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Artificial muscle for soft robotics: Low voltage, high hopes

soft robotics

Soft robots do a lot of things well but they’re not exactly known for their speed. The artificial muscles that move soft robots, called actuators, tend to rely on hydraulics or pneumatics, which are slow to respond and difficult to store.

Dielectric elastomers, soft materials that have good insulating properties, could offer an alternative to pneumatic actuators but they currently require complex and inefficient circuitry to deliver high voltage as well as rigid components to maintain their form — both of which defeat the purpose of a soft robot.

Now, researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a dielectric elastomer with a broad range of motion that requires relatively low voltage and no rigid components.

“We think this has the potential to be the holy grail of soft robotics,” said Mishu Duduta, first author of the paper.

“Electricity is easy to store and deliver but until now, the electric fields required to power actuators in soft robots has been too high. This research solves a lot of the challenges in soft actuation by reducing actuation voltage and increasing energy density, while eliminating rigid components.”

In building a new dielectric elastomer, the team combined two known materials that worked well individually — an elastomer based on one developed at UCLA that eliminated the need for rigid components and an electrode of carbon nanotubes developed in the Clarke Lab. The complementary properties of these two materials enabled the new device to outperform standard dielectric elastomer actuators.

Most dielectric elastomers have limited range of motion and need to be pre-stretched and attached to a rigid frame. Starting with an elastomer that doesn’t need to be pre-stretched, developed by researchers at UCLA, the modified materials begin as liquids and can be cured rapidly under UV light to produce paper-thin sheets. They are sticky — like double-sided tape — so they can adhere well to each other, and to the electrodes.

For the electrodes, the team replaced carbon grease, which is typically used as an electrode in dielectric elastomers, with a mat of thin carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes neither increase the stiffness of the elastomer nor decrease the energy density — meaning the elastomer can still stretch and provide significant force. The team fabricated the elastomers one on top of the other, creating a multilayer sandwich of elastomer, electrode, elastomer, electrode and so on. In this way, each electrode gets double usage, powering the elastomer above and below.

“The voltage required to actuate dielectric elastomers is directly related to the thickness of the material, so you have to make your dielectric elastomer as thin as possible,” said Duduta.

“But really thin elastomers are flimsy and can’t produce force. A multilayer elastomer is much more robust and can actually provide significant force.”

“The significance of this work is that the combination of materials and processing enables two of the current technical limitations of dielectric elastomers — the need for high voltage and pre-stretch — to be overcome,” said David Clarke.

This type of actuator could be used in everything from wearable devices to soft grippers, laparoscopic surgical tools, entirely soft robots or artificial muscles in more complex robotics.

“Actuation is one of the most difficult challenges in robotics,” said Robert Wood.

“The vast majority of existing robots rely on conventional electromagnetic rotary motors. In cases where we cannot use such motors, for example in soft robots, there are few alternatives for high performance actuation.”

“This breakthrough in electrically-controlled soft actuators brings us much closer to muscle-like performance in an engineered system and opens the door for countless applications in soft robotics.”

This type of progress towards a soft artificial muscle is exciting because all artificial muscles used have different drawbacks. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending what side you are on, biological muscle tissue is very efficient. Finding a comparable artificial muscle is very difficult to do making any progress in the field exciting news.

While it may be a while before we see artificial muscles that could run on ATP — the energy of the body — like our muscles do, even just finding an artificial muscle that is comparable in strength, durable, and moderately efficient would have the potential to change the world. Especially for people with muscle wasting diseases, the elderly, people with disabilities, or even revolutionize the way prosthetics are made.

Duduta, M., Wood, R., & Clarke, D. (2016). Multilayer Dielectric Elastomers for Fast, Programmable Actuation without Prestretch Advanced Materials DOI: 10.1002/adma.201601842

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Future Binds: The kids are alright

FutureBindsSo my oldest son, Aaron, turns 18 years old today. Happy birthday, kid, even if you’re too old (and tall) for me to get away with calling you “kid” anymore. But please indulge your proud papa.

Aaron has been playing bass in rock bands for a couple of years now, a process I have watched with a mixture of pride, admiration and apprehension. I mean, he’s my son, so I’m going to think anything he does is pretty great. But I’ve watched so many bands crash and burn over the years, I can’t help worrying.

So even though I’m obviously not an impartial observer, I think Aaron’s latest band is fantastic. They’re called Future Binds, consisting of three-quarters of his former band, Pure Scum; same lineup, except for the guitar player. The picture at right is from the first Future Binds show, which happened back in January at the Berkeley Cafe in Raleigh (yes, the same Berkeley Cafe that figures into the “Losering” preface, as the first place I interviewed Ryan Adams).

I don’t go to every Future Binds show because I don’t want to cramp anybody’s style, plus it can get weird having the music critic from the local paper showing up all the time (not to mention the fact that I’m too old and brittle to participate in the moshpit). But I’ve been to a few of their shows, and they play loud, fast and very brief punk rock; I don’t think I’ve seen a Future Binds or Pure Scum show last longer than about 10 minutes.

Since that Berkeley Cafe debut, Future Binds have gone on the road a few times, including a recent spring-break weekend jaunt up to Richmond and D.C. Aaron has learned plenty about just how little money there is to be made in music; I’ll never forget the text he sent after finding a $10 bill on the street in Asheville, which excited him because it meant he’d be returning home “with more money than I left with!” That counts as a win, for sure.

Meanwhile, Future Binds have also done their first demo recordings, which are available for free download here. The five songs clock in at less than seven minutes, so this won’t take up too much of your time. But it’s quite good, especially the last song, “One Less.” Always nice to have a hook, even in one’s hardcore.

For obvious reasons, I can’t write about Future Binds in the newspaper. But it’s mighty nice to be able to do so here.

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  1. Pingback: “Losering: The Songs of Ryan Adams” — wish you were here | LoseringBook

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Astral Antiquarian Preview

Wow. This year has taken a lot of people I care for. A lot of people tragically killed by hate and ignorance. A lot of people who finally were allowed to surrender to long battles with age or illness. I have written a lot about the spiritual practice of heroic storytelling and its benefits to the women and men who chose to do it. In the worlds of these mythic beings of divine empowerment or arcane insights, death is not always the one-way road we experience it to be.

Regardless of the passage of the spirit, in the heroic gaming and worlds of mythology, death is sometimes instead the ultimate quest. The descent into Hades, the soothed maw of Cerebus behind us, and the reclamation of a fallen loved one. The climatic battle against the tide of death itself to return to the sunlit world with your beloved, a hero ultimately triumphant. To step into the heavens themselves when you weary of the world, a deathless glory of starlight.

That is how I want this to work.

So when, I lost my mother a few weeks back I decided to give her that world. I commissioned this piece based off of several pictures of her in her early adulthood. I never got to know her that way but it bares a striking resemblance to many of my nieces. My mother fits well in the Hero’s realm. She is a keeper of things of value, a wise woman willing to fight for what she believes, to help others rectify the mistakes of the past and to contain the dark things that should not be allowed to roam.

Too many stars have fallen in our world.

I gave my mother to a world that deserves her. Because she was a hero. A quiet, humble one but so very powerful. With a powerful light the darkness for others.  In my mind I see her there now. Welcoming so many others… brave enough to love in a world that hates them,  strong enough to earn their peace, and singing the sky Purple and Diamond. A host of Champions Radiant. Today it seems I send them the Autumn King, another gone so soon.

Such a force shall keep that world whole and wondrous.

And here, I thank those who make this place worth remaining in. The other Dreamsmiths and Wonderworkers, the Heronamers and the Shadowguards, the Lovelights and the Hearthwatchers. We are the conduits from the World of Heroes to this one. We have much work to do to make this place like theirs. Grateful then am I to have so much light to see them by and learn their ways. So many heroes to inspire us, rising to better worlds.

I see you. I hear you. I live you.

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Diocesan Celebration of Our Lady of Lourdes

Please join Bishop Alan and parishioners from across the Diocese at Brentwood Cathedral at 3.00pm on Sunday 15th February, for Mass to celebrate one of the Patrons of Brentwood Diocese, in the week of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of Prayer for the Sick.  Many hundreds take part in our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes each year – Cathy O’Connor, the pilgrimage administrator, will be on hand to answer any queries you have, and the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service will also be assisting, just as they do in Lourdes. This special celebration will include candles blessed in Lourdes, and everyone is very welcome. There will be refreshments after the Mass. For more information about the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes please visit www.brentwoodlourdes.org or call Cathy on 01206 501146.


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Ugly Truth: #BehindTheFeed

We’ve all seen it in our Instagram news feed – The perfect, all organic meal on a trendy glass plate, white lace background with a little flower in the corner that scream’s “Fresh Picked This Morning!” Complete with the hashtags that are all too familiar ; #healthyeating, #onmytable, #onlythebest

It’s easy to see scenes like this and think that the person behind the photo must have everything all together (especially for a mom) based on this one picture. it’s an inevitable conclusion if the entire feed is that way-spotless, white background, designer labels, and trendy staples.

But here’s the ugly truth: I don’t care who you are, no one has a spotless, perfect life. @jasminea5100

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We all might want one, but no one really has one.

Social media has made this illusion stronger than ever before. What was once just little tidbits heard at playdates and parks, now can be seen through the feeds, with links to favorite coffee houses that can make those awesome little foam animals that, if you’re like most moms, usually melt before you get a sip because, you know, kids. I admit, I use those same hashtags and I take pictures of my coffee treats. I do try to show the best photos I have. But, I do let a few unsightly ones slip through that show the true chaos within most homes. And that’s what #behindthefeed is about.

