998 Aaron Paul is about as jacked up as Jesse Pinkman.
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Who delivers the better "bitch?" Is it Bob Barker during his fighting cameo in Happy Gilmore or Jesse Pinkman on the regular in 'Breaking Bad.'
Had that been Jesse Pinkman and not pre-BB Paul, it would have been terrific to hear him say "The price is wrong. BITCH."
"You're the man, Bob … you're my idol!"
Nice transition from that guy to this suave Emmy winner:
If you're curious, Paul discussed his winnings on TPIR with The Huffington Post back in 2010. He made it all the way through to the Showcase Showdown. Then the sad trombone hit.
How far did you make it on 'The Price Is Right'?
Oh, I made it to the Showcase Showdown. Yeah, I was pretty proud of myself, but I made it to Showcase Showdown, and I was going against a woman who was in the Marines, and I bid $132 over. So I lost, and she went over as well, so neither of us won anything.
But you were so close! You almost won both showcases!
I know! I was bidding on a whole Apple computer set-up, $1000 in cash and a brand new Camaro. And I bid $26,500, and it was like $26,368 … it's so funny that I remember that.
Are you haunted by that number now?
(Laughing) I think I might be a little haunted by it. I was truly devastated by it. But my buddy Braeden stayed for the next show, and he ended up winning the Showcase Showdown. He won trips to Fiji, London and New Orleans, and he took me to New Orleans with him, so that was good.
• Watch Gus Fring on 'Sesame Street' in 1982
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subset: commoncrawl


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Great Advertising 'Resonates in the Heart,' Says Hall-of-Famer Gerry Rubin
Rance Crain Sits Down With the Longtime Adman
Gerry Rubin and I are the only two guys in the world to graduate from Evanston Township High School, Northwestern University and get inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.
I went into journalism, Gerry majored in radio, TV and film. Gerry jokes that he had aspirations to be a waiter but he had difficulty memorizing the menu, so he wound up in advertising.
And that has worked out pretty well. He and his partner, Larry Postaer, founded their agency in 1986 when they left Needham, Harper Worldwide following its merger with DDB. The problem was that Needham handled Honda, and DDB had Volkswagen.
So Rubin & Postaer were given the opportunity to form their
own agency with Honda as its main account.
But time was of the essence. Gerry said he made a presentation to the president of American Honda, Koichi Amemiya, "and I made it in haste because the transition from an independent Needham to a public Needham, with DDB was very, very imminent.
"And so I really didn't make a presentation. I came forward to him in openness, with my heart. I told him what was going to happen because of the conflict with Volkswagen, and he only asked me one question, and this is extremely telling. The question he asked me is: 'Do the people stay the same?' All he cared about was the people, because that's all that matters. The name on the door -- he didn't know who Needham was, he didn't know who Harper was -- and he didn't care. He wanted to know about the people. That's how you keep a relationship. And we're very, very blessed with the continuity of staff."
The agency, now known as RPA, endured an all-guns-blazing shootout this year, keeping Honda but losing Acura. Gerry reminded me that Honda sells 1.2 million cars a year, while Acura sells 160,000. Honda is No. 1 in a handful of major categories, "so was there a reason to change agencies? Probably not, and obviously they didn't."
But he admits that the Acura decision "may be something that needed to be done. Acura is still finding its way -- what are they going to be when they grow up? Are they going to be luxury, near luxury? It's vague in terms of the consumers' perception and understanding. So, of course, we regretted losing Acura. We wish Acura very much success, but Honda is at the core of our attention."
Gerry is of the belief that "everything communicates." But how
does that translate into great advertising?
"For me, what makes great advertising is advertising that resonates in the heart. Resonating in the head, intellectually, is relatively easy to do. What does it cost? Where do I get it? Resonating in the heart is: How is that product or service compatible with me, my needs, my lifestyle?
"There's a threshold. There's a door. You walk in. If the first person you meet, for example, is a receptionist, and that receptionist, like the teller at a bank, isn't cordial, is chewing gum, or puts you off, your whole experience is going to be inconsistent with the delivery process.
"Another example is the salesman. If you're in a Honda store which sells on the values of being environmentally friendly, and the salesman may reek of cigarette smoke, or has just come from the back with cigarette in hand, what are you to think about the product and your reason for being there?"
One of my major criticisms of advertising over the years is that it is inconsistent. But Honda has maintained a clear and unique identity. How did they do it?
Gerry said the brand never overpromises what it can deliver. "We don't let the advertising overstate what the consumer ideally will experience during the test-drive process, because that's where you close. You don't close in the commercial. All the commercial does is influence you to come to the store. That's why there's salespeople.
"So if we overstate the value and virtues of the product, and the customer doesn't experience them in real life, we're going to violate the potential sale. So we consciously always understate and let the sales process overstate."
In addition, Gerry said, Honda always respects the customer. "We always maintain dignity and treat the customer with dignity. One of the ways we do that is we never disparage the competitor. We never do side-by-side tests. We let the product speak for itself. So that is really fundamental to our consistency."
What's most fun, he told me, "is to watch young people aspire to be in our industry. … And one impression I like to make on them is that if they don't like the position in which they're starting, don't leave us. Find another position, because we post every one. And the reason I say that is your motivation may not be driven by that particular opportunity, but we have an investment in you, and you have one in us. Don't be premature about any departure."
To make employees feel appreciated, RPA has instituted the League of Extraordinary Associates. Every quarter the agency acknowledges a group of associates who have been nominated and voted on by their fellow associates, and for the occasion Gerry dons an orange cape.
"And I only wear this cape on this prestigious occasion. So there I am being my own Batman, but I guess when you're independent, you can do anything you wish to do, and that's what I do because that's kind of within my DNA."
Although Gerry and Larry have had many offers to sell out, they have no interest in becoming part of Corporate America. "I say that because America Honda did not have to assign us their business … and loyalty is so critical with the Japanese. So we never gave that a thought. On the other hand, we love the breakfasts with the Martin Sorrells and others, because we just want to see what we're worth. And we get some great food."


