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BAGHDAD, Iraq — Nightfall approached, the military curfew drew near and Baghdad residents scurried from shop to shop on one of the city's main streets to stock up on food, water and gasoline before Sunday's national election.
Umm Ahmed, a 33-year-old housewife, rushed to a store. Like many Iraqis, she was worried she may not be able to shop in coming days because of curfews and violence.
"I am looking for bread," she said, explaining that most of the bakeries near her house are closed.
Glancing down the street toward a bread shop where people were waiting in line, she said she had given up trying to get gas, used by residents not just for cars but to power generators during Baghdad's frequent outages.
"I am trying to make my sons used to the darkness," Ahmed said.
"I hope the coming government will be wise and will look at what people need," she said as she continued her search.
A nearly empty capital
In central Baghdad, the traffic was unusually light Friday afternoon — a few cars driving warily by the growing number of American military patrols roaming the streets.
Some supporters of the Communist Party took advantage of the presence of the American and Iraqi foot patrols to hand out fliers to passing drivers.
But large parts of the Iraqi capital appeared to be on holiday — few pedestrians were on the sidewalks and the shops that were open lacked customers. Store owners whiled away the afternoon chatting with each other or standing in front of their shops.
For all the differences in Baghdad this historic week, one thing remained the same — long lines of cars at gas stations. Officials blame the crunch on attacks on pipelines, ambushes of fuel convoys and a crumbling energy infrastructure.
Electricity in Baghdad also remains shaky, with multiple outages every day in some neighborhoods. The city also has struggled with water shortages in recent weeks.
The only shops with customers were grocery stores and bakeries. The latter were the busiest, some with dozens of people waiting in line.
Residents complained of high prices.
"Regrettably, some greedy merchants are making use of the exceptional circumstances to raise prices." said Ahmed al-Saadi, 30.
Near a grocery on a main street in eastern Baghdad, an elderly woman named Um Ammar said she doubted the violence would be as bad as feared and said "people are exaggerating things."
"On the contrary, I think that the polling day will be quieter than what we see every day," Ammar said.
Iraqis are used to long lines, a staple of life under Saddam Hussein. But that doesn't mean they accept them.
"For 35 years Iraqis are used to standing in lines to buy things," said a math teacher standing near a meat shop who wished to remain unidentified. He said it was "incredible" that they continue to do so today.
Problems abound
Many people blamed the shortages on the government; others attributed them to chaos and widespread fears.
"People are afraid that things might get worse so they resort to storing everything," said Suzan Zaid, 30, a housewife. "Violence is behind these rising prices."
Yousif Abid al-Mutabib, a 19-year-old vegetable vendor in Baghdad's central Karrada neighborhood, said his prices are higher because the vegetables were imported.
"Iraq does not have produce this year because of the war," he said.
One woman in a traditional black robe on a main street in central Baghdad, blamed the elections. "But we are hopeful," said Um Sajjad, a housewife with four children.
'Go and ask the government'
Others questioned the government's ability to control the violence.
"Even after the elections, whether we vote or not, the government does not seem to care," said Umm Ahmed, the woman on her way to a bakery. "With every sound of explosion, our nerves are paralyzed."
As evening approached, people headed for home. Many asked each other when the curfew began. Street lights were out due to a power outage and most of the shops were now closed.
A slim man driving a donkey cart bearing empty gas cylinders on a main street in eastern Baghdad said he was out of gas.
"I do not know why. Go and ask the government," he shouted.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Amazon Earnings: What to Watch
Amazon.com hasn't historically used its earnings report as a platform for big announcements. In January, though, it dropped a bombshell: a planned increase in the price of its Prime unlimited shipping and video service.
The increase of $20 a year, or 25%, took effect in late March, meaning it has only minimal impact on the first-quarter results Amazon will announce Thursday. Still, investors will be looking for any signs of customer churn as a result of the change. Prime is the Seattle company's signature differentiator, particularly as e-commerce rivals get more aggressive and cut prices.
Of course, Amazon investors are particularly forgiving when it comes to profits. A lower number signals to Wall Street that Amazon is funneling cash back into its business for shipping, video and other development, including hardware like the Fire TV set-top box announced this month.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hamilton, Jackson, Pocono Park and Open Space Commission are searching for instructors. The group seeks anyone with a special interest or talent who would be willing to share. Perhaps you are a motivational speaker, a homemaker with some special recipes, or you know how to crochet, quilt, make crafts, have artistic talents, or perhaps can lead exercise or have a special hobby.
Hamilton, Jackson, Pocono Park and Open Space Commission are searching for instructors. The group seeks anyone with a special interest or talent who would be willing to share. Perhaps you are a motivational speaker, a homemaker with some special recipes, or you know how to crochet, quilt, make crafts, have artistic talents, or perhaps can lead exercise or have a special hobby.
Anyone interested should contact Lance Welliver at (570) 629-0153 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Do not be afraid to offer ideas and talents. Each will be evaluated for its potential as a program.
The East Stroudsburg Elks Lodge will host a spaghetti dinner on Saturday at the lodge on Washington Street in East Stroudsburg. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12. Proceeds will benefit the "Toys for Joy" program.
Pocono Greyhounds Adoption group will host a meet and greet from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the PetSmart, Route 611, Stroudsburg.
Ex-racing greyhounds will be available to meet and greet. For information, visit www.poconogreyhound.com or call (570) 856-0377.
The Lighthouse Full Gospel Church of God will host a tricky tray/Chinese auction on Saturday at the church, 700 Hammond Lane, Stroudsburg. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with drawings beginning at 2 p.m.
There will be a large number of items to raffle with gift certificates valued from $10 to $200 and many gift baskets. Also, a chance to win an overnight stay for two at the Howard Johnson in Bartonsville with breakfast included.
Cost is $5 and includes 20 tickets. Additional tickets are 10 for $3. Children under 12 are free. Homemade baked goods, hot dogs and refreshments will also be available for purchase.
For information, call (570) 420-8196.
The Optimist Club of the Stroudsburgs, in partnership with the Stroud Area Regional Police Force, will hold a child fingerprinting program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Stroud Mall, Route 611, Stroudsburg.
This community service program is designed to help protect our children and reduce the statistics related to missing children. More than 800,000 children are reported missing each year. Statistics from Optimist International's National Child Identification program show that less than 2 percent of parents had a copy of their children's fingerprints to provide to law enforcement agencies in case of an emergency.
The entire fingerprinting procedure lasts approximately 5 minutes, and each parent/guardian is given an identification brochure to take home.
The Pike County Humane Society will host a basket bingo on Saturday at the Matamoras Fire Department at Airport Park in Matamoras. Doors open at 1 p.m. with calling beginning at 2 p.m.
With the generous support from the local businesses and friends we have 15 baskets full of new and wonderful prizes and gift certificates worth at least $50 each. The grand prize basket is valued more than $100. There will also be lots of prizes and a 50/50 cash raffle. Refreshment sales will benefit the Matamoras Fire Department, and all other proceeds go directly to help the animals of the PCHS.
For information, contact the shelter at (570) 296-7654 or e-mail Steve at email@example.com.
Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company #2 will hold a flea market and craft fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the fire house, Route 534, across from IML Development.
The kitchen will be open for lunch. For information, call (570) 722-0555.
The East Stroudsburg High School Color Guard will hold a toy Bingo on Saturday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fawn Road, East Stroudsburg. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and bingo begins at 1 p.m.
St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church will host an ethnic food festival at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, 9 W. Railroad St., Nesquehoning.
Featured will be holupki, haluski, pirohi, soups, studenina, paska, a bake sale, craft items, Ukrainian entertainment and more. Take-outs will be available.
For information, call (570) 669-6036.


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RememberGreen Acres
, about a chic New York wife who gets carted off to live in the country? TheUnlikely Lavender Queen: A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming
is like that, but without Arnold the pig. Oh, andLavender Queen
is true.
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Jeannie Ralston ended up in Texas Hill Country as part of a deal she made with her husband. He wanted to give up city life and live in a quiet, rural community. She wanted to start a family. They moved to the Hill Country and Ralston got pregnant. Everyone's happy, right?
Well, not exactly. Her husband was a busy National Geographic photographer whose job took him all over the world, leaving Ralston at home alone. That home, by the way, was a rundown barn and it was up to Ralston to throw out the scorpions, suffer the famous Texas summer heat and raise the couple's two small children. Ralston is left wondering if she got the raw end of the deal, staving off anger at her happy, successful husband who lives an exciting life when she's stuck with diapers and snotty noses.
Then her husband decides they should try farming (by "they" he means "she"). Should she take on one more of her husband's dreams? Will it meaning giving up one of her own? Not only will she be the one farming, instead of corn or potatoes, Ralston's husband wants to farm lavender. Not exactly an ideal cash crop. But like everything else her husband wants, Ralston gives it a try and finds herself slowly falling in love with the flower. Growing and selling the blossoms help her regain her sense of independence and self. She discovers a way to mold her hopes and dreams around her husband's without losing any of her own. — Olivia Flores Alvarez
Jeannie Ralston signs copies of The Unlikely Lavender Queen on Monday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-523-0701 or visit brazos.booksense.com. Free.


