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Li Lin at the 2nd Singapore Short Film Awards with her friends and collaborators
Sunday, 3rd April, 8pm
Sunday, 3rd April, 8pm
Ewart ParkThe grin says it all, not forgetting the unmistakble hug when she sees you. That's Li Lin, for sure. No air of mystery, no trying to intellectualise things. So I had no doubts this LUNCHBOX was going to be a bare and earnest one. We've had some others who preferred not to delve into personal matters. But Li Lin was game. And of course, the lovely BBQ that her family offered to me and Darren helped!
Jeremy (J): I want to know a bit more about who inspired you? When did you decide you want to be a filmmaker?
Wee (W): I first took an experimental film class when I was in Brown, in second semester Somophore year.
J: What did you study?
W: I was doing visual arts. More specifically, my major was arts semiotics. Don't ask me what it is, it was such a long time ago! I always knew I wanted to do something creative and I was doing a few things, painting, photography and creative writing as well. I had been doing visual arts from secondary school, JC, all the way through. I knew I enjoyed creating images and telling stories through images. When I took that experimental film class in Brown, it kind of hit me very hard that this was something that encompassed all my interests because it involved telling a visual story and had writing…. I was also a closeted actress, so I enjoyed creating characters. I am very grateful that I am able to make films, if not, I'll be quite schizophrenic or have multiple personality disorder. There is always this desire to live vicariously through other characters. So to cut a long story short, I really enjoyed my experimental film class but I realized that I wanted to go into narrative filmmaking, but not so much experimental film or avant-garde as Brown was touting. It was not really for me. Non-linear, experimental, etc they were not really my interest.
And at that time, I was studying a lot of American independent films for all my theory classes, so I was watching a lot of Spike Lee films, a lot of Atom Egoyan, all the Canadian and the American indie filmmakers, like the guy who did night on earth and coffee and cigarettes…. (jogs her memory) ah, Jim Jarmusch, I watched a lot of Jim Jarmusch shows, all his early films and I really liked the style of the indie American filmmakers. So I decided to spend a semester at NYU and I did this program called Sight and Sound, which was like an immersion programme into filmmaking and screenwriting. It was really my directing professor and my screenwriting professor at Tisch New York that really encouraged and gave me faith to believe in myself that I actually could try my hand at filmmaking. I really really enjoyed the classes there. I made 6 short films when I was there. All MOS - silent films. It was exhilarating and fun but the learning curve was very steep. It was intense but I just loved it. I wish I could go back in time and live those days all over again (laughs) But it was really through this baptism of fire that I realized that I loved doing this.
Funnily enough, my screenwriting professor then, his name was Charlie Hendrick was the student of my current professor now. So that was years ago (I was 20) and now I am 37 and I have gone back to school and I have a professor who's taught my ex-professor. Charlie's class was an introduction to screenwriting and will remain as one of the pillars of my filmmaking career. So when I graduated from Brown, I really wanted to go back and do my masters in screenwriting and study more about the craft.
J: What are you studying currently?
W: I have just completed my Masters in screenwriting. I had actually wanted to do the course in my 20s but you know you start work, making short films and you just get caught up in everything. So I am so grateful to have the opportunity now to go back to school, in particular Tisch, now in my 30s. It was a longtime dream fulfilled.
J: You fell in love with films, but did you see a career in it? How was the film scene like in Singapore when you graduated? Did you picture that you could be a full-time filmmaker or director?
W: I think when you are young, you are very idealistic, so of course, I really wanted to. At that same time, I knew that I didn't have a proper film background. So I needed to learn more about production so I joined Mediacorp for 2 years. I was an assistant producer, doing all the dirty work, which I actually kind of enjoyed to some extent. It was pretty fun and I met some cool people who are still my friends today. Then I came out to freelance and also work for other directors and producers. At the same time, I also made my own short films. And I really have to thank Dave Chua for this because Dave was one of the first few people that I met when I graduated from Brown. He was a friend of a very good friend. He was making a short film then and asked if I could help. So I helped and it was through the whole process of working with Dave and him telling me about the Singapore International Film Festival and asking me to give a shot in making my own short film that I picked up the camera. Dave in fact ended up helping me on my film as well. My very first short film was called Norman on the Air which eventually won at SIFF. And it kind of started my short film career. I really had no expectations when I made that short film.
J: Was that your first so-called break?
W: I guess it was my first introduction to the industry. Nobody knew who I was. I was just this girl who came back from Brown and I was like floating all over the place and doing work here and there, and then I made this short film and I used non-actors, shot at my uncle's house, used my dad's friend and a friend of my cousin's to play the lead and I eventually became very good friends with him – the guy who played Norman (his name is Harold) and he was the one who introduced me to Charles, my husband. So I think that film is very important in a lot of ways!
J: What was Charles doing at that time?
W: Charles was a professional sailor. He was a national sailor for Singapore. He's been sailing for many years.
J: Wow, the migration from sailing to art…
W: He's always enjoyed art. He was in arts school in St Martins when he was still sailing. Yeah, he's kind of like a freak of nature because he both a visual artist and a jock! When I met him, he was sailing but also just about to go into art school….. He really wanted to know who was this person who casted his friend Harold in a film!
J: What were the things you feared or stumbled you most between the time you started making short films and your first feature film?
W: Definitely it was the money. I was afraid a lot of money would be spent and in the end that fear came true! Because all my short films were done with tiny budgets. You know these days short film seem to be made with quite a lot of money, people spending 30, 40, sometimes even 50k on a short film. My short films were made with 2,3,6k. I think the most expensive short film I made was Holiday (with Adrian Pang) and that was under 20k and had 10k in funding. so there was alot of fear in how to raise the money for Gone Shopping. We eventually got the Singapore Tourism Board to give us some money, but a large portion of it was self-funded, which I won't be able to do again! It was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Now I have to raise money for my other films through other means and the personal investment has to be nil or very small. Aside from monetary fears there was also fear of whether I could sustain a story for so long and it's still something I grapple with but feel more confident after more experience and of course education.
J: One of the things that really amazes me about you and why I wanted to interview you is your resilience. Because I heard about how challenging Gone Shopping was and yet, you bounced you back!
W: I am on drugs (laughs)
J: (laughs) You have always this bubbly disposition that the other filmmakers don't have. The New Paper said you were friendly unlike the other filmmakers who always like to put on this mysterious air.
W: I don't think I'm smart enough to be mysterious. When you want to make films, you have to come from a very honest space. Because if you don't, it will reflect on your work. You also would not be able to draw from yourself. I think I'm very fortunate to have my family. I don't have to really worry about supporting my family, I just worry about supporting myself. I still live with my family. And my folks never made me feel bad that they had to loan me the money for my first film. My dad says, he knows its an investment that he knows one day would pay off! (laughs) My mum says 'You took an advance on your inheritance'. So when I'm older, I can say there is no more safety net, you guys will have to come and visit me in an old folks home and bring me milo and biscuits. But the truth is my folks are extremely supportive. Not to mention Charles who is very supportive as well. They are all very encouraging and even give fun suggestions, like suggesting their friends to act and locations and loaning me props. For Charles he sacrificed himself to be my art director on Forever and did a splendid job. I feel very lucky to have my folks and my husband.
Genuine Holga version of the same shot - courtesy of Darren Ong
J: It's your family business right?
W: It's my dad's business. My mum used to work in banking but later quit her job to help him. My dad always tells me the hardest business in the world is his business – which is the tyre business. I think that determination and that 'never-say-die' streak is in me because of my parents, but I can't even say I am as hardworking as them. They are far more resilient and they didn't have what I have now. They came from humble homes and my dad despite being a uni-grad had to drive a lorry at night and work in the family business in the day and my mum worked at a bank the minute she stepped out of University of Singapore. I remember my mum said they were so broke when they married, they had to take discarded furniture to dress their little apartment. (laughs) My sis and I lived with my grandparents and were raised by them till I was 5 (my sis was 7).
No wonder the name Bobbing Buoy Films! Found this wall full of photos of buoys in Li Lin's home.J: How long were you working on Gone Shopping for?
W: Gone Shopping was quite long. I spent quite some time on the script before we shot it. It was a multi-narrative and tough to tackle. And it was my first screenplay. And I was also the co-producer and as a first time feature director wanted to make sure everything was in order and perfect. It was after I made Gone Shopping that I decided that I wanted to go back to school and learn more. After my first film, I was really at a crossroad – my producer and I broke up and the film didn't make money, and there were some not-so-good reviews. Because it was my first film, and I cared so much about the film, I took everything very personally and I retreated into a shell, didn't know what to do. It felt almost like an anti-climax. Now looking back, I feel very proud of the film. I can look back and say if it was a real turning point in my life. At that point, there were some options apparent to me, I did think about giving up, go take a regular job and give up this whole notion of being a feature filmmaker because it really drains you emotionally, physically and financially. But I decided to press on, I got a MDA scholarship to attend Tisch Asia and then the MDA New Feature Film Fund came along and that helped fund a large portion of my second film. On hindsight, we could have made Gone Shopping with a lot less money but it was our first film, and we were idealistic, so we wanted to put all our guns into it. Having said that, when I look back at the film now, all I can feel is love for it. I am proud to say Gone Shopping was my first film.
J: You mentioned after Gone Shopping, you were in search of mentorship which you found in Tisch. How has that changed you?
W: These past years at Tisch led me to some really wonderful teachers and classmates and best of all to my thesis professor, Mark, whom I met in my second year at Tisch and who was Charlie, my first landmark teacher's teacher. Mark is a force of nature and knowledge. He is now a dear friend and will be my mentor for life. Mark really brought out the best in me and guided me through my thesis script "Singapore Cowboy" and it's the best work I've done so far. Being at Tisch has been a healing and invigorating time that will carry me through the rest of my creative journey.
Somewhere among this pile of notes were the ideas for 'Forever' and 'Gone Shoppinng'I have changed; I have much more appetite for constructive critiques but much less tolerance for negative reinforcement. I used to be much more nomadic and reclusive, but now I want to build a creative posse and grow with these people. I have more faith in myself and more humility about learning. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to be at Tisch.
Li Lin thanking literally everyone at the Singapore Short Film Awards 2011 where she received the honorary award
J: And was 'Forever' born out of that phase of being 'mentored'?
W: Actually the story for FOREVER was written before I entered Tisch. I did get some feedback from a teacher or two but as I had a co-writer/producer, Silvia, it was considered external work so I worked on new stories for school. After my first two semesters, I took a year off to make the film and after that I returned to complete my last two semesters, which turned out to be the best thing ever, as I got to meet Mark and my new classmates who are among the most talented, hardworking and inquisitive people I have ever come across. I am working with two of them now on screenplays and it's like an extension of school, we just have to keep to our own datelines!
Li Lin at the Malaysian premiere of Forever
J: What were the things you were determined to do differently from Gone Shopping?
W: I loved making Gone shopping for the most part but making Forever was actually tougher, having said that, I'm also proud of my second film. There is never an ideal situation to make a film especially if you're doing it relatively independently and low budget and with a new team, so the only thing I can do is to kick my own bad habits and progress to become a more matured and sophisticated filmmaker who can tell better stories and gain more audience.
Li Lin and curator Yuni Hadi at SINdie's Mise En SIN poster exhibitionJ: I notice both yr films have that candy-coloured ambience but with dark twists here and there. If that a close reflection of your nature?
W: I'm afraid so.
J: Will you ever make a dark film? Or horror?
W: I would love to. I was so obsessed with horror films and horror paraphernalia when I was growing up my mum was rather concerned. But being cowardly I locked them all up during 7th month at my grandmother's behest. My faves as a kid were "Salem's Lot" and "An American Werewolf in London" and as I got older "Lost Boys" and "The Ring". The wonderful thing about horror films is you always seem to remember where you saw it, who you were with and how you reacted at which point and etc, well at least for me! Like I watched the original "The Ring" at Lido I with my best friend Sharon and my husband (then boyfriend) Charles was waiting for us at a seat in row H. Sharon and I were late and we held hands walking up the aisle in the darkness, a scary scene had audiences screaming and we screamed in shock too and people laughed at us and at that moment embarrassment overtook fear.
And when Sadako climbed out of the TV at the end of the film, Charles was so scared he kept completely silent amidst all the screaming in the audience and was pretty much comatose of the rest of the month (he says year) as he relived that terrifying image in his mind.
I'm working on a horror script with one of my schoolmates, it's based on a short play about Huli jings (female fox spirits) I wrote in Tisch, we're still at the story breaking stage but we are excited about it and are just having fun.
Hopefully we can realize it into a film in the future.
Li Lin 'sardined' among her school mates at Tisch, make you want to go back to school doesn't it?
J: Who are your greatest influences in film?
W: Notably and in no order - Ridley Scott, Woody Allen, Peter Weir, John Hughes, Todd Haynes, Ann Hui, the Hui Brothers, Baz Luhrmann, Lee Ang, Eric Khoo, James Ivory, Joel Schumacher, Sofia Coppola, Royston Tan and Oliver Stone.
Finally, this Saturday (16 July at the Arts House), meet Li Lin, co-writer and producer Silvia Wong and actress Joanna Dong as they share the making of the film Forever. They are also there to launch the Forever DVD Collector's Edition, which is only available at the pre-launch event or by pre-order through http://www.innoform.com.sg/ This limited edition includes a four-frame 35mm film strip from the original film. While stocks last. More event details here.
Also, to share a piece of good news, Joanna Dong, the lead actress of Wee Li Lin-directed feature film FOREVER, was given a Star Hunter award at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival. A total of 10 of the most promising young actors in Asia are honoured at the inaugural edition of the Star Hunter award. Congratulations!