Alexie Flook, Blogger of AlwaysAlexie, came up with the idea to celebrate our imperfections as well as our perfect moments, with the  hashtag “#behindthefeed” and challenged other bloggers to join in with 2 weeks of showcasing the messy, blurry, uncoordinated truth behind those awesome Instagram posts. I loved this idea-because it’s true!

Behind each white background of flowers in a pretty vase, there’s 20 pictures of blur and toddler hands grabbing at petals that didn’t make the cut. Behind every flawless selfie, there’s 10 more that show the avocado stain on your neckline. And behind each family picture, there’s at least 5 of your husband and kids making an un-photogenic face. People just don’t see these! Thus, the illusion can sometimes work on those of us (including me!) that see these kinds of pictures within our feed, and look around the messy living room and wilting flowers from Mother’s Day we still haven’t thrown away, and wonder “How do they find the time?”

Kicking off June 8th, 2016, stay tuned to see the silly side, the messy side, the blurs and chaos, that is #behindthefeed, and check out AlwaysAlexie for the complete (and growing!) list of participating bloggers! And Thank YOU Alexie for allowing me to join in on the fun!

Author: Jasmine

SAHM to one little boy, and wife to a former member of the USMC. I blog about parenting, relationships, brands I love, and product reviews!

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Storage Ottoman Coffee Table: Mind Mapping of Content and Keyword Research

“Storage Ottoman Coffee Table” is the focused keyword research for Decorating small Spaces, an interior decoration website with Decorating Small Spaces Store site. This niche focused interior decorating site is about how to maximize all the small spaces with innovative concepts and ideas that you can readily apply with ease and within your budget. Typically in all urbanized area, there are small studio apartment, small apartment, small houses that you can find within your budget.

If you want to make a site a successful one commercially,there are 3 important measuring metrics for keyword research. The metrics for the site content and the keyword research for the keyword “Storage Ottoman Coffee Table” is tabulated explicitly in the mind map using the effective and powerful Mindmeister mind mapping software. Are there sufficient search volumes for the keyword that you are targeting? It is important to get good search volumes from the search engines for the targeted keywords.

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Inauguration logistics: epic fail. General response: epic conniption.

inauguration_hippiesYou may have heard that Inauguration Day was something of a mess in our nation’s capital. People with tickets who couldn’t get in to see the actual inauguration (which included everything from an all-around offend-o-rama of an “invocation” to a Supreme Court justice swallowing his tongue to an example of why people don’t like poetry to the longest goddamned rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” on record”) and other people with tickets couldn’t get into the youth ball (one of them was an actual Hollywood celebrity, I hear). There’s some argument as to whether the purple, blue or silver gate was the biggest clusterfuck (although it appears that things went well at the orange gate, at least). From all around the Web we’re hearing terms like “frustrated” and “heartbroken” and and “tunnel of doom” and “madder ‘n a bobcat in a piss storm” (okay, so I’m paraphrasing a little on that last one), and the overall verdict on Inauguration Day organization can be summed up in two very trendy words: epic fail!

(By the way, two notes for Aretha. First, you might want to revisit your phrasing of the word “country” – note the uneasy break at around the 12-second mark, if you will – and second, the laws of fashion instruct us to never wear a hat that’s bigger than our ass. Just saying.)

Some of the stories we’re hearing are truly terrible – people who drove a thousand miles only to be denied access to an event that symbolized the greatest triumph in their lifetimes, for instance.

Others (and these tend to be associated with the youth ball more than the big ceremony) have me editing and revising and censoring myself (this is the 47th time I’ve had to re-write this sentence) to avoid the gratuitous use of terms like “entitled snotrags” and “panties on fire,” which are wholly inappropriate for an objective journalist such as myself. I have no doubt that things were vexing, and if I’d been stuck in the permaqueue I’d be spitting nails, too, probably. But the best way to make sure that you’re taken about as seriously as “youth” have always been taken is to act … well, like “youth” have always acted. Here’s your chance to impress me with your maturity and poise, and so far I’m underwhelmed.

In all fairness, though, it sounds like things verily suckethed (as in “sucked so hard it could suck-start a Harley-Davidson” or “suck a bowling ball through a garden hose” or “suck the chrome off a trailer hitch”). But this is the kind of thing that happens when 75 million dirty hippie liberals descend on a city like a plague of Phishheads.

The most entertaining of the galloping hissy fits, though, was pitched by Holy Joe Lieberman’s towel boy, Dan Gerstein:

Dan Gerstein, a political consultant from New York and a purple ticket holder who never made it inside, had no sympathy for official explanations. He said he was “outraged” with security officials’ performance at such an important event. “There was total incompetence and insensitivity, and now they are compounding it by being unaccountable,” he said angrily. “At a moment of great hope, they crushed the hopes of thousands of people.” (Emphasis added.)

Wait a second. What hopes are we talking about here? Hope for America’s future? You’re telling me that thousands of people had their hopes for the future of America crushed because … they couldn’t get into a ceremony or a party? That can’t be right.

Maybe the hopes we’re talking about here were their hopes of attending the ceremony or going to a party? Could be – after all, Americans are simple, shortsighted people.

If it’s the former, then I feel your pain. But I also suspect that somebody who has hoped and worked diligently for America’s future is also somebody whose hopes are a little more resilient than Gerstein is letting on. “Bruised,” maybe, but “crushed“?

If the latter, well, that seems a little shallow to me. If your dreams were about attending an event, I’m sorry for you, but not sorry enough that it’s going to keep me awake tonight.

I’m not defending the organizers or any of the people responsible for the logistics. Clearly they didn’t get the job done (although after eight years of Bush being in charge of proceedings inside the Beltway, I think you can count anything this side of “the whole fucking city just blowed up” as at least a moral victory).

But if Dangerstein’s rant is a fair statement about the depth of America’s hope, then never mind Obama – we’re in a lot deeper hole than all the guys on Rushmore combined could dig us out of….

Then again, it’s possible that Dan has his head up his ass.

18 thoughts on “Inauguration logistics: epic fail. General response: epic conniption.”

  1. Wiow! I’m so sorry for an administration that majored in mocking and belittiling all those who opposed its positions. What did they excpect President Obama would say? He ran a campaign which directly opposed Mr. Bush sorry record. Adoclescent , Mr. Bush, remained what he always was, a young male who did not understand this world and who let the neo conservatives guide him.

  2. Re: Aretha’s hat being bigger than her ass: It’s not even close, though such a hat would be a sight to see. Even though her, er, ballast would probably suffice to keep her upright, she would appear as a three-mast schooner and be just as responsive to the force of the wind. Such a hat would surely snap her neck.

    Thankfully, the laws of physics make a hat bigger than Aretha’s ass impossible.

    You’d never guess that cooking soul food was her most beloved hobby.

  3. All right, bitches. That’s Aretha. Aretha Fucking Franklin, and if she wants to wear a mid-size sedan on her head and sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” for an hour and a half, you will listen and you will like it or I will R-E-S-P-E-C-T a size 8 Ferragamo up your sorry ass.

    That is all.

  4. I’m just creeped out at how much attention Obama’s kids got. Especially at that part during the “invocation” when he said their names….a little too slowly.

  5. Such violence, Ann, such violence. I submit that the mid-size sedan would still not satisfy Bonesparkle’s statement about hat size relative to ass size.

    She’s got moons orbiting that thing.

  6. Now, now, Ann. I love me some Aretha, after all we’re both Detroiters.

    The Buddha, however, isn’t weeping. By definition, he released himself from the bonds of binary opposites. He experiences neither happiness nor sadness.

  7. I believe your callous mockery of the Queen of Soul is such a violation of the universal balance that the Buddha has been helplessly pulled back into the cycle of birth and death. He’s probably in a whorehouse right now with five hookers, a bottle of tequila and several bags of Cheetos.

    That’s right, Lex. You un-Nirvanaed the Buddha.

  8. Am I the only one who sorta liked the hat? It takes a real spirit to wear a hat that attention grabbing. It could have done without the crystals, and probably needed to be on a woman with a different body shape, but it’s not a freaking-bowl-of-fruit-being-worn-with-a-sari bad.

    Lara Amber

  9. I LOVED the hat. It was a tribute to a grand tradition of church lady hats. And the maker has been deluged with requests for copies. As to body shape, that’s the great thing about hats, shoes and jewelry, isn’t it?

  10. Well at least i showed the Buddha a good time, no? He owes me. Ten, twenty…as incalculable as the sands of the Ganges.

    But if you thought we were mean, you should read the comment threads on Nobody here brought up her arsonist son, her failure to pay her bills, or her late tendency to lipsynch public singing.

    And i actually have nothing against the hat. I am from Detroit so i’ve seen much more extreme headwear. She might have had her hair done in that bow shape, crystals and all. She might have chosen a primary color for the ensemble, or purple, or an animal print. But in my socialization, “yo mama’s so fat…” jokes are as established as ginormous hats for Sunday and leopard print furniture.

    She may be huge, but i’d give a pinky to have her cook me dinner.

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New poker experience at 888poker

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WSOP 2012: Abe Mosseri Gives his Side of $50K Controversy

PokerNews recently ran a story about a crazy hand in the $50K Poker Players Championship. Now, we get Abe Mosseri's side of the story.