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|Kratos, slayer of gods!
Ceryx is a character and final boss Kratos faces in Betrayal. He is the son of Hermes and a messenger of Olympus, who Zeus sent to stop Kratos' attempts to discover the truth behind the assassination of Argos.
Greek Mythology
Ceryx ("Herald") was the son of Hermes and either Pandrosus or Herse. Like his father, he too was a messenger of the gods.
He was also the ancestor of the Kerukes, a family of priests who lived in the city of Athens
In God of War: Betrayal
Ceryx was the son of the god Hermes, and was a messenger of Olympus. After watching Kratos' activities as the new god of war, the gods sent Ceryx as a persuader to stop him. Kratos had been leading his Spartan companions into destroying many Greek city-states and was then framed for killing Hera's pet Argos.
Kratos refused to listen to Ceryx, who demanded Kratos to stop his pursuit of an assassin who killed Argos. After attacking and defeating Ceryx, Kratos realized that Olympus would never accept him and that this was only the beginning of the conflict he would soon have to face with the gods of Olympus.
It is likely that his death in the hands of Kratos that cause his father Hermes to have an intense hatred for Kratos.
Powers and Abilities
Ceryx is no warrior, but still has some powers to harm his enemies. He relies on the deadly three-headed Cerberi he summons, but also attacks Kratos using his staff and creates a field of thunder around himself. Being a god, he is very resistant to damage, but nevertheless ultimately dies.


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Dance Performance: A Celebration of Egyptian Folkloric Dance with Yasser Darwish!
Sat, November 1, 2008 9:00 pm at Alwan for the Arts
(View all dance performances »)
Egyptian Celebration Company
Yasser Darwish, founder - dance and vocals
Ammar Mohamed, vocals
Jawad Bohsina, keyboard
Karina and Sonziry, dance
$20/$15 with valid student I.D.
Doors open at 8:30 p.m.
Join us as Yasser Darwish, former member of Egypt's National Folk Dance troupe and the Alexandria Folk Dance Troupe, and his company of dancers and musicians put on a spectacular show of Whirling Dervish, Tahtib, Horse Show, and Raqs Sharqi (Belly) dances, among others, from the Egyptian and Sufi traditions.
Egyptian Celebration Company was founded in 2001 by Yasser Darwish with the goal of presenting the culture of Egypt and the Middle East to people around the world. Collecting talented dancers, musicians and artists, Yasser presents the folkoric dances/music of his heritage infused with modern streaks of inspiration. The Egyptian Celebration Company can be seen at heritage festivals, schools, universities, television programs, weddings, nursing homes and private parties. Recent appearances include Good Day New York (Fox 5), and The Riverside Theatre (NYC). The Company also provides educational workshops and demonstrations/performances and travels nationally and internationally.
Yasser Darwish, a performer and teacher of Egyptian and Middle Eastern dance traditions, was born in Alexandia, Egypt. He became a member of the Alexandria Folk Dance Group and later joined the National Folk Dance Company in Cairo. He is a popular performer of Egyptian Tannoura – a captivating secular sufi spinning dance -- and genres like the Arabian Horse Dance, which is performed at festivals, theatrical performances and weddings.
Last updated: 2008-10-29 14:14:18
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Directions16 Beaver Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10004
(646) 732 3261
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Alwan for the Arts is accessible to people with disabilities. Please call 646 732 3261 in advance, or, buzz at the door to arrange a ramp.
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Whats the differance between legue and Union?? and can i just have some general info on it?
Rugby League??
Whats the differance between legue and Union?? and can i just have some general info on it?
Trying to start a war?
Big Ant Studios store at www.BigAnt.com
Allow me to help... League is way better.
But treating it as a legitimate question... Both games are similar with the main differences being.
1. Rugby League has 6 Tackles (where you play the ball between the legs after each tackle) before a Turnover in possession, Union has unlimited Tackles (where you proceed to kick the shit out of the ball-carrier till he releases the ball).
2. Rugby League has penalty conversions which give you a slight increase to the score, Union it seems to be the only way you score points.
3. Rugby League has a scrum (see point 4) when the ball goes into touch, Union has this strange ritual where you all stand in-line and randomly lift one of your teammates by his shorts or testicles in some sort of underwear checking right of passage.
4. Rugby League has scrums, which is where all the forwards huddle up and take a breather... contributing very little more than giving the ball a bit of shade for a second. Union has decided to make more use of the forwards here, making them both push... the Ref will say "Touch" and then "Set" which I believe is short for "Settle", as in Settle out what penalty this Scrum is going to end with. They took out the "Pause" evidently as this was confusing the Union boys as they seem to think this meant they should collapse the scrum and have a rest.
5. Rugby League has 13 players on the field, Union considering it is slower and boring has 15, with two extra players added to aid in conversation during the game and apparently keep players from fleeing the scrum.
6. Rugby League players are constantly being poached by Union, Union Players generally come to League cause they want a challenge.
7. Rugby League has heaps of legendary players, Union has just one who goes by the name of Wallace Cadwallader "Wal" Footrot.
8. Rugby League has Big Ant making their games, Rugby Union should have Big Ant making their games.
9. Rugby League is dominated by Australia, NZ suck and England are average, Union is dominated by NZ, Australia suck and England are average.
10. Rugby League is a great sport, Union is a good sport.
I think that covers it....
"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self."
^^^ if you grew up in Sydney or North English coal town.
If you grew up anywhere else in the world - rugby.
Problem with Aussies and rugby is - they grew up watching Aussies play rugby which is painful for any rugby fan to watch.
Ruck - you forgot to mention how good the amazing World Cup of rugby league is.
Difference between the two. On one hand you have one of the two founding football codes on the other you have a stripped back dumbed down version of one of the two founding football codes.
Big Ant please please please make Rugby Challenge. That's where the money is baby. Aim for release pre World Cup 2019.
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text: Back for its fourth year, Chicago Theatre Week takes place Feb. 11th to 21st (OK, so it's theater "10 days," who's counting?!). Pulled together by the League of Chicago Theaters (sounds like a cabal of superheroes dunnit?), CTW will feature more than 100 shows where people can snag tickets for $15 or $30 (and sometimes even less). So if you've been wanting to check out plays and musicals at places like the Goodman, Chicago Dramatists, Oriental Theatre, the PrivateBank Theater and more for shows like Beautiful, Cabaret, Hairspray, Le Switch, Blue Man Group, The Glass Menagerie and dozens more, don't wait to score your seats. To see the full list of shows, availability and to get tickets, head to Choose Chicago.


