text:
BEETHOVEN: Fidelio (aka Leonore), in the first version of 1805, omitting the dialogue and substituting a narration written by Walter Jens and recited by actor Martin Schwab (Rocco). Camilla Nylund, soprano (Leonore); Peter Rose, bass (Rocco); Kurt Streit, tenor (Florestan); Brigitte Geller, soprano (Marzelline); Gerd Grochowski, bass (Don Pizarro); Dietmar Kerschbaum, tenor (Jaquino); Thomas Ebenstein, tenor (First Prisoner); Dietmar Kerschbaum, bass-baritone (Second Prisoner) and Ralf Lukas, bass (Don Fernando). Arnold Schoenberg Choir and ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra of Vienna conducted by Bertrand de Billy (recorded in performance at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, in August 2005). OEHMS Classics 919 (two CDs).
Beethoven composed the first version of his only opera, now known as Fidelio, rather rapidly mainly during the summer months of 1804 with a view toward staging it the following year. There were several factors which caused the opera to be withdrawn after only a few performances: inadequate rehearsal, personnel shortages and, what is more, it was during the French occupation of Austria—some Viennese citizens had evacuated and the national currency was worthless. Beethoven spurned the importunings of the new management of the Theater an der Wien to make further concessions to what was considered the popular taste, and that was that.
A scissors-and-paste job on the opera followed. Beethoven and his homme de confiance Stephan von Breuning cut several numbers which seemed to impede the dramatic action, and shortened the piece from three acts to two. A projected revival in Prague in 1807 did not materialize, and the opera was shelved. The composer came back to it in 1814, after having given it three overtures (the Leonore Overture No. 2, the overture to the original version, is really more of a symphonic poem than a curtain-raiser; Leonore No. 3 is a rewrite of No. 2 and is sometimes played between the two scenes of the second act of the revised version; Leonore No. 1, not published during Beethoven's lifetime, was written for the Prague revival that didn't happen). He subjected the score to a thorough overhaul, this time working in collaboration with a more sympathetic librettist —Friedrich Treitschke — and everything was completely rethought; some of the music was scrapped, and new scenes were composed afresh. Abscheulicher!, for instance, was one of the new items. Only the quartet in the first act (Mir ist so wunderbar) survived without modification or alteration. The 1814 Fidelio benefits from the composer's experience of writing (particularly) the fifth and sixth symphonies in the intervening years. It is that version which entered the repertory.
Beethoven had originally titled the opera Leonore—inviting confusion with Ferdinando Paer's Leonora of 1804 (in Italian) and a one-act comic version by the French singer Pierre Gaveaux, produced about 1798. All were based on a drama by Frenchman Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, whose story drew inspiration from the plight of a woman whose husband had been unjustly imprisoned during the Reign of Terror in France during the 1790s, when the Revolution went sour. This was actually a woman whom Bouilly personally aided. To avoid difficulties with French censors, Bouilly transposed the characters and the situation to Renaissance-era Spain.
Fidelio is one of few exceptions to the rule that, in opera, everything is sung. There is spoken dialogue in between vocal numbers, and quite a lot of it; the revised version has perhaps more dialogue than necessary, and most recordings of that version and staged performances of it judiciously prune it. Modern performances seem to be afraid of the dialogue, or letting the characters speak—as well as sing—for themselves. The current version (of the original 1805 version) dispenses with it altogether and in its place puts a narrative by the jailer Rocco, in this case an actor and not the bass singer who portrays the same character. This is reminiscent of a more effective (staged) performance of the 1814 version, given by the Chicago Symphony during Daniel Barenboim's tenure as Music Director, in which the narrator was Leonore—in that case, soprano Waltraud Meier—who stepped away from the German-singing stage and declaimed her narration in English, a remarkable theatrical tour de force. A recorded performance of the 1805 version by John Eliot Gardiner (on Deutsche Grammophon-Archiv) replaced original librettist Josef Sonnleithner's dialogue with poems of the same era. Thus the only recording of the 1805 Leonore (as Beethoven originally called the opera) which faithfully follows the 1967 Willy Hess edition and includes the minimally-cut dialogue is one from the 1970s conducted by Herbert Blomstedt (with Edda Moser as Leonore and the Staatskapelle Dresden), released in England on EMI and in more recent years on compact discs bearing the Berlin Classics label.
The 1805 version begins with Leonore No. 2, a symphonic poem on a large scale, followed immediately by the sight of a lone young woman struggling across the stage, carrying an oversized basket of laundry. Before launching into her opening aria, the young woman (Marzelline, the jailer's daughter) goes into a rather extensive (spoken) monologue about her ideal marriage to the new young man to whom she's taken a fancy—and, after reaching such a state of nuptial bliss, she'll still be there doing laundry for the prisoners. This opening is a graphic illustration of what has been called the opera's unevenness—which may, in the eye of the beholder, be part of its attraction. Another attraction is a trio for Rocco, Marzelline and Leonore (disguised as the teenage boy "Fidelio") early in the original first act, Ein Mann ist bald genommen, a fine example of "light" Beethoven, with arresting direct modulations into remote keys in the manner of the Andante in F for piano — which the composer penned at about the same time. It, like the original second act duet (Um froh in Ehestand zu leben (for Marzelline and Leonore, with violin and 'cello obbligati), was a casualty of the 1806 housecleaning.
The present recording—of a live performance at the Theater an der Wien, scene of the 1805 fiasco—does away with Marzelline and her laundry basket. Instead, Rocco — an actor who doesn't slightly resemble the bass who sings him — reminisces in a hollow monotone. The speaking actor represents Rocco as an old man, recounting the story decades after the fact. For reasons unknown, the text of his German narration is not given as part of the printed libretto: only cues are supplied. The musical performance, superintended by French conductor Bertrand de Billy who leads the ORF (Austrian Radio) Symphony Orchestra in the pit, seems to fall short of being impassioned. It is clean, reasonably musical and accurate, but it fails to appeal to the emotions. It seems almost too "polite". The orchestral execution is impeccable, but the performance seems to go very little beyond that. At times, the singing almost touches Olympian heights. Soprano Brigitte Geller (Marzelline) has a soaring quality almost reminiscent of Schwarzkopf. Conductor Billy does an exquisite job of balancing the orchestra in the first act quartet.
There are problems of orchestral and choral balance in the prisoners' chorus in the second act, and the brass seem too prominent right before the entry of the second prisoner (baritone solo). These transient irregularities may be part of the hazards of live recording. Bass Gerd Grochowski effectively brings out the psychotic nature of Don Pizarro, the prison superintendent. He is not afraid to go off the page and bellow or shout instead of merely sing when the pathological rage of Pizarro boils over. Camilla Nylund, the Leonore of this production, provides a sympathetic portrayal of the woman who risked everything to get her husband out of a nearly fatal solitary confinement and to stand in the way of his execution. Even so, the damage done to the dramatic continuity by doing away with the dialogue, and the Melodram in the third and final act, is incalculable. (Bertrand de Billy claims that he has used a reconstruction of the original version of Florestan's aria which opens the third act, and the Melodram in its original form makes a reference to a supposedly revised version which appeared in the main body of the Hess score.) The narration sounds as if it were recorded in a studio quite apart from the theater; the writer of the German narration, Walter Jens, is much too free in re-inventing the character of Rocco. It begs the question: why narration instead of leaving the dialogue left by Beethoven and Sonnleithner? Do singers prefer not to speak? Is it too taxing?
In some recordings, operas or singspielen which have spoken lines in between musical numbers employ actors whose vocal timbres approximate that of the characters also represented by respective singers. In the case of international casts, it is understandable that a singer who does not yet have speaking and writing facility in a language in which he or she can sing convincingly might want (in a recording) to defer to a native-speaker actor for the spoken lines. This was the case in Sir Thomas Beecham's celebrated recording of Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio, and I daresay that was the case in numerous other recordings. On the other hand, the integration of a speaking stage voice with a singing one can pose a difficult but sublimely rewarding artistic challenge: bass Alexander Kipnis often spoke of the way Arturo Toscanini taught singers to "modulate" from a spoken line into an aria in the 1937 Salzburg Festival production of another Mozart singspiel, The Magic Flute.
Another point cited in the notes accompanying this recording was the inclusion of the March, WoO 2, instead of the one in B-flat given in the Hess edition (substantially the same as the one in the 1814 version. It opens Act II of the original version and is in the middle of Act I in the 1814 revision). Some musicologists believe there is evidence that WoO 2 was used in the première in 1805; and that the March in B-flat was written sometime after 1806. Hess does not give WoO 2 in the second volume of his edition of Leonore, which includes sketch material and alternate versions of various numbers.
The 1970s Blomstedt/Dresden version went straight to the heart of Beethoven and made a convincing case for the earlier version. This newly released recording, I am afraid, lacks the indefinable ingredients of vitality and passion so essential to the opera. There is emotion and good acting in this recording, but I hear more politesse than passion here.
For information about this new recording of the 1805 Fidelio, go to http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=523259.
JULIUS WEISMANN: String Quartet in a minor, op. 133 (1940; première, 1942). String Quartet in G, op. 148 (1943-45; première, on a radio broadcast, in 1948). Both in orchestral versions by Georg Mais. Georg Mais conducting the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra of Pforzheim. CPO 777596-2.
Julius Weismann, by all accounts a great natural musician, was born in Freiburg on the day after Christmas 1879, the son of zoologist and geneticist August Weismann and his wife Mary (who died young). As a child, Weismann taught himself to play the piano by improvising — before he learned to read music; as a mature musician, Weismann was able to compose away from an instrument — and, more remarkably, without a preconceived plan. It was improvisation on paper in the best sense. He has nearly 200 opus numbers to his credit, and composed in all media: symphonies, concertos, songs, piano music and twelve string quartets. The two recorded here come from toward the end of Weismann's life (he died on 22 December 1950, less than a week before his seventy-first birthday).
Weismann is one of those forgotten twentieth-century Romantics who are now beginning to come into their own. They were spurned during their active lives, perhaps because they went their own way and did not follow academic and ostensibly fashionable currents like atonality and serialism. Weismann is not unadventurous: the a-minor Quartet is quite freely chromatic and shows some influence of "impressionistic" musical styles, although this composer is clearly an individualist and cannot be conveniently pigeonholed. In the G-major Quartet, the style is more lyrical but no less busily contrapuntal, and Weismann can sound just as Austrian as Schubert—although he was German and not Austrian. There is a faint echo, here and there, of the introspective style of the Beethoven op. 131 Quartet, but that is offered by way of comparison and reference. It is a searchingly adventurous, though not a sensationalistic, work—but highly original in every respect. Julius Weismann is clearly his own man in these pieces.
Conductor Georg Mais, who has been active mainly in Germany (with occasional forays into the United States, Lithuania, Byelorussia, Asia and Latin America) since his Berlin Philharmonic début in 1989, has performed an inestimable service in unearthing these two quartets. In working with the Pforzheim orchestra, he has found an unusually compatible ally in unfolding the pleasant mysticism of these quartets. Like Bernstein in his performances of the Beethoven opp. 131 and 135, Mais has not rescored anything but added discreet bass doublings here and there. The orchestra, since its founding sixty years ago by Friedrich Tilegant (a protégé of Paul Hindemith), has proved its mettle from the beginning in a wide range of repertory – but it has shown itself particularly effective in modern music, and in the music of neglected composers from various periods. It ably projects the aggressively contrapuntal though unaffectedly lyrical style which defines Weismann as a composer, and gives a fullness of sound without any heaviness of effect. Every strand of sound that matters is clearly heard. This recording is a major achievement.
For information on acquiring this CD of music by Julius Weismann, see http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/CPO/7775962.