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Problems with plumbing can cause problems in to home and also damage your belongings. There are some suggestions below to assist you in fixing plumbing problems.
If the water in your toilet is low along with the toilet being clogged, pour some extra water in the bowl to make the plunger effective again. Repeat this procedure if necessary as the water returns back to a lower level.
If you want to look for floor damage around your toilet, just check the flooring for softness. Straddle your toilet and gently rock foot to foot to see if your floor feels a little weak or soft. You can save money by noticing and treating this problem as early as possible.
Keep a strainer over every drain in your house to prevent stray debris from clogging your pipes. You should clean your kitchen sink's strainer every time there is a large particle that's trapped in it. The ones in your bathtub should also be cleaned frequently, as needed.
Keep the drains in your bathtub working properly by pouring a cup's worth of baking soda and than a cup's worth of vinegar directly down your drain every month. Cover it with a plug or rag, since a chemical reaction should happen in the pipes. Wait for a bit, then flush with boiling water. Doing this will probably void your pipes of hair accumulations and soap scum.
One easy way to save on energy and water is to install efficiency-oriented shower heads. Hot water usage is mostly in the shower. When you install energy-efficient heads in each bathroom, you will save around 100 dollars or more per shower.
Using your toilet as a garbage disposal is sure to cause problems! Don't flush cotton balls, diapers, paper towels, or anything else that doesn't dissolve, as these can clog it. As well, keep your toilet paper usage to as little as possible.
Plumbing Problems
Plumbing ca be a very hard issue to deal with, but if you do some work and exhibit patience, you can help them. Research common plumbing problems, and for larger problems consult a professional plumber. Apply the tips offered in this article and you can rid yourself of plumbing problems.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Sign #1: You just can't say "NO" to a drink.
- Sign #2: Tolerance has now developed.
- Sign #3: You are feeling guilty feelings post drinking sessions.
- Sign #4: You are always disturbed by the desire to drink.
Are you concerned that your alcohol intake is getting out of hand? Maybe you are drinking more than you should be consuming at a safe level? The fact that you are concerned about your alcohol consumption means that you are actually a drinker.
A lot of times, the terms "problem drinker" and "alcoholic" can be used interchangeably. Most drinkers have the tendency to prefer being called a "problem drinker." "Alcoholics" has got a lot of negative connotations attached to it.
To help you find out for yourself whether or not you are suffering from alcoholism, or if you'd prefer "problem drinking," then you can refer to this guide.
Sign #1: You just can't say "NO" to a drink.
If you're having a hard time telling your peers that you WON'T be drinking alcohol, then you could actually be suffering from alcoholism. Heavy drinkers usually consume alcohol round the clock, despite promising yourself that you'll stop drinking alcohol already. If this is your problem, you need to consult your doctor for guidance on how to overcome the issue.
Sign #2: Tolerance has now developed.
Just like any other addictive substance, too much intake of alcohol can also cause tolerance because the body can actually become resistant to alcohol's effects in time. With tolerance, you would have to drink larger amounts of alcohol to experience the same desired effects each time. If you are drinking more quantities of alcohol than others and you still don't feel drunk, it is more likely a sign of alcoholism.
Sign #3: You are feeling guilty feelings post drinking sessions.
Are you experiencing a heavy sense of guilt after going through a heavy session? Maybe you have promised your loved ones or yourself time and again that you will not be drinking alcohol again. Alcohol can cause you to be an anti-social in the long run. In the morning after a heavy drinking session, you could be filled with regret over the things that you have said or done that came as a result of your drinking session. If this is true in your life, then you are likely to be having bouts of problem drinking.
Sign #4: You are always disturbed by the desire to drink.
Are you actually thinking about drinking alcohol right now? Do you do this all day, every day? It could be that you are even planning your life now around alcohol. The preoccupation of the mind with alcohol is sufficient evidence to prove that you are struggling with alcoholism.
Although alcohol could have positive effects in terms of social interaction, alcohol abuse can lead to antisocial behaviors and a host of other negative side effects including high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease, stroke, and cancer.
Drinking alcohol, in the long run, can also damage your cognitive performance. This explains why you are more likely to do something when you are drunk that you would not normally do when you are sober.
Too much consumption of alcohol can also take its toll on your perspective of society. If you're suffering from alcoholism, then you're more likely to become involved in domestic violence.
You can first limit your intake of alcohol during the weekend. Also, you need to practice saying no to alcohol when you know you will be going to social functions.


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Beach habitat enhancement project underway on Shaw Island
During the recent daytime low tides, Friends of the San Juans and project contractor Zach Crosby of Shaw Island Excavation worked to remove large rock and concrete debris from a stretch of beach on Shaw Island. The project will improve spawning substrate in a year-round forage fish area and compliments similar projects completed in 2017 with Friends and 3 additional private landowners along Blind Bay.
"It's been great to have such strong support from multiple private property owners for habitat enhancement efforts," said Friends Science Director Tina Whitman. "Blind Bay has extensive beach spawning forage fish as well as Pacific herring that spawn just offshore in eelgrass. When this new site is completed, spawning habitat will be restored at over 1,000 feet of shoreline across six parcels in this priority area."
At many places in the islands, unnecessary, outdated and unnatural structures on beaches limit the quantity and quality of the fine gravel and sandy habitat that forage fish eggs require for successful incubation. Forage fish play a key role in marine food webs, supporting seabirds, salmon and marine mammals, and require healthy shoreline habitats for spawning. Friends provides free technical assistance and advances opportunities to improve habitat like this one at Blind Bay with interested waterfront owners.
Funding for this project to improve the health of shorelines and support of marine food webs was provided by the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and members of Friends of the San Juans.
Attend a Friends of the San Juans 40th Anniversary Celebration and learn more in person about forage fish habitat research, restoration and protection efforts. Events are on Lopez on October 5, San Juan on October 12 and Seattle on November 8. Visit sanjuans.org/ 40th or contact Friends at 360-378-2319 for more information.