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Relief from chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), with its often bewildering and troubling symptoms, is what those seeking help from any treatment, are looking for when they go to a doctor. Conventional medical treatment however, almost universally misunderstands chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The remedies it offers at best, are partial and short-termed and at worst, remedies like surgical intervention or certain injections, can exacerbate the problem.
The fundamental error of conventional chronic pelvic pain syndrome treatment, is that it does not grasp the fact that it is both a systemic and local problem — systemic in that the nervous system, typically and frequently remains aroused, causing a chronic and excruciating tightening of the pelvic muscles. It is a local problem in that habitual worry, anxiety and nervous arousal in certain individuals, results in the local pain and dysfunction of the pelvic muscles. Without effectively treating both aspects, chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) can be a debilitating condition. Symptoms include some of the following:
- Urinary / Fecal Incontinence / Frequency / Urgency / Hesitancy
- Organ Prolapse
- Pain with Sitting
- Rectal / Perineum Pain
- Genital Pain
- Pain During or After Sex
- Pain or Relief After Bowel Movement
- Lower Abdominal Pain
- Tailbone / Low Back Pain
Complications and Triggers:
- Stress Can Increase Pain
- Depression / Anxiety About Symptoms
- Symptoms Reduce Quality of Life
- Conventional Treatments Don't Help
- Medical Tests Find No Disease
The Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Program, offered by Power In Motion Rehabilitation and Dr. Vani Swaminanthan, provides men and women with the tools and skills necessary to regain control of bowel and bladder function. Patients may be referred to the program by their physician. Pelvic floor therapy and rehabilitation,are generally covered by major medical insurances and Medicare.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation is a term that describes a Physical Therapy approach to improving the strength and function of the muscles that support your bladder, urethra and other organs within the bony pelvis. A group of muscles, called the levator ani, stretch from the pubic bone to the tailbone creating the "floor" of the pelvis. The urethra, vagina and anus pass through small openings in this muscle group. The levator ani, also referred to as the pelvic floor muscles or PFM, helps maintain pressure within the urethra, which in turn prevents urine leakage and organ prolapse.
Strong muscles may alleviate the contractions associated with an overactive bladder and help keep the bladder, uterus and rectum in their proper positions within the pelvic floor. These muscles may be damaged or lose strength and tone due to aging, childbirth, surgery, illness or other conditions.
Pelvic floor therapy and rehabilitation use the principles of physical therapy to provide a structured program for muscle reconditioning. Physical Therapist Dr. Vani Swaminathan, specializes in urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain and painful intimacy. Power In Motion Rehabilitation and Dr. Vani, work with each patient to develop an individualized program for building strength and improving pelvic floor function. The components of a program will include pelvic muscle re-education exercises and/or electrical stimulation of muscles.
Contact Us today at Libertyville, IL Center and speak with Dr. Vani on how pelvic floor therapy can reduce or eliminate the embarrassment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Regain the control and abilities you once enjoyed. Don't hesitate any longer.


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I have a great admiration for Atlas Games. They're one of the bigger companies and release a lot of good product. On January 1 they released a list of 31 questions about your life as a gamer. It's a list to encourage reflection and some exploration and exposition. And though I'm two days behind with little or no intention of catching up, here's #1:
What was your first roleplaying experience? Who introduced you to it? How did that introduction shape the gamer you've become?
I don't have a clear memory of my first exposure to gaming. I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy as a kid, and they were in different sections of the book store at that time, and probably had my first exposure to gaming via Fred Saberhagen's Berserker books, published in the late 60's. He worked with Flying Buffalo which included berserkers in the Star Web play-by-mail game (that's postal mail, not email). Though I did not drive at the time, it listed Flying Buffalo as being located in Scottsdale, Arizona, maybe 15 miles or so from my parent's house. A friend who had a driver's license was getting in to this stuff, and we went out there and were amazed. My initial purchases were TSR's first edition white box D&D, the one with three books, along with GDW's Traveller and TSR's Top Secret. And, of course, Flying Buffalo's Tunnels & Trolls.
At that time, in the late 70's, about the only fantasy role-playing games were D&D and T&T. I like simplicity (a strange thing to hear from someone who played Champions for 25 years), and I did not like the complexity of D&D. Too many tables and dice, and flipping through more than one book to play a game just isn't for me. T&T was a lot easier and only used d6, but it had one huge advantage: solo dungeons. Buffalo published A LOT of solitaire adventures over the years, along with several campaigns. They were a lot of fun because you could buy the box set, which came with a couple of solos, and you didn't need a group, which was good, because there were no groups in my area.
So I was largely self-introduced to roleplaying.
How did it shape the gamer that I became? I've always been a fan of simple systems, and I think T&T was a major influence in that regard. I've played I don't know how many games over the years of varying complexity, and I've always trended towards simpler systems. It might be that certain games, and certain styles of games, appeal more to my internal logic, and this lets me make the statement that I think Champions is a simple system. It's a very logical structure, and if you understand it, pretty much the only time that you need the rules is to design new characters or gadgets. It has its problems with physics and the like, but every game system has problems like that.
When I design games, I try to keep them simple, and normally I use a d6. I try to follow the Cheap Ass Games model of a single sheet of rules (when I can) and everything fitting in a 6×9 envelope. I know it might not work for every design that I have, but I think it's a good model. And following that, d6 are a lot more available than d12's.
The Reverb Gamers Master List can be found at http://blog.atlas-games.com/2011/12/reverb-gamers-master-list.html and on the Atlas Facebook page.


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Themed around an aircraft hangar, the industrial ambiance of this airport hotel can be felt in its polished concrete floors, steel finishes, chrome lighting and top-to-bottom windows which overlook the aeroplanes as they land and take off. The pristine hotel comprises superbly appointed bedrooms with elegant furnishings, complimented by wooden flooring and cool finishes while soundproof windows ensure a peaceful stay. Facilities on offer at this air-conditioned establishment include a lobby, a 24-hour reception and check-out service, a hotel safe, a currency exchange facility, lift access and a newspaper stand. The hotel offers a complementary shuttle from the airport to the hotel and back. There is a bar and a restaurant as well as conference facilities and WLAN Internet access. Guests can also take advantage of the laundry service and 24-hour room service. There is parking available for those arriving by car.
## Location
This hotel enjoys a location which is perfect for time-conscious local and international business travellers. It lies just 35 minutes from Sandton and Pretoria and is set right in the heart of Kempton Park. Guests can take advantage of a complimentary shuttle service to and from O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa's largest airport.
## Rooms
Each of the modern, well-appointed, soundproofed rooms offers world-class facilities. All come with a shower/bathtub and a hairdryer and offer a king-size bed. Introducing our Business Class Room, First Class and our new addition which is our family inter-leading rooms. They are equipped with a direct dial telephone, satellite TV, an executive desk, a safe and WLAN Internet access and offer a daily newspaper. Furthermore, tea and coffee making facilities, an ironing set and individually regulated air conditioning and heating are provided in all accommodation as standard. All rooms also feature a terrace.
## Sport
This hotel features an outdoor swimming pool. Sports enthusiasts can also enjoy a work out in the gym.
## Meals
Guests can select their continental breakfast from a buffet and the midday and evening meals are available à la carte.
## Payment
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and VISA are accepted at this establishment.
## Notes
Guests can take advantage of a complimentary shuttle service to and from O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa's largest airport.
Club Travel Destinations


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|This is what came in the box! Model #: UH72511
#1. It has a 5 year warranty. Self-explanatory and what's not to love?
|Steerable Technology. This vacuum really pivots.
|There are instructions written on everything.
|Light weight and deep cleaning. This Hoover Air Lift Deluxe has it all!
#5 It has WindTunell 3 Technology. That means it's designed to keep its suction. That means it's going to last longer, and work better: two reassurances you want when you're deciding which vacuum cleaner to purchase.
|Easy to remove filters make for very easy cleaning.
|The Hepa Filter is encased in sturdy plastic for protection.
|This vacuum has auto height adjust.
|The canister comes off for unmatched ease in portability.
|Easy on/off canister, so you can use this
like a traditional upright or take it on the go..
|It comes with standard attachments and some
very cool ones, like this one that dusts your ceiling fans!
#9. It comes with standard attachments that you're going to need, but it also comes with some really cool ones, like the brush that dusts your ceiling fans (how many ways can you say, 'love???').
|Hoover has been a household name for a long time now.
There's a good reason for that...lots of them, actually. :)
#10. It's a Hoover! Hoover has been around a long time, and for good reason. It's a high quality brand name that makes dependable products...products that keep getting better and better with time. My grandmother had a Hoover, my mom had one too (she probably still does). And now, my son has one and he loves it. Best housewarming present ever. :)
You can learn more about the Hoover Air Lift Deluxe by visiting the website. You can also follow along on Facebook and/or Twitter.


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"My private tragedy, which cannot, and indeed should not, be anybody's concern, is that I had to abandon my natural idiom, my untrammeled, rich, and infinitely docile Russian language for a second-rate brand of English"
These were Vladimir Nabokov's words in the afterword of Lolita. Nabokov was brought up trilingually (Russian, English, French) and could apparently read and write in English before Russian, nevertheless he wrote his books in Russian until he moved to the US in 1940. He translated the first two novels that he originally wrote in English into Russian himself. He noted for the first one that he felt the English version was imperfect, so after re-writing it in Russian he brought out a new English version, too.
Nabokov's story doesn't only show the difficulty of translation but also reflects how I often feel.
I love writing. Be it blog posts, short stories, novels, poems, messages, letters… (the only aspect about writing that I really do not like is that you need to write by hand or sit in front of a computer).
I've lived in 'English-speaking-environments' for five years now, only occasionally writing and conversing in German, which has had quite an effect on my language abilities. When I sit down to write nowadays, I'm torn between English and German. My diary sometimes reflects that, is mostly written in English though. When it comes to literature however, I kinda have to decide. Do I write in German, my mother tongue, which I have a natural 'feel' for even if my vocabulary etc have declined? Or do I write in English, which is a lot more present in my mind, but which will never compare to the English of native speakers?
I would call this a 50-50 question. Probably neither writing in German nor in English would give drastically better or worse results. So I remain without a clear-cut answer, und werde vielleicht einfach beginnen beide Sprachen zu mixen um das Beste was ich aus Beiden habe herauszukriegen!