text:
With the stock market as volatile as ever more and more Americans, wealthy or not, are looking for the next big thing that could potentially turn a meager investment into billions. After the dot com bubble of the late nineties and early two thousands investors across the globe began to scramble looking for the next big opportunity that the market would present. Well, at long last there appears to be an option presenting itself in renewable energy, specifically in the solar field. The following are some of the more basic reasons why an investment in solar energy would be money well spent:
Significant Demand Already Exists.
One of the primary reasons why solar energy is a smart investment is a large percent of the guesswork of investing in a burgeoning industry is largely nullified due to there already being a significant demand for solar energy and products. With solar installations showing a 41% growth in 2014 from the year previous investors in solar have the unique opportunity to enter a new industry from nearly the ground floor that has already shown promising growth. A lot of the guesswork has already been taken out.
Cost of Panels has Dropped Significantly.
One of the primary roadblocks in the infancy of the solar industry was simply the high cost associated with manufacturing and installing solar panels with the relatively low amount of energy those early panels could produce. Luckily new advances in the field have caused the price of the panels to drop significantly while simultaneously increasing in output of energy. This along with more and more companies cropping up around the country offering affordable solar panel installations has aided the fast paced shift in demand.
Industry has begun to Notice.
The residential sector is not the only area seeing vast growth of demand for solar energy. Big business and industry leaders have also begun to take notice of the potential money saving and, to a lesser extent I'm sure, more environmentally conscious technology resulting in huge investments in solar energy. Reports show that commercial solar panels were installed on 41,803 business, non-profit and government locations throughout the U.S. alone showing significant growth for the second straight year, growth that shows no signs of slowing down despite oil being at its lowest price in years.
Environmental Impact.
Despite remaining a hotly debated topic amongst in the political spectrum the American public as a whole appears to be viewing climate change as a more serious threat than in previous years. Multiple polls taken across 2014 have shown a larger percentage of Americans are concerned about the effects that global warming could have on the environment with nearly half of Americans holding the belief that global warming is causing a significant impact now, while about 60 percent would like to see environmental protection become a top priority. With numbers like that it's easy to see why so many businesses and private citizens are viewing solar energy as the next potentially hugely lucrative investment.
See original post at: http://www.energyblogs.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NYC mayor wants feds to support Sept. 11 museum
The federal government should help support the World Trade Center's Sept. 11 museum, which is set to open this spring after years of delays but could be facing budget shortfalls, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday.
Officials at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum plan to appeal to de Blasio to help subsidize its $60 million annual budget. The memorial foundation previously was rebuffed by Congress and by de Blasio's predecessor, Michael Bloomberg.


text:
from www.crystalinks.com
Functions of Sanat Kumara
Let us identify
the major functions of Sanat
Kumara that we may
1. Sanat Kumara
is the Lord of Shambhalla.
It is said that
Sanat Kumara dwells "in Jana
Loka, his own sphere
or spiritual state" along with the other 7 and 105
Kumaras. The Jana Loka is the fifth Divine Loka,
which is located, it is
said, "beyond the Solar
In this sense,
Shambhalla is composed of
Kumaras, just as the
Hierarchy is composed of Egos or the Spiritual
Triads, and Humanity is composed of humans or
personalities. These three
Kingdoms form the Head,
Heart, and Throat centers of the planetary Life:
Spirit —
Shambhalla — Head Center
Consciousness — Spiritual Hierarchy — Heart
Form —
Humanity — Throat Center
To say that
Shambhalla is composed of Kumaras
is another way
of saying that Shambhalla is composed of groups of
Therefore the world or environment of the
Monad is Shambhalla, just as the
threefold world
of the Triad is the Hierarchy, and the three
worlds (the
mental, astral, and physical planes)
the realm of the personality.
It is intended,
at the end of this cycle, to
have each of the
three lowest sub planes of the physical plane–the
fire, water, and earth sub planes–to be fully
responsive to the
energies of Shambhalla, the
Spiritual Hierarchy, and Humanity respectively.
that time, the three centers will have merged into
their higher
coordinating center–the planetary
ajna–and physical plane experience will
transcended in this Scheme. This transcendence
will not be due to
pralaya, but rather by the
achievement of a relative perfection.
This is the
higher correspondence to the
achievement of
initiation by the human being. The human being
achieves an exit of the physical plane by
way of death. Initiation is, in
one sense, a
different exit which does not lead to further
For example, a first degree initiate
will not have his or her physical
reincarnate–it has been transcended. Of course,
consciousness will still need a physical
vehicle for each incarnation until
the fourth
initiation is taken, but the physical elemental
life has
reached a peculiar point in evolution.
This relative
perfection at the end of this
cycle will be
achieved through the process of individualization,
initiation, and identification. Sanat Kumara has
led Humanity to
individualization ages ago in "Lemurian"
days. Sanat Kumara today leads
Humanity on the
path of Initiation in this era, and will one day
be the
focal point of the process of
Identification. Therefore:
2. Sanat Kumara
is the One Initiator.
Sanat Kumara is
thus the First Hierophant, the
Maha-Guru or
Greatest Guru, and the head of all evolution in
this Fourth
Globe of the Earth Scheme. He acts as
the Hierophant at the third, fourth,
and fifth
initiations, wielding the rod of initiation to
bring about
dramatic changes within the
consciousness of the initiate and sealing
achievements. The previous two initiations, the
first and the
second, are presided over by the
The Monads have
sacrificed themselves, and
taken upon themselves
the substance of the five lower planes, and
evolved through countless ages through the
mineral, plant, animal, and
human kingdoms in
order to "gain experience" and "achieve contact."
Without this sacrifice, neither Humanity or the
Hierarchy would exist.
Our Monad is a
"Voluntary Exile" from the
realms of Shambhalla.
We have chosen to take incarnation and gain
experience, and learn in this manner, in order to
further the
development of our Monadic essence (if
such a phrase has any meaning) and to
further the
planetary and solar evolution as well. Our Monads
driven forth to creation by the Sound of the
solar AUM, and that Word still
is sounding forth,
driving each tiny life in every planetary Scheme
onwards in cyclic growth.
We have
sacrificed ourselves in part for the
sake of the
evolution of the elementals of the vehicles. When
we gain
control and mastery over our vehicles,
these devas also attain a relative
When the vehicles are fully purified and refined,
and the
individual is liberated from their
limitations, the devas of the
astral, and concrete mind–also reach the goal of
their lesser cycle of activity.
Just as we refine
our threefold vehicle and
lift their elemental
lives, so does Sanat Kumara refine the sevenfold
cosmic physical plane. Just as we have sacrificed
ourselves for the sake
of the evolution of our
vehicles, so has Sanat Kumara taken incarnation,
and will not attain His own particular goal in
evolution until a
relative perfection has been
achieved for the entire planet. This is a
tremendous sacrifice on the part of Sanat Kumara,
on an unprecedented
scale; consequently:
3. Sanat Kumara
is the Great Sacrifice.
Thus just as the
Ego holds the personality
vehicles in incarnation
by the force of its Will, so does Sanat Kumara
hold the planet, and the subjective vehicles of
the planet, together
into one functioning unit.
We might get the
idea from this that Sanat
Kumara is to the Earth
Scheme what the Ego is to the personality; and in
one sense, that is correct. But in truth, the
matter is far more
difficult and the analogy is
not exact. Consider that Sanat Kumara is but
tiny unit within the etheric head center of the
planetary Life. From
this angle, Sanat Kumara is
hardly of any significance to the entire scheme.
There is, then, something that makes Sanat Kumara
unique from all other
Kumaras. We come to what is
perhaps the most important definition of Sanat
4. Sanat Kumara
is the focal point through
which the planetary
Life of the Earth Scheme comes into contact with
This is a deep
mystery, and there have been
many attempts to find
analogies to explain this unique relationship
between the planetary Life and Sanat Kumara. It
has been said, for
example, that Sanat Kumara is
the personality of the planetary Life, or the
of the planetary Life, or the incarnation of the
planetary Life each
of these is partly true, but
do not explain the truth in full. As the
puts it,
�Sanat Kumara is
the planetary Logos yet He is
not. A reflection of
this method of direct incarnation can be seen when
a disciple steps out of his body and permits his
Guru, or a more
advanced chela, to use it. (Alice
Bailey, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire,
pp. 753)
In such cases,
the disciple has willingly and
allowed the Guru, Initiate or Master to use his
vehicles for a set time and in a set
place in order to perform a service
project. In
the case of the planetary Life, this service
project is in
part what we call Initiation.
So Sanat Kumara
and the planetary Life are both
distinct entities;
one is not an aspect of the other. Yet at the same
time they are very closely related. (Note: It
should be noted that
sometimes statements
concerning Sanat Kumara are relevant to Sanat
Kumara being the planetary Life or Logos, and
other statements about
Sanat Kumara are relevant
only insofar as Sanat Kumara is a Kumara.) It
should be understood, then, that Sanat Kumara (as
a kumara) is a much
lesser Being than the
planetary Life. Sanat Kumara is but the physical
form expression of Monadic Life or Spirit.
Sanat Kumara is
thus the means by which the
planetary Life comes
into dense physical plane expression. Sanat Kumara
is the manifestation of the appropriation of a
dense physical body of
the planetary Life. This
first occurs at the time of human
individualization, and necessitates 1) the
development of the three
worlds to a particular
rate of vibration and 2) the vitalization of the
heart center of the Heavenly Man, the Spiritual
The planetary
Life uses Sanat Kumara just as
the soul uses a
temporary personality "when that personality is at
advanced stage of initiate consciousness."
(Alice Bailey, The Rays and
the Initiations,
pp. 206) This is a parallel, not an analogy.
5. Sanat Kumara
is the planetary Logos of our
scheme in physical
This is now to be
understood with the
qualifications given above.
Sanat Kumara is not the planetary Life itself,
is the means by which that Life incarnates. By
means of Sanat
Kumara, the planetary Life can
reach and intelligently contact the
units within the Scheme. This makes it possible
Initiates and above to contact and speak to
the planetary Life by means of
Sanat Kumara. Sanat
Kumara is the individualized mind of the planetary
Thus as an
analogy or comparison rather than as
a fact, it is
said that Sanat Kumara is the personality aspect
of the
Lord of the World, the planetary Life. The
planetary Life is, on His own
plane, to Sanat
Kumara what the soul is to the personality.
We have seen that
Sanat Kumara is a
manifestation or avatar of the
intelligence of the Planetary Logos, the
Life in incarnation. In turn, Sanat Kumara sends
intelligence outwards and downwards into form,
resulting in the appearance
of Divine Beings who
are avatars of Sanat Kumara. As H. P. Blavatsky
said, "A certain Ray (principle) from Sanat Kumara
(animated) Pradyumna, the son of
Krishna during the great Mahabharata
Thus on occasion Sanat Kumara appears as an avatar
humanity, bringing certain new energies and
principles into manifestation,
primarily the
principle of our planetary Life.
6. Sanat Kumara
is the embodiment of a
principle of the planetary
Life of the Earth Scheme.
The Earth Scheme
is one of the four schemes
that compose the
quaternary or lower fourfold aspect of the solar
Just as each of our four vehicles–the
physical, etheric, astral, and
concrete mental
vehicles–has its own characteristics and
principles, so
does each of these schemes,
including the Earth Scheme, have its own
principle. This principle of the planetary Life
manifests through Sanat
Kumara. The other Kumaras
transmit energies from the other schemes, not only
of the solar quaternary, but also the seven and
the ten solar schemes.
The Kumaras,
then, are the means by which the
planetary Life
comes into contact with the seven rays and other
extra-planetary energies. They are a mechanism of
contact, just as the
personality is a mechanism of
contact for the soul, or an etheric center is
mechanism of contact for the inner Observer. This
is a part of the
function of the planetary head
center, Shambhalla. Thus taken as a whole,
Kumaras are the head center of the planetary Life.
The seven Kumaras
that are each related to a
principle have a
special relationship within the planetary head
They are the equivalent of the seven head
centers in the head. Thus:
7. Sanat Kumara
is one of the seven head
centers within Shambhalla,
the head center of the planetary Life.
Sanat Kumara and
the other Kumaras are "focal
points for the energy
of the planetary Logos on His own plane." (Alice
Bailey, A Treatise on Cosmic Fire, pp. 728)
They are thus
each related to:
a. A planetary
principle or vehicle, and thus
to the seven Sacred
b. One of the
seven Rays, emanating from the
constellation of
the Great Bear. The force and energy of one of the
principles of the planetary Life–from the
constellation of the Great
Bear–pours from the
planetary Life to what corresponds to the monad of
the Kumara. From there it reaches the
consciousness of the Kumara, and
is transmitted to
the Earth Scheme.
c. One of the
seven major planetary centers or
(humanity, the animal kingdom, etc.). Sanat Kumara
is closely
related to the center we call Humanity,
producing definite effects within
that center.
Sanat Kumara is in one sense the energy of
identity within humanity, and the other
three Kumaras are closely related to
the three
lower kingdoms, producing their motion and grades
d. One of the
seven schemes. The three Buddhas
of Activity, or
the three exoteric Kumaras Who work with the Lord
of the
World, relate our scheme to the other three
schemes of the Solar quaternary.
The other three,
hidden or esoteric Kumaras relate this scheme to
higher three schemes (among the seven). They
represent energies that are not
yet manifesting
within this planet, but the energies of the fourth
Kumara will soon begin to make their impact.
e. One of the
seven Ashrams.
Sanat Kumara is
thus one of these head centers
within the
planetary Life. Each of the seven Kumaras is one
of the head
centers in the planetary Life of Earth
in the same way that the seven Stars
of the Great
Bear are the seven head centers of the One About
Naught May Be Said.
7 Head Centers —
7 Kumaras — 7 Stars of Great
7 Etheric Centers — 7 Ashrams — 7 Solar Systems