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For the past two plus years, I've been talking about our "new house" on this blog. Yes, I just said two YEARS. I've shared the architecture plans. I've shared endless design inspiration. I've shared a sneak peek now and again. But to say my first gut renovation experience has been a far bigger undertaking than I could have imagined…is a gross understatement. This is the house that will never end.
I certainly didn't think I'd be sitting here 26 months after this old Victorian officially became our home and still have unfinished projects and still be surrounded by moving boxes instead of furniture. Ideal scenario, it most definitely is not. Am I starting to pull my hair out? Yes. Am I still happy I took on this whole crazy project? Absolutely.
While I wish I could snap my fingers and have everything done now, I'm content in knowing that slow but steady will result in not just a house, but the home my family will grow into for years to come. To that end, I'm making very deliberate choices about what comes into the house. For example, the gorgeous Georgia Bench I selected from Kate Spade New York's Home Collection. I want each piece to have strong style and a little something special that catches your eye. Upholstered in charcoal-y linen with a gorgeous brass cross bar and feet, this piece has given me a perfect little vignette in our dining room. A little layer of art and a prized family photo make me smile every time I walk past. Even if I only have one chic corner in the house thus far, that little sliver of design goodness helps me stay focused on the light that I know is at the end of this tunnel.
Since it is still going to be awhile before I can fully reveal the house, and it's been a 26 month journey to get this far, I thought I'd run with the theme and share my top 26 Renovation Revelations to kick off the week.
1. In your architect you must trust. While I've wavered about a lot of design decision (cuz you have to make like 1,000) the floor plan designed by our genius architect from Porro Design is not one of them.
2. Know your materials. What is the difference between marble and quartz? How will oak vs walnut look and perform? What's the difference between ceramic and porcelain tile? These little choices will have a dramatic effect on both the performance and the cost of materials in your house.
3. Understand construction timelines. Did you know you need to have all your light fixtures selected long before construction is complete because they all have to be roughed in when the walls are open?! Can you tell I didn't know that? I was frantically picking lighting long before I'd actually given myself time to thing about room design. Not ideal. This leads directly to point four.
4. Have a vision going in. Design decisions can be very tough to make on the fly when you're dealing the thousands you have to make, often all at once.
5. The work is only as good as your subcontractors. You may love your architect or your general contractor but it everyone else who touches your house that will affect the details.
6. Measure twice and cut once.
7. Double check everything. Don't assume the "experts" will get things right.
8. Order things much further in advance than you think you need to. Then you're not left waiting around when things ship late.
9. Cabinets always take twice as long as they say they will.
10. Order extras of things like door or cabinet hardware in case what you select is discontinued.
11. Try to make at least one bold choice somewhere. You want to feel a little uncomfortable with your design!
12. But stick to timeless choices for things that are expensive or hard to change later. A dramatic light fixture can always be swapped. A backsplash you'll tire of in a year or two cannot.
13. There are 5,000 versions of white paint – test at least 5-8 of them before you pick one. I picked Benjamin Moore White Wisp btw.
14. Open boxes when things arrive – they might not always contain what you thought you ordered.
15. Trades only like to work when they have everything on site (think tile, plumbing fixtures, appliances) so make sure you have everything at the right time.
16. Grout lines should be about 3/16″ thick.
17. Your chandelier should hang 34-36″ above your table.
18. Kitchen pendants should hang 32-34″ above your counter.
19. Scale matters. Scale matters perhaps most of all, so if you don't know how to determine appropriate scale for things like light fixtures or tile, hire a designer who does. Trial and error will be more costly in the long run.
20. Test paint colors on site to see what they're going to look like in your space.
21. Floors finished onsite can take as much as 3 weeks to complete(!)
22. Don't be afraid of black paint (spoiler alert!).
23. Know that good home furnishings take a long time to make/arrive.
24. Live in a house before you decide how to decorate it.
25. Order big things you'll want, like beds or sofas far in advance.
26. Let your personality and style shine through your furnishings – they can evolve with your changing needs.
While my journey with this house is far from over, and I'm quite certain I still have a lot more to learn, I'm excited that the end just might be in sight! I really can't wait to share the final product with you.
This post is in partnership with Kate Spade New York. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations I'm excited about and that have kept Apartment 34's doors open.


