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Welcome message
Dear friends,
Welcome to my blog. I am honored to have you visit. I hope you'll find my articles a blessing. I welcome your input and especially comments and questions.
I write as a Christian from Jerusalem, Israel about Biblical subjects.
I am particularly interested in the subjects of children, families, women's issues, corporal punishment, science and nature as these subjects relate to the Holy Scriptures.
For more information, see my website: www.biblechild.com
With every good wish - Samuel Martin
Welcome to my blog. I am honored to have you visit. I hope you'll find my articles a blessing. I welcome your input and especially comments and questions.
I write as a Christian from Jerusalem, Israel about Biblical subjects.
I am particularly interested in the subjects of children, families, women's issues, corporal punishment, science and nature as these subjects relate to the Holy Scriptures.
For more information, see my website: www.biblechild.com
With every good wish - Samuel Martin
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sunday, December 09, 2012
The Two Churches (Part One)
The Two Churches (Part One)
Very uncharacteristically of me, I've been reading Dickens of late. Anyone who knows me, knows that fiction is something I engage rarely, though some people who read my material would disagree with that statement.
However, of late, my ten year old and I have been spending that special story time at night reading Great Expectations. It is a bit of a slow go because Dicken's English is a bit unfamiliar to her and there are lots of "Dad, what does that mean?" breaks. It's good because there are lots of new words for her and we get to have a bit of fun. I am trying not to paraphrase because I read it real slow with a bit of acting and theatre to go along (Yes, I can even manage a pretty decent British accent if the spirit moves me after being born in the UK). She is totally in for the theatrics making the whole thing a bit of a production in fact.
But, it was not Pip, Miss Havisham, Uncle Pummelchook, Mr. Wopsle, Bentley Drummle or Biddy that jogged my memory of my own childhood. It was Pip's description of dinner.
"Dinner was a gay affair for everyone except me. I was not allowed to speak. Much of the conversation centered on me and the burden I was to my poor sister,…" (ch.2)
I've been to these types of dinners. These types of dinners where children are to be seen and not heard! [This absolute wisdom in the 'Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child' tradition is quoted in the Western world as if it came from Jesus Himself!] Dinner was not the only place where children were to be seen and not heard.
I remember once when I was a kid of no more than six years. I went to play with a friend at his home. We came into the kitchen to sit at the table to have a cup of milk. I made the horrifying error of making a noise when I drank my milk. Imagine that, a six year old who makes a little noise drinking. The thought of it! Not in my friend's house! That was an offense which was punishable with the rod and don't worry his mum had one constantly nearby. More on this later.
Welcome to Church – Come in, sit down, don't move and shut up
Church was a place you entered from outside. The ground inside was holy and to be treated as such.
Children were allowed in church as long as they sat still, shut up and were perfect. Anything less than that was the signal for the parents to march their little charges out of the "holy assembly" to a nearby location for a solid and firm round of spanking/smacking/the rod/corporal punishment, etc. Don't worry, this location was known to all, it was used regularly and they would make sure that paddles were available.
I didn't get too much of that at church myself. I was well behaved generally speaking. I was also too busy sitting down next to my mother and sisters, mouth shut, hands folded, back straight and head erect. God help you if you needed, of all things, to use the toilet at the wrong time. Because that would mean that my mother would have to get up in view of the whole congregation, and do the unthinkable (God forbid), take her uncontrollable charge to the bathroom. Perish the thought! Also, God help you if you were forced to sit and couldn't hold it! Another unforgivable offense which also had its remedy for some: the paddle as well.
You see, I was the youngest in my family and I was the only son and God forbid I embarrass my father (who was often the preaching minister) and mother in the church.
But don't feel too sad for me. My family, along with 10,000's of others, left that church in 1974 after Herbert W. Armstrong's prophecies concerning the end of the world uttered multiple times in the 1950's failed.
When I look back and reflect on my own upbringing and experience with church, I notice now that I am an adult, how many of the ideas which were pretty much part and parcel of my church experience, have been shared by millions of Christians and today, many of them, like me, will do anything they can to get away from this previous environment and will under no circumstances subject even their worst enemy to the same much less their loving family.
The Two Churches
In talking about my propensities to read fiction, I have another daughter who is a bit younger and we also do a bit of reading. I've always wanted to figure out a way to include Dr. Suess in my academic presentations ever since I heard Claire Pfann pull it off so amazingly [Of course, Claire doesn't need to pull anything off being one of the most powerful Bible scholars we have in Jerusalem today (or in the universe for that matter) – See http://s3.amazonaws.com/narkis/Mary%20of%20Migdal,%20a%20Model%20of%20Faith%20-%20Claire%20Pfann%20-%2013%20Apr%202006.mp3 ] , so now I've managed to do it. You see, this is because my 6 year old loves "The Cat in the Hat."
In the story, she enjoys the various characters, but she really likes Thing One and Thing Two.
So, this paper gives me a chance to talk about what I will call:
Church One and Church Two
I have a lot of experience with Church One. I am patiently waiting for Church Two.
Church One – Some of its characteristics
Now, I know a little something about Church One. I've lived it. I was quite small when I left Church One. (about 8 years old in fact) I've also noticed a few similarities that my Church One has with lots of other Church One's I've heard about. Let's look at some of these:
1. Headed by a singular charismatic leader who rules Church One with an iron fist from the top down – Everyone here can often just cut and paste the name of their own charismatic church leader here. My charismatic leader was Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, the Pastor General (love those military terms) of the World Wide Church of God. [Note: if you are presently in a denomination where the head of your church chooses to identify himself by the term "Pastor General", this could be an immediate signal to leave the church immediately. ]
2. Church One leaders lead lavish, lifestyles of luxury with the need to have massive resources at their control to do "God's work" including all types of physically properties, cars, and even lear jet airplanes.
3. Church One leader's incomes are almost always in the top 1% of the incomes that are present among their members.
4. Church One leaders often have a cadre of lawyers and accountants around them to help them take advantage of every non-profit tax law, tax avoidance, loophole, church property and compensation designation, ad nauseum. If they ever get into trouble, they normally will be seen in the company of the most expensive, high powered attorney's money can buy.
5. Church One members are required to pay "tithes" according to the interpretation of Church One leaders. Church One leaders are exempt from paying anything as they are the recipients of the "tithe." Members are also expected to give sacrificial gifts to Church One and many members will often go without many basic needs to give money to Church One.
6. Church leaders maintain "doctrinal committees" which on the surface are suggested to be forums where new information is discussed and formulated, but, in practice, these bodies are in existence to continue promoting the same old teachings that Church One has been teaching since its inception. The old line is to be preserved at all costs. There is no such thing as "new truth."
7. Men are firmly in charge and control all power and resources in Church One at all levels – This is a pretty standard one.a. Men are the preeminent social being in the universe
b. God has given Christianity a 'masculine feel.'
8. Women are welcome to participate in Church One according to the following termsa. Come in, sit down and shut up
b. We will tell you what to wear, how to look and whatever you do, it will most probably be wrong and not good enough for the Lord's standard, which we define and continuously modify, clarify, change, adjust according to our own priorities.
c. Do not think, ask or question anything
d. Ladies, your intuition is wrong, misguided and cannot be trusted
e. Don't question your husband
f. All men in Church One are your authority figures who are also not to be questioned
g. We're all one in Christ, but … (you all know what to add here)
h. Women are inferior to men
9. Children – Children are little creatures that are full of sina. Children are subject to the authority of any adult and must always do what they are told by older adults no matter what
b. Sin is to be beaten out of them (often called by a neutral term "spanking")
c. They are also welcome in Church One much on the same terms as women
d. Play is something to be frowned on
10. The World outside of Church Onea. The world outside is evil, full of sinners who are all going to Hell or who will be annihilated forever
b. Church One members are basically the only people who will be saved
c. Church One members will be saved if and only if they stay in Church One and do exactly what they are told never questioning anything told to them by the Church One leadership
11. The Biblea. The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is the Word of God
b. The KJV is perfect, is not deficient in any way and is never to be questioned
c. The use of or suggestion to use another Bible version is absolutely ridiculous and potentially heresy
d. The King James Version was good enough for Jesus; It is good enough for Church One and its members.
e. Under no circumstances are you ever to question the Bible interpretation of the leaders of Church One. They have been placed in authority over by God and their word on what the Bible teaches is final, absolute and not subject to any questioning, debate or discussion
Now that we've heard about Church One, next time, we'll talk about Church Two.
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Our Students
Student participation in decision making is actively promoted through class meetings and the Student Representative Council. Assemblies are held three times per term, which are attended by parents/caregivers and community members. Assemblies provide the students with the opportunity to show their work and share their successes.
We also have a Pastoral Support Worker who works at the school for 12 hours a week. Ada Walladge is available to support the students, staff or parents with any issues or concerns they may be facing.
Student Well-being
Blanchetown Primary School is passionate about delivering all the key learning areas of the Australian Curriculum, using high quality teaching and learning approaches. We aim to develop expert learners, by fostering deep understanding, and promoting dialogue as a means of learning. We create safe conditions for rigorous learning and challenge our students to achieve at high standards.
The school has a strong Literacy focus. Explicit Literacy teaching is implemented in classrooms for at least 90 minutes per day in reading, writing, spelling and oral language. We design learning, starting with the curriculum and include current approaches to differentiate and scaffold learning. Our whole school genre focus links reading and writing components, allowing for collaborative planning and consistent data collection and analysis, in order to improve student outcomes.
Children's well-being is central to all we do, because we know that being mentally healthy is vital for learning and leading a rewarding life. We use the KidsMatter framework to nurture happy, balanced kids through mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention and planning.
We have a Pastoral Support Worker who works at the school for 15 hours a week. Erin Skewes is available to support the students, staff or Parents with any issues or concerns they may be facing. She also runs the breakfast club on Thursday and Friday mornings.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today I will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that women have it harder than men. I'm not here to complain about equals rights. I'll leave that to someone who knows what they're talking about. No, today I am here to discuss pain. Particularly, the age-old battle of who has it worse, men being kicked in their jewels, or women receiving their monthly friend. This argument has waged over centuries and many a war has been started, slight exaggeration, but today I will put an end to this quarrel! Below you will find researched, creditable information, provided by professionals in their relative field of expertise. Well one professional, that happens to be me, Dr. Ichards.
Now we've all been children and we've all had males as friends and we've all thought at one point it might be funny to see how your male friend would react if you "kicked him in the nuts". You only make that mistake once. Nothing transforms a fun, laid back, male faster than having his pride bumped. As females, we sympathize and are apologetic for a long time, because we've never experienced something that could cause that much pain. Then we hit puberty, have our first period, and from that point on our sympathy card is gone. From then on its, "Get over it, have you ever had a period?"
Pain –Males, imagine the worst charlie horse you've ever had. Remember that feeling, good. Now place that feeling on the inside of your body. A place where you are unable to reach, to massage, to alleviate the pain. Now on top of that, put a little devil poking that charlie horse with his trident. Yea, that's right, welcome to a women's period.
Duration – Men we get it, getting your pride nudged hurts like hell. Try to picture for a second that the pain you experience for a couple of minutes, dragged out for days. Welcome to cramps.
Above are probably the only two comparisons that may be somewhat equal. Based upon my knowledge and expertise I would say that women have already won but I'll continue.
Emotions – Ah yes, last time I checked getting booted in the gonads doesn't send you on a roller coaster of emotions. You might be angry for a little bit but it's nothing compared to PMS. That magical word males love to throw around at exactly the wrong time. Here's a fun experiment males, try telling you lady friend that she's PMSing while she's PMSing.
You're happy one minute, you're crying the next. The next you want to punch small kittens in the face. Maybe that's a personal thing. Either way, I don't think the jewels being shaken causes this much madness to a persons demeanor.
Boobs – Massive, well larger than before, sore, BOOBS. So sore you contemplate removing them. This could also be a personal thing. As far as I can recall I don't think having your prized gems smacked around makes your arms swell and hurt. The best part is because they are ripe they become all that more appealing to males. Want another fun test males? Try to touch them when they're in this fragile state.
Hunger – I'm quite certain the last thing males want to do after having the pearls batted around is eat. Well thanks to hormones that's all we want to do. Not normal food or average portions either.
"I want loaves of dark chocolate."
"Well, honey they don't offer loaves of chocolate, I can get you a bar."
Acne– Men go through puberty, sprout hair in weird places, and develop a deeper voice. Some, may have a brief phase of a year or 2, where their skin is trying to figure out what the hell is happening. Awesome, congratulations men. Women, nope, we get to break out like we are 15 years old again, every month. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Based on this proof, I can safely draw the conclusion that men should never complain again when the family jewels get knocked around. Also, we already knew that men were babies, so it wasn't even a fair fight. However, CASE CLOSED!
Why this rant, because I'm suffering here, and I needed to make sure it didn't go unnoticed. Also, it could be because I wanted to be a raging b$*@%. Either way to all my male readers, I'm sorry I had to call you out, please don't leave. Remember this is one girls opinion, feel free to reach out to other females who might have an ounce of sympathy for you.
Dr. Ichards
P.S. Not ALL men are babies, just a large majority are. 😉