text:
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.
In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In November 2008, Swift released her second album, Fearless, and the recording earned Swift four Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, at the 52nd Grammy Awards. Fearless and Taylor Swift finished 2008 at number-three and number-six respectively, with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million. Fearless topped the Billboard 200 for 11 non-consecutive weeks. Swift was named Artist of the Year by Billboard Magazine in 2009. Swift released her third album Speak Now on October 25, 2010, which sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week.
In 2008, her albums sold a combined four million copies, making her the best-selling musician of the year in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Forbes ranked Swift 2009's 69th-most powerful celebrity with earnings of $18 million, 2010's 12th-most powerful celebrity with earnings of $45 million and 2011's 7th-most powerful celebrity with earnings of $45 million, too. Swift was ranked the 38th Best Artist of the 2000s by Billboard. In January 2010 Nielsen SoundScan listed Swift as the most successful digital artist in music history with over 34.3 million digital tracks sold. On June 2011, renowned site The Boot named Swift and Carrie Underwood The Country Royalty, as they were the only female country artists to be ranked on Rolling Stone's Queens of Pop list. As of March 2011, she has sold over 20 million albums and 34.3 million singles worldwide. She has been listed in the 2012 Guinness Book Of World Records as the Fastest Selling Digital Album by a Female Artist for her album Speak Now, and Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 Hits by a Female Artist. In 2011, Billboard named her woman of the year (Wikipedia).
Taylor Swift – ASK:REPLY
Taylor Swift – Mine
Taylor Swift – Fearless
Taylor Swift – Fifteen
Taylor Swift – Tim McGraw
Taylor Swift – Our Song
Taylor Swift – Teardrops On My Guitar
Taylor Swift – Change
Taylor Swift – The Best Day
Taylor Swift – Ours
Taylor Swift – Sparks Fly
Taylor Swift – The Story Of Us
Taylor Swift – Mean
Taylor Swift – Back To December
Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me (Live on Letterman)
Taylor Swift – Love Story (Live on Letterman)
Taylor Swift – Mine (Live on Letterman)
Taylor Swift – Back To December (Live on Letterman)
Taylor Swift – Speak Now (Live on Letterman)