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For a shop update! This update will be a three parter, so today, I give you Babushka Update, Episode I. A few more slippers will be trickling into the shop later today.
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You can count me among the millions and millions of pigskin lovin' Americans who simply want this NFL labor deal to be firmly in the rear view mirror. I want football, period.
But, I also recognize the very sensitive nature of ongoing negotiations, especially as members of the NFLPA are at a juncture where ratification and commitment – a 10 year commitment – are mandated.
I'm not suggesting players should drag their feet, toss a lil' more mud or procrastinate over the small, incidental stuff …..
But, I do think it's prudent for the entire viewing audience to grant a little understanding of the players' need to be methodical in their review of ownership's offer. From legal jargon to perceived contradictory clauses, the proposed labor deal is probably overwhelming for even the smartest of union members.
Did you understand … and more importantly, did you read the fine print of your most recent vehicle financing agreement?
If you're a homeowner, did you take the time to comb through every last word of your mortgage, as the lender sat across the table and fed several dozen pages your way?
Many of us just streamline such processes, right?
Well, if you agreed and signed those deals, you're compelled to abide by the very words of those contracts – even if you didn't fully comprehend or review a given portion.
This is exactly where NFL players find themselves today.
While a given number of fans are also assuming "a few players are holding this up", there really is no concrete evidence such a situation exists. When you're dealing with a serious, lengthy commitment, a responsibility to be fully engaged and knowledgeable of your future is warranted.
All of us are on the outside periphery of this labor drama, right?
Heck, many of us don't really care about it …..
We just want football.
That said, if there is EVER a time to sympathize with players, this is it. They're being tasked with agreeing to working conditions for the next decade – and it's a deal they won't be able to escape, because there is no opt-out clause.
A 10-year deal with no danger of either side opting out is certainly good for fans. We won't face the possibility of this stuff for a long time. And, that's a great feeling ….
But, just as owners are committed to protecting their investments and the future financial health of the league, players are obligated to ensure they're making a deal that guarantees their future security, as well as the THOUSANDS of men who will follow in their footsteps.
How many players will still be in the game when this new deal expires? If you want to consider the Ravens for such a prediction, only SIX PLAYERS were members of the National Football League a decade ago.
I'm not siding with players, nor am I found in ownership's corner. I just think it's responsible and quite sensible to ensure that every last part of this deal is understood and in the best interest of unity.
This is not a time to hurry the process. However, it is a time to stay focused and devoted to finishing a new deal. And, we have every reason to believe this is happening.
Don't overreact …..


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Today I wanted to talk about all those loose worksheets that seem to accumulate over time. I believe that there's no point in sending each page home as they are done because they get lost, and parents get a bit overwhelmed with all the little pieces of paper that come their way.
I still store them in little cardboard boxes. The ones that the notebooks come in are perfect for this. Below is a photo of my filing system. I know it's not perfectly pretty, but it works great. I'd like to offer up my filing covers as a freebie! Feel free to grab copies of my filing system photos.
In this photo you can see the folders and the worksheet in the box in front. Once in a while, when the papers pile up we do a class sort. I pass out all the folders in one box and the kids put them on their desks. Then I start passing out the papers and the kids take them and put them on their desks too. It takes 5 minutes to do a box. I don't do all the boxes at once, but I do 2 or 3 at once.