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Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu Tecumseh, Ontario
What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport and self-defense system that focuses on grappling and specifically ground fighting techniques. The art is derived from Japanese Kodokan Judo and teaches that a smaller and physically weaker person can successfully defend against a larger and physically stronger attacker with the correct use of leverage and understanding of bio-mechanics.
Jiu-Jitsu was brought to Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda (also known as Count Coma) in the early 20th century who taught it to the Gracie Brothers, most notably to Carlos and Helio Gracie. When Carlos Gracie opened his first academy Helio Gracie learned the techniques and modified them so that they are more applicable to someone as small and weak as he was, since traditional Judo techniques were impossible for him to perform. Over time, these new techniques were refined, expanded and reviewed to become what is known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu today.
History of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
The Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association (RJJA) was founded in 1995 by the legendary Saulo Ribeiro and is currently one of the most successful BJJ teams in the world. Saulo Ribeiro is considered to be one of the premier BJJ instructors in the world today and one of the greatest BJJ champions in history. Saulo has produced many champions under his leadership, but the one who stands out the most is his younger brother, Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro. Xande Ribeiro is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu, a six time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, and two time ADCC Submission Grappling World Champion.
Today, Saulo Ribeiro, alongside his brother Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro teaches at the University of Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, California, which they also founded. They also make time to visit each of the RJJA academies every year to teach and provide their mentorship.
Tecumseh Jiu Jitsu
Tecumseh Jiu Jitsu was founded by Miss Loree and Dean Hersche as Kingsville Martial Arts Academy. After years of successful operation in Kingsville, Dean and Miss Loree relocated to Tecumseh and rebranded the school as Tecumseh Martial Arts Academy.
In continuing the proven legacy of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction in the area, Eric Marentette and Miss Loree currently teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to people of all ages. Tecumseh Jiu Jitsu maintains its strong ties to the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association (RJJA) and its teachings.
See you on the mats!


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The Golden Ball award, presented to the best player at the World Cup finals, is selected from a shortlist drawn up by the FIFA technical committee. We reviewed the players who have been awarded many times with the Golden Ball. Until 1995, the only players eligible for this recognition were from Europe. Stars like Pele, who was given an honorary one in 2013, could never aspire to take one to home. We reviewed the players who have been awarded many times with the Golden Ball. Until 1995, the only players eligible for this recognition were from Europe. Stars like Pele, who was given an honorary one in 2013, could never aspire to take one to home.
Johan Cruyff
The Dutchman received the award on three occasions, in 1971, 1973 and 1974. The first time he was playing for Ajax Amsterdam and, the other two, he was in FC Barcelona, a team he would later coach and with which he would win the first Champions League in the club's history, in 1992. The first year he won the award after winning the Dutch league and cup, as well as the European Cup. In 1973, he won after doing the same with Barça, winning the Spanish League, the King's Cup, as well as the Spanish Super Cup. He is the most influential sports figure of Barça in the last four decades until the emergence of Josep Guardiola coach and Leo Messi footballer. With his arrival in 1973 and 1988, he returned pride to a club that in both situations had been in the shadow of Real Madrid for many years.
Michel Platini
"Le Roi Platini" (King Platini) is considered one of the best half-centers and game creators in history, as reflected in the 3 Golden Balls he received throughout his career, in 1983, 1984 and 1985. During 1982-1983 season ,he signed with Juventus of Turin, a team that won practically everything: Italian League, Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and European Super Cup, putting the finishing touch in the Intercontinental played in 1985 against Argentinos Juniors in which he scored the decisive penalty.
The Dutch striker has probably been one of the greatest centre-forwards of all time. Before signing for AC Milan, Van Basten had already won several titles in the Netherlands, but it was his signing and the key role he played in this great Italian, the credential that earned him three Golden Balls in 1988, 1989 and 1992. At Milan he won three Champions League titles in three years and in 1988 he also won the European Championship, scoring the final goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese won his first Golden Ball in 2008, when he was still a player of Manchester United, a year in which he was also awarded other prizes such as the Golden Shoe, for scoring no less than 31 goals in the Premier League, and the FIFA World Player. Later, he joined Real Madrid and began to forge his legend within the white club, where he has already surpassed numerous records and, to this day, continues to make historical numbers. He got tha prize again in 2013, and another one in 2014, after winning the long-awaited tenth Champions League with Madrid. It would repeat in 2016 and 2017.
Lionel Messi
The Argentinian football player has 5 awards behind him, just like Cristiano Ronaldo, but he can count on nothing less than 4 consecutive ones, from 2009 to 2012. With him, Barça has made history in football and he has made history in Barça, pulverizing records and goals as if he were a Playstation player. It was in 2015 the last time he lifted the Golden Ball, after a season in which FC Barcelona, under the orders of Luis Enrique, got 5 titles out of 6 possible, staying one step away from equalling the milestone achieved by Guardiola's team in 2009.


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Four years ago we happened across this village festooned in flowers. I never knew the name of the festival and promptly forgot the name of the village. During our last class at school, one of my fellow students mentioned an upcoming festival that his dance troop was performing in. One thing led to another and all was revealed. But first…. Last week, when I posted the Pasta with Shrimp and Pesto Rosso, I neglected to identify the spinach dish that was also on the plate. It's not summer cooking…. but it's easy, uses foods I always have on hand and we love it.
Mock Spinach Soufflé
Total time: 40 minutes
- 8oz (240 gr) frozen spinach
- 2 eggs (you can substitute 3 egg whites)
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- pinch of nutmeg
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Thaw spinach (use microwave, hot water or saucepan) and thoroughly squeeze out excess moisture.
- In medium bowl beat eggs well.
- Add yogurt, Parmesan and nutmeg. Mix well.
- Add spinach and mix well.
- Lightly oil a small baking dish. (I use a 7 inch square glass baking dish) Pour in spinach and bake at 400F (200C) for 30 minutes or until set.
- Remove and serve directly from baking dish.
The festival that I'm talking about is La Félibrée, an annual Occitan folk festival, celebrating the music, songs, dance and crafts of Occitan and the language of Oc. This is the 94th festival. This is the poster, in Occitan. The streets are festooned with garlands of paper flowers. We could see these, attached to the church tower, from across the river as we drove into town. We parked and started walking into the old part of town, to the festival. A woman came up to me and handed me two tickets. She explained that she and her friend had already been inside and seen the festival. She was giving us her tickets to use to get in 'gratuite' – for free. I wouldn't try to sneak in without paying, but when a stranger offers…. Did I mention that the festival was in Bergerac this year?
Here's Cyrano (you know, Cyrano de Bergerac? He was a real person…)
Where ever there was a bit of shade tables were set up and the local restaurants and food stalls were doing a brisk business. Where there was no shade, canopies were erected…. And more tables set-up. It was very crowded – and we were early! It was also hot. There were little fountains around for cooling off. The adults stuck their feet in the cool water…. and maybe splashed a bit on their arms and faces. The children weren't quite so restrained (with the prompting of maman!) When we left, I decided to 'pay it forward' and offer our, now twice-used, tickets to the first person I saw. As I was explaining why I was offering these rumpled tickets, in French, of course, the person I had, er, accosted, said, in English "I'm sorry, I don't understand…. We're Americans." Serendipity. Tomorrow – photos of the parade!
If you want nutrition information, try this site: Calorie Count