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Public & Investor Relations
Through our sister company Bayfield Strategy, Inc., we will help you prepare the arguments for your proxy circular, press releases and hard-hitting letters to shareholders. Bayfield can also develop media strategies, talking points, and provide media training session for spokespeople.
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Discovering Clean Beauty with Jane Iredale
I recently had the joy of spending the morning at Jane Iredale learning about their makeup line, including getting to play with some of the new lipsticks that will be released very soon. First, back to the PR morning. Yes, fruity breakfast was had.Read More


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A State of Mind – North Korean Film Review
The documentary A State of Mind broke ground in 2003 as the first western production to be allowed unrestricted access into Pyongyang, filming in the homes of friends Pak Hyon Sun (age 13) and Kim Song Yun (age 11), and showing insights into their daily life as they trained for gymnastics performances in a run of mass games.
Their determined preparation leading to the film's "socialist realist extravaganza" mass games finale is fascinating, but I more enjoyed the peeks into the girl's daily lives: attempts to ditch homework, delight as one girl inherits a room when an older sister joins the army, and a father complaining about his house full of chatty woman.
The filmmakers successfully present a non judgmental viewpoint, but there is no mistaking the reality of a people's collectivist mindset. Sacrifice of individuality to the needs of the state is the film's major theme – which is precisely what the mass game and other mass events aim to be the ultimate representation of.
Filmed a decade ago, this is not the DPRK I am firsthand familiar with, but I still love this documentary and consider it required viewing for anyone with an interest in the country. I personally know the director, and although I haven't met the girls from the film, I have seen behind the scenes photos of them from the production, making this extra special film for me.
You can find A State of Mind on Amazon.com.
Last Chance to see the Arirang Mass Games?
2011 Arirang Mass Games – photo by Joseph A Ferris III
From my contacts at Koryo Tours: Word from our sources in Pyongyang is that the Arirang Mass Games of 2012 will be the last – so we suggest you sign up now to ensure that you can see this remarkable event while it is still running.
While mass games have been performed since the 1940s in the DPRK the Arirang show is the largest and most impressive they have ever produced. Born in 2002, since 2007 it has been an annual event, but 2012 will be Arirang's 10th anniversary, and it seems the powers that be have decided to close the curtain. As for the reason, our Korean partners suggest that the narrative needs to change with the times. Combining dance, gymnastics, propaganda, politics, music, and even unicycling, this spectacular performance chronicles the struggles of the Korean people suffering under Japanese occupation, moving into the independent era and building a modern country – basically the period linked to the first 100 years since the birth of North Korea's Eternal President Kim Il Sung.
However, since 2013 marks the 65th anniversary of the foundation of the republic (Sept 9th) as well as the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the Korean War (July 27th), organizers are reportedly planning a whole new performance for next year.
So if you haven't seen Arirang yet, or if you want to see it one last time, this is your chance. Don't miss out on the biggest performance in the world – an event that makes any Olympic opening ceremony look like a school play! Staged at the massive May Day stadium in Pyongyang, Arirang is running from August 1st to September 9th, 2012, but as with the last few years we do expect an extension, perhaps as far as the middle of October (usually it finally ends around Oct 17th).
Don't miss the Arirang Mass Games! Tell us a little about yourself, and I will hook you up with a great DPRK travel deal for visiting!
Arirang Mass Games 2012 Dates Confirmed!
2011 Arirang Mass Games – photo by Joseph A Ferris III
From my contacts at Koryo Tours: We have just been informed that North Korea's spectacular Arirang Mass Games will be taking place once again this year. The officially confirmed dates so far are from August 1st – September 9th (Sept 9th is DPRK's National Day, a major holiday in North Korea) but we do expect the dates to be extended as it is normal for the initial confirmed run of the Mass Games to be this long, the event often finishes as late as mid-October, we will of course keep you updated!
If you've ever wanted to see 100,000 performers in a 90 minute spectacular combination of gymnastics, propaganda, dance, music, and of course unicycling all with the backdrop of the world's largest screen – one made up of 20,000 schoolchildren flipping coloured cards to create an ever-shifting display unrivaled anywhere else in the world – then this is the event for you. Truly unforgettable and awe-inspiring, book now for something that will not be easily forgotten!
All tours that take place in this period can see the Mass Games, the event takes place in the evening and so is easily fitted to any tour schedule. The Mass games will run 5 times a week (on Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat) so plenty of opportunities for you to attend, you can even go more than once on a tour if you so desire!
Mass Gymnastics Post #2
North Korean girls perform mass gymnastics at the Arirang Mass Games in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Beauty and Grace at the Arirang Mass Games
It's not all about high kicking sexy military girls and mass flip card human mosaics at the North Korean Arirang Mass Games; experience the more delicate side of the games with the following set of photos showcasing the beauty and grace of North Korean women in their traditional Korean chosŏn-ot dresses.
Dancing Maidens at the Arirang Mass Games
Young North Korean maidens dancing in an orchard……
and then the nightmare begins!
Related articles
- Arirang Mass Games Taekwondo (josephferrispics.wordpress.com)
- The Arirang Festival Mass Games (americaninnorthkorea.com)
- North Korean Mass Human Mosaics (josephferrispics.wordpress.com)
Frisbee Diplomacy in North Korea – Picture Post #2
A series of photos from our day of Frisbee diplomacy in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Above Gabriel Mizrahi of The North Korea Blog teaches young North Koreans how to throw a Frisbee.
Nightmarishly Strange Mass Games
Dancing chickens, cows, sheep, and even a giant pig – a nightmarishly weird boasting of agriculture and animal husbandry power and success during the North Korean Arirang Mass Games.
April 12th 2011 North Korea Trip
I'm looking for a few good people to help fill a VIP custom trip to North Korea. This is the big one, April 15th is the 100th birthday of the Eternal President Kim Il Sung, and I plan to be there for all the celebrations! Also included on the trip will be first time ever visits to heavy industry sites, and to Pujon, a mysterious location deep in the interior of the country.
We are looking at around 2,000 Euro for the trip + China double entry visa + flight to Beijing. You will be traveling with an exclusive group, so contact me so I can get to know you (so I can screen you) – visas into the country will be tight at this time, so we need to have applications in by Jan.