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New poker experience at 888poker

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WSOP 2013: Event #38 Champion Justin Oliver

Justin Oliver has fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a World Series of Poker bracelet winner after taking down Event #38, the $2,500 No Limit Hold’em Four-Handed tournament.

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Special Events

History Express

When: Sun., Aug. 21, 3:40 p.m. 2011

a chance to travel of up the Railway and learn about the fate of historical figures Mr. and Mrs. Skinner. Proceeds benefit the Manitou Springs Heritage Center.

Price: $50-$60

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The Maxies

When: Thu., Sept. 22, 8 p.m. 2016

The Maxies want you to know two things: 1) They're from Nuuk, Greenland, the home of the 2016 Arctic Winter Games. And 2) they're the greatest band in the world. Granted, neither of those claims is actually true, but the SoCal sextet is undeniably entertaining in a vulgar pop-punk kind of way, complete with messed-up Mexican wrestling masks, IT-guy fashion sense, and a crowd-surfing mascot named Bi-Polar Bear. Signature songs include "Clubbin'," whose subject matter they are quick to disambiguate. "We are not talkings about visiting happy nightclub or meat market bars of filthy United States," they explain on their official YouTube site, "but rather we are talks of hitting cute seals over the head with wooden club so you can eat the nutritious and delicious seal steaks." Juvenile, yes, but then maybe you are, too. 8 p.m., Triple Nickel Tavern, 26 S. Wahsatch Ave., $5, — Bill Forman

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Does fracking lead to earthquakes?

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(Read caption) A brine injection well owned is seen in Youngstown, Ohio. Fracking water is disposed of in “injection wells” where tens of thousands of gallons of waste water, chemicals and other impurities that have been picked up are forced into the ground and abandoned.

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The Arab oil embargo, imposed on the United States 40 years ago this fall, brought the instant chaos of gas lines, dire predictions and a new concentration of political minds on the Middle East. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) became a household word -- and a pejorative one at that. The economy shuddered.

Although directed against the West for supporting Israel, the embargo unleashed general global frustration with the way U.S. and European oil companies had negotiated contracts and with the modest returns the oil-producing countries were getting for their asset.

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With the largest proven reserves, Saudi Arabia became, in some ways, the most important country on Earth. A small, desert monarchy – more like medieval than modern monarchies -- was both courted and reviled.

Even when the embargo was lifted in March 1974, the crisis continued throughout the decade – and new chaos gripped the world with the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Inflation ravaged the world; in 1974, 24 heads of state lost their jobs due to the inflation. ( Premium: Get the same inside information as the CEOs of Exxon, Chevron and BP - as fast as they get it, often before they get it)

In 1975, Congress converted the Atomic Energy Commission into the Energy Research and Development Administration; later, President Jimmy Carter upped the government role with the creation of the Department of Energy. Congress also, in 1978, passed a rather crazy piece of legislation, long repealed, called the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act, which posited that natural gas was in such short supply and so precious that it could not be used for much of anything except fertilizer and industrial processes – no electricity generation, ornamental flames or pilot lights.

Heroics in Congress did little to fix the situation. But plodding, technological innovation, much of it in government research programs, did. Drilling improved and took a giant step forward with the perfection of horizontal drilling. Also the old oilfield practice of geological fracturing (fracking) improved substantially, opening a bonanza of new oil and gas and changing the face of oil and gas production by putting shale deposits into big-time play.

The world energy picture is turned upside down now. The impossible in 1973 – energy self-sufficiency for the United States -- is in sight.

But all could be lost.

There is mounting evidence that fracking can cause seismic temblors thousands of miles from the site. The fracking is not the culprit but rather the disposal of the brine used to do it. ( Premium: Find out first about the latest technology and technology investments being made by energy industry insiders)

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The key ingredient in fracking besides water is sand, which wedges itself between the shale rocks and allows the gas or oil to come out. But sand -- or silicate as the drillers like to call it – doesn't suspend in water, so chemicals are added. This makes the water useless for other functions and it is disposed of in “injection wells” where tens of thousands of gallons of waste water, chemicals and other impurities that have been picked up are forced into the ground and abandoned. There are thousands and thousands of these waste-water dump wells across the United States.

Now comes a study, conducted by England's Durham University and published in the journal Science, which confirms that seismic activity, and possibly major earthquakes, can be triggered by injection wells, banned in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe. Sadly, many drillers have reacted with denial. The industry should throw a lot of science at the problem quickly, before a major event is blamed on fracking and the brave new world of abundance is shut down.

The nuclear industry, always sure of its safety, responded to the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 by vastly improving that safety regime and establishing new national and international institutions devoted solely to best practices and enhanced safety. After the Japanese experience at Fukushima Daiichi, the nuclear world again tightened its standards and expectations.
But it has never totally regained public confidence, and that is important.

If fracking could, as the Durham study suggests, lead to a major earthquake, that event would be as catastrophic for shale oil and gas recovery as Three Mile Island was for nuclear power. And if the public comes to believe that earthquakes are triggered by fracking, then the hope of energy independence will be doomed and the 1970s could be replayed.


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The Hubcats | Smitty's Pub | Clubs | Seven Days | Vermont's Independent Voice

The Hubcats

When: Sat., March 25, 8 p.m. 2017

(rock, folk)

Price: free

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West African Takeout Comes to Burlington | Food News | Seven Days | Vermont's Independent Voice

Food + Drink » Food News

West African Takeout Comes to Burlington

1 comment

Been craving African food in Burlington? Good news: On July 1, Patience Bannerman and her son, Prince Awhaitey, will begin offering juices, smoothies and West African takeout at their Mawuhi African Market at 160 North Winooski Avenue.

Awhaitey, a Burlington High School grad and a vegan, holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition. He returned to Vermont in January to help Bannerman get her food business up and running.

"My mom has been a chef and caterer in Africa for years," he says. "Together we're working to bring health to the traditional African diet."

They'll do that with a build-your-own juice and smoothie menu, for which Awhaitey — a former bodybuilder — is creating special recipes. One is a beverage he first tried "back home in Ghana," made with ginger, lemon, garlic, coconut water and spices. "It's a very strong detox," he explains. His signature smoothie, which Awhaitey says he drinks whenever he works out, blends sunflower seeds, almond milk and bananas.

Everyday fare will include salads, cooked greens and tomato-based stews made with pungent herbs and served over rice. Fish will come with plantain or sweet-potato chips. Entrées will run about $10, other grab-and-go items closer to $5. Weekends will bring specialties, including okra stew and peanut butter soup.

Awhaitey notes that animal products — goat, oxtail, Jamaican patties and smoked fish — will be cooked separately to accommodate those who don't partake. Most of the meat, he says, is sourced from abroad — for instance, from Israel and Australia, where, he suggests, animals consume a "more natural" diet. Spices will come from Africa, because "the spices in America ... don't really have much flavor," Awhaitey says. "In Africa, they do everything with heirloom seeds. They don't do pesticides or GMOs."

The original print version of this article was headlined "Adrift and African in the Old North End"

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Music » Feature

Q&A with 902 NonStop Records' Ally Dee

Catch tomorrow's stacked lineup for Rap Therapy

Ally Dee - TARA RYAN
  • Tara Ryan
  • Ally Dee

Ally Dee and Ryszky Biz run 902 NonStop Records, intensely repping local hip-hop. With both a radio show and regular rap showcases, Dee puts in hard work for a scene he clearly loves. Friday, March 6, the Rap Therapy event (Jacob's Lounge, 9pm, $5 in advance, $10 at the door) features a handful of some established and new hip-hop voices, and a great chance to see some local talent.

Q: What does rap therapy mean to you?
A: Rap Therapy is the most recent album release from Ryszky Biz, the title is an accurate description of the line-up of tracks on the album. It all comes from the heart and is based on real experiences. It’s a chance to vent or voice an opinion. For the 902 NonStop Records squad, music is the life we live, it’s a way to explore creativity, be expressive, offer a message to the world and also a great form of therapy.

Q: What made you choose hip-hop?
A: Music has been a big part of my life from a very young age, both enjoying and creating, there’s a lot of freedom for expression and exploration without any limits. From the first time that I heard Licensed To Ill from the Beastie Boys at age nine I was hooked.

Q: Some of these artists on Friday’s showcase are newer to the scene, right?
A: A few of the artists are, including Slim The Gentlemen and Tara Ryan. Slim had his first showing on an album in the fall of 2014 when we released They’re Coming—a Halloween/zombie apocalypse themed album. Tara Ryan broke on the scene a few months ago and has been gathering steam and has developed some great material which she performed for the first time during the Ryszky Biz Rap Therapy cd release party at Jacob’s Lounge on February 6th.

The last five years saw me link with Ryszky Biz and Red Panther Studio and releasing six mixtapes before creating 902 NonStop Records. We’ve released five albums, including our Confident album which was done in support of and with the support of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. We’ll be handing over the proceeds from our tour to the Community Relations Manager and Strong Kids Champions on March 14 at Hugo’s Bar and Grill during a hip-hop showcase with Jayo Productions. Vadell Gabriel and The Yangsta have been around for a spell and have their own show on CKDU as well on Monday evenings, Pyrate Radio.

Q: How has your radio show been going?
A: Heard On Air has been gathering a larger audience and is constantly seeking music from other Canadian hip-hop and R&B artists, especially local and Maritime artists. There is a lot of talent in this area. It’s been great being a part of the CKDU community. Since the show has started, a whole new set of doors have started to open. The show is in the process of being syndicated for play on other stations both FM and internet.