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Was the CBO too kind to Paul Ryan's budget?
Howard Gleckman thinks people -- myself included -- are overstating the CBO's score of Ryan's budget plan.
All this confusion is due to a letter written on Jan. 27 from CBO director Doug Elmendorf to Ryan. In that 50-page document, CBO suggests the plan could eliminate the deficit in 50 years and, even more impressively, eliminate the debt by 2080.
But, and this caveat is a whopper, CBO assumed this wonderful outcome would occur only if the revenue portion of Ryan's plan generated 19 percent of GDP in taxes. And there is not the slightest evidence that would happen. Even though Ryan's plan has a detailed tax component, his staff asked CBO to ignore it. Rather than estimate the true revenue effects of the Ryan plan, CBO simply assumed, as the lawmaker requested, that it would generate revenues of 19 percent of GDP.
I took that disclaimer a bit differently: If revenues could be held at a fairly low percentage of GDP, then this is what the plan would do. It would be pretty easy, as a policy matter, to keep revenues around 19 percent of GDP, so I didn't give this too much thought. But Gleckman is certainly right that the Ryan plan, as written, may not hold revenues there. Fred Thompson apparently released a similar plan during the campaign and the Tax Policy Center estimated that it reduced revenues by $6 to $8 trillion over 10 years, which suggests that the impact over the many decades the Ryan plan covers could be huge.
Ezra Klein
February 5, 2010; 1:36 PM ET
Categories: Budget
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Next: Rise of the czars
The CBO has never been correct on any prediction involving any major policy proposal. It is useless.
Posted by: Lomillialor | February 5, 2010 1:55 PM | Report abuse
Paul Ryan's plan depends more on dynamic economic systems and markets behaving either (a) statically or (b) in entirely predictable ways that most of the budget proposals the CBO scores. It might work out, it might not, but the CBO scoring isn't much more than a series of wild guesses with charts and graphs.
"Now, this chart makes our outlandish claims of future savings look quasi-scientific."
Posted by: Kevin_Willis | February 5, 2010 2:03 PM | Report abuse
"Paul Ryan's plan depends more on dynamic economic systems"
No Paul Ryan's plans depends on old people not being able to afford health care or life with any dignity in retirement. It depends on eliminating the last shreds of the safety net for the elderly poor. It depends on allowing the richest 2% of the population continuing to hold 50% of the nation's wealth.
Posted by: srw3 | February 5, 2010 2:11 PM | Report abuse
Klein's interpretation seems closer to correct than do those offered by many others (the Tax Policy Center, Tax Foundation, etc.).
Each theoretically non-partisan corporate reviewer is obliged to adhere to its own mission. In the case of the Tax Policy Center (a portion of the Urban Institute corporation), its position must at all times "advocate Federalism" and extend the role of "nonprofit corporations in democratic society"; therefore, any policy which is anti-Federalist or limiting to the role of corporations in politics are given lower marks.
I respect the efforts of the Tax Policy Center, but also recognize that it has an agenda of its own (and, reasonably, uses this agenda as part of its own fund-raising efforts, which lead to payments of more than $200k per year to some 100 or so of its employees).
Posted by: rmgregory | February 5, 2010 2:12 PM | Report abuse
Ezra -
Please write a simialr column regarding the assumptions in the current healthcare bills that costs will only increase at 4% - it is a whopper!
Posted by: Holla26 | February 5, 2010 2:42 PM | Report abuse
Since the Tax Revenue as a percentage of GDP was sitting at 14.8% this last year and the assumed revenue is at 19% it seems that Rep Ryan has some tax increasing to do.
Even discounting for the fact that the tax revenues were dismal this year -- in the Great Recession; the tax revenues as pct of GDP were 16.1 and 16.2 in the first few years of the Bush tax cuts.
You were too kind. You should explicitly note that the revenues as percentage of GDP rate that Ryan 'assumes' is a rate that has not been met since the Bush tax cuts were enacted with great GOP support. All efforts to increase taxes to perhaps bring the rate back to historic norms have been met with cries of Republican anguish and universal opposition.
Posted by: grooft | February 5, 2010 3:48 PM | Report abuse
Having worked in health care for 30 years, we always laugh at any projection that extends beyond five years in this volatile market. Since a huge portion of our budget is health related, to project out to 2080 is laughable to say the least.
Although having said that, anyone can balance a budget with an ax.
Posted by: scott1959 | February 6, 2010 11:10 AM | Report abuse
Ryan's plan doesn't include funding for scraping up all the old dead people off the street dying from sickness and neglect and the cost of the cleanup from the Baby Boomer riots.
Also, you need to have a tax credit for republicans to repair their BWW and Lexus fenders from old people wandering the streets and bouncing off their cars while they drive to deposit their wealth into the bank.
There are lot's of things that need to be considered in the Ryan roadmap.
Posted by: jimjenson | February 6, 2010 6:07 PM | Report abuse
People like jimjenson and srw3 make me laugh. Ryan's proposal would provide $11K cash for seniors to buy their health insurance. Your preference is for a system that we can't afford. I know you believe in money fairies, that resources can be called down from the heavens by the great O and that they will magically appear.
I would recommend you try to find your talking points some place other than Daily Kos. It makes you look stupid.
Posted by: FatTriplet3 | February 8, 2010 11:04 AM | Report abuse
Since the average cost of health care RIGHT NOW is $12 - 15,000 a year, and given the fact seniors are in more need of health care than other's, anyone can see this is a death panel by proxie. Per his plan, the value of the vouchers will go down on a yearly basis even as health care costs go up.
Did you not read the article? Ryan will have to raise taxes by 2-3% of GOP even with the much smaller amount of health care being provided.
Some people should be careful how they use the word stupid.
Posted by: LauraNo | February 10, 2010 9:44 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.


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2019-20 marks the 31st year Farm Bureau Insurance has sponsored the MHSAA's Scholar-Athlete Award. Since the beginning of the sponsorship, Farm Bureau Insurance has awarded $800,000 in Scholar-Athlete awards. This year, 32 $1,000 scholarships will be available to high school seniors who meet the eligibility requirements listed below.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Enrollment – Student must be enrolled and participating in interscholastic athletics at an MHSAA member school.
- Senior Status – Student must be a senior graduating during the 2019-20 school year.
- Varsity Letter – Student must have prior to senior year won a varsity letter in a sport in which the MHSAA sponsors a post-season tournament.
- 3.50 GPA – Student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. You may not round up a 3.4x grade point average for the purposes of qualifying.
Application Sections, Scoring & Helpful Hints:
- Essay (40%): Be creative in telling the judges why sportsmanship is important to educational athletics. VERY IMPORTANT: the judges will be reading dozens of essays – make yours stand out! Tell the judges a personal story about sportsmanship; don't give them the Webster's definition of sportsmanship.
- Extra-Curricular Activities Form (30%): Focus on significant leadership experiences and significant athletic achievements and academic awards won. Judges are looking for quality of experiences, not quantity of experiences.
- Short-Answer Questions (20%): Use this space to tell us more about how you've personally benefited by staying active – both with school sports and with outside school activities. These are not throw-away questions, consider them mini-essays.
- Letters of Recommendation (10%): Approach coaches, teachers, school administrators, youth group leaders or others in your community to have them write recommendation letters so the judges can learn a little bit more about you.
Please contact your Athletic Director for the Access Code to begin the application process.
If you have questions, please contact Paige Winne at firstname.lastname@example.com or (517) 332-5046 ext. 140.