Check out the proposed itinerary below:
Hello from North Korea!
Thurs 12th April
Flight to Pyongyang (departs Beijing Airport Terminal 2) 14:00. Arrive Pyongyang, meet guides, transfer to hotel via Arch of Triumph. Dinner at hotel. Potonggang Hotel, Pyongyang.
Fri 13th
Pyongyang Metro (6 stations), Mansudae Art Studio, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, Drive to Nampo, Chollima Steel Works, Tae'an Heavy Machine Tool Complex, Tae'an Glass Factory. Hot Spa Resort, Nampo.
Sat 14th
West Sea Barrage, Nampo Taekwondo School, return to Pyongyang via Mt Ryonggak for picnic lunch, Shooting Range, Juche Tower, Pyongyang Film Studios, Paradise Department Store and Microbrewery, Kaeson funfair after dinner. Koryo Hotel, Pyongyang.
Sun 15th
100th birthday of President Kim Il Sung: Exact nature of events to be confirmed but should include visit to Kumsusan Memorial Palace (Mausoleum of President), Kimilsungia Flower Exhibition, Mansudae Grand Monument, Mangyongdae Funfair, walk in Moranbong Park (where locals go to enjoy their day off), expected mass dance, other celebratory events, MASS GAMES.
Aririang Mass Games
Mon 16th
Drive to Wonsan (4 hrs with breaks), lunch at Dongmyong Hotel. Songdowon Schoolchildren's Camp, walk in central square and around docks. Evening walk along pier (EUR 1 entry). Dongmyong Hotel, Wonsan.
Tues 17th
Drive to Hamhung (approx 3 hours) via Wonsan Agricultural University and Tongbong Cooperative Farm, lunch in Hamhung, Kim Il Sung Statue and central park, Native House of Ri Song Gye, drive past Hungnam Fertiliser Factory and Vinalon Factory (not possible to visit but can ask driver to go slowly and take photos from bus), relaxing on beach at Majon Guesthouse. Majon Guesthouse.
Weds 18th
Drive to Pujon county deep in the North Korean interior, see stunning mountain scenery and the rural way of life, picnic lunch. Ascend to the top of North Korea's second highest mountains for an unparalleled view of somewhere that nobody you know has ever laid eyes on, See the spectacular Stone River where thousands of giant boulders form a cascade down the hillside. DPRK's famous 'slogan trees' can also be seen here. Return to Hamhung. Sinhungsan Hotel, Hamhung.
Thurs 19th
Very early departure to return to Pyongyang. Arrive Pyongyang late afternoon, School Children's Palace Tour and performance (if time allows). Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang.
Fri 20th
Drive to Mt Myohyang (2 hrs), International Friendship Exhibition, Pohyon Buddhist Temple, walking in area (can have picnic lunch – for surcharges see below – or just lunch in hotel) Return to Pyongyang, Museum of Metro Construction, Farewell dinner at Duck BBQ restaurant. Yanggakdo Hotel, Pyongyang.
Farewell dinner at Duck BBQ restaurant
Sat 21st
Transfer to airport for flight JS151 to Beijing. 08:55 departure, arrive Beijing approx 10:00. End of tour.
Photo and story by Gabriel Mizrahi
Crumbling from end to end and punctured by gaping holes, Pyongyang's massive 12-lane Youth Hero Highway is a free-for-all for the few dozen vehicles that actually use it. Trucks, buses and the occasional sedan weave in and out of oncoming traffic in order to avoid the sickly workers stooping to repair the road, a symbol of the mindless excess and abject failure of North Korea's infrastructure. The road was built, James Bond Villain explained, by students and people under the age of 30. It is a point of national pride………..Continue reading this post at The North Korea Blog.
North Korea Shooting Range – Guns, Girls, and Beer!
North Korea Shooting Range – Guns, Girls, and Beer – Photo by Joseph A Ferris III
In an online article at Mademan.com, Jordan Harbinger answers why North Korea is better than Vegas. Backing up this claim, Jordan points out such North Korean show stoppers as the Arirang Mass Games, massive propaganda statues, gasoline clam bakes, and my personal favorite, guns, girls, and beer at the Pyongyang shooting range.
Sure, the Gun Store in Vegas may have MP5s ready to rip up some paper targets downrange, but the shooting ranges in Pyongyang put that all to shame with cold beer and hot women in uniform reloading your weapon for you, then yelling at you in Korean to put down your beer while you fire for greater accuracy and safety or something.
Jordan Harbinger at the Pyongyang gun range.
When our North Korean guide asked us if we wanted to arrange a trip to the shooting range we said "Hell Yeah!" The shooting range turned out to be a type of North Korean men's club, with young ladies in military style uniforms handling the guns, conducting the safety checks, and pouring the beers. This little side trip was not in the tour itinerary and there were some long faces from the other tourists at the hotel that night when we told our stories about this outing.
Neil Strauss at the Pyongyang, North Korea gun range.
Gabriel Mizrahi at the Pyongyang gun range.
Sexy Sailor Girls
The sexy sailor girls of North Korea marching in the rain at Arirang Mass Games, Pyongyang, DPRK – posted for no other reason except that I love sexy sailor girls!
The Arirang Festival Mass Games
By Contributing Writer Gabriel Mizrahi
Imagine the sight of one-hundred thousand humans executing the world's most impeccable live performance. This is the Arirang Festival, also known as the Mass Games, dubbed the greatest acrobatic spectacle on earth.
Arirang Mass Games – photo by Joseph Ferris
To the haunting chants of Korean folk music, an orgy of color and music explodes on the field. Baton-wielding military jackets parade in honor of the Dear Leader. Tiny gymnasts in blue uniforms uniforms flip and twirl with cautious grace. Tae Kwon Do athletes perform a complex series of kicks and punches. In the other half of the stadium seats, 20,000 students manipulate colored flipboards that magically shape-shift into pictures of the mythical countryside and portraits of the Great Leader in mind-blowing detail. All the while, the haunting tones of "Arirang" echo in the May Day Stadium, telling the story of a Romeo and Juliet tragedy that doubles as an allegory for the separation of North and South Korea…………Continue reading Arirang Festival Mass Games at The North Korea Blog
Related articles
- Young Gymnasts of the Arirang Mass Games (josephferrispics.wordpress.com)
- North Korean Mass Human Mosaics (josephferrispics.wordpress.com)
- Arirang Mass Games (josephferrispics.wordpress.com)
North Korean Mass Human Mosaics
I introduced the mass human mosaics of the North Korean Arirang Mass Games in my last post. Just adding a few more photos of these incredible mass flip book images.
"Great Leader" Kim Il-sung
Proof that North Korea is a fun place!
All pictures above are from the Aug. 27th 2011 Arirang Mass Games at the Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Young Gymnasts of the Arirang Mass Games
Its been a very long day at work, I had to deal with a crew member showing symptoms of a heart attack – a long day indeed! My ship was in port, he got checked out by a doctor, and we are back to sea and sailing east along the coast of South Africa. All of this has nothing to do with North Korea, but if you would like to learn more about our current science expedition please check out our current underway science outreach project.
Like I said, its been a long day, I'm simply going to leave these pics of young North Korean gymnasts performing at Arirang Mass Games, DPRK, North Korea.
Related articles
- NKorea launches massive dance and gymnastics show (seattletimes.nwsource.com)