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Beautifully crafted with a touch of elegance that cannot be compared with any other is only the beginning in experiencing all that TOTO toilets have to offer. Designed with features that aim to make any bathroom visit more enjoyable, TOTO toilets remain superior when compared to other manufacturer's models and styles. Indeed, for over 100 years, TOTO continues to reign as a world leader in the bathroom fixtures industry.
TOTO has a wide range of toilets to select from, offering various styles and models that will fit any individual need or taste. Priced well in accordance with the quality, the installation of any TOTO toilet will give any bathroom a WOW factor. From one-piece to the two-piece and tankless toilets and beyond, any TOTO product is guaranteed to satisfy anyone in search of a high-quality toilet.
If you're looking for a toilet for your home, getting a TOTO toilet will be your best investment. We came up with the 7 best TOTO toilets reviews for 2020 to help you look at the variety of choices available in the market today. No matter which model you end up buying, you'll be sure to end up with a winner, as TOTO rarely disappoints.
Best TOTO Toilets in 2020: Top 7 Picks & Quick Comparison
|Product Name
|Latest Price
|TOTO CST454CEFG#11 Drake II 2-Piece Toilet
|28.8 x 16.5 x 29.4 Inches
|Check Price
|TOTO Drake Elongated Bowl and Tank
|28 x 19.5 x 30.5 Inches
|Check Price
|Toto CST474CEFGNo.01 Vespin II Toilet
|28.5 x 16.5 x 30 Inches
|Check Price
|Toto MS614114CEFG#12 One-Piece Toilet
|39.2 x 27.2 x 36.5 Inches
|Check Price
|TOTO MS614114CUFG#01 1.0-GPF Carlyle II
|28.2 x 16.5 x 28.8 Inches
|Check Price
|TOTO CST416M#11 Aquia II 2-Piece Toilet
|27.5 x 15.2 x 30.2 Inches
|Check Price
|TOTO CST423EF#01 Promenade E-Max Toilet
|27 x 20 x 35 inches
|Check Price
1. TOTO CST454CEFG#11 Drake II 2-Piece Toilet
In cooperation with Drake, another well-respected and well-known manufacturer of superior toilets, this two-piece toilet offers the latest features that ensure every visit to the bathroom is a comfortable one, including a universal height and an elongated bowl. With a toilet seat, it will be ADA (American with Disabilities Act)-compliant.
It uses Double Cyclone Technology, too, that produces a powerful flush, creating a centrifugal washing action that helps in rinsing the bowl quickly and efficiently. Combined with a 3-inch flush valve and 2-1/8 trapway that reduces clogging, waste is immediately removed with just one flush.
This two-piece toilet is a water saver, too, using only 1.28 gallons of water per flush (GPF), which is below the industry standard of 1.6 GPF. With this model, there's no need to worry about your water bills. Click here to read the in-depth review of Drake II.
- It has a contemporary, high-profile design.
- It uses Double Cyclone Technology with a wide 3-inch valve.
- It saves 20 percent water over similar competing models.
- It has a larger water surface.
- It has a powerful, quiet flush.
- It appears to clog more easily than other TOTO toilets.
- The tank leaks at flush valve.
- There is no glazing under the lip.
- The toilet seat and lid are not part of the package.
There are other selections of colors beyond the standard Colonial White: Bone, Cotton White, and Sedona Beige. It is priced reasonably on Amazon and is backed by a longer than average 5-year warranty.
See also: Toto Drake Vs Drake 2
Summary: This toilet is the perfect toilet for a new installation or as a replacement for an outdated unit. Priced to fit all budget restrictions, this toilet offers quality and comfort that is expected to last for years.
For more information on the TOTO CST454CEFG#11 Drake II 2-Piece Toilet, please click on the following link.
2. TOTO Drake Elongated Bowl and Tank, Cotton White
The high-profile contemporary design of this two-piece toilet is a perfect fit for any residential or light commercial installation. Combining the power of TOTO's G-Max flushing system that gives a quiet and powerful flush with low water consumption of only 1.6 GPF, this toilet qualifies as a water saver.
It is easy to install and maintain in either residential or commercial applications, and its wide 3-inch flush valve and fully-glazed trapway reduce the risks of clogging. Priced well below competitor's models, this two-piece toilet is perfect for any bathroom.
- It has a contemporary design that would look great in any bathroom.
- It is easy to clean.
- It is durable as it is made of vitreous china.
- It is WaterSense certified.
- It is ADA compliant.
- The seat and lid have to be purchased separately.
- The tank lid does not have a lip that goes over the top of the tank.
- The seat is too low.
- There is a troublesome bowl design that makes the bowl look dirty.
The TOTO Drake Elongated Bowl and Tank has common feedback from consumers pointing out this toilet's superior performance.
Designed to accommodate any bathroom install from new to renovation replacement, this below-average priced toilet is also available in other colors, including Bone, Colonial White, Sedona Beige, and Ebony for that one-of-a-kind personal look.
Shipped complete with everything needed for installation, including TOTO's one-year limited warranty, it is clear why this toilet continues to be one of the best-selling toilets in TOTO's large and growing line of superior toilets.
Summary: Looking for a toilet that will not break the bank? This two-piece toilet from the world's largest manufacturer of toilets is the one for you. With its current low prices, replacing all the toilets in your bathrooms has never been more affordable.
Check out the following link for more information on one of the best TOTO/Drake toilets on the market today.
3. Toto CST474CEFGNo.01 Vespin II Two-Piece High-Efficiency Toilet
The skirted design of this TOTO toilet ensures it gives a touch of elegance and beauty to any bathroom. Its Double Cyclone flushing system, coupled with low water consumption of only 1.28 GPF, makes it an excellent water saver.
This two-piece toilet's universal height and elongated bowl ensure a comfortable visit to the bathroom at any time. The SanaGloss ceramic glaze doesn't only look great. It also prevents mold and mildew from sticking to the surface, making cleaning an easy task.
- Its concealed trapway gives a smoother, cleaner overall appearance.
- Its SanaGloss ceramic glaze makes it easy to clean.
- Its elongated bowl and universal height make it a more comfortable toilet.
- It has a Double Cyclone flushing system for superior, powerful commercial grade flushing performance.
- It only uses 1.28 GPF, making it a water saver.
- It has a 1-year limited warranty.
- It is a bit hard to install and requires more than one person.
- It requires drilling of additional holes in the floor for installation.
- Water splashes out when flushing.
- The toilet seat needs to be purchased separately.
TOTO is not only a name you can trust but also a name that sets the industry's highest standards for superior products.
Summary: This toilet seems to be priced a little higher than other similar models; however, given its design and functionalities, the extra cost is worth it.
Click on the following link for more information on this well-engineered toilet.
4. Toto MS614114CEFG#12 Carlyle-2 One-Piece High-Efficiency Toilet
This one-piece toilet with a skirted design will transform an old and boring bathroom into a classy and elegant one. Aside from Sedona Beige, it also comes in three other colors: Bone, Colonial White, and Cotton, making it a good fit for any bathroom.
It is more than just beauty, too. It has the Double Cyclone flushing action that makes sure all waste is quickly and efficiently removed with one flush. It is an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) WaterSense certified toilet since it consumes only 1.28 GPF, 20 percent less than the standard. The ceramic glaze gives it a clean look, as the glazing prevents molds and other debris from sticking to the surface. It's easy to clean and stays cleaner longer.
The Toto MS614114CEFG#12 Carlyle-2 SanaGloss has a universal height and an elongated front bowl, making it a comfortable toilet to use. Its SoftClose seat ensures that you won't have to worry about the seat slamming down after using it. It is also backed by a one-year guarantee from all manufacturer's defects.
- It is WaterSense certified, using only 1.28 gallons of water per flush.
- Its elongated bowl includes a SoftClose seat.
- The CeFiONtect glazing of the bowl keeps it cleaner longer.
- The Double Cyclone Flushing System has two powerful nozzles that clean aside from giving a powerful flush.
- It is a bit pricey.
- The toilet lid is poorly made and rattles.
- The seat is not up to TOTO standards.
- It is hard to find replacement parts if and when it is needed.
There remains no clear determination why this toilet has received a somewhat lower than average rating. With strong support from consumers that have recently purchased this toilet, one can assume that the low number of consumer reviews have prompted this less than a standard rating.
Summary: This toilet is a bit pricier than other TOTO models. If you can look past the price and focus on the quality of this toilet, you will appreciate how good this toilet can be in your bathroom.
For more information on this sleek-looking toilet, check out the following link.
5. TOTO MS614114CUFG#01 1.0-GPF Carlyle II 1G High-Efficiency Toilet
The new Carlyle line of toilets from TOTO uses gravity-based Double Cyclone technology that offers highly-efficient flushing every time. It only uses a super-low 1 gallon of water per flush, making it deserving of the EPA's National Environmental Achievement Track, the gold standard for facility-based environmental performance. It is EPA WaterSense Certified.
This one-piece toilet has no gaps between the tank and the bowl, making cleaning much easier with no threats of leaks. It helps that it has a SanaGloss ceramic glaze, too, that prevents dirt, molds, and mildew from sticking to the surface. You won't need to clean this toilet often; just a brief time with a wet cloth and it would look as good as new.
- It has a beautiful and sleek one-piece design.
- It meets and exceeds all water efficiency and performance standards.
- It is WaterSense certified, using only 1 GPF.
- Its universal height and elongated bowl make it comfortable for most users.
- The cyclonic rinsing action of its flush keeps the bowl cleaner.
So far, no negative feedbacks were reported from consumers.
The TOTO MS614114CUFG#01 1.0-GPF Carlyle II 1G High-Efficiency Toilet is meant to dramatically change the appearance of any bathroom with its contemporary look and skirted design.
Summary: This one-piece toilet from TOTO's Carlyle line is of high quality throughout. From its elegant-looking design to its highly-efficient flushing system and very low water consumption, this toilet seems to be way ahead of the competition.
Look for more information on this elegant one-piece toilet at the following link.
6. TOTO CST416M#11 Aquia II 2-Piece Toilet
The Aquia II two-piece toilet is the essence of modern form and function. A skirted design conceals the trapway, enhancing the elegant look of this toilet and making it easier to clean with no plumbing lines to contend with.
Its dual flushing feature allows maximum performance with minimal water usage, using only 1.6 GPF for the full flush and 0.9 GPF for the partial flush. This Dual-Max flush technology allows proactive conservation of water, saving 1.13 gallons per day. This is a great example of TOTO's industry leadership – balancing design with advanced flushing mechanisms.
- It is a dual flush toilet that allows for more water savings.
- The elongated front bowl makes it comfortable for users.
- Its vitreous china construction makes the toilet durable.
- Its larger 2-1/8-inch trapway prevents clogging.
- It is easy to clean.
- The flush valve starts to leak after one year of use.
- The toilet seat and lid must be purchased separately.
- The toilet leaks from the tank.