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The financial press has not been very kind to Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis and their comics are showing the same. Jim and Mike are stuck in a sticky situation where they cannot reveal what they have planned for the future (a mistake they have made one too often) while users and investors want to know what RIM has in plan for its future. AllThingsD's Joy of Tech takes on this conundrum this week. Let us know what you think!
The Joy of Tech Takes Another Stab at Jim & Mike
by the BerryReview Team on December 19th, 2011 ·
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About This PrintSaigō Takamori, the leader of the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion (and identified in the red cartouche on his immediate left as "Saigō Takamori the head rebel" 賊魁西郷隆盛), is flanked by his lieutenants Kirino Toshiaki 桐野利秋, to his right, and Shinohara Kunimoto 篠原国幹, to his left. Saigō, who had been dead several weeks when this print was published in October 1877, is standing on a hybrid tiger/wolf/badger demon1, representing the swift-killing disease cholera. Saigō is also pictured with a third arm, the meaning of which remains unclear to me. The imagery uses Saigō's status as an almost demigod after his death, to publicize a warning about a cholera epidemic that broke out the previous month. However, this is not one of the prints that sought to deify the rebel leader after his death, rather it uses double meanings to suggest that Saigo, and the chaos that resulted from his Rebellion, was responsible for the outbreak.
Helping me to decipher the print's title, which appears in the large red cartouche at the top right of the print, were the ever-helpful participants on the Ukiyo-e Q&A message board, Sato-san and Guy-san. The print's title reads 西郷虎狼狸予暴魔茂痢奔損 and can be read in several ways. Taken literally, it denounces Saigō, and figuratively it reads, in a tongue-and-cheek manner, that the dead Saigō can magically ward off cholera.
Sato-san commented that "It's interesting that some kanji characters are used just as phonetic symbols in this title. They don't make sense, but are catchy enough to draw readers' attention to cholera epidemic."
While the background text notes that the epidemic started in Kagoshima (the area of Saigo's insurrection) and spread to a wider area in Kyushu, the below 1880 account of the epidemic by a medical authority traces the epidemic's origin to China and its entry into Japan through the port of Nagasaki.
For additional information on cholera and its depictions in Japanese prints see the website of the University of California, San Francisco "UCSF Japanese Woodblock Print Collection" http://asian.library.ucsf.edu/contagious-disease?page=0,2
The Print's Text
1 The idiom 'korori' (虎狼狸) or 'tiger-wolf-badger disease' pairs the ideograph for "tiger" (ko 虎) with the character for "wolf" (ro 狼) and "racoon dog" (tanuki or ri 狸)to sound out a rendering of the word 'cholera' into Japanese and to signify the tricky, unpredictable and fierce nature of the disease.
西郷虎狼狸予暴魔茂痢奔損 揚州周延 1877年
"西郷虎狼狸予暴魔茂痢奔損(さいごうころりよぼうまもりほんぞん) かなよみ新文 投書 會田皆眞子戯述補誌 コレラ這般(このたび)世に騒々舗(さハがしき)傳戦病(でんせんびやう)の次第ハ其始め鹿児島縣下私学校より萌芽(きざし)を顕(あらハ)し一時弾薬の工を奪ひ俄に毒気地方に觸れ新製暴毒の大言を吐瀉(はきくだ)し。死者狂ひの苦ミを諸人に及ぼし其病毒肥豊日隅に傳染(うつり)感ずる者同一に死を極め更に生命を顧ミず 此暴者病の豫防にハ諸国より徴剤を募(つの)り旅團丸を新選し亦(また)抜刀巡散を用ても功あり 一頃ハ益々烈しく既に九州一円に蔓延し落命の者少なからず 故に醫官ハ残らず詰切り病院縣廳の混薩(こんざつ)ハ鼎の沸が如く巡査ハ別働に警備をなし政府の御手配(おてくばり)専ら人民保護を尽される御仁恤ハ実に難有(ありがた)きこと也 抑(そも/\)此暴者病戦地ハ別して豫法(ふせぎかた)に注意して宜く襲ハれざるやう用心すべし 併(しかし)疾く降る症ハ生命に別条なけれど不決(ふけつ)なる者ハ進撃して焼棄るに不如(しかず)。最も怖るべき症と雖も漸々官軍勝利丸の功驗(きゝめ)に依て其病根を断に至り速に消滅鎮静凱旋すと其筋へ傳法ありしかバ万民漸(やゝ)安躰攸悦して後来この悪病の患ひなく天下泰平無事平穏を祈祝スト云々 明治十年十月廿三日御届 北大門丁十一番地 画工橋本直義 東福田町二番地 出版人船津忠次郎 定價一?銭五厘"
"桐野利秋 賊魁西郷隆盛 篠原國幹"
[Source: Osaka: The Merchants' Capital of Early Modern Japan, James L. McClain (Editor), Osamu Wakita (Editor, Preface), 1999, p. 233]
The 1877 Cholera EpidemicSource: Cholera Epidemics in Japan. With a monograph on the influence of the habits and customs of races on the prevalence of cholera, Duane B. Simmons, M.D., Shanghai: Printed at the Statistical Department of the Inspectorate General of Customs, 1880, p. 4, 7-8.
Cholera had been absent from Japan for 15 years, before the September 1877 outbreak which resulted in over 6,500 deaths. In light of the severity of previous epidemics "Temporary cholera hospitals were built at the open ports with all possible despatch, and general information respecting prophylactics and the proper modes of treatment was diffused among the people by means of the newspapers and printed pamphlets."
In his report on the origins of the epidemic, Dr. Simmons, Chairman of the Yokohama Foreign Board of Health, noted:
|Under circumstances the most favourable for observation it is often very difficult to fix upon the exact vehicle by means of which cholera gains an entrance into a country. So we find it in regard to the epidemic of 1877. Even the government, after several months devoted to the investigation of the subject, succeeded in arriving at no more than an approximation of the facts.
Grave difficulties, in addition to the absence of quarantine regulations and universal inspection of ships coming from infected ports, were occasioned by the Satsuma rebellion, then at its height. In the history of cholera everywhere, war has been one of the most potent instruments for the transportation of the disease. The necessities of campaigning defy all ordinary rules, sanitary or other. But though this insurrection was no doubt responsible for the spread of cholera in and about the neighbourhood of the scene of strife, it can in no way be accused of originating the epidemic, which, as the facts enumerated in the Chinese Customs reports already quoted tend to establish, must have come first from China to Nagasaki, whence it afterwards spread to two other open ports, Hiogo and Yokohama.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog
|Title or Description
| Mr. Saigō's Amazing Charm to Ward Off Cholera [Reliable Saigō Will Protect You Against Cholera Infection]
Saigō korori yobō mamori honzon 西郷虎狼狸予暴魔茂痢奔損
| Yōshū Chikanobu (1838-1912)
| unsigned, but the publisher's yellow cartouche (shown below) identifies the artist as Yōshū Chikanobu. The right side of the cartouche reads as follows:
画工 [gakou or artist] followed by 橋本直義 [Hashimoto Naoyoshi, Chikanobu's birth name] followed by the address for his place of residence.
| no seal
|Publication Date
October, 1877
Funazu Chūjirō 船津忠次郎
left half of cartouche: 出板人[shuppanjin (publisher)] 船津忠次郎 [Funazu Chūjirō] followed by the publisher's address of Higashifukudachō 2-banchi [Marks: seal 26-116; pub. ref. 077]
right half of cartouche: see Signature above.
| excellent
| fair – possibly one sheet from a triptych; soiling throughout; paper wrinkling; not backed
|ukiyo-e; fūshi-ga
this yellow cartouche appearing below the publisher's cartouche give the price of the print as 1 sen 5 rin. (定價一銭五厘)
| vertical oban
| H x W Paper
| 13 7/8 x 9 1/2 in. (35.2 x 24.1 cm)
| Literature
| Collections This Print


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Having been available in Japan for almost 2 years now, Detective Pikachu will finally be released on March 23 in North America and Europe! Considering a film is in the works with Ryan Reynolds cast as the titular character, the game was bound to come to the U.S. sooner or later.
Detective Pikachu is set in the world of Pokemon, revolving around a boy named Tim Goodman who can understand a particular Pikachu whose great intelligence makes up for his lack of brawn. Together with Tim, they solve cases like a modern-day Sherlock and Watson. As you can tell by the trailer below, the English localization does not include the voice of Ryan Reynolds or even worse, Danny Devito. Regardless, it still sounds good!
An Amiibo for Detective Pikachu is also being released, and it's massive. The picture below shows just how much bigger it is than the Pikachu Smash Bros. Amiibo. Pika-fans can expect to play the game on Nintendo 3DS on March 23, 2018!


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My neighbor Kim asked me to make a cake and cupcakes for a Baby Shower she was hosting. The mommy to be is a BIG Longhorn fan! She is a UT grad living in Alaska!
Kim wanted a cake shaped like a Longhorn with matching cupcakes.
The Longhorn Cake is Triple Chocolate with Raspberry Filling. The Cupcakes are French Vanilla with Pumpkin Filling.
Here is what I came up with:


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|Illusion of Safety "Surrender"
We spent a collective 8.5 hours at WZRD on 7/13/2015- Sarah Moskowitz, Mike Krause, Lidia Vomito, Bryan Chump Change, and myself. Here is a document of that madness. Metal, synth-pop, punk, outsider music, experimental, ambient, shoegaze, soundtracks, industrial, noise, synth soundscapes, gamelan, latin pop, prog, rockabilly, novelty, doo-wop... some fine freeform programming, if I may say so myself.
My scheduled appearance on WNUR with Dan Burke was not to be, but I did find a Memory Waves Transmission review of Illusion of Safety's "Surrender", which was released on no part of it, and may be the last release with the now defunct Illusion of Safety moniker.
Here's a short blip:
Surrender is a great return to the genre for Illusion of Safety, a release that finds Burke switching expertly between forms of noise for a variety of great tracks. The first side is generally quieter, while Side B opens up for catchy beats, sampling, and a more pronounced sound. Both are good listens, and fans of Illusion of Safety's work will find Burke has crafted another exceptional record.
Some airplay from my friend Little Fyodor on his Under The Floorboards radio show on KGNU--
From June. WILT (from Nocturnal Requiem on NO PART OF IT), Architeuthis Dux, Merzbow, Jeff Chenault, and others were included.