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Toyota Chaser JZX81 Twin Turbo 1JZ RHD Right Hand Drive JDM
1980 Toyota Chaser JZX81 Twin Turbo
|Chaser JZX81
|Twin Turbo
|GT Twin Turbo
|Pearl White/Silver
|6 Cylinder Twin Turbo
|Drive type:
|Interior color:
|Traction Control, Anti-Lock Brakes
|Vehicle Title:
|Item location:
|Brownsville, Kentucky, United States
Air Conditioning, Power Windows
DVD, TV, Hard Drive, CD Player
Description for Toyota Chaser JZX81 1980
1991 JZX81 Toyota Chaser - Twin Turbo 1JZ
JZX81 Twin Turbo Chaser. 51k miles! (81,500km) Runs very well. Lightly Modified
Twin Turbo 1JZMotor
Digital Dash
New BC Racing Coilovers
Tecno Toy Tuning Roll Center Adjusters
Greddy Profec-B Boost Controller
Greddy Intercooler
Greddy Intake
Aftermarket Exhaust
Defi Gauge Controller
Defi Oil Pressure Guage
Defi Boost Guage
Defi Water Temp Guage
Defi Exhaust Temp Guage
Aftermarket Keyless Entry/Remote Start
Turbo Timer
Momo Race Wheel
Volk Racing Wheels
Full JDM Pioneer Carrozzeria DVD/Navigation Pop-Out Screen System w/5.1 Surround (JDM Nav does not work in NA)
Pioneer Carrozzeria Speakers
Rear View Monitor
Sunvisor Monitors
Automatic Transmission
Power Windows
Automatic HID Headlamps
Automatic Climate Control
A/C Blows Ice Cold (Freshly repaired and charged)
Factory Tool Kit
Factory Manual
81,500km (51,000 miles)
This is another low mileage, extremely clean Twin Turbo JZX81. Auction grade was a 4. I love finding these in such great shape. This car runs very well. The paint has an amazing shine, and I have yet to find a single door ding. The car has had some paintwork. The drivers front fender was noted on the auction sheet, and I believe the bumpers may have been done as well. A few small paint chips do exist. See the close up photos below. The lip is also scratched on the bottom side, but that is not normally visible. As with almost every car this old, the lower jack points have been damaged by a lazy technician putting the car on a lift, and one does show a repair with a weld to strengthen it. The factory jack (Photos of the underbody and those areas will be added to the gallery.) The underside is very clean, some scrapes from being lowered, but overall nothing major. The car looks to have been undercoated more than once in its life as maintenance to keep it that clean.
Mechanically the car is in very good shape. The engine runs smoothly. The AC was just repaired and converted toR134, and now blows ice cold. It was only slightly cooling and low on gas when it arrived due to a leaking o-ring. That was replaced, and the system was leak checked to ensure it was leak free. The timing belt was replaced several years ago due to age, not mileage. It looks to be in good condition, and should be goodfor some time. The automatic transmission shifts smooth and pulls well. The pan shows evidence of being resealed, so transmission fluid has most likely been changed at some point. The re-seal is showing seepage however. Enough to make a mess on the transmission, but not enough to leave drips. We can service this, but have waited knowing the new owner may want to swap in a manual. The engine mounts transmit some noise and vibration, especially when cold.Those two items would be the only issues needing to be addressed in the near future, but would not concern me at this point. We just like to over-describe our cars, and present the issues we see. We don't want you to be surprised by anything if you're considering buying from out of state. The car rides and drives very well. The suspension is in good shape. The car arrived with blown JDM JIC Magic coilovers, so we replaced those. The car is now riding on new BC Racing coilovers. We also added a set of Techno Toy Tuning Roll Center Adjusters to correct the steering geometry of the car. It now handles precisely, with no bump steer. Tires are almost new, with Pirellis on the front and Dunlops on the rear. I have personally road trip tested this car, and I would not hesitate to drive it from California to New York tomorrow.
The interior is very clean. There are a couple small burns in the front seat, and the a-pillar. It doesn't smell recently smoked in, but the burns are there. The dash is in great shape and free of any cracks. One small lower panel on the passenger side has cracked. The panel is easily replaced, unfortunately finding an un-cracked one is a little harder. The center console lid is in good shape on top, but does have a cracked hinge. It doesn't affect it when closed. The headliner does not sag. The backseat is in great shape aside from what I believe are small wear marks from a child seat. The Pioneer Carrozzeria system is a great addition to the car. It's a full DVD 5.1 Surround system with Hard Drive Media Center. It comes pre-loaded with lots and lots of J-pop, Lagy Gaga, Celine Dion, and Brittany Spears. The car seat marks, the music, and the fact the child locks were on, lead me to believe the car may have been owned by one very interesting Japanese mother.
If you would like to view the car in person, please note itis currently located in California. We're taking it to a couple of events out here before sending it back to Kentucky. Contact us for more information.


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WBU justice program readies students for law school
Brenda McCartie was sitting in the back of the class when her cell phone vibrated.
It was the final time the class at Wayland Baptist University would meet for the semester, just days before Thanksgiving, and Dr. Justin Lawrence was summarizing the semester for his Preparation for Law School students. McCartie's phone vibrated again.
"I saw on there the dean's name from (Texas Tech Law School)," she said. "It popped up with his email address and I thought that was odd."
As McCartie glanced at the email, she realized it was her acceptance letter to the School of Law at Texas Tech University in Lubbock — a dream come true.
McCartie is one of three Wayland Baptist University students to be accepted to law school this academic year. Allie Miles was accepted at Texas Wesleyan and Michael Holubik has gone to Baylor. Both Miles and Holubik have already started their law school programs. McCartie, however, still has to complete her undergraduate work. She will graduate with a double major in justice administration and psychology in May.
For Lawrence, assistant professor of justice and public administration, celebrating McCartie's acceptance is what his program is all about. When he noticed McCartie, who had started to tear up, looking at her phone, he asked if she was OK. Her response was exactly what he hopes to hear from all of his students seeking to further their education at law school.
"We paused class," Lawrence said. "Everybody was excited for her. My whole goal is to make the students successful. If they are successful, it makes me successful."
Lawrence is in his third year, leading Wayland's justice administration program. He has seen class sizes nearly triple in some cases, and is finding the interest in law school expanding from students in the program to students majoring in other academic disciplines. Holubik, for instance, majored in history and political science.
With the increased interest in pursuing law school, Lawrence, who holds a jurist doctorate from Texas Tech, designed a course that he describes as a "mini boot camp" in preparation for law school. Lawrence said through the course he teaches students how to prepare for the LSAT entrance exam, the admissions process and what students need to look for to find the law school that is the right fit for them. He also tries to teach them the skills necessary to be a lawyer.
"We look at some of those subject matters that are in the first year of law school," Lawrence said. "I teach it like a first-year law school class so that they understand the demands, the rigor, being embarrassed by the professor, being held accountable by the professor, all the Socratic questioning so they can see if this is really for them."
Lawrence said his goal with the program is to try to teach students to see and understand both sides of an argument. He uses current events and court cases as examples for students to analyze.
"What I try to do is make the program practical," Lawrence said. "We look at the law, but we look at how the law applies to the facts and how it applies to the real world."
For McCartie, who wants to experience different aspects of the law, applying what she has learned is her top priority.
"If I was in court every day, and I was helping people, that would keep me going," she said.
For more on McCartie's journey to Law School, look for the next issue of Wayland's alumni magazine Footprints due out in April.