Q: What’s next for 902 NonStop?
A: We have several releases planned for this year including T.O.G. from Stack Loot Divide, The Purge from myself and Just Another Rap Genius from Ryszky Biz followed by releases from DL and Slim The Gentlemen.

Q: Other than Saturday’s Trina show, it’s been pretty rare to see two female rappers on a bill, I was really impressed to see two female MCs on this lineup. Is a fairer representation something that’s important to you?
A: I heard that the Trina show was pretty dope, and it is always awesome to catch Realeyez live, she always excites the crowd. Recently she performed at two of our shows and we look forward to more performances with her. It was great to see the all-queen cypher and night of poetry in December at AlterEgos for Chix in the Mix, and we’re pretty pumped about having both Tara Ryan and JPimpin’ on the lineup for the Rap Therapy show. It would be pretty boss to see much more female talent at hip-hop events, they bring a strong message with their music and a strong stage presence. A fairer representation would be kickass to experience. We welcome any opportunity to work with female MCs and singers.

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MCG Executive Briefing for December 19, 2014

1967 CometPurchased new by hot rodder and tobacco heir Zach Reynolds, this rare 1967 Comet with 427 R-code V8 and only 2,004 miles brought $169,000 at the Mecum Auctions Austin sale. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.

Today’s headlines:

+   Chrysler Group LLC, the American division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is officially no more and henceforth will be known as FCA US LLC. More at Car and Driver.

+   In January at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford will unveil a next-gen Ford GT that Chip Ganassi Racing will take to LeMans in 2016.  More at Autoweek.

+   Dutch high-end sports car manufacturer Spyker N.V. has been officially declared bankrupt by the District Court of Midden-Nederland. More at

+   Toyota will invest $126 million in its Southeast Michigan research and development facilities and relocate 85 workers from California to Ann Arbor. More at MLive.

+   Thwarting attempts to push him aside, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been reappointed to the sport’s governing board and has retaken the post of chief executive officer. More at Racer.

+   The economic crisis in Russia has forced Ford, General Motors, and other automakers to cut workforce and redirect production to other plants. More at The Detroit News.

+   NASCAR up-and-comer Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. has landed a full-season ride with Roush Fenway Racing in the XFinity series for 2015. More at Yahoo! Sports.

+   Cadillac’s 2016 CT6 flagship sedan will feature a rear-view mirror with high-resolution streaming live video. More at

+   Acura will formally introduce the production version of the NSX two-place supercar at the North American International Auto Show in January. More at the Detroit Free Press.

+   A 1967 Comet with 427 CID R-Code V8, one of six known to survive, was one of the top 10 sellers at last weekend’s Mecum Auctions Austin sale. More at Hemmings Daily.

For the previous Executive Briefing from December 15, click here.

Have you joined Motor City Garage on Facebook? It’s big fun with rare photos, car lore, trivia, and great discussions! Click here to go the page and join MCG!


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The Brief case: Probable transfusion-transmitted babesiosis in a transplant recipient

Kitt E, Keaton AA, Graf EH.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology 54:2632–2634.

A 3-year-old immunocompromised male who had been hospitalized for 7 months in the cardiac intensive care unit developed fever and tachycardia in December. He was prenatally diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and received right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit surgery days after delivery. Due to worsening right ventricular function, after a hemi-Fontan procedure, he received an orthotopic heart transplant at the beginning of his 3rd year of life.

His posttransplant course was complicated by multiple episodes of rejection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis, and several central-line-associated bloodstream infections. As a result of the rejection, necessitating plasmapheresis as well as frequent blood draws for management, which led to anemia, he received 36 packed red blood cell transfusions over the course of 7 months posttransplantation. These transfusions were evenly spaced, and he remained hospitalized during the 7 months.

At the time of the febrile episode, he was on caspofungin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ganciclovir. The subsequent diagnostic workup included multiple sets of blood cultures, a urine culture, and a CMV viral load analysis. He was started on vancomycin and cefepime while awaiting microbiologic results. Other pertinent test results included a complete blood count (CBC) with differential showing pancytopenia and an aspartate transaminase (AST) level of 200 U/liter (reference range, 20 to 60 U/liter), an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level of 84 U/liter (reference range, 5 to 45 U/liter), and a C-reactive protein level of 3.1 mg/dl (reference range, 0 to 0.9 mg/dl), which increased to 7.1 mg/dl over 4 days.

On the 5th day of fever, another CBC with differential was ordered and was noted by the hematopathologist to contain intraerythrocytic parasites. Immediately, a blood smear with Giemsa stain (Harleco Giemsa stain; EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA) was performed by the microbiology laboratory, yielding the definitive diagnosis. Babesia species with a parasitemia level of 18% was reported to the clinical team. Real-time PCR testing, performed by a reference laboratory, provided the species-level identity of Babesia microti. All other infectious workups were negative. The patient was started on azithromycin plus atovaquone due to the contraindications against treatment with quinidine (QT interval prolongation in a heart transplant recipient with declining heart function).

Three days later, clindamycin was added when his parasitemia level did not decline. He was also given an exchange transfusion on day 4 after diagnosis in an attempt to reduce his parasitemia. After 14 days of therapy, his parasitemia became undetectable and he completed 6 full weeks of therapy, at which time he remained aparasitemic. Since transfusion was the child’s only known risk factor for Babesia infection, a complete investigation into the blood products used was conducted, but the infectious unit/donor could not be definitively identified. Banked products from the organ donor were also tested, and it was determined that the heart transplant was not the source of the Babesia infection.


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Well, January is coming to a close, unbelievably. I've got numbers in my head this Monday, and I thought I would share a few with you...

14.....crops still to finish in the seed plan, including RADISHES!

6......varieties of radishes we plan to grow in 2016

12....chocolate bars consumed this month (this one is a bit concerning...)

34....degrees outside as I write this

4....freezers full of meat as of this month!

87....pancakes eaten by us and friends who have visited (if you come in the winter, we will cook for you)

1....pair of glasses broken (Michael's)

3....bowls of milk spilled during milking (arrrghhh!)

38...donations we received from our gofundme campaign!

Michael and I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our campaign and all of our family and friends who continue to support us in this journey. We are so appreciative and would not be here without all of you.

See you soon!

there are three left...

Finishing the seed plan, delayed by an intense bout of CSA marketing

Our friends at Sunny Hill Farm in Randolph, VT


text:
Sarah Bradstreet

The Sherman Antitrust Act: APUSH Topics to Study for Test Day

In the late 1800s, big business rose largely unchecked. The 1890 Sherman Antitrust Act was one of the earliest governmental measures to curb corporate power. Sherman Antitrust Act APUSH questions will assess your understanding of the reason for and impact of this key legislation.

What is the Sherman Antitrust Act?

The Sherman Antitrust Act was a law passed by Congress in 1890 that was designed to combat the monopolies that were running rampant in American business. Big business had so far gone mostly unchecked. Industrial giants were free to form monopolies that drove out competition. Price fixing, pools, and cartels were commonplace. Finally, the government instituted a degree of regulation with the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Key provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act:

  • Outlawed any combination that restricted interstate commerce or trade with foreign nations
  • Outlawed attempts to “monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations”

Important year to note for the Sherman Antitrust Act:

1890: Sherman Antitrust Act is passed

Why is the Sherman Antitrust Act so important?

The Sherman Antitrust Act was the first federal law that placed limits on concentrations of power deemed harmful to trade and competition.

When it was first passed, the Sherman Antitrust Act was largely ineffective at stopping industrial monopolies. Courts at the time tended to hold a very narrow view of what constituted “trade or commerce among states,” and most companies were not held liable under the act. In fact, in its early years, the organizations most commonly prosecuted under the Sherman Act were not corporations, but trade unions, which the courts ruled were illegal combinations.

Despite these early setbacks, the Sherman Antitrust Act was important in setting the stage for more strict government regulations of big business. The Sherman Antitrust Act started to be enforced more strongly against corporations during the administration of the famously “trust-busting” President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909). The Woodrow Wilson years also saw the Sherman Act strengthened by the passage of related legislation such as the Clayton Antitrust Act and the formation of the Federal Trade Commission.

What are some historical people and events related to the Sherman Antitrust Act?

Sherman Antitrust Act apush

  • John Sherman: Ohio Senator for whom the law was named (pictured above)
  • Benjamin Harrison: President who signed the Sherman Antitrust Act into law
  • Theodore Roosevelt: Progressive president who was the first to aggressively enforce the Sherman Antitrust Act

What example question about the Sherman Antitrust Act might come up on the APUSH exam?

“Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal. Every person who shall make any such contract or engage in any such combination or conspiracy, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both said punishments, at the discretion of the court.”
-Sherman Antitrust Act, 1890 (Source)

The Sherman Antitrust Act was
A) immediately effective as a check on monopolistic business practices.
B) originally intended to apply only to trade unions.
C) only applicable to businesses that engaged in intrastate commerce.
D) an important early step toward greater government regulation of business.

The correct answer is (D). The Sherman Antitrust Act was not strongly enforced for at least a full decade after its passage; however, it did lay an important foundation for government regulation of business. It was the first step in giving the government the power to check the power of big businesses and break up trusts that were harmful to competition.

About Sarah Bradstreet

Sarah is an educator and writer with a Master’s degree in education from Syracuse University who has helped students succeed on standardized tests since 2008. She loves reading, theater, and chasing around her two kids.