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How it Works
F.A.Q. for members (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: How can I register on the site?
Push the Registration link in the main menu.
Q: What does the registration here give me?
If you are registered, you may do the following:
Q: Do I need a cam to talk to the couns in a chat room?
It is not necessary to have a cam just for talking. However if you do have it you may show yourself to the adviser.
Q: I just registered. How can I access my profile/account?
Use the login form
Q: I just registered but completely forgot my password. How can I restore it?
Use the "restore password" form. You should remember the email you wrote in the field during the registration and you will get the information right on your address.
Q: I want to go to the Group Chat but the system say I have no money on my account. How can I add money?
You may do it on the Add Funds page.
Q: I have got a problem which I can not solve even after reading FAQ. Whom shall I write to get the answers?
Use Customer Support Tab in the bottom right hand corner to talk to the administration
F.A.Q. for the advisers (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Do I need a webcam to become a adviser on the site?
First of all Internet channel and web-camera must be good and qualitative. Do not think that camera can be cheap because the better your video, the more people will talk to you in the Group Chat.
Q: I would like to register on the site as a adviser. How can I do that?
First of all fill in the registration form, then fill in the fields of your profile, download the pictures and finish the registration.
Q: How can I log in my Adviser account?
Use the Adviser form to login.
Q: I forgot my adviser password. What should I do?
Use the "restore password" form.
Q: What should I do to be online on the main page of the site?
Login your account and start the video stream from your own page. (Remember that you can open this page as tab in your browser and look there only when you have somebody in your chat room.)


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Hacking the Stimulus
Old Politics Undercuts the New As The Senate Reverts To Horse Trading
It became clear Friday night that our economy may not recover until our politics do.
To President Obama, the delays and endless Congressional carping about his recovery plan was "inexcusable." He was reduced to reading the latest unemployment numbers aloud as if to say, what world are you guys in?
"Last month, another 600,000 Americans lost their jobs," Mr. Obama said. "That is the single worst month of job loss in 35 years. The Department of Labor also adjusted their job loss numbers for 2008 upwards, and now report that we have lost 3.6 million jobs since this recession began."
The President didn't mention the Center for Responsible Lending's new counter ticking off a new foreclosure every 13 seconds. Credit card defaults are at an all time high. There are fears that the bond market could be next to go with the dollar playing demolition derby.
By every standard and statistic, we have not yet hit bottom but somehow even in the midst of a national crisis, we can't transcend the predictable tax cuts vs spending debate.
So it's checkmate mates, as paralysis replaces analysis. Is inaction better than action? Will spending do more harm than good? Gag me with a spoon.
In the end, a deal was done, but as Politico.com reported, "The revised bill must pass the Senate, where some Republicans are still threatening a filibuster, and the House, where Democrats may not be happy with the concessions."
Prediction: it will get done but no one will be happy with the final version.
The problem is that this debate is really not about facts but posturing in the political game of hardball polarization that the right plays so well in the absence of having anything to stand for. It's only about power and says, you need us buddy, and you need to do what we want, or else you don't get what you want.
With Rahm Emanuel brokering compromises and chipping away at the solid wall of Republican bluster, the Dems gave up some of Obama'a promised middle class tax breaks in a bill downsizing government spending—which is, as the president noted, what a stimulus is. In the end, GOP favored tax cuts made up 42% of the measure, roughly proportional to the number of seats they hold. This was politics, not principle, at work.
To get the deal, here's part of what the Obamacrats sacrificed:
$40 billion State Fiscal Stabilization?$16 billion School Construction?$1.25 billion project based rental?$2.25 Neighborhood Stabilization (Eliminate)?$1.2 billion in Retrofiting Project 8 Housing ?$7.5 billion of State Incentive Grants?$3.5 billion Higher Ed Construction (Eliminated)?$ 100 million FSA modernization?$50 million CSERES Research?$65 million Watershed Rehab?$30 million SD Salaries?$100 million Distance Learning?$98 million School Nutrition?$50 million aquaculture?$2 billion broadband?$1 billion Head Start/Early Start?$5.8 billion Health Prevention Activity.?$2 billion HIT Grants?$1 billion Energy Loan Guarantees?$4.5 billion GSA?$3.5 billion Federal Bldgs Greening.
You can bet that the States—led in many cases by GOP Governors will be back to get help to prevent a deeper disaster. So this whole psychodrama was mostly a symbolic showdown. And, to please whom? My guess: The rabid right-wing talk radio wing of the Republican Party. You know who they are.
As it turns out I was on a rightwing radio show just hours after the deal was pronounced a great victory for common sense and conciliation. Our on-air debate hinged on whether I thought government can create jobs or do anything at all.
"Why aren't we giving the money to the private sector which is so much more efficient," I was asked.
Said I, what about TARP, $350 billion for banks with no obligations? (And that mistake is about to be repeated!)
"We are not talking about that," I was told.
What about the auto bailout? His message points were ready there, noting all the money unionized workers make. He said that was why GM was unprofitable, not because of poor management or subprime failures in its former GMAC division. Compare GM to Toyota and weep, he raged on. The next morning I read that Toyota doubled its loss forecast for 2008 to $3.9 billion.
And then he was off illustrating more government bashing claims by comparing AMTRAK to Greyhound, a bus line I am sure he doesn't ride. Some quick research later found that the Hound had been nearly bankrupt until a Canadian company bought it, and that many of its major bus terminals have been publicly subsidized. One of his callers who claimed sneeringly that the stimulus by the –wink, wink—"messiah" would benefit Mexicans would have been pleased to learn that Greyhound's two big profit centers are transporting Mexicans back and forth across the border and servicing gambling casinos.
So, as I learned and as we say, reality has little to do with the swamp in Washington, which is why Barack Obama is leaving town to rouse his base with renewed grass roots activism and house parties. He cannot win—we cannot win—if we play politics as usual in Washington. That deck is stacked against us even if Democrats have a majority.
Many economists believe this stimulus will not stimulate because it is not big enough and that tax cuts are exactly what we don't need. Says Nobel Prize winner Joe Stiglitz:
"As news of the US economy worsens, worries about whether a stimulus could restart the economy are growing. Making matters more complicated is the fact that our 2009 fiscal deficit will exceed 8 per cent of gross domestic product, even before the stimulus. What is clear is that tax cuts will not help much. When Barack Obama, president-elect, last week proposed to use nearly 40 per cent of the stimulus for tax cuts, he was rightly told this would be less effective than, say, spending on infrastructure."
TV News loves a food fight and so featured GOP criticisms as if they merit serious discussion, not criticism from economists who know something like Stiglitz or Paul Krugman who writes "Somehow, Washington has lost any sense of what's at stake – of the reality that we may well be falling into an economic abyss, and that if we do, it will be very hard to get out again." The Dems were in denial, on the defensive under an unseen phalanx of orchestrated fear campaigns and massive phone calling. It's sad. It's phony, and it's working.
Part of the problem is that liberals and labor have no media outlets to depend on while the right does. There's far more institutional support for counterrevolution than Obama's reformist change agenda, moderate as it is.
Lost in the rhetoric are real issues about what kind of economy we want to save. Is the goal just to return to the corruption of the status quo ante? Political Scientist Ben Barber, author of CONSUMED fears that may be what they are pushing:
"Prime the pump. Let's get people getting those credit cards again. Let's get people to the mall. Let's get people spending again. Back in 2001 after the terrorist attack in America President Bush said let's get back to the mall and get back to doing that good American thing of shopping. Unfortunately the new economic team of the new president may be saying somewhat the same thing."
Are they? Let's hope not, but they certainly haven't said much about outrageous credit card finance and interest charges. They don't seem to be putting money into jobs to fix up neighborhoods or community institutions, or strengthen credit unions or co-ops. There are no programs like FDR's WPA or CCC. Building roads does not a recovery make. The potholes are in our politricks.
It's almost as if we may be screwed no matter what happens: no spending or lots of spending. We are certainly screwed if we sit on the sidelines, restrain our outrage and let others dominate a debate that belongs in the past. This one should be about the future, our future.
News Dissector Danny Schechter blogs for Mediachannel.org. His new book PLUNDER investigates "our economic calamity," (Cosimo Books via Amazon.com) Comments to [email protected]
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The Right Choice
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Jeff Sullivan, dean of skilled trades and engineering at Chippewa Valley Technical College, has been honored as an Outstanding Career and Technical Education Leader by the Wisconsin Association of Career and Technical Education (WACTE).
Sullivan was presented with the award for a person other than a classroom instructor who has made significant contributions to career and technical education, at the 2018 WACTE Professional Development Conference March 15 in Middleton.
Sullivan's nomination for the award came as a result of major accomplishments by CVTC faculty and staff that advanced career and technical education initiatives, particularly in connecting the technical college with area high schools. Among these were:
"Jeff Sullivan possesses the vision, competence, initiative and drive that has had led to many improvements for our students, area K-12 students, educators and employers," said Dr. Julie Furst-Bowe, vice president of instruction at CVTC. "His commitment to students is exceptional."
Sullivan is the former career and technical education coordinator for the Menomonie School District. He was recognized by the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2015 as one of five emerging leaders for the CTE Executive in Residence program.
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It is starting to get real: Serena, Sergei and I will squeeze into the cockpit of our Soyuz capsule at the top of a 50-m rocket and blast off into space with a thrust equivalent to around 26 million horsepower. We will fly upwards to the sky, and beyond, for eight minutes and 48 seconds with the energy of five nuclear power plants behind us propelling us forward. Awesome!
We have been preparing for this for a long time: over 6000 hours of training are now behind each of us, many of which we completed together. I learned how to manually fly a space ship. In International Space Station and Soyuz simulators we practised hundreds of emergency scenarios. For example, we learned how to react if a fire breaks out, if the Space Station springs a leak or if toxic gases escape. We also learned how to stitch wounds, organise food supplies and handle the many complex Space Station equipment and procedures.
Thanks to my experience from the Blue Dot mission, many exercises were repeat procedures. On the other hand I now have to fly as a co-pilot of the Soyuz, and I have to take on even more responsibility in the second part of the Horizons mission as the Space Station Commander: I had to keep an overview of the whole team's training, plan the logistics on the Station, assign crew tasks and ensure good communication with ground control. This is important to keep good spirits and avoid an "us up here" versus a "those down there" attitude. One thing that helps is to organise a barbecue before launch: getting to know each other socially allows you to talk more openly during the mission and offers a better understanding of your colleagues.
On board I will have to make sure that everything goes well. That does not mean that I will boss everybody about and constantly give commands. On the contrary, my colleagues know very well what to do on the Space Station on a daily basis. We have studied in detail together with the trainers, how to best distribute tasks according to the strengths and weaknesses of the team. I try to lead by example, motivation and consensus, ensuring a good mood, supporting the crew, and help them alleviate their schedule if I can – and of course I will be doing the same amount of daily tasks as my crew members.
The commander of my Blue Dot mission, Steve Swanson, had such a relaxed way of dealing with us that at first I thought: he is not leading us at all. But after a while I noticed how much he was coordinating with mission control in the background so that we were all doing fine, he was constantly looking out for us. He never bragged about it, an impressive quality that I aim to adopt during the Horizons mission.
This includes using humour in everyday life in order to stay calm in a difficult situation. But if there are serious situations like emergencies, then we must switch to a different mode and communicate clearly. There is no room for jokes and long discussions in these situations.
At the beginning of our training it was not easy to cope with this new responsibility. But I have grown into it and I have learned time and again that decisions are often not one hundred percent perfect: when things happen fast, or when you are in a tricky situation, many complex problems need to be solved at the same time. Getting it 70 or 80 percent right is often enough to defuse the situation at hand.
At an event in Berlin I once met US President Barack Obama and asked him how he came to terms with the fact that his decisions typically cannot please everybody. He answered that it was easier to do if he told himself that the decisions he had to take would not have ended up on his desk if they were easy ones. By definition, therefore, he mainly took decisions to problems that no one else knew how to solve, and for which there was no clear solution.
That is how it sometimes is for us astronauts, too, and I find that quite reassuring: in such a situation, you do not have to do everything 100 percent correctly – because there is no such solution. It is a balancing act, and knowing that makes every decision easier. The most important thing in a spaceship and on the International Space Station is to take the decision. Because if you do nothing, in space during a serious emergency, you die. That much is certain.
That is why we prepare ourselves so intensively for these situations, going through all kinds of emergency scenarios over and over again – until we master them in even our sleep.
Now we are ready: 100 percent.
Let's go!