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Thursday, October 12, 2017
The Long List Anthology: More Stories From the Hugo Award Nomination List by David Steffen (Editor)
A collection of stories that just missed a Hugo nomination in 2015. A varied bunch of tales, some very good, some a little less good.
The Breath of War • [Universe of Xuya] • (2014) • short story by Aliette de Bodard
The women of the world apparently sculpt a some kind of golem out of stone and, with a breath, turn it alive. When a woman gives birth to a child, the stone being must breathe on the newborn or it will die. A woman, whose Stoneman was left behind in the jungle and is heavily pregnant, tries to find it before her labor started. It turns out that she had sculpted a spaceship, which is alive.
The writing was very good but the story didn't make any sense whatsoever. Even fantasy should have some degree of believability and internal consistency. I can't imagine how the method of conception that was described could evolve, or what the benefits would be. If it is an artificial construct, why would anyone create such dependency? And waking up a stone statue is a pretty common trope. It is even harder to believe that you could sculpt a spaceship out of stone and then wake it up and end with a self-conscious, actually flight capable, vehicle. ***+
When It Ends, He Catches Her • (2014) • short story by Eugie Foster
A former professional dancer met her former dance partner, after the fall of civilization. He is a zombie (though, this word is not mentioned) but dancing restores his mind. They will have one last dance. A well written, bittersweet story. ***½
Toad Words • (2014) • short story by Ursula Vernon [as by T. Kingfisher ]
A man is cursed. Everything that he says comes out of his mouth as toads or frogs. When he learns that amphibians are dying out, he finds a way to capitalize on his curse. A fun little story. ***½
Makeisha in Time • (2014) • short story by Rachael K. Jones
A woman is pulled into the past and lives whole lifetimes there. She returns to the present when she dies in these lifetimes and no time has passed for anyone she was with before her time travel. As it has been decades for her, she tends to be slightly disorganized and has problems with her relationships. She is distressed, as her work in the past seems to disappear and is sometimes attributed to men. The end is slightly confusing but it was otherwise a pretty good story. I also wonder why she valued her life so much in the "present" that she was willing to commit suicide repeatedly in the other lifetimes. She apparently was able to have fully satisfying relationships in other times, the problems were only relationships in the present. ***½
Covenant • (2014) • short story by Elizabeth Bear
A psychopath is given a choice: he may go to prison or be cured. As he believes that his mind is strong enough to resist any tampering, he takes that choice. But more than his mind is changed; and soon to hunter becomes prey. A pretty good story, especially and beginning and end, the middle was a little less successful. ***½
The Truth About Owls • (2014) • short story by Amal El-Mohtar
A Lebanese girl has moved to Britain. She takes an interest to an owl that lives at a local owl sanctuary. She seems to have some sort of psychic powers that she can't completely control, which she uses when she feels threatened. Nice writing but bit too vague for me. ***+
A Kiss with Teeth • (2014) • short story by Max Gladstone
A vampire pretends to be a husband who takes care of his family. His wife is aware of what he is and helps him. But it is very hard for him to pretend to be clumsy and slow like humans. His son has problems in school, so he starts to work with his teacher. But will he be able to control his urges? A pretty good story. ***+
The Vaporization Enthalpy of a Peculiar Pakistani Family • (2014) • short story by Usman T. Malik
The terrorism and desperate lives of people in Pakistan is compared to different states of matter. A woman who has lost a lot tries to find her brother after years of separation. The writing was pretty good, but the story felt fairly disjointed and very hard to follow. ***
This Chance Planet • (2014) • short story by Elizabeth Bear
A woman works herself almost to death as a waitress, as her boyfriend is about to make a break in the music business. The problem is that he has been "about to" for a very long time already. He even suggests that she should volunteer to raise spare organs inside of her body to get more money, so that it would be easier for him to start touring. One day, on the way to her job, she encounters a stray, very pregnant, dog and eventually makes a connection with her. An excellent and well written story, with some magic realism happening in the fairly near future. ****-
Goodnight Stars • (2014) • short story by Annie Bellet
Something has hit the moon and it has shattered into pieces. The pieces are falling down and causing widespread destruction. A young woman, whose mother was on the moon working on a telescope station (and is most likely dead), journeys to her father's home. A pretty good, very well written, and moving story. But I didn't really believe the premise – just like I didn't buy the premise of the Hugo nominated novel, Seveneves. ***½
We Are the Cloud • (2014) • novelette by Sam J. Miller
A young gay man lives on a world where poor people rent out their brains for computing, risking severe brain damage in the process. Some nice ideas, but they are a side note, while the emphasis is on relationships. I didn't really get into the story, it was ok, but nothing really special. ***
The Magician and Laplace's Demon • (2014) • novelette by Tom Crosshill
An artificial intelligence that has appeared spontaneously encounters magic. Magicians are able to bend the probabilities but only when no one sees them do so and if the situation is such that the magic can't be proved. The AI starts hunting the magicians, as they are the only ones able to limit its powers. Centuries later, the AI is chasing the last one, who is extremely powerful. A very good and well written story with an interesting brand of magic. ***½
Spring Festival: Happiness, Anger, Love, Sorrow, Joy • (2014) • novelette by Xia Jia
Episodes of life in China, with heavy touches of magic realism. Intriguing fragments of life that open a window to another culture. To really get the stories, one probably should have some familiarity with the Chinese culture. ***
The Husband Stitch • (2014) • novelette by Carmen Maria Machado
A young woman meets a young man who she wants to marry. She seduces him, submits to all of the sex he ever wanted and more, but she refuses to take a ribbon off of her neck, not even when her husband and, later her son, asks her to. A well written, allegorical story with a really stupid ending. ***
The Bonedrake's Penance • (2014) • novelette by Yoon Ha Lee
A human has been raised by an alien queen, who is revered by people who serve her and bring occasional gifts. There are secrets and choices which must be made. A very good and entertaining story. I would love to read other stories set in the same world. ****-
The Devil in America • (2014) • novelette by Kai Ashante Wilson
A story of a young black girl from the 19th century who can ask for help from "angels." However, they aren't so easy to control as she thinks. But there is always a possibility of making a deal with a demon... and white people are hunting blacks. At places, the story was hard to follow and pretty slow moving. I didn't get into it at all, but I don't usually like this kind of magical realism. ***
The Litany of Earth • (2014) • novelette by Ruthanna Emrys
Apparently, this story continues some of the classic Chulthu-stories. Inhabitants/survivors of a town that was invaded by the "old ones" have lived in camps for years. As I am not a fan of these stories (nor am I familiar with them), I didn't get into the story at all. As a matter of fact after, a few days, I'm having a lot of trouble recalling anything about it. **
A Guide to the Fruits of Hawai'i • (2014) • novelette by Alaya Dawn Johnson
Vampires have conquered humanity. The remaining humans are practically raised as cattle, in kind of concentration camps, and are used as a workforce and bled to sustain the vampires. A few select ones get special treatment, and there is a competition for who will be the most favored one. Less dark of a story than one might imagine from the subject matter; an excellent and well-written tale. ****
A Year and a Day in Old Theradane • (2014) • novelette by Scott Lynch
A gang of rascals is blackmailed to perform an impossible heist: they are supposed to steal an entire city street. A lot of banter, which was possibly meant to be funny, but I didn't get into this story at all, and it was a struggle to read through. All of that banter felt mostly stupid and silly. The story was very boring to me, possibly because it is connected to a series I am totally unfamiliar with. **½
The Regular • (2014) • novella by Ken Liu
A hooker is killed and her eyes are dug out. The police blame gangs. The hooker's mother hires a private detective, who has some bionic augmentations and still has issues with the death of her own daughter. Her ex-husband works for the police and they combine forces. An extremely well-written and interesting story, but it is more of a detective story than science fiction. ****
Grand Jeté (The Great Leap) • (2014) • novella by Rachel Swirsky
A young girl is dying from cancer, only a little while after her mother died, also from cancer. Her distraught father uses a new technology to create an android that looks like his daughter and has all of her memories. The story is told in three chapters, from three different viewpoints. The basic plot and writing are pretty good, but far too much of the storyline is spent on Jewish habits. ***½
498 pp.
Tunnisteet: sf book review
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Sunday, March 1, 2009
Wheels of Mystery
I went to the Art Institute of Chicago this week, and not only has the museum changed, but I, too have changed. This time phone beeping interrupted my experience of the art. Oh, an email! Oh, a message! Oh, I'll return that call later! These were unnecessary interruptions that I humored for a while. Later I wised up and silenced my phone.
The Nataraja sculpture was in the long hall that used to hold the suits of armor, chain mail and swords. It seems to be symbolic of world changes, that the symbols of combat have now been replaced with representations of spirituality. Part of the symbolism of the Nataraja (picture above), the royal dance of Shiva, is about creation and destruction in life.
The painting, Dance of Life by Edvard Munch, also on view at the Art Institute, shows a cycle of hopeful love, creation of connection, loss and grief all participating in a mad dance. I spent a long time looking at this painting, and identified with its mythology. I also saw it when I was a child going to museums with my grandmother, and wondered if it had somehow guided my emotional life-path.
The movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, brings the reality of life cycles into focus by reversing the life trajectory of Brad Pitt's character. He is born old, and dies young—at least physically, while the love of his life, Cate Blanchett's character ages normally (yet beautifully). This dynamic forces them to consciously address aging and youth-ing with difficult choices.
This year, I find myself the oldest I have ever been. I have experienced hopefulness. I have experienced loss. And I am looking forward to seeing how the cycle of my life continues because even though a life can be seen as one cycle from birth to death, within every life is a constant movement of inspiration for growth and the reality of decay. So I don't know what's next.
And, just as the earth rotates and is held by gravity as it goes around the sun, as we go through a life cycle we are held by the great mystery at our center.
Also, Ashtanga yoga is sometimes represented with its eight limbs coming out from a center like spokes coming out from the central axis of a wheel. When seen this way one can get a sense of evolving in multiple ways simultaneously. All spokes of a wheel support the movement or evolution, development, and realization along the path of yoga.
Let's roll with it. Here are a couple more wheel links:
Buddhist Wheel of life
Tarot Wheel of Fortune
Posted by Brooks Hall at 7:46 AM
1 comment:
- RB said...
There is a song called "My Back Pages" with a line I always loved: "Oh but I was so much older then/I'm younger than that now."
I think that the cycles of life let us embody more alleged qualities of youth as we get older. I was just writing too about shivasana has a component of rebirth, even in being "corpse pose."
- March 4, 2009 at 10:05 AM
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I am using WireShark to analyse millions of packets. Is there a filter which will only show those packets which have errors?
By "error", I mean an IP error (e.g. incorrect IP header checksum), an TCP error (e.g. incorrect TCP checksum), or an error at the application layer (in my case, the FIX protocol, which is parsed by WireShark).
How can I configure WireShark to only show erroneous packets?


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Mission Statement
TicTots is a family run nursery which offers a homely experience supporting children in its fun, secure and very caring environment.
Our friendly staff are approachable, compassionate, empathetic and foster great relationships with children and their families. At TicTots children learn through fun and laughter and they become their own person through their individual needs met by our professionally trained staff.
The Framework we follow
The main framework for educating your child that we operate within is the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is the national framework that all children in the UK access and what OFSTED expect to see implemented during our inspection. The framework is aimed at children 0-5 years old and is used in the first year of primary schools (reception class).
The staff observe their key children and using the EYFS guidance, plan the next steps to support the development of each child. The majority of our activities are child led and a lot of the work/activities produced by the child are through them exploring our resources or with various paints and textures and role-playing etc. independently.
As a setting we work with children, parents and the community to ensure that children are kept safe and they have the very best start in life. We ensure that all needs are met by following the Welfare Requirements that are set out in the EYFS standards.
We are committed to promoting awareness of child abuse issues among all our staff, parents and volunteers and throughout our training and learning programmes for adults. We are also committed to empowering young children, through our early childhood curriculum, promoting their right to be strong resilient and listened to. We do this by encouraging children's communication skills and helping them to be confident enough to speak up as needed.
Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility and each child's needs must and do come first.


