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Sword-Site.Com: The World's Largest Free Online Sword Museum!
10 or so years ago when I was starting to make swords and buy them I really had no idea what to look for in a sword. Thinking about this recently made me decide it would be a good idea to explain some of the basics to make it simple for beginners who are looking to buy a sword. I will discuss here the basics right through to some of the finer points as I understand them.
Stainless steel is great for knives. For swords though it is not so great, unless they are intended for decoration only. Actually it can be dangerous. Once a length of stainless steel gets to about a foot long, or if ground too thin, it becomes weak enough that the amount of force a human can exert upon it will make it prone to breaking. This is because while stainless steel is hard, the hardness comes at the cost of being more brittle.
You'll notice that on alot of knives made of stainless very sturdy 'grinds' are used. In other words the steel is left thick in a decent portion of the blade. For instance bowie knives tend to have a long flat surface which is as thick as the stock the knife was ground from, this is to counteract stainless steel's being prone to breaking if it is too thin. On a sturdy knife stainless steel is perfectly safe, and an excellent choice of material because it is extremely resistant to corrosion.
So while a stainless steel sword is great for a display piece, it is unwise to use one to spar with one, and also using them to cut water bottles and tatami mats can result in them breaking. The piece or pieces that come off during the breaking of the sword are very dangerous and have resulted in serious injuries. They are as likely to hit the person wielding them or bystanders.
It's a tautologous term in some ways because steel by definition is a combination of iron and carbon. When the term 'carbon steel' is used in regards to a sword though it generally refers to high carbon steel.
Mild steel contains 0.3 – 0.6% carbon and is generally not considered an optimal material for knives and swords. This is because it does not harden as well as steels with higher carbon and alloy content, so it is more prone to bending and does not hold an edge as well as high carbon steels.
High Carbon steel contains 0.6–0.99% carbon and so will harden better and hold an edge better. In the context of a sword a high carbon sword will flex like a spring when properly heat treated and ground / forged into an appropriate shape. Importantly high carbon steels used for swords also contain a number of other elements that impart a number of qualities to the steel. High Carbon steels for use in swords are often referred to by their American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) designations, for instance 1060 contains 0.6% carbon – 1095 contains 0.95%. Outside of the sword world these steels are frequently used for things like Industrial Guillotines.
Two other elements worth mentioning (though there are also many others but time and space does not permit a full discussion of all of them here)are Maganese and Silicon. Maganese increases hardenability, as does copper – copper also imparts a modest amount of corrosion resistance (minor compared to stainless steel however). These elements will both be found in High Carbon Steels. Silicon, found in many spring steels imparts springiness. Spring Steels are high carbon steels but have an extra set of qualities. Some people prefer them. The afforementioned 10 series steels are technically spring steels, but have a lower silicon content than steels from the 5, 6 and 9 series (for instance 5160). Some makers prefer the latter, others the former. All of them are great, it comes down to a matter of taste, suitability for the type of sword and so on. In the world of industry these spring steels are often used in automotive springs.
Tool Steel generally places accent on Vanadium content. Vanadium imparts steel with shock resistant qualities, so the steel may be in some ways 'softer' though this would hardly be noticeable except in laboratory conditions, but can withstand more shock without developing stress fractures. Tool steel is frequently used in, you guessed it, tools! Tool steels have names like O1, L2, L6 and so on.
All of the above specialities steels with the exception of mild are perfectly suitable for a sword, and none of them are superior to each other, they just have different uses, and slightly different qualities.
If you are interested in learning more about steels, Wikipedia represents an excellent and free starting point. I've made a summary above in my own words, but if you are serious about acquiring a deep technical understanding of steel sources like Wikipedia, and technical manuals will always be superior to abbreviated summaries.
I could write alot about distal taper, and alot has been written. Rather than slow the narrative down though I will explain the basics and let you do your own thinking about it, because you will find with regards to distal taper that everyone has an opinion, but that no one has all the answers.
Distal taper is taper of the sword's thickness. In general this will result in a sword that is thinner at the point and thicker at the base. What this does is help the sword's balance in the hand, and affects the way the sword will flex. Some swords have lots, others have none. A sword without any can work just fine, in fact some swords suit having none.
It is really up to you how important distal taper is to you on a particular sword, so don't believe anyone who tries to convince you they have the be all and end all answers on distal taper, often it is a matter of taste and suitability.
Heat treatment is how steel has been 'cooked'. Steel will come from the steel factory in an unhardened state, and then can be hardened according to needs by the end user. What this entails in the context of a sword is heating the sword until it is so hot is no longer magnetic (about 1200 c) – it will be about a red colour. It is then 'quenched' which means it is rapidly cooled by immersion in liquid. For swords the quenching medium is usually oil.
This hardens the steel. The steel is reheated to about 400 c and then either quenched again or allowed to cool in the air. This makes the steel springy. The end result is steel that is hard and springy, not brittle.
There are other technical aspects of heat treatment and finer aspects, but the above represents the basics. If you want to know more the Wikipedia article linked below presents excellent in depth information and links to further relevant material:
This is a term that refers to the shape of the cutting edge of a sword. Most modern knives have a bevel and then a secondary bevel which is the part that does the cutting. Alot of historical swords had the same type of edge geometry. Others had a smoother transition and this is often called 'appleseed' geometry. It is a bit like a parabolic curve.
Neither is superior. Both will cut fine. It is a matter of choice and taste which you prefer.
Alot of historic swords had hilts which were ultimately held in place by burnishing the end of the steel that came through the centre of the handle and through the pommel (the piece of metal at the very end of the hilt). Peening is still used today.
Other methods of holding a hilt together include riveting the grip to the tang (the tang is the metal underneath the handle / grip which is connected to the rest of the sword). This was also done historically.
Yet another way of holding a hilt together is with a nut at the end of the tang, which allows for the sword to be relatively easily disassembled. This method came into use around the 16th century and so is also a historically represented technique.
All three of the above methods will hold a sword together just fine, and again it is a matter of taste which you prefer.
Another method which is found occasionally is where the pommel is screwed on to the tang. This method can hold a sword together tightly but is not as popular as the above method, because unless the pommel is also affixed with epoxy resin, this method can be prone to rattling and coming loose unintentionally. If done properly though it can be a perfectly acceptable way to secure a hilt.
This one comes up quite a bit. In short it is a matter or taste. In the past it was necessary that all swords were forged – steel had to be refined in this way to make it suitable for use as a sword. Nowdays the steel comes out of the Steel Mill so pure that forging is optional, and results seem to indicate that it does not produce superior swords but rather ones of equal quality.
Often you will find that sword makers tend to forge a sword either to create an interesting effect in the metal like pattern welding (where two or more types of steel are forged together then etched, the different reactions the two steels make to the acid producing a pattern); or the steel is forged so that a shape that is not otherwise practicably achievable – like the curve in a scimitar.
This is an area that is very controversial in swords. Ultimately the controversy is due to huge variances in personal taste.
For this reason I believe it is preferable for people to make their own minds up, try different types, and see what they prefer.
You will find issues discussed like nodes (where a sword vibrates when the blade is struck), point of balance (where the sword balances when held on one finger like a see saw), pivot points (the axis around where a sword pivots when swung) and many others.
It is up to you what is important – if they interest you learn about them, if not do not worry.
Myself personally, while I have spent a long time learning about them, I prefer to judge a sword by how it feels overall and whether it suits my tastes. You may find that you like analysing statistics and data before making a choice. There is no perfect answer, it really is up to you.
Below is a chart provided by Wikipedia that names the various parts of a cruciform European Sword. This diagram represents all the basic elements of sword, and if you know the names of the parts listed in this diagram you will likely not need to know or master many other names:
+ + + + +
I hope you have enjoyed this brief introduction to the world of swords! Rather than drawing acute conclusion I have attempted to present the basics in an open way. Do not let anyone close your mind about swords, or try to convince you that they have all the answers. You will find the people who attempt to do that never know as much as they claim to, and either have a financial or ego driven stake in trying to convince you that they know everything.
Keep your mind open. I have learnt a great deal about steel from professional metal workers like welders and fabricators. I wouldn't have been able to learn the incredible things they have taught me if I strutted around as a sword maker pretending I knew everything.
Welcome to the world of swords and enjoy the ride!
Read more: http://sword-site.com


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Master recipe from that book. So,after getting here,I enrolled for a baking class with them and learnt to bake bread from the best! You can read about that here.
3 cups of lukewarm water
1 tablespoon yeast
1 - 1 1/2 tablespoon salt
6 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Method: In a large 6 quart plastic bowl / container with lid, mix together the flour, yeast and salt. Add in the water all at once and stir to form a dough.It will be a sticky dough. Cover the bowl with a lid,but not tightly shut, and let it sit at room temperature for 2 hours.DO NOT punch down the dough,it will would have risen but flat on top. After that, refrigerate the dough overnight. You will notice that the dough has collapsed which is normal.It will not rise again. Sprinkle some flour over the surface of the dough,pull and cut off a 1 pound chunk of it. Shape it and let it rest on a parchment for 40 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 450 F along with the baking stone and a metal tray in the lowest shelf. Slide the shaped dough onto the baking stone and pour one cup of hot water into the metal tray .Bake for 30-35 mins or until deep brown in colour. Remove the parchment after 20 minutes of baking so that the bottom gets a chance to crisp up. Once baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing in.Enjoy!
The leftover dough can be refrigerated and will remain fresh for 2 weeks. It will develop sourdough characteristics during the course of 2 weeks.
If you have any leftover bread, put the cut side down on a plate and leave it. You don't have to cover it.
This wonderful loaf is Yeastspotted!