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Company Wrench FAQ
Where can I find parts for Fuchs Material Handlers?
- You can contact our parts department 24 hours a day at 866-262-4181 or visit our Parts Website . We have Fuchs parts in stock and ready to ship, as well as a knowledgeable staff to answer any of your questions.
Does Company Wrench service Fuchs Material Handlers?
- Yes, our service department and technicians can take care of your machine regardless of the issue. We have 24-hour on-call service, as well state of the art facilities to get your machine up and running. Contact our Service department today @ 866-262-4181 or visit our Serice Department Website.
Do you service other machines as well?
- We service all types and brands of machines. Our techs are amongst the most well trained in the industry and have been certified by several manufacturers such as Cummins and Deutz to name a few.
Where can I find JCB parts?
- You can contact our parts department 24 hours a day at 866-262-4181 or visit our Parts Website. We have JCB parts in stock and ready to ship, as well as a knowledgeable staff to answer any of your questions. We are a certified JCB dealer. When you can't find the part you are looking for, look no further than Company Wrench.
Where can I find LaBounty products, such as shears, processors or pulverizers?
- You found them. Company Wrench is the number one LaBounty dealer in the world. Look no further for all of your demolition and recycling needs.
I have a LaBounty shear that I need a blade kit for. Does Company Wrench carry those?
- We carry blade kits, as well as any other part for LaBounty products. What we don't have in stock, we can get within a couple of days or less, which gets you back up and running quickly.
Where is Company Wrench located?
- We have Company Wrench branches located in the following areas; Carroll Ohio, Cleveland Ohio, Cincinnati Ohio, Raleigh North Carolina, Charlotte North Carolina, Lexington South Carolina, Lakeland Florida, Knoxville Tennesee, and Williamstown New Jersey. We have experienced tremendous growth and will be expanding to more areas in the future. Click here to learn more.
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- We have a machine for every rental need. Some of our offerings include; Skid Steers, Water Trucks, High Reach Excavators, Long Reach Excavators, Material Handlers, Hammers, Dust Suppression Equipment, Chippers, Grinders and more. Click here to learn about all the machines we offer.
What brands do you carry?
- We carry Fuchs, LaBounty, Kobelco, JCB, Prinoth, Fecon, Bandit, CW Machine Worx, MKT, Winkle, and several other manufacturers that offer high-end products. Visit our Manufacturer's Page to learn more.
I need to rent a high reach excavator. What sizes do you offer?
- Company Wrench offers high reach excavators from 50′ to 100′. For more information please check our High Reach Inventory .
Company Wrench sounds like a great company to work for. Are you hiring?
- Company Wrench has a family atmosphere and is a tremendous place to work. If you are interested in openings within the company, you can call 866-262-4181, or click here for a list of current openings.
Do you sell used equipment?
- Yes, we have a large selection of used and new equipment. Check out our Inventory to see what we have, and check back often, as our inventory is constantly changing.
Do you offer financing on purchases?
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What types of conversion services does Company Wrench offer?
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Can a high reach be used as a digging machine?
- In some cases, we will allow the use of a high reach machine as a digger, but only in a dragging motion, and it must stay within the high reach working range at all times. In other words no more than 10 degrees forward boom angle and only working over the front between the idlers. However, this must be confirmed in writing by both the customer and Company Wrench prior to the rental of a high reach unit.