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Fit / Misfit
Explorations of community often descend into touchy-feely earnestness: not so Fit/Misfit, an archetypical Fringe show about fitting in that is full of flippancy, self-knowing and hard truths behind the humour. In the beginning, personal space is closely guarded as the four characters – Jasmín, Chino, Raúl and Ángel – pad around the four sides of the stage armed with wary glances, keeping a safe distance apart. Interactions become more trusting, but the tension between shared identity and individualism remains. Told through a veneer of cinematic references, the viewer's eye is guided to close-ups of subtle movements that lead to the violation of personal space, or panned out to turbulent quartets where the dancers try to find stability within the group. The action deliberately slows towards the end yet the drama never flags, evidence of a deft choreographic hand and well-matched music by Horsemen Pass By.


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Marilyn Draughon from Community UMC in Virginia Beach was awarded the Susanna Wesley Award for Excellence during the John Wesley Fellows banquet at the 12th National Gathering of Men in Indianapolis, IN, on July 7, 2017.
The award was presented by her husband; Johnnie Draughon, a Men's Ministry Specialist for the General Commission of the United Methodist Men. Johnnie stated, "Over the past 20+ years I have been privileged to touch the lives of hundreds of men for the Kingdom of God. Some seed fell on rocky soil and some on fertile soil. None of this would have been possible without the encouragement and support of my wife Marilyn. It was because of her that I became involved with the United Methodist Men in 1987."
The award is presented to honor women who have served Jesus Christ and The United Methodist Church. The General Commission on UMMen state that the recipients of this award must "possess a distinctive intellect, a nurturing spirit, unwavering devotion and perseverance in the faith." According to Johnnie this describes Marilyn to a "t".
As the Community fellowship's regular accompanist, Marilyn is also recognized, by certificate, as an honorary member of The United Methodist Men.
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ERD Blog
The latest information, reflections, and notifications from the Elizabeth River District.
June 2018


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Ready, set, sigh. I'm about to blog about the Blog, capital B as in Big Thought, capital B as in Bullshit.
Blogs are two things at once. They are fierce indicators of individuality – what blog do you read, what do you write on your blog – and they are tools of consumption. We define ourselves based on You Tube videos (yo, this Hal Hartley flick is sick), music taste (yo, check out this classic Spearhead track), movie reviews (yo, this Hal Hartley flick is sick), and product sponsorships (Obama/Biden 08). We yay or nay posts about our dearly beloved celebrities and snark attack an ideology other than our own. It's communication, baby, web 2.0, the twenty first fucking century.
I suppose the ultimate irony could be if, unlike Denny Green, we are not who(m) we thought we are. If the changing geopolitical climate can provide the necessary confluence of circumstances to make the election of a black madras attending man with the middle name Hussein our President then what roles exactly do our own tastes and preferences play in our lives and consciousness?
Like a true Modern Jackass I pontificate above my pay grade. I come home for the holidays, go through some old college text books, crib a quote from Marx and Engels out of context and surmise from it the course of human history. But how can you not rock an academic double take when you're brushing up on Josephine Donovan's Feminist Theory and you reacquaint yourself with the concept of materialist determinism – one of those thought bombs professors dropped on you sophomore year during a discussion section you missed because you were too busy watching arbitrary VH1 countdowns in your apartment. Marx wrote in his preface to Critique of Political Economy:
"…the mode of production of material life conditions the social, political, and intellectual life process in general. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness."
In other words, you think, therefore you are, but what you think is determined for you by the systems that surround you. The implications of this perhaps explain the oft cited criticism of blogs and internet chatter – that everyone essentially says the same thing, some with more wit than others, some with way better artijokes.
At a certain point the aimlessness of trend spotting sets in. Fighting hard for The Wrestler essentially boils down to fiercely defining yourself based on the "surplus value" of a specific commodity. Bands we love, whose t-shirts we wear, whose music we defend or dismiss, become wares in our cultural transactions. We are, it seems, what we consume, what interests we list on our Facebook page and what likes and dislikes we have in common. I'll see your Deerhoof and raise you a Fucked Up, after which you'll counter with a Five Easy Pieces and I'll compliment with a e Aronofsky.
David Foster Wallace died a hero to a generation. His works were early explorations of the meta circles we've begun to run our minds in, talking ourselves out of feelings, thinking ourselves out of instincts. He explored the fragility of human interaction in an increasingly complex and commodified world. Marx said we were alienated from ourselves once we were alienated from our labor. Today technology has taken the place of praxis and we overcome our isolation through virtual means. We Facebook; we blog; we boil ourselves down to away messages, chatus updates, buddy icons and Yelp faves.
But how do we know we love what we love? How do we know our favorite things aren't already selected for us and waiting for our minds to catch up? Of course ridicing a bicycle became cool because the war in Iraq, rising gas prices and environmental data regarding global warming came together in a delta of timing and determined our material response.
How else can we explain the importance of timing in the birth of trends? Ralph Nader represented the Green Party with a blatant environmental platform against Al Gore, the man who would later win the Nobel Peace Prize for a lecture on global warming. In 2000 Nader's populist platform was unorthodox and unrealistic. 8 years later, the financial systems nurtured by Clinton-Bush collapse and a Senator from Illinois wins the Presidency and captures the hearts of America running on a platform some considered idealistic, but which was in reality more conservative than Nader's 8 years earlier.
Obama supporters would slit their necks in sacrifice to their candidate, but they blame Nader for the demise of America. At a certain point it becomes clear politics, issues, platforms and ideology were not significant factors for those who pledged allegiance to Obama – their surroundings simply cast their vote for them. Obama was indeed the chosen one, his perfectly crafted image was a perfectly crafted product of the times.
I'm sure there's probably a Heidegger quote somewhere that would complicate the existential debate between materialist determinism and free will, but I'm simply not at that chapter in my book. Besides, there's something in the air that tells me Marx is really hot right now. I think I read it on some blogs.