subset: commoncrawl


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Brad Williams - Little Big Man on Campus
This is a profile I wrote for Skinnie Magazine on comedian Brad Williams.
"There's a rule in comedy called 'The Pink Elephant rule,'" says comedian Brad Williams. "If you have a pink elephant on stage, you have to talk about it. As soon as I walk up on stage, the audience's first reaction is, 'Shit. A little person!' If I don't talk about it, they're going to be sitting back like, 'Does he know [that he's a little person]?'"
Williams' comedy career unexpectedly began a few years ago when he and his friend went to see Carlos Mencia perform in Brea, Ca. During his set, Mencia told midget jokes and quickly noticed one side of the audience was eating it up, while the other, where Williams sat, was silent.
"He [Mencia] was like, 'What? Is one of them here?'" Williams says. "He looks at me and goes, 'Are you offended by this stuff?' and I say 'Hell no,' keep going."
Mencia brought Williams up on stage where they joked with each other and Williams busted out some impromptu breakdancing.
"And at that time, I was like, wow, this is what I want to do. I want to be a comic. The reaction I got that night with having no material... after that night, I'm like, I gotta try this."
Williams honed his craft for the next year and a half wherever he could get himself booked anywhere that provided an open mic, with the goal of someday opening up for Mencia. Fast forward to October 2004: Carlos Mencia plays the Ontario Improv, Williams checks out the show, and sees Mencia before the gig.
"I said, 'yeah, I'm still doing stand up,' and he goes, 'well, how would you like to open the show tonight?' Before that, it was just coffee shops and open mic nights. I've been in front of crowds with maybe ten or fifteen people, and this guy gives me a sold out Ontario Improv, three hundred and fifty people, and says, 'Go!' And I did."
Since then, Williams has been an opener for Mencia and most recently, he's out on the road with the "Mind of Mencia" tour, sharing the bill with other comedians Cristela Alonzo, Steve Trevino, Josh Blue, and of course, Carlos Mencia.
Williams parlayed his success on the road with a recurring role on Comedy Central's, "Mind of Mencia." To his credit, Williams was involved in one of the more offensive skits the show has produced thus far and it had nothing to do with race, or being a whatever the politically correct term is this week for little person. It had to do with smashing Nintendo 64's in a Gallagher spoof.
"[The segment] got a lot more hate mail than a lot of segments. All these college kids (in a whiny voice), 'I grew up with a Nintendo 64. I love the Nintendo 64. Mario Kart is the greatest game ever.' Smashing a Nintendo 64, now we've gone too far?!"
With the success Williams has found early in his comedy career, there's still one question that everyone asks about being a little person, to which his answer is: "For all the interested Skinnie Magazine readers that have an inclination about dwarf penis, it does hang down to my knee... but my knee is three inches below my waist."


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Family Suite
Havana Family Room is a great "2 in 1" choice for your family, including the bedroom, kitchenette, relaxing sofa, separate bathroom designed on a straight line that helps to open up a whole vision overlooking the entire ocean scenery through large glass window. Through the transparent glass wall, each of your senses will be awakened to the purest core which brings out brand new aspects of emotions in your life.
In-room amenities include:
- A direct ocean view
- 1 Queen-size bed (180 cm x 200 cm) and 2 Twin beds (120/140 cm x 200 cm)
- Latest 42-inch flat screen LCD television connected with HDMI, computer accessories, USB that cater for work and entertainment needs
- High-speed wireless and cable Internet connectivity and media hub.
- Central air conditioning system with individual remote control
- Electronic key card system
- IDD telephone and voicemail system
- Wardrobe, bathrobes, slippers , hair-dryer, ironing on request
- Sitting area with sofa, working corner/ make-up desk , ceiling fan
- Luggage shelf, El- Safe, mini bar, tea/ coffee making facilities
- Retractable window
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator, induction cooker, microwave
- Separate bathrooms with bathtub, rain shower and vanity sink featuring transparent wall.
- Area: 65 m2
Complimentary use :
- Free Wi-Fi Internet in all rooms and hotel public areas
- Free tea/ coffee-making facilities and 2 bottles of mineral water every day .
- Housekeeping services upon request every day
- Use of ocean-view swimming pool , fitness center, Jacuzzi, steam bath, sauna, 24/7 Business Center, private beach, underground tunnel underneath Tran Phu street leading to the beach .
- Almost rooms are non-smoking and attached to others by connectiong door system
Remark: Rooms are available for maximum 4 occupancy.No extra bed and surcharge for extra persons allowed.
|Junior Suite King
|More details


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Thank you for supporting Small Business Saturday
The Greater New Haven Chamber would like to thank those who supported the 8th annual Small Business Saturday. Whether you are a small business owner or a consumer, we encourage you to do some of your holiday and everyday shopping at small businesses.
About Small Business Saturday:
It's an annual shopping tradition dedicated to supporting small businesses and celebrating communities across the country. Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. In 2018, you can get out and support the places you love with the people you love on Nov 24.
How Consumers can get on Board:
- Learn more about this effort by visiting the www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturday.
How Businesses can get on Board:
- Join the movement. Market Your Business with Free "Shop Small®" Resources
- American Express, who founded Small Business Saturday in 2010, offers a number of free marketing materials to help you promote your involvement.
- These can be easily customized for your own business and include printable signage, social posts #ShopSmall logos, welcome mats, canvas tote shopping bags, pet bandannas, banners and more.
Consumers Shop Main Street to Save Their Local Economies:
Source: The American Express OPEN Small Business Saturday Consumer Pulse (July 2011)
- 93% of US consumers believe it's important to support the local small businesses that they value in their community
- 87% believe that small businesses are a critical element of the overall U.S. economic health
- 73% consciously shop at small businesses in their community because they do not want them to go away


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Why Is a Random Special Feature for 'The Hobbit' on the 'Man of Steel' Blu-ray?
Man of Steel hits Blu-ray and DVD next week, and if you're a big fan of Superman, you are definitely going to want to dig into the several hours of special features Warner Bros. has put together for the release. And if you're like us, you're probably going to be a bit confused about one of those features. It's called "New Zealand: Home to Middle-earth." It's six minutes long, and it is a bunch of people from The Hobbit talking about how great New Zealand is as a country and as a filming location. So why the heck is it on the Man of Steel Blu-ray?
We don't know. You might think it's there as a bit of cross promotion, but it doesn't actually contain any ad language for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's recent Extended Edition Blu-ray release. It's not promoting this December's release of The Desolation of Smaug, either. It's literally Peter Jackson and a bunch of other cast and crew from an entirely different movie talking about how great it was to shoot in New Zealand-- a country that Man of Steel never even filmed in. And no, it's not a hidden Easter egg. It's sitting in the special features menu right next to that awesome Superman 75th Anniversary animated short film.
So why is it on here? It wasn't listed on Warner Bros.' press release detailing what was on the set. Did someone working on the disc accidentally put this featurette on Man of Steel instead of The Hobbit? It's certainly possible, since manufacturing errors, while uncommon, aren't unheard of. When the Alien Quadrilogy first hit DVD back in the day, I came across a set where the disc for Alien: Resurrection was actually a disc for The Last of the Mohicans. The label was a big ole xenomorph, but the actual contents of the disc were all for The Last of the Mohicans. Did something similar happen here? It'd be funny if it did. And it might make this set a novelty if they ever issue a new version in the future without it.
Or maybe it's just a bit of very random cross promotion, though if that is the case, you'd think they'd use a featurette that was a bit more thrilling than a celebration of New Zealand's geology. And, yes, we did ask Warner Bros. about its inclusion and were told they had no comment, so take that as you will.
As for the other special features that are actually related to Man of Steel, we've got to say we're pretty impressed with the package Warner Bros. put together. The first disc contains a little over an hour of material about the history of Superman, and a few visual effects breakdowns, but the real star here is the second disc. That's where you'll find "Journey of Discovery: Creating Man of Steel," which is the entire feature film played side by side with cast interviews and tons of on-set footage. If you've seen the similar features on 300 and Watchmen (back when they were called Maximum Movie Mode, though Warner Bros. dropped that label for some reason), you know these Zack Snyder-led features do a superb job of peeling back the film and showing you how the whole thing was done from beginning to end.
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2020 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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There are some impossible truths that we all embrace to help us get through the day. In my case, these truths usually sound like "of course french fries are healthy, they're made from potatoes!"
Oh — and let's not forget "I'm sure Galactic Keep will come out one day, they're just making sure it's perfect first."
After 6 years of waiting (and having gone hands-on with what I would have considered a 5-star version last summer), that last truth is about to drop the "impossible" moniker. The official Gilded Skull Games Twitter confirmed it yesterday — Galactic Keep has been submitted to Apple for approval.
Check out what's on Apples app review list this week! Galactic Keep, our sci-fi RPG for iOS! @galactickeep #finally pic.twitter.com/csuxT5W6hg
— Gilded Skull Games (@GildedSkull) August 12, 2015
We spoke with Gilded Skull's Rob Lemon about this turn of events this morning, and he says the team couldn't be more excited.
"It's a big milestone for the team as this is, by far, the largest project we have ever worked on in our lives," Lemon told Gamezebo. "It feels quite surreal to actually be 'finished', at least for now."
If that statement has you worried we won't be seeing the complete game at launch, don't panic — he says that while "there are always things that we felt like we could add," what's been submitted is an accurate reflection of what they initially set out to accomplish.
What's next? The studio is already working on content to add to the game post-launch, and hope to keep it regularly updated assuming all goes well.
There's no word yet on a release date, but so long as Apple gets Galactic Keep through the approval process quickly, you should be able to get your hands on it before the end of the month.