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Positions result from a process of study. Any given study, whether it be National, State, or Local, is thorough in its pursuit of facts and details. As the study progresses, a continuing discussion of pros and cons of each situation occurs. Prior to the results of the study being presented to the general membership, study committee members fashion consensus questions that are then addressed by the membership.
Additional discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the board forms positions based on that consensus.
It is the consensus statement -- the statement resulting from the consensus questions -- that becomes a position. Firm action or advocacy can then be taken on the particular issue addressed by the position. Without a position, action/advocacy cannot be taken.
B. Port of Coos Bay
Support for the Port of Coos Bay to include the following:
1. Be a leader in cooperation among governmental jurisdictions
2. Accurately assess and plan for future needs
3. Rigorously examine the financial solvency of port users seeking public funding
4. Put the overall public interest ahead of special interests
5. Be deliberate, yet aggressive, in the practice of sound business
6. Employ adequately trained staff to accomplish all mandated responsibilities
7. Develop an adequate process through which public opinion can be heard and reviewed by commissioners, including a respected and functioning representative port advisory committee
8. Make maximum use of technical knowledge, planning, and implement expertise
9. Aggressively use the mandated powers to their maximum in order to bring all possible economic and environmental benefit to the district.
10. Develop an adequate budget and sound financial base
11. Encourage primary, labor-intensive industry which increases the total disposable income to the community. (Adopted in 1962, updated in 1981 and 2000)
C. Comprehensive Planning
Support for county comprehensive plans that would include the following:
1. Coordination with planning at all levels.
2. All elements of comprehensive planning as defined by state law
3. Strong citizen involvement. (Adopted in 1973, continuously studied since then)
D. Juvenile Facilities
Support for an effective plan, program, and facilities to serve each child in trouble in order to benefit the child, the family, and the community. Services and facilities available to juveniles in Coos County should include all of the following:
1. A county detention facility that at least meets minimum state standards for jails.
2. A shelter home for temporary placements
3. The existing boys' and girls' "ranches" treatment facilities should be expanded as needed for adequate space and services.
4. Foster homes and foster group homes and a home for severely emotionally disturbed teenagers
5. Screening for medical and/or learning disabilities among youths placed in detention.
6. Sheriff and city police departments with at least one officer trained in working with juveniles.
7. Adequate court time available for juvenile cases and an adequately funded and staffed Juvenile Department. (Adopted in 1976, restudied and updated 1999-2000)
E. County Budget Process Support for a system in Coos County which will encourage public education and participation in the budget process; facilitate the procedure of the budget committee; improve communications between department heads and the committee; adopt improved budgeting systems, general accounting procedures, departmental bookkeeping systems, and utilize the recommendations of the auditor to improve the system. (Adopted 1977, re-studied 1987)
F. County Library Services
Support for quality services for all county residents, including the following:
1. Provision of open and equal access to ideas and information to all members of the community
2. Stable and adequate funding
3. Provision of basic public library services without charge to users
4. Development of plans and programs to achieve the most beneficial sharing of resources among all types of libraries (Adopted in 1979, updated in 1993)
G. Evaluating Public Administrators
Support for a regularly scheduled evaluation process for appointing public administrators to included the following:
1. Establish goals and priorities and involve the public and staff, with possible assistance from third party experts
2. Be based on procedures agreed upon by the governing body and the administrator
3. Have the evaluation made public. (Adopted in 1983)
H. Affordable Housing
Support programs for affordable housing, including the following:
1. Affordable housing for the elderly, the handicapped, the low-income, and the homeless
2. "Special Needs" housing financed by the government, non-profit and private organizations
3. Efforts to eliminate barriers that exist in providing affordable housing. Such efforts might include education materials for developers and target populations, a speakers' bureau, tax incentives, and the study of zoning laws for target populations. (Adopted in 1994)
I. Establishment of a Coos County Human Rights Commission
Support the establishment and the continuation of an official Coos County Human Rights Commission. Principal objectives of the Human Rights Commission shall include the following:
1. A public statement that harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated in Coos County
2. Membership made up of county residents representing a cross section of individuals/groups who historically have been subjected to discrimination and/or harassment.
3. Public education promoting respect for cultural diversity
4. Conflict resolution for discrimination/harassment complaints. Discrimination includes acts and threatened acts that in any way infringe on an individual's human rights + based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, mental or physical handicapped conditions, economic positions, other. (Adopted 1996)
J. Water Quality
Support for Coos County water programs sufficient to:
1. Accommodate the need for adequate supplies of high quality and quantity of potable water for current and future population growth
2. Maintain or exceed mandated water quality standards
3. Develop contingency water supplies in the event of a water emergency or disaster
4. Provide and protect water resources for industrial, agricultural, and recreational use
5. Protect watershed resources
6. Encourage water conservation by all
7. Inform and educate citizens about conservation, water quality, and water resource regulation
8. Develop interagency and intercity coordination and cooperation regarding water resources (Adopted 2010)


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- Innovation: The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay.
- Startup funding: Providing financial resources to finance a startup project. The most common sources of Startup funds include banks, personal savings, friends and families, credit cards, angel investors, venture capitalists, government etc.
- Incubators: A for-profit or not-for-profit firm that is involved in bringing start-up companies through their development phase and into profitability whereby the company has enough human, financial, and physical resources to function independently.
- Pitch Deck: A brief presentation that provides potential investors an overview of a startup business.
- Accelerators: Startup accelerators, also known as seed accelerators, are fixed-term programs, that include mentorship and educational components which often culminate in a public pitch event or demo day.
- Venture Capitalist: Is an investor who either provides capital to startup ventures or supports small companies that wish to expand but do not have access to equities markets.
- Business Plan: Set of documents prepared by a firm's management to summarize its operational and financial objectives for the near future (usually one to three years) and to show how they will be achieved.