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This short photo-essay opens a window into the legacy of Hugh Tracy and the music that inspired him to record more than any other field recordist in African history. A medley of Hugh Tracey originals from the 1950s and new photographs taken by Afropop producer Wills Glasspiegel in 2009.
"You had to drive all the way in those old trucks and you had to be an expedition. You didn't go for a weekend. You had to go for weeks on end, take your equipment with you one place to another, sometimes months on end. He loved that; he liked being out in the Bush and then finding this music." -Andrew Tracey
"He had a truck specifically rebuilt with a raised roof so his sound engineer could stand in it, and he had a 100 yard extra cable going from the generator, the diesel generator which gave him the power, the electricity to record. But he could park it out of earshot, like behind a hut or an anthill." -Michael Baird
Afropop producer, Wills Glasspiegel records a bit of Andrew Tracey on the mbira.
The International Library of African Musicat Rhodes University in South Africa.
Throughout his nineteen field expeditions, Tracey and his team took exhaustive notes.They documented as much as possible – song names, musician names, instruments, translations and any other relevant information. Often it was Hugh's second wife, Peggy, who was in charge of the field cards. They're stored today at ILAM (in the card catalog above) and are being digitized.
Below, an excerpt from Tracey's notes on Zulu beadwork.
"My next teacher was Laina's father, Gwanzura. I met Gwanzura in Harari. He was a messenger for a big company and he taught me mbira. At that time, his daughter, Laina, wasn't born but, after some years, Lain was born. I'm very happy that she has now become an ethnomusicologist and she's trained both in Zimbabwe and South Africa and now she's working right here at ILAM.She is also an mbira player." -Andrew Tracey
Excerpt from our interview with Professor David Coplan (photo above) in Johannesburg.
"If not for Hugh Tracey, we wouldn't have any of this music because you can't go out in the countryside and hear it as you could then. Or, if you do, like with the bow playing lady who's now become quite famous, it's been this sort of world music movement that hit everybody and now there's a great deal of consciousness now about what you're doing when you're playing your traditional music. And that there's a whole – the sort of, I don't want to call it the naturalness – but the un-self-consciousness about, "Well, here's this guy with this microphone. We're going to sing our music," is no longer there.
Now it's got to be a contract thing and there's got to be agreements even to do that. So, it's very important to have all this stuff and it will be there as one of the great resources and testimonies. Since we've thrown it all away, so to speak, it's important to have it. People have been talking about African culture dying for years and Africans themselves talk all the time about how we are throwing away our culture. Well, they've been throwing it away for a hell of long time – I wonder when they're going to run out because, as I often tell people, 100 years ago, black newspaper writers were writing exactly this. "We're throwing away our culture."
Well, how long does it take to throw away a culture? Well, I don't know. But, what they really mean is that it's changing and so the old stuff is there and it's at the basis of what we do now as a continuous line of development. So, yeah, we always need to persevere and to study and archive because South Africa is changing incredibly rapidly because now all the old, wonderful restrictions of Apartheid that kept people doing their own stuff are gone.
On the other hand, they established Radio Bantu. They did the right thing for the wrong reasons. This wonderful network of African language stations that we have, probably the best in Africa in terms of serving with state of the art facilities. Nine languages apart from English and Afrikaans. It's great and that was given to us as a gift of the Apartheid regime."
A string of 78s from the Hugh Tracey archive. Tracey released his first material on 78s in the late 30s. They were popular throughout Southern Africa, especially among miners who yearned to hear recordings of their own traditional music.
Malawian singer, Esau Mwamwaya makes a field recording of his own in Kasungu, Malawi.
Behind the scenes at ILAM are some of the most talented musicians that I met during my research trip through Southern Africa. There's a studio in the back of the Hugh Tracey Archive and many of the students that work there also play a riveting version of marimba music from Zimbabwe.
Below, is a video of the guys playing for a local university function at Rhodes.
Photograph of kalimbas from the African Musical Instruments factory in Grahmstown. Tracey invented the kalimba after testing out nearly fifty different other models. The first kalimba factory was a backyard shack on the Tracey farm in Krugersdorp, South Africa. Now the kalimbas are made in small factory in Grahmstown and sold across the world.
Hugh's son, Andrew Tracey with an mbira that his dad collected more than sixty years ago. It still smells of the hearth from the home in which it was kept originally. Behind Andrew, part of the ILAM mbira collection, the largest collection of mbiras in the world.
The man himself. This photograph of Hugh Tracey hangs on the wall at ILAM in Grahmstown, South Africa.
ILAM's Collection is home to more than 300 indigenous African instruments.
Andrew Tracey and Professor Diane Thram at the International Library of African Music.
Mbuti pygmies recorded by Tracey in 1958. Tracey often played back his recordings for the musicians. Most had never heard themselves recorded.Tracey' process itself inspired lengthy performances of traditional material.
BLK JKS drummer, Tshepang Ramoba met up with Afropop in South Africa to offer his perspective on Hugh Tracey's recordings.
Horns of all types were played across Southern African in Tracey's day. These are nyala horns that were played by the Tonga people.
Jean Bosco Mwenda, one of Africa's first pop stars, discovered by Hugh Tracey in the late 1950s in Congo.


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It took me months and months, but I finally read every poem in the Faber Book of Children's Verse. On the whole I would classify this anthology as "a stinker." Any poems in here that I did enjoy (Lewis Carroll, etc.), I had already read in other collections. The rest was hard to penetrate, either because it was referencing ancient British historical events which were very boring to this American reader, or because of the use of antiquated language (olde english? Gaelic?) that went over my head.
I'm not sure how an anthology with chapter headings such as "Kings, Queens and Heroes", "Magic", "Witches, Charms and Spells" and "Marvels and Riddles" could be so dull, but it was. I feel sorry for any child who had this collection as their only introduction to poetry growing up. Zzzzz. I am not keeping this book!
The one exception was a great poem called "Etiquette" by Sir W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame). In the poem, two gentlemen are stranded on a desert island, but they have not been introduced, so they refuse to talk to each other. A bit of digging revealed that Sir Gilbert has a book of verse called "The Bab Ballads" which sounds so up my alley that I just ordered a copy. If the rest of that collection is as enjoyable as "Etiquette" than I believe my reading of The Faber Book of Children's Verse will not have been in vain.
Last May, Greg took Claire and I to the Goodwill "Bins" in Portland, OR. Claire bought a stack of VHS tapes and I bought a few books, including The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, which was going for $1.00 if I remember correctly.
When Maurice Sendak died a few years ago, I remember reading a bunch of interviews with him, and in one he mentioned that he loved Emily Dickinson's work. A few months ago I finally pulled this book out of my "READ ME" box and started reading a few of her poems each morning, before I write.
I would say about 1 in 50 really connects with me, and makes me actually feel something. I suspect that ratio is more due to my own lack of sophistication and intelligence, rather than Ms. Dickinson's. Anyway, I read her poetry on the toilet, so I'm pretty sure that's exactly how she wanted her work to be experienced. :P
Three years after discovering his work, I still think that Ogden Nash is the greatest poet that ever lived. I have dutifully been keeping an eye out for any of his collections at used book stores, flea markets, etc. In the last year or so, I have come across three:
1) Bed Riddance: A Posy for the Indisposed with illustrations by Milton Glaser, published in 1969. This is a collection of his poems all about health problems, going to the doctor, insomnia, etc. etc. etc.
AUGH, this book is so great it makes me want to tear my hair out! Why doesn't stuff like this exist anymore??? You have a whole book of hilarious rhyming poetry, loaded with wit and wordplay. Then you get Milton Glaser at the height of his Push-Pin fame to make wonderful, thoughtful illustrations which are interspersed every ten pages or so.
And this wasn't some highfalutin, snobby poetry book. It was meant for mass consumption. You'd buy this book for your friend who was recuperating from surgery. Something to lighten his mood.
It's so frustrating to me that poetry took the same path of "fine art" in the 1950s and became more abstract and inaccessible. If you try to talk about poetry with most people now, in 2014, they're like "Poetry? Ugh!" because their only frame of reference is non-ryhming, formless dribble that is only decipherable by the poet who wrote it. I read a Best American Poetry collection from within the last ten years, and if that's literally the best poetry has to offer these days, then I may just never read another poem written after 1971, the year Ogden Nash died.
2) Every One But Thee And Me with illustrations by John Alcorn, published in 1962. These little books, with their charming illustrations awaken something deep inside me. It's a feeling that says "This is exactly the kind of work I want to produce." If I wasn't already 1400 pages down my cartooning path, I might seriously consider spending all of my creative time trying to master this art form. I'm still working at it in my spare time (very... slowly...) but I am spending a lot of time these days thinking about ways to incorporate my love of (THIS) poetry into my comics work. I need to believe that poetry could be made relevant and accessible to the general public again.
Anyway, I'll get off my soap box, but Alcorn's illustrations are extremely charming and the poems couldn't be better. My head spins when I start imagining a volume like this produced today. There are so many great illustrators I would love to see approach work like this. If only there were more top-notch poets!
3) Ogden Nash's Zoo with illustrations by Etienne Delessert, published in 1986. This one is inferior, mostly because of Delessert's illustrations which feel much too stiff and serious for such light whimsical verse. I still bought it just so I could have all of Nash's animal poems under one spine, but it's almost painful to read with these illustrations.
The shark poem on the right reads:
How many Scientists have writtenReally??? That's the illustration you'd draw for that poem??? Or the illustrator you'd hire??? Ugh.
The shark is gentle as a kitten?
Yet this I know about the shark:
Anyway, as I have pointed out on this blog, I knew absolutely nothing whatsoever about poetry when I started reading and writing it in 2008. (Which is another thing: why don't schools teach poetry any more???) I am having a lot of fun exploring this uncharted creative territory and each time I find a new poet whose work I admire, it feels like discovering buried treasure. Onwards!