Despite some reported issues often associated with incorrect installation, ranking on Amazon of this two-piece toilet remains steady. Priced accordingly and well within range for a toilet of this quality, the TOTO CST416M#11 Aquia II 2-Piece toilet would be a welcome addition to any bathroom.
Shipped with tank and bowl only, other items required for installation include wax ring, toilet mounting bolts, water supply lines, and toilet seat.
Summary: Although this toilet is one of the best two-piece toilets on the market, it remains a little disconcerting that the mounting hardware, i.e., toilet mounting bolts, need to be purchased separately. Given the price of this toilet, it would have been nice to include items that are already an essential part of the toilet installation.
Look for more information on one of the best two-piece toilets on the market at the following link.
7. TOTO CST423EF#01 Promenade E-Max Round Bowl and Tank
When it comes to toilets, it is no longer enough for the toilet to work well, it has to look good, too. The combination of design and efficiency is what makes TOTO toilets excel, and this high quality can be seen as well in its Promenade toilet.
The TOTO CST423SF#01 Promenade toilet is TOTO's latest product. Beautifully designed with the highest quality parts that will last much longer than expected, the two-piece toilet has a G-Max flushing system for a powerful yet quiet flush. With gravity as a primary flushing mechanism, flushing this toilet requires only one flush to eradicate all waste with no residuals.
The toilet's round bowl configuration makes it great for smaller bathrooms with limited space or half-baths. Its universal height means it is comfortable for most people to use. Like most TOTO toilets, the Promenade is also a water saver, using only 1.28 gallons of water per flush.
- It uses less water at only 1.28 GPF, lower than the standard 1.6 GPF.
- It has a large siphon jet that produces an efficient flush every time it's used.
- It has a pilot-operated fill valve.
- It uses dual flushing technology.
- The toilet seat is not included in the package.
- A self-closing seat comes with an upgrade, but it seems cheap quality.
- Some parts arrived damaged.
This two-piece toilet continues to be a favorite of residential building contractors and residential remodelers based on overall durability.
Summary: This toilet is a perfect fit for those looking for a medium-priced toilet with all the features of a more expensive model. It is great for the remodeling of an existing bathroom or the addition of a new bathroom, as this toilet will continue to provide trouble-free operation year after year.
For more information on this Promenade round bowl toilet from TOTO, please click the following link.
History of TOTO Toilets
TOTO is the world's largest toilet manufacturer. Founded in 1917 and based in Kitakyushu, Japan, it is currently recognized for the introduction of the Washlet, which revolutionized the toilet industry. TOTO's distribution of their complete premier line of bathroom fixtures now expands into nine countries, including the USA.
Since its initial conception, TOTO continues to be inspired by a strong desire to improve the homeowner's quality of life. In it's over a century of rich innovations, it continues to change the perception of what a bathroom can be and how it can and should be used.
TOTO toilets are used by premier hotel chains across the world, and it continues to be selected based on rugged durability and dependability that cannot be compared to any other similar models or styles on the market today. Beautifully designed and engineered to fit any installation requirement, TOTO toilets bring about a dramatic change to the common, traditional-looking toilets of most households.
TOTO toilets, with available models from one-piece to two-piece to tankless, will fit any particular installation and budget. With new designs and technology in toilets that they keep on innovating, it is expected that TOTO will continue to bring forth dramatic changes in the toilet industry.
TOTO Toilet Buying Guides
Installing a new TOTO toilet in your new home or replacing an old, outdated toilet after years of reliable use may appear to be an easy task. After all, there are hundreds of great choices out there in the market.
However, given the breadth and range of choices you have, from one-piece to two-piece to tankless, choosing a new toilet now does require some consideration.
Since you have decided on a TOTO toilet, we would like to provide you with additional information that is often overlooked when looking for a new toilet. This TOTO toilet buying guide will hopefully help you avoid the mistakes made by homeowners in selecting a toilet for their home.
Measuring a Toilet Rough-in
The toilet rough-in is the distance from the "finished wall" to the center of the bolts that hold your toilet to the floor. Common rough-in measurements for the majority of new, modern toilets are 12 inches.
It should also be noted that current Residential Building Codes require a minimum distance of 15 inches from side-to-side of your newly installed toilet with a mandatory 50 inches of frontal clearance.
Round vs. Elongated Bowls
Round toilet bowls have been around since toilets were first invented. With the introduction of the new elongated toilet bowl, consumers have become confused as to which toilet bowl is better. The following are some of the requirements for the installation of both the round and elongated toilet bowls.
Round Bowl
- It typically measures 25 -28 inches from the wall and is a good toilet for a small ½ bath.
- It is cheaper, overall.
- It is more comfortable for smaller individuals.
- It's a good toilet for potty training children.
Elongated Bowl
- It is designed for taller adults.
- It has more flushing power.
- It is pricier initially.
- It requires more installation space in the bathroom.
Your final decision on which toilet bests suits your individual needs or requirements is one that you will have to live with for many years. Taking into consideration changes that lie ahead in the future may also help you arrive at a more informed decision.
Comfort Height vs. Standard Height
The height is one of the most important things to consider when buying a new toilet. The average person spends 1 hour and 42 minutes a week sitting on the toilet. That is roughly 92 days a year. Sitting on a toilet that is uncomfortable or not at the right height will expand this time into infinity.
The standard mounting heights for toilets is 15 inches from the ground, including the seat. It is best suited for shorter individuals that are at or below the average height.
Comfort toilet bowls are installed 16-19 inches from the floor, plus the seat. It is installed 2 inches higher than the standard height toilet, and this difference makes a dramatic change in the comfort levels for the elderly and those afflicted with arthritis and other physical disabilities.
One-Piece vs. Two-Piece
The question of which is better – a one-piece toilet or a two-piece one – is a controversy that has been going on for years.
For aesthetic purposes, the one-piece toilet is the preferred choice for bathrooms with limited space. One-piece toilets are easier to clean. They are more hygienic and great looking. However, they cost considerably more than the traditional two-piece toilet, too.
Eighty-percent of toilets sold today is of the two-piece configuration. Installation of this toilet is easier without the assistance of a professional plumber. It is cheaper than a one-piece toilet.
Flushing Types
There are two types of flushing systems for toilets: the flapper and the siphon flushing mechanisms. Most toilets today have the standard 2-inch flapper flush valve. Increasing the flapper size valve to 3-4-inches increases the flushing power and potential.
With the recent introduction of pressure-assisted flushing toilets, flushing potential is increased dramatically. However, it is not commonly used in residential applications yet due to the increased cost and noise factor when flushing.
TOTO toilets are the product of over a century's innovation in the bathroom fixtures industry. Using precision engineering and forward-thinking, TOTO continues to produce toilets that are ahead of the competition, both in design and functionality.
With models and styles that are both simple but elegant, TOTO toilets cannot be compared to any other similar looking toilets available anywhere. As a market leader, TOTO will continue to set new records, climbing to new heights in the production of toilets and other bathroom fixtures.
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I received this book for free from instafreebie in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Irresistible SEAL Book 1: A Navy SEAL Romance by Amanda Heartley
Published by Heartley Publishing on April 3, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Military, novella
Pages: 87
Format: kindle e-book
Source: instafreebie
Buy on Amazon
After an unhappy childhood, Luke Carter joined the US Navy and has dedicated the last twelve years of his life to the SEALs. But the relentless overseas tours have taken their toll on his mind and body and now he dreams of what life might be like outside the military. Love, romance, his own space—maybe even a family he can call his own.
Juliet Morgan works in the fast-paced world of finance. Beautiful, headstrong and smart, she chooses her career over love and puts all of her energy into her new job—a job she was 'persuaded' to take far away from her beloved Manhattan by her rich, overbearing father. She's not looking for romance, but feels lonely and lost in her new environment so she turns to online retail therapy to lift her spirits and accidentally stumbles across a dating site where she's awestruck by Luke Carter.
The sparks flicker to a roaring flame with each sizzling message between them—then the battlefield nearly claims Luke's life and he's rushed home to the States. Although he's only an hour away from Juliet, in his mind everything's changed and his pride gets in the way of the love, passion, and happiness they both so desperately crave.
Can Juliet break down the walls of this irresistible SEAL, or are they both destined to a life of loneliness?
I'll settle for Mrs. Right Now,"I said, before quickly amending myself. "Or, in my case, Mrs. Right When I Get Back Home!"
This book was one of the many freebies I decided to download because of the mouth-watering cover. Yes, I know! I like alpha males, and I'm a "cover slut".
Freebie aside, I found the plot creative and very intriguing. I've ended the book wanting more, and I have just bought the entire book collection so I can finish the story.
Luke is a navy seal away from home, that feels lonely and would like to have someone waiting for him stateside. Juliet is just bored with her like when she stumbled on to a military dating site. They become pen pals and their relationship is quite interesting if not somewhat fast.
The book is a novella, and we don't have enough time to learn all that much about the characters, but what has been presented on this first book, is enough to have me liking them both up until now.
I wish the author had created a more believable time frame into their growing feelings for each other and their relationships, but this is fiction and that's how it usually happens on novellas.
I find the writing of this book fresh and somewhat creative and It has piqued my interest enough to have me keep going.
I have a few warnings though to make:
- It is one of those series with huge cliffhangers
- When I decided to buy the rest of the books, I found out that I must buy the bundle, because there was no book three separated from the box collection. Which makes no sense to anyone buy book one and book two if they will need eventually to buy the entire collection.
You may read this book because you are intrigued by a pen pal romance; you should read this book if you like military men; you must read this book if you are ready for something out of the ordinary type of read!
|Rating Report