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How could I not know why he took those concubines? Although I knew, but seeing them still made my heart feel a twinge. Is it hurt or is it admitting to the fact that an emperor will never have only one wife? No matter if he really wants it or if he really wants to keep his promise to me, for power he'll need them. He may say that he won't touch them, but those concubines's fathers will pressure him after some time. Then he'll have no choice, but to comply. It's ironic how an emperor doesn't even have the freedom to sleep with whoever he wants. He is no different from a prisoner. He is only living in a golden cage. No matter how beautiful the palace is, it's still a cage.
Why do so many people want to be the emperor when they can almost do nothing? Is that seat really so tempting? I can understand, but at the same time I can't understand. And is my seat also tempting? I think it must be. It's like drugs. Once you have tasted it you can get away from it, even though you know it's bad for you. The power that this seat brings must be really tempting like a drug. I must be really careful now. I can't lose this seat yet. I'm seated at the highest seat that a woman can wish to sit on, but this seat brings much unhappiness. I really want to forsake this seat and go into hiding. But everything under the sky is Xuan Chen's. Where can I hide?
I sat by the window. Flower petals flew into the room. It's autumn again. I watched those petals flew. I laughed to myself. Since when did I become like this? Since when did I begin to lose my smile? Was it since the time I met Xuan Chen? Was it after the wedding? Was it when I lost Sweet Corn? Will I be able to go back to my old self? Do I want to go back to my old self? Since when did I start to think so much?
A flower petal landed on my hand through the window where I sat. I looked at it. These flowers are still the same as the year before. They are still as beautiful and unchanging. But I have changed. I don't look at them with the same innocence anymore. So even though they haven't changed, in my eyes they have changed.
I've really grown old in these past two years. It's already been two years since that fated meeting. Sometime, I regretted ever meeting Xuan Chen. But even if I didn't meet him, I'll eventually become the emperor's wife. Maybe the monk was right. I'm really fated to be his wife. But why didn't he also predict that I'll have such a life? If I had known, I would have run away. Who am I kidding? I'll never be able to abandon my mother and leave her to be beheaded. Besides, my fate is already written by the Heavens. The Heaven is really cruel to me.
The night wind was cold like my heart. It entered the room and touched me. I closed the window and ordered some maids to prepare a bath. I looked carefully at them. Which one of them is a spy? Are all of them a spy? People in the palace are really great actors. They can smile at you while plotting to get rid of you.
My head hurts from all this thinking. How did Xuan Chen survive in this hell? I'm really beginning to admire him. He's a really scary person. Someone who can live in the palace without anyone to protect him, must be someone with an impressive mind. I'm beginning to think that I don't know him at all. Did I marry a stranger? What a question? Of course I married a stranger. We were betrothed since birth. It's only that I knew him a little before my wedding. But that Xuan Chen wasn't the emperor. That Xuan Chen didn't have so many secrets. That Xuan Chen won't sacrifice our love for power.
"What are you thinking about?"
I was so deep in thoughts that I didn't hear him coming. I looked at him without expression. I ceased to be amazed that he can do things that ordinary people can't, like entering the palace at night. Even more, entering the empress' chamber without anyone noticing. Really impressive.
"Are you angry that I came without being invited?"
"Since when did you even bother about my opinion? You come and go as you like."
"Haha, you're right. But I still want to get your permission."
"What permission should I give you? Permission for entering the empress' chamber at night?"
"That would be nice. What about permission to enter your heart? "
"Stop joking. Besides, my heart is already gone."
"Gone to that emperor of yours? Or gone to the grave together with your child? You can't lie really well, you know? Deep in your soul, you still love him. But it doesn't matter. I can wait. Patience is one of my good points."
"Yes, you've already been so patience; waiting so many years for the opportunity to take the throne. Why do you want to throne?"
"Because it was mine from the start. Some thieves stole it. It needs to go back to its rightful owner."
"Do you know that it's really difficult to sit in that seat?"
"Are you worried for me?"
"Can you be more serious?"
"I know. Seeing you, I know. Seeing how sad and unhappy you are, I know. Life in the palace must be really bad. But I still want it. Do you know why? From the beginning, I want it because it's rightfully mine, but now I want it because if I have it I can have you."
"What are you talking about? Stop speaking nonsense."
"I've never been so serious in my life before. I've thought about it when you left that temple. If I escape with you, no matter where we go, he'll still find us. Besides, if I leave with you, you'll be treated like someone who committed adultery. You'll be hunted down by the empress dowager's people. The emperor won't be able to protect you. You won't be able to take revenge and will suffer a painful death. But if I become the emperor, I can protect you. I can take revenge for you. I'll make all your wishes come true."
"Yun Wen, I……"
Comments: The long waited chapter is here ^^. Hope you enjoy it.


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Official Website of the City of Milwaukee
CALL for Action (414) 286-CITY | Click for Action
Department of Employee Relations
The positions listed below are not open at this time and are provided for information purposes only (do not submit resumes or transcripts). Select a Job Title for the job description and minimum requirements. For current protective service job openings, go to http://city.milwaukee.gov/fpc/Job-Opportunities.htm.
Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission:
Milwaukee Fire Department:
Milwaukee Police Department:
r. 08.04.17
Department of Employee Relations
200 E. Wells Street, Room 706
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3515
Office hours are weekdays from
8:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
(414) 286-3751 (general info)
(414) 286-5555 (job hotline)
E-mail: email@example.com
Design by City of Milwaukee


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A few years back, I spent about three years on a vision quest for – driving around the United States in a conversion van with the intention of visiting as many places in the Continental US as possible.
At this point, the states I have yet to visit are:
Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa and Kentucky.
I have over twelve years as a crowned priestess of Yemaya in La Regla de Ocha/Santeria, am a Palo Yayi and have been speaking with the dead since the age of 5. Dead folks have made their presence known to me in various forms throughout the years. I started my path as a horse for spirit back when I was 17. I engage with spirit in mild possession, in which I remain aware, but my body and voice are used by spirit to convey messages and heal people, as well as driving out negative entities.
I divine through cards as well as the Diloggun (oracular reading by way of utilizing cowrie shells).
It is my firm belief that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us – our Ancestors. Through them, we can accomplish everything. Without them, our path becomes static and difficult.
When working with clients, I tend to only engage spirits that most mediums classify as 'Demonic' or 'Evil' – even though it's my firm belief that most Demons have better things to do than to frustrate and terrify housewives and children.
I tend to work only cases where heavy poltergeist activity has been reported and where the occupants of a building are actually in danger of being hurt.
To be clear, my primary purpose it to assist the spirit in what it needs as opposed to simply 'making it go away' for a family that's uncomfortable having that kind of energy in their house. Only in cases where the spirit is simply out to cause hurt/harm do I intervene to get the spirit away from those whom it's harming.
If you wish to contact me about a spiritual matter, you can reach me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Why are some leaders better at communicating than others? And how does being an LGBTQ leader strengthen and influence your effectiveness?
Join Stanford GSB Lecturer J.D. Schramm for this complimentary webinar as he shares case studies of successful leaders — both within and outside the LGBTQ community — who have demonstrated compelling communication skills and strategies. Examine the role of charisma, authenticity, and credibility in exuding an effective leadership presence and discuss how your verbal, vocal, and visual cues can all make a difference. Discover the obstacles that can block your self-expression and, most important, how to overcome them as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people.
The one-hour webinar includes a 45-minute discussion followed by Q&A, and includes a preview of the new Stanford Executive Education Program for LGBTQ leaders: the LGBTQ Executive Leadership Program.