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Halloween has something in store for Joe Danger 2 as developer Hello Games announce "15 spine-chilling" new levels with the Undead Movie Pack DLC, across 3 tours and 6 ghoulish new characters.
The Undead Movie Pack is out now for Xbox 360 and PS3 with its PC debut tomorrow, October 29th. A new trailer has been released and a 75% off Steam sale is on the way.
Joe Danger and Joe Danger 2 will both be offered at a discount of 75% off during the Halloween Steam sale, with 20% off the Undead Movie Pack at launch, which is $6 / £4 / €5.
"Hunt brains as Zombie, sabotage dark rituals as the Vampire Hunter, and escape the creeping darkness as Pumpkin Head! Claim skulls as the Rider, run the gauntlet as the Chimpanzombie and tame the dreaded Werebear!"
Hello Games announce Undead Movie Pack for Joe Danger 2
28 October 2013 | By Simon Priest
- Related Games:
- Joe Danger, Joe Danger 2: The Movie, Joe Danger Bundle


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Referee check; making sure that other professional engineers have witnesses your work experience and commitment to professionalism
To be eligible, you must provide contact details for three Professional Referees.
These may be either your supervisors or colleagues who are familiar your work experience activities highlighted in your CV and must have known you for a period of at least 12 months. Two of the applicants must be able to attest to your Australian experience.
Professional Referees must satisfy one of the following requirements:


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One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a long time
"I wrestled over it all last night. What am I to do with the strength I feel I possess? To what use am I to put it? Is it by aiming at a goal? But how to choose such a goal? How know what it is before reaching it?"
"To live without a goal, is to give oneself up to chance."
"I am afraid you don't understand. When Columbus discovered America did he know towards what he was sailing? His goal was to go ahead, straight in front of him. Himself was his goal, impelling him to go ahead…"
"I have often thought," interrupted Edouard, "that in art, and particularly in literature, the only people who count are those who launch out on to unknown seas. One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a long time. But our writers are afraid of the open; they are mere coasters."
by André Gide (22 November 1869 – 19 February 1951)
The Counterfeiters (1925)
Chapter – Bernard visits Edouard
image – Dominic's pics


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Digital 22 are an online business growth company who are specialist in online marketing such as SEO and PPC (pay per click). We know that sometimes our industry can get a little confusing so we put together the below to help with one of the major online marketing methods - SEO.
What is SEO and how does it benefit me?
Do you hear people talk about SEO but are unsure what it actually means, how it will help your business grow and what you need to do to benefit from it? Well the purpose of this blog post is to answer these questions for you and to show that SEO isn't all that scary.
What exactly does SEO stand for?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and in a nutshell is the process of ensuring search engines find and show your pages when people are search for related queries.
A tiny bit of history and some stats
The process SEO has actually been around since the 1990s (via search engines such as Ask Jeeves, Yahoo!, AOL) however it didn't become 'mainstream' until Google came along.
Earlier this year MarketShare tallied up the desktop search engine market share and Google, as expected, came out with a dominant share at 69% with Baidu (the major Chinese search engine) in second place with 17% and Yahoo, Bing and AOL knocking around the 0-6% range. Without Baidu you can see why in Europe Google really does dominate the search engine market and thus the SEO market too.
Today Google is searched over 100 billion times per month.
What does a search engine do?
I like the Moz description which is: "Search engines have two major functions crawling and building an index, and providing answers by calculating relevancy and serving results". Basically a search engine finds webpages and then attempts to give you the best results for your search term.
So, how does SEO work then?
This is a tough question to answer in a blog post like this as the real answer would need to discuss the 200+ algorithms and ranking factors involved in a modern day search engine however it is suffice to say that having new and great content / services / products on your website isn't enough alone to get your found when people are searching for the keywords you would like to be found for. You need to ensure your website is crawled in an efficient manner, your pages are optimised and your website is strong enough (in terms of authority) to be ranked ahead of your competitors – those are the three major cornerstones of SEO and how it works.
How do I benefit from SEO?
The answer to this should now be obvious, people are searching for the products and services you supply on search engines such as google and via the process of SEO your website can show up in the search results.
What can Digital 22 do to help?
Hiring all the niche in house skills required for modern day SEO might not always be feasible or needed. People such as technical website developers, keyword researchers, content marketers, video and graphical producers, social media marketers and content writers aren't always available in house (and can be expensive to bring on the payroll) and usually don't have the relevant SEO knowledge to work in a beneficial way. From an SEO viewpoint savvy companies choose to outsource their SEO management. Digital 22 is ready to make that difference for you.