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[Python-Dev] UCS2/UCS4 default

Jeroen Ruigrok van der Werven asmodai at in-nomine.org
Thu Jul 3 19:01:30 CEST 2008

-On [20080703 18:45], James Y Knight (foom at fuhm.net) wrote:
>I think this is misguided.

Only trying to at least correct the current situation, which I consider a
bit of a mess, personally. (Although it seems others share my view.)

>I'd like to have 3 levels of access available:
>1) "byte"-level. In a new implementation I'd probably choose to make
>all my strings stored in UTF-8, but UTF-16 is fine too.
>2) codepoint-level.
>3) grapheme-level.

Sounds interesting as well and I can very much see the advantages of such
levels and their methods. Especially in the i18n/l10n work I do.

>You should be able to iterate over the string at any of the levels,
>ask for the nearest codepoint/grapheme boundary to the left or right
>of an index at a different level, etc.

Actually it seems Java already has a lot of similar methods.

>There are a few more desirable operations, to manipulate strings at
>the grapheme level (because unlike for UTF-8/UTF-16 codepoints,
>graphemes don't have the nice property of not containing prefixes
>which are themselves valid graphemes). So, you want a find (and
>everything else that implicitly does a find operation, like split,
>replace, strip, etc) which requires that both endpoints of its match
>are on a grapheme-boundary. [[Probably the easiest way to implement
>this would be in the regexp engine.]]

Well, your ideas and seeing Java's stuff actually got me excited to work on
these kind of ideas, next to my datetime revamp.

What would the chances for inclusion in Python be if such a PEP + code would
be presented Guido?

Jeroen Ruigrok van der Werven <asmodai(-at-)in-nomine.org> / asmodai
イェルーン ラウフロック ヴァン デル ウェルヴェン
http://www.in-nomine.org/ | http://www.rangaku.org/ | GPG: 2EAC625B
Beware of the fury of the patient man...

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text:
For review: PEP 308 - If-then-else expression

Carlos Ribeiro cribeiro at
Sun Feb 9 18:31:33 CET 2003

On Saturday 08 February 2003 18:53, Jp Calderone wrote:
>   No, it's what structured program is *all* *about*.  Picking useful pieces
> of behavior out and abstracting them (often with a function).  Furthermore,
> say you make a mistake (unlikely in *this* trivial case, I admit).  Do you
> want to fix it in one place, the condsqrt function definition, or in 30
> places, in 15 different source files?
>   No, splitting algorithms up is a very *good* idea.

Is a good idea as long as the code snippet is actually reusable, and has a
meaning on its own. There are several cases where the code isn't going to be
reused - it's going to be called from a single location - and where the full
understanding of its meaning depends on the context from where it has been
called. In this case, it's not modularization, but 'code shuffling' (in
analogy to shuffling a deck of cards).

Carlos Ribeiro
cribeiro at

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text:
[IPython-dev] Tab-completion in master

Fernando Perez fperez.net@gmail....
Tue Aug 24 12:18:36 CDT 2010

On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 10:11 AM, Jörgen Stenarson
<jorgen.stenarson@bostream.nu> wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a problem with tab-completion in the master branch when running
> on windows with pyreadline. If there are both magics and regular
> functions matching I get a list of matches but the line I started with
> is removed, if there is only magics or regular matches it works as
> expected. I think in 0.10 or earlier magics were only matched whith an
> explicit % at the beginning of the line.
> example:
> In [1]: r
> %reset           reversed         raw_input        %rehashx
> %rep             reduce           reload           round
> return           repr             range            README.txt
> raise            %run             ren              %r
> %reload_ext      %reset_selective rmdir
> In [1]:
> with longer string
> In [1]: res
> %reset           %reset_selective
> In [1]: %reset
> Is the behaviour the same on Linux?

Yes, I see the same:

In [1]: r
%r                       %rundemo                 repr
%rehashx                 raise                    return
%reload_ext              range                    reversed
%rep                     raw_input                rich_ipython_widget.pyc
%reset                   re                       rm
%reset_selective         reduce                   rmdir
%run                     reload                   round

In [1]: res
%reset            %reset_selective

In [1]: %reset

but that's actually fairly similar to what 0.10 gives me:

IPython 0.10.1 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
%quickref -> Quick reference.
help      -> Python's own help system.
object?   -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.

In [1]: r
raise      raw_input  reload     return     rm         round
range      reduce     repr       reversed   rmdir

In [1]: %reset [This was re-written]

I don't find it to be a big bother, what part of that behavior don't
you like?  The auto-prepending of '%'?  I think that would be fairly
easy to fix, though it's been around for a while without complaints...

I'm happy to look at improving the behavior, I just want to make sure
I understand what direction you'd like to see it improved in.

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text:
[SciPy-user] numpy-1.0rc2 still does not build on MacOS X 10.4.7 (PPC)

Travis Oliphant oliphant at ee.byu.edu
Tue Oct 17 16:47:05 CDT 2006

Tom Bridgman wrote:

>Selected gcc 3.3
>g77v3.4 installed from tarball
>fftw libraries installed as described in
>numpy build still fails.  I suspect the important error is
>gcc: cannot specify -o with -c or -S and multiple compilations
>but I have no idea of where to start with this.
>I suspect is something to do with PPC vs Intel build options?
>Perhaps I need to turn off the '-c' which appears in the compile
>options but where is that located?

I think this is a Python build issue.  As far as I know the build flags
are gathered from Python.

Look for a config directory where Python is installed and the Makefile
in that directory.

On my system it is in

Changing the options there seems to affect distutils which is where
numpy gets it's information about how to build.

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WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
Pouch Style Baby Sling

Babywearing is a lot of fun, but often times it doesn’t start out that way. Babywearing for new moms is scary business, and it is hard to trust your carrier to hold your precious bundle of joy securely.  With a little bit of searching there are many online resources that talk about babywearing, I have complied some helpful and informative resources for new babywears. Do the research and educate yourself until you feel comfortable and confident. There are proper techniques for holding baby securely when placing the child in the sling and proper baby carrying positions. The best thing is to practice practice practice. You don’t have to grab your baby right away. Many people use stuffed animals to demonstrate or practice, maybe you could use a small 5lb bag of rice so you can get the feel of how the sling will carry the weight of your baby. Use a mirror.

This guide is focused on the pouch style sling.

Ring Style

I would recommend this style of sling for new babywears because I feel it is the easiest to get baby in and out of.  It is basically a pocket you put your baby in. You don’t need to adjust the sli

ng’s size or have to deal with lots of fabric like you do with the the other common ring carrier type baby slings.

1. The most important thing for safety and comfort is size. DO NOT use a sling that is too big or too small.

A lot of times a baby carrier is given as a gift and that’s what gets a mom interested in babywearing, but be sure you have the correct size. Especially with a pouch style sling.

Finding your size:

Simply measure from the outer edge of your shoulder (where a t-shirt seam would fall) diagonally across to the opposite hip. If you do not have a tape measure your t-shirt size is close for most people.
Small (23-24″)
Medium (24-25″)
Large (25-26″)
X-Large (26-27″)

I would suggest reading this guide on Correct Positioning.

It includes very detailed instructions and pictures illustrating incorrect positions as well as correct positions.

2. Your baby should be worn up high they should be around your chest area and snug against your body.

3. If you are using the sling for an older child and have their legs out there feet should be above their bum. Like a froggy position. The fabric should go under each knee. From knee to knee,  around the bum for a secure hold.

4. With any carrier the fabric should be spread as wide as possible around your back always avoid twisted or bunched up fabric.

There are also very helpful instructional videos on how to wear your baby.

Newborn Carry

Other types of baby carriers.

This is a Pre-Tied wrap tummy to tummy position.

Wrap Style Carry Baby Wearing

Baby Carry Using a Baby Wrap

Sew your own Pouch Sling: Video Instructions

Apple Dot Shoes

Soft soled baby shoes are said to be the best thing for babies and tots that are still learning how to walk. Soft soled shoes allow them to still “feel” the ground with their feet so they can wear shoes to protect their feet with out hindering balance and coordination.  My son who is 15 months old and still not walking has given me plenty of time to shop around for soft soled shoes, and once he decides to get up and go I don’t want anything (like thick hard soled uncomfortable shoes) to get in his way. We live in Hawaii so most of the time he goes barefoot. Like a lot of children in Hawaii he doesn’t like shoes when it’s time to wear them because he’s so used to going with out them. Remember we don’t wear our shoes in the house either. Robeeze is the popular brand of soft shoes for babies and tots. I’ve been looking for something comparable to Robeeze soft soled style baby shoes for some time now. I like Robeeze but hate the price. $30 for a brand new pair at Baby Gap. I was over joyed to find this little shop on Etsy, all the way from Canada, littlejumpingbeans. I’ve seen other soft soled baby shoes on etsy, but by far these are the best ones on Etsy, and only $14 a pair! I also love the fabric and designs. LittleJumpingBeans‘s shoes are made out of high quality designer fabrics and cute Kawaii imported Japanese fabrics.

The design I chose has little blue and green guitars on it. What caught my eye with these shoes are the little grippy dots used for the soles.

Sweet Guitar - Soft Soled Cloth Baby Shoes

Flexible, Cozy, Fun

These soft soled baby shoes are perfect for little growing feet! Robeez style, but without the higher price!

♥ Made with a cool blue and green imported japanese guitar print on a white background with a few mnusical notes!

♥ Please choose a size and put in “notes to seller” at check out.