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Latest News
End of Season Looms
The nights are drawing in, the schools have gone back and the weather has taken a turn for the worse - it must be autumn!
It means that there are just three weeks left to come and visit Thirlestane Castle and its grounds.
The castle is open from 10am every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday with last entry to the castle at 3pm.
Come and marvel at our stunning 17th century Dunsterfield plasterwork ceilings, spot the family resemblance in one of the largest collections of family portraits in Scotland and find toys from your youth in our nurseries.
Our friendly guides are always on hand to show you items of interest or answer your questions as you tour the castle.
We have a gift shop stocking Thirlestane souvenirs, books and food items which is open whenever the castle is welcoming visitors.
There is also our cosy tea room serving light lunches, sweet treats and drinks. Why not book in to have Afternoon Tea on one of the remaining Sundays.
You can finish up your visit with a walk along the River Leader or amongst the woodland that surrounds the castle.
Sunday 2nd October is last day of the season when we will close until April 30th 2018. However, by prior arrangement we can open the doors during the winter for groups who want to tour the castle, private dining occasions, weddings or other events. Please get in touch to find out more information by calling 01578 722430 or by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: Drought in Kenya – Action Aid In March, I traveled to Isiolo county in northern Kenya, to document the desperate drought situation. Action Aid was on the ground to deliver food relief to the many people affected. Here are some of the images taken during this trip. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading... Related


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Today, I want to talk about a problem that I don't have a good solution for, and throw the floor open in the hope that someone else does. Teach me, O commenters.
Suppose your program has to build a tree structure — for example, as the result of parsing a query in some kind of structured query language. And suppose that, having built the tree, you want to do several different operations that involve walking that tree. How do you design that program?
To make it concrete, consider my (rather aged) package CQL-Java, which — get ready for a big surprise — provides a CQL parser in Java. CQL is a conceptually simple but very precise and expressive query language used in information retrieval, but for our current purposes all we need to know is that it supports structured boolean queries like these:
kernighan kernighan and ritchie (kernighan and ritchie) or fowler kernighan and (ritchie or pike)
Our task is to parse such queries, and to be able to render them out either in an XML format called XCQL or in Index Data's ugly but functional Prefix Query Format.
I guess we can all agree that we want an API something like this:
abstract class CQLParser { Node compile(String textualQuery); } class Node { String toXCQL(); String toPQF(); }
And that the Node object returned from the parser is the root of a tree of nodes which represent the parse tree, where nodes can be of types And, Or and Term. (In reality there are lots of other kinds of node, too, the we can ignore them for our purposes.)
Assuming that we've written the actual parser, the question becomes, where do we put the code that generates the formatted textual output that becomes the XCQL and PQF? In the old days, especially if we were used to writing C, we'd have a pair of functions defined on the Node class, both switching on the node's type and looking more or less like this:
Class Node { String toPQF() { if (type == AND) { return "@and " + left.toPQF() + " " + right.toPQF(); } else if (type == OR) { return "@or " + left.toPQF() + " " + right.toPQF(); } else { return term; } } }
These days, of course, no-one would be so crass. We've all read Fowler's Refactoring, and we know that Switch Statements Are Evil. In particular, we've read Fowler's page 223, the introduction to his Replace Type Code with Subclasses refactoring, and we remember that it says:
Switches or if-then-else constructs […] test the value of the type code and then execute different code depending on the value of the type code. Such conditionals need to be refactored with Replace Conditional with Polymorphism […] The advantage of Replace Type Code with Subclasses is that it moves knowledge of the variant behaviour from clients of the class to the class itself. If I add new variants, all I need to do is add a subclass. Without polymorphism I have to find all the conditionals and change those.
So we'd be more likely to make Node an abstract class, and derive three subclasses, AndNode, OrNode and TermNode. Then each of those subclasses would have its own little toPQF() method — and toXCQL() — and the Evil Switch Statement is avoided:
class AndNode extends Node { Node left, right; String toPQF() { return "@and " + left.toPQF() + " " + right.toPQF(); } } class OrNode extends Node { Node left, right; String toPQF() { return "@or " + left.toPQF() + " " + right.toPQF(); } } class TermNode extends Node { String term; String toPQF() { return term; } }
And all is well with the world.
Or is it?
It's certainly true, as Fowler points out, that if you later need to add support for a new node-type — let's say a unary NOT node — you can do that by making a single new subtype, NotNode, say, and tweaking the parser to generate it. Then the PQF generator is extended by the addition of NotNode::toPQF(), which returns "@not " + subtree.toPQF(). It's neat, clean and satisfying.
The problem comes when you want to add a new back-end — for example, when you want to be able to translate CQL into the query language of the Solr database. Now that our Node class is split into four subclasses (and in reality, many more), we have to mess with all of those subclasses, adding a toSolr() method to each of them. Whereas if we'd stayed with the old-fashioned single-node-class-with-a-type-indicator representation, we'd have to add only a single new method, Node::toSolr().
In fact, I am going to take the low road here, and rewrite the Fowler quote above:
Such class hierarchies need to be refactored with Replace Polymorphism with Conditional […] The advantage of Replace Subclasses with Type Code is that it centralises knowledge of the variant behaviour from being spread among many classes to concentrated in one. If I add new operations, all I need to do is add a method. With polymorphism I have to find all the subclasses and change those.
To be clear, I am not saying that the single-class-with-type-indicator approach is always and necessarily better. But I am a bit mystified that the subclasses-with-polymorphism is so universally and uncritically accepted as The Right Way, All The Time.
Even Fowler, who to his credit is usually careful not to insist on a One Right Way, seems to lose his moral compass when it comes to this particular design choice. Although I've been critical of the more unthinking Fowlerite followers, I actually really like lots of things about Fowler himself: for example, his catalog of refactorings includes several complementary pairs, showing that he doesn't in general consider that there is One Right Way. (Pairs include: Extract Method vs. Inline Method; Hide Delegate vs. Remove Middle Man; Change Value to Reference vs. Change Reference to Value.) But against this backdrop, his insistence that conditionals should always be replaced by polymorphism (note the imperative "need to be" in the quote above) is all the more puzzling.
The situation is this: when you have to implement n functions (such as the toPQF(), toXCQL() and toSolr() methods above) across a class hierarchy of m classes (such as the AndNode, OrNode, TermNode and NotNode classes above), you need n×m code fragments — one to implement each function for each class. The old-fashioned approach uses n functions each consisting of a switch statement covering the m versions; the fashionable approach uses n×m small methods, split across the m classes — which in practice always seems to mean m different source files, at least if you're writing Java. It seems to me that the choice of which is better depends on the relative sizes of n and m, and on how likely each is to change. If you're going to need lots of new types, then, yes, a class per type is the way to go; but if the set of types is fixed (as in the CQL parser where the structure of the parse tree is determined by the formal specification of CQL itself), and if many new functions are likely to be needed, then the old way may be the best.
In other words, you can slice your two-dimensional code-fragment matrix either vertically into classes, or horizontally into functions. It seems obvious to me that different slicing directions are going to be better in different circumstances. A reflexive Replace Conditional with Polymorphism reaction is not going to help. (And when did the switch statement become synonymous with evil, anyway?)
And what about the distressingly common situation where you don't have access to the original source-code, only object code? What would you do if I'd distributed CQL-Java only as a .jar and not as source, and your job was to use it to generate Solr queries? How would you implement the toSolr() method?
If you're using Java, I don't think you have any realistic option but to write a method like the first toPQF() that I listed near the start — a method that takes a Node as an argument, then interrogates it to figure of which of the Node subtypes it really is, and switches on the result, invoking itself recursively as needed. So in that common case you're back to square one anyway.
In more dynamic languages such as Perl, Python and Ruby, you can use the technique known variously as monkey-patching or duck-punching: just go ahead and extend the classes. Add toSolr() methods after the event for AndNode, OrNode and the rest. I did exactly this in 2007, in a Perl module called Simple2ZOOM, not previously having heard of the technique, and consequently feeling a bit dirty — I used it to add a toCQL()method to a parse-tree representing a PQF query, the opposite of what we've been considering here. Now that the technique has a name, I feel a bit better about it. It's actually a pretty cool way to get things done, although like most powerful techniques, it is prone to abuse if not done with taste and judgement. (See also: Lisp macros, continuations, C++ templates, and well, pretty much all Perl programming techniques.) I think the jury is out on whether monkey-patching is a good approach for this problem or not.
Is there a better way? I don't really know. The Ruby way would be to pass a closureblock into a parse-tree walker provided by the library. That closure would get invoked for each node in the parse-tree, and would … well, that's where it falls down: each invocation of the closure would have to ask the node what its type is in order to know what to do, so we're really back at the first version again.
OK, I'm done. Will someone please tell me what obvious idea I am missing?
Update (a couple of hours later)
Quite a few people have suggested the Visitor pattern (from the Gang of Four book). The best exposition I've seen of this is in munificent's detailed comment at Reddit, which I commend to you all. (Apart from anything else, he expounds both the pros and the cons of this approach).
I'm not wholly convinced that this is the cleanest and simplest approach, at least in dynamic languages; but it is, at least, nd excellent workaround for static languages. For more thoughts on Visitor, see my earlier comment below in response to Phillip Howell.
Also: it turns out (also as mentioned by several commenters) that the conundrum I described here is not only a well-known one, it even has a name: the Expression Problem.


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The Marine Corps may be approaching a steady-state end strength of 182,000 troops, but that doesn't necessarily mean personnel cutbacks are over.
Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said Thursday that the Corps may consider scaling back its infantry population or operational forces -- with an emphasis on cutting from the most junior ranks -- in order to create space for an increase in its cyberwarfare community.
Speaking at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, D.C., Neller said he was looking hard at tradeoffs as the Marine Corps sought to develop well-trained, mature cyber warriors.
"I'm willing to take risk in the units we have now," he said. "Once we determine what are the capabilities we need and what are the types of Marines we need to do that, you know, those are not going to be [privates first class] and lance corporals over time."
Read the rest of the story at Military.com.