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Saturday, November 7, 2009
Secrets and Lies - Jaishree Misra
This is chick-lit, but chick-lit of a high calibre. Four childhood friends from a Catholic school in India have created lives for themselves in London and India. However, their lives have been overshadowed by a tragic event which took place during their last year in school. One day, they find that they have been summoned to a reunion by their old principal.
As their minds return to the buildup to that tragic event, the women start to realise how their lives have been shaped, and indeed damaged, by their inability to deal with that night. Misra moves seamlessly between the past and the present to weave her story.
The major negative in this book is the anti-climatic and somewhat unsatisfying ending. Misra spent a lot of time developing the characters and their lives, and to finish on this dull note was disappointing. But overall, if you want an easy read you could do a lot worse than this tale of friendships and second chances.
Labels: Amazon Vine, ARC, book reviews
1 comment
- Jillian said...
This looks good! Maybe I'll add it to my reading list. I hope the ending isn't too disappointing though : (
It sounds like you would really enjoy a book I wrote called 'Knickles and Dimes'. It's laugh-out-loud funny and, all in all, a fun read! Check it out!
Thanks for the review!
- November 8, 2009 at 8:13 PM
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Editor's note: This commentary is by Brian Shupe, the executive director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council.,
[W]ith so much bad news circulating about our society's – and our governments' – inability to confront the enormous environmental challenges that we face, it is important to recognize the good news when the system works as it should and laws that were passed to protect the health and safety of citizens are put to good use.
In recent months, both the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the state's Attorney General have taken advantage of an important legal principle to help protect groundwater. It's known as the public trust doctrine, which means that Vermont's groundwater is held in common to serve the public interest of all Vermonters.
This is an important concept, and critical to the state's future, considering that over two-thirds of Vermonters rely on groundwater for potable water – and considering that many large areas of the planet suffer a water crisis that results in deprivation, conflict, and hardship.
Worldwide, over 780 million people lack access to clean water. That's about one in nine people. And, 3.4 million people die every year from water-related illness. Granted, global overpopulation is a large part of the problem, and that will only bring more pressure to those corners of the earth – such as Vermont – that have seemingly plentiful supplies of clean water.
Defending our common interest in protecting groundwater is just what Attorney General William Sorrell did when he sued some of the largest refiners of gasoline in the country – including Exxon/Mobil, Irving and Shell among others – for polluting Vermont's groundwater with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).
MTBE was, but is no longer, used as an additive in gasoline. In several instances throughout the state gasoline containing MTBE leaked out of underground storage tanks and contaminated groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said that while data is lacking on long-term exposure to ingesting MTBE, there is evidence to suggest that MTBE is a potential human carcinogen.
The lawsuit against gasoline refiners relies in large part on the state's Groundwater Protection Act of 2008, a law that declared groundwater to be a public trust resource and created a regulatory system for managing commercial water extraction.
In his filings in federal court, the Vermont Attorney General's Office refers repeatedly to the fact the state holds groundwater resources in trust for the benefit of the public and alleges that the oil companies have interfered with those rights.
"As a proximate and direct result of Defendants' acts and omissions as alleged in this complaint, MTBE has unreasonably interfered with trust rights by causing the statewide contamination of groundwater, drinking water supplies, public drinking water supply wells, private wells, and other waters and property of the state," the complaint from the AG's office reads.
The lawsuit against gasoline refiners relies in large part on the state's Groundwater Protection Act of 2008, a law that declared groundwater to be a public trust resource and created a regulatory system for managing commercial water extraction.
The origins of that law go back at least to 2006, when the Vermont Natural Resources Council, partner organizations, and concerned Vermonters from the towns of Randolph, Dorset, East Montpelier and elsewhere, began a campaign to more fully protect Vermont's groundwater. In 2008, lawmakers passed the law protecting groundwater.
And in recent weeks, the Department of Environmental Conservation incorporated important public trust provisions into a new groundwater protection rule that further builds upon the 2008 law.
The so-called Underground Injection Control rule, which goes into effect in the near future, explicitly affirms that the state has an obligation to protect groundwater for all Vermonters. This is one of several rules that will be updated to ensure that the property of all Vermonters – our groundwater – is protected for the common good.
Lots of Vermonters teamed up to push for the bedrock law to safeguard groundwater by declaring it to be a public trust resource. Lawmakers considered the arguments for and against, and passed legislation to do just that. Elected officials turned to the courts to enforce the law when that trust was violated. And bureaucrats in Montpelier are applying the law through a variety of available programs. That's all good news.
Did you know VTDigger is a nonprofit?
Our journalism is made possible by member donations. If you value what we do, please contribute and help keep this vital resource accessible to all.


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A brilliant marketing and advertising strategy. The Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables idea in France was a win-win situation for both market sellers and consumers. Rather than wasting 300 million tons of fruits and vegetables which are not normal to the human eye, sellers could still sell them and consumers could still buy healthy and delicious fruits and vegetables much cheaper then the normal ones. It also helps to make people be aware of not wasting food. Intermarche (The 3rd largest supermarket chain in France) even made the consumers realized that these fruits and vegetables are as good as the normal ones by making fruit juices and vegetable soups for consumers to taste for them to advertise the product.
– Aileen Dizon


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Saturday, March 23, 2013
My biggest problem with some of the songs is that with her particular drawl, getting behind the notes, and the lusher strings Klein adds, it takes on a lounge feel. The slower version of The Everly's Bye Bye Love sounds like a Burl Ives or Eddy Arnold version, with none of the original track's spriteliness. All the older numbers, from Take These Chains From My Heart to You Don't Know Me, are too laid-back, even with the quality of all the voices, arrangement and players.
Better are the newer songs chosen to update the Charles idea. They are all familiar, but these are very interesting takes on them, and since they aren't numbers that have been covered all that often, they are more fresh. Gentle On My Mind takes on a sadder town, and she's right, it is a more serious number than the good-time Glen Campbell version. Bird On A Wire works very well, thanks to a great string arrangement, and her best vocal on the disc. The killer though, and the song that made me reconsider what I was hearing, is Warren Zevon's Desperadoes Under The Eaves, which closes the disc. Her haunted take is perfect for this impeccable song, and since it's set in a sleazy bar, Peyroux's voice fits perfectly, three cocktails too many. So I'm split down the middle on this one.
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Tailoring services for some time was more of a marketing exercise than an actual practice. How can we convince people that our services our unique to each client when they might actually be the same product, just sold for the client's unique needs?
For a short time, I was selling WebSphere to small and medium sized businesses in southern Ohio and Kentucky. It was a pivotal experience as there were only a small number of businesses that could use the product and they drove a very high percentage (beyond Pareto) of the sales. The first appointment I set up for our outbound WebSphere rep was at a pig farm. The IT director greeted the rep in mud covered hip waders.
WebSphere Application Server was an ephemeral construct. To most people, including us who sold it, it had no reality. Other products were a litte more tangible, like Commerce Server. It was like Shopify before Shopify… but you had to host it and maintain the software yourself. And the software cost $100K per CPU core and you needed at least two cores to run, oh, and you needed a backup server. Oh, and $300K in services to setup.
The key to getting any interest from prospective clients was to present WebSphere as some sort of manna. It could take the taste or shape of whatever the client needed and any of the sub products could be jammed in to fill in the rest. It wasn't elegant but with clients who believed the adage "nobody got fired for buying IBM", it could mean a lot of revenue for IBM.
Providing tools is one way of helping customize an offering to clients. The other is creating a singular process that results in a customized solution. For this, the current tools around AI now offer this, at least for software. Every Netflix screen is different, same with our Facebook feeds, every Google search takes into account our history.
Where this will soon take route is in our voice interactions. Today, the cadence and tone of Alexa or Google Assistant is the same regardless of speaker. Yes, you can set accent depending on location but it's still fairly dumb. What we may find soon is that there might be "generic" responses for non-identified users and then tailored responses when the systems know it's us. Maybe this is derived from sentiment analysis of our email, emotion in our voice, or other indicators.
The incremental cost of customization is getting closer to zero. The challenge is to ensure that the outcome of the customization process provides value. Part of that might still require setting user expectations upfront.


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The owner of Exventar, Jette Lund Nielsen, had already worked with a smith on producing open steel bicycle sheds, but when she received an order for lacquered sheds she needed a supplier who could work with lacquered steel. 'I asked my network, which told me to contact Staermose Industry. They offer a wide range of services, including lacquered items. They took the job and the price was competitive', Jette Lund Nielsen says.
'Staermose Industry employs a smith, who has also trained as a constructor. Talking to someone who knows how everything works made me relax. It is great that they are quick to give the job to the right man, and that he sees it through', Jette Lund Nielsen continues.
She knows what she values about the collaboration: 'I got a sparring partner on my unique project. It makes you feel that everything is possible. What I do not know, Staermose Industry knows. They provide expert knowledge, and I am confident that what they produce will still work 20 years from now'.
Jette Lund Nielsen explains: 'They are able to realise my ideas, and they have played a part in the ongoing product development. I do not come with a finished product. They have helped me with the final finish and given me access to knowledge about the materials which I did not have. They are experts in helping the customer rationalise the product and remove unnecessary parts – because the lighter, the cheaper. They are also on top of the construction part of the process and are able to provide guidance'.
By what makes her want to recommend Staermose Industry to others? Jette Lund Nielsen is quick to reply: 'They are very service-minded and provide the necessary service if a problem occurs. They know that they have to follow up on the project, and they help me if I have a problem with the lacquering for example. Staermose Industry is a very flexible business partner, and they are open to new ideas. A good partner in the creative process, when you want to make something – they have the competencies to help you reach your goal'.
It is not just the product development process that appeals to Jette Lund Nielsen. She also thinks Staermose Industry has a good social profile: 'I would like to help them strengthen that and, in so doing, help the vulnerable in society find a job. It is important to me that we work together and try to make something'.
Jette Lund Nielsen concludes by saying, 'I do not have to worry, and I feel welcome at Staermose Industry. Of course, I think they will be an important business partner to me in the future as well. It is natural for me to ask them first'.
About Exventar:
Exventar's designs are inspired by the surrounding landscape. The company designs and sells sculptural elements for urban spaces and open landscapes. In 2013 and 2015 the MIKADO bicycle stand was a part of the outdoor sculpture exhibition Sculpture by the Sea in Aarhus. Exventar has delivered FRISBII bicycle stands with coloured roofs and MIKADO stands to several companies, including the largest company in Billund, Denmark. All Exventar designs are produced in Denmark.


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Rep. Steve King is furious that the U.S. plans to increase the number of refugees from the Syrian Civil War admitted into the U.S. from just 500 to between 1,000 and 2,000, which the Iowa Republican said is actually a plan to resettle "tens of thousands" of "quasi-refugees."
"The President just appears to have no fear of the consequences of doing stupid things," King said during an interview today on Newsmax. "You're not going to get Syria fixed if you take the people out of there that need to be the ones doing that work to fix it and there's no way to avoid through that network of getting ISIS members and terrorist and future terrorists brought into America. That's like creating a hole and bringing people through it."
King, who is one of the GOP's top anti-immigrant voices, said President Obama "seems to believe that he can pour people into America here that we know are the sources of death and violence."