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Its been awhile since I posted but I think I am back in the swing of things….
I have for you today a baby card for my Niece and her Hubby who are due here in Sept. They have chosen yellow, black and silver to decorate their baby room so I did the card to match.
The main image if printed and colored onto 'cryogen white' which is my main go to coloring paper. It is Layered onto 'silver glossy' and the base cardstock is 'lemon drop' all from Paper Temptress!!!
I also used some patterned paper and some corners made from black clay and a mold.
(and just in case you are wondering my thumb isn't bruised – just some ink stains from another project 🙂
All for today – Take Care


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Thursday, September 26, 2013
1958 -1959 Gibson Les Paul Burst Conversion
via this auction
"If you are looking for old wood check this conversion out. 1958 Les Paul Jr converted to 1959 Burst. Includes: Hide glue construction, Aniline dyes, nitrocellulose lacquer, long neck tenon, Michigan flame maple top, Callaham ABR1 bridge with 1-1/2" brass studs, 1" Retrospec bushings, 1-1/2" screws, Featherweight tail piece, VooDoo rings, Thro Bak pickups, MoJo Axe pickguard, Retrospec pots & bumble bee caps, Brazilian fingerboard, correct nitrate Inlays, 6100 frets, Bone nut, Grover tuners, Holly veneer, vintage MOP Gibson logo correct font LP Model silk screen. Beautiful tobacco burst finish, nice chunky neck profile, HS case included. I would rate the guitar at about an 8.5 as I have been gigging it and it has some honest wear..."
Posted by vintageguitarz at 9/26/2013 07:21:00 PM
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Printed custom canvas zipper bag
|Payment Type:
|L/C,T/T,D/P,Paypal,Money Gram,Western Union
|Terms of Trade:
|Min. Order:
|500 Bag/Bags
|Delivery Time:
|15 Days
|200bags/carton,carton size:40*42*44cm Gross weight:20kg
|Wen Fang Luggage
|Place of Origin:
|He Bei
|Supply Ability:
|5000 / month
|HS Code:
|Tian Jin,Shang Hai,Shen Zhen
Basic Info
Model No.: sympathy-4522
Product Description
product description
Canvas Bag Comfortable handbag bag with a comfortable hand, feel comfortable, with good load-bearing capacity. Hardware slider metal die-casting quality, shiny bright, easy to fade bags can hold cell phones, wallets, books and other items.other products Business Bag, Suitcase Set, Non Woven Shopping Bag, Pencil Pouch, Cotton Bag
Product parameters
Material: Canvas
Size: length 35cm wide 8cm high 40cm
Weight: 0.35kg
Color: Black White
Features: portable shoulders
Cortical hardness: Moderate
Uses: fashion leisure travel
Capacity: can be put into mobile phone umbrella cosmetics keys and other items
Baoding Sympathy Bags Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
1, More than 10 years luggage and bags manufacturing experience.
2, Over 2000 kinds of design of bags and luggages.
3, 100% satisfied with the service.
4,Various materials, wheels, trolley system, colors and logos are available
5, Own R & D department with specialized & experienced team, enriching your travel needs.
6, Own factory with Tech Dept and QC Team ensure our best quality.
7, OEM, ODM welcomed.
8, Other Cooperation idea welcomed.
9, we desire to built and keep a long time cooperate with overseas customer directly, so we always offer our best service.
10, We have an excellent customer service team to make sure your order will be procedured correctly and fluently.
11, Buyer's logo, design, Oem's order and small orders are aslo welcome.
Company Info
- Company Name: Baoding Sympathy Bags Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Representative: Bin Li
- Product/Service: Cotton Bag , Luggage Set , Garment Bag , Backpack Bag , Lady Bag , Leather Bag
- Capital (Million US $): 500000RMB
- Year Established: 2013
- Total Annual Sales Volume (Million US $): US$1 Million - US$2.5 Million
- Export Percentage: 81% - 90%
- Total Annual Purchase Volume (Million US $): US$1 Million - US$2.5 Million
- No. of Production Lines: 2
- No. of R&D Staff: Fewer than 5 People
- No. of QC Staff: Fewer than 5 People
- OEM Services Provided: yes
- Factory Size (Sq.meters): 1,000-3,000 square meters
- Factory Location: West goverment street, Baigou town, Baoding city, Hebei
- Contact Person: Mr. Mr Li
- Tel: 86-312-15830798258
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'My wife's past haunts me...'
I got married two months ago. It was an arranged marriage. Just before our last meeting prior to the wedding, my wife told me that she wanted to come clean on her past
Dear Diana,
I got married two months ago. It was an arranged marriage. Just before our last meeting prior to the wedding, my wife told me that she wanted to come clean on her past. She said she had been in a relationship and that her parents were unaware of it. Some of her close pals and office folk knew about it. As he belonged to a different community, both knew that it would be a tough going for them. They decided to part amicably. She said she wanted to tell me because if I ever came to know about it from someone else, I should not feel cheated. I was okay with her confession, but now after marriage, I have this fear that she is still in contact with him. I feel it was a marriage of convenience for her and that guy will always remain the love of her life. Though she has not showed any signs of meeting her former love nor does she talk about him. She is a good wife. How do I forget her past as it haunts me? Am I overreacting?
— Anil
Illustration/Amit Bandre
Dear Anil,
She told you the truth before the wedding because she wanted to begin on a honest note. If she had not confessed, perhaps you would have remained unaware about her past relationship. You have to tackle it in a mature manner. Consider it as an indication of how she feels towards you. If she has moved on for the sake of her marriage and future happiness, why are you harbouring such thoughts? She has told you something that even her parents don't know. This is out of respect for you. Don't bring her past into the marriage. It is not worth it — start on a fresh page.
Diana will solve it!
Write to Diana at email@example.com, or fax her on 24112009. You can also post letters to Dear Diana, Mid Day, Peninsula Centre, Dr S S Rao Road, opp Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Parel, Mumbai 400012
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OWASP Netherlands Chapter: Chapter Meeting May 19th, 2011
OWASP Netherlands Chapter
Event Details
OWASP Netherlands Chapter Meeting
Date: May 19th, 2011
Location: Wildenborch 3, 1112 XB Diemen
18:30 to 19:00 registration and dinner
19:00 to 19:30 OWASP Global and NL chapter update
19:30 to 20:30 Presentation of Jim Manico (see below)
20:30 to 21:00 Discussion about OWASP NL 2011 plans
The Ghost of XSS Past, Present and Future. A Defensive Tale.
Jim Manico
Jim Manico is a managing partner of Infrared Security with over 15 years of professional web development experience. Jim is also the chair of the OWASP connections committee, one of the project managers of the OWASP ESAPI project, a participant and manager of the OWASP Cheatsheet series, the producer and host of the OWASP Podcast Series, the manager of the OWASP Java HTML Sanitizer project and the manager of the OWASP Java Encoder project. When not OWASP'ing, Jim lives on of island of Kauai with his lovely wife Tracey.
Registration ends May 19th, 2011 at 19:00!
All OWASP chapter meetings are free of charge and you don't have to be an OWASP member to attend. There are never any vendor pitches or sales presentations at OWASP meetings.
NOTE TO CISSP's: OWASP Meetings count towards CPE Credits.
Wildenborch 3
1112 XB Diemen
OWASP Netherlands Chapter
OWASP Foundation is a professional association of global members and is open to anyone interested in learning more about application security. Local chapters are run independently and governed by the Chapter Leader Handbook. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional association.


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Yes, the US Constitution incorporated a dreadful and unjust compromise. Our founders chose to proceed with forming a less imperfect union that would, they hoped, eventually complete the task of making all men free of every form of tyranny. The compromise was in part a recognition that the state could possess only the powers granted it by the people. As it happened, a significant proportion of 'we the people' declined to grant the to-be-formed government the power to prohibit them from using force against some men to coerce them to labor for their "owner's" benefit and submit to being held as chattel. The state was prohibited from preserving and protecting the rights of some men simply because they were different.
Then, roughly seven score and nine years ago, men and women previously deprived of their right to liberty had it redeemed. Abraham Lincoln commanded an army which fought so that other men would cease and desist from taking by force another man's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Men died to preserve "a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
The progressive tax code is an equally unjust compromise. Using the state's power to confiscate X% of one man's income while taking (X+Y)% of another's is as unjust as using the state's power to sanction one man's ownership of 100% of another man's life. Freedom isn't fractional or divisible. How bloody will be the war that restores the freedom of men who are different from the rest because they have more money? A majority vote within each of the thirteen colonies made slavery legal, but not moral or just; nor can a majority vote justify a progressive tax code.
While there is a legitimate argument against any compulsory tax, there are nevertheless rational arguments for an income tax provided it has exactly TWO rates:
– 0% tax on income up to an amount necessary for basic essentials; no man should be required to contributed to the 'general welfare' until he has provided for his own.
– X% tax on income above that amount, up to a maximum level above which the tax rate returns to 0%. (At some point, 'fair share' has a meaning, does it not?) X% shall be determined as the amount necessary to fund ONLY those functions authorized in the Constitution and would vary as necessary to keep the government from overstepping its constitutional boundaries.
Free men will contribute willingly to a government which does nothing more, and nothing less, than it is empowered to do – preserve and protect every man's inalienable rights. That the duties and functions necessary to do that should consume $3.6 trillion per year is a ludicrous proposition based upon a perversion of the law, namely the government's arrogating unto itself the power to take from some for the benefit of others, the government's exempting itself from the law against theft. Once the state assumes the responsibility of protecting a particular man or group over another, the rule of law is an illusion. Then there is only the rule of the gun, and the governing class, along with the people who stay on the correct side, are free; everyone else is different, everyone else is . . . a slave.
Are you free or are you different?


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Two of my favorite humans of the male persuasion (or any persuasion for that matter) have recently impressed me at the healm of my George Foreman grill.
Emily's (daughter #1) boyfriend, Dill, made us all some delicious shrimp a few nights ago. He took the frozen shrimp from the bag (he didn't even thaw them out) and placed them on the grill. As they were cooking, he seasoned some of them with a spicy blend of seasonings and the rest with lemon-pepper.
They cooked amazingly fast and I can't even tell you how delicious they were. I fixed a spinach-artichoke dip and served it with pretzel rods and tortilla chips to go along with the shrimp.
Last night, my husband got creative with the grill. He normally does most of his cooking on the patio, but when the temperature gets below 35, he moves his "buns" inside.
He marinated a few skirt steaks in one of A1's new Heavenly marinades. After he sprayed the grill with a little cooking oil, he cooked the steaks while warming up a few cans of French Onion soup. After the meat was through cooking, he placed them on sourdough bread, topped them with provolone cheese and put them in the Panini Press.
We served the sandwiches with the soup which was perfect for dipping. These were incredibly good. I have to say I made a complete and total pig out of myself.
And I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Each of these recipes would be ideal for game day treats. They're fast, simple, and clean up is a minimum. Best of all? They're delicious.
A Panini Press
and/or one of George Foreman grills would make splendid Christmas gifts. You don't have to be a frequent or accomplished cook to use them. The guys who waxed brilliant on my George Foreman grill this weekend don't cook that often – but GF helped them achieve delicious results. A Panini Press is also ideally suited for everyone on your list. It's about as simple to use as a pencil.
The grill pictured above is the George Foreman GRP99 Next Generation Grill w/Removable Plates N. My own George Foreman grill is a much older model (one of the first huge ones they made) – I have used it for years and it's still going strong. That says a lot about how exceptionally made these grills are. Mine was even dropped in our last move. I thought it was history – but, like George, it can't be knocked out that easily.