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This past summer, I was the recipient of a genealogical act of kindness. This wasn't just a small act–this was a mother lode of genealogical data. Through a distant Rochowiak relative (I still haven't figured out if we are related or not), I received a number of scanned document images from Gora Znin and Gorzyce with many Rochowiak records contained within them. Imagine my surprise, joy, and glee.
Because of this kindness, I was able to learn quite a bit more about my great-grandmother's family, the Rochowiaks. My great-grandmother, Frances Rochowiak Przybylski, was the daughter of Adalbertus Rochowiak and Marianna Mazana. I had known for some time that Adalbertus was the son of Alexi Rochowiak and Marianna Brzykca (yes, the k is before the c). But the trail was pretty cold until I had received these scans. I was able to locate siblings for Adalbertus thanks to these scans.
So…Adalbertus Rochowiak had eight siblings that I can verify and was the fifth-born child of the nine total children born to Alexi and Marianna. Here is the list of all children born to Alexi Rochowiak and Marianna Bryzkca with their birthdates and birth records. All children were born in Gorzyce, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland, and each of these records were loacated in This is the Baptismal Record Archdiocese of Gniezno, Poland, Catholic Parish in Gorzyce, LDS Film Unit #547GS2, Project #POL 2-009, Roll #13.
- Roch Rochowiak. Roch was the eldest of the children and born 17 August 1788.
- Agnes Rochowiak. Agnes was the eldest daughter, born 17 January 1790.
- Martinus Rochowiak. Martinus was born 22 October 1793.
- Marianna Rochowiak. Marianna was born 17 October 1795.
- Adalbertus Rochowiak. Adalbertus was born 29 March 1797.
- Laurence Rochowiak. Laurence was born 11 August 1799.
- Michał Rochowiak. Michał was born 4 October 1801.
- Adam Rochowiak. Adam was born 20 February 1804.
- Marianna. Marianna was born 11 August 1806. (Yes, the family had two daughters named Marianna).
Additionally, I did get some details on Adalbertus and some of his siblings. I will follow up in the next few weeks with this information. Enjoy–I do know there are a good handful of Rochowiak researchers out there!


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I have the following Gn15 items for sale, open to offers ideally as a job lot:
3x SLM Figures, Warner, Alex and Fred
1 x Large bench
1 x Sidelines Loco, green with spud motor and kadee couplings
1 x Sidelines Loco, blue with spud motor and kadee couplings
3 x Assorted loco drivers
4 x Assorted open wagons with kadee couplers
1 x Toolwagon with kadee couplers
2 x Small flat wagons with kadee couplers
1 x Passenger coach with kadee couplers
As a job lot will also include small box of scratchbuilling parts and assorted Sidelines extras.
Greenhouse sidings layout also available
The layout has been stored for 6 months and has suffered a little damage to some of the scenic extras which will need reattaching. (Ie gate has come loose, chickens come loose and point lever needs replacing - all parts are included and just need sticking)
Overall could do with a refresh as has been stored in shed.
Open to sensible offers for this layout and maybe able to deliver at cost. Can include transformer to power the lights and a gauge master combo controller if required.
May consider a swap in full or part exchange for a small complete layout no larger than 4x2 or there abouts


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Use the Sun's Power with Solar Energy
Solar energy is one of the most efficient and cost effective alternatives to grid–provided electricity available. More than ever before, photovoltaic solar panels offer an efficient and increasingly affordable source of renewable electricity.
How Solar Installation Works
Solar installation can be done in a number of ways. While it is preferable to install solar panels on the roof of your home where they are likely to receive the most sunlight, it is not necessary in every situation. Sometimes, due to trees or other obstructions, freestanding poles or racks of solar panels make more logistical sense than roof mounted panels. Because solar panels need to be mounted facing south, it is best to consult with a contractor about the best location for them before installation.
Another consideration is the number of panels you will have installed. A single square meter of sunlight produces 1,000 watts of energy, and a standard PV panel will absorb and output between 15–20% of that. Therefore, on average, a single square meter of PV panel will net you between 150 and 200 watts of electricity. An energy evaluation will allow you to determine how much electricity your home uses (the average is around 1,000 kilowatt hours per month).
Grid–tied Solar Systems
Because of this, most homeowners will have a grid–tied solar system that supplements the electricity they receive from the power company. While this will not necessarily reduce your energy consumption to zero and eliminate your power bill, a grid tied solar system allows you to sell electricity back to the power company when you produce more than you use. For example, when you are on vacation or during the spring and fall months when less electricity is used for heating and cooling, you can earn credits on your bill to offset times of heavier use.
Installing Photovoltaic Solar Panels
If you decide solar is the right match for your home, you need a contractor that can properly evaluate the site and design a solar system that fits your particular needs. Because your solar system will be integrated into the electrical grid, the contractor should also be a licensed electrician with specific experience working on solar panels.
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Disclaimer: The contents of this post refer to my personal condition which is gluten sensitivity and not Celiac Disease. I cannot speak to whether the solutions listed are safe for Celiac sufferers, only that I personally have not had reactions from them. I am not a dietitian.
There's this one moment that sticks in my mind after I found out that eating gluten made me sick.
My fiancé came into the room, holding something behind his back. He frowned deeply and said, "I'm so sorry, my love" and revealed what he was holding: a jar of Marmite.
Marmite was my childhood comfort food. It was on all of my sandwiches growing up. It tastes like home and like "everything is going to be alright". When I saw that they'd changed the label to reflect that it contained gluten, I actually started crying.
But I couldn't argue. We'd been wondering why the stomach ache and mouth ulcers hadn't stopped even though I'd been eating well.
I remember in that moment feeling completely helpless and isolated. I already knew I couldn't eat bread or pasta or pizza or cake or donuts or biscuits or fancy, favourite chocolates. But Marmite was the last straw.
In those first months every new discovery about my gluten sensitivity was scary. The internet did not help. Articles like "you need to replace all your kitchen utensils" and "never eat at a restaurant ever again" abound. On the other hand, I had friends sharing "helpful" pieces about how gluten sensitivity didn't actually exist and was all in my mind. Or it was just misdiagnosed IBS.
It was depressing, I won't lie. And it was very lonely.
But! I'm not here to moan! If your story sounds like mine, here's me today (3 years later) telling you: it gets better.
Food substitutes
People will tell you that you need to say goodbye to everything you used to love and eat nothing but kale and carrots for the rest of your life (or cauliflower. Cauliflower everything. Cauliflower for days). This is not true. While veggies are important for the roughage you no longer get from whole grains, they're not all you can eat.
I should know, I just ordered 5 boxes of chocolate cereal.
Let's face it, I'm not a health nut. And developing a food allergy was never going to turn me into one. If you're in the same boat, just an ordinary person wanting something to eat that doesn't contain or taste like beans (or cauliflower), here's my list of favourite substitutes.
(These are available in Cape Town, South Africa).
Sweet potato bread
Wellness Warehouse stocks a sweet potato bread that tastes exactly like ordinary white bread. You may have tried rice bread (so hard and dry) or banting bread (ew, coconutty) but this is something different. They stock a small loaf perfect for picnics and a bigger one with normal toaster slices perfect for savoury or sweet toppings. Makes a killer toasted cheese sarmie.
While these loaves are expensive (R49 at time of writing) you can make them last a few weeks by freezing them.
I really like cereal. The kind you can have with milk. Unfortunately, most commercial cereals are not gluten free.There is a wide range of gluten-free cereal out there, but most of it is imported and costs the price of a small house.Wholesome Earth's Chocolate Loops are my latest discovery. They also do fruit loops. You can order them online through the Fresh Earth website or find them in Dischem. They're only slightly more expensive than ordinary cereal and taste exactly the same as the original thing.
If you're more a muesli person, be aware that the way we roll oats somehow involves gluten, so you need to buy special gluten-free oats. The Nature's Choice brand has both gluten-free muesli and plain oats. You can also find these at Dischem.
One birthday I drove around for hours looking for a cake I could have. Spoiler alert: nothing. Even cheesecake in restaurants has gluten. BUT I have since discovered that the Gluten Free Gurus do an amazing sponge cake that is really affordable and available at almost every Checkers.
If you want something a little more exciting, Mugg & Bean now do a gluten free chocolate chip muffin. (But knowing Mugg & Bean they will mysteriously pull it from the menu before this post goes live, so you've been warned). It tastes lemony but otherwise pretty ordinary. It has a great texture and is especially nice after a few seconds in the microwave.
I'm not a fan of cauliflower (you may have gathered), so those banting bases don't do it for me. A place called Pasta Factory produces really nice pizza bases for homemade pizza (they can be a little hard and salty but don't taste like beans, so win). You can find them at Spar or contact them directly.
If you want to order in pizza, the Butlers gluten free base tastes so close to real pizza that I personally can't tell the difference. Col'Cacchio's gluten-free base is a little more beany and a little more pricey, but if you order a lot of toppings you can't tell and the texture is amazing.
Biscuits are one of the easier gluten-free things to find. Most shops stock the imported Gullon Gluten Free cookies (I get them from Spar or Dischem but have also seen them at Checkers). The chocolate ones taste like chocolate brownies and are amazing dunked in tea or as a base for homemade cheese cake. I'm pretty sure they're made of pure sugar, butter and cocoa, though.
For something a bit more wholesome, The Allergen Baker has a wide range of biscuits that are completely allergen-free and safe for celiac sufferers. Their shortbread is particularly nice and I can't taste the difference between it and good ol' Bakers.
Fresh Earth makes the best peanut butter cookies. I pick up a box whenever I'm at Dischem even though the packaging is a bit off-putting with its "free from stuff you can't pronounce" labelling (the box is printed in vegetable ink, I kid you not).
I don't know where I'd be without Sam Mills corn pasta. It tastes like normal pasta and is available in a variety of shapes. It's pricey when you compare it with how cheap wheat pasta is here, but if you consider how many meals you can get out of a packet, it's not that bad. The best part is, you can get it at Spar, Checkers and Dischem. For some reason, I've never seen it at Pick n Pay. They stock another brand that's not as good (I can't even remember the name).
Flour is a common thickener for sauces, which means most packet and restaurant sauces are out. But maize flour works really well for homemade sauces. White sauce takes 8 minutes in the microwave, just substitute Maizena for flour in the recipe.
In fact, Maizena is a pretty good substitute for most recipes that require flour as a thickener. I've even used it to make toad in the hole.
Things you can eat without substituting gluten
For some reason, people seem to think that being gluten free is the same as being a health nut. It's not. Here are some things that I can still eat without getting a reaction. And do. In copious amounts.
Potato chips
Check the label. There are, of course, many flavours you can't have. But lightly salted is usually fine! Not every brand will put allergen warnings on the label, so try to get from a brand that does. Lays, for instance, says that those light blue balsamic chips are a no go. But cheese and onion? Fine.
A dietitian actually told me to eat lots of popcorn for the roughage. So I do. I figured out how to make it in the microwave and now it's my go-to snack. Corn is totally my best friend now.
Again, check the label. Some brands are mostly not okay. Lindt, for instance, uses malt. But white Lindor balls are actually fine. I'm a fan of Cadbury's and as long as I don't get one containing actual biscuits it's fine. Oh and Nutella? Fine.
If you like Pronutro as cereal, good news for you. The wheat free is also gluten free. Futurelife is also gluten free, for the record (although I can't stand the stuff).
Rice is gluten free. Sushi is made from glutinous rice which is not the same thing. That just means it's sticky. What you want to watch out for with all Asian food though is soy sauce. Soy sauce is mostly not gluten free.
Potatoes are gluten free. So go ahead and have potato bake and fries (just check the spices used with the fries if you're ordering somewhere new and that they don't, for some bizarre reason, fry them in flour, which is a total thing btw urgh).
Okay so here's a weird thing. Most patties use flour as a binding agent. I didn't realise this until I started looking for some patties in the shops. But not all of them do. Mcdonalds, for instance, seems to bind their patties through pressing them really really hard (so yes, they end up flat as cardboard).
Be aware: this is not science, this is supposition.
Point is, I've been perfectly fine eating the insides of McRoyales (which is as disgusting as it sounds). There are probably other restaurants whose burger patties are perfectly fine. Your main challenge, if you choose to pursue this risky endeavour, is avoiding cross-contamination.
One time they put the cheese down before the patty and the roll got stuck to the patty and it was just a very sad nightmare that ended with a tummy ache. (Don't go near Wimpy btw. Their tomato sauce uses gluten which means everything is dripping gluten).
Hudson's, a Cape Town-based food chain, actually sells a gluten free burger with gluten free rolls that taste exactly like normal bread.
A nice juicy steak
Just tell them not to baste it in anything funny (or use gluten-containing spice mixes) and not to pour sauce over it and you're all good 🙂
I have yet to find a substitute for Marmite, but they really are bringing out new gluten-free options every day. Just a week ago I discovered gluten free ramen cup noodles! So I live in hope.
Oh, and one last general piece of advice. If you buy a gluten-free baked substitute and it tastes crap? Microwave it for 30 seconds. Works almost every time.