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Heather Stripe Cardigan
Product variations
Color: Dark Green
size: Please Select
Soft to the touch and lovely to wear, this button-up stripe cardigan is perfect for layering up your favorite outfits and great for when the days cool off. We've added supersoft materials for that extra special feel and chunky buttons to complete this must-have casual cardigan.
- Softly textured knit
- Stripe design
- Button-up front
- Comfortable & relaxed fit
We're committed to using more sustainable materials. Read more about our commitments to sustainability here.
Product code: 970621
Care Instructions
- 49% nylon 48% acrylic 3% alpaca
- Machine washable
FREE on orders above $100, $5 for orders under $100.
Your order will be shipped via our fully tracked OCS Service, and you should expect it to arrive within 5-7 days of ordering. Please note during promotional periods orders may take an additional 2 working days to arrive.
Changed your mind? No problem! Returns are easy at FatFace.
Returns Policy
You can return your unwanted items via mail or to store within 30 days of receipt for full price items or 15 days for Sale items, they just need to be unused and in their original condition.
View all returns information on our returns page.
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Birthdays on Another Planet
"Celebrate Every Day of Your Life" - is what I believe in; but this cruel Earth and it's people don't allow you to celebrate everyday of your life. Well, for the desperadoes amongst you, here is something which you will find extremely useful. Check out my Reasons for Celebrations Go ahead! See when is it your birthday on another Planet or When you have completed 11000 days of living and Just Celebrate. Extrabit.com has really added fun to our lives. Cheerio!!!


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Mountain Hardwear is rolling out a new fabric in its Fall 2011 line that's knocking the socks off winter sports athletes who've given it a test drive. Called Mountain Hardwear Dry.Q, the proprietary new fabric pairs total waterproof protection with the highest breathability standards. I caught up with the brand's own Ryan Henbest to chat about the new fabric at Outdoor Retailer so I'll share some of his insights here.
The idea for Dry.Q started a few years ago, when Mountain Hardwear gearheads realized they were only using their waterproof jackets "when shit hit the fan," as Henbest put it bluntly. During high-octane pursuits, like mountaineering and Nordic skiing, a waterproof coat's lack of breathability make it virtually useless. So a lightbulb went off, and Dry.Q was born.
"This is the biggest thing since they started Mountain Hardwear."
Mountain Hardwear partnered with GE to bring about the technology for the fabric. Using GE's popular eVent membrane, Mountain Hardwear then tricked it out with a special blend of backers, seam tape and other MH magic to make it a more comfortable, durable and waterproof option.
"It's all about air permeability," Henbest says. "With Gore-tex you have to have the heat pressure built up for the garment to breathe; with Dry.Q there's no wait. This is the biggest thing since they started Mountain Hardwear."
Mountain Hardwear is unveiling about 75 Dry.Q styles, with Elite, Active and Core subcategories. Plus, big news this year is that every new style was drawn by in-house designers (the first time Mountain Hardwear has done it all themselves), so look for a more unified aesthetic and experience with all this brand control.
Here's what to expect from the three Dry.Q series:
Dry.Q Elite is the best of the best—the most durable waterproof-breathable in the industry, in fact. Great for high-output adventures, Dry.Q Elite maximizes body vapor outflow from the start so you never get clammy; it comes in soft shell, 2-layer and 3-layer styles.
Dry.Q Active pairs the waterproof-breathable features with stretchy, lightweight materials and body-mapped designs to minimize drag, weight and bulk. I am definitely excited to try out the new women's Effusion Power Tight with Dry.Q Active for skate skiing.
Dry.Q Core is the foundation of Dry.Q, versatile, durable and excellent for even day-to-day rainwear.
And here's what our staff, who scored some early Dry.Q styles, have to say:
Todd, TMS web programmer, wears the men's Mountain Hardwear Jovian Jacket with Dry.Q Elite
This is by far the most breathable waterproof jacket I have ever worn. I wore this jacket shovelling snow for a couple hours during a major dump and I managed to stay dry (much to my amazement). I was also very impressed with the way I didn't roast in the lift line like I normally do after riding an aggressive line. You really can feel it breathe the moment you put it on just like Mountain Hardwear claims.
Kevin, TMS hard goods manager, wears the men's Mountain Hardwear Snowpocalypse Jacket with Dry.Q Elite
I have used it most of the past winter (even more than my Patagonia jacket). That alone, says something about this jacket. It functions as a great inbounds/ sidecountry jacket. I really dig the zip-away powder skirt. The moisture management is definitely noticeable when you place your bare hands under the pit zips. You can feel how well the Dry-Q material brings moisture to the outside of the jacket; however, you can't feel a "draft." Definitely completely H20 proof. I once rode my bike home in the rain while wearing the Snowpocalypse jacket. It works well for that too! Interestingly I fit a large perfectly in the Mountain Hardwear jacket, whereas I am a medium to large in Patagonia or Mammut. The jacket still fits less slim than a Mammut or Patagonia piece. I think it's been my fave jacket because of the color. How can you beat fluorescent yellow? Not so great for ducking ropes, or ditching ski patrol, but we all know I would NEVER do that!
To see our new Mountain Hardwear Dry.Q styles in stock, visit our Mountain Hardwear brand page. And tell us what you think about the new Dry.Q!
Mountain Hardwear Snowpocalypse Jacket
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I'm a 6-year Tahoe resident. Yep, I live the life, with a lake view from my desk, lunch breaks on the beach with my dog, and morning powder runs when the snow's good. I ski, snowboard, skate ski, and cross-country ski in winter, and hike, mountain bike, backpack, and lay around on Tahoe's beaches in summer.


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Frederiksberg Loppetorv
Formally an independent municipality, Frederiksberg is an affluent area of Copenhagen with excellent shopping opportunities and many green spaces. In fact, Frederiksberg is more fashionable than Vesterbro and Nørrebro, and its residents are usually older and more established. Frederiksberg is particularly renown for shopping, as this municipality features many clothing shops as well as sushi restaurants, cafes and deli's. However, one of Frederiksberg's highlights is its weekly flea market: Frederiksberg Loppetorv or Frederiksberg flea market.
Open every Saturday from beginning of April to mid October in the nearby parking space next to the Frederiksberg City Hall, Frederiksberg Loppetorv is one of the largest and busiest flea markets in Copenhagen.
Frederiksberg flea market features over 90 stalls which offer almost everything you can wish for, particularly when the citizens of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg choose to tidy up in their attic and get rid of their affluence.
Among other things, visitors usually go to Frederiksberg Loppetorv to shop for Danish fashion and second-hand clothes, antique furniture, antique crockery, Danish design decor items, design lamps, books, ceramics, glassware, silverware, vintage toys and music instruments.
Due to the upscale nature of the neighborhood, items sold at Frederiksberg Loppetorv tend to be of high quality, making it a good bet to find great and useful stuff at reasonable prices. Food stalls and beer tents regularly set up at Frederiksberg flea market, so flea market enthusiasts can enjoy a Danish hotdog and a glass of "Gammel Dansk" bitter while they take a stroll. Keep in mind that depending on the weather and time of year (spring/ autumn) the Frederiksberg flea market may be at less than full capacity. It can therefore sometimes be pretty dismal…
Shoppers who wish to take a shortcut straight to Danish antiques and vintage merchandises, should visit loppehylder (literally "flea shelves" in english). This flea market-like shop is located next to Frederiksberg flea market, and operates every day from 10 am to 6 pm – Saturday & Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Loppehylder is based on a fairly common concept in Denmark: residents rent a set of shelves for one or two weeks, and sell their items at a fix price. Since the items are commissioned by their respective owners, it is not possible to haggle prices down. But flea market enthusiasts might find their happiness there: Mid century modern Danish furniture, vintage crockery, Danish ceramic, vintage home decor, design light fixtures, pictures, and paintings, litterally overflow in this little shop and at a rather reasonable price – considering the cost of living in Denmark.
The Frederiksberg flea market and loppehylder are definitelly a great combo for a fruitful antique shopping day in Copenhagen.