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Lunar soil smells like gunpowder. No, really. And it's lethal.
When the Apollo missions first landed on the moon, the astronauts were concerned with the, then unknown, depth of the lunar soil. When they arrived, they found the soil to be a safe & comfortable quarter inch layer of very fine powder. What they didn't expect was the many problems and hazards the dust caused.
What is moon dust anyway?
Moon dust is actually a collection of tiny rock chips and shards from meteor impacts. Since the moon has no atmosphere, meteors slam down at full speed, breaking up anything in their path.
The dust consists of microscopic, sharp edged grains are incredibly abrasive. There's no wind or water to wear down these tiny knife edges. No weathering means perfect preservation of sharp edges.
Moon dust is chemically fairly simple, at least compared to earthly soil. Almost half is silicon dioxide glass created by meteoroids hitting the moon. These impacts create sudden high temperatures, fusing topsoil into glass. The newly formed glass is then flash-frozen by the vacuum of space, with the impact shattering it into microscopic pieces. Moon dust is also rich in iron, calcium and magnesium bound up in minerals such as olivine and pyroxene.
Put more simply, moon dust is mostly a pile of sharp broken glass.
Because of the lack of lunar atmosphere, and the friction created my meteor impacts, the soil also has a strong static charge.
What's it like?
Astronauts reported a number of observations of the moon dust. From a transcript from the first moon walk on Apollo 11:
109:43:16 Aldrin: Beautiful view!
109:43:18 Armstrong: Isn't that something! Magnificent sight out here.
109:43:24 Aldrin: Magnificent desolation. (Long Pause)
109:43:47 Aldrin: Looks like the secondary strut had a little thermal effects on it right here, Neil.
109:43:54 Armstrong: Yes. I noticed that. That seems to be the worst, although similar effects are all around.
109:44:07 Aldrin: (Garbled) very fine powder, isn't it?
109:44:09 Armstrong: Isn't it fine?
109:44:11 Aldrin: Right in this area I don't think there's much of any (garbled) fine powder some (garbled) clods together, and it's hard to tell whether it's a clod or a rock.
109:44:23 Armstrong: Notice how you can kick it out.
109:44:28 Aldrin: Yeah. And it bounces and then (garbled) (Pause) Reaching down is fairly
easy. (Garbled) get my suit dirty at this stage. (Pause)
Once back inside the lunar lander, astronauts would remove their helmets and get to examine the dust stuck on their suits. The dust would stick to everything it touched with a static charge. Space suits quickly became grey & dirty with the dust that just wouldn't come off.
Astronauts then carried the "dirt" back inside the lunar lander, where it would easily smear and smudge over the inside of the lander and the astronauts themselves.
Several astronauts reported that lunar soil smells like burnt gunpowder. They were always specific- not just gunpowder, but burnt gunpowder.
They also reported that it felt soft like snow, yet strangely abrasive. Its texture was much like graphite, only with an abrasive static cling.
When describing the taste (since it did get everywhere), Apollo 16 astronaut John Young commented that it was "not half bad".
Apollo 17's Cernan later said in "Apollo 17 Soil Mechanics Investigation":
"The dust was very difficult to work in and was a big hindrance. It obscured your vision if you let it get on your visor. It was almost like a dew or mist because it clung to everything. It got on every movable surface, it got in the suits, and when we got out of our suits in the spacecraft in between EVAs, it got in the pores of our skin and got under our fingernails. And it didn't just get on the outside parts of our nails and get them dirty but, literally, it got down between the skin and the nail. It took three months for lunar dust to grow out from under my nails. It infiltrates."
"I describe lunar dust as being like very, very fine graphite. But graphite is a lubricating material; this is not. This is just the opposite; it's very abrasive. And it has a smell very few people, if any, have smelled on the Earth. It smells something like spent gunpowder; like you've just fired a shotgun or something and you can smell that powder. The dust made lunar operations half again more difficult than it would have been without the dust. It took time to dust ourselves off, to clean the equipment. I knocked a fender off and quickly found out that you can't operate in a Rover vehicle without a fender because you throw dust all over."
All this dust scattering around was bound to get into the lungs of the astronauts. Apollo 17 astronaut Jack Schmitt came down with a case of lunar hay fever- he was allergic to the dust. Apparently he was the only one, though astronauts are reluctant to report medical issues. (Would you report a runny nose if it meant forgoing a walk on the moon?)
OK, so it's messy. Why is it dangerous?
The fine dust got into every seal, every spacesuit joint, and every moving part on the missions. Many of the astronauts found dust particles had jammed up the shoulder joints of their spacesuits. Moon dust got into the joints and wore down seals, causing the spacesuits to slowly leak air pressure.
Apollo astronauts often went through 2 pairs of gloves, after discovering the lunar dust grinding on glove locking rings, making them unsafe to use in the moon's space-vacuum surface. Dust landing on helmet visors couldn't be easily cleaned. Wiping it off would produce a large swath of scratches, fogging up the view. Imagine cleaning glass with sandpaper- only worse. The same went for cameras and any optical surface. Being million of miles from home in deep cold and vacuum and not being able to see where you're going is not safe. The only solution they had was to use a small camera cleaning brush, which took time and was partially effective at best.
Soil that had been collected in air-tight flasks came back to earth in containers that were no longer air-tight. The soil had ground apart the seal, exposing it to earthly air and humidity. As a result, the "burnt gunpowder" smell wore off, and was not noticeable when the dust was examined on earth.
Long term health effects of lunar soil are not known. Earthly materials of "ultrafine" airborne particles are known to be hazardous, and in some cases cause cancer. (Can you say asbestos?) Some particles may be small enough to pass through the lungs and even the blood/brain barrier, potentially causing brain damage. More research is needed to be done to answer these questions.
Any future missions to the moon will have to have aggressive plans for dealing with this toxic abrasive. The Apollo missions were short enough a duration that the seals to the exit hatch were not greatly affected. Longer missions will need to plan for hatch failures, and related hazards. Apollo's missions of a few days could afford having extra sets of gloves and slow spacesuits leaks. These annoyances would quickly become serious in an extended mission. Once you're out of air, your options get pretty slim.
Related Links:
–Lunar soil poses difficulty for astronauts
–Nanotech Safety


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Metro Police and the Transportation Security Administration's joint exercise on Houston buses this week, during which TSA officials worked with local officers, was not connected to any specific threat, Metro Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said Friday. The operation, dubbed BusSafe was, according to Rodriguez, designed to assist local law enforcement in recognizing suspicious behavior.
As the Chronicle reported two days ago:
Undercover officers are now riding selected Metro buses as part of a pilot program focusing on counterterrorism.
Metro began the program BusSafe on Friday, conducting a "sweep" of certain bus routes, bus stops and shelters. The sweep involved 81 officers from Harris County Metropolitan Authority, Houston Police Department, Transportation Security Administration and Harris County Pct. 7 Constable's Office.
Metro spokeswoman Carolina Mendoza said several arrests were made during the sweep, but details and charges filed were not immediately available.
Civil libertarians are not thrilled at the prospect of federal officers, usually assigned to screen airline passengers, conducting police work on city buses. Houston lawyer, blogger and Libertarian Party candidate for the Court of Criminal Appeals Mark Bennett noticed that Metro's BusSafe press release announced that police would engage in "random bag checks," which could violate the Fourth Amendment. Metro saw Bennett's tweet and retracted the announcement.
Still, the fact that arrests for crimes other than terrorism were made during an anti-terror operation has civil libertarians concerned that arrests may have been made without probable cause.
Chief Rodriguez and Bennett were both on Friday's show. Rodriguez again denied that random bag checks were conducted and personally apologized for the wording of Metro's original statement. Random searches were never part of the plan, Rodriguez said. Bennett was unmoved, arguing that inviting the TSA to expand its authority would make no one safer but would instead inevitably limit freedom.
Listen to the exchange here:


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When you order from a train station, the meeting point is sent on your application over a push notification or SMS as soon as a driver is assigned to your ride. You can also contact your driver when you receive his contact information to agree on a pickup point.
Your driver will wait for you at the meeting point. To get there, please follow the instructions on your app.


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Virtual TimeClock Support Blog
Auto Start Your Mac Time Clock
January 9, 2014
Did you know you can have programs you use often automatically start when you login to your Mac? It's easy to do, and especially convenient for programs you use everyday, like the time clock. If Virtual TimeClock is already in your dock, click (or hold Control and click) on the icon. If the app isn't in use, you'll see a menu with just a couple of items. If the app is in use, the steps are the same, but you'll see a few more menu options. Click Options, and then select Open at Login.
That's all there is to it!


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One of the actors in Crush the Skull is fond of saying that it'll make you pee your pants both from laughter and from fright. This comedy-meets-horror flick explores many of the familiar, stereotypical aspects of horror films in humorous ways, à la the instant Joss Whedon classic The Cabin in the Woods. In Crush the Skull, a group of young and perhaps naive burglars break into – you guessed it– a cabin in the woods, only to discover that it belongs to a calculating serial killer who's filled the home with a variety of tricks and traps.
Crush the Skull is the brainchild of Chris Dinh and Viet Nguyen; the pair wrote the script together, with Dinh taking the lead role and Nguyen directing the film. Dinh says that their goal was to present the audience with familiar tropes and then put a dark twist on those tropes.
"We were trying to execute a real horror movie where you're actually scared but simultaneously create a comedy where you're actually laughing," Nguyen said.
The comedy horror movie is one of the feature films of the 12th Annual Houston Asian American & Pacific Islander Film Festival, which exclusively features works created at least in part by an Asian American or Pacific Islander as well as works whose content relates to the culture or experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Movies that force familiar friends and foes to face off in unexpected ways are on the rise – we're looking at you, Marvel – and Crush the Skull features a similar conflict.
"It ends up becoming serial killer versus burglars," Viet said of the plot, which Dinh described as a game of cat and mouse.
Dinh and Nguyen first collaborated in 2007 after meeting at a 72-hour film festival, where attendees have 72 hours to create a high-quality film that meets a specific set of guidelines. A few years later, Dinh was staying on Nguyen's couch during a rough patch, and that close friendship led to a well-oiled partnership and, ultimately, no small recognition.
"On a whim, we wrote a very low-budget short film very quickly, drove out with a handful of friends and shot it, then entered it in the NBCUniversal Short Cuts Film Festival. We didn't expect to go as far as we did, but we won the festival, which gave us the boost in confidence that we needed to keep writing together and making more stuff," said Dinh.
The name of that short film? Also Crush the Skull.
Nguyen says that using the same name for both films, although they tell different stories, wasn't a fluke.
"What we like to say is that the feature is a spiritual equal to the short. They have very much the same tone, and we steal some little moments from the short, so we felt like we had to call the feature Crush the Skull as well," Nguyen said.
"We might have also just run out of ideas," Dinh added, laughing.
"Growing up, I didn't know anyone in my community who was interested in film. HAAPIFF is very significant because I would've been able to meet so many people just like me at a film festival like this [when I was starting out]," Nguyen said.
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"These kind of events and the people who take time to create this community are allowing others like us and the audience to come together as a big group and celebrate something."
Dinh, who works in L.A., also enjoys the diversity that specialized film festivals bring to the film industry, community and fans.
"It's nice to have a place to go to if you want to see something different, and it's great to have the community get together and celebrate stories that we can all relate to," Dinh said.
To find out whose skull will be crushed, attend the free screening of Crush the Skull at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 at the Asia Society Texas Center, 1370 Southmore. You can find more information at haapiff.org/films/crush-the-skull.