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I am just back from DigitalHollywood show. There was one question I heard more loudly than any other no matter which session I attended; "How do we monetize content?" The question now takes on an urgent tone as more and more traditional media struggle to answer that question before it's too late.
And coincidentally, the dialogue at DigitalHollywood seemed a real world extension of the Ad Age article I had written that just was just published; Why Charging for Online Content (Mostly) Won't Work. The article outlined why trying to monetize content is really hard and the better approach is to create unique user experiences, like a robust community, that then lets you create upsell opportunities. By the kinds of responses I got on the article, I seem to have hit a note. Many people wrote extensively about how current models don't work.
And as in my article, the conference betrayed a gnawing sense of angst since no one anymore doubted that the old model was broken, but no one was clear about what will replace it.
We all knew we were on the precipice of something big, new, unknown and undefined. We were excited, inspired, and cautious.
We also knew we were all making it up as we go.
Yet even from within the doubts, one could see innovation all around. There are a lot of great tech companies offering lots of versions of video streaming platforms … from PPV to satellite to distributed networks. There were other great companies who had really interesting audience engagement models from the citizen journalists of AllVoices to MomTV who look to create meaningful interactions with Moms. Despite the cool technology we all saw at the conference, the chase for the content monetization answer trumped most others.
The Ad Age article seemed prescient to the conference's theme because I actually answered that question directly by drawing on the experience of Paltalk, a profitable web 2.0 company. Paltalk's monetization engine uses content to attract audiences but then creates end user value in offering real time, interactive video visitor engagement within our communities. Once the user is committed to a community, then there are interesting upsell opportunities possible.
This is what "community casting" is about. It is about creating and nurturing a community with real time community interaction with video and chat. This is what will emerge as the new content monetization engine.
It is, in fact, already working now. Watch this space.
Judy Shapiro
Filed under: Corporate business models, digital marketing, Journalism, profitable business model, social media, social networks | Tagged: Community Casting, content monetization, DigitalHollywood, internet marketing, judy shapiro, PPV, video streaming, Web 2.0 | 1 Comment »


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The Five Most Important Questions to Ask Your Remodeler Before Getting Started—
Whether you're completing a total kitchen renovation or adding on several new rooms to your home, it's important to make sure you're on the same page with your Saint Cloud remodeler before getting started.
Asking your remodeler the following five questions will help you to prevent unpleasant surprises along the way.
5 Questions You Need to Ask a Potential Contractor
1. What Kind of Experience Do You Have on Projects Like Mine?
Though a contractor with commercial renovation experience might be able to scale down to a residential project, it's best to find a remodeler who has experience completing projects like yours. Always ask your remodeler about his or her experience in projects of similar size. Construction companies who specialize in a particular area will have more knowledge and provide better work. Find out how many successful projects have been completed and how long the company has been in business. It's also a great idea to get references from other satisfied customers.
2. What Will the Project's Timeline Look Like?
Before the project gets underway, get an estimate of the timeline you should expect. Find out when the contractor will work and whether you should expect work to be completed on weekends or during evenings. It's important to make sure your family's schedule won't be disrupted too much by the ongoing construction. Additionally, be sure to keep in mind that the time a company spends on the job could correlate with the quality of work you receive. Make sure the company you hire prioritizes your work and doesn't simply try to squeeze you in between other projects.
3. Will I Need Any Permits or Additional Insurance Before Remodeling?
Your project could require permits before work begins, or you might need to make sure that the finished product will fit in with zoning requirements. An experienced contractor will know which permits you'll need and how to secure them before getting started. Ask your remodeler about liability and employee insurance coverage, as well. By covering these questions in advance, you can ensure that you won't be liable for any worker injuries.
4. How Do You Approach Remodeling Projects of This Size?
Remodelers who are experienced in handling projects similar to yours ought to be able to tell you how they approach the remodeling process. Finding out how your remodeler views the project will help you determine what kind of service you can expect. You can also get an idea of the company's experience and their philosophies on the benefits of remodeling. Look for a contractor who you'll feel comfortable working with.
5. What is Included in the Project's Bid?
Finally, be sure to find out what services and materials are included in the project's bid. Remodeling typically brings along unexpected costs, as contractors might run into additional expenses as they begin tearing out walls and pulling up carpets. Find out how much leeway is included in the bid and make sure your budget has some additional room. Discussing the bid carefully with your remodeler will also help you to prevent misunderstandings and miscommunication that can derail the project's progress later on.
Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers in Central Minnesota. Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.


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The day has been a delightful one. Flying kites high in the sky over Harrison Lake, just a 4 minute drive from our Harrison Hot Springs Vacation Rental, building sand castles on the beach, wandering lazily around the lagoon, visiting the little touristy shops along the beach front…ahh. This is the life. After a scrumptious dinner out, return to your home away from home, here at South Garden Harrison Hot Springs Vacation Rental. Just a few steps from your suite, nestled into the foot of Green Mountain is the out door hot tub. Dip your tired body into the soothing, swirling waters. The green spot lights shed their soft glow up into the forest. The stars twinkle over head. Adding to the ambiance is a meandering water fall, splashing peacefully. This is …almost heaven.
The day has been an invigorating and energetic one. Biking the back country trails, hiking over kilometers of forest pathways, wind surfing over the choppy waters of Harrison Lake or hang gliding on the air currents near Mount Cheam…ahh. This is the life. Upon your return 'home', at South Garden Harrison Hot Springs Vacation Rental, the out door hot tub beckons. Sink your weary body into the soothing, swirling waters, closing your eyes and ultimately relaxing. Who could ask for anything more? If you do open your eyes, just a little, the forest upon Green Mountain, offers a most beautiful sight. As time moves on, a hearty, satisfying dinner will certainly be served by one of the restaurants nearby. Our Harrison Hot Springs Vacation Rental provides 'luxurious country comfort'. Come relax and be refreshed.