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The winter guide to motorcycle riding in France and the U.K.
Jack Frost is swiftly on his way into France and the United Kingdom, throwing little flu parcels at everyone and making sure that the ground is as slippery as possible. While drivers are abandoning their cars left, right and centre, the savvy two-wheeled warrior can still ride through the winter streets so long as they are careful. The last thing you want is to have a mishap right before Christmas and spend the holidays having that conversation with your motorbike insurance company (if you can even get through to them; the Christmas season is incredibly busy). It's best to avoid damage to yourself and your bike where possible, so here are some tips to riding out the winter in style.
Winter gear
It doesn't matter how tough you think you are; if you go riding in the dead of winter with your summer leathers you're going to feel more than a twinge of cold. Your winter riding kit should give you added water resistance and insulation without compromising on protection. This is especially important for your hands since they're one of the first parts of your body to feel the cold (and you don't want to lose sensation to the part that controls the bike!). Gauntlets are even better as they stop water getting into the gloves and improve airflow, so your hands aren't cold but neither do they sweat.
With the days getting shorter, it's a good idea to make yourself as visible as possible since you're likely to be riding in the dark. Reflective clothing will help increase your visibility when riding during the dark mornings, making sure that other motorists are aware of you on the road.
Taking care of your bike
A biker is only as good as their machine, so you'll need to keep your bike in tip-top condition so that it purrs like a kitten. There's an urban legend that reducing your tyre pressure will give you more grip when riding through snow and ice. Don't do this; not only is it dangerous but it's also quite illegal. It's much safer to ensure that your tyres are inflated according to the recommended pressure given by the manufacturer.
Also, remember to clean your lights regularly so they are giving you as much visibility as possible. Give your lights and mirrors a wipe down before each journey to remove debris and dirt.
Riding tips
The roads are going to be wet, and they're going to be slippery. Whereas your stopping distance is twice as long as normal on a wet road, when it comes to snow and ice it's going to be ten times as long, so allow for plenty of time when stopping to minimise road spray and to limit the risk of losing control.
The winter season is going to throw all kinds of nastiness at you – sudden winds, poor visibility, heavy snowfall and pedestrians that are too busy bracing against the cold to notice a motorcycle nearby. Take it easy when you ride and be extra cautious so you have more time to adapt and react to whatever curveballs the weather throws at you.
Lastly, don't forget to keep a thermos of tea in your pannier. A winter rider can't function properly without a nice cup of tea.
Jamie Gibbs is the resident blogger for motorcycle insurance comparison site Confused.com. His first experience on a motorbike was while riding pillion, where he accidentally sat on the exhaust. It took him a few months to work up the courage to try again.
If you're based in France and want to take part in the fight against the Government's proposed introduction of a compulsory annual environmental and road safety test for motorcycles and their continued policy to ban motorcyclists from filtering through traffic, then contact the Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC – French Federation of Angry Bikers).
Si vous habitez en France et souhaitez participer aux manifestations contre la proposition du gouvernement d'introduire un controle technique pour les 2 roues motorises ansi que de continuer a empecher la circulation inter files pour les motocyclistes dans les embouteillages, contactez la Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC).
Please join and support the campaign to stop Westminster Council from stealth taxing motorcyclists to park before their scheme spreads all over the UK and the rest of Europe. For further details, visit http://www.notobikeparkingtax.com/
Rejoignez le groupe de manifestants contre le stationnement payant des motocyclistes a Westminster avant que cela ne se propage dans le reste du Royaume-Uni et l'Union Europeenne. Pour plus d'informations, consultez http://www.notobikeparkingtax.com/
If you have a story you would like to see published on UK France bikers.com, please contact us here.
Si vous avez une experience a partager et que vous souhaiteriez voir publiee sur UK France bikers.com, n'hesitez pas a nous contacter en cliquant ici.
Plastivore permalink
Whilst I really appreciate this post, I think it fails to point out the obvious, which is, of course, that as soon as there is snow or ice we should just avoid riding a bike.
I understand I sound like a moralising know-it-all from the Sécurité Routière, but I truly believe that this is worth taking into account.
Kudos to the site, though! I'm a French expat living in the UK, and really appreciate your posts.


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Thinking About Running A Home Based Business? Have A Look At These Tips!
Unforeseen developments can upset your lifestyle. You may find you have lost a great job after many years, and also you don't know where to start next. Think of opening a home-based business.
The advice in the article above may be just what you need to finally become your own boss.
Once your product is out of stock, be sure to say so. Customers will respect your honesty, and will also be more likely to do future business along. Often be specific on the time order when there is an expected delay so your customers will make the decision to buy an alternate item.
Ask your clients to refer family to your business in turn for the incentive. Using recommendations to advertise is the best advertising method, like a friend's recommendation carries excess fat than the usual printed ad. Incentives usually boost loyalty from existing clients.
Purchase professional looking, quality business cards. You will find business card offers online free of charge or very cheap. Your organization card must range from the important contact data, much like your name, your organization name, telephone number and current email address. The URL to your website as well as your email address ought to be listed on the cards. This makes it easier to your customers to achieve you in a number of ways.
Always maintain immaculate records with your home business. If the IRS desires to audit your business, things will certainly be a lot easier for those who have detailed records available. Not keeping good financial records can find yourself resulting in you needing to pay a lot of money to the IRS.
When you first establish your home business, you have to estimate initial costs. Your costs might be under a regular business, however they still needs to be made up. Determining how much it would cost to operate your business will help you avoid losing money on the long-term.
Speak with a lawyer that deals in running a business before you launch your home-based business. Different states could have different regulations regarding using a business at your residence. Using a good business lawyer will ensure you are aware of applicable laws and the ways to follow them, preventing problems as you may proceed.
You have to see how much you will price your merchandise for. If you are planning to manufacture the items that you just sell, you'll first must research and compute what your cost is to produce them. Items are typically priced by doubling the money it costs to create them. This really is what you need to charge for wholesale orders. To get the expense of it in retail, multiply by three avid editing training
While reading this article article, hopefully you were motivated to take your way of life into your own hands. You were given plenty of advice on starting a home business, and the time has come to seize the bull from the horns and do it now! You can keep this article for reference to read through anytime you are not sure what the next step you ought to be taking is..


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Imagine bundling up in skins and furs, emerging from your igloo to a sight of dogs poking their heads out of the snow like crocus sprouts, and taking off into the wild in search of something harpoonable. This was morning in the Arctic 1,000 years ago.
Only one animal was content with this state of affairs – and not the ones contributing furs or harpoon targets. Eons of breeding have tempered the Arctic working dog into a creature utterly devoted to tugging people across snow. The sputter of engines gradually muffled the sled dogs' eager yips and yaps, but a few special places still offer this primeval mode of conveyance. Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge of Ely, Minnesota is one of them.
"I've had a love affair with the Boundary Waters since I was a Boy Scout," said Paul Schurke, co-owner of Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge. "I got the chance to call the Northwoods home back in the '70s when a college friend and I started a non-profit called Wilderness Inquiry, which offered people with disabilities the opportunity to go canoeing and dogsledding. We hired Will Steger to help us get started. Will was already a master musher at the time, and he and I later went on to lead the first confirmed solo dogsled journey to the North Pole.
"Along the way my wife Susan and I started Wintergreen. This is our 40th year taking people out dogsledding. It's a great way for people of any age and ability to come up and enjoy the winter woods. And our business is very fortunate – dogsledding is just about the most effective method of social distancing available.
"We have 60 Canadian Inuit Dogs, all of which came from Inuit communities. They are an ancient breed that made the traditional Inuit way of life possible, and we're committed to their history and integrity.
"The Canadian Inuit Dog is hardwired to pull a sled and wants nothing more than to be harnessed to one. The second they see a sled, they start going bananas. They are impervious to the cold. We get occasional bouts of 40 below weather up here, and the dogs still prefer sleeping outside in it. And although their closest cousin is the wolf, they're almost friendly to a fault. That's a reflection of their evolution alongside the Inuit people, who wanted gentle dogs that could act as blankets when they weren't pulling a sled.
"Launching out across that beautiful snowscape, with nothing but the sounds of panting and paws racing against unpacked snow – it's exhilarating. Everyone comes off the trail humming with the energy of the winter woods."
You actually get to drive a team of dogs with Wintergreen. It's surprisingly simple. Yell "Gee!" to the dogs and they will turn right. "Haw!" indicates that adventure awaits to the left. "Woah!" means stop, a command that the dogs dislike and which must be underscored by liberal application of the brake.
Wintergreen offers a variety of dogsled expeditions. If you are given to certain luxuries such as a fireplace and a private chef, three and four night trips that begin and end with the lodge and its surrounding lakeshore cabins are available. If you prefer a more authentic experience, then Wintergreen's camping trips will deposit you in a tent in the middle of nowhere at night. And if you'd only like to become a musher for a single day's outing, Wintergreen can accommodate you just as well.
Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge operates in Ely from early December through the end of March, and on into April when the sun permits. You may learn more about the country's oldest dogsled center at dogsledding.com.
By David Scheller


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If you list out the benefits that consumer product manufacturers have enjoyed thanks to advanced heat exchangers, a more streamlined manufacturing process would top the first few slots. However, an equally important (though sometimes, less obvious) impact of heat exchanger technology is the myriad of benefits that consumers have enjoyed. Particularly, in the quality of the products that drive their everyday lives and their overall experience with the companies they deal with. Those streamlined manufacturing processes not only ensure that consumers receive their products quickly, but that those goods are of a consistently high quality every time.
Futuristic Technology, Now
Simply put, heat exchangers revolutionized electrical thermal management just by the way they transfer heat. Before they were popular, companies that used large manufacturing equipment had to keep that equipment from overheating by implementing large, powerful air conditioning units. Costly, but effective, air conditioners were a required expense – until heat exchangers proved that cooling electrical equipment didn't require chilled air. Instead, they collected and redirected heat away from sensitive circuits and other components, and that innovative approach to thermal management affected more than just manufacturing. Innovators and designers now had freedom to create technologies that, until then, didn't seem possible.
The Overall Customer Experience
Decades later, heat exchangers and similar heat transfer technologies have become the thermal management backbone of advanced systems such as automated machinery, miniaturized high-powered circuits and processors, 3D printing, and much more. These systems power the mobile and personal devices of modern consumers, as well as the companies that produce and sell them. Consumers not only have access to technology that couldn't exist just a few decades ago, but can receive that technology fast and without having to pay exorbitant prices to cover excessive manufacturing costs.
To learn more about heat exchangers' impact on consumer products and customer experience, call Noren Thermal Solutions in Taylor, TX, at 866-936-6736.