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If there's anything you want to know but were unable to find on this website, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Similarly if you have any comments or suggestions about our website or our service, just drop us a line.
As mentioned elsewhere on the site High North not only offers a great range of pre-prepared packages, but we can also custom make a tour tailored to your needs. All our guides are trained and experienced experts in traversing Iceland's unique terrain and have all sorts of useful tips and advice to help you. The first and most important step on your trip into Wild Iceland is simply to get in touch with High North. From there, it's easy!
You can contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or by telephoning +354 696 7522
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Course Overview
Course summary
Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don't have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.
The Foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development and you will also take modules from areas closely related to your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course.
On successful completion of the Foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Spanish and Global Communication BA Honours degree.
This Modern Languages degree is designed to develop your knowledge, use and understanding of the Spanish language and culture, along with the skills needed for effective communication in the professional global environment.
The course enables you to achieve a good or high level of linguistic competence in Spanish in all four skill areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking), and demonstrate a good or high degree of proficiency in mediating between Spanish and English. You will be able to function linguistically in diverse cultural situations, and acquire qualities and skills in areas such as interpersonal communication and organisational skills, flexibility and tolerance, analysis and argument, autonomy and team working, and team management. You will also gain the transferable and cognitive skills necessary for lifelong personal and professional development.
We accept students at two different entry points – beginner or intermediate. Please note that we may need to test you to determine your entry point.
You will study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign language skills in all areas. You can also study an elective module from across the University in each year.
Teaching and learning takes place through a combination of formal lectures, seminars and practical workshops; guided self-study and preparation; and exposure to professionally relevant simulations and real-work environments.
Much of your learning will take place during independent study, individually and in groups, in the well-resourced and recently refurbished library, at home and via the online learning provision.
Assessment methods include in-class coursework, essays and projects, presentations, and oral and unseen written exams.
Year abroad
An exciting option on this course is a year spent studying abroad. This is designed to enhance your language skills and allows you to experience the culture of the language you are studying. Usually, you are placed in universities with which we have formal exchange agreements, and follow a programme of study agreed beforehand.
The option of working as a language assistant in secondary schools abroad also exists for those whose first language is English, and some shorter placements are available.
We currently have exchange agreements with universities in the European Union and beyond. Some of these are particularly unusual and exciting. For example, students of Spanish may go to Argentina as well as Spain, and students of French could go to Canada and Belgium as well as France. The arrangements for the year abroad may vary considerably from year to year due to factors beyond the University's control, but we do guarantee an appropriate placement for every student enrolled on this course.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.
To help you make an informed decision, you can have a look at how marks have been calculated and study time has been distributed on this course in the past.
Subjects of study include:
- Introduction to Academic Practice
- Intercultural Communication
- Imagining Global Society and Politics
- Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
- Reading Identities
- Living and working in Spanish speaking countries
There are no optional or elective modules offered at Level 3, as the focus is on the development of key academic skills through a broad understanding of social sciences and humanities.
Credit Level 3
Subjects of study include:
- Intercultural Communication: an Introduction
- Interpersonal Global Communication: Concepts and Strategies
- Introduction to the Study of Language and Culture
- Objects and Meaning: World Cultures in London Galleries and Museums
- The Spanish World and the Word
Credit Level 4
Subjects of study include:
- Culture(s) and Conflict(s): Representations of War, Conflict and Revolution across World Cultures
- Expressions of Spanish Culture
- Language, Power and Institutions: Decoding Dominant Narratives
- Transnational Issues and Local Cultures on Film
- Complex Narratives: Representation, Meaning and Identity
- Multilingual e-Collaboration: Transposing Current Affairs
Credit Level 5
Subjects of study include:
- Developing Career Competences for Linguists
- Dissertation/Professional Project
- Dreaming the Same Dream? Concepts of Happiness across Cultures
- Gender Matters: Femininities, Masculinities and Trans-Cultural Practice
- Narrating the Other: Politics and Literature
- People and Things on the Move: Identity, Place and Memory in and across Diasporic Spaces
- Professionalising Global Communication
- Themes in Contemporary Spanish Studies
Credit Level 6
Westminster Plus Electives
As part of your course you may be able to take elective modules. Electives are an exciting opportunity to widen your experience at university and to gain skills and knowledge that will help make you more employable.
Find out about Westminster Plus Electives.
Programme Specification
For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the programme specification.
Course Leader
Dr Federica Mazzara
Senior Lecturer in Intercultural Communication
Federica Mazzara has a background in Cultural Studies and is interested in a variety of topics, including migration, representation and art. She graduated in languages and values the importance of learning a foreign language in relation to its cultural context.
She teaches various modules at the University of Westminster, including Introduction to the Studies of Language and Culture, and Complex Narratives: Representation, Meaning and Identity and Migration and Cultural Encounters.
She is course leader for the "Languages and Global Communication" and "Languages and International Relations" BA courses.
If you're interested in the language and culture of different countries and how they interact on global issues, then this is the course for you."
Course Team
Entry Requirements
A Levels – DEE to CDD
International Baccalaureate – 24 points. We also welcome applications from students taking the IB Career related Programme
BTEC Extended Diploma – MPP
BTEC Diploma – MM to DM
Access – 56 to 80 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
In addition to one of the above, you should have:
GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher Level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.
We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combination of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.
View more information about our entry requirements and the application process.
International Baccalaureate – 24 points
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.
More information
Pre-sessional English programmes
Need to improve your English before starting your course? We offer summer pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills.
Possible career paths include:
- Foreign civil service
- Communications careers in business, marketing, public relations, advertising, media
- Journalism
- Education
- Communication adviser
- Diplomacy
- NGOs
- Event management
- Digital media communication
- Tourism
Our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.
With a growing network of over 3,000 employers around the world and a team of experienced careers consultants, we provide you with a variety of opportunities to work and develop new skills. As a University of Westminster student, you'll have access to our services throughout your studies and after you graduate.
We can help you:
- find work placements, graduate jobs or voluntary experience related to your course
- discover international opportunities to enhance your employability
- write effective CVs and application forms
- develop your interview and enterprise skills
- plan your career with our career consultants
- gain insights into your chosen industry through mentoring
- meet employers and explore your career options at our employer fairs, careers presentations and networking events
Find out more about the Careers and Employability Service.
Find out more about other employability initiatives at the University of Westminster.
Find out more
Fees and Funding
UK and EU tuition fee: £9,250
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.
Find out about undergraduate student funding options.
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
You should budget between £50-£100 for additional materials at Level 4 and £50-£100 at Level 5.
See also our general policy on what your tuition fees cover.
International tuition fee: £14,000
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
International student funding
Find out about funding for international students.
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
You should budget between £50-£100 for additional materials at Level 4 and £50-£100 at Level 5.
See also our general policy on what your tuition fees cover.
Course Location
Our Regent Campus is composed of three sites, situated on and around one of the most famous and vibrant streets in London. Our Humanities subjects are based at 309 Regent Street which includes recently refurbished social spaces, gym facilities and our Regent Street Cinema. Criminology, Sociology and Politics students are also taught at our Wells Street site. Westminster Law School resides at Little Titchfield Street. Alongside a full mock courtroom, hi-tech learning spaces and a pro-bono clinic, it also houses our state-of-the-art, 382-seat lecture theatre. For more details, visit our locations page.
Contact us
Contact the Course Enquiries Team:
Opening hours (GMT): 9am–4pm Monday to Friday
We also have an FAQs page if you are applying this year.
More information
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Dear readers,
I've been working, on and off, for the past several months, on making a book. Now, at last, I can show it to you.
Can I introduce you to Siren Song, by the wonderful poet and novelist, Tawni Waters?
Siren Song is the first book released by Burlesque Press, and it's Tawni's second: earlier this year, she published the novel Beauty of the Broken with Simon and Schuster. Tawni has built up a large following in her many essays and poems published on the Burlesque Press Variety Show, as well as with her regularly inspirational meditations on Facebook.
This collection is close to my heart for two reasons. Firstly, it's the first book I've ever designed (I am the unpaid book editor / intern at Burlesque Press.) To create it, I've had become much better at cover layout, typography, Adobe InDesign, and publishing with Lightning Source. I recently had a conversation with the Customer Service representative at Lightning Source where we struggled to clarify which of the four possible versions of the colour black she wanted me to use.
Previously, I had always thought that there was only one black–not so in book printing. There are (at least) four, and two are very bad to use.
It's a great feeling to finally hold the physical proof in my hand.
Secondly, I've come to deeply enjoy these poems. Editing a collection is a chance to be the work's best reader, to become someone who knows the lines almost as well as the writer herself: it's a great privilege.
I'm going to write a more substantial introduction to the book soon, and link to an NPR interview that Tawni has done on the book and her writing process, but if you're curious, here's one of the poems that Burlesque Press previously published online, a love poem, spoken by Mary Magdalene, after death, to the dying, crucified Christ.
This poem is a good introduction to the collection, which ranges over several different religions and mythologies, writing about Persephone and Judas, Isis and Osiris, as well as charting the poet's own development as an independent, powerful voice, and her travels through Mexico and elsewhere.
The book will be available on Amazon soon. You can pre-order a signed copy on the Burlesque Press GoFundMe, as well as (for a higher fee) earn some very interesting rewards from the press and its writers. I'll also be introducing the book at the Burlesque Press Literary Festival, where Tawni will be signing copies.
Best wishes to all your creative projects,


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by Mary (:
I would love to continue to use my gifts (Arts & Music) to bring healing to those in need around me. I started off in the 60's with this same idealist dream, that is, receiving my degrees in Music/Art Ed. I taught poor kids in inner city schools. As the eldest of 10 kids, I helped my Mom raise them when I lost my Dad through an accident. In my 5th year teaching, I started in Education Psychology & got side tracked with life's pressures.
I've sung & played piano professionally since I was a child. I perform a lot of engagements with seniors, weddings, funerals, and occasional casual Jazz gigs. I would love to develop some CD's with all the music that I've written. Another passion of mine is Design & Real Estate/Architecture, but I don't want to be stuck in showing houses at anytime of the day or night.
Lately, I have become interested in amateur photography. I have always drawn faces and did little art shows around town with my sketches. I am still technically challenged and need "a kid" to teach me more about the computer to be ready to show my photos.
After many years as a Music Director and as a divorcee with teenagers, I had to pick up extra income and started my Senior Care service (marysangelcare.com). To start this service, I attended school to become a Registered Nursing Assistant. Senior care has opened up my eyes to abuses, so I have more of an interest today in advocacy relative to elder abuse. One of my great joys is the Senior Choir we established at a large retirement community in the greater Seattle area. It is really great when we play at various events a few times a month, especially singing Jazz and Gospel.
I would like to sell my art, photos and contemporary Gospel and Jazz CDs, once I get them produced. In my thoughts of all of this dreamy stuff, there is still the reality of bills. Except for the mortgage on my house, we have worked hard to be debt free. However, like many people, we lost part of our 401ks in the recession in 2008. I met a lovely compadre when my kids were finishing high school. He is 67 & I'm 60. We are both tired of all the working, getting kids thru school, taking care of ill parents, etc. By the way, he has a couple kids too. He is a scientist and my roady, sound man. We do volunteer chaplaincy for folks that are hurting and we love it. But have put the brakes on some of that.
With 5 grandkids and 4 kids living around the U.S. we are busy bees! I wish we could just travel and love the people we meet from town to town. Just think about playing gigs in hotels, little coffee shops, drawing faces and visiting our kids & grandkids. All this, without the stress of a mad rush back home to go to work. Traveling around the world is very appealing to me.
I've thought about recording my Music, selling my art and updating a book I wrote in 1987 ("CoDependency, the Church & Healing"-a book on spiritual abuse & not getting one's faith shipwrecked by human weaknesses). I'd also like to write more books.
So, there's a lot here. How my sweetheart and I will pull this thing together is another story. I'd love a little RV to hit the road, yet he's resistant as he is an officer who likes hotels and the comfort they provide.
I had a head injury around year 2000, which is a story in itself. However with all the suffering, pain and malpractice junk, I am thankful for the lessons learned. All suffering is used for wisdom, greater love and knowing our Creator better. We should not allow ourselves to become bitter. I am grateful, yet uncertain how this retirement thing will come together financially and otherwise, I do not know, except to say, "I am searching and ready to go!!!" Merry Mary (:
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Coolest Jobs After Retirement.


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A warm and fuzzy flannel quilt to cozy up to on those chilly winter nights!
Designed and sewn in Sitka, Alaska.
Quilt measures 56" square and can be used as a lap quilt, wall decor, or simply drape over your couch for display.
Cozy flannel makes this piece fun. Images in the fabric are mini moose, bear and tree prints!