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Medicaid regulations are complex, especially as they pertain to nursing home care. No one knows in advance whether they will need such care, but if you do, it will have serious consequences for your finances and those of your heirs. So it's important to understand how you can qualify for Medicaid coverage and still protect your home and life savings.
On this topic I recommend K. Gabriel Heiser's comprehensive and accessible book, "How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets" (Phylius Press). The book is not intended to replace an attorney specializing in Medicaid, but it will provide you with valuable information you will need to have worthwhile discussions with an attorney.
The book is well-organized and explains issues such as what Medicaid does and does not cover, when and how to apply for benefits, medical and income qualification rules, and how to transfer assets in ways that meet Medicaid requirements legally.
…Heiser's book will certainly be invaluable to anyone who wants to understand how Medicaid works and steps that can be taken to be eligible for benefits. However, the book will be also be extremely valuable to individuals who want to learn more about estate planning, trusts and annuities. I consider it required reading for anyone who plans to discuss Medicaid issues with an elder-care attorney."
(See full review here.)
–Reviewed by Elliot Raphaelson, for The Chicago Tribune
"Well written, clear, easy to follow, and well organized…I have read your book and it is great! It is a perfect quick tour of Medicaid planning…
I highly recommend it to anyone who needs to get quickly up to speed when the need arises because a friend or family member is facing nursing home expenses…or who wants to think ahead to that possible need.
Lawyers can give it to clients to help them understand "the rules." Advisors don't need to fear this book will turn their paying clients into do-it-yourselfers, because almost every rule contains state-specific variations and this book does not cover those. So for clients and would-be clients, this book shows why they need the help of a pro. I especially appreciate the clear delineation between the forbidden and the permitted. It's well written, clear, easy to follow, and well organized. I found it very useful when helping a friend who has just entered a nursing home."
––Reviewed by Natalie B. Choate, nationally recognized attorney and America's leading speaker on retirement planning; author of Life and Death Planning for Retirement Benefits
"The question of how to protect your family assets is timely. It is an important consideration faced by the majority of American citizens. As a result of longer life expectancy, rising medical costs, and complicated governmental programs, more and more people are forced to spend all their money before they ever qualify to take advantage of Medicaid benefits. Heiser's book is a godsend as it guides the reader through the complex issues relating to Medicaid benefits, qualifications, and application strategies.
This amazing guidebook will help you discover the secrets of protecting your family assets in ways that will not disqualify you from Medicaid benefits. The contents include a comprehensive working definition of Medicaid, what is provided, and how to apply for the program. Medical and income qualifications are covered in detail. Strategies for transferring assets, setting up trusts, and planning annuities are all addressed.
I personally found the Case Studies to be helpful. These examples gave several possible scenarios which offered me ideas for integrating these applications to planning an approach to finding solutions in my own life situation.
The appendix contains important information on a Durable Power of Attorney, as well as valuable suggestions on obtaining a qualified attorney. A glossary, important statistical tables, some applicable federal laws, a list of resources and agencies available, and Medicaid questionnaires, all make this a valuable resource and reference guide.
K. Gabriel Heiser, an attorney, with over 23-years experience in the field of elder law and estate planning is well-qualified to author this book.
This is an important guide for retirement planning and for anyone with a family member in, or approaching, a long-term-care situation. It can also become a valuable resource and reference guide for professional financial and estate planners, attorneys, for people in the medical profession, social workers, and ministers.
I found the book to be crucial, timely, and important. "How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets" is a book that should be read by every American tax payer as well as by every recipient and future recipient of Medicaid benefits."
–Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (4/07)
"Most Colorado attorneys who practice in the areas of elder care and estate planning are familiar with K. Gabriel Heiser. Heiser, a Boulder elder law attorney, is a frequent source of expertise and advice at CLE programs and on the CBA Trusts and Estates Section listserv. Heiser's latest book, How to Protect Your Family's Assets From Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets (Medicaid Secrets), provides Medicaid-related information and requirements and includes practical suggestions and examples.
Heiser employs a plain-English approach and down-to-earth writing style, making Medicaid Secrets an easy read—if you don't allow yourself to get bogged down in the intricacies of such matters as community spouse resource allowances and minimum monthly maintenance needs allowances—and a welcome source of current, easy-to-understand guidance for attorneys whose practices include elderly clients, either directly or peripherally. The book also is intended as a resource for the clients themselves (and their children), as families attempt to sort through the complex set of laws and regulations that govern entitlement to benefits under the Medicaid system.
Rest easy, however, because Medicaid Secrets contains numerous cautions to lay readers, and to attorneys practicing in related areas, that obtaining the advice of an experienced elder law attorney in the client's home state is essential to successful Medicaid planning for individual clients. In fact, my only slight disappointment with the book is that it does not focus on Colorado Medicaid rules. Although this makes the book more marketable in other states, the result is that it is not a ready source for Colorado-unique Medicaid issues and answers. That said, Medicaid Secrets does an outstanding job of pointing out the issues and concerns important to clients, in Colorado and elsewhere, who are or should be concerned about Medicaid eligibility.
Medicaid Secrets contains a thorough Table of Contents and a comprehensive Index that readers can use to easily find specific topics. It also provides numerous examples that prove in-valuable in explaining the concepts under discussion. In fact, the real-world examples, and their direct connection of Medic-aid policies and concepts to real-life situations, provide the true value of the book and set it apart from other published articles on Medicaid.
An additional fact sets this book apart from other published works: Medicaid Secrets is absolutely current. It includes the major changes in federal Medicaid law brought about by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, enacted February 8,2006, and the later amendments enacted on December 20,2006. It is important to have the most current information in an area not directly related to the primary focus of an attorney's practice. Thus, Medicaid Secrets is a must read for practitioners who need to stay current on Medicaid requirements and policies, but who do not necessarily hold themselves out as Medicaid planners. However, I believe even Medicaid planners will find some thought-provoking ideas and concepts within the book's pages. If you have been waiting for someone to sort through the new Medicaid law and publish an up-to-date resource, Heiser has done it for you in Medicaid Secrets.
I suppose one could debate whether there truly are Medic-aid "secrets," or whether information buried in a maze of bureaucratic language (based on federal law and implemented in significantly different ways by each of the fifty states, and then implemented at the local level by individual clerks) really is in plain sight for all to see. Regardless, Heiser clearly has poured his considerable expertise and his years of practical experience into the publication of a book that I believe practitioners and clients will find extremely useful. So, what previously may have been "secrets" about benefits under the Medicaid system have been made available to all."
–Reviewed by Kenneth W. Schroer for The Colorado Lawyer, an official publication of the Colorado Bar Association
Schroer is a sole practitioner in Colorado Springs, emphasizing estate planning, probate, and elder law. He is a member of the Colorado, El Paso County, and Missouri Bar Associations. Reproduced by permission of the Colorado Bar Association from The Colorado Lawyer (vol. 36, April 2007, p. 57). All rights reserved.
TestimonialsAll testimonials on this site are from actual purchasers of the book; their original letters are on file in our office.
"Your book exceeded my expectations in every way…"
"…and was well worth the cost. Its comprehensive coverage of the whole subject of long term care, and achieving Medicaid eligibility, was presented in a very organized and yet very readable fashion. It's a great resource!"
— Robert J., Rochester, New York
"I loved your book!" "I found so many concepts, strategies and important questions to consider that I am going to re-read it again tonight to write them all down. The maze of ever-changing rules and differences between states (and even counties) can be overwhelming, but I felt that Medicaid Secrets armed me with specific questions to ask–questions that would help me understand the various viable options (and their risks and pitfalls) that a qualified ElderCare Attorney might suggest. (Heck! You even showed me how to find a qualified ElderCare Attorney!)"–Bret Elliott, Certified Financial Planner
"A Must-Read for Anyone Who Has Elderly Parents in Need of Nursing Home Care""I never knew I could qualify my mother for nursing home Medicaid until I ran across Gabriel Heiser's book, How to Protect Your Family's Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets. I was under the mistaken notion that Medicaid was only for people on welfare. I was thrilled to discover that I could help my Mom, who's now disabled, to protect the money that my Dad left her upon his death, as well as keep the family home that we grew up in — instead of selling it off to pay for nursing home costs. Medicaid Secrets is a priceless resource that's a must-read for anyone who has elderly parents in need of nursing home care." — Maria V., Beverly Hills, California
"A Godsend…amazing guidebook…should be read by every taxpayer!" "Heiser's book is a godsend as it guides the reader through the complex issues relating to Medicaid benefits, qualifications, and application strategies. This amazing guidebook will help you discover the secrets of protecting your family assets in ways that will not disqualify you from Medicaid benefits. The contents include a comprehensive working definition of Medicaid, what is provided, and how to apply for the program. Medical and income qualifications are covered in detail. Strategies for transferring assets, setting up trusts, and planning annuities are all addressed.–Richard R. Blake
"I used this book to help my parents plan for their futures…" ""I used this book to help my parents plan for their futures. I had reviewed plenty of resources, but this was far and away the best overall. Covers trusts, annuities, and all the strategies simply and clearly. Tells you what is legal and what is not. If you can choose just one book on Medicaid planning, this is the one!"— Ruth M., Mystic, Connecticut
"Saved my mother $1.5 million …""I read your book after my father had a stroke and was able to save my mother 1.5 million dollars and qualify my father for Medicaid. Thank you!" — Jeri T., Renton, WA
"The best book I have found on Medicaid planning— and I spent endless hours researching the subject!""We purchased your book for our personal use. We are in our 70s and are thinking about an irrevocable trust to shelter our home. We have a preliminary appointment with an attorney this week and thanks to your book we are well prepared!" — Elisabeth B., South Jordan, Utah
"We read the book before meeting with an attorney…"
"We read the book before meeting with an attorney that specializes in these issues. It was great preparation for us. We would highly recommend it."
— Barbara R., Ninety Six, South Carolina


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Great report, Kurt! Your making me crave some Rice Krispy Treats now! Ill be sure to check out all of the delicious holiday foods next time I'm over at SFOT.
- Dual Launching Racing Roller Coaster Coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain
- All-American Food Festival at Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Coca-Cola July 4th Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Crazanity Construction Update #4 at Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Six Flags Magic Mountain Voted #1 Theme Park By Readers of USA TODAY
Festive Culinary Creations At Holiday In The Park
For their very first annual Holiday in the Park event, Six Flags Magic Mountain came up with some pretty unique food and beverage offerings to celebrate the season. The park invited a few of us bloggers over to sample what they came up with and to provide feedback. These items will only be around for a short while, because once Holiday in the Park is over, so are these offerings.
When we first arrived in the afternoon, the sun was close to going down and the temperature was dropping fast. While the upper 50's may sound pleasant this time of year for some of you, depending on where you live, it's most definitely on the chilly side for us. To help keep us warm, the park provided us with some delicious hot chocolate:
The special Holiday in the Park mugs are actually a pretty good deal. They're only $6.99 with unlimited free refills of hot chocolate or coffee on the day of purchase, and only $1.99 for refills the rest of the season. It's like their sports bottles, but for hot drinks:
Once we were all there, we headed up the hill to Katy's Kettle, which took us through the Winter Wonderland area of the park. All of the heavy rains we've had the past two weeks pretty much melted all of the snow that had blanketed this area of the park. Fortunately, another cold front moved through and laid down a fresh blanket of snow:
This area of the park is really pretty covered in snow like this, especially when the lights come on:
While waiting for our food at Katy's Kettle, Mrs. Claus popped over to say hi to my wife and I:
Two of our Six Flags hosts for the evening where Robert Bustle (right), who manages all of the food and beverage for Magic Mountain, and Brandon Smith (left), who manages the in-park retail operations. They provided an overview of what we were about to sample and where some of the ideas came from:
One of the first items we sampled was a steak sandwich. I'm a total carnivore, so I'll eat just about anything with meat in it, but this was very good. The steak was meaty but tender, and the combination of onions, peppers, and sauce was what really sold the dish and I thought it was delicious. I'd like to see this become a regular offering within the park:
A second entree we tried was a ham steak. No special sauce here, just a piece of ham cooked directly on the grill. If you like ham, you'll like this. It was a very generous portion:
The third entree was a traditional tamale. I have a very sensitive mouth, so I tend to stay away from Mexican food, which is my way of saying that I don't know much about these. I tried it and thought it was ok, but those around me with more experience with Mexican food said it was a very good tamale, and the sauces they provided with it were hotter then Hades:
Next up were some sweet samples. These are White Chocolate Peppermint Apples, and White Chocolate Gingerbread Apples. I tried the gingerbread apple and it was quite good:
This was Peppermint Bark and a Cranberry White Fudge (if memory serves). I'm not a big cranberry guy, but I tried the fudge and it was so good! It just melted in my mouth:
Some of the caramel apples are quite festive looking:
If you've ever eaten at Katy's Kettle, you likely know that they serve traditional theme park food, such as burgers and chicken strips. However, their entire menu has changed for Holiday in the Park. You can still get a turkey leg, however this is where you will also find the steak sandwich, the ham steak, and some additional items such as gourmet macaroni and cheese, and stuffed baked potatoes:
After we were stuffed from all the food up at Katy's Kettle, the park wasn't done with us yet. We moved (rolled?) back down the hill to the deck of the Cyber Café. If you've never been on it before, it's a great place to just relax. We watched the Holiday in the Park lights come on from here:
There were two more entrees they wanted us to sample. The first was the Holiday Dog, which honestly did not sound appealing to me at all. It is a turkey hot dog, topped with mayonnaise, cornbread stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I took a bite and was quite surprised. The meat was moist and juicy, and didn't taste like turkey at all. The biggest surprise was that the toppings actually worked well together. I would never have ordered this in a million years, but now that I've tried it, I would have no problem with eating it again in the future:
The second item was chicken wings with a cranberry sweet chili sauce. I love wings, but again because of my sensitive mouth, I tend to shy away from any sauce that's spicy. When I saw the word "chili" in the description, I was hesitant. However, they were delicious. They were more on the sweet side and not really spicy at all. I'll definitely be eating these again:
In addition to the two entrees, there were many more sweets for us to try. Some examples were Chocolate Peppermint Funnel Cake, Cinnamon Bun Batter Ice Cream, and three different flavors of lattes: Pumpkin Spice, English Toffee, and Peppermint:
There was also Raspberry Gingerbread Cheesecake and Rice Krispy Treats:
This is Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Brownie Parfait (Yah, you heard that right!), M&M Brownies, and Salted Caramel Brownies:
A couple other flavors of ice cream included Chocolate Peppermint and Eggnog. I'm a huge fan of eggnog, so I gobbled up one of those in a heartbeat, and it was yummy:
I'm not sure who decided to wait until the very end to bring out Deep-fried Oreos, but they buried the lead! This should have been brought out first, while I still had room to eat about four servings worth. Of course, then I wouldn't have had room to try anything else, so I guess they knew what they were doing. If you've never had one of these, you're missing out! They are so good and just melt in your mouth. Forget about the calories, just try one:
Some additional snack goodies you can get in the park are Peppermint Popcorn Candy and Peppermint Cotton Candy. We were sent home with samples of each of these:
All of these culinary delights can be found somewhere in the park. All you have to do is keep an eye out for the right signs. For example, the steak sandwich, tamales, and ham steak can all be found in Mrs. Claus; Kitchen inside of Katy's Kettle:
The tamales can also be found at Food, etc.:
The Holiday Turkey Dog can be ordered at Loaded Dogs:
The holiday wings and fried Oreos are located at High Octane Wings:
The lattes, cheesecake, and Rice Krispy treats can be found at the Cyber Café. They also have Hot Apple Cider and Eggnog:
The caramel apples, peppermint bark, and holiday fudge can be found at either Cartoon Candy Kitchen, in the front of the park, or at Coaster Candy Company in the back of the park:
The peppermint popcorn and cotton candy can be found all over the park:
The holiday ice creams flavors are located at the main Cold Stone Creamery:
The holiday funnel cake can be ordered at Suzette's Bakery, by the park entrance:
Something that wasn't discussed tonight, but is also offered as an exclusive Holiday in the Park offering is the Holiday Dinner Special in the Full Throttle Sports Bar:
Here are the special Holiday in the Park offerings inside the Full Throttle Sports Bar:
One other exclusive Holiday in the Park food item that I've seen advertised in the park but haven't tried yet is a Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a bread bowl. This is available at Wascal's:
I'm going to go lay down now and try to sleep off this food coma I'm rapidly slipping into. Have you tried any of these seasonal offerings at Magic Mountain? If so, what are some of your favorites? The steak sandwich, holiday wings, deep-fried Oreos, and eggnog ice cream are my favorites.
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11 Comments
great update! when are you going to do a construction update for twisted colossus
This holiday food sounds really good. That hot dog with stuffing on it sounds especially good (I'd order it without mayo, though, if possible.)
I'd like to get out to Holiday in the Park one more time and bring my sister. She'd probably enjoy it. I'm glad it goes till after the first of the year just in case we don't get there sooner.
Bottom line: this event is a winner for the park in my opinion.
I want to go to the park tomorow but I can't find my pass what can I do
Can I get the card at the park or do i have to call
Any idea if they have non-dairy hot chocolate?
And any idea what was in the tamale?