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If you have not already prepared your business plan for the forthcoming financial year, then chances are you are actively looking to implement something. And you may have gone even further and plotted a course for the next 3 or even 5 years.
Of course, trying to predict how the profession will look over the next 18-24 months is nigh on impossible what with ABS, Jackson and legal aid cuts.
You would be excused if you decided not to even bother; but the reality is that even if you think you can play a wait and see game, your competitors are likely to be busy planning (or plotting) how they can guide a course through the morass. Oh, and they may be looking very closely at your loyal and long-standing clients to see how they might acquire them!
It is likely the case that the middle ground (which you most likely occupy) will get even tougher, and clients will become more discerning.
Word of mouth referrals will still be a significant driver for work, but you are likely to find that the smart firms up their game and start to differentiate their service offering. It might start with a loyalty programme but will quickly envelope tiered services and guarantees.
Clients have never cared much for the process and we know how unpredictable that can be sometimes. But what they do care passionately about is:
(a) being treated in a grown up way;
(b) making sure you do what you say you are going to do;
(c) over-delivering on your service; and
(d) holding true to your price promise, however that might appear.
You are going to need to stay much closer to your clients – yes you may have to appear genuinely interested and friendly – and remember that there will other legal entities chasing your clients' business. Just imagine it if you had a Uber brand set up in your town? I would be worried.
All things being equal, implementing these changes would be quite straightforward, but, of course, they are not.
I suspect you are looking at the position from the perspective where you have all the right seats on the bus taken. As it is, and much as it pains me to say so, you either have a couple of empty seats or, more likely, the wrong people occupying a whole slew of seats (see Good to Great by Jim Collins for a better explanation of the seats/bus dimension).
And that's just it. You need to be very careful when undertaking any strategic exercise that you recognise the (severe) limitations of making those dreams a reality. You might be well advised to look at the current organisational chart and measure it against the likely success of the plan(s) as opposed to the situation if you either replaced or recruited people to fill those all important positions.
Even when you bring in a lateral or train someone there is no guarantee that things will turn out any differently but in my experience sticking with the Devil you know is not an equal position. In reality it is usually too painful for partners to make the crucial decision to change personnel, even if the business critical issue is staring them square between the eyes.
I would be surprised if firms had not already drawn up a mental short-list of those people who are holding the firm back or where most action is needed.
The important thing is not to waste time plotting a course, however adventurous it may look, if your current fee earner cohort are never likely to be in a position to make it a reality. And it may not just be the fee earners. It may be lack of any meaningful HR, FD or Business Development personnel or at least people who have witnessed other business sectors thrash their way to success. Law is not the only business to suffer dislocation and come out fitter and stronger.
My advice is to plan your strategy by reference to the market and not to your people. One is easier to control than the other even if at times it may not seem like it!


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So anime is going to be a big thing around these parts. We consider ourselves self-taught experts, as we've been seriously watching for well over a decade now. Oh man, after thinking about that, it's been actually closer to being over 15 years! I'm sure all of the old anime fans in the crowd can remember the days when you almost had to set out on an expedition just to get a tape, that if you were lucky it had more than one episode on it.
Those were the Wild West days of anime in the US. Now, things are much better. Anime is still a popular niche category and great titles are coming out closer and closer to the airing dates in Japan. Which brings us to our show of interest – Guilty Crown.
We first heard of this title during this year's New York Comic Con. While walking around, we spotted the image above as a poster that we managed to snag. The art looked interesting, so we figured we'd take a look.
Guilty Crown is a 2011 Production IG title being aired in near peferct sync here in the states and in Japan. The story thus far (as of writing, up to episode six is available) is set in Japan of 2039. Ten years prior, an epidemic broke out called the "Apocolapsye Virus" throwing the entire country into chaos. An international corporation, known as GHQ stepped in and through martial law, restored order to Japan.
The story revolves around Ouma Shu (we're using Japanese name order, just fyi),a 17 year-old school boy who wants to live a peaceful life, but is socially awkward and resents his peers as he feels like they never think about him and his feeling when they open their mouths. He has a chance encounter with the lead female Yuzuriha Inori, a 16 year-old singer in a group called Egoist and secretly a member of a resitance called Funeral Parlor. The group fights to take Japan back from GHQ.
Shu is given a vial by Inori, containing the Void Genome. to keep safe and deliver to the third main character and head of Funeral Parlor, Tsutsugami Gai. In great story telling fashion, however, things don't work out as planned and the vial breaks in Shu's pocket, bestowing him with the Void Genome. The genome allows the host to forcibly pull an object specific to a person from their "Void". Inori's void holds a massive sword, easily six feet long.
So far, the show seems very promising. The character development with Shu has already been put into motion and the stage is already being set for him to make some very tough decisions. Five episodes in and he's already been stabbed in the back by someone that he thought he could trust. I'm not expecting him to go through the gut wrenching that say Al endured thoughout the entirity of Full Metal Alchemist, but he's definitely going to be forced to sink or swim.
I have less hope for rest of the cast, including Inori and Gai. Inori seems to a "Rei Ayanami" type of girl; very soft spoken, no real social skills, but very intelligent and cuts directly to the heart of the matter. Gai is a very precise and matter of fact leader. He's smart, cunning, and willing to knock a few heads to get the job done. I don't see his character going anywhere unless there is some kind of reveal to a tragic past and that he plays tough to cover for a scared emotional state.
The character designs are pleasing and seemingly fresh. There's a uniqueness to them that I haven't seen since Bounen no Xam'd. The mechs (Yes, there are mecha in this show) are designed with some inkling of realism to them as they come across as more waif like. Think "Knightmare Frames" from Code Geass, but more spindlely. That description makes more sense once you see them.
The animation is tight, but nothing less would be acceptable given that Production IG is behind it. The effects used for the void are great. We can't tell exactly how they're made, but we have an idea. All of the animation is super smooth, with none of it so far looking like it had been farmed out.
The music is great as well. It seems that since Inori is part of a band, that a lot of the show's actual music is used for her. The song in the beginning of the trailer below, is one of her songs from Egoist and it's the first thing you hear in the first episode. There are a few other notable songs that Inori seems to sing that make it seem like there will be a big promotional push for the OST when that becomes available.
Guilty Crown is definitely one of the must watch animes for the Fall 2011 season. With almost non stop action and high drama that doesn't get bogged down with the angsty, teen/emo nonsense that can accompany highschool drama, this show is on track to deliver an amazing ride. This could be the next Eureka Seven or Bounen no Xam'd people.
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Growing up the son of a West Coast Video Manager, Sean-Paul has literally been playing video games for as long as he can remember. Starting as a wee little boy in his room with a 7" black and white TV and his Atari 2600 with Tank Plus, not much has changed, just the room and television have gotten bigger. When not gaming, Sean-Paul is usually cooking, watching anime, or riding his bike around Singapore and dreaming up his next computer build.


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Bobby Knight, who was run out of the University of Indiana even after three NCAA championships because of abusing his players, and was gradually a flop at Texas Tech where he abused his own son and found out that nobody wanted to play for him, except regimented white coaches' sons types, is now a color man and voice of thundering God-like authority on ESPN's coverage of college basketball. Since he is referred to as "The General" by fawning ESPN sycophant Dick Vitale, a failed ex coach who has his nose up the asses of the top echelon of NCAA coaching fraternity, Knight is the perfect person to execute the Donald's foreign policy, with which he intends to scare the hell out of the rest of the world and especially Russia, China and ISIS, and whatever paltry nation gets in our way.
A tough guy like Trump--your basic prep school punk who's never been in a real fight--needs somebody like Knight, a blustering, bombastic bully who threw chairs at referees and half strangled one of his players, to terrorize the rest of the world with his snarling, spit-flying invective. Knight has been in a quiet, dormant existence where he's had nobody to yell at and demean and control, but now Trump will give him a wonderful chance to become the angry disenchanted white man who can rouse up fellow angry disenchanted white men by bellowing about and demeaning the likes of Hillary Clinton, a goddam woman who has no business leading the flag-waving U.S.A.
Knight is, as Trump proudly states, a winner! Like World War II hero General George Patton, he believes America is a winner and can't bear the thought of us losing. Knight, who coached at Army, is a history buff and student of war and loves to implement military tactics and motivation as a coach. A lot of the old chickenhawk guard from George W. Bush's cabinet will want to climb onto Trump's team, but they have no idea what they are in for, especially on the first day when coach Knight leaves tampons on their desks and levels them with the same icy, murderous scowl that terrorized referees for years.
While in office, Knight, who recited a slew of aimless gibberish while introducing Trump at two of rallies, could possibly reach out to the athletic fraternity that worships him and hire a booster like Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, and now that Curt Schilling is out of work after being axed by ESPN for making derogatory remarks about transgender folks peeping at his daughter in restrooms, he can hire these two clueless jocks to head his publicity core.
What this all proves is that Trump, who brags about his golf game, is just another jockstrap sniffing pansy who never had the heart to play the game and get pushed around like the low-hanging fruit bully he is and be exposed as a coward, not only a coward fearful of bodily injury, but terrified of losing against somebody who might be a challenge and kick his ass.
Knight is possibly enthralled with the Donald because, like he, Knight thrives on being an autocrat making all decisions and will not endure anybody getting in his way, both men believing we need decision makers who see situations in black and white and tolerate no back-talk from underlings or, as in Knight's case, athletic directors and college presidents who have no business meddling in his sacred affairs as America's coach.
Knight has good qualities: within his very close coaching clique and ex players to whom he is famously loyal, and often helps this menagerie of worshipful puppy-dogs get jobs in the business, but the rest of the world can go to hell if it isn't seen through his perspective. Like Donald Rumsfeld, ex Defense Secretary, he chills people with his power and steeliness and has never been wrong and knows everything and never ever admits to wrongfulness or mistakes.
Knight will be the perfect person to hold a press conference after attacking some country and blowing up a lot of buildings and people. He can lose his temper and scald the media as no-nothing negative piss-ants and throw things at them after his legendary temper is ignited. He can call them stupid and explain why they are stupid and lecture them on their stupidity and accuse them of being do-nothing cynics and inform them they wouldn't last one minute at one of his basketball practices nor make it through a day of army boot camp and maybe label them un-American. He can go to Russia and shake his fist at Putin and turn red in the face and hold nothing back as, like general Patton, he can tell the Russians how little regard he has for them and wouldn't mind kicking their Goddam communist asses.
These days, Knight seems to have gone a little loony, especially after hearing the incoherent blather he unleashed at Trump's rallies. He's back to delivering pep-talks. He misses telling people what's good for them and for the first time in his life, instead of being the leader, he has his ego ideal leader in Donald Trump.
Bully for the two ugliest Americans, both in the business of humiliating their so-called enemies and adversaries—The American way. Fuckin' A, stupid white spawn of the greatest generation.