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At the End of the Tyrolean Way - re: "Elections are a Con"
"My 'Wahlen sind Betrug' ('Elections are a Con') poster project was selected in November 2011 by a jury using an exemplary open process for the TKI open competition by TKI (Tiroler Kulturinitiativen) on 'No theme'. For the first time in the 10-year history of TKI open, the province of Tyrol (Austria) denied funding for an artistic work selected by a jury of experts.
In the ensuing media discussion (1), the Tyrolean provincial government unsuccessfully tried to justify its decision that bordered on censorship. The cultural councilor of the provincial government Dr. Palfrader of the People's Party (ÖVP) claimed that the 'Elections are a Con' artistic work is 'factually incorrect' (Tiroler Tageszeitung, 18 January 2012) and 'not experimental' enough (Radio Freirad, 1 February 2012). At the request of the news magazine Profil, Palfrader explained that not everything 'that claimed to be art, can also be funded' (Profil, 23 January 2012).
After the media displayed little enthusiasm for the arguments of the cultural councilor of the provincial government, the ÖVP Tyrol retaliated during Innsbruck?s city council elections by using the party newspaper Tiroler Weg to print in large letters 'Culture is not a self-service store' on an unauthorized reproduction of my poster design. At the very least, they implicitly accused me of the 'misuse' of public funds through the unjustified acquisition of public money. In small text next to my work, they printed a note not clearly explaining the context to the reader and they listed "'spurious' reasons for blocking funding for a project already approved by the jury" (2).
Not only did the provincial government of the Tyrolean People's Party ignore for political reasons a jury's decision, but they even misused my artistic work in the electoral campaign for the Innsbruck city council. This was the final straw, and a lawsuit was filed against the Tyrolean People's Party (ÖVP).
On 16 July 2012, the provincial court in Innsbruck ruled that the Tyrolean People's Party must under a court directive refrain from unauthorized reproductions or modifications of the poster 'Elections are a Con' and must remove, according to their power of disposition, all existing copies of their modification of the artwork 'Elections are a Con'. The accused party (ÖVP) must also retract allegations that I have 'misused' cultural subsidies. In addition, the defendant must expressly state to the plaintiff that the report in Tiroler Weg 1.12 published in the context of the plaintiff-made poster 'Elections are a Con' did not allege a dishonorable or illegal conduct.
The announcement of these obligations in the Tiroler Weg could not be achieved, because the publication has ceased to exist.
Postscript: It seems impossible in the holy land Tyrol to display artistic posters with the text 'Elections are a Con'. This text does not seem to be a problem with a version for a project in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi (see figure below)."
Oliver Ressler, artist and filmmaker, 20 July 2012
(1) For documentation of the media coverage, see:
(2) Complaint filed by my lawyers Ploil | Krepp | Boesch, 9 May 2012
Oliver Ressler Newsletter, July 22, 2012.


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House Commerce Committee Democratic Reps press FCC for answers on net neutrality comments
On Feb 13, all 24 Democratic Reps on the House Commerce Committee sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commissioners over how it reviewed the docket of 24 million public comments submitted in response to the agency's repeal of its network neutrality rules.
The Commerce Democrats, led by Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), sent a list of 16 questions to the FCC on how it analyzed the record and determined which comments were worthy of citing in its final order. "Several members of this Committee filed comments in the docket of this proceeding, yet a number of the arguments raised in those comments were either dismissed out of hand or overlooked entirely," reads one of the questions. "How did the Commission decide which arguments filed by members of Congress should not be considered?" The group asked the FCC to provide a response by March 6.
House Commerce Committee Democratic Reps press FCC for answers on net neutrality comments Letter from House Commerce Committee Democratic Reps to Chairman Pai


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Pakistan-China Economic Corridor
By Abdul Ghafoor
Apr 22, 2015
It is often said that Pak-China ties are 'deeper than the ocean and higher than the Himalayas'. Recently these ties have superseded all such theoretical metaphors, particularly in light of the visit by the Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping to Pakistan, and the numerous Memorandums that were signed during this stay.
Pakistan and China have signed over 51 MoUs worth $46 billion in areas of energy and infrastructure; work on these projects is expected to commence immediately. Chinese investment in Pakistan comes at a time when it is vitally important, and it has quickly entirely overshadowed the intermittent US economic aid, given to Pakistan over a long period of 10-15 years.
These investments will greatly help Pakistan in overcoming its rising energy-shortage issues that have been the foremost irritant in preventing the growth of commercial industry in Pakistan. With enough energy, Pakistan can enhance its exports significantly and generate higher jobs. Furthermore, the Gwadar port of Pakistan will become an economic center for South and Central Asia. The port will become an important refueling center for trade cargoes moving towards the South East and the Far East.
The Chinese investment in Pakistan is a part of China's Grand Strategy to maturate its comparatively underdeveloped western areas and bring them at par with eastern China. Besides this, the Chinese are committed to diversifying their energy corridors and rendering their energy security invulnerable.
The trade corridor will give China closer access to the resources of the Persian Gulf, the Middle East and Africa. Secondly, China has developed very close ties with Central Asian Republics, whose resources could be exploited and exported westward via Gwadar. Above all else, the Chinese efforts to connect Pakistan, Afghanistan, and CARs in a close-knit economic web will entail stability and prosperity for the region, and is therefore in the best interests of all states in the region.


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Ted Cruz's newest ad targeting his Democratic challenger is a country jingle that warns, "If you're going to run in Texas, you can't be liberal, man."
Cruz tweeted the 60-second radio ad Tuesday night, shortly after he and US Rep. Beto O'Rourke advanced to a closely watched November matchup.
The ad says O'Rourke "wants to take our guns" and calls him "liberal Robert," referring to his given first name, and says he "changed his name to Beto."
Cruz also uses a nickname for his given name, Rafael Edward Cruz.
O'Rourke is raising more money than Cruz so far but remains very unlikely to win in November. Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994.
Here's the ad


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Trends Fall 2014:
Brand: Gamme Rouge
"On average, coats hovered around the knees, which were almost always clad in sport leggings, their cuffs sheer and ankle-baring. The mixing made all the difference; a champagne-hued Persian lamb coat ringed with a triple stripe of pylon-orange mink opened the show. Midway through, in the droll-meets-drab UPS uniform grouping, a crocodile front gave way to a Persian lamb back. A fuller A-line coat bifurcated a camo print up top with a raw-edged Persian lamb skirt. Speaking of which, the prints came from graffiti artist Maurizio Cannavacciuolo, whose drippy effects and text-image interplay counterbalanced the haute fabrications and will likely find an eager audience among men (who will finally be able to purchase the Gamme Rouge runway looks this fall).
Both men and women, though, will appreciate the all-purpose accessories, namely a croc card case dangling from a coat strap, baseball-beanie hybrid caps, and thick-soled slip-on sneakers. All three details might have gone unnoticed had you been distracted by a mise-en-scène"
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Saturday, September 11, 2010
HAROLD & THE SUEDES_Ding A Long (Our Wedding Day)
-Ding A Long (Our Wedding Day). prev unr.
To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/fnbl017c90
Posted by Whitedoowopcollector at 7:22 AM
1 comment:
- Whitedoowopcollector said...
I Receive this information...
On your site you have Harold and the Suedes with a song our wedding day. Harold was not an original member in The Suedes he was only with the group for a short time there was no Harold and The Suedes, it was Just "The Suedes". The song was Ding A Long(our wedding day). Harold was with the group less than a year and was not in any of the other recordings except the second recording of my prayer to heaven, and ding a long.
- March 5, 2014 at 7:31 AM
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Quite an unusual name for this American quartet, but right to the point; an unusual style of Rockabilly. They see themselves as a retro-futuristic Rock 'n' Roll spectacle.
The band was founded in 1995 by the brothers Quentin Jones (guitar) and Wendell Jones (vocals), but they're certainly not slowing down on this sixth album called Rockabilly Deluxe, released by Lanark Records.
Together with Dave Ferrara (drums) and Crusher Carmean (upright bass) they play a mix of rockabilly, surf, rock 'n' roll with a punkish attitude. Certainly no traditional rockabilly; but refreshing it is!
Ten songs on this album, all written or co-written by guitarist, producer and arranger Quentin Jones:
King of the Slot Car Track, Long Gone Daddy, Bowling Alley Baby, Wild Crazy and Out of Control, Paranoid Boy, I Used to Be the One, I got the Shakes, I'm Obsessed, It's Rock & Roll, The Light So Bright.


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Getting Ready for O-Shogatsu ( お正月)- The Japanese New Year Festival (yet again)
It is customary for Japanese families with daughters to pack up and put away the Hina Doll sets they had been displaying for the March 3rd Doll festival on the VERY NEXT DAY (March 4th). You might notice how in a strangely similar fashion most of the Santa-Sans and other X-Mas decorations which could be seen around Tsukuba leading up to Christmas Day will have been whisked out of sight by the end of December 26th, as most Tsukubans ( and Japanese in general start getting down to the very serious business of preparing for O-Shogatsu, the Japanese New Year's festival.
Traditionally, preparations for this most important of Japanese celebrations began on the 13th day of the 12th month (remember that before the calendar was Westernized in 1873 the Japanese would celebrate O-Shogatsu sometime in late January and early February). In fact that date was when the big End-Of-The-Year Cleaning would begin at Edo Castle. Some people still do a traditional family cleaning on December 13, and this is called susu-harai. First the Buddhist and Shinto altars are cleaned, and then the alcove in the tatami room. Many temples, shrines, companies, offices and shops also hold a big cleaning event on the 13th.
These days, however, it is much more common to begin final preparations, in earnest, just after Christmas (though New Years Gifts, O-Seibo, お歳暮 are usually selected and sent to parents, teachers, and others we are indebted to by early December). Many families have big cleaning events on these days, and when this is finished, houses are ready to be decorated with KADOMATSU (bamboo and pine decorations for the entranceway), shimenawa (sacred rope), and other auspicious decorations such as Kumanote (decorative rakes which symbolize raking it in) and wreath-like door decorations. These can be seen on sale at any home center, department store, supermarket or COMBINI. You can also see all the many different types of decorative zodiac animals for the coming year. Next year's animal will be the Rabbit, and many Japanese will purchase some sort of Bunny figurine or picture to display for the duration of 2011.
An essential part of any O-Shogatsu is O-mochi (お餅, pounded rice-cakes), and many families in Tsukuba (and the rest of Japan) will be making their own, by machine, or the traditional (and much more fun) way with a giant wooden hammer and mortar. The mochi will be formed into round cakes of decreasing sizes, piled one on the other, to be offered to the God of the New Year, and also enjoyed by the whole family.
Of course there are the many other special foods which must be prepared. Many families in Eastern Japan buy a whole salted salmon (aramaki). However, the essential dishes for authentic O-Shogatsu are O-Sechi (which consists of many different traditional foods which don't spoil quickly). O-zoni (soup with mochi, etc), and toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles).
Preparing these can make these last days, by far, the busiest time of the year for housewives, though now it is possible to order all these from department stores or even convenience stores. In fact this year, with the bad economy, many families are foregoing New Year's travel and are instead splurging on O-Sechi prepared by famous chefs.
As you can see, O-Shogatsu is complex for the newcomer to Japan to grasp, and this has probably been a lot to digest in one posting (especially after all the year-end parties we've been having!). So for the next couple of weeks leading up to O-Misoka (New Year's Eve), I will go into each of these fascinating above-mentioned O-Shogatsu customs in more detail. And then I will go on talk about how to spend the actual holiday itself. Don't forget to keep checking Tsukublog!
And, by the way, in Yatabe on Dec.28th, there will be a market which will run from 5-8 pm . All the necessary O-Shogatsu decorations will be available for purchase and being photographed. It's called the DORO-ICHI. You can find it at the Yatabe Elementary School.
Last year, I checked out one of Japan`s oldest ( from the late 17th century) and most famous pre-Shogatsu markets- The Hagoita Market ( Hagoita Ichi, 羽子板市) held at Tokyo`s Sensoji Temple in Asakusa ( conveniently located along the TX Line).
This market is held every December, from the 17th to the 19th, and specializes in selling one of Japan`s most important traditional ENGI MONO (縁起物), which are auspicious objects, which I guess is another way of saying lucky charms.
Hagoita are highly decorated versions of a paddle ( racket) used in a traditional children`s game (that resembles badminton without a net) called Hane Tsuki. This game was thought to bring good health as batting the fly-like shuttle-cock represented swatting away disease carrying mosquitos.
In the same way, the decorative HAGOITA are meant to represent driving away bad energies and bad luck, etc. These paddles come in various sizes ( size reflects economic status!!) and in the Edo Period they began to decorate them with images of the great Kabuki stars of the day. And though these old stars still predominate on the hagoita designs, every year we can find images of the past years biggest stars- this year Michael Jackson Hagoita were popular.
These ENGI-MONO are bought by or for families with daughters, and put on display at home.
At the Yatabe market ( the Doro Ichi on the 28th you will also find a lot of Daruma Dolls ( as you will at practically all temples and shrines over the holiday).For more on the evolution of this enduring character, read my article:
and for a deeper look at O-Sechi ( New Year`s Dishes):
and more on O-Shogatsu preparations:


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Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
Participation in Higher Education is often positioned by governments as a key strategy for promoting economic growth and developing the workforce of the future. However, Higher Education Institutions continue to be criticised for not producing job ready graduates. In particular, educators in the Creative Arts (CA) are often targets of criticism around graduate employability as creative career pathways are regularly non-linear in structure and CA degrees are often perceived as providing a specialised, niche education. In an era of budget cuts and a growing emphasis on STEM disciplines, the need to show the value of creative education, beyond its popularity with incoming students, is greater than ever. This paper draws upon the early career experiences of a sample of Australian CA graduates to provide new insights through which to identify the unique value of CA higher education in preparing graduates for work. In doing so, two keys ways in which CA degrees can provide value for graduates are highlighted. Firstly, the primary value of CA higher education is the creative element and in providing a space for graduates to develop creative skills and prepare for creative work. Secondly, CA graduates have creatively engaging careers both within and outside the CA, which shows that CA higher education has broad value, particularly for people pursuing higher education for employment and employability reasons.
Keywords: Higher education, Creative Arts, employability.


text: Total Services Offered Pathology Cardiology Radiology & Imaging Health Checkups Pathology At Dr Lal PathLabs, Pathology has been a core competence area for more than six decades. The labs are equipped with cutting edge technology and incorporate the latest diagnostic techniques in the field of laboratory medicine which encompasses. Departments Clinical Pathology Routine Biochemistry Special Chemistry Immunoassays Microbiology - Bacteriology, Mycology & Mycobacteriology Hematology Serology Transplantation & Special Immunology Histopathology-Immunohistochemistry & Direct Immunofluorescence Cytopathology Flow Cytometry Molecular Diagnostics Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Biophysics Cytogenetics Biochemical Genetics Clinical Research Services


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Actress/singer/lingerie entrepreneur Uhm Jung-hwa joins Kim Rae-won in the upcoming movie Insadong Scandal, which is set in the art world and takes a behind-the-scenes look at art restoration and reproduction.
Although she's taken on numerous acting projects in her 15-year career (previous screen roles include the drama Wife and the films For Horowitz and Singles), this is her first villain role as an ambitious collector.
Meanwhile, Kim Rae-won's "cool-headed" character specializes in the restoration of valuable paintings, and the story unfolds around a hidden masterpiece of a painter who lived in the Joseon era.
For the past month, Kim has been studying art restoration and reproduction for the role to familiarize himself with the topic and lend an air of authenticity to his character. The film is set to start filming this month.
I'm… not sure about the pairing, but I won't write it off immediately. Kim Rae-won tends to have good chemistry with his co-stars, and even if she wasn't great in the awful movie, I keep remembering how she tried, dammit, to have chemistry with Daniel Henney in Seducing Mr. Perfect. She failed, but it wasn't her fault; the juxtaposition of the two made her seem like Oscar material in comparison.
Credit: OSEN / Dramabeans


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Army Chief Gen Rawat Pays Homage To Shopian Attack Martyrs
NationalDefence Bureau,
Srinagar, 24 February 2017
As the entire nation salutes the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in yesterday's terrorist attack in Shopian, the Army gave a befitting farewell to its brave hearts today in a solemn ceremony at BB Cantt, Srinagar.
Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, who had arrived in Srinagar on 23 Feb 17, paid rich tributes today to the gallant soldiers, L Nk Gh Mohi- Ud-Din, Sep Vikas Singh Gurjar and Sapper Sreejith MJ and expressed his grief and condolences to the bereaved families. He also conveyed his anguish at the unfortunate death of an elderly lady, Taja Begum in this terrorist attack and prayed to Almighty to grant strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss.
Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and by Abdul Haque Khan, Minister of Rural development & Panchayat Raj and Ghulam Nabi Lone, Minister for Agriculture besides other officials from Civil Administration and Security agencies.
On his arrival yesterday, the Army Chief had first met the other injured soldiers at the Army Base Hospital in BB Cantt and wished them speedy recovery.
After paying homage to the martyrs, the Army Chief alongwith Northern Army and Chinar Corps Commanders Lt Gen D Anbu and Lt Gen JS Sandhu, visited Victor and Kilo Force Headquarters where he was briefed on the prevailing security situation and on the recent operations conducted by the security forces.
He also reviewed the collaborative measures of security forces towards ensuring peace and calm in the region and interacted with local commanders and troops urging them to continue discharging their duty with utmost professionalism.
Reinforcing the need to maintain high vigil, the Army Chief also discussed the issue of stone pelting during operations and impressed upon all to synergise efforts with the other security agencies in dealing with such situations effectively.
The General officer also appreciated the various humanitarian initiatives undertaken by the troops to bring succor to common people and exhorted them to sustain this positive engagement with the Awaam.
Visit website: www.nationaldefence.in
Shailesh Kumar is an independent journalist with over 17 years of experience in crime, political and defence reporting for leading media brands including Star News, India TV and NewsX. He is the founder editor of defence and security news portal, National Defence.


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If you love to sing but don't have time to join a choir, then this could be for you!
Imagine: The people all around you choosing vocal parts for a popular song. The music director stands up and guides everyone through the harmonies. Voices merge, endorphins release, time slides… "Beer Break!" rings out, and the camaraderie continues, all the way to the next round of song.
A night of pop harmony with your fellow Dayton singers!
The song of the night is "Africa" by Toto.
$5 admission. Hard drinks and soft drinks available for purchase. Song sheets provided at the door. Newcomers, shower singers, and choral ninjas are all welcome!
Yellow Cab Tavern
To hear about Sing Dayton via email, click here: http://eepurl.com/cpcGqH
The Bach Society of Dayton is the region's leading presenter of choral masterpieces, performing works by J.S. Bach and other classical and contemporary composers.
Our chorus is comprised of more than 60 accomplished singers, who are accompanied by professional soloists and instrumentalists. We frequently collaborate with musicians of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kettering Advent Ringers, Kettering Children's Choir, and high school and college ensembles.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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Linnet is a Multipurpose HTML5 Template which coming with different responsive demos for businesses like Spa, Bike, Organic Food, Restaurant, App landing, etc. Linnet is an ultimate website template with exciting demos for enhancing Corporate, Creative, Technology, Non-profit, Personal and other industries online presence. The template has well-commented code with detailed documentation to make customization based on website needs with minimum effort.
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Updates History:
July 24, 2019 -------------------------------------- - Added: RTL


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Sunny Hill Releases Album Preview and Teaser Images
kpride, Aug. 14, 2014, 3:17 p.m.
K pop group Sunny Hill has released their album review for their upcoming comeback. They are in promotions for their full length album, called 'Sunny Blues'. Sunny Hill is a South Korean girl group. The members consist of Misung, Jubee, Seung Ah and Kota. From 2007-2011, fans of Sunny Hill were known as 'Sunshines'. Following their rise in popularity, fans voted and had the name officially changed to 'Hiller'.
The girls have released a track list for their album:
- Player's Stance
- Monday Blues
- Get the X Out
- Dating Cell
- Paradise (Feat. JeA of Brown Eyed Girls)
The album will be released on August 21!