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February 17, 2011
New websites launched for France, Spain and Netherlands allow visitors to find and source hard-to-find connectivity parts in their native languages
Until recently, the website was only available internationally in English. Visitors to each regional website will be able to view product descriptions, applications, features and benefits for hundreds of connectivity parts in their preferred language. Products currently available include I/O cards, A/V connectivity products, KVM switches as well as specialised cables and adaptors.
"We are very excited to offer websites that have been localised for these regions" said Paul Seed, CEO and Co-Founder of StarTech.com. "Although our products have always been available to customers in these countries, any of our web content has been provided in English. Based on a great deal of international interest in our products as well as customer feedback, providing localised versions of the site will definitely make it easier for visitors to find the connectivity parts they need".
The new websites can be accessed through the main website at www.startech.com or directly at the following addresses:
France: https://startech.com/fr (available in French and English)
Spain: https://startech.com/es (available in Spanish and English)
Netherlands: https://startech.com/nl (available in Dutch and English)
For more information about this announcement, please contact Andrew Stephen at 00 800 7827 8324 ext. 1248 or firstname.lastname@example.com
About StarTech.com
StarTech.com is an ISO 9001:2000 Registered manufacturer of hard-to find connectivity and technology parts including A/V products, computer parts, cables and server management solutions. Founded in 1985, StarTech.com has locations in the United States, Canada, Europe and Taiwan, servicing a worldwide market.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Stephen, StarTech.com
00 800 7827 8324 ext. 1248, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Cyclades 43.4 is from Beneteau line, famous French manufacturer who struck with this line a strong imprint to charter boats concept. The boat is characterized by a well-organized space. Stepping aboard the Sugar Daddy (whether from the broad swim platform or from the opening in the lifelines amidships) one is immediately impressed by the boat's volume. The cockpit is expansive and easy to move around thanks to the twin wheels and walk-around folding table. The cockpit is also uncluttered with no traveler to deal with and a main sheet mounted on the cabin top. This charter yacht based in our Trogir base, only 30km from Split city center, is a plump mid-size cruiser with a 2.9m length to beam ratio which allows for voluminous accommodations. The real charm of this comfortable sailing yacht for family holiday or holiday with friends is the very spacious cockpit which has a huge bimini. This awning hangs on the wires of the mast and doesn't prevent communication with the deck during sailing or mooring. Mast wires reach up to side of the ship allowing unhindered, spacious and safe passage from the cockpit to the bow.
Cyclades 43.4 rig has 61? clearance which is a pretty tall rig for excellent sail power. The mainsail is large and combines with a small fractionally rigged headsail on this true sloop. Upwind with large main and small jib, Cyclades races 7 knots and exceeding 8 knots downwind. The cabin trunk quickly slopes up with room for the dinghy. Four stainless steel handrails decorate the cabin trunk along with two Lewmar hatches. The cockpit has long benches and a large companionway sill forward. Helms are comfortable and the benches ergonomic. The ergonomics are perfect, and this cockpit is really what the design is all about. You'll definitely spend most of your time here and you'll enjoy its spaciousness.
The interior is roomy and takes full advantage of the beam. Not only that, it has a wide stern which allows for two large cabins aft. Six identical portholes line each trunk cabin side, giving a lot of daylight in the saloon. The floor is a composite wood mixture while the upholstery is white faux leather fabric found also on Jeanneau boats. Its nice modern interior with warm teak veneers takes full advantage of the design. The saloon is dominated by a big U-shaped lounge in white leatherette with a further central bench seat which is on a pantograph mechanism for stowage. In kitchen there's a gimbaled two-burner gas hob with oven next to a big top-opening fridge. The laminated work surfaces feature a substantial fiddle rail that can be used as a grab rail. Storage space abounds and the cupboards are deep. Navigation table is the right place for the skipper and crew's devices to charge up.
Headroom measuring just over 2 meters is great all the way through. Beds are spacious at latoflex slats what is rare for charter yachts. The fourth cabin is smaller than the others. There are 2 single beds in this cabin. It may be small for adults, but enough for children (or it can be used as the skipper's cabin).
Out of standard equipment included in price we'd like to highlight Wi-Fi Internet, Converter 220V/12V, solar panels, dinghy and a bow thruster. More information regarding standard and additional equipment, technical details, price and availability you may find here (link na web – Sugar Daddy). Sugar Daddy's ranking on renowned rating system for charter yachts - Euminia.com is shown on this link. (Euminia link na Sugar Daddy).
With refurbished interior, spaciousness typical for charter boat and modern French design, we are sure we have you interested for this popular charter yacht. If the answer is positive, feel free to contact us on email@example.com and ask for a quote or any other detail you are interested in, and we'll help you organize the best sailing trip for you and your family or friends in Croatia.


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Having honed his writing skills working at Odhams and IPC, Steve went freelance in 1972. He produced scripts for Dez Skinn's House of Hammer, as well as for Tornado, 2000AD, Doctor Who Magazine, Hulk Comic, various annuals, and more.
Some of his best remembered work was for Warrior comic in 1982 on Father Shandor (with artist David Jackson) and, under the pseudonym of Pedro Henry, writing Laser Eraser and Pressbutton.
With an interest in the strange and paranormal, Steve was one of the founders of Fortean Times in the early seventies. Amongst his closest friends was the writer Alan Moore (no relation) who he had known for over 40 years. Alan has always said that Steve Moore was a mentor to him, teaching him the craft of writing. For the past few years, Steve and Alan had been collaborating on The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic for Top Shelf Productions.
Back when he began his long career, Steve was nicknamed 'Sunny Steve Moore' by the editors at Odhams (who were keen to imitate Marvel's knack of nicknaming creators). Here he is, being a good sport, from the pages of Fantastic No.50, 27th January 1968...
Although he was an organizer of the first comic convention in Britain, Steve rarely attended comic conventions himself. I met him once or twice when he was a guest at a London event in the 1980s and he came across as a very modest and decent person. My sincere condolences to his family and friends on his untimely passing.
More information here:


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