Size 0-6 months with a 4″ sole
Size 6-12 months with a 4.5″ sole
Size 12-18 months with a 5″ sole,

♥ Shoes have a generous toe box for lots of wiggle room! Great to help those little feet develop!

Little grippy dots

♥ Shoes are fully lined with a green cotton!
♥ The sole is made from white grippy dots!

Can’t wait for mine to arrive. There are so many cute designs I think I’m going to get a pair for my baby on the way, so I can buy one of the little girl designs.

Here are some of my other favorite designs.

Elephants Hippos n Zebras

Kawaii Cute Shoes

Sweet Pink Octopus

Starry Dots Baby Shoes

Starry Dots

UPDATE: Yay! my Shoes just arrived!

Excellent Quality, Super Fast Shipping & so Cute. My baby likes to Play with the little bumps on the bottom.

Soft Soled Baby Shoes From LittleJumpingBeans Etsy Shop

For more Unique Handmade Items on Etsy Check out:Some of my Etsy Favorites- Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

For Mommy and Baby related posts check out: DIY Tutorials For Moms N Moms To Be

Vintage Tupperware Bowls

Just added a new listing in MammaRachel’sEtsyShop for a Set of 3 Vintage Tupperware Bowls. They look like ice cream bowls to me. I tried searching for similar bowls online, but I haven’t found anything close or nearly as cute. Perfect for any vintage kitchen. Great Christmas Gift for anyone with a kitchen, lol or anyone that likes ice cream. Get it before it sells out like all my Vintage and Collectible items on Etsy once they sell they won’t be relisted unless I stumble across another one. Item is in good condition, no funky smells. Ships First Class Mail. I also Ship International for Canadian, Australian and other buyers 😉 Thanks for looking.

I love Vintage Tupperware!

If it doesn’t sell for the holidays I’ll gladly add to my collection of vintage tupperware.

New Listing!- Vintage Tupperware Canister Harvest Orange

Vintage Tupperware From MammaRachel

Vintage Tupperware from MammaRachel

This listing is for a Cute little Vintage Tupperware Canister from the Harvest collection Orange. Fill this little container with cookies or candy. Press button lid creates an air tight seal to keep bugs out and freshness in.
Washing Machine not Included 😉

This item is in good condition.

It holds 2/1/4 Cups .5 Liter

Ships First Class

If you have any questions please convo me.

Vintage Kitchen Collection

vintage tupperware

Harvest Orange Tupperware

MammaRachel's Vintage Kitchen

Vintage Tupperware Collectibles

Tupperware enthusiast can check out my other blog post : Remember This? Vintage Tupperware

Maternity Pants Tutorial

Maternity Pants Tutorial

Sample Pants From The Tutorial

What you need:

A pair of pants

Stretch knit material

A sewing Machine

Sew it yourself. Maternity Pants are very expensive and unless you are planning on having a LOT of kids you probably won’t be using it much. I can usually fit my old clothes for most of my pregnancy so I don’t start NEEDING maternity pants until later in the second trimester. In this tutorial you learn how to turn regular pants in to comfy maternity pants. Adding much more variety to your wardrobe for much less. She suggests buying a few cheap pairs of pants at a thrift store so you don’t turn all your regular pants into maternity ware, after all you will need clothes after baby is born. I’ve tried this tutorial and it is simple and pretty easy. I love the pictures.  I always need pictures. She obviously uses a Serger to do her ends, but I used a traditional home sewing machine and alternated between straight and zigzag stitches. So far I’ve transformed two pairs of old pants and it turned out great with minimal frustration 😉

Simply Recipes

Christmas Cookies from

This is a great cooking site with a wonderful collection of simple recipes for home cooked meals for the family. I believe home cooked meals can definitely save a family money. The problem is What to cook? I often get bored of the same old dishes and when I try to find new recipes they are much too fancy for my skill level and require ingredients I’ve never heard of. The recipes on this site are easy to follow have a short prep and cook time, and are absolutely delicious. I’m going to try the cookie recipes for Christmas Gifts this year. 😉

Make your own Modeling Wax Tutorial

Modelling Beeswax sold on Etsy

I saw some modeling wax on sale at Etsy. It’s a fun alternative to playdoh. The great thing about it is that is never dries out. Yay! I was pretty hard to find a tutorial about it but I found one here at I haven’t tried it yet and I wonder if it will turn out like the ones sold on Etsy. I’m also not sure where to look for these ingredients, lol.

But if you don’t want to make it you can always buy it on etsy. Aren’t the colors beautiful?

More Tutorials and Pictures to Come

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Shame: not good enough

3 Apr

so I had an appointment with my case manager today and we talked about the mess with group, friends, and cliques. She said it seems like each time I’m not invited anywhere I see it as I am not good enough or in my words liked enough. We talked about this going way back and the whole not being good enough and I how I respond. Normally really hurt and easily can send me in a downward spiral. I don’t know if I really like the term shame but I definitely agree with not good enough. We also talked about how I wasn’t like this in high school or junior high and why am I falling back into it now. I guess back then I didn’t care either way and I had lots of friends. Now I really care and I have a few. I know quality is more important than quantity but it’s nice to hang out in a big group every once in awhile and not have to be hosting.

3 Responses to “Shame: not good enough”

  1. manyofus1980 April 3, 2015 at 7:06 PM #

    Glad the apt went well. It sounds like you talked about some real hard stuff. XX

  2. revgerry April 3, 2015 at 10:52 PM #

    This shame or self-doubt is a part of the depression – or it was mine. As I loved myself more, it became easier (not easy) not to take things so personally. I wish the same for you. hugs, gerry

    • mm172001 April 8, 2015 at 7:56 PM #

      I think mine is from childhood which will be a process to over come. But it’s doable.

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Plane ride home

23 Aug

I’m stuck on this plane and I can’t sleep. I can’t type this in WordPress even as a draft for some reason. School starts tomorrow, I completely changed around my schedule because I decided to change my education goal. I’m nervous because I have so many units and that they won’t let me transfer to a 4 year school because I have too many units. That sounds really stupid and unlikely but most of our fears are, right? I’m hoping they will let me choose which units I want to transfer for the schools. I gotta talk to a transfer counselor, but I’m not sure which school to do it at or do both. I know Sierra is the only one with an AA in LGBT studies, so for transferring trying to get a BA in that there’s only one school, which also has a linguistics major. But all my language classes are at schools in a different district. Maybe I’ll just start with Sierra and tell them what I’m thinking and they can answer some of my questions. So my doubt and confusion won’t be so paralyzingly. I feel like I can’t do this. But some where in me I know I can. It’s hard to focus on the small steps when you have to put things in place for the bigger picture. I’m probably as normal or average as my mood gets. I’m not hypo manic with all these great plans and ideas ready to jump in. I’m not depressed where it seems pointless either. I’m just experiencing a lot of anxiety. I don’t have a lot of self confidence or self esteem either. So it’s easy to get stuck in the this just won’t work for me, I’m not good enough, I don’t deserve it, etc. I’ve lucked out with no input from the voices since theses plans for the future have started. They’ve been strangely quiet but they are quieter with the Latuda so maybe that’s it. I’m glad their not here now, I don’t think I could handle that. I’m afraid to tell anyone about my plan because I’m afraid I’ll fail or take longer than planned and people will keep asking questions and judging me. It would also be a constant reminder which would produce eve more anxiety. I need people to help keep me calm, focused, and not giving up on this. But the only person that really knows is 20 somethings friend and he’s dealing with transferring himself. I mentioned it to my sister and that San Diego State was my top choice, she seemed worried about me moving away, I’m not sure if it was worry I couldn’t do it or just worry that I wouldn’t be there to help with her potential kids. I’ve repeatedly been told that if I was forced to be independent, I might struggle a little and then I’ll just settle right into it and be fine. I don’t think so. Pressure destabizes me. I last for a period of time in survival mode and then I get worse. That’s what happened with old work. I think that’s what happened with PK, but I don’t remember. My depressions can really drain all energy and hope. If I don’t have someone fighting alongside me or for me, I just give in. The depressions are never going to go away I think. And that’s what scares me, what if I’m away at school and one hits. I’m not sure I can make it through it. There’s also the question of health insurance. If I move I won’t be working for my parents anymore so I’ll need to buy it privately. I seriously doubt I’ll be able to go to work and school at the same time. I wish I could snap my fingers and have the confidence to jump in and everything would work out good. I get my ideas and passions when I’m hypo manic but I know I can’t act on them till I’m stable. I wish getting better wasn’t so here and there, one step forward two back, and trial and error. Still an hour and a half till we land and then a two hour drive home. Thankfully school isn’t too early tomorrow. It’s the first day. I need to try to be friendly and get to know people. I hate it and I’m not good at it. But apparently it’s an important life skill. Like the hygiene stuff.

3 Responses to “Plane ride home”

  1. Andi August 24, 2015 at 12:45 PM #

    You can definitely do it.

  2. manyofus1980 August 30, 2015 at 3:57 PM #

    Stay positive and focused. Your intelligent and you can do this. The reason you couldnt type in wordpress was probably because there wasnt internet on the plane. XX

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Our Services

At Mareck Family & Geriatric Services, we take into account the entire family and living situation. We are well-versed in the needs of aging adults and experienced with family dynamics. Consultation and training is available and cover a wide variety of topics. We help to facilitate discussions on age-related issues including dementia, care giving, future needs, resources, placement options, or as a followup up to a recent assessment. Mareck Family & Geriatric Services has expertise in dealing with dementia and its psychosocial stressors.