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My BIL is fond of chocolate whipped cream. His wife used to make it by sifting cocoa into the cream as she whipped it, but after I read a book about Austrian baking, I discovered that you can melt chocolate into the cream, chill the cream, then whip it. The cookbook called it 'Parisian Cream'. My SIL would take an angelfood cake, cut off the top, hollow out the cake, fill it with the chocolate whipped cream, then replace the top. This was the first time I had ever seen a filled cake, and I really liked the idea. It is not a modern idea as is evidenced by this old recipe from Grandma G.
Filled Torte
You will need a large sponge cake, made according to your favorite recipe. Slice off the top of the cake about 1/2 inch. Carefully remove the center of the cake, leaving sides and bottom . Fill the cake center with the following minxture:
1/2 envelope granulated gelatine soaked in 1/4 cup cold water (I have no idea how big an envelope of gelatin was in 1925. ). Then add 1/4 cup boiling water and 1 cup sugar. When mixture is cold fold in:
1 pt. of heavy whipped cream (cream that has been whipped)
1/2 dozen ground macaroons
1 dozen Marshmallows, cut in small pieces
2 T. Cherries, Bananas, or any fruit desired
1/4 lb. blanched and chopped almonds
After the center of the cake has been filled, replace top on cake. Frost with Mocha Frosting and decorate with almonds. (Mocha Frosting is frosting that has been flavored with a little coffee).
That sounds good, but it doesn't sound like it needs any frosting at all, just a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
Still trying to get my sewing mojo back, but I am working on it.


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I had breakfast with my father and Frances for Father's Day at the posh restaurant of Hotel Saskatchewan (I imagine the Queen having her meals there), which was kindly sponsored. It was my first time to have a triple A grade steak for breakfast! My father then set off for Montreal.
Frances arranged two TV interviews for me that day: one for Global News Regina, and another one for CTV Regina. TV interviews are always fun. The reporter at CTV Regina was kind enough to show us around their studio, which I thought would be a absolute delight for Frances, being an aspiring journalist. You can watch the CTV Regina interview here.
I then went to Western Cycles, which very kindly gave my bicycle a tune-up for free.
On my way back to the hotel, it started raining very heavily, and I was soaked even before I set off for the day!
I waited to see if the rain was going to stop before setting off. It wouldn't, so I had no choice but to go. I had 155 kilometers to do, it was already 2 pm, and the wind was against me. A few minutes after I started going, the rain stopped — thankfully. However, as soon as I turned west, there was an insane wind that went against me, which slowed me down for the rest of the day.
I called Frances to talk about the options I could have for the night. We checked the wind, the weather forecast, which towns we could go to… I knew that with that the crazy amount of wind with me today, cycling to Chaplin would be too much of a challenge; it would be past midnight if I do it. Since the forecast said that the wind was going to be behind me the next day, we decided to go to Caronport instead. Caronport is about 94 kilometers from Regina.
I passed by Moose Jaw, a surprisingly sprawling town despite being in the middle of nowhere. Around 10 pm, I finally arrived at Caronport, and had a sandwich at the gas station. I talked to a guy working there, and asked him if there is any place we could camp at… he said there was none. I then asked if there was anyone who would be willing to host us for the night, and he called his father. A few minutes later, he told me that his father is willing to host us, and came to the station five minutes later. You could see at once that he is a very kind man, very interesting to talk to — we spent about 20 minutes talking while waiting for Frances' bus to arrive. It finally did, and we went to his place — a charming home, where he gave us the space resembling a full apartment. He introduced us to his wife and children, who are also interested in cycling.
Who would have expected that we'd be welcomed in such a lovely home in the middle of the night? We were expecting to camp in the middle of nowhere, even if it was raining. My schedule said I should have gone all the way to Chaplin, but I decided not to because it would be too much of a struggle for nothing. I guess sometimes it's better let glide with the tide (or with the wind in my case), to go on the past of the least resistance. Why do I have to push myself too much when the circumstances are clearly dictating otherwise? I've learned to simply go with the flow, and, you know — you might end up with a nice surprise.


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Suburban Republican activist sought to 'eliminate the influence of Islam'
On Tuesday night, Republican activist Jeff Baumann introduced an explicitly anti-Islamic resolution at a caucus meeting in the suburban Coon Rapids-Brooklyn Park area.
Baumann's resolution, first noticed on the Bluestem Prairie blog, declared that "no Islamic leader, religious or otherwise, shall ever be allowed to deliver the invocation at any Republican convention or event."
The resolution continued:
"That affirmative and ongoing actions be taken to minimize and eliminate the influence of Islam within the Minnesota Republican Party or its subunits," and called for "legislation, policies, and educational programs be implemented to increase awareness of these facts so as to evermore minimize and eliminate the influence of Islam within Minnesota, including Minnesota schools."
Speaking on Tuesday, Jennifer Carnahan, chairwoman of the Minnesota Republican Party, declined to call Baumann's resolution problematic, or even anti-Muslim. Carnahan said her primary concerns were on getting the caucuses running smoothly, and administering the governor's straw poll.
Carnahan pointed out there are more than 4,000 precincts in Minnesota, and said, "for me, as the chair of the party, to get involved when one person or one precinct caucus is bringing forth a resolution, at the very grassroots level, is not my focus."
Carnahan did say one part of Baumann's resolution should be ruled "out of order." Only the chairperson of the party can make decisions about a religious invocation, including whether to hold one at all.
Jaylani Hussein, director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said called Baumann the "worst of the Republican party" and described the resolution as expressing a "hoodless [Ku Klux Klan]" mentality.
"This is the hoodless KKK of this time," he said. "Anyone that agrees with this type of anti-constitutional, KKK-style hate, should really be lumped in with that same group."
Hussein said, state-wide, the party has generally been welcoming to the Muslim community, and that Republican membership is increasing in the community. Recently, however, the party has come under fire for a wave of anti-Islamic rhetoric.
In the last week, Republican state representatives Kathy Lohmer and Cindy Pugh, and Dave Sina, the chairman of the Fourth Congressional District GOP, shared a Facebook post saying that a friend observed a caucus training session where Muslim-Americans were aiming to "infiltrate" Republican caucuses. (The post neglected to mention that both parties, as well as other religious and interest groups, routinely hold caucus training sessions.)
Instead of applauding civic participation, the Facebook posts alleged nefarious goals: loosening up immigration laws and diverting money to education and religious justice, all allegedly in a grand scheme to recognize Sharia law. Pugh has since distanced herself from the post in an emailed statement to the Star Tribune, writing she meant only to "inspire Minnesotans to participate in the caucus process."
Carnahan, meanwhile, told the Star Tribune that Muslims were welcome to caucus and that there was no religious test for participation.
Carnahan disagreed with Hussein's harsh assessment of Baumann's resolution, and said it was unfair to extrapolate the views of an individual with the whole party. She said the party welcomes anyone that supports and shares their values.
One of those welcome individuals is Baumann.
"I know Jeff Baumann, and he's a very good man," she said. "Everybody comes at life and views things through a different lens."
This is not the first time Baumann's Islamaphobia has made news. In 2011, he was an outspoken opponent against the construction of a mosque in Plymouth. At a city council meeting on the topic of the mosque, Baumann said it's "treason" when one is caught "aiding the enemy," an apparent reference to Muslim-Americans.
In 2016, he held a "Shariah 101" event in St. Cloud to warn of creeping influence of Islamic law in this state.
If Baumann intends to "eliminate the influence of Islam," he will have to find another way. According to Senate District 36 GOP chairman Tim LaCroix, Baumann's resolution "was presented in a minority of our precincts" Tuesday night, adding, "I'm not even aware that it passed in any precincts."
Had it been approved, the resolution would've gone before the SD 36 GOP committee, which LaCroix chairs, which would then decide if it should be considered at the party's endorsing convention. LaCroix said he hadn't learned much about Baumann's resolution prior to the caucus.
"No one asked me about it going into this evening," LaCroix said. "And it wasn't presented in my precinct, so I really have no comment on it at this point."


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Released on October 1 2010 is the fabulous Foodies of the World, a collection of profiles and recipes from the best blogs around the world.
Sumokitchen is proud to be featured in the beautifully illustrated, 240 page book which features food related tales from around the globe, stunning photography, sample menus, a weights conversion chart and more than 100 delicious recipes.
Sumokitchen has never and will never ask for any money for its recipes, nor features sponsorship in any way. However, we would be very grateful if you would consider contributing to our efforts by purchasing a copy of Foodies of the World, which is very reasonably priced and can be delivered quickly to wherever you are in the world.