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Shamanism in the Age of Reason : Chapter 03
Physical Shamanism and Shamanic Therapy
The practice of spiritual shamanism and healing is a subject that has been covered by many texts, so here we will examine physical models of shamanic therapy only as they apply directly to Psychedelic Information Theory (PIT). According to PIT, hallucination is the spontaneous production of nonlinear information via destabilization of multisensory perception.1 Similarly, shamanic therapy is the production of spontaneous cellular organization via destabilization of metabolic homeostasis. An M.D. may prescribe a specific therapy to treat a specific symptom or pathology; a shaman will look beyond the pathology and prescribe radical dieting and psychedelic drug therapy to fully reboot, re-tune, and recycle the patients entire metabolic process. Shamanic therapy can be considered a nonlinear or holistic approach to diagnosis and healing.
Modern Shamanic Psychotherapy
In modern clinical therapy psychedelics are employed to improve psychological resilience in the face of stress or trauma, typically in the case of depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Psychedelics are thought to produce psychological resilience through the spontaneous creation of autobiographical insights and transpersonal spiritual epiphanies which compress existing memories into a new holistic identity. According to PIT the generation of salient insights in psychedelic trance is the byproduct of nonlinear information creation and memory compression, just as dreaming is a form of associative information creation and compression.2 Even a single low-dose psychedelic session can produce changes in identity and transpersonal awareness that last a lifetime.3,4,5 To apply this kind of therapy the shaman need do nothing more than provide the medicine and a warm quiet place for the subject to lie down. Psychological resilience is generated by allowing the subject to navigate anxieties, forgive and accept past behaviors, and sense a transpersonal awareness of unity and love flowing through all creation. This method works best in targeted therapy, and should only be applied in a controlled setting to reduce negative information spirals and negative plasticity.
Shamanic Dieting, Purging and Cleansing
Traditional shamanic therapy typically includes components of restrictive dieting, fasting, and purgation of bodily wastes and fluids.6 The common wisdom is that dieting and purgation cleanses and purifies the body, restoring it to harmony and balance. A more cynical analysis may conclude that radical dieting and fasting destabilizes the bodys metabolic homeostasis and puts it into deprived states of heightened alertness and stress, states which can easily produce psychosis if prolonged for a day or more. Subjective reports of psychedelic use often include an initial period of stomach pain and intestinal discomfort preceding full psychedelic destabilization; this is because the psychedelic must interrupt 5-HT receptors in the gut as well as the brain before metabolic homeostasis can be fully uncoupled and re-tuned. Techniques of dieting and fasting merely speed and amplify the overall destabilizing effect of psychedelics on global metabolic homeostasis.
Metabolic Destabilization and Cellular Regeneration
The Control Interrupt Model of Psychedelic Action posits that hallucinogens produce complex perceptual results through pharmacological interference of multisensory frame stability.1 The same model applied to neural oscillators in a sensory network can be applied to cellular oscillators in an biological matrix. Many functions of metabolism and cellular signaling are modulated by 5-HT and dopamine, interrupting these signaling pathways will not only produce patterns of spontaneous neural organization, they will also produce patterns of spontaneous metabolic and cellular organization. For instance, 5-HT2A receptors and serotonin release have been shown to play a large role in mediating blood platelet aggregation.10 Hallucinogens target 5-HT2A receptors, and platelet aggregation is a fundamental immune mechanism. 5-HT2A activation has also been demonstrated to produce powerful anti-inflammatory effects in cardiovascular and soft tissues; and 5-HT2A agonists like LSD may produce potent anti-inflammatory effects against TNF-a (tumor necrosis factor alpha), an autoimmune regulator which has been indicated in atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, type II diabetes, depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.11
Because the 5-HT2A receptor is a G-coupled protein that promotes secondary transmission within the cell membrane, psychedelics that target the 5-HT2A receptor can influence a wide variety of intracellular functions. The signaling pathways mediated by the 5-HT2A receptor include the release of charged calcium ions (Ca2+) and the activation of PKC and MAPK, protein kinases which transfer that energy to proteins and enzymes that regulate cellular metabolism and proliferation. Coaxing cellular signaling pathways into patterns of spontaneous regeneration, anti-inflammatory, or autoimmune organization is at the root of all physical shamanic therapy. This model can be applied to neural inflammation, as in cluster headaches; emotional inflammation, as in PTSD; stress-related soft-tissue inflammation; or systemic inflammation related to chronic disease and auto-immune disorders.
Subjects under the influence of psychedelics sometimes report feelings of being cleansed from the inside, like each cell is being polished and organized, and that waste and cellular debris are being expelled. This sensation has been compared to a radical auto-immune response, like computerized maintenance routine for de-fragmenting and optimizing cellular memory structures. Just as neural assemblies may be coaxed into becoming spontaneous nonlinear feedback generators, cellular signaling pathways may be coaxed into generating information via spontaneous energetic metabolic pathway testing, strengthening, and regeneration. Just as nonlinear hallucination may facilitate memory potentiation in the same way as dreaming, nonlinear metabolic organization may facilitate cellular regeneration or immunological response similar to states of fever or deep restorative sleep. The cellular regenerative power of psychedelics have only recently been demonstrated in scientific terms, but in shamanic models this restorative function is taken for granted.
Physical Shamanism and Metabolic Entrainment
Physical shamanism employs wave-based entrainment techniques to coax spontaneous nonlinear organization of metabolic pathways and cellular signaling systems. Typical shamanic wave entrainment comes in the form of singing or music, but can also be applied through talk, touch, hypnotic motion, or other repetitive sensory feedback stimulation. Entraining a subject into a targeted state of information processing is the science of hypnosis or trance. The psychedelic medicine allows the patients homeostasis to become destabilized, and in this state the shaman becomes the circuit driver or resonator, the oscillator with the most power to amplify or dampen signal coupling strength within the entire circuit. Acting as a hypnotic entrainer, the shaman can place the patient into dream-like trance and then synchronize his own perception to the patients subtle internal body rhythms. The shaman uses the hallucinogenic interrupt as a control frequency for mediating contact with and manipulating the patients mind and metabolic process. Once the control frequency connection has been established through mutual ingestion of the psychedelic medicine, the shaman then uses specialized entrainment waves to coax new metabolic interference patterns and signaling pathways throughout the patients entire cellular matrix.
In Shipibo ayahuasca shamanism, the shaman takes the psychedelic medicine in order to visualize a flickering grid of patterns and symbols crawling across the surface of the patient. These ayahuasca patterns are embedded into Shipibo textiles, ceramics, tattoos, and all forms of tribal artwork, and are considered to be visual representations of the icaros sung during shamanic ceremony. (Fig. 1) Each Shipibo pattern corresponds to a sacred psychedelic space where a specific type of information is manipulated and revealed, and by tuning the fluctuation of these patterns through the patients biological systems the shaman can sense blocked signaling pathways, restore atrophied pathways, and bring harmony and balance to the entire organism. Subjects under the influence of ayahuasca and shamanic singing report the feeling of every cell in their body resonating in tune with the healing songs of the Maestro.7,8
The ayahuascero shaman may employ hands-on techniques to massage the patients embedded patterns into a more harmonic shape, sometimes even sucking or blowing psychic energy through the patient, or perhaps performing a psychic surgery to remove a dark body, a block, or a curse.9 Sometimes the shaman must dig very deep into muscle and organ tissue before the source of illness can be found; sometimes the patients energy pathways may be so blocked or degraded they are impossible to fix. The shaman may use high-pitched vocal tones to focus sound waves deep into the body, hoping to break apart blocked signal pathways via the power of resonant intonation. The shaman may use high pitched whining or whistling tones focused at one area of the body, or may use throat singing to invoke deep rumbling bass tones which make the patients chest cavity resonate at same frequency as the sound vibrations moving deep into the Earth.7
The case can be made that Shipibo textile patterns and sacred songs are compressed artifacts of nonlinear hallucination. These patterns are isomorphic of Peano space-filling fractal curves, S- or L-shaped patterns which repeat in embedded granularity depending on the depth of system iteration. (Fig. 2)12 Shipibo patterns correspond to specific tones and nonlinear states of consciousness, and icaros are cultural technologies for accessing specific states of highly organized nonlinear feedback complexity in both neural and cellular signaling pathways. By employing these techniques under the influence of psychedelics the shaman can entrain the biological function of the patient all the way down to the cellular level, perhaps even to the genetic level. Transitioning through these levels would depend on the granular complexity of the interference pattern created between the shamanic entrainment wave and the hallucinogenic interrupt.
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[1] See "Control Interrupt Model of Psychedelic Action"
[2] See "Psychedelic Neuroplasticity"
[3] Doblin, R, 'Pahnke's 'Good Friday Experiment' A Long-Term Follow-Up And Methodological Critique'. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 1991, Vol. 23, No. 1.
[4] Griffiths, R.R., 'Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance'. Psychopharmacology (2006) 187:268283
[5] Griffiths RR, Richards WA, et al., 'Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later'. Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 22, No. 6, 621-632 (2008)
[6] Tindall R, 'The Jaguar That Roams the Mind'. Park Street Press, Vermont, 2008.
[7] Charing HG, 'Communion with the Infinite: The visual music of the Shipibo people of the Amazon'. SH, Winter 2005
[8] Pantone, DJ, 'The Shipibo Indians: Masters of Ayahuasca'. Internet Reference, 2006.
[9] Beyer, SV, 'Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon'. University of New Mexico Press (October 31, 2009)
[10] Cerrito E, et al., '5HT2-receptors and serotonin release: Their role in human platelet aggregation'. Life Sciences Volume 53, Issue 3, 1993, Pages 209-215
[11] Yu B, et al., 'Serotonin 5-Hydroxytryptamine2A Receptor Activation Suppresses Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Inflammation with Extraordinary Potency'. JPET November 2008 vol. 327 no. 2 316-323
[12] Wolfram Math, 'Peano Curves'. Internet Reference, 2010.
Citation: Kent, James L. Psychedelic Information Theory: Shamanism in the Age of Reason, Chapter 03, 'Physical Shamanism and Shamanic Therapy'. PIT Press, Seattle, 2010.
Keywords: shamanism, therapy, psychedelics
Copyright: © James L. Kent, 2010. Some Rights Reserved. Please read copyright information before reproducing.