Our services include counseling, assessing and care management. Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding these services, how we can help and the ways in which our services are billed. Many of our counseling services are covered by insurance-other services may be private pay-we would be happy to discuss this with you.

Furthermore, if you or your family are members of a group, we have experienced speakers available upon request.


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Click on your Shape Dynamics menu item and change these following settings:. Their games probably don’t have the need for that much space on the disc anyway, and they won’t for a while. After they are downloaded just go to File->Open in Project64 and play away. created epsxe folder (where the epsxe icon is located). So instead of hooking up every system I have ever had in my life, I did some research on how to get the ps1 emulator to play the old classics.

Yes, but those problems are more indicative of Linux than of the quality of emulation. Being only ten at the time, a lot of the intricacies went in one ear and out the other. By using techniques established during WWII to train fast tract physicians Dr. In the last few days there have been some developments that would indicate that we will indeed be able to take all of our homebrew and freeware games, apps and multimedia and use them on day one, on the new 3DS. Recent research into Live USB distribution led this author to an amazing discovery: a version of Linux created specifically with emulation I mind, called Puppy Arcade.

I will provide one that allows gameshark codes and one that does not, I advise just getting the one that allows them to save you hassle later. Other nice things about the upgrade include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connections. Holding down ALT and SHIFT, grab the top of your free transform box and pull your raindrop into a more elongated shape, like I’ve done.

Tell it which directory you want to use for your atari games (rom files). Unfortunately video games lack the same luxury, yet there is a way that people can relive classics: emulation.

Q：Can “Free Cheat” search a value without a special value. Download the drivers from the Internet: D-Link DSB-C310 v. If your ps1 emulator and plugins;, television does not support HDMI inputs and you would like to connect a Play – Station 3 then there are various other options. Many companies such as Capcom and Atari started coming out with compilation games that covered many of the old games that people were downloading in rom format. There are plenty of toy guns, Japanese robots, and dolls.

It’s like a car manufacturer making a GPS unit standard in the car you want to buy, then charging you $3,000 for it, when you could go to Best Buy and buy one for $500. You keep the other two educational CDs, free digital camera, which includes the offer. The admissions committee wants to ensure they admit applicants with great on-the-fly problem solving and excellent communication skills. In some instances the user just wants to be able to play their favorite games, on their favorite device such as a cell phone. For instance in case you wanted to emulate MS DOS in order to perform a particular bit of pre-Windows software on your Mac you could use the Mac version of DOSBox.


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The Everything Diabetes Cookbook

The Everything Diabetes Cookbook

Book - 2010
Average Rating:
Rate this:
Being diagnosed with diabetes doesn't have to mean eliminating flavor-- or fun!-- from your diet. With the recipes in this book, you'll learn how to whip up guilt-free dishes that are as delicious as they are healthy
Publisher: Avon, Mass. : Adams Media ; Newton Abbot : David & Charles [distributor], 2010
Edition: 2nd ed
ISBN: 9781440501548
Characteristics: xiii, 289 p. ; 24 cm
Alternative Title: Diabetes cookbook
Other Standard Identifier: 045079501546

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Sermons on Worship and the Water of Life

Just posted two sermons from December.

Living Water – A sermon based on Ezekiel 47 where Ezekiel witnesses water flowing out of the temple, down to the Dead Sea. Life grows out of the low places around the Dead Sea as the water nourishes places that had long been dead. Application – we also have to get out the doors of the building and go to the down and out and struggling to bring them life. The water can’t just stay in the temple…God won’t allow that.

Worship – Based on Romans 12:1-2. Joel, who is our youth minister, and I split the sermon a few Sunday’s ago into two very short sermons. We spent the rest of the service singing and taking the Lord’s Supper. It was a powerful service!

About mattdabbs
I am a minister, husband, and father. My wife and I live and minister in Saint Petersburg, Florida. My primary ministry responsibilities include: small groups, 20s and 30s, involvement, and adult education.

One Response to Sermons on Worship and the Water of Life

  1. Matt, love what you’re calling the church to in that sermon on living water!

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Fat Blackmail

FAT_BLACKMAIL_MEDJust a quick honourable mention of this amazing crime novel I’ve been sent. In this classic of the ‘caper’ genre an unnamed villain discovers that his recently dead associate and mentor has left some business for him to clean up – a favour that sounds simple but unfolds into a complex nightmare of violence, intrigue and betrayal. The narrator ricochets between London and Manchester, organising prison breaks and armed robberies, telling the tale in a pragmatic-staccato style. The background of Fat Blackmail’s authors – one a crime correspondent, the other an ex-villain – ensures that the book is fine on detail on everything from Serbian trafficking gangs to the mechanics of bank jobs. An excellent plot, with twists that are genuinely surprising.

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And the winner is… MP! Bookish Quiz Sheet: Jenn Bennett draws Harry Potter in the nuddy PLUS WIN! an ‘Alex, Approximately’ book bundle

This sizzling summer read is a MUST

Jenn Bennett needs no introduction. She’s the mastermind behind some of your fave YA novels like ‘Night Owls’ and ‘Starry Eyes’.

Of course, one thing you probably didn’t know about her is that she once drew Harry Potter naked. Nope, we’re not kidding and we have proof!

This summer, Jenn is back with a new book. Entitled, ‘Alex Approximately’, it’s a romance story like no other and follows your soon-to-be fave YA lovebirds, Mink and Alex.

So what’s the story? Well, Mink and Alex met on an film app. The two share a love for the cinema and speak almost daily about their passion for movies and old Hollywood flicks. It all sounds like a dream, right? Not quite.

Mink and Alex have never met, they don’t even know each other’s real names. So when Mink moves in to live with her Dad, who conveniently lives in the same Californian town that Alex is from, she tries to track him down. Hurdles get in her way, including her summer job at a local museum and the annoyingly charming security guard, Porter Roth. Will she ever find Alex? We sure hope so.

Maximum Pop! recently had a natter to Jenn Bennett and asked her to fill in our Bookish Quiz Sheet. This is where her nude drawing of Harry Potter comes in.

Regular readers of MP! will know that our sheet is a great way to find out all the fun facts and trivia about your fave authors and Jenn’s didn’t disappoint.

It’s incredible, isn’t it! her drawing are SO good. What’s even better is we’re giving you the chance to win a massive ‘Alex, Approximately’ themed bundle.

The prize includes…

  • ‘Alex, Approximately’ by Jenn Bennett
  • ‘Confessions of a High School Disaster’ by Emma Chastain
  • ‘Waiting for Callback: Take Two’ by Honor Cargill and Perdita Cargill
  • ‘How Not To Disappear’ by Clare Furniss
  • ‘Sweetfreak’ by Sophie McKenzie
  • PLUS heaps of bookish goodies

To enter all you need to do is fill in the form below. Make sure you leave your address in the correct box, otherwise we won’t be able to contact you.

The competition will close on Wednesday 9th August and the winner will be picked on Thursday 10th August. Unfortunately it’s UK only.

This competition is now closed…

Congratulations to our winner.

  • Maria J.

Start reading ‘Alex, Approximately’ by Jenn Bennett…

He could be any one of these people.

After all, I don’t know what Alex looks like. I don’t even know his real name. I mean, we’ve been talking online for months now, so I know things that matter. He’s smart and sweet and funny, and we’ve both just finished our junior year. We share the same obsession—old movies. We both like being alone.

Continue reading.

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Written by Emma Matthews

Emma is a freelance journalist at MP.

When she’s not writing articles for Maximum Pop!, you’ll find her attending gigs, geeking out over the latest beauty products and reading feminist literature. Hermione is her favourite Harry Potter character – obviously.

QUIZ: What % Hufflepuff are you?

QUIZ: Which one of Harry Styles’ suits are you?!


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Shockley Fulfils Pledge, Seeks Change In Ethics Law

SNOW HILL – Donors with deep pockets may not get much for their political contributions if one elected official succeeds in changing the county’s ethics law, as Worcester County Commissioner Virgil Shockley has pledged to do.

Shockley intends to present a bill this summer requiring commissioners who receive more than $500 from a campaign donor to recuse themselves from matters involving that donor.

“You will see before September a version of this law. That’s probably going to make some people in Worcester County mad,” Shockley said.

The three-term commissioner made sure to point out while campaigning that he had not and would not accept any funds from developers and promised to look into tightening up the ethics law.

Shockley’s election pledge was prompted by revelations during the 2006 County Commissioner primary campaigns that several sitting commissioners received substantial campaign donations from developers leading current projects that the commissioners would have be making decisions on in the next few years.

Although the developers’ donations were not illegal, the amounts accepted and the timing of the contributions troubled many residents. Not only did the developers donate the money, they donated the state maximum of $4,000 in several cases, unheard of in the low-key politics of Worcester County.

“Has it really gotten to the point where it’s the best politicians money can buy?” Shockley said.

ADC Builders, Cohen Companies and Sixty-Seventh Street OC LLC, donated $12,000 between them to three commissioners. ADC Builders has recently suspended work on a 1,000-home development in Showell, after pushing hard to get it through the county development and permitting process for the last year.

Brothers Mark and Matt Odachowski donated $16,400 to commissioner candidates, separately and together, during the 2006 campaign. Mark Odachowski is developing Summerfields, a massive development in Snow Hill, while Matt Odachowski, owner of Royal Plus Inc., recently received what some consider a sweetheart deal on a county-owned building. The county says the deal is a win-win for both sides.