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Looking For A Counter Strategy
I am discussing my recent American Thinker article on Drug Prohibition over at Talk Polywell with the usual back and forth between the Social Conservatives and libertarians. I kind of recapped my arguments and the points I thought important in a comment which I think might be helpful to repost (edited) here.
I just posted the American Thinker link to Rev. Donald Sensing's blog Sense of Events. The Rev. Col. Sensing was quite pleased with the heads up. He is a Rev. because he is ordained. He is a Col by the grace of God and the US Army.
What you [one of the commenters at Talk Polywell] fail to comprehend is what this could be like if the MSM takes this up and the lefties go into full screech mode on this. I have yet to see in the comments here an answer to this question:
About 70% of female heroin users were sexually abused as children.
Very sympathetic even if they are slamming smack. I would play those who want to continue persecuting such women as brutes. If I wanted to hurt the Rs. And you know the Ds are desperate for ammunition. In any case we shall see come Oct. 2 - 4.
Also my intel tells me that college kids are desperate to find a race war to fight (one of my righty friends was complaining about that very thing on a blog) . Just like their heroes from the 60s. Well they have it. Once they get the message.
This is also very good on the subject of why the Rs are blind to dangers in the battle space.
But it goes further. For years and years, the left has behaved with extreme hypocrisy on issues of race, ethics, and pro- vs anti-American stances. The response that the right delivers is to point out this hypocrisy in a polite manner, expecting the left to acknowledge their error and not repeat it in the future. Needless to say, the left has no problem with hypocrisy and projection, and has no intention of changing this. Yet, the Republicans still fail to notice that pointing out such examples of hypocrisy has no effect on the debate. The definition of insanity, or at least stupidity, is repeating the same action a number of times, and expecting a different result, but Republicans fail to see that the character of their opponents is far too uncivilized for the toothless tactics that Republicans restrict themselves to.Everybody who is dislikes my arguments has spent a lot of time telling me why I'm wrong or "it won't work". I have yet to see a post suggesting how one might counter such propaganda.
Take, for example, the African-American vote, which usually goes 90-96% for Democrats. This is true even if the Republican candidate is black and the Democrat is white (as was the case in 3 major races in 2006). An examination of recent history quickly reveals this loyalty towards Democrats as more than a little odd. George Wallace ran for President as a Democrat on a segregationist platform as recently as 1976 (note that this was after Nixon's 'Southern Strategy' approach). Furthermore, Robert Byrd, a senior leader in the KKK, was a US Senator in the Democratic party until 2010. These facts would make it less surprising for blacks to vote 90% Republican than the current reality of the opposite. But this yet again shows how poor Republican messaging is. The party of George Wallace and Robert Byrd still manages to get 90% of the black vote, due to the left's tireless propaganda in black neighborhoods, and historical revisionism in school textbooks in inner-city public schools. As a result, the black vote is not even remotely available to Republicans, and with African Americans being 11% of the US population, for a Democrat to win a nationwide election, he only has to get 40 out of the remaining 90% of votes to be cast. The Republican, by contrast, has to get 50 out of the remaining 90%. That is correct, for a Republican to win, he has to get not 50 out of 100%, but 50 out of 90%.
Me? I have been working this issue for 12 years with vigor. If I had a counter I'd tell you. So here is my best shot:
There are two possible counters a spoiling attack - but you lack the resources for that. Or strategic retreat - and you haven't the brains for that. So you will not give an inch and the Russian Army will grind you to dust.
Is all this enough to support the President? Maybe. Will it cost races that otherwise might be won? Surely.
I am getting indications from my friends who watch such things that the President may be gearing up. So far the indications are tentative. But again - we shall see.
There are only 3 counter candidates on the R side. Ron Paul - who has no chance for the R nomination. Gary Johnson who is getting very little traction. And tada - Sarah Palin.
In an e-mail to Eric I laid out what the Republicans are doing wrong and some of the possible attack points:
I see a LOT of hubris among the Rs lately. Don't get cocky kids. You will make mistakes.
I have tried out the arguments in my American Thinker article at several places that get a fair amount of R traffic and I have yet to see a counter. Pity because you and I have been warning of the danger for years. Without much to show for our efforts.
Let me count some of the the possible attack points Democrats might use:
1. Racism - that energizes college kids and Blacks
2. Abusing abused women - there go the women
3. Legalization - there go the men (they favor it at a 57% rate)
4. The Constitution - that grabs some TEAs
5. It will separate some libertarians from their current socon allies
There are probably more but that is a good start.
Further - there have been some changes at ONDCP that lead me to think that ∅ is getting ready to take advantage.
I'm hoping that Gary Johnson can get some traction or that Sarah "we have better things to do" Palin gets in. Ron Paul is correct on that issue but he has no chance with the Republicans because of his Blame America First stance on foreign policy.
Cross Posted at Classical Values


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Nate Johnson is an actor and a storyteller. With a naturally friendly voice, he has the ability to switch it up and do impressions, documentaries, cartoon characters, video games, and even accents from New Zealand! How's it going mate? 1) What radio VO work have you done in the past? I've voiced Church's Chicken for the […]
Posts Tagged 'instagram'
Behind The Mic: Nate JohnsonPosted: 10th January 2017 by benztownvoiceover in Interviews, Regular Features, Uncategorized, Voice of the Week
Tags: Alan Kalter, amazon, Amazon Kindle Fire, Archer, audacity, Ben Franklin, Bruce Buffer, Casey Neistat, CERN, Church's Chicken, craigslist, Darth Vader, Delilah, Don Pardo, eBay, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 preamp, H. Jon Benjamin, Inc. Magazine, instagram, Kalmenson & Kalmenson, Labatt Blue, M-Audio, Michael Buffer, Nirvana, NYC, Oscars, Patrick Warburton, Pearl Jam, Pixar, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Santa Barbara, Sean Williams Scott, Steve Mackall, Steven King, Super-Kamiokande Neutrino Observatory, Teddy Roosevelt, The Large Hadron Collider, Tiger Woods, XPrize, youtube
The Harry Truth: From Radio To VOPosted: 6th June 2014 by benztownvoiceover in Interviews, Regular Features, The HARRY Truth
Tags: Benztown, benztown voice over, harry legg, instagram, interview, Radio, radio imaging, video, Voiceover, youtube
Harry tells his story of making the transition from a radio career to doing purely voiceover. What he has to say about radio and it's place in the voiceover world might surprise you. If moving into voiceover from radio has ever crossed your mind, you'll want to check out his advice. For Harry's contact info, […]


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Poland's Vader has been among death metal's most powerful leaders for three decades. The product of mastermind and madman Piotr Wiwczarek, the band has overcome a rotating cast of players over the decades with Wiwczarek carrying the creative torch through it all. Now over 10 albums into its career, Vader has a stable line-up and is about to release perhaps its most powerful and cohesive record to date, The Empire. Over the last five years, Vader has retooled, adding guitarist Marek "Spider" Pajak, bassist Tomasz "Hal" Halicki, and drummer James Stewart. The new line-up released the band's highly regarded Tibi Et Igni in 2014. This week, Metalholic caught up with frontman and guitarist Wiwczarek to discuss The Empire, 30 years of Vader, and take a look at the upcoming 25th anniversary of the band's seminal debut, The Ultimate Incantation.
Tell us about the new album, The Empire from your perspective.
"I was listening to a lot of old stuff like the music that was inspiring me when I was a teenager, even before I started to play in a band. I'm still a big fan of bands like Judas Priest, Saxon, Motorhead, and Slayer, of course. At this time I'm pretty much open-minded, but I found out that about 90% of the music I listen to is the same as what I was listening to years ago. So from one side, the classic stuff and from the other side I was bringing back from my attic old tapes of Blasphemy and others, like I got when I was tape trading in the 80s. Many of those bands became huge. So maybe that's why the new Vader album, The Empire is a combination—a balance between classic and furious music."
The Vader line-up is finally stable for the last half decade. How did that impact making The Empire?
"The playing and writing is definitely better because we created as a team. Five years is the most stable line-up in the history of the band, so it means something. We have different ages so it's more interesting, cause it means it's not important how old you are. James [Stewart] is so young, it's sometimes hard to believe that when he was born we were recording the second demo tape or something like that, but after he joined the band he gave so much energy to Vader with his drumming, with his passion to play. The same with Spider, the same with Halicki. Maybe the process of creation is no different than it was before, but this time working together has definitely given the brand passion in the music, creating it in the studio."
2017 will mark the 25th anniversary of your debut album, The Ultimate Incantation. Tell us what you remember most about making that first record.
"The Ultimate Incantation was the culling of 10 years existence of the band. So basically all these songs you can listen to on The Ultimate Incantation they were created almost a decade before. So that was totally different. Of course that was a dream come true for a band from Poland, to sign a deal with Earache–a huge record company that had so many legendary bands. Actually, Earache, no matter what happened later, they gave us a chance to show up to the world and show that Poland is not just some shit, and we know about modern music even if nobody supported us. We just had to work four times stronger, more than anybody in the West for what we had. Of course the first time we were in the U.S. in 93, that was a great tour with Deicide and Suffocation for almost two months. That was the most significant for Vader in terms of promotion for us in the states and Canada. That was a very big deal for us."
Check out the full interview with Piotr below, as he digs further into The Empire, and he shares what plans may be in the works for a North American tour in 2017 and what the band may have up its sleeve to commemorate the quarter century celebration of The Ultimate Incantation.


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West Hills
Once ranch country, this area is now one of the most affluent in the city, with large homes, lush yards and expansive views of the hills and multiple creeks that run through the area. Surrounded by hills and green landscapes, it's easy to forget the blight of the inner city just a few miles away. Although the creeks are now channeled and lined by concrete walls, they give the area a wild feel, compared to the skyscrapers of downtown.