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ALDI, one of the most popular supermarket chains in Europe, is to open a new store in Finestrat on November 29th. With this new unit, ALDI will operate 32 stores in the province of Alicante. The new Finestrat store will create a total of 10 new jobs.
The chain will strengthen its presence in Alicante with the new store which will cover more than 1,200 square meters, with parking spaces and located on Avenida Finestrat, 11-13. The store hours will be from Monday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
This new establishment is part of the ALDI expansion plan in the Community of Valencia where it already has 54 establishments, of which 32 are in the province of Alicante. In total there are more than 260 stores across Spain.
The new store will also generate 10 new jobs, reaffirming the chain's commitment to hiring local staff. Thus, with the establishment of this supermarket, ALDI will continue to contribute to the economic dynamism of the town of Finestrat and will also offer a new alternative to those making family purchases.
ALDI is committed to offering very high quality goods at the best prices with a wide range of products in the categories of food, health and beauty, hygiene and general goods.
In Finestrat, customers will be able to find more than 1,500 products with everything they need for their family shopping: fresh, packaged, regional and more than 200 organic items, all of which have a strong commitment to quality.
In addition, there is an assortment of 120 own brands that are popular in many European countries and that will allow many more people to access high quality products at the best prices.
On the opening day, all customers will be able to enjoy a tasting of ALDI products, together with live cooking, promotions and gifts.


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For that special baby shower, gift, or novelty item, this shop has lots of handmade items from Colorado that will steal your heart & Jellycats to make your little one smile.
Jeannie Ross
Facebook: JenJenni's
JenJenni's is a Colorado-based company that carries personal, handmade and hand-embellished items. Owner, Jeannie, specializes in baby and toddler items, clothing, toys, bows & headbands for the little people in your life. Additionally, Jen Jenni's is an authorized Jellycat dealer. Jeannie also makes, personalizes, and customizes coasters in many colors. Bring the best gift to your next shower or party from Jen Jenni's!


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DIY Bookshelf with Built-in Desk
Elisabeth's dining room works triple duty as a sewing room for herself and a place for art projects with her boys. When she needed a large wall storage solution, she considered many store-bought choices before her hubs went the DIY route.
Elisabeth and her family wanted white shelves, but she couldn't quite pull the trigger on the ubiquitous Ikea Billy units. She wanted a higher end look. So her husband built 96" shelves with 5-ply plywood with poplar trim for $250.
I love adding the workstation to the center unit! Elisabeth customized it by adding a backing board of fabric-covered Homasote, which also functions as a pin board.
There are more details on this project (and links to her DIY tables) on the blog, Growing Home.


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About Paul Rabinowitz Glass
The Paul Rabinowitz Glass Company was established in 1931 and has been owned and managed by members of the Rabinowitz family for over 80 years.
Humble beginnings
In the early 20th century, Paul Rabinowitz's father, Nathan, brought the family to the U.S. from Russia and worked as a neighborhood residential window installer.
When Paul was old enough to learn the profession, he founded a glass replacement company, naming it Paul Rabinowitz Glass. Paul ran the company out of a residential garage on S. 2nd Street, in South Philly. His wife, Libby, handled the calls and bookkeeping.
Second and third generation ownership
When Paul Rabinowitz went blind in one eye in 1976, he asked his son Jerry Rabinowitz, who was a stockbroker at the time, to help sell the business. To his father's surprise and satisfaction, Jerry decided that instead of selling the company he would take over.
In 1988, Jerry's oldest son, Mark, graduated from Syracuse University and went to work selling folding cartons. Two years later, Jerry's second son, Rob, graduated from the University of Arizona and moved to L.A. But the separate careers of father and sons did not last long. By 1998, Mark and Rob were back in the Philadelphia area helping their father run the company. They bought the former Russell Glass Building, where the company is still headquartered today.
Rapid growth with strong family roots
In 2000, Jerry relinquished his leadership role, passing the company on to his sons, with Mark taking over as President and Rob as Vice President. Since then, with the dedication and hard work of the third-generation owners along with the team around them, the company has seen tremendous growth, expanding from ten to fifty employees and serving the entire Delaware Valley region.
Paul Rabinowitz Glass is now recognized as the leading commercial glass and door company in the tri-state area, thanks to the commitment of all three generations of Rabinowitz leaders as well as the exceptional workmanship and unrivaled service provided by the company's glass, aluminum and door experts.
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