The brothers donated funds to two commissioner candidates through a local limited company (LLC) they own called Up the Creek, LLC, under which they have developed at least one property.

“Summerfield is not over,” said Shockley “ADC is obviously alive and well. Look at the amount of money that was taken.”

Shockley is not interested in enacting too restrictive a law, however.

“If it’s a local race, $500 is it,” he said. Under his proposal, he said, “If you take more than $500, you have to excuse yourself.”

If his law is followed, the candidate then does not owe the donor anything, he said.

“I would be agreeable to discuss that,” said Commissioner Judy Boggs, who accepted $400 from Up the Creek LLC for her unopposed campaign for re-election to the District 5 commissioner seat.

Boggs said she has many questions about Shockley’s nascent law, which has not yet been drafted. She wondered whether only election year donations would count and whether in-kind services would go towards that $500 cut off.

Boggs said she supported changing what she called a “superficial” ethics law.

“The electorate, the residents of the county would just feel more comfortable if there were stricter ethics laws,” said Boggs. “I think it’s good business practice for the county for the future.”

Making the law more explicit will benefit office seekers as well, she feels.

“People who run for office ought to know what they’re getting into, what they can and can’t do,” Boggs said.

“I’d really like to see his proposal,” said Commissioner Bud Church, who accepted $8,000 from Matt Odachowski, Cohen Companies and Sixty-Seventh Street OC LLC.

Church wondered whether Shockley, a school bus contractor, would begin to recuse himself from votes involving the Board of Education budget, which pays the bus contractors.

“I really honestly need to see what he’s going to propose,” Church said. “I reserve judgment on that.”

Jim Purnell, president of the County Commissioners, could not be reached for comment. He received $8,000 from Mark Odachowski, and ADC Builders.

Commissioner Louise Gulyas, who received $4,000 from Up the Creek LLC, said she does not support changes to the ethics laws. If elected officials misbehave, disciplinary actions are available.

Gulyas said she does not see a trend of big money donations in the county, and that she does not expect county politics to become more negative over all.

“It’s very expensive to campaign and I tell my supporters right up front, your campaign donation doesn’t make me vote for what you want. It has nothing to do with that,” said Gulyas. “It’s not going to sway my vote at all. Ever. It’s just not my way. … There are certain people I wouldn’t take money from anyhow.”


text:
306. C.E. D’oh

(originally aired March 16, 2003)
Here’s an episode I barely remembered anything about, and after watching it, I see for good reason. It’s so aimless, with characters saying and doing things that don’t make sense; the plot shifts so much, I have no idea exactly what the show is supposed to be about. We begin with Homer making a big to-do about Valentine’s Day, only to find Marge is far too tired to do the deed with him (perhaps it was the relaxing bath and all the liquor he pumped her up with). From this, for some reason we get that Homer doesn’t think his wife finds him sexually attractive anymore, so he takes a stripping class at the learning annex taught by Dr. Hibbert. Confused yet? Don’t worry, a minute later, he ends up in a class about becoming successful, which is one of the only good things in the episode. The instructor is a loud, in-your-face self-made man hawking his seemingly helpful wares (“Friends, there’s a force that runs through the universe. We used to call that force God. We now call it… ‘Megatronics: The 48 Tips to Corporate Success’!”)

So Homer now vows to live more efficiently and follow the book’s code, for reasons that escape me. But let’s just say he wants to better his life, I can see him putting a modicum of effort into this. He performs a safety report, something as safety inspector he hasn’t done in years, and presents it to Mr. Burns, who coldly and predictably boots him from his office. Later, Homer sadly muses about how Burns is so ruthless and has no respect for him. No shit? You’ve worked for this man over a decade, this is something you’d think you’d have grown a callous over. So now the story is about getting revenge on Burns, but also tying into his get-up-and-go attitude, when Homer discovers that for ass-covering purposes, the power plant is actually owned in writing by a canary in Burns’ office. Homer frees the canary, gets Burns to think there are nuclear inspectors afoot, so Burns makes him the new plant head as a cover. Homer then fires Burns, taking over the plant for himself. We’ll get to all that in a sec, but I’ll say that I like Burns being impressed before he gets angry (“So, the caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon, as a shark with a gun for a mouth. I only have one thing to say to that: bravo.”) Then Homer throws the old man off the balcony. Hrm.

I can buy Homer wanting to improve his station at work, but falling his way into CEO and then staying there? Act three switches gears once more and becomes about Homer becoming a workaholic and not spending enough time with his family. Shots of Homer sitting at his desk mulling over papers just does not compute. What is he doing? Does he even know? It would make more sense if this act had Homer knowing he’s way over his head and working on a scheme to get Burns back in charge, ending with Homer realizing he bit off more than he could chew and wanting to go back to his lazy ways. Instead we wrap things up with more pathetic Burns where the miser attempts to seal Homer into his mausoleum, but over an entire night only gets four lines of bricks completed. At one point in this series Burns actually presented a threat to the Simpsons with his power and resources. Now he’s just a doddering old fool whom they pity; Homer just walks away and puts a blanket on the old man to placate him. Then everyone celebrates with a “Homer’s 305th Everything is Back to Normal BBQ,” which, like the counter in “Barting Over,” bothers me that this is the encapsulate of the series. Tune in next week on The Simpsons as that wacky Homer gets in another craaaaaazzzyyy scheme! TV off.

Tidbits and Quotes
– The “Strip For Your Wife” class is filled with a lot of familiar faces, like Legs and Louie, Superintendent Chalmers, Lou, Arnie Pye, Martin’s dad, one of the barflies… almost too many familiar faces. Also there is Mr. Largo, which seems to be an error, because he’s gay, right? I’m sure one of the recent episodes has made this transparent.
– “Successmanship 101” has most of the episode’s only good lines, from the instructor (“You see that car out there? That’s a Bentley Mark 12. They gave one to me, one to Steven Spielberg, then they shot the guy who made it.”)
– Marge’s “Woopdee-doo!” bit is really bizarre; I had the same awkward reaction as Bart and Lisa. Her callous reaction to Homer drowning his sorrows every night has this really sad undercurrent that the episode is not prepared, or frankly cares to address.
– “Wait’ll Burns steps on this flaming bag of… Lisa’s college fund?!” Yep, that’s dumb Homer!
– Not sure why they made it Burns dumping toxic waste under Lego Land when they could have made it Blocko Land.
– The bit with Flanders sitting at the window staring in the Simpson bedroom with his flowing pipe is so creepy… is that a reference to something?
– “Check and mate! Now king me!” is a pretty good line I use often.
– As the super-intelligent know-it-all as she is, Lisa alerts her father to the plant’s earnings report as she goes over the books. She’s eight fucking years old.
– Man, I really don’t have a lot to put here. Really, this episode’s biggest fault is that it’s completely innocuous and disposable, two words that I really wish I wouldn’t have to apply to a Simpsons episode.

16 responses to “306. C.E. D’oh

  1. I was thinking about how I barely remember the previous episode, and not this one i don’t remember anything. I know for a fact I haven’t watched new simpsons in a number of years, but this came out in 2003??? I spent almost my entire existence watching broadcast television. Junior year of highschool, no responsibilities. 2 airings of simpsons a day on weekdays, and a new one on sunday. And I can assure that I had nothing better to do at 7 PM sunday that watch the simpsons.

    They managed to put out a show so bad that someone who watched an average of 5.5 hours of simpsons a week wouldn’t watch.

    Two years later and I could go “oh yeah, college! No wonder” but no. I’ve never seen this episode. Or if i did it has been wiped completely from my memories.

  2. Apparently the Flanders thing is a reference to Rear Window.
    Didn’t they have an entire episode based off that damn thing?

  3. forbidden donut

    It’s kind of strange how Homer is intelligent enough to come up with such a clever plan to oust Mr. Burns, and then later in the same scene, he’s so dumb he jumps off a 10-story building for fun.

  4. I barely remember this one, and I was watching Season 14 pretty intently back in the day. In fact, I’m not even sure if I’ve seen this one all the way through.

  5. “Mr. Largo, which seems to be an error, because he’s gay, right? I’m sure one of the recent episodes has made this transparent.”

    Yeah, a somewhat recent episode showed him “riding to work” with Smithers, or something. Uh.

  6. Yeah, this episode is just, well this is where it should have its name changed to, “The Whacky Adventures of Homer Simpson with Friends.”

  7. “Really, this episode’s biggest fault is that it’s completely innocuous and disposable, two words that I really wish I wouldn’t have to apply to a Simpsons episode.”

    Pretty much. It’s really forgettable. The only part I recall liking is Homer on the computer at the dinner table. But even that, I could’ve swore they’ve done a joke like that on other shows before.

  8. drewzuhoskydaily

    Maggie dancing to “Sex Bomb” by Bob Seeger is PRICELESS!

  9. I can never get invested in this episode because, like you mentioned, it has no idea what it wants to be about. Stuff just happens and then there’s an ending. It couldn’t be more obvious at this point that the writers don’t give a shit anymore.

    The only thing that sticks out in my mind is the shot of Burns falling off the balcony, which I’m pretty sure is a visual callback to “Homer’s Odyssey”. Again, it’s Al Jean throwing in fanservicey references to the classic era just because he can.

  10. [QUOTE]“Wait’ll Burns steps on this flaming bag of… Lisa’s college fund?!”[/QUOTE]

    I thought Homer gambled away her college fund (which was $23 after Lincoln Savings and Loan shut down). Oh, well, it’s not like this show gave a shit about continuity or realism.

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